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China's IP conference to focus new quality productive forces
Xinhua) 08:40, September 05, 2024
BEIJING, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- The 13th China Intellectual Property Annual Conference will take place from Sept. 13 to 14 in Beijing, offering a platform for global innovation exchange and cooperation, the event's organizer said on Wednesday.
Themed "Intellectual Property (IP) Empowering New Quality Productive Forces," this year's conference will invite 150 guests from home and abroad to deliver speeches, said Liu Chao, head of the Intellectual Property Publishing House, at a press conference.
Liu highlighted an increase in participation from enterprises in patent-intensive industries, such as new energy, artificial intelligence, biomedicine, the Internet of Things, and those from emerging sectors, new business forms and models.
Multinational enterprises from the United States, Germany, Britain, Denmark and Japan will also participate in the conference to discuss topics on innovative development.
Topics on aligning with high-standard international IP protection rules, creating a market-oriented, law-based business environment that is internationally recognized, and promoting high-level openness will be discussed at the conference. Special emphasis will be placed on the international expansion of Chinese enterprises, particularly the challenges they face in protecting their IP rights while expanding globally, Liu added.
(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Committee to sponsor second look bill that allows for reduction of lengthy prison sentences
(Photo: Michael Lyle/Nevada Current)
State lawmakers are pursuing legislation that would allow reconsideration of lengthy prison sentences for those deemed successfully rehabilitated.
Second look laws, as they are often referred to, allow for sentencing review boards or courts to re-evaluate a persons sentence after theyve served a significant period of time in prison.
At a hearing in late August, the Interim Judiciary Committee voted to sponsor a bill to bring a second look law to Nevada. The proposal was one of 15 bill draft requests the committee approved for the 2025 Legislative session.
Daniel Landsman, the vice president of policy for Families Against Mandatory Minimums, told lawmakers during a February committee meeting that California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington along with the District of Columbia have passed versions of the second look laws.
Nevada should join the list, he said.
Evidence supports the idea that Nevada should give judges or another determining body the opportunity to revisit old, lengthy sentences, Landsman said. They can determine if the sentence is still in the interest of justice and an appropriate use of Nevadas finite public safety resources.
There were 560 people serving life without parole and 1,892 serving life with parole in Nevada as of December 2023, Landsman said.
He added that 1,888 people are serving sentences longer than 15 years while 1,272 people currently incarcerated have already served 15 years in person.
Landsman said not all of those people might be ready for release but many will be.
Decision makers retain discretion to reduce the sentence, grant release or leave the existing sentence in place, he said in February.
Republican Assemblyman Ken Gray was the lone vote against the proposal advancing to become a bill draft request during the August hearing.
Advocacy groups and criminal reform organizers, who spoke during public comment at the committee meeting, have long been advocating the state to look at ways to reduce the prison population.
Those calls were underscored over the summer when record breaking temperatures made it hard for swamp coolers at High Desert State Prison to remain cool.
Leslie Turner, an organizer with the Mass Liberation Project, previously told Nevada Current that corrections officials need to look at reducing the prison population rather than just focus on repairing outdated systems.
Turner, who spoke during public comment at last weeks hearing, said the group has worked with those incarcerated as they work to bring a second look law to Nevada.
Weve been working on this over a year doing research with currently incarcerated people to understand who would specifically be impacted by this legislation, she said. Weve been meeting with the DAs office, weve been talking to victims of crime. We are headed to D.C. with a crime survivors network so we can really be able to be holistic in our approach to this bill.
Each state has adopted their own standards around eligibility requirements for second look laws to go into effect, Landsman said.
Laws have factored in age of the person at the time of the crime, consideration for the victim and their families and the ability to appeal denials in reasonable timeframes.
Landsman pointed to DCs law as one of the best in the nation. Originally the version was open to people who committed crimes before they were 18 but then was expanded to include up to age 25.
Once a person has served 15 years, they can have their sentences re-examined no matter what the crime, he said.
As of June 2023, 195 people have been released under this expanded second look law and only seven people or 4% have been rearrested, Landsman said. People released under this bill have found employment and success taking full advantage of the second chances with some dedicating their time preventing future violence in their own communities.
More BDRs
Another proposal approved by the committee would require the Nevada Department of Corrections to discharge certain medical debt owed by those incarcerated after they are released from prison.
The measure would build on other prison reforms passed in the 2023 legislative session, including legislation referred to as the cost of incarceration bill that ended medical copays and man down fees, when those incarcerated require emergency medical services.
Republican Assemblywoman Danielle Gallant said she was concerned about some of the fiscal ramifications of the proposal but ultimately voted in favor for it to advance to become a bill draft request.
Gray voted against the proposal.
The committee also advanced a bill draft request designed to bolster indigent defense, including removing a statute that prohibits state public defenders from taking private cases.
Democratic state Sen. Melanie Scheible, who is the vice chair for the committee, said rural committees are in crisis and anything we can do to get people counsel faster we absolutely have to do.
There are dozens of cases every single day where people are lacking appointed counsel, especially in rural areas, Scheible said. When there are not enough private attorneys who are willing and able to take on those cases, those people just wait for attorneys to be appointed.
The proposals advanced without opposition.
Other proposals the committee is looking to sponsor include:
Requiring institutions to adopt consistent policy standards for unclothed searches of youth at local detention facilities;
Amending state law to allow the state, rather than the county, to be billed for forensic medical exams for strangulation in sexual assault or domestic battery cases;
Eliminating a requirement for the district attorney to give written approval to place a child under informal supervision.
Dali, the ship that knocked down Key Bridge, to sail to China; effort to extend deadline to file claims against Dalis owner underway
The Dali was bound for Sri Lanka the day it instead struck and knocked over the Francis Scott Key Bridge, and now, nearly six months later, it will embark on another Asian voyage.
The 984-foot container ship, which has a gashed bow and is currently receiving repairs in Norfolk, Virginia, will sail directly to China on or about September 17, 2024 according to a letter filed in federal court by the Department of Justices civil division Wednesday. The letter states that the ships owner and manager have informed claimants of their intent to sail and that from Thursday through Sept. 14, the claimants will be able to perform inspections and testing.
That doesnt necessarily mean the ship will actually set sail by mid-September. Both times the Dali was moved since the disaster from the middle of the Patapsco River to the Port of Baltimore and then from Baltimore to Norfolk it departed a few days later than initially expected.
The Dali had just left Baltimore in the early morning of March 26, anticipating a monthlong journey to Sri Lanka, when it lost power. Tugboats had helped the ship leave the port, but they were no longer attached to the vessel, and although pilots ordered an anchor drop as the ship headed toward a Key Bridge support, that last-ditch effort couldnt alter the 100,000-ton vessels trajectory.
The ship plowed into the pier, toppling the bridge and killing six construction workers who had been fixing potholes on the span. Steel and roadway littered the Patapsco River, temporarily closing the shipping channel and necessitating a salvage that cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
For nearly two months, the Dali sat in the Patapsco River, amid the cleanup, but after explosives were used to cut up a huge piece of bridge sitting atop the vessel, the ship was refloated and towed back to the Port of Baltimore in May. In June, the ship, escorted by four tugboats, made a slow, 23-hour trip to Norfolk.
By late August, the ship was nearly unrecognizable as all of its thousands of containers had been removed, according to footage from Norfolk TV station WTKR.
The ships owners declared general average after the calamity, an ancient maritime law that requires cargo owners to chip in on the cost of salvage before they can receive their cargo. The Dali was being chartered by Danish shipper Maersk at the time of the disaster, and Maersk spokesperson Kevin Doell told The Baltimore Sun in an email Wednesday that the shipper has worked to achieve the release of its customers containers from the owners custody.
The Dalis Singaporean owner and manager Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine, respectively have sought to limit their liability in the bridge calamity, but claimants, including the City of Baltimore and, more recently, a small propane distributing company, have filed suit against them.
People with claims against the ships owner and manager have until Sept. 24 to file claims in federal court, but an email reviewed by The Baltimore Sun on Wednesday shows an effort to extend that deadline by four months.
Several law and maritime firms which stated they were representing roughly $42 million in cargo that was aboard the Dali at the time of the crash have informally requested to push the claims deadline to Jan. 24 so they have time to assess damage to the ships containers and cargo, according to the email.
The majority of the containers were only discharged from the Dali at the end of August and a significant percentage of them will not be delivered to destination until after the current deadline for the lodging of claims against the limitation fund, the group wrote.
The firms asked parties to the litigation to indicate by Monday whether they object to a January deadline. The group is also seeking voluntary agreement from the Dalis owners, according to the email.
Asked why the ship is heading to China, Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine spokesperson Darrell Wilson declined to comment. However, shipping experts have long anticipated that the damaged vessel would ultimately receive its most extensive repairs overseas.
When the Ever Given the 1,312-foot vessel that got stuck in the Suez Canal in 2021, stalling the international supply chain needed repairs later that year, it received them in a dry dock in Qingdao, China.
Asked by The Baltimore Sun, Sal Mercogliano, a former merchant mariner who hosts the YouTube show Whats Going On With Shipping?, predicted that upon the Dalis arrival in China, there would be an entirely new bow fabricated to replace the damaged one on the current ship.
They will cut the bow off and put on a new one, he said.
How easily can you access and assess your child's school performance data? Wisconsin earns D
If you're having trouble making sense of how well your child's school performs, you're not alone.
Wisconsin scored a D grade in a new report ranking each state's K-12 report card system. Researchers with the Arizona State University's Center for Reinventing Public Education evaluated how easily a person could access and assess school performance data, and whether several years' worth of data were available to gauge post-pandemic progress.
"If the federal government is going to require states to provide report cards, and if states are going to spend money to create them, shouldnt they at least be usable?" the report asked. "What purpose are these report cards serving if an average parent or advocate cannot figure out how to use them to answer basic questions about school effectiveness?"
Here are four takeaways from the report published Thursday:
Wisconsin earned a D on school report card quality
For each state, researchers tried finding individual school-level data going back to 2018-19.
Wisconsin earned a D, scoring 11 of 21 possible points. Researchers easily found data on English, math and science test scores; as well as high school graduation rates. But they struggled to locate data on chronic absenteeism, and couldn't find data on social studies test scores nor growth in English language arts and math test scores.
DPI criticized the report, calling it a "narrow review." The agency questioned the researcher's methodology and said all of the data researchers sought was "readily and publicly available."
"Much of this report is based off of an internet search and then rolled into a point scale and could be seen as subjective," DPI spokesperson Chris Bucher said.
Wisconsin "is and has been a longtime leader in public availability of school data," he said. Wisconsin was among the first states to launch a system with multiple years of data, a system that received national recognition in 2017 by a national education nonprofit.
What grades did other states get?
Wisconsin was better than the 13 states that flunked the test: Alaska, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont and Wyoming.
Michigan had the best report card in the Midwest, scoring an A. Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Tennessee also got top grades.
Illinois and Minnesota earned B's. Iowa tied with Wisconsin's D grade.
Researchers evaluated one Wisconsin report card, then pointed to a different one
Researchers initially evaluated a different Wisconsin report card system that pops up at the top of an online search. This system earned an F grade.
After reaching out to the state Department of Public Instruction, however, they learned of and evaluated a more comprehensive system known as WISEDash. This led to the slightly better "D" grade.
WISEDash isn't prominently featured on the state website or in searches, which prompted researchers to raise questions about how valuable it is if it's not easily accessible.
A few other states posed similar problems for researchers, offering different versions of report cards that are intended to fufill different purposes. Texas, for example, has three different report cards to meet various reporting requirements by the federal and state governments.
"I would say it's confusing for people because how are they supposed to know which one to use?" asked Morgan Polikoff, a University of Southern California professor of education, who led the report.
Asked how users should be aware of WISEDash, Bucher said DPI is always reexamining its practices. He also said the agency welcomes recommendations and funding to increase transparency.
Wisconsin report card website rated 'fair' in usability
The report also ranked the usability of each state website: great, good, fair and poor. While a few states got shoutouts, others were "sources of maddening frustration," the report said.
"Over and over again, we found ourselves lost in a sea of tabs, buried under piles of disaggregated data, or perplexed by confusing visualizations," the researchers wrote.
Wisconsin's WISEDash was rated fair. That's at least in part because it was a difficult website to find online. Polikoff also said the website could be clunky to navigate and buried some data.
In a recent interview on WisconsinEye, deputy state superintendent Thomas McCarthy acknowledged there is no "easy" way to assess a school's performance level and its change over time.
"I don't know of a perfect tool for a parent to pick and up say 'OK, I'm going to look at this really quickly and tell you exactly how my school is doing,'" he said. "We've engaged in this sort of oversimplification process for a long time to say let's roll up a bunch of data and make some scientific calculations and then hopefully that will amount to I can look at my school and say it's four stars instead of five stars or three stars or two stars. I think if you really want to have that conversation, it does require a parent (or) caregiver to get their hands a little dirty and look at the system and figure that out."
Why are school report cards important?
A report on report cards may sound overly academic. But the findings come at a critical time when students are still recovering from pandemic learning loss.
That's why researchers focused on whether states' data went back further than 2020. While year-to-year comparisons are imperfect, the comparisons "provide an important barometer" of how COVID-19 affected students.
Many of the lowest-scoring reports came from smaller, or more rural states. The report suggested states work together, perhaps with a national education organization such as the Council of Chief State School Officers, to improve report cards instead of leaving all 50 to figure it out alone.
More broadly, the report recommended state education departments invest in user experience testing of their websites. Researchers also wondered whether the federal goverment should push for, or even require, greater data transparency.
"Parents, educators, and community leaders cannot advocate for and solve problems they do not know exist," the researchers explained.
Not a fan of WISEDash? Try this tool
While DPI data may not be the most user-friendly, the nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum pulls some state data into its own tool. This tool was not part of the study.
The organization's interactive School DataTool is updated annually. It includes information from each public school district but not individual schools. Still, it offers parents an easy districtwide snapshot on metrics ranging from chronic absenteeism to graduation rates to test scores and more. Some of the metrics include more than a decade of data.
Contact Kelly Meyerhofer at kmeyerhofer@gannett.com or 414-223-5168. Follow her on X (Twitter) at @KellyMeyerhofer.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin scored D on school report card data accessibility
PANAMA CITY The Panama City Rescue Mission teamed up with Florida Power & Light to make the shelter more energy efficient, allowing it to save money on heating and cooling. The results were unveiled on Sept. 4.
Ross Clemons, executive director of the Panama City Rescue Mission, shows off the new doors on the organization's men's shelter on Sept. 4, 2024, Panama City, Florida.
At FPL, we are powering strong communities by supporting organizations like PCRM that play a vital role in uplifting those most in need, said J.T. Young, vice president and general manager of the FPL Northwest region. This substantial reduction in energy costs means they can channel more resources directly into their mission, providing a safer and brighter future for their clients.
FPL has a program where it looks for nonprofit organizations that could benefit from an "Energy Makeover." When it chose PCRM, it sent a team from Pensacola to audit the facility and identify ways to reduce their power bill. The team discovered that the doors on the 69-year-old building weren't well-sealed. This allowing a good amount of conditioned air to escape.
This prompted FPL to give the shelter the funds for three new glass double-doors at a total cost of $15,000. Ross Clemons, executive director of PCRM, said that the new doors are already saving them around $450 a month on their electric bill.
Members of Florida Power & Light stop for a group photo with members of the Panama City Rescue Mission on Sept. 4, 2024, in Panama City, Florida
We are thrilled to see the immediate benefits from these facility upgrades, Clemons said. The savings on our energy bills are substantial, allowing us to better allocate our resources to serve the community. We extend our heartfelt thanks to FPL for their unwavering support and commitment to our cause."
Clemons said that this money saving will help with their goal to hire more staff. It's about an eighth of what they need to hire another person; however, between the energy savings and an upcoming sponsor banquet, he thinks they can make it happen.
The Panama City Rescue Mission's men's shelter as seen from the street on Sept. 4, 2024, Panama City, Florida
FPL is a regular financial contributor to the shelter and one of their management team members is a board member at the mission. The utility plans on continuing to work with PCRM in the future.
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: FPL helps Panama City Rescue Mission cut costs on electric
WINDER, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 4: A police line is put up in front of Apalachee High School after a school shooting took place on September 4, 2024 in Winder, Georgia. Multiple fatalities and injuries have been reported and a suspect is in custody according to authorities. (Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images)
Americans watched in horror on TV and social media Wednesday as students from Apalachee High School in Winder evacuated the building following a shooting that left four dead and nine injured, according to law enforcement and news reports.
The names of the four victims killed in the Apalachee school morning shooting Wednesday were confirmed during the night by law enforcement officials as 14-year-old students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo and math teachers Christina Irimie and Richard Aspinwall.
Colt Gray, a 14-year-old student will be charged with murder and tried as an adult in connection with the shooting, authorities announced Wednesday.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey said there was no evidence that another shooter was involved in the incident at Apalachee Wednesday.
No evidence was found that Gray or anyone else had a list of other Georgia schools that were also targets of violence. A second threat was reported to police Wednesday at another local high school, but police determined there was no threat following an investigation, according to authorities.
Investigators are actively pursuing any leads of any potential associates of the shooter that was involved in this incident, Hosey said.
However, there is a lot of evidence that is being recovered and evaluated, Hosey said. Were going through everything to determine if there are any active threats to any schools in this area, this county and the state of Georgia and we will continue to monitor that throughout this.
Local law enforcement first received reports of an active shooter on the campus of Apalachee at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and several other state and local law enforcement agencies and emergency responders are helping the Barrow Sheriffs Office with the fluid investigation, Smith said.
I want to give our sympathies to our community, our school system, our kids, our parents that had to witness this today, obviously what you see behind us is an evil thing today, said an emotional Smith, a lifelong resident of Barrow.
Hosey said Gray was also suspected of making threats prior to Wednesday of a violent attack at another Georgia school. An anonymous tip was received by the FBI that someone was posting threatening messages on social media at the school. Gray was identified as the suspect by the Jackson County Sheriffs Office, however he was not charged after investigators found there was not enough probable cause to arrest him, Hosey said.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp offered his condolences to the families of the four victims killed in the shooting and nine other injured victims as well as to the students and people in the Barrow County community grieving the tragedy. The Winder high school is about midway between Atlanta and Athens.
I would just ask all Georgians and all Americans to continue to keep these families, these educators, and these students in your thoughts and prayers, he said at Wednesday nights news briefing. We will provide every state resource as needed from here until theyre not, to support this community and support this team behind me.
Fallout
The shooting is likely to spur further calls for gun safety measures in the coming state legislative session, set to begin in January. A Senate study committee on safe firearm storage was already scheduled to meet for the first time Thursday morning.
The five-person committee is chaired by Decatur Democratic Sen. Emanuel Jones and includes three Republicans and two Democrats.
As Chairman of the Senate Study Committee on Safe Firearm Storage, I am committed to finding solutions to stop these tragedies before they occur, Jones said in a statement. This is not about infringing on Second Amendment rights but protecting our children and their safety. The technology exists today to secure firearms effectively, ensuring that they do not fall into the hands of those who should not have access to them, particularly children. On average, 1,927 people die by guns in Georgia each yearthese are not just numbers; they are lives lost and families shattered. We must do more.
Georgians have been shocked by several high-profile shootings in recent years, including in 2021 when a gunman killed eight people, including six women of Asian descent at spas across metro Atlanta, and in 2023, when a shooting in an Atlanta medical facility left one dead and put several blocks of the city on extended lockdown.
Those incidents, combined with others nationwide, including 2022s school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, spurred Georgia lawmakers to seek ways to increase student safety.
Kemp has touted measures including a recurring $103.9 million budget item for school safety, which amounts to $45,000 per Georgia public school to fund safety measures.
Democrats called for further steps. State Rep. Michelle Au, D-Johns Creek, achieved a rare victory for gun safety supporters last year when her gun storage bill that would have instated punishments for gun owners who negligently allow firearms to fall into the hands of unsupervised children if those children harmed themselves or others received a public hearing.
That legislation did not pass, and neither did another bill touted as a compromise, which would have provided a tax credit of up to $300 for gun safety devices like safes and trigger locks.
Earlier this year, the parents of a Michigan school shooter were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for failing to prevent their child from carrying out the attack, which killed four.
National reaction
Tributes poured in from around the country, and so did calls for new gun safety legislation.
President Joe Biden said the shooting turned the back-to-school season into another horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to tear our communities apart and called on Congress to enact new firearm regulations.
After decades of inaction, Republicans in Congress must finally say enough is enough and work with Democrats to pass common-sense gun safety legislation, he said in a statement. We must ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines once again, require safe storage of firearms, enact universal background checks, and end immunity for gun manufacturers. These measures will not bring those who were tragically killed today back, but it will help prevent more tragic gun violence from ripping more families apart.
Vice President Kamala Harris said Wednesdays deadly Georgia school shooting is yet another reason to ramp up efforts to eradicate the epidemic of gun violence that is affecting young people across the country.
The Biden-Harris administration announced new gun safety initiatives in March to prevent mass school shootings and other gun violence affecting youth, including a greater focus on mental health services and preventing students and people in crisis from having access to guns.
This is just a senseless tragedy on top of so many senseless tragedies, Harris said during Wednesday afternoons presidential campaign stop in New Hampshire. Its just outrageous that every day in our country, in the United States of America, that parents have to send their children to school worried about whether or not their child will come home alive. Its senseless.
Harris called for an assault weapons ban, universal background checks and red flag laws.
Georgia Democrats struck a similar tone.
Georgia Congresswoman Lucy McBath, whose son Jordan Davis was killed by gun violence, said she was praying for families of victims.
I am praying for the students of Apalachee High School and the community of Winder, she said in a statement. I am praying for families across our state and entire country. Too many continue to experience the pain of gun violence. No family should have to go through this.
My heart breaks for the families of the victims at Apalachee High School & for every student, said U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock in a tweet. The entire Winder community is in my prayers, but we cant pray only with our lipswe must pray by taking action.
Until we center the people and start a serious, bipartisan conversation in Washington & state capitols across the country to advance popular, common sense gun safety reforms, the sad truth is its only a matter of time before this kind of tragedy comes knocking on your door, he added.
Former President Donald Trump weighed in on Truth Social.
Our hearts are with the victims and loved ones of those affected by the tragic event in Winder, GA, Trump said. These cherished children were taken from us far too soon by a sick and deranged monster.
Georgia Republicans were largely sedate, offering prayers for victims and praise for law enforcement but not commenting on any policy ramifications.
I have directed all available state resources to respond to the incident at Apalachee High School and urge all Georgians to join my family in praying for the safety of those in our classrooms, both in Barrow County and across the state, Gov. Kemp said in a statement. We will continue to work with local, state, and federal partners as we gather information and further respond to this situation.
House Speaker Jon Burns said in a statement that the time to discuss policy will come.
As a father and a grandfather, I am devastated by the horrific tragedy that took place today at Apalachee High School, he said. We continue to mourn the senseless loss of life, and pray for those who were injured as we lift up their families and the entire Barrow County community during this time.
We have prioritized making significant investments in mental health and school safety funding and while there will be a time and place for policy discussions, our sole focus right now remains on surrounding these students, teachers and families with our love and support.
Republican Congressman Mike Collins, whose east Georgia district includes the school, is known for politically incorrect and inflammatory tweets, but he was staid on Wednesday.
Leigh Ann and I are praying for the victims, their families, and all students at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, he tweeted. We extend our gratitude to law enforcement for their swift action to secure the school and get the shooter in custody. I have spoken with Sheriff Smith and told him my team and I are available to assist in any way necessary. We will continue to monitor and provide updates as prudent.
The school is represented in the state Legislature by two high-ranking Republicans, Sen. Bill Cowsert of Athens and House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration of Auburn, who expressed similar sentiments Wednesday.
The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities encourages anyone experiencing emotional distress to call or text 988, a free and confidential resource to connect with trained counselors.
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Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Georgia Recorder maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor John McCosh for questions: info@georgiarecorder.com. Follow Georgia Recorder on Facebook and X.
A police line is put up in front of Apalachee High School after a school shooting took place on Sept. 4, 2024, in Winder. Four fatalities and multiple injuries have been reported, and a suspect is in custody, according to authorities. (Megan Varner/Getty Images)
Americans watched in horror on TV and social media Wednesday as students from Apalachee High School in Winder evacuated the building following a shooting that left four dead and nine injured, according to law enforcement and news reports.
A 14-year-old student will be charged with murder and tried as an adult in connection with the shooting that killed two students and two teachers in Winder, a town of about 18,000 on the northeast outskirts of Atlanta.
Colt Gray was identified as the alleged shooter by authorities, according to Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey.
Local law enforcement first received reports of an active shooter on the campus of Apalachee at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said. Winder is
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and several other state and local law enforcement agencies and emergency responders are helping the Barrow Sheriffs Office with the fluid investigation, Smith said.
I want to give our sympathies to our community, our school system, our kids, our parents that had to witness this today, obviously what you see behind us is an evil thing today, said an emotional Smith, a lifelong resident of Barrow.
Fallout
The shooting is likely to spur further calls for gun safety measures in the coming state legislative session, set to begin in January. A Senate study committee on safe firearm storage was already scheduled to meet for the first time Thursday morning.
The five-person committee is chaired by Decatur Democratic Sen. Emanuel Jones and includes three Republicans and two Democrats.
As Chairman of the Senate Study Committee on Safe Firearm Storage, I am committed to finding solutions to stop these tragedies before they occur, Jones said in a statement. This is not about infringing on Second Amendment rights but protecting our children and their safety. The technology exists today to secure firearms effectively, ensuring that they do not fall into the hands of those who should not have access to them, particularly children. On average, 1,927 people die by guns in Georgia each yearthese are not just numbers; they are lives lost and families shattered. We must do more.
Georgians have been shocked by several high-profile shootings in recent years, including in 2021 when a gunman killed eight people, including six women of Asian descent, at spas across metro Atlanta, and in 2023, when a shooting in an Atlanta medical facility left one dead and put several blocks of the city on extended lockdown.
Those incidents, combined with others nationwide, including 2022s school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, spurred Georgia lawmakers to seek ways to increase student safety.
Gov. Brian Kemp has touted measures including a recurring $103.9 million budget item for school safety, which amounts to $45,000 per Georgia public school to fund safety measures.
Democrats called for further steps. State Rep. Michelle Au, D-Johns Creek, achieved a rare victory for gun safety supporters last year when a public hearing was held for her gun storage bill, which would have established punishments for gun owners who negligently allow firearms to fall into the hands of unsupervised children if those children harmed themselves or others.
That legislation did not pass, and neither did another bill touted as a compromise, which would have provided a tax credit of up to $300 for gun safety devices such as safes and trigger locks.
Earlier this year, the parents of a Michigan school shooter were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for failing to prevent their child from carrying out the attack, which killed four.
National reaction
Tributes poured from around the country, and so did calls for new gun safety legislation.
President Joe Biden said the shooting turned the back-to-school season into another horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to tear our communities apart and called on Congress to enact new firearm regulations.
After decades of inaction, Republicans in Congress must finally say enough is enough and work with Democrats to pass common-sense gun safety legislation, he said in a statement. We must ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines once again, require safe storage of firearms, enact universal background checks, and end immunity for gun manufacturers. These measures will not bring those who were tragically killed today back, but it will help prevent more tragic gun violence from ripping more families apart.
Vice President Kamala Harris said Wednesdays deadly Georgia school shooting is yet another reason to ramp up efforts to eradicate the epidemic of gun violence that is affecting young people across the country.
The Biden-Harris administration announced new gun safety initiatives in March to prevent mass school shootings and other gun violence affecting youth, including a greater focus on mental health services and preventing students and people in crisis from having access to guns.
This is just a senseless tragedy on top of so many senseless tragedies, Harris said during Wednesday afternoons presidential campaign stop in New Hampshire. Its just outrageous that every day in our country, in the United States of America, that parents have to send their children to school worried about whether or not their child will come home alive. Its senseless.
Harris called for an assault weapons ban, universal background checks and red flag laws.
Georgia Democrats struck a similar tone.
Georgia Congresswoman Lucy McBath, whose son Jordan Davis was killed by gun violence, said she was praying for families of victims.
I am praying for the students of Apalachee High School and the community of Winder, she said in a statement. I am praying for families across our state and entire country. Too many continue to experience the pain of gun violence. No family should have to go through this.
My heart breaks for the families of the victims at Apalachee High School & for every student, said U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock in a tweet. The entire Winder community is in my prayers, but we cant pray only with our lips we must pray by taking action.
Until we center the people and start a serious, bipartisan conversation in Washington & state capitols across the country to advance popular, common sense gun safety reforms, the sad truth is its only a matter of time before this kind of tragedy comes knocking on your door, he added.
Former President Donald Trump weighed in on Truth Social.
Our hearts are with the victims and loved ones of those affected by the tragic event in Winder, GA, Trump said. These cherished children were taken from us far too soon by a sick and deranged monster.
A time and place for policy discussion
Georgia Republicans were largely quiet, offering prayers for victims and praise for law enforcement but not commenting on any policy ramifications.
I have directed all available state resources to respond to the incident at Apalachee High School and urge all Georgians to join my family in praying for the safety of those in our classrooms, both in Barrow County and across the state, Gov. Kemp said in a statement. We will continue to work with local, state, and federal partners as we gather information and further respond to this situation.
House Speaker Jon Burns said in a statement that the time to discuss policy will come.
As a father and a grandfather, I am devastated by the horrific tragedy that took place today at Apalachee High School, he said. We continue to mourn the senseless loss of life, and pray for those who were injured as we lift up their families and the entire Barrow County community during this time.
We have prioritized making significant investments in mental health and school safety funding and while there will be a time and place for policy discussions, our sole focus right now remains on surrounding these students, teachers and families with our love and support.
Republican Congressman Mike Collins, whose east Georgia district includes the school, is known for politically incorrect and inflammatory tweets, but he was staid on Wednesday.
Leigh Ann and I are praying for the victims, their families, and all students at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, he tweeted. We extend our gratitude to law enforcement for their swift action to secure the school and get the shooter in custody. I have spoken with Sheriff Smith and told him my team and I are available to assist in any way necessary. We will continue to monitor and provide updates as prudent.
The school is represented in the state Legislature by two high-ranking Republicans, Sen. Bill Cowsert of Athens and House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration of Auburn, who expressed similar sentiments Wednesday.
The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities encourages anyone experiencing emotional distress to call or text 988, a free and confidential resource to connect with trained counselors.
This article first appeared in the Georgia Recorder, a sister site of the Nebraska Examiner in the States Newsroom network.
House Republicans on Tuesday issued a subpoena for Secretary of State Antony Blinken to testify on the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan that was completed in August 2021. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
Sept. 3 (UPI) -- House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul on Tuesday issued a subpoena for Secretary of State Antony Blinken to testify later this month on the Biden administration's withdrawal from Afghanistan, threatening to hold him in contempt if he refuses.
Republicans of the committee have been officially investigating the 2021 withdrawal of the U.S. military from Afghanistan since January of last year, and McCaul states he has repeatedly sought Blinken's testimony on the matter.
In a letter addressed to Blinken on Tuesday, McCaul said has asked the United States' top diplomat to sit for testimony since May and that the State Department has yet to provide any potential dates for him to do so.
McCaul said his testimony will be used to inform the committee on "potential legislation aimed at helping prevent the catastrophic mistakes of the withdrawal, including potential reforms to the department's legislative authorization."
"The Committee is holding this hearing because the Department of State was central to the Afghanistan withdrawal and served as the senior authority during the August non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO)," he said in the letter.
"As Secretary of State throughout the withdrawal and NEO, you were entrusted to lead these efforts and to secure the safe evacuation of Americans and Afghan allies."
Because of the State Department's "unresponsiveness," the committee has issued a subpoena compelling Blink to testify at a hearing scheduled for Sept. 19, McCaul said.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller rebuked the accusations in a statement saying that Blinken has testified before Congress concerning the Afghanistan withdrawal more than 14 times, more than any other Cabinet-level official, including four times before McCaul's committee.
"The Department has provided the Committee with nearly 20,000 pages of Department records, multiple high-level briefings, and engaged on transcribed interviews of nearly 15 current and former State Department officials with the Committee," Matthew said in the statement, NBC News reported.
The spokesman added that Blinken is not available for when the committee has compelled the secretary of state's testimony and that they have offered alternatives.
"It is disappointing that instead of continuing to engage with the Department in good faith, the Committee instead has issued yet another unnecessary subpoena," he said.
Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., the ranking Democrat of the Foreign Affairs Committee, issued a statement last week responding to McCaul's threats to subpoena Blinken. He described the threat as a political stunt that shows "the Republican party's desperation to score headlines during an election season."
"After two years and no new facts, House Republicans are once again grasping for headlines at the expense of real substance," Meeks said.
The subpoena was issued a week following the third anniversary of the withdrawal.
The withdrawal from January 2020 to August 2021 was initiated by the administration of Donald Trump and completed under the Biden administration.
Some 124,000 Afghans, including 6,000 U.S. citizens, were evacuated from the country along with the exit of the U.S. military from the Middle Eastern country.
During the withdrawal, 13 U.S. service members and more than 100 Afghans were killed in the bombing of Kabul's international airport.
Amid the withdrawal, Taliban seized control of the country, which it still maintains.
An official report investigating the withdrawal published last month found fault with both administrations.
"The decisions of both President Trump and President Biden to end the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan had serious consequences for the viability of the Afghan government and its security," the After Action Review states.
"Those decisions are beyond the scope of this review, but the AAR team found that during both administrations there was insufficient senior-level consideration of worst-case scenarios and how quickly those might follow."
Former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney said Wednesday that she will vote for Vice President Kamala Harris for president because of the danger she believes former President Donald Trump poses.
Her remarks, during an appearance at Duke University, came after the Wyoming Republican briefly flirted with her own third-party bid for president. Once the No. 3 leader of the House Republican Conference, Cheney has long warned of the threat she says the former president poses to American democracy.
As a conservative, as someone who believes in and cares about the Constitution, I have thought deeply about this, and because of the danger that Donald Trump poses, not only am I not voting for Donald Trump, but I will be voting for Kamala Harris, she said to applause and a standing ovation from the audience.
The former Wyoming representative, who had not previously said how she planned to vote in November, said that voters in swing states, like North Carolina, who dislike Trump need to do more than just not vote for him but actively cast their ballots for Harris.
Because we are here in North Carolina, I think it is crucially important for people to recognize not only is what Ive said about the danger that Trump poses something that should prevent people from voting for him, but I dont believe that we have the luxury of writing in candidates names, particularly in swing states, she said.
Her announcement comes after more than 200 staffers for four Republican presidential nominees former President George H.W. Bush, former President George W. Bush, former Arizona Sen. John McCain and Utah Sen. Mitt Romney last week endorsed Harris for president.
Cheney, a fierce Trump critic, was ousted from her seat after she refused to temper her criticisms of Trump following the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. She served as the vice chair of the Jan. 6 select committee, which probed the attack.
The former presidents political operation was crucial to Cheneys 2022 primary defeat. Her opponent ran with Trumps support, was advised by those in his camp and was funded by his donors.
Trumps running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, criticized Cheney on Wednesday night during an event in Arizona, accusing her of sending other peoples children off to fight and die for her military conflicts and her ridiculous ideas.
Kamala Harris and Liz Cheney make very, very interesting partners, he said. They get rich when America's sons and daughters go off to die.
In a statement, Harris campaign chair, Jen OMalley Dillon, praised Cheney as a patriot and said the vice president is proud to have her vote.
In December, Cheney published a book, Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning, which details how her former Republican colleagues, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, laid the groundwork for the events that led to the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Mia McCarthy contributed to this report.
Major rain headed for Panama City and Bay County into the weekend. Here's what we know.
Panama City can see some very heavy rainfall later this week.
The Florida Department of Emergency Management said 6 to 10 inches of rain are possible across the coastal Panhandle and west Big Bend area into the weekend. Some areas could see more than 12 inches.
A system that brought storms that drenched Texas over Labor Day weekend is expected to bring that same rain to the Florida Panhandle. While it disappeared off the NHC map after the weekend, storms associated with it continued to drift east. Now, forecasters are warning Gulf Coast residents to be prepared for heavy rain associated with the system.
"Impacts are expected from Southern Alabama, Florida's Panhandle and stretching to Jacksonville and into Georgia, with 4-8" of rain is expected between Friday and Saturday," said AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Forecaster Alex DaSilva. "The rain won't be limited to North Florida. Most of the peninsula can expect rainfall, which decreases the farther south you go. Tampa and Daytona Beach could see 2-4", with Saturday being the heaviest. Farther south in Florida, expect rainfall amounts ranging from 1 to 3 inches."
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While the trough of low pressure has a low chance of becoming a named tropical storm, that doesn't mean it won't bring dangerous conditions to Gulf Coast states from Texas to Florida and as far north as North Carolina. Of special concern to AccuWeather forecasters is southern Louisiana, which could see 6 to 12 inches of rain. Some areas could see up to 18 inches, said AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Forecaster Alex DaSilva.
"The system should move into into the Atlantic. There's the possibility of development in the Atlantic, although water temperatures aren't as warm as they are in the Gulf, but are still in the mid 80s," said DaSilva. "That's warm enough to support tropical development but there is more wind shear there so the environment is not extremely favorable for development. Even if there is development, there's no threat to the U.S. It would be pushed out to sea."
Here's what you should know.
Tropical tracker: National Weather Center highlights Gulf system
The National Hurricane Center said at 8 a.m. Thursday the trough of low pressure is producing widespread disorganized showers and thunderstorms across the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, including near the coasts of Louisiana and Texas.
Tropics watch, Sept. 5: See all 5 systems being tracked by National Hurricane Center
Upper-level winds are expected to become less conducive for development by Friday and Saturday as a frontal boundary approaches the system.
Although development is unlikely, heavy rainfall is expected across portions of the northern Gulf Coast during the next day or so.
Formation chance through 48 hours: low, 10 percent.
Formation chance through 7 days: low, 10 percent.
Is there a hurricane coming to Florida?
Rainfall prediction from Sept. 5-8, 2024.
No. The system of low pressure in the Gulf of Mexico currently has a low chance of development, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
"We've never seen the Gulf as warm as it is right now. Temperatures are mostly in the mid to upper 80s when averaged out. Tropical systems need 80 degrees to develop," DaSilva said.
"There's a low chance it can get its act together. Because of the warm water, it can try to spin up and it's not out of the realm of possibility it could get a name."
The next name of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is Francine.
Radar shows 'big blowup of thunderstorms' in Gulf of Mexico
Radar at 11 a.m. Sept. 5, shows system in the Gulf of Mexico that expected to bring heavy rainfall to the northern Gulf Coast into the weekend.
"Looking at the radar (shortly before 10 a.m. Thursday), there's been a big blowup of thunderstorms in the northwestern Gulf. It may be trying to get better organized, but there's a low chance of it getting a name. But that also means there could be more rainfall for Louisiana," DaSilva said.
"Its a very slow mover, which is contributing to heavy rain. If it gets its act together and tries to consolidate, there could be even more rain. We'll have to watch it very closely over the next couple of days."
Weather alerts issued in Florida, US
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'Too scared to stop': Jacksonville roads flooded after 6-9 inches of rain
Flooded roads stranded motorists in Duval County on Wednesday. LaSalle Street and San Marco Boulevard stayed flooded late into the afternoon.
The National Weather Service Jacksonville said 6 to 9 inches of rain fell in Duval County Wednesday, with most falling during the morning rush hour.
Excessive rainfall forecast
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This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City and Bay County could see heavy rains this weekend.
Kim Jong-un's regime punishes minor mistakes with dismissals and even execution, according to a defector - STR/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
North Koreas elites are becoming disillusioned with Kim Jong-uns erratic behaviour, according to a high-level defector who has called for a greater push to destabilise the authoritarian regime.
Ri Il-gyu, 52, served as a political counsellor at the North Korean embassy in Cuba until he escaped last November, becoming the highest ranking defector since 2016. He is now a well-known media figure in South Korea.
The reclusive countrys upper, or cadre, class had experienced a significant shift in how they perceived the Kim family dynasty, he told the Global Korea Forum in the Souths capital, Seoul, this week.
Theyve become disillusioned with the regime due to Kim Jong-uns impulsive behaviour, Mr Ri said, explaining that the punishment of minor mistakes with dismissals and even execution had created an atmosphere of anxiety and uncertainty.
The North Korean leader was seen inspecting the performance of new drones - KCNA/EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSTOCK
Kim reportedly ordered the execution of 20 to 30 regional government officials over their alleged failure to minimise the devastation caused by extensive flooding in July that killed thousands.
The officials were charged with corruption and dereliction of duty, South Korean outlet TV Chosun reported, citing an unnamed North Korean official.
Kim had vowed in late July to strictly punish the officials for the severe neglect of their duties.
Mr Ri pointed out that citizens were hesitant to rise up against Kims reign of terror because of the draconian surveillance system and the brutal repression of any dissent.
Kims war on corruption had fostered a culture of bribery among North Korean officials, who saw it as a survival tactic, he added.
Mr Ri pointed out that citizens were hesitant to rise up against Kims reign of terror because of the draconian surveillance system and the brutal repression of any dissent.
He urged the South Korean government to step up efforts to stoke the Norths collapse from within through targeted information campaigns inside the country and a strategy to win over diplomats stationed abroad to build a force for change.
Seoul had to underscore the message that everyone living under the regime was a slave to the Kim family, he said.
Vladimir Putin drove Kim Jong-un around the North Korean capital in a luxury limousine in June - KCNA/KNS
Mr Ri has previously recounted in his first interview with the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo that his own defection was spurred by disillusionment and frustration that his career had been derailed by his inability to pay large bribes to his superiors.
He made the decision to defect in 2023 after he was denied permission for treatment for a spinal injury, but he only gave his wife and child six hours notice that they would be escaping abroad.
The one-hour wait at the airport felt like years, he said, adding: For the first time, I prayed earnestly for God to protect my family, understanding why people believe in religion.
Mr Ri also revealed in the same interview that he had had tea with Kim Jong-un.
In person, Kim Jong-un is just an ordinary human, he said. Up close, you cant help but think his blood pressure must be extremely high; his face is always red, like hes been drinking, even redder than on screen.
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PAWTUCKET A Pawtucket man who worked as a corrections officer at women's prison in Massachusetts has been charged with sexually assaulting an inmate, Massachusetts' Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan announced.
Joao Gomes, 49, was arrested Wednesday at his home in Pawtucket without incident, Ryan said. Rhode Island State Police and the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section helped with the arrest, according to Ryan.
Gomes was indicted in Woburn, Massachusetts, Superior Court, for allegedly assaulting a female inmate in the Massachusetts Correctional Institution in Framingham, Ryan said.
Gomes is charged with four counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault and battery for multiple incidents involving a female inmate, according to Ryan.
He is also charged with three counts of delivering articles to prisoners in a corrections institution, for allegedly purchasing underwear for more than one inmate, Ryan said.
Gomes's case is the first in Middlesex County since Massachusetts updated the law in 2020 regarding law enforcement engaging in sexual relations with people under their custody or control, according to Ryan.
A date for Gomes's appearance in Middlesex Superior Court has not yet been scheduled.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI prison guard charged with sexually assaulting inmate in Mass
BOSTON After eight years as a ride share driver, Worcester resident Chiem Klot wants things to change.
When he first started driving for Uber and Lyft, he was excited by the new technology. But after filing his taxes, he realized that with the wear and tear on his vehicle and gas, insurance and maintenance costs, he didnt have anything to show for it.
Chiem Klot, a rideshare driver from Worcester, attended the Wednesday rally launching the campaign Yes on 3, the ballot initiative that would create a pathway for unionization for rideshare drivers.
"I realized I could do this for the rest of my life and the company would always take more than 50% of the ride," Klot said. He opted to join the unionization movement about a year ago when he was approached by organizers, hoping for change.
Recently married, Klot said his wife is still in Cambodia. He hopes to have a sizable nest egg for when she arrives for them to start their lives together.
Klot was one of more than 100 drivers who gathered at the Massachusetts State House Wednesday, joining with U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Attorney General Andrea Campbell and union leaders to launch the campaign in support of the ballot initiative.
Yes on Question Three was on all lips as the organizers asked the drivers to campaign as hard as possible and to speak with friends, family and the public to ask them to support the ballot initiative toward a path to unionization.
It is one of five questions Massachusetts voters will be asked to decide in November.
Federal labor law regulates employment and grants private company and public employees the right to unionize. However, because drivers are classified as independent contractors by the technology companies that control the rideshare applications, they are excluded from federal coverage.
Roxana Rivera, assistant to the president of SEIU BJ32, urges drivers gathered at the State House Wednesday to discuss the ballot initiative "Yes on 3."
Massachusetts has disputed the companies' claims that drivers are independent contractors and recently reached a settlement with Uber and Lyft that paid Massachusetts drivers $175 million in back wages and unemployment benefits to the state.
The settlement also affords basic employment benefits to more than 200,000 Massachusetts drivers including a $32.50 minimum wage while they are engaged in picking up and driving clients. The settlement guarantees paid sick leave of one hour per 30 hours worked. Drivers will also receive a stipend to buy into the states paid family and medical leave program and will also be able to access a pooled health insurance benefit after driving for more than 15 hours a week. The companies will also pay for accident insurance of up to $1 million for work-related injuries.
Having a union will give us a voice, Klot said, adding that being at the bargaining table with company officials will afford workers better pay, increase their safety and protect them from unsubstantiated deactivations that bar them from working, as well as AI technology and driverless cars.
U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., shows support for rideshare drivers at the Wednesday rally to launch the campaign Yes on 3.
Drivers are the backbone of the states transportation system, said Manny Pastreich, president of SEIU BJ32, the union leading organization efforts.
'Yes on Three' is not about making a living, but about making a life, a good one, Pressley said. Unions are a path to the middle class.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Rideshare drivers, union rally for Yes on 3 initiative in Boston
St. Cloud Area School District 742 educators are looking to technology as they brainstorm how to improve standardized testing scores.
The Wednesday school board discussion follows results showing the district performed below the state average on standardized testing. The scores revealed roughly 25% of students reached proficiency in math and science, and in reading, it was 35%, according to Minnesota Department of Education data.
St. Cloud numbers compare to the statewide proficiency rate of about 50% of students in reading, 46% in math and nearly 40% in science.
Superintendent Laurie Putnam said the district, which has a high number of English as a second language learners, is looking toward its Modern Classrooms program as a solution. The program has been rolled out in an increased fashion since its inception roughly two years ago, with approximately 10% of St. Cloud teachers participating this academic year.
The districts Modern Classroom program provides a blended approach of both teacher and technology instructed content. Students absorb content through teacher-created videos, and will work through modules until they reach mastery in each subject area, Director of Innovation and Instructional Technology Katheryn Herrboldt said.
Herrboldt said traditional lecture-style teaching formats make it difficult for students at all learning levels. It makes it tough for teachers to engage high-performing students while still reaching those who are still grasping onto content. The Modern Classroom blended learning style, Herrboldt said, will give teachers more freedom to spend time with struggling students, pulling aside those falling behind for additional help in either an individual or in a small group setting.
For students blasting through material, Herrboldt said it provides an opportunity to dive further into subject areas with personalized interests in mind, alleging it fosters a more engaging experience for high achievers as well.
Putnam said this approach helps students tackle subjects that are difficult for them on an individual basis, saying each student has different strengths and weaknesses, and the program tailors learning toward those personalized tendencies.
The beauty of a program like Modern Classroom is that it gives kids the opportunity to excel when they are confident and prepared, Putnam said. But when the next unit doesn't click for them, they can spend more time in that (area).
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The Modern Classroom program makes it easier for teachers to understand and track how each student is grasping educational concepts on an individual basis, and students can see how their classmates are doing, which Herrboldt and her team of teachers said allows students to work together in filling in the gaps.
When asked by the St. Cloud Times if the public benchmark displays could discourage underperforming students, Putnam said nobody is perfect, and every student will struggle at some point or another. She said it provides students the opportunity to seek collaboration, as well as establish the grit and reality that everyone has their pain points, preparing them for a post-District 742 world.
If we can build up a classroom where people understand that we arent all good at things all the time, and we arent all bad at things all the time, that helps build the grit necessary to persevere, not just in a classroom, but also beyond, Putnam said.
The district saw positive feedback from teachers using "Modern Classroom," saying it helped them better assess student needs, create instructional videos and incorporate technology to boost learning.
When teachers make mastery checks that make students pause, and think about what theyve learned, and dig deep into their knowledge, then they can (evaluate student comprehension and application), South Junior High teacher Kate Klug said.
Klug said teachers can set benchmark dates for students to reach "mastery" in each unit, which prevents students from taking the individualized pace as an opportunity to avoid coursework.
District 742 teachers are also trained on generative artificial intelligence, what some may know as ChatGTP.
Herrboldt said the move comes as job postings referencing GPT or ChatGPT have increased by 21 times since November 2022. She said while there are concerns about potential AI risks, such as overreliance and societal bias, students should be equipped with how to responsibly use the platform before entering the workforce.
We want to make sure that our students are future-ready and job-ready, Herrboldt said.
This also comes as many online platforms accessible by students, such as Snapchat and X, formerly Twitter, are producing their own AI programs for young ones to use.
The St. Cloud Area School District 742 performed below surrounding central Minnesota school districts on state assessments. But its numbers resemble schools in larger urban centers with a similar student demographic base as District 741. However, the district is still falling behind several urban districts across the state.
Corey Schmidt covers politics and courts for the St. Cloud Times. He can be reached at cschmidt@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: District 742 eyes AI, tech options after testing below Minnesota average
Suspect in Louisville Walmart shooting now in custody after being released from hospital
The man shot by a Louisville Metro Police officer outside a Walmart after he allegedly attempted to carjack a woman is now in custody at Metro Corrections after being released from the hospital Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
Randall Allen, 37, faces several felony charges, including resisting arrest, fleeing police and possession of a controlled substance, according to court records. He is currently being held on a $50,000 bond and is next scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. on Sept. 13.
At around 12:15 p.m. on Aug. 28, Officer Brandon Brinkley shot Allen, who was allegedly attempted to carjack a woman in a Walmart pharmacy drive-thru while armed following a vehicle chase by Kentucky State Police on Interstate 265, Interim Chief Paul Humphrey previously said.
Allen's vehicle, driven by Jeremy Bozarth, exited onto New Cut Road and reached speeds of 101 mph in a 65 mph zone before colliding with a red Chevy truck near Fairdale, court records show.
KSP troopers arrested Bozarth, but Allen, in the passenger seat, fled and ran into the nearby Walmart. When officers found Allen, he was in the front seat of a woman's vehicle in the drive-thru pharmacy line.
He was shot multiple times through the window and taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Court records show KSP troopers began a pursuit after noticing an expired license plate, a suspended license and expired insurance and registration linked to Bozarth's car.
Humphrey said Wednesday morning that Brinkley is a transfer from Lebanon Junction. He was hired in November 2022 and has nine letters of commendation with no history of disciplinary action, according to department records.
"Outstanding officer," Humphrey said. "While he's fairly new here, the experience he had in Lebanon Junction, to get that time on the street and understand this job before he came over to us has made dividends."
Bozarth is being held at Louisville Metro Corrections on a $50,000 bond and also faces felony charges, including wanton endangerment, fleeing police and reckless driving. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Friday in Jefferson District Court.
A shooter tried to carjack a woman outside of a Walmart pharmacy but was shot by an LMPD officer and taken to the hospital. Aug. 28, 2024
Louisville officer shooting LMPD investigates police shooting in Southern Louisville near Fairdale
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville Walmart shooting: Suspect released from hospital
The Wichita Eagle and The Kansas City Star are finalists for a prestigious national journalism award for their combined coverage of a police raid on a small town Kansas newspaper.
The Eagle and The Star are together a finalist for the Scripps Howard Journalism Award for Distinguished Service to the First Amendment. The Scripps Howard Awards, now in its 71st year, honors excellence in breaking news and investigative reporting.
In August 2023 the Marion Police Department, led by then-Chief Gideon Cody, searched the newsroom of the Marion County Record. Officers also searched the home of editor and publisher Eric Meyer and his mother, 98-year-old Joan Meyer, who died shortly after the raid. Police also searched the home of a local councilwoman.
Cody raided the properties as part of an investigation into alleged identity theft by a Record reporter, but the basis for the searches quickly fell apart. A local prosecutor withdrew the search warrants and Cody resigned weeks after the raid. Several lawsuits have been filed over the raid.
Last month, special prosecutors charged Cody with interfering in the judicial process, a felony, over allegations he instructed a local businesswoman to delete text messages in the aftermath of the searches.
The highlights of The Eagle and The Stars coverage of the raid include exposing Codys checkered past at the Kansas City Police Department before leaving to become chief in Marion. The newspapers also reported on how Magistrate Judge Laura Viar, who signed off on the searches, had a history of DUI arrests. The editorial board of both newspapers also denounced the raid, and The Eagle produced a documentary on Joan Meyers death.
Were thrilled to have the collaborative efforts of The Star and The Eagle recognized by the prestigious Scripps Howard Journalism Awards. To be a finalist in this category is an honor, Greg Farmer, executive editor of The Star, said.
What happened in Marion was an attack on the First Amendment and all journalists, and were proud to have played a small part in ensuring those who infringed on the Marion Records rights are being held accountable.
The other finalists for Distinguished Service to the First Amendment include Hearst Connecticut Media Group for an investigation into how Bridgeport, Connecticut, ignored open record laws and by Open Vallejo into how Vallejo, California, destroyed evidence in multiple police shootings.
The Scripps Howard winners will be announced on Oct. 20.
TOKYO, Sep 05 (News On Japan) - Japan's Ministry of the Environment announced on the 3rd that the mongoose, an invasive species known for preying on rare native species and disrupting the ecosystem on Amami Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, has been officially eradicated.
The island is part of a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. According to the Ministry, "There is no precedent globally for the eradication of mongoose on an island as large and long-occupied as Amami Oshima," suggesting that this case could serve as a reference model for future measures against invasive species.
Source: Kyodo
Wakayama, Sep 05 (News On Japan) - Wakayama City has decided to tackle the stray dog issue in Japan's Amalfi with a firm approach, setting up early morning patrols and dog traps.
Wakayama Mayor Masahiro Obana expressed his strong determination, stating, "If large numbers of stray dogs gather, it causes anxiety. We need to take strong measures."
During a July interview in Saikazaki, Wakayama City, the reporting team encountered a stray dog about 1 meter long. The city estimates that around 40 to 50 stray dogs inhabit the area. Although no injuries have been reported so far, residents remain concerned.
Every evening, the dogs bark intensely for more than a minute, and as night falls, they form larger packs, their eyes glowing in the darkness.
Wakayama City has conducted patrols during the day and set traps, but capturing the dogs has proven challenging.
In response to the situation, on September 4th of this month, Mayor Obana announced new measures: "We will allocate funds for personnel costs to conduct early morning capture activities. Additionally, we will install improved traps that the dogs are less likely to avoid, even with minimal noise or discomfort."
The city has included approximately 1.6 million yen in a supplementary budget for early morning patrols and the installation of new traps with no steps, making them less intimidating for the dogs. The city also plans to warn against feeding the dogs unless it is for protection purposes. If approved by the city council in September, the measures will be implemented immediately.
Source: MBS
TOKYO, Sep 06 (News On Japan) - Prince Hisahito, the eldest son of Japan's Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino, turned 18 on September 6, officially becoming an adult member of the Imperial family.
The Imperial Household Agency released a video of the high school senior strolling around the pond near the Akishino residence in the Akasaka Estate in July, observing the surrounding plants.
The plants, which include those where dragonflies lay eggs and their larvae transform, were personally planted by Prince Hisahito, who has taken an interest in observing these creatures.
Upon reaching adulthood on the 6th, Prince Hisahito shared his reflections on this significant milestone.
Prince Hisahito: "I feel as though my time in kindergarten, elementary school, and junior high school was just the other day, but now I find myself an adult. It makes me realize how quickly time passes. Over these 18 years, many people have supported me in various ways, and I am deeply grateful to them. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to my parents and sisters for raising me. As I enter my final year of high school, I want to focus on making the most of the remaining time, participating in school events, and working toward my future path. Going forward, I aim to continue learning from each experience, absorbing knowledge and growing as a person."
While adult male members of the Imperial family typically undergo a coming-of-age ceremony, the Imperial Household Agency announced that, as Prince Hisahito is currently preparing for university entrance exams during this crucial period, his coming-of-age ceremony will be held at an "appropriate time" after his high school graduation in March next year.
In the afternoon, Prince Hisahito plans to visit Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, as well as the retired Emperor and Empress, to offer his birthday greetings.
Source: ANN
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Thursday confirmed two persons dead and two injured in a two-storey building collapsed at Nomans Land Fagge Local Government Area of Kano.
Dr Nuraddeen Abdullahi, NEMA Coordinator, Kano Territorial Office, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano.
He said, The agency received a distress call today at about 2:00 a.m. from a good samaritan that a two-storey building collapsed at Nomans Land Quarters, Kano.
On receiving the information, we quickly sent our rescue team to the scene.
Four persons rescued by our team were husband, wife, and two children; out of the victims, the two children were confirmed dead, while the couple were rushed to Armed Forces Specialist Hospital, Kano, for treatment, Abdullahi said.
He noted that the search and rescue operations were still ongoing to rescue trapped persons in the building.
NAN reports that the Kano State Fire Service, Police, Red Cross, NSCDC, SEMA, and others were among the search and rescue team.
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
Burkina Faso has officially removed the logo of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from its new biometric passports, a move that underscores the countrys decision to withdraw from the 15-member regional bloc.
This development follows the decision of Burkina Faso, along with Niger and Mali, to sever ties with ECOWAS after the organization imposed sanctions on them in response to military coups.
The bloc has consistently called for the return to constitutional order as a condition for lifting the sanctions.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, Mahamadou Sana, Burkina Fasos Minister of Security, confirmed the move, stating: On this passport, theres no ECOWAS logo, and no mention of ECOWAS either. Since January, Burkina Faso has decided to withdraw from this body, and this is just a realisation of the action already taken by Burkina Faso.
Burkina Fasos decision to omit ECOWAS from its passports further signals the countrys growing estrangement from the regional organization.
All three nations Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have accused ECOWAS of prioritizing selfish interests over the spirit of pan-Africanism.
ECOWAS has warned that the withdrawal of these countries could negatively impact the blocs common market and the freedom of movement for the 400 million people living within the region.
Despite these tensions, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, who serves as the current ECOWAS chairman, and his team continue to seek diplomatic avenues to bring Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali back into the fold.
Tinubu emphasized that the bloc remains open and friendly to the nations despite the current situation.
According to the Henley Passport Index, Burkina Fasos passport ranks 78th globally, with access to 60 visa-free destinations, including many ECOWAS member states.
Whether this change will affect Burkina Fasos visa agreements within the bloc remains to be seen.
By Ikenna Ngere
The ongoing crisis within the Labour Party (LP) took a new turn as National Chairman, Julius Abure voiced his opposition to the creation of an interim committee.
Despite recent efforts to reconcile party divisions, tensions heightened when Abure labelled the 29-member interim committee led by Senator Esther Nnenadi Usman as illegal.
The committee, formed during a stakeholders meeting convened by Abia State Governor, Alex Otti and the partys national leader, Peter Obi, was meant to oversee party operations temporarily.
Governor Otti, who is currently the only Labour Party governor in the country, emphasized the need for the party to avert an internal collapse, which he warned could hinder its future electoral prospects.
A former Minister of State for Finance, Nnenadi Usman, took on the task of leading the committee and promised to steer the party through a rescue mission.
However, Abure and the National Working Committee (NWC), which he heads, immediately declared the move unconstitutional.
According to The Nation, though Abure was invited to the stakeholders meeting, he chose not to attend.
He later asserted that the meeting and its resulting actions were legally unfounded, describing the committees formation as an overreach.
The interim committee includes representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), as well as senators, members of the House of Representatives, and former governorship candidates from across Nigerias geopolitical zones.
Their mandate is to organize the partys congresses and national convention within 90 days.
During the meeting, which was held at the Government House in Umuahia, Otti stressed that he had no personal stake in who becomes the next national chairman.
He argued that the survival of the party was more important and warned that failing to act could have dire consequences.
Peter Obi, addressing the gathering, called for unity within the party and threw his weight behind the caretaker committee.
He emphasized that the Labour Party, now the third-largest political force in Nigeria, needed to present a united front moving forward.
The NLCs National Vice President, Salamatu Aliu, also attended the meeting and urged all parties to follow legal procedures in establishing a transition team. He highlighted the need to learn from past mistakes and move forward with clarity.
In a communique read by the Labour Partys 2023 deputy governorship candidate for Plateau State, Edward Pwajok, stakeholders reaffirmed their support for Obi as the national leader and endorsed the caretaker committee to temporarily fill the leadership gap.
They also urged all members with court cases against the party to withdraw them in the spirit of unity.
Senator Usman, while accepting the responsibility to head the committee, promised to unify the party and ensure that they meet their objectives within the stipulated 90 days.
She expressed optimism that the Labour Party could be a strong contender in future elections, including the 2027 presidential race.
One of the partys leading figures, Senator Victor Umeh, dismissed calls for Obi to resign from his position as a national leader, labelling such demands as misguided.
The meeting was attended by notable Labour Party members, including Senators, House of Representatives members, and leaders from the NLC and TUC. However, the absence of Abure cast a shadow over the gathering.
Abures Rejection of the Caretaker Committee
In response to the developments, Julius Abure and his NWC firmly rejected the caretaker committee, calling it illegitimate and unconstitutional.
In a statement issued by the partys National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, Abure declared that he remained the lawful chairman of the party.
The statement criticized the meeting in Umuahia, describing it as a charade and a waste of public resources.
Abure further argued that neither Governor Otti nor any other individual had the authority to call such a meeting under the partys constitution or Nigerian law.
Abure also challenged Otti to provide any official communication from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) backing his claims about the need for an interim leadership.
He asserted that there was no leadership vacuum within the Labour Party and that the so-called caretaker committee was merely a construct of the Abia State Government, not a recognized entity within the party.
The statement reads: As clearly stated in our previous statement, the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, and all others who have converged on Umuahia have no power within the Party Constitution, the Electoral Act and even within the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to convene any meeting of the Party.
The combined reading of the two provisions show clearly that the so called meeting in Umuahia is a charade, a waste of time and resources of Abia People.
The premise on which Governor Alex Otti called the meeting is not only faulty but mischievous. Government business is not transacted verbally but through official communication and correspondences which are done in writing.
As we speak, there is no communication whatsoever from INEC to the Party as regards any objection to the conduct of the National Convention.
We challenge Alex Otti to produce the official letter addressed to him from INEC on the subject matter. There is no vacuum in the leadership of the Party.
Consequently, the so-called caretaker committee set up by the Governor of Abia State is not known to the constitution of the Party and can best be described as a department in Abia State Government House.
We are shocked to note that the so-called chairman of the caretaker committee is not a registered member of the Party. She surfaced during the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign to assist Peter Obi in his campaign.
Late Christiana Idowu
n a tragic turn of events, a 300-level student from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Christiana Idowu, who was kidnapped between Ikorodu and Yaba in Lagos State, has reportedly been killed by her abductor.
Christiana left her home in the Itaoluwo area of Ikorodu to travel to the University of Lagos in Yaba, where she was undergoing her industrial training when she was abducted by kidnappers.
The suspect has since been arrested after combined efforts from security agencies.
In a now-viral post on X, a user named @letter_to_jack shared that intelligence agents were able to track down the abductor using the BVN and bank account information associated with the ransom payments made by the family.
The tweet read, On the 19th of August 2024, Christiannah Idowu was declared missing after her parents were contacted by her abductors using her own WhatsApp contact.
The first contact with the parent was established around 8:49pm after which they sent photos of the victim in captivity to them using the WhatsApp view once feature.
The abductors requested for a ransom fee of N1,500,000. Christiannahs parents raised N350,000 immediately. The abductor then requested that the money be sent to a bet account through a bank deposit channel. (Info reserved for now)
After receiving the money, on the 22nd of August, the abductor requested that bank statement of the sender be forwarded to his email (withheld).
On the 23rd of August, family complied. Immediately after that, the abductor stopped communicating with the parents.
Meanwhile, on the 22nd of August, some amount was sent to the GTB account of Christiannah and the amount was then withdrawn into the wema bank account belonging to the main suspect ( Name withheld for now).
Investigation by intelligence operatives began on the 26th to unravel details of the account number.
By the 29th, intelligence operatives had confirmation from the bank that the BVN linked to the masked Betting account allegedly belonged to the account owner (name withheld for now) who also operates the Wema Bank (account no withheld for now).
Further investigation revealed that he was able to withdraw the sum of 100,000 from the betting account before agents got the bet company to lock the account.
Armed by these information, operatives began investigation into the suspect whom they observed to have a mutual relationship with Christiannah Idowu, especially judging by Instagram posts as they both commented on each others pages.
The crazy thing is: the same account number used to launder some amount directly from Christiannahs account has been posted on Twitter once to beg for a give away free money.
With all these information at hand, the operatives began to track down his cell phone activities and text messages. The cell phone tracking led them to his parents house, somewhere in IKORODU.
Operatives then got confirmation of his presence in the building through active tracking of his mobile device. Immediately, gallant personnel of the Nigerian army 174bn swooped in on the suspect to conduct arrest.
After the arrest, damning evidences were seen with the suspect and this includes the victim blue ITEL A56 with IMEI:35230.
Also, in his phones are details of the money moved and also details confirming he owns the Betting account that was locked. It was registered with his phone number.
On his phone, they found an interaction between his personal email and the email address that has been interacting with the family of the deceased.
After reviewing the evidence, the suspect was then taken into custody to enable the operatives conduct further investigations. Upon reviewing this evidence, suspect was successful taken into custody for necessary action.
On September 3, the suspect reportedly confessed to the father and the soldiers that he killed the girl and buried her in their house.
There is also a new story awaiting further confirmation that in 2018, the suspects ex-girlfriend was killed in same manner. Also that in 2020, the suspects own biological sister met the same fate, and the same thing has happened to Christiannah in 2024.
The horrifying incident has ignited widespread outrage across Nigeria, especially on social media. Many Nigerians have taken to Twitter to demand justice for Christiana, with the hashtag #JusticeForChristianah trending.
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
Russian President, Vladimir Putin has expressed readiness to resume peace talks with Ukraine, emphasizing that any negotiations should be based on the agreements reached in Istanbul in 2022.
Speaking at a forum in Vladivostok, Putin reiterated that Moscow has not refused negotiations but insisted on specific terms.
He highlighted that the earlier Istanbul agreement, initially accepted by Kyiv, could serve as the foundation for renewed discussions.
Putin said at a forum in Vladivostok, Are we ready to negotiate with them? We have never refused to do so, but not on the basis of some ephemeral demands, but on the basis of those documents that were agreed and actually initialled in Istanbul.
Putins stance comes amidst ongoing conflict and political strain between Russia and Ukraine, with several conditions set for future peace talks.
These include Ukraine abandoning its intentions to join NATO, recognizing Russias sovereignty over the annexed territories in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, and agreeing to certain military limitations.
The Russian leader also accused Ukraine of being influenced by Western powers, specifically pointing to instructions from London and Washington as reasons for Ukraines reluctance to engage in peace negotiations.
Despite this, Putin expressed a willingness to sit down for talks, stressing that the situation on the battlefield could change, which might impact the conditions for negotiations.
The meeting between the two leaders, should it occur, could mark a significant moment in efforts to bring an end to the prolonged conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
However, many hurdles remain, particularly surrounding Ukraines territorial integrity and geopolitical alliances.
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The restoration of flights between Libya and the United Kingdom, particularly to cities with significant Libyan communities was discussed at a meeting between Head of Libyas Civil Aviation Authority, Abdul Rahman bin Youssef, and British Ambassador to Libya, Martin Longden.
The British diplomat agreed to liaise with relevant UK departments to support the Civil Aviation Authoritys efforts and commended the progress made particularly in aviation safety and compliance with international standards.
The meeting addressed the performance in meeting international requirements to lift the European ban on Libyan aircraft. The Libyan Authority presented a detailed update on the nearly 90% completion of the comprehensive digital transformation project aimed at addressing civil aviation needs and shortcomings.
Additionally, the discussion covered the challenges posed by some countries negative assessments of Libyas security situation and its designation as a conflict zone, which have impeded efforts to restore flights to Libyan airspace.
Mali military rulers have sealed a military partnership with China amid heightened tension with the feckless neighboring Algerian regime, accused by Bamako of interfering in its domestic affairs and supporting terrorist groups threating its stability.
Under an agreement signed in Beijing on the sidelines of the ongoing China-Africa cooperation forum, China will provide the West African country drones, armored vehicles, military training, and defense technologies.
The deal was inked by Malis Defense Minister Sadio Camara and the head of the Chinese military firm Norinco in presence of Interim president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces Col. Assimi Goita.
Last week, Malis ambassador to UN clashed with Algerian peer, saying Algiers has no right to lecture Bamako on human rights or international law, denouncing Algerias support for armed groups in the Sahel region.
He also accused Algeria of providing safe haven to separatist groups that launch attacks across the border, underlining Malis right to defend itself.
The Mali government, which has been fighting various insurgencies in the north of the country for more than a decade, requested help from Wagner after a military junta took power in 2020.
In addition to Mali, Libya, Niger, Burkina-Faso and other Sahel countries decry Algerias ties with separatist movements, Tuareg rebels, and radical jihadists posing a serious threat to the entire sub-Saharan region.
Following the erosion of the French hegemony in Africa, the Algerian regime has lost its regional luster exacerbated by deepening political, economic and social crises, while Morocco emerged as regional economic and military power, playing a key role in countering regional security threats.
The shifting economic and security dynamics in favor of Morocco has enraged and shaken Algerias ruling junta which has become more paranoid than ever, standing on the cliff-edge.
Nigeria is in the grip of a severe fuel crisis, characterized by widespread shortages and dramatic price increases. The state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has raised fuel prices from 617 naira to 897 naira per liter, citing debts and rising global costs. This hike has triggered a domino effect, with private sellers pushing prices even higher, reaching up to 1,200 naira per liter in some states.
The crisis has paralyzed daily life across the country. Long queues have formed at gas stations, many of which have shut down due to fuel scarcity or to adjust their prices. In major cities like Lagos, commuters face extended waits at bus stations, while others resort to walking long distances as public transport prices have doubled.
This fuel shortage is part of a broader economic challenge facing Nigeria. President Bola Tinubus decision to remove fuel subsidies upon taking office has contributed to the worst economic crisis in a generation. The situation has sparked outrage among citizens and labor unions, who feel betrayed after recent negotiations on minimum wage.
Nigerians are now pinning their hopes on the newly operational Dangote Petroleum Refinery, though its unclear how quickly this will alleviate the current shortages and price hikes. As the crisis continues, it underscores the deep-rooted issues in Nigerias energy sector and the urgent need for sustainable solutions.
From left to right: Edward Caban, Sheena Wright, Timothy Pearson, Phil Banks. Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photos: Getty
On September 4, federal agents fanned out across the city with search warrants and subpoenas, seizing electronic devices belonging to at least half a dozen New York City officials, including top aides to Mayor Eric Adams and the senior leadership of the NYPD. Among the targets: First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright; her fiance, David Banks, the citys schools chancellor; Phil Banks, the deputy mayor for public safety; their brother Terence Banks, a consultant; and Tim Pearson, a mayoral adviser with significant influence within City Hall.
The Feds also seized devices belonging to NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, his brother, his chief of staff, and some precinct commanders in Manhattan. The searches were first reported by The City. The raids were reportedly part of two separate influence-peddling investigations by federal prosecutors at the Southern District of New York, though the full scope of the probes remains unclear, and so far no one has been charged.
The raids continue to reverberate. On September 12, Caban resigned as police commissioner. Just days after he stepped down, City Hall counsel Lisa Zornberg submitted her own resignation in a stunning development that has only raised more questions. And now, the head of the citys asylum-seekers operations, who works closely with Pearson, has been subpoenaed. Below is what we know about all the investigations into New York City officials so far.
The NYPD nightlife-enforcement investigation Edward Caban officially resigned from his role as NYPD commissioner on September 12 after his name emerged as part of an ongoing federal inquiry involving multiple NYPD officials in a corruption investigation regarding the departments nightclub enforcement, per NBC New York and the New York Post. Both the SDNY and the IRSs Criminal Investigation division are reportedly involved in the effort. In a letter to the members of the NYPD, Caban said that recent news has created a distraction for the department. I hold immense respect and gratitude for the brave officers who serve this department, and the NYPD deserves someone who can solely focus on protecting and serving New York City, which is why for the good of this city and this department I have made the difficult decision to resign as Police Commissioner, he wrote. In a brief address, Adams confirmed that he has accepted Cabans resignation, praising him for his 14 months of work and attributing a drop in citywide crime to his leadership. He concluded that this is the best decision at this time. I respect his decision, and I wish him well, he said. The mayor announced that he is appointing Tom Donlon, the former director of New Yorks Office of Homeland Security, as interim commissioner, calling him an experienced law-enforcement professional. A little over a week after he was tapped for the role, authorities executed a search warrant on Donlons residences. Its not yet clear that this latest search is related to these other ongoing probes. As part of the investigation, the FBI seized electronic devices from Caban and his twin brother, James, earlier this month. Caban is reportedly close to Mayor Adams and took over as the police departments first Latino commissioner in 2023, following the abrupt exit of Keechant Sewell, the first woman to lead the department. James Caban is a former NYPD cop with what the New York Post describes as a checkered past who did consulting work for New York nightclubs. Per NBC New York: Several sources tell NBC New York federal investigators want to know if James Caban profited from his ties to his powerful brother and the NYPD. Specifically, the investigation is looking into if James was paid by bars and clubs in midtown and Queens to act as a police liaison, and if those clubs were then afforded special treatment by local precincts, the sources said. Other questions being investigated are if officers were asked to crack down harder on clubs that did not do business with the commissioners brother or if promotions were given to officers who played along with the potential scheme, according to sources. Calls for Cabans resignation came from all sides of the political spectrum, including from progressives like City Councilmembers Lincoln Restler and Tiffany Caban (no relation to Edward) and from the traditionally conservative New York Post editorial board. The New York Times reported that City Hall was seeking Cabans resignation behind the scenes, but Adams later denied this to the press just one day before news of the commissioners impending exit went public. Previously, Caban himself described the reports as false rumors to CBS New York. The Daily News reports that other NYPD officials also had their devices seized on September 4: Sources also told the News that phones were confiscated from officers in the 10th Precinct, which includes nightlife-heavy Chelsea and Hells Kitchen. Assistant NYPD Chief James McCarthy, who oversees operations for the Manhattan South district that includes the 10th Precinct, got his phone taken by the Feds, as well, as did Raul Pintos, Commissioner Cabans chief of staff, the sources confirmed.
The investigation into the Banks brothers and other top City Hall officials According to NBC New York, the SDNY and FBI are also looking into possible dealings between City Hall and Terence Banks, a former Metropolitan Transit Authority official who now operates a consulting firm, the Pearl Alliance. Investigators are said to be looking into alleged bribery involving Terence Bankss firm and clients, who later received business contracts from the city government, per the Times. The Daily News reports that none of the employees of the Pearl Alliance were registered as lobbyists, including Banks. Terences brothers, Phil and David Banks, form their own sort of internal administration within City Hall, as Errol Louis has written. Phil, a former chief of the police department, stepped down in 2014 after being named as an unindicted co-conspirator in an NYPD corruption case. Adams nevertheless tapped him to be the deputy mayor for public safety, from which position he practically supervises the department. David, who oversees the nations largest school district, is engaged to First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. Tim Pearson also reportedly had his phone subpoenaed. Pearson served in the NYPD with Adams for decades and is said to wield a great deal of influence with the mayor. One former official described him to Politico last year as without a doubt the most powerful person in City Hall besides the mayor himself. Recently, he has been the center of controversy after facing a series of lawsuits alleging sexual harassment and retaliation against former subordinates. He was also under investigation by the city for an altercation last year in which he was accused of getting into a physical encounter with security guards at a migrant shelter. The Times reported this week that Pearson later allegedly threatened the guards, who were arrested following the incident, saying they could lose their jobs. On Friday, federal prosecutors issued a subpoena to Molly Schaeffer, the director of the citys Office of Asylum Seeker Operations. The Associated Press reports officials are seeking testimony from Schaeffer and did not seize her electronic devices. In her current role, Schaeffer works alongside Pearson, who has been tasked with handing out city contracts related to migrant shelters.
How have Mayor Adams and his administration responded?
Although the mayor has not been personally implicated, the people targeted by federal investigators this week are among the closest to the mayor, both politically and personally.
Investigators have not indicated to us the mayor or his staff are targets of any investigation. As a former member of law enforcement, the mayor has repeatedly made clear that all members of the team need to follow the law, Lisa Zornberg, the mayors chief counsel, said in a statement.
Whatever information thats needed, were going to turn it over, and Im going to continue to be the mayor of the City of New York, Adams told reporters on Thursday, September 5, after the searches became public. He continued to try to keep his distance from the probes the next day:
NEW: @NYCMayor tells me I believe the information I turned over will prove I did nothing wrong, during our wide-ranging interview to air at 6:30pm tonight on our first prime-time edition of PIX on Politics. pic.twitter.com/7DxfYJz9Sm Dan Mannarino (@DanMannarino) September 6, 2024
During the weekend following the raids, Adams surrounded himself with political supporters, attending services at two Black churches in Brooklyn. Speaking from the pulpit to one congregation, the mayor compared himself to the biblical figure Job. Job lost it all, and even his wife questioned him. Wheres your faith? Wheres God now? His friends rebuked him, he said, per the Times.
Adams fielded countless questions on the probe and the involvement of his inner circle from reporters on Wednesday. Asked if he still had confidence in Cabans ability to lead the department, Adams declined to defend him specifically. I have the utmost confidence in the New York City Police Department, he said. Days later, Caban would submit his resignation.
The mayor acknowledged having a long relationship with the Banks family but said, I hold them to the same standards that I hold myself to. He said he was less familiar with Cabans brother. I dont know James Caban that well. I know hes the brother of the commissioner, and we exchange pleasantries when we see each other, as I do with everyone, he said.
The fallout in Adamss inner circle
Caban stepping down from the NYPD was just the beginning of the fallout from the federal probes. Lisa Zornberg, Adamss chief counsel, submitted her own resignation late Saturday evening after initially issuing a statement in defense of her client in the wake of the raids.
In a letter to Adams, Zornberg wrote, It has been a great honor to serve the city. I am tendering my resignation, effective today, as I have concluded that I can no longer effectively serve in my position. I wish you nothing but the best.
News reports suggest that Zornbergs departure after more than a year serving City Hall was due to Adams declining to take her advice on how to combat the increasing scrutiny of his administration. The New York Post reports that the chief counsel had advised Adams to fire aides at the center of the most controversy, including Phil Banks, Tim Pearson and Winnie Greco, his City Halls director of Asian affairs who has been subjected to searches in connection to another federal inquiry. The Times reported further that Zornberg wanted Adams to fire all five officials whose devices were seized in addition to Greco, likely including Sheena Wright and David Banks.
Adams downplayed this reporting to members of the media on Tuesday, saying only he and Zornberg were involved in the discussion about her departure. And unless you were in that conversation, I dont know how any people can say whats the reason that she left or didnt leave, he said. So your speculations and your stories is based on your analysis and the noise that youre hearing. No one was on that conversation but the two of us.
What about the other federal probes involving Eric Adams? According to multiple reports, the new searches appear to be unrelated to the U.S. Attorneys Offices ongoing inquiry into the links between Adamss 2021 mayoral campaign and Turkey. Last month, Adams and his campaign committee were served with grand-jury subpoenas in connection with that inquiry. Specifically, prosecutors are said to be looking into whether Adamss campaign conspired with the Turkish government to direct illegal foreign donations into its coffers. Theyre also reportedly investigating whether Adams, who has long boasted of his relationship with Turkey and the Turkish community, received free flight upgrades while traveling on Turkish Airlines. That investigation first became public knowledge after the FBI raided the home of Brianna Suggs, a top fundraiser for Adams, last November. On the same day, agents raided the home of Rana Abbasova, another City Hall aide who worked in the mayors Office for International Affairs. (Abbasova is now cooperating with the authorities.) That same month, Adams himself was stopped on the street by FBI agents who had a search warrant for his electronic devices, which were seized and later returned to him. A few months later, in February, FBI agents also raided homes owned by Winnie Greco, Adamss director of Asian affairs, as well as the New World Mall in Queens, where Greco hosted several campaign events for Adams when she worked as a fundraiser for his mayoral campaign. Greco was temporarily put on leave but has since returned to work at City Hall.
What will the investigations mean for Mayor Adamss reelection campaign? The growing legal entanglements around Adams and his administration are destined to become a major point in the upcoming mayoral race. Last Thursday, Scott Stringer, one of several Democrats running against him, criticized the mayor for the company he keeps. Eric Adams ran on curbing chaos and disorder, yet there is nothing more chaotic than a mayor distracted by his inner circle getting raided by the Feds. You cant clean up this citys problems when your own house is a mess, Stringer said. Comptroller Brad Lander, who recently announced his own primary challenge against Adams, said, Amidst an unending stream of stories about the Adams administration being raided and investigated by federal law enforcement, it is clear that New Yorkers are not getting the steady leadership we deserve. Zellnor Myrie, a Brooklyn state senator who launched a primary bid, said following Cabans resignation, As our citys housing shortage worsens and the cost of living rises, New Yorkers deserve steady, focused leadership from City Hall rather than constant turnover and distractions. State Senator Jessica Ramos of Queens, the most recent addition to the race, explicitly referenced Adamss legal troubles in her announcement video, airing clips of news reports about the federal investigations. You never have to wonder who Im working for or whos paying me, she said. We need to bring that trust back to City Hall. Criticism of the ongoing controversy surrounding Adams and his inner circle extends beyond his current challengers. After Caban stepped down, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, a longtime critic of Adams, said in a statement that New Yorkers have little trust in the administration, and little information from the mayor to help restore it.
This post has been updated throughout.
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Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photo: Getty
On Wednesday, the U.S. Justice Department unveiled a bombshell indictment in New Yorks Southern District, alleging that Russia was behind the funding of a United Statesbased right-wing media company and that it used the businesss influencers to push disinformation and Russia-backed propaganda. The company, Tenet Media, employs several prominent conservative commentators, including Benny Johnson and Tim Pool. None of the commentators have been implicated in any legal wrongdoing. Heres what we know so far.
What does the indictment say?
It charges two Russian nationals, 31-year-old Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and 27-year-old Elena Afanasyeva, with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The indictment alleges that they are employees of Russia Today, a state-controlled media organization that was forced to cease American operations in 2022 following Russias invasion of Ukraine.
Prosecutors say that Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva helped to funnel nearly $10 million from foreign entities to an American right-wing media organization. The company, which went unnamed in the filing, has been identified in news reports as Tenet Media, a Nashville-based business that shares conservative content through Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms.
Tenet is said to have received approximately 30 wire transfers from foreign entities totaling approximately $9.7 million from around October 2023 to August 2024, with the bulk of those funds directed to its paid commentators. The money was distributed through shell companies based in Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Mauritius.
Per the indictment, the two suspects assumed fake identities that allowed them to work with Tenet Media, with Kalashnikov posing as an outside editor and proceeding to monitor Tenets internal communications and edited content. Under two false names, Afanasyeva sought out raw footage from Tenet commentators and actively urged employees to push RT messaging through the social-media platform X, even posting links to 841 video clips herself. Neither of them identified themselves as RT employees.
In one instance, Afanasyeva helped push one of the Tenet creators to post about a 2024 terrorist attack on a Moscow music venue, specifically that the attackers were from Ukraine rather than ISIS as had been reported. I think we can focus on the Ukraine/U.S. angle, she reportedly said in a Discord message. [T]he mainstream media spread fake news that ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack yet ISIS itself never made such statements. All terrorists are now detained while they were heading to the border with Ukraine which makes it even more suspicious why they would want to go to Ukraine to hide.
What is Tenet Media?
Tenet Media was founded by Lauren Chen, a conservative internet personality, and her husband Liam Donovan. The company was officially incorporated in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2022, per reporting from the Tennessean. On its website, Tenet describes itself as a network of heterodox commentators that focus on Western political and cultural issues, the same wording used in the indictment.
Chen and Donovan are clearly referenced as Founder-1 and Founder-2 in the filing, which describes the two as actively seeking funding from Russia for their company. Prosecutors also allege that they recruited influencers to their company while hiding the source of their funding through the use of an invented investor named Eduard Grigoriann, with the couple going as far as sharing a fake profile and biography to address any questions from potential hires.
On Thursday, Semafor reported that Chen has been fired by Blaze Media after the Justice Departments indictment. She worked as a host for BlazeTV, the companys premium subscription service.
Tenet has about 316,000 subscribers to its YouTube channel and tens of thousands more to its Facebook, X, TikTok, and Instagram accounts. The company counts prominent conservative names such as Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, Lauren Southern, and Matt Christiansen among its employees.
What have Tenets creators said?
Some of Tenets biggest names have spoken out following the Justice Departments indictment.
Tim Pool, who hosts the Culture War podcast on Tenet, denied any involvement with the alleged scheme. Should these allegations prove true, I as well as the other personalities and commentators were deceived and are victims, he wrote. I cannot speak for anyone else at the company as to what they do or to what they are instructed.
Benny Johnson, the creator of The Benny Show, issued a similar statement on social media, claiming he had nothing to do with the allegations. A year ago, a media startup pitched my company to provide content as an independent contractor. Our lawyers negotiated a standard, arms length deal, which was later terminated, he wrote. We are disturbed by the allegations in todays indictment, which make clear that myself and other influencers were victims in this alleged scheme. My lawyers will handle anyone who states or suggests otherwise.
Photo: Hugo Yu
Walk into nearly any drugstore or supermarket and at least half an aisle is lined with different types of toothpaste. While its nice to have options for nearly any issue, sorting through them to find the best toothpaste is overwhelming. In the past, I have always gravitated toward any tube of Colgate or Crest two brands my dentists have recommended without a second thought. But after taking on this story a year ago and consulting a panel of dentists, Ive learned the importance of the ADA stamp of approval, the differences between fluorides (and which ones the gold standard), and other ingredients to look for or avoid depending on your specific needs. Read the What were looking for section for more details, then check out our expert-recommended picks whether youre looking for a toothpaste to brighten your pearly whites or help with sensitivity. And while were talking oral health, consider upgrading to an electric toothbrush or water flosser, too.
Update on September 23, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
What were looking for ADA Seal of Acceptance The American Dental Association is the leading authority on dentistry in the U.S., which is why Dr. Lana Rozenberg, a dentist at Rozenberg Dental NYC, says, When in doubt, let ADA steer you in the right direction. If you see a label saying ADA Seal of Acceptance, then its been tested and will provide effective protection against tooth decay. This is the case for most of the toothpastes we listed, but we did provide a few natural alternatives that dont have the seal mainly because they dont have fluoride (more on that below). A note on fluoride for babies and children: Dentists note that its important for them not to ingest too much of it. Dr. Rashmi Ambewadikar, a dentist at Astoria Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, recommends children under the age of 3 should use toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice and children three and up should use a pea-size amount. Contains fluoride or fluoride free Fluoride was the No. 1 ingredient recommended by the dentists we spoke to. Thats because it remineralizes your teeth in the earliest phase of tooth decay, often replacing minerals that have become lost and might lead to a cavity, explains Rozenberg, adding that it also strengthens teeth for even more protection against tooth decay. There were a few non-fluoride options mentioned that we included, but its worth noting that most of the dentists we spoke to would not recommend a fluoride-free toothpaste. [Without fluoride] youre skipping out on the main thing doing the work in your toothpaste, says Dr. Mitch Zientz, a dentist at Wellspring Dental. Contains SLS or SLS free Sodium lauryl sulfate is found in most toothpastes: Its the ingredient that causes the toothpaste to foam. But some people are allergic to it or develop mouth sores from it. We included some SLS-free options here in case you have an intolerance, or if youre looking for something with less additives. Added benefits You might be on the market for a toothpaste that tackles a specific issue. Weve highlighted which ones have added benefits, be it whitening, for sensitive teeth, aiding with gum health, and more. Flavor This comes down to preference. Most toothpastes are mint-flavored, but in case youre mint-averse or just want to switch things up, we included non-mint options, too.
Best overall toothpaste
Colgate Total Whitening Toothpaste $8 for 2 $8 for 2 ADA approved | Contains fluoride | Contains SLS | Target Benefits: Gum health, bad breath | Flavor: Mint After reporting this story last year, I made the switch to Colgates Total Whitening Toothpaste. This leaves my teeth feeling squeaky clean after every brush, and the minty flavor is pleasantly strong without being overpowering. What was most convincing to me was dentists emphasis on the toothpastes ingredients. Dr. Ben El Chami, the co-founder and chief dental officer at dntl bar, says it has everything to improve gums and teeth health. Rozenberg mentioned stannous fluoride, sodium fluoride, and calcium phosphate, because these ingredients bond to weakened tooth enamel, forming patches, much like patches sewn into worn-out fabric. Dr. Golda A. Erdfarb, an associate professor of dentistry at Touro College of Dentistry, also calls out stannous fluoride because its antimicrobial, so it helps fight bacteria that causes bad breath, cavities, and gum disease. Plus, Erdfarb says it tastes great. (And while this formula does have some whitening benefits, youll see below that a different toothpaste is my favorite for whitening. It has hydrogen peroxide, a more efficient whitener.) $8 for 2 at Amazon Buy $8 for 2 at Walmart Buy
Best less expensive overall toothpaste
Crest Pro Health Smooth Formula Toothpaste, Clean Mint $9 for 3 $10 now 10% off $9 for 3 ADA approved | Contains fluoride | Contains SLS | Target benefits: Gum health | Flavor: Mint Crest Pro Health was another toothpaste repeatedly recommended by dentists. Zientz recommends the Crest Pro Health line at his practice for similar reasons as the best overall pick: It contains stannous fluoride. This not only helps with the bacteria-fighting and enamel-strengthening aspects that we expect all fluorides to do, but also with controlling plaque and biofilm buildup and contributes significantly to overall gum health, says Zientz. You can purchase a three-pack of Crest Pro Health for almost the same price as the two-pack above, making it our best budget pick. $9 for 3 at Amazon Buy
Best toothpaste for sensitive teeth
Sensodyne Pronamel Toothpaste $19 now 5% off $18 for 3 ADA approved | Contains fluoride | Contains SLS | Target benefit: Sensitive teeth | Flavor: Mint Tooth sensitivity happens when dentin, the water-filled layer underneath enamel, is exposed. Erdfarb explains that exposed dentin sends pain messaging to the brain. She, Rozenberg, and Ambewadikar all suggest Sensodyne Pronamel because its specifically formulated to block the exposed dentin. Its like closing off a body of water. If nothings touching the water, theres no ripple effect. If theres no vibration, theres no pain, says Erdfarb. Weve included Sensodynes Daily Protection Toothpaste, but the line also makes an SLS-free version, in case youre also sensitive to the ingredient. $18 for 3 at Amazon Buy $14 for 2 at Target Buy
Best SLS-free toothpaste
Best whitening toothpaste
Colgate Optic White Toothpaste - 3-Pack $15 now 20% off $12 for 3 ADA approved | Contains fluoride | Contains SLS | Target benefit: Whitening | Flavor: Wintergreen Colgate Optic White shows up in my guide to the best teeth whiteners, and Ive started using it myself about once a week in rotation with my daily Crest Total toothpaste. While other whitening toothpastes rely only on physical tooth polishers (like silica or calcium carbonate) to scrub stains off teeth, Colgates Optic White uses a chemical whitener (hydrogen peroxide) and works well, according to Rozenberg. Since bringing this into my oral-care routine, I noticed my teeth are slightly brighter after brushing with it. It hasnt fully replaced my daily toothpaste, however, because Dr. Elisa Mello of NYC Smile Design says everyday use can lead to sensitivity. Instead, she recommends using it judiciously. $12 for 3 at Amazon Buy $13 for 3 at Walmart Buy
Best whitening toothpaste for sensitive teeth
Arm & Hammer Advance White Baking Soda and Peroxide Toothpaste - 3 $21 now 37% off $13 ADA approved | Contains fluoride | Contains SLS | Target benefit: Whitening | Flavor: Clean Mint For a whitening toothpaste you can use daily that wont cause as much sensitivity, Dr. Mello recommends Arm & Hammers Advance White. On the toothpaste-abrasiveness scale, it ranks much lower than Colgates Optic White, meaning it can help with both tooth sensitivity and staining in the long run. The problem with whitening toothpastes is that theyre very abrasive, and while being abrasive can remove superficial stains on the surface of your teeth, it also can remove enamel or scratch your teeth, says Mello. In the short term, youre seeing a great result, but in the long term, you may have a scratch on the surface thats easier to stain, and thats a problem. $13 at Amazon Buy $13 at Amazon Buy
Best SLS-free whitening toothpaste
Sensodyne Extra Whitening Toothpaste $20 now 5% off $19 for 3 ADA approved | Contains fluoride | SLS free | Target benefit: Whitening | Flavor: Mint Sensodynes Extra Whitening formula has the same dentin-blocking ingredients as the Pronamel option, making it beneficial for sensitive teeth. Ambewadikar also suggested it as an effective SLS-free option. It contains hydrated silica, a physical tooth polisher, but it doesnt contain a chemical whitener. It may not be as effective at whitening as the Optic White, but if youre sensitive to SLS or have tooth sensitivity, this is a good option to use in conjunction with a teeth whitener. $19 for 3 at Amazon Buy
Best non-mint-flavored toothpaste
Crest Cinnamon Toothpaste $23 for 2 ADA approved | Contains fluoride | Contains SLS | Target benefit: Whitening | Flavor: Cinnamon If you dont like the taste of mint, Zientz turned us to Crests cinnamon-flavored toothpaste. He likes that it contains fluoride, unlike other flavored toothpastes. Its worth noting though that unlike the other Crest toothpaste he recommended, this one doesnt contain stannous fluoride, only sodium fluoride (which still comes with benefits). $23 for 2 at Amazon Buy
Best fluoride-free toothpaste
Toms of Maine Fluoride-Free Rapid Relief Sensitive Toothpaste $18 for 3 $18 for 3 Not ADA approved | Fluoride free | Contains SLS | Target benefit: Sensitive teeth | Flavor: Mint As we mentioned, most dentists dont suggest a toothpaste that doesnt contain fluoride. However, Rozenberg did suggest Toms of Maine because it contains xylitol, a plus for fighting cavities, she says. It also contains SLS, which is thought to help remove debris through foaming saponification, or what we see as sudsing, bubbling, foaming texture, she explains. But as weve noted, SLS can be irritating to sensitive teeth and gums. $18 for 3 at Amazon Buy
Best toothpaste tablet
Bite Toothpaste Bits $48 $48 Not ADA approved | Fluoride-free and fluoride options | SLS free | Target benefit: Sensitive teeth | Flavors: Mint or berry Another fluoride-free toothpaste recommended by Rozenberg is this one from Bite. Rather than a conventional paste, it comes in a solid tablet form and is packaged in a plastic-free container. I took mine on a recent trip to Austin, and it was extremely convenient to travel with. The bits are easy to bite down on and turn into a subtle minty foam once you start brushing with a wet toothbrush. It is a strange sensation, especially if youre used to conventional toothpaste, but I got used to it after a couple of brushes. And while the mint flavor isnt as strong as my usual Colgate toothpaste, my mouth still felt clean afterward. Like the above, Rozenberg points out that its formulated with xylitol. You can get it in a traditional mint flavor as well as a berry flavor. And if you want the benefits of fluoride, Bite offers a mint-with-fluoride version, too. $48 at Bite Buy
Best toothpaste for babies
Best SLS-free toothpaste for babies
Best mint-flavored toothpaste for babies
Aquafresh Kids Cavity Protection Bubble Mint $11 $11 ADA approved | Contains fluoride | Contains SLS | Target benefit: Cavity prevention | Flavor: Bubblemint To get your kid more acquainted with mintier flavors, Ambewadikar also suggested this Aquafresh toothpaste. It combines the freshness of mint with the sweetness of bubblegum. And its made with kid-friendly packaging: Its stand-up bottle features a pump, so no squeezing is necessary, she says. $11 at Walmart Buy
Our experts
Dr. Rashmi Ambewadikar, dentist at Astoria Smiles Pediatric Dentistry
Dr. Inna Chern, dentist at New York General Dentistry
Dr. Ben El Chami, co-founder and chief dental officer at dntl bar
Dr. Golda A. Erdfarb, DDS, associate professor of dentistry at Touro College of Dentistry
Dr. Sonya Krasilnikov, dentist at Dental House
Dr. Lana Rozenberg, dentist at Rozenberg Dental NYC
Dr. Jen Trachtenberg, pediatrician at Carnegie Hill Pediatrics
Dr. Mitch Zientz, dentist at Wellspring Dental
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Oil prices will soon stabilize, Gazprom Nefts CEO Alexander Dyukov said on Thursday, despite current price woes that have cratered the price of Brent to below $74 per barrel.
OPEC+ could also choose to make changes to the current production cut deal, which is set to begin the process of unwinding in October, Dyukov said but added that there was no need to rush to any decision.
The current OPEC+ deal and the idea that the group could decide to add production back in as planned in October is precisely what is contributing to current oil price pressures. Although any increases to production quotasor unwinding of the production cutswould largely be offset by Libyas recent production outages, the mere mention of OPEC following through on its plan to add production back has sent prices downward.
Oil prices have dropped off more than $6 per barrel over the last week, with Brent crude sinking to $73.41 as of Thursday morning, from more than $80 per barrel this same time last week.
WTI is now trading just a hair above $70 per barrel, down from nearly $76 per barrel a week ago.
Russias Ministry of Energy communicates its quotas set out by OPEC+ to Gazprom Neft. Last year, Gazprom Neft reached its highest-ever sales revenue of 3.5 trillion rubles, with an EBITDA of 1.3 trillion rubles. This performance was achieved despite sanctions and price caps imposed by the West.
Russias Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov said at the beginning of the year that the countrys oil production would stay mostly the same this year at roughly 10.6 million barrels per day.
By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com
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An oil tanker has been approved to dock and load crude oil at Libyas Zueitina port on Friday, engineers told Reuters as the rival governments in the east and west appear to be nearing a compromise in their dispute that has led to a crude production and export halt in the African OPEC producer.
The Kriti Samaria has been allowed entry to the oil export terminal of Zueitina, where she is expected to load 600,000 barrels of crude oil. The tanker is allowed to load crude from storage tanks and will be bound for Italy with the cargo, according to the engineers who spoke to Reuters.
Part of Libyas production and exports were halted at the beginning of last week due to a political standoff over the leadership of the OPEC producers central bank.
Oil production at several Libyan oilfields was halted on August 27 after the rival government in the east announced a stop to all oil production and exports from Libya.
Libya, which pumps about 1.2 million bpd of oil, was plunged into a deeper political crisis earlier in August over a row about the leadership of the Central Bank of Libya, the only internationally recognized depository of Libyas oil revenues.
The internationally recognized government in the capital city in the west, Tripoli, was trying to replace Sadiq Al-Kabir, the governor of the Central Bank of Libya. This has led to the latest controversy between the Eastern and Western governments and political factions, threatening again to reduce Libyas oil production and exports.
This week, Libyas feuding political factions reached an agreement on the mechanism and timelines for appointing the Central Bank Governor and Board of Directors in consultations hosted by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
Discussions under UNSMIL supervision are set to continue until September 9.
The possible end in sight to the latest threat to Libyan oil exports contributed to the oil price rout earlier this week when Brent settled nearly 5% lower on Tuesday.
By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com
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Two days ago, the U.S. Justice Department announced it had seized Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduros Falcon 900EX plane, citing a possible breach of U.S. export control and sanctions laws. Washington claims the plane was illegally purchased for $13 million and allegedly acquired through a Caribbean-based shell company. The seizure of the plane is an ironic twist in Maduros crypto schemes to circumvent Western sanctions, having previously declared it legal to purchase jet fuel using Venezuelas controversial oil-backed cryptocurrency, the petro.
Six years ago, Maduro unveiled the infamous petro cryptocurrency under the so-called PdVSA-Crypto scheme. With Caracas strangled by Washington's economic sanctions, Maduro launched Petro as a last-ditch attempt to raise cash, vowing that Petro would "allow new forms of international financing." The embattled president revealed that 100 million Petro tokens worth around $6 billion would be issued. The petro was to be backed by Venezuelas vast oil reserves, prompting the Venezuelan parliament to label it an illegal attempt to mortgage the countrys oil. Not to be confused with Signal Capital Managements re-launched (and genuine) crypto the PetroDollar (XPD), Venezuelas petro crypto was valued at $60 or 3,600 sovereign bolivars, each. As part of commodity-backed cryptos, Petro was probably doomed to fail, mainly due to trust issues. Whereas Venezuela is home to the worlds largest oil reserves, few believed Maduros government would keep its word and actually maintain the necessary reserves to backstop the petro.
Related: Adnoc To Buy 35% Stake In ExxonMobils Blue Hydrogen Plant
It, therefore, did not come as a surprise when the petro crypto was shattered in January 2024 and all holdings liquidated amid poor adoption and corruption scandals. Petros darkest hour came after officials from PDVSA, the state-owned oil company, sold crude shipments and received payments of up to $20 billion in cryptocurrency and other fiat currencies channeled through Sunacrip, the national cryptocurrency watchdog. However, these funds were never reported to the national treasury. This resulted in the arrest of former PDVSA President Tareck El Aissami and former Sunacrip head Joselit Ramirez. Further, Sunacrip was forced to enter a restructuring period over a year ago. But Venezuelas crypto crisis did not end there. Back in May, the countrys National Power Ministry seized over 17,000 mining machines in a bid to lower power consumption as the country went through constant blackouts, forcing hundreds of crypto miners to pull the plug on operations.
Venezuela Sanctions To Continue
The seizure of Maduros plane comes just two months after the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) eased some sanctions on Venezuela but retained sanctions on PdVSA. OFAC issued a new license allowing certain transactions related to the export or re-export of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to Venezuela until July 8, 2025. However, transactions with Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., the Venezuelan state-owned oil and natural gas company in which PdVSA has a 50 percent or greater interest, remain prohibited under the sanctions imposed by various executive orders. The previous general license permitted transactions related to oil or gas sector operations in Venezuela but expired on April 18. Back then, Washington's position was that Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro and his representatives had failed to fully meet the obligations outlined in the electoral roadmap signed with the opposition in Barbados in October 2023.
Well, that was before Venezuelas disastrous presidential elections, meaning its highly unlikely that the U.S. will Venezuelas oil sanctions any time soon.
In last months elections, Maduro and his representatives tampered with the results of the election, falsely claimed victory, and carried out widespread repression to maintain power. Washington acknowledges that opposition contender Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia received the most votes, noting that the Maduro-controlled National Electoral Council (CNE) has failed to substantiate its announced results by producing original tally sheets, as it did following the 2013 and 2018 elections despite repeated calls from Venezuelans and the international community. A judge in Venezuela has even issued an arrest warrant for the 75-year-old Gonzalez, a former diplomat, for allegedly failing to appear three times to answer questions on charges including conspiracy and falsifying documents in relation to the election.
The sanctions have been inimical to Venezuelas oil sector: Venezuela's crude oil production has declined sharply from 3.2 million b/d in 2000 to 735,000 b/d currently mainly due to export restrictions and poor maintenance. In contrast, crude output by neighboring Argentina has been increasing with libertarian President Milei vowing to shake up the system.
By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com
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Poland's foreign minister suggested that NATO members have a "duty" to shoot down Russian missiles approaching their airspace.
Another overnight Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine included major strikes on the far western city of Lviv, which lies hundreds of miles from the front lines, which resulted in seven people killed, according to Ukrainian authorities.
These stepped-up strikes are widely viewed as retaliation for Kiev forces' ongoing Kursk cross-border offensive. But given that missiles rained down so close in proximity to Ukraine's border with Poland, Polish aerial forces were scrambled during the attack.
Reuters reports that Polish and allied aircraft were scrambled for the third time in eight days to closely monitor the inbound projectiles, and were ready to intercept them in the event the missiles approached Polish airspace.
The incident shows how easily NATO aircraft could jump into the fight against Russian airpower on Ukraine's behalf. Warsaw has complained of recent airspace violations by Russian projectiles, including a drone that went down in its territory on Aug.26.
Earlier this week Poland's foreign minister sparked fresh controversy within the NATO military alliance by saying that member states have a 'duty' to shoot down incoming Russian missiles when they are in Ukraine's skies threatening the population below.
"Membership in Nato does not trump each countrys responsibility for the protection of its own airspace its our own constitutional duty," FM Rados?aw Sikorski told the Financial Times. The comments showed little concern over the possibility that such action risks major escalation with Russia.
"Im personally of the view that, when hostile missiles are on course of entering our airspace, it would be legitimate self-defense [to strike them] because once they do cross into our airspace, the risk of debris injuring someone is significant," the Polish top diplomat had said.
Without doubt, Poland constitutes ground zero for NATO's 'eastern flank' and has been engaged in a massive defense spending drive and military build-up since the Feb.2022 Russian invasion began.
Below are some stats and recent defense spending developments via Al Jazeera:
On Tuesday, Warsaw announced new military deals worth $520m , the latest move in a drive to beef up its defence prompted by Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Poland currently spends 4 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defense the highest ratio of any NATO member and hopes to boost the number to 4.7 percent next year.
Last month, Warsaw signed a $10bn deal to buy 96 Apache attack helicopters from US manufacturer Boeing. They will replace outdated Russian Mi-24 helicopters.
Warsaw has also announced a deal to buy hundreds of AIM-120C AMRAAM air-to-air missiles , as well as a contract for 48 launchers for US-designed Patriot air defence systems .
Polands army has 200,000 soldiers, making it NATOs third largest after the United States and Turkey , and the biggest in the European Union.
As for Poland's push to get NATO leadership to sign on to new rules of engagement regarding Russian strikes, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who is soon expected to retire from the top post, has issued some pushback.
Prior Russian aerial assaults have targeted a military base just tens of kilometers from the Polish border...
Stoltenberg rejected the Polish proposal and asserted that it presents too much risk of NATO "becoming part of the conflict." Of course, at this point this seems to be exactly what Zelensky wants--to drag the West deeper into the war on Ukraine's behalf.
By Zerohedge.com
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OPEC+ has reached a deal to delay the unwinding of its production cuts that were planned to begin in October, anonymous OPEC+ sources told Bloomberg on Tuesday. The group now plans to ease output cuts beginning in December.
OPEC+s existing plan is to begin the careful process of rolling back the current voluntary production cuts starting next month, which would see 180,000 bpd added back into the market in October. OPEC+ has long maintained that its plan to roll back the cuts was a tentative one and dependent on market balance. While the global oil markets are currently believed to be in deficit, oil prices are falling and are down nearly $7 per barrel in the last week alone.
OPEC+ members have given up oil market share in an effort to balance the market. Meanwhile, other non-OPEC+ members have snapped up what OPEC+ has given up. Some OPEC+ members have also received criticism for not fully adhering to its agreed-upon production plan.
News that OPEC will delay its plans to add production back at a time when oil prices are sinking has bolstered prices by more than 1%. The markets have seemingly been unconcerned with fundamentals as of late, which are indicated a slight deficit exists. Instead, the markets have been more in tune with poor economic data and the subsequent oil demand fears out of China and the United Statesand it appears OPEC+ is eyeing this economic data as well.
Oil prices crashed earlier in the week after the market began to anticipate additional production from the OPEC+ group, and on news that certain members like Iraq were continuing to increase, and August survey data showed that Libyas significant output decrease was partially offset by the groups quota violators.
Oil prices had perked up on Thursday morning, trading at a 1.21% gain as of 10:30 am.
By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com
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Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, meets with Gambian President Adama Barrow, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)
BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Cai Qi, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), on Thursday met with Gambian President Adama Barrow, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
At the opening ceremony of the FOCAC summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the elevation of the overall characterization of China-Africa relations to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, along with 10 partnership actions for modernization. This was warmly received by the attendees, said Cai, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee.
The implementation of the summit's outcomes is a top priority for China-Africa cooperation at present and for the foreseeable future, Cai said, adding that China is willing to work with Gambia to implement the new measures unveiled during the summit and advance China-Gambia relations to a new level.
Barrow said President Xi's speech at the opening ceremony is of great significance, sending a strong signal to advance Africa-China relations and boosting the confidence of African countries. Gambia will firmly abide by the one-China principle and join hands with China to implement the summit's outcomes and further advance bilateral relations.
Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, meets with Gambian President Adama Barrow, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)
Police in Asaba have arrested two men in connection with the kidnapp of an Egyptian Engineer, Reda Hasanin.
The victim was lured from Egypt with the pretence of awarding his firm a contract by a group of kidnappers led by one Sunny (surname unknown).
The arrest of the two suspects came as a result of alarm raised by people in the area.
According to the chief informant, Anthony Ibe (not his real name) he heard someone shouting for help on Sunday morning. He said he became worried at the persistance of the shout which prompted him to move in the direction of the shout.
He added that on locating the building where the south emanated from, he met other curious people from the neighborhood who demanded what was happening in the house.
One of the suspects came out and told them that it was a family affair. He said the noise was coming from his younger brother who went to Europe and came back with nothing after the family had expended over two million naira on him.
The informant revealed that he personally insisted on seeing the brother but the suspect pleaded for time. He later brought someone to them and claimed he was his brother who shouting.
Anthony said he alerted the police when he was not satisfied with the explanation given.
When the police arrived the scene, they discovered the Egyptian who was already unconscious and in a pool of blood probably from injury he sustained on his head for daring to shout for help.
He was however resuscitated and taken to hospital for more treatment.
The image maker of Delta state Police Command, ASP Chuks Orisewezie confirmed the rescue of the Egyptian when contacted.
He, however, revealed that the two suspects have been transfered to the Force Headquatres, Abuja.
Meanwhile, the informant, Anthony Ibe has cried out to well meaning nigerians to come to his rescue to relocate from the area.
He said his life is in danger as a result of the role he played in the rescue of the Egyptian.
While speaking to journalists, Anthony revealed that his family has fled home as a result of fear and advice from friends and relations.
As I am talking to you now, my wife and children have left home for fear of being attacked because these suspects are connected. I believe their members are everywhere and everybody in the area already know I played a major role in the rescue and I also called the police, he said.
Other neighbours who spoke to our reporter revealed that shout for help from different voices from the building have been on for years and they expressed belief that with the arrest already made, such things would stop in the area.
Attachments area
Imo Government has announced a postponement of the planned working visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the state.
The postponement was contained in a statement issued in Owerri on Tuesday by Mr Sam Onwuemeodo, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Rochas Okorocha.
Onwuemeodo said that the visit earlier slated for Tuesday was postponed because of the presidents holy pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the president was scheduled to visit Imo to commission some key projects executed by Okorochas administration.
Onwuemeodo, who pleaded for peoples understanding over the postponement, said, we regret the inconvenience that this development might have caused.
He said that a new date would be announced upon the presidents return to Nigeria.
NORMAL Top Illinois State University administrators are declaring their commitment to inclusion and belonging on campus, and their plans to stay abreast of a hate crime investigation, after a Wednesday afternoon rally condemning discrimination of queer students on campus.
Dozens of students rallied 10 days after the ISU Police Department issued an advisory on Facebook stating that four suspects confronted a student and knocked him off his scooter in the early morning hours of Aug. 24 outside the Bone Student Center. Investigators said the student was repeatedly punched in the face and called offensive, homophobic terms, prompting the police department to investigate the incident as a hate crime.
Wednesday's march began with a gathering of 50 people at Shroeder Plaza. The crowd circled around the quad and stopped in front of the Hovey Hall administrative office, where speakers decried a lack of any statement from ISU President Aondover Tarhule since the hate crime was reported.
Rally speakers, however, sought further reassurance that gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer students would be protected on campus.
In a statement provided to The Pantagraph on Wednesday evening after the rally, Tarhule said: "Inclusion and belonging are important to me, ISU leadership, and our students, faculty, and staff.
"The ISU PD has kept me apprised of this active investigation," the university president continued. "As officers continue to gather information, our Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer has been in communication with groups on campus following this reported incident to reinforce our values of equity, diversity, access, and belonging, and we will continue this engagement moving forward.
"Additionally, we will continue to work with our campus partners to determine how to best offer support to our entire campus community."
ISU PD had previously stated, "Understandably, a crime such as this creates significant concern on our campus. We are focused on the safety of our entire Redbird community. We care about you and your safety and are committed to ensuring a safe campus environment in which everyone can learn, work, and thrive."
Chants voiced at the rally included, No assimilation, trans liberation, Five, six, seven, eight, theres no place for queer hate, and, hey hey, ho ho, discriminations got to go.
The assembly had grown to about 75 people by the time they stopped outside Hovey Hall. The first speaker was Andrew Franson, who said he shouldnt have had to be standing there.
Never in my life could I have imagined the oppression that I faced at home would follow me here, said Franson, a freshman majoring in history education and who is originally from Mokena. Franson said it was hard to be openly gay at home because of the views of some extended relatives.
I hear slurs almost every time I'm at home. It shouldn't follow me here, he said.
When going to college, Franson said he hoped for once he'd be able to escape the battles he fought at home, and the memory of being glared at in high school for being proud of who he is. He said it hurts to be discriminated against, and to see students like himself get harassed on campus.
He emphasized that as of Wednesday afternoon, President Tarhule had not yet made a public comment on the alleged hate crime, and the suffering that followed among the queer community because of the crime.
It doesn't take a lot to say 'we do not tolerate hate here,' but for (Tarhule), it does, said Franson.
'Banding together'
Kassidy Wiskari spoke on behalf of rally organizers. The junior majoring in art education said last months hate crime occurred only 200 yards from where their rally concluded at Hovey Hall.
A student was attacked and called homophobic names and we just thought that that was unacceptable. Our (university) president hasnt made a comment on it yet, which is also unacceptable, she said.
Wiskari said the queer community at ISU should know they are supported and that there are resources for them to understand they have a right to be here, and they shouldnt fear for their lives.
ISUs queer student community is feeling a lot of anxiety and fright after the hate crime report, she said, but theyre very strong, and were all banding together over this."
We all want everyone to know that they have a place on this campus, and we're not backing down, we're not going anywhere, Wiskari said.
She said that in addition to demanding a comment from President Tarhule, they're demanding a statement on any plans to ensure students are kept safe on campus, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity.
We just want to know that our queer students are going to be protected, and how theyre going to do that, Wiskari said.
And if the suspects involved in the hate crime are identified, Wiskari said they want them to be brought to justice.
Also attending the rally was Lon Flowers, a university staff member. Flowers said he was excited to see representation from the campus community at the rally, but also saddened that more people in positions of power werent attending.
Representation is incredibly important, and allyship and solidarity are not practices that can be done in silence, said Flowers. And, silence in (and of) itself is a statement.
This article has been updated to include comment from ISU President Aondover Tarhule.
The Bistros Pridefest 2024 Sharon ShareAlike Frankie, Ava, Celexa and Sharon ShareAlike Thom Rakestraw, Pridefest organizer Jan Lancaster, Tom Smith Amelia and Laura O'Connor Kennedy and Kayla Thomas Donny B., Chrissy Singh, Larry B. Sporting their Pride colors Former Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner Kristy DeWall, Katie Reeter, Rishi B., Drew Hileman Kristen Krienert and Brian Pihl with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington Normal Elle Lyons Ashly Muirhead Marita Landreth performing karaoke Kyle Walter creating street art Hannah Steck and Molly Clemente checking out one of the many booths Asante Anglade, Hannah Steck, Molly Clemente Costumed karaoke performer Christina Rogers, Jen Hooker Cory Dawson, Brian Paton, LaNell Greenberg Taking advantage of the Connect Transit cooling bus Shuga Beatz Don Tjaden, Christopher Thomas Josh Waggoner, Caleb Blumhardt Alexa Evans, Vicki Tilton, Jenna Pirtle, Murphy Tutter Rob Golliday taking a picture of Heidi Carr Sharon ShareAlike, Karla Bailey-Smith Steve and Julie Kubsch, Kris Kubsch, Tracie Noah, Erika Fiola Sporting the Specs wear: Pride Idol judges Julie Kubsch, Susan Saunders, Jonell Kehias Allison Nguyen, Lawrence Lair Karolina Carpenter, Mayaih Russell Brandon Watson, Chad Hill Mary Johnston and Leon Castaneda share a hug Em Emeritz, Melanie Yoeckel Erik Hansen and Cody Hendricks Eamon Shaw, Ashley Salisbury, Danny Bugg, Jazmine Tabili Pride Idol judges Susan Saunders, Julie Smith, Julie Kubsch Pride Idol host Celexa ShareAlike going over judging procedures with Julie Smith BN Pridefest Choir organizer Leslie Adams, Jan Lancaster BN Pridefest Choir BN Pridefest Choir director Deonte Mosley Judges give the BN Pridefest Choir a score of a perfect 10 Pride Idol judges with Pridefest organizer Jan Lancaster (3rd from left) Pride Idol host Celexa ShareAlike Pride Idol contestant Owen Pride Idol contestant Katelynn Pride Idol contestant Travis Pride Idol contestant Kelly Pride Idol contestant Star Lyht Bistro Holiday Idol winner Jay Jay awarding Pride Idol winner Kelly her prize basket DJ Rakestraw Chicago Gay Mens Chorus Members of the Chicago Gay Mens Chorus Nicole Adamson, Dakoda Neal Frankie ShareAlike Celexa ShareAlike Mahogany Knight reaching for tips from fans Mahogany Knight Rita Tarot thrills the crowd Rita Tarot Axel ShareAlike Foxie ShareAlike Foxie ShareAlike Jessie Jonze Jessie Jonze Artemisia Van Ho getting a tip from a young fan Artemisia Van Ho Bianca Bianca
Eric Tsiri, Head of Enterprise Banking at Stanbic Bank Ghana, has reiterated the banks readiness to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana.
Mr. Tsiri said this on an X-Spaces discussion on the topic Access to Finance: Bridging the Gap for SMEs. He noted that contrary to the common misconception that banks are reluctant to finance SMEs, banks, particularly Stanbic Bank are rather eager to provide financial support to businesses despite the challenges as it is integral to their mandate.
Mr. Tsiri elaborated on some of the challenges in providing solutions for SMEs in Ghana. He mentioned that Opaqueness in business operations is one of the main challenges SMEs have. A significant number of SMEs operate with a lack of transparency, making it difficult for banks to understand their business models fully.
This opaqueness complicates the process of assessing the viability of the business for financial support. There is also the issue of the character and credibility of business owners which are critical in banking. If a business owner does not exhibit trustworthiness, banks are hesitant to provide financial assistance.
Many SMEs struggle with maintaining accurate financial records. Inadequate record-keeping makes it difficult for banks to assess the businesss financial health, further complicating the lending process. Also, the habit of issuing dishonoured cheques is a red flag for banks.
When SMEs regularly issue dud cheques, it raises concerns about their financial stability and reliability. Furthermore, access to finance is often contingent on the availability of collateral. Many SMEs, however, lack sufficient collateral to secure loans, limiting their ability to access necessary financing, Eric Tsiri added.
Speaking on the banks approach to SMEs financing, the Stanbic executive said the bank treats every case as a unique one in fashioning solutions. He said Stanbic Bank offers a range of financing options tailored to the specific needs of SMEs.
The bank does not adopt a one-size-fits-all approach; instead, we thoroughly assesse each clients business needs, cash flow, inventory, receivables, and payment terms before proposing a financing solution. Even in some cases, we may advise a client against taking a loan if it is not in their best interest.
Mr. Tsiri also mentioned some financing options the bank has available to SMEs. He mentioned
working capital support that is provided to bridge gaps in cash flow, such as when suppliers demand payment before the SMEs customers have settled their invoices and bridge financing, a short-term financing that helps businesses manage cash flow between transactions, particularly when waiting for payments on credit sales. Others are contract financing, which is offered to businesses that need funds to execute contracts, asset financing, a long-term financing that supports businesses in acquiring assets like vehicles or setting up infrastructure, with repayment structured over the useful life of the asset, and guarantees and letters of credit for international transactions.
Eric Tsiri also highlighted Stanbic Banks business incubator, which supports SMEs beyond just credit. The incubator, he said, provides access to information, markets, and networking opportunities. Additionally, the bank is exploring innovative ways to de-risk the SME sector through partnerships with fintech companies and the use of artificial intelligence.
Stanbic Bank remains committed to driving growth in Ghanas economy by supporting SMEs, which are seen as the engine of economic growth. The banks efforts in this regard are reflected in its position as the top provider of loan facilities in 2023. The bank also hosts SME clinics, such as the upcoming event in Kumasi, aimed at preparing businesses to access credit by addressing the challenges that typically hinder them.
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QNET, a global lifestyle and wellness company, acknowledges media reports regarding the arrest of 487 individuals in Kumasi. QNET is fully cooperating with the police investigation to unravel elements of misrepresentation.
However, we strongly emphasize that QNET is a legitimate direct selling business, not a Ponzi scheme, as falsely reported.
Unlike Ponzi schemes, QNETs direct selling model allows individuals to become independent distributors of QNET products, earning commissions based on sales rather than recruitment.
QNETs business model is built on product promotion and sales, not on recruiting individuals. The company has invested in educating key stakeholders, including security agencies and the public, about its business practices.
Additionally, QNET has recently launched QNET Against Scams, a comprehensive 360-degree brand awareness and anti-scam campaign to demonstrate its commitment to combating scams and addressing misrepresentation linked to the Ponzi scheme label.
Unlike ponzi schemes that typically collapse within a few months or years, QNET is 26 years old and our commitment to ethical standards remains unwavering, aligning with our mission to empower individuals through genuine opportunities and premium products.
QNET is also actively involved in empowering communities through initiatives such as FinGreen, our signature financial literacy programme that has benefitted over 2,700 individuals in Ghana, Nigeria, and Turkey.
QNET has set up a dedicated hotline on WhatsApp (+233256630005) and email [email protected] to receive reports of suspicious activities in its name for prompt action.
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BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo met on Thursday and announced the elevation of China-Ghana ties to a strategic partnership.
Akufo-Addo is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
Xi said China is willing to strengthen the alignment of development strategies with Ghana and to continue providing assistance to the best of its ability to Ghana.
China stands ready to expand cooperation with Ghana in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, energy, mineral resources and infrastructure, and hopes that Ghana will continue to offer relevant support and facilitation to Chinese enterprises and citizens, he said.
China supports Ghana in its work as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2024-2026 term, and is ready to enhance strategic coordination with Ghana on international and regional issues, Xi said.
Astute medical practitioner and Board Chairman of The Trust Hospital Company Limited, Dr. Emmanuel O Addo-Yobo, has been honored for his remarkable contributions to the healthcare sector and for his significant achievements in administrative excellence at the 8th edition of the Corporate Ghana Hall of Fame Awards 2024, held at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra on August 30th, 2024.
The initiative by the Business Executive Group, an executive association that includes top CEOs and Group Chairmen, provides a platform where members can more easily seek assistance in their respective fields without incurring costs.
This recognition affirms his tremendous contributions to the Ghanaian healthcare space, particularly his pivotal role in leading the administration of Ghanas largest private hospital.
This prestigious achievement also signifies Trust Hospital's commitment and rapid ascent in Ghana's healthcare landscape.
Dr. Addo-Yobo's exceptional leadership at the helm has ensured that all strategies are properly implemented for the growth and sustainability of Trust Hospital, leading to his induction as a member of the "Corporate Ghana Hall of Fame," the premier corporate network platform in Ghana.
Speaking with the media, Dr. Emmanuel O. Addo-Yobo mentioned that the award was a testament to the team's commitment to excellence in every aspect of their performance.
According to him, the company remains resilient in delivering on its core mandate of improving the well-being of all through its core values of sustainability, professionalism, innovation & teamwork, client focus, and excellence.
"I feel honored to be inducted into the Corporate Ghana Hall of Fame. Being at the helm of affairs of an institution such as this, is a challenging task, and Im glad the hard work of the team is showing and being recognized. We are committed to giving our best even in the face of any difficulty.
Our focus is also to introduce additional services by the end of the year to increase our profitability and enhance patient outcomes.," Dr. Addo-Yobo noted.
In other news, The Trust Hospital was honored with the prestigious "Hospital of the Year" award at the Ghana Business Standards Awards ceremony, held on August 23, 2024, at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra.
The Trust Mother and Child Hospital, which is the facility dedicated to women and childrens health will be celebrating its 10th anniversary on September 5th, 2024.
As they celebrate this milestone, the hospital takes pride in being the leading obstetrics, gynecological, and pediatric facility in the country, having recorded a zero maternal mortality rate in the last two years.
About Trust Hospital
The Trust Hospital operates nine facilities, including four hospitals and five clinics across Accra, offering a comprehensive range of services.
These include General Practice consultations, specialist care in Obstetrics and Gynecology, High-Risk Pregnancy Clinic, Labor Analgesia Services, Ophthalmology, ENT, Cardiology, Neurology, Orthopedics, Dental services (including teeth whitening and Invisalign), Orthopedics, General Surgery, Plastic Surgery as well as Chemotherapy and Dialysis.
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In line with the celebration of the 115th posthumous birthday of Ghanas first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the Member of Parliament for Ellembelle, together with the Chiefs and people of Nkroful, have launched, Journey to Nkroful.
Journey to Nkroful is a remarkable experience for all Ghanaians powered by the Honourable Member of Parliament for Ellembelle, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, together with his colleague Members of Parliament in the Western North region, Chiefs and people from the Nzema land to celebrate the vision and tenacity of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
In a colourful display of pomp and pageantry at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, the Journey to Nkroful was duly launched. In attendance were Members of Parliaments, Chiefs and Nzema indigenes domiciled in Accra.
As the Chief Conveyer of the event, the Ellembelle lawmaker said, Journey to Nkroful is a profound reminder of the enduring legacy of our founding father of modern Ghana.
According to him, the journey to Nkroful was started by men of valour, with the late Robert Tachie Menson, who at the time, was the Accra regional organiser of the Young pioneers, who mounted the first walk-a-thon by walking from Accra to Nkroful in one week together with other four hundred (400) young men.
Tachie Menson, together with other four hundred young men decided to make history by visiting the place of birth of one of Africas most cherished leader, popularly described as the doyen of Africas leadership, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
Mr. Armah Kofi Buah said, The root of the Independence of Ghana, the birthing of good governance, good citizenship as well as the birthing of the collective union of African states; all these systematic features originated from Nkroful through the birth of the son of the soil, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
Emphasising on the values, principles and aspirations of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, NDCs Parliamentary representative for Ellembelle who doubles as the Deputy minority Speaker revealed that Ghanas first President, Kwame Nkrumah played an exceptional and peerless role in the struggle for Independence with a clear vision of seeing a Ghana free from colonial rule thereby seeing to it that the dignity and self-respect of every Ghanaian is upheld and protected.
Through his tireless efforts, Ghana became the first of sub-Sahara African country to gain Independence from British colonial rule. This monumental achievement was just not a victory for Ghana but a clarion call for freedom across the African continent.
This initiative is not about resemblance but to rekindle the flame of Nkrumahs vision and to ensure that his ideals continue to illuminate his path forward.
The Journey to Nkroful is a two week long programme which seeks to have all Ghanaians throng the birth place of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah from the 14th of September, 2024 through to the 21st of September, 2024, which also marks the 115th birthday of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
Let us be honest, Ghana has lost its way. A journey to Nkroful will ignite a certain passion for a physical, emotional and psychological renewal of the individual. With the spirit of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, we will find our way as a country again, with the values that matter, citizenship, humility, selflessness, looking out for your neighbor and a committed hard work.
Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com
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A professor of Accounting and Finance at the University for Professional Studies, Isaac Boadi, has asserted that no president is clothed with the powers to issue banking licenses since that is the job of the Bank of Ghana.
Speaking on Asaase Radios Forum Show on Saturday, August 31, 2024, the expert on finance and accounting said that the manifesto pledge of the opposition National Democratic Congress to the effect that the licenses of some revoked banks would be restored is only a wishful thinking.
It is not possible for any president to issue banking licenses or to restore revoked ones. That falls under the purview of the Bank of Ghana, and not the president of the day Professor Boadi indicated.
The Dean of Accounting and Finance at UPSA believes that pledge came from an uninformed position because it does not lie in the mouth of a president to revoke the revocation of the licenses of the defunct financial institutions.
The licenses of those banks were revoked based upon the laws governing banking operations. The law courts have affirmed the decisions of the central bank, thereby making it impossible for any president to review such decisions he added.
The flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress, John Dramani Mahama, at the launch of the partys manifesto on Saturday, August 24, 2024, promised that if given power, he will restore the revoked banking licenses to their owners to boost the sector.
His pledge, however, has been widely criticized by experts in the banking and financial sector. They have questioned him about the rationale behind the decision and the fact that such a decision cannot be taken by a president since it falls under the jurisdiction of the Bank of Ghana.
Is the former president saying that he will restore these licenses to these people for them to come and collapse the banking sector like they nearly did? This is not a wise proposition. In any event, he has no such right to restore those licenses a financial analyst had this to say.
Professor Isaac Boadi admonished the former president to desist from such pledges since the repercussions of same can cost the country much more than the current situation the sector finds itself.
We must not make such statements and promises just to win elections since there is no way such a promise can be fulfilled. The laws simply do not give the president that leeway to issue banking licenses or review the revoked ones Professor Boadi stated.
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The largest opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) has demanded a live broadcast of its meeting with the Electoral Commission (EC) to discuss findings and observations contained in the Provisional Voters Register (PVR) ahead of the December 7 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
General Secretary of the NDC, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, in a letter to the EC said a live broadcast of the meeting will ensure transparency of the engagement.
It is recalled that, on 27th August, 2024, the NDC, in a similar letter, demanded an arrangement to discuss what the party describes as serious discrepancies recorded during the Voters exhibition exercise.
The discrepancies emanate from analysis of the Provisional Voter Register (PVR) given to us by the Commission, and registers being exhibited at the centres, the NDC demanded.
The NDC and other groups raised concerns with some discrepancies they said were discovered when the voters register was exhibited between Tuesday, August 20, to Tuesday, August 27.
Below is the NDCs full letter.
REQUEST FOR LIVE BROADCAST OF PRESENTATION OF OBSERVATIONS FOUND IN PVR 2024
I bring you greetings from the NDC Party Headquarters, Accra and trust that this letter finds you well.
In connection with the upcoming meeting with your team slated for Friday, 6th September 2024, we request for a live broadcast of our presentation of observations found in the Provisional Voters Register (PVR) to your team. This, we believe, will give true meaning to transparency as found in your motto.
We anticipate your usual attention and co-operation.
Thank you.
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Bernard Allotey Jacobs has lambasted his former party, the National Democratic Congress, for demanding a forensic audit into the Electoral Commissions voters register.
Director of Elections and IT of the National Democratic Congress, Dr. Edward Omane-Boamah, on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, said without a forensic audit or parliamentary investigation of the register, it remains incurably defective.
He cited irregularities in the register during the voters exhibition exercise which ended on August 27, 2024 and maintained it is not fit for purpose.
The Electoral Commission of Ghana refused to release the voters register to the NDC on time ahead of the exhibition exercise, he said.
Dr. Omane Boamah added; Its obvious the register has deliberately been tampered with!
But the Commission has denied the allegations saying we call upon the Public to reject statements that the Register is not fit for the 2024 Elections or that it is incurably defective.
The Register is robust and credible. At the end of the day, the Final Certified Register will reflect corrections of all identified errors, it further said.
Allotey Jacobs, on Peace FMs Kokrokoo show, slammed the NDC saying the timing for their demand is wrong and at the same time, the party isnt using the appropriate approach.
To him, if the NDC feels the register is rife with irregularities, they should go to court.
He wondered why the NDC will make their demand without petitioning the court.
It wont augur well for us. My advice is with their polling agents and registration assistants at the registration centers, they should call them, sit them down and find out if it is true you have a case, the courts are there. So, a party cannot demand for a forensic audit; it is only when you pass through the law and the law courts are there, he stated.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker has warned the opposition National Democratic Congress against their unending accusations at the Electoral Commission.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has demanded a forensic audit of the voters register, stating it is fraught with irregularities.
The Electoral Commission of Ghana refused to release the voters register to the NDC on time ahead of the exhibition exercise, Director of Elections and IT of the party, Dr. Edward Omane-Boamah said.
He further stated; Its obvious the register has deliberately been tampered with!
But Mireku Duker finds it unfortunate that the NDC would raise such allegations at a time when the EC says the current register is a provisional one.
They are preparing the grounds that if they lose, therefore then they have some basis to stand on that the election was rigged. That is what they are doing. Its a planned thing. Its a whole meeting theyve had, he said on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show.
He strictly warned the opposition party against their misconduct, stating its very unfortunate and we must watch them carefully because we have nowhere to go.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah has castigated President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for relaxing in the fight against illegal miners in the country.
Illegal mining (galamsey) continues to threaten the nation, destroying the water bodies and the environment.
River Pra and other water bodies have turned brownish in color, a vivid sign of the contamination resulting from galamsey activities.
These illegal mining has also adversely affected the operations of the Ghana Water Company with the company warning that about Sixty percent (60%) of the catchment capacity is silted as a result of illegal mining (galamsey) compromising the quality of raw water. We are currently recording an average turbidity of 14,000 NTU instead of 2000 NTU designed for adequate treatment.
Your assistance is crucial in helping us restore the quality of the raw water and ensure a reliable water supply of clean drinking water, the company urged Ghanaians.
Reacting to the galamsey menace, Dr. Otchere-Ankrah, a Governance lecturer, has laid the blame on the President as the buck stops with him.
He expounded that the President is the final authority and has the absolute power to curb this menace if only he is willing to tackle it.
Dr. Otchere-Ankrah found it extremely disturbing the negative impact of galamsey and called for an immediate action to end it.
"President of Ghana, with the greatest of respect, you have failed when it comes to galamsey. You should admit it; you have failed," he said during Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' show.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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Governance lecturer at the Central University, Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah has lambasted parliamentary candidates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who have chosen to paste their posters on the equipment for the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP).
There is video evidence of some aspiring NPP parliamentarians imprinting their faces and attaching their party's paraphenalia on the DRIP equipment aimed at influencing the electorates to vote for them.
Former President John Mahama has abhorred this practice and sent a message to President Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to stop this practice immediately.
He argued that the DRIP equipment is not for partisan purposes.
Addressing a gathering at a mini rally in the Yeji in the Pru East District, Ex-President Mahama said; Its the governments money, funded by the taxes we all paywhether youre NPP, CPP, Christian, or Muslimeveryone contributes. Theyve used those taxes to import earth-moving equipment for road construction, and each district has been allocated some. But now, were seeing posters of NPP parliamentary candidates on the DRIP equipment."
I want to remind Akufo-Addo and Bawumia that they serve the entire country, not just the NPP. The equipment doesnt belong to the party; it belongs to all Ghanaians...No one has the right to place their posters on the DRIP equipment. They must order the immediate removal of these posters, or well be forced to take action ourselves, he emphasized.
Dr. Otchere-Ankrah backed John Mahama's assertions, also stressing it is inappropriate to fix a poster on the equipment.
"Buy your own car and paste your posters on it," he said on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' show.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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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:
Watermilfoil and and algae float near the waters surface where Dorn Creek Marsh flows into the northern edge of Lake Mendota during summer on July 29, 2015. The aquatic plants and the lakes ecosystem health are frequently studied as part of ongoing research conducted by the Center for Limnology at the University of WisconsinMadison. Credit: Jeff Miller
A report on more than 40 years of research on Wisconsin lakes is highlighting some of the lessons scientists have learned about aquatic invasive species, including that far more ecosystems are playing host to non-native species than previously thought.
However, the researchers note, those species aren't necessarily detrimental to their new habitat and, in some cases, the negative "impacts of invasive species control may be greater than the impacts of the invasive species" themselves.
That doesn't mean scientists aren't concerned about different species moving into new ecosystems, says Jake Vander Zanden, director of the University of WisconsinMadison's Center for Limnology and lead author on the report.
"There are many examples where an invasive species has remarkable ecosystem impacts. They can result in fisheries decline, water quality decrease and more, which negatively impacts humans and the environment," Vander Zanden says.
But ecological destruction is far from a foregone conclusion in invasive species stories.
The researchers, who recently published their analysis in the journal BioScience, highlight several lessons learned through four decades of data collection, research and experiments conducted by the North Temperate Lakes Long-Term Ecological Research program.
Research grants typically fund a few years of work, Vander Zanden explains, "But that would never allow you to detect these types of changes. It's only through long-term research that we can get insights into these big questions like where invasive species are, how they are changing our ecosystems and how it all connects to things like climate change."
One such insight is that the presence of non-native aquatic species in Wisconsin lakes is more widespread than scientists and resource managers initially thought.
The long-term research program has helped inform Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources maps and datasets on six target species since the 1990s: Eurasian watermilfoil, zebra mussels, spiny water fleas, rusty crayfish, Chinese mystery snail and the banded mystery snail.
Combining long-term monitoring records on its 11 core study lakes with field-based research and community-based science on dozens of other water bodies, researchers revealed that existing estimates of about 8% of Wisconsin lakes containing one or more of the six species was way off. In fact, the number is closer to 39%.
Additionally, certain invasive populations have been in waters much longer than initially thought. For example, researchers detected spiny water fleas in Lake Mendota in 2009, but scientists combing through sediment cores and old samples discovered that the disruptive invasive species had been present in the lake at least a decade sooner, with populations only erupting due to favorable changes in climate that summer. These findings suggest that invasive species are often simply present in an ecosystem without triggering negative impacts.
What's more, when invasive species do result in negative impacts, those impacts are often tied to existing problems, according to Jake Walsh, a co-author of the new paper and postdoctoral associate in the University of Minnesota's Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology.
"Lake Mendota was especially primed for large, costly effects from spiny water flea," says Walsh. "They worsened water quality problems that were already present and tied to excess nutrients in the lake."
Seeing this fuller picture was only possible through long-term research, Walsh adds. "As long as we have this long-range program, invasions are experiments that can teach us about how ecosystems work and how we can best manage them," he says. This has given us a deep understanding of the water quality issues facing Lake Mendota and a 'road map' to follow for offsetting spiny water flea's impact."
Long-term science doesn't just help scientists piece together the history of environmental change, Vander Zanden adds. With it, researchers can also highlight looming questions and design studies to answer them. From using environmental DNA, to exploring long-term invasive species removal benefits, more discoveries are on the horizon.
And it's not just the science that benefits from this long-term, interdisciplinary approach. Undergraduate field technicians who spent their summers sampling the same sites over and over have gone on to become professors overseeing their own research projects and managing their own students. Data scientists and staff dedicate huge chunks of time to making their datasets publicly available and accessible to other researchers in the freshwater sciences.
It's a spirit of collaboration and exploration that, Vander Zanden hopes, can extend to other fields.
"I wonder if some of these patterns that we see from long-term data could be relevant to somebody who studies soil, or grassland flowers, or marine biology," he says. "If invasive species are already there and more widespread than we think they are, things like human activity and climate change could soon be triggering more population shifts."
More information: M Jake Vander Zanden et al, Nine Lessons about Aquatic Invasive Species from the North Temperate Lakes Long-Term Ecological Research (NTL-LTER) Program, BioScience (2024). DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biae062 Journal information: BioScience
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain
Blue Origin has only 40 days to go to be ready for its first launch of its heavy lift New Glenn rocket, but has a lot of boxes to tick before liftoff.
That includes a test fire in the coming days of the rocket's second stage, which the company rolled out to the pad Tuesday at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Launch Complex 36.
Jeff Bezos' rocket company is targeting Oct. 13 for liftoff of NG-1, a mission to send a pair of satellites built by fellow rocket company RocketLab on a mission for NASA to Mars called ESCAPADE, which stands for Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers.
"We're looking forward to firing up those two BE-3Us on New Glenn's second stage in a few days," the company posted on X after the hardware's trip to the pad.
When it launches, the second stage and its engines will be tasked with deploying the twin ESCAPADE spacecraft on an 11-month trip to the Red Planet where they will study Mars' plasma and magnetic fields.
The launch, though, will be the culmination of years of development for New Glenn, which is constructed at Blue Origin's nearby factory on Merritt Island.
"Still lots to do but progress," posted Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp on X last week. "A bunch of milestones coming up in quick succession (not an exhaustive list)engine integration, our landing barge arriving soon, hotfiring second stage And yes, lots of unique challenges as our first flight, but folks are excited and leaning in big-time."
Bezos' company has to date only flown its smaller New Shepard rocket from a West Texas launch site. Those are only suborbital flights, but feature reentry landings that save the rocket booster for reuse. New Shepard's booster engines are similar to those in New Glenn's second stage.
Similar to SpaceX, New Glenn is designed to recover its first stage on a recovery vessel that will be stationed downrange in the Atlantic.
Blue Origin expects that ship to arrive at Port Canaveral soon, and revealed this week the vessel's name: Jacklyn, named after Bezos' mother.
New Glenn rockets are more than twice as powerful than Falcon 9 with the first stage powered by seven of Blue's BE-4 engines, the same that are used on United Launch Alliance's new Vulcan rockets. Vulcan uses only two, though, so New Glenn will produce nearly 3.9 million pounds of thrust at liftoff.
The first stage measures 188 feet tall compared to Falcon 9's first stage at 135 feet. At full height, the entirety of the New Glenn rocket will rise to 322 feet. It has a bigger fairing for payloads compared to Falcon and Vulcan rockets, coming in at nearly 23 feet (7 meters) in diameter compared to its competitors' 16.4 feet (5 meters).
NASA awarded Blue Origin a $20 million launch task order for ESCAPADE in February 2023.
It's the debut for New Glenn that expects to compete alongside SpaceX and ULA for lucrative national security missions in the future, but already has a large manifest of commercial and civil customers ready to fly if the first mission goes well.
NASA is also relying on Blue Origin and New Glenn for one of the Artemis program's two lunar human landing systems, Blue Moon.
And Blue Origin has a spate of satellite customers, including several flights for Amazon's Project Kuiper constellation.
The first-stage boosters are designed to fly up to 25 times. They would land on Jacklyn and be transported back to the port.
The company has large-enough facilities at Cape Canaveral to process three New Glenn rockets at once. Blue Origin took over the lease for LC-36 in 2015, investing about $1 billion in the pad site alone. It was previously used for government launches from 19622005, including lunar lander Surveyor 1 in 1967 and some of the Mariner probes.
2024 Orlando Sentinel. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
VALLETTA, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Malta has joined other European Union (EU) member states to help Africa reduce further spread of mpox, the Health Ministry said on Thursday in a statement.
Malta has joined the European Commission's "Team Europe" initiative to donate vaccines and mobilize resources to help address the public health emergency, the statement said, adding that together European countries will be donating half a million vaccines.
Malta's Health Ministry reported the first case of mpox on Aug. 30, with the second case being registered on Sept. 3. The first case was identified as a less severe strain of the virus known as Clade II.
According to a press release issued by the European Commission, the first shipment of approximately 100,000 mpox vaccine doses will arrive in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Thursday, with the second delivery of around 100,000 vaccines expected in the coming days. DRC is at the epicenter of the mpox outbreak.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declared on Aug. 13 the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern, activating its highest level of global alert for mpox for the second time in two years.
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Southern Chinese cities suspended schools and cancelled some flights head of storm Yagi.
Cities in southern China suspended schools and cancelled some flights on Thursday as Super Typhoon Yagi headed towards the holiday island province of Hainan after strengthening from a tropical storm.
Yagi triggered floods and landslides on the main Philippine island of Luzon this week, killing 13 people, according to official figures.
It intensified into a super typhoon as it tracked west across the South China Sea, China's Xinhua news agency said, carrying winds of up to 209 kilometers (130 miles) per hour as it headed for Hainan.
"Hainan upgraded its emergency response to Yagi to the highest level at 11:30 am Thursday, according to the provincial disaster management authority," Xinhua said.
The typhoon is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon in either Hainan or neighboring Guangdong.
Work, school and local transport services were suspended from noon on Thursday (0400 GMT) in Haikou, Hainan's capital.
Hong Kong's weather observatory issued the third-highest typhoon warning at 6:20 pm (1020 GMT), limiting public transport across the finance hub.
The city's stock exchange halted after-hours trading because of the typhoon warning, while 38 flights were cancelled at Hong Kong's airport Thursday.
Classes at primary and secondary schools will remain suspended on Friday, the Education Bureau said.
Yagi triggered floods and landslides in the Philippines, leaving at least 13 dead.
"Yagi will remain at super typhoon intensity and skirt around 300 kilometers (186 miles) to the southwest of Hong Kong tomorrow morning," the observatory said.
"Gale winds associated with Yagi are expected to affect the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary tonight and tomorrow morning," it said.
After southern China, Yagi will move towards Vietnam, on course to hit the northern and north-central regions around the famed UNESCO heritage site Halong Bay.
Vietnamese authorities urged around 2,200 tourists on coastal islands to return to the mainland ahead of the storm's arrival.
They warned heavy rains may cause widespread flooding in mountainous and urban areas, including the capital Hanoi.
Vietnam's meteorological agency issued a storm warning earlier on Thursday and the government mobilized more than 2,700 military personnel in readiness.
Coastal provinces are planning a sailing ban on Friday, while Vietnam's mountainous provinces have also been ordered to prepare rescue vehicles.
2024 AFP
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"Fatal Peril" researchers interviewed approximately 650 women serving time for murder and manslaughter in two California prisons. Credit: Stanford University
A new study provides extensive documentation of the "IPV-to-Prison Pipeline"the pathways through which women who are survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) find themselves serving long prison sentences for acts of survival.
The report, "Fatal Peril: Unheard Stories from the IPV-to-Prison Pipeline and Other Stories Touched by Violence," is the product of a multi-year study by the Regilla Project, a research initiative of the Stanford Criminal Justice Center that focuses on women incarcerated for homicide offenses growing out of their own abuse.
"Fatal Peril" gives voice to approximately 650 people serving time for murder and manslaughter in two California prisons, the Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla and the California Institution for Women in Chino.
Through surveys proctored at the prisons in July and November 2023, the researchers sought to better understand how people experiencing IPV are criminalized for actions they took to survive abuse. Stanford students contributed to the proctoring, data analysis, and drafting of the report.
A first-ever approach to IPV research
The study represents the first time the Composite Abuse Scale and Danger Assessment, two validated instruments used to assess intimate partner violence and intimate partner homicide, have been used in the study of a population who is incarcerated.
In addition to quantitative results, the report presents qualitative data collected from hundreds of study respondents who shared their experiences of abuse, the circumstances of the offenses, their experiences of the criminal legal system, and their feelings of regret, remorse, and healing.
The women's self-reported testimonies of surviving abuse are remarkably similar, according to Debbie Mukamal, executive director of the Stanford Criminal Justice Center, who led the study with Dr. Andrea N. Cimino, an expert in gender-based violence research. Mukamal and Cimino serve as directors of the Regilla Project, which released a companion report in 2023.
"The stories of these women reflect a persistent belief that their lives were in danger," Mukamal said, "often from an accumulation of their intimate partner's threats and attempts to kill them, their children, or other loved ones."
"These are a group of forgotten women," Cimino said. "Their experiences of violence were silenced in the courtroom and they have been neglected in IPV research which focuses on non-incarcerated populations." She hopes the study amplifies survivor's voices and creates change in the criminal legal system.
David Sklansky, Stanley Morrison Professor of Law and the faculty co-director of the Stanford Criminal Justice Center, said, "Our practices of criminal blaming and punishment have long failed to take adequate account of the realities of intimate partner violence, and of the ways in which abused women can be driven to violence by their own victimization.
"This new report, by giving long overdue attention to the accounts of women serving prison sentences for homicideand the high rate at which these women report extreme levels of IPV in the year prior to their offensesunderscores the pressing need for comprehensive reform in this area.
"It deserves urgent study from judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, law enforcement officers, correctional officials, and policymakers."
The women's stories reflect lives lived in constant fear: "I was three days at the hospital because I lost my voice because he strangled me and my neck and throat was purple with bruises. And I couldn't talk for three days," reported one respondent. Another said, "He had us scared, both [my children] and me, that if I told anything to the police and they arrested him, he was going to get out and kill us."
"As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) this month, this new study should embolden us to do more to prevent victimization and to help those who find themselves in abusive relationships," said retired U.S. Representative Jackie Speier, who represented California's 14th Congressional District until 2023.
"The findingswhile based in Californiahave broad national implications for how we treat some of the most vulnerable women in our communities. Our work is far from done."
Cory Booker, U.S. Senator from New Jersey, agreed: "This is an urgent report, and it is well timed as we mark the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act," he said. "Most incarcerated women are survivors of sexual violence. We must do more as a society to prevent that violence and to help the survivors.
"Prisons cannot be substitutes for our failures to keep people safe. And for those who enter our prisons and jails, they must be places that do not compound trauma but help people heal from it.
"I am proud that VAWA Reauthorization includes provisions to address the specific needs of incarcerated women, many of which are highlighted through the study's stories of women incarcerated for crimes stemming from their histories of abuse. There is a moral imperative to address the issues in this report. To fail to do so harms and implicates us all."
'Stark and troubling' findings
Nearly three-fourths of respondents reported experiencing IPV in the year before their offense took place, a rate that is 10 times higher than women in the United States, according to the report. Fatal Peril acknowledges that while IPV exists for people of all genders, the researchers focused on women given their disproportionate rates of severe and lethal intimate partner abuse.
The respondents recounted physical, psychological and sexual abuse, including being hit, threatened with weapons, having partners who controlled all or most of their daily activities, and having to perform unwanted sex acts.
Nearly a third of all respondents said that in the year before their offense, they had been strangled or choked more than once or felt dizzy, confused or blacked out after being chokedinjuries that can cause a traumatic brain injury, according to the report.
Among the 464 respondents who were experiencing IPV, two-thirds of them were in "extreme danger" of being killed by their intimate partner, according to their Danger Assessment scores. It didn't matter who was killedstranger, intimate partner, child, family member, acquaintance, or friendthey all were at risk for intimate partner homicide. The data suggests that the risk of being killed due to IPV tragically extends to all of those around the survivor.
About half of respondents believed they were treated unfairly at trial due to gender, racial, and socioeconomic bias, according to the report. "Respondents who experienced IPV were more likely to perceive gender and income bias compared to those who were not abused," said Cimino. "Harmful courtroom stereotypes like being called masterminds, femme fatales, gang members, and bad mothers triggered beliefs about the survivor-defendants' culpability."
"Our findings are stark and troubling, and have implications for the entire criminal legal system, from policing to parole," Mukamal said. "It is particularly critical that the system considers the potential lethality of abuse suffered by these women and how traumatic brain injury from hits to the head and strangulation may affect survivor-defendants' testimony and experiences in prison."
Recommendations and IPV prevention
Kelly Savage-Rodriguez, who advocates for ending life-without-parole sentences through the California Coalition for Women Prisoners, said she "was not surprised by the findings" and was "grateful to see this new data being published."
"The results affirm my own experiences and those of too many others who have been criminalized for surviving abuse here in California and across the nation," Savage-Rodriguez said. "These survivors need support, not long prison sentences."
The report makes recommendations for addressing the impact of IPV on survivor-defendants, including urging the criminal legal system to take measures to more consistently screen for IPV and to better take into account how traumatic brain injuries as a result of intimate partner violence can affect survivor-defendants' ability to remember and communicate details relating to their abuse and alleged crimes.
The study also calls for enhanced attention to programs and policies that can prevent IPV in the first place, including strengthening access to mental health and substance use treatment to address cumulative trauma for survivors, their children, and their partners.
"Cross-sector collaboration between the criminal legal system, the domestic violence response system, and child welfare systems are critical to violence prevention," said Cimino.
The Regilla Project plans to convene a diverse set of stakeholders this Fall to identify concrete and viable legal and policy solutions to respond to the report's findings.
More information: Fatal Peril: Unheard Stories from the IPV-to-Prison Pipeline
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The Apalachicola River in Florida as seen looking downstream from Ocheesee Landing on September 3, 2024. Credit: Scott Holstein/FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Near the Florida-Georgia border, the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers meet and become the Apalachicola River, which carries freshwater and nutrients downstream to the Apalachicola Bay.
New research led by FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Assistant Professor Ebrahim Ahmadisharaf examined how drought and water volume in the Lower Apalachicola River watershed affect nitrogen and phosphorous, crucial nutrients for a healthy aquatic ecosystem. The study was published in Water Research.
"In watershed systems like this, that are subject to regulations upstream, knowing how the ecosystem reacts to changes helps us manage it effectively," said Ahmadisharaf, who is also a researcher at the Resilient Infrastructure & Disaster Response Center, or RIDER. "We can regulate the system to avoid negative consequences, including some that have the potential to be long-lasting."
The research team examined 20 years of nutrient data collected by the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve, a nationally protected natural organization funded by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and managed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
The researchers also analyzed streamflow data from a U.S. Geological Survey gauge to characterize drought and river flow conditions, which they compared to records of nutrients in the water using statistical analyses. That allowed them to investigate the impact of droughts and river flow patterns on nutrients in different phases of droughts and in short- and long-term periods after droughts ended.
Phosphorous levels
One of the nutrients researchers examined was dissolved inorganic phosphorus. When droughts first begin, phosphorus levels tend to increase slightly, and the range of these levels usually narrows. As droughts continue and get worse, the variability in phosphorus levels increases and the average level goes down. After droughts, when water flow increased, phosphorus levels in streams bounced back quickly because of the "flushing" effect, in which nutrients washed into the streams from the land. Three back-to-back streamflow droughts within the 20 years posed long-term consequences for the export of phosphorus. For example, phosphorus level increased in high flows by 35% from 2003 to 2021, which threatened the downstream estuary with excessive nutrient levels, increased microorganism growth and lower levels of dissolved oxygen.
Nitrogen levels
Researchers also examined changes in dissolved inorganic nitrogen. The impact of drought on nitrogen levels varied more, with the changes more linked to the severity of the drought, and its timing in wet or dry seasons. Nitrogen levels bounced back after droughts finished, but their dynamics within the stream flow patterns changed. For example, nitrogen levels in low flows became higher than those in high flows. Before and during droughts, researchers saw the opposite pattern.
In an ecosystem, as in medicine, the right dose makes all the difference. Nitrogen and phosphorous are essential nutrients for the growth of plants and animals. But too much of those nutrients causes problems such as harmful algae blooms, which deplete dissolved oxygen and produce toxins.
The rapid increase in phosphorous after droughts could lead to a temporary excess in the downstream ecosystem that would cause algae blooms, fish kills, and lead to problems with human health, Ahmadisharaf said.
Their findings give researchers a more detailed understanding of the Apalachicola River and its watershed. The impacts of drought can be specific to a place, so examining the river in detail is key.
"These findings give us a better understanding of how to manage nutrient levels carefully, especially during and after droughts, to avoid ecological problems," Ahmadisharaf said. "Because climate change affects timing, severity and duration of droughts, this study is important for addressing climate resilience from the coastal water quality perspective."
More information: Sumon Hossain Rabby et al, Dynamic disparities in inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus fluxes into estuarine systems under different flow regimes and streamflow droughts, Water Research (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.122238 Journal information: Water Research
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain
A new training course on the WomSAT platform will help everyone learn how to treat wombats afflicted with sarcoptic mange in the field, enhancing conservation efforts for the species.
Sarcoptic mange, caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite, affects wombats throughout their range, posing one of the greatest threats to their survival alongside roadside accidents. To address this, WomSAT (Wombat Survey and Analysis Tool)a collaboration between Western Sydney University, and Charles Sturt Universityhas developed a comprehensive training program designed to educate and certify wombat caregivers in field treatment techniques.
Since its launch in 2015, WomSAT has enabled the Wombat Warrior community to report over 23,000 wombat sightings and burrows across Australia, significantly contributing to the identification and mitigation of threats impacting wombats. The platform, which is part of a broader citizen science initiative, empowers everyday citizens to play a vital role in wombat conservation.
Associate Professor Julie Old, from the School of Science, highlighted the importance of the new training course.
"WomSAT empowers wombat caregivers and treaters to track wombat treatment in the field, providing critical data on the prevalence and treatment of sarcoptic mange. This course is a crucial step towards improving our understanding of this deadly disease and enhancing conservation efforts," said Associate Professor Old.
"By enhancing the knowledge and skills of wombat caregivers in treating sarcoptic mange, the training will not only improve on-ground care but also provide participants with the necessary accreditation to treat wombats in the field."
A recent upgrade to the WomSAT platform now includes features for tracking treatments in the field.
Upon completion of the trainingdeveloped in consultation with the Wombat Protection Society of Australia Inc. and supported by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Foundation for National Park's Curb Wombat Mange programparticipants will receive a certificate of accreditation. This accreditation can be used to gain official approval to treat wombats in the field through the Wombat Protection Society of Australia.
"By treating sarcoptic mange in wombats, we can improve their health and welfare and contribute to the conservation of an iconic Australian animal," said Dr. Hayley Stannard, from the Charles Sturt School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences.
More information: To learn more about the training course and how you can get involved, visit the WomSAT webpage.
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Copernicus Sentinel-2C takes to the skies. Credit: ESA
Europe's Vega rocket launched Wednesday from French Guiana, an AFP journalist said, carrying a satellite which will help combat natural disasters.
Delayed by a day due to "electrical issues on the ground links", according to French firm Arianespace, the launch in Kourou finally took place at 10:50 pm (0150 GMT Thursday).
"Successful lift-off for the last Vega mission from Europe's spaceport," the Guiana Space Center wrote on social media platform X.
The rocket is transporting the Sentinel-2C satellite, part of the European Union's Copernicus program.
Sentinel-2C will play a role in water quality monitoring and detecting methane emissions.
The satellite will also support the management of natural disasters such as forest fires, earthquakes and floods.
The mission will be the last for the Vega rocket, built by Italian aerospace company Avio and in service since 2012.
It is due to be replaced by the more powerful Vega-C, which has been grounded since 2022 following an accident which caused the loss of two Airbus satellites.
2024 AFP
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain
In the past two months alone, the flaming carcasses of electrocuted birds have ignited at least three wildfires in Colorado.
While the phenomenon sounds straight out of a cartoon, it's actually more common than you'd think, experts said. It's a big enough problem that electric utility companies brainstorm efforts to mitigate bird electrocution, said Taylor Barnes, a Fort Collins-based biologist and geographic information systems specialist who co-authored a 2022 study titled, "Wildland Fires Ignited by Avian Electrocutions."
Researchers found no coordinated records or data illustrating how frequently electrocuted birds dropping off power lines spark wildfires, so they sifted through Google searches of avian-induced fires in the United States from 2014 to 2018 and found 44 reported cases.
California had the highest number of incidents at 15. Colorado had two in 2016one in Littleton and one in Berthoud, the study found.
However, in July and August of this year, Colorado's Front Range has been the scene of at least three reported bird combustions resulting in wildfires.
Investigators determined the flaming carcass of an incinerated bird sparked a July 13 brush fire in Arapahoe County that burned more than 1,100 acres and destroyed property southeast of Byers.
On July 31, the West Metro Fire District responded to a small brush fire in Jefferson County near Morrison after a bird was electrocuted by overhead power lines, caught on fire and fell to the ground, igniting the grass and brush below, the fire district said.
And on Tuesday, firefighters from West Metro and South Metro Fire Rescue responded to a 35-acre brush fire burning near a Denver Water treatment plant and Roxborough Park in Douglas County. Officials said the cause appeared to be a bird that hit a power line and fell to the ground, catching the grass on fire.
No humans were injured in these brush fires, and they were all contained.
"We're getting more grassland or wildland fires from birds than we normally do," said Mark Jurgemeyer, interim chief operating officer of CORE Electric Cooperative, which services more than 375,000 Coloradans with electricity.
CORE, which serves areas in Adams, Elbert and Douglas counties, was the provider for at least two of the recent avian electrocution incidents, in Byers and Roxborough Park.
Xcel Energy and CORE both serve the Morrison area, so that one is trickier to determine, Jurgemeyer said.
Xcel Energy was the first utility in the country to enter into an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to proactively address issues involving birds and powerline structures, said Michelle Aguayo, Xcel Energy media relations representative. The 2022 plan included developing a schedule for retrofitting high-risk electrical equipment with roosting deterrents or bird flight diverters.
"We understand our infrastructure can be attractive to birds for roosting and building nests and can post a collision or electrocution hazard to birds," Aguayo said. "Our facilities are designed to meet industry standards that prevent or reduce the likelihood of avian incidents."
Jonathan Ashford, fire investigator with the West Metro Fire Protection District, said that, during Tuesday's fire investigation, they found four birds with varying degrees of burn damage in the area of the fire's origin near an electrical line. Normally, a bird in the path of fire would fly away, Ashford said, so this was a good clue that the burned birds started the fire.
Ashford said he believed the birds likely would have been close enough together to face joint electrocution.
There are a couple of reasons why birds are increasingly meeting an end better suited for the "Final Destination" films.
It's partially because of climate change, Barnes said.
An electrocuted bird is more likely to ignite a fire if conditions are dry, he said. Nearly half of Colorado is now in drought or has near-drought conditions, according to the most recent report from the U.S. Drought Monitor.
In July, a series of wildfires burning along the Front Range foothills killed one person, destroyed structures, caused the governor to activate the Colorado National Guard and enveloped sweltering metro Denver in a heavy cloud of smoke.
In addition to climate, there is the human introduction of electrical utility equipment into the environment, Barnes said.
Birds can sit on one wire, no problem. But if a bird touches a second wire, it opens a path of electricity right through the bird's body, with a resulting zap that can be potent enough to send the bird up in flames.
Larger birds like hawks and eagles can be more at risk of electrocution, Barnes said, because their wider wingspans put them at greater risk of touching two different wires simultaneously.
There are ways to design power poles and their accompanying structures to make them less susceptible to bird electrocution, Barnes said.
Barnes works at EDM International, an electrical utilities consulting company, where the biologist tackles this very issue.
For new electrical poles, Barnes said designers can ensure enough space between "energized components" to allow birds to exist without touching two electrical components at once.
However, many utility companies can't rip out and replace all their infrastructure, Barnes said, so there are ways to retrofit existing equipment to make it safer for birds. For example, utility companies can cover problematic wires or exposed electrical equipment with insulating material or put cages around pieces they don't want birds coming into contact with.
"It's amazing how resourceful birds can be when they want to be," Jurgemeyer said. "We are constantly trying different products and different ways of working with vendors to come up with stuff that doesn't exist to figure out ways to keep animals away from those energized parts."
Sometimes smaller birds on the hunt for bugs will drive their beaks under insulated coverings in hopes of a snack, only to find an electrical jolt instead, CORE's Jurgemeyer said.
"Every utility in the country that has overhead power lines has the same, exact problem," he said.
EDM International prepared CORE's latest aviation protection plan, Jurgemeyer said, to go over what they're doing right and wrong to best protect area birds.
"It is more common than people realize," he said.
2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Illustration of the tidal responses of two stars in a quasi-circular binary (not to scale). Credit: Nature Astronomy (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-024-02323-7
A better understanding of the inner workings of neutron stars will lead to a greater knowledge of the dynamics that underpin the workings of the universe and also could help drive future technology, said the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign physics professor Nicolas Yunes. A new study led by Yunes details how new insights into how dissipative tidal forces within doubleor binaryneutron star systems will inform our understanding of the universe.
"Neutron stars are the collapsed cores of stars and densest stable material objects in the universe, much denser and colder than conditions that particle colliders can even create," said Yunes, who also is the founding director of the Illinois Center for Advanced Studies of the Universe. "The mere existence of neutron stars tells us that there are unseen properties related to astrophysics, gravitational physics and nuclear physics that play a critical role in the inner workings of our universe."
However, many of these previously unseen properties became observable with the discovery of gravitational waves.
"The properties of neutron stars imprint onto the gravitational waves they emit. These waves then travel millions of light-years through space to detectors on Earth, like the advanced European Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory and the Virgo Collaboration," Yunes said. "By detecting and analyzing the waves, we can infer the properties of neutron stars and learn about their internal composition and the physics at play in their extreme environments."
As a gravitational physicist, Yunes was interested in determining how gravitational waves encode information about the tidal forces that distort the shape of neutron stars and affect their orbital motion. This information also could tell physicists more about the dynamic material properties of the stars, such as internal friction or viscosity, "which might give us insight into out-of-equilibrium physical processes that result in the net transfer of energy into or out of a system," Yunes said.
Using data from the gravitational wave event identified as GW170817, Yunes, along with Illinois researchers Justin Ripley, Abhishek Hegade and Rohit Chandramouli, used computer simulations, analytical models and sophisticated data analysis algorithms to verify that out-of-equilibrium tidal forces within binary neutron star systems are detectable via gravitational waves. The GW170817 event was not loud enough to yield a direct measurement of viscosity, but Yunes' team was able to place the first observational constraints on how large viscosity can be inside neutron stars.
The work is published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
"This is an important advance, particularly for ICASU and the U. of I.," Yunes said. "In the '70s, '80s and '90s, Illinois pioneered many of the leading theories behind nuclear physics, particularly those connected to neutron stars. This legacy can continue with access to data from the advanced LIGO and Virgo detectors, the collaborations made possible through ICASU and the decades of nuclear physics expertise already in place here."
More information: Justin L. Ripley et al, A constraint on the dissipative tidal deformability of neutron stars, Nature Astronomy (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-024-02323-7 Journal information: Nature Astronomy
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain
An experimental Moderna mRNA vaccine for mpox has demonstrated greater effectiveness than current shots in reducing disease symptoms and duration, according to an animal study published in the journal Cell on Wednesday.
It comes amid an outbreak of the disease in Africapartly driven by a new variant that emerged in the Democratic Republic of Congowhich has been declared an international emergency.
Senior author and virologist Jay Hooper from the US Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases told AFP that researchers were interested in exploring mRNA technology to find a "sweet spot"an mpox vaccine that is both highly safe and highly effective.
Vaccines for mpox, previously known as monkeypox, were originally developed to combat smallpox, which has since been eradicated.
The currently licensed JYNNEOS vaccine uses a "live attenuated" virus, meaning the virus has been weakened so it cannot cause disease in humans.
That attenuation also limits its protective efficacy compared to the older ACAM2000 vaccinewhich was however potentially infectious.
In contrast, the mRNA vaccine includes genetic instructions that train the host's immune system to recognize four key viral antigens, which are crucial for the virus to attach to cells.
Moderna uses the same mRNA technology in its highly safe and effective coronavirus vaccine.
In the study, six macaques were vaccinated with the mRNA vaccine, and another six received an equivalent of the currently licensed vaccine.
Eight weeks after their initial dose, all 12 vaccinated macaques were exposed to a lethal strain of mpox. A third group of six unvaccinated macaques was also exposed to the virus.
Researchers monitored the health of the animals over a four-week period, taking blood samples to assess their immune responses.
As anticipated, all vaccinated animals survived, regardless of the vaccine type, while five out of the six unvaccinated animals died.
"But if we focus specifically on the outcomes with the mRNA vaccine, what we saw was quite surprising and exciting," co-senior author Galit Alter, a virologist and immunologist at Moderna, told AFP.
Animals that received the mRNA vaccine experienced less weight loss and developed significantly fewer lesions compared to those given the live attenuated vaccine.
On average, the control group developed up to 1,448 lesions, the group vaccinated with the older vaccine had a maximum of 607 lesions, and the mRNA-vaccinated group had only 54 lesions at most.
Moreover, the mRNA vaccine shortened the period during which the animals exhibited lesions by more than 10 days compared to the MVA vaccine. It also resulted in lower viral loads in both blood and throat swabs, suggesting it could be more effective in reducing transmission.
First author Alec Freyn of Moderna told AFP that serum from the mRNA-vaccinated macaques was also tested against other viruses in the Orthopox family, and it effectively neutralized vaccinia, cowpox, rabbitpox, camelpox, and ectromelia virus.
The vaccine candidate, named mRNA-1769, is now being tested in an early-stage human clinical trial in the UK to assess its safety and immune response.
More information: Comparison of protection against Mpox following mRNA-1769 or MVA vaccination in NHPs, Cell (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.08.043 Journal information: Cell
2024 AFP
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Schematic of the composition and mechanism of action of a mRNA-expressed anti-DENV LbuCas13a drug. Credit: Nature Microbiology (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41564-024-01726-6
Dengue virus, a painful and sometimes fatal mosquito-borne infection well known in tropical countries, is surging rapidly across the planet. Now, 4 billion people live in places at risk for the disease, like the southeastern United States, which doesn't have an effective antiviral treatment yet.
A team of researchers led by biomedical engineer Phil Santangelo has developed a breakthrough therapy to target and kill the virus using the gene editing tool CRISPR-Cas13. The team's systemic delivery of the treatment was successful in treating dengue virus in mice, as the researchers explain in a study appearing in Nature Microbiology.
Dengue is difficult to treat, in part because there are four different serotypes of the virus, which means four different targets for a vaccine. People infected with one serotype who then contract a second version of the virus can end up with a serious disease. That second attack can end up amplifying the first. Symptoms include fever, nausea, rash, aches and pains (including behind the eyes), and in some cases, internal bleeding, shock, and death.
"There are several challenges with trying to treat dengue, so we wondered, is it possible for us to produce an mRNA-based, CRISPR-based antiviral where one shot can clear the virus," said Santangelo, professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University. "And that's basically what we've shown."
New use for tech
With the global proliferation of the Aedes mosquito that spreads dengue and other viruses, the timing of such a treatment would be fortuitous.
"Unfortunately, climate change is enabling an increase of these virus-causing mosquitoes," Santangelo said. "So, it's a good idea to be prepared."
This is the first time an mRNA-based CRISPR treatment has worked against systemic viral infections in animal models. But Santangelo demonstrated its efficacy in earlier studies focused on lung diseases, including a treatment for coronavirus. That was an inhalable treatment using polymeric nanoparticleslarge, biodegradable molecules ideal for delivering medicine directly to the lungs.
For the dengue virus study, the team used lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), which are like tiny fat bubbles that transport drugs through the bloodstream and into cells. The nanoparticles carried a custom-coded messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule.
The mRNA was encoded with Cas13a (a CRISPR protein that can cut viral RNA) and guide RNAs (to direct the Cas13a to the viral RNA to be cut). The process basically created a set of instructions. When the encoded mRNA was delivered to infected cells via the LNPs, the cell used those instructions to build Cas13a and guide RNAs, which degraded the viral RNA within those targeted cells.
Military precision
A single dose of the treatment was given to mice infected with lethal doses of two serotypes of dengue virus, DENV-2 and DENV-3. All the treated mice survived with no unintended damage to their RNA. Following treatment, the researchers also looked for evidence of the virus in the mice's brains but couldn't find any.
"It looks like our treatment precludes the virus from getting into the brain," Santangelo said. "This may not be super critical for dengue, which doesn't end up in the human brain. But this discovery could be really important for Zika virus, Japanese encephalitis, West Nile, and other viruses that do affect the human brain."
Santangelo's team is now testing their approach on dengue's other serotypes and will study the treatment in other viruses.
"We're very interested in trying these kinds of approaches to go after as many viruses as we can with one, potent treatment," said Santangelo, whose team included researchers from Georgia State University as well as Emory's Computational Core. "We're trying to find the most efficient way to kill these viruses. We're not quite there yet, but we're going to get there eventually."
More information: Mausumi Basu et al, mRNA-encoded Cas13 can be used to treat dengue infections in mice, Nature Microbiology (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41564-024-01726-6 Journal information: Nature Microbiology
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Technicians work to process the NASAs Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) observatory on a spacecraft dolly in a high bay at the Astrotech Space Operations Facility near the agencys Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023. Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
From sea to sky to orbit, a range of vantage points allow NASA Earth scientists to collect different types of data to better understand our changing planet. Collecting them together, at the same place and the same time, is an important step used to verify the accuracy of satellite data.
NASA's Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite launched in February 2024 and is collecting observations of the ocean and measuring atmospheric particle and cloud properties. This data will help inform scientists and decisionmakers about the health of Earth's ocean, land surfaces, and atmosphere and the interactions between them.
To make sure the data from PACE's instruments accurately represent the ocean and the atmosphere, scientists compare (or "validate") the data collected from orbit with measurements they collect at or near Earth's surface. The mission's biggest validation campaign, called PACE Postlaunch Airborne eXperiment (PACE-PAX), began on Sept. 3, 2024, and will last the entire month.
"If we want to have confidence in the observations from PACE, we need to validate those observations," said Kirk Knobelspiesse, mission scientist for PACE-PAX and an atmospheric scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "This field campaign is focused on doing just that."
Scientists will make measurements both from aircraft and ships. Based out of three locations across CaliforniaMarina, Santa Barbara, and NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwardsthe campaign includes more than 100 people working in the field and several dozen instruments.
Members of the PACE-PAX teamfrom left to right, Cecile Carlson, Adam Ahern (NOAA), Dennis Hamaker (NPS), Luke Ziemba, and Michael Shook (NASA Langley Research Center)in front of the Twin Otter aircraft as they prep for the start of the campaign. Credit: Judy Alfter/NASA
"This campaign allows us to validate data for both the atmosphere and the ocean, all in one campaign," said Brian Cairns, deputy mission scientist for PACE-PAX and an atmospheric scientist at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York City.
On the ocean, ships, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) research vessel Shearwater, will gather data on ocean biology and the optical properties of the water. Scientists onboard will gather water samples to help define the types of phytoplankton at different locations and their relative abundance, something that PACE's hyperspectral Ocean Color Instrument measures from orbit.
Overhead, a Twin Otter research aircraft operated by the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, will collect data on the atmosphere. At altitudes of up to 10,000 feet, the aircraft will sample and measure cloud droplet sizes, aerosol sizes, and the amount of light that those particles scatter and absorb. These are the atmospheric properties that PACE observes with its two polarimeters, SPEXOne and HARP2.
At a higher altitudeapproximately 70,000 feet upNASA's ER-2 aircraft will provide a complementary view from above the clouds, looking down on the atmosphere and ocean in finer detail than the satellite, but with a narrower view.
The plane will carry several instruments that are similar to those on PACE, including two prototypes of PACE's polarimeters, called SPEXAirborne and AirHARP.
In addition, two instruments called the Portable Remote Imaging SpectroMeter and Pushbroom Imager for Cloud and Aerosol Research and Developmentfrom NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasedena, California, and NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley, respectivelywill measure essentially all the wavelengths of visible light (color). The remote sensing measurements are key for scientists who want to test the methods they use to analyze PACE satellite data.
The NASA ER-2 high-altitude aircraft preparing for flight on Jan. 29, 2023. The aircraft is based at NASAs Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703 in Palmdale, California. Credit: NASA/Carla Thomas
Together, the instruments on the ER-2 approximate the data that PACE gathers and complement the in situ measurements from the ocean research vessel and the Twin Otter.
As the field campaign team gathers data, PACE will be observing the same areas of the ocean surface and atmosphere. Once the campaign is over, scientists will look at the data PACE returned and compare it to the measurements they took from the other three vantage points.
"Once you launch the satellite, there's no more tinkering you can do," said Ivona Cetinic, deputy mission scientist for PACE-PAX and an ocean scientist at NASA Goddard.
Though the scientists cannot alter the satellite anymore, the algorithms designed to interpret PACE data can be adjusted to make the measurements more accurate. Validation checks from campaigns like PACE-PAX help scientists ensure that PACE will be able to return accurate data about our oceans and atmospherecritical to better understand our changing planet and its interconnected systemsfor years to come.
"The ocean and atmosphere are such changing environments that it's really important to validate what we see," Cetinic said. "Understanding the accuracy of the view from the satellite is important, so we can use the data to answer important questions about climate change."
Provided by NASA
TOKYO, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday it has resumed production of the three models that had been affected by a recent vehicle testing scandal.
Production of the Corolla Fielder, Corolla Axio and Yaris Cross restarted on Wednesday, about three months after the auto giant admitted to falsifying performance test data in order to obtain government certifications for its vehicles, Toyota said.
The Japanese automaker had initially planned to resume production on Monday, but delayed the move due to the impact of a typhoon that lashed Japan last week.
Japan's transport ministry issued a shipment ban on the three models following Toyota's admission in June that certification test data had been rigged, but lifted it in July after confirming the vehicles' safety.
Toyota submitted a report in August to the ministry setting out measures to prevent a repeat of the incident such as increasing the number of employees in charge of certification by 10 percent from the current 400.
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These are far-ultraviolet Hubble images of Mars near its farthest point from the sun, called aphelion, on December 31, 2017 (top), and near its closest approach to the sun, called perihelion, on December 19, 2016 (bottom). The atmosphere is clearly brighter and more extended when Mars is close to the sun. Reflected sunlight from Mars at these wavelengths shows scattering by atmospheric molecules and haze, while the polar ice caps and some surface features are also visible. Hubble and MAVEN showed that Martian atmospheric conditions change very quickly. When Mars is close to the sun, water molecules rise very rapidly through the atmosphere, breaking apart and releasing atoms at high altitudes. Credit: NASA, ESA, STScI, John T. Clarke (Boston University); Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI)
Mars was once a very wet planet, as is evident in its surface geological features. Scientists know that over the last 3 billion years, at least some water went deep underground, but what happened to the rest? Now, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) missions are helping unlock that mystery.
"There are only two places water can go. It can freeze into the ground, or the water molecule can break into atoms, and the atoms can escape from the top of the atmosphere into space," explained study leader John Clarke of the Center for Space Physics at Boston University in Massachusetts. "To understand how much water there was and what happened to it, we need to understand how the atoms escape into space."
Clarke and his team combined data from Hubble and MAVEN to measure the number and current escape rate of the hydrogen atoms escaping into space. This information allowed them to extrapolate the escape rate backwards through time to understand the history of water on the red planet.
Their study is published in the journal Science Advances.
Mars was once a very wet planet. Scientists know that over the last 3 billion years, some of the water went underground, but what happened to the rest? Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center; Lead Producer: Paul Morris; Mars Animations Producer: Dan Gallagher
Escaping hydrogen and heavy hydrogen
Water molecules in the Martian atmosphere are broken apart by sunlight into hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Specifically, the team measured hydrogen and deuterium, which is a hydrogen atom with a neutron in its nucleus. This neutron gives deuterium twice the mass of hydrogen. Because its mass is higher, deuterium escapes into space much more slowly than regular hydrogen.
Over time, as more hydrogen was lost than deuterium, the ratio of deuterium to hydrogen built up in the atmosphere. Measuring the ratio today gives scientists a clue to how much water was present during the warm, wet period on Mars. By studying how these atoms currently escape, they can understand the processes that determined the escape rates over the last four billion years and thereby extrapolate back in time.
Although most of the study's data comes from the MAVEN spacecraft, MAVEN is not sensitive enough to see the deuterium emission at all times of the Martian year. Unlike the Earth, Mars swings far from the sun in its elliptical orbit during the long Martian winter, and the deuterium emissions become faint. Clarke and his team needed the Hubble data to "fill in the blanks" and complete an annual cycle for three Martian years (each of which is 687 Earth days). Hubble also provided additional data going back to 1991prior to MAVEN's arrival at Mars in 2014.
The combination of data between these missions provided the first holistic view of hydrogen atoms escaping Mars into space.
A dynamic and turbulent Martian atmosphere
"In recent years, scientists have found that Mars has an annual cycle that is much more dynamic than people expected 10 or 15 years ago," explained Clarke. "The whole atmosphere is very turbulent, heating up and cooling down on short timescales, even down to hours. The atmosphere expands and contracts as the brightness of the sun on Mars varies by 40 percent over the course of a Martian year."
The team discovered that the escape rates of hydrogen and deuterium change rapidly when Mars is close to the sun. In the classical picture that scientists previously had, these atoms were thought to slowly diffuse upward through the atmosphere to a height where they could escape.
But that picture no longer accurately reflects the whole story, because now scientists know that atmospheric conditions change very quickly. When Mars is close to the sun, the water molecules, which are the source of the hydrogen and deuterium, rise through the atmosphere very rapidly releasing atoms at high altitudes.
The second finding is that the changes in hydrogen and deuterium are so rapid that the atomic escape needs added energy to explain them. At the temperature of the upper atmosphere, only a small fraction of the atoms have enough speed to escape the gravity of Mars. Faster (super-thermal) atoms are produced when something gives the atom a kick of extra energy. These events include collisions from solar wind protons entering the atmosphere, or sunlight that drives chemical reactions in the upper atmosphere.
Serving as a proxy
Studying the history of water on Mars is fundamental not only to understanding planets in our own solar system, but also the evolution of Earth-sized planets around other stars. Astronomers are finding more and more of these planets, but they're difficult to study in detail.
Mars, Earth and Venus all sit in or near our solar system's habitable zone, the region around a star where liquid water could pool on a rocky planet; yet all three planets have dramatically different present-day conditions. Along with its sister planets, Mars can help scientists grasp the nature of far-flung worlds across our galaxy.
More information: John T. Clarke et al, Martian atmospheric hydrogen and deuterium: Seasonal changes and paradigm for escape to space, Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adm7499 Journal information: Science Advances
Provided by NASA
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A young, male northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) chases an offscreen sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) at Ocean Networks Canadas NEPTUNEs Barkley Canyon observatory site off the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. Credit: Ocean Networks Canada
Northern elephant seals were repeatedly captured on camera in the deep Pacific Ocean using sonar from an Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) observatory as a dinner bell to forage for their next fish feast, according to a new study led by University of Victoria researchers.
The study, published in PLOS ONE, provides a unique, first-ever visual glimpse into the elusive mammal's deep-sea behaviors, with a focus on their sophisticated feeding strategies, prey preferences as well as resting habits.
Altogether, at least eight male elephant seals, ages 4 to 7, were observed on camera and detected by hydrophones during multiple visits to the 645-meter-deep research site at Barkley Canyon along ONC's subsea cabled observatory NEPTUNE off the British Columbia west coast between 2022 and 2023.
The findings came almost by chance; UVic, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar (ICM-CSIC), a Barcelona-based research institute, and ONC researchers were studying the effects of light and bait on fish and invertebrate behavior at Barkley Canyon, using a high-definition camera, acoustic imaging sonar, hydrophone, pair of LED lights, and automatic bait release.
But a review of the camera, acoustic images and sound data revealed the surprise visitors.
"We suspect the seals have learned to associate sonar noise from the research instrument with the presence of fooda phenomenon known as the 'dinner bell' effect.
Seal catches sablefish. Credit: PLOS ONE (2024). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0308461
"The seals appeared to use this sound to locate an area with prey and may take advantage of fish disturbed by the camera lights, particularly targeting sablefish, their preferred meal, as seen in the video footage," says Heloise Frouin-Mouy, lead author of the publication.
Frouin-Mouy, a visiting scientist at UVic in the department of biology and assistant scientist at the University of Miami, collaborated on this research with Francis Juanes, UVic biology professor and Liber Ero Chair for Fisheries Research, and adjunct professor Rodney Rountree. ICM-CSIC's Jacopo Aguzzi and ONC's Fabio De Leo Cabrera are also co-authors on the paper.
In one instance, the repeated visits over 10 days by four of the identified seals to the research site also demonstrate that they quickly learned to use the infrastructure to forage for food more efficiently, adds Frouin-Mouy.
"We became familiar with the mammals and ended up naming them in the paper after members of The Beach Boys to differentiate between the frequency of visits and observed habits," she says.
The adolescent males visiting the site predominantly targeted actively swimming sablefish, ignoring the over dozen other stationary or drifting prey options. Several individuals were interestingly recorded on camera and hydrophone bobbing their heads and producing low-frequency sounds while chasing prey.
A northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) attempts to catch a sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria), captured by Ocean Networks Canadas high-definition camera at the Barkley Canyon NEPTUNE observatory site, off the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. Credit: Ocean Networks Canada
Sonar videos also revealed seals power-napping on the seafloor at Barkley Canyon, another new and never-seen behavior from the adolescent male northern elephant seal.
NEPTUNE's real-time monitoring capacity allowed the researchers to adapt the use of ONC's subsea instruments deployed at the research site for the fish study to pick up on the presence of the seals and observe them for nearly a year.
Although northern elephant seal colonies are found as far north as Alaska and southern towards the Baja Peninsula, they are typically studied using biotags to track movement, or found primarily on land.
Results from the also-completed fish acoustics experiment study will be published in the near future.
More information: Heloise Frouin-Mouy et al, Deep-sea cabled video-observatory provides insights into the behavior at depth of sub-adult male northern elephant seals, Mirounga angustirostris, PLOS ONE (2024). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0308461 Journal information: PLoS ONE
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A: The experiment floated radioactive samples on a gas stream, then hit the sample with lasers at high temperatures. B: Initially, plutonium oxide samples were matte gray but they changed to shiny black after intense heating. C: The inset shows a sample after heating under pure O 2 gas. Credit: Argonne National Laboratory
The 2011 accident at the Fukushima-Daiichi plant in Japan inspired extensive research and analysis that elevated nuclear energy into a standard bearer for safety. It also inspired a number of studies at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory. Scientists want to look more closely at nuclear fuel materials to better understand how they will behave at extremely high temperatures.
In 2014, using the bright X-rays of beamline 6-ID-D at Argonne's Advanced Photon Source (APS), a DOE Office of Science user facility, a multidisciplinary team measured and published the structure of molten uranium dioxide (UO 2 ). This material is a major component of the fuel used in nuclear reactors around the world. In addition to providing answers, the experiment raised questions about how liquid plutonium oxide (PuO 2 ) and other mixed oxide fuels being considered for use in next-generation reactors would behave at similarly high temperatures.
Experimental study of PuO 2 raises many more safety concerns. However, the team at Argonne believed there was a fundamental need for data for actinide oxides. They took on the difficult task of designing an experiment that could overcome the complex challenges that accompany the study of PuO 2 .
The results of their work will help scientists and engineers model, design and construct clean nuclear energy systems that continue an impressive safety legacy.
The team of Argonne chemical engineers and physicists, in collaboration with Stephen Wilke and Rick Weber of Materials Development, Inc., and others, published the results of their experiment, "Plutonium oxide melt structure and covalency," in the April 2024 issue of Nature Materials.
"Argonne is probably the only place in the world capable of performing this very difficult type of experiment," said Argonne Senior Physicist Chris Benmore. "We demonstrated the proof of principle in 2014 with UO 2 , and it took us until now to expand the capability to PuO 2 . The experiments involve complex instrumentation operating at extreme conditions."
Benmore helped design the experimental X-ray chamber, perform the X-ray measurements, and analyze and model the X-ray data. Mark Williamson, division director of Argonne's Chemical and Fuel Cycle Technologies (CFCT) division, assisted in the chamber design and safety analysis for the APS experiments, and guided a CFCT team who synthesized the samples for the experiments. Materials Development, Inc. developed the instrument for the measurements and made necessary safety adjustments that made the instrument more suitable for the PuO 2 experiment.
Floated like a butterfly, then stung like a bee
Samples of PuO 2 measuring about 2 mm in diameter were levitated on a gas stream and then heated by a carbon dioxide laser beam until they melted. This allowed the team to measure the samples' structure at temperatures as high as 3,000 K without risking sample contamination from container interactions. Samples initially appeared matte gray. After heating, they were shiny black. Heating the sample at different temperatures on different streams of gas revealed changes in the volatility of the melt and structure in various atmospheres.
"We solved the structure of liquid plutonium oxide and found that some covalent bonding was indeed present," Benmore said. "We also discovered that the liquid structure was similar to cerium oxide, which can be used as a non-radioactive substitute."
Lead author Stephen Wilke, of Materials Development Inc., added, "People have used levitators to melt materials at extremely high temperatures, but to move this technique into studying nuclear fuel materials where there are other concerns required a much higher level of sophistication and safety review. I think it paid off in a large way."
Another exciting outcome of the experiment involved using the X-ray data to develop machine learning on a supercomputer at Argonne's Laboratory Computing Resource Center. The team was able to model what all the electrons in the system are doing with quantum mechanical accuracy. This work can shed further light on the nature of bonding mechanisms and help determine the safety parameters of using mixed oxide fuels in future reactors.
"The data from the combined set of experiments not only provides information of technological importance, it also provides insights into the fundamental behavior of actinide oxides at extreme temperatures," Williamson said. "This has been a fantastic collaboration of experts, and it's an excellent example of how we work together to continually improve nuclear energy systems."
More information: Stephen K. Wilke et al, Plutonium oxide melt structure and covalency, Nature Materials (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41563-024-01883-3 Journal information: Nature Materials
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain
New research from Hebrew University shows that how well parents understand their children and manage their own emotions greatly affects homework time. Parents who are good at understanding their kids are more supportive and help them become more independent and motivated to learn. On the other hand, parents who have trouble managing their emotions are more likely to act negatively, which can make it harder for children to stay engaged and do well in their learning.
Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have uncovered new insights into the mechanisms that contribute to parental ability to support their children academically. Led by Dr. Naama Gershy and Ph.D. student Racheli Cohen from the School of Education, in collaboration with Prof. Maayan Davidov from the School of Social Work and Social Welfare, the study explored why so many parents struggle to support their children during homework.
The research shows that parents' emotional and cognitive processes can greatly influence their interactions with their children during homework time. By studying 101 Israeli parents and their elementary-aged children, the researchers identified factors that can either help or hinder the support parents provide at home.
The paper, titled "Why Things Can Go Wrong When Parents Try to Help Children With Their Homework: The Role of Parental Emotion Regulation and Mentalization," is now published in the Journal of Educational Psychology.
Children usually spend about one to two hours a day on homework, but this varies with age and school demands. Many parents find it challenging to balance their own responsibilities while supporting their children academically, which can lead to stress and conflict. Improving this dynamic is crucial.
One key finding is the role of parental mentalizationthe ability to perceive and interpret their children's thoughts and feelings. Parents who are good at mentalization are more supportive and less controlling, creating a better homework environment that can boost children's independent learning and motivation.
Conversely, parents who struggle with managing their emotions tend to express negative behaviors, like frustration or discouragement, which can make homework stressful and curtail their child's engagement.
"Our research sheds light on how parents' emotional and mental processes impact their involvement in their children's education," explained Dr. Gershy. "Understanding these factors can help develop strategies that improve parent-child interactions during homework, and hence increase parental ability to support and encourage their children's learning."
Practical applications of these findings could include parent training programs and educational strategies to improve parents' awareness of their emotional states and mentalization skills, aiming to enhance parental support and foster better academic outcomes and relationships.
More information: Racheli Cohen et al, Why things can go wrong when parents try to help children with their homework: The role of parental emotion regulation and mentalization, Journal of Educational Psychology (2024). DOI: 10.1037/edu0000873 Journal information: Journal of Educational Psychology
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ISS National Lab Commercial Service Provider Space Tango worked with Luo's team to develop specialized CubeLab hardware to automate the study of bubble formation and behavior in microgravity. Credit: University of Notre Dame
Imagine a sensor so sensitive it can detect early cancer in a single drop of blood, enabling diagnosis and treatment before the first symptomspossibly before a tumor even forms.
Next, picture a device capable of identifying trace amounts of even the smallest plastic pollutants in ocean water, empowering scientists to mitigate the environmental impact of dangerous microscopic toxic waste like nanoplastics, a subgroup of microplastics between 1 and 1,000 nanometers in size.
The catch? Blood samples and vials of contaminated water undergo screening in space, where the absence of gravity leads to an unexpected occurrence: the formation of unusually large bubbles that more efficiently concentrate substances like cancer biomarkers for detection.
This is the futuristic vision of Tengfei Luo, a researcher at the University of Notre Dame who studies mass and energy transport at the molecular level. His concept is simple but has profound applications. By harnessing the unique properties of heat, fluid, and light and their interaction with bubbles, Luo seeks to create sensing technology that's useful on Earth but performs significantly better in the microgravity environment of space. These sensors measure biological or chemical content by generating signals proportional to the concentration of a substance.
Luo's technology uses bubbles to concentrate and extract the tiniest substances submerged in liquid samples, promising to achieve sensitivity and accuracy in detection several orders of magnitude better than what's currently possible. The key to this technology is freeing the bubbles from the constraints of gravity-induced forces, allowing them to act as the concentrator of targeted microscopic substances for a larger spatial extent and longer duration, making the substances easier to detect and analyze.
Luo says this biosensing method could ultimately improve the efficiency of cancer diagnostic tools reliant on highly concentrated sample extraction from liquids.
"The technology currently available to screen for early, asymptomatic cancer before a tumor is visible during imaging is very limited to just a few cancers," Luo said. "If cancer screening using our bubble technology in space is democratized and made inexpensive, many more cancers can be screened, and everyone can benefit. It's something we may be able to integrate into annual exams. It sounds far-fetched, but it's achievable."
The first in a series of International Space Station (ISS) Laboratory experiments aimed to study how bubbles form and grow on surfaces of different roughness when water boils in space compared with the process on Earth. The initial experiment examined bubble behavior on one surface, and a second iteration that flew on Northrop Grumman's 17th CRS mission studied four different surfaces.
A high-speed camera inside the flight hardware captured the bubble growth process, and then Luo's team analyzed the videos together with computer simulations. The experiment focused on two fundamental factors affecting bubble formation: the surface's texture and the surrounding liquid's movement. According to Luo, the results are promising, showing that the bubbles grew larger and faster in space than on Earth.
Understanding the mechanisms behind bubble growth in space will help Luo advance his technology to extract extremely low concentrations of substances from liquids, which he says is the next step in detecting cancer in blood samples or minute traces of pollutants in water. Beyond Earth applications, the technology could bolster the low Earth orbit economy and potentially accompany astronauts during deep space exploration to assess onboard water sources for contamination or monitor crew member health.
Surface bubble nucleation and growth dynamics. The snapshots showing the moments of surface bubble nucleation (upper), growth (middle) and the final phase (lower) at the end of the video in terrestrial a or space microgravity b condition. The measured surface bubble contact angle is provided in the middle panel of b. c The volumes of space (red) and terrestrial (black) bubbles as a function of time after nucleation. d The volume growth rates of space (red) and terrestrial (black) bubbles as a function of time after nucleation in log scale. Credit: npj Microgravity (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41526-024-00352-0
Unraveling the physics of bubbles in space
Originally from China, Luo joined Notre Dame after completing a postdoc at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and started the MONSTER (Molecular/Nano-Scale Transport and Energy Research) Lab in 2012 to study molecular-level energy and mass transport.
For a 2020 study published in Advanced Materials Interfaces, Luo and his research team used a laser to heat a solution containing nanoparticles coated with DNA biomarkers. They successfully lured the nanoparticles to the bubbles generated by the laser and deposited them on the substrate, creating what Luo calls a "high-density concentrated island."
Thanks to a phenomenon called the Marangoni flow, nanoparticles are transported to the surface of bubbles. The bigger the bubble and the longer it is maintained in a liquid without detaching from the surface, the more concentrated the substances attracted to it become. The biomarkers migrate along the bubble to the solid surface, where they bunch together and collect, ready to study. At that point, Luo uses microscopy to examine the bubbles and determine what's deposited on the surface.
To grow "larger bubbles that last longer on the surface" and make his biosensors more sensitive, Luo turned to the space station's unique microgravity environment and enlisted the help of Space Tango.
"Microgravity provides an ideal environment to explore physics fundamentals by removing one of our universe's fundamental forces," explained Twyman Clements, president and co-founder of Space Tango. "On Earth, bubbles are influenced by competing forces such as surface tension and buoyancy, but in low Earth orbit, these forces are removed."
Space Tango partnered with Luo's team to develop customized hardware to ensure the success of the spaceflight project.
"For this study, the team designed an automated experiment, from fluid containment systems to high-speed imaging tools, that function under microgravity conditions and heat the liquids under study safely on the space station," Clements said. "As we continue to improve our technologies, this effort underscores our commitment to pushing the boundaries of fluid dynamics research for applications that benefit humanity on Earth and beyond."
The experiment was housed in a novel CubeLab, an automated platform the size of a shoebox, developed by Space Tango. The hardware includes four specialized fluid chambers and high-resolution imaging systems specifically designed to observe and analyze bubble formation in microgravity. The experiment involved the controlled introduction of various fluids into the chambers, allowing researchers to study bubble formation, growth, and coalescence under microgravity conditions.
Top: Bubble formation in the Space Tango CubeLab on the space station. Bottom: Bubble formation during experimentation on Earth. Credit: Image courtesy of Luo Tengfei
"We found that bubbles form much quicker in space than on Earth. For instance, in one experiment, bubbles formed after 4 minutes and 35 seconds in space, but it took twice as long on Earth due to the movement of liquid cooling the area known as thermal convection," Luo said.
In space, without the presence of buoyancy and convective flow, the dynamics of bubble growth change drastically. On Earth, buoyancythe tendency of objects to rise or fall in a fluid due to gravityplays a significant role in bubble formation and growth. Additionally, convective flow, caused by the movement of hot liquid around the heating area, helps regulate temperature and slows bubble growth.
There's hardly any buoyancy in microgravity. This means bubbles aren't pulled away from the surface, allowing them to grow larger without being disturbed. Additionally, without convective flow, there's nothing to cool down the heating area. As a result, the heat energy is concentrated in a smaller area, leading to much faster and larger bubble growth than on Earth, Luo says.
The results from his space experiments successfully illustrated these concepts. The bubbles did not detach from the surface but burst at the end when they grew too big. "We still don't understand why," says Luo.
Turning dreams into tangible tech
After analyzing and quantifying the bubble volume, Luo and his team determined that space bubbles can be orders of magnitude larger than terrestrial bubbles. They published their results earlier this year in Nature Microgravity.
On Earth, Luo used his technique to find nanoplasticsincluding those from disposable coffee cups, water bottles, and fish netsin a vile of ocean water he collected off the coast of the United States, which he describes in another recent paper published in Science Advances.
"We find some kinds of particles 300 meters deep in the Gulf of Mexico in very, very low concentrations, but this gives us a look at what nanoplastic looks like in our ocean environment," says Luo.
Luo and his team will continue their research in an upcoming experiment scheduled for launch in August. This time, the team will conduct particle disposition to confirm that the larger bubbles do indeed increase the density of concentrated nanoparticles collected.
Inside the CubeLab designed by Space Tango. Credit: Tengfei Luo
The Space Tango CubeLab will also undergo some changes. Luo is working with Space Tango to implement a safe, inexpensive laser to heat the liquid; the nanoparticles absorb the laser light and convert it into heat. Heating the nanoparticle suspension with a laser allows better control of the Marangoni flow to improve biomarker concentration and collection.
"If the concentration ratio is proportional to the bubble size, we should be able to increase the sensitivity of our biosensors by another three orders of magnitude," says Luo. "So that would allow us to--theoretically--screen for early cancer."
Luo is starting to think about how to make this dream a reality. He estimates that sending around 10,000 blood samples to the space station costs a few hundred dollars. Of course, that doesn't cover the cost of flying a spacecraft. He hopes vehicles like Boeing's Starliner and future commercial space destinations may help reduce the cost of screening for diseases in space and further democratize access.
Still, scaling up this process to make space screening available to everyone is a significant hurdle to overcome. In the meantime, these experiments are improving our understanding of the physics of fluid around surface bubbles in complex environments. Validating this technology at the extremes of particle concentration, bubble size, and bubble growth rate could benefit all sorts of terrestrial screening. This translates to mapping out the scientific limits of cancer biomarkers or environmental pollutant detection.
And Luo says it's not just people on Earth who could benefit. Monitoring astronauts' health is crucial for prolonged space missions, where early detection of changes in health can ensure their well-being. Enhancing biosensor technology in space can lead to more accurate and reliable health monitoring, contributing to safer space exploration.
Dual-use applications, such as Luo's biosensing, have transformative potential, benefiting both space exploration and technology on Earth, says Jonathan Volk, business development director for Voyager Space, a commercial space company focused on advancing deep space missions, encompassing lunar and Mars exploration programs, and developing Starlab, a commercial space station.
"Increasing accessibility to space is pivotal to encouraging more projects like Tengfei's," Volk said, underscoring the ISS National Lab's role in translating visionary concepts into practical realities.
"To do science in the space environment, whether in physics or biology, innovative thinking is essential, and it's easy for an idea to sound like a pipe dream," says Volk. "But once we grasp the possibilities within the space environment, what may seem impossible can become possible."
Provided by International Space Station National Laboratory
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Study design and experimental heat pain model. Credit: Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ado3498
A study by the Medical University of Vienna has made important progress in understanding heat perception in humans. The research team was able to identify a specific cell structure that plays a role in recognizing heat. However, most of the protective recognition of heat in everyday life depends on other, as yet unknown structures.
The findings were recently published in the journal Science Advances. Recognizing heat is a fundamental protective function for all organisms. A research team led by Michael Fischer from MedUni Vienna's Center for Physiology and Pharmacology investigated the question of how the human body recognizes harmful heat.
In the study, 48 healthy test subjects were examined using a newly developed heat pain model in order to clarify the role of various cell components in heat perception. It was found that the perception of heat pain differs significantly from the way it works in mice, in which the cell structures TRPV1, TRPA1 and TRPM3 are redundantly responsible for heat perception and a role for ANO1 was also described. These are proteins that play an important role in detection of environmental and internal conditions.
It turned out that three of these four cell structures, which are responsible for recognizing heat in mice, play no role in humans. By developing a new heat pain model and conducting the comprehensive study in humans, MedUni Vienna was able to rule out a contribution of TRPA1, ANO1 and TRPM3 to heat perception. The fourth structure, TRPV1, which is also responsible for the perception of spicy food, proved to be the most sensitive for recognizing heat in humans.
Heat perception in humans not yet clarified
Thus, while TRPV1 remains as the central detector of noxious heat, interestingly, in humans, the majority of protective heat avoidance in everyday life depends on other as yet unknown molecular mechanisms. This was shown when the inhibition of TRPV1 reduced pain at harmful temperatures, but the majority of heat-induced pain was still perceived.
"These findings open up new avenues in research into recognizing and preventing heat damage and could lead to new therapies in the long term," explains study leader Michael Fischer.
More information: Stefan Heber et al, Human heat sensation: A randomized crossover trial, Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ado3498 Journal information: Science Advances
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Common dolphin off the coast of Australia. This species lives in the open ocean, can reach high swimming speeds, has more than 70 vertebrate and up to eight regions in their backbone. Credit: Amandine Gillet
If you've ever seen a dolphin swim, you may have wondered why they undulate their bodies up and down when swimming, instead of side to side as fishes do. Though they have a fishlike body, cetaceans (a group comprised of whales, dolphins, and porpoises) are mammals that descended from land-dwelling ancestorssame as cats, dogs, mice, elephants, cows, and humans.
However, unlike their land-dwelling relatives, cetaceans have undergone profound changes in their body and skeletal structure to thrive in aquatic environments, including the reduction of hindlimbs and the evolution of flippers and tail flukes, resulting in a streamlined body.
Despite these adaptations, cetaceans retain key features of their terrestrial origins, such as lungs and the ability to nurse their young with milk. And, as for those undulating movements, they also retained the similar vertical movements that allow land mammals to run really fast. But the mystery remains of how the transition from land to water, approximately 53 million years ago, impacted the construction and function of their backbone, a central element of the skeleton.
Now, in a study published in Nature Communications, an international team of researchers shed light on how these marine mammals' backbones were re-organized as their ancestors adapted to life in water.
The team found that, contrary to previous assumptions, the cetacean backbone is highly regionalized, despite being more homogeneous in shape along its length. The way in which the backbone is regionalized, however, is drastically different from terrestrial mammals.
"When their ancestor went back into the water, whales and dolphins lost their hind legs and developed a fish-like body," said lead author Dr. Amandine Gillet, Marie Curie Fellow in the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard and in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Manchester, UK.
"But that morphological change also means the vertebral column is now the main part of the skeleton driving locomotion in an aquatic environment."
The vertebral column of terrestrial mammals moving on land must provide support to help the legs carry the body weight. When cetaceans transitioned from land to water, the forces of gravity shifted from air to buoyant water releasing the pressure to carry body weight. The new body structure and movements needed to move through water meant the backbone of these animals would have to shift in some way to fit their new environments.
Previous studies have looked at the backbone from a morphological view, eyeing changes in vertebrae morphology. In a 2018 paper published in Science, co-authors Professor Stephanie Pierce and Dr. Katrina Jones explored the complex evolutionary history of the mammalian backbone using a novel statistical method first developed to study the backbone of snakes.
Pierce and Jones revised the model to fit their study, which allowed them to demonstrate that the vertebral column of terrestrial mammals is characterized by numerous, distinct regions in comparison to amphibians and reptiles.
Nested Regions Hypothesis for cetacean backbone construction: The Nested Regions hypothesis proposes a model where the backbone of cetaceans is divided into precaudal and caudal segments with each further divided into a number of modules common to all cetaceans. Each module can be further subdivided into multiple regions, with a minimum of six and a maximum of nine post-cervical regions across all extant cetaceans. Credit: Amandine Gillet
"It's a challenge to understand how the regions of a terrestrial mammal can be found in whales and dolphins and one reason is because their backbone looks very different in terms of morphology, even though they evolved from them," said Pierce, Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard and senior author of the study.
"They lost the sacrum, a fused string of vertebrae bracing the hind legs and a critical landmark needed to distinguish the tail from the rest of the body."
The vertebrae of cetaceans are further complicated in that they became more homogeneous in their anatomical features. So, the transition from one vertebra to another is gradual compared to the extreme transitions found in terrestrial mammals, making it more difficult to identify regions.
"Not only do they have very similar vertebrae, but certain species, in particular porpoises and dolphins, have many more vertebrae than terrestrial mammals, with some species having close to 100 vertebrae," said Jones, Presidential Fellow in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Manchester, UK.
"This makes it really challenging to translate regions found in terrestrial mammals to the backbones in whales and dolphins."
Traditional statistical methods used to identify regionalization patterns require the exact same number of elements across specimens. The statistical method Pierce and Jones implemented (called Regions) allowed them to overcome this issue by analyzing the backbone of each specimen individually.
While the method worked well for the constrained backbone of terrestrial mammals, it proved computationally challenging for the high counts of vertebrae in cetaceans. Gillet collaborated with the Data Science Services team at the Harvard Institute for Quantitative Social Science to re-write the code, allowing the program to obtain results within minutes on a laptop. The researchers made the new program, called MorphoRegions, publicly available for the scientific community as a computational software R package.
"This is definitely one of the biggest advances of our study," said Pierce. "Amandine spent months refining the program so that it could analyze a system of high repeating units without crashing the computer."
Gillet applied the MorphoRegions method to the data she previously collected during her Ph.D. work. She visited six museums in Europe, South Africa and U.S. gathering morphological data on 139 specimens from 62 cetacean species, two-thirds of the almost 90 living species. In total, Gillet measured 7,500 vertebrae and ran them through the analytical pipeline.
Correlation between the number of vertebrae and regions with habitat: Picture of the backbone of a species living in shallow waters (left) and the open ocean (right) showing the differences in number of vertebrae, number of regions (represented by colored boxes), and number of modules (represented by colored lines under the regions). Credit: Amandine Gillet
"Our large dataset allowed us to demonstrate that not only does the organization of the cetacean backbone differ from terrestrial mammals, but also that the patterns vary within cetaceans as we identified between six and nine regions depending on the species," said Gillet.
"We then worked from there to find commonalities across regions and identified a pattern common to all cetaceans, which is summarized by our Nested Regions Hypothesis."
The hypothesis proposed by the team introduces a hierarchical organization of the backbone in which a precaudal and a caudal segment are first identified. The two segments are then each divided into several modules common to all cetaceans: cervical, anterior thoracic, thoraco-lumbar, posterior lumbar, caudal, peduncle, and fluke. Next, depending on the species, each module is further subdivided into one to four regions, with a minimum of six and a maximum of nine post-cervical regions along the backbone.
"Surprisingly, this showed us that, compared to terrestrial mammals, the precaudal segment has less regions, whereas the caudal area has more," said Pierce. "Terrestrial mammals use their tails for a variety of different functions, but not usually for generating propulsive forces, like cetaceans do. Having more regions in the tail may allow for movement in very specific regions of tail."
"Based on previous observational studies, we know that whales, dolphins and porpoises don't exactly swim the same way," said Gillet.
"One species might need to swim slow, but with more maneuverability to catch prey, or because it's living in a shallow environment with lots of obstacles. Other species living in the open ocean might need to be able to go fast in a straight line without requiring much body flexibility."
So, the team explored how regions in the backbone correlate to habitat and swimming speed. They discovered that species living offshore, farther from the coast, have more vertebrae, more regions, and higher burst swimming speed. Species living in rivers and bays, so, closer to shore, have less vertebrae and fewer regions, but their regions are more different to one another, potentially affording them greater maneuverability.
"It's a beautiful study," said Pierce. "You go from dusty skeletons in a museum to showing how the backbone of one of the most charismatic groups of mammals was repatterned due to their aquatic environment. And we can directly relate this back to habitat and swimming performance in living animals."
With a better understanding of the organization of the cetacean backbone, the researchers plan to next tackle understanding how these morphological regions correlate with function using experimental data on the flexibility of the vertebral column collected in the lab.
These data collected on modern taxa should allow them to infer swimming abilities of fossil whales and help inform how the backbone shifted from a weight-bearing structure on land to a propulsion-generating organ in the water.
More information: Amandine Gillet et al, Repatterning of mammalian backbone regionalization in cetaceans, Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51963-w Journal information: Nature Communications , Science
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This undated image from a court document provided by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana shows golden eagle feet recovered by law enforcement officers from a Washington state man's vehicle. Credit: Courtesy of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana via AP, File
A man helped kill at least 118 eagles to sell their feathers and body parts on the black market as part of a long-running wildlife trafficking ring in the western U.S. that authorities allege killed thousands of birds, court filings show.
Travis John Branson is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court on Sept. 18 for his role in the trafficking ring that operated on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana and elsewhere.
Prosecutors say the Cusick, Washington man made between $180,000 and $360,000 from 2009 to 2021 selling bald and golden eagle parts illegally.
"It was not uncommon for Branson to take upwards of nine eagles at a time," prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Montana wrote in a Tuesday court filing. "Not only did Branson kill eagles, but he hacked them into pieces to sell for future profits."
Eagle wings, tails, feathers and other parts are highly sought after by Native Americans who use them in ceremonies.
Prosecutors asked Judge Dana Christensen to sentence Branson to "significant imprisonment" and restitution totaling $777,250. That includes $5,000 for every dead eagle and $1,750 for each of 107 hawks that investigators said he and his co-conspirators killed.
Branson's attorney disputed the prosecutors' claims and said they overstated the number of birds killed. The prosecution's allegation that as many as 3,600 birds died came from a co-defendant, Simon Paul, who remains at large. Branson's attorney suggested in court filings that the stated death toll has fueled public outcry over the case.
"It is notable that Mr. Paul himself went from a 3,600 to 1,000 bird estimate," Federal Defender Andrew Nelson wrote in a Tuesday filing, referring to a statement Paul made to authorities in a March 13, 2021, traffic stop.
Nelson also said restitution for the hawks was not warranted since those killings were not included in last year's grand jury indictment. He said Branson had no prior criminal history and asked for a sentence of probation.
An adult golden eagle circles overhead in a remote area of Box Elder County, Utah, May 20, 2021. Credit: Spenser Heaps/The Deseret News via AP, File
Branson and Paul grew up in the Flathead Reservation area. Since their indictment, Paul has been hiding in Canada to evade justice, according to Nelson.
Paul's defense attorney did not immediately respond to a telephone message seeking comment.
Investigators documented the minimum number of eagles and hawks killed through Branson's text messages, prosecutors said. Two years of his messages were not recovered, leading prosecutors to say the "full scope of Branson's killings is not captured."
Government officials have not revealed any other species of birds killed.
Bald and golden eagles are sacred to many Native Americans. U.S. law prohibits anyone without a permit from killing, wounding or disturbing eagles, or taking their nests or eggs.
Illegal shootings are a leading cause of golden eagle deaths, according to a recent government study.
Members of federally recognized tribes can get feathers and other bird parts legally through from the National Eagle Repository in Colorado and non-government repositories in Oklahoma and Phoenix. There's a yearslong backlog of requests at the national repository.
Branson pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy, wildlife trafficking and two counts of trafficking federally protected bald and golden eagles. He faced a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the most serious charge, conspiracy. Under a plea deal, prosecutors said they would seek to dismiss additional trafficking charges.
Federal guidelines call for a sentence of roughly three to four years in prison for Branson, they said.
2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Planning group activities for your meeting, retreat, or conference can be a daunting task. You need a destination that accommodates large groups and offers a wide range of activities. The Lake George Area in the Southern Adirondacks of Upstate New York is the ideal choice.
Lake George has a diverse range of accommodations, from luxury resorts to cozy waterfront hotels, ensuring that you can find the right lodging to match your groups needs, budget and goals. Whether your group prefers to stay productive on-site or enjoy spacious areas for relaxation and reflection, the Lake George Area has flexible meeting spaces designed for gatherings and networking.
Its convenient location is within an easy drive from New York City, Boston and Montreal. You can also get there by air and train, making the area a practical choice for groups traveling within the Northeast.
Also, the stunning natural beauty of the area provides an ideal backdrop for team-building activities and outdoor recreation, offering a refreshing escape from the usual office environment. This blend of comfort, convenience and natural splendor makes the Lake George Area a fantastic destination for groups to convene.
Here are six notable attractions that can entertain your group of professionals.
Lake George Steamboat Company
The Steamboat Company operates historic steamboats like the Mohican and Minne-Ha-Ha, providing a vintage, nostalgic adventure with opportunities for dining, cocktail hours, and more. Your group will adore the historic charm of their boats and enjoy the scenic outing.
Lake George Waterfront Cruises
This company has modern boats and provides a range of cruise options for you to choose from. You can count on them for flexibility, tailored private charters and event-specific cruises that adjust amenities and activities to suit various groups.
The Morgan
This classic steamboat is an excellent choice for groups staying in the regions cornerstone, The Sagamore Resort who wish to enjoy an historic and elegant excursion on Lake George. This vintage steamboat, built in 1906, provides a unique backdrop for corporate outings and special celebrations.
Natural Stone Bridges and Caves
Natural Stone Bridge and Caves offers a thrilling Adventure Tour that is perfect for corporate and team-building groups looking for a unique bonding experience. This 3-4 hour guided tour involves exploring four different caves, including army crawls through sandy passageways, climbing over waterfalls, and floating through Garnet Cave. With options for varying skill levels, participants can challenge themselves while still enjoying the tour.
Adirondack Excursions
Adirondack Excursions specializes in boat tours and adventures. The Adirondacks encompasses various lakes and rivers beyond just Lake George. This excursions company offers a range of nature-focused activities, including fishing, wildlife watching and guided nature tours. You can turn to them for outdoor adventures.
The Original Tiki Tours
The Original Tiki Tours is ideal for groups wanting a festive way to explore Lake George. Their tiki-themed boats offer a casual, open-air setting perfect for celebrations and cocktail hours. Designed for various group sizes, the boats provide a playful tropical atmosphere.
The Floating Classroom
The Floating Classroom in Lake George offers a one-of-a-kind, educational experience on the water. They provide hands-on environmental and science lessons aboard. Ideal for corporate teams and organizations, The Floating Classroom accommodates various sizes and interests, combining learning with relaxation.
When youre ready to plan your next corporate outing on or near the water, consider the Lake George Area for your destination. For more information, please visit meetlakegeorge.com.
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In a landmark event, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant handed over the first Indian citizenship certificate under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) to Joseph Francis Pereira, a 78-year-old Pakistani Christian. The ceremony, which took place on 28 August 2024, marks a significant milestone in the implementation of the controversial legislation.
Pereira, born in 1946 in Paroda village, South Goa, left for Pakistan in 1960 at the age of 14 to pursue his education. He subsequently took up employment there, acquiring Pakistani citizenship in the process. After a career spanning several decades in Bahrain, Pereira returned to India in 2013, settling in Cansaulim, South Goa, with his wife Martha.
The journey to citizenship for Pereira has been a long and complex one. Despite being married to a Goan woman and having Indian parents, he faced numerous hurdles in obtaining Indian citizenship. The couple made multiple attempts over the years, with applications either cancelled due to missing documents or left pending. It wasn't until the implementation of the CAA that Pereira's path to citizenship became clear.
Chief Minister Sawant, speaking at the event, highlighted the significance of the moment. "Though Pereira was married to a Goan woman, he faced hurdles in getting Indian citizenship until the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi amended the Citizenship Act, 1955," Sawant stated. He added that many Goans could potentially benefit from the CAA in a similar manner.
The CAA, enacted in December 2019, aims to grant Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who entered India on or before 31 December 2014. The act covers Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians from these countries.
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For Pereira, the impact of the CAA has been profound. "I am very grateful to the CAA that was brought by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah," he told reporters. "Within one month of applying, the approval has come."
Martha Pereira, Joseph's wife, shared the challenges they faced before the CAA. "From the time we got married, we have been applying, but nothing was coming out of it," she said. "We applied through CAA in June this year. Without CAA, there would have been a lot of hurdles."
For decades, Pereira led a life divided between his work in Bahrain and his family in Goa, visiting only for short periods due to visa restrictions. This arrangement meant missing significant family events and living under constant scrutiny, including regular police verifications.
His journey began when an uncle suggested he go to Karachi for higher education and training, citing limited job prospects in pre-Liberation Goa. He applied for a Portuguese passport and embarked on a week-long trip to Karachi by steamboat. In Pakistan, Pereira studied at a missionary school and later took a technical course in refrigeration and air conditioning.
During his time in Karachi, Pereira experienced significant political changes, including the beginning of dictatorships in 1965 and the 1971 war between India and Pakistan. These events complicated communication with his family, forcing him to route letters through a friend in Bahrain. Eventually, lack of job opportunities led Pereira to seek work in Bahrain.
As per the citizenship certificate, Pereira has been registered as a Citizen of India under the Provisions of Section 6B and fulfilling the conditions under section 5 (1)(c) of the Citizenship Act, 1955, effective from the date of his entry into India. Chief Minister Sawant announced that the Goa Home Department has begun surveying potential applicants for citizenship under the CAA and encouraged eligible individuals to contact the government.
The ceremony was attended by state tourism minister Rohan Khaunte, highlighting the significance of this event for the Goan government. Pereira, visibly moved by the occasion, expressed his joy, saying, "I think you can see it on my face, I am so happy. I am free! Now I can just show them my citizenship certificate, and say, 'Please don't bother me.' God's blessing is upon me. I can now stay with my family peacefully until my death."
ALBANY Some politicians representing Warren and Washington County are calling for an investigation into Gov. Kathy Hochul and her administration after a former aide to both Hochul and to then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo was arrested Tuesday. The aide has been charged with acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government.
Linda Sun, who held several positions in New York state government, including working as deputy chief of staff for Hochul and deputy diversity officer for former Gov. Cuomo was arrested along with her husband Chris Hu Tuesday morning.
Federal prosecutors said Sun, at the request of Chinese officials, blocked representatives of the Taiwanese government from having access to the governors office and shaped New York governmental messaging to align with the priorities of the Chinese government, among other things.
An AP story on the arrest says that Hochuls office saw wrongdoing by Sun, fired her in 2023 and alerted authorities to the issues they saw.
A number of politicians, including some who represent Warren and Washington County at the state and federal level, have spoken out since the allegations and are asking for an investigation into Hochul and her administration.
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-NY, said taxpayers deserve transparency.
Failed Far Left Democrat Kathy Hochul allowed Communist Chinese spy Linda Sun unfettered access to the highest levels of New York State government, Stefanik said in a statement. From allowing Chinese police stations, to maintaining a sister city partnership between NYC and Beijing, this is another example of New York Democrats facilitating the influence campaign of Communist China.
Sen. Dan Stec, R-Queensbury, called the situation with Sun a failure in state security which never should have happened.
The indictment of Linda Sun, a former top aide to Governor Hochul, as a foreign agent of the Chinese Communist Party highlights an appalling security breach in our state government, Stec said in a statement. The fact that an individual representing one of the most repressive nations in the world could rise to a high-ranking position in our states government should alarm all New Yorkers, and serve as a warning to officials from both parties.
Sen. Jake Ashby, R-Castleton, has said that everything from hiring practices, to security protocols to the governors administrative chain of command must be examined.
That the Chinese Community Party infiltrated the highest levels of state government is surreal, completely unacceptable and deeply unsettling. As Ranking Member of the committee overseeing homeland security, Im urging my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in calling for a bipartisan commission to find out how this happened, how we can prevent future catastrophic security failures and assist federal authorities in unmasking any other unregistered operatives of foreign governments to ensure they are brought to swift justice.
In a press conference Wednesday, Hochul responded to the case.
To think that any foreign agent, that any foreign government, has the audacity to infiltrate a government like the State of New York has to be addressed, Hochul said. We will be talking more about what we want to see happen later today. But, I will say this, everyone should be aware of who they are empowering with positions.
Hochul said Sun was in a position where she was handling things like outreach and proclamations, and that she did not have any access to security information or documentation, or cyber security information.
There was a limit to it, on the other end of it, it never should have happened, Hochul said. Were taking strong actions a this time.
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP Stockton University on Thursday announced the swearing in of Tracy Stuart as the school's newest police chief.
Stuart, 53, of Ocean County, was sworn in Wednesday by Stockton President Joe Bertolino. She is the first Black sworn police chief at Stockton, according to the school.
It certainly will not be easy, but from the get-go, youre our person to lead, and we knew that right away, Bertolino said at the swearing-in ceremony.
Stuart earned her bachelor's degree in criminology and justice studies from The College of New Jersey and began her law enforcement career as a Class I and II officer in Avon-by-the-Sea, Monmouth County.
To rise through the ranks and have such tremendous support from so many wonderful people to entrust me with being the chief of police, its really a proud moment for me and my parents, she said. It shows that if you work hard, you will be rewarded.
Stuart thanked her mother, Cynthia, and mentor, retired Stafford Township Police Chief Thomas Conroy in her speech.
She credited her time working in a shore town like Avon-by-the-Sea with helping her engage with residents, especially young kids.
I knew, early on, that I liked that family setting, so when Stockton was hiring, I thought it would be interesting to work in an agency that was pretty small and also they were big on community engagement getting to know the students, faculty and staff.
Stuart started at Stockton in security in August 2007. She rose through the ranks and became a fixture on campus, doing classroom presentations on emergency preparedness and educating students on how to protect themselves while on campus.
Stuart also worked as a K-9 handler with her partner, Hemi, from 2011-20, and with Freya since 2020. She won detection dog titles with the U.S. Police Canine Association National Detector Dog Trials in 2018 and 2019 with Hemi, and again in 2022 with Freya.
Stuart said her main priority as chief will be recruitment and retention. She hopes to increase personnel from 18 sworn officers "up to its highest potential and highest standards so we can be the best versions of ourselves," she said.
Parents entrust us with their kids en loco parentis, year after year, so we have to meet and exceed their expectations, she added.
DES MOINES A University of Iowa employee now fired improperly collected more than $943,000 for work done for his private firm with university equipment, according to a three-year special investigation released Wednesday.
State Auditor Rob Sand, whose office published the 304-page report, said he expects Iowa law enforcement agencies to pursue legal action against the former employee.
Brian Busch, a former UI engineering specialist and manager of the Department of Physics and Astronomys Machine Shop, improperly collected $943,634.97 by contracting for services for a company he owned and completing the work in the Machine Shop from 2017 through 2021, according to the special audit.
Busch failed to disclose with the university that he owns D3Signtech, which was required under the UI Conflicts of Interest and Commitment policy, the audit said.
The UI said in a statement Wednesday said once it learned of possible improprieties by Busch, it conducted an investigation and then requested the audit from Sands office.
Busch was placed on paid leave in September 2021 after whistleblowers raised questions about his work. He was terminated Aug. 28 when the state audit was completed, according to the UI.
The university needs to improve their conflict of interest policies. They also need to do a better job of verifying them, Sand said Wednesday during a news conference in the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines.
Two more UI Machine Shop employees were put on paid leave as a result of the investigation, according to the universitys statement: William Crile was placed on paid leave Sept. 29, 2021; he left the university on July 17, 2023. And Spencer Kuhl was placed on paid leave on July 6, 2023; he was terminated on Aug. 2.
While on paid leave for three years, Buschs salary was $83,153 a year. Criles annual salary during his two years of paid leave was $67,570, and Kuhls salary during his one year of paid leave was more than $85,000.
The UI is investigating all potential avenues to recoup wages paid to all three former employees, the universitys statement said.
Sand said his office worked on the investigation with UI police and a federal agency he declined to name. The audit states that Busch declined to meet with a detective.
Mr. Busch stated he would consult his legal representation and provide an answer to the detective. Mr. Busch did not return communication confirming to meet with the detective with the University of Iowa Department of Public Safety, the audit report said. As a result, we did not attempt to interview Mr. Busch.
Sand said Iowas statute of limitations for the wrongdoing he found is three years, meaning state law enforcement agencies have until the end of this year to file charges.
Johnson County Attorney Rachel Zimmermann Smith said her office is reviewing the report. An Iowa Attorney General's Office spokeswoman said the office reviews all reports it receives to determine whether further action needs to be taken.
Neither the Iowa Department of Public Safety nor its Division of Criminal Investigation which were not involved in the investigation but were sent the audit report by Sands office are involved with the case, a spokesman said.
The federal statute of limitations is five years, Sand said, meaning the investigating federal agency could also take action.
If your focus is on accountability, the last thing you want to do is run into a situation where youve said, OK, were just going to let this timeline lapse on the state side because it sounds like the feds will take it. You don't want to do that because you could end up in a situation where something changes and then all of a sudden theres no accountability for it, Sand said. So we are getting this report out now because we do not want that state limitation to run before the report is released.
How it happened
The UI Physics and Astronomy Departments Machine Shop is described on its website as a source for custom part prototyping and machine part problem solving with services that include machining, fabricating, welding, design and precise measurement of mechanical parts and assemblies.
The Machine Shop is designed to be financially self-sufficient, Sand said. It charges for the services it offers: $77 to $86 per hour for UI projects and $100 per hour for outside projects, according to the audit.
According to the audit, Busch would contract to take jobs through various outside entities and perform the work using Machine Shop. The investigation tracked 587 jobs that Busch completed using Machine Shop equipment.
According to the audit, Buschs billing practices were first flagged by a UI employee in 2019, when Busch was ordered to repay the university $3,550 he had collected for his personal business, D3Signtech, for contract work through the online industrial parts marketplace Xometry using Machine Shop equipment.
A UI spokesman said at that point, a university review process uncovered the error and after the money was repaid, Busch was an employee in good standing.
But he retained employment, his future transactions obviously did not receive any additional scrutiny, and here we stand today with $950,000 that went into his pocket rather than going to the university, Sand said.
The UI statement lays out steps taken to address the issues that were uncovered by the investigation and audit. According to UI:
To ensure proper documentation and accounting, the Machine Shop updated its job intake and tracking procedures, recording jobs as they are assigned, in-progress, completed or deleted.
UI will review its conflict of interest and employment leave of absence practices to determine if new rules or procedures are necessary to mitigate prolonged administrative leaves and protect university resources.
The University of Iowa is committed to managing its resources responsibly and expects all employees to follow the conflict of interest and purchasing policies outlined in the universitys policy manual, UIs statement says.
10 high-impact tips to protect yourself from fraud 10 high-impact tips to protect yourself from fraud
Chinese VP meets with Putin
Xinhua) 09:12, September 05, 2024
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok, Russia, Sept. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)
VLADIVOSTOK, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Russian President Vladimir Putin here in Russia's Far East city on Wednesday.
Han conveyed Chinese President Xi Jinping's warm regards and best wishes to Putin, saying that at this new historical starting point of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral ties, China-Russia relations in the new era continue to operate at a high level under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state.
Han said China is full of confidence in the prospects of cooperation between the two countries. China highly values the role and influence of the Eastern Economic Forum, actively supports and participates in the development and cooperation of Russia's Far East region and stands ready to share development opportunities with Russia, so as to benefit the two peoples with more achievements and promote common development and revitalization.
Putin welcomed Han to Russia for the ninth Eastern Economic Forum and asked him to convey his cordial greetings and best wishes to Xi.
Noting that Russia-China relations are in the best period in history, Putin said Russia highly values bilateral cooperation in various fields such as economy, trade, culture and local exchanges and looks forward to exploring more new development opportunities with China.
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok, Russia, Sept. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)
(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
At the 11th General Assembly of the Asia Evangelical Alliance (AEA) held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from August 7-12, 2024, approximately 200 participants from 23 national alliances and 20 mission organizations engaged in meaningful discussions under the theme Disciple or Die. This gathering, part of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), focused on how Christians and churches across Asia should approach fulfilling the Great Commission in the coming decade. The overwhelming consensus was that eective discipling in Asia requires collaborative eorts among national alliances and their partners. Given that Asia is home to just 7.9% of the worlds Christian population, the importance of discipling in this region cannot be overstated.
In comparison to other continents, Christians make up 8.6% of the population within Asia, while Africa has 48.5%, and Latin America boasts 92.7%. In Latin America, historical factors have shaped these gures significantly with colonialism, particularly through Roman Catholic missions, deeply inuencing the region, embedding Christianity into the cultural fabric of many countries. This strong Christian identity is further supported by religious freedoms that allow denominations to ourish.
In Africa, the initial spread of Christianity was fueled by missionary eorts during the colonial era, but the rapid expansion is largely due to the vigorous indigenous evangelism by local leaders. This growth is also supported by the eective integration of Christianity with local customs and traditions.
In contrast, the growth of Christianity in Asia has faced more obstacles. Although missionary work and social development initiatives have made an impact, challenges such as entrenched religious and cultural traditions, government restrictions, social and political pressures, and economic difficulties have hindered the spread of Christianity. Unlike Latin America, where Christianity is deeply woven into cultural identity, or Africa, where it has blended with local traditions, Christianity in Asia often remains somewhat disconnected from local cultural expressions.
Given these conditions, the national alliances of the AEA identified a need to disciple Christians in ways more suited to the Asian context and focused on several key areas to advance the Christian mission in Asia. These include:
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Nurturing indigenous Christians to develop their identity within the Asian context. Equipping them to eectively share and adapt their faith to local cultures. Raising up leaders who understand and can navigate local traditions while discipling new believers. Ensuring the church becomes more locally sustainable and culturally relevant.
It is crucial for Asian churches to be mindful of how discipleship occurs in their contextprimarily through relational or intuitive methods. Discipleship should be grounded in local cultural understanding rather than abstract reasoning. For the Great Commission to progress and the gospel to spread rapidly, Asian Christians must disciple, adapting and integrating their faith deeply into their local spirituality and cultural practices, leveraging indigenous leaders to communicate and propagate the message eectively.
Originally published by the World Evangelical Alliance Mission Commission. Republished with permission.
Chansamone Saiyasak is the founder/director of Mekong Evangelical Mission, focusing on mobilizing and training indigenous leaders for the gospel evangelization in Mainland Southeast Asia. He is a leader in the Asia Mission Association (AMA) and SEANET Buddhist Missiological Forum, providing training and networking for outreach to the Buddhist world. He serves as the President of Asia Society of Missiology (asianmissiology.org), Professor of Religious Studies & Missiology, Zinzendorf School of Doctoral Studies, Olivet University (California, USA), and a leader of AEAs national alliances: Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand and Evangelical Fellowship of Laos. Chansamone received his missiological training, DMin in Missiology from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, Tennessee, USA, and PhD in Theological and Religious Studies from Evangelische Theologische Faculteit, Leuven, Belgium (etf.edu).
There's a new mentorship program at Central DeWitt High School and it was started by an ambitious 17-year-old.
Senior Katlin Truelsen is the organizer behind Ladies in Livestock, a group that meets one Wednesday a month and pairs students with mentors in agriculture. The program involves 10 girls from three different schools and 12 women who are professionals in the ag industry. Their careers range from veterinary science and ag business to animal nutrition, production and education.
"I wanted to help with livestock, but future planning for (the girls) as well," Truelsen said.
Truelsen said she got the idea to start the program from her ag advisor, Amy Grantz, who told her about the Uncommon Student Award by the Hoover Presidential Foundation.
The award, which honors the Iowa native and 31st president of the United States, is a scholarship program for Iowa high school juniors, designed to attract community-minded students. To be eligible, students must propose and then accomplish projects of their own design by demonstrating the values Hoover exemplified, according to the scholarship website.
Grantz said she thought of Truelsen right away when she heard about the opportunity because of her strong ambition and drive.
"She is always thinking outside the box and is always wanting to better herself," Grantz said.
A total of 15 students were chosen to receive a $1,500 cash award at the completion of their program. Four of those students then have the opportunity to go onto earn an additional $10,000 each in scholarship money.
Cory Carter, a Davenport West High School senior known for his popular produce stands, is also in the running.
During their monthly meeting, the Ladies in Livestock group splits its day into two parts: resume, cover letter and career building in the morning and production-based learning in the afternoon. Having grown up on a farm herself, Truelsen has known for a while she wants to continue a career in agriculture but also wanted to find a way to help other girls like her.
"I have always been around (ag) and have been involved in my FFA Chapter," Truelsen said. "I was thinking about college and this is the type of stuff you need when you go to college, so I was thinking it would be a good way to help other girls work on the same things and create their own (sources) as well."
When she originally came up with the idea, Truelsen thought she would have trouble finding women to act as mentors, but quickly learned that wasn't the case.
"Women are getting more into the industry. It wasn't hard for us to find mentors that had livestock and agriculture backgrounds, but its hard to be a leader in those male-dominated industries," she said. "It's nice that we can help each other and become leaders."
Grantz herself is teaching one of the courses on ag education. In February she will be instructing a workshop on birthing for different species.
"My plan is to put together a birthing kit for the 10 girls that are going and have some information and guidelines for them," she said, adding it will all be for future reference and not a live demonstration.
Grantz farms with her family but was still shocked when she was asked to be part of the program. She felt honored, she said, and that sentiment was shared among mentors who attended the first meeting in August.
Truelsen talked to the mentors at that meeting and gathered their feedback. Most asked for one-on-one time with the students, she said, in an effort to give them top-notch feedback and help them along their professional journeys.
"The mentors we invited are very professional and have experience in this type of stuff, so they really wanted to work with the girls more and have more time to talk with them and give them feedback on their resumes or their biographies," Truelsen said. "They wanted to make sure there was enough time for that as well as program time."
Truelsen has just started her senior year of high school, but already has big dreams ahead for college. She plans to attend Iowa State University next fall and major in ag communications.
With her Ladies in Livestock program, her resume will look great already, but the busy senior has a few more tricks up her sleeve: She's a regular contributor to an ag magazine and has a children's book coming out this winter.
While on assignment for Humps N Horns Bull Riding Magazine in Las Vegas she met two bull riders from Sidney, Iowa.
"They were both born on the same day and are best friends. They ride at rodeos together, so I wrote a children's book on their story and the goals they have for bull riding; working together to accomplish their dreams of being No. 1," she said.
The writing for Buckin' Bull Buddies is complete and the book is now at the illustrator and is expected to be published in December. Until then, Truelsen will have her hands full with senior year and her monthly luncheons.
Photos: Central DeWitt vs Pleasant Valley
Some members of Davenport City Council want to return to rules that gave the public more time to speak at council meetings.
In February, after a work session with council members, Mayor Mike Matson announced rules that reduced the opportunities for the public to address the council on any topic from four meetings a month to two and cut the length of time to speak from five minutes to three. Matson kept the five minutes allowed for each item on the committee of the whole and discussion agendas.
At the time, the rule changes were spurred by then-city legal staff and some council members' concerns that the city could be sued for allowing and publishing public comments seen as defamatory on the city's website. Matson also said the city would not livestream public comments and would edit out potentially defamatory comments from posted videos.
The collapse of a downtown Davenport apartment building, which killed three people, maimed a fourth, and caused dozens to lose their home and belongings, caused public uproar. Family members and the public directed harsh criticism toward Davenport aldermen and city staff, saying they failed to prevent loss of life in the collapse, among other issues.
The city also has seen personnel turmoil with at least two administrative staff and the former city administrator departing the city with settlements because of alleged harassment from elected officials.
The new rules for public comment were met with protest and condemnation from several regular council attendees, who have pointed to a 2015 resolution that established procedures for meetings that the council approved in a March 25, 2015, meeting.
That resolution outlines the "customary order of business," which includes public business in both the committee of the whole and regular meetings.
The resolution also states: "The mayor may set time limits and ground rules of process for public input for any given action item(s) appearing on the agenda; the default rules shall be one opportunity to speak with a 5 minute-time limit."
And it states that the council may override the decision of the mayor by a two-thirds vote of members present.
At-Large Ald. Jazmin Newton told council members at Tuesday's management update meeting that she constantly receives calls, emails and even has been stopped while shopping in Walmart by constituents some of whom she's never met before to complain about the lost public comment time in council meetings and feeling like no one was doing anything to restore it.
Newton said in February she asked the city's legal counsel, Lane & Waterman, for an opinion on whether the council should still be operating under the 2015 resolution until the council votes otherwise.
A legal opinion was returned to the council in May, Newton said, which recommended the council return to the 2015 rules.
"Included in that opinion is the following sentence, 'our advice is that the city council should continue to operate under the 2015 rules until the current city council decides to alter or abolish them through corresponding city council action slash vote,'" Newton said at Tuesday's meeting.
Newton said she had been waiting for a work session on the topic. According to a tentative schedule of work sessions given to aldermen on Tuesday, a work session on council rules wasn't scheduled until October.
"All I'm saying is until we have the time to pass something new, we should follow the legal advice that we paid for and go back to following the resolution," Newton said Tuesday. She added that she was prepared to motion for a return to the 2015 rules as soon as this week if it follows meeting procedures and laws.
At the council's Wednesday meeting, Newton said a council work session has been scheduled for Sept. 17 on council rules of order, and she looked forward to a discussion about it then.
Newton said the council's current rules seem to have some gray areas in whether the city should be following the 2015 rules or the mayor's rules announced in February, and supported establishing clearer rules that allow the public more opportunities to speak.
Matson defended on Tuesday his decision to limit public comment. He said Lane & Waterman's legal opinion also said that he made a decision as a presiding officer and that any other alderman could have made a motion to appeal his decision.
"I would look forward, from my perspective, to a vote on this to see where we stand," Matson said.
Ald. Tim Kelly, 5th Ward, said members of the council and mayor should reflect on why they wanted to limit public comment.
"We have to remember that we all took this position to serve," Kelly said. "So is this serving them or is it serving us?"
What do other cities do?
The city reviewed the public comment policies of 11 other local governments in Iowa and western Illinois for comparison Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Moline, Rock Island, Scott County, Sioux City and Waterloo.
Davenport is one of four locales that allow public comment on individual items on agendas.
For public business on any topic, the governments have differing time limits per speaker. Of the 11 (not including Davenport), six local governments limit each speaker to three minutes, four have five-minute limits, and Bettendorf has a two-minute limit.
Five local governments require speakers to pre-register to speak.
Davenport's fact sheet states that those residing in Dubuque may comment on any city business, language that mirrors the City of Dubuque's website. That sparked some debate during the Davenport council work session in early 2024 about potentially limiting public comment to just Davenport residents, and council members generally were opposed to that idea.
However, Dubuque City Clerk Adrienne Breitfelder said Dubuque does not in actual practice limit public comment just to people who live in Dubuque. The city does require commenters to provide their name and address.
Photos: Davenport Central High School Marching Blue Devils
Dr. Travis Walker, associate professor in the South Dakota Mines Karen M. Swindler Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, has introduced the Accelerated Career Exploration Scholars program.
The initiative, funded by the Swindler Endowment, offers first-year chemical engineering undergraduates a research experience during the summer.
The program addresses the need for more internship and job opportunities for students with only one year of academic experience.
"We are trying to provide them with the opportunities that they seek," Walker said. "They want to build their resume, but few companies will hire them. We want to take that student population and provide them with experiences that will help assure their future success."
Four students participated in the program's inaugural year, conducting research under the guidance of faculty members and collaborating with Mines graduate and Ph.D. students. The ACE Scholars also mentored other students, including high school participants in the Army Educational Outreach Program.
Participant Allison Kahler, a sophomore chemical engineering major, worked with Dr. Tanvi Govil on optimizing the production of exopolysaccharides using two types of bacteria.
"Having this experience will undoubtedly help me when I apply for internships and jobs in the future," Kahler said. "This program has allowed me to develop my knowledge and skills with 300 hours of laboratory research. Its really exciting to get that kind of experience with only a freshman education. Not only do you get experience as a freshman specific to your degree, but you also get paid to do it.
Another participant, Evan Gran, a sophomore chemical engineering major, collaborated with Dr. Kenneth Benjamin on molecular simulations related to equilibria and transport properties of liquids in nano-confinement.
My favorite part of this experience was learning about a wide range of chemical engineering topics and being able to work one-on-one with Dr. Benjamin, Gran said.
The ACE Scholars presented their research at the South Dakota EPSCoR Symposium in Sioux Falls and plan to attend the annual American Institute of Chemical Engineers meeting this fall.
According to Walker, the program aims to expand, increase student participation, and establish a separate endowment for continued funding.
"We want the students to have an awesome experience and to be ambassadors for the CBE program. And when high school students come on campus, we can use this as a recruitment tool," Walker said.
Walker said that similar research experiences may be implemented in other university departments.
A program like this gives first-year undergraduates access to research labs, a paid summer job, and valuable experience that will give these students a head start in their career, Walker said.
Leonard Peltier was visited by Jose Francisco Cali Tzay, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous People, on Aug. 27.
A special rapporteur is an independent expert appointed by the United Nations to report on human rights issues.
Tzay visited Peltier at Coleman 1 Federal Penitentiary in Coleman, Florida for a two-and-a-half-hour discussion of Peltiers health and imprisonment.
During the 22nd United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, International Indian Treaty Council Board President Ron Lameman presented a request on behalf of Peltiers spiritual advisor to visit him in prison.
Peltier asked Tzay to assist him in getting an emergency medical transfer to a facility like the Federal Medical Center in Rochester, Minnesota.
In 2022, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention released a 17-page report condemning Peltiers detention. The report cited numerous factors including anti-Native American bias in Peltiers ongoing parole denials.
In a Sept. 3 press release, the Leonard Peltier Ad Hoc Committee said the Special Rapporteur's visit and the International Indian Treaty Council's resolute efforts both hold significant potential in getting Peltier medical attention.
The Ad Hoc Committee added that Peltier said he was honored by the visit and enjoyed his time with Francisco Cali and Seanna Howard from the University of Arizona who assisted the Rapporteur on this visit.
The U.S. Parole Commission denied Peltiers most recent request for parole on July 2.
Believers concerned about the rise of persecution against Christians covered the Swiss government plaza (Bundesplatz) in Berne in countless wooden crosses and constructed a mass grave in a symbolic gesture calling for governmental authorities to take more decisive action against the ongoing violation of human rights suffered by Christians in many parts of the world. Open Doors International estimates that globally 317 million Christians endure very high or extreme levels of persecution for their faith.
The mass demonstration involving 1,000 people held on August 31 was organized by a collaboration of evangelical and persecution organizations under the banner of persecution.ch.
Attendees laid roses on the symbolic mass grave and prayed in specially devised reproductions of prison cells. There were also worship songs and times of reflection with God, thinking about those suffering for their faith.
A statement by Reseau Evangelique Suisse (RES), representing 250 evangelical churches in French-speaking Switzerland, called the event a unique spectacle to behold in public.
A very unusual scene: instead of water games or market stalls, countless wooden crosses covered the Bundesplatz in Berne, read the RES statement. A symbolic mass grave and around 1,000 participants in the demonstration on the doorstep of Switzerland's political Mecca served as a reminder that religious persecution is on the rise throughout the world, particularly against the Christian community.
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Two victims of persecution spoke about their experiences at the public awareness demonstration in Berne.
Amin Afsharnaderi, a Muslim-background believer, suffered two jail sentences in Iran after he converted to the Christian faith. His first arrest happened at the home of the pastor of his underground church during Christmas festivities.
I was interrogated several times, insulted, humiliated and put under pressure to renounce my faith and denounce other Christians. I'm sure I wouldn't have survived that if Jesus Christ hadn't been with me.
Afsharnaderi shared during his public talk that the persecution he suffered was experienced by many other believers in Iran.
Christians in Iran live under constant pressure and fear. They lose their jobs or their property because of their faith, he said.
A second speaker was introduced without revealing his name and country of origin in Asia for security reasons. He now lives in Europe but previously suffered repeated imprisonment and torture in his home country. He had also seen the public execution of believers. Christianity is perceived as a danger to national security and every new law aims to eliminate Christians, he lamented.
However, the Christian faith continues in the country despite the crackdown, he said as he recalled the power of this faith, which has endured in my suffering, even in the darkest of prison cells.
Both men pleaded with those at the plaza to commit themselves as free citizens to campaign for those being persecuted for their faith in Jesus in other countries. Actions can include prayer, inviting believers who experienced persecution to local churches, helping organizations supporting persecuted Christians and increasing political pressure on governments violating human rights. The men particularly called upon the media to highlight the issues of persecution.
Laurent Wehrli, a member of the National Council of Switzerland and public advocate for the human rights of the persecuted, spoke about his advocacy work, which involved regular briefings on the sufferings of Christians in certain countries and raising these incidents at relevant embassies.
Between 2019 and 2023, almost half of our requests were met, at least partially. Out of 54 prisoners for whom we intervened, 24 were released early.
Wehrli said that public events were essential to raise awareness on behalf of persecuted Christians. He noted the privilege of living in a country such as Switzerland where freedom of religious expression is officially protected.
Our history is marked by the Christian conviction that every human being possesses innate dignity, said Wehrli. We have a responsibility to preserve these values.
Does the Bitterroot still fit the bill for harlequin ducks?
A research project helmed by a University of Montana masters student, Holli Holmes, will determine harlequin duck status in the Bitterroot and might establish a more effective way of measuring their population.
This year were wrapping up the last surveys, Holmes told the Ravalli Republic, before departing on a field project on Monday, Aug. 23.
Holmes project that has been ongoing since 2021 aims to conclusively determine the status of harlequin duck populations in the region and evaluate the validity of previous testing methods.
The harlequin duck is a visually striking coastal bird that nests in and around white water streams. For millennia the harlequin duck has settled in streams along the Bitterroot during late spring and summer to lay their eggs. The males and females migrate to Montana from the various locations all along the Pacific coastline.
Harlequin ducks are a species of concern, Holmes said. Theyre also a species that people really care about because theyre really beautiful.
For years, studies have suggested that the harlequin duck, which is listed as a Species of Concern, had been a dwindling population in the Bitterroot. Bitterroot National Forest biologist Jorista Garrie said that in the last 20 years, there have been less than 15 harlequin ducks detected in Ravalli County.
This extensive wildlife project was undertaken by Holmes while she was a technician at Glacier National Park in 2021. Holmes said that she and her supervisor were bouncing potential project ideas around and focused in on recent reports of declining harlequin duck populations in coastal locations and Montana.
The project found its focus when Holmes realized harlequin duck genome mapping was done by the North Cascade National Park in 2019.
It opened up the possibility of using environment DNA (eDNA), Holmes said. The biggest hurdle was having their genome mapped and so the fact that North Cascades had already done it, it meant that it was available.
Holmes said that there was a shared concern amongst forest and wildlife agencies relating to the loss of harlequin duck populations in northwestern America, but that agencies individual resources could not entertain a serious exploration of this phenomenon.
Thats kind of when this project came to life, Holmes said. We were like, What if we pooled all our resources together?
Holmes said that Glacier National Park, the Forest Service, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Idaho Fish and Game, and numerous other agencies all provided support for the project, with Glacier National Park being the main proponent.
Essentially what were doing is evaluating this historic method that weve had for decades and seeing how effective it is, Holmes said. By understanding how well this method works, we could go back to our historical data and put it in a new limelight.
Holmes project intends to scrutinize past data collection and evaluate biologists current understanding of the species population in this region, which could legitimize recent claims of a loss in population, or not. This project could also potentially expand the realm of analysis for environment DNA (eDNA).
Now that we have a better understanding of what tools we have and how our tools work, Holmes said. This year specifically, were saying, OK now where the heck or they? Are we actually losing harlequin duck population?
Holmes said the project had expanded this year and that teams of researchers are now exploring less frequented areas to determine where harlequin ducks are located in northern Montana.
Garrie was one of the many biologists who ventured up and around the Bitterroot this summer to survey for harlequin populations.
We went out and sampled a bunch of streams, Garrie said. The East Fork, Big Creek, up Magruder and a few more of those.
Garrie participated in a study where students and biologists had to trek upstream for miles to reach reported harlequin duck habitats.
Its kind of crazy. Walking up streams for 5 kilometers, he said. Thats really the hardest part. Navigating the streams, up streams.
Garrie explained that when out on research trips, a pair of researchers walk on land and that another pair will walk in the streams (going against the current to avoid contaminating the sample water), keeping an eye out for harlequins around the river. She said that the two groups congregate every kilometer to collect samples and switch.
Its pretty neat, said Garrie, referring to eDNA. Hopefully you pick up skin cells or anything that is shed by the duck and its in the water.
Researchers surveyed 55 streams and creeks this year alone. This was the final week of surveys for the project and according to Holmes, eDNA results from this year would be made available sometime in December. Project updates can be found on the Bitterroot National Forest Facebook page.
NJ THAKURIA
Bangladesh remains in the international media for many days now, but as usual for the wrong reasons. Along with the Muslim majority nation with over 170 million population, the meagre Hindu community also finds space in the public domain as an oppressed community. Even though Bangladesh was born in 1971 with a strong commitment for Bengali language and culture, it could not unite all the Bangladeshis for a longer period. Linguistic unity has its own limitations and the south Asian nation emerges as a classic example, where the same Bengali speaking Muslims started pursuing the religious minority families to convert into Islam. Taking advantage of the situation many Islamists vandalized Hindu temples, grabbed lands belonging to the minorities and even physically assaulted them on various occasions. But they forgot that Hindus and other minority Bengalis also fought against the brutal West Pakistani forces during their freedom movement. Muktijoddhas achieved success with support from Indian armed forces and every Bangladeshi including those Hindus dreamed of a new nation with equal rights and opportunities for them. But after five decades of independence, Bangladesh has pathetically turned into a country of intolerance towards the minorities.
Recently, when Bangladesh's former Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha came to the media and asserted that he was victimised by the Awami League-led government in Dhaka, it was clear that the first (and only till now) Hindu CJ was targeted by the recently ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. After he was forced to resign as the sitting CJ in 2017 and leave Bangladesh by her autocratic regime, Sinha was compelled to live in exile for all the years. But the changing political situation in Bangladesh, after Hasina had fled to India and Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus took charge of the interim government, Sinha finds hope to return to his motherland. Recently speaking to an Indian news channel, he firmly stood behind Dr Yunus and hoped that the visionary banker turned global preacher for social business will be able to stabilize the country and ensure security to minority communities. Congratulating Dr Yunus for assuming the new responsibility, Sinha opined that the first responsibility of the interim government will be to restore the law & order situation. The second priority should be to establish the rule of law. The third is to reconstruct the financial institutions and recover billions of Taka misappropriated by some supporters of Hasina. Another priority will be a total reform in the higher judiciary of Bangladesh. He strongly believes that Bangladesh will never slip into the hands of Islamists, if the rule of law is established on time. He recalled how a number of judges boycotted a sitting CJ following the direction of Hasina. Sinha also argued that many judges and judicial officers in Bangladesh are discharging their duties with all professional integrity and commitment to the law & justice.
Days back, the Amnesty International urged the Bangladeshi authorities to conduct 'a swift, thorough, impartial and independent investigation' into the crimes against Hindu, Ahmadi and other minority communities and associated incidents of mob violence to ensure that those responsible are prosecuted in fair and transparent trials, without resorting to the death penalty. The interim government headed by Dr Yunus must ensure the rights to equality, non-discrimination and bodily integrity of everyone and bring an end to the revenge culture of attacking political opponents that Bangladesh has witnessed in the past, it added. Recently, the UN human rights chief Volker Turk also called Dr Yunus and agreed to send a fact-finding team to Bangladesh to investigate widespread human rights abuses in the populous country during the students' agitation from 1 July to the first week of August 2024. Incidentally it would be the first occasion when the UN sends a fact-finding mission to Bangladesh since its independence in 1971. Dr Yunus thanked the UN secretary general Antonio Guterres for supporting the movement of Bangladeshi students for their legitimate rights. He firmly stated that protection of every citizen remains top priority for the caretaker government.
Even the middle aged Assamese nationals remember that Assam agitation was initially propagated as 'Bohiragata Kheda Andolan' (literarily meaning agitation to deport outsiders) and later redefined as an agitation against illegal migrants (from East Pakistan/ Bangladesh) by the intellectuals and media barons based in Guwahati. After decades, the issue of outsiders (read non-Assamese Indians) came alive with an incident in Sibsagar of eastern Assam, where a community was compelled to apologize for a crime committed by some individuals (belonging to that group). The accused individuals, who physically assaulted a minor female arm wrestler at Babupatty were already arrested but even then the entire community (read Marwari) was made responsible for the crime. Shockingly a responsible State minister was also present on the occasion, where some aged male & females were forced to kneel down to convey their apology.
The Sibsagar incident was enjoyed by a number of parochial Assamese individuals terming it as an example of Asomiyagiri (domination of Assamese community). They made it clear that anyone living in Assam must respect the Asomiya language and culture. Otherwise they have to leave the State, the exact narrative that inspired the people of Brahmaputra valley to join the students led agitation. Amazingly, some people in Assam still nurture a day-dream of crafting the State as a land of Assamese speaking people only. They bluntly defy the argument that hundreds of thousands of Assamese families (precisely students) today live outside the State as proud Indians. The development however annoyed a large number of logical Assamese personalities who outrighly denounced the attitude of the agitators to construct a strong divide between Asomiya and non-Asomiya nationals. Many social media users pointed out them as senseless and trouble makers in the society. Some urged them to raise voices against the illegal Bangladeshi Muslims, who have emerged as a threat to the locals of Assam where no Asomiyagiri will be allowed if those illegitimate foreigners start dominating the politics of Bharat in future.
The Sibsagar incident was immediately followed by a horrific rape incident of a minor at Dhing area in central Assam. The high school student faced the gang rape as she was returning home from tutorial classes in the evening hours. At least three youths belonging to the Muslim community on a two-wheeler chased the victim girl and finally overpowered her. Locals found her in an unconscious condition on a roadside and sent her to a nearby health centre. Later she was shifted to Nagaon town for better treatment. Expressing serious concern over the incident, hundreds of Assamese women spontaneously hit the street and condemned the police forces for its repeated failure to protect the women in their locality. They accused the habituated rapists as being suspected migrants and demanded justice for the victim girl.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, also in charge of the State home portfolio, made a stern comment through his social media handling over the Dhing incident and directed the State police chief GP Singh to rush to the location and ensure swift actions against the monsters. He asserted that the Dhing incident was a crime against humanity and the government will not spare the perpetrators. Shockingly, the very next morning news broke that the prime accused in the gang-rape Tafajjul Islam died by drowning as he tried to escape police custody by jumping into a pond. He was taken to the location to recreate the crime scene. Tafazzul reportedly attacked the police personnel on duty and tried to flee. After two hours of search by State Disaster Response Force personnel, his body was recovered from the pond. Meanwhile, a number of protest rallies were organized in different parts of Assam supporting the demand of Dhing-lady agitators. A group of indigenous people's organisations even issued a deadline to Miya Muslims (indicating Muslims of Bangladesh origin) to leave upper Assam within a week. They were loud & clear that the Dhing rape was committed by the Miyas only and urged the government to do the needful to safeguard the indigenous population in Assam.
Germany's military put a first Iris-T air-defence system into service on its own soil Wednesday having delivered several of them to war-torn Ukraine to intercept Russian rockets, drones and missiles.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the surface-to-air system was part of a build-up of German and European defences launched after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the Ukraine invasion in 2022.
"Russia has been massively rearming for many years, especially in the field of rockets and cruise missiles," Scholz said at the inauguration ceremony at a base in Todendorf near the northern city of Hamburg.
Putin had broken disarmament treaties and "deployed missiles as far as Kaliningrad", a Russian exclave located some 530 kilometres (330 miles) from Berlin, he added.
"It would be negligent not to respond to this appropriately," the chancellor said. "A failure to act would put peace at risk. I will not allow that."
Scholz, who was joined by Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, said the system was part of the European Sky Shield Initiative, which also includes long-range defences against ballistic missiles.
The German military has ordered six of the Iris-T SLM systems at a total cost of 950 million euros ($1 million) from manufacturer Diehl Defence, to be delivered by May 2027.
- Iris-T success in Ukraine -
Germany, the second-largest contributor of military aid to Ukraine after the United States, has already supplied four Iris-T SLM systems to Ukraine and pledged another eight.
Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umerov was visiting Germany on Wednesday, a day after a Russian missile attack killed at least 51 people in the Ukrainian city of Poltava, one of the single deadliest bombardments of the war.
The Iris-T systems sent to Ukraine feature truck-mounted launchers that fire missiles to intercept aerial threats at a range of up to 40 kilometres (25 miles).
Scholz said that "in Ukraine, Iris-T has shot down over 250 rockets, drones and cruise missiles to date and saved countless lives".
The German leader said that Europe, aside from defensive systems, would also need more precision missiles of its own "so that there is no dangerous gap with Russia in this strategically important field".
In July, Washington and Berlin announced that the "episodic deployments" of long-range US missiles, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, to Germany would begin in 2026.
ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin received a red-carpet welcome to Mongolia on Tuesday, as the country ignored calls to arrest him on an international warrant for alleged war crimes stemming from Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
The trip, which concluded Tuesday night, was Putins first to a member nation of the International Criminal Court since it issued the warrant in March 2023. Ahead of his visit, Ukraine urged Mongolia to hand Putin over to the court in The Hague, and the European Union expressed concern that Mongolia might not execute the warrant.
The warrant put the government in a difficult position. After decades under communism with close ties to the Soviet Union, it transitioned to democracy in the 1990s and built relations with the United States, Japan and other new partners. But the landlocked country remains economically dependent on its two much larger and more powerful neighbors, Russia and China.
The ICC has accused Putin of being responsible for the abductions of children from Ukraine. Member countries are required to detain suspects if a warrant has been issued, but Mongolia needs to maintain its ties with Russia and the court lacks a mechanism to enforce its warrants.
The United States doesn't believe any country should give Putin a platform to promote his war of aggression against Ukraine, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.
"We understand that position that Mongolia is in, you know, sandwiched between two much larger neighbors, but we do think its important that they continue to support the rule of law around the world, he told reporters in Washington.
The Russian leader was welcomed in the main square in Ulaanbaatar, the capital, by an honor guard dressed in vivid red and blue uniforms styled on those of the personal guard of 13th century ruler Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire.
A throng of people watched from behind barriers as Putin and Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa walked up the red-carpeted steps of the Government Palace and bowed toward a statue of Genghis Khan.
A few protesters who tried to unfurl a Ukrainian flag were taken away by police. Five others who gathered a few blocks west of the square held up an anti-Putin banner and Ukrainian flag but disbanded after hearing about the arrests.
As Putin was welcomed in Mongolia, his forces struck a military training facility and nearby hospital in Poltava, Ukraine, killing at least 50 people, the country's president said. The strike appeared to be one of the deadliest by Russian forces since the war began on Feb. 24, 2022.
The two governments signed agreements on a power plant upgrade in Ulaanbaatar and on the supply of Russian aviation fuel to Mongolia. They also agreed to carry out an environmental study of a river where Mongolia wants to build a hydroelectric plant that Russia is concerned would pollute its Lake Baikal. Putin also outlined plans to develop the rail system between the countries.
He invited the Mongolian president to a summit of the BRICS nations which include Russia and China among others in the Russian city of Kazan in late October. Khurelsukh accepted, according to Russian state media.
After leaving Ulaanbaatar, Putin arrived early Wednesday in Russia's major Pacific port of Vladivostok, where he is to take part in an economic forum.
On Monday, the EU said it had shared its concerns with Mongolian authorities.
Mongolia, like all other countries, has the right to develop its international ties according to its own interests, European Commission spokesperson Nabila Massrali said. But she added that Mongolia has been a party to the ICC since 2002, "with the legal obligations that it entails.
Given Mongolia's dependence on Russia and China for trade, energy and security, it was hardly possible to expect the government to arrest Putin, said Sam Greene, the director of democratic resilience at the Center for European Policy Analysis.
The overriding reason for this trip will have been to show that Putin can travel right now, he said.
But, Greene added, the warrant narrows the circle of possibilities for Putin, forcing any government thats going to think about hosting him to consider both the domestic and the international political consequences of that in a way they wouldnt have had to before.
Kenneth Roth, the former longtime director of Human Rights Watch, called Putins trip to Mongolia a sign of weakness, posting on X that the Russian leader could manage a trip only to a country with a tiny population of 3.4 million that lives in Russias shadow.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the trip wasnt about showing something to Western countries, but rather about developing bilateral relations between two countries rooted in history and wonderful glorious traditions. His remarks were made to state TV reporter Pavel Zarubin, who posted them on his Telegram channel.
Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy secretary of Russias Security Council, denounced the warrant as illegal in an online statement Tuesday.
Putin, on his first visit to Mongolia in five years, participated in a ceremony to mark the 85th anniversary of a joint Soviet and Mongolian victory over the Japanese army in deadly fighting over the border between then-Japan-controlled Manchuria and Mongolia.
I am very delighted about Putins visit to Mongolia," said Yansanjav Demdendorj, a retired economist, citing Russia's role against Japan. If we think of the ... battle, its Russians who helped free Mongolia.
Uyanga Tsoggerel, who supports the protests, said her country is a democracy that doesn't tolerate dictatorship and accused Putin of recklessly humiliating and shaming Mongolia in front of the world.
Putin has made a series of overseas trips to try to counter the international isolation he faces over the invasion of Ukraine. He visited China in May, made a trip to North Korea and Vietnam in June and went to Kazhakstan in July for a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
But last year, the South African government lobbied against Putin showing up in Johannesburg for the BRICS summit, which he ended up joining by video link. South Africa, an ICC member, faced criticism in 2015 when it didn't arrest then-Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir during a visit for an African Union summit.
Enkhgerel Seded, who studies at a university in Moscow, said that historically, countries with friendly relations don't arrest heads-of-state on official visits.
A Henrico County manufacturer of pumps and industrial valves is investing $25 million by more than doubling the size of its warehouse and adding 32 jobs.
KSB Inc. has operated in Henrico since 1988, manufacturing pumps, valves and mixers. The Henrico facility sells spare parts, and its employees service businesses in a number of industries, including water, wastewater, chemicals and energy.
The warehouse, at 4415 Sarellen Road in eastern Henrico County, will receive an additional loading dock, more office space and an update to its shipping and receiving area and common area.
The expansion is the latest example of manufacturings resurgence in Virginia, Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a statement.
Virginia is a prime spot for international companies thanks to its location, its port and its talented workforce, said Caren Merrick, secretary of commerce and trade.
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership will provide consulting and funds to support KSBs plan to hire 32 employees. The state funds an effort called the Virginia Jobs Investment Program, designed to reduce the human resources burden for new and expanding companies.
A few weeks after Virginia Commonwealth University adopted new campus protest rules, pro-Palestine students held a walkout to voice their opposition to the new guidelines while continuing to advocate for a free Palestine.
It 100% shows that the student movement is nowhere near stopping, VCU third-year student Sereen Haddad said. It shows that no policy and no tactic that the university tries to administer is going to stifle our voices.
In August, the university announced several changes regarding protests, including the banning of tents, requiring advance approval for encampments and requiring mask-wearers to present ID.
Wednesdays gathering was held at Park Plaza, in part because it is now one of the few locations on campus where students are permitted to write messages of support with sidewalk chalk.
Student speakers included representatives from Students for Justice in Palestine, a campus group that advocates for Palestinians with protests, boycotts and educational events.
Haddad, who is Palestinian-American, said 154 of her family members have died since October from Israeli attacks.
More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed during the Israel-Hamas war, according to the health ministry in Gaza. But Israeli officials in the past have questioned the accuracy of the figures because of Hamas control over government in Gaza.
They are not just numbers, they are not statistics; these are people with real lives, and theyve had real dreams and aspirations, said Haddad. We have been systematically dispossessed; our homes have been demolished and our land has been stolen and our voices have been silenced.
At VCU, pro-Palestine protesters previously gathered around the James Branch Cabell Library, including on April 29, when an encampment was broken up by police with riot gear and chemical agents. The protests resulted in 13 arrests.
When referencing the April confrontation, students delivered pointed criticism toward VCU Police, Richmond Police and Virginia State Police, as well as Gov. Glenn Youngkin, VCU President Michael Rao and other campus officials for deploying these brutal police forces.
This was a peaceful protest, part of a larger wave globally with the aim to pressure the university to divest from Israel, VCU student Zahra Jalajel said. This escalation by the administration resulted in the traumatic and violent brutalization of hundreds of people in the VCU community.
A small number of campus officers walked by the crowd during and after Wednesdays event without incident.
Joseph Friedman, a Jewish fourth-year student at VCU, said he has felt welcome by the Palestinian activists and community in Richmond while supporting their cause.
As a Jewish person, I feel responsibility to take part in this, even more so than other movements, because I feel like I want to show that there is a real Jewish opposition to whats going on in Palestine, he said.
Friedman said while he empathizes with Jewish community members who believe that the protests are antisemitic, he disagrees with their viewpoint.
I think a lot of people feel that way sincerely because of what theyve been taught and because of the real history of oppression, Friedman said. The feeling is real, even if I think its misplaced. People need to challenge themselves to get out of their comfort zone a little bit.
William Spencer, a second-year transfer student at VCU, has been involved with social justice protests for more than a decade, including Aprils protest where he said he got pepper-sprayed.
Spencer, who has studied protests from previous decades, said that he was not surprised by VCU changing the rules leading up to the new school year.
There was a pretty big change in terms of universities sort of realizing oh, we can just slowly encroach on students rights pretty easily, especially after last year. Spencer said. Its a pretty big and huge shift in terms of universities cracking down on student protests in ways that I havent seen in a long time.
A visual history of campus protests in the US A visual history of campus protests in the US 1933: Columbia University students strike in defense of 'academic freedom' 1940: Students for Peace protest America's involvement in WWII 1968: UC Berkeley's anti-draft 'Vietnam Commencement' 1968: Howard University students call for radical administration change 1968: Students for a Democratic Society occupies Hamilton Hall at Columbia University 1969: Black Student Strike at the UW Madison 1969: Central State University students assemble in Columbus, Ohio, to oppose admissions policies 1970: GW University students carry on anti-war demonstrations near Watergate complex in DC 1970: Protests erupt following Kent State shootings 1970: Students protest racial injustice at Jackson State College 1985: Students camp out at Columbia University's Hamilton Hall to protest apartheid 1999: University of Minnesota students demand action regarding sexual conduct investigations 2014: Washington University students protest to draw attention to police abuse 2017: Emerson College students walk out to protest on-campus racism 2018: Student activists lead 'die-in' protesting gun violence at NYU A visual history of campus protests in the US 1970: GW University students carry on anti-war demonstrations near Watergate complex in DC
Chesterfield County Airport will get $1.3 million in federal funding to extend runways.
More than $46 million was awarded to Virginia airports through the Federal Aviation Administrations Airport Improvement Program.
With the runway improvements, Chesterfield will be able to accommodate a larger number of aircraft.
Virginias airports help travelers get where they need to go and serve as critical economic development hubs by connecting us to the larger economy, Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both D-Va., said in a joint statement. This funding will make important infrastructure upgrades and improve operations at airports across Virginia. We will keep working to rebuild Virginias infrastructure and grow our economy.
Lynchburg Regional Airport is receiving the most funding, gaining $14.6 million to improve runway lighting and pavement.
Other airports covered under the program include:
Norfolk International Airport $8.6 million
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport $7.7 million
Blue Ridge Regional Airport $6.2 million
Winchester Regional Airport $5.3 million
Middle Peninsula Regional Airport $1.7 million
Louisa County Airport $600,000
Mecklenburg Brunswick Regional Airport $535,650
The $46 million marks the latest investment in Virginia airports. In August, Warner and Kaine announced more than $250,000 in funding for the Virginia Tech Montgomery Executive Airport, which also came from the AIP.
Since being passed in 2021, the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has contributed more than $76 million each year toward improving 45 Virginia airports.
From the archives: Byrd Field
Leaders of the Conseil National des Evangeliques de France (CNEF) have reported back from a key conference looking at evangelical identity in Europe in anticipation of the Lausanne Conference in South Korea later this month, September 2024. They pointed to what they consider the most suitable definition for evangelicals, recognizing the diverse cultural and historical contexts in which they live across Europe.
Erwan Cloarec, president, Yann Antoine, vice-president, and Clement Diedrichs, general manager, all from CNEF, joined leading scholars for an event headlined Evangelical Identity in Europe Today: Unity in Diversity held in Hotel Olsanka, Prague, Czechia, from August 23 to 27.
The event was run jointly by Fellowship of European Evangelical Theologians (FEET) and the European Evangelical Alliance (EEA), in partnership with Sdruzeni Evangelikalnich Teologu (SET), an evangelical body for Czech theologians.
Subjects explored included what unites evangelicals, how their diversity can be mapped and how they relate to the wider Christian world.
In a joint statement for CNEF after the event, the French leaders referred to The Cambridge Companion to Evangelical Theology, edited by academic and theologian Timothy Larsen, in defining an evangelical person as someone emphasizing reconciliation with God through the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross; giving a preeminent place to the Bibles divine authority; emphasizing the work of the Holy Spirit in justification and sanctification, including the mission of witnessing to the gospel; and someone who is part of evangelical church history.
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Although united by their common faith (at the theological level), the diversity of contexts colors the way of living the faith and practice of the evangelical protestant churches: the very catholic historical context in Spain, Italy and Portugal in particular, the post-Soviet and orthodox context in Eastern Europe, the context of the majority national church (Lutheran Church in Northern Europe, Orthodox in Greece, [and] Anglican in the United Kingdom), said the CNEF leaders.
Having reflected upon discussions at the Prague event, the CNEF leaders summarized the specificity of European evangelical protestantism within the parameters of four aspects.
Firstly, the fact that Europe is the historic cradle of evangelicalism. Secondly, the challenge of secularization of societies, which includes where state churches are located.
The third aspect noted the comparison between the minority of evangelical Protestants in societies set against the growth of churches due to the arrival of evangelical Christians from other continents and the ongoing development of the Pentecostal movement.
Meanwhile, the fourth aspect involved discussions about the role of evangelicals within the world of politics.
There is a shared concern about the risk of being exploited by populist parties, said the leaders in the statement. These issues call first of all for education, particularly on the biblical notion of nation, but also an effort to talk with people attracted by these political currents in a pastoral approach.
Overall, the event was summarized by the leaders as a time of exchange and welcome theological reflection between brothers and sisters in Christ, which allows a better understanding of the roots and common challenges of evangelical Protestants in Europe.
Asked why it was important to identify someone as evangelical or not, a spokesman for CNEF responded to Christian Daily International by referring to a Together on a Mission statement by the evangelical organization last year, 2023.
God's sons are not all included in the evangelical denomination, so why is it important to identify clearly who we are? Because we can easily work together, and make partnerships for a shared missional impetus.
The 2023 statement further highlighted the importance of unity in the Church so that it can seek to attain the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. (Eph. 4:13). CNEF in the statement also expressed the desire to foster new partnerships in missional work.
We want to encourage generous and fruitful collaboration at all levels: local, national, and international, in urban and rural areas, but also between evangelical actors: local churches of all cultures, church denominations, charities, centers of theological education, and workplace leaders.
VIRGINIA BEACH Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears announced Thursday evening at a rally here that she will seek the Republican nomination for governor next year, setting up a potentially historic campaign in which she could become the first woman elected governor of Virginia.
Earle-Sears, 60, who lives in Frederick County, made history two years ago as the first Black woman elected to statewide office in Virginia. She could face Attorney General Jason Miyares next summer in a fight for the Republican nomination.
Little boys and little girls are watching us, from Fairfax to Fincastle, from Haysi to Henry, from Phoebus to Port Republic, and from Wachapreague to Wise, all over Virginia. Theyre counting on us to keep going, to win, to succeed for them, Earle-Sears told a lively crowd of about 150 at Chicks Oyster Bar in Virginia Beach.
We must do this. This is not about me. I dont make excuses. I never will stop working to get things done for you, Earle-Sears said. I am not the one who is saying, Give me an opportunity, and Ill show you that I will serve you. I have done so I will not stop fighting. I will never let the little girls and little boys down, and that is why I announce today that I am running for governor.
Supporters at the rally sported Winsome Governor T-shirts, signs, drink koozies and buttons.
I'm not your typical politician, and I never will be. I don't make excuses. I'm tough, principled, and I never stop working to get things done for you.
I'm running for governor to make life better for EVERY Virginian. pic.twitter.com/abu1ZHAugD Winsome Earle-Sears (@winwithwinsome) September 5, 2024
Earle-Sears, who took the stage to Bachman-Turner Overdrives You Aint Seen Nothin Yet, reflected her characteristic roll-up-your-sleeves attitude and touted her fathers work ethic, noting that he arrived from Jamaica in 1963 with $1.75 in his pocket.
America is not perfect, she said, but it has come a long way. In her remarks and in a campaign video, Earle-Sears said she is living the American dream and wants to help keep it alive for future generations.
The enslaved did not die in the fields so we can say in 2024 that we are victims, she said.
Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, is the only announced Democratic candidate for governor. Spanberger, who kicked off her candidacy in November, also would be the states first female governor.
Earle-Sears would be the first Black woman elected governor of any state. Five Black men have served as governors of one of the 50 states and three of them were elected: Virginias L. Douglas Wilder, the nations first elected Black governor; Deval Patrick of Massachusetts and Wes Moore of Maryland.
The Trump factor
Earle-Sears once worked to boost Black voters support for then-President Donald Trump as national chairwoman of Black Americans to Re-elect the President PAC. But in November 2022 she broke with the former president days after Republicans failed to make sweeping gains in the midterm congressional elections. She told Fox Business that it was time for the GOP to move on.
The lieutenant governor did not attend Trumps March rally in Richmond ahead of the Super Tuesday primaries, or Trumps June 28 rally in Chesapeake, where the former president shook Miyares hand and invited him to speak.
At the rally Thursday, Earle-Sears encouraged the audience to support Trump.
We must support each other. We must share each others values and vision, and folks, first and foremost in 2024 that means standing with President Trump, she said.
Several GOP legislators spoke in support of Earle-Sears before she took the stage, including Del. A.C. Cordoza, R-Hampton; Del. Joe McNamara, R-Roanoke County; and Sen. Tammy Brankley Mulchi, R-Mecklenburg.
Im going to do everything I can to make sure Gods team continues to hold the governors mansion in Virginia, Cordoza said.
Earle-Sears has said for months that she would not seek reelection as lieutenant governor and that she was exploring a bid for the Executive Mansion.
Miyares has not yet stated publicly whether he will run for governor next year or seek reelection as attorney general. Stay tuned post November, Miyares said last month at the end of the Zoom conference call organized by Virginia FREE, a business organization.
Miyares said in a statement on Thursday that he is focused on November 2024 and electing as many Republicans in Virginia as possible.
It is clear that we cannot allow the Democrats to seize complete control of power in Washington or in Richmond, Miayres said. We all need to be focused on this Novembers elections before even thinking about next year.
Ofirah Yheskel, director of external affairs at the Democratic Governors Association, said in a statement: Instead of addressing the issues that Virginians care about most, Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears is only interested in pushing a dangerous agenda that will rip away freedoms and make life worse for working families. She said Earle-Sears entry into the GOP primary will ensure that it becomes a race to the far-right consumed by toxic culture wars and attacks on fundamental freedoms.
Earle-Sears held her rally Thursday in the city Miyares represented in the House of Delegates from 2016 to 2022.
A series of firsts
Earle-Sears, born in Jamaica, is a U.S. Marines veteran who in 2001 became the first Black female Republican elected to the House of Delegates, defeating Del. Billy Robinson, D-Norfolk, a 20-year veteran. She served a single two-year term in the House. In 2004 she ran for Congress and lost to Rep. Bobby Scott, D-3rd, by 38 percentage points.
In 2011, then-Gov. Bob McDonnell appointed Earle-Sears to the State Board of Education. In 2018, citing GOP nominee Corey Stewarts support of the Confederate flag, she mounted an unsuccessful write-in campaign for the U.S. Senate. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., beat Stewart by 16 percentage points.
In 2021, after 17 years out of elected office, Earle-Sears topped five rivals to win the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor, then edged out Democrat Hala Ayala in the general election.
During the campaign Earle-Sears posted to social media photos of herself carrying an assault-style weapon at Clark Brothers range in Fauquier County. Marines know how to use guns and I wont ever support a red flag law! she posted.
Earle-Sears emphasized her Christianity in a memoir she wrote last year: How Sweet It Is, in which she reflected on her life in faith and politics.
She also discussed a personal tragedy in which her oldest daughter, DeJon, and two grandchildren were killed in a car crash in Fairfax County in 2012.
While in the Marines, she trained to be an electrician and a diesel mechanic. She also gave birth to DeJon. Once she was out of the Marine Corps, she wed Terence Sears, a Marine Corps officer, who adopted DeJon. The couple would have two additional daughters.
Outside politics, Earle-Sears has worked as director of a homeless shelter; sold used cars; worked as a program manager for the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce; served as CEO of the Blue Ridge Association of Realtors; owned and operated an appliance repair, plumbing and electric company; and written a book called Stop Being a Christian Wimp!
As lieutenant governor Earle-Sears has promoted school choice, saying ZIP codes are the new redlining. She supported a bill from then-Del. Glenn Davis, R-Virginia Beach, that would have created a voucher system for parents to send their children to a school of their choice.
On Monday, Earle-Sears spoke from the stage in Buena Vista, in an annual political rite in which politicians speak after the citys Labor Day parade. Some Democrats in the pavilion heckled Earle-Sears, as they had Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
The Democrats are telling a Black woman to get off the stage, Earle-Sears told the crowd.
In a post about the incident Tuesday on X, Earle-Sears wrote: Ill never back down. EVER FORWARD!
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Heavily armed man with bullet proof truck taken down in Bacalar
Bacalar, Q.R. Authorities seized drugs, firearms, live ammunition and an armored truck from a vehicle in the municipality of Bacalar after an armed confrontation. Police made the takedown during a search operation for missing persons in the town of El Gallito.
During that missing persons search operation, personnel were fired upon by subjects from inside a white truck in the middle of the woods. The attack took place outside the town of El Gallito near the Campeche border. After the attack, the men abandoned the truck and fled on foot, however, one of them was captured by police.
The arrested man, identified as Carlos Alberto N, is accused of his probable participation in possible acts of drug dealing, the State Attorney General (FGE) reported after a search of the vehicle revealed drugs and weapons.
The detainee and the seized evidence were placed at the disposal of the Public Prosecutors Office, the Fiscalia General del Estado (FGE) said in a statement Thursday.
SSC reports on 101 newly trained police officers for Quintana Roo
Riviera Maya, Q.R. The state has welcomed the addition of 101 newly trained police officers into the SSC. The officers completed a 1,080 training hours at the State Academy of the Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC).
On Wednesday, they were awarded certification of completion during a ceremony at the C5 Security Complex in Cancun. Governor Mara Lezama said of the 101 officers, 67 are new recruits (44 women and 23 men) and 34 are active police officers (10 women and 24 men), all members of the Secretariat of Citizen Security of Quintana Roo.
Mara Lezama congratulated the graduates and expressed her hope that their work will dignify the profession and reward them with the satisfaction of a duty fulfilled and recognition from the population.
However, she noted that in order to connect with the community they will serve, it will be essential to gain the trust of its inhabitants based on their integrity, integrity, good judgment and effective performance.
Being trustworthy and effective will strengthen and increase the positive perception of the institutions in charge of protecting citizens. Through you, we will promote an image in accordance with the duty of your noble profession because each one of you is potentially a hero or heroine who safeguards public order and protects the integrity of people, she said.
Photo: CGC September 4, 2024.
Julio Cesar Gomez Torres, the Secretary of Citizen Security, explained that the newly trained cadet course included Regulatory Framework of the Police Function and Protocols for Police Action, Prevention and Social Linkage, Police Techniques and Tactics, Complementary Training, Physical Development and Conditioning, Deontological and Axiological Framework of the Police Function.
They were also given 40 hour courses on Pop Model Course, Masculinities Course and the Empowerment Course.
The primary objective is to train new police officers in the state of Quintana Roo so that they acquire knowledge, techniques, tactics and skills that allow them to respond efficiently in matters of public safety and thus guarantee the well-being of citizens.
During the ceremony, the Governor highlighted the fact that the first female director of the Police Academy, Jazivy May Azueta, a graduate of the same institution, is participating in the Conference of the International Association of Women Police Officers in Chicago, among 850 from different countries, putting Quintana Roo on the map.
State authorities issue four day weather warning for Quintana Roo
Riviera Maya, Q.R. A four day weather warning has been issued by State Civil Protection for all areas of Quintana Roo. Starting Thursday, for the next four days, Civil Protection says heavy rains are expected due to a low pressure zone associated with a tropical wave.
That rain is expected to begin late Thursday afternoon or early evening as the system heads toward the Gulf of Mexico. Quintana Roo Civil Protection warns of intense to torrential rains of between 150 to 200 mms during that time. Thunderstorms and wind gusts of 50 kms/h are also expected to accompany the system.
On Thursday morning, Coordinacion Estatal de Proteccion Civil of Quintana Roo posted a public weather advisory regarding the arrival of the tropical wave.
NOTICE: During Thursday, September 5th and until September 10th, there will be a period of rain due to a low pressure zone associated with a tropical wave (number 21) that will approach and pass over the Yucatan Peninsula towards the Gulf of Mexico, causing an increase in clouds and the potential for rain over the state of Quintana Roo.
Intense to torrential rains (150 to 200 mms) are forecast during this period, accompanied by electrical activity and wind with gusts of 50 km/h. Therefore, appropriate measures must be taken to prevent possible flooding, mainly in low-lying areas.
State Civil Protection is also warning residents about strong winds that could knock down billboards or weak roofs of houses and trees, as well as the probable formation of waterspouts off the states coasts.
Photo: state civil protection
The state agency has made several recommendations for citizens including staying informed by checking the updated weather bulletins. They are also suggesting residents clean roofs, gutters and nearby street drains to prevent flooding and also, to avoid driving on flooded or heavily puddled streets.
For boaters, Civil Protection says to consult with the Port Captains before carrying out activities at sea and follow their instructions and restrictions. Take precautions when sailing and engaging in water activities due to strong winds and high waves on the coast of Quintana Roo.
An official weather update regarding the approaching tropical wave was provided early Thursday morning.
The approach of a low pressure zone with cyclonic potential associated with tropical wave number 21 and the influx of humid air from the Caribbean Sea towards the Yucatan Peninsula will cause cloudy skies over the state of Quintana Roo during the day and heavy to very heavy rains accompanied by electrical activity over most of the state.
The environment will be very hot and muggy during the day and warm at night and at dawn. Wind with gusts of 35 to 45 km/h over the coastal areas of the state, they reported.
The National Hurricane Centre (NOAA) is currently monitoring five systems in the Atlantic. Regarding the system posing the wet-threat to Quintanan Roo, the NOAA confirms the increase in rain and thunderstorm activity.
For the Northwestern Caribbean Sea and Southwestern Gulf of Mexico, shower and thunderstorm activity has increased slightly in association with a westward-moving tropical wave located over the western Caribbean Sea.
Significant development appears unlikely before the system reaches Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula by early Friday. Some development is possible late in the weekend into early next week after the system emerges over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.
Without a sound basis for justice and wisdom, there is nothing to transmit from generation to generation, and so we become strangers even to ourselves.
There are no writers left in America: no impressive novelist, no essayist who commands prestige and popularity. This is true of Britain, too. Now as never before, the great modern empires of liberalism and democracy seem to have nothing to say for themselves. Twenty-first-century thought might as well not exist. Essayist Olivier Roy surveys this phenomenon in his latest publication, The Crisis Of Culture: Identity Politics and the Empire of Norms. He claims Progress has desiccated what we used to call culture. Our success has overwhelmed all the limits and forms that made ways of life and ways of thinking possible.
Roy reminds us that the interesting thinking is in France, the only other modern country with a democratic tradition. Moreover, its on the right, not the left. The classically educated read Pierre Manent, the educated read Chantal Delsol, and everyone reads Michel Houellebecq. There is in addition a plethora of insightful essayists on everything sociological or cultural who write confidently, as though immune to civilizational decline, including Roy. Even this group, featuring figures like Renaud Camus and Christophe Guilluy, is increasingly considered right wing. This is false, but what is true is that sociological concern with popular rather than elite problems threatens to restore nationalism to political discourse. Yet all these writers show their faces in public, on national TV, and the state honors them. In comparison, elite left-liberal celebrities seem to lack insight and influence, evidence of Roys claim that we live lives beyond or after culture.
A man of the left, Roy is nevertheless in search of a nonideological standpoint and seems especially suited for our times, which have reduced ideology to a kind of snobbery. In his latest essay, he insists on two aspects of our crisis of liberty: the collapse of culture and the rise of endless lawfare. As to our increasingly moralistic litigiousness:
How is it that Western societies that claim to be liberalthe remarkable extension of the domain of political, sexual, economic and artistic freedom over a half-centuryhave brought about an equally remarkable extension of the realm of norms? Thus, we have witnessed the judicialisation of everyday life as well as the normative scrutiny of different domains and an increased appeal to pedagogical authority to impose new norms, whether pertaining to secularism, sexuality or religious practices.
Its worth noticing, too, how little we talk about it. Roy argues that this new dispute about every aspect of human behavior follows the collapse, in the 60s, of our previous moral agreements. But this in turn follows a much more powerful modern transformation of the implicit into the explicit, of experience into argument, which amounts to a rationalization of being human that issued in the various ideologies whose failure we cannot help noticing.
The problem, as Roy puts it, with reducing language to codes, shared things turning into individual access, is not that the old culture is replaced by new cultures. Instead, Roy argues, its that the transformation of cultures into explicitly coded systems destroys the notion of culture itself.
Sociologically, this means that our technological and economic powers, together with our bodily desires, have evacuated politics and everything else that lies between the private and the universal, everything we used to call America, for example, which made it possible among other things to fight over what it means to be American and how he should go about being American. For Roy, the collapse is comprehensive:
Roughly, four levels of radical transformation have changed the world since the 1960s: 1) the transformation of values with the individualist and hedonist revolution of the 1960s; 2) the internet revolution; 3) neoliberal financial globalisation; 4) the globalisation of space and the movement of human beings, in other words deterritorialisation.
Somehow it is easier to prove the cultural collapse thesis than to say what culture is, perhaps because that would involve us in endless controversies. Roy thinks about culture in two senses: one is at least apparently scientific, taken from anthropology, meaning more or less way of life and leaving aside the value judgments, without which we cannot live. This is where the attack on the implicit through ideological articulation and lawfare hurts us mostwith nothing left to take for granted, its harder than ever to live together. Roy says, accordingly, that were merely strangers. But if so, how can we experience that conditionstrangers as opposed to what?
Roy doesnt attempt to prove that our rationalism has failed; its too obvious. He takes it for granted that being human requires a shared way of life and that individualism taken too far is our postmodern curse. Perhaps the problem becomes more obvious when we consider the second sense in which he uses culturea canon. Whatever the process of canonization, it involves hierarchies, it demands transmission, that is memory and affection, and it elevates mere individuals to a pantheon that comprehends the best rather than the typical of our way of life, those experiences of the higher possibilities of man that make us more than mere strangers, more than philistines.
Ultimately, Roy claims we have lost the basis for justice and wisdom, the two virtues concealed in talk of culture, the one bringing us all together in comity, the other making us all aware of the best among us, who far surpass what we can ever accomplish, yet remind us that such achievements are somehow borne of our society. These have been replaced by an excellence that consists in popularizing bits and pieces of cultures from around the world, an endless fusion of fragments of culture that inevitably degrade as they become globalized. The claim to know everything and have access to the rarest human experiences is somehow coeval with the debasement of taste; uniformity and endless complexity go together.
Roys criticism of this society is an attempt at liberation from the uniformity of a new taste in food, tourism, and the sacred. Postmodern man is even shallower than modern man was because he can afford to pursue his mania for hierarchies of pleasure or authenticity and he has accordingly fewer memories of a way of life holding him back from making experiments. The postmodern reconstruction of taste as democratic but expensive is a new philistinism.
But Roys liberation from the left is limited and leads to humorous consequences. One of the few American thinkers he quotes repeatedly is Allan Bloom, whom he mischaracterizes as a conservative devotee of authoritarian pedagogy enamored of the German research university, somehow unaware of its connection to the Nazis. Obviously, its always the Nazis. The intellectual impotence of the left is an effect of this tired moralism. But leave that aside, whats more important is how telling the misunderstanding is. Bloom was a better culture critic than Roy and understood the remarkable right-wing tilt of high culture, including modernism. The urgent question for us is: What understanding of culture makes it possible to overcome these mental handicaps and at least see clearly the thinkers and societies of our time? Roy offers many useful forays in the direction of liberation, but they are all merely tentative, early steps, as often stumbling as advancing, as confused as the civilization he describes.
Roys criticisms of neoliberalism as promoting deculturation and normativity spread through authoritarian pedagogy are unwise. He wishes for both the Progress the left offers and the Culture that the right offers, without showing how they might go together. His conclusion of this structural criticism that is ultimately unstructured is an exhortation that on his own terms is bound to fail to stand up to power:
We must leave our protected spaces behind and rediscover heterogeneity, difference, and debate. There is a clear demand for sociability. Things change when individuals seek to regain social connection in their real lives, in whatever remains of the social fabric.
One concurs in the sentiments while realizing this exhortation is futile. A reasonable man would focus on the core problem of the books last worda true crisis of humanismand support the opposition, whereas Roy is careful to always condemn both sides while reminding the reader that he is a Progressive, too. This is evidence that the left has collapsed, but not yet that the alternative is rising.
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Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform all areas of science, energy, and security.
As part of the Cancer Distributed Learning Environment (CANDLE) project, Neeraj Kumar and his team, in collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory, developed a method to improve the AI-based prediction of drug responses during cancer treatment. He presented his results at the Platform for Advanced Scientific Computing (PASC) Conference on June 3 in Zurich, Switzerland.
In his talk, titled "Foundation Models and Large-Scale Workflow for Cancer Comparing Metrics for Machine learning Models," Kumar described the Comparison Workflow for Cross Validation (CMP-CV) framework, which standardizes the training and evaluation of multiple deep learning models.
"Variations in how deep learning models are crafted, trained, and tested make direct comparison difficult," said Kumar. "The CMP-CV framework enables scientists to make this comparison, leading to the development of better models, such as those that can accurately predict drug responses."
Kumar also participated in a panel discussion, where he spoke about the uses of AI in personalized medicine to build cancer digital twins.
"The integration of AI, co-design, and computing helps scientists address grand challenges, like those in human health," said Kumar. "In the future of personalized medicine, AI can create digital replicas of individual patients to empower doctors to tailor treatments with precision, optimizing outcomes and transforming health care."
As the AI revolution continues to unfold, Kumar's work underscores the immense potential for AI to transform scientific discovery on a global scale. By fostering collaborative research and transcending domain boundaries, Kumar is at the forefront of the technologies accelerating the translation of scientific insights into real-world solutions.
His recent involvement in co-organizing the Trillion Parameter Consortium (TPC) European Workshop in Barcelona further demonstrates Kumar's commitment to advancing science and engineering through large-scale models, co-design, and cutting-edge computing systems. The workshop began with a tutorial on large language models (LLMs), retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and AI agents, where Kumar provided deep insights into the expansive applications and development of LLMs within the scientific community. PNNL atmospheric scientist Po-Lun Ma also participated in this workshop by giving a lightning talk on data challenges from climate science.
Kumar's leadership extends beyond his research endeavors. He serves on the leadership team of the Center for AI @PNNL, which drives strategic initiatives and shapes the future direction of AI research at the laboratory. The Center is a crucial component in supporting the Department of Energy's proposed Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence for Science, Security and Technology (FASST) initiative, which will drive advances in AI-ready data, frontier-scale compute, and safe, secure, and trustworthy models, thereby accelerating discovery in science, security, and technology.
Provided by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
FLORENCE, S.C. McLeod Regional Medical Center is the first hospital in South Carolina to perform the aquablation therapy procedure for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or an enlarged prostate, is a non-cancerous condition in which the prostate has grown to be larger than normal. As the prostate gland enlarges, it can squeeze the urethra, causing symptoms like a weak urine stream or the need to push or strain to pass urine. If left untreated, BPH can cause significant health problems, including irreversible bladder or kidney damage, bladder stones, and incontinence.
BPH affects each man differently, and some men may not experience any major symptoms. For most, first signs are changes in bathroom habits with urination:
Frequent urination, as often as every one to two hours.
Weak or slow stream, or stream that starts and stops.
Feeling of bladder not emptying completely.
Delay in starting urination or straining to start.
Awakening frequently at night to urinate.
When symptoms are severe enough to require more than routine monitoring, urologists may recommend one of multiple treatment options for BPH. These include medicines, minimally invasive treatments or surgical procedures.
Aquablation therapy is a minimally invasive treatment using automated tissue resection for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms. Aquablation therapy combines real-time, multi-dimensional imaging, automated robotics, and heat-free waterjet ablation for targeted, controlled, and immediate removal of prostate tissue. By using a cystoscope, a thin tube-like instrument used to look inside the bladder and urethra, and ultrasound imaging, surgeons can create a personalized treatment plan tailored to each patients anatomy.
We are excited to be the first in South Carolina to offer a solution for men with BPH that provides significant, long-lasting symptom relief with lower risk to their sexual function or continence, said Dr. Ronald Glinski with McLeod Urology Associates. Being able to offer aquablation therapy as an additional treatment option is the next step to furthering the McLeod commitment in robotic surgery and mens health.
Monthly Carmelite Meeting
The monthly Carmelite Board Meeting will be held Monday, September 9, 2024 at the Carmelite Monastery, 2901 S. Cecelia Street with Mass at 7:00 am and refreshments at 8:00. Our business meeting will begin at 8:30, the rosary will start at 9:00 and prayers with the Sisters at 9:15. Honorary members are always welcome.
GriefShare
GriefShare will be held Sept. 10 through Dec. 12 (no Thanksgiving week) from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and from 6:30-8:00 p.m. on Thursdays, Calvary Lutheran Church, 4400 Central St. Participant books are free ($20 value). Register by going to calvaryleeds.com. If questions please call Diane Harris at 712-389-5226. GriefShare for the Holidays, 10:30-noon, Monday, Nov. 11, and 6:30-8:00 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 9. There is hope for this journey.
Dad's Belgian Waffles
St. John Lutheran Church, 2801 Jackson St., will be serving a waffle breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14. Waffles, sausage, coffee, and orange juice. Tickets are $10, and children under 5 eat free. Carryouts will be available.
Blue Mass
Bishop Walker Nickless and the Sioux City Cathedral Parish are hosting a Blue Mass at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City, 1000 Douglas St. The Mass includes a procession of uniformed first responders. Father David Esquiliano, rector of the Cathedral, pointed out that the first responders will be prayed for during the Mass. Area first responders and those working in the emergency response fields (including law enforcement, fire, EMTs and others) and their families are encouraged to attend this Mass at the Cathedral.
Organizers hope that those working as first responders in every discipline will feel comfortable attending the Mass, whether they are Catholic or not. First responders and their families planning to attend are asked to RSVP to info@sccathedral.org. Anyone who arrives without an RSVP is still welcome to attend the Mass and the meal afterward.
LSI Donation Request
LSI Sioux City urgently needs help! The biggest needs are: bottles of shampoo and conditioner, body wash, large (kitchen) trash cans, small (bathroom) trash cans. Donations can make a huge difference in the lives of those LSI serves. Drop off items at the office at 1308 S Cleveland Ave., Sioux City, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. If unable to make it during office hours, reach out to Donations@LSIowa.org to arrange a drop-off outside of these hours or if you have any questions.
Food pantry
St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 1200 Douglas St., will have its food pantry open from 10 a.m. to noon Mondays.
Eight people were sent to local hospitals on Aug. 31when a section of bleachers collapsed at the Kendall County Fair Grounds. Jeff B. Flinn, Boerne Star
A 79-year-old woman died Friday from injuries she sustained when bleachers that werent properly permitted or inspected collapsed at the Kendall County Fairgrounds, officials said.
Vera Smith died six days after the Labor Day weekend accident that injured 11 others in Boerne, according to the Kendall County Office of Emergency Management.
On Thursday, Boerne city officials said the bleachers that collapsed during the Kendall County Fair rodeo were installed without proper city permitting and were not inspected by the Boerne Fire Marshals Office before the event.
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The Kendall County Fair Association, a nonprofit that operates the fair, did not apply for a building permit for the work done on the bleachers, city officials said.
The bleachers were an old structure that was salvaged, and the new structure was made to house 8 VIP sections, the bar, and a common walkway. Additionally, welding work on the bleacher structure was still occurring up to the day before the event, the city said in a written statement.
The Kendall County Fair Association applied only for a carnivals and fairs permit, which requires a general grounds inspection of the fairgrounds by the fire marshals office, the city said. That process does not include inspections of structures, such as the newly constructed addition to the bleachers on the rodeo grounds which would have occurred with a building permit, the city said.
In light of this incident, city staff will conduct a thorough review of our permitting and inspection processes to ensure that best practices are followed for future public events, the city said in a written statement.
The city has hired an independent structural engineer to evaluate and determine why the bleacher structure collapsed, the city said. This inspection is scheduled to be completed in the coming week, and the city expects to receive a report within the next three weeks, according to city officials.
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Representatives for the Kendall County Fair Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Boerne Mayor Frank Ritchie declined to comment specifically on the bleacher collapse but didnt rule out the City Council taking some sort of action in response to the incident.
Everything is in discussion until the investigation is complete, he told the San Antonio Express-News on Thursday evening.
Eight people were hospitalized after the bleachers collapsed about 9:15 p.m. last Saturday at the Kendall County Fairgrounds, according to the city. About 100 people were on the bleachers at the time, the city said. The people taken to hospitals were two men and a 7-year-old boy, along with four women and a 12-year-old girl, the city said.
Smith died after sustaining critical injuries.
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We are particularly concerned for the 79-year-old woman who was critically injured, and our hearts go out to her and her family during this difficult time, Fire Chief Manny Casarez said. While we are thankful that most of the injuries were non-life-threatening, this tragic event has affected our entire community.
The collapse of the bleachers stunned attendees at the fair, a popular Boerne event that draws in thousands of people each year.
The fair was shut down for the remainder of that Saturday after the collapse.
The next day, city officials said, Fire Marshal Robert Lee, city planning director Nathan Crane and chief building official Steve Riggs and officials with the Fire Department met at the site with a representative of the Kendall County Fair Association.
During this visit, city officials concluded that the fair could continue but the rodeo arena would remain closed. Furthermore, no further activity in the rodeo arena could be conducted until the Kendall County Fair Association provided a report from a structural engineer evaluating the arena grandstand, the city said in a written statement.
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City officials say they have ordered the association to obtain a report from a structural engineer confirming compliance with the International Code Council 300 Standards for Bleachers and Telescopic Seating and Grandstands.
Until that report is submitted and approved, no activities will take place in the rodeo arena, the city said.
City officials said they will require the association to apply for a demolition permit before removing the damaged bleacher structure.
Additionally, due to failure to apply for the required building permits, the organization will be required to pay an additional fee when issued a demolition permit prior to the removal of the collapsed bleacher structure, the city said.
Watching The Perfect Couple, Netflixs new soapy, six-episode whodunit starring Nicole Kidman, its easy to feel like youre experiencing deja vu. Kidman playing a wealthy mother with a slew of secrets caught up in a murder investigation in a scenic coastal location? Wait, no, that was her other show, HBOs Big Little Lies. Kidman playing a wealthy New Yorker whose adulterous husband may or may not have committed murder? Nope, Im thinking of her 2020 series The Undoing. Kidman playing a wealthy, well-dressed, upper-class figure with housekeeping staff and a hot husband? Im confusing it with Expats, her Hong Kongset show from earlier this year. Kidman playing a wealthy writer with a foreign accent inexplicably different from that of her American family? Oops, that was A Family Affair, her recent Netflix rom-com with Zac Efron.
In this latest TV outing, Kidman stars as the snooty yet chic Greer Garrison Winburya name so WASP-y that you can feel the letters looking down their noses at you as Greer spits out lines like, Anyone who wears flip-flops out of the confines of their own house should be arrested. She married into a posh New England family three decades ago, raised three sons of varying degrees of awfulness, and still found time to churn out 28 bestselling crime novelsthe kind you buy last-minute at the airport in order to read on a beach vacation. But the fame and money have evidently gone to her head, because shes obsessed with keeping up a public image of marital bliss despite some obvious tension with husband Tag Winbury (Liev Schreiber), a loafer whos always seen with a joint in hand and whos never had to work a day in his life.
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Its all smiles for the cameras as the couple host the marriage of their blandest child, Benji (Billy Howle), to the middle-class zookeeper Amelia (Eve Hewson, whose dark-brown hair is the first clue shes out of place in this family). The wedding is at one of Greer and Tags homes, Summerland, a $40 million estate on the shores of Nantucket, the Old Money island playground off Cape Cod that boasts an airport perpetually crowded with private jets and beaches as white as the residents. The house has a mini-fridge stacked with Fiji water and a gift-wrapping room, although the maid confesses that she does most of the wrapping in her own quarters. The family is rich, we are repeatedly toldrich rich. Child sex-ring on a private island rich, one character tells us, or Kill someone and get away with it rich, another says (forebodingly!).
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So when tragedy strikes and one of the wedding guests is found dead on the morning of the nuptials, long-held secrets threaten all that the family holds dearwell, you get the idea.
At its heart, The Perfect Couple wants to be The White Lotus, Mike Whites delicious skewering of the wealthy thats wrapped in a murder mystery. (The Perfect Couple also stars Meghann Fahy, from The White Lotus Season 2, and it tries to emulate the HBO show by holding offalbeit for just one episodeon revealing who has been killed; it also copies Big Little Lies by having police interviews with side characters serve as a framing device.) But this isnt prestige TV, its a soap opera, and The Perfect Couple doesnt have characters who are remotely interesting or even developed enough for the series to be the biting satire of the rich it wants to be. Its the kind of show where the characters get drunk at dinner (hardly anyone is ever seen without a blackberry mojito or a gin and tonic in hand) in order to confront one another Real Housewivesstyle, but then still somehow arise at dawn to stare mysteriously out a window. At one point as I was watching, a caption simply read [sighing wistfully].
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To put it plainly, The Perfect Couple isnt a particularly good show. Which prompts the question: What exactly is Kidman doing here? Why does this versatile, Academy Awardwinning actor keep gravitating toward TV roles that feel so familiar, if not in their substance, then in their style and aesthetic? Some of Kidmans TV characters are victims, some of them are villains, but most of them are glamorous, wealthy women with shitty husbands and secrets. If this time shes playing an author of actual beach readsthat unofficial genre of frothy, easy-to-consume, low-culture romances/mysteries marketed mostly to womenits worth asking how and why did Kidman seemingly become the go-to actor for what can only be described as beach TV?
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In the Beach-Read Cinematic Universe, Nicole Kidman is Madame Web: Her web connects them all.
Based on a novel by the real-life Queen of Beach Reads, Elin Hilderbrand, The Perfect Couple is directed by Susanne Bier, who was also behind the camera for The Undoing, which was based on a novel adapted for the screen by David E. Kelley, who also wrote the script for Big Little Lies, which was based on a novel by Liane Moriarty, whose very name has been used by the New York Times as an adjective to describe beach reads. In the Beach-Read Cinematic Universe, Kidman is Madame Web: Her web connects them all.
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Looking at her filmography, whats clear is that Kidman loves to work. In the past decade alone, shes been part of 30 or so different productions across film and televisionan impressive number for an A-list star who, at this point, doesnt really need the money. The numbers are similar for Cate Blanchett and Kate Winslet, two actors with whom Id argue Kidman shares a lot of career DNA: non-American, Oscar-winning white female movie stars who have in recent years dabbled in television to much acclaim. For Winslet, that meant, most prominently, perfecting a Delco accent to play a gruff, beleaguered detective in Mare of Easttown and then transforming into a neurotic central European autocrat in The Regime (a show leagues behind her performance in it). Blanchett, meanwhile, portrayed the prim and cunning conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly in Mrs. America and is also starring as a documentary journalist in Alfonso Cuarons upcoming Apple TV+ series Disclaimer.
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Related From Slate The Undoing Could Have Been Perfect Trash Read More
Kidmans biggest TV characters, though, have more of an obvious throughline. Theres an outward elegance to thema glamouras if her contract stipulated that her costumes would consist entirely of designer clothing. She looks like Nicole Kidman, or at least like the A-lister we are used to seeing on red carpets. Her hair is rarely out of place (the big exception being when she donned a curly gray wig, prosthetic nose, and set of fake teeth with a gap in the center in 2017s Top of the Lake: China Girl). Even in Hulus 2021 miniseries Nine Perfect Strangers, in which she played a bereaved Russian wellness guru (and which itself was also based on a novel by, who else, Moriarty), Kidman sported a lengthy blond wig and white robes, lending her an almost perpetual ethereal glow.
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Im not the only one who has noticed this fragile-housewife archetype that Kidman keeps drifting to. Writing for the Guardian about the little-watched Expats, in which Kidman played a mother grappling with the disappearance of her young son, Lucy Mangan describes the series as the latest in a long line of prestige television dramas in which she wafts about the place as an ethereal, privileged woman haunted by a secret sorrow that all the exquisite soft furnishings and beach views in the world cannot ameliorate. Joel Keller of Decider writes similarly in an Expats review: Kidman feels like shes in the phase of her career when shes playing one depressed, wealthy, touched-by-tragedy middle aged wife and mom after another, and while her performances are always terrific, the trope has gotten old.
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Thats not to say some of these roles didnt require some capital-A Acting from Kidman. In Big Little Lies, in particular, she won plaudits (and an Emmy) for her turn as a woman trapped in an abusive marriage. It was this shows first season, and its enormous success, that really launched Kidman as a television actor and relaunched her in the public eye as a respected thespian after a string of mostly mediocre or forgettable movies. In a 2017 piece for BuzzFeed News titled How Many Times Does Nicole Kidman Have to Prove Herself? writer Anne Helen Petersen notes what she describes as an undercurrent of sexism in the idea that a performance by an Oscar-winning actress with a career spanning decades could be seen as so revelatory. No woman with as much talent as Kidman should be forced to reargue, over and over again, that she is a force to be taken seriously, Petersen asserts.
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Kidman is one of our greatest living actors. She is capable of extraordinarily diverse work and is often willing to undergo a radical physical transformation for a role, such as when she morphed into Lucille Ball for Being the Ricardos (2021)a role many initially feared had been miscast, but for which she ultimately received her fifth Oscar nominationor played a vengeful detective with deep eye-bags and a moppy wig in Destroyer (2018). Her performance as a Viking queen in 2022s The Northman at first felt to me like a cameo, before she awed me by flashing her fangs in one electrifying, bonkers scene. And, if the reviews out of the Venice Film Festival are to be believed, she has turned in another incredible performance in the kinky erotic drama Babygirl, opposite Harris Dickinson. If anything, the occasionally vanilla work she does in these analogous TV roles may serve to make her star-making cinematic performances stand out and wow us even more.
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Just as Kidmans 2001 divorce freed her from the title of Mrs. Tom Cruise and propelled her to pursue a string of surprising, audacious projects that catapulted her to the very top of Hollywood, the success of Big Little Lies, and Kidmans celebrated performance in it, was also freeing in its own unique way. In a career that has ebbed and flowed between intensive bouts of public scrutiny and gossipon her marriage, her divorce, her children, her body, her weight, her face, her foreheadKidman proved herself once again in a new medium. And, by executive producing the series alongside co-star Reese Witherspoon, she proved to Hollywood she had the business chops to be a major behind-the-scenes industry force, too.
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Having conquered film, having conquered television, and having conquered the industry, things are now a lot simpler: Nicole Kidman has nothing left to prove. She coasts from time to time now because she can. If Netflix is willing to park a truck full of money in her driveway in exchange for turning in a campy performance on autopilot while still looking great, then fuck it, why not take the cash? Do one for them and one for you, the Hollywood saying goes. Male actors and directors do it all the time and rarely get any judgment. And, like the beach reads theyre based on, these shows are popular! People watch them, awards and critics be damned. Sometimes a job is just a jobeven for Hollywood legends.
And if my explanation of her motivations seems too obvious or glibif you think things must surely be more complicated than thatI can only offer as evidence one moment from The Perfect Couple in which Kidmans character is questioned by a cop about her all-too-apparent motive.
What makes it so obvious is what makes it so unlikely, she insists.
But maybe, the officer tells her, thats your cover: hiding in plain sight.
Update, Sept. 19, 2024, at 5:56 p.m.: On Thursday, CNN broke the news that Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson had posted numerous inflammatory comments on a pornography websites message board under the username minisoldr over 10 years ago. The comments include statements that he was a black NAZI!; that he was a perv who liked transgender pornography; that he still fantasized about peeping on women in public showers as a 14-year-old; that he preferred Adolf Hitler to Barack Obama; and that Martin Luther King Jr. was a commie bastard. Later in the day, Politico reported that an email address belonging to Robinson was registered on Ashley Madison, a website for married people seeking affairs.
North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson isnt actively courting controversy anymore. Since winning the Republican primary for governor, he has toned down his rhetoric in an effort to convince North Carolina voters hes a normal MAGA Republican. But after all the stories that came out this summer, Robinson should know hes chasing a pipe dream: As much as Robinson may try to appear like an unblemished candidate, he seems to have an unlimited number of absurd stories from his past just waiting to be dug up.
Take, for example, the big headline news this week. On Tuesday, the North Carolina publication the Assembly reported that in the 1990s and early 2000s, Robinson was a regular customer at two pornography stores in Greensboro, where he purchased hundreds of bootleg porn videos and came in as often as five nights a week to watch porn videos in a private booth. Robinson denies the story. (In a comment to the Assembly, he also called one of the porn-shop owners a freak show grifter and the reporters on the story degenerates.)
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There would be nothing particularly newsworthy about this if it werent for Robinsons tendency to condemn the sexuality of otherswomen and LGBTQ+ people specificallyand describe material and behavior he does not like as pornographic. In 2023, for example, while speaking at a Baptist church, he appeared to use the term to describe LGBTQ-affirming literature in schools. You ought to be nervous about the fact that we live in a society where some folks say its all right to give pornography to children, he said to the congregation. As far as Im concerned, thats the decline of Western civilization. This wasnt the only time he has accused public schools of providing children with pornography.
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And it was just the latest in a line of bizarre stories about Robinson this summerwhich followed a flood of bizarre and hateful opinions of his that surfaced, often through his own Facebook commentary, after he won the primary in March.
At a June rally, Robinson said, vaguely, Some folks need killing. (Its time for somebody to say it.) On Aug. 19, a North Carolina public-education blog published public records showing that Robinsons wife, Yolanda Hill, had, in 2003, been sued by the Girl Scouts. (The Tarheel Triad Girl Scouts were successful in small-claims court over $3,000 Hill had failed to pay the group; the documents give no further details.)
And in late July, a nonprofit run by Hill and her family was ordered to repay $132,000 in federal funding for, essentially, fraud. The nonprofit, Balanced Nutrition, was intended to help child care centers obtain federal funding for meals. But according to the Associated Press, it had drawn funding for nonallowed expenses while paying generous salaries to Hill, Robinson, and other family members. A Department of Health and Human Services investigation found claims made on behalf of child care centers that had apparently neither requested nor received the funds. (Robinson has said that the investigation, which Hill closed in April, was politically motivated.)
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Finally, reporting published in July also found that Robinson and his wife ran a child care center from 2000 to 2007 that was cited for dozens of sanitation, safety, and nutrition violations. Worse, according to DHHS records, the couple had presented falsified documents for training requirements and criminal background checks for the staff. (Robinson and Hill gave up the business in 2007.)
These kinds of financial shenanigans fit a pattern for Robinson: For many years, he failed to pay his taxes and repeatedly relied on bankruptcy court to avoid paying debts. This is all notable because his campaign persona is that of a man who emphasizes personal responsibility and criticizes government aid. (The problem is, we have people that have been abusing the system for far too long. And too many of these social programs have degraded our work ethic, he said in a 2019 podcast.) Guess he knows what hes talking about!
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But not all of Robinsons scandals this summer were dug up from his past by reporters; in one case, he unearthed the scandal himself.
Thirty years ago, my wife and I made a very difficult decision, Robinson says in an ad that aired last month. We had an abortion. Choking up, he adds, It was like a silent pain between us that we never spoke of.
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#NCPol: 30 years ago, my wife and I made a very difficult decision. We had an abortion. It was like this solid pain between us that we never spoke of. Its something that stays with you forever.
Mark Robinson is up with a new ad in #NCGov. He's spent or reserved $4.9M so far. pic.twitter.com/o3aXpKhbSC AdImpact Politics (@AdImpact_Pol) August 2, 2024
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The admission was shocking, given how the politician has talked about abortion before. In a Facebook Live video from 2019, Robinson spoke harshly of women who have abortions.
Its about killing the child because you werent responsible enough to keep your skirt down or your pants up, and not get pregnant by your own choice, because you felt like getting your groove thing on, Robinson said in the video. And now, instead of taking care of that child, you want to kill that child so your life can go on being on easy street and you can keep running to the club every Friday night.
The August ad tries to reframe his familys abortion decision as a reason Robinson is supportive of North Carolinas current lawan abortion restriction after 12 weeksand common-sense exceptions. The ad ends with Robinson saying, When Im governor, mothers in need will be supported. But these attempts to moderate himself dont seem to be making a difference. (It doesnt help that Robinson is on the record as saying that society is called to be led by men and that he has blamed women for sexual harassment and assault.)
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According to polling back in May, Robinson and his opponent, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, had been in a virtual tie. But recent polling shows Stein leading, sometimes by as much as 10 points. Cook Political Report found a significant shift among non-college-educated women, who have swung dramatically toward Stein over the course of the summer.
There are still two months until the election, and Robinson is clearly hoping that voters have goldfishlike memories when it comes to his past. Its a strategy that would have held some promiseif there wasnt a strong possibility that there are even more scandals waiting to emerge.
Daniel Oliver Baker, Jr. (D.O.) of Port Republic, Maryland, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 1, 2024. He was born on December 23, 1943, in Washington, D.C., to Daniel O. Baker and Mary E. Baker.
D.O. grew up on Rhode River in Mayo, Maryland, with his mother and stepfather, Phillip Vail. He spent his youth on the river crabbing and fishing, a pastime that would remain close to his heart throughout his life. During this time, he joined the Woodland Beach Volunteer Fire Department, marking the beginning of his lifelong commitment to fire service.
After graduating high school, D.O. began his career at Bausum & Duckett Electric in Edgewater. In 1964, he married the love of his life, Phyllis Stallings Baker. Two years later, in 1966, he joined the Maryland State Police, which led him to Lusby in Calvert County. During his tenure with the Maryland State Police, he served as a road trooper, a K9 handler, and a medic in the aviation division. He later transferred to the Department of Natural Resources, where he worked as an arson and homicide investigator until 1974. D.O. then launched his own electrical business, eventually retiring in the early 2000s. He later resumed work as a Temporary Electrical Inspector with Calvert County Government and served on the Board of Appeals for Calvert County for 14 years.
In 1970, D.O. and Phyllis built their new home in Port Republic, where they planted their roots and raised their family. During his time in Port Republic, D.O. transferred to the Prince Frederick Volunteer Fire Department, and in 1987, he joined the St. Leonard Volunteer Fire Department (SLVFD). He brought invaluable knowledge to the new fire department, and his insistence on rigorous training led SLVFD to win the Zembower Fire Service Training Award for three consecutive years, making them the first department in the state to achieve this honor. D.O. was instrumental in acquiring numerous pieces of apparatus and securing funding for the department's building expansion project in the '90s. During his time with SLVFD, he served as Chief, President, a member of the Board of Directors, and was honored as a Life Member.
D.O.'s dedication to the fire service extended beyond his local department. He served on the Maryland State Fire Prevention Commission and was inducted into the Calvert County Fire & Rescue Association Hall of Fame, the Southern Maryland Firemen's Association Hall of Fame, and the Maryland State Firefighters Association Hall of Fame. Additionally, D.O. was a member of the Calvert County Sportsmen's Club and the Calvert County Watermen's Association. His contributions to the fire service and his community are immeasurable, leaving a lasting legacy of dedication, leadership, and service that will be remembered for generations to come.
D.O. was preceded in death by his mother Mary Vail and his stepfather Philip G. Vail. Surviving is his wife Phyllis Baker, children Daniel III (Roberta), Natalie Garner (Troy), grandchildren Katie Brittain (Justin), Daniel IV, Taylor Dagle (Austin), Austin Garner (Ellen), great grandchildren Wesley Brittain, Charleigh Brittain, Camdyn Dagle.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday September 10, 2024 from 6-7:30 PM when there will be a Fireman's Prayer service to follow at the St. Leonard Volunteer Fire Department and on Wednesday September 11, 2024 from 11-12 noon at Christ Church in Port Republic where a funeral service will follow at noon. Interment will be in the church cemetery.
Liz Teitz covers environmental news and the Hill Country for the San Antonio Express-News. She writes about the San Antonio Water System, news in New Braunfels and Comal County and water issues around Central Texas. She can be reached at liz.teitz@express-news.net.
Liz joined the Express-News in June 2023. She has been a reporter for eight years, covering housing, government, education and other topics for the Ouray County Plaindealer, Hearst Connecticut Media Group and the Beaumont Enterprise. Liz grew up in Rhode Island and graduated from Georgetown University.
What a teacher will find in a Slovak classroom.
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Slovakia's studenti have recently returned to school and thousands of long-suffering ucitelia to their despairing staff rooms. It's time to map out the battleground for the year ahead.
Sure, in Slovakia teachers will find a few apple-polishers (splhuni, lit. rope-climbers) among the ranks, a few bonzaci (snitches) to rat on the grazli (scoundrels), a biflos (brain) or two to leaven the ranks of the incurious, but it's still a tough old world in there.
If, as Martin Amis writes, the average press conference is no fortress of shrewd enquiry, the average Slovak classroom is a mass of education-resistant solidarity.
Popular events abound, offering rich programme and delicacies.
Grape harvest festivities take place in and around Bratislava every September. (Source: TASR)
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September is here and this also means the time of grape harvest festivities - vinobranie in Slovak - and fairs is back. Wine lovers have several events held in Bratislava and its vicinity to choose from. These range from smaller open vineyard events to large festivities accompanied by rich cultural programmes and street food stands.
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First grape harvest festivitity
This coming weekend already offers two events.
Just a quick ride from the capital will take you to the small town of Modra in the foothills of the Little Carpathian mountain range. Taking place between September 6-8, the traditional Modranske vinobranie festival is a celebration of the town's winemaking tradition.
In addition to great wines, you will also be able to taste a unique beverage known as 'burciak', a seasonal hard grape cider with a foam that can rival even the one on your beer.
In addition to fine drinks, visitors will be able to get a glimpse of crafts of times gone by, folklore, visit wine cellars, historic expositions. Expect a rich cultural programme featuring concerts of staple bands such as Bukasovy Masiv, Le Payaco, Billy Barman, as well as new acts in the form of Meowlau x Val for example.
Traditional grape drink called burciak is a must during the festivities. (Source: TASR)
Day in vineyards
If mass gatherings are not up your alley, then maybe check out this event also taking place on Saturday, September 7. Several dozen wine growers and makers of the Little Carpathian Wine Region will invite wine afficionados to taste their production - both the fruit of the land and the fruit of their labour, while allowing them to enjoy the view of the beautiful country.
Vineyards in Raca, Vajnory, Svaty Jur, Limbach, Pezinok, Senkvice, Modra and more will welcome you between 11:00-19:00; a ticket costs 20 and includes a 5 voucher for the purchase of wine.
Bratislava's Lamac borough will also host its own event in the form of the Rozalske hody festivities on September 6-8. The event will feature a slew of concerts for children and adults alike, as well as carousels, face painting, theatrical performances and more.
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Pezinok is the best
Next week on September 13-15, Bratislava's Raca borough will play host to the most popular grape harvest festivities in the capital.
There will be stands with typical delicacies such as ciganska pecienka (a bun with pork, onion and mustard), lokse (thin potato pancakes), roasted sausages, candy floss, as well as carousels. The local amphitheatre will once again provide the stage for concerts of popular Slovak bands and musicians such as Jana Kirschner, Billy Barman, Hex, Tublatanka and more. Admission is free.
Rounding up the September festivities is the picturesque wine-growing town of Pezinok. Taking place on September 20-22, the event draws visitors not only from the vicinity, but from abroad as well. In addition to a lot of concerts, you will see the celebration of grapes, learn about the harvest and the work of local winemakers and winegrowers, witness a historic procession, expositions, and more. Don't miss it, more details here.
The case is under embargo, but a published ruling by the judge offers a few new details.
The Fico shooting occurred on May 15 following a government meeting in the former mining town of Handlova, situated two hours drive away from Bratislava. (Source: TSS)
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Despite months of investigation, Slovak authorities have yet to determine whether the man accused of attempting to assassinate Prime Minister Robert Fico acted alone, or if, as the government suggests, he had accomplices.
The shooter, a 71-year-old pensioner named Juraj Cintula, remains in custody, but official updates from police and prosecutors have been scarce, leaving the public in the dark about key details including the extent of the prime ministers injuries and the progress of the investigation.
The shooting occurred on May 15 following a government meeting in the former mining town of Handlova, situated two hours drive away from Bratislava. The premier will return to the town on Friday, September 6, for the first time since the shooting.
On Friday, August 23, the Specialised Criminal Court denied Cintulas request to be released from custody. The written explanation of this decision, recently made public, sheds some light on the situation, although many key questions remain unanswered.
Prime Minister Fico himself fuelled speculation about accomplices when he addressed the nation in a video on June 5, several weeks after the attack. I have no reason to believe this was the act of a lone madman, Fico said. A hundred days have passed since the assassination attempt, but there is still no mention of any possible accomplices in the case.
I.D.C. Holding produces legendary wafers such as Kavenky and Horalka.
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The Slovak food group I.D.C. Holding, owned by financier Pavol Jakubec, has announced its sale to Irelands Valeo Foods Group, backed by the global investment giant Bain Capital.
After 32 years of developing I.D.C. Holding from a local, traditional confectionary business into a major regional player in the category, it's the right time for a new chapter in this company's development, said Jakubec.
The deal, signed in early August, will see Valeo acquire 100 percent of I.D.C. Holding, the company behind some of Slovakias most beloved snacks, including the iconic Horalka and Mila wafers, which have been popular since the communist era.
I.D.C. Holding originated from the state-owned Pecivarne Sered, acquired in 1992 by Jakubec and his business partner Stefan Kassay for 400 million Slovak crowns in a competitive tender. A year later, they purchased the state-owned Figaro Trnava for 240 million crowns. Over the years, the pair invested heavily in the businesses, expanding production and resisting numerous offers from foreign investors.
Despite continuous interest from abroad, Jakubec and Kassay remained confident in their companys potential, preferring to invest in the future of the business. This strategy paid off, with I.D.C. Holding reporting record sales of over 163 million in 2022 and a post-tax profit of 16.4 million.
Profit
Sales
Valeo Foods, headquartered in Dublin, is a major player in the European food industry, boasting annual revenues of 1.5 billion and a portfolio of more than 80 brands, including Rowse Honey, Balconi, Barrat, Carstens, Poppets, and Jacobs. With the acquisition of I.D.C. Holding and its Sedita, Figaro, and Verbena brands, Valeo aims to strengthen its presence in Central and Eastern Europe and enhance its confectionery segment.
This is a transformative acquisition for Valeo Foods Group, said Chief Executive Officer of the Valeo Foods Group, Ronald Kers.
While Valeo already operates small production facilities in the region, including a plant in the Czech Republic acquired through its purchase of Pedro Candy Plus, this deal marks a significant step toward expanding its footprint in Eastern Europe. I.D.C. Holdings factory in Sered, which annually produces 35,000 tonnes of goods, positions the company among the largest players in Central Europe.
The transaction, pending regulatory approval, is expected to be finalised by the end of the year.
Jakubec will retain ownership of two other Slovak enterprises: Vestenicke gumarne Vegum and Damian Jasna Hotel Resort & Residences.
The animated documentary won an award at a Bratislava festival dedicated to children and youth.
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Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova, known for her outspoken stance against the LGBT+ community and migrants, has once again sparked controversy, this time over a film about sexuality. The film, which won the top prize at the 2022 Biennale of Animation Bratislava (BAB), an event hosted by the childrens gallery Bibiana, has drawn her ire.
Simkovicova took to Facebook to criticise the animated film Grannys Sexual Life, which she claims explores themes of masturbation, sexuality, and orgasms in older adults.
Bibianas flagship events, including competitions for the most beautiful illustrations and animations, were taken over by extremists under Zuzana Liptakovas leadership, the minister wrote.
Martina Simkovicova's post about the criticised Slovenian-French animated film, published on September 4, 2024. (Source: Facebook)
The short documentary, directed by the Slovenian-French duo Urska Djukic and Emilie Pigeard, portrays elderly women reflecting on their experiences with men.
Simkovicovas outrage follows previous controversies involving Bibianas exhibitions of books.
Her latest criticism targets the festivals former director, Zuzana Liptakova, whom Simkovicova dismissed in March 2024, replacing her with Petra Flach, a friend with no background in cultural management or work with children. Liptakova began her role at Bibiana in August 2022, with the Biennale taking place in October of the same year, writes Dennik N. According to Tomas Danay, then the festivals programme director, the festivals preparations were completed before Liptakovas tenure began.
video //www.youtube.com/embed/f6hgsSVvJYo
Danay explained that the film categories were reorganised to include a new category, XL, for young adults aged 15 and over. The film in question was placed in this category and won the Viktor Kubala Grand Prix, he told the daily. Danay emphasised that he and Liptakova did not influence the films victory; the decision was made by an international jury composed of esteemed filmmakers and animators, including an Oscar nominee.
The festival featured screenings divided by age groups, ensuring that the winning film was viewed primarily by secondary school and university students. A catalogue was provided for parents to choose appropriate films for their children.
The next Biennale of Animation Bratislava will take place from October 7 to 11, 2024. However, following Liptakovas dismissal, the entire BAB team resigned in protest.
Unveiling a new commemorative plaque, the city's mayor and visiting ambassadors stressed past generations' sacrifice for freedom.
A memorial plaque is unveiled in Banska Bystrica for British and American heroes of the Slovak National Uprising on September 5, 2024. (Source: TASR)
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The contribution of British and American special forces to the 1944 Slovak National Uprising (SNP) was marked at a ceremony in the central-Slovak city of Banska Bystrica on Thursday, September 5.
The Mayor of Banska Bystrica, Jan Nosko, alongside British Ambassador Nigel Baker and US Ambassador Gautam Rana, unveiled a commemorative plaque honouring special forces operatives from Britain's Special Operations Executive (SOE) and America's Office of Strategic Services (OSS) who were dropped into central Slovakia in September and October 1944 to assist the insurgents. Following the collapse of the SNP in late October 1944, most were captured by Nazi forces and later executed.
Also in attendance was SNP veteran Vladimir Strmen, 96, who gave an impassioned speech about the importance of the struggle for freedom.
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The OSS was the precursor of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Its 1944 mission to Slovakia was later described in an internal CIA publication as "the worst single defeat suffered by US spies in World War II".
The British and American officers were sent in as liaison missions. The US operation, which involved B-17 bombers flying from Allied-occupied Italy, was officially launched to evacuate downed allied airmen who had been stranded in Slovakia during the war, but also landed some 50 tons of military and other supplies. The British officers and their equipment were dropped by parachute.
By the time the SOE and OSS servicemen arrived, the uprising was already under severe pressure from German forces and would be defeated within a matter of weeks. After Banska Bystrica was occupied, the Americans and British, along with hundreds of Slovak partisans, retreated in small groups to the forests and mountains of central Slovakia at the start of what turned out to be a brutally cold winter. Most were eventually killed or captured.
The new commemorative plaque was unveiled at the Narodny Dom Hotel in central Banska Bystrica, where some of the operatives were based during the uprising.
In the photograph, from left to right: direct participant of the Slovak National Uprising Vladimir Strmen (seated), US Ambassador to Slovakia Gautam A. Rana, Mayor of Banska Bystrica Jan Nosko, and British Ambassador to Slovakia Nigel Baker during the ceremonial unveiling of the memorial plaque on Thursday, September 5, 2024, in Banska Bystrica. (Source: TASR)
In a speech at the ceremony, British Ambassador Nigel Baker paid tribute to the Allied servicemen's sacrifice and read a message from James Sehmer, the 81-year-old son of Major John Sehmer, MBE, the leader of the British mission. Major Sehmer was executed at Mauthausen concentration camp in January 1945.
"I believe that these memorials ... are very important. It is entirely appropriate that our young people are reminded of the sacrifices that their forebears made for the benefit of later generations. These historical events must not be allowed to be forgotten," James Sehmer wrote.
15-year push to get plaque installed
The SNP is a crucial but politically contested event in Slovakia's history. Banska Bystrica, which hosts a museum dedicated to its memory, embraces its role as the centre of the uprising. But in 2013 Banska Bystrica Region, which includes the city, unexpectedly elected a neo-fascist politician, Marian Kotleba, as governor, suggesting that popular opinions are less than settled. His party celebrates the regime of Father Jozef Tiso, president of the wartime Slovak State, which the insurgents were seeking to depose.
Ambassador Baker credited British expat and long-time Banska Bystrica resident John Skelton with proposing and then pursuing the project to place a plaque in the city.
Speaking to The Slovak Spectator, Skelton said the project had been more than 15 years in the making, and had sometimes been a struggle in the light of the resurgence of the far-right in local and national politics. Kotleba lost his bid for re-election as regional governor in 2017, but was elected to the national parliament in 2016, where he remained until 2022.
Skelton said the city administration had become more supportive in recent years, which along with the involvement of the British and American Embassies, helped to bring about the September 5 installation of the plaque.
In comments to The Slovak Spectator, Mayor Jan Nosko stressed the importance of explaining to young people the SNP's complexity as a historical event, and the hardships endured by those who participated in the uprising. He said that sparking people's interest in the events of SNP was crucial to ensuring the horrors of that time are not repeated.
In public remarks at the ceremony to unveil the plaque, US Ambassador Gautam Rana made a similar point, lauding the heroism of Vladimir Strmen and drawing a parallel between Allied support for Slovaks' struggle for self-determination in 1944 and today's support by America and its allies, including Britain and Slovakia, for Ukraine in resisting present-day Russian aggression.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240905/a-unique-kind-of-fascism-us-continues-clampdown-on-alternative-media-1120022422.html
A Unique Kind of Fascism: US Continues Clampdown on Alternative Media
A Unique Kind of Fascism: US Continues Clampdown on Alternative Media
Sputnik International
The Biden administration signaled that it would continue to clamp down on alternative media Wednesday with the announcement of several measures against figures connected to Russian outlets.
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The Biden administration signaled that it would continue to clamp down on alternative media Wednesday with the announcement of several measures against figures connected to Russian outlets.US Attorney General Merrick Garland claimed individuals connected to Russian media outlets were involved in a campaign to spread disinformation in the months leading up to Novembers election, a favored talking point the Biden administration has repeatedly used to justify its heavy-handed tactics in regulating social media.The account for RT on the video sharing giant YouTube was removed in 2022 and Biden signed legislation earlier this year likely to result in the social media app TikTok becoming unavailable in the United States after this falls election.Writer and historian Dr. Gerald Horne joined Sputniks The Critical Hour program Wednesday to discuss the surprising development, which he attributed to the United States concern over the rise of Russia, China and Iran and the emergence of an increasingly multipolar world.It's difficult to judge what you just described without judging simultaneously what's unfolding in the Tampa, St. Petersburg area of Florida, where Chairman Omali and his comrades and the African Peoples Socialist Party and the Uhuru movement are now facing trial in the halls of injustice for reasons eerily similar to these charges, said Horne, referring to the Biden administrations ongoing persecution of Black radical groups.Not to mention the funding and financing an army of the radical regime in Israel. We are also aware of what has befallen Richard Medhurst who is a frequent speaker on issues related to Iran in particular. He was detained in London summarily just a few days ago in a blatant violation of civil rights and civil liberties, causing some commentators to suggest that England, Great Britain is moving towards a unique kind of fascism.Horne claimed a hysteria is gripping the US political class over an emerging counterhegemonic bloc of countries increasingly able to challenge the political and economic might of the United States. Former US Army officer Gen. Wesley Clark reflected the anxieties of Washington officialdom in an editorial in USA Today recently, casting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping as enemies of democracy.But a recent survey found that almost half of Amercans believe there is not enough democracy in the United States while 57% of people polled said the US government only serves a minority of its population. Russia and China ranked higher than the United States on most questions regarding their citizens self-perception of their countrys democracy, with Chinese people being among the most likely in the world to consider their country democratic.Clark drew attention to improving relations between Beijing and Moscow, something the United States worked to undermine throughout the Cold War.Recall that the late national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski, the national security adviser under Jimmy Carter in the 1970s, in one of his final books The Grand Chessboard suggested that US imperialism would justifiably be fearful if there was a de facto alliance developing between Russia, China, and Iran, and that is precisely what's happening as we speak, said Horne.The leadership of Iran has long been critical of the United States owing to the long history of US interference in the country. Recent polling reveals that people in countries throughout the Muslim world now overwhelming view the US negatively as the country backs Israels violent military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which has killed almost 41,000.Horne said the US is likely particularly disturbed by Beijings growing influence in Africa as dozens of heads of state from across the continent meet in China this week to discuss economic development.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240316/effort-to-ban-tiktok-shows-bipartisan-fear-of-china-influence-of-zionist-lobby-1117356333.html
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240418/surveillance-panopticon-grows-more-powerful-with-attempted-tiktok-ban-backdoors-1117987163.html
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240812/scott-ritter-fbi-raids-part--parcel-of-us-govt-intimidation-1119734622.html
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240904/jackson-hinkle-on-frightening-clampdown-on-alternative-media-in-us-all-thats-left-is-to-jail-us-1120016981.html
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us fascism, us media crackdown, us alternative media censorship, us freedom of speech in decline, us rt repression, us sputnik censorship, political persecution, political censorship, free speech, freedom of speech
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240905/french-mps-sign-resolution-demanding-macrons-resignation-amid-deadlock-over-pm-1120024104.html
French MPs Sign Resolution Demanding Macrons Resignation Over PM Pick Deadlock
French MPs Sign Resolution Demanding Macrons Resignation Over PM Pick Deadlock
Sputnik International
Ever since the snap elections in July produced a hung parliament in France, President Emmanuel Macron has delayed appointing a new prime minister. Amid the... 05.09.2024, Sputnik International
2024-09-05T13:46+0000
2024-09-05T13:46+0000
2024-09-05T13:59+0000
world
emmanuel macron
france
new popular front (nouveau front populaire)
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Over 80 lawmakers have signed a resolution demanding that French President Emmanuel Macron step down, according to French media reports.The MPs who put their names under the document are from the New Popular Front (Nouveau Front Populaire, or NFP) four-party alliance, 72 of whom are from the France Unbowed (La France Insoumise) party. The other lawmakers are reportedly from the French Green party (LE-EELV) and the Democratic and Republican Left group (Groupe de la Gauche Democrate et Republicaine).The resolution was prompted by Macrons rejection of the NFPs candidacy of Lucie Castets as prime minister, despite the leftist coalition winning the most seats in the parliamentary runoff in July. Macrons refusal is slammed in the motion as an unprecedented case in France's history.It is unparalleled in any of the nations of the European Union that entrusts the first party, even a minority, to form their government," the document is quoted as saying.The NFP alliance won the most seats in July, but none of the major factions neither Macrons centrists nor the left- and right-wing opposition control an absolute majority in the chamber.La France Insoumise (LFI) moved to initiate Macrons impeachment on August 31, citing his "serious failings" in his constitutional duties, and called on other political groupings to back it.However, a bid to impeach Macron would need to follow a long and arduous process outlined in article 68 of the constitution, and would eventually require two-thirds of members of the Assembly and Senate combined to approve it.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240831/protest-action-takes-place-in-paris-to-demand-macrons-resignation-1119973964.html
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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240905/key-takeaways-from-president-putins-speech-at-eastern-economic-forum-1120038272.html
Key Takeaways From President Putin's Speech at Eastern Economic Forum
Key Takeaways From President Putin's Speech at Eastern Economic Forum
Sputnik International
Key Takeaways From Putin's Speech at Eastern Economic Forum
2024-09-05T13:43+0000
2024-09-05T13:43+0000
2024-09-05T13:43+0000
russia
vladimir putin
russia
ukraine
russian armed forces
eef
eastern economic forum
eastern economic forum - 2024
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The Far East has become Russia's stronghold in the new global economic reality, Vladimir Putin underscored in his speech at the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).The Russian president used the EEF platform on Thursday to touch upon a broad range of important global and domestic issues, clarifying his country's stance.Ukraine ConflictRussia has never refused to negotiate with Ukraine, but the West sabotaged a potential peace deal in early 2022, the Russian leader said at the EEF plenary session, referring to a meeting between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul in March 2022.Putin said that Russia respects and welcomes the sincere interest of its friends and partners in resolving all issues related to the Ukraine conflict, first of all, the People's Republic of China, Brazil, and India.The Russian Armed Forces must expel the enemy from the country's territory, with the liberation of Donbass being a top priority, he underscored. Russia will always protect its interests and the interests of people in Ukraine who are prepared to defend their right to speak the Russian language and respect their national traditions, Putin said.Regarding the developments in Russias border region in Kursk, which witnessed an incursion by Kievs military on August 6, the president said Russian troops have accelerated their offensive operations, making significant gains, while the enemy is weakening in key areas.The Russian leader also decried Ukraines strikes on nuclear power plants as very dangerous terrorist attacks. He proceeded to warn that one can only imagine what could happen if Russia were to respond reciprocally to the shelling of the Kursk and Zaporozhye nuclear plants.While underscoring that the Russian Armed Forces are pushing the enemy out of Russia's border region, Putin pointed to the neo-Nazi Ukrainian regimes heavy losses in equipment and manpower. The Russian head of state also shared his personal impression that Ukraine was being led by aliens or foreigners who do not care about the fate of their own country.Saudi Role in Prisoner SwapThe Russian president thanked Saudi Arabia's crown prince for his assistance in the exchange of Russian citizens that took place last month.Many other countries in the Arab world also played a role in work on the prisoner exchange, Putin added.Palestinian-Israeli ConflictRussia backs a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, the Russian president underscored.Putin noted that "this stance is shared by many people in the world and, as strange as it may seem, by the United States as well." He went on to note that the issue has not been resolved and is "at the core of today's escalation of the situation, present-day confrontation."The Russian president also clarified that:US ElectionsWhile reiterating that it is not up to Russia to pick a favorite candidate in the ongoing US presidential race, Vladimir Putin allowed himself to briefly troll the Democratic Party.Russias Future Linked with Far East GrowthAs global business ties and trade routes increasingly shift to the East and Global South, the future development of Russia largely depends on how the Far East will develop, Vladimir Putin emphasized during his speech at the plenary session. He referred to Russia's Far East region as a gateway to the promising and developing markets of Asia and the Global South.Putin hailed the regions vast potential for increased geological exploration and linked it to the need to ensure Russias resource sovereignty.As Putin invited other countries to join in developing the regions transportation routes, he singled out the key importance of the Northern Sea Routes boosted capacity, "In particular, this refers to the Northern Sea Route as an international logistics route. We are going to boost its throughput capacity, in particular by exploring the Arctic mineral deposits, reorienting cargos and increasing the transit. We have ambitious plans for developing the Northern Sea Route, the Russian leader said at the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum.Putin touched upon plans for a new deep-water port with the participation of Belarusian and Chinese companies, as well as proposed building nuclear power plants in the Russian Far East. The successful implementation of all these ambitious plans and the entire economy of the future depend first of all on people, the Russian head of state noted at the EEFs plenary session.Vladimir Putin took a moment to take pride in the impressive growth of the Russian economy despite the West's weaponized sanctions. He noted that Russia's growth rates exceed the global average.On the matter of Russian energy supplies, Putin emphasized that attempts to shut them down would backfire tremendously on the global economy.Putin noted that Russia will solve its problems even if a country refuses to accept Russian energy resources. Specifically mentioning Iran as having long been asking for Russian gas, President Putin suggested that could be a feasible project.While dwelling on the economy and trade routes being reoriented to the Global South, Putin touched upon the growing global de-dollarization trend, saying that Russia has never refused to conduct financial transactions in dollars, but has had to use other currencies in its trade exchanges after that option was denied.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240903/eastern-economic-forum-signals-russias-long-game-strategy-of-orienting-toward-the-orient-1120003148.html
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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240905/misguided-approach-telegram-ceo-warns-french-crackdown-will-prompt-serious-tech-setbacks-1120048706.html
Misguided Approach: Telegram CEO Warns French Crackdown Will Prompt Serious Tech Setbacks
Misguided Approach: Telegram CEO Warns French Crackdown Will Prompt Serious Tech Setbacks
Sputnik International
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov spoke out on Thursday against the crackdown against his platform by French authorities, warning that the spate of charges could mark the start of serious setbacks for the tech industry as a whole.
2024-09-05T22:25+0000
2024-09-05T22:25+0000
2024-09-05T22:24+0000
world
france
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pavel durov
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telegram
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Telegram CEO Pavel Durov spoke out on Thursday against the crackdown against his platform by French authorities, warning that the spate of charges could mark the start of serious setbacks for the tech industry as a whole.In a post shared on Telegram, Durov detailed that he had been questioned by French authorities over a period of four days, and that he had been informed he would be held "personally responsible" for criminal actions that occur on the platform due to past notifications that had gone answered."This," Durov went onto emphasis, "was surprising for several reasons." Not least of which was the fact that Telegram has an official representative in the EU that both "accepts and replies to EU requests.""Its email address has been publicly available for anyone in the EU who googles 'Telegram EU address for law enforcement,'" he pointed out, adding that authorities could have easily contacted him via the French consulate in Dubai."A while ago, when asked, I personally helped them establish a hotline with Telegram to deal with the threat of terrorism in France."Rather than pursuing criminal charges, French authorities should have instead opted for the "established practice" of filing legal action against an internet service to start proceedings.Durov underscored that Telegram would not be abandoning its principles on ensuring users' privacy and security, but that it was and will continue to hold open lines of communications with country regulators. However, if no balance can be made in any one nation, the company will opt to "leave."The CEO further rejected reports that painted Telegram as "some sort of anarchic paradise" and slammed them as "absolutely untrue." However, while the platform's user count has soared upwards of 950 million, he acknowledged the spike "made it easier for criminals to abuse our platform." Durov revealed that new internal measures were being implemented, and that such steps would be made public at a later time.The Russian-born tech entrepreneur was detained at a Paris airport on August 24 on charges related to criminal uses of his messaging app, including terrorism, child pornography, drug trafficking, money laundering and fraud. He was released on August 28 on a 5-million-euro ($5.5 million) bail and is barred from leaving France.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240901/durov-arrest-first-salvo-of-final-battle-in-the-30-year-war-on-privacy-1119974550.html
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240830/dangerous-platform-really-world-leaders-even-macron-still-use-telegram-despite-durov-arrest--1119957403.html
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who is pavel durov, what happened to pavel durov, what is telegram, what charges were filed against durov, was durov arrest politically motivated
Annasofia Scheve covers trending news for the Express-News. She can be reached at Annasofia.Scheve@express-news.net.
Annasofia has bachelor's degrees in journalism and political science from the University of Missouri. She is an Ohio native, and wrote for Cincinnati Magazine and the Cincinnati Enquirer before joining the Express-News in 2023.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240905/moscow-on-us-sanctions-against-rossiya-segodnya-retaliatory-measures-being-worked-out-1120023426.html
Moscow Set to Respond to US Sanctions on Rossiya Segodnya: Tit-For-Tat Measures Coming
Moscow Set to Respond to US Sanctions on Rossiya Segodnya: Tit-For-Tat Measures Coming
Sputnik International
Moscow is preparing retaliatory measures to the introduction of US sanctions against the Rossiya Segodnya media group, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik on Thursday.
2024-09-05T05:44+0000
2024-09-05T05:44+0000
2024-09-05T11:48+0000
world
maria zakharova
margarita simonyan
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russian foreign ministry
ria novosti
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"Of course, it will all be hammered out," Zakharova said, when asked if there would be any retaliatory measures in this regard. The sanctions extend beyond mere "listings" such as inclusion on stop lists, revocation of accreditation, broadcasting bans, or designations as foreign agents, the diplomat stated.On Wednesday, the United States imposed sanctions against the Rossiya Segodnya media group, RIA Novosti, RT, Sputnik, and Ruptly. The new measures also affected the editor-in-chief of the Rossiya Segodnya and RT media group, Margarita Simonyan.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240904/us-slaps-sanctions-on-rossiya-segodnya-media-group-1120019219.html
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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240905/musk-says-ready-to-serve-without-pay-or-title-in-potential-trump-administration-1120042486.html
Musk Says Ready to Serve Without Pay or Title in Potential Trump Administration
Musk Says Ready to Serve Without Pay or Title in Potential Trump Administration
Sputnik International
US billionaire Elon Musk said on Thursday that he is ready to serve his country with no salary or title, amid reports that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump intends to accept his proposal to establish a government efficiency commission if he wins.
2024-09-05T13:53+0000
2024-09-05T13:53+0000
2024-09-05T13:53+0000
americas
us
elon musk
donald trump
republican
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"I look forward to serving America if the opportunity arises. No pay, no title, no recognition is needed," Musk wrote on X. Former President Trump is expected to outline his economic plan in a speech before the Economic Club of New York on Thursday. This plan will include creating a government efficiency commission proposed by Musk, media reported. In recent months, Musk has repeatedly expressed his willingness to take on government efficiency during a potential Trump administration. However, Trump expressed doubt last week that the billionaire could be part of his team, saying the SpaceX and Tesla CEO would likely be too busy to serve in his cabinet. At the same time, he suggested that Musk could play a consulting role in his administration if he wins the November election.
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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240905/political-witch-hunt-us-activists-go-to-trial-in-florida-accused-of-acting-as-russian-agents-1120019974.html
Political Witch Hunt: US Activists Go to Trial in Florida, Accused of Acting as Russian Agents
Political Witch Hunt: US Activists Go to Trial in Florida, Accused of Acting as Russian Agents
Sputnik International
The four activists are associated with the African Peoples Socialist Party and the Uhuru Movement with locations in the US cities of St. Petersburg and St. Louis.
2024-09-05T02:34+0000
2024-09-05T02:34+0000
2024-09-05T02:34+0000
analysis
scott ritter
jeremy kuzmarov
omali yeshitela
russia
ukraine
federal bureau of investigation (fbi)
fbi
kremlin
political censorship
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Four activists who have been accused of illegally acting as Russian agents to somehow help the Kremlin create political discord and interference in US elections will go to trial in Florida on Tuesday, CBS News reported. The four activists are associated with the African Peoples Socialist Party and the Uhuru Movement with locations in the US cities of St. Petersburg and St. Louis. One of the activists is Omali Yeshitela, 82, whose organization focuses on Black empowerment and reparations for slavery.An attorney for the 82-year-old activist said that while the civil rights group shared many goals of the Anti-Globalization Movement of Russia, they were not acting under the Kremlins control. The judge handling the case said it is unrelated to claims of Russia interfering in the 2016 US presidential election. All four activists have pleaded not guilty.Jeremy Kuzmarov, a managing editor of Covert Action magazine, the author of several books on US foreign policy, joined The Final Countdown on Wednesday to discuss the US government's continued attacks on dissidents and independent thinkers in the states. Writing about the attack for Green Left, Yeshitela said that at 5 AM on Friday in July of 2022, about 30 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents and police in armored vehicles used flash-bang grenades and broke down the door of his home. At the same time, other Uhuru Movement leaders also had their homes raided. Yeshitela said that the FBI agents did not show him any warrant, and said the raid was connected to the indictment of a Russian man who is in Russia who was supposedly spreading Russian influence in the US."With assault rifles pointed at my chest, they forced me out of the house along with my wife Ona Zene Yeshitela, a critical leader of our movement, said the activist, who acknowledged traveling to Russia and other countries for conferences. Even though we were not formally under arrest and faced no charges, they handcuffed us and told us to sit on the curb, which we refused to do.It was not until nine months after they raided their homes that the US DOJ announced indictments against the civil rights leaders.Prosecutors wrote in the 2023 indictment that Aleksandr Viktorovich Ionov engaged with the four defendants for years and urged them to make pro-Russian statements while paying for their travel. He also allegedly paid for two unsuccessful political campaigns for St. Petersburg City Council and a protest tour to raise awareness of the genocide against African people in the US. The total amount of payments to the defendants seems to be at least $10,000, according to a report from the New York Times.Jill Stein, an American physician, activist, and politician as well as the US Green Partys nominee for the 2024 US presidential election, said the attack on the Uhuru Three is fundamentally an attack on free speech, on our right to oppose endless wars and economic oppression abroad. She added that the attack was on our right to oppose the cost of these endless wars at home, namely economic austerity and the war on democracy."The US Department of Justice began a broad criminal investigation into US citizens who have worked with Russian state television networks, according to a report released last month.Former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter, who is a critic of US foreign policy and Dimitri K. Simes, Russian TV Channel One presenter and founder of the US-based think tank Center for the National Interest, had their homes searched by FBI agents. Charges have not been made against either men. However, electric equipment was seized from Ritter, while Simes said agents removed artwork from his home in Virginia and froze multiple bank accounts.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230420/ridiculous-election-discord-case-meant-to-quiet-ukraine-pushback-restore-us-cold-war-climate-1109677467.html
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240904/us-slaps-sanctions-on-rossiya-segodnya-media-group-1120019219.html
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uhuru, civil rights, political persercution, freedom of speech, free speech, american authoritarianism, american witch hunt, american journalists, independent media, independent journalists, alternative media, mainstream media, biased government, russia today, russia government, russian interference, political interference
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240905/putins-full-speech-at-eastern-economic-forums-plenary-session-1120039046.html
Putin's Full Speech at Eastern Economic Forum's Plenary Session
Putin's Full Speech at Eastern Economic Forum's Plenary Session
Sputnik International
The highly anticipated plenary session of this year's Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), held in Russia's Vladivostok, started with a speech, delivered by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The high-level session was also attended Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng.
2024-09-05T12:34+0000
2024-09-05T12:34+0000
2024-09-05T12:34+0000
russia
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Ladies and gentlemen, friends.I am delighted to offer warm greetings to all the participants and guests of the 9th Eastern Economic Forum.It has become a tradition for Russia and the city of Vladivostok to host this event in early September, bringing together businesses, technology providers, research teams, senior executives from major corporations, government officials, specialists, experts and entrepreneurs who are interested in Russias Far East and recognise the immense opportunities this unique Russian region offers for launching creative undertakings and engaging in mutually beneficial partnerships.As you know, and as our moderator Aleksandra pointed out, we have designated the development of the Far East as a national priority for the 21st century. The significance and correctness of that decision have been confirmed by life itself, the challenges we have recently encountered and, most importantly, the objective trends that are gaining momentum in the global economy, when the main business ties, trade routes and the overall development are increasingly shifting towards the East and the Global South.Our Far Eastern regions offer direct access to these growing emerging markets, helping us overcome the barriers which some Western elites are trying to create worldwide. The most important thing, as I have already mentioned, is that the Far East is a huge area for implementing business initiatives, launching complex projects and creating whole new industries.This subject the image of our future is the key focus of nearly 100 events, panel sessions and roundtable discussions at the Eastern Economic Forum. Overall, representatives of more than 75 countries and territories are taking part in the forums events.It is extremely important that such discussions are complemented with substantive business dialogues and result in the adoption of investment decisions and trade agreements. I would like to say that over a thousand agreements worth in total more than 10.5 trillion rubles were signed during the previous three forums.In fact, the Far East has become a crucial factor for strengthening Russias standing in the world and our flagship in the new global economic reality. The further development of the Far East will largely determine the future of our country as a whole.In short, the Eastern Economic Forum has rightfully become a respected venue for establishing reliable business contacts and discussing the strategic development of the Russian Far East and the Asia-Pacific region as a whole.In my address I will tell you about some of our planned actions in this sphere, our proposals for our foreign partners on strengthening investment, trade, industrial and technological cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as about our achievements and plans in the economy, infrastructure and social sphere of the Far East, including for improving the quality of life for our citizens in this region.Let me remind you that back in 2013 we launched a new strategic programme and a governance framework for promoting comprehensive development in Russias Far East. And this approach has proven its worth. Over the past ten years, over three and a half thousand manufacturing, infrastructure, technology and educational projects have been launched in this region. Over the same period, fixed capital investment has been gathering momentum in Russias Far East, with the growth rate exceeding the national average by a factor of three.This investment brought about tangible results. There are about 1,000 new enterprises here, and these efforts helped create over 140,000 jobs. In terms of industrial output growth, the region has been above the national average by 25 percent since 2013.Let me also remind you that there are currently 16 priority development territories in Russias Far East. There is also the Free Port of Vladivostok. We introduced a preferential regime for the Kurils, and established a special administrative district on Russky Island this is where this meeting is taking place. By the way, this district has offered a pathway for re-shoring assets worth over 5.5 trillion rubles back to Russia from offshore and foreign jurisdictions. More than 100 companies are currently registered here.We will make sure to continue this advancement and will work tirelessly to improve the business environment in Russia in general, as well as in its Far East, including by relying on innovative and effective practices when working with foreign investors.For example, we announced the initiative to establish international priority development territories in the Far East at the 2023 Eastern Economic Forum. Foreign investors, primarily from the friendly countries, of course, must benefit from a globally competitive environment.We have plans to establish our first international priority development territory here in the Primorye region. Our Chinese partners, as well as the Republic of Belarus, have shown great interest in this undertaking. Belarus could even contribute to building a new deep-water port here. I would like to ask the State Duma and the Government to step up their efforts to draft a law for launching these international priority development territories.There is another regulatory solution designed to facilitate and expand our ties with our foreign partners. Starting on September 1, 2024, Russian law allows for the use of foreign standards in construction and design. Of course, this applies to countries where quality and safety requirements for permanent structures are just as high as here in Russia. I hope that this approach serves its purpose, including within the Far Easts international priority development territories.Developing Bolshoi Ussuriysky Island in the Khabarovsk region should serve as a model for working with our foreign partners, attracting investment in construction projects and creating jobs. This project provides for creating major logistics centres and border checkpoints, as well as expanding its road network.Last May, during the state visit to the Peoples Republic of China, we agreed to collaborate with our Chinese colleagues on this project. I am certain that it will provide a good powerful impetus to the development of Khabarovsk and the entire region. I am asking the Government to finalise all the organisational and financial issues in order to begin fulfilling this plan as soon as 2025.Of course, electricity supply is one of the key issues when it comes to launching business initiatives in the processing industry, in housing construction and in transport network upgrade, across all areas, in fact.The Russian Far East is experiencing an increase in energy consumption. The current rate is 69 billion kilowatt per hour annually, and by the end of the decade, we expect it to be around 96 billion. Even today, there are areas, residential areas and major Far Eastern investors who face the shortage of power and have to wait for the launch of new stations, which delays construction, the operation of industrial facilities and infrastructure.I have already instructed the Government, our major energy companies and business circles to develop a long-term development programme for energy capacity in the Far East, and work on respective project financing mechanisms.This programme aims to eliminate the expected deficit of electric energy in the Far East, primarily by launching new generation facilities like, for example, the Nizhne-Zeiskaya hydro power station in the Amur Region, which will not only provide electricity to the region and the Eastern Operating Domain but also help protect territories and residential areas from flooding. I am also asking you to consider building nuclear power plants in the Far East. We discussed this with our colleagues yesterday.I want to emphasise that the power development plan must consider both current and future needs of businesses and the public, as well as the long-term objectives of the constituent entities, cities and smaller residential areas.This also applies to strengthening transport and logistics capabilities of the Far East and the entire country. The largest and most significant project here is, of course, the expansion of the Eastern Operating Domain.In the past ten years, more than 2,000 km of railway tracks have been built and more than 5,000 km have been renovated on the Trans-Siberian Railway and the Baikal-Amur Mainline. We have built and renovated more than 100 bridges and tunnels, including those across the Lena, Bureya and Selenga rivers. By the end of this year, the carrying capacity of the Eastern Operating Domain railway network is expected to reach 180 million tonnes.This year, we launched the third stage of this highly important transport artery, and the works are currently underway.I want to emphasise that our objective is to eliminate railway bottlenecks and build over 300 facilities, including routes supplementing the Severomuisky, Kuznetsovsky and Kodarsky tunnels, as well as a bridge across the Amur River. This is a much more ambitious goal. It is crucial to start planning for the future today.For example, we will need to lay a second set of tracks along the entire Baikal-Amur Mainline and electrify this railway.Over the next eight years, we will lay 3,100 kilometres of tracks along the Eastern Operating Domain. To put this into perspective, this is the same volume of tracks that were laid during the first and second stages of expanding BAM and the Trans-Siberian Mainline combined. This is also comparable to the construction of BAM in 19741984.Today, we are implementing a project whose scale exceeds the largest Soviet-era infrastructure investment project completed by all Soviet republics pooling all their resources.Just like the Trans-Siberian Mainline, the new transport corridor between St Petersburg and Vladivostok will serve as a vital continental artery.Expanding freight traffic volumes and improving the quality of vehicle traffic are not the only goals. When completed, the new corridor will also promote inbound tourism: the entire route passes through numerous Russian regions.The corridor is being developed in stages. In December 2023, we opened a modern motorway between Moscow and Kazan. By late 2024, this route will reach Yekaterinburg and later Tyumen. We will also build bypass roads in Omsk, Novosibirsk, Kemerovo and Kansk.In the future, when the modern road reaches Vladivostok, the auto transport corridor will be over 10,000 kilometres long, including routes for accessing checkpoints on the Russian state border.In this connection, I would like to remind you of the objective set out in the Address to the Federal Assembly, specifically, the reduction of queues at the border and reducing the time in which lorries undergo checks, which should not exceed ten minutes.We aim to achieve this result at the first five Far Eastern border checkpoints by 2026. It is worth noting that railway checkpoints are already processing freight at the border promptly.Let me stress this: a truly large-scale effort has been launched at both the Eastern Operating Domains railway network and at all of Russias major road infrastructure facilities. This effort involves specialists, engineers, and designers from many regions of our country. They are proving through their hard work and responsible approach to business that Russia is ready and able to handle large-scale construction projects, and do it quickly and with high quality, and to implement infrastructure and transport projects on a national and global scale. These projects include the development of the Northern Sea Route as an international logistical route. Over the past decade, the freight traffic flow on this route has increased by an order of magnitude, from just four million tonnes in 2014 to over 36 million tonnes last year. This is 400 percent more than the Soviet-time record.We will continue to boost the freight traffic, including by developing actively Arctic deposits, rerouting cargo flows from west to east, and expanding the transit.The large-scale plan for the development of the Northern Sea Route is currently being implemented. We are building icebreakers, expanding our satellite cluster in orbit, strengthening the coastal infrastructure, and upgrading the network of emergency and rescue centres. Coastal cruises were launched on the Northern Sea Route two years ago to familiarise ourselves with new logistical routes. Today, this arrangement includes 14 ports in the Northwest, the Arctic, and the Russian Far East.It is worth noting that the capacity of Russian ports within the limits of the Northern Sea Route exceeded 40 million tonnes at the end of last year. However, we believe that this is just the beginning. We will continue to increase their capacities, upgrade the cargo transshipment mechanism, and expand the nearby and far-off rail approaches to these ports. One of our goals is to increase the capacity of the Murmansk Transport Hub to 100 million tonnes and potentially even higher.Let me note that our Eurasian integration partners are also interested in developing the Murmansk Transport Hub. For example, the colleagues from Belarus I have mentioned are giving careful consideration to the prospects for expanding the port infrastructure and their terminals on the Kola Peninsula. Of course, we also invite other countries to take part in this project. I know that there is an interest in this work.Let me add that Russia implements all its transport and logistical initiatives using advanced engineering, digital and environmental solutions. This creates additional demand for the output of Russian machine-building and iron-and-steel plants, and for services of the construction and other industries, research institutions, and hi-tech businesses.It is with this approach based on the latest solutions and the greatly improved technological, economic and educational capability of the country as a whole, that we must address the tasks of strategic development of the Far East, including the further strengthening of the regions basic mineral resources sector.Today, the Far East accounts for 100 percent of the countrys tungsten, tin, fluor spar and tincal production, 80 percent of diamonds and uranium, over 70 percent of silver, and 60 percent of gold. However, mining in the main production areas, including Yakutia and Chukotka, began long ago and their resources are objectively limited, while the demand for them is growing, both for export and on the domestic market.We must ensure the resource sovereignty of our country and provide a reliable basis for the sustainable supply of affordable raw materials and fuel to the national economy, to our regions, cities and towns, as well as create a foundation for the production of new materials and energy sources. As I mentioned earlier, we must accomplish this by utilising more effective domestic technologies and scientific solutions in the fields of ecology and mineral resources management.During our forum last year, we instructed the Government to prepare separate programmes for exploring the resources of the Far East and Siberia and to incorporate them into the Geology. Revival of a Legend federal project.These programmes have been prepared. According to our estimates, every ruble of federal funds invested in exploration will attract at least 10 rubles of private investment. But the main thing is that these investments will pay back and produce a huge profit, as well as have a comprehensive effect throughout the production chain. However, this job must be completed within the given timeframe and with due regard for the investment planning horizon.I ask the Government to include the funding of these programmes in the draft three-year federal budget in the amounts necessary for achieving our goals.As I said, the Far East has the potential to increase the state of geological exploration severalfold, including when it comes to the exploration for and production of high-tech raw materials such as titanium, lithium, niobium and rare earth metals, which we will need for the economy of the future. Most importantly, we have all these elements.These industries have a huge potential for the growth of our Far Eastern regions, for creating jobs, enhancing the availability of various services, strengthening ties and improving logistics efficiency.We will support the development of innovative and creative industries, and the infrastructure for the big data and AI economy in the Far East. In particular, we will establish a zone here where civilian purpose drones will be created.We will continue to build up the scientific and educational potential of the Far East so as to use the advantages of technological progress to full capacity. New projects to build university campuses in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and Khabarovsk have been launched in the region, but this is clearly not enough for the Far East.I propose launching several more projects, namely, to build new campuses in Ulan-Ude, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Chita. We will also complete the second phase of the campus at the Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok. These campuses will have all the necessary conditions for study, work and accommodation of the students, as well as youth entrepreneurship platforms and business clubs.We will also upgrade our Arctic universities. The project to build a campus in Arkhangelsk will be followed by a similar project in Murmansk.Innovative engineering schools will be created at university campuses. Two such schools have already opened in Sakhalin and Vladivostok. Their task is not only to train professionals for our industries, agriculture, transport, the services sector and AI spheres, but also to propose unique solutions for broad implementation in management, the social sphere and economic sectors.A RusHydro science and technology centre has been functioning efficiently on Russky Island for two years. It is focused on innovative global energy research, and its solutions are being actively used in the retooling and modernisation programme of the energy sector in the Far East.Our leading companies will contribute to the establishment of another major innovative science and technology center at the Far Eastern Federal University on Russky Island. It will specialize in research and practical solutions in the fields of marine engineering, biotechnology, biomedicine and other promising spheres.I urge our colleagues in the Government and in the Primorye region to use the Far Eastern concession mechanism for the implementation of that project, as well as to explore ways to attract scientists from other research centers in Russia and other countries to that center. What I have in mind are competitive incentive programs and benefits packages for professionals and their families.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240424/infographics-legendary-baikal-amur-mainline-turns-50-marking-russias-presence-in-asia-pacific-1118086837.html
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Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum Sputnik International Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum 2024-09-05T12:34+0000 true PT43M56S
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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240905/russian-military-effectively-attacking-foreign-instructors-in-ukraine---kremlin-1120023288.html
Russian Military Effectively Attacking Foreign Instructors in Ukraine - Kremlin
Russian Military Effectively Attacking Foreign Instructors in Ukraine - Kremlin
Sputnik International
The Russian military is increasingly effectively attacking foreign instructors in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said
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2024-09-05T05:41+0000
2024-09-05T05:41+0000
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Instructors from around the world are on the territory of Ukraine and take part in combat operations and training of the armed forces of Ukraine, the official said. It is preferable to achieve goals by peaceful means, but Moscow sees that neither the United States, nor Europe, nor Ukraine are inclined for dialogue now, the spokesman added. The Eastern Economic Forum began on Tuesday and will run through Friday. It is being hosted by the Far Eastern Federal University in Russia's Pacific coast city of Vladivostok. Sputnik is the general information partner of the EEF 2024.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240819/ukrainian-troops-lose-up-to-1935-servicemen-over-past-day---russian-mod-1119826101.html
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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240905/scott-ritter-says-ending-cooperation-with-rt-sputnik-due-to-us-sanctions-1120022824.html
Scott Ritter Says Ending Cooperation With RT, Sputnik Due to US Sanctions
Scott Ritter Says Ending Cooperation With RT, Sputnik Due to US Sanctions
Sputnik International
Former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter, who works as a political analyst now, said that US sanctions force him to end his cooperation with RT and Sputnik, and thanked his Russian colleagues for the professionalism they have shown over the past few years.
2024-09-05T04:56+0000
2024-09-05T04:56+0000
2024-09-05T05:38+0000
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The US Department of the Treasury issued a statement on Wednesday to announce sanctions against the Rossiya Segodnya media group, RIA Novosti, RT, Sputnik and Ruptly. The sanctions affected Rossiya Segodnya and RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan and a number of other senior executives. He said his work with Russian media organizations was legitimate journalism.However, he said, he is committed to obeying US laws."Nonetheless, I am fully committed to obeying US law, and as such will be terminating all contractual relationships with both RT and Sputnik effective immediately, as well as suspending my participation in any and all media interaction with sanctioned individuals and organizations until which time it is deemed lawful to do so by US authorities," Ritter said.He said he will continue to exercise his free speech rights.Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, commenting on the US sanctions imposed against the Rossiya Segodnya media group, told Sputnik that attacks on Russian media are the result of operations by Western security services to "sterilize" the information space.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240816/scott-ritter-biden-administration-declaring-war-on-journalism-1119794435.html
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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240905/serbias-vucic-says-mulling-russias-invitation-to-brics-outreach-summit-in-october-1120044566.html
Serbia's Vucic Says Mulling Russia's Invitation to BRICS Outreach Summit in October
Serbia's Vucic Says Mulling Russia's Invitation to BRICS Outreach Summit in October
Sputnik International
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday that he had received an invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the BRICS outreach summit in October.
2024-09-05T14:51+0000
2024-09-05T14:51+0000
2024-09-05T14:51+0000
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aleksandar vucic
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aleksandar vulin
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"I thank the people in BRICS and President Putin for the invitation. We have talks with at least six presidents and seven or eight prime ministers scheduled to take place in New York on the margins of the UN General Assembly," Vucic told reporters. Putin asked Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin, who came to the Russian Pacific port city of Vladivostok to attend the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), to convey his greetings to Vucic and invite him to the BRICS summit in Kazan. Russia will host BRICS leaders from October 22-24. Vucic said Serbia would engage closely with Russia in October when the Balkan nation celebrates the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belgrade by the Soviet army. He stressed that Serbia pursued an independent foreign policy and maintained traditional ties with Russia and other nations.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240905/use-of-national-currencies-in-russia-brics-settlements-reaches-60---putin-1120033256.html
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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240905/shots-fired-near-israeli-consulate-in-germanys-munich---police-1120042795.html
Shots Fired Near Israeli Consulate in Germany's Munich - Police
Shots Fired Near Israeli Consulate in Germany's Munich - Police
Sputnik International
Shots were fired on Thursday near the Israeli Consulate General and the historical museum in central Munich, the capital of the German state of Bavaria, prompting police to launch a major operation involving a helicopter, the force said on Thursday.
2024-09-05T13:56+0000
2024-09-05T13:56+0000
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The Munich police told Sputnik that the shooter was found to carry a long-barreled weapon. The suspect was injured, they said, adding that there was no immediate information about the victims. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser called the shooting in Munich "a serious incident". Faeser also expressed regret that the incident had occurred near the Munich Documentation Center for the History of National Socialism and the Israeli consulate. Later in the day, Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann was cited as saying by a German newspaper that the armed suspect, shot by local police during a special operation, had died. The shooter's identity has yet to be established. Meanwhile, the Munich police said that the public was no longer at risk.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230228/two-seriously-injured-in-shooting-near-elementary-school-in-germanys-bramsche-media-reports-1107865682.html
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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240905/they-cannot-afford-another-botched-operation-whistleblowers-reveal-us-secret-service-blunders--1120022176.html
'They Cannot Afford Another Botched Operation': Whistleblowers Reveal US Secret Service Blunders
'They Cannot Afford Another Botched Operation': Whistleblowers Reveal US Secret Service Blunders
Sputnik International
Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) has claimed that most agents who were present during the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in July were not USSS agents, but were in fact HSI agents.
2024-09-05T05:46+0000
2024-09-05T05:46+0000
2024-09-05T05:46+0000
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Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) has claimed that most agents who were present during the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in July were not US Secret Service (USSS) agents, but were in fact Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents. The US politician told Fox News that the only training the agents received was a 2-hour online webinar training. Citing claims made by whistleblowers, he added that the agents who were protecting the former president that day had no prior experience in security detail.Hawley wrote the whistleblowers allegations in a letter to Ronald Rowe, the acting director of the USSS, and attached the letter to an X post.Tyler Nixon, an attorney, media relations specialist and political analyst, joined Rachel Blevins on The Backstory on Wednesday, and presented a rundown of the agency's long-standing failings. The lawyer disclosed that he represents the first Black Secret Service agent who served on presidential protection, who has threatened to be a whistleblower to the Warren Commission concerning the laxity, drinking and other things that the agents had perpetrated or done on the President John F. Kennedy detail, he said, adding that many argue [the laxity] contributed to their slow reactions [of JFKs assassination].And one of the other things was, which really stands out in the Trump affair was that they were assigning [...] based on apparently the status, let's just say, of the protectee, meaning Trump's not the president. He's a candidate, a former president. Versus what [American conservative commentator Dan Bongino] noted should be the criteria for assigning the resources, which is the threat profile, he added.Last month, Sputnik reported that US Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-NY) introduced legislation to expand the range of USSS security perimeters following the assassination attempt against Trump. The bill, dubbed the AR-15 Perimeter Security Enhancement Act, would ensure that perimeters around the person that USSS is tasked with protecting would be extensive enough to cover the area that a fired gun could cover, as well as to secure all elevated positions.And I don't think we will - [acting USSS Director Ronald] Rowe, who is the replacement, excuse me, for [Kimberly] Cheatle who resigned, which, you know, that was a foregone conclusion. I mean, she was sort of the sacrificial lamb, but he was more intimately involved in these, in these decisions to deny Trump the additional security that his, that the actual ground agents were requesting in addition to Trump's people. And, he's part of the problem, the attorney explained.It was reported in August that USSS had taken initial disciplinary action against multiple agents following the assassination attempt against Trump. According to a report from The Hill, the special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh field office - which was responsible for planning the security for Trumps appearance in Butler - was on administrative duty. At least five agents had been placed on that status as well, the report added.Rowe, who took over Cheatles role following her resignation, said he would not fire any agents until internal investigations were completed. A bipartisan task force was created by the House of Representatives to investigate the security failures that occurred during the shooting.One person was killed and two others were injured before the 20-year-old gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by a Secret Service sniper. Hawley has asked Rowe, the acting director, to answer questions based on information he received from the whistleblowers, including: details on the training that Trumps protective detail received, and whether or not that training has been revamped since the shooting, as well as how many HSI agents were present at the time.The Secret Service absolutely, I think, also cannot afford, they know that one more thing like this, one more botched protective detail operation and they are done. I mean, there's no, there will be no, I mean, that will be the end of that agency. And I think it's like, you know, this is our survival on the line.
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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240905/western-media-frenzy-over-rehashed-claims-of-russian-meddling-in-us-election-1120041645.html
Western Media Frenzy Over Rehashed Claims of Russian Meddling in US Election
Western Media Frenzy Over Rehashed Claims of Russian Meddling in US Election
Sputnik International
The US Treasury Department announced a new raft of sanctions on the Rossiya Segodnya media group which includes RIA Novosti, RT, Sputnik and Ruptly. Russia has vowed to respond in kind.
2024-09-05T15:58+0000
2024-09-05T15:58+0000
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The Western media is whipping up a frenzy amid new allegations of Russian interference in US elections.Washington has taken its persecution campaign against journalists who work with Russian media to new heights by slapping sanctions against the Rossiya Segodnya media group, RIA Novosti, RT, Sputnik and Ruptly.The move was presented as a response to Moscows malign influence efforts targeting the 2024 US presidential election."The claims invoke a sense of deja vu for the 2016 'Russiagate' conspiracy theory. The falsehoods peddled by failed presidential runner Hillary Clinton to excuse her loss Donald Trump have been dusted off, reheated and served to the public.The mainstream press is lapping up it all up, judging by the headlines.CNN used a spectacular image of Moscows Red Square to illustrate its story on how the Kremlins far-reaching media arm had tricked unsuspecting Tennessee-based company and its platform of independent content creators and influencers to fuel pro-Russian narratives, in part, by pushing content and news articles favoring Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and others who the Kremlin deemed to be friendlier to its interests.The Washington Post story ran with a photo of Donald Trump under a headline claiming right-wing conservative influencers were duped to work for a covert Russian influence operation.The unsuspecting major players, boasting millions of followers online, found themselves at the mercy of a company that was a front for a Russian influence operation.The newspaper repeated unfounded claims that it was the third US presidential election in a row where authorities had uncovered Russian attempts at interference.Newsweek echoed the same claims, accusing Russia of interfering in US presidential elections again.Noting that the latest 'red scare' comes eight years after Russia first emerged as a major player in US election interference, the newspaper speculated that the White House would take a more deliberate approach in combating misinformation and fake news specifically spread by Moscow and its affiliates.The Associated Press news agency also used the word duped as it alleged major social media figures were tricked into aiding Russias influence operation targeting the 2024 US electionBritains Daily Mail oozed sympathy for the duped conservative influencers that had been working for Russias covert sprawling $10 million media project.The newspaper claimed they were used by a shell company that raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars for churning out videos consistent with the Kremlin's interest in amplifying US domestic divisions.The Wall Street Journal repeated US Justice Department claims that Russian President Vladimir Putins inner circle has been directly involved in covert propaganda efforts.The Biden administration, it noted, had accused the Kremlin of "orchestrating a covert campaign to influence the coming US presidential election and erode international support for Ukraine."A Reuters story ran under an image of vans from Russias RT broadcaster near Moscows Red Square as it recounted the official US narrative.Russia's goal is to exacerbate US political divisions and weaken public support for American aid to Ukraine, it quoted Biden adminsitration officials as saying.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230925/shes-doing-it-again-clinton-claims-russia-seeks-to-meddle-in-2024-election-1113647329.html
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Animal Care Services officers and San Antonio police are investigating after a pack of dogs jumped a fence Wednesday and attacked a woman as she walked down a Southwest Side street. Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News
Animal Care Services issued 32 citations Thursday to a San Antonio couple whose dog bit a woman on the Southwest Side.
The citations include offenses for allowing the dogs to roam unrestrained and not having a rabies vaccination and failure to prevent bites.
The couple was involved in a separate ACS investigation three years ago after another one of their dogs bit a person, resulting in minor injuries. The couple was issued several citations, and the dog was euthanized following an investigation.
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Unfortunately, the owners didnt learn their lesson, said Mike Shannon, interim director of Animal Care Services. They created another situation by not following the rules, not following the law.
ACS officials said a 44-year-old woman was walking on West Southcross Boulevard near Priscilla Street shortly before 4 p.m. on Wednesday when eight dogs, all Lab terrier mixes, approached her and bit her right calf.
The woman was treated at the scene before getting additional treatment at the hospital. She has since been released.
Were currently working with her to ensure shes OK, but also to make sure we can do a full investigation and hold these owners of accountable, Shannon said. This is just an example of a very irresponsible pet owner that is creating a dangerous situation.
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As San Antonio police and ACS officers arrived, the dogs attacked their vehicles.
Lisa Norwood, an ACS spokeswoman, said animal control officers identified the owner of the roaming animals and took five of the dogs in custody to determine which animal bit the woman. They remain at ACS' animal shelter off Texas 151.
It is against the law for owners to let their pets roam, and the owner now faces multiple criminal citations for failing to secure their pets as well as other violations including the bite itself, no proof of rabies vaccinations or microchips, she said.
Shannon urged residents to call ACS if they witness any examples of aggressive dog behavior or irresponsible pet ownership.
Call it in so that we can start a case and hopefully prevent this from happening, Shannon said.
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The incident is the latest in a series of recent dog attacks and maulings in San Antonio.
In February 2023 on the West Side, dogs killed Air Force veteran Ramon Najera Jr., 81, of Leon Valley, and injured his 74-year-old wife. The couple was visiting a friend in the 2800 block of Depla when the two dogs escaped from a fenced yard next door. The couple that owned the pit bulls reached a plea deal last week.
Christian Alexander Moreno and his wife, Abilene Schnieder, both 32, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one of two charges against them: dangerous dog attack causing death, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison.
Animal Care Services is still unable to respond to thousands of critical calls. While the department is making progress, officials there say they wont be able to respond to 100% of the serious incident calls until 2026.
READ MORE: Animal Care Services still unable to respond to thousands of critical calls
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The city of San Antonio pumped millions of dollars into ACS last year after a string of gruesome dog attacks including two that were fatal.
In October, ACS was responding to 44% of the critical calls, which report aggressive dogs, animal neglect or cruelty, injured or sick animals, and trapped or confined animals. The departments goal is to improve that response rate to 64% by this month. Its response rate is now 59% and that it is on track to reach 64% this month.
Two months after Najera was attacked, a pregnant woman was struck by a car on the North Side after a snarling, loose dog chased her into traffic. She was hospitalized with severe injuries, and the baby died. In August 2023, Max de Los Santos, then 76, was attacked by two dogs outside his home on the West Side. The injuries to de Los Santos legs were so severe that both were amputated.
In a Sept. 5, 2023, attack in a mobile home park on the Northeast Side, Paul Anthony Striegl Jr. was sitting in his yard when his next-door neighbors two American Staffordshire terriers slipped under a chain-link fence. Striegl died in a hospital less than a month later.
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Severe dog bites, those that cause death, broken bones or disfigurement, soared in fiscal year 2023, which ended Sept. 30, 2023, reaching a total of 297.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240905/zelensky-sacks-more-officials-as-he-pleads-with-west-for-long-range-missile-strikes-in-russia-1120016868.html
Zelensky Sacks More Officials While Begging West for Long-Range Missile Strikes in Russia
Zelensky Sacks More Officials While Begging West for Long-Range Missile Strikes in Russia
Sputnik International
On this edition of Fault Lines, host Melik Abdul and a panel of guests discuss the latest political developments from around the globe, including the shuffling in Ukraine's cabinet.
2024-09-05T04:11+0000
2024-09-05T04:11+0000
2024-09-25T10:41+0000
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Zelensky Sacks More Officials as He Pleads with West for Long-Range Missile Strikes in Russia Sputnik International On this edition of Fault Lines, host Melik Abdul and a panel of guests discuss the latest political developments from around the globe, including the shuffling in Ukraine's cabinet.
The show begins with political analyst and consultant Alisher Khamidov sharing his analysis of Putin's visit to Mongolia.The second hour starts with writer, journalist, political analyst, and author Caleb Maupin discussing members of the African People's Socialist Party on trial over accusations by the US government that they were acting as "Russian agents."Then, international relations and security analyst Mark Sleboda spoke about the recent shuffling within Ukraine's cabinet, including the resignations of four ministers.The show closes with political cartoonist and co-host of The Final Countdown Ted Rall sharing his perspective on how New York City is responding to the migrant crisis. He also touches on Governor Kathy Hochul and former Governor Andrew Cuomo's former aide facing charges for acting as an "agent" to the Chinese government.The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comCatch us in the US at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM
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Horse Racing New Brunswick, for the second card in a row, will offer more than $50,000 in purse money with the running of the lucrative Milton Downey Memorial Stakes that will go in three divisions at Woodstock Raceway on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 7. There will be two divisions of two-year-old pacing fillies competing for purses of $11,200 and one colt division going for $21,200.
In all, there will be eight races on the matinee card, which gets underway at 1 p.m. There are five overnight races on the card, including a $2,500 top class that will feature Press Time looking to go back-to-back after an eye-popping 1:54.1 win last week for new owner Zach Cougle, trainer Averil Hunter and and driver Jason Hughes.
The annual Milton Downey Memorial Stakes, a staple on the New Brunswick stakes calendar, honours the memory of the owner, builder, breeder, trainer and well-known Atlantic Canadian entrepreneur. Milton operated a public stable in Saint John, N.B. for several years. Not only did he breed his own horses, but he also purchased several "Down Under" horses who made names for themselves in the Maritimes -- horses like Timely Robin, Scottish Heath N, Bright Breezy N, Glen Lustre and many more. He also campaigned horses in the top class from his own stable, including Christopher C Down.
In the first filly Downey division, Lady Hess has been given top billing by race secretary Brent Briggs. She has two wins and two seconds in six starts this year and $12,552 in purse earnings. Jamie Smith trains the daughter of Heston Blue Chip who was a $13,000 yearling purchase from the Atlantic Classic Sale. Adam Merner will drive the post five starter for owner Groupof7 Stable of Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Merner has another good shot in the other filly division with Woodmere Flojo (pictured above), another Jamie Smith trainee who is having a stellar year with $31,597 earned in just half a dozen starts. The Arthur Blue Chip filly, who has a record reading 3-2-1 in those six outings for owner the Charlottetown-based Gowiththeflo Racing, will also start from post five in her division. My Happy Place is undefeated in 2024 in two starts and is another top choice of the oddsmaker. The daughter of Shadow Play has banked $11,910 in her two stakes wins and comes from the high-producing Ron Matheson stable. Gilles Barrieau will drive the division's inside starter for Charlottetown's Patrick Morris.
In the colt division, post four starter One Wicked Man has been the valedictorian of the freshman boys this year in the Maritimes with a 1:56.2 win and only one loss. Kenny Arsenault trains and drives the colt by McWicked who is four-for-five this year with $21,027 in earnings for owner James Perrot of Stratford, P.E.I. The New Brunswick-owned Sergeant Crowley has been a nice surprise for the Ultimate Stable of Greater Lakeburn. The Sifroi Melanson trainee has $22,431 in earnings this season and a win in 1:58.1 with top three finishes in his seven other starts. Myles Heffernan Sr. gets the call to drive the gelded son of Arthur Blue Chip from post five.
New Brunswick moves to Saturday racing through the month of September.
To view Saturday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Woodstock Raceway NB.
(With files from Horse Racing New Brunswick)
Orjan Kihlstrom will hope the third times the charm when he drives Swedens Hail Mary in Saturdays $1 million USD MGM Yonkers International Trot, but with a challenging starting spot, he readily admitted it might require a bit of good fortune.
Kihlstrom, who is making his third appearance as a driver in the International Trot, and Hail Mary will leave from post seven in the 10-horse field, which will go the distance of 1-1/4 miles on MGM Yonkers Raceways half-mile oval. Hail Mary, an eight-year-old stallion who was Swedens Horse of the Year in 2020, is the third choice on the morning line at 9-2.
In the seven editions of the International Trot since its renewal in 2015, the best finish by a horse starting from post seven has been fifth (twice). All seven winners in the invitational event have started from no farther out than post six.
The draw was no good for us, obviously, but you can do nothing about that, said Kihlstrom, who is a member of Swedens Trotting Hall of Fame. Well try to do our best with it, but its tough. The horses in this race are all good, so well need some luck. But its the same for all the horses with a bad post. I just hope the horse has managed the travel well so he can perform as good as he can.
Kihlstrom has finished fourth in both his previous International Trot appearances despite tricky draws each time. In 2015, he started from post 10 in the second tier with Oasis Bi and in 2016 he left from post eight with On Track Piraten.
Hail Mary, a son of Googoo Gaagaa-Dreams, heads to the race with 26 wins in 52 career races and $1.76 million USD in purses. He has won multiple Group 1 races overseas, including last years Hugo Abergs Memorial. This year, the Daniel Reden-trained stallion has hit the board five times in nine starts, winning twice. His victories include the Group 2 Jamtlands Stora Pris, which he also captured in 2023.
I think hes been racing better than it looks, Kihlstrom said about Hail Marys current campaign. He had some bad luck in many of the races. Maybe he hasnt been really as good as last year, but I think hes had some quite good races. Hes a good all-around horse. Even though we have a bad post, I think he can do a good race.
Kihlstrom has won many of the biggest harness races in the world, including four Elitloppet, a Prix dAmerique and a Breeders Crown (with Commander Crowe in the 2014 Open Trot at The Meadowlands). In 1990, he appeared in the International Trot as a trainer, sending out Mr Lucken, who finished fifth.
Known as the Iceman for his cool demeaner in the sulky, Kihlstrom followed in family footsteps getting into harness racing. He grew up just a half-mile from Solvalla Racetrack, site of Swedens Elitloppet, which is one reason his first win in the famed race there with From Above in 2003 ranks as one of his greatest moments.
Ive been watching the Elitloppet ever since I could start walking, Kihlstrom said in 2022. Ive seen all the great horses and drivers and trainers who came to the Elitloppet and won it. To be one of them myself was just fantastic. It was a horse Id been driving all the way up, so it couldnt be any bigger than that at that moment.
On Saturday, with a little luck, he could add the International Trot to his resume.
I hope so, he said.
Following the International Trot, Hail Mary will remain in the U.S. and head to the stable of trainer Ake Svanstedt, owner Mehdi Yazdanpanh (racing under the Stall Mary AB banner) announced recently on social media.
The MGM Yonkers International Trot is race five on the 11-race program and has an estimated post of 2 p.m. (EDT). Jiggy Jog S, a five-year-old mare, is the 5-2 morning line favourite. The full field, with country represented plus listed driver, trainer and morning line, is listed below.
$1 million USD MGM Yonkers International Trot
Post - Horse (Country) - Driver - Trainer - Morning Line Odds
1. Eclat De Gloire (France) - Loris Garcia - Loris Garcia - 20-1
2. Ideal San Leandro (France) - Bjorn Goop - Richard Westerink - 20-1
3. Castor The Star (Sweden) - Mats Djuse - Jorgen Westholm - 10-1
4. Jiggy Jog S (Sweden) Dexter Dunn - Ake Svanstedt - 5-2
5. Logan Park (Canada) - Doug McNair - Rob Fellows - 6-1
6. Its Academic (USA) - David Miller - Ron Burke - 8-1
7. Hail Mary (Sweden) - Orjan Kihlstrom - Daniel Reden - 9-2
8. Vernissage Grif (Italy) - Alessandro Gocciadoro - Alessandro Gocciadoro - 7-2
9.] Get A Wish (Denmark) - Johan Untersteiner - Johan Untersteiner - 15-1
10.] Periculum (USA) - Scott Zeron - Marcus Melander - 5-1
(USTA)
The Ontario Sires Stakes 50th Anniversary celebration tour is making its penultimate stop on Friday, Sept. 6 at Grand River Raceway.
The nine-race card will be highlighted by two $95,000 OSS Gold Series divisions for rookie male trotters and two Gold divisions for two-year-old trotting fillies with $95,000 on the line in each of those races as well.
Three-time defending Lampman Cup winning driver James MacDonald will be featured prominently on Friday, competing in three of the four Gold divisions.
MacDonald will be in the bike seat behind the Dominic Gladu-trained Chicago Hall (Muscle Mass-Caterina Hall) in the evening's first race for male trotters, trainer Francis Dumouchel's TH Monica (Green Manalishi S-Bluebird D Train) in the third race for trotting fillies and then back with the boys in race four with Call Me Parker (Musical Rhythm-Im Peekers) for the Ben Baillargeon stable.
[Chicago Hall] has been good, hes shown flashes of brilliance, but hasnt quite lived up to his full potential yet, said MacDonald of the maiden gelding. Hes a nice horse and if things work out, he can get a big chunk of it, for sure.
MacDonald also commented on TH Monica, who earned her first career win at the Grassroots level earlier this summer before taking on Gold foes.
TH Monica, Ive driven a bunch of times. A friend just took her over to Grand River last Wednesday and tuned her up and she qualified really well. So, theyre expecting a really good effort from her and hopefully she brings her 'A' game, and if she does, I think shes one of the horses to beat.
[As for Call Me Parker], hes been pretty good," said MacDonald of the maiden colt, who was a runner-up in a July leg of the Gold Series. "Hes coming into the race good and though its a tough bunch I think with a good trip he could definitely get a real good piece.
The final Gold division on Friday goes as race six for filly trotters.
MacDonald hails from Guelph, Ont., just about a half hour away from Grand River, and got his start racing at the now five-eighths-mile oval.
Ive had a lot of great memories [at Grand River Raceway], said MacDonald. Ive won the Battle of Waterloo, Ive won the Battle of the Belles three times now, Ive won a lot of Golds there and its one of the tracks I kind of started driving at and having some luck. So, I have some fond memories at Grand River and hopefully its just the beginning of the fond memories.
In advance of Fridays celebrations, noted Canadian harness racing writer and historian Robert Smith wrote a brief history of Grand River Raceway, which can be read by clicking here.
Post time for the Friday card at Grand River is 6:30 p.m. Click here for a copy of the program. Live streaming of the races is available on the GRR Video Youtube channel and HPIbet.
To view Friday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Friday Entries - Grand River Raceway.
(With files from Ontario Racing)
Trustee Victor Garza listens to public comments during an East Central ISD board meeting in 2023. Hes seeking reelection to the boards District 4 seat. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News David Santos Jr. is running for the District 4 seat on the East Central Independent School District board. Courtesy of David Santos, Jr. Sayda Mitchell-Morales is running for the District 4 seat on the East Central Independent School District board. Courtesy of Sayda Mitchell-Morales
In his 20 years on the East Central Independent School District board, Victor Garza has never drawn a challenger for reelection. Now he has two, a lifelong district resident and an educator who moved there in 2022.
Other board seats are uncontested, but the Nov. 5 ballot will include a special election on three bond proposals totaling $360 million and a separate property tax rate increase to build new schools and provide resources for the districts booming growth.
No one filed to run for the District 3 board seat held by John Massengale since 2013, who did not seek reelection, so the board likely will fill it by appointment. Trustee Emilio Carrasco, who represents District 6, did not draw an opponent.
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Here is where District 4 candidates stand on some of the issues.
Victor Garza
Victor Garza, 77, joined the board in 2004, replacing a trustee who retired. He has been reelected without opposition ever since, staying aware of whats going on and usually speaking at board meetings only if he has a question, he said.
Garza is taking a similarly low-key stance on the election, saying he is not campaigning because he is not going to try to buy this position.
An Air Force veteran and retired civil servant who oversaw budgets and logistics, Garza has three adult children, one of whom graduated from East Central ISD. A daughter went to Health Careers High School in Northside ISD because East Central didnt have a health science program at the time, he said.
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Since then, ECISD has done well opening non-college paths to students interested in military, law enforcement, EMT and nursing careers or in the building trades, Garza said.
His son left the district in middle school because of bullying, attending a Catholic school, he said, but he opposes the legislative effort to provide Texans with public money to pay for private school tuition. Garza said a voucher program would take resources away from an already economically disadvantaged school district.
Education should give students the skills and training they need to support themselves, so later on they will not depend on the support of others, he said.
Thats why Im still there, Garza said. Im an old man. I could be sitting at home watching television but I take the time to go out the there. I like to see these kids succeed from the time theyre little bitty ones till theyre grown.
Garza said research that projects growth in ECISD enrollment from nearly 11,200 students to potentially 28,000 by 2030 makes it clear that the districts high school is going to burst. He said hes also seen the spread of rooftops, from the roughly 300 homes in his area in the 1980s to roughly 1,000 hes surrounded by now.
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Were growing by leaps and bounds, and were asking these folks, we need your support, Garza said. And were trying to space out our expenditures. Were not spending all at once. We send out the bonds as we need this money.
Sayda Mitchell-Morales
Sayda Mitchell-Morales, 31, lived on the South Side for four years, then moved to a subdivision in East Central ISD two years ago with her husband, attracted by the school system and the affordability of a house with a low down payment. Their son is about to turn 3.
Mitchell-Morales joined Teach for America right out of college, which placed her in Massachusetts for several years. She is currently the senior manager of community development and advocacy for KIPP Texas Public Schools, a major charter network. Her husband also was a Teach for America educator and now works at a KIPP school in San Antonio.
She said families need to make the right school decision for their kids and she hopes they choose neighborhood schools.
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What can we do to improve the ISD so that we can keep more and more of our families? Mitchell-Morales said. For me, ultimately, it always comes down to, can we make sure that families and students feel supported, make the best decisions that work for them? And for me, thats public education, whether its traditional ISDs or public charters.
To deal with rising violence in San Antonio area schools, she said, discipline requires partnering with families. As a teacher during the coronavirus pandemic and the following years, she saw success in student behavior when families were informed and had relationships with the school.
The proposed bond is an excellent strategy to address the districts booming growth, Mitchell-Morales said.
David Santos Jr.
David Santos Jr., 53, also said he supports parents choosing the best school for their children, but not vouchers or the political issues they bring up.
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Santos works remotely as a sales engineer for a Cincinnati-based company that produces raw material inventory. He married his East Central High School sweetheart and they have two kids who went through district schools.
He said its obvious the district needs to build new schools, whether with bond money or the short-term solution of portable classrooms, but he was not completely satisfied with the bond proposals.
Maybe it is as simple as, OK, they pay an X amount fee for developing (new subdivisions), but its certainly not enough to leave us holding the bag to have to go out to the community and ask for a large bond debt, he said.
On several questions, Santos said he plans to do more research. He said he has an old-school mindset on discipline and suggested staffing more specialized counselors to help out teachers in the classroom.
In recognition of National Recovery Month, held every September according to NAADAC (The Association for Addiction Professionals), Horizon Church is hosting Recovery Soldiers Ministries Womens Choir for a Sunday morning song and testimonial service at 316 Signal Hill Drive on Sept. 22 at 10 a.m. Angel Kolle, a certified alcohol and drug counselor for North Carolina, will also be on hand to give an overview of the counseling services she is able to provide.
Kolle, who is a daughter of area ministry leader Michael Maffucci, will also give a short update on programs and resources available within the county to those struggling with addiction, as well as the family members and friends who offer support to those addicted. The event is free and the public is invited. Anyone currently in need of, or already in recovery, and everyone giving ministry and support to those who are struggling are encouraged to come to this service. Immediately after the service, Horizon Church will be providing a potluck fellowship lunch for all who attend.
Its undeniable that addiction is an increasing problem in our society, Elizabeth Strugill, Recovery Soldiers Ministries Womens Choir director, said. Many people are either wrestling with addiction themselves or have someone they love who is in active addiction. Sometimes they give up but when they see us and hear our message that includes what we have been through and have been delivered from through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it lets them know that no matter how bad the situation may be, there is still hope for redemption and a life free from addiction. As such, we at RSM are on a mission to spread the word and do our part in stopping this epidemic.
Last year we were honored to host the Mens choir from RSM and their message was so inspirational, we wanted to bring their Womens Choir this year. We again decided to invite them to come in September, since that is National Recovery Month, Jason Bost, co-pastor at Horizon Church, said. Drug addictions, or any addiction for that matter is a terrible thing to find yourself bound in. Getting the right help is essential in finding your way out. Thats one of the many reasons our motto here at Horizon has always been a place for new beginnings. Everyone deserves a new beginning, and thats why we willingly support RSM and other ministries that give those caught in addictions a sure way out.
Recovery Soldiers Ministries (RSM) is a 12-month, residential, faith-based recovery and discipleship program based in Elizabethton, Tennessee. They teach the Word of God and biblical principles to help break the chains of addiction, while also offering licensed counseling, Christian recovery consulting and job-skill training. There are separate residential facilities for women and men 18 and older who have expressed the desire to change their lives through the power of Christ. The website for the ministry is www.recoverysoldiersministries.org and a short promotional video can be viewed at https://youtu.be/OYT0-p5aieI.
Kolle holds an associate degree in psychology from Liberty University and earned a bachelors degree in Christian counseling from Impact University in 2017. Kolle works with youth and adults who struggle with addiction and offers assessment services as well as warm, empathic, client centered counseling. In addition to her counseling practice, Kolle volunteers at Celebrate Recovery in North Winston-Salem, where she also manages a womens group for those struggling with addiction. At present, she is able to counsel people in the comfort of their homes via the internet and hopes to start her own treatment center in the future. Kolle can be reached by calling 704-437-3475.
Horizon Church is a nondenominational church located at 316 Signal Hill Drive in Statesville. Worship times are Sunday at 10 a.m. and Wednesday at 6 p.m. Services are a casual atmosphere, with contemporary music, and messages relevant to everyday living. Charles Williams is the founding pastor of the church, which was founded in 1999; and Jason Bost is co-pastor.
The church website is www.horizonchurch.net and can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/173104570006/. The Horizon Church phone number is 704-873-5250.
For Clint Taylor, for years the extent of his engagement in politics had just been filling in circles on ballots, he said. But now, hes active in political advocacy, encouraging people to shift support from Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump this year despite having voted for Trump in 2016 himself.
Taylor decided to back President Joe Biden in 2020 and will support Vice President Kamala Harris this year, he said. Its a move that some Virginia Republicans are making as they seek a candidate whose values align more closely with their own.
There must be other Republicans like me out there that are uncomfortable with Trump, Taylor said. I just want to tell them that you dont have to vote for him.
The Fairfax County lawyer also offered up a testimonial video for a campaign called Republican Voters Against Trump.
The website features videos from Republicans or former Trump voters around the country sharing why theyre not voting for Trump in this years presidential election, according to Rylee Boyd, a campaign representative. Some of the participants voted for Trump during his 2016 or 2020 campaigns, or both, before deciding they can no longer support him. The campaign is investing $50 million in digital advertisements and outreach with a focus on swing states, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Jeff Ryer, a spokesman for Trumps campaign in Virginia, is skeptical of some of the video participants. He noted how Virginia doesnt have party registration when signing up to vote.
I am anxious to hear exactly what leads some of these individuals to identify as Republicans, he said. As was the case in 2016 and 2020, President Trump is the Republican nominee this year. Might I suggest that if theyve yet to vote for him and plan on voting against him this year, they may never have been Republicans in the first place.
Taylor once considered himself more of a Republican, having grown up in a conservative bastion in Texas, and he agrees with the partys fiscally conservative approach to governance. But he doesnt think Trumps plans to further cut corporate tax rates will be able to benefit people widely. More than policy, he is concerned about Trumps temperament as a national leader and his influence within the Republican Party.
Two pivotal moments for Taylor came when Trump appeared to refer to the Nazis and white supremacists that violently marched through Charlottesville as very fine people and when a violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, after Trumps refusal to accept the 2020 election results.
I couldnt believe that this man said that, Taylor said in his video. It still gets me riled up today that he would defend those torch-wielding Nazis.
In a 2017 press conference after the Unite the Right rally, Trump told reporters that he thought there were very fine people on both sides but condemned the Nazis within the crowd.
Trumps connections to authoritarian leaders of other countries also concerns Taylor, a sentiment shared by Washington County resident Greg Hawley, who also submitted a testimonial to Republican Voters Against Trump.
As a military veteran and retired school teacher, Hawley wants to peacefully enjoy his retirement years. However, hes been fretting over this election.
Hawley said hes been concerned about Trumps growing influence on the Republican Party along with the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, and its influence on Trump.
The writings are on the wall, he said of the foundations presidential playbook, Project 2025, and of actions Trump has already taken that align with some of it.
Hawley points to how Trumps U.S. Supreme Court picks stemmed from Heritage Foundation and Federalist Society recommendations all of whom upheld Roe v. Wade as federal law during confirmation hearings before ultimately ruling to undo the federal abortion protections.
Hawley sees the ability to get an abortion as primarily a health care issue, and he worries how much Trump might tap into the rest of the playbook. On abortion alone, Chapter 14 of Project 2025 entails employing a long-dormant federal law to further restrict abortion medication and mailing of abortifacients. Critics and reproductive rights advocates have said this could pave the way for a national ban.
Trump has distanced himself from the blueprint, despite his ties to several of its authors. The foundation has previously published presidential playbooks dating back to Ronald Reagan and touted how Trump used previous guidance during his first term as president.
Hawley is also worried about a statement Trump made this summer at a gathering where he told people that in four years, [they] wont have to vote again.
Hawley said that moments like that are where he believes Trump has let it slip that he would move towards a more strong-arm government.
Pushback from politicians
At the Democratic National Convention last month, a handful of Republicans, including former Trump administration officials, offered support for Harris campaign. Some high-profile conservative leaders in Virginia are backing Harris as well. Former Republican 10th District Rep. Barbara Comstock said earlier this month that she will be voting for Harris and former 5th District Rep. Denver Riggleman hosted a campaign event for Harris at his distillery.
After Jan. 6, after Donald Trump has refused for four years to acknowledge that he lost, and his threats against democracy, I think its important to turn the page, Comstock told the Virginia Mercury.
Riggleman told the Virginia Mercury he believes that independent and Republican voters feeling frustrated with Trump can help give her an edge.
What it comes down to is the moral depravity of that man what hes done against our democratic institutions, Riggleman said. But also his treatment of women, his treatment of immigrants, and what he says about them, his words about military veterans. You get that feeling that this is just a narcissist who only cares about himself.
A new poll out of Roanoke College shows Harris has a slight lead over Trump in Virginia. Its among the first polling since Harris became the new Democratic candidate after Biden dropped out of the race. Democratic strategists see pathways to victory for Harris given her support for reproductive rights and past experience in politics and as a prosecutor.
Meanwhile, Ryer called Riggleman and Comstock lapsed Republicans that are endorsing Democrats to seek fawning press coverage and appearances on MSNBC.
Riggleman also said Trumps presence looms too large over the party he once represented. He noted how the GOP primary contest between his congressional successor, Rep. Bob Good, and Good's challenger, state Sen. John McGuire, hinged largely on whoever appeared to have the most fealty to Trump rather than policy debates. (McGuire defeated Good, an outcome confirmed after a lengthy recount process and extra court review of ballots in five precincts.) Riggleman also pointed to how Virginia U.S. Senate candidate Hung Cao who hopes to unseat Democrat Tim Kaine emerged from a crowded GOP candidate pool with Trumps endorsement.
It goes to show where the Republican Party of Virginia is right now, Riggleman said. [Its] so damaged in this state that Cao could get through the nomination process.
Kaine and Harris will have Rigglemans vote this year, and while the 5th District is reliably Republican and poses an uphill battle for McGuires democratic challenger Gloria Witt, Riggleman said hes considering voting for her too.
This doesnt mean he always agrees with Democrats on policy, he said, but at least they dont want to overturn our democratic institutions.
This story was originally published in the Virginia Mercury.
Seeks to amend No. 04/2022-Central Excise, dated the 30th June , 2022 to exempt export of Petrol and Diesel from the Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) when exported to Bhutan.
Summary: The Ministry of Finance, through Notification No. 23/2024-Central Excise dated 2nd September 2024, has introduced amendments to the earlier Notification No. 04/2022-Central Excise dated 30th June 2022. This amendment exempts the export of motor spirit, commonly known as petrol, and high-speed diesel oil to Bhutan from the Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED). The changes are implemented by modifying the entries in the original notification to explicitly include Bhutan as a country where such exports will not attract the excise duty. Specifically, new entries have been added to the notification, stating that petrol and diesel exported to Bhutan will be exempt from SAED. The amendment is made under the powers granted by the Central Excise Act, 1944, and the Finance Act, 2002, reflecting the governments intent to facilitate exports to Bhutan in line with public interest. The notification will come into effect on 3rd September 2024. The principal notification has undergone previous amendments, the most recent being Notification No. 09/2024-Central Excise, dated 29th February 2024.
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(Department of Revenue)
Notification No. 23/2024-Central Excise | Dated: 2nd September 2024
G.S.R. 533(E).In exercise of the powers conferred by section 5A of the Central Excise Act, 1944 (1 of 1944) read with section 147 of Finance Act, 2002 (20 of 2002), the Central Government, on being satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest so to do, hereby makes the following further amendments in the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue), No. 04/2022-Central Excise, dated the 30th June, 2022, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), vide number G.S.R. 492 (E), dated the 30th June, 2022, namely:-
In the said notification,-
(a) in the Table,-
(i) against S. No. 1, for the entry in column (3), the entry Motor spirit, commonly known as petrol, when cleared for export to countries other than Bhutan shall be substituted;
(ii) after S. No. 1 and the entries relating thereto, the following S. No. and entries shall be inserted, namely:-
(1) (2) (3) (4) 1A. 2710 Motor spirit, commonly known as petrol, when cleared for export to Bhutan Nil per litre;
(iii) against S. No. 2, for the entry in column (3), the entry High speed diesel oil, when cleared for export to countries other than Bhutan shall be substituted;
(iv) after S. No. 2 and the entries relating thereto, the following S. No. and entries shall be inserted, namely:-
(1) (2) (3) (4) 3. 2710 High speed diesel oil, when cleared for export to Bhutan Nil per litre;
(b) paragraph 2 shall be omitted.
3. This notification shall come into force on the 3rd September, 2024.
[F. No 190354/257/2023-TRU]
AMREETA TITUS, Dy. Secy.
Note: The principal notification No. 04/2022-Central Excise, dated the 30th June, 2022, was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), vide number G.S.R. 492 (E), dated the 30th June, 2022, and was last amended vide notification No. 09/2024-Central Excise, dated the 29th February, 2024 published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), vide number G.S.R. 149(E), dated the 29th February, 2024.
Let's Go Washington has been accused of illegally trying to sway voters to support four initiatives the group backs with offers of discount gas and burgers.
The complaint, filed with the state Public Disclosure Commission on Aug. 15, alleges that Let's Go Washington's offer of cheaper gas, and in one case food during promotional events for the four initiatives, ran afoul of the state's anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws.
"By giving voters discounts on gas and food, Let's Go Washington seeks to buy support rather than win it through the strength of the initiatives themselves," wrote attorneys on behalf of Defend Washington, an advocacy group formed to combat Let's Go Washington. "With voters standing in the shoes of legislators, these discounts have a corrupting influence on their ability to fairly evaluate whether the initiatives are good policy and should be enacted."
Let's Go Washington's lawyers argue the allegations are unfounded and misconstrue state law: The organization did not offer discounts in exchange for votes, they write in their rebuttal, but instead "demonstrate the hidden impact of Washington's policies" while providing discounts to anyone who attended regardless of whether they support the initiatives or were even registered to vote.
Let's Go Washington has held a number of events across the state offering heavily discounted gas, including an Aug. 21 event in Spokane.
For a few hours on Aug. 21, drivers pulling up to pumps at Towns Liquor Mart saw prices for a gallon of regular gas drop from $3.79 to the national average of $3.39, part of a bid for publicity from a political group hoping to persuade voters to support Initiative 2117 this November and kill the state's relatively new cap-and-trade system. That system, created by the state's Climate Commitment Act in 2021 and launched in 2023, caps how much carbon can be emitted in the state each year and requires businesses that emit the most carbon to bid for an "allowance" to emit a portion of that overall cap.
State officials say gas prices in Washington likely rose closer to 10 to 25 cents per gallon as a result of the Climate Commitment Act, not the 40 cents offered as a discount by Let's Go Washington at their Aug. 21 event.
Drivers were offered campaign literature by Let's Go Washington volunteers telling them to "vote yes, pay less," but weren't required to take them or agree to vote on the initiatives to receive the event discounts.
Defend Washington's complaint also points to an Aug. 10 event in Enumclaw, where Let's Go Washington offered $5-off vouchers to use at Burger Buds, a food truck, during a campaign event.
"This is akin to a campaign selling burgers at a fair booth," wrote Let's Go Washington's counsel in rebuttal. "The only difference is the use of a food truck instead of volunteers."
Let's Go Washington, sponsored by hedge fund manager Brian Heywood, is also the driving force behind two other initiatives on November ballots that would end the state's nascent long-term care tax and capital gains tax, and is heavily promoting a campaign to stop the state from quickly transitioning large utilities away from natural gas.
Defend Washington also alleged in its complaint that Let's Go Washington had not properly reported its expenses for the discount events; Let's Go Washington's attorneys stated that the complainant misunderstood its reimbursement agreements with vendors such as Towns Liquor Mart and that the political committee would file the necessary reports once payments had been made.
In its Aug. 15 complaint to the state Public Disclosure Commission, Defend Washington asked for a prompt hearing by the commission and for its complaint to be referred to the state Attorney General's office for investigation. The PDC has been reviewing complaints against Let's Go Washington, primarily focused on accusations of improper or missing financial disclosure reporting ahead of the signature gathering effort that saw the initiatives make it onto this November's ballots, since July 2023.
In an executive summary of the complaints to the commission's board this July, agency staff noted concerns that Let's Go Washington had refused to open its accounting books to scrutiny or had failed to properly maintain those books, and had also been slow to amend its reports to accurately show the money spent on the signature gathering efforts, only doing so after the initiatives were certified.
The state Public Disclosure Commission voted unanimously during their July meeting against referring these earlier complaints to the state Attorney General's office without providing remarks explaining their votes. The commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Defend Washington receives its largest donations primarily from state unions and progressive advocacy groups such as Champion Advocacy and Fuse Voters. Let's Go Washington has received substantial funding from developer, builder, real estate, hospitality and fossil fuel interests.
Attorneys from Let's Go Washington did not respond to a request for comment before deadline.
Esri India announced the availability of Indo ArcGIS Business Analyst, a location intelligence solution suite designed to aid government organizations in making data-driven smart decisions. Indo ArcGIS Business Analyst for India includes a variety of location-based datasets, such as points of interest; road network; administrative boundaries at various levels like village, PIN codes, district, state, etc.; socio-economic and demographic data; and data available from the Indian edition of ArcGIS Living Atlas, while providing the flexibility to the users to add their own data.
The solution has the potential to greatly enhance the efficacy of government departments by offering precise insights into spatial and demographic factors. Using the solution, government agencies can make data-driven decisions, optimize resource distribution, and customize efforts to achieve more effective outcomes in public safety, economic development, community assessments, city development, and more. They can make a greater impact on the lives of the citizens using the available data as the developmental efforts become more targeted and reach the maximum number of beneficiaries.
Agendra Kumar, Managing Director, Esri India, said, Location intelligence plays a crucial role in government decision-making by providing invaluable insights derived from geographic and spatial data. Indo ArcGIS Business Analyst is a unique solution that provides insights into population density, demographics, site suitability, and other critical factors. Using these insights, government stakeholders can enhance the impact of their functions around socio-economic development, emergency management, healthcare, public safety, workforce development, and more. By leveraging location intelligence, government departments can make more informed, data-driven decisions that improve efficiency, responsiveness, and overall quality of life for citizens.
The power of location intelligence and analytics is being recognized all over the world. Data availability and sharing are now easier in India. With enabling policies like the National Geospatial Policy and the Geospatial Data Guidelines in place, the availability of geospatial data has improved. Being a leader in providing solutions based on geospatial technologies, Esri India has launched Indo ArcGIS Business Analyst to enable Indian government organizations to optimally utilize Indian datasets for carrying out location-specific analysis and achieve high levels of efficacy in their initiatives.
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 European Union could decide within months to take action against X, including possible fines, as part of an ongoing probe.
Elon Musk's woes are hardly limited to Brazil as he now risks possible EU sanctions in the coming months for allegedly breaking new content rules.
Access to X has been suspended in South America's largest country since Saturday after a long-running legal battle over disinformation ended with a judge ordering a shutdown.
But Brazil is not alone in its concerns about X.
Politicians worldwide and digital rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns about Musk's actions since taking over what was then Twitter in late 2022, including sacking many employees tasked with content moderation and maintaining ties with EU regulators.
Musk's "free speech absolutist" attitude has led to clashes with Brussels.
The European Union could decide within months to take action against X, including possible fines, as part of an ongoing probe into whether the platform is breaching a landmark content moderation law, the Digital Services Act (DSA).
Nothing has yet been decided but any fines could be as high as six percent of X's annual worldwide turnover unless the company makes changes in line with EU demands.
But if Musk's reactions are anything to go by, another showdown is on the cards.
When the EU in July accused X of deceptive practices in violation of the DSA, Musk warned: "We look forward to a very public battle in court."
The temperature was raised even further a month later with another war of words on social media between Musk and the EU's top tech enforcer, Thierry Breton.
Breton reminded Musk in a letter of his legal duty to stop "harmful content" from spreading on X hours before an interview with US presidential challenger Donald Trump live on the platform.
Musk responded by mocking Breton and sharing a meme that carried an obscene message.
EU ban 'very unlikely'
Despite the bitter barbs, the European Commission, the EU's digital watchdog, insists that dialogue with X is ongoing.
"X continues to cooperate with the commission and respond to questions," the commission's digital spokesman, Thomas Regnier, told AFP.
Experts also agree that a Brazil-like shutdown in the 27-country EU is unlikely, although it has the legal right.
The DSA would allow the bloc to demand a judge in Ireland, where X has its EU headquarters, order a temporary suspension until the infringements cease.
Breton has repeatedly insisted that "Europe will not hesitate to do what is necessary".
But since X has around 106 million EU users, significantly higher than the 22 million in Brazil, the belief is that Musk would not want to risk a similar move in Europe.
"Obviously, we can never exclude it, but it is very unlikely," said Alexandre de Streel of the think tank Centre on Regulation in Europe.
Regardless of what happens next, de Streel said the case would likely end up in the EU courts, calling X "the least cooperative company" with the bloc.
Jan Penfrat of the European Digital Rights advocacy group said a ban was "a very last resort measure" and that X would "probably" not close shop in the EU.
"I would hope that the commission thinks about this very, very hard before going there because this (a ban) would have a tremendously negative effect on the right to freedom of expression and access to information," Penfrat said.
EU's X-File
The commission in July accused X of misleading users with its blue checkmarks for certified accounts, insufficient advertising transparency and failing to give researchers access to the platform's data.
That allegation is part of a wider probe into X, launched in December, and regulators are still probing how it tackles the spread of illegal content and information manipulation.
X now has access to the EU's file and can defend itself including by replying to the commission's findings.
The list of governments angry with Musk is growing. He also raised hackles over the summer in the UK during days of rioting sparked by online misinformation that the suspect behind a mass stabbing that killed three girls was a Muslim asylum seeker.
The billionaire, whose personal X account has 196 million users, engaged in disputes with British politicians after sharing inflammatory posts and claiming a "civil war is inevitable" in the country.
Non-EU member Britain will soon be able to implement a similar law to the DSA with enforcement expected to start next year.
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:
U of A researchers developed a new protective shirt geared to the needs of wildland firefighters, offering more protection for the shoulders, torso, neck and wrists the areas most vulnerable to burns. Credit: University of Alberta
A new protective shirt geared to the needs of wildland firefighters has been developed by University of Alberta researchers. The prototype garment offers more protection than the current version commonly worn by workers who fight wildfires, says Elena Kosareva, who designed the shirt to earn a Ph.D. in textile and apparel science from the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences.
"It's been a long time since there was improvement in this design," she says, noting a 24-year-old study conducted at the U of A on garments worn by wildland firefighters in the U.S. Forest Service, which showed that certain areas of the body needed more protection than was being provided.
"Nowadays, wildfires seem to be more frequent, so as more people become involved in firefighting, it's crucial to provide better protection."
Currently, the upper half of the standard outfit consists of a thin cotton undershirt, which is then covered by the flame-resistant outer shirt. But because it's not possible to maintain an evenly distributed air gap inside the clothing, there are always some areas of the bodythe shoulders, front and back, torso, neck and wriststhat are in direct contact with the garment fabrics, making these areas especially vulnerable to burns from the fire's heat, Kosareva notes.
"Air acts as an efficient insulator against that thermal heat, so creating an air gap between the human body and the outer layer of the protective garment provides protection against the high temperatures these firefighters face."
Kosareva designed her shirt, which is being patented, by adding to the yoke and sleeves, a recently developed three-dimensional 'spacer' fabric made of flame-resistant fibers. The fabric also contains relatively thick, compression-resistant yarn that connects the upper and bottom layers of the material and traps air, creating an artificial gap in the areas of the garment that are in direct contact with the skin.
At the same time, the flame-resistant shirt also retains the lightweight, flexible and breathable qualities needed to help wildland firefighters do their job, adds Jane Batcheller, who supervised Kosareva's research and helped test the prototype as principal investigator of the U of A's Protective Clothing and Equipment Research Facility.
The clothing wildland firefighters wear differs from the much thicker, heavier suits worn by structural firefighters, she notes.
Credit: University of Alberta
Largely tasked with felling trees, putting out hotspots and digging firebreaks, wildland firefighters stay suited up for hours-long shifts and often hike long distances while carrying their gear in backpacks.
"It's very physically demanding work, so they can't wear heavy bunker suits," Batcheller explains.
Lab tests showed that adding the 3D spacer fabric provided approximately three times more protection against thermal heat than the current garment used by wildland firefighters.
When exposed to open flame, the fabric also withstood thermal energy for 14 seconds before second-degree burns occurred, compared with only five seconds with the standard shirt. Nor did the fabric decrease the breathability of the garment.
In a flash-fire manikin test, the prototype also reduced the total burn area on the body by about 6% compared with the standard shirt.
"That shows that even in the worst-case scenario, a firefighter would have more protection in the new shirt," Batcheller notes.
Now that she's successfully tested the prototype for protective properties, Kosareva plans to focus more closely on improving the shirt design for comfort, including range of motion around the shoulder area. The fabric's resiliency to compression could already provide more cushioning for wildfire fighters to carry their backpacks, she notes.
Further research would include human wear trials, and she hopes it can ultimately be used to manufacture better protective gear for firefighters.
"They need to be adequately protected, but at the same time, there could be improvements to make their lives easier," she says.
"This is a production-ready prototype," adds Batcheller. "The pattern could be taken up immediately by manufacturers, with very few changes needed."
Lee Woods, a longtime on-air personality at KONO radio who also worked behind the scenes managing and programming at local stations, has died. He was 75.
Woods, who died Monday morning at his home, had been receiving medical treatment for cancer, his daughter Kaycie Tyler said. However, he was in good spirits and had not been ill, she said, adding her father died suddenly in his sleep.
Im still trying to understand it, she said Thursday. I dont think its hit me yet.
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Woods, who retired from full-time work in 1998, remained active in local music and radio circles, participating in monthly gatherings of musicians and past and current radio station employees that he helped organize.
Lisa Bonanni, a weekend DJ at KEDA radio, said Woods was the first one out the gate sending notices about the monthly gatherings.
He was such a sweetheart, always upbeat, always joking and happy to see people, said Bonanni, who knew Woods since she was a young child. Her musician father and Woods were friends, she said.
Social media posts paying tribute to Woods started soon after news of his death began to spread. Many former colleagues and listeners shared memories of Woods and acknowledged his contributions to local radio.
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Lee was a true music pioneer with a lot of not only knowledge of music but also had met many music icons from yester-year, local DJ Robert Rivas wrote on Facebook.
Rivas, in a phone interview, said Woods was knowledgeable in many things, and served as a great mentor.
He loved music. He simply loved music, said Rivas, who hosts a Sunday night Cruising Classics show online.
Lee Woods, also an iconic name in S.A.'s golden era of radio, may have been best known during his KONO 'golden oldies' morning gig in the '70s and '80s. Courtesy Lee Woods
Some on social media called Woods the soul of San Antonio radio and a local star during a time when KONO was a top-rated radio station.
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Woods started his local radio career after graduating from the Elkins Institute of Broadcasting in San Antonio in 1974, according to his biography with the San Antonio Radio Hall of Fame, where he was inducted in 2016.
Woods studied broadcasting after serving in the U.S. Air Force from 1968 to 1973.
His military service is what brought Woods to San Antonio, his daughter said. Woods was born March 12, 1949, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. He grew up there and in nearby Montclair, she said.
His first radio gig was at KBER, before moving on to KITY radio.
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In 1978, Woods joined KONO AM, where he spent most of his broadcasting career working as a DJ, program director and operations manager. KONO eventually included an FM station, and continued as a station on the AM dial.
Woods left KONO in 1991 but remained active in local radio until retiring in 1998.
He spent the final years of his full-time radio career at KRIO, during a time when it played Texas music and switched to a Tejano music format. There, he served as operations manager. At the same time, he also served in that role at his former station KONO, where he briefly returned to oversee its oldies format that he helped develop years earlier.
READ MORE: Major Texas musicians are releasing new albums this fall
Even after retiring, Woods could be heard online doing talk radio gigs and hosting various music tributes, colleagues said.
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He also stayed active on social media, frequently commenting about music and politics on Facebook. A recent post by Woods lamented his former station KONO AMs recent switch from oldies to a news radio format.
He also used social media to stay in touch with former colleagues, they said.
Former DJ Rick Upton said he knew Woods for 40 years. The two met at KONO in the 1980s.
Ive never met a person with more best friends, Upton said. He was bigger than life. He was direct always direct. He also was hilarious and generous. Just a great guy.
Woods is survived by a son and daughter, and five grandchildren.
e.Digital (OTCMKTS:EDIG Get Free Report) and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM Get Free Report) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, risk, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, valuation and earnings.
Earnings & Valuation
This table compares e.Digital and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
Get e.Digital alerts:
Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio e.Digital $700,000.00 0.04 -$1.27 million N/A N/A Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing $2,438.42 billion 0.34 $27.82 billion $5.25 30.63
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing has higher revenue and earnings than e.Digital.
Profitability
Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets e.Digital N/A N/A N/A Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing 37.85% 25.54% 16.04%
Analyst Ratings
This table compares e.Digital and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for e.Digital and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, as reported by MarketBeat.
Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score e.Digital 0 0 0 0 N/A Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing 0 1 4 0 2.80
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing has a consensus price target of $200.00, suggesting a potential upside of 24.38%. Given Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing is more favorable than e.Digital.
Insider and Institutional Ownership
16.5% of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing shares are owned by institutional investors. 2.3% of e.Digital shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 1.1% of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.
Risk & Volatility
e.Digital has a beta of 2.02, suggesting that its stock price is 102% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing has a beta of 1.14, suggesting that its stock price is 14% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Summary
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing beats e.Digital on 9 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.
About e.Digital
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e.Digital Corporation engages in developing and marketing an intellectual property portfolio of context and interpersonal awareness systems, advanced data security technologies, secure communication technologies, and other technologies. It is involved in licensing and enforcing its Nunchi portfolio of patents related to context and interpersonal awareness systems; microSignet data security technology based on characteristics in semi-conductors; Synap security system, method, and apparatus to solve the issues of encryption key generation and exchange; and other technologies. The company was formerly known as Norris Communications, Inc. and changed its name to e.Digital Corporation in January 1999. e.Digital Corporation was founded in 1988 and is based in San Diego, California.
About Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing
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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. The company also offers customer and engineering support services; manufactures masks; and invests in technology start-up companies; researches, designs, develops, manufactures, packages, tests, and sells color filters; and provides investment services. Its products are used in high performance computing, smartphones, Internet of things, automotive, and digital consumer electronics. The company was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in Hsinchu City, Taiwan.
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Bank Hapoalim B.M. (OTCMKTS:BKHYY Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $49.75 and last traded at $49.75, with a volume of 0 shares. The stock had previously closed at $49.75.
Bank Hapoalim B.M. Price Performance
The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a current ratio of 0.92. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $47.19 and a 200 day simple moving average of $45.87. The company has a market capitalization of $13.31 billion, a PE ratio of 6.78 and a beta of 1.07.
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Bank Hapoalim B.M. (OTCMKTS:BKHYY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 14th. The bank reported $2.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of $1.54 billion for the quarter. Bank Hapoalim B.M. had a return on equity of 14.41% and a net margin of 19.42%. Equities analysts anticipate that Bank Hapoalim B.M. will post 6.72 EPS for the current year.
Bank Hapoalim B.M. Cuts Dividend
About Bank Hapoalim B.M.
The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 19th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 26th will be given a dividend of $0.4711 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 26th. Bank Hapoalim B.M.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 25.61%.
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Bank Hapoalim B.M., together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking and financial products and services in Israel and internationally. It operates through Household, Private Banking, Small businesses and micro businesses, Mid-sized businesses, Large businesses, Institutional entities, and Financial management segments.
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Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP (NYSE:SBS Get Free Report) was upgraded by investment analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday.
Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP Stock Up 1.1 %
NYSE SBS traded up $0.19 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $16.98. The stock had a trading volume of 1,181,702 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,082,064. Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP has a 1 year low of $11.29 and a 1 year high of $18.36. The stock has a market cap of $11.61 billion, a PE ratio of 16.02 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $16.09 and a 200 day moving average price of $15.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 1.23 and a quick ratio of 1.21.
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Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP (NYSE:SBS Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 8th. The utilities provider reported $0.34 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.26 by $0.08. Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP had a net margin of 15.00% and a return on equity of 13.35%. The company had revenue of $1.30 billion during the quarter. On average, research analysts expect that Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP will post 1.06 earnings per share for the current year.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP
About Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP
A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of SBS. Point72 Asset Management L.P. lifted its stake in shares of Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP by 1,279.2% during the 2nd quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 33,100 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $445,000 after buying an additional 30,700 shares in the last quarter. Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. lifted its stake in shares of Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP by 6.5% during the 2nd quarter. Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. now owns 1,465,000 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $19,704,000 after buying an additional 90,000 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP by 55.6% during the 2nd quarter. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. now owns 9,305 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $125,000 after buying an additional 3,324 shares in the last quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC lifted its stake in shares of Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP by 483.2% during the 2nd quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 226,173 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $3,042,000 after buying an additional 187,390 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. lifted its stake in shares of Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP by 61.8% during the 2nd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 54,146 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $728,000 after buying an additional 20,683 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 10.62% of the companys stock.
(Get Free Report)
Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP provides basic and environmental sanitation services in the Sao Paulo State, Brazil. The company supplies treated water and sewage services to residential, commercial, and industrial private customers, as well as public. As of December 31, 2022, it provided water services through 10.1 million water connections; and sewage services through 8.6 million sewage connections in 375 municipalities of the Sao Paulo State.
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System1, Inc. (NYSE:SST Get Free Report) major shareholder Cee Holdings Trust acquired 15,205 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 30th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $1.24 per share, for a total transaction of $18,854.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 8,719,628 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,812,338.72. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Large shareholders that own more than 10% of a companys stock are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC.
Cee Holdings Trust also recently made the following trade(s):
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On Tuesday, September 3rd, Cee Holdings Trust purchased 1,601 shares of System1 stock. The stock was bought at an average price of $1.23 per share, for a total transaction of $1,969.23.
On Friday, August 23rd, Cee Holdings Trust bought 37,477 shares of System1 stock. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $1.21 per share, for a total transaction of $45,347.17.
On Tuesday, August 20th, Cee Holdings Trust purchased 1,500 shares of System1 stock. The stock was purchased at an average price of $1.25 per share, with a total value of $1,875.00.
On Thursday, August 15th, Cee Holdings Trust bought 14,142 shares of System1 stock. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $1.08 per share, with a total value of $15,273.36.
On Tuesday, August 13th, Cee Holdings Trust purchased 965 shares of System1 stock. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $1.10 per share, for a total transaction of $1,061.50.
On Thursday, July 11th, Cee Holdings Trust acquired 6,749 shares of System1 stock. The stock was bought at an average cost of $1.45 per share, with a total value of $9,786.05.
On Tuesday, July 9th, Cee Holdings Trust bought 45,616 shares of System1 stock. The shares were bought at an average cost of $1.45 per share, for a total transaction of $66,143.20.
On Friday, July 5th, Cee Holdings Trust purchased 2,355 shares of System1 stock. The stock was bought at an average cost of $1.45 per share, with a total value of $3,414.75.
On Wednesday, July 3rd, Cee Holdings Trust bought 248 shares of System1 stock. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $1.45 per share, for a total transaction of $359.60.
On Monday, July 1st, Cee Holdings Trust acquired 66,290 shares of System1 stock. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $1.44 per share, for a total transaction of $95,457.60.
System1 Stock Performance
NYSE SST remained flat at $1.23 on Wednesday. The companys stock had a trading volume of 151,292 shares, compared to its average volume of 317,181. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $1.33 and a 200-day moving average price of $1.55. The company has a market cap of $111.61 million, a PE ratio of -0.54 and a beta of 1.35. System1, Inc. has a 12-month low of $1.04 and a 12-month high of $3.02. The company has a current ratio of 1.46, a quick ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.04.
Institutional Trading of System1
System1 ( NYSE:SST Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 8th. The company reported ($0.38) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. System1 had a negative net margin of 53.92% and a negative return on equity of 53.12%. The business had revenue of $94.58 million during the quarter.
An institutional investor recently bought a new position in System1 stock. XTX Topco Ltd acquired a new stake in System1, Inc. (NYSE:SST Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 24,160 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $37,000. 87.50% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
System1 Company Profile
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System1, Inc provides omnichannel customer acquisition platform services through its proprietary responsive acquisition marketing platform in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, and internationally. It operates through two segments: Owned and Operated Advertising, and Partner Network.
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agilon health, inc. (NYSE:AGL Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week low during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $3.97 and last traded at $4.00, with a volume of 100274 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $4.08.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
AGL has been the topic of several research reports. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $8.00 price objective on shares of agilon health in a report on Wednesday, August 7th. Truist Financial raised their price target on shares of agilon health from $6.40 to $6.50 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Friday, May 24th. Evercore ISI raised their target price on shares of agilon health from $5.50 to $7.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a report on Tuesday, July 9th. Benchmark reissued a buy rating and issued a $9.00 target price on shares of agilon health in a report on Thursday, August 8th. Finally, Baird R W raised shares of agilon health to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, May 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, agilon health presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $8.57.
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agilon health Trading Up 8.3 %
The businesss fifty day moving average is $5.76 and its 200-day moving average is $5.75. The firm has a market cap of $1.71 billion, a P/E ratio of -5.96 and a beta of 0.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a quick ratio of 1.36 and a current ratio of 1.36.
agilon health (NYSE:AGL Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 6th. The company reported ($0.07) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of ($0.07). The business had revenue of $1.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.56 billion. agilon health had a negative net margin of 5.57% and a negative return on equity of 29.91%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 38.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned ($0.04) EPS. Analysts predict that agilon health, inc. will post -0.35 EPS for the current year.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. J.Safra Asset Management Corp raised its holdings in agilon health by 626.1% during the 2nd quarter. J.Safra Asset Management Corp now owns 4,204 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 3,625 shares during the last quarter. Quest Partners LLC acquired a new stake in agilon health in the 4th quarter valued at $45,000. Neo Ivy Capital Management purchased a new stake in agilon health in the 4th quarter valued at $47,000. CWM LLC grew its position in agilon health by 406.5% in the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 9,081 shares of the companys stock worth $59,000 after purchasing an additional 7,288 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nisa Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of agilon health during the second quarter valued at approximately $60,000.
agilon health Company Profile
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agilon health, inc. provides healthcare services for seniors through primary care physicians in the communities of the United States. It offers a platform that manages the total healthcare needs of the patients by subscription-like per-member per-month. The company was formerly known as Agilon Health Topco, Inc and changed its name to agilon health, inc.
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Shares of Associated British Foods plc (LON:ABF Get Free Report) traded down 8.5% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as GBX 2,287 ($30.07) and last traded at GBX 2,289 ($30.10). 1,565,374 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 58% from the average session volume of 988,656 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 2,501 ($32.89).
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Several brokerages have weighed in on ABF. Shore Capital reiterated a buy rating on shares of Associated British Foods in a research note on Tuesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut Associated British Foods to a sell rating and dropped their price objective for the company from GBX 2,290 ($30.11) to GBX 2,190 ($28.80) in a report on Tuesday, August 27th.
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Associated British Foods Trading Down 8.5 %
Insider Buying and Selling
The firms fifty day simple moving average is GBX 2,475.78 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 2,488.14. The stock has a market capitalization of 16.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 1,476.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.87 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 33.71, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a current ratio of 1.79.
In other news, insider Dame Heather Rabbatts acquired 395 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, June 24th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 2,512 ($33.03) per share, for a total transaction of 9,922.40 ($13,047.21). 57.88% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Associated British Foods Company Profile
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Associated British Foods plc operates as a diversified food, ingredients, and retail company worldwide. It operates through five segments: Grocery, Ingredients, Agriculture, Sugar, and Retail. The Grocery segment manufactures and sells grocery products, including hot beverages, sugar and sweeteners, vegetable oils, balsamic vinegars, bread and baked goods, cereals, ethnic foods, and meat products to retail, wholesale, and foodservice businesses.
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9258 Wealth Management LLC lessened its holdings in Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC) by 6.3% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 65,507 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 4,378 shares during the quarter. 9258 Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Bank of America were worth $2,605,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of BAC. Delos Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Bank of America by 402.2% during the 1st quarter. Delos Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 683 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 547 shares during the period. Livelsberger Financial Advisory purchased a new stake in shares of Bank of America in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. POM Investment Strategies LLC raised its position in Bank of America by 839.0% in the second quarter. POM Investment Strategies LLC now owns 723 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 646 shares during the period. Bbjs Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Bank of America in the second quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, Northwest Investment Counselors LLC acquired a new stake in Bank of America in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.71% of the companys stock.
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Bank of America Price Performance
NYSE BAC traded down $0.47 on Thursday, hitting $40.03. 13,138,993 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 39,144,973. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $40.30 and a two-hundred day moving average of $38.45. Bank of America Co. has a 1-year low of $24.96 and a 1-year high of $44.44. The company has a market cap of $313.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.98, a P/E/G ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 1.35.
Bank of America ( NYSE:BAC Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 16th. The financial services provider reported $0.83 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.79 by $0.04. Bank of America had a return on equity of 10.56% and a net margin of 13.28%. The firm had revenue of $25.38 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $25.22 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.88 EPS. The businesss revenue was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that Bank of America Co. will post 3.28 EPS for the current year.
Bank of America announced that its board has approved a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, July 24th that authorizes the company to repurchase $25.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the financial services provider to repurchase up to 7.6% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often a sign that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued.
Bank of America Increases Dividend
The company 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 $0.26 per share. This is a positive change from Bank of Americas previous quarterly dividend of $0.24. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 6th. This represents a $1.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.60%. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 35.99%.
Insider Activity
In other news, insider Lindsay D. Hans sold 10,901 shares of Bank of America stock in a transaction on Monday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.91, for a total transaction of $402,355.91. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 10,907 shares in the company, valued at $402,577.37. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Bank of America news, insider Lindsay D. Hans sold 10,901 shares of Bank of America stock in a transaction on Monday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.91, for a total value of $402,355.91. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 10,907 shares of the companys stock, valued at $402,577.37. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Berkshire Hathaway Inc sold 12,690,693 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.07, for a total value of $559,278,840.51. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 1,020,161,313 shares in the company, valued at approximately $44,958,509,063.91. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 99,607,967 shares of company stock worth $4,122,466,245. Corporate insiders own 0.29% of the companys stock.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
A number of equities analysts recently commented on BAC shares. Evercore ISI raised their target price on Bank of America from $43.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Bank of America from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. Cfra reiterated a sell rating and set a $39.00 target price on shares of Bank of America in a report on Tuesday, July 16th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods restated an outperform rating and issued a $48.00 price target (up previously from $46.00) on shares of Bank of America in a research note on Wednesday, July 17th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on Bank of America from $39.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $42.22.
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About Bank of America
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Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. It operates in four segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking, and Global Markets.
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Slovenian July trade figures soar y/y as exports to China jump
Xinhua) 09:51, September 05, 2024
LJUBLJANA, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Slovenian exports of goods jumped by 24.8 percent year-on-year to 5.5 billion euros (6.09 billion U.S. dollars) in July, while imports were 34.5 percent higher reaching 5.1 billion euros, boosted by a growth of exports to China, the country's Statistical Office said on Wednesday.
According to the office's preliminary data, Slovenian exports to China increased by 5.5 percent year-on-year in July to 46.46 million euros while imports from China decreased by 8.1 percent to 499.8 million euros.
The big jump of exports and imports is partly due to operations involving processing which are mainly done with Switzerland and include modification, manufacture, assembly, improvement and redesign of imported goods.
"In the period from January to July ... the value of exports of goods was 9.6 percent higher than in the same period previous year. The value of imports of goods increased by 16.5 percent," the office said in a report.
It said July exports to other European Union (EU) states increased by 11.3 percent and represented 49.9 percent of total exports, while exports to non-EU countries jumped by 41.8 percent.
On the other hand, imports from non-EU countries increased by as much as 74 percent in July, with imports from the EU states up by 10.6 percent.
According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), top imports from China in July included cars, video displays, semiconductor devices, electric batteries and nitrogen heterocyclic compounds.
Top exports to China comprised of motor vehicles and their parts, electrical lighting and signalling equipment, unpackaged medicaments, electric heaters and reaction and catalytic products. (1 euro = 1.11 U.S. dollar)
(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Lucy Cleveland, 4, stands next to her father, Brian Cleveland, during the presentation of the colors at last year's Veterans Day ceremony at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News
Facing bipartisan opposition from San Antonio-area members of Congress, the Department of Veterans Affairs has backed off a plan to cancel this year's Veterans Day observance at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery but it didn't commit to continuing the ceremony in future years.
The reversal came after Reps. Tony Gonzales, Joaquin Castro, Henry Cuellar, Chip Roy and Greg Casar sent a letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough on Thursday expressing "profound dismay" over the VA's decision to discontinue the annual ceremony at Fort Sam beginning this Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
Gonzales and Roy are Republicans. Castro, Cuellar and Casar are Democrats.
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"For many years, this site in San Antonio has served as a primary focal point for families, veterans, service members, and citizens to gather on Veterans Day and pay their respects to the men and women who honorably served our country," the congressmen wrote, adding that more than 180,000 people are buried there, including Texas natives, military heroes and Medal of Honor recipients. "By discontinuing this ceremony at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, we fail to adequately honor their legacy and diminish the significance of those hallowed grounds."
Gerald Lefler, director of the Fort Sam Houston cemetery, told the San Antonio Express-News earlier in the week that he had decided to end the annual observance at Fort Sam and celebrate the holiday at the much smaller San Antonio National Cemetery on the East Side and only there. Up to now, Veterans Day has been formally recognized at both sites.
The VA walked back Lefler's decision on Thursday.
"After listening to feedback from local veterans, VA will continue to hold Veterans Day ceremonies at both Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery and San Antonio National Cemetery this year," the department said in a statement issued in Lefler's name. "One of our top priorities at VA is to honor and remember our nation's veterans and these events are a key part of that effort."
Asked whether the holiday would be celebrated at Fort Sam beyond this year, VA officials did not address the question directly. Instead, they said in a statement, "We will continue to engage the local community about how to best celebrate veterans on Veterans Day and throughout the year."
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The 338-acre Fort Sam cemetery holds the remains of more than 185,000 veterans and their dependents. Lefler said he had decided to end the annual observance there because of dwindling attendance. He also said it was duplicative to stage Veterans Day ceremonies on the same day at two national cemeteries within miles of one another. Holding just one, at San Antonio National, makes the event "a little more significant," he said.
Hours after the Express-News reported on the decision Wednesday, Gonzales responded on social media.
"Unacceptable this will be fixed," he wrote.
In a statement to the newspaper, Gonzales said he had spoken to VA officials "and expressed my strong opposition to this harmful decision." Gonzales, a two-term Republican and a retired Navy cryptologist, represents Texas' 23d Congressional District, which extends from San Antonio to the Mexican border.
As a twenty-year military veteran, retired Navy master chief, and the highest enlisted service member to ever serve in Congress, I know firsthand the importance of continuing the Veterans Day ceremony at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Gonzales said. This event is an honored tradition at a sacred resting place for tens of thousands of Texas veterans.
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"It holds a special place in the hearts of military families in South Texas, including my own.
Gonzales said he told VA officials, "Y'all kicked over a hornet's nest."
On Thursday afternoon, Castro joined his Republican colleague in pushing back against the VA decision, noting that his office is part of the Fort Sam observance every year and that "from our perspective, it has always been well-attended." He said he had "already heard from constituents who are concerned about the VAs decision," and that he was working with other members of Congress to convey those concerns to the VA.
"I'm glad that Secretary McDonough and the VA moved quickly to acknowledge concerns from San Antonio's veterans," Castro said after the department's about-face. "The Veterans Day observance at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery is sacred and discontinuing it would have been a loss for veterans and military families. As we move forward, I will press the VA to guarantee that Veterans Day ceremonies continue at both of our city's national cemeteries."
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From left to right: Vivianna Gonzalez, Alexianna Robles, Monic Morales, Alicia Gonzalez, Ursula Salazar, and Aria Salazar pay respects to family member Leopoldo Gonzalez Sr. on Veterans Day at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery last year. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News
Fort Sam and San Antonio National are among 155 military cemeteries operated by the National Cemetery Administration, part of the VA. Lefler oversees the two San Antonio cemeteries, as well as a third in Kerrville.
For decades, Veterans Day has been marked with solemn rituals at both San Antonio burial sites. At Fort Sam, attendees listened to speeches by notables and performances of patriotic songs by the 323rd Army Band, called Fort Sams Own, the Texas Childrens Choir and other musicians.
A naturalization ceremony celebrating troops who had just earned their citizenship was a staple of the ceremony, as was a color guard often made up of high school ROTC students and a firing detail from the Fort Sam Houston Memorial Services Detachment.
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The Fort Sam observance was always followed by one at San Antonio National, which placed special emphasis on the Buffalo Soldiers, African Americans who served in the U.S. Cavalry. Buffalo Soldier regiments served nearly 90 years, earning a reputation for selflessness and courage while fighting in every conflict of their era.
Observances at Fort Sam often drew large crowds. In 1997, an estimated 4,000 people turned out to hear then-Gov. George W. Bush deliver the keynote address. But in recent years, attendance declined. The VA suspended Veterans Day events at national cemeteries in 2020 because of the COVID pandemic. When they resumed, attendees at Fort Sam numbered in the hundreds or fewer.
The Texas Childrens Choir sings The Star-Spangled Banner during last year's Veterans Day Ceremony at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News
Veterans Day was always "an all-hands-on-deck event" for the Fort Sam cemetery's 55 employees, Lefler said earlier in the week, before the VA's reversal. He said that most of them are veterans, and that staging the event exclusively at San Antonio National would give them a chance to enjoy the day rather than work through it.
He said another factor in discontinuing the Fort Sam observance is that it clashed with the cemetery's character as a memorial site. "Memorial Day is almost our raison d'etre," Lefler said. "Were here to memorialize and commemorate those servicemen who have passed and on Memorial Day, absolutely, we will." In contrast, he said, Veterans Day is a "celebratory event."
San Antonio National sits on 3.66 acres on the city's East Side and is home to 3,177 burial sites. It became a national cemetery in 1867, when the city gave the land to the federal government. The first burials there were principally the remains of Union soldiers, which were relocated from the city cemetery as well as from Austin, Indianola and other locations in Texas.
The cemetery is the final resting place for 281 identified Buffalo Soldiers. In addition, 314 unknown soldiers are buried in a common grave in Section H, marked with a monument inscribed To the Unknown Dead.
Fourteen Medal of Honor recipients are buried at San Antonio National, including Sgt. William H. Barnes, a Black soldier who earned the medal at the Battle of New Market Heights in Virginia in 1864.
Lefler's decision to cancel the Fort Sam observance came as a surprise to Manny Mendoza, commander of the Fort Sam Houston Memorial Services Detachment, a group of volunteers who conduct burials with military honors for veterans.
I dont know how the public is going to relate to it, Mendoza, 75, of San Antonio, said Wednesday. I expect that on Veterans Day there will be people sitting out there at the assembly area.
Shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE:WAL Get Free Report) have been assigned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the fifteen brokerages that are covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1-year target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $84.27.
WAL has been the subject of a number of research reports. StockNews.com lowered shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Tuesday, August 13th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation from $70.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation from $78.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, July 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation from $80.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, July 23rd. Finally, Piper Sandler raised their price objective on shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation from $76.00 to $93.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, July 22nd.
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Read Our Latest Analysis on WAL
Western Alliance Bancorporation Stock Down 0.5 %
WAL stock opened at $79.89 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.44. The company has a current ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07. Western Alliance Bancorporation has a 12 month low of $38.81 and a 12 month high of $83.23. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $73.92 and a 200-day moving average price of $65.01.
Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE:WAL Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $1.75 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $771.80 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $737.97 million. Western Alliance Bancorporation had a net margin of 15.54% and a return on equity of 13.98%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 15.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.96 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Western Alliance Bancorporation will post 7.4 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Western Alliance Bancorporation Announces Dividend
The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 16th were given a dividend of $0.37 per share. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.85%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 16th. Western Alliance Bancorporations dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 21.57%.
Insider Transactions at Western Alliance Bancorporation
In other news, CAO J. Kelly Jr. Ardrey sold 2,116 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.95, for a total transaction of $160,710.20. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 3,520 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $267,344. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In related news, CAO J. Kelly Jr. Ardrey sold 2,116 shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation stock in a transaction on Monday, July 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.95, for a total value of $160,710.20. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 3,520 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $267,344. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Stephen Russell Curley sold 5,070 shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.43, for a total transaction of $387,500.10. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 36,718 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,806,356.74. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 18,269 shares of company stock valued at $1,452,472 in the last quarter. 2.75% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Institutional Trading of Western Alliance Bancorporation
Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of WAL. Truist Financial Corp grew its position in Western Alliance Bancorporation by 52.9% in the 4th quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 10,625 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $699,000 after purchasing an additional 3,677 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Western Alliance Bancorporation by 5,918.1% during the 4th quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 763,459 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $50,228,000 after acquiring an additional 750,773 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. boosted its holdings in Western Alliance Bancorporation by 72.1% during the 4th quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 237,154 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $15,602,000 after acquiring an additional 99,386 shares during the last quarter. Amalgamated Bank boosted its holdings in Western Alliance Bancorporation by 30.3% during the 4th quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 29,977 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,972,000 after acquiring an additional 6,968 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Private Advisor Group LLC boosted its holdings in Western Alliance Bancorporation by 130.7% during the 4th quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 11,736 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $772,000 after acquiring an additional 6,649 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.15% of the companys stock.
Western Alliance Bancorporation Company Profile
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Western Alliance Bancorporation operates as the bank holding company for Western Alliance Bank that provides various banking products and related services primarily in Arizona, California, and Nevada. It operates through Commercial and Consumer Related segments. The company offers deposit products, including checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as fixed-rate and fixed maturity certificates of deposit accounts; demand deposits; and treasury management and residential mortgage products and services.
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California Water Service Group (NYSE:CWT Get Free Report) Director Thomas M. Krummel sold 555 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.09, for a total value of $30,574.95. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 21,951 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,209,280.59. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website.
California Water Service Group Stock Performance
Shares of NYSE CWT opened at $55.07 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $3.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.03 and a beta of 0.47. The stocks 50-day moving average is $52.40 and its 200 day moving average is $49.45. The company has a current ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 0.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. California Water Service Group has a 1-year low of $43.50 and a 1-year high of $55.48.
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California Water Service Group (NYSE:CWT Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The utilities provider reported $0.70 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.42 by $0.28. The company had revenue of $244.30 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $216.25 million. California Water Service Group had a net margin of 17.78% and a return on equity of 11.94%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 25.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.17 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that California Water Service Group will post 3.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.
California Water Service Group Announces Dividend
Analyst Ratings Changes
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 23rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 12th were paid a dividend of $0.28 per share. This represents a $1.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.03%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 12th. California Water Service Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 44.80%.
Separately, Wells Fargo & Company raised California Water Service Group from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $50.00 to $57.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, California Water Service Group currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $53.67.
Check Out Our Latest Analysis on CWT
Institutional Trading of California Water Service Group
A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of CWT. Arizona State Retirement System boosted its holdings in California Water Service Group by 1.8% in the second quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 16,147 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $783,000 after acquiring an additional 287 shares in the last quarter. Quadrature Capital Ltd increased its position in shares of California Water Service Group by 4.6% during the first quarter. Quadrature Capital Ltd now owns 6,661 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $309,000 after buying an additional 295 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its stake in California Water Service Group by 109.9% in the second quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 823 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 431 shares in the last quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System boosted its position in California Water Service Group by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 69,575 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $3,609,000 after acquiring an additional 442 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund lifted its stake in shares of California Water Service Group by 1.5% in the 1st quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 32,828 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,526,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the period. 82.78% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
About California Water Service Group
(Get Free Report)
California Water Service Group, through its subsidiaries, provides water utility and other related services in California, Washington, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Texas. The company is involved in the production, purchase, storage, treatment, testing, distribution, and sale of water for domestic, industrial, public, and irrigation uses, as well as for fire protection services.
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Equities researchers at StockNews.com started coverage on shares of China Pharma (NYSE:CPHI Get Free Report) in a note issued to investors on Tuesday. The brokerage set a hold rating on the stock.
China Pharma Stock Up 5.5 %
Shares of NYSE:CPHI opened at $0.20 on Tuesday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $0.22 and a 200 day moving average price of $0.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 0.84 and a quick ratio of 0.24. China Pharma has a 12-month low of $0.17 and a 12-month high of $1.21.
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China Pharma (NYSE:CPHI Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 14th. The company reported ($0.09) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of $0.93 million for the quarter. China Pharma had a negative return on equity of 60.19% and a negative net margin of 70.47%.
About China Pharma
China Pharma Holdings, Inc develops, manufactures, and markets generic and branded pharmaceutical, and biochemical products to hospitals and private retailers in the People's Republic of China. The company provides products in the form of dry powder injectables, liquid injectables, tablets, capsules, and cephalosporin oral solutions.
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Chase Investment Counsel Corp trimmed its stake in shares of Chubb Limited (NYSE:CB Free Report) by 14.1% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 5,492 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 903 shares during the period. Chase Investment Counsel Corps holdings in Chubb were worth $1,513,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of CB. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Chubb during the 4th quarter worth $957,756,000. Capital Research Global Investors increased its stake in shares of Chubb by 44.4% during the first quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 6,713,331 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,739,625,000 after acquiring an additional 2,064,730 shares during the period. Capital World Investors raised its holdings in Chubb by 6.6% during the first quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 10,997,092 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,849,677,000 after purchasing an additional 685,677 shares in the last quarter. Confluence Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Chubb in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $165,932,000. Finally, Bank of Nova Scotia increased its position in Chubb by 198.8% during the 4th quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 779,345 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $176,126,000 after purchasing an additional 518,535 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.81% of the companys stock.
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Chubb Trading Down 1.8 %
CB stock traded down $5.19 during trading on Thursday, reaching $285.75. 417,731 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,605,015. The firm has a market capitalization of $116.03 billion, a PE ratio of 12.91, a P/E/G ratio of 5.59 and a beta of 0.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a current ratio of 0.31 and a quick ratio of 0.31. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $267.76 and its 200-day moving average price is $260.25. Chubb Limited has a 52-week low of $198.67 and a 52-week high of $293.00.
Chubb Announces Dividend
Chubb ( NYSE:CB Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 23rd. The financial services provider reported $5.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.04 by $0.34. The business had revenue of $13.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.04 billion. Chubb had a return on equity of 15.77% and a net margin of 18.14%. The companys revenue was up 11.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $4.92 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Chubb Limited will post 21.2 earnings per share for the current year.
The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 4th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 13th will be paid a dividend of $0.91 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 13th. This represents a $3.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.27%. Chubbs dividend payout ratio is currently 16.16%.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
CB has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. William Blair downgraded Chubb from a market perform rating to an underperform rating in a research note on Friday, June 28th. Barclays began coverage on shares of Chubb in a report on Wednesday. They set an overweight rating and a $349.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on shares of Chubb from $285.00 to $295.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. JMP Securities lifted their price objective on Chubb from $280.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a market outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 24th. Finally, Roth Mkm increased their target price on Chubb from $280.00 to $300.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $274.70.
View Our Latest Stock Report on Chubb
Insider Transactions at Chubb
In other Chubb news, EVP Peter C. Enns sold 8,200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $266.06, for a total value of $2,181,692.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 45,853 shares of the companys stock, valued at $12,199,649.18. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, EVP Juan Luis Ortega sold 3,921 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $273.06, for a total value of $1,070,668.26. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 44,632 shares in the company, valued at $12,187,213.92. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Peter C. Enns sold 8,200 shares of Chubb stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $266.06, for a total transaction of $2,181,692.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 45,853 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,199,649.18. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.86% of the companys stock.
Chubb Company Profile
(Free Report)
Chubb Limited provides insurance and reinsurance products worldwide. The company's North America Commercial P&C Insurance segment offers commercial property, casualty, workers' compensation, package policies, risk management, financial lines, marine, construction, environmental, medical risk, cyber risk, surety, and casualty; and group accident and health insurance to large, middle market, and small commercial businesses.
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Churchill China plc (LON:CHH Get Free Report) announced a dividend on Thursday, September 5th, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Investors of record on Thursday, September 12th will be given a dividend of GBX 11.50 ($0.15) per share on Friday, October 11th. This represents a yield of 1.06%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 12th. The official announcement can be accessed at this link.
Churchill China Price Performance
Churchill China stock traded down GBX 83 ($1.09) during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting GBX 997 ($13.11). The companys stock had a trading volume of 56,112 shares, compared to its average volume of 14,171. The stock has a market capitalization of 109.67 million, a P/E ratio of 1,407.14, a P/E/G ratio of 4.81 and a beta of 0.96. Churchill China has a twelve month low of GBX 947 ($12.45) and a twelve month high of GBX 1,495 ($19.66). The stocks fifty day moving average price is GBX 1,166.14 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 1,181.18. The company has a quick ratio of 2.22, a current ratio of 3.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69.
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About Churchill China
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Churchill China plc manufactures and sells ceramic and related products in the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, the United States, and internationally. The company provides plates, bowls, trays and boards, crates and carriers, stands and risers, cookware, counter serving ware, cups, mugs, saucers, beverage pots, jugs, chip mugs, dip pots and sauce dishes, lids, glassware, cutlery, utensils, and accessories, as well as raw materials for the ceramics industry.
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Cozad Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY Free Report) by 1.3% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 136,866 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 1,691 shares during the quarter. Cozad Asset Management Inc.s holdings in KeyCorp were worth $1,945,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in KEY. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC bought a new stake in KeyCorp during the first quarter worth about $25,000. Crewe Advisors LLC bought a new position in KeyCorp in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $32,000. First United Bank & Trust bought a new position in shares of KeyCorp during the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of KeyCorp in the 1st quarter worth $39,000. Finally, Quarry LP purchased a new stake in KeyCorp in the 4th quarter worth $38,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.69% of the companys stock.
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KeyCorp Price Performance
KEY stock opened at $16.46 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.85. KeyCorp has a 52-week low of $9.50 and a 52-week high of $17.20. The firm has a market capitalization of $15.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.84, a PEG ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 1.25. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $15.58 and a 200-day moving average price of $14.93.
KeyCorp Announces Dividend
KeyCorp ( NYSE:KEY Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.25 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.24 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $1.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.52 billion. KeyCorp had a net margin of 7.35% and a return on equity of 8.64%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 4.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.27 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that KeyCorp will post 1.09 EPS for the current fiscal year.
The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 13th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 27th will be paid a dividend of $0.205 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, August 27th. This represents a $0.82 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.98%. KeyCorps dividend payout ratio is presently 103.80%.
Insider Activity at KeyCorp
In related news, Director Carlton L. Highsmith sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, August 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.21, for a total transaction of $162,100.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 46,864 shares of the companys stock, valued at $759,665.44. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.61% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.
Analyst Ratings Changes
A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on KEY shares. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $17.00 price objective on shares of KeyCorp in a report on Tuesday, August 13th. Evercore ISI dropped their target price on shares of KeyCorp from $17.50 to $16.50 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, June 25th. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of KeyCorp from $18.00 to $19.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on KeyCorp from $17.50 to $16.50 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, June 27th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on KeyCorp from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $16.65.
Check Out Our Latest Analysis on KEY
About KeyCorp
(Free Report)
KeyCorp operates as the holding company for KeyBank National Association that provides various retail and commercial banking products and services in the United States. It operates in two segments, Consumer Bank and Commercial Bank. The company offers various deposits, investment products and services; commercial leasing, investment management, consumer finance; and personal finance and financial wellness, student loan refinancing, mortgage and home equity, lending, credit card, treasury, business advisory, wealth management, asset management, cash management, portfolio management, and trust and related services to individuals and small and medium-sized businesses.
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StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of CPI Aerostructures (NYSEAMERICAN:CVU Free Report) in a research note issued to investors on Sunday morning. The brokerage issued a buy rating on the aerospace companys stock.
CPI Aerostructures Stock Performance
Shares of CVU opened at $3.01 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.54, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The stock has a market cap of $39.19 million, a PE ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 1.67. CPI Aerostructures has a 1 year low of $2.15 and a 1 year high of $3.59.
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CPI Aerostructures (NYSEAMERICAN:CVU Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 13th. The aerospace company reported $0.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. CPI Aerostructures had a net margin of 19.86% and a return on equity of 14.87%. The firm had revenue of $20.81 million during the quarter.
About CPI Aerostructures
CPI Aerostructures, Inc engages in the contract production of structural aircraft parts for fixed wing aircraft and helicopters in the commercial and defense markets. The company offers aerostructure and aerosystem assemblies, including new production and repair/overhaul of fielded wing structures and other control surfaces, rudder island, engine inlets/nacelles, engine exhaust manifolds, aircraft doors and windows, aircraft steps and racks, other aircraft secondary structures, airborne pod structures and integration of internal systems, radar housing structures, panel assemblies, and mechanical door locking and canopy lifting systems.
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Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators raised its stake in L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:LHX Free Report) by 7.6% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,071 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 76 shares during the period. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators holdings in L3Harris Technologies were worth $241,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Bfsg LLC bought a new stake in shares of L3Harris Technologies in the first quarter valued at about $25,000. Transcendent Capital Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of L3Harris Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. EntryPoint Capital LLC grew its holdings in shares of L3Harris Technologies by 70.4% during the 1st quarter. EntryPoint Capital LLC now owns 167 shares of the companys stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its position in shares of L3Harris Technologies by 77.7% in the second quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 183 shares of the companys stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares during the period. Finally, Family Firm Inc. acquired a new position in L3Harris Technologies in the second quarter valued at about $45,000. 84.76% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
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Insider Activity
In other L3Harris Technologies news, SVP Scott T. Mikuen sold 15,887 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, July 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $235.00, for a total transaction of $3,733,445.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 47,616 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,189,760. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, VP Sean J. Stackley sold 3,354 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $216.73, for a total transaction of $726,912.42. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 14,186 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,074,531.78. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Scott T. Mikuen sold 15,887 shares of L3Harris Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $235.00, for a total transaction of $3,733,445.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 47,616 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,189,760. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 33,122 shares of company stock worth $7,612,739. Company insiders own 0.82% of the companys stock.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Several brokerages have commented on LHX. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of L3Harris Technologies from $262.00 to $260.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded L3Harris Technologies from a buy rating to a hold rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $245.00 to $257.00 in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Morgan Stanley cut L3Harris Technologies from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and decreased their target price for the company from $275.00 to $257.00 in a research report on Friday, August 9th. Susquehanna raised their price target on shares of L3Harris Technologies from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a research note on Monday, July 29th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada cut shares of L3Harris Technologies from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $250.00 to $240.00 in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $247.08.
View Our Latest Analysis on LHX
L3Harris Technologies Trading Down 0.6 %
NYSE LHX traded down $1.43 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $235.07. 18,442 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 955,648. The stock has a market cap of $44.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.39, a P/E/G ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 0.90 and a quick ratio of 0.74. L3Harris Technologies, Inc. has a one year low of $160.25 and a one year high of $245.60. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $230.36 and a 200-day simple moving average of $220.40.
L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 25th. The company reported $3.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.18 by $0.06. L3Harris Technologies had a return on equity of 13.02% and a net margin of 5.73%. The company had revenue of $5.30 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.30 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.97 EPS. The firms revenue was up 12.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that L3Harris Technologies, Inc. will post 13.06 EPS for the current year.
L3Harris Technologies Dividend Announcement
The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 6th will be paid a $1.16 dividend. This represents a $4.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.97%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 6th. L3Harris Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 75.32%.
L3Harris Technologies Profile
(Free Report)
L3Harris Technologies, Inc provides mission-critical solutions for government and commercial customers worldwide. The company's Integrated Mission Systems segment provides intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems, passive sensing and targeting, electronic attack, autonomy, power and communications, and networks and sensors, as well as advanced combat systems for air, land, and sea sectors.
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Chase Investment Counsel Corp raised its position in shares of Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET Free Report) by 61.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 82,285 shares of the pipeline companys stock after buying an additional 31,246 shares during the quarter. Chase Investment Counsel Corps holdings in Energy Transfer were worth $1,338,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of ET. Northwest Financial Advisors acquired a new stake in shares of Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. LRI Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Energy Transfer during the first quarter worth $29,000. Atlantic Edge Private Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Energy Transfer in the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. Ables Iannone Moore & Associates Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Energy Transfer in the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, EdgeRock Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Energy Transfer during the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. Institutional investors own 38.22% of the companys stock.
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Energy Transfer Stock Performance
ET stock traded up $0.23 during trading on Thursday, reaching $16.15. 4,442,738 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 13,422,854. The firm has a market cap of $54.43 billion, a PE ratio of 14.80, a P/E/G ratio of 0.47 and a beta of 1.66. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38. Energy Transfer LP has a 1-year low of $12.90 and a 1-year high of $16.50. The companys fifty day moving average price is $16.11 and its 200-day moving average price is $15.72.
Energy Transfer Increases Dividend
Energy Transfer ( NYSE:ET Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 7th. The pipeline company reported $0.35 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.36 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $20.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.01 billion. Energy Transfer had a return on equity of 12.74% and a net margin of 5.19%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 13.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.25 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.4 EPS for the current fiscal year.
The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 19th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 9th were issued a $0.32 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 9th. This is a boost from Energy Transfers previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.93%. Energy Transfers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 117.43%.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
ET has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Mizuho raised their target price on shares of Energy Transfer from $19.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, June 18th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Energy Transfer from $23.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Energy Transfer from $19.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, June 20th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on Energy Transfer from $18.00 to $19.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, May 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Energy Transfer from $19.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, June 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $19.29.
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Insider Activity at Energy Transfer
In other news, EVP Gregory G. Mcilwain purchased 20,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, August 23rd. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $15.68 per share, with a total value of $313,600.00. Following the purchase, the executive vice president now owns 591,211 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,270,188.48. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Energy Transfer news, Director Kelcy L. Warren bought 3,000,000 shares of Energy Transfer stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 12th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $15.68 per share, for a total transaction of $47,040,000.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 123,385,650 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,934,686,992. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Gregory G. Mcilwain purchased 20,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, August 23rd. The stock was bought at an average cost of $15.68 per share, for a total transaction of $313,600.00. Following the acquisition, the executive vice president now directly owns 591,211 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,270,188.48. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders have purchased 3,040,000 shares of company stock worth $47,667,200 over the last quarter. 3.28% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Energy Transfer Profile
(Free Report)
Energy Transfer LP provides energy-related services. The company owns and operates natural gas transportation pipeline, and natural gas storage facilities in Texas and Oklahoma; and approximately 20,090 miles of interstate natural gas pipeline. It also sells natural gas to electric utilities, independent power plants, local distribution and other marketing companies, and industrial end-users.
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Range Financial Group LLC boosted its holdings in First BanCorp. (NYSE:FBP Free Report) by 3.4% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 88,917 shares of the banks stock after acquiring an additional 2,940 shares during the period. Range Financial Group LLCs holdings in First BanCorp. were worth $1,626,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.
A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of FBP. Jackson Creek Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in First BanCorp. in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,114,000. Natixis Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of First BanCorp. by 4.7% during the second quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 48,460 shares of the banks stock valued at $886,000 after purchasing an additional 2,166 shares during the last quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. purchased a new position in First BanCorp. in the 2nd quarter worth about $880,000. Panagora Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in First BanCorp. by 55.8% during the 2nd quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 656,855 shares of the banks stock worth $12,014,000 after buying an additional 235,156 shares during the period. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank lifted its stake in First BanCorp. by 13.6% during the second quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 40,584 shares of the banks stock valued at $742,000 after buying an additional 4,864 shares in the last quarter. 97.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
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First BanCorp. Stock Down 0.6 %
FBP stock opened at $21.02 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a 50-day moving average of $20.10 and a two-hundred day moving average of $18.28. First BanCorp. has a 52-week low of $12.72 and a 52-week high of $22.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.76.
First BanCorp. Announces Dividend
First BanCorp. ( NYSE:FBP Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 23rd. The bank reported $0.46 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.41 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $304.28 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $230.26 million. First BanCorp. had a return on equity of 21.86% and a net margin of 25.91%. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.37 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that First BanCorp. will post 1.76 EPS for the current year.
The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 13th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 29th will be given a $0.16 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 29th. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.04%. First BanCorp.s dividend payout ratio is 36.57%.
Analyst Ratings Changes
Several research firms have recently weighed in on FBP. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of First BanCorp. from $19.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 24th. Piper Sandler started coverage on First BanCorp. in a report on Monday, August 26th. They set a neutral rating and a $22.00 price target on the stock. Raymond James assumed coverage on shares of First BanCorp. in a research report on Tuesday, July 9th. They set an outperform rating and a $21.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Hovde Group boosted their target price on shares of First BanCorp. from $21.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 24th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, First BanCorp. presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $20.83.
View Our Latest Stock Analysis on First BanCorp.
Insider Activity at First BanCorp.
In related news, EVP Michael Mcdonald sold 7,612 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, August 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.65, for a total value of $164,799.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 89,420 shares in the company, valued at $1,935,943. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other First BanCorp. news, EVP Michael Mcdonald sold 7,612 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, August 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $21.65, for a total value of $164,799.80. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 89,420 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,935,943. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Carlos Power sold 22,896 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $21.53, for a total transaction of $492,950.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 232,340 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,002,280.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 80,508 shares of company stock worth $1,748,251. Company insiders own 2.50% of the companys stock.
First BanCorp. Company Profile
(Free Report)
First BanCorp. operates as a bank holding company for FirstBank Puerto Rico that provides a range of financial products and services to consumers and commercial customers. The company operates through six segments: Commercial and Corporate Banking, Mortgage Banking, Consumer (Retail) Banking, Treasury and Investments, United States Operations, and Virgin Islands Operations.
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Greggs plc (LON:GRG Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as GBX 3,200 ($42.08) and last traded at GBX 3,144 ($41.34), with a volume of 129656 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 3,170 ($41.68).
Analyst Ratings Changes
A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on GRG. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an overweight rating and issued a GBX 3,335 ($43.85) price target on shares of Greggs in a report on Wednesday, May 15th. Berenberg Bank lifted their price objective on shares of Greggs from GBX 3,340 ($43.92) to GBX 3,600 ($47.34) and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Finally, Shore Capital reissued a house stock rating on shares of Greggs in a report on Tuesday, May 14th.
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Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Greggs
Greggs Stock Performance
Greggs Cuts Dividend
The company has a market capitalization of 3.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2,361.76, a P/E/G ratio of 3.39 and a beta of 1.43. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 2,999.25 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 2,876.81. The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 66.19.
The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 4th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 5th will be given a dividend of GBX 19 ($0.25) per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 5th. This represents a yield of 0.65%. Greggss dividend payout ratio is currently 4,850.75%.
Insider Buying and Selling
In other news, insider Roisin Currie acquired 58 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 13th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 2,846 ($37.42) per share, with a total value of 1,650.68 ($2,170.52). 5.96% of the stock is owned by company insiders.
About Greggs
(Get Free Report)
Greggs plc operates as a food-on-the-go retailer in the United Kingdom. It offers a range of fresh bakery products, sandwiches, and drinks. The company sells products to franchise and wholesale partners for sale in their own outlets. It is also involved in the property holding, non-trading, and trustee businesses.
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Gries Financial LLC lessened its stake in The Progressive Co. (NYSE:PGR Free Report) by 34.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 2,347 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 1,227 shares during the period. Gries Financial LLCs holdings in Progressive were worth $487,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in PGR. WR Wealth Planners LLC lifted its position in Progressive by 119.6% during the second quarter. WR Wealth Planners LLC now owns 123 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 67 shares during the last quarter. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO purchased a new stake in shares of Progressive during the 1st quarter valued at $32,000. Sachetta LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Progressive in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Northwest Bank & Trust Co purchased a new position in Progressive during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Finally, Hilltop National Bank increased its position in Progressive by 126.0% during the 2nd quarter. Hilltop National Bank now owns 165 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 92 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.34% of the companys stock.
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Insider Transactions at Progressive
In related news, CAO Mariann Wojtkun Marshall sold 650 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, June 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $208.11, for a total value of $135,271.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 3,981 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $828,485.91. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CAO Mariann Wojtkun Marshall sold 650 shares of Progressive stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $208.11, for a total value of $135,271.50. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 3,981 shares in the company, valued at approximately $828,485.91. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Philip Bleser sold 2,129 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $219.08, for a total value of $466,421.32. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 974 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $213,383.92. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 103,984 shares of company stock valued at $22,564,766 in the last three months. 0.34% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
Several brokerages have weighed in on PGR. Roth Mkm raised their price target on Progressive from $235.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, August 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Progressive from $210.00 to $239.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, July 11th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on shares of Progressive from $239.00 to $237.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. Hsbc Global Res upgraded shares of Progressive from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, August 12th. Finally, Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on shares of Progressive from $243.00 to $246.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, August 7th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $252.24.
Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Progressive
Progressive Stock Up 0.6 %
PGR stock opened at $253.91 on Thursday. The Progressive Co. has a one year low of $133.15 and a one year high of $254.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a current ratio of 0.31. The firms fifty day moving average is $223.88 and its 200 day moving average is $211.99. The firm has a market cap of $148.71 billion, a PE ratio of 25.99, a P/E/G ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 0.35.
Progressive (NYSE:PGR Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 16th. The insurance provider reported $2.65 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.04 by $0.61. The firm had revenue of $17.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $17.54 billion. Progressive had a return on equity of 33.01% and a net margin of 10.17%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 21.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.57 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that The Progressive Co. will post 12.2 EPS for the current year.
Progressive Announces Dividend
The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 11th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 3rd will be given a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.16%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 3rd. Progressives dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 4.09%.
About Progressive
(Free Report)
The Progressive Corporation, an insurance holding company, provides personal and commercial auto, personal residential and commercial property, business related general liability, and other specialty property-casualty insurance products and related services in the United States. It operates in three segments: Personal Lines, Commercial Lines, and Property.
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Gries Financial LLC decreased its position in L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:LHX Free Report) by 2.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 4,545 shares of the companys stock after selling 129 shares during the quarter. Gries Financial LLCs holdings in L3Harris Technologies were worth $1,021,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bfsg LLC bought a new stake in L3Harris Technologies in the 1st quarter worth about $25,000. Transcendent Capital Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of L3Harris Technologies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. EntryPoint Capital LLC grew its holdings in shares of L3Harris Technologies by 70.4% in the first quarter. EntryPoint Capital LLC now owns 167 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its position in shares of L3Harris Technologies by 77.7% during the second quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 183 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Family Firm Inc. bought a new stake in L3Harris Technologies during the second quarter worth $45,000. 84.76% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
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L3Harris Technologies Trading Up 0.5 %
Shares of LHX stock opened at $236.47 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $44.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.39, a PEG ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 0.73. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $230.36 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $220.40. L3Harris Technologies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $160.25 and a 1 year high of $245.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 0.90 and a quick ratio of 0.74.
L3Harris Technologies Dividend Announcement
L3Harris Technologies ( NYSE:LHX Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 25th. The company reported $3.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.18 by $0.06. L3Harris Technologies had a return on equity of 13.02% and a net margin of 5.73%. The company had revenue of $5.30 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.30 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.97 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 12.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts anticipate that L3Harris Technologies, Inc. will post 13.06 earnings per share for the current year.
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 6th will be given a $1.16 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 6th. This represents a $4.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.96%. L3Harris Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 75.32%.
Insider Activity at L3Harris Technologies
In other L3Harris Technologies news, SVP Scott T. Mikuen sold 15,887 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $235.00, for a total value of $3,733,445.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 47,616 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,189,760. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, VP Sean J. Stackley sold 3,354 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $216.73, for a total transaction of $726,912.42. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 14,186 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,074,531.78. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP Scott T. Mikuen sold 15,887 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $235.00, for a total transaction of $3,733,445.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 47,616 shares in the company, valued at $11,189,760. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 33,122 shares of company stock valued at $7,612,739. Corporate insiders own 0.82% of the companys stock.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
A number of research analysts have issued reports on LHX shares. Morgan Stanley downgraded L3Harris Technologies from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $275.00 to $257.00 in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded shares of L3Harris Technologies from a buy rating to a hold rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $245.00 to $257.00 in a report on Friday, July 26th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered shares of L3Harris Technologies from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $250.00 to $240.00 in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. Barclays increased their target price on shares of L3Harris Technologies from $245.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 30th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of L3Harris Technologies from $262.00 to $260.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, L3Harris Technologies presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $247.08.
View Our Latest Research Report on L3Harris Technologies
About L3Harris Technologies
(Free Report)
L3Harris Technologies, Inc provides mission-critical solutions for government and commercial customers worldwide. The company's Integrated Mission Systems segment provides intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems, passive sensing and targeting, electronic attack, autonomy, power and communications, and networks and sensors, as well as advanced combat systems for air, land, and sea sectors.
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Pzena Investment Management LLC raised its position in HDFC Bank Limited (NYSE:HDB Free Report) by 9.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 310,736 shares of the banks stock after buying an additional 26,676 shares during the quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLCs holdings in HDFC Bank were worth $19,990,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.
Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of HDFC Bank during the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC acquired a new position in shares of HDFC Bank during the 1st quarter worth $34,000. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of HDFC Bank during the 1st quarter worth $35,000. Ridgewood Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of HDFC Bank during the 2nd quarter worth $36,000. Finally, LRI Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of HDFC Bank during the 1st quarter worth $56,000. 17.61% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. StockNews.com cut shares of HDFC Bank from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Thursday, June 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of HDFC Bank from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, July 22nd.
HDFC Bank Price Performance
Shares of NYSE HDB opened at $61.70 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $114.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.93, a PEG ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 0.92. HDFC Bank Limited has a 52 week low of $52.16 and a 52 week high of $67.44. The companys 50-day moving average price is $60.99 and its 200 day moving average price is $58.61. The company has a current ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37.
HDFC Bank (NYSE:HDB Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, July 22nd. The bank reported $0.78 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.51 by $0.27. The company had revenue of $14.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.81 billion. HDFC Bank had a net margin of 14.69% and a return on equity of 12.64%. As a group, research analysts forecast that HDFC Bank Limited will post 2.98 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
HDFC Bank Profile
(Free Report)
HDFC Bank Limited provides banking and financial services to individuals and businesses in India, Bahrain, Hong Kong, and Dubai. The company operates in three segments: Wholesale Banking, Retail Banking, and Treasury Services. It accepts savings, salary, current, rural, public provident fund, pension, and demat accounts; fixed and recurring deposits; and safe deposit lockers, as well as offshore accounts and deposits, and overdrafts against fixed deposits.
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Hilton Food Group (LON:HFG Get Free Report)s stock had its buy rating reissued by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft in a research note issued on Thursday, Digital Look reports. They currently have a GBX 1,105 ($14.53) price objective on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschafts price target would suggest a potential upside of 17.30% from the companys previous close.
Separately, Shore Capital reiterated a house stock rating on shares of Hilton Food Group in a research note on Wednesday.
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Hilton Food Group Stock Performance
Hilton Food Group Company Profile
LON:HFG opened at GBX 942 ($12.39) on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 153.45, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 1.17. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 928.54 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 893.84. The firm has a market capitalization of 844.03 million, a PE ratio of 2,355.00, a P/E/G ratio of 17.31 and a beta of 0.57. Hilton Food Group has a 52-week low of GBX 634.03 ($8.34) and a 52-week high of GBX 996 ($13.10).
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Hilton Food Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the food packing business. It offers beef, pork, lamb, poultry, seafood, and vegan and vegetarian food, such as steak, roast, diced, mince, meatloaf, sausages, burgers, meatballs ribs, chops, bacon, gammon, schnitzel, pulled belly, rib rack, smoked loin, shanks, carcass, chicken kabab, chicken drumsticks, chicken tight, chicken wings, half chicken, duck leg, duck half, coated, salmon, white fish, shellfish, fish cakes, smoked salmon, strips, nuggets, pulled, and balls.
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Hohimer Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 427,910 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $4,583,000. Barclays makes up 1.1% of Hohimer Wealth Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 18th largest holding.
A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC boosted its stake in Barclays by 231.3% in the 4th quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 2,323,096 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $18,306,000 after purchasing an additional 1,621,896 shares in the last quarter. Brandes Investment Partners LP boosted its stake in shares of Barclays by 65.9% during the 4th quarter. Brandes Investment Partners LP now owns 1,750,257 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $13,792,000 after acquiring an additional 695,502 shares in the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI grew its position in shares of Barclays by 6,028.3% during the 1st quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 1,718,379 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $16,239,000 after acquiring an additional 1,690,339 shares during the period. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky raised its holdings in Barclays by 20.9% in the 1st quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 1,533,600 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $14,493,000 after purchasing an additional 265,200 shares during the period. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Barclays by 1,502.3% during the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 1,346,178 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $12,711,000 after purchasing an additional 1,262,165 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 3.39% of the companys stock.
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Barclays Price Performance
NYSE BCS traded up $0.38 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $12.12. The stock had a trading volume of 9,867,003 shares, compared to its average volume of 14,976,179. The firms 50 day moving average is $11.58 and its 200 day moving average is $10.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.98, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.39. The stock has a market capitalization of $44.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.76, a PEG ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.44. Barclays PLC has a twelve month low of $6.23 and a twelve month high of $12.49.
Barclays Increases Dividend
Barclays ( NYSE:BCS Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 1st. The financial services provider reported $0.42 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.40 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $7.98 billion during the quarter. Barclays had a net margin of 16.83% and a return on equity of 5.94%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.43 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Barclays PLC will post 1.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
The business also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 16th will be paid a $0.2684 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 16th. This is an increase from Barclayss previous semi-annual dividend of $0.27. This represents a dividend yield of 3.6%. Barclayss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 21.64%.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Several brokerages have recently weighed in on BCS. Kepler Capital Markets initiated coverage on Barclays in a research note on Thursday. They set a buy rating for the company. StockNews.com raised shares of Barclays from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 9th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Barclays in a research report on Thursday, May 9th. They set a buy rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy.
Read Our Latest Analysis on BCS
Barclays Profile
(Free Report)
Barclays PLC provides various financial services in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The company operates through Barclays UK and Barclays International division segments. It offers financial services, such as retail banking, credit cards, wholesale banking, investment banking, wealth management, and investment management services.
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Shares of IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima (NYSE:IRS Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $11.70 and last traded at $11.52, with a volume of 71829 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $11.34.
Analyst Ratings Changes
Separately, Jefferies Financial Group upgraded IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their target price for the company from $10.50 to $13.00 in a report on Wednesday, August 14th.
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IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima Stock Performance
Institutional Trading of IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima
The company has a market capitalization of $862.30 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.63 and a beta of 1.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 0.52 and a quick ratio of 0.52. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $9.53 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $9.49.
Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Acadian Asset Management LLC bought a new position in IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima during the first quarter worth about $27,000. Stokes Family Office LLC lifted its holdings in shares of IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima by 11.2% during the 1st quarter. Stokes Family Office LLC now owns 44,805 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $419,000 after purchasing an additional 4,525 shares in the last quarter. Jump Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima by 65.9% during the 4th quarter. Jump Financial LLC now owns 22,900 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $197,000 after purchasing an additional 9,100 shares in the last quarter. Deuterium Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima during the 1st quarter valued at about $96,000. Finally, Advisors Preferred LLC bought a new position in shares of IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima during the 1st quarter valued at about $94,000. 45.46% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
About IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima
(Get Free Report)
IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the diversified real estate activities in Argentina. It operates through five segments: Shopping Malls, Offices, Hotels, Sales and Developments, and Others. The company is involved in the acquisition, development, and operation of shopping malls, office buildings, and other non-shopping mall properties primarily for rental purposes.
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John Hancock Investors Trust (NYSE:JHI Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, September 3rd, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 13th will be paid a dividend of 0.3134 per share by the financial services provider on Monday, September 30th. This represents a $1.25 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 9.10%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 13th. This is a positive change from John Hancock Investors Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $0.22.
John Hancock Investors Trust has decreased its dividend payment by an average of 13.8% annually over the last three years.
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John Hancock Investors Trust Trading Up 1.0 %
Shares of JHI opened at $13.78 on Thursday. John Hancock Investors Trust has a fifty-two week low of $11.63 and a fifty-two week high of $13.85. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $13.45 and a two-hundred day moving average of $13.33.
John Hancock Investors Trust Company Profile
John Hancock Investors Trust is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC. It is co-managed by John Hancock Asset Management. It invests in the fixed income markets across the globe. The fund primarily invests in a diversified portfolio of corporate and government bonds, debt securities.
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Shares of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Get Free Report) traded up 0.6% on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $167.02 and last traded at $166.92. 1,661,511 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 77% from the average session volume of 7,241,127 shares. The stock had previously closed at $165.86.
Analyst Ratings Changes
Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Daiwa Capital Markets lowered Johnson & Johnson from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $160.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $175.00 target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Tuesday, July 30th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Johnson & Johnson from $167.00 to $169.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, July 18th. TD Securities reduced their target price on Johnson & Johnson from $195.00 to $185.00 in a report on Thursday, July 18th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Johnson & Johnson from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, August 16th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $173.21.
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Johnson & Johnson Stock Performance
The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $156.82 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $153.70. The company has a current ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The company has a market cap of $397.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.34, a P/E/G ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 0.52.
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 17th. The company reported $2.82 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.71 by $0.11. Johnson & Johnson had a return on equity of 36.60% and a net margin of 46.34%. The company had revenue of $22.45 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.33 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.80 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 4.3% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.02 EPS for the current year.
Johnson & Johnson Announces Dividend
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 10th. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 27th will be given a $1.24 dividend. This represents a $4.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.01%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, August 27th. Johnson & Johnsons dividend payout ratio is currently 30.92%.
Insider Activity at Johnson & Johnson
In related news, VP Robert J. Decker sold 5,635 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, August 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $165.06, for a total value of $930,113.10. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 18,973 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,131,683.38. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.16% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
Hedge Funds Weigh In On Johnson & Johnson
A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in JNJ. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Johnson & Johnson during the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. Christopher J. Hasenberg Inc acquired a new position in shares of Johnson & Johnson during the 1st quarter worth about $31,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Johnson & Johnson during the 4th quarter worth about $44,000. MFA Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Johnson & Johnson during the 2nd quarter worth about $43,000. Finally, Grayhawk Investment Strategies Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 528.6% during the 4th quarter. Grayhawk Investment Strategies Inc. now owns 308 shares of the companys stock worth $48,000 after buying an additional 259 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 69.55% of the companys stock.
About Johnson & Johnson
(Get Free Report)
Johnson & Johnson, together with its subsidiaries, researches, develops, manufactures, and sells various products in the healthcare field worldwide. The company's Innovative Medicine segment offers products for various therapeutic areas, such as immunology, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis; infectious diseases comprising HIV/AIDS; neuroscience, consisting of mood disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, and schizophrenia; oncology, such as prostate cancer, hematologic malignancies, lung cancer, and bladder cancer; cardiovascular and metabolism, including thrombosis, diabetes, and macular degeneration; and pulmonary hypertension comprising pulmonary arterial hypertension through retailers, wholesalers, distributors, hospitals, and healthcare professionals for prescription use.
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Lumen Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:LUMN Get Free Report) shares shot up 3.5% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $5.60 and last traded at $5.57. 5,567,799 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 73% from the average session volume of 20,523,965 shares. The stock had previously closed at $5.38.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
LUMN has been the topic of several research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Lumen Technologies from a sell rating to a neutral rating and upped their price objective for the company from $1.00 to $4.00 in a report on Wednesday, August 7th. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded Lumen Technologies from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and upped their price target for the stock from $1.75 to $4.00 in a research note on Friday, August 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Lumen Technologies from an underweight rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. Moffett Nathanson upped their target price on Lumen Technologies from $1.00 to $3.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Finally, Bank of America increased their target price on Lumen Technologies from $1.00 to $2.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a report on Thursday, August 8th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and five have given a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Lumen Technologies has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $3.74.
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Lumen Technologies Trading Up 2.0 %
The company has a quick ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 39.51. The firm has a market cap of $5.57 billion, a P/E ratio of -0.51 and a beta of 1.14. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $3.33 and its 200 day simple moving average is $2.07.
Lumen Technologies (NYSE:LUMN Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 6th. The technology company reported ($0.13) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.06) by ($0.07). The business had revenue of $3.27 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.25 billion. Lumen Technologies had a negative return on equity of 18.52% and a negative net margin of 15.06%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 10.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.10 earnings per share. As a group, analysts expect that Lumen Technologies, Inc. will post -0.17 earnings per share for the current year.
Insider Activity
In other Lumen Technologies news, Director James Fowler purchased 10,000 shares of Lumen Technologies stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 3rd. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $4.70 per share, for a total transaction of $47,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 384,056 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,805,063.20. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 1.68% of the companys stock.
Hedge Funds Weigh In On Lumen Technologies
A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Lumen Technologies by 1.7% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 120,303,220 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $187,673,000 after acquiring an additional 1,975,400 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in Lumen Technologies by 28.2% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 26,304,001 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $48,136,000 after purchasing an additional 5,782,249 shares during the last quarter. Front Street Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Lumen Technologies by 30.1% in the 2nd quarter. Front Street Capital Management Inc. now owns 11,661,112 shares of the technology companys stock worth $12,827,000 after buying an additional 2,697,423 shares during the period. Palestra Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Lumen Technologies by 71.0% in the 4th quarter. Palestra Capital Management LLC now owns 11,167,585 shares of the technology companys stock worth $20,437,000 after buying an additional 4,637,585 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its stake in shares of Lumen Technologies by 11.6% during the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 8,873,803 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $9,761,000 after buying an additional 919,300 shares during the period. 66.19% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Lumen Technologies Company Profile
(Get Free Report)
Lumen Technologies, Inc, a facilities-based technology and communications company, provides various integrated products and services to business and residential customers in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Business and Mass Markets. It offers dark fiber, edge cloud services, internet protocol, managed security, software-defined wide area networks, secure access service edge, unified communications and collaboration, and optical wavelengths services; ethernet and VPN data networks services; and legacy services to manage cash flow, including time division multiplexing voice, private line, and other legacy services, as well as sells communication equipment, and IT solutions.
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Shakari Briggs is a reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at shakari.briggs@houstonchronicle.com.
Before joining the Chronicle in November 2023, she worked for Spectrum News as a digital journalist based in her hometown. Shakari comes to the Houston newsroom with experience in broadcast reporting and producing as a former multimedia journalist and associate producer. The Dallas native has also worked at small to medium-sized newspapers throughout her career.
Her reporting on the rise and fall of a shopping mall won an Arkansas Associated Press Managing Editors Contest award. She also earned an Arkansas Press Association award for freelance reporting.
Journey Advisory Group LLC decreased its stake in Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI Free Report) by 11.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,205 shares of the communications equipment providers stock after selling 395 shares during the period. Journey Advisory Group LLCs holdings in Motorola Solutions were worth $1,237,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in MSI. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System lifted its position in Motorola Solutions by 8.9% in the first quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 189,360 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $67,219,000 after purchasing an additional 15,488 shares during the period. Corient Private Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Motorola Solutions by 15.6% in the 4th quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 24,237 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $7,589,000 after purchasing an additional 3,278 shares during the last quarter. First Foundation Advisors raised its holdings in shares of Motorola Solutions by 37.7% in the 1st quarter. First Foundation Advisors now owns 354 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $126,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares during the period. BDF Gestion purchased a new position in Motorola Solutions in the second quarter valued at about $7,377,000. Finally, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Motorola Solutions by 29.8% during the 4th quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 20,036 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $6,273,000 after acquiring an additional 4,594 shares in the last quarter. 84.17% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
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Analysts Set New Price Targets
MSI has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Motorola Solutions from $372.00 to $467.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Bank of America lifted their price target on shares of Motorola Solutions from $370.00 to $440.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, July 18th. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on shares of Motorola Solutions from $450.00 to $500.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, August 30th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on shares of Motorola Solutions from $460.00 to $510.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Motorola Solutions from $436.00 to $440.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Motorola Solutions presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $466.17.
Motorola Solutions Price Performance
Shares of Motorola Solutions stock traded down $2.03 on Thursday, reaching $435.42. 62,278 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 662,159. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.03, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.20. The firm has a market cap of $72.63 billion, a PE ratio of 54.08, a P/E/G ratio of 3.85 and a beta of 0.94. Motorola Solutions, Inc. has a one year low of $269.64 and a one year high of $448.98. The firms 50 day moving average is $406.57 and its 200-day moving average is $371.97.
Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The communications equipment provider reported $3.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.01 by $0.23. The firm had revenue of $2.63 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.59 billion. Motorola Solutions had a return on equity of 337.36% and a net margin of 14.04%. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.41 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 9.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts anticipate that Motorola Solutions, Inc. will post 12.22 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Motorola Solutions Dividend Announcement
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Investors of record on Friday, September 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.98 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 13th. This represents a $3.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.90%. Motorola Solutionss dividend payout ratio is presently 48.45%.
Insider Activity
In other news, COO John P. Molloy sold 23,985 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $407.50, for a total transaction of $9,773,887.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 46,821 shares of the companys stock, valued at $19,079,557.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, COO John P. Molloy sold 23,985 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $407.50, for a total transaction of $9,773,887.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 46,821 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,079,557.50. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Rajan Naik sold 5,274 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $373.81, for a total transaction of $1,971,473.94. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 8,939 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,341,487.59. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 29,949 shares of company stock worth $12,002,807 in the last quarter. 1.50% of the stock is owned by company insiders.
About Motorola Solutions
(Free Report)
Motorola Solutions, Inc provides public safety and enterprise security solutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Products and Systems Integration, and Software and Services. The Products and Systems Integration segment offers a portfolio of infrastructure, devices, accessories, and video security devices and infrastructure, as well as the implementation and integration of systems, devices, software, and applications for government, public safety, and commercial customers who operate private communications networks and video security solutions, as well as manage a mobile workforce.
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Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS grew its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO Free Report) by 0.6% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 156,165 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 947 shares during the quarter. Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KSs holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S were worth $22,291,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.
Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 38.1% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 94,544 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,781,000 after purchasing an additional 26,067 shares in the last quarter. McKinley Carter Wealth Services Inc. raised its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 37.0% in the 4th quarter. McKinley Carter Wealth Services Inc. now owns 60,356 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,244,000 after purchasing an additional 16,293 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New Hampshire raised its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 1,356.8% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New Hampshire now owns 13,257 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,702,000 after purchasing an additional 12,347 shares in the last quarter. Cim LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in the 4th quarter valued at about $23,547,000. Finally, Burford Brothers Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,045,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 11.54% of the companys stock.
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Novo Nordisk A/S Stock Performance
NYSE NVO traded down $3.42 on Thursday, hitting $131.11. The stock had a trading volume of 1,633,932 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,325,301. Novo Nordisk A/S has a one year low of $86.96 and a one year high of $148.15. The company has a quick ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. The stock has a market cap of $588.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.30, a P/E/G ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.42. The companys 50-day moving average is $135.30 and its two-hundred day moving average is $132.43.
Novo Nordisk A/S Cuts Dividend
Novo Nordisk A/S ( NYSE:NVO Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The company reported $0.65 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.71 by ($0.06). Novo Nordisk A/S had a return on equity of 87.43% and a net margin of 34.86%. The firm had revenue of $9.82 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.91 billion. On average, analysts expect that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 3.11 earnings per share for the current year.
The company also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 16th were given a $0.5126 dividend. This represents a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 16th. Novo Nordisk A/Ss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 24.83%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on NVO shares. BMO Capital Markets cut their target price on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from $170.00 to $160.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, August 8th. Argus boosted their price objective on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from $125.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, June 10th. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $160.00 price objective on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research report on Monday, August 19th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, August 19th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research report on Thursday, May 30th. They set a buy rating and a $156.00 price objective for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Novo Nordisk A/S currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $145.17.
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Novo Nordisk A/S Profile
(Free Report)
Novo Nordisk A/S, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development, manufacture, and distribution of pharmaceutical products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North America, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Diabetes and Obesity Care, and Rare Disease.
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Pacific Life Fund Advisors LLC trimmed its position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWO Free Report) by 4.6% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 118,215 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 5,717 shares during the period. iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF accounts for approximately 3.1% of Pacific Life Fund Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest position. Pacific Life Fund Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF were worth $31,035,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. FineMark National Bank & Trust lifted its stake in iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 8.7% in the 2nd quarter. FineMark National Bank & Trust now owns 7,495 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,968,000 after purchasing an additional 603 shares during the last quarter. Vance Wealth Inc. boosted its holdings in iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 3.2% during the second quarter. Vance Wealth Inc. now owns 9,631 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,528,000 after purchasing an additional 303 shares during the last quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. raised its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 19.5% in the 2nd quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. now owns 257 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $67,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares during the period. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 3.6% in the 2nd quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 10,595 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $2,782,000 after buying an additional 370 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vawter Financial Ltd. increased its holdings in iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 11.7% during the 2nd quarter. Vawter Financial Ltd. now owns 4,984 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,308,000 after acquiring an additional 522 shares during the period.
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iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF Stock Down 0.7 %
Shares of iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF stock traded down $1.85 during trading on Thursday, hitting $269.31. 167,024 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 466,500. The firms fifty day moving average is $272.09 and its 200-day moving average is $264.99. iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF has a 52 week low of $203.42 and a 52 week high of $291.61. The stock has a market cap of $11.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.25 and a beta of 1.31.
iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF Company 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.
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Pzena Investment Management LLC cut its position in Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL Free Report) by 21.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,187 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 611 shares during the quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLCs holdings in Dell Technologies were worth $302,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Accordant Advisory Group Inc bought a new position in shares of Dell Technologies in the second quarter valued at $28,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV grew its stake in shares of Dell Technologies by 58.2% in the first quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 223 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. Crewe Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Dell Technologies in the second quarter valued at $34,000. New Covenant Trust Company N.A. bought a new position in shares of Dell Technologies in the first quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Central Bank & Trust Co. bought a new position in shares of Dell Technologies in the first quarter valued at $34,000. 38.10% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
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Dell Technologies Stock Performance
Shares of NYSE DELL opened at $109.07 on Thursday. Dell Technologies Inc. has a 52 week low of $63.90 and a 52 week high of $179.70. The stock has a market capitalization of $77.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.26, a PEG ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 0.92. The stocks fifty day moving average is $118.60 and its 200 day moving average is $123.06.
Dell Technologies Dividend Announcement
Dell Technologies ( NYSE:DELL Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 29th. The technology company reported $1.89 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.40. Dell Technologies had a negative return on equity of 182.71% and a net margin of 4.32%. The company had revenue of $25.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $24.14 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.44 earnings per share. Dell Technologiess revenue was up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Dell Technologies Inc. will post 6.86 earnings per share for the current year.
The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 2nd. Investors of record on Tuesday, July 23rd were given a $0.445 dividend. This represents a $1.78 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.63%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, July 23rd. Dell Technologiess payout ratio is currently 36.33%.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
DELL has been the subject of several analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Dell Technologies from $150.00 to $140.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 30th. Loop Capital raised their price target on Dell Technologies from $125.00 to $185.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, May 28th. Citigroup raised their price target on Dell Technologies from $155.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, August 30th. UBS Group cut their price target on Dell Technologies from $164.00 to $158.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 30th. Finally, Barclays raised their price target on Dell Technologies from $97.00 to $106.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, August 30th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $136.80.
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Insider Buying and Selling
In other Dell Technologies news, CEO Michael S. Dell sold 1,340,823 shares of Dell Technologies stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $133.67, for a total value of $179,227,810.41. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 28,931,999 shares in the company, valued at $3,867,340,306.33. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Dell Technologies news, CEO Michael S. Dell sold 1,340,823 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $133.67, for a total transaction of $179,227,810.41. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 28,931,999 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,867,340,306.33. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Lake Group L.L.C. Silver sold 25,381 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $134.42, for a total value of $3,411,714.02. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 787,669 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $105,878,466.98. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 6,902,278 shares of company stock worth $942,086,320. Company insiders own 46.70% of the companys stock.
Dell Technologies Profile
(Free Report)
Dell Technologies Inc designs, develops, manufactures, markets, sells, and supports various comprehensive and integrated solutions, products, and services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) and Client Solutions Group (CSG).
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Range Financial Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of McKesson Co. (NYSE:MCK Free Report) by 4.9% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 706 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 33 shares during the period. Range Financial Group LLCs holdings in McKesson were worth $412,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MCK. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in shares of McKesson by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 4,362,837 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,342,190,000 after buying an additional 46,659 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of McKesson in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,024,140,000. Putnam Investments LLC boosted its holdings in shares of McKesson by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Putnam Investments LLC now owns 1,997,963 shares of the companys stock valued at $925,017,000 after buying an additional 62,242 shares in the last quarter. Swedbank AB bought a new stake in shares of McKesson in the 1st quarter valued at about $669,326,000. Finally, Boston Partners boosted its holdings in shares of McKesson by 4.1% in the 1st quarter. Boston Partners now owns 1,183,829 shares of the companys stock valued at $635,763,000 after buying an additional 47,140 shares in the last quarter. 85.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
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Insider Transactions at McKesson
In related news, Director Maria Martinez sold 483 shares of McKesson stock in a transaction on Friday, June 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $585.88, for a total value of $282,980.04. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, Director Maria Martinez sold 483 shares of McKesson stock in a transaction on Friday, June 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $585.88, for a total value of $282,980.04. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Brian S. Tyler sold 3,753 shares of McKesson stock in a transaction on Monday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $626.03, for a total transaction of $2,349,490.59. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 82,339 shares in the company, valued at approximately $51,546,684.17. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 8,589 shares of company stock valued at $5,163,981 in the last 90 days. 0.11% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
McKesson Stock Down 6.0 %
Shares of NYSE MCK traded down $34.49 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $536.79. 315,603 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 738,515. The firm has a market cap of $69.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.53, a PEG ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 0.44. McKesson Co. has a twelve month low of $405.50 and a twelve month high of $637.51. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $577.92 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $557.63.
McKesson (NYSE:MCK Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 7th. The company reported $7.88 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $7.21 by $0.67. The business had revenue of $79.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $82.53 billion. McKesson had a net margin of 0.94% and a negative return on equity of 242.57%. The businesss revenue was up 6.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $7.27 EPS. Research analysts expect that McKesson Co. will post 32.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.
McKesson Increases Dividend
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.71 per share. This is a boost from McKessons previous quarterly dividend of $0.62. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 30th. This represents a $2.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.53%. McKessons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 12.69%.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
A number of research firms have recently weighed in on MCK. Bank of America raised their price target on shares of McKesson from $590.00 to $670.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, June 25th. Argus increased their price objective on shares of McKesson from $570.00 to $670.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, June 24th. Evercore ISI decreased their price objective on shares of McKesson from $660.00 to $630.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, August 8th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of McKesson from $502.00 to $551.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, May 9th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price objective on shares of McKesson from $547.00 to $545.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, May 9th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $620.29.
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McKesson Profile
(Free Report)
McKesson Corporation provides healthcare services in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Pharmaceutical, Prescription Technology Solutions (RxTS), Medical-Surgical Solutions, and International. The U.S. Pharmaceutical segment distributes branded, generic, specialty, biosimilar and over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs, and other healthcare-related products.
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Rogers Communications (TSE:RCI.B Get Free Report) (NYSE:RCI) had its price target hoisted by analysts at BMO Capital Markets from C$65.00 to C$67.00 in a research note issued on Thursday, BayStreet.CA reports. BMO Capital Markets price target indicates a potential upside of 20.31% from the companys previous close.
Several other brokerages also recently weighed in on RCI.B. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Rogers Communications from C$80.00 to C$69.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 10th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on Rogers Communications from C$67.00 to C$65.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, July 9th. Canaccord Genuity Group lowered Rogers Communications from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their target price for the company from C$59.00 to C$57.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. Cormark lowered their price target on Rogers Communications from C$74.00 to C$72.00 in a report on Thursday, July 25th. Finally, TD Securities cut their price objective on shares of Rogers Communications from C$74.00 to C$70.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$69.29.
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Rogers Communications Stock Up 1.5 %
Rogers Communications Company Profile
Shares of TSE RCI.B traded up C$0.81 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching C$55.69. 766,554 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,485,112. The stock has a market cap of C$23.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.17, a P/E/G ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a quick ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 436.50. The firm has a 50-day moving average of C$52.69 and a 200 day moving average of C$54.31. Rogers Communications has a 1 year low of C$48.67 and a 1 year high of C$64.71.
(Get Free Report)
Rogers Communications Inc operates as a communications and media company in Canada. It operates through three segments: Wireless, Cable, and Media. The Wireless segment offers wireless voice and data communication services to individual consumers, businesses, governments, and other telecommunications service providers; postpaid and prepaid wireless services under the Rogers, Fido, and chatr brands; and wireless devices, services, and applications to consumers and businesses.
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Shaker Financial Services LLC increased its position in shares of The European Equity Fund, Inc. (NYSE:EEA Free Report) by 4.0% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 375,603 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 14,576 shares during the period. The European Equity Fund accounts for about 1.4% of Shaker Financial Services LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th largest holding. Shaker Financial Services LLC owned about 0.05% of The European Equity Fund worth $3,374,000 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 the company. Wolverine Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of The European Equity Fund by 55.8% in the 2nd quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC now owns 32,733 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $294,000 after buying an additional 11,723 shares in the last quarter. Matisse Capital acquired a new stake in shares of The European Equity Fund during the 1st quarter valued at about $330,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC increased its stake in The European Equity Fund by 1.6% in the first quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 192,009 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,710,000 after acquiring an additional 3,098 shares during the period. Uncommon Cents Investing LLC raised its position in The European Equity Fund by 1.6% in the first quarter. Uncommon Cents Investing LLC now owns 305,063 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,718,000 after purchasing an additional 4,750 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its stake in The European Equity Fund by 2.0% during the second quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 696,458 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $6,255,000 after purchasing an additional 13,335 shares during the period. 51.94% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
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The European Equity Fund Stock Up 0.7 %
NYSE EEA traded up $0.06 during trading on Thursday, reaching $9.27. 6,505 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 8,869. The European Equity Fund, Inc. has a 1-year low of $7.45 and a 1-year high of $9.44. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $9.06 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $8.97.
The European Equity Fund Company Profile
The European Equity Fund, Inc is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched by Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc The fund is managed by Deutsche Asset Management International GmbH. It invests in the public equity markets of Europe. The fund seeks to invest in the stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.
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StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Phoenix New Media (NYSE:FENG Get Free Report) in a note issued to investors on Tuesday. The brokerage set a hold rating on the information services providers stock.
Phoenix New Media Trading Up 4.9 %
Shares of NYSE:FENG opened at $2.69 on Tuesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $3.25 and a 200 day moving average of $2.44. The company has a market cap of $32.46 million, a PE ratio of -3.31 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a current ratio of 2.86, a quick ratio of 2.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02. Phoenix New Media has a 12-month low of $1.10 and a 12-month high of $4.15.
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Phoenix New Media (NYSE:FENG Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 13th. The information services provider reported ($0.06) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of $23.16 million for the quarter. Phoenix New Media had a negative net margin of 6.60% and a negative return on equity of 3.95%.
Phoenix New Media Company Profile
Phoenix New Media Limited provides content on an integrated Internet platform in the People's Republic of China. The company operates through two segments, Net Advertising Services and Paid Services. It offers content and services through PC channel, mobile channel, and telecom operators, as well as transmits content to TV viewers, primarily through Phoenix TV.
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Strategy Asset Managers LLC decreased its position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR Free Report) by 58.2% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 1,884 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 2,620 shares during the quarter. Strategy Asset Managers LLCs holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions were worth $371,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of BR. LifeSteps Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions during the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. EdgeRock Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Broadridge Financial Solutions in the 2nd quarter valued at $32,000. Rothschild Investment LLC acquired a new stake in Broadridge Financial Solutions in the 2nd quarter valued at $32,000. Manchester Capital Management LLC grew its position in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 57.1% in the 4th quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC now owns 165 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares during the period. Finally, New Covenant Trust Company N.A. acquired a new stake in Broadridge Financial Solutions in the 1st quarter valued at $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.03% of the companys stock.
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Insider Activity at Broadridge Financial Solutions
In related news, President Christopher John Perry sold 162 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.00, for a total value of $34,020.00. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 67,267 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,126,070. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, President Christopher John Perry sold 162 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.00, for a total transaction of $34,020.00. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 67,267 shares in the company, valued at $14,126,070. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Leslie A. Brun sold 5,739 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.05, for a total value of $1,205,476.95. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 77,318 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,240,645.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 94,914 shares of company stock worth $19,815,248. Company insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock.
Broadridge Financial Solutions Trading Up 0.2 %
NYSE BR opened at $211.88 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $25.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.16 and a beta of 1.05. Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. has a one year low of $166.73 and a one year high of $223.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.55, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 1.08. The businesss fifty day moving average is $208.02 and its 200-day moving average is $202.53.
Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE:BR Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 6th. The business services provider reported $3.50 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.49 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $1.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.96 billion. Broadridge Financial Solutions had a return on equity of 42.77% and a net margin of 10.73%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $3.21 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. will post 8.51 EPS for the current year.
Broadridge Financial Solutions Increases Dividend
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, September 12th will be paid a $0.88 dividend. This is a boost from Broadridge Financial Solutionss previous quarterly dividend of $0.80. This represents a $3.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.66%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 12th. Broadridge Financial Solutionss payout ratio is currently 60.07%.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
BR has been the subject of several research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions from $224.00 to $225.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 20th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions from $239.00 to $246.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. DA Davidson reissued a neutral rating and issued a $185.00 price target on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions in a research report on Tuesday, June 11th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, August 28th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $213.33.
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Broadridge Financial Solutions Profile
(Free Report)
Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry. The company's Investor Communication Solutions segment processes and distributes proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as facilitates related vote processing services; and distributes regulatory reports, class action, and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions.
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Shares of Teck Resources Ltd. (TSE:TCK Get Free Report) have received an average rating of Buy from the four brokerages that are covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company.
A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. BMO Capital Markets raised Teck Resources from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 15th. Paradigm Capital upgraded Teck Resources to a moderate buy rating in a report on Friday, July 26th. TD Securities raised Teck Resources to a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 16th. Eight Capital lowered shares of Teck Resources from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, July 11th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of Teck Resources from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday.
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Teck Resources Price Performance
Teck Resources Announces Dividend
Teck Resources ( TSE:TCK Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 24th. The company reported C$0.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$0.64 by C$0.15. The business had revenue of C$3.87 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$3.98 billion.
The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 13th will be given a dividend of $0.125 per share. This represents a $0.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of . The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 13th.
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The historian running the memorial at Germany's former Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald is no stranger to hate crime and threats, but he fears more trouble ahead after the far-right AfD's election triumph.
Jens-Christian Wagner says the rise of the anti-immigration party, which won Thuringia state elections with 33 percent of the vote Sunday, reflects a hardening of attitudes that could spell new dangers.
"My colleagues and I have been upset and depressed since Sunday evening," said the director of the foundation that administers the site.
Wagner said he worries about worse to come after a spate of attacks in recent years, both on social media networks that have been "flooded with revisionist content" and on site, including swastika graffitis.
The Nazi symbol has also been scrawled into the Buchenwald memorial centre's visitors' book, and vandals have cut down trees planted at the site in memory of survivors of the camp.
"The opinions directed against our memorial will grow stronger and it will be more and more difficult to change people's minds," predicted Wagner, a grim expression on his face.
The state leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Thuringia, the former high school history teacher Bjoern Hoecke, is one of the party's best known and most radical figures.
He has urged a break with Germany's post-World War II culture of repentance for Nazi crimes and sparked public outrage in 2017 when he labelled Berlin's Holocaust Memorial a "monument of shame".
The Buchenwald site commemorates the deaths of more than 56,000 people between 1937 and 1945 out of around 280,000 prisoners there, among them Jews, eastern Europeans, political dissidents and disabled people.
Next April marks the 80th anniversary of the camp's liberation by US troops.
"Maybe nothing will go as planned," worried Wagner.
"Maybe we will have to re-install a police station," as was the case in the 1990s, when right-wing extremism flared in post-reunification eastern Germany, the historian added.
Wagner said he recently received four death threats, after sending a letter to 350,000 Thuringians to convince them not to vote for the AfD.
The AfD has little chance of entering government in Thuringia or elsewhere for now as all other political parties have refused to ally with it to form a government.
But Wagner fears the party, with its representation in the state parliament, could still work to reduce funding of the Buchenwald memorial, half of which is provided by the regional government.
In the event of a major budget cut, he said, it might have to limit the guided tours it offers.
Wagner also said that in future the memorial may use social media sites including TikTok to help spread its educational message.
Some local people may support the AfD, a decade-old party which opposes multiculturalism, Islam and environmentalism, while condemning historical revisionism and extremism.
Those who have defaced and vandalised the Buchenwald site "are idiots with no political motivation and do not represent the AfD," said pensioner Uwe Baumann, 63.
He had come to visit the former camp with Hungarian friends and was crossing a vast open area surrounded by barbed wire, near the camp's former crematorium.
"The AfD is seen as the black sheep, but it has no problem relating to the Nazi past," Baumann said.
Wagner, however, argued that "the AfD not only downplays Nazi crimes but also spreads positive references to Nazism".
The historian pointed out that Hoecke had included a song by poet Franz Langheinrich, one of the architects of Nazi cultural policy in the 1930s, in his election programme.
This year, courts have twice fined Hoecke for knowingly referencing a slogan once used by a Nazi paramilitary group at rallies.
German politicians and anti-fascist groups have voiced similar concerns.
"By downplaying the Holocaust, Bjoern Hoecke also denies the foundations of German democracy," said Lorenz Blumenthaler of the Amadeu Antonio Foundation, an advocacy group committed to fighting the extreme right.
Germany's culture of remembrance, he said, was not "imposed by the government" but "comes from civil society".
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also voiced concerns about the shifting mood, speaking on Monday which marked the 10th anniversary of the creation of a memorial dedicated to disabled victims of Nazism.
"There are political forces that today are once again contesting (Nazi crimes), relativising or minimising them," he said.
"We are deeply ashamed of this."
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE:THG Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday after the company announced a dividend. The stock traded as high as $148.46 and last traded at $147.11, with a volume of 18738 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $146.99.
The newly announced dividend which will be paid on Friday, September 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 13th will be given a $0.85 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 13th. This represents a $3.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.31%. The Hanover Insurance Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 76.23%.
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Analysts Set New Price Targets
A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on THG shares. Bank of America decreased their price target on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from $161.00 to $158.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, August 6th. Piper Sandler boosted their target price on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from $147.00 to $162.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. JMP Securities boosted their target price on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a market outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price objective on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from $142.00 to $144.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Tuesday, August 13th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, The Hanover Insurance Group presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $157.80.
The Hanover Insurance Group Stock Performance
The company has a 50-day moving average of $133.23 and a 200-day moving average of $131.45. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.03 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a current ratio of 0.40, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31.
The Hanover Insurance Group (NYSE:THG Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 31st. The insurance provider reported $1.88 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $1.88. The business had revenue of $1.54 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.49 billion. The Hanover Insurance Group had a net margin of 4.44% and a return on equity of 12.42%. The Hanover Insurance Groups quarterly revenue was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted ($1.91) EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. will post 10.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Insider Buying and Selling at The Hanover Insurance Group
In related news, EVP Richard W. Lavey sold 8,468 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.01, for a total value of $1,219,476.68. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 36,281 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,224,826.81. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, SVP Warren E. Barnes sold 500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.25, for a total transaction of $69,125.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 3,013 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $416,547.25. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Richard W. Lavey sold 8,468 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.01, for a total transaction of $1,219,476.68. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 36,281 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,224,826.81. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 10,852 shares of company stock valued at $1,541,491 in the last quarter. 2.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On The Hanover Insurance Group
A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,623,766 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $439,998,000 after buying an additional 13,030 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its position in The Hanover Insurance Group by 5.5% in the second quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,341,253 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $168,247,000 after purchasing an additional 70,161 shares during the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its position in The Hanover Insurance Group by 1.6% in the first quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 1,008,866 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $137,377,000 after purchasing an additional 16,040 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its stake in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group by 75.4% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 965,374 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $117,217,000 after purchasing an additional 414,993 shares during the period. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. increased its position in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group by 4.3% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 802,033 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $100,607,000 after purchasing an additional 33,249 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.61% of the companys stock.
About The Hanover Insurance Group
(Get Free Report)
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides various property and casualty insurance products and services in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Core Commercial, Specialty, Personal Lines, and Other. The Commercial Lines segment offers commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, workers' compensation, and other commercial lines coverage.
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Trane Technologies plc (NYSE:TT Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Friday, June 7th, Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 6th will be given a dividend of 0.84 per share on Monday, September 30th. This represents a $3.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.97%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 6th.
Trane Technologies has increased its dividend by an average of 12.3% annually over the last three years. Trane Technologies has a dividend payout ratio of 27.2% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities analysts expect Trane Technologies to earn $12.09 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $3.36 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 27.8%.
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Trane Technologies Price Performance
Shares of TT stock opened at $346.53 on Thursday. The stocks fifty day moving average is $338.02 and its 200-day moving average is $319.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 1.17. Trane Technologies has a 52 week low of $184.02 and a 52 week high of $363.15. The stock has a market capitalization of $78.44 billion, a PE ratio of 37.02, a PEG ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 1.01.
Insiders Place Their Bets
Trane Technologies ( NYSE:TT Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 31st. The company reported $3.30 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.08 by $0.22. Trane Technologies had a net margin of 12.33% and a return on equity of 33.97%. The firm had revenue of $5.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.13 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.68 EPS. The companys revenue was up 12.8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that Trane Technologies will post 10.82 EPS for the current fiscal year.
In other news, CEO David S. Regnery sold 29,450 shares of Trane Technologies stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $321.25, for a total transaction of $9,460,812.50. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 132,946 shares in the company, valued at approximately $42,708,902.50. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Trane Technologies news, EVP Raymond D. Pittard sold 1,805 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 7th. The stock was 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 owns 83,517 shares in the company, valued at approximately $27,447,862.05. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO David S. Regnery sold 29,450 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $321.25, for a total value of $9,460,812.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 132,946 shares in the company, valued at $42,708,902.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.38% of the companys stock.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
Several research analysts recently weighed in on TT shares. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on shares of Trane Technologies from $360.00 to $365.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, August 1st. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Trane Technologies from $310.00 to $315.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Thursday, August 1st. Stephens reiterated an equal weight rating and issued a $350.00 price target on shares of Trane Technologies in a report on Monday, August 5th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Trane Technologies from $330.00 to $375.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, June 3rd. Finally, Barclays raised their target price on shares of Trane Technologies from $385.00 to $394.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Trane Technologies presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $323.29.
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About Trane Technologies
(Get 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.
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Vance Wealth Inc. reduced its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF (NYSEARCA:IVLU Free Report) by 1.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 87,541 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,672 shares during the quarter. iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF accounts for about 1.0% of Vance Wealth Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 28th biggest holding. Vance Wealth Inc.s holdings in iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF were worth $2,402,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of IVLU. Index Fund Advisors Inc. raised its position in iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF by 2.2% in the second quarter. Index Fund Advisors Inc. now owns 26,452 shares of the companys stock valued at $726,000 after purchasing an additional 571 shares during the last quarter. Valmark Advisers Inc. boosted its position in iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF by 12.2% during the 2nd quarter. Valmark Advisers Inc. now owns 8,237 shares of the companys stock worth $226,000 after buying an additional 896 shares during the period. Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its holdings in iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF by 3.1% during the 2nd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 25,722 shares of the companys stock worth $710,000 after acquiring an additional 785 shares during the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC increased its position in iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF by 13.5% in the 2nd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 29,477 shares of the companys stock valued at $809,000 after acquiring an additional 3,499 shares during the period. Finally, Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF by 2.2% during the second quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 95,214 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,613,000 after acquiring an additional 2,092 shares during the last quarter.
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iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF Trading Up 0.1 %
Shares of IVLU opened at $28.77 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.80 billion, a PE ratio of 9.61 and a beta of 0.70. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $28.16 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $28.04. iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF has a 12 month low of $23.89 and a 12 month high of $29.30.
iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF Company Profile
The iShares Edge MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF (IVLU) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI World ex USA Enhanced Value index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap developed ex-US equities, selected using fundamental metrics, and weighted by these metrics and market-cap. IVLU was launched on Jun 16, 2015 and is managed by BlackRock.
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Weaver Capital Management LLC cut its stake in MSCI Inc. (NYSE:MSCI Free Report) by 8.8% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 634 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 61 shares during the period. Weaver Capital Management LLCs holdings in MSCI were worth $305,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Rise Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of MSCI in the 1st quarter valued at $26,000. Rothschild Investment LLC acquired a new stake in shares of MSCI during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Crewe Advisors LLC acquired a new position in MSCI in the first quarter valued at approximately $34,000. American National Bank grew its holdings in MSCI by 1,300.0% during the 4th quarter. American National Bank now owns 70 shares of the technology companys stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the period. Finally, Ridgewood Investments LLC bought a new stake in shares of MSCI during the 2nd quarter valued at $40,000. 89.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
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Analyst Ratings Changes
Several brokerages have commented on MSCI. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $638.00 target price on shares of MSCI in a research note on Wednesday, July 24th. Wells Fargo & Company raised MSCI to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 13th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on MSCI from $615.00 to $640.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 24th. Argus boosted their price objective on MSCI from $520.00 to $600.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Finally, Barclays increased their price objective on shares of MSCI from $600.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 24th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, MSCI presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $584.79.
MSCI Stock Down 0.1 %
Shares of NYSE:MSCI opened at $572.94 on Thursday. MSCI Inc. has a 12-month low of $439.95 and a 12-month high of $617.39. The companys 50 day moving average price is $532.31 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $521.88. The firm has a market cap of $45.06 billion, a PE ratio of 39.11, a PEG ratio of 3.16 and a beta of 1.10.
MSCI (NYSE:MSCI Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 23rd. The technology company reported $3.64 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.55 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $707.90 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $696.41 million. MSCI had a negative return on equity of 143.09% and a net margin of 43.86%. MSCIs revenue for the quarter was up 14.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $3.26 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that MSCI Inc. will post 14.79 EPS for the current year.
MSCI Dividend Announcement
The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 16th were paid a $1.60 dividend. This represents a $6.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.12%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 16th. MSCIs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 43.69%.
MSCI Profile
(Free Report)
MSCI Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides critical decision support tools and solutions for the investment community to manage investment processes worldwide. The Index segment provides indexes for use in various areas of the investment process, including indexed financial product, such as ETFs, mutual funds, annuities, futures, options, structured products, and over-the-counter derivatives; performance benchmarking; portfolio construction and rebalancing; and asset allocation, as well as licenses GICS and GICS Direct.
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Jonathan Diamond is the business editor at the Houston Chronicle. He can be reached at jonathan.diamond@houstonchronicle.com.
Jonathan leads the Chronicle's business coverage and served as deputy business editor from 2019 to 2022. The former West Coast editor of CoStar News in Los Angeles, he was also previously editor of the Los Angeles Business Journal, leading it in 2016 to 16 national and regional journalism awards.
Jonathan holds a bachelors degree in journalism from Boston University and a masters in public policy from UCLA.
Top Southeast Asia exporter Vietnam needs more infrastructure investment: McKinsey
By Tri Duc Thu, September 5, 2024 | 9:25 pm GMT+7
As Southeast Asia's biggest exporter, Vietnam's projected infrastructure investment is below the optimum level required to match its trade growth, says McKinsey & Company.
Trade activities at Chu Lai port, Quang Nam province, central Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Thilogi.
In a Thursday commentary, the American consulting firm said Vietnam is currently the largest exporter in the region, with exports growing from $320 billion in 2019 to $440 billion in 2023, achieving a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.2%.
The growth is largely driven by substantial FDI in the manufacturing sector, particularly in electronics. There are significant export flows between Vietnam and Europe, mainland China, and the United States, it noted.
Other major exporters in Southeast Asia are Indonesia, with value rising from $180 billion in 2019 to $290 billion in 2023, Malaysia from $280 billion to $370 billion, and Thailand from $257 billion to $314 billion.
China remains a dominant exporter. Photo courtesy of McKinsey.
However, McKinsey pointed out that even with all the expected exports and growth of production in Southeast Asia, China will likely stay the most important producer and exporter in the region.
The growth rate may be the same, but Chinas exports reached around $3.5 trillion in 2023, almost double the total of Southeast Asian volumes at $1.8 trillion.
Even as production ramps up in the region, China will continue to benefit from its achieved size and remain a major force in manufacturing, McKinsey added.
Investing in logistics infrastructure to meet export demand
The global supply chain is constantly changing, shaped by manufacturers around the world striving to limit risk, build resilience, manage costs, and explore new markets for production, McKinsey highlighted.
As many manufacturers seek to reduce their dependence on a single supply source, Southeast Asia is emerging as a prominent manufacturing hub. Indonesia and Vietnam are currently leading the manufacturing and trade flow shifts.
In 2023, Indonesia received about $33 billion in greenfield manufacturing FDI and Vietnam about $16 billion, the consulting firm stressed. The most prominent trend in Vietnam is increasing growth in electronics; and in Indonesia, in metals and chemicals.
The shift in FDI toward Southeast Asia underscores the strategic importance of these countries in the global supply chain. And for investors and logistics providers, this presents opportunities to capitalize on the growing demand for infrastructure and logistics services.
Governments in these countries have made significant infrastructure investments to support this growth. While substantial investments have been made or planned, McKinsey suggests that if trade continues on its current trajectory, there could be an additional $60 billion opportunity to provide trade infrastructure in the region.
Southeast Asia needs to invest more in infrastructure. Photo courtesy of McKinsey.
In particular, Vietnam announced infrastructure capital expenditure of $117.3 billion in 2025-2030, about $11.46 billion below the optimal figure. The country could hold potential for containerization of electronics shipments, McKinsey recommended.
In Vietnam, chemicals and electronics exports are growing fast and could represent areas of opportunity where logistics support may be needed.
Chemicals exports to mainland China have more than doubled since 2016, as have electronics exports to mainland China, Taiwan, and the United States. Overall, there has been increased containerization in Vietnams exports, suggesting another area for growth, McKinsey added.
A police officer died in the line of duty Wednesday, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety.
South Carolina State Transport Police Officer Mark Reynolds, a 43-year-old Florence native, suffered a medical emergency during training and died Wednesday night, Department of Public Safety officials said in a news release.
Reynolds cause of death has not been made public. Information about the type of training Reynolds was participating in when he suffered the medical emergency was not available.
The death of Officer First Class Reynolds is a profound loss, not only for the State Transport Police, but the entire Department of Public Safety, SCDPS Director Robert Woods said in the release. We are all hugging our families a little closer tonight and praying for Marks wife, children, friends and loved ones who are left reeling from this sudden loss.
After serving as a firefighter for more than a decade and working as a professional truck driver, Reynolds joined the State Transport Police in 2022, according to the release. He was assigned to Region 5, which includes Florence, Williamsburg and Georgetown counties, officials said.
Reynolds was the first State Transport Police officer to die in the line of duty since the division of the Department of Public Safety was created in 1993, according to the release.
Today is a very sad day for the State Transport Police. For anyone who knew Mark personally, he was well liked, respected and extremely dependable, STP Colonel Dwayne Wilson said in the release. He was committed to his job and lived a life of service to the state, through his years as a firefighter and most recently as one of our officers. He will be greatly missed.
The Department of Public Safety said information about a memorial service for Reynolds wasnt available, but it would be shared with the public when plans are made.
(TBTCO) - Gia xe SH moi nhat thang 10/2024 tai ai ly ang giam soc, mot so phien ban ang uoc ban re hon gia e xuat, ay la ieu hiem co cua dong xe Honda. Trong khi o, gia xe Vision tai ai ly ang o muc thap chua tung co, tinh trang oi gia cao gan nhu a khong con.
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PayTabs Group, Menas award-winning payments powerhouse, has revealed it is set to cross SR200 billion ($53.3 billion) in payment processing volumes by 2025.
This exponential growth is attributed to its payment orchestration platform, private labelling solutions and super app scaling businesses across the Mena region.
This aligns with the companys ambitious goal of achieving 200% to 400% year-on-year growth across established and emerging markets in the Mena region.
Expansion plans
PayTabs expansion plans include scaling its core payment and orchestration platform operations further in the region while working with central banks and large cards schemes this year. PayTabs orchestration platform has the ability to manage and process billions in payment volumes across the region, effortlessly per second through servers located inside Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and other Arab countries.
A glimpse of this orchestration technology has been showcased at the 24Fintech via a real-time live transaction feed with visitors curious to explore the platform and learn more about PayTabs secure, scalable, and frictionless payment processing capabilities.
Speaking at 24Fintech, Abdulaziz Al Jouf, PayTabs Group CEO and Founder, said: We are proud to be the leading partner for enterprises and governments, looking to streamline their payment processes and foster growth. We invite all businesses to visit us at 24Fintech to experience in real-time how our orchestration platform and super app is driving the regions payment economy.
Building and owning IP rights
The company has operated in the GCC & Middle East markets for a decade building and owning IP rights across payment core banking infra that enables governments and corporates to create its own independent and stand-alone payment platforms.
Business analysts at the 24 Fintech event are speculating that the company may be exploring new avenues to capitalise on its market-leading position via an Initial Public Offering, shortly.--TradeArabia News Service
A new whitepaper has stressed the critical need for greater public sector involvement to strengthen societal resilience in the event a catastrophic cyber event occurs.
The whitepaper is from Marsh McLennan, the worlds leading professional services firm in the areas of risk, strategy and people, and Zurich Insurance Group, a leading global multi-line insurer and provider of resilience services.
The whitepaper, Closing the cyber risk protection gap, emphasises the urgent need for innovative solutions to close the gap between risk and insurance particularly for small and medium-size businesses that are often uninsured or underinsured as rapidly-evolving cyber threats are outpacing the capacity of traditional insurance and risk management solutions to fully mitigate them.
Mass malware
It highlights mass malware and mass cloud outage as examples of cyber incidents that are currently considered insurable up to a certain level of financial loss, and events such as critical infrastructure failure, which are generally considered uninsurable.
John Doyle, President & Chief Executive Officer, Marsh McLennan, said: The severe threat presented by cyber risks requires collective action to bridge the protection gap. The insurance industry and the public sector must fully understand the spectrum of insurable and currently non-insurable cyber events. Through greater collaboration, we can develop innovative solutions, inform insurance buyers, enhance the cyber insurance market, and establish robust public-private partnerships that safeguard our society and economy from potentially catastrophic cyber events.
Mario Greco, Group Chief Executive Officer, Zurich Insurance Group, said: The threat of cyberattacks poses a significant risk to both societal and economic stability. As insurers, we can offer some degree of protection, but we must acknowledge that large-scale, catastrophic cyber events present substantial accumulation risks that cannot be borne by the private sector alone.
Therefore, enhancing cyber resilience is vital to addressing this protection gap. Achieving this requires strong public-private partnerships to develop comprehensive strategies that secure our digital future.
Protection gap
According to the whitepaper, establishing a common framework for data sharing, greater and more meaningful collaboration, and innovation between the insurance industry and public sector is required to help tackle this protection gap, strengthen resilience, and safeguard societies and economies from the escalating cyber threat landscape. This not only includes ransomware attacks and threats from bad actors, but global IT outages and other increasingly interconnected incidents.
The framework would include robust incentives as an alternative to further regulation, methods to measure quantifiable catastrophic cyber risk, and strategies to manage unquantifiable cyber risk through public-private partnerships.
The whitepaper asserts that these measures could help sustain the broader economy and create capacity for the insurance market to support society against the backdrop of severe financial accumulation risks.--TradeArabia News Service
Saipem has been awarded two offshore contracts in Saudi Arabia under its existing Long-Term Agreement with Aramco. The overall value of the two contracts is approximately $1 billion.
Saipems scope of work under the first contract involves the engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) of three production deck modules (PDMs), 33 km of subsea rigid pipelines with diameters of 12 inches and 16 inches, and 34 km of subsea power cables. The infrastructures will be installed in the Marjan oil and gas field.
The second contract involves the EPCI of three jackets, five PDMs (Production Deck Modules), 22 km of subsea rigid pipelines with a diameter of 16 inches, 5 kilometers of subsea flexible pipelines, and 35 km of subsea power cables. The infrastructures will be installed in the Zuluf and Safaniyah oil fields.
For the offshore component of the two projects, Saipem will deploy its construction vessels that are operating in the region.
The fabrication related to the projects will be executed at Saipems Saudi fabrication yard, Saipem Taqa Al-Rushaid Fabricators, aiming to increase and develop the capabilities of local industry.
The awards strengthen Saipems presence in Saudi Arabia and its longstanding relationship with Aramco. -TradeArabia News Service
The inimitable bio-exorcist Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton, with Bob, rear) returns in director Tim Burtons Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Parisa Taghizadeh/TNS Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) is back in Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," a sequel to the 1988 film "Beetlejuice." Warner Bros. Pictures Michael Keaton returns as the title character in Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," Warner Bros. Pictures
Its hard to overstate the impact Tim Burtons Beetlejuice had on the culture in 1988 in fact, it feels like the rascally, wild-haired bio-exorcist memorably embodied by Michael Keaton has simply always been around, especially for a subset of millennials who grew up with the zany horror comedy on repeat. The Oscar-winning film was a critical and commercial success, it spawned an animated series and later a Broadway musical, and now, 36 years after Beetlejuice made young Winona Ryder a star, a sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, finally skitters into theaters.
The idea of a follow-up to the hit film has long been bandied about, with scripts for Beetlejuice in Love and Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian having been written, but it took three decades for something to come together, and this current cultural moment demands a lega-sequel, given the appetite for anything and everything nostalgic.
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Unfortunately, Beetlejuice fans will have to abandon the leis and board shorts, because this long-awaited sequel takes place right back where we started, in Winter River, Connecticut (and the afterlife, of course). Ryders iconic character, Lydia Deetz who defined quirky-Goth Gen X cool with her spiky bangs and sarcastic sense of black humor is now, like most women of her generation, a mom with a job. She hosts a paranormal talk show called Ghost House, and, karmically, struggles to parent a surly teen, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), who eye-rolls at moms new boyfriend, Rory (Justin Theroux), her producer, who is obsessed with overly sensitive therapy speak.
The Deetz women, including Lydias stepmother, conceptual artist Delia (Catherine OHara), are compelled to reconvene in Winter River upon the occasion of Lydias father Charles death. (Charles Deetz, played in the original film by Jeffrey Jones, is here rendered a particularly gruesome claymation death, by plane crash and shark attack, and his character wanders around the afterlife with his head and shoulders chomped off.)
Catherin O'Hara, Jenna Ortega, Winona Ryder and Justin Theroux star in Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice." Warner Bros. Pictures
While the original film is a wacky family comedy about death and real estate, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice attempts to be a bit more, stretching to find emotional resonance in what it means to connect with the dead. Astrid is a cynic who refuses to believe in ghosts, but when she has the opportunity to visit the afterlife, she jumps at it, simply because she misses her deceased father (Santiago Cabrera) so much. Lydia, tormented by visions of ghosts and sensing the presence of Beetlejuice close by, needs to make peace with her hauntings.
Speaking of the old boy, hes got his own issues going on downstairs, namely an ex-wife (Monica Bellucci), stapled together and stalking him around his workplace, glowering beautifully. Belluccis stylish but underwritten role is indicative of some of the systemic issues that plague Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, which is, namely, too many celebrities. Certain roles are nothing more than glorified cameos (Danny DeVito) while others feel shoehorned in and distracting from the main plot (Willem Dafoe as a dead actor turned noir-ish afterlife detective).
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'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' Rated PG-13: violent content, macabre and bloody images, strong language, some suggestive material and brief drug use Running time: 105 minutes Where: Opens Friday throughout Houston (out of 5)
After a first hour that feels somewhat forced and overly contrived, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice coheres for a brief moment in the middle, and we get to see some of the weird and wonderful chemistry that Ryder and Keaton still possess while inhabiting these characters. But the film then descends into hectic, harried chaos, as Burton and his Wednesday screenwriters Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (Seth Grahame-Smith has a story by credit) just toss characters, monsters and familiar set pieces into a blender and let it rip. Sandworms! Singing! Disco!
Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) and Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) return in Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," a sequel to the 1988 film "Beetlejuice." Warner Bros. Pictures/Courtesy of Warner Bros. Picture
Watching Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is not an unpleasant experience, as it maintains a familiar irreverent tone, and a gorgeously morbid and imaginative look. The underworld is particularly well-designed, and Burton manages a blend of CGI and practical effects that maintains some of the charm of the original.
Certain qualities are undeniable, such as Keatons command of this character, OHaras unique wit and the presence of Dafoe, who can elevate any project, no matter the role. Ryder has the heaviest performance lift, transitioning her character from teen to mom, but she finds her elder Lydia groove in the back half of the film.
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Jordan and the UAE on Wednesday signed agreements to initiate a $2.3-billion railway project that will connect Jordan's Port of Aqaba to its mining sites of Shidiyah and Ghor Al Safi.
The project signed between Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE National Railway Network, and the Ministry of Transport is part of a broader investment package totalling around $5.5 billion, which was signed in late 2023 in the presence of His Majesty King Abdullah and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said a Jordan Times report.
The agreement aims at building, developing, and operating a Jordanian railway network spanning 360 kilometres, linking phosphate and potash mines to the Port of Aqaba, Emirates News Agency, WAM, said.
Furthermore, the company signed two additional MoUs with Jordan Phosphate Mines Company and Arab Potash Company to transport 16 million tonnes of phosphate and potash annually from mining sites to the Port of Aqaba via the Jordanian railway network.
This strategic connection aims to create a transformative shift in the transportation of essential materials, enhance export capabilities, and improve logistical efficiency, thus, creating job opportunities in the transport and mining sectors, and contributing to economic development in the kingdom.
During the signing ceremony, which was attended by UAE Minister of Investment Mohamed Suwaidi, Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh highlighted the strategic significance of the railway project, underscoring the solid relationship between Jordan and the UAE, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.
The prime minister said that the railway project is expected to be completed within five years, with operations beginning in 2030, adding that detailed studies on the railway routes and the handling of potash and phosphate will be finalised by the end of 2025, with construction tenders anticipated to be issued in early 2026.
The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has discussed ways to enhance trade and investment cooperation between business communities in the emirate and Nepal, a report said.
Emphasising the UAE businesses commitment to diversify their investments, the discussions highlighted opportunities for strategic partnerships with Nepali companies at the private sector level, leveraging the robust ties between the two countries to unlock new commercial possibilities, Emirates News Agency, WAM, said.
The discussions took place during a meeting between Sheikh Majid Faisal Khalid Al Qasemi, First Vice Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Tej Bahadur, Ambassador of Nepal to the UAE.
The meeting delved into the potential signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster deeper trade ties between the UAE and Nepal's private sectors.
The MoU would seek to advance shared economic interests by increasing exports across sectors such as trade, handicrafts, gold, and agriculture.
The move is also expected to contribute to bolstering food security and promoting sustainable development in both nations.
During the meeting, Sheikh Majid Al Qasemi underscored the steady growth in economic relations between the UAE and Nepal, noting that the UAE is a key non-oil trade partner for Nepal.
He pointed to the importance of reciprocal visits in fostering deeper cooperation between the private sectors of both nations, while also exploring new opportunities in areas such as food security, tourism ventures, and investments in renewable energy.
Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General of SCCI, emphasised that Sharjah is known for its competitive investment advantages and strategic perks, citing the emirate's attractive business environment and the innovative facilities provided by the Sharjah Chamber.
These services are designed to help investors grow their economic activities and create a supportive framework for business growth and prosperity.
Al Awadi also encouraged Nepali companies to join the Watch and Jewellery Middle East Show and ExpoCulinaire, which are both hosted and organised annually by Expo Centre Sharjah.
Tenaui, a leader in digital commercial printing solutions in the Saudi Arabian printing market, recently inaugurated the largest digital commercial printing press in the Middle East.
Located in Ali Ibn Al Mufaddal, And Noor, Riyadh 14271, the state-of-the-art Tenaui Commercial Digital Printing Centre is the first-of-its-kind facility in the kingdom. The centre is powered by Canon's latest inkjet technology that meets the Saudi market's diverse and growing digital print needs.
This landmark facility represents a strategic investment in Saudi Arabia's printing industry, aligning with the kingdom's Vision 2030 goals for economic diversification and technological advancement.
Digital revolution
The Saudi Arabian printing market is experiencing a digital revolution, with exponential growth driven by increasing demand for personalised and short-run print jobs. Driven by growing consumer demand and a surge in businesses setting up base or relocating to Saudi Arabia, the Saudi imaging and printing market is set to quadruple in size by 2030, according to recent reports, historical sales data, prevailing market trends and local expert insights from Canon Middle East & Turkey.
This shift is accompanied by a growing emphasis on sustainable businesses solutions that reduce waste and energy consumption. To meet these evolving needs, the market requires high-volume digital printing capabilities that can deliver consistent image quality, efficiency, and productivity, along with cost-effective solutions that offer a lower cost per print without sacrificing quality.
The opening ceremony was attended by Peter Saak, Executive Vice President of Canon Europe's Developing Regions Business Group, Venkatasubramanian (Subbu) Hariharan, Managing Director, Canon Middle East, and Turkey, Shadi Bakhour, B2B Business Unit Director, Canon Middle East, General Manager, Canon Saudi Arabia & alongside Yasser Elfarra, CEO of Tenaui.
Strategically positioned
The new facility, equipped with Canon's cutting-edge technology, is strategically positioned to address these market trends, and drive the print market forward in the region. The centre is equipped with VarioPRINT i300 and VarioPRINT iX-3200 for high-volume digital commercial inkjet printing solutions. A fleet of Canon imagePRESS V1350 and imagePRESS V1000 Colour Production printers alongside online and offline finishing options to cater to different commercial printing applications.
Elfarra said: "With a rich two decades of deep sector experience, Tenaui is the Middle Easts leading printing supplier, and we have an innate understanding of the local market needs and growth trajectory.
The opening of this advanced printing centre marks a new era for the printing industry in Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East region. With Canon's innovative technology, we are now positioned to meet the growing demand for high-quality, high-volume digital printing solutions across various sectors."
The new facility caters to a wide range of printing needs, from books and magazines to brochures and commercial materials, offering unparalleled quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. It can handle up to 10 million prints per month, making it an ideal solution for large-scale digital printing operations.
Hariharan commented: "Saudi Arabia is a strategic growth market for Canon, and our partnership with Tenaui exemplifies our commitment to empowering our valued customers and partners in the region, both existing and new, in this new world of technological behavior, and to achieve their business goals, by being a part of Canons ecosystem and cutting-edge technology products and services.
Advancing printing industry
Tenauis new state-of-the-art facility powered by Canons industry-leading technology is a testament to our belief in the Saudi vision for digital transformation and economic diversification. We're proud to play a role in advancing the kingdom's printing industry and contributing to its Vision 2030 goals."
Shadi Bakhour, B2B Business Unit Director, Canon Middle East & General Manager, Canon Saudi Arabia, said: "Launching this cutting-edge facility with Tenaui marks a significant development for the Saudi printing market. We've seen exponential growth in demand for personalised and short-run print jobs across the Kingdom, and this new centre is perfectly positioned to meet these evolving needs.
The new centre marks the first installation of the VarioPRINT iX-3200 in Riyadh, offering commercial digital printing solutions. Additionally, the presence of the LFP series further expands the range of advanced printing options available to businesses, offering unparalleled quality and efficiency to thrive in the digital age. We're excited to see how this technology will empower local businesses and contribute to the growth of Saudi Arabia's knowledge-based economy."
Canon's advanced print technologies offer a combination of high productivity, stunning image quality, and cost efficiency. The VarioPRINT series represents a breakthrough in commercial printing, supporting up to 10 million prints per month and handling a wide range of media. This versatility makes it ideal for producing books, magazines, flyers, and brochures. Meanwhile, the LFP series elevates fine art and photography printing with unbeatable image quality, colour precision, and long-lasting durability, catering to the needs of professional photographers and art print providers.--TradeArabia News Service
Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB), the island nations investment promotion agency, is set to kick off a multi-city tour across India from September 9 to 14.
Led by Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development, Chief Executive of Bahrain EDB, along with senior members of Bahrain EDB, the week-long visit will include a series of select events and meetings to showcase value-adding opportunities across priority sectors, namely manufacturing and information and communication technology (ICT), to targeted investors.
Designed to strengthen economic and trade ties between the two countries, as well as promote high-impact investment opportunities in Bahrain, the delegation will visit the cities of Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai; reinforcing Bahrains commitment towards maintaining a favourable and innovative investment ecosystem, enabling Indian businesses to expand in Bahrain and beyond.
Strategic location
Alkhulaif said: Bahrains strategic location at the heart of the Gulf and proximity to India, coupled with our progressive policies and welcoming business environment, makes it an ideal hub for Indian enterprises looking at expanding their global footprint.
With a robust pipeline of projects and strong interest from Indian investors, we are eager to showcase the wealth of investment opportunities Bahrain offers. This visit is a testament to our commitment to deepening bilateral ties, and forming strategic partnerships that will drive mutual growth and prosperity for both Bahrain and India.
According to Bahrains Ministry of Industry & Commerce, there are close to 10,900 Indian companies and Indian joint ventures registered in Bahrain as of 2023 (including their branches), which witnessed a growth of 62% since 2019.
India is also Bahrain's sixth-top investing country, with Indian FDI stock growing by 36.6% between 2019 and 2023, adding an average of $102 million each year and inward FDI stocks from India reaching $1.52 billion in 2023, accounting for around 4% of Bahrains total FDI stock.
Prominent Indian companies
Many prominent Indian companies, which include Tech Mahindra, Chemco, Electro Steel, Parle Biscuits, JBF Industries, Ultra Tech Cement, ICICI Bank, SBI Bank, and Kim's Health, have established operations in Bahrain benefiting from its unmatched value proposition that enables business to expand across the GCC market and the wider Mena region.
Bahrain EDB has several offices in strategic locations around the world including Mumbai, to promote Bahrain as a destination for investment. Supported by its headquarters in Bahrain, the Mumbai office serves as on-the-ground location to provide businesses in India with market intelligence, guidance and connecting them with the relevant decision-makers for various processes.
Bahrain remains committed to fostering a supportive ecosystem for investors, with forward looking policies aimed at simplifying business operations, offering unique competitive advantages leading to success stories with local roots and global impact.
These factors, combined with a highly skilled, bi-lingual, and diverse talent pool, advanced infrastructure, and strategic location, continue to cement Bahrain as an attractive destination for global investors around the world.--TradeArabia News Service
Dubai was voted Worlds Best MICE Destination at the 5th annual World MICE Awards Gala Ceremony that took place on September 4, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where the best MICE brands from across the globe were revealed.
The strength of Dubais MICE sector was acknowledged with Dubai World Trade Centre taking triple honours, winning Middle Easts Best Convention Centre, Worlds Best Professional Exhibitions Organiser and United Arab Emirates Best Convention Centre.
Museum of the Future enjoyed a fruitful evening, claiming Worlds Best MICE Event Venue and Middle East's Best MICE Event Venue.
Destination winners this year included Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam awarded Asias Best MICE Destination and Asias Best Incentive Destination, Lima, Peru was named Latin Americas Best MICE Destination, while Saint Lucia walked away with the title Caribbeans Best Corporate Retreat Destination.
Lisbon retained the title of Europes Best MICE Destination and Los Angeles won North Americas Best MICE Destination.
In the aviation sector, Vietnam Airlines was voted Asias Best MICE Airline, whilst Qatar Airways took the titles Middle Easts Best MICE Airline and Worlds Best MICE Airline. Kenya Airways walked away with Africas Best MICE Airline.
Graham Cooke, Founder, World MICE Awards, said: What a magnificent event! It has been truly memorable celebrating with our winners here in Ho Chi Minh City. World MICE Awards has had the privilege of recognising brands that are stellar examples of excellence in their field. My congratulations to each of them.
Other winners include Venice, Italy (Worlds Best Incentive Destination); IMEX Frankfurt (Worlds Best MICE Tradeshow); Vietravel (Worlds Best MICE Organiser); InterContinental Hotels & Resorts (Worlds Best MICE Hotel Brand); and Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay (Worlds Best New MICE Hotel).
The results follow a year-long search for the worlds leading MICE brands. Votes were cast by MICE industry professionals and the public, with the nominee gaining the most votes in a category named as the winner. TradeArabia News Service
Edge Group entity Lahab, the UAEs sole ammunition manufacturer, have signed an MoU with the Jordan Design and Development Bureau (JODDB) to certify Lahabs Ballistics Laboratory to NATO standards.
Under the MoU, signed at Sofex 2024 in Aqaba, Jordan, Lahab and the JODDB will identify opportunities to cooperate in the testing, evaluation, and assessing of small-calibre ammunition in accordance with internationally recognised NATO and military testing standards.
The agreement to qualify Lahabs Ballistics Laboratory with NATOs small-calibre ammunition testing standards is the latest development in Lahab and Edge Groups effort to expand the UAEs advanced industrial manufacturing base.
Utilising advanced instrumentation and computers, Lahab also adheres to the rigorous small-calibre ammunition testing standards set out by Europes CIP (Commission internationale permanente pour l'epreuve des armes a feu portatives), and North Americas SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute).--TradeArabia News Service
FHS ... to celebrate the unique flavours of the UAE
Top chefs from across the UAE will come under the spotlight at the regions first Sustainable Cook-off contest, taking place at Future Hospitality Summit FHS World at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, from September 30 to October 2.
The competition will celebrate the unique flavours of the UAE and culinary excellence while championing sustainability in line with government net-zero directives.
Being held in partnership with The Emirates Culinary Guild (ECG), UAE Restaurants Group (UAERG), Fresh On Table and the Hospitality Asset Managers Association (HAMA), the contest will see locally-sourced ingredients transformed into innovative, gastronomic masterpieces to be presented to a panel of esteemed judges and served to FHS delegates.
Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of FHS World organiser, The Bench, said: We are absolutely thrilled to add the Sustainable Cook-off to our list of first-time event features and attractions at FHS World 2024.
This unique competition a natural fit with FHS Worlds overarching theme of Invest in our Future is the perfect platform for chefs to grow, develop and foster young talent.
And, with the spotlight on ESG like never before, its an ideal way to highlight and promote sustainable practices in terms of culinary, hotel, and event operations.
It is also very fitting that our Sustainable Cook-off is taking place at Madinat Jumeirah the original home of the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC), now FHS.
Jumeirah, our host sponsor, has proactively led the way on sustainable practices over the last decade and continues to explore ways to innovate and make major events like FHS more sustainable.
The Sustainable Cook-off is themed The Sustainable 7 Emirates, with a focus on fresh produce from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman and Sharjah.
The ECG and UAERG is partnering with FreshOnTable to source and secure the local ingredients, which include Manchego cheese, honey, sea bream, exotic mushrooms and edible flowers.
Atul Chopra, Founder & CEO, FreshOnTable, said: At FreshOnTable, we are excited to have envisioned the concept of showcasing seven ingredients from seven emirates for this innovative event.
The Sustainable Cook-off is not just a competition; its a celebration of how local ingredients and creative techniques can unite to promote a more sustainable future in gastronomy.
We look forward to seeing how the UAEs top chefs will bring this idea to life, setting new benchmarks for environmental impact and culinary creativity.
The contest kicks off with a virtual format, where the chefs chosen recipe and photograph of the dish are submitted to judges for assessment.
The top 15 will then be invited to cook their dish live at FHS World, with five chefs recreating their culinary masterpiece each day of the event. And, to ensure that FHS World delegates get a taste of the action, each creation will be replicated by the Madinat Jumeirah Culinary Team and served to FHS World attendees.
Spearheading the work, creativity and forward-thinking approach of UAE chefs is Andy Cuthbert, President of the Emirates Culinary Guild, advisor to the UAE Restaurants Group and General Manager, Madinat Jumeirah Conferences and Events.
He said: The UAE is firmly established as a leading hub for culinary innovation and education, and a world-class destination for gastronomes. With that, comes a responsibility to help protect the environment in line with UAE government net zero objectives.
As sustainability becomes more and more important, the hospitality fraternity must continually think about how their actions today affect our planet of tomorrow.
The Sustainable Cook-off is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the talent, imagination and green-thinking approach among some of the countrys most renowned chefs.
Abdulla AlMulla, Chairman, UAE Restaurants Group, said: I am confident that the Sustainable Cook-Off will inspire not only the participants but also the entire culinary community to embrace sustainability and innovation.
It is through events like this that we can collectively elevate the standards of our industry and continue to celebrate the unique and diverse flavours that the Emirates have to offer. TradeArabia News Service
The Best Chef said its 8th annual awards event will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from November 4-6, 2024. Set to be the largest edition, the 2024 instalment of the awards reflects the expanding influence of The Best Chef platform, and the growing significance of Dubai in the culinary world, it said.
Powered by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), this groundbreaking edition stands as the inaugural global culinary awards event to take place in Dubai and the Middle East, cementing the citys position as a hub for culinary brilliance in the international gastronomic scene.
Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), said: We are honoured that Dubai has been selected to host The Best Chef Awards for the first time outside Europe and the Americas, further reinforcing the citys position as an international events destination and culinary capital.
This also aligns with the aspiration of our visionary leadership and the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to further consolidate Dubais status as a leading global city for business and leisure.
Furthermore, the choice of Dubai as the venue for the events latest edition is a testament to the continued support of our stakeholders and partners.
With local and Dubai-based restaurants increasingly gaining acclaim on a global scale, we look forward to welcoming some of the worlds top culinary talents, while showcasing our citys innovative spirit and its vibrant and diverse culinary landscape.
The Best Chef Awards 2024 in Dubai will convene a lineup of global culinary figures, featuring renowned chefs such as Vaughan Mabee of Amisfield, Albert Adria of Enigma, Angel Leon of Aponiente, and Floriano Pellegrino & Isabella Poti of BROS, underscoring the event's status as a premier platform for international culinary excellence.
The event will shine the spotlight on Dubais leading chefs including Gregoire Berger (Ossiano), Mohammed Orfali (Orfali Bros), and Himanshu Saini (Tresind Studio, Avatara) who are key contenders for top accolades, reflecting their significant impact on the local gastronomic landscape.
Meanwhile, DETs annual gastronomy research found that 79% of UAE residents said Dubai is the worlds leading gastronomic hub, ahead of Milan and Paris. As a burgeoning food innovation hub, Dubai is also garnering recognition for exporting sought-after homegrown contemporary dining concepts and brands to leading destinations worldwide, including Kinoya, GAIA and Robertos.
The event will showcase Dubai's emerging culinary talents such as Wassim Orfali (Orfali Bros) and Christophe Devoille (The Royal Tea Room, Atlantis The Royal) in pastry, alongside Tetsuya Wakuda (Sagetsu) and Rita Sueidan (Maisan 15), who are set to enrich the city-wide programming with their innovative approaches.
Local award candidates Eva Halasa of Three by Eva, Kelvin Cheung of Juns, and Arianna Bundy of Arianas Persian Kitchen will further highlight the breadth of culinary expertise that Dubai has to offer.
The Best Chef Awards 2024 marks the events largest edition ever in addition to serving as a critical nexus for industry networking, collaboration, and recognition of both established and emerging culinary professionals on a local and global scale.
Highlights
Global Culinary Leadership: With the recent introduction of a new voting and ranking system, this years The Best Chef Awards is set to be the largest culinary event of its kind, attracting the world's top chefs. A diverse group of renowned international chefs, alongside prominent journalists and influencers from the food industry, will converge to engage in dialogue and shape the future of global gastronomy.
The Future of Food (R)evolution: 'Area Talks' and the 'Food Meets Science' conference will feature cutting-edge discussions on culinary innovation, led by renowned chefs and academic experts. These sessions are designed to explore the latest trends and technologies shaping the future of gastronomy, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of food science among attendees.
The Best Chef Awards Gala: The event will culminate in a grand Awards Gala where the worlds best chefs will be recognised, celebrating their contributions to the culinary arts. Set to host movers and shakers from across the globe, the gala will showcase a full spectrum of global talents, highlighting their contributions to the culinary world.
City-Wide Engagement & Networking Opportunities: Supported by Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), The Best Chef Awards 2024 will catalyse city-wide campaigns and industry activations, enriching Dubais culinary scene. These initiatives will include culinary pop-ups, interactive workshops, and business networking events, designed to integrate and engage both local and international communities.
Cristian Gadau, co-founder of The Best Chef Awards, said: "Dubai is the place to be and was a natural choice for expanding the global footprint of The Best Chef Awards. Its reputation as a melting pot of cultures and its burgeoning status as a culinary destination align perfectly with our vision of global gastronomic excellence.
By bringing The Best Chef Awards to Dubai, we aim to tap into its vibrant energy and innovative spirit, showcasing it as a central hub where culinary traditions from around the world converge and evolve. This move marks a strategic step in broadening our international reach and fostering a more connected global culinary community."
Joanna Slusarczyk, co-founder of The Best Chef Awards, said: "Hosting The Best Chef Awards in Dubai allows us to further our mission of fostering a knowledgeable community that not only celebrates culinary excellence but also prioritises the preservation of culinary traditions through scientific innovation.
Dubai's dynamic culinary landscape provides the perfect setting to highlight the role of science in elevating gastronomy on a global stage." TradeArabia News Service
Radisson Hotel Group has announced further expansion of its footprint in Jordan with the signing of two new properties: Radisson Collection Residence, Amman Abdoun, and Radisson RED Amman Downtown with developer Thabat.
This significant development underscores the group's commitment to growth in key markets and the expansion of its core brands, it said.
Radisson Collection Residence, Amman Abdoun, is scheduled to open in 2028. The newly-built property will feature 128 keys, including 18 two-bedroom apartments. Radisson Collection is known for its luxury lifestyle, each property offering bespoke design and exceptional experiences.
The property will offer two dining outlets, including a pool lounge and versatile meeting spaces, making it an ideal choice for leisure and business travellers. Located next to the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in the high-end residential and diplomatic district of Abdoun and close to Taj Lifestyle Mall, the property will offer convenient access to the city centre via Pr. Hashim Street just a 15-minute drive away.
Radisson RED Amman Downtown, also set to open in 2028, will bring a vibrant, unconventional twist to the heart of Amman. The hotel will boast 197 keys, including seven suites and six two-bedroom apartments, offering a variety of accommodation options. Guests can look forward to a lobby lounge and bar, an all-day dining restaurant, a specialty restaurant and a large co-working space with meeting facilities. Additional amenities include a fitness center and pool, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable stay.
Radisson RED hotels are designed to fit the guests' needs by giving them endless opportunities to tune in and out, effortlessly switching between business and pleasure. Strategically located next to Al-Hashemi Street, it is surrounded by popular tourist sites such as the Roman Theatre, Amman Citadel, Jordan Museum, and Rainbow Street. The business district, offices, and shopping areas are all within easy reach, making it a convenient choice for both leisure and business travellers.
The hotel's location ensures that guests can easily explore the city's renowned tourist attractions and enjoy the vibrant local culture while also providing a peaceful retreat from the city's hustle and bustle.
With a population of nearly 5 million, Amman is Jordan's economic, political, and cultural hub, making it a prime location for Radisson Hotel Group's expansion. The city offers a wealth of tourist attractions and cultural experiences, including the historic Citadel, Roman Theatre, Jordan Museum, Royal Automobile Museum, and the lively Rainbow Street. Jordan is home to some of the world's most iconic sites, including Petra, a Unesco World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea, and the Jerash ruins. Queen Alia International Airport is the gateway for international arrivals, facilitating easy access to these treasures.
Radisson Hotel Group operates one hotel in Jordan: Radisson Blu Hotel, Amman Galleria Mall, which opened in December 2023 with 178 keys. In the Middle East, the group currently has 86 hotels in operation and under development.
Elie Milky, Vice President, Business Development, Middle East, Greece, Cyprus, and Pakistan, Radisson Hotel Group, said: "We are pleased to further expand our presence in Jordan and the Levant region with this rare dual opportunity to introduce the lifestyle Radisson Collection and Radisson RED brands to the Kingdoms capital in this strategic partnership with Thabat. These additions are evidence of our commitment to growing our portfolio in the region and enhancing our footprint in key markets such as Amman with key real estate investors. We thank Thabat as well as Bright Levant for their vision, their trust, this strategic opportunity and the teams admirable professionalism.
Haethum Al Buttikhi, Chairman of Thabat, expressed his enthusiasm for this partnership, stating: Thabat is thrilled to partner with Radisson in developing these two iconic properties in Amman. This significant capital investment will strengthen Ammans reputation as a premier international destination and showcases our commitment to economic investment in Jordan. We are dedicated to contributing to Jordan's growth and development, ensuring that our projects have a positive and lasting impact on the country.
Chris Orrell, the CEO of Thabats independent management company Bright Levant, commented: The hospitality and leisure sector is a core element of Thabat's real estate strategy. We see material growth prospects within this sector and are excited about the potential these investments bring. This partnership with Radisson marks a significant milestone for Thabat, and we plan to make further announcements within this asset class in the coming year, reinforcing our position as a leading player in the market. - TradeArabia News Service
Casey, a 3-month-old blue heeler mix, is recovering after he chewed his leg off at the Conroe Animal Shelter after receiving no emergency care for his badly injured leg in July. Conroe will not pursue criminal charges against Care Corporation following an investigation into a puppy that chewed off his injured leg at the city's animal shelter. Photo By Robin Arouty, Courtesy Of Joy Southhard Casey, a 3-month-old blue heeler mix, is recovering after he chewed his leg off at the Conroe Animal Shelter after receiving no emergency care for his badly injured leg in July. Conroe will not pursue criminal charges against Care Corporation following an investigation into a puppy that chewed off his injured leg at the city's animal shelter. Photo by Robin Arouty, courtesy of Joy Southhard
Conroe will not pursue criminal charges against Care Corporation following an investigation into a puppy that chewed off his injured leg at the citys animal shelter.
City officials said they are considering civil and administrative action against the company.
Despite our thorough review, we have determined that there is insufficient evidence to support criminal charges under the Texas Penal Code in this instance, Conroe police Sgt. David Dickenson said in a release. However, this conclusion does not diminish the seriousness of the situation or our commitment to ensuring that similar incidents do not occur in the future. Our commitment remains steadfast in ensuring accountability and upholding the highest standards of animal care.
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Concerns surface
Concerns about the treatment of animals at the shelter came to light after Casey, a 3-month-old male blue heeler mix, was brought to the shelter July 7 with a badly injured leg and provided an anti-inflammatory pill for pain but no other veterinary care. By July 9, Casey had chewed the leg off.
A citizen eventually rescued Casey and got him emergency care, including the removal of the rest of his leg.
Mayor Duke Coon launched the investigation into the puppys treatment and the shelter operations July 23 after being contacted by the Houston Chronicle.
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Care Corp. owner Sharon Hopkins said during an Aug. 8 council meeting that she was unaware of the shelters issues. She has not responded to requests for comment.
Council unanimously agreed to terminate its contract with Care Corp. within 30 days during an Aug. 22 meeting after the police departments investigation showed lack of emergency care for animals and no veterinarian on staff.
The city is exploring other options for the operation of the shelter.
New nonprofit launched
Joy Southard, who is fostering the dog which is now renamed Tripp, said she was not surprised by the outcome.
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Im disappointed, Southard said. I understand it is difficult to bring animal cruelty charges or neglect on numerous people. We dont know who was there and saw Tripp chew off his leg.
While Southard was hopeful that someone would be held accountable for Tripps treatment at the shelter, she said she was turning the incident into a positive.
I never thought (Care Corp.) losing the contract (with the city) was justice for him, Southard said.
She is launching a nonprofit called Tripps Paw that will raise money for rescue groups to help fund emergency care for animals that come to the shelter.
Tripp is in training and Southard said he will be a great addition to the right family.
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Hes going to be just fine, Southard said.
The Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (Adihex) that will be held until September 8, is inviting visitors to explore some of the most breathtaking destinations and wildlife experiences globally, while also promoting sustainable tourism practices.
Tourism 365, the tourism arm of Adnec Group, is at the forefront of this exciting adventure offering, presenting unique and exclusive tourism packages at Adihex that is being held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Rulers Representative in Al Dhafra Region.
The packages are designed to captivate nature lovers, thrill-seekers, and cultural enthusiasts alike with special offers available to Zanzibar, Kenya and Maldives throughout the exhibition.
With a commitment to sustainable tourism, Tourism 365 connects visitors with some of the most sought-after destinations.
As new exhibitors at Adihex, the Fujairah Adventures Center and Sharjah Safari are set to captivate audiences with their unique offerings.
The Fujairah Adventures Center, nestled in the mountains of the UAE, provides a gateway to adrenaline-pumping activities such as mountain biking, rock climbing, and guided hikes, allowing visitors to explore the rugged beauty of the region.
Sharjah Safari, on the other hand, brings the experience of an African safari to the UAE, offering visitors the chance to encounter rare and exotic wildlife up close, all while promoting the importance of conservation and sustainable wildlife management.
Adihex also welcomes new international exhibitors, including the National Center for Wildlife (KSA), which highlights Saudi Arabias growing emphasis on wildlife conservation and sustainable eco-tourism.
Through its interactive exhibits, visitors can learn about Saudi Arabia's rich biodiversity, efforts to protect endangered species, and opportunities to experience the kingdom's unique landscapes.
From the African continent, African Frontier Safaris from South Africa and the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) are new exhibitors at Adihex.
African Frontier Safaris offers curated wildlife expeditions that provide a close-up look at Africas famed Big Five and lesser known but equally fascinating species.
Their tours emphasise responsible travel, supporting local communities and conservation initiatives. Meanwhile, TAWA showcases Tanzanias vast wilderness areas, including the renowned Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, providing a chance to witness the worlds greatest wildlife migration while promoting sustainable tourism practices that help preserve these magnificent ecosystems for future generations. TradeArabia News Service
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Hyatt farse and outta place. The audacity of them. Saying that in this country they are not
Taral Patel, the former chief of staff for Fort Bend County Judge KP George has announced his candidacy to serve as Fort Bend County Commissioner for Precinct 3. Taral Patel
Fort Bend County commissioner candidate Taral Patel has been indicted on four felony counts of online impersonation, court documents show.
Patel, the Democratic nominee for Precinct 3 commissioner, is accused in Fort Bend County criminal records of creating fake Facebook profiles using the images of real people, then using those fake profiles to post racist messages about himself.
The intent of the accounts, investigators allege, was to influence the result of an election and injure his political opponent, Republican incumbent Andy Meyers, according to the indictments from the Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office. Patel was indicted on Tuesday.
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Patel did not respond to requests for comment.
He was first accused of creating a fake profile under the name of Antonio Scalywag, which became active online in September 2023.
Authorities allege that Patel pulled a photograph of another man and his family from a home design website then created a fake Facebook profile using the image to post, I am with Meyers ALL THE WAY unlike Patel and his followers who worship Monkey and Elephant.
Patel is accused of making screenshots of the comments and sending them to constituents via text message, asking for campaign donations to help fight racism in Fort Bend County.
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Meyers in October asked authorities to investigate Scalywag, court documents show, and investigators identified Patel as the profiles creator. Patel was arrested June 12 and charged with felony online impersonation.
Further investigation revealed more fake profiles allegedly created by Patel, leading to additional charges.
All of the profiles were used to either damage Meyers image or influence the election, court records allege.
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I will not tolerate racism, and I fight it whenever I encounter it, Meyers said. I was stunned when investigators with the District Attorneys Office and the Texas Rangers concluded that Taral Patel was personally responsible for fabricating these racist statements and directing them at himself and the community.
Patel has not stepped down as a candidate in the Nov. 5 general election. Fellow Democrat and Precinct 4 Commissioner Dexter McCoy on Aug. 15 issued a public plea to Patel to withdraw.
Each felony indictment carries a possible two- to 20-year prison term and a fine up to $10,000, according to the Fort Bend District Attorneys Office.
Patels upcoming court date is set for Sept. 23.
On the white adobe wall of a small, one-story building on West Washington Street downtown, there is an aging mural now shaded by a large palo verde and partially hidden by cactus seemingly there to protect it.
It is easy to miss if you arent looking for it, but for a time a long time it was among the most familiar signs in Tucson.
It welcomed customers to El Rapido Mexican Food, which opened in 1933 and grew like the city around it for more than 65 years.
El Rapido evolved from a small neighborhood market to a popular tortilleria to a bustling lunch counter frequented by judges from the nearby courthouse and politicos from city hall.
We even delivered, Melani Martinez laughed. My brother and I would hop on our little bikes and take lunch orders all over downtown.
The business ultimately closed in 2000, but there is obviously a story there and who better to tell it than Martinez a Borderlands writing instructor at the University of Arizona. Luckily for us, she does just that in The Molino, a loving memoir about a family that literally served our community for decades.
Scheduled for release Sept. 24 by University of Arizona Press, The Molino will be easy to spot. The cover is a photo of Martinez and her brother Ricky posing in front of that Washington Street mural in 1989.
It is a story about food, to be sure. More importantly, it is a story about family, the four generations of Perezes and Peyrons who managed and worked at El Rapido for 67 years.
Martinez introduces us to her great-grandparents, Aurelio and Martina Perez, who opened a small neighborhood market near the presidio during the Great Depression.
She describes the molino, a device that would grind and mix corn into masa.
She remembers the stores first tortilladora, a large black machine that would transform balls of dough into warm, ready-to-eat tortillas.
My job, and my brothers job when we were little, was to take the finished tortillas off the end of the conveyor belt and put them in bags so we could sell them, Martinez recalled. It was a family business. Grandparents, aunts, uncles we all pitched in.
Still, The Molino is more than a nostalgic stroll down memory lane.
It also recounts Martinezs own struggles to find her place and whether that place should be El Rapido.
By the time I was in high school and then college, I had pretty much decided to leave the restaurant behind, she confessed. I had worked there most of my life. I wanted to try something else, do something new.
Then, in the fall of 2000, UA Professor Alison Deming asked her creative writing class to submit personal essays.
It was the first time Id written anything about my life, about my family, Martinez said. It was the first time I really tried to make sense of all the things in my head. It was hard.
If writing the story was hard, reading it would become heartbreaking.
A week after submitting her essay, Martinez learned her father would be closing the restaurant for good on Christmas Eve. A week after that, she was asked to read her story in class.
When I had to read it out loud, I broke down crying, she recalls, tears again moistening her cheeks. By then, I knew we were closing. I finally realized how much that meant to me.
In time, Martinez decided to expand her original story into something more. Later still, she thought she might have a book. Now, more than 20 years later, she does.
Part of the reason I wanted to write the book was to help me understand how I got to the place I was in college, she said. How might the story have been different if I hadnt been so sure I wanted to leave the restaurant behind. It wasnt until I started writing it down that I started to see how much it all mattered.
The book, she said, is a hybrid memoir that weaves together history, stories, memories and poems.
I struggled with it for a long time, Martinez said. The people in my family didnt really want to talk about the history much. They didnt like me showing up with my recorder. But they all had stories stories about food, beauty, love, faith. I finally decided to mix it all together like you would with a molino.
The final touch was a decision to introduce a second narrator to the tale: the man napping beneath the saguaro on that Washington Street mural.
I watched my Uncle Alberto paint that mural, Martinez said. There was something about that image that I knew was important to my family, so in my book I let him tell his side of the story. He is the poet. He is the thought. When I could have a conversation with him on the page, thats when I knew the book was finished.
UA Press and Los Descendientes de Tucson will host a book-launch party for The Molino on Sept. 29 at the Tucson Museum of Art, 140 N. Main Ave. The celebration is at 3 p.m. and is open to all. To register, visit uapress.arizona.edu/events.
FOOTNOTES
Tony Peyron, Martinezs father, was the kind of man who would take his work home with him. Literally. He cooked meats in a pit behind the house and served them at receptions and parties. Peyron, who managed El Rapido for more than 20 years, turns 80 next week.
Tucson author Jessica Elisheva Emerson will discuss her debut novel, Olive Days, Monday, Sept. 9, at Stacks Book Club, 1880 E. Tangerine Road in Oro Valley. The program begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets, which include a copy of the book, are $32 or $37 for two tickets. RSVP at, visit stacksbookclub.com/events
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Poet Mark Wunderlich, whose latest collection is entitled God of Nothingness, will be on stage Thursday, Sept. 12, at the UA Poetry Center at 7 p.m. To learn more about the free event, visit poetry.arizona.edu
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Jimmy McCain, a son of former Arizona senator and 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain, said this week he has registered as a Democrat and will vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, a valuable nod of support for the Democratic nominee in a battleground state.
Meanwhile, Trumps running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, was scheduled to appear outside Phoenix Wednesday at a rally with the conservative youth organizing group Turning Point USA, which has been instrumental in remaking the Arizona GOP as a faithful organ of former President Donald Trumps Make America great again movement.
Jimmy McCains endorsement and Vances Turning Point USA appearance reflect the disparate segments of the GOP that Harris and Trump are trying to reach. Democrats are appealing to traditional conservatives disillusioned by Trumps takeover of the GOP, while Republicans are looking to shore up their base and ensure that their young supporters turn out.
Jimmy McCain said he had been an independent since leaving the Republican Party after Trump became its standard bearer in 2016. He decided during a nine-month overseas deployment that just ended to switch his registration to Democratic and announce it publicly.
His decision was first reported by CNN. He also talked to the Arizona Republic this week about his decision.
He said he was further fired up by the decision after seeing Trumps campaign visit to Arlington National Cemetery, a visit that Harris called a political stunt that disrespected sacred ground.
Trump has had a fraught relationship with the McCain family since he denigrated the senators status as a war hero during his 2016 campaign.
Jimmy McCain said it was personally difficult for him to hear his father disrespected, but he said his father chose a public life and Americans are allowed to criticize their leaders.
With Arlington, the people who are buried there gave their lives and the ultimate sacrifice, McCain said. They dont get a political opinion. ... We dont know what those people felt, thought, what they believed. We know they believed in their country and thats about it.
Trump said he was invited to Arlington by the families of Marines killed in a suicide bombing during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. His campaign released statements from the relatives accusing Harris of playing politics with the issue.
Jimmy McCain, 36, enlisted in the U.S. Marines as a teenager and served four years. He reenlisted in the Army National Guard and was later commissioned as an officer, currently holding the rank of 1st Lieutenant.
Ideologically, McCain said hes a moderate and harkened back to his fathers 2008 campaign slogan, Country first.
Im a center man who cares about his country more than anything, McCain said.
Cindy McCain, the late senators widow, endorsed President Joe Biden shortly before the 2020 election, a vote of confidence that helped the Democrat eke out a narrow win in Arizona with support from Republicans disaffected with Trump. Biden appointed McCain to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations food and agriculture agencies in Rome, where she is now executive director of the U.N. World Food Programme.
A Navy pilot, John McCain was shot down over North Vietnam in 1967. He was captured, beaten and held prisoner for more than five years, refusing to be released ahead of other American servicemembers.
Trump said of McCain, Hes not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who werent captured. McCain later angered Trump with his dramatic thumbs-down vote against repealing Obamas health care law.
McCain represented Arizona in Congress for 31 years until his death in 2018 from an aggressive brain tumor and built a national reputation as a maverick willing to buck his party. While he sometimes took flack from the GOP base and faced fierce primary challengers, he was overwhelmingly reelected and remains a beloved figure in the state.
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
On Jan. 16, 1964, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service trapper in eastern Arizona killed a jaguar likely the last of his kind to have been born free in the United States. Eight years later, after concern about extinction had led to the creation of a federal list of endangered species, the Service placed the jaguar on that list.
That listing should have served as the foundation for bringing jaguars back to the Southwest to resume their ancient role in our ecosystems. But unlike endangered wolves, which the federal government also exterminated in the west for the livestock industry, the Service has not reintroduced jaguars.
The Service should do so, especially considering this big cats growing imperilment in northern Mexico, which reintroduction to the U.S. Southwest could relieve. The jaguars in Mexico could increase their critically low genetic diversity if only they could mate with newly placed jaguars to their north.
Given the steep odds against jaguars recovering in the United States on their own, the Center for Biological Diversity, where I work, has provided the Service with extensive scientific and historic information that shows why and where jaguars should be reintroduced.
Studies identify the Gila National Forest in western New Mexico dozens of miles north of the international border as the most promising jaguar habitat in the United States.
Today just two jaguars, both born in Mexico, are known to live wild north of the border. Since 2016, motion-operated cameras have repeatedly photographed one of them in Arizonas Chiricahua Mountains. Middle-school students in Tucson named him Sombra shadow in Spanish. On Dec. 30, 2023, a different jaguar was caught on camera, likely also a far-traveling male.
They could be among the last wild jaguars on U.S. soil, and not just because of the border wall that cuts off some places where their species had previously crossed from Mexico. Its also because jaguars in northwestern Mexico are persecuted and largely isolated from other populations because of habitat destruction. Its a recipe that could send jaguars in Mexico on a course to rarity and oblivion, just like in the United States.
This would be a profound ecological and historic loss for both Mexico and the United States. Ice age jaguar bones unearthed from Florida to Washington prove that the jaguar evolved in North America before wandering to Central and South America. Long ago, Native Americans from across todays United States painted spotted cats with long tails and described them in oral histories. And during European colonization, explorers reported jaguars from the Carolinas to California.
As settlers gunned down large herbivores, carnivores turned to livestock. As early as 1703, South Carolina enacted a bounty that paid 10 shillings for each dead wolfe, tyger or beare. By 1930, a federal policy formalized the targeting of all jaguars. Thirty-four years later, the last U.S.-born jaguar was killed, and the centuries-long eradication effort was complete.
Still, seven years after protecting jaguars under the Endangered Species Act, the Service delisted them in the United States with no justification. Our litigation restored their protections in 1997, but the Service sought to limit recovery only to Mexico, ignoring that jaguars are native to the entire U.S. Southwest and belong here.
The deer- and elk-filled Gila National Forest provides the perfect habitat for jaguars to return to. Large carnivores like jaguars help balance ecosystems and play an invaluable role that will only become more important as our world is altered by climate change.
Within cat-padding distance of where the last U.S.-born jaguar met a cruel death at the hands of a Fish and Wildlife Service trapper, that same agency should restore jaguars to finally help save this magnificent yet cryptic felid from extinction and to enrich the breathtaking Gila National Forest.
Johnson Development Services will be releasing nearly 200 lots to builders this year as they complete final homesites at Amira in Tomball. Submitted by Amira Johnson Development Services will be releasing nearly 200 lots to builders this year as they complete final homesites at Amira in Tomball. Submitted by Amira Johnson Development Services will be releasing nearly 200 lots to builders this year as they complete final homesites at Amira in Tomball. Submitted by Amira Johnson Development Services will be releasing nearly 200 lots to builders this year as they complete final homesites at Amira in Tomball. Submitted by Amira Johnson Development Services will be releasing nearly 200 lots to builders this year as they complete final homesites at Amira in Tomball. Submitted by Amira Johnson Development Services will be releasing nearly 200 lots to builders this year as they complete final homesites at Amira in Tomball. Submitted by Amira
A 550-acre Tomball ranch style community that was once a farm for Egyptian Arabian horses is now starting its final phase.
Johnson Development Services will release nearly 200 lots to builders this year as they complete final homesites at Amira.
Amira, located north of the Grand Parkway and east of Mueschke Road, started in 2019 with builders Beazer Homes and Perry Homes.
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What first started out as the horse farm turned into The Resort at Amira. After Johnson Development Services purchased the land, the developer decided to keep some of the farm's history in the neighborhood. .
JERSEY VILLAGE RESTAURANT WEEK: Jersey Village hosts first ever restaurant week in September. Here are 8 places to try
Amira has sold almost 1,000 homes and within the next few years will have around 1700 in total, said Matt Banks, vice president of Johnson Development Services.
The development features a 7,000 square feet of clubhouse space, a resort style pool and a playground. The two dog parks, Pony Park and Derby Dog Park, are throwbacks to the ranch.
Banks said the location was ideal due to jobs in the area, easy access to the Grand Parkway and for Tomball Independent School district.
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"It's always helpful when there is a history to the tract that were buying," Banks said. "Oftentimes there isnt and its just a random piece of dirt but in this case, there was a history to it ... It ended up making sense to continue the link back to the original form.
Amira will also introduce new amenities to the community this year. Three new pickleball courts opened this summer, along with Amira Splash that includes a nature-inspired splash pad and a dry creek bed. A new pocket park will also open by the end of October.
Beazer Homes and Perry Homes' base prices are currently $300,000 to $690,000 in Amira.
James D. Watts Jr. Tulsa World Scene Writer Follow James D. Watts Jr. 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
Copper Dome, the new fine dining concept in the Silo Event Center, 4629 W. 41st St., will offer its first dinner service next weekend, Friday-Saturday, Sept. 13-14.
Chef Tyler Whitson, whose career in Tulsa has ranged from working with chef James Shrader at The Palace Cafe, operating the Rustic Kings Catering company and doing unique pop-up restaurants such as Naan-Stop, has released the menu for the restaurants opening weekend.
Diners will be able to select either a three-course or four-course meal from the menu, or opt for a chefs tasting menu that will feature about eight individual courses.
In the Facebook post to announce the opening weekend menu, Whitson said, Our vision is to use as many local products as we can and craft what is available seasonally. The late-season summer produce is abundant; in the later months, we plan to use products have preserved during these fruitful seasons.
Shareable items include a charcuterie plate ($45) with house-made cured meats, and a caviar plate featuring caviar from sustainably farmed Russian sturgeon, served with tarragon potato waffles and buttermilk yogurt.
Main menu items include a hasselback cucumber appetizer with goat cheese, chilis, fennel, yogurt and nuoc cham; a scallop and mushroom dish served with collard greens and bacon; a red bird chicken, with corn, Chinese long beans, squash, anasazi beans and a chicken glace; a New York strip steak from Creekstone Farms with figs, potato and thyme; and a mushroom char siu, made with king trumpet mushrooms, soy, Chinese long beans and coconut amino.
Desserts include the Copper Dome, a lemon cake with a bourbon mousse, pecan nougat and honey-apple jam.
The three-course meal ($60) includes a choice of appetizer, entree and dessert, while the four-course meal ($70) includes a mid-course. Cost for the chefs tasting menu is $90, with wine pairings an additional $45 per person.
Our mission, Whitson said, is to make sure our restaurant represents the next generation of restaurant and restaurateurs.
Copaneazis south location opens
The south Tulsa location of Copaneazis Pizzeria has opened in the Shops of Seville, 10051 S. Yale Ave.
The restaurant, which took over the space that once was home to Levain Kitchen and Pizza 313, features East Coast style pizzas, available by the slice ($5-$6) or as whole 14-inch pies ($20-$22).
The pizzas include such colorfully named offerings as the Casino (olive oil, mozzarella, fresh garlic, oregano, feta and Parmesan), the Fugheddabouttit (red sauce, mozzarella, green pepper, Roma tomatoes, onion, mushroom, and green and black olives), and the Bada Bing (red sauce, sausage, pepperoni, jalapenos and Calabrian chili hot sauce).
Other items include a variety of breadsticks topped with cheese, vegetables and sauces; four salads available as a side dish or as a meal; and made-to-order calzones. Most items can be made vegan if desired.
Copaneazis first opened in downtown Tulsa, as the third in a trio of restaurants owned by Tony and Emily Galvez that included the Local Bison and Sandos Rockin Deli. The three businesses occupied a stretch of Sixth Street between Boston Avenue and Main Street, in the ground floor of the Meridia apartment building. The couple closed the Local Bison and Sandos earlier this year, but the downtown Copaneazis remains open.
Boston Deli turns to apples
For its Chefs Special this month, the Boston Deli, 6231 E. 61st St., will be using apples in some form for almost every dish on the menu.
The meal has at its center a pan-seared North Coast salmon served with poached apple, crispy leeks and a red wine cider reduction.
It will be served with a creamy risotto made with grated apple, cider and Parmesan cheese; roasted Brussels sprouts with apple, red onion and agave nectar; and a shaved fennel and apple slaw with fig, yogurt and almonds.
Dessert will be an apple butter pie with meringue buttons.
The Chefs Special is available 5-8 p.m. each Thursday in September. Cost is $38 per person, and reservations are strongly recommended.
Velvet Taco to offer combo box
Beginning Sept. 9, Velvet Taco, 1444 S. Peoria Ave., will offer a special Say What? combo box, which will include a curated selection of (its) most popular and inventive offerings in one convenient package.
The combo box will include any two tacos (excluding some of the weekly WTF taco specials), a side such as queso, elote, guacamole, rice or salsa, along with the fountain drink, starting at $14.50. Adults may upgrade the drink selection to a margarita for $6 or a large Boozy Libation for $9.
For more information: velvettaco.com
Closings
Waffle That!, 2115 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., has permanently closed. Owner Roy Tillis began his business as a food truck in 2018, before opening his first brick-and-mortar location in 2019. A second location opened in 2020 at 5079 S. Yale Ave.; that location closed in 2023.
The Smashburger outlet in Tulsa Hills, 7392 S. Olympia Ave., has permanently closed. The southeast Tulsa location, at 10830 E. 71st St., remains in business.
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A delay in opening free bridges across the Red River between Texas and Oklahoma touched off a controversy in 1931 that became known as the Red River bridge war.
Before the issue was settled, Oklahoma Gov. William H. "Alfalfa Bill" Murray had declared martial law, created a military zone extending into Texas, assumed personal command of his troops, defied a court order and dared a federal judge to cite him for contempt.
The controversy developed after a court order delayed the opening of the free spans built by the two states to replace privately owned toll bridges.
There wasn't much controversy over Murray's opening of the new free bridge on U.S. 81 between Terral, Okla., and Ringgold, Texas. And the new bridge on U.S. 77 between Marietta and Gainesville, Texas, remained closed because the approach on the Texas side hadn't been completed.
The war, fought mainly in newspaper stories, involved the new bridge on U.S. 69 and 75 between Durant and Denison, Texas. That span was the object of the injunction against Texas Gov. Ross Sterling and his highway commission obtained by the Red River Bridge Co., which claimed the Texas Highway Commission had promised to buy the span for $60,000.
In response to the injunction, Sterling ordered all three new bridges barricaded on the Texas side, pending settlement of the court action.
Within minutes after Murray ordered the three bridges opened on July 16, an Oklahoma Highway Department crew had gone to the Texas side of the Terral bridge and removed an old truck that barricaded the highway, acting on the theory that Oklahoma owned half the span lengthwise across the stream. Before evening, the action had been duplicated at Denison.
Asked about possible resistance at the Denison span, Murray said, "There is an old watchman there and I have instructed that he not be hurt. I directed highway officials to take his pocketknife and chewing tobacco away from him."
Murray also wired the Texas governor to advise him of his removal of the barricades and plans to have his highway department tear up the approaches to the toll bridges.
"I feel you have extended your authority beyond all reason," Sterling responded, and he directed Texas Rangers to erect new barricades at the Denison-Durant free bridge, where they stood guard armed with shotguns in front of a sign advising motorists that the bridge had been ordered closed by the U.S. District Court.
But Murray claimed that Oklahoma had jurisdiction over the Texas banks of the river by virtue of old Spanish treaties, claiming the U.S. Supreme Court had upheld that authority.
"So I wasn't exceeding my authority," Murray said in response to Sterling's criticism.
Several days later, Murray activated some units of the National Guard, placed the approaches leading up to the toll bridge under martial law -- an order he extended into Texas the next day -- and set up a military camp near the bridge.
An order obtained by owners of the toll bridge in federal court in Muskogee didn't faze the colorful Murray, who, wearing a large hog-shooter pistol on his belt, assumed personal command of his troops.
When the judge threatened Murray with a contempt citation, Murray responded, "He can't cite me; let him try it."
He also threatened to call out the entire Oklahoma National Guard if the federal court interfered. Guard Lt. Col. John MacDonald told an attorney he would accept service of a federal court order but he would pay no attention to it.
"I am taking orders from only one man and he is the governor of Oklahoma," the colonel, also a state senator from Durant, told the lawyer.
The governor said he would keep the free bridges open despite any order from any court or other authority except President Herbert Hoover. The controversy ended on Aug. 6 after the Texas Legislature, in special session, passed a law allowing the Red River Bridge Co. to sue the state and the federal court dissolved the injunction that touched off the "war."
That free bridge served the public well until 1995, when it was dynamited and traffic was shifted to a new bridge -- also free.
Like this column? Read all the columns in the Only in Oklahoma series from the Tulsa World Archive.
The citys search for unmarked graves from Tulsas 1921 Race Massacre shifts to west of downtown on Thursday, officials said late Wednesday.
The Oklahoma Archaeological Survey will deploy its subsurface scanning equipment to an area known as The Canes between the Crosbie Heights bluffs and the Arkansas River.
The Canes have often been used for homeless encampments in recent years.
The Canes has been surveyed before, but according to a press release from the city, not in the same place as planned for Thursday.
The previous scans revealed no likely communal burial sites.
The press release said the area to be surveyed is on private property and that the press and general public will be barred from the area, although the work may be viewed from the adjoining Newblock Park.
The work is expected to take a few hours, with results not known for some time.
Researchers have spent most of their time the past four years in Oaklawn Cemetery, on the southeast edge of downtown. Some 50 sets of remains have been exhumed from what was known as the Black potters field. One has been identified as almost certainly a massacre victim, and several others show signs of gunshot wounds.
Historians identified The Canes area as a possible site for a rumored mass burial following the massacre, in which an unknown number of people were killed.
Mayor G.T. Bynum announced the initiative to locate unmarked burials from the massacre in 2018.
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Green construction, featuring multiple steps from green material production to green buildings, is seen as a trend and might become a compulsory standard in the near future in Vietnam.
The increased use of green building materials for high-rises, apartment blocks, warehouses, and industrial parks is meant to cut carbon emissions.
As investors have been attaching much significance to green buildings, local producers are rushing to manufacture eco-friendly construction materials.
Rise of eco-friendly building materials
One of the positive signs showing Vietnams building material industry entering the green transition stage is multiple enterprises launching green products.
Fico Tay Ninh Cement JSC has introduced green-labeled cement to the local market, with carbon dioxide emissions reaching just 350 - 600 kilograms per metric ton, down up to 70 percent compared to the Portland cement.
Specifically, four bags of the eco-friendly cement will help reduce a large amount of carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to that absorbed by a tree in a year, according to the producer.
Nguyen Cong Bao, director of Fico Tay Ninh Cement JSC, said that the firm had invested in automated production lines and machines as well as focused on the research and development aspect to manufacture the eco-friendly cement.
Apart from supplying low-carbon cement, the firm aims to set a competitive price for the product thanks to automation, machinery, and cost-saving methods, Bao stated.
Meanwhile, SCG Concrete Roof Company brought to the local market its green cement, which cuts 20 percent of carbon emissions during the production process compared to the common type.
A representative of the firm said that the product secured the Singaporean green certification, making it the first concrete roof brand in Vietnam to obtain the certificate.
Similarly, paint companies have quickly jumped on the eco-friendly production bandwagon.
Le Dong Lam, general director of PPG Vietnam, said that the firm had expanded its factory and improved technology to provide the market with green products to suit customers needs.
The companys new coating products have high durability and help cut carbon dioxide emissions.
We like to produce eco-friendly products with a roadmap until 2030, looking to book 50 percent of our revenue from these green products, Lam revealed.
Many firms are focusing on manufacturing green building materials to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. This image shows employees producing Singapore-green certified roof tiles at a factory in Binh Duong Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: SCG
How a green certificate is granted
Developing green buildings, especially trading high-rises, offices, and warehouses for rent, is becoming a trend of Vietnams construction industry.
In early 2025, an office and shopping mall tower with U.S. green certification will be put into service in downtown Ho Chi Minh City.
Naved Agha, project development director at Masterise Homes, the investor of Marina Central Tower, said that the sustainable trend is booming in Vietnam, which is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, so the firm prioritizes sustainability.
To receive the LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, the tower has met all of its standards, including optimizing green spaces, effectively using energy and water, and cutting carbon dioxide emissions, said Agha.
Moreover, in downtown Ho Chi Minh City stand two towers: The Hallmark and The Mett, both being granted the Green Mark Gold certification by Singapore.
The The Nexus office tower in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City was listed as an EDGE-certified green building.
In addition, social houses are being developed in line with green standards.
Investors in green building projects must adhere to strict environmental standards throughout the entire process, from location selection to design, construction, operation, and handover, aimed at conserving energy and water, reducing carbon emissions, and enhancing environmental quality, according to Luu Thi Thanh Mau, general director of Phuc Khang Construction and Investment Corporation.
Industry accounts for 55 percent of green construction projects
Hardy Diec, CEO of KCN Vietnam Group JSC, noted that foreign investors are increasingly focused on green industrial zones, urging industrial park developers to prioritize investments in sustainable practices, including Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards and efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
KCN Vietnam Group has commenced the second phase of its warehouse project at DEEP C Hai Phong Industrial Park, with completion slated for the first quarter of 2025.
The investor has adhered to green standards in an effort to attract foreign capital, Diec said.
Le Thi Huyen Trang, senior director at JLL Vietnam, added that industrial park projects lead the way among green-certified buildings in Vietnam.
According to a recent survey made by the Vietnamese Ministry of Construction and International Finance Corporation, 55 percent of green construction projects in the Southeast Asian nation come from industry.
Data on projects certified with the LEED in 2023 showed that over 70 percent of these projects belonged to the industrial group such as factories and warehouses.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building certification program used worldwide.
Green roof tiles are widely used for many buildings in Vietnam. Photo: SCG
Green buildings cost a fortune, but generate lengthy benefits
Vu Linh Quang, a member of the board of directors at the Vietnam Green Building Council, said that nearly 500 buildings spanning a total area of some 11.5 million square meters have obtained EDGE, LEED, and Green Mark certificates.
These certification schemes feature various levels and different requirements, and quote different fees based on the function and scale of the building, said Quang.
Despite high costs, these green buildings can generate multiple benefits such as saving operation costs, saving water and energy, reducing noise pollution, and shortening the capital recovery period.
Quang noted that the trend of constructing green buildings is gaining momentum in Vietnam.
Naved Agha echoed this sentiment, highlighting that green buildings help optimize energy use, reduce operating costs, improve occupant health, and boost company productivity.
Dong Mai Lam, general director of Schneider Electric Vietnam and Cambodia, pointed out that 80 percent of carbon dioxide emissions stem from fuel consumption, stressing that technology plays a critical role in reducing 70 percent of those emissions.
Lam added that Schneider Electric has partnered with the World Economic Forum to promote the benefits of green buildings, such as lower operating costs, higher rental yields, increased competitiveness, and enhanced corporate reputation for sustainability and social responsibility.
While the initial investment in green buildings is four to six percent higher than that for conventional structures, Lam said the cost could decrease by 2030 as more advanced technologies become available.
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Da-Yeh University in Dacun Township, Changhua County, Taiwan signed cooperation agreements with some junior colleges and vocational schools from Ho Chi Minh City last month to train human resources for the semiconductor industry.
Research indicates a significant future surge in demand for semiconductor professionals.
In response, leaders from the International College of Ho Chi Minh City (ICH) visited Taiwan in May 2024 to explore scholarship opportunities for Vietnamese students and discuss joint ventures.
Nguyen Dang Ly, principal of ICH, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that their delegation had "visited thirty-two Taiwanese universities to explore semiconductor industry collaboration prospects. The trip was highly successful and led to discussions on a training partnership between Da-Yeh University and ICH."
Ly explained that the agreement allows for student exchanges between the institutions and focuses on three key areas: Da-Yeh University will help develop a semiconductor training program at ICH, support scientific research for students and faculty, and provide expertise for establishing a Chinese language department at ICH.
Universities, junior colleges, and vocational schools from Vietnam and Taiwan attend the signing event for semiconductor training cooperation. Photo: Ha Binh / Tuoi Tre
Khe Van Manh, principal of Ho Chi Minh Technical-Economic College, arrived in Taiwan with high hopes for collaboration.
Manh noted that his institution offers a range of disciplines, including mechatronics, among its twenty-four programs.
Ho Chi Minh City is poised to invest approximately VND250 billion (US$10 million) to develop a premier program in this field.
"Students in mechatronics are well-prepared for semiconductor engineering due to their strong background in electronics and robotics," Manh said.
"We identified training opportunities in Taiwan for this sector, and our mechatronics faculty are eager to gain expertise from abroad.
"During our visit, we explored interactions between faculty and students to access advanced semiconductor engineering programs."
Manh also expressed a desire for scholarships, benefits, and paid internships in Taiwan to help students advance their careers.
Nguyen Quang Tiep, chairman of Khoi Viet International College, visited Taiwan to examine the financial, infrastructural, and personnel aspects of semiconductor engineering.
"We plan to assess the demand for human resources in the semiconductor industry after our trip to Taiwan," Tiep said.
"Given future growth prospects, we are considering launching a training program to meet this demand."
Phan Hoang Dung, principal of Bach Nghe Ho Chi Minh City College, added, "The semiconductor industry will be crucial in the future. We are collaborating with Taiwanese universities to train students in this vital field."
Le Van Thinh (L), director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City, and Nguyen Dang Ly, principal of the International College of Ho Chi Minh City, sign a cooperation agreement for semiconductor industry training with Da-Yeh University. Photo: Ha Binh / Tuoi Tre
Students have lots of possibilities
Jeng-shyong Hwang, board chairman of Da-Yeh University, emphasized at the signing ceremony that the institution "has substantial financial resources to invest in training, particularly in high-tech fields. With our origins as a technological school, we have significant experience in this area."
Hwang highlighted the universitys commitment to providing excellent student support, including comfortable accommodations and adequate facilities for effective study.
"We are equipped to collaborate and ensure high-quality cooperation with Vietnamese institutes in the semiconductor field," he stated.
Luu To Dieu, a representative from Taiwans education sector, noted that semiconductors and artificial intelligence are among the most prominent research topics at Taiwanese universities.
"We aim to support and advance the semiconductor industry for Vietnamese students," Dieu said.
"We will also offer numerous scholarships and incentives for international students, including those from Vietnam."
Dieu expressed enthusiasm about welcoming Vietnamese students to Taiwan, recognizing the benefits of focused study and the opportunity to adapt to Taiwans dynamic environment.
During the signing event, Taiwanese universities such as Minghsin University of Science and Technology, Kun Shan University, and National Chin Yi University of Technology introduced the International Industrial Talents Education Special Program (INTENSE Program).
This two-year program focuses on technological training, with Taiwan covering all tuition costs.
Corporate sponsors will provide students with NT$10,000 per month (US$311), and universities will arrange hands-on training aligned with the curriculum.
Upon completion of the program, international students are required to work for the sponsoring Taiwanese company for at least two years. Afterward, they may choose to return to Vietnam or continue their careers in Taiwan.
Khe Van Manh, Ho Chi Minh Technical-Economic College's principal, discusses semiconductor industry collaboration with universities in Taiwan. Photo: Ha Binh / Tuoi Tre
Top-tier instruction
Le Van Thinh, director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City, stated at the signing ceremony for the training cooperation with Taiwanese institutions that the city is focusing on developing high-quality human resources to support the nations industrialization and modernization.
Thinh spotlighted Taiwans advanced expertise in the microchip and semiconductor industries and expressed a desire to offer this knowledge to Vietnamese students.
"This program will provide access to companies and colleges and facilitate future tours," Thinh said.
"Through this cooperation agreement, we aim to enable Vietnamese students to study at partner universities, enhancing their skills for future career development."
A semiconductor technology student at Da-Yeh University in Taiwan. Photo: Ha Binh / Tuoi Tre
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Draped in American and Palestinian flags, friends and family cried, hugged and recited prayers for Maher Husseini, a three-year veteran of the Harris County Precinct 4 Constables Office who was shot and killed on his way to work Tuesday in west Houston.
Scores of law enforcement officers joined his family and friends at the well-attended Salat al-Janaza, or funeral prayer, for Husseini at the Masjid Al-Salam Islamic Center in Spring.
He was an American by choice and a proud Palestinian American, Shaykh Abdurahman Hejazi, resident scholar, said ahead of the prayer. He loved the freedoms enjoyed here in America and wished for those freedoms all around the world.
MORE FROM HOUSTON CHRONICLE: Man charged with murder in fatal shooting of Harris County deputy constable
In a few words, the scholar described Husseini as a religious man, who taught both of his children how to pray and who worked every day to make his community a safer place.
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Jamila Al-Shami, wife of Harris County Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Maher Husseini, walks with her sons, Amin and Jamil Al-Husseini, after friends, family and law enforcement gathered funeral prayers at Masjid Al Salem Mosque, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Spring. Husseini was shot and killed in his vehicle while heading to work along Richmond Avenue on Tuesday, Sept. 3, in southwest Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Sam Husseini, brother of slain Harris County Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Maher Husseini, hugs his brothers two sons after his brothers burial Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home & Cemetery in The Woodlands. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer The casket of Harris County Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Maher Husseini leaves Masjid Al Salem Mosque after friends, family and law enforcement gathered for funeral prayers, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Spring. Husseini was shot and killed in his vehicle while heading to work along Richmond Avenue on Tuesday, Sept. 3, in southwest Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer A man cries as slain Harris County Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Maher Husseini is lowered into the ground for burial Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home & Cemetery in The Woodlands. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer The casket of Harris County Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Maher Husseini leaves Masjid Al Salem Mosque after friends, family and law enforcement gathered for funeral prayers, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Spring. Husseini was shot and killed in his vehicle while heading to work along Richmond Avenue on Tuesday, Sept. 3, in southwest Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Yousef Awwad, front right, hugs Sam Husseini after the burial of Husseinis brother, slain Harris County Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Maher Husseini, on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home & Cemetery in The Woodlands. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Harris County Precinct 4 Deputy Constables greet each other as they gather for funeral prayers in honor of Deputy Constable Maher Husseini at Masjid Al Salem Mosque, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Spring. Husseini was shot and killed in his vehicle while heading to work along Richmond Avenue on Tuesday, Sept. 3, in southwest Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Mohamad Refaat prays during the burial of slain Harris County Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Maher Husseini on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home & Cemetery in The Woodlands. JJS/Staff photographer Firefighters from the Klein Fire Department work to display a large American flag in honor of Harris County Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Maher Husseini as community members and law enforcement gather for funeral prayers at Masjid Al Salem Mosque, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Spring. Husseini was shot and killed in his vehicle while heading to work along Richmond Avenue on Tuesday, Sept. 3, in southwest Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer The casket of Harris County Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Maher Husseini arrives as family, friends and law enforcement gather for funeral prayers at Masjid Al Salem Mosque, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Spring. Husseini was shot and killed in his vehicle while heading to work along Richmond Avenue on Tuesday, Sept. 3, in southwest Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Harris County deputy constable salute as the casket of Harris County Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Maher Husseini arrives for funeral prayers at Masjid Al Salem Mosque, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Spring. Husseini was shot and killed in his vehicle while heading to work along Richmond Avenue on Tuesday, Sept. 3, in southwest Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Friends and family embrace as they arrive for funeral prayers in honor of Harris County Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Maher Husseini at Masjid Al Salem Mosque, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Spring. Husseini was shot and killed in his vehicle while heading to work along Richmond Avenue on Tuesday, Sept. 3, in southwest Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Klein firefighters Steven Ray and Alberto Madina work to display a large American flag in honor of Harris County Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Maher Husseini as community members and law enforcement gather for funeral prayers at Masjid Al Salem Mosque, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Spring. Husseini was shot and killed in his vehicle while heading to work along Richmond Avenue on Tuesday, Sept. 3, in southwest Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Jamila Al-Shami, the wife of Harris County Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Maher Husseini, is greeted by friends and family as they arrive for funeral prayers at Masjid Al Salem Mosque, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Spring. Husseini was shot and killed in his vehicle while heading to work along Richmond Avenue on Tuesday, Sept. 3, in southwest Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Friends and loved ones lower the body of slain Harris County Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Maher Husseini into the ground for burial Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home & Cemetery in The Woodlands. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Friends and loved ones embrace after the burial of slain Harris County Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Maher Husseini on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home & Cemetery in The Woodlands. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Imam Dr. Irhabi Mohamed Irhabi prays over the grave of slain Harris County Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Maher Husseini following his burial Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home & Cemetery in The Woodlands. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Jamila Al-Shami and one of her her sons Jamil Al-Husseini look at a wreath at the Arab American Cultural Community Center on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Houston, as mourners gathered after the funeral of Precinct 4 deputy constable Maher Husseinis funeral. Karen Warren/Staff photographer Jamila Al-Shami and her sons, Amin Al-Husseini, and Jamil Al-Husseini greet Houston Police officers at the Arab American Cultural Community Center on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Houston, as mourners gathered after the funeral of Precinct 4 deputy constable Maher Husseinis funeral. Karen Warren/Staff photographer Jamila Al-Shami greets guests at the Arab American Cultural Community Center on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Houston, as mourners gathered after the funeral of Precinct 4 deputy constable Maher Husseinis funeral. Karen Warren/Staff photographer Jamila Al-Shami hugs a guest as her sons, Amin Al-Husseini, left, and Jamil Al-Husseini watch at the Arab American Cultural Community Center on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Houston, as mourners gathered after the funeral of Precinct 4 deputy constable Maher Husseinis funeral. Karen Warren/Staff photographer Congressman Al Green speaks to the media with Farouk Shami at the Arab American Cultural Community Center on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Houston, as mourners gathered after the funeral of Precinct 4 deputy constable Maher Husseinis funeral. Karen Warren/Staff photographer Jamil Al-Husseini, son of Maher Husseini, greets guests at the Arab American Cultural Community Center on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Houston, as mourners gathered after the funeral of Precinct 4 deputy constable Maher Husseinis funeral. Karen Warren/Staff photographer
Fellow Precinct 4 constables and representatives from a host of agencies around the region, including the Harris County Sheriffs Office, Fort Bend Sheriffs Office and Houston Police Department, presented the American flag and surrounded Husseinis casket as pallbearers escorted it out of the prayer service.
A caravan then was set to take Husseinis casket to a burial at Forest Park-The Woodlands Cemetery. Family were also set to host condolences from friends and loved ones at 6 p.m. at the Arab American Cultural & Community Center in southwest Houston.
The funeral came two days after Husseini was fatally shot at an intersection in west Houston. Earlier on Thursday, prosecutors in Harris County announced that they were charging the man suspected in Husseinis death, Athir Murady, with murder.
Husseini was shot and killed around 12:45 p.m. Tuesday in the 8900 block of Richmond Avenue near Fondren Road in west Houston. Police found his personal vehicle with a shattered drivers side window and four bullet holes on the passenger side.
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An image of Harris County Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Maher Husseini is seen following his funeral prayers at Masjid Al Salem Mosque, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Spring. Husseini was shot and killed in his vehicle while heading to work along Richmond Avenue on Tuesday, Sept. 3, in southwest Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer
Friends have described Husseini as a kind businessman and family man who immigrated to the United States 30 years ago after being born in Jerusalem to a prominent family. Husseini owned a private security business and had more recently opened an academy to train those interested in a career in law enforcement, in additional to his duties with the county agency, said Kamal Khalil, a friend of the Husseini family for more than 30 years.
Houston police have not yet released a motive for the shooting.
Ho Chi Minh City-based Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School, one of Vietnams oldest educational institutions, marked the start of the 2024-25 academic year on Thursday.
Founded in 1913, the prestigious institution celebrated its ongoing academic achievements, including city-level academic awards and a national first-place prize in the Students with Startup Ideas 2024 competition, organized by the Ministry of Education and Training in collaboration with the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.
Students cheer during the new school year opening ceremony at Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, September 5, 2024.
In the 2023-24 school year, all of Nguyen Thi Minh Khais senior students graduated and secured places at universities, with several earning scholarships to study abroad.
The schools 10th-grade entrance exam results were also notable, with the second-highest admission scores citywide, and two students, both named Phuc, achieving top scores of 28 out of 30.
Students cheer during the new school year opening ceremony at Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, September 5, 2024.
Scholarships were awarded to these top scorers and 15 other students who excelled in the national high school graduation exams.
Le Dinh Luc, CEO of DOL English, a partner in providing English scholarships for Nguyen Thi Minh Khai students, explained that his company aims to improve students' English proficiency, empowering them to achieve their dreams both domestically and internationally.
A representative of DOL English presents scholarships to students at Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, September 5, 2024.
"This year, DOL English is thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with top schools [in Ho Chi Minh City] like the High School for Gifted Students [under the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City], Le Hong Phong High School for Gifted Students, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School, Nguyen Thuong Hien High School, Phu Nhuan High School, and Nguyen Huu Huan High School, Luc said.
Students pose with DOL English scholarships at Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, September 5, 2024.
We are proud to support the talented and determined students of these institutions.
Our hope is to help improve their English skills so their growth can be more sustainable and well-rounded, ultimately enabling them to pursue their dreams both here at home and abroad."
DOL English awarded 20 online self-study scholarships, each valued at VND5 million (US$202), to Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School students on this occasion.
A representative of DOL English presents scholarships to students at Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, September 5, 2024.
Meanwhile, in Thu Duc City under Ho Chi Minh City, the Tran Chi Dao Hall hosted the opening ceremony for the 2024-25 school year at the High School for Gifted Students on the same day.
Principal Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai lauded the school's accomplishments over the past year, with 98.51 percent of its students achieving top academic rankings.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai, principal of the High School for Gifted Students under the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, delivers a speech at the school's new academic year opening ceremony, September 5, 2024.
All senior students were accepted into universities both at home and abroad, including one who achieved the highest score in Ho Chi Minh City on the Vietnam National Universitys aptitude test.
The school excelled in national competitions, with 58 students winning prizes at the national high school academic contest, including three first-place awards in mathematics, biology, and literature.
Tenth-grader Nguyen Hong Anh earned the top national score in literature.
The schools students also secured medals at the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence and the National Science and Technology Contest.
Students and delegates gather at the Tran Chi Dao Hall in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City for the new academic year opening ceremony for the High School for Gifted Students under the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, September 5, 2024.
In extracurricular achievements, the schools students also shone in arts and sports, with several earning national and international accolades in chess, swimming, and other disciplines.
Despite these successes, principal Mai noted that the school faces significant challenges as the only specialized high school in the country operating under an autonomous model.
Le Dinh Luc (L, 2nd), CEO of DOL English, attends the new school year opening ceremony at the High School for Gifted Students under the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, September 5, 2024. Luc is a former math student from the schools specialized program and has always been proud of his alma mater.
However, she expressed confidence in the schools continued growth as a leading educational institution in both Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam.
Following the ceremony, students gathered at Hoa Binh Theater in District 10 for a concert featuring popular Vietnamese rapper Den Vau, whose contributions to community service earned him the National Volunteer Award in 2023.
Popular Vietnamese rapper Den Vau sings during the new school year opening ceremony at the High School for Gifted Students under the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, September 5, 2024.
His story was included in an entrance exam for the High School for Gifted Students, highlighting the importance of kindness and volunteerism a message that resonated with students and sparked widespread positive discussions on social media.
Popular Vietnamese rapper Den Vau poses with students at the new school year opening ceremony at the High School for Gifted Students under the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, September 5, 2024.
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Vietnam and Singapore reached a consensus on forming deeper partnerships in various fields such as education, culture, tourism, and digital and green economy, heard the 16th Vietnam-Singapore political consultation co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore Albert Chua in the city-state on Wednesday.
The two officials both agreed to closely collaborate on the implementation of all agreements made by the two nations and prepare for high-level exchanges, especially an annual meeting between the two countries' prime ministers.
To enhance the connection between the two economies and push their ties to new heights, the two nations will strengthen their cooperation in education, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.
The two sides were determined to join hands to quicken the deployment of the green economy - digital economy partnership and a framework convention on the connectivity between the two economies to create breakthroughs in new fields such as circular economy, digitalization, innovation, green energy, and sustainability.
The economic partnership remains a highlight of bilateral ties between Vietnam and Singapore.
Singapore is Vietnams second-largest investor, being involved in over 3,740 projects in the latter with a total pledged capital of over US$80 billion contributed by 18 Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) in 13 cities and provinces in Vietnam.
Apart from expressing his hope for more new-generation smart and green VSIPs in Vietnam, Deputy Minister Viet proposed Singapore continue supporting the latter to upskill its workforce and increase the number of scholarships awarded to Vietnamese students.
The top Vietnamese official also hinted at the city-state training workers active in digitalization and cybersecurity, data transfer, and artificial intelligence, and helping Vietnam build a model of an innovation center for national data science.
The Singaporean representative shared expectations that the two nations will continue to enhance cooperation in clean energy, including wind power, and heighten discussions about carbon credits.
Expressing his delight at seeing Vietnam become Singapores biggest rice supplier in the first half of 2024, Permanent Secretary Chua proposed the two sides boost partnership in farm produce export and import activities to ensure food security.
The top Singaporean official also suggested increasing air connectivity between the two countries to boost economic, trade, and tourism cooperation. He affirmed that Singapore will expand its management training programs for Vietnam.
In addition, the two nations agreed to closely collaborate with other ASEAN members in efforts to build the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and promote ASEANs role in the region and the world.
Both sides exchanged views on the situation in the East Vietnam Sea, expressing their commitment to maintaining it as a peaceful, cooperative, and developed region.
They insisted on adhering to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Vietnam Sea and intensifying efforts to finalize a Code of Conduct in line with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The Vietnamese official proposed that Singapore support the ASEAN Future Forum 2025 in Vietnam and send high-level representatives to exchange initiatives and perspectives on regional development.
Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet (L) meets with Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in Singapore, September 4, 2024. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
As part of his working trip to Singapore, Deputy Minister Viet met with Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.
During their meeting, Balakrishnan expressed his admiration for Vietnams fast economic growth.
He proposed the two ministries closely cooperate with relevant ministries and agencies to make the multifaceted partnership stronger and take the bilateral ties to a new height.
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Two hospitals have been tasked with uncovering the cause of the death of a student from Thai Nguyen Industrial College in the namesake province in northern Vietnam and the hospitalization of 12 others between Thursday last week and Monday this week.
All 13 victims had developed fevers, headaches, stomachaches, and nausea, with the cause still unknown.
Following reports of the situation, the Department of Medical Service Administration under the Ministry of Health charged the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases and the Vietnam National Children's Hospital, both in Hanoi, with identifying the root cause of the incident.
The two hospitals were also told to identify appropriate treatments for the patients and control the infection, if any, in medical units and at Thai Nguyen Industrial College to minimize the number of people likely to catch the disease.
The two hospitals can dispatch working teams to Thai Nguyen Province if needed.
The Thai Nguyen Central General Hospital and the Thai Nguyen Department of Health will be responsible for providing the patients' medical records and relevant documents for the two central-level hospitals.
The deceased student was diagnosed with multi-organ failure, acute heart failure, myocarditis, and hepatitis B.
One student is in a critical condition and is being put on a ventilator at Thai Nguyen Central General Hospital.
The 10 remaining students are having their health monitored at the hospital in stable condition.
Another is receiving medical treatment at the Vietnam National Children's Hospital.
A representative of the Vietnam National Children's Hospital said the patient was hospitalized and complained of a stomachache, chest pain, and slight fever.
According to the Thai Nguyen Department of Health, it has yet to be able to conclude if the disease is infectious as testing results have not been completed.
Despite a lack of information, the department has implemented prevention and control measures.
The department has tasked the medical center in Thai Nguyen City, the provincial capital, with sending an emergency team, including a doctor and two nurses, together with an ambulance, medicine, and emergency equipment to Thai Nguyen Industrial College to support potentially affected students.
The victims roommates have all been isolated.
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Check out the latest news in Vietnam today:
Politics
-- Vietnam and Singapore reached a consensus on deeper cooperation in various fields such as education, culture, tourism, digital, and green economy, heard the 16th Vietnam-Singapore political consultation co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore Albert Chua in Singapore on Wednesday.
Society
-- Vietnam was estimated to serve nearly three million tourists during the four-day National Day holiday, lasting from Saturday last week to Tuesday, up 20 percent year on year.
Business
-- Ride-hailing and delivery company Gojek will stop its operation in Vietnam from September 16, a representative of the firm told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Wednesday.
-- The ninth Electric & Power Vietnam 2024 exhibition and the 16th HVACR Vietnam 2024 expo kicked off at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday, bringing together over 350 major local and international firms.
-- Vietnams CME Solar Investments has entered a joint venture agreement with Vista Global, a unit of Samsung C&T under South Korean tech giant Samsung, to boost the development of rooftop solar energy in Vietnam.
Lifestyle
-- Ho Chi Minh City was named Asia's Best MICE Destination and Asia's Best Incentive Destination at the fifth annual World MICE Awards Gala Ceremony held in the city on Wednesday.
-- Online museum platform Google Arts & Culture, operated by Google, has launched an exclusive site for Vietnam called Vibrant Vietnam, which introduces people to the variety of Vietnamese cultures via high-resolution images and videos.
-- Hundreds of lion heads of all types and sizes are on display at several stores along Tran Hung Dao Street in Hue City, central Thua Thien-Hue Province, spreading the festive atmosphere ahead of the approaching Mid-Autumn Festival. The festival, also known as the 'Childrens Festival,' takes place on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. This year, it is due on Tuesday, September 17.
Sports
-- Vietnamese weightlifter Le Van Cong won a bronze medal in men's 49kg weight category at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on Wednesday, marking the first medal for the Vietnamese Paralympic team.
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The Peoples Court in Da Nang City, central Vietnam on Wednesday opened a hearing against the director of a local company and his 17 accomplices for helping others illegally travel to Canada and forging documents.
On September 25, 2023, police at Da Nang International Airport found that Nguyen Tan Luc, 29, and Nguyen Van Phap, 30, both residents of Da Nang, had not qualified for family-sponsored visitor visas for travel to Canada despite having filed for such visas through the Canadian governments online portal.
Both Luc and Phap confessed that they had gotten their visas thanks to the support from Star Light Co. Ltd., headquartered in Quang Binh Province, north-central Vietnam.
Police at Da Nang International Airport transferred the case to investigators from the Da Nang Department of Public Security.
Star Light Co. Ltd. was established in 2008 and specializes in providing consulting in overseas study and labor export to Europe, Australia, and Canada. The companys director is Phung Ngoc Hung.
As the Canadian government allows visa applications to be submitted online, Hung and his staff counterfeited documents regarding the asset ownership of their customers to help them obtain visas.
The documents were later transferred to Star Lights partners who further adjusted them, forged more documents to prove customers financial capacity, and submitted the documents online.
The ring faked documents to legitimize visa applications for 36 Vietnamese people.
Global Reach Trading Company, a partner of Star Light, counterfeited documents for eight others who also sought to travel to Canada.
A group of three individuals, also partners of Star Light, illegally completed dossiers for travel to Canada for another customer.
In total, they forged documents to complete visa applications for 45 Vietnamese citizens.
After Luc and Phap were caught at Da Nang International Airport, Hung asked his staff to destroy data in his companys computers and phones, obstructing the investigation.
Investigators later found 42 out of the 45 visa applications.
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Typhoon Yagi, the third storm to strike the East Vietnam Sea this year, could reach super typhoon status on Thursday with sustained winds of up to 201 kph as it heads toward Chinas Leizhou Peninsula and Hainan Island, according to the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting.
Yagi was located about 550 km east of Chinas Hainan at 4:00 am on Thursday with winds of up to 183 kph and gusts reaching over 220 kph.
The central weather agency reported that the typhoon was moving west-northwest toward Hainan-Leizhou at a speed of 10-15 kph and will likely upgrade into a super typhoon with sustained winds of 184-201 kph.
By 4:00 am on Friday, the super typhoon is forecast to be within 210 kilometers of Hainan with winds reaching 201 kph and squalls of up to 220 kph.
Over the following 24-48 hours, the storm is expected to continue moving northwest at 10 kph toward the southern part of Leizhou before entering the Gulf of Tonkin.
After passing Leizhou, Yagi will hit mainland China where its strength will decrease.
By 4:00 am on Saturday, Yagis will be centered in the northeast region of the Gulf of Tonkin with winds of up to 166 kph and gusts reaching 220 kph.
It will then continue moving west-northwest at 15 kph toward northern Vietnam before making landfall in the region between Quang Ninh and Ninh Binh Provinces on Saturday.
Yagi will continue on a northwestern trajectory before downgrading into a tropical depression and then a low-pressure system.
During the typhoon, the northern part of the East Vietnam Sea will see extremely rough waves of four to six meters high with powerful winds ranging from 150 kph to 201 kph, along with gusts reaching over 220 kph over the next 24 hours.
On Friday night, the Gulf of Tonkin will see rough seas and strong winds ranging from 89 kph to 166 kph with gusts blowing 220 kph, posing significant risks to vessels.
Over the next 24 hours, the northern area of the East Vietnam Sea will be extremely rough, with waves measuring seven to nine meters, even to 10-12 meters in the waters near Yagis eye.
From Friday through Monday, heavy rains will hit the northern and north-central regions with precipitation of 100-300mm, even up to 500mm in some localities.
Heavy rains from storm Yagi could trigger flooding in low-lying and urban areas, potentially leading to rivers overflowing and landslides in hilly and mountainous regions, the center warned.
At a meeting on Thursday, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan requested that all coastal localities in northern and north-central regions take effective measures to cope with the coming typhoon.
Efforts should be made to minimize risks to life, property, industrial park infrastructure, telecommunications, electricity, river dykes, and other construction works, the minister asked.
Local authorities should evacuate people, especially tourists, from dangerous areas to safe places if necessary.
Depending on the situation, local governments may ban activities involving large numbers of people, Hoan said.
In an urgent directive on Tuesday, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ordered the ministries, agencies, and local authorities from Quang Ngai to Quang Ninh Provinces, as well as in the northern region, to take immediate measures to respond to the approaching typhoon.
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Legendary film critic David Stratton AM (At the Movies, The Movie Show) is to be honoured by the Society of Australian Cinema Pioneers.
Stratton will be named the 2024 National Cinema Pioneer of the Year in recognition of his lengthy achievements and contribution to the Australian cinema industry including as a writer, reviewer, and former director of the Sydney Film Festival (1966-1983).
Society of Australian Cinema Pioneers president, Lori Flekser, said Stratton had made an extraordinary contribution to our industry and is the epitome of all this Award stands for.
He was feature film programmer for SBS, host of Movie of the Week and Cinema Classics on SBS (1981-2003), co-host with Margaret Pomeranz of The Movie Show on SBS (1986-2003) and At The Movies on ABC (2003-2014). He also presented David Strattons Story of Australian Cinema.
He also reviewed films for Variety (1983-2003) and The Australian (1990-2023), as well as contributed articles to The Age, The Bulletin, The Sydney Morning Herald, Cinema Papers and International Film Guide (UK).
He will be honoured at a presentation in Sydney on November 29.
Source: IF
Gunned down on her familys front door says the promo for Nines new crime drama Human Error.
They shot the wrong woman.
The series inspired by real events premieres next week starring Leeanna Walsman as a homicide detective assigned to a shocking murder case in a Melbourne suburb.
The press kit notes:
When a suburban mum, Sonia Matthews, is executed in her driveway in front of a child, it has all the signs of a brazen professional hit. Except that Sonia has no criminal connections at all. Initially, Hollys convinced the victims husband has organised the hitman and she puts her reputation on the line to prove it.
But while the series also carries the standard any similarities to actual persons is coincidental disclaimer Nine is declining to comment on any similarities to the tragic unsolved murder of Jane Thurgood-Dove in 1997.
According to Victoria Police, the 34-year-old mother of three was gunned down in front of her children in the driveway of her Niddrie home. She had just arrived back at her house with her three children, still seated in the back of her car, when a stolen car pulled up outside the front of her property and a gunman stepped out and shot her while she stood in her driveway.
Police still believe that Jane was sadly the victim of mistaken identity and not the intended target of the shooting. A $1m reward remains.
While it reads like a scene breakdown for Human Error, the series then explores other fictional subplots, both criminal and personal, typical of the genre in a post-Underbelly world.
But it is pretty disingenuous to promote, on the one hand, a Drama as being inspired by real events whilst, on the other hand, declining to acknowledge just what they are.
True life crime is a genre prolific the world over and one audiences flock to. As other families, including that of Shane Warne or even Baby Reindeers Fiona Muir-Harvey have learned, there is nothing to stop drama producers from fictionalising your life or parts thereof. A year ago media even speculated a story on mushroom-related deaths in Leongatha were ripe for a telemovie.
Human Error, a six part drama filmed by Roadshow Rough Diamond in early 2023, will finally see the light of day next week.
In a best case scenario, police might be hoping it motivates someone to come forward with evidence that leads to a conviction and brings a family some resolution.
8:40pm next Wednesday on Nine.
Nines Paralympics broadcast, ABC animated series Fizzy & Suds and upcoming Teenage Boss have all been certified as being Inclusively-produced by a newly-established screen venture, Inclusively Made.
So too have Bupas 2024 Paralympics ad campaign and Repcos 2024 Bathurst campaign.
Inclusively Made, founded by Bus Stop Films and Taste Creative, helps producers in film, television and advetising who want to be Inclusive, but dont know where to start, by offering consultation, an Inclusion plan, resources and ongoing support.
Co-founder Genevieve Clay-Smith, speaking last week at the Australian Childrens Content Summit told a room of producers and creatives, Being Inclusive is not difficult, I promise. Its not going to slow you down, and its not going to compromise on quality.
Inclusively Made is a new venture that helps you to do that. It gives you a framework on how to be Inclusive. It gives training and it gives certification as well. If you produce a project that is inclusive, we certify it, and we put the Inclusively Made logo on it. What that does is it holds us as an industry to a standard, because Im really sick of people saying Ive made something Inclusively, and its one person with disability in front of the camera, and theres been absolutely no Inclusion behind the scenes.
Theres a standard to this, and its a holistic approach.
Every production and campaign is different, and so too is Inclusion, said CEO Paul Nunnari. Thats why the Inclusively Made certification can be tailored to your production. So there is no reason why every production cant be truly Inclusive.
Productions are offered accreditation by amassing 100 points from actions across a range of Inclusion pillars.
These are:
Inclusive Casting
Accessible Auditions
Inclusive Mentoring
Inclusive Crew Roles
Accessible Documentation
Accessible Locations
Safe & Inclusive Environment
Accessible Broadcast
Single project accreditation is a $1500 flat fee.
Economic, cultural event held in New York to promote China's Zhaotong
Xinhua) 10:00, September 05, 2024
NEW YORK, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- The city of Zhaotong in China's Yunnan Province is aiming to promote economic and cultural ties with U.S. cities and bolster the two countries' local-level exchanges and cooperation.
Addressing the China (Zhaotong) - USA Economic and Cultural Cooperation Conference in New York's Manhattan on Tuesday, Su Yongzhong, secretary of the Communist Party of China Zhaotong Municipal Committee, said that Zhaotong is a historic city with over 2,000 years, famed for its rich natural resources and colorful intangible cultural heritage.
Located in China's southwest, the city is a well-connected transportation hub between China and Southeast Asia and South Asia, he said, adding that Zhaotong is also a favorable destination with convenient business environment for foreign investors.
Su expressed his expectation of more and closer China-U.S. exchanges at the local level, and invited American investors and entrepreneurs to seek opportunities in Yunnan and benefit from economic and cultural cooperation.
Hou Lihong, counselor of science and technology section of China's Consulate General in New York, said that Zhaotong, located in the northeastern part of Yunnan Province, is an important section of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.
In recent years, Zhaotong has shifted its focus to high-quality development, and its living environment and infrastructure construction have been significantly improved, he said, stressing that the development of Zhaotong is an epitome of China's pursuit of high-quality development.
China will continue to advance high-quality development, expand high-level opening up, share the progress of Chinese modernization with the rest of the world, and inject fresh impetus into the global economy, Hou said.
Hou also highlighted that China's pursuit of high-quality development will offer more opportunities for the win-win cooperation between China and the United States.
Jeffery Jones, former mayor of Paterson in the U.S. state of New Jersey and chairman of the Council for Trade and Investment Promotion (CTIP) of New Jersey, said that he traveled in many Chinese cities such as Beijing, Wuhan and Guangzhou before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Encouraged by the news that China is adhering to the opening-up policy and moving forward, Jones said he believes that the CTIP will engage with more areas in China in exploring business.
Zhaotong is a populous city in Yunnan Province and a significant node along the famous "Southern Silk Road" in ancient times, acting as a two-way corridor linking China's inland areas with South Asia and Southeast Asia, and serving as a gateway to the rest of China.
It is also one of the largest high-quality apple bases in China, and boasts of large produce of potato and Gastrodia elata.
(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Tow truck drivers pull a car belonging to the suspect in a fatal police shooting out of the Houston Ship Channel near Channelview and 81st Street on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024 in Galveston. The owner of the vehicle, who got out of the car and swam, is suspected of shooting at and killing a Houston Constable in west Houston as he was making his way to work. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer
The man accused in the shooting death of a Harris County constables deputy who fled the scene and was plucked from the waters near the Houston Ship Channel hours later is being charged in Houston and Galveston County, officials confirmed.
Athir Murady was charged Thursday with murder in connection with the shooting death of Precinct 4 Cpl. Maher Husseini, a three-year veteran of the office, according to a spokesman for the Harris County District Attorney's Office. Prosecutors have filed a motion to set his bond at $5 million.
The charge in Harris County comes a day after Galveston County prosecutors charged Murady with evading arrest in connection with his alleged flight through Galveston County that culminated in deputies pulling him from the water, according to the district attorney's office. He was taken to the jail late Wednesday afternoon, according to Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset.
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Prosecutors announced they would seek to deny Murady bail.
Officials with the Harris County District Attorney's Office weren't sure when Murady would be moved to Harris County to face the murder charge.
MORE CRIME NEWS: HPD's Chicano Squad reflects on the changes they made to policing
Police have not released a motive for the shooting. An online search returned a Dallas address for Murady and a LinkedIn profile describes him as a security professional.
Husseini was shot and killed around 12:45 p.m. Tuesday in the 8900 block of Richmond Avenue in west Houston. Police found his personal vehicle with a shattered drivers window and four bullet holes on the passenger side at the intersection near Fondren Road.
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Authorities quickly organized a search for the shooter, issuing a description of a man and the damaged vehicle he was driving. Within hours, as Precinct 4 leadership waited to inform Husseinis wife of his death as she stepped off a plane at Bush Intercontinental Airport, authorities in neighboring Galveston County tracked down a possible shooter in League City and chased him to the ship channel.
Galveston police received notice just before 3 p.m. that a suspect in the fatal shooting of a constable deputy might be on the island and then, around 4 p.m., Deputy City Marshal Sgt. Nick Yeley noticed a vehicle matching the fleeing one's description in the 6700 block of Broadway, officials said. He called dispatch and kept sight of the vehicle before meeting officers at a parking lot where they prepared to stop the vehicle.
The man then drove into the Channelview neighborhood where he took his vehicle into Galveston Bay, police said. He abandoned the car and ran into deeper water, where he was later retrieved.
Emergency medical personnel transport a handcuffed man to a waiting ambulance on 81st Street at Channelview Drive in Galveston on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024. The man was wanted in connection to the fatal shooting of a Harris County constable earlier in the day. JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News/Jennifer Reynolds/The Galveston County Daily News
Details remain scant on what transpired at the west Houston intersection where Husseini was shot.
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Newly hired Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz said a man stepped out of his vehicle and shot the deputy in his car. Diaz noted, when asked at a news conference, that road rage could have played a role in the shooting, but he said investigators still had work to do, such as reviewing any surveillance footage from the intersection.
The deputy joined the office in 2021 and had been promoted to corporal last week, Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman said. He previously ran for sheriff in Montgomery County, as a Democrat, in 2020, past Houston Chronicle coverage shows, while leading private company Jaguar Security and Investigations. His sheriff's campaign focused on creating mental health programs for those charged with crimes, remodeling jails and improving pay for detention officers.
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Maha NEET UG 2024: BAMS, BUMS, BHMS Admission Schedule Published
Maharashtra CET Cell had earlier released the Merit List of Candidates who have registered for admission in BUMS, BAMS, BHMS (AYUSH Courses) and Paramedical courses based on NEET UG 2024 score
Thursday September 5, 2024 12:37 PM , ummid.com News Network
Maharashtra NEET UG 2024 BAMS, BUMS, BHMS Admission: The Maharashtra CET Cell has published on its official website medical2024.mahacet.org Maharashtra NEET UG 2024 Counselling (CAP Round) Schedule to be conducted for admission in BUMS, BAMS, BHMS (AYUSH courses Group B) for the year 2024-25.
According to the NEET UG Counselling Schedule for BUMS, BAMS, BHMS (AYUSH courses Group B) the CET Cell will release on September 09, 2024 the Seat Matrix (State Quota) 2024 of CAP Round 1.
Choice Filling and Seat Allotment
The schedule further said that Online Preference Form (Choice) Filling process for these courses will be done from September 09 to 11, 2024 up to 06:00 pm.
"Based on choices and options filled and submitted by the candidates, CAP Round 1 Selection List of BUMS, BAMS and BHMS (AYUSH Courses/Group B) will be published on September 13, 2024, the CET Cell said.
Maharashtra CET Cell conducts MBBS, BDS, BUMS and counselling for other medical and dental course after the declaration of NEET result.
Maharashtra NEET UG 2024 Counselling
The CET Cell started through its official website cetcell.net.in from August 17, 2024 Online Registration for NEET UG 2024 Counselling conducted for Admission in Health Science Courses MBBS / BDS / BAMS / BHMS / BUMS / BPTh / BOTh / BASLP / BP&O /B.Sc (Nursing).
Accordingly, the CET Cell published the First Selection List for MBBS (Medical) and BDS (Dental) on August 31, 2024.
The Selection List for BUMS, BHMS, BAMS (AYUSH Courses/Group B) and BPTH, BOTH, BASLP, B P&O (Paramedical Courses/Group C) will be released separately as per the above schedule.
Candidates who do not get admission in CAP Round 1 or are not happy with the allotted seat can participate in the consequent rounds as per the published schedule.
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HA NOI Shares declined on Wednesday, dragged down partly by global market trends. Meanwhile, foreign capital was withdrawn from the market after the long holiday.
On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), the VN-Index closed the trading day at 1,275.8 points, down 8.07 points, or 0.63 per cent. This snapped its four-day gaining streak.
The market's breadth was in negative territory, as the number of losers surpassed that of winners by 230 to 105.
Liquidity showed signs of improvement with a gain of 16.3 per cent from the previous session, but was hovering at low levels. Particularly, the trading value reached VN15.7 trillion (US$632.3 million).
The VN30-Index, which tracks the 30 biggest stocks in term of market capitalisation on the southern bourse, also ticked down 13.81 points, or 1.04 per cent, to 1,317.71 points. Twenty three stocks on the VN30 basket decreased, while six moved higher and one stocks stayed unchanged.
Leading the downtrend was the banking group with Vietcombank (VCB) being the biggest loser. Shares of the lender fell 0.76 per cent, contributing nearly one points to the index's loss.
Other large banking ticker symbols seeing significant falls were VPBank (VPB), down 2.37 per cent, MBBank (MBB) down 1.81 per cent, Techcombank (TCB) dipping 1.5 per cent and HDBank (HDB) plummeting 2.17 per cent.
Securities, technology, consumer and manufacturing shares also posted poor performances.
SSI Securities Corporation (SSI) fell 1.63 per cent, Saigon - Hanoi Securities JSC (SHS) declined 2.44 per cent, VNDirect Securities Corporation (VND) slid 1.61 per cent, FPT Corporation (FPT) slid 1.34 per cent, Vietnam Rubber Group (GVR) decreased 1.84 per cent, Petrolimex (PLX) was down 3.3 per cent and Masan Group (MSN) dipped nearly 1.6 per cent.
However, the index pared losses as some pillars rose sharply. Vinhomes (VHM) contributed most to the rally, up 2.41 per cent. It was followed by PV Gas (GAS), Vietinbank (CTG), Vincom Retail (VRE) and Vinamilk (VNM). These stocks increased between 0.54-2.6 per cent.
The HNX-Index on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX) extended its losing streak to six days. It finished Wednesday at 236.14 points, down 1.42 points, or 0.6 per cent. On the northern bourse, nearly 51.5 million shares were traded, worth over VN1 trillion.
The domestic market tracked the global market's movements, with Japans Nikkei 225 posted its worst day since early August sell-off, down 4.24 per cent.
Meanwhile, foreign investors returned to net selling, they net sold VN773.55 billion on the HoSE and VN28.14 billion on the HNX. VNS
HCM CITY Innovative technologies and solutions in industries such as power, renewable energy, smart grids, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration are on show at the Electric & Power Vietnam and HVACR Vietnam that opened in HCM City on Wednesday.
The expos have attracted more than 350 exhibitors from more than 15 countries and territories, including China, Germany, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan (China), Thailand, Turkey, and the US.
Electric & Power Vietnam 2024 offers solutions for measurement, testing, monitoring, and safety in the power sector, alongside smart solutions, automation technologies, electric vehicles, and environmental services.
HVACR Vietnam 2024 showcases products spanning the entire value chain of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, cooling and refrigeration for smart buildings and industrial parks.
The two events are expected to attract 7,000 trade attendees by offering a key platform for businesses to explore global industrial advancements, connect with partners and customers, and attend international conferences.
There will be international conferences and specialised seminars on topics like energy transition, smart grid, data centres, and advanced air-conditioning solutions.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Peter Lundberg, executive director of the Asia Pacific Urban Energy Association (APUEA), said Viet Nam stands at a critical crossroads in its energy journey.
Like many other countries in the region, it is also faced with the dual challenges of meeting growing energy demands while addressing the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions.
Currently much of its energy comes from coal, a resource that, while abundant, has a significant carbon footprint, he said.
In response to these challenges, Viet Nam has set ambitious climate goals, committing to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, no small task but a necessary one, he said.
He said the potential for renewable energy in Viet Nam is enormous.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, Viet Nam has an estimated 1.2 terawatts of renewable energy potential, 15 times the current installed capacity, he pointed out.
But the energy transition is not just about renewables. Its also about using energy smarter. The International Energy Agency has pointed out that energy efficiency is as crucial to this transition as the development of renewable energy.
By adopting energy-efficient technologies and practices, we can reduce our overall energy demand, lower costs, and decrease our reliance on fossil fuels.
At the two events top experts would present cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions that could help Viet Nam achieve its energy goals, he added.
Organised by Informa Markets Viet Nam, the expos, being held at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in District 7, will run until Friday. VNS
VLADIVOSTOK A business dialogue session between Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) took place in Vladivostok on Wednesday as part of the ongoing 9th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF 2024).
At the opening of the event, Daniyar Akkaziev, CEO of the Russia-ASEAN Business Council, affirmed that Russia values its cooperation with ASEAN, considering the region's rapid and diverse development potential in the Asia-Pacific.
With the sides signing a strategic partnership agreement in 2016 and Russia joining the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in 2004, he noted the moves are prerequisites for Russia to strengthen its dialogue with bloc member countries.
Sergei Katyrin, President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, reported that bilateral trade between Russia and ASEAN is on the rise, and expressed his optimism about strengthening their relations, particularly in the context of the digital era.
Myanmar Minister of Hotels and Tourism Thet Thet Khine suggested that to advance their relationship, both sides need to harmonise their systems, simplify import-export procedures, and promote exchanges in information technology and culture for better mutual understanding.
German Maslov, Vice President of the logistics division at the FESCO Transportation Group a major Russian shipping company shared that two years ago, FESCO launched a maritime route between Viet Nam and Vladivostok, positioning the country as a transit hub for ASEAN. With demand growing significantly, three ships are now operating on the route.
Le Viet Hai, Founder and Chairman of the Vietnamese-based Hoa Binh Construction Group, added that promoting and maintaining peace is essential for sustainable development and cooperation.
Hai told Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Russia that through negotiations with partners, he found that the Russian market currently has substantial demand for construction services, labour, and materials, with which his company seeks collaboration.
On Wednesday, he met with multiple businesses and local government representatives in Russia and signed a memorandum of understanding with the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation, Segezha Group, and Roscongress Foundation. VNS
HA NOI Indonesia-based ride-hailing and delivery service app Gojek has decided to exit Viet Nam from September 16 as a step towards focusing its operations in major markets with higher growth potential.
The decision to cease operations in Viet Nam is in line with Gojek parent company GoTo's long-term development strategy. GoTo is the largest technology firm in Indonesia.
We've decided to terminate operations in Viet Nam from September 16, 2024, the company said in an announcement.
The decision will allow the company to focus on activities that can have significant and sustainable impacts on the market, in line with GoTos commitment to achieve long-term sustainable business growth, a representative added.
Gojek entered Viet Nam in 2018 under the brand GoViet, providing motorbike ride-hailing (GoRide), car ride-hailing (GoCar), food delivery (GoFood) and courier (GoSend) services in the country.
Before leaving Viet Nam, Gojek has been operating in HCM City, Ha Noi, Binh Duong and ong Nai.
According to market research company Mordor Intelligence, Viet Nams ride-hailing service market is estimated at US$880 million in 2024 and is expected to reach $2.16 billion in 2029 with a compound growth rate of 19.5 per cent in the next five years.
The Vietnamese market is fragmented with Grab, Xanh SM, Be and Gojek.
According to Singapores Business Times, Gojek Viet Nam accounted for less than 1 per cent of GoTos gross transaction value in the second quarter, so the departure from Viet Nam will not affect the financial situation of the parent company.
Gojek left Thailand in 2021 and will now focus on Malaysia and Singapore.
In Indonesia, GoTo has established itself as a leading digital ecosystem in on-demand services (ODS) and financial technology through GoTo Financial. As the largest market in Southeast Asia, Indonesia still has a lot of room for growth, requiring more resources. In the second quarter of this year, Gojeks gross transaction value and number of completed orders increased by 18 per cent and 24 per cent year-on-year respectively, reaching all-time highs.
In Singapore, Gojek also saw its market share increase by three percentage points in the second quarter. The Singaporean market has a high average order value and continues to be a key market for GoTo. VNS
HA NOI An estimated 763,000 people passed through airports across the country during this year's National Day holiday, which lasted from August 30 to September 3. This number is 98 per cent of the figure for the same period last year, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has announced.
Of the total figure, there were more than 406,500 foreigners, a year-on-year increase of 14.5 per cent. Meanwhile, the number of domestic passengers dropped by 15.6 per cent to over 356,500. Air cargo transport rose 11 per cent to some 13,000 tonnes.
Over 2,700 flights were operated by Vietnamese airlines during the four-day holiday, the CAAV said, adding that they transported over 531,000 passengers, a yearly decline of 12 per cent. Of the total, 174,000 passengers flew on international routes, down 4 per cent, while 356,500 passengers flew on domestic routes, down 16 per cent.
At the same time, they also carried more than 4,300 tones of cargo, up 18 per cent year-on-year, according to the CAAV.
The aviation authority said that Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCM City saw 407,000 travellers passing through its terminals, down 7.4 per cent year-on-year. The airport, however, recorded a modest yearly increase of 3 per cent in cargo transported at approximately 5,300 tonnes.
Meanwhile, approximately 2,000 flights with 314,000 passengers and over 8,700 tonnes of cargo passed through Ha Noi's Noi Bai International Airport, with passengers down 1 per cent but cargo up 17 per cent, respectively. Meanwhile the number at a Nang International Airport in a Nang city was over 111,000 passengers and 333 tonnes of cargo, marking a decrease of 13 per cent in passengers but a surge of 80 per cent for cargo. VNS
HA NOI The Ministry of Industry and Trade on Thursday discussed a proposal to develop a centre to create, store and trade raw materials for textile and leather footwear production in Viet Nam.
Deputy Minister of Trade Phan Thi Thang said that the centre should be launched in 2025.
The meeting highlights the need for Viet Nam to take control of the source of materials for textile and leather wear production and not only import them from other countries.
Textiles and leather footwear have always been Viet Nams major exports as their export turnover increases every year, on an average of a 10-per-cent rise per year, according to deputy director of industry Pham Tuan Anh.
In the last six months alone, the export turnover of the two fields combined reached nearly US$30 billion. They account for 16 per cent of the countrys total and create nearly five million jobs, accounting for 22 per cent of industrial jobs in the country.
However, their strength lies only in manufacturing, which creates little added value to the products, Anh added. Vietnamese manufacturers still have to import raw materials cotton, wool, silk, linen, synthetic materials and leather and accessories from China, South Korea and other ASEAN countries.
This dependence on imported materials will hinder the industrys growth, as several countries are putting more regulations in place to control supply quality in order to meet the global net-zero target in 2050. One of the requirements is that a high percentage of the supply needs to have an intra-bloc origin, which means it needs to come from the member countries of a trade bloc.
As Viet Nam has entered several free trade agreements such as the EVFTA, it has to follow the rules of origin specified in these agreements. Accordingly, heavy raw material imports will put the country at a disadvantage as it can no longer enjoy tax exemptions from these agreements.
Taking control of the source of materials is of utmost importance, the trade official said.
A proposal to develop a centre to create, store and trade raw materials for the textile and leather industry was submitted to the trade ministry last year by the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association and the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association.
It is in line with the Prime Ministers Decision 1643 in 2022, which gives direction to the development of the textile and leather footwear sector until 2035.
It is expected that the centre will be developed with funds mobilised from the private sector. Domestic and foreign suppliers will be welcome to display and introduce their materials, once the centre has been built.
The centre will also assist businesses in tracing the materials origins, ensuring that all trades operate to a high standard and high level of transparency.
The materials quality will also be assessed regularly. An information platform will also be developed to keep domestic businesses up-to-date with the latest production technology and fashion trends.
Some field trips are expected to take place next month, where Vietnamese businesses will have the opportunity to learn from businesses in China and some other countries that have succeeded in operating similar models.
Deputy Trade Minister Phan Thi Thang said: The centre was supposed to be developed a long time ago, but for some reasons we have not been able to.
We need to set the plans in motion as soon as possible so that the centre can be launched in 2025. VNS
HA NOI As Viet Nam and Brazil mark 35 years of diplomatic ties this year, their collaboration across various sectors, particularly agriculture, is on the rise.
Brazil's agricultural sector is progressing, aligning with the global shift towards environmentally-friendly practices. Similarly, Viet Nam is striving for sustainable growth in its agricultural industry, a significant contributor to the nation's GDP, to meet evolving export standards, notably from markets like the EU and the US.
Viet Nam News reporter Ly Ly Cao spoke to Brazilian Ambassador to Viet Nam, Marco Farani and CEO of the National Corn Ethanol Association (UNEM) Guilherme Nolasco, to shed light on the partnership between the two countries and explore avenues to support Viet Nams agricultural sector.
What is your view on the recent agricultural cooperation between Viet Nam and Brazil?
Marco Farani: Last year, bilateral trade reached the sum of US$7.1 billion, making Brazil the largest trading partner of Viet Nam in South America. It is a phenomenal figure for two countries on almost entirely opposite sides of the world. President Lula and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh agreed that the bilateral trade has the potential to increase even further, achieving $10 billion by 2030.
Our economies are in many instances complimentary, with Brazil being a well-developed agricultural economy and Viet Nam at the heart of global manufacturing.
With this in mind, Brazils key exports to Viet Nam are mostly agricultural: animal fodder, cotton, soy beans, maize. Nowadays, Brazil is the lead global exporter of sugar, orange juice, beef, poultry meat and soybean.
Brazil and Viet Nam celebrate 35 years of bilateral relations this year and it is really fortunate that this anniversary coincides with the new momentum bilateral relations have gained since President Lula took office in January 2023.
In September 2023, PM Chinh visited Brazil. On that occasion, Viet Nam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and its Brazilian counterpart signed a Plan of Action for further development of our partnership in agriculture.
Following up on the PMs trip, the Brazilian Vice-Minister of Agriculture and Livestock visited Viet Nam and presented specific proposals for the opening of markets for certain products.
One month later, in April, I had the honour to welcome to Ha Noi the Brazilian Chancellor, Mauro Vieira. Minister Vieira met with several Vietnamese authorities, with whom he reviewed the most important aspects of our bilateral partnership agriculture included.
This year, Brazil leads the G-20 Group and invited Viet Nam to participate in two technical tracks, Agriculture and Science, Technology & Innovation. PM Pham Minh Chinh is set to return to Brazil in November for the G-20 Summit at the Brazilian Government's invitation.
What are the key difficulties hindering cooperation between the two nations?
Marco Farani: Despite the impressive numbers I have just mentioned, trade activities between Brazil and Viet Nam still face many difficulties, mainly due to geographical distance and high logistics fees. The outcome of negotiations towards the opening of our respective markets to some key products could also help deepen cooperation.
One of our main difficulties is that Brazil and Viet Nam still lack a bilateral agreement on technical cooperation. Such an agreement would provide an institutional umbrella under which we could develop a plethora of projects in the future. But, hopefully, this problem is going to be overcome soon. Negotiations are in their final stages and we are confident we will be able to sign the agreement very soon.
Guilherme Nolasco: Besides the formal matters, which are progressing through a partnership between the governments of Viet Nam and Brazil, we have some challenges mainly related to the distances that production needs to cover to reach the Asian consumer markets. Investment in logistics and energy infrastructure is essential to make Brazil more competitive.
A virtual meeting is planned for this coming December to begin preparing the activities outlined in the aforementioned plan.
Further bilateral agreements are also expected, which could be signed during the visit of Brazil's President to Viet Nam in December of this year. They include the basic technical cooperation agreement, the investment facilitation agreement and the agreement to avoid double taxation.
As a country with an advanced agriculture sector and notable success in sustainable development, how can Brazil support Viet Nam in advancing towards sustainable agricultural development?
Marco Farani: I think sustainable development, as you mentioned, is really a key expression. One of the priorities of President Lulas foreign policy is the promotion of sustainability and I mean sustainability in all its three dimensions, environmental, social and economic.
Research and technology (R&T) have been an important factor in our country's agricultural performance. In recent decades, Brazil has been able to increase agricultural productivity without a corresponding increase in the use of land.
R&T is also being mobilised to recover degraded areas, making sure that no further native vegetation is destroyed in order to increase agricultural production. According to recent data, 68 per cent of the Brazilian territory is still home to native vegetation and the Brazilian Government intends to keep it that way - but without sacrificing economic growth.
Cooperation with partner countries is another aspect of Brazil's commitment to ensuring global food security and sustainability. As such, we are ready to establish a successful cooperation with Viet Nam in the area of agriculture.
The bilateral Action Plan for Cooperation in Agriculture, signed by President Lula and PM Chinh, constitutes the first foundation for our joint work. This plan contemplates five broad lines of action, two of which regard sustainability.
I would also like to add a few considerations about green energy. Eighty eight per cent of the Brazilian energy matrix is composed of renewable sources, positioning Brazil as one of the leading countries in the global efforts towards energy transition. The employment of ethanol as a fuel source for transportation has been an important contributor to Brazil's success in the advancement of the energy transition.
Guilherme Nolasco: One of Brazil's major challenges in pursuing sustainable development is reconciling environmental conservation with the socioeconomic needs of a developing country.
This issue has been partially addressed through the use of technology and agricultural productivity, which allowed for the orderly use of land. Since the 1970s, the country has undergone a profound transformation in the agricultural sector, positioning itself today as a major global player in products such as corn, soybeans, sugar, cotton and others.
By generating wealth and food without the pressure to open new agricultural frontiers, the country has kept sustainability at the core of its strategy.
Given the results we have achieved in the industry, I believe energy transition, environmental cooperation and agricultural cooperation are among the priority foundations for the partnership between the two countries. The Mercosur - Viet Nam agreement is also an important cooperation tool between the two countries. VNS
MANILA Very demure, very mindful is how content creator Jools Lebron aka @joolieannie describes her every move. You see how I come to work? she begins her now-viral TikTok video with 4.2 million views as of writing.
She then proceeds to describe her getting ready routine, which involves doing her makeup, laying her wig, doing a little braid, flat ironing her hair, and putting on her favourite perfume. She then reminds her viewers, Lets not forget to be demure, divas.
Since uploading her viral demure video on Aug. 3, Lebron has accumulated over a million followers. She then proceeds to describe, in her succeeding videos, how she does her makeup for work, how she orders her food, how she comes to her nail appointment, how she picks up the ID she left at a bar, how she shows up at her family vacationvery demure.
Her audio has been imitated by legions of TikTok users who use it to describe just about everything they do, pushing the word demure into the current conversation as a new vocabulary for the extremely online girls.
For her part, Lebron has coined even more words to complement demure. Theres mindful, not taking too much space, and even demuretesy, a combination of demure and cutesy. I mix them both because Im what? Very demuretesy. Im very cute with it but Im very mindful with it, very respectful with it. I dont do too much, I do just enough. I dont go overboard, I dont go underboard. Im not the basement, Im not the atticIm where you live. Im very demure.
Lebrons even done the Charli XCX Apple trend in a demure way. Of course. Doing the choreography ever so cutesy. Demure.
While she has been doling out demure content nonstop (understandably. You want to ride the ephemeral wave of TikTok stardom), Lebron has also been putting out actually mindful content about her weight loss journey, self-care during mental health episodes, responding to drama, good manners, normalizing midnight snacking(!), expressing her gratitude to hospitality staff, staying put after the plane lands, and going after your dreams.
And to the question of who the original demure is, Lebron acknowledges the dolls that came before her: TikTok creators Devin Halbal and Selyna, and the late Paris is Burning star drag queen Venus Xtravaganza, who paved the way for a girl like me to thrive.
Demure is just a way of life for the girls, for the dolls like me.
She says the original demure is all of us.
Being demure is thanking the people who have come before you, while you pave the path for the people who will come after you. And thats being demure, divas. -- Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
BANGKOK For the first time in the relationship between Bhutan and Thailand, a unique collaboration between local and international designers has resulted in an exclusive collection that bridges the cultural heritage of the two kingdoms.
Thai jeweller Sarran Youkongdee, founder of the sustainable brand SARRAN, has partnered with Chuni Dorji Prive, a Bhutanese luxury fashion brand.
Inspired by the richness of Bhutanese culture as well as the natural environment, the fashion and jewellery collection will be showcased at the Zhiwa Ling Heritage Hotel in Paro.
This collaboration, supported by Bhutans Department of Tourism through the GEF Ecotourism project to mainstream biodiversity conservation into the tourism sector of Bhutan is the result of a year-long effort to highlight the exceptional craftsmanship of designers from both Bhutan and Thailand.
Chuni Dorji Prives clothing line beautifully complements the SARRAN jewellery collection, which is deeply rooted in the essence of Bhutans natural beauty, sacred sites, environment, and cultural heritage.
Interpreting the stories of the Thunder Dragon, SARRANs collection captures the purity of the environment, the intricate artistry of Bhutanese women, and the nations commitment to sustainability.
By incorporating elements such as recycled materials and traditional Kira fabric, SARRANs work celebrates Bhutanese culture and emphasizes the importance of environmental stewardship.
The partnership culminated in Bhutans first sustainable Fashion Show, which took place on Sunday, August 25, 2024, at the Zhiwa Ling Hotel in Paro, as part of Bhutans 50 years of tourism celebrations.
The show was more than just a fashion event; it was a platform to share Bhutanese creativity and craftsmanship with the world, reflecting our cultural heritage while embracing contemporary design.
Chuni Dorji Prive offers hand-embroidered and hand-painted creations that effortlessly blend Bhutanese tradition and modernity.
The pieces are crafted from fine velvet, pashmina, and Napa leather, sourced regionally.
With its distinct Bhutanese motifs and exclusivityavailable only within Bhutanthe brands products are unique and traditional, but also modern.
Bhutan has incredible artists and designers who deserve a platform to showcase their talents and their beautiful creations, said Damcho Rinzin, Director of the Department of Tourism, Bhutan.
After nearly a year of discussions, we are thrilled to see this partnership come to life. Partnering with SARRAN and Chuni Dorji Prive for this innovative project is a great opportunity for tourism. As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of tourism in Bhutan, this collaboration is a key step in sharing Bhutanese art and design with the world.
Sarran Youkongdee is a renowned Thai jewellery designer celebrated for his commitment to sustainability, with every aspect of his brand reflecting a deep respect for the environment.
For more information about Bhutans Department of Tourism visit www.bhutan.travel The Nation/ANN
Kyliel Arceneaux, center, accused of shooting and driving over Nelson Beckett, a 90-year-old Navy veteran, during his first court appearance before Judge Lori DeAngleo in the 487th District Court at the Harris County Criminal Courts Thursday, Sep. 5, 2024 in Houston. Michael Wyke/Contributor Kyliel Arceneaux, in orange, accused of shooting and driving over Nelson Beckett, a 90-year-old Navy veteran, during his first court appearance before Judge Lori DeAngleo, top left, in the 487th District Court at the Harris County Criminal Courts Thursday, Sep. 5, 2024 in Houston. Michael Wyke/Contributor Kyliel Arceneaux, center, accused of shooting and driving over Nelson Beckett, a 90-year-old Navy veteran, during his first court appearance before Judge Lori DeAngleo in the 487th District Court at the Harris County Criminal Courts Thursday, Sep. 5, 2024 in Houston. Michael Wyke/Contributor
The man charged with murder over the death of a 90-year-old Navy veteran told police after his arrest he targeted the nonagenarian because he didn't think the man would fight back.
However, when Nelson Beckett was confronted in the parking lot of his apartment building, he did struggle and call for help, drawing the attention of at least two people from the building, prosecutors said. Beckett was shot once and then run over by the person who took his car, they said.
Kyliel Arceneaux, 21, was arrested Wednesday and charged capital murder, two counts of aggravated assault and tampering with evidence in connection to Beckett's death. He was ordered held in custody on more than $7 million bond.
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MORE ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Man accused in fatal shooting of Harris County deputy constable charged with murder, evading arrest
Arceneaux appeared in front of 487th District Court Judge Lori DeAngelo, who called him a "extreme danger" while setting his bond.
"As you can imagine, in a case involving gun violence we want to keep the community safe, that's the purpose of us making these requests for high bond," said Chief Chandler Raine, a chief prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney's homicide division. "In a case like this where we see such senseless gun violence, it's important for us make sure that the entirety of our community is safe from a defendant who is wiling to commit acts such as this."
Beckett was walking through his apartment building's parking lot with the aid of a small grocery cart when he was approached from behind by Arceneaux, who had jumped a fence to get onto the property, prosecutors said.
Arceneux is accused of striking Beckett with a gun before shooting him, and then rifling through his pockets before taking his car. Arceneaux is also accused of pointing a gun at two witnesses who heard Beckett's calls for help.
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Reading from a probable cause documents, prosecutors said Arceneaux confessed to police after being arrested and was still in possession of the gun believed to be used to kill Beckett. Areceneaux told police he thought Beckett was "not going to fight too much"
Prosecutors said police also had video surveillance of Arcenaux both at the apartment complex and where Beckett's car was later found abandoned.
Prosecutors said that Arceneaux could be seen taking off a shirt and attempting to clean the car.
Beckett's death drew nationwide attention and highly publicized announcement of up to $15,000 in rewards for information leading to the identification and arrest of a suspect. Prosecutors didn't say how Arecenaux was identified. He was initially arrested Wednesday on suspicion of unlawful carry of a weapon, prosecutors said.
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To support the construction of water supply facilities in highland and water-scarce areas, the National Centre for Water Resources Planning and Investigation (NAWAPI), under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, has been tasked with investigating and assessing underground water sources in these regions. It aims to provide a long-term solution to the shortage of clean water for ethnic communities. NAWAPI deputy director Trieu uc Huy speaks to Vietnam News Agency about the project.
In Viet Nam, 90 per cent of the urban and rural populations in lowland areas have access to clean water that meets the Ministry of Healths standards. However, nearly half of the population in mountainous, remote and isolated areas still lacks access to clean water. What is your assessment of this issue?
Access to clean water for people living in mountainous, remote and isolated areas is a significant concern for the Party and the State. Numerous programmes and projects have been implemented to support clean water in highland areas, but many people in these regions still do not have access to clean water. The reasons include the vast number of water-scarce areas, rugged terrain, a scattered population and difficult supply conditions.
Additionally, challenges arise from selecting and investing in appropriate water supply models that align with local water practices, technological solutions and the costs, along with issues in operating and maintaining water sources.
Given the difficulties with water resources in highland and other areas, what specific measures has NAWAPI implemented to establish sustainable water supply models?
NAWAPI has been assigned various tasks related to investigating, assessing and identifying water sources to support the construction of water supply facilities in highland and water-scarce areas.
For example, NAWAPI has discovered and evaluated the potential of several key water sources in challenging areas such as the islands and island clusters of Thanh Lan and Tra Ban in the northern province of Quang Ninh; Ly Son Island in the central province of Quang Ngai, Hon Tre and Hon Chuoi Islands in the southwestern province of Kien Giang; Bach Long Vy Island in Hai Phong City and in the provinces of Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan and Ha Giang; as well as 40 remote areas in ten southern provinces. These efforts directly address the needs of local communities and contribute significantly to the national target programme for clean water supply.
Notably, NAWAPI has recently completed the investigation and exploration of underground water sources in highland and water-scarce areas project. This project is one of three projects assigned by the Government to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The goal is to identify underground water sources with sufficient quantity and quality to ensure stability and longevity, thereby enabling the development of sustainable water supply models.
During the project's implementation, the islands' distance from the mainland and the scarcity of water posed significant challenges. However, when NAWAPI conducted water source exploration on the islands, the leadership, officials and residents provided strong support, making the construction on the islands relatively smooth and mitigating some of the difficulties presented by natural conditions.
How have local authorities and residents responded to these results, especially during the recent severe droughts and saltwater intrusion issues?
From the projects inception to the construction and handover of the facilities, the local residents and authorities were very eager and hopeful to quickly access sources to alleviate the water shortages they face during the dry season.
When viable water sources were found in some areas, even before water supply stations could be built, NAWAPI promptly handed over the findings to local authorities. This allowed for immediate extraction and distribution to address the urgent need for drinking water.
For instance, during the severe drought and saltwater intrusion in 2020 in the Mekong Delta and Central Highlands, NAWAPI installed and handed over 13 water treatment facilities with a capacity of 4,300cu.m per day. These facilities provided safe drinking water to approximately 72,000 people, across nine provinces in these critical regions.
What plans does NAWAPI have to ensure water security and safe water supply for residents?
To proactively secure clean water and ensure a safe water supply for residents, NAWAPI is focusing on specific solutions, such as rotating and diversifying existing water sources to improve supply, restoring and rehabilitating depleted, polluted, or saline water sources for use and actively developing surface and groundwater storage facilities within aquifers to support water extraction and supply.
One of the challenges with water supply projects in highland and water-scarce areas is the cost of water that residents have to bear. Additionally, traditional water usage practices can lead to water supply projects becoming less effective and sustainable over time.
The revised Law on Water Resources has introduced preferential policies for water exploitation investment projects. Specifically, Clause 2, Article 4 of the 2023 Law on Water Resources prioritises State investment in the exploration and exploitation of water sources, offering incentives for water supply projects that provide drinking and production water to ethnic minority communities, mountainous areas, border regions, islands and economically disadvantaged areas with scarce freshwater. It also facilitates access to drinking water for the poor, women, children, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
With these new provisions in the revised law, it will be easier to mobilise social resources for water supply projects. These projects will benefit from incentives such as tax reductions and exemptions, as well as waived or reduced fees for water resource exploitation rights, as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 73 of the 2023 Law on Water Resources. VNS
HA NOI Party General Secretary and President To Lam urged the Viet Nam Public Sector Union and the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour to fully leverage human resources to build a team of civil servants who are competent, reputable, truly professional and dedicated to upholding discipline, integrity and public service ethics.
The officials were expected to serve the country and its people wholeheartedly, prioritising the interests of the Party, the nation and its citizens above all else.
Lam made the orders on Wednesday when he chaired the meeting with 150 representatives honoured for their contributions in the 'Excellent advisers, Good service' campaign for the 2019-24 period, launched by the Viet Nam Public Sector Union, in Ha Noi.
The call for enhanced performance came amid growing challenges, aiming at achieving the Partys strategic goals.
Lam said the 13th Party Congresss Resolution, which set a strategic goal for Viet Nam to be a developing country with modern industry and high average income by 2030, and a developed, socialist-oriented country with high income by 2045.
That was a national aspiration and aligned with late President Ho Chi Minhs directive for unity in building a peaceful, independent, democratic and prosperous Viet Nam, contributing significantly to the global revolutionary cause.
Lam said that late President Ho Chi Minhs guidance was: Civil servants are the servants of the people. They must do everything beneficial for the people and avoid everything harmful to the people.
Therefore, the civil servants should consider the guidance as their principle throughout their service, he added.
Lam expressed the desire for the civil servants to be devoted to the people in their daily tasks, whether in shaping macro policies or in administrative duties.
They should be committed to addressing issues affecting citizens lives and businesses promptly and effectively, he said.
In the context of globalisation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which emphasised digital transformation, green transition and knowledge-based economy, the workforce must be dynamic and innovative.
Continuous learning, updating knowledge and skill development were essential to meet new challenges.
He also stressed the need for leaders and managers to actively encourage and protect proactive, innovative and accountable staff, while addressing issues of negligence and inefficiency among some officials, who avoided responsibility and are unprepared to tackle challenges head-on.
He told the Viet Nam Public Sector Union and other unions nationwide continue to promote patriotic emulation movements and the study and practice of late President Ho Chi Minhs ideology, ethics and style.
The Party and State will continue to focus on reforming the wage system to create a favourable environment for civil servants in the coming time, he said.
He said he hoped that the 150 exemplary individuals honoured on Wednesday, would continue to strive, overcome challenges and complete their tasks effectively, inspiring others, so that each agency and unit would have numerous exemplary individuals who embodied the excellent ethos.
Excellent advisers, Good service
Following the directive in the Resolution of the Viet Nam Trade Union's 12th National Congress' Resolution, since 2018, the Viet Nam Public Sector Union has implemented the 'Excellent Advisers, Good Service' campaign.
The Viet Nam Public Sector Union defines 'Excellent advisers' as those providing accurate, timely and creative advice that benefits the State, society and the public.
'Good service' are those who are diligent, responsible and show effective performance in line with assigned duties, ensuring satisfaction among citizens, businesses and clients. Service also encompasses contributing to the Partys noble cause and serving the nation.
Over the past five years, the campaign has deeply resonated at the grassroots level, with widespread participation and tangible outcomes in various agencies and units.
It has significantly impacted the quality of work, service attitudes and overall performance of civil servants amid global challenges and unprecedented issues.
At the meeting, Lam praised the Viet Nam Public Sector Union for its effective role in promoting and organising patriotic emulation campaigns among civil servants.
The 'Excellent advisers, Good service' campaign notably fostered a spirit of innovation and accountability, improving discipline and responsibility across the board.
He said that the campaign had been a catalyst for enhancing public ethics and developing a capable workforce that met modern requirements.
With numerous role models emerging, the campaign had demonstrated high productivity and commitment to public service.
He praised the dedication of many civil servants who, despite modest incomes and difficult conditions, continued to work diligently with integrity and respect for the law.
The individuals were seen as exemplary models of late President Ho Chi Minhs teachings and pioneers in fulfilling his legacy. VNS
Sydney A delegation from the Lao Embassy in Australia visited the Vietnamese Embassy on September 4 to extend their congratulations on the 79th anniversary of Viet Nams National Day (September 2, 1945 2024).
At the event, Lao Ambassador Sinchai Manivanh congratulated Viet Nam on its significant achievements over the past 79 years, and stressed the importance of the two nations great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation. Laos peace, stability, and prosperity are partly attributed to the collaboration with and support from Viet Nam, he affirmed.
With global challenges affecting the socio-economic conditions and the life of their people, Viet Nam and Laos are determined to assist each other, reflecting their deep fraternal bond and tradition of mutual assistance, he said.
In response, Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Hung Tam expressed his delight at the rapid development of the nations cooperative relations in all fields. Viet Nam will continue to support Laos in its role as the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, he stated.
The diplomat said he wishes the two embassies would strengthen their coordination and mutual support, contributing to deepening the sound relations between the two ministries of foreign affairs and promoting effective cooperation between each country and Australia, as well as within regional and multilateral frameworks. VNS
HA NOI Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and his spouses official visit to Viet Nam from September 5 to 8, made at the invitation of Party General Secretary and President To Lam and his spouse, marks the first-ever visit to Viet Nam by a president of the West African nation since the establishment of the sides diplomatic relations.
Viet Nam and Guinea-Bissau set up diplomatic ties on September 30, 1973, shortly after the latter declared independence.
Viet Nam's foreign policy has always emphasised the importance of traditional friendships and a wish to develop multifaceted cooperation with African nations, including Guinea-Bissau. This serves as a crucial foundation for the two countries to build political trust and foster cooperation, serving mutual development.
Regarding Viet Nam as a priority partner in its foreign policy, the Government of Guinea-Bissau is willing to expand practical and effective collaboration across all fields in the coming years.
In bilateral exchanges, both sides agreed to enhance interactions and exchanges of delegations at all levels, particularly high-level visits by their leaders. In July this year, Secretary of State for International Cooperation of Guinea-Bissau Nancy Raisa Cardoso visited Viet Nam and paid respects to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at his state funeral.
Currently, trade is the main area of bilateral economic cooperation. Viet Nam is Guinea-Bissau's third-largest export market, while the latter has been one of the formers top five suppliers of raw cashew nuts from Africa for many years. In 2023, their total bilateral trade turnover neared US$170 million, with Viet Nam mainly exporting rice and textiles and importing raw cashew nuts.
The two countries signed an agreement on cultural, economic, scientific, technical, and trade cooperation in 1994 and a memorandum of understanding on trade and industrial cooperation between the Viet Nam ese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Guinea-Bissau Ministry for Trade, industry, and promotion of local products a decade later.
Moving forward, the sides have agreed to strengthen delegation exchanges, coordinate to support each other at international forums, and enhance cooperation with regional organisations such as the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Additionally, they aim to enhance the sharing of experiences in socio-economic development and policy-making.
To boost economic and trade ties, both sides have agreed to promote the exchange of information, cooperation opportunities, and business connectivity while strengthening key trade items like cashew nuts and expanding into other potential goods such as farm produce and textiles. They have also agreed to sign bilateral cooperation documents in agriculture, seaports, and trade, among other areas.
Viet Nam is ready to support Guinea-Bissau in agricultural development through bilateral or trilateral projects, gradually helping the country ensure and achieve food security and self-sufficiency. VNS
HA NOI The Presidents of two African nations, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique, are visiting Viet Nam at the invitation of Vietnamese Party General Secretary and President To Lam.
President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Sissoco Embalo and his wife are paying an official visit to Viet Nam from September 5 to 9.
This marks the first time a president of the West African country has made an official trip to Viet Nam since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1973, said foreign ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang on Thursday at a press briefing in Ha Noi.
Viet Nam and Guinea-Bissau share a longstanding partnership. Viet Nam is Guinea-Bissau's largest export market worldwide, while Guinea-Bissau is one of Viet Nam's top five suppliers of cashew nuts in Africa.
The two countries have maintained cooperation in various fields and signed multiple bilateral agreements, including in culture, economics, trade, industry and science and technology.
Both Viet Nam and Guinea-Bissau also regularly collaborate and support each other in multilateral forums.
This high-level visit reaffirms Viet Nam's commitment to developing its partnerships with African nations, including Guinea-Bissau.
The visit also aims to lay the foundation for promoting cooperation between the two countries in various domains, including traditional areas of cooperation like politics, economics, trade, agriculture, fisheries and processing industries, while expanding into new areas, namely infrastructure, development, seaports and mining, the spokesperson told the media.
During the visit, President Embalo is set to have talks with Vietnamese top leader To Lam, meet with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and hold meetings with other high-level leaders of Viet Nam, as well as conduct other important state business, Hang noted.
Immediately following President Embalo's visit, Viet Nam will host President of the Republic of Mozambique Filipe Nyusi and his wife from September 8 to 10, at the invitation of Vietnamese Party leader and President To Lam.
This is the first visit by President Filipe to Viet Nam since his inauguration in 2015, and the first by the head of State of the East African country in 17 years, spokesperson Hang remarked.
The spokesperson said Mozambique and Viet Nam share a traditional partnership, with both sides maintaining good relations, both at the Party and State level. The two countries engage in regular delegation exchanges and high-level contacts as well as actively coordinate and support each other in multilateral forums.
Both nations maintain good economic ties as well.
Hang cited the example of the US$600 million telecommunications venture between Viet Nam's military-run telecom group Viettel and Mozambique's SPI company as a highlight in Viet Nam's foreign investment, which serves as a symbol of successful economic cooperation between Viet Nam and Mozambique.
The two countries also continue to collaborate in various other domains, primarily agriculture, healthcare and education.
According to the foreign ministry's representative, the Mozambican leader is scheduled for talks with Vietnamese top leader To Lam as well as a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other important activities. VNS
HA NOI Spokesperson for the foreign ministry Pham Thu Hang on Thursday said Viet Nam has communicated with China and the Philippines to help support Vietnamese fishing vessels when needed in the face of the incoming super typhoon Yagi.
Regarding the reporter's question about citizen protection efforts in the context of Typhoon Yagi making landfall in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea), Hang stated that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has today signed a directive urging ministries, sectors, and localities to urgently respond to Typhoon No.3 (Yagi), with decisive, timely, and effective preventive and responsive measures, emphasising proactive preparation at the maximum level.
"Immediately upon receiving the information, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs instructed Viet Nam's representative missions in China and the Philippines to proactively contact local authorities to facilitate the sheltering, rescue, and repair of Vietnamese vessels if necessary," Pham Thu Hang said.
She added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam also sent diplomatic notes to the Chinese Embassy in Ha Noi and the Philippine Embassy in Ha Noi, requesting coordination with their relevant authorities to support Vietnamese vessels if needed. The Ministry also arranged for officers to be on duty 24/7 to promptly assist with communications with domestic and international agencies in response to Typhoon No. 3. VNS
HA NOI General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and his spouse will pay a State visit to Viet Nam from September 10-13.
The trip will be made at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee and President To Lam and his spouse, announced the committees Commission for External Relations. VNS
HA NOI Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalos official visit to Viet Nam from September 5-8 holds important significance for both countries, Vietnamese Ambassador to Morocco and Guinea-Bissau Le Kim Quy told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s reporter in Africa.
Quy said that welcoming the President represents a step in implementing Viet Nams foreign policy set by the 13th National Party Congress on independence and self-reliance for peace, friendship, cooperation, development, multilateralisation and diversification, and comprehensive and extensive international integration. The visit also contributes to the implementation of the plan on developing relations between Viet Nam and Middle East-Africa nations in the 2016-25 period.
Notably, the trip marks the resumption of high-level delegation exchanges between the two countries after three decades, and it is also the first visit of a head of state since bilateral diplomatic relations were established in 1973, the diplomat said, adding that it will open a new and promising phase in the multifaceted cooperation between Viet Nam and Guinea-Bissau, benefiting their people and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the regions and the world.
At the regional level, the reception for heads of state of African countries, including Guinea-Bissau, by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam in the first months of his new positions underscores the importance Viet Nam attaches to and its close sentiments towards its traditional African friends.
Originating from mutual support during their past struggles for national independence, relations between Viet Nam and these African countries have continuously been consolidated and nurtured throughout the period of national construction and development, serving as a model and testament to the strength of South-South cooperation, Quy said.
The ambassador went on to say that Viet Nam and Guinea-Bissau officially set up their diplomatic relations on September 30, 1973, just one week after the African nation declared its independence and while Viet Nam was in the midst of its struggle for national reunification.
Over the past five decades, the two countries have maintained a strong political relationship, reflected through the exchange of delegations. Guinea-Bissau has actively supported Viet Nam at various multilateral forums. In July, Guinea-Bissau was one of the two African countries sending a delegation to pay respects to late Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.
In the economic sphere, bilateral trade has been steadily increasing, from US$56.1 million in 2020 to nearly $170 million in 2023. Guinea-Bissau is currently one of the top five African suppliers of raw cashew nuts for Viet Nam, making the Southeast Asian nation the third largest export market of Guinea-Bissau.
However, cooperation between Viet Nam and Guinea-Bissau has not yet matched the needs and potential of both sides.
Therefore, the Presidents visit, the first to Viet Nam since he assumed his role in February 2020, is not only an opportunity for both sides to review their past achievements, but is also expected to mark a new turning point in their multifaceted cooperation, Quy stressed.
To further boost the bilateral relations, the ambassador proposed the two countries promote all-level delegation exchanges and meetings to enhance mutual understanding and seek cooperation opportunities in the fields that the two nations have strengths.
Both sides should also leverage their roles in supporting each other in enhancing cooperation at the regional level through organisations such as the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
It is necessary to define priority areas of cooperation that align with each other's needs and strengths, such as trade, agriculture, maritime transport, and infrastructure; and explore and promote cooperation in trilateral or multilateral models.
In terms of trade exchanges, in addition to the key product of cashew nuts, both sides should facilitate market access and diversify other goods such as agricultural products, textiles, and machinery for the agricultural sector.
Quy suggested both sides enhance the legal framework for cooperation by promoting negotiations and signing of important agreements relating to trade, agriculture, investment promotion and protection, and double taxation avoidance.
To support the implementation of these major directions, the two foreign ministries need to continue to actively and effectively play a leading role in supporting relevant ministries, businesses, and local authorities of both sides to advance cooperation efforts, she added. VNS
THUA THIEN-HUE Secretary of the Party Committee of the central province of Thua Thien-Hue Le Truong Luu on Thursday held a working session with a high-ranking delegation of Laos' Savannakhet province led by its Governor Bounchom Oubonpaseuth.
The two sides discussed socio-economic development, Party building, and government building in the two provinces as well as assessed the mid-term implementation results of their cooperation agreement for the 2022 - 26 period.
Luu said that the relationship between Thua Thien-Hue and Lao localities, including Savannakhet, continued to be strengthened, generating practical results.
He suggested that in the coming time, the two sides will continue to implement their cooperation agreement for the 2022 26 period, strengthen political and diplomatic cooperation, and improve the effectiveness of collaboration in all fields, especially tourism, trade, and investment.
He said he hoped that the two sides would effectively exploit the East-West economic corridor between Thailand, Laos and Viet Nam, and consider support policies to use services at Chan May Port to diversify export goods. They should also create favourable conditions for Vietnamese workers to do business and live in Savannakhet.
For his part, the Savannakhet governor appreciated the results of friendship and cooperation between the two localities as well as the support that Thua Thien-Hue has given to Savannakhet in the past time.
He said he hopes that in the coming time, the two localities will continue to promote cooperation in various fields, particularly agricultural and rural production. He called on Vietnamese agricultural enterprises to invest in Savannakhet and strengthen links to develop tourism.
Savannakhet always provides favourable conditions for Vietnamese workers, including those from Thua Thien-Hue Province, to work in the locality, he affirmed.
Under the cooperation agreement for the 2022 26 period signed in December 2022, the leaders of the two provinces have strengthened leadership and direction, and assigned relevant agencies to boost cooperation in a variety of fields.
The two sides have directed ensuring security and order on the Viet Nam-Laos border, making an important contribution to building a borderline of peace, stability, friendship, cooperation, and development.
Their cooperation in the fields of education and human resources training, culture, and health care has witnessed progress, contributing to the socioeconomic development in both localities. Since 2002, Thua Thien-Hue has provided Vietnamese language training and university/college courses for nearly 1,500 Lao students, including 248 from Savannakhet province. VNS
VIENTIANE Chief of the General Staff of the Viet Nam People's Army (VPA) and Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen Nguyen Tan Cuong held bilateral meetings with some delegation heads on the sidelines of the 21st ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Meeting (ACDFM-21) in Vientiane on Thursday.
Meeting Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr, Cuong underlined the similarities in interest between the two countries, and the development of the bilateral strategic partnership in politics, economy, national defence- security, education-training, culture and people-to-people exchange.
Cuong highlighted the state visit to Viet Nam by Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. in January, and its significance in consolidating political trust and comprehensive cooperation as both countries will celebrate the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership in 2025 and the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2026.
For the bilateral defence ties, he proposed maintaining meetings and contacts at all levels, increasing exchanges and experience sharing, particularly among young officers, and maintaining coordination in response to non-traditional security challenges, as well as mutual support at multilateral forums and mechanisms in the time ahead.
In his meeting with Gen. Songwit Noonpackdee, Chief of Defence Forces of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, Cuong stressed the importance of several key activities, such as the Viet Nam-Thailand defence policy dialogue at the deputy ministerial level and delegation exchanges. He encouraged further cooperation in areas like defence industry, logistics, military medicine, search and rescue, and the sharing of experience in border management, pandemic prevention, and drug trafficking control.
Discussing ties with Vice Admiral Aaron Beng, Chief of Defence Force of Singapore, Cuong lauded the effective cooperation between the two armies, which has contributed to celebrating the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership between the two countries and the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties last year. He suggested fostering delegation exchanges, and maintaining annual dialogue mechanisms and training cooperation.
At the bilateral meetings, Cuong extended invitations to military leaders of the countries to attend the celebration of VPAs 80th founding anniversary, and send delegations to the ASEAN Military Music Exchange and the second Viet Nam International Defence Expo in Ha Noi in December 2024, aiming to foster understanding and cooperation. VNS
Crime scene tape surrounds a carport at the apartment complex where Nelson Beckett, 90, was shot and killed on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. Courtesy/OnScene.tv
A man has been arrested and charged in connection to the death of a 90-year-old Navy veteran during a carjacking.
Kyliel Denzel Arceneaux, 21, has been charged with capital murder, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one charge of tampering with physical evidence in connection to the death of Nelson Beckett, according to the Houston Police Department.
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Beckett died Saturday after being shot multiple times in the parking lot of a southwest Houston independent living community, officials said. The shooting happened around 12:45 p.m. in the 10680 block of Westbrae Parkway.
Investigators said Beckett was at his vehicle when he was assaulted by another man, who shot him, took his belongings and then got into Becketts car and ran the older man over.
Detectives found the stolen car in another apartment complex about 4 miles away from the shooting, in the 12500 block of Dunlap. The complex has been the site of a substantial number of calls since February, running the gamut from disturbances and suspicious persons to assault and auto-theft, according to Victor Senties, spokesman for the police department.
Prosecutors accused Arceneaux of dumping Beckett's vehicle and attempting to clean it as authorities searched for him. He ditched a blood-stained shirt he was wearing as well, according to court documents. Similar records contend Arceneaux threatened "two surviving complainants with the same firearm."
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Nicole Hensley contributed to this report.
HCM CITY A heavy rainstorm, accompanied by strong gusts of wind, swept through HCM City on Wednesday evening, uprooting trees and injuring two people.
Around 3 p.m., the storm brought down several trees in Districts 1, 5, Tan Binh, and Binh Thanh.
In Binh Thanh District's Thanh a residential area, an ancient tree was uprooted and fell across the road, injuring a woman crossing the street and damaging a nearby parked car. The incident also caused a power outage in the area.
Strong winds also caused a tree at the Huynh Man at - An Duong Vuong intersection in District 5 to snap, with a falling branch striking a motorcyclist and injuring the rider.
Rescue teams and medical personnel promptly arrived at the scene to administer first aid and transport the injured to the hospital.
On Calmette Street in District 1, a fallen tree hit a moving car, but fortunately, no one was injured. Nearby, at the Pasteur - Le Duan intersection, another branch fell, blocking traffic.
Authorities quickly pruned and cleared the area, restoring traffic flow.
Le inh Quyet, Head of the Forecasting Department at the Southern Regional Hydrometeorological Station, reported that Typhoon Yagi's impact brought heavy rains to HCM City and the southeastern region.
The forecast predicts heavy downpours over the next three days, particularly in the afternoon and evening. Thunderstorms may bring tornadoes, lightning, and strong gusts of wind.
In early August, a 10-metre branch fell on elderly exercisers in Tao an Park, killing two people and injuring three, despite clear weather conditions.
The Department of Transport noted that HCM City has over 122,650 trees, with 6,000 requiring urgent care. VNS
HA NOI More than 25 million students nationwide started the new school year on Thursday.
Amid nationwide excitement, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the opening ceremony at Nguyen inh Chieu Secondary School in Ha Noi.
Founded in 1982 to educate visually impaired children, the school now also admits non-disabled students and follows an inclusive education model for grades one to nine.
After reading a congratulatory letter from General Secretary and President To Lam, PM Chinh praised the school's achievements and resilience.
He stressed the importance of education, recalling President Ho Chi Minh's teachings on the value of educating people.
The PM said that the Party and State have always regarded education and training as a top national policy.
In recent years, numerous policies and mechanisms have been implemented to develop education and training effectively.
Viet Nam's education sector has achieved significant milestones, with ongoing fundamental and comprehensive reforms meeting the needs of industrialisation, modernisation, and international integration. This is particularly relevant in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution's widespread impact.
The PM called for continued reforms, improved teaching methods and support for students with disabilities.
Looking ahead to the 2024-25 academic year, PM Chinh emphasised the importance of continuing to build on past successes with a focus on students at the centre, teachers as the driving force, schools as the foundation, families as the support and society as the base.
He urged that any shortcomings be promptly addressed and that successes be built upon with greater determination and effort.
The Ministry of Education and Training, along with other ministries and local authorities, should create a healthy legal, cultural, and educational environment, particularly for students with disabilities and those in difficult circumstances.
The PM also directed the effective implementation of the conclusion of the Politburo on continuing educational reforms, focusing on enhancing teaching methods, assessment and integrating advanced educational technology.
He urged improvements in the quality of education and diverse training models, supporting community integration for people with disabilities and ensuring equal educational opportunities for all students.
He stressed the importance of maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment, free from violence and drugs.
He called on parents to support their children and emphasised the need for a safe, inclusive and supportive learning environment.
PM Chinh also inspected the school's facilities, advocating for better investment and resources to enhance infrastructure and student welfare, ensuring that no student is left behind.
On Wednesday, the PM issued a directive to enhance the 2024-25 academic year. The directive focuses on a student-centred approach, with teachers, schools, families, and society each playing a crucial role.
The MoET is tasked with updating policies to improve education quality, manage textbooks, and drive digital transformation in schools. It will also prepare for the high school graduation exams under the 2018 General Education Curriculum.
In higher education, the emphasis is on quality improvement, university autonomy, investment attraction and innovation in technology fields such as semiconductors and AI.
The MoET must also ensure school safety, prevent violence, and address teacher shortages, especially in preschool and new curriculum subjects. The Ministry of Finance will allocate funds for education infrastructure.
Local governments are directed to reorganise schools, reduce class sizes, expand boarding schools in remote areas, invest in teacher training, and ensure financial transparency. They are also encouraged to improve disaster preparedness and continue digital transformation efforts in education.
At the Pham Hung High School opening in Vinh Long Province, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man reaffirmed the Party and States commitment to prioritising education as a key to national development. He praised the school's achievements and encouraged teachers to model ethics and inspire students.
Chairman Man highlighted the 2024-25 school year as the start of the new high school graduation exam under the 2018 General Education Curriculum.
He urged the MoET to ensure smooth implementation and support for students and families.
He called on Vinh Long authorities to prioritise education by securing financial resources, improving infrastructure, and developing a skilled teaching workforce.
Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son said that this years theme is innovation, quality, solidarity, and discipline, with the aim to meet and exceed educational targets.
Viet Nam now has nearly 54,000 educational institutions supported by about 1.6 million education professionals. VNS
HA NOI Teaching is a noble professionthat was the message from President To Lam to educators as schools across the country resumed after the holidays.
The Party General Secretary and President wrote an open letter to all those in education, urging the sector to focus on human development and human happiness, maximising the human factor and placing people at the centre, as the subject, resource and goal of development.
That would create a foundation for achieving the goal of a prosperous, powerful, democratic, fair and civilised country, President To Lam said in the letter of encouragement and messages he sent to teachers, educational administrators, education sector employees, parents and students across the country on the occasion of the new academic year 2024-25.
Viet Nam News is honoured to present the full text of the letter from the Party General Secretary and President To Lam:
Dear teachers, educational administrators, education sector employees, students and parents.
On the occasion of the start of the new academic year 2024 - 2025, I warmly extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all teachers, educational administrators and employees in the education sector, as well as to students and parents.
In his letter to students on the first day of school in the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam, President Ho Chi Minh wrote "Whether Viet Nam's mountains and rivers become beautiful or not, whether the Vietnamese people advance to the pinnacle of glory to stand side by side with the great powers of the five continents, largely depends on your efforts in studying."
Former Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong also emphasised in a meeting with outstanding students on November 3, 2018 "Talents are the nation's vital force, if this force is strong, the country is strong, if this force weakens, the country is weak."
Our Party and State have always recognised education and training as a top national policy and have implemented prioritised policies for the development of education and training.
In the 2023 - 2024 academic year, after ten years of implementing Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW dated November 4, 2013 by the Central Committee of the Party on fundamentally and comprehensively renewing education and training, our education system has made significant progress and achieved many important milestones.
These have greatly contributed to raising the people's intellectual level, developing human resources, and nurturing talent, playing a crucial role in the countrys socio-economic development and international integration.
On behalf of the Party and State leadership, I warmly commend the spirit of competition and effort of teachers and students nationwide, as well as the hard work and achievements of the entire education sector and the support of parents over the past time.
The new academic year 2024 - 25 marks the first year of implementing Conclusion No. 91-KL/TW by the Politburo on continuing to implement Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW and deploying the new General Education Programme for all grades from Grade 1 to Grade 12.
I hope the education sector will focus on effectively implementing this years theme "Innovative creativity, improving quality, unity and discipline."
Education and training should continue to aim at human development and human happiness, maximising the human factor and placing people at the centre, as the subject, resource and goal of development. This will create a foundation for achieving the goal of a prosperous, powerful, democratic, fair and civilised country.
With the spirit of the new academic year, I trust that students will strive to study, cultivate, absorb and master knowledge, develop core competencies and build grand aspirations to construct a progressively prosperous and happy nation.
I hope that teachers, educational administrators and education sector employees will always be passionate, dedicated, creative and overcome all difficulties to contribute even more to their noble profession.
I urge parents, for the future of our children, to collaborate effectively with schools and foster a close connection between schools, families and society in educational work.
I request that ministries, local Party committees and authorities pay even more attention to education by making timely, practical and correct decisions so that teachers and students can work and study in a healthy environment with all the necessary conditions to enhance their creative abilities and successfully carry out the country's educational reform.
I wish all teachers, educational administrators, education sector employees and students good health, happiness, success and even greater achievements in the new academic year. VNS
HCM CITY The charity children's shelter Mai Am Hoa Hong (Rose) in HCM City has had its licence revoked after an investigation by Thanh Nien (Young People) Newspaper revealed sickening abuse of orphans living there.
The shelter's owner, Giap Thi Song Huong (50) and Nguyen Thi Ngoc Cam (47), the nanny who allegedly abused children, are being detained by the Police Department of District 12 (HCM City), according to the District 12 People's Committee.
Another nanny who was allegedly involved in the abuse, a woman named Tuyen, has fled the shelter. Police officers are travelling to a south-western province to look for her.
The acts of child abuse, mistreatment and fraud involving the misappropriation of assets at the Hoa Hong Shelter are also being investigated by the police.
On September 4, Thanh Nien began publishing an investigative series Crimes in a Shelter, reflecting on the frequent abuse and mistreatment of children by carers at the shelter at L52 To Ky, Trung My Tay Ward, District 12.
Following this, authorities and relevant agencies have promptly investigated and handled the case.
According to a report from the Peoples Committee of District 12, the Hoa Hong Shelter was established in 2023 under a decision by the District 12's Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (DOLISA). The legal representative of the shelter is Giap Thi Song Huong (from the northern province of Bac Giang, residing in Go Vap District).
According to its licence, Hoa Hong shelter is a non-public, not-for-profit social support facility tasked with assisting and raising homeless children, abandoned children and orphans.
The licence stipulated that the facility could not care for more than 39 children. However, during an inspection on September 4 in the wake of the abuse discovery, the facility was found to be housing 86 children. This included 15 infants, three children aged one to two years, 31 children aged three to five years (also attending Soc Bong Kindergarten), three children aged six to twelve years and one child receiving treatment in a hospital. The shelter also has fifteen workers.
This means the shelter violated regulations by accepting and caring for more children than the licensed capacity.
Notably, the District 12's Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, along with relevant agencies, had previously inspected the shelter twice, but found no violations.
After the publication of Thanh Nien's investigation, which included video clips of nannies physically abusing and manhandling the very young babies along with proof of poor care standards, the Peoples Committee of District 12 instructed the district's Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Trung My Tay Ward Peoples Committee to coordinate with a task force from the HCM City Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to arrange new housing for the 86 children in the shelter's care.
On September 4, the authorities relocated the children to social support centres under the management of the HCM City to continue care and upbringing in accordance with regulations.
Thirty-two children were sent to the Tam Binh Child Protection and Nurturing Centre, thirty-six to the Thu uc Teenagers Village, fifteen to the Go Vap Children's Village, two were returned to their families and ten were hospitalised due to pneumonia.
Regarding the Hoa Hong Shelter, the Peoples Committee of District 12 issued a directive to suspend and revoke the shelter's operating licence.
The District 12 Peoples Committee also directed the district police to bring the shelter's owner, nannies and related staff to the police station for questioning.
District 12 Police are currently detaining individuals and compiling legal documents on the case according to the law.
Regarding management responsibilities, the Peoples Committee of District 12 has assigned the Department of Home Affairs to propose measures for clarifying responsibility and strictly handling individuals and organisations involved in state management, which led to the violations at the shelter. VNS
Making her mark in Germany
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Final-year civil engineering student Nguyen Linh Chi has recently become the youngest member of the Markkleeberg City Council. Born into a hardworking Vietnamese family in Germany, she balances her studies with a strong commitment to community service. Her journey reflects the growing contributions of young Vietnamese in German society.
HA NOI Protecting national digital sovereignty in cyberspace requires a strong and capable information security force, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung stressed at a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the Authority of Information Safety (AIS) (September 9, 2014 - 2024) in Ha Noi on Thursday.
He said ensuring information security in cyberspace is as important as ensuring safety for people in the real world, but its scale is much bigger. Given this, the minister asked the national information security force in general and that of the authority in particular to stay stronger.
Digital technology should be the primary weapon of the authority, he said, asking it to gather outstanding personnel from national and global tech forces.
The AIS and the MIC needs to fulfill the tasks of safeguarding information security and contributing to protecting national digital sovereignty; and protecting the Party's ideological foundation, and the image of Viet Nam and its people in cyberspace, Hung emphasised.
AIS Director Le Van Tuan said the institutional framework for information security has been established and consolidated, from laws to decrees and guiding circulars, pointing to the improved awareness of information security among all-level authorities, the public, and businesses as well as the inclusion of information security in IT projects.
Over 100 Vietnamese information security companies have mastered most information security products, making up more than half of the market share of such products and services. Some have also ventured abroad and are competing globally.
According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) ranking on cybersecurity, Viet Nam has advanced to the 25th place from the 100th over the past decade. VNS
According to a report released by financial data providers FiinGroup and FiinRatings on August 30, the top three industries with the highest average CEO remuneration, significantly outperforming the market average, were real estate, financial services (mainly securities), and insurance. Notably, a number of companies in the top 15 highest-paying enterprises had foreign CEOs, including Masan and Nam Long Real Estate.
CEOs in the real estate sector toped the list with an average salary of $198,000. It was followed by CEOs in financial services with an average salary $182,000, insurance $120,000, and healthcare $120,000.
The IT, banking, and retail sectors showed better-than-average operational performance, with a high return on equity (ROE) exceeding 15 per cent in 2023. However, the average CEO remuneration in these sectors remains relatively low.
The primary reason for this is that the remuneration data do not account for the value of bonus shares received under the employee stock ownership plan, which the leadership received during the year.
CEO remuneration in state-owned enterprises at $56,000 is less than half that of private enterprises, even though their operational efficiency, as reflected by the ROE, is quite similar. This discrepancy is largely because the chairman in state-owned enterprises also holds an executive role under the current governance structure.
Businesses with a market capitalisation of $1 billion or higher paid an average salary of $153,000 for CEOs, which is approximately 52 per cent higher than the market-wide average in 2023. This is reasonable, given that the operational performance in the large-cap group is more positive compared to the other two groups.
The report covers 200 out of 1,647 public companies listed or registered for stock trading on the stock exchanges; the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange, Hanoi Stock Exchange and Unlisted Public Company Market.
These 200 public companies represent over 85 per cent of the total market capitalisation across the three stock exchanges at the end of 2023.
Global CEOs resolute in M&As Global merger and acquisition (M&A) activities will likely rise later in 2023 as investors and executives look to balance short-term risks with their long-term business transformation strategies, according to PwCs 2023 Global M&A Industry Trends Outlook.
PwC report reflects CEO's latest sentiments PwC Vietnam has just released its 26th Annual Global CEO Survey on What matters to CEOs in Vietnam based on PwCs 26th Annual Global CEO Survey Asia-Pacific: Leading in the New Reality, which reveals striking data points that bring to life the challenges facing 1,634 CEOs in the region and their implications in Vietnam.
Foreign investment in Vietnam has come a long way. Initial projects often began in the early 1990s and are now reaching the end of their lifecycle. However, they face challenges in extending their investment licences due to various associated procedures, especially those related to land. This creates significant legal barriers, causing considerable difficulties for enterprises in maintaining and expanding their operations.
Tran Duy Canh, managing partner (left) and Hoang Mai Khanh, trainee associate
Many enterprises in industrial zones, export processing zones, and hotels and tourist facilities in Vietnam are also facing similar difficulties. These projects, after the expiration of the period recorded in the licence, are encountering struggles in extending investment projects and renewing land lease contracts.
This issue affects not only business operations but also creates an unstable investment environment, reducing Vietnam's competitiveness in attracting foreign investors.
In the current context, for cases where a project is amended to extend its operational term, the land user must initially adjust it before submitting an application to extend the land use. Extending initiatives, especially joint ventures using public land, face numerous difficulties due to overlapping and inconsistent legal regulations.
Although the Law on Investment stipulates the extension of ventures, for projects using public land, the extension also depends on the provisions of the Land Law and the Law on Management and Use of Public Property. Early projects often involved public land when the Vietnamese party contributed capital through land use rights.
Previously, Decree No. 43/2014/ND-CP dated May 15, 2014 guiding the Land Law 2013, stipulated that when an investment project is amended to change its operational duration, the enterprise must submit a land use extension application after adjusting the project.
Meanwhile, Decree No.167/2017/ND-CP dated December 31, 2017 of the government on disposition of public property and Decree No.67/2021/ND-CP dated July 15, 2021 guiding the Law on Management and Use of Public Property stipulate that after the end of capital contribution, joint ventures, or partnerships, public assets in the form of land will be handled by recovery and auction of land use rights, bidding to select investors.
However, in some cases, after the expiration of the investment project corresponding to the public land use period, enterprises still wish to continue the project. This raises the question whether they have to face the possibility of land recovery and incur the time and cost to participate in the auction of land use rights according to the regulations of the Law on Management and Use of Public Assets. And if they participate in the auction, they are not guaranteed to be the only participant or to win.
Although, Clause 3, Article 124 of the Land Law 2024 stipulates that the prime minister has the authority to allocate land with land use fees, lease land without auctioning land use rights, and without bidding to select investors to implement projects using the land. However, in reality, this authority of the prime minister has not been implemented in practice, leaving the enterprises uncertain about whether they will face the auction process.
The lack of clarity and consistency in these regulations causes confusion for authorities in handling land use extension applications, as enterprises cannot be assured of their chances in land use rights auctions. This leads to difficulties for authorities in processing the extension of investment project durations.
The lack of clarity and consistency in these regulations causes confusion for authorities in handling land use extension applications, as enterprises cannot be assured of their chances in land use rights auctions. This leads to difficulties for authorities in processing the extension of project durations.
The primary reason investment projects encounter difficulties is the lack of clarity in investment and land regulations. This ambiguity creates significant obstacles for enterprises attempting to meet the requirements for extending land leases and investment projects.
Additionally, delays in decision-making by authorities pose a serious issue. Prolonged processing times for extension applications not only risk missing out on new investment opportunities but also hinder Vietnam's economic development. This situation directly affects enterprises' operations and negatively impacts the overall investment climate, especially as Vietnam competes with regional countries to engage more foreign investors.
Many experts suggest that policy changes are necessary to create better conditions for enterprises. Specifically, simplifying administrative procedures and increasing transparency in investment and land-related processes are essential. To resolve the current issues, timely and decisive intervention from the authorities is crucial to ensure stability and sustainability in business operations.
Although the law grants the prime minister the authority to make decisions, there is a need for specific guidelines on conditions, procedures, and methods for determining land leases and assets attached to the land when extending investment licences. This will help address existing challenges and reassure investors to continue their current and future projects.
Meeting the needs of enterprises aligns with Vietnam's goals of economic development and attracting strong foreign investment.
EPLegal joins forces with Dentons LuatViet in Vietnam EPLegal, a leading Vietnamese law firm, has joined forces with Dentons LuatViet, enhancing client offerings across Vietnam and the ASEAN region.
Japanese players take domestic demand into account Japan remains in the top five largest foreign direct investors in Vietnam so far this year. Matsumoto Nobuyuki, chief representative of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) in Ho Chi Minh City, talked to VIRs Bich Ngoc and gave his assessment on capital flows from Japan to Vietnam.
DoubleTree by Hilton Vientiane is situated in the heart of Laos capital city with access to major transport hubs and iconic local attractions, making it a prime choice for business and leisure travellers.
The opening reflects Hiltons continued expansion in Southeast Asia, spotlighting the growth opportunities in the region, where Hilton is set to almost double its portfolio in the coming years.
Laos boasts a rich cultural heritage and stunning natural landscapes. With the opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Vientiane, we are honoured to bring Hiltons signature hospitality to the heart of this up-and-coming destination, said Alan Watts, president of Hilton in Asia-Pacific. With a growing desire among Vietnamese travellers to explore destinations in Asia and experience local culture, this latest addition to our portfolio underscores Hiltons commitment to being where our guests want to be, and to capturing the growing travel demand in this dynamic region."
Located at the intersection of Rue Setthathilath and Rue Manthatourath, DoubleTree by Hilton Vientiane is close to That Dam, an iconic stupa in the heart of the city centre.
Several iconic cultural and historical attractions, such as the Presidential Palace and Sisaket Temple, lie within walking distance of the hotel. For business travellers, the hotel is also conveniently situated near the financial district and major transportation hubs in the city about a 15-minute drive from Wattay International Airport and a half-hour drive from the high-speed Vientiane Railway Station.
The hotel boasts 188 well-appointed rooms and suites, with each room featuring uninterrupted views of the cityscape or the Mekong River. From stylish and contemporary guest rooms to spacious and residential suites, these accommodations guarantee feel-good moments throughout the stay.
Each room intertwines contemporary design with rich Lao cultural heritage, and comes furnished with modern amenities, including high-definition televisions and ergonomic work areas, so guests can relax, connect, and feel right at home.
During their stays, guests will be able to relax at the hotels rooftop pool, and the property also boasts a fully equipped 24-hour fitness centre with state-of-the-art equipment available for guests who wish to stay active.
In addition, DoubleTree by Hilton Vientiane also offers adaptable spaces for events of all sizes and occasions. With over 550 sq.m of event space, the main ballroom can accommodate up to 600 guests for weddings and large-scale events or be divided into two separate spaces for more intimate events.
Corporate groups can also choose from two smaller meeting rooms, two boardrooms and a VIP room to suit their needs. All event and meeting spaces are outfitted with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, high-speed internet, and high-quality catering services.
The opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Vientiane is part of the upscale full-service brands growing portfolio in Asia-Pacific. Known for its contemporary accommodations, unpretentious hospitality, thoughtful amenities, and signature chocolate chip cookie presented to each guest at check-in.
The award-winning brand recently marked another significant milestone as it surpassed 100 properties in Asia Pacific. With nearly 80 DoubleTree by Hilton properties in the pipeline in Asia-Pacific, all offering a double dose of comfort and care, the brand will contribute to Hiltons target to surpass 1,000 hotels in the region by 2025.
Hilton Saigon brings prosperity with urban life A centrepiece in the heart of the metropolis with impressive views, Hilton Saigon embodies the essence of the locality, powered by a passion for service and hospitality. This marks the debut of its award-winning flagship brand and first hotel in this city.
Meet the renowned chefs behind Hilton Saigon's exquisite restaurants Hilton opened the grand Hilton Saigon Hotel in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City last March. Within its walls, four restaurants at Hilton Saigon offer unique, distinctive, and diverse dining options to its guests, features four separate culinary styles designed to highlight and honour the rich flavours of Vietnam as well as the world.
With more than 10 models at selling prices from $20,000 to over $52,000, the hybrid car market in Vietnam has become vibrant and diverse, according to a report from the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA) in mid-August.
Hybrid vehicles are strong step but not final answer
In contrast to cars with traditional engines, which are suffering from slower sales, the hybrid car market in Vietnam is in short supply. Models such as the Toyota Innova Cross 2.0 HEV, Corolla Cross 1.8 HEV, and Honda CR-Ve are of most interest.
This popularity has contributed to hybrid sales growth, although it has not achieved a full breakthrough, the VAMA reported. The total sales of the association members reached 28,920 vehicles in July, including almost 700 units in all types of mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and full hybrid.
The number of hybrid cars sold in July increased by 119 units as compared to June, equivalent to 17.2 per cent. Although this figure is still modest compared to internal combustion engine cars and electric cars, mainly taxis, it reflects a significant increase in the popularity of hybrid cars in Vietnam, the VAMA reported.
Shortly, the Vietnamese car market is expected to become more exciting with the entry of many new recruits. Suzuki launched the XL7 hybrid model on August 20 to replace the Ertiga hybrid, for example, and is expected to become its flagship product.
At the Vietnam Motor Show in October, Honda will also release the 2024 Civic hybrid model and open deposits for this version.
In May, BYD Vietnam announced plans to launch a new pickup model, equipped with an advanced hybrid powertrain, which is expected to be available on the market soon.
Haval, another Chinese car brand, is launching a new B-size SUV in Vietnam called the Jolion Hybrid, aiming to create fierce competition with the Toyota Corolla Cross and Yaris Cross hybrid models.
However, hybrid cars still emit into the environment, while Vietnam has a clear net-zero roadmap in which, by 2050, all vehicles in transport and production must be electric and use clean energy with carbon emissions of zero.
Phan Le Hoang Linh, manufacturing head under the Department of Industry at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that with its fuel economy advantages, significantly reducing carbon emissions and noise - and not dependent on charging station infrastructure like battery EVs - hybrid cars are a reasonable alternative in the complete transition to electric cars.
The two types of hybrid cars, hybrid EVs and plug-in hybrid EVs with external charging, still use internal combustion engines and emit some carbon. However, these two lines are being developed worldwide in different ways.
China has enacted a strategy that half of all sales by 2035 will be hybrid EVs. Similarly, the United States also sets a target of half of all cars sold being hybrids by 2030. Japan will still focus on hybrid and fuel-cell EVs in the next 20 years, in addition to researching and developing some hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine vehicles.
Excepting the European market, at least for the next 10 years, most major markets in the world still have plans to develop hybrid e-vehicles as an intermediate solution towards battery EVs, and Vietnam is also following this trend, Linh emphasised.
Hybrid vehicles and battery EVs are rapidly changing the habits of Vietnamese people using green cars. This is also consistent with the nations roadmap for green energy conversion and emission reduction of the transport sector.
The roadmap said that the production, assembly, import, and conversion to EVs by 2030, including hybrid vehicles, will be promoted. In the period from 2031-2040, the production, assembly, and import of cars and motorbikes using fossil fuels will be gradually reduced and eventually stopped, while all road vehicles must use electricity and green energy by 2050.
In the context that EVs are struggling with charging station infrastructure and power sources, hybrid vehicles have a valuable opportunity for development and are considered an extremely effective intermediate step before starting to completely switch to using zero-emission EVs in 2040-2050, Linh said.
However, Vu Tan Cong, deputy general director of Vietnam Automobile Industry and Trade Consulting, noted that hybrid and EVs still cause environmental pollution.
Hybrid vehicles still discharge carbon, while the majority of power resources for EVs are causing a lot of environmental pollution. Of these, two-thirds of all power sources are coal-fired thermal power and gas turbine power, which cause a lot of environmental pollution now, Cong said.
In addition, when they reach the end of their useful life, the batteries must be properly disposed of to avoid polluting the environment. Thoroughly disposing of these expired batteries is costly and challenging, he added.
Chinese EV giant BYD posts 24.4 per cent rise in profit Leading Chinese automaker BYD posted on Wednesday a 24.4 percent rise in net profit for the first half of 2024, boosted by continuing strong demand for electric cars in its home and overseas markets.
BYD commits to convenient offerings for vehicle owners Greening the automotive industry in Vietnam involves companies like BYD Vietnam, which is making efforts to contribute to the process. Vo Minh Luc, CEO of BYD Vietnam, told VIRs Hara Nguyen about the companys plans to deliver the most convenient experience to users.
Michelle Colvard and her daughter Anja Colvard, 7, hold up signs as they join parents, teachers, students and community members and The Houston Federation of Teachers in protesting the current state of HISD schools in front of HISD headquarters on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer
A statewide teachers union aims to bring an Educators Bill of Rights to the Legislature in 2025 that includes a call to repeal legislation that allows for hostile state takeover of districts by an appointed education commissioner as part of a right to democratic representation.
Texas AFT, representing 66,000 members, pointed to the initiative as a way to retain educators. Teachers departures make daily tasks harder for remaining staff and leave students without necessary support and services, the union said in its campaign. The union introduced its Educators Bill of Rights online petition Tuesday.
The union seeks to bring changes in law that fall under the 10 overarching rights it named in its petition, which includes a right to academic freedom, to a secure retirement, and to meaningful training and development.
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As part of what it called an educators right to democratic representation, the union in part cited the states takeover of B-rated Houston ISD. It also said districts fail to use campus- and district-level decision-making committees and that there should be a required annual certification by districts indicating decision-making committees were organized and consulted.
As part of a right to reasonable working conditions, Texas AFT seeks to limit the workday to no more than 480 minutes (about 8 hours) per a 24-hour time period in law. It also called for adequate school funding amid stagnant funding after the last legislative session so that more staff can be hired and educators have time to plan lessons.
It also seeks funding for certification programs so that existing school support staff can earn teaching credentials. Districts are increasingly hiring uncertified teachers including in HISD with more than 1,000 uncertified teachers last academic year, according to data presented by the University of Texas at Austin UTeach.
HOT-BUTTON ISSUES: Hear are the education issues to keep your eye on this school year
The unions initiative for working conditions follows its report with input from more than 100 Texas teachers, who largely indicated working conditions were more important to them than compensation when it came to retention.
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A dual language program teacher is teaching fourth grade science on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 at Gregg Elementary School in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer
Texas AFTs demand for fair wages includes a state- or district-level minimum wage for paraprofessionals and support staff, as well as a requirement for districts to provide unemployment compensation to cafeteria workers and school bus drivers.
At a recent Houston City Council Labor Committee meeting, the Houston Federation of Teachers, affiliated with Texas AFT, described mass employee departures, skyrocketing number of employee grievances and a jump in the level of uncertified teachers in HISD under state-appointed leadership in the last academic year.
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HFT President Jackie Anderson said the statewide unions bill of rights can benefit educators in and beyond Houston.
Vietnamese partners must have managing and operations experience to be of use to Japanese groups, photo Le Toan
In early August, Cosmos Initia, a 50-year-old high-end real estate company and a member of Daiwa House Group, entered into a joint venture with Vietnams TT Capital Investment and Japans Koterasu Group to start construction of TT AVIO apartments in Di An city of the southern province of Binh Duong. This project focuses on affordable housing, providing around 2,000 apartments. Eighty per cent of these are 60sq.m and priced at under $83,000 per unit.
Additionally, Cosmos Initia and Koterasu Group plan to pump another $150 million in TT Capital over the next five years, with the aim of bringing about 1,000 affordable housing units to the market each year.
Samty Asia Investment (SAI), another Japanese real estate developer, partnered with Vinhomes in July to develop The Star in Ho Chi Minh City, which will feature four buildings with nearly 2,000 apartments.
The Star is a subproject of Vinhomes Grand Park, one of the largest housing schemes in Ho Chi Minh City, comprising over 70 buildings, schools, hospitals, supermarkets, shopping centres, office buildings, and large parks, with a total population of more than 80,000.
This is SAIs second venture in Vietnam. Previously, in 2021, SAI collaborated with Vinhomes to develop The Sakura residential scheme in a smart city urban area located in west Hanoi.
Japanese investors are also developing projects in areas outside of core urban zones. In April, Kim Oanh Group worked with three Japanese partners to jointly develop an urban area of nearly 50 hectares in Binh Duong province, with capital of more than $1 billion.
The three Japanese companies Sumitomo Forestry Group, Kumagai Gumi Group, and NTT Urban Development Company will hold 49 per cent of the capital, while the remaining stake belongs to Kim Oanh Group.
Historically, many large-scale Japanese enterprises have entered the Vietnamese market. Notable among them are Sumitomo Corporation and BRG Group, which have jointly developed a smart city project in northern Hanoi. Marubeni and Hung Thinh Group have also signed an agreement to develop ventures in Thu Duc of Ho Chi Minh City.
Other prominent investors include Nishitetsu Group and Nishi-Nippon Railroad, in cooperation with Nam Long Group for housing, Tokyu with Becamex IDC in housing developments, and Kajima in a joint venture with Indochina Capital in hospitality and industrial property.
Experts note that the Vietnamese real estate market is attractive to Japanese investors due to its potential for long-term growth. Factors such as a shortage of housing, rising incomes, and revised laws also contribute to a more transparent and sustainable real estate market.
If in the past, Japanese businesses primarily entered the market through mergers and acquisitions, they are now more actively seeking projects and directly participating in the implementation process. In particular, the affordable housing segment remains a priority in Japanese portfolios, Nguyen Hoa, an expert on Japanese investments, told VIR.
For Japanese financial backers, in addition to requiring a clean land bank with full legal compliance, the capacity and experience of the leadership of potential partners are highly valued.
Vietnamese partners do not necessarily need to own many projects in the market, but they must have substantial experience in managing, operating, and developing real estate, with a track record of success, Hoa added.
Nguyen Dinh Truong, a representative of TT Capital, said that partnering with Japanese investors in real estate comes with significant pressure due to their cautious approach when putting money into the Vietnamese market.
Japanese investors have high standards for selecting partners. Project standards are thoroughly evaluated, which may slow progress but, conversely, helps limit risks, Truong said.
Lawrence Lennon, director of Capital Markets at CBRE Vietnam, said that the countrys strong economic fundamentals indicate that the market remains resilient. For investors, the key was to strategise according to the current stage of each key sector in northern, central, and southern Vietnam, while adapting to the broader structural shifts occurring globally.
Were continuing to see strong appetite among foreign investors to enter the market, with a focus on the industrial and logistics space (spurred by the trade war), the hospitality market as the world re-opens post-pandemic, and core asset classes driven by the countrys unique supply and demand dynamics, he said.
Japanese investors catch the eye in real estate sector Many domestic real estate developers are expecting to cooperate with Japanese investors as strategic partners to receive capital and share the management capacity.
Vietnams stock market on the radar of Japanese investors Japanese investors expressed an interest in Vietnams stock market at a conference themed Vietnam Investment Destination in Tokyo on March 12.
Japan to sponsor over 28 million USD for Can Tho city's smart city project The Peoples Committee of Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on July 24 held a working session with Fujitsu Limited of Japan on a project on providing technical support for the locality, aiming to build a smart city model through digital transformation in land management.
How do you assess the trend of Japanese capital flows into Vietnam over the past time, and how has it changed compared to previous years?
Although there has been a lot of investment in Vietnam via China+1, mainly in the manufacturing industry, recently more funding has been directed towards domestic demand than manufacturing, with merger and acquisitions (M&As) of domestic companies and establishment of joint ventures. Also, within the manufacturing sector, investment has centred on the food and beverage industry becoming more prominent.
In addition, infrastructure-related investment has continued to dominate the first half of this year, and is likely to remain the main focus of domestic demand and infrastructure funding going forward.
The global economy continues to be uncertain, and the recent changes in the domestic political situation has also contributed to a lack of positive news. In the meantime, interest in Vietnam continues to be high, and we have received many inquiries about the investment environment this year, as we did last year, so we expect to see some concrete activity as soon as the outlook becomes brighter.
Matsumoto Nobuyuki, chief representative of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) in Ho Chi Minh City
Is the trend of Japanese businesses coming to the JETRO office to learn about Vietnam different from previous years?
There have been many inquiries for domestic demand this year, and companies that had previously utilised agents are now beginning to consider expanding directly into Vietnam. In particular, inquiries in the health food and beverages, baby care, and cosmetics sectors are particularly notable due to the high level of trust in the safety and high quality of Japanese products.
In order for companies like these and others to further attract investment to Vietnam in the future, the most effective way is to improve the business environment in the country, especially by simplifying and streamlining administrative procedures, which has been pointed out many times over the past few years, rather than the impact of the trade policies of the United States and other countries.
We hope that the agreement reached between Japan and Vietnam last December on a comprehensive strategic partnership will help to resolve these longstanding issues.
Since 2023, a new wave of investment through M&As has been forming, led by Japanese financiers with outstanding deals. What can you say about this trend?
Yes, a number of deals were carried out recently. Outstanding deals were Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation spending $1.45 billion to buy 15 per cent of VPBank, and Sojitz acquired the entire largest food distribution company in Vietnam of Dai Tan Viet JSC. Sojitz also invested in Vinamilk, AEON Malls Ministop store chain, and many more.
Vietnam has a population of over 100 million and a per capita GDP of more than $4,000, which is probably why the country is becoming more attractive as a market. As mentioned earlier, funding for new and expanded projects in the manufacturing sector has been somewhat weak, and investment for domestic demand, including M&As, will probably be the main focus in the future.
What does Vietnam need to do to promote more Japanese investment in the Vietnamese market in the coming time, and what does JETRO Ho Chi Minh City do to encourage the expansion of Vietnams startup ecosystem?
Simplification and streamlining of administrative procedures will be most effective. These issues are not unique to Vietnam, but are common to all emerging countries. This is why they are also a factor that differentiates Vietnam from other countries. In order for Vietnam to attract more investment ahead of other countries in the future, we hope to see improvements in the area of administrative procedures.
There is increasing funding in startups for domestic demand, and Vietnams high economic growth has led to many funding in startups that provide solutions to emerging social issues. Many of these social issues have already been experienced in Japan, and companies with rich experience have participated in business matching with local startups that are familiar with Vietnams realities, and concrete cooperation and partnerships have actually begun to take place.
Japan to sponsor over 28 million USD for Can Tho city's smart city project The Peoples Committee of Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on July 24 held a working session with Fujitsu Limited of Japan on a project on providing technical support for the locality, aiming to build a smart city model through digital transformation in land management.
Japanese 7-Eleven owner soars on takeover offer Shares in the Japanese operator of 7-Eleven soared on Monday after the firm confirmed it had received a takeover bid from Canadian retail giant Alimentation Couche-Tard.
Vietnam a key market for Japanese Japanese investors continue to bet on Vietnams market with rising strategic partnerships and greenfield investments.
Japanese investors pour over 1.3 billion USD into Ha Nam The Management Board of Industrial Parks in the northern province of Ha Nam on August 30 held a meeting with Japanese enterprises that are investing in industrial parks in the province.
Giang Do, advisory director at Savills Ho Chi Minh City, said that for a long time, the citys land price list has not been maintained and is often significantly lower than the actual market value.
This prolonged price difference has created a dual price system, leading to many serious consequences, Giang said.
Land price framework remains inefficient, Photo Le Toan
Foremost, this problem makes state land management difficult and complicated.
For instance, the discrepancy between the declared price on notarised contracts and the actual transaction price, often aimed at reducing land transfer taxes, has caused inefficiencies. In other cases, annual land lease payments based on outdated and lower-than-market prices have contributed to budgetary losses for the state, Giang said.
Secondly, the development of real estate projects has been fraught with challenges, particularly in the phases of land acquisition and clearance. Compensation based on undervalued price lists has frequently resulted in delays, dissatisfaction, and financial loss for affected residents, ultimately leading to protracted disputes and land-related litigation.
Given these longstanding issues, adopting a land price list that is aligned with market realities is inevitable, Giang said.
This progressive shift will address previous shortcomings, ensuring more transparency and fairness in the system. Crucially, a market-driven land price list is expected to facilitate smoother compensation processes, particularly in key infrastructure development projects, by fostering greater public consensus on compensation and support mechanisms, she added.
However Vo Hong Thang, investment director at DKRA Group, said that the land price framework will likely be adjusted to increase about by as much as 30-fold, and in some cases up to 50-fold in some districts in Ho Chi Minh City.
Therefore, it will have a profound impact on people and real estate businesses, Thang said. For the need to change land use purposes, especially from agricultural land to non-agricultural land, the conversion fee payable will be adjusted to be higher than at present. However, the level of increase is not guidelined by specific circulars or decrees for implementation.
For households affected by site clearance and compensation, being resettled will have certain advantages in the compensation price as well as in determining the resettlement price, which has been complicated and consumes a lot of time.
The application of land price lists to land tax calculations is also said to have certain impacts that increase non-agricultural land use taxes. However, the application of the new land price list will only be applied after the statute of limitations of the current land price list expires at the end of 2026.
Beneficiaries are those eligible for state compensation and resettlement support are likely to benefit from the updated price list. Households and individuals seeking land-use recognition or changing the purpose of land use, meanwhile, will face the most significant impact.
Under the 2014 Land Law, financial obligations were divided between land within and outside certain thresholds, with different pricing mechanisms applied. However, the 2024 Land Law eliminates this distinction. Now, all land will be calculated based on the updated price list, regardless of thresholds, and adjustments will be made at the onset of the lease period. As a result, while land outside the limit may remain unaffected, land within the limit will see a sharp increase in financial obligations, given the higher proposed prices.
According to Ho Chi Minh City Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the citys adjusted land price framework will bring specific benefits to both individuals and businesses.
The adjusted land price framework has been updated in accordance with the actual situation of land prices in the city, which will contribute to making the application convenient, easy, transparent, and at the same time, cutting down on real time and procedures for determining specific land prices are as before, said a source from the department.
In addition, the land price adjusted list does not affect the specific land valuation to calculate land use fees and land rents of real estate and commercial housing projects due to these projects are calculated using the residual method.
Furthermore, agricultural land prices have been adjusted to suit reality, so investors deductions will be more appropriate than before, thereby contributing to improving the business environment while adjusting the selling price of real estate products more appropriately.
Experts consider major changes to land valuation Drafts to amend and supplement Decree No.44/2014/ND-CP on land prices and Circular No.36/2014/TT- BTNMT on land valuation were discussed at a VIR seminar on the issue on July 27.
Amended land law can remove current limitations The Law on Land is an essential law, institutionalising the major guidelines of regulation on continuing to innovate and complete institutions and policies, and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of management and use of land, creating a driving force to help Vietnam become a high-income developed country.
Two weeks ago, the ministry (MoT) initiated a consultation process on a report outlining proposed policies for the transition to electric and green-energy vehicles in Vietnam. Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Duy Lam said, We will continue to compile and refine these proposals and report to the government in the third quarter of this year.
Several companies are getting in on the action to develop EV charging infrastructure, photo Le Toan
On August 10, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha directed the MoT to collaborate with relevant ministries and local authorities to further review mechanisms and preferential policies. These efforts aim to support production and import activities, encourage the use of green energy vehicles, and submit a report by September 15.
The report proposes several main policy groups. Firstly, to encourage production, assembly, and import activities, the MoT recommends raising emission standards and limiting fuel consumption to reduce reliance on fossil fuel vehicles and promote zero-emission vehicles.
Additionally, the ministry suggests adding electric vehicles (EV) and battery manufacturing and assembly to the list of sectors eligible for special investment incentives. This could include exemptions and reductions in land rent, taxes, and fees for projects expanding into this industry.
To encourage and support consumers, the MoT proposes implementing emission fees for fossil fuel vehicles and establishing zero-emission zones in urban centres, where only zero-emission vehicles would be allowed.
The report also recommends offering subsidies of around $1,000 for EV purchases to encourage consumer adoption. EV users would receive priority in urban areas, including access to preferred parking and reduced fees during peak hours.
For the development of electric charging infrastructure, the MoT proposes the swift issuance of Vietnamese standards for electric charging stations, aligned with international trends.
To prevent monopolies in the charging station sector, the MoT plans to develop regulations governing the operation and sharing of charging stations or green energy supply stations for EVs.
Moreover, to expedite the expansion of charging infrastructure, the government is considering regulations that would integrate charging stations into urban technical infrastructure and residential areas. Public charging stations would be required at bus stations, rest stops, urban centres, car parks, shopping centres, hotels, offices, apartments, and restaurants.
Developers would be exempt from construction permits and investment policy adjustments when installing charging stations. For existing properties, land use purposes would not need to be altered to accommodate charging station installations, according to the MoT.
The incentives would apply to battery-powered cars, fuel cell EVs, and solar-powered vehicles.
The MoT acknowledged that while Vietnam has implemented preferential policies to promote EV adoption, the transition has lagged global trends and remains slow compared to some regional countries.
The policies outlined in this report aim to boost investment, production, and technological advancements, accelerating the domestic adoption of EVs, said Lam.
Supporting a green strategy for the automotive industry With 6.5 million cars and 74 million motorcycles, Vietnam is the second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from road transport in Southeast Asia, following Indonesia. Emissions from road vehicles in the country are rising rapidly, with an average annual increase of about 15 per cent over the past decade.
EV strategy must prioritise keeping the pace globally Under Vietnams vehicle industry development strategy, electric vehicles (EVs) require robust support from government policies to contribute effectively to the countrys net-zero commitment.
From a commercial standpoint, Argentina and Vietnam have developed a solid and enduring trade relationship. In 2023, Argentina became Vietnam's 29th largest trading partner, with total trade reaching $3.446 billion. In the first seven months of 2024, bilateral trade stood at $1.986 billion.
Francisco Jose Franco Martinez, deputy head of Mission Head of the Economic, Commercial and Investment Section, Embassy of Argentina to Vietnam
Within Latin America, Argentina is Vietnam's third-largest trading partner, following Brazil and Mexico. Conversely, Vietnam has consistently been among Argentina's top 10 trading partners over the past decade, solidifying its position as Argentina's leading partner in Southeast Asia.
A key strength in Argentina-Vietnam trade relations lies in the complementarity of their economies. This synergy has paved the way for mutually beneficial trade exchanges. Vietnam exports a diverse range of products to Argentina, including mobile phones, computers, electrical products, footwear, textiles, clothing, iron, steel and other products.
Meanwhile, Argentina is a significant supplier of agricultural products and raw materials, such as soybean meal, corn and wheat, which are crucial to Vietnam's growing economy, particularly its animal feed industry. These products not only satisfy local demand but are also exported to third countries.
Recently, high-quality products from Argentina, such as beef, wine, olive oil, seafood, and poultry, have gained popularity in the Vietnamese market, especially in high-end restaurants, hotels and coffee shops. Argentina also exports high-tech industrial products to Vietnam, including animal vaccines and biotechnological pharmaceuticals, contributing to maintaining the quality standards in animal and human health as required by Vietnamese law.
A key priority for both Argentina and Vietnam is the negotiation of a Free Trade Agreement between Mercosur and Vietnam. Argentina is a strong advocate within the Mercosur bloc, actively promoting negotiations for this agreement. Such a deal is viewed as a crucial step in enhancing bilateral trade and unlocking new opportunities for both economies. This commitment to advancing negotiations underscores the strategic importance of the Argentina-Vietnam partnership and the shared vision of fostering even deeper economic ties.
Trade missions are vital in strengthening the economic relationship between Argentina and Vietnam. Business representatives from the Mercosur-ASEAN Chamber of Commerce will visit Vietnam in November to attend trade fairs and engage in business-to-business meetings with Vietnamese companies, exploring new business opportunities. This follows a series of Vietnamese missions in 2024, where companies, accompanied by institutional delegations, explore opportunities in Argentina.
Through the Embassy of Argentina in Vietnam, daily communication channels are maintained with numerous companies to facilitate connections between Argentine and Vietnamese enterprises. The embassy provides commercial matchmaking services, including virtual meetings, translation services and organising business agendas for companies from both countries. Additionally, it offers valuable commercial information for Argentine companies, including sectoral reports, data on tariffs, consumption, production, taxes, export and import data, sector fairs, regulations and other relevant commercial information.
The outlook for investment cooperation between Argentina and Vietnam is equally encouraged, driven by strong commercial complementarity and solid trade flows. These conditions create opportunities for foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam, where products imported from Argentina are processed, manufactured and industrialised. These products are often exported to third countries, promoting the economic benefits of this partnership and generating employment and positive spillovers throughout the Vietnamese economy.
A prime example is the leather sector, where an Argentine leather processing company established a factory in Vietnam in May 2023. This facility imports leather from Argentina, processes it in Vietnam and exports the finished products to other markets, while also serving domestic demand. Another Argentine-owned leather processing factory is set to open in Vietnam in November 2024, further underscoring the economic complementarity between the two countries.
Both Argentina and Vietnam have introduced substantial government incentives and policies to encourage FDI. In Argentina, a recently launched incentive regime for large investments (RIGI Scheme) aims to attract FDI by offering benefits such as tax reductions, customs exemptions and enhanced investment stability in strategic sectors, including infrastructure, mining, technology and agriculture. This initiative highlights Argentina's proactive approach to creating a favourable environment for investors.
Both Vietnam and Argentina offer highly favourable environments for FDI due to these robust government policies. It is crucial for private companies from both countries to explore potential joint ventures and collaborative ventures in each other's territories to take full advantage of these incentives.
The Embassy of Argentina regularly engages with Vietnamese companies with substantial financial capacity to explore opportunities for FDI in Argentina or potential joint ventures with Argentine companies, particularly in sectors like lithium, telecommunications and energy.
Argentina and Vietnam are currently negotiating two critical agreements that could significantly boost reciprocal investments: a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and the renewal of the Bilateral Investment Treaty. Both countries aim to align these treaties with new international standards, providing a robust legal framework that will thereby encourage increased FDI flows in both countries.
Furthermore, high-level visits play a crucial role in promoting the bilateral relationship. In 2023, a significant visit from Vietnam to Argentina was led by the Chairman of the National Assembly, Vuong Dinh Hue.
Earlier in 2024, Argentina's Foreign Minister, Diana Mondino, visited Vietnam, and the Undersecretary of Agricultural Markets is scheduled to visit Vietnam in September. These visits reaffirm the political will on both sides to advance key issues of mutual interest, particularly in trade, and to establish future action plans.
Argentina hopes for strategic partnership with Vietnam: ambassador The new Argentinian Ambassador to Vietnam, Luis Pablo Maria Beltramino, has affirmed his countrys willingness to upgrade its relations with Vietnam to a strategic partnership, especially when the two sides are preparing to mark the 50th founding anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2023.
As reported by Bloomberg News, ride-hailing provider GoTo Group is withdrawing from Vietnam, abandoning a country where its been struggling to reach profitability, aside from its main operations in Indonesia and Singapore.
GoJek, which offers ride-hailing, food delivery, and courier services, accounted for less than 1 per cent of GoTos gross transactions in the second quarter and the exit is unlikely to hurt the companys financials.
The unprofitable company, which battles stiff competition from Singapores Grab Holdings in markets including Vietnam, has slashed spending as user growth cools. It exited Thailand in 2021, and late last year relinquished control of loss-making e-commerce arm Tokopedia to ByteDances TikTok in a $1.5 billion deal.
Besides market leader Grab, Vietnams ride-hailing contenders include local player Be Group. The startup raised about $30 million this year to accelerate its growth from ride-hailing and deliveries.
Vietnam's ride-hailing market size is forecast to hit $880,000 in 2024 and $2.16 billion by 2029, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 19.5 per cent, according to Mordor Intelligence.
Overall, the Vietnamese ride-hailing market is moderately consolidated, with players like Grab, Xanh SM (GSM JSC), Be Group JSC, and FastGo. The greatest threat to Grab may come from Xanh SM, Vietnam's first-ever electric taxi company. Xanh SM has been aggressively expanding its market foothold with its strong partnership growth. Several players in the market are engaged in mergers, strategic partnerships, and new product and service launches to stay ahead of the competition.
Vingroup's GSM to launch ride-hailing and electric motorcycle services Green and Smart Mobility Corporation (GSM) has announced plans to extend its electric taxi services to 27 cities and provinces in Vietnam, as part of the company's commitment to green mobility and sustainable transportation.
Ride-hailing companies defend pricing policies in face of spiralling fuel cost rises Driver-partners of ride-hailing companies such as Gojek and Grab are pleading for more help as the spiralling cost of fuel is turning them off from the occupation entirely.
Over the past three decades, Vietnams health sector has been adopting information communication technologies (ICTs) through three main periods: experimental, developing, and scaling-up periods. The establishment of an electronic health agency within the Ministry of Health (MoH) in 2012 marked the beginning of the latter, where the health sector strengthened the policy and institutional environment and mobilised resources for ICT adoption and digital transformation.
Le Minh Sang, senior health specialist at the World Bank Vietnam Office
The MoH has made remarkable achievements in adopting ICT for public health system administration such as the provision of administrative procedures through the public health service portal at the highest level, the national immunisation information management system, and the pharmaceutical database. Medical and pharmaceutical institutions have adopted ICTs widely to improve operational efficiency.
All public hospitals in Vietnam have installed and operated a hospital information system, and almost all (99.5 per cent) healthcare facilities nationwide have submitted electronic health insurance claims to Vietnam Social Security.
Struggling with delivery
Despite such efforts in ICT application, health facilities in Vietnam are still in the early stages of digital transformation. In 2019, 40.4 per cent of hospitals met Level 1, the lowest level in the MoHs seven-level hierarchy of ICT advancement; 32.2 per cent met Level 2; and 21.4 per cent hit Level 3. As of 2024, only 94 out of 1,500 hospitals nationwide (accounting for 6 per cent) have deployed an electronic medical record, equivalent to Level 6 of ICT advancement.
At the primary healthcare level, the adoption of ICTs in commune health stations has made good progress but the deployment of electronic health records for patients lagged behind schedule, failing to achieve the respective targets outlined in the national master plan for building and developing the grassroots healthcare network.
The World Bank has recently reviewed the digital journey for Vietnamese patients at the primary healthcare level. Unfortunately, there are not many digital health applications available for patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which account for 74 per cent of the disease burden. Online health information and social networks are the most common applications for patients with NCDs to manage their health.
Numerous smartphone apps enable patients to update information, evaluate symptoms, look for services, book appointments, consult health professionals, and purchase over-the-counter medications, but there are not many dedicated to NCDs. Even short-message service intervention for NCDs is uncommon and lacks strong evidence of efficacy and sustainability.
The World Banks studies also provided a greater understanding of the challenges facing innovators, patients, and primary healthcare providers that have hampered the digital transformation of healthcare services. Digital health innovators work in a challenging environment that constrains research and development of digital applications for NCD works.
The entrepreneurship ecosystem in Vietnam remains nascent, with a non-transparent system and a weak regulatory framework. Weak collaboration between the public and private sectors poses another challenge in health data exchange and innovation development. Connecting to the public information system is difficult, especially for enterprises with limited ICT resources. Public facilities express weak demand for adopting digital innovations from the private sector, while clinicians tend to be uncomfortable with new digital tools.
In the absence of government financial support, entrepreneurs typically rely on their network to find funding resources. The question is whether digital health innovators have sufficient financial capacity and passion to endure and overcome market education and adaptation phases.
Many digital health applications for patients are struggling to scale. The MoH launched the Depression mobile app in 2012 and the Vietnam Cardiovascular Health mobile app in 2019 but received little public response. More recently, it launched another smartphone application on elderly health through a mass communication campaign but recorded a relatively low uptake.
At present, the uptake of official electronic services remains low (except for online health information sources), attributed to a lack of trust, limited digital capacity among primary healthcare professionals, and low digital literacy in the general population. Uptake is not simply a matter of having a digital health tool but depends on user acceptance and engagement.
The sustainability of digital health applications remains a major concern. Many digital applications are operating as a siloed technology to overcome specific challenges in the public health system. Patient-facing applications are not connected to or embedded in the current systems deployed in health facilities, making it impossible to maintain a seamless flow of health information along patient journeys across different healthcare settings.
Information-blocking practices remain common, such as restricting patient access to e-records, developing products with limited interoperability, charging high fees for health data exchange, and making third-party access to standardised data difficult. Other barriers to integration include insufficient guidelines on health data governance and weak coordination among stakeholders participating in health data exchange, particularly at the subnational level.
Moreover, it is very challenging to finance digital health applications for patients. Public procurement agencies in Vietnam are struggling to innovate due to unclear guidelines, limited experience, and fear of making mistakes. As a result, digital health applications for patients are adopted mainly in the private health sector, where providers can charge fees and users pay out of pocket.
Photo Le Toan
Action areas to move forward
The World Banks studies identified three problematic areas and proposed strategic actions to foster digital health innovation, enhance user engagement and uptake, and sustain digital health applications for patients in Vietnam. The first strategic action area is fostering digital health innovations for patients with NCDs.
The central and provincial authorities should utilise existing resources to strengthen health innovation exchange and support entrepreneurship. It is pivotal to facilitate collaboration between the ICT industry, consumers, and the research sector.
Innovators can receive the support they need and use data to identify opportunities to work collaboratively on designing digital health solutions. The government should provide incentives for impactful digital health applications, such as those improving the prevention or early detection of NCDs, allowing providers to monitor patients with NCDs remotely, and prescription medicines as patients with chronic diseases regularly need refills. For small, capital-strapped businesses or those in the early stages of growth, incentives in the form of small grants would encourage health-tech startups to continue pursuing research and development.
As digital health is evolving rapidly, policymakers should prioritise establishing a regulatory framework that supports innovations in healthcare without compromising privacy, security, and intellectual property.
Moreover, a sandbox policy will help create appropriate regulations that balance privacy and security concerns with support for innovation. Enforcing strong intellectual property rules is another effective measure.
The second strategic action area is enhancing user engagement and the uptake of digital health applications for patients. Providing useful information and practical guidance is a popular way to build trust with patients, as they are likely to trust providers who can give reliable educational content online.
Policymakers may consider a training curriculum, revisiting staffing assignments, and proposing incentives to support this transformation at grassroots level. Simultaneously, the government should make an effort to address low digital literacy and the digital divide. Priority should be given to older people, given they are high users of healthcare services and less engaged with internet use. People with disabilities and ethnic minorities are also digitally disadvantaged groups.
Sustaining digital health applications for patients is another strategic action area. A priority action is advancing integration and interoperability across digital systems deployed at grassroots level. The implementation of health registries through e-ID for facilities, workers, and patients is a key enabler for integrated, interoperable digital health systems.
The MoH should continue the development of data and interoperability standards to support broader and deeper types of health information flows and, in the meantime, ensure broad adoption of standards by health ICT vendors.
While promoting the development and adoption of core ICT systems, health system managers should allow patient-facing digital applications to be integrated into these common platforms to make data available for patients and health professionals whenever it is needed.
It is also necessary to address information-blocking practices among providers and ICT vendors in the near term and build a data-sharing culture in the long term.
Establishing a national reimbursement system for digital health applications would ensure financial accessibility in the long run, but also requires tremendous efforts to accomplish this goal. A starting point for government agencies is to review financing mechanisms and consider business models applicable to the Vietnam context.
Public funds for core health ICT systems should be allocated through innovative financing mechanisms, such as pay-as-you-use models that make common digital health platforms more accessible for patients, providers, and other stakeholders.
The common goal among key stakeholders is for digital health services to be covered by payer organisations, either public or private insurance. Policymakers should consider establishing procedures for digital health technology assessment to ensure that digital health applications are adopted in a safe, ethical, and cost-effective manner.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), rice exports have reached nearly $3.85 billion so far this year, a 21.7 per cent increase on-year. Exports hit 6.16 million tonnes, up almost 6 per cent. The average export price during this period stood at $542 per tonne, an 11.5 per cent rise.
The Vietnam Food Association attributed the surge in prices to the global food supply shortage, with cultivated areas in many countries shrinking due to weather and climate impacts.
India's ongoing rice export ban is also cited as a contributing factor. Domestic rice prices have seen steady growth as businesses ramp up purchases to fulfill export orders in the final months of the year.
According to VNA, Nguyen Nhu Cuong, director of the Department of Crop Production under the MARD, has forecast demand will remain high for rice imports from Vietnam's traditional customers such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Ghana, Malaysia, and Singapore for the rest of 2024 and beyond, according to vtcnews.vn.
Vietnamese rice exporters are expanding into new markets including the Middle East, Africa, South America, Japan, and South Korea. Consequently, the MARD predicts domestic rice production will reach approximately 43.4 million tonnes this year, with about eight million available for export.
Cuong said that the rice industry would meet the 2024 export targets and adequately address the country's food security needs.
"Supply constraints in some rice-exporting countries, coupled with Vietnam's improving rice quality meeting the demanding global market needs, have bolstered our position. Additionally, proactive negotiations by our businesses have yielded positive results with partners, leading to increased export volumes and stable prices for Vietnamese rice," Cuong said.
The Philippines' tax reduction policy is expected to boost rice exports, while supply uncertainties in competitor countries create significant opportunities for Vietnamese rice to penetrate deeper into the global market.
Cao Van Phong, CEO of Joint Venture Company for Rice Production, Processing, and Export, emphasised that Vietnam must continue to focus on enhancing product quality and improving the supply chain to maintain its position in the international market.
"We need to ensure that Vietnamese rice meets the required quantity and guarantees quality, food safety, and compliance with the stringent regulations of importing markets," Phong said.
Pham Van Thinh, chairman of Thuan Minh Import-Export JSC said, "The current high rice prices reflect the substantial demand from importing markets and the results of product quality improvements following Vietnam's rice value enhancement strategy. With export contracts already signed for the coming months, there's an opportunity to increase rice export volumes to levels higher than in previous years."
Vietnam exported 8.1 million tonnes of rice last year, a 36.6 per cent increase on-year, and the highest level in 16 years.
Nguyen Hong Dien, Minister of Industry and Trade said, "From being a food-importing country, Vietnam has achieved self-sufficiency in supply, balanced food resources, ensured national food security, and simultaneously become one of the few powerhouses in the exportation of rice."
Vietnam is the world's third-largest rice exporter, following India and Thailand.
Vietnam seizes gains from soaring coffee prices Vietnamese coffee prices are nearing historic highs on the back of a surge in global coffee prices, creating opportunities for farmers and export businesses.
Fruit and vegetable exports experiencing robust growth Fruit and vegetable exports are expected to hit record highs this year amid strong growth in the first seven months and abundant supply as harvest season approaches.
Philippines reduces rice import tax to 15 pc The Philippines, one of the world's largest rice buyers and biggest importers of the Vietnamese grain, officially announced a reduction in rice import taxes from 35 per cent to 15 per cent, effective in early August this year and lasting until 2028.
Michelle Williams asks a question to Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia and other panelists as they held a town hall, where they took questions about the Houston ISD Board of Managers' decision to approve an election on the $4.4 billion bond at Harris County Education Department on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer
A Houston ISD teachers union leader who was removed from her teaching job in March returned to the classroom this week, after a monthslong process to appeal the districts proposal to nonrenew her contract, in part, for allegedly posting on social media during school hours.
Houston Education Association president Michelle Williams said she started teaching second grade Tuesday at a school she declined to name in northwest Houston. The district declined to comment Wednesday.
The return to the classroom restores a sense of normalcy for Williams, who has been teaching for 25 years.
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I feel like I was trapped at home, Williams said, adding, Im a teacher. And I was unjustly removed, and that was proven. I wanted to be back where I was. That didnt happen for obvious reasons, but the next best thing is a decent school where Im at.
Her return to teaching follows an independent hearing examiners favorable recommendation to reinstate the teacher after a June virtual hearing.
Williams who leads the local affiliate of the Texas State Teachers Association and the National Education Association was dismissed in March from her role as a third-grade math teacher after the district accused her of taking part in a social media activity during work hours. However, Williams maintained in her hearing she keeps a decorated set in her home, not school, for her YouTube channel and she uses a scheduling app to post on X during the day.
Williams believed the districts attempts to dismiss her were retaliation for her public criticism of district leadership.
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She said neither she nor her attorney heard word from the district following the hearing examiners recommendation, and her attorney was waiting for a date to be confirmed. She said the district organized paperwork for her assignment after KHOU 11 ran a story about Williams receiving pay while not working.
Texas Education Code requires a school board to consider an independent hearing examiners recommendation within 20 days that recommendation and record of the hearing is received by the board president. Williams noted that the district could have considered her recommendation twice in August, ahead of its regular meeting and a special board meeting, but failed to place her case on an agenda.
Giana Ortiz, the attorney representing Williams, wrote in an email response she has not had this happen before.
But by failing to consider the IHE recommendation, the District has effectively abandoned the nonrenewal (i.e., IHE) process. Putting her back to work also signals an abandonment of that process, Ortiz wrote.
The smaller of HISDs two teachers unions, the Houston Education Association represents about 200 members.
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Houston Federation of Teachers union president Jackie Anderson said Williams' win signals hope for other teachers, union member or not, seeking recourse.
Claire Partain is a Houston ISD reporter for the Houston Chronicle covering student achievement. She can be reached at claire.partain@houstonchronicle.com.
She got her start as sports editor at Texas State University (go Cats!) before covering professional soccer team Austin FC and other Austin news at digital startup Austonia.
Claire has also freelanced with her hometown paper, appearing in the Fairfield Recorder, Teague Chronicle and Corsicana Daily Sun.
Its a topic that Republican candidates have brought up often in both the presidential and Wisconsins U.S. Senate race: the nations ongoing battle with fentanyl.
In Wisconsin, Madison business owner Eric Hovde has targeted his challenger, incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, on the issue, including while speaking with reporters in Madison after voting in the Aug. 13 primary, when he said Baldwin has done nothing to address fentanyl, an often-fatal synthetic opioid that was developed to treat intense pain from ailments like cancer but has increasingly been mixed with other drugs in the illicit drug supply.
I have never seen such a disingenuous campaign, making up lies, not only about me, taking things completely out of context, but also embellishing her record and what shes done, like talking about fentanyl and how shes done something about the fentanyl crisis, Hovde said. She has done absolutely nothing.
Hovde went on to acknowledge Baldwins support of the FEND Off Fentanyl Act, a federal bill that seeks to combat fentanyl and money laundering by targeting opioid traffickers, but he downplayed her involvement in the measure noting that she was the bills 28th cosponsor.
The only reason she signed that is because I was talking about the fentanyl crisis, Hovde claimed.
Hovde conceded in his comments that his opponent signed onto a bill focused on addressing opioid abuse. In total, 68 U.S. senators co-sponsored the measure, which was signed into law earlier this year.
Baldwins campaign noted the topic of opioids is a personal issue for the senator, who has in the past shared the story of her mothers mental health struggles and addiction to prescription drugs, which led to Baldwin being raised by her grandparents.
In addition to co-sponsoring the FEND Off Fentanyl Act, Baldwin twice this year voted for the bipartisan border security bill, which was backed by the U.S. Border Patrol and several law enforcement groups like the Fraternal Order of Police. The bill proposed billions of dollars in funding for border security, including measures to detect and stop the flow of fentanyl into the country.
Despite months of negotiations on the bipartisan border bill, Republican senators rejected the proposal earlier this year after former President and current presidential candidate Donald Trump knocked the compromise.
Baldwin also introduced the Safe Response Act last year. The proposal would have provided first responders with training on how to properly use life-saving overdose reversal drugs.
In 2018, Baldwin introduced the bipartisan Restricting Entrance and Strengthening the Requirements on Import Controls for Trafficking, or RESTRICT, act, which aimed to give the Food and Drug Administration more tools to prevent illegal drugs from entering the country by mail.
Baldwin also co-sponsored the Search Now, Inspect for Fentanyl, or SNIFF, act, which would have trained U.S. postal workers to search mail entering the U.S. from foreign countries for opioids like fentanyl.
None of those measures passed.
Right now, illicit drugs, like fentanyl, meth and illegal opioids, are being mailed into America from other countries, Baldwin said in April 2019 while introducing the latter proposal. We need stronger tools to stop this, and our bipartisan legislation will help prevent the flow of these drugs, like fentanyl being shipped from China.
When contacted on Hovdes claim, Baldwins campaign also pointed to her work helping to craft the State Opioid Response grant program, which provides states with money for opioid treatment, harm reduction and overdose reversal drugs like naloxone.
Grant recipients have reported more than 550,000 overdose reversals from 2018-2023, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Asked for sourcing on Hovdes claim that Baldwin has done nothing on fentanyl, spokesperson Zach Bannon pointed to the continued high number of opioid-related deaths in the country and noted that, while Baldwin has introduced several proposals, many of those measures have not crossed the finish line.
For the FEND Off Fentanyl Act, which did become law, Bannon criticized Baldwin for being the 28th cosponsor, offering no amendments and for not sitting on the committee that advanced the measure.
So whats the rest of the story?
Opioid overdose deaths have skyrocketed over Baldwins two terms in office, from 2,628 in 2012 to 73,838 in 2022, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
But any bills fate comes down to a vote by the full chamber, if it ever gets that far. While some of Baldwins proposals including those specifically targeting fentanyl have not reached fruition, to say shes done absolutely nothing to address the problem is contradicted by the legislative record.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The 3,323-acre Bear Fire is now 100% contained.
The Bear Fire was reported at 2 p.m. on September 2 off Bear Valley Road on the Tahoe National Forest, south of the community of Sierra Brooks in Sierra County.
More information and tips on water conservation are available on the Sierra County Sheriff's Office Facebook page.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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SEPTEMBER 6, 7:05 A.M. UPDATE
The Bear Fire, in Sierra County, is slowly growing in containment.
CAL FIRE says the 3,327-acre wildfire is 15% contained.
Some mandatory evacuation orders due to the fire have been downgraded.
Residents of the Sierra Brooks community were able to return home today after days of mandatory evacuations after the orders for their community were changed to warnings.
Entry to the community requires identification.
Sierra County has opened a dumpster at the Sierra Brooks Lodge to help residents get rid of any food that may have spoiled while they were away.
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SEPTEMBER 5, 7:15 A.M. UPDATE
The Bear Fire is now 3,327 acres and still 0% contained after starting early Monday afternoon south of Sierra Brooks in Sierra County.
Firefighters say they're made progress building lines around the perimeter of the fire in the last couple of days, but they're bracing for windier weather in the day ahead.
Evacuations are improving because of the fire, with the community Sierra Brooks now downgraded to a warning. However, some evacuations orders are still in place around the fire.
CAL FIRE, the Forest Service, and Sierra County Sheriff's Office will hold a community meeting on Thursday evening.
It will be in-person at Sierraville Elementary School at 7 p.m. - or you can watch it live on the Tahoe National Forest Facebook page below -
Hundreds of people in the Loyalton area were without power on Tuesday but it has since been restored to several areas.
The sheriff's office says Sierra County Social Services is available to address individual emergency needs at 202 Front Street in Loyalton or by calling 530-993-6700.
Sierra-Plumas Unified School District indicates they will continue to work with law enforcement, OES, and fire officials to make decisions about school one day at a time using all relevant information. They will continue to communicate school closure information through email and text systems, the District Facebook page, and the automated all-call system.
The cause of the wildfire remains under investigation.
2:30 +2 Bear Fire prompts Air Quality Advisory for Reno-Sparks area Smoke from the Bear Fire is expected to have the greatest impact Thursday evening through Friday morning.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
SEPTEMBER 3, 10:15 P.M. UPDATE:
The Liberty Energy and Water website, which has been tracking outages related to the Bear Fire since they first began, currently shows no outages in the area.
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SEPTEMBER 3, 6:45 P.M. UPDATE:
The size of the Bear Fire has grown to 2,000 acres, 0% containment according to CalFire's website.
Utility outages should no longer be affecting anyone in Portola, according to Liberty Energy and Water.
Loyalton is still suffering outages - around 230 people are affected, and there are a small number of customers in South Lake Tahoe that are affected as well.
You can keep up with outage information using Liberty Energy's outage site.
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SEPTEMBER 3, 5:25 P.M. UPDATE:
The Sierra County Sheriffs Office has expanded evacuation warnings for the Bear Fire.
In a thread on X, the U.S. Forest Service says fire crews are working effortlessly to establish containment lines. Air support is also helping to contain the fire.
Winds throughout the night are expected to blow steadily from the west at around 10 miles per hour.
A complete and updated list of evacuation orders and warnings associated with the fire can be found at this link.
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SEPTEMBER 3, 3:40 P.M. UPDATE:
The size of the Bear Fire has grown to 1,578 acres, 0% containment according to CalFire's website.
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SEPTEMBER 3, 2:32 P.M. UPDATE:
NV Energy, in coordination with Plumas Sierra, will be attempting a re-energization of most Loyalton customers currently without power.
To complete this re-energization, NV Energy will have to temporarily shut down power to Portola for about one hour.
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SEPTEMBER 3, 1:51 P.M. UPDATE:
Outdoor watering is now suspended for residents of Sierra Brooks due to the Bear Fire.
Officials are asking everyone in the area to please conserve indoor use of water as much as possible while crews fight the fire.
For questions or to get additional information, contact the Sierra County Department of Public Works at (530) 289-3201.
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SEPTEMBER 3, 11:21 A.M. UPDATE:
NV Energy has turned off its line serving portions of Sierra County due to the Bear Fire.
Liberty Utilities Lake Tahoe customers in that area are experiencing a power outage due to the shutoff.
No restoration time is currently available. NV Energy is preparing teams to assess the area once fire officials deem it is safe to do so.
Liberty Utilities customers can view an outage map on the Liberty Energy and Water website.
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SEPTEMBER 3, 9:30 A.M. UPDATE:
The size of the Bear Fire has grown to 1,391 acres, 0 % containment according to CalFire's website.
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7:04 P.M. UPDATE
Evacuation orders and warnings have been updated for the Bear Fire per CalFire's website.
Evacuation orders are in place for the areas of SIE-E030, SIE-E031 and SIE-E032.
An evacuation order is an immediate threat to life - an order by law enforcement to leave immediately. The areas are lawfully closed to public access.
Evacuation warnings are in place for the areas of SIE-E022, SIE-E023, SIE-E027, SIE-E028 and SIE-E029.
An evacuation warning is for a potential threat to life and/or property. Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock should leave immediately.
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6:47 P.M. UPDATE
The most recent update from the U.S. Forest Service says that sources are projecting the fire to be close to 800 acres in size.
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5:15 P.M. UPDATE
The Washoe County Sheriffs Office is urging the public to be aware of a recent increase in social media-based sextortion cases.
Deputies say over the past week, they have handled four separate cases involving online intimate images through various social media platforms.
In each case deputies say victims sent intimate photos or videos to people they believed they could trust, but shortly after sending the images, they received threatening messages demanding money. The suspects warned that if their demands were not met, they would distribute the explicit content to the victims contacts and social networks.
They say in some instances, the suspects also made threats by claiming they would also accuse the victims of involvement in child pornography manufacturing, further intensifying the pressure and fear on the victims.
"We urge community members to exercise extreme caution when communicating online, especially when engaging in conversations that may involve sharing personal or intimate content with individuals they do not know personally. It is crucial to understand that once an image is shared digitally, it can be exploited by individuals with malicious intent. Victims should not comply with the extortion demands but should, instead, report the incident to law enforcement immediately."
The Washoe County Sheriffs Office is actively investigating these incidents.
To report an incident, contact the Washoe County Sheriffs Office non-emergency line at (775) 785-9276 (WCSO). You can also call or text your anonymous tip at Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900.
(The Washoe County Sheriff's Office contributed to this report.)
With so many world-class museums hosting blockbuster exhibitions in San Francisco, it can be easy to overlook the smaller independent art galleries tucked away in the neighborhoods.
But for art lovers, galleries can be the best place to discover new worktheir curators are often first to identify fresh talent and may be more likely to support boundary-pushing debuts and exhibitions.
This season, SF art galleries are presenting a full roster of shows exploring identity and cultural narratives. Here are some you wont want to miss.
Surreal, flower-filled scenes in 'The Trouble with Flowers' balance pleasure and sorrow. (Elizabeth Fox, 'The Roses Appear', 2024; Dolby Chadwick Gallery)
Dolby Chadwick Gallery: Elizabeth Fox, The Trouble with Flowers
Elizabeth Foxs collection of narrative paintings playfully blend pop culture and art history in bright, floral imagination. Influenced by sex icons of the 1950s and '60s coupled with contemporary drag and queer culture, The Trouble with Flowers centers on characters amalgamated from multiple influences who experience a full spectrum of lifes joys and sorrows.
// The Trouble with Flowers runs September 5 through 28 (by appointment) at Dolby Chadwick Gallery, 210 Post Street, Suite 205 (SoMa), dolbychadwickgallery.com . An opening reception will be held Thursday, September 5, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.
836M: Yaloo, Shininho Destiny
Yaloos residency at 836M promises the evolution of a multimedia maritime adventure centered on the character of Shininho, a pirate and elderly female Korean KPOP idol. The journey of her eponymous ship will layer historical events, cultural heritage, and contemporary issues to examine the citys Korean immigration culture and connection to Asian history. (Those obsessed with Korean art and culture, should also check out Hallyu! The Korean Wave at the Asian Art Museum this fall.)
// Shininho Destiny runs through January 3, 2025 at 836M, 836 Montgomery St. (Jackson Square), 836m.org.
Cult Aimee Friberg: Nicki Green, Eye of the Fountain
In conjunction with her show at the Contemporary Jewish Museum, Nicki Green examines the sacred ritual of a traditional mikveh, the Jewish ritual bath, in the context of queer and trans existence. Two life-size clay figurinestogether with a collection of new and recent ceramic sculptures and drawings anchor this exhibit, which is an exploration of movement, semiotic coding, and embodiment.
// Eye of the Fountain runs September 6 through November 16 at CULT San Francisco, 1401 16th St. (Potrero Hill), cultexhibitions.com .
Visual antidotes and pharmaceutical homages play a prominent role in Beverly Fishman's The Pursuit of Perfection, opening September 12 at Jessica Silverman Gallery. (Beverly Fishman, Pleasure, Liberation, Clarity, Choice, Ease, Self-Determination, 2024; Jessica Silverman Gallery)
Jessica Silverman Gallery: Beverly Fishman, The Pursuit of Perfection
Progress is at the center of Beverly Fishmans The Pursuit of Perfection in a vibrant, lustrous study on the impact of science and technology on the human experience. Through six new bas-relief wall paintings, along with previous acrylics and enamel works, Fishman positions art as a kind of pharmaceutical aide to a range of altered realities and selves.
// The Pursuit of Perfection runs September 12 through November 2 at Jessica Silverman Gallery, 621 Grant Ave. (Chinatown), jessicasilvermangallery.com . An opening reception will be held Thursday, September 12, from 5pm to 7pm, as well as an artist talk with Susie Kantor, associate curator at the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, on Saturday, September 14 at 2pm.
Man's best friend is captured in poignant frames in a series of Elliott Erwitt's photographs spanning decades, on view at Robert Koch Gallery September 12 through November 1. (Elliott Erwitt, "England, Birmingham," 1991; Robert Koch Gallery)
Robert Koch Gallery: Elliott Erwitt, Dogs
The legend of the late street photographer Elliott Erwitt gets a whimsical homage with a series of black and white images that capture the unique bond between humans and dogs. With work spanning decades, Erwitts innate ability to capture the extraordinary in the ordinary is on full display.
// Dogs runs September 12 through November 1 at Robert Koch Gallery, 49 Geary St, 5th Flr. (Union Square), kochgallery.com .
The works of Chitra Ganesh's 'Tiger in the Looking Glass' blends the mythical with the contemporary in dreamy, complex landscapes. (Chitra Ganesh, 'Enter the Jungle', 2024; courtesy of Gallery Wendi Norris)
Gallery Wendi Norris: Chitra Ganesh, Tiger in the Looking Glass
Lush landscapes dominate Tiger in the Looking Glass as Chitra Ganesh explores themes of hybridity, double consciousness, and multiverses through portals, mirrors, and shape-shifting characters. The collection of intricate paintings reference the language of Surrealism, mythological iconography, and contemporary graphic references to bring visibility to Ganeshs queer and femme subjects.
// Tiger in the Looking Glass runs September 13 through October 26 at Gallery Wendi Norris, 436 Jackson St. (Jackson Square), gallerywendinorris.com . An opening reception will be held Friday, September 13, from 6pm to 8pm.
Object making in the Bay Area and community are at the center of the second edition of Works in Progress in the Mission. (Len Carella, 'Sculpture No.07', 2024; courtesy of Works in Progress.)
Works In Progress II
In a continuing series focused on the beauty of craft and community and the artistry of object making, this second exhibition further unfolds the idea of community. Fourteen artists and design studios paired together to make a single composition of a screen. Within a range of approaches to materiality, construction, and presentationincluding individual works from the collaboratorsthis exhibit studies how screens dictate what and how we perceive our surroundings, as well as the space between individual expression and creative intersection.
// Works In Progress II runs September 28 through October 11 at 198 Utah St. (Mission), @worksinprogress_sf. An opening reception will be held Saturday September 28 from 6pm to 9pm.
Familiar images are rendered in new mediums through the work of Kota Ezawa, whose first solo exhibition at Fraenkel Gallery opens October 23. (Kota Ezawa, 'Grand Princess', 2023; Kota Ezawa, courtesy of Fraenkel Gallery)
Fraenkel Gallery: Kota Ezawa
In his first solo exhibition at Fraenkel Gallery, Kota Ezawa reimagines key images from the cultural canon to explore the concept of shared experiences through imagery. Complex visual images are stripped down to their most essential elements in the form of Ezawas striking animations, slide projections, light boxes, paper cut-outs, and collages that center on themes of freedom and democracy.
For years, the Old Sixth Ward Neighborhood Association saw no need for a role overseeing neighborhood crime protection. But after 30 cars were broken into over the course of one rainy night this March, that changed.
Adoni Vossos, the new protection chairperson, stood up on the stage May 29 at a meeting called to discuss the neighborhoods safety. The neighborhoods City Council member and the citys director of housing, who until recently had headed the Coalition for the Homeless in Houston and Harris County, were also in attendance.
We have seen a change for the worse in the past 18 months, Vossos said. How can we prevent at least for our communities the increase in the homeless population and opportunistic crime within our neighborhood?
Andoni Vossos, protection chair of the Old Sixth Ward, speaks as he and residents of the First and Old Sixth Ward meet with Houston officials to discuss the influx of homeless people since the city established a feeding program outside the Municipal Courthouse, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Houston. Organizers are calling for the initiative, Dinner to Housing, and a nearby encampment to be relocated. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer
What came next was a case study in how troubling experiences within a community can land police officers with the mandate of decreasing the homeless presence in certain neighborhoods, even if its unclear that homeless people are responsible for an uptick in crime.
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Studies suggest that such complaint-based policing of homelessness can cause individuals to relocate, often to a location within a short walking distance, but is not effective in reducing a citys homeless population. Houstonians ticketed the most told the Houston Chronicle their repeated interactions with authorities had not led to housing but instead encouraged them to be less visible.
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A Chronicle analysis has found that ticketing the homeless tends to happen within more affluent and well-educated communities, where residents often complain the most about homelessness to HPD. Taxpayers usually foot the bill for increased overtime pay for police.
In Old Sixth Ward, residents walked away from the May meeting with $3,000 in funding for overtime police officers to patrol the area which Vossos says has successfully led to fewer threatening encounters in the neighborhood. The association has not yet succeeded in pressuring the city to move the nearby site where it funds free meals four times a week and which serves many without homes.
Vines grow on a fence where residents say homeless people previously lived under an overpass Thursday, May 30, 2024, in the 6th Ward neighborhood in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer
Unresolved crimes
Originally, the meeting had been planned to convene near a flyover ramp two individuals had been using for shelter. But a rainy forecast had moved roughly 40 neighbors and city officials to gather instead inside Betelgeuse Betelgeuse, a nearby gas station from the early 1900s that had been converted into a pizza joint.
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There, neighbor after neighbor shared stories of disturbing incidents they attributed to homeless individuals. One discovered someone sleeping beneath her pier-and-beam house. One had someone threaten to burn down his house. One had a wildly high man on his back porch. One had a stranger enter his house while he was putting his kids to sleep.
The father, who declined to share his name after the meeting because he didnt want a target on his back, followed the steps he had learned in a self-defense class to take in the case of a home invasion: He called 911 and went downstairs, armed, and chased the intruder outside. The police, he said, never came.
A map of Houston police calls to the 2A40 area, that include the Old Sixth Ward and First Ward area, is seen as residents meet with Houston officials to discuss the influx of homeless people since the city established a feeding program outside the Municipal Courthouse, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Houston. Organizers are calling for the initiative, Dinner to Housing, and a nearby encampment to be relocated. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer
Neighbors, an HPD officer assigned to the area and city officials listened solemnly to the litany of disturbing experiences.
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Crime data in the neighborhood is mixed. Vehicular crime has risen in recent years, an analysis of police data shows. Trespassing and assault crimes have remained flat.
Homelessness in the ZIP code, on the other hand, was on the decline as of 2023. The ZIP code is for an area much larger than Sixth Ward, stretching west of downtown along Buffalo Bayou all the way down to the Loop.
Vossos viewed that data with a wary eye. It was in the spring of 2024, he said, that threatening encounters with individuals outdoors reached their peak in their small neighborhood, which spans about six blocks by four blocks. And he knows from speaking with neighbors that not every incident makes it into crime statistics because theyre not all reported to the police.
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When the man who had an intruder in his house was asked if there were signs the individual was homeless, he said he couldnt be sure. But he said that the incident had happened at the same time he noticed more individuals who appeared homeless in the neighborhood.
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To me, they are one and the same, he said.
David Hille, a resident of the Old Sixth Ward, listens to Houston City Councilman Mario Castillo as he discusses the influx of homeless people since the city established a feeding program outside the Municipal Courthouse, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Houston. Organizers are calling for the initiative, Dinner to Housing, and a nearby encampment to be relocated. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer
Historic echoes
Jay Hamburger, who has lived in Sixth Ward since 1979, was not at the meeting.
A bit too vigilante to me, he said. It wasnt his first time seeing blame for local crime fall on the shoulders of the homeless community.
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For over 33 years, hes delivered donated food to the homeless at least once a week. Often, hell pick up prepackaged salads from Pat Greers Kitchen or pastries from Three Brothers Bakery. But just as often, people who know about his work will bring food they wont have the time to consume. For example, after Hurricane Beryl knocked out power, people brought filo dough and salmon patties; he prepared them in his kitchen and delivered them right away.
Jay Hamburger, known as the Eggman, hugs a formerly homeless friend as he distributes food and toiletries Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer
The week of the Sixth Ward meeting, he was handing out more everyday fare. On the streets, hes known as the Eggman, because one of his most popular offerings is hard-boiled eggs.
Its high protein, he said. They come in their own little package. Theyre easy to trade as a unit of commerce. They fire on a number of cylinders.
Jay Hamburger, known as the Eggman, hands out food and toiletries to homeless people Tuesday, June 4, 2024, across the street from the Julia Ideson Building in downtown Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer
The meeting this year reminded him of an incident more than two decades ago, when he said a neighbors car was keyed with a homophobic slur. Hamburger said the man was enraged, and so was he. But Hamburger was taken aback when the man asserted that the crime had been committed by someone homeless.
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(He) was just absolutely avid that he knew for sure that the homeless had done it, Hamburger said. He was like a snapping turtle holding on to this issue. Ultimately, his concerns led a property owner to cut down a small stand of trees where a handful of working homeless individuals lived, Hamburger said. Most of the people impacted moved to nearby Union Street.
Hannah Lebovits, assistant professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, said that cutting down trees to make the area less hospitable to homeless people was an example of a larger pattern taking hold in the United States at that time.
In the 1980s and 1990s, she said, an emerging homeless crisis, the defunding of mental institutions and hysteria over urban decay led to an overwhelming fear of crime. That led to the widespread embrace of the idea that the environment should be designed in a way that controlled who spent time there as a way of preventing crime.
Elements such as bright lighting, gated entrances and benches with arm rails preventing people from lying down are examples of the movement. So is the belief that people who seem out of place are a crime risk, she said.
Jay Hamburger, known as the Eggman, hands out food and toiletries to homeless people Tuesday, June 4, 2024, in downtown Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer
Hamburger continued to bring meals to those displaced to Union Street, much to the displeasure of nearby business owners. He said he was once threatened by a business owner who believed the meals were responsible for bringing people there.
That was in the 1990s. Now, theres no one living in the area.
These days, the citys free meals, which began in November 2022 in a parking lot next to the municipal courthouse nearby, are bringing similar criticisms of attracting homeless people.
A homeless man eats a free meal as others wait in line for their own` Friday, June 2, 2023, at the Houston Police Departments Central Patrol station in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer
Citizens turn to tools provided
Following the principles of good civics, Sixth Ward residents organized to make their neighborhood safer. They asked officials questions were there keywords that could be used during a 911 call to be considered more of a priority? Could more patrols help with response times?
Receiving no clear answer, they put forth their own solutions moving the site where free meals were served farther away and clearing out people who lived under the flyover ramp.
And like good public officials, representatives from the city listened.
These are all things that are serious, said Council Member Mario Castillo, when he heard of the crimes the community had experienced. When you talk about what is causing the issues, its from mostly the homeless population.
Houston City Councilman Mario Castillo visits with Old Sixth Ward residents Dan Tidwell, left, and Jamie Mike about the influx of homeless people since the city established a feeding program outside the Municipal Courthouse, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Houston. Organizers are calling for the initiative, Dinner to Housing, and a nearby encampment to be relocated. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer
Mike Nichols, the housing director, tried to draw a distinction between people who dont have a place to live and those committing crimes. The data shows that people who are homeless are victims of crime much more often than they are perpetrators, he said.
Nichols argued that while he did not know how to solve the broader issue of crime, Houston could actually solve homelessness. The meals were the first step toward connecting people with resources to move them off the street, he said, and the city was exploring options with partners in the hopes of soon being able to provide people with a safe space indoors where they could sleep while awaiting their housing.
But when asked whether the security provided at the meals prevented patrons from drifting into Sixth Ward, he faltered.
Houston Housing Director Michael Nichols speaks during a meeting with residents of the Old Sixth Ward and First Ward to discuss the influx of homeless people since the city established a feeding program outside the Municipal Courthouse, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Houston. Organizers are calling for the initiative, Dinner to Housing, and a nearby encampment to be relocated. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer
Castillo had a more concrete answer. My thought is to work with HPD, he said.
He provided $3,000 of his city council district budget toward overtime officers, which he said would give the neighborhood more patrols and more presence. City Council district budgets show that council members this year have allocated up to $721,000 in funds to pay overtime officers to increase their patrols of certain neighborhoods, sometimes with the mandate of addressing quality of life issues.
By July, the overtime for Sixth Ward had been spent, HPD confirmed.
And for the neighborhoods protection chair, the area already feels safer, although he believes theres more work to be done.
The intensity of the homeless presence has decreased, Vossos said. Those that are mentally unstable and possibly violent has reduced. But the theft aspect is still happening.
On Aug. 8, after the crackdown, there was another spree of car break ins, in which someone attempted to break into about a dozen cars and successfully broke into four, he said. An analysis of HPD data for the neighborhoods crime reports from mid June through July did not show a decrease in crime compared to the same period in previous years.
We remain firm that the answer to our problem is the removal of the homeless feeding program sponsored by the city, Vossos said.
Whether youve just met or youve been together for years, every couple needs a vibey date spot now and again, the kind of place with a design perspective so strong, its transportive.
High-brow or low(er)-brow, San Francisco has plenty of atmospheric destinations for dinner. From the bite-sized romance of the Outer Richmonds Pizzetta 211 to the Moroccan embrace of El Mansour, these nine restaurants have moods made for falling (or staying) in love.
Robin (Courtesy of @robinsanfrancisco) Robin is a tiny restaurant with a mood all its own. Dark, artistic, urban-coolits a vibe that would be just as at home in Tokyo as it is in Hayes Valley. While design lovers will appreciate the collection of ceramics and Caroline Lizarraga's moody wall with metallic gold drips, its not just the atmosphere that makes Robin special. Chef Adam Tortosa's contemporary omakase restaurant uses pristine ingredients and both traditional and modern techniques to craft an ever-changing multi-course meal that can be personalized on a sliding price scale (from $109 to $209 per person). The sake menu curated by partner Michael Huffman is yet another reason to visit: Featuring both Japanese and local producers, the selection begs you to linger even after the last dish is served. // 620 Gough St. (Hayes Valley), robinomakase.com
LArdoise (Courtesy of @lardoisebistro) If romantic Parisian is the vibe youre going for, LArdoise Bistros got it. With its red-walled interior and classic European charm, this intimate French restaurant feels straight out of the 18th arrondissement. LArdoises menu is an exercise in decadence with dishes like duck leg confit, coq au vin, and scallops with risotto and white wine cream sauce, and if that doesnt transport your date night to Paris, the French-dominated wine list will. // 151 Noe St. (Duboce Triangle), ardoisesf.com
Boulevard (Courtesy of @blvdsf ) Seems like designer Ken Fulk cant help but drench everything he touches in cool, and every one of his SF restaurants have a unique vibe. But arguably his most atmospheric spot is Boulevard, the long-standing pioneer of California cuisine whose space he gussied up a few years back with modern Belle Epoque maximalism. Big, bold wallpapers, textiles, and textures create a mood thats both dramatic and sexy. Creative cocktails and aphrodisiacs like golden osetra caviar service and bone marrow and escargot, up the ante for an unforgettable evening. // 1 Mission St (Embarcadero), boulevardrestaurant.com
Pizzetta 211 (Courtesy of @thefoodburner) What is it about small restaurants that makes them so romantic? Case in point: Pizzetta 211. This pocket-sized space in the foggy Outer Richmond cant have more than four tables inside (and a few outside) and after dark, when the flames of candles softly glow, it feels magically intimate. The pizzas and wine are excellent and low key enough that they can hang on an early-stage date or a cozy night out with your lobster. Just be warned that, since they dont take reservations, the wait here, which can get lengthy at times, is a potential mood killer. Go early or late to avoid the inevitable awkward silences. // 211 23rd Ave. (Outer Richmond), pizzetta211.com
Moongate Lounge (Courtesy of Moongate Lounge) Brandon Jews Moongate Lounge wasnt just inspired by the luxury of mid-century Chinatown, it was once an iconic mid-century Chinatown destination. Theyve done an incredible job channeling that swanky, historic vibe, with high-backed velvet booths, blue carpets and pastel walls, restored Chinese murals, and color-drenched lighting after dark. Cocktails designed by bar director Garrett Marks like this summers Clear and Bright (duck fat-washed rye, single malt, apricot, lapsang) are seasonally inspired by the Chinese Lunar Calendar, and snacks hail from the Mr. Jius team. // 28 Waverly Pl., Fl. 2 (Chinatown), moongatelounge.com
Aphotic (Courtesy of Aphotic) With its inky black decor and live fire ovens, Aphotic has a vibe thats as darkly mysterious as the deepest reaches of the ocean (which, coincidentally, is the meaning of its name). From amuse bouche to dessert, the 10-course tasting menu is packed with exquisitely prepared sustainable seafood served in a sunken dining room flanked by driftwood sculptures and under a canopy of exposed wood beams. More celebration dinner than a first date, Aphotics moody atmosphere is a world so enchantingly intimate, you wont want to come up for air. // 816 Folsom St. (SoMa), aphoticrestaurant.com
Cold Drinks Bar (Courtesy of Cold Drinks Bar) If youd rather your date night revolve around cocktails (with some excellent snacks to nosh on along the way), head to Cold Drinks Bar, which has just unveiled its newest seasonal menu. Its hard to explain how much drama this upstairs lounge has in store: dark and romantic, its a mash-up of mid-century Shanghai and industrial high design where the tuxedoed bartenders keep things classy with Scotch-leaning cocktails and whiskey flights. Part of the China Live complex, bites like Szechuan wok fried chicken wings and caviar Chinese donut with chili and creme fraiche come courtesy of the kitchen of celebrated Eight Tables by George Chen. // 644 Broadway (Chinatown), chinalivesf.com
El Mansour Restaurant (Courtesy of @elmansour_sf ) The quickest way to North Africa via San Francisco is straight through the Outer Richmonds El Mansour Restaurant. Draped in waves of fabric, cozified with rugs and pillows, painted and inlayed with Moroccan motifs, this place has a theatrical vibe unlike anywhere else in the city. The set five-course menu, which begins with a traditional hand washing, comes with choices (including vegetarian ones) and enough food for an army. Be prepared to learn some belly dancing skills, or at least to admire the talents of the pros. // 3119 Clement St. (Outer Richmond), elmansour.com
After wearing flip-flops, sandals, espadrilles and slides all summer long, its kind of a relief to put on a structured shoe or boot. Arch support, ankle support, a solid or low heel go a long way when it comes to comfort ... and confidence.
My footwear choices have evolved since I retired. After teetering around on high heels for decades (when I worked as a fashion editor in NYC), I am firmly grounded. I still embrace a graceful, leg-elongating pointy-toe pump, but it will probably have a kitten heel instead of a stiletto. I love a little bit of added height again, to lengthen my silhouette but my boot will likely have a sturdy block heel. A badass ankle bootie speaks of my self-assurance at this stage of my life. Comfy loafers nod to my newfound freedom to spend my days as I wish sometimes loafing but often still running around. I have a lot on my schedule even if I no longer get a regular paycheck, and I need to be quick on my feet.
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Kitten heels
Jeffrey Campbell Womens Persona Calf Hair Slingback Pumps in Cheetah Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Bloomingdale's)
Thank goodness, this ladylike style is popular again. When I have an occasion to get dressed up, my go-to heel height is 1 to 2 inches. Look for pumps with a pointy toe and deeply cut vamp (the top part of a shoe) for maximum leg lengthening, such as this one: Talbots Erica Kitten Heel Pumps Suede in Black ($149, talbots.com). Sam Edelman Womens Blanka Slingback Kitten-Heel Pumps in Black Suede ($140, macys.com) are a must.
Perhaps consider a pair close in color to your skin tone as an alternative, such as the Nine West Arlene Pointy Toe Pumps in Blush Leather ($71, ninewest.com). Choose a nude shade (close in color to your legs). They will make your legs look longer, and flesh tones go with almost anything. An animal pattern, such as Jeffrey Campbell Womens Persona Calf Hair Slingback Pumps in Cheetah ($116, bloomingdales.com) is surprisingly versatile too.
Block-heel tall boots
Blondo Tessa Waterproof Knee High Boot in Black Cow Leather (left); DV Dolce Vita Womens Finnegan Over-the-Knee Block Heel Boots (right) Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Nordstrom; Macy's)
The best thing about tall boots? You dont have to wear tights to stay warm especially if you choose a style such as DV Dolce Vita Womens Finnegan Over-the-Knee Block Heel Boots in Mushroom ($99, macys.com). In leather or suede, a tall boot with a solid stacked heel such as the Vince Camuto Sangeti Boot in Black ($229, vincecamuto.com), the Nine West Barile Boots in Dark Brown ($142, ninewest.com) or the Blondo Tessa Waterproof Knee High Boot in Black Cow Leather ($220, nordstrom.com) will give you a nice long line as well as comfort and support. Wear them with knee-length or midi dresses and skirts or wide-leg trousers.
Caring for a loved one while holding down a job isnt easy. When AARP and S&P Global surveyed 1,200 working caregivers at large U.S. companies in 2023, they found that more than two-thirds were struggling to find balance, with more than a quarter cutting back hours, 16 percent turning down promotions, and another 16 percent quitting work entirely at some point.
But before you quit your job or make other big changes, its important to know all your options, which may include taking leave time under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
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Since 1993, FMLA has protected the jobs of eligible workers who take time off to care for family members or themselves. But many people still dont know how it might apply to them, says Jessica Mason, a senior policy analyst at the National Partnership for Women & Families, a nonprofit advocacy group. Some think of it as a benefit only for new parents or for those managing their own health problems.
Heres a breakdown on how FMLA works.
Who can I take care of when I take FMLA?
When a loved one has a serious health condition, for example cancer, dementia, diabetes, the FMLA can help you take time off to care for:
Newborns
Children under 18
Adoption or placement of foster children
Spouses
Parent
Adult children who have a serious illness, a disability and are unable to care for themselves
Yourself, when you have a serious illness that requires time off
FMLA leave also is available if you need time to deal with the military deployment of a spouse, son, daughter or parent.
FMLA doesnt cover every caregiving situation. For example, it doesnt cover care for:
In-laws
Siblings (unless you are the primary caregiver for a sibling who is disabled or under 18)
Grandparents
Domestic partner (unless you live in a state with more expansive leave laws)
Who can take leave under FMLA?
The federal law doesnt apply to all workers; it depends on where you work, how long youve worked there and why you want leave.
Keep in mind, You dont need to be the primary caregiver, to take FMLA leave, says Marianne Bellesorte, director of programs and advocacy at the nonprofit Family Values @ Work.
In a critical race for U.S. Senate in Montana, Republican challenger Tim Sheehy is leading Democratic incumbent Jon Tester by 6 percentage points, according to an exclusive AARP poll released today. Fifty-one percent of likely voters prefer Sheehy in a head-to-head matchup, compared with 45 percent for Tester.
Among voters age 50-plus, Sheehys lead widens to 17 percentage points, the poll found.
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Democrat Tester is Montanas senior senator and a three-term incumbent first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006. He's being challenged by Republican Sheehy, a businessman and cattle rancher. The outcome of the race could shift the overall balance of power in the U.S. Senate.
Pollsters interviewed 1,064 likely Montana voters about the U.S. Senate and presidential races and the issues motivating people to vote. The bipartisan polling team of Fabrizio Ward and David Binder Research conducted the AARP-commissioned survey from Aug. 25 through 29.
These are pretty strong numbers for the Republican challenger, said Bob Ward, a pollster with GOP polling firm Fabrizio Ward, of the Senate race. Clearly, Jon Tester has the fight of his life on his hands to remain a United States senator.
AARP (Source: Getty images)
Sheehys lead is driven largely by Montanas older and rural voters, who tend to be more conservative, said Seiji Carpenter, a pollster with Democratic firm David Binder Research. Tester is ahead with voters living in cities, but those make up only 19 percent of the electorate. More than half of Montanas voters say they live in a rural area.
Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL, is also ahead with men and those without a college degree.
A significant lead in the presidential race
In the presidential race, more Montana voters said they would cast ballots for former President Donald Trump, a Republican, over Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, the poll results showed.
Among voters of all ages, 56 percent said they would vote for Trump, compared with 41 percent for Harris in a head-to-head match-up. Trump held a slightly wider lead among voters age 50-plus, with 60 percent favoring Trump compared with 37 percent for Harris.
AARP (Source: Getty images)
Fifty-two percent of Montana voters had a favorable opinion of Trump versus 45 percent unfavorable. For Harris, 38 percent of all voters had a favorable opinion and 58 percent had an unfavorable opinion. Among voters 50-plus, 57 percent had a favorable view of Trump, versus 40 percent unfavorable. For Harris, 37 percent of voters in the older age group viewed her favorably, compared with 60 percent unfavorably.
The Altar Stone, seen here underneath two bigger Sarsen stones. Credit: Professor Nick Pearce, Aberystwyth University.
Scientists search for the source of Stonehenges iconic Altar Stone has intensified, with a new paper ruling out Orkney as where it came from.
The new findings follow last months news that the largest bluestone at the heart of Stonehenge came from the Orcadian Basin of north-eastern Scotland, and not from Wales as previously thought.
Construction at Stonehenge began 5,000 years ago, with changes and additions to the ancient site happening over the next two millennia.
Although it is unclear when the Altar Stone arrived at Stonehenge, it may have been placed within the world-renowned central horseshoe of stones during the second construction phase at around 2620 2480 BC.
With many Neolithic monuments, and having the right geological features, Orkney seemed a likely candidate for the source of the Altar Stone.
Published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, the new research examined both the five exposed Neolithic-age stones at the Stones of Stenness and seven others at the Ring of Brodgar on mainland Orkney, similar in size and rock type to the Altar Stone.
The research concludes that the six-tonne Altar Stone at the heart of the ancient site was not sourced from Mainland Orkney but elsewhere within north-eastern Scotland.
Professor Richard Bevins from Aberystwyth University, the lead author of the new study, has been investigating Stonehenge for the last 15 years. He said:
The mystery of where the stone came from is becoming clearer and clearer as we begin to rule out specific areas in north-east Scotland. This research is radically changing our thinking about the origins of the Altar Stone. Its thrilling to know that our chemical analysis and dating work is slowly unlocking this great mystery.
The Altar Stone is anomalous in many ways to both the bluestones and the sarsens at Stonehenge. Whilst, at six tonnes, it is nowhere near the size of the sarsens, it is substantially larger than the bluestones, with which it has previously been classed. It lies in an unusual position at the monument, occupying a near central location and not within either the Bluestone Circle or the Bluestone Horseshoe. It is also grey-green sandstone, unlike all the other bluestone rock types.
As an academic, I have been fascinated by Stonehenge for decades. I and my other colleagues in the team will continue to work to pin down where exactly in the north-east of Scotland the Altar Stone came from.
The new research adds to findings by Aberystwyth University and other UK and Australian scientists published last month in Nature that concluded that the Altar Stone came from north-eastern Scotland.
In turn, this built on previous Aberystwyth University research that ruled out its Welsh origins and suggested that it should no longer be classified as a bluestone.
Rozan Munir Arafat's 12-hour Sunday flight from Istanbul Airport to Houston was the last stage of a journey that started months ago when she lost her parents, four sisters and a brother during a series of Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip in January.
Rozan, who had one foot amputated after the attack and exited the plane in a wheelchair, was all smiles Sunday as she was greeted by a sea of supporters who traveled from across the Houston region to wave Palestinian flags, hold signs that read "Welcome Rozan," and bear gifts and bouquets of flowers.
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Twelve year old Rozan Munir Arafat, center in wheelchair, a Palestinian refugee from Gaza who lost her entire family and her left leg in the Israel-Hamas war, covers her smile as she reacts to the throng of nearly 100 supporters gathered to welcome her arrival from Turkey as she is escorted through Terminal E at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Sunday, Sep. 1, 2024 in Houston. Michael Wyke/Contributor Supporters with signs and flags gather along the walkway dividers for the arrival of Rozan Munir Arafat, a twelve year old Palestinian refugee from Gaza who lost her entire family, as well as her left leg in the Israel-Hamas war. Arafat finally arrived three hours late after a 13 hour flight from Turkey at George Bush Intercontinental Airport to a throng of nearly 100 supporters Sunday, Sep. 1, 2024 in Houston. Michael Wyke/Contributor Twelve year old Rozan Munir Arafat, center in wheelchair, a Palestinian refugee from Gaza who lost her entire family and her left leg in the Israel-Hamas war, is given gift bags and flowers as she is greeted by a throng of nearly 100 supporters gathered to welcome her arrival from Turkey at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Sunday, Sep. 1, 2024 in Houston. Michael Wyke/Contributor Roshana Olomi, left, and Saleema Gul, right, try to organize all the signs and posters for the arrival of Rozan Munir Arafat, a twelve year old Palestinian refugee from Gaza who lost her entire family, as well as her left leg in the Israel-Hamas war. Arafat finally arrived three hours late after a 13 hour flight from Turkey at George Bush Intercontinental Airport to a throng of nearly 100 supporters Sunday, Sep. 1, 2024 in Houston. Michael Wyke/Contributor Saleema Gul holds a welcome sign, written in Arabic, as she waits for the arrival of Rozan Munir Arafat, a twelve year old Palestinian refugee from Gaza who lost her entire family, as well as her left leg in the Israel-Hamas war. Arafat finally arrived three hours late after a 13 hour flight from Turkey at George Bush Intercontinental Airport to a throng of nearly 100 supporters Sunday, Sep. 1, 2024 in Houston. Michael Wyke/Contributor Ayla Nasser, center left, age 13, and her sister in-law Mona Habib, center right and wrapped in a Palestinian flag, hand out small Palestinian flags to other supporters gathered to greet the arrival of Rozan Munir Arafat, a twelve year old Palestinian refugee from Gaza who lost her entire family, as well as her left leg in the Israel-Hamas war. Arafat finally arrived three hours late after a 13 hour flight from Turkey at George Bush Intercontinental Airport to a throng of nearly 100 supporters Sunday, Sep. 1, 2024 in Houston. Michael Wyke/Contributor Amany Hajyassin, left, and Suhail Butt, center, tape Palestinian flags to the railings of the walkway for the arrival of Rozan Munir Arafat, a twelve year old Palestinian refugee from Gaza who lost her entire family, as well as her left leg in the Israel-Hamas war. Arafat finally arrived three hours late after a 13 hour flight from Turkey at George Bush Intercontinental Airport to a throng of nearly 100 supporters Sunday, Sep. 1, 2024 in Houston. Michael Wyke/Contributor Twelve year old Rozan Munir Arafat, center in wheelchair, a Palestinian refugee from Gaza who lost her entire family and her left leg in the Israel-Hamas war, begins to notice the throng of nearly 100 supporters gathered to welcome her arrival from Turkey as she is escorted through Terminal E at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Sunday, Sep. 1, 2024 in Houston. Michael Wyke/Contributor
She is the 21st child affected by Israel's war with Hamas to benefit from the services of HEAL Palestine, a nonprofit that aims to provide essential healthcare, educational support, humanitarian aid and leadership development opportunities to Palestinian youth.
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"For a child that has endured so much becoming an orphan in an instant and losing five siblings if you see the smile on her face, you'd love her," said Dr. Farah Shah, executive director of HEAL Palestine in Houston. "It's a picture of resilience."
Twelve year old Rozan Munir Arafat, center in wheelchair, a Palestinian refugee from Gaza who lost her entire family and her left leg in the Israel-Hamas war, is swarmed for photos with the throng of nearly 100 supporters gathered to welcome her arrival from Turkey at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Sunday, Sep. 1, 2024 in Houston. Michael Wyke/Contributor
The group of more than 100 that gathered near Terminal E Sunday night celebrated together and took selfies to commemorate the memory. Kids jumped with excitement screaming "where is she," as they awaited the arrival of someone they've never met before.
Fatima Nasser said her family will open their home to someone else for the first time, hosting Rozan, her 17-year-old sister and her aunt as she is treated in Houston.
"What really compelled us was, you have all these resources, you have a nice house, you have all the money you could want, what's the use of it if you can't welcome someone into your home and make a difference in their lives," said Nasser. "It's time that we show our humanity and be there for people that have suffered."
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She said her family had seen the conflict between Israel and Palestine, which she referred to as a genocide, play out on their phones and felt honored to be able to play a part in a much bigger puzzle.
A woman holds a Palestinian flag next to posters and stuffed animals for the arrival of Rozan Munir Arafat, a twelve year old Palestinian refugee from Gaza who lost her entire family, as well as her left leg in the Israel-Hamas war. Arafat finally arrived three hours late after a 13 hour flight from Turkey at George Bush Intercontinental Airport to a throng of nearly 100 supporters Sunday, Sep. 1, 2024 in Houston. Michael Wyke/Contributor
Protests erupting across the globe
Rozan arrived as the Oct. 7 anniversary nears for the Hamas-led attack at a music festival in southern Israel, which left 1,200 people dead, most of them were civilians. Hamas also took 250 hostages. The Associated Press reported Tuesday that Israel estimates Hamas still has around 65 living hostages and the remains of 35 other people.
On Sept. 1, it was reported that six more hostages were killed, with three of the bodies discovered in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The recent news sparked protest amongst Israelis, who gathered outside of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office in Jerusalem, demanding a cease-fire with Hamas to bring the remaining hostages home.
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Demonstrators are seen in smoke from a police fire extinguisher during a protest calling for a cease-fire deal and the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip in Tel Aviv, Israel on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Ariel Schalit/Associated Press
In Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza, more than 40,000 Palestinians were killed, according to local health officials, who do not say how many were militants. Among the dead are Rozan's parents and siblings. Around 70 percent of the dead include women and children, according to an estimate from the Palestine Health ministry as reported by Reuters on Aug. 15.
The Chronicle reported in Aug. that pro-Palestinian protests on Texas university grounds prompted Gov. Greg Abbott to enact an executive order calling on public universities to adopt the state's definition of antisemitism in their free speech policies, and enforce punishments, including expulsion for students who spread anti-Jewish sentiment. An advocacy group that sued the governor in federal court argued the definition was too broad and could have a chilling effect on constitutionally protected speech.
Texas state troopers in riot gear try to break up a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP) Jay Janner/Associated Press
What's next for Rozan?
Rozan will now receive medical treatment for her amputated foot with expenses paid by the Texas Orthopedic Hospital, said Dr. Greg Stocks, who works at the hospital and is Shah's husband. The hospital has also written a letter supporting her visa, he said. While being treated, she and her sister will also be given an education after being out of school for more than a year.
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Once her treatment is finished, Rozan and her family will be given an apartment in Egypt by the organization, and will stay under the nonprofit's care until they are able to return home in Gaza, said HEAL Palestine co-founder Steve Sosebee.
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The National Hurricane Center's Seven-Day Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook on 9-5-24. National Hurricane Center
Five areas of interest in the Atlantic basin have caught the attention of the National Hurricane Center, with one storm system churning off the Texas Gulf Coast and another system in the Caribbean that is projected to push into the Gulf of Mexico as early as the end of this week.
These hot spots for tropical activity are systems of low atmospheric pressure, fueled by heat and moisture, and pushed westward by prevailing winds. The systems are not yet named storms and continue to have minimal chances of developing into something greater. Some activity worth watching is near the Texas Gulf Coast and has already brought rainfall and even street flooding to coastal areas near Houston.
A satellite image of the Gulf of Mexico taken on September 5, 2024 by the National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The overall storm activity stands as a reminder to not let your guard down, as hurricane season doesnt end until Nov. 30. The summer produced five named storms, including Hurricane Beryl that made a Southeast Texas landfall on July 8. Although the summers last named storm formed back on Aug. 12, the lull in Atlantic activity does not mean the threat of tropical cyclones has ended.
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Texas Gulf Coast storms
The bands of rainfall and thundershowers harassing Southeast Texas on Thursday and Friday are coming from an upper-level system of low atmospheric pressure slowly heading north toward the Louisiana and Texas coasts. Heavy rainfall is still expected through Saturday, but the storm system is unlikely to become anything stronger as the boundary of a cold front approaches by the weekend.
The National Hurricane Center gives the system only a 10% chance of further development over the next seven days.
Caribbean tropical wave
Hurricane center forecasters are monitoring a tropical wave of low atmospheric pressure moving through the northwestern Caribbean Sea that is expected to push into the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. The tropical wave could develop into something stronger and more organized over the weekend or early next week, but not before it reaches Belize and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula by Friday.
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Forecasters give the system a 20% chance of forming into a tropical cyclone over the next seven days.
Northern Atlantic off the East Coast
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a nontropical area of low pressure a few hundred miles east of North Carolina. The system is producing some rain and thunderstorms and could, acquire some subtropical characteristics over the next couple of days while it moves generally north-northeastward, according to the National Hurricane Center. Its expected to remain offshore and as it reaches cooler water by late Saturday, the system is not expected to continue developing.
Forecasters give this system a 30% chance of becoming a tropical cyclone over the next seven days, which are the highest chances among the five tracked storm systems in the Atlantic.
Storms in the tropical Atlantic
Another tropical wave of low pressure is located a few hundred miles east of the Lesser Antilles and is producing some rain and thunderstorm activity. If the storm system does develop, the National Hurricane Center predicts it will move west-northwest at 10 to 15 mph. But forecasters also say environmental conditions will limit development in the next few days but will become more favorable by early next week.
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Forecasters give this system only a 10% chance of becoming a tropical cyclone over the next seven days.
Eastern Atlantic near West Africa
Aakash Institute, one of India's leading educational institutions renowned for preparing students for medical and engineering entrance exams, has launched a heartfelt video campaign to honor teachers on this year's Teachers' Day.
The video beautifully captures the essence of gratitude through a touching story centered around a father-daughter duo. The daughter, now a successful doctor, is shown grappling with nervousness but chooses not to share her concerns with her fatherwho has been not only her parent but also her greatest teacher. Despite sensing her unease, her father remains calm and supportive, driving her to the hospital where she works.
At the hospital, an unexpected moment of admiration unfolds. A senior doctor approaches the father, showering him with respect and appreciation for his role as a teacher at Aakash Institute. The daughter, witnessing this genuine display of gratitude, is struck by the profound impact her father has hadnot only on her life but also on the lives of countless others. This moment of realization highlights the unspoken bond and legacy that teachers leave behind.
The video shines a spotlight on the tireless contributions, guidance, and mentorship of teachers. It reminds us that behind every successful student is a teacher whose dedication and sacrifices pave the way for their accomplishments.
The campaign concludes with a heartfelt message from Aakash Institute, saluting all teachers and recognizing the crucial role they play in shaping the lives of their students. Their unwavering commitment, boundless knowledge, and selfless dedication are the foundations upon which countless futures are built.
As the nation celebrates Teachers' Day, Aakash Institute pays tribute to these unsung heroes, reminding us of the invaluable place teachers hold in our hearts and lives. Today, and every day, Aakash proudly salutes all teachers for their unwavering dedication to shaping the minds of tomorrow.
The All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) has lodged a complaint with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, accusing Prasar Bharati of violating the country's uplinking and downlinking guidelines. The industry body, representing multiple system operators (MSOs) like Hathway, DEN Network, and Hinduja Global Solutions, argues that Prasar Bharati's invitation to private satellite TV channels to join its upcoming OTT platform is unfair and detrimental to the existing distribution ecosystem.
In a letter addressed to Ministry Secretary Sanjay Jaju, the AIDCF highlighted that Prasar Bharati's move contradicts clause 11(3)(f) of the Uplinking & Downlinking guidelines, which stipulate that satellite TV channels can only provide their signals to licensed service providers like MSOs, DTH services, and internet protocol television providers.
The AIDCF also accused broadcasters of misinterpreting existing regulations, claiming that Prasar Bharati is exempt from TRAI regulations and the Cable TV Act. The industry body asserts that satellite TV channels cannot be part of Prasar Bharati's OTT platform and can only provide their signals to registered distribution platform operators (DPOs).
Furthermore, the AIDCF raised concerns about the growing number of unregulated streaming applications, which may escape regulatory oversight due to the lack of specific guidelines. The industry body urged the Ministry to intervene and ensure that these platforms are subject to appropriate regulations.
In response to the AIDCF's criticism, Prasar Bharati's Content Sourcing Policy, released on August 9, indicated that the pubcaster may explore the possibility of on-boarding linear satellite channels and FAST channels to its OTT platform. However, the AIDCF argues that allowing private broadcasters to join the platform would severely impact the business of distribution platform operators and urged the Ministry to direct Prasar Bharati to withdraw its office memo.
Ishaan Khatters appearance at the premiere of his debut series in Hollywood, The Perfect Couple, was nothing less than an eye-catcher. The premiere which was held in London on the 2nd of September, at the BFI IMAX in Waterloo, drew a large gathering of fans, and featured Hollywood stars Nicole Kidman and Liev Schreiber. Ishaan was seen posing for photos alongside his co-stars Eve Hewson, Jack Reynor, Sam Nivola and Billy Howle. He was wearing a three-piece suit, while swapping the traditional waistcoat for a fashionable corset, as he celebrated the series launch.
The Perfect Couple, will debut on Netflix on Thursday, September 5.The series centers around Amelia Sacks (played by Hewson), who is about to marry into one of Nantuckets wealthiest families. Her future mother-in-law, Greer Garrison Winbury (played by Kidman), is a renowned novelist who spares no expense in planning an extravagant wedding. However, the discovery of a body on the beach turns the wedding into a gripping murder mystery, putting everyone under suspicion.
The show also features stars like Dakota Fanning and Meghan Fahy. With its mix of suspense and drama, The Perfect Couple is all set to capture the attention of audiences with its storyline and its amazing performers.
The London Premiere was a glamorous event, and Ishaans presence at the premiere marks another milestone in his growing international career.
Kotak General Insurance has re-branded itself as Zurich Kotak General Insurance, following the Zurich Insurance Groups acquisition of a majority stake in the insurer, which was completed on 18 June 2024. Reflecting the shared vision of the Zurich Kotakentity, the new brand symbolizes the collective commitment to trust, innovation, integrity, and customer excellence. The legal name of the entity changes from Kotak Mahindra General Insurance Company Limited to Zurich Kotak General InsuranceCompany (India) Limited.
The rebranding to Zurich Kotak General Insurance represents a significant step in our shared journey to create a premier general insurer for the new India. This new identity is not just a change in name but a reflection of our combined strengths, values, and commitment to deliver insurance solutions tailored to the diverse needs of Indian consumers and businesses, said Tulsi Naidu, CEO Asia Pacific, Zurich Insurance Group.
Zurich Kotak General Insurance is fully committed to fostering the development and expansion of Indias insurance sector in keeping with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of Indias (IRDAI) goal of achieving Insurance for All by 2047. Combining Zurichs global scale and expertise with Kotaks deep local knowledge, the entity is poised to support the long-term development of Indias insurance landscape, fostering financial security and resilience across the country.
Suresh Agarwal, Managing Director & CEO, Zurich Kotak General Insurance said, "This is an important milestone in our journey to build a responsible, impactful, and leading general insurer as we launch the new brand in the market. We will continue to work towards enhancing insurance penetration in the country through technology, scale, and bringing global best practices to our business, keeping customers at the core of it.The company has also reconstituted its Board of Directors, bringing together seasoned industry leaders with a strong track record in driving growth and innovation to fulfill Zurich Kotaks vision of building a leading general insurer for the new India.
Srinivas Injeti(IAS) has been appointed as the Chairman of the Board, with D Sundaram & Ravi Venkataraman as Independent Directors. Tulsi Naidu (APAC CEO, ZurichInsurance Group), Mathew Reilly (APAC COO, Zurich Insurance Group), Pushan Mohapatra (former MD & CEO, SBI General Insurance), Gaurang Shah (Non-Executive Director Insurance, Asset Management & InternationalSubsidiary, Kotak Mahindra Bank) and Jaideep Hansraj (former Managing Director, Kotak Securities Limited) have joined the board as Non-Executive Directors. Combined, the new board of directors brings a wealth of diverse expertise in global markets, risk management, and customer-focused strategies that will guide Zurich Kotak General Insurance in accelerating future growth and expansion in the market.
Also Read: Kotak General Insurance rebrands to Zurich Kotak General Insurance
In an initiative to closely link business payments & accounting systems with invoice discounting marketplaces, M1xchange, Indias leading TReDS (Trade Receivables Discounting System) platform has announced a strategic partnership with NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd. (NBBL) B2B Platform. This partnership will allow businesses to access low-cost invoice financing on TReDS directly from their accounting software. This new financing solution will enhance the efficiency of business payments across India for the TReDS registered companies. This partnerships live demo with Zoho accounting software used in conjunction with M1xchange via the Bharat Connect B2B platform was launched by Shri Shaktikanta Das, Governor of RBI on Day 1 of the Global Fintech Fest 2024 held in Mumbai.
Under this integration, companies already registered on the TReDS platform can access invoice financing across multiple financiers directly within their accounting software such as Zoho Books, Easebuzz and Happay among others. When a business raises an invoice via their chosen accounting platform, they will now have an option to trigger a request for financing of the invoice(s). This request is instantly transmitted to TReDS (M1xchange), where a competitive financing rate after bidding between multiple financiers is provided back to the accounting software via the API framework managed by NPCI Bharat Connect B2B. The business can then accept the financing offer, and the funds are disbursed within 24 hours all with the business user only interacting with their accounting software.
Sundeep Mohindru, Promoter & Director of M1xchange, said, " This collaboration with NPCI Bharat BillPay is a significant step forward in addressing the crucial challenges faced by businesses in managing B2B payments. By integrating invoice financing directly into the Bharat Connect platform, we are making it easier for buyers and sellers to access the working capital as and when they need without leaving their accounting applications. This seamless experience will empower businesses across India, particularly MSMEs, by enhancing liquidity, reducing payment cycles, and fostering financial inclusion. "
Noopur Chaturvedi, CEO of NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd. said, "Partnering with M1xchange was a strategic decision for us as we recognize the critical role that timely access to working capital plays in driving business growth and sustainability. By integrating TReDS capabilities into the Bharat Connect for Business, we are addressing a significant gap in the marketenabling businesses, especially MSMEs, to streamline their payment processes without disrupting their existing workflows. This collaboration underscores our commitment to fostering innovation and enhancing financial inclusion by providing a comprehensive, secure, and efficient solution that supports the evolving needs of businesses across India."
The first transaction for the integration of Bharat Connect and TReDS platforms of M1xchange was demonstrated live at the Global Fintech Festival. This transaction, conducted in a live production environment, demonstrates the robustness and readiness of the solution for widespread adoption.
Indias elite, including Jeet Adani, Ananya Birla, Nithin Kamath, Jay Kotak, Shashwat Goenka, and Kishore Biyani, gather to celebrate entrepreneurship!
Mumbai, India, 5th September 2024: In a remarkable display of support for Indias entrepreneurial spirit, some of the countrys most influential figures, including Jeet Adani, Ananya Birla, Nithin Kamath, Jay Kotak, Shashwat Goenka, and Kishore Biyani, among many others, gathered in Mumbai to celebrate the launch of WTFund, Indias first non-equity grant fund. This exclusive summit, held on the 4th of September, marked a significant moment in Indias startup ecosystem, spotlighting the next generation of innovators poised to drive the countrys future.
Nikhil Kamath successfully integrated the best of every world at the summit, with a diverse and star-studded guest list that included talents from the artist industry as well. Their presence underscored the broad appeal and cultural significance of the entrepreneurial revolution taking place in India.
Nikhil Kamath Unveils the First Cohort of WTFund Grantees
During the summit, Nikhil Kamath announced the inaugural cohort of WTFund grantees. The fund, designed to empower entrepreneurs under 25, has selected fifteen exceptional individuals whose groundbreaking ideas are set to transform industries ranging from healthcare to AI, and sustainable consumer goods.
Empowering the Next Generation Addressing the gathering, Nikhil Kamath stated
Entrepreneurs are ageless; you can build the next big thing whether you are 25 or 80. But, let's face itthe energy, drive, and sheer audacity often come easier when you're young. Were deeply passionate about fostering this spirit in India's youth under 25. We went looking for the smartest, coolest kids who are daring to start something big, and we found our 15. But this is just the beginning. From our dream of funding 9 companies today to aiding 9,000 young companies one day, were committed to building an India that isnt afraid to take risks and step outside our comfort zones. The next decade belongs to India, and it will be driven by those who choose to build their own dreams rather than helping someone else realize theirs. Feel like you arent doing enough? Screw the regular job. Start something. All the resources you need are within your reach.
The First Fifteen Innovators
The inaugural WTFund grantees represent a diverse array of industries, from early detection of gastrointestinal cancer to sustainable pet food. The selected startups include:
- Pamawel: Plant-based, non-steroidal, FDA-approved pain relief formulations targeting menstrual pain.
- Mars: Virtual Workstations that eliminate hardware limitations, providing affordable solutions for creators and builders in AI and no-code spaces.
- Oh! Nuts: Premium, healthy nut-based snacks tailored for the growing Indian consumer market.
- Pawsible Foods: Sustainable, plant-based pet food utilizing Kavaka mycoprotein.
- RNT Health Insights: AI-assisted diagnostic software for gastrointestinal cancer detection.
- Biocompute: Affordable DNA data storage chips, revolutionizing data center efficiency.
- CallPrep: AI-based B2B SaaS for sales preparation, integrating LinkedIn, CRM, and buyer intent data.
- Urban Animal: Indias first dog DNA testing service, redefining pet care.
- Pixa AI: AI-enhanced plush companions, merging the toy and AI companionship markets.
Support Beyond Funding
WTFund offers up to INR 20 Lakh in non-equity grants, allowing founders to retain full ownership of their ventures. In addition to financial support, grantees gain access to mentorship from industry leaders, legal and accounting assistance, and strategic partnerships with top companies. These resources are designed to equip the young entrepreneurs with the tools and connections they need to scale their businesses and make a lasting impact on their respective industries.
Onsurity has partnered with DBS Bank India to offer CyberSure, a comprehensive cyber protection plan tailored for owners of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across India.
Data from the National Crime Records Bureau[i] revealed that in 2023 alone, Indians suffered losses exceeding 7,488 crore due to cyber fraud. SMEs often lack the resources and expertise to implement robust digital protection measures, making them particularly vulnerable to cyber threats. To address this, CyberSure offers a suite of value-added benefits, with a sum insured of INR 10,000 per customer.
DBS Bank India will cover the cost of the first month for 10,000 eligible SME owners. After the initial free month, users can continue with the plan through an affordable monthly subscription.
Key features of the plan include:
Comprehensive insurance coverage for digital theft, available through a convenient monthly subscription plan for all users.
24/7 dark web monitoring to safeguard users' identities by scanning the dark web for signs of their private credentials being exposed in a data breach. If any credentials are found, CyberSure will promptly alert the user and provide clear instructions on how to protect their identity.
Engaging edutainment modules with videos and interactive content in regional languages to enhance cybersecurity awareness. These modules cover topics such as personal information protection, social engineering, phishing, and password safety, making cybersecurity an integral and effortless part of users' daily lives.
A thorough digital health check that offers users a quick evaluation of their digital well-being and a digital health score.
Speaking about the partnership, Kulin Shah, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Onsurity, said, SME business owners often juggle multiple responsibilities, but cyber safety demands specialised attention, especially given the sophisticated threats we face today. Our monthly subscription-based model offers SME owners peace of mind, allowing them to focus on growing their business while we handle their cyber protection. With DBS Bank Indias strong presence in the SME sector, we couldnt have asked for a better partner to bring this essential product to market.
Sudarshan Chari, Managing Director & Head SME Banking, DBS Bank India, said, As cyber threats become more complex, SMEs need robust and accessible protection to secure their operations and data. CyberSure provides an additional layer of security, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on what matters most: growing their businesses. This aligns seamlessly with our brand promise of 'live more, bank less. Onsuritys expertise in providing tailored tech solutions complements our efforts, further empowering SMEs. We will continue to leverage our strong ecosystem partnerships to deliver solutions that go beyond traditional banking and address the unique challenges faced by SMEs.
The companies formalised this partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding at the recently concluded Global Fintech Festival, one of the largest fintech conferences in the world organised annually by the Payments Council of India (PCI), the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), and the Fintech Convergence Council (FCC).
Pooja Duggal has stepped down from her role as Head of Human Resources at Zee Media, concluding her time with the company. Duggal, who began her journey at Zee Media in May 2023, brought over 20 years of extensive experience in HR across different sectors.
During her tenure, she led the HR department, focusing on areas such as recruitment, employee relations, and organizational growth. She was also associated with HT Media, JIndal Steel & Power Ltd, Raychem RPG Ltd and others.
Her last day with the organization is set for September 15, 2024.
Also Read: Versuni India teams up with Dolly Jain to Elevate Indian Drapes
The Body Shop, a British-born international ethical beauty brand, has partnered with Indian model and actress Diana Penty to showcase its much-loved Vitamin C skincare range. This collaboration highlights a simple yet effective routine that delivers a natural, radiant glowjust in time for the festive season.
In this exclusive video, Diana shares her personal glow-getting routine, featuring The Body Shops Vitamin C skincare must-haves for a luminous complexion that shines through every celebration:
Start with a Fresh Cleanse: Begin your routine with The Body Shops Vitamin C Daily Glow Cleansing Polish. This gentle exfoliating cleanser removes impurities, pollution, and makeup, prepping your skin for the benefits of the following steps.
Boost Radiance with Serum: Apply 2-3 drops of the Vitamin C Glow Revealing Serum1 to freshly cleansed skin every morning and evening. Clinically proven to enhance radiance, this serum delivers a 33% increase in skin radiance after 8 weeks of use.
Lock in Hydration: Complete your routine with the Vitamin C Glow Boosting Intense Moisturiser. This rich, hydrating cream not only seals in moisture but also shields your skin from environmental stressors, leaving it soft, smooth, and glowing.
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Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday said the Bombay High Courts order restraining any person or party from calling for a Maharashtra bandh over the Badlapur incident was a slap for the opposition, and the government will implement the directive.
The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance of the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP), and Congress has called for a bandh on Saturday.
But the high court, in a directive in response to petitions challenging the call for a general strike, restrained any person or political party from issuing such a call, and asked the state government to take preventive steps.
Speaking at a gathering to launch the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme, Shinde said the Badlapur incidentwhere two kindergarten girls were allegedly sexually assaulted in the school washroomwas a blot on humanity.
It also impacted the happiness we derived from transferring Rs 1500 into the accounts of beneficiary women under the Laadki Bahin scheme. But the opposition has been politicising the incident and maligning this scheme, he said.
The high courts order was a slap across the oppositions face, Shinde said, adding that his government will implement the directive.
The accused in the Badlapur case was booked under stringent provisions of the law, and the government will seek capital punishment for him, the CM said.
The opposition is doing politics but the government is committed to keeping bahin (sisters/women) in the state safe, he said.
The opposition should not take people for granted, the chief minister said, and he took a veiled swipe at Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray by adding that some people were so eager to get the CMs post that they were indulging in such politics.
This was perverse, Shinde said.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in his speech at the function, also slammed the opposition for calling for a bandh.
This is for politics. You did not take a stand against the Mamata Banerjee government over the rape and murder of a woman doctor in Kolkata. But here you are calling for a bandh for your selfish interests, said Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio.
Mehbooba Mufti Rejects BJP Alliance for Jammu and Kashmir Elections 2
PDP President Mehbooba Mufti firmly ruled out any possibility of a tie-up with the BJP for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir elections, emphasizing that her party will play a crucial role in the formation of the next government. Addressing party workers on Tuesday, Mufti criticized the National Conference (NC) for prioritizing government formation over genuine political goals, accusing them of forming alliances solely for ministerial positions since 1947.
Mufti reiterated that the PDP is focused on contesting the elections with a clear agenda, rather than just seeking power. She confidently stated, No government will be formed after the assembly polls without the inclusion of the PDP. Recalling the PDPs previous government formation with just 16 MLAs in 2002, she expressed hope that her party would once again be pivotal in the next administration.
Despite her partys past coalition with the BJP in 2015, Mufti ruled out any future alliance with the saffron party, citing the BJPs actions that have undone previous efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue. She stressed that the PDPs previous dealings with the central government were conducted transparently, unlike the secretive approach of the NC, as alleged by former NC leader Devender Singh Rana.
Mufti also addressed concerns about police harassment in the region, urging the Lieutenant Governor to ensure that upcoming elections are conducted fairly, without undue pressure on citizens.
When asked about Rahul Gandhis upcoming visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti welcomed the Congress leader, acknowledging his right to campaign in the region.
Eufaula City Schools canceled all classes and after-school activities Thursday after receiving a threat of violence, officials said.
It is unclear what type of threat was made, but officials said it was targeted at the districts high school.
In a notice Wednesday evening, district leaders asked all students and staff not to report to school Thursday. Administrators were expected to report as normal.
Officials did not immediately respond to a request for an update Thursday morning. No other information has been released by the district since its original notice.
ECS is working with the Eufaula Police Dept. and will provide more information as soon as possible, the statement said.
The alert came on the same day that a 14-year-old shot and killed two teachers and two students at a Georgia high school, according to news reports. In recent months, several students have been shot and injured in Alabama schools.
In North Alabama, Walker County officials announced an increased security presence at Oakman area schools Thursday following threats made on social media.
Its unfortunate that we live in a world where we have to deal with these types of issues, Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith wrote in a statement Wednesday evening. We are not immune; however, Im thankful for the board of education who helps us have deputies in our schools and the tools they provide to keep our children and grandchildren safe. With the most recent school shooting, it serves as a reminder that having deputies on school campuses is very important in todays world.
Alabama schools have seen an increasing number of threats in recent years, according to a 2023 AL.com analysis. Schools reported 45 bomb threats in the 2022-23 school year and more than 6,000 instances of a threat or intimidation by a student.
Parents can view their school safety rules here, and hear from experts about how to talk to their child about school safety, here.
Schools are safe for most students, but shootings and violent incidents are increasing nationwide. And outside of school, guns are now among the leading cause of death of children.
A 2024 survey of incidents nationally since 1970 found increasing reports of deadly incidents in schools. Wednesday, a 14-year-old shot and killed two teachers and two students at a Georgia high school, according to news reports. In recent months, several students have been shot and injured in Alabama schools.
Many schools in recent years have increased security through school resource officers, bulletproof windows and whiteboards or metal detectors. A 2023 AL.com analysis of recent school safety and discipline incidents found increasing reports of guns, threats and fights.
Find more Ed Lab toolkits here.
Every school in Alabama is required to have a plan in place to address emergencies, whether a natural disaster, medical incident or an armed intruder. As a new school year begins, some already have practiced drills for different threats.
Talking with children about school safety
Experts say its a good idea to have a conversation with your child about school safety, or any other potentially tough topics, before a drill happens. Parents also shouldnt be afraid to ask their school administrators about their safety plans.
They need to know that the school district is taking safety very seriously, Mo Canady, executive director of the National Association of School Resource Officers, told AL.com recently.
Parents can emphasize the importance of safety habits in everyday life. If a student is directly impacted by a traumatic event, The National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has a list of suggested actions parents can take in response to various behavior changes.
Will I be notified about a safety issue?
In Alabama, its up to individual districts to decide exactly how theyll address and notify students and staff of any threats. For security reasons, those plans typically are only given to law enforcement and are not made public.
All schools, however, use the same four categories to designate different levels of an emergency:
1. Heightened Awareness: This means there may be potential for an unusual situation and parties should have heightened awareness to react as needed.
2. Secure Your Area of Responsibility: This means an incident has occurred, such as a threat to ones self or a medical emergency, and school staff should secure their areas to prevent further incidents from happening.
3. Secure Perimeter: This means a potential threat or danger does exist or has occurred within the community or neighborhood, and all parties should be aware to react as needed.
4. Lockdown: A lockdown is a recognition of potential immediate danger. School staff and students should take immediate action using the safest and best option for survival.
What to expect from a school lockdown
State law requires schools to conduct a lockdown, or code red, drill twice a year typically during the first six weeks of the fall and spring semesters.
Principals also must hold an annual training session for employees on school lockdown plans and procedures.
Lockdown drills can vary by school. Most lockdowns will require students to shelter in place and keep out of hallways, while others may require additional precautions, like avoiding windows and doors, turning off lights, or designating a safe place in the classroom to hide from a potential intruder.
Guns in schools
In the 2022-23 school year, Alabama schools reported 139 incidents of a student possessing a firearm or handgun, and five incidents of a student using a handgun, rifle or other firearm on school grounds.
All Alabama schools must have a policy in place to prevent people other than authorized law enforcement from bringing deadly weapons or dangerous instruments into schools and establish serious penalties for anyone who violates those rules.
School resource officers may carry a firearm if they successfully complete active shooter training approved by the state law enforcement agency, in addition to other firearm trainings.
A 2018 state law also authorizes schools without a school resource officer to allow a designated administrator to keep a firearm on school grounds if they pass required screenings and trainings.
New security measures
Several schools have added new security measures in recent years to detect weapons and provide additional shelter in the case of an emergency.
Recently, Cullman City Schools installed bulletproof, pop-out whiteboards in an effort to protect students from both active shooter events and natural disasters. In Gadsden, teachers can now lock down school doors with the touch of a button.
Several other districts have added new systems like metal detectors and X-ray machines, or have hired more school resource officers on campus.
Other changes could come statewide with the recent passage of the School Security Act this summer, which goes into effect Oct. 1.
The law mandates the following:
Periodic inspections of public schools to assess their security needs
Schools must provide local authorities with updated floor plans in the case of an emergency
School districts must designate a safety coordinator who is trained on best practices for lockdowns, threat assessments and other safety procedures.
Butler, Ala., has found itself as the unlikely setting of a psychological thriller novel after an author from Ireland fell in love with the small town despite never actually having been there.
Welz Bailey, of Coleraine, Northern Ireland, U.K., said she wanted to take a different approach to selecting the setting for her novel The Pawn, so rather than choosing a location familiar to her or well-known, she let chance -- with a little help from Google Maps -- do the work.
I have always been pulled towards writing a novel within an American state, said Bailey. Instead of deciding which state using a logical way, I chose a different route. I opened America on Google maps, closed my eyes and kept zooming in until I thought I would be up close to a location. Opening my eyes, I saw Butler. Not knowing where this was, I zoomed back out to find it sitting in the state of Alabama. Checking the streets, avenues and landscape from above gave me a good feeling that this was the place.
Bailey said she spent nine months researching the layout and history of Butler, which has around 2,000 residents and is located in the seat of Choctaw County. She quickly realized how ideal the small town, as well as Alabama as a whole, was for her novels setting thanks to the diversity of rural and suburban backdrops it offered.
I fell in love with the combination of small towns, forests and lakes, said Bailey. It gave me the best of three different options to base some of the story. I didnt want it to be all based in a town. I wanted to let the readers feel the different scenes unravelling before their eyes.
The Pawn is Baileys first novel and is a psychological thriller that follows FBI Agent Clara Strong as she finds herself at the center of a chilling game of forensic investigations and a race against time to catch a cunning serial killer. While some of the scenes are set in fictional places created by Bailey, others take place on actual streets and buildings in Butler, including the historic Choctaw County Courthouse.
Once The Pawn was released, Bailey shared her process of choosing Butler at random as her books setting on a Facebook group for fans of thriller novels and was surprised at how much support she received from Alabamians and the Butler community as the post became more and more popular.
I thought, who would want to know about a Northern Ireland author writing about a town, said Bailey. How I was wrong. I soon became aware of the strong community spirit of Butler and beyond. You could never Google that! Its not just the people of Butler but also the majority of people in Alabama.
When I placed my novel [on the] Facebook page, I was hoping for a few likes, a few shares and to let readers know that there are new authors out there, but to have nearly 100 likes within minutes blew my mind. I actually thought someone had hacked my phone and was scamming me, but then the comments started coming in, and thats when I knew that the people of Alabama are proud people and cared.
Bailey said she reached out to the people of Butler and soon became regularly in contact with many, including City Councilman Ron Mason, who had his daughter, Sophie, take photographs of The Pawn being held in the different places around the town that had been featured in the novel.
Butler resident Sophia Mason posing with a copy of "The Pawn," a psychological thriller novel by Irish author Welz Bailey set in the Alabama town. (Photo courtesy of Ron Mason)Ron Mason
I was excited to learn that the novel was set in our small town, Mason said. Although the plot is quite different than the events that usually occur in our Mayberry type town, it is interesting to read the work of fiction and see the references to the places in our town. We look forward to Welzs visiting our town. I am anxious to see her reaction to the reality of the place she has written about.
While Bailey has been to America twice, shes never been to Alabama or the South, but the Irish author plans to change that this spring when she travels with her husband to meet Mason and see Butler with her own eyes, rather than through Google Maps, for the first time.
Ive always had a love of the South and my husband and I have already booked our dogs into the kennels here so we can take a trip to Butler and Alabama next year in the spring, said Bailey. A lot of people from Alabama have already suggested places for us to visit, which I must write down. I definitely want to visit all the areas mentioned in my novel. I think it will be surreal to actually take a step into my book.
You can purchase The Pawn on Amazon now.
An imprisoned Alabama-born pastor is one of 135 political prisoners released by Nicaragua this morning in a deal brokered by the Biden Administration.
The New York Times is reporting that Jon Britton Hancock, founder and president of Mountain Gateway, and 13 people affiliated with the ministry, were released on humanitarian grounds. The prisoners were sent to Guatemala, where they will be processed as refugees, the paper reported.
No one should be put in jail for peacefully exercising their fundamental rights of free expression, association, and practicing their religion, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement.
This is the day we have been praying and believing God for, Hancock said. Members of Congress, the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security worked tirelessly to effect their release from their unjust imprisonment.
In December, the administration of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega ordered the closure of Mountain Gateways 10 churches and arrested 11 of their pastors, accusing them of money laundering. The crackdown came after an eight-city crusade that was attended by nearly a million people.
The pastors were sentenced to 12 or 15 years in prison and fined a total of nearly $1 billion.
Two lawyers representing them were also convicted and imprisoned.
Hancock, who was charged but never arrested, enlisted Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) and Sen. Katie Britt, among others, to lobby for release.
Aderholt said in a statement he had already spoken to the Hancock family who are overjoyed.
I am thankful to God for the release of not only these pastors, but the other Christians being held as well, Aderholt said. As I have said many times throughout this ordeal that began late last year, they were simply preaching and sharing the Good News of Christs redeeming love to others.
In June, Britt called on the Biden Administration to exert diplomatic pressure to urge the ministers release.
The @StateDept has confirmed that the 13 wrongfully imprisoned Christians in Nicaragua affiliated with American nonprofit Mountain Gateway have been released. This is a tremendous victory for religious freedom and inalienable God-given human rights.https://t.co/JObENkQ8CE Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) September 5, 2024
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, and U.S. Reps. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover), Dale Strong (R-Monrovia), Jerry Carl (R-Mobile), Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) and Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) also made efforts on behalf of the church.
The group of those released included Catholic laypeople, students, and others whom President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua and the first lady and vice president, Rosario Murillo, considered a threat to their authoritarian rule, Sullivan said.
Birmingham police shot someone Wednesday afternoon after a traffic stop and foot chase blocked traffic on Interstate 20/59 near the Birmingham airport, police said.
The incident began just before 4 p.m. when an officer was conducting a traffic stop on I-20/59 northbound between Tallapoosa Street and Airport Boulevard.
The suspects vehicle veered off the interstate and came to a stop at a fence that separates the interstate from a neighborhood.
Chief Scott Thurmond said the suspect bailed from his vehicle and took off running. A foot chase ensued.
At some point, the suspect fired a shot at our officer and the officer returned fire, Thurmond said.
Video from a bystander on the interstate showed the suspect running, followed by three officers. The suspect scaled, and jumped over, a chain link fence and continued running toward the neighborhood.
At least one of the officers then fired multiple shots through the fence, hitting the suspect.
A call was broadcast over the police radio that an officer needed all possible assistance.
Dozens of officers flocked to the scene, both uniformed police and detectives. Alabama State Troopers and ATF agents also responded.
When we have an officer in a situation like that, all of our officers come out to assist, Thurmond said.
The suspect was struck one time. Witnesses said he was alert when Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service transported him to UAB Hospital.
Thurmond said the mans injuries dont appear to be life-threatening.
No officers were injured. Medics were called to the scene on the interstate for an officer in distress. Thurmond said that officer was taken to a hospital as a precaution and observation.
The chief said the shooting was captured on the officers body-worn camera and other surveillance video.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency will lead the investigation, which is standard procedure for officer-involved shootings.
A second woman has filed a lawsuit against a well-known former east Alabama attorney and former state senator claiming he sexually coerced and assaulted her.
Saraland attorney Travis Johns filed the lawsuit against 78-year-old lawyer Doug Ghee this week in Calhoun County Circuit on behalf of the 27-year-old alleged victim.
The lawsuit claims that if she complied with his demands it would gain her favor in her pending divorce and child custody case.
It also lists as defendants Ghees law firm, Ghee Draper and Alexander, as well as partners Wendy Ghee Draper, Jennifer Ghee Downey, Laura Ghee Alexander, David C. Alexander, and Lindsey Ghee McDaniel.
Ghee earlier this week surrendered his law license pursuant to the Alabama Rules of Disciplinary Procedure according to a document provided to AL.com by disciplinary clerk of the Alabama Bar Association. The license surrender was effective immediately.
Ghee launched his law career in 1975 and served in the Alabama Legislature from 1990 through 1998.
Efforts to reach Ghee, his partners and his attorney for comment have not been successful.
In August, a 28-year-old woman filed the first lawsuit against Ghee, who was her attorney in a criminal case, alleging that he sexually assaulted her while she was handcuffed in a Calhoun County Jail visiting room for lawyers and clients.
In that first case, the lawsuit states Ghee told the woman he was friends with the judge and assistant district attorney assigned to her cases and because of that, he could get her a better offer than the one that was on the table with her current attorney.
The offer was contingent on the woman hiring Ghee for $2,500 and agree to be his sex slave after she was released from custody, according to the lawsuit.
In the newest lawsuit, the 27-year-old woman said she became involved in 2022 in a divorce and DHR investigation after her child ingested a CBD gummy.
The woman and her parents first met with Ghee on Oct. 18, 2022, and paid him an $1,800 retainer.
The following day, Ghee called her back to his office where she learned her husband had filed for divorce.
She paid Ghee another flat fee of $3,500 to retain Ghee and the firm for the divorce proceedings.
In their first time meeting alone, the suit states, Ghee asked her if she was good at keeping secrets.
As the meeting progressed, she told Ghee she was not comfortable going to court yet because she believed she would fail a drug test due to her use of legal Delta 8/CBD products.
Again, the suit contends, Ghee asked if she was good at keeping secrets.
The woman said when she stood up to leave at the end of the meeting, Ghee blocked the door and sexually assaulted her.
Specifically, the lawsuit says, he grabbed her face and started kissing her, groped her and put his hand down her pants.
He told her, according to the lawsuit, Look, if you want to have the upper hand in court and get what you want, youll do what I say.
He went on to say he could talk to the judge off the record and get her what she wanted.
At this point, Doug realized that he had successfully converted his client into a controllable victim and began to further take advantage of her, the alleged victims lawyer wrote in the suit.
From October 2022 through February 2023, the two met at least eight times at his office or at undisclosed homes. The meetings were always after 4:30 p.m., and his office closed for the day at 5 p.m.
The suit alleges Ghee used his power at the law firm to send any remaining employees home and lock the doors. It also states he took medication she believed to be Viagra during the visits, and forced her to have sex with him.
No criminal charges have been filed against Ghee but in late July, Calhoun County Sheriff Matthew Wade confirmed that an investigation was underway into an alleged incident in the Calhoun County Jail involving an attorney and a female inmate.
Wade said he could not identify the attorney, but said the investigation is ongoing by the sheriffs office and the Alabama Attorney Generals Office.
The sheriff said the case had expanded to include a large amount of digital evidence and multiple individuals.
This takes time, Wade said. As sheriff, I stand for justice and righteousness.
We will find the truth and I will fight for those who cant, he said.
After the alleged incidents, Seventh Judicial Circuit Court Presiding Judge Shannon Page issued an administrative order barring Ghee from being assigned to indigent defense cases.
Several complaints were made to the Alabama Bar Association which led up to the surrender of Ghees license to practice law.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is calling for the resignation of Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Kent Davis after she alleged that the agency mishandled a grant program through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Iveys request that Davis resign was provided in a one-page letter the governors office sent out to the media on Thursday. The letter also states that she removed John Kilpatrick from his position as a member on the State Board of Veterans Affairs.
Ivey called for Davis to resign by 5 p.m. on Thursday. That did not happen, prompting the governor to release the following statement, I am disappointed Commissioner Davis did not have the decency to respond and therefore, did not choose to do the right thing for the future of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans statewide. I am prepared to take further action.
In her letter to Davis, Ivey said there was ample cause for his removal.
For example, your agency mishandled an ARPA grant program by, among other things, proposing -- on a substantially delayed basis -- uses of grant funds that would be ineligible under U.S. Treasury rules and regulations and/or state law or policy, Ivey wrote to Davis.
Ivey said the handling of the grant money put in jeopardy Alabamas ability to fulfill its obligations under ARPA and your agencys ability to most effectively serve veterans. It thus seriously calls into question your ability to secure additional services for Alabama veterans and to cooperate with all other heads of the state departments as are your duties under state law.
The governors office did not provide specific examples to the grant programs.
Ivey also accuses Davis of failing to consult with the Office of Governor as required by Executive Order No. 726.
If Davis agreed to resign by 5 p.m. on Thursday, the resignation would have been effective by Sept. 30.
The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs did not provide a statement on Thursday.
The governors request for the resignation of Davis was not discussed during the Joint ARPA Oversight committee meeting Thursday in Montgomery.
State Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, chair of the Senate General Fund committee and a member of the ARPA oversight committee, said had heard there were plans to spend ARPA funds for purposes not allowed by the ARPA regulations and that those plans were stopped before the money was spent.
What Im aware of is that there were concerns about how are the means and the methodologies that the ARPA monies were not being distributed or being granted according to the federal regulations, Albritton said. Those were seen, as I understand it, by the finance director and those given the oversight authority. And those questions were raised and thats the result of where we went.
Albritton said he did not think any money was spent improperly because the problems were caught by the Finance Department. He said he thought Examiners of Public Accounts was also involved.
No monies went out the door, Albritton said. No monies were mishandled in that regard. Its my understanding that if the Finance Department had not caught it and had not taken the appropriate steps, money would have gone out the door, and then it would have been a significant problem. So, I think the system worked in this regard.
Iveys decision has the support of Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville. He said in a social media post late Thursday that a change in leadership within the agency was in the best interest of the states veterans.
Davis became the commissioner of the agency on Feb. 19, 2019, upon selectin by the State Board of Veterans Affairs. The commissioner is charged with managing the agencys operations and coordinating the work of approximately 1,200 state and contractor employees in 70 facilities throughout Alabama. The agencys budget is around $190 million.
Davis, an attorney, is a retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral and is the seventh commissioner to head up the Department of Veterans Affairs. Before heading up the agency, he spent 14 years with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and served as a staff attorney for former Secretary Tom Ridge.
Davis retired from military service in 2016. He served for two years as the Director of Economic Development and as City Manager in Anniston. In late 2017, he served as the civilian director of communication and outreach at Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base, moving back to his hometown of Montgomery.
This story was updated at 12:06 p.m. on Sept. 5, 2024, to include remarks from Sen. Greg Albritton. It was updated at 6:17 p.m. to provide further comments from Ivey. It was also updated at 8:49 p.m. to include a statement from Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter.
Reporter Mike Cason contributed to this report.
Chinese envoy urges greater efforts towards "immediate" release of all detainees
Xinhua) 10:52, September 05, 2024
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called for greater diplomatic effort towards the immediate release of all detainees, be they Israeli or Palestinian, so that they could go home without further delay.
"The six hostages who perished in Gaza are distressing. The tragic end that befell them evokes sympathy," Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), said in remarks at the UN Security Council briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.
"China condemns all violence against civilians and denounces all violations of international law and international humanitarian law," said the ambassador.
He stressed that "the stark reality speaks volumes" about the futility of attempts to win a "total victory" by prolonging the war, which was at best "wishful thinking."
The use of force would not pave the way for hostage release, Geng pointed out, adding that it would only aggregate antagonism and make the confrontations more intense and the situation more volatile.
He called on the Israeli leadership to listen to the public's forceful appeals, give top priority to securing the release of hostages and saving lives, and do their utmost to make the ceasefire happen and end the war.
He also called on the countries that held sway over the parties concerned to show good faith and a responsible attitude by taking tangible actions "to put out the flames of war in Gaza."
Commending the World Health Organization and other humanitarian agencies "that are going against all odds" to provide polio vaccination for Gazan children, Geng said "These children have the same right to grow up healthily as their peers elsewhere in the world" and should not continue to face the deadly threat of lethal weapons after receiving vaccination.
"Every life matters, and no one deserves to be deprived of their right to live," he said.
(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Former Mayor Sylvester Turner meets with the Houston Chronicles editorial board at the Houston Chronicles offices in Houston, TX on August 8, 2024. Turner recently announced his intention to run for the Democratic party nomination for Congress, in the historic 18th Congressional District in Texas. Sharon Steinmann Former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner takes the tally while Harris County precinct chairs nominate a new candidate to replace U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee on November ballot during a meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer
Dabbing at his eyes, former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner recalled the final conversation he had with the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee in an interview with KHOU11s Len Cannon.
I said Sheila, you have left it all on the field, Turner said choking back tears. Your work is done.
Turners, apparently, is not.
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When he joined a crowded slate to replace Jackson Lee, he quickly amassed the blessings of her children, this editorial board, and, eventually, the majority of about 80 Democratic precinct chairs tasked with choosing a candidate for the November general.
Why would he want to run? After nearly three decades in the Legislature and two terms as Houstons mayor where he missed no opportunity to shout out his Acres Homes roots, wasnt he done? He said as much in 2023 when he told the media he wasnt interested in heading to Congress. But given the sudden loss of Jackson Lee, the frantic timeline to find a replacement and the potential long-term consequences of anointing an incumbent in a heavily Democratic district where people tend to hold onto their seats, he felt he had to step in.
Ultimately, were glad Turner did decide to run, offering himself as a bridge, a lawmaker who can hit the ground running and see through a few projects under the bipartisan infrastructure bill and other bills before handing over the baton.
I can provide stability to the 18th, Turner said of the district served by legendary Houston figures Barbara Jordan, Mickey Leland and Jackson Lee. And he promised to provide that familiar face as well, just as Jackson Lee did for nearly three decades showing up at parades, funerals, ribbon cuttings, and for her constituents when they needed her help navigating government bureaucracy or even getting a window air conditioning unit during a heat wave.
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He cited his perseverance through his own health challenges as proof that he still has the grit to tackle the job with the same energizer bunny zeal that Jackson Lee did.
I went to radiation Monday through Friday for six weeks, 7:30 in the morning, he said of his 2022 fight against bone cancer while mayor. We didnt change my schedule.
If anything, the experience energized him more, he says.
Ive had the best medical care someone can find, he told the editorial board. He contrasted that with his own fathers experience as a painter and yard man battling cancer without health insurance. Many residents of the 18th district share such experiences. Parts of the district have a roughly 20-year life expectancy gap compared with wealthier parts of Harris County and the district is also the site of a cancer cluster.
Thats what motivates me, he told us.
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His inspirational personal story, insight and soaring rhetoric made him a captivating speaker on the House floor of the Texas Legislature, where he served 27 years that he could put to work in Washington, D.C. for one or two terms.
2024 ENDORSEMENTS: Browse all of the recommendations by the Editorial Board
Yes, we were critical of some of his actions as mayor but voters have an obviously qualified candidate in Turner that they simply dont have on the other side of the ticket. His Republican challenger, Lana Centonze, has a unique perspective as an immigrant and former federal officer working at Houstons international airport in the district but, during the primary, we found some of her policy ideas when she was willing to share them half baked. When we pushed for specifics during that race, for example, she said she'd do away with birthright citizenship.
In a separate special election on the same ballot, voters are choosing from candidates to fill the remainder of Jackson Lee's current term through the end of this year.
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In the future, we hope the voters will not only have a say in who shows up on the ballot but that theyll have a compelling field of candidates to choose from. For now, theres one clear option for future of the 18th and that is the man who can cupid shuffle with the best of them and get things done for this district.
The parents of a man shot by Birmingham police say they dont believe he fired on officers and are distraught by cell phone video showing him being wounded while running from police.
Jaylin Patton, 28, was shot Wednesday afternoon when police say he fled on foot during an attempted traffic stop and fired on officers.
His mother, Nicole Hillary, and father, Anthony Patton, said they havent been allowed to see or talk to their son but said they want the narrative changed about what led to him being shot.
Everyone who knows Jaylin knows hes a good-hearted person, Hillary said. Jaylin is very afraid of the police. He will run from the police, but as far as him shooting at the police, he would never.
A passerby on the interstate recorded part of the interaction.
That video, which was sent to Hillary, showed Patton running from police and scaling the chain-link fence that separates the interstate from a nearby neighborhood.
Patton was running toward the neighborhood when an officer fired multiple shots at him through the fence, the video shows.
It was awful, Hillary said. It instantly made my heart fall.
The incident began just before 4 p.m. Wednesday when an officer was conducting a traffic stop on I-20/59 northbound between Tallapoosa Street and Airport Boulevard.
Pattons vehicle veered off the interstate and came to a stop at the fence that separates the interstate from a nearby neighborhood, police said.
Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond said the suspect bailed from his vehicle and took off running. A foot chase ensued.
At some point, the suspect fired a shot at our officer and the officer returned fire, Thurmond said.
A call was broadcast over the police radio that an officer needed all possible assistance.
Dozens of officers flocked to the scene, both uniformed police and detectives. Alabama State Troopers and ATF agents also responded.
Patton was taken by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service to UAB Hospital.
Thurmond said the entire ordeal was captured on body-worn cameras. AL.com has submitted a request for that footage.
The chief also said the wounded suspects injuries are not life-threatening.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys State Bureau of Investigation is leading the probe, which is standard policy for officer-involved shootings.
Birmingham police declined comment on the parents claims citing the ongoing investigation.
Hillary said she a friend called her after spotting her car on the side of the interstate and Hillary rushed to the scene.
The police havent told me anything. No more than hes been detained, and they havent told me for what, she said. I havent seen him.
Hillary said hospital officials told her his name isnt in the system, which isnt unusual. Gunshot victims are often hospitalized under different names for security reasons.
Hillary, a medical assistant, said its breaking her heart to not be able to see him.
Im emotional because I cant reach out and touch him, she said.
Hillary said she is confident her son didnt fire any shots. He does have prior arrests, court records show, but none for violent crimes.
He doesnt want to go to prison for the rest of his life, Hillary said. He never fired at a police officer. He knows better than that.
If he would have shot at those officers, he would have been laying dead right by that car and my car would have been shot up, she said. They would have had the shell casings cones out there. None of that was out there.
It takes a lot to get any kind of anger out of Jaylin, Hillary said. Hes not a menace to society at all.
Both parents said they were shocked by what they saw in the videos sent to them.
It looks liked they were hunting. It was sad to see something like that, Anthony Patton said. They got mad because he got away and just started shooting.
Were going to find out from him exactly what happened, he said. I want every officer who fired a gun to be held accountable.
This column first appeared in Kyle Whitmires weekly newsletter, Alabamafication. Click here to subscribe for free.
Something has happened at my grocers deli counter, and it isnt the fault of Boars Head meats. Surely, the recent listeria outbreak and subsequent recall will keep many patrons at bay, but I gave up shopping among the counters offerings months ago. And since then, Ive dwelled over my loss.
Once, the deli counter was among my favorite weekly shopping pleasures. As a kid who grew up eating tasteless cold cuts sealed in shrink wrap, this is what I imagined the boucheries of Paris to be. There wasnt only smoked turkey and ham, but Black Forest, mesquite and Cajun flavors to choose from.
And the cheese! There, behind the glass, were provolone and Swiss and long blocks of yellow and white fromage, proud to be called American something made from milk of happy cows and not extruded between sheets of sickly cellophane. When I made my choices, the kind man or woman behind the counter would happily hand me the first cuts from the deli slicer for my approval of their taste and thickness.
I didnt have to endure shopping to fill the cheese and meat drawers in my fridge. It was a small Saturday something that I loved.
And then, at some point, that changed.
Id like to attribute the change to the pandemic, although I cant argue COVID is to blame. Rather, its a convenient marker on the timeline between before and after.
The before time was all of the pleasures above.
The after was when they began to slip away.
First, the folks behind the counter seemed busier than before, even though there were about the same number of people working there. And despite their bustling between tasks, their efforts werent to meet the weekend desires of us casual shoppers. Rather, they filled online requests sent by customers not yet in the store as those in front of them tapped their feet.
To my horror, one weekend morning, my wife told me she had submitted such an order and asked if I would pick it up.
But its convenient! she argued over my protests.
I arrived at the counter at the appointed time, but the meats and cheeses were not there to meet me. Id have to come back in 15 minutes, the weary, apologetic man said from the other side of the countertop.
An appointment, it seemed, was not enough. Like Lucille Ball in the candy factory, the men and women there toiled in vain against time and the work expected of them.
On another visit, I asked for my weekly staples, this time for a bleary-eyed woman to point to a kiosk behind me. There, the meats and cheeses had been cut to satisfy the aggregate customer expectation and parceled into little plastic baggies.
I suppose I could have protested, but to do so would have been another aggravation of already exhausted store employees. It was clear, they were only following orders, marching under a banner of maximizing shopping convenience.
I didnt feel inconvenienced. My Saturday ritual was gone. I felt betrayed.
At first, I thought this was a failure of management at my neighborhood store, but wishful trips to the grocers other locations in town led to the same disappointment.
This isnt a complaint letter to customer service, however. Its more than that. You see, Ive had this experience in other places, too little incidents of retail entropy, scattered signs of a system slowly breaking down.
Two young children prone to ear infections have made me a regular customer at the drug store drive-thru, where I dont believe Ive dealt with the same pharmacist twice. Frequently, I make a first pass there, knowing well that my childs prescription isnt ready, because if I dont, they wont bother to fill it until the next morning.
Then there was the department store that once was a shoppers wonderland, now littered with unsorted piles of loose merchandise like a Russian market.
And then there was the to-go order from the shopping mall Chinese bistro which was like watching the iceberg can-open the Titanic.
My wife put in the online order for Mongolian beef, and I arrived ready to speed the delivery home before it cooled. But when I arrived, I found a backlogged line of Doordash drivers, an open kitchen of panicking cooks, and a floor worked by apologetic servers, each with that dead-eyed look Id seen behind my grocery store deli counter. Rather than fume or fuss, I stood there for an hour (OK, I also had a drink at the bar) and watched this calamity play itself out.
What I witnessed was the convergence of several things, each of which promised convenience and a pleasant consumer experience online ordering, curbside pickup, apps for reservations, apps for delivery but when brought together with short staffing and just-in-time logistics resulted in disaster.
And thats the thing thats become common in American consumer culture. Too many corporations have turned staffing decisions over to algorithms, as Inc. magazine editor Bill Saporito recently wrote in the New York Times. Companies have set the dials to maximize profits at the cost of customer experience and employee satisfaction. Its a phenomenon Saporito witnessed at Starbucks, where drink combinations might soon outnumber the stars in the observable universe.
This is a problem Starbucks shares with many companies drugstores, cosmetics outlets, airline check-in counters that have decided that, should the algorithm get the scheduling wrong, they would rather risk having too little labor on hand than too much, he wrote. Pity that theres no accounting entry for lost revenues from customers who walked away.
To the companies making these decisions, its a matter of math 10 grumpy customers is better than five happy ones and thats good enough to please shareholders. No app, no technological innovation will solve this problem.
But something here is being lost, something that cant be quantified on a balance sheet or managed by AI the joy of fulfilling work, the simple pleasure of a happy customer experience.
And the taste of a perfectly sliced piece of smoked turkey passed between two people happy to be there.
A work release inmate was struck by a vehicle and seriously injured Thursday morning in Morgan County.
Priceville police said the incident happened at about 7:20 a.m. near the edge of Alabama 67, in the 600 block.
The inmate, taking part in a work crew, was struck by a passing vehicle.
The Morgan County Sheriffs Office identified the inmate as James Earl Bright, 58. According to authorities, Bright was alert when being transported to the hospital.
According to police, he was airlifted to a medical facility with severe injuries.
Sheriffs investigators responded to the scene to gather details. Priceville police is investigating the incident.
The driver of the vehicle involved was not injured.
It is unclear if any charges will result.
Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice and erstwhile U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore was too late in filing an appeal of his dismissed libel lawsuit against the Washington Examiner, a federal appeals court panel ruled Wednesday.
Moore sued the Examiner, three of its writers, its editors and owners for $40 million in 2020, claiming the outlet defamed him when Examiner columnist Tiana Lowe Doescher wrote in 2019: Roy Moore, famous for being banned from a mall because he sexually preyed on underage girls and losing a Senate race in an R+14 state, apparently wants another round at the rodeo.
The article, Moore claimed, also called him an accused sexual assailant and pedophile as well as a comic book villain and a skunk.
The lawsuit had already been dismissed twice before Moore filed his latest appeal in May.
But a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, which oversees appeals of federal cases in Alabama, determined Moore was too late in filing his appeal.
Moore had 30 days from the April 3 final judgment dismissing the case to file the appeal, meaning he had to file it by May 3, according to the ruling.
But Moores notice of appeal was filed in an untimely manner, the panel decided.
The lawsuit was one of several Moore filed in the wake of his shocking defeat to Democrat Doug Jones in deep-red Alabama in the 2017 special election to replace former Sen. Jeff Sessions.
During the campaign, Moore was dogged by allegations of sexual misconduct involving girls as young as 16 years old decades before.
Moore denied the allegations and claimed they were malicious and timed to undermine his candidacy, coming in the final weeks of the campaign for the December 2017 special election.
In a related case, last week the Alabama Supreme Court affirmed a lower court ruling in another defamation case lodged by Moore.
The state Supreme Court upheld rulings from the Etowah County Circuit Court dismissing Moores defamation claims against Deborah Wesson Gibson and Richard Hagedorn. The lawsuit accused Gibson and Hagedorn of promoting a conspiracy to spread false rumors.
The Supreme Court also upheld the lower courts rulings dismissing counterclaims by Hagedorn against Moore, Moores Senate campaign, Janet Porter, a spokeswoman for the campaign, and Herring Networks Inc.
English News China contributes wisdom, strength to addressing global development challenges
Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 4 Septembre 2024
"Global South" is an important force in promoting world peace and development. As a member of the "Global South," China will continue to deepen South-South cooperation, enhance the voice and influence of the "Global South" in international affairs, and work together with all parties to actively implement GDI. It will promote deeper and more substantial international development cooperation, contribute wisdom and strength to addressing global development challenges, and make greater contributions to making global development more robust, greener, and healthier.
By Yu Zirong Development is a timeless theme for humanity. As the largest developing country, China has always been an active contributor to global development, providing new opportunities to the world through its own progress.
China has put forward initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative (GDI), actively promoting international development cooperation to higher quality and levels. This demonstrates China's strong sense of responsibility as a major country in deepening South-South cooperation and promoting global development.
Since Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, China has provided training to over 100,000 professionals from more than 120 Belt and Road partner countries and helped lift nearly 40 million people out of poverty.
In recent years, through mechanisms such as the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, the China-UN Peace and Development Fund, the South-South Cooperation Fund on Climate Change, and the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, China has continuously increased resource input, optimized cooperation methods, and expanded financing channels to support the common development of countries.
A large number of infrastructure projects, such as the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge and the New Gwadar International Airport in Pakistan, have been successfully implemented.
Additionally, small-scale yet impactful projects like Juncao technology, hybrid rice production, the Luban Workshop, the Access to Satellite TV for 10,000 African Villages Project, and the "Bright Journey" Program of cataract surgery have become well-known brands.
These projects have significantly improved the livelihoods of local communities and empowered the economic and social development of the respective countries, and have been welcomed by developing countries.
In recent years, multiple crises have converged, with global economic growth slowing down and the development agenda facing setbacks. The implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has been progressing slowly.
Faced with the deepening uncertainty in global development prospects, Xi has put forward the GDI, emphasizing the importance of common development for all humanity and actively bringing development back to the center of the international agenda.
The GDI aims to accelerate the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, focusing on the most urgent livelihood needs of developing countries.
Drawing on its historic achievements in poverty alleviation, China shares its experience and provides poverty reduction solutions to other developing countries. It has established agricultural technology demonstration centers to help address food crises. It has built low-carbon demonstration zones to help other developing countries tackle climate crises and achieve green and low-carbon development. China mobilizes resources from various parties to contribute to the global development fund, with Chinese financial institutions launching a $10 billion special fund specifically for the implementation of the GDI.
Currently, China is comprehensively advancing 32 practical measures to implement the GDI, with over 500 projects completed or underway, injecting new impetus into addressing the global development deficit.
Under the guidance of the GDI, China is taking concrete actions to promote the building of a global community of development with a shared future and enhance the effectiveness of development cooperation among all parties, so as to achieve common development that benefits all of humanity.
China will continue to actively contribute to improving global development governance, further leveraging platforms and mechanisms such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, and the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Forum.
It will strengthen cooperation with international organizations, regional organizations, and financial institutions, and mobilize government, business, and social forces to participate in international development cooperation.
"Global South" is an important force in promoting world peace and development. As a member of the "Global South," China will continue to deepen South-South cooperation, enhance the voice and influence of the "Global South" in international affairs, and work together with all parties to actively implement GDI. It will promote deeper and more substantial international development cooperation, contribute wisdom and strength to addressing global development challenges, and make greater contributions to making global development more robust, greener, and healthier.
(Yu Zirong is the deputy director of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce.)
Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
English News Trade facilitation propels China-Africa economic and trade cooperation
Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 2 Septembre 2024
The unimpeded China-Africa trade will create more new opportunities for African countries' economic and social development, contributing to the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.
By Jia Pingfan, People's Daily In the early morning at a flower farm in Kenya, freshly harvested roses, with dewdrops clinging to their petals, were ready to be shipped. In 48 hours, they would be put onto the shelves of the Hunan Gaoqiao Grand Market, Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan province half a world away.
At the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in November last year, China announced the establishment of a "green channel" for African countries' agricultural products entering China.
According to Clement Tulezi, chief executive officer of the Kenya Flower Council (KFC), the "green channel" has helped shorten the time for inspection and quarantine and expand the exemption from customs duty, creating more market opportunities for Kenyan flowers and featured farm produce from other African countries, such as avocado, citrus and pineapple.
In recent years, African products have become increasingly popular in the Chinese market following the implementation of trade facilitation measures between China and Africa. Essential oil from Madagascar, gems from Zambia, coffee from Ethiopia, wood sculptures from Zimbabwe, wine from South Africa and cosmetics from Senegal are sought after by Chinese consumers.
Under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), China-Africa economic and trade cooperation has maintained strong vitality and achieved fruitful outcomes.
China has remained Africa's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years. According to statistics released by China's Ministry of Commerce, China-Africa trade reached a record high of $282.1 billion in 2023, up 1.5 percent year on year.
Apart from the record-breaking trade volume, the China-Africa trade structure has also improved, highlighted by China's surging agricultural imports from Africa. Last year, China's imports of African nuts, vegetables, flowers and fruits increased by 130 percent, 32 percent, 14 percent and 7 percent, respectively, compared to the previous year.
Besides, mechanical and electronic products have maintained a major force in China's exports to Africa. The rapid growth in China's exports of the three major tech-intensive green products, namely the "new three" - new energy vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic products, has offered strong support for Africa's green energy transition.
What sustains the vitality of China-Africa trade?
The high complementarity between Chinese and African economies has laid a solid foundation for trade and economic cooperation.
Such complementarity is manifested in a wide range of areas including industrial cooperation, technical assistance, market potential and human resource collaboration, be it in agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing or service sectors.
While working to synergize development strategies, China and Africa have constantly unleashed their development requirements, providing stronger momentum for economic and trade cooperation. While Africa's high-quality agricultural products and rich minerals reach the Chinese market, China is bringing to the African continent new technologies and business models in trade logistics, digital economy, clean energy, health, green development and finance.
The continuous efforts to promote trade facilitation between China and Africa are injecting momentum into trade and economic cooperation.
With the official establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area, enhancing trade cooperation with China has become a consensus of African countries. Meanwhile, China is working to expand the channels for African products entering the Chinese market.
As of June 2023, 16 types of agricultural products from 11 African countries have accessed China through the "green channel," and 21 African countries have benefited from China's elimination of tariffs on 98 percent of their taxable products.
Apart from globally oriented exhibitions such as the China International Import Expo and the China International Consumer Products Expo, China has specifically built platforms for African countries including the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, to enhance the market reputation of African products.
Trade development relies on well-developed transport infrastructure. In recent years, China and Africa have witnessed remarkable achievements in their infrastructure cooperation, which have significantly boosted trade facilitation between the two sides.
So far, Chinese companies have built and upgraded more than 10,000 kilometers of railways, nearly 100,000 kilometers of highways, nearly 1,000 bridges, roughly 100 ports, and a large number of hospitals and schools in Africa. A number of signature projects and "small yet smart" livelihood programs have been launched by Chinese companies in Africa's transport, energy, power, housing and livelihood sectors.
The continuously improving regional connectivity in Africa has greatly boosted the continent's economic development and propelled China-Africa economic and trade cooperation.
China and Africa are constantly expanding their areas of cooperation, from traditional trade and engineering projects to emerging sectors such as digital economy, green development, aerospace and finance.
Thanks to a branding program launched by China, chili pepper and other exports to China from Rwanda have enjoyed brand incubation and customized packaging services, thus embracing a high-end development path. In Kenya, a high-yielding maize variety bred with Chinese technologies in a demonstration field reported a yield 50 percent higher than that in surrounding area. Besides, China has signed civil air transport agreements with 27 African countries, and built and launched communication and meteorological satellites for countries including Algeria and Nigeria.
The emerging areas, business forms and models have led to wide-ranging, multi-level and high-quality China-Africa cooperation. China has always been at the forefront of international cooperation with Africa.
The unimpeded China-Africa trade will create more new opportunities for African countries' economic and social development, contributing to the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.
Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
Every day, more information comes out arguing against the government narrative that a lone wolf attack lies behind the assassination attempt against President Donald Trump. The Biden Administrations feeble attempts through surrogates to deflect and deny have become standard and boring. The variations are endless but the content is the same:
I cant comment at this time until we have more information.
I cant comment at this time until all the reports are in.
I will have to get back to you on that.
I cant comment on an ongoing investigation.
Shortly after the shooting, a video surfaced showing a Canadian sniper unhesitatingly saying that the assassin did not act alone. Former Secret Service Agent Christopher McClenic said its impossible that Trumps security detail wouldnt have noticed the rooftop from which the gunman fired. He also said agents would have conducted walkthroughs before that Saturdays event, during which they would have stood at the podium location and looked for rooftops or other areas of concern. Per McClenic:
That said, I find it impossible to believe that a Secret Service agent, a supervisor, no one did not notice that the site, that area needed to be covered.
Bodycam footage from local police revealed that their requests to the Secret Service for more manpower went unheeded:
A local police officer is pacing in frustration and can be heard saying, I f*cking told them that they needed to post guys f*cking over there. Another officer responds to him, asking, Told who? The local officer said, The Secret Service, I told them that f*cking Tuesday. Someone responded, I thought you guys were supposed to do it. The local officer answered No, were inside. He added, I told them to post f*cking guys over there.
Lori Levi, a merchandiser who says shes attended all but ten of Trumps rallies, noticed major security lapses in both the setup and layout at the Butler rally:
I had a terrible feeling. I knew something was wrong. I kept waiting for them to fix the basic security problems, since there was a direct line-of-sight to President Trump. [snip] I knew something was wrong the day before when I came to set up in Butler, Pennsylvania. They werent blocking the line of sight like they have in every other location. Typically they would put cranes or heavy machinery, in the way to block a clear line-of-sight to Trump as a security protocol. I kept thinking that his security detail was going to bring it in later, but they never did.
Following the shooting, the Secret Service immediately tried shifting blame onto local law enforcement. Fraternal Order of Police President Patrick Yoes was not having it. This is a failure at the management or command level who failed to secure an obvious weakness. He further warned against Secret Service efforts to push blame down to local police for failing to secure the rooftop used by the shooter.
Another revelation was that the gunman was on authorities radar for more than 90 minutes before firing, information revealed in text messages between members of the Beaver County Service Unit. At 5:38 PM, 22 minutes before Trump took the stage, a counter-sniper took photos of the gunman and shared them in a group chat. Another officer texted that they should tell the Secret Service about the suspicious person with a range finder through which he was looking toward the stage.
Local law enforcement offered surveillance drones to the Secret Service. The Secret Service declined the offer.
This was also the first rally for which the Secret Service used snipers. Thats rather strange, given the otherwise lax security. Suspicious minds could easily believe that the counter-snipers, certainly unwittingly, existed to silence the shooter, not to stop him.
Immediately after the shooting, the FBI took control of the investigation. Within three days, they had scrubbed the rooftop from which the shooter fired. There is no more crime scene.
Within ten days of the July 13 shooting, the would-be assassins body was cremated. Now, both the body and the crime scene no longer exist. The FBI justified this by citing local Butler County law but we all know they could easily have retained it by claiming national security concerns.
Congressman Clay Higgins has tried to investigate the facts, but hes been stymied by both the FBI and the Butler County coroner. The day after the shooting, the medical examiner identified the shooter. However, no law enforcement official was there to take notes and confirm that the procedure was done properly. Moreover, because the autopsy was under Butler County jurisdiction, the next of kin control whether to release information. This clashes with state law:
But, and this is a very big but, Pennsylvania is one of 21 states that make the release of the autopsy mandatory. From Pennsylvania state law:
It shall be the duty of the coroner or the deputy coroner of any county in this Commonwealth, in all cases where death is sudden or violent or is of a suspicious nature and character, to cause a careful investigation of the facts concerning said death to be made, to ascertain whether the death was due to other than natural causes, and to make or cause to be made such an autopsy as the facts of the case may demand.
So why is every government official from the Feds down to state and local county officials failing to comply with the law? Maybe because theyve all got something to hide.
Former Secret Service agent Chris McClenic says its reasonable to believe that the rooftop from which the shooter fired was deliberately left open. If thats true, one must ask whether this was done hoping that an assassin would show up or knowing that one would.
My theory is that events on July 13 can be compared to the false claim that right-wing extremists were plotting to kill Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The truth was that the FBI hatched and put together the entire plot. Agents encouraged angry, disaffected people to do something they otherwise would not have done without the FBIs influence.
I suspect the same is true for the 20-year-old would-be assassin who suddenly appeared to kill Trump, only for newly assigned snipers instantly to kill him. Most of the players were pawns, of course. For the plan to succeed, only a few key people needed to act. And if you think Im too conspiratorial, the Secret Service refused to provide Congress with a list of all agents assigned to the protection detail that day. The FBI is now in charge and says it cannot provide any information on an ongoing investigation.
Every day, more information about the attempted assassination emerges. There remain many questions, including whether there was a second gunman. Maybe. There is not enough information available to thoroughly analyze. However, enough information exists to cast doubt on the FBI narrative of a lone 20-year-old outmaneuvering the Secret Service, Pennsylvania State Police, and local Butler officers.
Prominent attorney Alan Dershowitz went on record in April saying Democrats want President Trump dead.
On July 8, only five days before the shooting, President Joe Biden himself called for targeting his political opponent, former President Trump.
Biden got his wish.
What Americans wish for is to know the truth!
Image: X screen grab.
Did you know that prior to Israels Declaration of Independence on May 15, 1948, that Gaza was part of the Palestine Mandate and the Jews were entitled to sovereignty over it?
UN General Assembly resolution 181 in 1947 divided the mandate land into two states; one for the Arabs and one for the Jews. It was called the Partition Plan. This plan was in violation of right of the Jews to all the land as provided by the San Remo Resolution and the Palestine Mandate.
Israels Declaration of Independence pertained to the land allocated to Jews. The Arabs made no such declaration and chose war instead, They were joined by Jordan, Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon in an effort to annihilate Israel. An armistice could not be achieved until Israel turned the tables and started winning territory from the Arabs.
The Arabs decided to cut their losses and agreed to an armistice on February 12, 1949 in which they formally ended the hostilities of the 1948 ArabIsraeli War and also demarcated the Green Line, which separated Arab-controlled territory (i.e., the Jordanian-annexed West Bank and the Egyptian-occupied Gaza Strip) from Israel until the latter's victory in the 1967 ArabIsraeli War.
It was agreed that the Green Line was not to be construed in any sense as a political or territorial boundary, and is delineated without prejudice to rights, claims and positions of either Party to the Armistice as regards ultimate "settlement of the Palestine question".
"David Ben-Gurions Forgotten 1948 Land of Israel Proclamation for the Annexation of Judea and Samaria" by Howard Grief included the following:
Area of Jurisdiction and Powers Ordinance enacted on September 16, 1948 by the Provisional State Council and promulgated on September 22, 1948, but made retroactive to May 15, 1948, the date on which the Jewish state was reborn. This law, sometimes called Ben-Gurions law, was used by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion in his capacity as Defense Minister of the State to annex areas of the Jewish National Home and Land of Israel recaptured beyond the frontiers demarcated in the UN Partition Plan of November 29, 1947. This was legally required to be done in June 1967, at the end of the Six Day War." [Emphasis added.]
In the spring of 1967, the Arab countries, led by Gamel Abdul Nasser of Egypt, decided to finish what they failed to finish in 1949. They began massing troops on Israels border, notwithstanding the Armistice Agreement,
But to their dismay, Israel pre-empted and defeated Egypt, Jordan, and Syria in six days. Thus Israel came into possession of all lands west of the Jordan River, including Gaza. As a bonus, she acquired the Golan Heights from Syria. President Trump recognized Israels sovereignty over same.
However, the National Unity Government of Levi Eshkol did not apply Ben-Gurions law aiming to bring all such areas freed in the Six Day War within the framework of the State. It decided instead, almost three weeks after the end of the Six Day War, to draft an amendment to an existing law, Section 11B of the Law and Administration Ordinance, that was enacted by the Knesset on June 27, 1967 and promulgated the next day. This amendment to the law, non-existent on June 7, 1967, when Judea and Samaria were repossessed and liberated by the IDF, gave the Government a choice whether or not to incorporate these areas of the Land of Israel into the State, while Ben-Gurions law left no choice as to what had to be done once the Minister of Defense defined in a proclamation that a particular area of the Land of Israel was being held by Israels Army.
Grief concluded:
The uncritical acceptance or lack of protest by any respected Israeli jurist in 1967 and in the ensuing decades against the issuance of the aforementioned military proclamations by Brigadier-General Herzog for Judea and Samaria that applied international law (i.e., the Hague Regulations and also the Fourth Geneva Convention) instead of Israeli law, as well as those proclamations issued for Gaza, the Golan and Sinai, is not only deeply shameful and scandalous, but also exposes an amazing ignorance of Israels legal rights and title of sovereignty to the whole of the Land of Israel and Palestine under both international law and Israeli constitutional law.
UN Security Council Resolution 242 authorized Israel to remain in possession of all lands conquered until they had an agreement for secure and recognized boundaries. These lands included Gaza.
And so it remained until 2005.
In February 2005, the Knesset passed the Disengagement Plan Implementation Law pursuant to which PM Ariel Sharon disengaged from Gaza.
The disengagement was conducted unilaterally by Israel. In particular, Israel rejected any coordination or orderly handover to the Palestinian Authority. Despite the disengagement, the Gaza Strip is still considered to be occupied under international law.
If it is occupied, then we possess it.
And so it remained, until Oct 7, 2023 when Hamas invaded Israel and killed 1,139 people, including 815 civilians. A further 251 persons were taken hostage during the initial attack on Israel to the Gaza Strip.
Israel went to war against Hamas and is now in possession of all of Gaza, though there remain pockets of resistance.
By international law, Israel has the right to annex Gaza as she acquired it in a war of self-defense. But does she want it? She certainly doesnt want to annex it all and thus have to give citizenship to all its Arab residents. Nor does she want to take on the world and expel all Gazans from the land, though that would be a great idea.
According to UNRWA, over 70% of Gaza's population are Palestinian refugees. That is 1.7 million people out of a population of approximately 2.1 million.
Assuming for the moment that Israel isnt prepared to deport the Gazans, she could certainly annex the northern one-third of Gaza or perhaps the northern one-half of Gaza i.e. everything north of the Netzarim Corridor.
Starting wars have consequences and the loss of such lands would be what Gazans lose for doing so. It should not be cost-free.
Image: Library of Congress/CIA
Houston Chronicle columnist Joy Sewing with her late boxer Ava. Jill Karnicki Houston Chronicle Columnist Joy Sewing appears with her rescue boxer dog, Ava, for Interfaith Ministries of Houston's annual pet fashion show and luncheon to benefit AniMeals. Interfaith Ministries Houston Chronicle columnist Joy Sewing appears with her rescue boxer Ava at Neiman Marcus in San Antonio to debut her children's book,"Ava and the Prince," in 2019. Joy Sewing
Regarding: One last kiss for Ava, a superstar dog both in my book and in my life,"(Sept 1): Thank you, Joy Sewing, for such a heartfelt and emotional article. It was very timely, as I had to put my boxer to sleep, for the same reason as Ava, exactly four years ago.
It brought back memories of my dog Tyson, who was full of energy, had a dorky smile due to a few missing teeth, and sloppy lips with mouth drooling at the sound of cracking eggs or the smell of chicken. We called him an obedience school dropout as he didnt care to learn anything and ignored the trainer completely. He had a mind of his own, though. He knew exactly which directions to follow. Everyone in the neighborhood knew him, as his walks were no less than hilarious acrobatics. He would acknowledge every single creature that he came across.
After 10 joyful years, he developed a bump on his forehead that grew rapidly. During surgery, the vet discovered cancer that had spread too far for recovery. It was very difficult to let him be put to sleep. We bid Tyson a very tearful goodbye, praying that hed go to heaven and wed have him in our lives again as a reincarnation. After a long hard day, Tysons slobbering kisses were like a magical balm.
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With so much focus on politics, politicians and negativities, we heartily appreciate articles and essays that are both entertaining and informative. Joy, keep writing those stories that are so close to many of our hearts.
Asha Hooda, Houston
I thought I was over my grief for the dog I lost on July 2 of this year. Yet it is true, as Joy Sewing wrote of her loss, that the hurt you feel is an unyielding pain. And I do not regret that, upon reading the beautiful words of this column, my tears resumed.
David A. Jones, Houston
I enjoyed your tribute to Ava, your superstar dog. We also had an Ava. Zippy passed this year from a brain tumor diagnosed at Gulf Coast Veterinary Clinic.
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When I was growing up, my family had a fawn boxer named Bimbo. After my father died, when my mother could no longer live alone, she moved in with me and wanted a dog. I got Zippy, an energetic fawn boxer puppy. Yes, a boxer puppy for my mother, who walked with a cane at times and was almost 90 years old.
One could not have chosen a more protective and loving dog. Zippy would never jump on my mother, and if she were not feeling well, Zippy would never leave her side. Zippy loved to play rough with me and was a chewer, but she was a sleep mate to my mother. Zippys brown eyes gave her away at times, but who could be angry at those beautiful eyes?
She, like our first boxer, was protective toward the entire family. After my mother passed, Zippy stayed waiting for her each night for several months. She gradually understood our mother was not coming home, but that she still had us.
Zippy had numerous health issues, including four mast cell tumors with a recurrence, hemangiosarcoma, then a brain tumor at the end. She passed away in May at 11 and a half years old. We spent thousands of dollars on veterinary care, and I would do it again. I sent some of Zippys ashes to a friend in Evansville and placed Zippys remains at our parents headstone on National Dog Day.
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Deb Zygmunt, Missouri City
Lets trot out this cliche one more time: The 2024 presidential election is the most consequential in our nations history. Well, maybe, but its certainly the most consequential since 1860. That election blew apart the republic. Whether or not the 2024 election detonates the good ol U.S. of A. is TBD.
In 1860, Abe Lincoln, the Republican nominee, campaigned against the expansion of slavery. Thats right. He opposed slaverys expansion, not its abolition. He argued that the peculiar institution was constitutionally protected in the states where it existed. He was right. Lincoln was trying to get elected and hold the nation together. He failed in the latter.
As it was, the Democrats, being Democrats, lied. They charged that Lincoln would abolish slavery upon assuming office. Isnt it wondrous how history approximates? Now, Kamala Harris charges ad nauseum that Donald Trump will enact a national abortion ban should he capture the White House. He will not. Trumps position is definitive: the abortion question must be settled by the people in the states. In fact, where abortion referenda have appeared on state ballots, pro-abortion forces have fared better than pro-life factions. Thats complicating Harris narrative that abortion rights can only be protected nationally.
The lie about Lincoln wanting slavery abolished had some bite. To borrow from Mark Twain, in 1860, the Democrats lie traveled across the Union before the truth had a chance to put its boots on. Had the Party of Jackson not splintered over how to handle the slavery question -- had they united behind Stephen Douglas -- Lincoln would have lost. He certainly would have been crushed in the popular vote.
Democrats arent split on abortion like their forerunners were on handling slavery. Most favor blank check abortion thats guaranteed by Washington. Harris problem isnt the issue. Her problem is Trump. Hes making it difficult for Harris to credibly charge that hes out to impose a pro-life regime on women. Her bigger problem, unrelated to abortion, is that like Stephen Douglas, shes burdened by a Democrat presidents failures. While Douglas wasnt James Buchanans vice president, as his partys standard-bearer, he was saddled with Buchanans baggage.
Recently, Trump voiced concerns about Florida law limiting abortions to six weeks as too short a period. Claimed the Los Angeles Times back in 2021, most voters are OK with a 15-week limit, which is likely what Trump is in step with. He has come out against a pro-abortion amendment to Floridas constitution that would permit abortion up to the point of viability, which is generally estimated to be around 24 weeks of pregnancy. Corporate media is making a fuss. They mean to embroil Trump in an abortion-related controversy to help Harris campaign.
By endorsing the U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs decision, Trump has carved out room for himself to address issues that resonate as much with abortion-backing women as they do with most working class and middle-income wage earners. Top-of-mind, the cost of groceries, gas, and utilities, not to mention rents and mortgages.
Trump positioning on abortion is forcing Harris campaign to buy truckloads of advertising hoping to spook women. As with the black vote, Trump doesnt need a majority of pro-abortion women to support him. He needs to siphon off enough support to reduce abortion as a factor in swing states.
A recent ABC News/Ipsos poll suggests that women are coalescing around Harris. The poll is of registered, not likely, voters. Polls have been notoriously inaccurate since 2016. Landlines are almost extinct. Finding respondents has become difficult. Many voters decline to participate. Some may misrepresent their positions given their hesitancy to identify as voting Trump. Does abortion really matter more than paying bills?
Back in 1860, most voters rejected abolishing slavery. Ending its expansion went far enough for non-southerners. Voters dont want to end abortion, but they dont want it given a blank check either. Many will entertain limits -- no abortions past 15 weeks, no late-term abortion.
Trump would commit political harakiri by not embracing the Dobbs decision. Ironically, on abortion, Trump has adopted a variation of Stephen Douglas popular sovereignty doctrine. It works politically now.
Harris is adamantly hostile to life issues. If shes elected, efforts will be made to enshrine abortion as a national right. The ACLU has published a roadmap (August 6) for a Harris administration to secure federal abortion protection once and for all.
When we talk about protecting innocent human life, thats broader than lives in the womb, as rightly compelling as the latter is. With Harris in the White House fronting the same cabal that Biden does, the threats to our welfare, liberty, and lives grow. If you care to deep-dive the damage done to all three since Biden assumed office, and apprise yourself of the mounting risks, dip into Victor Davis Hansons library of tour de force analyses at his website, Blade of Perseus.
We face the prospect of major wars erupting in not one region, but three, across the globe: Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. In Washington, theres still glib talk about the feasibility of limited nuclear war. The Science and Security Board at the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has the Doomsday Clock set at 90 seconds to midnight.
Bidens handlers ripped open the southern border for narrow political gain. Theyre flooding the nation with millions of illegals, among whom are untold numbers of criminals. Anyone remember Laken Riley? What about the Venezuelan gangs that are menacing citizens in Aurora, Colorado?
Among the illegals are terrorists and, surely, enemy saboteurs. Terrorists kill to instill fear and panic. Saboteurs -- likely military professionals or professionally trained -- destroy critical infrastructure and kill to achieve military objectives. According to Newsweek, August 5:
U.S. Border Patrol encountered over 250 migrants who were on the terrorist watchlist over a two-year stretch, with at least 99 of them released into the country, according to a Congressional report released Monday.
In Great Britian, the government is weighing changes to its Online Safety Act that would punish social media outlets for speech it disapproves. Arrests, related to the recent antiimmigrant protests and disturbances, have been made of social media users and others, charging hate speech or incitement or whatever can be cooked up. Londons detestable police chief Sir Mark Rowley has even threatened to arrest social media posters overseas for alleged violations of British law. What lessons are Democrats drawing from the Brits?
In Brazil, Alexandre de Moraes, the chief justice of Brazils Supreme Court is strongarming social media enterprises to comply with the governments censorship regimen or face fines, arrests, and closures. Elon Musk refuses to comply. Independent journalist Michael Shellenberger dropped this bombshell: "The Biden administration and Democrats have played an influential role in instigating censorship in Brazil[.]"
Our liberties are being imperiled in ways that would make a just resolution to abortion (guaranteed protections afforded the unborn to life) impossible. What once seemed fantastic doesnt anymore: the elite, despite their pro-democracy rhetoric, aim to impose some form of tyranny on us. You can bet abortion will be enshrined as bedrock law, and opponents who speak out and assemble in opposition will risk arrests.
In fact, its happening already. Ask 89-year-old Eva Edl, whos been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for violating the FACE Act. As she told Glenn Beck, she expects to die in prison for peaceful protesting abortion.
If youre pro-life, do you really have a serious reason not to vote for Trump?
J. Robert Smith can be found at X. His handle is @JRobertSmith1. At Gab, @JRobertSmith. He blogs occasionally at Flyover .
Image: Robert Marshall Root
Something just doesnt add up in the ascension of Kamala Harris to the Democrat partys presidential nomination. A key link is missing in the chain of events.
Consider the facts of the case:
(1) By no means was Harris the first draft choice to grab the nomination, having failed to distinguish herself as a presidential candidate in 2020 or subsequently as Vice President.
(2) Within minutes of Joe Bidens withdrawal from the race, she received his endorsement and was anointed as the putative nominee.
(3) Quotations attributed to Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama have appeared in the press expressing, in retrospect, a preference for having had an open convention, or, in Pelosis reputed words, a mini-primary.
How do we square (1) and (2), especially in light of (3)?
Image: Kamala Harris. YouTube screen grab (edited)
Heres my theory:
The first phase of the replacement intrigue is practically indisputable. Pelosi and Obama, in concert perhaps with Hillary Clinton and major party donors, arranged for intermediaries within the White House to goad Biden into debating his Republican opponent, Donald Trump, in July.
As expected, the incumbents performance was dismal. Biden, however, would not quit, believing that he would do better in the next debate.
His stubborn refusal led to phase two, the threatened use of the 25th Amendment. What does the amendment say?
Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
The process requires the Vice Presidents active participation.
One of the party honchos, lets say Pelosi for arguments sake, consequently got in touch with Harris. We need you, she said, on the phone call or in the room with Biden. All you have to do is say youre prepared to initiate the removal process if he doesnt back out of the election.
What happens next? Kamala asked.
Well, well hold an open convention, a mini-primary.
No, Harris said.
What do you mean no?
I mean either I get the nomination or no 25th amendment.
But Kamala, you can compete in the open convention with Whitmer, Gavin, Pritzker, or anyone else.
Nothing doing.
The ghost of Joe Biden could hardly withstand the scrutiny of the campaign, much less function as chief executive for the next four years. But only a plausible threat of removal would persuade him to withdraw. Harris was indispensable to that threat. She knew it and held out for what she wanted.
Do you see the implications of this? If my analysis is correct, then the woman who would be commander-in-chief is so selfish a creature as to have allowed her party to enter the election with a discredited, incapacitated nominee had she not gotten her way.
Thats what shes really like.
Can I prove any of this in a court of law? No, not without taped conversations or witness testimony. But I predict that should Harris lose, you will hear rumblings from Pelosi and Obama more or less corroborating what Ive just written.
Meanwhile, take another look at the three facts posited above and review my theory of the case. As my favorite fictional detective, Nick Charles of Thin Man renown, would say, Its the only way any of this makes sense.
There are core cultural stories we keep in our minds, waiting for life to prove them true. For example, seeing the unaware gal adorned wearing the clothes of the Emperor or the hyperbolic guy finally struck by sky. It pleases me to say that Democrats, Progressives, and Liberals (DPLs) have finally given life to one such taleand it doesnt reflect well on them.
Heres the recognizable story:
One dark night, a police officer came upon a man who was frantically searching for something under a streetlight. What have you lost? the officer asked the man. My keys. I dropped them somewhere across the street, responded the man as he crawled around and examined every inch. So why are you searching here? asked the police officer. Well, this is where the light is, came the mans reply. This storyor joke, depending on how its toldhas taken many forms over many decades, dating back to the 1920s. In most versions, the searching man has had a bit to drink, which only highlights the folly of his searching for keys in a place they cant possibly be. Today, the streetlight effect is often cited in science circles, when researchers are cautioned not to pursue their inquiries only in clear, visible areas of study, but to look to hidden, unexplored places for the truth. In other words, if we are serious about finding the true solution to any problem, we need to be prepared to look for it wherever it may be hiding.
DPLs have proven in the past few years that they are the drunkards searching in all the wrong places for answers to problems whose solutions are obvious.
Here are a couple of examples.
Gun Violence. DPLs claim to support common sense gun control. Their proposals include:
Forgetting the issues associated with the phantom concept of assault weapons and the constitutional issues associated with Red Flag Laws and other weaknesses associated with the above approaches to seizing or penalizing legally obtained guns by law-abiding citizens, the fact is that available studies suggest that the majority of gun violence, particularly homicides, is committed with firearms that are not legally owned.
Adding more laws that impose greater restrictions on law-abiding citizens does not address the matter of guns obtained illegally. The obvious solution is to address illegally obtained weapons and the law-breakers who get them. It is, simply, a manifestation of the streetlight effect, which sees DPLs going to the light instead of where the problem is.
Violence in Gaza. Recently, Poseur Biden blamed Bibi Netanyahu, PM of Israel, for not doing enough to secure the release of hostages seized on October 7, 2023. Further, Poseur Biden and VP Kamala Harris have specifically called out Israel for causing the discomfort currently experienced by the Gazan Muslims.
The above, even though Hamas has, to date, rejected all ceasefire and hostage release proposals.
As with gun control, the terrorists, like the outlaws, are uncontrollable by Biden/Harris and DPLs. This Administration provides military aid to Israel, which it can control. This Administration provided military aid to the terrorists, which it cannot control, thanks to the Afghanistan withdrawal debacle and the Talibans distribution of US military equipment.
Dealing definitively with the terrorists is the obvious solution.
Instead, the Administration pressures Israel. Streetlight Effect.
These are but two examples. The same extends to the economy (e.g., price gouging), education (e.g., underfunded schools), etc.
The pursuit of the Streetlight Effect will never result in solutions. There is no way that the DPLs will ever improve any situation in the USA, much of which the DPLs caused.
A vote for Harris is, without a doubt, wasted if you want problems solved.
Image by AI.
Amazons Alexa just proved shes well and truly reflective of the political gender gap. When asked, Why should I vote for Trump?, her response was a boilerplate I cannot provide responses that endorse any political party or its leader.
When asked why someone should vote for Kamala Harris, she suddenly became verbose in her glowing praise, citing many reasons, including the fact that Harris is a woman of color fighting racial injustice.
This blatant A.I.-driven bias is unsurprising, but there are more insidious forms fabricated by outdated and corrupted data.
I dont interact with chatty Alexa, so I turned to Googles A.I. app Gemini with trepidation, inquiring, Does artificial intelligence bias favor liberals?
Geminis response was, The short answer is: yes, there's evidence that AI can exhibit a bias towards liberal viewpoints. Then Gemini listed several factors that contribute to liberal bias, including:
The data used to train AI models often reflects societal biases. If the data contains more liberal perspectives, the AI model is likely to learn and replicate those biases.
Developer Bias: The developers of AI systems may introduce their own biases into the models, either intentionally or unintentionally.
Algorithmic Bias: The algorithms used in AI systems can sometimes amplify existing biases in the data.
Developer and algorithmic biases are self-evident the liberal mindset of the big tech companies and their employees, including the political candidates they contribute to, are well documented. But if the data used for training their models had more integrity, it would limit the leverage of developers and their algorithms to disseminate disinformation into the digital town square.
Unlike Alexa, Gemini is a bit more reticent, refusing to be goaded into discussions about elections or political figures. So, in order to get a sense of the data it mines, I prompted it with a simple request: describe liberals. Here are the responses, which must have been conjured from biased and outmoded data, since they are more reflective of classical liberalism than todays demented Dem version. The bolded items are particularly deceptive, as I explain below:
Individual rights : Liberals prioritize individual liberties, such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly.
: Liberals prioritize individual liberties, such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly. Equality : They advocate for equality of opportunity and oppose discrimination based on factors like race, gender, sexual orientation, and religion.
: They advocate for equality of opportunity and oppose discrimination based on factors like race, gender, sexual orientation, and religion. Economic liberalism : While liberals may support some government regulation, they generally advocate for free markets and limited government interference in economic affairs.
: While liberals may support some government regulation, they generally advocate for free markets and limited government interference in economic affairs. Social progress: Liberals often support social reforms, including same-sex marriage, abortion rights, and policies aimed at reducing poverty and inequality.
Environmentalism: They tend to prioritize environmental protection and advocate for sustainable practices.
Government intervention: Liberals may favor government intervention to address social and economic issues, such as providing healthcare, education, and social safety nets.
Google released Gemini in December 2023, yet its responses to a simple describe liberals request are devoid of current liberal attitudes, particularly as they riddle todays demented Dems.
Liberals no longer prioritize individual liberties, but obedience to the socialist state. Neither do they advocate for equality of opportunity, but insist upon equality of outcomes. Their definition of equality is just a euphemism for soul-destroying equity.
As for economic liberalism what a joke! Geminis Large Language Model needs more training on updated data to reflect all the companies the DOJ and FTC are suing for daring to be successful.
Contrary to Geminis propaganda, todays liberals interfere constantly in economic affairs and impulsively impinge on free-market mechanisms. Its not just Kamalas communistic-like diktats about price controls, mind you. Just this past week, the DoJ issued A.I. behemoth Nvidia subpoenas as it investigates potential anti-competitive practices.
Rather than promote economic liberalism, they choose winners and losers in their half-baked industrial policy. They are simply against success that conflicts with their central planning determinations. Heres a list of their antitrust case filings. Notice that not even Apple can escape their slimy socialist tentacles.
Googles Gemini is full of biases, all right, but recency bias is not one of them when it comes to describing liberals. Instead, it seems to be suffering from the opposite, something akin to vintage bias (if there is such a thing), in which too much weight is given to historical considerations. After all, as is often intimated with variations, todays liberals are not your grandfathers.
If the underlying data used in Googles LLM were infused with recency and integrity, the Gemini A.I. app would surely merge the key characteristics of liberals with leftists. Its time it catches up.
For example, when instructed to describe leftists, Gemini pointed out their proclivity for big government and offered this insight about leftist views on individual rights: While leftists value individual rights, they may place a greater emphasis on collective rights and social justice. That description is a bit more apt, and it greatly describes the vast majority of todays Dems they are leftists masquerading as traditional liberals. Including the woman of color fighting racial injustice.
Gemini is supposedly an astrological sign associated with communication, logical thought processes, curiosity, and intellect. To thwart data bias, and the ripple effects on developer and algorithmic bias, its time Googles Gemini see the signs.
Image via Pexels.
Yesterday, I posited that John McCains son, Jimmy, had violated the military directive against partisan conduct when he gave an interview to CNN attacking Trumps appearance at Arlington and endorsing Kamala Harris. Today, I feel more strongly that hes violated the military directive. Adding to that, hes also run headlong into the problem of his own father engaging in the same conduct over which he attacks Donald Trump.
Responding to an invitation from the Gold Star families whose sons and daughters were killed during the Harris-Biden administrations botched pull-out from Afghanistan, Donald Trump appeared at a ceremony at Arlington. He did not campaign in any way. Instead, he stood respectfully silent and then helped place a wreath. His behavior comported perfectly with regulations holding that Arlington may not be used for political purposes. He was there as a guest, not a politician or a candidate.
Image: X screen grab.
Nevertheless, the Harris-Biden administration sought to politicize the event. This started before the ceremony when Arlington played scheduling games with the Gold Star families and then tried to ban Trump from joining them at the servicepeoples gravesites. When Trump ultimately arrived, a female Arlington employee tried to block him and his entourage (without which no presidential candidate or former president travels). Then, rather than letting the kerfuffle die down, the Army publicized it with an anti-Trump spin.
Kamala, who wasnt at the dignified transfer (where Biden kept checking his watch), never reached out to the Gold Star families, and did not bother to appear at the Arlington ceremony, immediately launched a political attack against Trump. The whole thing was a political hit job from beginning to end.
The attacks from the left were non-stop. Among those doing the attacking was Jim McCain, son of John McCain, the man who forced Americans to continue dealing with Obamacare because he didnt want Trump to have a political victory. There are few people in politics less deserving of respect, but it looks as if little Jimmywho dreams of a political career when he retires from the militaryplans to compete with Daddy for that no respect title.
Jimmy, who is an active-duty intelligence officer, gave CNN a print interview in which he attacked Trump for appearing at Arlington, echoing the Democrat chorus about how Trump was campaigning in graveyards. During the same interview, Jimmy explicitly endorsed Kamala.
In a post yesterday, I said that Jimmys print interview with a major media outlet to endorse a political candidate deserved to be investigated for possibly having violated Department of Defense Directive 1344.10. The applicable language is that military personnel may not
Participate in any radio, television, or other program or group discussion as an advocate for or against a partisan political party, candidate, or cause.
When I wrote that, it wasnt clear to me whether an interview with CNN was an other program. However, it was clear that Jimmy, an active duty officer, was advocating for a partisan political candidate. Notably, unlike many other prohibitions against partisan political conduct, this prohibition does not turn on whether the servicemember was wearing a uniform at the time.
Last night, though, Jimmy gave a live interview on CNN in which he again endorsed Kamala:
This is all coordinated. As clear a PR campaign as you'll ever see.
Jim McCain has never been someone you'd think of as a Republican.
Jake Tapper being in awe of him because he's a veteran that he can slobber over makes it all the more silly.
They hate Trump so much. pic.twitter.com/2gfkb5JDg6 Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 3, 2024
That conduct manifestly violates the Directive and should subject Jimmy to discipline, including a court martial with criminal penalties. We know that todays Pentagon, which orchestrated the whole Arlington set-up, wont do anything, but I sincerely hope that when Trump returns to office, an honorable Pentagon will act.
But theres more when it comes to Jimmys foray into partisan politics. It turns out that Jimmy crashed headlong into his fathers political conduct. Thus, while Jimmy took umbrage at Trumps merely appearing in Arlington, his daddy used footage of himself in Arlington in a political advertisement:
Did You Know:
John McCain filmed a political ad at Arlington Cemetery
Be a shame if this went viral pic.twitter.com/g2PjEcV9gU Jack Poso (@JackPosobiec) September 4, 2024
In other words, people whose revered daddies lived in glass houses shouldnt be throwing stones.
As a modern tyrant attains power, he wont just push back against opposing ideas; hell say they shouldnt be voiced at all. Once he holds some power, hell work with friends in the government, the media, and corporations to silence opposing ideas. Finally, once he gains complete power, as his ideas invariably fail when put into practice, he must use the governments police power to silence those who challenge him lest he be toppled. That trajectory is why its noteworthy (in a scary way) that, once in 2019 and again today, Kamala has stated explicitly that she believes that if she controls the government, she has the right to use its vast power to silence critics.
In 2019that is, even before the great silencing of 2020, when speech challenging COVID policies or raising the Hunter laptop was stifledKamala was already mourning the fact that social media companies werent silencing ideas with which she disagreed:
Sen. Kamala Harris: President Trump "has lost his privileges and [his Twitter account] should be taken down.... [Social media sites] are directly speaking to millions and millions of people without any level of oversight or regulation. And that has to stop." pic.twitter.com/blR3guE05Y The Hill (@thehill) October 17, 2019
Five years later, Kamala is singing the same song, which is that the government and social media companies must determine what is right think and what is wrong thinkand then use the states police power to end all wrong think:
Kamala: I will direct the DOJ to censor "misinformation and hate" online
pic.twitter.com/EmH6MKaV1d End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) September 5, 2024
The fact is that we already have several mechanisms that operate within constitutional parameters to limit factual lies or other narrow categories of speech:
The government can prosecute criminal speech, such as direct incitements to imminent unlawful activity, true and imminent threats, and certain types of fighting words. However, it should not be prosecuting so-called hate speech because that falls into the category of the government deciding what is good speech and what is bad speech. In a free country, no government should ever make those calls.
The government can prosecute speech that amounts to theft, which is the case with stealing intellectual property thats been patented or copyrighted.
Private citizens can sue for defamatory speech.
Lastly, assuming a true free speech environment, those who disagree with speech can push back against it with their own speech. This free speech environment, incidentally, is impaired when the authorities allow a hecklers veto. Thus, on a state-funded college campus, when the authorities allow mobs to silence conservative or pro-Israel speakers, this means that the government itself is engaging in censorship.
What Kamala wants to do is have the government decide what thoughts are allowed and what are not, a clear First Amendment violation. Weve seen and are seeing this in other countries but we dont have to look that far. This is what happened in 2020-2021 in America.
Across the country, federal, state, and local entities, as well as professional organizations (especially in the medical professions), silenced people who dared speak out against the COVID regime of masks, lockdowns, and vaccines. The greatest irony, of course, is that these silenced people were correct: None of the regime-approved COVID responses made a significant difference. Instead, COVID did what new viruses do: It mowed down the elderly and immune-compromised and made everyone else varying degrees of sick.
If it were me, Id go in another direction entirely (as I explained in 2019) when it comes to social media companies. The last thing we want is for the government to dictate to social media companies what users can or cannot say. Instead, the more appropriate way to view the governments role is to recognize that social media companies have become the modern public square. Thus, they are a form of public accommodation.
Under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, they should be barred by law from imposing on their users any form of viewpoint discrimination. Rather than the government pressuring them to censor content, the government should be suing them for civil rights violations when they do censor content.
Image by AI.
Government, by virtue of being a business that pays its employees regardless of their aptitude or work performance, naturally draws a class of people who have few employment opportunities (if any) outside the public sector. Our public servants are just hopelessly stupid; who would hire them except government officials and uninformed voters?
Rep. Hank Johnson worried about Guam capsizing if too many people were on the island at one time, Jerry Brown, who said we needed more welfare and fewer jobs, AOC the barmaid, doesnt understand that illegally crossing the border is illegal, were still saddled with bottom-of-the-class Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and her Alpha-Bits word scrambles, peppered with explanations of school buses being yellow, may be sitting at the Resolute Desk in January, weve got way too many DEI hires to count, and now, Michigan Democrat Representative Haley Stevens is wondering why Hamas didnt release the hostages its terrorists took captive on October 7after all, the aid trucks went in, so why didnt the hostages come out?
Heres what Stevens said, during a conversation with CNNs Kasie Hunt, via a report at Breitbart:
[W]e [Congress] passed a foreign aid package earlier this year, Kasie, that was a foreign aid package for democracy around the world, support for Taiwan, Ukraine, Israel, and innocent Palestinians in Gaza who need that humanitarian aid. Those trucks are going in. Why arent the hostages coming out?
Like Napoleon Bonaparte purportedly said, In politics, stupidity is not a handicap. Not in the slightest.
Perhaps the Socratic method would be the best course of action, so I have a few questions for Ms. Stevens, or anyone else who might be as confused as she is (*cough* Democrat voters *cough*).
Would you expect resupplying terrorists with food, medical supplies, and building materials, to weaken their physical position?
If there are no serious consequences for taking hostages, what incentive do hostage-takers have to give up their criminals dealings? If the Democrats of worlds greatest superpower demand that Israel go easy on the terrorists, do they have much to fear?
Is it conceivable that the group of people, who routinely use their own children as human shields, didnt actually do the right thing and distribute the supplies to the poorest and neediest?
Would it be surprising to learn that the morality of the Koran is strikingly antithetical to the values of the Judeo-Christian West, and actually encourages violence upon infidels, which are those we Westerners would consider innocent?
What do you make of the fact that Hamas leadership lives like billionaires in foreign nations, far from the fighting?
Does it stand out to you that the Hamas fighters are frequently fat slobs? Do starving people have beer bellies?
I think we found out whose been stealing all the humanitarian aid rations. Allahu Snackbar!! #HamasTerrorists pic.twitter.com/5zGuuxVfak Adam (@aSeegz) December 8, 2023
Where were you when media outlets reported on Hamas stealing (or complaining about) the aid coming into Gaza? Were you in the Democrat echo chamber, or did you actually try to get to the truth? ATs own Monica Showalter wrote at least two excellent essays on this topic, found here and here.
Did you ever wonder why Hamas fighters dont wear uniforms, and instead dress like ordinary Arabs? Could it be that its a strategic move to form a narrative that Israel is guilty of genocide and killing innocent civilians? Does this maybe point to the idea that these people are playing by deceit and manipulation?
Did President Trump ever send pallets of humanitarian supplies to terrorists, delegating them with the task of making sure it was properly doled out? Or, did he strike hard and mercilessly, and dare them to step out of line again? After youve figured that one out, Ive got a follow-up: Were the Trump years marked by historic peace, or endless wars and armed conflicts?
How strange that for many of us, those are rhetorical questions; for others, theyre legitimately thought-provoking queries; just think, Haley Stevens is in Washington, sponsoring and voting on legislation that affects and impacts us all. I want a refund, and I want it now.
Image: Free image, Pixabay license.
For anyone wondering how Lyndon B. Johnsons War on Poverty is going, allow me to provide an updatethings are just swell! After 60 years of big-spending, anti-poverty programs, the downtrodden and impoverished huddled masses who just needed a little help to get back on their feet are now so well-off, theyre living like the middle class, able to enjoy the conveniences of modern travel, landing in the tropical paradises of Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean, and even heading off to the wilds of Alaska.
I guess I should mention one minor detail thoughtheyre using their welfare EBT cards to foot the bill. Here are the details, from a report by Joe Dwinell at the Boston Herald:
Massachusetts welfare dollars spent in Hawaii, Virgin Islands, Alaska: What the hell is someone doing in Hawaii? Welfare recipients cant use ATMs in casinos and pot shops, but that didnt stop them from firing up EBT cards in Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, California, Florida, and Alaska. Data obtained by the Herald through a public records request shows taxpayer-paid economic assistance for Massachusetts residents cropped up from Alabama to Arizona, Pennsylvania to Puerto Rico, Utah to Wyoming and all the New England states.
(For anyone not tracking, EBT stands for Electronic Benefits Transfer which is the welfare system that loads funds onto a recipients card.)
Of course, I take great issue with this, as this is my money. I earned it, and I need it to feed my family, pay my mortgage and utilities, and clothe my children. If someone can afford a plane ticket to visit family 4,000 miles away, then they can certainly afford to prioritize groceries and diapers. I myself havent visited Hawaii, or Alaska, because with a finite amount of money, private school for my boys and a stable roof over their head is more important.
So, maybe things arent so swell after all. I guess if the goal were to empower people to be self-sufficient (this is the stated mission of the states welfare agency), the big-spending, anti-poverty programs of the progressive Democrats kind of just trapped people in low-income lifestyles: perpetually rent in Section 8 housing properties, surrender your children to failing public schools, and work a dead-end job. But hey, get your hair and nails done, maybe a new sleeve of tattoos, and blow any extra cash on plane tickets to take a luxurious vacation to visit family, supplementing the expenses with your welfare card.
Remember the story about the young moms who participated in a cash-assistance program in D.C.? One used the $10,800 lump-sum to splurge on a glamorous trip to Florida with new outfits for her kids and frittered hundreds away for a personal glow-up; another blew $600 on a birthday bash for her toddler. Heres what the first mom had to say about the windfall:
Do you know how good I look in this picture? I didnt have to look like a working, stressed mom, she recalled.
We call this vanity.
When youre dead broke, the last thing you need to prioritize is brand-new clothes (I myself thrift my own wardrobe), or a weave, or a cruise along the waterways to see all the Miami mansions.
Poor people are poor because they make poor financial decisions.
Image: Free image, Pixabay license.
Like many people around the country, I have noticed that the roads and highways of my town have become more dangerous and that the number of fatal crashes and hit-and-run incidents seems to be more deadly and frequent. I became curious and dug into the data.
The information led to some obvious but unpopular conclusions. The local police, politicians, and news outlets have no interest in exploring the problem at its source and, instead, offer study groups and costly infrastructure solutions. This keeps them from having to address the problem with the indisputably best solution. I suspect that this dynamic is repeated in countless cities across the country.
So, heres what I found:
Last month, the Indianapolis city/county Council announced a program to eliminate traffic-related deaths within the jurisdiction by 2035. The ambitious program is expected to develop plans over the coming year to make the roads safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers and is expected to roll out improvements by 2026.
Image: YouTube screen grab (cropped).
Like most government programs, the goal is a good one. Also, like most government programs, it ignores data that both illuminate the cause and suggest the solution.
The number of traffic-related deaths, adjusted for population growth, remained relatively static for decades until 2014, when that number jumped by 20% and started a trend upwards. 2014 also marked a change in practice by the IMPD (Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department) and many law enforcement agencies around the country following Michael Browns death in Ferguson, Missouri.
Michael Brown was killed while attacking police officer Darren Wilson. The early narrative was that he was shot while surrendering to the officer with his hands raised in the air. Despite being counterfactual, the early narrative was powerful and unrelenting. Subsequent public pressure caused police agencies to pull back from police initiating traffic stops and other common law enforcement practices. This rollback of law enforcement was termed the Ferguson Effect. The IMPD fell in line.
Traffic-related deaths continued to remain high until 2020, when they spiked another 65% to 118, more than double what they were in 2013.
In addition to being the first year of the Covid era, 2020 will also be remembered for the death of George Floyd and the centering of the Black Lives Matter movement in the American consciousness. The subsequent riots, arson, and looting were bolstered by the slogan all cops are bastards (ACAB), and there was another policing rollback.
The Ferguson effect can be observed in the difference between the number of traffic citations issued in 2013, before the Ferguson riots (45,700), and in 2014, after the riots (36,500). Traffic enforcement dropped 25% following the Ferguson riots, while traffic deaths increased 20%.
Another significant data point is observed in the BLM year of 2020, in which traffic deaths were more than double (110) what they were in 2013 (50), and traffic citations were down by 26% from 2013.
Image courtesy of Chris Boland
It seems clear from published reports that the 15-member government task force will propose a series of infrastructure improvements such as lower speed limits, better crosswalk markings, speed bumps, and speed feedback signs. The infrastructure approach forecloses the opportunity to address the cause of the increase in traffic deaths: lack of law enforcement.
In a discussion with an IMPD patrol officer with over 20 years of experience, I was told that the lack of traffic enforcement is a product of two related issues. He stated that there was a shift from traffic enforcement due to the Ferguson Effect and that re-establishing a robust traffic enforcement program is currently impossible due to department management philosophy and drastic recruitment shortfalls.
If the IMPD were to shift its priorities back to an enforcement model, the upper management should consider a program outlined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as High Visibility Enforcement. HVE concentrates enforcement in areas where traffic-related problems occur and uses enforcement techniques that maximize the results-to-resources ratio.
Logic and reason suggest that a 15-member task force spending a year studying the issue of traffic-related deaths is a waste of time and resources. The historical data provide a reference point of what went wrong and when. If the will exists to address the problem of traffic deaths, the path is obvious: do what works. Enforce traffic laws.
On Monday, Sept. 2, two U.S. Marines assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit on board the USS Wasp, while on liberty in the Turkish port of Izmir, were attacked by a mob of some 15 people. The attackers were identified as members of an anti-American Turkish nationalist group called the Turkish Youth Union, a group with a history of attacking US service members.
Thugs in Turkey abduct a sailor from the USS Wasp and put a bag over his head yelling Yankee, go home
When his fellow sailor tries to rescue him, they assault him
This is what Bidens weakness has done to our military pic.twitter.com/EwmDyZXflb DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) September 2, 2024
The Wasp is part of a large US Navy presence in the Middle East, including two aircraft carriers, deployed there to deter Iran from overt involvement in the war in Gaza and to support Israel should the conflict escalate and/or widen.
(The Biden/Harris regime supports Israel with a contingent of warships, even as it undermines Israel with rhetoric calling for a cease-fire and concessions and claims that Israel is not doing enough to free Israeli hostages and end the war. But thats another story.)
Relations between the US and fellow NATO member Turkey have been strained over the war in Gaza. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been an outspoken critic of Israel, accusing it of genocide and meeting in Istanbul with the leader of Hamas. Despite that, Turkish authorities rounded up and detained the 15 people involved in the attack (although theyve since released five of them). No Marines have been detained.
Its reported that the Marines, who were roughly held by the mob (one had a bag placed over his head), were rescued by fellow Marines and escaped the mob. They were examined at a local hospital and returned to their ship unharmed. Its said that local police and Navy personnel are cooperating to investigate the incident.
In its prior similar incidents, the Turkish Youth Union has used the same tactic of putting a bag or hood over their victims head while chanting Yankee Go Home! This is said to be a reference to an incident in 2003, shortly after the US invasion of Iraq, in which US forces captured Turkish soldiers and detained them with hoods over their heads.
The Navy reports that there are no changes to the USS Wasps mission or schedule but that all shore leave has been canceled.
I have never served in any military, but I know a few things. I know that the US Marine Corps is still, technically, a part of the US Navy, and as part of the mostly-friendly rivalry that still exists between the two, sailors like to needle Marines by reminding them that MARINE is an acronym for My Ass Rides in Navy Equipment.
Speaking of equipment, Marines feel that they never get first-line equipment but have to make do with hand-me-downs from the other branches, and if they grouse about it, theyre reminded that their unofficial motto is Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome. Marines also feel that they are an elite force, and the other branches are jealous of the USMCs high standards, physical fitness, esprit de corps, and dress uniforms.
I also know that it was once common for personnel on liberty in a strange port to be targeted and victimized. And I know that the Navy used to have a traditional way of dealing with such incidents, and it didnt involve international diplomacy. It was called dungaree liberty or dungaree justice.
It involved a contingent of personnel going ashore, not in uniform but in dungarees or civvies, and seeking out and finding those who had victimized their comrades. And then they would Go Buford Pusser on their asses. The tactic inspired a novel by George Palmer.
And, while Im not saying that the sailors and Marines on board the USS Wasp ought to employ such a tactic, Ill bet theyd sure like to! And, in the absence of fear of such swift and sure retribution (not to mention a Commander-in-Chief whom the world correctly perceives as weak!), those who would attack our Marines are emboldened to do it again.
Authors Note: Stu Tarlowe has been contributing to American Thinker since 2010. His newsletter, Stus Stack o Stuff (the name is an homage to Rush Limbaugh) offers memoirs and even the occasional joke in addition to political commentary; subscriptions are currently free. He will also write for money, gasoline, groceries or dogfood.
Image: X screen grab.
Another presidential election year, and another campaign to shield the Democrat ticket from the medias cameras and microphones because their nominees are too incompetent to be trusted to ad lib; all this is of course aided and abetted by a complicit media. But, after Joe Bidens performance over the last four years, a humiliating reflection on Democrats, Id say its par for the course. Heres the story, from an item at Fox News:
A local Pennsylvania journalist revealed how reporters were not allowed to ask Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz questions during a campaign event in Lancaster County on Wednesday. While Walz spoke with volunteers at the office, WPMT FOX43 reporter Alyssa Kratz wrote in a Facebook post how the campaign would not let the press speak with him. Gov. Tim Walz speaking to people calling into Lancaster County Democratic Committee field office. His daughter Hope is with him. Spoke to supporters here for about 6 or 7 minutes. Walz is not taking questions from the media while here. We were also not allowed to put microphones up by Gov. Walz while he was speaking, Kratz wrote. She added, One reporter tried shouting a question and we were told to not disrupt the program.
Didnt the Democrats and all their media operatives relentlessly denigrate President Trump as a man who undermined a free and independent media? How ironic. Youd never catch him not taking questions from the press.
But hey, Walz is in the middle of a photo op, posing for some handshakes with working class folk like a real salt of the earth kind of guy, he cant be bothered with pesky questions about policy, or platforms, or world affairs and eventshow dare we expect him to answer to anyone but his own delusional supporters!
As a reminder, it took more than a month and a half after Joe Bidens withdrawal from and Kamalas entry into the presidential race for her to actually conduct an interviewit was with CNN, wasnt live but pre-recorded, and she had Walz at her side. Furthermore, Harris has yet to hold a single press conference.
What can we deduce? Well, the Harris-Walz campaign is clearly not relying on substance, and this race isnt a battle of ideas. The Democrat party is obviously painfully aware that their selected candidates are a mess, unable to honestly coax voters to their side because they dont understand the issues and they arent strong and sacrificial leaders; instead, the Party is content to lean on the momentum of Trump hatred and Trump Derangement Syndrome, and rely on election rigging schemes like ballot-harvesting and mass mail-in voting.
Here is an excellent analogy, from someone in the comments:
Would you buy a car from a dealer that wouldnt let you take [it] for a test drive? The CarFax shows numerous accidents and there is video of most of the wrecks which shows the driver was at fault. Harris/Walz is that car.
Then, another person added even more to it:
We havent been able to test drive the car, but weve been sitting in the back seat for 3.5 years while someone else drives it. The alignment is off, one tire is flat, the car spits and sputters while putting out black smoke. They put a coat of paint on it without removing the rust first, but they [are] telling us its cherry and nothings wrong with it.
Whats really funny (and sad) is that the inability to respond to questions is a pervasive problem among progressives, politicians and voters alike; this is why we see Democrat voters either mouth agape or grasping for a legitimate answer when confronted by an inquisitive citizen journalist on the street, asking why theyre backing Kamala and Tampon Timmy. Is ignorance just an inherent part of being a progressive, or is it passed down from the upper echelons to the lower ones? Kamala doesnt know what she stands for, and surprise surprise, her supporters cant articulate what theyre voting for.
Now whats obviously more pressing is the fact that the media apparently went along with the censorship scheme, allowing Walz to finish out his meet-and-greet undisturbed.
Ive got one question for the Harris-Walz voters: Do you really find it appropriate to strengthen a ticket that never won an actual primary but was installed (against the wishes of many of your fellow Democrats), and that is de facto gagged by shadowy figures behind the scenes directing them not to talk to the media?
Seems pretty suspect, dangerous, and unbelievably irresponsible if you were to ask me.
Image: YouTube video screen grab, edited.
Every once in a while in the gaming industry, something comes along that delights the senses and sparks the neurons in your brain so they fire off like its the fourth of July, and thats what the Acer Project DualPlay does. A wild new gaming laptop concept that rethinks how you play games with friends.
Announced today at IFA in Berlin, Project DualPlay is a gaming laptop concept that comes with a built-in controller. Typically, youd connect your own controller to the laptop to play games. Like a DualSense controller from your PS5 or the Xbox Wireless controller. But Acer has envisioned a gaming laptop that comes as a total package. A laptop that has its own controller built-in. While not the only new gaming hardware Acer announced at the event, it is the most interesting.
The Acer Project DualPlay laptop concept touchpad serves as a controller
Heres where it gets really interesting. The controller is sort of hidden in plain sight. While not in use, the controller serves as a touchpad like the touchpad on any other regular laptop. When attached, all the buttons of the controller face downward, so it looks as if theres no controller there at all.
The magic of something like this is the ability to always have a controller with you. While also maintaining extra space in your laptop bag. Not to mention, something you probably dont have to charge separately. As the controller would likely charge while docked in its laptop housing. The Project DualPlay laptop also features pop-out speakers that jettison out from the sides a bit for increased immersion. Its like a wild new gaming laptop of the future.
Acer says it embedded an electromagnetic lock with a latch at the top of the keyboard that allows users to detach the controller. So should they ever want to use it, you just place two fingers on the release button. This button also has a dual function, just like the laptops namesake. It causes those speakers to pop out. These are small, 5-watt speakers, but Acer says they provide heart-pounding audio that brings every scene to life.
Its perfect for playing couch co-op games with friends
The other really neat thing about this laptop is that the controller promotes local couch co-op. Have you ever had a friend that wants to play something but you dont have an extra controller? That wouldnt be a problem with this thing. The controller that pops out actually separates into two controllers. So each person gets a joystick with a set of buttons. Not too unlike the way the Nintendo Switch controllers split up for playing with another person.
Now, while all of this is a pretty cool idea, its important to remember this is just a concept. Acer is likely never going to release this thing. But its fun to think about the possibilities of something like this existing in the consumer market.
Android has always been characterized by being a fairly open OS. This contributed to its enormous growth in a relatively short time. However, over time, Google has become more strict in terms of security filters for accepting third-party apps. While the situation with phones seems to be fine, Googles limits on Android Auto, which have prevented the arrival of certain apps, are not going down well with the EU.
Google limits the arrival of certain apps to Android Auto, and the EU is not happy about it
In 2021, Google did not allow the release of JuicePass on Android Auto. JuicePass is an Enel-developed app that provides map navigation and messaging while driving. In a way, it could be a direct rival to Google Maps or other Google navigation services (such as Waze). At that time, Italian anti-policy authorities fined Google 102 million euros.
Google appealed the ruling to the Italian Council of State. In response, the Italian authorities requested assistance from the CJEU (Court of Justice of the European Union). However, the response was not positive for Google. Googles refusal to provide third-party access to Android Auto platform may be in breach of competition rules, Court Advocate General Laila Medina said.
Google claimed that JuicePass raised security concerns as a reason for limiting access to Android Auto. The company also stated that the app did not have a specific template, which appears to be a requirement. However, Medina believes that the company could be abusing its dominant position. Preventing or delaying the arrival of third-party development on the platform without a compelling justification can lead to a legal case.
In the meantime, Google claims that it has been working to resolve the situation. We note the opinion of the Advocate General and await the final decision of the Court. Since this case started, we have worked to add the Enel template asked for, and many similar apps are already available globally on Android Auto, a companys spokesperson said. The next statement from the CJEU judges regarding Googles limits on Android Auto will arrive in the coming months.
Anker is launching several new products at the IFA 2024 event. The company is refreshing its popular audio product lineup with the Soundcore Space One Pro and Soundcore Select 4 Go. The former are premium over-ear headphones, while the latter are highly affordable and durable stereo speakers.
The Soundcore Space One Pro, Ankers latest premium headphones
Anker designed the Soundcore Space One Pro with comfort in mind. The wireless headphones boast a five-segment headband and three-joint separation, so you can find the perfect fit for you. The headband has a pressure-relieving construction, while the padded foam ear cups ensure you can listen to music for hours without discomfort to your ears. The foldable design of the Soundcore Space One Pro allows you to reduce its size by up to 50%, making them ideal for travel.
While comfort is great, one also expects premium headphones to offer premium sound quality. With that in mind, Anker used large 40mm triple-composite drivers with PEEK and polyurethane diaphragms. The implemented materials guarantee a super low THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) of less than 3% and a powerful yet detailed output. The headphones support the LDAC codec for lossless-quality audio from compatible sources. It also supports the classic AAC and SBC codecs, in addition to Bluetooth 5.3.
Theres a Soundcore app that offers some nice extra audio features. HearID 2.0 creates a sound profile tailored to your hearing preferences after a short test. Plus, the app offers customizable EQ settings. You can also set Dolby Audio and Google Fast Pair from the Soundcore app. Of course, theres ANC support with a 4-stage adaptive algorithm that works together with six microphones to reduce up to 45 dB of noise.
The Soundcore Space One Pro offers an impressive battery life of up to 60 hours of playback. That figure drops to 40 hours of playback with ANC enabled. Other features include Smart Chat, a system that pauses music playback when it detects a conversation and then automatically resumes it.
Anker packages the headphones with a carry pouch. However, for added protection while traveling, Anker offers a premium case made from synthetic materials with a smooth finish. The case uses an easy-to-use magnetic system with metal buttons. Its also lightweight, weighing in at 3.47 ounces (about 98 grams).
The headphones will be available in the US on September 5 for $199.99. Folks in the EU and UK will receive them on September 19 for 199.99/149.99. Anker will offer two colorways: Jet Black and Cream White. The optional travel case will be available on the same dates for $34.99/29.99/34.99.
The Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go, super affordable and durable portable speakers
Anker is also launching an audio product with a completely opposite approach to the previous one. The Soundcore Select 4 Go are very affordable stereo speakers focused on design, durability, and portability. The speakers boast a 5W sound output with deep bass, supporting TWS pairing to form a stereo setup with two units. You can customize the audio to your liking using a 9-band EQ through the Soundcore app.
The company integrated IP67 rating into the Soundcore Select 4 Go to ensure high durability. They can even survive immersion in water for 30 minutes. The speakers can offer up to 20 continuous hours of music playback. The Soundcore Select 4 Go will be available in the US in late September/early October for $24.99. Finally, it will be available in the UK on September 9 for 24.99.
IFA is going on right now. While not as immense as MWC, its still a notable event, and top companies are showing off their latest and greatest creations. ASUS is not letting this event slip through its fingers, as it just took the veils off of six new AI PCs at IFA.
ASUS just unveiled six new AI PCs
Theres not a lot going on in the way of phone announcements at IFA, but you can expect there to be a fair amount of AI goodness. Were starting to see what the AI computer can do. Controversial features (like Microsofts Recall) aside, this looks like its going to be a pretty popular platform. ASUS, being a computer company, is ready and set to take the AI computer market by storm.
The company announced several laptops along with a new mini desktop.
ASUS NUC 14 Pro AI
Starting off with the desktop, the ASUS NUC 14 Pro AI was built with AI in mind, and its a compact powerhouse. The computer is using the Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor (Series 2). It uses a multi-architecture CPU, GPU, and NPU setup, and this helps it achieve up to 120 TOPS of performance.
Its a powerful processor, so you can expect exceptional performance, but the company is focusing on AI performance. The NPU alone can deliver up to 48 TOPS, and this will give it top-of-the-line AI performance. Thats important for on-device AI processing. The ASUS NUC 14 Pro AI is so focused on AI that it actually has a Microsoft Copilot button on the front of the device. Thats a pretty odd addition, but hey, its there if you need it.
Whats as important as whats inside is whats on the outside. Starting off, the computer is pretty compact, coming in at only 130 x 130 x 34 mm. It has four USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, and an HDMI port, an Ethernet port, and a headphone jack.
The body of the computer is sturdily built, gaining a MIL-STD 810H protection rating. So, this is a well-built computer. Other features include a fingerprint scanner on the device, LPDDR5x RAM, Wi-Fi 7 support, Bluetooth 5.4, and a built-in speaker.
Zenbook S 14
Now, lets talk about some laptops. The Zenbook S 14 uses the same Intel Core Ultra i9 as the mini desktop, so youll be getting the same top-notch performance. This includes amazing AI performance. It also has a dedicated Copilot button, but this one is on the keyboard, where it makes a bit more sense.
But, youre not only going to use this computer for typing in prompts! Youre likely going to use this computer for some content creation and consumption. This is why it comes with a big and beautiful 3K Lumia OLED display that runs at 120Hz. Its one of the best displays you can get on a laptop, and it will give you an amazing viewing experience.
The media consumption experience is only made better by the set of four speakers. Theyll give you some great audio.
Moving onto the ports, this computer has a USB-A port (3.2 Gen 2) along with two USB-C ports (Thunderbolt 4), an HDMI 2.1 port, and a headphone jack. Unfortunately, theres no Ethernet port, so thats something to keep in mind.
The Zenbook S 14 comes in two colors (Scandinavian White and Zumuaia Gray), is 1.1cm thick, and also has the MIL-STD 810H protection rating.
Vivobook S 14
This computer isnt quite as powerful as the abovementioned computer, but its still a beast of a computer. The Vivobook S 14 comes with the Intel Core Ultra i7 (Series 2) processor. That doesnt mean that this computer is a slouch when it comes to AI processing. Its NPU is able to reach up to 47TOPS, so you wont see much of a dip in AI processing compared to the aforementioned computers. Just like the other computers, it has a dedicated key to summon Copilot.
If youre looking for longevity, youll find it with this computer. You can get up to 27 hours of battery life. Obviously, your mileage will vary, so you shouldnt expect to get quite that many hours.
As for the display, youre looking at a 3K screen (2880 x 1800) Lumius OLED HDR display that runs at 120Hz. It covers 100 of the DCI-P3 color gamut. Its a very sharp and colorful display for your video-watching needs.
Moving onto the ports, you have two USB-A ports (3.2 Gen 1), two USB-C ports (Thunderbolt 4), an HDMI 2.1 TMDS port, a MicroSD card reader, and a headphone jack. Theres no Ethernet port, but these should suit your needs.
This metal laptop comes with the MIL-STD 810H protection rating, so you know that its going to survive throughout the years of usage. Thats impressive, as its only 1.39cm thick.
Vivobook 14/16 Flip
This is a computer for creatives. The Vivobook Flip series consists of the 14-inch variant and the 16-inch variant. Just like the abovementioned Vivobook computer, the Flip computers use the Intel Core Ultra 7 (Series 2). So youre not lacking in the power department.
The display on this computer isnt as impressive as the abovementioned computers, but its more impressive at the same time. These laptops come with FHD displays at 60Hz. So, theyre pretty standard displays, but they still use the same Lumia OLED technology. It still covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut.
The remarkable thing about the display is that it can rotate 360. This means that you can flip it to use as a tablet or use it in tent mode. This instantly makes it a great laptop for artists who want to draw on their screens. Its also for people who want to watch content with the keyboard behind the screen (stand mode) so it doesnt get in the way.
The large 70Wh battery can get you up to 25 hours of battery life, but dont expect to reach that number. As for the ports, youre getting a USB-A port (3.2 Gen 1), two USB-C ports (one Thunderbolt 4 and one 3.2 Gen 2), an HDMI 2.1 port, a MicroSD card reader, and a headphone jack.
This laptop comes in two sizes. One is a 14-inch model and one is a 16-inch model.
ExpertBook P series
This is the computer to get if youre a professional whos looking for a major business partner. The ExpertBook P series consists of the ExpertBook P5, P3, and P1. The most powerful of the bunch is the P5. This computer comes with an Intel Core Ultra processor to power it. The model or processor you get will vary depending on your region. Either way you slice it, youre going to be getting some serious AI chops. Youll be getting at least 47 TOPS of AI performance.
The ExpertBook P5 comes with a 2.5K display with a fluid 144Hz refresh rate. Youll be getting a great viewing experience.
Theres no doubt that this is a business-grade device. It comes with up to 32GB of RAM and up to 3TB of storage. Along with that, it comes with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed and Wi-Fi 7 support.
You get two USB-A ports (3.2 Gen 1), two USB-C ports (Thunderbolt 4), an HDMI 2.1 port, a headphone jack, and a Kensington Nano Security Slot. This is the computer to get if you want it all.
The other models in the series will have a variety of specs like the Intel Core i7 and 1TB of storage for the ExpertBook P1.
TikTok has launched Elections Integrity Hub. Despite facing a ban in the US, the social media platform is attempting to protect American voters.
What is the TikTok Elections Integrity Hub?
TikTok has announced the launch of something called the US Elections Integrity Hub. According to the official page, TikTok claims it is trying to protect the platform from misinformation.
TikTok assures it is trying to uphold the integrity of election-related discussions. The social media platform has tied up with the non-profit organization Democracy Works.
Queries related to the elections include a link to TikToks election center with local ID requirements, early voting info, and reliable sources for election information. pic.twitter.com/Cbj405gl1h Kristi Hines (@kristileilani) September 2, 2024
The TikTok Elections Integrity Hub is reportedly backed by a team of experts across democracy, civil society, security, and technology. These people, [will try] to prevent misinformation and ensure that users have access to reliable information.
The newly created hub will include feature updates on TikToks policies. There will be a micro blog which will highlight the platforms actions to protect the American Presidential elections from misinformation. Moreover, TikTok will try to help users better understand the steps being taken to protect political discourse.
TikTok reaffirms it wont allow politicians and political parties to advertise
In addition to creating the Elections Integrity Hub, TikTok has reaffirmed its long-standing prohibition on paid political advertising. In other words, TikTok wont allow political parties and politicians to promote political content or fundraise on the platform. TikTok claims this policy is essential for maintaining the authenticity and inclusivity of its community.
TikTok will rely on a combination of AI technology, human moderation, and 19 fact-checking organizations to combat misinformation. Unverified or unverifiable content will carry a label. Moreover, TikTok may reduce the reach, visibility, and exposure of such content, to prevent the spread of potential misinformation.
Some of the most viral disinformation campaigns are trying to mislead American voters on how to vote, register, or the qualifications of candidates. Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) is being used very aggressively to run influence operations. AI-created campaigns are trying to misrepresent public figures or create false endorsements.
Verizon is reportedly negotiating the acquisition of Frontier. Less than a decade ago, Frontier acquired Verizons voice, video, and Fios wireline internet operations across three American states.
Is Verizon buying back its wireline business?
Reports from The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg suggest Verizon is in advanced talks to acquire Frontier. The American company is a communications service provider, which means it offers wireline or fiber internet services.
Neither Verizon nor Frontier has officially acknowledged any discussion about the acquisition. However, the aforementioned reports suggest an announcement may come forth as early as this week.
Circle of life, Wall Street version:
1. Verizon sells Fios lines to Frontier
2. Frontier goes bankrupt
3. Verizon holds talks to take Frontier backhttps://t.co/fNIixpKB6Y Drew FitzGerald (@DrewFitzGerald) September 4, 2024
Frontier has had a rollercoaster ride in the past decade. The flourishing company had acquired Verizons wireline operations. The acquisition includes Verizons Fios fiber internet connections in three states. Back then, the deal was valued at $10.5 billion.
Fast-forward to 2020, Frontier filed for bankruptcy. Some of the reasons why the company filed for Chapter 11 included its inability to service debt, manage legacy networks, and network neglect.
Although the situation seemed bleak, Frontier managed to bounce back. Barely a year after filing for bankruptcy, the company announced plans to expand its fiber connections.
Why is Verizon eyeing Frontier?
Frontier is currently active in 25 states in America. It offers a variety of plans suitable for a wide range of customers. According to its website, Frontier can offer a dedicated fiber line wired internet connection with a bandwidth of up to 7Gbps.
What this essentially means is that Frontier has not only managed to claw its way out of financial troubles, but it has managed to sustain its operations and grow. However, Verizon could be eyeing its past Fios fiber customers, and perhaps Frontiers physical operations equipment, and even its employees.
Some ten years ago, @Verizon sold my city's Internet/Cable contract to @FrontierCorp. Today, the @WSJ reports that Verizon is in advanced talks to acquire Frontier. Phil Hulett (@philhulett) September 4, 2024
Across America, telecom and internet service providers are doubling down on wired internet service operations. AT&T is aggressively expanding its fiber internet operations. T-Mobile, on the other hand, is taking the inorganic expansion route. Recent reports confirm T-Mobile is trying to acquire fiber internet provider Metronet. Hence, it makes business sense for Verizon to regain the wireline business it had sold to Frontier.
Elon Musks X (formerly Twitter) has permanently stopped using EU users data to train its Grok Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI). This exclusion applies to public posts of users in the European Union and European Economic Area only.
Elon Musk bows to pressure from European regulators
Launched earlier this year, Grok is Elon Musks answer to Google Gemini and OpenAIs ChatGPT. It can generate text and images based on text prompts.
These Gen AI engines have been scraping data from the internet, and several platforms have objected to this process. Although some Gen AI platforms are accused of ignoring these warnings, others, like Grok, seem to have obliged but not before it was dragged to court.
X has agreed to stop processing its EU users data for its Grok AI. It has done so after Irelands data privacy watchdog took it to court in Ireland. So Grok AI cant use Europeans tweets. https://t.co/w6dWEOhpz1 Adrian Weckler (@adrianweckler) September 4, 2024
Specifically speaking, X Corp. has agreed to stop processing the personal information of European users to train Grok. Interestingly, it is Irelands Data Protection Commission (DPC) that confirmed the development.
X Corp. will delete EU users data contained in public posts on its X social media platform that were collected between May 7 and Aug. 1, 2024, from the Grok training material.
Why is X avoiding EU users data to train its Grok Gen AI?
Ireland DPC office acts as the chief EU regulator for X. It has its European headquarters in the country. The commission stated it was the first time a lead EU agency has taken such an action against an online platform.
The DPC was referring to an official request it had filed in August this year. The commission had officially asked Irelands High Court to stop X Corp. from processing EU users data to train the companys AI model.
To back its complaint, Irelands DPC cited EU data protection restrictions. It reportedly claimed Xs actions risked jeopardizing users rights.
The Record by Recorded Future | European data privacy watchdog closes case against X over its Grok AI bot https://t.co/grqu3waUnF Kimberly (@StopMalvertisin) September 4, 2024
X promptly agreed to temporarily suspend the use of the EU users data to train Grok. The company has extended the suspension to become permanent this week. Consequentially, the DPC has decided to drop the court proceedings.
X may have indirectly violated EU users privacy and EU data rules. This is because X offered EU users a choice to deny the use of their data. However, this was an opt-out choice and not an opt-in. In other words, X was using EU users public posts to train its Grok AI. EU users had to specifically deny X permission.
The BBC has removed the true story description of TV drama Dopesick, which explores opioid addiction in America, from the shows synopsis on iPlayer.
In a note posted on the broadcasters Corrections and Clarifications page, the BBC said while the Hulu series is inspired by actual events, certain details were imagined or invented for purposes of dramatisation.
It comes after Netflix hit Baby Reindeer came under fire for calling the show a true story from a woman who claims to have been depicted by the series.
The BBC statement said in the note: The BBC iPlayer page for Dopesick described the series as a true story.
Whilst the story is inspired by actual events, certain characters, characterisations, incidents, locations and dialogue were imagined or invented for purposes of dramatisation.
The programme description has now been amended.
The description for the eight-part miniseries now reads: Greed has side effects. A story inspired by the dealers, doctors and the billion dollar drug that fuelled Americas deadly opioid addiction.
The show, which stars Michael Keaton and Rosario Dawson, first aired on US streaming platform Hulu in 2021.
It later picked up a host of awards including Golden Globes for Keaton and Dawson as well as the lead actor Emmy for a limited or anthology series or movie for Keaton.
Last month, a Netflix boss said the company would be disappointed if the true story claim at the beginning of Baby Reindeer detracts from the importance of the series, which touches on issues of sexual assault and stalking.
Jessica Gunning and Richard Gadd (Lucy North/PA)
Created by Scottish comedian Richard Gadd and said to be inspired by his real-life experiences, the drama sees his Donny Dunn hounded by Martha, played by Jessica Gunning, after he serves her a free cup of tea in the pub where he works.
The show made headlines are Fiona Harvey came forward claiming to be the inspiration behind Martha, alleging the story is inaccurate, and filed a lawsuit against Netflix.
At the beginning of the first episode, text appears on the screen which says: This is a true story.
When asked about the controversy, vice president of UK content at Netflix Anne Mensah told the Edinburgh TV Festival what is amazing is that it really touched people, citing an increase in men ringing hotlines to see help.
She added: It was important for those reasons, and if you feel it detracted from that I would be absolutely disappointed, but I absolutely stand by all the show.
Its drama, not a documentary.
The head of the Governments new Border Security Command will be named within weeks, Downing Street said as the latest figures showed 257 migrants crossed the English Channel on Wednesday.
Officials insisted the Government was taking action, including boosting National Crime Agency (NCA) resources devoted to the problem, as the number of people making the journey in small boats reached almost 22,000 so far this year.
The Home Office promised a rapid recruitment process for the border security commander within days of Labours election win in July, but two months on there has been no announcement.
(PA Graphics)
The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: One of the first things that the Government did was to launch the recruitment campaign for the border security commander.
We obviously want to have the most skilled person possible in the role.
The process has been thorough, and we expect to provide an update on that in the coming weeks.
The spokesman added: In the meantime, weve already put an extra 100 officers into the National Crime Agency to work with partners across Europe, on top of the 50% uplift in NCA officers stationed at Europol.
No 10 dismissed a suggestion from Frances interior minister, Gerald Darmanin, that migrants were risking the English Channel crossing because they could often work without papers and were rarely expelled.
Asked whether the UKs labour market was a pull factor, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said: No, and lets be clear, the people responsible for this vile trade are the smuggling gangs who make profit and take advantage of vulnerable people and vulnerable situations.
And that is why this Government is so focused on dismantling their criminal operations and preventing these dangerous journeys taking place.
A group of people thought to be migrants being brought in to Dover from a Border Force vessel on Wednesday (Gareth Fuller/PA)
Home Office figures showed five boats arrived on Wednesday, which suggests an average of around 51 people per boat.
The arrivals came a day after a boat sank off the coast of France, claiming the lives of 12 migrants including a pregnant woman and six children.
The cumulative number of arrivals by small boats in 2024 now stands at a provisional total of 21,977.
This is 3% higher than at this point last year, when the total stood at 21,372, but 20% lower than at this stage in 2022, when the total was 27,409.
There have been 2,683 arrivals in the past nine days, from August 27 to September 4 inclusive the highest in any nine-day period so far this year.
There were 29,437 arrivals across the whole of 2023, down 36% on a record 45,774 in 2022.
More than 30 people have now died in Channel crossings so far this year, compared with 12 who are thought to have died or were recorded as missing in 2023, according to the French coastguard.
Monthly sales of new cars have declined for the first time in more than two years, industry figures show.
Some 84,575 new cars were registered in the UK last month, down 1.3% compared with 85,657 during August 2023, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.
It is the first monthly year-on-year decrease since July 2022.
(PA Graphics)
Registrations of new pure battery electric vehicles rose 10.8% year on year, which the SMMT attributed to heavy discounting by manufacturers over the summer and a raft of new models attracting buyers.
August is traditionally one of the quietest months of the year for the new car market ahead of the introduction of new number plates in September.
The overall new car market grew by 5.1% during the first eight months of the year compared with the same period in 2023.
(PA Graphics)
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: Augusts EV growth is welcome, but its always a very low volume month and so subject to distortions ahead of Septembers number plate change.
The introduction of the new 74 plate, together with a raft of compelling offers and discounts from manufacturers, plus growing model choice, will help increase purchase consideration and be a true barometer for market demand.
Encouraging a mass market shift to EVs remains a challenge, however, and urgent action must be taken to help buyers overcome affordability issues and concerns about charge point provision.
Year to date, BEV market share has edged up to 17.2% and is expected to rise further to 18.5% by the end of the year thanks to increasing model choice 364,000 BEVs registrations forecast for the yearhttps://t.co/rD4waDW7aa pic.twitter.com/dvXq86b34n SMMT (@SMMT) September 5, 2024
Ian Plummer, commercial director at online vehicle marketplace Auto Trader, said: UK registrations were sluggish overall in August as buyers historically hold fire for Septembers plate changes.
Heavy discounting from manufacturers helped drive the electric share of new car leads on Auto Trader to 27%, the highest market share since the end of 2022.
The Government must maintain financial incentives for buyers of new EVs as well as cutting VAT on public charging to help support the electric transition.
British javelin star Dan Pembroke delivered on his word by twice breaking the world record en route to becoming double Paralympic champion in Paris.
The 33-year-old had made little secret of his intent of bettering the previous best global mark of 71.01 metres, set by Uzbekistans Aleksandr Svechnikov back in 2017, having been 51 centimetres away from it last year.
He initially stretched the record to 71.15m before producing a mammoth throw of 74.49m to emphatically retain the F13 title he memorably clinched with a then Games record of 69.52m on a rain-soaked day in Tokyo.
It's back to back Paralympic javelin GOLD for Dan Pembroke!!!!!! And a new World Record for the absolute showman. Love. It.#ParalympicsGB pic.twitter.com/EBXtlCT1sW ParalympicsGB (@ParalympicsGB) September 5, 2024
World champion Pembroke stood with his arms aloft as he absorbed the acclaim of the Stade de France crowd before blowing kisses to spectators revelling in his unprecedented achievement.
That was phenomenal, he said of the atmosphere. Ive never had anything like that ever before in my life, it was just such a feeling.
The crowd just got behind me and that was my secret weapon. It was incredible, an amazing day.
Ive got a taste of it and I want some more LA ( Los Angeles 2028) here we come.
Pembrokes success brought ParalympicsGBs third athletics podium place on Thursday after wheelchair racer Sammi Kinghorn won her fourth medal of the Games with 400m silver following F35 shot put bronze for Anna Nicholson.
He was first up and led the contest throughout, having begun with a seasons best effort of 68.39m, which was more than seven metres superior to the rest of the field in round one.
The visually-impaired athlete, who was poised to represent his country at the London 2012 Olympics before a snapped elbow ligament ruined that dream and ultimately prompted his journey in Para sport, was just getting started.
After Svechnikovs seven-year record fell in round three, Pembroke again broke new ground with his next attempt, fuelled by Iranian rival Ali Pirouj providing food for thought with a throw of 69.74m.
I thought, wow, thats a bit too close for comfort and I realised then the job wasnt done, he said.
Ive been doing a lot more visualisation work and it really helps to clear the mind. I just thought of my process goals and hit them and bang out it went.
Dan Pembroke celebrates winning gold with a world record throw (Handout photo provided by ParalympicsGB)
Piroujs best was as close as anyone came to stealing the thunder of Pembroke, who celebrated gold by jubilantly running into the centre of the field and bowing to his supporters before performing laps of the track wrapped in the Union Jack.
Following his dashed Olympic dream, the Briton, who has retinitis pigmentosa a genetic disorder which affects the retina and has left him with only 10 per cent vision, bade farewell to athletics in 2013 in order to see the world while he still could.
The lengthy sabbatical included meeting wife Martina in Sardinia before Pembroke made the successful transition to disability sport.
Tokyo, there was no one in the crowd; today, I didnt know what to expect, he said.
Ive been speaking to Sammi Kinghorn, shes clanging with medals at the moment and she just told me just go out there and enjoy it and thats exactly what Ive done.
I was bawling my eyes out when I hugged Martina she knows how much it means to me to do to do that.
Earlier, Kinghorn, who became 100m champion on Wednesday, continued her unforgettable Games by clocking 53.45 seconds in the T53 400m, 1.85secs behind Swiss gold medallist Catherine Debrunner.
Im absolutely buzzing with it; four from four, I cant be disappointed in that at all, said the 28-year-old Scot, who has also won 800m and 1500m silver in France.
Its been amazing, Ive definitely done a lot better than I thought I would coming in.
Shot putter Nicholson produced a best throw of of 9.44m in the morning session to finish third in her event.
Tottenham have left Djed Spence and Sergio Reguilon out of their squad for the Europa League group stage.
Ange Postecoglous team had to submit a maximum 25-man squad to UEFA by Wednesday night, but were only able to list 23 players due to a lack of club-trained options.
It means Spence, who has been reintegrated back into the first team this summer after loan spells at Leeds and Genoa last season, will miss out on European football during the first half of the campaign.
Djed Spence featured regularly for Tottenham during pre-season (Andrew Milligan/PA)
The absence of Reguilon is no surprise given the Spanish defender is deemed surplus to requirements and could still leave, with the Turkish transfer window open.
Spurs have allowed Alfie Devine to join Westerlo of the Belgian Pro League on a season-long loan.
Devine attracted plenty of interest this summer after spells with Port Vale and Plymouth last season, but no suitable domestic loan could be found before Fridays 11pm transfer deadline in England.
Westerlo already have 17-year-old centre-back Luka Vuskovic, who will officially join Spurs in 2025, in their ranks and he will now have Devine for company after the Antwerp-based club moved for the midfielder before the Belgian transfer window shuts on Friday.
Alfie Devine has joined Belgian Pro League side Westerlo on loan for the remainder of the 2024/25 season. Good luck, Alfie! Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 5, 2024
This will be the third loan of Devines fledgling career after he first signed for Tottenham in July 2020 and became the clubs youngest scorer six months later with an FA Cup goal on his debut at Marine.
Devine has a contract with Spurs until the summer of 2027 and has made 44 professional appearances.
An MP has described great anxiety among Lincolnshire steelworkers who he said face losing their jobs by Christmas.
Martin Vickers told MPs that closing British Steel blast furnaces in Scunthorpe would affect the supply chain which comprises many thousands of people and many businesses throughout the wider region, including his Brigg and Immingham constituency.
At the House of Commons despatch box, Labour industry minister Sarah Jones vowed to spend 2.5 billion to rebuild the steel industry.
The money would sit alongside a separate 500 million package for Tata Steel in Port Talbot, South Wales, to build an electric arc furnace to replace the existing coal-powered process.
British Steel announced it would close its blast furnaces in Scunthorpe late last year, and unveiled plans to roll out electric arc steel manufacturing if it gets appropriate support from the UK Government.
Ms Jones said: The inheritance this Government received from the party opposite was nothing short of a disgrace on steel over a decade of lurching from crisis to crisis, with no clear plan to safeguard the future of a competitive domestic steel industry.
But this Government is determined to change that. We have been working hard over the summer to set a clear forward direction on steel and resolve a number of complex issues only made worse by the indifference of the last government.
The minister added: This Government is clear, as the Secretary of State has made very clear, that decarbonisation must not mean deindustrialisation. Discussions regarding the transformation of Port Talbot have continued at pace over recent weeks, involving both the company, the workforce and the Welsh Government.
Mr Vickers replied from the Conservatives benches: I will ignore the political comments of the minister and focus on what is more important, and that is the future of thousands of workers, particularly at the Scunthorpe works, part of which falls within my Brigg and Immingham constituency and where many hundreds of my constituents work.
There have been widespread media reports suggesting that coke would stop being imported from October. That would mean production would be stopping in Scunthorpe by Christmas, and there are rumours concerning the fact that employees will be given notice very soon.
This is obviously creating great anxiety amongst those directly employed by British Steel, and also those in the supply chain which, particularly in northern Lincolnshire, extends to many thousands of people and many businesses.
The steelworks in Port Talbot (Ben Birchall/PA)
The minister said it was a statement of fact that the previous government allowed the steel industry to decline, and added: Its not political.
She said Mr Vickers was right in his analysis about the concern that people are feeling, the unease, the importance of these jobs, and the worry that people must be feeling.
Conservative shadow business minister Greg Smith pressed Ms Jones on whether the minister had discussed electric arc furnaces with British Steel, and whether the firm would switch to foreign imports from China to fulfil its UK supply chain obligations.
Now we see, quite clearly, Labours plans for decarbonisation do in fact mean deindustrialisation, that the drive for green steel will mean fewer jobs, not more, Mr Smith said.
Ms Jones said: This Government does understand the importance of steel. Thats why we are committing 2.5 billion from the national wealth fund on top of the 500 million set aside for Port Talbot, and we will be developing a strategy that will enable the steel industry to grow.
He knows that I cannot comment on commercial and confidential conversations that we are having.
North Lincolnshire Council granted British Steel planning permission for a new electric arc furnace in Scunthorpe last April.
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has also given the green light to plans for an electric arc furnace at the firms Teesside site, as part of its 1.25 billion decarbonisation plan.
Our desire to dramatically reduce our carbon footprint, coupled with current market conditions, means we cant wait and need to transform our business as quickly as possible, British Steel chief executive Xijun Cao said last November, unveiling the plan.
And while decarbonisation will not happen overnight, its imperative we take swift and decisive action to ensure a sustainable future for British Steel.
Greenpeace UK activists blocked access to Unilevers headquarters in central London on Thursday morning, claiming the consumer goods company is trashing the planet and harming communities through single-use plastics.
Members of the environmental campaign group locked themselves on to barricades made from giant Dove products, one of Unilevers biggest brands, with each products logo changed to a dead dove.
Greenpeace is calling on Unilever to remove single-use plastic from its operations and phase it out fully within a decade, starting with plastic sachets, which they say are near impossible to collect and recycle.
JUST IN: @GreenpeaceUK activists have unfurled a MASSIVE artwork at Unilevers HQ in London, that rips apart Dove's GREENWASHING LIES. pic.twitter.com/GYgy8kgMgu Greenpeace UK (@GreenpeaceUK) September 5, 2024
Will McCallum, co-executive director at Greenpeace UK, said: Unilevers plastic pollution is trashing the planet and harming communities.
They hide behind the clean, respectable face of brands like Dove but were here today peeling back this facade to show the ugly truth behind it.
He added: They must stop selling plastic sachets now, commit to phasing out single-use plastic within a decade, and advocate for this same level of ambition at the final round of UN Global Plastics Treaty negotiations in November.
Greenpeace UK is calling on Unilever to back a treaty that caps and phases down plastic production by at least 75% by 2040 at these UN negotiations.
Activists from Greenpeace UK blocked access to Unilevers London HQ, claiming the company is trashing the planet through single-use plastics (Kristian Buus/Greenpeace/PA)
A Greenpeace International report published in November last year claimed Unilever was the biggest corporate seller of polluting plastic sachets, small throwaway plastic packets of consumer products, selling 1,700 a second in 2023.
The protesters said they had enough provisions to allow them to block the entrances to the building for the whole of Thursday.
A spokesman for Unilever said: Our ambition at Unilever is clear: an end to plastic pollution through reduction, circulation, and collaboration. We recognise the important role that we play to help make this ambition a reality which is why plastic is one of our four sustainability priorities.
Weve already reduced our virgin plastic use by 18% and increased our use of recycled plastic to 22% recognised by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation as one of the businesses making the most progress to reduce its virgin plastic packaging footprint.
However, our work is far from over. Our updated plastic goals are stretching and focus on the areas that we know will have the most impact such as continuing to reduce our virgin plastic use and developing alternatives to hard-to-recycle flexible plastic packaging, like plastic sachets.
We are fully committed to working with industry partners and other stakeholders to develop viable, scalable alternatives that reduce plastic waste.
But overcoming a challenge of this scale will require more systemic change. Thats why were calling for a UN treaty on plastic pollution that sets legally binding global rules and addresses the full lifecycle of plastic.
Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer is to score a new version of Lord Of The Flies for the BBC.
William Goldings 1954 novel is being adapted for TV for the first time, and will consist of four 60-minute episodes.
The BBC has also announced the young cast, some of whom have no professional experience, who will portray the group stranded on a deserted island following a deadly plane crash.
Zimmer, 66, who won the Academy Award for Best Original Score for The Lion King in 1994 and Dune in 2021 and has been nominated a further 10 times, has already begun working on the music for the new series.
Jack Thorne has written the script for the TV version of Lord Of The Flies (Ian West/PA)
Filming for the drama written by His Dark Materials Jack Thorne, directed by Marc Munden and executively produced by Elevens Joel Wilson and Jamie Campbell is now under way in Malaysia, ahead of further shooting in the UK later this year.
The cast includes David McKenna, who will play the loyal character Piggy, and Winston Sawyers as charismatic leader Ralph.
Noah and Cassius Flemyng, the sons of Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels actor Jason Flemyng, have been cast as the twins Sam and Eric, with Cornelius Brandreth as Maurice, Lox Pratt as hunter and bully Jack, and Tom Page-Turner as Bill.
Thorne said: I still cant believe we have been given the opportunity to film this beautiful book.
The first few days shooting show that our cast are extraordinary and that Marc is finding a whole new visual language in capturing the wonders of them and the beauty of Malaysia. He is an incredible storyteller. It is all so exciting.
The drama takes place on an unnamed Pacific island in the early 1950s, and the episodes will be titled Ralph, Piggy, Simon, and Jack to give different perspectives on the groups predicament.
The programme is being made with the support of Goldings family.
George Ormond, Marc Munden, Jack Thorne and John Chapman with their Baftas for Best Mini Series won by National Treasure in 2017 (Ian West/PA)
Wilson said: Marc is a visionary. It is a privilege to witness his skill in working with our young actors as he brings Jacks scripts to life.
The visual language he has developed with Mark Wolf, our cinematographer, would be a thing to behold in any environment.
Here, capturing our excellent cast in the jungle, mountains and beaches of Malaysia, it is extraordinary.
Hans has already shared his first sketches for the score, which are hugely inspiring. We are honoured to be working with him.
Im writing this as I watch our cast of more than 30 boys (between the ages of five and 13) file up our mobile jetty on to the beach, feeling delighted we made this happen.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has discontinued its indecent assault case against Harvey Weinstein, saying there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.
The 72-year-old former Hollywood film producer was facing two criminal charges of alleged indecent assault against a woman, who is now aged in her 50s, in London in 1996.
On Thursday, Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS special crime and counter-terrorism division, said: Following a review of the evidence in this case, the CPS has decided to discontinue criminal proceedings against Harvey Weinstein.
Harvey Weinstein in currently in prison in the US after being convicted of unrelated charges (David Mirzoeff/PA)
The CPS has a duty to keep all cases under continuous review and we have decided that there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.
We have explained our decision to all parties.
We would always encourage any potential victims of sexual assault to come forward and report to police and we will prosecute wherever our legal test is met.
A statement from the Metropolitan Police at the time of the arrest said it had been alleged two offences were committed between July 31 and August 31 1996.
The alleged victim, a woman, is now aged in her 50s.
Juda Engelmayer, a spokesperson for Weinstein, told the PA news agency: We are grateful for the decision and to know that in some parts of Western society justice is indeed still blind.
Mr Weinstein is appreciative towards those who worked hard to come to this conclusion and is deeply saddened that any of his actions may have caused anyone difficulty.
He hopes that other jurisdictions can find their way clear to distinguish the difference between disappointment, sadness, regret and illegal, criminal behaviour. Harvey believes in his heart that he never crossed those lines.
Weinstein is serving a prison sentence in the United States following a rape and sexual misconduct conviction in Los Angeles related to an incident in 2013 where he appeared uninvited in a womans hotel room during a Los Angeles film festival.
He was sentenced to 16 years prison in February 2023.
In July, Harvey Weinstein was treated in hospital after being diagnosed with pneumonia and Covid-19 (Ian West/PA)
He is currently in custody in New Yorks Rikers Island jail complex while awaiting a retrial in Manhattan after a 2020 conviction for rape was overturned earlier this year in a majority decision from the Court of Appeal in New York.
The decision cited the trial court erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes which was an abuse of judicial discretion.
In July, Weinstein was treated in hospital after being diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs, and Covid-19.
In 2020, the producer of hit movies including Pulp Fiction, The English Patient, Good Will Hunting, Gangs Of New York and Shakespeare In Love was stripped of his honorary CBE awarded for his contribution to the British film industry.
A plan to impose VAT on private schools is wicked, stupid and cruel, Parliament has been told.
In strongly worded criticism at Westminster, Tory former Cabinet minister Lord Forsyth of Drumlean accused the Labour Government of pursuing an ideological driven policy.
From January, the Government plans to remove the VAT exemption and business rates relief for private schools to enable funding for 6,500 new teachers in state schools.
Currently, independent schools do not have to charge 20% VAT on their fees because there is an exemption for the supply of education.
Tory former Cabinet minister Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Parliament UK/PA)
But critics have warned over the short timescale involved and branded it a blunt instrument that risked unintended consequences, including the impact on children with learning difficulties who attend specialist independent schools and military families.
Lord Forsyth said: I will sum up my view of this policy in three words: its wicked, its stupid and its cruel.
He added: Who in this chamber can defend the idea of sending a child halfway through term, suffering from autism, to another completely different environment.
Anyone who knows anything about autism will know that would be a cruel and disgraceful thing to do and that is the consequence of this policy.
Rather than the part of education, education, education under Tony Blair it was now one of taxation, taxation, taxation, he argued.
Lord Forsyth said: I fear that this is an ideological driven policy of the kind the Prime Minister showed during the election when he was asked, If one of your family were desperately ill would you ever use the private sector? and he said no.
We dont want that kind of politics in this country.
Conservative peer Baroness Fraser of Craigmaddie, who has a child at a fee-paying school and a sister who teaches at one, said: The draft Bill which has been published is to me a blunt instrument. It treats the sector as a homogeneous whole so causing unintended consequences.
Tory peer Lord Lexden, who is president of the Independent Schools Association and secured the debate on the Government proposals, warned they would have serious and far-reaching consequences for the sector and that it was being imposed with extraordinary haste.
He said: Acute concern has naturally arisen. Many parents are deeply worried. Many schools, particularly those of small size which account for the overwhelming majority in the independent sector, face an uncertain future.
I stress one point above all the effect that the rapid introduction of the tax will have on thousands of children, their wellbeing and their life chances. They should surely be at the forefront of our minds and our hearts during this debate.
Independent crossbencher Lord Alton of Liverpool highlighted expert legal advice which argued the education tax could breach the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
He said: At the heart of this policy must be the impact on children. It clearly isnt. This taxation is punitive, unjust, unfair, may be in breach of the ECHR and will worsen educational inequalities. For all those reasons I hope that the Government will think again.
The Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Rev Christopher Chessun, said: I am a grammar school boy and I could not sing the Eton Boating Song if you paid me yet I am deeply concerned about the adverse and unintended consequences which this manifesto commitment will have, unless applied with much greater sensitivity and possibly also to be phased.
Conservative peer Lord Balfe said: I agree that this was in the manifesto, but its still a very vindictive policy, and the way in which its being introduced actually worsens things.
Labour peer Lord Hacking said: It is immoral and destined to bring about significant social and political damage to my party and to the country.
Tory peer Lord Lucas said: What Im most concerned about is the merciless decision to put VAT on in January to force children to move schools mid-year, in the middle of exam years, when theres no chance to negotiate proper provision for special educational needs.
I find it astonishing, given the years Ive been here and the respect I have for the party opposite, that it should contemplate treating children with such cruelty.
It really isnt in the blood of the Labour party I know and I really hope they will think again and make the start date September.
Conservative peer and historian Lord Roberts of Belgravia said: This measure unfairly penalises those incredibly useful people in our society, namely parents who pay for their education twice, once in their taxes for other peoples children and once in school fees for their own.
Instead of spending their money on luxuries, they invest in their childrens education.
This is essentially a tax on those parental sacrifices and one that comes fraught with myriad unintentional consequences.
Crossbench peer Baroness Butler-Sloss argued that people on modest incomes are being attacked by the policy.
The former top judge said she spent all her money on sending her children to private school, adding: We didnt take foreign holidays, things like that.
Tory peer Lord Black of Brentwood said it was a spiteful policy based on voodoo economics, as he accused the Government of heartlessly toying with childrens education.
He added: It is time to put children before party.
Labour peer Lord Winston said the amount of money raised by charging VAT on private schools would be trivial in comparison to the sum needed to fix the crisis in our schools.
Responding, education minister Baroness Smith of Malvern said: We are determined in Government to drive up standards in those schools for the overwhelming majority of the children in this country so that they may receive the opportunities which too often have been the preserve of the rich and of the lucky.
There has been an assumption from some contributors to the debate that only some parents have aspirations for their children.
That is not something that is confined to people who choose to educate their children in private schools and are able to do that.
She added: Private education is not an option for most of those people and unlike the last Government we wont build public policy around the expectation that public services will fail our children.
Lady Smith stressed the VAT change would not impact on children with acute needs being educated in independent special schools, but promised to listen to concerns raised.
The Government would also monitor closely the impact of the policy change on military families, she added.
Jeremy Clarkson at the opening of his new pub, The Farmer's Dog, in Asthall. (Getty) (Ben Birchall - PA Images via Getty Images)
Jeremy Clarkson and his team are looking into running tours in the Cotswolds, West Oxfordshire District Council councillor Liam Walker told Yahoo.
The tours would look at a trip to the Diddly Squat Farm shop, between Chipping Norton and Chadlington, and Clarkson's new pub The Farmer's Dog, in Asthall, near Burford as well as The Hawkstone Brewery, near Bourton on the Water.
Walker is the Conservative County Councillor for the Hanborough and Minster Lovell Division, as well as the West Oxfordshire District Council councillor for the Hailey, Minster Lovell and Leafield ward.
The councillor told Yahoo: "I think Jeremy's team are planning to do in the future tours. So they'll go to the farm shop and then go down to the pub and then his brewery by Bourton on the Water, so that it will be almost like a triangle of the Cotswolds which is great. It's a huge boost of tourism, particularly in West Oxfordshire."
We hope they get The Grand Tours off the ground!
It's true, the Cotswolds has always attracted the great and the good of showbiz from Kate Moss to the Beckhams thanks to its beautiful unspoiled countryside and pretty villages. But people from all over the country have flocked in their droves to visit the Cotswolds ever since the Grand Tour presenter launched his farm shop on Diddly Squat farm, where he films his hit Prime Video series Clarkson's Farm.
All eyes were on the opening of the TV star's new pub The Farmer's Dog over the Bank Holiday weekend in August. Since it first opened its doors, everyone has been talking about Clarkson's 'proper English pub' menu and what's missing as well as all the people banned from The Farmer's Dog.
The Grand Tour returns to our screens next week. (Prime Video)
Also in the interview ahead of the opening of the pub, local councillor Walker had high praise for Clarkson and everything he has done for the local area. He added: "I don't think the council has done any assessment but it wouldn't surprise me if hotels and other businesses in the area it's in had a huge boost, particularly around the farm shop. Chipping Norton is not far away. People are there for the afternoon, or for the day, and they make a trip of it to the Cotswolds which is quite nice."
Jeremy Clarkson's Grand Tours!
Diddly Squat Farm shop
Diddly Squat Farm Shop near Chadlington. (Getty) (Gareth Fuller - PA Images via Getty Images)
Diddly Squat Farm shop first welcomed people in 2020. Clarkson was spurred onto set up the shop when he discovered potatoes grew very well on his farm, which features in the Clarkson's Farm series, and he accidentally had 40 tonnes of them.
It sells all fresh produce including cow juice, apple juice, vegetables as well as honey made from the bees living on hives on Diddly Squat Farm. The shop is open from Wednesday through to Sunday between 9.30am and 4.30pm. This includes Bank Holidays too.
Clarkson's long-time girlfriend Lisa Hogan works as the manager of the shop and she's in charge of the day-to-day running of the place. We often get fun glimpses of what's going on in the shop on Clarkson's Farm too.
The Farmer's Dog
A sign for Jeremy Clarkson's new pub, The Farmer's Dog. (Getty) (Ben Birchall - PA Images via Getty Images)
His latest venture The Farmer's Dog opened for the first time over the August Bank Holiday and it has proved already to be a roaring success. The Grand Tour star has a clear vision for the pub and he will only have British produce, with the exception of a G&T.
He wrote on his website: "I have tried my absolute hardest to make sure that every single thing you consume in The Farmers Dog was grown or reared by British farmers. And I have failed. Yes, the pork, the beef, the lamb and the venison are all British.
"And so is pretty much everything else. The milk, the butter, the eggs, the vegetables and the fruit. We even cook in British oils. But there have been some problems like, for instance, the simple G&T. You cant have a pub that doesnt offer a gin and tonic.
"But there is quinine in tonic water, and you cant grow that in Britain. Sure, I could have served gin and water instead, but I didnt think youd enjoy it very much. Especially as, instead of a slice of lemon, youd have been given a slice of turnip, or some potato peelings."
Ketchup, avocado and Coca-Cola fans will be disappointed though because none of these feature in Clarkson's pub. There are fizzy drink alternatives to Coca-Cola though that are grown from British fruit grown on Diddly Squat Farm.
The Hawkstone Brewery
Jeremy Clarkson at the Hawkstone lager launch. (Getty) (Dave Benett via Getty Images)
At Clarkson's pub he also sells his Hawkstone lager and cider. It is brewed nearby at The Hawkstone Brewery, near Bourton on the Water. Hawkstone lager and cider fans can visit the brewery where they can also get expert guided tours that teach them all about the history of Hawkstone and how it is brewed.
The tickets cost 24 per person for the two-hour tour at the brewery. There is a bar open serving Hawkstone lager and cider as well as independent food trucks on site every Friday and Saturday from 2pm.
Yahoo reached out to Jeremy Clarkson and Prime Video's representatives for further comment.
Northern Irelands Veterans Commissioner Danny Kinahan has resigned, saying he cannot provide the independent voice that veterans require.
Mr Kinahan, a former Ulster Unionist MP and a veteran himself, said he had left the post after four years after an open and frank conversation with Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn.
He also said that veterans in Northern Ireland do not enjoy the same protection as those in the rest of the UK.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson said the resignation raises serious questions for the Government.
In a statement, Mr Kinahan said: I can confirm that I have today resigned from my position as Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner.
Following an open and frank conversation with the Secretary of State, I have sadly concluded that I cannot provide the independent voice that veterans require.
There is a feeling among some veterans in Northern Ireland that they do not enjoy the same protection as their counterparts in Great Britain.
Veterans in Northern Ireland have particular needs and concerns which need to be addressed by the UK Government, which I have made very clear in our discussions.
Finally I would like to place on record my gratitude to all those who have placed their trust in me and assisted me with my work over the last four years.
I will continue to work in their interests where I can.
Mr Benn thanked Mr Kinahan for his dedicated work on behalf of veterans and families living in Northern Ireland.
He added: Over the last four years, he has worked on a range of important issues that affect veterans in everyday life, including health, housing and welfare and we will continue to engage with him on these issues.
We are committed to continuing to support veterans in Northern Ireland through the Veterans Welfare Service NI and the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.
The Northern Ireland Office said the steps to appoint a new Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner would be set out in due course.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson said he hoped a new commissioner would soon be in place (Liam McBurney/PA)
Mr Robinson said: The creation of the NI Veterans Commissioner post flowed from the New Decade New Approach Agreement as we were aware of how veterans in Northern Ireland were disadvantaged when compared with veterans in the rest of the UK.
Danny Kinahans appointment in 2020 was a real breakthrough and signal that the Government was going to change course.
Danny has served in Office and our strong community of veterans, with genuine tenacity and integrity.
He added: I am deeply disappointed that such has been the breakdown between the Government and the NIVC (NI Veterans Commissioner) that today we have a resignation and a vacant office.
The NIO must urgently address the widespread concern of veterans who valued Dannys personal commitment and move quickly to assuage their concerns.
We need to see a successor not only appointed swiftly, but that they have the independence and support to do the job effectively.
Mr Kinahan is a former UUP MLA and won the South Antrim Westminster seat for the unionist party in 2015. He lost the seat to the DUP in the 2017 general election.
He was appointed Northern Irelands first Veterans Commissioner in September 2020.
Last year he gave a guarded welcome to the Conservatives controversial Act to deal with the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles because of the lopsided number of prosecutions against former members of the armed forces.
Since Labour came to power it has committed to repealing and replacing the laws.
The first several years of King Charles III's reign have been full of personal and political challenges. More recently, things are looking up for the monarch of the United Kingdom after his wife, Queen Camilla, shared a positive update regarding His Majesty's cancer treatment. This is a breath of fresh air for the Royal Family, to be sure, but King Charles has found joy in local wildlife since long before he took the throne.
In fact, he's been public about his love for these animals for years, and he even lets them run freely inside of his Scottish home. He inherited the Balmoral estate from his mother, the beloved late Queen Elizabeth II, but it has been a home to him and his woodland friends for decades. But what is it about these animals that captivates the King?
Royal Red Squirrels
In the UK, native red squirrels are becoming increasingly difficult to spot. Due to the arrival of invasive grey squirrels, they've even been placed on the endangered species list. Luckily, they have one of the world's most prominent leaders consistently advocating for their restoration. No one has been able to pinpoint exactly when his obsession with the critters began, but he's made many joyful comments about red squirrels--AKA the English kind of squirrels-- in interviews over the years.
Related: Tiny Red Squirrel's Winter Photoshoot Is the Gift That Keeps on Giving
In fact, he's more than the King of England--he's a Disney Prince, too! The scenes he described to Town & Country Magazine sound like they're straight from the pages of a fairy tale.
"They come into the house at Birkhall and we get them chasing each other round and round inside. If I sit quietly, they will do so around me," he shared. "Sometimes, when I leave my jackets on a chair with nuts in the pockets, I see them with their tails sticking out, as they hunt for nutsthey are incredibly special creatures." While he doesn't keep wild squirrels as pets, Prince William admitted that his father does name them!
Red Squirrel Conservation
In 2009, His Majesty (who was Prince at the time) was named the patron of the Red Squirrel Survival Trust. This organization, like the monarch himself, is dedicated to the safety and conservation of red squirrels within the UK. Because the species is under threat because of the invasive grey squirrel species, King Charles (who's not to be confused with King Charles II, who was the namesake for the current monarch as well as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel species) has even proposed a unique plan to stop the larger, less colorful squirrels from repopulating: Nutella and contraceptives.
You read that correctly! This plan may be out there, but it could be an effective strategy for reducing grey squirrel populations in some areas. In the meantime, there's no doubt that King Charles will appreciate every red squirrel sighting he has! Other royal pursuits may make headlines more frequently than his love for the creatures of the forest, but it's reassuring to know that a King has a soft, animal-loving side, too!
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A senior Army officer who drunkenly touched and tried to kiss a woman in a karaoke bar while leading an overseas military delegation has received a six-month suspended prison sentence.
Major General James Roddiss career lies in tatters after being dismissed from the Army by the court martial board.
The 53-year-old married father-of-three had been drinking for several hours when he started touching the hair of the woman before kissing her on the lips.
A court martial in Bulford, Wiltshire, heard the delegation were on the last night of their overseas trip in April this year.
Roddis had been required to resign from the Army in July following a misconduct investigation but as part of his punishment he was dismissed.
The board also ordered him to complete 30 days of rehabilitation and 150 hours of unpaid work and pay his victim 2,500 compensation.
Roddis had previously admitted a charge of disgraceful conduct of an indecent kind.
Imposing sentence, Judge Advocate General Alan Large said: As weve seen from the video over a period of some minutes you began touching her hair and you put your arm around her.
She was clearly not interested in your attention. You then pulled her hair bobble out.
It was apparent from another person at the table that the victim was uncomfortable about that.
This was only a few minutes after your physical attention started. About 10 minutes later you put your hand on her chin, pull her head towards your lips, and kiss her on her lips for about two seconds.
The disgraceful conduct in your charge encompasses both the unwanted touching of her hair and the kiss.
A migrant facing jail after raping a 15-year-old girl has been told he cannot change his plea to not guilty.
Anicet Mayela, 40, admitted to the attack of December last year at Oxford Crown Court in April.
The Congolese national, who was granted asylum in the UK following several failed attempts to deport him, appeared at the same court on Thursday in a bid to vacate his guilty plea after claiming he had not had proper legal advice.
But rejecting his request, Judge Nigel Daly said Mayela had made an unequivocal plea of guilty at the last hearing, which he could see no reason to vacate.
From the moment of his arrest he was firmly of the view that he was going to plead guilty. I will not accept the vacating of his plea, Judge Daly said.
Mayela, of Desborough Crescent, Oxford, was joined in the dock by a French interpreter.
Several family members watched the short hearing from the public gallery.
He is due to be sentenced on November 13.
After his court appearance earlier this year, The Sun reported several unsuccessful attempts had previously been made to remove him from the UK before he was given permission to stay in the country.
It is understood the Home Office initially refused Mayelas asylum claim in 2004 but he successfully challenged the decision in the courts and was eventually granted leave to remain on appeal in 2010.
According to an article published by the Institute of Race Relations (IRR) in 2005, he was served three removal notices and left with a broken hand during one deportation attempt while another flight is said to have been grounded after the airlines cabin crew refused to carry him.
The IRR report said Mayela paid an agent to help him flee his home country in 2004 because his life was in danger and that he initially lived in Plymouth while his initial asylum claim was considered.
But this was refused and his first appeal was dismissed by the courts later that year. By 2005 he was being held in immigration detention centres while attempts were made to deport him but he was later released.
Mayela, thought to be a former economics student, also appears to have supported protests outside detention centres that same year.
He should expect a custodial sentence, the judge said.
Stephen Chamberlain, an associate of tech tycoon Mike Lynch, died in hospital three days after a car crested a humpback bridge and struck him while he was out running, an inquest heard.
Caroline Jones, area coroner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said 52-year-old Mr Chamberlains medical cause of death was recorded as traumatic head injury.
She told an inquest in Alconbury: A vehicle travelling between Stretham and Wicken on the A1123 crested a humpback bridge and was presented with a runner crossing the road from the nearside to the offside between two parts of a bridleway.
She said the car struck Mr Chamberlain, causing him significant injuries.
Cambridgeshire Police said the collision happened on August 17, and an activity uploaded to the fitness app Strava indicated that Mr Chamberlain was around six miles into his run having set out from the cathedral city of Ely earlier that morning.
Stephen Chamberlain was running near the village of Stretham in Cambridgeshire (Sam Russell/PA)
Miss Jones said Mr Chamberlain was taken to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge and his death was formally confirmed at 3.50am on August 20.
Police investigations remain ongoing, therefore, no further date has been fixed for these proceedings to resume, Miss Jones said.
I adjourn todays hearing to a date to be fixed at the end of police investigations and any possible prosecutions.
I extend my condolences to the family of Stephen Chamberlain.
Tech tycoon Mr Lynch died after the Bayesian superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily last month.
Mr Chamberlain was the co-defendant in his US trial and, alongside Mr Lynch, was cleared earlier this year of conducting a massive fraud over the sale of software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011.
Relatives of Mr Chamberlain said in an earlier 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.
He made a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
Stephen Chamberlain, who was hit by a car while out running, died in hospital three days later (Cambridgeshire Police/PA)
He will be deeply missed but forever in the hearts of his loved ones.
Cambridgeshire Police previously issued an appeal for witnesses after Mr Chamberlain was in collision with a blue Vauxhall Corsa car on the A1123 Newmarket Road near Stretham.
The force said the car was travelling between Stretham and Wicken when the collision happened at about 10.10am.
Police said the driver of the car, a 49-year-old woman from Haddenham, remained at the scene and was assisting with inquiries.
Gary Lincenberg, Mr Chamberlains lawyer, said in an earlier statement: Our dear client and friend Steve Chamberlain was fatally struck by a car while out running.
He was a courageous man with unparalleled integrity. We deeply miss him.
Steve fought successfully to clear his good name at trial earlier this year, and his good name now lives on through his wonderful family.
HP acquired Cambridge-based Autonomy, founded by Mr Lynch in 1996, for 11 billion dollars (8.35 billion), but later wrote down its value by 8.8 billion dollars (6.68 billion) and asked the US justice department to investigate fraud.
Mr Chamberlain, a former vice-president of finance at the company, was accused of artificially inflating Autonomys revenues and making false and misleading statements to auditors, analysts and regulators in 2018.
Both he and Mr Lynch were found not guilty of the charge in June following a trial at a federal court in San Francisco, California.
The Government has been accused by former Conservative leader Michael Howard of grossly misleading Parliament over the suspension of 30 arms export licences to Israel.
Lord Howard of Lympne pointed out that the Government said international humanitarian law is not the only criterion in making export licensing decisions, and noted the exemption for F-35 fighter jets from this partial export ban.
Foreign Office minister Baroness Chapman of Darlington explained that this exemption is because the F-35 components are part of a global supply chain and stopping these exports could impact global security.
However, Lord Howard argued that, if other factors are able to be taken into account, the Government was not compelled to suspend the 30 arms licences, and could have made other exceptions for Israel such as on the grounds of self-defence but chose not to.
The Tory peer said: The Foreign Secretary in his statement said: Commitment to comply with international humanitarian law is not the only criterion in making export licensing decisions, and he justified the decision to exempt the F-35 equipment on other criteria.
So does it not clearly follow from that the Government could, had it wished, have decided against a ban on the grounds that Israel is acting in self-defence against an organisation committed to its destruction and recognised by our own Government as a terrorist organisation?
In the light of that, will the minister now accept that, when she told this House on Tuesday that the Government was required to suspend certain export licences, what she said was both factually inaccurate and grossly misleading?
Lady Chapman responded: No, I do not accept that.
The legal test that we have is that there is a clear risk and the advice that we received that in these 30 licences it could present a clear risk, thats not that it has done, not that there is a breach, but that there is a clear risk.
This is not an embargo on sales of arms to Israel.
On the issue of F-35s, as Im fairly confident the noble lord will know, that is different, because we supply components that are part of a global supply chain and were we to stop those components being provided it could cause very, very difficult disruption and there would be an impact on global security.
She added: Our licensing criteria state the Government wont issue export licences if there is a clear risk they might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law. We have concluded that there is a clear risk.
Lady Chapman also confirmed that the decision to suspend the 30 export licences was a matter of law, not of international Labour party politics.
In response to a question from Tory peer Lord Bellingham, she said: If he wants to talk about internal Labour party politics, hes come to the right place.
I have spent a lot of time on this topic and I can assure him, at this box, assure him, and he must hold me to this, that this decision had nothing to do with Labour party politics, and neither should it.
A mother was shot dead as she sheltered behind her front door hours after returning from a family holiday, a court has heard.
Lianne Gordon, 42, was the unintended victim of a dispute between two gangs when she was killed in her home in Hackney, east London, jurors were told.
A 17-year-old boy is charged with murdering Ms Gordon and the attempted murders of a youth aged 17 and a 21-year-old man on the same day.
The shooting was alleged to be the culmination of a series of incidents involving the teenage defendant and Elijah Seriki, 21.
It is alleged they threatened Ms Gordons son with a large knife as the victim smoked a cigarette on his doorstep on October 1 last year.
The defendants are charged with affray, having a firearm with intent to endanger life and possession of a bladed article during an alleged ride out of their territory the following day.
Opening their trial on Thursday, Mark Fenhalls KC said: Lianne Gordon was sheltering behind her front door at home when (the youth) shot and killed her on 5 December last year.
She was almost certainly not the target. But her tragic death was the culmination of an escalating dispute between two gangs. That dispute involved both (the youth) and Elijah Seriki.
The prosecutor said Ms Gordon had lived in Vine Close with her 16-year-old daughter and 21-year-old son Kaymound, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair.
At the time of the shooting, Mr Gordon had been taking a shower while his sister emerged from her room to find her mother slumped on the floor and was with her when she died, Mr Fenhalls said.
She told police that she had come face-to-face with her mothers killer and recognised him, even though his face was covered.
She described how she went downstairs when she heard gunshots, thinking they were fireworks at about 6.10pm, the court heard.
She said: Mum had her hand on door handle and looked like she was trying to close it. I could see gun tip through open door. I saw her drop. I went to her.
As soon as my mum took her last breath and I was still hearing gunshots and that. I opened the front door and I was screaming at him and he stared me directly in my face.
He was wearing a balaclava or hood, but I could see enough of his eyes and nose area to recognise him. He did not say anything. Everything happened in slow motion. We were face on for a few seconds, maybe five, before he ran off. We locked eyes, knew it was him.
Ms Gordon died at the scene from a single gunshot wound to the head, and the two young victims outside were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds.
Mr Fenhalls told jurors they would be struck by the obvious devastation of Ms Gordons children and wider family but told them they must put any feelings to one side.
He added: The Gordon family were not the only target they were abroad on holiday in Jamaica on 2 December, only returning on morning of the 5 December.
Mr Fenhalls said the shooting had resulted from a dispute between two Hackney gangs the Pembury Gang with which the defendants were associated and the A-Road Gang with whom Ms Gordons son Kaymound was linked.
Jurors were told the young man had denied membership of the A-Road Gang but said problems began in 2019 when his friend Dotz was murdered.
Over the years each side would disrespect each other in music and on social media and there were revenge attacks, jurors were told.
Mr Gordon had admitted that he punched Seriki in a shop because he thought he was about to draw a knife, jurors heard.
On the incident on October 1 last year, he said the defendants literally tried to stab us on his doorstep with a large black blade.
Jurors were shown CCTV footage allegedly showing the defendants riding out of their territory last October 2 and audio of four loud gunshots.
The teenage defendant had travelled back to Hackney even though his family had moved away in June 2022 to try to distance him from the gang, the court heard.
He had a series of previous convictions dating back to when he was 15 years old.
Among them was a conviction for attempted murder relating to an incident at Hackney Central station on March 1 last year, the court was told.
Mr Fenhalls said the defendant had been involved in planning and passing on information, but not personally involved in the violence.
Seriki, from Hackney, also had previous convictions from the age of 15 relating to drugs and weapons, including a Zombie knife, the court was told.
Both defendants deny the charges against them and the Old Bailey trial continues.
A patient in a bed with a doctor holding their hand
Assisted dying has been brought a step closer after an MP won a ballot to bring forward a Private Members Bill legalising the practice.
Labours Jake Richards said that his first preference for a Private Members Bill would be to reform our archaic assisted dying laws after he secured one of the top 20 spots to introduce a proposal to the Commons.
The Rother Valley MP missed out on a top seven spot in the Private Members Bill ballot, which would have guaranteed him a days debate, but he was drawn in 11th position, meaning that he will probably secure parliamentary time on a Friday sitting to debate a Bill of his choice.
Assisting someone to end their life is a criminal offence in England and Wales.
Lord Falconer, the former Labour justice secretary, has introduced the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill in the House of Lords, which is expected to be debated in mid-November.
Lord Falconer, the former Labour justice secretary, has introduced the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill in the House of Lords - House of Lords/UK Parliament/PA
Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, has also previously acknowledged the need to debate the divisive issue, but said that he was uncharacteristically undecided on the topic.
Mr Richards tweeted: Happy to have made the Private Members Bill ballot.
Subject to procedure and those ahead of me, Ive made it clear that my first preference for a bill would be to reform our archaic assisted dying laws, working with @dignityindying and others.
The time has come.
Ross Hendry, the chief executive of Christian Action, Research and Education, which is opposed to a change in the law, said what he described as assisted suicide undermines human dignity and puts vulnerable groups at greater risk of abuse and harm.
He added: UK politicians should ensure that investment and infrastructure are in place to ensure high-quality palliative care for all people. The UK has huge work to do in this area, given a chronic underfunding of this aspect of health care.
Wed also emphasise the need to enhance suicide prevention, and work towards a society where all lives are considered.
But Nathan Stilwell, from the campaign group My Death, My Decision, said: This is likely going to be the first step in changing the law to give adults a compassionate and dignified choice at the end of their lives.
The prospect of legalising assisted death has increasingly been in the spotlight, with moves being made elsewhere in the British Isles, and the revelation from the television presenter Dame Esther Rantzen, who has cancer, that she has joined Dignitas.
Labour secured 15 out of 20 Private Members Bill spots in Thursdays ballot, leaving the Conservatives with none.
Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP for Spen Valley, has the first opportunity to table a draft law of her choosing.
Max Wilkinson, the Liberal Democrat MP for Cheltenham, has the second opportunity, and told the PA news agency that the ballot might be the first raffle Ive ever won.
Also among the first seven MPs to be drawn were Clive Lewis, Labours former shadow defence secretary, and Jim Allister, the Traditional Unionist Voices sole MP.
A total of 458 MPs entered this sessions random draw.
The successful MPs are expected to present their Bills to the Commons on Oct 16.
The former prime minister said he was in favour of a scheme that would allow young people to live and work in the UK
Sir Tony Blair has backed the free movement of young people from the EU to the UK, piling pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to agree a deal.
The former prime minister said he was in favour of a scheme that would allow young people to live and work in the UK, as part of a reset of Britains relationship with the EU.
Labour has repeatedly insisted that it has no plans to agree a youth mobility scheme that could give young citizens of EU member states the right to work in the UK for the first time since Brexit.
But there has been mounting speculation since The Telegraph revealed that Sir Keir discussed a free movement deal for young people with Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish prime minister, in private talks at Blenheim Palace in July.
Speaking to Lord Hague in The Story podcast, Sir Tony said: We do need to fix the European relationship, of that Im absolutely sure because in the future, Britains got to be part of the political relationships on its own continent.
He added: But I expect that what [the Labour Party] will do is try and work out, because this will all come to specifics in the end, specifics around trade, around things like the youth mobility scheme, which personally I would be in favour of.
Sir Tony, pictured with Sir Keir last year, says: 'We do need to fix the European relationship' - Stefan Rousseau/PA
The UK already has a youth mobility scheme visa that allows people from 10 countries including Australia, New Zealand and Canada to study or work here for up to two years.
While EU nations are not part of the scheme, the question of whether a post-Brexit deal can be struck has risen up the political agenda.
In April, the European Commission offered a pact that would make it easier for British people aged 18 to 30 to live and study in the EU and vice versa.
The Tory government at the time rejected the offer, as did Labour. A spokesman said there were no plans for a youth mobility scheme and the Labour manifesto promised no return to freedom of movement.
A bilateral deal with Spain would not strictly break that manifesto promise, even if it did allow the free movement of young people between the two countries. Such deals could help Labour deliver improved economic growth, said to be the partys top priority in office.
A Government spokesman played down the idea, saying: We have been clear that we wont rejoin the single market, customs union or reintroduce freedom of movement, and we are not considering a youth mobility scheme.
Germanys ambassador to the UK suggested in July that relaxing border rules for younger people would help Sir Keir renegotiate the UKs post-Brexit deal.
Miguel Berger told Politico that a new treaty should include areas which are in the common interest such as a youth mobility scheme.
Pursuing economic, social and climate justice will require forward-thinking legal and financial professionals. Photograph: Alys Tomlinson
Social justice hasnt typically been the first thing that comes to peoples minds when they think about the worlds of finance and the law. Indeed, the professions might well conjure up images of bankers and stockbrokers stopping at nothing to maximise profits or perhaps corporate lawyers in sharp suits protecting the interests of their big-money clients.
But in more recent years, a shift has quietly been taking place as corporations are increasingly forced to consider their real impact on the wider world.
Corporate social responsibility is now being taken seriously by the financial sector, says Dr Richard Alexander, senior lecturer in financial law at the Soas school of finance and management. He highlights the recent rise of so-called ESG standards that factor in a companys environmental impact, social justice credentials and governance practices. For example, since 2022 the largest British companies have been obliged to make climate-related financial disclosures, taking stock of their environmental impact rather than solely financial metrics such as profits and shareholder value.
The motivations behind the shifts might vary. There are carrots and there are sticks, and its fair to say the new attitudes and priorities arent always just driven by pure goodwill. For instance, corporate action might be driven by new regulatory and disclosure requirements, investor concerns about financial risk, or marketing departments eager to appeal to increasingly socially-conscious consumers.
But Alexander notes that these industry-wide shifts have had an impact on the people working in law and finance, and their reasons for entering these professions in the first place. There are people in banks who genuinely want to do the right thing, he says. Were now seeing mainstream banks funding green energy projects.
While the buzz around ESG might have been tempered somewhat by a backlash from rightwing politicians, the fight against climate change remains in large part an urgent mission to reallocate financial resources. The same goes for the fight to improve social justice. The financial and legal professions have therefore woken up to the roles they can play in tackling urgent global problems.
Soass long-established concern with economic, social and climate justice makes it an ideal place for students trying to navigate these shifts. Moreover, its emphasis on fresh perspectives and a focus on the global south makes it a perfect place for thinking more ambitiously about the new roles and responsibilities of legal and financial professionals.
And thats why Alexander has dedicated his scholarship to exploring how the law can be used in novel ways to hold the largest companies in the world to account for their climate impact.
Prosecuting terracide
Alexander recently spoke at the Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime, and made the case for the creation of new international law for prosecuting what he calls terracide the destruction of Earth.
The symposium has had regular sessions looking at issues of damage to the environment, and the idea of environmental crimes, not just minor regulatory offences, says Alexander.
If the terracide movement takes off, gross negligence towards the environment could no longer mean a financial penalty from the Environment Agency but could see culprits prosecuted as international criminals. Alexander argues that there is in fact a sound legal basis for treating terracide as a crime, based on how the law already works. In the UK, we have a number of breaches of environmental law that are actually crimes, he says. Those crimes are committed in order to make money, because to do things cleanly, in a green way, is more expensive.
So in his view, existing criminal laws can apply, and the Proceeds of Crime Act (pdf) can be used to take on climate criminals. As the law currently stands, the criminal lifestyle provisions can be used to confiscate money and other assets acquired as a result of crime. For every crime that produces a profit or produces proceeds, those proceeds are criminal property for the purposes of our anti-money laundering laws and our confiscation and civil recovery laws. These rules could apply to polluting businesses, says Alexander, and be used against corporations.
Create that kind of environment, and very quickly, banks will start to decide that companies that play fast and loose with climate change are no longer worth having on the books, he adds. Theyre just too risky.
Islamic finance for social justice
It isnt just climate where big, bold ideas and legal scholarship are upending conventional financial industry thinking. One of Alexanders colleagues, Dr Jonathan Ercanbrack, a senior lecturer in transnational financial law and director of the centre of Islamic and Middle Eastern law, has dedicated his career to exploring how taking lessons from Islamic finance can help shift business in a more social justice-oriented direction.
At the heart of the Islamic approach to finance are several ideas that arent common in the west, such as the prohibition on charging interest, limitations on more speculative forms of investment, and a focus on shared prosperity and risk.
Essentially this is viewing economics differently, according to a global south [perspective], and understanding that the meaning of economics differs quite markedly from our global north understanding, says Ercanbrack,
Islamic finance wants to facilitate more equity investment, and more profit and loss sharing, so that we have an economy thats not based on winners and losers, but in fact is more equitable in the sense that we all have a stake in it, says Ercanbrack. Another way of describing the same thing from a less religious-inspired legal system is stakeholder capitalism.
And he believes that Islamic finance more deeply embeds some of these emerging social justice principles. The embedded values of our global financial system ultimately are part of the problem, says Ercanbrack. They are part of the reason why there is less social justice, because its more about individualism.
And it is something more like this approach that well need if we want to deeply embed new values into our financial system. Ultimately environmentalism or other social justice concerns reflect a greater concern for the public interest, and a growing consciousness that we need to give up some of our individualistic freedoms for the public good. We come up with environmental laws to protect the public interest, despite the infringement on an individuals liberty.
Related: What is the Soas ethos? Four scholars pick the art, music and books that bring the global mindset to life
In both cases, the bold ideas promoted by Alexander and Ercanbrack have emerged from their work at Soas, a university that centres the global south and alternative perspectives. Social justice famously goes to the heart of what Soas is about, says Alexander.
Ultimately, it is only by learning to think differently that we can expose ourselves to new ideas and potentially find new ways to engage with and improve our world.
Soas is an institution that has been founded specifically with the purpose of the study of the developing world, says Ercanbrack. That collection of academic expertise produces a cultural and an academic context that is a wonderful resource to learn from and to grow, to help the United Kingdom navigate this increasingly complex world.
Find out how studying at Soas University of London could expand your mindset and your horizons
Whaledimir (also known as Hvaldimir), the Beluga whale - FRAT
When a lone beluga whale began rubbing up against Norwegian fishing boats in April 2019, a few alarm bells should have started ringing not just for conservationists, but also among the suits on the top floor at the headquarters of the Norwegian Intelligence Service in Lutvann.
First, the whale didnt seem to have a pod. Toothed whales (which include beluga, dolphins and orca among other species) are not naturally solitary. They dont roam the high seas alone. They are pack animals social mammals that move in pods and can sense how another member of their group is feeling (not just physically, but emotionally) through echolocation. Spot one alone and that should be your first indication that something is up. Second, pod or not, he was a good deal further south of the high arctic than he should have been. Third, he appeared to be wearing a harness, which was causing him some distress enough that he seemed to be approaching boats which would ordinarily scare belugas (white whales have a bloody history of being hunted) to try to get the harness off.
By the time fisherman Joar Hesten donned a survival suit, jumped into the ocean and freed the whale from its harness, further questions had arisen. The harness was fitted with a camera mount. An inscription on the clip gave the first clue as to what the beluga might have been doing. Equipment St Petersburg, it read. And so began the worlds fixation with Whaledimir, the so-called Russian spy whale.
Norways domestic intelligence agency launched an investigation, later telling the BBC the whale was likely to have been part of a Russian research programme. A month after the animal was spotted, The Barents Observer, a Norwegian newspaper, reported satellite images had identified pens thought to house cetaceans at three different locations near Russian naval bases. Such creatures have long been used by Moscow, along with the United States and others, for military purposes. Five years later, on Saturday, a headline on their website read: Whaledimir is dead.
We have taken him out of the water now, Frederik Skarbovik, a maritime coordinator for Stavanger told Norwegian tabloid VG. I can confirm he is dead, unfortunately. Right now he is lying in a truck.
Whaledimir or Hvaldimir as the Norwegians called him, in a nod to the Norwegian word for whale, hval, as well as Russian President Vladimir Putin had been found floating in the harbour at Risavika, a busy southwest port. He had no visible injuries. Its not immediately clear what the cause of death is, said Sebastian Strand, a marine biologist who has been monitoring the creature for non-profit organisation Marine Mind for the past three years. Strand told reporters he was devastated by Whaledimirs death. Its absolutely horrible, he said. He was apparently in good condition as of [Friday], so we just have to figure out what might have happened here. An ongoing autopsy may well reveal the cause to be entirely natural, but until then, the sudden death of a whale the world had dubbed a kind of useless but loveable James Bond has been met with speculation that he may have been assassinated.
On Wednesday, claims emerged that the creature had been shot dead. Two conservation groups, OneWhale and NOAH, filed a police report alleging that Whaledimir was killed by gunshot wounds.
The groups shared purported pictures of the whale with what appeared to be holes in its bloodstained, lifeless body, saying there was compelling evidence suggesting that Hvaldimirs death was caused by intentional human-inflicted injury.
One Whale manager Regina Haug with the carcass of Hvaldimir - OneWhale.org
Could Whaledimir have been punished for being a turncoat who escaped his Russian captors in favour of charming the tourists along the Norwegian fjords? Foolish to rule it out, perhaps, though if he ever truly was a spywhale, it has generally been agreed he was a pretty poor recruit.
Soon after he appeared in 2019, Whaledimir settled into the harbour of a small town called Hammerfest. He struggled to feed himself, approaching boats for food. He seemed to like playing fetch and being scratched around the blowhole. When a young woman who had come to see him dropped her phone in the water at the dock, Whaledimir fetched it and brought it back to her. Youd have been hard-pressed to describe him as enigmatic, let alone covert.
Whaledimir was friendly and was well-loved by the locals in the Norwegian harbours he frequented
The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries urged people not to feed him. Belugas are more docile than orcas, but he was still a wild animal there were fears he might become at worst aggressive, at the very least dependent on humans for food. Relocating him to a sanctuary in Iceland was debated. Eventually, it was decided he would be fed and monitored in Norway, and from the summer of 2019 the Norwegian Orca Survey deemed him a free-swimming whale, making his way from fjord to fjord, becoming a local celebrity every time he appeared. He made it as far as the west coast of Sweden before returning to Norway, where he died last week.
Russia has never confirmed where Whaledimir came from, though a retired Russian colonel, Viktor Baranets, retorted when asked if they had been using him for spying: do you think we would attach a mobile phone number with the message please call this number? He also told Reuters that scientists in northern Russia had been using beluga whales for tasks of civil information gathering, rather than military tasks. Civil information gathering. That does have a ring of espionage about it, even if Putin hasnt strictly been deploying whales as highly trained marine weapons.
If he was, he wouldnt be the first. There is a storied history of whales, dolphins and even sea lions being put to service, used as mine hunters during the Cold War and, in recent years, to protect Russian naval bases from Ukrainian assaults.
Whaledimir first arrived wearing the harness that sparked speculation that he was no ordinary whale - JORGEN REE WIIG
Writer Philip Hoare, author of Leviathan, or the Whale, which documents our societal fascination with whales, has long hoped to substantiate one claim that the United States used cetaceans during the Vietnam war as underwater assassins. The story which has been widely circulated, he says, is that they were employed to assassinate Viet Cong divers. They were actually using CO2 canisters fixed with a hypodermic needle to their snout which were used to inject Vietcong divers with a fatal dose of carbon dioxide.
Hoare studied whales on Cape Cod in the 1980s. At the time, a lone orca used to frequent the harbour. My landlady used to go out swimming with it. This orca was clearly habituated to human beings. Its likely he was an escapee from a military training camp. A US military training camp.
If you see a single dolphin or killer whale there is something weird because these are entirely social animals. Theyve been taken out of their pods for some reason and that was probably why. [...] Belugas are similar.
The US military has used cetaceans to detect mines, he explains. Sort of the way you train a pig to snuffle out truffles. They very quickly catch on what theyre being asked to do, says Hoare.
They were also used in the Gulf War, he says, and during the 2003 invasion of Iraq to locate mines in the harbour.
It was during the Vietnam War, he adds, that its likely they started to be used for espionage. Later on in the Sixties is probably when the Russians started using trained belugas, dolphins, orca. Its very difficult to tell what was happening there, but they definitely were. It was a kind of space race with cetaceans.
Whaledimir is, says Hoare, very clear evidence of what the Russians have been doing. Could he have been a spy? Impossible to know for sure, but he has definitely been trained to use a camera. So its not going to be for an oceanarium. I think its probably military use, yes.
A conspicuously bright, ivory coloured animal which lacks the killer instinct of an orca might seem an odd choice for espionage. But experts say a beluga could make a perfect recruit for the right mission. Their ability to navigate the murk makes them helpful spies, says Tom Foreman, a natural history television researcher who has spent years filming the animals in waters off northern Norway. Their echolocation is one of the things thats attractive for using them because they can navigate through muddy waters, being more of a coastal animal, he says.
Theyre not particularly deep divers and they are an ice whale.
In Norway, people found it rather entertaining, says Foreman that this supposed Russian spy was quite so friendly and useless. Whaledimirs friendliness could give some clue to his history, says Foreman. Theyre definitely social creatures, which could be why this one was seeking out people rather than other pods. If he was caught young and became used to people it could be he didnt quite recognise or wasnt able to communicate with other pods to join them or didnt have good wild hunting skills.
Fisherman Joar Hesten developed a close relationship with Whaledimir, who didn't seem covert enough to be a fully-fledged Russian spy
If Whaledimir was captured when he was young and deployed by the Russian military, he was simply the latest marine recruit of his kind. During the Cold War, both the Soviet Union and the US used dolphins to detect mines. The Soviet Navy operated its dolphin programme until the early 1990s, using them to defend ships against divers, find submarines, locate mines and attach homing devices to targets. A Soviet beluga whale called Tichka escaped twice in 1991 and 1992, crossing the Black Sea and ending up in Turkey.
The dolphin programme was passed to the Ukrainian Navy after the fall of the Soviet Union. In 2000, the BBC reported it had been relocated to Iran, which bought the animals. But two years later, there were reports Russia had deployed trained military dolphins at its main naval base in the Black Sea, with satellite analysis suggesting they may have been used to protect its fleet stationed at the port of Sevastopol, in Russian-occupied Crimea, from underwater attacks.
The US, meanwhile, has reportedly spent millions of dollars maintaining its marine troops of dolphins and sea lions. Around the time Whaledimir was captured in 2019, the US had about 70 trainable dolphins and 30 sea lions at its naval base in California.
Of greater use to Russia than a sea lion or a dolphin, arguably, is a beluga whale. Theyre used to cold water, says Hoare. That far north you dont get dolphins, so they can be used in colder waters, especially arctic waters. Thats why the Russians would use them.
Unlike an orca, it also has an unusual skill a quirk of its anatomy that might make it useful to anyone wanting to shoot underwater footage of a stretch of coastline. The thing about a beluga whale is it can really articulate its head at a right angle. So it can look straight at you. A beluga can twist and turn in the water almost as if it were human. When you see them, they almost seem like mermaids, says Hoare. They have this astonishing division in their lower belly which almost makes it look as if they have their legs together.
When Whaledimirs lifeless body was spotted, one onlooker reported sadly: I thought it was sleeping at first. Sleeping with the fishes. A fitting ending for a spywhale.
Rayner
Arguably the biggest issue facing the Government is the housing crisis. There are not enough homes, they are too expensive, and they are too difficult to build, reducing productivity and holding back the economic growth on which Labour is relying to underpin its policy agenda.
It is perhaps hardly surprising that we face a shortage given that the population has risen by 10 million over the past 25 years with no building programme to match it. Migration has accounted for around 90 per cent of the 1.34 million increase in Englands housing deficit. There are also many more people living alone than used to be the case, either as a result of greater longevity or family breakdown. In addition, planning controls to preserve the green belts around major cities a legacy of the 1945 Labour government restrict where new homes can be built.
Labour has promised to build another 1.5 million homes without any apparent analysis of why we are in this mess or how to address it. Leaving aside whether there are enough builders to carry out such a massive construction project, where are the houses going to go?
The person entrusted to sort this out is Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister. So far she has reimposed house-building targets on local authorities, but mystifyingly reduced them for London where they are needed most. Now she is planning to scrap the Right to Buy scheme introduced by the Thatcher government. For this she has been accused of hypocrisy since she herself benefited from the scheme.
While local authorities say selling council houses is deepening the crisis because they are not being replaced by housing associations, there is an element of grandstanding in Ms Rayners position. She knows Right to Buy is unpopular in her party and is playing to the gallery. It will do little to improve matters to cut a programme that gets people on the housing ladder and gives them a stake in their communities.
The rental sector, especially in London, is overpriced because supply does not match demand, making it impossible for young people to save to buy a home. The worst thing that can happen now is for the Chancellor to put up capital gains tax and choke off the buy-to-let market. Landlords are already selling up in anticipation of an increase in the Budget.
Does Labour know what it is doing?
In this image taken from handout video provided by the Philippines, a Chinese Coast Guard ship collides with Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua near the Sabina Shoal at the disputed South China Sea on 31 August. Photograph: AP
Hopes that tensions in the South China Sea might ease have been short lived. Just weeks after the Philippines and China struck a deal to try to stop dangerous confrontations at Second Thomas Shoal, a new flashpoint has emerged.
Over recent weeks, Manila has accused Chinese personnel of ramming its boats, blasting them with water canon and firing flares at its aircraft, with incidents often centred on a new location, an atoll called Sabina Shoal. It comes as tensions in the South China Sea, a strategically important waterway that links the Indian and Pacific Oceans, were already at their highest in a decade.
Related: As long as were here, its ours: the island fishing community on the frontline of South China Sea tensions
A series of escalating incidents has provoked warnings that an error of judgment at sea could inadvertently spiral into armed conflict. This would risk drawing the US, a Philippine ally, into confrontation with China.
Analysts warn the political stakes for both Manila and Beijing around Sabina Shoal could lead to an even more drawn-out struggle.
Both countries have a lot to lose if they give up, in part because they both made such strong statements, said Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, a maritime transparency project at Stanford University.
Tensions at Sabina have been growing since April, when the Philippines sent its coast guard ship the BRP Teresa Magbuana to monitor the area, in response to concerns China may be attempting to reclaim land at the shoal. In turn, China has steadily increased its presence at the shoal, with anywhere between two dozen to 40 vessels present at a time, said Powell.
Chinese state media reported suggestions the Philippines was trying to use the Teresa Magbuana to forge a quasi-military-grounding at the shoal drawing parallels with the BRP Sierra Madre, a rusting second world war-era ship that was deliberately grounded at Second Thomas Shoal by the Philippines in 1999.
Related: South China Sea: a visual guide to the key shoals, reefs and islands
The Philippines points out that both Sabina and Second Thomas shoals lie within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), giving it special rights to build and construct in the area.
However, China rejects this, and claims much of the South China Sea as its own, despite an international tribunal Hague judgment rejecting its arguments.
A de facto occupation of Sabina by another grounded ship would cross multiple lines that Beijing has tried to draw with Manila and present a real challenge in terms of how to respond without risking drawing in the United States, said Harrison Pretat, deputy director and fellow with the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Sabina Shoal is important to the Philippines because it is close to Reed Bank, which is believed to be rich in oil and gas, and because it is the main staging ground for resupply missions to Second Thomas Shoal. Were China to take control of it, it could cut off resupplies from reaching Second Thomas, and potentially stop vessels reaching Thitu Island, a Philippine island in the South China Sea that is inhabited by about 400 civilians, said Collin Koh, senior fellow at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, of the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.
Perhaps even more importantly for both sides, the shoal has huge symbolic importance.
With midterm elections next year in the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr does not want to risk losing the shoal. He has vowed not to cede one square inch of territory. Chinas leadership also does not want to be humbled by what it considers a much smaller and weaker adversary, said Koh. For the ruling Communist party, for Xi Jinping, that is clearly going to be unworkable because it carries with it huge political costs, he added.
The Philippines fears that, if it removes BRP Teresa Magbuana, Chinese vessels will take control of the site. The ghost of the Scarborough Shoal incident back in 2012 continues to hold a very vivid memory, said Koh. The Philippines withdrew from Scarborough Shoal more than a decade ago, as part of a deal reached after a two-month standoff with China. China, however, did not pull back and has in effect controlled the feature ever since.
You have to be prepared for the possibility someone will get killed
The Philippines has some advantages at Sabina Shoal. Its ship, BRP Teresa Magbuana, has a helipad, allowing airlift supplies. Its also harder for Chinese vessels to block access because the shoal is far more open than other features, said Powell. That means that China has to keep more vessels deployed at all times in order to watch all approaches, he added. Sabina is also further away from Mischief Reef, one of the main islands Beijing has occupied and militarised.
But, ultimately, Philippines has no permanent presence at Sabina Shoal, giving China far less reason to agree to a compromise.
As confrontations become more normalised, the likelihood of errors of judgment increases.
Marcos Jr said earlier this year that if any Filipino serviceman or citizen were killed by a wilful act in the South China Sea, this would be very, very close to what we define as an act of war, and therefore, we would respond accordingly.
The former federal Labor leader Bill Shorten is retiring from politics to take up the role of vice-chancellor at the University of Canberra.
The one-time union boss will begin his new role in February and will remain in cabinet until then.
Shorten said on Thursday my actions are my choice and after six terms and 17 years in parliament he believed it was time to go.
Ive got this opportunity [to take] the hard lessons taught to me by the workers of Australia, the constituents of Maribyrnong, people with disability I have a chance to take that experience and tackle what I think is one of the big issues for the future, he said.
What really matters in this country is the people and I have a chance to help people at a university fulfil that potential and thereby fulfil the potential of Australia.
Shorten said he believed a nation can choose its own path that means choosing education, skills, choosing the reskilling of our Australians, choosing lifelong knowledge acquisition.
Shorten quoted Frank Sinatra when asked about his role in toppling the former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd.
Regrets, Ive had a few, but then again, too few to mention. I did what I had to do but much more than this, I did it my way.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, initially announced the news at a press conference in Canberra on Thursday, praising his factional frenemy as someone who had left an indelible mark on the Labor party.
I want to make it clear that I have asked Bill to remain in cabinet until he departs in February because he and I agreed there is important work still to be done to put the national disability insurance scheme on a sustainable footing, Albanese said.
Related: Albanese government strikes crucial deal with states to pass contentious NDIS reforms
Shorten said he was driven by the belief that everyone, regardless of circumstance, deserved an equal opportunity to join the labour movement and he carried that principle into parliament.
Shorten announced his resignation with his wife, Chloe, and daughter, Clementine, at the press conference.
Immediately after the announcement, politicians from across the political arena, including Peter Dutton, lined up to wish Shorten well.
The chancellor of the University of Canberra, Lisa Paul, said Shorten was selected after an exhaustive search and a rigorous merit-based selection process and the university was delighted he had accepted the role.
First elected in 2007, Shorten was catapulted into the public arena the previous year during the Beaconsfield mine collapse rescue, when he was the secretary of the Australian Workers Union.
Shorten rose to the Labor leadership by 2013 and gave the former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull an electoral scare in 2016 taking 14 seats from the Coalition. The result led to high expectations that Shorten would lead Labor to a win in 2019 but by then Shortens popularity as leader had fallen and he lost to Scott Morrison.
Shorten maintained influence within the Labor caucus, but the change in leadership to Albanese after the 2019 election loss also saw power move from the Labor right to the partys left.
He led the charge against the Coalitions robodebt policy from opposition an issue he continued campaigning on while in government.
Albanese said Shorten had taken over the Labor party in the wake of a demoralising 2013 defeat and rebuilt the movement after the Rudd-Gillard years.
He united the party, re-energised the caucus and saw off [outlasted] two prime ministers and rebuilt Labor into a strong opposition and a genuine alternative government, Albanese said.
Related: Australian government wont back public views of special envoys on antisemitism and Islamophobia
Through his years as leader, no one worked harder than Bill. No one brought more energy, enthusiasm, ideas and ambition to advocating the need for a Labor government.
It is a measure of Bills character that he channelled the disappointment of 2019 into fighting for justice for the victims of robodebt. His work made our government stronger.
Shortens colleagues had been expecting an announcement for some time, but were unsure of the timing. Shorten had reportedly been offered ambassador roles by Albanese earlier in the year but decided to refocus his career domestically.
Albanese would not confirm whether there would be a small gap between February when Shorten would depart politics and the next general election which has to be held by May 2025. The PM said there was some precedent for there being a gap for a short period of time.
[February] happens to be when the academic year starts so I think it would have been unreasonable to say to Minister Shorten, It is terrific you have this opportunity, but can you just chill out for another year, Albanese said.
Gisele Pelicot, with her lawyer Stephane Babonneau in Avignon, has waived her right to anonymity for the trial to be held in public. Photograph: Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images
A French woman whose husband has admitted drugging her and inviting more than 80 men to rape her over the course of a decade has said she was sacrificed on the altar of vice and treated like a rag doll.
Gisele Pelicot, 72, said police saved my life when they investigated her husband, Dominique Pelicots, computer in November 2020, after a security guard caught him filming up the skirts of women in a supermarket near their home in a village in southern France.
Police said they found a file labelled abuses on a USB drive connected to his computer that contained 20,000 images and films of his wife being raped almost 100 times.
Recounting the moment in November 2020 when police first showed her images of a decade of sexual abuse orchestrated by her husband, Pelicot, who had been drugged to the point of unconsciousness, told the court: My world fell apart. For me, everything was falling apart. Everything I had built up over 50 years.
She said she had barely recognised herself in the images, saying she was motionless. I was sacrificed on the altar of vice, she said. They regarded me like a rag doll, like a garbage bag.
When you see that woman drugged, mistreated, a dead person on a bed of course the body is not cold, its warm, but its as if Im dead. She told the court rape was not a strong enough word, it was torture.
She told a panel of five judges that she had only found the courage to watch the footage in May this year. Frankly, these are scenes of horror for me, she said.
Related: Daughter leaves French court during mans trial over recruiting dozens to rape wife
Referred to by her first name in court, Gisele Pelicot has waived her right to anonymity in order for the trial to be held in public, with the support of her three adult children. She said she was testifying for all women who had been assaulted while drugged and to ensure no woman suffers this.
Her husband this week answered yes in court when asked if he was guilty of the drugging and attacks. His lawyer said that after his arrest he always declared himself guilty, saying: I put her to sleep, I offered her, and I filmed.
Police have said that between 2011 and 2020, Dominique Pelicot crushed sleeping tablets and anti-anxiety medication and mixed them into his wifes evening meal or in her wine at their home in Mazan, near Carpentras in Provence. He then enlisted men to rape and sexually abuse her, contacting them via an online chatroom, where members discussed preferences for non-consenting partners.
The accused men recruited by her husband were instructed to avoid smelling of any kind of fragrance or cigarette smoke to avoid alerting his wife and to leave if she moved so much as an arm, investigators said. Fifty men are on trial for allegedly taking part in the rape and abuse.
Speaking in a calm and clear voice, Gisele Pelicot told the court how she and her husband had married when they were 21, had three children and seven grandchildren, and had been very close. We werent rich but we were happy. Even our friends said we were the ideal couple, she said.
She told the court that without knowing she was being regularly drugged at night, she had begun to have difficulties remembering things and concentrating and even feared taking the train to see her adult children in case she missed her stop. She said she had lost weight and at one point had difficulty controlling her arm.
Worried she was suffering from the start of Alzheimers disease, she discussed the subject with her husband. She said he had supported her and booked an appointment with a specialist, who said it was not Alzheimers.
Asked by the judge if she had experienced gynaecological issues, Gisele Pelicot said yes. She said medical tests during the police investigation showed she had been infected with several sexually transmitted diseases.
Related: Man accused of enlisting strangers to rape drugged wife goes on trial in France
She said in the hours after being told by police what had happened to her she felt like dying. She described how she had to explain the trauma to her adult children, saying her daughters scream was etched into my memory.
She left the house with two suitcases, all that was left for me of 50 years of life together. Since then, I no longer have an identity I dont know if Ill ever rebuild myself, she said.
Gisele Pelicot, who has been supported in court by her children, has been praised by lawyers for her strength and calm at the trial. She said she appeared solid but was in ruins and did not know how her body had withstood the abuse and now the trial.
The 50 men on trial with her husband include a local councillor, nurses, a journalist, a former police officer, a prison guard, soldier, firefighter and civil servant, many of whom lived around Mazan, a town of about 6,000 inhabitants. The men were aged between 26 and 73 at the time of their arrests.
Several of the accused have denied the charges, telling police they did not know Gisele Pelicot was not a willing partner, accusing her husband of tricking them. Detectives were unable to identify and trace more than 30 other men who were recorded.
Gisele Pelicot said she had recognised only one of her alleged rapists, a man who had come to discuss cycling with her husband at their home. I saw him now and then in the bakery; I would say hello. I never thought hed come and raped me, she said.
Gisele Pelicots lawyer, Antoine Camus, said she did not want a trial behind closed doors because thats what her attackers would have wanted.
The trial in Avignon is expected to last four months. Dominique Pelicot, 71, and the 50 other defendants face 20 years in prison if convicted of aggravated rape.
The Government will on Thursday introduce legislation to remove the right of the final 92 hereditary peers to sit and vote in the Upper Chamber - Tim Graham/Getty Images
All remaining hereditary peers will be removed from the House of Lords next summer, ministers announced as they said the accident of birth should not give people the right to make laws.
The Government will on Thursday introduce legislation to remove the right of the final 92 hereditary peers to sit and vote in the Upper Chamber.
Ministers said it would complete the process started a quarter of a century ago to end appointments to the House of Lords based on the families select individuals are born into.
The new legislation has to pass through the Commons and the Lords before receiving Royal Assent, meaning it will not be until the end of the parliamentary session next July that they will be removed.
Nick Thomas-Symonds, minister for the constitution, said: This is a landmark reform to our constitution.
The hereditary principle in law-making has lasted for too long and is out of step with modern Britain. The second chamber plays a vital role in our constitution and people should not be voting on our laws in Parliament by an accident of birth.
This Bill shows this Governments commitment to delivering on our manifesto and is an important part of putting politics in the service of working people.
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Reductions to size of House planned
Ministers have also promised to further reduce the size of the House, such as by fixing a retirement age.
However, these reforms will be consulted on before being introduced in another bill later in Labours term of office.
Eventually, the Government wants to replace the Lords with an alternative second chamber that is more representative of the UK.
A separate House of Lords was created in the fourteenth century, made up of noblemen from throughout England, all of whom were male. Women were not admitted until 1963.
The State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords Chamber last year - Leon Neal/Getty Images
In 1999, Tony Blairs government reached a deal with the Tories to massively reduce the number of hereditary peers from around 800 to 92.
He was fearful of going further lest the Conservatives use their huge majority in the Upper House to disrupt his legislative agenda.
The Tories made no major changes to the set-up, meaning the 92 hereditaries have remained until now.
It has therefore fallen to Sir Keir Starmer to end the situation where the UK is just one of two countries in the world to retain a hereditary element in its legislature.
Baroness Smith, leader of the House of Lords, said: While recognising the valuable contributions many hereditary peers have made to Parliament, it is right that this reform is being brought forward now completing work we began 25 years ago.
Removing the hereditary principle from the Lords will deliver on a specific manifesto commitment. It will also help deliver on our commitment to reduce the size of the second chamber, as we bring forward further reforms.
Ministers have already introduced a bill to increase the number of female bishops in the House of Lords.
It had been thought that the bill removing peers might keep two aristocrats the Earl Marshal and Lord Great Chamberlain in the House of Lords because of their positions in organising coronations and other major events.
But on Wednesday the Government said both would be excluded, vowing that it would not prevent them from carrying out their ceremonial functions.
Hunter Biden leaves court with his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, after pleading guilty to tax charges. Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters
Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to tax charges in federal court in Los Angeles on Thursday, after a day of legal wrangling and in a dramatic move that will avoid a potentially embarrassing trial for Joe Bidens son.
Biden, 54, pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges on a day of courtroom twists and turns, after prosecutors earlier objected to his surprise intention to enter an Alford plea, an unusual legal maneuver where a defendant pleads guilty but does not acknowledge wrongdoing. Following prosecutors objections, lawyers said Biden was ready to change course and enter an open plea, where a defendant pleads guilty to the charges and leaves his sentencing fate in the hands of the judge.
In court on Thursday afternoon, Abbe Lowell, Bidens attorney, told Judge Mark Scarsi: Mr Biden will agree that the elements of each offense have been satisfied.
Biden quickly responded guilty as the judge read out each of the nine counts. The charges carry up to 17 years in prison, but federal sentencing guidelines are likely to call for a much shorter sentence.
A sentencing hearing has been set for 16 December.
In an emailed statement after he entered his plea, Hunter Biden said: I will not subject my family to more pain, more invasions of privacy and needless embarrassment. For all I have put them through over the years, I can spare them this, and so I have decided to plead guilty.
The presidents only surviving son had previously pleaded not guilty. The surprise back-and-forth unfolded on Thursday as Biden entered a Los Angeles courthouse for the start of his tax-avoidance trial.
After learning of Bidens earlier plan to enter an Alford plea, US justice department prosecutors said that would not be acceptable. Alford pleas are usually negotiated in advance, because prosecutors must get high-level approval before agreeing to them.
Its not clear to us what they are trying to do, one prosecutor told Scarsi.
[Hunter Biden] is not entitled to plead guilty on special terms that apply only to him, said prosecutor Leo Wise. Hunter Biden is not innocent. Hunter Biden is guilty.
A trial, in the run-up to the November presidential election, could have aired embarrassing details of Hunter Bidens life. Lowell told the judge that the evidence against his client was overwhelming and that Biden wanted to resolve the case.
The son of the president was accused of failing to pay his taxes on time from 2016 to 2019, as well as facing two felony counts of filing a false return and an additional felony count of tax evasion.
Hunter Biden walked into the courtroom for jury selection on Thursday morning holding hands with his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, and flanked by Secret Service agents. Initially, he pleaded not guilty to the charges, related to his taxes from 2016 to 2019, and his attorneys had indicated they would argue he did not act willfully, or with the intention to break the law, in part because of his well-documented struggles with alcohol and drug addiction. But all that changed on a whirlwind day in court.
A guilty plea will head off a weeks-long trial that would have marked the second time in three months that Hunter Biden sat in a federal courtroom to face a slew of criminal charges.
Hunter Biden was found guilty in Delaware on three felony counts relating to his purchase of a handgun in 2018 because he wrote on his gun-purchase form, falsely, that he was not a user of illicit drugs. The Los Angeles trial was set to take place in the city where Biden has lived for years and where, according to the prosecution, he spent extensively on drugs, escorts and girlfriends, luxury hotels and rental properties, exotic cars, clothing, and other items of a personal nature, in short, everything but his taxes.
The most serious charges related to his 2018 return on which, according to the prosecution, he sought to claim his childrens college tuition fees and more than $27,000 in online pornography as business expenses.
Related:Hunter Biden tax trial: less politically fraught, but set to be just as lurid
It has been a whirlwind of a summer for Joe Bidens son, one in which he has been convicted of felonies, was rushed to Washington as pressure mounted on his father not to run for re-election, raised eyebrows by dropping into White House meetings and, according to one report, acted as his fathers gatekeeper then appeared on stage at the Democratic national convention to bask in his fathers reflected glory.
Now that Joe Biden has abandoned his re-election ambitions and thrown his support behind his vice-president, Kamala Harris, the political stakes of Hunter Bidens latest legal woes are lower. Still, his troubles take some of the sting out of Donald Trumps constant complaints that he is the target of a political witch-hunt and that Joe Biden has weaponized the justice system against him.
After Hunter Bidens June conviction, Joe and Jill Biden issued a statement saying they would respect the judicial process and not consider a pardon. The first lady attended court in Delaware most days.
The White House reiterated on Thursday that the president has no intention of pardoning his son or commuting his sentence.
No, it is still very much a no, Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, said in response to a reporters question about a potential pardon.
Joe Biden has previously said that he is extremely proud of my son Hunter, but that he would respect the outcome of the judicial process. He has overcome an addiction. Hes one of the brightest, most decent men I know. I said Id abide by the jury decision, the elder Biden said.
Hunter Biden leaves federal court in Wilmington, Delaware, on 11 June 2024. Photograph: Matt Slocum/AP
For the second time in three months, Hunter Biden will sit in a federal courtroom as a jury of his peers is assembled to assess whether he is guilty of a slew of criminal charges.
The son of the 46th US president stands accused of failing to pay his taxes on time from 2016 to 2019, as well as two felony counts of filing a false return and an additional felony count of tax evasion.
Three months ago, the younger Biden, who is 54, was found guilty in Delaware on three felony counts relating to his purchase of a handgun in 2018 because he wrote on his gun-purchase form, falsely, that he was not a user of illicit drugs. The new trial takes place in Los Angeles, where Biden has lived for years and where, according to the prosecution, he spent lavishly on drugs, escorts and girlfriends, luxury hotels and rental properties, exotic cars, clothing, and other items of a personal nature, in short, everything but his taxes.
The trial begins in Los Angeles on Thursday with jury selection expected to last two days, and opening statements scheduled for Monday.
The most serious charges relate to his 2018 return on which, according to the prosecution, he sought to claim his childrens college tuition fees and more than $27,000 in online pornography as business expenses.
In pre-trial hearings, lawyers for Biden have done little to challenge the documentary evidence behind the prosecutions case but have sought, rather, to argue that Bidens drug use and his failure to file his taxes correctly year after year were the result of a life marked by trauma from a very young age.
Judge Mark Scarsi has indicated, however, that he will have little patience for evidence introduced to suggest a specific cause of Bidens drug use and threatened Bidens lead lawyer, Mark Geragos, with stiff financial penalties if he attempts to bring such evidence before the jury.
Both the tax charges and the gun charges carry maximum sentences of more than 20 years in prison, although legal experts say that, as a first-time offender, Biden is likely to be punished far less harshly even if he were to be found guilty a second time.
Related: Hunter Biden tax trial: less politically fraught, but set to be just as lurid
It has been a whirlwind of a summer for Joe Bidens troubled son, one in which he was convicted of felonies, rushed to Washington as pressure mounted on his father not to run for re-election, raised eyebrows by dropping into White House meetings and, according to one report, acting as his fathers gatekeeper then appeared on stage at the Democratic national convention to bask in his fathers reflected glory.
Now that Joe Biden has abandoned his re-election ambitions and thrown his support behind his vice-president, Kamala Harris, the political stakes of Hunter Bidens latest trial will be lower. Still, his legal troubles will take some of the sting out of Donald Trumps constant complaints that he is the target of a political witch-hunt and that the president has weaponized the justice system against him.
After Hunter Bidens June conviction, Joe and Jill Biden issued a statement saying they would respect the judicial process and not consider a pardon for their son. The first lady attended court in Delaware most days but it is not clear whether she will do the same in California.
Fashion influencer Maria Rosaria Boccia - INSTAGRAM
Italys culture minister choked up on primetime national television as he admitted to having an affair with a fashion influencer who had been given access to the corridors of power.
Gennaro Sangiuliano, 62, appeared close to tears as he confessed to having had a sentimental relationship with Maria Rosaria Boccia, who filmed herself in government buildings using Ray-Ban smart glasses with cameras.
Mr Sangiuliano apologised to his wife and to Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister, for having an affair with a younger female colleague.
The scandal broke a few days ago when Ms Boccia, 41, announced on Instagram that she had been nominated adviser to the minister for major events.
The minister denied that, saying he had initially offered Ms Boccia a consultancy role but then changed his mind after being told that it would present a conflict of interest because of their personal relationship.
Italian culture minister Gennaro Sangiuliano with Maria Rosaria Boccia - INSTAGRAM
He said he had first met Ms Boccia at a party in Naples in May but broke off the relationship between the end of July and the start of August.
Appearing on the verge of tears, he apologised to his wife, describing her as an exceptional person whom he had no intention of leaving, and to the prime minister for the embarrassment he had caused her and the government.
He made the confession on RAI, the public broadcaster, after being summoned by Ms Meloni to explain himself. He said she had turned down his offer to resign.
Mr Sangiuliano, a former journalist, denied that the affair had left him open to being blackmailed.
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And he dismissed concerns voiced by opposition MPs that Ms Boccia had been privy to security details about an upcoming G7 meeting of culture ministers, which will be held later this month in the southern region of Campania.
The minister said: She didnt have access to classified or confidential documents. Ms Boccia had only ever seen documents relating to marginal details of the G7 summit, he claimed.
Ms Boccia disputed that, publishing documents on Instagram that she said proved she had been involved in meetings, site events and consultations.
Mr Sangiuliano with his wife Federica Corsini at the Venice film festival - FABIO FRUSTACI/EPA-EFE-SHUTTERSTOCK
The story, described by one Italian newspaper as a Greek tragicomedy, has dominated the Italian press for days.
Ms Boccia claimed she had been appointed as a consultant by the minister and posted numerous photos of the two of them attending events, meetings, lunches and dinners.
The minister insisted that she had not received a single euro of public money. He admitted attending events with Ms Boccia but said he had paid for everything himself with his personal credit card.
As the mudslinging between the two became more intense, bizarre details of the affair emerged.
Ms Boccia said she had worn a pair of Ray-Ban Stories, smart glasses equipped with a tiny camera and microphone, and had used them to film herself walking through the corridors of the lower house of parliament, insisting: Theres nothing illegal about it.
Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses
Still from the video shot by Ms Boccia
Shortly before Mr Sangiuliano was due to appear on television on Wednesday night, she posted an image of a bucket of popcorn, saying she was looking forward to hearing what he had to say.
Prior to being elected prime minister nearly two years ago, Ms Meloni made much of defending traditional family values.
But within her government, those traditional values are looking a little tattered.
She herself dumped her long-term partner and the father of her daughter after he was caught making lascivious remarks to female colleagues at the television station where he worked.
Her sister Arianna, a trusted adviser, recently announced that she was splitting from her husband, Francesco Lollobrigida, who is a minister in the coalition government.
The culture ministers tearful admission of an affair reinforces the impression that members of the government are hardly paragons of virtue.
Nomcebo Zuma, the daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma - EMMANUEL CROSET/AFP VIA GETTY
The 21-year-old daughter of South Africas former president is marrying the 56-year-old king of neighbouring Eswatini for love not politics, the absolute monarchy has insisted.
Nomcebo Zuma, daughter of ex-leader Jacob Zuma, will become the 16th wife of Africas last absolute monarch, who has ruled the landlocked country formerly known as Swaziland since 1986.
The engagement of King Mswati III to Ms Zuma was made official earlier this week at the end of the traditional eight-day reed dance ceremony where hundreds of women and girls danced for the king.
The engagement has sparked discourse around the possible political benefits to Mr Zuma, who launched a new political party on the eve of this years general election and took nearly 15 per cent of the vote.
But Alpheous Nxumalo, an Eswatini spokesman, dismissed the suggestion that the marriage would be a political alliance, the BBC reported.
King Mswati III, who took the throne of Eswatini in 1986 - EMMANUEL CROSET/AFP VIA GETTY
He said: Love has no eyes to see or count age. Love happens between two people. It can happen between a person who is 100 years old and a person who is above the average of what is permitted constitutionally.
Mr Zuma, 82, was president from 2009 to 2018 when he was forced to resign as his African National Congress (ANC) government was engulfed in a corruption scandal.
He was accused of presiding over a process of state capture, where allies took control of ministries and state enterprises so they could loot budgets and assets.
Mr Zuma strongly denied wrongdoing, but he was ousted from power and then jailed for not testifying at a national inquiry.
He has in recent years, however, undergone a renaissance, using strong grassroots support in his Zulu homeland to build a new party and turn on his former ANC comrades.
Mr Zuma and the king are already relatives through marriage.
Critics of the king have accused him of leading an opulent lifestyle while most of his kingdom lives in poverty.
John Setka at a CFMEU rally in 2021. The former boss of the construction union addressed a crowd at the Footscray hospital project on Wednesday and attended a Metro Tunnel site on Thursday. Photograph: James Ross/AAP
Jacinta Allan says the appearance of former Victorian construction union leader John Setka at two taxpayer-funded projects in Melbourne has been referred to police.
The premier on Thursday confirmed Setka had spoken to workers at a Metro Tunnel project site earlier that morning. It came less than 24 hours after he appeared at another government project the Footscray hospital redevelopment.
Related:Former CFMEU official launches high court challenge over Albanese government law
Allan said Kevin Devlin, the director-general of the Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority, had referred the incidents to police and alleged the appearances were unlawful.
She said Devlin had also communicated with Big Build contractors to reinforce the governments expectations about following processes regarding attendance on work sites.
It is not acceptable in terms of John Setkas attendance on these work sites, she said.
My message to John Setka is there is no place for him on Victorian government Big Build work sites.
Allan also said the government was open to strengthening work site attendance rules.
A Victoria police spokesperson said it had received a verbal briefing from the police ministers office about a pending referral regarding a former union official.
Victoria police will assess the matter once details are provided, the spokesperson said.
Setka, the former Victorian construction secretary, delivered a speech on Wednesday to workers at the $1.5bn Footscray hospital project.
The Fair Work Ombudsman on Thursday confirmed it was investigating allegations former CFMEU officials have attended construction sites.
The Fair Work Ombudsman encourages anyone with information relating to these alleged site visits to provide this, a spokesperson said.
Wednesdays speech, in which Setka attacked the Albanese government and the Australian Council of Trade Unions, came after he resigned from the union in July before Nine newspapers published allegations of criminal links within the union.
People sort of asked why I resigned and Im going to be honest with youse, fucking Albo, and his fucking bullshit, he told workers at the site in Melbournes west.
The Victorian government has asked construction company Multiplex, which is managing the project, about how the on-site rally unfolded.
We have asked the lead contractor for an explanation and sought assurances this does not happen again, a government spokesperson said.
A high court challenge has been launched after the CFMEU was placed into administration.
The CFMEUs national secretary, Zach Smith, has previously said the bill to appoint administrators was a sad indictment on the government and called the Labor-Coalition deal as shameful as it is unnecessary.
He said the allegations were very concerning and had been taken seriously by the union, pointing to an independent investigation and a governance review.
These allegations remain exactly that allegations completely untested in the legal system he said.
Related: Builders and the Fair Work Commission are delaying CFMEU members pay deals, union leader says
The Maritime Union of Australia will join other trade unions to help fund the CFMEUs legal battle, claiming the governments decision was unjustified, chaotic and reckless.
Putting the construction union into administration had short and long-term consequences, the maritime workers group warned.
Mark Irving was appointed as administrator and more than 200 elected CFMEU officers had their roles terminated immediately.
The administration period could last up to five years.
Liz Cheneys announcement was cheered by the audience at Duke University. Photograph: Rebecca Cook/Reuters
Liz Cheney, the Republican former representative of Wyoming, has endorsed Kamala Harris for president. The former legislator made the pronouncement on Tuesday at an event at Duke university in North Carolina. This move makes her the latest Republican to publicly say that they will not be supporting Donald Trump.
I dont believe we have the luxury of writing in candidates names, particularly in swing states, Cheney, daughter of former Republican vice-president Dick Cheney, told the crowd. And as a conservative, as somebody who believes in and cares about the constitution, I have thought deeply about this and the present danger that Donald Trump poses, not only am I not voting for Donald Trump, I am voting for Kamala Harris.
Cheneys announcement, which was met with cheers from the audience, puts her on the growing list of lifelong Republicans who will be voting against Trump. In March, former vice-president Mike Pence told Fox news that he will not be endorsing his former running mate in November, citing Trumps actions on 6 January and course reversals on issues such as forcing China to sell TikTok.
Related: Liz Cheney urges US supreme court to rule quickly on Trumps immunity claim
Other prominent Republicans to vote against the partys nominee include Adam Kinzinger, the former republican representative for Illinois; Olivia Troye, who worked in the Trump administration as homeland security adviser to Pence; and Stephanie Grisham, one of Trumps former press secretaries, all of whom spoke at the recent Democratic national convention in Chicago. These appearances follow years of establishment Republicans Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, known as Never Trumpers, decrying Trump and the risks they see him posing to the health of the nation.
On Tuesday, a day before Cheneys announcement, Jimmy McCain, son of former Republican senator John McCain, said that he would also be voting for the Democrats ticket due to what he sees as Trumps animus and disrespect toward the military.
I care about my family, I care about equal rights for everyone in this country. I care about all of this, and you know, as much as I stayed as an independent I decided it was time to move on and do what I believe in, McCain told CNN on Tuesday.
Cheney has long been a detractor of Trump. In 2021 she was one of ten republicans to vote to impeach Trump after the 6 January riot. Weeks later Cheney was voted out of her leadership role among House republicans. During a closed-door vote before her ousting, Cheney was reportedly booed after voicing criticisms of Trump.
Lucy Letby was sentenced to multiple whole-life terms for the murders of newborn babies - EPN/Newscom/Avalon
Lucy Letby has appointed a new barrister who will try to overturn her murder convictions on the grounds that evidence presented to the jury was unreliable.
Mark McDonald, of Furnival Chambers, a specialist in criminal defence, has taken over the case and told The Telegraph that he was gathering experts.
The Telegraph understands that Letby had been unwilling to lose Ben Myers KC, her original counsel, after developing a bond with the barrister.
It is understood Mr Myers will continue to lead the appeal against her recent conviction of the attempted murder of Baby K.
But on Thursday it emerged that Mr McDonald will take the case to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), although the new team will not be arguing that the original defence team was deficient.
Mr McDonald says there is a 'strong case' that Letby is innocent and that 'juries get it wrong' - Elizabeth Cook/PA
In August 2023, Letby was convicted of the murders of seven newborns and the attempted murders of six other infants. A retrial which ended in July also found her guilty of the attempted murder of another child.
However, as revealed in The Telegraph, doctors, scientists and statisticians have now come forward to challenge how the evidence was presented to the jury.
The change to Letbys legal team comes ahead of an inquiry into the hospital where she worked, which is due to start next week.
Its accurate that I have taken over the case, said Mr McDonald. You dont win a case arguing that the defence was bad, but on the fact that the evidence which was presented was unreliable.
There are numerous experts who are coming forward to question the evidence.
Mr McDonald, who founded the London Innocence Project in 2007, regularly advises on appeals against conviction and is instructed in cases involving murder, organised crime and terrorism.
The Royal Statistical Society (RSS) has also announced it will convene a meeting in the wake of the verdicts, stating that it was aware of concerns from members and the wider community regarding the use of statistical evidence in the case.
Since the trial, it has also come to light that the hospital unit was suffering from a deadly infectious outbreak and had staffing issues which could have contributed to the rise in deaths between 2015 and 2016.
Experts have called for an inquiry into the Countess of Chester Hospital to be postponed - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
NHS nurses were also warned against giving character evidence by their trusts.
An inquiry led by Lady Justice Thirlwall into the Countess of Chester Hospital is due to begin next week, but many experts have called for it to be postponed until concerns about the Letby evidence are addressed.
Last week, two dozen scientists, statisticians and medics wrote to Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, and Lady Justice Thirlwall, calling for a postponement to allow for further investigation and to hear wider professional concerns.
We believe that legal systems are particularly vulnerable to errors when dealing with intricate scientific evidence, especially in cases involving statistical anomalies in healthcare settings, and the complex physiology of neonates, the letter said.
The experts said their goal was not to relitigate the Letby case, but to ensure that the inquiry was positioned to conduct a thorough and beneficial investigation for the future of neonatal care in Britain.
Letby was sentenced to multiple whole-life terms, meaning she will spend the rest of her life in prison and two separate applications to appeal against her convictions have been turned down.
However, the CCRC told The Telegraph: Applications to the CCRC can be made by anyone who believes they have been wrongly convicted or sentenced, or by their representatives.
Mr McDonald said there was a strong case that Letby was innocent and warned that juries get it wrong.
The barrister also represents Ben Green, a nurse who was jailed for life in 2006 for murdering two patients and poisoning two others.
The second ever Maori queen in the eight-dynasty reign of the Kiingitanga movement in New Zealand has ascended to the throne in an emotional ceremony attended by thousands at Turangawaewae marae.
On Thursday morning Maori leaders hailed her as the new dawn.
Nga Wai Hono i te po Paki, the only daughter and youngest child of the former Maori King Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII, was revealed as the new queen on the final morning of the six-day tangihanga (funeral) of her father, marking the beginning of a new generation in the resistance movement.
Kiingi Tuheitea died peacefully in his sleep on Friday, aged 69, after heart surgery.
At the Te Whakawahinga (raising up) ceremony in the small town of Ngaruawahia, Nga Wai Hono i te po Paki, 27, was ushered to the throne by the Kiingitanga advisory council, a group of 12 elders from assorted tribes who chose her as their queen. The role is not automatically inherited, and the late Kiingi Tuheitea also has two sons.
Tekau-Maa-Rua chairman Che Wilson said Te Whakawahinga was an important ceremony dating back eight generations. We follow the tikanga of our ancestors who created the Kiingitanga to unify and uplift our people and we have chosen Nga Wai Hono i te po as our new monarch. She was anointed with sacred oils and blessed with the Bible used to crown the first Maori king in 1858.
Nga Wai Hono i te po Paki has a masters of Maori cultural studies from Waikato University, and received her moko kauae (chin tattoo) at aged 19 as a gift to her father and the years he spent on the throne. The second-youngest monarch in Maoridom, Nga Wai hono i te po Paki had been close to her fathers side to many events in the past several years, and tears and joy greeted the news of her crowning at Ngaruawahia, Stuff reported.
The Kiingitanga was founded in 1858 as a force to resist colonisation and try to preserve Maori culture and land. It has no legal mandate and while the monarch role is largely ceremonial, it is also considered to be the paramount chief of several tribes.
Since the election of New Zealands conservative National party-led government in October, the Kiingitanga has played an increasingly prominent role in bringing Maori together in opposition to proposed policies considered by many to be a rollback of Maori rights. Kiingi Tuheitea called a series of nationwide meetings to protest these and proposed changes to the principles of the Treaty, and was considered to be a beacon of hope.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi lawyer Annette Sykes, who has spent her career fighting for the rights of Maori, said the new Queen represents the future she has been aiming for.
Shes inspiring, the revitalisation and reclamation of our language has been a 40 year journey for most of us and she epitomises that, it is her first language, she speaks it with ease. Political, economic and social wellbeing for our people is at the heart of what she wants and in many ways she is like her grandmother, who was adored by the nation.
Sykes said it was exciting that the council of men had chosen a woman to lead, which would not have been a foregone conclusion.
Shes the new dawn, and the deliberations that took part over a few days over a wise council of advisers that made the decision for the motu, for the Maori world, must be congratulated.
Weve all watched her grow up, shes very humble, Ive watched her mature into this woman who has this thirst for authentic knowledge and brings this into the modern world. Shes someone who wears Gucci, and she wears moko kauae. She is leading us into uncharted and turbulent waters, and she will do it with aplomb.
Nga Wai Hono i te Po Paki met then Prince Charles in London in 2022, and told Re: News she had taken the trip to honour her ancestors, but that it had been difficult reflecting on the brutal impacts of colonisation on Maori in New Zealand. Ill be honest, my greatest desire of all is for all Maori land to be returned to Maori.
Kiingi Tuheiteas mother, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangitaaku, became the first Maori queen in 1966.
Kiingi Tuheiteas body was flanked by a guard of honour including local tribe Ngaati Maahanga and the New Zealand defence force to the Waikato river, where a flotilla of waka was taking him to the sacred Taupiri mountain for burial.
NaphCare's headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama. Photograph: Google Maps
When Isaiah Trammell experienced a mental health episode while detained at Ohios Montgomery county jail in February last year, he pleaded for a blanket, a mat and a phone call.
He was denied them because he was on suicide precautions.
Trammell screamed and banged his head on the jail cell door. He couldnt calm himself the 19-year-old had autism spectrum disorder and was stimming due to the overwhelming stress of being confined in jail without access to his family or his medication. He told officers he had autism and ADHD.
In turn, they ridiculed him and told him he was behaving like an ass, forcibly placing him in a restraint chair twice.
Jails around the US regularly contract private healthcare companies that are oftentimes paid for by taxpayers to meet the needs of people in their care.
NaphCare, a $1bn company, has been paid tens of millions of dollars to provide medical and mental health care at the Montgomery county jail.
But they did not do that for Isaiah Trammell.
A sheriffs office information report found that an officer requested mental health officers to speak with Trammell to deescalate the situation. Video footage of the 10 hours that Trammell spent at the jail showed an on-duty healthcare worker attempting to speak with him but gave up and was quoted as saying: OK, Im done.
Trammell died three days later after hitting his head against his unpadded jail cell wall. Officials ruled his death a suicide.
The doctors, the neurosurgeon [at the hospital where he was pronounced dead] said, Had we gotten your son sooner, we could have saved him, Brandy Abner, Trammells mother, said recently.
They could have saved my son if [the nurse] would have just said, He needs to be sent out. She didnt care. She was so cruel. He was dying. He was begging her for help.
Trammells experience forms part of a larger history of deaths, legal settlements and other substandard care issues involving NaphCare. Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, the company operates in dozens of jails in 32 states.
And jails where NaphCare is contracted have seen the highest death tolls compared with any healthcare provider in the country, according to a 2020 Reuters investigation. In 2022, the company was forced to pay nearly $27m to the estate of a woman in Washington state who died after being denied anti-seizure medication while in its care in a wrongful death settlement.
After a number of deaths in Massachusetts, California and Arizona, NaphCare has been penalized millions of dollars for failing to provide adequate staffing at jail facilities.
Other detainees in its care have suffered deadly cases of malnourishment and scabies.
The US justice department also found that the company overcharged jails for its services and forced it to pay back almost $700,000 in 2021.
A NaphCare spokesperson refused to answer questions from the Guardian, including why Isaiah Trammell was denied medication.
Instead, an emailed response said NaphCares clinical teams provide compassionate, comprehensive and proactive health care for every patient with integrity and transparency. The statement also said that NaphCare had staff at the Montgomery county jail 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Weve consistently adapted our service level and treatment to meet the changing needs of our patients, NaphCare said.
NaphCare isnt the only healthcare company accused of providing shockingly substandard healthcare. Corizon, another company contracted to provide healthcare and medical treatment at jails, has reportedly gone through corporate restructuring to form a new company, YesCare, in order to avoid paying tens of millions of dollars to creditors.
Related: Boom, bang! Tales from a cell below the crazy unit of a US prison
As Corene Kendrick of the American Civil Liberties Unions national prison project put it: County jails get talked into the idea that somehow a for-profit company is going to take care of all of the problems and responsibilities Inevitably what happens is you have a for-profit entity that is determined to make a profit off of their work.
They need to be held to task to make sure they are actually providing the services that they are getting paid millions of dollars to do.
Montgomery county jail activists are concerned that their attempts to be included in plans for a $20m renovation there meant to include 100 medical care beds have been ignored.
If there will be 100 more medical beds in the renovated jail, we assume NaphCares contract will be expanded to include this massive increase in services delivered, the Montgomery County Jail Coalitions Joel Pruce said.
Weve asked how much it will cost. Weve asked what additional oversight would be in place too. Considering they are such an infamous company, the idea they will have more responsibility is frightening.
Isaiah Trammell was one of seven people who died at, or shortly after being held in, the jail in 2023. And an investigation by Ohios department of rehabilitation and corrections found the facility was not compliant with several applicable jail standards. However, the department also claimed that the jail had since enacted meaningful changes.
Despite the deaths and controversies, in January, Montgomery countys local government renewed its contract with NaphCare to the tune of $7.6m.
Trammells mother, Brandy Abner, said her son dreamed of moving to Alaska to become a park ranger and was a fanatic of the pro wrestler John Cena.
He was obsessed with wrestling, Abner said. He would learn everything about a particular animal he wanted to be the next dog whisperer.
But instead, she said she was left mourning the death of her teenage son due to the failure of jail nurses to do their jobs.
They continued to let him stim for hours and hours, she says. My son would be alive if [they] had done [their] job.
Boris Johnson and Michel Barnier often found themselves at loggerheads
Michel Barnier, Frances new prime minister, was determined to teach Britain a lesson during the Brexit negotiations.
The EUs chief negotiator never missed a chance to school his rebellious Anglo-Saxon pupils on their error of leaving the bloc.
We intend to teach people, he said back in 2017 at the start of the Brexit talks, what leaving the single market means.
The Gaullist negotiated with no fewer than four British Brexit secretaries in a two-year stint from 2017 to November 2019, when Jean-Claude Juncker stepped down.
The tone was set early on at his first official meeting with David Davis, then Brexit secretary, in July 2017.
The European Commission tweeted a photo of Mr Barnier and two senior officials sitting opposite Mr Davis and his team. The Europeans had bulky folders on the desk in front of them, Mr Davis and company had apparently neglected to bring notes or even a notebook. The message was clear; only one side had done their homework and it wasnt the British.
Mr Barnier cultivated an air of wearied professorial patience in the years of lectures that followed.
When Boris Johnson, then foreign secretary, said the EU could go whistle over its Brexit bill demands, the man from Savoie moved to restore discipline. I am not hearing any whistling, just a clock ticking, he scolded in 2017.
The Brussels schoolmasters clock was always ticking while he taught his lessons by rote. Brexit was a lose-lose, he would recite, a zero sum game.
There could be no cherry-picking, Mr Barnier would intone as he repeated again and again the rules of EU membership in hundreds of press conferences.
Colour-coded charts and a ladder diagram showing different trading relationships on offer to Britain were deployed by Mr Barnier to make his point.
At one point, the British team started bringing out their own charts to counter the EU messaging in what was swiftly dubbed slide wars.
But the man with a PhD in Brexit had already won the argument and was giving Britain the third degree.
Mr Barniers lessons were swallowed without question in Brussels and hailed as Moses-like evident truths by the most zealous fringes of the Remainer community in Britain.
No one has ever managed to explain to me the added value of Brexit, Mr Barnier often mused as Europe sat at his feet, not even Nigel Farage. Mr Farage, the naughtiest of bad influences, was famously summoned to Mr Barniers office for a chat.
According to Mr Barnier, Mr Farage told him cheekily that other member states would copy Brexit Britain and leave. These people want to destroy the EU, Mr Barnier told reporters in Brussels.
Mr Barnier cultivated a calm, unflappable exterior. He unfailingly insisted he respected Britains sovereign decision to leave the EU, before listing the reasons why it was a massive error.
Only Lord Frost seemed to have the knack of getting under Mr Barniers skin. Otherwise, he was unfailingly courteous, even once telling the Britpack of British reporters in Brussels I dont really eat croissants and I prefer an English breakfast.
Michel Barnier in full Brexit flow in 2020
Mr Barnier is, as you would expect, extraordinarily charming, staunch Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg said outside commission headquarters after meeting the Frenchman in Brussels in 2018.
The lithe Frenchman would often explain, at length, that as a young man in 1970s France, his first vote was to support Britain joining the EEC, the forerunner of the modern EU.
However, he also named Charles de Gaulle, the president who twice vetoed UK membership of the bloc, as his political hero.
And he never forgot that he was dubbed the most dangerous man in Europe in Britain after being named the commissioner for financial regulation and planning a cap on bankers bonuses.
Mr Barnier, 73, insists to this day that he was not looking to punish Britain for Brexit or for revenge. But there is no doubt he wanted to make an example of the UK to ensure continental eurosceptics didnt follow Britain out of the bloc.
During the Brexit years, he toured the EUs capitals; congratulating them (and himself) on their remarkable unity against the British.
Michel Barnier in the official handover ceremony with former French prime minister Gabriel Attal - STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP
He was greeted with standing ovations from Dublin to Denmark after speeches packed with EU theology such as single market access being conditional on accepting free movement.
Mr Barnier had achieved something very rare for an EU commissioner he had become a household name across Europe, if not necessarily in his native France.
It was only after he left the commission and ran for French president in 2022 that he blotted his copybook.
The man from the Alps first became a French deputy for the centre-Right Republicans aged just 27, entering government for the first time in the mid 1990s under Jacques Chirac.
French Joe Biden
But, a man whose longevity is such that some call him the French Joe Biden, needed to grab Frances attention after spending 15 years as a commissioner in Brussels.
As the politician took over from the professor, Mr Barnier dismayed his admirers in Brussels by declaring France should not, in certain circumstances, be subject to the European Court of Justice or the European Court of Human Rights.
He demanded a crackdown on immigration and found himself accused of tearing pages from Mr Farages playbook.
To make matters worse, he failed to get the nomination from his beloved Republicans, which went on to post disastrous results in the presidential election.
Until today, Mr Barnier looked destined for the political wilderness, being wheeled out as a pundit on British political chat shows, plugging his secret diary of the Brexit negotiations.
The diary was called La Grande Illusion in France, which makes clear his view of Brexit has not changed, despite his flirtations with euroscepticism.
In an interview with The Telegraph earlier this year, he told Sir Keir Starmer the EUs red lines of free movement hadnt changed, amid Labours calls for a renegotiation of the Brexit agreements.
His comeback wont have a direct impact on French policy towards the UK, as foreign policy is a presidential responsibility. Mr Macron is perfectly capable of being tough on Britain without Mr Barniers help.
Emmanuel Macron is mired in a mess of his own making. After being handed a drubbing in European elections in June at the hands of Marine Le Pens National Rally, he called snap assembly elections.
Before the vote, the French centre-Left, greens and hard-Left patched up their differences to form the New Popular Front group to keep the hard-Right from power.
In the first round, Ms Le Pens party made big gains. In the second, Mr Macrons centrist camp and the New Popular Front stood down candidates in a pact to keep National Rally from forming a new government.
When the votes were counted,the New Popular Front was the largest faction but short of a majority in a hung parliament.
National Rally was the largest single party but also did not have an assembly majority. Mr Barniers Republicans were nowhere near a majority and neither were Mr Macrons centrists.
Michel Barnier and Ursula von Der Leyen with Boris Johnson who told the EU to 'go whistle' when he was foreign secretary - Andrew Parsons / No10 Downing Street
Mr Macron rejected the Lefts choice of Prime Minister. Mr Barnier emerged as a figure his party and the Republicans could accept.
It is thought the president could have a deal with the eurosceptic National Rally not to bring down the new Right-leaning government with a vote of no confidence.
Ms Le Pens party is making the most of the leverage already and saying it will wait and see the new government programme before deciding on its next move. Mr Barnier will hope his tough talk on immigration will be enough to ensure his immediate survival.
It helps that everyone knows he will not contest the next presidential elections in 2027.
The new prime minister will need all his powers to survive in post in the deeply polarised world of French politics. Earlier this year, he accused Ms Le Pen, who once called for a Frexit referendum, of not having learnt the lessons of Brexit.
Now, in the case of a pupil becoming the master, Ms Le Pen has the power to decide how long he remains as prime minister.
Ed Miliband in action in the Commons on Thursday
Im beginning to think that Ed Miliband might have been created as part of some sort of medieval alchemy test to distil the essence of purest cringe.
Today he was tasked with the second reading of the Great British Energy Bill itself named from the Bake Off school of constitutional dignity and did so with all the heft of a stand-in geography teacher trying to get the kids down with igneous rocks during a rainy period 7.
Get this, he lisped at the House of Commons, the City of Munich owns more of our offshore wind than we do.
Wow, Daddio, get you! Even if it was delivered with the unique Milibean charm that made him so electable in 2015, this was all absolutely standard Starmerist bilge.
Fourteen years of [insert synonym for horror here] the Milipede repeated again and again, each time delivering the words as if they were a hoick of phlegm he wanted to expel from his doubtless heavily congested nasal canal.
Great British Energy wasnt just the answer to our energy woes, it was also wildly popular with the general public.
I have a free idea for the not very Famous Five still left in the Tory leadership race, he snarked. Back an idea that voters support! An amorphous vision is one thing, but what happens when the bill arrives?
For all his insistence that this was the best thing since sliced Ed, Milibands trademark policy is already on the rocks.
Last week he wrote a dribbling incoherent letter to the National Grid, essentially admitting that he had no real clue about how to decarbonise the grid by 2030.
An incoherent letter for an incoherent policy: he might as well have sent them a guide to Apophatic Theology in Swahili.
The Milipede has clearly been smoking whatever it was the Caterpillar had in his hookah: the more we learn about Great British Energy the clearer it becomes that we are entering the realm of policy-making by Lewis Carroll.
Unfortunately for Ed, shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho was on hand to provide an accomplished demolition job.
She reminded the Commons of his promise to save consumers 300 a year on their bills and various other impossible things to believe before breakfast. Coutinho mostly stuck to the lack of detail a trickier complaint for a Government of Grown-Ups () to fend off. This bill is four pages long. Theres barely anything in it.
She feared the handing over of absolute authority, and a multibillion-pound budget, to a man with little experience of investment or indeed, anything beyond Westminster.
Eds CV was allowed to speak for itself. His only period in the private sector was as a researcher at Channel 4, she crowed. (Thats very poor, harrumphed Ed.)
Determined to continue his supply teacher impression, Miliband flew off the handle whenever someone requested the most basic clarification.
Wera Hobhouse politely asked about private sector investment potentially being crowded out by GBE. Milibands eyes bulged dangerously.
Poor Wera was accused of being a slow learner, an Orange Book Lib Dem and a free-market ideologue all in the space of about 30 seconds.
The Energy Secretary joins the ranks of his Cabinet colleagues who appear to be allergic to challenge. Were in power and questions will not be tolerated is the general mantra.
He may only have been an intern at Channel 4 but its clear hes a valedictorian from the Keir Starmer School of Dishing it Out but not Taking It.
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is increasing in popularity for its flavour-enhancing qualities - Getty
Earlier this year Ryan Riley, the chef behind Life Kitchen, which designs recipes for those living with cancer, teamed up with Holland & Barrett to create a range of flavour-enhancing foods for anyone experiencing taste loss.
One is Sensation Salt, a blend of salt, white pepper and Monosodium glutamate (MSG), which work together to create a full sensory experience, said Riley.
Now Ocado is stocking Ajinomoto umami seasoning, arguably the worlds most famous MSG brand. Cookery writer MiMi Aye reacted with delight. OUR TIME HAS FINALLY COME, she wrote on Instagram, with chefs and food writers, including Nigella Lawson, filling her responses in appreciation.
This is middle-class acceptability, hallelujah, Aye, author of Mandalay: Recipes and Tales from a Burmese Kitchen, told The Telegraph. Meanwhile, Canadian Tiktok sensation Logan Moffitt, better known as the cucumber guy, has added to MSGs popularity, sprinkling it in his now-famous salad recipe.
I love that its being normalised, added Ana Da Costa, a recipe developer and cook. But its also a bit sad that it needs to take white people to use it to be an ok ingredient. Its been around for ages. Its obviously a big step for it now not to be a monster.
Canadian Tiktok sensation Logan Moffitt, better known as the 'cucumber guy', has added to MSGs popularity - TikTok
What is MSG?
Monosodium glutamate is an odourless crystalline additive used widely around the world. It can be found in soups, stock cubes, canned vegetables, crisps and more. It is essentially a synthetic production of glutamates which occur naturally in umami-rich foods including tomatoes, mushrooms and parmesan.
First extracted by the Japanese chemist Kikunae Ikeda from seaweed broth in 1908, it is now made by fermenting starch, sugar beets and sugar cane or molasses and crystallising the solution into a powder.
On its own it has little flavour, but is a powerful flavour enhancer, boosting the umami or savouriness of almost anything. Its basically a type of salt, the clues in the name, says Aye.
Why the controversy?
Initially more popular in the USA than Asia, mistrust of MSG largely stems from a 1968 letter to the New England Journal of Medicine describing sickness after eating a Chinese meal.
It led to an anti-MSG movement, and became associated with symptoms such as numbness, weakness and headaches, based largely on poorly conducted research. By the 1990s, studies had failed to find evidence MSG is unhealthy but the stereotype has endured.
How to use MSG
MSG has long been popular in Asian cookery. In most southeast Asian communities its completely normal [to use it], says Aye. Its just another little shaker, alongside the tray of cooking ingredients at the side of the stove.
Ayes most recent book had an essay dedicated to MSG and in 2021 she guest edited an issue of Pit Magazine which focused on MSG. Its the most successful issue of the food publication to date.
MiMi Ayes guest edited issue of Pit Magazine, which was dedicated to MSG
Aye uses it similarly to salt, as an ingredient while cooking, primarily in savoury dishes. If I put a tablespoon of salt in, Id put in a quarter tablespoon of MSG. It makes stuff more savoury, the same way salt makes things saltier and sugar makes things sweeter.
And its not only for Asian dishes. Aye adds it to tomato sauce for a more rounded, richer flavour, or to salad dressings for depth. People are surprised, but it can work in everything.
Cookery writer MiMi Aye is a big believer in cooking with MSG: It makes stuff more savoury, the same way salt makes things saltier and sugar makes things sweeter
For Judy Joo, founder of Seoul Bird, a group of Korean restaurants in Britain and the US, MSG is a great shortcut when theres a limited time to pack as much flavour as possible into food.
MSG can be used as a seasoning after cooking for the likes of popcorn or chips. Da Costa, who grew up in Macau to Chinese and Portuguese parents, says MSG has always been normalised in our household, Ive never really thought it wasnt something people use. She adds it to almost anything, including desserts. Ive done a recipe for a flan with MSG in the caramel, it went down a treat.
A little goes a long way if cooking for two, half a teaspoon will suffice. Da Costas mother would use it in Chinese recipes but not Portuguese ones, though Da Costa uses it in bacalhau a bras, a cod and potato dish, or feijoada, a bean stew. MSG is an awesome ingredient to have at home, says James Chant, founder of Matsudai Ramen in Cardiff. A shaker filled with two-thirds salt and one-third MSG adds a new layer of flavour to anything you cook.
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What are the alternatives?
For Joo, alternative ways to add umami to dishes include seaweed, tomatoes, mushrooms, anchovies, Parmesan, black garlic, and anything fermented, like kimchi, soy sauce, fish sauce, gochujang or doenjang, which is why Korean food is packed full of flavour.
Da Costa argues that umami-rich products like mushroom powder or Parmesan dont give the same umami taste. They are umami, but its not pure umami. You could put them in desserts or popcorn, but it would taste cheesy, or mushroomy. Umami simply boosts the flavours already there.
Is MSG bad for you?
MSG is a form of something called glutamic acid explains nutritionist Caroline Farrell. That amino acid is found in everything from mushrooms to cheese and tomatoes.
While MSG is made by fermenting and then crystallising glucose (a sugar-like molecule) extracted from plants, it breaks down in the same way as a natural glutamate, says Farrell.
MSG is a useful and flavour-enhancing addition to popcorn and chips - Getty
MSG vs salt
Contrary to popular belief, MSG may actually be less dangerous for your health than normal salt. Its the sodium content of salt that increases our blood pressure and our risk of heart disease when its consumed in high amounts.
Gram for gram, MSG contains a third of the sodium found in table salt, meaning that it may be safer to use as a seasoning. And, because MSG is more potent than salt, you dont need to use so much of it in your cooking.
MSG and headaches
Headaches are a major component of so-called Chinese restaurant syndrome, which was said to occur within hours of eating MSG-laden food and whose symptoms also include profuse sweating, stomach cramps and nausea.
Though it has long been blamed on MSG, Farrell says, I havent seen any studies which show that the amount you might consume in a typical takeaway or restaurant meal would result in these symptoms, Farrell adds.
Instead, the condition may result from other ingredients traditionally used in Chinese cooking. Natural compounds such as histamine, tyramine, phenylethylamine and glutamine figure heavily in black beans, prawns and soy sauce and all four have been linked to headaches.
MSG sensitivity
Around one per cent of people are thought to have a sensitivity to MSG. However, this occurs only when it is eaten in very large amounts of around three grams. Typically a food or dish enhanced with MSG contains just half a gram.
There is no place in Germany for antisemitism or Islamist extremism, the German chancellor has said after police in Munich shot dead a man carrying a long-barrelled gun following an exchange of fire near the Israeli consulate.
In a joint statement, the Bavarian state police and prosecutors said they believed the man had been planning a terrorist attack involving the consulate general of the state of Israel.
Ronen Steinke, a journalist from the Munich-based Suddeutsche Zeitung, posted mobile phone footage of the shooting on X that he had apparently recorded from his office. A flurry of gunshots was reported at just after 9am local time.
A police spokesperson said the man had a long-barrelled gun that proved to be an old rifle.
The Israeli consulate and the nearby Nazi documentation centre are under constant police watch, but have been under increased surveillance since conflict has escalated in the Middle East.
The suspect was reportedly a teenage Austrian national who had recently travelled to Germany and lived in the Salzburg area, according to the Standard and Spiegel news outlets, which also reported that he was known to security officials as an Islamist. Police in Munich declined to comment on the report and said they were not sharing information about the suspect.
In a post on X, Olaf Scholz praised the emergency services quick reaction for having perhaps prevented something terrible from happening. The chancellor added: Antisemitism and Islamism have no place here.
Local media outlets were quick to point out that the incident took place on the 52nd anniversary of the 1972 Munich Olympic attack in which Palestinian terrorists killed two Israeli athletes and took as hostages another nine, who were subsequently killed in a botched rescue attempt. The terrorists had wanted the release of 200 prisoners in Israel, as well as the Red Army Faction terrorists Andreas Baader and Ulrike Meinhof.
No immediate connection between the incident and the anniversary was made by police, although the Bavarian state premier, Markus Soder, said there was a terrible suspicion the attack had been planned for that day.
There was no indication of further suspects or of any injured persons.
In a statement, the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, expressed his horror at what he described as a terror attack.
I spoke now with the president of Germany, my dear friend Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Together we expressed our shared condemnation and horror at the terror attack this morning near the Israeli consulate in Munich, Herzog said.
Police told the public to avoid the area around Karolinenplatz and urged those in residential and office buildings to stay put as the location was sealed off and a police helicopter patrolled overhead.
Benedikt Frank, the deputy director and chief executive of the annual Munich Security Conference (MSC), whose office is located in the area, said he and colleagues had been trapped in the building during the police operation.
Our office, which is right next to the Nazi documentation centre in Munichs city centre has been sealed off by the police. Our employees all find themselves in lockdown right now, he told the tabloid Bild.
He added: At 9.10am there was suddenly a loud bang. We heard at least a dozen shots. We dont know anything else at this stage. There is currently a large number of emergency personnel on the street.
The area in which the incident occurred is considered to be historically sensitive. The Nazi documentation centre, which was opened in 2015, was built on the ruins of the Brown House, the former party headquarters of the Nazis. The Israeli consulate moved into the former Nazi party quarter at about the same time. Both buildings are afforded special protection on the grounds that they are considered at high risk of attack.
According to Israeli media, the consulate was closed at the time of the incident and no staff were present, as a memorial ceremony to mark the Munich Olympics massacre was taking place at the time.
Equal treatment for all? NHS staff being vocal about their prejudices - Victoria Jones/PA
Some like to joke that the NHS is Britains national religion. But it is no longer a secular one. Sectarianism has become rife across the health service and perhaps the most frightening thing is that people are no longer hiding it. Some, like the Labour MP Jess Phillips, even revel in it.
I got through quicker, the Birmingham MP said last week of being whizzed through A&E, apparently because of her political views. The doctor who saw me was Palestinian ... and he was sort of like, I like you. You voted for a ceasefire.
It is probably best for her that she stepped away from X (Twitter) last month after a post in which she appeared to justify scenes of masked men intimidating a journalist. Because she may have been asked about a two-tier NHS and what might have happened had she dared to God forbid speak against the terrorist group Hamas. Or what her treatment might have been if she was a well-known Jewish MP.
The NHS like the university, arts, charity and trade union sectors no longer feels like a safe space for Jewish people. It is an organisation in which people like Dr Wahid Shaida, who gloried in the October 7 massacre as a welcome punch on the nose, is allowed to work as a GP. Where the Health Workers for Palestine hold demonstrations outside hospitals. Where nurses wear Palestine badges with complainants told it is a free speech issue.
The General Medical Council has reported that the number of complaints about doctors subjecting Jewish colleagues to anti-Semitic abuse after October 7 jumped from eight to 60. According to one poll, three quarters of Jewish healthcare workers have suffered at least one anti-Semitic incident since October 7 and half reported feeling unsafe at work.
Jewish doctors and NHS workers have told me of their fear that, if they complain, it will only make things worse. One told me: I wouldnt tell any doctor or nurse treating me that Im Jewish because I hear what is said behind the scenes and its frightening.
Jews often have their ethnicity on their records because certain genetic diseases are more prevalent in the community. But some have become so frightened of experiencing anti-Semitism when they are most vulnerable that they have asked for their religion to be erased.
The NHS is aware of the problem but even its attempt to fight it causes problems, as it emerged this week. Online anti-Semitism training at the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust was subject to an attack before it had even started when an important notice in its weekly bulletin warned staff against attending, saying: We have determined that this training and its content may be inappropriate. Its chief executive Claire Murdoch later apologised.
Something has gone very wrong if the NHS which controversially spends around 40 million a year on Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at a time when it can ill-afford any wastage is no longer safe for Jewish people. It is hard to say whether well-paid DEI executives are blind to the problem, or simply not up to the job of addressing it.
The NHSs noble history includes the time of the Troubles when, in Northern Ireland, Catholic doctors worked on Protestant Unionists and vice versa because politics was left at the door. No longer. Our healthcare service has a sickness, but is anyone willing to talk about a cure?
Botwnnog village council wants to ban non-Welsh speakers from moving into the new homes - WALES NEWS SERVICE
Non-Welsh speakers face being banned from a Welsh housing estate because they pose a danger to the community.
Botwnnog community council in Gwynedd, North Wales, is seeking to ban English-speaking families from an affordable housing development being built in the rural village.
Councillors claimed non-Welsh speakers moving into the 18 new homes would present a danger to the Welsh language and the fabric of the community and be a degenerative influence.
Botwnnog is a village of fewer than 1,000 people located in the Llyn Peninsula, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that juts out into the Irish Sea from Waless west coast.
Welsh is spoken at home by three-quarters of pupils at the villages two schools, which also teach in the native language, according to government statistics.
The plans to build a series of bungalows on farmland on the edge of the village have sparked controversy in the rural community.
The planned new homes are just four miles from a tourist hotspot popular for second homes - WALES NEWS SERVICE
It would be great if the availability of the proposed houses could be limited to Welsh speakers only, but despite that, it cannot be proven that a large number of these houses would not become non-Welsh speaking households, if not all of them, the community council said as it objected to the plans, which were submitted to Cyngor Gwynedd, the regions county council.
As we know, it only takes the presence of a few non-Welsh speaking people to turn the communitys language of communication from Welsh to English.
The applicant acknowledges this possibility but expects the community to do the necessary integration work. The lesson from the history of many Welsh communities is that this is not likely to happen.
The community council added: This degenerative force does not recognise boundaries.
In response, the applicants a company called Cae Capel Cyf said there would be nil or at most [a] very modest impact on the Welsh language in the village.
The occupiers can be expected to be local people, and thus the population of the development will have the same Welsh language characteristics as the local population as they will be drawn from it, the firm said.
As such, impact upon the language will be nil or at most very modest, and certainly not sufficient to be materially harmful to the language.
Locals also hit back at the councils attempts to ban English-speaking families from the new homes, calling them Welsh language zealots.
What nonsense, one pensioner said. Would they like language tests carried out to see who qualifies?
These are Welsh language zealots. Theyre doing more harm to community cohesion and the image of Wales.
The application is set to be considered by Cyngor Gwynedd at a planning meeting on Sept 9.
In 2022, the Welsh government announced measures to try to protect Welsh communities called A Fair Chance, which would enable providers to only advertise homes to locals for a certain period.
The Prince of Waless new look - SASMIR HUSSEIN/WIREIMAGE
The Prince of Wales has brought his summer beard back to work, as he returned from his holidays for an engagement about homelessness sporting a jawline of stubble.
The Prince, who recently revealed a full beard during a video message for the Olympics, visited the Saatchi gallery in London to see an exhibition of artworks created by people who have experienced homelessness.
As well as admiring the exhibits, which were curated as part of his Homewards project, the Prince turned heads with a new look a short but distinctive beard.
He had grown a beard in August, while his family were enjoying a summer break in Norfolk and Balmoral, but appeared to have shaved it off ahead of a visit to Crathie Kirk on Aug 25, when he was photographed driving a car with the Princess and their children as passengers.
As he arrived at the Saatchi gallery on Thursday afternoon, fans waiting outside immediately noticed that his stubble was back.
The new beard drew many admiring looks - CHRIS JACKSON/via REUTERS
Some 64 per cent of Telegraph readers, who answered a poll via the Royal Appointment newsletter, said they liked Prince Williams new look.
Kensington Palace declined to comment on the future of his beard.
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Called Homelessness: Reframed, the exhibition has been staged by Homewards, the Princes charity which aims to change perceptions of homelessness and eradicate it.
In particular, it works to intervene earlier to stop people becoming homeless, from sleeping on the streets to sofa surfing.
The art exhibition, which runs until Sept 20 and is free to view, features sculptures, photographs and everyday objects given a new life by artists with personal experience of homelessness.
It includes a wall of handwritten cardboard signs once held by those seeking help on the streets, and also includes works from established artists including photographer Rankin.
The Prince used the exhibition to speak of his hopes of changing perceptions of homelessness.
During a visit which overran by one hour, he said he was really pleased, so pleased to hear that 25,000 people have visited the exhibition in the last 23 days, after organisers planned for 5,000.
He was said to be stunned at a life-sized shed-like structure sculpture made by former soldier and rough sleeper David Tovey, from an old Peugeot 206 he once lived in.
Award-winning social justice artist Mr Tovey created Home 2013 from scraps of metal and panels from the car he once lived in for six months.
Do you think weve got the right tone? the Prince asked Mr Tovey of the display in general. I really want people to feel this, experience it. To change perceptions.
Mr Tovey said afterwards: When I was first asked by him I was like Are you mad? Do you really want me to do this? So for me it is everything. Hopefully galleries will realise the impact and open their eyes.
He was pretty impressed. We mainly talked about the military and what I have been through. Its something he really cares about.
He spoke to me about how emotions are taken out of you in the military.
He said: They are sometimes really hard to get back, arent they? How are you doing? I was yes, Im still working on it.
He suggested maybe we could take it on tour, the whole thing. I think we are, in the six locations Homewards is working in. That would be amazing.
Prince William during a visit to the Saatchi Gallery - Andrew Parsons/Kensington Palace
Uche Eneke, 42, spent 13 years in sub-standard temporary accommodation with her two young sons now aged nine and 16, which took a toll on their health, and has three of her photographs displayed.
I said to my group, wow, he really listened. He looked like he heard me and asked genuine questions, she said afterwards.
He wanted to hear my experiences and, crucially, learn what the solutions were. He wanted to know where I found support.
His backing means everything. Once you get backing from someone like himself, people really sit up. You get noticed.
Coming from his position he could not want to make a difference, but he does. He has all sorts of brickbats thrown at him and he takes on the chin and gets on with this.
Artist Robi Walters, who endured childhood trauma in care, also spoke with the Prince.
He talked to me about his idea, his vision, said Mr Walters. How he wanted to educate people about this whole, complex issue. Hes got such a huge public profile and platform and he could choose to focus on anything, but he chooses this. The fact that he has chosen to do this and put his money where his mouth is, well thats really remarkable.
The photographer Rankin told the Prince: Ive loved being part of it.
The Prince was also reunited with an old friend, Big Issue seller Dave Martin, whom he has previously teamed up with to sell the magazine on the street.
Dave, lovely to see you again. How have you been? the Prince asked
Mr Martin has contributed a piece of work featuring abstract geometric shapes which represent aspects of his life including pathways, a roof over his head and windows to see the light.
He said: He recognised my work straight away.
Afterwards, the Prince told him: If I dont see you soon, take care.
Mick Clarke, chief executive of homelessness charity The Passage which helped the Homewards team find artists for the exhibition, said: What I love about the Reframed exhibition is this gives an opportunity again to put a spotlight on how weve got to get homelessness away from something society thinks is inevitable and something that we manage, to something that can be prevented from happening.
You have this exhibition where its taking people on the journey of homelessness and the trauma people have been through, but also the positivity coming out the other end.
The attraction has three parts: a collection of mainly hand-drawn signs sometimes seen next to a person sleeping rough, artwork commissions, and doors turned into art by young people, from the six areas where Homewards is working, during workshops led by local artists who have been homeless.
A Merlin helicopter, like the one pictured, ditched in the Channel - UNPIXS/UNPIXS
An investigation has been launched into the death of a Royal Navy aviator who was killed in a helicopter crash off the Dorset coast.
A Merlin Mk4 helicopter ditched into the English Channel while conducting night flying exercises with HMS Queen Elizabeth on Wednesday.
The Telegraph understands there were three crew members aboard the helicopter at the time of the accident, which happened around 8.45pm.
One was killed. The family of the deceased, who has not been named, have been informed. It is not known whether the body recovered from the scene was the pilot, co-pilot or an air crew member.
The two other crew members were rescued and taken to hospital. They did not suffer serious injuries, the Ministry of Defence confirmed.
A second Merlin helicopter had also taken part in the exercise.
Specialist teams are working to recover the wreckage from the seabed and use any data salvaged to piece together the cause of the accident, which remains unknown. There are fears the helicopter suffered a highly unusual double engine failure during the exercise.
The aircraft was carrying out exercises with the carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth - Chris Gorman/Big Ladder
John Healey, the Defence Secretary, confirmed that an investigation had been launched to determine the cause of the crash.
Speaking on a visit to HMS Diamond in Portsmouth, said: This is very, very sad news. It is news that everyone connected with our Armed Forces dreads, and all my thoughts are with the family and friends and colleagues today.
I have been able to share my condolences with Navy personnel, and I am here with the First Sea Lord. A full investigation has already started, and that will be one of his first priorities.
He declined to comment further on what happened, saying: That will be for the investigation.
He added: Today is a day to mourn the loss of a valued Navy personnel and to think about his family and his friends and his colleagues, not just on the helicopter, back on base but the wider naval services feels his loss.
The Mk4 Merlin, currently used by Royal Marines, is considered one of the worlds most advanced amphibious battlefield helicopters, capable of carrying up to 24 troops.
David Learmount, an expert on aviation issues, said other Navy helicopters could be grounded and examined if a technical problem was found to have caused the ditching of the aircraft.
He said: If there was a technical aspect to this, they are going to check all the other helicopters that are like this one to make sure its not going to happen to them too. If they have a reason to do so, they will say wed better ground all the others until we know the reason why it happened.
Full investigation to take place
Asked how investigators would check whether there had been a technical problem, he said: They have a number of sensors on board. They dont have the full black box set up like civilian, commercial operations do, but they do have sensors that have memories so they can check.
They can also track where the helicopter was and what it was doing, and they also listen to tapes of all of the communications between the helicopter and their base and the helicopter and air traffic control. The crew may well have said something to either air traffic control or reported to their base about maybe they had some problems.
The last recorded crash of a British Merlin helicopter was in June 2010, when a pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, after he became disoriented.
The Royal Navy said in a statament: It is with great sadness that we must report a member of the Royal Navy has died following a training incident. Our thoughts are with the family who have been informed and all those affected at this sad time. A full investigation will take place.
The incident involved a Merlin Mk4 helicopter in the English Channel near Dorset that ditched while conducting night flying exercises with HMS Queen Elizabeth. There were no other fatalities or serious injuries.
Dimitri Simes and his wife have left the US and are believed to be in Russia. Photograph: Alexei Danichev/AP
US investigators have indicted a prominent Russian state television personality and his wife for violating sanctions and for money laundering as the White House targets Kremlin influence operations before the US presidential election.
Dimitri Simes, a television presenter and producer for Russias state-owned Channel One, was charged with receiving more than $1m (759,000) in compensation, a personal car and driver and a stipend for a flat in Moscow, despite the television stations designation as sanctioned in 2022 by the USs Office of Foreign Assets Control. He and his wife, Anastasia, were charged with money laundering to hide the proceeds of his work for Channel One.
Anastasia Simes, 55, was also charged with buying arts and antiquities for a sanctioned Russian oligarch, Aleksandr Udodov, and then storing the works in their home in Virginia before they were shipped onward to Russia. The works were bought from galleries and auction houses in the United States and Europe.
The couple faces 20 years in prison for each count if convicted. They left the US after Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and are now believed to be in Russia, the justice department said.
Joe Biden and his stooges are impotent cowards, wrote Dimitri Simes Jr, their son, on X. Our family is safe and sound in Russia. We will not be intimidated. In fact, were only going to get louder. Stay tuned! He claimed that the Biden administration wanted to jail his father for exposing its suicidal Ukraine policy.
Simes, who had had contact with a number of members of Donald Trumps orbit, also figured prominently in special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian influence on the 2016 elections. He was never charged with a crime as part of that investigation.
The new allegations against Simes come one day after the US treasury department sanctioned Margarita Simonyan, who works for the state-controlled broadcaster RT, and nine other employees for running a covert disinformation network in the US that included well-known conservative American influencers who unwittingly took millions of dollars in Kremlin cash.
The US influencers Tim Pool, Dave Rubin and Benny Johnson have addressed allegations that the US content creation company they were associated with had been provided with nearly $10m from Russian state media employees to publish videos with messages in favour of Moscows interests and agenda, including over the war in Ukraine.
On Thursday, the conservative media company Blaze Media said it had terminated its contract with the YouTuber Lauren Chen. Chen and her husband founded Tenet Media, which received as much as $10m from intermediaries to the Russian government, according to the justice department indictment and US media reports, and then paid out large sums of money to conservative figures to produce online videos meant to influence the 2024 election. The American influencers and media personalities acted unwittingly, according to the indictment.
Related: US files charges against Russian-born former Trump campaign adviser
Three things are certain in life: death, taxes and RTs interference in the US elections, Simonyan quipped in response.
Simes, 76, resided until recently in Huntly, Virginia, and had established himself as a prominent Russian political commentator who frequently voiced pro-Kremlin views on television and in print in his accented but fluent English.
Simes is also the former president of The Center for the National Interest thinktank, which was established by Richard Nixon and calls itself Americas voice for strategic realism.
These defendants allegedly violated sanctions that were put in place in response to Russias illegal aggression in Ukraine, the US attorney Matthew Graves said in a statement. Such violations harm our national security interests a fact that Dimitri Simes, with the deep experience he gained in national affairs after fleeing the Soviet Union and becoming a US citizen, should have uniquely appreciated.
Ruslan Boshirov (left) and Alexander Petrov were believed to be responsible for the Salisbury poisoning - TASS
Russian military hackers linked to the Salisbury poisonings have been accused of conducting widespread cyber attacks against Ukraine and its Nato allies.
The UKs National Cyber Security Centre, along with the US, Ukraine and other allies, confirmed on Thursday that the perpetrators belonged to Unit 29155, one of the most shadowy special forces units of GRU, the Russian military intelligence agency.
As part of a campaign known as WhisperGate, six hackers are said to have carried out large-scale cyber espionage and sabotage efforts that targeted governments and critical infrastructure organisations around the world.
It is the first time the UK has publicly exposed Unit 29155 as being responsible for malicious cyber activity, which started as far back as 2020, according to the investigation.
Unit 29155 has operated for at least a decade, lurking in Europes shadows, but Western officials only recently discovered its existence and began connecting it to a series of incidents that bore the fingerprints of Russias intelligence services.
The unit has since been linked to the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, the former GRU spy who acted as a double agent to the UK, with Novichok nerve agent in Salisbury in 2018.
On Thursday, the US charged five officers of Unit 29155 and one co-conspirator, all of whom are Russian nationals and residents, with conspiracy to commit computer intrusion and wire fraud.
The hackers were identified in a now-unsealed indictment as Col Yuriy Denisov, a commanding officer of cyber operations for Unit 29155, and four lieutenants, Vladislav Borovkov, Denis Denisenko, Dmitriy Goloshubov, Nikolay Korchagin, and civilian Amin Sitgal.
In May 2022, the UK and its allies attributed the use of WhisperGate malware in Ukraine to Russian military intelligence. However, until now it had not been linked to Unit 29155.
Paul Chichester, the director of operations at the National Cyber Security Centre, said: The exposure of Unit 29155 as a capable cyber actor illustrates the importance that Russian military intelligence places on using cyberspace to pursue its illegal war in Ukraine and other state priorities.
The UK, alongside our partners, is committed to calling out Russian malicious cyber activity and will continue to do so.
The US indictment alleges the Russian hackers attempted to hack into and destroy computer systems belonging to the Ukrainian government ahead of the full-scale Russian invasion.
The defendants did so in order to sow concern among Ukrainian citizens regarding the safety of their government systems and personal data, the indictment said. It added that later targets included governments that supported Ukraine, including the US, UK and 24 other Nato countries.
The news comes just one day after the US sanctioned a Russian state media network in a bid to combat the Kremlins alleged efforts to meddle in the 2024 presidential elections.
The sphere-shaped nanobots are directed to the site of an aneurysm using magnets and real-time ultrasound scans - Jian Wu/PA
Miniscule magnetic nanobots that can travel deep inside the brain to repair deadly aneurysms have been created by the University of Edinburgh.
The sphere-shaped nanobots, which are about a 20th of the size of a human red blood cell, are made from iron oxide, which becomes magnetic when placed in an external magnetic field.
They also carry thrombin, an enzyme crucial in blood clotting and inflammation.
Brain aneurysms are a bulge or ballooning in the weakened area of a blood vessel that can burst and cause dangerous bleeding if not stopped quickly.
In laboratory tests, several hundred billion nanobots were injected into an artery and the swarm was directed remotely to the site of an aneurysm using magnets and real-time ultrasound scans.
Once there, the nanobots clustered together inside the aneurysm and heated to more than 109F (43C) using an alternating magnetic field to melt their protective coating and release the clotting drug to the precise location.
Scans showed that after the clotting had happened, the aneurysm vanished, leaving a healthy blood vessel.
Dr Qi Zhou, of the University of Edinburghs School of Engineering,who co-led the study, said: Nanorobots are set to open new frontiers in medicine potentially allowing us to carry out surgical repairs with fewer risks than conventional treatments and target drugs with pinpoint accuracy in hard-to-reach parts of the body.
Our study is an important step towards bringing these technologies closer to treating critical medical conditions in a clinical setting.
In Britain, about 2 to 3 per cent of people will develop a brain aneurysm, which is caused by weaknesses in the walls of the blood vessels in the brain. About one in 15,000 people suffer a ruptured brain aneurysm in the UK each year.
If the aneurysm leaks or ruptures, it causes bleeding in the brain, known as a hemorrhagic stroke, which can be life-threatening and needs immediate treatment.
The condition is treated by threading a tube along blood vessels and inserting metal coils to stem the blood flow, or a mesh tube called a stent, to divert the bloodstream in the artery.
But the body can reject the implanted materials, and patients must be given anti-blood clotting drugs that can cause bleeding and stomach problems.
For the new trials, the team tested the nanobots on arteries in vitro and animals, but are hopeful that they could soon move to testing in humans.
Experts also believe that the nanobots could be used to repair organs and other blood vessels, as well as moving medicines to precise locations in the body.
The team, which worked alongside clinicians from Shanghai Sixth Peoples Hospital, have also developed nanorobots to remove blood clots, which could one day be used to treat stroke patients.
Jonathan Meijer previously made headlines in the Netherlands after a court ordered him to stop donating his sperm - ANP/Alamy Stock Photo
A prolific Dutch sperm donor who was the subject of Netflixs The Man with 1,000 Kids documentary is suing the streaming service, insisting that he fathered only 550.
Jonathan Meijer, 43, will take the streaming giant to court over the documentary that alleged he fathered up to 3,000 donor children after deceiving dozens of women.
Mr Meijer announced the lawsuit on Wednesday night, saying that he wanted to protect his offspring from the medias lust to make some kind of spectacle out of this.
The Netflix documentary, which premiered in July, claimed he had fathered between 1,000 to 3,000 children since 2007 after donating to at least 13 clinics, 11 of which were in the Netherlands, and separately by approaching prospective parents online.
Five hundred and fifty, thats the number I know for sure. Anything above that is just speculation, he told the Dutch broadcaster NPO 1, accusing Netflix of not conducting proper research.
Mr Meijer continued: Thats why I have started a case to fight against these lies. I gave these parents what they couldnt get.
The Netflix documentary, which premiered in July, claimed Mr Meijer had fathered between 1,000 to 3,000 children since 2007 - CEN
The documentary also included allegations that he mixed his sperm with that of another serial sperm donor before giving it to a recipient in a bid to see whose would win.
Mr Meijer denies this claim and wants it removed from the show.
Asked why he refused to be interviewed in the three-part documentary, he said that he would not co-operate with such a shady company, instead preferring to share his perspective on his YouTube channel.
Mr Meijer, a musician, travel blogger and self-styled personal finance influencer, claimed that he stopped donating sperm in 2019, except to those who wanted a second or third child from him.
Last year, he made headlines in the Netherlands after a court ordered him to stop donating his sperm.
Dutch law prohibits sperm donors from fathering more than 25 children or impregnating more than 12 mothers, to prevent unintentional incest, inbreeding or possible psychological issues associated with having scores of unknown siblings.
Mr Meijer had circumvented the law by using pseudonyms at clinics and advertising his sperm on the internet, promising that his only intention was to fulfil peoples dreams of having children.
The court ruled that Mr Meijer had lied about his number of sperm donations and deceived couples whose children had become part of a huge kinship network with hundreds of half-siblings they did not choose.
Judges said it was sufficiently plausible that his actions could lead to psycho-social consequences for the children.
Meshawn Maddock, center, attends a Trump rally in Warren, Michigan, on 1 October 2022. Photograph: Emily Elconin/Getty Images
State Republican parties have nominated 14 of the 84 fake electors from the 2020 presidential election to serve again as Republican party presidential electors, an indication of the legitimacy that election deniers continue to hold in some quarters of the GOP.
The Republican parties of Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Nevada have each nominated one or more electors who attempted to submit themselves as electors for Donald Trump and Mike Pence in 2020 despite the former president losing in their states.
Presidential electors typically perform a rote but critical behind-the-scenes role in elections. Electors are first nominated by their political party, before voters choose their preferred candidate by casting a ballot. The National Archives explains the process: When you vote for a Presidential candidate, you arent actually voting for President. You are telling your State which candidate you want your State to vote for at the meeting of electors.
In 2020, despite a majority of voters in New Mexico, Nevada, Georgia, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan voting for Biden, Republican electors went ahead and submitted certificates for Trump, mimicking the process they would have performed if Trump had won there.
Related: Trump-backed Senate candidate caught on tape disparaging Native Americans
During a Michigan Republican party convention to nominate candidates for office last month, the party nominated six people who served as fake electors in 2020 to be presidential electors for Trump again in the 2024 general election, according to Detroit News. The nominees Meshawn Maddock, Amy Facchinello, John Haggard, Timothy King, Marian Sheridan and Hank Choate all face felony charges for attempting to falsely certify the Michigan election for Trump. Maddock, a former co-chair of the Michigan Republican party, drew condemnation the same week for using an anti-gay slur in a social media post on 23 August.
In Pennsylvania, the state Republican party submitted a list of presidential electors to the secretary of states office that included Bill Bachenberg, Bernadette Comfort, Ash Khare, Pat Poprik and Andy Reilly, the investigative outlet Spotlight PA reported in August. Comfort and Reilly serve in key elected positions within the Pennsylvania Republican party, and Bachenberg, a prominent local businessman, allegedly played a role in elevating sham election audits across the country.
During their convention this year, the Nevada Republican party nominated two fake electors to serve again in the 2024 election: Michael McDonald, the chair of the Nevada Republican party, and Jesse Law, chairman of the Republican party of Clark county.
The Republican party of New Mexico nominated one fake elector, Deborah Weh Maestas, the former chair of the state GOP, to serve again in 2024.
No fake electors will represent Arizona, Georgia or Wisconsin Republicans in the 2024 election. In Wisconsin, the 10 Republicans who served as fake electors in 2020 agreed to not serve as presidential electors again while Trump is on the ballot the result of a lawsuit settled in December 2023.
False electors face criminal prosecution in Arizona, Michigan and Georgia for their role in attempting to overturn the presidential election. In Nevada, a judge dismissed a case against the states six false electors, and the people who submitted false electoral certificates for Trump in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and New Mexico have not faced prosecution.
Meanwhile, people who served as fake electors in 2020 have also continued to support the Trump-Vance ticket through campaign donations and served as delegates during the Republican national convention.
Across the country, pro-Trump Republicans who rejected the results of the 2020 election will serve in key roles administering elections this fall, from election-denying activists on the Georgia board of elections who have passed new voting rules to an effort by the Republican National Committee to flood the polls with election observers who are skeptical of the process.
Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event in New York on Thursday. Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP
Donald Trump has quietly wound down his presidential campaign in states he was targeting just six weeks ago amid polling evidence showing that Kamala Harriss entry into the presidential race has put them out of reach and narrowed his path to the White House.
The Republican presidential nominees campaign has diverted resources away from Minnesota, Virginia and New Hampshire states Trump was boasting he could win while Joe Biden was the Democratic candidate to focus instead on a small number of battleground states.
Money is being poured into the three blue wall states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, which were all carried by Biden in 2020 and are seen as vital to the outcome of Novembers election.
Related: Trump pleads not guilty to revised 2020 election interference charges
Special attention is being paid to Pennsylvania, which has 19 electoral college votes, and where a new CNN poll shows Trump and Harris tied at 47% each.
Resources have also been transferred to southern and south-western Sun belt states namely North Carolina, Georgia Nevada and Arizona where Trump previously had healthy leads over Biden that have been whittled away since Harris replaced the US president at the top of the Democratic ticket.
Maga Inc, a Trump-supporting Super Pac, has recently spent $16m in adverts in North Carolina as polls have shown Harris close to drawing even in a state the Democrats carried just once in presidential elections since 1980.
The tactical shift is a graphic sign of how the dynamics of the electoral contest have shifted since the Republican national convention in July, when euphoric Trump campaigners talked confidently of winning Minnesota, Virginia and New Hampshire.
Democrats have carried all three in recent presidential polls but Bidens support showed signs of serious erosion following Junes calamitous debate performance in Atlanta prompting bullish Republican forecasts that they would be in play in November.
An internal Trump campaign memo even before the debate posited ways that the former president could carry Minnesota and Virginia partly helped by the presence of the independent candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr, whose campaign was initially thought to pose a greater threat to Biden before contrary polling evidence changed Trumps calculus.
As optimism surged, Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, held a rally in Minnesota shortly after the Republican convention, while the campaign said it planned to open eight offices in the state and build up staff.
Since then, Harris replaced Biden and chose the Minnesota governor, Tim Walz, as her running mate helping her to shore up local support while Kennedy has suspended his campaign and endorsed Trump.
Harriss ascent has also infused the Democrats supporters with fresh enthusiasm, leading to a surge in popularity that has propelled her into a small but consistent national poll lead and a fundraising bonanza that saw her campaign raise $540m in August alone.
The predicted rash of new Trump offices and hires in Minnesota appears not to have happened, Axios reported.
In Virginia the site of Vances first solo rally after being appointed to the ticket Trump has not staged a rally for six weeks and the campaign has stopped citing memos claiming it can flip the state. Its apparent slide down the priority list is a far cry from 28 June, when the former president staged a rally in Chesapeake a day after his ultimately race-changing debate with Biden.
The clearest evidence of the switch in campaigns thinking has come in New Hampshire, which a former Trump field worker said this week that it was no longer trying to win.
Related: Kamala Harris will win election, predicts leading historian Allan Lichtman
Trump has not appeared there since winning the Republican primary in January and has not sent a major surrogate since the spring, despite New Hampshire being identified by Michael Whatley, chair of the Republican National Committee, after the June debate as one of the states the Trump campaign was targeting to expand its electoral wining map.
Recent polls have shown Harris leading outside the margin of error.
This election is going to be won in those seven swing states, Lou Gargiulo, the co-chair of Trumps campaign in New Hampshire, told Politico. Thats where the efforts got to be put.
Andrii Sybiha is a career diplomat who has worked in Zelenskiys office for several years. Photograph: Vitalii Nosach/EPA
Ukraines parliament has approved the appointment of Andrii Sybiha as its new foreign minister, replacing Dmytro Kuleba as part of the biggest government reshuffle since the full-scale Russian invasion.
The president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has said of the reshuffle, which is taking place at a critical juncture in the war with Russia, that the country needed new energy.
Sybiha, a career diplomat, worked for several years in Zelenskiys office. He is one of eight new ministers expected to be appointed on Thursday.
Critics have said that the reshuffle represents a consolidation of power by a small group of Zelenskiy loyalists allied with Andriy Yermak, the head of the presidents office.
A former ambassador to Turkey, Sybiha had also served as Yermaks deputy.
Alexander Kamyshin, a popular figure feted for keeping Ukraines railways running through the war, is also being moved from the strategic industries ministry to the presidents office.
Others have raised eyebrows over the timing of the reshuffle, amid a recent increase in Russian missile attacks on Ukraine.
The appointments come as Zelenskiy is preparing to travel to the United States later this month to present what Kyiv has called his victory plan to the US president, Joe Biden, a key ally.
Zelenskiy has repeatedly called on allies to lift restrictions that ban Kyiv from using western weapons for long-range strikes into Russia.
Russian forces are inching forward in the east and have stepped up their campaign of missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities far from the frontline, hitting the power sector and other infrastructure in almost daily attacks.
Related: Ukraine war briefing: Russia says it will change nuclear doctrine due to western escalation in Ukraine
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, said on Thursday that Ukraines incursion into the Russian region of Kursk had failed to slow Russias own advance in eastern Ukraine and had weakened Kyivs defences along the frontline in a boost to Moscow.
That was countered by Natos secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, who told reporters in Oslo that Ukraine had achieved a lot in its Kursk offensive.
Putin, speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, said that Russian forces were gradually pushing Ukrainian soldiers out of Kursk, where on 6 August Ukraine launched the biggest foreign attack on Russia since the second world war.
Ukraine had weakened its defences elsewhere and allowed Russia to accelerate its push into the eastern Donbas area, he said, reiterating that Moscows primary aim was to take full control of the Donbas.
Putin said: The enemys goal was to make us nervous and worry and to transfer troops from one sector to another and to stop our offensive in key areas, primarily in the Donbas. Did it work? No.
Ukraines top commander, Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, has said that one of the objectives of the Kursk operation was to divert Russian forces from other areas, primarily in eastern Ukraine near the cities of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove.
Though the Kursk incursion was an embarrassment for Putin and the top military brass, Russian officials are now portraying it as one of Kyivs biggest tactical mistakes of the war, saying it ties down thousands of troops for little real gain.
By transferring rather large and well-trained units to these border areas with us, the enemy weakened itself in key areas, and our troops accelerated offensive operations, Putin said.
Zelenskiy has said Kyiv plans to hold territory in Kursk and that the operation, which he says is part of a not fully disclosed victory plan, has brought the war home to Russians.
Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report
NHS surgeons at work: Stand-alone hubs can carry out more procedures more quickly - Christopher Furlong/Getty
Wes Streeting has backed the rollout of production-line surgery hubs to boost NHS operations by a fifth.
Research published on Thursday showed that stand-alone centres carrying out simple surgeries such as cataract or hip surgeries dramatically increased productivity.
The findings comes ahead of an independent report on the health service which is expected to lay bare major inefficiencies in hospitals when it is published next week.
The Health Secretary said the hubs, run by 31 NHS trusts serving around one quarter of the population, were a shining example of innovation that should be rolled out more widely.
Wes Streeting said the NHS was 'broken' earlier this year - Jacob King/PA
Mr Streeting told The Telegraph: We want to take the best of the NHS to the rest of the NHS, so it can be there for all of us when we need it.
Surgical hubs are a shining example of how we can use groundbreaking, innovative practices already happening in the NHS to speed up treatments and bring down the unacceptable waiting lists we have inherited.
We are urgently seeking to identify and replicate more productive ways of working across the health service, to get better value for taxpayers money and give all patients the care they deserve.
Beds ring-fenced
The stand-alone hubs are separate to hospital A&E departments, with beds ring-fenced so operations are less likely to be cancelled because a bed is needed for an emergency case.
They focus on simple procedures which can be done in high volumes, such as cataract operations; hip and knee replacements; gynaecology; ear, nose and throat procedures; and hernia removal.
The new research by The Health Foundation found that trusts which tested the hubs undertook 22 per cent more operations in their first year of operation than would previously have been expected.
Across England, the 31 trusts were able to carry out 29,000 more procedures than expected. The hubs were also associated with shorter stays in hospital, with production-line methods speeding up the throughput of cases.
Experts said new models which mean patients are less likely to have their care disrupted because of pressures on A&E could be key to to driving down NHS waiting lists.
In June this year, the waiting list stood at 7.6 million cases (6.4 million people), of which 1.2 million cases were elective surgeries.
More than 100 of the surgical hubs are already operating, with a further 26 due to open by the end of 2025.
Call for extra funding
The Royal College of Surgeons has been pushing for the rollout of the hubs, which began being introduced more widely during the pandemic. Tim Mitchell, the colleges president, welcomed the research and called for extra funding to turbocharge their expansion.
Charles Tallack, director of data analytics at The Health Foundation, said: Our research provides the first robust causal evidence that elective surgical hubs can significantly increase the number of patients treated and reduce the length of time they spend in hospital.
He said the research suggests surgical hubs could play an important role in reducing waiting lists.
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Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive of NHS Providers, said: Dedicated staff and resources in NHS surgical hubs can drive down waiting times, increase procedures and benefit patients.
But with waiting lists rising for the third month in a row, trust leaders know that they need significant investment if theyre going to make a real dent in waiting times for patients.
Independent investigation
Mr Streeting has deployed surgeon and former Labour minister Lord Darzi to lead the independent investigation, with instructions to provide a raw and honest assessment.
The peer has expressed impatience at the way the health service uses its resources. Earlier this year, he argued that the NHS must perform operations seven days a week, saying: British Airways does not leave its planes on the tarmac over the weekend.
Ahead of the election, Mr Streeting announced plans to increase the number of staff working evenings and weekends, in order to cut waiting lists. Half of NHS hospitals close their operating theatres at weekends.
Police have arrested 18 people after Greenpeace UK activists blocked access to Unilevers headquarters in central London.
Chief Superintendent Bill Duffy, of City of London Police, said on Thursday: At around 5.30am today, we were made aware of protesters at the Unilever House on New Bridge Street. There is a proportionate policing operation in progress.
At this time, 11 people have been arrested on suspicion of locking-on under Section 1 of the Public Order Act 2023. A further seven people have been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass.
Members of the environmental campaign group locked themselves on to barricades made from giant Dove products, one of Unilevers biggest brands, with each products logo changed to a dead dove.
The protesters unfurled a banner across the front of the building, which had the phrase real beauty isnt this toxic printed on it, over an image of a Dove label.
Activists outside Unilevers headquarters in central London (Lucy North/PA)
Greenpeace demonstrators want Unilever to remove single-use plastic from its operations and phase it out fully within a decade, starting with plastic sachets, which they say are near impossible to collect and recycle.
Will McCallum, co-executive director at Greenpeace UK, said: Unilevers plastic pollution is trashing the planet and harming communities.
They hide behind the clean, respectable face of brands like Dove but were here today peeling back this facade to show the ugly truth behind it.
He added: We wont let up todays action may be over but our campaign against Unilever will continue to escalate unless it puts a proper plan in place to phase-out single-use plastic.
Greenpeace UK called on Unilever to back a treaty that caps and phases down plastic production by at least 75% by 2040 at these UN negotiations.
Police remove activists outside Unilevers headquarters (Lucy North/PA)
A Greenpeace International report published in November last year claimed Unilever was the biggest corporate seller of polluting plastic sachets, small throwaway plastic packets of consumer products, selling 1,700 a second in 2023.
A spokesman for Unilever said: Our ambition at Unilever is clear: an end to plastic pollution through reduction, circulation, and collaboration. We recognise the important role that we play to help make this ambition a reality which is why plastic is one of our four sustainability priorities.
Weve already reduced our virgin plastic use by 18% and increased our use of recycled plastic to 22% recognised by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation as one of the businesses making the most progress to reduce its virgin plastic packaging footprint.
However, our work is far from over. Our updated plastic goals are stretching and focus on the areas that we know will have the most impact such as continuing to reduce our virgin plastic use and developing alternatives to hard-to-recycle flexible plastic packaging, like plastic sachets.
We are fully committed to working with industry partners and other stakeholders to develop viable, scalable alternatives that reduce plastic waste.
But overcoming a challenge of this scale will require more systemic change. Thats why were calling for a UN treaty on plastic pollution that sets legally binding global rules and addresses the full lifecycle of plastic.
Reports that weapons were transported to Israel through Irish airspace without permission are a matter of concern, Irelands premier has said.
Irelands Department of Transport is engaging with an airline at the centre of the claims.
It is prohibited to transport munitions of war on civil aircraft across Irish airspace without an exemption from the Minister for Transport.
News website The Ditch has reported that several flights carrying munitions to weapons manufacturers and contractors in Tel Aviv have occurred since October 2023.
However, senior Government figures have consistently said that no requests to transport the restricted items had been received by the department.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Mr Harris said he expected an update on the departments probe on the matter shortly.
He added: This is an issue of concern. Ireland has been steadfast as has the Irish Government in its support for international law, for human rights, for a cessation of violence.
I expect that our laws and our rules in relation to these situations and international ones would be respected.
But the Minister for Transport will provide an update as soon as he has received it and Ill follow it up then.
Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has claimed both current and previous governments obsession with net zero is killing UK steel jobs.
The MP for Boston and Skegness was joined by DUP MP Sammy Wilson who lambasted both Labour and the Conservatives for commitments to clean energy.
According to UK Steel, more than 33,000 people are currently employed by Britains steel industry, with a further 42,000 supported in the supply chain, contributing 1.8 billion to the overall economy.
In its election manifesto Labour committed 2.5 billion to rebuild the UKs steel industry, alongside net zero and decarbonisation targets.
Tata Steels Port Talbot steelworks (PA)
During an urgent question on steel in the House of Commons, Mr Tice said: The hypocrisy of this debate is utterly extraordinary.
Everybody agrees that steel is of strategic national importance, and yet it is both main parties, led by the Conservatives over there, whose obsession with net zero is leading to the removal of our blast furnaces, by both British Steel and by Tata.
That obsession is killing our steel industry. Its killing our steel jobs, and its leading to the inability to produce primary steel.
Now over 75% of all new steel generating capacity in the world is in Asia, and over 90% of that is blast furnaces.
He added: If you are obsessed with net zero, will you guarantee that if you subsidise Tata Steel with 500 million plus to produce new electric arc furnaces that that money will be linked to the construction?
Energy minister Sarah Jones said the Government has to go with the market.
She said: The market is now saying to us, we want to buy green steel. If you talk to big construction companies, if you talk to big companies, they say, we want green steel.
That is what they are demanding. That is what we will produce and if we dont then we will not be selling it on the same basis.
Mr Tice could be heard shouting because they have to, as Ms Jones discussed industry requests for sustainably produced steel.
Energy minister Sarah Jones said the Government has to go with the market on green steel production (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/PA)
Mr Wilson alleged tens of thousands of jobs were lost in steel under the previous Conservative government due to its obsession with decarbonisation and net zero.
He said: But the unfortunate thing is, I dont think were going to see any different approach by this Government.
Given that shes promised an industrial strategy can she assure us that in that steel will have and there will be provision for steel to have a supply of coking coal produced in this country?
And also that the decarbonisation requirements, which are damaging and expensive, will not further have detriment to the steel industry?
Ms Jones said: If we do not take the measures to decarbonise and tackle the climate crisis, the cost to this country will be infinitely higher. This is not a choice that we have.
She added that the Government will aim to support industry during the transition to clean energy.
Conservative former education secretary Sir Gavin Williamson also pressed the Government on the provision of coking coal, a key ingredient in the steel-making process.
Sir Gavin said: In most of the plants in the United Kingdom, in order to make virgin steel, they need to be able to bring in coking coal.
The Labour Governments policy is to ban bringing in coking coal, which means that hundreds and thousands of jobs are going to be lost. Whats the minister going to do to reverse that decision so that jobs can be saved?
Ms Jones said the Government is looking at other ways of making virgin steel to which Sir Gavin protested theyre arent any.
Ms Jones continued: Im happy to have further conversations with the minister rather than shout across the house at each other, but I am happy to have conversations about how we can make sure we retain the virgin steel production and we also adhere to our climate commitments.
Sir Salman Rushdie has been longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for a book that describes the knife attack that left him blind in one eye.
If the author, 77, wins the non-fiction book award he would become the first Booker Prize winner to have earned both honours.
Sir Salman released Knife: Meditations After An Attempted Murder earlier this year, in which he recounts the attack on stage at the Chautauqua Institution in New York state in August 2022.
He won the Booker Prize in 1981 with Midnights Children, about the birth of India.
Australian author Richard Flanagan won 2014s Man Booker Prize for his novel The Narrow Road To The Deep North (Alastair Grant/PA)
Also in competition for the double is Australian author Richard Flanagan, who became a Booker winner in 2014 with his novel The Narrow Road To The Deep North, and is up for the non-fiction award for his memoir Question 7.
According to Baillie Gifford judges, Sir Salmans book doesnt back away from the knife attack that almost ended his life in 2022.
They added: Instead, he confronts it head on, with prose that is brutally clear, honest and, best of all, funny. Knife is a very personal statement for Rushdies own art and art in general.
Sir Salman has faced death threats since the publication of The Satanic Verses, about the life of the prophet Mohammed, which is considered blasphemous by some Muslims.
In 2022 he was made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour.
Hadi Matar, the man accused of attacking Sir Salman, maintains his innocence. He is due to stand trial in October this year and the writer is expected to give evidence.
Also on the Baillie Gifford longlist is Vietnam-born Viet Thanh Nguyen who won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction with his debut novel The Sympathizer for the memoir, A Man Of Two Faces: A Memoir, A History, A Memorial.
British authors who could win the 50,000 prize include: Rachel Clarke for heart transplant story The Story Of A Heart; Rachel Cockerells Jewish emigration story Melting Point; Family, Memory And The Search For A Promised Land; Sue Prideauxs artist biography Wild Thing: A Life Of Paul Gauguin; and Helen Scales ecology book What The Wild Sea Can Be: The Future Of The Worlds Ocean.
Clarke has been longlisted previously while Prideaux has appeared on the shortlist.
Isabel Hilton, chairwoman of judges, said: It is, of course, a list of remarkable and outstanding books, and they shed new and brilliant light on our contemporary world through explorations of history, of memory, of science and nature.
Collectively this wonderful reflection of creativity, of critical thinking and great writing left us in no doubt that the non-fiction world is overflowing with energy and talent.
The shortlist will be announced on October 10 at Cheltenham Literature Festival, with the winner to be revealed on November 19.
The Baillie Gifford Prize shortlisted authors will receive a prize of 5,000.
Last year, John Vaillants Fire Weather: A True Story From A Hotter World about the wildfires in Canada won the prize.
Royal Mail could be allowed to ditch Saturday deliveries for second class letters under an overhaul of the UK postal service being considered by the industry watchdog.
Regulator Ofcom, which has been consulting on the future of the universal postal service since January, said it is now focusing efforts on changes to the second class service while keeping first-class deliveries six days a week.
Under the plans being considered, second class deliveries would not be made on Saturdays and would only be on alternate weekdays, but delivery times would remain unchanged at up to three working days.
Ofcom said no decision had been made and it continues to review the changes, with aims to publish a consultation in early 2025 and make a decision in the summer of next year.
Royal Mail has urged the Government and Ofcom to review its obligations, arguing that they are no longer workable or cost-effective, given the decline in addressed letter post.
It proposed ditching Saturday deliveries for second class post and cutting the service to every other weekday in its submission to Ofcom in April.
But it comes at a time when Royal Mail is under intense scrutiny, with its owner International Distribution Services (IDS) having agreed a controversial 3.57 billion takeover by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky in May, which is being reviewed by the Government under the National Security and Investment act.
Royal Mail also revealed last month that it once again failed to meet Ofcom targets for deliveries, with less than 80% of first class post on time in the three months to June 30.
Lindsey Fussell, Ofcoms group director for networks and communications, said: If we decide to propose changes to the universal service next year, we want to make sure we achieve the best outcome for consumers.
So were now looking at whether we can get the universal service back on an even keel in a way that meets peoples needs.
But this wont be a free pass for Royal Mail under any scenario, it must invest in its network, become more efficient and improve its service levels.
The UK's postal service needs reform to secure its long-term future. We'll now assess whether changes to Second Class letter deliveries, while keeping First Class as it is, would meet people's needs ahead of a consultation next year. Read more: https://t.co/xe0Vjl1MhD pic.twitter.com/SZ5bz3jZ2M Ofcom (@Ofcom) September 5, 2024
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) hit out at Ofcom, claiming the union was being ignored in the debate over the postal reforms.
A CWU spokesman said: The voices of postal workers, the public and businesses must be heard.
The absolute priority of the regulator right now should be restoring quality of service, which is currently 13% below the agreed Ofcom targets. Royal Mail has a resourcing and staff retention crisis and we will not allow this to go unreported.
The Royal Mails universal service obligation (USO) stipulates that it must deliver letters six days a week to all 32 million addresses in the UK for the price of a stamp a requirement stipulated by law under the Postal Services Act 2011.
When Ofcom first said it was considering cutting postal delivery days, it sparked an outcry, with ministers quick to dismiss any suggestion that the Government would sanction the scrapping of Saturday deliveries.
But the current plans being looked at would not need a change in legislation, given Royal Mail would still be delivering first class post six days a week.
Royal Mail said its proposals earlier this year would also save it up to 300 million a year and lead to fewer than 1,000 voluntary redundancies.
Royal Mail owner IDS insisted change cannot come soon enough to the UKs postal service.
Martin Seidenberg, group chief executive of IDS, said: Our proposal for the future of the universal service has been developed after speaking to thousands of people across the country, and is designed to protect what matters most for customers.
It can be achieved through regulatory change with no need for new legislation.
The universal service faces a very real and urgent financial sustainability challenge.
Steve Coogan has been seen as Dr Strangelove for the first time in new pictures.
The Alan Partridge star will feature in Armando Iannucci and Sean Foleys stage adaption of Stanley Kubricks 1964 film, which will be performed at the Noel Coward Theatre in Londons West End.
Rehearsals for the show began this week, with a picture showing Coogan pointing at the camera as the character, wearing a suit and glasses.
Steve Coogan will star as Dr Strangelove in the upcoming Noel Coward Theatre performance (Story House/PA)
Dr Strangelove is a black comedy which tells the story of an unhinged US Air Force general who orders a nuclear attack on the Soviet Union, while the president and his advisers attempt to prevent the bomb from launching.
Joining Coogan in the cast will be John Hopkins as General Jack D Ripper, Oliver Alvin-Wilson as Jefferson, Penny Ashmore as Vera Lynn, Ben Deery as General Staines, Richard Dempsey as Frank, Mabli Gwynne as Swing, Mark Hadfield as Faceman, Tony Jayawardena as Russian Ambassador Bakov, Dharmesh Patel as Lincoln, and Ben Turner as Colonel Bat Guano.
Foley, who will also direct the play, said: I couldnt be more thrilled than to be working with such a talented and exciting cast on our version of Stanley Kubricks extraordinary nightmare comedy.
I know from their amazing collective experience that every character and every situation will not only be seriously dark and terrifying, but also seriously funny.
The production will see Coogan work with Iannucci once again, having worked with the writer throughout his career, including on early comedy series The Day Today, Knowing Me Knowing You With Alan Partridge, and Im Alan Partridge.
The show will begin in London on Tuesday October 8 and finish on Saturday January 25 2025, before it moves on to Dublins Bord Gais Energy Theatre from Wednesday February 5 to Saturday February 22.
More than 20% of tickets for the shows London performances are priced at 35 and under, with more than 1,000 25 stalls tickets available to under-30s, and additional stalls tickets available to select charities across the run.
The under-30s tickets will be released at 11am on Friday.
Stormont ministers have finally agreed a draft programme for government.
Ministers signed off on the delayed blueprint when they met at Stormont Castle on Thursday morning.
It will not be officially published until Monday as protocol dictates that it should be presented to MLAs in the Assembly first.
It will then be subject to an eight-week public consultation exercise.
The programme for government will set out the priorities for the devolved powersharing Executive for the remaining two-and-a-half years of the Assembly term.
Naomi Long, Michelle ONeill, Emma Little-Pengelly and Mike Nesbitt held a press conference at Stormont Castle (David Young/PA)
First Minister and Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill, deputy First Minister and DUP MLA Emma Little-Pengelly, Justice Minister and Alliance Party leader Naomi Long and Health Minister and UUP leader-elect Mike Nesbitt spoke to reporters at a press conference on Thursday following the agreement.
When asked why it had taken so long to get to this point, Ms ONeill said she was proud of the Executive coming together in a holistic way to address the fact that public services in Northern Ireland are at a crisis point.
She said the four parties had done a lot of work over many areas but coming together to form a programme of government was complex.
Ms ONeil said the government was content for the public to judge us in terms of delivery.
Ms Little-Pengelly said there would always be differences between parties but the programme was a piece of compromise that does not reflect the agenda of one particular faction.
Asked whether there was a risk the programme was simply a wish list, Ms ONeill said: I think we all recognise that we are bringing forward a programme for government in a very difficult financial circumstance.
We all equally recognise that since we have a new government in London, that Labour are continuing with a policy of austerity which makes it a very challenging environment for us all to operate, butthis is a very scalable programme for government.
Weve identified our immediate priorities. Weve also laid the groundwork to do more things tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after so its very much about immediate priorities and then also what we can do tomorrow around health, education, justice, safer communities, particularly given the summer that weve been in.
Ms ONeill added: None of us are naive, we know how challenging this is.
She said the battle for additional finances is top of our agenda.
The priorities within the programme for government include cutting health waiting times (PA)
Ms Little-Pengelly said that despite the difficult budget situation, the programme aims to improve lives for people in Northern Ireland in meaningful ways.
The DUP politician said there are nine priorities within the programme for government at Stormont:
To grow a globally competitive and sustainable economy.
Deliver affordable childcare.
Cut health waiting times.
Ending violence against women and girls.
Protecting Lough Neagh was named as a priority (PA)
Better support for children and young people with special educational needs.
Provide more social, affordable and sustainable housing.
Safer communities.
Protect Lough Neagh and the environment.
Reform and transformation of public services.
The deputy First Minister said: Those of us in government have a responsibility to lead, a responsibility to listen and a responsibility to act and, despite the difficult budget situation, we can still improve lives in a meaningful way by focusing on a small number of prioritised actions that will make a real difference.
We have clearly set out in our programme for government the priorities for the remainder of this term, and well use the next number of weeks to engage with people right throughout Northern Ireland about our plan.
We genuinely want to hear from people about how we can act to improve lives for the better.
At Thursdays meeting, ministers also agreed a strategy and action plan aimed at tackling violence against women and girls and a three-year action plan for a domestic and sexual abuse strategy.
The Executive also extended the work of a programme designed to tackle paramilitarism and organised crime for a further three years.
Justice minister Ms Long said no-one in the Executive underestimated the challenge the administration was facing in the remaining years of the mandate.
It is not an exhaustive list of everything that this Executive will do, she added.
There will be many ordinary pieces of work that we do, our legislative programme and many other pieces of work that we do which will lie outside of it.
But what it does is prioritise certain aspects of the work of the Executive, particularly those elements that are cross-cutting.
It also will not all be able to be delivered in one go. It will be very much dependent on our financial situation. But it is scalable and it is realistic and I believe that it is positive.
Mr Nesbitt said it was important that the programme for government, once finalised, was closely linked to the allocations made in Stormonts budget.
There are huge challenges for health, but there are huge challenges for every minister and every department, he said.
And what is devolution about, if its not about four people, like the four people youre looking at, coming together, forming relationships and doing their best in terms of better outcomes for the people we serve.
SDLP leader of the Opposition Matthew OToole holds his partys alternative programme for government, which will be published on Monday (David Young/PA).
Leader of the Stormont opposition, SDLP MLA Matthew OToole, said the public was still none the wiser as to what the draft programme for government actually contained.
The SDLP will publish an alternative strategy when the Assembly returns on Monday, titled A Plan for Change, which it insists contains clear targets and goals.
Once again, the Executive has proved adept at PR but deficient at clarity or delivery, said Mr OToole.
Todays announcement contained no specific targets or actions but rather a press conference in which Executive parties patted one another on the back for agreeing on broad aspirations.
The public might have expected more clarity not just on vague aspiration but what exactly the Executive intends to do, how and when. What is the target for reducing waiting lists, how will that target be achieved and when can patients expect to see meaningful improvements in the failing health service.
Until the Executive gets into this level of detail and clarity, after years of collapse and dysfunction, they cannot expect the public to trust this as-yet-unpublished programme for government, they cannot expect to be hailed as heroes for simply agreeing vague aspirations.
Less waffle, more delivery is needed.
The Prince of Wales thanked artists for taking part in a groundbreaking homelessness exhibition as he sported his summer beard in public for the first time.
William debuted his new look in an online video with his wife Kate in August, when they praised the achievements of the nations athletes after the Paris Olympics.
The stubble was still in place as he toured Homelessness: Reframed, an exhibition that aims to give a fresh perspective on the issue, with sculptures, photographs and everyday objects given a new life by artists who may have slept rough.
William, sporting his new beard, speaks to artist Robi Walters as he tours the exhibition (Chris Jackson/PA)
Williams Homewards project, which aims to develop a blueprint for eradicating homelessness in all its forms, is the driving force behind the art exhibition which opened at the Saatchi Gallery in London in August.
The beard of the future King, who turned 42 in June, had flecks of grey and looked neatly trimmed to the same length as in his video appearance last month.
The Duke of Sussex has claimed his brother William was jealous of his beard and ordered him to shave it off before he married Meghan in 2018.
Harry wrote in his autobiography Spare how William became livid and raised his voice when the duke said he had already asked permission from their grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, to keep his beard for his wedding.
The prince chatted to award-winning social justice artist David Tovey during his visit to exhibition (Chris Jackson/PA)
The duke said the argument went on for more than a week on the phone and in person, adding: He wouldnt let it go. At one point he actually ordered me, as the heir speaking to the spare, to shave.
He claimed William hated the idea that he was allowed to keep his beard a perk denied to William.
Robi Walters said William was entranced by his work, two colourful circles made from collages of sprayed paper, with one representing the future and the other the present.
The artist added: He said it was mesmerising and he really, really liked it and he was also thanking me for being part of the project, saying it was really important the right people who have got authentic stories to tell are sharing this message were trying to reframe what homelessness is.
William catches up with Big Issue seller Dave Martin (Chris Jackson/PA)
William also caught up with Big Issue seller Dave Martin who has sold the homelessness magazine with the future king in past years, and was commissioned to create a piece of abstract art for the project.
Photographer Rankin had captured the portraits of a number of former homeless people, blowing up their black and white images to create larger than life characters defying the stigma of once being without a home.
He said: The concept the organisers came up with was so much about flipping the narrative on what it is to be homeless.
The reason I made the pictures big was because I wanted them to be icons and larger than life. This person was homeless, that person was homeless but look at them now.
Pensioners are worried sick about how they will heat their homes following winter fuel payment cuts, ministers have been warned ahead of a Commons vote on the changes.
Commons Leader Lucy Powell said a motion to approve the changes will be debated on September 10, with the Government facing a possible Labour backbench rebellion.
Ms Powell said the Government has taken some really difficult decisions that it did not want to make, including means testing the payment, although it is not afraid to debate the cuts.
Opposition MPs voiced concerns over the changes on Thursday, with Liberal Democrat Wera Hobhouse saying many pensioners in her Bath constituency are worried sick that they will not be able to heat their homes this winter.
People in England and Wales not in receipt of pension credit or other means-tested benefits will lose out under the policy.
Leader of the Commons Lucy Powell said the Government had taken some really difficult decisions (Peter Byrne/PA)
It is expected to reduce the number of pensioners in receipt of the up to 300 payment by 10 million, from 11.4 million to 1.5 million, saving around 1.4 billion this year.
Speaking at business question, shadow Commons leader Chris Philp welcomed the vote and said he has been contacted by Croydon South constituents desperate with worry at the proposed changes.
Mr Philp said 84% of pensioners in poverty will lose the benefit under ministers plans.
He told the Commons a pensioner who had had written to him had said: The allowance meant I could turn the heating on. Now I fear hypothermia during the coming winter months.
Ms Powell said the changes were necessary because of a Treasury audit finding a 22 billion black hole in spending, inherited from the Conservatives.
She said: The legacy they have left us means we have had to make some really difficult decisions, decisions we did not want to make, like means testing the winter fuel payment.
But we are doing all we can to support pensioners this winter: protecting the triple lock, which has seen the state pension go up by 900 this year and likely to rise by several hundred pounds next year; the Warm Home Discount worth 150; extending the Household Support Fund; and a huge campaign to get eligible pensioners onto Pension Credit.
And yes, we have scheduled a vote on the winter fuel payment next week, because we are not afraid to have the debate about how we have got to where we have got to, a vote that, quite frankly, would not have happened under his party opposite because we respect Parliament and we respect doing things properly.
Ms Powell went on to defend pay rises for public sector workers, saying the decisions on them had been sitting on the desk of ministers in the last government.
She said: They knew they were going to honour them but they didnt allocate the funds to do so.
Speaking for the Liberal Democrats, Ms Hobhouse said: Energy bills are set to rise again this winter and with the Government announcing it will means test winter fuel payments, Age UK has estimated that two million pensioners will struggle to pay their bills.
I know that many pensioners in Bath are worried sick that they will not be able to heat their homes this winter. Many of them are included in the one million pensioners who will just miss out.
Ms Hobhouse said her party acknowledged the Conservatives have left the countrys finances in a mess, adding: Pensioners should not be paying the price of Conservative incompetence.
Outside the Commons, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said the Government would not play fast and loose with the nations finances as she defended the decision to means test the payments.
She told BBC Breakfast: We have to make sure that we can fiscally be responsible, so that we can grow our economy, so that we can pay for our public services.
And we said that in the run-up to the general election. What we didnt realise is that absolute mess the Tories had left the state of the finances, and were having to make difficult decisions.
But we were very clear in the run-up to the general election, we wouldnt play fast and loose with the countrys finances because thats what the Tories did, and thats why were in this mess in the first place, and that we will do everything we can to grow our economy.
She highlighted Government action to support pensioners and acknowledged it was a difficult choice but it was because of the difficult circumstances because of the previous government and what they did.
For Abigail Martin and her dog Archie, life has been one big adventure. Martin, a digital content creator, first rescued the mixed-breed Archie when she was a teenager, and the two of them have been traveling the country in a van and even living overseas ever since. Despite all her journeys, the one constant in her life has been her soulmate dogthe pup who has been with her every step of the way.
Except recently, Martin had to leave poor Archie behind on one of her trips to Europe. She missed him a lot, but it was apparently nothing compared to how much he missed her, as you can see in this heartwarming video.
If youre given the opportunity to travel to Europe for two months, it can be a hard offer to resist. But its tough to leave your stateside life behind, especially if it means finding a caretaker for your beloved dog. Martin was lucky enough that her mom offered to watch her pup for her, but that didnt mean that she didnt miss her sweet Archie every day.
Related: Bernese Mountain Dog Reuniting With His Best Friend After 5 Months Is Melting Hearts
And when she returnedwell, it was certainly a homecoming to remember.
In the video, Martin sneaks into the house and up to the kitchen, where the dog is waiting. And boy is he happy to see her. Whining and barking in excitement, he rushes toward her, tail wagging furiously. He weaves around her, pressing his body against her and barely able to stand still for excitement. He scampers around, rolling and flipping and just not entirely sure what to do with himself now that Mom is home. Hes completely overwhelmed.
So happy to be home with my best friend, Martin writes in the caption.
After a few minutes, poor Archie gets a better handle on his emotions, and starts sniffing his beloved mom all over.
Do I smell like Europe? She asks him jokingly. Coffee and cigarettes?
But he doesnt care what smells she brought home, as long as shes there again.
Do Dogs Miss Us When Were Gone?
My vet was fond of saying that dogs dont necessarily understand the passage of time. They can get as excited to see you when youve been gone three hours as three weeks. But all you have to do is take a quick spin through dog-reunification videos online (make sure to have some tissues handy) to realize that even though dogs may not know exactly how much time has passed since seeing their beloved humans, they keenly feel the absence in their own, canine way.
Dogs have even been shown to recognize littermates they havent seen since they were puppies.
And this is not a new concept. In Ancient Greece, no less a poet than Homer himself wrote about the persistent love and devotion between Odysseuss dog Argos, and his beloved master. Argos waited twenty whole years to see his dad again, and promptly died.
Now thats devotion.
How to Prepare Your Dog for an Extended Separation
When it becomes necessary to leave your dog for an extended period of time, its important that their care arrangements suit their personality. Some dogs do well in kennels or doggy day care situations. Others find it extremely stressful. If your dog is used to being visited during the day by a dog sitter, it might work out to have them come over more often or even spend the night. But the best option may be the one Martin went withwhich is to have your dog stay with a trusted friend or family member they already know.
Make sure to give your dog plenty of love and attention before you leave, and leave something behind that smells like you. And, dont worryyoure coming back.
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Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.
Authorities have arrested 19 adults and three teenagers in connection to a retail theft operation at multiple Southern California Target stores, according to an announcement from the Ventura County Sheriffs Office.
The Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force made the arrests the weekend of Aug. 23 and Aug. 24 and authorities recovered about $1,400 in stolen merchandise, along with methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, the sheriffs office said in the news release.
Authorities are calling the bust a blitz operation, meaning law enforcement resources and team members focus on specific retail locations to cut down on theft.
The Target blitz operation took two days and involved the sheriffs office, Target, as well as personnel from the Simi Valley Police Department, the California Highway Patrol and more law enforcement California agencies.
Those taken into custody during the operation range in age from 14 to 61 years old.
Many of those arrested have court dates on either Friday, Monday or on Oct. 25, the sheriffs office said.
Arrests were made as part of retail theft task force
The Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force was created after the sheriffs office received grant funding under the California Retail Theft Prevention Grant Program.
The sheriffs office oversees the program and allows law enforcement agencies in Ventura County to work together to prevent an estimated $10 million yearly loss from organized retail theft, vehicle and vehicle parts theft, as well as cargo theft.
The task force said it wants to work with businesses who have suffered significant retail theft and is interested in working with the group. To reach the task force, businesses can call (805) 383-8703.
People with information about organized retail theft, vehicle or vehicle parts theft or cargo theft can call as well, or call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line (800) 222-8477.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Target retail theft ring investigation leads to 22 California arrests
Totally worth the brain freeze.
Food & Wine / 7-Eleven, Inc.
Earlier this summer 7-Eleven brought us the Pumpkin Spice Slurpee, the cool drink we didnt know we needed, especially while temperatures outside were still topping 100 degrees.
Now, the global convenience store chain is adding another Slurpee flavor to its lineup: Coca-Cola and Oreo. No, those arent two different flavors. Were talking about the combination of Coca-Cola and Oreo in the same cup. Perhaps even more surprising is the fact that the Coke is of the Zero Sugar variety.
We are thrilled to join forces with Coca-Cola and Oreo to create a one-of-a-kind Slurpee drink experience that delights and excites our consumers, Dennis Phelps, senior vice president of merchandising at 7-Eleven, said in a statement. Were bringing together the snack aisle and the Slurpee drink machine to give everyone a reason to head to our stores for a delicious, unforgettable moment.
Unforgettable indeed. The company describes the Slurpee as an exciting spin on the fan-favorite Coca-Cola Slurpee, combining the classic taste of a crisp and fizzy Coca-Cola with flavorful, Oreo sandwich cookie-inspired hints. We imagine the flavor is pretty similar to what it tastes like when you wash a cookie down with a swig of soda.
Related: Coca-Cola and Oreo Are Teaming Up to Bring You the Collaboration You Never Thought You Needed
The Slurpee flavor is inspired by the launch of two limited-edition treats that also combine the two flavors. Specifically, a Coca-Cola Oreo Zero Sugar and the Oreo Coca-Cola Sandwich Cookie. Yes, this is a taste sensation available not only in Slurpee form but also in bottled soda and cookie form. The cookies are Oreos classic chocolate cookie. One half has had Coca-Cola syrup and popping candies added to simulate the fizz of carbonated soda, while the other half is a Golden Oreo thats been given a Coke-inspired makeover.
Bringing together the playfulness of Oreo and the real magic of Coca-Cola is unexpected, but also feels right because our brands are alike in so many ways, Oana Vlad, Coca-Cola Companys global vice president of brand strategy, said in a statement provided to Food & Wine last month when the treats were announced. As a first-of-its-kind collaboration for both brands, we are thrilled for besties around the world to join us in celebrating new products, great experiences and unexpected moments of connection
Both the sugar-free soda and the sugar-full cookies, along with the unique Slurpees, will be available at 7-Eleven, Speedway, and Stripes stores nationwide.
Related: How to Make Frozen Cocktails Without a Blender
And if youre looking for a party, 7-Eleven is celebrating the mashup by transforming one of its Dallas-areas stores into The Besties Restie Stop next weekend. On September 14th, the 7-Eleven store at 13635 Preston Road in Dallas will be offering travelers an opportunity to spend quality time with their bestie at the event and snag some unique Slurpee collectibles like cups with a Slurpee dollop lid and bestie straws from 2 to 10 p.m.
The idea behind the events is that 7-Eleven can serve as a rest stop when youre on a road trip with a bestie, and of course, Oreo and Coca-Cola are the bestest of friends, apparently.
And whether youre getting a Coca-Cola and Oreo Slurpee or sliding into fall with the Pumpkin Spice option, both can be delivered to your door using the 7Now app. The app also has real-time tracking, so you can keep an eye on that frozen wonder while its on its way to your door. If you miss out on that bestie party in Texas, Oreo and Coca-Cola have also joined forces on a new Bestie Mode line of merchandise that will be available later this month at Forever 21.
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Read the original article on Food & Wine.
Apple (AAPL) will host its annual iPhone launch event on Monday, Sept. 9, at its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif.
CEO Tim Cook is expected to headline the keynote, which will reportedly include the debut of the iPhone 16 lineup, the 10th anniversary edition of the Apple Watch, and updated AirPods.
Thats a lot of hardware, but Wall Street isnt banking on new iPhones or special edition Apple Watches to move the companys stock price. Instead, all eyes will be on Apples generative AI-powered Apple Intelligence platform.
Apple Intelligence is the companys big swing at bringing generative AI capabilities to consumers iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Wall Street wasnt very keen on how long it took Apple to announce its AI initiative, waiting impatiently as Microsoft (MSFT) and Google (GOOG, GOOGL) debuted their own AI services for enterprises and consumers.
But investors changed their tune when Apple showed off Apple Intelligence at its WWDC developer conference in June, sending the companys stock price up around 15% and putting it ahead of Microsoft, Amazon, Tesla, and Google for year-to-date performance.
Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks during Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WDC) in Cupertino, Calif., on June 10, 2024. (NIC COURY/AFP via Getty Images) (NIC COURY via Getty Images)
Apple is setting up Apple Intelligence as one of the main selling points for its latest phones, as its software will only run on last years iPhone 15 Pro or newer phones. And analysts are banking on that exclusivity to reinvigorate iPhone sales.
Apple Intelligence remains the key to unlocking pent-up iPhone demand and accelerating replacement cycle, and we expect Apple's event to heavily feature AI integration on the new iPhone 16, Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring wrote in an investor note.
But Apple Intelligence could prove to be something more important than a catalyst for iPhone sales. It will also serve as a make-or-break moment for generative AI in the eyes of everyday consumers.
Apples AI opportunity
Take one look at Apples invitation for its Sept. 9 show, and its clear the company is going all in on AI. From the Its Glowtime tagline to the multicolor Apple logo meant to evoke Siris revamped look, the company is sending the message that this show will be an AI showcase.
Apple is pouring AI into its software products with features that summarize text message threads, surface priority emails in the Mail app, provide an improved Siri experience, and enable access to OpenAIs ChatGPT.
Apple is also including AI staples like writing tools to help gussy up your emails and documents by proofreading your text or reworking it to sound more professional or concise. The company is also expecting developers to jump on board the AI train, building out new apps that take advantage of the technology through Apples devices.
We estimate this could result in incremental Services high margin growth annually of $10 billion for Apple as this all kicks in and will be the start of a new multi-pronged AI revenue stream that is both hardware and software driven, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives wrote in an investor note.
We believe AI technology being introduced into the Apple ecosystem will bring monetization opportunities on both the services as well as iPhone/hardware front, Ives added. And with that, a $30 to $40 per share bump pushing the companys market cap to the $4 trillion mark.
Apple isnt the only company to bring generative AI to its smartphone line. Samsung has Galaxy AI software, combining its own AI with some of Googles AI smarts. Google also offers its own Gemini AI platform via its new Pixel 9 line of devices, including its Pixel 9 Pro Fold foldable phone.
Apple, however, has done a far better job explaining its AI offerings than either of its competitors. It made the software seem like a must-have for users during its June developer conference, explaining how it integrates across the companys various apps and services in a way that Samsung and Google havent been able to by making AI seem more personal.
The AI risk
But Apple is going to have to do more than that to get people excited about its AI efforts. Ive been using Apples beta software on my iPhone 15 Pro Max, and while I appreciate its ability to summarize long text message threads between friends no one likes having to sift through 40 messages to find out what theyre doing for dinner and find the priority email feature in Mail helpful, its difficult to say whether that will be enough to spark consumer interest in the technology.
Apple will also need to take great care to ensure that its Apple Intelligence is accurate and not prone to the kinds of hallucinations that have led to criticisms of AI software like Googles AI Overview, which famously told people to add glue to their pizza and to eat rocks.
Above all, Apple will need to ensure that Apple Intelligence is something that consumers actually want to use and not a feature the company had to shoehorn into its portfolio to placate investors fearing Apple would miss the boat on the next tech hype train.
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It's a Chicago-based brand known for its outstanding corn tortillas.
Simply Recipes / Getty Images
Whether youre whipping up a big batch of chilaquiles for Sunday brunch or putting out a bowl of guacamole for a late summer BBQ, buying high-quality tortilla chips can make all the difference. Chips that are too thick, too oily, or easily breakable can greatly affect the crunch and flavor of dishes and dips, but with so many brands out there, it can be hard to decipher just which bag to buy.
I spoke with a number of Mexican chefs to get the inside scoop on what brand of tortilla chips they use both professionally and in their home kitchens. While most of the chefs I spoke with make their own tortilla chips whenever possible, it turns out many of them share the same favorite brand.
The Tortilla Chip Experts I Asked
Iliana De La Vega: James Beard Award-winning chef of El Naranjo restaurant
Laura Muller: Content creator, chef, and recipe developer at Food Deals by Laura
Alejandra Graf: Cookbook author and creator of the award-winning blog AleCooks
Simply Recipes / Amazon
The Best Tortilla Chips, According to Mexican Chefs
Among the chefs I spoke with, there was some variation in their answers, but one clear winner rose to the top: El Milagro Tortilla Chips. Some editors at Simply Recipes are already big fans of the brand, and thus cheerfully applauded the consensus.
El Milagro is a Chicago-based tortilleria that has provided the local community (and now the entire country) with fresh tortillas, tostadas, and chips since 1950. Fried from day-old tortillas, El Milagro uses this traditional method to produce perfectly crunchy chips packed with tons of flavor and made with just four ingredients. The chips are extra large, making them an ample vessel for heaps of cheesy beans, pozole, or pico de gallo.
Ive been on a mission to taste various tortilla chip brands, says Chef Laura, and the one that stays true to authentic Mexican flavor is El Milagro. With so many brands adding preservatives or filler ingredients to their chips, she truly appreciates its commitment to quality and genuine taste. Furthermore, when it comes to texture, Chef Laura finds that these chips offer a delightful crunch thats perfect for making chilaquiles or dipping in salsa.
Even though at Chef Iliana's restaurant, El Naranjo, she "buys good quality corn tortillas and fry them in-house daily, she always opts for El Milagro tortilla chips when it comes to store-bought: Ill often use them at home.
Chef Alejandra agrees with the other two chefs. She says that along with their top-notch tortillas, El Milagro makes tasty chips that are very good. She explains, A good tortilla chip should have that unmistakable corn tortilla flavor, giving you a taste of authentic Mexican cuisine in every bite.
Read the original article on Simply Recipes.
When I visited Rocklin Elementary school, I sat in on a lesson with a third-grade class a lesson I would never have imagined as a father, a journalist or a trauma surgeon.
Chances are, youre never ever going to have to use this. If you do, its gonna be scary, Kate Carleton told the 20 or so 8- and 9-year-olds. But because weve taught you what to do, it makes it a little less scary.
She spent the next 30 minutes teaching them how to stop a wound from bleeding out. The lesson is appropriately titled Stop the Bleed.
Carleton is a trauma nurse at Sutter Roseville Medical Center, a level 2 trauma center in Rocklin, California, a northern suburb of Sacramento. At the beginning of her 17-year career, she saw a lot of car crashes, motorcycle accidents and falls. More recently, the number of gunshot wounds coming through her hospital has increased, most often from domestic violence or suicide.
Kate Carleton, center, teaches children at a California elementary school how to stop a wound from bleeding out. - CNN
On this day, she was kneeling on the ground to show these little kids the techniques paramedics often use in the field to stop bleeding. And as I looked around the classroom, I could tell that the kids were really listening.
Now, if youve got that bleeding to stop on that person, what did you do for their life? she asked the kids.
Hands flew up.
You saved their life, answered one little girl.
Born out of tragedy
A litt le more than seven years ago, Carleton was watching a special about the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, and like so many parents, she wondered about her own children, then in kindergarten and second grade. Was there anything she could do to make a difference and help keep them safer in a moment like that?
Carleton approached her daughters kindergarten teacher and asked whether it was possible to create a curriculum to teach them how to handle these injuries. She wasnt sure what the response would be because after all, these were young children.
But as the number of mass shootings continued to grow, so did the realization that anyone could suddenly become a first responder even a child. The proposal was approved, and since then, she has been teaching classes to students throughout the Rocklin school district on the basics of bleeding control.
Carleton is part of a larger movement also known as Stop the Bleed, a campaign that was born out of the tragedy at Sandy Hook. Hartford Hospital trauma surgeon Dr. Lenworth Jacobs was tasked with reviewing the autopsies of the 20 children and six adults killed that day, to find any lessons that could be learned out of the horror.
You cannot imagine what the kinetic energy of an AR-15 does, or a bullet does, to a 6-year-old, Jacobs said. This is not civilized.
School shootings are rare, but gunshot injuries are not
Although a child dying at school in a mass shooting may be unlikely, a child dying from a gunshot is not. Firearms are the leading cause of death among people 18 and younger in the US, accounting for nearly 19% of all childhood deaths.
The most recent data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that both the rate and the number of children dying from gunshot wounds are the highest they have been since 1999, when data on childrens mortality and firearms was first collected. And although firearm mortality in the adult population is most often from suicide, for children, homicide is driving the deaths.
After poring over the autopsies, Jacobs gathered trauma specialists from across the country and developed a protocol for national policy to enhance survivability from active shooter and intentional mass casualty events, known as the Hartford Consensus. The nearly 100-page document included a letter from then-Vice President Joe Biden, who said the report was a call to action.
With very little training and equipment, the individuals closest to the scene of an accident or mass casualty situation can control bleeding until first responders arrive to take over treatment, Biden wrote.
Much of the Hartford Consensus was adopted from lessons learned in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. In the military, its known as buddy aid: the practice of fellow troops being trained in first aid to help wounded colleagues on the battlefield. The practices are basic, but stopping bleeding, using a tourniquet and putting these steps into practice before a wounded soldier reaches the hospital greatly improves their chances of survival. Those troops who had tourniquets applied before their bodies went into shock had a survival rate of 96%, compared with just 4% of those who got a tourniquet after blood loss caused them to go into shock.
A driving tenet of the Hartford Consensus was time. Pretty much all of these (mass casualty) events are over in 15 minutes, and it takes more than that to get the system to respond to you, Jacobs explained.
Experts say that the average response time for an ambulance in urban areas in the US is about eight minutes more time than it takes for a person to bleed out from a gunshot wound.
Turning bystanders into first responders
To give a person the best chance at survival after being shot, the priority is simple. Stop the bleeding. Keep the blood inside the body, Jacobs said. The most efficient and quickest way to do that: turn bystanders into immediate responders by teaching them to pack a wound and use a tourniquet.
Eleven years after Jacobs and other experts first met to discuss what would ultimately become the Hartford Consensus, more than 3 million people worldwide have learned the basic principles of Stop the Bleed through a certification program developed by the American College of Surgeons and the American Red Cross.
According to the ACS, bleeding control kits containing gauze and tourniquets are now required in schools in at least 10 states, and teachers and staff are required to be trained in at least three states. Two states require schools to offer Stop the Bleed training to students: in Arkansas for students in ninth grade and above and in Texas for those in seventh grade and above.
After 19 fourth-graders and two teachers were killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, in 2022, a state representative introduced a bill proposing to lower the minimum grade for Stop the Bleed training to third grade. The bill never made it out of committee because of pushback.
Carleton says shes not surprised. Why it got started is frightening, she tells me, but I do think theres a way to teach the information where its not.
Meeting kids where theyre at
When Carleton speaks to the kids, she doesnt mention guns or violence at all. During the class I visited, she asked the kids how many of their parents use power tools or could be hurt working around the house.
If Im working in the kitchen and Im cutting vegetables, can I get cut? Can that cause me to bleed? she asked the students.
She uses language that kids can easily grasp: Look for when blood puddles or when it rains like a sprinkler. The first step, take any cloth you can find and stuff a corner of it into the wound as deep as you can. She was teaching them the basic principles of packing a wound. On the day I was there, she told the kids they could use anything to pack a wound, even a dirty, smelly sock.
Stopping the bleeding was most important, and they could give antibiotics later in the hospital to prevent infections, she said. Do whatever you can to just stop the bleed.
Its the same kind of approach that pediatric trauma nurse Missy Anderson takes when she teaches Scout troops and childrens groups in Denver. Anderson is the pediatric trauma program manager at Denver Health and describes the tourniquets as magical bracelets a concept that most kids can immediately understand.
Carleton stopped bringing up gun violence after a handful of parents complained, but she doesnt shy away when someone raises it. In a sixth-grade class I visited, a student asked, if someone was shot in multiple places, where should they try to stop the bleed?
Carleton answered quickly, Where they are bleeding the most.
I try to acknowledge the kids on where theyre at, she told me. I acknowledge it and we move on so that we can continue to talk about how to get the bleeding to stop.
But the topic of gun violence gives her pause. It tugs at my heartstrings a little bit, for sure, she said.
Like Carleton, Anderson keeps the focus on safety, not violence.
What if no guns existed in the whole world? We wipe them all out, theres not a single gun in the whole universe? People still get hurt, and they still can have bleeding, Anderson said. This course should not be affiliated with gun violence. This is about helping people that are bleeding in any scenario.
The goal of the campaign has always been to train everyone, including children, said Dr. Kenji Inaba, chair of the Stop the Bleed Committee for the American College of Surgeons. Inaba said he taught his now-teenage son, an avid mountain biker, how to pack a wound and use a tourniquet by the time he was 10 years old. Hes always in the middle of nowhere, by himself or with some friends, and I want him to know that knowledge.
Inaba said that after discussion with pediatric surgeons, pediatricians and parents, the committee concluded that there really is no age limit on who should be taught these skills.
Every child is different in their development. Every child is different in their experience, he said.
One trauma nurse describes tourniquets as magical bracelets, a concept that most kids can immediately understand. - CNN
Inaba added that the group is in discussion with child development experts and teachers to create a curriculum for younger kids.
Reaching kids where they are means designing education that meets not only their emotional needs but their physical needs. For example, Carleton explained to me that younger kids can more effectively put pressure and stop bleeding by using all of their body weight.
She showed the kids how to put their knee directly on the wound. Itll make it a little bit easier for you, and you wont get tired, she told them.
I watched as she stood in front of the class and demonstrated how to apply pressure with a rubber dummy limb, the same kind used to train EMTs. Carleton explained that adults will typically use their hands and press down as hard as possible over a packed wound, because Im stronger than you, she said. One kid shouted out Mom power! and the class giggled.
Carleton then quickly divided the class into groups of four or five kids, led by volunteers from the fire department, to practice on dummy limbs.
If you were in that situation, do you think you could do it now? Does that make you nervous at all? I asked Harlow, a third-grader.
Just the feeling of how it would be an actual person instead of a fake leg. Thats scary, she said.
But you think based on what you learned, if it was an actual person, youd be able to do that? I responded.
Yeah, Harlow responded confidently.
Even young children know how to help
Studies find that young people can learn lifesaving lessons. Though they arent as young as the students I visited, a 2019 study of high school students found that more than 80% of them were able to position a tourniquet correctly after being taught either in person or online. A small 2022 study of 11- and 12-year-olds found that 97% of the students grasped the lessons of bleeding control and tourniquet use after Stop the Bleed training.
A recent study from the American Heart Association found that children as young as 4 know how to call for help in a medical emergency and that by age 10 to 12, children can administer effective CPR.
Harlows classmate Jeremy told me that the best part of learning all of this was that he was prepared to help anyone. Its that feeling you get when you get to see them go to the hospital and know that theyre OK and the feeling that youve saved someones life, he said.
And the lessons seem to stick with them. A sixth-grader, Piper, told me that although she would probably be nervous to apply these skills in a real situation when someone was actually bleeding out and there was a puddle, she was glad they had a trial run through the lessons in the classroom. It kind of loosens things up and doesnt make things so scary.
Carletons daughter and Pipers classmate, Quinn, agreed. When a situation comes for something like this, it wont be as scary, since we know what to do because weve already practiced it, she said.
A new stop, drop and roll
As impressed as I was with how quick and engaged the kids were, I couldnt help but feel sad that this is where we are as a country. A time when tourniquets and bleeding control kits are as routine as stop, drop and roll, the fire safety instructions that generations of children have learned in their classrooms.
When I shared that with Carleton, she told me that she felt the same way at first, but she had to change her approach.
When I would initially go into that with that kind of feeling, I just found that I couldnt teach the information in a way that it really resonated with them. It was being taught out of fear from me, and I dont want that, she said.
It is hard, however, to disentangle gun violence from the situations where these lessons could be most impactful.
Gun violence has become such a prevalent part of American life, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has now issued an advisory calling firearm violence an urgent public health crisis. The advisory notes that half of children ages 14 to 17 worry about school shootings and nearly 60% of them have thought about what would happen if a person with a gun entered their school. According to the Gun Violence Archive, last year alone, 1,682 children died and another 4,512 were injured by gun violence.
So a grass-roots movement to train elementary-age children continues, with people like Carleton leading the charge.
We can teach it, like teaching hands-only CPR or how to use an AED. It just becomes part of what we do, Carleton told me. It can be used in all situations, whether its a violent situation or not. But either way, its saving somebodys life.
CNNs Nadia Kounang contributed to this report.
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Chinese envoy warns against repetition of humanitarian tragedy in West Bank
Xinhua) 11:16, September 05, 2024
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- The international community must not allow the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza to be repeated in the West Bank, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), on Wednesday.
In remarks at a UN Security Council briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, Geng said that despite repeated international efforts and calls for a ceasefire and an end to all hostilities in Gaza, there is still no sign of easing or de-escalation.
"Rather, what we do see is the continued escalation of the situation in the West Bank in addition to what is going on in Gaza," he said, noting that next week will mark the 11th month of the Gaza conflict.
The ambassador urged the parties, Israel in particular, to show calm and restraint and fulfill its obligations as the occupying power, halt settler activities, stop attacks in the West Bank, and respect and maintain the status quo shaped by the history of the holy sites in Jerusalem.
"This war has been raging for too long. Ceasefire negotiations have been delayed for too long. And the suffering of the population has persisted for too long time," said Geng. "It's time to put an end to all these."
"We support the Security Council in taking further actions to implement the relevant Council resolutions, put out the flames of war without delay, and alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe," he said.
(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
A person walks along landslide damage in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., on Sept. 3, 2024.
Rancho Palos Verdes, a coastal community in the Los Angeles area, could be described as a geological ticking time bomb.
The affluent city sits atop steep cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean that, for hundreds of years, have been slowly shifting and giving way.
Now, that movement is accelerating. Whereas the ground slid downward 8 inches annually in years past, it has lurched 13 inches per week in some places between July and August.
The resulting landslides have ripped apart seaside mansions, buckled roads and forced utility provider Southern California Edison to cut electricity to nearly 250 homes to avoid the possibility of fires.
Eight inches a year is measurable and they have had to do repairs to the road that crosses the area, but now its moving so rapidly that theyve had to just close a number of roads, turn off the gas supply and cut electricity, said Eric Fielding, a geophysicist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Its crazy but you cant keep re-installing electric wires every week.
In Rancho Palos Verdes Portuguese Bend neighborhood, 140 homes will be without power indefinitely, while around 60 in the citys Seaview section will be without service for a week or longer.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in the city.
The situation is the unfortunate culmination of intense rainfall over the past two years, experts say. The Palos Verdes Peninsula is composed of weak rocks and beds of clay that prevent water from draining properly belowground. So during periods of heavy rain or high tectonic activity, the bluffs can slip, turning constant, slow-moving landslides into catastrophes.
Landslide damage in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., on Sept. 1, 2024.
Its not yet clear what, if anything, can be done to stop the land from moving.
Basic physics says that once a body is in motion, it wants to stay in motion, said Jonathan Godt, the landslides hazards program coordinator at the U.S. Geological Service.
The threat to Rancho Palos Verdes is not new. The land beneath the city has been moving for hundreds of years, scientists say, but it was mostly stable until a road construction project in the 1950s triggered the landslide to accelerate.
The landslide was moving even faster in the 1950s than it is today, Fielding said, but they managed to stabilize it to a large extent by drilling wells and pumping out water.
Now, heavy rains earlier this year and last year have caused the pace of the sliding to increase once again.
Fielding said its difficult to make a direct link between landslides and climate change, but rainfall is intensifying as a result of global warming because a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, raising the chance of severe storms.
Even with the knowledge that heavier rain is more likely, it's challenging to forecast when major landslides will strike, Godt said. It can take months or even years after periods of heavy precipitation for the water to saturate deep rocks and clay and cause the land to deform.
Its also difficult to predict which slow-moving landslides may become problematic. Landslides that move at a glacial pace over hundreds or thousands of years are not uncommon in Southern California and around the world, Godt said.
For many of those places, its not a problem over a human lifespan or even multiple human generations because thats just a blink of an eye from a geologic perspective, he said. But, there are instances where a series of heavy rainfall events, or shaking from earthquakes, or other geologic processes going on beneath our feet get those landslides moving again.
Aerial view of damage from landslides in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., on Sept. 3.
Rancho Palos Verdes is already facing setbacks to potential efforts to mitigate the land movement. Last month, the city said it had uncovered an even deeper landslide in the area that is also active. Officials said that movement, at a depth of more than 300 feet, is too fast and too far underground to dig drains and pumps to extract water.
Now that a state of emergency has been declared, Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor John Cruikshank said the money allocated will go toward helping the city government and landslide abatement efforts, but not to individual homeowners.
Homeowners whose power has been shut off will need to come up with tens of thousands of dollars or more to convert to off-grid alternatives, such as solar and battery technologies, Cruikshank told a local CBS affiliate on Wednesday. He hopes the state will help cover such costs.
Residents are already on the hook for damage to their homes, Cruikshank added, since typical home insurance policies dont cover landslides, hundreds of which are documented in California each year.
Tim Kelly, a mechanical engineer who moved to the Portuguese Bend neighborhood of Rancho Palos Verdes 30 years ago, said hes relying on his solar panels for power now, and remaining in his home. He attended a public meeting Tuesday in which residents pleaded with city officials for solutions.
Were resilient, Kelly said of the community. Were not going anywhere.
Kelly said that other homes in his area have shifted on their foundations, with some properties cracking and splitting in sections, but his house remains unmoved. He and his neighbors will not abandon their homes and expect government leaders and scientists to figure out how best to stop the slide, he added.
Kelly said that, for decades, the local government has failed to install long-term solutions to prevent water from saturating the canyon and divert it into the ocean. Now, the issue is coming to a head for the city and time is of the essence.
The patient is sick, Kelly said, "and something must be done to bring it back to life.
On the hunt for hearty vegetable side dishes that aren't bland? Scoop up a bowl of collard greens. This dish is a staple in the southern region of the United States and it's especially perfect for a New Year's Day dinner. A feast of black-eyed peas (coins), cornbread (gold), and brothy collard greens (money) are eaten to symbolize luck, health, and wealth respectively in the new year! Of course, these slow-simmered collards also make a terrific Thanksgiving side dish or addition to any Southern comfort food feast. Don't forget the corn muffins to sop up the deliciousness!
Why do collard greens take so long to cook?
Raw collard greens tough and somewhat bitter, but cooking them slowly tenderizes the leaves and mellows the bitterness. What you're left with is soft collards infused with rich, meaty broth. The longer the greens simmer, the better they'll taste!
Are collard greens vegetarian?
While the greens themselves are vegetarian, you would be hard-pressed to find any stewed collard greens in the Southern United States without a smidge of bacon fat or a smattering of smoked meat. This version calls for tender, meaty smoked turkey legs as the base, boiling them in water to yield a flavorful broth that the whole table will slurp up. If pork is more your thing, use the same amount of smoked ham hocks.
Do you need to wash bagged collard greens before cooking them?
If a bag of chopped collard greens says "washed," it's probably okay to skip washing them again, but it certainly never hurts to give your greens an extra rinse. Collards are notorious for clinging to soil! Dont worry too much about drying them thoroughly though; theyre going to be braised anyway! If a bag of pre-chopped collard greens is not available in the store, get a few bunches of collard greens, about 3 pounds total. They will need to be rinsed and soaked thoroughly for about 15 minutes to remove any dirt or debris. Some people even add a few tablespoons of vinegar to their soaked collard greens to get them extra squeaky clean. Dry them thoroughly and remove the greens from their tough stems, roll them up, and slice.
What does adding vinegar to collard greens do?
Far from making the collard greens taste pickled, the vinegar and sugar round out the dish beautifully, contrasting with the greens and fatty, rich broth. In fact, it's recommended to dab in even more in the form of pepper vinegar or hot sauce for a lip-smacking side dish!
Can you make collard greens ahead of time?
Yes, this is a great recipe to make a day ahead! The stewed collard greens will only grow more flavorful as they sit overnight. Once they're fully cooked, let the collard greens cool. Then transfer them to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. Reheat the collard greens in a pot on the stove over medium heat until heated through. Leftover collard greens will stay good in the fridge for up to three days.
Yields: 2 quarts
Prep Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 3 hours
Ingredients
1 lb. smoked turkey legs (about 2)
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 large sweet onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 tsp. kosher salt, plus more to taste
1 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1 qt. chicken broth
3 tbsp. apple cider vinegar, plus more to taste
1 tbsp. granulated sugar
1 (2-lb.) bag chopped fresh collared greens
Hot pepper sauce, to serve
Directions
In a large pot, cover the turkey legs in 2 quarts of water. Bring the turkey legs to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until the turkey is tender and falling off the bone, about 1 hours. Remove the turkey legs from the stock and strain the stock into a large bowl through a fine mesh sieve. When the turkey is cool enough to handle, remove the bones and skin and shred the meat into bite-sized pieces. In the same large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, salt, paprika, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring frequently, until lightly golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chicken broth, vinegar, sugar, and the strained smoked turkey stock. Add the greens one handful at a time, stirring until wilted. Fold in the shredded turkey. Add water until it just covers the greens. Cover and cook until the greens are tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove the lid and simmer until the liquid is slightly reduced, 10 minutes. Taste for salt and vinegar. Serve hot, with pepper sauce, if you like.
Tip: Don't worry about simmering these greens too long! The longer they simmer, the better they will be in the end.
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Young men and women at a railway station in Hangzhou, China, in May.
HONG KONG Chinas main intelligence agency has a warning for young people: Beware of handsome guys and beautiful women looking to turn them into spies.
University students with access to classified or sensitive research data should especially guard against foreign intelligence agents who might try to lure them into false romantic relationships and then manipulate them into spying against China, the Ministry of State Security said Wednesday in a post on the social media platform WeChat.
The agency has published a series of such posts since launching its WeChat account last August, urging the public to be alert to all manner of foreign threats as Chinese leader Xi Jinping prioritizes the strengthening of national security.
China has been trading accusations of espionage with the United States and its allies amid tense relations between the worlds two largest economies. The Chinese agencys latest warning comes as U.S. prosecutors allege that Linda Sun, a former top aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, acted as a secret agent for the Chinese government.
Sun and her husband, Chris Hu, who was also arrested, have both pleaded not guilty. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson declined to comment on the case but expressed opposition to any attempt to smear or slander China. In recent years, Chinese students have been targeted by schemes that aim to entice them into giving up information through job offers or online friendship, the Ministry of State Security said, without giving details.
Foreign agents, disguised as academics, researchers or consultants, begin by tempting students with limited financial resources with promises of high pay for little work, according to the post.
They exploit the curiosity and willingness of young people to try new things, the post said, and may also treat them to meals, give them gifts or help them make connections.
Then they get students to gather and share classified information by giving vague instructions, before trapping them with false affections, the post said, offering further training and guidance through social media, phone calls or video conferences.
They show care in daily life, offering help and solving problems, earning the students trust, the agency warned. Some even pretend to be affectionate handsome guys or beautiful women, trapping young students in false romantic relationships.
Lastly, recruiters will begin manipulating the students into engaging in more covert illegal activities, such as photographing sensitive military areas, the post said. If the students resist, they will drop their friendly facade and coerce them into continuing to spy.
The Ministry of State Security account features a host of content in almost daily posts, including comics and animated series.
Like the U.S. and other Western countries, it has also been disclosing details of alleged individual cases. On Monday, the agency said that employees of a Chinese company accused of illegally collecting railway data for an overseas client that serves foreign intelligence agencies had been jailed and deprived of their political rights.
In June, it said British intelligence had recruited a husband and wife who both worked for the Chinese government. A spokesperson for Rishi Sunak, the British prime minister at the time, said it was the governments longstanding policy not to comment on the work of our intelligence agencies or security matters.
WASHINGTON U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan set a timeline Thursday for debating whether former President Donald Trump is immune from election conspiracy charges that will not allow a trial before the November election.
Justice Department special counsel Jack Smiths team argued that Chutkan should decide whether Trump is immune from prosecution before making any other decisions in the case. The timeline she subsequently timeline laid out agreed with their request to handle the immunity question, while also considering Trump's other challenges to the charges.
The Supreme Court ruled in July that Trump is presumed immune from charges for his official acts in office. But prosecutors contend he is vulnerable to charges for unofficial acts that allegedly violated the law in his effort to overturn his 2020 defeat. Trump's lawyers contend the indictment covers official acts and should be dismissed.
Trump lawyer John Lauro argued it would be unfair to consider immunity before other disputes are resolved, such as about how much evidence is shared in the case. Chutkan set up deadlines for Trump's team to dispute whether they have received all the evidence before the the immunity arguments are due.
Lauro said former Vice President Mike Pences communications with Trump were immune and their inclusion in the indictment would lead to dismissal of the entire case.
We may be dealing with an illegitimate indictment from the get-go, Lauro said.
Lauro mentioned the sensitive timing of the case and encouraged Chutkan to move deliberately in the year-old charges, so as not to damage Trump's electoral prospects by presenting more detailed evidence against him in public before the election. But Chutkan said she would not be taking the election into consideration in setting deadlines.
This court is not concerned with the electoral schedule, Chutkan said. Thats nothing Im going to consider.
Even so, the legal debate over immunity could take months. Chutkan anticipates her ruling on whether the charges should be dismissed will be appealed to the Supreme Court, so she said she could not yet set a trial date.
Were hardly sprinting for the finish line here, Chutkan said.
Here's what we know about the hearing:
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks during a Fox News town hall hosted by Sean Hannity in Harrisburg, Pa., on Sept. 4, 2024.
Chutkan sets deadlines for written arguments on immunity, Smith appointment
Chutkan set dates for prosecutors and defense lawyers to submit written arguments about immunity, Smith's appointment and the statutes cited in the indictment despite the opposition from Trump's lawyers.
We can all walk and chew gum at the same time," Chutkan said.
The deadlines included:
Sept. 10 for prosecutors to share all required evidence in the case with the defense team. Windom said during the hearing prosecutors have already done that.
Sept. 19 for Trumps team to formally request any additional evidence they think might be missing.
Sept. 26 for prosecutors to file a written argument about Trumps immunity.
Oct. 3 for Trumps team to file their motion to dismiss the case by arguing the statutes are too vague.
Oct. 17 for Trumps team to respond to the governments immunity filing. Prosecutors must also respond to Trumps statutory filing.
Oct. 24 for Trumps team to file their motion to dismiss by arguing Smith was appointed illegitimately.
Oct. 29 for prosecutors to reply to Trumps arguments on immunity.
Oct. 31 for prosecutors to oppose Trumps argument about the legitimacy of Smiths appointment.
Smith offers to submit first argument on immunity, which Trump opposes
The customary path for written arguments before a trial is for the defense team to propose to dismiss the case, with the prosecution then responding. But Smith's team offered to file their argument against immunity first, to restart the case after it was halted since December during the appeal.
One prosecutor, Thomas Windom, said the government could file its argument within three weeks, with exhibits featuring transcripts from the grand jury and FBI interviews.
Windom acknowledged it would be unusual for the prosecution to file their argument first. But he said it would benefit the defense because Trump would see all the evidence laid out during the argument.
I dont think were in a typical situation," Windom said. The defense would know what the landscape looks like."
But Lauro had strongly opposed the proposal, saying it would allow the government to promote its case before the defense has a chance to pick it apart.
Its enormously prejudicial to President Trump," Lauro said. There are no special rules for the special counsel."
Trump lawyers contend Pence material voids the indictment
Part of the indictment deals with communications between Trump and Pence. The vice president served as president of the Senate as Congress counted Electoral College votes in the 2020 election, which Trump allegedly enlisted him to overturn. The Supreme Court ruled that arguments about Pence "present more difficult questions."
Lauro argued that the Supreme Court ruled that communications between Trump and Pence were presumptively part of official duties, which would shield Trump from any associated charges.
"The entire indictment is unlawful," Lauro said. "Theyre going to lose that bet, one way or another," he said of prosecutors.
But Windom disgreed, saying the high court allowed prosecutors to rebut the presumed immunity.
Its not an automatic dismissal of the indictment," Windom said.
Hearing features humor amid serious debate
Despite the serious subject, participants in the hearing occasionally shared humorous asides about the contentious debate.
The case was on hold because of Trump's appeal from December until the Supreme Court returned the case to Chutkan earlier this month. Chutkan welcomed Lauro at the start of the hearing by saying he looked well rested, but said he "should enjoy it while it lasts."
Prosecutors and defense lawyers disagreed about how quickly written arguments could be filed in the case. After Windom said defense lawyers filed a 52-page brief nine days after Trump's conviction in his New York hush money case, Chutkan commended Trump lawyer Todd Blanche.
"Congratulations, Mr. Blanche," Chutkan said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How far can Trump stretch his immunity? We're about to find out
WASHINGTON Republican nominee Donald Trump played up Russian President Vladimir Putin jokingly endorsing his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, during a campaign stop on Thursday.
I dont know if Im insulted or he did me a favor," Trump said of Putin while outlining economic proposals to a group of New York City and Wall Street officials.
Four years ago, Putin said he preferred then-Democratic nominee Joe Biden over Trump, something he noted when he discussed Harris during an economic conference this week in Vladivostok.
"We will support her," Putin said ahead of the 2024 United States elections, according to published reports, adding: "She laughs so expressively and infectiously that it means that everything is fine with her."
More: Putin jokingly supports Harris as US charges Russia with more election interference
The endorsement, real or not, came just hours after the Justice Department charged two Russian citizens with directing a $10 million campaign to influence the 2024 election through online platforms that promote Trump's candidacy.
Trump, who was investigated over Russian election interference in 2016, alleged without evidence after the charges were announced that the Biden administration is again trying to tie him to those efforts. In a Truth Social post, Trump said it is Harris and the Justice Department that are "trying to interfere in and suppress the Election in favor of the Democrats by resurrecting the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax."
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Trump also brought up Putin during a question-and-answer session that followed his Thursday economic speech to the Economic Club of New York.
Minutes before, Trump questioned the continuing value of sanctions against Russia and other rival nations, in Russia's case over its invasion of Ukraine. He said sanctions need to be used "very judiciously" because they can undercut the U.S. dollar. He added that he would try to negotiate a settlement between Russia and Ukraine.
"I want to use sanctions as little as possible," Trump said.
Critics have long taken aim at Trump's relationship with Putin. Harris campaign spokesman Ian Sams told CNN this week that "I think everybody knows who dictators and bullies around the world prefer in this election."
During a briefing on Friday, an official with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said Putin's support of Harris was part of a longstanding disinformation effort by Putin to publicly support political candidates and causes that he actually opposes.
The official said U.S. intelligence agencies do not take Putin's public statements as representative of Russia's covert intentions and said there are numerous examples of where his public statements do not align with Russian actions, including his comments that he would not invade Ukraine before invading Ukraine.
Contributing: Josh Meyer.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump jabs back as Vladimir Putin jokingly backs Kamala Harris
Editors Note: Examining clothes through the ages, Dress Codes is a new series investigating how the rules of fashion have influenced different cultural arenas and your closet.
As students return to school, one patterned textile now synonymous with uniforms will make its seasonal reappearance on pleated skirts, jumpers and ties: plaid. The design has long been a mainstay in both classrooms and in pop culture, bringing to mind the hilarious Irish teens of Derry Girls, the bold 90s fashion of Clueless or the provocative outfits of the early 2000s pop duo t.A.T.u.
Plaid has become a catch-all term in the US, but includes patterns with distinct histories, including tartan, from Scotland, which is more associated with Catholic school uniforms, and madras, from India, which became a staple of American collegiate prep looks popularized by the likes of Ralph Lauren and Brooks Brothers in the latter half of the 20th century. Its a family of textiles with broad scholarly appeal, with both religious and secular schools worldwide incorporating plaid into uniforms, from Mexico to Japan to Australia.
But how did a cloth like tartan, once the symbol of Scottish Highlander identity and rebellion, wind up on the fictional American teen Cher Horowitz as the ultimate twist on schoolgirl fashion? The reasons for the wool textiles success as both a national identity marker and school dress code are one and the same.
It really communicates a sense of belonging, said Mhairi Maxwell, co-curator of the exhibition Tartan, which showed at the V&A museum in Dundee, Scotland, last year. Any club, any society, any school, can design their own tartan. Youre part of this larger club, but youre also your own little clique within it.
"Clueless" has become a touchpoint in 1990s teen fashion. - Paramount/Everett Collection/Shutterstock
The fictional teen nemesis Gogo Yubari became iconic in "Kill Bill: Volume 1" for her bloodlust and chic schoolgirl style. - A Band Apart/Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock
Thousands of variations have been officially added to the Scottish Register of Tartans, making it a pattern that both follows strict rules and allows for infinite possibilities in design, Maxwell explained. Theres the highly recognizable red, blue, green, white and yellow weaves of the Royal Stewart (or Stuart) tartan both the official tartan of the British monarchy and one of the most popular variations adopted by the punk movement the blues and pinks of Vivienne Westwoods MacAndreas tartan, worn by Naomi Campbell in the 1990s; and the crimson, white and black pattern made official by the University of Alabama in 2011.
Japanese students photographed afterschool in Nara in 2013. - Zhang Peng/LightRocket/Getty Images
Possibly the earliest existing scrap of tartan known today is a 16th-century piece found in a bog in Glen Affric, Scotland, which the V&A Dundee studied before the exhibition. The Scottish Tartans Authority commissioned dye analysis and radiocarbon testing on the textile, which has now been dated to between 1500 and 1600. Its known that tartan existed for centuries before, though how long is often contested.
Tartans origins are so elusive its really hard to pinpoint (their) origin story, Maxwell said in a phone interview, noting that many cultures around the world have grid-patterned textiles in their histories, leading to the differing claims of where and when tartan was first woven. The pattern has specific rules, however, that distinguish it from check or gingham patterns as well as madras.
Shifting associations
Tartans history within Scotland has been debated as well. Centuries of romanticizing Highlander clanship and identity has likely influenced our contemporary understanding of the textile, Maxwell noted. The popular idea that tartan designs, dyes or techniques were rigid identifiers of a particular community is dubious, she pointed out the clans werent siloed off, but imported and exported their materials.
The exhibition "Tartan" traced the textile's history and cultural influence over the centuries. - Jane Barlow/PA Wire
However, it was the Jacobite military leader Charles Edward Stuart known as Bonnie Prince Charlie who made tartan a powerful symbol, leading his tartan-clad forces during an unsuccessful uprising in 1745 to restore his familys Catholic leadership to the British throne.
(He) made tartan the plaid of the people, and used it to create a movement to fight for his cause, Maxwell said. He was already capitalizing on that idea that it was a cloth of allegiance that bound people together to fight for something they believed in.
After Stuarts defeat, tartan was restricted in its use for decades in Scotland through Great Britains Dress Act, but it had a fashionable revival in the early 19th century that received royal support, particularly from Queen Victoria. The era saw an elite appropriation of Highland craft and lifestyle, Maxwell explained. Previously a formidable sight to encounter on the battlefield, it now represented a different kind of pride in the form of status and wealth, making it an ideal textile to use in schools promoting prestige and heritage.
Students in uniform in Puebla, Mexico with matching skirts, socks and shoes. - Thomas Trutschel/Photothek/Getty Images
I cant really think of another textile which has all this baggage with it, Maxwell said. Its a traditional cloth, but its super rebellious at the same time. It also became a fabric with imperial implications, as it made its way around the world through the uniforms of Scottish Highland regiments at war, British colonial exports and the transatlantic slave trade.
A collective identity
In the US, tartan was first introduced when the states were still British colonies. But the textile didnt become a fixture of school uniforms until the 1960s, according to historian and educator Sally Dwyer-McNulty, who authored Common Threads: A Cultural History of Clothing in American Catholicism in 2014. That decade saw the textile explode in popularity, she explained in a phone interview, brought to market by major Catholic school uniform suppliers at the time, including Bendinger Brothers and Eisenberg and OHara (now Flynn OHara), who often had contracts with entire networks of diocesan schools.
Its like virtuous consumption, where Catholics, like lots of other post-war families, had a little bit more money to spend, she explained in a phone interview. The companies that had exclusive contracts wanted to tap into the resources that families had and make the (uniforms) attractive.
The girl pop duo t.A.T.u adopted the Catholic schoolgirl look for their music videos and performances. - Bruno Vincent/Getty Images
Plaid already had ties to Catholicism, and it also visually stood out, she said. And, like across the pond, it allowed schools to brand themselves through their uniforms with a textile that allowed for a lot of variance without any external adornments.
It creates this collective identity thats important. It gives students this kind of embodied pride that they have regarding their school or they can also express their rejection of that uniformity by letting their socks fall down to their ankles, she joked. (Dwyer-McNulty herself attended two different Catholic schools in Philadelphia, wearing plaid uniforms through high school).
Olivia Rodrigo in a punk plaid mini in 2022. - Gotham/GC Images/Getty Images
Jenna Ortega promoting "Beetlejuice" in a Thom Browne-designed tribute to the character Lydia Deetz. - MediaPunch/Shutterstock
Uniforms were only associated with parochial and private schools until the late 1980s, but public schools began piloting them as well, allowing plaids influence in American classrooms to spread. (President Bill Clinton was a particular proponent of them during his administration the following decade, believing they would help reduce student crime). By the 1990s, the styles were no longer just available by contracted uniform companies, either, Maxwell noted, as stores like Gap and The Childrens Place stocked up on plaid skirts and jumpers.
Globally, plaid has been revived, remixed and deconstructed any number of ways today, as designers, subcultures and television and film continue to play on the trope. For Maxwell, 1995s Clueless remains a favorite interpretation. Its also one that keeps giving, as the bright yellow plaid skirt-suit set worn by Alicia Silverstone is continually replicated, last year by Kim Kardashian for Halloween, and redesigned by Christian Siriano (and worn by Silverstone) for a Superbowl ad.
That Valley Girl appropriation of tartan is really cool, Maxwell said. Its playing off that heritage of preppy Ivy League, but flipping it on its head and making quite a feminist statement about what it is to be educated, young and aspirational.
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A series of ex-government officials, law professors, and democracy groups are calling for Judge Aileen Cannon's removal from the classified documents criminal case against former President Donald Trump, based on decisions they say have created the appearance of bias.
The Cannon-naysayers include former Republican Missouri Rep. Tom Coleman, former Republican New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman, and several former Republican presidential administration officials. They want the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, which is hearing special counsel Jack Smith's appeal after Cannon dismissed the case, to listen to their arguments for not just reversing her decision, but also reassigning the case to a different judge.
In a brief submitted Tuesday by government watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and others, they essentially accuse Cannon of suggesting through her rulings that she doesn't believe former presidents are equal under the law.
"Her rulings and other conduct create the appearance of an unshakeable conviction that subjecting a former president to ordinary criminal procedures represents an intolerable affront to his dignity," they wrote.
Aileen Cannon, the Florida judge initially assigned to oversee Donald Trump's classified documents case, answers questions during her nomination hearing by the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, U.S. July 29, 2020 in a still image from video.
Cannon, who was appointed by Trump. ruled on July 15 that Smith's appointment as special counsel by US Attorney General Merrick Garland was unlawful and therefore the entire case charging Trump with mishandling classified documents needed to be thrown out.
The ruling deviated from the rulings of every other court to consider the issue after both Democratic and Republican administrations appointed special and independent counsels to oversee politically sensitive investigations with greater independence. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas wrote a concurrence in the high court's July 1 presidential immunity ruling that questioned the lawfulness of special counsels.
'Pattern of unsupportable decisions'
In one brief, which Coleman and Whitman signed onto along with other ex-officials and democracy-focused nonprofit State Democracy Defenders Action, Cannon is accused of engaging in a "pattern of unsupportable decisions" that created the appearance of bias. The critics in that brief, which urged the 11th Circuit to reassign the case to a different judge, pointed specifically to Cannon's decision to dismiss the case and an earlier ruling that temporarily blocked investigators from examining documents seized from Trump's Mar-a-Lago club.
The 11th Circuit overturned the earlier ruling in a sharply-worded 2022 decision, calling it "a radical reordering of our caselaw" and a violation of "bedrock separation-of-powers limitations."
The second brief was submitted Tuesday by CREW along with former federal Judge Nancy Gertner and two law professors who have written on judicial ethics and conduct, New York University's Stephen Gillers and Hofstra University's James J. Sample.
That group targeted not just the two rulings highlighted in the first brief, but also the nearly a year that they said Cannon spent stalling the case by offering hearings for "nearly every theory that Trumps counsel could conjure up," before hastily dismissing the case following Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' July 1 legal aside.
It's not the first time Cannon's oversight of the case has come under fire.
Cannon rejected suggestions from two other judges to step away from the case when it was first assigned to her, according to a New York Times report. George W. Bush appointee and the chief judge for Cannon's Southern District of Florida federal court, Cecilia Altonaga, told Cannon it would look bad for her to oversee a trial in the case after the controversy around her overturned ruling hampering investigators.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ex-officials want Judge Aileen Cannon taken off Trump documents case
When a landslide destroyed an Alaska couple's home, the two began grieving their dogs who were buried under the rubble. One excruciating week later, their family is reunited now safe and sound.
James and William (Bill) Montiver's three-story house collapsed on Aug. 25 after a landslide leveled homes and businesses in Ketchikan, Alaska, a city facing the Inside Passage located in the southeastern part of the state. The married couple were lucky enough to have survived the disaster, which city officials said killed one person and hospitalized three others.
The landslide brought the couple's home down 47 feet into their neighbors home, the Ketchikan Gateway Borough wrote in a news release. James managed to escape the scene on his own, while Bill was rescued by first responders. However, their two dogs, Alani and Cassie, could not be found despite additional attempts to locate them throughout the next week.
Sisters Alani and Cassie were found and rescued by firefighters seven days landslide destroyed their three story house in Ketchikan, Alaska on Aug. 25, 2024.
By Sunday morning, geologist Travis Watkins heard whimpering from the tumbled down house, warranting search and rescue efforts. Fire crews assessed the property's stability and carried out an entry plan, eventually safely retrieving the sister pets.
Firefighter and EMT Crystal Schleiff said she shimmied through a three foot crawl space as well as foot and a half void when she saw blinking eyes, according to the news release.
She couldn't help to make a high pitch voice as she yelled "I found the dog, I see eyes and they're blinking." The dogs were returned to their owners and treated by a veterinarian.
Couple says they made 'private goodbyes' to their dogs
Following a suspenseful seven days, the Montivers, who have been together for 43 years, are beyond relieved to be with their dogs again.
We are humbled and blessed that Cassie and Alani have been returned to us, and our family is together again. We are so thankful to the first responders and to everyone who has helped us this week," James Montiver said in a news release.
Bill and James Montiver's dogs Alani and Cassie were rescued seven days after their home was destroyed by a landslide in Ketchikan, Alaska on August 25, 2024.
James told NBC News they were convinced their dogs didn't make it or someone else got a hold of them, adding that "we basically said our private goodbyes to them."
The sound of the landslide convinced Bill that a plane was about to crash into their house, he told NBC News.
James injured his shoulder and broke four ribs when the landslide threw him into the ceiling and down to his the sofa. Meanwhile, the pair believes Bill was protected by their Bosch dishwasher he was hiding behind when the wall collapsed.
"We owe a big thank you to Bosch," James said.
Landslide damaged roads, sparked evacuations
In addition to killing one person, injuring several others and leveling properties, the landslide also significantly damaged roads, caused power outages and required mandatory evacuations.
Ketchikan officials said the disaster began when land detached from a hill side on August 25 at about 4 p.m. local time.
"In my 65 years in Ketchikan, I have never seen a slide of this magnitude," Mayor Dave Kiffer said in a news release. "The loss of life that we have encountered is heartbreaking, and my heart goes out to those who lost their homes."
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued a disaster emergency declaration for the city that night adding that his "thoughts and prayers are with residents of Ketchikan tonight."
Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dogs found alive in house rubble one week after Alaska landslide
Colt Gray and his father, Colin Gray, made their first appearances in front of a judge at Georgia's Barrow County Superior Court on Friday morning to face charges in the shooting deaths of four people at Apalachee High School on Wednesday.
Shooting suspect Colt Gray, 14, is being charged as an adult, and Colin Gray faces four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.
Colt Gray, who appeared in court first, was told by Judge Currie M. Mingledorff II that his penalties would not include death because he is under 18 years old. A preliminary hearing was set for Dec. 4.
His father was brought into court afterward and was told by the judge that he faces a maximum 180 years in prison if convicted, which includes a 30-year maximum sentence on each of the second-degree murder charges he faces. His preliminary hearing was also set for Dec. 4.
Both Grays have temporary attorneys and plan to obtain alternate counsel by later today. Neither of them is seeking bond at this time.
Questions about the gun
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed that Colin "knowingly allowed his son" to "possess a gun." Because of the active investigation, it could not provide further details, including whether Colin gifted the gun to his son, as some media have reported.
During a press conference on Wednesday, authorities said the weapon Colt allegedly used was an AR-style platform rifle, which is semiautomatic and frequently used in mass shootings.
The shooting Wednesday killed 14-year-old students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo and educators Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie. Nine other people were injured in the shooting two teachers and seven students officials said Thursday night. Authorities said "all nine will make a full recovery and be able to leave the hospital."
Colin Gray, father of 14-year-old suspected shooter Colt Gray, was arrested on Thursday. (Barrow County Sheriff's Office via Reuters) (Reuters / Reuters)
Prior warnings
A Jackson County, Ga., police report obtained by Yahoo News found that users of the social media platform Discord had reached out to the FBI in May 2023 warning that someone was threatening to shoot an unspecified middle school in the area.
Hours after Colt Gray allegedly killed four people and injured nine others at Apalachee High School in Georgia on Wednesday, the FBI Atlanta division said that it had received those anonymous tips and that Jackson County officials had looked into Gray as the suspect.
The Jackson County Sheriffs Office located a possible subject, a 13-year-old male, and interviewed him and his father, the FBI wrote. The father stated he had hunting guns in the house, but the subject did not have unsupervised access to them. The subject denied making the threats online.
Investigators spoke to the Grays in May 2023
Following the tips from Discord users, authorities went to the Grays residence and spoke to both Colt, who was then 13 and a student at Jefferson Middle School in Georgia, and his father, Colin, according to the report. Colin denied knowing what Discord was, and Colt said he had deactivated his Discord account months prior. Discord is a free messaging app, predominantly used in the gaming community.
Colt expressed concern that someone is accusing him of threatening to shoot up a school, stating that he would never say such a thing, even in a joking manner, the report says. Colt stated he stopped using Discord because too many people kept hacking his account and he was afraid someone would use his information for nefarious purposes.
The tip the FBI received about the Discord account said it had been created in April 2023 after Colt said he deleted his account. Screenshots of the Discord account showed that the username was in Russian and that the translation of the Russian letters spelled out the name Lanza. Authorities thought this referred to Adam Lanza, the 20-year-old who committed the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in December 2012.
This booking image provided by the Barrow County, Ga., Sheriff's Office shows Colt Gray, the 14-year-old suspect in the Apalachee High School shootings. (Barrow County Sheriff's Office via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Due to the inconsistent nature of the information received by the FBI, the allegation that Colt or Colin is the user behind the Discord account that made the threat cannot be substantiated, the report concluded. This case will be exceptionally cleared.
The threats were generic and not a specific location or time, a spokesperson for the FBI Atlanta division told Yahoo News on Thursday. At this time, we dont have further information to share other than what was in our statement on our social media channels.
New charges
While there is not a lot of precedent in charging the parents of minors involved in shootings, Michael Lawlor, a lawyer and associate professor of criminal justice at the University of New Haven, pointed to the April conviction of Jennifer and James Crumbley, whose son, Ethan, killed four students at Michigans Oxford High School in 2021.
According to Lawlor, there are two key elements authorities had to consider when determining whether to criminally prosecute Gray's parents for the Apalachee shooting.
If it can be proven that the 14-year-old actually did have unfettered access to the AR platform weapon used in the shooting [which would mean they lied to investigators in 2023] and if it could be proven that the parents were aware of his homicidal postings, then a conviction would certainly be possible, Lawlor told Yahoo News prior to the announcement that Colin Gray had been charged.
The Crumbleys were accused of not properly securing their newly purchased gun at home, which Ethan later brought to school, and for not taking appropriate actions following signs of their sons mental health decline, even after being shown a violent and disturbing drawing Ethan had done.
The Crumbleys were the first parents to be convicted in a U.S. mass school shooting committed by their child and were sentenced to at least 10 years in prison.
The statute says anyone convicted of involuntary manslaughter can face up to 10 years in prison.
President Biden appeared to broach the issue Thursday afternoon in Westby, Wisc.
There are too many people who are able to access guns that shouldnt be able to. Lets require safe storage of firearms. I know I have mine locked up. How could you not have an assault rifle, a weapon in a house, not locked up and knowing your kid knows where it is? You gotta hold parents accountable if they let their child have access to these guns, Biden said. Authorities have not said where Gray obtained the AR-style rifle he's alleged to have used in the shootings.
When their working days eventually come to an end, many retirees will think about the best place to spend their golden years. Figuring out the cost of living in different areas is an important part of the decision-making process, and taxes are also a key consideration. Not all states treat retirement income, such as pension payouts or distributions from 401(k) plans and IRAs, the same way.
Heres what you need to know about how different states tax retirement income, including the states where you wont pay taxes at all.
States with no income tax
Retirement distributions from 401(k) plans or IRAs are considered income for tax purposes.
Fortunately, there are several places with no state income tax:
Alaska
Florida
Nevada
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Washington
Wyoming
In addition to those eight states, New Hampshire also doesnt have an income tax, but it does tax interest and dividend payments, which are a staple of many retirement portfolios. You could avoid this tax by holding income-producing assets within a tax-advantaged plan such as an IRA, and then taking a distribution from the plan. Because the distribution would qualify as income, New Hampshire wont tax you on it. The tax on interest and dividends is set to be repealed in 2025.
Washington does have a capital gains tax, though there are exemptions and deductions that may eliminate or lower the amount that is owed.
States that dont tax retirement income
In addition to the nine states above that dont have an income tax at all, four states do not tax retirement income: Illinois, Iowa, Mississippi and Pennsylvania. Heres what you should know about each one.
Illinois
Illinois charges a flat state income tax of 4.95 percent, but all retirement income is exempt from paying the tax. This includes pension payments as well as distributions from retirement plans such as 401(k)s and IRAs. Social Security payments are also exempt.
Iowa
Beginning in 2023, Iowa residents over the age of 55 are no longer taxed on their retirement income thanks to a 2022 law. Iowa state income tax rates range from 4.4 percent to 5.7 percent in 2024, but the range will be narrowed each following year until a flat rate of 3.9 percent is implemented in 2026.
Mississippi
Mississippi state income tax rates range from 0 percent to 4.7 percent, but retirement income is not taxed as long as youve met the plan requirements. This means that early distributions from retirement plans may not qualify as retirement income and could be subject to tax and a penalty.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania charges personal income tax at a flat rate of 3.07 percent. Retirement income is not taxed in Pennsylvania as long as plan requirements are met. Withdrawals from retirement plans such as IRAs prior to reaching the necessary age (59 1/2) may result in taxes.
States that dont tax Social Security
Forty-one states plus the District of Columbia do not tax Social Security income for retirees.
Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska are three of the most recent states to eliminate taxes on Social Security and others are in the process of phasing out the tax.
Here are the 41 states that dont tax Social Security income:
Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Mississippi Missouri Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Virginia Washington Wisconsin Wyoming
The 9 states that tax Social Security benefits include: Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia. The amount youre taxed in some of these states is based on your adjusted gross income (AGI) and filing status. West Virginia is phasing out its tax on Social Security benefits and will eliminate it entirely in 2026.
Other retirement income tax issues
While the states listed above dont tax retirement income at all, there are other states that provide some exemptions. Several states dont tax military retirement pay, while other states treat pension income differently than distributions from retirement plans such as 401(k)s or IRAs.
Be sure to understand the tax implications of living in a state before deciding where to retire. Taxes on retirement income are one element of the equation, but youll also want to consider things like sales and property taxes to get a complete picture. You may ultimately decide that paying more in taxes is worth it to you if a state offers other benefits that make up for the higher cost.
Bottom line
If youre looking to avoid paying state taxes on your retirement income, youll have 13 states to choose from, while many others offer exemptions of some sort. Make sure to understand the tax situation in a state before deciding to relocate there. While lowering your tax bill may help you enjoy a more comfortable retirement, its not the only factor worth considering.
FILE - Graduates of the University of North Carolina take pictures at the Old Well on campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., June 30, 2020. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Some selective colleges are reporting drops in the number of Black students in their incoming classes, the first admitted since a Supreme Court ruling struck down affirmative action in higher education. At other colleges, including Princeton University and Yale University, the share of Black students changed little.
Several schools also have seen swings in their numbers of Asian, Hispanic and Native American students, but trends are still murky. Experts and colleges say it will take years to measure the full impact of last year's ruling that barred consideration of race in admissions.
The end of affirmative action isn't the only factor affecting the makeup of freshman classes. Some colleges are changing standardized test requirements, heightening their importance. And the federal government's botched rollout of a new financial aid form complicated decisions of students nationwide on where and whether to attend college.
Its really hard to pull out what one policy shift is affecting all of these enrollment shifts, said Katharine Meyer, a fellow at the Brookings Institution think tank. The unsatisfying answer is that its hard to know which one is having the bigger impact.
On Thursday, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reported drops in enrollment among Black, Hispanic and Native American students in its incoming class. Its approach to admissions has been closely watched because it was one of two colleges, along with Harvard University, that were at the center of the Supreme Court case.
The population of Black students dropped nearly 3 percentage points, to 7.8%, compared with the UNC class before it. Hispanic student enrollment fell from 10.8% to 10.1%, while the incoming Native American population slid half a percentage point to 1.1%, according to the university. The incoming Asian student population rose 1 percentage point to 25.8%. The share of white students, at 63.8%, barely changed.
It is too soon to see trends from the affirmative action decision, said Rachelle Feldman, UNCs vice provost for enrollment. She cited the delays in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid application process as another possible influence on the makeup of the incoming class.
We are committed to following the new law. We are also committed to making sure students in all 100 counties from every population in our growing state feel encouraged to apply, have confidence in our affordability and know this is a place they feel welcome and can succeed, Feldman said.
Some colleges reported sharp declines in the percentages of Black students in their incoming class, including drops from 15% to 5% at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and from 11% to 3% at Amherst College. At Tufts University, the drop in the share of Black students was more moderate, from 7.3% to 4.7%. At Yale, the University of Virginia and Princeton, the change year-over-year was less than a percentage point.
Many colleges did not share the demographics of applicants, making it impossible to know whether fewer students of color applied, or were admitted but chose not to attend.
Changes in other demographic groups also did not follow a clear pattern. At MIT, for example, the percentage of Asian students increased from 40% to 47% and Hispanic and Latino students from 16% to 11%, while the percentage of white students was relatively unchanged. But at Yale, the percentage of Asian students declined from 30% to 24%. White students at Yale went from 42% of the class to 46%, and Hispanic and Latino students saw an increase of 1 percentage point.
Colleges have been pursuing other strategies to preserve the diversity they say is essential to campus life.
JT Duck, dean of admissions at Tufts, emphasized the school would work on expanding outreach and partnerships with community organizations to reach underrepresented, low-income and first-generation students. He cautioned against reading too much into year-to-year changes in enrollment.
The results show that we have more work to do to ensure that talented students from all backgrounds, including those most historically underrepresented at selective universities, have access to a Tufts education. And we are committed to doing that work, while adhering to the new legal constraints, he said in an email. Weve already done a lot of work toward these ends and look forward to doing even more.
At UNC, Feldman said it is a priority to offer substantial financial aid to low-income families, along with retaining students through investments in undergraduate advising and other initiatives. She said there are no plans for dramatic changes in light of the new enrollment data.
The university wants to make sure "anyone from any background knows they can earn their way here, she said at a news conference.
Sharp declines in the number of students of color can impact how prospective students view schools, leading some to choose other colleges where they might feel a stronger sense of community, said Mitchell Chang, a professor of higher education at the University of California, Los Angeles.
If we're below a certain threshold, people who see themselves as having a more difficult time developing a sense of belonging will choose elsewhere, he said. That's especially true at selective colleges, where admitted students may be choosing between multiple top-tier schools.
So far, the drops in underrepresented minority students are smaller in scope than when states like Michigan and California passed bans on affirmative action decades earlier, Meyer said. But since those bans, colleges have developed more best practices for effective, non-race-based ways of recruiting and enrolling a diverse class, Meyer said.
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The Associated Press education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
The 14-year-old suspect in the fatal mass shooting at a Winder, Georgia, high school will be booked Wednesday night, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey said at an evening news conference.
Colt Gray will be charged with murder in connection with the deaths of two teachers and two students at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, authorities said.
The deceased victims were 14-year-old Mason Schermerhorn, 14-year-old Christian Angulo, and Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, according to Hosey. The schools website shows the two adults were both math teachers and Aspinwall was also an assistant football coach.
Gray is a student at Apalachee High School and will be handled as an adult as he moves through the court system, Hosey said at an earlier news conference.
Richard Aspinwall, Cristina Irimie, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo were all victims in the Apalachee High School shooting on September 4. - Apalachee High School/Family Photo/GoFundMe
Nine other victims eight students and one teacher were taken to hospitals following the Wednesday morning shooting, according to the GBI.
Hosey said the gun was an AR-platform weapon while a law enforcement official earlier told CNN it was an AR-15-style.
The gunfire sent students and faculty desperately scurrying for cover as schools across the county went into lockdown and parents scrambled for information.
During the shooting, 14-year-old Macey Right texted her mom saying she heard gunshots and asked her mother to come get her. Right and her friends held hands and prayed in their classroom, she said. Moments later, they were disrupted by banging and yelling, according to Macey.
I heard gunshots outside my classroom and people screaming, people begging not to get shot, and then people sitting beside me just shaking and crying, Macey said.
Follow live updates: Police respond to reported shooting at Georgia high school
Authorities spoke to suspect and his father last year
The suspect was interviewed by local law enforcement in May 2023 after the FBI received several anonymous tips about online threats to commit a school shooting at an unidentified location and time, according to a joint statement from the FBIs Atlanta office and the Jackson County Sheriffs Office.
The online threats included photographs of guns, the statement said.
The father stated he had hunting guns in the house, but the subject did not have
unsupervised access to them, the statement said. The subject denied making the threats online.
The FBI said there was no probable cause for an arrest at the time.
Wednesdays shooting is the deadliest of the 45 school shootings so far this calendar year, according to a CNN analysis. It is one of 11 school shootings with four or more deaths since 2008, when CNN first started tracking school shootings.
Authorities said the first report of an active shooter came in at 10:20 a.m. ET. A school resource deputy assigned to Apalachee High confronted the shooter, who got on the ground and was taken into custody, Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith told reporters.
Witness sat next to suspected shooter
Lyela Sayarath, 16, told CNN the alleged shooter sat next to her in an algebra class.
She said he left class early, around 9:45 a.m., but didnt take a bathroom pass. She thought he might be skipping.
Toward the end of class, someone told her teacher over the loudspeaker to check their email, she said.
Shortly after, Gray was outside the classroom door, which was shut, Lyela said. Another student who went to the door jumped backwards when she saw he had a gun.
I guess he saw we werent gonna let him in, Lyela said. And I guess the classroom next to me, their door was open, so I think he just started shooting in the classroom.
At first, she told CNN she heard a burst of gunfire maybe 10 to 15 shots and then they were kind of just one after another.
Students dropped to the floor and crawled to the corner, Lyela said.
It seemed like this wasnt something he planned too well or that he wasnt really strong with the gun because he didnt try and shoot our door. Once he saw he couldnt get in our room, he just went to the next one.
Latest developments
The high school had received an earlier phone threat, multiple law enforcement officials told CNN. The phone call Wednesday morning warned there would be shootings at five schools, and that Apalachee would be the first. It is not known who placed the call.
Investigators have spoken to the suspected shooter and have been in touch with his family, Smith said.
It was not immediately known whether the assailant had some connection with his victims, the sheriff said, though officials stressed that will be part of the investigation.
Schools in Barrow County will be closed the rest of the week.
The US has suffered at least 385 mass shootings so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which, like CNN, defines mass shootings as those in which four or more victims are shot. Thats an average of more than 1.5 mass shootings every day.
Student texted mom: Im scared
Erin Clark was at work Wednesday morning when she got a series of text messages from her son, a senior, who was attending class at Apalachee High School.
School shooting.
Im scared, he wrote.
pls im not joking, the flurry of messages said.
Im leaving work, Clark replied. I love you, her son, Ethan Haney, 17, wrote back.
Love you too baby, his mom texted before racing to the high school.
Clark told CNN her son heard eight or nine gunshots before he closed his classroom door and, with the help of another classmate, moved chairs and tables to block the door.
Clark told CNN she was absolutely terrified when she read her sons messages. Just kept praying hed stay safe, she said.
Schools in county went into lockdown
As emergency responders came from several counties, video from outside the school showed at least five ambulances and a large law enforcement presence at the campus, and at least one medical helicopter could be seen airlifting a patient from the scene.
At the football field, where authorities had students gather, people lowered their heads and formed a prayer circle in the end zone, standing on the letters for Apalachee as their classmates milled around the field.
All schools in the Barrow County School System, which includes the high school, were placed on lockdown and police were sent out of an abundance of caution to all district high schools, according to the sources, but there are no reports of secondary incidents or scenes.
Some of the critically injured were removed by helicopter, and additional helicopters are on standby.
Atlanta trauma center, other hospitals take patients
Grady Health System a Level 1 trauma center in Atlanta, about an hour drive from Winder received one gunshot wound victim from the incident who was transported by helicopter, a hospital spokesperson told CNN.
Earlier, a source with knowledge of the situation who is not authorized to speak to the media, told CNN Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital in North Georgia received two victims from the shooting. The source said one victim is an adult with a gunshot wound to the stomach and was in surgery, and another is a minor with unspecified injuries.
Three gunshot victims were taken to nearby hospitals following the shooting, according to a hospital official, and five other patients reported to the hospital with symptoms related to a panic attack.
Two gunshot victims were taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center Barrow with non-life threatening injuries, Northeast Georgia Health System spokesperson Layne Saliba said. Four other patients came with symptoms related to panic attacks.
Another gunshot victim was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville with non-life threatening injuries, Saliba said, and an additional patient came to Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton with symptoms related to a panic attack.
Law enforcement and first responders are seen at the scene following a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Wednesday. - Christian Monterrosa/AFP/Getty Images
Georgia governor sends prayers and says he can send resources
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has directed all available state resources to assist at the scene, he said in a statement on social media. The governor urged all Georgians to join my family in praying for the safety of those in our classrooms, both in Barrow County and across the state.
President Joe Biden has been briefed on the incident, the White House said, offering federal support to state and local officials.
His administration will continue coordinating with federal, state, and local officials as we receive more information, the White House said in a statement.
Attorney General Merrick Garland similarly said the US Department of Justice stands ready to support the community after the shooting.
We are still gathering information, but the FBI and ATF are on the scene, working with state, local and federal partners, Garland said at a meeting of the Justice Departments Election Threats Task Force.
Winder had a population of about 18,338 as of the 2020 census, according to the US Census Bureau. The Barrow County School System is the 24th largest school district in the state, per the districts website. It serves about 15,340 students, 1,932 of whom are enrolled at Apalachee High School.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
CNNs Isabel Rosales reported from Winder, while Nick Valencia reported from Atlanta. CNNs John Miller and Dakin Andone reported from New York. Taylor Galgano, Jaide Timm-Garcia, Holly Yan, Steve Almasy, Josh Campbell, Maureen Chowdhury, Amy OKruk, Alex Leeds Matthews, Shawn Nottingham, Rebekah Riess, Devan Cole, Hannah Rabinowitz and Mark Morales contributed to this report.
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By Ali Sawafta
TUBAS, West Bank (Reuters) - Israeli forces killed six Palestinian militants in the town of Tubas and in a nearby refugee camp in the occupied West Bank early on Thursday, the military said, as a major operation in the territory stretched into a second week.
The incidents took place during raids in different areas of the West Bank that have involved hundreds of soldiers, police and intelligence officers backed by helicopters, drones and armoured vehicles - the biggest Israeli military action in the territory in months.
In Tubas, a city in the north of the Jordan Valley where 10 people have been killed over the past week, hundreds of mourners joined the funeral procession, including dozens of armed men firing into the air.
The Israeli military said three drone strikes hit a militant cell that posed a threat to soldiers in Tubas, killing a number of individuals including Mohammad Zakaria Zubeidi, whom it described as a "significant terrorist" in the Jenin area.
Palestinian health officials said the strikes killed five people and wounded three. The five were claimed as members by the armed wing of the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad.
A heavily damaged car parked in a garage area was surrounded by blood stains where the men were killed in the strike.
A sixth Palestinian, identified as a 16 year-old by Palestinian health officials, was also killed in the area of Far'a, near Tubas, during an exchange of fire with Israeli security forces.
The military said he was armed with an explosive device but there was no claim from any of the militant groups that he was a member.
In the same operation around Far'a, the military said a drone strike hit a number of fighters who threw explosives and opened fire on security forces. However there were no reports of deaths in the incident from Palestinian authorities.
Israeli forces remained in Tulkarm on Thursday and in the flashpoint city of Jenin, historically one of the main centres of armed Palestinian groups in the West Bank.
The area was captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war, and Palestinians envisage it as part of an eventual state also including Gaza and East Jerusalem.
The nine-day operation has left a trail of burned and damaged houses in Jenin and more than 20 km of roadway dug up by armoured tractors in what the Israeli military says is a tactic needed to neutralize buried roadside bombs.
Water and electricity services have also been disrupted, while thousands of people have been ordered from their homes in parts of the city. Health authorities have also said ambulances have faced problems getting through Israeli cordons around the city's main hospital.
At least 39 Palestinians have been killed across the West Bank during the operation, according to Palestinian health authorities. Most of those have been armed fighters but some uninvolved civilians have also been killed, including a 16-year-old girl. One Israeli soldier was also killed.
The West Bank has seen heightened unrest since the outbreak of the war between Israeli forces and Hamas in the Gaza Strip last October, with Israeli military actions, attacks by Palestinian militants on Israelis, and violence by Jewish settlers against Palestinian communities.
(Writing by James Mackenzie, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
WASHINGTON When Congress returns from its summer break on Monday, lawmakers will have three short weeks to figure out how to keep the government's doors open before funding expires on Sept. 30, staving off a looming shutdown.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has a plan: Extend current funding through next March, avoiding a Christmas-time standoff or a messy spending fight ahead of a contentious election.
But to get to that, Johnson is also proposing Congress pass a bill that would require people to prove they're citizens in order to register to vote. It's a proposal that President Joe Biden has vowed to veto, arguing it's already illegal for non-citizens to vote in federal elections and that the proposal would make it harder for Americans to register.
That bill passed the House in July with the support of 216 Republicans and five Democrats.
Now the question is will we attach it to a funding mechanism in September? said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, who sponsored the bill, on the War Room podcast earlier this week. I believe we should, President Trump believes we should, Mike Johnson appears ready and willing to do it.
Have lawmakers agreed on how to fund the government?
Not so fast. Its not clear that the dual funding-and-voting bill could even pass the House, which Republicans control by a razor-thin margin. Some Republicans have already been hesitant about supporting the strategy, and it's surely dead on arrival in the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats.
Demanding outrageous partisan poison pills is a nonstarter, Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray, D-Wash., said in a statement. Weve seen this movie before and we know how it ends.
Democrats aren't the only ones putting up hurdles. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnells staff has also reportedly been pushing House Republicans not to attach the voting legislation to spending efforts. That's over concerns it would complicate the funding deadline and encourage Democrats to push for their own voting-related policy that Republicans don't necessarily want to fight over during an election year.
So how does it end? After all, neither side would benefit from a government shutdown just weeks before Election Day.
Acknowledging these political dynamics, Rep. Nick LaLota, a vulnerable Republican from New York who faces a tough election this fall, reportedly asked what would happen if the Senate refuses to play ball but Johnson said he wouldnt publicize a plan.
Its been a common pattern in the bitterly divided Congress. Hardline Republicans in the House insist on policy changes that are sure to fail in the Senate and the White House, flirting with government funding deadlines before eventually succumbing to an extension that avoids catastrophe. Congress missed its own funding deadline in 2023 by months after passing what's known as continuing resolutions, legislative moves that can kick the can down the road for lawmakers.
But this year, the election is putting added pressure on everyone leaving lawmakers with eyes out for the least dramatic way forward.
What happens during a government shutdown?
If lawmakers are unable to fund the government by the end of this month, all federal agencies except those that are "essential" including U.S. Postal Service, Medicare and Social Security will stop work.
Even Capitol Hill is not spared: While lawmakers continue to work and receive pay through a government shutdown, tens of thousands of congressional staff will go without a paycheck for the duration.
Other consequences of a total government shutdown include furloughs for federal employees, delayed government food assistance benefits and national park closures.
Air traffic controllers will continue working during a shutdown, along with customs and border agents. Passport applications may be halted, though. And without pay for working controllers or training for new FAA employees, the airline industry and travelers could still feel the impact.
Contributing: Savannah Kuchar
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Potential government shutdown depends on Congress clearing this hurdle
Carmen Van Huss, who was found deceased on March 24, 1993 in Indiana.
Authorities have made an arrest in a rape and murder case 31 years after the victim was found dead in her apartment.
Dana Shepherd, 52, was arrested Friday morning in Columbia, Missouri and charged in the death of 19-year-old Carmen Van Huss, who was found dead in her apartment in March 1993.
Police made the arrest after obtaining a DNA swab that allegedly matches the DNA found at the crime scene.
Shepherd has been charged with murder, felony murder and rape, according to a news release from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department or IMPD.
According to officials, IMPD detectives went to Boone County, Missouri to speak to the suspect but he exercised his right to legal representation without speaking with detectives. Shepherd was visibly shaking as he read the warrant for his DNA, investigators wrote in an affidavit.
IMPDs Deputy Chief Kendale Adams said at a press conference earlier this week that the day was about the victim, Van Huss, not the man arrested in connection to her death.
Their work, he said, demonstrates the power of science, perseverance and never ending pursuit of the truth."
As of Thursday morning, USA TODAYs attempts to get comments from Shepherds lawyer were unsuccessful. No attorney was listed for Shepherd, according to the Marion County Clerk's Office.
How detectives used DNA to find the suspect
Detectives spent years interviewing people and following up on leads to no avail, then in 2018, an IMPD detective submitted DNA from evidence to a DNA technology company called Parabon to complete an analysis, the release said.
During summer 2023, detectives used information from the genetic genealogy analysis to identify Shepherd as the suspect in Van Huss death, the release said.
Once the Marion County Forensic Services Agency received DNA samples for traditional forensic testing in June 2024, the agency confirmed that Shepherds DNA profile matched DNA samples found at the crime scene.
Suspect faces three separate charges
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said at the conference that he has thought of the victims family and what theyve dealt with over the past 31 years while the person responsible for her death is walking freely.
Mears recited the three charges that Shepherd faces: murder, felony murder and rape, a Class A felony.
Mears said each charge carries a different penalty. For murder, suspects face 45 to 65 years, while Class A felonies carry 20 to 50 years.
Victims family wishes she had been able to graduate, live out her life
The victims family spoke at the press conference and said they are grateful for those who helped solve the case. Van Huss is missed by many people, her family said, including cousins who loved her like sisters and an aunt who loved her like a daughter.
Her family members said they are saddened that she wasnt able to graduate from college or get married. The family hopes that more cases will be solved thanks to DNA and genetic genealogy.
"She wasn't able to experience her college graduation or have a wedding or any life events," Jimmy Van Huss Jr. said of his sister, Carmen. "She was taken from me when I was a freshman in high school and I'm thankful that finally the man that did it is where he needs to be."
Van Huss Jr. recalled his father, James Van Huss Sr., who went to Carmen's apartment back in 1993 after her coworkers notified him she had been missing from work.
"For my dad to have to find his daughter after what was brutally done to her makes this day bittersweet. I wish he was here to see it," Van Huss Jr. said at the news conference Tuesday. His father died years back.
Adams, from the IMPD, said Van Huss is the reason authorities kept pushing forward.
Shes our why and the reason her family, friends, loved ones and IMPD never stopped looking for answers, he said. Today, we finally have some answers.
More on what happened in March 1993
Just after 7:30 p.m. on March 24, 1993, someone called deputies from the Marion County Sheriffs Office about an unconscious person, according to an affidavit for probable cause filed by a detective in the county.
Deputies found the victim, Van Huss, deceased and lying on her back, next to a bed. The door to the apartment was found partially open but investigators saw no sign of forced entry, the affidavit read.
Investigators spoke to the victims father, who said he last saw Van Huss on March 22, 1993, the affidavit said. She had dropped both her father and her brother off at their home. Two days later, the victims father received a call from his daughters coworker saying she hadnt shown up for work at Pizza Hut.
Her father tried to call to no avail, then went to her apartment to check on her. Thats when he found the front door unlocked and found his daughter lying on the floor, according to the affidavit.
While investigators saw no sign of forced entry, they did see signs of a struggle, including a table that had been knocked over, clothes thrown on the floor and a large pool of blood near the victims head. She had multiple puncture wounds to her head, face and body, according to the affidavit.
Investigators said the assault likely happened in the living room. The person who attacked the victim seemed to have gone into the kitchen to wash himself off, the affidavit said.
Neighbors say they heard disturbances, screams and crying the night of the attack
Detectives spoke to multiple people who lived near the victim, according to the affidavit filed in Marion County.
One neighbor said that on March 22, 1993, she heard a male and female voice laughing in the hallway around 11:00 p.m. They then went into the apartment, the affidavit said. Later on, between 1:00 a.m. and 1:30 a.m., the neighbor heard a female scream Get off of me, the affidavit read.
Another neighbor said they heard a disturbance on March 23, 1993, according to the affidavit. Once the sound stopped, the neighbor heard footsteps hurriedly leaving.
Lastly, another neighbor who lived in the apartment directly below the victim said that early in the morning on March 23, 1993, he heard screams and someone crying. He also heard slamming, banging noises and a male arguing for about 30 minutes, the affidavit read.
At the scene, investigators found a white paper sack with blood staining in the kitchen trash can, according to the affidavit.
Parabon, the company doing the DNA analysis testing, contacted the IMPD in June 2023 and said they may know someone related to the person who left the DNA sample.
Investigators used publicly available information, and social media accounts to determine that the person they were looking for could be related to Shepherd, the affidavit read.
In November 2023, an investigator from the IMPD used online records to find out who was living near the victim in March 1993. They came across Shepherds name, according to the affidavit.
Later, investigators looked at multiple arrest records dating from 1992 to 1996 to confirm he lived in the same complex and at one point, in an adjacent building to the victims.
Just two months before Van Huss death, the suspect reported that he lived in the same apartment complex. When detectives looked into how close his previous unit was to the victims, it took just 30 seconds to get there, the affidavit read.
Both apartments were connected internally by a shared common area, which included a laundry room, the affidavit read.
Eventually, DNA from Van Huss body matched the DNA profile of Dana Shepherd, the affidavit said.
Shepherd appeared in a Boone County, Missouri courtroom via video call on Wednesday, according to television station WTHR. His bond was denied and the judge set an extradition hearing for Sept. 26.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cold case: Dana Shepherd arrested in 1993 death of Carmen Van Huss
Meta and Apple are feuding over who should be in charge of age-gating teen users. Ljupco/Getty, Tyler Le/BI
Meta has suggested that Apple should be responsible for App Store age verification.
That's convenient for Meta, but Apple has lobbied hard to ax any legislation that would force this.
In the end, parents and kids lose.
Meta has a problem. Everyone, their mom, and their state attorney general is mad at them for their role in contributing to the mental-health crisis for teens.
Last November, Meta's head of global safety, Antigone Davis, published a blog post urging government regulation on the issue of children and teens accessing Instagram and other social media. She proposed that Apple and Google take charge of age-gating and getting parental consent through their app stores. She wrote:
Parents should approve their teen's app downloads, and we support federal legislation that requires app stores to get parents' approval whenever their teens under 16 download apps. With this solution, when a teen wants to download an app, app stores would be required to notify their parents, much like when parents are notified if their teen attempts to make a purchase. Parents can decide if they want to approve the download. They can also verify the age of their teen when setting up their phone, negating the need for everyone to verify their age multiple times across multiple apps.
It sounds like Meta is just trying to wiggle out of having to clean up its own mess.
But Meta does have a point: It would be a lot easier for Apple and Google to implement age-gating at the app-store level versus leaving this work to each individual app.
According to a report this week from The Wall Street Journal, Apple is not at all willing to entertain this idea. When state legislators in Louisiana were considering a bill that would make app stores responsible for age verification, Apple sent out a team of lobbyists to help shut it down. It worked that part of the bill was dropped.
This is a new wrinkle in a low-key feud between Meta and Apple. Meta resents Apple for several reasons: Apple hurt its ad business with the "ask app not to track" feature; its App Store takes an onerous cut of up to 30% for some in-app purchases; and, worst of all, Apple gets away with a smarmy, holier-than-thou attitude about privacy.
You might imagine why Apple isn't excited to jump forward with a plan to be responsible for age-gating all social apps. Apple doesn't want to handle age verification, because that's a privacy nightmare. And it likely resents having to clean up Meta's and TikTok's messes. Plus, Apple already has parental controls and age ratings in the App Store that allow parents to block apps rated over a certain age.
So Apple and Meta are at a standstill.
Everyone seems to agree there's a big problem with young people and social media, but there is no one clear and obvious solution. Age verification isn't ideal (I certainly don't want to have to upload my driver's license to use Instagram), and simply keeping kids under 13 (or 15!) off these apps doesn't solve the thorny problems of how young people get miserable once they're on social media.
Meanwhile, individual states are making piecemeal laws about social media and teens. New York passed a bill this summer to prohibit "addictive" algorithms on young users' feeds. Other states, including California, Arkansas, and Utah, have also tried to pass their own laws regulating social media for teens, though these have faced scrutiny from courts on First Amendment grounds.
The best hope for an immediate change in policy, it seems to me, is for individual schools to ban cellphones from class. This would probably make teachers happy and get kids to pay more attention, but it's only one part of the larger issue.
Both Meta and Apple could be doing more to solve the problem of kids and phones and so could the government. For now, parents are left struggling on their own.
Read the original article on Business Insider
With its ban of X, which went into effect on Saturday, Brazil joins a small club of countries to have taken similar measures against the social network, most of them run by authoritarian regimes.
The suspension was ordered by a top Brazilian judge after Elon Musk refused to name a legal representative in the country. Justice Alexandre de Moraes and Musk had been feuding for months over allegations X engaged in obstruction, criminal organization and incitement, namely the decision said, supporting a network of people known as digital militias who allegedly spread defamatory fake news and threats against Supreme Court justices.
Market research group Emarketer says some 40 million Brazilians, roughly one-fifth of the population, access X at least once per month.
Other countries restrict X
Beyond permanent bans, some nations have temporarily restricted access to X, formerly Twitter, which has often been used by political dissidents to communicate.
These have included Egypt in 2011 during the Arab Spring uprisings, Turkey in 2014 and 2023, and Uzbekistan around that country's 2021 presidential election.
Here is a list of some of the others.
Beijing banned Twitter in June 2009 -- before it secured the prominent place it enjoyed in Western media and politics for much of the 2010s.
The block came two days before the 20-year anniversary of the government's crushing of pro-democracy demonstrations in the capital's Tiananmen Square.
Since then, many Chinese people have turned to home-grown alternatives such as Weibo and WeChat.
Twitter was also blocked by Tehran in 2009, as a wave of demonstrations broke out following a contested June presidential election.The network has nevertheless been used since then to pass information to the outside world about dissident movements, including the demonstrations against Iran's repression of women's rights since late 2022.
Isolated Central Asian country Turkmenistan blocked Twitter in the early 2010s alongside many other foreign online services and websites. Authorities in Ashgabat surveil closely citizens' usage of the internet, provided through state-run monopoly operator TurkmenTelecom.
Pyongyang opened its own Twitter account in 2010 in a bid to woo foreigners interested in the country. But the application has been blocked along with Facebook, Youtube and gambling and pornography websites since April 2016. Internet access beyond a few government websites is under tight government watch in the hermit regime, with access restricted to a few high-ranking officials.
X has been blocked since February 2021, when authorities took aim at the app for its use by opponents of the military coup that overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government. Since then, the junta has kept a tight grip on internet access in Myanmar.
Some use VPN to connect to social media network X
Access to Twitter was throttled in 2021 by Moscow, which complained the site was allowing users to spread "illegal content".
A formal ban came in March 2022, just after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Many Russian users continue to connect to X via VPN services that allow them to get around the block.
X has been banned since parliamentary polls in February this year.
Pakistan's government, backed by the army, say the block is for security reasons. Former prime minister Imran Khan -- now in jail -- was targeted by widespread allegations of fraud spread via the platform against his opposition party.
Nicolas Maduro, who was declared winner of July's presidential election despite grave suspicions of fraud, ordered access to X suspended for 10 days on August 9 as security forces were violently putting down nationwide demonstrations. The block has remained in place beyond the expiry of the 10-day period.
The country's block on X has come from the judiciary, via Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes. He has highlighted the reactivation of accounts that had been ordered suspended by Brazilian courts.
Users connecting to X via a VPN face a fine of 50,000 reais ($8,900) per day.
David Becker says those with concerns about election should "volunteer to join them"
Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas says he is writing his own bill amid immigration impasse
Migrants are quickly returned to Mexico under Biden's asylum crackdown
By Daniel Leussink
YOKOHAMA, Japan (Reuters) - BYD is rolling out electric-vehicle charging stations and ramping up marketing and customer incentives in Japan, aiming to boost sales in a market that has become a stumbling block in the Chinese automaker's global expansion.
Warren Buffett-backed BYD has become China's largest EV maker after years of breakneck growth at home. Now it is expanding overseas, including in Japan, one of the world's largest auto markets.
But Japan remains tough for foreign automakers to penetrate. Demand for EVs has long been sluggish and the government this year changed how EV subsidies are calculated, reducing them for BYD and several of its rivals, and raising concerns about protectionism.
To win over Japanese drivers, BYD has offered discounts on the first 1,000 cars sold of its newest model, and is airing TV commercials starring a Japanese actress.
The strategy has meant higher-than-expected marketing costs. BYD's overseas push is being closely watched, not least because the automaker is almost as valuable as GM and Ford combined.
Still, some Japanese are wary of buying big-ticket Chinese products due to quality concerns. Asia's two largest economies also share a complicated wartime history and years of political tension.
"The cars are great, but I don't think they'll sell in Japan," said 58-year-old Yukihiro Obata, who was visiting a BYD showroom in Yokohama, which neighbours Tokyo, in July with his son.
"Japanese people think Japan's manufactured goods are superior to Chinese and South Korean ones. We just can't believe Chinese products could be higher quality," he said.
Obata said he was not opposed to buying a foreign automobile and was also considering EVs from Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Hyundai.
Shenzhen-based BYD opened its first showroom in Japan in February last year and has so far sold over 2,500 cars.
By contrast, Toyota Motor sold just over 4,200 battery EVs in Japan over the same period, while nearly 17,000 Teslas were registered in the country as of end-March 2023, according to the most recent industry data available.
BYD offers three models and now has more than 30 showrooms.
"There are people in Japan who absolutely hate Chinese products, so it's not a good idea to try and force ourselves on them," Atsuki Tofukuji, president of BYD Auto Japan, said.
Instead, he wanted to win over people by BYD's affordability and performance, he said.
GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES
EVs accounted for just a little more than 1% of the 1.47 million passenger cars sold in Japan in the first seven months of this year, according to industry data. That does not include the low-power "kei" mini cars made for the domestic market.
EV sales have been slow in Japan because Toyota and other domestic automakers have focused more on hybrid technology.
The government in April revamped its EV subsidy scheme, saying that will promote the spread of chargers and other infrastructure.
Subsidies, which were previously determined by the car's performance, now take into account criteria such as the number of quick chargers a manufacturer has installed, and after-sales service.
The subsidy on BYD's Atto 3 SUV, which sells for 4.5 million yen ($30,996.00), was cut by almost half to 350,000 yen, from 650,000 yen.
The subsidy cuts have dragged on sales, Tofukuji said at a company event in July.
BYD responded by offering 0% loans during April to June, and cashbacks on home chargers in July and August. It also plans to put a quick charger at 100 locations by the end of next year, Tofukuji told Reuters, a previously unreported plan that could help it qualify for bigger subsidies.
To increase its brand awareness, it started broadcasting television commercials starring Masami Nagasawa, a Japanese actress and model.
That has helped bring in more customers, although the automaker has now spent more than it originally budgeted for marketing in Japan, Tofukuji said, declining to give the size of the marketing outlay.
BYD's Japanese line-up includes the Seal sedan, which retails for 5.28 million yen for the rear-wheel-drive version and qualifies for a 450,000 yen subsidy. It also sells the Dolphin, priced from 3.63 million yen and qualifying for a 350,000 yen subsidy.
'JAPANESE WAY'
The subsidy change could reflect a government drive to safeguard the domestic industry, said Zhou Jincheng, manager of China research at auto research firm Fourin in Nagoya.
"They had to take some kind of measures to protect their auto industry," Zhou said.
An industry ministry official said the aim of the change was to create an environment where EVs were used sustainably and promoted "in a Japanese way".
Other car makers that saw subsidies cut included Mercedes, Volkswagen, Peugeot, Volvo, Hyundai, and Japanese maker Subaru.
Nissan and Toyota SUVs still qualified for the maximum 850,000 yen, and Tesla also saw equal or higher subsidies on the models it sells in Japan.
While overall EV sales are low, foreign auto brands accounted for almost 70% of the sales in the first seven months of the year.
The lower subsidy did not stop Kyosuke Yamazaki, a first-time car buyer in his early 30's, from buying a BYD Atto 3, though he missed out on roughly $2,000 in savings because he bought the car after April.
He said he liked the longer cruising range of the cars compared to Japanese rivals - and did not mind buying from the Chinese manufacturer.
"I used to work in Shanghai," he said. "I know BYD well."
($1 = 145.1800 yen)
(Reporting by Daniel Leussink; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
As Covid-19 was spreading across New York in March 2020, state officials held a private conference call to discuss their response to the pandemic. But there was someone else listening in who had no business being on the call: a Chinese government official.
The official, according to federal prosecutors, had been surreptitiously added to the call by Linda Sun, who was then an officer in the administration of Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Keep your phone muted, Sun admonished the Chinese official in a written message during the call, according to prosecutors.
At the close of the 32-minute discussion, prosecutors say, the official sent Sun a two-word review: [v]ery useful.
The call was one of the episodes highlighted in a 64-page indictment accusing Sun of using her positions in New York state government to benefit the Chinese government. In return for shaping government messages to align with Chinese priorities and freezing out Taiwanese officials, she and her family received a range of benefits including millions in kickbacks, free travel and more than a dozen Nanjing-style salted ducks.
Former New York Governor Kathy Hochul aide Linda Sun leaves Brooklyn Federal Court after her arraignment on Sept. 3, 2024, in New York.
Sun, 41, who worked under Cuomo and his successor, Gov. Kathy Hochul, has pleaded not guilty.
U.S. counterintelligence officials have long harbored concerns, publicly and privately, about Chinas elaborate efforts to try to spy and exert influence across American society, including bribing members of the military and the tech industry.
Part of Beijings long-term strategy has also involved targeting local and state officials with the hope of securing more support for China and gaining insights into political decision making as those officials rise to higher office, officials say.
The case involving Sun is typical of Chinas tactics, according to Dennis Wilder, a former senior CIA official who focused on China at the agency.
This is a classic Ministry of State Security operation, Wilder said, referring to Chinas main intelligence agency. You go after naturalized American citizens with large connections to China. They speak Chinese. They have family back in China. They want business opportunities in China.
A top priority for the Chinese intelligence services is to disrupt Taiwan in any location, including in Chinatowns in U.S. cities or state legislatures, Wilder said.
Somebody working for Hochul would be very useful in that regard. She would be in a position to press the pro-Beijing case and to muzzle the Taiwan case, said Wilder, now an assistant professor at Georgetown University.
Craig Singleton, senior China fellow at the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank, said the case illustrated how China tries to use covert actors to shape political decisions at all levels of government in the United States.
Just as TikTok has raised concerns about data collection and influence operations, this situation underscores the lengths to which China is willing to go to infiltrate and manipulate American institutions from within, Singleton said.
The charges against Linda Sun illustrate a broader strategy by China to infiltrate and exert influence at all levels of U.S. governance, from local to federal, by exploiting trust and access within political circles, he said.
A sustained influence campaign
Sun is the latest in a series of people living in New York to be accused by federal prosecutors of being a secret Chinese agent.
Last month, Yuanjun Tang, who gained U.S. citizenship after being granted political asylum, was accused of spying on Chinese pro-democracy activists and dissidents. Tang, 67, helped Chinese authorities infiltrate a group chat on an encrypted messaging application used by numerous Chinese dissidents, according to federal prosecutors.
Earlier in August, Shujun Wang, a Chinese American scholar who helped found a pro-democracy group in New York, was convicted of using his reputation to gather information on dissidents and share it with the Chinese government. Wang, 75, is set to be sentenced in January.
Chinese-American academic Wang Shujun after being convicted in Brooklyn, N.Y., on charges of acting as an illegal agent of China's government on Aug. 6.
Prosecutors said both men were acting at the behest of Chinas Ministry of State Security.
Last year, Chinese nationals Lu Jianwang, 61, and Chen Jinping, 59, were arrested on charges of operating an illegal police station in New York to monitor and intimidate Chinese government critics, the Justice Department said. The station, located in an office building in Chinatown, was raided by FBI officers after it was closed in the fall of 2022.
The Chinese government has repeatedly denied the allegations leveled by federal prosecutors.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Wednesday declined to comment on the charges against Sun.
I wont comment on domestic cases of the United States, she said at a regular briefing in Beijing. However, we oppose any malicious attempts to implicate, smear or slander China.
Liu Pengyu, the spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, said he was not aware of the details of the Sun case.
But in recent years, the U.S. government and media have frequently hyped up the so-called Chinese agents narratives, many of which have later been proven untrue, he said. China requires its citizens overseas to comply with the laws and regulations of the host country, and we firmly oppose the groundlessly slandering and smearing targeting China.
"Harry" Lu Jianwang, second from left, leaves Brooklyn federal court with his lawyer after his arraignment on April 17, 2023.
A naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in China, Sun worked in New York state government for roughly 15 years. She and her husband Chris Hu, who was also charged, lived in a $3.5 million home in a gated community in Manhasset on Long Island.
With the millions they made from the Chinese government, they also purchased a $1.9 million home in Honolulu, Hawaii and luxury cars, including a 2024 Ferrari, according to federal prosecutors.
Chinese-Americans with extensive family connections in China are potentially ripe for recruitment by the Chinese government because you can threaten families, you can incentivize families, said Wilder, the former CIA official. The message from Beijing, he said, is your family is going to have a lot better life back home if you cooperate with us.
The campaign is not focused solely on the U.S., experts say. There have been a series of allegations of Chinese espionage in Canada and across Europe, including in Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. China has denied all the accusations.
Of course, Western states are also spying against and in China, thats just the normal old game, said Stephan Blancke, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, or RUSI, a London-based think tank.
The difference, he said, is that there are numerous cases in which people of Chinese descent or Chinese citizens are massively threatened, intimidated and pressurized by Chinese secret services.
Blancke added that the Sun case was extremely serious because it shows the political levels to which the Chinese secret services now have direct or indirect access.
In 2022, the U.S. National Counterintelligence and Security Center, part of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, released a report warning that China was stepping up its influence campaign in the U.S.
The PRC understands U.S. state and local leaders enjoy a degree of independence from Washington and may seek to use them as proxies to advocate for national U.S. policies Beijing desires, including improved U.S. economic cooperation with China, and reduced U.S. criticism of Chinas policies towards Taiwan, Tibetans, Uyghurs, pro-democracy activists, and others, the report said.
According to the indictment, Sun succeeded in getting references to the plight of Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group that has long faced persecution in China, removed from Hochuls public statements in early 2021.
Hochul, at an event Wednesday morning, called the allegations against Sun absolutely shocking.
To think that any foreign government has the audacity to infiltrate a government organization like the state of New York has to be addressed with, she added.
In recent years, the giants of European horology have been locked in a heated battle to design the worlds thinnest mechanical watch.
Luxury brands Bulgari, Piaget and Richard Mille have all, since 2018, held the coveted record, which was most recently broken by Bulgaris sleek 1.7-millimeter-thick Octo Finissimo Ultra Mark II, in April.
But now, an independent Russian watchmaker and inventor may have trumped them all.
Moscow-based Konstantin Chaykin says his new ThinKing prototype, which he debuted at the Geneva Watch Days fair in Switzerland last week, is just 1.65 millimeters (less than one-fifteenth of an inch) thick. He also believes it to be among the worlds lightest watches, weighing just 13.3 grams (less than 0.47 ounces), without its strap.
In an email to CNN, Chaykin said he has developed various innovations to make his design thinner without compromising its functionality, including a winding mechanism that is integrated into the barrel of the watch. The ThinKing also features a double balance wheel that allowed Chaykin to reduce the number of layers in the watch movement.
The stainless steel watch presented by Konstantin Chaykin in Geneva last week is the second prototype of his ThinKing model. - Courtesy Konstantin haykin
Mechanisms for winding the watch and adjusting its dials are, meanwhile, found in a separate 5.4-millimeter-thick carrier case, freeing up space (though the ThinKing can also be wound with a key). Chaykin said he has filed several patent applications, though none have yet been granted.
The watch is made using stainless steel and tungsten carbide, a light but exceptionally rigid compound. Chaykin, who is the only Russian member of the prestigious Academie Horlogere des Createurs Independants, said he is also considering using sapphires or diamonds in future versions of the watch, according to his brands website.
With the hour and minute displays separate from one another, the design resembles a face a hallmark of the watchmakers signature Wristmons collection. The dials are each protected by 0.35-millimeter-thick (0.014-inch) sapphire crystals.
Thinner and thinner
Producing ultra-slim watches that are reliable, accurate and durable enough to wear has posed a major technical challenge to the worlds watchmakers. But the race to design ever-thinner watches appears to have accelerated in recent years.
Swiss brand Piaget debuted its 2-millimeter-thick Altiplano Ultimate Concept, then the worlds slimmest, in 2018, before putting it into production two years later. Luxury giant Bulgari then took the crown with the first iteration of its Octo Finissimo Ultra, which came in at just 1.8 millimeters.
Watchmaker Richard Mille soon went 0.05 millimeters thinner a difference equivalent to a piece of printer paper in 2022, with its RM UP-01 Ferrari. Bulgari then reclaimed the title this year with its aforementioned Octo Finissimo Ultra Mark II, a limited-edition model that was widely reported to cost over $500,000.
Whether Chaykins ThinKing can now be considered the record-holder, however, may be a matter of debate in horology circles. (Guinness World Records does not currently list an independently adjudicated record for thinnest watch.)
For one, the ThinKing is currently just a prototype and its functionality and accuracy are yet to be independently assessed. Describing it as more of a design and engineering study at this point, James Stacey, lead editor of online watch magazine Hodinkee, wrote last week that he was sure any sort of record-setting will be with (a) for-production (rather than) than non-production timepiece.
The design is also so thin that it requires a special strap, featuring titanium supports and elastic inserts, to protect it from the shocks and stresses of everyday wear.
Konstantin Chaykin has applied for patents for his utra-thin winding barrel, double balance wheel and strap design. - Courtesy Konstantin haykin
Chaykin nonetheless believes his prototypes timekeeping accuracy and 32-hour power reserve qualify it as the new record-holder. He welcomed outside assessment, telling CNN that during the five-day Geneva Watch Days fair hundreds of people were able to inspect his creation.
Visitors were able to hold the watch in their hands, check the time and test its functionality, he said. It is quite a bold step on our part to show the prototype in this way. But the watch, to our delight, works perfectly, and to the delight of the visitors, it was possible to touch the watch However, we are prepared to carry out all the necessary independent tests.
The watchmaker said he will present a final version of his design at the Watches & Wonders trade show, also in Geneva, next April. By that time, the updated design should feature improved accuracy, power reserve and tightness, among other things, he told CNN. He added that the watchs price is not yet known.
In a separate statement, Chaykin, who founded his eponymous watchmaking brand in 2003, said he became interested in slim timepieces after encountering an ultra-thin 19th-century Bagnolet pocket watch around 20 years ago.
He was inspired to make one after being challenged by a client to design an ultra-thin watch of his own. I initially considered many possibilities and dedicated an entire Moleskine (notebook) to finding technical solutions, he is quoted saying.
Chaykins statement also compared the process of configuring the watchs inner workings to a puzzle. As with any good puzzle, I had to tinker, look for non-trivial solutions, choose the best options and calculate the energy flows, he added.
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At Lokl Haus coffee shop: Jammy seven-minuted boiled eggs on a thick hunk of bread, smeared with labneh and muhammara and speckles of Aleppo pepper and black sesame.
On a recent Saturday evening in Santa Monica, under a white tent, the lone server at Lokl Haus Kitchen pop-up hurried over to our table carrying three platters of doner kebab.
He had whisked them from an adjacent building that serves as a prep kitchen for Lokl Haus coffee shop, less than 300 feet away. Casual passersby might never notice, but the two spaces comprise a rare Los Angeles County locus for excellent Turkish food.
Inside the kitchen, chef Husnu Kahramanoglu stood in front of a vertical spit stacked high with layers of marinated beef shoulder, interspersed with marbled lamb fat cap to enrich the flavor. His right hand held a long, thin shearing knife to carve strips of meat, which he caught with the large wooden spoon in his left hand.
Husnu Kahramanoglu slices doner kebab from a vertical spit stacked with layers of marinated beef and lamb.
Lokl Haus Kitchen pop-up in Santa Monica offers doner kebab on Wednesday and Saturday evenings.
Our first plate delivered doner kebab bundled in lavash with pickles, tomatoes and slivered onions tossed with roughly chopped parsley and sumac. Each bite chimed with crunching and snapping. Alternating swipes through two dips, roasted red pepper sauce and cacik (thick yogurt mixed with diced cucumber), adjusted the flavors like a guitarist tuning strings.
The second variation rearranged the same ingredients into separate heaps over and around buttered rice. It was satisfying to taste the meat on its own this way: some pieces crisped and browned, others velvety, with the scent of white pepper lingering from the marinade.
Then there was Iskender kebab, the richest and my favorite. A buttery tomato sauce blanketed the meat, followed by an additional splash of sizzling browned butter and a generous blotch of yogurt. Cubes of fresh pide (flatbread) lined the platter underneath the beef, absorbing all the sauciness. Sliced summer-ripe tomatoes and a slightly charred green chile, prizes from the mornings run to the Santa Monica farmers market, added freshness.
Halfway through demolishing our Lokl Haus Kitchen feast, Defne Karabatur nodded in appreciation. This tastes like home, she said.
Karabatur is an audience engagement fellow at The Times. She was born in Connecticut but grew up mostly in Istanbul, where her parents were raised, before returning to the United States to attend college at UC Berkeley.
Senem Sanli, the owner of coffee shop Lokl Haus and Lokl Haus Kitchen popup.
Poached eggs covered in garlicky yogurt and browned butter infused with Aleppo pepper.
Where are the good Turkish restaurants in L.A.? shed asked me during her time working with the Food team. It was an excellent question to which I had no gratifying answer. Among our citys culinary expanses, Ive pinpointed little representation of Turkeys vast cuisine.
A few weeks after our initial conversation, though, Karabatur heard about an under-the-radar pop-up, operating on Wednesdays and Saturdays, serving doner kebab and frequented mostly by Turkish expats. It turned out to be one aspect of a multipronged operation helping to fill in the gaps of our deficit.
Senem Sanli, also an Istanbul native, made her living as a local private chef before the pandemic. She and her husband regrouped after the shutdowns by opening Lokl Haus in November 2021. The tiny, stylish coffeehouse has one table, a window-facing counter and walls crammed with fun Pop Art prints in Santa Monicas Mid-City neighborhood. Its menu reaches for broad appeal: various sweet and savory toasts and a granola bowl, coffee cake ribboned with cinnamon, a properly oozing grilled cheese served during lunch hours.
Breakfast at Lokl Haus coffee shop: Try the menemen, poached eggs in tomato and pepper sauce.
But the biggest draw are the Turkish breakfast dishes.
Id direct you first to cilbir, poached eggs covered in garlicky yogurt and then doused in browned butter infused with Aleppo pepper (imagine chile crisp reconceived with dairy). Scoop it all up with sourdough toast and then finish whats left using a spoon. Menemen, poached eggs in tomato and pepper sauce, brings to mind shakshuka but with a denser, less soupy consistency. Both are rousing in flavor yet profoundly comforting.
Two other creations circle tradition. A thick hunk of bread holds smashed seven-minute boiled eggs, the yolks still transitioning from running to jammy as they sit, with smears of labneh and muhammara and speckles of Aleppo pepper and black sesame. A plate that Sanli dubs the self-care breakfast platter also includes a seven-minute egg alongside cubed feta, mixed olives, chopped tomato and cucumber and little piles of dried fruit and walnuts. I like this for extra nibbling if two of us are sharing cilbir or menemen.
A Turkish friend kindly didnt judge me for ordering fudgy, potent Turkish coffee, served in the small pot called a cezve, first thing in the morning. But she did remind me that its usually an afternoon beverage and tea is the more common choice for breakfast. Lokl Haus serves bolstering chai: tannic black tea boiled with cinnamon, cardamom, star anise and other sweetening spices.
Senem Sanli and her husband opened Lokl Haus coffee shop in Santa Monica in 2021.
Thick Turkish coffee for an afternoon beverage.
Inside Lokl Haus coffee shop.
Sanli originally leased the nearby commissary kitchen for baking and preparing other foods for Lokl Haus and for event catering. Missing the pleasures of carefully constructed doner kebab, she hired Kahramanoglu and began the Lokl Haus Kitchen pop-ups at the end of 2023, setting up spaces for seating in the driveway in front of the building. She rounds out the experience with other flavors of home: Uludag Gazoz (mineral-water sodas in flavors such as orange and mixed fruit) and desserts like chocolate-drenched profiteroles and a variation of muhallebi, a lightly spiced rice custard usually made by long-simmering milk but which Sanli speeds up by using cream.
Even better: sekerpare, cookies made with almond flour steeped in orange-scented syrup.
Serving these same drinks and desserts, which are also available at the coffeehouse, the pop-up recently added a lineup of skewered kebabs available only on Sunday afternoons. Ruddy flakes of Aleppo pepper are visible throughout adana kebabs, a combination of ground beef and lamb shaped in an undulating pattern; shish kebabs are threaded with pieces of lamb or chicken. Kahramanoglu mans the grill, the juices of the meat dripping onto binchotan charcoal and the billows of smoke sometimes engulfing him.
Peppers fire-roasted on the stove at Lokl Haus.
Pop-up doner kebab cooked on the vertical spit.
Senem Sanli, right, owner of coffee shop Lokl Haus in Santa Monica, prepares dishes with chef Husnu Kahramanoglu.
We have similar, superb styles of these kebabs, their appeal reaching across great swaths of continents and cultures, elsewhere in the city: at Mini Kabob in Glendale, Taste of Tehran in Westwood and Saffys in East Hollywood, for starters. Lokl Haus Kitchens efforts are compelling particularly for the whole of their composition: The kebabs arrive on platters crammed with earthy bulgur pilav, a crisp onion salad, grilled tomatoes and peppers straight from the market and squares of freshly baked pide.
They hit their juicy, smoky marks, but Ill nudge you to show up first on a Wednesday or Saturday for doner kebab. Between its distinct delights and Sanlis breakfasts, we have glimpses into the balanced salads, marinated and grilled meats and myriad vegetable dishes that only begin to define Turkish cuisine. It stokes my appetite for more.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Abortion rights are at the center of the Maryland Senate campaign featuring Republican former Gov. Larry Hogan, above, and Democratic Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks.
Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is launching two new campaign ads Thursday, pushing back on attacks on the Republican Senate candidates reproductive rights stance and featuring his three daughters and four granddaughters.
When Larry Hogan married my mom, he became a father to three strong, independent women, and he gained our trust. He became our dad. Now, once again, theyre attacking him as anti-women, Hogans daughter, Jaymi Sterling, said in a new ad titled Trust.
He supports choice by restoring Roe in every state. As pop-pop to four granddaughters, we know you can trust him too, Hogan daughter Julie Kim added.
Hogans new ads come as EMILYs List, which backs Democratic women who support abortion rights, announced that it was pouring $2.2 million into the race on Thursday, with attack ads hitting the airwaves targeting Hogans stance on abortion. Democrats are leaning on abortion rights to help overcome Hogans personal popularity in the Senate race in deep-blue Maryland, which is not usually competitive.
Hogans new ads are the first of his campaign that showcase the women in his family defending his positions on reproductive rights in what has become a theme for Republican candidates in the Dobbs era, many of whom have relied on female relatives to help win over skeptical women voters.
The second ad, titled Girl Dad, highlights Hogans record on protecting access to contraceptives and equal pay while serving as governor. The two 30-second spots are part of an $8 million media buy that will air on cable, broadcast and digital platforms across Maryland.
As Maryland governor in 2022, Hogan vetoed legislation that would expand abortion access in the state by ending a restriction that only physicians could provide the procedure. After his veto was overridden, Hogan withheld $3.5 million of funding set aside to train non-physicians to provide abortions.
EMILYs Lists super PAC, Women Vote!, highlighted his veto of the legislation in a recent ad.
Hogan spokesperson Blake Kernen said in response to the ad that the bill Hogan vetoed "threatened to lower the standard of care for Maryland women. It had nothing to do with access to abortion."
Hogan, a former two-term governor, will face off against Democratic Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks this fall in the election for Marylands Senate seat. A new poll from Gonzales Research conducted Aug. 24-30 shows Alsobrooks slightly ahead of Hogan but within the margin of error, with 46% of registered voters supporting Alsbrooks, versus 41% support for Hogan; 11% are undecided.
Still, the threat of Hogans candidacy has some Democrats nervous about maintaining control of the seat in the state. Alsobrooks and outside groups have worked to tie Hogan to the broader Republican Party, especially on the issue of abortion.
Angela Alsobrooks during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, on Aug. 20, 2024.
Hogan has consistently pushed back on attacks on his abortion record, telling NBC News in May that he would never support a national abortion ban. In recent months, Hogan has gone further, casting himself as a pro-choice candidate and vowing to restore Roe v. Wade if elected.
Hogan left the governors office in 2022 with one of the highest approval ratings in the country, and he has tried to distance himself from former President Donald Trump and national Republicans.
He can try to mislead voters all he wants, but the truth is in the way he exercises power while in office. Thats why Mitch McConnell recruited him. He would hand Republicans the Senate majority, and honestly, his anti abortion track record is clear. When he was in office, he vetoed legislation that would have protected abortion access and blocked millions in crucial funding for abortion provider training. So the truth is there. EMILYs Lists communications director Yari Aquino told NBC News.
Democrats have made abortion central to their messaging since the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022. In turn, GOP ads have featured more wives and other female family members defending the candidates.
Montana GOP Senate nominee Tim Sheehy released an ad in July spotlighting his wife, Carmen Sheehy, and sharing the story of how they met. Nevada GOP Senate nominee Sam Browns wife, Amy Brown, has been front and center in his campaign. In an NBC News interview, Amy Brown opened up about her personal abortion story, and Sam Brown said that his wifes experience helped show him politicians have to lead with compassion.
Last election cycle, the male GOP candidates in Ohio, Arizona and Nevada all featured their wives in ads, amid campaigns that suggested the party was struggling to attract women voters. In 2022, Colorado GOP Senate nominee Joe ODea released an ad with his daughter touting his support for abortion access in the first five months of pregnancy.
The two ads are Hogans latest move to fend off Democrats abortion focused attacks that have been thrown at him since he entered the race in last year. Abortion has proved to be a mobilizing issue for Democrats, with a growing number of voters in swing states saying its central to their decision this fall, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll released in August.
An argument that turned into a shooting left one man injured in Tacoma on Wednesday.
Tacoma police officers were dispatched at about 11:30 p.m. to a business in the 2500 block of Pacific Avenue for reports of a shooting. The injured man was lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to the torso, Tacoma Police Department spokesman detective William Muse told The News Tribune.
The man reportedly got into an argument with another man, pulled out a handgun, shot the victim and left the area, Muse said. What prompted the argument is not immediately clear, he added.
Muse said the victim was taken to a local hospital with what was initially determined to be non-life threatening injuries. The shooting is an active investigation.
Pope Francis at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Thursday.
Pope Francis and the grand imam of Southeast Asias largest mosque vowed to unite against religiously motivated violence and called for decisive climate action in a joint declaration Thursday during a visit by Francis to Indonesia.
In a religiously symbolic gesture, the interfaith agreement was signed in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta at the Istiqlal Mosque, which was designed by a Christian architect.
The declaration signed by Francis and Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar said it was particularly worrying that religion was being used to justify violence and cause suffering, especially to women, children and older people. It urged interreligious dialogue to be recognized as an effective instrument for resolving local, regional and international conflict.
It also called for action on the ongoing environmental crisis, which it said has become an obstacle to the harmonious coexistence of peoples.
The interfaith gathering, a highlight of Francis 12-day trip to Asia and Oceania, was attended by representatives of Indonesias six officially recognized religions: Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Catholicism and Protestantism.
Before signing the declaration, the two religious leaders visited the Tunnel of Friendship, a 90-foot underpass that connects the mosque compound with Jakartas main Catholic cathedral, Our Lady of the Assumption.
The tunnel is considered a sign of tolerance in Indonesia, the worlds largest Muslim-majority country, where religious freedom is constitutionally protected but there have been deadly instances of violence against Christians and other religious minorities.
We who belong to different religious traditions have a role to play in helping everyone pass through the tunnels of life with our eyes turned towards the light, Francis said.
He warned the gathering that religion can be misused to justify wars, when it should be about promoting and safeguarding the dignity of every human life.
Umar, the grand imam, said the mosque regularly hosts interfaith activities and that it is not only a house of worship for Muslims, but also a great home for humanity.
At the end of the gathering, he leaned to kiss Francis on the head. Francis then took Umars hand, brought it to his face and kissed it as well.
Interfaith dialogue has been a closely held cause for Francis, 87, who became the first pope to visit Indonesia in 35 years when he arrived on Tuesday. He will also visit Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore during the trip, which was postponed from 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Francis, who now regularly uses a wheelchair due to a knee problem, will travel over 20,000 miles during the journey, the longest and farthest of his pontificate. The Vatican said he would be traveling with a doctor and two nurses as is standard procedure.
Nasaruddin Umar, the grand imam of the Istiqlal Mosque, with Francis in Jakarta on Thursday.
About 80,000 people were expected to attend a Mass celebrated by Francis Thursday afternoon at a stadium in Jakarta. There are about 8 million Catholics in Indonesia, a nation of 280 million people where almost 87% of the population is Muslim.
Despite Indonesias professed commitment to religious freedom, religious discrimination and violence are not uncommon in the archipelago nation.
In 2021, a newlywed couple blew themselves up outside a packed cathedral during Palm Sunday Mass, wounding 20 people in the city of Makassar.
In 2018, a family of six, including a 9-year-old girl, carried out suicide bombings against three Christian churches during Sunday services in the countrys second-largest city of Surabaya. The attacks, for which the Islamic State claimed responsibility, killed at least 13 people and injured 40.
Lai Pan Chiu, director of the Center for Catholic Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said Francis emphasis on the common roots of modern Catholicism and Islam was helpful for improving interfaith relations.
However, in order to address the past violence, no matter whether it is Muslims against Christians or vice versa, an even more helpful approach is to dig deeper into the Abrahamic tradition of showing hospitality to strangers, including those of other religions, he said in an email.
After Indonesia, Francis will travel to the Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea on Friday and meet with local religious leaders the following day. Then he will leave for East Timor, the only Catholic-majority country on his itinerary.
Francis last destination is Singapore, where three-quarters of the population is ethnically Chinese and he will have the chance to send an indirect message to Catholics in China as the Vatican tries to improve relations with Beijing.
Alec Baldwin attends his trial on involuntary manslaughter in First Judicial District Court, in Santa Fe, N.M., on July 11.
New Mexico prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey has asked the judge to reconsider dismissing criminal charges against actor Alec Baldwin.
In court documents filed Wednesday and obtained by NBC News, Morrissey said the grounds for dismissing Baldwin's case in July were irrelevant.
NBC News has reached out to Baldwin's legal team for comment.
Baldwin was on trial earlier this summer in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was fatally shot on the "Rust" movie set in 2021.
Baldwin, who was holding the gun that fired the deadly live round of ammunition, was charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter.
Baldwin has repeatedly denied pulling the trigger. The film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was also charged with involuntary manslaughter and found guilty last spring. She's serving an 18-month prison sentence that is under appeal.
In a shocking twist at Baldwin's trial, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer determined that evidence had been suppressed by the prosecution, and she dismissed the trial on its third day.
There is no way for the court to right this wrong, Sommer said at the time. The sanction of dismissal is the only warranted remedy.
Her decision centered on live ammunition that had been turned over to the New Mexico sheriff's office during Reed's trial by Troy Teske, a friend of Reed's stepfather.
During the trial, it was revealed that authorities, with Morrissey's permission, filed the ammunition under a different case number and failed to notify Baldwin's attorneys.
Morrissey tried to reassure the judge that there had been no malfeasance by the prosecution and even called herself as a witness. But it was too late, and co-prosecutor Erlinda O. Johnson resigned.
Sommer dismissed the charge against Baldwin with prejudice, meaning the involuntary manslaughter case against the actor cannot be filed again.
But in Morrissey's latest court filing, she states that the mishandling of the live ammunition was not a "cover-up."
"Nothing about the details of how the live rounds were introduced to the set is relevant or material to the charges against Mr. Baldwin," Morrissey wrote in the court document.
"Human beings make mistakes it does not mean they are lying or that they intentionally buried evidence as claimed by the defense."
At the time of the dismissal, Johnson said outside the courthouse that she did not believe the live ammunition was intentionally suppressed.
"I dont think it was intentional. I really do not believe that," Johnson said. I think it was just something that it wasnt turned over, and it should have been."
The CEO of Steward Health Care told a Senate panel he wont testify at a hearing next week as part of an investigation into the companys bankruptcy, in defiance of a subpoena.
In a letter to the Senate Health Committee sent Wednesday, attorneys for Ralph de la Torre said it would be inappropriate for him to testify on matters related to Stewards bankruptcy while those proceedings are ongoing. They asked for a postponement until the proceedings are resolved.
Steward filed for bankruptcy in May and has been trying to sell all 30 of its hospitals across eight states. A federal bankruptcy judge on Wednesday cleared the way for the company to sell five hospitals in Massachusetts.
The letter further accused members of the committee of trying to turn the hearing into a pseudo-criminal proceeding in which they use the time, not to gather facts, but to convict Dr. de la Torre in the eyes of public opinion.
It is not within this Committees purview to make predeterminations of alleged criminal misconduct under the auspices of an examination into Stewards bankruptcy proceedings, the letter stated.
The committee in July issued a subpoena to compel de la Torre to testify about the failure of Steward Health Care. The committee voted on a strong bipartisan basis 16-4 to authorize the subpoena, the first in its history.
De la Torre for years has faced accusations that he has personally profited while Stewards hospitals across the country have been failing financially, but he has so far avoided any public response. He declined an earlier opportunity to testify, lawmakers said, and offered no counter date or alternate company official.
Last month, on the same day Steward announced it would close two Massachusetts hospitals that it could not find buyers for, de la Torre was attending Olympic equestrian events in Paris.
Steward took over a failing hospital system run by the Archdiocese of Boston in 2010, and backed by private equity company Cerberus Capital Management, converted it into for-profit institutions before buying up hospitals across the country.
While the hospitals were struggling, to the point where bills werent being paid and medical instruments were being repossessed, the owners paid themselves millions in dividends.
According to the committee, de la Torre owns a 190-foot, $40 million yacht; a $15 million sportfishing boat, as well as a mansion in Dallas. De la Torre also had a majority stake in a Steward affiliate that owned two corporate jets that committee chairman Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) valued at $95 million.
I am disappointed, but not surprised, that Dr. Ralph de la Torre, the CEO of Steward Health Care, who has made hundreds of millions of dollars ripping off patients and health care providers, is refusing to testify in the HELP Committee in defiance of a subpoena, Sanders said in a statement.
Sanders and committee Democrats have characterized Stewards failure as an example of what happens when private equity firms get involved in health care.
Sanders said he is working with members of the committee to determine the best path forward. But let me be clear: We will not accept this postponement. This committee intends to move forward aggressively to compel Dr. de la Torre to testify to the gross mismanagement of Steward Health Care.
In a separate joint statement, Massachusetts Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D) and Edward Markey (D) also condemned de la Torres refusal to testify.
He owes the public and Congress answers for his appalling greed and De la Torre must be held in contempt if he fails to appear before the Committee, the Massachusetts Democrats 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.
Jeff Walz alluded to "stories" about his younger brother in a recent Facebook post. Turns out, it was about car sickness. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images
There's been a lot of fascination on the right over Tim Walz's conservative older brother, Jeff.
He wrote on Facebook that he had "stories" to tell about the VP candidate.
It turns out, there's not much there and he's not interested in campaigning against his brother.
In recent days, Jeff Walz the conservative older brother of the vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz has become something of a fascination on the right.
It began last week, when the right-wing activist Laura Loomer called attention to Jeff Walz's Facebook post from March 30, 2023, when former President Donald Trump was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury over his role in a hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels.
"We've just become a third world banana republic," Jeff Walz wrote that day.
He expanded on those views on Friday, writing on Facebook that he was "100% opposed" to his brother's ideology and he was thinking "long and hard" about endorsing Trump.
"The stories I could tell," Jeff Walz wrote. "Not the type of character you want making decisions about your future."
That generated speculation on the right that Walz's brother was prepared to reveal damning information about the Minnesota governor.
Republicans have been closely scrutinizing Walz since Vice President Kamala Harris chose him to be her running mate, focusing in particular on claims the Minnesota governor made about his military service and fertility treatments that his family used.
"Sounds like a great guy!" Trump wrote on Truth Social in response to a New York Post report about Jeff Walz.
But in an interview with NewsNation on Wednesday, the older Walz said he would not be campaigning for or against his brother and that it "wasn't my intent to influence the general public" with his comments. He also indicated that he didn't want to continue to speak publicly about his brother.
And the "stories" that Walz alluded to, he said, weren't what some thought they might be. As an example, he said that his younger brother would sometimes "throw up" on his siblings during road trips because of car sickness.
"Nobody wanted to sit with him, because he had car sickness and would always throw up on us, that sort of thing," Jeff Walz said. "There's really nothing else hidden behind there. People are assuming something else. There's other stories like that, but I think that probably gives you the gist of it."
In an exclusive interview with NewsNation, Gov. Tim Walz's brother, Jeff Walz, says his Facebook comment declaring he's 100% opposed to all of Gov. Walz's ideology was never meant to influence the general public. More: https://t.co/qU3K0ept6f #VargasReports pic.twitter.com/81OMKhI9OY NewsNation (@NewsNation) September 3, 2024
Jeff Walz added that he hasn't spoken to his brother since 2016, except for a brief conversation facilitated by their mother last month. He also said he found out about his younger brother's vice-presidential nomination through the radio.
"We felt bad that we found out about his being picked as the vice presidential candidate from radio," Jeff Walz told NewsNation. "And we felt like we probably should have been given a heads-up and some type of security, at least for a short time, because I guess that is a big thing."
Read the original article on Business Insider
Donald Trump shocked political observers last week when he appeared to change his position on legalizing marijuana.
But, it could become a political jackpot.
New surveys suggest voters in the Blue Wall states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania could be swayed by Trumps green opinion on cannabis.
Polling shows Americans broadly support marijuana legalization, and little downside for Trump endorsing it. Getty Images
Trump suggested he would be open to legalization with certain conditions on his Truth social account. truthsocial/@realDonaldTrump
The Ragnar Research Group polling of 1,000 likely voters between Aug. 18 and Aug. 21 shows broad support for cannabis legalization and very little political downside for Trump in embracing it.
Vice President Kamala Harris could be vulnerable. She supports legalization, but the Biden administration has been accused of slow-walking efforts to change how the federal government classifies marijuana.
Its currently a Schedule I controlled substance the same as heroin, LSD and ecstasy. Per the Federal Register, the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration are slated to hold a hearing in December on a potential move to the lower class of Schedule III.
But thats after the election, and too late for voters who care about the issue.
Marijuana is legal at the state level in some jurisdictions, but federal law classifies it as a Schedule I drug which can come with harsher penalties. The Washington Post via Getty Images
A whopping 82% of voters in the three Blue Wall states, including 77% of the so-called persuadable voters who will decide the election, oppose the current Schedule I designation for cannabis, which lumps it in with the most dangerous drugs.
But just because these voters object to the current legal framework doesnt mean that they want the drug to be available without restriction. Nearly 80% of voters, and 73% of those who are persuadable support bans on recreational marijuana consumption for those under the age of 21.
VP Harris has the lead in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Getty Images
For Trump, who now says Americans can live with marijuana, his new position on legalization, which was forged in the context of Floridas Adult Personal Use of Marijuana ballot initiative, can help him break down the Blue Wall.
Thats given how close the races are in those states. Per Ragnars polling, Harris leads by 2 points in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin and 1 point in Michigan. (Other polls have Trump up in both states.)
The 3 states have different cannabis laws. Michigan has one of the most open adult use markets in the country, while Pennsylvania has a medical program and Wisconsin has no legal weed at all.
By Sarah N. Lynch
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday said it had charged Virginia-based Russian television contributor Dimitri Simes and his wife Anastasia Simes with two separate schemes to violate U.S. sanctions.
In one of two indictments, Simes and his wife are accused of laundering funds and violating U.S. sanctions for the benefit of Channel One Russia, a Russian broadcasting station that was sanctioned in May 2022.
In exchange for providing services as a presenter and producer, prosecutors alleged that Simes and his wife received over $1 million, a personal car and driver, a stipend for an apartment in Moscow and a team of 10 employees from Channel One Russia.
In a second indictment, Anastasia Simes is charged with violating sanctions to benefit Aleksandr Yevgenyevich Udodov, a Russian oligarch who was sanctioned in February 2023. She is accused of purchasing art and other antiques for Udodov from various galleries and auction houses in the United States and Europe.
The items were shipped to the couple's residence in Virginia where they were stored until they could be shipped to Russia, prosecutors alleged.
The two indictments were announced just one day after the U.S. took several legal actions against Russia to combat alleged efforts to meddle in the 2024 presidential elections, including charging two employees of the Russian state media network RT and sanctioning RT and its top network editor.
They also came on the same that day the Justice Department announced charges against five members of Russia's military intelligence agency and a Russian civilian over alleged efforts to launch cyberattacks against Ukraine and its allies.
Simes immigrated to the United States in 1973 and later became a U.S. citizen. Though he and his wife maintain a home in Huntly, Virginia, prosecutors said they both remain at large and are believed to be in Russia.
For many years, Simes was best known for his role as the former president and CEO of the Center for National Interest, a foreign policy think tank that has previously advocated for improving relations between the U.S. and Russia.
He stepped down from his role there in 2022 and began serving as a moderator of the Moscow-based show "Big Game" on Channel One Russia.
Simes' role at the Center for National Interest was previously scrutinized by former Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who was tasked with investigating whether former President Donald Trump's campaign had colluded with Russia.
Mueller's investigative report highlighted interactions between Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Simes, including one incident in which Simes provided Kushner a letter laying out talking points about Russia that Trump could use.
Simes was not charged with any wrongdoing following that investigation.
In 2018, Reuters exclusively reported that the Center for National Interest, with Simes at its helm, had secretly tried to arrange meetings between U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve officials and Maria Butina, who was later convicted for conspiring to influence U.S. conservative activists and infiltrate a powerful gun rights group.
She was deported after serving time in a federal prison in Florida and she now serves as a lawmaker in Russia.
(Reporting by Sarah Lynch; Editing by Caitlin Webber and Marguerita Choy)
By Steve Holland, Jonathan Landay, Andrew Mills and Ahmed Mohamed Hassan
WASHINGTON/DOHA/CAIRO (Reuters) - The White House is scrambling to put forward a new proposal for a Gaza ceasefire and the release of hostages by Hamas in the coming days, two U.S. officials, two Egyptian security sources and an official with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
The new proposal aims to work out the major sticking points behind a months-long impasse in talks mediated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt seeking a truce in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the U.S. officials said.
Much of the deal has been agreed upon, a senior Biden administration official separately told reporters on Wednesday, but negotiators were still trying to hammer out solutions to two main obstacles.
Those are Israel's demand to keep forces in the Philadelphi corridor, a buffer zone in southern Gaza on the border with Egypt, and the specific individuals who would be included in an exchange of Hamas hostages and Palestinian prisoners in Israel, said the administration official, who declined to be identified.
The first U.S. official said a new draft accord could be produced next week or even sooner. "The feeling is the time is up. Don't be surprised if you see (the revised draft) this weekend," that official said.
The administration official said Hamas' killing of six hostages, whose bodies were returned to Israel over the weekend, complicated the effort. "We all feel the urgency," the administration official said. CIA Director William Burns, the lead U.S. negotiator, heads the small group of senior U.S. officials working on the draft which includes White House coordinator for the Middle East Brett McGurk and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the first U.S. official said.
"There is a very strong perception on the part of the negotiators that the ceasefire is slipping away," the first U.S. official said, underscoring the urgency underpinning the effort.
Since Blinken's latest tour of the region last month failed to produce a breakthrough, mediators have kept up working-level discussions, and those talks are continuing, the first U.S. official said.
The Egyptian sources said the U.S. was shifting from a more consultative approach to trying to impose a ceasefire plan on the parties.
Both U.S. officials said the revised plan would not be a final take-it-or-leave it offer and that Washington would continue working towards a ceasefire if it fell through.
ISRAELI PRESENCE
On Tuesday, five Arab countries including regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia as well as the Palestinian Authority joined Egypt in rejecting Israel's demand to keep its troops deployed in the Philadelphi corridor. On Wednesday, Turkey issued a similar statement.
Parts of the three-phase agreement already accepted by both sides require Israel to withdraw from all densely populated areas of Gaza in the first phase of the deal. The senior administration official said the current dispute is whether the corridor qualifies as a densely populated area.
"So we're really talking here about Phase One, about what that configuration will look like," the official added.
The U.S. group is considering areas of the Philadelphi corridor where Israeli troops would have to withdraw and areas where they could stay, the first U.S. official said.
At talks in Qatar on Monday, an Israeli delegation led by Mossad chief David Barnea told mediators that Israel was willing to withdraw its troops from the corridor after the first 42-day phase of a ceasefire, the official with knowledge of the talks said.
But hours later Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a news conference in Jerusalem and insisted that Israel retain control of the Philadelphi corridor, comments the official said were made after the delegation had returned home.
Netanyahu on Wednesday repeated his outright rejection of a withdrawal from the corridor in the first phase of a deal. Israel would only agree to a permanent ceasefire after that if there were guarantees the corridor could never be used as route for smuggling weapons and supplies into Gaza for Hamas.
"This has placed the mediating parties in a difficult position. If Israel remains in the Philadelphi corridor, neither Egypt nor Hamas would agree to any agreement," the official with knowledge of the matter said.
Netanyahu's office declined to comment.
Senior Hamas official Izzat Al Risheq told Reuters on Wednesday that the group would deal with a new proposal that "responds to the demands of the resistance and the demands of our people", without providing specifics. Hamas said in a statement there was no need for new proposals, and accused Netanyahu of seeking to thwart a deal.
Israel seized control of the Philadelphi corridor in May, saying it was used by Hamas to smuggle weapons and banned material into its tunnels to Gaza.
The Israeli advance resulted in the closure of the Rafah crossing, sharply reducing humanitarian aid entering Gaza, halting most medical evacuations and potentially depriving Egypt of its role brokering access to the only border crossing into Gaza not directly controlled by Israel.
Egypt says that tunnels used for smuggling into Gaza have been closed or destroyed, a Palestinian presence at Rafah should be restored and the Philadelphi corridor buffer zone is guaranteed by the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty.
The 11-month-old conflict erupted on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed nearly 41,000 Palestinians and largely leveled the coastal enclave, displacing most of its 2.3 million people and creating a humanitarian crisis, Gaza's health authorities have said.
(Reporting by Andrew Mills and Imad Creidi in Doha; Trevor Hunnicutt, Steve Holland and Jonathan Landay in Washington; Nidal al-Mughrabi and Ahmed Mohamed Hassan in Cairo; Emily Rose and James Mackenzie in Jerusalem; Writing by Andrew Mills and Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Aidan Lewis and Cynthia Osterman)
Former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he plans to do swing state rallies with former President Trump, continuing his presence on the campaign trail in an effort to ensure the GOP nominee gets back into the White House.
Kennedy, who suspended his independent White House run late last month, said he would be campaigning in battleground states, particularly those where he might end up staying on the ballot.
Were planning a Make America Healthy Again tour where were going to visit almost all of those states, Kennedy said during his Wednesday appearance on NewsNations The Hill.
So I will be doing rallies in each of those states over the next 61 days, he continued. We want to, if were going to accomplish the mission that I set out to accomplish when I got into this campaign end the censorship, end surveillance, get out of Ukraine war and unravel the war machine and the chronic disease epidemic.
The only way to do that is to get President Trump in the White House and me into Washington. So were going to pull out all the stops to make sure that happens.
Kennedy was tapped by Trump, alongside former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), both former Democrats, to be a part of his transition team shortly after they endorsed the ex-president.
After halting his presidential run, Kennedy threw his support behind Trump but stressed during the public announcement in Arizona that his name will remain on the ballot in most states. The environmental lawyer said he would look to remove his presence in swing states to avoid being a spoiler.
A judge in Michigan ruled Tuesday that Kennedy must remain on the presidential ballot there. Wisconsin, another key state, declined to remove his name. North Carolinas board of elections said it was too late for the candidate to withdraw his name. Kennedy filed a lawsuit to reverse that decision.
The environmental lawyer, who initially launched his White House bid as a Democrat, has ramped up his criticism of Vice President Harris, the Democratic Party nominee, saying she is not a worthy president and criticizing her for her lack of media appearances since replacing President Biden at the top of the partys ticket.
Kennedy said Wednesday that he will likely do rallies with Trump and his other campaign surrogates while spreading some messages he himself campaigned on earlier this year.
We havent worked out the entire schedule, but certainly Ill probably do rallies with him and with other surrogates where President Trump. Were hoping, were co-planning these rallies that make America healthy again, rallies and drain the swamp, Kennedy said.
And we expect the Trump campaign to show up at the rallies, too, he added. So were going to yeah, I will be campaigning side by side with the president and with members of his family and with other members of his campaign.
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JOE LINGEMAN
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During her sons birth via C-section in May, Jenna Jonaitis watched her baby come out of her body. She held him skin-to-skin afterward, then started breastfeeding right away.
If this all sounds uncharacteristic of a regular C-section, thats because it is. Jonaitis had whats known as a gentle C-section. Compared with standard onesin which the mothers view is blocked by a drape, she is mostly uninvolved, and the baby and mother often arent united right awaythis modernized version comes with the goal of making cesareans more humane.
This family- and patient-centered approach to surgical birth has been practiced in the U.S. for about 15 years but has only recently become more common. Cesareans account for almost one in every three births, and some women find the experience traumatizing or alienating, saying the surgery makes it feel more like a medical experience than a major life event. Gentle C-sections, on the other hand, can help women regain control and agency.
It was very powerful and emotional, says Jonaitis, a 36-year-old Michigan-based writer, who has had three previous C-sections that looked very different from this fourth birth. I was able to be present with this one.
What A 'Gentle C-Section' Entails
Developed in the early 2000s in the United Kingdom by an obstetrician, a consultant anesthesiologist, and a midwife, a gentle cesarean incorporates aspects of vaginal birth in order to emphasize the mothers participation in the experience and support her relationship with her newborn.
For starters, surgical teams swap out the opaque blue drapeerected to keep the surgical field sterilefor a clear drape, or a drape that has a clear window so the mother can watch the birth. (No, you wont see your insides with a clear drapejust the baby as it comes out, Jonaitis explains.)
And gentle C-sections often also include placing the baby skin-to-skin with the mother right in the OR, as well as helping mothers breastfeed as soon as possible.
JOE LINGEMAN
Why It All Matters
Skin-to-skin and early breastfeeding, which most often occur after vaginal births, can have significant positive health impacts for C-section mothers and their babies. Early physical contact with their baby reduces mothers chance of developing post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a 2022 study , and the practice also promotes mother-child bonding and breastfeeding. For Jonaitis, holding her baby on her chest also just made that birth feel real. It made me feel like I really am a mother, she says.
Promoting breastfeeding is especially important for C-section moms because surgical birth can make breastfeeding more difficult. There appear to be a few reasons why this is the case, but experts dont have a full grasp on the exact cause. One factor that seems to come into play is that its often harder for women to move around after a C-sectionwhich includes getting into a good position for breastfeedingthan after a vaginal birth, and mom and baby are more typically separated during a C-section (which gentle C-sections seek to rectify). Some researchers also think the stress caused by a C-section, especially if the procedure was unplanned, might delay milk production (a.k.a. lactogenesis, or the initiation of milk production).
While a gentle C-section relies on the same surgical procedure as a regular C-section, the doctors and nurses emotional approach differs. What you need is a change of attitude, says William R. Camann, MD, director emeritus of obstetric anesthesiology at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston. Its just the way [we] behave in the operating room.
To this end, providers might put EKG leads on the mothers side, or on her back, rather than her chest, and place the blood pressure cuff on the mothers nondominant arm, so she can hold her newborn (again, getting that early skin-to-skin contact). A nurse might help to steady the baby in the mothers arms, or drape a blanket over the baby, because operating rooms are kept cold to inhibit bacterial growth.
And while some operating rooms are too small to fit more than one other person (like a spouse or partner), hospitals that practice gentle C-sections may welcome a second support person, like a doula, into the room.
Lauren Cross, who delivered her twins by planned gentle cesarean in 2018 at UC San Diego Health, had a doula who brought essential oils with her. Cross, whod previously had a traumatic cesarean, was determined to have a joyful belly birth this time. Still, she started to shake when she smelled the OR. Thats where the doula stepped in, putting peppermint oil on a cotton wool ball for Cross to inhale and giving her a massage through her gown. Cross says she appreciated having someone there who could support me while my husband was able to be present at his childrens birth.
JOE LINGEMAN
How To Advocate For Yourself
Not every hospital advertises gentle C-sections, even if providers are willing to adopt some of the practices that make a surgical birth gentle. But asking about them, and even specifying details such as what kind of music will be played in the OR, is important, says Emily Likins-Ehlers, a doula in Illinois who works with C-section mothers. Some mothers, Likins-Ehlers says, may feel that if you end up in the operating room, you have abdicated all of your power. But making these requestsand seeing them honoredcan restore a mothers sense of agency. Jonaitis certainly felt that way. These things helped the births feel more my own, she says.
And while you can plan for a scheduled cesarean, unplanned C-sections still happenwhich can be chaotic, scary, and overwhelming for a woman who wasnt planning on going into surgery. But it may still be possible to have skin-to-skin and early breastfeeding, provided mom and baby are both stable, Dr. Camann says.
Perhaps most critical is talking to your provider during prenatal care about what is most important in your birth experience, says Erica Holland, MD, an ob-gyn at Boston Medical Center, where gentle C-sections are her standard of care. She recalls a woman who underwent a planned C-section whod expressed concern about being physically exposed in the operating room. So, when Dr. Hollands surgical team placed the womans catheter, her gown was pushed only above her knees, rather than up to her waist. That small yet meaningful action represents a type of patient-centered care that should be the goal not only during gentle cesareans, but whenever possible, Dr. Holland says.
For moms who may find themselves needing a cesarean they didnt expect, and who may feel real disappointment and sense of loss that theyre not going to have the experience they wanted, Dr. Holland asks the mom which parts of the birth she thinks will feel important, and which of those elements can be carried into the operating room. Its a reminder that giving birth via cesarean can still be rich and meaningful, and that the mothers experience can play the central role.
Rachel Somerstein is a journalist whose new book, Invisible Labor: The Untold Story of the Cesarean Section, examines the state of maternal health care in the U.S. and explores alternatives to the current standard of care, including a new method of cesarean called a gentle C-section. Somerstein was inspired to research and write the book after her own experience with an unplanned, complicated C-section with her first child.
Photographed by Joe Lingeman. Prop styling by Andrea Bonin.
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The whale rose to fame in Norway after its unusual harness sparked suspicions the creature had been trained by Russia as a spy - AFP
A Beluga whale suspected of being a Russian spy has been shot dead, two animal rights groups have claimed.
Two conservation groups filed a police report on Wednesday alleging that the animal, called Hvaldimir, was killed by gunfire, NBC News reported.
However, officials told the US outlet that a definitive assessment from an autopsy could take up to three weeks.
Hvaldimir was first spotted by fishermen not far from the Arctic city of Hammerfest in 2019.
The whale was wearing a harness that read Equipment St. Petersburg, lending to the theory that he might have been trained by Russia as a spy whale.
The highly sociable beluga was found dead last weekend in the harbour of Stavanger, a city in Norways southwest.
Almost as soon as he was found dead, rumours began to circulate and the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries ordered an autopsy.
OneWhale manager Regina Haug next to the carcass of the beluga whale Hvaldimir - OneWhale.org
On Wednesday, OneWhale and NOAH said there was compelling evidence suggesting that Hvaldimirs death was caused by intentional human-inflicted injury.
The groups shared photos with what appear to be streaks of blood and holes in the lifeless body of the whale and claimed preliminary findings suggested the whale was killed by gunshot wounds.
NBC News said it could not independently verify the nature of the apparent injuries.
Several veterinarians, biologists, and ballistics experts have reviewed photographic evidence, including close-ups of Hvaldimirs injuries, their statement said.
Their assessments strongly suggest that the whales death was the result of a criminal act, prompting the need for immediate police involvement.
Regina Haug, founder of OneWhale, told NBC News that the whale knew and loved was a strong, capable and energetic animal yet so gentle, with a sweet and cheeky personality.
After seeing Hvaldimir lifeless, she added: It felt like my heart had fallen into my stomach. The pain of losing him to a senseless killing is an anguish which, right now, feels impossible to fix.
Norways Sr-West police issued a statement on Wednesday confirming they had received the groups report and would consider if an investigation is warranted.
The Norwegian Veterinary Institute told NBC News in an emailed statement on Wednesday that Hvaldimirs autopsy was still ongoing and they could not yet comment on results.
We have, together with the Directorate of Fisheries of Norway, been in contact with the police ahead of the autopsy, and will of course involve them if we uncover anything indicating anything suspicious, the statement said.
The Norwegian Veterinary Institute has a lot of experiences working with forensic cases.
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit the island of Hispaniola on Thursday and Friday, where he will reaffirm the United States commitment to both Haiti and the Dominican Republic, which share the island.
In Haiti our goal is to recognize the positive progress made towards improving security and encourage efforts to appoint the Provisional Electoral Council so Haiti can move toward elections, Brian Nichols, assistant secretary of state for the Western Hemisphere, told reporters ahead of the visit to Port-au-Prince. In the Dominican Republic we will reinforce our shared priorities such as promoting democratic governance, supporting free and fair elections in the region, and fighting corruption.
Blinkens visit to the island comes amid tense relations between the two countries. The Dominican Republic, upset over the construction of a privately funded irrigation canal near its border in northeast Haiti that it claims is diverting water away from its farmers, has blocked most commercial air traffic from Haiti.
The tensions led Haitis leaders last month to boycott the swearing-in of Dominican President Luis Abinader, who was elected earlier this year to a second four-year term.
Blinken will arrive in Port-au-Prince on Thursday, where the multinational security force led by Kenya and largely funded by the U.S. has been hobbled by lack of money and equipment. And an ongoing bank bribery scandal is threatening the U.S.-backed political transition while undermining efforts to finally organize long-overdue elections.
Nichols said Blinken, who will meet with Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille and Edgard Leblanc Fils, the current head of the presidential council, plans to discuss Haitis return to a democratic path and the urgent need for elections.
Nichols said Haiti has come a long way since its dark moments earlier this year when a violent insurgency by armed gangs forced the closure of the international and domestic airports in Port-au-Prince for nearly four months, led to the escape of more than 4,000 prison inmates and blocked thousands of containers containing humanitarian aid at the seaport. The chaos also prevented the prime minister at the time, Ariel Henry, from returning to the country after he visited Kenya to secure the agreement for the missions deployment.
We have seen Haiti take important steps forward in the last few months, Nichols said, highlighting Aprils installment of the presidential council and its selection of Conille, a longtime U.N. technocrat, to head a new government. Weve seen tangible signs of progress on the ground, including the opening of the airport and resumption of commercial flights, increased economic activity and movement in pockets of Port-au-Prince and the deployment of the U.N. authorized Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support mission, which is working in close partnership with the Haitian national police.
The mandate of the security mission, which was authorized for a year by the U.N. Security Council, expires on Oct. 2. The council is expected to debate ts renewal on Sept. 30.
Though Haitians have been frustrated by the slow progress of the security mission and its lack of visibility on the streets, Nichols highlighted an ongoing joint operation involving members of the mission, along with specialized SWAT units of the Haiti National Police and soldiers in Haitis small army.
They are going after gangs and their leaders in a way that hasnt happened in eight years, Nichols said. From a security standpoint, that is a major step forward.
Nichols confirmed a Miami Herald and McClatchy exclusive report that the U.S is exploring transferring the mission, which relies on voluntary contributions for its operations, to a more formal United Nations peacekeeping force or some other hybrid that would allow for its financing and staffing to be more reliable.
Our challenge going forward is to make sure that theres a reliable, sustainable source of funding for the MSS to take it through stabilization, elections and the growth of the Haitian national police, Nichols said. We will be working and coordinating with our partners around the world, particularly in the Security Council and in the region, to figure out how we best address that.
Another concern is the slow progress on the political front. Haiti hasnt had an election since 2016, when late President Jovenel Moise was elected in a controversial vote. The current efforts to organize general elections have been hampered by arguments over which sectors of Haitian society should be represented on the electoral council, as well as the bank-bribery scandal.
On Tuesday, an effort by four of the seven voting members of the presidential council to take steps against three of its members who have been accused of shaking down the director of a state-owned commercial bank failed. The vote resulted in a deadlock because the council needs five out of seven votes for major decisions.
Blinken, who will meet with some of the political and civil leaders involved in forming the presidential council, is expected to discuss the scandal and the importance of having Haitian officials investigate the allegations.
The Haitian people deserve transparency and good governance, NIchols said.
Blinken will also travel to the Dominican Republic, where he will discuss three main priorities with Abinader: strengthening the U.S.-Dominican economic ties, respect for human and labor rights and promoting increased security in the region, particularly in Haiti, Nichols said. The two leaders will also discuss the 2025 Summit of the Americas, which the Dominican Republic is hosting.
Nichols said the U.S. hopes to see more normal relations between the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
The countries are inexorably linked, he said. Were very cognizant of the fact that the Dominican Republic is providing significant assistance to Haiti and to the MSS, and that we more broadly, hope to see the ties between the two countries operate in a normal fashion in the future.
The Springfield Police Department says a suspect in an earlier shooting was shot by a police officer after resisting arrest and firing in the proximity of officers.
The shooting involving the police department happened in the 1100 block of South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive just before 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The person, a 19-year-old man, was taken to HSHS St. John's Hospital. An SPD news release indicated the person had non-life-threatening injuries and is stable.
The police department said officers responded to a shots-fired call in the 1600 block of South 16th Street around 5:40 p.m. Wednesday. Witnesses reported there that a subject fired several rounds from a vehicle, striking an occupied residence.
Officers, according to the release, were able to identify the vehicle used as well as the suspect who firedfrom the vehicle. Further investigation into the suspect revealed that he is a current suspect in a recent robbery.
Around 11:30 p.m., officers located the vehicle in question with the suspect in the front passenger's seat. When officers attempted to take him into custody, the suspect resisted the officers' attempts. He then fired one round from a handgun, but it wasn't clear if anything was struck.
The news release didn't say how many shots were fired at the suspect, but the shots came from one officer.
Multiple officers on scene provided life-saving care to the injured suspect, who was transported to the hospital by ambulance.
Ring doorbell footage from a residence captured the shooting.
A family member gave the person's identity to The State Journal-Register, but it was not confirmed by the police department as of Thursday morning.
Sergeant Melissa Albert-Lopez, a spokesperson for the Illinois State Police, confirmed the agency is investigating the "use of force portion" of the investigation.
SPD officers on scene during the incident have been placed on administrative leave.
Police earlier blocked off King Drive at Stuart Street where a number of people were confronting officers.
Claire Grant writes about business, growth and development and other news topics for The State Journal-Register. She can be reached at CLGrant@gannett.com; and on X (Formerly known as Twitter): @Claire_Granted
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Man shot by Springfield Police allegedly suspect in earlier shooting
The first ballots in the nation are scheduled to start going out Friday in North Carolina, but that could be delayed after a judge ordered a temporary pause on ballot distribution.
The ruling came in response to a request from former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to remove his name from the ballot.
North Carolinas Democratic-controlled State Board of Elections voted along party lines last week to reject Kennedys request, saying that it wouldnt be practical to reprint ballots and delay the start of voting.
Kennedy, who dropped out of the race last month and endorsed former President Donald Trump, then challenged that decision in court.
Wake County Superior Court Judge Rebecca Holt denied the former candidates request Thursday but also ordered a pause to allow Kennedy to appeal.
In her written order, the judge ordered the state not to proceed with mailing absentee ballots before noon Friday.
Holt found that rejecting Kennedys request would lead to minimal harm to him but that removing his name would be a significant burden for elections officials.
The court can find no practical, personal or pecuniary harm to the plaintiff should his name remain on the ballot, Holt said from the bench The defendant, however, would have to reprint the ballots at considerable cost and effort and will likely find themselves in violation of the state mandated deadline for distributing absentee ballots.
After the hearing, Paul Cox, the general counsel for the state elections board, instructed counties to not send ballots out Friday morning.
However, Cox said ballots would need to be go out Friday afternoon, unless an appeals court ordered a further delay.
As CNN previously reported, since endorsing Trump, Kennedy has sought to withdraw his name from the ballot in competitive states in order to boost the former presidents chances of winning there. But he has encountered obstacles to those attempts beyond North Carolina.
On Tuesday, a Michigan judge ruled that he must remain on the ballot in the battleground state after Kennedy filed a lawsuit asking the court to remove him. The elections commission in Wisconsin another Midwestern battleground also ruled last week that Kennedy will appear on the ballot despite a similar request to withdraw.
This story has been updated with additional information.
CNNs Aaron Pellish contributed to this report.
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Former President Donald Trump claimed Wednesday to have the endorsement of the estranged brother of Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, as well as support from other members of the Walz clan.
I was so honored today, Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity during a town hall event in Harrisburg, Pa.
His brother endorsed me, the former president continued, referring to Jeff Walz, the brother of Vice President Kamala Harris running mate.
Trumps Fox News town hall was held in the capital of Pennsylvania, a key swing state. AFP via Getty Images
And his whole family [endorsed me], Trump, who often speaks in hyperbole, added. I saw the picture, and honestly It was a very nice-looking family.
Jeff Walz, however, has previously said he has no intention of endorsing Trump despite publically blasting his brother.
The Republican nominee was referencing a photo that went viral on social media purportedly showing eight relatives of Tim Walz posing in front of a Trump 2024: Take America Back flag while wearing navy blue Nebraska Walzs for Trump t-shirts.
A political operative who assisted in spreading the image told The Post the people in it were related to Walz through his paternal great-uncle, but declined to give their identities, claiming that they were overwhelmed by the attention.
Separately, the Minnesota governors older brother, 67-year-old Jeff Walz, caused a stir on social media when he declared in an Aug. 30 Facebook post that he is, 100% opposed to his brothers ideology.
Trump claimed to have the endorsement of Tim Walzs whole family. Getty Images
The stories I could tell, Jeff Walz added. Not the type of character you want making decisions about your future.
He also indicated that hes thought long and hard about endorsing Trump but is torn between that and just keeping my family out of it.
Aside from a two-minute conversation during the vice presidential vetting process, Jeff Walz hasnt spoken to his brother since 2016, he said in a recent interview with News Nation.
Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walzs brother, Jeff Walz. FaceBook Jeff Walz
In that interview, Jeff Walz indicated that he had no intention of campaigning with the former president or endorsing him.
There is going to be no further statements to anybody, and were not campaigning or anything for him or against him or anything like that, he said.
The Post has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.
Trump, during a town hall in Pennsylvania, ripped Tim Walz for calling him weird. AP
Tim Walz, 60, has been credited with popularizing the notion that Trump and GOP vice presidential nominee JD Vance are weird, an attack that has been hurled by many on the left since the Ohio senator was put on the ticket.
Trump, 78, argued Wednesday that Walz is the weird one.
Theres something weird with that guy, he said of Walz. Hes a weird guy. JD is not weird. Hes a solid rock. I happen to be a very solid rock.
Were not weird. Were other things, perhaps, but were not weird, Trump added. Theres something wrong with that guy, and he calls me weird.
Walz made remarks at Laborfest 2024, which was hosted by labor unions and union members of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council on Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, at the Henry Maier Festival Park in Milwaukee, Wis. Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
Hannity noted during the town hall that Fox News had set up the event with the intention of hosting a debate between Harris and Trump, which the vice president declined to participate in.
The crowd was raucous and enthusiastic, with several chants of USA, USA and Fight breaking out during the proceedings.
Pennsylvania, a key swing state that could decide the outcome of the 2024 presidential election, has 19 Electoral College votes up for grabs in November.
Several polls show that the race in the Keystone State is essentially tied about two months out from Election Day.
By Alexandra Ulmer
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) -Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump told Jewish donors on Thursday that U.S. universities would lose accreditation and federal support over what he described as "antisemitic propaganda" if he is elected to the White House.
"Colleges will and must end the antisemitic propaganda or they will lose their accreditation and federal support," Trump said, speaking remotely to a crowd of more than 1,000 Republican Jewish Coalition donors in Las Vegas.
Protests roiled college campuses in spring, with students opposing Israel's military offensive in Gaza and demanding institutions stop doing business with companies backing Israel.
Republicans have said the protests show some Democrats are antisemites who support chaos. Protest groups say authorities have unfairly labeled their criticism of Israel's policies as antisemitic.
The Association of American Universities, which says it represents some 69 leading U.S. universities, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In the United States, the federal government does not directly accredit universities but has a role in overseeing the mostly private organizations that give colleges accreditation.
In his speech, Trump also said he would ban refugee resettlement from "terror infested" areas like Gaza and arrest "pro-Hamas thugs" who engage in vandalism, an apparent reference to the college student protesters.
Under both Trump and Biden, similar numbers of Palestinians were admitted to the U.S. as refugees. From fiscal year 2017-2020, the U.S. accepted 114 Palestinian refugees, according to U.S. State Department data, compared with 124 Palestinian refugees from fiscal year 2021 to July 31 of this year.
While Trump sketched out few concrete Middle Eastern policy proposals for a second term, he painted a potential Harris presidency in cataclysmic terms for Israel.
"You're going to be abandoned if she becomes president. And I think you need to explain that to your people ... You're not going to have an Israel if she becomes president," Trump said without providing evidence for such a claim.
A campaign spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris, Morgan Finkelstein, said Harris was a lifelong supporter of Israel and stood against antisemitism. Finkelstein highlighted that Trump in 2022 dined with white supremacist Nick Fuentes at his Mar-A-Lago resort and that in 2017 he said there were "very fine people" on both sides of a deadly rally by white nationalists in Virginia.
Harris has hewed closely to President Joe Biden's strong support of Israel and rejected calls from some in the Democratic Party that Washington should rethink sending weapons to Israel because of the heavy Palestinian death toll in Gaza.
She has, however, called for a ceasefire in Gaza, calling the situation there "devastating."
Health authorities in Gaza say more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli assault on the enclave since the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks led by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
Some 1,200 Israelis were killed in the surprise attack and about 250 were taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.
The subsequent assault on Gaza has displaced nearly its entire 2.3 million population, caused a hunger crisis and led to genocide allegations at the World Court that Israel denies.
WISH LIST FOR TRUMP
The Republican Jewish Coalition Victory Fund says it is spending some $15 million to support Trump by helping bring out Jewish voters in battleground states.
The network has been financially supported by Sheldon Adelson, the late American casino mogul, and his Israeli-born widow Miriam Adelson. RJC members gathered this week for their annual conference at The Venetian Resort, which was developed by Sheldon Adelson's company, the Las Vegas Sands Corp. Miriam Adelson is also the lead financier of a super PAC spending group that has said it is looking to raise over $100 million to support Trump.
In a half-dozen Reuters interviews at the conference, attendees broadly voiced three priorities for a potential second Trump term: Expanding the Abraham Accords, pursuing a tougher line on Iran, and either reforming or defunding the United Nations.
The Trump administration in 2020 helped broker the Abraham Accords, a series of normalization agreements between Israel and Arab nations.
But U.S.-backed plans to normalize ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel were put on ice last year as war escalated between Israel and Hamas.
RJC chairman Norm Coleman, who is also a lobbyist for Saudi Arabia in Washington, told Reuters he was still hopeful the Abraham Accords could be expanded under Biden.
"But if it's not done, I would hope that President Trump would do what he did before and play a role in bringing the region together," Coleman said.
(Reporting by Alexandra Ulmer; Additional reporting by Ted Hesson and Kristina Cooke; Editing by Alistair Bell and Daniel Wallis)
In this handout photo provided by Photo host Agency RIA Novosti, Dimitri Simes, a Russian-American author, editor, and political pundit asks a question to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, June 16, 2023. (Alexei Danichev/Photo host Agency RIA Novosti via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
WASHINGTON (AP) The Justice Department has charged a Russian-born U.S. citizen and former adviser to Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign with working for a sanctioned Russian state television network and laundering the proceeds.
Indictments announced Thursday allege that Dimitri Simes and his wife received over $1 million dollars and a personal car and driver in exchange for work they did for Russia's Channel One since June 2022. The network was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2022 over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Simes, 76, and his wife, Anastasia Simes, have a home in Huntly, Virginia, and are believed to be in Russia.
These defendants allegedly violated sanctions that were put in place in response to Russias illegal aggression in Ukraine, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves said in a statement announcing the charges. Such violations harm our national security interests a fact that Dimitri Simes, with the deep experience he gained in national affairs after fleeing the Soviet Union and becoming a U.S. citizen, should have uniquely appreciated.
The indictments come at a time of renewed concern about Russian efforts to meddle with the upcoming U.S. election using online disinformation and propaganda. On Wednesday federal authorities announced charges against two employees of the Russian media organization RT accused of covertly funding a Tennessee company that produced pro-Russian content.
Simes and the Washington think tank he led, the Center for the National Interest, figured prominently in special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and potential ties to the Trump campaign.
The report chronicles interactions that the Soviet-born Simes, who immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s, had with assorted figures in Trump's orbit, including Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Before one such meeting, according to the Mueller report, Simes sent Kushner a letter detailing potential talking points for Trump about Russia and also passed along derogatory information about Bill Clinton that was then forwarded to other representatives of the campaign.
Simess think tank, which was founded by former President Richard Nixon, helped arrange a foreign policy speech at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington at which Simes introduced Trump, according to the report. Among those present was Sergei Kislyak, then the Russian ambassador to the U.S.
Simes was never charged with any crime in relation to the investigation.
After the report was released, Simes defended himself in an interview in The Washington Post: "I did not see anything in the Mueller report that in any way that would indicate any questionable activity on my part or on the centers part.
A second indictment alleges that Anastasia Simes, 55, received funds from sanctioned Russian businessman Alexander Udodov. Udodov was sanctioned last year for his support for the Russian government. He is the former brother-in-law of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and has been linked to business dealings with both of them. Udodov also has been investigated for money laundering.
It was not immediately clear if either defendant had a lawyer who could speak on their behalf. An attorney who previously represented Simes said he was no longer representing him. The Trump campaign did not immediately return a message seeking comment Thursday.
In an interview with The New York Times before the charges were announced, Simes, who appears regularly on Channel One, defended the work he was doing.
I assumed that what I was saying on Russian TV would not be to the liking of the Biden administration, but I also assumed that as long as it was just my opinion and was presented as such, it was not something for which I could be prosecuted, he told the newspaper.
Commuters looking to drive into Manhattan should avoid the Queens-Midtown Tunnel at all costs, as a drilling mistake Wednesday led to water leaking into the tunnel and closing down both tubes for hours, snarling traffic for miles.
A contractor working for the New York City Economic Development Corporation mistakenly drilled a small hole in the outer casing of the tunnel while doing preliminary work on the East River Esplanade around 12:30 p.m., according to a spokesperson. From that 2.5-inch hole on the outside edge of the tunnel, water was able to get into the south tube via the ventilation ducts, the spokesperson said, and leak onto cars passing through.
A video posted by one driver to Facebook showed the leaking water splash across his windshield.
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Tell me why the tunnel is leaking. Whats going on here? the driver reacted on the video.
A sign reads "No Entrance To Tunnel" following the closure of the Queens-Midtown Tunnel in New York City, on Sept. 4, 2024.
As a result of the leak, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority sent out alerts before 1:30 p.m. that all lanes in both tubes of the heavily trafficked tunnel connecting Manhattan and Queens under the East River were temporarily closed. It took about an hour and a half before the north tube could reopen to two-way traffic, officials said.
All lanes in both tubes finally reopened just before 6 p.m., and heavy traffic delays lasted for hours, not subsiding until later in the evening.
Engineers are on site to evaluate any damage and begin on repairs, and the northbound tunnel has been temporarily converted to handle two-way traffic while the southbound tunnel is closed, an EDC spokesperson said. We are working closely with City Hall, NYCEM, MTA, and other city agencies as we continue to respond.
The repairs being done Wednesday night would be interim fixes, an official said at a press conference, with a permanent fix expected to come at a later time. But a plug was in place and the leak had subsided, according to the official.
The contractor, working for company Warren George, had drilled 100 feet from the surface 50 feet through water and 50 feet through soil. Drilling company Warren George did not issue a statement in the aftermath of the leak.
An investigation into what happened was ongoing.
The MTA, which initially blamed the leak on a water main break but later deleted their tweet, had said all buses would be detoured and there were delays on the east side of Manhattan due to increased traffic. According to MTA.info, QM 1/2/3/4/5/6/10/12/20/24/31/32/34/36/40/42/44 buses will use the 59th St Bridge to proceed to the Long Island Expressway in both directions.
QM 7/8/11/25 buses will use the Williamsburg Bridge.
Meanwhile, the Queensboro Bridge is partially closed Wednesday through Saturday for the replacement of the upper roadway, according to the Department of Transportation. Single-lane Manhattan-bound north upper roadway will be closed 24 hours from Wednesday to Saturday. Double-lane will be closed through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Tuesday to Friday from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next morning. Queens-bound south outer roadway will be closed Sunday to Saturday from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. next morning.
The Queens Midtown Tunnel was opened in 1940 to help relieve congestion on East River bridges.
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The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has not opposed a regional mobile network and spectrum sharing arrangement between Optus and TPG.
Struck in April, the arrangement revolves around Optus providing TPG with access to its regional radio access network. At the same time, TPG will offer certain spectrum to Optus to supply mobile services.
Additionally, TPG will decommission most of its sites in the coverage area while some will be transferred to Optus.
Both telcos will continue to operate their respective mobile networks in metropolitan areas.
According to the ACCC, the arrangement is unlikely to substantially lessen competition.
The ACCC carefully considered the arrangement proposed by Optus and TPG, as it represents a structural change to the mobile services landscape, ACCC Commissioner Philip Williams said.
The agreements will allow TPG to provide better coverage in regional areas, which will likely enhance its ability to compete during the term of the agreements, improving choice for regional consumers.
The agreements are also likely to support Optus regional 5G rollout, particularly through access to TPGs spectrum.
Additionally, the ACCC also found that the competition aspects of the arrangement is likely limited to areas where TPG is not currently a significant competitor and is unlikely to become one in the future.
TPG currently has significantly less infrastructure and coverage in regional areas compared to Telstra and to a lesser extent Optus. The improvement in TPGs services during the term of this arrangement is likely to be greater than what TPG could have achieved on its own, Williams said.
During the review of the arrangement, the ACCC claimed market participants said that Optus and TPG should provide open wholesale access to their networks, divest certain spectrum and make commitments to regional investment.
Policies and regulations which promote competition for mobile services in regional areas can help deliver higher quality mobile services and lower prices for consumers, Williams said.
However, in the absence of particular competition concerns about the proposed arrangement, these proposals are better considered through other policy and regulatory processes.
The arrangement however is still subject to additional regulatory approvals and, if granted, would come into effect in early 2025.
In an announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), TPG welcomed the decision, with its CEO, Inaki Berroeta, saying that the decision marks a new era for mobile services competition and consumer choice in rural and regional Australia.
With this arrangement, for the first time the TPG Telecom mobile network will cover most towns in Australia, he said.
In a separate statement, Optus interim CEO Michael Venter said the decision was a great outcome for regional Australia, with the rollout of 5G infrastructure to be completed by around two years earlier than previously planned.
This arrangement will allow Optus to press the fast forward button on 5G infrastructure roll-out to more regional communities. It will also provide Optus with access to more spectrum so regional customers can experience 5Gs fast speeds, low latency and increased capacity, he added.
The arrangement between TPG and Optus comes years after the former signed a network sharing deal with Telstra in February 2022. Then, 10 months later, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) refused to authorise the proposed deal, claiming a potential negative impact on coverage, network quality and innovation.
Six months after that in June 2023, the Australian Competition Tribunal agreed with the ACCCs decision and said it was not satisfied that the arrangements were not likely to substantially lessen competition.
In response to the Tribunals decision, Berroeta said at the time that TPG would not give up on regional Australia and will consider our options as well as advocating for policy reform that will deliver greater competition and choice in the regions that need it most.
The Egyptian president visits his Turkish counterpart, turning the page on a decade of divisions, that started with a clash over the Muslim Brotherhood. Yet, the two countries never fully broke relations. Some 17 agreements are signed. The realignment is also favoured by a shared vision on Gaza.
Ankara (AsiaNews) On his first visit to Turkey, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was welcomed yesterday in Ankara with full honours by his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, putting to an end years of tensions and divisions.
The meeting between the two leaders of the Muslim world and the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) ended a decade of frosty relations, setting the stage for a new era in bilateral relations between, especially government-to-government.
Yet despite past tensions and hostilities, economic ties and trade were never cut. During this visit, the two countries signed 17 agreements.
Sisi arrived in Ankara with a large delegation for the one-day visit after the two heads of state held their first official meeting in Cairo last February after years of frost.
My first visit to this friendly country is an indication that the relations between the two countries will develop much further, the Egyptian president told journalists at a joint press conference after three hours of talks between the leaders and the two countries delegations.
Ankara and Cairo had broken off relations in 2013 after President al-Sisi, then defence minister, ousted President Mohamed Morsi, an ally of Turkey and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.
At the time, Erdogan said he would never talk to "anyone" like Sisi, who a year later became president of the Arab world's most populous nation.
Deep tensions and divisions continued, but relations have improved in the last two years thanks to a realignment on several major issues, not least the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas on which there is a shared vision.
Despite a certain distance between previous leaders, trade between Egypt and Turkey never stopped in the last decade, so much so that Turkey is Egypt's fifth-largest trading partner, while Egypt is Turkey's first partner in Africa.
Returning to yesterday's meeting, the two countries signed agreements to deepen their cooperation on several issues, from energy to culture.
My visit to Cairo has marked a new turning point in our relations, Erdogan said. We are advancing our improving relations even further with the return visit of my dear brother, he added.
Erdogans language certainly represents a turning point for the Turkish leader, who in 2013 had vowed that he would never shake hands with Sisi after he cracked down on the Muslim Brotherhood.
Over time, however, economic reasons and business opportunities prevailed, prompting the two leaders of the Muslim world to boost political and diplomatic ties as well. This has brought Turkey closer not only to Egypt, but also to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Taking advantage of its strategic position, Turkey seeks to participate in regional energy projects of primary importance to deliver Egyptian natural gas to Europe, amid Western efforts to cut their dependence on Russia.
We are eager to enhance our energy cooperation with Egypt, especially in natural gas and nuclear energy, Erdogan said.
The Turkish leader also stressed the goal of boosting trade between the two countries to US$ 15 billion from the current US$ 10 billion, at a time when foreign direct investment by Turkish companies in Egypt rose to US$ 3 billion in the past year.
Finally, the two leaders signed a joint statement reiterating their willingness to increase coordination on a number of regional issues, including Gaza, Libya, and the Horn of Africa.
These are signs of a progressive rapprochement between Ankara and Cairo on various foreign policy issues, particularly in the Libyan conflict where the two have backed rival groups in the North African countrys ongoing civil war.
We must work together, especially in addressing regional issues, to prevent humanitarian crises, Sisi said.
To mend relations in the region, Ankara has also abandoned its overt support for the Muslim Brotherhood, designated as a terrorist organisation by Egypt and several Gulf states.
In front of thousands of people crowded at a local sports facilities, the pontiff called on the local Church to to put out to sea. Since The word of the Lord cannot remain a fine abstract idea, we are asked to change our gaze despite fears and mediocrity. Tomorrow morning Francis will bid farewell to Indonesia and depart for Papua New Guinea.
Jakarta (AsiaNews) Pope Francis spoke this afternoon to the Catholic community of Indonesia gathered in Jakarta for the solemn Eucharistic liturgy, the high point of his visit to the country.
In his address, the pontiff urged the faithful, do not grow weary of setting sail, do not grow weary of casting your nets, do not grow weary of dreaming, do not grow weary of building again a civilization of peace.
About 100,000 people crowded the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium and the Madya Stadium (which the pontiff crossed before the service in popemobile, accompanied by Card Suharyo), while thousands more followed the rite in live-streaming in their parishes.
As he had promised, Indonesian President Joko Widodo also took part in the most important event for the Catholic community, which was also the pontiffs last public engagement before tomorrow morning's farewell ceremony at Sukarno-Hatta airport and departure for Papua New Guinea, the second stop on this trip.
Inspired by the passage from the Gospel of Luke in which Peter, listening to the word of Jesus, puts out into the deep again after a fruitless night and catches a multitude of fish (Lk 5:1-16), Francis invited the Indonesian Church to take a risk, betting on the Word of Jesus.
The word of the Lord cannot remain as a fine abstract idea or stir up only a passing emotion. It asks us to change our gaze and allow our hearts to be transformed into the image of Christs heart, Francis said.
The Lord, with the burning power of his word, also asks us, brothers and sisters, to put out to sea, break away from the stagnant shores of bad habits, fears and mediocrity and dare to live a new life.
Inviting the faithful not to be discouraged by hardships, Francis cited Saint Teresa of Kolkata (Calcutta), whose liturgical feast falls today.
When we have nothing to give, let us give that nothing. And remember, even if you reap nothing, never tire of sowing, she said. Indeed, Always dare to dream of fraternity, which is a real treasure among you, the pope told Indonesian Catholics.
Guided by the word of the Lord, I encourage you to sow seeds of love, confidently tread the path of dialogue, continue to show your goodness and kindness with your characteristic smile. [. . .] Please, do not lose your smile, and keep moving forward! And be builders of peace. Be builders of hope!
In the morning, at the headquarters of the Bishops' Conference, after his visit to the mosque, the pontiff met privately with a group of sick people, people with disabilities, and the poor assisted by various charities.
One of the invited guests was Mikail Andrew Nathaniel, an 18-year-old man with autism spectrum disorder who said he was happy to be selected to participate in the local Paralympic Swimming Games.
Pope Francis congratulated him and invited everyone to become champions of love in the great Olympics of life!
Dear friends, we all need one another, and that is not a bad thing. It helps us to understand more and more that the most important thing in our lives is love and to realize how many good people there are, all around us.
It also reminds us how much the Lord loves us, each and every one of us, even with our limitations and difficulties (cf. Rom 8:35-39). Each one of us is unique in his eyes and he never forgets us, never. Let us always remember that, to keep our hope alive and to strive in turn, without ever tiring, to make of our lives become a gift for others.
5 September 2024 15:30 (UTC+04:00)
Nazrin Abdul Read more
Azerbaijan, with its increasingly prominent global stature, has forged robust partnerships on the international stage. The Republic consistently promotes effective and mutually beneficial cooperation through both bilateral relations and international organizations. It is not surprising that Azerbaijan is widely esteemed for its proactive role in international affairs, its pragmatic foreign policy, and its commitment to advancing relationships across diverse sectors.
The mutually beneficial relationship with the Republic of Italy holds a significant place in Azerbaijan's foreign policy. The two countries share strong traditions of friendship and cooperation, with their partnership grounded in mutual respect for each others interests.
Visits by the leaders of both nations play a crucial role in strengthening their strategic partnership. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev recently visited Italy on September 4, at the invitation of Italian President Sergio Mattarella. President Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva were warmly received by Italian officials at Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport, where an honor guard was present.
The partnership between Azerbaijan and Italy is characterized by longstanding cooperation, particularly in the economic sector. President Aliyevs visit underscores the advancement of both economic and political relations.
Trade is a central component of the economic relationship between Azerbaijan and Italy. With bilateral trade surpassing $6 billion, Italy is a key trade partner for Azerbaijan. The energy sector, particularly commercial relations, has reached an apex, with Italy investing over $770 million in Azerbaijan's economy since its independence, while Azerbaijan has invested $1.7 billion in Italy. This underscores a successful investment partnership. The energy trade is predominantly focused on traditional sectors, with Italy emerging as the largest importer of Azerbaijani crude oil and oil products.
The Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) and the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), a key component of the SGC, play a vital role in enhancing bilateral energy cooperation and Italy's energy security. Through this project, Azerbaijanan important partner of the European Union in the South Caucasusplays a decisive role in transporting Caspian Sea gas to the European market. The TAP delivers Azerbaijani gas to Brindisi, Italy, marking a significant milestone as it transports gas to Italy for the first time. The Southern Gas Corridor is recognized as a major infrastructure project that addresses the European Union's gas needs and contributes to its energy security. The collaboration with Italy on this large-scale project is highly valued.
In discussing energy relations, it's noteworthy to highlight recent comments by Manuela Traldi, President of the Italian-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce. Traldi underscored the pivotal role of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) in strengthening the bond between Azerbaijan and Italy.
"We established the Italy-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce in 2012 with the TAP project as a cornerstone of our collaboration," said Traldi. "I was confident that TAP would eventually come to fruition and bring our countries closer together."
She also mentioned that Azerbaijan and Italy are poised to create joint ventures across various sectors. "We've had productive meetings with our Azerbaijani counterparts and representatives from the private sector. We are planning a high-level round table with Italy's Minister of Entrepreneurship and Azerbaijan's Minister of Economy," she added.
Traldi emphasized the Chamber's role in attracting investments to Azerbaijan. "We actively promote Azerbaijan in Italy and leverage all available resources to attract investments from Italian companies," she explained.
While traditional energy remains a major focus, recent years have seen significant cooperation in non-oil sectors. Currently, 114 Italian companies operate in Azerbaijan across industries such as construction, trade, agriculture, and services. Additionally, Italian firms are involved in 277 projects worth $9.9 billion in Azerbaijan's oil and gas sector, and 37 projects worth $708 million in the non-oil sector. These figures highlight the strong economic ties between the two nations.
Italy continues to be a major trade partner for Azerbaijan. In the past year, bilateral trade reached $15.685 billion, with Azerbaijan exporting goods valued at $15.208 billion to Italy. In 2023, Azerbaijan exported $40 million in non-oil products to Italy and imported goods worth $477.903 million. Trade between the two countries has remained strong in 2024, with mutual transactions totaling $4.41 billion from January to May, accounting for 23.91% of Azerbaijans total trade turnover.
During this period, Azerbaijans exports to Italy amounted to $4.23 billion, representing 37.97% of Azerbaijans total exports. Imports from Italy totaled $180.689 million, a 1.3% increase from the previous year. Azerbaijan is Italys primary trade partner in the South Caucasus, constituting 85% of Italys regional trade. In 2023, Italy accounted for 30.65% of Azerbaijans foreign trade turnover, including 2.76% of imports (7th place) and 44.86% of exports (1st place). From January to July 2024, trade turnover between the two nations reached $6.2 billion, with $5.9 billion in exports and $0.3 billion in imports.
Looking ahead, Manuela Traldi, President of the Italian-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce, is optimistic about future developments. "We anticipate significant opportunities, including joint ventures that will introduce advanced Italian technologies to Azerbaijan, enhancing economic development and diversification," she added.
Traldi emphasized that priority will be given to sectors such as petrochemicals, metallurgy, and agriculture. "We have several projects aimed at advancing agriculture, healthcare, and other innovative sectors, including the food industry, leather processing, and textiles," she added.
The robust and evolving relationship between Azerbaijan and Italy dates back to January 1, 1992, when Italy recognized Azerbaijan's independence and established diplomatic relations, marking the beginning of a new phase in their mutual relations.
The evolving partnership between Azerbaijan and Italy, marked by significant trade and strategic collaborations, is set to advance further. With a strong foundation in energy and increasing investments in diverse sectors, both nations are exploring new opportunities for growth. The focus on joint ventures and the introduction of advanced Italian technologies into Azerbaijan's economy highlight promising prospects. As they continue to enhance their economic and diplomatic relations, Azerbaijan and Italy are poised to unlock new potentials in areas such as agriculture, healthcare, and industrial innovation, reinforcing their longstanding and multifaceted relationship.
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5 September 2024 12:12 (UTC+04:00)
Akbar Novruz Read more
First Deputy Minister of Economy, Elnur Aliyev, met with a delegation from the International Parliamentary Congress (IPC) to discuss Azerbaijan's efforts in promoting a green economy and addressing global climate issues, Azernews reports.
According to the Ministry of Economy, the decision to host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Azerbaijan underscores the importance the country places on developing a green economy and tackling global climate challenges.
The ministry emphasized that cooperation with international organizations remains a priority in the lead-up to COP29. Special attention is being given to implementing measures that promote green energy and reduce the effects of global climate change in Azerbaijan.
The meeting also involved discussions on partnership opportunities within the framework of the IPC's Climate Change Think Tank initiative, further aligning efforts to promote sustainable development.
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5 September 2024 16:15 (UTC+04:00)
Akbar Novruz Read more
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has shown its readiness to support the "greening" of construction projects in Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.
This announcement came during a meeting between Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Urban Planning and Architecture Committee, and a delegation led by Ines Rocha, the IFC's Regional Director for Europe.
During the meeting, A. Guliyev highlighted the significance of collaboration with the IFC and emphasized the need to take joint steps to explore and implement leading global practices in "green" construction in Azerbaijan. Discussions also focused on the potential organization of certification work to promote environmentally friendly construction projects and reduce carbon emissions.
Ines Rocha, IFC's Regional Director, praised Azerbaijan's efforts in advancing the use of eco-friendly construction materials and low-carbon buildings. She noted, "We are ready to support these initiatives," and expressed the desire to share the advanced experience IFC has gained in implementing "green building" projects in 96 countries worldwide.
This cooperation is expected to bolster Azerbaijan's commitment to sustainable development and enhance its focus on eco-friendly infrastructure.
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5 September 2024 16:34 (UTC+04:00)
Nazrin Abdul Read more
During the first four months of the current Iranian year (March 20 - July 21, 2024), Iran's non-oil exports to Azerbaijan increased by 56% in value and 18.9% in weight compared to the same period last year (March 21 - July 22, 2023), Azernews reports citing the Customs Administration of Iran.
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5 September 2024 16:55 (UTC+04:00)
Nazrin Abdul Read more
Documents establishing joint production and service areas have been signed between Azerbaijan and Italy, Azernews reports the post shared by Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov his "X."
He noted that these documents, signed during the Azerbaijan-Italy round table, focus on research and development projects and the exchange of expertise.
"The implementation of these documents will further strengthen bilateral relations, foster innovation, and boost economic growth," the minister added.
They discussed boosting business relations and enhancing cooperation in key sectors, including industry, renewable energy, infrastructure, transportation, textiles, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.
As part of the head of state's working visit to Italy, one of Azerbaijans main trade partners, we participated in the #Italy-#Azerbaijan Round Table. Together with Adolfo Urso (@adolfo_urso), Italy's Minister of Enterprises and "Made in Italy", and other colleagues, we discussed pic.twitter.com/C2DjvCYW6o Mikayil Jabbarov (@MikayilJabbarov) September 5, 2024
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5 September 2024 17:38 (UTC+04:00)
Nazrin Abdul Read more
An electronic visa portal has been launched in connection with COP29, Azernews reports citing the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat.
The government will issue special entry visas through this official e-visa portal, as well as through Azerbaijani diplomatic missions and consulates abroad.
COP29 visas will be processed within three working days of submitting a complete online application via the official portal or at diplomatic missions.
Additionally, on September 25, Azerbaijan will host a High-Level Dialogue on Global Climate Transparency during the 79th UN General Assembly.
The decision to hold COP29 in Azerbaijan this November was made at the COP28 plenary session in Dubai last December. Baku is expected to welcome approximately 70,000 to 80,000 foreign guests over the course of two weeks.
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, established at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, aims to address human impacts on the climate system. The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Convention. With 198 parties, the COP meets annually if no alternative solution is found. The first COP took place in March 1995 in Berlin, and its secretariat is based in Bonn.
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5 September 2024 17:48 (UTC+04:00)
The renowned European neurologist residing in Denmark, Mesud Ashina, is an active member of the Azerbaijani diaspora. As the President of the International Headache Society and a professor of neurology at the University of Copenhagen, Mesud Ashina has been awarded the medal of the Republic of Azerbaijan "For Merit in Diaspora Activities." By a decree from the head of state on December 8, 2020, Mesud Ashina was elected to the Board of Trustees of the "Yasat" Foundation.
On the initiative of the State Committee on Work with the Diaspora and the "Yasat" Foundation, this European neurologist provides free neurological care to veterans who fought for territorial integrity and to the families of martyrs, while also actively participating in a number of other projects. Today, the prestigious medical journal New England Journal of Medicine published an article on a new method for treating migraines. This event is significant not only due to the development of a new drug for a condition long considered incurable, but also because the author of the article and head of the study is our compatriot, Danish-Azerbaijani neurologist Professor Mesud Ashina, one of the worlds leading specialists in this field.
Currently, Professor Ashina holds the position of professor of neurology at the University of Copenhagen and senior consultant in neurology at Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet. As of 2024, he is recognized as one of the worlds foremost experts on headache disorders, according to the Expertscape ranking. Mesud Ashina received his medical degree from Azerbaijan Medical University in 1988. He later completed his PhD and D.M.Sc. at the University of Copenhagen and completed his neurology residency at Rigshospitalet.
We interviewed Professor Ashina to discuss his discovery, research, and the future prospects for migraine treatment.
Professor, could you elaborate on migraines? They are often perceived as just severe headaches, but in reality, they are a far more serious condition. Could you dispel some myths, especially regarding the idea that they are incurable?
Migraine is not simply a severe headache, as many believe. It is one of the most common and underestimated conditions, affecting around one billion people worldwide, or roughly one in seven. Migraine is a chronic neurological disorder that, besides headache, includes symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and phonophobia. Attacks can last for several days, and any movement or sound can intensify the pain to an unbearable level.
Its important to note that about 20% of those suffering from migraines experience attacks at least twice a week. This means that nearly 200 million people live with this condition regularly, losing dozens of days each year to debilitating attacks.
Migraine significantly reduces work capacity and social activity. In terms of "years lived with disability," it ranks as the leading neurological disorder. It is a serious chronic condition that requires a thorough approach to treatment.
Professor, how has the science of migraine evolved, and how do modern medications influence its treatment? What new challenges do patients and doctors face in managing this condition?
Migraine has a unique neurobiology that dictates its course. Over the past 30 years, science has made significant strides in treating it. In the early 1990s, drugs specifically designed to stop migraine attacks were introduced. These medications target migraines only, without affecting other types of pain, which was an important breakthrough.
However, a new problem emerged: frequent use of these medications can lead to a paradoxical headache. This condition is called "medication-overuse headache" a headache caused by the overuse of medications. Therefore, these drugs are effective for people with infrequent attacks, but when migraines are frequent, improper use can worsen the condition.
Given recent advances in drug development, can we say that migraines can now be effectively prevented? What preventive methods are most effective today, and are they suitable for all patients?
Yes, migraine prevention has become possible, though in the past it wasnt specific. Medications developed for other conditions, such as hypertension and epilepsy, were used to reduce the frequency of attacks, but they often had side effects and werent always effective.
With the advent of new drugs targeting the CGRP molecule, migraine prevention has become more precise. These drugs can reduce the number of migraine days for 40% of patients, cutting the frequency of attacks by 50% or more. However, they do not produce significant improvement for everyone, indicating that further development is needed to help a wider range of patients.
Thus, despite progress, migraine prevention is not effective for all, and new solutions need to be developed.
Could you please tell us about your own research on migraines? What is the focus of your work, and what prospects does it open for understanding the mechanisms of this condition?
My group has been researching migraines since 2006, focusing on molecules that play a key role in its development. We aim to identify molecules involved in triggering attacks to deepen our understanding of migraine mechanisms. Our research is conducted directly on people and examines molecules acting on nerves around the brains blood vessels, as well as on nerves responsible for pain conduction.
My hypothesis is that certain molecules can provoke migraine attacks in patients. This research could help develop new therapeutic approaches that block these processes, improving the quality of migraine treatment.
You mentioned that in your research, you induce migraine attacks in patients. Could you explain how this works and how this method is unique compared to other studies on neurological disorders?
Yes, the ability to induce migraine attacks in controlled conditions is a crucial part of our research. Migraine differs from other neurological disorders in that its attacks are episodicthey come and go. This allows us to study migraine in its active phase, which is not possible with chronic conditions like Parkinson's disease or dementia, where symptoms are always present.
The uniqueness of my approach lies in inducing migraine attacks in patients to observe their development and study the biological mechanisms in real time. Its similar to a situation where a person knows that wine might trigger a migraine but decides to drink it anyway. Patients in our studies understand the possibility of an attack, but they also know they are under medical supervision and will receive help if necessary.
We use certain molecules to provoke migraine attacks. In people without migraines, these molecules may cause only a mild, short-term headache, but in those who suffer from migraines, they trigger a full-blown attack. This allows us to better understand how migraines develop at the molecular level and aids in the development of new targeted treatments.
Thus, our method offers a unique opportunity to study migraines in the active phase, opening new avenues for effective therapeutic solutions.
Could you explain the role of molecules in the development of migraines, and how your experiments have advanced understanding of their impact on the disease's pathogenesis?
One of the key molecules involved in the development of migraines is PACAP (Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide). This molecule is present in structures associated with migraines, such as the perivascular nerves that innervate brain vessels and regulate their response to stimuli. During the activation of these nerves, mediators like PACAP are released, which can trigger migraine attacks.
In 2009, my lab conducted a study in which PACAP was administered intravenously to patients over a 20-minute period. The study included two sessions: one with PACAP and the other with a placebo. In more than 50% of patients, PACAP induced migraine attacks, confirming its significance in the pathogenesis of the disorder.
These findings led to the hypothesis that blocking PACAP or its receptors could become a new method of treating migraines. This study laid the groundwork for further developments in targeted therapy, aimed at blocking molecules involved in the onset of migraines, and opened up the possibility of creating more effective and precise medications.
*How do the approaches to migraine treatment using small molecules differ from those using monoclonal antibodies? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each method, and how do they influence the choice of treatment strategy?*
Small molecules and monoclonal antibodies have different approaches to treating migraines. Small molecules, such as receptor antagonists, block the receptors responsible for migraine development, providing a short-term effect (6-12 hours). They are convenient to take, as they are available in tablet form. The downside is that they need to be taken frequently.
Monoclonal antibodies block the same receptors but provide a longer-lasting effect, which can last for weeks or months. However, they require injections, as they are broken down in the gastrointestinal tract when taken orally.
The choice between small molecules and antibodies depends on the need for quick symptom relief or long-term prevention, as well as patient preferences and the ease of administration.
Could you tell us about new approaches to treating migraines with antibodies, and how your collaboration with Lundbeck contributes to the development of these methods? What stages of research have been proposed to test their effectiveness?
New approaches to treating migraines include the development of antibodies against molecules like PACAP. One of these methods involves creating monoclonal antibodies that block PACAP itself, preventing it from interacting with receptors and thus neutralizing its effect. This approach is different from traditional ones as it works at an earlier stage of the pathological process, eliminating the action of the molecule that triggers the migraine.
Lundbeck developed an antibody targeting PACAP and approached me for collaboration, knowing about my research and interest in this hypothesis. Together, we proposed conducting a study to evaluate the effectiveness of this antibody in patients with migraines. This approach to treatment could represent a significant breakthrough, as it allows for direct targeting of a key molecule involved in migraine pathogenesis.
I suggested conducting additional studies on healthy individuals before moving on to clinical trials with migraine patients. Studies on healthy volunteers (Phase 1) help to test the drugs tolerance, identify side effects, and determine the optimal dose. My idea was to test the blocking effect of the antibody by administering PACAP intravenously to volunteers and simultaneously assessing the antibody's ability to prevent the physiological reactions caused by PACAP. This study will help better understand the effectiveness of the new method and pave the way for the next phase of clinical trials in migraine patients.
What physiological reactions were you expecting to see?
We expected reactions such as vasodilation, facial flushing, a drop in blood pressure, and an increased heart ratetypical effects of PACAP. If the drug could block these reactions in healthy individuals, it would increase the likelihood of its effectiveness against migraines.
The study showed that the antibody against PACAP successfully inhibited vasodilation, reduced heart rate, and diminished headaches. This confirmed the potential of the antibody as a treatment for migraines and other PACAP-related disorders. After this, I led Phase 2 trials, sponsored by Lundbeck, to study the preventive effect of the PACAP antibody in migraines.
How was the study with migraine patients organized, and what stages did it include?
The study included patients with both episodic and chronic migraines. We organized a multicenter study, where different centers and researchers were responsible for recruiting participants.
First, there was a screening to ensure that patients truly had migraines. After that, they were given electronic diaries to record all attacks and symptoms. This baseline phase helped confirm the patients suitability for the study and checked their readiness to follow the instructions.
Then, patients were blindly randomizedthey didnt know whether they would receive the active drug or a placebo. Over the next period, they continued to keep diaries so we could assess the drug's effectiveness. After the treatment ended, a follow-up period began to record any potential side effects. This is important for evaluating the drugs safety not only during treatment but also after it is metabolized.
In the end, we compared data from before and after treatment to assess its impact on the frequency and intensity of migraines.
What was the main goal of the study, and what results did it show?
The main goal of the study was to test the efficacy of high doses of the drug (750 mg) compared to a placebo. The study showed significant improvement in patients who received 750 mg of the drug, confirming its effectiveness in preventing migraine attacks. This result validated the concept and paved the way for the next stagePhase 3 clinical trials.
Phase 3 will include more patients and last longer to provide a final check of the drugs efficacy and safety. If the results are positive, the drug will become available on the market, offering a new tool for migraine prevention.
The significance of the study is that over 15 years, it has progressed from examining the effect of a single molecule on migraines to the development of a potential new drug. The drug is still administered intravenously, but work is underway to create a form for self-injection under the skin, which will greatly simplify treatment for patients.
How does this new drug differ from the recently registered drug that targets another molecule?
The difference between the new drug and the recently registered one is that they target different molecules and work through different mechanisms. Imagine that each drug acts on the "doors" of a cell, but each door leads to different parts of the system, activating different processes. These drugs use different receptors to prevent migraines.
This broadens the treatment options, allowing us to choose a drug based on the individual needs of the patient. In the future, combination therapy may reduce the number of migraine days even further if one drug proves insufficiently effective.
Its also important to understand which receptor is the key player in the pathway through which PACAP triggers migraines. This will aid in the development of new, more precise drugs. We continue to explore these mechanisms to offer more effective and specific migraine treatments in the future. At the moment, this drug is not available for clinical use, as it is still in the research stage.
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5 September 2024 14:17 (UTC+04:00)
Fatima Latifova Read more
Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General, Kamran Aliyev, has discussed details of the criminal case initiated against the Garabagh separatists in an interview with the "News.ru" information portal, Azernews reports.
He stated that the investigation related to these individuals has been completed and the materials will soon be submitted to the court.
"The process of familiarizing both the accused and the victims with the case materials is ongoing as you know, there are many victims in this case. Once all investigative and operational measures are completed, the case will be sent to court for a substantive hearing in accordance with international norms and Azerbaijans criminal legislation," the Prosecutor General said.
Over the years, the Prosecutor Generals Office of Azerbaijan has launched criminal cases against 15 Garabagh separatists, and they have been put on international wanted lists. Following the local anti-terrorist operation in September 2023, the separatists were detained, brought to Baku, and handed over for investigation. They face charges of terrorism, financing terrorism, forming unlawful armed groups and organizations, and conducting training for the purpose of committing terrorist acts. In June of this year, Baku announced the completion of the investigation into their case.
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5 September 2024 18:43 (UTC+04:00)
By News Centre
Russian Vice President Yuriy Ushakov announced that Turkey has applied for full membership in BRICS and that they will evaluate the application. President Erdogan will also attend the summit in Kazan on October 22-24. The 10-member BRICS, led by Russia and China, aims for economic cooperation.
Russia made a statement regarding Turkiyes possible membership in BRICS, which is seen as an alternative to Western institutions. In Russia, which is the BRICS term president, Vice President Yuriy Ushakov stated that Turkey has applied for full membership. Ushakov, who said that Ankaras request will be evaluated by the BRICS countries, said, Turkey has submitted its full membership application. We will evaluate it.
President Erdogan is going to the top
President Tayyip Erdogan will also attend the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October. In a statement from presidential sources, it was noted that Erdogan will be at the summit on October 22-24. Speaking to reporters at a press conference yesterday, AK Party Spokesperson Omer Celik said, Our President has repeatedly stated that we want to become a member of BRICS.
It will be the first NATO country
If Ankara is accepted as a member, Turkiye will be the first NATO member in the BRICS group. Azerbaijan recently officially applied for membership in BRICS after Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met in Baku. BRICS, which is formed by the initials of the five largest developing world countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is an organization that emerged as an alternative to the Wests one-sided economic cooperation and aims for both economic and cultural cooperation among member countries.
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5 September 2024 12:41 (UTC+04:00)
By News Centre
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday welcomed Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who arrived in the capital Ankara for an official visit.
The plane bringing al-Sisi and the accompanying delegation to Ankara landed at Esenboga Airport.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Ankara Governor Vasip Sahin, and other officials accompanied Erdogan at the welcoming ceremony.
"I express my great happiness with my first visit to the Republic of Turkiye, and my meeting with His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as our two ancient countries share deep-rooted historic and popular relations. They have also had strong political relations since the foundation of the Republic of Turkiye by the founding leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk," al-Sisi said in a statement on X.
"Perhaps my visit today, and before it the visit of His Excellency President Erdogan to Cairo, reflects the common will to start a new phase of friendship and cooperation between Egypt and Turkiye, based on their pivotal role in their regional and international environment, and in a way that meets the ambitions and aspirations of our two brotherly peoples," he added.
Erdogan and al-Sisi then moved on to the Presidential Complex, where the two leaders convened their bilateral meeting after a welcoming ceremony.
Following their bilateral meeting, they will co-chair the first meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council between the two countries.
The two leaders will also attend an agreement-signing ceremony and hold a joint news conference.
Al-Sisi's visit to Turkiye comes at Erdogan's invitation.
Erdogan had visited Egypt in February and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had paid a separate visit to the country in August. Al-Sisi's visit to Turkiye marks the first of its kind since the Egyptian president took office.
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5 September 2024 12:23 (UTC+04:00)
By News Centre
Turkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will pay an official visit to North Macedonia on Thursday, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
During his visit, Fidan is expected to discuss bilateral relations as well as current regional and international developments with officials in the Balkan country, the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
Fidan will also meet the Turkish community and business representatives in the country.
Turkiye holds a significant position in North Macedonia's foreign relations, being the first state to recognize North Macedonia with her constitutional name and to appoint an ambassador to Skopje.
The visit underscores the strong ties between the two nations, with Turkiye currently ranking as the seventh largest foreign investor in North Macedonia.
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5 September 2024 19:30 (UTC+04:00)
ByAlimat Aliyeva
For the second day in a row, the DPRK launches balloons with garbage towards the Republic of Korea, Azernews reports.
The People's Republic started launching balloons again at around 09:00 local time (04:00 Baku time). The military recommended not to approach the fallen objects and report them to the authorities.
The night before, North Korea launched about 420 balloons with garbage. About 20 balloons were found in Seoul and its surroundings.
Before that, a similar action took place on August 10. From the territory of the DPRK, such balloons have been launched since the end of May in response to a request for propaganda leaflets by South Korean activists. In July, one of the balloons fell on the territory of the government complex, where the administration of the President of the Republic of Korea is located.
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5 September 2024 19:50 (UTC+04:00)
By Alimat Aliyeva
Turkiye, one of the most attractive tourist destinations, is preparing for a gradual revision of the all inclusive system in hotels as part of the strategy to receive 80 million tourists in 2028, Azernews reports.
The Turkiye newspaper claims this, noting that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the republic intends to give priority to the development of new areas of tourism: gastronomic, cultural, medical.
The representative of the Ankara Association of Young Businessmen, Mustafa Korkyt ata, whose statements are quoted by the publication, noted that all inclusive has turned into a system of "consumer terror".
According to him, calculations show that the percentage of food return from a plate in hotels with the all inclusive system reaches 65%.
"220-400 grams of food are thrown out per person per day. In other words, food waste in these hotels costs 50 billion liras ($1.5 billion) per year, so the number of facilities where this system is used will be reduced," he said.
The businessman also said that under the new system, hotels will be able to cooperate with local catering establishments.
"Tourists will be picked up from hotels in the evenings, take walks through the city centers, and then take them to dinner at restaurants with which contracts have been signed."
With such a system, shopkeepers will also have more income, Korkutata said.
Representatives of the Turkish tourism industry have repeatedly made proposals to revise the all inclusive format, including offering a "pay as much as you use" model.
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5 September 2024 23:30 (UTC+04:00)
The final stage of the Mediterranean technology competition of the country's first aviation, space and technology festival, TECHNOFEST, has started in Antalya, Turkiye. 1,650,000 participants applied for the contests this year, which is a record for a TECHNO FEST, Azernews reports.
Technological competitions in 25 directions were organized at the event organized by the ANFAS International Exhibition and Congress Center in Antalya. The four-day competitions are held in 49 main and 127 subcategories.
6,514 participants compete with 1,270 teams in the final stage of competitions in various fields: from artificial intelligence and communications to bio- and agricultural technologies.
At the same time, the participants will take part in trainings and seminars organized by the largest technology companies in Turkiye, as well as meet with experts in various fields of technology.
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5 September 2024 20:42 (UTC+04:00)
By Alimat Aliyeva
In the next three years, the Chinese authorities will provide financial assistance to African states in the amount of 360 billion yuan (more than 50 billion dollars at the current exchange rate) for the implementation of joint partnership projects, Azernews reports.
"For 10 partnership events, the Chinese government will provide financial support to Africa in the amount of 360 billion yuan in the next three years," he said, speaking at the opening ceremony of the ninth summit of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum (CCAC).
As the Chinese president clarified, the mentioned amount includes 210 billion yuan ($29.5 billion) on a credit line, 80 billion yuan (about $ 11.2 billion) of assistance "in various forms" and at least 70 billion yuan ($9.8 billion) in investments from Chinese companies.
"China will encourage and support Africa in issuing panda bonds (debt instruments denominated in yuan) in order to strengthen our results-oriented cooperation in all areas," he added.
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While technology like artificial intelligence and EHRs can help save physicians and their practices time and money, these advancements can present downsides that weigh on physicians.
Despite the efficiencies AI and healthcare tech promise, some say the presence of these technologies shifts the role of physicians.
"Technology including telemedicine, EHR, the specter of AI and shifting patient empowerment, means physicians feel irrelevant again," Michael Gomez, MD, NICU medical director of Sunrise, Fla.-based Pediatrix, told Becker's.
The integration of new technologies also means that physicians must shift and adapt the way they practice medicine and invest time in learning how to use new tools.
"These innovations have the potential to transform the way we practice medicine, but they're also bringing new challenges that require us to adapt," Javier Marull, MD, an associate professor in the anesthesiology and pain management department at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, told Becker's.
"Technology in healthcare goes further than just new tools or software; it is basically changing how we interact with patients, diagnose diseases and manage information. AI is now helping predict patient outcomes, assist with diagnoses and guide treatment decisions."
Telemedicine is another double-edged technological sword. While it offers patients access to healthcare outside of the traditional visit, it is transforming the way physicians work.
"Many of us entered medicine to build strong, face-to-face relationships with our patients," Dr. Marull said. "But with the increasing use of telemedicine, we are spending more time interacting with patients through screens instead of in person. Although this may be practical, it also raises concerns about keeping the personal connection that is important to our profession."
The Morgantown-based West Virginia University Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery and the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute have added four new surgeons, according to a Sept. 4 report from My Buckhannon.
Goya Raikar, MD, joined the division of cardiac surgery at WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va. He specializes in the advancement of complex adult cardiac surgery with a focus on minimally invasive and robotic techniques. He joins WVU Medicine from the DeBakey Heart Surgery Center of Wauwatosa, Wis.-based Froedtert Hospital, where he served as chief of cardiothoracic surgery.
Nick Baker, MD, joined the faculty at Ruby Memorial and WVU Medicine United Hospital Center from University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, where he served as director of robotic thoracic surgery.
Nida Bham, MD, specializes in benign and malignant diseases of the lung and esophagus and thoracic surgical education.
Saiesh Voppuru, MD, will be joining the Morgantown-based faculty in the fall, and he will also work closely with the teams at Ruby and the WVU Cancer Institute.
A Connecticut dentist recently waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the federal anti-kickback statute.
Lakshmi Bethi, DMD, admitted to conspiring with multiple individuals who agreed to recruit Medicaid beneficiaries for dental appointments with Dr. Bethi, which she then billed to the Connecticut Medicaid program. Dr. Bethi agreed to pay the recruiters kickbacks in exchange for the appointments. Part of those kickbacks were then passed onto patients for attending the appointments, according to a Sept. 5 news release from the Justice Department.
Dr. Bethi paid the recruiters more than $360,000 in kickbacks between 2016 and 2023. The state Medicaid program reimbursed Dr. Bethi approximately $2.2 million for the services rendered to patients as part of the scheme.
Dr. Bethi faces a maximum five-year prison sentence. As part of the plea, Dr. Bethi also agreed to forfeit $500,000.
A sentencing date for Dr. Bethi has not yet been scheduled.
Jeffrey Malave, 48, one of the patient recruiters who worked with Dr. Bethi, also pleaded guilty to related charges Feb. 28 and is awaiting sentencing.
As the word "hospital" has largely disappeared from its own industry, a stronghold for the term remains.
Children's hospitals.
Even though they've grown beyond their flagship facilities, pediatric health systems like Boston Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Children's Hospital Los Angeles still go by their longtime names.
"We have done some market research, and the term 'hospital' connects more directly with the community than health system," Children's Hospital Association President and CEO Matt Cook told Becker's. "Health system can feel a little bit more corporate and a little bit less personal, if you will."
But, as he acknowledged, children's hospitals now "operate far beyond their four walls" with outpatient clinics and even home-based care. Several pediatric health systems have changed their branding to reflect that trend, with some dropping "hospital" off the end of their names (i.e. Phoenix Children's, Seattle Children's). These changes are often a natural evolution, as the organizations adopt as their official branding what community members had already been calling them informally, Mr. Cook said.
"We very much think of ourselves as a health system with primary care, a lead hospital and over 13 community and outpatient locations," said Kary McIlwain, chief marketing and communications officer of Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. "We are investigating incorporating this into our brand naming structure as many of our peers have."
Still, the shift to outpatient and the home is less pronounced at pediatric health systems, where the hospital remains the "anchor" and is thus reflected in the branding, said Eric Berkowitz, PhD, emeritus professor of marketing at University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
"When parents are facing an acute healthcare issue for their child, the focus is on specialty care and the treatment found often at a specialty institution," he said. "The days of a community hospital offering a pediatric department have declined over the past decades and thus, I believe, this anchor hospital positioning with a large pool of specialists on staff remains."
Mr. Cook, of the Children's Hospital Association, was previously an executive at two pediatric health systems that went different directions on this branding trend one that maintained "hospital," and another that dropped it.
At Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where he served as executive vice president of strategic planning and business development, the organization decided to preserve "hospital" because of its historical brand recognition the hospital was founded in 1855 and since the system is commonly referred to as CHOP anyway.
On the other hand, Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, where Mr. Cook was president, became Riley Children's Health because it is part of a larger health system (Indianapolis-based IU Health) whereas CHOP is independent.
CHOP's chief marketing officer, Stephanie Hogarth, said the health system has conducted quantitative research on its brand and found the name still has strong resonance in the community.
"We confirmed that the word 'hospital' wasn't too limiting to convey the breadth of our modern enterprise and also learned that consumers appreciate that hospital brands have elasticity and can stretch to include many things," she said.
That includes, for CHOP, two hospitals, two behavioral health centers, a research institute, a care network and a charitable foundation.
Mr. Cook said he expects the trend of pediatric health systems moving away from "hospital" to continue but that many legacy institutions particularly those with the word in the middle of the name will keep it.
"Each of the organizations has to think through, 'How do I convey that I am more than a single building or more than a single campus?'" he said. "But I think the community has become used to knowing or associating that 'hospital' doesn't necessarily mean just one building or one campus."
A number of healthcare organizations have recently closed medical departments or ended services at facilities to shore up finances, focus on more in-demand services or address staffing shortages.
Here are 17 department closures or services that are ending or have been announced, advanced or finalized that Becker's reported since July 1:
1. Cincinnati-based Mercy Health and Cleveland-based The MetroHealth System shared a joint decision to end the trauma program at Mercy Health Lorain (Ohio) Hospital, effective Oct. 15, and to not seek a level 3 trauma center reverification from the American College of Surgeons. The hospital will continue to provide emergency care for people experiencing severe, emergent or life-threatening symptoms.
2. The Faith Community ER in Bowie (Texas), part of Jacksboro, Texas-based Faith Community Health System, will close Oct. 6 nearly one year after opening due to a lack of financial assistance. In a Sept. 23 letter to the community Faith Community Health System CEO Frank Beaman said that after an internal review, the ER did not meet projections needed to maintain operations.
3. Fort Kent-based Northern Maine Medical Center will cut its children's behavioral health unit and has applied for a critical access designation to address financial issues. The hospital's four-person behavioral team will be transferred to other positions in the system and the nine-bed adult behavioral unit will remain open.
4. Juneau, Alaska-based Bartlett Regional Hospital closed its high-intensity residential substance abuse treatment facility on Sept. 24. A post on the hospital's website said its "serious financial position necessitated a thorough program evaluation of several services," including the Rainforest Recovery Center, which has been cross-subsidized by the hospital for several years. The hospital said it is collaborating with Juneau-based Gastineau Human Services on a transition plan and tentatively aims to begin providing some services at Gastineau on Jan. 6, 2025.
5. Sentara RMH Medical Center in Harrisonburg, Va., will close its pediatric unit at the end of September, though officials emphasize the hospital will continue to provide care for children in the emergency department and make safe transfers when necessary. Low inpatient volumes and the nation's pediatrician shortage were key drivers in the decision to close the unit, the hospital's chief nursing officer, Gina Yost, MSN, said.
6. Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente will close its last skilled nursing facility in the country, the Kaiser Permanente Post Acute Care Center in San Leandro, Calif., the health system said in a Sept. 10 statement. The closure, which began in June, will result in the loss of 249 jobs. The last patients were transitioned from the facility by the end of July. The facility is expected to be fully closed by mid-November. Kaiser said it is working with employees and union officials to find other positions within Kaiser Permanente. The system said it will also assist employees who are not able to find another position within the system.
7. University of Southern California Verdugo Hills Hospital in Glendale will close its labor and delivery services, along with its neonatal intensive care unit, on Nov. 20 and lay off 65 employees. The decision was based on an examination of services at the hospital, community needs and shifting demographics, a spokesperson for the hospital said.
8. MercyOne Newton (Iowa) Medical Center is pausing its labor and delivery services indefinitely, effective after Oct. 15 due to Newton Clinic ending its recruitment of physicians who are dedicated to labor and delivery obstetrics services. In an Aug. 30 joint statement from Newton Clinic and MercyOne Newton Medical Center, shared with Becker's, Newton Clinic pointed to a "decade of significant recruitment and physician workforce challenges" for the service cuts.
9. Hemet (Calif.) Global Medical Center, a 327-bed facility, plans to close its labor and delivery department this fall. The hospital attributes the decision to low birth numbers and a shortage of physicians. The closure, expected to take effect by the end of October, is anticipated to affect 35 employees.
10. Santa Paula (Calif.) Hospital will end births and intensive care services on Oct. 15, pending approval by state officials. In May, leaders from the Ventura County Health Care Agency presented a budget plan to county officials that proposed closing the two units and relocating services to 272-bed Ventura (Calif.) County Medical Center about 15 miles away. They cited financial losses of approximately $16 million in the last fiscal year and noted a significant decline in patient volumes, a drop from 502 deliveries in 2010 to 167 in 2023.
11. Upland, Pa.-based Crozer Health ended surgical services at Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park, Pa. The 107-bed community hospital offers general and specialty surgical services. In recent months, the hospital has reported an average of three to four surgical cases per day, while also seeing a reduction in general surgeons, according to Crozer CEO Tony Esposito.
12. Sharon (Pa.) Regional Medical Center, part of Dallas-based Steward Health Care, will close a 125-year-old nursing school after the current class of students graduates next May. The closure is "due to complications" from Steward's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, the health system said in an Aug. 7 news release.
13. Beaver, Pa.-based Heritage Valley Health System laid off several workers and is closing multiple facilities as part of an organizational downsizing. The workforce and service cuts were made to help the system meet its fiscal year 2025 (year ending June 30) budget as the two-hospital health system continues to evaluate a potential partner, president and CEO Norman Mitry said in a July 31 letter to employees.
14. New York (City)-Presbyterian is seeking approval from the state Department of Health to close the 16-bed rehabilitation unit at New York City-based Columbia University Irving Medical Center and transition it to in-patient beds. The conversion of the unit, located in the hospital's Milstein Hospital Building, is part of an ongoing patient-need and hospital census assessment, a spokesperson for New York-Presbyterian told Becker's on July 25.
15. Aspirus Medford (Wis.) Hospital and Clinics will transition maternal care services to another location starting Oct. 1 amid a shrinking OB-GYN pipeline. While Aspirus Medford will continue to provide prenatal and postnatal care, deliveries will be performed at the Aspirus Wausau (Wis.) Hospital Birthing Center.
16. Providence (R.I.) Community Health Centers closed its Olneyville Health Center on July 31. A spokesperson for the federally qualified health center said the closure of the clinic is temporary and is due to a national shortage of primary care providers. An internal memo from Providence Community Health Centers CEO Merrill Thomas said that an inadequate state Medicare reimbursement rate and "manufacturer attacks on our 340B Drug Pricing Program" placed the FQHC "in an unsustainable negative financial position," which has led to layoffs and the closure of the Olneyville Health Center.
17. Grove Hill (Ala.) Memorial Hospital discontinued its labor and delivery services on Aug. 16. The move came after the hospital's governing board in May decided to transition to rural emergency hospital status.
Dayton (Ohio) Children's Hospital has received $65.7 million in gifts toward its "Do. More. so all kids thrive" fundraising campaign.
Dayton Children's is seeking $75 million for the campaign, which will support initiatives involving mental health and barriers to well-being in children, according to a Sept. 4 news release from the health system.
The hospital plans to use the funds for the following:
Investment in mental health solutions and partnerships with local organizations
Advancement in care for complex medical conditions that require new technology and innovative care
Focusing on social determinants of health and reducing barriers to well-being
The Mathile family, who started the Mathile Family Foundation, will be recognized for its contributions to the donation with the Mathile Center for Mental Health and Wellness, which is set to open in summer 2025.
The fundraising campaign will end June 30.
As artificial intelligence tools continue to advance, the transformative potential in healthcare is becoming increasingly clear.
Historically, much of the focus has been on validating algorithms in controlled research settings. However, the real impact of AI is only realized when these technologies are integrated into everyday clinical practice and shown to improve health outcomes. Today, a growing number of health systems are not just exploring but actively investing in and implementing AI solutions, demonstrating their commitment to advancing healthcare through responsible and effective technology adoption.
Beckers Healthcare, in partnership with the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Health Innovation at UC San Diego, has compiled a list of leading U.S. health systems that are pioneers in demonstrated, outcomes-based AI solutions. These organizations are not only conducting transformative research but are also demonstrating tangible patient benefits from AI applications. Their success is characterized by a deliberate focus on ethical implementation, ensuring that AI technologies are used responsibly and effectively.
Given the challenge of tracking and evaluating these advancements, we highlight these leading health systems in AI for their robust leadership, outcomes-based studies and strategic investments.
Dive into the list below alphabetically by state to discover our top picks.
1. California - Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente, headquartered in Oakland, Ca., is the countrys largest private nonprofit healthcare organization, comprising 40 hospitals and 616 medical facilities. Kaiser has one of the nation's most extensive patient care datasets, enabling the health system to develop and test its AI tools thoroughly for safety, effectiveness, accuracy, and equity before deploying them to patients, care providers, and communities.
Leadership
Daniel Yang, MD, Vice President of AI and Emerging Technologies. Dr. Yang oversees the safe, reliable, accurate, and equitable application of AI within the organization. He sets quality standards for AI across clinical operations, research, education, and administrative functions. Dr. Yang has established infrastructure to support the development and evaluation of diagnostic AI algorithms, including public datasets and third-party performance assessments. He also advances research methods for assessing AI's clinical impact in real-world settings and represents Kaiser Permanente in the US AI Safety Consortium and the Coalition for Health AI.
Vincent Liu, MD, is a senior research scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research and Chief Data Officer for The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG). Dr. Liu oversees the Augmented Clinical Intelligence and Responsible AI Programs and the Systems Research Initiative, a multidisciplinary team supported by TPMG. His research explores sepsis, acute severe illness, informatics, and healthcare delivery, aiming to advance a learning hospital system. He is a noted expert in applied informatics.
Case studies
AI-related financial gifts
Kaiser has funded five healthcare organizations to pursue research projects deploying AI and machine learning (ML) algorithms to enhance diagnostic decision-making in healthcare. Awardees receive grants of up to $750,000, supported through funds from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, to demonstrate the value of these technologies in diverse, real-world settings.
2. California - Stanford Health
Stanford Health Care is a nonprofit public benefit corporation and a leading academic health system comprising Stanford Hospital and more than 60 clinics throughout the Bay Area and beyond. Stanford Health has access to several innovation centers at the university, which bring together experts and leaders from academia, industry, government, and clinical practice to address critical and emerging issues concerning AI's impact on healthcare.
Leadership
Michael Pfeffer, MD, Chief Information and Digital Officer, and Associate Dean for Stanford Health Care and Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Pfeffer has lectured worldwide on health information technology, and was featured in Beckers Hospital Review as 10 physician CIOs to know and 12 standout healthcare CIOs. Earlier in his career, he helped lead the implementation of the largest electronic health record "big bang" go-live at the time at UCLA Health, which involved over 26,000 users.
Nigam Shah, MBBS PhD, Professor of Medicine at Stanford University, and Chief Data Scientist for Stanford Health Care. His research group analyzes diverse health data (EHR, claims, wearables, weblogs, and patient blogs) to answer clinical questions, generate insights, and develop predictive models. At Stanford Health, he leads AI and data science efforts to advance disease understanding, enhance clinical practice, and improve healthcare delivery.
Case study
AI-related financial gifts/investments
$15 million commitment from the Sandler Foundation to fuel healthcare innovation.
3. California - UC San Diego Health
UC San Diego Health, the regions only public academic health system, provides patient care through its three hospitals Hillcrest Medical Center, Jacobs Medical Center, and East Campus Medical Center as well as specialized centers and numerous clinics across Southern California. Leveraging the resources of the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Health Innovation (JCHI), UC San Diego Health is dedicated to ensuring that AI technologies are developed, evaluated, and deployed in a safe, respectful, and trustworthy manner.
Leadership
Karandeep Singh, MD, Joan and Irwin Jacobs Endowed Chair in Digital Health Innovation, UC San Diego School of Medicine, and inaugural Chief Health Artificial Intelligence (AI) officer at UC San Diego Health. As part of his new role at the Jacobs Center for Health Innovation, he is also leading the development and implementation of AI-driven solutions that enhance clinical decision-making and patient outcomes. Dr. Singh is recognized nationally for his expertise in AI and digital health.
Christopher Longhurst, MD. As combined Chief Medical Officer and Chief Digital Officer, Dr. Longhurst leads UC San Diego Healths technology strategy, driving initiatives that advance the infrastructure across UC San Diego and the UC Health system, while also overseeing the clinical activities of the academic medical center. Dr. Longhurst, who has a rich background in medicine and informatics, is also the Executive Director of the Jacobs Center for Health Innovation, where he spearheads groundbreaking initiatives that drive positive change in the digital healthcare landscape, ultimately helping to improve the patient experience.
Both leaders have published on the growing significance of the Chief Health AI Officer role, which is expected to become essential for maximizing AI's benefits while managing its risks.
Case studies
AI-related financial gifts/investments
$22 million for the Jacobs Center for Health Innovation to help build a first-of-its-kind mission control center to manage patient flow across the continuum, as well as boost the centers AI innovation portfolio.
4. California - UC San Francisco Health
UC San Francisco Health is a public academic health system that includes three medical centers, two hospitals, two childrens hospitals and specialty clinics, as well as a psychiatric hospital and clinics in the region. The universitys versatile and robust internal AI platform allows UCSF clinicians, administrators, and scientists to utilize large language models while ensuring that both the prompts and the data remain securely within UCSF's enterprise cloud.
Leadership
Sara Murray, MD, inaugural Chief Health AI Officer and Associate Chief Medical Information Officer. Dr. Murray is a visionary leader in health informatics, digital health, and data science. She spearheads the creation of robust infrastructure and governance processes to deploy impactful and ethical AI solutions. Dr. Murray shapes the strategic vision for scaling AI to revolutionize healthcare delivery at UCSF Health and beyond.
Bob Wachter, MD, Chair of the Department of Medicine and author of The Digital Doctor, which explorers the digitization of healthcare delivery. In 2024, he chaired groups examining the impact of AI on patient safety, and has been a fierce advocate of the transformative potential of generative AI in healthcare.
Case study
AI-related financial gifts/investments
$5 million gift to develop AI monitoring platform.
5. Massachusetts - Mass General Brigham
Mass General Brigham is a private nonprofit health system that includes two academic hospitals, three specialty hospitals, seven community hospitals, home care services, and more. As a world-recognized leader in research, it is home to one of the largest hospital system-based research enterprises in the U.S., with an annual research budget of $2 billion. The health system taps into Mass General Brigham AI's expertise to translate research into clinical practice. With a team of clinicians, data scientists, and engineers, the center addresses complex healthcare challenges and offers comprehensive product development and advanced computing resources.
Leadership
Adam Landman, MD, Chief Information Officer for Mass General Brigham. Dr. Landman specializes in using IT to enhance healthcare delivery. He leads technology solution delivery and support across all Mass General Brigham hospitals and practices. He collaborates to design and implement a forward-looking digital strategy that addresses frontline needs while integrating emerging technologies and ensuring efficient and effective support.
Keith Dreyer, PhD, DO, Chief Data Science Officer. Named to the inaugural Time 100 AI List, Dr. Dreyer, also vice chair of radiology, manages numerous AI algorithms for medical imaging. He ensures their effectiveness and privacy, explores AI-based reimbursement, and studies the potential for autonomous AI in healthcare.
Rebecca Mishuris, MD, Chief Medical Information Officer and VP, Digital. Dr. Mishuris is helping to lead Mass General Brighams use of technology to help measure physician workload, prevent burnout, and make an impact on both physicians and patients. She explores how technology intersects with the quintuple aim of healthcare, with a current focus on digital solutions for enhancing physician well-being, quality, and equity.
Case studies
AI partnership with GE Healthcare
Clinical trial screening using generative AI
AI-related financial gifts/investments
Mass General Bringham has invested $30 million in an Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Fund to invest in venture stage companies whose offerings further the health systems strategic initiatives.
6. Minnesota - Mayo Clinic
The Mayo Clinic is the largest integrated, not-for-profit, private medical group practice in the world, comprising 16 hospitals, 50 multispecialty clinics, and one mobile health clinic. The health system has over 200 AI projects at various stages. Data scientists and clinician-researchers are using AI and machine learning to derive insights from extensive patient data, quickly solving problems and creating new healthcare tools and treatments. The Mayo Clinic has also built a new Research Department for AI and Informatics, established a Center for Digital Health and a Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, and launched the Mayo Clinic Platform.
Leadership
Bhavik Patel, MD, Chief AI Officer of Mayo Clinic in Arizona. He heads Mayo Clinics Advanced AI and Innovation Hub in Arizona, driving the expansion of AI solutions across the health systems practice, research, education, and business operations. His research focuses on developing AI models that help healthcare providers efficiently utilize all available data.
John Halamka, MD, president of the Mayo Clinic Platform, an ecosystem for innovators. Dr. Halamka leads a portfolio of platform businesses dedicated to transforming healthcare through artificial intelligence, connected devices, and a network of trusted partners. With over 25 years of experience in emergency medicine and medical informatics, he is an expert in shaping and implementing healthcare information strategy and policy.
Matthew Callstrom, MD, is the head of the Generative Artificial Intelligence program at Mayo Clinic, leading its strategy across the enterprise. Dr. Callstrom is the chair of the Mayo Clinic Midwest Department of Radiology and Mayo Clinics medical director for Strategy, as well as serves as a member of the Mayo Clinic Board of Governors and Board of Trustees and holds the academic rank of professor of radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.
Case studies
AI-related gifts/investments
$20 million gift from Dwight and Dian Diercks to accelerate MayoClinics AI adoption.
7. New York - New York University Langone Health
New York University Langone Health is a private nonprofit system consisting of the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, along with more than 300 locations in the New York City area and Florida. These locations include six inpatient facilities, a children's hospital, and four emergency rooms. The health system is at the forefront of digital health innovation, leveraging the expertise of the The Center for Healthcare Innovation and Delivery Science as well as the The Predictive Analytics Unit in the MCIT Department of Health Informatics, which uses data and modeling to predict health outcomes across NYU Langone. It is one of the first health systems to develop a large language model using clinical documentation and demonstrate its value in a series of downstream prediction tasks.
Leadership
Nader Mherabi, Executive Vice President and Vice Dean, and Chief Digital and Information Officer. Mherabi leads NYU Langone Healths digital transformation, enhancing workflows, revolutionizing the digital patient experience, and leveraging big data to improve care and efficiency. He has extensive experience in integrating clinical systems and designing large-scale IT solutions.
Leora Horwitz, MD, MHS, Director, Division of Healthcare Delivery Science and Founding Director of the Center for Healthcare Innovation and Delivery Science. Her work focuses on improving the safety and quality of healthcare delivery.
Yindalon Aphinyanaphongs, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Center for Health Innovation and Delivery Science, and Director of Operational Data Science and Machine Learning. His sought-after research focuses on machine learning, predictive analytics, translational clinical data science, translational predictive analytics. Dr. Aphinyanaphongs leads a team of engineers and data scientists dedicated to transforming healthcare through AI.
Paul Testa, MD, Chief Medical Information Officer. He leads many digital health and AI initiatives across NYU Langone, including the integration of informatics and IT.
Case studies
8. North Carolina - Duke Health
Duke Health is a private, not-for-profit medical system that includes three inpatient facilities Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital and Duke Raleigh Hospital. The health system includes the Duke Institute for Health Innovation (DIHI) whose mission is to accelerate health innovations by partnering with Duke University School of Medicine and its clinical network. The health systems AI efforts are also supported by Duke AI Health, while the Duke Margolis Institute for Health Policy supports AI policy research. Duke Health is one of the founding sites for the Coalition for Health AI and the Health AI Partnership.
Leadership
Michael Pencina, PhD, inaugural Chief Data Scientist and Vice Dean for Data Science, Duke University School of Medicine. Pencina is spearheading Dukes efforts as a founding partner of the Coalition for Health AI, aiming to enhance AI trustworthiness through guidelines for credible, fair, and transparent health AI systems. An internationally recognized expert, he advises on AI tools and algorithms, shaping best practices for their use in clinical medicine.
Suresh Balu, MD, Associate Dean for Innovation and Partnership for the School of Medicine, and Program Director for the Duke Institute for Health Innovation (DIHI). Dr. Balu leads a team driving innovations in healthcare, education, and research. He also spearheads data science initiatives, integrating digital strategies, AI/ML, and algorithmic decision support to improve care safety, quality, and efficiency.
Mark Sendak, MD, Population Health & Data Science Lead at the Duke Institute for Health Innovation. Dr. Sendak leads interdisciplinary teams of data scientists, clinicians, and machine learning experts to develop technologies addressing real clinical challenges. Additionally, he directs the DIHI Clinical Research & Innovation scholarship, training medical students in business and data science for healthcare innovation, and co-leads the Health AI Partnership to advance the safe and equitable use of AI in healthcare. He is the co-inventor of software that scales machine learning and real-world evidence across health systems.
Case studies
AI-related gifts/investments
$30 million award from The Duke Endowment to elevate research in computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.
$10 million donation by the Margolis Family Foundation to Advance Health Policy.
9. Ohio - MetroHealth (Case Western affiliated)
MetroHealth is a public healthcare system that operates five hospitals, four emergency departments and more than 20 health centers and 40 additional sites. It is considered a safety-net health system that cares for everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. The health system uses a multidisciplinary approach to optimize value-based care through initiatives like the Population Health Innovation Institute, which is transforming patient care by advancing clinically integrated delivery methods.
Leadership
David Kaelber, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Informatics Officer, Vice-President of Health Informatics and Patient Engagement Technologies, and Founding Director, Center for Clinical Informatics Research and Education. His informatics research expertise spans electronic health records, personal health records, health information exchange, telehealth, big data, and clinical informatics education
Nabil Chehade, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Transformation Officer. He is responsible for all aspects of clinical transformation, digital and population health. Dr. Chehade specializes in clinical transformation, focusing on social barriers and health equity. He has led numerous projects in EHR implementation, physician engagement, health system strategy, and governance.
Yasir Tarabichi, MD, Medical Director of the Virtual Care Enterprise, and Director of Clinical Informatics for Research Support. Dr. Tarabichi focuses on EHR-based strategies for precision population health, educates providers on health data literacy, and supports research, clinical applications, and quality improvement initiatives.
Case studies
Use of an AI sepsis model to speed up administration of antibiotics
A randomized quality improvement study to reduce disparities using an AI no-show model
10. Tennessee - Vanderbilt Health
Vanderbilt Health is a nonprofit, private health system that includes seven hospitals and more than 200 clinics. In 2024, Vanderbilt's Department of Biomedical Informatics launched ADVANCE, a pioneering center for health AI. Utilizing advanced data analytics, machine learning, predictive modeling, and generative AI, ADVANCE aims to enhance decision-making, accelerate discoveries, and improve clinical outcomes.
Leadership
Peter Embi, MD, Professor and Chair, Department of Biomedical Informatics, and Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation. An internationally recognized leader in biomedical informatics, his expertise includes clinical, research, and public health informatics, as well as data-driven learning health systems.
Bradley Malin, PhD, Vice Chair for Research Affairs Department of Biomedical Informatics, and Co-Director of the AI Discovery and Vigilance to Accelerate Innovation and Clinical Excellence (ADVANCE) Center. His research focuses on advancing AI/ML technologies within organizational, political, and health information systems. Key contributions include distributed data processing for medical record linkage, intelligent auditing for protecting electronic records, and algorithms for anonymizing patient data for research.
Adam Wright, PhD, Professor of Biomedical Informatics and Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Director of the Vanderbilt Clinical Informatics Center (VCLIC). He has led funded projects on clinical problem lists, malfunctions in clinical decision support systems, approaches for sharing clinical decision support nationally, and adverse event detection using machine learning.
Case studies
11. Wisconsin - University of Wisconsin Health
University of Wisconsin Health is a public-private partnership that includes both public and private entities, comprising six main hospitals in Wisconsin and Illinois. The health system is one of three nationwide trials (along with UC San Diego Health and Stanford Health Care) of an AI program developed by Epic and Microsoft. UW Health is home to the Health Innovation Program (HIP), which is a campus-wide program focused on transforming healthcare delivery and population health across the state and nation.
Leadership
Chero Goswami, System Vice President and Chief Information and Digital Officer. Goswami spearheads initiatives that drive healthcare innovation and transformation, aiming to optimize patient outcomes, boost physician effectiveness, and enhance community care.
Brian Patterson, MD, Physician Administrative Director for Clinical AI. Dr. Patterson collaborates with hospital leadership to enhance healthcare quality, efficiency, education, and research through information technology. He has developed predictive analytics and machine learning models, improving patient care by predicting sepsis and assessing fall risks.
Case studies
Anthony Ashby was selected as the next president of CHI Health Immanuel in Omaha, Neb., part of Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health, according to a hospital news release shared with Becker's.
Mr. Ashby will assume the role on Sept. 15, after serving as the hospital's interim president since April, the release said.
He joined CHI Health Immanuel in 2019 as vice president of operations at the hospital.
Landon Smith has been named CEO of Palatka-based HCA Florida Putnam Hospital.
Mr. Smith stepped into the role at the 99-bed hospital Sept. 2, according to a Sept. 4 news release from HCA Florida Healthcare shared with Becker's.
With more than 10 years of healthcare experience, Mr. Smith most recently served as COO at Trident Medical Center in Charleston, S.C., part of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare. In that role, he oversaw service line growth and led a $75 million construction project at the hospital, the release said.
Seattle Children's Hospital has named two new C-suite leaders.
Jamie Phillips was appointed president of the hospital, according to a Sept. 4 news release shared with Becker's. Ms. Phillips will also continue in her role as COO.
Since joining Seattle Children's in 2022, Ms. Phillips has been vital in operational improvements, access expansion and development strategies to expand clinical programs, the release said.
Jeff Ojemann, MD, was named chief physician executive. Most recently serving as chief medical officer, Dr. Ojemann first joined the hospital in 2003 as division head for neurosurgery.
Dr. Ojemann has led teams through improved patient outcomes, expanded the hospital's services and reduced measures of health inequity, the release said.
Amid bullying, rudeness and violence in healthcare, one of the nation's largest systems is emphasizing professionalism.
St. Louis-based Mercy, which operates more than 50 hospitals, began its partnership with the Vanderbilt Health Center for Patient and Professional Advocacy in 2009 by implementing the Patient Advocacy Reporting System at two of its hospitals. The collaboration expanded to include the Coworker Observation Reporting Systems and eventually evolved into a comprehensive professionalism program across Mercy's network.
Chad Smith, MD, chief medical officer at Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City and its ministry medical staff leader, told Becker's the partnership was born out of the correlation between poor professionalism and patient safety.
For example, a study published in JAMA Surgery in 2019 found that patients whose surgeons had higher numbers of reports from co-workers about unprofessional behavior in the three years before the patient's operation appeared to be at higher risk of surgical and medical complications.
"I think as the healthcare industry continues to mature around patient safety, quality and looking at opportunities to continue to move the needle in a positive direction, [professionalism] is definitely one of those things that should be highly considered," Dr. Smith said.
"When you look at what it takes for good patient safety programs, you have to have intentionality around it, and I think you have to work really hard to build that culture of safety and situational awareness."
Before partnering with the Vanderbilt CPPA, Mercy addressed unprofessional behavior, but not in a defined, programmatic process.
Dr. Smith said the standardized and scalable approach, which is specific to about 17,000 physicians and advanced practice professionals across Mercy, is non-punitive and beneficial.
"It's designed to create clear awareness about behavior and the impact of perceived poor behavior. I think that's a very critical tenet and cultural aspect of the program," he said. "We don't use this as a punitive process; we use it to guide conversations about appropriate behavior. We also don't take sides in the process it's intended to be an awareness process."
On a day-to-day basis, if a caregiver has what they feel is a negative interaction with a physician or APP, Mercy relies on that caregiver to report and document their perceptions of the interaction.
"If they believe that [interaction] was unprofessional, then we ask them to categorize it as such in our anonymous reporting system," he added.
The report then gets triaged by Mercy, and if labeled unprofessional, it gets routed to the Vanderbilt CPPA team, which helps collect data and confirms, through a multi-tiered review process, if it is in fact unprofessional.
"We also reserve the right within that process to determine if something is egregious and needs to be escalated to a higher level because it may involve abuse, neglect, or something that requires immediate attention," Dr. Smith said.
The Vanderbilt CPPA then sends the Mercy team a list of reports, which the health system team reviews. This process from reporting to when the Mercy team conducts a review typically occurs within 24 hours, "because we know there's a high sense of urgency around any of these conversations," Dr. Smith said.
"For most physician reports, it requires what we call a 'cup of coffee' conversation," he said. "We've refined that a little bit at Mercy because we have a strong heritage around the Sisters of Mercy. Our founder, Catherine McAuley, and her original sisters, who led the organization, would often have comfortable cups of tea when they were having conversations where they were discerning issues and making key decisions. We've rebranded it to 'cup of tea conversations.'"
He said the goal is to identify a peer colleague to deliver the "cup of tea" not a physician leader, not a CMO, not a medical director, not a section chief or department chair. Mercy identifies one of the individual's colleagues at the bedside, shares the information with that peer, then asks them to have a conversation with the caregiver mentioned in the report for unprofessionalism.
"Essentially, that conversation is meant to be, 'Hey, Dr. X, we got a report the other day, and I just wanted to share a little bit of the detail,'" Dr. Smith said.
"'I don't know what might have been going on in that situation, and there's nothing that needs to be done in follow-up from this, but we want to make you aware there was an interaction with a caregiver that was perceived unprofessionally. I'm not saying they're right or wrong; I'm just letting you know that this was reported, and I want you to think about it.'"
While some physicians reported for unprofessionalism may want to provide a reason or bring up something that caused them to be angry or upset, Mercy encourages the reporter to acknowledge their feelings and concerns.
"It's not about right or wrong; it's just, 'Hey, this is the way the interaction was perceived. I just want you to think about it nothing else to do. But, it sounds like there was a system issue that we might address, so I'm going to escalate that, and we'll have the team look at whether there's an opportunity to improve the system so that we remove frustrations from the workflow,'" Dr. Smith said.
"Then that's it. We document in our system that the conversation was had and feedback received, and we're done nothing more to do."
The majority of staff never have to have that "cup of tea" conversation more than once. Data from the Vanderbilt CPPA shows more than 90% of individuals who receive feedback based on a single event never develop a pattern.
Addressing consistent unprofessionalism
For the small number of clinicians who exhibit an apparent pattern, Vanderbilt's CPPA team applies a research-based, multivariate algorithm to develop a risk profile that allows for tracking longer-term behavior. Once a certain risk threshold is met, the next level of intervention is initiated: "level one awareness." This includes a summary of the redacted, collated reports and a comparison of where the clinician lies compared to local and national benchmarks. These rankings include comparisons across Mercy, within a given specialty, and even nationally across the more than 100,000 clinicians within Vanderbilt's collaborative.
"That's pretty impactful because physicians are generally competitive by nature. So if you can share objective information that says, 'Hey, you're No. 2 out of 400 urologists across the nation,' that resonates," Dr. Smith said. "We'll then see a significant proportion of providers who, after that level one awareness, get back on track and not have any further issues."
When a provider does have three or more reports, Mercy asks questions such as, "What stresses might this provider be facing? Is this a symptom of burnout that we just haven't recognized yet? What resources do we think we can provide? Do they have internal professional stressors? Do they have external personal stressors?' What can we do to work with those providers to provide assistance?"
"Recognizing that, again, the vast majority aren't people intentionally being mean it's just a manifestation of something they're dealing with," Dr. Smith said. "So, how can we help with that? That's where we start to leverage this information when providers have more than three reports in a short period of time."
Dr. Smith acknowledged there was some reluctance when the program initially rolled out. He said Mercy still sees pockets of reluctance, which is why education around the program is critical.
"You could definitely roll out a program like this and have a lot of resistance and reluctance because it's not clearly understood what the intention behind it is," he said.
"It's really just all in how you deliver the message behind the program. And when you get them to understand truly this is patient-centric at its core, that's when you overcome that moment of anxiety associated with it that they may be feeling."
While the current program is specific to physicians and advanced practice providers, Mercy is exploring rolling the program out to nurses. The Vanderbilt CPPA programs are implemented nationally across physicians, APPs, nurses, residents and nonclinical faculty.
Rounding the floor with front-line nurses and staff is more than just a management practice for leaders to show face it is a vital tool for connecting with employees and driving meaningful change.
In conversations with hospital leaders, they often echo the sentiment of how routinely spending time with front-line staff uncovers opportunities to address pain points in their daily workflow. With nurses often pointing to lack of resources and support as drivers of job dissatisfaction and burnout, rounding represents a key strategy to positively affect staff engagement and retention, and thus, patient care.
Becker's recently asked four chief nursing officers to share a recent example of a time when rounding sparked a process change or improvement at their hospital. Here are their responses:
John Bowles, PhD, RN. CNO at HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center (Phoenix): A few months ago, while conducting leadership rounds in critical care, a nursing director requested I speak with one of our direct care nurses who has a passion to address workplace violence, particularly in the critical care setting.
During a subsequent conversation, the nurse explained how she had conducted an evidence-based literature search on best practices for preventing workplace violence, specifically related to patient and family behavioral escalations. Her passion for early recognition and intervention was undeniable.
Recognizing her potential, we connected her with the HonorHealth Workplace Violence Prevention Steering Committee. This collaboration allowed her to bring her advocacy to the decision-making table, leading to the establishment of a hospital-based workplace violence prevention committee that is integrated into our shared governance structure and reports to the network committee.
Additionally, we partnered with external agencies to trial expert-recommended de-escalation techniques. Her advocacy is transforming our approach to creating a safer environment for our team members, patients, families and the community we serve.
Marie Foley-Danecker, DNP, RN. Vice President and CNO at Hackensack Meridian Health Ocean University Medical Center (Brick Township, N.J.): I piloted a virtual nursing model to decrease administrative burden for front-line nurses. The pilot was a success, with noted improvement in length of stay, patient falls and use of premium staffing. Using feedback from the team, the model is being streamlined eliminating non-value-added tasks as we expand to other campuses.
Christy Grabus, BSN, RN. CNO at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center (Woodbridge): Rounding is central to Ms. Grabus' leadership style, she told Becker's in an August interview. Being on the ground with nurses routinely leads to changes that improve nurses' workflow and efficiency, she said.
In one recent example, Ms. Grabus was rounding on the hospital's intermediate unit when a nurse asked if it was possible to add windows to the doors of patient rooms. Previously, nurses had been keeping the doors open to have an easy line of sight to patients, which can be a barrier to patient privacy and pose an infection risk during infectious disease outbreaks. Ms. Grabus took the feedback to the hospital's facilities department and got new doors in play.
While such improvements may seem small or mundane, they add up overtime to improve nurses' workflow, she said.
"They're really big to them because when you think about how many times [nurses] do something over and over in a day, it can lead to delays in getting procedures done or time spent with patients, just depending on what the barrier may be," Ms. Grabus said.
Lauren Smith, MSN, RN. CNO at St. Alphonsus Health System (Boise, Idaho): On occasion, Ms. Smith arrives at the hospital around 4 a.m. to round with the night shift staff. In late August, she was chatting with a certified nursing assistant on the general surgery floor in the early morning who presented the idea of training CNAs to draw blood as a way to ease some of the effects of a phlebotomist shortage.
"I loved that idea, and it's definitely in scope for them," Ms. Smith said. "I reached out to my head educator and my director of acute care nursing and asked what it would take for us to get at least get our night shift CNAs up to speed on drawing blood so that they can help offload some of the burden on our phlebotomy team as well as our bedside nurses."
Leaders are now in the process of putting a curriculum together, aiming to start training certified nursing assistants within the next few weeks.
Renton, Wash.-based Providence and caregivers ofProvidence Hospice in Sonoma County, Calif., agreed to resolve allegations that workers were required to take on additional work and responsibilities without appropriate compensation.
The agreement resolves allegations filed with the National Labor Relations Board in June 2023 by approximately 130 registered nurses, social workers and other staff at the hospice care provider, according to the National Union of Healthcare Workers.
A news release from the union shared with Becker's said the complaint "documented that Providence had effectively forced many of them to take on more work and expanded duties several registered nurses had to assume case management responsibilities without being compensated."
As part of the deal, Sonoma Hospice agreed not to change caseload limits during the status quo period of first contract negotiations, according to a statement Providence shared with Becker's. The statement said there is also a change in the process for assigning overflow case management work assignments will be made by seniority rather than on a first come, first serve basis.
Additionally, the agreement includes a 5% daily differential for caregivers covering overflow case management assignments, bonuses to several caregivers who performed extra duties last summer amid a staffing shortage and a bonus for social workers to recognize them for their work and dedication.
Both sides agreed the deal is a win for the caregivers and for hospice.
"This agreement is good for us and for the families we serve because it means instead of racing in our cars from one family to another, our agency will have to staff appropriately so we can devote ourselves fully to our patients," Kristina Nauheimer, a nurse case manager at the hospice, said in the union release.
"We are grateful to have reached an agreement with the National Union of Healthcare Workers to settle an unfair labor practice charge over alleged changes to working conditions," Providence said.
"Sonoma Hospice is committed to continuing to provide the level of hospice services at the bedside that every patient needs and their family is counting on at a sacred time in their lives. However, caregivers are not expected and never have been expected to work more hours per day or see extra patients a day," said Providence.
The Federal Trade Commission submitted a Sept. 5 comment to the Indiana Department of Health urging it to reject an application for Terre Haute, Ind.-based Union Health to acquire Terre Haute Regional Hospital, part of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare.
Union Health and Terre Haute Regional have proposed to merge under a certificate of public advantage, which could protect the merger from antitrust scrutiny and lead to a deal that "would likely impose higher costs and could lead to worse healthcare outcomes for Indiana patients, as well as lower wage growth for hospital workers," the FTC said in a Sept. 5 news release. The parties filed a COPA application to merge in September 2023.
"Union Health has worked diligently to provide comprehensive data and documentation to IDOH, illustrating the potential positive impacts of the merger," a Union Health Sept. 5 statement shared with Becker's said. "The merger is not merely a business transaction; it is a strategic effort to improve health care delivery in our community."
COPA laws have been enacted in more than a dozen states. Indiana's COPA law requires hospitals to be located in predominantly rural counties with a population of 140,000 people or less. In addition, the county cannot be contiguous to another county with a population of more than 250,000.
"Union Healths proposed acquisition of Terre Haute Regional raises substantial risk of serious competitive harm and there is insufficient evidence to conclude that the potential harms from the merger would outweigh the claimed potential benefits," the FTC said.
The FTC found that Union Health and Terre Haute Regional are financially stable and could operate on their own without the merger. The FTC's analysis also found the merger would "likely depress wage growth for registered nurses due to increased employer consolidation."
Union Health disagreed and issued a statement saying that the merger represents an "innovative solution" in "overcoming persistent health disparities" in the area.
"The health challenges faced by our residents require a tailored approach and the proposed merger is a critical step forward in addressing these needs," the Union Health statement said. "As IDOH continues its thorough review of the proposed agreement, it is imperative that all voices are heard and the unique context of our community is taken into account."
A spokesperson for IDOH told Becker's Sept. 5 that it is still reviewing applications and plans to take all comments from the public into consideration.
On Sept. 4, two South Carolina residents filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against Walgreens, alleging the retailer failed to warn customers about a carcinogenic ingredient in a common cold medicine.
Guaifenesin, the generic for Mucinex, contains the known carcinogen benzene, but Walgreens packaging does not disclose this, according to court documents obtained by Becker's. The plaintiffs said they would not have purchased or would have paid less for the guaifenesin if they had known about the cancer-causing agent.
The Walgreens customers seek compensatory, statutory and punitive damages.
In the manufacturing of extended-release guaifenesin, thickening agents might contain benzene, according to Bloomberg. For years, the FDA has warned drugmakers about the risk of benzene contamination, but at least a dozen medications are made with thickening agents carbomers that might contain benzene.
By 2026, the United States Pharmacopeia plans to omit carbomers that are manufactured with benzene, Bloomberg reported.
Becker's has reached out to Walgreens for comment and will update this article if more information becomes available.
Blood tests are booming as a way to diagnose a variety of diseases.
This year, the FDA approved two blood tests to detect colon cancer, a blood test was developed to diagnose Alzheimer's, and a blood test was found to accurately predict cardiovascular events in women up to 30 years in advance.
More health systems and private companies are exploring the possibilities of blood tests this year.
Blood tests
Here are some of the recent news around blood tests Becker's has covered in the past year:
A single blood test was found to predict cardiovascular events in women over a 30-year period.
Swedish researchers found a blood test can diagnose Alzheimer's disease with a 91% accuracy about 20% higher than dementia specialists.
The FDA approved Guardant Health's Shield blood test for colon cancer screening.
Renton, Wash.-based Providence is launching a first-of-its-kind study to examine the real-world implementation of multi-cancer early-detection blood tests.
FDA advisers recommended the approval of Guardant Health's blood test to detect colon or rectal cancers but it also raised some concerns that Guardant's test was not as accurate as colonoscopy and noted Shield detected only 13% of advanced adenomas, or precancerous tumors.
Seattle-based Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center researchers found a blood test could detect colorectal cancer with 83.1% accuracy. The blood tests had a similar accuracy rate as at-home stool tests but are not as sensitive as a colonoscopy, researchers said.
Minneapolis-based Allina Health Cancer Institute launched a first-of-its-kind clinical trial using artificial intelligence and a simple blood draw to find and diagnose breast cancer.
Results from a pilot study led by New York City-based Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center suggest that a single blood test may be able to detect the presence of 50 different cancer types.
The Prostate Cancer Foundation released new guidelines for prostate-specific antigen-based screening in Black men, including using PSA blood tests as the first-line method of detection.
The CDC on Jan. 18 issued updated guidance for clinicians regarding exposure to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, urging them to consider a patient's individual history and possible exposure to the chemicals and to order blood tests as needed to detect both recent and past exposures.
Blood tests are gaining popularity and in some cases appear to be a new avenue for better diagnosis. However, in cancer, criticism has arisen that throws doubt onto the accuracy of blood tests for cancer.
Criticism
Four years ago, a study found that cancer has unique microbial signatures that would allow a blood test to diagnose cancer. The research has been cited more than 600 times. Dozens of groups have based new work on the data and even the private sector has taken notice, with several companies attempting to create blood screening tests.
But in June, the paper was retracted following criticism from other scientists who brought up issues with its methodology and findings. Skeptics say that some of the microbes flagged as components of cancer signatures weren't known to exist in humans.
The "near-perfect association between microbes and cancer types reported in the study is, simply put, a fiction," an analysis published October 2023 in the journal mBio stated. The analysis also found the researchers incorrectly deployed a genomic tool to match tumor data to microbial sequencing.
"It wasn't a close call," Steven Salzberg, PhD, a computational biologist at Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University, told the Journal. "This data is completely wrong."
When Nature retracted the study, it cited the above critiques and noted that the paper's authors agreed with its retraction. But the retraction has created a ripple effect, with many other studies having to correct or retract their work due to the original piece's flawed science.
After a yearsong effort to engage more clinicians in supply chain decisions, the University of Miami Health System has inverted the cost-quality-outcomes concept, according to supply chain leader Nate Yuen.
The system partners with the Emergency Care Research Institute, commonly known as ECRI, to bolster supply chain strategies. Mr. Yuen, associate vice president of supply chain strategy and value analysis at UHealth, said the partnership has spurred all sourcing discussions to start with clinical quality and outcomes, rather than cost.
That doesn't mean spending has risen, according to a 2021 post from the ECRI. In the orthopedic service line, an initiative to standardize products and manage costs led to more than $100,000 in savings.
Using ECRI data, UHealth's value analysis committee obtained a clearer picture of how medical products compared.
"This enabled us to show physicians what products they were using, respective utilization and costs for each item," Mr. Yuen said. "We found that demonstrating the true measure of how surgeons compare to their peers helps center the conversation."
Orthopedic surgeon Wayne Mosley, MD, of Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based AdventHealth has spent this year breathing life into an old hospital space and creating a specialty facility.
Dr. Mosley joined "Becker's Spine and Orthopedic Podcast" to discuss how he is approaching the top challenges and growing the hospital's market share.
Note: This is an edited excerpt. Listen to the full conversation here.
Question: At AdventHealth, what are some of the biggest headwinds that you're planning for the next 12 months or so? What's really top of mind for you?
Dr. Wayne Mosley: We made a commitment [in 2023] to open up an operating room suite in a hospital that is part of the AdventHealth Sebring Hospital. It's got three operating rooms, and it was basically discontinued. It'd been kept up because of the Joint Commission but it wasn't being utilized, and so we made that decision to convert that to a mini orthopedic hospital, and that's probably our biggest challenge that we're facing, is getting that off the ground. The administration has been excellent about revamping it and renovating areas, but there were a lot of things that just had to be done, such as pure processing of some of the operating room equipment. We've all been living through this logistical nightmare of trying to get things. And so getting some of that equipment is taking longer than what it did before COVID-19. That's our biggest headwind, and after that there's personnel.
[We're] trying to find competent orthopedic surgeons that are skilled, that we can bring here, that will work in a cooperative fashion with us, where we work as a team. I learned how important that was in the military to take a team approach. We want people that will come here provide good care, integrate into the community and be willing to help each other out.
Q: How do you take the clinical hat off and put the administrative hat on when you're trying to build out an additional service line, or just complete some of these projects?
WM: I probably don't ever take the clinical hat off. It has to be on. It has to shape what I'm doing. It has to make sense. It has to be good orthopedic care, or nothing makes sense. So I always leave that on, and I add management hat on to it.
Growing up on a farm taught me a lot about how to effectively work with and manage people. Same thing with the military. You've got to recognize who the stakeholders are in any kind of endeavor. You've got to make sure that they're buying in. You have to make sure that they're even more than buying in, that they're going to be active participants and they're going to help the process.
Some training that I've had throughout my life in business certainly helps me to be more critical of things from a financial standpoint. Every surgeon just can't get their own personal laser anymore. We have to be very judicious about how we spend our capital, and we've done that. We've only spent it on the things that we absolutely need and the things that will help us build to what our goal is of having an Orthopedic Center of Excellence here in South Central Florida.
Q: Where do you see some of the best opportunities for additional growth going forward?
WM: My administration is very straightforward and they're very fair, and when they hired me for this project, I said, 'We're getting 20% market share, and we want 70%.' I'm constantly thinking about growth. The first thing I want to do is to stem the tide of those folks who are in our area who think that they have to travel to the coast for better care. We've got to change that on our front with better physicians, with better facilities, with better equipment, and we're working diligently on doing that.
The second thing is we think we can be wildly efficient when we're in our Orthopedic Center. We want to be able to attract people to come into our area. We want to look at some of the other outlying areas and see if they'll travel to us The difficult part is, you've got to travel up I-4, you gotta cross these streets, and then you gotta park 500 yards away from the hospital. What we're proposing to do is [have patients travel] Highway 27 and park 20 yards from the hospital. They're not just a number, they're an individual. That's what we think we're going to do, and we're going to focus our efforts to grow our market share.
Many spine training programs embrace new technologies and teach minimally invasive techniques, but there are some complex cases that surgeons recommend all spine physicians master as well.
Next question: Is there anything you did at the start of your career that you wouldn't recommend early-career spine surgeons do now?
Please send responses to Carly Behm at cbehm@beckershealthcare.com by 5 p.m. CST Wednesday, Sept. 11.
Editor's note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: What is one complex spine procedure early-career surgeons should master?
Shawn Adams, MD, Norton Leatherman Spine and Norton Neuroscience Institute (Louisville, Ky.): A next level skill to master for early-career spine surgeons is the grade II posterior column osteotomy (PCO) or "Ponte" osteotomy. In the lumbar spine when planned and executed appropriately these can be a very beneficial correction tool. In the setting of what is sometimes viewed as a simpler surgery for short segment degenerative issues, a grade II osteotomy can prevent the iatrogenic flatback. The anatomical knowledge and individual skills required to perform this well are related or transferable to many other applications. The facetectomy portion is integral to many techniques, whether open or minimally invasive, for various transforaminal interbody fusions (TLIFs). Additionally, the skills of safely working around, localizing, and potentially decompressing the nerve roots is critical. It can be applied asymmetrically for coronal correction. It is a technique that can be applied at multiple levels for correction that decreases the risks of more significant morbidity and blood loss with a pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO).
When paired together with interbody arthrodesis, it can significantly increase the lordosis obtained with the interbody at the same level. I believe the utility of this PCO is greater than that of higher grade PCOs as demonstrated in the declining number of PSOs being reported. It is more frequent that we encounter people with thoracolumbar issues in need of instrumented fusions that, when evaluated by the aware surgeon considering their global sagittal alignment, would benefit from some restoration of appropriate lordosis through utilization of this technique and its applications rather than the morbidity associated with three column osteotomy. However, it foundational to the higher grade osteotomies and there are still going to be major and/or fixed deformities requiring those.
Paul Bagi, MD. Kayal Orthopaedic Center (Paramus, N.J.): While not one single procedure, I believe early-career surgeons should master revision spine surgery because it requires a broad range of essential skills. Revision spine surgery often involves addressing complications from prior surgeries, making it inherently more challenging. Mastery of revision surgery demands a thorough understanding of spinal anatomy and pathology, meticulous surgical planning, and the ability to adapt to unexpected intraoperative findings.
Revision surgery also requires a high level of precision and technique to ensure safe and effective outcomes, including achieving adequate decompression, restoring proper alignment, and placing stable instrumentation all while minimizing complications. By becoming proficient in revision spine surgery, early-career surgeons will build a strong foundation of surgical skills and clinical judgment, gaining the confidence to tackle complex cases and provide the best care for their patients.
Rachel Bratescu, MD. George Washington University (Washington, D.C.): A single but extremely versatile complex spine procedure that early career surgeons should master is a T10-pelvis. This requires skill in efficiency, exposure, pedicle screw placement, rod contouring and potentially a variety of interbody techniques depending on surgeon preference. This particular case can be a workhorse for revision lumbar degenerative pathology and primary adult deformity cases as well, making it an excellent procedure for early career surgeons to master.
Brian Gantwerker, MD. The Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles: The posterolateral thoracic corpectomy with instrumentation is critical to master early on. In many practices, a thoracic surgeon may not be available to get access to a lateral trans thoracic approach. While technically and physically demanding, this surgery is very powerful in terms of trauma, infection, and neoplasm. It is a difficult venture, especially late at night, when many of these seem to have to take place, but once a surgeon gets comfortable doing them, they can really save patient function if done in a timely manner.
Michael Oh, MD. UCI Health (Orange, Calif.): It is not necessarily complex, but it does have a steep learning curve and is not incorporated into most residency programs that prepare spine surgeons. It is also not taught in most spine fellowships. I am, of course, talking about endoscopic spine surgery.
This skill should be adopted early in your career. As an established spine surgeon who already has several minimally invasive techniques and procedures, it is difficult to incorporate a new technique that has a difficult learning curve. In addition to longer surgeries, different reimbursements, acquisition of new equipment, adopting endoscopic techniques exposes our patients to complications associated with that learning curve. This risk is something I can justify if I am early in my career and gaining expertise. But if I already do a very good job with mini-open or tubular approaches, it becomes much harder to justify.
Christian Zimmerman, MD. St. Alphonsus Medical Group and SAHS Neuroscience Institute (Boise, Idaho): Neurosurgeons are ultimately relied upon for their community omnipresence and lifesaving contributions for young and old patients. The neurotrauma surgical service provides urgent and nonurgent surgical interventions, consultation and referral for traumatic head and spinal injuries. Mastering these facets of surgical care is essential to the health of our communities and populace. This is achieved through nationally recognized and dedicated Trauma Centers, which possess the entire compendium of care continuum and post-surgical treatments.
Inside the FOCAC Summits media center: Tech meets tradition
11:24, September 05, 2024 By Peng Yukai, Zhao Tong, Michael Kurtagh ( People's Daily Online
The 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation is held from Sept. 4 to 6 in Beijing. One of the venues of the summit, the China National Convention Center offers a Technology and Culture Interactive Display Area, providing journalists, both Chinese and foreign, with immersive technology and intangible cultural heritage experiences. Follow Peoples Daily Onlines reporters and check it out together!
(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang)
Heron Bros were awarded the contract for the Ballycastle Shared Education Campus
Building company Heron Bros made a pre-tax profit of 11.6m in the year ending August 31 2023.
The most recent accounts from the Co Londonderry company also show a 40m jump in turnover from the previous accounting period.
Heron Bros is a family-owned construction and property development company based in Draperstown.
The firm recorded a turnover of 154m in the last year, a 35% jump from 2022s figure of 114m.
Most of the companys turnover comes from the sale of goods, with 151m coming in from those sources, with 3.1m generated through rental income. Heron Bros is the biggest landlord for private industrial land in Northern Ireland.
Cost of sales also increased at the business, going up to 135m from 98m the previous year, while their administrative expenses increased by 400,000 to 10.5m.
Taking into account other incomes and gains, the company made a pre-tax profit of 11.6m in 2023, a 5.7% rise from their 2022 profit of 10.9m.
On the companys balance sheet, current assets grew to 164m, up from 135m in the prior period.
This is partly accounted for by a big increase in debt owed to the company, which rose 36% last year to 122m from 89m.
This debt breaks down as a a 13m jump in money owed to Heron Bros from trade debtors, and a increase of 21m owed by group undertakings.
The company had a small increase in the number of staff in the past year. It now employs 317 people on average, up from 305 the prior year.
There was accordingly a small increase in staff costs, with wages, salaries and pensions costing the company 13.9m, up from 13.3m.
Directors remuneration increased by 30,000 last year, up to 1.78m.
The company also saw some notable changes in the past year with the direction of cash flows with related parties.
Heron Property Ltd paid Heron Bros 3.2m in 2023, having charged them 13.7m the year before. They now owe Heron Bros a total of 5.9m.
Meanwhile, Northern Mouldings Ltd received 500,000 from the company last year, having paid Heron Bros 2.4m in 2022.
Heron Bros was founded by six brothers in 1956, and has grown to become an multi-national company with offices in London, Glasgow, Manchester and a division in Poland.
It was ranked 53 in the Belfast Telegraphs Top 100 Companies in NI for 2024.
It has secured several high-value contracts in NI over recent years, including the 70m Ballycastle Shared Education Campus.
Most businesses on the island of Ireland are stable or growing, but many harbour concern about future access to skilled workers, a report said today.
The All-Island Business Monitor from cross-border body InterTradeIreland said a third of 750 small to medium-sized firms were in growth mode, while 56% were stable.
But one in three said they were struggling to find people with the right skills, with nearly 60% experiencing long-term vacancies.
In particular, the construction, manufacturing and leisure, hotels and catering sectors were feeling the effects of a tight labour market.
And companies of all kinds who are reporting growth, and those with 11 to 49 employees, were also feeling the impact of a tight labour market.
Economy Minister Conor Murphy said: The employment figures are extremely strong at the moment, which is a signal of a buoyant economy across the island.
As part of my focus on good jobs and regional balance, we are working closely with employers to ensure a correct skills match-up for their needs. I have recently announced a number of skills academies across the north which help to provide employers with the skills talent that they require.
I would encourage businesses to avail of supports available from economic agencies, including InterTradeIreland, that focus on improving innovation, efficiency and driving productivity.
He added that his department would continue to work with InterTradeIreland, Enterprise Ireland, the Republics inward investment agency, and Invest NI to ensure businesses are able to fully maximise the opportunities that dual market access presents.
As an indicator of economic demand, over a quarter of businesses saw sales rise in the second quarter of the year, while one in three expect sales to rise in the next six months.
And 70% were profitable, helped by the easing of energy and other cost pressures.
A third of firms said they were not impacted by Brexit, 46% said they have adjusted in full or to a large extent while one in five say they have only adapted to a small extent or not at all.
Ronan Callan, director of operations for precision engineering Exact Group outside Newry, said: We are invested in up-skilling staff and we are also taking advantage of dual market access to grow our business further as we supply right across the island and Great Britain.
"Our order book is in a strong position.
Overall, 62% of businesses surveyed say they have no knowledge at all of the Windsor Framework.
Martin Robinson, director of strategy for InterTradeIreland, said the body had developed a trade hub for SMEs seeking information about customs, VAT and cross-border employment.
He added: There are also changes coming in for businesses receiving parcels from Great Britain. If any firm needs help to prepare for these changes we can provide practical support.
"I would encourage businesses to contact us to see how we can help provide the answers to their questions and the practical support they need to grow their cross-border trade.
The three holiday parks in Co Down which have gone into administration feature static caravans like the above
Administrators have been appointed to the companies behind three well-known holiday parks in Co Down, Belfast Telegraph can reveal.
Owners of properties on the sites in Groomsport, Ballyhalbert and Cloughey, many of whom are retirees, were sent letters from administrators at business advisory firm BDO (NI) about the development.
And a cover letter from Encore Parcs, a separate business which operates the parks and is not affected by the administration, says: We would seek to reassure all residents/owners that the parks will continue to operate business as usual and your rights will remain unchanged.
The companies which are in administration a form of insolvency proceedings are Blackpool Rock, Lifestyle Homes N Ireland, Lifestyle Seeview, Lifestyle Living (NI) and Park Homes (NI).
All five have registered office address at Bury St Edmunds in England.
The affected sites are Windsor Holiday Park and Seahaven Park Homes in Groomsport, as well as Ballyhalbert Park Homes and Ballyhalbert Holiday Park, and Cloughey Holiday Village.
The parks, a mix of residential park homes, coastal lodges and static caravans, had been bought over by Lifestyle Living Group for 5m after a previous administration in 2012.
Windsor Holiday Park is billed on the website of Encore Parcs as a hidden gem the perfect location for a tranquil and relaxing getaway with family and friends.
Its static homes are advertised for 75,950 to buy outright, with would-be buyers able to try before they buy for 99 per night.
The letters to owners from Brian Murphy and Michael Jennings of BDO NI says their aim is to market and realise the assets within the companies for the benefit of their stakeholders.
We would envisage that this will involve the sale of the parks as a whole and should therefore not cause any inconvenience to you.
Residents' rights and services provided will remain unchanged and we would ask you to continue to meet your obligations, including paying your site fees.
They were appointed administrators to the companies by the High Court on Wednesday, the letter says. But no reason for the move was provided.
It said it will now hold meetings for property owners at each park, where people will be able to ask questions.
Mr Murphy added: I appreciate that this announcement may come as a surprise, but I would assure you that we are committed to managing the process in a transparent and open manner and that our priority is to maintain services and the upkeep of the parks as usual.
A 78-year-old owner of a holiday home on the Groomsport site, who did not wish to be named, said he was not overly concerned.
"Its a merry-go-round again but I didnt worry about it the last time as I knew someone would take it over, and its the same now.
"The administrators will sit down and put a value on it and Ill say therell be plenty of people waiting to buy it at the right price.
"Weve been here before and Ive no doubt the administrators will find a way through this.
News Catch Up - Wednesday 3rd September
The Microsoft co-founder and former worlds richest man has an optimistic take on AI, the environment and the future of the planet. Here, he talks about his Netflix documentary series, the outlandish conspiracy theories about him, how he assesses his own legacy and whether he has too much money
Bill Gates didnt see the conspiracy theories coming. The Microsoft co-founder built one of the most immense fortunes the world has ever seen with his foresight about the personal computer revolution, but he never predicted so many people would end up using those machines to cast him as a baby-guzzling, shape-shifting lizard who puts microchips in vaccines and plans pandemics for profit.
I thought the internet, with the magic of software, would make us all a lot more factual, he laments, a wry smile playing beneath his black-framed spectacles. The idea that we kind of wallow in misinformation Im surprised about that.
Not that hes complaining. I dont care how Im perceived, the 68-year-old assures me over a video call (Microsoft Teams, naturally) from his office in Kirkland, on the banks of Lake Washington, opposite Seattle. So even when a woman came up and yelled at me that I implanted stuff in her, that I was tracking her he took it in his stride. My life is fantastic, he says. Im the luckiest person alive, in terms of the work I get to do.
Online misinformation troubles Gates not because of his personal reputation, but because its the rare problem he doesnt have an answer for. In his new five-part Netflix documentary series, Whats Next? The Future with Bill Gates, the multibillionaire shares his optimistic vision of a world where scientific innovation rolls back climate change and eradicates deadly diseases while advances in artificial intelligence leave us all free to enjoy perpetual leisure time.
Its just the conspiracy theories that have him stumped. I feel a bit like weve handed that to the younger generation, he says. Both to face up to and to figure out: Okay, whats this boundary between free speech and incitement to violence, or harassment, or just craziness that gets people not to take health advice?
Gates is well aware that one reason grotesque and outlandish rumours about him capture the public imagination is because, as he puts it in the show, extreme wealth brings with it questions about your motives. He stepped down as CEO of Microsoft in 2000 to establish the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with his then-wife, aiming to give away lots of money to save lots of lives, yet he remains one of the worlds richest people (seventh on the real-time Forbes list, with an estimated net worth of $138bn [105bn]).
I ask him directly whether he can reassure me that billionaires do have the best interests of the rest of us at heart. His answer doesnt exactly set my mind at ease. Im a huge believer in the estate tax [the American equivalent of the UKs inheritance tax] and more progressive taxation, he replies. I dont think we should generally generationally let families whose great grandfather, through luck and skill, accumulated a lot of wealth, have the economic or political power that comes with that.
Not a ringing endorsement of the billionaire class, then. Would he agree that he is too rich? If I designed the tax system, I would be tens of billion dollars poorer than I am, he nods. The tax system could be more progressive without damaging significantly the incentive to do fantastic things.
Melinda Gates and Bill Gates. Photo: Chris Radburn/PA
Instead of voluntarily paying more tax, Gates has poured his wealth into projects he believes can raise the global standard of living. He has argued that hes able to take risks on long-shot innovations that governments wouldnt be prepared to gamble on and, in one episode of the new show, he presents some of the projects hes funding to try and contain the climate crisis, such as investing in new types of nuclear reactors and finding ways to make cement that dont emit CO2.
These sorts of innovations are essential because, as he explains, the majority of harmful carbon emissions are caused by generating electricity and the manufacture of things such as steel and concrete. I tell Gates that I find his analysis a little dispiriting simply because it reminds me how much my efforts to fly less often or waste less food pale into insignificance next to the vast structural changes that need to happen for society to reach net zero emissions.
First of all, let me say individual actions do add up, Gates argues back. Whether its acts of kindness, or creating demand for green products, everybody who buys foods that are made with lower CO2 helps to drive the volume, which helps innovation eventually outcompete the dirty stuff. So whether its electric cars or heat pumps or sustainable aviation fuel, I wouldnt completely discount that.
Its clear though that the major changes we need will have to be made by governments, so I ask if he finds himself sympathising with activists who feel driven to block roads, or throw paint on famous works of art, just to try to get politicians to pay attention? I agree that sometimes extreme tactics are very helpful at keeping this issue on the agenda, he says, Because the big, big pain of climate change is way out in the future I cut in here surely were already suffering the effects of climate change? Gates shakes his head. In terms of everything but the countries on the equator, the massive GDP impacts are not in the near term, but over time, he says, adding that he has no time for climate doomerism. Theres no doubt that its super important and that were underinvesting in it, but the idea that we should despair, we should almost give up, thats also not helpful to the cause.
We didnt realise, as we got richer, how many restaurants or psychiatrists we would end up needing
When it comes to the much-trumpeted benefits of AI, I confess to Gates that I struggle to share his optimism. When he describes a future where humans enjoy much more leisure, I picture CEOs instigating mass layoffs and telling us cheerfully to go enjoy our free time. AI might make businesses more efficient, but that doesnt necessarily improve the lot of those of us who have to work for a living.
Well, work weeks have gotten shorter, Gates tells me confidently, while I make a mental note to let my boss know Ill be finishing early. But he takes my point. I will admit that saying that through government policies we will take this extra productivity and we will spread it around properly, at a time when trust in government to do basic things is so low statements like that cause people to raise their eyebrows, but there is no other answer.
Gates argues that, as with climate mitigation, we will need governments to rein in corporations and restructure society to deal with the myriad effects of AI. As society becomes more productive, to make sure that those benefits are shared by the many, not just in the rich countries, but globally, it takes government involvement, he says. Philanthropy alone or well-meaning people alone cant do that. So its about picking politicians that see the benefits of AI and think about what that means for the tax structure and having economists who are really looking at this. I do think thats starting, and I think we have 10 to 20 years before the productivity benefits are so gigantic that you really do have to reshape taxation and work-week policies in a profound way.
As Gates sees it, the coming AI revolution will reshape society more thoroughly than any previous leap forward in human history. Theres no upper limit to this technology, he argues. At least with tractors we knew wed have less farmers, but there are a lot of other human needs. In those days we didnt realise, as we got richer, how many restaurants or psychiatrists we would end up needing.
In comparison to AI, Gates says the personal computer revolution was in some ways uncontroversial. When Microsoft was founded in 1975, their idea of putting a computer in every home sounded like a pipe dream. Now theres one in every pocket. Gates helped transform the world during that period, but he says the philanthropic work hes been focused on for the past 16 years has been profounder.
If I hadnt been part of the personal computer revolution, it would have happened, he points out. Would it have happened a year later or something? Who knows? But not super delayed, whereas when it comes to malaria, malnutrition, womens contraceptives, sadly, its a strange comment on the world, I dont think even a decade later those things would necessarily have happened. Its hard to do the what if, but if you run the world with me and without me, and you subtract the two, the philanthropy is a much more significant thing in terms of making things that are equity-oriented happen dramatically sooner than they would have otherwise.
Despite what all those ghoulish online conspiracies would have you believe about Gates, his impact on global health has been hugely significant and undeniably admirable. In 2000, 10 million children under five died every year. Today, that number is down to under 4.6 million deaths each year. The work of the Gates Foundation has drastically reduced the number of people who die from preventable diseases including malaria, polio and diarrhoea, although Gates insists that hes not in it for personal acclaim. The dream is to get rid of these diseases so nobody remembers what malaria was or what polio was, he says. Thats the ultimate success.
As remarkable as Gatess achievements in global health have been, and as hopeful as we might all be that his investments can have a similarly positive impact on climate change, it does raise the question of what happens after hes gone. The Gates Foundation is mandated to wind up 20 years after his death, and I point out to him that the new generation of billionaires whove overtaken him on the Forbes list, the likes of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, seem rather less interested in spending their vast fortunes on malaria nets, polio vaccines or climate solutions.
Gates says he tries to promote philanthropy to the ultra-rich, but he acknowledges thats not a long-term fix. The big work still has to be done by government, he says. Philanthropy is not a substitute for government. Making sure everybodys educated, has food, has shelter its the government whos going to create that safety net.
Thats the funny thing about Bill Gatess optimistic view of the future: it requires taking a lot of power out of the hands of billionaires like Bill Gates.
Whats Next? The Future with Bill Gates is on Netflix from 18 September
The treaty will require countries to monitor the development of AI (Alamy/PA)
The UK has joined the EU and the United States in signing the first international treaty on artificial intelligence, which commits nations to protecting the public from potential dangers linked to the technology.
This years Ulster Business Top 100 Northern Ireland Companies list, in association with KPMG, shows sales up across our firms, while pre-tax profits are down. Business leaders turned out at Belfast Harbour Offices to mark the launch of this years leading edition
Guests from across the sectors attended the Ulster Business Top 100 launch
Judith Martin, Ulster Business, Paul Muldoon, Mediahuis, Karen McGarvey, Mediahuis, Eoin Brannigan, editor-in-chief of the Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life, Ulster Business editor John Mulgrew, Mediahuis deputy publisher, Ed McCann and Karen Preston, chief commercial officer, Mediahuis
Company chiefs and industry leaders from across the sectors have turned out to celebrate the launch of this years Ulster Business Top 100 Northern Ireland Companies, in association with KPMG.
Belfast Harbour Offices Barnett Room acted as the backdrop for the event, which saw Top 100 firms and business chiefs from throughout Northern Ireland mark the official launch of this years leading business list and edition.
This year turnover reached a record level of 35.2bn across the firms which have made the list up 17% on the previous accounting period. However, average pre-tax profits fell by 8% to 1.32bn.
Moy Park has returned to the top spot for 2024 with turnover of 1.88bn and pre-tax profits of 18.7m.
Newcomers to this years list included Kingsbridge, D&W Carlisle and Charles Brand Group.
Speaking at the event, Ulster Business editor John Mulgrew said: Were in the Barnett Room this evening historically tied to one of our largest firms and based just a short walk from here.
And were in an area which has breathed industry for decades, even centuries.
Its something of a Northern Ireland private sector microcosm, and its reflected in this years Ulster Business Top 100, with many of said firms appearing on the list and joining us this evening.
Id once again like to thank everyone who has supported us in this special annual edition, along with those who have contributed. It helps make this all possible showcasing the strength and breadth of our local economy.
Id of course like to pay special thanks to KPMG which continues to be our partner with the Top 100 edition and in particular to partner in charge, Johnny Hanna, and Julie Thompson.
The event also heard from Belfast Harbour chair Dr Theresa Donaldson, who welcomed guests and outlined the ports plans for further growth and development.
Bolster Communitys social enterprise Acorn has launched a new candle collection
Bolster Buddies Bailey, Fergal, Matthew, Damien and Zoe celebrate their new Acorn Scents of Home range at Slieve Gullion
A Newry-based charity has launched a new range of candles under its social enterprise brand Acorn.
Bolster Community, which has been in existence since 2004, provides critical support for families and individuals on a local level and is one of the many charities that has been affected by the withdrawal of EU funding. Following this, its social enterprise Acorn was born.
As a charity, the funding sphere has become increasingly tricky following Brexit and leaving the EU, explains Elaine McAteer, Bolster Community communications and marketing manager.
There was lots of funding opportunities there that were automatically withdrawn from us.
Weve had to become entrepreneurial and more financially sustainable and off the back of that, social enterprise has become important to us, because those income streams help us work as a charity and do even more.
Acorn was established nine years ago and has released various products, with all proceeds returning to charity.
Theres been lots of trial and error in that and it has really grown to become a premium-looking brand that weve arrived at today, but it hasnt been without a lot of hard work and effort on behalf of the team, explains Elaine.
Weve got over 10 candle scents and from that we would do tin candles and glass candles, and we would do diffusers and then more bespoke things like gift hampers and so forth.
The end product is just what the proceeds are used for, and thats generated from the candle sales, and they all go back into Bolster and helping us kind of become more financially sustainable and help us do that bit more in the community.
Elaine McAteer, Bolster Community communications and marketing manager
This new range is a tribute to the area where the charity is based.
The whole idea around our latest launch, Scents of Home, is basically we wanted to do something special to acknowledge the fact that were coming up to our 20-year anniversary in October, says Elaine.
It has been an idea of our CEO, Jacinta, for a long time to do something that is a nice tribute to where we are in Newry, Mourne and Down and to do something significant to our home, but also the home of all our service users and beneficiaries, so thats been really important.
Bolster Community has been able to incorporate its candle making into the activities it does with its mixed-abilities adult group.
Theyre involved in the whole process, says Elaine, from the production aspect right through to them helping us with the new products that we recently did, in terms of artwork, direction and style that they liked, and feeding back on scents.
Then right through to helping us with the fulfilment of orders and helping us with the Christmas markets or any kind of markets or public appearances that we might have.
Acorn Scents of Home giftbox
This has had a positive impact on the people involved, with the team observing an improvement in overall confidence.
There are young guys coming here now for a couple of years and the growth we can see in these young people... some of it is pretty significant, in terms of their levels of maturity and communication skills and just general levels of confidence.
Theyre getting exposure and are being able to make new community connections that they just wouldnt have, so its just great. Its really great to see.
For the Bolster Community, accessibility in making its products was an important factor in the decision to do candle making.
We were looking for something that was accessible. It was something we could offer our young adults for day opportunities and theyre doing hands-on work and learning new skills, explains Elaine.
The feedback that Bolster Community has received for Acorn has been more than positive, as it has been recently shortlisted for the Social Enterprise NI Consumer Facing Award.
Acorn Scents Of Home range
Outside of its Acorn brand, the charity has two other sources of income to help fund its mission.
We have a series of award-winning, evidence-based programmes called Friends Resilience, says Elaine.
They are approved by the World Health Organization and are proven to help reduce anxiety in children and help with any emotional and developmental issues.
Our customers would be statutory sector agencies. It could be the local health trust or it could be schools who see the need in their classrooms or want to commission the services. So we would get various requests from that side.
Thirdly, Bolster Buddies, where our young adults of mixed abilities come for day sessions.
Bolster Buddy Michaela mixing wax
Elaine and the rest of the Bolster Community are hoping that this new launch will bring more attention to their cause.
Were hoping that well generate a boost of support from retailers across the North who would be interested in stocking products from a social enterprise charity like ourselves, and also from local businesses who might be looking at corporate gifting opportunities in the future.
Elaine explained that the social enterprise is always developing: Theres always room for more and to try to keep our sales going and keep it healthy.
We have put a lot into the new products. The hard work starts for us to make sure it takes off and that we get the support that were hoping for.
Last year the Bolster Community supported more than 9,000 vulnerable people. With a team of only 29 staff and around 22 volunteers, it hopes to continue this work with the publics support of Acorn.
For more, visit https://acornshop.co.uk/
Gisele P. (C) speaks to one of her lawyers, beside her daughter Caroline Darian (L) and her sons, at the courthouse during the trial of her husband accused of drugging her for nearly ten years and inviting strangers to rape her at their home in Mazan, a small town in the south of France, in Avignon, on September 2, 2024. The case involves 50 co-defendants. The defendants, 18 of whom are on remand, are men aged between 21 and 68 at the time of the events. (Photo by Christophe SIMON / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty Images)
A police investigation is now underway to establish the circumstances of the crash
A woman who died following a crash outside Ballymena has been named as Eileen Thornton, who was from the Broughshane and Glarryford areas.
The 44-year-old was involved in a single-vehicle collision which happened on the Cushendall Road on Tuesday evening.
Police and paramedics attended the scene shortly after 8pm.
Ms Thornton died later in hospital.
She was the much loved daughter of David and the late Angela, loving sister of Gareth and Gregory, sister-in-law of Jenny and Louise and dear aunt of Dean, Lewis and Courteney.
Her funeral arrangements will be announced later and family flowers only are requested. Donations in lieu, if desired, may be sent to James Henry Funeral Services 100 Broughshane Street, Ballymena BT43 6EE for NI Chest, Heart and Stroke.
PSNI Inspector Cherith Adair from the Police Services Collision Investigation Unit has offered condolences to the loved ones of Ms Thornton.
Our thoughts are with the family at this time and an investigation is now underway to establish the circumstances, she said.
The Collision Investigation Unit is appealing to anyone who may have any information which may assist with our investigation, or who may have been travelling in the area at the time and captured any dash-cam or other footage, to get in touch on 101, quoting reference number 1515 03/09/24.
Ms Thornton was driving a black Peugeot car when the crash happened.
It is the second death on Northern Irelands roads this week, after a man was killed in a car crash in Co Londonderry.
Alan Barr, an Ulster Unionist councillor for the area, said: "Within a 24-hour period, people are hearing the news of another tragic death on our roads.
"My thoughts and prayers are with the woman's family and friends.
"I also want to praise the efforts of the efforts of the emergency services who attended the scene. My sympathies are with them also as they regularly attend scenes of carnage on our roads.
As we enter the darker nights, unfortunately the risk of road traffic collisions increases.
"Therefore, I urge community groups and individuals to engage with organisations such as Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and Road Safe NI, who offer excellent road safety educational programmes.
News Catch Up - Wednesday 3rd September
Calls for NI inquiry into abuse by clerics in schools run by religious orders
Probe urged after report in Republic revealing 2,395 allegations of historical offences leads to the establishment of a commission of investigation
Victims' campaigner Margaret McGuckin
Allison Morris Thu 5 Sep 2024 at 07:45
There have been calls for the establishment of an inquiry here into historical abuse of children in schools run by religious orders following the shock findings of a scoping report in the Republic.
A former Christian Brother accused of sexually abusing schoolboys in his care was described as an evil man by one alleged victim who said he ruined my life, a court heard today.
Paul Dunleavy is standing trial at Belfast Crown Court on a total of 37 sexual offences which span over a period from 1964 and 1991 and involve former pupils from four schools.
The 88-year-old, from Glen Road in Belfast, denies all the charges.
On the fourth day of the trial, an achieving best evidence' police interview conducted in March 2022 with one of nine complainants was played to the jury.
In the interview, the former Gort na Mona Secondary School pupil claimed he was both physically and sexually abused by Brother Dunleavy in the mid-1980s and that he was an evil, evil, evil man.
The complainant told a police officer that he initially enjoyed his time at the west Belfast school but when Brother Dunleavy arrived when he was aged around 13, he was singled out and subjected to regular physical and sexual abuse which went on for months and months.
Saying I don't know why he picked on me, the complainant said: He had me tortured. He was a wicked, wicked man. He was full of anger.
The man claimed that Dunleavy used to stand in a corridor, pull him to the side, wouldn't allow him to attend class and beat him on his hands and legs with a big leather strap.
He said this left him with welts and his hands were red-raw and on occasions, he was beaten to a pulp... I was only a boy and he was a grown man.
The complainant also said Dunleavy hit me with his hands... big slaps around the head, around the arse, around the legs, just anywhere that suited him.
He was just a bad, bad man. He destroyed me, he destroyed my school. I was only a boy. He ruined my life.
During the interview, the complainant was asked by the police officer to describe Dunleavy and he said: He was a big tall man, an enormous man, an evil auld man, very wicked.
The complainant was then questioned about his allegations of sexual abuse, which he said occurred in Dunleavy's office or in the toilets.
Describing what happened to him as stinking and horrible, the complainant told the police officer Dunleavy used to touch him down below and would rub himself against me and that this occurred regularly.
Telling the officer that Brother did physically and sexually abuse me and that's the bottom line, he said the abuse came to an end when he stopped going to school.
Following the playing of the police interview, the complainant was cross-examined by defence barrister Gary McHugh KC who told the Belfast man his client Dunleavy denied beating or sexually abusing him.
Mr McHugh questioned the allegations he made to the PSNI, suggested he invented what he claimed happened and said his motivation for this was to make a claim for money.
These suggestions were rejected by the complainant who insisted the physical and sexual abuse did happen.
The jury of six men and six women have already been told that Dunleavy has been convicted on two separate occasions of a series of sexual offences against children in his care at a number of schools where he taught.
Former Irish President and ex-RTE' journalist Mary McAleese has recalled feeling laughed at when she predicted that IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands would be elected to Westminster in 1981.
The ex-head of state, who is from NI and served from 1997 to 2011, made the revelation in an interview with RSVP magazine about the things that get her down in life and her most memorable moments.
In response to being asked when have you felt laughed at?, Ms McAleese recalled working on the Irish broadcasters Today Tonight programme during the hunger strike.
When I suggested based on a simple headcount of the eligible electorate that Bobby Sands could possibly win the election in Fermanagh South Tyrone, she said.
"Of course, he did.
Every other broadcaster seemed to have journalists as numerate as I was and they covered the election count which was a watershed moment in Northern Irish, UK and Irish politics.
"The programme boss disagreed so strongly that he made no plans for a crew at the count and a broadcasting slot.
Ms McAleese described the experience as not RTE's finest hour from a broadcasting point of view and said it was a decision point for me career wise.
The republican prisoner became an iconic figure after he was elected to the House of Commons as an MP just 26 days before he died.
The infamous and bitter by-election following the sudden death of sitting MP Frank Maguire saw Bobby Sands beat unionist Harry West despite the hunger strikers lacklustre campaign.
Ms McAleese also revealed that she once aspired to become an airline pilot but was disabused of that notion by my optician" before going on to become a lawyer.
Asked about her biggest regret, the ex-politician and academic said it was forming an insatiable attachment to Tunnocks Tea Cakes.
Ms McAleese said her decision to go to Rome after her term in office to study Italian and Latin for a Licentiate and Doctorate in Canon Law in a very real way redefined my life.
Despite human stupidity that sustains God-awful politics being cited alongside religious teachings, bigotries and vanities as among the things that get her down, the eight President of Ireland still has strong opinions on whats happening in the world.
The former current affairs broadcaster warned Russias invasion of Ukraine is a threat to Europe and lamented the war in Gaza as her no laughing matter moment".
Hamas outrageous attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 which has unleashed a war by the Israelis that has moved far beyond justifiable self-defence into a clearance pogrom against Gazan citizens and looks more and more like a land grab to me, Ms McAleese said before expressing the drive behind her ambition.
"The belief that love can transform the world into a place where all humanity flourishes.
The eldest of nine children, Ms McAleese grew up through the the Troubles.
She has previously said she was "literally a refugee on my own island" and recalled having to flee her Ardoyne home due to the conflict.
Asked what advice she would give her 16 year-old self, Ms McAleese said: Keep your friends from across the sectarian divide for they will have your back for life.
Christie Adam Bradley discovered online sexual images of a man and sent them to his family and business account. Stock photo
A lorry driver who discovered online sexual images of a man and sent them to his family and business account has avoided imprisonment.
Christie Adam Bradley received a four-month suspended sentence for distributing the explicit material and then telling the victim it would take five grand for him to stop.
The 32-year-old of Milewater Drive in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, admitted charges of harassment, sending menacing messages via an electronic communications network, and disclosing private sexual photographs.
Belfast Magistrates Court heard Bradley targeted the man in June last year after identifying him from images he had posted on a Twitter account.
Screenshots of the victims photos were sent to his mother and other family members, friends and his Facebook business page.
With Bradley operating a pseudonym social media account, the man exchanged messages with him in an attempt to find out who he was and what he wanted.
He requested that the user of the account stop sending messages and asked him what it would take for him to stop, a prosecutor said.
The person replied five grand donated to mens mental health.
The court heard that the victims mother was distressed at receiving messages which contained explicit messages of her son and referred to her home address.
The mans sister also had to update her security measures as members of the family described how they lived in fear.
Police inquiries with Facebook established that an email address associated with the pseudonym account was linked to the defendant.
Bradley was arrested last September on suspicion of blackmail, harassment and sending electronic communications with intent to cause distress or anxiety.
During interviews he admitted sending the messages, claiming he thought it had been funny after working out the identity of the Twitter account.
He stated that he regretted it now and if he could make things right he would, the Crown lawyer added.
In relation to asking for the 5,000 he stated that it was just a throwaway comment, he never intended to blackmail the victim.
Defence barrister Rachael McCormack described the offences as pretty mean.
He just didnt seem to appreciate the consequences of his actions at the time, she told the court.
He was sitting behind a computer screen, he thought it was funny and he now realises that it absolutely was not.
Ms McCormack added that her clients wife is angry and ashamed at his behaviour.
Based on Bradleys guilty pleas, District Judge Anne Marshall suspended the four month prison term for two years.
She told him: I do not understand your motivation. You didnt even know this person who put some photographs up on the internet, obviously not intending that somebody would find them and send them to his (family) and put them on his business page.
His mother and sister are very, very distressed and horrified by the whole thing.
Kinnegar army base has been used for Armed Services Career events since it closed
The PSNI is seeking to buy the massive site of a former Army base in Co Down.
The organisation is the preferred bidder for Kinnegar Barracks in Holywood which has been derelict since the Ministry of Defence announced it was closing back in 2016.
The information was disclosed to local residents in a letter issued by Alliance MLAs Connie Egan and Andrew Muir issued on Thursday.
It seeks to reassure them that the current intention is that access to Airport Road will remain closed to the public to ensure a minimum impact in terms of additional traffic.
"We will continue to press the importance of this matter with PSNI, the document states.
Our discussions remain ongoing and we are meeting with police officials in the coming weeks.
"We have already raised the need for continued engagement and consultation with the community, including on how best to keep noise and disruption from construction and then operation to a minimum.
The sale of the disused complex which was deemed surplus to requirements was held up by the Covid-19 pandemic which saw the site turned into an emergency mortuary.
Its unclear why the PSNI is in pursuit of the 54-acre site, which would be big enough to house a new headquarters and/or training facilities.
The revelation comes on the same day that the Chief Constable told a Policing Board meeting that he expects the police service to be front and centre of Stormonts draft programme for government as he believes health and education have been funded reasonably well.
Jon Boutcher highlighted a 34m gap in finances and made reference to an October monitoring round when money could be released, but was adamant that policing numbers would not be cut as it is not safe for people living here.
The Belfast Telegraph has asked the PSNI why it is seeking to acquire the site, how much it intends to pay for it, and how it will do so given serious budget restraints.
North Down MLA and Daera minister Andrew Muir has welcomed the move which he said would put many local residents minds at ease, as it rules out a private developer stepping in.
He told the Newtownards Chronicle he has consistently been on the record stating that consulting with and securing the buy-in of local residents is essential to any plans or works that may be undertaken.
Alderman Martin McRandal and I have regularly raised our concerns on behalf of residents in the Kinnegar area, including worries arising from any possible opening of new access routes.
It is my understanding that, although matters continue to be developed, the current intention is for access to remain closed to the public, and all traffic from the base will continue to enter and exit from Airport Road, thereby avoiding any further traffic issues arising in the Kinnegar residential area.
I am grateful to the police for agreeing to meet alderman McRandal and I, and their commitment to ongoing engagement as this potential development progresses.
In a statement, the PSNI confirmed it had expressed an interest in acquiring the Kinnegar site and has been identified as preferred bidder as part of the D1 Disposal process for Public assets".
"This process is managed by Department of Finance, Land & Property Services and Central Advisory Unit. We will continue to undertake significant engagement with various key stakeholders, including local residents, to discuss all the potential opportunities and benefits of any development.
A teenage girl has been sexually assaulted on a bus in Northern Ireland.
The incident happened on the public transport vehicle travelling between Belfast and Dunmurry at around 7.40pm last Friday.
Police have appealed for information.
Officers would like to speak with a man who was described as having short hair, a beard and wearing a dark coloured tracksuit and light coloured shoes, a PSNI spokesperson said.
Anyone who witnessed anything suspicious should call Police on 101 and quote reference 711 of 01/09/24.
News Catch Up - Wednesday 3rd September
Ukraine has been badly affected by mines (The State Emergency Service of Ukraine/AP)
Ireland should be increasing support for a UN agency training mine clearance specialists in Ukraine, according to an Irish expert.
David McMahon, head of the mine action unit at the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), started working in the area of demining in Cambodia during the early 1990s.
UNOPS is tasked with delivering a variety of projects for other UN agencies around the world, including the Mine Action Service.
In Ukraine, UNOPS is primarily working on improving the states capacity to carry out demining.
Its operations in the region are funded by France, the UN Development Project and the Netherlands.
Since hostilities in 2014, Ukraine has become one of the most heavily mined countries in the world.
The National Mine Action Authority (NMAA) estimates that more than a third of Ukrainian territory is potentially contaminated with explosive ordnance as a result of the Russian invasion in 2022.
Mr McMahon said land mines are being used by both Ukraine and Russia in the conflict.
Based on data collected and on prior land release in 2023, the World Bank says the current total costs for the clearance of explosive ordnance across Ukraine are an estimated 34.6 billion dollars.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights says that as of January 15 this year, there were 339 civilian victims of mines and explosive remnants of war and 757 people were injured.
Clearing explosive hazards will be a prerequisite to the return of safe living in Ukraine after the war.
Mr McMahon, who also has experience in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Georgia and Sudan, said: At the moment, we are training and equipping the bomb squad of the Ukrainian national police.
They have 350 men and women that are out clearing munitions, clearing IEDs, clearing devices.
They plan to scale up to about 1,500 personnel over the next year and were helping them with that.
UNOPS is also training Ukraines state transport service, a specialist unit of the defence ministry tasked with protection and construction of the national transportation system.
Mr McMahon said UNOPS is helping train and equip up to 480 deminers.
He said UNOPS works on humanitarian sites in areas of Ukraine which have been retaken from the Russian military and does not work within 20 kilometres of the frontline.
Asked about the scale of the task to clear mines and other explosives from all of Ukraine, Mr McMahon said the process will take years.
Mr McMahon, based in Kyiv, also said there is a huge requirement for prosthetics and orthotics due to injuries from mines and other explosives.
There are world-class centres here but the scale of the problem is huge, its absolutely massive.
Asked how demining has changed since he began in the early 1990s, Mr McMahon said the process in Cambodia relied on mass numbers of people, interviewing local residents about the contamination and carrying out a technical survey of the land.
He said equipment and processes around mine action have drastically improved.
Drone technology has advanced greatly, artificial intelligence (AI) has advanced greatly. Were using dogs, were using big tiller machines, were using IED robots theres a whole plethora of things.
He said there are algorithms which can look at patterns in satellite photos of land and determine they are clear, for example if a field had been cultivated since hostilities ceased.
However, Mr McMahon cautioned: The problem here is the scale which is just massive.
A further issue is a shortage of personnel for demining, due to the large numbers killed or fighting in the war as well as those displaced by the conflict.
Asked what the Irish Government could do to support UNOPS, Mr McMahon said: Ireland has world-class training facilities with the Irish Defences Forces. You cannot send people in here, however we can send people to Ireland for training.
As a neutral state, Ireland does not support offensive military operations. However, we (UNOPS) work with the national police, we work with non-combatants. Everything we do is humanitarian and neutral.
The Irish Defence Forces has been at the forefront of writing IED doctrine for the UN, thats used in Somalia and Mali and elsewhere.
Here in Ukraine, we have an IED problem and Ireland could really help with that.
Mr McMahon argued that it would be more sustainable for Ireland to deal with the Ukrainian state in the area of demining, rather than NGOs.
He called for Ireland to support the training of the Ukrainian polices bomb squad.
He also suggested Ireland could be involved in the production or procurement of required IED robots in Ukraine.
This will be an intergenerational problem, he said.
Paul Donoghue, who spent most of his adult life in and out of jail, now employs former prisoners and recovering addicts at his cleaning services company (Brian Lawless/PA)
A Dublin man who spent most of his adult life in and out of jail is now helping former prisoners start again with a clean slate.
Paul Donoghue, a social enterprise manager and founder of New Creation Cleaning Services, employs ex-inmates and recovering addicts, giving them an opportunity to reintegrate in society.
The not-for-profit company offers cleaning services for different commercial entities as well as domestic properties.
Paul Donoghue employs ex-inmates and recovering addicts at his cleaning services company (Brian Lawless/PA)
Mr Donoghue started using heroin at the age of 16. He was jailed for the first time when he was 18 and then was in and out of prison over the following 17 years.
Some 10 years ago, he was released from jail and faced major barriers to finding work.
I didnt really have any trade or experience to put on a CV because of addiction issues, he said.
I had to learn how to function as a husband and a father.
Though I was able to successfully find employment after a couple of years, it was still a challenge. I saw the obstacles and barriers of finding employment.
Almost two years ago, he established New Creation Cleaning Services through the Social Enterprise sector and provides work for people who have been through the criminal justice system.
We provide a different range of services, whether its for high-rise buildings, window cleaning, power washing for communal areas, flat complexes, or deep clean for housing associations, he said.
The reason for its existence is to give opportunity and training and employment to guys who would have difficulties finding work, whether it be because they have been through the criminal justice sector, whether theyre coming out from addiction recovery, and even those who would maybe not be able to enter employment for whatever reasons.
And it includes those who are being marginalised or for not having work experience.
We are set up to give support, membership and training for those who might find it difficult to gain employment otherwise.
We hope to give the initial support to boys, whether its upon release, they need some support, reintegrate and mentorship, whether its in relation to relationship building, or skill development, upskilling.
They have to understand what is needed to be able to hold down a job and then be aware of the different skill sets that they might be lacking.
Paul Donoghue said giving his employees a sense of wellbeing and purpose can prevent reoffending and is a personal motivation; for him (Brian Lawless/PA)
Some of the former prisoners are referred to Mr Donoghue, while others meet him through word of mouth.
The business, which is in its second year, does not receive Government funding and currently employs eight people.
Mr Donoghue added: We have to be very careful in recruiting, because without the turnover of work we cant sustain staff, and that is a balance were trying to find.
We dont receive public funding and we work on a not-for-profit basis. While we have a social mission, we have to operate like every other business.
We take on boys based on our ability to support them and mentor them into employment.
A lot of boys, when they come out from long-term imprisonment, they have issues with isolation, theres been a breakdown in relationships.
There has been a lack of experience of working and functioning in society.
They have lived in a different environment in prison.
Our initial conversation is that this is a job like every other job, and you will be required to work like everyone else, but they will also receive additional supports around their relationships or court dates or see sponsors who are involved in their lives.
What we require is an honesty from the boys. If theres any drug abuse or violence, its a straight dismissal as we wont tolerate any messing about.
We have to trade and compete with other cleaning service companies out there, and we cant go in and win contracts based on giving people opportunities. Its a fine balance.
He added: If these boys have a meaningful job and they have a sense of wellbeing and purpose, it can prevent reoffending.
Theres a personal motivation for me. I enjoy seeing boys succeed and I really do it from a passion, and its more a vocation more than a job.
John Logan, chief executive of Social Enterprise in Ireland, said there are around 4,300 social enterprises across Ireland.
They provide services including advocacy, member benefits and community development.
Social enterprises are in every community in the country.
They are businesses that trade but are set up for social impact and all the profits go back into the social mission of the organisation.
A lot of the social enterprises work with people who come out of the criminal justice system.
Mr Logan said: When people come out of the criminal justice system, their confidence is in their boots. They havent used whatever skills they had for a long time.
They might have addiction issues and what theyre looking for, really, is mentoring and support, a bit of routine and ideally employment.
Research shows that 81% of them feel that the fact that they come out of the criminal justice system makes them very unlikely to be given the opportunity to get into valuable work.
We say We can take you on.
Some of the organisations make outdoor furniture, they are given monitoring and training and sense of purpose as well as flexibility.
The stigma prisoners feel after they have been released isnt based on how long a sentence they have served. It can be a year or eight or 10 years, the stigma remains.
Taoiseach Simon Harris is to discuss European security with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Rzeszow on Thursday.
Mr Harris will hold a bilateral meting with Mr Tusk on his arrival in Poland following a day of engagements in Ukraine.
They are expected to discuss cultural and economic links in the context of EU membership.
Simon Harris shakes hands with Volodymyr Zelensky during his visit to Ukraine (Stefan Rousseau/PA)
The two leaders will discuss the upcoming term and institutional changeover in the EU and Polands presidency of the EU next year.
The Taoiseach will brief Mr Tusk on his meeting in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
They are also expected to discuss the security situation in Europe, including along Polands border with Belarus.
They will also discuss the war in Gaza.
There is an opportunity to create a Polish-Irish synergy on shaping European policy, Polands prime minister has said.
Donald Tusk made the remarks as he hosted Taoiseach Simon Harris for a bilateral meeting in Rzeszow.
Mr Harris was in eastern Poland on his return from engagements with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
In Rzeszow, the Irish and Polish leaders discussed the Russian war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza as well as issues on the agenda of the European Council, including migration and security.
Taoiseach Simon Harris holds a press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Rzeszow, Poland (Stefan Rousseau/PA)
Mr Tusk said Ireland sets an important example for other countries by providing unequivocal support for Ukraine while maintaining its military neutrality.
Neutrality cannot mean indifference towards evil and the tragedy that befalls innocent people, he said.
Therefore I want to emphasise how much we appreciate the personal engagement of the Irish prime minister in providing non-military but humanitarian aid to Ukraine in these difficult times for the country.
Mr Tusk also said the two countries shared views on what European politics should look like.
He said this follows on from a traditional friendship which was founded on the fact that many Polish people emigrated to Ireland in the past.
Praising Irelands economic resilience and creativity, Mr Tusk said the two countries could leverage a Polish-Irish synergy to profile new European policies on security and competitiveness.
He said he counted on Irish support for calls for increasing protection of Europes eastern border in Poland, including an air-defence system.
As Mr Tusk was president of the European Council for almost the entirety of the strenuous negotiations with the UK over post-Brexit arrangements, Mr Harris said he was grateful for the solidarity the prime minister showed to the people of Ireland.
He said: Thank you for your leadership during a most difficult time for my country and indeed for the European Union as we together navigated the unprecedented challenges posed by Brexit.
Your friendship, your solidarity, but also your skill really helped managed that process.
He added: The people of Ireland and the Government of Ireland will always be grateful and consider you a true friend.
Mr Harris said Ireland had benefited from the approximately 100,000 Polish people living in Ireland.
Whilst we are geographically far away, in our hearts and in our minds, we are close.
The Defence Secretary has dismissed concerns about a potential fracture in UK-US relations after he announced the suspension of some arms export licences to Israel.
About 30 out of a total of 350 licences have been suspended after a review found there was a risk they could be used in violation of international humanitarian law.
The decision has severely strained the UKs relationship with Tel Aviv.
But speaking during a visit to HMS Diamond in Portsmouth on Thursday, John Healey dismissed concerns about its impact on UK-US relations.
He told the PA news agency: We stand alongside the US as one of Israels staunchest allies, totally committed to its right to self defence.
But also, like the United States, pressing Israel to accept their responsibility for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Thats the way the conflict and fighting ends.
A ceasefire that can get all of those hostages out, get the aid into Gaza and that can be the basis for a longer-term path to permanent peace in the region.
But in the end that can only come from the two-state solution that (Prime Minister) Keir Starmer, back in October last year, promised that if we came to government he and this country would help lead a new push for peace, and thats what weve been doing since.
Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the UKs shameful decision and said Britains misguided decision will only embolden Hamas.
A statement on his account on X, formerly Twitter, said: Days after Hamas executed six Israeli hostages, the UK government suspended thirty arms licences to Israel.
This shameful decision will not change Israels determination to defeat Hamas, a genocidal terrorist organisation that savagely murdered 1,200 people on October 7, including 14 British citizens.
Hamas is still holding over 100 hostages, including five British citizens. Instead of standing with Israel, a fellow democracy defending itself against barbarism, Britains misguided decision will only embolden Hamas.
The British Embassy in Lebanon has been urging British nationals such as Navana Mayhew to leave the country (Navana Mayhew/PA)
A British woman in Lebanon resisting calls for UK citizens to flee the country has said she is not scared of the possibility of war despite rising tensions.
The British Embassy in Lebanon has been urging British nationals in the country to leave while commercial travel options remain available amid growing attacks between Hezbollah and Israel.
Navana Mayhew, 33, from Colchester in Essex but based in Beirut, told the PA news agency she has no plans to leave.
I understand what the embassy is saying of course we should take precautions, we should have plans but I have a job here, I have a life here, its too much just to put up and go, she said.
Navana Mayhew has two sons in Lebanon (Navana Mayhew/PA)
Ms Mayhew, who moved to the country four years ago and lives in Beirut with her two young sons and Lebanese husband, argued Lebanese citizens in Beirut are unafraid of war reaching the capital.
The debt adviser said: I have a job here, my child goes to school here and my youngest, hes going to nursery.
Im a member with Middle East Airlines, thats the main operating airline here, and Im in contact with them if they were ever going to shut flights, they would soon let us all know.
Ive lived here now for four years, and I have friends here who have lived here longer. Theyre other British expats, and they have no fear. They havent left either.
Her family in the UK are concerned but she argued that she knows the country well and added: Im not scared at all.
Ms Maythew said one of her sons, Markus, four, holds a British passport but she has not yet organised one for five-month-old Lukus. It can take up to 12 weeks according to the British governments website.
Navana Mayhew has lived in Lebanon for four years (Navana Mayhew/PA)
She said it is a concern that she does not have a passport for her son yet and she has contacted the embassy about the issue.
Ms Mayhew heard a sonic boom for the first time in early August as Israeli military aircraft flew at high speeds low over the Lebanese capital.
Israel was doing sonic booms around Beirut, and they were weird to me but everyone, the Lebanese citizens of Beirut, theyre so used to it, they didnt care, she said.
In my four years of being here and my seven years of visiting Lebanon, Ive never heard sonic booms and one went right past our house, and it was like an explosion.
I ran to the balcony and I told my eldest son to get under the bed because I just didnt know what it was, and it was nothing.
I was like, what the hell was that, and I remember calling my husband, and saying, whats going on and he was at work. He was in downtown Beirut, and he heard them, and said its nothing to worry about.
Ms Mayhew said she felt sad for people living in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces have been exchanging near-daily fire with Hezbollah since clashes along the border began on October 8.
But were fine, and no one seems to care here in Beirut, no one seems to worry about it, no one seems to give it a second thought, she added.
When you live around that for so long, you adapt to this feeling.
The British Embassy in Lebanon has said: We advise against all travel to the whole of Lebanon.
If youre a British national in Lebanon, we encourage you to leave now, while commercial travel options remain available.
The former director of public prosecutions has warned that justice against those responsible for the Grenfell Tower blaze could be delayed until 2030 (Victoria Jones/PA)
Justice against those responsible for the Grenfell Tower blaze could be delayed until 2030, a former director of public prosecutions (DPP) has warned following the end of the inquiry into the 2017 block fire.
It comes after comments by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner that the Metropolitan Police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) must act as quickly as possible, with her echoing the words of the bereaved that justice delayed is justice denied.
The Met Police has said it will need an estimated 12 to 18 months to study the report line by line before any criminal charges are brought.
The force has previously said a total of 19 companies and organisations were under investigation for potential criminal offences, along with 58 individuals.
Potential offences under consideration included corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, perverting the course of justice, misconduct in public office, health and safety offences, fraud, and offences under the fire safety and building regulations.
Lord Macdonald, a former DPP, said delays in the criminal justice system meant criminal trials linked to the Grenfell blaze may not start before 2029, which could lead to verdicts only being returned the following year, the Guardian reported.
Unless processes are massively expedited, justice is a very long way away, he said, according to the newspaper.
The criminal justice system is still suffering terribly from austerity cuts, which did enormous damage.
The upshot is that it now takes years for cases to come to trial after charge. Criminal cases arising out of Grenfell are likely to be many and complex.
The Crown Prosecution Service is speaking of charging decisions in 2026. This is probably optimistic. But even if it is right, on current trial schedules, it could be two or three years later before trials can be heard.
Some are potentially talking about 2028, 2029.
The inquiry report concluded that the deaths of all 72 people in the 2017 blaze in west London were avoidable (Yui Mok/PA)
Michael Mansfield KC, who represented survivors and residents at the inquiry, said after the inquiry was announced the government should have said prosecutions would take priority, the Guardian reported.
The deaths of all 72 people in the 2017 blaze in west London were avoidable and had been preceded by decades of failure by government, other authorities and the building industry, inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bicks report concluded.
The tower block was covered in combustible products because of the systematic dishonesty of firms who made and sold the cladding and insulation, he added, with cladding company Arconic and insulation firms Kingspan and Celotex coming in for particularly heavy criticism.
The Prime Minister has also said it is imperative that there is full accountability for what happened including through the criminal justice process.
Chief Superintendent Bill Duffy, of City of London Police, said on Thursday: At around 5.30am today, we were made aware of protesters at the Unilever House on New Bridge Street. There is a proportionate policing operation in progress.
At this time, 11 people have been arrested on suspicion of locking-on under Section 1 of the Public Order Act 2023. A further seven people have been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass.
Members of the environmental campaign group locked themselves on to barricades made from giant Dove products, one of Unilevers biggest brands, with each products logo changed to a dead dove.
The protesters unfurled a banner across the front of the building, which had the phrase real beauty isnt this toxic printed on it, over an image of a Dove label.
Activists outside Unilevers headquarters in central London (Lucy North/PA)
Greenpeace demonstrators want Unilever to remove single-use plastic from its operations and phase it out fully within a decade, starting with plastic sachets, which they say are near impossible to collect and recycle.
Will McCallum, co-executive director at Greenpeace UK, said: Unilevers plastic pollution is trashing the planet and harming communities.
They hide behind the clean, respectable face of brands like Dove but were here today peeling back this facade to show the ugly truth behind it.
He added: We wont let up todays action may be over but our campaign against Unilever will continue to escalate unless it puts a proper plan in place to phase-out single-use plastic.
Greenpeace UK called on Unilever to back a treaty that caps and phases down plastic production by at least 75% by 2040 at these UN negotiations.
Police remove activists outside Unilevers headquarters (Lucy North/PA)
A Greenpeace International report published in November last year claimed Unilever was the biggest corporate seller of polluting plastic sachets, small throwaway plastic packets of consumer products, selling 1,700 a second in 2023.
A spokesman for Unilever said: Our ambition at Unilever is clear: an end to plastic pollution through reduction, circulation, and collaboration. We recognise the important role that we play to help make this ambition a reality which is why plastic is one of our four sustainability priorities.
Weve already reduced our virgin plastic use by 18% and increased our use of recycled plastic to 22% recognised by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation as one of the businesses making the most progress to reduce its virgin plastic packaging footprint.
However, our work is far from over. Our updated plastic goals are stretching and focus on the areas that we know will have the most impact such as continuing to reduce our virgin plastic use and developing alternatives to hard-to-recycle flexible plastic packaging, like plastic sachets.
We are fully committed to working with industry partners and other stakeholders to develop viable, scalable alternatives that reduce plastic waste.
But overcoming a challenge of this scale will require more systemic change. Thats why were calling for a UN treaty on plastic pollution that sets legally binding global rules and addresses the full lifecycle of plastic.
The inquiry is currently examining the construction of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow (Andrew Milligan/PA)
A site manager at a superhospital described it as non-compliant and said she had concerns over water safety due to lack of staff, the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry heard.
Phyllis Urquhart, a compliance manager at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, joined the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) campus in 2017, two years after it opened.
She gave evidence at the inquiry, which is currently investigating the construction of the QEUH campus in Glasgow, including the Royal Hospital for Children, and was launched in the wake of deaths linked to infections.
Ms Urquhart said that several critical roles around water safety were not filled until 2018, and described the site as non-compliant.
Queen Elizabeth University Hospital opened in 2015 (Andrew Milligan/PA)
She said there was a significant turnover of staff and she believed insufficient training was provided.
The inquiry heard an audit was missed in 2019 and Ms Urquhart urged for it to be completed but this never happened.
Graham Maciver, junior counsel to the inquiry, asked: What was (the) level of compliance when you started?
Ms Urquhart said: Non-compliant. It was very difficult to obtain any sorts of records across the board.
She described QEUH as a completely different beast from other buildings she had been in, and in early 2018 she began to think it was unsafe.
Ms Urquhart said she was very, very disappointed at the lack of staff in the plant rooms, and it was difficult to obtain records, either electronically or on paper, and described the site as a jigsaw.
She said: When I started there in the compliance manager role I was very, very disappointed, because I thought, where are the people?
I know for a fact there wasnt staff in roles. In the plant rooms it was a significant challenge in terms of size of water tanks, size of pumps, that was significant, and you think to yourself, this is a complete different beast from other 11 storey buildings youve been in and seen.
Ms Urquhart said roles including authorised person for water, and a responsible person for water had not been filled when she started, and she felt training was insufficient to do the job competently.
She said it was difficult to obtain records, and said: You would maybe be going in looking for specific records, planned preventative maintenance tasks, records as to alterations carried out to pipework.
Something as simple as, can you tell me who the authorised person is?; what contractors we are using?; qualifications for contractors and our own staff; a whole range of water related assurances you would be looking for.
Mr Maciver said: Was there a point where you started to cross over to think this isnt a safe system?
Ms Urquhart said: Possibly yes, maybe beginning of 2018.
She said this was based on my knowledge and seeing the whole big picture.
Ms Urquhart said she felt single bedrooms created a problem for the healthcare environment, and toilets being repurposed as storage space was an issue which continued to cause her frustration.
Giving evidence, she said that she felt it was her personal responsibility to ask about a missed audit in 2019 which was never completed.
She said: Personally, I think theres a big education shortfall for all individuals involved within the healthcare environment.
Ms Urquhart said she was met with pushback in her role, but tried to put robust and relevant systems in place.
She said: I think that everyone asked about the job and the individual role always has these greater expectations to achieve, to put systems in place so that no-one was put at risk, and I dont feel Ive achieved that.
The inquiry continues in Edinburgh in front of Lord Brodie.
A health worker carries medication to be given to a man suffering from mpox at the Kamituga General Hospital in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Moses Sawasawa/AP)
The first batch of mpox vaccine has arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congos capital, the countrys authorities said.
It comes three weeks after the World Health Organisation (Who) declared mpox outbreaks in 12 African countries a global emergency.
The 100,000 doses of the MVA-BN vaccine, manufactured by the Danish company Bavarian Nordic, have been donated by the European Union through Hera, the blocs agency for health emergencies.
Another 100,000 are expected to be delivered on Saturday, authorities said.
Unicef is going to be in charge of the vaccination campaign in the most impacted provinces, health minister Roger Kamba told reporters after the delivery of the vaccine.
But it remained unclear when the vaccination drive would begin.
About 380,000 doses of mpox vaccines have been promised by Western partners such as the EU and the US, Dr Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, told reporters last week.
That is less than 15% of the three million doses authorities have said are needed to end the mpox outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo the epicentre of the global health emergency.
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, had been spreading mostly undetected for years in Africa before the disease prompted the 2022 outbreak in more than 70 countries, Dr Dimie Ogoina, the chairman of Whos mpox emergency committee told reporters last month.
Malaysias Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim gestures while speaking to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia (Kristina Kormilitsyna/AP)
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that Malaysia will not bow to demands by China to stop its oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea as the activities are within the countrys waters.
Mr Anwar said Malaysia would continue to explain its stance following Chinas accusations in a protest note in February to the Malaysian Embassy in Beijing that Kuala Lumpur had infringed on its territory.
Malaysias Foreign Ministry said it was investigating the leak of the diplomatic protest note that was published by a Filipino media outlet on August 29.
We have never intended in any way to be intentionally provocative, unnecessarily hostile. China is a great friend, but of course we have to operate in our waters and secure economic advantage, including drilling for oil in our territory, Mr Anwar said in a televised news conference from Russia, where he is on an official visit.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer published the diplomatic note in which Beijing reportedly demanded that Malaysia immediately halt all activities in an oil-rich maritime area off Sarawak state on Borneo island.
The report said China had accused Malaysia of encroaching on areas covered by its 10-dash line, Beijings controversial map showing its claims to sovereignty in the South China Sea.
The diplomatic note also expressed Beijings displeasure over Malaysias oil and gas exploration activities near the Luconia Shoals, which is near to Sarawak, it said.
Mr Anwar said it was not the first time China had sent a protest note over the South China Sea dispute but stressed it should not mar a strong relationship.
Mr Anwar had called China a true friend during a visit to Malaysia by Chinese President Li Qiang in June to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties.
Malaysias Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim gestures as he speaks upon his arrival at the International Airport in Vladivostok, Russia (Yulia Egorova/AP)
We have said that we will not transgress other peoples borders, Mr Anwar said.
They know our position They have claimed that we are infringing on their territory.
That is not the case. We say no, it is our territory.
But if they continue with the dispute, then okay, we will have to listen, and they will have to listen.
Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan all dispute Beijings claims to almost the entire South China Sea.
Unlike the Philippines which has had public clashes with China in the disputed area, Malaysias government prefers diplomatic channels.
It rarely criticises Beijing publicly, even though Chinese coast guard ships have sailed near Malaysias waters.
This is partly to protect economic ties as China has been Malaysias top trading partner since 2009.
Far-right Protestant militia linked to race-hate arson attack at Belfast church
Loyalist sources brand ringleaders who have previously tried to get their hands on guns as religious whackos
The church in east Belfast was targeted by a racist gang
Sunday Life Reporter Thu 5 Sep 2024 at 09:40
A racist attack on a Belfast church used by foreign nationals has been linked to a self-styled far-right Protestant militia.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us
We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.
Jennifer Huberdeau is the features editor at The Berkshire Eagle. She can be reached at jhuberdeau@berkshireeagle.com or 413-496-6229.
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Community members gathered at The Common on Saturday to remember loved ones who have died of suicide and walk for suicide prevention.
Geoffrey Noble retired as New Jersey State Police lieutenant colonel in 2022 and has been leading a private security firm since. He takes over as Massachusetts State Police superintendent next month.
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The Irish Prison Service (IPS) has confirmed that they are aware of an incident of unlawful entry at the site of the former Cork Prison and are assisting gardai with their enquiries.
In a video posted on TikTok, a man is seen filming a walk around the old prison which he describes as being one of the best abandoned facilities of its type he has ever seen.
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The social media influencer behind the post specialises in visiting abandoned buildings.
In a statement the IPS said that the matter has been reported to gardai.
We are assisting them in their enquiries. The Prison Service takes the security of all facilities within the prison estate very seriously. However, we do not comment on security or operational matters.
"Members of the public are advised not to attempt to enter the former prison for safety reasons. All such instances will be reported to gardai.
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"In relation to the future of the site, the IPS has indicated that engineering consultants are carrying out a detailed assessment of the facility in order to provide a feasibility report on the site.
"They will then consider options for its potential short, medium and long term use.
The IPS statement also emphasises the poor condition of the prison when it closed eight years ago.
It is important to recognise that multiple reports including those by the Inspector of Prison and the CPT and the 2012 feasibility study on Cork Prison highlighted at the time serious deficiencies on the physical conditions of the former prison and significant health and safety concerns which resulted in the then closure of the facility and the construction of a new prison.
Meanwhile, the old Cork Prison closed in 2016. It was originally built as detention unit by the British army in 1806 as part of its Victoria Barracks.
A new 45 million prison was built on Rathmore Road in Cork in 2016. The feasibility report on the old site is expected shortly.
The Chinese government is no longer allowing foreigners to adopt its children, a spokeswoman has said.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the only exception will be for blood relatives adopting a child or a stepchild.
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She did not explain the decision other than to say that it was in line with the spirit of relevant international conventions.
Children attend classes at a foster home of the New Hope Foundation on the outskirts of Beijing, China (Ng Han Guan/AP)
Many foreigners have adopted children from China over the decades, visiting the country to pick them up and then bringing them to a new home overseas.
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China suspended international adoptions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The government later resumed adoptions for children who had received travel authorization before the suspension in 2020, the US State Department said in its latest annual report on adoptions.
A US consulate issued 16 visas for adoptions from China in the 12 months from October 2022 through September 2023, the first in more than two years, the State Department report said.
It was not clear if any more visas had been issued since then.
Hunter Biden arrived on Thursday at court in Los Angeles for the first day of jury selection in his federal tax trial, just months after the US presidents son was convicted of gun charges in a separate case.
He is accused of a four-year scheme to avoid paying at least 1.4 million dollars (1.06 million) in taxes while receiving millions of dollars from foreign business entities.
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He is already facing potential prison time after a Delaware jury convicted him in June of lying on a 2018 federal form to purchase a gun that he possessed for 11 days.
Hunter Biden walked into the court holding hands with his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, and flanked by Secret Service agents.
He is already facing potential prison time after a Delaware jury convicted him in June of lying on a 2018 federal form to purchase a gun that he possessed for 11 days.
US President Joe Biden hugs his son Hunter Biden during the Democratic National Convention (Paul Sancya/AP)
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Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to the charges related to his 2016-2019 taxes and his lawyers have indicated they will argue he did not act wilfully, or with the intention to break the law, in part because of his well-documented struggles with alcohol and drug addiction.
US district Judge Mark Scarsi, who was appointed to the bench by former president Donald Trump, placed some restrictions on what jurors will be allowed to hear about the traumatic events that Hunter Bidens family, friends and lawyers say led to his drug addiction.
The judge barred attorneys from connecting his substance abuse struggles to the 2015 death of his brother Beau Biden from cancer or the car accident that killed his mother and sister when he was a toddler.
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He also rejected a proposed defence expert lined up to give evidence about addiction.
The indictment alleges that Hunter Biden lived lavishly while flouting the tax law, spending his cash on things like strippers and luxury hotels in short, everything but his taxes.
Hunter Bidens lawyers had asked Judge Scarsi to also limit prosecutors from highlighting details of his expenses that they say amount to a character assassination, including payments made to strippers or pornographic websites.
The judge has said in court papers that he will maintain strict control over the presentation of potentially salacious evidence.
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Meanwhile, prosecutors could present more details of Hunter Bidens overseas dealings, which have been at the centre of Republican investigations into the Biden family often seeking without evidence to tie the president to an alleged influence peddling scheme.
The special counsels team has said it wants to tell jurors about Hunter Bidens work for a Romanian businessman, who they say sought to influence US government policy while Joe Biden was vice president.
The defence accused prosecutors of releasing details about Hunter Bidens work for the Romanian in court papers to drum up media coverage and taint the jury pool.
The judge will ask a group of prospective jurors a series of questions to determine whether they can serve on the jury, including whether their political views and knowledge of the case would prevent them from being impartial.
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Sentencing in Hunter Bidens Delaware conviction is set for November 13.
He could face up to 25 years in prison, but as a first-time offender, he is likely to get far less time or avoid prison entirely.
Israeli strikes in the occupied West Bank killed six people, including the son of a prominent jailed militant, say Palestinian health officials.
Israel has been carrying out large-scale raids in the territory over the past week which it says are aimed at dismantling militant groups and preventing attacks.
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The Palestinians fear a widening of the war in Gaza.
Palestinians look at a damaged car following an Israeli airstrike in Tubas, West Bank (Majdi Mohammed/AP)
The strikes overnight in the northern West Bank town of Tubas killed six people, including Mohammed Zubeidi, the Palestinian Health Ministry said on Thursday.
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His father, Zakaria Zubeidi, was a well-known militant commander during the second Palestinian uprising in the early 2000s and took part in a rare jail break in 2021 before being arrested and returned to prison days later.
The Israeli military said it conducted three airstrikes in Tubas on militants who threatened its soldiers.
Meanwhile, Palestinian health officials say an Israeli strike on a tent camp in Gaza killed four men and wounded two children.
The strike early on Thursday hit an encampment near the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central city of Deir al-Balah.
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Hospital officials confirmed the toll and an Associated Press reporter saw the bodies.
The military said a fighter was killed in an airstrike in the built-up Al-Faraa refugee camp after allegedly hurling a firebomb at Israeli forces.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference in Jerusalem (Abir Sultan/AP)
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The Israeli military said it carried out a precise strike on a command and control centre operated by Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group that was embedded in a humanitarian zone.
The nearly 11-month-long war has displaced about 90% of Gazas 2.3 million people, often multiple times.
Israel has ordered mass evacuations into so-called humanitarian zones but occasionally carries out strikes there as well.
A woman who identified herself as Umm Mohammed Wadi said she was staying in a tent close to where the strike occurred.
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What did they do to be struck while sleeping? she said. No hospital is safe, nor any school or home.
Israel says it only targets militants and tries to avoid harming civilians.
A demonstrator with his hands tied calls for a ceasefire deal and immediate release of hostages held in Gaza during a protest in Tel Aviv, Israel (Ariel Schalit/AP)
The Gaza Health Ministry says at least 40,861 Palestinians have been killed and more than 94,000 wounded since the start of the war.
It does not differentiate between civilians and fighters in its toll.
The war began after Hamas launched a wide-scale attack into Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 people.
Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, about a third of whom are believed to be dead, after most of the rest were released during a ceasefire in November.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that Malaysia will not bow to demands by China to stop its oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea as the activities are within the countrys waters.
Mr Anwar said Malaysia would continue to explain its stance following Chinas accusations in a protest note in February to the Malaysian Embassy in Beijing that Kuala Lumpur had infringed on its territory.
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Malaysias Foreign Ministry said it was investigating the leak of the diplomatic protest note that was published by a Filipino media outlet on August 29.
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We have never intended in any way to be intentionally provocative, unnecessarily hostile. China is a great friend, but of course we have to operate in our waters and secure economic advantage, including drilling for oil in our territory, Mr Anwar said in a televised news conference from Russia, where he is on an official visit.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer published the diplomatic note in which Beijing reportedly demanded that Malaysia immediately halt all activities in an oil-rich maritime area off Sarawak state on Borneo island.
The report said China had accused Malaysia of encroaching on areas covered by its 10-dash line, Beijings controversial map showing its claims to sovereignty in the South China Sea.
The diplomatic note also expressed Beijings displeasure over Malaysias oil and gas exploration activities near the Luconia Shoals, which is near to Sarawak, it said.
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Mr Anwar said it was not the first time China had sent a protest note over the South China Sea dispute but stressed it should not mar a strong relationship.
Mr Anwar had called China a true friend during a visit to Malaysia by Chinese President Li Qiang in June to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties.
Malaysias Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim gestures as he speaks upon his arrival at the International Airport in Vladivostok, Russia (Yulia Egorova/AP)
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We have said that we will not transgress other peoples borders, Mr Anwar said.
They know our position They have claimed that we are infringing on their territory.
That is not the case. We say no, it is our territory.
But if they continue with the dispute, then okay, we will have to listen, and they will have to listen.
Advertisement
Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan all dispute Beijings claims to almost the entire South China Sea.
Unlike the Philippines which has had public clashes with China in the disputed area, Malaysias government prefers diplomatic channels.
It rarely criticises Beijing publicly, even though Chinese coast guard ships have sailed near Malaysias waters.
This is partly to protect economic ties as China has been Malaysias top trading partner since 2009.
Stephen Chamberlain, an associate of tech tycoon Mike Lynch, died in hospital three days after a car crested a humpback bridge and struck him while he was out running, an inquest heard.
Caroline Jones, area coroner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said 52-year-old Mr Chamberlains medical cause of death was recorded as traumatic head injury.
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She told an inquest in Alconbury: A vehicle travelling between Stretham and Wicken on the A1123 crested a humpback bridge and was presented with a runner crossing the road from the nearside to the offside between two parts of a bridleway.
She said the car struck Mr Chamberlain, causing him significant injuries.
Cambridgeshire Police said the collision happened on August 17th.
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A view of the sign for the village of Stretham in Cambridgeshire, near where Stephen Chamberlain was killed while out running (Sam Russell/ PA)
Miss Jones said Mr Chamberlain was taken to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge and his death was formally confirmed at 3.50am on August 20th.
Police investigations remain ongoing, therefore no further date has been fixed for these proceedings to resume, Miss Jones said.
I adjourn todays hearing to a date to be fixed at the end of police investigations and any possible prosecutions.
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I extend my condolences to the family of Stephen Chamberlain.
Tech tycoon Mr Lynch died after the Bayesian superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily last month.
Mr Chamberlain was the co-defendant in his US trial and, alongside Mr Lynch, was cleared earlier this year of conducting a massive fraud over the sale of software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011.
Relatives of Mr Chamberlain said in an earlier tribute released through police that he was a much-loved husband, father, son, brother and friend.
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He was an amazing individual whose only goal in life was to help others in any way possible, his family said.
He made a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
Stephen Chamberlain, who was hit by a car while out running, and died in hospital three days later. (Cambridgeshire Police/PA)
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He will be deeply missed but forever in the hearts of his loved ones.
Cambridgeshire Police previously issued an appeal for witnesses after Mr Chamberlain was in collision with a blue Vauxhall Corsa car on the A1123 Newmarket Road near Stretham.
The force said the car was travelling between Stretham and Wicken when the collision happened at about 10.10am.
Police said the driver of the car, a 49-year-old woman from Haddenham, remained at the scene and was assisting with inquiries.
Gary Lincenberg, Mr Chamberlains lawyer, said in an earlier statement: Our dear client and friend Steve Chamberlain was fatally struck by a car while out running.
He was a courageous man with unparalleled integrity. We deeply miss him.
Steve fought successfully to clear his good name at trial earlier this year, and his good name now lives on through his wonderful family.
HP acquired Cambridge-based Autonomy, founded by Mr Lynch in 1996, for 11 billion US dollars (8.35 billion), but later wrote down its value by 8.8 billion US dollars (6.68 billion) and asked the US justice department to investigate fraud.
Mr Chamberlain, a former vice-president of finance at the company, was accused of artificially inflating Autonomys revenues and making false and misleading statements to auditors, analysts and regulators in 2018.
Both he and Mr Lynch were found not guilty of the charge in June following a trial at a federal court in San Francisco, California.
New Zealands Maori chiefs have crowned a new queen in a traditional ceremony which also laid to rest King Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII.
Nga Wai Hono i te Po, the youngest child of the late monarch, became the second Maori queen, kuini in the native language, in a tradition dating back to 1858.
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Her father died on Friday following heart surgery, just days after the 18th anniversary of his coronation.
A waka, a traditional canoe, is paddled by warriors on the Waikato River as part of the funeral of New Zealands Maori King (Alan Gibson/AP)
Mourners flocked to the North Island town of Ngaruawahia on Thursday to pay final respects to the late monarch and witness the ascension to the throne of the 27-year-old Queen Nga Wai.
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As she was escorted onto Turangawaewae marae an ancestral meeting place, where her fathers casket lay draped in feathered cloaks cheers rang out among thousands crowded around TV screens outside and waiting along the banks of the Waikato River to glimpse the funeral procession.
After her ascension, Queen Nga Wai accompanied the late kings coffin in a flotilla of traditional canoes along the river as he was guided by Maori warriors to his final resting place.
The events marked the end of a week-long funeral rite for the late king, 69, who had in recent months rallied New Zealands indigenous people to unity in the face of a more racially divisive political culture.
He became king after his mothers death in 2006 and on Thursday was buried alongside her in an unmarked grave on Taupiri Maunga, a mountain of spiritual significance to his iwi, or tribe.
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His daughters ascension represents the rise of a new generation of Maori leaders in New Zealand, one which grew up steeped in a resurging language that had once almost died out.
Crowds gather outside Turangawaewae Marae for the funeral of New Zealands Maori King, Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII (Alan Gibson/AP)
The Kingitanga, or Maori royalty movement has a ceremonial mandate rather than a legal one and was formed after the British colonisation of New Zealand to unite tribes in resistance to forced sales of indigenous land and the loss of the Maori language and culture.
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After a centre-right government took power in New Zealand last November and began to enact policies reversing recognition of the Maori language, people and customs, the late monarch took the unusual step in January of calling a national meeting of tribes which was attended by 10,000 people.
The best protest we can make right now is being Maori. Be who we are. Live our values. Speak our reo, he told them, using the Maori word for language. Just be Maori. Be Maori all day, every day. We are here. We are strong.
Tuheitia urged New Zealanders to embrace the concept of kotahitanga unity of purpose in a cause that he said had room for everyone.
His words were echoed throughout the days of his funeral, including by political leaders whose plans he had rallied to oppose.
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In a reflection of the place that Maori language and customs have grown to hold in New Zealands public life in recent decades, his funeral was attended not only by Maori tribes but by leaders of all political parties, past prime ministers, leaders of Pacific Island nations, diplomats and representatives of the British crown.
A message of condolence from The King to the people of Aotearoa New Zealand, following the death of Kiingi Tuheitia.
Please follow the link to read His Majestys message in full: https://t.co/S1tQJs0rti pic.twitter.com/pk0ukWq4rZ The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) August 29, 2024
Tens of thousands of ordinary people also flocked there. Many spoke to each other in Maori, a language that had steadily waned after colonization until activists in the 1970s provoked its renaissance. Among their initiatives was the establishment of Maori language pre-schools, the first graduates of which are now young adults.
The late king, a truck driver before he took the throne, was a surprise appointment to the monarchy, which is chosen by a council and is not required to be hereditary.
But the new queen was groomed for the role and had accompanied her father in his work during recent years.
Her ascension comes at a fraught political moment. Since 1858, the Kingitanga has championed Maori sovereignty and the other promises of modern New Zealands founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840 between the Crown and Maori tribes.
In the years since, translation issues and attempts to reinterpret the treaty have at times provoked conflict, which has in recent months flared again.
A man killed in a shootout with police in Munich was an 18-year-old citizen of neighbouring Austria, police have said.
Authorities believed the teenager may have planned an attack on the Israeli Consulate in the German city.
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The suspect was fatally wounded near the consulate and a museum on the citys Nazi-era history after officers were alerted to a man carrying a gun in the Karolinenplatz area at around 9am on Thursday.
The suspect, who was carrying an old long gun with a bayonet attached to it, died at the scene.
Police officers block a street after the incident in Munich (Matthias Schrader/AP)
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There was no indication that anyone else was hurt, spokesman Andreas Franken told reporters.
Five officers were at the scene at the time the gunfire erupted. Police quickly deployed around 500 officers to the area.
Police said the gunman was an 18-year-old from Austria, but investigators were still looking into his motive.
They did not give further details on the suspect, who left a car near the scene.
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We have to assume that an attack on the Israeli Consulate possibly was planned early today, Bavarias top security official, state Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann, told reporters at the scene.
Its obvious that, if someone parks here within sight of the Israeli Consulate then starts shooting, it most probably isnt a coincidence.
Police officers stand next to their vehicles after the incident in Munich (Matthias Schrader/AP)
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Thursday was the 52nd anniversary of the attack by Palestinian militants on the Israeli delegation at the 1972 Munich Olympics, which ended with the death of 11 Israeli team members, a West German police officer and five of the assailants.
There may be a connection that must be cleared up, Bavarian governor Markus Soder said.
Police said they had no indication of incidents at any other locations or of any other suspects.
In Austrias Salzburg province, police said the suspect, an Austrian with Bosnian roots, had come to authorities attention in February 2023.
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They said that, following a dangerous threat against fellow students coupled with bodily harm, he had also been accused of involvement in a terror organisation.
There was a suspicion that he had become religiously radicalised, was active online in that context and was interested in explosives and weapons, a police statement said, but prosecutors closed an investigation in April 2023.
However, authorities did ban him from owning weapons until at least the beginning of 2028. Police said he had not come to their attention since.
Police officers block a street after the incident in Munich (Matthias Schrader/AP)
Israels Foreign Ministry said the consulate in Munich was closed when the shooting occurred and that none of its staff had been hurt.
The nearby Munich Documentation Centre for the History of National Socialism, which opened in 2015 and explores the citys past as the birthplace of the Nazi movement, also said all of its employees were unharmed.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he spoke with German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
He wrote on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that together we expressed our shared condemnation and horror at the shooting.
Speaking at an unrelated news conference in Berlin, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser described Thursdays shooting as a serious incident but said she didnt want to speculate on what had happened.
She reiterated that the protection of Jewish and Israeli facilities has the highest priority.
A teenage boy charged with killing four people at his high school in Georgia was interviewed last year by police about anonymous online threats, the FBI said.
The 14-year-old opened fire at his high school outside Atlanta, killing four people and wounding nine.
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The teen has been charged as an adult in the deaths of Apalachee High School students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, along with instructors Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53, Georgia Bureau of Investigation director Chris Hosey said at a news conference.
Mourners pray during a candlelight vigil for the students and teachers killed at Apalachee High School in Georgia Mike Stewart/AP)
At least nine other people eight students and one teacher at the school in Winder, about an hours drive northeast of Atlanta were taken to hospitals with injuries.
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All were expected to survive, Barrow County sheriff Jud Smith said.
The teen, now 14, is to be taken to a regional youth detention facility on Thursday.
Armed with an assault-style rifle, the teen turned the gun on students in a hallway at the school when classmates refused to open the door for him to return to his algebra classroom, classmate Lyela Sayarath said.
The teen had earlier left the second period algebra classroom, and Miss Sayarath believed the quiet student who recently transferred was skipping school again.
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But he returned later and wanted to get back into the classroom.
Some students went to open the locked door but instead backed away.
Im guessing they saw something, but for some reason they didnt open the door, Miss Sayarath said.
When she looked at him through a window in the door, she saw the student turn and heard a barrage of gunshots.
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It was about 10 or 15 of them at once, back-to-back, she said.
The students ducked onto the floor and sporadically crawled around, looking for a safe corner to hide.
Two school resource officers encountered the shooter within minutes after a report of shots fired went out, Mr Hosey said.
The teen immediately surrendered and was taken into custody.
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The teen had been interviewed after the FBI received anonymous tips in May 2023 about online threats to commit an unspecified school shooting, the agency said in a statement.
The sheriffs office interviewed the then-13-year-old and his father, who said there were hunting guns in the house but the teen did not have unsupervised access to them.
The teen also denied making any online threats.
The sheriffs office alerted local schools for continued monitoring of the teen, but there was no probable cause for arrest or additional action, the FBI said.
Local news outlets reported that law enforcement on Wednesday searched the teens family home in Bethlehem, Georgia, east of the high school.
All the students that had to watch their teachers and their fellow classmates die, the ones that had to walk out of the school limping, that looked traumatised, Miss Sayarath said.
Thats the consequence of the action of not taking control.
Authorities were still looking into how the teen obtained the gun used in the shooting and got it into the school with about 1,900 students.
It was the the latest among dozens of school shootings across the US in recent years, including especially deadly ones in Newtown, Connecticut, Parkland, Florida, and Uvalde, Texas.
The classroom killings have set off fervent debates about gun control and frayed the nerves of parents whose children are growing up accustomed to active shooter drills in classrooms.
But they have done little to move the needle on national gun laws.
Dr. Kristen Darville-Gardner and Sherwin Gardner | Bill Carpenter
Brooklyn, NY Caribbean gospel artist, Sherwin Gardner, was has honored at the second annual Caribbean Gospel Music Awards at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, NY on August 29, 2024. Gardner was honored for his contributions to the Caribbean gospel music community over the last 30 years. However, the first nine months of this year have been the biggest of Gardners career to date. His January release, Find Me Here (Blessings Fine Me), has amassed over 1.6 billion TikTok views, over 3 million user generated creations, and 18 million digital streams.
Legendary performers such as Marcia Griffiths, Alison Hinds, and Cedella Marley were among the nights biggest honorees and artists such as Shaggy were presenters. Being honored alongside icons like Marcia Griffiths and Cedella Marley is beyond humbling, Gardner says. To be recognized as the first Caribbean gospel artist at this event is not just a personal achievement but a testament to the power and reach of gospel music from our region. I am grateful for the opportunity to carry the mantle forward and continue leading the charge to take Caribbean gospel music to the world.
Find Me Here (Blessings Find Me) Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuRRNvGlYbs
Gardner attended the show with his wife Dr. Kristen Darville-Gardner and his manager, Indigo Grant. His award was presented by the Queen of Dancehall, Spice. She called it a universal anthem and said, If thats not a proud moment for the Caribbean people, I dont know what is. After Gardner came to the stage, he sang a few lines of Find Me Here (Blessings Find Me) a cappella before giving a heartfelt acceptance speech. This award is only the beginning of what I believe will be a new era for Caribbean gospel music, Gardner says. The success of Blessings Find Me Here is a clear indication that there is a global hunger for the message we carry. I am committed to continuing this journey, spreading the gospel through music, and ensuring that Caribbean gospel music has its rightful place on the world stage.
During the festivities, Gardner met a roomful of the whos who in the Caribbean music community. Among the luminaries he was photographed with were DJ Cassidy of Kill the Lights fame. Teddyson John, and Mojo and Gramps of the family band, Morgan Heritage. Next up for Gardner is a September tour in the United Kingdom.
Brisbane author Melissa Lucashenko has won the Queensland Premiers Award for literature for the second time with her novel Edenglassie.
Set in Brisbane in the 1840s and the present day, Edenglassie won the $30,000 prize, which Lucashenko previously won in 2019 for her book Too Much Lip.
All awards are great, but this is a special one for a Brisbane girl, Lucashenko said.
I find it bizarre when people dont know the stories of the place that they live, said Brisbane author Melissa Lucashenko. Credit: Joe Ruckli
It makes you feel like four years slaving over a hot laptop wasnt a complete waste of time.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Ballet audiences know how the story goes. The prince meets his princess and they either live happily ever after or are plunged into despair when love goes awry. All very beautiful, and all very expected. But when the Australian Ballet unleashes its latest work this month about the witty, openly gay writer Oscar Wilde audiences will see something far less predictable. For the companys artistic director, David Hallberg who performed the prince who meets his princess countless times during his dancing career its a proud moment. Ballet has always told heteronormative stories, he says. Im proud that were boldly telling a story that actually isnt told so often, and maybe ballet has actually been scared to tell. When I think about it, I think embarrassingly, ballet as an art form hasnt had the courage to tell a story like this. For the man commissioned by Hallberg to create Oscar acclaimed British choreographer Christopher Wheeldon such a move was long overdue. Callum Linnane, photographed at the Regent Theatre, stars in Oscar for The Australian Ballet. Credit: Jason South Ive wanted to do a real ballet that represents queer culture, just because it doesnt in a major storytelling way, anyway really exist, he says during a break in rehearsals at the companys Melbourne headquarters. There have, of course, been ballets with suggestions of and underlying themes. For example, theres a moment in Woolf Works, with Virginia Woolf in Wayne [McGregors] wonderful piece that he made for the Royal Ballet in [the act inspired by] Mrs. Dalloway, two women kiss but in a much more abstract, non-linear way. For me, as a gay man, I just thought its time we had a big, gay, full-length-story ballet.
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Oscar is a huge leap from the fairytale scenarios of the worlds most popular ballets think Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker and Cinderella in which boys and girls take their traditional places. Hallberg wanted a new narrative for Oscar, his first full-length commission for the company. When he first spoke to Wheeldon about creating a work for the Australian Ballet, it didnt take long for them to land on the brilliant, charming, hilarious, occasionally caustic Irish-born author. The pair had known each other for more than 20 years, Hallberg says, but this was new territory. Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon during rehearsals with dancers Joseph Caley and Adam Elmes. Credit: Christopher Rodgers-Wilson Unlike other art forms, such as film and visual art, this is a story that isnt normally told in classical ballet, Hallberg says. Moonlight was a fabulous film about repressed homosexuality, he says, also mentioning Call Me by Your Name and Ang Lees Brokeback Mountain. Those are genres that have done better about telling or addressing modern topics, whether that be sexuality, whether that be political, whether that be racism, but ballet has always been a very His voice trails off. Its a classical art form. Making a ballet about Wilde is inspired and audacious, but given his brilliance with words, how viable was the idea? Could dance possibly do justice to the great writer? If anyone can devise a show that works, its Wheeldon. Having trained at Britains Royal Ballet School, he danced there before heading to the US to join the New York City Ballet, becoming its first resident choreographer.
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Since the end of his dancing career he has carved out a niche as a major choreographer, notably for MJ The Musical, loosely based on Michael Jacksons life (and heading to Sydney next year) and the one-act ballet An American in Paris, for which he won four Tonys. His acclaimed 2011 ballet Alices Adventures in Wonderland returned to Melbourne earlier this year. He also continues in his role as artistic director of the Royal Ballet. During rehearsals for the final scene, Wheeldon is hands-on, illustrating what he wants to see by creating the poses. Six dancers practice their respective moves, while others sit and or stand around the edges, taking in the choreographers commentary. I hadnt sort of finished all the material in the second act leading up to that moment, but I needed to know that my idea for the ending could work, which is why I jumped to it. Sometimes its good to know youve got your beginning, your middle and your end, and then the rest can kind of fill in, he says. Its all evidence of Wheeldons skill as a storyteller. The amazing thing about Chris Wheeldon is that hes a seasoned storyteller and choreographer, says Hallberg. He has the ability to tell a story with quality and with a subject that could maybe be a little uneasy for audiences. There wont be any denying, in my opinion, the fact that he can tell a quality story of something that might be a little bit of a quote unquote risk. Hes not afraid of entertaining: he will entertain the audience through movement, through the choreography, through the beauty of his patterns and the set design.
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Wheeldon, 51, remembers his grandfather having a book of Oscar Wildes fairytales, which they loved to read together. The Happy Prince and The Selfish Giant are often referred to as the standouts, but for Wheeldon, it is The Nightingale and the Rose. He once created a one-act version of the story for the New York City Ballet, but it disappeared from the repertoire. When Hallberg asked Wheeldon what he wanted to do for the Australian Ballet, his mind returned to his childhood favourite. It has always really stuck with me. Just the sacrifice and tragedy and beauty and loving nature of the nightingale, its just always been so appealing. Its such a dramatic tale, somebody who is willing to actually die for someone elses love. In the ballet, the writers life story is interwoven with this overlooked fairytale. Female dancers become the nightingale, their movements remarkably bird-like, as key moments in Wildes life are brought to life. During rehearsals, theres an aching tenderness between the men playing the great writer and the women who seem to morph into the loving bird. Its already poignant and powerful, even without the addition of costume and set. Benjamin Garrett and Callum Linnane during rehearsals. Credit: Christopher Rodgers-Wilson Fevered dream sequences and characters from some of the authors best-known works notably The Picture of Dorian Gray are interspersed through the show; just two voiceovers feature, one early in the first act and the other at the end. According to Wheeldon, this is not about biographical ballet. Its a collage of Wildes life and moments, of his relationships with men, his wife and his family. Its exploring elements of his life, combined with the parallels of Oscars personality, his ideals and his relationships that he wrote into his stories, because he wrote himself into everything, and that was also something I was excited to explore. Oscar is the companys first work to be staged at the Regent Theatre, while its traditional home, the State Theatre at Arts Centre Melbourne, is renovated. The more intimate setting brings its staging challenges, but also provides a fittingly lush backdrop for this tale of forbidden love. Sharing the role of Oscar will be Joseph Caley, Callum Linnane and Jarryd Madden, while the nightingale will be danced by Jill Ogai, Ako Kondo and Benedicte Bemet. Music is composed by Joby Talbot, and set and costume design is by Jean-Marc Puissant; the score will be played by Orchestra Victoria in Melbourne.
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Wheeldon recalls seeing Wilde, the 1997 film starring Stephen Fry in the title role, based on Richard Ellmanns 1987 biography. It introduced me to a whole lot of the history of Oscar and his relationships with his family and, of course, the trial. And I just got really fascinated in him as a personality. Stephen Fry as Oscar Wilde in the 1997 film Wilde. Wilde, whose lover, Lord Alfred Douglas, is also depicted in the ballet, was prosecuted for gross indecency and spent two years in jail, from May 25, 1895 to May 18, 1897. While he was a literary genius, his colourful life lent itself to theatre. When Im making commissions like this with Chris, I want to tell stories that resonate with audiences, says Hallberg. I think it tells a story that people talk about even today, [not] just a minority population or repressed emotion and feeling. David Hallberg is proud to be telling the story of Oscar Wilde. Credit: Justin McManus Historical accuracy was an important part of making the show. Timothy Jones, a historian of sexuality and religion at La Trobe University, met with the dancers to provide an overview of what life and sexual norms were like in Wildes day. The notion that the Victorians were repressed might be longstanding, but they were obsessed with sex, mad for it, says Jones. They might have had a conservative culture, but they were talking about sex all of the time. By saying what you must not do, youre talking about what people are doing.
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Luke McGregor would have liked to have taken his wife, author Dr Amy Thunig, on the celebrity version of Tens globetrotting competition The Amazing Race. But with Thunig tied up in academia, the comedian turned to his second choice of travel companion: his mum, Julie.
I would have rather shared a hotel room with my wife, says McGregor. But whenever I see Mum, its always Christmas or some family thing, and we hadnt really gone on a holiday together. And I thought Mum would say less problematic things on television than Dad would.
Comedian Luke McGregor and his mum Julie in The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity Edition.
His Rosehaven co-star Celia Pacquola, with whom he would travel with any day, was also busy hosting Thank God Youre Here.
The McGregors chase clues across Argentina, South Africa, Namibia and Thailand, competing against 10 other pairs comprised of at least one celebrity (they include Peter Helliar, Ian Thorpe, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Billy Brownless and Matildas players Chloe Logarzo and Emily Gielnik), all playing for charity. For McGregor, who has until now turned down offers to appear in reality shows, the idea of going around the world and solving puzzles seemed right up my alley.
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Eating outFood Fast-paced, affordable Italian arrives on the James Street of the CBD Doughcraft is cooking Roman-style pinsa (like pizza, but not), house-made pasta and mains, accompanied by cocktails and Italian wines, in a beautiful dining room. Matt Shea September 5, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share
When did all the Italian restaurants clear out of the CBD? Coppa Spuntino used to be a post-work go-to on Creek Street. But that venue went the way of the pandemic, and, despite a hugely successful, group-reviving extended pop-up in the former digs of Il Centro (also a COVID casualty), owners Tom Sanceau and Bonnie Shearston currently have the concept on ice while they focus on other projects. Doughcraft on Mary Street is now opening at nights, serving a fast-paced menu of Italian food. Markus Ravik There was Otto at 480 Queen, but it too shifted out of the city during the pandemic to its current waterside digs at South Bank. Which leaves not much. Theres Guy Grossis Settimo at The Westin on Mary Street, but its an upmarket spot suited for occasion dining. Simone Presta wanted to create something more casual and approachable.
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Exclusive One of citys best young chefs to open restaurant in heritage church I absolutely noticed that lack of Italian restaurants in the city, Presta says. We have Scugnizzi, of course [a hole-in-the-wall on Adelaide Street opened in 2023 by Presta and chef Carmine Guarino] and now Doughcraft, but theres not too much else. City slickers might know Doughcraft as a French-Italian bakery that expanded from its original Albion home in February into the former Mary Street digs of Leonards Bar & Bistro. But now Presta and co-owners Steven Chevalier and Salvatore Compagnone are opening the venue at night as a casual, fast-paced Italian restaurant with a menu thats loosely anchored in Rome but takes inspiration from around the peninsula and beyond. Doughcrafts menu is designed to be affordable, with none of the pastas priced over $34 and the mains $48. Markus Ravik You look at this place and it gives you that dining vibe, Presta says. Its meant to be utilised from sunrise to sunset.
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Im Italian, and one of my business partners [Chevalier] is French. Hes doing his thing with the bakery with imported butter from France and a team of French bakers and I want to do my thing: Italian dining pasta and pinsa. Squid ink baccala mantecato and potato ravioli with a puttanesca sauce and stracciatella. Markus Ravik Dont know pinsa? Its a Roman flatbread similar to pizza but with a base made from soy, rice and wholegrain flours that (at Doughcraft) is fermented for 48 hours. Presta reckons its lighter to eat, easier to digest and it comes with a crunchier base than, say, a Napoli pizza, despite being cooked at a lower temperature in Doughcrafts bread oven. Here, its almost like a gourmet pizza, because we apply the condiments to each slice rather than put it all over the top, Presta says. Market fish with salsa verde, orange fennel and balck olive salad, and grilled lemon. Markus Ravik
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There are eight pinsas on Doughtcrafts menu including a margherita (tomato, buffalo mozzarella and crystallised basil), a tartufo (mushrooms, Italian sausage, provola and black truffle), a mortazza (mortadella with sun-dried cherry tomatoes, pistachio and stracciatella) and the Sfizio (cured salmon with rocket, whipped buffalo mozzarella, beetroot and lemon zest). Away from pinsa, Rome-born head chef Edoardo Bianchini is cooking house-made pasta such as a crab meat spaghetti with a white-wine reduction, chilli, breadcrumbs, garlic and lemon zest; gnocchi in pumpkin sauce with feta cheese, fried kale and toasted almonds; and a beef brisket fettuccine ragu with porcini mushrooms, a red wine reduction, tomato sauce and parmesan. Brisbanes most exciting restaurant openings of 2024 (so far) A short selection of main plates includes grilled free-range spatchcock with rosemary potatoes and grilled lemon, grilled tiger prawns with lardo, a cannelini bean cream, sweet paprika and lemon zest, and a 300-gram roasted sirloin with rocket, cherry tomatoes, parmesan and vincotto. Its all as approachable as promised, with none of the pastas priced over $34 and the mains $48.
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Arancini with speck, fontina and peas. Markus Ravik There are so many Italian restaurants in Brisbane, so we wanted to create something different with a little twist, Presta says. For drinks, the cocktail list has been expanded from Doughcrafts previously tight aperitivo hour selection and includes a bunch of twists on the classics, and the venue now serves a 40-bottle wine list that focuses mainly on Italian and French drops. We have the Kangaroo Point Bridge being built right here and the casino just up the road. So this little corner is going to be the James Street of the city. Simone Presta The premises themselves remain mostly unchanged from their days as Leonards, with its fetching exposed brick walls, mosaic tiled floors, and curtains and timber of the dining room.
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But Presta, Chevalier and Compagnone have added new table lamps. Along with the new (as of February) art on the walls, it gives the restaurant a livelier feel, and its difficult to argue with Prestas thought that its a space meant to be seen at night. Doughcrafts bar is serving a cocktail menu that twists the classics and a 40-bottle wine list. Markus Ravik He also thinks of Doughcraft as part of a new CBD food precinct, with Settimo located just up Mary Street, Naldham House reopening across Felix Street and the old Buffalo Bar now being refurbished. We have the Kangaroo Point Bridge being built right here and the casino just up the road, Presta says. So this little corner is going to be the James Street of the city. Open Mon 7am-2pm; Tue-Fri 7am-2pm, 5pm-10pm; Sat 5pm-10pm
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181 Mary Street, Brisbane, 0431 553 833 doughcraftbne.com
Government briefing documents are being blocked from release in NSW and cloaked in secrecy for a decade on the basis they contain cabinet information while the same kinds of documents are released federally.
Former senator-turned-transparency advocate Rex Patrick and NSW independent MP Helen Dalton are locked in a fight with the Minns government over access to the documents, including a brief on child protection policy.
Documents released federally under freedom of information laws are being blocked from being released in NSW. Credit: Marija Ercegovac
Patrick applied this year under NSWs freedom of information regime, the Government Information (Public Access) Act (GIPA), for budget estimates and question time briefing documents prepared by public servants to help government officials and MPs answer questions in parliament.
He was knocked back on two bases, including that the documents were cabinet information. Patrick, a former independent senator for South Australia, and Dalton, who represents the regional electorate of Murray in the NSW southwest, say this is wrong.
Its a 15-hour drive from the bright lights of Queenslands capital city, but kids at this independent Townsville school are academically outshining students from Brisbane schools.
The Cathedral School of St Anne & St James, in the Townsville suburb of Mundingburra, scored up to 36 points higher on its Year 9 NAPLAN scores this year than the average Year 9 student in Queenslands major cities, including Brisbane.
Its not the only regional Queensland school to punch above its weight. In fact, Queensland is better at narrowing the educational gap between city and country than New South Wales, despite the Sunshine State being twice its size.
The Cathedral School of St Anne & St James in Townsville is punching above its weight academically, outperforming city schools in Brisbane, on average.
The Townsville schools Year 9 students, in outer regional Australia, scored 35 points higher in their average NAPLAN scores in reading this year, at 596, than students in Queenslands major cities, which includes Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
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.
Women and children will gain more support to flee domestic violence under a $702 million plan to be put to national cabinet on Friday after a federal review warned frontline services could not cope with the growing calls for help.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will outline plans for more services to support the victim-survivors of sexual and family violence to be jointly funded by federal, state and territory governments.
Premiers and chief ministers sent a warning to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday about the pressure on their budgets when they were already spending about $7 billion over four years to stop family and sexual violence. Credit: Trevor Collens
A separate deal is likely to guarantee federal funding for legal services under a $3.4 billion partnership agreement for the next five years, including money for legal aid and services for Indigenous Australians.
The proposals have eased days of tension after the premiers and chief ministers sent a warning to Albanese on Monday about the pressure on their budgets when they were already spending about $7 billion over four years to stop family and sexual violence.
New South Wales and Queensland follow
Following closely behind, New South Wales boasts an average of $304 per night for Airbnb hosts, with annual earnings of $17,483. However, despite the attractive figures, it takes around 33 years to pay off a mortgage in the state.
Brokers come to us because they dont need to be familiar with every policy or product themselves, Liu said. They rely on us as their broker to handle the details. Our team works on the deal, provides expertise, and offers solutions.
Grimms background and ASIC action
Grimm, along with his company Ostrava Equities, had previously been involved in financial misconduct that led to ASICs successful action to wind up multiple entities connected to him, including Ostrava Asset Management and Ostrava Wealth Management. Grimm had been banned from providing financial services following these actions.
Malaysia Stands Firm on Oil Drilling Rights in South China Sea Amid Rising Tensions with China (Photo: Chatham House, London/Wikimedia Commons/CC-BY 2.0 )
Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on Thursday that the nation will continue its oil and gas exploration activities in the South China Sea, despite China's objections. Speaking from Vladivostok, Russia, where he is on an official visit, Anwar emphasized that these activities are well within Malaysia's territorial waters and are not intended to provoke or antagonize Beijing, with whom Malaysia maintains amicable relations.
"Of course, we will have to operate in our waters and secure economic advantage, including drilling for oil, in our territory," Anwar declared during a televised press conference. He acknowledged that China has sent "one or two" protest notes regarding Malaysia's exploration activities but maintained that Malaysia's operations are lawful and within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). "We have never denied the possibility of discussion (with China). But it doesn't mean we have to stop the operation in our area," Anwar added.
The controversy stems from China's expansive claims in the South China Sea, marked by the so-called "nine-dash line" that Beijing uses to assert sovereignty over nearly the entire maritime region. This claim overlaps with the 200-nautical-mile EEZs of several Southeast Asian nations, including Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, and Taiwan. An international arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled in 2016 that China's claims had no legal basis under international law, a decision Beijing has consistently rejected.
Anwar's comments came in response to a diplomatic protest note from China, which was leaked and published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer on August 29. The note accused Malaysia of infringing on Chinese territory through its oil exploration activities near the Luconia Shoals, an area located off the coast of Sarawak state on Borneo Island. The Malaysian Foreign Ministry has since launched an investigation into the leak of the classified document.
Despite the diplomatic tension, Anwar was careful to emphasize that Malaysia's policy is not one of aggression. "We have never intended in any way to be intentionally provocative, unnecessarily hostile. China is a great friend, but of course, we have to operate in our waters and secure economic advantage, including drilling for oil in our territory," he explained. Anwar reiterated that Malaysia respects the sovereignty of other nations and expects the same respect in return.
This is not the first time Malaysia has faced such protests from China. However, unlike the Philippines, which has often publicly clashed with Beijing over territorial disputes in the South China Sea, Malaysia has traditionally favored quieter diplomatic channels. This approach is partly driven by the desire to preserve strong economic ties with China, which has been Malaysia's top trading partner since 2009.
Anwar's comments highlight Malaysia's delicate balancing act in navigating its relationship with China while asserting its rights under international law. The South China Sea is rich in natural resources, and the area near Sarawak is of particular interest due to its potential for significant oil and gas reserves. Malaysian state energy firm Petronas operates in this region and has had several encounters with Chinese vessels in recent years.
The Prime Minister's firm stance is a clear message to Beijing that Malaysia will not be deterred from exercising its rights within its EEZ. "They know our position," Anwar said. "They have claimed that we are infringing on their territory. That is not the case. We say no, it is our territory. But if they continue with the dispute, then okay, we will have to listen, and they will have to listen."
Hunan-Africa cooperation: Building China-Africa relations from the provincial level
13:15, September 05, 2024 By Michael Kurtagh ( People's Daily Online
A press briefing on the cooperation between China's Hunan Province and Africa is held in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
Central China's Hunan Province is one of the provinces leading the way in China in promoting China-Africa relations. A press briefing on Sept. 4 at the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was held discussing cooperation between Hunan and Africa. Led by Dai Zhiguang, deputy director-general of the Office of Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee and Deng Weiping, deputy director-general of the Department of Commerce of Hunan Province, the briefing went into great depth on how the province is working with Africa.
Frequent high-level exchanges
Hunan has been active in arranging high-level exchanges with Africa, including both visits from Hunan leaders to Africa as well as African leaders visiting the province.
Since 2019, leaders from Hunan province have made eight visits to the African continent, visiting over ten countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, Madagascar, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Through a series of high-level meetings with African leaders, forums, and the establishment of sister-city agreements, these visits have resulted in stronger trust and friendship as well as collaborative development.
In the other direction, Hunan has supported visits from African leaders to the province.
In the past five years, the province has played host to eight state visits by the leaders of African countries, including the Presidents of Malawi and Uganda, the Speaker of Burundi's Parliament, and the Deputy Speaker of Morocco.
The visits of African leaders have included meetings with Hunan provincial leadership, inspections of projects related to Africa, the signing of cooperation agreements, and the further elevation of relations between the two sides.
Events like the "Hunan Tour for African Ambassadors to China", the "Training Program for African Diplomats", and the "Hunan-Africa Local Industry Cooperation Conference" have all enhanced mutual understanding between Hunan and Africa, and have laid a solid foundation for future cooperation between the two sides.
Hosting key events
The hosting of events has been a major tool in developing Hunan-Africa relations.
Of the events, at the forefront is the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE). The event was first held in June 2019, and was the first of three consecutive sessions held in Hunan.
The first CAETE, themed "Win-Win Cooperation, Pragmatically Advancing China-Africa Economic and Trade Relations," set the tone for future engagements. The event saw the participation of over 160 senior officials from China and Africa, along with representatives from 53 African countries. With 81 cooperative projects signed, totaling $20.12 billion, the expo laid the groundwork for robust economic partnerships.
The subsequent expos in 2021 and 2023 continued to build on this success, with an increasing number of participants and signed agreements.
The third CAETE in 2023, themed "Shared Development, Shared Future," marked the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative and underscored the vitality of China-Africa cooperation. It had more than 1,700 Chinese and African enterprises, business associations, and financial institutions, with over 1,700 foreign guests and 10,000 domestic attendees. Representatives from 53 African countries were present, and 120 cooperative agreements and projects totaling $10.3 billion were signed.
In addition to CAETE, Hunan also hosted the 7th China-Africa People's Forum and the 7th China-Africa Youth Leaders Forum in 2024, which brought together high-level officials, youth leaders, and representatives from NGOs and think tanks. These forums fostered discussions on deepening China-Africa cooperation and building a high-level community with a shared future.
Expanding practical cooperation
Hunan has taken significant steps to expand practical cooperation with Africa, particularly in the fields of economy, trade, agriculture, and livelihood. The province's trade with Africa reached 55.67 billion yuan ($7.83 billion) in 2023, reflecting an average annual growth rate of 23.1 percent over the past three years. The hosting of CAETE in Hunan has been a catalyst for this growth, injecting strong momentum into China-Africa economic cooperation.
The Hunan China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion and Innovation Demonstration Park has played host to the development of over 100 African brand products, forming over 10 import and export industrial chains, including coffee and cashews.
One of the most notable areas of cooperation is agriculture. Hunan, as the birthplace of hybrid rice, has leveraged its expertise to promote agricultural development in Africa. For instance, Yuan's Seed Industry, a major international leader in hybrid rice, has successfully implemented a full industrial chain for hybrid rice in Madagascar, significantly alleviating food security challenges in the region. This model of "government-led, enterprise-driven, and market-operated" cooperation serves as an excellent example for other agricultural enterprises in Hunan.
In addition to agriculture, Hunan has also made strides in promoting livelihood cooperation. The province has undertaken over 40 African agricultural cooperation projects, including the renovation of agricultural technology stations and the construction of agricultural demonstration centers. Hunan's medical teams have also played a crucial role in enhancing healthcare in Africa, with the province sending 57 batches of medical professionals to Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe. These efforts have earned Hunan a reputation for its commitment to improving the quality of life in African countries.
Improving channels and platforms
To sustain and deepen its cooperation with Africa, Hunan has focused on improving channels and platforms for collaboration. The Furong Block of the Changsha Area in the Hunan Free Trade Zone has become a new hub for China-Africa cooperation, facilitating exchanges and economic cooperation. The establishment of offshore industrial innovation and exchange centers by countries like Malawi, Liberia, and Madagascar at Hunan Agricultural University exemplifies the integration of industry, academia, and research.
Another significant development is the opening of the Malawian Consulate General in Changsha in 2023. This marks the first consulate general established by an African country in Hunan and the first by Malawi in China, further strengthening bilateral ties.
Hunan's universities have also played a vital role in fostering cultural and educational bonds, enrolling over 2,000 students from more than 40 African countries and promoting cultural exchanges through events like the "Hunan Africa Art Festival."
Hunan's efforts to improve logistics and connectivity with Africa have also been noteworthy. The province has established a comprehensive logistics channel from Zhuzhou to key African ports and interior regions, facilitating trade and enhancing the efficiency of supply chains. The launch of direct passenger and cargo flights between Changsha and African cities like Nairobi and Addis Ababa has further strengthened Hunan's connectivity with Africa.
Hunan's multifaceted approach to enhancing cooperation with Africa has yielded significant results, contributing to the deepening of China-Africa relations. Hunan has positioned itself as a crucial player in Africa, and as Hunan continues to build on these achievements, the province's partnership with Africa is poised to grow even stronger, benefiting both sides and contributing to the realization of a shared future.
(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang)
The Union Ministry of Labour and Employment has urged the Karnataka government to take appropriate action following concerns raised over delays in onboarding fresh graduates at Infosys, a major player in the IT sector, according to a report by Moneycontrol.
The ministry instructed the Karnataka State Labour Commissioners Office to address the situation and ensure compliance with relevant labour regulations. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp
A letter from the ministry dated September 3 highlighted that intervention had been sought to safeguard these graduates from potentially exploitative corporate practices. The letter added that since the Karnataka government holds authority under applicable labour laws, the state was asked to investigate the issue and take necessary steps, keeping both the applicant and the ministry informed, Moneycontrol cited the letter as saying.
Business Standard could not independently verify the details of the report.
This move by the central government gains significance amid reports that Infosys has postponed the onboarding of 2,000 engineering graduates from the 2022 cohort.
Last week, Infosys CEO Salil Parekh assured that all offers extended to freshers would be honoured, though there had been changes to the original timelines.
"Every offer that we have given, that offer will be (for) someone who will join the company. We changed some dates but beyond that everyone will join Infosys and there is no change in that approach," Parekh told PTI.
As of June 2024, the Bengaluru-based IT giant employed 315,000 people.
The Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), a union representing IT and ITES workers, recently filed a complaint with the Ministry of Labour and Employment against Infosys over the delayed onboarding of 2,000 engineering graduates. These graduates were selected for system engineer and digital specialist engineer roles during the recruitment drive for 2022-23.
Infosys begins onboarding
Earlier this week, reports surfaced that some of the graduates awaiting onboarding had started receiving confirmation emails from Infosys on Monday. Their joining date has been set for October 7.
In a message to some graduates, Infosys talent acquisition team reportedly wrote, Your scheduled date of joining the company will be October 7, 2024. Your location for employment is Mysore, India.
Since April 2022, these engineering graduatesnumbering around 2,000have faced onboarding delays despite receiving offers for system engineer (SE) and digital SE roles. Their salary packages range between Rs 3.2 lakh and Rs 3.7 lakh annually.
Infosys mounting troubles
In a separate development, Infosys has been hit with a tax demand exceeding Rs 32,000 crore ($4 billion) by Indian authorities. The demand pertains to services the company received from its overseas branches between July 2017 and the 2021-22 financial year. This amount is equivalent to 85 per cent of its revenue for the quarter ending June 30.
Infosys has maintained that it has paid all its legally required dues, with investors also expressing confidence that the company need not provision for this liability. Earlier reports from Reuters suggested that while the tax notice was issued based on current regulations, the Union Finance Ministry now believes it contradicts Indias broader policy of exempting services exports from taxation.
GST relief on health insurance: Council likely to take up 4 options
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council in its meeting on Monday is likely to decide on four options regarding tax treatment of health insurance, with the cost to the exchequer potentially ranging from nearly Rs 650 crore to Rs 3,500 crore. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp These four options have emerged from a detailed analysis by the Councils fitment panel, which includes revenue officials from both central and state governments, and follow a request from the Department of Financial Services (DFS) to reduce taxes on health insurance products to make them more affordable and accessible.
The fitment panel is expected to submit before the Council a detailed report outlining these options, which include a full exemption for all health insurance premiums and reinsurance, or a reduction in the GST rate from 18 per cent to 5 per cent on health insurance services, according to officials in the know.
Other possibilities include exempting premiums paid by senior citizens and premiums with coverage up to Rs 5 lakh, or alternatively, only exempting premiums paid by senior citizens from GST ambit.
Each of these four proposals carries different financial implications: Rs 3,495 crore, Rs 1,730 crore, Rs 2,110 crore, and Rs 645 crore, respectively.
In a separate move, the panel also considered the possibility of exempting life insurance premiums from GST. It recommended limiting the exemption to pure-term individual life policies and reinsurers, a suggestion that carries a likely revenue impact of Rs 210 crore.
However, it stressed that any reduction in life insurance taxes should be contingent upon insurance companies passing on the benefits to policyholders.
The panels recommendations were based on data from the DFS, which showed that total health insurance premiums in India during FY23 were Rs 90,032 crore, with the individual health insurance segment accounting for Rs 35,300 crore, or 39 per cent of the total. At the current 18 per cent GST rate, the government collected Rs 6,354 crore on individual health insurance premiums.
The DFS argues that reducing GST on health insurance would help address India's low insurance penetration by lowering premiums, encouraging more people to purchase insurance, and opting for higher coverage.
It also believes that increasing the number of insured individuals would offset the short-term loss in GST revenue, supporting the central government's efforts towards providing a minimum of social coverage net for every citizen and aligning with the Insurance for All vision for 2047.
In her reply to the amendments to the Finance Bill, 2024, on August 7, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated: Tax has been there on medical insurance even before the introduction of GST. There was already a pre-GST tax on medical insurance before GST was introduced. This is not a new issue; it was already there in all the states. Her statement was in response to the Rajya Sabha MPs demanding removal of the GST levied on medical insurance.
Also, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari had written to Sitharaman to remove the 18 per cent GST on life and medical insurance premiums. He argued that this tax burdened the uncertainties of life and hindered the sectors development.
While many aspects of the deal have been settled, some key issues remain unresolved. The Indian delegation last visited the UK in April to address some of these matters. (Photo: Shutterstock)
The UK-India free trade agreement (FTA) appears to be on hold for now. The newly elected United Kingdom (UK) government is yet to form a team to negotiate the 14th round of FTA talks with India. However, this process is likely to be finalised shortly, according to a report by Moneycontrol. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp The UK-India FTA, aimed at providing Britain with access to Indian markets while opening the British market to Indian businesses, was initiated in January 2024. There were hopes of completing the agreement before both countries faced general elections. So far, 13 rounds of talks have been completed by 2023, but the 14th round was halted, largely due to election schedules.
The FTA talks have yet to resume because the UK has not yet appointed its negotiating team, the report added. Negotiations were initially set to continue in July, following elections in both nations, but delays have persisted.
In the UK, the Labour Party won, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. During his first visit to India in July, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasised the importance of securing the FTA with India.
The trade agreement was featured in the manifestos of both major UK political parties.
While many aspects of the deal have been settled, some key issues remain unresolved. The Indian delegation last visited the UK in April to address some of these matters.
A major point of contention has been localisation rules for British car manufacturers seeking benefits. Another area still under discussion is the import of whiskey from the UK.
India-UK trade has declined over the years
The UKs share of Indias trade has seen a decline over the last decade. In the financial year 2023-24 (FY24), the two countries traded goods worth $21.3 billion, representing 1.9 per cent of Indias overall trade, down from 2.1 per cent in FY14.
While Indias total trade grew at an annualised rate of 3.8 per cent between FY14 and FY24, trade with the UK lagged, growing at only 3 per cent annually.
In addition to the FTA, the two countries are collaborating on research. During his visit to India, Lammy announced the Technology and Security Initiative, which aims to promote cooperation on critical minerals, advanced materials, health tech, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors.
This initiative is a part of the UK-India 2030 roadmap, signed by both nations in 2021.
The central government is considering adjustments to the Agnipath recruitment scheme, according to defence sources cited by India Today. These adjustments may include increasing the retention rate of Agniveers, as well as, revising their compensation and benefits.
These updates are also expected to refine the scheme's overall framework and address criticism and protests from Army aspirants. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp
The report stated that senior defence ministry officials are currently discussing plans to boost the retention rate of Agniveers, which would allow more individuals to extend their service beyond the initial four-year period. At present, only 25 per cent of Agniveers are retained after their initial service, a figure seen as inadequate by military experts.
The report quoted a top defence source as saying, "One-fourth is too low a number to be retained to maintain the desired combat strength on the ground. The Army has recommended that the percentage of Agniveers retained should increase to around 50 per cent at the end of the four years."
The Army has already forwarded these recommendations to the government based on internal feedback and surveys from various units.
Defence officials noted that while implementing these changes may take some time, efforts are underway to improve the Agnipath scheme.
What is the Agnipath scheme?
Introduced by the central government in 2022, the Agnipath scheme aims to streamline the armed forces and curb the rising defence pension expenses. Under this scheme, individuals, referred to as Agniveers, are enlisted in the Army, Navy, and Air Force on a four-year short-term contract. Each year, only 25 per cent of the recruits are eligible for a permanent commission.
The Agnipath scheme has sparked widespread protests, with potential recruits expressing concerns about their future after the four-year term. The Opposition, led by the Congress party, has called for the scheme's reversal, while members of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)have suggested a review. Additionally, Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) internal reports indicate that the party faced setbacks in recent Lok Sabha elections in regions with high numbers of defence personnel, the report said.
"The first bilateral PM's visit saw an elevation of our ties to Enhanced Partnership with Brunei," said Jaishankar. | Photo: PTI
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday emphasised that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Brunei and Singapore is a significant advancement in India's Act East policy, reflecting a deepening of diplomatic and economic ties with these Southeast Asian nations. "Prime Minister@narendramodi's visit to Brunei and Singapore is a significant step in our Act East policy early in his third term," posted Jaishankar on X. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Notably, PM Modi announced that the ties between India and Brunei have been elevated to level of Enhanced Partnership. This was the first-ever bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Brunei. The historic visit of Prime Minister coincides with the 40th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Brunei.
"The first bilateral PM's visit saw an elevation of our ties to Enhanced Partnership with Brunei," said Jaishankar.
In Brunei, the visit resulted in the elevation of the bilateral relationship to an Enhanced Partnership. This new status signifies a robust framework for increasing collaboration across various sectors. The 'Enhanced Partnership' will focus on expanding trade, investment, and technological cooperation.
Both nations have committed to leveraging their respective strengths to foster economic growth and innovation. Brunei, with its rich natural resources and strategic location, offers significant opportunities for Indian investments, while India's technological prowess and investment capabilities are expected to bolster Brunei's economic diversification efforts.
Modi's visit to Singapore ushered in a new era of bilateral relations as the two countries agreed to upgrade their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This elevated relationship is designed to foster deeper cooperation in key areas such as defense, technology, and economic development.
"With Singapore, the evolution to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership marks the new phase of our ties. The visit to the semiconductor testing facility is one facet; the establishment of a Thiruvalluvar center another. Heartening to hear appreciation for the reforms of the last decade. Equally, the enthusiasm to deepen cooperation in the third term," posted Jaishankar on X
A key highlight of the visit was the Prime Minister's tour of a semiconductor testing facility, underscoring the growing importance of technology and innovation in the partnership. Singapore's advanced technology sector and India's growing tech industry are expected to benefit mutually from this collaboration.
Additionally, the establishment of a Thiruvalluvar center in Singapore represents a cultural and educational initiative aimed at strengthening people-to-people ties and enhancing mutual understanding.
The visit also provided an opportunity for mutual recognition of the significant reforms undertaken by India over the past decade. Leaders from both Brunei and Singapore expressed their appreciation for India's progress and reforms, which have been pivotal in transforming India into a global economic player.
There was a shared enthusiasm to deepen cooperation and expand the scope of bilateral engagements in the years ahead.
This visit has also been marked by the reaffirmation of India's commitment to the Act East policy, which aims to enhance India's strategic presence in the Asia-Pacific region. By strengthening ties with Brunei and Singapore, India is positioning itself as a key player in regional stability and economic development.
Washington, DC, United States (PANA) - The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Post Financing Assessment (PFA) discussions with South Africa and endorsed the Staff Appraisal that the countrys capacity to repay the Fund is assessed as adequate
Rain lashed central Delhi on Thursday evening, with the national capital recording a maximum temperature of 33.6 degree Celsius, a notch below the season's average, according to the India Meteorological Department. The minimum temperature settled at 23.3 degrees Celsius, 2.3 notches below the season's average, the IMD said. The IMD predicted generally cloudy sky with moderate rain on Friday. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to settle around 33 and 24 degrees Celsius, it said. The humidity oscillated between 69 and 90 per cent. The 24-hour Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded in the 'satisfactory' category with a reading of 83 at 4 pm, as per the Central Pollution Control Board. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe".
At least four Indian Army personnel were killed in a road accident after their vehicle skidded off the road and fell approximately 700 to 800 feet down the gorge at Vertical Veer, near Dalopchand Dara along Rhenock Rongli state highway, popularly known as Silk Route, officials said.
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - Unprecedented floods and winds have displaced thousands of families, destroyed homes, and severely damaged critical infrastructure, impacting over half a million people in Yemen, the UN migration agency (IOM) said on Thursday
Cairo, Egypt (PANA) - From celebrities to civil society, a growing number of people around the world are providing unprecedented support for UNRWA, the UN agency supplying a lifeline to two million Palestinians trapped in war-torn Gaza
FADA is raising SOS signals as PV sales fell by 3.46 per cent month-on-month and 4.53 per cent year-on-year | Photo: Shutterstock
Retail sales of passenger vehicles (PV) declined by 4.53 per cent in August, hurt by excess rainfall dampening consumer interest, said a dealers' association on Thursday. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp As many as 309,053 PVs were sold in August compared to 323,720 in the same month in 2023, according to the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA). Unsold stock stretched to an unprecedented 70-75 days and totals 780,000 vehicles valued at Rs 77,800 crore. PV sales fell by 3.46 per cent month-on-month. Tractor and commercial vehicle (CV) sales dropped by 11.39 per cent and 6.05 per cent but the two-wheeler (2W) and three-wheeler (3W) segments grew 6.28 per cent and 1.63 per cent. Collectively, India's automobile retail market registered a modest year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth of 2.88 per cent in August.
"Excess rainfall has affected enthusiasm in the rural market, resulting in a drop in sales, mainly in two-wheelers. We expect an overall 6 per cent rise in auto retail sales for the entire year," said Manish Raj Singhania, president of FADA. India recorded excess rainfall of 15.9 per cent in August, with the northwest seeing a surplus of 31.4 per cent, 7.2 per cent in the east and northeast, 17.2 per cent in central India. Rainfall was deficient by 1.3 per cent in peninsular India. The monsoon season started with extreme heat waves that delayed the annual rains and then shifted to heavy showers that caused floods in several places.
The two-wheeler market declined 7.29 per cent month-on-month due to excessive rains and flooding but it grew by 6.28 per cent Y-o-Y. The sales gap between market leaders Hero Motocorp (358,616 units) and Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (352,605 units) was marginal, with the two companies recording a market share of 26.8 per cent and 26.35 per cent.
"Many customers postponed their purchases, anticipating new product launches, while others deferred due to market saturation and changing preferences. Limited marketing efforts from OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and subdued market sentiment further impacted sales," said Singhania.
CV sales dropped 8.5 per cent month-on-month and 6.05 per cent Y-o-Y. Besides heavy rains, floods and landslides, reduced construction activity and sluggish demand in industrial sectors strained sales too. CV sales in August stood at 73,253 units, compared to 77,967 the same month last.
"Even with the arrival of the festive season, the market remains under significant strain due to delayed customer purchases, poor consumer sentiment, and persistent heavy rains. Inventory levels have reached alarming levels. Rather than responding to the situation, PV OEMs continue to increase dispatches to dealers on a month-on-month basis, further exacerbating the issue," said Singhania.
FADA urged banks and non-banking financial companies to control funding to dealers with excessive inventory. "Dealers must also act swiftly to stop taking on additional stock to protect their financial health. OEMs, too, must recalibrate their supply strategies without delay, or the industry faces a potential crisis from this inventory overload. If this aggressive push of excess stock continues unchecked, the auto retail ecosystem could face severe disruption," he said.
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Wednesday described antisemitism as an ongoing plague and scourge on our collective humanity which has resulted in damaging consequences for communities worldwide
News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism.
1. What's the Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd share price today?
Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd share price was Rs 4,123.05 at 04:01 PM IST on 8th Oct 2024 . Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd share price was up by 4.46 % over the previous closing price of Rs 3,947.00 . Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd share price trend:
Last 1 Month: Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd share price moved up by 8.33 % on BSE
Last 3 Months: Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd share price moved up by 27.68 % on BSE
Last 12 Months: Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd share price moved up by 45.05 % on BSE
Last 3 Years: Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd price moved up by 104.31 % on BSE
2. How can I quickly analyse the performance of the Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd stock?
The performance of the Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd stock can be quickly analysed on the following metrics:
The stock's PE is 132.60
Price to book value ratio is 7.64
Dividend yield of 0.08
The EPS (trailing 12 months) of the Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd stock is Rs 31.12
3. What is the market cap of Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd ?
Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd has a market capitalisation of Rs 45,312 crore.
4. What is Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd 's 52-week high/low share price?
The Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd s 52-week high share price is Rs 4,531.50 and 52-week low share price is Rs 2,480.00 .
5. Is the Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd profitable?
On a consolidated basis, Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd reported a profit of Rs 111.00 crore on a total income of Rs 1,096.00 crore for the quarter ended 2024 . For the year ended Jun 2024 , Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd had posted a profit of Rs 108.00 crore on a total income of Rs 1,185.00 crore.
6. Which are Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd s peers in the Industrials sector?
Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd s top 5 peers in the Industrials sector are Pidilite Inds., SRF, Linde India, Gujarat Fluoroch, Deepak Nitrite, Godrej Industrie, BASF India .
7. Who owns how much in Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd ?
Key changes to the Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd shareholding are as follows:
At present, SVG Business Trust holds a 99.9 per cent stake in P N Gadgil Jewellers.
Jewellery retail chain P N Gadgil Jewellers Ltd on Thursday fixed a price band of Rs 456-480 per share for its Rs 1,100-crore initial share sale and proceeds will be used for expansion plans and pare debt. The Initial Public Offering (IPO) will open for public subscription on September 10 and conclude on September 12 and the bidding for anchor investors will open for a day on September 9, the company announced. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp The Maharashtra-based company's IPO is a combination of a fresh issue of equity shares worth up to Rs 850 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of equity shares to the tune of Rs 250 crore by promoter SVG Business Trust.
At present, SVG Business Trust holds a 99.9 per cent stake in P N Gadgil Jewellers.
Brokerage houses have pegged the company's market capitalisation at over Rs 6,500 crore post-issue.
Of the fresh issue proceeds, around Rs 393 crore will be utilised for the funding of expenditure towards setting up 12 new stores in Maharashtra, Rs 300 crore for payment of debt, besides a portion will be used for general corporate purposes.
As of March 2024, the company had a total borrowings of around Rs 397 crore, as per the Red Herring Prospectus (RHP).
P N Gadgil Jewellers Ltd offers a wide range of precious metal/ jewellery products, including gold, silver, platinum and diamond jewellery, across various price points and designs.
The company's products are primarily sold under its flagship brand, 'PNG', and various sub-brands, through multiple channels, including 39 retail stores (as on July 31, 2024) and various online marketplaces, including websites.
Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors Ltd, Nuvama Wealth Management Ltd and BOB Capital Markets Ltd are book-running lead managers to the issue.
Shares of Titan Company hit a nearly five-month high of Rs 3,730, as they rallied 3 per cent on the BSE in Thursdays intra-day trade, in an otherwise subdued market, on expectations of an improvement in consumer demand due to soft gold prices.
The stock of the gems, jewellery and watches company is trading at its highest level since April 9, 2024. It has rebounded 18 per cent from its 52-week low of Rs 3,059 that it touched on June 4, 2024.
At 11:41 AM, Titan was quoting 3 per cent higher at Rs 3,730, compared to the 0.08 per cent decline in the BSE Sensex. The average trading volumes on the counter jumped two-fold, with a combined 1.7 million shares changing hands on the NSE and BSE. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp
Gold prices slipped to their lowest level in nearly two weeks on Wednesday, extending their decline to the fourth straight session, as markets priced in a smaller rate-cut from the US Federal Reserve's policy meeting this month.
Gold traded weaker primarily due to profit booking ahead of the expected non-farm payroll data set to be released later in the day in the US, which is anticipated to be higher than the previous month.
"This could reduce the likelihood of a 0.50 basis point rate cut in the upcoming US Federal Reserve policy meeting on September 18. With a 0.25 basis point cut already priced in, market participants are now awaiting clear signals for a potential 0.50 basis point cut or at least definitive indications of future rate cuts," said Jateen Trivedi, VP Research Analyst - Commodity and Currency, at LKP Securities.
In the past one month, Titan has outperformed the market by surging 10 per cent, as against a 4.5 per cent rise in the BSE Sensex over the period. However, in the past six months, the stock has underperformed the market by falling 1 per cent, as compared to the 12 per cent rally in the benchmark index.
The underperformance in the company's stock price was mainly due to the weak operational performance of the company in the June quarter (Q1FY25).
Gross margins of the company fell by 12 bps to 22.1 per cent in the first quarter of the current fiscal due to a higher share of gold exchange at over 35 per cent, and elevated competition driving discounting and promotions. Demand was soft, driven by volatile and elevated gold rates and high competition.
The first quarter also saw a convergence of multiple forces that impacted the company's topline. A steep rally in gold rates (20 per cent increase over Q1FY24), election led restrictions in many markets, very few wedding dates and an unprecedented heat wave across the country, also weighed on overall consumer demand, Titan said.
The companys jewellery business accounted for nearly 96 per cent of its total income.
In the recently presented Union Budget, the custom duty on gold imports in the country has been reduced from 15 per cent to 6 per cent. This development has long-term positive implications for the Jewellery industry.
While this change is likely to entail a short-term impact in the form of value loss on duty paid gold inventory (expected to be expensed over the next two quarters), we remain optimistic on the longer-term benefits as it makes the market equitable for large businesses like ours, the company's management said.
Titan's management has set ambitious goals for each division and expects the jewellery division's sales to grow at a CAGR of 15-20 per cent in the medium term.
The company has met this target, despite the slowdown in the broader consumption space. Further, analysts at BNP Paribas see opportunities for the company, in aspects such as expansion in store count, market share gains and international expansion to help drive revenue and earnings growth.
We see Titan as an earnings compounding story. A positive surprise could come from higher-than-expected market share gains in India. Its international business is still at a nascent stage but looks promising. A faster-than-expected ramp up of the international business could result in a positive surprise, the brokerage firm said.
It maintains an Outperform rating on the stock, with a target price of Rs 3,860 per share.
Analysts at Centrum Broking were also upbeat on Titans operating performance, led by strong demand across business segments, along with its firm footing in the international market that appears to be promising.
We reckon Titans strategy revolving around serving millennials, meeting their aspirational demand with introduction of new designs and channels, yet rising share of wedding jewelry could pay richly. The turnaround in the Caratlane, W & W, and eyewear divisions and continuity in their profitability potential need to be watched, analysts said.
With a stable operating margin outlook, the brokerage firm retains a 'Buy' rating on the company, with a DCF-based target price of Rs 4,337 (implying 58.7x 26E EPS).
1. What's the V I P Industries Ltd share price today?
V I P Industries Ltd share price was Rs 544.00 at 04:01 PM IST on 8th Oct 2024 . V I P Industries Ltd share price was up by 3.28 % over the previous closing price of Rs 526.70 . V I P Industries Ltd share price trend:
Last 1 Month: V I P Industries Ltd share price moved up by 8.55 % on BSE
Last 3 Months: V I P Industries Ltd share price moved up by 14.19 % on BSE
Last 12 Months: V I P Industries Ltd share price moved down by 18.33 % on BSE
Last 3 Years: V I P Industries Ltd price moved up by 0.55 % on BSE
2. How can I quickly analyse the performance of the V I P Industries Ltd stock?
The performance of the V I P Industries Ltd stock can be quickly analysed on the following metrics:
The stock's PE is 13587.50
Price to book value ratio is 11.38
Dividend yield of 0.38
The EPS (trailing 12 months) of the V I P Industries Ltd stock is Rs 0.04
3. What is the market cap of V I P Industries Ltd ?
V I P Industries Ltd has a market capitalisation of Rs 7,725 crore.
4. What is V I P Industries Ltd 's 52-week high/low share price?
The V I P Industries Ltd s 52-week high share price is Rs 697.45 and 52-week low share price is Rs 427.55 .
5. Is the V I P Industries Ltd profitable?
On a consolidated basis, V I P Industries Ltd reported a profit of Rs 4.45 crore on a total income of Rs 639.85 crore for the quarter ended 2024 . For the year ended Jun 2024 , V I P Industries Ltd had posted a profit of Rs 4.04 crore on a total income of Rs 640.95 crore.
6. Which are V I P Industries Ltd s peers in the Consumer sector?
V I P Industries Ltd s top 5 peers in the Consumer sector are Finolex Inds., Safari Inds., Time Technoplast, V I P Inds., Responsive Ind, Prince Pipes, Jai Corp .
7. Who owns how much in V I P Industries Ltd ?
Key changes to the V I P Industries Ltd shareholding are as follows:
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The chronicle of VWs decline a cautionary corporate tale about being caught behind the times mirrors the flaws in what had been Germanys model for success | Photo: Bloomberg
By Monica Raymunt and Mark Schroers
On a Monday afternoon in mid-August, workers at Volkswagen AGs electric vehicle factory in Zwickau shuttled stony-faced between car frames and platforms. The plant was eliminating night shifts after letting go of hundreds of temporary workers. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp A sense of foreboding was already in the air.
The mood is tense, I have to be honest, recalls Ronnie Zehe, the assembly manager at one of VWs newest and most efficient factories.
Three weeks later, the future of those men and women is at risk after the manufacturer that built the iconic Beetle issued a warning that it will need to shut plants for the first time in its 87-year history. Just before the corporate bombshell came a political wake-up call as the far right notched big wins in two state elections in the former east, coming second in Saxony where Zwickau is located.
Germany is confronting the most symbolic moment yet in its story of industrial decline as its biggest manufacturer is poised to cross the Rubicon of factory closures. VWs announcement is more than a belated acknowledgment of commercial reality. Its a body blow to the countrys self image as an automotive powerhouse and an economy that was the worlds largest exporter earlier this century.
The reverberations are cultural and economic too in a nation that was hastily sewn together after the fall of the Berlin Wall but faces the reality that the reunification project has come at a cost. The anti-immigration Alternative for Germany, know as AfD, and left-wing populists have thrived by preying on the east-west divide and the mainstream political establishment have been powerless to stop it.
In the short-term, their electoral gains are yet another knock on Chancellor Olaf Scholzs struggling coalition. In the long term, with federal elections on the horizon in 2025, the question becomes how to tackle the root cause of voter discontent. And a lot of that hinges on Germany being able to pull off another economic miracle of sorts: a rapid transition from export-led manufacturer of cars to a clean-energy power that is at the avant guard of chips and batteries.
The chronicle of VWs decline a cautionary corporate tale about being caught behind the times mirrors the flaws in what had been Germanys model for success and casts doubt on Europes economic motor to keep leading the way in the continent.
Volkswagens problems are partly self-inflicted due to bad business decisions, but VW is also a good example of the enormous difficulties facing Germany as a business location, said Carsten Brzeski, head of macro at ING. Germany has been losing competitiveness for years, and this is now also affecting the former crown jewels of the German economy.
In Zwickau, a mid-sized city in the east where VW made 247,000 fully-electric cars last years, along with 12,000 car bodies for Lamborghini and Bentley models, cost-cutting measures were already well under way before the prospect of wholesale plant closures came up.
The factory is fully exposed to the much slower uptake on EVs in the region as models remain too expensive and incentives fade. VW, though still very profitable, has had a bumpy ride in the transition by first clinging to diesel engines and then overshooting with a full blown offensive.
The company, with its Wolfsburg headquarters in the western state of Lower Saxony, was one of hundreds of businesses that jumped at the chance to take over eastern factories following reunification, including the Zwickau one. Every other family is attached to this Volkswagen plant somehow, even if its the butcher, said Thomas Knabel, the local official of the IG Metall union that represents workers at the facility.
The closure of individual factories is devastating to such communities and carries a political price for Scholz. Carmaking creates around 4 per cent of total value added in the German economies, with a further 4 per cent when taking into account associated areas such as metal or rubber manufacturing, according to Bloomberg Economics.
As Martin Ademmer, an economist at BE, puts it: The car industrys importance for the German economy has declined in recent years but it still remains a very crucial sector.
Cars are an integral part of Germanys modern identity, a pop culture touchstone and political lighting rod: Whether it was Herbie, the Love Bug in the Walt Disney movies, or Janis Joplin in her 1960s pyschedelic Porsche or Donald Trump complaining about the number of Mercedes-Benz and BMW cars driving along Fifth Avenue in New York.
Indeed, the story of VW is the story of postwar Germany, an ascendancy against the odds, associated with the post-war miracle that turned a land wrought by destruction into the regions greatest industrial power.
With the turn of the 21st century, the ability of VW to tap demand from a growing Chinese middle class helped it defy the fate of its rivals in Detroit. But then its reliance on Asian consumers became a problem.
Under the watch of successive governing coalitions in Berlin, the high point of its industrial output in 2017 has been eroded by the ascendancy of advanced Chinese manufacturing, and successive crises from the pandemic to the cut-off of cheap Russian gas imports in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.
Then theres the wider question of the country as a business location. With infrastructure creaking from decades of under-investment in the name of near-balanced budgets, and red tape a frequent complaint of businesses, a survey of 180 economists surveyed by the Munich-based Ifo institute concluded in May that Germany lacks appeal as a place for enterprise.
The answer by Scholzs government, in a rushed bid to placate voters in the restless east, has largely been to dole out generous subsidies to companies opening up plants there.
That approach alone wont fix the countrys waning competitiveness in the long run, said Jens Spahn, a lawmaker from the opposition CDU who serves on the economy committee in parliament. He warned this week that VW is just the tip of a large iceberg.
Monika Schnitzer, an economist who advises the government, cautions that its too soon to write off the countrys status as a leading industrial player.
German companies can continue to succeed if they excel with the latest technologies and high-quality products while keeping costs under control, she said. Germany still has many world market leaders, especially among its so-called hidden champions, who dominate niche markets.
Back in Zwickau, in a region already locked in political unrest, VWs announcement has at least brought some clarity, even if workers are struggling to see through the gloom. The factory has completely redone the roster for every single team, which was a stress point for workers with families, caregiving duties and health conditions.
We have worked hard to achieve a very good standard of living here, Zwickau Mayor Constance Arndt said. I see more light than shade, but people are now realizing that it can quickly come to an end.
Poilievre called on Singh to commit to voting for an election at the earliest opportunity when the House of Commons returns | Photo: Reuters
In a major blow to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his key ally Jagmeet Singh's New Democratic Party withdrew support from the Liberal Party putting Trudeau's minority government at risk an year ahead of the next general elections, CBC News reported. The party made the announcement in a video posted to social media Wednesday afternoon. The deal was scheduled to run until June 2025. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Jagmeet Singh, who helped Trudeau keep his minority government in power, attacked the Canadian PM for caving to "corporate greed" and claimed that the Liberals have "let people down."
"Justin Trudeau has proven again and again he will always cave to corporate greed. The Liberals have let people down. They don't deserve another chance from Canadians," Singh said in the video," Singh said.
"There is another, even bigger battle ahead. The threat of Pierre Poilievre and Conservative cuts. From workers, from retirees, from young people, from patients, from families -- he will cut in order to give more to big corporations and wealthy CEOs," he added.
According to a spokesperson for NDP, the plan to end the agreement was in the works for the past two weeks -- and that the party would not inform the Liberal government of its decision until an hour before the video was scheduled to go live online.
CBC News reported, citing a senior government source, that the Prime Minister's Office was informed at 12:47 pm ET, while Singh posted the video on social media at 12:55 pm ET.
In his first reaction to Singh withdrawing support, PM Trudeau said his government is more focused on tackling the issues of affordability crisis and climate change.
Speaking in Rocky Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador, Trudeau said,
"These are the things that we're focused on. I'll let others focus on politics," Trudeau said at a event in Rocky Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador. "I really hope the NDP stays focused on how we can deliver for Canadians, as we have over the past years, rather than focusing on politics."
Trudeau further affirmed hope that the next election will not happen "until next fall" so that his government has time to move forward on pharmacare, dental care, and school food programmes.
Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called Singh's announcement a "stunt" and criticised him for not saying whether he would vote non-confidence in the government, CBC News reported.
"He came out and claimed that he was wrong, that the coalition was a bad, costly idea, but he refuses to commit to voting for a carbon tax election," Poilievre told reporters in Nanaimo, British Columbia.
Poilievre called on Singh to commit to voting for an election at the earliest opportunity when the House of Commons returns.
"Right now, we don't have a calendar to indicate when we can put forward a motion," he said. "After Sellout Singh did this stunt today, he is going to have to vote on whether he keeps Justin Trudeau's costly government in power, or whether he triggers a carbon tax election."
Jagmeet Singh has also said that his party, the NDP is ready for an election.
In a media release accompanying his announcement, Singh said, "The NDP is ready for an election, and voting non-confidence will be on the table with each and every confidence measure."
A by-election in the Montreal riding of LaSalle-Emard-Verdun, formerly held by the Liberals, will be held on September 16.
The NDP kept the minority Liberal government in power through the confidence-and-supply agreement, in exchange for movement on key priorities such as dental care benefits, one-time rental supplements for low-income tenants, and a temporary doubling of the GST rebate, as reported by CBC News.
But some of the promises made to NDP by the Liberal government are yet to be fully realised.
Pharmacare legislation hasn't passed the Senate, and a bill to implement Elections Act changes is still before the House. Additionally, the promised Safe Long-Term Care Act has yet to be tabled.
However, the end of the confidence-and-supply agreement doesn't necessarily mean an immediate election. The Liberals could seek the support of the Bloc Quebecois or try to continue negotiating with the NDP on a case-by-case basis, CBC News reported.
Letter from China: What African visitors are adding to their baskets at Beijing's Silk Market
13:27, September 05, 2024 By Wang Xiaopeng and Wu Ziyu ( Xinhua
BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) offers an array of side activities for foreign guests who have traveled from afar.
When I opened a brochure introducing these activities, I found out that Silk Street, a landmark market in Beijing, was among the activity routes, alongside the Palace Museum, the Great Wall and other sites. Curious about what items African guests would buy in China, I went to the market to check it out.
There, visitors from the African continent could be seen around every corner. Most were in the city for the FOCAC summit, including 23-year-old Tinu Latif from Nigeria, who I met in a shop selling traditional Chinese clothing.
Wearing a pair of fashionable pink vintage sunglasses, the tall young woman was trying on a brand new Mamianqun, or horse-face skirt, which is a long, pleated traditional Chinese skirt.
Latif told me that when she first saw the skirt in a movie, it had immediately captured her attention. "It prompted me to buy one for myself," she said. "I really love it. It's so beautiful."
On the occasion of the summit, Latif, who has a deep interest in Chinese culture, was able to visit China for the first time. And in Silk Street, she was excited to immerse herself in the Chinese culture.
Latif said she was interested in Chinese films and TV series, particularly those featuring stars like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. She's also a fan of the iconic film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." "I love everything about China," she said.
Latif is learning how to use chopsticks skillfully, and noodles and tea eggs are among the foods that have already impressed her. In addition to buying a Mamianqun for herself, she planned to buy a traditional Chinese Qipao dress for her younger sister and some toys for her younger brother.
The Silk Street Market, located in the capital's central business district, opened in the 1980s mainly to cater to expats working in Beijing.
Over the years, it has transformed from a market selling cheap products into a commercial complex boasting Chinese culture and original designs. Today, it is widely regarded by many international tourists as one of Beijing's must-see locations.
Before and during the summit, the market was bustling with clients speaking foreign languages. Yu Qinghua, who works at a digital products store in the market, said she has been busy in recent days.
Yu said that visitors from Africa are especially interested in small electronic goods like earphones, mini speakers and portable chargers.
Dong Qing, president of Beijing Silk Street Commercial Management Co., Ltd., said that in addition to buying electronic goods and items that embody traditional Chinese culture, many African visitors have visited the market to meet their practical and immediate needs, like new suits and shirts for the summit.
"To better address their needs, we have started an express suit-making service for these customers, which allows them to pick up their custom suits and matching shirts in no more than 18 hours," Dong said.
"We hope that by visiting Silk Street Market, these guests will be able to feel the spirit of Chinese culture and gain a deeper understanding of China."
(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia aims to keep pumping gas via Ukraine to the European Union but added that Moscow could not force Kyiv to keep the transit agreement which expires at the end of this year. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp "As for Ukraine, we are not abandoning this transit, oddly enough. Why? Because we, and Gazprom, intend to fulfil all our obligations to our customers with whom we have long-term contracts," Putin said. "There is a transit contract that ends on December 31 of this year. But if Ukraine refuses this transit, well, we can't force it," Putin said.
Putin said that Gazprom''s main consumers in Europe did not seem to want the transit agreement to end even though they provided military assistance to Ukraine.
The Soviet-era Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhgorod pipeline brings gas from western Siberia via Sudzha in Russia's Kursk region. It then flows through Ukraine in the direction of Slovakia.
In Slovakia, the gas pipeline is divided, one of the branches goes to the Czech Republic, the other to Austria. The main buyers of gas are Hungary, Slovakia and Austria.
If Ukraine refused transit of Russian gas, then Russia would use TurkStream gas pipeline under the Black Sea to supply Europe.
"Ukraine refuses our transit, which means that the volumes of gas that enter Europe will decrease," Putin said.
"They will follow other routes, in particular through the TurkStream, maybe partly through the Blue Stream to Turkey too.
But this is their choice, how it will affect them, I do not fully know."
The Kremlin in June dismissed as absurd US intelligence assertions that Russia sought to meddle in the election. Image: Shutterstock
Russia said on Thursday it would take retaliatory measures against US media in response to US charges against Russian media executives and state broadcaster RT, which Washington has accused of trying to influence the 2024 presidential election.
The United States on Wednesday filed money-laundering charges against two employees of RT for what officials said was a scheme to hire an American company to produce online content to influence the 2024 election.
Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp The US Treasury and State departments also announced actions targeting RT, including the network's top editor, Margarita Simonyan. US officials said Russia's goal was to exacerbate US political divisions and weaken public support for American aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia.
ALSO READ: US accuses Russia of using media to spread disinformation before elections
Russia's foreign ministry said the US moves were part of a plan to purge any dissenting voices from the global media landscape and to stoke fears among US voters about Russia as a mythical external enemy.
"When the authorities resort to such primitive ways of influencing their voters, this is the decline of 'liberal democracies'," Maria Zakharova, foreign ministry spokeswoman, said in a statement on the US action.
"There will be a response," Zakharova said.
"We warn that attempts to expel Russian journalists from the territory of the United States, create unacceptable conditions for their work or any other forms of obstruction of their activities, including with the use of visa tools, will become the basis for taking symmetrical and/or asymmetric retaliatory measures against the American media."
The France-based Reporters Without Borders ranks Russia at 162 out of 180 countries in monitors on press freedom and ranks the United States at 55. Norway was top and Eritrea was bottom.
Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia has tightened control over information and the media, forcing the closure of the last significant independent news outlets and designating many journalists and activists as "foreign agents".
Many Western news organisations have left Moscow and the arrest of Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich in 2023 prompted many more journalists to leave. There are now hardly any US reporters left in Russia.
ELECTION MEDDLING ACCUSATIONS
Russian officials say Western media groups give indulgent coverage of Ukraine, biased coverage of the war and excessively negative coverage of Russia. Western media groups say they try to give balanced coverage.
RT responded with ridicule to the US charges.
"Three things are certain in life: death, taxes and RT's interference in the US elections," the media outlet told Reuters. RT ceased operating in the United States after major television distributors dropped it following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Simonyan said the charges were an attempt to drown RT as a competitor.
The Kremlin in June dismissed as absurd US intelligence assertions that Russia was seeking to meddle in the presidential election and has said that US spies were intent on casting Russia as an enemy.
Previous US intelligence assessments have found that Moscow tried to meddle in the 2016 and 2020 elections. Russian officials have suggested that the United States has also meddled in its domestic affairs.
Russian lawmaker Maria Butina, who spent 15 months in US prison for acting as an unregistered Russian agent and now represents the ruling United Russia party, said the US claims were nonsense.
"Russia thinks it does not matter who wins the US elections the only winner is the US private military-industrial complex. That is what matters and nothing else," Butina told Reuters.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By SA Commercial Prop News
Liberty Two Degrees (L2D) portfolio exposure to Edcon is 5.9% of the total gross lettable area of its portfolio.
South African landlords have let most of the space vacated by the defunct department store, and Liberty and L2D are in talks with Edcon, which is rationalizing its leases.
The hangover from the demise of one of SAs oldest department chains, Stuttafords, appears nearly over for South African landlords.
The Liberty Group and its listed property subsidiary, Liberty Two Degrees (L2D) have finally managed to let space vacated by Stuttafords.
Stuttafords became defunct last year, and the vacated space had been costing the group in lost income. Liberty and L2D have stakes in two of SAs premier shopping centres, Sandton City and Eastgate.
Other property groups such as Hyprop Investments and the Pareto group have also let the space previously occupied by Stuttafords.
Liberty and L2D are now looking at how to prevent the down-scaling of another under-pressure retailer, Edcon, from affecting their profits.
Hyprop had Stuttafords stores in The Mall of Rosebank, Clearwater Mall and Canal Walk. Financial director Laurence Cohen said almost all of the space vacated by Stuttafords had been filled.
"All we have left is about 1,000m of the store in Clearwater Mall, having filled 2,000m of 3,000m there," said Cohen.
Pareto has filled the space vacated by Stuttafords in the Cresta mall.
L2D made the announcements about its Stuttafords space and its discussions with Edcon in a trading update on Tuesday.
The company has been under pressure for not delivering strong enough returns from malls such as Sandton City, Eastgate, Liberty Midlands Mall and Melrose Arch.
It has also been criticised for having a complicated ownership structure and an external management company, as opposed to internal management with interests better aligned to shareholders.
It is simplifying the ownership and internalising its management.
L2D said these moves were in line with its meeting operational objectives.
The group said market conditions were beginning to improve for retailers.
"We are seeing green shoots starting to emerge in the macroeconomic and consumer environments though it is too early to predict this as a sustainable trend," CEO Amelia Beattie said.
"Our portfolio is performing well from a trading perspective, as is evidenced in the turnover growth statistics for some assets and the arrest of declines in others; leasing activities to fill large retail vacancies are on track," she said.
The closure of Stuttafords affected rental income at Sandton City and Eastgate.
At Sandton City, Dis-Chem opened its flagship 1,807m store, which has occupied a significant portion of the space vacated by Stuttafords.
Pick n Pay Clothing, Ted Baker and YSL also took up space and have begun trading.
Markham, LC Waikiki, Exclusive Books and Dion Wired are due to start trading in the third quarter of 2018.
The remaining 650m of Stuttafords space at Sandton City is being negotiated and will be occupied by a pop-up tenant until a suitable long-term tenant is found.
The total Stuttafords retail vacancy at Eastgate has been filled.
The new retailers in this space, which include H&M and Mr Price, will start trading in the last quarter of 2018.
The only remaining portion is the office space previously occupied by the Stuttafords head office.
Meanwhile, Edcon Group has announced that it is rationalising its leases.
"L2D has been in proactive discussions with Edcon regarding the turnaround strategy and the assessment of the potential impact on our portfolio," said Beattie.
She said discussions had been constructive and L2D would advise the market on the final outcome once they were in a position to do so.
L2Ds portfolio exposure to Edcon is 5.9% of the total gross lettable area of its portfolio.
Novotech, the global full-service clinical Contract Research Organization (CRO) that partners with biotech companies to accelerate the development of advanced and novel therapeutics at every phase, has released its latest industry report, Pancreatic Cancer- Global Clinical Trial Landscape (2024).
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240903868547/en/
The landscape of pancreatic cancer (PC) research is experiencing a transformative phase, with significant advancements in clinical trials, drug development, and therapeutic strategies. The 2024 Global Clinical Trial Report offers critical insights into these developments, showcasing the growing global effort to combat one of the most lethal forms of cancer.
Key Highlights:
Global Clinical Trials:
Over 2,000 PC clinical trials have been initiated worldwide since 2019, with North America and the Asia-Pacific region leading the charge, each contributing 38% and 37% of the trials, respectively. Europe follows with a 20% share.
The United States leads North America with 88% of the trials, while Mainland China dominates the Asia-Pacific region with 43% of trials. Other key contributors include Australia, South Korea, and Japan.
Drug Development Landscape:
The report identifies 164 drugs in preclinical stages and 233 in early-phase clinical trials, 29 in Phase III, and 11 already on the market, highlighting a robust and growing pipeline aimed at improving treatment outcomes for PC patients.
Notably, small molecules remain the primary focus of development, with prominent companies such as Astellas Pharma Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., and Eli Lilly and Co. leading the market with their innovative treatments.
The drug development landscape also includes significant contributions from Pfizer Inc., Roche, and Merck & Co. Inc., with a strong emphasis on targeted therapies and immunotherapies.
Therapeutic Innovations:
Recent years have seen advancements in neoadjuvant chemotherapy, RAS-directed therapies, and immunotherapy, offering new hope to PC patients. Stroma-modifying drugs are also showing promise in clinical trials, potentially revolutionizing treatment approaches.
The report predicts that the future of PC treatment will see a greater focus on personalized medicine, early detection methods, and targeted biological therapies, which are expected to significantly improve survival rates and quality of life for patients.
Regional Insights and Trial Density:
Despite its large population, the Asia-Pacific region's clinical trial density is six times lower than that of the US and about half that of Europe, signaling an urgent need for increased research and targeted medical interventions in these regions.
The Asia-Pacific region's untapped research potential, combined with its vast patient population and unique genetic diversities, presents a prime opportunity for groundbreaking clinical research and the development of tailored therapeutic interventions.
Leading Contributors:
Companies like Astellas Pharma Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., and Eli Lilly and Co. have made significant contributions to the PC drug market. The presence of advanced trials by giants such as Pfizer Inc., Roche, and Merck & Co. Inc. underscores the collective global effort to address the challenges posed by pancreatic cancer.
Strategic Insights:
The SWOT analysis of the pancreatic cancer treatment landscape reveals significant strengths in the development of targeted therapies and immunotherapies, bolstered by increased research funding. However, challenges such as late diagnosis, low survival rates, and the lack of early detection biomarkers persist.
Opportunities lie in personalized medicine and growing research investments, while threats include stringent regulatory hurdles and the prohibitive cost of advanced treatments, potentially limiting patient access.
The report underscores the critical importance of continued investment in PC research and development. With the backing of leading pharmaceutical companies and innovative clinical trials, the future of pancreatic cancer treatment is bright, offering new hope to patients and their families.
For more information and to download the full report free of charge, please visit Novotech's website or contact our media relations team.
About Novotech Novotech-CRO.com
Founded in 1997, Novotech is a global full-service clinical Contract Research Organization (CRO) focused on partnering with biotech companies to accelerate the development of advanced and novel therapeutics at every phase.
Recognized for its industry-leading contributions, Novotech has received numerous prestigious awards, including the CRO Leadership Award 2023, the Asia Pacific Cell & Gene Therapy Clinical Trials Excellence 2023, the Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Company of the Year Award since 2006.
The Company offers a comprehensive suite of services including laboratories, Phase I facilities, drug development consulting, regulatory expertise, and has experience with over 5,000 clinical projects, including Phase I to Phase IV clinical trials and bioequivalence studies. With a presence in 34 office locations and a dedicated team of 3,000+ professionals worldwide, Novotech is a trusted end-to-end strategic partner of choice.
For more information or to speak to an expert team member visit www.Novotech-CRO.com
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240903868547/en/
Novotech, the global full-service clinical Contract Research Organization (CRO) that partners with biotech companies to accelerate the development of advanced and novel therapeutics at every phase, has released its latest industry report, Gastric Cancer- Global Clinical Trial Landscape (2024).
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240903559744/en/
This report details the current gastric cancer (GC) research environment as it continues to evolve, as well as offering key insights into the trends that are expected to extend into the near future. The report examines the global state of clinical trials, drug discovery, and emerging therapeutic strategies, while also highlighting the significant progress in understanding and treating GC, showcasing promising therapeutic pipelines with potential benefits for patients and associated organizations worldwide.
The Novotech research analyst team provides these expert reports monthly, highlighting key metrics on the current status of specific diseases and outlining future trends that may impact the development of treatments. This is provided completely free of charge.
Key takeaways from the report:
Global Clinical Trials Surge Since 2019, over 2,000 clinical trials have been initiated globally, with the Asia-Pacific region leading the charge, accounting for 52% of all trials.
Mainland China, in particular, stands out with 48% of the region's trials, reflecting the region's commitment to advancing GC research.
North America and Europe also play crucial roles, contributing 29% and 15% of global trials, respectively. Innovative Drug Development The report identifies 228 drugs in various stages of development, highlighting a robust pipeline aimed at improving GC treatment outcomes.
Notably, 11 drugs have already received approval, with 28 on the market, demonstrating the tangible progress made in recent years.
The most significant focus is on targeted therapies and immunotherapies, with nearly 40% of ongoing Phase III trials investigating Programmed Cell Death Protein 1 (PD-1) antagonists. Advanced Therapeutic Strategies GC treatment strategies are increasingly shifting toward personalized medicine, with advancements in biomarker-directed therapies and molecular diagnostic techniques.
Perioperative chemotherapy remains the standard for resectable GC, while ongoing research explores the benefits of combining targeted and immunotherapies in both perioperative and adjuvant settings. GC Therapies Attract Significant Funding From 2019 to 2023, GC research attracted substantial venture capital funding, totaling $7.4 billion globally.
China and the United States are the leading recipients, securing $4.53 billion and $2.97 billion, respectively.
This financial support underscores the global commitment to addressing the unmet needs of GC patients and advancing treatment options. Challenges and Opportunities The report highlights ongoing challenges, including the high cost of advanced treatments and the need for better patient selection and tailored therapies.
However, significant opportunities exist in the form of liquid biopsies for detecting circulating DNA and the continued development of genetic and molecular profiling to personalize treatment approaches further. Market Leaders: The report identifies key players in the GC treatment market, including Pfizer, Roche, Merck & Co., Eli Lilly and Co., and Sanofi Strategic Insights: The report includes a SWOT analysis, demonstrating the effectiveness of current treatments in managing symptoms and improving quality of life, while also identifying areas where emerging techniques may offer improvements.
With ongoing clinical trials, innovative drug development, evolving therapeutic strategies, and continued investment of capital, the future of GC treatment looks promising.
For more information and to download the full report free of charge, please visit Novotech's website or contact our media relations team.
About Novotech Novotech-CRO.com
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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240903559744/en/
Note: Mortgage rates are from MortgageNewsDaily.com and are for top tier scenarios.
Thursday:
8:15 AM: The ADP Employment Report for August. This report is for private payrolls only (no government).
At 8:30 AM ET, The initial weekly unemployment claims report will be released. The consensus is for 238 thousand initial claims, up from 233 thousand last week.
I'm back from a two-week trip to Africa. It was amazing!
I'll post some pictures and videos soon. This lion walked right past us in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
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Dajanique Leysath spent her summer studying in Barcelona, Spain.
ORANGEBURG, S.C. Two sophomores have enhanced their South Carolina State University educational experiences by studying abroad over the summer.
By way of SC States Office of International & National Student Exchange Programs (OINSEP), Dajanique Leysath and Josiah Stroman studied in European countries after successfully preparing applications for competitive slots with study abroad programs.
The Office of International & National Student Exchange Programs is proud of these students, said Dr. Learie Luke, OINSEP director. Study abroad provides students with cultural immersion experiences that help them embrace cultural diversity, enhances their readiness for new challenges, and increases their cultural competence, which makes them more attractive candidates to prospective employers.
Leysath, an Orangeburg resident who studies computer science was enrolled in the HBCU Consortium program with Barcelona SAE, a new study-abroad partner for SC State in Spain.
Stroman, an Augusta, Georgia, resident is studying mechanical engineering technology at SC State. He enrolled in a study abroad program in Marburg, Germany, with ISEP Abroad. He is the first student from SC State to be selected to serve as a digital ambassador for ISEP Abroad.
Study abroad also facilitates the acquisition of language skills, helps students develop the skill of adaptability, and fosters a lifelong passion for global understanding, Luke said, noting that Stroman took a German language course during his stay. Study abroad and cultural immersion programs contribute to the university achieving its mission of preparing competent and socially aware graduates to enable them to work and live productively in a dynamic, global society.
Stroman in Germany
Josiah Stroman studied special topics surrounding the history, politics, and culture of Germany.
Along with the language course, Stroman studied special topics surrounding the history, politics, and culture of Germany. He is a first-generation college student and a 2024 recipient of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, which provided some of the funding for his study abroad experience.
Studying abroad is not just a chapter in my academic journey, he said. It's a pivotal step toward realizing my full potential as a global engineer and change agent.
By embracing diverse perspectives, fostering cultural exchange, and leveraging international experiences, I am poised to make meaningful contributions to the engineering profession and society at large, Stroman said. As I embark on this transformative journey, I carry with me the conviction that indeed, You can get there from here.
Leysath is a trailblazer.
Leysath is the first SC State student to receive the Trailblazer Grant from Barcelona SAE for her program. Her motto is The greatest things are made under pressure. Let the pressure fuel your journey to extraordinary adventures.
During her time in Barcelona, she studied special topics in Food & Culture in the Mediterranean Basin and Black Barcelona -- The Experience of Race and Ethnicity in Spain.
The OINSEP staff offers advisement services for study abroad, the National Student Exchange Program, and cultural immersion experiences.
These students represent the first of many in the post-Covid era who will expand their personal and academic horizons overseas, said Dominique Rolle, SC State international education coordinator.
Students who are interested in an education-based international travel experience should contact Rolle at drolle1@scsu.edu.
San Francisco prosecutors charged a man with assault, battery and hate crime allegations after claiming he attacked a chef in the citys Financial District. Rafe Swan/Getty Images
A San Francisco man accused of calling a woman a racial slur before beating her last weekend has been charged with multiple hate crimes, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins office announced Thursday.
Irvin Lara-Rivera, 31, was charged Thursday with assault likely to cause great bodily injury and battery with serious bodily injury. Both charges carry special hate-crime allegations.
Lara-Rivera, who also goes by Irvin Rivera-Lara, was expected to be arraigned Thursday afternoon.
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San Francisco police said they were called to the area of California and Drumm streets just after 9:30 p.m. Sunday to investigate an apparent assault. At the scene, officers located an adult female victim who said she was standing outside a business when an unknown male walked by and made a derogatory comment toward her.
After a brief verbal back-and-forth, the male suspect began to assault the victim repeatedly, police said. The woman, chef Wendy Drew, told the San Francisco Standard she pulled the attacker into a Drumm Street liquor store, where the two struggled before she screamed for 911.
Hate crimes have no place in our community and must be addressed swiftly by the criminal justice system, said Jenkins in the release. Attacks like this demean and degrade individuals while also shaking whole communities.
Prosecutors are seeking to hold Lara-Rivera in custody before trial.
Lara-Rivera was arrested last summer for allegedly striking a San Francisco restaurant owner in the face. The victim, Sandys sandwich shop owner Peterson Harter, told the Chronicle he asked Lara-Rivera not to urinate near his trash cans and then was punched.
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THE community of Grange got together last weekend to host a special 12-hour walkathon and family fun day in the village.
Karen Somers at the finish line after completing the full 12hrs on the track during the walkathon in aid of St Francis Farm detox unit in Tullow
Organised by Grange Village Committee and Grange GAA Club, participants had an early start, with the first of the 12 teams taking to the community track at 5am.
The walkathon was then followed by a family fun day at Grange GAA grounds, where there was a range of activities for all, including face painting and sporting events, with medals and trophies awarded to the children who took part.
Cathal Connolly Moran and Maysa Lopes de Magalhaes receiving their medals and trophies for some of the family events at the Grange Community Walkathon and family fun day
An enjoyable day for the whole community, the event sought to raise funds for local projects.
Eva Duggan concentrating on her game of "buzz off" set up by Donal Brennan and his daughters
One of which is the St Francis Farm Detox unit in Tullow. Karen Somers undertook to walk the entire 12 hours, from 5am to 5pm, in a bid to highlight the projects work.
The facility is run by Merchants Quay Ireland, providing a 14-week residential rehabilitation programme.
The children giving it their all during the tug of war battle
Speaking on the importance of the project, Karen said: We all know someone battling addiction, and its crucial to support services like St Francis Farm. Im committed to raising as much as possible to aid those in need of this vital help.
Padraig Murphy helping his son Hugh take part in the 'hanging tough' challenge, made and set up by Cormac Bailey
Grange GAA Club paid tribute to Karens incredible achievement.
Jack Shannon and his friend taking part in the three-legged race after having their faces painted by the talented Ala
Thanking organisers and families for their support, the club said it was a fun-filled day, adding that in particular, the children loved street performer Mr Gusto, who showed his juggling talents while on stilts, the balloon art, face-painting and, of course, the ice-cream!
Five non-EU nationals have been arrested, four in Dublin and one in Wexford, for allegedly illegally residing in the state.
They were detained by gardai from the National Immigration Bureau under 'Operation Fern' - which targets people illegally living here, and the subject of deportation orders.
The man in Wexford was arrested during an operation in July and has since been deported.
The other four, were arrested in Dublin earlier this week and are currently in custody, pending deportation.
Speaking on Wednesday morning following the operation, Detective Chief Superintendent Aidan Minnock said: "In the past week the Garda National Immigration Bureau have conducted a number of operations under Operation Fern to remove persons from the State subject to deportation orders.
"These persons declined the opportunity to avail of voluntary return to their country of origin, following significant engagement with the Department of Justice. Having declined voluntary return they were issued with a deportation order, and are now in custody pending removal from the State.
"These operations illustrates GNIB ongoing capacity to, where necessary, take action to remove person from the State who no longer have authority to remain."
Vivienne Clarke
Labour party leader Ivana Bacik has said it was shocking that in Ireland in 2024 there were such shocking levels of material deprivation among children.
Ms Bacik told RTE radios Morning Ireland that the Labour party will be proposing a Childrens Charter to combat the shameful levels of children in homelessness with 4401 children now in homelessness each one an individual tragedy.
So what we're calling for is for the government to take on a crucial mission of vindicating the rights of children through better public services. And we're calling on it for a number of things to be done that we would commit to doing if in government to end child homelessness, to guarantee an early years or child care place for every child, and to introduce a new class model for schools in the most disadvantaged bands. Those are our three key priorities.
Ms Bacik added that she supported calls for a targeted second tier child benefit to which her party had allocated 2.5million in their alternative budget.
We need to see a targeted set of measures to address this appalling level of child poverty. And that's why we're calling for a Children's Charter to vindicate the rights of children. It's absolutely the crucial mission of any state, any democratic state, to ensure and vindicate the rights of the child, that every child gets a fair start in life.
The chief executive of Community Foundation Ireland, Denise Charlton, has said that targeted second tier child benefits should be included in Budget 2025 instead of universal one off payments.
Ms Charlton was commenting on a new report from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) which found that almost 230,000 children, one in five, are going without basic items and activities for a comfortable life in the State.
It is really very stark that 250,000 children and families with a child under the age of five are living with those stark choices. It's an increase, a 30,000 increase. And so we're obviously not going in the right direction., she told RTE radios Morning Ireland.
Ms Charlton welcomed the recommendation in the report for increased child benefit, but pointed out that research had shown that to take 40,000 of those children immediately out of those dire circumstances would be to have a second tier child benefit that is targeted.
This was not the first time that a second tier benefit had been suggested, she added. Childrens advocates like the Childrens Rights Alliance and other organisations had made such a recommendation in the past.
So it's really stark, we have children who are going hungry who don't have clothes to wear. Their parents are worried about keeping their house. But we do have a resolution to it.
The (ESRI) report really makes clear the devastating consequences of poverty, not just for children, but for people generally. They looked at life satisfaction, they looked at civic participation, and they also looked at social contacts. We know that poverty, disadvantage and inequality go hand in hand. And what the report has done is really amplify that.
Such levels of poverty were worrying not just families, but also for government and society generally. It could lead to polarisation with whole communities disconnecting and disengaging. Thats actually a threat to democracy.
The report is very clear if we want to respond to real poverty in Ireland, and if we want to ensure that those communities are not becoming disenfranchised, we have to invest and to target benefits for children and then benefits for infrastructure in communities.
David Raleigh
A man appeared before a court in Limerick on Thursday charged with the illegal possession of a submachine gun and ammunition.
Willie Woodland (31), of Shanabooly Road, Ballynanty, Limerick, had the gun and ammunition at his home address on Tuesday, September 3rd, it was alleged.
Mr Woodland was charged with being in possession of a 9x18mm Makarov calibre Rak make model PM63 submachine-gun for an unlawful purpose. He is also accused of having a quantity of 9x18mm Makrov calibre ammunition for an unlawful purpose.
Evidence of arrest, charge, and caution, was presented to the court by certificate.
Mr Woodland did not speak during the brief court hearing and no evidence of the allegations was heard.
Garda Laura Lyons gave evidence that Detective Garda Sean OHagan arrested Mr Woodland and charged him.
The accused made no reply to the charges, the court heard.
Garda Sergeant Sean Murray made an application before the court for Mr Woodland to be remanded in custody until next week for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Solicitor Sarah Ryan was assigned to represent Mr Woodland, who was granted free legal aid.
Ms Ryan said she was not applying for bail.
Judge Carol Anne Coolican granted Sgt Murrays application, and remanded Mr Woodland in custody to appear before Limerick District Court via video-link on September 10th for DPP directions.
Jordan Parker is a breaking news reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle. He graduated from Sacramento State University in May 2022 with a degree in journalism. During his time there, he spent three years as a reporter and editor for the university's award-winning student newspaper, The State Hornet. He spent his senior year of college serving as The Hornet's first Black editor in chief, leading the organization to two Pacemaker awards and several other national honors from the Associated Collegiate Press. When he's not chasing down a story, he likes watching movies, traveling and trying new restaurants.
By Cillian Sherlock, PA in Rzeszow
There is an opportunity to create a Polish-Irish synergy on shaping European policy, Polands prime minister has said.
Donald Tusk made the remarks as he hosted Taoiseach Simon Harris for a bilateral meeting in Rzeszow.
Mr Harris was in eastern Poland on his return from engagements with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv.
In Rzeszow, the Irish and Polish leaders discussed the Russian war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza as well as issues on the agenda of the European Council, including migration and security.
Taoiseach Simon Harris holds a press conference with Polish prime minister Donald Tusk in Rzeszow, Poland. Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA
Mr Tusk said Ireland sets an important example for other countries by providing unequivocal support for Ukraine while maintaining its military neutrality.
Neutrality cannot mean indifference towards evil and the tragedy that befalls innocent people, he said.
Therefore I want to emphasise how much we appreciate the personal engagement of the Irish prime minister in providing non-military but humanitarian aid to Ukraine in these difficult times for the country.
Mr Tusk also said the two countries shared views on what European politics should look like.
He said this follows on from a traditional friendship which was founded on the fact that many Polish people emigrated to Ireland in the past.
Praising Irelands economic resilience and creativity, Mr Tusk said the two countries could leverage a Polish-Irish synergy to profile new European policies on security and competitiveness.
He said he counted on Irish support for calls for increasing protection of Europes eastern border in Poland, including an air-defence system.
As Mr Tusk was president of the European Council for almost the entirety of the strenuous negotiations with the UK over post-Brexit arrangements, Mr Harris said he was grateful for the solidarity the prime minister showed to the people of Ireland.
He said: Thank you for your leadership during a most difficult time for my country and indeed for the European Union as we together navigated the unprecedented challenges posed by Brexit.
Your friendship, your solidarity, but also your skill really helped managed that process.
He added: The people of Ireland and the Government of Ireland will always be grateful and consider you a true friend.
Mr Harris said Ireland had benefited from the approximately 100,000 Polish people living in Ireland.
Whilst we are geographically far away, in our hearts and in our minds, we are close.
ATLANTA As part of a partnership with The National media outlet in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), The Carter Center announces a new fellow for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism Program.
Saeed Saeed (Photo: The National)
Saeed Saeed, a features writer for The National, has been awarded a Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism in the UAE. Saeed will join an international cohort of journalists who have been awarded fellowships since 1996. Over the past 28 years, the Center has awarded one-year fellowships to more than 280 journalists, connecting them with resources and experts to increase the quality and accuracy of mental health reporting around the world. The program is currently in the United States, Ireland, Qatar, and the UAE. Previously, fellows were in Latin America, New Zealand, South Africa, and Romania.
In September, Saeed begins the year-long, non-residential fellowship, which aims to increase and improve the quality of mental health reporting in the media. Saeed becomes the 10th journalist to participate in the program since The National began awarding Carter fellowships in the UAE in 2018.
His reporting project will focus on the Arabic music scene and attitudes towards mental health within it, now that a new generation of artists are discussing mental health in their creative work and in general discourse.
During Saeeds fellowship, he will be assisted by a local advisory board in the UAE and receive intensive training from experts and mentors in the United States. to help accurately report on mental health. The Carter Center provides training, educational materials, mentorship, evaluation tools, and technical assistance to develop a sustainable program in the UAE. The National manages the UAE program and is responsible for selecting journalists and adapting it to meet the population's needs.
Applications for the 2025-26 UAE cohort of Rosalynn Carter Fellows for Mental Health Journalism will open in 2025.
Since Rosalynn Carter established the Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism Program in 1996, fellows have produced thousands of documentaries, books, and other works during and after their fellowship year. Their projects have garnered Emmy Awards, nominations for the Pulitzer Prize, and other awards. See mentalhealthjournalism.org and follow @CarterFellows on Twitter for more information about the fellows and tips on mental health journalism.
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Contact: In Atlanta, media@cartercenter.org
The Carter Center
Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.
A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.
Great Wall Hardware is seen in the Sunset District of San Francisco in 2020. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle 2020
Two people were arrested, accused of burglarizing a San Francisco hardware store that was ransacked multiple times after a fire ripped through the store.
San Francisco police officials said officers were conducting passing calls on the 1800 block of Taraval early Tuesday morning near Great Wall Hardware, a store that was damaged by a fire on Aug. 25. A sergeant who arrived on scene noticed a woman and a vehicle outside the store and a man who was burglarizing the business, officials said.
The female suspect, identified as 36-year-old Grace Roberts, was allegedly in possession of stolen merchandise from the store. The male suspect was identified as 48-year-old Aaron Vansickle.
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Both were booked into San Francisco County Jail on charges of burglary, conspiracy and receiving stolen property, police said.
Last Saturday, Albert Chow, who owns the hardware store, told the Chronicle his shop was burglarized twice in one weekend, mere days after the fire broke out.
The store is down, the power is out, and the building is empty, Chow told the Chronicle. The (perpetrators) probably thought, This is a great time to re-victimize this guy.
At least 40 firefighters battled the blaze, which broke out at 3:48 a.m. and displaced three residents who lived above the store, including Chows mother. Chow said the burglars also targeted the upstairs residences last weekend, when the store was allegedly hit twice in about 24 hours.
It was unclear whether the suspects who were arrested Tuesday were the same suspects in the alleged burglaries following the fire.
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Chow told the Chronicle that he believed the fire was arson, having captured footage of a man allegedly holding a lighter up to the store window for 15 seconds before it caught fire.
Two months from today, millions will stream to the polls and vote in another important General Election. (Unless theyve already opted for early voting to beat the rush.) One of the most cherished rights of our democratic republic is being able to vote, to collectively choose who will be representing us at the various levels of government. The Presidential race will command the most attention, but many other important offices also will be at stake.
Conscientious voting can be challenging, choosing which candidates are most qualified. Alas, sometimes we look at the candidates and shrug our shoulders in resignation, concluding theres not much to choose from. If only God would reveal which ones the best.
Many factors can enter into voting decisions, two of them being the specific individuals seeking to be elected, and the policies they espouse. For many of us, character is an important criterion. We would like to be able to choose individuals of great integrity, unquestioned moral conviction and behavior, not tempted by greed and personal interests, and other admirable qualities.
Unfortunately, maybe because traditional and social media are so adept at beaming harsh lights on transgressions major and minor, it seems people possessing the traits listed above are harder and harder to find.
For this reason, rather than holding their noses while casting their ballots, some eligible voters will opt not to vote at all. Thats their choice. Voting is a right, not a requirement. But in reading the Scriptures, Ive discovered that if were searching for leaders demonstrating sterling character and flawless perfection, its a very short list. A list of one: Jesus Christ.
Everyone else in the Bible, even those celebrated as heroes of the faith, possessed more warts than some toads. Its amazing to consider the kinds of people God has used in the past to accomplish His purposes. A comprehensive list could fill a hefty book. So, well just look at a handful of the misfits the Lord selected to lead and intervene on behalf of His chosen people.
Speaking of Gods chosen people, well start with Jacob, who was later renamed Israel. He became the namesake for the ancient Israelites, their descendants being referred to as Gods chosen people to this day. This was despite the fact he was remarkably short on scruples.
His given name, Jacob, can be translated to supplant or overreach, which is exactly what he did in scheming to steal his brother Esaus birthright. Then he compounded the deed, deceiving Isaac, his nearly blind father, to snatch the patriarchs special blessing from Esau. Double whammy! You can find this account in Genesis 27-28. Nevertheless, God used him.
Then there was strong man Samson, one of historys first superheroes. His story is recorded in Judges 13-16. Were told, the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines (Judges 13:5). On several occasions the Spirit of the Lord came upon him with power (Judges 14:19) and Samson performed great feats of courage and strength.
Unfortunately, he had an eye for the ladies, including one seductress named Delilah. The rulers of the Philistines bribed her to find out the source of Samsons strength. After several attempts, he confided in her the promise God had made. As a result, the Philistines were able to subdue him, gouging out his eyes and throwing him into prison. But Samson had the last laugh so to speak, literally bringing the house down by toppling the central pillars of their pagan temple, killing everyone in it including himself.
King David was described by God as a man with a heart after My own heart (Acts 13:22). That sounds good, right? And yet, as we read starting in 1 Samuel 16 through the opening chapters of 1 Kings, he was an adulterer, a murderer, and the head of perhaps the most dysfunctional family in history. How could the Lord use a person like that?
The key was that when confronted by his sins, David was genuinely repentant, humbly acknowledging his wrongdoing without making excuses. God not only used him to reign over the Israelites but also to author many of the Psalms. In one of his penitential psalms, David wrote:
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me (Psalm 51:10-12).
We could cite many others with major flaws and shortcomings, such as Moses, King Solomon, and the apostles Peter, Paul, James, John and Thomas. But the point is simple: If God chooses, He can and will use anyone and anything to accomplish His divine purposes. As Proverbs 16:4 states, The Lord works out everything for His own ends even the wicked for a day of disaster (Proverbs 16:4).
As election day nears, as we weigh both character and where candidates stand on important issues, we all will be hoping to see our favorites receive the most votes. However, our confidence should be anchored in God alone.
From the book of Proverbs, we have these assurances that ultimately, God is in control: Many are the plans in a mans heart, but it is the Lords purpose that prevails (Proverbs 19:21). There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord (Proverbs 21:30). This should give us unwavering hope.
* * *
Robert J. Tamasy is a veteran journalist, former newspaper editor and magazine editor. Bob has written, co-authored and edited more than 15 books. These include the newly published, Marketplace Ambassadors; Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Todays Workplace; Tufting Legacies, The Heart of Mentoring, and Pursuing Life With a Shepherds Heart. A weekly business meditation he edits, Monday Manna, is translated into more than 20 languages and sent via email around the world by CBMC International. The address for his blog is www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com. His email address is btamasy@comcast.net.
Over the next several weeks, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) will host a series of informational meetings regarding the departments Tri-Star Angels Program (TAP).
The next meeting will take place at 3 p.m. on Thursday at the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga at 401 E M.L. King Blvd., Suite 301.
The TAP initiative seeks to strengthen Tennessees entrepreneurial ecosystem in all communities by partnering with regional entrepreneur centers, co-working spaces, and other ESOs to localize virtual training and put the principles learned into practice. TNECD partnered with the Angel Capital Association and the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) to deliver training and address the additional needs of angels, entrepreneurs and the startup community.
Those interested in applying to the program can visit here.
Key Speakers:
Kenyatta Ashford, founder and CEO, Neutral Ground
Ella Livingston, owner and founder, Cocoa Asante
Platt Boyd, entrepreneur, Branch Technology
George Yu, founder and CEO, Variable
Kofi Ampadu, partner, head of Talent x Opportunity, Andreessen Horowitz
Stefanie Crowe, Jump Fund, investor
Builtwell Bancorp, Inc. and Bradley County Financial Corp. announced on Thursday that an agreement has been reached for Builtwell Bancorp, Inc. to acquire Bradley County Financial Corp., the holding company for Bank of Cleveland, a community bank headquartered in Cleveland, Tennessee, with four banking locations and a home loan center in Bradley County. The transaction has been approved by the board of directors of both companies and is subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025.
"Bank of Cleveland has built a strong reputation over the last 37 years by consistently delivering superior service to our customers and fostering deep connections within our community," said Scott Taylor, chairman and CEO of Bradley County Financial Corp. and its subsidiary, Bank of Cleveland. "When it came time to consider our next chapter, we had the opportunity to evaluate many potential partners.
"We chose Builtwell Bank because they share our commitment to being a locally owned and headquartered community bank that understands and prioritizes the needs of our customers and the communities we serve." Concluding, Taylor added, "Our customers will benefit from this merger as Builtwells resources and broader footprint will further enhance our ability to serve their needs, especially for those who do business across the Cleveland, Chattanooga, and Dalton areas."
"We are thrilled that Bank of Cleveland has chosen Builtwell as their partner for the future," said Patti W. Steele, chairman and CEO of Builtwell Bancorp, Inc and CEO of its subsidiary, Builtwell Bank. "Scott Taylor and his team have created an exceptional bank, and we are honored to carry forward their legacy of local service. We both believe the purpose of a community bank is to be the local economic engine for the communities we serve, and together, we will fulfill that purpose and continue to make banking better and easier for all of our customers across this expanded footprint."
Local nonprofit Hope Included, in partnership with Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors and Play & Park Structures Inc., a PlayCore company, have announced the grand opening of the Riverview Park Playground to take place Thursday, Sept. 12 at 4 p.m. Since the project began last fall, it has transformed into an inclusive park that is an open and safe space carefully designed to promote play among children of differing abilities, ages and communities.The grand opening celebration will feature a ribbon cutting ceremony and complimentary Kona Ice, sponsored by Play & Park Structures, Inc.and Bliss Products. Guest speakers scheduled to appear include Nicolle McCoy, founder of Hope Included, Commissioner Brad Turner, Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and Morgan McCormick, park stewardship and maintenance director for Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors.Commissioner Turner awarded Hope Included in 2023 with a $500,000 check as part of the states inclusive playground and facility grant. In addition to designing the playground, Play & Park provided a matching funds grant for the equipment. Individual donations from the community reached $500,000.Ms. McCoy founded Hope Included after the 2019 passing of her daughter, Hope, from a rare condition called Xia-Gibbs Syndrome. Its mission is to give all members of the community, regardless of ability, access to everything that makes us love where we live and do what we love.Ms. McCoy said, We are thrilled to see our dreams of making this inclusive playground a reality. Our precious Hope left the earthly world five years ago. From that moment forward, her family and friends have dedicated themselves to sharing the life lesson that Hope taught them all to be with the people you love. With the generosity and hard work of so many, Riverview Park will be a place that people of all abilities can gather in the community and be together playing, loving and laughing - what Hope did best.For more information about Hope Included, visit: www.hopeincluded.org.
The 911 terrorist attack in 2001 will be remembered this year on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at the Elks Lodge 1944 with Cleveland Fire Department Deputy Chief Pete VanDusen as guest speaker.The Elks will host a remembrance service at 5 p.m. at the Elks Lodge on Second Street in downtown Cleveland.Rose Stanberry, exalted ruler, said it will be especially meaningful as we remember this day to hear from one of our very own community first responder heroes, Needless to say we all remember where we were on the day that changed the world, when terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger planes and crashed into the Twin Towers off the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon, and in a rural area in Pennsylvania.The attacks claimed 2,977 lives, making it one of the deadliest attacks in history. Daniel Koob does an outstanding job each year with the 911 Remembrance in addition to his untiring efforts for our veterans in this community. We certainly appreciate Daniel and look forward to hearing from Chief VanDusen.""Chief VanDusen is an experienced deputy fire chief with over 30 years in fire services. He has served as chief deputy of Cleveland Fire Department since 2018 and served the department in numerous capacities including training captain and lieutenant. He has also served as an EMT with Bradley County EMS . He holds a bachelor of science degree from Tennessee Wesleyan University and associate of fire science from Chattanooga State College.Officials said, "Chief VanDusen was heavily involved in improving our city fire agency to attain the OSI rating to a Class 2. He helped manage and design the new Fire Training Center, served as regional coordinator for State of Tennessee Mutual Aid System. He has been a TEMA evaluator and chaired the regional swift water rescue committee. His certifications are many, and he is sought after by many agencies to help with training, evaluations and certifications of management strategies and operations.As a first responder he will no doubt have a personal perspective on this historic event. It affected us all, but I am certain his thoughts that day were also on his fellow firefighters in New York. We hope the public will come help us remember and hear Chief VanDusen.Mr. Koob is chairman of the 911 Remembrance Ceremony and said it is designed, "so we 'Never Forget' how the four Islamist terrorist suicide attacks changed our world."The event is free. Complimentary refreshments will be served afterward.
Bryan College announces the appointment of Dr. Kathryn Saynes as the new vice president for Academics. An esteemed alumna of the college,
Dr. Saynes earned her Doctor of Education from Northcentral University and holds a Master of Arts in Instructional Leadership from Tennessee Technological University. She began her educational journey at Bryan College, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts: Elementary Education. Additionally, she is a certified professional educator through the Association of Christian Schools International.
With several years of teaching experience in middle school mathematics in the Rhea County area, Dr. Saynes returned to her alma mater. Over the years, she has held various roles at Bryan, including Education Department chair, Faculty chair, Curriculum Committee chair, and most recently, dean of Professional Studies and Bryan College Online.
Dr. Saynes is proud of her familys deep ties to the Bryan community; her husband, Nick, serves as a captain with the Chattanooga Fire Department. Their daughter, Kayla, is a freshman at Bryan, majoring in Business, while their daughter, Lily, is a high school senior planning to attend Bryan next year as a Psychology major.
In her own words, Dr. Saynes reflects on her journey, stating, I have had the privilege to walk beside students and faculty in both joy and grief. They have also lifted me up during similar seasons in my life. The community is what drew me to Bryan as a student and what keeps me here. My time at Bryan was transformational as a student and continues to be as I continue to learn and grow in my various roles. Im excited to take on this new role and to see how we can continue to improve our service to students in Academics.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is asking the Chattanooga community for assistance with a cold case homicide that occurred near Wizard Wells, Texas in 1984.The victim was recently identified as Roberta Mumma. Ms. Mumma was last known to work at the Red Lobster in Chattanooga.If you have any information about Ms. Mumma, contact the Jack County Sheriff's Office at 940-567-2161 or email chauger@jackcounty.texas.gov.
Keeping tradition alive, Chattanoogas 3 Sisters Music Festival is back for its 17th year on Oct. 4 and 5. This event is free for all and features music and food. Fletcher Bright Company hosts the bluegrass-themed 3 Sisters Festival, and Chattanooga Presents serves as its producer.
Friday night will feature this years four-time GRAMMY Award-Winning headliner, The Infamous Stringdusters, showcasing their progressive bluegrass, virtuosic musicianship, and innovative style. Friday will also include artists such as local favorite The New Dismembered Tennesseans, followed by Becky Buller, and the Canadian bluegrass group The Slocan Ramblers. Events for Friday, Oct. 4, will begin at 5:30 p.m.
Saturdays activities will start at noon with a performance by local bands Bluetastic Fangrass and Lone Mountain Band. A set by Damn Tall Buildings, a bluegrass trio that adds some big city energy to old soul sounds, will follow at 2 p.m. Sister Sadie, a female group nominated for eight IBMAs, will perform at 3 p.m. The festival will continue with performances by The Steel Wheels and Chicken Wire Empire, a pioneering force in the Upper Midwest contemporary bluegrass scene.
The bluegrass-packed weekend will close out with a performance by The Steeldrivers, a group that stands on the bluegrass tradition while celebrating new sounds of blues and soul. Saturday nights headline show features a return performance by the San Fransico-based band, The Brothers Comatose at 8:30 p.m. With their upbeat brand of Americana music, this band will bring a living room party to the stage, with a foot-stomping and rousing folk-infused closing set.
Festival-goers will be treated to food by 18 local food vendors, lined up and ready to share their love for food and the city on both days of the festival. Options will run the gamut, including corndogs, lemonade, kettle corn, and ice cream, as well as pad thai, pizza, barbecue and more.
Visit 3sistersbluegrass.com for more information on festival details, or check out the full schedule of performances below.
Friday, Oct. 4:
The New Dismembered Tennesseans 5:30-6:15 p.m.
Becky Buller 6:35-7:35 p.m.
Slocan Ramblers 7:55-8:55 p.m.
The Infamous Stringdusters 9:15-10:45 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 5:
Bluetastic Fangrass 12-12:40 p.m.
Lone Mountain Band 1-1:40 p.m.
Damn Tall Buildings 2-2:40 p.m.
Sister Sadie 3-4 p.m.
Steel Wheels 4:20-5:20 p.m.
Chicken Wire Empire 5:40-6:40 p.m.
The Steeldrivers 7-8:15 p.m.
The Brothers Comatose 8:30-10 p.m.
The girlfriend of a man convicted in the February 2020 murder of Sean Moss has been granted judicial diversion.
JohnBeth Holland will not have to do jail time if she does not get into further trouble for a specified period.
Kaleb Cox previously pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter and received a 15- year sentence in the case in which the victim was taken to Prentice Cooper State Park and his body burned.
Cox is currently serving his time in the TDOC.He alleged that he acted in self defense.
Prosecutor Andrew Coyle said the proof in a hearing before Judge Barry Steelman on Wednesday showed that Ms. Holland was contacted by Cox after the homicide and was asked to follow him in her vehicle while he drove the victim's car to Prentice Cooper. Once they arrived, he asked Ms. Holland to park while he took the victim's vehicle further up the road. He then set it on fire.
Ms. Holland was charged with tampering with evidence, two counts of abuse of a corpse, and accessory after the fact.
She earlier pled guilty to tampering and one count of abuse of a corpse with the sentence to be determined by Judge Steelman. She was diversion eligible and was able to ask the judge to consider diversion. One count of abuse of a corpse and the accessory charge were dismissed by the state as part of the plea.
A Tennessee Bureau of Investigation detective testified that Cox maintained that he was alone when he shot Moss over a drug dispute, put the body in the victim's own car and drove it to Prentice Cooper, where he set the car on fire.
The detective said Ms. Hollands car, a Volkswagen Jetta registered in her mothers name, was recorded on the parks security cams entering the park behind Mosss red Toyota sedan at about 3 a.m., and leaving alone at about 4 a.m. The car returned to the scene at about 7 a.m. later that morning.
The detective said Ms. Holland had bought two jugs of Purex laundry detergent with bleach at about 10:30 the morning of the murder, detailed on a dated receipt from Walgreens on Highway 153, near Red Bank. But Ms. Hollands lawyer, Samuel Hudson, said the jugs or traces of detergent were never found at Coxs Red Bank home on Delashmitt Road, and he did not reference Ms. Holland in his statements about cleaning his home after the murder.
Defense attorney Hudson said cell phone tower records placed Ms. Holland near McMinnville at the time of the murder. She may not have come home at all that night, he said. If she did drive her car to Prentice Cooper, she may not have known that Mosss body was in the Toyota, as it was covered in towels, he claimed.
In an emotional statement, the victim's brother, Chase Moss, said that Sean Moss saw the good in everyone. He told Ms. Holland that she and Cox took advantage of his kindness. The witness was escorted from the courtroom when it became clear he was becoming more agitated, cursing and talking over Judge Steelman.
Mosss mother, Martha, read a victim impact statement detailing that the Moss family and friends believe Ms. Holland was involved with the entire murder, start to finish.
I really do hope that you are haunted by the images, she said. These crimes couldnt have been committed without your help.
She said Ms. Hollands silence allowed Coxs first-degree murder charge to be downgraded to voluntary manslaughter.
Johnbeth, you helped destroy important evidence, she said.
The room was tearful as Ms. Moss referenced a second-grade essay in which her son said he wanted to be a dad when he grew up, while she noted that Cox became a father as he walked free in the four years between the murder and his sentencing.
After hearing the proof, impact statements by the family, and the Ms. Holland's testimony, Judge Steelman sentenced Ms. Holland to:
T ampering with evidence - judicial diversion was granted, seven years suspended to state probation,
A buse of a corpse - judicial diversion was granted, five years suspended to state probation.
A man accused of molesting children in Windsor during the 1990s, Richard Leslie Ward II, 66, was arrested in Idaho last month. Jacom Stephens/Getty Images
A former Sonoma County resident was arrested in Idaho last month after people in Windsor came forward, accusing him of molesting them in the 1990s while they were children, authorities said.
Richard Leslie Ward II, 66, who lived in Windsor, was arrested in Boise, Idaho, on Aug. 14. Ward was booked into the Sonoma County Jail on Wednesday afternoon on three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and four counts of lewd acts on a child, all felonies, according to jail records. His bail was set at $2 million.
In July, Wards accusers reported the molestation to Windsor police, who then began investigating. Once authorities collected enough evidence against Ward in the case, authorities traveled to Idaho to arrest him, the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office said.
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The Sonoma County District Attorneys Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on potential charges.
The Sonoma County Sheriffs Office said it believes there could be additional victims of Ward in Sonoma County and Ada County, where Boise is located.
The victims in this case came forward because they were worried the suspect may have been or is still molesting other children, the sheriffs office said.
Authorities are asking anyone who may have been molested by Ward to contact the sheriffs office at 707-565-8290. Authorities said no further information will be released regarding the case.
Mary Ann Lawson, of Harrison, Tennessee passed away on Friday, August 30, 2024 in her home after a (blessedly) short battle with pancreatic cancer, leaving a void which can never be filled.
Her life will be celebrated in the Valley View Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, 7414 Old Lee Highway, on Friday, Sept. 13, with visitation at 11:30 a.m. followed by a service at 1:00 p.m. Her family will host a reception at her residence in Harrison immediately following.
Mary Ann was born in Rockwood, Tn., after her parents and older siblings moved several years before from Ohio to Tennessee as her father Herman Enoch Heston was employed by the newly formed Tennessee Valley Authority to assist in building Wilson Dam, then Watts Bar Dam, then finally Parksville Dam as an electrical engineer. Her mother Ruth Virginia Howard Heston, and siblings Herman Mahlon (Jack) Heston and Alice Virginia Heston MacDonald all traveled to these Dam cities together. They were joined by Marjorie Lee Heston in Rockwood two years after Mary Anns birth; Mary Ann is survived by Margie, but preceded in death by her parents and other siblings.
Mary Ann graduated from Polk County High School, then from Tennessee Tech University with a Bachelors Degree in Education in 1965. She was also preceded in death by her first, second, and last husband James Rance Lawson of Cleveland. Two months after college graduation she bore her only child Dr. Tonya Ann Lawson. She is survived by Tonya and her husband Dr. John Kinsler Shaw, as well as her life partners children, Laura Fulton, Larry Fulton, and his wife Leisa. Ramie Fulton Best and Jesse Fulton considered Mary Ann their Nana, as their grandmother Edna Elaine Fulton was her beloved for 40+ years until she passed away in 2021. Mary Ann and Elaine built a loving and stable family filled with friends and folk for nearly half their lives.
Mrs. Lawson taught seventh grade English at Cleveland Junior High School for 20 years and completed her masters in education from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1974. After she retired from Cleveland Junior High she worked as a counselor and finally for years at McKays Bookstore where she befriended many of her favorite people.
Mary Ann is survived by her Sister Dear Margie Heston of Mt. Juliet, Tn. Virtually every photograph in her childhood includes Margie, her erstwhile best friend and playmate, and dedicated caretaker in her final days. She is also survived by nieces, Jackie Heston Ellis, Kathleen MacDonald Parent, Ruthie MacDonald Kilmer, and Susan MacDonald Bessler, as well as myriad cousins and dozens of adored friends, and Sally, her constant furry companion, loyal til the end, a heartbeat at her feet.
Donations to some of Mary Anns favorite causes would be greatly appreciated in lieu of flowers or gifts. She was passionate about helping local charities that took care of animals, especially. With that in mind donations can be made in her name to:
Safe Haven Animal Rescue Group (SHARP), a dog and cat rescue in Polk County, Tn. There is no municipal animal shelter in Polk County, so this group does all it can to address pet homelessness and overpopulation, a constant issue in all of Tennessee. (SharpRescue.org)
Humane Educational Society, a Hamilton County shelter and education organization for assisting pets. (HESChatt.org)
Whipporwill Horse Rescue of Tennessee, a horse and dog rescue charity and farm in Polk County. (Whipporwillhorserescueoftn.com)
The Cohutta Song Fest will offer a songwriting workshop on Saturday, Oct. 19 in a small group setting in Northwest Georgia. This four hour workshop, to be taught by songwriters Becky Buller and Ed Snodderly, is designed to help hone songwriting skills by focusing on lyric writing, music theory and arranging.Officials said, "What you will discover in this workshop is that the inspiration drawn from the class is vitally important, but its only half the story. The other part is spending most of the day totally immersed in songwriting with other likeminded folks.Friendships are formed that last well beyond the workshop, and collaborations bring forth songs that never would have happened otherwise."The fee of $65 will include the workshop, full admission to the Cohutta Song Fest evening concert and participation in an open stage.About the instructors:A 10-time IBMA Award winner, Becky Buller has written songs for three Grammy award-winning albums and had had her songs recorded by The Infamous Stringdusters Laws of Gravity (2018 Best Bluegrass Grammy), The Shaker on The Travelin McCourys self-titled release (2019 Best Bluegrass Grammy) and Good-bye Girl on Molly Tuttle & Golden Highways Crooked Tree album (2023 Best Bluegrass Grammy). Her compositions can also be heard on records by Ricky Skaggs, Rhonda Vincent and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver and many others.Ed Snodderly co-founded the now iconic music venue, The Down Home Coffee House and Pickin Parlor in Johnson, Tn. Since his 1977 debut album, Sidewalk Shoes, Mr. Snodderly has released LPs on Sugar Hill and other prestigious roots-oriented labels. In addition to his solo work, he also recorded and performed as the Brother Boys with duet partner Eugene Wolf. Songs that hes written have been covered by Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, John Cowan, Missy Raines and others, and in 2000, he played a minor role (credited as Village Idiot) in the Coen Brothers film, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" Since 1992 he has been teaching songwriting classes in the Bluegrass, Old Time and Country Music Studies program at East Tennessee State University.For more information or to register for the workshop, visit https://cohuttasongfest.com/workshops or email cohuttasongfest@yahoo.com.Scholarships:If you know of a high school student who would benefit by participating in this event but can't afford to, a limited number of youth scholarships may be available. Contact Charlsey Etheridge at cohuttasongfest@yahoo.com.
Bar Smith was in court last week and the grand jury has agreed to add an additional charge to the lengthy list of felonies he is facing after breaking into Ashley Jones' Nevada home.
Bar Smith has made a host of bad decisions in his life, and his most recent one has landed him in a world of legal trouble. The troubled former Teen Mom star has been languishing in a Nevada jail since July over an incident involving his soon-to-be ex-wife, Ashley Jones, and it doesnt look like hell be getting out anytime soon. The serious charges he was already facing have been upgraded. Bar Smith could be facing years behind bars.
Why was Bar Smith arrested in July?
Police arrested Bar Smith in Henderson Township, Nevada, on July 7. The California resident reportedly broke into Ashley Jones home and held her hostage while threatening to harm her. Jones mother, who was not in the house at the time of the incident, alerted police in a chilling 911 call.
Bar Smith and Ashley Jones | MTV/YouTube
Smith was apprehended without incident and originally charged with two felonies and a misdemeanor. The original charges included second-degree kidnapping, residential burglary, and coercion constituting domestic violence. He was remanded to jail and has been there ever since. Bar was also on probation in California on gun charges at the time of his Nevada arrest.
The former Teen Mom star is facing additional charges
While Smith was already facing three serious charges in connection to the July incident, the Ashley Reality Roundup Group has reported that a Grand Jury agreed to add aggravated stalking to his list of charges. According to the publication, a prosecutor argued that before breaking into Jones home, Smith harassed and terrorized his former partner via text messages. Her parents testified that Smith had pulled guns on people, including Jones, on multiple occasions. Smith and Jones had not filed for divorce before the incident occurred but had been living separately for nearly two years. They allegedly parted ways romantically months earlier.
The stalking charge, a class B felony, carries a minimum sentence of two years and a maximum sentence of 15 years behind bars. The stalking charge is classified at the same level as the kidnapping charge Bar was already facing. It carries the same minimum sentence.
Bar Smith was fired by MTV many months before his Nevada arrest. The network reportedly opted to cut ties with the troubled reality TV star after a domestic violence incident occurred in front of the production team.
Bar Smiths bail has been set at $250,000
With the new charge comes a new bail amount. Bars previous bail amount was $35,000. Due to the nature of his crimes and his prior criminal record, his bail amount has increased to $250,000. Bails of $250,000 or more are generally reserved for the most serious crimes. According to The Ashley Reality Roundup Group, the district attorney noted that Smith was not only a flight risk but a danger to his victim, the child he shares with her and her extended family.
Bar Smith and Ashley Jones | MTV/YouTube
At this time, Smith is still being held in a Nevada jail. His trial is set to start at the end of October. It is unclear if he has made bail or is attempting to make bail at this time. His mother, Shen Williams, has been surprisingly quiet about recent events in her sons life. Ashley Jones has officially filed for divorce. The divorce appears to be uncontested. There is no word on when the split will be finalized.
Following the approval by all relevant authorities, Wintershall Deas exploration and production (E&P) business excluding Russia-related activities was transferred to Harbour Energy plc (Harbour) on September 3, 2024; it consists of producing and development assets as well as exploration rights in Norway, Argentina, Germany, Mexico, Algeria, Libya (excluding Wintershall AG), Egypt and Denmark (excluding Ravn) as well as Wintershall Deas carbon storage (CCS) licenses. In exchange, the shareholders of Wintershall Dea BASF (72.7%) and LetterOne (27.3%) received total cash consideration of $2.15 billion (BASF share: $1.56 billion) and new shares issued by Harbour equating to a total shareholding in the enlarged Harbour of 54.5% (BASF share: 39.6%). The agreed enterprise value for the Wintershall Dea assets amounts to $11.2 billion. This amount includes the outstanding bonds of Wintershall Dea with a nominal value of around $4.9 billion that were also transferred to Harbour at closing.
With the closing of this transaction agreed in December 2023, BASF has taken the decisive step towards achieving the final separation from the oil and gas business. The closing creates the opportunity for monetization of BASFs stake in the combined company without further intermediate steps, as Harbour is listed on the London Stock Exchange. The shares in Harbour Energy offer significant potential for value creation and allow BASF to gradually and optimally exit our financial participation in the company over the next few years, said Dr. Dirk Elvermann, Chief Financial Officer of BASF SE.
Wintershall Deas headquarters and the related staff are not part of the transaction. In June 2024, Wintershall Dea and the employee representatives reached agreement on the reconciliation of interests and social plan for the restructuring and closure of the headquarters in Hamburg and Kassel. Around 800 employees are affected by the closure of the sites. With the agreed social plan, the redundancies are being implemented in a socially responsible manner. Furthermore, in addition to the around 1,200 employees who are part of the transaction, Harbour will take over a certain number of employees from the former Wintershall Dea headquarters.
With completion of the sale to Harbour, the international E&P business of Wintershall Dea was also legally separated from the Russia-related business. BASF and LetterOne remain the owners of Wintershall Dea, which holds the Russia-related business, for which significant federal German investment guarantees are in place. The management of Wintershall Dea had announced its withdrawal from activities in Russia in January 2023; the remaining shareholdings will be wound up step by step.
In March 2024, Wintershall Dea concluded an agreement on the sale of its 50.02% stake in WIGA Transport Beteiligungs-GmbH & Co. KG and WIGA Verwaltungs-GmbH (together WIGA) to SEFE Securing Energy for Europe GmbH (SEFE), based in Berlin. SEFE previously held a 49.98% stake in WIGA and is the sole shareholder of the gas transport holding company after completion of the transaction on August 30, 2024. WIGA is active in the German gas transport business.
The former Chief Executive Officer Mario Mehren, Chief Operating Officer Dawn Summers and Chief Financial Officer Paul Smith have resigned from their mandates at Wintershall Dea AG following the closing of the transaction with Harbour. Stefan Schnell, previously Senior Vice President Group Reporting & Performance Management at BASF SE, and Larissa Janz, previously Vice President Special Projects at Wintershall Dea, have taken over the management of Wintershall Dea AG as Chairman of the Management Board and Deputy Chairwoman of the Management Board, respectively. Wintershall Dea AG will change its legal form from a stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) to a limited liability company (GmbH) in the coming weeks and will then operate under the name Wintershall Dea GmbH.
Dr. Hans-Ulrich Engel, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Wintershall Dea, said: On behalf of the Supervisory Board, I would like to thank all Wintershall Dea employees for their hard work, without which the successful management of the business and the closing of the transaction with Harbour would not have been possible. My special thanks go to Mario Mehren, Dawn Summers and Paul Smith, who led Wintershall Dea through to the closing with great competence and extraordinary commitment. I wish them all the best for their future careers. I wish Stefan Schnell and Larissa Janz every success in their new positions.
Louisa Soap, left, of Locust Grove; Darrell Littledeer, of Stilwell; and Roy Boney Jr., of Tahlequah were selected as Cherokee National Treasures and were honored during an award ceremony Aug. 29 as part of the 72nd annual Cherokee National Holiday celebration.
Home News 5 things to know about Apalachee High School shooting suspect Colt Gray
The suspect behind the Apalachee High School shooting in Winder, Georgia, which left four people dead and nine others injured, has been identified as 14-year-old Colt Gray.
A statement from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation also confirmed that the four people killed in the shooting were identified as two students and two teachers. They are Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, along with teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53.
At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that there were additional shooters. Investigators are actively pursuing all leads regarding any potential associates of the shooter, the Georgia Bureau of investigation's statement said.
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There is no evidence of a list of schools being targeted; however, there is a lot of evidence that is being recovered and evaluated. Investigators are diligently reviewing leads to determine if there are any active threats, it added.
Chris Hosey, director of the Georgia Bureau of investigation, said during a news briefing on Wednesday that Gray used a rifle to kill the victims in the hallway outside his algebra class.
Here are five things you should know about him.
Home News California church administrator sentenced for stealing $360K from congregation
A former church administrator in California has been sentenced to over five years in prison for stealing approximately $360,000 from her congregation.
Chanell Easton, a 38-year-old resident of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was found guilty months ago of having stolen money from a church in Yuba City over the course of five years.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California announced late last month that Easton had been sentenced to five years and one month in prison for her embezzlement scheme. A hearing to determine restitution has been scheduled for Nov. 19.
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Easton wrote in a letter to U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez in advance of sentencing, saying she had "deep regret" for her criminal behavior, claiming that she had an abusive upbringing that had a "profound effect on my development and well-being."
"I am deeply sorry for what I have done," Easton wrote, as quoted by The Sacramento Bee last month. "This is not who I am."
The wife of former Marysville, California, Police Department Chief Aaron Easton, Easton was an administrator at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church of Yuba City.
According to authorities, from June 2013 to February 2018, Easton stole more than $360,000 from the church.
Easton took funds from different accounts, including St. Andrew's food pantry and youth group. She also used church credit cards for personal purchases, including a vacation rental, VIP tickets and visits to retail stores and a hair salon.
In May 2022, a federal grand jury in Sacramento charged Easton with 22 counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft, with her facing the possibility of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each wire fraud count.
St. Andrew Presbyterian released a statement in 2022 saying it first became aware of the missing funds shortly after Easton had quit working for the church.
"This has been a long, tiring and frustrating process," stated the church, adding that "multifaceted systems of checks and balances, controls and accountability have been a top priority and have been set in place since Chanell left."
Last October, Easton pleaded guilty to the 22 wire fraud counts. However, she maintained a plea of not guilty to the two counts of identity theft. She was found guilty in March.
Home News Sing! 2024: John Piper emphasizes power of Scripture to stir genuine emotion in worship
Pastor and theologian John Piper weighed in on the relationship between Scripture, worship and emotion during a sermon delivered at the Sing! 2024 conference, emphasizing that biblical truths are meant to not only guide worship but invigorate it.
Speaking before a packed audience at Keith and Kristyn Getty's annual conference in Nashville, Tennessee, Piper, founder of DesiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary in Minneapolis, likened the songs of Scripture to the sharp point of a sword, with the totality of the Bible forming the blade and hilt.
Scripture, he said, especially its songs, is designed to penetrate barriers and lead believers into deeper, more vibrant worship.
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"The Bible exists to create, sustain, guide, shape and invigorate right emotions toward God," the 78-year-old pastor said. He emphasized that while correct thinking about God is essential, it is not the ultimate goal.
"Right emotions toward God are the goal of right thinking about God," he said. "Right feelings toward God are the goal of right doctrines about God. Right affections for God are the goal of true statements about God, which implies that the inspired, infallible Word of God exists for the sake of creating and guiding and invigorating right emotions toward God."
Piper stressed that the intellect is meant to serve the heart, contending that doctrine exists to support genuine emotional responses to God, such as joy, awe and love.
Using examples from Psalms and the New Testament, he demonstrated how biblical truths should lead to heartfelt worship. In Psalm 16:8-10, for example, the truth that God is always present serves the joy and gladness of the heart.
"The truth serves the gladness," the Future Grace author noted, emphasizing that this pattern is woven throughout the Bible. The Psalmist doesn't rejoice for joy's sake joy emerges from the deep understanding of God's presence and promises.
"The doctrine serves the delight," he added, explaining that doctrine, no matter how profound or theologically sound, must ignite the heart's affection for God. He warned that without this emotional response, the worshiper risks becoming like a machine, processing facts but missing the deeper spiritual connection.
Piper asserted that "Godward feelings" joy, love, awe are ultimate in a way that Godward thinking is not. "Both are indispensable," he explained, "but one is more ultimate as the goal of the other and one of them is less ultimate, as the servant of the other. Thinking is the servant, feeling is the goal. Doctrine is the servant. Delight is the goal. That's the pattern everywhere in the Bible."
To illustrate his point, Piper noted that while technology can simulate human intelligence learning, problem-solving and decision-making emotions are conspicuously absent from its capabilities. This absence, he said, underscores the unique and irreplaceable nature of human emotions, which are not merely pragmatic tools but ends in themselves.
"When emotions come into being authentically, they're not a means to an end," Piper explained. "Authentic emotion is spontaneous. It's real, and it is an end in itself, just as worship is."
While people may accept AI performing intellectual tasks, they recoil at the idea of "artificial emotion," as they can seem manipulative and insincere. This distinction, he said, highlights God's design that emotions be genuine responses to truth, particularly in the context of worship.
Piper also warned against turning worship into a means to an end, such as raising funds or evangelizing. True worship, he emphasized, is an authentic response to the greatness and beauty of God, not about checking theological boxes or simply reciting biblical facts.
"You can write down facts about a mountain, but that doesn't capture awe and wonder," Piper said.
Piper concluded by encouraging attendees to let biblical truth serve as the foundation for authentic emotions in worship. "Where the Word of God is sung and known, filled with biblical truth, joy and delight will follow," he said, calling on believers to let their minds serve their hearts in their pursuit of glorifying God.
The Sing! 2024 conference is held this week, Sept. 3-5, in Nashville. The theme of this year's conference is "The Songs of the Bible" and features speakers and artists, including The Gettys, Alistair Begg, Andrew Peterson, Mark Dever, Michael W. Smith, and more.
After decades of federal oversight, the Oakland Police Department still has work to do, a judge said on Wednesday. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle 2021
A federal judge on Wednesday indicated that the Oakland Police Department requires further oversight to ensure leaders hold officers accountable for misconduct.
U.S. District Judge William Orrick said he will issue an order this week that could force the police chief and city officials to keep a watchful eye on internal investigations into allegations of misconduct. There were no clear signs during the hearing in San Francisco federal court that the 21-year-old court-ordered monitoring will end soon.
The oversight was required as part of a 2003 settlement in a federal civil rights lawsuit in the infamous Riders case, in which 119 plaintiffs accused four officers of misconduct, including assault and planting evidence, in West Oakland. As part of the settlement, the city agreed to enact a slew of reforms under the supervision of a federal judge and a court-appointed monitor.
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Despite a series of completed court-ordered reforms, the department has suffered several setbacks in its efforts to end the federal oversight.
The continued monitoring is expected to test the leadership of Oakland Police Chief Floyd Mitchell, who stepped into the role in May as the 13th chief in as 13 years.
Much of the hearing Wednesday centered around disciplinary issues that came to light a few months ago. The issues stemmed from allegations that top department leaders mishandled an internal administrative investigation into a veteran homicide investigator who faces criminal charges.
The Police Commissions Community Police Review Agency, which carried out one of two parallel probes, determined eight department members involved in the investigation into detective Phong Tran violated policies. Among the findings, the CPRA determined that three officers obstructed the investigation into Tran, according to city records. The parallel probes led to discipline notices against several department members, including Deputy Chief Drennon Lindsey and internal affairs Sgt. Mega Lee, who were issued notices of the citys intent to fire them, according to two sources granted anonymity under the Chronicles confidential source policy. Former Chief LeRonne Armstrong and former Assistant Chief Darren Allison, who succeeded Armstrong on an interim basis, were also faulted for the departments handling of the investigation into Tran, who was cleared of wrongdoing, the Oaklandside reported.
Last August, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Prices office charged Tran with perjury and bribery of a witness in a murder case. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. A trial date is not yet set in his case.
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While details of the investigation of Tran were not discussed, Orrick characterized the matter as an investigative failure on the part of former department leaders. Mitchell, the current chief, agreed.
Mitchell said the department needs to undergo cultural changes to prompt department leaders to uphold strong values around just policing. He expressed confidence in the members he appointed to his command staff. Its not about checking a box to get out of oversight, the chief said.
While Mitchell said he keeps tabs on internal affairs matters, Orrick questioned whether the supervisor who oversees internal investigations should report directly to the chief or whether city leaders should meet with the department regularly to discuss and keep tabs on internal affairs.
Orrick said he was concerned that former department leaders wanted to sweep the allegations against Tran under the rug.
Mayor Sheng Thao vowed to ensure representatives from the city administrators office, if not her office, meet regularly with police department leaders to discuss internal affairs.
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Thao expressed confidence that Mitchell will effectuate cultural change. He gains nothing for sweeping things under the rug, she told Orrick.
Jim Chanin, one of the attorneys who represented the plaintiffs in the Riders case, pushed for Orrick to direct the police department to come up with a written plan to address the disciplinary issues that stem from the investigation of Tran. Without progress on OPDs part, Chanin said he would push to expand the courts control over the department.
Maybe thats what itll take to end the oversight, Chanin said.
Attorney John Burris, who also represented the plaintiffs in the Riders case, said he believes cultural changes within the department will require court intervention in the form of regular meetings to hold the chief accountable. His feet must be held to the fire, Burris said.
Oakland Police Commission Chair Marsha Peterson suggested that the court mandate additional training for officers to learn about the history of Oakland polices scandals. They need to know why were here, Peterson said.
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Attorney Rockne Lucia, who represents the police union, said he supported a direct line between the supervisor of internal affairs and the chief.
In court filings, the city acknowledged what it described as investigative failures that raise concerns but added that policy changes were implemented last year to improve the integrity of internal investigations. Mitchell and his command staff are focused on ensuring that department members follow policy and best practices to ensure consistent, quality investigations, the city said.
The oversight has cost the city more than $20 million since 2003, according to city records. The costs include payments to the court-appointed monitor, said Robert Warshaw, who evaluates the departments progress on the reforms.
Home News Man arrested in France related to fire that destroyed historic Catholic church
Authorities in France arrested a man in his 30s on Tuesday in connection to the fire that destroyed a historic Catholic church in northern France earlier this week.
Footage circulated on social media showing flames engulfing the Church of the Immaculate Conception in the town of Saint-Omer near Calais at approximately 4:30 a.m. local time on Monday, according to Le Monde.
The blaze caused the church's bell tower to collapse, which was also shown in the viral video.
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Approximately 120 firefighters responded to the incident and contained the blaze, which caused no injuries but collapsed the church's bell tower. Officials also said about 50 nearby residents were evacuated out of caution, Le Monde reported.
Is this definitely arson? https://t.co/QSzNGKfk3h Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 2, 2024
"My thoughts are with the Catholics and the people of Saint-Omer," Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said in a post on X. "An investigation is under way to determine the exact cause of the fire."
Authorities announced Tuesday that they arrested an unidentified man known to police "for similar acts" in the past, Saint-Omer prosecutor Mehdi Benbouzid told AFP. He said the suspect had been living in a hostel.
The investigation found signs of forced entry, including a broken stained-glass window, Benbouzid added, noting that he is considering a charge of "destruction of property by dangerous means."
As footage of the fire went viral, social media promptly erupted with speculation that the fire was another example of the spate of arson attacks against French churches in recent years.
Among those raising the question was X CEO Elon Musk, who wrote, "Is this definitely arson?"
The neo-Gothic Church of the Immaculate Conception was completed in 1859 and restored in 2018. The fire comes weeks after another blaze engulfed Rouen's historic cathedral on July 11 in a scene reminiscent of the fire that caused catastrophic damage to the iconic Notre-Dame de Paris in 2019.
According to the L'Observatoire de la Christianophobie or the Observatory of Christianophobia, which is a Paris-based organization that documents and highlights anti-Christian acts around the world acts of arson and other crimes against churches have been on the rise in recent years.
After Monday's fire and the Rouen cathedral fire in July, a diagram went viral on social media that purported to show the many alleged acts of arson against churches in France. Reuters reports that the post was misleading because it also included acts of theft and vandalism.
Home News Pastor Jack Hibbs implores Christians not to vote for Democrats: A 'death cult'
Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, California, took to social media this week to implore Christians not to vote for Democrats in November, calling the Democratic Party a "death cult" because of its support for legalizing abortion without any apparent limits.
In a video posted to his X account on Wednesday, Hibbs said that while "both parties drive me nuts," he considered the Democratic Party to be "100% pro-death" and a "death cult."
"Who should you vote for? For the Christian, it's super easy," he said. "If you pull back rhetoric and emotion, it's a slam dunk. There's one party that's more pro-life than the other."
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"The Democrat Party is, in fact, a bona fide, card-carrying, platform-holding, death cult," Hibbs added. "Kill the baby, even after its born, kill the baby. Just on this topic alone, a Christian cannot vote for a Democrat candidate."
Hibbs claims, "You cannot say to God, 'I am a lover of God, a lover of the Word, a lover of Jesus and I'm a follower of my Lord, but I'm going to vote to kill babies.'"
The megachurch pastor asserts that if former President Donald Trump, a Republican, gets reelected, "we're going to have a plethora of great people" in his administration, saying that by voting Republican, "you get a lot of good stuff."
Trump's presidency led to the selection of three U.S. Supreme Court Justices who voted to overturn the 1973 ruling that made abortion a national right in 2022, allowing states more freedom to regulate abortion. Since Trump's 2020 election defeat, there has been much internal debate over the revising of the GOP Party Platform to no longer include a call for a national abortion ban.
For his part, Trump has voiced his disagreement with state laws that ban abortion early in gestation, including a six-week abortion ban in Florida. He previously seemed to imply support for Florida's Amendment 4, which, if passed in November, would effectively allow for abortions for any reason up until the moment of birth.
"I think the six-week is too short," Trump, a Florida resident, told NBC News' Dasha Burns in a recent interview. "I am going to be voting that we need more than six weeks."
Later, in an interview with Fox News, Trump said that he would not be voting for the pro-choice state amendment, though he reiterated his opposition to the six-week standard.
In his video, Hibbs acknowledged that the GOP platform is "not totally but is still a pro-life platform."
In February, Hibbs garnered controversy when he told his congregation during a worship service to vote for a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, former Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Steve Garvey.
Although Hibbs said he is not making the endorsement "in the pulpit," the atheist group Freedom From Religion Foundation wrote a letter to the Internal Revenue Service asking them to revoke the tax-exempt status of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in response.
"In this instance, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills has breached the responsibilities of its tax-exempt status by openly endorsing a candidate for elected office," wrote Christopher Line of FFRF.
"We write to respectfully request that the IRS immediately investigate Calvary Chapel Chino Hills and ensure that it no longer receives the benefits of 501(c)(3) status and that donations made to the church are no longer treated as tax deductible."
The 1954 Johnson Amendment prohibits tax-exempt churches from participating or intervening in any political campaign, including through the publishing or distributing of statements, endorsing or opposing candidates for public office.
Calvary Chapel Chino Hills has been very active in registering members to vote and collecting tens of thousands of mail-in ballots to boost Christian turnout in the last few elections. Through its Real Impact ministry, the church has sought to equip other churches "to stand for righteousness in the public square.
Hibbs drew the ire of congressional Democrats in February when he served as a guest chaplain in the U.S. House of Representatives, delivering an opening prayer on Jan. 30.
Hibbs isn't the only pastor who has made headlines for political statements.
In 2022, Pastor Jamal Bryant of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta criticized Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker from the pulpit and encouraged his congregation to vote for Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock. Bryant claimed "white men" have been telling Walker what to do and that Georgia needs a "runner," not a "walker." In 2019, Bryant criticized rapper Kanye West from the pulpit for endorsing Trump.
Last month, Pastor Landon Schott, senior lead pastor of the multi-campus Mercy Culture Church in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas, suggested that Americans who vote for Democrats aren't Christian and that the Democratic Party as "The Demon Party."
Home News Who were the students, teachers killed in the Apalachee High School shooting?
Family, friends and well-wishers across the nation are grieving for the two students and two teachers killed by the bullets of the 14-year-old Apalachee High School shooting suspect who went on a rampage in Winder, Georgia, on Wednesday.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has identified the victims as 14-year-old students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo and teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and his colleague Christina Irimie, 53.
On Wednesday, hundreds of community members gathered in downtown Winder to mourn and pray as profiles of the ones they lost began to emerge.
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Chris Hosey, director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, called the late teachers and students and the nine others recovering from injuries at local hospitals "heroes."
"Those that are deceased are heroes in my book," he said at a news briefing Wednesday. "Those that are in the hospital recovering right now are heroes in my book."
The following pages highlight the lives of those killed during the Apalachee High School shooting.
Home Opinion Is it possible to lose your salvation?
I have been holding quarterly seminars to educate Christians in Nigeria on understanding the God of the Bible. One of the topics that sparked argument in all the seminars so far is the doctrine of eternal security. On each occasion, the participants argued that it is possible for believers to lose their salvation if they decided to fall away. They cited a trend going on now in the southeastern part of Nigeria where Christians and pastors are now turning away to serve idols all in the name of restoring African identity and culture.
The majority of the participants argued that someone who once professed to be a Christian may become an apostate. They said that the popular doctrine of Once saved, always saved gives license to people to continue to live in sin without remorse or recourse. According to them, so many atrocities are being committed in the churches today simply because people believe that they are saved, and nothing will stop them from making it to Heaven.
According to Paul Bryan, the author of Who is this God?, A genuine Christian cannot become apostate. Those who apostatize demonstrate that they were never genuine Christians. As Scripture says, they went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us (1 John 2:19). It is obvious that not everyone who thinks they are Christians is truly born-again follower of Christ. I dont believe in once saved, always saved as a guarantee for those who only confess Christ for fire insurance. I dont believe they had a changed heart and are born-again and, therefore, will not be in Heaven. I do believe everyone born of the Spirit of God will be saved.
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George Barna in his 2020 survey on America's Dominant Worldview observed that only 6% of adult Americans hold a biblical worldview. Is it possible for a saved person not to hold a biblical worldview? I strongly believe that while the proponents of once saved always saved are right to some extent, we need to distinguish between those who are genuinely saved and those who claim Christianity simply because they have confessed Christ.
We know that we have a variety in the body of Christ and preachers should recognize this and emphasize the need for people to genuinely come to Christ. Generalizing once saved always saved has done more harm than good. This teaching perverts the Gospel with applauds from vulnerable and gullible followers who see nothing wrong in it.
Consider this Scripture verse: Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels (Revelation 3:4-5).
In the above biblical verses, it is clear that Jesus was addressing the church in Sardis and had identified a few people who had kept themselves pure. Does it mean that He was not pleased with the majority of Christians in the church of Sardis whose garments have been soiled? He enjoined every person to endeavor to be victorious like the few that He identified. What will happen to those whose lifestyles refuse to conform to these identified few? Think about it.
There is no doubt that Christians are not saved by works but by grace (Ephesians 2:8). But are we not supposed to work to become victorious as Christ taught us? Obedience to Gods words and instructions require the fear of God and deliberate effort. Let us therefore continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). Its what our Lord would have us do.
Home News Immigrant charged with raping minor, stabbing man was released under Biden-Harris policies: report
An illegal immigrant accused of raping a 14-year-old girl and repeatedly stabbing a man during a robbery was arrested in connection with the crimes only a few months after his release from custody at the southwest border, a congressional report alleges.
The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee and its Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement released a report Tuesday detailing the actions of a 19-year-old Honduran national.
Critical of the Biden-Harris administration's immigration policies, the report cited figures stating that the administration has released 5.6 million illegal immigrants into the United States within the last four years, and another 1.9 million escaped into the country during this time.
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One of the millions of illegal immigrants released by the Biden-Harris administration was 19-year-old Honduran Angel Matias Castellanos-Orellana. Border Patrol in El Paso, Texas, encountered Castellanos-Orellana on Oct. 6, 2023.
Castellanos-Orellana claimed that he had no "credible fear" of being returned to his native country. However, he was released with a notice to appear in immigration court on an "Order of Release on own Recognizance."
The release was due to a reported lack of space, and the immigrant received instructions to report to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in New Orleans on Nov. 7, 2023. According to the congressional report, the Department of Homeland Security's data shows it had the space to detain Castellanos-Orellana.
A public affairs officer for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement told The Christian Post that Castellanos-Orellana reported to the ERO New Orleans Field Office for his initial report on Nov. 7, 2023, and had no prior criminal record or arrests in the United States.
In February 2024, police in Kenner, Louisiana, arrested Castellanos-Orellana in connection with what the report described as the "brutal assault" of a 14-year-old girl and the stabbing of a man during a robbery.
Castellanos-Orellana was "charged with armed robbery, aggravated battery, first-degree rape[,] and aggravated assault for the two incidents," according to the report.
"The disastrous immigration policies of the Biden-Harris Administration have had real-world consequences for American citizens. The effects of those policies will be felt for years to come, with criminal aliens in American neighborhoods harming families and hurting public safety across the country," the committee's report stated.
"Castellanos-Orellana's victims and their families will never be the same because the Biden-Harris Administration allowed the illegal alien to enter and remain in the Country," the report continued. "Tragically, Castellanos-Orellana's victims and their families are not alone."
Last month, the committee and subcommittee released an 8-page report blaming the Biden-Harris administration's immigration policies for the murder of Laken Riley. The 22-year-old nursing student was murdered while she was out for a run in February. Her body was later 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. The DHS also cited detention capacity as the reason for Ibarra's release; however, the report argued that the agency's data showed it could have detained the immigrant.
"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 stated in the document.
Before Riley's murder, Ibarra and his brother, Diego, had also previously been charged with shoplifting from a Walmart. Despite previous encounters with law enforcement, Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not file 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."
Home News 6 major book publishers file lawsuit against Florida education officials over alleged book bans
Six major book publishers in the United States filed a lawsuit against Florida officials last week, alleging that moves to remove explicit books from the state's public school libraries violate the First Amendment.
The lawsuit was filed last Thursday in Orlando by Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers and Sourcebooks.
The plaintiffs include authors Julia Alvarez, Laurie Halse Anderson, John Green, Jodi Picoult and Angie Thomas, as well as two students and two parents.
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The defendants include officials on the Florida State Board of Education, Orange County School Board and Volusia County School Board.
The complaint takes issue with House Bill 1069, which Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law in 2023 and led to hundreds of books being removed from public school libraries in the state.
Authors whose books are affected range from Maya Angelou and Judy Blume to Aldous Huxley and Charles Dickens, according to a press release from HarperCollins.
Other titles include Ernest Hemingways For Whom the Bell Tolls, Alice Walkers The Color Purple, Leo Tolstoys Anna Karenina and Kurt Vonneguts Slaughter-House Five.
One mechanism by which public schools must "discontinue use of the material" in libraries under the law includes those that prompt school boards to stop parents from reading their content aloud during school board meetings, as noted by The Washington Post.
The state government of Florida doesn't decide which books remain in public school libraries and allows schools to make that decision, though advocates of free speech allege that DeSantis and Florida lawmakers have passed legislation that has effectively restricted the number of books in schools, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.
Nathalia Medina, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Education, pushed back against the lawsuit's claims in a statement to WaPo.
"There are no books banned in Florida," Medina said. "Sexually explicit material and instruction are not suitable for schools."
The suit asserts that its intention is not to prevent school libraries from banning obscene books, but the publishers do take issue with part of the law that prohibits content on the basis of allegedly overbroad definitions of "pornographic" and "sexual content."
Judith Anne Hayes, who is one of the parents named in the suit and is the mother of a student in Orange County, said she was upset that her child wasn't able to read books such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Love in the Time of Cholera, and suggested that such titles "have been falsely branded as 'pornographic' or otherwise inappropriate."
Author Stephen King, who claims 23 of his books were booted from Florida school libraries because of their content, tweeted a vulgar statement against the law over the weekend.
"Florida has banned 23 pf [sic] my books," King wrote. "What the [expletive]?"
Stephana Ferrell, who works with the book access advocacy organization Florida Freedom to Read Project, suggested that King might have been referring to the approximate number of titles that have been removed pending review in Escambia County in Florida's westernmost tip, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.
Home News Chicago police respond to call claiming armed Venezuelan migrants trespassing at apartment complex
Chicago police received a call that over 30 Venezuelan migrants had shown up at a South Side apartment with guns, though one resident denied the report.
The Chicago Police Department responded to the report on Monday night, according to The National Desk. A caller had told dispatch that 32 migrants were trespassing and that the group was displaying guns in the courtyard of the building located in the Washington Park neighborhood. The caller also alleged that the migrants had parked motorcycles outside the building as the staircases became filled.
In response to an inquiry from The Christian Post, a spokesperson for CPD said an officer responded to a call of service. The term refers to an incident requiring assistance from emergency service personnel, but these types of calls are usually related to minor incidents.
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The spokesperson provided CP with a document containing police directives and confirmed that the call received a miscellaneous incident code of 4P. The code refers to Disturbance, NoiseOther Police Service. According to the CPD spokesperson, the officer did not generate any additional report besides this one.
One resident of the building, Anderson Gutierrez, told The Chicago Tribune that 32 armed people were not at the complex on Monday night, calling the report a lie. Gutierrez is a 20-year-old from Venezuela who moved into the building a few weeks ago with his siblings.
Look, theres no one outside, he said. We all know each other. No one is hurting anyone.
The 911 call in Chicago about Venezuelan migrants follows a viral video last week that showed armed men carrying guns and entering an apartment in Aurora, Colorado. Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman blamed the Biden-Harris administration and nonprofit organizations for deciding to house large numbers of Venezuelan migrants in low-income apartments in the city.
The mayor stated that the criminal activities associated with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua is mostly isolated to certain apartment complexes and that the issue doesn't jeopardize the safety of the citys over 400,000 residents.
"The city of Aurora took a position early on that we were not going to participate in the migrant crisis. We were not going to provide taxpayer support, and we were not even going to be a conduit for federal dollars to come in to provide assistance," Coffman said in an interview with Fox31 Denver.
"This is not our problem; this is a problem created by the federal government at the border with bad policy, the mayor said. So, the federal government needs to solve this problem, not the city of Aurora. These people did not go there on their own; somebody put them there."
Coffman described Venezuela as a failed state under a socialist dictator, noting that many are leaving the country. The mayor explained that the Venezuelan community entering the city now vastly differs from the immigrants who came to Aurora in the past.
"Unlike immigration we've had in the past, in our Venezuelan community that has been here, where they had sponsors, where they had family members, they had resources, and they were educated, the city is now getting people who "poured over the border, he said.
"Typically, you walk across illegally, you get arrested, you declare political asylum, you're given humanitarian parole until your case can be adjudicated, which can take months, years," Coffman explained. "It's a broader problem than the gangs that you have people who are here without resources that can't apply for a work permit until they are here for six months."
The Aurora mayor added that he hopes the authorities can remove gang members who have reportedly taken over three apartment complexes without having to ask residents to leave.
Aurora Police Department Interim Chief Heather Morris stated in a video update that officers were speaking with residents at one apartment complex and claimed that "gang members have not taken over" based on what residents have told them.
Morris did acknowledge, however, that there is some gang activity in the complex, adding that officers on hand will investigate and address criminal activity at the building.
Home News Judge blocks Biden admin. rule requiring gov't funding for sex-change surgeries
A federal judge in Texas has issued a nationwide block on a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services rule that critics say would, among other things, interpret the Affordable Care Act to include protections for gender identity and mandate Medicaid funding for cosmetic sex-change surgeries.
U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle, a Trump appointee, issued a nationwide injunction last Friday, blocking the HHS final rule on antidiscrimination policies regarding gender identity. His ruling expands an earlier decision blocking enforcement of the policy on hospitals in Montana and Texas.
"Here, federal agencies are attempting to impose a sweeping new social policy by manipulating and perverting the statutory text that constrains them," wrote Kernodle.
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"Nothing in these statutes authorizes HHS or any federal official to require healthcare providers to perform novel [gender-related] procedures or force States to subsidize them."
Kernodle's decision is the fifth time a court has blocked final rules from the Biden administration defining sex discrimination to include discrimination based on gender identity, according to the Christian conservative legal group Liberty Counsel.
"Federal law does not force doctors to perform harmful or experimental procedures, nor does it require taxpayers to pay for them," stated Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver on Wednesday.
"These rules are detached from biological reality and represent an unlawful and extreme agenda. The increasing number of injunctions show that forcing gender ideology into law lacks merit."
In May, HHS issued a final rule scheduled to take effect on July 5 regarding Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which prohibits discrimination based on color, national origin, race, age, disability and sex.
The final rule, which defined "sex" to include gender identity and sexual orientation, was championed by the administration as improving antidiscrimination policies in healthcare access.
Critics argued that the rule would force federally funded health centers and insurers to provide or cover puberty-blocking drugs, cross-sex hormones or body-mutilating cosmetic surgeries, even in the two nearly dozen states that have banned such interventions for minors.
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement released in April that the measure was "a giant step forward for this country toward a more equitable and inclusive health care system."
"Americans across the country now have a clear way to act on their rights against discrimination when they go to the doctor, talk with their health plan, or engage with health programs run by HHS," stated Becerra.
"I am very proud that our Office for Civil Rights is standing up against discrimination, no matter who you are, who you love, your faith or where you live. Once again, we are reminding Americans we have your back."
In July, U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola of the Southern District of Mississippi issued a preliminary injunction in favor of 15 states suing the federal government over the final rule.
Guirola wrote the Biden administration incorrectly relied on the United States Supreme Court's 2020 ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, which dealt with employment discrimination, to justify its healthcare rules.
"Analysis of the language and provisions of Title IX, as well as its regulations, provides even more support for finding that the Bostock holding does not apply to Title IX and Section 1557 [of the Affordable Care Act]," said the judge.
Home News Kamala Harris' running mate Tim Walz subpoenaed over $250M COVID fraud scheme
House Republicans are demanding answers from Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, regarding a $250 million COVID-19 fraud scheme, viewed as one of the worst relief scams during the pandemic.
Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina issued a subpoena Wednesday to Walz's administration and officials within the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its Office of Inspector General. Foxx also sent a letter to Minnesota Commissioner of Education Willie Jett requesting documents explaining the agency's response to the $250 million fraud scheme.
The subpoena concerns an investigation that goes back to 2022 regarding a $250 million fraud scheme by a Minnesota-based nonprofit called Feeding Our Future. The program was intended to help feed hungry children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Feeding Our Future reportedly created fake attendance rosters with the names and ages of nonexistent children and falsified invoices to create a facade of providing food to the pretend children.
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"As the chief executive and the highest ranking official in the state of Minnesota, you are responsible for the MDE and its administration of FCNPs," the subpoena cover letter stated. "Statements in the press by you and your representatives indicate that you and other executive officers were involved, or had knowledge of, MDE's administration of the FCNP and responsibilities and actions regarding the massive fraud."
In a Tuesday press release, the committee stated that it proceeded with the subpoena after failing to receive a response from Walz. The committee sent the governor copies of letters it sent to MDE last November and in June requesting information about handling the fraud.
"The documents we have received to date indicate the actions taken by you and other executive officers were insufficient to address the massive fraud," the cover letter stated.
"The Committee has been unable to obtain substantive responsive materials in the many voluntary requests made in this matter," the letter continued.
"The Committee must now compel the production of responsive documents that will show the extent of the actions taken by you and your administration relating to MDE's administration of the FCNP and the extent of your responsibilities and actions addressing the massive fraud that resulted in the abuse of taxpayer dollars intended for hungry children."
Walz's office did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Minnesota, at least 70 defendants have been charged in connection with the scheme. Eighteen of them have pleaded guilty, and a federal jury convicted five defendants in June for their roles in the fraud scheme.
In June, the nonpartisan Office of the Legislative Auditor released a special report criticizing the MDE's oversight of Feeding Our Future, which "created opportunities for fraud."
During a news conference in June, Walz commented on the report that what happened with the program was not "malfeasance."
"There's not a single state employee that was implicated in doing anything that was illegal. They simply didn't do as much due diligence as they should've," Walz said.
The case regarding the COVID-19 fraud scheme is not the first of the Democratic governor's controversies to garner media attention following Walz's selection as Vice President Harris' running mate.
In 1995, Walz was arrested for driving under the influence in Dawes County, Nebraska. According to a state trooper's report about the incident, Walz had been driving at 96 miles per hour, nearly double the speed limit.
Kevin Fisher-Paulson, a deputy in the San Francisco Sheriffs Office who became a family member to readers through his touchingly funny and deeply personal weekly column in the Chronicle, died Thursday at 66. Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle 2016
Kevin Fisher-Paulson, a chief deputy in the San Francisco Sheriffs Office who became a family member to readers of his touchingly funny and deeply personal weekly column in the Chronicle, died Thursday after a 15-month battle with kidney cancer, which he did not shy away from writing about.
Nor did Fisher-Paulson shy away from writing about having to send an adopted son out of state for psychiatric treatment or the disciplinary problems with his pack of rescue dogs or being gay in a traditional Irish Catholic family in Queens, where he grew up.
Not shying away was the whole point of his column, including the frank honesty of his final installment, published posthumously online Thursday.
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Fisher-Paulson died in hospice care at the Bedlam Blue Bungalow in the Outer, Outer, Outer, Outer Excelsior, the Island of Lost Boys, as he always called his home in San Francisco. Even though he had only 750 words per week to fit in an entire life of topics, he always used four of those words to adequately describe his neighborhood. His death was confirmed by his husband, Brian Fisher-Paulson. He was 66.
A few years ago we did a survey to see what readers of the newspaper thought of our columnists, and Kevin was voted the most popular, said Emilio Garcia-Ruiz, the Chronicles editor in chief. His ability to relate to people in a down-to-earth way really strikes a chord with readers. He has always been open and honest about his familys travails, and that has made it easy for others to relate to him. The way he carried himself in these difficult months has been an inspiration.
Clockwise from front left: Kevin Fisher-Paulson and his family, Zane, Brian and Aidan, outside their bungalow in the Excelsior neighborhood of San Francisco. Provided by Kevin Fisher-Paulson
Fisher-Paulsons health problems were revealed on May 30, 2023, in a column titled Resolving to fight, and write, to the end. He explained that the pain in his hip, first discovered while traveling in Ireland, had been traced to a tumor in his kidney that had already spread to his lungs and lymph nodes.
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This column will not become the cancer column, he vowed. By next week, Ill be back in raconteur mode. But for one week only, I get to be maudlin. The thing is, a week ago I would have bet that Id be writing this column for another 30 years. Not the kind of column that earns a Pulitzer Prize, gets a miniseries or gets a street named after it. Just the kind that makes you smile.
Launched on May 2, 2016, his column was part of a group of one-day-a-week general interest columns that ran opposite Leah Garchiks, which ran daily on the back page. The other weekly columnists selected in a competition were Nick Hoppe, Beth Spotswood and Vanessa Hua. Over time the others, and ultimately Garchik, fell off or retired, but Fisher-Paulson was still there.
His talent as a writer was to immediately tuck you, the reader, into his life, said Garchik, who started at the Chronicle in 1972. He wrote as if he accepted you as his friend. The door was open to his household and his life, and he invited you in immediately.
Before he became a Chronicle columnist, Kevin Fisher-Paulson wrote a book about his experience as a foster parent of infant triplets that led to him being profiled in the paper. This image, of Kevin with his older son Zane, appeared with that profile in 2013. Susana Bates/Special to the Chronicle 2013
As a colleague, Garchik often went to lunch with Fisher-Paulson in the Tenderloin and was impressed at how many street people he knew from his other job as a deputy sheriff. They became such good friends that Garchik ventured from her home in the Haight to Fisher-Paulsons annual Christmas party in the Outer, Outer, Outer, Outer Excelsior. The deal was that guests brought an ornament for the tree; once when she presented his ornament at the door, he responded by handing her an ornament that he had made with her name in needlepoint.
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It is too precious for seasonal display. She hangs it on her desk lamp year round as a reminder that Fisher-Paulsons gifts went beyond good writing, she said. Just the fact that he would take the time to do that for a friend shows how sweet he was.
Kevin Thaddeus Paulson was born July 20, 1958, in Queens, N.Y., the youngest of three sons of Harold Hap and Vivian Nurse Vivian Paulson. Hap was in charge of special-service telephone lines at Kennedy Airport, which was 3 miles from the family home in South Ozone Park. His mother was an obstetrics nurse.
He used to say he grew up on Queens Boulevard, so he always said his destiny was preordained, Brian said.
Kevin Fisher-Paulson, holding son Zane, and husband Brian, holding son Aidan, march in one of the many San Francisco Pride parades they attended over the years. Provided by Kevin Fisher-Paulson
Kevin attended Archbishop Molloy High School, class of 1976. He was active in drama and had a solo in On the Street Where You Live in My Fair Lady, according to his older brother, Donald, otherwise known as Brother X in the column.
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When Kevin was in high school, he got a near-perfect score on the SATs and turned down a full scholarship to Manhattan College to accept a partial scholarship to University of Notre Dame, where he majored in American studies and was a member of the class of 1980.
This was during the Joe Montana years at Notre Dame, but Paulson was always working in a booth selling sandwiches to benefit a childrens charity, his brother said. He never once saw a game. He also sang in a campus choir that toured the United States.
During a visit home, he confided to his parents that he was gay. We were a traditional Irish Catholic family and it was not easy for my father to accept, said Donald, who got the news secondhand from his mother. They didnt talk about it brother-to-brother for 20 or 30 years.
Fisher-Paulson earned his MBA at the University of Michigan in 1982. He returned to New York and worked at Gimbels and Macys department stores in Newark, N.J. He lived in Hoboken, where he met Brian Fisher, a professional dancer, at a dinner party thrown by Paulsons cousin in Jersey City on Oct. 8, 1985.
The Fisher-Paulsons, who enjoyed dressing up in themed costumes on almost any occasion, pose as a series of Supermans for Halloween. Provided by Kevin Fisher-Paulson
He was just blindingly smart, and funny without being mean, his husband said. He was a beautiful young man who saw the humor in everything. They dated for three weeks before moving in together at Fishers Jersey City apartment. On Sept. 19, 1987, they were married, illegally, at a bar in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, with a Catholic priest performing the nuptials, even though it got him defrocked. None of their parents attended.
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Fisher had intermittent work on Broadway and more regular work with regional dance companies, while Paulson worked in management for a variety of retailers including Hallmark and Blockbuster. They left all that when a neighbor hired Kevin for his software startup, a career change that involved moving to San Francisco in 1991.
They lived in an apartment on Fair Oaks Street before buying a three-bedroom home from the 1920s, two blocks from the Daly City border. They registered as domestic partners on their anniversary in 2001 and were married again, legally, on their anniversary in 2008. Theyd already hyphenated their last names after adopting a son, Zane, in 2005.
The software firm didnt work out, and Kevin went back to retail. But hed always wanted to write, so he enrolled in a workshop. The best advice he got there was to get a civil service job that you didnt love, so you can spend all of your time off working on your art, Brian said. Thats how he came to work for the San Francisco Sheriffs Office.
Brian and Kevin Fisher-Paulson kiss at San Francisco City Hall on their official wedding day on Sept. 19, 2008. Provided by Kevin Fisher-Paulson
The joke was kind of on him because it was a job he grew to care about very deeply, Brian said.
Fisher-Paulson advanced to the position of chief deputy, one of only four or five in the department who oversee security in the county jail and the courts, he said. Hes done, like, five lifetimes full of stuff for the department, said Michele Fisher (no relation), a retired chief deputy with the San Francisco Sheriffs Office.
Chief Deputy Kevin Thaddeus Fisher-Paulsons contributions in developing and supporting our Peer Support Program, and professionalizing our Honor/Color Guard, will forever be woven into the fabric of who we are at the Sheriffs Office, said Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, who served with Fisher-Paulson for 28 years. Kevin embodied our core values of Service, Pride and Professionalism, and his leadership will be missed by our members.
In 2003, the Fisher-Paulsons were asked to foster medically fragile triplets and they agreed, though they were able to bring only two home, the third remaining hospitalized. Four months later, all three Vivienne, Joshua and Kyle were at home with them. Kevin chronicled their first year in a series of emails he sent to friends. Those became the basis for a book, A Song for Lost Angels, published in 2015. That book is all that remained because foster care returned the triplets to their mother in 2004.
It was devastating, Brian said. Kevin asked, What do you do when you wake up after the worst day of your life? and for Kevin, it was to write that book.
For both of them, it was to adopt a son, Zane, in 2005. They also adopted a brother for Zane, Aidan, in 2008. He started his column with the Chronicle after an open competition was held when Jon Carroll retired in 2015.
The Fisher-Paulsons were big on costumes. Here Kevin holds his then-young sons Zane, left, and Aidan in their Easter bunny outfits. Provided by Kevin Fisher-Paulson
He was recommended by Chronicle education writer Jill Tucker, whod gotten to know him as a source in the sheriffs office and had read his book.
Kevin made me laugh. His book made me cry, Tucker said, and I just thought he had a unique voice to offer San Francisco. That voice will live on in two collections. How We Keep Spinning was followed by Secrets of the Blue Bungalow, published in 2023.
Survivors include his husband, Brian; sons, Zane and Aidan, both of San Francisco; and brothers, Donald Paulson (Brother X) of Seaford, N.Y., and Harold Paulson (Brother XX) of Lancaster, Pa.
Kevin has served the rest of us, his colleagues and his audience, wonderfully, leaving us with memories that we will carry forever, Garcia-Ruiz said. There wont be another columnist like him anytime soon.
Home News Trans Christian school shooter had homicidal fantasies before mass shooting: report
The trans-identifying perpetrator behind the mass shooting at Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, appears to have confessed to struggling with homicidal urges and had fantasies of being a school shooter before killing six people last year, according to documents obtained from Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital via a search warrant.
In March 2023, 28-year-old Audrey Hale killed three adults and three 9-year-old students at the Christian elementary school affiliated with Covenant Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Church in America.
The shooter, who attended the school years ago, was a female who struggled with her gender identity and identified as a man. Hale was fatally shot during an encounter with police officers on the day she attacked the school.
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As The Tennessee Star reported Wednesday, the outlet obtained documents from the Metro Nashville Police Department labeled "Vandy Psych," which included notes that appear to have been taken by the officer who reviewed the documents.
The MNPD obtained the documents in June 2023 through a search warrant granted for Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital, part of Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
VUMC received public backlash in 2022 for performing sex-change surgeries on minors with gender dysphoria, leading the medical center to halt such surgeries temporarily.
According to an affidavit submitted by an MNPD detective, medical professionals affiliated with the hospital began seeing Hale in April 2001, ending with her death. The officer who reviewed the documents analyzed at least 75 pages of VUMC material related to Hale, as The Star reported.
"Thoughts of killing Dad in and struggles with mental health. Recent thoughts of going into a school and shooting a bunch of people," one of the notes stated about Hale on March 27, 2023.
Other notes from the document titled "Vandy Psych" include statements like "Homicidal thoughts with a plan. Misunderstood and felt like she needed to prove a point." Additional notes state that Hale had "fantasies of being a school shooter" and thought "a lot about death, both Suicidal and homicidal."
Vanderbilt University Medical Center did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment.
According to Tennessee State Code 33-3-206, mental health professionals "shall take reasonable care to predict, warn of, or take precautions to protect the identified victim from the service recipient's violent behavior." The mental health professional is then required to commit to the patient and continue providing care.
Prior to the Covenant School shooting, the penalty for mental health professionals who failed to warn police of a potential threat could face monetary liability in court. However, the statute of limitations on this was typically limited to one year.
Earlier this year, Tennessee passed House Bill 1625, requiring mental health professionals to warn local law enforcement if a patient expresses intent to commit "bodily harm" against a group of people.
Star News Digital Media, Inc., which owns and operates The Star, and editor-in-chief Michael Patrick Leahy are plaintiffs in a lawsuit seeking to compel both the FBI and the MNPD to release the writings left behind by Hale fully.
Earlier this month, The Star reported that the FBI sent a memo to the Metro Nashville Police Department a month and a half after the shooting, telling the local law enforcement agency that it "strongly discourages" the release of "legacy tokens" from mass murderers. The FBI warned that publishing "legacy tokens" would lead future mass shooters to "immerse themselves in and study these materials for inspiration and tactics."
In a June 12 X thread, Daily Wire Host Matt Walsh unveiled excerpts from Hale's diary obtained by the conservative media outlet. One passage of the handwritten diary stated that she would "kill to have parents who would let [their] child be happy no matter how different it is to [their] viewpoints or don't agree, or scared of it" and who "are willing to listen to their children, not the other way around."
One of the entries titled "Imaginary Penis" included statements such as "My penis exists in my head" and "I swear to God I'm a male." Hale also expressed frustration that she would never know what it felt like to sodomize a girl because she was born female.
"Having a brain like mine has its godliness but also prone to making poor a decisions," she said.
Home News Trump talks World War III, plans for 'largest deportation' during Fox News town hall
During a town hall event Wednesday, Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump said that humanity could be headed for another world war under the policies of the Biden-Harris administration and reiterated his vow to undertake the "largest deportation" in the history of the United States if reelected.
The pre-recorded town hall event with Fox News' Sean Hannity was held at the New Holland Arena in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and was first broadcast on Wednesday evening.
During his remarks, Trump claimed that, under the Biden administration, the U.S. southern border was the "worst border in the history of the world" and lamented that "we're letting everybody in."
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"We have to stop it," the former president said, stating that "we have to do the largest deportation" of undocumented immigrants in U.S. history once he is in office. Throughout his 2024 campaign, Trump has spoken of doing deportations on an unprecedented scale, including during his speech during the Republican National Convention in July.
Trump also repeated the claim that Venezuelan gangs were "taking over" Aurora, Colorado, and "occupying apartments." Local authorities have stated that media outlets have "exaggerated incidents that are isolated to a handful of problem properties alone" and don't impact most Aurora residents. Mayor Mike Coffman has criticized the Biden-Harris administration's policies that enabled a large number of Venezuelan migrants to be housed in low-income apartments in Aurora.
Trump said, "It's a sick and angry world," claiming that events like Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on civilian communities in southern Israel and the Russian invasion of Ukraine beginning in 2022 "would have never happened" if he had been reelected in 2020.
"We're heading into World War III territory," he claimed. "You need a president that's not going to be taking you into war. We won't have World War III when I'm elected, but with these clowns that you have in there now, you're going to end up having World War III."
In kicking off the show after Hannity mentioned the deadly school shooting in Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, Trump vowed: "We are going to heal our world."
"We are going to get rid of all these wars that are starting all over the place because of incompetent American leadership," he said. "We are going to make it better."
Last month, Fox News announced that "Hannity" would feature a pre-taped town hall event with Trump, which would be centered on various issues facing the country in advance of the November election. Hannity said that Fox News originally offered a debate between Trump and Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris in place of the town hall that would have featured other Fox News anchors as moderators.
Trump and Harris are scheduled to debate each other next Tuesday in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with the ABC network serving as the host.
As part of the rules for the debate, the microphones of Trump and Harris will be live only for the presidential candidate who is speaking during their turn, according to NBC News.
In a statement, the Harris campaign claimed that the vice president "will be fundamentally disadvantaged by this format, which will serve to shield Donald Trump from direct exchanges with the Vice President."
"Notwithstanding our concerns, we understand that Donald Trump is a risk to skip the debate altogether, as he has threatened to do previously, if we do not accede to his preferred format," stated the Harris campaign.
"We do not want to jeopardize the debate. For this reason, we accepted the full set of rules proposed by ABC, including muted microphones."
Trump discusses inevitability of death, says he wants religious revival in US
(CP) Former President Donald Trump spoke about his own mortality and the need for a religious revival in the U.S. during a recent interview with Russian-American podcaster Lex Fridman.
During the hour-long interview posted on Tuesday that touched on topics ranging from the 2024 presidential election to the Kennedy assassination and UFOs, the conversation honed in at the end on mortality and the role religion plays in coming to terms with it and the potential of an afterlife.
"One of the tragic things about life is that it ends," Fridman said. "How often do you think about your death? Are you afraid of it?"
Trump, who narrowly escaped an assassin's bullet on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, recounted that he has a "very successful" friend in his mid-80s who thinks about death constantly and often reminds him that time is slipping away.
"He said, 'I think about it every minute of every day,'" Trump noted of what his friend said of death. "Then, a week later, he called me to tell me something, and he starts off the conversation by going, 'Tick-tock, tick-tock.' This is a dark person, in a sense, but it is what it is."
Trump went on to note the place of religion in finding peace with the inevitability of death and expressed his desire that America would become more religious like it once was.
"If you're religious, I think you have a better feeling about it. You're supposed to go to Heaven ideally, not Hell, but you're supposed to go to Heaven if you're good," he said.
"Our country is missing a lot of religion," he continued. "I think it really was a much better place with religion. It was almost a guide. You want to be good to people. Without religion, there's no real guardrails. I'd love to see us get back to religion, more religion in this country."
Trump, who claims to be a Christian, has presented himself as a candidate friendly to Christians and has been outspoken in recent months about the importance of maintaining religious liberty in the US.
During the National Religious Broadcasters 2024 International Christian Media Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, in February, Trump accused the Biden administration of weaponizing the justice system against people of faith.
"The chains are already tightening around all of us, if you think about it," he said. "Ultimately, the radical Left is coming after all of us, because they know that our allegiance is not to them. Our allegiance is to our country, and our allegiance is to our Creator. They don't want to hear that."
At the Turning Point Action's Believers Summit in West Palm Beach, Florida, in July, Trump urged Christians to vote for him.
"I don't care how, but you have to get out and vote," he said. "Christians, get out and vote just this time. You won't have to do it anymore. Four more years. You know what? It'll be fixed."
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At a postMemorial Day event earlier this year, Elissa Slotkin, one of the nations top Democratic candidates for US Senate, had almost all the ingredients in place for an effective swing through northern Michigan: beautiful weather, a prime location in the middle of the biggest metro area for a hundred miles, and a packed audience.
Yet upon a closer look, the crowdbathed in hues of blue from the sun reflecting off Lake Michiganwas missing something.
There was nobody in attendance from any of the local television affiliates or the regions paper of record, the Traverse City Record-Eagle. Instead, the event was being covered by a single public radio affiliate from the nearby artsy town of Interlochen; a reporter for Michigan Advance, a nonprofit startup; and me, a New Yorkbased journalist dropping in on an election with national implications.
It was a prime example of a media problem that campaigns and political-communications experts say is reshaping how they approach election season: the steep decline of local news.
When I started out, twenty years ago, there were multiple reporters at small-town dailies who covered politics, said Jared Leopold, a Democratic communications consultant. Now its a slog to get local reporters out to regional stopsespecially local television, whose coverage campaigns highly covet.
On a weekend at a TV station, you may be down to one day-side reporter, said Mark Naymik, the managing editor of the nonprofit Signal Cleveland and a former enterprise reporter for Clevelands WKYC Channel 3. There is a lot less attention on the ground game, the organizing, the unregistered voter that both campaigns dont really target. Its not worth their effort.
Seasoned journalists and campaign professionals have seen the dropoff cycle-to-cycle over the past couple of decadeslong gone are the days of a van just for the local press corps to follow a candidate aroundbut the dearth of local coverage has become particularly acute in recent years.
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Thats forced campaigns to rethink how they communicate about their candidates policies and personal backgrounds with the very people whose votes they need. Sometimes Ive had to employ the strategy of getting the national press to cover something just so the local press will pick it up, Leopold said.
Michael Ceraso, a Democratic communications strategist and a former campaign staffer for Barack Obama, has observed a similar shift. When I started being introduced to comms, the priority for local newspapers was so big, he said. A newspaper with ten thousand subscribers was sometimes treated as important as a newspaper with a hundred thousand subscribers in a state. Now, he said, if youre a comms person, you cant be pitching anybody other than national reporters.
All this leaves campaign professionals with little choice but to runand fundraiseon the kinds of (often divisive) national issues that get the attention of cable news. Theres no ability to amplify at the local level, Ceraso said.
It also makes it harder for strategists to evaluate how their messaging is landing or to connect with potential audiences in smaller towns. Without the metrics of story placement and letters to the editor, Ceraso said, there is less data to draw from. And without local news to spread the word about events, its harder to build momentum in communities. As a comms person, 80 percent of what I do is like, Okay, Ive got to organize the event, and then Ive got to pitch the reporters, Ceraso said. And if you have less media to choose from, the outcome is going to be a lot harder.
Social media has partially filled the void, Ceraso added, pointing to community Facebook groups as the closest thing many voters have to a local paper. But theres still an emptiness there.
Local news reporters who focus on politics say the sense of abandonment goes both ways. Morgan Trau, a Columbus-based politics reporter for News 5 Cleveland and Ohio Capital Journal, told CJR that she gets much less communication from statewide campaigns than she used to; when she does, its often little more than a quick text or email about an event. The candidates themselves may still care about local news, she added, but for the broader campaigns, it definitely doesnt feel as press-forward as previous years.
Ceraso suggested one reason why some campaigns may be reaching out to reporters less: they dont always know whos still on the job. I imagine its much harder for the newsroom, much harder for the reporter, he said. But for the comms person, its just hard to keep track, because newsrooms are shuttering every day.
Jake Lahut is a campaign reporter based in New York. He covered the 2024 GOP primary from New Hampshire for The Daily Beast and authored the Trail Mix newsletter. He previously worked at Business Insider and the Keene Sentinel.
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In recent weeks, various world governments have signaled a desire to clamp down on tech companies that refuse to moderate themselves. In Brazil, a supreme-court judge blocked X nationwide because the platform didnt comply with court orders to suspend certain accounts and lacked legal representation in the country. (The refusal to comply suggested that the company considered itself above the rule of law, according to a judge asked to review the decision.) In France, meanwhile, Pavel Durov, the Russian-born CEO of the messaging app Telegram, was arrested for refusing to cooperate with legal authorities regarding criminal activity on the app, including the sharing of content relating to child sexual abuse and drug trafficking. Citing a free speech defense, Durov had previously resisted answering regulators inquiries and handing over documents about criminal activity on the appwhich, according to the Financial Times, forms part of the French prosecutors complaint.
Increasingly, tech companies are also resisting calls to moderate themselves more strongly in the US, albeit without facing a governmental sledgehammer in response. Last week, Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, wrote in a letter to the House Judiciary Committee that he regrets being pressured by the government to censor certain content related to the COVID pandemic in 2021. This was considered a big win for Republicans, who have insisted that tech companies content decisions have been tilted by an anti-conservative bias. (Steven Levy, at Wired, described Zuckerbergs remarks as a mea culpa where he seems to indicate that there was something to the GOP conspiracy theory.) The letter said that Meta would push back if something similar were to occur again.
And Musk, who calls himself a free speech absolutist, has drastically backslid on content moderation efforts at X since acquiring the platform in 2022. This has included ditching an election integrity team and reducing the platforms trust and safety staff by a third. He even changed the name of the latter to simply the safety team. Any organization that puts Trust in their name cannot [be] trusted, as that is obviously a euphemism for censorship, he tweeted.
Musk also reinstated Donald Trumps account after he was suspended from the platform for inciting violence on January 6, 2021. Trumpwho, in the meantime, had started his own social media platform, Truth Socialdidnt immediately jump back on X. But after several years of (almost total) hiatus, and with his third presidential campaign nearing its conclusion, he is now back and active on the platform, engaging in familiar posting habits involving entirely capitalized words, insults and nicknames, and exaggerations, as described by Newsweek. Recently, Musk even did a friendly two-hour interview with Trump, without challenging him on inaccurate statements. X is a very different environment for Trump now than it was during the 2020 election and its aftermath.
As Yona TR Golding wrote for CJR earlier this summer, tech companies arent just rolling back content moderation effortstheyre also making it harder for journalists, researchers, and election observers to study whats happening on their platforms. Musk put Xs application programming interface, or API, behind a paywall, charging researchers up to tens of thousands of dollars for data that was previously free; as a result, over a hundred projects were canceled, halted, or pivoted to other platforms. Then, last month, Meta got rid of CrowdTangle, a social media monitoring tool used to track misinformation on Facebook and Instagram. Meta promised to give researchers a better replacement tool, though an investigation that Kaitlyn Dowling and I undertook for the Tow Center found that this new tool is far less comprehensive and transparent.
On X, Musk has kept one content moderation effort in place: a crowdsourcing feature called Community Notes. (Originally, this was known as BirdWatch.) Community Notes relies on anonymous volunteer contributors to identify misleading posts and propose corrections, or notes. A note will only be made visible to the public if enough users with diverse perspectives agree that its useful. Well-known figures including President Biden, the short-lived British prime minister Liz Truss, and Musk himself (to his frustration) have been corrected by notes.
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Musk has praised Community Notes as a game changer, emphasizing its ability to provide users with accurate information without political bias. The effort seems to have inspired YouTube, which announced in July that it is testing a similar crowdsourcing feature. Certain users on that platform can now add clarifying information to videos, such as indicating when a song is meant to be a parody or when older footage is mistakenly presented as a current event. Bluesky, an X competitor founded by that companys former CEO, Jack Dorsey, has similarly said that it aims to integrate a Community Noteslike feature in the future, according to TechCrunch.
Community Notes has had a mixed record so far. One study found that across the political spectrum, notes explaining why a post was misleading were perceived as significantly more trustworthy than simple, context-free misinformation labels. Another found that the appearance of a note roughly halves the number of reposts. But there is a catch: The main issue is that Community Notes are relatively slow (or rather, slow compared to the speed of information dissemination on Twitter), Thomas Renault, the coauthor of the latter study, wrote on X. While 50 percent of reposts happen within the first five hours, notes take roughly fifteen hours to become public. Thus the damage has often already been done before a correction is made.
Indeed, a joint investigation by ProPublica and the Tow Center showed that Community Notes didnt scale sufficiently during the first month of the Israel-Hamas crisis, when false claims based on out-of-context, outdated, or manipulated media proliferated on X. Of about two thousand debunked posts reviewed, 80 percent or so did not have a note appended. And when notes did appear, they typically accrued only a fraction of the original tweets views.
Now the onus is on Community Notes to curb misinformation about the upcoming presidential election. But because users have to agree on notes before they become visible, many notes on politically divisive topics are never made public. In July, the New York Times reported that Nearly 8,000 fact checks have been drafted about immigration on Community Notes, but only 471 of them have been approved by users and made public on X, according to MediaWise, a media literacy program at the Poynter Institute. Only 4 percent of Community Notes about abortion have been made visible.
Researchers seem to agree that while the Community Notes feature has potential, it should not be used in isolation. As ProPublica and Tows investigation pointed out, Community Notes were initially meant to complement Xs various trust and safety initiatives, not replace them. X, however, seems to have decided that the feature is sufficient to police misinformation about the election, according to the Times. This is, perhaps, also the most convenient approach for Musk, who himself is an active spreader of misinformation on the platform. The same can be said for Trump, the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, and the misogynistic internet personality Andrew Tate, all three of whom Musk reinstated to the platform despite their prior violations of its rules. By investing in Community Notes, X appears to be putting some energy into content moderation. In reality, though, the feature is struggling to keep up with a mammoth task.
Other notable stories:
Yesterday, a fourteen-year-old student opened fire at a high school in Winder, Georgia, killing two other students and two teachers and injuring nine other people before surrendering. The FBI said that the suspect, who will now be charged with murder as an adult, had already been on the radar of law enforcement in connection with online threats of a school shooting (though when questioned, he denied posting them). This morning, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution dedicated its entire front page to the shooting, leading with a photo of mourners at a vigil under the banner headline UNIMAGINABLE LOSS. Other front-page headlines included This time, a school shooting hits close to home and, atop an opinion column, Failing our students, one shooting at a time.
Also yesterday, the Justice Department announced a barrage of responses to a Russian propaganda campaign that it said is aiming to influence the result of the US presidential election; among other steps, officials seized Web domains used to spread fake news, sanctioned actors including various staffers at the Russian state broadcaster RT, and indicted two RT employees who allegedly funneled cash to a US media company. Prosecutors did not name the company, but CNN and others identified it as Tenet Media, a platform whose contributors include the right-wing content creators Benny Johnson and Tim Pool. Both men claimed to be victims of the scheme, rather than perpetrators.
In Tuesdays newsletter, we noted reports that a man was subdued with a Taser after attempting to enter an area reserved for members of the media at a recent Trump rally in Pennsylvania, shortly after Trump had bashed the press as the enemy of the people. (Is there anywhere thats more fun to be than a Trump rally? Trump asked, as the man was led away.) Local law enforcement officials have since clarified that the man opposes Trumps policies and was in the process of trying to hang a banner in protest. (Its not clear what it said.) He has been charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
In July, the Times revealed details of a secret legal battle between Rupert Murdoch and his children over the future of the formers media empire, with Murdoch reportedly attempting to change the terms of a family trust to ensure that control passes to his son Lachlan, who is perceived as more conservative than his siblings. Now a coalition of major news organizations, including the Times and CNN, is urging a court in Nevada to open proceedings in the case to public scrutiny. CNNs Hadas Gold has more details.
And an appeals court upheld a lower-court ruling that the Internet Archive, a nonprofit, breached the copyright of authors and publishers when it removed restrictions on the lending of digital copies of books via an online library during the pandemic. (Mathew Ingram wrote about the case for CJR last year.) Kate Knibbs writes, for Wired, that the appeals courts decision could have a significant impact on the future of internet history.
ICYMI: Thats how you run a debate! 9Newss Kyle Clark on holding politicians accountable
Sarah Grevy Gotfredsen is a computational investigative fellow at the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University. She works on a range of computational projects on the digital media landscape, including influence operations conducted through news media and the information ecosystem. She graduated from Columbia University in 2022 with an MS degree in data journalism.
Carlos Quiles says he was seriously injured in May 2022 when the Uber he was traveling in crashed into two parked cars in Queens after the driver lost control of his Toyota while trying to clear a fly or some other obstruction from his windscreen.
Quiles, who required surgery on his left shoulder, said he is still waiting for payments from American Transit Insurance Co., which underwrote the drivers policy. His lawyer has been negotiating with the New York-based insurer for almost two years, while Quiles has posted about his predicament on the companys Yelp and Google Review pages complaining about the Kafkaesque way they dealt with his claim.
From the very beginning, it was a nightmare, said Quiles, who works as a trauma emergency room nurse at Brookdale Hospital in Brooklyn. Each and every time you call, its at least 30 minutes hold time. And they either hang up on you or they transfer you to someone else.
Hes far from alone in being frustrated by American Transit, the largest insurer of commercial taxis and rideshare vehicles in the city with a market share of more than 60%. The insurer, also known as ATIC, is being sued in federal court by Uber Technologies Inc. for a consistent pattern of failing to honor coverage for ride-share drivers in New York City who get into accidents.
Uber alleges that those delays caused 23 lawsuits to be brought against it and its drivers over crashes involving bodily injuries between May and August 2023.
ATIC attorneys have denied the allegations, and the suit is ongoing, but the company faces financial challenges. The insurer posted more than $700 million in losses in the second quarter, breaching thresholds that require state regulators to intervene.
New Yorks Department of Financial Services told Bloomberg it has been working with the company and other stakeholders to address these longstanding financial issues, and protect drivers, passengers and the stability of the New York livery insurance market.
Christopher Ryan, ATICs chief financial officer, and other company representatives did not respond to email and telephone requests for comment. Baker, McEvoy and Moskovits, who work for ATIC and represent the taxi driver in the Quiles case, didnt return calls.
If the company cant find an infusion of capital, it risks not being able to pay out claims or insure drivers. That would threaten the citys transportation ecosystem, which relies on more than 117,000 cabs to ferry people around the city. Even if another firm steps in, drivers premiums would likely increase.
Drivers insured by ATIC typically pay annual premiums of $4,000 to $6,000, depending on their experience, accident claims and different actuarial calculations rates that competitors say are not commensurate with the risk.
Dawood Mian, who owns a fleet of cars and authors the AutoMarketplace Substack, said that if ATIC needed to adjust premiums, owners and drivers could be forced to pay 30% more a year, straining an industry that has been buckling for years under the pressure of rising expenses, including gas, maintenance and competition.
The industry is still reeling after many drivers fell into crushing debt to buy Medallions, a city-issued license to operate cabs, before values collapsed.
On Wednesday, drivers gathered outside City Hall to protest against Uber and Lyft after they started locking out some of its rideshare drivers mid-shift in an attempt to fight a minimum wage rule, leading to decreased earnings.
Today, thousands of Uber & Lyft drivers will rally at City Hall, then march on Ubers NYC headquarters to demand a real solution to the lockout crisis.
And if Uber, Lyft and the mayor wont listen, next month were going on strike. https://t.co/G0HU42nnOW
NY Taxi Workers (@NYTWA) September 4, 2024
One of the big issues is theres fundamentally a cap to what drivers can afford, said Mian. If you charged a driver on average, lets say $8,000, many drivers just simply cannot make that work.
ATIC was co-founded by Edward McGettigan, Sr. in 1972. His son and other relatives have worked there or served on the board. Its now run by Ralph Bisceglia, who joined ATIC in the 1980s, and remains very much a family-owned and run firm. Adrian Bisceglia is currently listed as the companys chief product development officer, and various Bisceglia relatives also have been on the board.
When Bisceglia joined the firm in the 1980s, it was relatively small, but even as early as 1986, state regulators were describing the company as insolvent by $6 million, according to a state examination report obtained by Bloomberg.
The gap between its liabilities and assets has only grown but has continually been a source of contention between ATIC and accountants. Since at least 2021, a third-party actuary hired to review the companys regular financial statements filed with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners has insisted the firms reserves are insufficient, an opinion the companys executives disagreed with.
Tim Zawacki, a senior analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence, who has covered the industry for 25 years, said the companys reserves have been considered deficient for decades, but its escalated as ATIC has had to grapple with bigger claim sizes driven by larger settlements as well as jury and arbitration awards.
If ATIC cant keep insuring drivers, the New York taxi industry could face huge issues, said Zawacki. If they manage to keep operating, they will likely have to raise premiums. Insurance will be available but it may be available at a price that many drivers and companies are unwilling or unable to pay, he said.
Meanwhile, Quiles says he is still waiting for his settlement. He was out of work for six months because of the injuries and received two disability payments from ATIC of less than $4,000 each over the period. But he is still waiting for insurance payments.
He says he still feels the impact from the injuries to this day, and is interviewing for less physically demanding roles.
My attorney filed a lawsuit and all they keep doing is pushing everything back, he said, noting that he has been waiting for about two years. They have an attorney, they just go to court and they continue to delay, delay, delay, delay.
Top photo: Pedestrians cross a street past traffic in the Midtown neighborhood of New York, US, on Saturday, June 17, 2023. New York Citys congestion pricing plan for the central business district is expected to get final approval this month. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg.
Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.
Attorneys representing both living and deceased patients of an Oregon hospital filed a $303 million lawsuit against the facility after a nurse was accused of replacing prescribed fentanyl with nonsterile tap water in intravenous drips.
The wrongful death and medical malpractice complaint accuses Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford of negligence. The suit says the hospital failed to monitor medication administration procedures and prevent drug diversion by their employees, among other claims.
A spokesperson said the hospital had no comment.
Dani Marie Schofield, a former nurse at the hospital, was arrested in June and charged with 44 counts of second-degree assault. The charges stemmed from a police investigation into the theft and misuse of controlled substances that resulted in patient infections. She has pleaded not guilty.
Schofield is not named or listed as a defendant in the complaint filed Tuesday. A separate suit was filed against Schofield and the hospital earlier this year on behalf of the estate of a 65-year-old man who died.
The 18 plaintiffs in the new suit include nine patients and the estates of nine patients who died. According to the suit, the hospital began informing them in December that an employee had replaced fentanyl with tap water, causing bacterial infections.
All Plaintiff Patients were infected with bacterium uniquely associated with waterborne transmission, the complaint says.
All of the plaintiffs experienced mental anguish, according to the suit, which seeks millions of dollars in damages for medical expenses, lost income and the pain and suffering of those who died.
Medford police began investigating late last year, after hospital officials noticed a troubling spike in central line infections from July 2022 through July 2023 and told police they believed an employee had been diverting fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that has helped fuel the nations overdose epidemic, but it is also used in legitimate medical settings to relieve severe pain. Drug theft from hospitals is a longstanding problem.
Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Full text: Keynote address by Chinese President Xi Jinping at opening ceremony of 2024 FOCAC summit
Xinhua) 15:34, September 05, 2024
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech titled "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a Community with a Shared Future" while attending the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday delivered a keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
The following is the full text of the address:
Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a Community with a Shared Future
Keynote Address by H.E. Xi Jinping
President of the People's Republic of China
At the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Summit of
The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation
Beijing, September 5, 2024
Your Excellency President Bassirou Diomaye Faye,
Your Excellency President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, Chairperson of the African Union (AU),
Your Excellencies Heads of State and Government and Heads of Delegation,
Your Excellency Mr. Antnio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations,
Your Excellency Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the AU Commission,
Friends and Distinguished Guests,
Blossoms in spring turn into fruits in autumn, and a bumper harvest is the reward of hard work. In this season of harvest, I am delighted to gather together with so many old and new friends in Beijing to discuss grand plans for China-Africa friendship and cooperation in the new era. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, I extend a warm welcome to you all!
The friendship between China and Africa transcends time and space, surmounts mountains and oceans, and passes down through generations. The founding of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2000 was a milestone in the history of China-Africa relations. Over the past 24 years, especially in the new era, China has advanced forward hand in hand with our African brothers and sisters in the spirit of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith. We stand shoulder to shoulder with each other to firmly defend our legitimate rights and interests as once-in-a-century changes sweep across the world. We get stronger and more resilient together by riding the tide of economic globalization, delivering tangible benefits to billions of ordinary Chinese and Africans. We share weal and woe in fighting natural disasters and epidemics together, creating touching stories of China-Africa friendship. We always empathize with and support each other, setting a stellar example of a new type of international relations.
Thanks to nearly 70 years of tireless efforts from both sides, the China-Africa relationship is now at its best in history. With its future growth in mind, I propose that bilateral relations between China and all African countries having diplomatic ties with China be elevated to the level of strategic relations, and that the overall characterization of China-Africa relations be elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.
Friends and Distinguished Guests,
Modernization is an inalienable right of all countries. But the Western approach to it has inflicted immense sufferings on developing countries. Since the end of World War II, Third World nations, represented by China and African countries, have achieved independence and development one after another, and have been endeavoring to redress the historical injustices of the modernization process. As we are about to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, we are going all out to build a great modern socialist country in all respects and pursue national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernization. Africa is also awakening again, and the continent is marching in solid strides toward the modernization goals set forth in the AU's Agenda 2063. China and Africa's joint pursuit of modernization will set off a wave of modernization in the Global South, and open a new chapter in our drive for a community with a shared future for mankind.
-- We should jointly advance modernization that is just and equitable. In promoting modernization, we should not only follow the general rules, but also act in light of our national realities. China is ready to increase exchanges of governance experience with Africa, support all countries in exploring modernization paths befitting their national conditions, and help ensure equal rights and equal opportunities for all countries.
-- We should jointly advance modernization that is open and win-win. Mutually beneficial cooperation is the sunny road to the betterment of long-term and fundamental interests of all countries. China is ready to deepen cooperation with Africa in industry, agriculture, infrastructure, trade and investment, promote exemplary, high-quality Belt and Road cooperation projects, and build together a model for the delivery of the Global Development Initiative.
-- We should jointly advance modernization that puts the people first. The ultimate goal of modernization is the free and full development of human beings. China will work vigorously with Africa to promote personnel training, poverty reduction and employment, enhance the sense of gain, happiness and security of the people in the course of modernization, and ensure that all will benefit from the process.
-- We should jointly advance modernization featuring diversity and inclusiveness. Well-balanced material and spiritual advancement is a lofty objective of modernization. China will enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges with Africa, champion mutual respect, inclusiveness and coexistence of different civilizations on our way to modernization, and strive together for more fruitful outcomes under the Global Civilization Initiative.
-- We should jointly advance modernization that is eco-friendly. Green development is a hallmark of modernization in the new era. China is ready to help Africa build "green growth engines," narrow the gap in energy accessibility, adhere to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and jointly push for the global transition to green and low-carbon development.
-- We should jointly advance modernization underpinned by peace and security. Modernization would not be possible without a peaceful and stable environment for development. China is ready to help Africa improve its capacity in safeguarding peace and stability independently, prioritize Africa in implementing the Global Security Initiative (GSI), promote mutual reinforcement of high-quality development and greater security, and work together with Africa to uphold world peace and stability.
Friends and Distinguished Guests,
China and Africa account for one-third of the world population. Without our modernization, there will be no global modernization. In the next three years, China will work with Africa to take the following ten partnership actions for modernization to deepen China-Africa cooperation and spearhead the Global South modernization.
First, the Partnership Action for Mutual Learning among Civilizations. China is ready to work with Africa to build a platform for governance experience sharing, a China-Africa knowledge network for development, and 25 centers on China and Africa studies. We will make better use of Africa's leadership academies to cultivate talents for governance, and invite 1,000 members of African political parties to China to deepen exchanges of experience in party and state governance.
Second, the Partnership Action for Trade Prosperity. China will voluntarily and unilaterally open its market wider. We have decided to give all LDCs having diplomatic relations with China, including 33 countries in Africa, zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines. This has made China the first major developing country and the first major economy to take such a step. It will help turn China's big market into Africa's big opportunity. China will expand market access for African agricultural products, deepen cooperation with Africa in e-commerce and other areas, and launch a "China-Africa quality enhancement program." We are prepared to enter into framework agreements on economic partnership for shared development with African countries to provide long-term, stable and predictable institutional guarantee for trade and investment between the two sides.
Third, the Partnership Action for Industrial Chain Cooperation. China will foster industry cooperation growth clusters with Africa, push forward the Pilot Zone for In-depth China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation, and launch an "African SMEs empowerment program." We will build with Africa a digital technology cooperation center and initiate 20 digital demonstration projects so as to embrace together the latest round of technological revolution and industrial transformation.
Fourth, the Partnership Action for Connectivity. China is prepared to carry out 30 infrastructure connectivity projects in Africa, promote together high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and put in place a China-Africa network featuring land-sea links and coordinated development. We are ready to assist in the development of the African Continental Free Trade Area, and deepen logistics and financial cooperation for the benefit of trans-regional development in Africa.
Fifth, the Partnership Action for Development Cooperation. China is ready to release the Joint Statement on Deepening Cooperation within the Framework of the Global Development Initiative with Africa, and implement 1,000 "small and beautiful" livelihood projects. We will replenish the China-World Bank Group Partnership Facility to boost Africa's development. We support Africa in hosting the 2026 Youth Olympic Games and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. We will work together with Africa to deliver more fruits of development to the two peoples.
Sixth, the Partnership Action for Health. China is ready to establish with Africa a hospitals alliance and joint medical centers. We will send 2,000 medical personnel to Africa, and launch 20 programs of health facilities and malaria treatment. We will encourage Chinese companies to invest in Africa's pharmaceutical production, and continue to do what we can to help Africa with epidemic response. We support the development of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to strengthen public health capacity in all African countries.
Seventh, the Partnership Action for Agriculture and Livelihoods. China will provide Africa with RMB1 billion yuan in emergency food assistance, build 100,000 mu (about 6,670 hectares) of standardized agriculture demonstration areas in Africa, send 500 agricultural experts, and establish a China-Africa agricultural science and technology innovation alliance. We will implement 500 programs in Africa to promote community welfare. We will also encourage two-way investment for new business operations by Chinese and African companies, enable Africa to retain added value, and create at least one million jobs for Africa.
Eighth, the Partnership Action for People-to-People Exchanges. China will implement with Africa more solidly the Future of Africa-Vocational Education Cooperation Plan, establish together an engineering technology academy, and build ten Luban Workshops. We will provide 60,000 training opportunities to Africa, mainly for women and youths. We will launch with Africa a Cultural Silk Road program as well as an initiative of cooperation on innovation in radio, TV and audio and visual programs. The two sides have agreed to designate 2026 as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.
Ninth, the Partnership Action for Green Development. China is ready to launch 30 clean energy projects in Africa, put in place meteorological early warning systems, and carry out cooperation in disaster prevention, mitigation and relief as well as biodiversity conservation. We will create a China-Africa forum on peaceful use of nuclear technology, establish together 30 joint laboratories, and collaborate on satellite remote sensing and lunar and deep-space exploration. All this is designed to help with green development in Africa.
Tenth, the Partnership Action for Common Security. China is ready to build with Africa a partnership for implementing the GSI, and make it a fine example of GSI cooperation. We will give Africa RMB1 billion yuan of grants in military assistance, provide training for 6,000 military personnel and 1,000 police and law enforcement officers from Africa, and invite 500 young African military officers to visit China. The two sides will conduct joint military exercises, training and patrol, carry out an "action for a mine-free Africa," and jointly ensure the safety of personnel and projects.
To implement the ten partnership actions, the Chinese government will provide RMB360 billion yuan of financial support through the next three years. This breaks down into RMB210 billion yuan of credit line, RMB80 billion yuan of assistance in various forms, and at least RMB70 billion yuan of investment in Africa by Chinese companies. In addition, China will encourage and support Africa in issuing panda bonds in China to enhance our results-oriented cooperation in all areas.
Friends and Distinguished Guests,
The Communist Party of China held in July the successful Third Plenary Session of its 20th Central Committee, laying out systematic plans for further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization. This will profoundly further transform China. It will also provide new opportunities and new driving forces for African countries and for our joint pursuit of modernization.
As an African proverb goes, a friend is someone you share the path with. On the path to modernization, no one, and no country, should be left behind. Let us rally the more than 2.8 billion Chinese and African people into a powerful force on our shared path toward modernization, promote modernization of the Global South with China-Africa modernization, and write a new magnificent chapter of development in human history. Let us join hands to bring about a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress for our world.
Thank you.
(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Annie is a reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle. She previously was a digital producer for The Chronicles Datebook section. She graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 2017 with a degree in journalism. During her time there, she spearheaded a culture column, produced radio pieces for NPR-affiliate station KCBX, and was a DJ and writer for KCPR, the campus radio station. Before joining the Chronicle, she was an associate producer at SFGATE and interned at VICE and Flood Magazine. Shes particularly interested in communities and scenes that are often misunderstood.
Hong Kong raised its storm warning to the third-highest level as Super Typhoon Yagi skirts the city, with flights set to be disrupted throughout Friday as the storm tracks toward southern China.
The Hong Kong Observatory issued a so-called Typhoon Signal 8, a warning of gale or storm-force winds near sea level, at 6:20 p.m. local time. It expects the alert will remain at least until noon on Friday. The train to the airport and the citys underground rail services will normally run on a limited schedule when the alert is raised, depending on the severity of the storm.
Under the stock exchanges current rules, the citys $5 trillion equity market will now cancel its morning trading session. The afternoon session could still begin if the alert is lowered at noon.
Yagi was centered about 330 kilometers south of Hong Kong at around 11 p.m. It will remain at super-typhoon intensity and skirt around 300 kilometers to the southwest of the city on Friday morning, the HKO said.
Yagi has maximum sustained winds of 120 knots (222 kilometers) per hour, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The system is equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale, which is considered a major storm that has the capacity to inflict catastrophic damage. Yagis top winds weakened somewhat Thursday evening, but the typhoon warning center expects the storm could intensify again overnight.
The Hong Kong education bureau announced a suspension of classes at schools on Friday to ensure the safety of students, and airport authorities warned of flight disruptions the whole day as they activated rescheduling systems.
Yagi could be the last typhoon to force a closure of Hong Kongs stock exchange the financial hub will end its decades-long practice of shutting markets during typhoons from Sept. 23.
The storm killed at least 15 people in the Philippines and forced thousands to flee before moving into the South China Sea. The Chinese city of Haikou on Hainan Island will close schools, factories and supermarkets from Thursday in preparation for Yagi, China Central Television reported.
Yagi, known as Makar in China, could become the strongest typhoon to hit the island in the past decade, according to the Hainan Meteorological Administration. Hainan has issued its highest emergency response level, Xinhua reported, citing the provincial disaster management authority. China Southern Power Grid Co., one of the countrys top electricity grid firms, also raised its emergency response level on Thursday and implemented various defensive measures against the typhoon and expected heavy rain.
The downpour from the typhoon could threaten rice crops in Guangdong province and sugarcane in neighboring Guangxi. Extreme weather from heat waves to flooding has already impacted agriculture throughout China this summer.
Once Yagi passes southern China, its forecast to head toward northern Vietnam, although at a weaker intensity, according to the typhoon warning center.
Top photo: Staff members reinforce doors and windows bracing for the Typhoon Yagi at Xinhai Port in Haikou, Hainan Province, on Sept. 4. Photographer: Luo Yunfei/China News Service/VCG/Getty Images.
Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.
As the market for in-house insurance surpasses a record $200 billion, the underlying reasons for that boom show how a hotter, less stable planet is redrawing the risk map for corporations.
Captive insurance, where companies create their own coverage vehicles, is on the rise, according to insurance broker Aon Plc. Companies are using it to work around restrictions or to avoid prohibitively high prices imposed by external insurers. And its a development thats particularly pronounced in sectors tied to climate change.
Oil and mining firms are now using their captives to a greater degree, John English, chief executive of captive and insurance management at Aon, said in an interview. Thats as coverage from outside insurers becomes unaffordable or unappetizing from a price and capacity perspective. In fact, a number of insurers and reinsurers have simply turned away from fossil-fuel firms, he said.
Its the latest sign that climate change is upending the norms that underpin how markets function, as the economic cost of covering its fallout balloons. A recent report by Aon noted that the market for captive insurance has grown significantly over the past few years, with roughly a quarter of the almost 3,000 companies it surveyed saying theyve resorted to such arrangements. In 2021, the figure was 17%.
Climate change is having an amplifying effect on all the risks we know, said Peter Carter, head of climate and captives at broker WTW. And captives are playing a role as a shock absorber, he said.
How Does Captive Insurance Work?
A captive arrangement typically functions as a special-purpose vehicle thats created to insure, or reinsure, the risk of the parent company thats setting it up. Companies transfer premiums to their own insurance SPVs. The construction can sometimes be used to split coverage with external insurers, or make use of alternative-risk transfer solutions like parametrics.
Captives offer tax benefits, and companies using them can reinvest surplus cash from their premiums. Captive insurance is used to cover a range of risks, spanning environmental to the threat of cyberattacks. Data on captives doesnt capture the full extent to which companies are doing insurance in-house. Thats because a company can also opt for self-insurance, where it sets money aside to cover future losses without creating a regulated SPV.
The global market for captive insurance surpassed $200 billion in premiums last year, marking an all-time record, according to data shared by WTW.
Thats as extreme weather pushes mainstream insurers from the US to Europe to raise prices to levels that make their services increasingly inaccessible. Sectors affected by the development span utilities to operators of renewable-energy farms.
Were seeing lots of firsts in weather, said Anna Pereira, senior vice president at Strategic Risk Solutions, a captive-insurance specialist and the former head of captive and insurance banking at the Bermuda office of HSBC Holdings Plc.
Some large insurance companies in the US are not writing certain types of business or within certain geographies that are highly exposed, and pricing has increased significantly, she said.
At the same time, a growing number of insurers and reinsurers are turning down fossil-fuel companies, as they seek to comply with climate policies and the transition to cleaner energy. Globally, 46 insurers now have some form of restriction on coal, oil or gas companies, according to Insure Our Future, a coalition of nonprofits.
BHP Group Ltd., TotalEnergies SE, Enel SpA, BP Plc, Glencore Plc and Shell Plc have all created in-house entities to cover their risk, according to company filings. Other commodity companies now relying on the captives market include Thungela Resources Ltd., the spinoff from Anglo American Plc. Australian coal producer Whitehaven Coal Ltd. has said its in the process of setting one up.
In some cases, government-funded programs are stepping in as commercial insurers retreat. North Dakota, meanwhile, is recommending that companies turn to captives. In the state, which is home to 10% of American crude oil reserves and one of the worlds largest lignite coal deposits, the few insurers still willing to cover pure-play coal companies are raising rates and limiting policy renewals, according to an analysis by Bank of North Dakota.
The rise of captives may be bad news for the climate, according to Ariel Le Bourdonnec, insurance campaigner at nonprofit Reclaim Finance.
Captives are a shadow part of the insurance industry that enables the continued underwriting of polluting assets, he said. Ultimately, the development could delay the green-energy transition, he said.
Eleven People Missing After Explosion At Offshore Drilling Rig
Fire boats battle a fire at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, on April 21, 2010.
And companies doing their own insurance may underestimate the risks they face. The most notable example in recent history is BP, which in 2010 relied on its captive-insurance vehicle, Jupiter Insurance Ltd., to cover the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. When that rig exploded and sank, killing 11 people and causing the biggest offshore oil spill in US history, BPs captive insurance arrangement was limited to $700 million, and no reinsurance arrangement existed. BP is still counting the cost, which has since soared into the tens of billions of dollars.
If there isnt an alternative, when things go horribly wrong the insurer of last resort often ends up being private individuals or the government, says Carter at WTW. In the long run, captives can help ensure theres a fair balance between who ends up bailing out failure in the capital system, he said.
Aons English said theres a risk of captives prolonging the life of high-emitting assets if one does it blindly. But such arrangements also help to give companies time to adapt to a changing regulatory environment, he said.
Theres a period of time that one needs to phase this stuff out, English said. The question then becomes, what does that phasing look like?
Top photo: Flames from a wildfire threaten properties in Dionysos, Greece, on Aug. 12. Photographer: Nick Paleologos/Bloomberg.
Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.
PENSACOLA, Florida A surgeon mistakenly removed a mans liver instead of the spleen during a procedure last month, killing the 70-year-old patient on the operating table, a Florida law firm claims.
Zarzaur Law says in a news release that William Bryan of Muscle Shoals, Ala., died in the procedure at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital on Aug. 21. Bryan and his wife, Beverly, were visiting Florida when he went to the hospital because William Bryan began having left-sided flank pain, the news release says.
The law firm says Bryan was admitted to the hospital because of concerns about his spleen. It says Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky and another doctor convinced Bryan he needed to undergo surgery to remove the spleen, saying he risked serious complications if he left the hospital.
During this operation, Dr. Shaknovsky removed Mr. Bryans liver and, in so doing, transected the major vasculature supplying the liver, causing immediate and catastrophic blood loss resulting in death, the news release says.
The law firm accuses Shaknovsky of labeling the removed liver as a spleen. It also accuses Shaknovsky of mistakenly removing a portion of a patients pancreas in 2023.
The surgeon told Mrs. Bryan after the procedure that the spleen was so diseased that it was four times bigger than usual and had migrated to the other side of Mr. Bryans body, the news release says. Typical human anatomy dictates that the liver naturally exists on the opposite side of the abdominal cavity, and it is several times larger than the spleen.
NBC News reports the Walton County Sheriffs Office and other authorities are investigating Bryans death.
In a statement to USA Today, hospital officials said We take allegations like this very seriously and our leadership team is performing a thorough investigation into this event.
Lawyer Joe Zarzaur of Zarzaur Law is representing Bryans widow and says she is pursuing both criminal and civil proceedings.
Rotunda Rumblings
Making the case: Gov. Mike DeWine said this week that Republican lawmakers should amend a new state law banning foreign nationals from contributing to ballot-issue campaigns to address the concerns that caused a federal judge to block the law from taking effect last weekend. Per Andrew Tobias, DeWine says lawmakers should just remove language from the law that includes lawful permanent residents also known as green-card holders from the ban. Their inclusion is what caused U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson to block the law, although Republican state officials have appealed the decision.
Blocked laws: A Cincinnati judge has blocked Ohio prohibitions on medication abortions through telemedicine, abortions being performed by physician assistants, certified nurse midwives and other non-doctor professionals, and abortion providers prescribing mifepristone, an abortion-inducing medication, off-label. Some of these laws were passed two decades ago, but Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Alison Hatheway concluded that they conflict with the new abortion rights constitutional amendment, Laura Hancock reports.
Split narrative: A new court filing from U.S. Rep. Max Miller in his divorce case with Emily Moreno Miller claims that she moved out with their infant child last month to a $675,000 house he didnt know about. As Jeremy Pelzer reports, the Rocky River Republican claims that his wifes stated reason for leaving was that he spoke poorly about her family (which includes her father, Republican U.S. Senate nominee Bernie Moreno). The filing also states that Moreno Miller argued that Miller shouldnt be allowed to see their child without supervision because of his unspecified drug usage; Miller claimed he responded by taking a drug test that came back negative, and he accused his wife of trying to extort him financially by threatening to withhold access to their baby if he didnt pay various expenses.
Blackout: State utilities regulators had no answer when state Rep. Sean Brennan, a Parma Democrat, asked them Wednesday how they plan to make sure FirstEnergy spends customer money on avoiding power outages like the one seen last month. As Sean McDonnell reports, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chair Jenifer French replied, we cant make any comments on that, as FirstEnergy has a rate case pending before the commission. Brennan pointed to a 2022 PUCO-ordered audit concluding that it wasnt clear whether FirstEnergy spent any money collected via a grid modernization fee on the House Bill 6 corruption scandal, as the utility didnt track how any of the money was spent.
Juvenile justice: To better serve youth in the juvenile justice system, Ohio needs to dismantle its mass lock-up facilities, increase community-based rehabilitation to keep kids closer to home and consider a number of law changes to limit when kids can be tried as an adult or incarcerated, a new state-supported report says. Kaitlin Durbin writes that Cuyahoga County could be greatly impacted by recommendations in a report released Tuesday by the states Juvenile Justice Working Group.
Texas Two-Step: U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes, an Akron Democrat, wants to keep corporations from using a bankruptcy maneuver known as the Texas Two-Step that helps them evade responsibility for injuries they caused by creating shell companies that assume their liabilities, Sabrina Eaton writes. Companies that have tried the move include Johnson & Johnson, which is facing claims that its talcum powder causes cancer, and Georgia Pacific, which is facing lawsuits over asbestos exposure. Sykes led a bipartisan coalition of U.S. Senators and House of Representatives members this summer to introduce a bill called the Ending Corporate Bankruptcy Abuse Act (ECBA) that would instruct courts to presume a bankruptcy has been filed in bad faith if it appears to be a Texas Two-Step bankruptcy.
Finding religion: U.S. Sen. JD Vances conversion to Catholicism conversion put Vance in close touch with a Catholic intellectual movement, viewed by some critics as having reactionary or authoritarian leanings, that has been little known to the American public until Vances rise to the national stage as the Republican vice-presidential nominee, The Associated Press reports. But where Catholic conservatives of the past have seen big government as a problem rather than a solution, the postliberals hes aligned with want a muscular government one that they control.
False claim: A new Bernie Moreno campaign ad falsely claims that incumbent U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Cleveland Democrat, voted to give illegals taxpayer funded stimulus checks, health care, even Social Security, PolitiFact ruled. The votes Morenos campaign cites to back up his claim would not have provided any federal benefits to immigrants in the country illegally. The American Rescue Plan already barred them from receiving stimulus checks. Federal law already prohibited them from qualifying for Medicaid or the Childrens Health Insurance Program and barred them from buying insurance through the federal exchange.
Court proceeds: The latest round of campaign-finance reports for this years three Ohio Supreme Court races, filed Wednesday, showed Republican Justice Joe Deters with $707,068 cash on hand as of Tuesday. Thats far more than the $471,928 in the campaign account of his Democratic opponent, Justice Melody Stewart, even though Stewart outraised Deters in August ($154,600 to $85,871, respectively). However, Democratic Justice Mike Donnelly outraised his Republican rival, Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Megan Shanahan, in August ($125,173 for Donnelly, $109,510 for Shanahan) and had nearly $550,000 cash on hand over $192,000 more than what Shanahan banked. In the race for Deters open court seat, Democratic appeals court Judge Lisa Forbes outraised Republican Dan Hawkins, a Franklin County Common Pleas judge, in August (more than $132,266 for Forbes, just over $70,000 for Hawkins), but the two ended the monthly reporting period with nearly the same amount of cash on hand (about $485,000 for Hawkins, nearly $474,000 for Forbes which includes a $137,000 loan from herself to her campaign).
Here comes the money: Four prominent Ohio business groups are looking to raise about $4 million for a dark-money group supporting this years three Republican nominees for Ohio Supreme Court, reports Laura Bischoff of the Columbus Dispatch. Ohio Chamber of Commerce CEO Steve Stivers noted that about the same amount was raised ahead of the last Supreme Court elections by the chamber, the Ohio Farm Bureau, NFIB Ohio, and the Ohio Business Roundtable.
Denied: The Ohio Supreme Court on Wednesday unanimously rebuffed a months-long legal effort by Justin Tjaden, a Geneva-on-the-Lake attorney, to make the November ballot as an independent candidate for Ohio House District 99, in far northeast Ohio. Tjaden argued, among other things, that the Ashtabula County Board of Elections exceeded its authority by disqualifying many of his petition signatures and that the states overall petition signature requirement for independent candidates was unconstitutional. The court, in an unsigned ruling, noted that even if the disqualified petition signatures were counted, Tjaden still wouldnt have enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. The justices also held that if they found Ohios signature requirements for would-be independent candidates to be unconstitutional, then there would be no statutory path for them to get on the ballot at all, as the court would be loath to set up its own alternative rules. Democratic Justice Jennifer Brunner, in a concurring opinion, said she would have addressed whether its constitutional for Ohio to set petition-signature requirements for independent candidates higher than what major-party candidates need to collect.
Full Disclosure
Here are five things we learned from the Feb. 20, 2024 ethics disclosure form filed by Adam Bozic of Tallmadge, the Republican nominee for Ohio House District 34:
1. In addition to serving as a Tallmadge City Council president, Bozic owns Classic Shine, a flooring installation and cleaning business. Bozic also receives disability compensation from his service in the U.S. Marine Corps.
2. Last year, Bozic was a board member of the Akron Turner Club, a sport and social club in Tallmadge.
3. His only investment exceeding $1,000 was a retirement account with the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System.
4. At some point in 2023, Bozic owed at least $1,000 to Navy Federal Credit Union, USAA, Huntington Bank, US Bank, 7 17 Credit Union, JPMorgan Chase, and Nelnet, a student-loan servicer.
5. He didnt report owning any real estate, though legislative candidates arent required to list their personal residence or property used for personal recreation.
On The Move
Ohio Right to Life PAC has voted to officially oppose Issue 1, the proposed redistricting reform amendment.
Birthdays
Ashlynn Almasy, legislative aide to state Rep. Adam Holmes
Jack Christopher, chief legal counsel and chief ethics officer at the Ohio Department of Development
Straight From The Source
If we want to have a party, I dont want to have to give them a list of names. I dont know how far that goes when you live across the street from a vice president.
- Jayna Schimberg, who lives across the street from U.S. Sen. JD Vances Cincinnati home, speaking with Scott Wartman of the Cincinnati Enquirer about her concerns that the U.S. Secret Service will ramp up security measures along her street even more if Vance is elected vice president this November.
Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. Subscribe to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free.
A farmer walks through a fallowed tomato field in Fresno County in February 2015 amid drought. Dry conditions are returning to California, including parts of Fresno County and elsewhere in the Central Valley. Leah Millis/The Chronicle
More than half of California is experiencing abnormally dry conditions or worse, according to a new report, as months without precipitation as well as evaporation caused by summer heat waves take their toll.
The affected areas include parts of the Central Valley, which are back in abnormally dry conditions for the first time since April 2023, according to the National Weather Services Hanford branch.
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With minimal precipitation over the past few months, abnormally dry conditions are beginning to return to Fresno, Tulare, and Kings Counties, the weather service posted on X.
Within the Bay Area, Sonoma is the only county experiencing abnormally dry conditions.
Abnormally dry conditions are not formally classified as drought, though they are a precursor. Eight percent of California particularly in Modoc and Lassen counties in the north and San Bernardino in the south is experiencing moderate drought, the mildest drought classification.
Three months ago, drought was absent from California, and just 1% of California was classified as abnormally dry.
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A lack of monsoon rain showers across the central and southern Sierra Nevada this summer is resulting in a short-term moisture deficit. This lack of precipitation, combined with record heat and increased evaporation, has resulted in expanding drought conditions.
Abnormally dry conditions, and the early stages of drought, are also pervasive across the West.
The drought map is updated on Thursday mornings. It is created by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Anthony Edwards contributed to this report.
A collection of Sen. Dianne Feinsteins personal and political artifacts is set for auction next month, including her floral drawings. Mariah Miranda/Special to the Chronicle 2019
A collection of Sen. Dianne Feinsteins personal and political artifacts is set for auction.
Bonhams will feature more than 70 pieces of jewelry worn by the late San Francisco politician, including a 4.14-carat diamond ring valued at up to $65,000, an 18-karat white gold and diamond necklace that could fetch $18,000, and her signature Tiffany & Co. gold rose-petal necklace and ear clips set for $3,000.
The Legacy of a Stateswoman auction is scheduled to take place on Oct. 8, in Los Angeles, with a public preview of highlights Sept. 23-26 at Bonhams San Francisco gallery.
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The collection also encompasses furniture; Asian art from Feinsteins homes in San Francisco, Washington and Aspen, Colo.; memorabilia from her career; and even several framed floral drawings by Feinstein herself.
A collection of Sen. Dianne Feinsteins personal and political artifacts is set for auction next month, including pieces of jewelry she wore throughout her career. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle
She cherished the items she collected and decorated her homes with, said her daughter, Katherine Feinstein, a retired San Francisco Superior Court judge. From her trophy room that proudly showcased her career milestones to the curated antiques she personally researched and decor she maintained in each room.
Political memorabilia include a framed 1990 letter from Jimmy Carter sympathizing with Feinsteins gubernatorial loss; three senatorial roll call documents, including her 1998 call to censure Bill Clinton; and a 2016 photograph with an inscription from Joe Biden.
The auction will also offer presidential signing pens from Clinton and George Bush, and numerous books inscribed to Feinstein by figures like Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi and Madeleine Albright.
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Additionally, the auction includes Feinsteins collection of American art, such as Ships Sailing in the San Francisco Bay With Fort Point in the Distance by William Alexander Coulter (1907), valued at $70,000-$100,000; Vernal Falls, Yosemite Valley by Enoch Wood Perry (1863), estimated at $50,000-$70,000; and Mr. And Mrs. Leland Stanford Driving on the Beach at San Francisco, by Matilda Lotz (1878), in the $7,000-$10,000 range.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein laughs with a delegate at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles in August 2000. A collection of her personal and political artifacts is set for auction next month, including pieces of jewelry, artwork and memorabilia. Vince Bucci/AFP/TNS
These pieces were displayed in her Washington, D.C., home while she represented California. She would be delighted to know that her treasured pieces will be just as cherished and cared for by those whose lives she touched, and who admired her as a pioneering woman in politics, Katherine Feinstein said.
Sen. Feinsteins collection will be featured in two additional online sales. The more than 70 lots of jewelry will be available Oct. 1-8, in Jewellery Online: The Personal Collection of Senator Dianne Feinstein. Works from Feinstein and her late husband Richard Blums Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Art Collection will be sold online Oct. 14-24.
Earlier this year, Bonhams auctioned 42 rare Himalayan sculptures and paintings that the couple collected over three decades.
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Hoopes Vineyard in Napa is one of three wineries that has sued Napa County over alleged constitutional rights violations. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
Napa Countys longtime battle with small wineries is intensifying. Three Napa Valley wineries are suing the county in federal court over alleged overregulation, accusing the government body of roughly a dozen constitutional rights violations.
The 60-page complaint, filed Thursday in Californias Northern District Court on behalf of Hoopes Vineyard, Summit Lake Vineyards and Smith-Madrone Vineyards & Winery, denounced the countys vague, ambiguous and expensive policies that the wineries say have cost them millions of dollars in lost profits and threatened their survival.
The county has not yet been formally served with the complaint, which was released to the media prior to our review, said Holly Dawson, Napa Countys deputy county executive officer for communications. As such, we are unable to comment on a document we have not seen.
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The lawsuit is the latest development in a contentious, five-year dispute between Hoopes and Napa County, which sued the winery in 2022 for alleged permit violations and says Hoopes does not have the right to host tastings. Last month, owner Lindsay Hoopes filed a motion to dismiss the case after discovering new evidence that allegedly shows the county secretly changed the property entitlements of her winery and more than 20 others.
It was important to rally with other wineries to really address the scope, Hoopes said of filing the federal lawsuit. Its not a me issue. Its a much bigger issue.
Lindsay Hoopes has been embroiled in a five-year dispute with Napa County over alleged permit violations. Now, shes bringing the dispute to federal court. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
A victory for the wineries could have a powerful ripple effect that goes beyond small Napa producers like the plaintiffs, they argue. I think itll change the way the wine industry is run in Napa County, said Stu Smith, co-owner of Smith-Madrone, who believes that if they prevail, the case could loosen the restrictions for all Napa Valley wineries, potentially opening them up to more visitors and enabling more of them to put on events and weddings, serve food and stay open later.
The wineries are represented by Joseph Infante, a longtime alcohol regulatory lawyer in Michigan who recently tried a similar case on behalf of 11 wineries in his home state. Infante helped the Michigan wineries sue their local government for overregulation, saying it stifled their business operations and resulted in lost profits of $120 million. While the Michigan trial is nearing closing arguments, a judge has already ruled in the wineries favor on most of their counts.
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Infante said he sees many similarities between the two cases and that the Michigan trial shows that the allegations in the Napa suit are viable.
Small wineries have long fought Napa County for a more level playing field to compete with the regions larger entities. The countys regulations typically require wineries to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars sometimes millions to obtain a use permit, and they usually must build a winery or tasting room to market and sell their wine. Many boutique wineries, often producing only a few thousand cases per year, say they cant afford that, but that the ability to host visitors and sell wine is vital if they want to stay in business.
Critics of the movement have argued that Napa Valley should limit future winery and vineyard development, mainly due to environmental and traffic concerns. In 2022, the county passed a micro-winery ordinance designed to streamline the permitting process for small wineries, but thus far, just two such permits have been approved.
Napa Countys Board of Supervisors has been at the center of a long-standing battle over the rights of small wineries. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle
Hoopes said she made numerous attempts to resolve the countys issues out of court, but that county officials did not respond to her requests or agree to meet in person. There, unfortunately, has been no option but litigation, she said. We have been stonewalled at every angle and it seems like theyre much more interested in winning at all costs and putting us out of business than actually finding the best resolution.
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Last year, Summit Lake and Smith-Madrone attempted to join Hoopes cross-complaint against the county, but a judge denied them. Both wineries were established before Napa Countys 1990 Winery Definition Ordinance, which put the current winery regulations into place; they were granted a permit exemption, which allowed them to operate as they did before. (Hoopes purchased a property with an exemption, which transferred to her.) All three wineries have long thought the exemption includes the right to host tastings, but the county disagrees.
Summit Lake hosted tastings for nearly 40 years and never received a violation notice from Napa County until 2019, said Summit Lake co-owner Heather Griffin, when the winery pursued a use permit modification to increase its wine production. Napa County informed Summit Lake that it had been out of compliance for hosting tastings and that a permit modification approval hinged on them paving the road outside their winery, a cost upwards of $1 million. Summit Lake pulled its application because they couldnt afford it, Griffin said, and now cant have visitors.
Weve tried to stay in the lines and do the right things, pull the permits we were supposed to get, and yet we have been harassed and bullied by the county, said Griffin, who started a GoFundMe to help cover the winerys legal costs. I am fed up and feel like Ive been pushed against a wall.
Smith-Madrone has not been cited by the county for hosting tastings, but Smith said the vagueness of the rules and inconsistent enforcement has him constantly looking over my shoulder. The countys actions against wineries like Summit Lake and Hoopes have discouraged him from pursuing endeavors that could grow his business. The fear of being caught in the jaws of the county is enormous, he said.
Smith-Madrone Vineyards co-owner Stu Smith says hes constantly looking over my shoulder because of Napa Countys enforcement of its rules. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle
Free speech is one of many constitutional rights the lawsuit accuses the county of violating. Infante said governments cannot restrict businesses from whats known as commercial speech essentially marketing or advertising unless those restrictions prove the government has a substantial interest in regulating it. At its heart, wine tasting is a product demonstration, Infante said. Causing wineries to lose money, he argued, doesnt further Napa Countys interest in preserving agricultural land.
The complaint also alleges that the countys policies are void for vagueness, a constitutional law principle that states a law is unenforceable if its too vague for the average person to understand. The lawsuit points to a lack of clarity with the countys policies, as its cited and sued some wineries but not others.
Inconsistencies in the countys winery database, a spreadsheet that lists the entitlements of every winery in the county, were the cornerstone of Hoopes defense at trial, and will probably be important in this case. Early versions of the database indicated that Hoopes, Summit Lake, Smith-Madrone and others were permitted to host tastings, but those permissions were removed in later versions. (Changing property rights without notification is another constitutional violation, Infante said.)
The lawsuit further says that the county was aware of constitutional issues with its code. As proof, Infante submitted in discovery a 1989 internal memo from Napa County counsel, which outlines several ways that the forthcoming Winery Definition Ordinance was likely to stimulate legal challenge based upon constitutional or statutory issues. Another internal memo from 2009 raised similar concerns.
Infante also submitted a letter from Patrick Ryan, Napa County assistant director of Planning, Building and Environmental Services. Ryans letter alerted county personnel about a loophole in the ordinance that exempts all wineries from California fire safety regulations. That exemption would include the road improvements imposed on Summit Lake, Infante said.
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Sex worker Renee talks to a potential customer on Shotwell Street in San Francisco on Aug. 26. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
Regarding Sex work has gotten so rampant again in S.F.s Mission District, residents are suing the city (San Francisco, SFChronicle.com, Aug. 28): San Francisco finds itself grappling with a burgeoning issue sex work. This resurgence has prompted residents to sue the city.
Ironically, the societal harms surrounding sex work spring from its illegality. Making it illegal breeds the problems it aims to solve. Imagine eradicating these issues by simply recognizing sex work as another segment of commerce.
Fears around sex trafficking, while justified, present an opportunity for government oversight to foster safer conditions. Legalization, coupled with mandatory reporting and inspections, ensures sex workers operate without coercion and are of legal consenting age.
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Another irony lies in the contrast between Californias staunch defense of reproductive rights and its reluctance to extend similar liberties to bodily autonomy in sex work. Echoing comedian George Carlins paradox: Why is it illegal to sell something thats perfectly legal to give away?
The consensus among San Franciscans tilts toward personal freedom: As long as ones actions dont directly impact others, why dictate their choices?
Its time to recognize sex work as a legitimate trade without infringing personal liberties. Such a progressive stand aligns with the values of San Franciscans today, challenging the old guard with a nod to common sense and autonomy.
Keith Freedman, candidate for mayor, San Francisco
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Protests are nonviolent
Regarding Sonoma loves its farms. Activists call them factories. Could a ballot measure upend this county? (Politics, SFChronicle.com, Aug. 30): I write as a member of Direct Action Everywhere. While I appreciate the coverage of Sonoma Countys Measure J, I take issue with the persistent portrayal of Direct Action Everywhere and animal rights activists in general as combative, militant, arsonists or cultlike.
On the contrary, my fellow activists at Direct Action Everywhere are caring, creative organizers who volunteer countless hours to reduce animal suffering.
Like other social change movements, Direct Action Everywhere employs confrontational tactics (mass protest) to highlight injustice. However, the group upholds nonviolence as a core value, preferring to accept suffering without retaliation for the sake of the cause.
On the other hand, we have posted videos of Measure Js opponents on social media responding with name-calling, obscene gestures, aggressive driving and veiled threats of violence. We read the vitriol as a sign our campaign is working.
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The movement for animal rights is growing, and Measure J represents a crucial milestone in this journey. Its time to move beyond stereotypes and recognize the genuine commitment to justice that drives our work.
Emily Guzzardi, San Francisco
Too many cameras
Regarding Did your car witness a crime? Bay Area police may be coming for your Tesla and they might tow it (Crime, SFChronicle.com, Aug. 31): The story about video cameras in Teslas being used to solve crimes failed to consider that this technology infringes on everyones privacy rights.
These images may reside only in the vehicles USB drive, but they could easily and without warning be uploaded to corporate servers if Tesla CEO Elon Musk decides that he wants to mine that data.
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We could be headed toward a China-like society where constant surveillance and face recognition are accepted as necessary for public safety. Thats not a world I want to live in.
No technology is fully good or bad. I wish people were better informed of the potential dangers of the surveillance state being built without our consent.
Rick Andrews, Menlo Park
Tax taxis, too
Regarding As driverless ride-hailing expands in S.F., Prop L would tax it to fund Muni (Editorials, SFChronicle.com, Sept. 3): The Chronicles arguments for Proposition L make sense but dont explain why it accepts excluding the taxi business from this tax.
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About Opinion Guest opinions in Open Forum and Insight are produced by writers with expertise, personal experience or original insights on a subject of interest to our readers. Their views do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Chronicle editorial board, which is committed to providing a diversity of ideas to our readership. Read more about our transparency and ethics policies
Unless you claim taxis have gone back to being a shuttle service between downtown and Fishermans Wharf hotels and the San Francisco International Airport, there is no reason why a taxi ride might not compete with Muni.
Proposition L is the next round of the San Francisco governments sweetheart deal with the taxi business and its vendetta against Uber and Lyft. The Chronicle should insist on the taxi business being included in the help-Muni tax.
A group of Amazon delivery drivers hold a labor strike at the DAX7 Amazon Sortation Center in South Gate. The police became involved due to the hold up of Amazon vehicles.
Amazon should be considered a "joint employer" of some of its contracted delivery drivers, a regional director for the National Labor Relations Board said Wednesday.
The NLRB was reviewing two unfair labor practice charges filed in January, concerning Amazon's treatment of some drivers at an Atlanta warehouse, known as DAT6. While Amazon has long hired third-party drivers to handle its swelling number of deliveries, the NLRB's regional director found that Amazon jointly employed drivers at the site who worked for a contractor called MJB Logistics.
Amazon has fought to avoid being designated as a joint employer of its sprawling network of contracted delivery companies. Lawmakers and labor groups, including the Teamsters union, have disputed the company's characterization, saying drivers wear Amazon-branded uniforms, drive Amazon-branded vans and have their schedules and performance expectations set by the company.
The NLRB's determination could compel Amazon to bargain with employees seeking to unionize. The announcement comes after an NLRB official made a similar ruling last month, finding that Amazon is a joint employer of some subcontracted drivers at its facility in Palmdale, California.
Over the past year, the Teamsters has stepped up its efforts to organize Amazon delivery and warehouse workers. The union launched an Amazon division in 2021 to support and fund workers at the company in their organizing efforts. Since then, it's led a number of strikes at Amazon delivery facilities, while a labor group at an Amazon warehouse on New York's Staten Island opted to affiliate with the Teamsters in June.
In April 2023, drivers who worked for Battle Tested Strategies said their contract was canceled by Amazon after they voted to unionize with the Teamsters. Amazon denied the claim, saying it ended the contract prior to the union push.
In its determination Wednesday, the NLRB also found merit to charges that Amazon threatened drivers in Atlanta with closing their site if they unionized, illegally made coercive statements and gave the impression of surveillance at the facility.
The NLRB's determinations in Atlanta and Palmdale aren't board decisions, Kayla Blado, a spokesperson for the group, said in an email. Rather, they're the first step in the agency's general counsel litigating the allegations laid out in an unfair labor practice charge. If the parties don't settle, a hearing will be scheduled with an NLRB judge. Either party can appeal that judge's decision to the NLRB board, and it can be further appealed in federal court.
Amazon declined to comment.
WATCH: Amazon's first U.S. union faces an uphill battle after historic win
Abbott Laboratories announced Thursday its over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor Lingo is available in the U.S. starting at $49.
Lingo is part of an emerging class of consumer-friendly biosensors that people can use to learn how their bodies respond to food, exercise, sleep and stress. These devices, called continuous glucose monitors, are small sensors that stick through the skin to measure real-time glucose levels. Glucose is a sugar molecule that comes from food, and it's the body's main energy source.
Continuous glucose monitors have served as tools for patients with diabetes, but Lingo is not intended for diabetes management. Instead, it's designed for adults who do not take insulin and want to "improve their overall health and wellness," according to a release.
Everyone's glucose levels fluctuate, but consistently high levels can cause more serious health problems like metabolic disease, insulin resistance and heart disease, Abbott said. The company argues Lingo can educate users about existing habits and help them learn to manage their glucose in healthier ways.
"That's really the goal, is to not only see and understand what's happening inside your body, but to be able to improve on that, to be able to build these healthy habits that drive those changes," Ben Fohner, the director of Abbott's Lingo app, told CNBC in an interview.
Abbott already offers continuous glucose monitors for diabetes patients in the U.S., so the company is looking to break into an entirely new market with Lingo. About 1 in 3 Americans have prediabetes, for instance, but these patients typically don't qualify for prescriptions or insurance coverage for the monitors.
Now, they can pay for the sensors out of pocket without a prescription. Users can buy one sensor online for $49, two sensors for $89 or six sensors for $249, Abbott said. Each sensor is worn on the upper arm for up to 14 days.
Olivier Ropars, Abbott's divisional vice president of Lingo, said the company decided to offer three different pricing options so curious consumers won't feel intimidated by a lengthy commitment. A customer can opt to buy just one sensor to try for a couple of weeks.
"We want to make it as accessible and affordable as possible," Ropars told CNBC in an interview.
Abbott's competitor, Dexcom, is also eyeing the prediabetes market. The company released its over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor geared toward this demographic in late August. Dexcom's device is called Stelo, and is available in the U.S. for $89 a month. Patients with Type 2 diabetes who do not take insulin can also use it, the company said.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Dexcom's Stelo in March, and it cleared two over-the-counter continuous glucose monitoring systems from Abbott in June. One of Abbott's systems was Lingo, and the second system, called Libre Rio, is intended for patients with Type 2 diabetes who do not take insulin.
Though Type 2 patients who are not taking insulin could technically use Lingo, Ropars said Abbott's recommendation is to primarily use Libre Rio since it is specifically designed for them. The company declined to share when Libre Rio will be available.
The Lingo app
If you're wondering whether a potential employer has a desirable culture, consider asking three specific questions in a job interview, says corporate culture expert Marion Campan.
"Yes, the interview is important because it helps them select you as a future employee, but it's also helping you select them as a future employer," said Campan, founder of HR and workplace culture consultancy Intandid, in a TED Talk in April.
The first question is "a bit in your face," but can reveal the "future potential" you would have at a company, Campan: What kind of people get promoted here?
Listen for whether the company regularly promotes its employees, and if so, what merits distinguish those who receive promotions, according to Campan. A green-flag answer will emphasize that promotion recipients are the best at their jobs and are representatives of the firm's culture role models other workers look up to, she said.
The second question she recommends asking: What are the company's core values? For Campan, a strong response will articulate those values and describe recent examples highlighting when staffers demonstrated them.
A perfect corporate culture doesn't exist, but it's important to know how a company deals with challenges that may arise, Campan said.
Her final suggested question acknowledges this: When was the last time you received feedback here?
It's likely not a good sign if an interviewer says they receive feedback only once per year in a performance review, Campan cautioned. Instead, watch for answers that signal a more regular, perhaps even daily, feedback cadence, she advised.
Asking purposeful questions in an interview is a strong way to stand out as an applicant and learn more about your potential future workplace.
As with Campan's recommended probing, questions like "What is the common trait of your top performers?" and "What's the one thing you love most about the culture?" can reveal what a company values and what it would be like to work there, according to Nolan Church, former Google recruiter and current CEO of salary data company FairComp.
Specific questions such as asking about one aspect of the corporate culture that someone loves will prompt "a very specific answer," Church told CNBC Make It in August. "That specificity will lead to insights," he added.
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(This is CNBC Pro's live coverage of Thursday's analyst calls and Wall Street chatter. Please refresh every 20-30 minutes to view the latest posts.) A chipmaker and an auto giant were among the stocks being talked about by analysts on Thursday. Bank of America reiterated Nvidia as a top pick, noting the recent decline in the stock creates a buying opportunity. Meanwhile, Wolfe Research downgraded General Motors to peer perform. Check out the latest calls and chatter below. All times ET. 7:16 a.m.: Morgan Stanley labels Arm Holdings a top pick Morgan Stanley is upping its view on the semiconductor sector and singling out Arm Holdings . The firm listed the chipmaker as a top pick on Thursday, and reiterated an overweight rating with a $175 per share price target. Morgan Stanley's forecast implies more than 44% upside from Wednesday's close. "We think of Arm as more than a mobile CPU story and instead look to the growing use of custom silicon on Arm as a strong driver of royalties' expansion (including a shift to higher royalty rates) across the next 2-3 years at least," analyst Lee Simpson said. "Finally, we continue to believe that Arm is early in an interesting use of CPU extensions at first for use in Private Cloud (including Apple Intelligence) and perhaps more broadly later," the analyst added. Brian Evans 7:01 a.m.: JPMorgan downgrades Dollar Tree over earnings miss, profitability headwinds JPMorgan is lowering its expectations for Dollar Tree after a weak second quarter and dim outlook. The bank downgraded the discount retailer to neutral from overweight and lowered its price target to $70 per share from $111. JPMorgan's new forecast implies more than 10% upside from Wednesday's close. Dollar Tree has pulled back more than 55% in 2024. "Multi-year, we see a balanced opportunity with 'core' comps at the DT banner facing erosion and downside risk (noting ~100bps of sequential deceleration in 2Q24), albeit "converted" store comps are still comping in the mid-single digit range (w/ continued penetration [opportunity])," analyst Matthew Boss said. "Longer-term, we see a mid-single-digit EPS growth profile with top- and bottom-line drivers in place at the core DT banner (with DT Plus roll-out incremental)," the analyst added. Brian Evans 6:34 a.m.: Goldman Sachs downgrades Novartis Goldman Sachs doesn't see much more upside ahead for Novartis . The firm downgraded the Swiss-based pharmaceutical stock to neutral from buy, but raised its price target to $121 per share from $119. Goldman's forecast implies less than 2% upside from Wednesday's $119 close. Shares have added nearly 19% in 2024. NVS YTD mountain NVS in 2024 "The catalyst pathway is light, in our view, providing limited scope for significant innovation driven share price upside over the next 12 months," analyst James Quigley said. "Based on the current buyback rate, we expect Novartis to complete its $15bn program by end of April/mid-May 2025," the analyst added. "The announcement of another program could provide upside risk, although we do not anticipate this until 2Q25 onwards, with the completion of the current programme." Brian Evans 6:10 a.m.: Morgan Stanley downgrades StoneCo Morgan Stanley thinks market oversaturation could pressure StoneCo moving forward. The firm downgraded the financial technology stock to underweight from equal weight. Its price target of $7 implies more than 44% downside. Shares have plunged more than 30% in 2024. "We expect a significant slowdown in [total payment volume] growth at Stone, on the back of saturation in digital payments. Stone's market share gains should slow down, because it has a large share in MSMB and as saturation leads to increased competition," analyst Jorge Kuri said. The analyst also forecast 40% to 50% downside for the broader field of Brazil digital payment stocks as saturation takes hold. "We see diminishing operating leverage due to rising sales & marketing expenses in a more competitive market," the analyst added. "And, we think, banking, credit, & software are unlikely to offset the decline in the payments business given their relative small size." Brian Evans 5:42 a.m.: Wolfe downgrades General Motors Wolfe Research is moving to the sidelines on General Motors given the automaker's unclear outlook into 2025. The firm downgraded the Detroit-based automaker to peer perform from outperform. Shares of General Motors have added more than 34% in 2024. GM YTD mountain GM year to date Analyst Emmanuel Rosner tied some of the uncertainty moving forward to the company's struggle to expand margins and recover some of the losses its experienced from still sluggish electric vehicle demand. "Despite Mgmt's targets for reaching positive margins next year, investors remain skeptical given soft demand trends and high EV-structural costs," Rosner said. However, the analyst cautioned "we see potential for GM to outperform peers in 2H24 on less downside risk to estimates, and a potential catalyst at the Oct. CMD if Mgmt can instill confidence in the 2025 earnings outlook, and/or articulate a path to reducing EV losses." Brian Evans 5:42 a.m.: Bank of America reiterates Nvidia as a top pick Investors should buy Nvidia after the stock's recent dip, according to Bank of America. Analyst Vivek Aria reiterated the chipmaker as a top pick and a price target of $165, which implies upside of 55.4% from Wednesday's close. He also has a buy rating on the stock. Nvidia shares have dropped 14% this quarter, as traders unwind some positions in the early winners of 2024. More recently, some reports point to potential antitrust pressure the company could be facing though Nvidia on Wednesday denied it received a subpoena from the Justice Department. Still, the stock is up more than 114% year to date. NVDA YTD mountain NVDA year to date "We maintain that (see prior report) skepticism about AI capex and monetization is an understandable but fruitless endeavor at-least until 2026," Arya wrote. "AI capex is not just driving new business opportunities, it's also critical in protecting existing moats and large profit pools in search, social and enterprise (chat, copilot) workloads. The tech industry will give itself at least another 1-2 years of intense buildout of NVDA Blackwell chip with its 4x lift in AI training and 25x+ lift in inference." Fred Imbert
The office building of biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca is being seen in Shanghai, China, on May 23, 2024.
Some employees of British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca have been detained by police in China as part of an investigation, the company confirmed Thursday.
"We are aware a small number of our employees in China are under investigation and we have no further information to share at this point," an AstraZeneca spokesperson told CNBC by email, without disclosing details on what the investigation concerns.
The confirmation came in response to reports earlier Thursday from Bloomberg News, which said that there were five current and former employees being probed who are all Chinese citizens who worked within the company's oncology division.
One probe is related to the company's collection of patient data, and the possibility that it infringed China's data-privacy laws and the other concerns some of the individuals' role in importing a liver cancer drug that has not been approved for distribution within mainland China, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Shares of AstraZeneca fell as much as 6.8% in early deals before paring losses. They were last seen down 2.2% by 12:18 p.m. London time.
A recent pullback in shares of Nvidia has opened up an attractive opportunity for investors, according to Bank of America. The bank reiterated Nvidia as a top sector pick and stood by its buy rating. Shares of Nvidia have soared 114% this year but pulled back approximately 14% in the past quarter as investors rotated out of the high-flying tech sector into smaller, more defensive stocks. In recent days, antitrust concerns have accelerated the downward move. Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya's $165 price objective is about 55% higher than the stock's Wednesday closing price of $106.21. NVDA YTD mountain NVDA YTD chart "While market forces could enhance near-term stock volatility, we continue to find NVDA valuation compelling at 27x CY25/FY26E consensus PE (or only ~20x PE at high-end of $5+ CY25 eps estimate). Over the past five years, NVDA has traded in a mid-20s to mid 60s PE, with current multiple in the lowest quartile, more than reflecting [near-term] concerns," he wrote. A key catalyst for the stock could come in the form of supply chain data points, which would confirm the readiness of Nvidia's new Blackwell chip shipments, Arya wrote. Longer-term growth opportunities for the stock include gaming and data center demand, he added. While Nvidia has come under some potential antitrust scrutiny, it is hard to assume a specific material impact until more details are released, Arya said. On Wednesday, Nvidia denied reports that it had received an antitrust subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
China's President Xi Jinping (C) and his wife Peng Liyuan pose for a group photograph with leaders from African nations ahead of a dinner reception during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on September 4, 2024.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that China will provide 360 billion yuan (more than $50 billion) in financial support to Africa over the next three years.
Xi spoke on the second day of the ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit, which is expected to deliver new policies and cooperation agreements that will set the stage for China-Africa relations in the next three years.
"The China-Africa relationship is now at its best in history," Xi said, according to an official translation of his Mandarin-language remarks.
"China is ready to deepen cooperation with Africa in industry, agriculture, infrastructure, trade and investment," Xi said, urging both sides to jointly advance modernization that is "open and win-win."
The high-profile summit came as China seeks to recalibrate its economic ties and trade agreements with Africa as well as strengthening relations with developing economies amid geopolitical tension with the West.
Leaders from over 50 African nations gathered in Beijing this week, many of whom including South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa and Kenya's President William Ruto have spoken with Xi in one-on-one meetings in the lead up to the summit, according to Chinese state media.
The regional Stoxx 600 index closed down 0.43%, with major bourses and sectors spread between losses and gains. Utilities stocks rose 1.66%, while healthcare fell 1.4%.
It marks the fourth day of declines for the Stoxx 600 after it closed above 525 points for the first time on Friday.
In Europe, Germany's DAX ended up 0.02% higher after data showed factory orders in the country increased 2.9% month-on-month in July. However, Benedict Acton-Bond, economist at Moody's Analytics, noted that orders excluding big ticket items such as aircraft, ships and trains were lower, and said the release "further dents the narrative that industry is bottoming out."
More broadly, global sentiment has once again been rattled by U.S. data, after weak manufacturing surveys and lower-than-expected jobs openings suggested a slowdown in the world's biggest economy and revived debate about whether the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates by 50 basis points rather than 25 this month.
Figures out Thursday also showed that private sector payrolls grew at their weakest pace in more than three-and-a-half years in August, according to ADP. Companies hired 99,000 workers for the month, well below the Dow Jones consensus forecast for 140,000.
On Wall Street, stocks moved lower following the data.
A weak July jobs report was a major factor in the broad stock sell-off at the start of August and Thursday's figures have put even more focus on the remaining U.S. jobs releases out this week, with U.S. nonfarm payrolls and unemployment data due Friday.
Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally in Savannah GA, United States on August 29, 2024.
Vice President Kamala Harris' political operation raised more than $300 million in the month of August more than twice as much as former President Donald Trump's operation gathered in the same period two sources familiar with the Harris fundraising numbers told NBC News.
The sources did not specify the exact fundraising haul, but the more than $300 million figure, which includes the campaign and related entities, signals that the breakneck pace of fundraising has not slowed since money began gushing in upon President Joe Biden's July 21 announcement that he would step aside from seeking the Democratic nomination.
The next campaign finance disclosure deadline for Harris' campaign is Sept. 20.
The two sources also said plans are in the works to hold several fundraisers for Harris this month. One of the sources said that included possible events in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
NBC News has asked the Harris campaign for comment.
Harris' campaign hit major benchmarks in the month of August, including choosing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and holding a four-day, star-studded convention in Chicago.
After the convention, Harris campaign officials said they had raised more than $540 million since Harris took the reins of the campaign.
The whopping fundraising numbers for Harris come just after the Trump campaign reported it and related entities raised $130 million in the month of August, with nearly $300 million cash on hand. Trump's campaign reported that 98% of the month's donations came in at less than $200.
"These fundraising numbers from August are a reflection of that movement and will propel President Trump's America First movement back to the White House so we can undo the terrible failures of Harris and Biden," Trump campaign senior adviser Brian Hughes said.
Can San Francisco's economic recovery be enjoyed by everyone including the citys Black and brown families? Minh Connors/The Chronicle
By most accounts, San Francisco has escaped the worst-case fears of a doom loop, in which downtown office vacancies would create a series of reinforcing public problems. An artificial intelligence boomlet is driving new office leases. And last year, for the first time since the pandemic, more people moved to the city than left.
What remains to be seen, however, is whether the fruits of this recovery will be enjoyed by everyone including the citys Black and brown families.
Since 2020 alone, tech companies have received over $100 million in state tax subsidies to grow their local workforces. But these millions in taxpayer dollars subsidizing new tech offices come with a price. These tax incentives doled out with little scrutiny for the promise of new jobs and investment contribute to higher housing costs and an acute affordability crisis for working people. Moreover, that many of these companies have no real interest in diversity and face serious allegations of discrimination may further explain why, as San Franciscos economy and population rebound from the pandemic, Black and brown families are worse off than ever.
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Take the case of human resources management software developer Rippling. In October, the company received nearly $13 million in state tax credits to expand its office space in the city. Current and former employees have described in detail a toxic workplace led by a leadership devoid of Black and Latino employees, where qualified women and people of color have been overlooked for promotion by a boys club that discriminates against them.
Rippling also has allegedly engaged in punitive and bullying behavior toward employees from asking a court to sanction an employee who sought to recover her family and medical benefits to retaliating against former employees who left to work for competitors. This is all par for the course for Ripplings CEO, Parker Conrad, who previously had to surrender his California insurance license and was singled out at his last company and fined by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for misleading investors and the U.S. Department of Labor for underpaying employees. In an only-in-Silicon-Valley fairytale story, Conrad was rewarded with millions in venture capital funding for his new startup and now millions in taxpayer subsidies.
Elsewhere, tech firms big and small have been hit with discrimination lawsuits by Bay Area employees, even as they successfully preserve tax breaks from lawmakers in Sacramento. Okta, an identification software company (the Chronicle uses its products) valued at $14 billion, received over $70 million in state tax credits for research and development and was sued in May for widespread gender discrimination and retaliatory layoffs.
A few of Silicon Valleys most prominent tech titans have used their personal wealth and company resources to level the playing field. Open AI CEO Sam Altmans $60 million universal basic income study released findings this week and found that in the third year of receiving unrestricted cash payments Black recipients were 26% more likely to start a business. Far more of Altmans peers, however, have gone full MAGA as they raise millions for Donald Trumps presidential campaign.
None of this is particularly surprising. Indeed many of us have become immune to outlandish stories of tech bros behaving badly. But the buck should stop before handing out blank checks to these companies that dont reflect San Franciscos values.
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To its credit, San Francisco has done more than most cities to grapple with the historical impacts of structural racism and institutionalized segregation. Last year a city committee proposed unprecedented economic reparations that would have begun to address San Franciscos racial wealth gap. That plan was largely shelved given recent budget shortfalls. And, so far, all Black residents have gotten is an apology.
About Opinion Guest opinions in Open Forum and Insight are produced by writers with expertise, personal experience or original insights on a subject of interest to our readers. Their views do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Chronicle editorial board, which is committed to providing a diversity of ideas to our readership. Read more about our transparency and ethics policies
But saying sorry isnt enough. We can and should hold elected leaders accountable to ensure the harms of discrimination and displacement never happen again which includes giving tax breaks to companies who contribute to the wealth and economic inequity in the city.
Vice President Kamala Harris, left, at the White House, Washington, July 22, 2024, and former President Donald Trump in Bedminster, New Jersey, Aug. 15, 2024.
The results are in, and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris will defeat Republican rival Donald Trump in the Nov. 5 election at least according to the historian dubbed the "Nostradamus" of presidential election predictions.
It's the latest election prophecy from Allan Lichtman, an American University distinguished professor who boasts of having successfully predicted the results of every U.S. presidential race since 1984.
Lichtman revealed his decision Thursday morning in an op-ed video for The New York Times.
"The Democrats will hold on to the White House, and Kamala Harris will be the next president of the United States," Lichtman said in the video.
"At least, that's my prediction for this race."
His forecasts are based on a historical index model he dubs the "Keys to the White House."
The unique system, which he developed in the early 1980s with the Russian geophysicist Vladimir Keilis-Borok, analyzes the political landscape through the lens of 13 true-false statements focused on the incumbent president's party.
If six or more of the statements are false, then the challenger in this case, Trump is predicted to win.
Here are the keys, and Lichtman's determinations for each:
Party Mandate: After the midterm elections, the incumbent party holds more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives than it did after the previous midterm elections. FALSE Contest: There is no serious contest for the incumbent-party nomination. TRUE Incumbency: The incumbent-party candidate is the sitting president. FALSE Third party: There is no significant third-party or independent campaign. TRUE Short-term economy: The economy is not in recession during the election campaign. TRUE Long-term economy: Real per-capita economic growth during the term equals or exceeds mean growth during the previous two terms. TRUE Policy change: The incumbent administration effects major changes in national policy. TRUE Social unrest: There is no sustained social unrest during the term. TRUE Scandal: The incumbent administration is untainted by major scandal. TRUE Incumbent charisma: The incumbent-party candidate is charismatic or a national hero. FALSE Challenger charisma: The challenging-party candidate is not charismatic or a national hero. TRUE Foreign/military failure: The incumbent administration suffers no major failure in foreign or military affairs. Foreign/military success: The incumbent administration achieves a major success in foreign or military affairs.
On the final two keys, Lichtman said, "Foreign policy is tricky, and these keys could flip."
He noted that the Biden administration is deeply involved in Israel's war in Gaza, which he called a "humanitarian disaster with no end in sight."
"But even if both foreign policy keys flipped false, that would mean that there were only five negative keys, which would not be enough for Donald Trump to regain the White House," Lichtman told the Times.
Lichtman's analysis largely eschews poll results, campaign strategies, sound bites, policy plans and other factors that most political commentators and analysts tend to lean on.
But his system has yielded results.
Lichtman was one of the few political analysts to accurately predict ahead of the 2016 election that Trump would defeat then-Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. However, Lichtman's model indicated that Trump would win the popular vote, which he lost despite securing the Electoral College.
Lichtman accurately predicted that President Joe Biden would beat Trump in the 2020 race.
Hunter Biden (L), son of US President Joe Biden, and his wife Melissa Cohen, leave court after his guilty plea in his trail on tax evasion in Los Angeles, California, on September 5, 2024.
Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to all nine counts in his criminal tax case in Los Angeles federal court on Thursday afternoon, hours after jury selection was due to begin for a trial of the son of President Joe Biden.
Biden's sentencing was scheduled for Dec. 16.
Biden faces a maximum possible sentence of 17 years in prison but is likely to receive a less severe punishment than that due to federal sentencing guidelines.
The plea came after prosecutors strongly opposed Biden's surprise offer earlier in the day to enter a special plea known as an Alford plea that would allow him to maintain that he believed he was innocent but concede that prosecutors had enough evidence to convict him at trial.
If the Alford plea had been accepted by U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi, Biden would have been convicted of the charges.
The plea that Biden ended up making to Scarsi is an "open plea," or one done without a plea deal with prosecutors, which might have included a reduction in the number of criminal counts he faced and an agreement on the likely terms of his sentencing.
Biden, 54, was charged in the case with three felony counts and six misdemeanors related to failing to pay at least $1.4 million in federal taxes between 2016 and 2019.
He was accused of deducting money that he paid to sex workers on his taxes as a business expense and of spending "millions of dollars on an extravagant lifestyle rather than paying his tax bills," according to an indictment.
David Weiss, the Department of Justice special counsel appointed to investigate Biden, said, "Not now," when asked if he had a comment on the guilty plea.
Weiss' prosecution team in June obtained a conviction of Biden in Delaware federal court on three felony counts related to his purchase of a handgun in 2018 while being a user of crack cocaine. He is awaiting sentencing in that case.
Biden, who left court with his wife Melissa Cohen, did not speak to reporters after he pleaded guilty, but issued a written statement.
"I went to trial in Delaware not realizing the anguish it would cause my family, and I will not put them through it again," Biden said.
"When it became clear to me that the same prosecutors were focused not on justice but on dehumanizing me for my actions during my addiction, there was only one path left for me," he said. " I will not subject my family to more pain, more invasions of privacy and needless embarrassment. For all I have put them through over the years, I can spare them this, and so I have decided to plead guilty."
"Like millions of Americans, I failed to file and pay my taxes on time. For that I am responsible," Biden said.
"As I have stated, addiction is not an excuse, but it is an explanation for some of my failures at issue in this case," he said. "When I was addicted, I wasn't thinking about my taxes, I was thinking about surviving. But the jury would never have heard that or know that I had paid every penny of my back taxes including penalties."
His attorney, Abbe Lowell, outside of the courthouse said, "Hunter put his family first today."
Lowell said that the "plea prevents that kind of show trial" for Biden, which would have likely included evidence about his abuse of drugs, use of sex workers and lavish lifestyle during the time he was not paying his taxes.
"He will now move on to [the] sentencing phase, while keeping open the many key issues with this case on appeal," Lowell said.
"This case was an extreme and unusual one for the government to bring," said Lowell, who had been critical of the Department of Justice's decision to charge Biden after a plea deal to resolve the tax case and a firearms-related case in Delaware collapsed last summer after a judge raised questions about its conditions.
"Hunter actually overpaid his taxes in the years he's charged with tax evasion," said the attorney.
Earlier, inside the courtroom, Lowell had told Scarsi, "Mr. Biden will agree that the elements of each offense have been satisfied," after returning from a recess following arguments over the proposed Alford plea.
When Scarsi asked special counsel Leo Wise, the prosecutor, if that was sufficient, Wise said he would prefer that Biden admit his actions as alleged in an indictment.
"Will Mr. Biden agree that that is the truth? Because the truth matters," Wise said. "He should have to say that the facts are true!"
Lowell then argued that was not required under the law.
"He just has to agree to the elements," Lowell said. "I know Mr. Wise would like Mr. Biden to say, 'and in addition, I was a really bad person when I did this,' but that's not what the law requires."
Scarsi said, "So we're going to take an open plea from Mr. Biden. And I will ask if you committed conduct that satisfies element in the indictment."
Wise then began reading the 56-page indictment out loud in court. That reading took almost 90 minutes to complete.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks prior to a meeting with Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah at Istana Nurul Iman in Bandar Seri Begawan on September 4, 2024. Dean Kassim | Afp | Getty Images
SINGAPORE India and Singapore on Thursday signed memorandums of understanding for cooperation on a number of key areas including semiconductors, digital technologies, skill development and health care. The announcement comes during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to the Lion City, which began Wednesday following a trip to Brunei. "Singapore and India have built strong foundations for an enduring partnership. The next phase of the Singapore-India partnership is very promising," Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said at the Singapore-India Forum organized by the Singapore-India Partnership Foundation, Institute of South Asian Studies and the Singapore Business Federation. "Singapore, India and the rest of Asia must continue to strengthen on economic connectivity and integration, to allow for capital, ideas and talent to find their optimal uses," he said. Although South Asia continues to be the world's fastest-growing region and India the world's fastest-growing major economy the region is still playing catch up in terms of GDP per capita.
India's GDP per capita currently stands at $2,730, significantly lower than that of the U.S. ($85,370), China ($13,140), Germany ($54,290) and Japan ($33,140), data from the International Monetary Fund showed. Those four economies are also the same ones the South Asian nation is currently trailing behind in terms of overall GDP. "Singapore is not just a partner, it is an inspiration for every developing country. We want to create a bunch of Singapores in India," Modi said in a meeting with Wong.
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On Wednesday, Modi and Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong visited Singaporean semiconductor and electronics company AEM, signaling their intent to increase cooperation in chips. Increased collaboration can also help both nations overcome "common challenges" such as climate change, aging populations and public health, Heng highlighted. Modi's entourage also included Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval along with other government officials. In a post on X, Modi called Wong a friend and said, "We both agreed on the need to boost trade relations."
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The country is India's sixth largest trading partner, with 3.2% share of India's overall trade. Imports from Singapore in financial year 2024 amounted to $21.2 billion, while exports totaled $14.4 billion. Asia's biggest financial hub is also the largest source of foreign direct investments into India. Cumulative FDI inflows from Singapore to India stood at almost $160 billion from April 2000 to March 2024, amounting to almost a quarter of total FDI inflows to the South Asian nation.
Lessons from Singapore's playbook
Political watchers told CNBC before Modi's visit that there are many lessons India can learn from Singapore as it aspires to transform into a global design and manufacturing hub. "It's not lost on the Indians that the Chinese have emerged, in part because of significant utilities that they got from Singapore in the 1980s to 1990s, and perhaps even to this day," Anit Mukherjee, a senior lecturer at King's College London, told CNBC. Singapore has long been lauded for its state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, attracting global tech and pharmaceutical giants. The city-state accounts for 10% of chips produced worldwide and around 20% of global semiconductor manufacturing equipment production, according to Singapore's Economic Development Board.
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(This is a wrap-up of the key money moving discussions on CNBC's "Worldwide Exchange" exclusive for PRO subscribers. Worldwide Exchange airs at 5 a.m. ET each day) Word of the day: Patience Stephanie Link, chief investment strategist of Hightower Advisors said investors need to wait for the opportunities in the market and not chase trends. "The economy is holding up, so bodes very well for earnings going forward so you want to pick your spots." Link said. She added: "You don't have to chase. Make a list of the names that you like and as they come down you add on the weakness." Fed cuts and the August jobs report Chantico Global CEO Gina Sanchez said Federal Reserve rate cuts could be a double edged sword for the markets. "This is very much a Goldilocks scenario, where you have to get just right. A little too much could actually spook the markets." Sanchez said on Worldwide Exchange about the impact of a quarter-point cut compared to a half-point cut. "Getting 50 basis points would really potentially send shivers into the market, basically saying a we could be going into a deeper slowdown or recession," said Sanchez. Stock picks Link is bullish on Broadcom's (AVGO) long-term artificial intelligence narrative, saying AI revenue is expected to be a $150 billion opportunity over the next 5 years. But she admits, it's a risky play ahead of earnings after the bell on Thursday. Link does believe the stock's 4% decline in the third quarter creates a buying opportunity. "It's a risk to buy ahead of the quarter, but for the long term I have no doubt this company is a winner," said Link. Mystery chart: Xpeng Xpeng (XPEV) shares are higher ahead of the open on an upgrade from JP Morgan to overweight. Analysts say expect the EV makers upcoming models to give a boost to quarterly deliveries. XPEV 1D mountain Xpeng, 1 day 'Worldwide Exchange' Extra: Implications of a possible strike at East Coast, Gulf Coast Ports Members of the International Longshoremen's Association are meeting in New Jersey this week for "wage scale meetings" and to discuss contract negotiations with the U.S. Maritime Alliance which represents major terminal operators and other employers at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports. The contract that covers the ILA's 85,000 members expires on Sept. 30, and union President Harold Daggett issued a video statement saying in part, "Mark my words, we'll shut them down on Oct. 1 if we don't get the kind of wages we deserve." USMX did not respond to an email requesting a comment. Speaking with companies and industry groups that would be potentially impacted by a strike, concerns are growing that there will be the first strike at the East Coast and Gulf Coast Ports since 1977. However, most have said a deal will most likely be reached in time to avoid a major disruption. East Coast rail operator CSX told CNBC: "CSX is closely monitoring the situation and will proactively communicate with our customers on potential operational actions should that become necessary." A Walmart spokesperson told CNBC: "We prepare for unforeseen changes in our supply chain, maintaining additional sources of supply to ensure we have key products available for our customers when and how they want them." Speaking with analysts, the potential concern for shippers would be a spike in container shipping prices due to a potential disruption. Rates have already risen sharply since the start of the Israel-Hamas war due to attacks in the Red Sea forcing many vessels to take a longer route around Africa to reach European destinations. According to the latest data from Freightos, an online freight shipping marketplace, container shipments from Asia to the U.S. East Coast have increased by more than 300% since the start of the conflict; container shipments from Asia to the US West have increased by more than 350%. Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc told CNBC last week he estimates the US will see a 3-5% increase in container shipments for the holiday season compared to last year. Freightos CEO Zvi Schreiber will appear Friday on "Worldwide Exchange" to discuss the potential impact of a port strike and what that could mean for the U.S. and global supply chain.
Flight delays in Sao Paolo, Brazil. Truckers led down unsafe routes in Richmond, Vermont. And power grid disruptions throughout Ukraine. These troubles stem from a global communication system highly reliant on GPS satellites and the signals they transmit for essential functions.
To ensure that U.S. infrastructure won't fall apart even if the nation's GPS satellites are disrupted by weather, warfare or age a startup in Boulder, Colorado called Mesa Quantum is developing chip-sized alternative technology.
Specifically, Mesa Quantum is building "chip-scale atomic clocks" and other miniaturized quantum sensors, which can measure and detect changes in the environment around a device to signal where it is in the world, where it needs to go and to keep it in sync with other systems.
These sensors can ensure clear and steady video calls regardless of the users' location, or enable robots, underwater drones and autonomous vehicles to maneuver deftly in dense populations or around obstacles where GPS signals are weak or unavailable.
Cofounded by Mesa Quantum CEO Sristy Agrawal and CTO Wale Lawal in 2023, the company has won a $1.9 million Space Force grant to demonstrate its alternative to GPS technology in military and civilian applications.
The company has also raised about $3.7 million in a seed stage round of funding led by J2 Ventures, the Boston-based health and defense tech fund, alongside hardware investors SOSV.
J2 Ventures cofounder and managing partner, Alex Harstrick, told CNBC his fund backed Mesa Quantum in part because of the founders' extraordinary technical background.
Agrawal recently attained a doctorate from the University of Colorado, in an elite program affiliated with the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Her research has focused on quantum information, computing and gravity.
Agrawal told CNBC that the lab below her office at the university is home to the world's most precise clock. "Working here and interacting with all these different groups led me to appreciate what impact these technologies could have for real, not just theoretically in the future," she said.
Her cofounder, Lawal, is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, attained his PhD at Rice University in materials science and nano-engineering, and an MBA at Harvard.
Before taking the entrepreneurial plunge, he spent years in military research organizations, developing systems for use in "GPS contested environments" such as precision-guided missiles, swarm drone technology, and the magnetic navigation systems used to guide military aircraft.
Lawal explained that military aircraft and other vehicles cannot afford to have their systems disrupted and jammed. Any disruptions could lead to "catastrophic events for warfighters" in the air and on the ground. "If unmanned aircraft lose GPS signals, which they rely on to surveil the environment and provide intelligence information to troops down range, the troops cannot complete critical missions like a search and rescue."
Many of the GPS satellites operated by the U.S. are now aging beyond their intended lifespans.
When they met, the scientific duo quickly agreed on the burgeoning need for mass-manufacturable, and chip-scale, technology to alleviate the risks of GPS-related failures in military and commercial systems.
Harstrick said his fund hopes that Mesa Quantum will have its first demonstration of mass scale "atomic clocks" (quantum timing sensors) validated by a top-tier semiconductor manufacturing partner" in the next few years.
He's also guessing Mesa Quantum's sensor tech will be in demand among companies that build or operate their own data centers.
Lawal explained, "Data centers use GPS to synchronize their networks today, so that they can accurately exchange communications or share data across the cloud. Any form of disruption to that network synchronization can cause crashes whether that's to a financial system, a hospital system, or a social network."
Technology to help data centers safeguard against such crashes could help them prevent data loss and improve cybersecurity, the CTO said.
No matter which private sector players eventually embrace the startup's quantum sensors, CEO Sristy Agrawal said the U.S. government is likely to be among Mesa Quantum's biggest early customers. "The U.S. government has established major initiatives to spur innovation in this area and is seeking to purchase a million quantum sensors each year -- if they can simply be mass-produced," she explained.
With its grant funding and seed round in place, Agrawal said, Mesa Quantum will look to grow its team in Boulder, especially hiring atomic molecular and optical physicists, engineers and manufacturing experts this year.
The longer-term vision, she said, is to "bring a suite of quantum sensors to the market that could do everything GPS-based systems are capable of today --- without all of the risks and vulnerabilities."
Tugboats guide the Maersk Atlanta container ship at the Port of Newark in Newark, New Jersey, US, on Saturday, March 30, 2024.
After two days of meetings of North America's largest longshoremen's union amid an impasse with port ownership on a new contract, concerns of a strike are growing amongst those in the business and logistics community.
A strike by the International Longshoremen's Association, which moves the trade at the ports along the East Coast, Gulf Coast and Puerto Rico, would impact 43% of all U.S. imports and billions of dollars in trade monthly.
At the conclusion of a two-day meeting of the union's wage committee on Thursday, union members voiced unanimous support for a strike on Oct. 1 if a new contract meeting its demands doesn't materialize. Harold Daggett, president of the ILA and the union's chief negotiator, has said he wants a good economic deal for his members, which includes union opposition to port automation and exclusive port contracts.
In a video featuring Daggett played before the energized crowd, he said bargaining in good faith is the only way to get an agreement and threatened a worker slowdown if the Biden administration forces the union workers back to the docks using the Taft-Hartley Act.
"Taft-Hartley means I have to go back to work [for 80 days] after a cooling off period," said Daggett. "What do you think when I go back after those [80 days], that those men are going to go back to work on that pier? It's going to cost them money. They're going to be like this," he said, making a gesture of putting his hands around his throat in a choke hold. "The company's money to pay their salaries while they go from 30 [container] moves an hour maybe to eight?" he said. "You're better off sitting down and let's get a contract and let's move on with this."
A worker slowdown was employed during recent labor strife involving ILWU negotiations covering West Coast ports, where vessels were not worked on expeditiously, creating backlogs of container pickups for trucking and rail. There has been a wave of union actions in recent years impacting ports, rails, and the global supply chain, from Europe to the West Coast and Canada's rail strike, the most recent action, last month.
The United States Maritime Alliance, which represents ports ownership, said in a statement posted to its website that it remains committed and prepared to resume negotiations with the ILA on a new master contract before the current agreement expires and to avoid a strike. "The ILA continues to strongly signal it has already made the decision to call a strike and we hope the ILA will reopen dialogue and share its current contract demands so we can work together on a new deal, as we have done successfully for nearly 50 years," USMX stated.
Governments have used national law to force union workers back on the job in recent years, from the Canadian rail strike to the freight rail strike in the U.S. in 2022.
The Biden administration told CNBC this week it supports collective bargaining as the best way for American workers and employers to come to an agreement. "We've never invoked Taft-Hartley to break a strike and are not considering doing so now," an administration official said.
Since its enactment, presidents have intervened in labor disputes under Taft-Hartley on 37 occasions.
A strike by the ILA would have significant economic implications for the U.S. Analysts at Sea Intelligence have estimated East Coast ports in the U.S. would handle 2.3 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) in October. That translates to 74,000 shipping containers per day. The value of that daily freight is upwards of $3.7 billion based on an MDS Transmodal estimate of $50,000 per container.
Sea-Intelligence has estimated a one-day strike by the ILA would take five days to clear. A one-week strike in October could cause slowdowns until mid-November.
Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon told CNBC the chip designer is working with Samsung and Google to explore a mixed-reality set of glasses linked to a smartphone taking a different approach from Apple, which launched a larger headset.
Last year, Google, Samsung and Qualcomm struck a partnership to develop mixed-reality technology. That refers to the combination of augmented and virtual reality, often involving digital images that are imposed over the real world in front of you.
Amon's comments are among the first to shed light on the project.
"It's going to be a new product, it's going to be new experiences," Amon said, discussing what will come out the mixed reality partnership.
"But what I really expect to come out of this partnership, I want everyone that has a phone to go buy companion glasses to go along with it," Amon added.
Samsung and Google were not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC.
Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading: JetBlue Airways The New York-based airline popped 7.2% after hiking its forward guidance for third-quarter revenue. JetBlue now expects revenue to be in a range of down 2.5% to up 1%, compared to the same period a year ago. Previously, a loss between 5.5% and a loss of 1.5% was expected. G-III Apparel Group Shares surged 22% after the apparel maker posted second-quarter results that topped estimates. Adjusted earnings of 52 cents per share beat the 27 cents a share that analysts expected, according to FactSet. Revenue of $644.8 million fell a bit short of the $649.5 million estimate. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Shares dropped 6% after Hewlett Packard Enterprise saw gross margins decline from a year ago. Fiscal third-quarter results beat expectations, with Hewlett Packard Enterprise citing robust demand for artificial intelligence products. Frontier Communications , Verizon Communications Shares of Frontier Communications tumbled 9.5% after Verizon said it will buy the fiber-optic internet provider in an all-cash deal worth $20 billion, or $38.50 a share. Frontier had soared 38% on Wednesday on leaked reports of a potential deal. Verizon was down fractionally Thursday. Shoe Carnival Shares jumped 8.2% after the retailer beat second-quarter earnings estimates and raised the lower end of its third-quarter and full-year financial guidance. Shoe Carnival reported adjusted earnings of 83 cents per share on revenue of $332.7 million, while analysts polled by FactSet anticipated earnings of 81 cents per share on revenue of $331.5 million. Casey's General Stores Shares popped 7.4% after the convenience store chain posted fiscal first-quarter earnings of $4.83 per share, topping the $4.50 in earnings per share expected by analysts, according to FactSet. Revenue of $4.10 billion trailed the $4.15 billion estimate. ChargePoint The stock plummeted 17.8% after the electric vehicle charging company's second-quarter revenue was short of expectations. ChargePoint posted $109 million in revenue for the period, while analysts surveyed by LSEG were expecting $114 million. The company also plans to cut 15% of its workforce and expects third-quarter revenue to come in below estimates. Verint Systems The automation stock dropped 11.2% following a worse-than-expected earnings report for the second quarter. Verint earned an adjusted 49 cents per share on $210 million in revenue, while analysts polled by LSEG had anticipated 53 cents a share and $213 million in revenue. C3.ai Shares tumbled 8.2% after the enterprise artificial intelligence company posted weaker-than-expected subscription revenue. In its fiscal first quarter, C3.ai saw $73.5 million in revenue, lower than the $79.2 million forecast by analysts polled by FactSet. Credo Technology Group Shares moved 14.9% lower following the company's fiscal first-quarter results. For the quarter, Credo had adjusted earnings of 4 cents per share, in line with what analysts polled by FactSet were expecting, but shy of the highest estimate at 5 cents per share. Roku Shares of the streaming platform rose about 5% following an upgrade to equal weight from underweight at Wells Fargo. The bank pointed to the Roku Channel as a catalyst, saying it continues to be a share gainer in TV time with potential monetization upside, analyst Steven Cahall wrote. Tesla Shares of the electric vehicle company jumped 4.9% after Tesla said it would roll out its advanced driver assistance in Europe and China in the first quarter of 2025, "pending regulatory approval." The technology is marketed by Tesla as "Full Self Driving," and upgrades Tesla's Autopilot driver assistant. Old Dominion Freight Line Shares dropped 4.9% after Old Dominion Freight Line year-over-year daily revenue slumped 5.2% in August as less-than-truckload tonnage fell 6.1%. Zimmer Biomet Shares slid 8.7% after the medical device maker at a Wells Fargo conference noted a "temporary challenge" with the transition of a legacy software system that could have a 1% effect on fiscal-year sales, according to FactSet. McKesson Shares dropped 9.9% after the medical supply distributor, at a Wells Fargo conference, issued weaker-than-expected fiscal second-quarter earnings guidance, according to FactSet. McKesson anticipates earnings of $6.70 to $7.00 per share, lower than the FactSet consensus estimate of $7.39 in earnings per share. Toro Company Shares dropped 10.1% after the lawn mower and landscaping equipment maker missed earnings and revenue expectations. In its fiscal third quarter, Toro posted adjusted earnings of $1.18 per share on revenue of $1.16 billion. Analysts polled by FactSet had estimated $1.23 in earnings per share on revenue of $1.26 billion. CNBC's Sean Conlon, Michelle Fox, Lisa Han, Alex Harring, Yun Li and Pia Singh contributed reporting.
Stanford University has the top MBA program in the world in 2024, according to LinkedIn.
The Stanford Graduate School of Business is the No. 1 Master of Business Administration program in the world in 2024, according to LinkedIn.
This year, eight of the top 10 universities are located in the U.S., according to LinkedIn's 2024 Top MBA global list, which evaluated the programs on five key pillars: job placement, ability to advance, network strength, leadership potential and gender diversity.
The list only includes full-time accredited MBA programs that have at least 1,500 total alumni and at least 400 graduates between 2019 and 2023.
Here are the top 10 MBA programs in the world in 2024, according to LinkedIn:
College still pays off, but the return on investment largely depends on your choice of major.
College graduates earn 37% more than those with only a high school diploma, according to a new report by Payscale. But as the cost of a degree rises, it is increasingly important to consider both your area of concentration and future earnings potential before taking out student loans to pay for college, most experts say.
Often, a good rule of thumb is not to borrow more than you expect to earn as a starting salary.
More from Personal Finance:
Nearly half of student loan borrowers expect debt forgiveness
The sticker price at some colleges is now nearly $100,000 a year
More of the nation's top colleges roll out no-loan policies
"The fact remains that a college degree significantly impacts earning power," said Amy Stewart, Payscale's principal of research and insights.
"Choosing a school or major with strong income potential could cut your student loan repayment time in half, so it's crucial to consider all your options particularly for those who are on the fence about the value of a formal education."
To that end, Payscale ranked which majors are the most financially rewarding, after accounting for salaries at the entry level and median income years down the road.
The Justice Department announced an investigation into reports of widespread assaults by staff in the states two prisons for women, including the Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla. Tomas O'Valle/TNS
In the wake of reports of ongoing sexual abuse at womens prisons nationwide, and the closure of Californias scandal-plagued federal womens prison, the U.S. Justice Department has announced an investigation into reports of widespread assaults by staff in the states two prisons for women.
Every woman, including those in prison, retains basic civil and constitutional rights and should be treated with dignity and respect, Kristen Clarke, the departments assistant attorney general for civil rights, said in Wednesdays announcement. This investigation will determine whether California is meeting its constitutional obligations.
The investigation follows a sexual abuse scandal at the now-shuttered federal womens prison in Dublin, where a former warden, the prison chaplain and at least four guards have been found guilty of sex crimes against inmates. That facility held inmates convicted of federal crimes and is separate from the state prison system.
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The two state womens prisons hold 3,372 inmates: 2,085 at the Central California Womens Facility in Chowchilla (Madera County) and 1,287 at the California Institution for Women in Chino (San Bernardino County).
Allegations of sexual abuse there are nothing new: 21 women have filed suit claiming they were groped and raped by guards at Chino between 2014 and 2020 and threatened with beatings if they resisted. In another lawsuit last December, more than 130 former inmates accused guards at the two prisons of sexual assaults.
Gregory Rodriguez, a former guard at Chowchilla, goes on trial this week on 96 charges of sexually abusing 13 prisoners over nearly a decade. According to the Guardian, Rodriguezs first accuser testified that he assaulted her in 2014 but that instead of punishing him, the prison placed her in solitary confinement.
The state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, which manages the prisons, has been largely silent on the issue until now. The department says it responded to the reports of abuse by improving staff training, equipping guards with body cameras, and contacting rape-crisis centers and trauma-care facilities.
Sexual assault is a heinous violation of fundamental human dignity that is not tolerated under any circumstances within Californias state prison system, the departments director, Jeff Macomber, said in a statement Wednesday. Our department embraces transparency, and we fully welcome the U.S. Department of Justices independent investigation.
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Meanwhile, the CDCR is investigating a report of staff violence against prisoners at Chowchilla, according to the Appeal. It said guards conducting a search at the prison last month locked more than 100 women in a cafeteria without air conditioning for several hours. When they asked for help, the guards zip-tied them and bombarded them with pepper spray and other weapons, sending three women to the hospital.
In response, Terri Hardy, a CDCR spokesperson, said Friday that the prison "began an immediate week-long intensive training on appropriate incident response and has redirected staff as more information is gathered."
The California Legislative Womens Caucus has been urging the state to take action after holding a briefing a year ago on conditions at the prisons. The caucus said it welcomed the Justice Departments investigation.
Over the past year, we have met with far too many incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people who have shared horrific stories of sexual misconduct by staff in our state prisons, Sens. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, the caucus chair, and Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, D-Winters (Yolo County), the vice chair, said in a statement. We hope that this DOJ investigation will not only put an end to this unconscionable abuse, but also ensure that California meets its constitutional duty to safeguard the civil rights of all incarcerated people.
In May, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons shut down the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin and transferred most of its 650 inmates to federal prisons in other states. The closure came shortly after U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers said she no longer trusted the Bureau of Prisons to manage the institution, and appointed a monitor, known as a special master, to oversee its operations.
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The prisons former warden, Ray Garcia, was convicted last year of eight felony charges involving the sexual abuse of three prisoners and was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison. Former prison chaplain James Highhouse was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2022 after pleading guilty to five felony charges of sexually abusing a prisoner and lying about it to investigators.
While Dublin known as the rape club to inmates and staff was the best-known example of sexual abuse in federal prisons, it was far from unique.
According to a U.S. Senate staff report in 2022, inmates in 19 of the 29 federal prisons that held women reported sexual abuse by male employees.
Between 2012 and 2020, the report said, the Bureau of Prisons opened 5,415 internal affairs into allegations of sexual abuse, and found evidence to support the allegations in at least 134 cases. But the evidence also showed, the Senate report said, that the bureau failed to prevent, detect, and stop recurring sexual abuse in at least four federal prisons, including Dublin.
Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a Fox News town hall hosted by Sean Hannity in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. September 4, 2024.
The federal criminal election interference case against Donald Trump resumed in Washington, D.C., on Thursday after a nearly yearlong delay related to arguments on whether he can be prosecuted for conduct committed while he was president.
Judge Tanya Chutkan heard arguments Thursday morning over how to schedule legal briefs to be filed in advance of a possible trial in the case.
"Probably an exercise in futility to set a trial date now," Chutkan said in U.S. District Court at the end of the hearing.
She said she would issue an order setting a schedule for motions as soon as possible.
Trump's trial in the case is likely to happen by 2025 at the earliest if at all because Chutkan's rulings on whether the case can go to trial are virtually certain to be appealed by one side or the other.
"A guiding principle here is we should structure a schedule here that leads to only one interlocutory appeal," said Thomas Windom, a prosecutor in the case, told Chutkan, using a term for appeals that occur before or during a trial, as opposed to afterward.
"We know that there is going to be an interlocutory appeal. We are just trying to limit to one," said Windom.
Trump, the Republican nominee, is set to face Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris in November's presidential election.
The hearing comes two months after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Trump has presumptive immunity from prosecution for official acts he performed while president but that he is not immune from prosecution for unofficial acts.
The 9th Circuit sided with X, led by Elon Musk, and directed a judge to block portions of a California law requiring social media sites to post their content moderation policies. Apu Gomes/TNS
A 2022 California law requiring major social media companies to disclose their policies on posting and removing content such as hate speech, harassment and disinformation was blocked Wednesday by a federal appeals court, which said it appears to violate freedom of expression.
The laws edicts require a company to recast its content-moderation practices in language prescribed by the State, implicitly opining on whether and how certain controversial categories of content should be moderated, said the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The court told a federal judge in Sacramento, who had previously left the law in place, to issue an injunction against the main parts of the law and to decide whether any of it could be preserved.
The bill, AB587 by Assembly Member Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino (Los Angeles County), sailed through the Legislature on nearly unanimous votes in 2022 and was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
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It required social media companies with at least $100 million a year in revenue to disclose their terms of service and their policies for allowing, barring or flagging posting warning labels for their content. The law also required the companies to issue reports every six months on how they handled certain categories of content, including hate speech or racism, extremism, disinformation, harassment and foreign political interference.
It was challenged in court by Elon Musks platform X, formerly known as Twitter. U.S. District Judge William Shubb denied an injunction last December, saying the law only required the companies to reveal their content-moderation policies, disclosures he described as purely factual and uncontroversial.
But the appeals court said Wednesday that AB587 is more far-reaching and requires major social media platforms to reveal (their) policy opinion about contentious issues, such as what constitutes hate speech or misinformation, and whether to allow such expression, with or without warning labels.
No matter how a social media company chooses to moderate such content, the company will face backlash from its users and the public, Judge Milan Smith wrote in the 3-0 ruling.
He said the disclosure requirements are more extensive than necessary to serve the States purported goal of requiring social media companies to be transparent about their content-moderation policies and practices so that consumers can make informed decisions about where they consume and disseminate news and information, quoting from the law.
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Smith, appointed by President George W. Bush, was joined by Judges Mark Bennett, appointed by President Donald Trump, and Anthony Johnstone, appointed by President Joe Biden. They said Shubb should now decide whether less contentious sections of the law, such as the requirement to disclose terms of service, should be reinstated.
Last month, the same appeals court panel upheld most of another federal judges decision to block a state law that would require online businesses to protect users younger than 18 from harmful information or other content. The court said the law, due to take effect this past July, violates the First Amendment by requiring companies to decide whether youngsters may be harmed by material they encounter online and to take steps to shield them from harm.
Musk, angered by Californias liberal policies such as a law banning schools from requiring teachers to inform parents of their students change in gender identity announced in July that he was moving the headquarters of X from California to Texas.
His lawsuit against AB587 drew support from a variety of advocates, including the conservative Washington Legal Foundation, the liberal Electronic Frontier Foundation and the business-sponsored U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Across the political spectrum, there was concern that California was trying to compel disclosure of platforms views on topics that are the center of our dialogue about compelled speech, Aaron Mackey, an attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation who took part in its legal filing in the case, said Wednesday.
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California was joined by 17 other states and the District of Columbia in defense of the challenged law.
Google has posted the source code for Android 15 on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), which means developers around the world can now produce their own versions of the operating system if they wish.
More information, including the latest details on the Android Studio and Jetpack Compose tools, is available on the Android Developers Blog. (For those who prefer video, Spotlight Week offers a new clip about Android 15 daily.)
Android 15 is due to roll out to Pixel users in the next few weeks, followed by Samsung, Honor, iQOO, Lenovo, Motorola, Nothing, Oneplus, Oppo, Realme, Sharp, Sony, Tecno, Vivo and Xiaomi.
Beetlejuice isnt the most kid-friendly source material. The two main characters are a couple who tragically died in a car accident and now have to learn to cope with being dead. The titular character who only occupies 17 minutes of screentime is an evil, unscrupulous ghost that tricks the main characters into letting him torture an innocent, if annoying, family. He also, most horrifically of all, nearly marries a 16-year-old girl against her will.
Still, in the 80s and 90s, it was perfectly normal to adapt an adult film into a Saturday morning kids cartoon. (See also: Rambo, RoboCop and various Jim Carrey films.) Which is why Beetlejuice, despite its subject matter, was ripe for an animated adaptation. Of course, things had to be toned down. The Maitlands (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis in the film) were removed entirely, and all references to the afterlife were substituted with the neitherworld. Beetlejuice himself would also become less nefarious and more of a goofy, magical troublemaker who loved puns and shapeshifted his body to sell a joke. And Lydia was aged down to a tween to better appeal to a younger demographic. (All of this was done in concert with Tim Burton, who greatly influenced the shows look and style of humor.)
No matter the changes, the Beetlejuice cartoon proved to be a big hit. It won an Emmy and ran for three seasons on ABC before moving over to Fox Kids for a much longer fourth season of 65 episodes. And needless to say, its still remembered fondly all these years later. Thirty-five years later, to be exact. In fact, the 35th anniversary of its premiere (September 9, 1989) almost perfectly coincides with this weekends release of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
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To properly mark the occasion, we gathered the most prominent behind-the-scenes players to share all of their favorite ghost with the most stories.
Summoning Beetlejuice Michael Hirsh, co-founder of the Canadian animation company Nelvana, and author of Animation Nation: How We Built A Cartoon Empire: We first heard about the prospect of a Beetlejuice cartoon from our friends at ABC, who we were doing a lot of cartoons for in the 1980s. We all loved the movie, so we decided to go after it with Tedd Anasti and Patsy Cameron, a husband-and-wife team we had under contract. Patsy Cameron, co-showrunner of Beetlejuice: My husband and I had done Disneys DuckTales, then we got hired by Nelvana to be vice presidents of development for them. Our very first assignment was when Warner Bros. was thinking about doing a cartoon based on Beetlejuice. Each studio sent their development executives to watch the movie. Next, each studio sent their heads of development to have a meeting with Tim Burton and some of the executives from Warner Bros. Advertisement Hirsh: The first meeting was with Tim Burton when he was preparing for Batman. I remember he sat on a chair, but instead of sitting on a chair the way youd normally sit on a chair, he was perched on the chair. Advertisement Tim was familiar with a movie we had made called Rock & Rule. He was also familiar with what we had done with Ewoks and Droids. Also, our studio had started as a stop-frame animation studio, and he had done his 1984 Frankenweenie short as stop-frame, so we got on the same page pretty quickly. Most of all though, we were like-minded in that we came at the project in terms of quality and the quality of the animation, as opposed to coming at it from the most commercial of eyes. Tedd and Patsy came up with an approach that Tim thought worked really well, as it put the emphasis on the metamorphosis of Beetlejuice. Advertisement Production artwork of one of Beetlejuices many metamorphoses. Artwork by Chris LaBonte, courtesy of Chris LaBonte Cameron: During our pitch, Tedd and I acted out these silly scenes with him imitating Beetlejuice. We had a lot of plays on words too. Everything we said, Tim Burton and the executives threw their heads back and laughed. A few days later, Stan Blum, who was in charge of marketing, said, We got it! I said, I think Im going to cry. Then he said, Well, we almost got it. Tim Burton loves you guys, but hes going to London to film Batman, so he wants you to fly to London to keep talking about what your ideas are for Beetlejuice. We flew to London, and my husband, Michael Hirsh and I spent 10 days meeting with Tim, going over ideas and creating new characters. Finally, after a week, Michael Hirsh told us, Im running out of money. I have to know if he wants us or not. You have to ask him now, Do you want us? I chose my husband out of the two of us to do the asking. Advertisement We met on the set of Batman. While Tim was leaning against the Batmobile, Tedd said, Tim, I have to ask, do you want us? Tim said, Well, to tell you the truth, I want you guys. Hirsh: There was an issue though Warner Bros. wanted us to give back our rights to Batman first. We had a Batman development deal that had stemmed from two years earlier. We had developed it too, but the network we had developed it with wasnt buying in, and Id shopped it around to the other networks and theyd passed as well. Nobody was expecting the Batman movie, which hadnt yet come out, to be a big hit. So we were basically told, You can have Beetlejuice. Tim has chosen you. But we have the final choice, and were not going to give it to you until you give Batman back. Advertisement It was a tough Hollywood deal, but it worked out in the sense that Beetlejuice won us our first Emmy at Nelvana. Advertisement Beetlejuice transformed into UltraBeetleMan in the episode Super Zeroes (with a nod to Tim Burtons Batman on his head). Animation cel from the collection of J.D. Smith
Designing the Dead Hirsh: Another reason why we got Beetlejuice was because we had a great director and visual designer in Robin Budd. Robin came up with designs that were fresh and original, and they captured Beetlejuice really well. J.D. Smith, writer and story editor on Beetlejuice: Robin is a genius. Tim Burton loved him. Robin Budd, production designer and director on Beetlejuice: By the time Beetlejuice came up, Id been an animator at Nelvana for years and years. Id heard that they landed the project, and I somehow got the courage to burst into a board meeting and say, If youre looking for a director, Im your man! They took a real chance on me because Id never directed before. Advertisement Nelvana asked me to come up with a list of who I wanted to help develop the look of the show, which is how art director John Halfpenny, who had such a bizarre sense of color, Glen Hanson, Joe Sherman, Chris LaBonte and a few others became involved. Advertisement Chris LaBonte, production designer on Beetlejuice: Robin Budd plucked me out of the layout department because hed heard that I was heavily involved with the Toronto music scene and hardcore punk bands. Id done a lot of edgy, in-you-face poster designs and sticker designs. Nobody else at Nelvana really fit that. Also, I was a big fan of Beetlejuice the movie, and I let it be known that I wanted to get out of Care Bears as soon as possible. At night, I was playing in hardcore punk bands, and during the day, I was doing Care Bears. I was going nuts. Artwork of Beetlejuices bedroom by Chris LaBonte. Provided by Chris LaBonte Budd: So many cartoons based on movies are just a slave to the original, and as a result, they feel like a pale imitation. We werent doing that. Of course, the film was a big influence, but we had other influences on the look, too, like Al Hirschfeld and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. I also love fluid animation and I love morphing things, so theres a lot of that in there. Advertisement For Beetlejuice, the black-and-white suit was a must. It was a nightmare to animate because thats very tough to track when something is hand drawn, but it was absolutely essential because those stripes are essential to who the character is. Stripes like that are tasteless and gaudy, and so is Beetlejuice. We also gave him misshapen teeth, and he was fairly ugly and balding. For a kids show, that was unusual at the time. Beetlejuices character sheet, courtesy of Robin Budd As for Lydia, we were influenced by the feature, but we wanted to simplify her and keep her physically delicate and beautiful in that goth way. I would have taken it even further, but we met with merchandising people and they talked about making lunch boxes and toothbrushes and all that stuff. I kept saying, Well make everything black! and they did not like that idea. Back then, merchandising people were super straight and conservative. Advertisement Lydias character sheet, courtesy of Robin Budd One of the big things from the movie to bring over was the look of the Afterlife, which we called the Neitherworld. I love that Tim Burton aspect of warping layouts and locations, where doors dont fit and hallways are crooked. I also love textures like checkers and stripes like a bad, retro-carnival approach. We tried to bring as much of that over as we could into our Neitherworld. Advertisement Once we had a package together, we flew to London and presented it to Tim Burton, who was still working on Batman. He hardly had any time, so we met him at his townhouse, and we presented him with all this artwork and ideas. He was exhausted, but he picked out some interesting things that really shaped the comedy of the show. Advertisement The most important thing was a drawing of Beetlejuice where his stomach was wide open like a mouth and the caption was, Im starving, or something like that. Tim said, Thats it! Go for something really literal. Make a pun and make something literal out of that visually. That was the key to moving forward in an original way that was different from the film and friendly to 2D animation. Cameron: Tim Burton had no ego whatsoever. He was genuine and supportive and had lots of ideas. Some of the characters we came up with with him. One was a tap-dancing skeleton my husband named Ginger after Ginger Rogers. There was The Monster Across the Street, and another one was a weightlifting skeleton named Jacques LaLean. I remember Tim said, Every show has to have a French skeleton. Ginger the Tap Dancing Spider, Jacques LaLean, The Monster Across the Street and Poopsie in opening theme storyboards. Artwork by Robin Budd, courtesy of Robin Budd LaBonte: The Monster Across the Street was a design I based on a monster from Warner Bros. cartoons, Gossamer, while his dog, Poopsie, was based on a caricature I did of John Halfpenny. I morphed Johns face with a buffalo and a little dog. I put them all together and came up with this belligerent little dog. He was one of my favorite designs. I even got to do the barking for that dog. Advertisement Budd: I liked the character Barry MeNot. He was the computer-animated character done by a local studio called Caliber. Computer animation was so limited at the time that the character became extra creepy. Advertisement Hirsh: When we initially met with Tim, we had committed to putting in mixed media, which we did through early computer animation. This was the mid-1980s and computer animation wasnt yet a common thing, but we did it. LaBonte: In one episode, I had to design a director character, so I did this pretentious drawing of Tim Burton with his arms crossed. Tim Burton really liked that design. We were in constant communication with Tim Burton, especially early on, via faxes and phone calls. Initially, he just wanted to talk to us artists directly, but the producers cracked down on that. Advertisement One of my main interactions with him was when he came to town, and all of us ended up going to an executive producers party. Advertisement Smith: The funny thing was that the suits were all on one side of the room while Tim Burton was hanging out with me and Robin Budd and the other artists on the other side of the room. LaBonte: The party kind of sucked, so Tim Burton came over to us and said, Hey, this is kind of boring, you want to go somewhere? I said, Lets go to my house! I was renting this ramshackle house where all of my bands practiced. So he piled as many people as he could into his limo, and we all went into my house. The instruments were already set up, and everybody, producers included, tried to play music. My most vivid memory was sitting on the basement stairs with Tim Burton as he was explaining the synopsis of Edward Scissorhands to me. At the end, he asked me, What do you think? and I said, That's the craziest thing Ive ever heard. Advertisement
Voices from the Neitherworld Merle-Anne Ridley, casting assistant, record assistant and producer on Beetlejuice: At first, we wanted people who sounded exactly like Lydia and Beetlejuice did in the movie, but we found that that didnt quite work for the cartoon. The sound of this evil, creepy guy with this goth girl in the attic just felt off, so we realized we couldnt do an exact match. For Beetlejuice, Stephen Ouimette did eight in-person auditions for the role. At first, he did a perfect voice match with all the gravel and all the darkness, and it just felt creepy. So he gradually did something that was lighter and more comedic, and you suddenly felt okay with those two being in an attic alone together. Advertisement Alyson Court, voice of Lydia Deetz: Theres an innocent child aspect to Stephen Ouimettes Beetlejuice, and that was the only thing that made it possible. Stephen found that balance where its still Beetlejuice, but its not threatening. Advertisement As for me with Lydia, I got the role when I was 15. I was obsessed with the movie, and I was dressing all in black. I studied Winona Ryder and got that deadpan voice down perfectly, and thats what I did for my first audition. That was right before Spring Break. They asked what my schedule was like, and I told them I was going to Florida to Disney World. They said not to worry about it, so I went. Then we got a phone call from my agent saying they wanted a demo tape, but I was in Florida with a terrible sunburn and I just couldnt do it. They ended up recording the demo with Tara Strong, but it wasnt gelling with Stephen and Tara, so they still wanted me to come in after I got back from Florida. When I went into the booth, I started to do my Winona Ryder voice, and they said, Lydias actually younger now, so you can do your natural voice. I did it, but in my head I was like, I worked so hard on this voice! Advertisement Beetlejuice and Lydia in an animation cel from the series. Cel from the collection of Cynthia Sparky Read, founder of TheNeitherworld.com
The NorthPoint Centre in San Francisco will be getting a new grocery store. Grocery Outlet, headquartered in Emeryville, has signed a letter of intent to lease the space vacated by Safeway inside of the shopping center at 350 Bay St. Lydia Sidhom/The Chronicle
The new owners of a struggling shopping center on the edge of the North Beach and Fishermans Wharf neighborhoods are on the verge of striking a deal to fill it with an affordable grocery store.
Grocery Outlet, a major discount grocery retailer thats headquartered in Emeryville and has five existing locations in San Francisco, has signed a letter of intent to lease all of the roughly 31,000-square-foot space vacated by Safeway inside of the NorthPoint Centre at 350 Bay St. The shopping center has been largely vacant since Safeway exited it last year, and neighbors have called for another affordable grocery option at the site.
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The pending deal was confirmed by one of the propertys owners, Anton Qiu of Anchor Pacific Capital Inc., when contacted on Thursday. Qiu said that he heard from community stakeholders over the past year about their desire for an affordable grocer to replace Safeway, which closed last May.
The neighborhood sentiment is something I really care about, said Qiu, whose firm partnered with a private family office to purchase the retail complex and adjacent NorthPoint Vistas apartment complex at 2351 Powell St. for $25 million in December. Together, the properties span the block of Bay Street between Mason and Powell streets.
Grocery Outlet has 524 locations in 16 states, and is slated grow its stores which are locally owned and operated by 10% in 2025. The "extreme value" retailer offers name-brand products at prices generally 40% to 60% below those of other retailers.
"We are excited about the opening in this new location, as it presents a great opportunity to serve the North Beach community," said Layla Kasha, the company's chief new store growth officer, adding that the team "worked closely" with District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin on the deal. "We will be able to share additional details closer to opening about the independent operators and job opportunities this opens for the North Beach community.
NorthPoint Centre spans about 86,000 square feet and is within walking distance of Fishermans Wharf, a neighborhood beloved by generations of tourists and locals alike, but that has struggled with increasing vacancy in the wake of the pandemic.
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Safeways departure from its 31,000-square-foot space following a decadeslong tenancy at NorthPoint Centre left the retail complex about 85% vacant. It also impacted some 20,000 residents within a half mile of the store, according to the petition from neighbors who requested access to a full-scale grocery store. A roughly 11,000-square-foot Trader Joes store currently operates across the street from the center.
Qiu was reluctant to comment on the deal as it has yet to close but said that his team stabilized the property after acquiring it and invested in upgrades to the propertys parking and security systems.
The effort included installing 360 degree security cameras. Safeways struggles in the Bay Area with increasing theft have been well-documented.
The team also negotiated a five-year renewal with Subway, one of its existing tenants, and provided concessions to encourage the propertys smaller, remaining tenants to stay.
Along with Safeway, the complex lost a Walgreens store and a list of other retailers during the pandemic.
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We want to make sure the place is very friendly to do business, and that people can come in and easily park, Qiu said. When the Grocery Outlet anchor comes in, hopefully it will boost and reactivate the whole center.
Peskin, who represents the neighborhood and is a candidate for mayor in the November election, said that his office met with Qius team on multiple occasions to encourage a deal with Grocery Outlet, which expressed interest in the property ahead of Safeways departure.
After some tough negotiations between the parties, they got to yes, said Peskin. This is a sign that the northeast corner of San Francisco where residents were bereft that they did not have access to a grocery store with reasonably priced food and will now have access to a store with even lower priced food is alive and vibrant.
The deal would also give the citys commercial real estate market, which has been badgered with increasing vacancy and business closures, a small but needed boost. Safeway and upscale grocer Whole Foods have joined the long list of retailers who have shuttered locations or announced closures in the city in recent years.
Before each Saturday Night Live performance, Kristen Wiig would light a candle, she once told Kelly Clarkson. Amy Poehler shared her own pre-show ritual with Clarkson this week. When Don Pardo would say my name, Poehler explained, I used to just take a moment and close my eyes for about a split second. Because that's about all the time you have at SNL. Molly Shannon used to do that she told me about it so then I did it.
Aww, sweet. But not as fun as another SNL tradition that Poehler revealed. It turns out the Parks and Rec star got Shannons office after she left the show, a fact evidenced by the scribbles Shannon left on the rooms walls. Everyone would just kind of leave their name like summer camp, Poehler said. You'd write your name on the wall.
Defacing SNL property is a long-standing tradition that goes well beyond autographing office walls like a comedy yearbook. Here are a few other times cast members left the 30 Rock facilities in less than pristine condition
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John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd referred to their office as the Cave, according to Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live. There were dirty clothes in piles several feet high in the corners, cartons and boxes stacked on the floor, loose pages of scripts littered everywhere, cassettes with the tape streaming out of them in long swirls, scattered collections of armament magazines, industrial manuals, liquor bottles and motorcycle parts.
The walls were full of fist-sized holes, too, but youd never know it Belushi and Aykroyd covered them with Polaroids and soiled panties sent in by fans.
Jim Belushi contributed his own damage when he threw a fire extinguisher at producer Dick Ebersol, according to SNL oral history Live from New York. He missed, leaving a hole in the drywall rather than in Ebersol.
Michael ODonoghue did some redecorating when he was brought back to the show as head writer. He put us all in a room, remembered Joe Piscopo. ODonoghue came in, spray-painted DANGER on the wall, and said, This is what the show lacks.
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While he didnt do damage to his actual office, writer Fred Wolf says Chris Farley once stuck his ass out the window of the seventeenth floor at 30 Rock and took a shit.
That habit of elimination in the office carried through to the Tina Fey days. In her memoir Bossypants, she remembers reaching for a reference book in writer Steve Higgins office. Higgins stopped her to move a paper cup from the shelf, gathering others from around the room to dump them. Oh yeah, thats pee in those cups, Fey learned from Paula Pell.
When a grossed-out Fey told another of the shows writers, he confessed that he did it as well. He said it was just something guys did when they were too lazy to go to the bathroom, she wrote. The bathroom, I should point out, was about as far away as you are from this book. I started to feel like I was from space.
So theres nothing new going on here, Amy Poehler. Defacing the office is an SNL tradition thats been celebrated for 50 years.
Yet he never went on any dates in the Ecto-1
Dan Aykroyd has starred in a number of movies featuring some pretty iconic props, and it turns out that he actually kept one of them. Weirdly, he didnt take home Ray Stantzs proton pack from Ghostbusters, or his latex Coneheads scalp, or even the black leather bondage ensemble from Exit to Eden. But he did drive away with one of the cars from The Blues Brothers.
The most famous car in The Blues Brothers was, of course, the Bluesmobile, Elwood and Jakes decommissioned Mount Prospect police car. Technically, there were several Bluesmobiles in The Blues Brothers 13 different Dodge Monacos were used in the stunt-heavy production, but only five of them housed Aykroyd and John Belushi. They were originally California Highway Patrol cars, repainted to resemble black and white Mount Prospect vehicles.
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The Blues Brothers filmmakers also bought 60 old cop cars for the destructive chase sequences. Since the cars had to be reused in multiple scenes, the production ran a 24-hour body shop near the West Side of Chicago in order to stay on schedule.
While an actual Bluesmobile would have been a great collectible, reportedly all 13 of them were destroyed during filming. Even the Bluesmobile in Illinois Volo Museum is a high quality replica.
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There have long been rumors that director John Landis gave Aykroyd a car once filming wrapped. Well, Aykroyd just sat down for an interview with the YouTube show Jakes Takes, and addressed this very topic. The neatest piece of memorabilia that Ive ever owned from the movies was a fully-marked Illinois State Police car, with siren and lights and plates and everything, Aykroyd explained.
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Of course, the Bluesmobile didnt have a siren, so it seems that Ayrkoyd kept one of the many other cop cars used during filming.
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Weirdly, he just used it as a regular car while living in Manhattan, and was somehow never busted for impersonating an officer. I drove (it) in New York for three years after the movie. Fully-marked. Driving down the streets of New York. Nobody looked twice. What is a guy serving a warrant from another state? Aykroyd reasoned.
The Saturday Night Live star even used the car to meet women. I used to pick up dates in it. It was fantastic, Aykroyd explained, before arguing that it wasnt actually the car that impressed people. All the ladies that I ever dated back then were so cool, I could have picked them up in a garbage wagon and they would have been fine. Magnificent women, all of them.
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So what happened to this piece of movie history/Dan Aykroyd dating history? I sold it, and it ended up at a racetrack somewhere.
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Apparently, this car has been quite a topic of conversation amongst Blues Brothers super-fans over the years. Back in 2012, users of a message board devoted to Bluesmobile replicas noted that another fan was selling a Bluesmobile online, claiming that it was used in the movie, just not as a Bluesmobile. It was supposedly the same car that Aykroyd kept, which he then gave to his brother-in-law at the time, who had the car painted to match Jack and Elwoods ride.
Its unclear whatever happened to this particular car, or whether or not the current owner has found that its improved their love life.
You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this).
Photo: Office of the Mayor/Mayor Eric Adams/X
From the opening of the Queens-Midtown Tunnel in 1940 until it was swamped during Hurricane Sandy in 2012, it had never flooded. The storm damage to the tube was unprecedented, an MTA engineer told the trade journal Tunnel Business Magazine, and the agency had to close the tunnel for ten days. In the subsequent months, it saw major repairs, and the state installed big swinging doors at the ends to close it against the next storm surge.
Which works great until some jabroni drills a hole through the roof.
Yesterday afternoon, a contractor doing preparatory work for the next phase of the East River Esplanade did exactly that, putting a two-and-a-half-inch hole through the tunnels cast-iron casing near the U.N.. The water there, officials said, is about 50 feet deep, and the drill had gone another 50 feet into the riverbed when it hit the top of the tunnels south tube. Videos showed water cascading through what seemed to be a vent in the ceiling. The MTA first described the problem, in error, as a water-main break. The @whatisnewyork account on Instagram has video, and correctly observed that youve got new fuel for your night terrors:
The MTA got a temporary plug in place within a few hours, and the tube was back open by 5:45 p.m., somewhat mitigating the evening traffic snarl. The unnamed team with the drill, reportedly from a company called Warren George, will have a Thanksgiving-table story to tell for the rest of their lives.
St. John "Sinjin" Barned-Smith joined The San Francisco Chronicle in 2022 and covers City Hall. He previously worked at The Houston Chronicle, where he covered law enforcement.
Barned-Smith started his career at the Philadelphia Daily News, served in the Peace Corps, in Paraguay, and worked at the Montgomery Gazette, in Maryland, before joining Hearst Newspapers in 2014. His coverage of floods, mass shootings and police misconduct and other topics has been honored with several state and national awards.
Barned-Smith lives in San Francisco, with his newshound, Scoop.
Maiden Flight of the Model 437 Vanguard
Defense-Update Aerospace Weekly News
Azerbaijan to Buy Chinese JF-17 armed them with Turkish Air/Air Missiles
Azerbaijan is set to significantly enhance its air force capabilities by acquiring 24 JF-17 Thunder fighter jets from Pakistan in a $1.6 billion deal. To be delivered in the latest Block III configuration with improved avionics and weaponry, these aircraft will be equipped with Turkish-made Bozdogan and Gokdogan air-to-air missiles. The Bozdogan, a short-range missile with a 25-kilometer range, and the Gokdogan, a medium-range missile effective up to 65 kilometers, will provide Azerbaijan with advanced air-to-air combat capabilities.
This procurement marks a significant upgrade for Azerbaijans air force, introducing modern, versatile combat aircraft capable of various missions, including reconnaissance and close air support. Integrating Turkish missiles with Pakistani-made aircraft underscores the growing defense cooperation between these nations. Deliveries are slated to begin next year, with the full order expected to be completed by 2027, significantly boosting Azerbaijans military capabilities in the region.
India Set to Purchase 26 Rafale Ms for its Aircraft Carriers
Indias Defense Acquisition Council is poised to approve the purchase of 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets for the Indian Navy in a deal estimated at over 6 billion euros. These advanced aircraft are set to replace Indias aging Russian-made MiG-29K fighters and will be deployed on the countrys two aircraft carriers, INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. The acquisition, which began negotiations in November 2023, is considered urgent due to the deteriorating strategic environment in the Indo-Pacific region.
The French offer includes options to integrate Indian weapons, such as the Astra air-to-air missile. However, India has opted against incorporating an experimental AESA radar developed by DRDO due to cost and potential delays. This acquisition would elevate India into an elite group of nations operating carrier-based 4.5th generation fighter aircraft alongside the US, UK, France, and China. While the approval is a significant step, it does not guarantee an immediate contract signing, as further cost negotiations are expected. The deal also holds the potential for additional Rafale orders for Indias future aircraft carriers, underscoring its long-term strategic implications for Indias naval capabilities.
UKs New Medium Helicopter Program Update
After Airbus and Sikorsky withdrew their bids, the UKs New Medium Helicopter (NMH) program has been narrowed down to a single bidder, Leonardo. This program will replace several aging helicopter types in the UK military, including the Puma HC2 and Bell 212. Leonardos AW149 is now the sole contender, with the programs timeline shifted to an expected service entry around 2027. The NMH program is critical for modernizing the UKs rotary-wing capabilities and supporting domestic defense industries.
US Air Force and RTX to Upgrade F-22 Sensors
The U.S. Air Force has awarded RTX (Raytheon) a $1 billion contract to upgrade sensors on the F-22 Raptor fighter jet as part of a more significant $7.8 billion modernization effort set to be completed by 2029. This upgrade includes new Group B hardware, spares, and support equipment, potentially adding stealthy pods featuring IRST sensors. The Air Force is reconsidering previous plans to retire older F-22 airframes, instead focusing on modernizing the aircraft to maintain air superiority in highly contested environments.
The comprehensive upgrade package for the F-22 includes a wide range of enhancements such as Mode 5 IFF, Link 16 communication system, advanced radar electronic protection, and a new helmet as part of the Next Generation Fixed Wing Helmet program. These improvements aim to keep the F-22 Raptor relevant and effective against peer adversaries, especially given its valuable role as a pure air dominance interceptor and uncertainties surrounding the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program.
The upgrades reflect the Air Forces commitment to maintaining air superiority and adapting to evolving threats in highly contested environments. Peer forces are deploying advanced 5th-generation fighters like Chinas J20 and Su-57 in Russia.
Embraer delivers the first C-390 Millennium to the Hungarian Air Force
Embraer has delivered the first C-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft to the Hungarian Air Force, marking Hungary as the second NATO operator of this aircraft type. This particular C-390 is distinguished by being the first in the world equipped with a roll-on/roll-off Intensive Care Unit, enhancing its capabilities for humanitarian and medical evacuation missions.
The aircraft, fully compatible with NATO requirements, is designed to meet the diverse needs of the Hungarian Defence Forces. It can perform various military and civilian missions, including medical evacuation, humanitarian support, search and rescue, cargo and troop transport, precision cargo airdrop, paratrooper operations, and air-to-air refueling. With a payload capacity of 26 tons and a top speed of 470 knots, the C-390 offers superior performance in its class. Since its introduction to service with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019 and the Portuguese Air Force in 2023, the C-390 fleet has accumulated over 14,000 flight hours, demonstrating high reliability with a 93% mission-capable rate and over 99% mission completion rate.
Italian Navys F-35B Achieves Initial Operational Capability
The Italian Navy has achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for its embarked joint F-35B component, deployed on Italys Cavour aircraft carriers operational campaign in the Indo-Pacific region. The F-35B component, consisting of aircraft from the Italian Navy and Air Force, is now certified for offensive and defensive missions, enhancing Italys ability to project power globally. This development positioned Italy with naval deployment capability of 5th-generation assets alongside the USA and UK.
Kongsberg Secures $95 Million Order for JSM Missiles in Australia
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KONGSBERG) has significantly expanded its presence in Australia by opening a $16.5 million facility in Adelaide and a $95 million contract to supply Joint Strike Missiles for Australias F-35A aircraft. The new 2,500 square meter site will support various defense programs, including strike missiles, air defense systems, and remote weapon stations for the Australian armed forces. (Read more)
U.S. Approves RAM Missile Package for Turkey
In a significant policy shift, the U.S. government has approved a $90 million foreign military sale of RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) to Turkey. This decision reverses previous restrictions under the CAATSA sanctions and is crucial for enhancing Turkeys naval defense capabilities. The RAM system, developed by Raytheon and Diehl Defence, provides naval vessels with short-range, close-in protection against anti-ship missiles and other aerial threats. The RAM systems will be integrated into Turkeys Ada-class corvettes.
Taiwan to Acquire Stinger Missiles Amid Rising Tensions
Taiwan has announced plans to purchase Stinger missiles from the United States, underscoring its ongoing efforts to bolster its defense capabilities amid rising tensions with China. The Stinger missile system can be used as a man-portable or vehicle-mounted air defense operable at very short range (VSHORAD).
For weekly more news by topic, refer to the following reports:
France to be guest of honor at upcoming manufacturing convention in China
Xinhua) 15:48, September 05, 2024
HEFEI, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- France will be the guest of honor at the 2024 World Manufacturing Convention, which will begin on Sept. 20 in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, local authorities said at a press briefing on Thursday.
The four-day event will feature 25 sub-events including seminars and forums, aiming to showcase the achievements of advanced manufacturing and promote global manufacturing cooperation.
As the event's guest of honor, France will organize French manufacturing enterprises to attend the exhibition and hold various cooperation and exchange activities.
Around 1,000 guests from home and abroad will attend the convention, including many foreign guests.
Covering an area of 20,000 square meters, the exhibition hall will display a variety of cutting-edge technologies.
Held since 2018, the World Manufacturing Convention has attracted over 600 top executives from Fortune 500 companies to date. Over 3,600 projects have been signed, with an actual investment of over 1.5 trillion yuan (about 211.3 billion U.S. dollars).
(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
J.D. Morris covers San Francisco City Hall, focused on Mayor London Breed. He joined the Chronicle in 2018 to cover energy and spent three years writing mostly about PG&E and California wildfires.
Before coming to The Chronicle, he reported on local government for the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, where he was among the journalists awarded a Pulitzer Prize for their coverage of the 2017 North Bay wildfires.
He was previously the casino industry reporter for the Las Vegas Sun. Raised in Monterey County and Bakersfield, he has a bachelors degree in rhetoric from UC Berkeley.
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DUNEDIN, New Zealand Cancer diagnostics company Pacific Edge (NZX, ASX: PEB) today announces Chris Gallaher has accepted a Board request to delay his planned retirement, originally set for the end of this year after a handover to a successor.
The Board has asked Mr Gallaher to remain as Chair into 2025 to provide stability and confidence to Pacific Edge and its stakeholders amid the continued uncertainty over the Medicare coverage status for the companys Cxbladder tests and the ongoing process to recruit his successor.
In July Novitas, the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) with responsibility for Pacific Edges US lab, confirmed that it had been granted an extension beyond the normal statutory timeline to finalize or withdraw the draft Local Coverage Determination (LCD) Genetic Testing for Oncology (DL 39365).
Mr Gallaher said: As I signaled in our annual report in June, the Board expects the process to recruit my successor to ramp up after the Novitas determination. Consequently, the Board believes that delaying my retirement at least until the LCD is finalised will enable us to make a smooth handover to the new Chair, which is in the best interests of the company and all its stakeholders. I am happy to provide this continuity.
Mr Gallaher and Independent Director Mark Green gave notice of their intention to retire in March. Mr Green will - as planned - step down at the close of the companys Annual Shareholder Meeting in Auckland on 24 September 2024.
The Pacific Edge Board Nomination Committee commenced a process earlier this year to recruit new independent directors. At present the Board is not able to provide a timeline on the likely finalization of the LCD or the appointment of a successor for Mr Gallaher or Mr Green.
Released for an on behalf of Pacific Edge by Grant Gibson, Chief Financial Officer.
For more information:
Investors:
Chris Gallaher
Chairman
Pacific Edge
P: +61 417 556 691
Media:
Richard Inder
The Project
P: +64 21 645 643
Pacific Edge: www.pacificedgedx.com
Pacific Edge Limited (NZX/ ASX: PEB) is a global cancer diagnostics company leading the way in the development and commercialization of bladder cancer diagnostic and prognostic tests for patients presenting with hematuria or surveillance of recurrent disease. Headquartered in Dunedin, New Zealand, the company provides its suite of Cxbladder tests globally through its wholly owned, and CLIA certified, laboratories in New Zealand and the USA.
Cxbladder: www.cxbladder.com
Cxbladder is a urine-based genomic biomarker test optimized for the detection and surveillance of bladder cancer. The Cxbladder evidence portfolio developed over the past 14 years includes more than 20 peer reviewed publications for primary detection, surveillance, adjudication of atypical urine cytology and equivocal cystoscopy. Cxbladder is the focal point of numerous ongoing and planned clinical studies to generate an ever-increasing body of clinical utility evidence supporting adoption and use in the clinic to improve patient health outcomes. Cxbladder has been trusted by over 4,400 US urologists in the diagnosis and management of more than 100,000 patients, including the option for in-home sample collection. In New Zealand, Cxbladder is accessible to 75% of the population via public healthcare and all residents have the option of buying the test online.
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More than seven years after the Grenfell Tower fire, a 1,700- page report into the tragedy has at long last been published.
Have we learnt anything we didn't know years ago? Some details, yes, but the broad conclusions of Sir Martin Moore-Bick's report are familiar.
The Government and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, where Grenfell Tower lies, were incompetent. The cladding recently put on the 24-storey high-rise block was flammable. And the London Fire Brigade was defective in several respects.
Why does it take nearly seven years Sir Martin's inquiry first sat on September 14, 2017 to tell us what informed observers could see in the weeks and months following the fire, in which 72 people perished?
I believe that a good investigative reporter would have got to the centre of things in a few weeks. Indeed, some did, in this and other newspapers, which is why there are no surprises in this long-awaited report.
The memorial wall for Grenfell Tower. More than seven years after the Grenfell Tower fire, a 1,700- page report into the tragedy has at long last been published
The covered remains of Grenfell Tower. Have we learnt anything we didn't know years ago? Some details, yes, but the broad conclusions of Sir Martin Moore-Bick's report are familiar
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On the first anniversary of the fire, the writer Andrew O'Hagan produced a moving and magisterial 60,000-word essay in the London Review of Books highlighting many of the same failings described in yesterday's belated report of more than a million words.
The truth is that we live in a society in which the causes of almost every disaster, mistake or setback be it Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland or the Iraq War or the Covid pandemic are entrusted to the deliberation of judges, senior civil servants and lawyers, whose natural way is often ponderous.
The Saville inquiry into Bloody Sunday dragged on for 12 years. Sir John Chilcot's investigation into the Iraq War (he was a civil servant rather than a judge) took seven years. It remains to be seen how many aeons will pass before the Covid inquiry pronounces. It has already cost 161 million, and the final bill is likely to be much more.
Battalions of lawyers, many paid more than 1,000 a day, have scant interest in brevity. Even people only tangentially connected to the matter under investigation are encouraged to make lengthy contributions that may shed precious little light.
As far as the Grenfell inquiry is concerned, the interests of the relatives of victims and of survivors have not been served by the great lapse of time since the fire. For one thing, any possible prosecutions have had to be put on hold. Nor does it make sense to take so very long to draw lessons and make recommendations.
Is it any surprise that hundreds of buildings are believed to be still at least partly covered in flammable cladding similar to that which was wrapped around Grenfell Tower? If the inquiry had reported sooner, action might have been taken earlier.
I don't intend any disrespect to Sir Martin Moore-Bick, who is obviously a painstaking and public-spirited man, or to his two fellow panellists. They have operated within the conventions of public inquiries as they have developed in recent years. To be fair, they did issue a preliminary report in October 2019 in which the London Fire Brigade was heavily criticised.
But as long as these inquiries are chaired by judges in no great hurry, and colonised by lawyers paid colossal fees out of the public purse, they will continue to be leisurely affairs.
Grenfell Tower engulfed in flames on the morning of June 14 2017. Why does it take nearly seven years Sir Martin's inquiry first sat on September 14, 2017 to tell us what informed observers could see in the weeks and months following the fire, in which 72 people perished?
Sir Keir Starmer today offered 'an apology on behalf of the British State to each and every one of you, and indeed to all of the families affected by this tragedy'
And what, at the end of it all, have we learnt from this report costing (so far) 170 million? It judges that all 72 deaths were 'avoidable'. This sounds like a statement of the obvious since no man-made accident has to happen.
The trouble is that the report blames so many bodies and individuals often in forthright terms that it's impossible to work out who is principally at fault, and where the buck actually stops.
How much was the fire the fault of successive governments, which are chastised for not taking seriously the dangers posed by combustible cladding over 20 years and 'failing to heed' myriad warnings, including a parliamentary select committee report in 1999?
Should the finger of blame point at Kensington and Chelsea Council, whose Tenant Management Organisation was regarded by Grenfell residents as an 'uncaring and bullying overlord that belittled and marginalised them, regarded them as a nuisance, or worse, and failed to take their concerns seriously'?
What degree of blame should attach to cladding companies, which according to Sir Martin were guilty of 'systematic dishonesty' as 'they engaged in deliberate and sustained strategies to manipulate the testing process, misrepresent test data and mislead the market'?
How decisive were the failings of the London Fire Brigade, criticised for 'shortcomings in its ability to fight fires in high-rise buildings' and 'a chronic lack of effective management and leadership', as well as complacency?
And so it goes on. The list of culprits is endless, and almost everyone seems to be defective or incompetent in some way.
Carl Stokes, a former firefighter employed as the sole fire assessor in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, is said to have falsified some qualifications, and lied about his experience when applying for the job.
The report chides an architectural company called Studio E for not issuing appropriate warnings about potentially flammable cladding. This 'represented a failure to act in accordance with the standard of a reasonably competent architect'.
Other bodies judged to have fallen short include the Local Authority Building Control, the British Board of Agreement, and NHBC, the UK's largest building control inspector, which produced guidance on the use of cladding.
Doubtless all these individuals and organisations were at fault in some way, though they can't have been equally so. Nor can every shortcoming have been decisive. Sir Martin throws the book at a huge variety of targets. Unfortunately, he doesn't squarely hit any of them.
What he might have said and it wouldn't have taken him seven years to do so is that it is the duty of Government to look after its citizens. There may be dishonest cladding companies, bad architects, incompetent fire assessors, inadequate official bodies and poorly trained firefighters.
Grenfell Tower in September 2024. Is it any surprise that hundreds of buildings are believed to be still at least partly covered in flammable cladding similar to that which was wrapped around Grenfell Tower? If the inquiry had reported sooner, action might have been taken earlier
But the buck stops with the Government. It's not principally about money. After all, Grenfell Tower had just been refurbished at a cost of millions. It's about care and paying attention. It's about ministers being on top of their jobs.
Successive governments Labour as much as Tory took their eye off the ball. They didn't really care about benighted people housed in high-rise blocks such as Grenfell, though they claimed to. They might have got away with it. In fact, they would have if a fridge-freezer hadn't freakishly caught fire in a single flat.
This absurdly delayed and overlong report doesn't really tell us much that we didn't already know, and in spreading the blame so widely it fails to apportion responsibility where it should truly lie.
Sir Keir Starmer today offered 'an apology on behalf of the British State to each and every one of you, and indeed to all of the families affected by this tragedy'.
Fine words, but hollow. What the Prime Minister and Sir Martin Moore-Bick omit to say is that it is politicians who are the guilty ones. That's a lesson that is unlikely to be learnt.
Floating on her back in the deliciously warm Adriatic Sea while wearing a glamorous bikini, Victoria Warnes didnt have a care in the world.
Her enjoyment was all the sweeter because back at home in Berkshire her children Olivia, ten, and Wills, seven, were buckling down in the classroom at the start of the new school year while her husband Rich, a business consultant, was holding the fort solo on the domestic front.
At home, Im usually the operations director for the whole family, but each year at the height of the back-to-school routine, Im simply not there, she says.
Each September Alexandra Tribe, from Havant, Hampshire, heads off for a luxury yoga retreat in Greece and estimates each week away costs 3,000
Last year, instead of dealing with the chaos, I was staying with five girlfriends, all mums, in a luxurious hotel in Dubrovnik, Croatia, enjoying 90-minute massages and hour-long facials in the sunshine. And this indulgent trip last September wasnt a one-off its an annual longed-for escape. This week, while other parents pack lunches, re-establish bedtime routines and soothe any lingering fears over new classes or teachers, Victoria, 41, will once again be heading to Dubrovnik for a luxury holiday.
So is she a statistical blip, an unusual mum putting herself first by jetting off at the start of September when you might think her children need her most?
It would appear not. In fact, shes one of a growing number of back-to-spa mums, who shrug off the rigours of balancing work and childcare throughout the summer holidays with a much-needed getaway that conveniently puts them out of the country for the action-packed start of term.
My friends and I have enjoyed our back-to-spa holidays for the last five years, Victoria says. We all agree its worth the very steep four-figure sum we spend we joke that we could have spent more than that on therapy bills from the stress of looking after the children all summer.
Luckily, while Victoria is de-stressing, her 44-year-old husband is on hand for the children. Rich works from home, she explains. Its a bit mad for him racing around doing drop-offs when he has to be on calls at 9am, but he does it.
The same goes at the end of the day when hes on pick-ups or waiting to collect them when theyve finished after-school clubs. Its definitely a rush around for him. So does she picture the chaos while she basks in the sunshine, and secretly feel she should really be at home?
For the last three years Raz Wright, 46, has gone away with her girlfriends while the kids go back to school and her husband deals with the childcare
I didnt miss my family at all last year that sounds awful doesnt it?
But my friends and I felt so blissed out, relaxing with no little people arriving in our bedrooms with 300 questions. The feeling carried us through the whole winter.
For Victoria, the summer holidays are the equivalent of two full-time jobs, as she explains: I run a business helping train women to offer up-to-date antenatal advice. So Im in my home office working with the kids around my feet or on their iPads. I have to react to everything on my own from 8am until 6pm. Kids holiday clubs cost 80 a day for both children and it just wasnt possible to fork out 2,400 to put them in for the full six weeks.
So stressful does she find the childcare, however, that she then spends almost as much as shes saved on kids clubs on a luxury break to recover.
But theres a reason Victoria is determined to prioritise her peace of mind. At the age of 35, she had a stress-related heart attack six weeks after her son was born.
Back then, I was an advertising executive, working crazy hours. I worked up until very close to my due date with each pregnancy, but the heart attack gave me the impetus I needed to change things.
Like so many mothers, shed been taking on more than her fair share of chores, but decided that had to change. I sat down with my husband to talk to him about the house and family responsibilities, to explain that I simply couldnt do it all. Now he sees the laundry bag is full and he puts a wash on. I dont have to ask every time.
Her group holiday at such a crucial time is another way to balance out responsibilities in the household. She says all her female friends were desperate to escape the back-to-school grind. We unanimously decided to do this. The first time, we found a British Airways deal and a super luxurious hotel with a spa. The thought kept me going throughout the summer.
Although, mums being mums, we do feel guilty and we have to constantly remind ourselves that we deserve it.
Not everyone was immediately convinced, however.
At first, my husband baulked because of the price, but when I explained that I could spend that amount on a years gym membership, I knew Id got him. Id done my homework and I had an answer to everything about why it was important for me to go.
Victoria took an equally robust approach when she told the children. When they asked me, Why are you going away, Mum? I said I need to look after myself for a few days. I didnt say: Ill miss you. I kept it upbeat, explaining its good for mothers to have a few days away. And its good for the children to see Mum isnt just there to serve their needs.
At home, Im usually the operations director for the whole family, but each year at the height of the back-to-school routine, Im simply not there, says Victoria Warnes
Alexandra Tribe, from Havant, Hampshire, would agree wholeheartedly with that. Each September, she heads off for a luxury yoga retreat in Greece and estimates each week away costs 3,000.
Alexandra, who is in her 40s, has been escaping the back-to-school grind for the last seven years.
She says: Like many working mothers, the school holidays are a time I really look forward to and also dread in equal measure. The freedom from routine is wonderful and were lucky enough to live on the south coast, where the children can head to the beach, sail, bike and burn off lots of energy outdoors.
At the same time, I work full-time running a law firm, splitting my time between the country and London. It means I cant always be where the children want me to be, when they want me to be.
Alexandra is an international divorce lawyer whose firm has offices in Singapore, London and Abu Dhabi. And her work ramps up over the summer, as the high net worth individuals she works with may fall out and decide to divorce during the course of long, luxurious summer travel.
This added spike of adrenalin after a full-on summer juggling work and childcare isnt great for the human body, she admits.
Alexandras children, aged 14 and 11, attend a prep school and board a couple of nights a week during term time, which allows her to work three days in London. She also has a nanny to take them to school vital for a guilt-free September getaway.
But the long working hours mean that even during the school year, Alexandra feels frazzled.
Seven years ago, it was actually her husband who urged her to go on her first back-to-spa retreat.
I had started to suffer from anxiety and heart palpitations. We were out with friends when someone mentioned they were going on a yoga retreat to Greece with one spare place left. Id never thought of taking time off for myself, but when someone said, Why dont you come? my husband jumped in and insisted I go.
The time away was a revelation. At first, I miss my to-do list, she admits. But after a day or two, its strange, I get used to not having one. For me, yoga silences the constant mental reminders and nagging tasks. I do daily yoga classes, eat healthy food, enjoy massages and relax with wine in the evening too.
Since then, Alexandra has been on another six retreats run by Blessed Yoga and she isnt the only mother who signs up to their luxury getaways.
I have to sign up months in advance to get a place on their September retreat, she says.
She fervently believes her whole family feels the benefits.
It took a while for me to accept that it wasnt selfish for me to go away. But the truth is, I come back so much more calm and relaxed, its better for everyone.
I do talk to the children about what Im doing. They dont mind me going away because they see how stretched I am working and looking after them. They are the ones telling me, Go, Mummy! Well be fine. While we go away in the summer, usually to Cornwall or France, I do get the odd twinge of guilt that Im jetting off to a rather more exciting destination alone. The thing is, Im actually a really nice person when I come back.
Raz Wright, 46, is another back-to-spa veteran. She lives in Hampshire with her husband and children, Amaya, 11, and Zayn, eight, and every September for the last three years, she has gone away with her girlfriends while the children go back to school and her husband looks after the childcare.
I think about nothing while Im lying on the massage bed, except perhaps what cocktail Ill order later in the evening. Im definitely not thinking about homework or online shopping orders.
In the past, we have been to Morocco, Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds and Newquay for surfing (never again it was far too cold!). This September, its a posh cottage with a hot tub in the New Forest, as well as a day at the luxury Chewton Glen Spa with full-body massages, facials and a champagne lunch.
Like the other back-to-spa mothers, Raz says a summer of running her own beauty business, and her home, is more than she can cope with. When Im home Im cooking, cleaning, organising play dates, operating a taxi service for the children. By the end of August, Im pretty broken.
So, no, I dont see this as abandoning my kids theyre not babies any more and I did wait a fortnight before going when my daughter started secondary school last year.
This September, Raz estimates her spa break will cost more than 700. In the past, theyve been well over 1,000. As for family holidays, theyre usually taken outside of spring and summer because of the demands of her business. We either go away in February, May or October. Not this year though, because I messed up and discovered my daughters passport was out of date. It meant we missed our flights.
She says the whole extended family chip in to make her holiday possible. When I go away, my husband can usually take a day or two off work to sort the kids. But if hes too busy, they get shipped off either to one of my sisters or their grandparents. Fortunately the grandparents love it and live close enough to take them to school.
Do I feel guilty? No. I work hard and our children have a nice life. My children are growing up to be independent and they dont question my need for me time at all. They never ask, Are we invited on this one, Mum? Im really fortunate that their dad steps up and is happy to be as hands-on as me, too.
I know of some women who go on a September break, but have to prep meals and leave huge to-do lists for their husbands, but thats not the case in my group of girlfriends.
I think all mums should get to have a complete break even if it clashes with the start of the school term.
Victoria Warnes couldnt agree more. Its not about the budget. As mothers, we cant pour from an empty cup and children benefit from Mum being relaxed.
Next year maybe Ill go for longer or am I pushing my luck?
Queen Mary is navigating yet another significant change after a difficult year finding her feet as head-of-state.
The cause of her heartache? Her eldest son and the heir to the Danish throne, Prince Christian.
The 18-year-old is moving out of the family home and heading to East Africa where he will live until December to experience farm work and ' deeper learning'.
The doting mother-of-four admitted it'll be very difficult not having their son around for the next few months.
'We are going to miss him unimaginably... very, very much,' she said while attending a ceremony in Copenhagen on Wednesday.
She added that both she and King Frederik are excited for him, however, and 'look forward' to hearing about his travels upon his return.
The Danish Palace revealed the youngster will be working in farms on his visit while trying out various roles and getting to get to know the community.
He will also learn about the natural landscape in Africa and how locals maintain the balance between work, life and conservation.
Queen Mary is navigating yet another significant change after a difficult year finding her feet as head-of-state
Prince Christian is moving out of the family home and heading to East Africa where he will live until December to experience farm work and ' deeper learning'
Prince Christian follows in his father's footsteps, and those of his Grandmother Queen Margrethe.
It is tradition for Danish royals in line for the throne to spend a significant time abroad in their youth so they can grow to appreciate the world, a palace spokesperson explained.
King Frederik went to Mongolia in 1986 where he worked with the nomads, and in 1989 he took a second trip to California where he worked in a vineyard.
Queen Margrethe went on extended trips to Africa and South America in the 1960s.
The King and Queen have requested the Prince's exact location and duties remain private over the course of the year.
The big step will follow his most recent solo travel duty where he headed to Paris to meet Danish athletes at the Paralympic games
Common farming and conservation challenges people in East Africa experience include keeping crops and water supplies safe from elephants.
Keeping livestock safe from hungry Apex predators is also a concern.
The future king of Denmark's latest challenge comes after he completed high school in July.
The big step will follow his most recent solo travel duty where he headed to Paris to meet Danish athletes at the Paralympic games.
Princess Martha Louise of Norway and her husband, Shaman Durek Verrett have unveiled a new unofficial monogram which honours 'their past life together in Egypt' and is 'embedded with important symbolism' - after tying the knot last week.
The spiritual newlyweds, who claim to have first met during ancient times, took to Instagram to share the stylised art, which sees an M stacked over a D.
'We are so honored and grateful to share our monogram with you. This is not an official monogram, as I no longer represent the Royal family at official functions. This monogram is merely a wonderful emblem embedded with important symbolism for both @shamandurek and myself embracing our love,' Martha wrote.
'Thank you so much to the amazing team @anti_hamar for embrasing both of our souls into this representation of the two of us.
'You have done such a great job in capturing both of our essence into one symbol.'
Princess Martha Louise of Norway and her husband, Shaman Durek Verrett have unveiled a new unofficial monogram which honours 'their past life together in Egypt' and is 'embedded with important symbolism' - after tying the knot last week
Martha, who said that the monogram 'embraces the hieroglyphs and the Egyptian symbols', explained the artwork in detail.
The M, she said, of course, stands or Martha, and the letter corresponds to the hieroglyph of an owl, 'a guardian of souls navigating between worlds'.
Meanwhile, D is for Durek, which in hieroglyphs would be represented as a hand - a 'symbol of actions performed with grace, opening doors and dancing through life'.
Also featured in the monogram is the Eye of Horus, for 'healing and knowledge'; horses, which have 'been a central animal through both their lives'; a heart for 'unconditional love'; an infinity symbol for their 'eternal bond' and a diamond 'representing the portal between the physical and the metaphysical realms'.
The couple have claimed that they met each other in a past life.
Durek told PEOPLE: 'When were together and I look at [Martha], sometimes I see another face... And she sees it in me, too. I have memories of us in Egypt, and she was my queen and I was a pharaoh.'
The Princess added: 'I came in the door, and I recognized him straight away. I was like, I know you. Thats the first thing I said to him.'
Martha, who describes herself as 'spiritual' and claims to be a clairvoyant, got into a relationship with Durek after overcoming the loss of her first husband, Ari Behn, who died by suicide in 2019.
The spiritual newlyweds, who claim to have first met during ancient times, took to Instagram to share the stylised art, which sees an M stacked over a D
According to the Norwegian publication, ahead of the wedding, a message was sent out to their invitees asking them not to share anything on their social media profiles.
'Please remember that mobile phones or cameras are not allowed at any of the events throughout the weekend. In addition, we ask that you do not post anything on social media,' it states, according to an email that the website obtained.
It then reiterates that it is 'very important' that 'everyone' follows the guidelines and asks guests to 'take them seriously'.
Norwegian outlet Aftenposten reported that a 'well-known Netflix director' named Rebecca Chaiklin, who worked on the hit show Tiger King, would be making the documentary about the pair.
Martha, who said that the monogram 'embraces the hieroglyphs and the Egyptian symbols', explained the artwork in detail
The couple got married in a huge ceremony in Geiranger last week, witnessed by 350 guests. The newlyweds pictured with members of the royal family
But things have not been easy for Martha, as she was forced to leave her role as a working member of the royal family because of her fiance's controversial views.
The couple got married in a huge ceremony in Geiranger last week, witnessed by 350 guests.
The elaborate event took place over four days, kicking off with welcome drinks on Thursday night, followed by a pre-wedding party on Friday night, then the wedding on Saturday, and breakfast and brunch on Sunday.
However, the nuptial do between the 52-year-old royal and her self-styled 'shaman' husband, 49, has been mired in controversy - in part due to the couple's use of commercial links and agreements.
Among them, are exclusivity deals with Hello! magazine and Netflix. According to Se og Hr, guests were told not to post images to social media - with the alleged ban thought to be linked to these exclusivity agreements.
The outlet said American production company Nordic Pictures LLC is collaborating with a Norwegian production company.
Netflix also confirmed via a press release that it was making an 'in-depth and moving documentary' about Princess Martha Louise and Shaman Durek's 'love story'.
It was also reported by Aftenposten that Rebecca Chaiklin requested that the Norwegian drone photographer apply for a drone permit.
The publication also claims that an application to the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority was made for drone filming of the wedding in Geiranger on Saturday 31 August.
But a source told Se og Hr: 'If there are too many 'leaks' of photos, the sum the couple will receive will probably be reduced,' in terms of the deals they have made to companies covering their wedding.
The Daily Mail's Richard Eden reported that 'Norwegians are not happy' about the exclusivity agreements.
A spokesman for the Royal Family also said 'it denies other outlets fair access', and it was revealed that the royals would not only pose for exclusive images.
Ahead of the ceremony, several measures were put in place to ensure the bride was not seen by media outlets, with several people holding sheets around the royal while she made her way to the wedding marquee, totally hiding her.
Princess Martha Louise of Norway and her US groom Shaman Durek delighted crowds lining the streets by sharing a kiss after their wedding
Following the ceremony, a guest who was interviewed by Norwegian network VG TV said that not having phones out at the event meant that people were able to be fully immersed in watching the action.
These exclusivity deals were not the only commercial controversies swirling around the event.
According to Se og Hr, despite guests forking out an average of 2,300 (NOK 32,000) to attend the event - a sum which does not include the cost of a wedding gift - they were not treated to an open bar at the Hotel Union in Geiranger, where the reception was hosted.
According to the outlet, it is traditional for Norwegian weddings to have open bars, but guests at the royal wedding were reportedly given five drink vouchers on Friday evening, for drinks on both Friday night's party and the reception on Saturday.
After the vouchers ran out, it was claimed guests could purchase drinks from a menu, featuring cocktails made with the couple's customised gin they made with Oslo Handverksdestilleri. The drinks were priced at 16.50 (NOK 225).
The gin itself has provoked criticism of the royal: earlier this year, it was reported that the couple had been involved in creating the beverage which was made by Oslo Handverksdestilleri (OHD).
The label on the gin bottle said: 'We created this gin for the wedding of Princess Martha Louise and Durek Verrett in Geiranger in August 2024.'
Princess Martha Louise is not allowed to use her title for commercial gain, and it was at first reported that while OHD generally collaborates on products it makes with celebrities, the couple's gin had already been in the brand's line before it was associated with them.
However, according to a letter written by (OHD) to the Norwegian directorate of health, seen by Aftenposten, the princess may have been more involved in the creation of the product than initially thought.
The pair shared a kiss in front of press and onlookers after the ceremony - on their lavish wedding day
Princess Martha and husband Durek greeted people from a balcony as they got married last week
This letter said that not only were the princess and her partner involved in the design process when it came to the label, it was the royal's idea to sell the product to the public via the state-run Vinmonopolet alcohol retailer.
OHD had written to the Norwegian directorate of health as it was investigating the product 'as part of [its] mandate to supervise compliance with the Norwegian prohibition against advertising of alcoholic beverages'.
An invitation to the product's launch, which was sent to the press, said: 'Martha Louise and Durek Verrett will present their unique gin and drink made especially for the wedding.'
Attorney Thomas Benson, at Angell law firm, is a specialist in alcohol law. He told Norwegian outlet VG: 'Seen in isolation, the invitation is not a breach. But when you highlight the gin and this one special product becomes the main focus of the event itself, this is a clear violation.'
Reports say the gin was pulled from Vinmonopolet on the Thursday morning.
A further controversy that emerged following the big day is that the princess arranged a 'makeshift clothes shop' inside the hotel that was hosting the reception, according to Se og Hr.
The outlet says that items from the latest collection from clothing brand Hest! were on sale next to the couple's gift table. The princess owns a large stake in the brand, which she founded five years ago with two friends.
According to the outlet, it says 'several sources' said there were two Hest employees selling the clothing at the pop-up store.
Despite the controversies, guests appeared to enjoy the wedding reception, which didn't wrap up until 3am.
The princess' father King Harald, who is 87 years old and in frail health, did not return to his royal yacht, which was anchored by the shoreline of the Geirangerfjord until after 1am.
Queen Sonja, also 87, told newsman waiting at the quayside they had enjoyed the gala dinner.
Heir-apparent Crown Prince Haakon, his wife Princess Mette-Marit and their children Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, stayed until the end leaving the party at 3am.
They were pictured waving to newsmen as they headed to the royal yacht, that has been protected by a Norwegian Navy vessel. Princess Mette-Marit said: There were many highlights [at the wedding].'
Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon both gave speeches during the wedding breakfast. But not King Harald, who had given the wedding address at his daughters first marriage to author Ari Behn in 2002.
The four-day marriage celebrations concluded today with a lavish brunch at 1pm.
Guests were then transported by bus and ferry to Alesund airport, some two and a half hours away.
For those who crave a taste of fine dining but are working with a fast-food budget, there's a special McDonald's in Budapest that promises a side of elegance with your cheeseburger.
Housed in the historic Nyugati Railway Station, this newly refurbished branch, which has just reopened to the public, has been compared by customers to a five-star hotel, cementing its reputation as the 'world's most glamorous' McDonald's.
Originally opened in 1990, the McDonald's occupies a part of the railway station which was built in 1877 by the Gustave Eiffel Company - the same company that later constructed the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
The station itself has long been admired for its architectural grandeur, making it a fitting setting for what Lonely Planet calls McDonald's 'most elegant' location.
Additionally, MIC magazine previously described the Budapest branch as 'impressive' due to its 'elaborate, colonial ceiling.'
There's a special McDonald's in Budapest that promises a side of elegance with your cheeseburger
Originally opened in 1990, the McDonald's occupies a part of the railway station, built in 1877 by the Gustave Eiffel Company
Following a recent renovation that closed the restaurant in January, it has reemerged with a stylish, modern look, all while maintaining the historical beauty of the building.
The upgrade includes state-of-the-art kitchen technology, touchscreen kiosks, and the ability to order via the McDonald's mobile app, as reported by Metro.
A standout feature is the food conveyor belt, which lets customers watch their meals move between two levels of the kitchen inside a glass box.
While the branch now boasts modern design elements like mirrored glass surfaces and custom furniture, designers took care to preserve the site's rich history.
Remaining are detailed stucco ceilings, antique lamps, and a wrought-iron gate, blending the old with the new.
The McCafe has also been relocated to the entrance level, while the outdoor terrace has been transformed into a stylish, lounge-like setting, perfect for soaking in the ambiance of Budapest while sipping on a coffee.
On Tripadvisor, the fast food joint boasts an average four-star rating, with one reviewer writing: 'I have seen several nice McDonald's restaurants in Europe, but the best I have seen is the McDonald's Hyugati in Budapest.
'The interior is nothing like the interiors we have in the United States. The best McDonald's I have seen "inside and outside"!'
Following a recent renovation that closed the restaurant in January, the chain has reemerged with a stylish, modern look, all while maintaining the historical beauty of the building
The upgrade includes state-of-the-art kitchen technology, touchscreen kiosks, and the ability to order via the McDonald's mobile app
While the branch now boasts modern design elements like mirrored glass surfaces and custom furniture, designers took care to preserve the site's rich history
The McCafe has also been relocated to the entrance level, while the outdoor terrace has been transformed into a stylish, lounge-like setting, perfect for soaking in the ambiance of Budapest while sipping on a coffee
On Tripadvisor, the fast food joint boasts an average four-star rating and dozens of rave reviews
Another wrote: 'This is definitely the most beautiful McDonald's in the world. The food was fine and the place was superb!'
A third gushed: 'Amazing building - go for that alone! Great ambience, much nicer than other McDonald's, didn't feel so soulless!'
Another customer described the location as 'one of the most glamourous McDonald's on the planet,' while a second noted how it's 'a pretty unique experience to eat a cheap burger in such a lavish interior.'
Finally, one impressed diner likened the Budapest branch to an eatery in a five-star hotel, writing: 'The interior is absolutely beautiful and looks more like a restaurant in a 5 star hotel. I took off one star because it is so busy and the queues are so long.'
As McDonald's continues to tease upcoming features for the branch, this unique location stands out not only for its architectural beauty but also as a landmark destination, promising a fast food dining experience unlike any other.
Princess Sofia looked classic in black and white on Thursday
Princess Sofia of Sweden looked radiant as she stepped out alongside Prince Carl Philip during the couple's second appearance since announcing their pregnancy.
The soon-to-be mother-of-four, 39, looked stunning in black and white during a visit to visit The Swedish Defence Conscription and Assessment Agency on Thursday.
The royal donned a long baggy white shirt with puffed sleeves that pulled in at the wrists.
Alongside her relaxed-fit silk shirt, she layered with a three quarter-length black cardigan that flowed down past her hips.
She completed the casual but chic ensemble with a pair of sophisticated-looking flared trousers, which appear to be the same stylish set worn by the princess during her trip yesterday.
Princess Sofia of Sweden (centre) looked radiant as she stepped out alongside Prince Carl Philip (right) during the couple's second appearance since announcing their pregnancy
The couple, who are already parents of three, looked dashing as they arrived in elegant suits
Sofia wore her long chestnut tresses curled around her shoulders, sporting a relaxed but glamorous look.
She wore her usual low maintenance makeup, keeping her eyes a soft neutral brown and her skin fresh and clean looking with a natural glow.
Arriving alongside her dashing looking husband, Sofia completed her clean but chic look by keeping her lips natural shade.
Prince Carl Phillip looked the epitome of good taste in a crisp looking grey suit and light blue handkerchief, his beard well trimmed and hair slicked back.
The royal couple visited the The Swedish Defence Conscription and Assessment Agency as part of their two-day visit to Varmland, a county in west central Sweden.
The Swedish Defence Conscription and Assessment Agency, is an agency within the total defence and reports to the Ministry of Defence.
It's there that the Swedish Government agency conducts recruitment for national service, which Swedes must take part in for between nine and 12 months.
During the visit, Sofia listened intently as she chatted with Christina Malmm director general of the Agency at the conscription centre.
Sofia looked sweet and demure as she stood alongside her husband, clasping her hands as she listened to staff members.
During another moment, the royal and her husband paused to grab a group picture with a number of official including; Bengt Forssten deputy head of the agency, Varmland's county governor Georg Andren and his wife Maria Andren and Christina Malm director general of the Agency.
Pictured: Bengt Forssten deputy head of the agency, Varmland's county governor Georg Andren and his wife Maria Andren, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia and Christina Malm director general of the Agency
The duke and duchess visited the The Swedish Defence Conscription and Assessment Agency as part of their two-day visit to Varmland, a county in west central Sweden
Sofia looked sweet and demure as she stood alongside her husband, clasping her hands as she listened to staff members
During the visit, Sofia listened intently as she chatted with Christina Malm director general of the Agency at the conscription centre
Prince Carl Phillip looked the epitome of good taste in a crisp looking grey suit and light blue handkerchief, his beard well trimmed and hair slicked back
The royal, who is already a mother of three sons, arrived at a Volvo site in Varmland with her husband Prince Carl Philip on Wednesday
It comes after the news that the couple are expecting their fourth child, after the two announced the happy news on Monday.
The Swedish Royal Household confirmed that the princess was 'doing well' and that the couple will welcome their sixth family member in February 2025.
The couple, who married in 2015, already have three sons, Prince Alexander, seven, Prince Gabriel, five, and two-year-old Prince Julian.
Carl Philip, 45, is the only son and second child of Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. His older sister Princess Victoria, 47, is the heir to the Swedish throne and he is currently fourth in the line of succession.
A statement shared by the Swedish Royal Household read: 'Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia have the great pleasure to announce that the Princess is expecting the couple's fourth child.
Princess Sofia of Sweden (pictured with Prince Carl Philip) is pregnant with her fourth child, the Swedish Royal Household has announced
Prince Carl Philip's wife (pictured with her family), 39, is 'doing well' and the baby is due in February 2025, according to the palace's statement, which was shared to the Royal Family's Instagram account this afternoon
'Princess Sofia is doing well and the birth is expected in February 2025. No changes are expected in Princess Sofia's official program during the autumn.'
The statement was shared alongside a sweet photograph of the couple, with Carl Philip smiling at the camera, while his wife leaned her head on his face. The background featured a stunning lake and several mountains.
Just yesterday, the happy pair were spotted for the first time following the exciting news.
The princess was glowing as she visited a Volvo site with her husband this morning in Varmland, just two days after her pregnancy was announced.
As they arrived at the site, Sofia was dressed in black flared trousers, a white ribbed sweater and a pashmina around her shoulders. Her baby bump was only barely visible beneath her outfit.
Rescuer Niall Harbison, from Dublin, has since nursed the dog back to health
Lando was found abandoned, chained up and 'absolutely starving' on Thai island
An abandoned dog reduced to 'skin and bones' has made a remarkable recovery in just four days thanks to the dedicated efforts of his rescuer.
Niall Harbison, originally from Dublin but now based in Thailand, has become a beacon of hope for the nation's abandoned and abused canines.
His personal mission is to rescue 10,000 pups each month across Thailand, a country known for its countless stray dogs scattered across more than 1,400 islands.
His efforts have led to the creation of the Happy Doggo charity, an organisation devoted to homing and improving the lives of neglected dogs.
Dog lovers across the world have praised Harbison, calling him 'one of the best humans on the planet,' after he recently shared the heartwarming journey of a dog, now named Lando, on his social media accounts.
Abandoned dog Lando, who was found reduced to 'skin and bones,' has made a remarkable recovery in just four days (pictured) thanks to the dedicated efforts of his 'hero' rescuer
The young dog - who is half-pitbull - was discovered on an unspecified Thai island, tied up on a short metal chain and left 'starving to death' after his owners moved away
Lando's story has captured hearts after Harbison shared it in a post with his million-strong following on his Instagram account @niall.harbison.
The young dog - who is half-pitbull - was discovered on an unspecified Thai island, tied up on a short metal chain and left 'starving to death' after his owners moved away.
Locals had contacted Harbisons team, reporting an 'aggressive' dog who appeared ill.
When Harbison arrived, it quickly became clear that Lando wasn't aggressive but was frightened and weakened from starvation, as well as 'protective' of his area.
Describing Lando's condition when found, Harbison wrote: 'He's all skin and bones, and we can't imagine the hunger he's endured in his past life.'
After cautiously feeding the dog a slice of meat, Harbison transported the canine to a vet, where the chain was removed, and the expert confirmed that the dog was not suffering from any illness.
From there, Lando - weighing only 14kg when he was found - was brought to Harbison's sanctuary, where he was given his name after Formula One driver Lando Norris, who was competing on the day of the rescue.
The following four days marked a swift yet carefully monitored recovery for Lando, with Harbison and his team feeding him four to five small meals daily, while providing plenty of walks, care, and affection.
The chain found wrapped around Lando's neck and attached to a metal pole buried in the ground
Lando weighed only 14kg when he was found by Harbison
Lando, understandably 'obsessed with food' after his ordeal, had to be monitored closely to prevent him from overeating too quickly, a situation Harbison described as 'dangerous' given his condition.
The rescuer noted that the team had 'never seen a dog try to eat as much, as fast, as he has' - believed to be due to the dog fearing that each meal would be his last.
Despite the initial fear and trauma, Lando responded well to the care, sleeping 12 to 14 hours at a time to recover his strength. After just a few days, Harbison shared that Lando was "filling out a bit and feeling much better."
One particularly touching moment in Lando's recovery came when the dog was treated to a plate of fresh rotisserie chicken, devouring the meal in seconds, much to the delight of Harbisons Instagram followers.
In response to the story, many have hailed Harbison as a hero, with one person writing on Instagram: 'You sir are one amazing human being, thank you for everything you do for these precious little angels.'
One particularly touching moment in Lando's recovery came when the dog was treated to a plate of fresh rotisserie chicken, devouring the meal in seconds
In response to Lando's story, many have hailed Niall Harbison as a hero
Another wrote: 'Thank God you were alerted Niall. I can't express the anger for humans who do this. But your work and overall human tenderness is amazing.'
A third said: 'Can't wait to see this good boy realise he's now safe and loved. I'd love to see the previous owners banned from owning dogs.'
Meanwhile, on X, another dog lover wrote: 'You are quite literally one of the best humans on this planet!! Day after day, atrocity after atrocity, you maintain this commitment with kindness and no bitterness.'
Marc Randolph shared his definition of success - and it isn't measured by money
Marc Randolph, who is reported to have a net worth of $100 million, has shared his definition of success - and it isn't measured by the digits in his bank account.
The co-founder and former CEO of Netflix, 66, from New York, said that he believes true success lies in achieving a harmonious work-life balance.
For over 30 years, the serial entrepreneur, who is the co-founder of seven companies, said that he made sure never to schedule a meeting after 5pm on a Tuesday because those evenings were reserved for his wife, Lorraine, who he married in 1987.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, the 66-year-old emphasised the significance of balancing personal and professional commitments.
He revealed that his 'proudest achievement' is not his entrepreneurial journey or money but maintaining a successful marriage with the same person throughout his life.
Marc Randolph, who is reported to have a net worth of $100 million, shared his definition of success - and it isn't measured by the digits in his bank account
He wrote: 'Ive worked hard, for my entire career, to keep my life balanced with my job. In my book, I write about my Tuesday date nights with my wife. For over thirty years, I had a hard cut-off on Tuesdays.
'Rain or shine, I left at exactly 5 pm and spent the evening with my best friend. We would go to a movie, have dinner, or just go window-shopping downtown together.
'Nothing got in the way of that. No meeting, no conference call, no last-minute question or request.
'If you had something to say to me on Tuesday afternoon at 4:55, you had better say it on the way to the parking lot. If there was a crisis, we are going to wrap it up by 5:00.
'Those Tuesday nights kept me sane. And they put the rest of my work in perspective.'
He added: 'I resolved a long time ago to not be one of those entrepreneurs on their 7th start-up and their 7th wife.
'In fact, the thing I'm most proud of in my life is not the companies I started, its the fact that I was able to start them while staying married to the same woman; having my kids grow up knowing me and (best as I can tell) liking me, and being able to spend time pursuing the other passions in my life. Thats my definition of success.'
Many rushed to the comments gushing over his sentimental words towards his wife, who he shares three children with.
For over 30 years, the serial entrepreneur, who is the co-founder of seven companies, said that he made sure never to schedule a meeting after 5pm on a Tuesday because those evenings were reserved for his wife, Lorraine, who he married in 1987 (pictured together in 2016)
Many rushed to the comments gushing over his sentimental words towards his wife, who he shares three children with
One person said: 'Not losing value for family while building is the biggest test of a successful founder. Glad you aced it, Marc!'
Another said: 'Thanks for sharing Marc. Important to never lose sight of one of the core reason's one builds something great - to make your partners, kids, and family proud.'
Someone else wrote: 'I'm certain that your children & your wife thank you for that. That touches on the wealth that is immeasurable, yet undeniable in its precious value.
'Moments with loved ones, prioritized, protected, valued as much as, if not more than just their physical existence. Beautiful.'
The American tech entrepreneur, advisor and speaker was the co-founder of Netflix, has 151 million subscribers worldwide, alongside Reed Hastings.
After launching the brand as a video-rental company in 1997, Marc eventually stepped down as CEO in 1999, and officially departed the company in 2003.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Marc has a current net worth of $100 million, and today he works as a mentor to founders and entrepreneurs.
Queen Camilla revealed that she takes part in 'Silver Swans' dance lessons for seniors during a visit to The English National Ballet in east London today.
The Queen, 77, who is patron of the organisation, shared that she is not only a fan of dance 'in any form' but also dabbles in ballet herself while making a short speech on the occasion of the company's 75th birthday.
However, having been dazzled by rehearsing ballerinas she joked: 'The ladies today would rather show me up.'
Organised by the Royal Academy of Dance, Silver Swans are specially designed dance classes for older people.
The royal had braved the wet weather to join rehearsals at the Mulryan Centre For Dance on Leamouth Peninsula, near Canning Town station, in what was her first visit since becoming patron.
Queen Camilla pictured with the artistic director of The English National Ballet, Aaron S. Watkin
The Queen and the chairman of The English National Ballet, Sir Rupert Gavin, look on as a ballerina rehearses in the studio
Once relieved of her umbrella, she was welcomed by Sir Rupert Gavin, chairman of The English National Ballet, and introduced to artistic director Aaron S. Watkin.
Dressed in a powder blue silk shirtdress by London-based designer Anna Valentine, Queen Camilla accessorised her outfit with a gold and red brooch.
She wore a number of gold and silver bracelets on her right wrist as well as what appeared to be a royal blue, woven friendship bracelet on her left wrist,
The Queen, who emphasised how 'proud' she was to be the patron of The English National Ballet, completed her look with a pair of round-toe, cream and black pumps.
In an informal address made in front of an enormous birthday cake to celebrate the 75th year of the company, she said: 'I love ballet, In any form, I love dance.'
Explaining that she was also patron of ballet schools, she added: 'I do a bit of Silver Swans myself. The ladies today would rather show me up. I do love it.
'Its very exciting to be able to say that I am patron.'
Queen Camilla then wished the ballet company, 'a very happy 75th birthday' and said: 'I hope I shall be seeing a lot more of you in the future. Enjoy the cake.'
Dressed in a powder blue dress by London-based designer Anna Valentine, the Queen appeared to be fascinated by the dancer's movements
During her visit, the Queen looked on admiringly as a ballerina rehearsed in a studio and also met with members of staff.
She was equally treated to what appeared to be a dress rehearsal, with a pair of dancers performing impressive lifts.
The English National Ballet performs across the UK and internationally, bringing world class ballet to the widest possible audience.
Earlier this week, Queen Camilla spoke of the 'joy' reading can give to children as she hosted an event celebrating the 70th anniversary of a leading UK book charity.
The reception marking Book Aid International's anniversary at St James's Palace in London was attended by some 100 guests, including the charity's president Nigel Newton and Lady Caroline Simmonds, the daughter of its founder.
Camilla has been patron of the charity since 2022 and set up her own online book club during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021.
Book Aid International has sent more than 37 million books to schools, libraries, prisons and refugee camps around the world since its founding in 1954.
In an impromptu speech made after she had spoken individually to guests, Camilla told of the 'very, very big difference' being made to people's lives by the accessibility of books.
Queen Camilla also met with staff during her visit to the Mulryan Centre For Dance on Leamouth Peninsula, near Canning Town station, where The English National Ballet is based
Smiling, the Queen, a lover of dance 'in any form' as well as a practitioner, greeted members of the organisation
She said: 'I wasn't actually expecting to speak this evening. There's not a lot more I can say, except to say a huge thank you to all of you who support Book Aid.
'I have visited quite a lot of countries on my travels and I have been to libraries which have been recipients of Book Aid, and I have just seen the joy on the children's faces when they receive these books.
'And if we can keep on doing this all over the world, we're going to make a very, very big difference to people reading books, children getting access to books - and it's really thanks to Book Aid and all of you here who have made this possible. So thank you very much indeed.'
The Queen looked elegant in an eye-catching green dress with a peacock feather pattern for the reception.
The charity was founded in 1954 by the Countess of Ranfurly as a library for local children in the Bahamas after she visited the island nation with her husband, who was its governor, and was 'shocked' at the lack of reading material available.
This book scheme was extended to the Commonwealth from 1956 as the Ranfurly Library Service and was renamed Book Aid International in 1994.
Lord Boateng, vice patron of Book Aid International, said access to Lady Ranfurly's library had 'changed my life'.
'Book Aid International, then the Countess Ranfurly's Library Trust, changed my life,' he told attendees.
Queen Camilla accessorised her powder blue shirtdress with a gold and red brooch and wore what appeared to be a friendship bracelet on her left wrist
As patron of the English National Ballet, she wished the company a very happy 75th birthday and told them to enjoy the cake
'I was a little boy growing up in the Gold Coast, which became Ghana, and Book Aid International furnished the books and trained the librarians for the first dedicated children's library in sub-Saharan Africa. I went to that library as a six, seven year-old. And it did change my life.'
The Labour peer said the books 'underpinned aspiration' and gave children a 'sense of the possibilities' available to them.
Prince Philip, as Duke of Edinburgh, had been Book Aid International's royal patron from 1966 until his death in 2021.
Poet and novelist Sir Ben Okri, who was invited to the reception as a key supporter of the charity, said books helped 'feed people's minds, feed their spirits, encourage them, open up possibilities, deepen their thinking and release them from stress and fear'.
He said: 'The Queen is one of the great evangelists of the power of books and power of reading. And it's a very special thing because it's not normally a very glamorous area - books are very private things, you read them all by yourself.
She enjoyed an informal chat with the artistic director, Aaron S. Watkin, during her visit
'And to have the Queen champion what reading can do is absolutely astonishing and invaluable for our age.'
Other guests invited to the hour-long event included broadcaster David Dimbleby, actor Neil Pearson, author Ken Follet and publisher Sigrid Rausing.
Queen Mary of Denmark looked sombre as she joined her husband, King Frederik, for Flag Day in Copenhagen today.
The royal, 52, looked solemn during the emotional day, which honours people who have been sent on a mission by Denmark.
Mary went to the Military Headquarters Kastellet, where she and her husband participated in the traditional wreath-laying ceremony for Danish soldiers abroad.
She sported a simple, yet chic, black dress with a square neckline and quarter-length puffy sleeves and donned pink strappy heels.
Mary paired this with a sophisticated large pearl necklace and matching stud, earrings, along with a bracelet. She also opted to wear her classic gold Cartier love bracelets.
Queen Mary looked solemn during the emotional day, which honours people who have been sent on a mission by Denmark
The mother-of-four accessorised her look further with a navy coloured wide-brimmed hat which shielded her face from the sun.
The Queen wore her glistening brunette tresses down in a sleek straight blow-dry and opted for smoky eyeshadow and pink lipstick.
King Frederik, 56, who was dressed in military regalia, also looked moved as he lay down a wreath. The service was also attended by veterans.
However, the Monarch managed to crack a smile with his wife as he sat by her side during the ceremonies.
September 5 is an official day in Denmark to pay respect to deployed soldiers and is marked by a number of different events and ceremonies throughout the day.
The couple recently said goodbye to their eldest son and heir to the throne, Prince Christian, as he moved away to Africa.
The 18-year-old is moving out of the family home and heading to East Africa where he will live until December to experience farm work and ' deeper learning'.
The doting mother-of-four admitted it'll be very difficult not having their son around for the next few months.
King Frederik, 56, who was dressed in military regalia, also looked moved as he lay down a wreath. The service was also attended by veterans
Mary went to the Military Headquarters Kastellet, where she and her husband participated in the traditional wreath-laying ceremony for Danish soldiers abroad
King Frederik is snapped taking off his hat as takes part in the wreath laying ceremony with Mary
Mary sported a simple, yet chic, black dress with a square neckline and quarter-length puffy sleeves and donned pink strappy heels
Mary paired her ensemble with a sophisticated large pearl necklace and matching stud, earrings, along with a bracelet
Queen Mary of Denmark appeared to be emotional as she joined her husband, King Frederik, for Flag Day in Copenhagen today
The Queen wore her glistening brunette tresses down in a sleek straight blow-dry and opted for smoky eyeshadow and pink lipstick
The Monarch managed to crack a smile with his wife as he sat by her side during the ceremonies
The royal couple were seen standing alongside each other as they attend the Flag Day ceremony
September 5 is an official day in Denmark to pay respect to deployed soldiers and is marked by a number of different events and ceremonies throughout the day
King Frederik is snapped alongside his wife Queen Mary during Flag Day
'We are going to miss him unimaginably... very, very much,' she said while attending a ceremony in Copenhagen on Wednesday.
She added that both she and King Frederik are excited for him, however, and 'look forward' to hearing about his travels upon his return.
The Danish Palace revealed the youngster will be working in farms on his visit while trying out various roles and getting to get to know the community.
He will also learn about the natural landscape in Africa and how locals maintain the balance between work, life and conservation.
Prince Christian follows in his father's footsteps, and those of his Grandmother Queen Margrethe.
It is tradition for Danish royals in line for the throne to spend a significant time abroad in their youth so they can grow to appreciate the world, a palace spokesperson explained.
Gemma Arterton has sparked outrage after claiming that she 'sometimes worries that the word feminist excludes men'.
The actress, 38, angered Woman's Hour listeners after her appearance on Wednesday morning.
She spoke to programme host Nuala McGovern about the film industry since the #MeToo movement, and how there has been 'a sea change' for the better since 2018.
However, some felt 'disappointed' by what they felt was the star suggesting we 'change language to make men feel more comfortable'.
In a clip of the show shared on Instagram, Gemma told the show: 'Sometimes I worry that the word feminist excludes men.
Gemma Arterton has sparked outrage after claiming that she 'sometimes worries that the word feminist excludes men'
'And I understand why it had to be that way because we needed to kind of fix our bit and empower ourselves.
'But now what I think it needs to be is about balance and equality and inclusivity.'
She added that while she doesn't see the word feminist as a 'negative', she feels for some 'it can feel like a kind of angry word or a divisive word'.
'I know there is a kind of negative connotation to it for some people,' Gemma continued.
She also told Nuala that she's seen a change in the industry when it comes to women - after starting to professionally work in 2007.
'The difference, in not only more women working in all sectors but also just the way all women are portrayed on screen and all of that, it's changed so much,' Gemma said.
'I always feel like there's more than can be done but since 2018 there's definitely been a sea change and I've really really noticed that.'
In 2018, the #MeToo movement was reaching prominence as women from all sectors - and notably, in the film industry - were opening up about the rife sexual abuse issues in their workplaces.
The actress, 38, angered Woman's Hour listeners after her appearance on the show on Wednesday morning
However, some felt 'disappointed' by what they felt was the star suggesting we 'change language to make men feel more comfortable'
Many Women's Hour listeners took to Instagram to hit out at what they felt were Gemma's diluting of the issue.
'Wonder how many podcasts there are where men are sitting around discussing whether the language they use for male causes make women feel uncomfortable?' one asked.
'"Fix our bit" - nice way of describing system discrimination and misogyny since recorded history,' another added. 'Also - our bits have not been fixed in case she lives in an alternate universe.'
'So now we should refocus our energy on coming up with a word that men find more palatable rather than, say, focus on keeping women alive, safe and fairly paid? Got it.'
However, some were also in support of Gemma's remarks. 'I totally agree,' one wrote. 'That word is not helping anymore. We have to look at the bigger - we all have to hear we are in this together'
Gemma is the star, and executive producer, Funny Woman - which follows the story of a female comedian trying to make it in a male-dominated industry in the 1960s
'Male feminist here,' another said. 'Ironically given her show, I started identifying more as a feminist as I researched forgotten female pioneers of comedy and drama on early radio and TV.
'Written out of history books, by male writers. I'm eager to tip the balance back. Gemma's show is cracking and does that too.'
Others took to the comments to share stories that have dominated headlines this week, including the tragic death of Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei who was set on fire by her ex-boyfriend, and Gisele Pelicot in Avignon, France, whose husband allegedly drugged her and invited men to rape her.
However, some were also in support of Gemma's remarks.
'I totally agree,' one wrote. 'That word is not helping anymore. We have to look at the bigger - we all have to hear we are in this together.'
FEMAIL has reached out to Gemma's team for comment.
Gemma is the star, and executive producer of Funny Woman - a show that follows the story of a female comedian trying to make it in a male-dominated industry in the 1960s; which is what she came on the radio programme to discuss.
The star also spoke about bringing her mother to a Time's Up march six years ago, as well as the challenges of producing women-led story.
Gemma also told Nuala that she's seen a change in the industry when it comes to women - after starting to professionally work in 2007. Pictured in Quantum Solace with Daniel Craig
Nuala's question arose out of a Guardian interview in 2018, where Gemma said she's 'not afraid of the word feminism' but thought 'we need to come up with a new word'.
'It's maybe a bit dated, and we need something a bit more modern,' she told the outlet.
'I feel like -ist at the end of the word is usually against something, like, racist, sexist; it's like, negative connotations, and I think we're past that. We need to come up with something else.'
Gemma has also often spoken about being raised by 'incredible strong women' - her mother and her aunt, after her parents separated, when she was growing up in a working class family, in Kent.
Most recently, she is also starring in The Critic, which debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023.
The period thriller film, distributed by Lionsgate, will now enjoy a UK release date of September 13.
The Critic follows an actress (Gemma) in 1934 London, who finds herself in a dark situation involving a gay theatre critic (Sir Ian McKellen) and his paper's editor (Mark Strong).
The film is based on the 2015 novel Curtain Call by Anthony Quinn and was written by Patrick Marber.
Anand Tucker directs. The Thai-born director has not directed a film since 2010's poorly received romantic comedy Leap Year, starring Amy Adams.
The Critic was produced by the late Bill Kenwright and also stars Mark Strong, Lesley Manville, and Alfred Enoch.
An OnlyFans recruiter is revealing the appalling requests she got from men - which were troubling enough that she completely changed her own life and embrace Christianity.
Australian Victoria Sinis, who has a marketing background, was unaware of the disturbing fetish requests and violent pornographic materials she would be exposed to while working for an OnlyFans agency.
When a friend recommended her for the position in 2022, Victoria innocently didn't know much about the site. Her role as an employee of the agency was to recruit women for OnlyFans.
She initially believed that most of the women on the site came from impoverished backgrounds, and because they were making good money, they surely must be happy, and doing something positive with their lives, but she was in for a rude awakening.
When Victoria got a behind-the-scenes look into the online world, she quickly learned the ugly truth of it, which inspired her to turn to religion, specifically Christianity.
An OnlyFans recruiter has candidly admitted the appalling requests she got from men, which motivated her to switch gears in her personal life
Australian Victoria Sinis, who has a marketing background, was unaware of the disturbing fetish requests and violent pornographic materials she would be exposed to in her role
Victoria is now the founder of Creating Gems, which is an organization that focuses on helping women overcome societal expectations, and advocates against sexual exploitation.
She transparently shared that some viewed the platform as empowering because women can somewhat control the content that they put out for their monthly subscribers, but there's a catch.
While outsiders may have the misconception that OnlyFans is simply about making money off of feet pics, the content can be much more sinister.
Victoria pointed out that when an OnlyFans woman gets to a specific level on the site, she loses authority over interacting with her subscribers, and an agency steps in.
The agency becomes like a messenger between the women and the men and gets contractors to pretend to be the woman and proceed to speak with her subscribers.
The brand requests for her to post provocative social media content, so that she can best market herself on OnlyFans.
An agency also uses social media to recruit, by finding women who post scandalous pictures.
Because OnlyFans is competitive, many women are inevitability forced by their subscribers to post content beyond their comfort level, so that they can make enough money to survive.
Victoria shared that agencies, such as hers, have level systems in place.
She explained that she came up with the first level for which women are wearing bathing suits in their photos.
The second level is women implying nudity in their content, and the third level is full-on nudity.
The higher your level number, the more provocative your content would be, the higher amount of subscribers you would have, and as an effect, the higher your payouts would get.
Victoria admitted that she was disgusted by the custom requests feature, which allowed subscribers to ask the women for specific sexual content.
She shared that some of the disturbing requests included men asking women to write out 's***', or the subscriber's name on their bodies or to tie themselves up in their pictures.
One male subscriber paid for a woman to put on a specific sandal, blow up balloons to a certain size, and then stomp on them.
Another subscriber requested to see one woman dangling from a ledge, while another stepped on her fingers.
Victoria confessed that the more specific the request, the more she got disturbed by the industry.
She became concerned that although the scenarios were fake, that the video may not be enough for a subscriber, and that they may be inclined to act it out since OnlyFans is often feeding into the sick fantasies.
That kind of twisted psychology didn't sit right with Victoria, and she decided change her life, and in doing so, she recalled what brought her peace when she was younger.
When Victoria got a behind-the-scenes look into the online world, she quickly learned the ugly truth of it, which inspired her to turn to religion, specifically Christianity
When Victoria was a little girl, she went to a church called CityLife, which had a refugee program.
Because her family wasn't religious, they stopped attending church when she was 10 or 11, however, she never forgot a specific story that a children's pastor once shared.
When Victoria was four, she heard the narrative about a woman who was threatened by a man that she would be shot if she didn't denounce Christ.
The strong-willed woman in the story refused and the gun didn't go off.
Despite Victoria not understanding whether the tale was real or not, it left a strong mark on her.
As an adult who felt as though she was at a dead end in her life, she used the symbolism behind the moving story, to invigorate her calling.
She shared that she always had the deep feeling in her gut, that at no point in her life, did she denounce God either.
Victoria explained that for her personal journey, she always knew that God was real and existed.
Victoria reached out to the church, and soon after was invited to its service.
The day she was in attendance was a full-circle moment for her, as the movement director for Collective Shout, an anti-sexual exploitation group, Melinda Tankard Reist was speaking.
OnlyFans didn't sit right with Victoria and she decided to turn her life around
Victoria was overcome with emotion from Melinda's speech, in which she mentioned Christians symbolically representing the salt and the light in the world.
When Melinda specifically brought up OnlyFans, and its negative and and dangerous impact, Victoria felt her new path was solidified.
After Melinda spoke, Victoria introduced herself to her as an employee of an agency that recruits for OnlyFans, and candidly shared the hatred that she had for herself because of it.
After Melinda provided her with a reality check about the horrors of OnlyFans on that Sunday, Victoria quit working at the agency that upcoming Friday, in July 2023.
To financially get on her feet, she then worked at a cafe, where she viewed the labor of cleaning toilets humbling.
Melinda helped get Victoria to start sharing her story at schools, and one of her touching speeches even went viral on TikTok.
Victoria went through a three-day fast, which ultimately lead her on her new path of starting her organization, through which she teaches young girls to have greater aspirations than being attractive to the male gaze as OnlyFans models, and to find their true worth.
DailyMail.com has reached out to OnlyFans for comment.
Marriage is one type of life sentence, but this woman's fiance is serving another one - for murder.
Kat first met fiance Lazy when they were both 13 years old, describing them as 'childhood sweethearts.'
After losing touch after middle school, Lazy found Kat on Facebook after 11 years and the two reconnected - however a quick Google found he was already serving time in prison.
While Kat says Lazy is the love of her life, her family and friends are strongly against the relationship - as he is currently in prison for life plus 35 years for murder.
'My heart broke,' she admitted.
Kat first met her fiance Lazy when they were both 13 years old, describing them as 'childhood sweethearts'
However, that didn't stop the pair from deciding to date before officially becoming a couple in March 2021.
'I feel like he thought we became an official couple the first day we started talking,' she chuckled.
'He called me his girlfriend and I was like "you never asked me" and then he finally asked me,' she recalled.
Kat explained that she is often inundated with comments and messages from trolls with her family also reacting 'very badly' when they found out - particularly her mom who refuses to talk to her about Lazy.
'I can't go to her about my relationship,' she complained. 'I feel like she should give him an opportunity - I'm not a child, I'm an adult and I deserve happiness.'
However, this hasn't stopped her from making Lazy a part of her family.
She explained the felon has ever become a stepfather to her daughter Bella, 'due to their bond in the relationship.'
'I'm really happy that they get along,' she added.
After losing touch after middle school, Lazy found Kat on Facebook after 11 years and the two reconnected - however a quick Google found he was already serving time in prison
While Kat is often inundated with comments and messages from trolls, and her family reacted 'very badly' when they found out about her relationship
Kat said her daughter and fiance getting along was something she was 'really anxious and nervous about' - but in here eyes, it all worked out for the best.
'I've never introduced my daughter to another man - especially somebody in prison,' she promised.
'He's always looking out for her so he doesn't miss a birthday or Christmas or anything,' she added.
Lazy said he loves being Bella's stepfather because he has no biological kids of his own and always wanted some.
'I love her very much,' he said passionately.
The mom added that she has told her daughter that of Lazy's crime, saying she wants her to know 'there are consequences to your actions.'
'I think it's very important for her to see the reality of real life,' she said.
Despite the negative comments, Kat said Lazy makes her feel 'good and confident.'
She explained the felon has ever become a stepfather to her daughter Bella, ' due to their bond in the relationship' (pictured with Bella)
'[He's always] calling me, sending me letters, buying me gifts, spoiling me because he knows my love language is gifts,' she shared.
She stays in touch with Lazy through phone calls and email, adding if they're going through a 'tussle,' she'll go to the prison to visit him.
Lazy said he has no regrets about striking up a romance in prison, telling Kat on a phone call, 'just because I'm in prison doesn't mean I should not continue living my life.'
Despite criticisms from the people she loves and strangers, Kat loves Lazy and wouldn't have it any other way.
'People who judge us is I really don't care at all, it ain't got nothing to do with me,' she declared.
'Lazy impacted my life for the better,' she continued. 'He showed me and taught me what unconditional love is and he's shaped me into a better woman.'
My friend thought she was paying me a compliment, but her words were some of the most hurtful Id heard.
Full of sincerity, she told me: Radhika, youre really pretty for an Indian.
That was the moment, aged 15, when I realised that no matter how much I tried to fit in, Id always be seen as less than because of the colour of my skin.
Im British Indian and, for most of my life, Ive hated being Indian.
That is not an easy sentence to write. It makes me feel deeply sad that this is how I felt for so long. But its true.
After friends told her she was pretty 'for an Indian' at 15, Radhika Sanghani (pictured) rejected her Indian heritage. It took another 15 years for her to see herself as beautiful. Dress, 905, Mahima Mahajan at lillysboutiquelondon.com
For more than two decades, I tried to put as much space between myself and my ancestry as I could.
Its only in recent years, as Indian culture has become more fashionable, that Ive also begun to embrace it.
Im a first-generation British Indian, born in London. Both sets of my grandparents came from Gujarat, eventually moving to Uganda, where my parents were born.
They both came to England as children, but never stopped reminiscing about their idyllic childhoods in Uganda, complete with zebras, monkeys, amazing food and a strong Indian community.
Meanwhile, I grew up in leafy North London where hardly anyone in our neighbourhood was brown.
My parents still tried to bring me up with our traditions, having a shrine to the Hindu gods in our house, celebrating Diwali and often speaking Gujarati at home.
As a child, I loved the fun of dressing up in Indian clothes and doing religious rituals. But as I got older, things changed.
At secondary school, the differences between me and my (mainly white) peers went from being something that we were barely aware of to becoming sometimes painfully obvious.
As is the case with teenage girls, the most important thing was to fit in. We strove to emulate the heroines of our time: Kate Moss, Buffy star Sarah Michelle Gellar and anyone from Friends.
But the white beauty standard of the early Noughties meant I would never be seen as beautiful. Even though I had the right body type, I didnt have the right features or skin colour.
When she was a teenager, the most important thing was to fit in and Radhika would never dream of putting a picture of herself wearing Indian clothing on social media
My difference was highlighted by our school uniform not the official blazer and skirt, but our unofficial one: tan skin colour tights, fake tan, Mac foundation and lots of bronzer.
Ironically, everyone was trying to make themselves look browner, but none of these worked on my skin. If ever I tried such as wearing nude tights that looked oddly pale on me my classmates would make jokes about it.
I had to fake laugh at a lot of jokes during those years about Indians and their smelly curries (even though I never brought in curries for my packed lunch), Indian accents (even though I did not have one) and my Indian big nose (this I did have).
I didnt even recognise it as casual racism at the time. It was so normalised that even though it made me feel hurt and angry, I didnt feel I had the right to say anything.
I was also so keen to fit in that I didnt want to draw more attention to my difference by speaking up. Instead, I just laughed along with the jokes, hoping that way we could move on faster.
But all the comments took their toll. I internalised that shame and spent the rest of my school and university years trying to anglicise myself as much as possible.
Id still wear Indian outfits and sarees for family weddings and religious celebrations, but I hated how the clothes made me feel different.
I was so used to seeing myself in things from Topshop and H&M that when I was in sparkly chiffon with a bindi on my forehead, I felt like I wasnt my real self.
I would never have dreamt of putting a photo of myself in Indian clothing on social media.
And Id spent so long trying to be more like my white friends, that I now felt like an imposter at Indian events, too.
In her late 20s, Radhika began to see that her Indian culture was officially in vogue and it started to change how she felt about my identity
I also stopped speaking Gujarati. Id been speaking it less since my last remaining grandparent died when I was 12, and my parents spoke perfect English.
Naturally, my family were disappointed. They couldnt understand why I was so against our culture. Back then, Id plug in my headphones and retreat into my moody teenage self whenever they tried to talk to me about it.
As I started to lose my Gujarati, my mum begged me to keep it up with lessons. If you stop, youll lose it forever and youll regret it when youre older, she warned me. I told her I didnt care.
But now Im in my early 30s, I can see she was right. Im fluent in Spanish and Italian, but I can hardly speak any Gujarati - my own parents mother tongue.
Just as she predicted, its something I now regret. But at the time, Id felt like my Indian language and culture would hold me back, rather than help me.
Sadly, everything I experienced in wider society seemed to confirm my views. In my 20s, I would avoid putting my ethnicity on dating apps, noticing that when I did so, I received fewer matches.
When I once did an experiment to prove this, creating two profiles with the same images of me one called Radhika and one called Rachel Rachel received double the amount of likes.
I was so used to minimising my Indian identity that when I was in my late 20s, I was shocked to realise that being Indian was no longer seen as negative.
The turmeric and hot milk my mum used to make me when I was little was now being sold as a trendy turmeric latte for 4.50.
Yoga something my mum and I had been doing together since I was ten was now the most fashionable activity among white women. And Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai was being labelled as the most beautiful woman in the world.
It helped that her boyfriend didnt just accept her for being different he loved it about her, falling in love with her culture as he fell in love with Radhika
My culture was officially in vogue and it started to change how I felt about my identity.
Perhaps this shift would have happened anyway as I got older and cared less about what other people thought about me, but it was certainly a factor.
And it helped that for the first time I was in a serious relationship. My (white New Zealander) boyfriend didnt just accept me for being different he loved it about me, falling in love with my culture as he fell in love with me.
Slowly, I started to see myself through his eyes, and the two of us even went backpacking through India.
To my shock, the locals didnt think I was Indian until I told them my name. Apparently, the lightness of my skin, the balayage in my hair and the clothes I wore meant I didnt look recognisably Indian.
It was something I would have loved to hear in my teen years, but now it just felt wrong.
Id spent so long trying to be less Indian to fit in, but now I was in India, I didnt fit in either because I wasnt Indian enough.
I felt lost between my two cultures. Id abandoned myself trying to be just British rather than British Indian. I knew I didnt want to go on like that.
When I came home, I decided I was sick of such a white-focused beauty standard. So I launched a body positivity movement to celebrate big noses called #SideProfileSelfie.
It went viral and, suddenly, my social media feeds were full of beautiful women with strong profiles, helping me shift my own definition of beauty to include big noses like my own.
For the first time exactly 15 years after Id been told I was pretty for an Indian I saw myself as beautiful.
Around the same time, I used my writing to explore my identity. Id published two novels in my early 20s, and Id made the protagonists white, because Id never read a book with a brown-skinned heroine. But when I hit my 30s, I made sure my novels starred British Indian women.
Radhika has now published a book called Here To Slay (pictured) for her teenage self - and on the front cover her heroine, Kali, is proudly wearing traditional Indian clothing
Now, Ive published a book for my teenage self, which came out yesterday. Its called Here To Slay and is inspired by Buffy The Vampire Slayer, except my 16-year-old heroine isnt blonde; shes British Indian, named after the Hindu goddess of death, Kali.
My Kali goes on a journey to embrace herself in every way her skin colour, her sexual identity and her Indian origins all while fighting literal demons.
Most importantly, I made sure the front cover shows Kali proudly wearing traditional Indian clothing.
Its taken me a long time to fully love myself, but I refuse to go back to being ashamed of who I am. I love my skin colour, my origins and my identity and I hope that the new generation of young British Indian girls never has to feel the way I did.
September 4, 2024: As of mid-2024 China has about 300 of its new J-20 Mighty Dragon stealth fighter in service. This came after China solved a frustrating problem with production of reliable and powerful engines for its J-20 stealth fighter. This allowed mass production of the J-20 to proceed in 2022. For nearly a decade the primary obstacle to mass production has been unreliable locally developed and produced WS10 jet engines. Over the last three years three improved models of the basic WS10 have appeared: the WS-10C (basis model for the J-10), WS-10B3 (with thrust vectoring for greater maneuverability) and WS-15 (with super cruise). There are now over a hundred J-20s in service, all with one of the three WS-10 evolutions. Most are the J-20B model using the WS-10B3 or WS-15 engine. Over the next few years all existing J-20s will be equipped with the WS-15.
In 2022 some of these active-duty J-20Bs were spotted and during 2022 August China conducted air and naval military training operations around the island of Taiwan. The Chinese sent a number of their J-20 stealth fighters aloft armed with air-to-surface and air-to-air missiles carried externally, degrading its stealth capabilities. American and Taiwanese radars and 0ther ELINT (electronic intelligence) equipment got a chance to test the stealth capabilities of the J-20. China has been trying to develop world-class stealth fighters since the 1990s. A decade ago the J-20 appeared, described as a true stealth fighter. It seemed to be, sort of, but eventually turned out to be close but still a work-in-progress. That was promptly confirmed as J-20s flew near Taiwan and were tracked by American and Taiwanese radars.
It wasnt until 2020 that J-20 officially entered mass production. This was not the original J-20A that was prematurely declared ready in 2017, but a much-improved J-20B. In 2018 China admitted that production of the J-20 was stalled and the manufacturer confirmed the reasons why. The details were explained on state run television, in part to help recruit the skilled workers needed to produce the J-20. There is a labor shortage in China, largely because of the decades of low birth rates mandated by the one child policy. The Chinese aircraft manufacturing industry, for both military and commercial aircraft, is booming and workers able to fabricate and assemble components are in short supply. Building the J-20 requires a disproportionate number of skilled workers. Parts of the fuselage are made of alloys that are particularly time-consuming to mold and then fabricate into complex structures. Many of the components come from Chinese suppliers who are still developing and perfecting their production capabilities. In general, the J-20 requires a lot of exotic components and supplies are tight. China also revealed that development of the J-20 has cost $4.4 billion as of 2018, and that the construction cost for each aircraft is $110 million. In addition to the manufacturing difficulties, there were performance problems with the prototypes and six J-20A production models turned over to the Chinese Air Force by 2018.
This came after a late 2017 announcement that the J-20 had officially entered service. At that time, it was obvious, via aerial photos of the factory and air bases, that production of the J-20 was not actually happening. The manufacturer had planned to build three a month initially but from mid-2017 to mid-2018 production turned out to have been zero. At that time there were apparently a dozen more in various stages of completion. By early 2018 it was known that there were several potential problems with the J-20 production but the main ones had to do with stealth, as in the delicate materials on the airframe that make radar detection less effective. The other problem was the engines. In 2018 the WS-10Cs installed were a stopgap and not efficient enough to support super cruise (go supersonic without using the afterburner).
China has had persistent problems developing high-performance jet engines. China has been developing the more powerful and super cruise ready WS-15 engine since the 1990s, for a larger aircraft like the J-20. Despite a lot of effort, the WS-15 was still not able to work reliably enough for service, rather than a prototype aircraft. Officials also confirmed rumors that a WS-15 exploded during a 2015 static ground test. That failure had been a secret, but when an engine this important fails by blowing up, the incident is difficult to hide. It also turned out that the WS-15 design and manufacturing problems were less difficult to fix than those encountered with other components and the skilled labor shortage.
In 2018 no date was given as to when the WS-15 would be available for use or whether it would have the same thrust vectoring. This is the ability to move the hot jet exhaust in different directions in order to make the fighter more maneuverable. The American F-22 uses this. At first, a more powerful and reliable version of the WS-15 for J-20 was believed possible by 2020, but changes in the shape and weight of the WS-15 would require modifications to the shape of the J-20 which in turn required lots of testing to ensure that stealth was not compromised. The factory would have to install new or modified manufacturing equipment and suppliers would have to do the same to produce the new airframe components. Apparently, all of those problems were solved by mid-2020. This included the WS-15 reliability problems. As of 2022 the latest version of the WS-15 had improved performance and reliability sufficiently for regular use in active service squadrons. Chinese engine experts also pointed out that the engines used by the F-22 and F-35 are at least a decade ahead of the tech used in the WS-15. Left unsaid was the fact that China had gone from no locally designed and built fighter jet engines to the WS-15 in a few decades and another decade or so to catch up was expected.
The WS-15 saga was one of repeated disappointments and there may be more of that. Some high-performance jet engines are more reliable than others. Western engine manufacturers have been through this for decades as each new generation of engines was developed. China knows of that history and is resigned to repeating it. In 2018 it was announced that production models of the WS-15 were to be available in 2019. This was a reasonable assumption because the WS-15 has been in development since about 2003 and the first working version appeared in 2008. Based on past engine development experience the WS-15 should have been ready for mass production by 2020, although the skilled labor shortage turned out to be more of a problem than anticipated and delayed things for two years. China overcame these production problems because you cant mass produce the J-20B without mass production of reliable WS-15 engines.
There was another reason for the early 2017 announcement that at least a dozen J-20s had been delivered to the Chinese air force as part of a new fighter squadron. This information was exaggerated and released to help with export sales because at the time Chinese media was reporting that Pakistan had agreed to buy J-20s. Numbers were not announced and there were still questions about how effective the J-20 actually is. Pakistani interest in the J-20 may have more to do with the fact that China is the only major-power ally they have, their main supplier of weapons and, best of all, a neighbor. Pakistan cannot afford many $110 million aircraft and China is not known to be generous with credit or discounts when it comes to high tech gear like this.
while China began offering its 28-ton J-31 stealth fighter to export customers in 2014 as the FC-31, it was not until 2017 that efforts were made to export the more advanced J-20. The manufacturer of the J-20 is CAC (Chengdu Aircraft Company), which also produces the JF-17 and J-10. The JF-17 is a joint effort with Pakistan and Pakistan is the main customer. J-31s are not yet ready for mass production, in part because it has some of the same production problems as the J-20 and China is deliberately putting more emphasis on getting the J-20 into mass production.
The J-31 has undergone a number of modifications and the manufacturer is trying to develop a version that could be used from Chinas new aircraft carriers. As of 2022 the 28-ton J-31 is still in the prototype stage. It made its first flight in 2012, a year after the J-20. The stalled development is due to the fact it is being developed without government assistance, other than access to information of American stealth aircraft obtained by Internet based and other forms of espionage.
The J-20 definitely had a head start on the J-31. Before the originally scheduled J-20 mass production could begin in late 2015, eight prototypes were built. There were at least two original J-20A prototypes, and in 2013 a new J-20B prototype appeared that had several modifications and is estimated to have a max weight of 37 tons. By 2018 several more prototypes have been built along with at least six production models plus over a dozen stalled on the assembly line. All of these were built with the understanding that some major (and time-consuming) refurbishing might be needed once the WS-15 engine was ready for service.
Work on the J-20 began in the late 1990s, and the Chinese went forward on the assumption that it could be 25 years or more before they had a competitive stealth fighter-bomber in service. The twin engine J-20 first appeared to be about the same weight class as the non-stealthy American 30-ton F-15C, but the production model was closer in weight to the F22. By comparison, the U.S. F-35A stealth fighter-bomber is a 31-ton, single engine fighter, while the twin-engine F-22 is slightly larger at 38 tons. The Russian Su-57 weighed in at 37 tons and its production is also stalled over technical issues. The Russians can make more powerful and reliable engines than the Chinese but are still having problems with their other techs like stealth coatings and electronics. At the same time Russia officially put production of its Su-57 stealth fighter on hold and suffers from some of the same production problems as the Chinese.
While the J-20 looks like the American F-22 when viewed head-on, its overall shape, weight, and engine power is closer to the older, non-stealthy American F-15C. In other words, the J-20 is 20.4 meters long, with a wingspan of 13.5 meters. The J-20 has about the same wing area as the F-15C, which is about 25 percent less than the F-22, which is a few percent larger than the F-15 in terms of length and wingspan. Worse for the J-20 is the fact that its engine power is about the same as the F-15C, while the F-22 has 65 percent more power. With the afterburner turned on, the J-20 has more power than the F-15C and nearly as much as the F-22. But because the afterburner consumes so much fuel, you can't use it for more than a few minutes at a time. The afterburner also generates a lot more heat which makes an aircraft more visible to heat sensors. The J-20B was designed to use super cruise with a powerful enough engine, joining the F-22, Eurofighter, and Swedish Gripen as aircraft that can super cruise. The J-20B appears capable of doing lots of engine-dependent things during tests or in theory that it has not been able to sustain in regular service.
The J-20 has some stealth when it's coming at you head on, but from any other aspect, the J-20 will light up the radar screen unless it has effective radar absorbing material on the exterior. For this reason, the J-20 initially appeared to be a developmental aircraft, not the prototype of a new model headed for mass production. China soon made it clear that the J-20 was indeed the basis for a new fighter and would go through as many design and shape changes needed to become combat ready. Based on recent Chinese warplane development projects, especially the J-11, it was believed that the J-20 still has a long development road ahead of it. There were some obvious changes between the first and the later prototypes, but nothing all that drastic. Thus, it was surprising when the J-20 was declared ready for service in 2017 but not so surprising when production was quietly halted because of unspecified problems. Yet the Chinese have been competent and relentless in developing complex technologies and there was no reason to believe they wont get the J-20 working. That has apparently happened and was confirmed as J-20Bs showed up in operational J-20 fighter squadrons. That finally took place in 2021.
The J-20 is only the fourth stealth warplane to fly, the others being the American F-22 and F-35, plus the Russian Su-57. The older U.S. F-117 was actually a light bomber and the B-2 was obviously a heavy bomber. While the shape of the J-20 confers a degree of stealth (invisibility to radar), even more electronic invisibility comes from special materials covering the aircraft. It's not known how far along the Chinese are in creating, or stealing data on, these materials. China would most likely use the J-20 singly, or in small groups, to seek out and attack American carriers. For the J-20 to be a superior fighter capable of that, it would need electronics, including radars and defense systems on a par with the F-35 and F-22 as well as powerful and reliable engines and effective radar absorbing materials.
The J-31 and J-20 are further evidence that China is determined to develop its own high-tech military gear. While China is eager to develop advanced military technology locally, it recognizes that this takes time and more effort than nations new to this expect. Thus, China is trying to avoid the mistakes Russia made in this area. That means having competing designs and developing necessary supporting industries as part of that. All this takes a lot of time and involves lots of little (and some major) failures. The Chinese are doing it right and are willing to wait until they get the military tech that is truly world class.
Breathing in a level of air pollution common in the UK could increase the risk of male infertility by 25 per cent, a study warns.
The analysis by Danish researchers also found women exposed to traffic noise levels common in England led to a 14 per cent increased risk of infertility.
British experts say the findings are limited, but if confirmed could have 'profound effects on future generations'.
Their findings are based on national study of over 500,000 men and nearly 400,000 women aged between 30 and 45 with fewer than two children, who were living in Denmark between 2000 and 2017.
Experts analysed their reproductive health and looked for patterns with long-running data on the air and noise pollution at their address.
Breathing in a level of air pollution common in the UK could lead to men to suffer a quarter higher risk infertility, a study warns
This map, from a Government study, shows the percentage of people in England living with an average road-traffic noise levels exceeding 50 decibels
For air pollution they specifically looked at PM2.5 which means tiny material less 2.5 micrometres in diameter created by road traffic and burning of fossil fuels in urban settings.
They found Danish men exposed to an annual average of 2.9 micrograms of fine particles of pollution per cubic metre, had a 24 per cent increased risk of infertility.
Worryingly, the latest data shows the annual average level of PM2.5 in UK cities is nearly double this figure.
However, this can rise to numbers as high as 10 in places like Brighton.
While the Danish researchers didn't observe a similar impact of PM2.5 exposure on women's fertility they did see a similar affect from noise pollution.
Noise pollution refers to excess levels of sound from things like road traffic and has been linked to a reduced of sleep and increased stress with knock-on effects to cardiovascular health and mental health conditions.
Exposure to 10.2 decibel higher than average levels of road traffic was linked to a 14 per cent increased risk of infertility among women older than 35.
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Worryingly, the latest data shows the annual average level of PM2.5 in UK cities is nearly double this figure, at 7.2 g/m3 in 2023 according to Government data. However, this can rise to as high as 10g/m3 in places like Brighton
The average level of noise pollution over the course of the study women were exposed to was between 57.7 and 59.1 decibels.
WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS TO DECLINING POPULATIONS? Women worldwide, on average, are having fewer children now than previous generations. The trend, down to increased access to education and contraception, more women taking up jobs and changing attitudes towards having children, is expected to see dozens of countries' population shrink by 2100. Dr Jennifer Sciubba, author of 8 Billion and Counting: How Sex, Death, and Migration Shape Our World, told MailOnline that people are choosing to have smaller families and the change 'is permanent'. 'So it's wise to focus on working within this new reality rather than trying to change it,' she said. However, some have suggested cheaper childcare, flexible working and policies could boost the dwindling birth rate. 1. Cheaper childcare Dozens of studies have suggested that costs are a key consideration among couples planning to have children. Think tank the Social Market Foundation (SMF) warned that the long-term trend of people having fewer youngsters will leave countries with fewer workers, weaker economies and unsustainable public finances. It called for childcare to be more accessible and affordable to couples, which is said would encourage more couples to conceive. It said average earners in the UK were forced to spend 22 per cent of their income on full-time childcare. It called for the public provision of childcare or for parents to be given subsidies towards it. 2. Flexible working Economists in Spain found that countries with higher rates of part-time roles generally had higher fertility rates. And a German paper found that educated women who were able to work from home had more children. However, the trend was not detected among those with low or no qualifications. 3. Policies to support women have more children The SMF called for more generous parental leave to encourage more people to have children. It said this would allow couples to better balance work and family commitments, pointing to a 'significant increase' in birth rates in Austria after parental leave was doubled from 12 months to 24 months. Advertisement
For context, about 40 per cent of the adult population is estimated to be exposed to long term traffic noise exceeding 50 decibels though this rises to 80 per cent in some areas.
Noise wasn't associated with a rise of infertility among younger women, but was linked to a 'small' rise in infertility in older men, those aged 37 to 45.
Researchers found these results were consistent for Danes living both rural and urban areas, and occurred regardless of if people were rich or poor.
The research, published in the BMJ, is observational meaning it cannot directly establish that pollution causes infertility.
It was also limited by only analysing pollution data recorded at person's address and not that any fumes they may have been exposed to at work or during leisure activities like exercising.
Additionally, data on known factors that can influence fertility such as lifestyle factors was lacking.
The authors of the study, who hailed from a variety of Danish institutions, said if their findings are replicated by other scientists they could help create strategies and policies to protect the population from noise and air pollution.
Some British experts have hailed the study, stating while limited by its observational nature, represents an important piece of research that deserves attention.
Professor Jill Belch, an expert in vascular medicine and air pollution from the University of Dundee said: 'This is a key study linking even more toxic effects to exposure to air pollution in particular to the very small particles PM2.5'.
'Childlessness can be catastrophic for some, and it is likely that the known harmful effects on sperm quality and movement are at play here. More attention needs to be paid to achieving legal limits of air pollution by Government and Local Authorities.'
She added: 'If validated by future prospective work then this association has striking implications for fertility as a 24 per cent fall in male fertility and a 14 per cent in female fertility would have very profound effects on future generations.'
Other experts said, while a good study the findings were limited by its very nature.
Professor Allan Pacey, an expert in andrology at the University of Manchester said: 'It is possible that the real cause of this association lies with something that it was not possible to measure.
'For example, the authors are clear that they did not have information on lifestyle factors, such as alcohol use, smoking, or body mass index.
However, overall, I think this is a good study and it should serve as useful basis for future investigations in other countries that are able to link their databases like this.'
Professor Alison Campbell, an expert in fertility at the University of Kent added: 'The studys findings come amid a decline in birth rates in many countries, over the past decade.
'Whilst some people elect not to have children for a broad number of reasons, infertility is a health problem that contributes to these statistics.'
But she urged people trying to conceive not to be put off by the findings.
'People trying to conceive should not be unduly concerned by this research and are advised to take proactive, proven steps such as avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, and maintaining a healthy weight, and consulting a medical specialist for further help and advice,' he said.
While the WHO estimates one in six adults globally will be affected by infertility in their life time there are regional variations. The Easter Mediterranean recorded the lowest infertility rare of just 10.7 per cent, followed by Africa with 13.1 per cent and then Europe with 16.5 per cent. The Western pacific region recorded the highest rate of 23.2 per cent, followed by the Americas with 20 per cent. No figure was available for the South East Asia region due to lack of quality studies in that area
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Elon Musk (pictured), who boasts of 'always banging the baby drum', has been warning about a decline in births for years
About one in seven couples in the UK have difficulty conceiving, rising to one in six globally, and one in five in the US.
Known causes of infertility include genetic issues, health conditions or hormonal problems or exposure to some treatments, such as chemotherapy.
But in about a quarter of cases no cause for infertility can be found, according to the NHS.
Some studies have also pointed to a rise in obesity and exposure to chemicals and pollution as another possibly factor.
Infertility, as well as people not having children by choice, has spooked some experts, and famous figures like Elon Musk, to warn the world faces an underpopulation crisis.
This 'underpopulation crisis' could see too few younger people to work, pay tax and look after the elderly.
Office for National Statistics data shows the fertility rate the average number of children a woman has in England and Wales slumped to 1.49 in 2022.
It marks the lowest figure since records began in 1938, laying bare the reality of the ongoing baby bust that threatens to cripple the economy.
Not a single one of the 330-plus authorities in both countries has a fertility rate that is above 'replacement level', according to MailOnline analysis.
Other studies have also pointed to declining sperm counts in men as a potential factor, though some experts dispute this.
A killer flesh-rotting animal tranquiliser used in vapes is set to be banned by the UK Government.
Xylazine, nicknamed 'tranq', has helped turn US cities like Philadelphia and New York into 'zombielands', leaving users lifeless.
But the potent drug strong enough to knock out elephants is now 'widespread' on UK streets, according to experts.
It has already been linked to 11 deaths since 2022.
Under the fresh crackdown on drug dealing gangs, the Home Office will now push legislation to ban xylazine and 21 other substances in a bid to prevent future deaths.
Karl Warburton, 43, (pictured) died in May 2022 from the effects of xylazine combined with other drugs including heroin, fentanyl and cocaine
Xylazine depresses the central nervous system, causing users, such as these in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, to exhibit a zombie-like appearance
Diana Johnson, the policing minister, said: 'One of this new Government's central missions is to make our streets safer.
'We will not accept the use of substances that put lives at risk and allow drug gangs to profit from exploiting vulnerable people.
'We have seen what has happened in other countries when the use of these drugs is allowed to grow out of control, and this is why we are among the first countries to take action and protect our communities from these dangerous new drugs.
'The criminals who produce, distribute and profit from these drugs will therefore face the full force of the law.
A powerful animal tranquiliser that has helped turn some US cities into 'zombielands' is being added to UK cocaine supplies, experts have warned
'The changes being introduced this week will also make it easier to crack down on those suppliers who are trying to circumvent our controls.'
Xylazine, which has been found in vapes some illicit drug takers use for cannabis, is set to be labelled a Class C drug.
Of the other 21, six will be controlled as Class A.
Under the 1971 the Misuse of Drugs Act, drugs are put into three different classes based on their danger to people.
Class A is the most serious and includes substances like cocaine and crack, ecstasy, MDMA and heroin while codeine, ketamine and cannabis are deemed Class B.
So-called 'date rape' drug GHB, anabolic steroids, nitrous oxide and the stimulant khat, meanwhile, are among Class C drugs.
Current drug laws see those in possession of Class A drugs face up to seven years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.
Anyone caught supplying or producing can face a life prison sentence, an unlimited fine or both.
People caught in possession of Class B face up to five years in prison, while anyone caught carrying Class Cs can be jailed for two years.
Xylazine-involved overdose deaths in the United States rose from 102 to 3,468 in just three years between 2018 and 2021.
It was designated an 'emerging drug threat' by the White House in April 2023, which often precedes classifying a drug as illegal.
But no further national action has yet been taken.
The flesh-eating drug can affect someone's skin in places separate from the injection site. This patient often injected the drug into his neck with gruesome effects
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Some individual US states, including Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, have implemented bans.
Earlier this year researchers from Kings College London also found tranq in cocaine, counterfeit codeine and Valium tablets.
They warned the 11 figure is also likely to be an a 'gross underestimation', given how UK labs have not routinely been testing for the drug.
This is thought to include Karl Warburton, a 43-year-old factory worker from Solihull who became the UK's first known tranq victim in 2022.
Writing in the journal Addiction, they warned if tranq use exploded like in the US, hundreds of Brits could die.
'If the UK were to experience the 20-fold increase in deaths seen in the US since 2015, deaths following xylazine use could be anticipated to exceed 220 deaths by 2028,' they said.
Xylazine will remain available for veterinary prescribing, the Government said. However, it will be only available if lawfully prescribed.
The changes are expected to come into force later this year or in early 2025.
A Leeds woman is warning Brits to 'check their genitals' for signs of cancer after her disease was spotted so late, it had spread to other organs and left her needing a life-changing operation to remove part of her genitals.
Pippa Sharp, 49, thought she was experiencing a bad case of recurring thrush for five months when she noticed a sore patch on her vulva the outer tissue of the female genitalia.
Thrush is a common yeast infection that affects the genitals of both men and women and while usually harmless, it can cause irritation and soreness.
Ms Sharp was prescribed antibiotics by her GP but four days later, realised the concerning spot wasn't going away.
Following her dose of antibiotics, and lack of success, Ms Sharp's family referred her for a biopsy which revealed she had vulval cancer.
Pippa Sharp, 49, thought she was experiencing a bad case of recurring thrush for five months and thought it had caused a sore, hard spot on her left labia
At first, doctors believed the disease was confined to the mass of swollen tissue on her left outer labia.
However, a scan later showed it was even worse than initially thought and the disease had spread to the lymph nodes in her groin, meaning it was now stage three.
She underwent surgery to remove the mass, 50 rounds of radiotherapy and five rounds of chemotherapy.
She also had to soak her vulval wound in a sitz bath a warm small bath that is placed in a toilet filled with betadine, an antiseptic.
Once each treatment had finished, Ms Sharp was discharged back to her consultant, who said he'd check up on her in three months.
But in January 2024, she began to feel that the area had become swollen again.
She added: 'I spoke to the oncology nurses at my appointment with the consultant.
'They were so helpful, suggesting a number of things it could've been.
'But, I knew in my heart the cancer was back.'
One month later, a biopsy confirmed her fears.
This time, it had spread to two more areas Ms Sharp's right labia, and her 'back passage'.
After frequent bouts of thrush, Pippa noticed her left labia had developed a small, hard sore patch in August 2022
She initially brushed it off for five months, thinking it was just a symptom of bad thrush. But it was eventually revealed to be vulval cancer
On March 22, 2024, she had a section of her right labia removed.
Ms Sharp said: 'I was told I'd need 30 radiotherapy sessions and five more chemo sessions.
'We went ahead with the paperwork, I went to see her again at the planning scan.
'I told her I was still worried about my right labia and back passage.
'She put a hold on treatment, and referred me back for biopsies.'
In July, Ms Sharp's biopsies came back, confirming the cancer had returned in her right labia, despite the procedure.
She had the entirety of it surgically removed, and is currently waiting for the remainder of her results before she starts more treatment.
Sharing her story, she said she wants more women to know more about the deadly disease, so they can catch it at an earlier stage than she did.
Ms Sharp, a former brand innovation and awards co-ordinator, said: 'I was embarrassed about vulval cancer at first. But now, I can't shut up about it.
'It's a rare cancer, but that doesn't mean people shouldn't know about it.'
Ms Sharp's ordeal began in August 2022 when she noticed a small, hard sore patch on her left labia, which she initially brushed off as thrush.
In January 2023, a GP suggested it could either be an infected cyst, or cancer.
Despite 'immediately' believing it was cancer, Pippa agreed to take a course of antibiotics just in case.
She said: 'Four days after getting them prescribed, there was no change.
'I'm really cautious with health stuff, so I looked at the NHS website because I knew it was trustworthy.
'I had each and every one of the symptoms listed under "vulval cancer" - from bloody discharge to persistent itching.'
Ms Sharp went back to the GP on January 23, 2023, who performed a biopsy on the sore patch, which eventually led to her diagnosis.
'It's become a real focus of mine to get the word out there, while I'm waiting for the news,' she said.
'We talk so much about how we need to check our breasts.
'But we should be checking our vulvas regularly, too.
'It's a quick check when you go to the toilet, or when you're laying in bed.
'Feel around for soreness, lumps and bumps - note if you find any unusual discharge.
'Always go to see your GP if you're worried.'
About 1,400 women are diagnosed with vulval cancer in the UK each year, with women in their 90s the most likely to be diagnosed with the disease.
Only 58 per cent of vulval cancer patients are expected to survive 10 years following their diagnosis with the disease killing almost 470 Brits each year.
About two thirds of vulval cancers are thought to be preventable with 69 per cent estimated to be caused by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV).
HPV are common viruses spread by sexual activity that usually don't cause any symptoms, but some are linked to increased risk of cancers such as vulval and cervical forms of the disease.
This is partly why people in the UK are now offered an HPV vaccine in secondary school.
Less than half of Gen Z men know the location of the a woman's sexual 'pleasure centre', a study revealed.
A new survey commissioned by The Urology Foundation found just 41 per cent of men aged 18-24 are aware of where the clitoris is on a female body, compared to 70 per cent of 55 to 64 year-olds.
Across all ages, 61 per cent correctly identified the region.
But the survey of 2,000 UK men showed they were more knowledgeable about female sexual anatomy than their own.
In fact, only 48 per cent of men aged 18 to 24 knew the location of their prostate.
A new survey commissioned by The Urology Foundation found 61 per cent of men could correctly identify the location of the clitoris
A previous YouGov survey showed that almost half of Brits do not know where the vagina is and it's not just men who are ignorant.
The 2019 poll revealed almost half of women could not label the vagina. And around half of both genders didn't know where the labia was.
It revealed a third of men of all ages didn't know where the clitoris was.
The new Urology Foundation research also uncovered significant gaps in men's understanding of their own bodies and urology health.
Rebecca Porta, chief executive of The Urology Foundation said: 'Its worrying that many men dont know where their prostate is or what it does. Its vital that males from a young age understand the role of their prostate and its location in their bodies, as well as how it might change over time.
'Prostate cancer rates are set to double globally by 2040 so it is crucial that men understand their prostate health, recognise their individual risk factors, know the possible signs and are empowered to take control of their prostate health.'
Only 38 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds surveyed knew the location of the prostate compared to 58 per cent of 55 to 64-year-olds.
Men in Northern Ireland and Yorkshire and the Humber were the most likely to know their way round the female anatomy, with 71 per cent of male respondents in both areas correctly locating the clitoris the highly-sensitive vulval area responsible for female pleasure.
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Interestingly, men from Northern Ireland were least likely to know where their prostate is found only 45 per cent making them nearly 58 per cent more likely to know the location of the clitoris than the prostate.
Men were also more likely to mistakenly think that their prostate was involved in the flow of urine (48 per cent), rather than its primary function of producing fluid that becomes semen (30 per cent).
The prostate gland lies beneath the base of the bladder.
It surrounds the urethra a tube that transports urine out of the body from the bladder.
The prostate glands main function relates to reproduction and sexual intercourse.
At ejaculation, sperm is mixed with fluid from the prostate gland. A substance called prostate-specific antigen (PSA) liquidises the ejaculate to improve the chances of fertilization.
The fluid produced by the prostate also prevents infection in the urethra.
About one in eight men in the UK will get prostate cancer in their lifetime.
In the UK, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in males with over 55,000 cases diagnosed every year in the UK and 299,000 in the US.
Needing to pee more frequently, blood in your urine or semen and hesitancy when going to the toilet are all telltale signs of the disease.
A common dandruff-causing skin fungus could be fuelling breast cancer, in the latest discovery linking a microscopic organism to types of the disease.
Chinese scientists found Malassezia globosa, a species of yeast-like fungi, could be infiltrating fat rich breast tissue and from there increase the risk of developing tumours.
Medics said how the fungus might be doing this remains unclear.
However, they theorised it could be due to a harmful byproduct damaging cells or destroying the body's innate defence against cancerous tissue.
In tests on mice, breast cancer tissue experts injected Malassezia globosa into the tumours to observe the effects.
Chinese scientists found Malassezia globosa, a species of yeast-like fungi, could be infiltrating fat rich breast tissue and from there increase the risk of developing the disease. Stock image
They found those colonised with the fungus had a higher growth rate, though did not detail exactly how much faster or larger they grew.
Study author Professor Qi-Ming Wang, an expert of life sciences at Hebei University, said the findings had implications for people's health.
'It is important to take care of skin not only for beauty, but also for health,' he said.
He added this is not the first time a microscopic organism has been linked to cancer, and that this are of research needed more studies.
'Although still controversial, the relationship between microbes and cancer is gaining attention,' he said.
'The imbalance of the microflora in the tumour may lead to disorder in the tumour microenvironment.'
While Malassezia globosa can cause issues like dandruff in the scalp and dermatitis, swelling an irritation of the skin, in other areas, Professor Wang said how exactly it might reach breast tissue to increase the risk of breast cancer is unclear.
The results were published in the journal mBio.
Other studies have previously suggested links between some microorganisms to an increased risk of certain cancers.
One of these is Fusobacterium nucleatum, a bacteria that lives in dental plaque, which could explain why some colon tumours are so hard to treat.
American researchers found that a specific subtype of the bacteria was present in tumour tissue in about 50 per cent of the cancer cases.
They also found this microbe in higher numbers within stool samples of colorectal cancer patients compared with stool samples from healthy people.
Another bacteria called Streptococcus anginosus, has also been linked to stomach cancers.
Chinese and Singaporean scientists showed that the bacteria, normally found in the throat, mouth, and vagina, can encourage the growth of stomach cancers.
Breast cancer is the UK's most common cancer with almost 56,000 cases diagnosed per year
In similar experiments to the new study, they found when mice had their immune system weakened, mimicking an infection or illness, Streptococcus anginosus could colonise new areas of the body, like the stomach.
When introduced this way it provoked an inflammatory response that could trigger cancer growth.
Another type of bacteria, Helicobacter pylori, has also been known to cause stomach ulcers, which increase a persons risk of developing gastric cancer, the fifth most common type in the world.
Perhaps the most famous microscopic organism linked to cancer is human papillomavirus (HPV).
HPV are common viruses spread by sexual activity that usually don't cause any symptoms, but some are linked to increased risk of cancers such as vulval and cervical forms of the disease.
This is partly why people in the UK are now offered an HPV vaccine in secondary school.
Covid vaccines prevent less than one in 10 infections six months after they are administered, a study has found.
New Zealand researchers came to their conclusion after assessing data from over 5million people from December 2020 when the jabs were first deployed in the country to February last year.
Of these, 4million were vaccinated, and about 1million never got a Covid vaccine, with jabbed persons being matched by age and sex to an unjabbed counterpart.
Scientists then assessed the jabs effectiveness against a variety of different Covid outcomes, including against infection, hospitalisation and death, using patient data.
Publishing their findings in the New Zealand Medical Journal, the researchers assessed outcomes based on people getting the second Covid booster.
New Zealand researchers came to their conclusion after assessing data from over 5million people from December 2020 when the jabs were first deployed in the country to February last year
While the jab was found to offer sustained protection against deaths from the virus, protection against infection was found to drop off dramatically.
In the first month people got the jab it was found to stop 57 per cent of infections. But this dropped off to just 9.9 per cent six months later.
Jab-based protection against becoming hospitalised due to Covid was better, though a significant dropoff was also recorded.
Vaccinated persons enjoyed an 82 per cent protection against hospitalisation with the virus in the first month after getting it. But this declined to just 49 per cent by month six.
The authors noted that as there were no Covid deaths in the vaccinated cohort who got the second booster a comparative analysis on this outcome wasn't possible.
This is not the first study to have found Covid vaccines decline in effectiveness over time.
The exact figure depends on the stage of the global pandemic, what variant was circulating at the time, and can also vary by brand.
One American study in 2021 found Covid jabs used in the US fell from 85 per cent effectiveness against infection to some 50 per cent in six months.
A Qatari study, again from 2021, even found Pfizer's Covid jab was only 20 per cent effective at stopping people getting infected after six months.
Covid vaccines, which brought an end to the paralysing lockdowns, lose their protective power due to two factors.
Firstly, the initial flood of antibodies designed to target the Covid virus which are produced by the body fades over time, though experts say some longer-term protection persists.
Secondly, the virus itself evolves over time, new variants evolve with slight differences that mean they are better able to dodge the protection jabs, which were designed to combat older strains of Covid, offer.
This is why updated jabs, designed to target new, now more widely circulating, strains of the virus have been used in subsequent Covid booster campaigns.
In the first month the jab was found to stop 57 per cent of infections among Kiwis that got it. But this dropped off to just 9.9 per cent six months later
The phenomenon of waning protection isn't unique to Covid either, its why some people, such as the elderly and health workers, are offered a new flu vaccine each year designed to target the new versions of the virus that are spreading.
It should also be noted the same basic problem occurs with natural immunity from Covid infection, with this protection also waning over time.
The authors said that while their study strengthened by its large number of participants and reliable public backed data it did have a number of limitations.
One was due to declining numbers of unvaccinated people could have influenced the results leading to a potential over underestimation of the vaccine's effectiveness.
Another was they were unable to track the specific brand of Covid vaccine jabbed people received, meaning any differences by this metric couldn't be measured., though they noted the majority of people received Pfizer's jab.
Additionally, the authors said there were unable to distinguish between different Covid variants given the dominance of the Omicron variant over the majority of the study period.
They said future studies, both tracking the effectiveness of the jabs beyond six months, and differences in outcomes by vaccine type and Covid variant were warranted.
Men taking potent pills used to treat bipolar disorder and epilepsy were today warned about the risk of birth defects in children.
Safety concerns mean Brits should use contraception when on valproate, to prevent the 'risk of problems in children'.
Health officials warned men taking the daily pill that it may increase the likelihood of 'neurodevelopmental disorders in children'.
They were also urged not to donate sperm during treatment and for at least three months after stopping.
The 'precautionary advice' over valproate's side effects follow a safety review by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which polices the safety of drugs used in the UK.
Safety concerns mean Brits should use contraception when on valproate, to prevent the 'risk of problems in children'
Health officials warned men taking the daily pill also used to treat bipolar disorder that it may increase the likelihood of 'neurodevelopmental disorders in children'
The drug calms manic episodes in people who have bipolar disorder by blocking nerve signals.
It is also used to prevents seizures in epileptic patients by reducing the amount of electrical activity in the brain thought to be to blame.
Dr Alison Cave, Chief Safety Officer at the MHRA, said: 'Valproate is an effective medicine in the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder.
'Men taking valproate should be aware that there is now evidence of a potential small increased risk of their child having a neurodevelopmental disorder if their partner becomes pregnant while they are on valproate.
'While the risk to a child is lower than the risk associated with a mother taking valproate in pregnancy, we recommend that men taking valproate and their partners follow the updated guidance and use effective contraception.
'Patients on valproate should not stop taking their medicine unless advised to do so by a healthcare professional.
'It is important to attend your next appointment in order to discuss your treatment plan.'
One study found that children fathered by men who took the pill up to three months before conception were at a slightly higher risk of developing learning difficulties than those taking other medicines to prevent seizures, the MHRA said.
A 2022 report found that 315 women have been prescribed sodium valproate during pregnancy since April 2018 and 30 started taking the drug when already pregnant, suggesting that expectant mothers are still not receiving full details of the risks
Five in 100 children fathered by men on the drug received a diagnosis, compared to three in 100 on other medications.
Health professionals should inform male patients about this risk at their next routine treatment review and other potential treatment options available, they added.
Valproate has been linked to other problems in children born to mothers taking the drug.
The medication has been condemned as the 'new thalidomide' due to its risk of causing serious deformities and learning difficulties when taken by pregnant women a reference to the 1960s morning sickness treatment which caused life-threatening birth defects.
A damning report in 2020 concluded the Government had failed the 27,000 women taking valproate as many were unaware of its risks, with then Health Secretary Matt Hancock apologising on behalf of the NHS.
The risk to children born to fathers taking the drug is 'much lower than the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children born to mothers' on it, the MHRA said.
Anyone with questions should also speak to a healthcare professional.
Any suspected side effects associated with valproate should be reported via the Yellow Card scheme.
The AA has launched a 'wellness' app for cars that uses the vehicle's data as a 'diagnostic tool,' This is Money can reveal.
In a similar vein to how smart watches, ring and bracelets from Fitbit to Whoop track and monitor the wearer's health and fitness, the Vixa app monitors a car's vitals and warn the owner of impending issues.
It will also problem solve the best way to fix it.
The app aims to prevent your car breaking down something half of drivers say is their top priority, according to a AA poll of 11,453 motorists.
Through a small device that plugs-ins to your car, Vixa harvests data giving you updates and alerts via the app, as well as proactive maintenance solutions
Vixa will harvest the huge amount of data modern cars process every day to give drivers a user-friendly 'holistic wellness companion' for their car.
Vixa constantly checks on the car, diagnoses arising faults, explains them and 'offers stress-free solutions'. It will alert drivers to potential issues before they escalate and give car owners peace of mind.
It will cost 5.99 a month, or 3.99 a month for AA members who use either the AA's Breakdown or Insurance services.
The AA's new Vixa app, will cost just 3.99 a month for AA members who use either AA Breakdown or Insurance, and 5.99 for non-mebers
Through a small data-collecting device that plugs into your car, Vixa gives you updates and alerts via the app, as well as proactive maintenance solutions.
It's compatible with most petrol cars made after 2001 and most diesel cars made after 2006. Hybrid vehicles are compatible with all features except battery alerts.
More cars models will work with Vixa over time, and some Ford models are already compatible if they come with the FordPass app.
EVs aren't currently compatible but AA President Edmund King told us that the AA 'is working on that at the moment'.
As EVs have fewer moving parts, there's less to go wrong, with the AA finding most EV breakdowns are caused by tyres or the 12-Volt battery, neither of which are specific to electric cars.
The AA says that the technology has already informed someone on holiday in Spain that the battery in their car parked at a UK airport was about to die.
Vixa also lets you monitor tyre use by simply taking a few pictures to get a highly accurate diagnosis of tyre age, tread depth and condition to make sure that tyres are safe and legal.
When a problem is flagged, fixes are recommended including booking an AA approved garage or scheduling a mechanic to come to you. Or you can chat to an AA mechanic on Whatsapp.
The app will send handy reminders to remind you when your MOT and service are due too.
You'll also get upfront estimates for repairs, servicing or scheduling an MOT which allows you to plan ahead and budget.
When a problem is flagged, fixes are recommended including booking an AA approved garage or scheduling a mechanic to come to you. Or you can chat to an AA mechanic on Whatsapp
Vixa replaces the AA's now discontinued Car Genie app, with President Edmund King saying that the 'main difference is that Vixa offers a solution as well as flagging up problems.'
'Vixa is fully incorporated; we can get you to an AA approved garage or a mechanic to your home, or technician on the phone.
'It's more useful for consumers than Car Genie. The beauty of Vixa is that it notifies you before a warning light comes on on your dash and it's too late notice'.
Future app upgrades will likely include driver efficiency scoring to help you improve your mpg and save money, as well as advising drivers on how to fix smaller issues on their own that don't require a mechanical fix.
Tom Fawcett, chief executive AA X, said: 'The Vixa App is potentially the biggest change in how The AA helps drivers in many years. It represents a new era of car care that uses connected car insights to put drivers in control.
'Our new Vixa wellness system can help give confidence to drivers to help them stay safe and save money and hassle'.
Labour's gloomy statements about the UK economy threaten to weaken a fragile appetite for London stocks, a report warned yesterday.
UK-listed equity funds suffered a net sell-off of 510m last month, more than twice the July total, prolonging a dismal run stretching back to September 2021.
The report from funds network Calastone came as the FTSE 100 index fell 0.4pc to a three-week low of 8269.60 as concerns about the global economy and a US tech stock bubble spooked investors.
Funds exec says the Government's gloomy sentiment is not going to improve investors confidence
The latest withdrawal figures were not as bad as the monthly average over the last three years, raising hopes that the tide is starting to turn.
But Edward Glyn, head of global markets at Calastone, said: Its not yet time to break out the champagne the Governments gloomy statements about the UKs allegedly dire predicament are hardly going to boost confidence.
It is the latest sign that Labours grim assessment and its claim to have inherited the biggest economic mess since the Second World War is backfiring.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said it will mean painful choices at next months Budget, raising fears of tax cuts.
Separate figures this week showed business confidence is plunging.
And yesterdays report showed signs that British investors are jittery about the global stock market amid the latest volatility.
The Calastone report showed inflows into equity funds overall fell to 545m in August, down by three-quarters compared to July.
Markets were hit by fears over a US downturn and saw three days of net selling, though the bleeding was soon stemmed and money later returned.
Glyn said: Investors flinched when markets convulsed, pushing equity prices down sharply.
The Magnificent Seven tech stocks Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia and Tesla were hit especially hard, he added.
There was no wholesale rout, Glyn said.
Outflows turned to inflows as markets calmed and sellers melted away, but nerves have clearly been rattled.
A report from financial giant Fidelity International said investors had moved away from tech-focused funds, which have been enjoying spectacular gains, as they look for stability amid market volatility.
Tom Stevenson, Fidelitys investment director, said: Tech has had a stellar run, but the past month has been rocky. Were seeing a classic shift towards safety as investors seeking stability looked to preserve capital amid volatility.
He said money market funds, which offer exposure to short-term bonds, had become very appealing again.
In a further sign of the tough market, asset manager M&G said it suffered 1.5bn of outflows in the first half, while markets stabilised yesterday after a major sell-off on Tuesday.
The boss of Nvidia is nursing losses of over 20bn as shares tumble from their all-time high.
Jensen Huang, who founded the US chip designer in 1993, was hit as investors continue to dump the hyped stock.
Nvidia hit a record $140.76 in June, valuing it at $3.45trillion (2.62trillion), and pitting it against Silicon Valley titans Apple and Microsoft in a battle to be the worlds most valuable company.
Nvidia remains one of the biggest winners of the AI revolution, selling to Google, Microsoft and Meta
But shares have fallen by over a fifth since then with Nvidia now worth $2.65trillion (2trillion).
The 600bn-plus fall in its value has hurt Huangs near-4pc stake, which has taken a 24bn hit.
But the 61-year-old electrical engineer known for his signature leather jacket still has a fortune of more than 72bn.
Nvidia remains one of the biggest winners of the AI revolution, selling to Google, Microsoft and Meta, which have ploughed billions of pounds into the tech.
But shares have fallen more than 10pc since it unveiled quarterly results last Wednesday night.
Despite bumper profits, investors were left feeling flat.
And Nvidia faced a major sell-off on Tuesday, when more than 213bn was wiped off its value, which is a record loss for any US firm in one trading day.
Investors have also been spooked amid reports the US Justice Department has sent a legal notice to Nvidia about a competition probe into AI chips
September 4, 2024: In 2004 General Atomics (GA), an American firm founded in 1955 to carry out research on practical applications of nuclear power, spun off a subsidiary, called General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GAAS) to work on unmanned aircraft called UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) or drones. Since then GAAS has developed and introduced the MQ-1 Predator, MQ-1C Gray Eagle, MQ-9 Reaper, MQ-9B Guardian, and MQ-20 Avenger. The Avenger was unique because it used a jet engine rather than a rear propeller. Only seven Avengers were sold since its introduction during 2011.
Since then GAAS also developed Gambit, a unique jet propelled drone that weighs about two tons and comes in several variants for reconnaissance, electronic warfare, combat, and testing new manned aircraft sensors in realistic situations without endangering pilots. Gambit also makes heavy use of electronic systems that enable it to operate autonomously, without a ground operator. This means Gambit cannot be jammed. After it completes a mission, it returns to its base. If it cannot return or is damaged, Gambit deliberately crashes.
So far there have been no orders for Gambit, but the U.S. Air Force and Navy are interested and may eventually purchase Gambit when it reaches a point in its development that makes it worth paying more than $20 million for each Gambit.
Meanwhile, in 2022 the U.S. Air Force has announced plans to end its quarter-century propeller-driven large UAV program. This meant that the current MQ-9 Reaper will no longer be purchased and units equipped with it will be disbanded as combat and non-combat losses are incurred. The air force has not yet selected a Reaper replacement but is referring to it as MQ-X and mandated that it must be jet powered.
The five-ton Reaper itself replaced the similar but smaller 1.1-ton MQ-1 Predator. While the last air force Predator was built in 2010, the U.S. Army kept purchasing an upgraded Predator known as the RQ-1C Gray Eagle. Both Predator and Reaper were developed and manufactured by General Atomics.
A decade ago, the air force planned to have over a thousand of these large, armed, Reaper UAVs. That did not happen because most American troops were gone from Iraq and Afghanistan by 2014, so there was less demand for these UAVs and less procurement cash to pay for them.
For over a decade the air force has been seeking a Reaper replacement, mainly in the form of a jet powered UAV. One of the first candidates was the General Atomics Avenger. Development of Avenger began after September 11, 2001. The first flight was supposed to have been in 2007 but there were technical problems that kept coming up. The nine-ton Avenger looked like a larger jet powered version of the five-ton Reaper. Avenger is 13.2 meters long, with a 20.1-meter wingspan and built to be stealthy. The V shaped tail and smooth lines of the swept wing aircraft made it difficult to detect by radar. There is a humpbacked structure on top of the aircraft for the engine air intake. There is an internal bomb bay to hold about a ton of weapons, sensors, or additional fuel to provide another two hours of flying time, in addition to the standard 20 hours endurance. The 4,800-pound thrust engine is designed to minimize the heat signature that sensors can pick up. Total payload is 1.36 tons and total weight of the aircraft is nine tons. Cruising speed is 740 kilometers an hour. The Avenger is designed to fly at altitudes up to 20,000 meters and cross oceans.
Avenger took its first flight in early 2009. Until 2009 the Avenger didn't officially exist and was a secret program. Avenger is, like Reaper, a combat UAV designed to carry weapons as well as sensors. A decade ago, Avengers cost about $15 million each. The air force rejected Avenger in 2012 because it offered marginal improvements over the Reaper. Despite the internal bomb bay, Avenger was expected to be used primarily to carry ground surveillance radar, which could be mounted on the bottom of the aircraft in an aerodynamically smooth enclosure. So far there have been few customers, although it did receive a military designation; MQ-20. Officially the air force bought one and an unidentified U.S. government agency bought up to seven. One Avenger was used in 2016 to drop propaganda leaflets in Syria.
The air force search for a Reaper replacement was suspended until 2022, when the air force announced the revival of an effort to find an MQ-X. Avenger is apparently not a candidate. There are other possibilities. In 2014 the U.S. Department of Defense revealed that a long rumored RQ-180 UAV did indeed exist and was still in development. The RQ-180 weighs more than 12 tons and is a stealthy UAV designed to survive in heavily defended airspace. The earlier RQ-170 was a similar, but smaller, version of the same basic design. RQ-170s were also suspected as being the basis for a larger and stealthier UAV and this is now revealed to be the RQ-180.
Both the RQ-170 and RQ-180 are jet propelled UAVs employing a flying wing design, similar to the X-45s and X-47s built as development aircraft for the U.S. Air Force and Navy. These UCAVs (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles) were built to carry weapons while the similar looking reconnaissance UAVs just carry sensors internally. The RQ-170 and RQ-180 are purely reconnaissance aircraft. The RQ-170 weighs about six tons while the larger RQ-180 weighs at least twice as much. Endurance of the RQ-170 is about six hours while the RQ-180 can stay up three to four times longer. The RQ-180 also carries more capable sensors, apparently some of the ones used in the jet-powered 14-ton RQ-4 Global Hawk. Some RQ-180s have been put into service but only a few have been built so far.
General Atomics continued to update MQ-1 Predator and in 2021 introduced the 3.1-ton Mojave. This is an armed UAV that can carry up to 16 Hellfire ground attack missiles. No one has purchased Mojave yet and it is considered still in development.
There is no military designation because no one has ordered Mojave, which is based on the U.S. Armys MQ-1C Gray Eagle. Technically the Mojave would be the MQ-1D. It uses current Gray Eagle components but with a more powerful 450 HP engine, compared to MQ-1Cs 180 HP, and a new wing design that is optimized for STOL (Short Take Off and Landing) capabilities. There is new landing gear that can handle taking off and landing on dirt roads or open fields. Mohave is heavier, at 1.6 tons, and has a larger payload. This means it can carry more Hellfire laser guided missiles or a more extensive collection of sensors, including a SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) pod and two missiles at the same time. General Atomics has heard from special operations users of Gray Eagle and other larger UAVs that something like Mojave is needed but no one has developed it yet,
The army Gray Eagle has been upgraded several times. In 2017 the U.S. Army started receiving the new MQ-1C ER/Extended Range version and starting in 2018 this was the only model the army will receive. The army has ordered 107 MQ-1Cs since 2010 and plans to eventually have over 150. Currently only about a hundred are in service.
The original MQ-1C Block 1 Gray Eagle weighed 1.5 tons, had a 160 HP engine, carried 135.4 kg of sensors internally, and up to 227.3 kg of sensors or weapons externally. It has an endurance of 30 hours and a top speed of 270 kilometers an hour. MQ-1C has a wingspan of 18 meters and is 9 meters long. The MQ-1C can carry four Hellfire missiles, compared to two on the Predator, or a dozen smaller 70mm guided missiles.
The MQ-1C ER has a better engine, fifty percent more fuel capacity, over 75 percent more endurance, from 30 to 53 hours. Payload increased by 50 percent from 372 kg to 558 kg. The fuselage has been modified to handle the increased fuel load and has greater reliability and stability in the air. The additional internal space makes it easier to install a Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) that makes it possible to fly in airspace used by civilian manned aircraft.
The MQ-1C itself is an upgrade of the MQ-1 Predator the U.S. Air Force and CIA used extensively since the late 1990s to redefine the use of aircraft for reconnaissance, surveillance, and airstrikes. Fewer than 500 MQ-1s were produced for the air force and CIA before both organizations moved on to the larger MQ-9 Reaper. Meanwhile the army got a customized upgrade of the MQ-1 into production and found it satisfactory. The MQ-9 is larger than the army needs or can afford but the MQ-1C was the right size and price for the army. A major reason for developing Gray Eagle was the army did not want to depend on the air force for all its UAV needs and, after a major struggle with the Department of Defense bureaucracy, the army got the air force to back off on its efforts to claim control over all UAVs. In this endeavor the army was supported by the navy and marines, who had also had past problems with the air forces efforts to control everything that flew.
The army needed their own large armed reconnaissance UAVs because, when the air force controls UAVs, air force needs take precedence and the army is left to improvise. The army operates their MQ-1Cs like any other aircraft in Army Aviation Brigades. The UAV operators are located with the rest of brigade personnel and troops on the ground have direct contact with the Gray Eagles and easy access to what it is seeing. General Atomics noted that while the Aviation Brigade helicopters could, and often did, operate from just about anywhere, the Gray Eagles still needed a paved surface for takeoffs and landings. A stretch of paved highway would do but that is not always available and when used the highway requires more manpower to keep it clear of debris or any other obstacles. Mojave is much less demanding and the army is considering purchasing some.
While the army accepted the heavier and more expensive ER version, an even heavier 1.9 ton and more capable IGE (Improved Gray Eagle) was developed by General Atomics without a contract and presented to the army, which bought 36 IGEs for intelligence missions and the army Special Forces.
Mohave is an impressive version of the original Predator and may find customers who perceive a need for a large UAV that can operate from just about anywhere. The U.S. Air Force already has units that can be sent just about anywhere and turn an abandoned airfield or any reasonably flat surface into an airbase, complete with radar and traffic control, in less than a day. C-17 and C-130 transports can operate from these improvised air bases, and now so can a large UAV that requires a runway. The air force considers jet-propulsion as a basic requirement for MQ-X. Yet if you want a version of MQ-X that can operate from just about anywhere, it will have to be something like Mojave.
Meanwhile Chinese manufacturers developed cheaper clones of Predator and Reaper and sold them, with or without weapons, to anyone who could pay. That destroyed much of the export market for Predators and Reapers. China and Russia are also developing jet-powered UAVs, with the same lack of success, so far, as the United States.
EXCLUSIVE
A British doctor who locked a patient inside their hospital room for several weeks and was banned from running a company in the UK has landed a top job in northern NSW.
Dr Richard Seamark's 'appalling' history was made public in 2017 after he was a frontrunner for a $400,000 senior position as Clinical Director of Mental Health at Cairns Hospital in Far North Queensland.
However, the discredited psychiatrist, 64, was swiftly dumped from the recruitment process when it emerged that he was banned as a company director in the UK.
The ban followed his UK company Care+ Ltd failing to report serious incidents and used expired medical equipment.
Multiple complaints were made about the quality of care provided while he ran the firm, including medicine errors and locking one patient in their room for several weeks.
He was branded a 'dodgy psychiatrist by the UK government's Insolvency Service after he was banned for jeopardising patient safety and described his behaviour as 'appalling'.
Robert Clarke, Head of Insolvent Investigations North, added at the time: 'The failure by Dr Seamark to adequately safeguard patients wellbeing and safety presented a significant risk to vulnerable patients, staff and the public.
'His disqualification sends a clear message that such appalling behaviour will not be tolerated in the context of the wider corporate regime.'
Despite the damning report, Seamark has now secured a position as the Clinical Director of the Richmond Clarence Mental Health Service in Lismore.
Dr Richard Seamark was appointed the clinical director of the Richmond Clarence Mental Health Service in Lismore
His position is part of Northern NSW local health district in Lismore
In a video posted by Northern NSW Local Health District 12 months ago, he sang the praises of his new hometown and the team at his new workplace.
'It's a beautiful place to work,' he said.
'Just physically, the weather is extraordinary and offers you a huge range of different opportunities lifestyle-wise.
'Within the scope of work we just have a really great bunch of people to work with and you'll enjoy just the day to day experience.'
In its report on his defunct company, the government agency revealed one patient had been locked inside their hospital room for several weeks. It described the incident as a 'breach of the patient's human rights'.
The hospital also failed to report serious incidents such as medicine errors, and kept defibrillator pads that had expired over seven years earlier.
The damning investigation found one of the hospitals was 'inadequate in every area inspected' and published a scathing review of Dr Seamark's leadership.
Seamark was rejected from the position at Cairns Hospital in 2017 after recruiters were told details of his UK company's insolvency.
'Insolvency proceedings hadn't come to fruition,' Health Minister Steven Miles - now Queensland Premier - said at the time.
'When they did, he disclosed that and that's the point at which the process was suspended. Let's not get too caught up in what's happened.'
It is understood Seamark moved to Queensland in 2015 after he was disqualified from being director of his UK company which then went into voluntary liquidation.
Prior to applying for the role in in Cairns, he had been practising at Sunshine Coast Hospital for 18 months despite an 18 month UK ban for 'jeopardising patient safety'
NSW Health insisted they had followed standard practice when recruiting Seamark for his latest role in Lismore.
'Recruitment to vacant positions within Northern NSW Local Health District is undertaken in accordance with NSW Health policies,' said a spokesman.
'This includes mandated pre-employment screening and, for clinical roles, confirmation of registration with the relevant agency or medical board.'
An elderly couple who loaned their daughter and her husband over $135,000 to buy and renovate a series of homes have successfully won a court battle against their former son-in-law to pay back the money after their daughter died of cancer.
Andrew and Robyn Mereniuk made three large loans to their daughter Louise and her husband Matthew Wilks between April 2006 and August 2017 so that they could purchase and renovate properties for themselves and their three daughters.
But any requests for loan repayments came to an abrupt halt in August 2016 when Louise was diagnosed with bowel cancer. She died from the disease in January 2019.
Mr and Mrs Mereniuk launched a legal case against Mr Wilks in November 2022 to try to recoup their money after falling out with him because he had an affair with another woman in the six months before Louise's tragic death, according to a judgement published in the NSW District Court.
Mr Wilks argued in court that he knew nothing of the loans, while also claiming they were gifts made to his now-deceased wife.
But Judge Judith Gibson described Mr Wilks as a 'wholly unreliable witness' and awarded Mr and Mrs Mereniuk $135,269 for the outstanding money.
It is understood that Mr Wilks intends to launch an appeal against the judgment.
The case highlighted the vexed legal issue of the 'Bank of Mum and Dad' and whether payments to family members are considered gifts or loans, Judge Gibson said.
Andrew and Robyn Mereniuk made three large loans to their daughter Louise and her husband Matthew Wilks (pictured) between April 2006 and August 2017 so that they could purchase and renovate properties for themselves and their three daughters
But any loan repayments came to an abrupt halt in August 2016 when Louise (pictured) was diagnosed with bowel cancer. She died from the disease in January 2019
The saga began in April 2006 when Mr Mereniuk offered to buy material and renovate the Baulkham Hills home his daughter shared with her husband.
'We can purchase the material and you and Louise can pay us back when you can afford it,' Mr Mereniuk recalled saying.
They transferred a total of $169,000, with the cost of materials bought or money loaned recorded in a spreadsheet.
'Substantial repayments' made by Mr and Mrs Wilks later reduced this sum to $28,254.
A second loan of $76,000 was advanced to help Mr and Mrs Wilks buy a larger property in Kellyville around 35km north-west of Sydney's CBD in April 2012.
But a year before that, in February 2011, Mr and Mrs Mereniuk had expressed their 'disappointment' that Mr and Mrs Wilks were overspending.
'The $35,000 over three years means that you both are spending around $12,000 a year more than you two earn. Or, you have thrown caution to the wind, and are spending it like it was your own,' Mr Mereniuk wrote.
'The reason that we lent you the money in the first place was to help you both out and it appears that we have certainly accomplished that in that you both have helped yourselves to it. The latter was not our intention nor desire.'
Mr Mereniuk suggested they had spent $15,000 more than they initially budgeted for.
'Have you two stopped budgeting? Is Matthew spending what he earns on himself? Smokes, drink, lunches etc.?', he wrote.
'What were you two thinking, that you were going to repay it, and if you were, in what time frame?'
He added: 'Earlier I mentioned that you overspent by $12,000 a year which means roughly $250 a week, You two need to sit down and nut out what can be eliminated and what can be reduced otherwise you two will lose your house in the long run or you will need to downsize.
In February 2011, Mr Mereniuk suggested that his son-in-law quit smoking because 'this amounts to probably $30-40 a week'
'We are not here to prop you up nor save your marriage.'
Mr Mereniuk also suggested that his son-in-law quit smoking because 'this amounts to probably $30-40 a week'.
'We are not bitter nor are we baying for the full return of the money. What we want though, is the return of the balance of the money from the two offset accounts,' he wrote.
'We also want a commitment from both of you that you are not going to touch the redraw amount. If you cannot make that commitment then you might as well take the money out and return that also to us.'
Mr Wilks denied knowledge of the transactions, while also trying to claim they were gifts to his now-deceased wife.
These seemingly contradictory arguments held no water with Judge Gibson who accused him of being a 'wholly unreliable witness, whose account of events was not simply implausible but at times knowingly false'.
'The defendants claim that he never knew how much he had in the bank or consulted his banking or financial records, but instead rang up Louise each time he wanted to make a purchase or take out money, is completely implausible, the more so because he was running a business at this time which would have required regular access to the bank and consideration of banking records,' Judge Gibson concluded.
In 2015, Mr and Mrs Wilks decided to move to Tumbi Umbi on NSW's Central Coast.
They planned to sell their Kellyville property to fund the purchase but then Mrs Wilks' cancer diagnosis in August 2016 'changed everything'.
Mr and Mrs Mereniuk claim they advanced a total of $80,000 on the condition that when the Tumbi property was eventually sold the total amount, plus the $80,000, was to be paid back.
Mr Wilks sold the property in December 2019, almost a year after his wife died.
In 2015, Mr and Mrs Wilks decided to move to Tumbi Umbi on NSW's Central Coast (pictured)
He kept the proceeds, 'save for the sum of $154,000 which has been retained in a solicitor s trust account pending the outcome of these proceedings', the judgement noted.
It is also understood that Mr and Mrs Mereniuk unsuccessfully tried to challenge Mr Wilks' claim to their daughter's superannuation with the Australian Financial Complaint Authority.
The judgment noted that both parties had 'not only a financial interest in the outcome but also a degree of hostility motivating them'.
'The plaintiffs believed (correctly, as it turned out) that the defendants absence during the six months prior to Louise dying of cancer was because he was having an affair with another woman,' Judge Gibson wrote.
It was revealed that the grandparents 'stepped into a parenting role' of their daughter's children before her death after there were 'issues in the marriage' between Mr and Mrs Wilks.
Ultimately, the judge ruled that the money had been in the form of a loan, rather than a gift.
'The plaintiffs were giving the defendant and Louise financial assistance in the form of a series of separate loans for separate purposes, but as "the Bank of Mum and Dad", not "the Giftshop of Mum and Dad",' Judge Gibson wrote.
'They expected repayment but at the same time took issues relevant to love and affection into account; in particular, while Louise was dying of cancer and the marriage clearly in trouble, they forbore to ask for funds in circumstances where I am satisfied that there was an understanding that further repayments would not fall due until the Tumbi Umbi property was sold.'
But it acknowledged that 'in the future, courts may consider that the phenomenon of the "Bank of Mum and Dad" may be interpreted differently'.
The judgment notes research by the Productivity Commission that 'if "Mum and Dad" were an actual bank, it would be somewhere between the fifth and ninth biggest mortgage lender in Australia'.
When approached for comment by Daily Mail Australia on Thursday, Mr Wilks said he felt he had been 'hard done by'.
'I really can't comment on it at the moment but I'm quite interested to talk to you later on because I've been hard done by but at this stage I'm not willing to make a statement,' he said.
After his divorce from Amber Heard, Johnny Depp looks to have his mojo back.
The 61-year-old megastar looked markedly slimmer and even has a sparkling set of new white teeth when he was spotted partying in the Bahamas this week.
Friends have said that Johnny is happier and healthier than he has been for years as he recovers from the heartbreak of his split from Ms Heard and the devastating court cases that followed in the UK and US.
The fallout from their divorce left both parties resentful and angry with each other.
But that hasn't stopped him hanging out with two women who look remarkably like his ex-wife, MailOnline can reveal today.
This week the 61-year-old megastar has been pictured with his arms wrapped around Russian model Yulia Vlasova, 28, in the beach bar on the private 45-acre Little Halls Pond Cay archipelago he calls his 'sanctuary'.
However, last week Italian beauty Greta Cruz shared pictures of her enjoying the turquoise waters off the same island - and was also with him as he played guitar for Andrea Bocelli during the world-renowned tenor's three-day concert extravaganza in Italy in July.
Johnny likes to keep it casual. But whatever is going on with his love life he appears to have a type of companion: beautiful, blonde, half his age with more than a passing resemblance to Amber Heard, one source with links to Depp's London friendship group told MailOnline today.
Johnny Depp and his rumoured girlfriend, Yulia Vlasova, pictured together in the Bahamas in a new post. One source admits that Yulia does bear a resemblance to his ex-wife Amber
Depp's loyal fan base stood by the actor as he fought the abuse allegations leveled against him by ex-wife Amber Heard during their defamation trial in Virginia in 2022, after a similarly explosive case in London and he is getting on with his life, concentrating on acting and painting
There is speculation online that Johnny has also been spending time with another blonde beauty, named Greta Cruz
But fans of Mr Depp have spotted that Greta also appears to have been spending time at the megastar's private island in the Bahamas
Johnny Depp, 61, appeared to have undergone major dental work in a new video circulating on Instagram, depicting his recent trip to a Bahamian bar
Friends of the actor have said that his relationship with Yulia, 28, is 'casual' and they meet 'here and there' around the world.
And she has stirred up interest in their relationship again by sharing a romantic picture of them cuddling in Johnny's personal beach bar.
She posted it on Instagram with the cryptic message: 'Don't believe everything you hear on the internet'.
It came after Mr Depp's legions of loyal fans noticed that another beautiful blonde woman was spotted frolicking on one of the island's twelve pristine powder white beaches.
Italian beauty Greta Cruz has shared pictures of her in the turquoise sea lapping on to the beach where Mr Depp married Amber Heard in 2015.
She said in the post: 'The most amazing place I've ever seen'.
Miss Cruz, who is in her early twenties, was also in St Tropez with Johnny in July. On her Instagram she shared behind the scenes pictures of Depp with Andrea Bocelli, Russell Crowe, Ed Sheeran and Will Smith partying together backstage.
Greta Cruz's picture from the sea at Mr Depp's island
Greta has not commented on her relationship with Johnny
Miss Cruz shared this picture of Johnny performing on stage around six weeks ago
She also posted this picture of Mr Depp with stars including Andrea Bocelli, Russell Crowe, Ed Sheeran and Will Smith
Loyal fans of the star have speculated on social media whether they might be a couple but a spokesman for Mr Depp didn't comment, and neither did Yulia or Greta when approached by MailOnline.
The Hollywood star has been dating 28-year-old Russian beautician and model Yulia after meeting in 2021.
Most recently the two were seen together when they were snapped canoodling and looking cozy while traveling out of London Heliport.
Glamorous Miss Vlasova is based in Prague, where she owns a makeup and hairstyling studio, and where she first met the actor at the 55th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in August 2021, according to sources.
But she spends a lot of time in London, and was touring the National Portrait Gallery off Trafalgar Square today, according to her Instagram.
She was seen hanging out with Depp at his friend and late musician Jeff Beck's concert in Prague in July 2022, not too long after he won his defamation case and went on tour in Europe.
Photos show the two playfully posing together at the event, with one selfie showing Depp even planting a smooch on her cheek.
The Oscar-nominated actor appeared to have undergone reconstructive dental work after past appearances, including at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival (R), attracted attention from fans who said that he teeth appeared as it they had been 'rotting'
Photos show the two playfully posing together at the event, with one selfie showing Depp even planting a smooch on her cheek
Johnny Depp, 61, has been dating 28-year-old Russian beautician and model Yulia Vlasova, with whom he was seen traveling in London in July (right)
And while Vlasova has not confirmed the nature of their relationship, she has hinted at the romance on Instagram posts, some of which have been deleted.
Earlier this year the model shared a photo of two resting their hands on each other's leg in response to an Instagram Q&A with her followers who asked about her 'favorite actor.'
'JD. He is a man who is incredibly talented and inspiring,' she replied.
DailyMail.com revealed earlier this year that she studied at Moscow's leading training academy for diplomats and spies, according to local Russian media.
In fact she is from provincial Russia, namely Sortirovka, a rough suburb of Yekaterinburg, the country's third city, and earlier remote Polevskoy, a drab industrial town with a 69,000 population.
At some point she entered elite the Institute of International Relations in Moscow, known as MGIMO and run by the Russian Foreign Ministry, seen as the country's most revered educational institution, according to multiple Russian reports.
It is attended by many future diplomats and members of the Russian intelligence services, but also would be business leaders and government officials.
The pair were snapped together at Depp's friend and late musician Jeff Beck 's concert in Prague in July 2022
The Prague-based beauty is said to have met Depp at a film festival event in 2021 and has remained close with him ever since
Earlier this year she shared a photo of the two resting their hand on each other's leg in response to an Instagram Q&A with her followers who asked about her 'favorite actor'
Yulia is also known to have studied at the University of West Bohemia in Plzen.
A picture of her at MGIMO proudly shared this year by her father Alexander, 57, shows her evidently holding a certificate at the elite institute.
Alexander served in the Soviet army and is four years younger than Depp.
Yulia is just two years older than Depp's own daughter, model Lily-Rose Depp, 25.
Yulia's mother Galina, 60, today refused to comment on the alleged romance with Depp, telling a local Russian media outlet: 'It's better to talk to our daughter about this.
'I don't know anything, all the questions are for her.'
The family home in drab copper-mining town Polevskoy - where she and her mother are registered - is in a Soviet-era block where flats are on the market for around $36,750 (28,300).
After university, Yulia reportedly later got a job with a Czech company before opening her own health and beauty salon and working as a model and influencer.
In 2021, Yulia - 5ft 7 inches - was a finalist in the international beauty contest Miss Office, which took place in Moscow.
A former school friend of Yulia's told E1 news outlet she was 'a simple girl who has now made it to Hollywood' - after reports of romance with Depp.
'She studied at a Sortirovka school.
'There were beatings and bullying. She didn't dress up in brands in her childhood.
Vlasova is from provincial Russia, namely Sortirovka, a rough suburb of Yekaterinburg, but moved to Czech Republic after university
These days runs her own health and beauty salon and works as a model and influencer
'She was an ordinary girl going to our [local] Pizza Mia and class trips.'
Social media posts suggest the blonde beauty also spends a lot of her time in the UK - where Depp has been largely based since his infamous legal battle and divorce.
He is currently living in London where he has been keeping busy with new film projects and going on tour with his band.
The film star is reported to be in a good place following a dark period of legal troubles and allegations that culminated into a high-profile defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard, who had accused him of abuse, in Virginia in 2022.
He has managed to rehabilitate his image and move forward with his career, landing new film roles and going on tour with his band since then.
This year Paul Barresi, the private eye hired by Amber Heard when she split from Johnny to find dirt on him, released a new book where he claims his investigation found Depp to be too generous with a 'respect and adoration for women'.
And it came as the Depp v. Heard Channel 4 documentary began trending on Netflix Netflix, reflecting the continuing fascination with the couple's relationship as well as their divorce and legal battles in the UK and US.
It has been quite the turnaround for Depp - four years after he lost a libel case in the UK against the publisher of The Sun over a story that described him as a 'wife beater'.
He did then sue Amber in the US for libel over similar allegations - and won $15million in damages.
The former couple have gone in different directions.
Amber is understood to have quit Hollywood and settled in the Spanish capital with her three-year-old daughter - born thanks to a surrogate.
Earlier this year he was mobbed by fans in London. At one point he allowed a fan waiting for him in the British capital to kiss his hand
The star's security stepped in when the woman wouldn't let go of him, but the actor told his bodyguard it was 'ok' and he kissed her hand
Her ex-husband, however, now has four careers.
Currently he is renting an art studio in London's West End to create new art - having not painted seriously for years.
He is in the middle of a three-year $20million contract as the face of Dior's Sauvage men's perfume.
He is also a gigging guitarist, appearing on stages around the world including at the Royal Albert Hall with friends including Rod Stewart and Eric Clapton.
And his acting is back up and running. He was the star of last year's Cannes Film Festival because of his role in the French-language biopic Jeanne du Barry, where he played King Louis XV.
He is also directing his first movie in 25 years. Depp is working with Al Pacino on a biopic of Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani.
Screenwriter and producer of the swashbuckling franchise Pirates of the Caribbean, Terry Rossio, has told DailyMail.com that now that Depp has cleaned up his act he would be welcomed back as Jack Sparrow with open arms.
Previously Depp said he would never work for Disney again as sources said he felt harshly treated by them. It will remain to be seen if his stance has softened.
While he could not escape the shocking court cases involving Amber Heard untarnished, his fans have remained loyal to him.
A small business founder who was scammed out of $56,000 has hit out at ANZ Bank for telling him he should have used a security measure that he had no idea was available to him.
Roland Sharman, who founded Sail Shade World 18 years ago and is still the director of the firm, found he had lost more than AU$56,000 in 21 fraudulent credit card transactions in July.
Mr Sharman told Daily Mail Australia that products were shipped to Jordan in the Middle East, only to discover the card details used in the transaction were stolen so the money was retracted and the goods are gone.
He had minimal issues with bad payments as his business expanded to over 50 countries and he moved to Vienna, Austria, to be closer to his family.
Mr Sharman said ANZ raised his transaction fees from 1.8 per cent to 3 per cent for added security once it began taking on so many international orders.
He claims that the bank failed to inform him about a crucial cybersecurity measure, called 3DSecure, which would have protected him from the scammers.
Now ANZ is now refusing to help Mr Sharman, saying he is technically at fault because he left himself exposed to the fraud by not using 3DSecure.
A small business founder who was scammed out of $56,000 has hit out at ANZ Bank for telling him he should have used a security measure that he had no idea was available to him (stock image)
Businessman Roland Sharman (pictured) has taken aim at ANZ after he was scammed of more than AU$56,000 across 21 fraudulent credit card transactions processed by the bank in July
The 80-year-old said he 'felt sick' seeing the transactions being cancelled because they were fraudulent.
'We had already processed 21 transactions and we were thinking: "no, My God, what do we do?",' he said.
'That is such a sinking feeling.'
Mr Sharman said ANZ's response to the scammers was to put the culpability back onto the businessman.
A representative for the bank told him that it was not their 'responsibility to look after your security', Mr Sharman said.
'I'm sorry, I think it is, I really think it is,' he added.
The cost of adding 3DSecure to his processing fee is five cents per transaction, which Mr Sharman said he would have happily paid if only he had known about it.
'This was completely avoidable, I mean they increased our rate and said it was because of the complexity of cybersecurity for overseas business ... What the hell for?' he asked.
Mr Sharman estimated that the increased fees have cost his business hundreds of thousands of dollars over its life, yet when it mattered most there was no protection in place.
After bank-and-forth communication with ANZ representatives to resolve the issue went nowhere, Mr Sharman filed an official complaint with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) on August 16.
Mr Sharman said the bank has shirked all responsibility for the transactions as he hadn't gotten the proper cybersecurity, making him at fault for the lost money
His said his lawyer believed that banks had 'pushed the boundary' in profiting from such online transactions but then refusing to take financial responsibility when their payment systems allow scams to occur.
'It may well be that with proliferation of cyber crime that we may be very close to the courts enforcing such a duty of care against banks,' Mr Sharman said.
He has since launched a GoFundMe to help recoup some of the funds he had lost from the scam but also to start a movement to force banks to accept responsibility for cybercrimes on their systems, and for courts to give customers more protection.
'There should be a push for legislation that would stop this happening,' Mr Sharman said.
'As a bank you have a fiduciary responsibility, you shouldn't allow your customer to be exposed when there is is the way for you to keep them from being exposed.'
An ANZ Worldline Payment Solutions spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that 3D Secure would 'need to be enabled by the merchant's gateway provider'.
'3D Secure is a security protocol used by payment gateways to authenticate transactions made online using credit and debit cards,' the spokesperson said.
'In this case, ANZ Worldline Payment Solutions isnt the gateway provider.
'ANZ Worldline Payment Solutions does however provide all customers with information about 3D Secure through operating guides, our website and proactive communications, and encourages them to confirm 3D Secure is available from their gateway if using a third party provider.'
When Vice President Kamala Harris took the stage in North Hampton, New Hampshire on Wednesday, it was a picturesque campaign scene with a white barn under a clear blue sky, American flags and cheering supporters.
But with just over sixty days to go before Election Day, it was not exactly clear why Harris had chosen to come to the New England state.
The Granite State has not been among the seven battlegrounds both campaigns have been spending tens of millions of dollars in on advertising. And neither nominee had frequented it recently.
The stop in the state marked Harris' first visit there since 2021. Her rival Donald Trump was last in New Hampshire for the Republican primary in January.
But there was the vice president on a sunny afternoon hitting the stump and stopping by a local pretzel business. And Democrats there were relieved.
Vice President Kamala Harris taking the stage at her campaign event in North Hampton, NH on September 4, 2024
The state has been deeply purple in the past and has a Republican governor, begging the question: is New Hampshire a presidential battleground in 2024?
University of New Hampshire political science professor Andrew Smith suggested it really is not.
'If Biden had still been the nominee, then this would be a much more competitive race,' he said.
A Kamala Harris supporter wearing a hat with the vice president on it at her event in North Hampton, NH on September 4
That has not been the case since Harris took over the top of the ticket.
The latest polls show Harris on average is up seven points in the state. When Biden was the nominee, it was much closer with one poll after his debate in June even showing Trump up by two points.
But Harris' visit in the final sprint signaled at least to voters on the ground, the vice president was not leaving it to chance in a tight overall race, even if New Hampshire has a comparatively small number of electoral votes with just four up for grabs.
While Harris leads in the polls, New Hampshire has a deeply purple history. It could elect a Republican governor in November even if Harris does win as was the case when Biden won it at the top of the ticket in 2020.
'Hillary Clinton only won by 3,000 votes back in 2016, so it's not as if New Hampshire is a blowout win for Democrats,' pointed out Smith. 'It's still a fairly close state, and it's really been considered a a battleground state up until 2020.'
Donald Trump celebrating his victory in the New Hampshire GOP primary on January 23, 2024 in Nashua, New Hampshire. The last time a Republican won the state in the general election was in 2000 but Hillary Clinton barely won the state in 2016
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A Republican has not won New Hampshire in a presidential general election since 2000 with President George W Bush.
Some experts believe if Al Gore put more effort into winning the Granite State, he would have been president because its four electoral votes would have put him over the edge and the Florida results would not have mattered.
New Hampshire voters said they appreciate the state not being taken for granted.
'We're purplish,' said 39-year-old mother of four Allison O'Brien from Auburn, New Hampshire. 'When President Biden stepped down I was wondering if we would be one of the places, so I'm very excited that she decide to make this quick stop.'
O'Brien's sense is there has been a lot more energy in New Hampshire for Harris.
A man in a top hat driving in a car with the sign 'Stop Trump' in New Hampshire
Children holding signs supporting Kamala Harris on the side of the road ahead of her visit to the state
Harris meeting with Suzanne Foley and her daughter Eileen Marousek of Port City Pretzels as she campaigns in Portsmouth, NH
'I think in general people are more engaged and excited because she's bringing something new to the election.'
'I'm not surprised because I gather from having followed her for a while that she's that kind of person that wouldn't leave anyone behind, any state behind,' said Democrat Russell Brow from Hooksett, New Hampshire.
He too agreed the state has seen a substantial enthusiasm shift over the past few weeks.
Jim Kelley from Wakefield, NH suggested his 'extremely red' area is 'turning a little blue' with everything happening in the world.
Overall, there is a sense Democrats in the state are breathing a sigh of relief both at the change at the top of the ticket but also at Harris showing up.
At the same time, there is a real sense of urgency and perhaps even fear among Harris' supporters who remember 2016, the last time the party had a woman at the top of the ticket, and it was a close race.
'We got the heck beat out of us when Hillary ran, and it was so hurtful because she was so qualified,' said Natalie Kelley, Jim's wife. 'I was terrified for [Harris], but then I saw the energy change.'
A small number of Donald Trump supporters chanted for the vice president to 'go home' outside her event in New Hampshire
But New Hampshire still has its hardcore Trump supporters.
Several signs for the ex-president were out in neighborhood yards near where Harris spoke Wednesday, and a several protesters showed up on the side of the road to support for the GOP nominee outside Harris' event where they chanted for the vice president to 'go home.'
Trump took to social media ahead of the vice president's visit and claimed she 'sees there are problems for her campaign in New Hampshire because of the fact that they disrespected it in their primary and never showed up.'
He added 'I protected New Hampshire's First-In-The-Nation Primary and ALWAYS will!'
His post was a reference to Democrats selecting South Carolina to hold the first Democratic primary this year with Biden as the incumbent over the Granite State, but Democrats and Independents DailyMail.com spoke to dismissed concern Wednesday the 2024 change has any impact.
Meanwhile, a top Trump volunteer is no longer with the campaign, the Boston Globe reported Sunday, after he wrote in an email to Trump volunteers in the state that the 'campaign has determined that New Hampshire is no longer a battleground state.'
The campaign pushed back saying it has an on-the-ground presence there.
DailyMail.com reached out to the Trump campaign to see if the former president plans to make a visit to the state before November 5.
A growing number of free speech advocates are raising the alarm over what Vice President Kamala Harris would do to censor social media platforms if she wins the election.
In 2019, Harris famously branded social media companies as purveyors of 'hate,' and 'misinformation' vowing to hold them responsible for content posted on their platforms.
'We will hold social media platforms accountable for the hate infiltrating their platforms because they have a responsibility to help fight against this threat to our democracy,' Harris said during a speech to the NAACP in 2019.
She warned technology moguls that she would 'double' the number of attorneys at the Department of Justice to target their platforms.
'If you profit off of hate, if you act as a megaphone for misinformation or cyber warfare, if you don't police your platforms we are going to hold you accountable as a community.'
Elon Musk has raised concerns about Kamala Harris censoring social media platforms if elected president of the United States
Under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, online platforms are shielded from liability for what users post on their platforms.
The Biden-Harris administration's efforts to censor online content was recently brought into focus after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed last week that his company acted to remove content the government asked them to censor, due to extreme pressure from the federal government.
'I believe the government pressure was wrong, and I regret that we were not more outspoken about it,' he said in a letter to House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan. 'I also think we made some choices that, with the benefit of hindsight and new information, we wouldn't make today.'
Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer of Meta, revealed that the Biden-Harris administration pressured his company to remove content on Facebook and Instagram
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign stop
The new details of government pressured censorship earned concerns from free speech advocates who have been watching Harris' actions that would police the internet.
'Western authorities are desperate to put a leash on tech platforms, which have become far less amenable to their censorship demands than they were in 2020, and represent a major threat to their ability to control political narratives,' the Foundation For Freedom Online managing director Allum Bokhari told DailyMail.com.
Harris is not unfamiliar with the growing efforts by the Biden administration to police content on social media.
In June 2022, Biden appointed Harris to lead the White House Task Force to Address Online Harassment and Abuse, prompting the New York Post to brand the vice president as 'Big Sister II.'
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris arrives at Portsmouth International Airport
Free speech advocates are voicing their concerns about a Kamala Harris presidency
The position sparked free speech advocates to dub Harris as the 'Disinformation czar' warning that the Biden-Harris administration was trying to further restrict free speech on the internet.
The task force group quietly released a final report that recommended reforms that would make it easier to censor content online.
The report calls for tech platforms to expand 'trust and safety' teams to monitor online content, the same groups that censored content during the 2020 election.
The report also called on Congress to weaken Section 230 protections for tech platforms and included 'hate speech' in their definition of 'harassment,' to make it easier for the government to punish tech companies and remove content they did not approve of.
The decision by Brazil to ban X.com, the popular social media platform owned by tech multibillionaire Elon Musk raised concerns about the future of the platform in other countries including the United States.
Musk flagged his concerns about freedom of speech on X.com, after Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison praised the decision by Brazil to ban use of the platform.
'The Democratic Party same one that used to defend the First Amendment now wants to destroy the First Amendment,' he wrote.
SpaceX's CEO Elon Musk speaks with members of the media during the AI Safety Summit
Former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Musk, who has publicly endorsed Donald Trump for president, has faced anger from Democratic activists for promoting anti-Harris content they consider 'misinformation.'
But Musk raised questions about Harris trying to censor online speech.
'Free speech is the bedrock of democracy and the Democratic Party (Kamala is just a puppet) wants to destroy it,' Musk said.
Concerns of a future Harris administration are more than just about X.com, which has become a central platform for political content in 2024.
Users of the popular social media video platform TikTok are also concerned about what a potential Harris presidency would mean for the platform.
President Joe Biden signed a bill this year that could ban the platform from being used in the United States.
Harris has tried to reassure voters that a TikTok ban is not the purpose of the administration's legislation, but has raised 'national security concerns' surrounding the Chinese company ByteDance ownership of the platform.
Despite their national security concerns, Harris and Biden continue to use TikTok to promote their political campaign content to the platform's audience.
Earlier this week, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shared a video of Kamala Harris speaking in 2019 with CNN's Jake Tapper about her mission to pressure Twitter to ban then-president Donald Trump from the platform.
'There has to be a responsibility that is placed on these social media sites to understand their power,' Harris said. 'They are directly speaking to millions and millions of people, without any level of oversight or regulation and that has to stop.'
Former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard warned of political retribution from the Harris adminstration
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks during a town hall with former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard,
In October 2019, Harris used her call to ban Trump from Twitter to spark new life into her presidential campaign, but it was dismissed by her fellow candidates.
When Harris demanded that fellow candidate Elizabeth Warren to join her demands, she waved Harris off.
'No,' Warren replied dismissively as Harris tried to pin her down on the issue during a Democratic debate.
The fight to protect speech also raises concerns about the government physically harassing people who speak out against the administration in power.
Former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard voiced her concerns about Harris' propensity for censorship, reminding her followers she was put on a secret terror watch list after speaking out against Harris, which resulted in multiple enhanced security screenings as she and her husband traveled through airports.
'No one will be safe from political retaliation under a Harris administration,' she wrote on X.com.
Harris also worked on the issue of online harassment and sex trafficking during her time as attorney general of California.
In 2015, Harris famously called major tech CEOs to a special meeting on the issue of online 'cyber exploitation' and pointedly reminded them about the problem of 'harassment' that was taking place on their platforms.
'Im very well aware that I have a carrot and a stick,' Harris has said. 'I prefer to start with the carrot. But Im also prepared to use the stick.'
The baby-faced teen arrested Wednesday at a start-of-the-semester mass shooting at his Georgia high school that left four dead and nine wounded has been pictured for the first time.
The gunman, named by authorities as 14-year-old Colt Gray - who reportedly had an obsession with other infamous school shooters such as Parkland, Florida killer Nikolas Cruz - opened fire at Apalachee High School in Winder short after 10:20 am, police say.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said Gray immediately surrendered when confronted by school resource officers at the scene. He has since been charged with four felony counts of murder, and will be tried as an adult, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed.
Two students and two teachers were dead inside the school building - on its first day of classes after the summer break - by the time he laid down his AR-style weapon.
Students Mason Schermerhorn, 14, and Christian Angulo, 14, and teachers Richard Aspenwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53, were named as the deceased.
When police searched the teen's Georgia home following the bloodbath, they reportedly found clues the teenager was 'obsessed' with mass shootings - specifically the Parkland massacre in 2018, which left 17 people dead.
Colt Gray (pictured) opened fire at Apalachee High School in Winder shortly after 10.20am - killing two classmates and two teachers
Pictured: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz in court. Investigators said to have found clues he was 'obsessed' with the 2018 massacre, which left 17 people dead
Gray was known to the FBI after several tips came in about him last year.
In May 2023, officers from Jackson County questioned both Gray and his father about a Discord channel believed to be linked to the then-13-year-old which allegedly made threats about a school shooting.
The Discord account had a user name written in Russian, and the translation of the letters spelled out the name Lanza, referencing Adam Lanza, the perpetrator of the Sandy Hook Elementary school tragedy, officers said.
Gray denied he was the author of the threats, telling police he'd shut down his Discord after being repeatedly hacked. He expressed concerns that someone would make those accusations about him.
According to the NYT, Gray's father Colin told investigators at the time that his son 'knows the seriousness of weapons and what they can do, and how to use them and not use them.'
Colin reportedly assured officers that he would be 'mad as hell' if he learned the allegations about his son making threats were true, and that 'all the guns [would] go away.'
Online, his aunt vowed 'full throttle blood' as she claimed he'd been subjected to 'abuse' his entire life. Those comments were deleted last night after a barrage of backlash.
Gray remains in juvenile custody in Georgia, awaiting his first court appearance, which is scheduled for Friday morning. He will be charged as an adult, sheriffs said.
A huge police presence descended on Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia on Wednesday after officials said the student opened fire, injuring nine and killing four
Mason Schermerhorn, 14, an autistic student at Apalachee High School, was the first victim to be identified. Christian Angulo, 14, also lost his life in the senseless shooting
Teacher Richard Aspinwall was named as one of the four victims of the shooting. Christina Irimie was also identified as a victim
It is unclear how the 14-year-old got ahold of the weapon that was used in the attack, and authorities have not yet said what kind of firearm was used.
Sheriff Smith revealed that Wednesday was Gray's first 'real day' at Apalachee High.
He said: 'He was a brand new student to Barrow County Schools, he had enrolled about two weeks prior. This was his second day at school. He had been before, he left early, on that day and this was his first real full day.'
According to law enforcement, Gray opened fire at approximately 10:23am, hitting at least 13 people as frantic scenes took over the school.
Images showed students streaming out onto the campus as terrified parents raced to find their children, with one mother describing the scene outside the school as pure 'chaos.'
A junior at the school, Lyela Sayerath, said she was sat next to Colt Gray in algebra class minutes before he began the shooting spree.
She told CNN that Colt left the classroom at the beginning of their class at 9:45am, around 30 minutes before active shooter alerts sounded.
Gray didn't take a bathroom pass, she said, leading her to initially think he was merely skipping class - before a loudspeaker announcement told teachers to check their emails.
Shortly after, Sayerath said Gray returned outside their classroom, and a student got up to open the door for him before jumping back at the sight of his gun.
'I guess he saw we werent going to let him in. And I guess the classroom next to me, their door was open, so I think he just started shooting in the classroom,' she said.
Sayerath said Gray proceeded to fire off a number of bullets 'one after another', adding: 'When we heard it, most people just dropped to the floor and like kind of crawled in an area like piled on top of each other.'
Horrific details from inside classrooms have emerged - depicting the chilling chaos students endured as gunshots rang out this morning
One mother described the scenes outside the high school as 'chaos'
Sayerath said her friend was in the next classroom and witnessed someone being shot, which left him 'shaken up'. 'He saw somebody get shot. He had blood on him. He was kinda limping. He looked horrified,' she added.
As information floods in on the school shooting - officially the deadliest in Georgia's history - students and parents shared their shock at the horror that unfolded.
One mother, Erin Clark, shared the text exchange she had with her son Ethan from the moment he learned there was an active shooter at his school.
He wrote: 'school shooting rn (right now). I'm scared. I'm not joking.'
His mom responded instantly, assuring him that she was leaving work. In a heartbreaking response, Ethan wrote: 'I love you.'
'Love you too baby. Where are you?' Clark said. Ethan told her that he was in class, adding 'someone's dead.'
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said Gray immediately surrendered when confronted by law enforcement, and 'gave up and got on the ground'
Heartbroken students have been arriving outside school grounds in a steady stream on Thursday to mourn the tragedy.
A makeshift memorial has been created using a wreath and flowers. On Thursday, families and students stopped by the somber scene to pay their respects to the lives lost in the tragedy.
President Joe Biden issued a statement condemning gun violence after the tragedy.
He said: 'What should have been a joyous back-to-school season in Winder, Georgia, has now turned into another horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to tear our communities apart.
'Students across the country are learning how to duck and cover instead of how to read and write.
'We cannot continue to accept this as normal.'
Biden called on Congress to say 'enough is enough' and pass new gun safety legislation, describing gun violence as an 'epidemic.'
Heartbroken students have been arriving outside school grounds in a steady stream on Thursday to mourn the tragedy
On Thursday, families and students stopped by the somber scene to pay their respects to the lives lost in the tragedy
Angry Los Angeles residents said they vow to 'scream and fight' until convicted 'Pillowcase Rapist' Christopher Hubbart is pushed out of their community or back in prison.
Hubbart, who admitted to raping and sexually assaulting about 40 women in California, is scheduled to be released next month in the small unincorporated town of Juniper Hills - about an hour north of LA - after a judge granted him 'conditional release'.
A Santa Clara County Superior Court judge last year deemed Hubbart was suitable to be released under certain conditions and ordered the Department of State Hospitals to the search for housing.
Under the program, Hubbart will be released back to the area where he committed the crimes, which in this case would be in the Antelope Valley area.
Pillowcase Rapist' Christopher Hubbart could be released as soon as next month into the Antelope Valley area of Los Angeles County
Now shocked residents say they plan to drive the convicted rapist out of their neighborhood.
'There is no changing a person like that,' said resident Cheryl Holbrook.
'He needs to be put out in the middle of the desert and 100 miles or more away from anyone because he will rape again.
'The only thing that might stop him is complete isolation.'
Hubbart's long history of predatory behavior stems as far back as the early 1970s. As he raped and assaulted the women, he would use a pillow to cover their faces, according to prosecutors.
In 1972, he was sent to a state hospital after he was convicted of sexual assaults in the Pomona and San Gabriel valleys.
He was eventually released in 1979, but was arrested again for attacks in the Bay Area and sent to prison for eight years, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Two months after his release, he was back in custody after he sexually assaulted a jogger from behind and pressed his hand over her mouth and grabbed her breasts, according to court records.
He was paroled in 1990, but was arrested again for another attack. He was then sentenced to prison until 1996.
Antelope Valley resident Cheryl Holbrook said she intends to protest the convicted rapist from taking residence in her community
Before he was to be released, Santa Clara prosecutors asked a judge to confine Hubbart to a state mental hospital under Californias new Sexually Violent Predator law.
The 1996 law allowed the state to confine violent sex offenders in state hospitals if they have a mental disorder that makes them likely to reoffend.
Hubbart was the first person held under the new law, according to the Los Angeles Times.
But in 2014, Hubbart was deemed eligible for release and was ordered to stay at a small desert home in Lake Los Angeles, just outside of Palmdale.
He was required to attend therapy sessions twice a week, wear an ankle monitor and was closely supervised by the Liberty Conditional Release Program.
In 2016, Hubbart was taken back into custody for failing to abide by his release conditions.
Now he is poised to be released back to the Antelope Valley area after a Santa Clara County Superior Court judge granted his conditional release on March 2023.
Officials with CA Department of State Hospitals and a management company called Liberty Healthcare were tasked to search for a home for the convicted rapist.
But residents in the Antelope Valley area said they are determined to keep Hubbart out of town permanently.
The Lake Los Angeles home where Hubbart resided during his last release in 2014
In 2014, Holbook and others started a group called Ladies of Lake LA and led the fight to contact local politicians about their plight. They attended hearings and even went as far as setting up camp on a property next to the rundown house where Hubbart lived.
For weeks, Holbrook said she and other neighbors used bullhorns to yell at Hubbart.
They posted signs demanding he leave the area, and even allegedly pressure the water company to stop delivering to the home.
The group is mobilizing their efforts again to stop Hubbart from taking up residence in Juniper Hills, which is about 18 miles south from his former home in Lake Los Angeles.
'The last time he lived here, we were committed to fight it,' Holbrook said. 'We plan to do it again.
'We are going to find out where he lives and going to be outside every night, yelling at him with bullhorns again to let him know that's he's not wanted here.'
A hearing has been scheduled for October 1 where a judge will decide exactly where Hubbart should live.
LA County DA George Gascon said he objected to Hubbart's conditional release
Investigators said he targeted women in their late 20s and 30s and sometimes looked for children's toys because mothers would likely cooperate with him more for the safety of their kids.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon said he was against Hubbart's release.
'Continuing to release sexually violent predators into underserved communities like the Antelope Valley is both irresponsible and unjust,' Gascon said in a statement.
'Repeatedly placing these individuals in the same community shows a blatant disregard for the safety and well-being of our residents.
'Our deputy district attorneys will persist in opposing Mr. Hubbarts placement in the Antelope Valley.
'We must demand more from our judicial system, ensuring decisions serve the best interests of our communities while exploring alternative locations for these placements.'
Antelope Valley residents planned to gather Wednesday night at the Juniper Hill community center to voice their concerns.
'We are going to continue to fight this because he doesn't belong in this community,' Holbook said.
A former firefighter who was forced to leave a desperate victim behind in Grenfell Tower has revealed he was riddled with guilt for years and suffered post-traumatic stress disorder.
Ricky Nuttall tried to rescue a person trapped on the 15th floor of the building but was forced to turn back as he was running out of oxygen and temperatures were in excess of 550C.
Seventy-two people died as the horror blaze ripped through the Kensington tower block in June 2017 after many residents were told to stay in their flats.
Mr Nuttall told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Wednesday: 'We could feel our skin burning through our fire gear, we still hadn't secured a water supply, we had a tangled hose - and our emergency whistles were going off on our breathing apparatus, telling us that we were running out of air.
'We realised in that moment that there was no way that we could try and attempt to rescue [them] because we felt that if we tried in that scenario, there would have been three people in mortal danger rather than one.
Ricky Nutall, from London, had worked as a firefighter for 12 years when he attended the Grenfell Tower blaze (speaking on This Morning in 2019)
Composite photograph showing how fire swept through Grenfell Tower in west London in 2017
Photo of a sign on the hoarding around Grenfell Tower in west London
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'It's a really harsh scenario and one that I have wrestled with for years post-fire. The guilt of leaving another human being behind is very hard to come to terms with - especially when you find out that person did, in fact, die.'
Mr Nuttall's comments were made ahead of the publication of the final report of the inquiry into the tragedy that killed 72 people in June 2017.
The report concluded that the disaster was caused by 'serious deficiencies' in building standards, 'dishonest' manufacturers and a local authority with an 'indifference' to fire safety.
Significantly, the report found that the deaths that resulted were 'avoidable'.
Mr Nuttall had worked for the fire brigade for 12 years when he was woken up in the middle of the night and called to Grenfell Tower.
Unsure what to expect, he previously said that he was stunned when he heard a call over the radio for another twenty fire engines while en route.
He told This Morning back in 2019: 'It was like nothing I have experienced and hopefully will ever experience again. I think that was the same for every firefighter who attended.
'You turn up expecting to see a fire in a window or in two windows. You don't expect to see flames from the first floor to the twenty fourth floor.'
Mr Nuttall explained that every firefighter who entered the building understood that the work could be fatal for them.
He called it 'harrowing', saying: 'With any fire there's always a potential that something might go wrong. You're dealing with an unpredictable force.
'I think every firefighter that went in was concerned about whether they were coming out, to a certain extent.'
The covered remains of Grenfell Tower are seen behind a wall of condolences
Seventy-two of the the confirmed victims who died in the Grenfell Tower fire
A tribute to those that died in Grenfell Tower fire on the top of the building
As the firefighters desperate attempted to control the blaze, Mr Nuttall told how they tried to focus on their work.
He said: 'Your mind immediately turns to your training, your resources. If you've got 200 firefighters all trained to do the same thing, you're going to get the best possible outcome, you hope.'
The Grenfell Fire tragedy was caused by cladding panels that were put on the exterior face of the tower during a refurbishment several years previously.
They were Reynobond aluminium composite material (ACM) rainscreen panels with a highly flammable polyethylene (PE) core.
In his first report for the public inquiry, chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick concluded the cladding panels were the 'principle reason' why flames shot up the side of the 24-storey block.
He said the flammable core of the panels 'acted as a source of fuel' as the inferno raged out of control in a matter of minutes.
A woman walks past a wall of condolences surrounding the covered remains of Grenfell Tower
Pictured: The Grenfell Tower on fire in 2017 - a disaster which killed 72 people
The fire claimed the lives of 72 victims - the names of whom were read out at the conclusion of the inquiry on Wednesday.
These included an up-and-coming artist who pleaded for her friends to 'pray' for her as her apartment filled with smoke and a mother who filmed her final moments before she and her two children perished.
Some families tried to run, but never made it out, and one 12-year-old, who firefighters desperately tried to save, begged a 999 call handler 'Please can you hurry up?' before the phone went dead.
A Reno grandmother was shocked to find herself ensnared in a sting operation at Burning Man.
Susie Holland, 61, had offered to provide revelers a ride to the annual summer art event in Black Rock Desert, Nevada and was all set to bring a group of six Burners to the Playa for the festival last Monday.
Instead, she was accosted by agents with the Nevada Transportation Authority, the Reno Gazette Journal reports.
The agents then searched her Subaru, impounded the vehicle and told her she would likely have to pay tens of thousands of dollars in fines.
She wasn't the only one, with Reno resident Michael O'Brien telling KOLO-TV the same thing happened to him later that day. Holland claims that a total of 18 cars were towed that morning during the sting operation.
Susie Holland, 61, was shocked to find herself caught in a sting operation
Holland's story begins last year, when she rescued a friend and a few other Burners who were stuck in the muddy desert.
She said she enjoyed listening as the revelers recounted their experiences on the ride home, saying it gave her a chance to experience Burning Man without ever actually going.
'I've never been, probably will never go. It's not my kind of thing,' Holland said. 'But we were talking and [they] suggested I do it the following year, like just give rides.'
With that in mind, Holland posted an ad on Craigslist three weeks ago offering to provide rides to the Black Rock Desert.
One person responded to the ad via email, she said, and asked how much she was charging.
Holland said she did not know what the going rate was for rides to the festival, so she suggested $65 per person.
Her customer then offered her $500 including a tip, as long as Holland would come back to pick them up, and she agreed, KOLO reports.
Holland had offered to provide rides to Burning Man, the annual arts festival held in Black Rock Desert, Nevada
She said she checked with other Burners, who said she was allowed to drop off revelers outside the gates
'I figured when I picked them up, I would just let them know, it's a Burner mentality, "You don't have to give me $500. I am happy to take you out there today. Just pay for the gas, donate whatever,"' she said.
'It really wasn't about the money. It's about being able to do a little bit of the Burn without doing the Burn.'
But she did not hear back from her client for weeks, and began to get suspicious.
'You know how you get that thing in your stomach?' she asked the Gazette Journal. 'Something seemed a little off.'
She then started to do some research, and asked Burners heading off to the Playa last Sunday about providing rides to the event.
They assured her it was a normal thing that people do, saying drivers weren't allowed through the gates to Burning Man without a permit, but they could drop people off at the gate.
'I thought I was doing [my] due diligence,' the grandmother said. 'I even Googled it.
'The NTA never appeared in any of that research,' she insisted. 'I didn't know anybody that realized that they even existed.'
When she arrived to pick up the Burners who had hired her, she was startled to find undercover agents with the Nevada Transportation Authority
So she arrived at the back parking lot of the Grand Sierra Resorts at 6.30am on August 26, as she and her client had agreed upon.
But instead of meeting the carefree revelers, Holland was accosted by undercover agents with the Nevada Transportation Authority, who pulled up around her vehicle in black Fords.
'I couldn't figure out what was happening,' she recounted. 'I couldn't wrap my head around it. I'm 61 years old, you know. I've never been in a situation like this.'
She said she initially tried to turn her car around, but was blocked by some of the unmarked vehicles.
Then when she tried to move forward, agents blasted the Fords' horns and three people she described as 'tall, bald-headed dudes with big badges on their chest' started searching her car.
'I was literally in shock,' Holland said. 'That seemed like they were catching a pedophile.
'This thing was so intense, and they were so aggressive.'
The agents impounded her Subaru and told her she was facing up to $30,000 in fines
Eventually, the agents told Holland she was facing up to $30,000 in fines for not having a certification to provide rides for a fee.
Her car was then impounded, and in order to get it out, she was scheduled for a council hearing the following day.
Holland said she then tried to contact John Routsis, a Burning Man lawyer, who vowed to help her.
But he said he would help once he got back from the annual festival - meaning she was left without legal representation at her hearing.
And because she needed her vehicle to get to work, she was willing to agree to anything that would get it back.
But hers was not the only vehicle impounded that day, with Michael O'Brien saying he was caught up in the same scheme.
'If there is no food in the house, I go get money - and that's how I ended up falling for this scam,' he told KOLO. 'I thought I was going to get some money so I can have food in the house for my daughter, basically.'
O'Brien also arrived at the back parking lot of the Grand Sierra Resorts at around 9.45am and was similarly confronted by the undercover agents.
Then, when Holland went to pick up her car at City Auto Towing the next morning, she said the woman at the counter told her that 18 cars had been towed that morning from the sting.
'No one knew it was illegal to give rides to Burning Man,' she said, as some would advertise rides to the festival in a Facebook group.
Some people advertised rides to the festival in a Facebook group
The NTA would not disclose to the Gazette Journal how many people were hit in the sting operation, how long it was conducted or when it started.
But Teri Williams, a spokesperson for the the agency, said it is illegal for paid transportation drivers to operate without proper licensing or insurance.
'As a law enforcement agency, the NTA's mission is to protect the traveling public, which requires that the agency regulate certified and permitted providers, as well as take proactive measures to identify and deter unlicensed activity.
'Ultimately, people that engage in commerce of any kind must be knowledgeable about what is required to operate legally... the onus falls on the individual to be informed and in compliance,' Williams said.
The spokesperson added that under law, the agency is not allowed to just provide drivers with a warning.
Instead, agents are required to cite an individual and impound their car for noncompliance, even if it is just their first offense.
The individual would then bring their case to a hearing officer, who would decide what the punishment should be, based on factors like first time offenses and other hardships.
'The NTA takes its public safety mission seriously,' Williams said.
'The potential harm to either the driver or the passenger could be life-altering.'
Holland was just required to pay $1,000 in cash to the NTA to release her vehicle, as the hearing officer agreed to suspend many of the fees since it was just her first offense
In the end, Holland was just required to pay $1,000 in cash to the NTA to release her vehicle, as the hearing officer agreed to suspend many of the fees since it was just her first offense.
She also paid $500 to get her Subaru out of the impound lot, and she is now hoping that her story could serve as a warning to others.
'This is [the NTA's] hunting season,' she told the Gazette Journal. 'They're not going to let us know that this is illegal. It doesn't behoove them in any way.'
Holland went on to admit she needs 'to be accountable for not knowing,' as she continues to fight back against the scheme.
She started an online fundraiser to help her with her legal fees and raise money to see if a lawyer could help her with her case.
As of Wednesday evening, it had garnered more than $2,000.
'Clearly, I'm just a grandma giving rides to the Burn,' Holland told the Gazette Journal.
'But they knew what they're doing,' she said of the agents with the NTA. 'We just weren't [aware]. No one was aware of it.'
Police officers in Victoria will alert motorists to the location of speed cameras as part of industrial action pushing for a pay rise.
Police and protective service officers began taking the measure from 7am on Thursday to reduce the revenue flow that comes from traffic fines, along with writing union slogans on police vehicles, and parking outside government offices.
The pay dispute between the Police Association of Victoria and Victoria Police has been rumbling on since late last year without resolution.
In May, an in-principle agreement was reached that would give officers a nine-day working fortnight and a 16 per cent pay rise over four years.
However, the deal was rejected by members and parties returned to the negotiating table.
Victoria Police has since rejected union claims and torn up the previous proposed agreement, sending negotiations back to square one, the police union said on Thursday.
'Our members don't want to be having to take industrial action, but since having served a revised lot of claims on Victoria Police, they've been unable to engage in any meaningful negotiations,' secretary Wayne Gatt said.
Among the claims, police want a 24 per cent pay rise over four years and for time spent at the start and end of shifts putting on and taking off their equipment to be considered part of their shift rather than being an unpaid addition to it.
Members of the Victoria Police stand outside the MCG, during the AFL Grand Final match between the Hawthorn Hawks and Sydney Swans at the MCG in Melbourne, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. (AAP Image/Joe Castro) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY
Police officers will warn drivers of upcoming speed cameras (pictured) so they avoid being fined is among the number of measures being taken by union members
Mr Gatt said executive command had 'completely lost control of crime in Victoria' due to a lack of investment in staffing.
'It's not enough to let executive leadership in these agencies just run rogue and allow their workforces to become completely depleted to a point where in policing, we can't even do our core job,' he said.
'Get in there, get your sleeves rolled up and sort this out.'
Alerting Victorians to speed cameras so they do not get fined is only part of the union's first phase of industrial action.
Among the slogans police are prepared to pain their vehicles with include: 'Don't BAIL on police pay us what we're worth' and 'fighting crime doesn't pay'.
Union members will cast their ballot in the coming days on whether to escalate the issue to phase two.
That phase could include members refusing to issue penalty notices, except for the most serious driving offences.
A Victoria Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the public that they 'ensure frontline policing services and community safety are maintained'.
'We remain committed to good faith negotiations with the Police Association Victoria and independent bargaining representatives to secure an agreement that recognises the challenges of policing and is fair for police, protective services officers and the Victorian community.'
The industrial action means the state government remain at odds with its three emergency services over pay increases.
Paramedics have taken to escalating action since March, which is now affecting communications, clinical support, triage services, rostering and air operations.
The government is also struggling to agree to terms with firefighters requesting a 25 per cent increase over three years and $117m in bonuses.
Jewish organisations last night slammed an NHS Trust after an email urged its staff to boycott antisemitism awareness training.
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust provoked outrage after it published a statement in its weekly newsletter warning staff 'not to attend' an 'inappropriate' session led by the Antisemitism Policy Trust (APT).
The APT training aims to educate people about the 'modern manifestations' of antisemitism, which includes discussion on how it presents itself in dialogue around Israel and Palestine.
An email sent by an employee from the Trust's diversity team followed a handful of complaints about the APT made via the Black Minority Ethnic network.
Claire Murdoch, chief executive of the Trust, interrupted her holiday to personally telephone the head of the APT and apologise for the egregious 'error'.
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust provoked outrage after it published a statement in its weekly newsletter warning staff 'not to attend' an 'inappropriate' session led by the Antisemitism Policy Trust (file pic)
In an email seen by the Daily Mail, she told staff that the statement about the training had been made in 'error' after it had not 'gone through our usual sign-off process'.
She added: 'I have asked that colleagues look into how such a message was communicated in error and we will get to the bottom of it.
'There have been a small number of concerns raised by some individuals via the BAME network with the Trust about the antisemitism training.
'This will be properly investigated - which is the right and proper thing to do - and will be shared both with the APT and NHS England.
'I have personally telephoned the chief executive of APT this morning to apologise for what I can only describe as poor process and error on our part.'
The initial notice about the planned training was added to the Trust's weekly newsletter by the employee.
It stated: 'We have become aware of concerns regarding the antisemitism training that was recently advertised.
'We have determined that this training and its content may be inappropriate.
'For this reason we advise all staff members not to attend.'
It is unclear if the person responsible for adding the statement to the newsletter will face any disciplinary action or will be required to attend the antisemitism training themselves.
Complaints were raised over the APT training, which aims to educate people about the 'modern manifestations' of antisemitism - including discussion on how it presents itself in dialogue around Israel and Palestine
Campaign Against Antisemitism said 'clearly there are people within the medical industry who are uncomfortable with learning or other people learning about certain contemporary manifestations of anti-Jewish racism.' Pictured: Tens of thousands gathered to march against antisemitism in London last November
An APT spokesman said: 'We are pleased that the Trust has now endorsed our training and encouraged its members to attend, and we were grateful for the apology we received.
'As anti-Jewish racism continues to rise, it is vital that people have the tools to identify and challenge it.'
The APT has already run the 90-minute training session for NHS England twice before.
During the training which is scheduled to take place today they aim to educate people about the 'modern manifestations' of antisemitism, which includes discussion about how it presents itself in discussions around Israel and Palestine.
A spokesman for Campaign Against Antisemitism added: 'There is a growing and scandalous trend of scepticism and even pushback within NHS trusts in London against antisemitism training by reputable providers.
'Clearly there are people within the medical industry who are uncomfortable with learning or other people learning about certain contemporary manifestations of anti-Jewish racism.
'That is a frightening prospect for Jewish patients and staff.'
A sticker of a Palestine flag with the slogan 'Jews are the scum of the earth' is displayed in London in October last year
A poster of Kfir Bibas, who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, is daubed with swastikas
A spokesman for Central and North West London NHS Trust said: 'We will be working with our BAME network and colleagues to ensure that our training and awareness offers on Antisemitism, Islamophobia and all kinds of racial, cultural and religious intolerance, is of a high quality across the organisation to help maintain the highest possible quality of patient care in our communities.'
NHS England has been approached for comment.
The Commons relishes distant disasters. Seven years seven damn years! after the Grenfell fire, a 1,694-page inquiry report was finally published.
The Prime Minister, darkly suited and tied, made a sombre statement. The Leader of the Opposition replied in similar fashion. Backbenchers pinned sepulchral expressions to their faces. Dress code: black crepe, artful frowns, murmured mutual statesmanship.
Over the parliamentary battlefield there hung, like September-dawn mist, an air of studied piety. 'Look at us,' it seemed to say. 'We care. We are good people. We are the governing class.'
That very class had just been blamed, along with some of the gorier elements of capitalism, for the avoidable deaths of 72 people.
Frontbenchers and lesser pondlife congratulated each other on 'the tone' of their remarks. By convention one should join this circle of admiration and say it was 'the Commons at its best'. Count me out.
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during Prime Minister's Questions at the House of Commons in London
A view of the memorial wall at the Grenfell Tower in which 72 people were killed in a fire in 2017
Parliament is at its best when it fizzes with audible anger, when our representatives betray raw emotion. That was certainly evident back in 2017 when the fire had just happened. In those first days after Grenfell, there was a whiff of fear at Westminster. You could sense our rulers' unease that the people were revolting.
Seven years on, the peril had passed. Don't ring the emergency services. Ring for the pen-pushers and lawyers, the expert witnesses and the whole modern inquiry sector with its modules and hefty per diems. It'll cost a few bob but they'll manage the danger. They'll wrap everything in enough sub-clauses to prevent anyone in club-class being savaged.
Sir Keir Starmer called it 'a long-awaited day of truth which must now lead to a day of justice'. Don't hold your breath. No prosecution is said to be likely for another two years.
There had been, continued the PM in his bloodless voice, 'decades of failure by central government'. These went back at least to 1991. Local government, the fire brigade, cladding firms and contracted inspectors had all been found wanting by the report. Of these, the only ones Sir Keir seemed half-disposed to biff were the private firms.
Even then the lawyer in him served as a brake.
'Two weeks ago I made a private visit to Grenfell Tower,' disclosed Sir Keir. Is it still 'private' if you go and boast about it in a Commons statement?
He vowed that securing justice for the Grenfell families would be 'one of the defining changes' of his premiership. Maybe it will be, or maybe it will eventually become little more than a biographer's footnote, for there was no flourish, no dramatic pause, no tilt of determined head as he made this promise. It was just a smear of words, delivered by a robot set to 'sacerdotal' mode.
Efford, McDonnell and Corbyn (pictured) aside, that anger was little heard in our parliament
Rishi Sunak had his turn. He was seamlessly honeyed, voicing an apology for past governments that cost him nothing
Beside Sir Keir sat his housing minister, Rushanara Ali, a junior figure who took a few timid notes. David Lammy's bulk loomed over her on the other side. Rishi Sunak had his turn. He was seamlessly honeyed, voicing an apology for past governments that cost him nothing. In due course, we also had Sir Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader. He strained for tragic grandeur. I cannot remember a word he said.
The only ones to crack through this toffee-apple glaze of formulaic grief were Clive Efford (Lab, Eltham & Chislehurst), who suggested that as with Hillsborough, Horizon, the contaminated blood and other scandals, 'the state became the enemy of working-class people'. John McDonnell (Lab, Hayes & Harlington) spoke of 'social murder'. Jeremy Corbyn (Ind, North Islington) reported 'the deep anger' among Grenfell families.
Efford, McDonnell and Corbyn aside, that anger was little heard in our parliament.
No one railed against the grotesque cost of the inquiry. Regrets about how long it took were voiced with no more force than rail commuters grumbling about a delay on their ride home.
The ministerial and mandarin class was up to its oxters in this terrible affair.
Fear not. Our purple-posturing parliament would muffle any awkwardness for the Blob.
Officials identified two students and two teachers who tragically lost their lives in a mass shooting at Apalachee High School on Wednesday morning.
Students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, and teachers Christina Irimie and Richard Aspinwall were named by authorities at a Wednesday night press conference.
Schermerhorn's family said he was an autistic student at the school, with a loved one saying after his passing it is 'sad we can't even send our babies to school and them be safe.'
Another loved one said: 'Beautiful Mason we are so sorry! (America) failed you... Hug your children!'
'I'm TIRED of texting I Love You's to my kids at school when this repeatedly happens,' they said. 'I'm tired of everyone's 'thoughts and prayers' with NO ACTION.'
Mason Schermerhorn, 14, an autistic student at Apalachee High School, was the first victim to be identified. He was among four people killed in the mass shooting
Teacher Richard Aspinwall was named as one of the four victims of the shooting
Teacher Christina Irimie was also identified as a victim
Student Christian Angulo, 14, also lost his life in the senseless shooting
Gray, 14, injured at least nine others in the horror shooting in Winder, Georgia. Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said Gray immediately surrendered when confronted by law enforcement, and 'gave up and got on the ground.'
Special education teacher David Phenix was the first to be pictured. Phenix was shot in the hip and foot, but survived the tragedy.
Officials have not yet offered any identification on the other three individuals that were shot dead, and said there is no early indication that they were targeted specifically, although the investigation is ongoing.
It is unclear how the 14-year-old gunman got ahold of the weapon that was used in the attack, and authorities have not yet said what kind of firearm was used.
Following his arrest, Gray will be charged with murder and will be tried as an adult, the Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.
According to law enforcement, Gray opened fire at approximately 10:23am, hitting at least 13 people as frantic scenes took over the school.
Images showed students streaming out onto the campus as terrified parents raced to find their children, with one mother describing the scene outside the school as pure 'chaos.'
A huge police presence descended on Apaleechee High School in Winder, Georgia on Wednesday after at least 13 people were shot, four fatally
Horrific details from inside classrooms have emerged - depicting the chilling chaos students endured as gunshots rang out this morning
A junior at the school, Lyela Sayerath, said she was sat next to Colt Gray in algebra class minutes before he began the shooting spree.
She told CNN that Colt left the classroom at the beginning of their class at 9:45am, around half an hour before active shooter alerts sounded.
Gray didn't take a bathroom pass, she said, leading her to initially think he was merely skipping class - before a loudspeaker announcement told teachers to check their emails.
Shortly after, Sayerath said Gray returned outside their classroom, and a student got up to open the door for him before jumping back at the sight of his gun.
'I guess he saw we werent going to let him in. And I guess the classroom next to me, their door was open, so I think he just started shooting in the classroom,' she said.
Sayerath said Gray proceeded to fire off a number of bullets 'one after another', adding: 'When we heard it, most people just dropped to the floor and like kind of crawled in an area like piled on top of each other.'
A junior at the school, Lyela Sayerath, said she was sat next to Colt Gray in algebra class minutes before he began the shooting spree
One mother described the scenes outside the high school as 'chaos'
Sayerath said her friend was in the next classroom and witnessed someone being shot, which left him 'shaken up'. 'He saw somebody get shot. He had blood on him. He was kinda limping. He looked horrified,' she added.
As information floods in on the school shooting - officially the deadliest in Georgia's history - students and parents shared their shock at the horror that unfolded.
One mother, Erin Clark, shared the text exchange she had with her son Ethan from the moment he learned there was an active shooter at his school.
He wrote: 'school shooting rn (right now). I'm scared. I'm not joking.'
His mom responded instantly, assuring him that she was leaving work. In a heartbreaking response, Ethan wrote: 'I love you.'
'Love you too baby. Where are you?' Clark said. Ethan told her that he was in class, adding 'someone's dead.'
Many students filmed the aftermath, with one shaken grandfather revealing his granddaughters 'were led out past blood and victims' after the shooting.
'They heard the shots, had SWAT come in guns drawn in their room looking for shooters,' James Shappard said. 'No kid should have to go through that.'
Heartbreaking messages between a student at Apalachee High School and his mom have revealed the moment kids learned there was an active shooter
The first victim of the shooting, special education teacher David Phenix, has been pictured. Phenix was shot in the hip and foot, but survived the tragedy
Sergio Caldera, 17, said he was in his senior chemistry class when he heard gunshots, and told ABC: 'My teacher goes and opens the door to see what's going on.
'Another teacher comes running in and tells her to close the door because there's an active shooter.'
Caldera said that his class heard chilling screams from outside as they 'huddled up.'
Another 15-year-old child told Atlanta News First that his teacher immediately locked the door, and his classmates ducked down into a lockdown position when the gunfire broke out on Wednesday morning.
He said that he was concerned about his friends and classmates - since the gunshots sounded close to where he was hunkered down.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said Gray immediately surrendered when confronted by law enforcement, and 'gave up and got on the ground'
Terrified students said they heard screams from the hallway
Melanie, who is a student at Apalachee High School, revealed that a 'code red' announcement, along with a red flashing light, started going off in her classroom.
During drills, the light has never illuminated - which made her realize that the ordeal was real and serious, she told local reporters.
Her classmates immediately ducked into the corner of the room on the instruction of their teacher, who turned off the classroom light.
Melanie said that many of her friends did not have cell service, but she did - so she texted her own family before letting her other classmates message their parents off of her phone.
And 14-year-old Camille Nelms told WXIA the gunman entered her classroom.
'I was crying. I didn't want to die that way,' she said.
An allegedly 'boozed-up' passenger caused disruption on on an easyJet flight, causing the aircraft to be diverted due to his behaviour.
A group of holidaymakers jetting from Gatwick to Kos didn't get off to the most scenic start to their vacation, as one customer became unruly on the plane, according to easyJet.
The passenger reportedly broke the inflight intercom and fought with cabin crew members 30,000ft mid-air, The Sun reports.
The EZY8235 flight was then diverted from Kos to Munich, where authorities and emergency services were waiting for the flight on Tuesday afternoon.
In a clip, which emerged on TikTok, a brave passenger reportedly helped staff restrain the passenger until they landed and police arrived.
Do you know the passenger? Email: jon.brady@mailonline.co.uk
A drunk passenger became disruptive on the easyJet flight to Kos, Greece last Tuesday(Pictured: Passengers and crew members escorting the individual from plane)
Passengers were left furious after the boozy passenger caused their flight to be diverted to Munich (Pictured: An angered passenger who told the unruly flyer to 'get off')
The other inconvenienced travellers were put up in hotels and were given meals by the aviation company.
In the clip, which has over half-a-million views, passengers clapped as authorities and brave staff hurled him away.
One frustrated flyer can be seen shouting at the drunken passenger: 'Get off you loser.'
The plane later let out a roaring round of applause for one traveller, who according to the video, had bravely helped staff restrain the boozy flyer until the plane landed.
Reliving the incident, a source told The Sun: 'The cabin crew were great and very brave but the whole drama was very upsetting.'
According to the UK's Civil Aviation Authority, acts of drunkenness on an aircraft can result in fines of up to 5,000 and a two-year prison sentence.
An easyJet spokesperson said: 'Flight EZY8235 on 3 September from London Gatwick to Kos diverted to Munich and was met by police due to a passenger behaving disruptively onboard.
'Safety is easyJet's highest priority and our cabin crew are trained to assess and act quickly and appropriately in all situations to ensure that the safety of the flight and other passengers is not compromised at any time. While such incidents are rare, we take them very seriously and do not tolerate abusive or threatening behaviour onboard.
'The flight was delayed overnight while we arranged a replacement crew and provided customers with hotel accommodation and meals along with updates on the flight's departure this afternoon. While this was outside of our control, we are sorry for the inconvenience caused.'
It comes shortly after police escorted a drunk passenger off a flight to Dalaman after having to do a U-turn on the runway at Manchester Airport.
Passengers on the flight on June 22 watched on as Jet2 staff had to abandon take off and return to the gate where police removed the allegedly drunk man from the plane.
Video footage posted on social media shows three police officers inside the cabin.
The passenger, who sported black sunglasses and a neck pillow, was originally sat down and stood up as the policeman asked him: 'Have you got any cabin bags?'
Police apprehended the individual and escorted him away handcuffed, while the other inconvenienced travellers were put up in hotels (Pictured: The plane cheering a traveller who helped apprehend the passenger on the EZY8235 flight)
Reliving the incident, a source told The Sun : 'The cabin crew were great and very brave but the whole drama was very upsetting (Pictured: Cheering passengers on the EZY8235 flight)
A flight attendant responded: 'Yes, I'll get them out for you in a second.'
The officer looked at the man about to be ejected from the flight and said: 'We might be needing them.'
As the police and flight attendant headed to get the man's cabin baggage, he turned to face the disgruntled passengers and appeared to hold up his hands.
The man said: 'Sorry, everyone, sorry.'
However, his apology was not welcomed by everyone and one person can be heard saying, 'You're not sorry at all mate.'
The man quickly replied: 'I am sorry, I am.'
A woman who appeared to be with the holidaymaker stood up and turned to accompany him off the flight, which was then supposedly delayed by 24 hours according to social media.
A junior at Apalachee High School who was sat next to shooting suspect Colt Gray revealed the alleged gunman's chilling behavior moments before he opened fire - and how she and her classmates narrowly avoided death.
Lyela Sayarath said she was sat next to the 14-year-old in algebra class on Wednesday morning, and had no indication of the horror that would unfold as she described him as a 'quiet' teen.
'He never really talked, he wasn't (in school) most times, he would just skip class,' she told CNN. 'Even when he would have talked, it was one word answers.'
Sayarath said she 'wasn't surprised' when Gray was identified as the shooter, and said that 'when you think of shooters and the way they act, it's usually the quiet kid and he was the one that fit that description.'
She said on the morning of the shooting, Grey excused himself from the room minutes before shots rang out, but when he left she assumed he was merely skipping class again.
Lyela Sayarath, a junior at Apalachee High School, said she was sat next to shooter Colt Gray, 14, in algebra class just moments before he opened fire
At least 13 people were shot in the chaos, including two students and two teachers killed
Sayarath said Gray left the classroom at 9:45am, around half an hour before active shooter alerts sounded, and thought he was skipping class as he didn't take a bathroom pass from their teacher.
But while he was gone, a loudspeaker announcement told teachers to check their emails, before Sayarath said Gray re-appeared at their classroom door.
Still not realizing the danger, Sayarath said a student went to open the door for Gray before jumping back at the sight of his gun.
'I guess he saw we werent going to let him in. And I guess the classroom next to me, their door was open so I think he just started shooting in the classroom,' she said.
She said he proceeded to fire off a number of bullets 'one after another', adding: 'When we heard it, most people just dropped to the floor and like kind of crawled in an area like piled on top of each other.'
Sayarath said her friend was in the next classroom and witnessed someone being shot, which left him 'shaken up'. 'He saw somebody get shot. He had blood on him. He was kinda limping. He looked horrified,' she added.
Horrific details from inside classrooms have emerged - depicting the chilling chaos students endured as gunshots rang out this morning
Concerned parents gathered at the school on Wednesday
Mason Schermerhorn, 14, an autistic student at Apalachee High School, was the first victim to be identified. He was among four people killed in the mass shooting
It comes as 14-year-old Mason Schermerhorn became the first of the four victims in the school shooting to be identified.
The victim's family told Channel 12 News that Schermerhorn, an autistic student, was shot dead in the tragedy on Wednesday morning.
Gray, 14, injured at least nine others in the horror shooting in Winder, Georgia. Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said Gray immediately surrendered when confronted by law enforcement, and 'gave up and got on the ground.'
Officials have not yet offered any identification on the other three individuals that were shot dead, and said there is no early indication that they were targeted specifically, although the investigation is ongoing.
It is unclear how the 14-year-old gunman got ahold of the weapon that was used in the attack, and authorities have not yet said what kind of firearm was used.
Following his arrest, Gray will be charged with murder and will be tried as an adult, the Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.
According to law enforcement, Gray opened fire at approximately 10:23am, hitting at least 13 people as frantic scenes took over the school.
Images showed students streaming out onto the campus as terrified parents raced to find their children, with one mother describing the scene outside the school as pure 'chaos.'
A Sydney man has recorded the shocking moment a junior police officer gave him the middle finger and told him to 'get f***ed'.
The junior male officer, his female colleague, and a supervising officer had been attempting to serve the man with a notice.
However, the situation escalated when the man refused to provide his identification.
'We've already given you our names and where we're from,' the officer said.
'Now it's your duty to tell us your name and where you're from.'
The man replied: 'It's my duty? I'm not a police officer.'
The supervising sergeant intervened, explaining that the officers couldn't serve the documents if the man refused to identify himself.
However, the junior male officer wasn't as willing to let it go.
'That's quite rude sir,' the junior police officer told the man as his colleagues turned to leave.
The police officer gave the man the middle finger (pictured) during the tense argument
The officer (pictured) said it was 'rude' of the homeowner not to identify himself to police
'Hey, f*** you. You showed me the finger. F*** you,' the police officer said.
The furious cop retaliated by giving the man the middle finger.
'Good lad, that's professional,' the man responded before telling the officer he was being recorded by at least three cameras on his property.
He then asked for the name of his supervising officer before the clip came to an abrupt end.
Aussies were quick to share their thoughts on the interaction.
'Oh, my goodness. What is the world coming to? At least the senior policeman had some brains,' one woman wrote on X.
'I truly hope that this unprofessional policeman was just a one off,' a second said.
A third wrote: 'Oh dear, Mr. Attitude! He can't even follow a direction from a superior officer... He is going to do well in the force.'
A NSW Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: 'Police are aware of the incident which occurred in 2021. No complaint has been received.'
Daily Mail Australia understands the officer is no longer with the police force.
Plans for a British Isa have reportedly been scrapped by the Government even thought it insisted it would not do so only months ago.
Investors were set to receive 5,000, on top of their existing 20,000 tax-free allowance, to invest in London-listed stocks and boost UK businesses.
But now the Government is said to be planning to drop the account in a U-turn, over fears it could 'complicate' the market.
The plans were drawn up by the previous Conservative government during the spring Budget earlier this year
Labour said on the campaign trail that it had no plans to scrap the British Isa
The plans were drawn up by the previous Conservative government during the spring Budget earlier this year.
Labour said on the campaign trail that it had no plans to scrap the British Isa. But a Government source yesterday told the Financial Times: 'We are not planning to complicate the Isa landscape even further.'
Investment leaders had warned the plans would confuse the already complex Isa system, and could discourage investors from utilising tax wrappers.
Shaun Moore, tax and financial planning expert at Quilter, said: 'Labour's reported scrapping of plans to create a British Isa is a sensible move... If the British Isa did see the light of day, it would have further muddied the water.
'The British Isa was rife with issues and the proposals ran the risk of consumer confusion or poor outcomes.
'For example, limiting the ability to transfer out of a British Isa to a different Isa may not be fully understood at the time of opening. Furthermore, the investment universe of a British Isa would be naturally limited.'
Meanwhile, Michael Summersgill, chief executive of investment platform AJ Bell, said: 'The UK Isa was a political gimmick.
'The new Government will hopefully take a more sensible approach to Isa reform, focused on simplification for the benefit of consumers.'
Ahead of the General Election, Labour promised that it had no plans to drop the British Isa.
Many City figures, on the other hand argue that more needs to be done to drive investment into UK companies.
Summersgill said changing the allowance to 25,000 would boost investment. Currently, savers can only invest up to 20,000 a year into Isa accounts.
Dan Moczulski, UK managing director of Etoro, said: 'I think there is unanimous consensus that more needs to be done to stimulate investment in the UK, reinvigorate our capital markets and get more people investing as well as just saving.
'The UK is a leader in financial services, yet when it comes to the number of households invested in capital markets, we are miles behind the US.'
A Treasury spokesman said: 'No decisions have been made. The Government will provide further information in due course.'
Four victims, who died on board tech tycoon Mike Lynch's superyacht, are feared to have suffocated to death in air bubbles that filled with carbon dioxide, according to their autopsies.
Seven people were killed when the Bayesian, a 30 million superyacht owned by the Darktrace founder, sank last month in just 16 minutes after it was hit by a violent downburst.
Autopsies carried out on victims at Palermo's Policlinico hospital so far revealed they had no water in their lungs, raising the frightening possibility that they may have been conscious as the yacht sank, according to Italian news outlet La Republica.
Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, his wife Judy, as well as New York lawyer Chris Morvillo and his partner Neda had no signs of injuries, the Italian media suggests.
Among those who died when the vessel sank off the coast of the Italian island of Sicily at Porticello near Palermo on August 19 were Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18, who was due to start at Oxford University later this month.
Autopsies carried out on Morgan Stanley boss Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy reveal they 'suffocated' in an air bubble and didn't drown, reports claim
An Italian news outlet has claimed the couple's lungs were 'not full of water and neither were their stomachs or trachea'
The first autopsies were carried out on lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda (both pictured) were also found to have no water in their lungs in post-mortems conducted earlier this week
British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah also both died in the Bayesian tragedy when the superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily
The Italian newspaper La Repubblica claimed the lungs of banker, Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife Judy were 'not full of water and neither were their stomachs or trachea'.
Who are the nine surviving crew members
Captain James Cutfield, 51, a New Zealander Sasha Murray, 29, from Ireland Kyaw Htun Myin, 31 from Myanmar Matthew Griffith, 22, from France Leo Eppel, from South Africa Onboard hostess Leah Randall, 20 from South Africa Hostess Katja Chicken, 23, from Germany Tus Koopmans, from the Netherlands Eaton Parker, believed to be from the UK Advertisement
They went on to suggest that the couple had 'suffocated' after oxygen ran out in an air bubble below deck that had formed after the yacht sank.
It added that the bubble would have lasted barely any time at all as it would have been 'small and quickly filled with rising levels of toxic carbon dioxide'.
Among others who lost their live in the tragedy were lawyer Chris Morvillo and his partner Neda, with were also found to have no water in their lungs in post-mortem examinations carried out earlier in the week.
All the victims in the disaster were passengers except for the yacht's chef Recaldo Thomas.
His body, which was found in the sea close to where the Bayesian sank, was the first to be recovered.
The other victims apart from Hannah who was found in her cabin were in another room.
Italian media has also gone on to claim that it was Hannah's mother and Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, who had gone below deck to wake them and inform them the vessel was about to go down.
Mrs Bacares, survived along with 14 others after the 30 million vessel sank off the coast of the Italian island of Sicily at Porticello near Palermo on August 19.
Ms Barcares is also listed as the owner of the 56m yacht, which is registered with an Isle of Man company called Revton.
She is said to have been woken by the fierce storm and gone onto the bridge where she found several crew members.
Ms Bacares, who was barefoot, then went back below deck to warn the others but cut her feet on glass that had fallen onto the floor.
Hannah (pictured), 18, was due to start at Oxford before tragedy struck the Bayesian superyacht
Recaldo Thomas, chef on the Bayesian, was the first person to be recovered after the yacht sunk
The 18-year-old's body was found alone in her own cabin on board the super-yacht after it sank 50 metres below the surface of the Mediterranean, rescue workers said
Fifteen people survived the sinking and autopsies on Mr Lynch, Hannah and Mr Thomas are expected to be carried out on Friday.
Three members of the crew including New Zealand skipper James Cutfield, 51, British chief engineer Tim Parker Eaton, 59, and conational Matthew Griffiths, 22, are being investigated for causing a disaster and manslaughter.
However, this does not necessarily mean that charges will follow, and it will be up to an investigating magistrate to decide if a full trial will take place and that will be after the probe is closed.
New Zealander Mr Cutfield, 51, who is among three currently being probed regarding last month's tragedy, was seen for the first time today since he jetted from Sicily, where the boat sank, to his home in Majorca by private jet last week.
Both Mr Cutfield and Mr Parker Eaton live on the same road in a sleepy Majorcan village, half an hour from the capital Palma, in villas each with a swimming pool.
Mr Cutfield, who injured his leg in the sinking still had a white bandage on his leg, as he was seen leaving his house in a black Mercedes.
Mr Parker Eaton, who is originally from Clophill, Bedfordshire, purchased his property in 2013 while Mr Cutfield bought his five years later.
There were signs of life at Mr Parker Eaton's home, where he lives with his partner, but there was no answer at the door while Mr Cutfield also did not respond to attempts to contact him.
The 30 million vessel sank off the coast of the Italian island of Sicily at Porticello near Palermo on August 19
A handout photo made available on August 19 by Perini Navi Press Office shows the 'Bayesian' sailing boat, in Palermo, Sicily, Italy
Pictured: Hannah with her father Mike Lynch who both died on the yacht
Hannah's mother Angela Barcares is listed as the owner of the 56m yacht, which is registered with an Isle of Man company called Revton
The men flew out of Sicily last week on a private jet and Mr Cutfield was reported to have refused to answer questions as per his rights - although he was quoted as telling coastguards they 'didn't see' the storm coming.
Mr Cutfield had been a captain on luxury yachts for eight years and had previously been working on them and involved in building them for the past 30 years in various locations around the Mediterranean.
He said before he worked for the British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, he had worked for a Turkish billionaire.
His brother Mark, who lives in New Zealand, said he was a 'top sailor' in his youth and raced 470s competitively in his youth and he has married wife Cristina in Majorca last year.
This comes shortly after Matthew Griffiths, who was on board the Bayesian when it was struck by tragedy in the early hours of August 19, told authorities that crew members did everything they could to save passengers, according to Italian news outlet, Ansa
'I woke up the captain when the wind was at 20 knots (23 mph). He gave orders to wake everyone else,' Ansa quoted Griffiths as saying.
'The ship tilted and we were thrown into the water. Then we managed to get back up and tried to rescue those we could,' he added, whilst describing the events of that occurred that fateful night.
'We were walking on the walls (of the boat). We saved who we could, Cutfield also saved the little girl and her mother,' he said, referring to passenger Charlotte Golunski and her one-year-old daughter.
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
This is the first picture of skipper James Cutfield back home since he was placed under investigation following the sinking of super yacht Bayesian that left seven people dead
Chief engineer Tim Parker Eaton, 56, has previously insisted all 'doors and hatches were closed' on the doomed Bayesian ahead of a violent storm - he his also being probed
Matthew Griffiths was one of 22 people on board the Bayesian when it was devastated by a freak waterspout. The skipper is also being investigated by authorities
In total there were 15 survivors in the wreckage of the Bayesian yacht, which sunk on the Porticello coast.
Prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano previously said that the yacht was most likely hit by a 'downburst,' a very strong downward wind.
However, the sinking has puzzled naval marine experts, who said a vessel like the Bayesian, built by Italian high-end yacht manufacturer Perini, should have withstood the storm and, in any case, should not have sunk as quickly as it did.
Prosecutors in the town of Termini Imerese, near Palermo, have said their investigation will take time, with the wreck yet to be salvaged from the sea.
They are currently investigating whether human error may have caused the disaster with claims that 'portholes and hatches' were left open which led to the ship being engulfed by water and sinking in 16 minutes.
Mr Parker Eaton, 56, has told prosecutors he followed procedures and made sure all was watertight as the storm engulfed the yacht.
According to excerpts from Mr Parker Eaton's statement, leaked to the Italian media, he insisted all doors and openings on the yacht were shut.
He said: 'I activated the generators and the hydraulic pump for the rudder.'
When asked crucially if all portholes and hatches, including where the yacht's tender was kept, were closed he replied: 'Everything was shut.
The British-flagged Bayesian superyacht (pictured) was registered at an Isle of Man company called Revton
Rescue workers standing by after recovering the body of Hannah Lynch off the coast of Porticello on August 23
Search teams at the site of the Bayesian sinking as they prepared to continue looking for Hannah Lynch on August 23
The Italian National Fire Brigade's cave divers resuming their dives into the sea in the search of the last missing person from the Bayesian shipwreck on August 23
One of the cave divers resuming inspections on the coast of Porticello on August 23 (Pictured)
A helicopter from the Italian Fire Brigade trying to find the final missing person on August 23
'The only thing open was the hatch to the engine room which from my point of view would not have caused the disaster because it was at the other end from where the yacht went down.'
Lynch, 59, had invited friends and family onto the boat to celebrate his recent acquittal in a huge US fraud case when the tragedy occurred earlier this month.
The 56-metre (185-foot) yacht was struck by a storm when it was anchored off Porticello, near Palermo, and sank within minutes.
The bodies of Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter Hannah and friends were recovered over the subsequent days in a major search operation.
Chief prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio, who is heading the investigation, has said his team will consider each possible element of responsibility including those of the captain, the crew, individuals in charge of supervision and the yacht's manufacturer.
King Charles packing his travelling yeoman for next month's Commonwealth Summit in Samoa for his first face to face meeting with leaders since the publication of Harry's Spare will also be bracing himself for the fallout from another book, the Dutch version of Sussex mouthpiece Omid Scobie's tome.
Anything that destabilises the Royal Family is seized on by those who want to break the bloc's link with the King.
Scobie's tittle-tattle named, without any cited evidence, the King and Kate as the offenders accused of racism by Meghan in her 2021 Oprah interview.
He blamed a translating 'error'. But Scooby Doo's claim will still cause HM much unneeded stress.
File. Anything that destabilises the Royal Family is seized on by those who want to break the bloc's link with the King
Scobie's tittle-tattle named the King and Kate as the offenders accused of racism
Prince Harry mourns the passing of former Commonwealth secretary general Sir Sonny Ramphal.
When Harry finished military service in 2015 and hankered after a 'real job', Ramphal encouraged him to take up a roving Commonwealth brief.
Harry's huge popularity in former colonies would have had him touring extensively, thought essential at a time when the Queen was cutting back on the airmiles.
The idea was to have been discussed at that year's CHOGM in Malta. But to Ramphal's disappointment, Harry told him at the 11th hour he wasn't interested.
Auctioning off personal artefacts with Sotheby's including designer clothes, handwritten lyrics and paintings Marianne Faithfull announces: 'I find they belong to a life I'm no longer living... my life is so much simpler now.'
Relocated to London theatrical retirement home Denville Hall, Sir Mick Jagger's ex girlfriend has admitted to being on her uppers.
'Keith [Richards] has helped me so much. And Bono.' No mention of Mick!
Auctioning off personal artefacts with Sotheby's Marianne Faithfull (left in 1967) announces: 'I find they belong to a life I'm no longer living... my life is so much simpler now.'
Discussing how he portrayed Prince Andrew in upcoming Amazon series A Very Royal Scandal, focusing on the car-crash Newsnight interview, actor Michael Sheen reflects: 'My way in for the character was seeing footage of him coming back from the Falklands, on the dockside in uniform.
'There are thousands of screaming women and he's got a rose in his teeth.
'He's at his absolute peak, he's really good looking... seeing that and thinking, "What's it like? To go from that to where he is now?"'
Comedian Marcus Brigstocke recalls his friend Barry Humphries meeting an elderly German Nazi after reading his memoirs.
A couple of weeks later this old guy dies and Barry, having exquisite manners, phoned his widow. She said, It meant so much that you came for lunch. After youd left he said, Barry is really something quite special. The Fuhrer would have loved him!
Marcus Brigstocke pictured in Love Actually
Harry and Meghan's tour of Colombia last month cost its government a bargain 44,537.
Compare this to the King's expenditure on the royal train.
According to the latest accounts, Charles' only trip last year, a return from Windsor to North Yorkshire, cost 52,013. Couldn't he have got a discount with his OAP Railcard?
Police are keen to speak to two men who may hold key information into the murder of a dogwalker in a rural village after tracking her last movements.
Anita Rose, 57, was found by a member of the public lying unconscious with a serious head injury on July 24 in Brantham, Suffolk.
She died four days later at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge and as part of their murder probe, Suffolk Police, which launched a murder investigation in connection with her death, said yesterday they want to speak to two men.
Detective Superintendent Mike Brown said: 'Following our CCTV searches, house to house and witness enquiries, we have been able to narrow down who we would like to speak to in connection with Anita's murder.
'It must be understood that we believe they may be able to assist us in our enquiries and are not suspects in this case.
'It's important we identify and locate these two individuals to get a better understanding of how they can assist the investigation.
Anita Rose, 57, died four days after she was found unconscious and with serious head injuries on a track in Brantham on July 5
CCTV images issued by Suffolk Police of Ms Rose before she was found in Brantham
.
'Any information they have, big or small, could assist in establishing the full circumstances surrounding Anita's injuries and subsequent death and so we ask these individuals or anyone who may know them to get in contact with us.'
It comes after the force released 'replicated images' of the missing pink zip-up waterproof Regatta jacket Ms Rose was wearing when she was allegedly attacked.
They also issued a picture of her black wallet-style phone case which has a gold crown and studs on.
Officers recovered her actual Apple iPhone but are still looking for the case.
They believe the missing items 'could hold key information'.
The pink jacket is no longer produced and is a Calderdale II in Duchess Dark Cerise from Regatta's autumn/winter 2017 range, the force said.
Detective Superintendent Mike Brown said: 'This update has come from continued work alongside Anita's family who have assisted us in identifying the make and model of the jacket as well as providing us with an image of Anita's phone case.
Anita Rose, pictured with her partner Richard Jones, was described as a 'loved mum'
Police also issued a picture of her black wallet-style phone case which has a gold crown and studs on
Police have released 'replicated images' of the missing pink zip-up waterproof Regatta jacket Ms Rose was wearing when she was allegedly attacked
'We continue to believe these missing items could hold key information or evidence to the investigation and ask anyone with any information to come forward and speak with us.
'I'd like to thank Anita's family for their continued support throughout this investigation, their co-operation has been integral to this case.'
The investigation continues and includes forensic work, searches, house-to-house inquiries and CCTV analysis.
By August 8 officers had spoken to more than 630 people during the probe, taking around 90 statements.
There have been three arrests in connection with the inquiry - a man aged in his 20s and a 45-year-old man on suspicion of murder, and a 37-year-old woman on suspicion of handling stolen goods.
All three were subsequently released on bail.
A bodybuilder who collapsed in the shower of a 24-hour gym and was not discovered for 15 hours has died two weeks later, after being put into an induced coma.
Giuliano Pirone was training for a bodybuilding competition when he fell and suffered a brain injury in the locked shower cubicle of a gym in the northern Perth suburb of Wanneroo on August 20.
He had gone to the gym before work and was not discovered until later that night when police barged in and found him on the floor of a cold-running shower.
He had been on life support at Joondalup hospital for two weeks, but died on Thursday morning.
Mr Pirone never regained consciousness and an MRI confirmed he had lost brain function.
'I will never look at the Sun, the Moon and the sky the same way again, the light that shone bright has left me,' his mother Daniela Pirone told ABC Radio Perth.
Doctors believe Mr Pirone's blood sugar levels became very low, causing his blood pressure to drop, and said he may have had a seizure.
His mum said he had stopped at the gym on his way to work, and when he did not return home or return calls later that day she started to panic.
Giuliano Pirone (pictured) collapsed in the shower of a 24-hour gym after training
Police were able to track Mr Pirone's phone when his mother reported her son missing to them
The family tried to contact Mr Pirone's friends, ex-wife and people he talked to everyday, but no one had heard from him.
'It was very unusual, completely out of character,' Ms Pirone previously told the ABC.
His mother reported him missing to the police, they were able to ping his phone and tracked him down at the gym.
'The police had to barge in, they found him in the shower (with the cold water running) he was slanted on the floor collapsed,' she said.
'They thought he was dead.'
Ms Pirone said police officers performed CPR and her son quickly became conscious, before an ambulance rushed him to hospital.
'The officer who was handling everything, came and picked me and my husband up and took us straight to the hospital, and that's where I've been ever since,' she said.
Ms Pirone said the gym shower where her son was found was a cubicle with a locked door.
'He was in there and they had to smash the door down to get him,' she said.
'He messaged a friend at 7.03am and wasn't found until about 10.30pm. I got to the hospital about 12pm.
'He was alone, my beautiful son was alone on that floor slanted, collapsed (and had) smashed his head, for about 15 hours and no one noticed anything. I am just dumbfounded.'
Mr Pirone (pictured) has died in Joondalup hospital two weeks after the incident
Mr Pirone's mother said 24-hour gyms are dangerous, and called for a check-in system
Ms Pirone said 24-hour unstaffed gyms were a danger and more needed to be done to check on patrons who used the facilities.
She said her son had checked in at 4.55am and his car was parked by the front door, but no one noticed anything.
'There should be a check in system, so after two or three hours if they have not checked out staff look around for that person,' she said.
The WA Police have already accessed CCTV footage from the gym and will now prepare a report for the coroner.
The 14-year-old student who opened fire on classmates in a horror mass shooting at Apalachee High School was on the radar of the FBI a year before the tragedy, it has emerged.
The federal agency said it interviewed accused gunman Colt Gray, 14, and his father last year following 'several anonymous tips about online threats to commit a school shooting at an unidentified location and time.'
Officials said Gray 'denied making the threats online' at the time, and the only action taken was to warn local schools to 'continually monitor' the troubled teen.
At a press conference Wednesday night, officials named the four victims of the shooting as teachers Christina Irimie and Richard Aspinwall, and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14.
Four people were shot dead Wednesday morning at Apalachee High School in Georgia on Wednesday, with officials revealing shooter Colt Gray was on the FBI radar for a year prior
14-year-old Mason Schermerhorn was the first victim identified in the mass shooting
Teachers Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie were named by officials as the other victims in the tragedy
Student Christian Angulo, 14, also lost his life in the senseless shooting
In its statement on interviewing Gray last year, the FBI said the online threats included 'photographs of guns.'
'Within 24 hours, the FBI determined the online post originated in Georgia' the statement continued, saying the ominous threats were referred to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office 'for action.'
Under questioning, Gray's father, who has not been named, told officers he owned hunting guns in his home, but Gray 'did not have unsupervised access to them.'
The agency said after Gray denied the threats, Jackson County 'alerted local schools for continued monitoring' of the disturbed teen.
Following the tragic shooting, a junior at Apalachee High School who was sat next to Gray revealed the gunman's chilling behavior moments before he opened fire - and how she and her classmates narrowly avoided death.
Lyela Sayarath said she was sat next to the 14-year-old gunman in algebra class on Wednesday morning, and had no indication of the horror that would unfold as she described him as a 'quiet' teen.
'He never really talked, he wasn't (in school) most times, he would just skip class,' she told CNN. 'Even when he would have talked, it was one word answers.'
Lyela Sayarath, a junior at Apalachee High School, said she was sat next to shooter Colt Gray, 14, in algebra class just moments before he opened fire
A huge police presence descended on Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia on Wednesday after the tragedy
Horrific details from inside classrooms have emerged - depicting the chilling chaos students endured as gunshots rang out this morning
Sayarath said Gray left the classroom at 9:45am, around half an hour before active shooter alerts sounded, and thought he was skipping class as he didn't take a bathroom pass from their teacher.
But while he was gone, a loudspeaker announcement told teachers to check their emails, before Sayarath said Gray re-appeared at their classroom door.
Still not realizing the danger, Sayarath said a student went to open the door for Gray before jumping back at the sight of his gun.
'I guess he saw we werent going to let him in. And I guess the classroom next to me, their door was open so I think he just started shooting in the classroom,' she said.
She said he proceeded to fire off a number of bullets 'one after another', adding: 'When we heard it, most people just dropped to the floor and like kind of crawled in an area like piled on top of each other.'
Sayarath said her friend was in the next classroom and witnessed someone being shot, which left him 'shaken up'. 'He saw somebody get shot. He had blood on him. He was kinda limping. He looked horrified,' she added.
An emotional Bill Shorten has announced his retirement from politics to take up a position in academia, saying he stood by the policy ideas that delivered a shock loss in the 2019 election and cost him his chance to become Prime Minister.
Mr Shorten was approved as the next vice chancellor of the University of Canberra on Wednesday, but will stay in parliament until the start of the 2025 academic year.
Mr Shorten, 57, led the Australian Labor Party from 2013 to 2019 and has served as the MP for the Melbourne electorate of Maribyrnong since 2007.
In 2019 he was widely expected to lead Labor to victory against a very divided Coalition government but a successful scare campaign about his proposed end to tax breaks on negative gearing and share dividend income contributed to a shock defeat.
'I have experienced some extraordinary political highs in the last 17 years,' Mr Shorten said in a media conference on Thursday.
'Let's face it, some extraordinary political lows
'There is not a single day in the last 17 years that I would hand back. Because every day, I know how lucky I have been to have the privilege to serve the Australian people.'
Bill Shorten has announced his retirement from politics
Many political commentators questioned his decision to go public with the divisive policy platforms at the 2019 election and believe that honesty cost him the election.
'I am proud of the fact that we took policies to the people where we were honest and upfront,' Mr Shorten said.
'Some of the ideas, and I'm not referring particular, were bold and audacious but this government has been able to succeed because they got elected.
'The reality is that the verdict of the people was that they were not ready for that and where we were going (now) on focusing on supply, building more housing, I think is the sensible, realistic proposition which brings people together and we have got a very ambitious program which we are rolling out.'
Mr Shorten was appointed to the ministry during Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard's government, before winning the role of opposition leader.
As Opposition leader, Mr Shorten led Labor to a narrow loss at the 2016 election but the unexpected defeat in 2019 delivered office to then Liberal leader Scott Morrison who described his surprise victory as a 'miracle'.
After this loss, Mr Shorten resigned as ALP leader and now Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was elected unopposed to succeed him.
Mr Shorten was appointed as the Minister for Government Services and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Although Mr Shorten and Mr Albanese were not political allies, they have had a successful working relationship.
Shorten said he stood up for underdogs during his career.
Bill Shorten is pictured with his wife Chloe
'I genuinely consider myself to be one of the luckiest people in politics. I have been the member for Maribyrnong, it is a community that I love so much. I've had the privilege to serve in portfolios that I care about.'
Mr Shorten thanked his wife Chloe - the daughter of former Governor General Quentin Bryce - and children Georgette, Rupert and Clementine, for their support.
'The sacrifices they have made. Chloe has been a tower of love and strength and I think she has shown more courage than I'd dream could exist.'
Mr Shorten said he thought the government was doing a good job at tackling the cost of living crisis even as prices remain persistently high and has forced up interest rates.
'What we are doing is tackling cost-of-living but not in a way where it makes a recession and slammed the economy into a wall.'
Mr Albanese praised Mr Shorten as a great leader of the Labor Party, despite the two election losses.
'He united the party, he re-energised the caucus, he saw off two prime ministers, and he rebuilt Labor into a strong opposition and a genuine alternative government,' he told reporters in Canberra.'He united the party, he re-energised the caucus, he saw off two prime ministers, and he rebuilt Labor into a strong opposition and a genuine alternative government,' he told reporters in Canberra.
'Through his years as leader, no one worked harder than Bill.
'No one brought more energy, enthusiasm, ideas and ambition to advocating for the need for a Labor government.'
Mr Shorten's decision comes weeks after two other senior ministers, Linda Burney and Brendan O'Connor, announced they would be retiring at the next election, leading to a ministerial reshuffle.
A 32-year-old doctor in California has died after she was fatally struck by a vehicle while riding an electric scooter.
Dr. Geohaira Sosa, a first-year psychiatry resident physician at UC Davis, lost her life at around 10.30am on August 29 after she was hit by the incoming vehicle in Sacramento.
The collision occurred at near the 1200 block of Alhambra Boulevard, at the intersection of Folsom Boulevard.
According to a GoFundMe launched by the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry, Sosa had started her residency two months ago after moving from Queens, New York.
Dr. Geohaira Sosa, a first-year psychiatry resident physician at UC Davis, lost her life at around 10.30am on August 29 after she was hit by the incoming vehicle in Sacramento while riding her scooter
'Geo was an absolutely beautiful person inside and out. Many of her co-interns who had the privilege and joy of spending time with Geo these past few months felt that she was becoming one of our own best friends.
'She radiated joy, kindness, and authenticity. We hope to carry forward her spirit in our communities,' the crowdfunding page read.
The Puerto Rican was the first of her family to pursue medicine and was extremely proud of her roots.
She had earned her bachelors degree in biology and psychology at Queens College as a first-generation college student.
According to a GoFundMe launched by the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry, Sosa had started her residency two months ago after moving down from Queens, New York
The Puerto Rican was the first of her family to pursue medicine and was extremely proud of her roots
Sosa acted as a mental health ambassador for low-income college students with mental illnesses
According to the The Sacramento Bee, Sosa had attained a masters degree in urban bioethics and attended medical school at Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University.
She had also worked on a newsletter providing health education to current and former incarcerated people.
Apart from this, Sosa acted as a mental health ambassador for low-income college students with mental illnesses.
The crowdfunding page has raised $36,396 - significantly more than its original goal of $30,000.
Donald Trump thinks there is something off about Kamala Harris' running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
It comes the same day as even more family members of the Democratic vice presidential nominee have come forward to reveal they are voting for Trump in November.
Trump went on the defense for running mate J.D. Vance after Democrats tried to label him as 'weird' this summer.
But the former president says it's Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz who is 'a weird guy.'
'There's something weird with that guy,' Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity during a live town hall in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on Wednesday.
Donald Trump said there is 'something weird' about Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz during a town hall in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on Wednesday
'J.D. is not weird, he's a solid rock. I happen to be a solid rock,' the 2024 Republican presidential nominee went on. 'We're not weird we are other things perhaps, but we are not weird.'
'[Walz] is a weird guy. He walks onto stages something's wrong with that guy, and he called me weird. And then the fake news media picks it up. That was the word of the day weird, weird, weird.'
'But we're not weird guys, we're very solid people,' Trump concluded.
Earlier on Wednesday, a photo emerged of eight members of Walz's family through his great uncle on his grandfather's side showing their support and intention to vote for Trump in November.
It came just a few days after it was revealed that Walz's older, estranged brother Jeff, 67, shared messages on Facebook claiming Americans shouldn't want someone with the Minnesota Governor's 'character' in the White House.
'I was so honored today,' Trump told Hannity. 'His brother endorsed me.'
'And his whole family I saw the picture,' he went on. 'Honestly, it was a very nice looking family. But his family endorsed me and the whole family endorsed me.'
Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday that he looks forward to meeting Jeff Walz, who resides in Florida's panhandle with his wife.
Fox News proposed hosting a debate between Trump and Harris on Wednesday in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania but the VP's team declined and accepted as the first debate the ABC News showdown in Philadelphia on September 10.
Instead of having the first debate on Wednesday, Trump still went to Harrisburg for a town hall moderated by Hannity.
'This is the best we could do, Sean,' Trump said of their altered plan.
The photo of Walz's family was shared by former Nebraska GOP gubernatorial candidate Charles W. Herbster with eight people wearing ' Nebraska Walz's for Trump' t-shirts.
A representative for Herbster told DailyMail.com those posing are related to Walz through his grandfather's brother.
'Tim Walz's family back in Nebraska wants you to know something' Herbster captioned the image.
Democratic VP contender Gov. Tim Walz has repeatedly called his Republican rival Sen. J.D. Vance 'weird'
Eight members of Walz's family in Nebraska posing for an image showing their support for Republican rival Donald Trump
Tim Walz has an estranged brother named Jeff (pictured left with wife Laurie) who says the Minnesota governor is 'not the type of character you want making decisions about your future'
Trump replied to the image on Wednesday by previewing he plans to 'meet' with another member of Walz's family who is not in the image the governor's older brother Jeff, who the former president says endorses his White House bid.
The photo quickly went viral among MAGA users who say his own family's opposition to his candidacy is proof that people should be wary of voting for a Harris-Walz ticket.
Jeff Walz posted about his brother's character in a Facebook post last week, saying: ''I'm 100% opposed to all his ideology.'
But Jeff now admits he didn't mean to influence voters with his social media activity.
'It wasn't my intent, it wasn't our intent as a family, to put something out there to influence the general public,' Jeff Walz told NewsNation.
'I was getting a lot of feedback from my friends, old acquaintances, thinking that I was feeling the same way that my brother did on the issues, and I was trying to clarify that just to friends,' he continued.
'I used Facebook, which wasn't the right platform to do that. But I will say, I don't agree with his policies.'
The married father-of-two was urged to throw his weight behind the Trump campaign by other users.
Jeff, who lives in Freeport, Florida with his wife Laurie, followed up by responding with: 'I've thought long and hard about doing something like that! I'm torn between that and just keeping my family out of it.'
'The stories I could tell. Not the type of character you want making decisions about your future.'
He noted that it has been eight years since speaking to his younger brother Tim.
Security camera footage showing pub patrons involved in sexual activity in an elevator was edited into a video and screened at an awards event for the Merivale hospitality group.
The video, which did not conceal the identities of those involved, featured patrons having sex in the lift and urinating in public at several of the hospitality group's venues.
The video was shown on multiple screens during The Merivales Awards at Ivy in Sydney's CBD accompanied with the phrase 'Big Brother is always watching'.
The video was revealed as part of an ABC investigation into Merivale, a billion dollar business owned by Justin Hemmes, which operates 81 restaurants, pubs and bars on Australia's east coast.
Two female attendees who leaked the footage reported that its screening was met with uncomfortable laughter and 'sounds of shock'.
'I kind of couldn't believe what I was seeing,' one said.
They both left Merivale shortly after the event and said the reel was 'reflective' of the group's culture which former employees have recently described as 'toxic'.
'Maybe some of those girls in those videos were highly intoxicated, they could have been raped,' another added.
The hospitality group run by Justin Hemmes (pictured) has had a series of shocking allegations levelled against it by former employees and patrons
But a Merivale spokesperson said the footage was played before a 'private, invitation-only, event' and that 'no complaints were received about the reel in question'.
'Merivale venues are comprehensively monitored by CCTV, a matter which is notified to patrons and staff with clear signage to that effect,' a spokesperson told the ABC.
'The CCTV covers public spaces in our venue, which is both lawful and standard practice in large hospitality venues.
'It is lawful for Merivale to capture this footage and there can be no reasonable expectation of privacy for any patron attending.
'For the avoidance of doubt, Merivale is not aware of any complaints arising from 'the Merivales' in 2017.'
That was not the only serious accusation made against the hospitality giant in the ABC program.
Jess Helsinki, a female patron of the Ivy, alleged that an employee tried to coerce her and her friend into having sex with VIP guests.
Ms Helsinki told the ABC they were looking for their group of mates when a male employee approached them and said he would help them.
However, alarm bells started to go off when he ushered them into a service elevator and into a VIP room before being told to sit on either side of a group of men.
'The man next to me leant over and said to me: "So when did you get into the industry?",' Ms Helsinki said.
He clarified that he meant the sex industry and said the Ivy employee told the group that the pair were 'sex workers' and were 'going to spend the night' with them.
Jess Helsinki, a female patron of the Ivy, alleged that an employee tried to coerce her and her friend into having sex with VIP guests
Ms Helsinki attempted to raise the issue with Merivale management but was told an internal investigation found 'no information to support the claims'.
Management suggested she take the matter up with police, and it is still under investigation.
In another instance reported on Wednesday, a former employee of Coogee Pavilion claimed that a colleague drugged and raped her at his home one night in 2018.
'He was much bigger than me and he just kind of pinned me against the wall,' she said.
'The whole time I was making it very clear that I wanted him to stop, and he wouldn't.'
The woman, who was 22 at the time, reported the incident to the company, but claims was forced to continue working with the person she accused for the following 'month or two'.
The woman alleged that management told her 'there's nothing we can do' because she had not filed a police report.
Daily Mail Australia contacted Merivale for comment.
A devastated family was forced to watch their cruise sail away without them after their flight to the ship's port was delayed and there wasn't enough time to make it.
Tisha LaSaine who lives in Brooklyn with her children, saved for a year to go on the week-long cruise, which was supposed to celebrate her 50th birthday as well as her son Kaseem starting his junior year at Hampton College in Virginia.
But when the family-of-four arrived at John F. Kennedy Airport in Queens the were horrified to find out their flight to Orlando was 'delayed due to a crew issue.'
They were gutted, quickly realizing they had made a common travel error and not left enough time to make the $8,500 cruise.
'We took off at 11:40am. Our flight was scheduled for 9:54,' Kaseem told ABC 7, New York City's local affiliate.
The only trouble was, their cruise was supposed to leave Cape Canaveral's port at 3:30pm.
Tisha LaSaine, left, her son Kaseem Miller, right, and her twins were supposed to go on a cruise that left from Orlando. Their flight got delayed, which led to them missing the entire trip
If their flight hadn't been delayed, they would have landed in Orlando at 12:51pm, giving them plenty of time to make it to their cruise ship.
But when the average non-stop flight from JFK to Orlando takes about three hours, the family was cutting it close with the 11:40 departure time.
LaSaine told her mother, who was also going on the trip, that she didn't think they were going to make it.
And their worst fears were realized when they finally made it to the dock, only to see their ship already out at sea without them.
'I think I cried more than the kids, and it was for them,' LaSaine said.
Travel expert Gary Leff says there's a way to avoid a tragedy like this.
'Dont book short connections, such as less than an hour. And book your travel to arrive sooner than you actually need to get to the destination, so that later flights can still get you there in time in case of delay or cancellation,' Leff told roadside assistance organization AAA in 2022.
After missing the cruise, the family flew back to New York immediately and LaSaine struggled to get a refund from Delta.
ABC 7 On Your Side, a consumer focused team at the news station, sent a letter to Delta and successfully pressured them into giving a full refund. Kaseem is pictured thanking ABC reporter Nina Pineda with a hug
They flew back to New York completely heartbroken.
LaSaine was able to get a refund from the cruise line for missing their entire eight-day trip, but ran into trouble when trying to ask for the same from Delta.
Delta only gave her an e-credit, which only covered their one-way flight down to Florida, not the flight back to New York. It was worth $250 per person, not even close to the full ticket price.
That's when LaSaine sent a letter to ABC 7 On Your Side, a consumer focused team at the news station dedicated to assisting people who have unresolved issues with a company.
Nina Pineda, the reporter who interviewed the family, contacted Delta about this issue and was able to pressure the airline into issuing a full refund.
Delta gave LaSaine $2,600 back, the full value of the plane tickets.
'That's a lot of money for me to lose that I put out in a few months,' LaSaine said. 'I was happy, I was so happy.'
The man who lost the unloseable election is retiring from federal politics. The man who came within a whisker of being prime minister, Bill Shorten, now NDIS minister, won't contest the next election.
After nearly 20 years in politics he is moving on, not taking up a plum government appointment overseas like so many ex-politicians do, but rather to become the next head of the University of Canberra.
It's such an unusual role for someone with no post-graduate qualifications nor experience within the higher education sector to take. But that's not to say Shorten isn't qualified to lead an institution like UC.
As former education minister, Shorten has long been passionate about the sector, and his salary will likely double from what he's earning as a cabinet minister.
His first task once he takes up the position early next year should be to explain to the government just how bad their changes to foreign student entries is for both universities and the Australian economy.
It will be an early test whether or not Shorten continues to be an apologist for poor Labor policy even when he's no longer in the Parliament.
But Shorten's new job is no substitute for his unmet ambition to become prime minister.
The 2019 election defeat was unprecedented as an example of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Labor led in every poll of every polling agency for 18 months counting down to that election, but still lost.
The likelihood is that the polls weren't wrong - they just inverted late in the electoral cycle. While Labor had long led, the trend lines were narrowing as the election got closer.
Bill Shorten (pictured with wife Chloe) came within a whisker of being Prime Minister and is now NDIS minister but won't contest the next election
Losing to someone like Scott Morrison would have made defeat even tougher to bear.
Shorten could claim credit for the pressure he applied to both Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull contributing to their demise.
Both PMs were unceremoniously removed from the top job by their party.
Shorten's biggest political legacy is the role he played in developing the NDIS: coming up with the idea, helping design it and ultimately making it happen.
It's an achievement the sector will forever be grateful for. As a piece of social policy it is up there with Gough Whitlam's shift to free education and healthcare, the precursors of HECS and Medicare.
But the fiscal pressures of the NDIS have become all too apparent, as has the need to reform how it applies and to whom, including all manner of adjustments to what qualifies for assistance and what doesn't.
When it comes to fixing the NDIS so that it is fit for purpose, Shorten ends his time in politics with that task still incomplete.
His political legacy as a public policy practitioner is therefore still up in the air.
Nonetheless, not many politicians are spoken well of on both sides of the aisle, and Shorten is one of those.
Liberals tell me he reaches out when they experience difficult times and does so genuinely.
Perhaps going through the agony of defeat in 2019 helped give Shorten more empathy than most in politics have.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be happy to see the back of Bill Shorten (pictured together)
For his part Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be happy to see the back of Shorten.
He spent most of Shorten's six years as Labor opposition leader undermining the job he did and criticising the decisions he made.
Never on the record of course.
When Albo's standing in the polls started to slide, he assumed Shorten was doing the same.
I for one can say that despite endless attempt to get him to, he never bagged Albo to me.
The pair became their generation's leadership rivals, one from the Victorian Right, the other from the NSW Left.
Unusually, the left won out in this showdown between two Labor leaders that never managed to live up to the legacy of the great Labor leaders of the past.
Conservative influencers were allegedly 'duped' into working with Russian assets as they raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars for their videos under a sprawling $10million 'covert project' by Kremlin-backed RT, federal officials said Wednesday.
The bombshell indictment unsealed in the Southern District of New York accuses RT employees Konstantin Kalashnikov and Elena of Afanasyeva of implementing a plan to shell out nearly $10million to a Tennessee-based company to churn out videos 'consistent' with the Kremlin's 'interest in amplifying U.S. domestic divisions.'
Though the indictment does not name the Tennessee-based media company, its details match up exactly with Tenet Media - which employs well-known conservative personalities like Tim Pool, Dave Rubin and Benny Johnson.
Its president Liam Donovan is the husband of Lauren Chen, a Canadian influencer who is listed as a contributor of several opinion articles for RT from 2021 and 2022.
But the conservative media darlings were unaware of the scheme, and at least two of them were provided false information about the source of the company's funding.
Conservative influencers including Dave Rubin and Tim Pool were allegedly 'duped' into working with Russian assets
A federal indictment unsealed on Wednesday suggests Tenet Media took in hundreds of thousands of dollars from RT journalists
'The company never disclosed to the influencers or to their millions of followers [its] ties to RT and the Russian government,' Attorney General Merrick Garland said as he announced the charges against the RT employees for conspiracy to commit money laundering and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
'Instead, the defendants and the company claimed that the company was sponsored by a private investor, but that private investor was a fictitious persona,' Garland said.
They were told that the company was sponsored by a private investor named 'Eduard Grigoriann,' whom the defendants described as an 'accomplished financial professional' who held positions at a multinational bank in both Brussels and France, according to NBC News.
In their own online communications, however, the founders of the company allegedly referred to their backers as 'the Russians.'
Kalashnikov are Afanasyeva are at large, and it was not immediately clear if they had lawyers who could speak on their behalf.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Tenet Media and RT for comment, but in a response to a request for comment from NBC News, a spokesperson for RT wrote 'Hahahaha!' and 'We gotta earn our Kremlin paycheck somehow.'
RT is known to be backed by the Kremlin, and two of its journalists are now accused of conspiracy to commit money laundering and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act
The indictment claims the conservative voices were raking in large sums of money from the Russian duo.
It said that a whopping $8.7million was sent 'to the production companies of Commentator-1, Commentator-2 and Commentator-3 alone.'
Commentator-1 is now believed to be Dave Rubin, while Commentator-2 is likely Tim Pool. It is unclear from the description in the indictment who Commentator-3 may be.
An exchange cited in the indictment also claims Commentator-1 said the contract 'would need to be closer to $5million a year for him to be interested,' while Commentator-2 said it 'would take $100,000 per weekly episode to make it worth his while.'
One of Tenet's founders allegedly said the $100,000 fee would be 'very hard' for the company to 'recoup the costs' based on ad revenue from web traffic or sponsors alone, but they decided to move forward with the agreement anyway, NBC reports.
Another unidentified influencer's contract, meanwhile, reportedly included a $400,000 monthly fee, a $100,000 signing bonus and an additional performance bonus.
Eventually, payments from the Russians allegedly made up 90 percent of the deposits made to the company's accounts.
When reached for comment by NBC News, a spokesperson for RT News wrote 'Hahahaha!' and 'We gotta earn our Kremlin paycheck somehow'
As the money was pouring in, the indictment claims the Russian backers pushed Tenet's US commentators to share Russian-funded content with their larger audiences.
They even openly worried about how few of their 'raw videos' were being posted by certain of the company's talent, the indictment says.
Still, Tenet became a home for staunch pro-Trump voices, with many of its commentators interviewing the former president and his family while railing against US funding for Ukraine and downplaying the events of January 6, 2021.
Pool, who hosted Trump on his podcast earlier this year, posted on X last month that 'Ukraine is our enemy' in response to an allegation that a Ukrainian man was involved in the 2022 undersea explorations that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipeline between Russia and Germany.
Rubin, a self-described libertarian who was previously part of the liberal news commentary show The Young Turks, has also been a vocal critic of Ukraine, arguing they 'can't win' the war against Russia.
Federal officials are now claiming Russian interference in the US election
But the conservative influencers have since insisted they had no knowledge of the Tenet's ties to Russia, as its six main conservative voices amassed more than 7million subscribers on YouTube and more than 7million followers on X.
'These allegations come as a complete shock to me and the other hosts at Tent Media,' Taylor Hansen wrote in a lengthy statement on X.
'I want to be as clear as possible, I was never directed to report on any topic and had complete freedom and control over my reporting at all times.
'I would never agree to any arrangement where I am not the sole person in charge of the stories I cover and the content I create.
'I've had complete freedom to cover what I choose at Tenet, unlike any other media company I've ever worked for and certainly more so than the left-wing and [mainstream media] outlets that are directed to cover certain stories and get punished if they don't.'
Rubin also argued that the indictment 'clearly' shows 'that I and other commentators were the victims of this scheme.
'I knew absolutely nothing about any of this fraudulent activity. Period,' he said.
Similarly, Tim Pool, wrote: 'Should these allegations prove true, I as well as the other personalities and commentators were deceived and are victims.'
The commentators have denied any knowledge of Tenet Media's Russian backing
He noted that his Culture War podcast was licensed by Tenet Media, but had already existed beforehand.
'Never at any point did anyone other than I have full editorial control of the show, and the contents of the show are often apolitical. Examples include discussing spirituality, dating and video games.
'That being said, we still do not know what is true as these are only allegations,' Pool continued.
He concluded by saying 'Putin is a scumbag' and 'Russia sucks donkey balls.'
Benny Johnson, meanwhile, said Tenet 'pitched my company to provide content as an independent contractor.
'Our lawyers negotiated a standard, arms-length deal, which was later terminated,' he said.
'We are disturbed by the allegations in today's indictment, which make clear that myself and other influencers were victims in this alleged scheme,' he wrote.
And Matt Christiansen said, 'At no point has anyone ever directed me what to say or not to say, and I would never agree to anything otherwise.
'My videos and streams for Tenet are exactly the same as my videos and streams on my personal channels,' he noted. 'Every word is from me and me alone.'
Donald Trump sparked a wild theory about his upcoming debate with Kamala Harris by claiming that ABC News will help the vice president cheat.
The former president was speaking during a town hall on Fox News Wednesday, when he predicted that the Disney-owned television network would provide Harris with questions for the debate ahead of their showdown.
'They're going to get the questions, I've already heard they're going to get the questions in advance,' Trump told Fox host Sean Hannity in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. 'I'm not sure it's gonna help her that much.'
The Harris campaign refused to provide a full comment when reached by DailyMail.com. A representative only suggested it should be reported that Trump's remarks aren't true.
Trump and Harris are set for their first debate in Philadelphia on Tuesday, September 10 with ABC moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis.
Trump said he only agreed to the debate at the 'unfair' network because the vice president wouldn't agree to any others.
Donald Trump tore into ABC News as he alleged the network will help Kamala Harris 'cheat' in their debate next week by providing the questions and prompts ahead of time
Fox News proposed a debate on Wednesday evening in Harrisburg. While Trump's team accepted, Harris declined the invite.
'They're very nasty, and I think a lot of people are going to be watching to see how nasty they are, how unfair they are,' Trump said of ABC News. 'I agreed to do it because they wouldn't do any other networks.'
'The other thing is, her best friend is the head of the network,' Trump said, referencing Harris' close friendship with Disney executive Dana Walden. 'Her husband's best friend is married to the head of the network.'
Trump also said that ABC News intentionally provides poll results that show him at a severe disadvantage because they think it will sway voters not to cast their ballots if they think their preferred candidate is too far behind to win.
'ABC is the worst network in terms of fairness,' Trump lamented of the first debate hosting network. 'They had a poll where I was 17 points down a couple of days prior to the election I was 17 points down in Wisconsin. And they do that so people don't vote because people say, you know, 'hey, I love Trump, but he's 17 points down. I'm not going to go out and vote.'
'They are the most dishonest network the meanest, the nastiest, but that was what I was presented with,' he continued. 'I was presented with ABC.'
Trump said there is a 'clause in the contract' that says ABC News cannot provide the questions or debate prompts to either candidate before the event next week.
While the former president still thinks Harris will cheat to get her hands on the questions, he isn't convinced it will give her an advantage.
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Vice President Kamala Harris has a close relationship with Disney executive Dana Walden but ABC News assures she will not be involved in the planning or carrying out of the debate in Philadelphia next week
Dana Walden (right) has been close with Harris since 1994 and her husband Matt Walden (left) has known Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff since the 1980s. The couple are credited with their marriage after they introduced Harris and Emhoff via a blind date
'So I think you might give her the questions and give her the answers with the questions,' Trump said. 'I'm not sure it's going to help her.'
The Mail reached out to ABC but the network did not return messages seeking comment on Trump's allegations.
ABC this week finalized the campaigns' back and forth over rules and logistics of the debate.
Trump says that besides just nixing microphone muting, Harris also wanted to sit down at desks and be allowed to bring pre-written notes to their faceoff.
But Harris did not get any of her demands met.
Microphones will be muted when candidates are not speaking, they will be standing behind podiums and no prepared notes or props are permitted on stage. They will be given a piece of paper, pen and a bottle of water.
In announcing Bill Shortens departure from politics, Prime Minister Antony Albanese has inadvertently given away that hes entirely shut the door on an election this year.
Albo said that hes asked Shorten to stay on as a minister until February, which is when Shorten starts his new job as a Vice Chancellor at University of Canberra.
But that doesnt mean the election will also be in February or March.
By-elections do not have to be held within a reasonable time frame of a general election being called.
Albo would not have wanted Shorten to leave immediately because that would have required a by-election date to be set before the PM had called the election.
In announcing Bill Shortens departure from politics, the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has inadvertently given away that hes entirely shut the door on an election this year
By twisting Shortens arm to stay on into the new year Albo has avoided that scenario.
Even if he delays the election beyond February or March, the due date is May and that is close enough for the Speaker of the House to avoid setting a by-election date for Shortens electorate prior to the general election.
But Albo, as Labor leader, all but begging his predecessor not to leave now does tell us any notion of an election this side of the new year is no more.
A new parking system rolled out across several ritzy Sydney suburbs has come under fire with drivers claiming it invades their privacy.
North Sydney Council has introduced a cashless system that requires drivers to download an app and create an account which demands personal details, all just to park their car.
Drivers have lashed out at the system since it was introduced in July claiming it is overcomplicated and intrusive.
Among the details required to create an account are their full name, phone number, email, postcode, car registration, and credit card details.
An 8.25 per cent surcharge is added on top of every transaction when drivers pay through the new Touch N Go boxes or PayStay app.
2GB host Ben Fordham ripped into the system on Wednesday saying it had caused a flurry of confusion as the old parking meters were still around.
'The old parking meters are still there with garbage bags over the top of them and masking tape going around them,' he said.
'There are some people pulling up and parking and thinking, alright well, the parking meters aren't working so I won't bother.
A new parking system rolled out across several ritzy Sydney suburbs has come under fire with drivers claiming it invades their privacy
'Then you'll get back to the car and discover, no, you're supposed to know about this other system where you download the app and give all of your details across and try and work the thing out.'
Annoyed listener Jody wrote in to the station and labelled the payment system a 'complete joke' and particularly hard on older people not used to navigating apps and downloads.
'What happened to anonymously chucking a coin in a meter and getting on with your day?' she wrote.
'When did it become so complicated and time consuming just to park the car?
'Will this become the norm? Everywhere I've parked in Crows Nest there's no physical meter, just a sign saying pay by phone and directing you to a website.
'When you get to the website, it tells you to download an app. When you download the app, you need to then create an account and sign up.'
Jody was required to share her name, phone number, email, postcode, car registration and credit card to use the app.
Another local vented on social media at how parking had become an 'absolute nightmare'.
'Whatever happened to just dropping a few coins in the meter? The whole system is a joke and we're the punchline,' he wrote.
Northy Sydney Council rolled out the new parking system in July - with the
'North Sydney Council is happy to crow about them being solar-powered and environmentally friendly, but you can't navigate them it's almost impossible.'
Liberal candidate for North Sydney Council Jessica Keen said she also tried to use the new parking system but 'couldn't work it out'.
'I was on council for four years and I sat on traffic committee, so I'm very across parking meters and I was also like Jody trying to work it out,' she said.
Other listeners told Fordham they would not be able to park their cars as they do not carry mobile phones.
A North Sydney Council spokesman said drivers could pay for parking through three options: meters, Touch N Go boxes, and the PayStay App.
The surcharge is only applied when using the Touch N Go boxes or PayStay app.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted North Sydney Council for comment.
An Arizona high school principal has been accused of using a social media app to send sexual messages to an undercover agent posing as a 12-year-old girl.
Buckeye Union High School principal Joe Kinney, 42, was taken into custody after he was allegedly caught sending vile texts to an agent under an alias in Oregon on an application called Whisper.
The website is described as 'an anonymous social media application that allows users to make posts, aka whispers, on the application and exchange messages with other users.'
Court documents state that the accused allegedly told the 'victim' that she should 'get cozy in her bed and take off her clothes'.
When told by the agent that they were only 12 years old, Kinney allegedly said: 'I don't mind your age'.
Joe Kinney, 42, the Principal of Buckeye Union High School was taken into custody after he was allegedly caught sending vile texts to an agent under an alias in Oregon on Whisper
Officials also stated in the report that the disgraced principal continued to text the 'victim' after being made aware of their age.
At one point, he supposedly told the youngster that he would 'love to come rescue her and they would have a good time,' police said.
Documents also accuse Kinney of asking for nude pictures from the teen - which he never received.
The conversation ultimately came to an end when the 'victim' was ghosted after asking the principal about their job.
Afterwards, the FBI served a search warrant on Kinney's home in Goodyear and on the same day, the vile man was pulled over during a traffic stop.
Buckeye Union High School District Superintendent Dr. Steve Bebee later said that the the principal was placed on leave after investigation began
In an interview with police, Kinney admitted to liking Whisper since 'it seemed like fantasy and it was anonymous', according to the AZFamily.
Official reports further state that the accused has admitted to speaking to multiple underage girls on Whisper - but never thought any of them to be minors rather thought they were 'adults engages in fantasy chat and role-playing'.
Apart from this interaction, Kinney reportedly also told authorities that he interacted with a nine-year-old girl but since her picture did not look age appropriate, he assumed she was an adult.
The sickening man had also spoken to another 12-year-old on the app.
After this revelation, former FBI agent James Egelston warned parents to be careful of their children's online activities.
'This is another grime reminder of how important it is for parents to be aware of what websites their children do visit.
'Unfortunately, there are a lot of cases where people who have an interest in children try to work themselves into a position either through their professional employment or side interest where they have access to children. People should be aware of that as well,' he said.
After this revelation, former FBI agent James Egelston warned parents to be careful of their children's online activities
As of now, Kinney has been charged with a count of luring a minor for sexual exploitation and is held at a a $60,000 bond.
If he manages to pay out of jail, he will have to undergo electronic monitoring and will be banned from ever contacting any minor without exceptions.
Buckeye Union High School District Superintendent Dr. Steve Bebee later said that the the principal was placed on leave after investigation began.
'The Buckeye Union High School District has been informed that BUHS Principal Mr. Joe Kinney is under law enforcement investigation for a personal matter unrelated to his work with the school or district.
Per district policy, Mr. Kinney has been placed on administrative leave until further notice. In the interim, Ms. Kristin Koke will assume the duties of principal at Buckeye Union High School,' the school said in a press release.
The family of Georgia school shooter Colt Gray threatened to go 'full throttle' after the 14-year-old was charged as an adult for murdering four people on Wednesday.
Gray's relatives leapt to his defense within hours of him opening fire at Apalachee High School, where he allegedly killed four people and injured nine others.
The teenager's aunt, Annie Polhamus Brown, took to Facebook during the aftermath, bringing up the issues he 'dealt with' and saying she 'will take care of my nephew and what he needs on this side.'
'Just check yourself before you speak about a child that never asked to deal with the bull**** he saw on a daily basis,' she said in the posts, which have now been deleted.
'Y'all ready to see Polhamus blood in full throttle? Nah, I wouldn't either.'
The social media posts sparked fury as tributes poured in for the four victims in the tragedy, teachers Christina Irimie and Richard Aspinwall, and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14.
Colt Gray's suspected murder weapon can be seen in the corridor of Apalachee High School where he allegedly killed four and injured nine people
Gray's aunt Annie Polhamus Brown made Facebook posts online fuming over the decision to charge her nephew as an adult
Within hours of him opening fire at Apalachee High School, his aunt leapt to his defense while bringing up the issues he 'dealt with' and saying she 'will take care of my nephew and what he needs on this side'
Families gathered to mourn the four victims of the senseless shooting on Wednesday evening
Authorities say they are still investigating how Gray was able to bring an AR-style weapon inside his school, with footage of the aftermath appearing to show the weapon on the floor as terrified students were escorted down hallways to safety.
As parents and police raced to the school in Winder, Georgia, Polhamus Brown took to Facebook to plead for help in contacting the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
'Please someone get me in touch with GBI!!! I've tried calling!' she wrote, following up with: 'I am not scared, I will not back down.'
'I will not leave my nephew standing alone!!!' she continued in the post. 'When Uvalde (school shooting) happened, I told my own children that 'only hurt people hurt people.''
Polhamus Brown said she did 'everything I could to fight for my nephew', as she called out people for 'playing the blame game.'
She did also have some words for the victims of the shooting, saying the 'families affected by my nephew's actions deserve all the attention now.'
'I will NOT disrespect other parents and families that are dealing with this tragedy on the opposite end. THEY DID NOT DESERVE THIS,' she wrote.
One apparent relative said Colt 'never asked for what he's been through - I'm with you 1000000%. Prayers for EVERYONE affected'
A commenter claiming to be a former teacher of the alleged school shooter described him as a 'sweet boy' and said: 'I taught Colt and know first hand he dealt with so much!'
At least 13 people were shot in the chaos, including two students and two teachers killed
While Polhamus Brown's remarks sparked backlash online from some, her Facebook friends stood behind her and echoed her comments on the tragedy.
One apparent relative said Colt 'never asked for what he's been through - I'm with you 1000000%. Prayers for EVERYONE affected.'
Another commenter, claiming to be a former teacher of the alleged school shooter, said: 'I taught Colt and know first hand he dealt with so much!
'I love him and will be thinking about him and your family as you go through this tragedy! Such a sweet boy.'
After Polhamus Brown's social media posts emerged, some criticized her remarks, with one saying the alleged shooter's 'family failed him, and now you wanna make excuses.'
Officials said that Gray's shooting spree was ended within minutes, and he immediately surrendered when confronted by law enforcement, and 'gave up and got on the ground.'
It is unclear how the 14-year-old gunman got ahold of the weapon that was used in the attack, with cops reportedly raiding his family home in the hours after the shooting.
Mason Schermerhorn, 14, an autistic student at Apalachee High School, was the first victim to be identified. He was among four people killed in the mass shooting
Teachers Christina Irimie and Richard Aspinwall lost their lives in the tragedy
Student Christian Angulo, 14, was also shot dead in the senseless shooting
Following his arrest, Gray will be charged with murder and will be tried as an adult, the Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.
According to law enforcement, Gray opened fire at approximately 10:23am, hitting at least 13 people as frantic scenes took over the school.
Images showed students streaming out onto the campus as terrified parents raced to find their children, with one mother describing the scene outside the school as pure 'chaos.'
A junior at the school, Lyela Sayerath, said she was sat next to Colt Gray in algebra class just minutes before he began the shooting spree.
She told CNN that Colt left the classroom at the beginning of their class at 9:45am, around half an hour before active shooter alerts sounded.
Gray didn't take a bathroom pass, she said, leading her to initially think he was merely skipping class - before a loudspeaker announcement told teachers to check their emails.
Shortly after, Sayerath said Gray returned outside their classroom, and a student got up to open the door for him before jumping back at the sight of his gun.
'I guess he saw we werent going to let him in. And I guess the classroom next to me, their door was open, so I think he just started shooting in the classroom,' she said.
Lyela Sayarath, a junior at Apalachee High School, said she was sat next to shooter Colt Gray, 14, in algebra class just moments before he opened fire
Cops raced to the scene as a law enforcement officer apprehended Gray within minutes of shots ringing out
Sayerath said Gray proceeded to fire off a number of bullets 'one after another', adding: 'When we heard it, most people just dropped to the floor and like kind of crawled in an area like piled on top of each other.'
Sayerath said her friend was in the next classroom and witnessed someone being shot, which left him 'shaken up'. 'He saw somebody get shot. He had blood on him. He was kinda limping. He looked horrified,' she added.
Describing her classmate, Sayarath said Gray 'never really talked, he wasn't (in school) most times, he would just skip class... Even when he would have talked, it was one word answers.'
Sayarath said she 'wasn't surprised' when Gray was identified as the shooter, and said that 'when you think of shooters and the way they act, it's usually the quiet kid and he was the one that fit that description.'
As information floods in on the school shooting - officially the deadliest in Georgia's history - students and parents shared their shock at the horror that unfolded.
Students and faculty broke down in tears as they remembered the victims at a vigil on Wednesday evening
Concerned parents gathered at the school on Wednesday
Heartbreaking messages between a student at Apalachee High School and his mom have revealed the moment kids learned there was an active shooter
One mother, Erin Clark, shared the text exchange she had with her son Ethan from the moment he learned there was an active shooter at his school.
He wrote: 'school shooting rn (right now). I'm scared. I'm not joking.'
His mom responded instantly, assuring him that she was leaving work. In a heartbreaking response, Ethan wrote: 'I love you.'
'Love you too baby. Where are you?' Clark said. Ethan told her that he was in class, adding 'someone's dead.'
Many students filmed the aftermath, with one shaken grandfather revealing his granddaughters 'were led out past blood and victims' after the shooting.
'They heard the shots, had SWAT come in guns drawn in their room looking for shooters,' James Shappard said. 'No kid should have to go through that.'
A father has been left fighting for life following a horrific workplace accident at a construction site.
John Paselio was rushed to the intensive care unit at Gold Coast University Hospital on Monday night, where he was placed in an induced coma.
The father-of-three had been working at the site when he suffered major head injury.
Mr Paselio was described by shocked colleagues as 'very quiet, family orientated kind of guy' who got the job done and was loved by co-workers.
Safety officers had been on site to contact emergency services for Mr Paselio while support has since been made available to his colleagues.
He remained in intensive care on Thursday night.
Construction worker John Paselio (pictured with his wife) has been places into an induced coma after a horror accident at his workplace on Monday night
His wife shared an update to social media on Thursday, saying Mr Paselio is 'a fighter and I know he will appreciate the support everyone is showing me at this time'.
'At this time we are just waiting for John to wake up, as much as I can I will keep you updated but please be patient as I am only going day by day with Johns condition,' she wrote.
Family members had flown in to support Mr Paselio's wife and help care for their children while she stays by his hospital bedside.
Colleagues have since launched a GoFundMe to support Mr Paselio's family while doctors wait for him to wake up from the coma to assess for any permanent damage.
The father-of-three was rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital after he sustained a major head injury
'The purpose of this page is to provide financial assistance for JP and his family during this devastating time,' the fundraiser states.
'Please donate anything you can to ensure JP and his family get the best medical care, emotional and physiological support they need.'
The page has raised almost $8,850 within a few days.
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A Perth dentist who spiked the drinks of multiple women he met online then raped them has been found guilty of 24 charges.
Farzem Mehrabi, 34, met the women, aged 18 to 24, on Tinder and Bumble and invited them out to bars around the WA capital over a two-month period in 2022.
CCTV footage played to court during his month-long jury trial showed Mehrabi at one of these meetings as he mixed a substance into his date's glass while she was in the bathroom.
Prosecutors claim the then-third-year medical student at Notre Dame University laced the drinks with a cocktail of drugs including MDMA, MDA, lorazepam and methamphetamine.
The Iranian-born Mehrabi, who moved to Australia as a child, also brought up the topic of drug use and bragged to some of the woman that he purchased high quality chemicals from Switzerland.
He then took the intoxicated women to his parents house in Shelly in Perth's south before having non-consensual sex with them, reported 7 News.
Mehrabi testified the drug use and sex was consensual but the jury found him to be an unreliable witness with a history of telling lies, including about his age, height and whether he lived with his parents on the dating apps.
One woman told the court after only four drinks she woke up in Mehrabi's bed the next day with no recollection of the night, with scratches and feeling sick, later phoning him to ask if he had 'given her something'.
CCTV played to the court showed Farzem Mehrabi mixing a substance into the drink of a woman while she was in the bathroom
The 34-year-old was found guilty of 24 charges and will be sentenced in December
Seven women made complaints about Mehrabi and he was found guilty of sexual assault charges against five of them along with other drugs charges and a count of impending a person's breathing by applying pressure to the neck.
He was cleared of one drink spiking charge.
Mehrabi was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on December 17.
A missing young cheerleader has been found alive after a desperate search was sparked when she vanished from school.
Ava Phillips, 17, had been missing since Tuesday and was last seen leaving Angleton High School at 10:02am getting into a white Toyota Corolla.
Her mother, Kailey Perez, suspected Phillips was with her boyfriend heading to Austin, which is nearly 200 miles away from the town of Angleton.
She later revealed to Click2Houston that her daughter had recently been 'trying to distance herself from a boy who had been emotionally abusive towards her,' though it remains unclear if her current boyfriend is the abusive one.
But in a shock update, the Angleton Police Department revealed that Ava 'is safe and has been reunited with her family,' though it offered no additional information.
Ava Phillips, 17, was last seen leaving Angleton High School at around 10 am and getting into a white Toyota Corolla after not attending her fourth-period class
DailyMail.com approached Ava's mother for comment and didn't receive an immediate response.
The widescale search effort for Ava was helped along by Alex Bregman, the third baseman for the Houston Astros, who shared a bulletin describing her disappearance on X.
His post got 158,000 views.
It remains unclear why Ava abandoned her car in the school parking lot the day she left. Her car still contained crucial belongings such as her phone, keys and backpack.
Ava's boyfriend hasn't been identified by police yet.
The widescale search effort for Ava was helped along by Alex Bregman, the third baseman for the Houston Astros, who shared a bulletin describing her disappearance on X
The teenager's mother, Kailey Perez initially sounded the alarm after her car was found in the school parking lot with her phone, keys and backpack inside. Now that Ava's been found, it's not known why she did this
While she was still missing, Perez claimed Ava called her from a different number sounding distressed.
'She called me from a blocked number. She sounded scared and I dont think shes in control.
'She told me shed come home, but she hasnt. I just want her home safely. She sounds very scared.
'Her voice is very shaky. I dont think that shes in control. I think that someones telling her what to say.
'She's a beautiful, sweet girl who would never run away,' the distressed mother said.
A beloved cheese producer has been forced to close after 120 years with 58 staff now left in limbo.
Tasmania's King Island Dairy will close up shop mid next year, Canadian-owner Saputo announced on Thursday.
The future of the business had been under a cloud for 10 months after Saputo launched a strategic review of the facility that produced gourmet cheeses like brie and blue vein.
King Island Dairy operations began in the early 1900s and is one of the biggest employers in the small island, which is home to 1,600 people.
Saputo chief operating officer Leanne Cutts said the decision to wind up the business was difficult.
She said 'every possible option' had been reviewed, but closure was the most viable way to strengthen Saputo's competitiveness in a changing market.
'As King Island Dairy's historic roots are deeply embedded in the region, it was hoped the strategic review would identify a potential buyer for the facility,' Ms Cutts said.
'It is a unique brand, with a plant that is nearly 100 years old.
Tasmania 's King Island Dairy will close up shop mid next year, owner Saputo announced on Thursday
'Our other Tasmanian brands such as Mersey Valley and Tasmanian Heritage are thriving.
'(While) King Island Dairy products hold a nostalgic place in the hearts of Australians, the brand has not maintained its position in today's ultra-competitive food industry.'
Saputo bought King Island Dairy in 2019 as part of its purchase of Lion Dairy & Drinks's cheese business.
It confirmed 58 employees would be affected but 'redeployment opportunities' would be identified where possible.
Ms Cutts said Saputo would work with dairy farmers and the island's broader community.
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff said Saputo's decision was very disappointing.
King Island Dairy operations began in the early 1900s and is one of the biggest employers in the island which holds about 1,600 people
'We are providing immediate support to the company's workers, farmers and the wider island community,' he said.
Mr Rockliff said the state government was prepared to work with the company in a further effort to find a new operator.
Saputo describes itself as one of the top 10 dairy processors in the world.
King Island has a unique climate based on its location and provides lush grazing for cows and unusually sweet milk.
Saputo also owns Cheer Cheese, formerly known as Coon Cheese, having bought most of Warrnambool Cheese and Butter a decade ago.
Kind-hearted Australians have rallied to support the heartbroken mum of a baby boy who died at a family daycare centre.
Riley Ma was found unresponsive at the facility in Wakerley, in Brisbane's east, around 3.30pm on Monday and couldn't be revived.
The one-year-old is understood to have suffered a suspected medical episode.
The loss of their only child has devastated Riley's parents, who are grappling with his maternal grandmother's battle against stage four cancer.
Since then, generous Aussies have raised more than $11,000 within hours to help the family after a GoFundMe was launched on Wednesday night.
Family friend and fundraiser organiser Yang Zhao said it was just last week she was cuddling the 'happy, smiling' little boy and now she 'can't believe he is in another world'.
'Rileys parents, our dear friends, are devastated as they navigate this unimaginable pain,' Ms Zhao wrote.
'We are raising funds to support them with funeral expenses, legal assistance, and their fight for justice. Every contribution, no matter how small, will make a difference during this difficult time.
Yang Zhao is pictured with Riley Ma, who was 'happy and smiling' last week
'Lets come together and help Rileys family in their time of need. Thank you for your kindness and support.'
Riley appeared to be in a happy mood when he was dropped off at daycare at about 7.30am on Monday.
Just hours later, Riley's father received the devastating phone call that the boy could not be saved, despite the best efforts of paramedics.
His shattered mother said she cannot comprehend what has happened and is still in shock that her only son is no longer with her.
'Me and my husband cherished our baby very much,' she told the Courier Mail earlier this week.
'He's my everything.'
The Chinese national, 36, claimed that emergency responders didn't allow her to say her final goodbyes to Riley after she rushed to the centre on Monday afternoon.
She also claimed that her husband was able to give Riley a cuddle before his body were taken away.
'I can't drink, I can't eat, I can't sleep, I just miss my little boy,' she said.
Riley (pictured) was found unresponsive by emergency services at the daycare centre in Wakerley, in Brisbane's east, around 3.30pm on Monday
Close family friend Katrina Zhang told the newspaper that Riley appeared to have struggled during his final moments.
Ms Zhang said Riley's lips were purple and his fists were clenched tightly.
She said paramedics were already at the scene by the time Riley's father arrived.
Riley's mother revealed she faces the daunting task of telling her mother that her beloved grandson has died.
She has told her mum that Riley is sick, but admitted her mother will soon find out about the tragedy.
Police are investigating Riley's death and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Ministers still do not know how many buildings are wrapped in the same deadly cladding as Grenfell Tower, despite it being seven years since the disaster.
The damning final report into the blaze that claimed 72 lives was published yesterday and revealed the building was covered in flammable materials because of 'systematic dishonesty' from those who made and sold cladding and insulation.
Speaking on Newsnight yesterday, housing minister Matthew Pennycook made the shocking admission that 'we don't know for certain that all of the buildings that are dangerous have been identified'.
He went on to promise that the Government would be implementing an accelerated programme to tackle this crisis in the autumn.
But Housing Secretary Angela Rayner this morning declined to say when all homes with dangerous cladding will be made safe.
The Deputy Prime Minister told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I haven't got a definitive timeline yet, but seven years on (from the Grenfell Tower fire) it is not acceptable.'
She said the promised 'remediation acceleration plan' will speed up the process.
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Speaking on Newsnight yesterday, housing minister Matthew Pennycook admitted that 'we don't know for certain that all of the buildings that are dangerous have been identified'
How fire swept through Grenfell Tower: Top row, from left, photos taken at 1:30am, 2:10am and 2:34am; middle row, 3:08am, 3:23am and 3:44am; bottom row, 4:20am, 4:43am and 5:16am
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Ms Rayner later appeared on BBC Breakfast where she acknowledged some people still live in buildings which might not be safe.
She said: 'All buildings in the UK could have a failure of some sort. I can't guarantee 100 per cent that every building in the UK is going to be 100 per cent safe.
'But what I can say is that measures have been taken to ensure that there is fire evacuation procedures, that where there is a waking watch that's required, that there is a process with the fire brigade to ensure that people are safe.'
Ms Rayner said work was being done 'to ensure that buildings are as safe as they possibly can be' and that 'the obligations on building owners and those regulators are there to ensure that we can make people as safe as we possibly can'.
'I understand people's concerns about that,' she added.
Elsewhere, during an interview on Newsnight on Wednesday, Mr Pennycook said: 'We've got to review how lease holders are better protected from costs. We've got to accelerate the pace of remediation, but looking under the bonnet we have found a number of challenges.
'For example, we don't know for certain that all of the buildings that are dangerous have been identified. So we have to do more work in that area.'
He continued that the role of government in this process was going to be significant and that corporations cannot be left alone to sort this.
'Government has a big role to play and it can't just be left to the market and individual developers or buildings' owners to respond. I think government can and should be doing more.'
The deadly cladding panels cited as the main reason why flames shot up the side of the building during the Inquiry's first report, published in 2019 were manufactured by French firm Arconic.
The product was deemed as a low-cost alternative to rival brands, which appealed to cash-strapped councils.
Yet the firm knew about its potentially catastrophic shortfalls during a failed fire test.
Since 2017 thousands more building have been unearthed that are deemed to be unsafe, however they still remain unchanged because of disputes over who should pay for the upgrade works.
The fire spread up the side of the tower at the rate of one floor per minute
Matt Wrack from the Fire Brigades Union told BBC Breakfast today that 'tens of thousands of people are living in buildings where the regulations have been compromised'.
He continued: 'There is either cladding or fire doors that don't work or other failings in fire safety.'
A total of 58 recommendations have been made by the inquiry, including for the construction industry, to the government, and firefighters.
The recommendations are not legally binding, and it is up to the relevant organisations to decide whether to implement them - although all have promised to consider them in full.
Sir Keir has acknowledged that there are 'still buildings today with unsafe cladding' and repeated a previous acknowledgment that 'the speed at which this is being addressed is far, far too slow'.
He said this report, coming just over a week after a major fire in Dagenham at a building which had been having unsafe cladding removed, 'must be a moment of change'.
Sir Keir acknowledged that there are 'still buildings today with unsafe cladding' and repeated a previous acknowledgment that 'the speed at which this is being addressed is far too slow'
A report in 2019, from the first phase of the inquiry, concluded the tower's cladding did not comply with building regulations
He vowed his Government 'will take the necessary steps to speed this up', including forcing freeholders to assess their buildings and enter remediation schemes within set timetables, 'with a legal requirement to force action if that is what it takes to tackle industry intransigence'.
He promised the Government will respond 'in full' to them within six months, and pledged to update Parliament annually on progress against each commitment made.
Whereas Angela Rayner this morning declined to say when all homes with dangerous cladding will be made safe.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I haven't got a definitive timeline yet, but seven years on (from the Grenfell Tower fire) it is not acceptable.'
She said the promised 'remediation acceleration plan' will speed up the process.
'I'm always straight with people. I can't give you a timeline today, but what I can say is that it is an incredibly slow process at the moment - seven years on - and that's not acceptable.'
Detectives will need another 12 to 18 months to complete their investigation into the disaster, before prosecutors will take until the end of 2026 to decide whether criminal charges can be brought.
Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said that officers will go through the inquiry report 'line by line', but cannot use its findings as evidence because it comes under a different legal framework.
In May, the Met said a total of 19 companies and organisations were under investigation for potential criminal offences, along with 58 individuals.
Potential offences under consideration included corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, perverting the course of justice, misconduct in public office, health and safety offences, fraud, and offences under the fire safety and building regulations.
Old footage of an irate woman's expletive-filled tirade at other customers at a Woolworths has resurfaced online, prompting debate about the response from store staff.
The video was filmed by a group of shoppers after a woman became aggressive towards them in the supermarket at Rundle Mall in Adelaide's CBD in June 2020.
The woman yelled at the group demanding them to stop filming her.
'You dont ever f***ing film people without getting permission do you f***ing understand?' she said.
The man who was filming could be heard telling the woman: 'You need to stop', but the woman approached him and yelled back: 'You need to stop.'
A Woolworths employee intervened by placing her arm between the two so the woman couldn't approach the group any further, but the women yelled: 'No, get them out.'
A staff member then told the man he must stop filming the incident.
'Its private property, you cannot film in here,' she said.
A shopper started filming after an woman started following his group around a Woolworths store and was swearing at them (pictured aggressive woman blurred)
The aggressive woman added: 'You can't f**king film in here.'
The man tried explaining to staff the reason why he was filming.
'Shes being aggressive, shes being aggressive,' he said.
'I have to film to protect you.
'She has been following us and swearing at us.'
This set the woman off further, accusing the group of following her 'up the escalator'.
The man continued to film, which made the woman more aggressive.
Other staff members then stepped in and asked the man again to stop filming.
Another customer sided with the group and says that their treatment isn't 'fair'.
The group leaves but at the self-service check-out the woman was still heard yelling and swearing at them to get out.
Many Aussies were outraged the man was told he wasn't allowed to film in the store instead of telling the aggressive woman to leave the store (pictured stock picture of a Woolworths)
People on social media believed it was the woman who should have been escorted out of the store, not the group.
'How disappointing, Woolworths staff,' one wrote.
'Why didnt they ask her to leave?' another said.
But many Aussies were outraged staff asked the man to stop filming instead of dealing with the aggressive woman.
'That Woolies employee who says its a private property and can't be filmed needs more training before she gets her next pay,' one wrote.
Another added: 'You can literally film in any store open to the public.'
But Australian businesses are considered private property, even if they are open to the public - and even if they are listed as a public company on the stock exchange.
By entering, you are agreeing to abide by the terms and conditions of the business.
Other shoppers were quick to defend the actions of the Woolworths staff who recognised the woman's anti-social behaviour worsened the more the man filmed.
Australian businesses are considered private property and customers must abide by the terms and conditions set out by the store and staff (pictured a Woolworths store)
'Everyone in the comments wondering why he's being asked to stop filming hasn't ever heard of de-escalation,' one wrote.
'They (the man filming) are just aggravating the situation,' another said.
A Woolworths spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia staff members 'did their best' to de-escalate the situation.
'Were aware of an incident in 2020 between two customers in an Adelaide store,' they said.
'Our store team did their best to defuse the dispute in difficult circumstances and subsequently called police to the scene.'
Daily Mail Australia understands Woolworths did not receive a complaint or any correspondence from any of the customers since the incident occurred.
No customers or team members were injured.
A notorious Sydney rapist will be subject to around-the-clock electronic monitoring amid fears he's a 'high risk of sexual reoffending', a court has been told.
Graham James Kay, also known as the 'North Shore Rapist', has had a long list of monitoring conditions imposed on him for the next three years following his release from prison.
Kay was in 2000 sentenced to 20 years' jail for a series of terrifying sexual assaults committed against young women and girls over 12 months across Sydney's lower north shore.
During the attacks, which were each committed in 1995 and 1996, he held his victims at knifepoint, gagged their mouths and tied their hands.
He was released on parole in February 2015, but in April 2018, he contravened an extended supervision order - which placed strict conditions on Kay in a bid to protect the community - when he failed to disclose an intimate relationship.
Later that month, he again offended when he kissed a 16-year-old female supermarket worker.
The court was told the girl described the kiss on the cheek as 'slobbery' and vigorously wiped her cheek following the unwanted kiss.
He was convicted and sentenced to a 15-month conditional release order to be served in the community.
A NSW Supreme Court judge has ordered that Graham James Kay (pictured) be subject to long-term supervision
Then in January 2022, Kay was again arrested after he stalked a young woman before attacking her inside her apartment complex.
He was jailed for two years for sexual touching without consent and stalk/intimidate with intent to cause fear of physical harm.
However, he had six months added onto his sentence after the Crown appealed against the severity of his prison term.
The court was told that Kay stalked his victim through a shopping centre, and then from the Sydney CBD to Haymarket, where he followed her into her apartment building and sexually touched her.
When the victim tried to exit the elevator, Kay reached under her dress and grabbed her vaginal area for several seconds, causing her to scream before he fled the scene.
He was released in September last year.
Last month, the court lifted a non-publication order over Kay's name, which was imposed by a judge in 2020 after the rapist received threats and he lost his employment and accommodation.
Following his release, the state sought to impose a string of monitoring conditions, via an extended supervision order (ESO), to keep close tabs on him.
Kay did not object to the ESO; however, he objected to a proposed condition that he wear an electronic monitoring bracelet for the next three years.
He asked that he only be required to wear the electronic monitor for 18 months.
The court was told that according to a risk assessment report, Kay was gauged as being 'a high risk of sexual reoffending'.
On Thursday, Supreme Court Justice Hament Dhanji ordered that Kay be subject to a three-year ESO, including that he wear an electronic monitoring bracelet.
Justice Dhanji noted that some of Kay's past offences included following and stalking his victims and said that electronic monitoring could be used to monitor his movements.
'While electronic monitoring was not successful in deterring the defendant from offending in 2022, I would not discount the prospect that it will, in the future, have some deterrent effect,' he said in his judgment published on Thursday.
The 36 conditions of the ESO specify that Kay must report to a departmental supervising officer, provide a schedule of his movements if asked and live at an approved address.
He must not leave NSW and surrender his passport and cannot associate with anyone under 18.
He must not hire sex workers without prior approval from a case worker and must also inform authorities if he begins a sexual relationship or a friendship with a woman.
Students who survived the Georgia school shooting have revealed their teachers hid them in closets and claim the school did not take the threat seriously before hell broke loose on Wednesday.
Colt Gray, 14, opened fire at Apalachee High School, hitting at least 13 people and leaving four dead in what officially became the deadliest incident of its kind in Georgia's history.
The terrifying barrage of gunfire led to some students to hide in school cupboards as they fled to safety, as family and relatives on the outside were forced to wait impatiently for updates.
One Apalachee freshman, Jayden Finch, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that one of his friends had been killed in the shooting as his teacher ushered him and his classmates into a closet.
He also recalled seeing a body when his class was moved out to the football field.
Colt Gray's suspected murder weapon can be seen in the corridor of Apalachee High School where he allegedly killed four and injured nine people
'There was a threat to the school this morning, but there are so many empty threats, they didn't take it seriously,' Jayden added.
Apalachee senior Caden Moon told the outlet he was in the middle of a class when he heard several gunshots fired.
'Everything was fine. And then all the screens changed to lockdown, and then I heard about five gunshots outside my classroom,' he said.
Micah Hartsock, an Apalachee junior, said he tried to remain calm and text his dad while chilling gunshots rang out in the hallway.
'There's a shooter and I heard gunshots, I was pretty close to saying that I care about you and I love you, so if I don't make it out,' he said in his desperate message.
The families of Georgia students on the outside have also spoken of the terrifying wait for updates on their children following the school shooting.
As news of the shooting broke, parents and relatives of students in the school desperately waited on information regarding the safety and wellbeing of their children.
One parent, William Hartman, revealed he got a call from his 17-year-old son who informed his parents that the incident was being filmed live on Facebook.
'I don't know how to explain the feelings, the fear,' the father said.
Father of Apalachee High School student, William Hartman, revealed he got a call from his son, 17, who informed him the shooting incident was being filmed on Facebook live
Grandparents Michelle and J Watson said they waited 45 minutes to hear an update on their grandchild, a student at the school
'I have two children which go to Hayman Morris (middle school) which borders the school and the first thing was immediately calling the schools.
'Then the text messages and stuff started coming through from the schools. Terror. Absolute terror.'
The grandparents of an Apalachee High School student, Michelle and J Watson, spoke of how they endured a painful 45 minute wait before they heard any news of their grandchild.
'Really sad. Really sad... You know, it took us a while before we realized that she wasn't one of the victims. I mean, for 45 minutes... An hour...' they recalled.
'An hour before we got word that she was okay, it was very terrifying. It's the least (last) thing you expect to happen in the heat around here of all places,' they added.
Speaking to the BBC this morning, a number of surviving students recalled their fright during the terrifying morning.
'I saw a kid with a gun,' one young student said.
'We heard shots, the teacher ran, slammed the door, made us all go in the corner,' recalled another.
A third parent revealed: 'My son actually called me while it was going on inside the classroom'.
Officials have said that Gray's shooting spree ended within minutes after he began firing at at approximately 10:23am before taking the lives of his four victims - teachers Christina Irimie and Richard Aspinwall, and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14.
He immediately surrendered when confronted by law enforcement, and 'gave up and got on the ground,' they added.
Student Christian Angulo, 14, was also shot dead in the senseless shooting
Teachers Christina Irimie and Richard Aspinwall lost their lives in the tragedy
Mason Schermerhorn, 14, an autistic student at Apalachee High School, was the first victim to be identified. He was among four people killed in the mass shooting
It is unclear how the 14-year-old gunman got ahold of the weapon that was used in the attack, with cops reportedly raiding his family home in the hours after the shooting.
Authorities say they are still investigating how Gray was able to bring an AR-style weapon inside his school, with footage of the aftermath appearing to show the weapon on the floor as terrified students were escorted down hallways to safety.
Following his arrest, Gray will be charged with murder and will be tried as an adult, the Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.
Images from the scene showed students streaming out onto the campus as terrified parents raced to find their children, with one mother describing the scene outside the school as pure 'chaos.'
A junior at the school, Lyela Sayerath, said she was sat next to Colt Gray in algebra class just minutes before he began the shooting spree.
She told CNN that Colt left the classroom at the beginning of their class at 9:45am, around half an hour before active shooter alerts sounded.
Gray didn't take a bathroom pass, she said, leading her to initially think he was merely skipping class - before a loudspeaker announcement told teachers to check their emails.
Shortly after, Sayerath said Gray returned outside their classroom, and a student got up to open the door for him before jumping back at the sight of his gun.
'I guess he saw we weren't going to let him in. And I guess the classroom next to me, their door was open, so I think he just started shooting in the classroom,' she said.
Students and residents commemorate those who lost their lives by lighting candles near the scene of mass shooting at Apalachee high school on September 4
Measures are taken by security forces on the scene of mass shooting at Apalachee high school in Winder, Georgia
Lyela Sayarath, a junior at Apalachee High School, said she was sat next to shooter Colt Gray, 14, in algebra class just moments before he opened fire
Sayerath said Gray proceeded to fire off a number of bullets 'one after another', adding: 'When we heard it, most people just dropped to the floor and like kind of crawled in an area like piled on top of each other.'
Sayerath said her friend was in the next classroom and witnessed someone being shot, which left him 'shaken up'. 'He saw somebody get shot. He had blood on him. He was kinda limping. He looked horrified,' she added.
Describing her classmate, Sayarath said Gray 'never really talked, he wasn't (in school) most times, he would just skip class... Even when he would have talked, it was one word answers.'
Sayarath said she 'wasn't surprised' when Gray was identified as the shooter, and said that 'when you think of shooters and the way they act, it's usually the quiet kid and he was the one that fit that description.'
But the relatives of the gunman leapt to his defense in a move that has sparked backlash online and within the local community.
The teenager's aunt, Annie Polhamus Brown, took to Facebook during the aftermath, bringing up the issues he 'dealt with' and saying she 'will take care of my nephew and what he needs on this side.'
'Just check yourself before you speak about a child that never asked to deal with the bull**** he saw on a daily basis,' she said in the posts, which have now been deleted.
'Y'all ready to see Polhamus blood in full throttle? Nah, I wouldn't either.'
Polhamus Brown said she did 'everything I could to fight for my nephew', as she called out people for 'playing the blame game.'
She did also have some words for the victims of the shooting, saying the 'families affected by my nephew's actions deserve all the attention now.'
'I will NOT disrespect other parents and families that are dealing with this tragedy on the opposite end. THEY DID NOT DESERVE THIS,' she wrote.
Sainsbury's has called in police after a viral social media trend saw a surge in fraudsters using a voucher 'glitch' to get their shopping for free.
The retail giant has become the victim of the so-called 'Sainsbury's method' trend on TikTok, which sees accounts sharing images of genuine coupons online which are then repeatedly scanned at self-checkout tills by fraudsters.
Conmen taking advantage of the 'coupon hack' are then able to fraudulently make off with hundreds of pounds of goods for just a few pence.
Videos online have shown customers bragging about getting 400 worth of goods for just 6. While in another clip, a shopper is challenged by a Sainsbury's worker before threatening the staff member, saying 'I'm gonna knock you out'.
Other clips have urged people to join Discord servers where the can be sent the reusable voucher. Messaging app WhatsApp is also reportedly being used by criminals, who are sharing a step-by-step guide on how to use the coupons.
Sainsbury's is being targeted by fraudsters who are using a 'voucher glitch' to obtain hundreds of pounds worth of shopping for a few pence. Pictured is a shopper taking part in the con
Clips on TikTok have urged people to join Discord servers where vouchers are then shared and reused by fraudsters in shops
Pictured is one of the receipts shared as part of the so-called 'Sainsbury's method' which has led to the retailer working with police to clampdown on conmen using the scheme
Pictured is one of the accounts on TikTok sharing the 'Sainsbury's method' voucher con
Elsewhere on X, people have shared pictures showing the items they have allegedly managed to bag through the method - with one account boasting about 'selling Tesco/Sainsbury's method free food'.
In an effort to clampdown on thieves, Sainsbury's is now using in-store detectives to root out fraudsters trying to take advantage of the voucher con, with cops monitoring checkouts for potential criminals.
The coupons that end up being shared on social media are being blocked by the supermarket as quickly as it can - with notices put up in stores about the scheme.
In a warning to customers, Sainsbury's said: 'We have seen an increase in fraudulent coupons in our stores and we have processes in place to detect and block them. This may temporarily lead to a slightly longer checkout process, and we are sorry for the inconvenience this may cause.'
Last year, Tesco was hit with a similar coupon con in which fraudulent gift vouchers could be used to repeatedly take money off orders at self-checkouts.
The total at the till could be run into minus figures, with machine then dispensing cash to the shoppers. The cheat could only be used on machines running older software, which have since been updated, the Grocer reported.
MailOnline has approached other retailers, like Asda and Morrisons, to see if their outlets are falling victim to similar cons.
The so-called 'Sainbury's method' comes just weeks after another voucher con caused mayhem at the retailer's shops nationwide.
The coupon - which appeared in Sainsbury's app - led to customers flocking to the supermarket to pile their baskets and trolleys high with produce before the voucher was swiftly removed.
Elsewhere on X, people have shared pictures showing the items they have allegedly managed to bag through the method - with one account boasting about 'selling Tesco/Sainsbury's method free food'.
Pictured is one of the alleged Discord servers being used to share vouchers which are then repeatedly used by fraudsters in Sainsbury's stores nationwide
Sainsbury's has issued a warning to customers about voucher cons being used at their stores
Video footage from a number of branches showed people trying to take advantage of the coupon before the retail giant clocked on, some stockpiling basics such as toilet paper while others nabbed more luxury goods.
A clip from the Sainsbury's branch in Gants Hill, East London showed an argument break out between two shoppers trying their luck, and store staff who attempted to deny them using the voucher.
The unnamed man and his friend attempt to pay for their goods at the self-checkout using the faulty voucher on one of their phones.
Among the items are cartons of fresh soup and a box of Ferrero Rocher, and the bloke behind the camera argues with staff as his pal repeatedly scans the voucher, with cash flying off the total amount every time.
The member of staff tries to argue that the code has been cancelled but the customer insists: 'It's allowed, Sainsbury's is allowing coupons.'
The staff member denies it again, but the customer refuses to back down, adding: 'Take it off the system. If it's not allowed, why is it still on the system? It's allowed, it's a coupon.'
Lines of trollies were seen lined up in White Rose Shopping Centre in Leeds full of shopping
A security guard then appears, questioning why the customer is filming.
The shopper starts to get agitated and says: 'I'm recording for my safety and your safety, because if you touch me, I'm going to knock you out
'I am using a coupon. Disconnect it from the system and I won't use the coupon. The system allows me to use it so I'm using it. If it's a frauded coupon, how is it on the Sainsbury's app?'
A second video, taken in Sainsbury's in the White Rose Shopping Centre in Leeds, Yorkshire, shows a long line of trolleys piled high with groceries.
A woman's voice can be heard saying: 'This is ridiculous, look at this. This is why it stopped. Look at this, they don't buy so much in real life.'
Countless trollies are packed full of food and necessities as well as some luxury items as carefree shoppers take advantage of the legitimate code.
The woman continues to commentate in disbelief as the line of trolleys continues to rumble on. It's not clear whether these were seized before or after the glitch within the code was discovered by Sainsbury's.
The clips were shared to social media yesterday with the caption: 'A glitched Sainsbury's coupon was released on the app yesterday where it allowed customers to get all their items for free.
An example of the voucher in use - saving the customer 55.84
Lines of trollies filled with goods after shopper's used a faulty voucher
'Those who found it before Sainsbury's did made sure to take the p***.'
The post has since received over 7,400 likes and more than 40 comments from amused members of the public.
One said: 'Serves them right for overcharging.'
A second commented: 'I mean, at least they were buying food because I'd be in there clearing the alcohol aisle.'
Another said: 'Second video was playing Supermarket Sweep in real life.'
A fourth wrote: 'Ahh man, why did I have to find out about this late?'
Another said: 'Did you load up on Yorkshire Tea?'
A spokesperson for Sainsbury's said at the time: 'We have seen an increase in fraudulent coupons in our stores and we have processes in place to detect and block them.
'We also have in-store detectives monitoring for fraudulent attempts and we are working closely with the police on this issue. We continue to accept genuine coupons and vouchers.'
A grandmother whose husband allegedly drugged her and invited 50 men to rape her took the witness stand this morning in France's worst ever sexual abuse trial.
Gisele Pelicot bravely waived her right to anonymity to make public details of the horrific betrayal her partner of 50 years had forced her to endure over ten years.
Today Madame Pelicot, 71, will relive the trauma that she experienced when a police investigator showed her graphic films of her being raped repeatedly by her husband Dominique and more than 80 strangers while she was unconscious.
Madame Pelicot, who has three grown up children and seven grandchildren, is determined that the public knows that she played no part in her husband's warped sexual fantasies that he played out at their picturesque chalet home in the Provence village of Mazan.
Madame Pelicot said during her testimony this morning: 'I was sacrificed by my husband for these obscenities a woman drugged and abused. It was like I was dead. I was treated like a piece of meat.'
She also revealed that she was convinced she had Alzheimer's after suffering memory loss in 2011 and 2013, but her husband dismissed her concerns.
Dominique Pelicot and 50 others are accused of raping her. Pelicot and 14 of his co-accused have admitted their part in France's worst rape case.
Gisele Pelicot (pictured arriving to court this morning) bravely waived her right to anonymity to make public details of the horrific betrayal her partner of 50 years had forced her to endure over ten years
Dominique Pelicot and 50 other accused of raping her. Pelicot and 14 of his co-accused have admitted their part in France's worst rape case
Today Madame Pelicot, 71, will relive the trauma that she experienced when police investigator showed her graphic films of her being raped repeatedly by her husband Dominique and more than 80 strangers while she was unconscious
Madame Pelicot is determined that the public knows that she played no part in her husband's warped sexual fantasies that he played out at their picturesque chalet home in the Provence village of Mazan (pictured)
But 35 men from all walks of life deny that they forced themselves on Madame Pelicot while she was unconscious, claiming that she in some way consented.
However this morning Madame Pelicot who had no idea of the abuse her husband was putting her through over a decade, is determined that France and the rest of world hear her testimony.
Wearing a long, orange dress, a white blouse and a gold necklace, Madame Pelicot sat with her head held high in the same courtroom as the 50 men accused her raping her.
Accompanied by her three grown-up children, the 71-year-old with a smart auburn bob appeared defiant in the face of her abusers.
She stared up at the ceiling of the Avignon court room and gave a heavy sigh as Judge Roger Arata opened the fourth day of the trial that has shocked France.
Across the room Dominique Pelicot, her grey-haired husband of 50 years who claims to have adored his wife looked at her without expression.
Madame Pelicot had no idea that she was being subjected to this terrible betrayal until her husband was arrested for 'upskirting' at his local supermarket and police discovered a library of 'sex-movies' at their home.
At 9.20am Madame Pelicot took the witness stand to give evidence.
Wearing a long, orange dress, a white blouse and a gold necklace, Madame Pelicot sat with her head held high in the same courtroom as the 50 men accused her raping her
Mr Pelicot's daughter, Caroline Darian, arrived to court alongside her mother this morning
Madame Pelicot had no idea that she was being subjected to this terrible betrayal until her husband was arrested for 'upskirting' at his local supermarket and police discovered a library of 'sex-movies' at their home (pictured above)
Some of the 50 co-defendants accused of rape speak with a lawyer at the courthouse in the case that has shocked France on Monday, September 2
Madame Pelicot is pictured above as she arrived to court this morning
She gave her name, maiden name and age into the microphone.
Judge Arata tried to reassure her that she should take her time to make her testimony. And he warned her she would face cross examination.
She said: 'I would not be before you if it were not for the work of the police of Carpentras [the town where the supermarket where her husband was arrested in 2020].
'On that day in September I had been away with my daughter. I returned home to Mazan and I sat in the kitchen.
'Monsieur Pelicot told me; "I have done something silly. I took some photographs in the supermarket".
'After 50 years of marriage I said I would forgive him. But if there was a second time I would leave him.
'In October I went to Paris to look after two of my grandchildren.
'I received a phone call from the police who told me they wanted to talk to me.
'I made an appointment in November at the police headquarters in Carpentras.'
She continued: 'We were later summoned to the police. I knew he had taken photos of these women and thought we were going as a formality.'
Madame Pelicot told the court that she would remember walking up the steps to the police station 'for the rest of my life'.
At the station, where she was wearing a mask as it was during the Covid pandemic, a police officer told her: 'I'm going to tell you something you won't like.'
She said: 'For 50 years I always supported my husband, health, financial and couple problems. It was based on trust.'
Pictured above is a general view of where the Pelicots lived which has been known as the house of horrors, with a creepy back alley
Dominique Pelicot can be seen in this court sketch on the right
'I'm a woman who only one man can touch, Mr Pelicot, no other can put a hand on me,' she added, as reported by the Telegraph.
Madame Pelicot continued: 'But I left and went home while my husband was in custody. The trauma was enormous. The shock. I returned home to my little dog. I could not stay alone. I had to go to see some friends.
'I told my son that his father was in custody, that he had been charged. On the 3rd of November I went to the police station at Carpentras.
'The police showed me the videos. My world collapsed. When I told my daughter she screamed.
'I left my house with two suitcases and my dog. That was all I had after 50 years of marriage. Everything was based on trust in 50 years.
Caroline Darian's book
'My daughter had a nervous breakdown and required medical help.'
'When I told my sons about this, I dont think they really understood, they were withdrawn and didn't react much. I think they were in a state of shock. They said don't say such silly things,' she said, as reported by the Telegraph.
'[That] evening, the children rang all the time saying don't disappear, they were worried I might die.'
Madame Pelicot continued: 'You can't imagine yourself in a situation like that. In that moment I wanted to disappear.
'I had to tell my children that their father was in custody. I called my son-in-law and told my daughter and told them: "He raped me". Then I heard my daughter screaming a deep cry that I cannot get out of my head.
'People in the street at the bakery at the supermarket, asked me if I was ok. I had to leave the area. I could not stay in that house. I had lost everything, my husband, my life.
'I didn't know who I was or where I was going. I had lost my identity. My son moved me out of that house.'
Referring to the sex tapes her husband had made of strangers abusing her she said: 'This was not sex it was rape. I have never practiced open sex, I was never swinger.
'I was never a victim, until now. I had to get help, counselling.'
Madame Pelicot said she believed the first instance of being drugged was in 2011 when she woke up in the afternoon with no memory.
A black and white facial reconstruction of a younger Dominique Pelicot is seen in this handout image
Dominique Pelicot is accused of orchestrating the rape ring
She said: 'One day in 2011, I woke up at 6pm in the evening. That was not right. I never sleep until 6pm in the evening. I knew this was not normal but I could understand why.
'I had no memory of the day. I asked Monsieur Pelicot what had happened.'
The couple moved to the village in Provence two years later in 2013. She said: 'In March 2013 we left Paris for Mazan and this "absence" started again.
'I have an excellent memory. I joked to my husband, "you're not drugging me are you?"
'He broke down in tears and said; "you actually think I could do that?"
'I went to see a neurologist. I was convinced I had Alzheimer's. He said don't worry. I had scans but the absences continued. I don't remember any of the sex scenes.
'My son told my husband that I was not well. He said "don't worry".'
Madame Pelicot added: 'I was sacrificed by my husband for these obscenities a woman drugged and abused. It was like I was dead. I was treated like a piece of meat.
'This is why I am speaking out, - for all the other women who are abused. It was humiliating what I have gone through.
'It started when I learned from the investigating magistrate that Mr Pelicot had filmed up women's skirts with a hidden camera in a pen.
'I learned that in 2010 he had done something similar. If I had known back then I would have perhaps I would have been more vigilant. I could have won back ten years of my life.'
Madame Pelicot added: 'These videos are all more horrible than the others. It's barbaric, I don't know how my body is strong enough to stand before you today.'
Gisele Pelicot (C) sits next to her daughter Caroline Darian (2ndL) and her sons Florian Pelicot (L) and David Pelicot (2ndR) with his wife Celine F. (R), at the courthouse during the trial of her husband on September 2
The town of Mazan, 20 miles from Avignon in southern France, where the victim and her husband lived and the attacks took place
The grandmother recalled how her own mother died when she was just nine years old and that she left school aged only 13 to find work.
She said: 'At 13 I was knocking on factory doors asking for work. When I was two years old I knew that my mother had an incurable disease. But I never saw my grandmother cry. We don't show tears in my family.'
Monsieur Pelicot broke down in tears in the dock as she listened to his estranged wife detail how they fell in love and started their 50-year married life together.
Wiping his eyes, the grey-haired multiple rapist appeared to be unable to listen to her memory of their once happy life.
She recalled: 'Then I met M Pelicot. He had a tyrannical family. He had to give all of his wages to his parents. I married very young. I was 20 years old.
'We needed permission from our parents. My dad was not in favour of the wedding but he accepted it. We had no money but we were very much in love. I have never been with another man.
'We were not rich but we were happy. Monsieur Pelicot is an electrician. He retrained as an estate agent. He had kidney stones and almost died. And then the real estate crisis. No money was coming in but I still supported him.
'I knew he was courageous. He has always worked hard.'
She added: '[After M Pelicot's arrest], I learned that he had been raped aged nine. He wasn't supported by his parents. We could have dealt with it together.
'I'm being treated by a psychiatrist now. Rape scenes are torture scenes. Why does anyone deserve to go though that?'
After giving her testimony, Judge Arata began to question Madame Pelicot.
The judge asked: 'Did Monsieur Pelicot have any sexual desires that you did not want to take part in?'
Beatrice Zavarro (C), lawyer for the accused Dominique P, speaks with lawyers at the courthouse during the trial of her client accused of drugging his wife for nearly ten years and inviting strangers to rape her at their home in Mazan
Gisele Pelicot, 72, arrives at the courthouse in Avignon this morning ahead of the third day of her husband's trial on September 4, 2024
Madame Pelicot replied: 'Once we went to a nightclub with another couple where there was a "swingers' room". But I didn't want to get involved in that so we did not go into that room and we just stayed in the main nightclub.'
The judge asked if she suffered any problems after being abused for ten years.
Madame Pelicot replied: 'I have gynaecological problems. I was diagnosed with four sexually transmitted diseases at the Versailles medical forensic unit.'
She added: 'I was tested for HIV as one man who came (to rape me) six times was seropositive. My life was in danger but not one second did anyone stop. Luckily I didn't catch it. But not once did Mr Pelicot say to himself, "I've gone too far".'
'He showed no pity, no pity at all,' Madame Pelicot said, as reported by the Telegraph.
The judge told her that Mr Pelicot has acknowledged his crimes, and asked her; 'What do you feel about this?'
Madame Pelicot replied: 'Feelings of disgust. We had everything, we had a great life. I don't understand how this could have happened.'
The judge ended his interrogation with what he described as a 'very difficult question'.
He asked: 'Madame Pelicot, are you in any way complicit in Monsieur Pelicot's activities?'
She replied calmly: 'Absolutely not. I never pretended to be asleep or anything like that.'
Another judge asked Madame Pelicot whether she and her husband ever discussed filming their sexual intercourse.
She said: 'I never agreed to Monsieur Pelicot filming us having sex. No the only time we talked about something like this was at the swingers' room at the nightclub.
'I understood that he would have wanted to do it. But for me it was impossible.'
The shocking trial, which began on Monday, is set to end on December 20 with 50 people, including Mr Pelicot, facing aggravated rape charges.
A classical musician says she was left humiliated and on the verge of tears after claiming Ryanair refused to let her board with her violin because it was 1cm too big.
Esther Abrami, 27, claims airline staff spoke to her 'like a piece of garbage' and suggested she pay to put the fragile 200-year-old instrument in the cargo hold with other travellers' luggage.
The star violinist, who is French but lives in Manchester, had been set to jet from Marseille to Berlin to record her third album with Sony this week.
Ms Abrami said she had flown countless times with the airline, taking her precious violin as cabin luggage, and never had an issue.
But on Tuesday she says she was stopped at the gates and 'publicly humiliated' as she tried to persuade staff to let her board - even offering to cough up cash to pay for an extra seat.
Star violinist Esther Abrami, pictured at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in 2022, says she was 'treated like a piece of trash' by Ryanair this week when she tried to board with her instrument
The 27-year-old musician took to Instagram to share her upset - claiming she was 'publicly humiliated'
Ms Abrami says she was left on the verge of tears after being told her 200-year-old violin was 1cm too big to take on as cabin baggage
Ryanair claims Ms Abrami was not refused boarding, and should have booked an extra seat when she paid for her ticket in July.
The 27-year-old said claimed her violin's case was 56cm, when the cabin baggage limit is 55cm, and even offered to take it out of its case and hold it during the flight.
But, Ms Abrami says she staff said that wasn't an option - and labelled the way they treated 'unacceptable'.
She wrote on Instagram: 'I was spoken to like a piece of garbage, told to get out of their way if I wasn't going to check in the violin as I was wasting their time.
'I feel so humiliated, held in my tears, trying not to break in front of all the people about to board the plane watching the scene.'
The violinist said she couldn't believe the 'rudeness' she was met with.
She wrote on Instagram: 'I was refused boarding on a Ryanair flight with my 200 years old violin today. On my way to Berlin, departing from Marseille to record my third album with Sony Classical, this is the first time I have experienced such rudeness and public humiliation.
'Just before boarding the flight I was stopped and told I could not board on with my violin. I offered to pay whatever it would cost to take it with me, they refused.
Ms Abrami, pictured in VIP screening to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Snowman in 2022, says she begged staff to let her on board
The 27-year old, snapped at 2022 Christmas Carols on ITV, says her violin is 200 years old and very fragile
'I offered to buy an extra seat, they said the flight was closed already and I could not buy an extra seat anymore (despite the flight not being full).
'They said the only option was to check it in with the LUGGAGES or just leave at the airport. I explained the price and the fragility of the violin.
'I begged them, explaining I was recording this very same day for my album, telling that I had flown an incredible number of times with this company and never experienced this.
'It came to the point where I even offered to take my violin out of the case, keeping its fabric protection and just carry it by hand and keeping it on me during the whole flight whilst they put the case in the cargo.
'They made me open my case on the floor, put the violin in the place to measure suitcases. The requirements for the cabin luggage - which I had paid for already - is a length of 55cm.
'My violin measures 56cm, it fitted diagonally, and otherwise was 1cm over. Even this was refused.'
Ms Abrami says she was 'incredibly fortunate' that she could book a last minute ticket with another airline.
Ryanair said: 'This passenger was not refused travel from Marseille to Berlin (3 Sep). Ms. Abrami booked her flight on July 5 and at the time did not opt to pay for an extra seat fare for her violin as per Ryanair's terms and conditions when travelling with musical instruments.
'When this passenger checked in her bag at the check in desk prior to her flight (3 Sep) she was advised by the check in desk agent of her option to purchase an additional bag where her violin would be put in the hold.
'The passenger refused and proceeded to the gate. This passenger's violin exceeded the cabin bag dimensions permitted for her flight, and therefore she was required to pay a standard gate baggage fee at the gate. This passenger refused to pay the standard fee and instead chose not to travel on this flight.'
The airline added this morning: 'Violinists travelling with Ryanair have to obey the same rules as everyone else; if it fits it can go onboard, but if it doesnt it goes in the hold.'
A brazen phone snatcher stole a woman's mobile in broad daylight in central London before calmly making off on his e-bike.
Footage filmed by an internet streamer shows the woman standing close to an Oxford Circus Street exit on her way to work looking at her phone.
Behind her a man on an e-bike silently approaches her and grabs her phone out of her hand before escaping.
Visibly shocked the woman jumps slightly and then stands rooted to the spot in disbelief.
Moment the bike thief snatches the phone on his e-bike near Oxford Circus tube station
On his approach: The phone grabber closes in on his silent e-bike clad all in black
Dress all in black the thief nears his victim outside of an entrance to Oxford Circus tube
Britain, and in particular London, is in the midst of a phone grabbing crisis.
Criminal gangs target members of the public who are distracted by something on their phone and then swoop on them.
Often the gangs use electric vehicles such as e-bikes and e-scooters because they are silent and fast, maximising their chances of snatching the phone and getting away.
In the underworld the stealing of phones is big business, and many handsets end up abroad, where they are broken down for parts and sold on.
The MailOnline revealed how the Chinese city of Shenzhen is at the heart of a lucrative and illicit international stolen phones black market.
Owing to the city's casual approach to enforcing criminal property laws, gangs can sell the phones on for cut prices or take the phones apart and flog parts.
Due to the city's focus on technology, it has become known as China's 'Silicon Valley'.
Across the city their are vast markets, some lawful and other legal, offering to sell gadgets, including huge numbers of stolen mobile phones from Britain.
Despite the extensive amount of CCTV covering London's busiest areas, gangs target people in those locations precisely because they think they will be more safe and have their guard down.
The gangs also operate at music festivals and events where large crowds make it difficult to track movements.
According to Freedom of Information requests submitted by the company Get Phone Repairs, in London Westminster, Southwark and Camden are the worst areas.
Their data shows that in 2023 in London alone, 52,144 mobiles were stolen.
They say that averages as 5.93 phones stolen for every 1000 people in the capital city worth 18.5 million for the year.
Get Phone Repairs founder, Ryan Leston. 'Keep your phone somewhere safe, like a front jeans pocket, when it's not in use.
'Don't take risks by getting your phone out in areas you feel unsure about. And maybe don't ask strangers to help you snap the perfect selfie.'
The Metropolitan Police published statistics on mobile snatches for January 2022 to January 2023 there were nearly 90,000 thefts.
Of the 88,949 only 1,915 were recovered and returned to their owner, meaning more than 87,000 phones could have been shipped abroad in just one year from London.
London 's 'most notorious phone snatcher' Sonny Stringer, 28, from Islington, was jailed for two years after stealing 24 phones in a single morning earlier this year
In little over an hour, Stringer and his accomplice had netted handsets worth around 20,000 by sneaking up behind victims on quiet high-speed motorbikes on March 26
London's most notorious phone snatcher Sonny Stringer was jailed earlier this year at Isleworth Crown Court.
In one morning he stole 24 phones across London sparking a major police investigation.
Detectives said the phones were worth 20,000. Stringer used high-powered motorbikes which were almost silent to sneak up on his victims.
His reign of terror took him through some of London's most affluent areas including Westminster, Kensington and Bloomsbury.
One man quickly had his day of sunshine joy cut short as he was targeted by brazen thief on Southwark Road in London
Seemingly in shock and confused, the disgruntled victim attempts to give chase (Pictured)
Last month footage showed another phone snatcher on an e-bike making off with a man's mobile.
This time on Southwark Street, in south London the thief spotted his target on the pavement looking at his phone and approached him from behind.
Before the victim could do anything his mobile was in the thief's hands and he was speeding away on his.
Bravely the owner of the phone tried to give chase but could not keep up.
The Home Office has been spared an inquest into how an Afghan asylum seeker who posed as a child before murdering an aspiring Marine was allowed into Britain.
Tom Roberts, 21, a nightclub DJ, was stabbed in the chest by Afghan Lawangeen Abdulrahimzai outside a Subway in the early hours of March 12, 2022, when he tried to intervene in a row over an e-scooter.
Abdulrahimzai, who was actually 19, had already murdered two people in Serbia before being allowed into the UK posing as a 14-year-old orphan.
He was placed into two secondary schools in Bournemouth, Dorset, and was expelled from one for carrying a knife in school. Two days before he killed Mr Roberts he was stopped by police for carrying a machete.
Mr Roberts' family has slammed a coroner's decision to scrap an inquest into his murder and they claim authorities are trying to 'sweep it under the carpet'.
Abdulrahimzai had already murdered two people before being allowed into the UK posing as a 14-year-old orphan
Tom Roberts, 21, (pictured) was stabbed in the chest twice by Afghan Lawangeen Abdulrahimzai
Abdulrahimzai was jailed for 29 years for Mr Roberts' murder following a trial at Salisbury Crown Court in January 2023.
It later emerged that he was flagged as 'susceptible to terrorism' by the Home Office's Prevent anti-terrorism task group in 2021.
Mr Roberts' family have previously accused the Border Force and Home Office of systematic failures which allowed Abdulrahimzai into the country.
They had pinned their hopes on a full inquest into Mr Roberts' death to publicly scrutinise the failings and ask questions.
However, after a number of pre-inquest review hearings, senior coroner for Dorset Rachael Griffin has now ruled that there is no need for a full inquest to take place.
Mr Roberts' family said they feel like the matter was being 'swept under the carpet' and accused the authorities of a cover-up.
They claim that if immigration officials had carried out proper checks on Abdulrahimzai after he arrived on a ferry in Poole, Mr Roberts would still be alive today.
Dolores Wallace-Roberts, Mr Robert's mother, said: 'I am very disappointed by the coroner's decision not to resume the investigation into his death. It is unfair.
Armed police arresting Abdulrahimzai for murdering Mr Roberts in Bournemouth
The asylum seeker, seen here on bus CCTV, claimed his parents were killed by the Taliban
'The Home Office don't want to engage with us. They are accountable and there is negligence there but they just block any attempts to find out more.
'I have very serious concerns about how Border Force checks the identity of those arriving in England and whether they are criminals and how BCP Council checks the ages of those claiming to be children.
'I have concerns about the response of Dorset Police to a report of someone carrying a machete in a public place and the failure of the authorities to check and share information, which allows the status quo to continue.
'Everything is wrong in this country and it will continue to happen again.'
Mr Roberts' step-father, Peter Wallace, said: 'It feels like everything is being swept under the carpet and it is a bit of a cover-up.
'The Home Office has never apologised to me because if they did they would have to admit their failings.
'It is disappointing that lessons will not be learnt about their complete failures, but they don't want them out in the open.'
Mrs Griffin ruled the inquest did not meet the criteria for Article 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights, that the state knew or ought to have known of an immediate risk to an individual's life they have to take reasonable steps to deal with that risk.
The Afghan national was convicted of the murder of aspiring Royal Marine Thomas Roberts (pictured), 21, outside a Subway sandwich shop in Bournemouth
The coroner said Mr Roberts and Abdulrahimzai were strangers and although there was an 'emerging pattern of violent behaviour and a risk to others of harm', at the time of the murder the illegal immigrant had not used a knife in an act of violence nor made any threats to kill since arriving in the UK in December 2019.
But the catalogue of mistakes and missed opportunities that would have revealed Abdulrahimzai's murderous past make for damning reading.
Outlining the facts, Mrs Griffin said Abdulrahimzai arrived in the UK on December 26, 2019, hidden in a vehicle on a ferry from Cherbourg and told Border Force officials he was 13, but no age assessment was carried out.
His fingerprints were taken a few weeks later and revealed he had links with Norway and Italy.
The fingerprints were sent to both countries but with no request for any further information. If this had been done it would have revealed his true age.
On January 29, 2020, his foster carer reported that a dentist said Abdulrahimzai was older than he had indicated and while it was felt an age assessment was needed, it was not done because the authorities felt a mental health assessment was needed first.
The age assessment had still not been done by the time Mr Roberts was killed.
From December 21, 2020, and throughout 2021, there were a number of incidents and concerns raised around Abdulrahimzai carrying knives, including allegedly chasing another pupil at his school with a knife, which he denied.
In May 2021 he hurt another student at school, causing injury, and in July of that year, he tried to headbutt his foster carer, who managed to move out of the way.
In September, when he had been placed somewhere else, he was accused of assaulting another child.
A police cordon outside the Subway sandwich shop on Old Christchurch Road in Bournemouth
The police cordoned off Horseshoe Common in Bournemouth following the fatal stabbing in March 2022
In January 2022 the authorities held a meeting confirming an age assessment would be carried out because Abdulrahimzai had been 'bringing females back to his placement' and was refusing to attend school or engage in education.
On the evening of March 10, about 30 hours before Mr Roberts was stabbed, police received a call about a youth carrying a machete-style knife in public.
The coroner's report states that when police attended his address to speak to Abdulrahimzai the gates were locked and they could see a member of staff asleep at his desk but could not gain access and no further action would be taken.
Abdulrahimzai's fingerprints were not shared with Interpol until after Mr Robert's death, which revealed in September 2022 that he had been convicted of a double homicide in Serbia.
Mrs Griffin said there was a system of checks in place when Abdulrahimzai entered the country to check identity and undertake an age assessment so it was not a systemic failure.
She said: 'Whilst it has to be accepted there were missed opportunities to undertake some checks, for example PNC checks and checks with Norway and Italy when Border Force sent updated fingerprints to them, it cannot be said that had these checks been done, the course of events that led to Tommy's death would have been any different.
'It is too speculative and remote to state that there was a causal link between these missed opportunities and Tommy's death.'
Mr Wallace added: 'Tommy's death has torn our family apart.
'There were so many warning signs that Abdulrahimzai should not be here yet the Home Office did nothing about it.
'He was kicked out of Norway and Italy but not here and for that reason I hold the Home Office responsible for Tommy's death.
'If someone had done their job he would still be alive.
'It was so obvious that the guy was just waiting to kill someone and it just happened unfortunately to be Tommy.
'He should have been locked up before he killed Tommy. I'm so angry about it.
'It is not just the Home Office but immigration officials and social workers. Everyone who was involved in him (Abdulrahimzai) being here is guilty because none of them did their jobs. He was flagged up every week and every month.
'He was carrying a knife and threatening people with a knife and nobody did anything.
'He spun some story about coming from a war-torn country. That was all b******s'.
'We will never be able to bring Tommy back but they still let in thousands of people without proper checks and this will keep happening.'
BCP Council said that once immigration services deemed Abdulrahimzai as under 18 years old, it fulfilled its duty of responsibility by taking him into care as an unaccompanied child asylum seeker.
BCP Council leader Millie Earl said: 'In this case, Lawangeen Abdulrahimzai claimed he was a child upon arrival.
'Immigration services carry out an initial age enquiry at point of entry and once an individual claims they are, or is identified as, under 18 they must be treated as a child.
'To follow government guidance and to fulfil BCP Council's duty of responsibility, Abdulrahimzai was taken into care as an unaccompanied child asylum seeker in December 2019.
'Everyone living in our community should feel safe and we will do all we can to ensure that tragedies such as this do not happen again in the BCP area, or nationally.
'This is why we are working with the relevant Government departments and agencies to identify where improvements can be made throughout the national process of assessing and placing asylum seekers.'
A spokesperson for Dorset Police said the force fully co-operated with the inquest process and carried out an internal investigation after reports Abdulrahimzai was seen with a knife two days before Mr Roberts' death.
They said: 'We co-operated fully with the inquest process and carried out an internal investigation by the Force's Professional Standards Department into a report that was made on Thursday 10 March 2022 with information that a member of the public had seen a young person in possession of a knife.
'The young person was identified to be Lawangeen Abdulrahimzai and officers made enquiries at his address to try and locate him during the early hours of Friday 11 March 2022, but they were not able to make contact with him.
'The investigation found that there was no evidence that Dorset Police officers were aware of any direct intention or threat made by Lawangeen Abdulrahimzai to harm anyone and the level of risk he posed was not known.
'There was no misconduct identified for any officers or staff.
'We remain committed to learning from tragic incidents such as this and identified opportunities for improving our response in incidents such as this.
'Youth violence and knife crime is a priority for Dorset Police and extensive work is ongoing to reduce the presence of dangerous weapons on our streets.'
A Home Office spokesperson said: 'Our deepest sympathies remain with the loved ones of Thomas Roberts.
'We will consider the findings of the Coroner's report, but it would not be appropriate to comment further in the interim.'
A university student who uses a wheelchair has hit out at his university's 'total systemic failure' to accommodate his disability - after being unable to go up on stage to graduate after achieving his degree.
Masters student Jamie Hale had contacted University College London admin staff to advise that he would require wheelchair access to the Royal Festival Hall at London's Southbank Centre in order to 'cross the stage' as tradition dictates.
But when it came to the day itself, Jamie found the lift to the stage could not even safely take the combined weight of his body and his powered wheelchair.
Despite battling against the odds to secure a degree, Jamie was not able to join other students in the ceremony on-stage - and had to be handed his scroll on the floor instead.
The artist and disability campaigner took to X, formerly Twitter, to blast UCL for failing to accommodate his needs, meaning they missed out on a milestone moment in his student life.
Jamie Hale said he felt 'second class' after being unable to collect his university degree on stage at his graduation
He shared a screengrab from a video of his graduation - showing him at the foot of the stage in the Southbank Centre collecting his degree
Jamie added that there were 'massive institutional and procedural failings' at UCL that he had experienced during his time there, including two years without access to a toilet on campus
'I graduated from @UCL today with MA PPE of Health. They hadn't arranged safe wheelchair access to the stage @SouthbankCentre,' he wrote.
'They knew I'm a wheelchair user. Unlike other graduands I was awarded my degree on the floor. This discrimination is emblematic of my experience there.'
Jamie added that while the university immediately apologised and assured him that changes would be made, the events of the day nevertheless made him feel 'second class' - which the student branded 'unacceptable'.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast today, the student said: 'I was quite stunned. It meant I had to move out of a mindset that was about celebrating a Masters that I had managed to achieve against very steep odds.
'It was so clear there were massive institutional and procedural failings. It just felt like another reminder that actually, as a wheelchair user, universities don't necessarily want you: that you are complicated, difficult to accommodate.
'All of these things like checking lifts that seem very simple to me wasn't done at the UCL end nor did the Southbank make it clear that the lifts at the stage aren't suitable for wheelchair users.'
The student added that his experience at graduation was 'an absolute system failure' but not his first issue at UCL - having endured a two year wait for a toilet to use on campus and five weeks to have classes timetabled in an accessible classroom.
Jamie concluded: 'Having to get your graduation handshake on the floor rather than the stage doesn't sound like that big a deal - but partly it was the upset of something I've worked so hard for ending like that.'
In a statement to the BBC, Southbank Centre said: 'We're extremely sorry for Jamie's experience during the UCL graduation.
'We recognise there's always more work to do. At the Centre everyone is welcome and we work hard to make sure spaces are accessible to all.'
Meanwhile, UCL issued an 'unreserved' apology for how the graduation transpired for Jamie.
Dr Michael Spence, UCL president and provost, said: 'We apologise unreservedly and acknowledge it was unacceptable that Jamie was unable to cross the platform to celebrate this important moment.'
He added: 'We know we must do more to support our disabled staff and students.'
MailOnline has contacted Jamie Hale for further comment.
A Southbank Centre spokesperson said: 'We're extremely sorry for Jamie's experience during their UCL graduation.
'At the Southbank Centre everyone is welcome, and we work hard to make sure our buildings and spaces are accessible to all.
'We recognise there is always more work to do, and our Capital Plan includes continued improvements for access.'
The Southbank Centre said it recognised there was 'always more work to do' to improve accessibility (pictured: the Royal Festival Hall, where the graduation was held)
The incident is similar to one experienced by Anna Landre, a disability campaigner who was unable to receive the Freedom of the City of London on stage because it lacked a ramp
Paralympian champion Tanni Grey-Thompson has also taken to social media in recent days to blast LNER after she was left stuck on a train
She said she had to crawl off the train after it arrived at King's Cross Station and the help she had organised did not show up on time
The university says it has a five-year plan to 'remove barriers' to its buildings and services such as graduations for all students and staff.
Jamie is, among other things, a disability access campaigner who runs the disabled arts group Criptic Arts.
In February, he dined out with food critic Jay Rayner to demonstrate how something as simple as booking a restaurant can be complicated because many eateries don't list their accessibility for disabled people online.
On finding out whether somewhere was readily accessible, Rayner wrote in the Guardian: 'Here's the headline: it's b***** difficult. I checked dozens of websites. All but one contained no information on accessibility at all.
'There were messages about sustainability, employment standards, even modern slavery, but nothing about whether Jamie would be able to go inside.'
However, Jamie is not the first wheelchair user to encounter accessibility issues at a recent award ceremony.
Disability campaigner Anna Landre attended Mansion House in London last month to collect her Freedom of the City of London award - only to find she could not wheel onto the stage because there was no ramp.
The American, who moved to the UK three years ago, said the incident was 'absurd' - especially as organisers had assured her there would be wheelchair access.
Speaking to the Big Issue, Ms Landre said: 'I suppose I was worthy of being granted the Freedom of the City, but not the freedom of the room.
'The stage itself was not a historic feature and sat barely half a metre off the floor.
'The organisers knew I was coming and had assured me of wheelchair access. So why did this happen?'
BBC defence correspondent Frank Gardner has also been a public critic of a failure to properly support people with disabilities
He has been a frequent critic of airlines and airports when organised help does not arrive
The City of London Corporation offered its 'sincerest apologies' to Ms Landre.
It added: 'The City of London Corporation is fully committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we are undertaking an urgent review to ensure accessibility at our buildings, facilities and events.'
Last month, Paralympic champion Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson said she was forced to crawl off of an LNER train at London King's Cross station after waiting 20 minutes for assisted help that did not arrive.
And the BBC's defence correspondence Frank Gardner, who also uses a wheelchair, has frequently aired his grievances after being left waiting on airplanes for staff to retrieve his wheelchair.
He fumed in June 2022 on X: 'Just WHY are UK airports so consistently crap at getting disabled people off planes?'
China aims to launch Mars sample-return mission around 2028
Xinhua) 16:24, September 05, 2024
HEFEI, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- China plans to carry out the Tianwen-3 mission through two launches around 2028, aiming to bring back samples from Mars, a Chinese space expert said on Thursday.
Liu Jizhong, chief designer of China's Mars sample-return mission, unveiled the details at the 2nd International Deep Space Exploration Conference in Tunxi of Huangshan City in east China's Anhui Province.
The primary scientific goal of the mission will be searching for signs of life. To realize the goal, Chinese space engineers have to tackle key technologies such as collecting samples on the Martian surface, taking off from the Red Planet, rendezvous on the orbit around Mars, as well as planetary protection, Liu explained.
According to the plan, the mission will consist of 13 phases, executed through methods such as in-situ and remote-sensing detections.
China will earnestly adhere to international conventions and carry out measures to safeguard both Mars and Earth, as well as the samples, from contamination during the mission, Liu said.
The Tianwen-3 mission will carry payloads developed through international cooperation, and China will collaborate with scientists from around the world to conduct joint research on Mars samples and detection data, Liu said.
In the long term, China will collaborate with other countries or research institutions around the world to carry out mission and task definition, requirement analysis, conceptual research, implementation plan design and key technology breakthroughs for the construction of a research station on Mars, Liu added.
(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Councillors in Wales would like a new housing development of affordable homes to be limited to Welsh speakers only.
Botwnnog Community Council in Gwynedd, north Wales, has objected to proposals for 18 'affordable' homes in the Welsh-speaking heartland on the Llyn Peninsula.
However, the county council has been urged to approve the plans for Botwnnog with conditions including a Welsh name for the estate and houses.
The village council insisted there was no local need for the development, consisting of homes to rent, and warned of the 'danger to the Welsh language and the fabric of the community.'
It claims the development could lead to English families moving to the area and the loss of the Welsh language.
But experts say such binding legislation could be in breach of equality law.
The development would see 18 new 'affordable' houses built in the small Welsh community
The village council insisted there was no local need for the development, consisting of homes to rent (Pictured: plans for the development)
According to rental legislation, any landlord or authority cannot choose to rent to tenants based on their nationality, ethnicity or command of language, as this could be in breach of equality law.
In 2022, the Welsh government announced measures to try and protect Welsh communities called A Fair Chance, which would enable providers to only advertise homes to locals for a certain period.
However although locals in Welsh-speaking communities are more likely to speak Welsh themselves, this does not enable families who don't speak Welsh to be blocked if they too are local.
This week residents slammed the argument and said council members were 'Welsh language zealots' who are harming the country's community.
While the developers said the homes would be for locals, likely to be Welsh speakers, the community council claimed: 'Unfortunately, this does not follow.'
It said high demand for second homes and short-term accommodation meant non-Welsh speakers have been moving to the area for years, and claimed local communities had seen a 'major decline' in Welsh speakers.
'This degenerative force does not recognise boundaries', the council added.
The councillors' objection to the application also declared: 'The applicant does not define 'local' in the context of the proposed dwellings. Is it Botwnnog? Is it Dwyfor? Is it Gwynedd? Is it North Wales?
One local said the opposition by the local council was from 'Welsh language zealots' (Pictured: overhead plans for the development)
'Is it for someone who has always lived in Llyn, or someone who has moved here two or three years ago, or even a decade or longer, but has not made an effort to learn Welsh, the language of the community?
'It would be great if the availability of the proposed houses could be limited to Welsh speakers only, but despite that, it cannot be proven that a large number of these houses would not become non-Welsh speaking households, if not all of them.
'As we know, it only takes the presence of a few non-Welsh speaking people to turn the community's language of communication from Welsh to English.
'The applicant acknowledges this possibility but expects the community to do the necessary integration work. The lesson from the history of many Welsh communities is that this is not likely to happen.'
During consultations for the project, one resident said there are already 'all kinds of people living here instead of locals'.
Another said: 'The council will bring in people from away with all kinds of problems'.
And one resident claimed trying to build 18 houses on the allocated land would be 'complete insanity', while others argued that affordable houses to purchase would be a greater asset to the community.
But a Welsh-speaking pensioner said: 'What nonsense. Would they like language tests carried out to see who qualifies?
'These are Welsh language zealots. They're doing more harm to community cohesion and the image of Wales.'
Eric Bramlett, estate agent and owner of Bramlett Real Estate, told MailOnline: 'The rules about only letting Welsh speakers live in some homes is a tricky thing in Wales.
'The Welsh Government wants to help Welsh neighborhoods and get more people to speak Welsh. But saying no one can live somewhere just because they don't speak Welsh would probably cause legal problems.
'Any housing rules that treat people differently because of what language they speak could break equality laws. The 2010 Equality Act says you can't judge people by things like race or where their family comes from.
'That said, there may be a few situations where needing Welsh skills makes sense for some jobs or homes. For example, a Welsh-language school that gives teachers a place to live might reasonably require they speak Welsh.
'But blanket bans on non-Welsh speakers across all housing would be much harder to allow legally.
In the end, while the Welsh Government searches for ways to back Welsh communities, outright saying non-Welsh speakers can't live in certain homes would likely be seen as against the law today.
'Any policies would need to carefully balance helping the language with treating people equally. Experts usually say incentives that encourage Welsh learning work better than rules that restrict people.'
The application is due to go before the council's planning meeting on September 9.
Botwnnog Community Council has been contacted for comment.
A brave little boy who beat cancer twice has sadly lost his three year fight for life.
Max Robinson, 4, from Queensland's Sunshine Coast was a toddler when he was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2021 and underwent several operations, including a bone marrow transplant.
Max's family were twice told he had entered remission, in early 2022 and mid 2023, after blood tests found no cancer in his system.
But they were dealt a cruel blow in March when a scan revealed that cancer cells had rapidly spread to 84 per cent of Max's body.
A scan conducted just one month earlier detected no trace of cancer.
Cara Robinson took to social media to confirm that Max took his final breaths on Tuesday afternoon in a heartbreaking post dedicated to her brave son.
'My boy, Im sorry I couldnt save you,' she wrote.
'You fought so incredibly hard, but you knew it was time to stop.
Max Robinson died on Tuesday aged 4 after spending the last three years in and out of hospital
Max was diagnosed with leukaemia as a toddler and went into remission twice
'Ill be forever inspired by you and miss everything about you. I love you so much it hurts.. but at least there is no more pain for you.'
Two events will be held in Max's honour in the coming days.
A paddle out will take place in conjunction with Northshore Boardriders at Maroochydore beach on Saturday morning .
A memorial service and celebration of Max's life will be held in Buderim on September 11 from 1pm.
'Overwhelmed with all the love and support from you all, but not surprised as Max was just so special,' Ms Robinson posted on Thursday.
'All who have been touched by Max are invited.'
Two events will celebrate Max's life in the coming days
Max's death comes weeks after his mum shared a harrowing update on his bone narrow.
'The results showed a further decrease in disease, but not quite to the level we had hoped,' she wrote
'Discussions on further treatment were paused as we were suddenly battling an inflamed belly, blood infection, lung nodules and inflamed kidneys.
'Next steps to treat the leukaemia are unknown.
'Whats certain is we have not given up hope, we will keep fighting this marathon battle making special memories on the way.'
Max got the chance to meet NRL stars from his beloved Brisbane Broncos in April- a month after the cancer returned
Ms Robinson opened up to Daily Mail Australia about Max's fight shortly after doctors discovered that the cancer had returned in March.
The family were told that the next available treatment in Australia wasn't going to give Max the best chance so his parents looked overseas options.
The family settled on a children's hospital in Singapore which offers treatment that specifically targets mutated cancer genes.
In order to reserve his place in the treatment program. the family needed to pay his medical bill upfront - an estimated $280,000.
The federal government would not assist the family in paying for the treatment as it is considered 'experimental', despite showing positive results for several years.
Family friend Nicola Johnson started a GoFundMe, which raised $250,540 within weeks, which allowed the family to travel to Singapore in May.
Ms Johnson said she'd previously tried to fundraise for the family but they instead chose for the money to be donated to cancer research organisations.
'I raised over $20,000 in 2022 and shaved my head for the Childrens Cancer Institute,' she said.
'Cara was adamant she didnt want to accept people's money. The money from my head shave went to childrens cancer research and that was Caras wish.'
Cara Robinson paid tribute to her brave son Max after he lost his brave battle with cancer
A scan in March found cancer cells in 84 per cent of Max's body after a scan just one month earlier found none (pictured, Max and his mum in hospital)
However, the treatment in Singapore didn't work and Max's bone marrow was soon again filled with leukaemia.
Ms Robinson revealed that they would look at other treatment options if Max's cancer worsened.
'The challenge with the US is it's obviously much further away and it's much more expensive there, about USD$500,000,' she said.
The family of a 14-year-old boy with autism who was killed in a Georgia school of Wednesday issued a desperate plea on social media for people to approach him calmly as they were unable to reach him in the aftermath of the rampage.
In an attempt to find Mason Schermerhorn as news of the deadly school shooting circulated, his desperate relatives began circulating his photo online.
His sister Lilianah urged the public via an Instagram story to 'PLEASE use a calm voice with him' and to 'let him know his mom is looking for him for reassurance'.
But shortly after, Mason was tragically identified as one of the four people killed at Apalachee High School, with a loved one saying after his passing it is 'sad we can't even send our babies to school and them be safe'.
He enjoyed spending time with his family, reading, telling jokes, playing video games and visiting Disney World, his family told The New York Times. Another loved one said: 'Beautiful Mason we are so sorry! (America) failed you... Hug your children!'
Mason Schermerhorn's desperate relatives shared a photo of him on social media after they were unable to reach the teen following the shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia
Students and parents walk off campus at Apalachee High School
People attend a vigil at Jug Tavern Park following a shooting at Apalachee High School
He had only just recently joined the school.
Another 14-year-old student Christian Angulo and teachers Christina Irmie, 53, and Richard Aspinall, 39, were killed in the shooting, allegedly by 14-year-old suspect Colt Gray.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said Gray immediately surrendered when confronted by law enforcement, and 'gave up and got on the ground.'
At least nine others were injured in the horror shooting in Winder, Georgia.
Special education teacher David Phenix was the first to be pictured. Phenix was shot in the hip and foot, but survived the tragedy.
Following his arrest, Gray will be charged with murder and will be tried as an adult, the Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.
Mason Schermerhorn, 14, an autistic student at Apalachee High School, was the first victim to be identified. He was among four people killed in the mass shooting
Teacher Richard Aspinwall was named as one of the four victims of the shooting
Teacher Christina Irimie was also identified as a victim
Student Christian Angulo, 14, also lost his life in the senseless shooting
The first victim of the shooting, special education teacher David Phenix, has been pictured. Phenix was shot in the hip and foot, but survived the tragedy
According to law enforcement, Gray opened fire at approximately 10:23am, hitting at least 13 people as frantic scenes took over the school.
Images showed students streaming out onto the campus as terrified parents raced to find their children, with one mother describing the scene outside the school as pure 'chaos.'
A junior at the school, Lyela Sayerath, said she was sat next to Colt Gray in algebra class minutes before he began the shooting spree.
She told CNN that Colt left the classroom at the beginning of their class at 9:45am, around half an hour before active shooter alerts sounded.
Gray didn't take a bathroom pass, she said, leading her to initially think he was merely skipping class - before a loudspeaker announcement told teachers to check their emails.
Shortly after, Sayerath said Gray returned outside their classroom, and a student got up to open the door for him before jumping back at the sight of his gun.
'I guess he saw we werent going to let him in. And I guess the classroom next to me, their door was open, so I think he just started shooting in the classroom,' she said.
Sayerath said Gray proceeded to fire off a number of bullets 'one after another', adding: 'When we heard it, most people just dropped to the floor and like kind of crawled in an area like piled on top of each other.'
A huge police presence descended on Apaleechee High School in Winder, Georgia on Wednesday after at least 13 people were shot, four fatally
A junior at the school, Lyela Sayerath, said she was sat next to Colt Gray in algebra class minutes before he began the shooting spree
Heartbreaking messages between a student at Apalachee High School and his mom have revealed the moment kids learned there was an active shooter
Students and parents walk off campus at Apalachee High School, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Winder
Police officers on the scene of a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia
An ambulance departs Apalachee High School after a shooting at the school
Gray had been on the FBI's radar a year before the tragedy.
The federal agency said it interviewed accused gunman Colt Gray, 14, and his father last year following 'several anonymous tips about online threats to commit a school shooting at an unidentified location and time.'
Officials said Gray 'denied making the threats online' at the time, and the only action taken was to warn local schools to 'continually monitor' the troubled teen.
As information floods in on the school shooting - officially the deadliest in Georgia's history - students and parents shared their shock at the horror that unfolded.
One mother, Erin Clark, shared the text exchange she had with her son Ethan from the moment he learned there was an active shooter at his school.
He wrote: 'school shooting rn (right now). I'm scared. I'm not joking.'
Students and faculty as well as community members gather for a vigil after a shooting at Apalachee High School
People gather during a vigil for the victims of a school shooting that took place earlier today at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, USA, 04 September 2024. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation four people were killed, nine people were injured, and the suspect is in custody
Parents walk their child out of Apalachee High School after a shooting at the school on Wednesday
His mom responded instantly, assuring him that she was leaving work. In a heartbreaking response, Ethan wrote: 'I love you.'
'Love you too baby. Where are you?' Clark said. Ethan told her that he was in class, adding 'someone's dead.'
Many students filmed the aftermath, with one shaken grandfather revealing his granddaughters 'were led out past blood and victims' after the shooting.
'They heard the shots, had SWAT come in guns drawn in their room looking for shooters,' James Shappard said. 'No kid should have to go through that.'
A frustrated resident has blocked a footpath with their car to stop parents from using a cul-de-sac as a drop-off point in a long-running row over school parking.
Residents of Meadowcroft estate in Bushey, Hertfordshire, have been clashing with parents who park on their road while dropping off children at St Hildas Preparatory School for Girls.
The private school, where fees are 16,000 a year, is conveniently connected to the estate by a nearby footpath.
Despite the installation of ANPR cameras 18 months ago and the issuing of 100 fines, some parents have continued to park in the cul-de-sac.
In response, graffiti reading 'private road' appeared at the entrance in July, and one resident has now resorted to physically blocking the footpath with their car.
Residents of Meadowcroft estate in Bushey, Hertfordshire, have been clashing with parents who use the road to park while dropping their children off at St Hilda's Preparatory School for Girls, which is conveniently connected to the estate by a nearby footpath
Despite the installation of ANPR cameras 18 months ago and the issuing of 100 fines, some parents have continued to park in the cul-de-sac. (Pictured: A car blocking the footpath on the Meadowcroft cul-de-sac)
In response, graffiti reading 'private road' appeared at the entrance in July, and one resident has now resorted to physically blocking the footpath with their car
Aerial photo showing the disputed parking area. A frustrated resident has blocked a footpath with their car to stop parents from using a cul-de-sac as a drop-off point in a long-running row over school parking
Aerial photo of the disrupted footpath. The ongoing tensions have reportedly led to further verbal clashes as parents continued to use the street for summer activities
A St Hilda's parent, who received two fines totalling 120 for parking there last year, said: 'We completely respect the residents' right to privacy and we don't want to intrude.
'Parents are genuinely worried for their children's safety and we just want to take our children to and from school.'
The 41-year-old dad added: 'Now we have to park on the other side and navigate quite an extremely busy road everyday.
'I don't think we cause any disruption by walking through the area.'
The ongoing tensions have reportedly led to further verbal clashes as parents continued to use the street for summer activities.
St Hilda's Preparatory School and Hertfordshire County Council have been contacted for comment.
Police treating incident as a case of self harm
A man is in a critical condition after a horror fall from a luxury hotel.
The incident is understood to have happened at the Meriton Suites in Bondi Junction in Sydney's eastern suburbs, shortly after 5pm on Thursday.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and found the man suffering serious injuries.
He is understood to have suffered a cardiac arrest while being treated by paramedics at the scene.
The incident happened during peak hour in the heart of the suburb's retail precinct.
The hotel is 650m away from Westfield Bondi Junction, which is frequented by thousands of customers every day.
A NSW Police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia officers are treating the incident as a case of self harm and wouldn't be providing further details.
NSW Ambulance has also been contacted for comment.
The incident is understood to have happened at the Meriton Suites, in Bondi Junction, in Sydney's east, after 5pm, on Thursday (pictured police and paramedics at the scene)
The man is understood to have suffered a cardiac arrest while being treated by paramedics (pictured) at the scene
The Meriton Suites are renowned luxury accommodation providers in Sydney and operate at 16 locations across the city (pictured the Meriton Suites in Bondi Junction)
The Meriton Suites are renowned luxury accommodation providers and operate at 16 locations across Sydney
The hotel in Bondi Junction offers guests several premium suites with stunning views that overlook Sydney's skyline.
The hotel is rated four out of five stars according to leading online accommodation website TripAdvisor.
A NSW Police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia officers are treating the incident as a case of self harm (pictured police and NSW ambulance crews at the scene)
Multiple police and ambulance crews were at the scene near the hotel (pictured)
Police said they will not be providing further comment about self-harm related incidents (pictured police at the scene)
Guests fork out a minimum $200 for a one night stay at the hotel.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Meriton Suites Bondi Junction for further comment.
The Kremlin has said it will take retaliatory action against American news outlets after the US charged Russian media executives and state broadcaster RT with attempting to influence the 2024 presidential elections.
The US Treasury and State departments on Wednesday announced actions targeting individuals RT, including the network's top editor, Margarita Simonyan and her deputy Elizaveta Brodskaia, officials said.
Simonyan was a 'central figure in Russian government malign influence efforts,' the Treasury Department said, while Brodskaia 'reported to Russian President Putin and other government officials.'
US officials said Russia's goal was to exacerbate US political divisions and weaken public support for American aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia.
Russia's foreign ministry said the US moves were part of a plan to purge any dissenting voices from the global media landscape and to stoke fears among US voters about Russia as a mythical external enemy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin pictured with editor-in-chief of RT broadcaster Margarita Simonyan in December 2022. Simonyan is one of the 10 individuals and two entities sanctioned by the Treasury Department
US Attorney General Merrick Garland said the US would be relentless in their efforts to counter and disrupt attempts by Russia interfering in the elections
'When the authorities resort to such primitive ways of influencing their voters, this is the decline of 'liberal democracies',' Maria Zakharova, foreign ministry spokeswoman, said in a statement on the U.S. action.
'There will be a response,' Zakharova said.
'We warn that attempts to expel Russian journalists from the territory of the United States, create unacceptable conditions for their work or any other forms of obstruction of their activities, including with the use of visa tools, will become the basis for taking symmetrical and/or asymmetric retaliatory measures against the American media.'
US Attorney General Merrick Garland also announced the seizure of 32 internet domains that were part of an alleged campaign 'to secure Russia's preferred outcome,' which officials have said would be Donald Trump winning the November vote.
'We have no tolerance for attempts by authoritarian regimes to exploit our democratic system of government,' Garland said at a meeting of the Justice Department's Election Threats Task Force.
'We will be relentlessly aggressive in countering and disrupting attempts by Russia and Iran - as well as China or any other foreign malign actor - to interfere in our elections,' he said.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said RT was aiming to 'covertly spread Russian government propaganda with the aim of reducing international support for Ukraine, bolstering pro-Russian policies and interests and influencing voters here in the US and in foreign elections as well.'
Garland said the seized internet domains were used by the Russian government 'to engage in a covert campaign to interfere and influence the outcome of our country's elections.'
He said the influence campaign involved members of Putin's 'inner circle' and the Kremlin's goal, according to an internal planning document, 'is to secure Russia's preferred outcome in the election.'
The attorney general declined to specify what that outcome was but US intelligence officials suggested in July that the Kremlin once again favors Trump over his Democratic opponents, as it did in the 2016 and 2020 US presidential elections.
The France-based Reporters Without Borders ranks Russia at 162 out of 180 countries in monitors on press freedom and ranks the United States at 55.
Russian officials say Western media groups give indulgent coverage of Ukraine, biased coverage of the war and excessively negative coverage of Russia. Western media groups say they try to give balanced coverage.
RT responded with ridicule to the US charges.
'Three things are certain in life: death, taxes and RT's interference in the US elections,' the media outlet told Reuters. RT ceased operating in the United States after major television distributors dropped it following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Simonyan said the charges were an attempt to drown RT as a competitor.
Garland also said two Russia-based RT employees - Kostiantyn Kalashnikov, 31, and Elena Afanasyeva, 27, have been indicted in New York for money laundering and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
They are accused of funneling $10 million to a Tennessee-based company that used social media influencers 'to create and distribute content to US audiences with hidden Russian government messaging,' Garland said.
The US firm, which was not identified, published English-language videos on multiple social media channels, including TikTok, Instagram, X, and YouTube, according to the indictment.
'The company never disclosed to the influencers - or to their millions of followers - its ties to RT and the Russian government,' Garland said.
The Kremlin in June dismissed as absurd US intelligence assertions that Russia was seeking to meddle in the presidential election and has said that US spies were intent on casting Russia as an enemy.
But US officials have repeatedly warned of efforts by foreign powers to meddle in the upcoming US election, and Washington has accused Moscow of seeking to influence US elections dating back to the 2016 contest between Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, in an appearance before a Senate committee in May, singled out Russia, China and Iran as the worst offenders.
'Specifically, Russia remains the most active foreign threat to our elections,' Haines said.
A great British cheese is under threat and facing a 'perfect storm' of plummeting sales and Gen-Z indifference.
Stilton is in a desperate battle for survival following a collapse in its popularity - with dairies now facing the looming threat of closure amid soaring costs.
Sales of the historic blue cheese, which can be traced back to the early 18th century, have fallen as competition in the specialty cheese market stiffens.
The festive cheeseboard favourite accounted for just 57million of Britain's 4.2bn cheese market, figures have shown.
Meanwhile, younger Brits are turning up their noses to the strong-smelling dairy classic, in favour of softer more mild brands.
UK cheese chiefs now fear stilton will be wiped off the menu in British households unless it can become an 'all-year round' dairy delicacy instead of a Christmas treat.
Stilton is in a desperate battle for survival following a collapse in its popularity - with dairies now facing the looming threat of closure amid soaring costs (file picture)
It comes as the popularity of the festive cheeseboard classic has waned among younger Brits (pictured is a woman being filmed by the BBC in Manchester trying stilton on Thursday)
'It's been caught in a perfect storm,' Dr Matthew O'Callaghan, organiser of the Artisan Cheese Awards, told the BBC. 'It's still associated heavily with the traditional Christmas and people are moving away from that.
'Stilton really needs to become an all-year round cheese. Stilton has got the rising costs particularly of milk - [which has] doubled and of energy, and then increased competition.
'We've now got something like over 300 cheesemakers in the UK and Ireland making well over 1,000 cheeses. And there's a lot of blue cheese being made these days... it really is under pressure.'
He added peoples' changing tastes, combined with a boom in competition, was threatening the future of stilton manufacturers.
Stilton is a protected cheese and can only be made in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottingham, with just six dairies registered to make them, according to the Stilton Cheesemakers' Association.
But producers have claimed the British classic was failing to appeal to younger Brits, with the number of companies making stilton having declined in the last decade as producers grapple with how to make strong cheeses appeal to Gen-Zers.
Bill Mathieson, managing director of Long Clawson Dairy in Leicestershire, said makers of stilton were struggling to appeal to the TikTok generation.
Dr Matthew O'Callaghan, organiser of the Artisan Cheese Awards, warned the beloved cheese was facing a 'perfect storm' of declining sales and waning popularity
The beloved blue cheese accounted for just 57million of Britain's 4.2bn cheese market, figures have shown (file image)
'I think it's a bit of reluctance from younger shoppers. We've got a profile of consumers who the bulk of them would be 50-plus. That's the big challenge,' he told the Telegraph.
'My best way to describe it is, if you imagine a leaky bucket, we've probably got more people falling out the bottom at the moment than we're putting in the top.'
In the latest blow to the industry, Arla, the UKs biggest dairy company, announced this year it would axe production at its 244-year-old Tuxford & Tebbutt Creamery in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, after failing to find a buyer.
The company blamed a slump in demand for specialty cheese.
Meanwhile. Stilton received a mixed reception by people in Manchester - with some younger residents being turned off by its unique flavour.
'It's got a salty [flavour] and it's quite rich,' one woman told BBC Breakfast before then gasping and saying: 'The salt hits you. OK,' she adds. 'I think with the right food and entries by the side it would taste nice but I don't know if I would eat it by itself.'
Another man in Manchester told the BBC: 'I think it's absolutely gorgeous.' While a woman added: 'It tasted quite sour so might not be everyone's cup of tea. Personally, I really like it.'
A man is pictured in Manchester having tried some stilton which he said was 'gorgeous'
This woman in Manchester told the BBC stilton 'might not be everyone's cup of tea'
However, others branded it an 'old fashion' cheese that was an 'acquired taste'. Asked if he was 'surprised' about the plummeting sales of stilton, one young man told the BBC: 'Not particularly, no because it's not very nice in my opinion.'
An elderly Brit, however, was blown away by the news, saying: 'It's quite shocking, actually, because I thought Stilton was very popular with everybody.'
In 2013, a study claimed young Brits were turning away from stilton - because they were afraid to eat mould.
A study for the Co-operative claimed sales of Blue Stilton had plunged among under-25s and that it was mainly bought by those nearing middle age.
It found consumption by those under 30 had slumped by 23 per cent and few people under 25 would ever consider buying it regularly.
Millions of young people have been taught not to eat food with mould on it, and that view is having a catastrophic effect upon Blue Stilton. They take one look at the blue veins running through the cheese and then turn away.
We want to tell everyone just how good Blue Stilton is. It is one of the best cheeses in the world, and its produced here in Britain - but yet few people realise what a gem they have on their own doorstep.'
A Brixton clothes shop run by two London cab drivers has been threatened with legal action by a US firm with a similar name.
Brothers Daniel OConnell and Pete Adams launched their fashion brand Brixton Street Wear in 2019, which took off after they began selling clothing to their friends and family.
The company, which opened its first shop in Brixton market earlier this year, is run as a community hub and donates all its profits to local charities and clubs.
But the streetwear brand faces being shut down after a Californian firm sent them a letting demanding they change their name.
Brixton LLC, which is based in Oceanside, Los Angeles, has threatened to sue if they do not agree, with the brothers fearing a costly legal battle could leave them out of business.
A Brixton clothes shop run by Daniel OConnell (pictured) and his brother Pete Adams has been threatened with legal action by a US firm with a similar name
The brothers (pictured inside the shop) launched their fashion brand Brixton Street Wear in 2019, which took off after they began selling clothing to their friends and family
The company, which opened its first shop in Brixton market (pictured) earlier this year, is run as a community hub and donates all its profits to local charities and clubs
'We've paid for everything ourselves and the only way we can fight this is with community and social media,' Mr O'Connell told the BBC.
The shop owner is worried that the legal action could shut them down and prevent them from giving back to the community.
'This is a total headache and we both have young families,' Mr O'Connell continued.
'The letters we have received from the lawyers are so cold-hearted, why can't they just have a conversation with us?
'We are from Brixton, we are Brixton, our company is based in Brixton, we have been trademarked, I don't understand why [we are being sued].'
Mr Adams added: 'I think there is over 600 companies in Brixton that has the word brixton in their name.
'Are you telling me everytime they put brixton on a t shirt they cant use it?
The brothers have notified the local community about the legal issue which has seen them gather further support from Brixton residents as well as other Londoners.
One of their biggest fans is Sandra Martin who regularly appears on TV screen across the country as a viewer on Channel 4's Gogglebox.
One of the company's biggest fans is Sandra Martin (pictured) who regularly appears on TV screen across the country as a viewer on Channel 4's Gogglebox
She told the BBC: 'I am very upset to know that somebody is trying to shut down the shop. We have been here for many, many years and as a Brixtonian I have been coming here and getting my yearly sweater for Christmas.'
Another supporter of the brand, DJ Jumping Jack Frost, added: 'Kids come and get inspired they see people doing good things.
'I myself used to be one of those kids in the street and I wish I had somebody to look up to myself and like these guys so they don't go the wrong way.
'Places like these are very important.'
The brothers will have to wait until October when they find out whether they will have to change their name.
MailOnline has contacted Brixton LLC and its lawyers Groot & Evers for comment.
Labour's decision to free thousands of prisoners early to ease jail overcrowding will result in 'risky' offenders being released, the prisons watchdog has warned.
Charlie Taylor also said that plans to release 2,000 inmates next week after serving just 40 per cent of their sentences would lead to an 'inevitable' increase in homelessness and knock-on risk of re-offending.
The prison population in England and Wales hit a record high this year, with some 88,350 people in jail at the end of August - the highest number ever recorded.
And the overcrowding, coupled with a need to find spaces for those jailed after the Southport race riots, led Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood to order the early release programme.
Last night an investigation by Channel 4 News suggested sex offenders and other violent criminals will be among them.
And Mr Taylor, HM Inspector of Prisons, told The Times: 'Inevitably, prisoners will go out homeless, will have nowhere to live and therefore will get very quickly breached and will find themselves back in custody very quickly, and it's hard to know how much there will be of that.'
He added: 'So the prison service, to some extent, are doing what they can. But probation services in the community are very limited, and there is a worry that some risky people will come out without proper accommodation, and without having the right levels of preparation done for their release within the community.'
Charlie Taylor said that plans to release 2,000 inmates next week after serving just 40 per cent of their sentences would lead to an 'inevitable' increase in homelessness
Sex offenders and other violent criminals will be released from prison under the Government's early release scheme, probation service whistleblowers warned yesterday
Overcrowding, coupled with a need to find spaces for those jailed after the Southport race riots, led Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood to order the early release programme
In July, Ms Mahmood announced plans to cut the proportion of the sentence inmates must serve from 50 per cent to 40 per cent, as the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said violence and self-harm behind bars had risen to 'unacceptable' levels as overcrowding pushed jails to the 'point of collapse'.
The temporary move which was said to 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.
The SDS40 scheme is due to begin next week and will be reviewed after 18 months.
The Government has said those who are released will serve the rest of their sentence under strict licensing conditions.
But according to Channel 4 News, some prisoners serving consecutive sentences where the end date takes into account a sentence for a less serious offence would qualify for SDS40 and be released sooner than was set at the point of conviction.
This would in turn reduce the time available to plan for them returning to the community.
The programme said sources had come forward with serious concerns over public protection, citing a 'loophole' in the policy, as one representative from Napo the trade union for probation staff called the proposals 'a roll of the dice'.
One case included a prisoner set to be released four months early after serving a long sentence for serious sexual offences.
He would reportedly qualify for SDS40 because he has served the duration of the sentences imposed for the sexual offences and has a shorter consecutive sentence for a less serious offence which the prison has identified under SDS40.
This means he can leave prison within weeks, despite his victims expecting he would remain there until next year.
Thousands gathered for the funeral of Maori King Tuheitia in a ceremony that saw the monarch's casket guarded by warriors and paraded on a traditional canoe.
The mourners came to the North Island town of Ngaruawahia on Thursday to pay final respects to New Zealand's Maori king, Kiingi Tuheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero VII, who died six days earlier.
The throne will now be passed on to his daughter, Nga Wai Hono i te po Paki.
The new queen, 27, is the second woman to become a Maori monarch in a tradition dating back to 1858.
As she was escorted onto where her father's casket lay draped in feathered cloaks, cheers rang out among thousands crowded around TV screens outside and waiting along the wide, flat banks of the Waikato River to glimpse the funeral procession.
The coffin with the body of New Zealand's Maori King, Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII
Maori King Tuheitia at Turangawaewae Marae meets with Britain's Prince Charles in Ngaruawahia, south of Auckland, New Zealand November 8, 2015
The throne will now be passed on to his daughter, and witness the ascension to the throne of his daughter, Nga Wai Hono i te po Paki (pictured)
Kiingi Tuheitia's successor and now Maori Queen Nga Wai hono i te po Paki looks on as Maori warriors paddle waka canoes down towards Taupiri Maunga
Maori warriors participate during the funeral ceremony of New Zealand's Maori King
After her ascension, Nga Wai Hono i te po Paki accompanied the late king in a flotilla of traditional canoes along the river as he was guided by Maori warriors to his final resting place.
The events marked the end of a weeklong tangihanga - funeral rite - for Kiingi Tuheitia, 69, a leader who had in recent months rallied New Zealand's Indigenous people to unity in the face of a more racially divisive political culture than before.
His daughter's ascension represents the rise of a new generation of Maori leaders in New Zealand - one which grew up steeped in a resurging language that had once almost died out.
Kiingi Tuheitia died last Friday after undergoing heart surgery, just days after celebrations marking his 18th anniversary on the throne.
He became king after his mother's death in 2006 and on Thursday was buried alongside her in an unmarked grave on Taupiri Maunga, a mountain of spiritual significance to his iwi, or tribe.
The Maori royalty movement is not a constitutional monarchy and King Charles III of Britain is New Zealand's head of state.
It has a ceremonial mandate rather than a legal one and was formed in the years after British colonization of New Zealand to unite Maori tribes in resistance to forced sales of Indigenous land and the loss of the Maori language and culture.
Since 1858, the movement has championed Maori sovereignty, but monarchs have wielded politics lightly.
After a center-right government took power in New Zealand last November and began to enact policies reversing recognition of Maori language, people and customs, T*Tuheitia took the unusual step in January of calling a national meeting of tribes which was attended by 10,000 people.
A Maori warrior prepares a boat for the funeral ceremony
His daughter's ascension represents the rise of a new generation of Maori leaders in New Zealand
The remains of Kiingi Tuheitia are placed on a waka on the Waikato river where he was to be carried by Maori warriors towards Taupiri Maunga during the tangi, or funeral rite
Maori warriors participate during the funeral ceremony of New Zealand's Maori King
'The best protest we can make right now is being Maori. Be who we are. Live our values. Speak our reo,' he told them, using the Maori word for language. 'Just be Maori. Be Maori all day, every day. We are here. We are strong.'
Tens of thousands of ordinary people also flocked there. Many spoke to each other in Maori, a language which had steadily waned after colonization until activists in the 1970s provoked its renaissance.
The late king, a truck driver before he took the throne, was a surprise appointment to the monarchy, which is chosen by a council and is not required to be hereditary.
But the new queen was groomed for the role and had accompanied her father in his work during recent years.
After the new queen was anointed with oils and a service for her father held, mourners flocked behind the hearse as it drove to the banks of the river sacred to his tribe.
Many had waited for hours to see the procession pass, including a large number of young families. Commentators said the queen's ascension represented the culture's renewal, with the majority of Maori - who account for almost 20% of New Zealand's population - aged under 40.
Among them on Thursday was Awa Tukiri, 9, whose family had driven nearly two hours from Auckland to watch the canoe carrying the late king pass by.
'It was pretty amazing because all they do on the boat is do haka and waiata on it,' he said, using the words for Maori chants and songs. Tukiri, who attends a kura kaupapa - the immersion schools that are growing in popularity - said the best part of being Maori was 'just hanging out and speaking Maori to each other.'
A cruise ship whose passengers have paid up to 27,000-a-month to enjoy an epic three year world tour but have instead been stuck in Belfast for three months has finally taken to sea again, MailOnline can reveal.
The Odyssey cruise ship has been anchored at the dry dock in Belfast since May, undergoing repairs - but passengers were given fresh hope they may finally get underway when she was given her much anticipated 'sea trial'.
Passenger Starr Davis told MailOnline today: 'I'm thrilled she's finally moving.'
But even yesterday's exercise suffered a last minute delay as one of the tugs involved in relaunching the Odyssey itself developed technical issues meaning she couldn't leave harbour in the early morning as first planned.
So it wasn't until this afternoon that The Odyssey was finally on the move, with two tugs - one at the bow, the other at the stern - escorting her slowly out of the port of Belfast, into the lough past Carrickfergus and Whitehead towards the open sea.
A cruise ship whose passengers have paid up to 27,000-a-month to enjoy an epic three year world tour but have instead been stuck in Belfast for three months has finally taken to sea again, MailOnline can reveal
The Odyssey cruise ship has been anchored at the dry dock in Belfast since May, undergoing repairs - but passengers were given fresh hope they may finally get underway when she was given her much anticipated 'sea trial'. (Pictured: The passengers at a reception with the lord mayor of Belfast Micky Hurray)
Holly Hennessy (pictured) had been hoping for good news ahead of celebrating her 68th birthday tomorrow. She told MailOnline: Its been a busy couple of days. We have official updates at least twice a week and we are already hearing positive noises about the sea trials. We are all very excited about what comes next'
The move was watched by many of her stuck passengers, who have been remarkably patient about their three month Northern Irish delay.
Belfast Harbour's website was being updated throughout the day with the maritime traffic coming in and out of the port.
A few hours later she was back at her berth and though there has been no official pronouncement passengers report being told informally by ship staff that things went well - meaning they could finally be cruising soon.
Ms Davis, was among those who had heard unconfirmed reports that tests went well, She told us: 'I'm just so excited to get this adventure started.'
Another passenger who was thrilled was Holly Hennessy - who had been hoping for good news ahead of celebrating her 68th birthday tomorrow (Friday)
She told MailOnline: 'It's been a busy couple of days.
'We have official updates at least twice a week and we are already hearing positive noises about the sea trials.
'We are all very excited about what comes next.'
The 642-foot vessel has been undergoing repair work at the famed Harland & Wolfe shipyard in Belfast since late May.
Even yesterday's exercise suffered a last minute delay as one of the tugs involved in relaunching the Odyssey itself developed technical issues meaning she couldn't leave harbour in the early morning as first planned
(Pictured: The Odyssey, a US cruise liner operated by Villa Vie Residences docked at Harland & Wolf ship repair facility in Belfast Harbour, Northern Ireland) It wasn't until this afternoon that The Odyssey was finally on the move, with two tugs - one at the bow, the other at the stern - escorting her slowly out of the port of Belfast, into the lough past Carrickfergus and Whitehead towards the open sea
Billed as the world's first 'perpetual global cruise', Odyssey has a busy 425-port itinerary across 147 countries taking it up to 2028. Its cabins - described as 'villas' by its owner, Florida-based Villa Vie Residences - start at $99,999 and go up to $899,000 with hefty monthly fees on top
Billed as the world's first 'perpetual global cruise', Odyssey has a busy 425-port itinerary across 147 countries taking it up to 2028.
Its cabins - described as 'villas' by its owner, Florida-based Villa Vie Residences - start at $99,999 and go up to $899,000 with hefty monthly fees on top.
The highest tariff is believed to equate to 27,000 monthly.
Ms Hennessy explained how the charges she pais for the cruise are structured.
She said: 'My cabin, a balcony suite, was $329,000, and monthly will be $7,000 as a solo. It would be $8,000 for a couple.
'An outside cabin is approximately $169,000 to purchase and $3,999 solo, $4,999 couple.
'Inside are approximately $99,000 and $2,500/$3,000. I believe all prices may rise once we sail.
'Lots of people are watching and waiting, which is the smart thing to do.
'But without those of us who believed in the concept and booked or purchased early, this would never happen.
'And there are 73 of us who have invested in the company to get it off the ground.'
Because of the three month delay in embarkation, around 200 passengers, mostly from the US, Australia, New Zealand, have been passing an unexpected summer in rainy Northern Ireland.
Villa Vie Residences has been contacted for comment on what's next for the Odyssey.
A husband wept in court today as his wife, who he allegedly drugged so 50 men could rape her, described undergoing an HIV test and being diagnosed with four STDs after a decade of abuse.
Dominique Pelicot, 71, broke down in tears in the dock as he listened to his wife Gisele Pelicot, 71, detail how they fell in love and started their married life together before her world 'collapsed' when her husband's depraved crimes were discovered.
Madame Pelicot, who has three children and seven grandchildren, bravely waived her right to anonymity to make public details of the horrific betrayal her partner of 50 years had forced her to endure over ten years.
Judge Roger Arata asked her if she suffered any problems after being abused for ten years, to which she replied that she was tested for HIV, adding: 'I was diagnosed with four sexually transmitted diseases at the Versailles medical forensic unit.'
The judge also asked Madame Pelicot whether her husband had any 'sexual desires' that she didn't want to participate in.
'Once we went to a nightclub with another couple where there was a "swingers' room". But I didn't want to get involved in that so we did not go into that room and we just stayed in the main nightclub,' the mother-of-three replied.
Another judge asked Madame Pelicot whether she and her husband ever discussed filming their sexual intercourse.
She said: 'I never agreed to Monsieur Pelicot filming us having sex. No, the only time we talked about something like this was at the swingers' room at the nightclub. I understood that he would have wanted to do it. But for me it was impossible.'
Gisele Pelicot (pictured arriving to court this morning) bravely waived her right to anonymity to make public details of the horrific betrayal her partner of 50 years had forced her to endure over ten years
A court drawing shows Madame Pelicot taking the stand, facing her husband and the 50 others accused of raping her
Dominique Pelicot and 50 other accused of raping her. Pelicot and 14 of his co-accused have admitted their part in France's worst rape case
Today Madame Pelicot, 71, will relive the trauma that she experienced when police investigator showed her graphic films of her being raped repeatedly by her husband Dominique and more than 80 strangers while she was unconscious
Madame Pelicot is determined that the public knows that she played no part in her husband's warped sexual fantasies that he played out at their picturesque chalet home in the Provence village of Mazan (pictured)
Today, Madame Pelicot had to relive the trauma that she experienced when a police investigator showed her graphic films of her being raped repeatedly by her husband Dominique and more than 80 strangers - not all of whom have been identified - while she was unconscious.
Mr Pelicot and 50 others are accused of raping her and while Mr Pelicot and 14 of his co-accused have admitted their part in France's worst rape case, 35 men from all walks of life deny that they forced themselves on Madame Pelicot while she was unconscious, claiming that she in some way consented.
Madame Pelicot's lawyer asked her in court today: 'Some of the defendants admit the facts, others contest all the facts, and others confirm they were present but deny it was rape.
'You caught four sexually transmitted diseases and were exposed to HIV six times. What have you got to say to people who claim you consented to all this?'
The brave mother-of-three replied: 'All I have to say is, it's an insult to my intelligence. These individuals were totally aware of what state I was in. I never knowingly took part in any of these things.
'How can you even try and make people think that a woman would knowingly take part in all this?'
The judge told Madame Pelicot that Mr Pelicot has acknowledged his crimes, and asked her; 'What do you feel about this?'
She replied: 'Feelings of disgust. We had everything, we had a great life. I don't understand how this could have happened.'
Madame Pelicot is determined that the public knows that she played no part in her husband's warped sexual fantasies that he played out at their picturesque chalet home in the Provence village of Mazan.
Wearing a long, orange dress, a white blouse and a gold necklace, she sat with her head held high in the same courtroom as those accused her raping her this morning.
Accompanied by her three grown-up children, the 71-year-old with a smart auburn bob appeared defiant in the face of her abusers.
She stared up at the ceiling of the Avignon court room and gave a heavy sigh as Judge Arata opened the fourth day of the trial that has shocked France.
Across the room Dominique Pelicot, her grey-haired husband of 50 years who claims to have adored his wife looked at her without expression.
Mr Pelicot's daughter, Caroline Darian, arrived to court alongside her mother this morning
Wearing a long, orange dress, a white blouse and a gold necklace, Madame Pelicot sat with her head held high in the same courtroom as the 50 men accused her raping her
Madame Pelicot had no idea that she was being subjected to this terrible betrayal until her husband was arrested for 'upskirting' at his local supermarket and police discovered a library of 'sex-movies' at their home (pictured above)
The sons of Gisele Pelicot, Florian, right, David, left, and her daughter Caroline Darian, center, arrive in the Avignon court house, southern France, Thursday, September 5, 2024
Some of the 50 co-defendants accused of rape speak with a lawyer at the courthouse in the case that has shocked France on Monday, September 2
Madame Pelicot is pictured above as she arrived to court this morning
Madame Pelicot had no idea that she was being subjected to this terrible betrayal until her husband was arrested for 'upskirting' at his local supermarket and police discovered a library of 'sex-movies' at their home.
Madame Pelicot said in court, as reported by Le Parisien: 'I am inert, in my bed, and I am being raped. These are scenes of barbarity. Don't talk to me about sex scenes, these are rape scenes. I have never practised threesomes or swinging, I want to say that.'
At 9.20am, Madame Pelicot took the witness stand to give evidence. She gave her name, maiden name and age into the microphone.
Judge Arata tried to reassure her that she should take her time to make her testimony. And he warned her she would face cross examination.
Undeterred, Madame Pelicot started her testimony by thanking police for discovering her husband's depraved crimes: 'I would not be before you if it were not for the work of the police of Carpentras [the town where the supermarket where her husband was arrested in 2020].
'On that day in September I had been away with my daughter. I returned home to Mazan and I sat in the kitchen.
'Monsieur Pelicot told me; "I have done something silly. I took some photographs in the supermarket".
'He was crying. I told him that I would support him because we have had a lifetime together.
'After 50 years of marriage I said I would forgive him. But if there was a second time I would leave him.
'In October I went to Paris to look after two of my grandchildren.
'I received a phone call from the police who told me they wanted to talk to me. I made an appointment in November at the police headquarters in Carpentras.'
She continued: 'We were later summoned to the police. I knew he had taken photos of these women and thought we were going as a formality.'
Madame Pelicot told the court that she would remember walking up the steps to the police station 'for the rest of my life'.
At the station, where she was wearing a mask as it was during the Covid pandemic, a police officer told her: 'I'm going to tell you something you won't like.'
Madame Pelicot said that day, 'my world [collapsed], for me everything [collapsed], everything I have built in 50 years,' as reported by Le Parisien.
She said: 'For 50 years I always supported my husband, health, financial and couple problems. It was based on trust.'
Pictured above is a general view of where the Pelicots lived which has been known as the house of horrors, with a creepy back alley
Dominique Pelicot can be seen in this court sketch on the right
Madame Pelicot said when she left the police station, she returned home alone while her husband remained in custody: 'The trauma was enormous. The shock. I returned home to my little dog. I could not stay alone. I had to go to see some friends.
'I told my son that his father was in custody, that he had been charged. On the 3rd of November I went to the police station at Carpentras.
'The police showed me the videos. My world collapsed. When I told my daughter she screamed. I left my house with two suitcases and my dog. That was all I had after 50 years of marriage. Everything was based on trust in 50 years.
Caroline Darian's book
'My daughter had a nervous breakdown and required medical help.'
Madame Pelicot continued: 'You can't imagine yourself in a situation like that. In that moment I wanted to disappear.
'I had to tell my children that their father was in custody. I called my son-in-law and told my daughter and told them: "He raped me". Then I heard my daughter screaming a deep cry that I cannot get out of my head.
'People in the street at the bakery at the supermarket, asked me if I was ok. I had to leave the area. I could not stay in that house. I had lost everything, my husband, my life.
'I didn't know who I was or where I was going. I had lost my identity. My son moved me out of that house.'
Referring to the sex tapes her husband had made of strangers abusing her she said: 'This was not sex it was rape. I have never practiced open sex, I was never swinger.
'I was never a victim, until now. I had to get help, counselling.'
Madame Pelicot said she believed the first instance of being drugged was in 2011 when she woke up in the afternoon with no memory.
A black and white facial reconstruction of a younger Dominique Pelicot is seen in this handout image
Dominique Pelicot is accused of orchestrating the rape ring
She said: 'One day in 2011, I woke up at 6pm in the evening. That was not right. I never sleep until 6pm in the evening. I knew this was not normal but I could understand why.
'I had no memory of the day. I asked Monsieur Pelicot what had happened.'
The couple moved to the village in Provence two years later in 2013. She said: 'In March 2013 we left Paris for Mazan and this "absence" started again.
'I have an excellent memory. I joked to my husband, "you're not drugging me are you?" He broke down in tears and said; "you actually think I could do that?"
'I went to see a neurologist. I was convinced I had Alzheimer's. He said don't worry. I had scans but the absences continued. I don't remember any of the sex scenes.
'My son told my husband that I was not well. He said "don't worry".'
Madame Pelicot added: 'I was sacrificed by my husband for these obscenities a woman drugged and abused. It was like I was dead. I was treated like a piece of meat.
'This is why I am speaking out, - for all the other women who are abused. It was humiliating what I have gone through.
'It started when I learned from the investigating magistrate that Mr Pelicot had filmed up women's skirts with a hidden camera in a pen.
'I learned that in 2010 he had done something similar. If I had known back then I would have perhaps I would have been more vigilant. I could have won back ten years of my life.'
She added that, also in 2010, she woke up to her husband 'raping' her.
'I remember going to bed, I woke up with a start to find Mr Pelicot raping me as I hadn't consented. I said what are you doing? I then went back to sleep. I thought he had an urge to do it and we were married so didn't take it any further,' she said, according to the Telegraph.
Madame Pelicot said about her husband filming the other men allegedly raping her: 'These videos are all more horrible than the others. It's barbaric, I don't know how my body is strong enough to stand before you today.'
She said that in the ten years her husband invited other men to their house to rape her, she never woke up in a different pyjama to the one she went to sleep in.
The mother-of-three also recalled this morning how her own mother died when she was just nine years old and that she left school aged only 13 to find work.
She said: 'At 13 I was knocking on factory doors asking for work. When I was two years old I knew that my mother had an incurable disease. But I never saw my grandmother cry. We don't show tears in my family.'
Gisele Pelicot (C) sits next to her daughter Caroline Darian (2ndL) and her sons Florian Pelicot (L) and David Pelicot (2ndR) with his wife Celine F. (R), at the courthouse during the trial of her husband on September 2
The town of Mazan, 20 miles from Avignon in southern France, where the victim and her husband lived and the attacks took place
She recalled: 'Then I met Mr Pelicot. He had a tyrannical family. He had to give all of his wages to his parents. I married very young. I was 20 years old.
'We needed permission from our parents. My dad was not in favour of the wedding but he accepted it. We had no money but we were very much in love. I have never been with another man. We were not rich but we were happy.
'Monsieur Pelicot is an electrician. He retrained as an estate agent. He had kidney stones and almost died. And then the real estate crisis. No money was coming in but I still supported him. I knew he was courageous. He has always worked hard.'
Meanwhile, Monsieur Pelicot broke down in tears in the dock. Wiping his eyes, the grey-haired multiple rapists appeared to be unable to listen to his estranged wife's memory of their once happy life.
She added: '[After Mr Pelicot's arrest], I learned that he had been raped aged nine. He wasn't supported by his parents. We could have dealt with it together.
'I'm being treated by a psychiatrist now. Rape scenes are torture scenes. Why does anyone deserve to go though that?'
After giving her testimony, Judge Arata began to question Madame Pelicot.
The judge told her that Mr Pelicot has acknowledged his crimes, and asked her; 'What do you feel about this?'
Madame Pelicot replied: 'Feelings of disgust. We had everything, we had a great life. I don't understand how this could have happened.'
When asked if she had any abuse after suffering the abuse, Madame Pelicot said: 'I have gynaecological problems. I was diagnosed with four sexually transmitted diseases at the Versailles medical forensic unit.'
She added: 'I was tested for HIV as one man who came [to rape me] six times was seropositive. My life was in danger but not one second did anyone stop. Luckily I didn't catch it. But not once did Mr Pelicot say to himself, "I've gone too far".'
'He showed no pity, no pity at all,' the 71-year-old said, as reported by the Telegraph.
The judge ended his interrogation with what he described as a 'very difficult question'.
He asked: 'Madame Pelicot, are you in any way complicit in Monsieur Pelicot's activities?'
Beatrice Zavarro (C), lawyer for the accused Dominique P, speaks with lawyers at the courthouse during the trial of her client accused of drugging his wife for nearly ten years and inviting strangers to rape her at their home in Mazan
Gisele Pelicot, 72, arrives at the courthouse in Avignon this morning ahead of the third day of her husband's trial on September 4, 2024
She replied calmly: 'Absolutely not. I never pretended to be asleep or anything like that.'
Madame Pelicot told the court that she was now divorced from the husband of 50 years. She added that she had kept her married name in support of her children.
The grandmother told the court: 'I wanted to be called Gisele Pelicot for the duration of this trial out of solidarity with my children who are called Pelicot.'
In her testimony, Madame Pelicot told how her husband would take pictures of her when she was leaving the bathroom.
She said: 'I told my husband to stop taking pictures of me'. He replied: 'You should be pleased that after 50 years your husband still wants to take photos of you.'
She told the court: 'It was flattering perhaps but it annoyed me and I told him to stop.'
She added :'I never took place in this sexual activity. How could any wife agree to do any of this. It is totally unacceptable.'
Earlier Madame Pelicot admitted that she once had an affair.
She explained how she was friends with her lover and that he visited her 'periodically' over a two-year period, to which her husband 'reacted very badly'.
Madame Pelicot explained: 'He could see there was a problem as I found it hard to love two people at once. As I said, our couple was based on trust so it was hard. But as I said he was the only man I had known.
'I only ever had two men in my bed. It may sound ridiculous today.'
The shocking trial, which began on Monday, is set to end on December 20 with 50 people, including Mr Pelicot, facing aggravated rape charges.
Met Police detectives have released pictures of 16 witnesses they want to speak to after a chef mentored by Gordon Ramsay was attacked outside a restaurant and later died in hospital.
Mussie Imnetu, 41, was visiting the UK from Dubai when he was found unconscious with a head injury in the vicinity of Notting Hill Carnival on August 26.
He was discovered on Queensway at 11.22pm and taken to hospital. Omar Wilson, 31, appeared in court last Friday charged with grievous bodily harm with intent - but Mr Imnetu then died the same day.
Police are now treating Mr Imnetu's death as murder, and the Crown Prosecution Service is reviewing the charge against Wilson. A decision is not expected to be made before his next court appearance later this month.
Michelin star chef Mr Imnetu, who hails from Eritrea but grew up in Sweden, had been working at the Arts Club in Dubai and was in London on a business trip to see the restaurant's Dover Street branch.
Michelin star chef Mussie Imnetu died in hospital after being attacked in the street in the vicinity of Notting Hill Carnival
Police want to speak to these individuals following the death of the Dubai-based chef in London last week
Police said he left the restaurant at 1pm on Monday and then at around 10.30pm he went to the Dr Power restaurant on Queensway.
However, they are still keen to trace his movements in the nine and a half hours in between those checkpoints.
Officers are extremely keen to stress that none of the people in the images are suspected of a crime.
However, the information they hold could be vital to the ongoing investigation into Mr Imnetu's death.
A Met source said: 'This is indeed now a murder investigation.'
Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie, who is leading the probe, said: 'Our investigation has progressed at pace and a man has been charged in connection with the attack.
However we are still very keen to hear from anyone who can help piece together Mussie's movements between 13:00hrs when we know he left The Arts Club in Dover Street, W1, and when he arrived at Dr Power restaurant, in Queensway at 22:30hrs.
'We have images of a number of people who were in or near the Dr Power restaurant at the time of the attack.
'Are you one of the people pictured or do you recognise anyone? Did you hear or see something either before or after the attack that may help with the investigation?
'I would like to stress that none of those pictured have done anything wrong.
'Perhaps they were enjoying post carnival celebrations and may not live in the area but they could hold information that is important to the investigation and I urge them to contact us.'
MailOnline has contacted the Crown Prosecution Service for comment.
In all, police have issued the images of 16 people they believe could hold key information on the attack that allegedly cost Mr Imnetu his life
Police issued this image of Mr Imnetu leaving The Arts Club in Mayfair's Dover Street at around 1pm - some 10 and a half hours before he was found with a head injury
Mr Imnetu was a highly regarded chef who had worked under the likes of Gordon ramsay, Marcus Wareing and Alain Ducasse.
His employers said in a statement: 'After joining The Arts Club London in 2011, Mussie was part of the opening of the club's Dubai location in 2020.
'Known for his passion, calm demeanour and kindness, Mussie truly embodied the club's essence.'
Mr Imnetu's death was the second to hit this year's Notting Hill Carnival, which was marred by eight stabbings and 334 arrests.
Cher Maximen, 32, was transported to hospital in a critical condition from Golborne Road on August 25 after she was caught in the middle of a fight between two groups of men.
The mother was brutally stabbed in front of her three-year-old daughter before being rushed away by paramedics, but tragically despite best efforts from medical staff, Cher died on August 31.
A court heard how Cher was stabbed with a 'Rambo-style knife' and suffered a cardiac arrest, after losing 20 units of blood, and had a collapsed lung.
Mr Imnetu was visiting the UK from Dubai where he lived and worked as a top chef at The Arts Club
Cher Maximen, 32, was transported to hospital in a critical condition from Golborne Road after she got caught in a fight between two groups of men
A court heard how Cher was stabbed with a 'Rambo-style knife' and suffered a cardiac arrest, after losing 20 units of blood and one of her lungs collapsed
Police out in force on the 'family day' at Notting Hill Carnival on Sunday August 25
Shakiel Thibou, 20, was charged with attempted murder, possessing a knife and violent disorder.
He attended court alongside his older brothers Sheldon, 24, and Shaeim, 21, who were also charged with violent disorder and assault by beating of an emergency worker.
His charge is also set to be reviewed in light of Ms Maximen's death.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said of the deaths: 'It is heartbreaking that Cher Maximen and Mussie Imnetu have died after being attacked in separate incidents over the bank holiday weekend.
'My thoughts are with their families and friends at this truly terrible time.
'This violence is shocking, completely unacceptable and a betrayal of the values that (Notting Hill) Carnival was founded to celebrate.'
The Met Police had warned partygoers at the carnival to behave themselves, adding that they were 'tired' of parroting the same lines every year and violence breaking out nevertheless.
The organisers of Notting Hill Carnival said in a statement: 'Notting Hill Carnival is shocked by these tragic deaths and our thoughts are with the victims' families and the local community as a whole, which like so many others, has suffered all too often from the blight of violent crime.
'We stand together against all violence and condemn these acts, which are against all carnival values and the millions of people who come in celebration of them.'
Pressure is growing on the event to be ticketed following the pair's deaths.
Peter Bleksley, a former Scotland Yard detective, told LBC: 'I don't want the carnival banned at all, far from it. But this criminality, this bloodshed, has to stop.'
Thousands of commuters were hit by long delays during peak hour after a boy was found injured on the train tracks in Sydney's west, sparking chaos across the network.
The boy, 13 was found by police on the tracks at Homebush Station around 5.30pm on Thursday.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and the boy was treated by paramedics for head injuries before he was taken to hospital.
There were delays on the T1 North Shore and western lines. Buses were also affected.
The disruption also affected train services on the T2 Inner West and Leppington line as well as the T3 Bankstown, T8 Airport and the T9 Northern Lines.
Passengers were also warned to expect delays to services heading to the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Newcastle.
Services were back up and running within the hour.
A NSW Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia the police operation has since ended.
Hundreds of commuters faced long delays during peak hour after a boy was found injured on the train tracks in Sydney's west (stock image)
Commuters were warned to expect disruptions across the network due to the incident.
Sydney Trains urged passengers to plan their trip in advance due to the lengthy delays.
'Allow extra travel time due to a person near the tracks between Flemington and Homebush,' they wrote.
'Trains near the affected area may stop between stations for longer than normal'.
'Please check transport apps, information screens and listen to announcements'.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and the boy was treated for head injuries by paramedics before he was taken to hospital. Pictured is Homebush Station
Commuters have been warned to expect disruptions across the Sydney train network due to the incident (stock image)
Earlier, passengers on the T1 North Shore line said train services had been suspended until further notice.
Some services heading towards Lidcombe on the T3 Bankstown line were cancelled.
Transport for NSW was contacted for comment.
A taekwondo instructor accused of a triple murder in Sydney's west will in the coming weeks weigh up police allegations against him.
Kwang Kyung Yoo, 50, was earlier this year charged with the murders of Min Cho, 41, and a seven-year-old child at North Parramatta, as well as the woman's husband, Steven Cho, 39, at a Baulkham Hills unit block.
It's alleged that Ms Cho and the child were in February murdered inside a taekwondo studio where the boy was a student.
Police allege that Yoo, who was known to his students as Master Lion, left the bodies inside the studio before driving Ms Cho's white BMW to her Baulkham Hills house, where Mr Cho was stabbed several times.
The North Kellyville man has been in custody on remand since his arrest in hospital in February and he has not yet entered a plea.
In Parramatta Local Court on Thursday, the court was told that a case conference would be held on October 21.
Police charged Kwang Kyung Yoo, 49 with the alleged triple murder after he turned up to hospital with stab wounds he claimed were from a carpark incident
Minn Cho and husband Steven were allegedly two of his victims along with their seven-year-old child
The purpose of a case conference is to help determine an accused person's plea and to identify any disputed facts.
As well, it can result in plea offers being made by either side.
NSW Police found Mr Cho's body at the Watkins Rd, Baulkham Hills home before the bodies of his wife and the child were discovered by police two hours later.
Police allege that Mr Yoo drove to Westmead Hospital with stab wounds to his chest, arms and stomach and claimed he was randomly attacked in a supermarket carpark.
The Baulkham Hills apartment complex where Mr Cho was killed
Police allege he sustained the injuries while stabbing Mr Cho to death.
The matter will return to count in late October.
A British base jumper has become the fourth person to die this summer while leaping from a cliff edge in the Italian Dolomites.
The victim, 33, was fatally injured after he leapt from the mountain side wearing a wing suit.
Two others who had jumped ahead of him - a Frenchman and a German - raised the alarm after he failed to join them at the scheduled landing site.
The tragedy happened at around 1800m at Pala di San Lucano neat Belluno, which is a popular location for thrill seeking enthusiasts of the dare devil sport.
The two other jumpers alerted mountain rescue teams and they used Go Pro footage from them as well as drones and a helicopter in an operation that took more than four hours to find and recover the victim.
A British base jumper has died after leaping from a cliff edge in the Italian Dolomites, pictured (stock image)
The Brit was fatally injured after he leapt from the mountain side wearing a wing suit (stock image)
His body was found around 80 metres from where he had jumped and in thick undergrowth and once recovered flown to a local mortuary.
Diego Favero, of the local mountain rescue based in Agordo, told MailOnline: 'It was a difficult operation and it was several hours before we were able to locate and recover the body.
'We got the call just after 10am and it was almost four by the time we finished because he had landed in an inaccessible area.
'The other base jumpers he was with raised the alarm and they gave us their Go Pro footage to help with the search.
'Locally this is the second in a month but across the region there have been four deaths from base jumping this summer alone.'
A police spokesman in Belluno told MailOnline:'I can confirm a 33 year old a British man has died in a base jumping incident on Wednesday morning.
'His body was recovered by the mountain rescue teams and a prosecutor is investigating, with the two people he was with being questioned.'
A FCDO Spokesperson said: 'We are in contact with the family of a British man who has died in Italy and are liaising with the local authorities.'
A Frenchwoman whose husband drugged her and invited scores of men to rape her in a decade-long campaign of abuse admitted she once had an affair - but said the pair had a 'happy life' for almost 50 years before his heinous crimes were revealed.
Gisele Pelicot was raped while unconscious by dozens of different men, all of whom were invited to the family home by her husband Dominique Pelicot who filmed the abuse having drugged her with powerful tranquillisers.
Speaking in an Avignon court today at the trial of Mr Pelicot and 50 of the alleged assailants identified by investigators, Madame Pelicot lamented what she thought was a good marriage.
'We had everything, we had a great life. I don't understand how this could have happened,' the 72-year-old told Judge Roger Arata.
'We were not rich but we were happy.'
She went on to admit that she had a short affair 14 years after marrying Mr Pelicot in 1973 but insisted they patched things up and shared a strong union, until police informed her of her husband's dark deeds in 2020.
Gisele P. re-enters the courthouse during the trial of her husband accused of drugging her for nearly ten years and inviting strangers to rape her at their home in Mazan
Dominique Pelicot and 50 other accused of raping her. Pelicot and 15 of his co-accused have admitted their part in France's worst rape case
The daughter of Gisele P., Caroline Darian (R) is supported by members of a feminist association, upon her arrival at the courthouse for the trial of Gisele's P's husband
She explained to the court how she was friends with her lover and that he visited her 'periodically' over a two-year period.
Madame Pelicot claimed that her husband 'grabbed her by the neck' when he found out, but that they managed to work through it.
'(Mr Pelicot) reacted very badly... he could see there was a problem as I found it hard to love two people at once. Our couple was based on trust so it was hard. But... he was the only man I had known.
'I only ever had two men in my bed... That may sound ridiculous today,' she said.
Ms Pelicot's view of her 'happy' marriage reduced her husband to tears in court.
Mr Pelicot, 71, broke down in tears in the dock as he listened to his wife, wearing a orange dress, a white blouse and a gold necklace, detail how they fell in love and started their married life together before her world 'collapsed' when the extent of his depravity was discovered.
Madame Pelicot, who has three children and seven grandchildren, bravely waived her right to anonymity to make public details of the horrific betrayal her partner of 50 years had forced her to endure over ten years.
Judge Roger Arata asked her if she suffered any problems after being abused for ten years, to which she replied that she was tested for HIV, adding: 'I was diagnosed with four sexually transmitted diseases at the Versailles medical forensic unit.'
The judge also asked Madame Pelicot whether her husband had any 'sexual desires' that she didn't want to participate in.
'Once we went to a nightclub with another couple where there was a "swingers' room". But I didn't want to get involved in that so we did not go into that room and we just stayed in the main nightclub,' the mother-of-three replied.
Another judge asked Madame Pelicot whether she and her husband ever discussed filming their sexual intercourse.
She said: 'I never agreed to Monsieur Pelicot filming us having sex. No the only time we talked about something like this was at the swingers' room at the nightclub. I understood that he would have wanted to do it. But for me it was impossible.'
Gisele Pelicot (pictured arriving to court this morning) bravely waived her right to anonymity to make public details of the horrific betrayal her partner of 50 years had forced her to endure over ten years
A court drawing shows Madame Pelicot taking the stand, facing her husband and the 50 others accused of raping her
Today Madame Pelicot, 71, will relive the trauma that she experienced when police investigator showed her graphic films of her being raped repeatedly by her husband Dominique and more than 80 strangers while she was unconscious
Madame Pelicot is determined that the public knows that she played no part in her husband's warped sexual fantasies that he played out at their picturesque chalet home in the Provence village of Mazan (pictured)
Today Madame Pelicot had to relive the trauma that she experienced when a police investigator showed her graphic films of her being raped repeatedly by her husband Dominique and dozens of strangers.
She is determined that the public knows that she played no part in her husband's warped sexual fantasies that he played out at their picturesque chalet home in the Provence village of Mazan.
Mr Pelicot and 14 of his co-accused have admitted their part in France's worst rape case.
But another 35 men from all walks of life deny that they forced themselves on Madame Pelicot while she was unconscious, claiming that she in some way consented.
Madame Pelicot's lawyer asked her in court today: 'Some of the defendants admit the facts, others contest all the facts, and others confirm they were present but deny it was rape.
'You caught four sexually transmitted diseases and were exposed to HIV six times. What have you got to say to people who claim you consented to all this?'
The brave mother-of-three replied: 'All I have to say is, it's an insult to my intelligence. These individuals were totally aware of what state I was in. I never knowingly took part in any of these things.
'How can you even try and make people think that a woman would knowingly take part in all this?'
The judge told Madame Pelicot that Mr Pelicot has acknowledged his crimes, and asked her; 'What do you feel about this?'
She replied: 'Feelings of disgust.'
Mr Pelicot's daughter, Caroline Darian, arrived to court alongside her mother this morning
Wearing a long, orange dress, a white blouse and a gold necklace, Madame Pelicot sat with her head held high in the same courtroom as the 50 men accused her raping her
Madame Pelicot had no idea that she was being subjected to this terrible betrayal until her husband was arrested for 'upskirting' at his local supermarket and police discovered a library of 'sex-movies' at their home (pictured above)
Some of the 50 co-defendants accused of rape speak with a lawyer at the courthouse in the case that has shocked France on Monday, September 2
Madame Pelicot is pictured above as she arrived to court this morning
Madame Pelicot says she was completely unaware she was being subjected to the terrible betrayal until her husband was arrested for 'upskirting' at his local supermarket and police discovered a library of 'sex-movies' at their home.
Madame Pelicot said, as reported by Le Parisien: 'I am inert, in my bed, and I am being raped. These are scenes of barbarity. Don't talk to me about sex scenes, these are rape scenes. I have never practised threesomes or swinging, I want to say that.'
At 9.20am Madame Pelicot took the witness stand to give evidence.
She gave her name, maiden name and age into the microphone.
Judge Arata tried to reassure her that she should take her time to make her testimony. And he warned her she would face cross examination.
She said: 'I would not be before you if it were not for the work of the police of Carpentras [the town where the supermarket where her husband was arrested in 2020].
'On that day in September I had been away with my daughter. I returned home to Mazan and I sat in the kitchen.
'Monsieur Pelicot told me; "I have done something silly. I took some photographs in the supermarket".
'He was crying. I told him that I would support him because we have had a lifetime together.
'After 50 years of marriage I said I would forgive him. But if there was a second time I would leave him.
'In October I went to Paris to look after two of my grandchildren.
'I received a phone call from the police who told me they wanted to talk to me.
'I made an appointment in November at the police headquarters in Carpentras.'
She continued: 'We were later summoned to the police. I knew he had taken photos of these women and thought we were going as a formality.'
Madame Pelicot told the court that she would remember walking up the steps to the police station 'for the rest of my life'.
At the station, where she was wearing a mask as it was during the Covid pandemic, a police officer told her: 'I'm going to tell you something you won't like.'
Madame Pelicot said that day, 'my world [collapsed], for me everything [collapsed], everything I have built in 50 years,' as reported by Le Parisien.
She said: 'For 50 years I always supported my husband, health, financial and couple problems. It was based on trust.'
Pictured above is a general view of where the Pelicots lived which has been known as the house of horrors, with a creepy back alley
Dominique Pelicot can be seen in this court sketch on the right
Madame Pelicot continued: 'But I left and went home while my husband was in custody. The trauma was enormous. The shock. I returned home to my little dog. I could not stay alone. I had to go to see some friends.
'I told my son that his father was in custody, that he had been charged. On the 3rd of November I went to the police station at Carpentras.
'The police showed me the videos. My world collapsed. When I told my daughter she screamed.
'I left my house with two suitcases and my dog. That was all I had after 50 years of marriage. Everything was based on trust in 50 years.
Caroline Darian's book
'My daughter had a nervous breakdown and required medical help.'
Madame Pelicot continued: 'You can't imagine yourself in a situation like that. In that moment I wanted to disappear.
'I had to tell my children that their father was in custody. I called my son-in-law and told my daughter and told them: "He raped me". Then I heard my daughter screaming a deep cry that I cannot get out of my head.
'People in the street at the bakery at the supermarket, asked me if I was ok. I had to leave the area. I could not stay in that house. I had lost everything, my husband, my life.
'I didn't know who I was or where I was going. I had lost my identity. My son moved me out of that house.'
Referring to the sex tapes her husband had made of strangers abusing her she said: 'This was not sex - it was rape. I have never practiced open sex, I was never swinger.
'I was never a victim, until now. I had to get help, counselling.'
Madame Pelicot said she believed the first instance of being drugged was in 2011 when she woke up in the afternoon with no memory.
A black and white facial reconstruction of a younger Dominique Pelicot is seen in this handout image
Dominique Pelicot is accused of orchestrating the rape ring
She said: 'One day in 2011, I woke up at 6pm in the evening. That was not right. I never sleep until 6pm in the evening. I knew this was not normal but I could understand why.
'I had no memory of the day. I asked Monsieur Pelicot what had happened.'
The couple moved to the village in Provence two years later in 2013. She said: 'In March 2013 we left Paris for Mazan and this "absence" started again.
'I have an excellent memory. I joked to my husband, "you're not drugging me are you?" He broke down in tears and said; "you actually think I could do that?"
'I went to see a neurologist. I was convinced I had Alzheimer's. He said don't worry. I had scans but the absences continued. I don't remember any of the sex scenes.
'My son told my husband that I was not well. He said "don't worry".'
Madame Pelicot added: 'I was sacrificed by my husband for these obscenities a woman drugged and abused. It was like I was dead. I was treated like a piece of meat.
'This is why I am speaking out, - for all the other women who are abused. It was humiliating what I have gone through.
'It started when I learned from the investigating magistrate that Mr Pelicot had filmed up women's skirts with a hidden camera in a pen.
'I learned that in 2010 he had done something similar. If I had known back then I would have perhaps I would have been more vigilant. I could have won back ten years of my life.'
Madame Pelicot said: 'These videos are all more horrible than the others. It's barbaric, I don't know how my body is strong enough to stand before you today.'
The grandmother recalled how her own mother died when she was just nine years old and that she left school aged only 13 to find work.
She said: 'At 13 I was knocking on factory doors asking for work. When I was two years old I knew that my mother had an incurable disease. But I never saw my grandmother cry. We don't show tears in my family.'
Monsieur Pelicot broke down in tears in the dock. Wiping his eyes, the grey-haired multiple rapists appeared to be unable to listen to his estranged wife's memory of their once happy life.
Gisele Pelicot (C) sits next to her daughter Caroline Darian (2ndL) and her sons Florian Pelicot (L) and David Pelicot (2ndR) with his wife Celine F. (R), at the courthouse during the trial of her husband on September 2
The town of Mazan, 20 miles from Avignon in southern France, where the victim and her husband lived and the attacks took place
She recalled: 'Then I met Mr Pelicot. He had a tyrannical family. He had to give all of his wages to his parents. I married very young. I was 20 years old.
'We needed permission from our parents. My dad was not in favour of the wedding but he accepted it. We had no money but we were very much in love. I have never been with another man.
'We were not rich but we were happy. Monsieur Pelicot is an electrician. He retrained as an estate agent. He had kidney stones and almost died. And then the real estate crisis. No money was coming in but I still supported him.
'I knew he was courageous. He has always worked hard.'
She added: '[After Mr Pelicot's arrest], I learned that he had been raped aged nine. He wasn't supported by his parents. We could have dealt with it together.
'I'm being treated by a psychiatrist now. Rape scenes are torture scenes. Why does anyone deserve to go though that?'
After giving her testimony, Judge Arata began to question Madame Pelicot.
The judge told her that Mr Pelicot has acknowledged his crimes, and asked her; 'What do you feel about this?'
Madame Pelicot replied: 'Feelings of disgust. We had everything, we had a great life. I don't understand how this could have happened.'
When asked if she had any abuse after suffering the abuse, Madame Pelicot said: 'I have gynaecological problems. I was diagnosed with four sexually transmitted diseases at the Versailles medical forensic unit.'
She added: 'I was tested for HIV as one man who came [to rape me] six times was seropositive. My life was in danger but not one second did anyone stop. Luckily I didn't catch it. But not once did Mr Pelicot say to himself, "I've gone too far".'
'He showed no pity, no pity at all,' the 71-year-old said, as reported by the Telegraph.
The judge ended his interrogation with what he described as a 'very difficult question'.
He asked: 'Madame Pelicot, are you in any way complicit in Monsieur Pelicot's activities?'
Beatrice Zavarro (C), lawyer for the accused Dominique P, speaks with lawyers at the courthouse during the trial of her client accused of drugging his wife for nearly ten years and inviting strangers to rape her at their home in Mazan
Gisele Pelicot, 72, arrives at the courthouse in Avignon this morning ahead of the third day of her husband's trial on September 4, 2024
She replied calmly: 'Absolutely not. I never pretended to be asleep or anything like that.'
Madame Pelicot told the court that she was now divorced from the husband of 50 years. She added that she had kept her married name in support of her children.
The grandmother told the court: 'I wanted to be called Gisele Pelicot for the duration of this trial out of solidarity with my children who are called Pelicot.'
In her testimony, Madame Pelicot told how her husband would take pictures of her when she was leaving the bathroom.
She said: 'I told my husband to stop taking pictures of me'. He replied: 'You should be pleased that after 50 years your husband still wants to take photos of you.'
She told the court: 'It was flattering perhaps but it annoyed me and I told him to stop.'
She added :'I never took place in this sexual activity. How could any wife agree to do any of this. It is totally unacceptable.'
Earlier Madame Pelicot admitted that she once had an affair.
She explained how she was friends with her lover and that he visited her 'periodically' over a two-year period, to which her husband 'reacted very badly'.
Madame Pelicot explained: 'He could see there was a problem as I found it hard to love two people at once. As I said, our couple was based on trust so it was hard. But as I said he was the only man I had known.
'I only ever had two men in my bed. It may sound ridiculous today.'
The shocking trial, which began on Monday, is set to end on December 20 with 50 people, including Mr Pelicot, facing aggravated rape charges.
Two rioters aged 25 and 60 have been jailed after joining a 200-strong mob which targeted a hotel housing asylum seekers.
The group targeting Potters International Hotel in Aldershot, Hampshire, involved people shouting 'We want our country back', banging doors and hurling bicycles.
Kieron Marney, 25, and 60-year-old Clive Patfield were 'motivated by hostility' towards the asylum seekers' 'race and religion' when they joined a group of around 30 people who entered the hotel's grounds, a court has now heard.
Police were 'hopelessly outnumbered' and rioters could be heard shouting 'F***ing migrants' and 'F***ing scroungers' among other taunts.
The 200-strong protest happened just two days after the fatal stabbing of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, Merseyside, on July 29.
Kieron Marney, 25, was caught on camera hurling a bicycle at a hotel housing asylum seekers in Aldershot, Hampshire, on July 31
Marney (pictured) has now been sentenced after being part of a 200-strong mob which was shouting 'We want our country back' as well as banging doors and throwing bikes
He and co-defendant Clive Patfield (pictured), 60, were 'motivated by hostility' towards asylum seekers' 'race and religion' , a court has heard
Marney, from Ash in Surrey, threw a bike and other objects and pulled at window blinds at the hotel while Patfield, of Farnham in Surrey, was part of a group banging on the doors, Hampshire Police said.
Marney was sentenced to two years and three months in prison and Patfield was jailed for two years.
Prosecutor Amelia Katz showed Winchester Crown Court footage of the mob outside Potters International Hotel banging on doors and windows and throwing bikes.
Ms Katz also read a victim impact statement from Sam De Reya, Deputy Chief Constable of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police, who slammed the rioters as he spoke of 'hate-filled violence across the country'.
DCC Reya added: 'As a force we have dedicated significant resources to ensure those intent on spreading hate do not win.
'[Officers] are coming into work not knowing what violence they are going to face.'
In a further statement, a police officer present at the Aldershot riot said his family now feared for his safety while he was at work.
Both defendants pleaded guilty to a single count of violent disorder.
Judge Rufus Taylor said the asylum seekers at the hotel were left 'petrified' and some have suffered flashbacks since.
Marney, pictured outside Basingstoke Magistrates' Court last month, has been sentenced to two years and three months in prison while Clive Patfield was jailed for two years
CCTV filmed how Marney attacked Potters International Hotel in Aldershot on July 31
Describing the incident, he said: 'Two hundred people turned up and a small group entered the car park. The group removed a window and attempted to force open doors.
'A group forced open a bike shed, the bikes had been donated by the community, and they were thrown up into the air and into a skip.
'The police were hopelessly outnumbered and the people inside the hotel must have been petrified - some are now struggling with flashbacks.'
Addressing the two rioters, he told them: 'There is no doubt your actions were motivated by hostility towards their race and religion.'
In mitigation, Marney's lawyer Alex Lloyd said the offender wante to 'pay his debt' - while, in a character reference, his mother Julie Barnes told how he has three children under three and 'acts impulsively' as a result of a head injury as a child.
Mr Lloyd said: 'He does not ask to explain his actions - he simply wants to be sentenced so he can pay his debt to society.
'If he could go back in time and talk to himself, I am certain he would not have done it.'
For Patfield, Laura Duff said that he was of good character, with no previous convictions and helps care for his father-in-law who has terminal prostate cancer.
She added: 'He is remorseful and he is very sorry for his part in it.
Hampshire Police said a minority of the 200 people who gathered outside the Potters International Hotel (pictured) on July 31 became involved in the disruption
Protesters are seen outside Potters International Hotel in Aldershot in a follow-up on August 4
The crowds gathered as part of what were described as 'Enough Is Enough' demonstrations
'He has absolutely no intention of attending any similar protests in future..'
The pair are expected to each serve half of their prison sentences before being released and serving the remainder on licence.
Several other rioters also entered pleas for charges including violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker.
Cameron Bowling, 40, from Farnborough in Hampshire, admitted violent disorder and will be sentenced on September 23.
Joe Howell, 19, and Alby Brannan, 18, both from Ash in Surrey, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and will be sentenced on November 29.
Howell also denies a charge of assaulting an emergency worker.
Jamie Turvey, 34, also from Farnborough, denied violent disorder and a trial date was set for next April.
A 13-year-old girl from Aldershot previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder over the same incident at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court and will be sentenced there on September 30.
Police are seen patrolling outside Potters International Hotel in Aldershot amid riot fears
Protesters and counter-protesters gathered outside the hotel in Hampshire
Alby Brannan (left) and Jamie Turvey (right) have both been charged in connection with the recent riots in Aldershot, Hampshire
A second protest outside the hotel was held a few days later on August 3.
For that incident Steven Tiquin, 40, from Aldershot, has admitted four counts of assaulting an emergency worker, affray and racially aggravated harassment towards one of the police officers and will be sentenced on Friday next week.
Hampshire's Assistant Chief Constable Tara McGovern said: 'While the majority of people who attended this protest in Aldershot were respectful, the men involved in disorder chose to act in an aggressive manner.
Chief Constable Tara McGovern said: 'While the majority of people who attended this protest in Aldershot were respectful, the men involved in disorder chose to act in an aggressive manner.
'I hope the sentences that Patfield and Marney received highlight that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated. It is a clear message that these actions have consequences.
'This should serve as a warning to anyone else considering trying to bring mindless violence to our streets and that the minority who seek to cause disorder will face the full force of the law.'
The disorder came among many clashes between rioters, counter-protesters and police which spread throughout the country.
They were triggered by misinformation about the suspect charged with the Southport stabbings where three little girls died, with the attack being widely and wrongly blamed online on a fictitious Islamist migrant.
Accused Axel Rudakubana, born in Cardiff to parents from Rwanda, has been charged with three counts of murder, ten counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed weapon.
Steven Tiquin (pictured), 40, from Aldershot, has admitted four counts of assaulting an emergency worker, affray and racially aggravated harassment towards a police officer
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.
More than 200 people have now been sentenced for offences in connection with the riots, with at least 193 given immediate custodial sentences.
The average length of jail terms handed down is 24 months, according to analysis by the PA news agency.
The longest so far has been the six years handed to David Wilkinson, 48, of Hull, who pleaded guilty to violent disorder, attempted arson and racially aggravated criminal damage for his role in the disturbances in that city on August 3.
A smirking Vladimir Putin said Thursday he supported Kamala Harris in the upcoming US presidential election just a day after Washington accused Moscow of tampering with the vote.
'Firstly, (US President Joe) Biden recommended all his supporters support Mrs Harris,' Putin said during a question and answer session at Russia's Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.
'Here, we are going to do that too, we're going to support her,' he added, with a wry smile.
'She laughs so contagiously that it shows that everything is fine with her,' the Russian leader said, as members of the public laughed.
'(Former US President Donald) Trump has imposed as many sanctions on Russia as any president has ever imposed before, and if Harris is doing well, perhaps she will refrain from such actions.'
A smirking Vladimir Putin said Thursday he supported Kamala Harris in the upcoming US presidential election
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign stop at the Throwback Brewery, in North Hampton yesterday
This comes after US officials with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in Washington confirmed in July the existence of the Russian plan to install ex President Donald Trump in the White House.
Putin's comments come a day after the U.S. detailed its efforts to push back on Russia's influence on the November 4 election.
These include sanctions, indictments and seizing web domains that Washington officials say Russia uses to spread disinformation and propaganda.
The US yesterday indicted two employees of state-run Russian news network RT and slapped sanctions on its top editors Margarita Simonyan and her deputy Elizaveta Brodskaia after Washington accused them of trying to influence the upcoming US ballot.
Simonyan was a 'central figure in Russian government malign influence efforts,' the Treasury Department said, while Brodskaia 'reported to Russian President Putin and other government officials', officials said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin pictured with editor-in-chief of RT broadcaster Margarita Simonyan in December 2022. Simonyan is one of the 10 individuals and two entities sanctioned by the Treasury Department
The bombshell indictment also accused RT employees Konstantin Kalashnikov and Elena of Afanasyeva of implementing a plan to shell out nearly $10million to a Tennessee-based company to churn out videos 'consistent' with the Kremlin's 'interest in amplifying U.S. domestic divisions.'
In response, the Kremlin said it will take retaliatory action against American news outlets and accused the U.S. of purging any dissenting voices from the global media landscape and to stoke fears among US voters about Russia as a mythical external enemy.
In February, Putin backed Biden over Trump, calling the current president more 'predictable'. The White House called on Putin to 'stay out' of US elections.
Last year, the Russian leader had said that the US political system was 'rotten' and that Washington could not lecture other countries about democracy.
Prosecutors have dropped indecent assault charges against US film mogul Harvey Weinstein as they ruled there is 'no realistic prospect of conviction'.
The producer, 72, had been charged in June 2022 with two counts of indecent assault against a woman in London in August 1996.
Frank Ferguson, head of the UK's Crown Prosecution Service special crime and counter terrorism division, said: 'Following a review of the evidence in this case, the CPS has decided to discontinue criminal proceedings against Harvey Weinstein.'
It comes after the New York Court of Appeals threw out his 2020 rape conviction on April 25 after ruling he did not receive a fair trial - effectively erasing his 23-year prison sentence and ordering a retrial.
But he remains in prison as he was found guilty of the rape and sexual assault of Italian actress and model Evgeniya Chernyshova in Los Angeles and was sentenced to 16 years.
The Criminal Prosecution Service has dropped indecent assault charges against US film mogul Harvey Weinstein as it ruled there is 'no realistic prospect of conviction'
Weinstein is seen here leaving court in New York Cirty in January 2020 as he faced trial for alleged rape and sexual assault
The disgraced movie mogul, pictured arriving at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles in March 2014, is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence in the US
In June 2022, Rosemary Ainslie, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's Special Crime Division, confirmed that Scotland Yard had been authorised to charge the ex-film producer.
The charges related to one female complainant in August 1996 in London, and the decision was reached after the CPS reviewed evidence gathered by the Met.
A statement from Scotland Yard at the time of the arrest said it had been alleged two offences were committed between July 31 and August 31 1996.
The alleged victim, a woman, is now aged in her 50s.
But the CPS has now decided to discontinue criminal proceedings against Weinstein.
Mr Ferguson said: 'The CPS has a duty to keep all cases under continuous review and we have decided that there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.
'We have explained our decision to all parties.
'We would always encourage any potential victims of sexual assault to come forward and report to police and we will prosecute wherever our legal test is met.'
Weinstein is currently awaiting a retrial on rape and sexual assault charges in Manhattan.
Prosecutors told court he could face a new indictment as it is 'actively investigating' more claims of sexual assault against Weinstein.
'Some people who were not ready to speak out in 2020 now appear to do so in 2024,' Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg previously said.
'We'll speak to advisors as to what falls within the statute of limitations and we will do everything in our power to make sure every survivor's identity is protected.'
The New York Court of Appeals threw out his 2020 rape conviction on April 25 this year after ruling he did not receive a fair trial
Weinstein remains in prison as he was found guilty of the rape and sexual assault of Italian actress and model Evgeniya Chernyshova in Los Angeles and was sentenced to 16 years
Weinstein, pictured with ex-wife Georgina Chapman in happier times, was a titan of the movie industry before allegations of sexual abuse made him the face of the #MeToo movement
Weinstein is serving his prison sentence in the US following a rape and sexual misconduct conviction in Los Angeles related to an incident in 2013 where he appeared uninvited in a woman's hotel room during a Los Angeles film festival.
He was sentenced to 16 years' prison in February 2023.
He is currently in custody in New York's Rikers Island jail complex while awaiting a retrial in Manhattan after a 2020 conviction for rape was overturned earlier this year in a majority decision from the Court of Appeal in New York.
The decision cited 'the trial court erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes' which was 'an abuse of judicial discretion'.
In July, Weinstein was treated in hospital after being diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs, and Covid-19.
In 2020, the producer of hit movies including Pulp Fiction, The English Patient, Good Will Hunting, Gangs Of New York and Shakespeare In Love was stripped of his honorary CBE awarded for his contribution to the British film industry.
He dominated Hollywood in the 1990s and won 81 Oscars before sex abuse allegations against him were raised amid the #MeToo movement.
More than 80 women came forward to accuse the producer of sexual assault and harassment.
The allegations first surfaced publicly in a New York Times story in 2017 detailing decades of alleged abuse.
Actresses Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd were among those who were named in the piece as accusers, with McGowan alleging the Miramax chief raped her in 1997.
During his four years in jail Weinstein has been beset by health issues including heart problems, mobility issues and diabetes.
Weinstein (third left) enjoyed multiple Oscars success including for Shakespeare In Love at the 71st Annual Academy Awards in March 1999 (pictured)
More than 80 women came forward to accuse the producer of sexual assault and harassment amid the #MeToo movement exposing abuse against women
Weinstein was the producer of hit movies including Pulp Fiction, The English Patient, Good Will Hunting, Gangs Of New York and Shakespeare In Love
Rose McGowan, pictured with Weinstein in 2007, alleged the Miramax boss raped her in 1997
In May this year he was taken to Bellevue Hospital in New York where doctors conducted a slew of tests on him.
Attorney Arthur Aidala said Weinstein was moved to the hospital after his arrival into Rikers Island.
Mr Aidala said: 'They examined him and sent him to Bellevue. It seems like he needs a lot of help, physically. He's got a lot of problems. He's getting all kinds of tests. He's somewhat of a train wreck health wise.'
'He was not treated well. They refused to give him even a sip of water, no food, no bathroom break. He's a 72-year-old sickly man.'
Former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier was today announced as France's new Prime Minister almost two months after France's snap elections ended in political deadlock.
The 73-year-old is now faced with the mammoth task of forming a government that will need to survive a National Assembly divided into three big political blocs - with none able to form a clear majority.
Following the recent political stalemate, President Emmanuel Macron has called on Mr Barnier to take on the esteemed role, despite him not being a serving elected MP.
But his appointment has already angered politicians on the left - who maintain that the head of government should reflect French voters' clear preference for the leftist New Popular Front - and the Brexit hardliner now faces an immediate vote of no confidence because of his apparent lack of democratic legitimacy.
An official at Matignon, the prime minister's official residence in Paris, said on Thursday afternoon: 'Michel Barnier has been named prime minister by President Macron.'
Michel Barnier, 73, was today announced as France's new Prime Minister
Barnier pictured with Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee palace in Paris, on January 31, 2020, a few hours before Britain officially left the European Union
The appointment means that Mr Barnier will become the oldest prime minister in the history of the 5th Republic - taking over from the youngest PM, Gabriel Attal, 35.
Since the announcement, Macron appears to be counting on the far-right National Rally of three-time presidential candidate Marine Le Pen not to block the appointment of Barnier.
RN party leader Jordan Bardella said Barnier would be judged 'on evidence' when he addresses parliament.
Greens leader Marine Tondelier countered: 'We know in the end who decides. Her name is Marine Le Pen. She is the one to whom Macron has decided to submit.'
Barnier was last in parliament in 1993, and is currently a member of The Republicans (LR) party the current name for the Gaullist conservatives, who are in opposition.
Pressure has been building on President Macron to appoint a prime minister after a coalition led by his Renaissance party came second in a snap election in early July.
It was won by the Popular Front a Leftist coalition specifically aimed at keeping the far-Right National Rally party from gaining power.
Mr Barnier did not emerge as a serious candidate to run a new French government until Thursday, when he was seen at the Elysee Palace.
He tried to become LR's presidential candidate in 2022, but was eliminated in the first round of party voting with less than five per cent of the vote.
During the campaign, he took a hard line on immigration, saying it was 'out of control.'
There is a looming deadline for France to start 2025 budget discussions, at a time when the country is under severe criticism from the EU for overspending.
On Thursday, Jean-Philippe Tanguy, a National Rally MP, said Mr Barnier represented the 'fossilised old world', accusing the Elysee Palace of 'going down the Jurassic Park'.
Barnier first become a French member of parliament aged just 27 in the 1970s and first entered government in the mid-1990s under late president Jacques Chirac.
Such is the longevity of Barnier's top-level political career that he is known by some as the 'French Joe Biden' after the US leader whose long career has spanned a similar time.
The Brexit hardliner who once described UK prime minister Boris Johnson as a 'bulldozer', led the EU's talks with Britain over its exit from the bloc from 2016 to 2021.
Barnier was named as France's new Prime Minister, the Elysee palace announced on September 5, almost two months after legislative elections left the country in political deadlock. Pictured: Barnier and Macron at the 56th International Agriculture Fair (Salon international de l'Agriculture) at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, on February 23, 2019
He has served four times as a cabinet minister and twice as a European Commissioner before becoming the head of the Brexit task force in 2016.
Barnier wrote a book about Brexit 'My Secret Brexit Diary: A Glorious Illusion', its title already stating clearly what he thought of the idea of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union.
While true to his courteous reputation, Barnier steered clear of any salacious gossip in the published work, he never ceases to express his amazement at how his British counterparts were handling the process.
'There is most definitely something wrong with the British system... every passing day shows that they have not realised the consequences of what is truly at stake here,' he wrote.
Barnier, who was an unsuccessful candidate in the primary to become the conservative presidential candidate in 2021, is also seen as having views on domestic politics that are more compatible with the far right.
He triggered a swathe of backlash when he said France should regain its 'legal sovereignty' and not be subject to the judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights.
He also triggered dismay in Brussels by calling for France to free itself from European court oversight.
To claw back France's 'space to manoeuvre', Barnier said he would organise a referendum if elected, asking voters to approve constitutional changes and the ability of parliament to set immigrant quotas each year.
He declared he did not 'really like the concept of European sovereignty' and took aim at 'German dominance' in the European Union, adding 'I know what I'm talking about.'
His appointment has even caused disquiet among allies with one LR member of parliament, asking not to be named, saying he epitomised 'everything the French don't want'.
He is 'disconnected and will continue or finish killing the right,' they said.
Macron in July refused to appoint the alliance's candidate for prime minister, civil servant Lucie Castets, 37, arguing she was not in a position to govern with stability.
Shocking footage has emerged of the moment a 17-year-old was dragged into a car and attacked.
The vicious assault occurred in Port Kennedy on Perth's southern outskirts on Sunday before the video began circulating on social media.
Rockingham detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the assault, with footage showing the teenager being bashed and thrown into a car.
Footage showed the girl begging for help with a bloody face.
WA Police say the 17-year-old was 'placed into a vehicle' before she was assaulted by two females who are believed to be known to the teenager.
The graphic footage was posted online and shows the girl being bashed and dragged by her hair into the car.
She is then driven around Perth with blood dripping down her face.
The girl can be heard begging for help and screaming: 'No, please, don't take my stuff'.
Horrific footage has circulated on social media of the moments a 17-year-old girl was dragged into a car and attacked by two women, believed to be known to her (pictured the girl bloodied in a car)
The 17-year-old was captured in the footage begging for the driver to pull over.
'Leave me alone,' she can be heard saying.
In another video the teenager can be heard begging the male driver of the car to stop the vehicle.
Police have said a man behind the wheel was forced to drive the car by the two women.
'At this time, it is believed the male driver of the vehicle drove the vehicle under duress and was not involved in the assault,' a police spokeswoman said.
The 17-year-old kept being dragged in and out of the car by her hair in the relentless attack by the two women in Perth (pictured)
The attack went viral online and Perth police are investigating the incident (pictured the teenager being pulled out of the car)
The investigation by police is ongoing, and anyone with information is being urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
No charges have been laid.
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Hunter Biden has pleaded guilty to federal tax charges in a dramatic twist just as his California trial was about to begin.
President Joe Biden's scandal-hit son, 54, arrived at court with wife Melissa Cohen on Thursday in Los Angeles for scheduled jury selection.
Hunter tried to take an Alford plea, where the defendant admits guilt while maintaining his innocence, for failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes.
But prosecutors rejected the deal, and now he faces a maximum of 17 years in prison and up to a $1million fine.
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Billionaire tech tycoon Mike Lynch's co-defendant in US fraud trial died from traumatic head injuries after being struck by a vehicle as it crested a humpback railway bridge, an inquest has heard.
Stephen Chamberlain, 52, was out on a run between Stretham and Wicken on August 17 when he was hit by a car as he started crossing the road.
The father was rushed to hospital with 'significant' injuries, and died there three days later.
The crash came just days before the 'British Bill Gates' lost his life when his superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily.
Caroline Jones, the area coroner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, today said her office had received a report of the mid August crash.
Stephen Chamberlain, 52, died after he was struck by a car while running on August 17
The father had faced charges of fraud and conspiracy alongside his former boss Mike Lynch - the tragic Billionaire tech tycoon
An inquest into Mr Chamberlain's death today found he died of 'traumatic head injuries'
She told the inquest: 'A vehicle travelling between Stretham and Wicken on the A1123 crested a humpback bridge and was presented with a runner crossing the road from the nearside to the offside between two parts of a bridleway.'
The keen runner was left with 'significant' injuries.
Miss Jones said: 'Mr Chamberlain was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge where, sadly, his death was confirmed at 3.50am on August 20.
The coroner, who opened and adjourned the inquest in Alconbury, said: 'At the present time, the police investigation remains ongoing and so no further date has been fixed for these proceedings to resume.'
She added: 'I extend my condolences of the family of Stephen Chamberlain.'
No family members were present.
The post-mortem examination was carried out by neuropathologist Dr Kieren Allinson on August 23.
Tech tycoon Mr Lynch died after the Bayesian superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily last month.
Mr Chamberlain was the business partner of Mike Lynch (pictured) the tech tycoon
The Bayesian (pictured earlier this year) was anchored off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo, Sicily, when it sunk on August 19
Mr Chamberlain's son Teddy asked well-wishers to complete the run he died on as a tribute to his father
Mr Chamberlain was the co-defendant in his US trial and, alongside Mr Lynch, was cleared earlier this year of conducting a massive fraud over the sale of software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011.
In the days after his death, Mr Chamberlain's family paid tribute to their 'much-loved husband, father, son, brother and friend'.
The loved one said in a statement: 'He was an amazing individual whose only goal in life was to help others in any way possible.
'He made a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
'He will be deeply missed but forever in the hearts of his loved ones.'
Mr Chamberlain's son Teddy also asked well-wishers to take part in the run his father never got to complete.
Teddy wrote in a public post on Strava in the days after his death: 'We are planning to complete this run for dad, if any of you would like to pay tribute and run it with us I will keep you updated.
'I'm sure we will make a post about the day and time at a later date. He was such an incredible man and the pain we feel is unimaginable.'
Cambridgeshire Police previously issued an appeal for witnesses after Mr Chamberlain was in collision with a blue Vauxhall Corsa car on the A1123 Newmarket Road near Stretham.
The force said the car was travelling between Stretham and Wicken when the collision happened at about 10.10am.
Police said the driver of the car, a 49-year-old woman from Haddenham, remained at the scene and was assisting with inquiries.
Gary Lincenberg, Mr Chamberlain's lawyer, said in an earlier statement: 'Our dear client and friend Steve Chamberlain was fatally struck by a car ... while out running.
'He was a courageous man with unparalleled integrity. We deeply miss him.
'Steve fought successfully to clear his good name at trial earlier this year, and his good name now lives on through his wonderful family.'
HP acquired Cambridge-based Autonomy, founded by Mr Lynch in 1996, for 11 billion US dollars (8.35 billion), but later wrote down its value by 8.8 billion US dollars (6.68 billion) and asked the US justice department to investigate fraud.
Mr Chamberlain, a former vice-president of finance at the company, was accused of artificially inflating Autonomy's revenues and making false and misleading statements to auditors, analysts and regulators in 2018.
Both he and Mr Lynch were found not guilty of the charge in June following a trial at a federal court in San Francisco, California.
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A migrant whose boat capsized while crossing the Channel has recalled the terrifying moment when he came close to death.
Daoud was one of around 65 people who were rescued when the 26-foot long boat ripped in two and overturned off the northern French coast at Cap Gris-Nez on Tuesday morning.
Twelve people, including a pregnant woman and six children, died in what is being described as the deadliest Channel crossing tragedy of the year so far.
Despite the tragedy, however, more migrants have been making the same perilous journey, with some 257 migrants arriving in the UK on Wednesday.
Daoud recalled the seconds before disaster struck as the vessel became 'overloaded' two hours from the shoreline. Although he survived the horrifying ordeal, Daoud was unable to say that it had put him off attempting the crossing again.
Daoud (left) was one of around 65 people who were rescued when the 26-foot long boat ripped in two and overturned off the northern French coast at Cap Gris-Nez on Tuesday
People believed to be migrants are taken ashore in Kent after being rescued from a small boat in the channel on Wednesday
A member of Border Force staff directs people believed to be migrants after they were brought to dry land on Wednesday
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Reliving the horrific ordeal, Daoud told Sky News: 'Everybody was sinking. I tried a little swimming... I survived'.
'We thought that we are lost, there was no hope for life, but, thanks to God, we survived. We are here today.
'I did not see [people drowning]. I was totally lost because of panic.'
Daoud was rescued within minutes as ships nearby began throwing life jackets into the water.
He said rescuers 'tried their best' to save everyone but unfortunately it was already too late for some.
Daoud said he has 'no choice' but to try and cross the Channel, admitting that he has already tried seven times unsuccessfully.
When asked whether Tuesday's tragedy had put him off, he said: 'It's difficult to decide.
'If I could go to any other country in Europe, and get a resident permit...'
'If a country gave me a resident permit, I would stay. The problem is currently in Europe many people are getting rejected.'
The crossings have continued despite the deaths of 12 migrants in the English Channel on Tuesday (pictured: emergency workers in Boulonge-sur-Mer)
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Five boats arrived in the UK on Wednesday, which suggests an average of around 51 people per boat.
People thought to be migrants were pictured being brought ashore in Dover, Kent, amid calm weather conditions at sea.
Meanwhile in Wimereux, dozens of people were seen making a run for a raft on Wednesday as police tried to stop them.
A young girl was among those seen trying to board a large inflatable raft, wearing nothing more than a striped top, trousers and trainers, without even a life jacket to protect her.
She was among a number of people trying to climb onto a raft already loaded with approximately 30 people, holding a mobile phone wrapped in clingfilm aloft to protect it from the waters as she was carried on an older-looking man's shoulders.
The girl was among a group of young men seen climbing into the boat in waters off Wimereux, near Calais, earlier today.
Only a handful of the young men were wearing fluorescent orange life jackets - though witnesses say a French patrol boat pulled up later and threw more life jackets at those on board.
A young girl holds a mobile phone aloft as she tries to board a dinghy heading from France to Britain on Wednesday
The phone was wrapped in clingfim to protect it from the brutal waters of the English Channel
Border Force boat Typhoon picks up people in brightly coloured life jackets in the Channel om Wednesday
Would-be migrants attempt to climb into an inflatable raft already full of others trying to make the crossing in Wimereux on Wednesday
The cumulative number of arrivals by small boats in 2024 now stands at a provisional total of 21,977.
This is 3% higher than at this point last year, when the total stood at 21,372, but 20% lower than at this stage in 2022, when the total was 27,409.
There have been 2,683 arrivals in the past nine days, from August 27 to September 4 inclusive - the highest in any nine-day period so far this year.
There were 29,437 arrivals across the whole of 2023, down 36% on a record 45,774 in 2022.
Up to 65 people were rescued in Tuesday's incident, which Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer branded 'shocking and deeply tragic', telling MPs in the Commons: 'We must have a renewed determination to end this.'
His comments came after Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said 'vital' efforts to dismantle 'dangerous and criminal smuggler gangs' and to boost border security 'must proceed apace'.
More than 30 people have now died in Channel crossings so far this year, compared with 12 who are thought to have died or were recorded as missing in 2023, according to the French coastguard.
Melania Trump teased her bombshell tell-all memoir with a dramatic black-and-white video, saying it was time to tell her perspective: 'the truth.'
Her book, simply titled 'Melania,' will be released on October 1st. It is available for pre-order on Amazon for $30.
'Writing this memoir has been a deeply personal and reflective journey for me,' she said in a video posted to her social media accounts.
'As a private person who has often been the subject of public scrutiny and misrepresentation, I feel a responsibility to clarify the facts. I believe it is important to share my perspective: the truth.'
Melania Trump released a dramatic video to promote her forthcoming memoir
The 48-second video opens with the former first lady speaking directly to camera. It also features scenes from her time in the White House, including her trip to Africa and working on her Be Best campaign.
There are also some photos from her modeling days and as a young mother with her son Barron. Donald Trump is shown.
The video is in black-and-white with dramatic music.
Melania Trump announced in July she was releasing a memoir, a stunning announcement from the normally private first lady.
In the book she 'reflects on her Slovenian childhood, the pivotal moments that led her to the world of high fashion in Europe and New York, and the serendipitous meeting with Donald Trump, a chance encounter that forever changed the course of her life,' according to its summary.
'Melania opens up about their courtship, life in the spotlight, and experiencing the joy of motherhood. She shares behind-the-scenes stories from her time in the White House, shedding light on her advocacy work and the causes close to her heart.'
She is selling two editions: a $150 collector's edition featuring 256 pages in full color throughout, with each copy signed by the author. The memoir edition will be 304 pages and available for $40 with signed copies available for $75.
'Melania' will be released by Skyhorse Publishing, which has published such Trump supporters as former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and attorney Alan Dershowitz.
The former first lady has been the subject of many biographies and books but this is the first time she is telling her story.
It is unclear if she worked with a co-author and if she will go on a book tour.
Melania Trump, 54, has been something of an enigma in public life.
The third wife of Donald Trump is intensely private and spent much of her White House years focused on raising her son Barron, who was a teenage at the time.
Her son is now at NYU's Stern School of Business and her husband is running for a second term in the White House.
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Melania Trump's memoir retails for $30 with a special edition selling for $150
Donald and Melania Trump during his presidency - her memoir will talk about her time in the White House
After the Trumps left the White House in January 2021, Melania Trump maintained her low profile.
She has not been heavily involved in her husband's 2024 campaign for the White House.
She appeared at his campaign announcement and at the Republican National Convention, where, unlike other spouses of candidates, she opted not to address the delegates.
She has yet to appear at a campaign rally.
She also didn't attend the first presidential debate and has been careful to distance herself from her husband's legal troubles.
She did host two fundraisers for Log Cabin Republicans, a conservative LGBTQ group.
And she's worked on some foster care issues in her post-White House life.
Financial disclosure reports showed the former first lady earns a substantial income from speaking fees, properties in New York and Slovenia that she rents and her non-fungible token (NFT) licensing agreement.
The man accused of brutally murdering UCLA student Brianna Kupfer in a shocking 2022 attack appeared in court on Wednesday to learn his fate.
Brianna Kupfer, 24, was murdered in January 2022 at the luxury Los Angeles furniture store where she was working by Shawn Laval Smith, now 34.
Smith was seen sitting in in Los Angeles Superior Court as prosecutors played the chilling audio recording of the murder, which captured Kupfer's desperate pleas for her life as she was stabbed to death.
The murder trial, presided over by Judge Mildred Escobedo, saw dramatic scenes as the Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney held up the alleged murder weapon - a knife - and its sheath for the jury to examine.
Photos obtained by Dailymail.com show the accused killer wearing a striped button-down shirt and cloth face mask.
Brianna Kupfer was stabbed 26 times in the attack in January 2022
The man accused of brutally murdering UCLA student Brianna Kupfer in a shocking 2022 attack appeared in court on Wednesday to learn his fate
The murder trial, presided over by Judge Mildred Escobedo, saw dramatic scenes as the Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney held up the alleged murder weapon - a knife - and its sheath for the jury to examine
Smith, who was sitting next to his defense attorney, listened to testimony from witnesses as prosecutors laid out their case against the accused killer.
In an opening statement, the prosecution argued Smith was on 'a hunt to kill a vulnerable woman who was alone and secluded.
The suspect reportedly had a recording expressing his desire to 'kill women.'
'Just 18 days before he found and slaughtered Brianna, the defendant recorded himself talking about the most vile, disgusting and grotesque thoughts about women,' said Los Angeles County prosecutor Habib Balian in court.
'The defendant, pretending to be a customer, lured her into a sense of security and safety and vulnerability, even went outside, pretending to call his girlfriend,' the prosecutor said. 'The evidence we'll show you, they weren't looking for a couch. It was all a lie.'
Smith was seen sitting in in Los Angeles Superior Court as prosecutors played the chilling audio recording of the murder, which captured Kupfer's desperate pleas for her life as she was stabbed to death
If found guilty, the defendant could face life in prison without the possibility of parole (Pictured: Defense attorney and Shawn Laval Smith)
In an opening statement, the prosecution argued Smith was on 'a hunt to kill a vulnerable woman who was alone and secluded (Pictured: Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney hold up sheath for a knife as Shawn Laval Smith listens to testimony in Los Angeles Superior Court)
Brianna Kupfer, 24, was murdered in January 2022 at the luxury Los Angeles furniture store where she was working by Shawn Laval Smith, now 34
'Brianna Kupfer, lying on the floor in the Croft House covered in her own blood, smear marks of blood surrounding her.'
'Her last breathing words, she's just telling him, 'I can help you, I can help you, I can help you,' and he's telling her, 'It's over [expletive].'
Kupfer, a 24-year-old UCLA graduate student, was working alone at a furniture store in Hancock Park when she was stabbed to death in what police described as a random attack.
She was stabbed to death while working alone at the Croft House store on La Brea, just minutes after she texted a friend that a man in the store was 'giving her a bad vibe'.
Smith, 31 at the time of the killing, was tracked down in Pasadena a day after the Los Angeles Police Department named him as the top suspect in the unprovoked slaying.
Smith - who reportedly has a rap sheet spanning two coasts - was out on bail when he allegedly stabbed Kupfer to death.
Photos obtained by dailymail.com show the accused killer wearing a striped button-down shirt and cloth face mask
Smith, who was sitting next to his defense attorney, listened to testimony from witnesses as prosecutors laid out their case against the accused killer
He was cuffed without incident at a bus stop near Fair Oaks and Colorado Boulevard about 11:50am. It's not clear whether he was armed.
Smith was taken into custody about 15 miles from the high-end furniture store where Kupfer was killed.
A pedestrian tipped cops off after spotting the wanted man sitting on a park bench.
The accused killer - who police believe has been a homeless transient - initially gave officials a false name, a source told the news outlet. However, the LAPD fugitive unit was able to confirm his identity with a fingerprint reader.
Previously Smith was arrested and charged with violent crimes in at least three states.
At the time of Kupfer's murder, he was free on a $50,000 bond after allegedly firing a weapon toward an occupied vehicle in Charleston, South Carolina, in November 2019.
Smith, who is waiting to be arraigned, is a career criminal with a long rap sheet spanning both coasts, and was currently free on a $1,000 bond from a misdemeanor arrest in Los Angeles County in October 2020, sheriff's records show
The architectural design student from Pacific Palisades was alone in the Croft House store on La Brea Avenue in LA's upscale Fairfax neighborhood when a man entered around 1:50 p.m. and stabbed her. She was found 20 minutes later by a customer
An indictment in that case was handed down on March 16, 2020, just before COVID-19 paralyzed the courts, and the docket shows no further action on the case.
Smith, who is waiting to be arraigned, is a career criminal with a long rap sheet spanning both coasts, and was currently free on a $1,000 bond from a misdemeanor arrest in Los Angeles County in October 2020, sheriff's records show.
Smith was arrested in Covina, California, on October 27, 2020, and charged for allegedly stealing items from a local Home Depot. He was cited and released, police said.
He was convicted by San Diego prosecutors in 2017 for carrying a concealed dagger and brandishing a deadly weapon in a fight. He was given three years probation and ordered to pay a $400 fine, according to court records.
If found guilty, the defendant could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The AR-style weapon used by alleged Apalachee High School shooter Cory Gray has been pictured lying in the corridor following the massacre as it emerged cops previously visited his home but didn't seize any guns.
Gray, 14, is accused of fatally shooting four people, including two students, and injuring nine others during the bloodbath on Wednesday.
It has since emerged that the Georgia teen and his dad have been on the FBI's radar for more than a year, but no weapons were ever removed from their home.
Investigators interviewed the father and son following 'several anonymous tips about online threats to commit a school shooting at an unidentified location and time', including photographs of guns.
Officials said Gray, then aged 13, 'denied making the threats online' at the time and did not have unsupervised access.
Colt Gray's suspected murder weapon can be seen in the corridor of Apalachee High School where he allegedly killed four and injured nine people
The only action taken was to warn local schools to 'continually monitor' the troubled teen, with the FBI stating there was 'no probable cause for arrest'.
Authorities say they are still looking into how the suspected gunman was able to bring a weapon into school.
At a Wednesday evening press conference, officials said he used a 'AR platform-style weapon' in the rampage, but are still unclear on who owned the gun or where he got it from.
'We're still trying to clarify a lot of the timeline from the time that he got here to school today until the incident,' Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey said.
Gray was taken into custody at the Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Center after being apprehended at the scene.
He has been described as a 'quiet' teen who would often skip class.
Mason Schermerhorn, 14, an autistic student at Apalachee High School, was the first victim to be identified. He was among four people killed in the mass shooting
Teachers Christina Irimie and Richard Aspinwall lost their lives in the tragedy
Student Christian Angulo, 14, was also shot dead in the senseless shooting
Local news outlets reported that law enforcement on Wednesday searched the teen's family home in Bethlehem, Georgia, east of the high school.
The victims of the massacre in Winder have been named as teachers Christina Irimie, 53, and Richard Aspinwall, 39, and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14.
Classmate Lyela Sayerath told CNN that she was sat next to Gray in algebra class minutes before he began the shooting spree.
She said that Gray left the classroom at the beginning of their class at 9:45am, around half an hour before active shooter alerts sounded.
Gray didn't take a bathroom pass, she said, leading her to initially think he was merely skipping class - before a loudspeaker announcement told teachers to check their emails.
Shortly after, Sayerath said Gray returned outside their classroom, and a student got up to open the door for him before jumping back at the sight of his gun.
'I guess he saw we weren't going to let him in. And I guess the classroom next to me, their door was open, so I think he just started shooting in the classroom,' she said.
Families gathered to mourn the four victims of the senseless shooting on Wednesday evening
At least 13 people were shot in the chaos, including two students and two teachers killed
Sayerath said Gray proceeded to fire off a number of bullets 'one after another', adding: 'When we heard it, most people just dropped to the floor and like kind of crawled in an area like piled on top of each other.'
The Division of Family and Children's Services also had previous contact with the teen and will investigate whether that has any connection with the shooting.
Former President Donald Trump leads Vice President Kamala Harris among veterans a new poll finds just days after the candidates clashed over a reported incident during the ex-president's visit to Arlington National Cemetery last month.
The survey conducted by Change Research found the Republican presidential nominee leads his Democratic rival 51 percent to 41 percent among veterans.
It also found Trump leads Harris 49 percent to 44 percent among active duty, guardsmen and reservists with just over sixty days to go before the election.
When it comes to the families of veterans, the gap was tighter with Trump up 47 percent to Harris' 45 percent.
Poll was conducted August 23 to 29 among 1,703 veterans, active-duty service members, and family/household members of veterans and service members nationwide
The poll released to The Hill comes amid controversy surrounding Trump's recent visit to Arlington National Cemetery to mark three years since the Abbey Gate terror attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan.
During the visit there was a reported physical altercation involving a Trump campaign staffer and a worker in the cemetery when the campaign took photos and video in a restricted area of the cemetery.
It set off a series of accusations between the Trump campaign and U.S. officials with the vice president eventually weighing in.
The Trump campaign denies a staffer pushed a cemetery worker while the Army defended the staffer. It was a rare rebuke from the military of a former commander in chief.
The families that invited the former president to join them at the cemetery defended him, but other Gold Star Families who lost loved ones in service criticized Trump for posting photos and video of the visit to his campaign accounts.
Poll was conducted August 23 to 29 among 1,703 veterans, active-duty service members, and family/household members of veterans and service members nationwide
Trump visited the cemetery to mark three years since the Abbey Gate attack killed 13 Americans. His campaign says he was invited to be there by families. His campaign later posted a video of his time at the cemetery
The new poll of veterans and service members was conducted from August 23 through 29, so some of the data came before the Arlington reports.
When voters who had previously voted for Trump but do not plan to come November were asked about their choice, 53 percent indicted his comments, attitudes and policies for veterans and service members were a factor.
Overall, veterans tend to favor Republicans when it comes to elections and Trump has maintained strong support, but he has been deeply criticized for some past remarks and for the Arlington controversy by veterans as well as current military including late Senator John McCain's son 1st Lt. Jimmy McCain whose father has been a target of Trump's.
In response to the incident at Arlington, Harris released a statement saying the cemetery is 'not a place for politics' and that Trump 'disrespected sacred ground, all for the sake of a political stunt.'
Trump's cemetery trip and the alleged incident continues to play out weeks after it happened
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Trump and his team have shot back that the reported incident was all 'made up.'
Participants in the poll were asked to imagine being a team member in combat with Trump, who received draft deferments during Vietnam.
In response, 55 percent said the ex-president would only look out for himself while 54 percent said he would 'talk a big game but not do much.'Another 49 percent said he would 'crumble under pressure.'
Just over a third predicted Trump would win the Medal of Valor.
A child had brought the toy to the daycare centre
More than 60 young children aged under-5 rushed to hospital to get X-rays after a button battery scare at their childcare centre have been given the all clear.
A broken toy which had an unknown amount of button batteries missing was discovered at Greenspace Childcare Centre at Bli Bli on Queensland's Sunshine Coast on Wednesday.
Staff contacted emergency services straight away, amid fears at least one of the children may have swallowed the deadly devices.
The offending toy is believed to not be from the facility and was bought to daycare by a child.
Paramedics assessed 64 children aged 2-5 and arranged with Queensland Health for them to be picked up by their parents and taken to hospital.
The children underwent X-rays and all tests have since come back negative for the dangerous battery, 9 News reported.
'All children were assessed and no cases of ingestion have been reported,' a Queensland Ambulance spokesperson said.
The childcare centre bought in metal detectors to help look for the missing batteries, but nothing was found.
A broken toy with an unknown amount of missing button batteries was found at the Greenspace Childcare Centre on the Sunshine Coast
Button batteries are in many household items and are very common in children's products. If swallowed, it is a 'life-saving-emergency'
Centre staff and parents have been praised for their quick action.
'I commend the parents in all this, it would've been a daunting phone call for parents to receive about what's happened but the childcare centre was very transparent with them,' paramedic James Mayfield said
Parents were also quick to praise the childcare centre on how staff handled the situation.
'Button batteries are not to be messed with ... We were getting updates on the app, we were getting phone calls, everything was amazing,' parent Tahnee Tuckerman said.
Three Australian children have died from digesting button batteries in the last decade.
Three Australian children have died from ingesting batteries in the last decade, including Brittney Conway (pictured)
Queensland toddler Brittney Conway was just three-years-old when she swallowed a button battery in 2020. She died three weeks later.
Mr Mayfield told, 7 News it was because of the seriousness of the batteries that the paramedics decided to take a 'no risk no chance' approach on Wednesday.
The paramedic said the incident is a good reminder for parents and carers to assess any potential risks in their home, as the batteries can be in many items, including children's toys.
Mr Mayfield said swallowing a button battery is a 'life-threatening emergency' and parents should seek medical assistance straight away.
The symptoms of when someone swallows a button battery include abdominal pain, chest pain and gastrointestinal bleeding.
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Hunter Biden is pleading guilty to at least some of the nine tax evasion charges against him, in a stunning last-minute reversal at his criminal trial in Los Angeles.
The change was not due to a plea deal, with prosecutor Leo Wise telling Judge Mark Scarsi on Thursday: 'this is the first we're hearing of this'.
The shock revelation was made by Hunter's attorney Abbe Lowell in front of the judge, while 120 potential jurors waited next door to be selected for his trial.
Lowell cited legal cases and precedents suggesting that by pleading guilty, the judge would have to decide on the facts of the case rather than a jury, and the judge could only use material that has already been filed in the case.
Wise said he needed time to review the legal case Lowell cited, and the judge allowed them to take a break until 11am PDT.
The shocking U-turn is an apparent Hail Mary strategy by the defense to try to stop damaging and embarrassing evidence being presented to the jury.
Hunter's lawyers did not clarify whether he was pleading guilty to all nine charges including three felonies, or just some of them.
'We'll have to wait and see what they do,' Hunter's lead attorney Mark Geragos told DailyMail.com outside the courtroom.
Hunter Biden arrives at court with wife Melissa Cohen at his side as his tax evasion trial kicked off in Los Angeles Thursday
In a stunning reversal ahead of jury selection, Hunter's attorneys revealed he will now be pleading guilty to some of the charges
The First Son is seen in a court sketch entering a federal courtroom for jury selection for his trial
In court Lowell told Judge Scarsi that Hunter would be taking an 'Alford plea', meaning he would accept a guilty verdict while maintaining his innocence.
Lowell also told the judge that they had previously never accepted a plea deal, because the only offer the government made was to plead guilty to all charges.
His statement may suggest that Hunter is now deciding to plead guilty to only some of his charges. He faces a maximum of 17 years in prison if convicted of all charges.
The president's son had arrived at federal court earlier Thursday morning with wife Melissa Cohen at his side.
He entered the courtroom with Geragos, Lowell, his friend and attorney Kevin Morris, business partner Fran Person, as well as two other attorneys on his defense team.
A former federal prosecutor, who asked not to be named, told DailyMail.com that one possible explanation for the sudden change, was to get a quick verdict without a salacious trial, followed by a pardon or commutation from Hunter's father, President Joe Biden.
Biden has already promised that he would do neither but that was before he dropped out of the 2024 presidential race.
As long as he is president, through January 2025, he has the power to reduce or forgive any sentence his son receives.
The maximum sentence for Hunter's tax crimes is 17 years in federal prison and a $750,000 fine.
Another attorney, Samuel Dewey, a former congressional chief counsel, told DailyMail.com he also suspected the change of plea was part of a political pact to protect damaging information about Joe Biden from being aired in public.
Hunter's attorney Abbe Lowell, arrives at the First Street US Courthouse in LA Thursday, informed the judge of the shock plea reversal as jury selection was set to begin
The president's son had switched lead counsels ahead of his trial, retaining prominent LA celebrity attorney Mark Geragos in July. He is seen arriving in federal court on Thursday morning
Law enforcement officers and reporters gathered outside the US Courthouse as Hunter arrived at the LA courthouse
'We know the trial was going to involve detailed evidence of foreign influence peddling that likely would involve the broader Biden family and the President,' Dewey said.
WHAT IS AN ALFORD PLEA?
Lawyers for Hunter Biden announced on Thursday that he would be taking an 'Alford plea' in his tax evasion case, and therefore plead guilty to some of the criminal charges. An Alford plea is similar to pleading no-contest - or nolo contendere - in the sense that it allows the defendant to maintain his or her innocence. But unlike a no-contest plea, an Alford plea means the defendant is acknowledging there is enough evidence to result in a guilty verdict, without admitting to the charges. 'It's basically accepting that he's going to face sentencing for the charges, but he will not establish the facts that would be the basis for those charges,' federal criminal legal analyst Laurie Levenson told DailyMail.com. 'It is a lot like a nolo, but we call it Alford plea, because, frankly, it's a guilty plea. A nolo plea, it can be a little bit different, but an Alford is one where you basically say, "I'm guilty, but I'm not going to admit these facts".' Levenson, a former federal prosecutor and professor at Loyola Law School at Loyola Marymount University, confirmed that the last-minute move by Hunter's defense is uncommon and unexpected. The reversal was likely determined to be the best course of action for the president's son, however, it won't have any bearing on his sentencing, she explained. 'It's quite unusual. Courts generally don't want to allow that. They want the defendants to admit their conduct on the record, but you have cases where just to resolve them, sometimes they'll take an Alford, but it is actually very rare. 'Essentially, it will resolve the case.' As most have also speculated, Levenson says she too believes the shock plea is a bid to avoid another embarrassing spectacle of a very public trial. She also pointed to last month's pre-trial hearing in which the defense was dealt a brutal blow after the judge restricted the evidence that could be presented at trial. 'I think the prosecution was going to start to presenting evidence regarding [Hunter's] business overseas and things that are not directly related to the charges. So, I think they're trying to contain the allegations and the publicity,' Levenson said. 'He'll face the same consequences in terms of sentencing. I just don't think that they wanted to go through the spectacle of a trial.' Levenson, however, admitted that the timing of the plea reversal is not entirely unusual. 'I think that there have been a lot of moving pieces to this case, and I think things changed once Joe Biden dropped out of the race. 'I also think that sometimes it takes going up to the day of trial for a defendant to realize that realistically, he's not going to win that case, so resolving it with the least amount of spectacle might be best way to go.' If the judge accepts the plea, she explained, the case will then move forward with sentencing and there will be a pre-sentencing report, and both sides will file sentencing memoranda. Advertisement
The attorney was referring to prosecutors' evidence that Hunter earned $1million from allegedly lobbying US State Department officials on behalf of a Romanian real estate magnate charged with bribery a scandal first revealed by DailyMail.com two years ago.
'A plausible theory for why this odd turn happened now, is that Hunter has run out the clock and will not be required to report to prison until after November 4, when he will be pardoned without massive political damage to the Democratic nominee in the 2024 General Election,' Dewey said.
'So in effect this might be a 'fall' directed by others.'
Lowell seemed to think the case could be wrapped up quickly with this new turn, telling the judge: 'I think this can be resolved today It's not like it's a very complicated issue.'
'I will provide both the court and counsel for the government every case that addresses this,' he added.
Wise told Judge Scarsi: 'We would appreciate an opportunity to look at the law Mr. Lowell is now mentioning'.
The government attorneys are now spending the next couple of hours researching and coming up with a plan to respond to the shocking reversal by the defense, before the hearing is convened again at 11am.
Hunter is due to be sentenced in Delaware for his gun crimes on November 13, eight days after the presidential election.
If Hunter pleads guilty to all counts in his tax crimes case, his sentencing could be scheduled by the California federal judge before the end of the year.
It would also mean Hunter would avoid a trial that was set to air his years of drug-fueled debauchery and alleged political corruption.
It is ultimately up to Judge Scarsi to decide whether he will accept Hunter's guilty plea.
Prosecutors indicated before recess that they may be opposed to Hunter's plea, preferring to go ahead with the trial.
But their position may change after researching past legal cases and conferring with their boss, Special Counsel David Weiss for the next hour, until they go back into the trial hearing at 11am Pacific Time.
Hunters four-strong legal team, led by Geragos and Lowell, re-entered the courtroom shortly after 10am.
Hunter is sitting inside with his wife Melissa, as Secret Service agents guard the door.
The First Son who is facing his second criminal trial this year is accused of nine crimes including three felony counts and six misdemeanors for failing to pay $1.4million in taxes and lying on his IRS returns.
Chauffeured to the court from his Malibu home by his Secret Service escort in a convoy of blacked-out SUVs, he headed into the courthouse dressed in a navy blue suit and tie, clasping his wife's hand.
Among the sordid details of the case that was due to be presented is evidence that Hunter spent tens of thousands of dollars on prostitutes, drugs, hotel rooms for days-long benders, porn site subscriptions and a Lamborghini rental then deducted them on his tax return as business expenses.
He comes to the Los Angeles federal court from a humiliating defeat in Delaware in June, where a jury found him guilty of lying about his crack addiction to buy a gun in 2018.
Hunter, 54, faces the same two federal prosecutors, Wise and Derek Hines, who trounced his hotshot Washington, DC attorney Lowell in the previous criminal trial.
He is desperately hoping for a better result in this case, in which a conviction could fetch him a much heftier prison sentence of up to 17 years and $750,000 in fines.
The case marks the second high-profile criminal trial this year for Hunter, who faces multiple charges on evading $1.4million in taxes
He was flanked by supportive wife Melissa Cohen, who was also seen at her husband's side throughout his gun trial earlier this year
The president's scandal-hit son is set to stand his second criminal trial this year the culmination of his legal trouble that saw the sordid details of his life thrust into the spotlight
He has swapped out Lowell as led counsel for celebrity LA lawyer Geragos known for representing Chris Brown, Sean 'Diddy' Combs, Bill Clinton's brother Roger, Michael Jackson, Colin Kaepernick, Winona Ryder and more recently Jasveen Sangha, the so-called 'Ketamine Queen' who is facing charges in connection to the death of Matthew Perry.
Both criminal cases were brought by Special Counsel David Weiss, after a five-year probe into Hunter's debauched life and shady overseas business dealings.
Geragos says the prosecution plans to use salacious details to 'slime' the First Son in front of the jury.
Hunter's team already sustained a slew of defeats in pre-trial hearings that potentially kneecapped the plans for his defense.
Geragos wanted psychological experts to testify 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 Scarsi was having none of it, ruling that Hunter's expert, Joshua Lee, would not be allowed to testify.
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 Morris, his wealthy Hollywood attorney.
In a pre-trial hearing last month, the judge warned that if lawyers talked in front of the jury about topics he had outlawed, they could be fined 'six figures'.
Criminal defense lawyer Mark Geragos represented singer Chris Brown when he was charged with assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna. More recently he has been taken on by Jasveen Sangha, the so-called 'Ketamine Queen' who is facing charges in connection to the death of Matthew Perry
During a pre-trial hearing last month, the defense was dealt a blow in the case after 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
The prosecution plan to wheel out similar devastating evidence they used in the Delaware gun crime trial, including recordings of Hunter's own voice reading potentially incriminating excerpts from the audiobook version of his memoir, Beautiful Things, confessing to his drug binges.
A pool of 100 jurors were to be quizzed on their attitudes about tax laws, their views on people who fail to pay, their family history of drug addiction, and their political activities.
The potential jurors were drawn from LA and six neighboring counties.
In the 2020 presidential election, voters there sided with Hunter's father over Donald Trump, 63% to 35%.
Judge Scarsi said he would select 12 jurors and four backup 'alternates'.
Jury selection is expected to continue through Thursday and Friday if a panel i needed. Attorneys were set to kick off the trial with opening statements on Monday.
The trial wass estimated by both sides to last eight days.
Witnesses were 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.
Hunter is due to be sentenced in Delaware for his gun crimes on November 13, eight days after the presidential election.
Barely 24 hours after his finance secretary informed MSPs that ministers were flat broke, John Swinney got up and announced a Programme For Government bursting with goodies.
More fair pay settlements for the public sector and 145million for councils to maintain teacher numbers.
Additional support for carers, the disabled and those in poverty. Had Shona Robison taken out a Provident cheque?
Not quite. Swinneys first Programme For Government followed in the tradition of his predecessors: dress up things already being done as something new and hope no one notices. Unfortunately, they noticed.
Douglas Ross rhymed off all the Scottish Government budgets being cut, and the one that wasnt: Angus Robertsons.
Volte-face: Mr Swinneys statement was not quite bursting with goodies
The constitution budget. The one the money for promoting independence comes out of.
When youre huddled over a three-bar heater this winter, more icicles inside your window than out, youll be glad your fuel payment went to a better cause.
Kate Forbes sprung from her seat like a hungry Balinese that had just spotted a sparrow, and challenged Ross to name a single year in which the Scottish Government had overspent its budget. The Tory leader swerved, trilling: With the SNP, you pay more and get less.
Lambasting Swinney for a statement that restated existing commitments, Ross wondered if the First Minister has really been waiting 25 years to deliver that speech.
A proposed tightening of the ministerial code was, Ross ventured, an admission that Swinney had got it wrong backing his friend in the Michael Matheson scandal.
Swinney said he was making the changes to strengthen propriety, integrity and trust in government. He doesnt need a ministerial code, he needs a miracle.
There was some squirming on the government benches when Ross pointed out that Swinneys speech neglected to mention drug-related fatalities, the highest death toll in Europe and rising.
No wonder ministers looked awkward. Presiding over needless deaths on a massive scale is a moral failing, but forgetting all about it takes a certain classlessness.
Anas Sarwar is already honing his stump speech for 2026 and we got an early taste of it. Full of fury and bombast, he thundered that Swinney had no vision, no strategy, and no plan. The Nationalists were just running down the clock on the last 18 months of this parliament.
The contrast with the First Minister could not have been sharper. Swinney, a well-meaning man on a hiding to nothing, comes across as muted, resigned, even a little tired. Sarwar, by contrast, fizzes with energy and impatience. Hes the only politician I know who can stand still and look like hes sprinting.
The First Minister named global warming as the most pressing issue facing Scotland. He warned that flooding was having an impact on communities and key sectors. Perhaps climate change should be sent on an awareness course.
His concern didnt spare him an eco-monstering at the hands of Lorna Slater. I take no pleasure in saying this, but the Scottish Greens co-leader was on top form, going through Swinney like Patrick Harvie goes through sandals.
This is the first Programme For Government in four years which the Scottish Greens did not co-design, she sniffed. Quite frankly, it shows.
Cutting cash for Net Zero was a betrayal, selling out the future of our young people. Raiding ScotWind was emptying the pot instead of building up funds for a rainy day. Alex Cole-Hamilton echoed Slater on ScotWind, reminding the SNP that they used to castigate Margaret Thatcher for not setting up a comparable wealth fund for fossil fuels. Its Scotlands wind, but the SNP have blown it, he quipped.
Unfortunately, he got carried away while bragging about the Lib Dems election gains.
Viewed from space, we now represent more geographical territory north of the Border than even the Scottish Labour party, he proclaimed.
The Lib Dems are best viewed from space, their natural habitat.
There may be plenty more fish in the sea but none will replace the world's biggest goldfish after her death aged 20.
The lifeless body of the ginormous orange carp, lovingly nicknamed 'The Carrot' was found at her fishery in Champagne, France.
While her exact age is not known, she was believed to have been around 20 years old and succumbed to old age.
The Carrot gained worldwide recognition thanks to her unusual colouring and massive weight, coming in at a staggering 67lbs (30kg).
Such was her legend that anglers travelled from across Europe for the chance to catch the five-stone fish - before putting her back in the pond.
British angler Andy Hackett, 43, caught the hybrid leather carp and koi during a fishing trip with friends in Bluewater Lakes in France in 2022
The father-of-two, from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, spent 25 minutes battling to pull in the five-stone fish
The Carrot has been buried next to her lake at Bluewater Lakes, which is owned by British fisherman Gary Tardi. A plaque has also been erected in her memory.
A spokesperson for Bluewater Lakes said The Carrot was a 'one off' and her death had 'broken us in soul'.
He said: 'It is with great sadness that we have to report and announce the death of The Carrot.
'We put The Carrot in about 20 years ago as something different for the customers to fish for.
'This carp made its own following and fame all by itself. She was a one off for sure and we were very blessed and privileged to have had her residing in our lake.
'To know she's gone has broken us in soul.'
They said The Carrot has left the legacy of two baby fish in the lake, with one already weighing 40lbs.
Mr Parker looks lovingly at The Carrot, who he had the joy of catching in July this year
Lee Parker, of Banbury in Oxford, pictured alongside The Carrot in July this year
They added: 'She has two little babies in here and one is around the 40lb mark plus another little gem that's a tad smaller but has all the beauty of it's predecessor.'
Mr Tardi said: 'She died not long after spawning which is a very stressful time for carp and if you are going to lose one it is then.'
At a glance: The Carrot in all her glory
Here are some key facts about the Carrot: Weight: 67lbs (30kg) Length: Four-foot long Age: More than 20 years old Claim to fame: Being the world's largest goldfish Advertisement
Lee Parker was one of the last to catch The Carrot in July. He posted: 'Absolutely gutting news, having only caught her a few weeks ago. Such a tragic loss. So glad her memories will live on forever, and there is two more to carry on her legacy.
Ben Soane said: 'Such a cool carp and probably the most recognisable fish worldwide.'
Justin Crowfoot said: 'I had the pleasure of holding her but unfortunately never caught her.'
Earlier this year, British angler Lee Parker was fishing at Bluewater Lakes when he caught the Carrot - and was nearly pulled into the lake by the mammoth goldfish.
Mr Parker, of Banbury in Oxford, said it took off like an express train as he had to cling firmly to his rod.
He also described how he was forced to dig his heels into the lake's bank to avoid behind dragged into the water.
After a near ten-minute tussle with he steered the goldfish into his landing net and hauled it on to the bank.
After that, he weighed it and photographed before slipping the goldfish safely back into the water to fight another day.
And back in 2022, Andy Hackett, 43, spent 25 minutes reeling it in the Carrot and was delighted when it tipped the scales at just under five stones.
She was 30lbs heavier than what was considered to be the world's biggest goldfish, caught by Jason Fugate in Minnesota, US, in 2019.
And it was more than double the size of a 30lb bright orange koi carp caught by Italian Raphael Biagini in the south of France in 2010.
Mr Hackett, a father-of-two from Kidderminster in Worcestershire, caught his record-breaker at Bluewater Lakes in Champagne, France.
He said: 'I always knew The Carrot was in there but never thought I would catch it.
'I knew it was a big fish when it took my bait and went off side to side and up and down with it. Then it came to the surface 30 or 40 yards out and I saw that it was orange.
'It was brilliant to catch it but it was also sheer luck.'
Bereaved relatives have voiced anger at an exodus from the Commons before Keir Starmer's Grenfell statement.
The PM offered a heartfelt apology yesterday for failings by the state following a damning report from the independent inquiry.
But there was a backlash at footage of politicians leaving the chamber between the end of PMQs and Sir Keir beginning to speak about the 2017 tragedy.
Campaign group Grenfell United said: 'It comes as no surprise that the House emptied just hours after the judge announced the publication of the phase 2 report.
'It shows how many of those within the political elite are a part of the disregard, indifference and incompetence that contributed to the deaths of our 72.'
Vice-chair of the group Karim Mussilhy, whose uncle died in the fire, told the BBC's Newsnight programme: 'The PM is about to make a statement, you just see a flourish of bodies ion Parliament run - heading out, they just leave.
There was a backlash at footage of MPs leaving the chamber between the end of PMQs and Sir Keir beginning to speak about the 2017 tragedy yesterday
The PM offered a heartfelt apology yesterday for failings by the state following a damning report from the independent inquiry
Families of Grenfell victims pay their respects at a press conference after the release of the report yesterday
'That room was more than half empty. This is the culture we're talking about. How are we supposed to get justice when they don't even care.'
However, Downing Street played down the criticism of MPs.
The PM's spokesman said: 'You saw the strength of feeling from the PM and the government.
'The fact is that we will never forget the 72 lives lost at Grenfell the thoughts of all of Parliament were with the victims and their families.'
Sir Martin Moore-Bick's report said there was 'no evidence' that decisions about the tower's refurbishment, which resulted in the flammable cladding being used, were 'affected by racial or social prejudice'.
But it noted that in the aftermath of the blaze which killed 72 people 'certain aspects of the response demonstrated a marked lack of respect for human decency and dignity' and Kensington and Chelsea Council 'should have done more to cater for those from diverse backgrounds'.
In his statement, Sir Keir said the Grenfell Tower disaster raises 'fundamental questions' about the way working class communities and people of colour are treated in the UK.
The PM said tenants of the high-rise block were treated as 'second class citizens' and the publication of the report should force people to reflect on the state of social justice in the country.
Campaign group Grenfell United said there was 'indifference' within the political elite
Sir Keir said the report should be 'a moment to reflect on the state of social justice in our country'.
He added: 'Because this tragedy poses fundamental questions about the kind of country we are.
'A country where the voices of working class people and those of colour have been repeatedly ignored and dismissed.
'A country where tenants of a social housing block in one of the richest parts of the land are treated like second class citizens.
'Shamefully dismissed in the words of one survivor as people with needs and problems.
'Not respected as citizens, as people who contribute to Britain, who are part of Britain, who belong in Britain.'
A rattled Vladimir Putin has admitted that Russia is ready for peace talks with Kyiv as Ukraine continues its blistering offensive in Kursk.
The Russian despot said at the 2024 Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok today: 'Are we ready to negotiate with them?
'We have never refused to do so, but not on the basis of some ephemeral demands, but on the basis of those documents that were agreed and actually initialled in Istanbul,' referring to a failed peace deal from talks in the Turkish city early on in the war.
Although the Kremlin says these conditions for peace talks with Ukraine do not currently exist, Putin named China, India and Brazil as potential mediators.
'If there is a desire of Ukraine to carry on with the negotiations, I can do that,' the leader added, as Politico reports.
It comes as Kyiv is continuing its incursion into Kursk and claims it has taken control of over 500 square miles of Russian territory near the Ukrainian border.
A rattled Vladimir Putin (pictured) has admitted that Russia is ready for peace talks with Kyiv as Ukraine continues its blistering offensive in Kursk
In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Aug. 18, 2024, Russian soldiers fire a Giatsint-S gun toward Ukrainian positions at an undisclosed location near the Russian-Ukrainian border area in the Kursk region
Civilians look at a heavily damage and partially collapsed house after a Russian shelling in the town of Kostiantynivka, Ukraine on September 05, 2024
While Ukraine said it would not directly engage in negotiations with Moscow, it was hoping to build a group of intermediaries to do so.
Putin also repeated his view that an initial agreement reached in the first weeks of the war at talks in Istanbul, which was never implemented, could serve as a basis for talks.
But the Russian leader has also previously said that the Kursk incursion made any peace talks between his country and Ukraine impossible.
Ukraine's top commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, has said that one of the objectives of the Kursk operation was to divert Russian forces from other areas, primarily in eastern Ukraine near the cities of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove.
Though the Kursk incursion was an embarrassment for Putin and the top military brass, Russian officials are now portraying it as one of Kyiv's biggest tactical mistakes of the war, saying it ties down thousands of troops for little real gain.
'By transferring rather large and well-trained units to these border areas with us, the enemy weakened itself in key areas, and our troops accelerated offensive operations,' Putin said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said Kyiv plans to hold territory in Kursk and that the operation, which he says is part of a not fully disclosed victory plan, has brought the war home to Russians.
But Putin said on Thursday that Ukraine's incursion into the Russian region of Kursk had failed to slow Russia's own advance in eastern Ukraine and had weakened Kyiv's defences along the frontline in a boost to Moscow.
Putin, speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, said that Russian forces were now gradually pushing Ukrainian soldiers out of Kursk, where on Aug. 6 Ukraine launched the biggest foreign attack on Russia since World War Two.
Ukrainian emergency service workers extinguish a fire after a Russian bombing in the town of Kostiantynivka, Ukraine on September 4, 2024
This undated handout photograph released on September 1, 2024, on the official Telegram account of the Kursk-neighbouring Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, shows a firefighter extinguishing a car after a recent shelling by a Ukrainian strike in Belgorod
This handout picture taken and released by Ukrainian emergency service on September 5, 2024 shows Ukrainian rescuers working in a military educational facility which was hit by missiles in Poltava, eastern Ukraine on September 3, 2024
Ukraine had weakened its defences elsewhere and allowed Russia to accelerate its push into the eastern Donbas area, he said, reiterating that Moscow's primary aim was to take full control of the Donbas.
'The enemy's goal was to make us nervous and worry and to transfer troops from one sector to another and to stop our offensive in key areas, primarily in the Donbas,' Putin said. 'Did it work? No.'
Putin, who ordered tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022 in what he called a special military operation, said it was now 'the sacred duty of the armed forces' to expel Ukrainian forces from Kursk and to defend Russian citizens.
He said said Russian forces were taking chunks of territory in eastern Ukraine more swiftly than ever - and that recruitment rates were increasing in Russia.
'No action is taking place to contain our offensive,' Putin said. He said Russia's advance on the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk was successful.
Russian forces, which control 18 per cent of Ukraine, have been advancing in eastern Ukraine since the failure of Kyiv's 2023 counter-offensive to achieve a major breakthrough.
The power toolmaker Stanley Black and Decker is the latest firm to face a boycott from conservatives over its diversity-hiring policies and support for LGBTQ causes.
Consumers' Research, an advocacy group, has panned the Connecticut-based firm for picking suppliers based on their race, and funding LGBTQ lobbying in Washington.
The company, which is behind such brands as DeWalt, Black and Decker, and Stanley, joins a growing list of firms to come under pressure from conservatives over policies seen by many as 'woke.'
Will Hild, director of Consumers' Research, said Stanley Black and Decker has strayed into politics by pushing cultural values that 'have nothing to do with ensuring consumer satisfaction.'
The firm's 'sole priority should be providing their customer base, professionals and DIYers alike, with the best tools and equipment possible,' Hild told The Mail.
The Connecticut-based company is behind such popular home improvement brands as DeWalt, Black and Decker, and Stanley.
But behind the scenes, executives have been pushing a diversity-hiring and LGBTQ agenda
'Companies need to focus on serving their customers, not woke politicians.'
The $24 billion company did not immediately comment on the claims.
The boycott comes at a tough time for the toolmaker, which has seen its stock value sink in recent months, as it shutters plants and distribution hubs in a bid to trim $2 billion in costs and turn a profit.
The firm's DEI tsar Joe Simms
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) schemes are a front-line issue in America's culture wars.
Advocates say they help get more women and minorities into jobs and colleges. Critics say they unfairly deny opportunities to straight, white men and others, even when they're better candidates.
A report from Consumers' Research highlights controversial DEI efforts at the company.
They include policies to increase business with minority suppliers by at least 10 percent by 2025, donations of $10.5 million to 'racial equity' groups, and compulsory 'equity training' sessions for bosses.
It highlights comments from the firm's diversity chief Joe Simms, who has spoken of DEI as an 'unwavering focus' for the firm and one of its 'foundational commitments.'
Executives also teamed up with the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy group, and took part in its 'equality index,' which ranks firms on how friendly they are to gay and transgender staff.
The report includes filings that show the company spent $280,000 on lobbying lawmakers for the Equality Act, which would 'enshrine in federal law that biological males can participate in women's sports.'
The Mail surveyed the company's website and social media channels and found repeated references to its DEI work and support for 'inclusive' workspaces and celebrations of Pride month.
While such corporate statements are uncontroversial to many, companies increasingly take flak from conservatives for ignoring their customers and pushing an unwelcome social agenda.
In recent weeks, Ford, Lowe's, Coors, Harley-Davidson, Tractor Supply, John Deere and other well-known brands have pulled the plug on their DEI work or their support for LGBTQ causes.
The company's social media feeds repeatedly referred to its DEI work and support for an 'inclusive' workspaces and celebrations of Pride month.
Will Hild, director of Consumers' Research, a policy nonprofit, says Stanley Black and Decker is pushing cultural values that 'have nothing to do with ensuring consumer satisfaction.'
The company's diversity push may be at odds with some consumers who associate home improvements with manliness
Many were pushed into action by the online anti-DEI campaigner Robby Starbuck. Others have faced legal challenges from America First Legal, a group led by former Trump administration officials.
Many companies that embraced DEI policies in the wake of the cop killing of unarmed black man George Floyd in May 2020 have stepped back from them for fear of irking conservative customers.
Some businesses have received public shareholder letters since 2021 saying their DEI schemes amount to illegal discrimination and breach directors' duties to investors.
Anti-DEI groups were energized by the US Supreme Court ruling in June 2023 that struck down affirmative action in university admissions, a ruling that does not directly affect employers.
Former president Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for US president, has been highly critical of DEI initiatives.
For some, DEI schemes are important and necessary, as they can help to overcome historical racism and sexism and make it easier for people of all backgrounds to get ahead in education and work.
Critics say it's a form of reverse discrimination that unfairly blows back on straight, white men and others.
Others say DEI schemes may be well-intentioned, but seldom achieve their desired goals and that mandatory workshops on 'micro-aggressions' and 'white fragility' often make things worse by stirring up divisions in offices and classrooms.
An Ipsos poll in April found that 61 percent of voters called DEI a 'good thing.'
Still, a Gallup survey from around the same time found that only 38 percent of people wanted businesses to be taking a stance on current events a drop of 10 percentage points from 2022.
A student survivor of the shooting at Apalachee High School has told how she will never feel safe returning to the scene of the massacre.
Ariel Bowling opened up to the Today Show about her feelings in the aftermath of Wednesday's blood bath.
'I just feel like you're basically never safe anywhere No matter if there's cops in the school, there's still no safety at all,' she said.
Her mom Tabitha added that her daughter had told her she would never go back to the school, describing the situation as 'traumatic'.
Bowling was among those who were evacuated from the premises shortly after suspected gunman Colt Gray, 14, opened fire killing four people.
Ariel Bowling, pictured with her mom Tabitha, explained how she has been left feeling unsafe after surviving the Apalachee High School shooting
Ariel Bowling says she doesn't feel safe going back to school.
I just feel like youre basically never safe anywhere No matter if theres cops in the school, theres still no safety at all. pic.twitter.com/Ov7OksFAHA TODAY (@TODAYshow) September 5, 2024
Students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14 and teachers Christina Irimie, 53, and Richard Aspinwall, 39, were named as the victims.
Bowling was Aspinwall's math student and remembered him as a 'kind-hearted man' who had 'the most kindest soul ever.'
She said she was on her way to the vending machine when the chaos erupted.
'We heard shots fired and we ran back into the room, we just all piled up on top of each other in the corner,' Bowling said.
The teen called her mother amid the rampage, but disconnected to try and call the authorities.
'I heard five gunshots and then the phone went dead. I didn't know if she was hurt. She was calling 911, I was very scared,' the mom explained.
The massacre in Winder, Georgia claimed the lives of four people and injured almost a dozen others. Pictured: A mother and her children bow their heads in prayer at a vigil for the victims
After being given the all clear, Bowling described the devastating scene as she was led out of the building.
'I saw a deceased body on the floor but it was like covered up and I saw a female with a shot wound to her leg, it was just a really traumatic experience,' she said.
Nine victims were taken to hospitals with gunshot injuries, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
The shooting was reported at 10.23am - and Gray surrendered to police when he was apprehended.
He has been charged with murder and is due to make his first court appearance on Friday.
Authorities said an AR-style weapon was used in the deadly shooting and they are examining how it came to be in the gunman's possession.
Mason Schermerhorn, 14, an autistic student at Apalachee High School, was the first victim to be identified. He was among four people killed in the mass shooting
Teachers Christina Irimie and Richard Aspinwall lost their lives in the tragedy
Student Christian Angulo, 14, was also shot dead in the senseless shooting
Questions also remain over how he was able to walk onto the campus while armed.
It has since emerged that Colt was known to the FBI for at least a year and had previously been interviewed over threats made towards the school.
However, when investigators spoke to the teen and his dad, they were assured he was not left unsupervised around his father's hunting guns and was not responsible for threats.
They found no probable cause for and arrest and did not seize any weapons, instead advising local schools to remain on alert.
Gray's family has since issued a chilling threat to go 'full throttle' amid the news that he is being charged as an adult.
The teenager's aunt, Annie Polhamus Brown, took to Facebook during the aftermath, bringing up the issues he 'dealt with' and saying she 'will take care of my nephew and what he needs on this side.'
California lawmakers and former top cops say Kamala Harriss new campaign ads presenting her as tough on drug trafficking dont match with her record as a prosecutor when she advocated not charging dealers until their third arrest.
Harris proposed a policy in 2005 when she was San Francisco District Attorney to only prosecute drug dealers the third time they were caught selling narcotics, DailyMail.com has learned.
The plan sparked a scandal and was only halted when the citys police chief Heather Fong pushed back to prevent it.
So when the Harris presidential campaign released an ad on August 7 trumpeting her record as a tough prosecutor who took on drug cartels and spent decades fighting violent crime, California lawmakers and senior police officers who served during Harris tenure decided to speak up and challenge the candidate.
The campaign is trying to completely reinvent reality, said GOP congressman Kevin Kiley.
California lawmakers and former police officials are criticizing Kamala Harris recent campaign ads that portray her as a tough prosecutor
Lawmakers argue that these ads misrepresent her record, citing her 2005 proposal as San Francisco DA to only prosecute drug dealers after their third arrest, which was widely criticized and eventually halted.
Those of us who have actually lived in California in particular in San Francisco where she was DA but Los Angeles as well know all too well what the reality was.
She was a champion of San Franciscos sanctuary city policy, she wanted drug dealers to go without being prosecuted until the third attempt, and she herself said in her own book that she was a progressive prosecutor.
The more the American people learn about what her actual record was, theyre going to see this campaign rhetoric for the facade that it is.
Kevin Cashman, who was Deputy Chief of San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) at the time, said he and his colleagues were shocked by DA Harris 2005 proposal.
We immediately saw that it wouldnt be effective for our mission of keeping San Francisco safe, he told DailyMail.com.
The District Attorney called the strategy she recommended Operation Safe Streets. We in the police department called it Catch and Release, because we would have to catch them, identify them, and then release them back in the community without any action taken.
We saw that if we implemented that, wed be overrun by commuter criminals, if word got out that you can come to San Francisco and deal drugs without consequence.
Cashman said he felt the policy would mean more officers putting themselves in harm's way for nothing.
Critics, including GOP Congressman Kevin Kiley and former Deputy Chief Kevin Cashman, claim Harris' policies were more lenient than her campaign suggests
Making narcotics arrests in San Francisco is one of the most dangerous things an officer can do, he said. Weve had officers killed in the line of duty attempting to make drug arrests.
The DA wanted us to release those drug dealers after making narcotics arrests.
Cashman said that Harris new campaign ad casting her as tough on crime is not consistent with the facts.
Kamala Harris was the most liberal and progressive district attorney I worked with in over 30 years in the SFPD, he said.
An October 2005 letter to Harris from Cashmans then-boss, SFPD Chief Fong, laid out the adverse effects she believed the proposed policy would cause.
News of such a program would travel quickly within the drug community, the top cop wrote.
If out of town dealers learn that they can sell drugs without consequences in San Francisco, we will probably see an influx of sales and the associated crimes that come with that.
Narcotics dealers who sell drugs near a school would be released after only a brief detention. Undoubtedly, this would send the wrong message to observant children who unfortunately witness drug-dealing activity on a regular basis.
Officers routinely go into harms way to make these arrests and believe that sufficient probable cause and evidence exists for the complaint. In short, such a program could be bad for morale and counter to what every officer is taught.
Cashman said that despite the Chiefs letter, staffers in Harris DA office still tried one more time to persuade police leaders to agree to the policy but were shot down and abandoned the effort.
John McGinness, who was the Sacramento County Sheriff during Harris 2004-2010 DA role and served as president of the California Peace Officers Association in 2008, said that Harriss new campaign advert does not comport with the truth in any way shape or form.
I dealt with California law enforcement agencies up and down the state, he told DailyMail.com. She was an outlier insofar as she seemed to embrace a hands-off approach with regards to enforcing the law.
Harris has attracted criticism for other allegedly soft-on-crime policies as San Francisco DA.
Officials have pointed out that her approach, including a controversial plan for handling drug offenses and assaults on police, was perceived as too progressive and ineffective by law enforcement
She announced plans in February 2007 to get tough on assaults against police officers and said violent people should be held accountable, according to local news site SFGate.
But Harris ended up creating a policy that allowed offenders charged with misdemeanor assault on an officer. to qualify for pretrial diversion rather than prosecution.
The policy meant that if someone punched or spat on a cop, they would get counseling and other services, rather than jail time.
The bottom line is that if a suspect assaults a police officer, he should go to jail, not to class, said Cashman.
In 2007 the San Francisco Police Officers Association wrote to Harris protesting the policy.
A mum was astonished when she saw her ultrasound scan was being used in a fake pregnancy announcement for a woman linked to Tommy Fury.
Micaela Robinson, 29, woke up last week to see her pregnancy scan photo had gone viral.
It was shared on social media by a fake account claiming to be a Danish woman, Milla Corfixen, who Tommy Fury was rumoured to have cheated on his long term partner Molly Mae with.
Internet trolls claimed the scan showed a baby Ms Corfixen conceived with Fury after they allegedly met on holiday earlier this year.
But Corfixen was quick to deny the claims she was pregnant and now Ms Robinson has released pictures of herself with the scan and the baby.
Micaela Robinson could not believe it when her baby scan was connected to Tommy Fury
Danish Milla Corfixen linked to Tommy Fury after his break up with Molly-Mae Hague
Tommy Fury and Molly Mae who have their own child recently split up
The claim was debunked - but many people on social media were still left suspecting the scan photo was in some way linked to Fury.
But British micro-influencer Micaela, who the photo actually belongs to, has come forward to 'claim back her photo' and clear Tommy.
The mum-of-three posted the original scan photo - complete with giraffe baby grow and knitwear - on Instagram in March.
She was 20 weeks pregnant with her third child, Oakley, who was born on July 30.
She never thought much of it - until she saw it being shared by the fake account claiming to be Milla.
Ms Robinson's baby scan which she is 'claiming back' showing her third child Oakley
Micaela, a midwife from Norwich, Norfolk, said: 'The photo came up on my For You page on TikTok and I thought 'hang on a minute'.
'I did a double take and it took a few minutes to sink in - my scan photo had millions of views.
'I was gobsmacked - it has been plastered over different news outlets claiming all of these things about Tommy Fury.
'I'm just your bog-standard average mum living in Norfolk with a family of five - I have no connection to any celebrities.
'It wasn't even a post that did particularly well when I shared. It was just part of my pregnancy diaries.
'I don't even know how they found it - though a hashtag or something maybe? I don't know!'
Micaela said she took the original photo of her scan in her bedroom on March 28, after going for her 20 week scan where she found out the gender.
Ms Robinson with Oakley who was born on July 30 after the baby scan picture went viral
Ms Robinson carrying her third child Oakley who internet trolls lied was Tommy Fury's baby
She had edited out her full name but left the scan numbers in the right hand corner of the photo.
These were covered with a purple emoji by whoever circulated the photo when linking it to Tommy Fury.
Micaela said: 'I just want to claim back my photo!
'I'm not crying over it - it's only a scan photo - but it's made me think about how public my Instagram is.
'It's just crazy how people go to these lengths to get involved with things.. You have to take things with a pinch of salt.'
She added: 'I have to laugh about it - it's so mad.
'When Oakley is older I'll tell him his scan photo was famous!'
Lawyers for Donald Trump argued in court Thursday that a ruling that Trump's communications with former Vice President Mike Pence around January 6 should be found to be immune and would 'crater' the new indictment against him.
They told a federal judge the Trump-Pence talks about the vice president's role could unravel the government's entire case against the former president with the November election once again looming over timing decisions in the blockbuster case.
'If in fact the communications with Vice President Pence which are all over this indictment if in fact these are immune, then that entire indictment is improper,' Trump lawyer John Lauro told Judge Tanya Chutkan at a hearing Thursday.
'If your honor decides that that is immune, then the whole indictment craters,' he said.
In a case that once looked to put Trump on trial over January 6 even amid his run for the White House, Trump's team wants the opportunity to go first and issue a briefing calling to dismiss the new indictment against him.
Trump didn't appear in court Thursday, and his lawyer entered a not guilty plea to the judge on his behalf.
Special Counsel Jack Smith obtained a new superseding indictment from a grand jury last week following a Supreme Court ruling on the immunity issue that threw a wrench into the case.
Prosecutors want to keep things moving filing their own brief in about three weeks and getting the chance to share more of the evidence they have obtained. As they did when the case first came up a year ago, government prosecutors want a schedule that keeps the case moving down the tracks.
Trump lawyer John Lauro (l) said communications between Trump and Mike Pence will ultimately be found to fall within presidential immunity
Judge Chutkan bristled when Lauro brought up the information being put into the public record 'at a very sensitive time in our nations history.'
She took that as Lauro invoking the election, and asking her to stall procedures because of it, and returned to her earlier statements about not being guided by the political calendar.
'I understand there is an election pending. Ive said before and I say again that the electoral process and the timing of the election is not relevant here,' she admonished him.
'It strikes me that what youre trying to do is affect the presentation of this case so as not to impinge on an election,' she told Lauro.
Chutkan said setting a trial date at this point would be an 'exercise in futility' effectively ending the prospect of a trial before American head to the polls.
Lauro calls the Mike Pence communications where Trump told his VP he had the authority not to accept votes for Joe Biden certified by states constitute a 'gateway issue.' He wants Chutkan to make a decision on that before getting into other evidence that prosecutors have gathered.
'If you decide this issue, then all of that briefing never takes place,' he said.
Prosecutor Thomas Windom argued for the judge to choose the 'most efficient and practical way forward,' while arguing that even if the Pence material falls away it would not blow up the case. 'It is not an automatic dismissal of the indictment,' he said.
Chutkan also decided she will let Lauro file a motion arguing that Smiths's appointment was unconstitutional.
Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove attended court but did not speak
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But she expressed skepticism noting it was a based on a concurring opinion by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and a ruling by 'another judge' in Florida on the same issue in the classified documents case.
She asked why that would warrant 'me going against binding D.C. Circuit precedent,' and said she didn't find the argument particularly 'persuasive.'
Chutkan has been presiding over the January 6 case and was keeping it on a fast track until the Trump team upended the timeline by going to the Supreme Court with their claims of presidential immunity from prosecution.
The high court's July opinion set it to lower courts to weigh which actions fall within the 'official' acts that enjoy absolute immunity protections.
At one point the judge said the Trump team's proposed timeline could drag the case out through next year, and noted that it has already been on her docket for a year. She showed an interest in handling various challenges that the Trump lawyers want to bring simultaneously.
'We can all walk and chew gum at the same time,' Chutkan said.
Smith refashioned a superseding indictment that jettisoned a key part of the narrative Trump's alleged use of top Justice Department officials to interfere in the state vote count. But he kept the four main charges that Trump interfered in the 2020 elections in an attempt to stay in office.
The lawyers still must argue whether the new version complies with the Supreme Court's direction.
Defense lawyers are readying still more motions to dismiss the case outright, including that Trump is subject to a 'selective vindictive prosecution.'
Among the challenges Trump's team signalled they would file is one claiming that Smith's appointment was unconstitutional. That argument held sway with Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon, who is overseeing the classified documents case in Florida. She dismissed the case, although Smith's team is appealing and an outside watchdog group is seeking to remove her from the case.
Trump, who did not appear in court, is charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S., conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding when Congress met to count the electoral votes for president, and a conspiracy against people's rights to have their votes counted.
The new indictment says the 'Despite having lost, the Defendant who was also the incumbent president was determined to remain in power.'
It cast the conduct as personal, and says he 'sought to enlist the Vice President to assist in the plan to use his role as President of the Senate to fraudulently alter the election results. The Defendant had no official responsibilities related to the certification proceeding, but he did have a personal interest as a canddiate in being named the winner of the election.'
MBABANE Government has assembled a high-powered task team to investigate the alleged violation of workers rights, as concluded by the recent International Labour Conference.
The task team will conduct its functions backed by the Commissions of Enquiry Act. This year was the 16th time Eswatini came under discussion for allegedly violating the same International labour organisation (ILO) convention. The conclusions of the conference dealt with a number of alleged workers rights violations, such as the alleged harassment in the education sector involving the President of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), Mbongwa Dlamini, and the teargassing of workers in a bus. They also included the brutal murder of Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko, who represented workers on legal issues and alleged physical attacks of trade unionists such as Sticks Nkambule, General Secretary of the Swaziland Transport, Communication and Allied Workers Union (SWATCAWU), who fled the country.
Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi announced a 14-member committee comprising of government office bearers. It will be chaired by Principal Secretary in his ministry, Makhosini Mndawe, while members include Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Lomvula Hlophe, Assistant Attorney General Mndeni Vilakati, Principal Secretary of the Ministry Housing and Urban Development Dr Simon Zwane and others. The minister said the task team had been empowered by Cabinet, among other things, to verify the allegations that were made during the discussion of the country in Geneva, by summoning and examining witnesses under oath. It will also demand disclosure of information, documentation, and book, including conducting site inspections, in terms of Section 11 of the Commissions of Enquiry Act.
It will also co-opt any relevant government ministry, department or institution, including inviting officials from the ILO, as may be necessitated by the need to validate and/or obtain clarities in the implementation of the ILO conclusions, comments or recommendations. The team will also consult with social partners and other relevant stakeholders. The minister said government had exerted enormous effort to enhance relations with the social partners, including attendance to various workers events, such as May Day. Government was taken aback by the discussion of the country during the recent International Labour Conference, wherein the country was accused of violating ILO Convention 87. This discussion was viewed by government to have been premature and constitute a major setback to the concerted efforts of reaching out to join hands with the labour movement to promote the spirit of tripartism and social dialogue on worker-related issues, he said.
Buthelezi said government committed itself to addressing the conclusions of the Conference. As a result, Cabinet has deemed it proper to appoint a Government Technical Task Team to consider with a view to address, the conclusions that were adopted by the Conference in June. During the 112th session of the annual International Labour Conference, government was among the list of 24 countries, which were discussed by the Conference Committee on Application of Standards (CAS), wherein the government was requested to provide information regarding the implementation of Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention (1948), ratified by Eswatini on April 26, 1978.
A 31-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a chef mentored by Gordon Ramsay who was found unconscious in the street close to Notting Hill Carnival.
Omar Wilson, 31, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after Mussie Imnetu was discovered outside a restaurant on Queensway on the night of August 26.
Wilson was then charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and had appeared in court on the charge last Friday - before Mr Imnetu then died.
The Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed to MailOnline Wilson has since been charged with murder. He is due back in court at the end of this month.
A CPS spokesperson said Wilson, who was remanded into custody following his appearance at Westminster Magistrates Court on August 30, was charged with murder the same day.
Michelin star chef Mussie Imnetu died in hospital after being attacked in the street in the vicinity of Notting Hill Carnival
Police want to speak to these individuals following the death of the Dubai-based chef in London last week
Meanwhile, Met Police detectives have released pictures of 16 witnesses they want to speak to who may hold vital information on the attack.
Mr Imnetu, 41, was visiting the UK from Dubai when he was found unconscious with a head injury at around 11.22pm and taken to hospital, where he died of his injuries four days later.
Michelin star chef Mr Imnetu, who hails from Eritrea but grew up in Sweden, had been working at the Arts Club in Dubai and was in London on a business trip to see the restaurant's Dover Street branch.
Police said he left the restaurant at 1pm on Monday and then at around 10.30pm he went to the Dr Power restaurant on Queensway.
However, they are still keen to trace his movements in the nine and a half hours in between those checkpoints.
Officers are extremely keen to stress that none of the people in the images are suspected of a crime.
However, the information they hold could be vital to the ongoing investigation into Mr Imnetu's death.
A Met source said: 'This is indeed now a murder investigation.'
Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie, who is leading the probe, said: 'Our investigation has progressed at pace and a man has been charged in connection with the attack.
However we are still very keen to hear from anyone who can help piece together Mussie's movements between 13:00hrs when we know he left The Arts Club in Dover Street, W1, and when he arrived at Dr Power restaurant, in Queensway at 22:30hrs.
'We have images of a number of people who were in or near the Dr Power restaurant at the time of the attack.
'Are you one of the people pictured or do you recognise anyone? Did you hear or see something either before or after the attack that may help with the investigation?
'I would like to stress that none of those pictured have done anything wrong.
'Perhaps they were enjoying post carnival celebrations and may not live in the area but they could hold information that is important to the investigation and I urge them to contact us.'
In all, police have issued the images of 16 people they believe could hold key information on the attack that allegedly cost Mr Imnetu his life
Police issued this image of Mr Imnetu leaving The Arts Club in Mayfair's Dover Street at around 1pm - some 10 and a half hours before he was found with a head injury
Mr Imnetu was a highly regarded chef who had worked under the likes of Gordon ramsay, Marcus Wareing and Alain Ducasse.
His employers said in a statement: 'After joining The Arts Club London in 2011, Mussie was part of the opening of the club's Dubai location in 2020.
'Known for his passion, calm demeanour and kindness, Mussie truly embodied the club's essence.'
Mr Imnetu's death was the second to hit this year's Notting Hill Carnival, which was marred by eight stabbings and 334 arrests.
Cher Maximen, 32, was transported to hospital in a critical condition from Golborne Road on August 25 after she was caught in the middle of a fight between two groups of men.
The mother was brutally stabbed in front of her three-year-old daughter before being rushed away by paramedics, but tragically despite best efforts from medical staff, Cher died on August 31.
A court heard how Cher was stabbed with a 'Rambo-style knife' and suffered a cardiac arrest, after losing 20 units of blood, and had a collapsed lung.
Mr Imnetu was visiting the UK from Dubai where he lived and worked as a top chef at The Arts Club
Cher Maximen, 32, was transported to hospital in a critical condition from Golborne Road after she got caught in a fight between two groups of men
A court heard how Cher was stabbed with a 'Rambo-style knife' and suffered a cardiac arrest, after losing 20 units of blood and one of her lungs collapsed
Police out in force on the 'family day' at Notting Hill Carnival on Sunday August 25
Shakiel Thibou, 20, was charged with attempted murder, possessing a knife and violent disorder.
He attended court alongside his older brothers Sheldon, 24, and Shaeim, 21, who were also charged with violent disorder and assault by beating of an emergency worker.
His charge is also set to be reviewed in light of Ms Maximen's death.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said of the deaths: 'It is heartbreaking that Cher Maximen and Mussie Imnetu have died after being attacked in separate incidents over the bank holiday weekend.
'My thoughts are with their families and friends at this truly terrible time.
'This violence is shocking, completely unacceptable and a betrayal of the values that (Notting Hill) Carnival was founded to celebrate.'
The Met Police had warned partygoers at the carnival to behave themselves, adding that they were 'tired' of parroting the same lines every year and violence breaking out nevertheless.
The organisers of Notting Hill Carnival said in a statement: 'Notting Hill Carnival is shocked by these tragic deaths and our thoughts are with the victims' families and the local community as a whole, which like so many others, has suffered all too often from the blight of violent crime.
'We stand together against all violence and condemn these acts, which are against all carnival values and the millions of people who come in celebration of them.'
Pressure is growing on the event to be ticketed following the pair's deaths.
Peter Bleksley, a former Scotland Yard detective, told LBC: 'I don't want the carnival banned at all, far from it. But this criminality, this bloodshed, has to stop.'
A Labour MP has vowed to bring in an assisted dying law insisting 'the time has come' for reform.
Jake Richards announced his intention after winning a coveted spot in the Commons ballot for private members' bills.
The news brings closer the prospect of a meaningful debate and vote on the floor of the House, with claims the mood has changed after a high-profile campaign by TV star Esther Rantzen.
Dame Esther has been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer and has joined assisted-dying clinic Dignitas in Switzerland.
MPs who come in the top 20 places in the random ballot get allocated time on a sitting Friday to debate and progress a proposal from the backbenches. Some 458 applied.
However, legislation still rarely makes the statute book without at least tacit government support, and Mr Richards only secured 11th spot.
Pro-assisted dying campaigners gather outside Parliament earlier this year
Dame Esther Rantzen has been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer and has joined assisted-dying clinic Dignitas in Switzerland
Labour MP Jake Richards has vowed to bring in an assisted dying law insisting 'the time has come' for reform
The Rother Valley MP posted on X: 'Happy to have made the Private Members Bill ballot.
'Subject to procedure and those ahead of me, Ive made it clear that my first preference for a bill would be to reform our archaic assisted dying laws, working with @dignityindying and others.
'The time has come.'
As Labour leader, Sir Keir said this year he was in favour of a change in the law - and would provide time for MPs to vote on the issue.
But after taking power the PM suggested he did not want the issue to distract from the new government's first term priorities, such as measures to boost the economy.
That was taken as a signal any action is likely to be delayed until at least 2026.
Sir Keir supported a change in the law the last time the issue was voted on in the Commons nine years ago.
An Eton music teacher and famed organist who looked for 'gay little boys' on his work laptop has been banned from the classroom for life.
David Goode, 52, was suspended from his role as Organist and Head of Keyboard at the elite boarding school in December 2021, three days after an IT system triggered warnings about his searches.
He was arrested on suspicion of possession and distribution of indecent images of children on the same day, but police later decided to take no further action.
The vile searches, which occurred on 229 occasions in 2021, included gay little boys, free spirits gaylove, cute thai boys, cute thai littel [sic] boys and Algerian gay boys, a hearing of the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) said.
He was described as 'a player at the peak of his powers' by Gramophone magazine
Goode released complete organ works of Bach on 16 CDs as well as teaching at Eton
He also has over 15,000 monthly listeners on Spotify but he will not be able to teach again
Goode, who has played at Proms multiple times and released the complete organ works of Bach on CD, had previously been warned about using the Schools IT network to attempt to access pornography in 2017, the TRA hearing outcome document stated. He also has over 15,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
After his suspension, Goode wrote a letter to a colleague which referred to illegal images with the musician adding he was massively regretful.
He formally resigned his role at the Berkshire institution ahead of an internal disciplinary hearing in April 2022.
At the Teaching Regulation Agency hearing, Goode admitted that his actions were sexually motivated and that his behaviour amounted to unacceptable professional conduct which may bring the profession into disrepute.
Eton College is for boys aged between 13 and 18 and fees are just under 53,000 a year. Its many notable alumni include Boris Johnson and David Cameron.
The TRA panel said he had submitted a statement which says shows remorse and apologises for his actions and expresses the steps he is taking to address his behaviour.
They also heard that his name has been included in the Childrens Barred List and he is therefore already pursuing a career outside of teaching.
Decision maker David Oatley, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education, said Goode, who attended Eton himself before graduating from Cambridge, would be banned from teaching.
The historic college also educated the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge
Boys walking through the town on their way to class in their distinctive tailcoats
He added: Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, I have decided that Mr Goode shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.
An Eton College spokesman said it fully supports the decision to bar Mr David Goode from teaching having been found guilty of professional misconduct and/or conduct capable of bringing the teaching profession into disrepute.
Mr Goode was employed by Eton College from 2005 to 2022. The misconduct in question, which involved searching for indecent images of children online, was identified in 2021 through the Colleges own internet monitoring system.
'As soon as we processed our daily monitoring reports highlighting the searches, on 7 December 2021, we immediately notified the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and the police. In consultation with the LADO and the police, Mr Goode was suspended on the day of his arrest on 9 December 2021 and did not return to work prior to his resignation in April 2022.
A police investigation followed but no criminal charges were brought, whereupon the College commenced internal disciplinary proceedings. However, Mr Goode resigned before these could be concluded. At the time we made the necessary professional referrals, including a referral to the TRA, which has resulted in yesterdays publication of their decision.
We agree with the TRAs assessment that the findings of misconduct are particularly serious due to the nature of the online searches and the harm that such activity does to young people. While there is no evidence to suggest that any Eton pupil was at risk during Mr Goodes employment or as a result of these searches, the safety and wellbeing of all young people remains our top priority. Eton College remains committed to maintaining rigorous safeguarding practices and fostering a culture where pupils, parents, and staff can confidently raise any concerns.
The College spokesman added: Mr Goode attempted to access legal, adult pornography in February 2017. These attempts were unsuccessful as the sites were blocked by the Colleges filtering and monitoring system.
The College immediately reported this to the LADO, who informed the police. The police investigated and concluded that there was no illegal activity, and the case was closed by the statutory agencies.
Notwithstanding this, as stated in the TRA decision, Mr Goode was given a warning about his conduct from the College.
Goode said in an email that he deeply regrets what has happened and any distress caused.
Eton recently said its 52,749-a-year fees would 'likely' increase in January to about 63,000.
The EU's former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier made a stunning return to the European political front line today as he was named France's oldest ever prime minister.
The 73-year-old, who became a bete noire of Brexiteers because of his tough bargaining skills, was unveiled by under-pressure Emmanuel Macron this morning.
The president is seeking to end almost two months of political deadlocks since France's snap elections - which he called - ended in stalemate.
Mr Barnier faces a number of hurdles, not least that he is not even a serving French MP. He replaces Gabriel Attal, 35, a man less than half his age who served only eight months in office.
He has been all but invisible in French political life since failing to win the rightwing Republicans party nomination to challenge Macron for the presidency in 2022.
His appointment - which may be short-lived as he is already facing a challenge from France's left - was met with bemusement from Brexiteers.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage tweeted that he was 'an EU fanatic that will suit sell-out (prime minister Keir) Starmer.'
It comes weeks after Mr Barnier used a newspaper interview to describe the UK's new PM, who backed Remain, as 'a European like me'.
Former Irish Tanaiste Simon Coveney welcomed the appointment of a negotiator who did so much for the country in Brexit negotiations, saying: 'Ireland now has a great friend as French Prime Minister.'
The 73-year-old, who became a bete noire of Brexiteers because of his tough bargaining skills, was unveiled by under-pressure Emmanuel Macron this morning.
Emmanuel Macron is seeking to end almost two months of political deadlocks since France's snap elections - which he called - ended in stalemate.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage tweeted that he was 'an EU fanatic that will suit sell-out (prime minister Keir) Starmer.'
Asked for Sir Keir's response to Mr Barnier's appointment, a Downing Street spokeswoman said: 'We wish him all the best in his new role. The UK enjoys a strong relationship with France.
'The PM visited Paris just last week, and we are committed to working collaboratively on our shared priorities, from tackling illegal migration to supporting Ukraine and delivering sustainable economic growth.'
She added: 'We want to reset our relations with the EU and make Brexit work better for British people. And we are also resetting our relations with European countries at a bilateral level.'
Sir Keir was shadow Brexit secretary through the bitter divorce proceedings between the UK and Brussels and impressed Mr Barnier.
'I get the feeling that Keir Starmer will one day be UK prime minister,' he wrote in a 2018 diary entry.
Mr Barnier is now faced with the mammoth task of forming a government that will need to survive a National Assembly divided into three big political blocs - with none able to form a clear majority.
Following the recent political stalemate, President Emmanuel Macron has called on Mr Barnier to take on the esteemed role, despite him not being a serving elected MP.
The Brexit hardliner now faces an immediate vote of no confidence because of his apparent lack of democratic legitimacy.
An official at Matignon, the prime minister's official residence in Paris, said on Thursday afternoon: 'Michel Barnier has been named prime minister by President Macron.'
But his appointment has already angered politicians on the left, who maintain that the head of government should reflect French voters' clear preference for the leftist New Popular Front.
The appointment means that Mr Barnier will become the oldest prime minister in the history of the 5th Republic - taking over from the youngest PM, Gabriel Attal, who is 35.
Since the announcement, Macron appears to be counting on the far-right National Rally of three-time presidential candidate Marine Le Pen not to block the appointment of Barnier.
RN party leader Jordan Bardella said Barnier would be judged 'on evidence' when he addresses parliament.
Greens leader Marine Tondelier countered: 'We know in the end who decides. Her name is Marine Le Pen. She is the one to whom Macron has decided to submit.'
Barnier was last in parliament in 1993, and is currently a member of The Republicans (LR) party the current name for the Gaullist conservatives, who are in opposition.
Pressure has been building on President Macron to appoint a prime minister after a coalition led by his Renaissance party came second in a snap election in early July.
It was won by the Popular Front a Leftist coalition specifically aimed at keeping the far-Right National Rally party from gaining power.
Mr Barnier did not emerge as a serious candidate to run a new French government until Thursday, when he was seen at the Elysee Palace.
He tried to become LR's presidential candidate in 2022, but was eliminated in the first round of party voting with less than five per cent of the vote.
During the campaign, he took a hard line on immigration, saying it was 'out of control.'
There is a looming deadline for France to start 2025 budget discussions, at a time when the country is under severe criticism from the EU for overspending.
On Thursday, Jean-Philippe Tanguy, a National Rally MP, said Mr Barnier represented the 'fossilised old world', accusing the Elysee Palace of 'going down the Jurassic Park'.
Barnier first become a French member of parliament aged just 27 in the 1970s and first entered government in the mid-1990s under late president Jacques Chirac.
Such is the longevity of Barnier's top-level political career that he is known by some as the 'French Joe Biden' after the US leader whose long career has spanned a similar time.
The Brexit hardliner who once described UK prime minister Boris Johnson as a 'bulldozer', led the EU's talks with Britain over its exit from the bloc from 2016 to 2021.
Barnier was named as France's new Prime Minister, the Elysee palace announced on September 5, almost two months after legislative elections left the country in political deadlock. Pictured: Barnier and Macron at the 56th International Agriculture Fair (Salon international de l'Agriculture) at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, on February 23, 2019
He has served four times as a cabinet minister and twice as a European Commissioner before becoming the head of the Brexit task force in 2016.
Barnier wrote a book about Brexit 'My Secret Brexit Diary: A Glorious Illusion', its title already stating clearly what he thought of the idea of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union.
While true to his courteous reputation, Barnier steered clear of any salacious gossip in the published work, he never ceases to express his amazement at how his British counterparts were handling the process.
'There is most definitely something wrong with the British system... every passing day shows that they have not realised the consequences of what is truly at stake here,' he wrote.
Barnier, who was an unsuccessful candidate in the primary to become the conservative presidential candidate in 2021, is also seen as having views on domestic politics that are more compatible with the far right.
He triggered a swathe of backlash when he said France should regain its 'legal sovereignty' and not be subject to the judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights.
He also triggered dismay in Brussels by calling for France to free itself from European court oversight.
To claw back France's 'space to manoeuvre', Barnier said he would organise a referendum if elected, asking voters to approve constitutional changes and the ability of parliament to set immigrant quotas each year.
He declared he did not 'really like the concept of European sovereignty' and took aim at 'German dominance' in the European Union, adding 'I know what I'm talking about.'
His appointment has even caused disquiet among allies with one LR member of parliament, asking not to be named, saying he epitomised 'everything the French don't want'.
He is 'disconnected and will continue or finish killing the right,' they said.
Macron in July refused to appoint the alliance's candidate for prime minister, civil servant Lucie Castets, 37, arguing she was not in a position to govern with stability.
A 13-year-old Pittsburgh-area girl who vanished last month was found inside a Pennsylvania jail after she lied to police about her age and identity after she was arrested for shoplifting, a prosecutor said.
Tabitha Clark disappeared on August 2, but just two weeks later, she was found booked into Beaver Country Jail, which is for adult prison inmates.
According to Beaver County District Attorney Nate Bibel, someone had recognised her as the young girl who had gone missing.
Pittsburgh police had posted information about the missing teenager on August 6, and subsequent reports said she had been seen in the city and riding on public transportation.
The young girl's parents were then notified and they picked her up, and the charges against her were moved to juvenile court, Bible said.
13-year-old Tabitha Clark went missing on August 2 and was found in a prison for adults two weeks later after she lied to officers about her age following a shoplifting arrest
Police had been searching for the missing teen. he had been captured on CCTV several times after her disappearance
Tabitha was charged with retail theft after she was caught stealing items from a store in Beaver Falls on August 17, he said.
At the time, she gave police a false name and birthdate that led authorities to believe she was 18.
The teen eventually told officers on several occasions that she was a juvenile from the Pittsburgh area, and they told her they would release her to her parents.
However, the girl falsely told them she was homeless, Bible said.
During this time, Beaver Falls police contacted child services agencies in Beaver County and Allegheny County - where Pittsburgh is located - to try to find information about her, but since she had given authorities a fake name no records were found, said Bible.
It is not known how many days she spent with the jail's adult population.
A depraved husband allegedly let an HIV positive attacker rape his drugged wife six times, a French court has heard.
Dominique Pelicot, 71, and 50 others aged 22 to 70 are accused of raping Gisele Pelicot, 71, while she was unconscious.
Madame Pelicot told the court that she had to get tested for HIV as 'one man who came [to rape me] six times was seropositive'.
Depraved Mr Pelicot filmed the assaults and a horrified medical expert who viewed the footage told the court that he had 'never before been so shocked by such images as an expert', before adding that Madame Pelicot could have drowned after being drugged.
While Mr Pelicot and 14 of his co-accused have admitted their part in France's worst rape case, 35 men deny that they forced themselves on Madame Pelicot while she was unconscious, claiming that she in some way consented.
Madame Pelicot, who had bravely waived her right to anonymity to speak about her ordeal in court, told the court those claiming she consented was 'an insult to my intelligence'.
She added: 'These individuals were totally aware of what state I was in. I never knowingly took part in any of these things.'
Gisele Pelicot is pictured above as she left the court in Avignon, France, on September 5
A court drawing shows Madame Pelicot taking the stand, facing her husband and the 50 others accused of raping her
Dominique Pelicot and 50 other accused of raping her. Pelicot and 14 of his co-accused have admitted their part in France's worst rape case
Madame Pelicot had no idea that she was being subjected to this terrible betrayal until her husband was arrested for 'upskirting' at his local supermarket and police discovered a library of 'sex-movies' at their home (pictured above)
Mr Pelicot broke down in tears in the dock today when his wife detailed how they fell in love and started their married life together before her world 'collapsed' when her husband's depraved crimes were discovered.
Judge Roger Arata asked Madame Pelicot if she suffered any problems after being abused for ten years, to which she replied that she was tested for HIV, adding: 'I was diagnosed with four sexually transmitted diseases at the Versailles medical forensic unit.'
The judge also asked her whether her husband had any 'sexual desires' that she didn't want to participate in.
'Once we went to a nightclub with another couple where there was a 'swingers' room'. But I didn't want to get involved in that so we did not go into that room and we just stayed in the main nightclub,' the mother-of-three replied.
Another judge asked Madame Pelicot whether she and her husband ever discussed filming their sexual intercourse.
She said: 'I never agreed to Monsieur Pelicot filming us having sex. No the only time we talked about something like this was at the swingers' room at the nightclub. I understood that he would have wanted to do it. But for me it was impossible.'
Today, Madame Pelicot had to relive the trauma that she experienced when a police investigator showed her graphic films of her being raped repeatedly by her husband Dominique and more than 80 strangers - not all of whom have been identified - while she was unconscious.
The judge told Madame Pelicot that Mr Pelicot has acknowledged his crimes, and asked her; 'What do you feel about this?'
She replied: 'Feelings of disgust. We had everything, we had a great life. I don't understand how this could have happened.'
Madame Pelicot is determined that the public knows that she played no part in her husband's warped sexual fantasies that he played out at their picturesque chalet home in the Provence village of Mazan.
Wearing a long, orange dress, a white blouse and a gold necklace, she sat with her head held high in the same courtroom as those accused her raping her this morning.
Accompanied by her three grown-up children, the 71-year-old with a smart auburn bob appeared defiant in the face of her abusers.
Gisele Pelicot speaks to media as she leaves the Avignon court house, southern France, Thursday, September 5, 2024
Gisele Pelicot (pictured arriving to court this morning) bravely waived her right to anonymity to make public details of the horrific betrayal her partner of 50 years had forced her to endure over ten years
Some of the 50 co-defendants accused of rape speak with a lawyer at the courthouse in the case that has shocked France on Monday, September 2
Mr Pelicot's daughter, Caroline Darian, arrived to court alongside her mother this morning
Today Madame Pelicot, 71, will relive the trauma that she experienced when police investigator showed her graphic films of her being raped repeatedly by her husband Dominique and more than 80 strangers while she was unconscious
Madame Pelicot is determined that the public knows that she played no part in her husband's warped sexual fantasies that he played out at their picturesque chalet home in the Provence village of Mazan (pictured)
She stared up at the ceiling of the Avignon court room and gave a heavy sigh as Judge Arata opened the fourth day of the trial that has shocked France.
Across the room Dominique Pelicot, her grey-haired husband of 50 years who claims to have adored his wife looked at her without expression.
Madame Pelicot had no idea that she was being subjected to this terrible betrayal until her husband was arrested for 'upskirting' at his local supermarket and police discovered a library of 'sex-movies' at their home.
Madame Pelicot said in court, as reported by Le Parisien: 'I am inert, in my bed, and I am being raped. These are scenes of barbarity. Don't talk to me about sex scenes, these are rape scenes. I have never practised threesomes or swinging, I want to say that.'
At 9.20am, Madame Pelicot took the witness stand to give evidence. She gave her name, maiden name and age into the microphone.
Judge Arata tried to reassure her that she should take her time to make her testimony. And he warned her she would face cross examination.
Undeterred, Madame Pelicot started her testimony by thanking police for discovering her husband's depraved crimes: 'I would not be before you if it were not for the work of the police of Carpentras [the town where the supermarket where her husband was arrested in 2020].
'On that day in September I had been away with my daughter. I returned home to Mazan and I sat in the kitchen.
'Monsieur Pelicot told me; 'I have done something silly. I took some photographs in the supermarket'.
'He was crying. I told him that I would support him because we have had a lifetime together.
'After 50 years of marriage I said I would forgive him. But if there was a second time I would leave him.
'In October I went to Paris to look after two of my grandchildren.
'I received a phone call from the police who told me they wanted to talk to me. I made an appointment in November at the police headquarters in Carpentras.'
She continued: 'We were later summoned to the police. I knew he had taken photos of these women and thought we were going as a formality.'
Madame Pelicot told the court that she would remember walking up the steps to the police station 'for the rest of my life'.
At the station, where she was wearing a mask as it was during the Covid pandemic, a police officer told her: 'I'm going to tell you something you won't like.'
Madame Pelicot said that day, 'my world [collapsed], for me everything [collapsed], everything I have built in 50 years,' as reported by Le Parisien.
She said: 'For 50 years I always supported my husband, health, financial and couple problems. It was based on trust.'
The sons of Gisele Pelicot, Florian, right, David, left, and her daughter Caroline Darian, center, arrive in the Avignon court house, southern France, Thursday, September 5, 2024
Pictured above is a general view of where the Pelicots lived which has been known as the house of horrors, with a creepy back alley
Dominique Pelicot can be seen in this court sketch on the right
Wearing a long, orange dress, a white blouse and a gold necklace, Madame Pelicot sat with her head held high in the same courtroom as the 50 men accused her raping her
Madame Pelicot said when she left the police station, she returned home alone while her husband remained in custody: 'The trauma was enormous. The shock. I returned home to my little dog. I could not stay alone. I had to go to see some friends.
'I told my son that his father was in custody, that he had been charged. On the 3rd of November I went to the police station at Carpentras.
'The police showed me the videos. My world collapsed. When I told my daughter she screamed. I left my house with two suitcases and my dog. That was all I had after 50 years of marriage. Everything was based on trust in 50 years.
Caroline Darian's book
'My daughter had a nervous breakdown and required medical help.'
Madame Pelicot continued: 'You can't imagine yourself in a situation like that. In that moment I wanted to disappear.
'I had to tell my children that their father was in custody. I called my son-in-law and told my daughter and told them: 'He raped me'. Then I heard my daughter screaming a deep cry that I cannot get out of my head.
'People in the street at the bakery at the supermarket, asked me if I was ok. I had to leave the area. I could not stay in that house. I had lost everything, my husband, my life.
'I didn't know who I was or where I was going. I had lost my identity. My son moved me out of that house.'
Referring to the sex tapes her husband had made of strangers abusing her she said: 'This was not sex it was rape. I have never practiced open sex, I was never swinger.
'I was never a victim, until now. I had to get help, counselling.'
Madame Pelicot said she believed the first instance of being drugged was in 2011 when she woke up in the afternoon with no memory.
A black and white facial reconstruction of a younger Dominique Pelicot is seen in this handout image
Dominique Pelicot is accused of orchestrating the rape ring
Madame Pelicot is pictured above as she arrived to court this morning
She said: 'One day in 2011, I woke up at 6pm in the evening. That was not right. I never sleep until 6pm in the evening. I knew this was not normal but I could understand why.
'I had no memory of the day. I asked Monsieur Pelicot what had happened.'
The couple moved to the village in Provence two years later in 2013. She said: 'In March 2013 we left Paris for Mazan and this 'absence' started again.
'I have an excellent memory. I joked to my husband, 'you're not drugging me are you?' He broke down in tears and said; 'you actually think I could do that?'
'I went to see a neurologist. I was convinced I had Alzheimer's. He said don't worry. I had scans but the absences continued. I don't remember any of the sex scenes.
'My son told my husband that I was not well. He said 'don't worry'.'
Madame Pelicot added: 'I was sacrificed by my husband for these obscenities a woman drugged and abused. It was like I was dead. I was treated like a piece of meat.
'This is why I am speaking out, - for all the other women who are abused. It was humiliating what I have gone through.
'It started when I learned from the investigating magistrate that Mr Pelicot had filmed up women's skirts with a hidden camera in a pen.
'I learned that in 2010 he had done something similar. If I had known back then I would have perhaps I would have been more vigilant. I could have won back ten years of my life.'
She added that, also in 2010, she woke up to her husband 'raping' her.
'I remember going to bed, I woke up with a start to find Mr Pelicot raping me as I hadn't consented. I said what are you doing? I then went back to sleep. I thought he had an urge to do it and we were married so didn't take it any further,' she said, according to the Telegraph.
Madame Pelicot said about her husband filming the other men allegedly raping her: 'These videos are all more horrible than the others. It's barbaric, I don't know how my body is strong enough to stand before you today.'
She said that in the ten years her husband invited other men to their house to rape her, she never woke up in a different pyjama to the one she went to sleep in.
The mother-of-three also recalled this morning how her own mother died when she was just nine years old and that she left school aged only 13 to find work.
She said: 'At 13 I was knocking on factory doors asking for work. When I was two years old I knew that my mother had an incurable disease. But I never saw my grandmother cry. We don't show tears in my family.'
Gisele Pelicot (C) sits next to her daughter Caroline Darian (2ndL) and her sons Florian Pelicot (L) and David Pelicot (2ndR) with his wife Celine F. (R), at the courthouse during the trial of her husband on September 2
The town of Mazan, 20 miles from Avignon in southern France, where the victim and her husband lived and the attacks took place
She recalled: 'Then I met Mr Pelicot. He had a tyrannical family. He had to give all of his wages to his parents. I married very young. I was 20 years old.
'We needed permission from our parents. My dad was not in favour of the wedding but he accepted it. We had no money but we were very much in love. I have never been with another man. We were not rich but we were happy.
'Monsieur Pelicot is an electrician. He retrained as an estate agent. He had kidney stones and almost died. And then the real estate crisis. No money was coming in but I still supported him. I knew he was courageous. He has always worked hard.'
Meanwhile, Monsieur Pelicot broke down in tears in the dock. Wiping his eyes, the grey-haired multiple rapists appeared to be unable to listen to his estranged wife's memory of their once happy life.
She added: '[After Mr Pelicot's arrest], I learned that he had been raped aged nine. He wasn't supported by his parents. We could have dealt with it together.
'I'm being treated by a psychiatrist now. Rape scenes are torture scenes. Why does anyone deserve to go though that?'
After giving her testimony, Judge Arata began to question Madame Pelicot.
The judge told her that Mr Pelicot has acknowledged his crimes, and asked her; 'What do you feel about this?'
Madame Pelicot replied: 'Feelings of disgust. We had everything, we had a great life. I don't understand how this could have happened.'
When asked if she had any abuse after suffering the abuse, Madame Pelicot said: 'I have gynaecological problems. I was diagnosed with four sexually transmitted diseases at the Versailles medical forensic unit.'
She added: 'I was tested for HIV as one man who came [to rape me] six times was seropositive. My life was in danger but not one second did anyone stop. Luckily I didn't catch it. But not once did Mr Pelicot say to himself, 'I've gone too far'.'
'He showed no pity, no pity at all,' the 71-year-old said, as reported by the Telegraph.
The judge ended his interrogation with what he described as a 'very difficult question'.
He asked: 'Madame Pelicot, are you in any way complicit in Monsieur Pelicot's activities?'
Beatrice Zavarro (C), lawyer for the accused Dominique P, speaks with lawyers at the courthouse during the trial of her client accused of drugging his wife for nearly ten years and inviting strangers to rape her at their home in Mazan
Gisele Pelicot, 72, arrives at the courthouse in Avignon this morning ahead of the third day of her husband's trial on September 4, 2024
She replied calmly: 'Absolutely not. I never pretended to be asleep or anything like that.'
She was asked by her lawyer: 'Some of the defendants admit the facts, others contest all the facts, and others confirm they were present but deny it was rape.
'You caught four sexually transmitted diseases and were exposed to HIV six times. What have you got to say to people who claim you consented to all this?'
The mother-of-three replied: 'All I have to say is, it's an insult to my intelligence. These individuals were totally aware of what state I was in. I never knowingly took part in any of these things.
'How can you even try and make people think that a woman would knowingly take part in all this?'
Madame Pelicot told the court that she was now divorced from the husband of 50 years. She added that she had kept her married name in support of her children.
The grandmother told the court: 'I wanted to be called Gisele Pelicot for the duration of this trial out of solidarity with my children who are called Pelicot.'
In her testimony, Madame Pelicot told how her husband would take pictures of her when she was leaving the bathroom.
She said: 'I told my husband to stop taking pictures of me'. He replied: 'You should be pleased that after 50 years your husband still wants to take photos of you.'
She told the court: 'It was flattering perhaps but it annoyed me and I told him to stop.'
She added :'I never took place in this sexual activity. How could any wife agree to do any of this. It is totally unacceptable.'
Earlier Madame Pelicot admitted that she once had an affair.
She explained how she was friends with her lover and that he visited her 'periodically' over a two-year period, to which her husband 'reacted very badly'.
Madame Pelicot explained: 'He could see there was a problem as I found it hard to love two people at once. As I said, our couple was based on trust so it was hard. But as I said he was the only man I had known.
'I only ever had two men in my bed. It may sound ridiculous today.'
The shocking trial, which began on Monday, is set to end on December 20 with 50 people, including Mr Pelicot, facing aggravated rape charges.
A young Texas soldier has tragically died after a celebratory bridge jump went horribly wrong on Labor Day.
Cutter Anderson Baird, 19, from Goldthwaite, Texas, died on Monday after leaping from the Dillingham Street Bridge in Columbus, Georgia - a staggering 100 feet above the Chattahoochee River.
The teenage soldier, stationed at nearby Fort Moore, was enjoying the holiday with a fellow serviceman when they decided to take the fatal plunge around 2pm.
Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan told WTVM that Baird hit the water chest-first in what he described as a 'belly flop'.
Cutter Anderson Baird, 19, from Goldthwaite, Texas, died on Monday after leaping from the Dillingham Street Bridge in Columbus, Georgia - a staggering 100 feet above the Chattahoochee River
The coroner warned others to avoid attempting the dangerous jump, revealing this was the sixth incident at the infamous bridge (Pictured: Dillingham Street Bridge view from Chattahoochee riverwalk in Columbus, Georgia)
'Unfortunately, he landed like a belly flop. That's like landing on concrete from that distance, which caused blunt-force trauma to his chest,' Bryan explained.
Despite managing to exit the river, Baird collapsed shortly after due to a lack of oxygen.
He was rushed to a local hospital but tragically passed away.
Bryan emphasized that the young soldier's death was a heartbreaking accident, not a suicide attempt.
'Let's just keep this family and friends in our prayers,' he urged.
The teenage soldier, stationed at nearby Fort Moore, was enjoying the holiday with a fellow serviceman when they decided to take the fatal plunge around 2pm
This was not the first deadly accident on the bridge.
The coroner warned others to avoid attempting the dangerous jump, revealing this was the sixth incident at the infamous bridge.
'I would say, 'Don't do it,'' Bryan cautioned. 'It's a dangerous thing to do.'
'You never know about the current, sometimes it's shallow... there are logs down there,' he added. 'We've got a hell of a current here in Columbus. It's going to pull you down, it's going to suck you into a hole and you're not going to come out of it.
'I don't care how good of a swimmer you are or how strong you are... how many times you've been in and out of the water.. It only takes one time before it's going to end your life.'
Baird reportedly hit the water chest-first in what he described as a 'belly flop'
Baird, who served as vice president of Rock-A-Roo's Animal Sanctuary, was remembered fondly by the organization as someone who loved and cared for animals.
'He put blood, sweat and tears into Rock-A-Roos and it showed. Rock-A-Roos is what it is today because of him. He is the backbone of this business as well as the vice president,' the organization wrote in social media tribute.
'His heart and love for animals cannot be matched, but we will live every day in his honor doing exactly what he would want us to do, continue this fight.'
They announced the organization would be accepting donations to Rock-A-Roos in Cutters honor through their Venmo: Rockaroosrescue.
Baird, who served as vice president of Rock-A-Roo's Animal Sanctuary, was remembered fondly by the organization as someone who loved and cared for animals
A memorial service for the fallen soldier will be held on Saturday, September 7, at 11:00 AM at Stacy-Wilkins Chapel in his hometown of Goldthwaite, Texas.
Fort Moor sent their condolences to Baird's family and friends.
'We can confirm the Sept. 2, non-duty related, death of Pvt. Cutter Baird. The Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Moore mourns his loss, and we extend our condolences to his family, friends, and fellow Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 58th Infantry Regiment, 198th Infantry Brigade.' Fort Moore announced.
The existence of previously unseen amateur footage of John F. Kennedy's assassination has been revealed after sitting in an old milk crate for more than 60 years.
The minute-long, 8mm film shows the desperate efforts to save the president and his wife in the seconds after he was shot in Dallas in November 1963.
First Lady Jackie Kennedy's pink jacket is clearly visible in the new footage, which shows Secret Service Agent Clint Hill using his body as a human shield in the back of the car they were riding in as it accelerates toward Parkland Hospital at 80mph.
The film will go to auction on September 28 after being discovered by the grandson of the Dallas truck driver who filmed it.
The finding is 'an emotional thing for me because I know what has happened,' Hill, now 92, told People.
'I know what I'm seeing in that film is a dead president.'
Jackie Kennedy's pink jacket is clearly visible in the new footage as Secret Service agent Clint Hill heroically uses his body as a human shield in a bid to protect her and her husband
The color footage was shot by Dale Carpenter Sr. after he took his camera to film what he thought would be an unremarkable presidential visit to his city.
Shot in two parts, the first shows onlookers cheering and waving as the presidential motorcade drives through downtown Dallas.
The second, filmed from Stemmons Freeway, shows the immediate aftermath of the shooting, with the agent Hill giving a grim thumbs-down to the car behind as he glances down at Mrs. Kennedy leaning over her fatally wounded husband.
Carpenter's grandson, James Gates, said he was handed the film by his mother after she went through a trove of family mementos following his grandfather's death from Parkinson's disease.
'She gave me several reels of family films and audio recordings, a projector and the reel-to-reel audio recorder,' he told People.
'The film was stored in a plastic Dean Foods milk crate and had been in my closet for several years before I decided to put it in a fire safe.'
Gates tracked down the retired Secret Service agent in 2012 after realizing the significance of what was inside the little cardboard box labeled '1963 NOV.'
'About 10 years or so ago, I started to research the JFK assassination, knowing I had something possibly of some historical value,' he said.
'I found Clint and Lisa, but it wouldn't be until another 10 years when I made the decision to properly preserve and archive the film.'
Hill's wife, Lisa McCubbin Hill, said the footage 'brings it back so vividly.'
'It really brings the moment to life when you see the President's limousine, you see Clint on the back of the car,' she said.
'To see the speed of the car and how precarious that was - Clint is still trying to protect the president and Mrs. Kennedy from whatever else might be coming.
'One slip and he would have gone flying off and he would have been killed.'
The footage spent decades in an old milk crate after being filmed by Dallas truck driver Dale Carpenter Sr. It was found by his daughter after his death and is auctioned on September 28
Secret Service agent Clint Hill is seen heroically using his body as a human shield in the back of the car the President was riding in as it accelerates toward Parkland Hospital at 80mph.
Clint Hill, now 92, said the existence of the footage meant little to him: 'I'm back there all the time anyways.'
The complete film has yet to be made public but Bobby Livingston of New York auction house RR Auction said it segues with the famous Zapruder film which caught the moment the President was hit
For years many have questioned the official narrative of what happened on November 22, 1963 in Dallas. JFK and Jackie Kennedy are pictured moments before he was assassinated
Jackie and Bobby Kennedy watch as the casket of JFK arrives in the East Room of the White House after his assassination.
The complete film has yet to be made public. Bobby Livingston, of New York auction house RR Auction, said it complements the famous Zapruder film, which caught the moment the president was shot and shows Mrs. Kennedy leaning over her wounded husband.
'Unlike any other footage known to exist, this film captures a segment immediately following the Zapruder film, providing a fresh perspective on one of the most analyzed moments in history,' he said.
'Once you see it, you'll never forget Clint Hill's heroic efforts to protect Mrs. Kennedy, racing at 80 miles an hour in a desperate attempt to save the president's life as they sped to Parkland.'
The footage will be included in a documentary about Hill called Agent Number 9: The Clint Hill Story, which is due out next year.
'It doesn't change anything for me,' Hill said. 'I'm back there all the time anyways.'
The Tottenham Turks organised the horrific slaying of a popular DJ who was tortured to death in a wine bar, a court heard today as three more men were jailed.
Koray Alpergin, 43, was the owner of Turkish radio station Bizim FM and had connections with celebrities such as rapper P Diddy and internet sensation Salt Bae.
He was kidnapped from outside his north London home with his girlfriend Gozde Dalbudak, 34, and frog-marched into a white van after dining in Mayfair.
Dylan Weatherley, 20, was jailed for five years for the manslaughter and kidnapping of Mr Alpergin at the Old Bailey today.
Two of his accomplices Isay Stoyanov, 43 and Kyle Mitchell-Peart, 31, were also jailed for their roles.
Koray Alpergin: The owner of the Turkish radio station Bizim FM who was linked to celebraties suffered terrible injuries before his death
Dylan Weatherley who was jailed for five years at the Old Bailey for killing the DJ
Gozde Dalbudak, 34, the girlfriend of Mr Alpergin enjoyed an evening out with him in Mayfair on the night they were kidnapped
The DJ suffered horrific injuries before he was killed while Ms Gozde was locked in a toilet at the Stadium Lounge, just yards from Spurs ground, for two days.
His naked body was then dumped in woodland in Loughton, Essex, before it was found by a dog walker.
Mr Alpergin suffered 94 injuries, including 14 broken ribs and severe head injuries, ligature injuries to his neck and injuries to his private parts.
Judge Sarah Whitehouse, KC, who jailed Weatherley for five years for killing the DJ also explained the sentence will run consecutively to a minimum 14 year sentence he is serving for an unrelated charge of conspiracy to murder - making 19 years in total.
In that a case a man was shot in the chest after attending a funeral in Enfield on 7 January 2023.
Mitchell-Peart was jailed for six years and fourth months while Stoyanov was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.
Rapper Sean Combs - AKA P Diddy - and Koray Alpergin posing for a photograph
Mitchell-Peart was jailed for six years and fourth months for two counts of kidnapping and two counts of false imprisonment.
Stoyanov was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for perverting the course of justice
Crispin Aylett, KC, prosecuting, said: Mr Alpergin was a well-known DJ and pop figure within the Turkish UK community in this country.
'It is unclear how he came to the attention of an Organised Crime Group who in effect did kidnap, torture, and murder Mr Alpergin.
The group believed Mr Alpergin had something of value whether that be money drugs or information.
There is a body of evidence the killing was organised by the so-called Tottenham Turks, the well-known organised crime group network.
Tejean Kennedy, 33, and Ali Kavak, 26, were cleared by a jury of murder last year but convicted of manslaughter, kidnap and false imprisonment.
Kavak was also convicted of perverting the course of justice by helping to dispose of Mr Alpergins body and destroying two vehicles by fire.
Kennedy was jailed for 18 years while Kavak was jailed for 13 years.
Ali Kavak, 26, was cleared by a jury of murder but convicted of manslaughter and kidnap
Tejean Kennedy, 33, was also cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter
Samuel Owusu-Opuku, 35, was cleared of murder but convicted of kidnapping the DJ and his girlfriend.
Father-of-two Owusu-Opuku, who worked in the welfare sector, and Yigit Hurman, 18, admitted perverting the course of justice.
Steffan Gordon, 34, had admitted kidnap and was convicted of two counts of false imprisonment.
Gordon was given eight years in prison for kidnap and false imprisonment.
Owusu-Opuku was jailed for seven years for kidnap and perverting the course of justice.
Hurman was jailed for two years for perverting the course of justice by helping to dispose of the body and burn a van.
Police are hunting another suspect, 28-year-old Ali Yildirim, who is thought to have fled back to Turkey after the killing.
Steffan Gordon admitted kidnap and was convicted of two counts of false imprisonment
Samuel Owusu-Opoku was cleared of murder but convicted of kidnapping the DJ and his girlfriend
Passing sentence Judge Whitehouse said: Mr Alpergin had been tortured to death, after he was killed in the early hours of Friday morning his body was moved to different locations before being dumped in a woodland in Loughton.
What is clear is the plan to kill Koray Alpergin had been in operation since at least 23 September. As in the early hours of that morning a tracking device had been placed under his car.
There is no evidence that anyone of the three of you were involved in any of the planning and organisation of these crimes.
Im satisfied none of you three were central players in the plan, as I said the main players used others to do their dirty work while avoiding detection themselves.
Following the kidnap the van drove the couple down an alleyway behind the Stadium Lounge.
It was here, in the Stadium Lounge, that Koray Alpergin was murdered, Mr Aylett continued.
As for Gozde Dalbudak, she spent almost two days shut up inside a lavatory at the Stadium Lounge.
The door to the lavatory was blocked by a large refrigerator.
It was not until late on the Saturday afternoon, Ms Dalbudak was released.
In the early hours of Saturday, the Renault Megane was driven to Loughton in Essex.
There, the naked body of Koray Alpergin was dumped in some woods. A few hours later, the body was found by a man walking his dog.
The post mortem revealed the nature of the injuries Mr Alpergin had suffered, with several cuts and bruises, stab wounds to the soles of both of his feet, and scalding injuries to his skin added to the more severe head, chest and neck injuries.
A passenger aircraft flying to the UK was forced to make an emergency landing in Russia after suffering 'technical problems', it has been revealed.
An Air India Boeing 787-800 plane en route from India's capital New Delhi to Birmingham made the precautionary landing at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport yesterday evening.
The plane landed safely without any injuries to all 258 passengers and 17 crew members who were provided with 'full assistance', airport officials said.
The aircraft had been cruising for roughly six hours at an altitude of 40,000 feet when the pilots detected a possible technical issue and made a request to land as they flew over the Russian capital.
After undergoing a litany of checks, the aircraft was deemed safe and set off hours later, arriving safely in Birmingham late last night.
An Air India Boeing 787-800 plane en route from India's capital New Delhi to Birmingham made the precautionary landing in Moscow yesterday (An Air India Boeing 787-800 is pictured)
The aircraft had been cruising for roughly six hours at an altitude of 40,000 feet when the pilots detected a possible technical issue and chose to request to land at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport (pictured)
The airport said in a statement following the unscheduled landing yesterday: 'The aircraft's crew requested an unscheduled landing at Sheremetyevo Airport due to technical problems.
'Airport services promptly responded to the crew's request and prepared to receive the aircraft according to the applicable emergency plan.
'The foreign crew received full assistance from the Russian airport and specialists under the applicable international convention.'
Air India operates three weekly flights between New Delhi and Birmingham using Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
In July, an Air India plane operating from Delhi to San Francisco made a precautionary landing in the Russian region of Siberia after the cockpit crew detected a potential issue in the cargo hold area.
Jack Lowden convinced a director to let him use a Scottish accent in his breakout film Dunkirk after learning his uncle had been a pilot in the Second World War.
The star, who grew up in Berwickshire, revealed he only learned of the exploits of his relative after his mum told him he should be true to his roots in the movie.
During an interview on American TV, Lowden explained the turn of events that led to him convincing director Christopher Nolan to let him use his own accent to play the part of pilot Collins.
The moment came after Late Show host Stephen Colbert quizzed the actor on the fact he often plays American and English characters, asking him: Do you ever get to use your Scottish accent?
In response, Lowden, 34, said: The Scottish accent is rarely called upon in the world of film and I dont know why.
Jack Lowden said his uncle Jimmy Ross was a Second World War pilot
Lowden starred as pilot Collins in Oscar-winning film Dunkirk
Theres this lie that you cant understand us.
Even in Dunkirk I had to convince the boss that I could be Scottish as a pilot.
I remember when he gave me the job and I rang my mum and she said: Your uncle Jimmy was in the RAF during the war. Tell him that.
So, I went in and I told him. I went: Look my mum says there were Scottish pilots so look shes not going to buy a ticket unless you let me [use a Scottish accent]. And he let me do it.
In a separate interview with a history magazine, Lowden revealed other details of his hero uncle.
He said: I also learned that a great uncle of mine, Flying Officer Jimmy Ross, was an RAF pilot during the war. We dont know if he was involved in Dunkirk; were still trying to find out.
Dunkirk received eight Oscar nominations and went on to win three: Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Sound Mixing.
Lowden was interviewed in the US as he promoted spy drama Slow Horses, which he stars in alongside British stars Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott Thomas.
During the chat he also revealed he watches his colleagues filming on his days off so he can watch them make mistakes.
He said: This going to sound terrible, but I like watching them make mistakes because they do, they make mistakes.
I once went to watch a scene between [Gary Oldman] and Kristin Scott Thomas in the office and it was like an eight, nine-page scene and I sort of hid behind a sofa and just watched the pair of them.
Lowden revealed he also turns up on the set of Slow Horses on his days off to see fellow stars - such as Gary Oldman (pictured with Lowden in the show, above) make mistakes
I was a sort of creepy pair of eyes. And they make mistakes. And I think as a young actor its important to watch legends like that make mistakes.
They make less mistakes then they do good takes, I will say that.
Lowden is currently nominated for an Emmy for his part as down-and-out MI5 agent River Cartwright in Apple TV+s Slow Horses.
However, when quizzed about it, he revealed he thought he had done something wrong when someone tried to give him the good news.
Lowden said: Someone sent me a message and said call me right now and I just thought I had done something wrong.
They really didnt give me any info and then I phoned them and I quickly relaxed when we got that news.
Lowden recently set up home in the Borders with wife and fellow actor Saoirse Ronan.
The pair met in 2018 when they co-starred in film Mary Queen of Scots and tied the knot in Edinburgh's Old Town in July.
Many parents from New York City to Los Angeles say it's tough to raise a family in the city.
Now, researchers have found a startling reason why urban residents struggle even to start out on the process.
That's because city living could be making us infertile.
New data show that dirty air is linked to lower fertility in men, while noisy traffic may harm the fertility of women.
It's an alarming finding for the four fifths of America's 333 million people who live in urban areas.
Many couples struggle to start a family and turn to their doctors for help
New research shows that the problem may be noise from the street outside their apartment
Still, the team of Danish researchers behind the study say it offers a roadmap for healthier city living.
'Political implementation of air pollution and noise mitigations may be important tools for improving birth rates in the western world,' they wrote.
The work of Mette Srensen and others was published on September 4 in The BMJ, using data from Denmark's national databases about each residents' health, job, education, and family.
A staggering one in every seven couples globally has trouble conceiving, researchers said.
Trying to determine if environment might play a role, Srensen's team at the Danish Cancer Institute in Copenhagen, studied data on some 900,000 Danish adults ages 30 to 45.
They all had fewer than two kids, and were married or living together in Denmark between 2000 and 2017.
Those with a history of infertility or who'd been sterilized were excluded.
The researchers cross-referenced study participants with their local air pollution levels over recent decades.
In particular, they looked at concentrations of PM2.5, or very fine pollution particles that can lodge deeply into the lungs.
The team also tracked road traffic noise levels at each participant's address.
Over the course of the 18-year study, infertility was detected in 16,172 men and 22,672 women.
Men aged 30 to 45 had a 24 percent higher risk of being diagnosed with infertility if they'd been exposed to higher average levels of PM2.5 air pollution over five years, the data showed.
They adjusted their findings to account for other factors, such as their jobs, salary, and education.
While women are affected by street noise, male fertility is threatened by air pollution
A girl plays alone at a playground in Chicago, where the number of under-fives has tumbled by a staggering 15 percent.
When it came to women, however, air pollution appeared to have no impact on infertility.
Instead, women's fertility appeared to be influenced by another factor noise.
Women aged over 35 who'd been exposed to 10.2 decibel higher average levels of road traffic noise over five years had a 14 percent greater chance of infertility, researchers found.
This was not true for women ages 30 to 35, however.
Men, however, seemed largely unaffected by the din of ambulance sirens outside their apartments.
Road traffic noise exposure was linked to only a slight increase in infertility for men ages 37 to 45, the study found. For those aged 30 to 37 there was no effect.
The findings are not wholly surprising.
Breathing in polluted air is known to have an effect on fertility.
Inhaled chemicals can enter the bloodstream and disrupt hormones or cause direct damage to eggs and sperm.
But links between traffic noise and health are less understood.
Some research suggests that the noise leads to stress, which can affect fertility.
The researchers stressed that they had not determined the overall cause of infertility they were just finding associations.
The findings come on the heels of mounting evidence that America's big cities have witnessed a 'shocking' drop-off in the numbers of small children.
A new study shows how in New York City, the worst affected hub, the number of under fives has collapsed by 18 percent since April 2020.
Chicago and Los Angeles saw their numbers fall by 15 and 14 percent respectively in the same period.
America's largest cities have seen the greatest decline in the number of under-fives.
A boy makes his way to school in Brooklyn, New York City, which has seen its under-five population collapse by 18.7 percent
Families have exited all New York City's boroughs, but none less so than Manhattan.
A six-year-old student walks out of her school in Long Beach, California. The state has seen some of the biggest drop-offs in the number of under fives.
The trend poses far-reaching challenges for cities seeking to rebuild their economies, while upending plans for providing schools and healthcare to a shrinking youth population.
It also comes as decisions about whether to have children, and the rising costs of daycare, become issues in this year's divisive presidential contest.
Connor O'Brien, who wrote the report for the Economic Innovation Group, says 'demographic collapse has arrived in major American cities.'
'Falling birthrates mean the number of young kids nationwide is falling, but it's falling much more quickly in large urban counties,' says O'Brien
The research, based on US recent Census Bureau data, shows how big cities are still grappling with the after-effects of the pandemic.
As the virus spread, urbanites fled to smaller cities, the suburbs, and the country.
The departures of small children has slowed in recent months, but they're still leaving.
The continued loss of families risks a so-called 'urban doom loop' as cities struggle to retain this vital demographic.
'If progressive cities could run on a sort of policy autopilot pre-covid, it's clear they can't anymore,' warns O'Brien.
Birth rates are falling across the US, but they're dropping much faster in urban areas.
Ministers have dropped plans to use RAF Scampton to house Channel migrants saying it would not be 'value for money'.
The former airbase in Lincolnshire had been earmarked as accommodation for irregular arrivals by the Conservative government.
A total of 60million has already been spent on the site, according to Home Office.
But the department said work to close and sell it will begin immediately, insisting proceeding would have cost a total of 122million by 2027.
Home Office minister Angela Eagle said: 'Faster asylum processing, increased returns and tighter enforcement of immigration rules will reduce demand for accommodation like Scampton and save millions for the taxpayer as we drive forward work to clear the asylum backlog and strengthen our border security.
Former airbase RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire had been earmarked as accommodation for irregular arrivals by the Conservative government
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has abandoned most of the previous government's immigration plan
'We have also listened to community feedback and concerns about using this site for asylum accommodation.'
It comes after the Government scrapped the Tories' Rwanda plan, which would have blocked most Channel migrants from applying for asylum in a bid to deter crossings.
Prior to the general election, Keir Starmer vowed Labour would act 'straight away' to begin the RAF site's closure if it won power.
The government has already announced it is scrapping the use of the Bibby Stockholm barge, in Portland, Dorset, as migrant accommodation.
Earlier this year, the National Audit Office found the Tories' plans to use alternative large-scale sites to house asylum seekers would actually cost more than keeping them in hotels.
Instead Labour has suggested it will 'massively increase' the procurement of 'dispersed accommodation' amid concerns about the pressures placed on local services by large-scale sites.
That could include empty homes or former student blocks that have self-catering facilities.
A failed asylum seeker who raped a 15-year-old girl after his deportation was blocked by cabin crew has been told he cannot change his plea to not guilty.
Anicet Mayela, 40, who once protested outside a detention centre with a sign that read 'migrants are not criminals', admitted to the attack of December last year at Oxford Crown Court in April.
The Congolese national appeared at the same court on Thursday in a bid to change his guilty plea after claiming he had not had proper legal advice.
But rejecting his request, Judge Nigel Daly said Mayela had made an 'unequivocal plea of guilty' at the last hearing, which he could 'see no reason to vacate'.
'From the moment of his arrest he was firmly of the view that he was going to plead guilty. I will not accept the vacating of his plea,' Judge Daly said.
Anicet Mayela, 40, once protested outside a detention centre with a sign that read 'migrants are not criminals'
A deportation flight was planned for May 2005, but the removal was prevented by Air France crew (file image)
Mayela, from Oxford, was joined in the dock by a French interpreter and several family members watched the short hearing from the public gallery.
After his court appearance earlier this year, The Sun reported several unsuccessful attempts had previously been made to remove him from the UK before he was given permission to stay in the country.
It is understood the Home Office initially refused Mayela's asylum claim in 2004 but he successfully challenged the decision in the courts and was eventually granted leave to remain on appeal in 2010.
Mayela was held at Campsfield House Detention Centre in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, where he was later pictured with a 'stop detention' sign following his release.
A deportation flight was initially planned for May 2005, but the removal was foiled by Air France crew, who stopped the flight taking off from Southampton.
The cabin crew's intervention came amid claims Mayela's hand had been broken by deportation minders who handcuffed his wrists and taped his legs together.
Weeks later, Mayela won leave to remain after lawyers said that deportation would be against his human rights while police investigated the handlers for alleged assault.
He was released two days later and took part in a campaign to close Campsfield House, where he had been detained.
According to an article published by the Institute of Race Relations (IRR) in 2005, he was served three removal notices from the UK.
Mayela was held at Campsfield House Detention Centre in Kidlington, where he was later pictured protesting with a 'stop detention' sign following his release
The IRR report said Mayela paid an agent to help him flee his home country in 2004 because his life was in danger and that he initially lived in Plymouth while his initial asylum claim was considered.
But this was refused and his first appeal was dismissed by the courts later that year.
By 2005 he was being held in immigration detention centres while attempts were made to deport him but he was later released.
Mayela, thought to be a former economics student, also appears to have supported protests outside detention centres that same year.
He should expect jail time when he is sentenced on November 14, the judge said.
Germany wants the EU to send migrants to Rwanda and use facilities originally set up to take those arriving in the UK by boat before Labour scrapped the plan.
Berlin's migration commissioner Joachim Stamp has proposed deporting those who arrive illegally in the bloc via Poland's border with Belarus.
Germany's special representative for migration agreements, said the EU could utilize existing asylum facilities in Rwanda, which were initially intended for arrivals from Britain.
One of Sir Keir Starmer's first acts after winning the election in July was to cancel the scheme before it had even started, after the Tory government had already spent 290million
The proposal comes amid rising pressure on Germany's ruling coalition government to restrict irregular migration following a fatal stabbing linked to Islamic State at a city festival last month that fuelled far-right opposition and criticism of Berlin's migration policies.
Tory leadership candidate James Cleverly said: 'Labour's first move in government was to scrap the Rwanda plan. Now Germany want to use the facilities we built.
'The only people who benefit from Labour's reckless immigration policies are people smugglers and the EU.'
Downing Street said it would not comment on the discussions between two foreign governments.
Berlin's migration commissioner Joachim Stamp has proposed deporting those who arrive illegally in the bloc via Poland's border with Belarus (below)
The proposal comes amid rising pressure on Germany's ruling coalition government to restrict irregular migration following a fatal stabbing linked to Islamic State at a city festival last month that fuelled far-right opposition and criticism of Berlin's migration policies.
One of Sir Keir Starmer's first acts after winning the election in July was to cancel the scheme before it had even started.
It had been speculated the new Labour Government could try and recoup some of the millions of pounds of taxpayers' cash already given to Kigali to create facilities like the Hope Hostel (pictured in April)
But the Rwandan government has now played down the prospect of a refund, despite no migrants ever being deported from the UK to Africa under the scheme.
In one of his first acts as PM, Sir Keir Starmer branded the UK's deal with Kigali 'dead and buried' as he confirmed he was scrapping the Tory scheme.
This was despite Conservative leader Rishi Sunak having pointed to signs the Rwanda plan was already working as a deterrent.
It had been speculated the new Labour Government could try and recoup some of the millions of pounds of taxpayers' cash already earmarked for Kigali.
But the Rwandan government has now played down the prospect of a refund, despite no migrants ever being deported from the UK to Africa under the scheme.
Under Stamp's proposal, the asylum procedures in Rwanda would be conducted under the supervision of the United Nations.
'We currently have no third country that has come forward, with the exception of Rwanda,' Stamp said in a podcast by Table Media published on Thursday.
Stamp, a member of the junior coalition FDP party and whose position sits in Germany's Interior Ministry, said this model would specifically target refugees crossing the EU's eastern borders.
Under Stamp's proposal, the asylum procedures in Rwanda would be conducted under the supervision of the United Nations.
He said Rwanda has publicly expressed its willingness to continue implementing this model.
'My suggestion would be that we concentrate on this group. It's about 10,000 people a year,' he said, dismissing broader proposals from the conservative opposition to apply such a model to all refugees.
He said Rwanda has publicly expressed its willingness to continue implementing this model.
In addition, Stamp suggested removing the so-called 'connecting element' in the new Common European Asylum System (CEAS), which currently requires external asylum procedures to be conducted in countries where the asylum seeker has a social connection.
The European Union agreed in December on new rules to handle irregular arrivals of asylum seekers and migrants, a deal hailed as a breakthrough after almost a decade of bitter feuds on the issue. It could take until the end of 2025 for the pact to take full effect.
It came as UK ministers dropped plans to use RAF Scampton to house Channel migrants saying it would not be 'value for money'.
The former airbase in Lincolnshire had been earmarked as accommodation for irregular arrivals by the Conservative government.
A total of 60million has already been spent on the site, according to Home Office.
But the department said work to close and sell it will begin immediately, insisting proceeding would have cost a total of 122million by 2027.
Home Office minister Angela Eagle said: 'Faster asylum processing, increased returns and tighter enforcement of immigration rules will reduce demand for accommodation like Scampton and save millions for the taxpayer as we drive forward work to clear the asylum backlog and strengthen our border security.
'We have also listened to community feedback and concerns about using this site for asylum accommodation.'
Prior to the general election, Keir Starmer vowed Labour would act 'straight away' to begin the RAF site's closure if it won power.
The government has already announced it is scrapping the use of the Bibby Stockholm barge, in Portland, Dorset, as migrant accommodation.
Earlier this year, the National Audit Office found the Tories' plans to use alternative large-scale sites to house asylum seekers would actually cost more than keeping them in hotels.
A horrified husband found his lifeless wife half eaten by a mammoth 16ft python, before furious locals hunted the snake down and killed it.
Hapsah, 57, was at a rubber tree plantation in Muaro Jambi Regency, Indonesia, when the serpent lying in the tall grass attacked her on August 27.
The 16ft snake easily overpowered the struggling petite woman and wrapped itself around her body. It slowly squeezed the breath out of her lungs until she passed out.
Hapsah's husband M Safri, 66, who worked in the same plantation, went looking for his wife when she failed to return home that afternoon.
He heard rustling noises in the undergrowth and was horrified to find the reptile coiled around his beloved as it prepared to swallow her whole.
A mob of vengeful residents later arrived at the scene to hunt down the python and killed it
A grandmother was found half eaten by a mammoth 16ft python while working on a farm in Indonesia
Sungai Gelam Police Chief Iptu Usaha Sitepu said: 'When he approached the source of the sound, he saw that the victim had been constricted to death by a python and was about to be swallowed head-first.
'He knew she was already dead, so he could only pull at the snake's tail and hit it until it loosened its grip.'
Safri said he ran back to the village to call for help in moving Hapsah's corpse.
A mob of vengeful residents later arrived at the scene to hunt down the python. They found it burrowing near the roots of a tree and mercilessly beat it to death.
Village head Amdi said: 'Hapsah was almost swallowed entirely by the snake, with only half of her body left to engulf when her husband managed to free her. After the snake escaped, residents immediately searched for it and killed it. It was massive. It was taken to the village to be shown to the community after it was killed.'
The 16ft snake easily overpowered the struggling petite woman and wrapped itself around her body
A grieving Safri took Hapsah's body back home to prepare for her funeral.
He said: 'I returned home from the plantation earlier, but if I had known my wife would be attacked like this, I would have stayed to protect her.'
On August 14, another grandmother was killed and devoured by a python.
Maga, 74, had taken her cows to graze in a forested area in the Sumarambu mountains, around a mile from her home in Palopo City in South Sulawesi province, when a python pounced on her.
Her son, Sanaria, 39, ventured into the woods to find her when she did not return home - only to find her half-swallowed by the reptile.
Villagers later slayed the python and brought its mangled corpse back home as a trophy.
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.
An Alabama school was placed on lockdown after ammunition was found on campus.
Enterprise High School and Enterprise Career & Technology Center was shutdown for almost two hours on Thursday.
There are currently no reports of any injuries or firearms being located. The kind of ammunition discovered has not been confirmed.
It comes a day after four people including two students were gunned down during a mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia.
There is no suggestion the two events are linked.
Enterprise High School and Enterprise Career & Technology Center in Alabama have been placed on lockdown after ammunition was found on campus
The school said officers are on the scene as it urged the public to avoid the premises amid the lockdown
Enterprise School officials posted on social media on Thursday morning to notify the public of the situation which began at 9.40am.
'We ask that no one try to come to these locations until the lockdown has ended. Officers are on scene at schools that are on lockdown and will remain until all clear. We will put out an update once everything is clear,' the statement said.
By 11.37am Enterprise Police confirmed the lockdown had been lifted and Enterprise City Schools confirmed normal activities have resumed.
It comes after Eufaula police advised Eufaula City Schools and Lakeside School to cancel Thursday's classes over threats received on Wednesday, WTVY reports.
The lockdown also follows the bloodbath at Apalachee which left an additional nine people injured alongside the four fatalities.
Students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14 and teachers Christina Irimie, 53, and Richard Aspinwall, 39, were named as the victims.
Suspected gunman Colt Gray, 14, has been charged with murder and is due to appear in court tomorrow.
A crane driver who became a national hero when he rescued a man from a blazing 750m tower block has been diagnosed with incurable cancer.
Glen Edwards, 66, was dubbed 'the Bruce Willis of Reading' after he heroically saved a man's life at the Station Hill construction site in the town on Thursday, November 23.
He manoeuvred the crane and its personnel transportation cage into the smoke and fire to dramatically give a trapped worker on the eighth floor an escape route at the last moment.
His actions were filmed on video and quickly went viral, leading to him appearing on Good Morning Britain (GMB), collecting a string of awards and receiving 10,000 from the public following a fundraiser to 'buy him a pint'.
But now the newly retired crane driver has revealed he was diagnosed with incurable spinal cancer last Thursday.
Glen Edwards, 66, was dubbed 'the Bruce Willis of Reading' after he heroically saved a man's life at the Station Hill construction site in the town on Thursday, November 23
Mr Edwards manoeuvred the crane and its personnel transportation cage into the smoke and fire to dramatically give a trapped worker on the eighth floor an escape route at the last moment
His actions were filmed on video by the crows of onlookers at the bottom of the building and quickly went viral
Following the incident, Mr Edwards received a string of awards for his bravery. Pictured: Mr Edwards getting his award from the British Fire Services Association
He had been undergoing treatment for cancer in his tongue since last February and has been unable to eat solid foods due to his treatment.
However Mr Edwards said that the community recognition and awards he received from organisations like the Runnymede Borough Council and the British Fire Services Association have been supporting him through his ordeal.
He told The Reading Chronicle: 'It started with me walking about and getting a few aches and pains in my back, and I thought it was just old age.
'They can't cure it but drugs can suppress it and keep it at bay.
'I'm going to need treatment for the rest of my life.'
He is now focused on marrying his partner of 10 years, who said she is 'unbelievably proud' of her fiance.
Mr Edwards also revealed he was finally able to meet the construction worker he saved last month, after a year of trying to make contact.
The 16-storey office block where the fire took place is situated opposite Reading rail and Crossrail station. The site was the location of another fire five months prior to the incident with Mr Edwards
Remarkable footage showed the man stranded at the top of the 750m One Station Hill development in Reading as the building is engulfed in flames
Mr later appeared on Good Morning Britain this morning to talk about his heroic rescue of the man
Mr Edwards said on the show he never met the man he rescued but thinks he is owed a drink from him
Smoke was seen billowing from the construction site following the fire
He said it was 'pure coincidence' that a former colleague found himself working with the rescued man.
Mr Edwards said: 'He couldn't thank me enough.'
Immediately following his heroics, Mr Edwards said: 'I don't want to blow it up too much, I'm not that sort of person.'
Following the incident he told GMB: 'Obviously he's a bit traumatised so whenever he's coming back on site [I'll meet him]. He's got to take me across the road for a drink.
Recounting the unbelievable events, Mr Edwards said he has never experienced a rescue as 'dramatic' as this one on the job.
'Never at all. I have cradled a couple of guys off - [when they] damaged their leg and things like that so they could get in an ambulance - but nothing as dramatic as this,' he said.
Mr Edwards said he was concreting when someone shouted up to him that a man was stuck on level eight of the development.
'I was actually concreting at the time, I had the concrete skip on. So I was in that area and then one of my banksmen on the ground said there is a fire and the fire alarm was going off. I was in the crane operating.
The flames and smoke spread across the whole roof of the 750m One Station Hill office development close to Reading Station
Office workers at Thames Tower, which is very close to the on fire construction site, saw the flames first hand and were asked to evacuated around 11.40am on the day of the fire
The black smoke could be seen from several miles away in nearby villages
'So I had to get the concrete skip off, I was hoisting up and then someone shouted out ''there's someone on level eight'' which is that level where the guy was, and I stopped hoisting up, I was about 20 metres up in the air.
'As I slewed round I could see the guy out my left window - he was waving his coat, waving his coat. You can see there the wind was absolutely terrible.'
He added: 'I knew the radius [...] I decided I was going to come down on top of that radius. As I was coming down the cradle was swinging backwards and forwards and catching the wind.
'When it comes off the fence it kicks off the fence and he just managed to grab hold of it.'
The heroic crane driver said he was 'really shaking' during the ordeal, adding: 'I was alright when I got down and everything and I needed a quiet minute to get myself together.
'When everyone was about - when everyone come up to me and said ''well done, well done'' - that's when the penny dropped.'
The dramatic three-minute rescue undoubtedly saved the builder's life as all around him blazing cladding caused massive clouds of toxic smoke.
Incredibly despite the severity of the fire, only two people needed to go to hospital with smoke inhalation, including the workman saved by Mr Edwards.
Firefighters equipped with breathing apparatus used main jets to fight the fire
Redwood Consulting, speaking on behalf of the Station Hill developers after the fire, said it activated its fire emergency plans immediately
The Station Hill complex was set to provide up to 1,300 homes
The 16-storey office block is situated opposite Reading rail and Crossrail station, and it was the site of another fire five months prior to the incident with Mr Edwards.
A carpenter, who was working nearby, said onlookers below applauded as the man clambered into a metal basket attached to the crane and was carried away from the flames.
The witness, who did not want to be named, said: 'I was in the next door building, there was a guy standing up there (on top of the building), luckily the crane came in just in time.
'He was coughing [when he came down], from the smoke, you know what I mean.
'When he got inside the crane and the crane put him down everyone was clapping.
'The crane driver was very fast. He was still in the crane while the building was on fire.'
The View's Sunny Hostin became embroiled in a very heated debate with Republican cohost Alyssa Farah Griffin as the panel discussed the tragic Georgia shooting.
The two women butted heads on Thursday's show when Sunny, 55, accused people of immediately jumping to the topic of 'mental health' when it comes to such tragedies as a defensive Alyssa argued: 'Oh I wasn't, I was talking about guns first.'
Not even looking her cohost in the eye, Sunny fired back condescendingly: 'I'm not talking about you personally, I'm talking about the country,' before stating: 'So the common denominator, though, there's mental health all around the world but we seem to be the only country that has 14-year-olds killing people, right?
The TV host was referring to the arrest of 14-year-old Colt Gray, who is accused of carrying out the deadly mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder on Wednesday morning, and who was on the radar of the FBI a year before the tragedy.
'I say this every time we talk about this, people who suffer from mental health illnesses are ten times more likely to be the victims of crime - violent crimes - than they are to commit it,' Sunny continued.
The View hosts Sunny Hostin (left) and Alyssa Farah Griffin (right) clashed on Thursday's show discussing the Georgia school shooting
Joy Behar turned to Alyssa and argued that 'Republicans keep knocking down mental health measures'
'So I'm not saying that there isn't a mental health problem here, but that seems to be the first thing that we jump to, right? Mental health, mental health!' the mother-of-two added.
Former White House aide Alyssa commented: 'It feels weird to talk politics in light of a tragedy but we're in a political season and voting is how you solve issues like mass shootings so unique to this country.
'It is a universal fear whether you're a Republican or a Democrat, to send your kids to school and think they might be a victim of a school shooting.'
She then argued: 'There are ways to address it and the key is that candidates make clear they are not coming for safe, lawful gun owners who are never going to use that firearm to pose harm to someone else but they are going to address the issues that the vast majority of Americans support.
'You have to talk about solution that make clear you are not coming to take legal lawful gun owners and by the way you can't separate the mental health aspect. A 14-year-old shooting up a school is not well. He could have posed a harm to himself so have to address both of those,' Alyssa claimed.
Comedian Joy Behar then blurted out: 'Don't the Republicans keep knocking down mental health measures all the time?' as Alyssa argued back: 'I'm not saying that the party's handling it. Who I do point to is Chris Murphy and Thom Tillis who came together and did sweeping reforms, but it's not enough, you have to address both.'
Sunny then continued: 'It's really about getting rid of these assault rifles. I think it's getting rid of high-capacity magazines and if you look at the DNC platform and if you listen to what they were saying during the DNC, they want to ban assault weapons.
'They want to ban high-capacity magazines, they want to end the gun industry's immunity from liability which I think is really important because if your kid gets killed, you can't even sue the gun owners.
Sunny (left) and former White House aide Alyssa (right) butted heads as they discussed the link between gun violence and mental health
Whoopi Goldberg interrupted the panel to acknowledge the families who lost their loved ones in the horrific attack
Police officers on the scene after the shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia
'They want to increase funding to the bureau of alcohol, tobacco and most importantly, I think the gun violence epidemic has been deemed to be a public health issue and so that's where the money will come from.
'The money will come from the CDC and the National Institutes of Health, so there is a way to fund gun violence research.'
A frustrated Joy, 81, then chimed in again and stated: 'The number one death of children in this country is school violence, gun violence!' as Sara Haines confirmed the statistic but argued that it's 'such a divisive issue.'
Moderator Whoopi Goldberg ended up interrupting the women and shouted: 'Hold up y'all!' so that they could take a moment to acknowledge the families who lost their loved ones in the horrific incident, which saw two students and two teachers killed.
'This happened yesterday. Can we just right now... we'll talk about it more, but right now our hearts with are those families who are living through this,' the 68-year-old actor announced before the show went to a commercial break.
Following the incident, a 14-year-old student who had been on the FBI's radar for the last year, was identified as the suspected gunman who went on the bloody shooting spree, killing four people.
A junior at the school, Colt Gray immediately surrendered when confronted by law enforcement following the violent rampage at Apalachee High School, and will be charged with murder and tried as an adult.
The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice confirmed Thursday that the suspect was taken into custody at the Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Center, Channel 2 Action News reported.
French police have broken up the Calais camp thought to have been the place where migrants stayed just before their bid to cross the Channel in an overcrowded boat ended in tragedy with 12 drowned.
Officers moved in this morning in a fleet of vans barely 24 hours after the tragedy, MailOnline can reveal.
The breakfast time raid made a clean sweep of the illegal camp which had been erected on the outskirts of Calais at Petit Courgain.
Among those who were moved on today were thought to be a number of survivors of Tuesdays tragedy.
Some were said to have been moved to a site in the South of France, many hundreds of miles away.
The camp, made up of 500 people mostly thought to be from Eritrea, had tents and personal items removed.
French police have broken up the Calais camp thought to have been the place where migrants stayed just before their bid to cross the Channel in an overcrowded boat ended in tragedy with 12 drowned (File image)
Migrants in their jungle camp, Calais, France
Many locals who dislike the migrant camps cheered the police move but aid workers condemned the timing when they were reeling with grief at losing friends.
Migrant support group Care4Calais which sent helpers to the dismantled camp, said in a statement: The majority people on the boat were from the Eritrean community.
The community is in deep mourning and shock over the tragedy but this seems to have meant nothing to the authorities who chose to target the largest Eritrean site in Calais for the latest site of eviction and destruction.
It said migrants were cruelly and brutally cleared by police with tents and belongings seized and destroyed.
Police have their work cut out not only to prevent migrants from travelling to the coastline, but in keeping them in check with several sites around Calais being used by Sudanese, Eritrean and Somalian migrants.
And indeed within hours of this mornings dozens of Eritreans had already returned begun to reestablish a new camp in the same spot, supported by the care workers who arrived with vans of food to feed them.
Among the returnees to Petit Courgain was a teenage girl who was plucked from the water after the boat sank sending more than 50 people into the English Channel.
A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel
Border Force Ranger Picks Up A Large Dinghy In Uk Waters
Hildia, 17, from Eritrea, knew the pregnant woman, who drowned and said she was in shock after being rescued along with here mother.
I cannot swim and I swallowed a lot of water, I was vomiting for a long time afterwards she said.
There are some very good people who have been killed. I am very sorry for that.
But she and her mother, who spoke little English and wore a hijab, said they would try again to cross the channel and reach Britain soon.
Mail Online spoke to groups of young men who declared their intention to reach England, despite the latest disaster
Ali, 24, from Chad in Sudan, said: England is a beautiful country and the language is beautiful too. I dream of the day that I reach there.
Asked why he was prepared to risk himself to circumnavigate the dangers of the sea, he said: I have no life here and no life in Sudan. If it is Gods will, then I will be in England soon. I am not scared of the sea because I cannot swim, that is true.
The police investigation is cantered on men from the Middle East who are said to have masterminded Tuesdays trip across the channel.
Detectives are examining local bus transport records as they have been told two buses took the migrants from outside Boulogne Railway Station to Le Porte where they embarked on the fateful trip.
Officers will also look for help from banks in case thousands of euros in cash are suddenly deposited by the people smugglers who charged each traveller 1500.
A manslaughter probe is underway, but if claims that the inflatable dinghy was slashed with a knife are proved, it is likely to begin a mass murder investigation.
Officials said the water craft showed signs of being ripped.
A Major General who was tipped as the future head of the British Army played with his colleague's hair and tried to kiss her during a boozy karaoke night out while on deployment to Japan, a court martial heard today.
Highly decorated James Roddis, 53, has become the most senior officer for centuries to appear in a court martial for a sex offence after he drunkenly played with a colleague's hair and kissed her without consent.
The Scottish ex-Major General, who helped carry Prince Philip's coffin, 'inappropriately' tugged and twirled the female RAF officer's hair telling her she 'looked better' with it down, it was heard.
Today, his victim told Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, that she has been left 'deeply troubled' by the behaviour of the Major General.
Ex-Major General Roddis, a married father-of-three, was, until recently, Director of Strategy at UK military's Strategic Command, responsible for Special Forces units and other secretive intelligence-gathering and cyber units.
Today, he attended the court martial to be sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of disgraceful conduct of an indecent kind.
Highly decorated James Roddis, 53, has become the most senior officer for centuries to appear in a court martial for a sex offence after he drunkenly played with a colleague's hair and kissed her without consent
Major General James Roddis pictured outside Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, today
The highly-decorated commander was a pallbearer at the late Duke of Edinburgh's funeral in April 2021
Prosecutor, Graham Coombes, said the offence took place during a deployment to Japan.
On the final night of the trip, the six-person group visited a Japanese BBQ restaurant and took part in a local tradition where they enjoyed unlimited drinks for two hours.
The prosecutor said they then moved on to a karaoke bar and a 'substantial quantity of alcohol was consumed'.
'By the time the group headed to the karaoke bar, the complainant accepted that she was drunk and it became apparent that the accused was drunk,' Mr Coombes said.
At 00:40am, both Ex-Maj Gen Roddis and the female RAF officer - who can't be named for legal reasons - were sat together in a booth in the karaoke bar.
It was there that the former Major General started 'playing' with his colleague's hair.
'He began to touch and inappropriately play with her hair, twirling it and tugging at her ponytail,' the prosecutor said.
Ex-Maj Gen Roddis then proceeded to touch the back of her neck and put his arm around her.
In that moment, the female RAF officer said she became 'very aware of the rank difference' and tried to tell Ex-Maj Gen Roddis to stop.
'The accused persists in his behaviour, continuing to touch her hair,' the prosecutor said.
The former Major General pulled the female officers bobble out of her hair, causing it to fall and proceeded to tell her that 'her hair looked better down'.
The prosecutor said at one point you can see the female officer 'roll her eyes' and look 'displeased' but rather than stopping, Ex-Maj Gen Roddis continued to 'flip' and 'play' with her hair.
Then, Ex-Maj Gen Roddis reached across, took hold of her chin, and kissed her for two seconds.
'This was completely uninvited and without warning,' the prosecutor said.
'Shortly afterwards, as a result of what the accused had done, she left the bar with another member of the group.
'She says she felt really angry and was upset about what had happened.'
Ex-Major General Roddis, a married father-of-three, was, until recently, Director of Strategy at UK military's Strategic Command
The court martial heard she texted her husband saying: 'Just because you're a two-star, it doesn't mean you get to touch me.'
On the flight home, the following day, the female officer told Ex-Maj Gen Roddis that 'there was some things that you did last night that I deem unacceptable'.
In response, Ex-Maj Gen Roddis said 'I need to resign'.
Summarising the aggravating factors of the case, the prosecutor said: 'The victim was carrying out her duties.
'She attended the social event as part of her duties and was expected to attend the final night.
'The defendant was in a position of responsibility and trust. The offences took place in public.'
The prosecutor said the behaviour displayed by Ex-Maj Gen Roddis is 'improper' to the 'clear rank difference' between him and his colleague.
It was heard that the Major General had already been subjected to disciplinary action in 2023, relating to behaviour the previous year, which resulted in his loss of seniority.
He was accused of using inappropriate language with two female civil servants.
In a witness impact statement read to the court, the female RAF Officer said: 'I'm deeply troubled by the entitled abuse of rank, a wariness of male senior army officers now pervades my ongoing service.
Roddis was made an MBE in 2009 and earned a pair of Queen's Commendations for Valuable Service in 2008 and 2017
'Whilst they applauded my bravery for standing up to the general, I am sorely disappointed that I was put in a situation where I had to find the moral courage to stand up.'
She said she 'felt powerless' in the moment, adding: 'I was content and happy before he took that away from me.'
Jane Bickerstaff KC, mitigating, told the court: 'He was flirting with [the complainant] and at one point, he thought that this was reciprocated because what he was sensing was that she was comfortable.
'There was laughter, he was entirely unaware that she wanted him to stop and he heard no such request from her.
'Had he done so, he would have stopped.
'When he tried to kiss her and got nothing back at all, he realised then that he misjudged the situation.'
Of the impact of losing his career, Ms Bickerstaff KC continued: 'It's not the same as losing the job.
'This conduct, which took place over a few minutes, resulted in the loss of the career that he spent 30 years building.
'A distinguished career in which he has received a notable number of citations.
'He has shown braver and given service to this country which few would be able to understand and comprehend.'
Ex-Maj Gen Roddis from Aberdour, Fife, Scotland, received the UK's highest award for leadership in combat, Distinguished Service Order (DSO), and a Mention in Dispatches after serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.
He was made an MBE in 2009 and earned a pair of Queen's Commendations for Valuable Service in 2008 and 2017.
In September 2022, he was one of the pall bearers selected to carry Prince Philip's coffin.
He also founded the Army's elite Specialised Infantry Brigade in 2017.
Ex-Maj Gen Roddis' appearance at court martial is very rare for an officer of his rank.
The most recent example was Major General Nick Welch, who was jailed for 21 months at a court martial in 2021 after being convicted of fraud over claiming expenses for boarding school fees.
He was the most senior officer to face court martial since 1815 as he was convicted of a single charge of fraud for falsely claiming more than 48,000 in allowances to pay for his children's boarding school fee
A university custodian was 'visibly shaking' as police arrived to conduct a DNA test that finally linked him to the decades-old rape and murder of a teenage art student, it was revealed this week.
Dozens of people were interviewed after the naked body of 19-year-old Carmen Van Huss was found with 61 stab wounds by her father at her Indianapolis apartment in March of 1993.
It took more than three decades for police to get the breakthrough they needed when Carmens former neighbor, Dana Shepherd, was identified through the DNA of a distant cousin.
The 51-year-old University of Missouri worker was arrested last week and is awaiting extradition back to Indiana to face charges of murder, felony murder and rape.
'There's a lot of people that missed Carmen all these years,' her brother, Jimmy Van Huss Jr., said during a press conference on Tuesday. 'For my dad to have to find his daughter after what was brutally done to her makes this day bittersweet.
'I wish he was here to see it.
Art student Carmen Van Huss was just 19 when she was raped and murdered in March 1993
Her former neighbor Dana Shepherd, 51, was arrested on Friday at his home in Missouri after DNA evidence linked him to the crime
Police had hundreds of leads to follow in the immediate aftermath of the murder that shocked the city in the early 1990s.
Her father went looking for his daughter in her Harcourt Road apartment on March 23 after a colleague of hers at Pizza Hut told him she had not turned up for work.
'There were obvious signs of a struggle, including a knocked over table, clothing thrown on the floor, a large pooling of blood near the victims head, and blood spatter around the victims body,' a probable cause affidavit stated.
A resident in the apartment directly below Van Huss told police he heard screams, cries, banging and the 'noises and voices of a male arguing that lasted approximately 30 minutes,' in the early hours of that morning.
DNA was recovered from the scene but did not match any when it was uploaded to CODIS, the nationwide law enforcement DNA database, in 2013.
In 2018, police submitted a sample to Parabon NanoLabs, which was developing DNA phenotyping and forensic genetic genealogy.
It eventually spotted a partial match with a distant relative of Shepherd's who had at some point voluntarily submitted DNA to a genetic database.
A check of the relative'a family members revealed that Shepherd had been a neighbor of Carmen's at the time of the murder and that their apartments shared a common area.
In February of this year, police knocked on the door of Shepherd's apartment in Columbia, Missouri and saw the suspect start trembling as they handed him a warrant to obtain and test his DNA against that found at the scene of the murder.
A positive match came back in June, and police returned to Shepherd's home with an arrest warrant last week.
Carmen's brother, Jimmy Van Huss Jr., said 'the man that did it is where he needs to be'
Jimmy Van Huss Jr., pictured with Carmen as children, said he fears the families of other victims are waiting too long for justice
Carmen was stabbed 61 times while being raped and murdered in her Indianapolis apartment
Deputy Chief Kendale Adams of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said he hoped the arrest would help bring 'some measure of peace' to Carmens family.
'For 31 years, the family of Carmen Van Huss has been searching for answers.
'We remain dedicated to bringing justice to all victims and will continue to pursue every lead, no matter how much time has passed.'
Carmen's brother said he fears the families of other victims are waiting too long for justice.
'We want all of them to get this treatment,' he said. 'And by that, I mean the DNA genealogy treatment.
'We would love a bill, a law, a procedure - something in Carmen's memory to get the attention other cases deserve.'
Shepherd appeared via video call on Wednesday in a Boone County courtroom, where a judge denied his application for bail and set September 26 as the date for an extradition hearing.
My sister was a beautiful, 19-year-old art student at IUPUI, Van Huss told FOX59. She was always happy and everyone loved her.
'We hope after all this time people understand just how violent my sister's murder was,' her brother told FOX59.
'She was raped and stabbed over 60 times and my dad had to see her like that, blood everywhere, blood on walls, his daughter was naked, laying there, he had to see that. That changed him forever.
'She had a lot of family, a lot of friends. She had cousins that loved her like sisters.
'She was taken from me when I was a freshman in high school. And I'm thankful that, finally, the man that did it is where he needs to be.'
Police have charged a 21-year-old man with murdering a 90-year-old veteran in a violent attack outside of his nursing home in an effort to steal his car.
Kyliel Arceneaux was arrested on Wednesday in Houston and is being held in custody on a $7million bond over the senseless death of beloved great-grandfather Nelson Beckett.
Beckett, a 90-year-old Navy veteran, was shot once and then run over in his own car, police allege.
Court documents seen by DailyMail.com reveal police allegedly have video surveillance of Arceneaux attempting to clean Beckett's car after stealing it.
Kyliel Arceneaux was arrested on Wednesday in Houston and is being held in custody on a $7million bond over the senseless death of beloved great-grandfather Nelson Beckett
Ninety-year-old veteran Nelson Beckett was shot and run over with his own car in a violent carjacking outside his retirement home
Arceneaux allegedly told police he targeted Beckett because he looked like he 'was not going to fight too much,' the Houston Chronicle reported.
He appeared in front of 487th District Court Judge Lori DeAngelo, who described him as an 'extreme danger.'
Chief prosecutor for Harris County District Attorney Chandler Raine urged the judge to impose the high bond.
'As you can imagine, in a case involving gun violence we want to keep the community safe, that's the purpose of us making these requests for high bond,' Raine said.
'In a case like this where we see such senseless gun violence, it's important for us make sure that the entirety of our community is safe from a defendant who is willing to commit acts such as this.'
'He loved big and loved his family so much,' Tami Freund said of her slain father Nelson Beckett (pictured)
Nelson Beckett was a Christian family man. His daughter, Tami Freund, said he had five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren with another on the way
Police allege Arceneaux struck Beckett with his weapon before shooting him.
He is then accused of taking Beckett's keys out of his pocket and taking his car.
The court documents name two good Samaritans, Keith Oldomi and Wayner Ramon, who attempted to intervene. Police allege Arceneaux turned his weapon on the duo.
Beckett's daughter, Tami Freund, said the 90-year-old had served in the Navy and had five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren with another on the way.
'He loved big and loved his family so much,' Freund told Fox News. 'To him, everyone had value, and he would do anything for anyone.'
Nelson Beckett's daughter said he served in the Navy (Pictured: Beckett when he was in the Navy)
Great-grandfather Nelson Beckett was killed close to the Lone Star Living complex in Houston, police said
Freund added that her father was a Christian and the kindest, funniest man she had ever met.
He loved meeting new people and often greeted them with jokes or by handing out his business card which read 'my card'.
Freund said he spent much of his retirement helping others, including by driving people without cars to doctor's appointments and Sunday church service.
He even offered his home as a halfway house, taking lodgers to panhandle and driving them to church where he even baptized some of them.
The FBI has raided the homes of two of New York City Mayor Eric Adams' top aides.
Agents stormed the homes of First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks at 5am on Wednesday, The City reports.
The raids unfolded in tandem at Wright's Hamilton Heights townhouse in upper Manhattan and Banks' Hollis, Queens property.
The reason for the raids remains under wraps, but both officials reportedly had their electronic devices seized.
It comes after the FBI took Mayor Adams' cell phone and laptop and raided the home of his campaign treasurer, Brianna Suggs, last November amid an investigation into his 2021 campaign.
The FBI has raided the homes of two of New York City Mayor Eric Adams ' top aides, Phil Banks (left) and Sheena Wright (right)
Wright is the most senior aide to Adams to have her home raided. The exact reason for the search has not been made public but is thought to be linked to a probe around Adams' 2021 campaign
The searches were part of a probe by the Manhattan US attorney into whether Adams' campaign had conspired to obtain illegal foreign donations via a kickback scheme involving the Turkish government.
Sources told the New York Post the latest searches are designed to try a 'flip' someone close the mayor. Adams has continuously denied any wrongdoing and has not been accused of anything.
In February, the two Bronx homes of top Adams confidante Winnie Greco were also raided as part of a probe by the Brooklyn US attorney.
Greco, 61, is being probed by the city's Department of Investigation over claims she improperly used her position in City Hall to get perks.
She is currently on leave from her role at the mayor's office as Director of Asian Affairs.
In July, Adams and his campaign, along with City Hall, were issued grand jury subpoenas.
The subpoenas requested information about the mayors schedule, his overseas travel and potential connections to the Turkish government, according to a person with knowledge of the subpoenas.
Wright was the former boss of United Way of New York City and was among Adams' first appointments when he took office.
The raids unfolded in tandem at Wright's Hamilton Heights townhouse and Banks' (pictured at a public safety event last month) Hollis property
She has now become the most senior Adams aide to have her home searched.
Wright is engaged to schools chancellor David Banks, who is Phil Banks' brother.
Banks is a former police officer who is close to the mayor. He was previously named as an unindicted co-conspirator in a police bribery scandal.
DailyMail.com has contacted the FBI and Adams' office for comment.
Iran-backed entities plotted to target and potentially assassinate American politicians, newly revealed FBI documents uncovered.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) discovered that these plotters discussed targeting Donald Trump, President Joe Biden and former presidential candidate Nikki Haley as well as other American 'politicians, military people or bureaucrats.'
The plans were an attempt to retaliate against the U.S. for Iranian military officer Qasem Soleimani's death.
The latest revelations come amid an investigation into the attempted assassination of Trump in July, which some Republicans have claimed could be linked to foreign entities like Iran or Pakistan.
Some claim that the gunman who shot Donald Trump in Pennsylvania on July 13 was not acting along and have pointed to the alleged assassination plots by Iran
'Bad actors are determined to wreak havoc on our country, and American political leaders across both parties are sitting squarely in the crosshairs,' Grassley wrote in a statement on the unclassified FBI records he obtained.
'In this extraordinarily heightened threat environment, federal agencies ought to be laser focused on building up public trust and reassuring the American people of their efforts to carry out their protective missions,' the Iowa Senator said.
'I won't stop pressing for answers until Congress and the American people are afforded the transparency they deserve.'
Thomas Matthew Crooks was the gunman that shot at Donald Trump at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13.
While he grazed the former president's ear, his plot to kill Trump was unsuccessful. But he did kill one and injure two other rally goers that day before he was shot and killed by Trump's security detail.
Some claim that the 20-year-old was part of a bigger plot despite law enforcement claiming shortly after the attack that he acted alone.
The latest revelations came from an FBI proffer agreement with Asif Merchant, a Pakistani native with Iranian ties, that was released by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Thursday
The plot is an apparent effort of retaliation for Iranian military officer Qasem Soleimani's death
Rep. Mike Waltz, who is on the House task force investigating the attack, told DailyMail.com that he isn't convinced Crooks was a lone wolf.
The latest revelations of an Iranian-backed plot on Trump and other U.S. politicians' lives is bolstering the doubt over claims Crooks did not have foreign ties.
Asif Merchant, a Pakistani native with Iranian ties, provided the latest evidence of the scheme in FBI proffer agreement, which has not been released by Grassley.
The Justice Department has charged Merchant for his involvement in the revenge plot.
Just four months before the attempt on Trump's life this summer, the FBI posted a notice requesting information on an alleged Iranian spy the agency believed to be involved in assassination plots.
Majid Farahani, 42, was accused by the FBI of plotting revenge killings after Soleimani was killed in a Trump administration-led attack on January 3, 2020.
The FBI released a notice in March for an alleged Iranian spy they say is behind the plot to assassinate current and former government officials in retribution for the death of Soleimani
Ever since the attack that took out the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander, Iran has vowed revenge.
The FBI claims Farahani was acting in a plot on Trump's life on behalf of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence.
Due to worries about a plato, Secret Service detail around Trump was actually ramped up before the Butler rally but the heightened security did not prevent the shooter from his attempt on the former president's life.
Donald Trump unveiled a radical new plan to use cash from tariffs to fuel a sovereign wealth fund to invest in roads, airports and defense technology on Thursday.
It is the sort of 'build the wall' idea beloved by the former president as he searches for a populist proposal that can excite voters.
Wealth funds are generally set up by governments awash with spare cash generated by oil or gas finds. And Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have some of the most powerful examples.
But the idea will face the immediate skepticism of economists amid questions about whether Americans would trust politicians to invest billions of dollars on their behalf and whether it is even constitutionally possible.
'Why don't we have a wealth fund?' Trump asked his audience at the Economic Club of New York. 'Other countries have wealth funds.
Donald Trump unveiled a radical new plan to use cash from tariffs to fuel a sovereign wealth fund to invest in roads, airports and defense technology
'We have nothing. We have nothing.
'We're going to have a sovereign wealth fund.'
The U.S. has run deficits for years, which means the debt has continued to grow and there is no spare cash to put into a wealth fund.
The idea of government running investments also runs counter to the market-driven approach, which prefers using private markets than a federal-controlled investment vehicle.
Trump laid down a radical marker on Thursday, upending that orthodoxy and tying the idea to another of his policies, imposing 10 percent tariffs on imports and higher penalties on goods from China.
'We'll put tremendous amounts of money ... that will be taken in through tariffs and other intelligent things, and we'll have the greatest sovereign wealth fund of them all,' he said, 'that will be used to do things that will be great for our country, including to invest and wisely invest and build it up bigger and stronger and better than any place on Earth.'
The fund, he added, will be used on everything from transport to defense.
'We will build extraordinary national development projects and everything from highways to airports and to transportation, infrastructure ..all of the future,' he said.
'We'll be able to invest in state of the art, manufacturing hubs, advanced defense capabilities, cutting edge medical research and help save billions of dollars in preventing disease in the first place.'
Most wealth funds invest cash windfalls from oil, gas or minerals. But Trump plans to use revenue from new tariffs on imports
Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Senior chairman of Sullivan & Cromwell H. Rodgin Cohen at the Economic Club of New York
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And he said it would generate a 'gigantic profit' that would help pay down the national debt.
The U.S. does already have a number wealth funds, run by states. The biggest is the Alaska Permanent Fund, which uses income from oil and mineral resources.
But Trump's big idea got short shrift from economists, with critics warning of the chance of corruption.
'"Sovereign wealth fund" sounds cool but here's how it'll go,' posted Brendan Duke, a senior director for economic policy at American Progress, and Biden White House alumnus. 'Trump charges Americans what is effectively a national sales tax.
'He'll hand the money over to a crony like [billionaire businessman] Jeffrey Yass to manage.
'Who'll invest the money in Trump properties and bailing out Elon for Twitter.'
Trump also used the speech to promise he would slash tax rates for companies that manufacture domestically and set up 'low-tax' zones on federal lands where construction companies would be encouraged to build homes.
And he announced plans for a government efficiency commission headed by billionaire supporter Elon Musk if he wins in November.
A highly-decorated Major General who was a pallbearer at Prince Philips funeral has been kicked out of the army for trying to kiss a female colleague at a drunken karaoke night.
James Roddis, a married father-of-three, was tipped as the future head of the British Army before he inappropriately played with the hair of the female RAF officer then gave her a completely uninvited kiss on the lips.
The 53-year-old, from Aberdour, Fife, was formally dismissed from the armed forces by a court martial board yesterday after admitting disgraceful conduct of an indecent kind during a deployment to Japan.
He was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years, ordered to complete 30 days of rehabilitation and 150 hours unpaid work and pay his victim 2,500 compensation.
James Roddis inappropriately played with the hair of the female RAF officer before giving her an 'uninvited' kiss
Judge Advocate General Alan Large told him: The kiss and touching of the victim was clearly an indecent act and your conduct was persistent, to a degree.
This was an escalating course of indecent conduct and when you grabbed her face and kissed her you intended to do just that.
The hearing in Bulford, Wiltshire, marked the official end of Roddiss glittering 29-year army career.
Roddis had received the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), the UKs highest award for leadership in combat, two Queens commendations and a Mention in Dispatches after serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.
In 2014, he was commanding officer of The Highlanders - troops from the 4th Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland - who were then the last Scottish battalion to serve in a combat role in Afghanistan.
But his career ended in disgrace when he became only the second officer of his rank to face a court martial since 1815.
Yesterdays hearing was told that Roddis and his victim were part of a six-strong group who went out when they were off duty on the last night of the trip to Japan.
They went to a BBQ restaurant and participated in a two-hour Japanese tradition known as Nomihodai, which means all you can drink, before continuing the revelry at a karaoke bar.
Videos from the night showed the service personnel drinking from a champagne tower and Roddis singing a drunken duet of The Killers hit Mr Brightside with a colleague.
Prosecutor Graham Coombes said a substantial quantity of alcohol was consumed.
He said: By the time the group headed to the karaoke bar, the complainant accepted that she was drunk and it became apparent that the accused was drunk.
Roddis turned his attention to his victim - who cannot be named for legal reasons - while they sat in a booth at the bar and he began tugging at her ponytail.
The female RAF officer said she became very aware of the rank difference and tried to tell the ex-Maj Gen to stop.
Roddis, who was a pallbearer at Prince Philips funeral, had been tipped as the future head of the British Army
Part of the incident was caught on film, and Mr Coombes said: He begins to touch and inappropriately touch and play with her hair and touch her ponytail before putting his arm around her.
She turns to the accused and asks him to stop. She turns towards him and raises her finger appealing to him to stop. She says she didnt know what else to do to stop him touching her hair.
The accused continues to touch her and pulls the bobble out causing her hair to roll down and he says to her that her hair looks better down.
You can see her raise her eyes and indicate her displeasure.
Roddis then grasped her chin and kissed her, which was not filmed but which Mr Coombes said was completely uninvited and without warning.
He added: Shortly afterwards, as a result of what the accused had done, she left the bar with another member of the group.
She says she felt really angry and was upset about what had happened.
The court martial heard she texted her husband saying: Just because youre a two-star general, it doesnt mean you get to touch me.
On the flight home the next day, the female officer told Roddis that there was some things that you did last night that I deem unacceptable.
He told her: I need to resign.
Summarising the aggravating factors of the case, the prosecutor said: The victim was carrying out her duties.
She attended the social event as part of her duties and was expected to attend the final night.
The defendant was in a position of responsibility and trust. The offences took place in public.
Roddis had originally been accused of sexual assault following the incident in April but admitted a lesser charge at a hearing in July.
He was required to resign from the army in May.
The court martial heard it was the second similar incident involving Roddiss conduct for which he received a punishment of loss of seniority.
Two female civil servants had lodged complaints about his conduct following an incident, again overseas, in 2023 where he had asked questions of a sexual nature and touched one of the females that made her feel uncomfortable.
In a victim impact statement, the complainant said she did the right thing in reporting Roddis.
My main concern is how powerless I was that night. It has left me feeling vulnerable, she added.
Jane Bickerstaff KC, defending, said Roddis had recently been diagnosed with alcohol dependency.
He has been through a formal disciplinary process and his commission has been revoked, she said.
He is not allowed to refer to himself as having been a major general in the Army.
This conduct taking place over a few minutes has resulted in the loss of a career that he spent 30 years building - a distinguished career in which he has received a number of citations.
You will appreciate that he has lost not only his career but the future potential prospects of that career.
When one appreciates, as James Roddis does, that one only has ones self to blame, it is a bitter pill to swallow.
A society fixer embroiled in a Royal 'cash for honours' scandal has been disqualified by the charity watchdog following an investigation into donations to the King's Foundation.
Michael Wynne-Parker has been deemed unfit to serve as a charity trustee and disqualified from holding a senior position or trustee role in any charity for 12 years.
It comes after The Mail on Sunday revealed that the 78-year-old had told wealthy donors he could secure dinner with King Charles and an overnight stay at Dumfries House in return for six-figure sums.
Mr Wynne-Parker was an advisor to Saudi billionaire Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz and a trustee of his charity the Mahfouz Foundation, which has been under investigation since 2021.
The Charity Commission found that almost 200,000 in donations meant for the King's Foundation were transferred to Mr Wynne-Parker's private company's bank account.
Michael Wynne-Parker has been deemed unfit to serve as a charity trustee and disqualified from holding a senior position or trustee role in any charity for 12 years following an investigation into the King's Foundation
The Metropolitan Police also launched an investigation in 2022 following claims that the King's right-hand man Michael Fawcett (Pictured with King Charles III and Queen Camilla) had fixed an honour for Dr Bin Mahfouz
Last night the King's Foundation, set up by King Charles in 1986, said it had received the findings from the Charity Commission report.
The Scottish charity watchdog said its investigation into the King's Foundation, which is registered there, remains ongoing.
The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation in 2022 following claims that the King's right-hand man had fixed an honour for Dr Bin Mahfouz.
Dr Mahfouz had previously denied any wrongdoing in 2021.
Michael Fawcett was accused of helping to secure the Saudi tycoon a CBE that was handed over by Charles in a private ceremony in 2016.
Mr Fawcett resigned as chief executive of the-then Prince's Foundation in the wake of the allegations in 2021.
It was then announced two years later in 2023 that detectives would be taking no further action.
The charity watchdog began looking into concerns about the Mahfouz Foundation in 2021, including whether a series of payments received from donors were used as intended.
Its investigation followed allegations that donations from Russian banker Dmitry Leus, intended for the King's Foundation, were instead paid to the Mahfouz Foundation with some of these funds then transferred elsewhere.
The probe found the Mahfouz Foundation's bank had been 'primarily used as a conduit' to transfer funds on behalf of third parties, including deposits that donors thought were going directly to the King's Foundation.
A total of 193,730 of the donations intended for the King's Foundation were identified as having been transferred Introcom International Limited, of which Mr is the sole director.
Some 106,270 has been returned to the donor and the commission's inquiry has recovered 49,581 'to make good losses the charity had incurred as a result of misapplied funds'.
A 100,000 donation from Mr Leus was transferred to the King's Foundation in May 2020, but Charles' charity later decided to return it in September 2020 and not to accept any further funds from the Russian businessman.
The King's Foundation's then chief executive, Mr Fawcett, alongside Dr Bin Mahfouz's employee William Bortrick arranged for a 200,000 donation from Mr Leus to be transferred to another charity - Children and the Arts.- of which Charles as the Prince of Wales, Children and the Arts was patron.
The inquiry found that this 'constituted a misapplication of 200,000 of charitable funds which were restricted for use by The King's Foundation'.
Michael Fawcett was accused of helping to secure the Saudi tycoon a CBE that was handed over by Charles in a private ceremony in 2016 - detectives took no further action two years later
The Charity Commission found that almost 200,000 in donations meant for the King's Foundation were transferred to Mr Wynne-Parker's (Pictured right) private company's bank account
Mr Fawcett told the inquiry it was his understanding Mr Bortrick, the editor of aristocratic bible Burke's Peerage, was in communication with Mr Leus about the arrangements.
The commission said it had advised Mr Leus to go to the police if he considers himself to have been a victim of a crime, adding that the watchdog's remit does not extend to investigating criminal matters.
The Mahfouz Foundation was removed from the charity register in October 2023.
The commission has also disqualified Mr Bortrick and Mark Ayre, both former trustees of Burke's Peerage Foundation, which had links with the Mahfouz Foundation.
The Burke's Peerage Foundation was removed from the charity register in August 2023 and the commission said it had recovered 113,000 of misapplied charitable funds from the trustees.
A King's Foundation spokesman said: 'The findings of the report have been noted.'
An Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator spokesman said: 'OSCR's active inquiry into this charity is ongoing.'
Detectives have submitted the findings of their probe into Nicola Sturgeon and the SNPs finances to prosecutors.
The police have made a formal request to the Crown Office asking what action to take next.
The development in the long-running Operation Branchform case was revealed last night.
The Police Scotland report is understood to focus on the former first minister and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie, both of whom are sitting MSPs.
They were arrested and released without charge by officers looking into SNP fundraising last year, as was Ms Sturgeons husband, former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell.
Police have submitted the findings of their probe into Nicola Sturgeon and the SNPs finances to the Crown Office
Mr Murrell, 59, was rearrested and charged in connection with the embezzlement of funds from the SNP in April this year.
A month later, the police sent a standard prosecution report to prosecutors concerning incidents said to have occurred between 2016 and 2023.
Meanwhile, their investigations into Ms Sturgeon, 54, and Mr Beattie, 72, continued.
It has now emerged detectives working on the case recently sent details of what they had found in an advice and guidance report to the Crown.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: On August 9, we presented the findings of the investigation so far to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and we await their direction on what further action should be taken.
Senior Crown lawyers are understood to be considering whether there is enough evidence to prosecute Mr Murrell and whether it would be in the public interest to do so.
Ms Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell was charged in connection with the embezzlement of funds from the SNP earlier this year
After her arrest in June last year, Ms Sturgeon protested her innocence to the media. I am absolutely certain that I have done nothing wrong, she said.
Both she and Mr Beattie said they would cooperate fully with the investigation.
The latest Police Scotland update to prosecutors comes as the force faces questions about the length of Operation Branchform, which recently entered its fourth year.
Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell last month refused to say how much longer the investigation would last, telling Sky News: That inquiry is ongoing.
Asked if Ms Sturgeon and Mr Beattie were under investigation, she added: Still ongoing.
Operation Branchform was launched in July 2021 after the police received complaints alleging SNP funds raised for a second independence referendum had been spent on other things.
It followed the party raising more than 600,000 for a ringfenced referendum campaign which never happened, but its accounts showed less than that in reserves.
The issue has dogged the SNP ever since.
It dominated the start of Humza Yousafs time as First Minister, with Mr Beatties arrest overshadowing his first major speech to Holyrood as party leader.
SNP activists also reported the issue coming up on the doorstep during the general election.
Senior party figures later said the SNPs hammering at the polls, when it slumped from 48 seats to just nine, was in part due to a loss of trust among voters.
When John Swinney held a closed-door post-mortem into the election result at the SNPs conference last week, the first question from the floor was about Operation Branchform.
Westminster leader Stephen Flynn also admitted the SNP suffered self-inflicted wounds.
The Crown Office declined to add to a May 23 statement issued after Police Scotland submitted its prosecution report about Mr Murrell.
It said Crown prosecutors and independent counsel would review the report and evaluate numerous witness statements and extensive evidence collected by police.
The Crown said decisions on next steps will not involve Scotlands top prosecutor, the Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC, as she is also the Scottish Governments senior legal adviser.
This is to help ensure the process operates independently of political influence.
A mass grave containing 303 bodies including hundreds of children and babies has been found in a cemetery in Oldham.
The unmarked resting place was discovered in Royton Cemetery and contains the remains of 145 stillborn infants, 128 babies and young children and 29 adults.
A woman from the local area made the horrifying discovery whilst searching for the grave of her twin brothers who died shortly after they were born in 1962.
The woman's parents were sadly never able to say goodbye to their sons before they were taken away from them.
Shockingly, the 12ft by 12ft plot might not be the only mass grave in the cemetery. With local councillors who helped the unnamed woman make the discovery claiming there could be more in different sections of the cemetery.
The unmarked resting place was discovered in Royton Cemetery (pictured) and contains the remains of 145 stillborn infants, 128 babies and young children and 29 adults
Shockingly, the 12ft by 12ft plot might not be the only mass grave in the cemetery. With local councillors who helped the unnamed woman make the discovery claiming there could be more in different sections of the cemetery
It was common practise before the 1980s for stillborn babies use to be taken away from parents without any further detail of where they were buried.
Bereaved parents were instead told by medical staff that their child was buried alongside a 'nice person' that same day. However, babies were often instead interred in mass graves.
Over the past 20 years, the mass graves of babies have been found across the UK.
The adults discovered in the grave are likely to be 'pauper's burials' for people whose families could not pay for a proper burial.
Local councillors Maggie Hurley and Jade Hughes released a statement regarding the 'heartbreaking' discovery.
The statement said: 'It's a stark injustice that parents were denied the fundamental right to bury their babies, a right that should be inherent and unquestionable. This situation should stir our collective sense of fairness and empathy.
'We cannot change what has happened, but we can ensure that the babies born sleeping are named, recognised, and never forgotten.'
The Oldham Times, reported that a council meeting on Wednesday September 11 will discuss plans to erect a memorial to the buried children. Records and documents will also be digitalised for families to easily access them.
Royton Cemetery. Local councillors Maggie Hurley and Jade Hughes said: 'It's a stark injustice that parents were denied the fundamental right to bury their babies, a right that should be inherent and unquestionable. This situation should stir our collective sense of fairness and empathy'
In a statement Arooj Shah, the leader of Oldham Council, told MailOnline: 'We understand this news will be upsetting for a lot of people and our thoughts are with them.
'As a matter of urgency we will consider the suggestion being made and what may be appropriate to recognise those buried in Royton by providing a suitable memorial.
'Our staff are here to support any families who think they may be affected.
'This is not a newly discovered grave.
'Sadly, the burying of people, including babies and children, in unmarked graves happened in graveyards all around the country years ago.
'Thankfully, things have changed and improved over the years. The Government now pay for the funerals of stillborn babies and anyone up to the age of 18 if necessary. Public graves are no longer used.
'Today, when a request is made for burial in a public grave, the arrangements are usually made by the relevant hospital via a funeral director. Often the hospital chaplaincy organises the burial or cremation of the individual.
'The council cemeteries staff also works with the funeral director and carry out the expressed wishes. The hospital and ourselves keep records of the burial, which can be located by families whenever they want.
'Alternatively, the family can make their own arrangements for burial in an individual grave plot via a funeral director and would install their own memorial.'
Trump says unsure how to react to Putin endorsing Kamala Harris
Washington, Sept 5 (UNI) Former President Donald Trump on Thursday said he doesn't know how to feel about Russian President Vladimir Putin's endorsement of Kamala Harris, questioning whether he should feel insulted or grateful.
"He [Putin] endorsed Kamala, and I didn't know if I was supposed to call him up and say 'Thank you very much,' but he endorsed Kamala... I don't know exactly what to say about that. I don't know if I'm insulted or he did me a favor," Trump said during an event at the Economic Club of New York.
However, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said that Putin should refrain from discussing the US presidential elections.
TIME Magazine has sparked outrage after snubbing Elon Musk from its' Most Influential People in AI' list - while featuring Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson on the cover.
The second annual 'TIME 100 AI' list, meant to showcase the brightest minds in artificial intelligence, was slammed for what many see as a bold oversight on Thursday,
Musk, the driving force behind Tesla's self-driving technology, CEO of SpaceX, and owner of X was conspicuously absent from the lineup this year - despite playing a key role in the founding of The Boring Company, xAI, Neuralink, and OpenAI - the maker of ChatGPT.
The magazine instead chose to feature 'Black Widow' star Scarlett Johansson among the 18 cover personalities.
TIME Magazine has sparked outrage after snubbing Elon Musk from its' Most Influential People in AI' list - while featuring Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson on the cover
Musk, the driving force behind Tesla 's self-driving technology, data collection efforts, and the humanoid robot Optimus, was conspicuously absent from the lineup this year
The actress was famously thrown to the center of the AI conversation after she was approached by OpenAI with a request to use her voice for their new chatbot.
Despite Johansson declining their offer, they moved ahead with a chatbot using a voice she says was so similar to her own that her own family could not tell the difference.
The star went on to use her platform to lobby against deepfakes, and OpenAI removed the offending voice from their chatbot without admitting it was inspired by Johansson.
Some of other names on the list include: Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, and Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta.
Peter Yang, a project manager at Roblox, slammed the magazine's cover on X (formerly Twitter).
'It's hilarious that Scarlett Johansson is pictured here, but there's no: Sam Altman, Dario Amodei, Ilya Sutskever, Andrej Karpathy or even...Mark Zuckerberg,' he wrote in the post which has gained nearly 200k views.
Other names were omitted from the list altogether.
Among them was Devo Harris, founder of Adventr, whose patented AI technology allows users to speak directly to videos and receive real-time responses - a platform that Disney uses to create interactive video, with the startup being named as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2024.
Many users agreed with Yang's take on the snubs, with one commenting: 'This is a great representation of the total collapse of corporate media.'
Another added, 'I'm pretty sure I can name 100 people more influential to our AI future than most of the folks on this cover,' a third user wrote.
Others had their own takes on Time's picks, with one user stating: 'I think the goal was to make the cover go viral by making people wonder why certain people were on the cover. It worked.'
The magazine instead chose to feature 'Black Widow' star Scarlett Johansson among the 18 cover personalities
Some of other names on the list include: Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft , and Mark Zuckerberg , CEO of Meta
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks during the Microsoft Build conference at the Seattle Convention Center Summit Building in Seattle
TIME emphasized the list's diversity on their website, explaining that It features 91 new entries compared to last year, spanning various companies, regions, and perspectives.
They specifically mentioned the range of ages from 15-year-old deepfake protection advocate Francesca Mani to 77-year-old Chinese computer scientist Andrew Yao.
The magazine stated: 'Our purpose in creating the TIME100 AI is to put leaders like Pichai and Whittaker in dialogue and to open up their views to TIME's readers. That is why we are excited to share with you the second edition of the TIME100 AI.
'We built this program in the spirit of the TIME100, the world's most influential community. TIME's knowledgeable editors and correspondents, led by Emma Barker and Ayesha Javed, interviewed their sources and consulted members of last year's list to find the best new additions to our community of AI leaders.'
The magazine clarified that ninety-one of the members of the 2024 list were not on last year's, claiming it's 'an indication of just how quickly this field is changing.'
In June, Musk forecasted a '10 to 20 per cent probability' of a scenario in which AI annihilates humanity.
Speaking at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Musk told audiences that even AI's most positive outcomes would lead to an 'existential crisis' for humanity.
Marc Benioff, the chair and CEO of Salesforce and the owner of TIME pictured (left) with Elon Musk (right)
Last year's TIME100 Most Influential People in AI cover
Musk has been a long-standing critic of AI, often saying that unchecked development could lead to the destruction of humanity.
Today Musk once again reiterated that point, saying: 'I tend to agree with Geoff Hinton one of the godfathers of AI and he thinks theres a 10-20% probability of something terrible happening.'
Last year, Musk was one of 1,000 signatories calling for a pause on AI development.
The billionaire has even warned that AI could be 'one of the biggest threats to humanity'.
However, just as the Tesla CEO has before, Musk also argued that the potential benefits outweigh the risks.
If you ask me, body language is a right lot of old hooey. Its one of those scams only the gullible fall for, like astrology, pyramid schemes, or Keir Starmer. Watching John Swinney at First Ministers Questions was the closest Ive come to changing my mind. For the wiry frame perched at the head of the SNP benches appeared to be shouldering all of the partys problems at once. His body was giving off language, all right, but none of it printable in a family newspaper.
Swinney cut a small, solemn figure at the first FMQs since summer. He had the look of a man who knows hes beat but keeps climbing back into the ring and taking another pasting. What else can he do? His government is out of favour, out of money, out of ideas and, increasingly, out of time.
Politics is an unsentimental craft so he got no slack from his rivals. Douglas Ross cornered him on child poverty and got him to admit the SNP had abandoned its free school meals promise. There was something pitiful about the usually bombastic Swinney conceding at the volume of a field mouse that older kids would need to be receiving certain benefits to qualify.
Ross twisted the dagger by asking if he was proud that his legacy will be Scotlands poorest children falling further behind. Had Anas Sarwar prosecuted this line of questioning, it would not have been nearly as impactful. It was the very fact that Ross, not someone who has shown particular interest in poverty, was button-holing him on the issue. It underscored just how rapidly the reins of power are getting away from him.
John Swinney looked crestfallen as he faced a series of tough questions during First Minister's Questions
Sarwar eyed up the First Ministers wounds and poured out an extra large measure of salt. He began by congratulating Starmer on his victory and Labours return to government. The SNP leader, visibly eager to get through the remaining half-hour with minimal damage, pivoted to Starmers first phone call to Bute House as Prime Minister. Starmer had, he claimed, pledged to create a better relationship between Whitehall and Holyrood. I knew he was a wrongun.
Sarwar returned to his strongest subject: the NHS. He conveyed the stories of patients dumped on waiting lists for obscene lengths of time, which prompted a pained expression of regret from the FM.
Sarwars tone soured instantly. Week after week the First Minister says sorry but those sorrys dont cut waiting lists. Ministers were now so accustomed to apologising for poor NHS treatment that he feared they had become desensitised to this crisis.
The ignominy didnt end there. For the second time in as many days, the truly scarring attack on Swinney came not from Labour or the Tories but from the Scottish Greens Lorna Slater. She has shaken off the debacles of her time in ministerial office and reinvented herself as the voice of progressives let down by Swinneys more centrist SNP.
Reminding Swinney that it was her party that had pushed for universal free school meals, Slater scowled: As soon as the Greens are out of the room, the Scottish Government drops the policy. How, she demanded, could we take seriously his commitment to tackling chid poverty?
Swinney wearily informed her that the government was facing acute financial challenges but she brushed this aside to rhyme off all the other Green-era measures on the chopping block. Years of work was being undone, slashed, watered down or shelved. The audience for these lines was not in the chamber and Slater soon made clear to whom she was speaking: The message of this weeks programme for government is that, if people want progressive green policies, they need to vote to have Greens in the room.
Slater is trying to woo disillusioned radicals by pummelling the SNP from the far-left. Shes becoming the Hammer-and-sickle of the Nats. Swinney looks resigned to 18 months of this before leading his party to the inevitable. The First Ministers body language? Hes the human form of a sigh.
Hunter Biden on Thursday pleaded guilty to nine tax evasion charges, including three felonies, after finally agreeing to admit to the crimes during extraordinary drama at his federal trial in Los Angeles.
The president's son will learn his fate on December 16 when he is sentenced on three felony and six misdemeanor charges. He faces up to 17 years in prison and $1.35 million in fines.
Hunter decided to enter his plea to protect those he loves from unnecessary hurt, his attorney Abbe Lowell said in a statement outside the courthouse after the hearing was over.
The tax cheat First Son's lawyers had initially attempted to sidestep the admission by entering an 'Alford plea', a gambit which would have allowed Hunter, 54, to plead guilty while still maintaining his innocence.
But after a fiery exchange between prosecutors and the defense, Hunter's attorneys abandoned their technical arguments and instead agreed to have him make a standard guilty plea.
The charges he admitted include lying on his tax returns and deliberately not paying $1.4 million to the IRS between 2016 and 2019.
Lowell claimed the government was trying to 'exact more than a pound of flesh but also a drop of blood'.
The First Son is seen in a court sketch entering a federal courtroom for jury selection for his trial
Flanked by Secret Service agents, Hunter Biden arrives at court with wife Melissa Cohen at his side for his tax evasion trial in Los Angeles Thursday
Prosecutor Leo Wise said the suggestion was 'offensive', saying 'the truth matters', as he asked that it be made clear Hunter was agreeing he did commit all the crimes he is charged with.
After dropping the 'Alford plea' attempt, Judge Mark Scarsi had Wise read out the indictment to put all of the allegations against Hunter on the record.
The more than 50 page document includes details of Hunter's shady overseas deals with Romanian businessman Gabriel Popoviciu who has been convicted of bribery, and with Chinese oil giant CEFC, which has been linked to a Chinese government influence operation.
It also described how Hunter paid prostitutes and drug dealers, and spent thousands on a lavish lifestyle, rather than paying his taxes.
He also lied in order to deduct some of those illicit expenses as business costs on his tax returns, which is a felony.
The judge asked Hunter whether he understood the charges, and whether he was aware of the consequences of pleading guilty. Hunter said he did.
Among the standard questions Hunter was asked by the judge: 'Did anybody make any promises to you to get you to plead guilty?'
Hunter replied: 'No'.
The answer would appear to mean Hunter is denying that his father President Joe Biden has promised to pardon him. Biden will still have seven weeks in the White House after his son is sentenced.
Wise was keen to make sure that by pleading guilty, Hunter agreed he was guilty of each of the elements in the indictment, without wiggle room.
In a stunning reversal ahead of jury selection, Hunter's attorneys revealed he will now be pleading guilty to some of the charges
Hunter's attorney Abbe Lowell, arrives at the First Street US Courthouse in LA Thursday, informed the judge of the shock plea reversal as jury selection was set to begin
Law enforcement officers and reporters gathered outside the US Courthouse as Hunter arrived at the LA courthouse
Judge Scarsi said that after conviction, the probation and pretrial services group would meet with the defense and put together a sentencing report with a recommendation of what punishment Hunter should receive for his crimes.
Scarsi added that the report would only be 'advisory', and that 'the court can sentence you anywhere up to the maximum penalty' of up to 17 years and a fine of up to $1.35million.
When agreeing to have Hunter enter a standard guilty plea, Lowell said that Hunter didn't want to cause any more difficulty for his family.
'Your honor has basically indicated that there's a need to address the public interest,' Lowell told Scarsi.
'But Mr. Biden also has to address the private interest.
'This has been a difficult time for him and his family,' he added. 'Enough is enough.'
The case against the first sitting president's child to face felony charges was thrown off course from the get-go when the defense revealed he would be changing his plea to guilty in a stunning last-minute reversal in court Thursday morning.
Attorney Abbe Lowell announced the move in front of the judge, while 120 potential jurors waited in an adjoining room to be selected for the criminal trial.
The shocking U-turn was an apparent Hail Mary strategy by the defense to try to stop damaging and embarrassing evidence being presented to the jury.
Lowell cited legal cases and precedents suggesting that by pleading guilty, the judge would have to decide on the facts of the case rather than a jury, and the judge could only use material that has already been filed in the case.
He told Judge Scarsi that Hunter would be taking an 'Alford plea' meaning he would accept a guilty verdict in a bid to get a lighter sentence while maintaining his innocence.
The case marks the second high-profile criminal trial this year for Hunter, who faces multiple charges on evading $1.4million in taxes
The president's son had switched lead counsels ahead of his trial, retaining prominent LA celebrity attorney Mark Geragos in July. He is seen arriving in federal court on Thursday morning
Criminal defense lawyer Mark Geragos represented singer Chris Brown when he was charged with assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna. More recently he has been taken on by Jasveen Sangha, the so-called 'Ketamine Queen' who is facing charges in connection to the death of Matthew Perry
But the prosecutors said they were dead against Hunter entering a guilty plea while still maintaining his innocence.
'I want to make something crystal clear: the United States opposes an Alford plea,' DoJ attorney Leo Wise told Judge Scarsi.
'Hunter Biden is not innocent. Hunter Biden is guilty. He is not allowed special terms.'
Wise said allowing Hunter to plead guilty while maintaining his innocence would be 'an injustice' and 'contrary to the rule of law'.
Lowell argued that under court rules, the judge has no choice but to accept Hunter's guilty plea even though he is maintaining his innocence at the same time.
But Scarsi disagreed, telling Hunter's lawyer: 'I don't agree that the court must accept an Alford plea'.
The judge did suggest that prosecutors could file a 'proffer', which lists all the facts they would have proven at trial, then Hunter could plead guilty, without going into detail about which facts he agreed were true or not.
Lowell told the judge that all Hunter would be doing, by pleading guilty, is agreeing the prosecution has enough evidence to convince a jury of his guilt beyond reasonable doubt at trial without agreeing to all the facts the government claims.
But Wise was unhappy with Lowell's attempt to allow Hunter to maintain his innocence.
'I don't know how he could maintain he was innocent and at the same time admit the facts in the indictment are true,' the DoJ lawyer said.
'I don't know how the defendant could say the facts about his state of mind are true and yet say he is innocent.'
He was flanked by supportive wife Melissa Cohen, who was also seen at her husband's side throughout his gun trial earlier this year
The president's scandal-hit son is set to stand his second criminal trial this year the culmination of his legal trouble that saw the sordid details of his life thrust into the spotlight
Judge Scarsi said he needed to weigh up 'public interest factors' in not having a public trial,' including the need to 'seek truth in transparent proceedings' and not 'obfuscate the truth' by cutting straight to a guilty plea.
But he added that this issue could be 'mollified' by the government filing a detailed brief laying out all their evidence against the First Son.
Lowell argued that an Alford Plea, where Hunter still maintains his innocence, was normal.
'All over the US people do this,' he said, adding that his client is merely asking to have the 'same rights as everybody'.
But Wise disagreed. 'It is not the case that Alford pleas go on all around the country,' he said. 'Alford pleas are rare, they occur under exceptional circumstances.'
Lowell tried to play down the difference between a normal guilty plea and an Alford plea.
'You will tell Mr. Biden his plea is a plea of guilty, and that is what the headlines will say,' Lowell told Judge Scarsi. 'And the government will say if they went to trial this is what they will prove beyond reasonable doubt.
But he added that Hunter does not have to agree to all the facts the government allege, while still pleading guilty.
The court took a half hour break to allow Lowell to confer with Hunter and it was after that break that the defense decided to roll over and agree to a straight guilty plea on all counts.
After the hearing, Lowell told reporters: This plea prevents the kind of show trial that would not have provided all the facts or served any real point in justice.
The attorney called the case extreme and unusual, and claimed Hunter was just like other Americans filing late taxes failing to mention the fraud he had just admitted.
Lowell said the failure to pay occurred during the depths of his addiction, and said he has now rectified his debt to the IRS.
He did not mention that this was through payments by his Hollywood attorney Kevin Morris.
Hunter actually overpaid his taxes the year he was charged with tax evasion Lowell said.
The attorney cast Hunters guilty plea as a brave and loving act for his family.
He refused to answer whether the president had offered Hunter a pardon.
Lucy Letby has replaced her legal team, her new barrister told the BBC tonight.
The former neo-natal nurse is currently serving a whole life sentence, with no prospect of parole, after being convicted of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murder of seven others at the Countess of Chester Hospital, following two separate trials.
She has also made two applications to appeal which have been refused. Her barrister throughout the trials and appeals was Ben Myers KC.
But Mark McDonald, a specialist barrister in appeals and miscarriages of justice, told the BBC's File on 4 that he was now representing the serial killer.
He said he plans to take her case to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), to apply for it to be sent back to the Court of Appeal.
For that to happen, Mr McDonald will need to secure fresh evidence and persuade the CCRC that such evidence undermines the safety of her convictions.
Lucy Letby has replaced her legal team, her new barrister told the BBC tonight - she is pictured here when she worked as a nurse at the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital
The former neo-natal nurse is currently serving a whole life sentence, with no prospect of parole, after being convicted of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murder of seven others at the Countess of Chester Hospital
'I knew almost from the start, following this trial, that there is a strong case that she is innocent,' he said.
'The fact is juries get it wrong. And yes, so do the Court of Appeal, history teaches us that.'
Mr McDonald has previously been involved in several high-profile appeals, including that if Ben Geen, another nurse jailed for life in 2006 for murdering two of his patients and poisoning 15 others.
Geen's application to appeal his convictions was denied by the Court of Appeal in 2009 and two further applications to the CCRC, in 2013 and 2015, also refused.
Mr McDonald has spoken at length about his fears Letby's conviction is a miscarriage of justice on social media and in interviews published online following her convictions in August last year.
Body worn camera footage issued by Cheshire Constabulary showing Letby's arrest
The neo-natal ward at the Countess of Chester Hospital where Letby worked
Tonight he posted on X: 'The day after Lucy was convicted I raised concerns. I was attacked for speaking out even reported to my professional body. There are many hurdles to overcome in coming years but one day justice will be done and those wrongly convicted will be freed.'
Comedy genius Terry Jones is set to be remembered with a 120,000 statue which could feature the star in one of his best-known Monty Python guises the nude organist.
A fundraising appeal for the bronze statue, which is to be installed in Jones's hometown of Colwyn Bay, North Wales, was launched today by fellow Pythons Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam.
The statue will show Jones as a character from the irreverent 1970s' comedy show and although the precise one has yet to be chosen, the nude organist is understood to be a firm favourite with fans and even his close family.
Palin and Gilliam visited Colwyn Bay to officially start the 'A Python On The Prom' Go Fund Me campaign organised in partnership with Jones's children, Sally and Bill Jones, and the Conwy Arts Trust, a Conwy-based charity supporting the arts in North Wales.
After strolling along the promenade to the town's new pier, close to where the statue is set to be located, Palin said of the organist suggestion: 'So many statues are boring and serious. This would put a smile on peoples' faces.'
Terry Jones as the nude organist. A fundraising appeal for the bronze statue, which is to be installed in Jones's hometown of Colwyn Bay, North Wales, was launched today. The nude organist is understood to be a firm favourite with fans and even his close family
Michael Palin with Terry Jones at the 2013 BAFTAs. A fundraising appeal for the statue has been launched by Palin and fellow Python Terry Gilliam
Jones' hometown of Colwyn Bay in North Wales. The statue is set to be located on the town's famous promenade
He added: 'It was a great Terry character and would be something very much in the spirit of Terry. He wouldn't mind showing his bottom to the world. He did and it was very funny.
'The idea of it being in the open air, (close to) the beach, is where it should be.
'Terry valued his Welshness very much, it influenced a lot of his work and his determination.
'I think his Welshness gave him his feeling of thinking he was right. I just hope Terry will be an icon and a visitor centre for Colwyn Bay and for Wales.'
Gilliam echoed calls for the nude organist to be seen by thousands by visitors and locals on the seafront.
He smiled, adding: 'We are planting the seeds of humour wherever we can around the world.'
And Jones's daughter, Sally Jones, who also joined the launch, said: 'I would like to see the naked organist. It's one of my all-time favourite characters because it was the silliest when I was a child.'
The fundraising campaign for the statue has the support of all the remaining Pythons, as well as many of Jones's friends and fans.
Palin and Gilliam (pictured) visited Colwyn Bay to officially start the 'A Python On The Prom' Go Fund Me campaign
Jones, whose famous characters also included Sir Bedevere, Mr Creosote and Mrs Scum, died in 2020 at the age of 77 after a battle with dementia. Long-time friend Palin described him at the time as 'far more than one of the funniest writer-performers of his generation'
Famous names backing the statue appeal include actor and writer Steve Coogan, Taskmaster's Alex Horne, actor Sanjeev Bhaskar, astrophysicist Professor Brian Cox, musician and presenter Cerys Matthews, French actor and director Abert Dupontel, British cellist Steven Isserlis and Simon Fanshawe, writer, activist and broadcaster.
The bronze statue is to be made by highly-regarded Llandudno-based sculptor Nick Elphick and aims to 'not only celebrate Jones as a comedy genius, but also as a historian, writer and film director'.
Oxford graduate Jones, born in Colwyn Bay in 1942, was patron of the town's Theatr Colwyn for many years and locals hope the statue will attract hordes of Python fans to the town.
Jones, whose famous characters also included Sir Bedevere, Mr Creosote and Mrs Scum, died in 2020 at the age of 77 after a battle with dementia. Long-time friend Palin described him at the time as 'far more than one of the funniest writer-performers of his generation'.
Dilwyn Price, chairman of the Conwy Arts Trust, said of the statue appeal: 'This is an amazing project and one a long-time coming.
'(Jones) was so generous in his time and commitment to promoting the theatre. His family's association with the theatre went back to the 1930s. Colwyn Bay gave Terry to the world and he gave so much back to the town.'
Ricki Owen, mayor of Colwyn Bay, said: 'The statue will hopefully bring more people to Colwyn Bay and recognise Terry's contribution to the town and honour his memory.'
U.S. prosecutors have charged Russian-born former Trump 2016 advisor Dimitri Simes with accepting millions from a sanctioned Russian TV network and laundering the money, a day after the U.S. warned of Moscow-based election interference.
Prosecutors accused Simes, 76, and his wife Anastasia 55, of carrying out two separate schemes to get around U.S. sanctions.
Simes, a longtime fixture in Washington with a Virginia address, fled the country in 2022 following Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine.
He is accused of getting more than $1 million from Channel One Russia since it got sanctioned. In total, the channel has paid him $3.6 million, according to the indictment. He has hosted a political talk show on the network since 2022.
The FBI raided their home in Rappahannock County, Virginia last month, and the indictment accuses Anastasia Simes of a 'scheme to commit money laundering' by purchasing art and antiques for sanctioned oligarch Aleksandr Yevgenyevich Udodov. She is accused of having the items shipped to her own home in Virginia, which she still maintains, and then forwarding them on for Russia.
Among the artwork identified in the indictment of Anastasia is an oil painting by German artist F.C. Welsch, 'Lake of the Four Cantons,' and a bronze statue identified as 'Frederick-Auguste Bartholdi, Neo-Classical Bronze Sculpture of Minerva.'
Bartholdi designed the Statue of Liberty.
Dimitri Simes features in former Russia probe special counsel Robert Mueller. The longtime CEO of the Center for the National Interest, he hosted Trump's first foreign policy address, which was attended by former Russian ambassador to Washington Sergey Kislyak.
In this handout photo provided by Photo host Agency RIA Novosti, Dimitri Simes, a Russian-American author, editor, and political pundit asks a question to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, June 16, 2023. (Alexei Danichev/Photo host Agency RIA Novosti via AP)
The indictment charges that Simes knew what he was doing when he violated the sanctions. He wrote to 'Individual 1' to explain that he had 'absolutely no right to appear on federal channels. Even for free, even just in the format of an interview. Moreover, a violation is considered a criminal offense.'
Simes spoke to the New York Times about the FBI raid on Wednesday before the indictments came down.
'They took a lot of the furniture,' he said. 'They took practically all of the paintings and icons, which are where now who knows?' He said of the works: 'We got most of them before we moved to this house. Most of them belonged to our parents. How could they be of any concern to the U.S. government?'
Indictments announced Thursday by the Department of Justice allege that Dimitri Simes and his wife received over $1 million dollars and a personal car and driver in exchange for work they did for Russia's Channel One since June 2022. The network was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2022 over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Simes and his wife are believed to be in Russia.
Rocky road: The indictment identifies an oil painting that was part of an alleged money laundering scheme
Give me your tired, your poor ... One art object identified in the indictment is by Frederick-Auguste Bartholdi, who designed the Statue of Liberty
The US imposed sanctions on Russian entities after Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine
'These defendants allegedly violated sanctions that were put in place in response to Russias illegal aggression in Ukraine,' U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves said in a statement announcing the indictments. 'Such violations harm our national security interests - a fact that Dimitri Simes, with the deep experience he gained in national affairs after fleeing the Soviet Union and becoming a U.S. citizen, should have uniquely appreciated.'
The indictments come at a time of renewed concern about Russian efforts to meddle with the upcoming U.S. election using online disinformation and propaganda. On Wednesday federal authorities charged two employees of the Russian media organization RT with covertly funding a Tennessee company that produced pro-Russian content in a $10 million scheme.
'The American people are entitled to know when a foreign power is attempting to exploit our country's free exchange of ideas in order to send around its own propaganda,' Garland said Wednesday.
Observers said the language in the indictment matches Tenet Media, which has a stable of conservative content creators.
The views they put forward were 'often consistent with the Government of Russia's interest in amplifying U.S. domestic divisions in order to weaken U.S. opposition to core Government of Russia interests, such as its ongoing war in Ukraine.'
'Our lawyers negotiated a standard, arms length deal, which was later terminated. We are disturbed by the allegations in today's indictment, which make clear that myself and other influencers were victims in this alleged scheme,' wrote conservative commentator Benny Johnson on his X account.
One unidentified influencer got paid $400,000 per month, plus a $100,000 signing bonus.
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Simes, who led a Washington think tank called the Center for the National Interest, figured prominently in special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and potential ties to the Trump campaign.
The report chronicles interactions that the Soviet-born Simes, who immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s, had with assorted figures in Trump's orbit, including Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Before one such meeting, according to the Mueller report, Simes sent Kushner a letter detailing potential talking points for Trump about Russia and also passed along derogatory information about Bill Clinton that was then forwarded to other representatives of the campaign.
Simess think tank helped arrange a foreign policy speech at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington at which Simes introduced Trump. Among those present was Sergei Kislyak, the then-Russian ambassador to the U.S.
Simes was never charged with any crime in relation to the investigation.
After the report was released, Simes defended himself in an interview in The Washington Post: 'I did not see anything in the Mueller report that in any way that would indicate any questionable activity on my part or on the centers part.'
A second indictment alleges that Anastasia Simes, 55, received funds from sanctioned Russian businessman Alexander Udodov. Udodov was sanctioned last year for his support for the Russian government. He is the former brother-in-law of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and has been linked to business dealings with both of them. Udodov also has been investigated for money laundering.
If convicted of the charges, the couple face a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
Messages left with an attorney for Simes and the Trump campaign were not immediately returned on Thursday.
A disgraced former doctor who helped a middle-aged woman kill herself over chronic 'neck and back pain' has escaped a jail term after pleading guilty to manslaughter.
Stephen P Miller, 85, traveled from his home in Arizona to upstate New York to help Doreen Brodhead get the cannister of poison gas she used to end her life in a motel room in Kingston last November.
He was arrested in February when investigators discovered he had been communicating with the 59-year-old for six months before her death after she contacted him through the right-to-die advocacy group Choice and Dignity.
His lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, said the former pediatrician tried to talk Brodhead out of suicide before agreeing to assist her, and charged only expenses for helping her die.
'Technically, he violated the law, we accept that,' Lichtman told reporters. 'But with the understanding that morally, Stephen Miller did nothing wrong.'
Stephen P. Miller, 85, has been sentenced to five years probation after admitting the manslaughter of Doreen Brodhead in a New York motel room last November
Staff found the body of the 59-year-old on a bed at a hotel in Kingston, New York
Staff at the Super 8 motel found Brodhead's body on a bed in her room on November 9 alongside a note and a canister of nitrogen gas.
Surveillance footage revealed that Miller had picked her up from her nearby apartment the previous day before setting off to buy the gas.
Poll Should doctor-assisted suicide be available where you live? Yes No Not sure Should doctor-assisted suicide be available where you live? Yes 8804 votes
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He drove her to the hotel and was seen carrying the tank to her room, later leaving to buy a wrench after the tank developed a problem with its regulator.
An hour after returning, he left again in his car for Albany and a flight back to his home in Tuscon.
Miller told investigators that Brodhead hesitated over the plan as she sat with him in the motel room, telling him she would miss her mother.
Assisting or causing another person to commit suicide is considered a felony in New York under state law.
Miller was charged him with manslaughter and two counts of assault.
Friends said Brodhead blamed her chronic pain on her early career as a dental hygienist and said she had undergone six unsuccessful surgeries in a bid for relief.
According to the advocacy group Death with Dignity, physician-assisted death is legal in ten states, including Maine, New Jersey, Vermont, New Mexico, Montana, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, California, Hawaii, and Washington, D.C.
Lawmakers in Oregon and Vermont have made it easier for people to access lethal drugs by allowing patients from outside the states to travel and end their lives.
Attorney Jeffrey Lichtman said his client does not plan to assist in any more suicides
But in none of those states is assisted suicide allowed for people without a terminal illness.
Miller, who received his medical degree in 1964, was jailed for three years and had his medical licenses revoked in 2006 after being convicted of a $1 million tax fraud.
His lawyer said he had assisted a number of other people to end their lives since leaving prison, and had provided 'very slight technical assistance' to Brodhead in her final hours.
But he insisted that his elderly client was not going to do it again.
'That part of his life is over,' he added.
Miller was facing a potential prison term of 25 years if convicted on all counts but cut a plea deal with prosecutors who dropped the assault charges in exchange for admitting manslaughter.
'Are you pleading guilty because you are, in fact, guilty of manslaughter in the second degree?' Judge Bryan Rounds asked him during the short hearing at Ulster County Court on Tuesday.
'By your definition, yes,' Miller replied.
The court accepted his plea and sentenced him to five years probation.
Brodhead's mother Mary, 91, defended the doctor when approached by the New York Times earlier this year.
'It was her choice,' she told the outlet on the doorstep of her Kingston home.
'He didn't force her to do it.'
The President's son will plead guilty to charges that may put him in prison for 17 years.
And that's not even the biggest scandal of the day.
The real outrage is how close Robert Hunter Biden got to getting away with it all and why he still might.
The Bidens: Corrupt and gaming the system to the end.
Years after Hunter's abandoned laptop revealed the depths of his drug-addled debauchery while hawking access to the US, he was finally hauled before a federal court in July 2023 to answer for tax evasion and gun charges.
And Joe Biden's Justice Department tried to bury the whole thing.
Months earlier, President Biden declared in an MSNBC interview, 'My son has done nothing wrong.'
The message, it seemed, was heard loud and clear.
Last summer, under a sweetheart plea agreement crafted by Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss, Hunter was offered the chance to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges, accept probation for the gun charges and likely avoid any jail time.
The President's son will plead guilty to charges that may put him in prison for 17 years. And that's not even the biggest scandal of the day. (Above) Hunter Biden and wife Melissa Cohen Biden arrive at federal court in Los Angeles on September 5
The real outrage is how close Robert Hunter Biden got to getting away with it all and why he still might. The Bidens: Corrupt and gaming the system to the end.
That wasn't all.
The deal would also have granted him immunity from any potential future criminal charges even as federal prosecutors began to unwind his secret dealings with shady overseas clients and look into whether he violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which requires Americans to be transparent about their work for foreign entities.
It was a deal that no ordinary citizen would receive.
And a U.S. District Judge took one look at Weiss's deal and, essentially, threw it out of her courtroom.
It also wasn't the only gift slipped to the President's son.
Weiss and the Justice Department's tax division let the statute of limitations run out on other possible tax charges.
IRS whistleblowers told Congress that the DOJ obstructed their investigation into the matters.
And scrambling for cover amid allegations of political interference, Biden's attorney general, Merrick Garland, belatedly agreed to appoint an independent outside prosecutor to take over the case then hired the same David Weiss for the job.
Even if the fix was in, Weiss couldn't be too obvious about it. So, he ended up bringing felony gun charges against Hunter, and a Delaware jury convicted Hunter on the very charges that Weiss had originally agreed to let him skate on.
Now, on the eve of his second trial in Los Angeles (this one for three tax felonies and six misdemeanors carrying a maximum sentence of 17 years in prison), Hunter tried a different tack pleading guilty but with a catch!
Years after Hunter's abandoned laptop revealed the depths of his drug-addled debauchery while hawking access to the US, he was finally hauled before a federal court in July 2023 to answer for tax evasion and gun charges.
In a surprise announcement, Biden's lawyer informed the court that his client was entering an 'Alford' plea a legal technicality that permits a criminal defendant to concede that the state has sufficient evidence against them while maintaining his innocence.
It's no surprise why Hunter is desperate to avoid another trial. Legal experts are convinced that he should have been tried for violating FARA and he likely wants to avoid being forced to reveal the full extent of his alleged dirty dealings.
But that gambit, too, failed.
Hours later, Hunter team's changed course, telling the court that he would plead guilty to all nine tax charges, bringing us nearer to a conclusion of this ridiculous charade.
For now.
Hunter has one more card to play: the presidential pardon or a commutation of his sentence.
Last summer, under a sweetheart plea agreement crafted by Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss (above), Hunter was offered the chance to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges, accept probation for the gun charges and likely avoid any jail time.
When Joe was still running for re-election, he said he wouldn't do that. But if the Big Guy goes back on his word after Election Day, nobody can hold him accountable or, more importantly, can stop him.
In case you've wondered why he hasn't resigned from office even though his daily schedule shows that he spends most days on vacation as he approaches his 82nd birthday, remember this.
The Biden family has made millions from foreign clients for decades. They've gamed the system at every turn.
Joe walked away from any charges for his own mishandling of classified documents when special prosecutor Robert Hur concluded that he was too old and forgetful to be convicted by a jury.
Now, his son falls on his sword to avoid a trial on the family's influence-peddling business and he might still have a Get Out of Jail Free card from Dad.
It's the Biden racket, cynical and arrogant to the last.
The trousers of a missing British hiker, who is feared to have been swept away by a devastating flood whilst trying to save his girlfriend during a ferocious storm, have been found by search teams.
The grim discovery was made today after divers joined the hunt for the missing 32-year-old, who has not been named, in a Majorcan mountain canyon flooded during the ferocious storm.
Juan Carlos Rodriguez, head of the Civil Guard's specialist mountain rescue team, remains confident they will find the missing man's body after confirming the operation would continue tomorrow.
The same team recovered the body of his 26-year-old girlfriend on Wednesday after it was spotted by a police helicopter on the first day of the search.
Before the trousers were discovered, a Civil Guard spokesman said today: 'The search operation was resumed first thing with specialist Civil Guard divers joining the operation.
The trousers of a missing British hiker, who is feared to have been swept away by a devastating flood, has been found by Majorcan search teams (Pictured)
The grim discovery was made today after divers joined the hunt for the missing 32-year-old, who was swept away by the flood whilst trying to save his girlfriend (Pictured: Search teams wading through water)
The head of the Civil Guard's specialist mountain rescue team remains confident they will find the missing man's body after confirming (Pictured: A helicopter searching the canyon)
'Air and land resources were employed by the Civil Guard. Several teams of firefighters were also mobilised.'
Earlier today the Civil Guard released footage showing officers at work, drudging through the water - as well as flying drones -in a bid to find the missing Brit.
Relatives of the pair, who were holidaying in Majorca, are currently being assisted by psychologists.
The couple were caught in a traffic flood during an excursion in Sa Calobra on Tuesday afternoon, as torrential rain hammered down upon them.
According to other hikers who were with the Brits and later rescued by the Civil Guard, the young woman was swept away by a strong surge of water and the man was carried away shortly after whilst trying to save her.
An official said: 'The British man and woman were a couple. They were here on holiday and staying locally on the island. They also have family here with them and we are helping as best we can.'
Authorities had set up a special operation on Tuesday in anticipation of hikers trying to access the stream, despite several weather warnings being distributed across the island.
The mountain rescue team evacuated ten people later that day, including some related to the tragic couple, who were trapped and without warm and protective clothing.
Emergency services resumed their search efforts for a missing British tourist, 32, who is believed to have been swept away in a Majorca flood
Helicopters were launched in the search efforts as authorities believe the man was carried away in the torrent of water while attempting to save his girlfriend
Rescue teams waded through the river water in an attempt to locate the missing British tourist
The area where the British hikers disappeared was affected by flash flooding (pictured above) on Tuesday
The group, who ventured into the Torrent de Pareis - a river running through the Tramuntana area of northwest Majorca, reportedly showed signs of hypothermia, due to the low temperatures which continued to plummet as they became increasingly drenched by the downpour.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site, regarded as one of the most scenic and well-known day walks in Majorca, follows a deep canyon some around miles long starting from the Lluc area, opening at the bay of Sa Calobra.
The group were escorted to safety via helicopter, with one being admitted to a medical facility in Palma and two taken to the Son Amer shelter in Escorca, the Majorca Daily Bulletin reports.
The two, who were hurried to Son Amer, are said to be 'devastated' by the incident, as they desperately await news regarding their loved ones.
Three managed to reach the safety of a mountain hut just after midnight on Wednesday morning, with one of them reportedly being 'slightly hurt'.
The search for the missing man was paused for over two hours on Wednesday while emergency services waited for another the storm, which barrelled through the area bringing torrential rain and high winds, to clear.
It was later resumed, but only on land, as authorities faced difficulties using the helicopter.
Police have been trying to establish the man's whereabouts by triangulating his mobile phone.
Officials at the scene of the search said the group was 'not equipped' correctly but did not detail how the group was unprepared.
Civil Guards are seen in the area where emergency services continue with the search of a British national that went missing in Torrent de Pareis in Mallorca today
However, one official previously said: 'We are tired of rescuing tourists from the area who go out in just flip flops.'
He added: 'This is not a stroll in the park. It's a very difficult and technical hike and you need the proper equipment and clothing.
'Some of the group we rescued were soaked to the skin and suffering from hypothermia following the bad weather.
'If you are going to do this hike you need to be prepared and most importantly you need to check the weather before going out.'
Another told MailOnline: 'There was a larger group of people who set off on the hike and the two people later joined them.
'They arrived by scooter to meet up with their friends and the brother of the missing man has been here at the scene but has now left.
'We found the woman this morning after the helicopter spotted her backpack from the air and we were able to recover her body but the man is still missing.
'The woman was found not far from the trail but the search for the man is proving difficult because of the weather conditions.'
Bad weather has hit Majorca for much of this week, with one shocking clip showing the terrifying moment the flood surged through a resort.
Rescue teams said the woman's body had been found close to the start of the hiking trail but there were fears the man could have been washed out to sea.
A firefighter told MailOnline: 'That is a possibility, but we hope that maybe they are alive somewhere of that alive if they have died the body is trapped by a rock or some other debris.'
Balearic airports saw widespread delays on Wednesday, both in departures and arrivals in Palma, Ibiza, and Menorca, with rainfall of between 50 and 90 litres per square mile and wind gusts of between 90 and 120km per hour.
Video exclusively obtained by MailOnline shows a frothing surge of water cascading through the seafront Es Port restaurant at the mouth of the Pareis river on September 4
Bad weather has hit Majorca for much of this week
It was not clear whether the British man and woman were trying to walk the famous trek though the Torrent de Pareis in the Tramuntana mountain range or were simply strolling near the river bed.
The torrent is a riverbed that can be hiked during the dry months but is often affected by flash floods as it collects a large amount of rainwater that falls on the mountain and funnels it down this narrow valley.
The heavy rains that hit Mallorca on Tuesday left between 70 and 100 litres of water per square metre in the Serra de Tramuntana area, according to Ultima Hora.
Local weather chiefs are predicting a worsening of the weather in Majorca, saying the worst effects of the storms that first hit the island yesterday will be felt between 2pm and 3pm local time with heavy rain and winds of up to 75mph.
In Escorsa, where the mountain range is located, the Torrent de Es Raco overflowed, causing emergency teams to rescue a hundred people who had been trapped.
Hells Angels bikie boss Angelo Pandeli is back in Australia a week after he was detained in the Middle East and deported from Dubai.
The 53-year-old arrived in Sydney on Emirates flight UAE416 just before 6pm on Thursday, with the Australian Federal Police confirming his extradition.
'An Australian man, 53, has been deported by Dubai authorities,' an AFP spokesperson said in a statement.
'No further comment will be made at this time.'
Pandeli remains under arrest but has not been charged with any offences.
The alleged major underworld figure left Australia in 2018 but has remained under the close eye of the AFP's offshore disruption task force Operation Gain.
He is also on the top twenty list of the Australian Priority Organisation Targets.
Pandeli had been living in Dubai with his wife and children before his arrest and was pictured in front of the Burj Al Arab tower during a family boat day.
An online campaign to honor the life of Kara Welsh, a beloved Wisconsin gymnast tragically killed last week, has shattered its fundraising goal, offering a powerful testament to the impact she had on those around her, even as her accused killer, Chad T. Richards, remains in custody facing charges of first-degree intentional homicide.
Initially set to a goal of $40,000, the fund has now raised $47,450 courtesy of 808 donations made thus far.
The 21-year-old gymnast and college senior was allegedly shot to death Friday in her off-campus apartment in Whitewater, Wisconsin.
Responding officers found Kara, a national title-winning athlete, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Chad T. Richards, 23, has been charged in connection with her death and currently faces first-degree intentional homicide, endangering safety by the use of a dangerous weapon, and disorderly conduct while armed.
Friends and family describe Kara as having had the ability to bring joy to any person she crossed paths with, always putting a smile on people's faces with her sense of humor and her unwavering support and sweet disposition.
Richards appeared at the Walworth County Courthouse on Tuesday, where a judge upheld his bail of $1 million after calling him as a "significant flight risk," according to Bleacher Report.
Originally published on Lawyer Herald.
The deaths of nine additional babies were not included on the graph presented at Lucy Letbys trial because they were not deemed unexpected or suspicious, the Mail has learnt.
The neo-natal nurse was convicted of murdering seven babies under her care, between June 2015 and July 2016.
But another nine babies also died on the unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital from January 2015 until Letby was removed from working the following summer.
Statisticians who have written to the Government questioning the safety of Letbys convictions insist the graph, which compared 25 suspicious collapses or deaths with nurses on duty and showed Letby present every time, was flawed because it failed to include other fatalities or unexplained events.
But sources have told the Mail that the nine deaths were investigated and deemed irrelevant to the trial because they were explicable and could be put down to natural causes.
Lucy Letby (pictured) was convicted of murdering seven babies under her care, between June 2015 and July 2016
She has consistently claimed she is an innocent woman
The source said: Four of the deaths were babies born with a congenital problem or birth defect, another baby was sadly asphyxiated or deprived of oxygen at birth, the remaining four died of infection and their deaths were precipitated with a period of time consistent with infection, they did not suddenly and unexpectedly collapse and die.
The Mail understands that Letby was on duty at times when at least two of these babies were being treated on the neo-natal unit, although it is not known if she was ever their designated nurse.
Professor Jane Hutton, a statistician from Warwick University and one of 24 experts who have written to ministers asking for the upcoming public inquiry into Letbys crimes to be postponed or its terms of reference expanded, told The Trial podcast she was concerned about the graph because information about the other nine deaths wasnt there.
Theres no information on the remaining deaths where Lucy Letby was not present and of course you need to know how a suspicious death was defined, and whether it was clearly defined in advance, she said.
One of the other things that is visually misleading is it looks like 25 incidents (but) Baby I appears four times, other babies appear a couple of times, its not immediately clear which of these are twins, and twins will necessarily be closely associated. The other thing we dont know is the seniority of the nurses, or whether those nurses were all available for the same length of time as Lucy.
Professor Hutton, an expert in survival analysis, admitted she did not have access to the medical notes of the babies or case files and had only read a summary of the Court of Appeals judgement, from three of the countrys most senior judges who refused Letby leave to appeal her convictions in July.
The Mail understands that Letby was on duty at times when at least two of these babies were being treated on the neo-natal unit
Letby, 34, was convicted at Manchester Crown Court last August by another jury of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six others at the Countess of Chester Hospital's neo-natal unit between June 2015 and June 2016
Tim Owen KC, a barrister experienced in cases involving miscarriages of justice, said the claims being made by statisticians were erroneous because it was clear from that Court of Appeal ruling that Letbys case was not prosecuted on the basis of statistical probability.
The graph of when Miss Letby was on duty and the fact that she was on duty at all the times that the indicted deaths or attempted murders took place was simply there to demonstrate that she had the opportunity to inflict harm, not that, because shes on duty, she inflicted harm, he said.
The prosecution case was not a statistical probability case.
Mr Owen said that, while Letbys appeal had failed, there was still the avenue of the Criminal Cases Review Commission for her to pursue should new evidence emerge to suggest her conviction was unsafe.
But it will require compelling evidence, he added. It will have to be fresh evidence based on actual knowledge of the detail of this case. If there is such evidence, there is a possibility of getting a reference back to the Court of Appeal.
He said the Thirlwall Inquiry, the public inquiry into Letbys crimes, which starts on Tuesday, would not re-examine whether Letby was guilty or not, but added: There is a number of areas of inquiry which may reveal things about the way the hospital was run, which were not known before.
But the question is whether what is revealed is able to contradict the way the prosecution presented its case of homicide and attempted homicide.
Police have released a mugshot of Colt Gray, the teenager accused of shooting dead four people at his Georgia high school.
Gray appears in the booking photo with long hair that has been dyed blond - a far cry from the smiling, baby-faced boy pictured in his middle school yearbook just two years earlier.
The 14-year-old was arrested on Wednesday at Apalachee High School in Winder, minutes after authorities say he opened fire on students and teachers.
Gray has been charged with four felony counts of murder, and will be tried as an adult, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed.
Gray appears in the booking photo with long hair that has been dyed blond - a far cry from the smiling, baby-faced boy pictured for this yearbook two years earlier
The 14-year-old was arrested on Wednesday at Apalachee High School in Winder, minutes after authorities say he opened fire on students and teachers
Gray reportedly had an obsession with other infamous school shooters such as Parkland, Florida killer Nikolas Cruz.
Two students and two teachers were dead inside the school building - on its first day of classes after the summer break - by the time he laid down his AR-style weapon.
Students Mason Schermerhorn, 14, and Christian Angulo, 14, and teachers Richard Aspenwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53, were named as the deceased.
When police searched the teen's Georgia home following the bloodbath, they reportedly found clues the teenager was 'obsessed' with mass shootings - specifically the Parkland massacre in 2018, which left 17 people dead.
Colt Gray (pictured in his 2022 yearbook picture) opened fire at Apalachee High School in Winder shortly after 10.20am - killing two classmates and two teachers
Pictured: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz in court. Investigators said to have found clues he was 'obsessed' with the 2018 massacre, which left 17 people dead
Gray was known to the FBI after several tips came in about him last year.
In May 2023, officers from Jackson County questioned both Gray and his father about a Discord channel believed to be linked to the then-13-year-old which allegedly made threats about a school shooting.
The Discord account had a user name written in Russian, and the translation of the letters spelled out the name Lanza, referencing Adam Lanza, the perpetrator of the Sandy Hook Elementary school tragedy, officers said.
Gray denied he was the author of the threats, telling police he'd shut down his Discord after being repeatedly hacked. He expressed concerns that someone would make those accusations about him.
According to the NYT, Gray's father Colin told investigators at the time that his son 'knows the seriousness of weapons and what they can do, and how to use them and not use them.'
Colin reportedly assured officers that he would be 'mad as hell' if he learned the allegations about his son making threats were true, and that 'all the guns [would] go away.'
Online, his aunt vowed 'full throttle blood' as she claimed he'd been subjected to 'abuse' his entire life. Those comments were deleted last night after a barrage of backlash.
Gray remains in juvenile custody in Georgia, awaiting his first court appearance, which is scheduled for Friday morning. He will be charged as an adult, sheriffs said.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said Gray immediately surrendered when confronted by school resource officers at the scene.
A huge police presence descended on Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia on Wednesday after officials said the student opened fire, injuring nine and killing four
Mason Schermerhorn, 14, an autistic student at Apalachee High School, was the first victim to be identified. Christian Angulo, 14, also lost his life in the senseless shooting
Teacher Richard Aspinwall was named as one of the four victims of the shooting. Christina Irimie was also identified as a victim
It is unclear how the 14-year-old got ahold of the weapon that was used in the attack, and authorities have not yet said what kind of firearm was used.
Sheriff Smith revealed that Wednesday was Gray's first 'real day' at Apalachee High.
He said: 'He was a brand new student to Barrow County Schools, he had enrolled about two weeks prior. This was his second day at school. He had been before, he left early, on that day and this was his first real full day.'
According to law enforcement, Gray opened fire at approximately 10:23am, hitting at least 13 people as frantic scenes took over the school.
Images showed students streaming out onto the campus as terrified parents raced to find their children, with one mother describing the scene outside the school as pure 'chaos.'
A junior at the school, Lyela Sayerath, said she was sat next to Colt Gray in algebra class minutes before he began the shooting spree.
She told CNN that Colt left the classroom at the beginning of their class at 9:45am, around 30 minutes before active shooter alerts sounded.
Gray didn't take a bathroom pass, she said, leading her to initially think he was merely skipping class - before a loudspeaker announcement told teachers to check their emails.
Shortly after, Sayerath said Gray returned outside their classroom, and a student got up to open the door for him before jumping back at the sight of his gun.
'I guess he saw we werent going to let him in. And I guess the classroom next to me, their door was open, so I think he just started shooting in the classroom,' she said.
Sayerath said Gray proceeded to fire off a number of bullets 'one after another', adding: 'When we heard it, most people just dropped to the floor and like kind of crawled in an area like piled on top of each other.'
Horrific details from inside classrooms have emerged - depicting the chilling chaos students endured as gunshots rang out this morning
One mother described the scenes outside the high school as 'chaos'
Sayerath said her friend was in the next classroom and witnessed someone being shot, which left him 'shaken up'. 'He saw somebody get shot. He had blood on him. He was kinda limping. He looked horrified,' she added.
As information floods in on the school shooting - officially the deadliest in Georgia's history - students and parents shared their shock at the horror that unfolded.
One mother, Erin Clark, shared the text exchange she had with her son Ethan from the moment he learned there was an active shooter at his school.
He wrote: 'school shooting rn (right now). I'm scared. I'm not joking.'
His mom responded instantly, assuring him that she was leaving work. In a heartbreaking response, Ethan wrote: 'I love you.'
'Love you too baby. Where are you?' Clark said. Ethan told her that he was in class, adding 'someone's dead.'
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said Gray immediately surrendered when confronted by law enforcement, and 'gave up and got on the ground'
Heartbroken students have been arriving outside school grounds in a steady stream on Thursday to mourn the tragedy.
A makeshift memorial has been created using a wreath and flowers. On Thursday, families and students stopped by the somber scene to pay their respects to the lives lost in the tragedy.
President Joe Biden issued a statement condemning gun violence after the tragedy.
He said: 'What should have been a joyous back-to-school season in Winder, Georgia, has now turned into another horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to tear our communities apart.
'Students across the country are learning how to duck and cover instead of how to read and write.
'We cannot continue to accept this as normal.'
Biden called on Congress to say 'enough is enough' and pass new gun safety legislation, describing gun violence as an 'epidemic.'
Heartbroken students have been arriving outside school grounds in a steady stream on Thursday to mourn the tragedy
On Thursday, families and students stopped by the somber scene to pay their respects to the lives lost in the tragedy
Hereditary peers will be removed from the House of Lords after Labour introduced new laws to reform the upper chamber.
Abolishing 92 seats reserved for those who inherit their seats was one of Labour's manifesto commitments.
However, Sir Keir Starmer's pledge to impose a mandatory retirement age of 80 on peers was kicked into the long grass, as ministers announced a consultation.
Nick Thomas-Symonds, minister for the constitution, said the legislation was a 'landmark reform to our constitution'.
He said: 'The hereditary principle in law-making has lasted for too long and is out of step with modern Britain.'
Hereditary peers will be removed from the House of Lords (pictured in July) after Labour introduced new laws to reform the upper chamber
The lords gather as King Charles III reads the King's Speech in the House of Lords Chamber during the State Opening of Parliament in July
Nick Thomas-Symonds, minister for the constitution, said the legislation was a 'landmark reform to our constitution'
But Conservative critics have called the move a 'vendetta' and 'political vandalism'.
The last Labour government removed most hereditary peers from the Lords in 1999 but allowed 92 to remain in what was initially intended to be a short-term compromise.
Current hereditary peers include Lord Attlee, grandson of Clement Attlee, the Duke of Wellington, whose great-great-great-grandfather defeated Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815, and Viscount Stansgate, whose father Tony Benn renounced his peerage to sit in the Commons.
... as Lords brand school tax 'wicked'
Labour plans to clobber private schools with VAT are 'wicked, stupid and cruel', peers warned last night.
Tory former minister Lord Forsyth of Drumlean accused the Government of pursuing 'an ideologically driven policy'.
He said Labour had moved from the party of 'education, education, education' under Tony Blair to one of 'taxation, taxation, taxation'.
Labour is pushing ahead with its manifesto commitment to make private school and boarding fees subject to VAT at 20 per cent.
Tory former minister Lord Forsyth of Drumlean accused the Government of pursuing 'an ideologically driven policy' on private school VAT
But the Government's surprise decision to introduce the policy in January has further angered critics, who fear it could force children to move schools mid-year.
In a passionate debate in the House of Lords last night, Lord Forsyth said: 'I will sum up my view of this policy in three words: it's wicked, it's stupid and its cruel.'
Labour has claimed the tax raid will bring in 1.7 billion, which it has pledged to use to recruit 6,500 teachers.
But critics believe the plan will cost the taxpayer, in part due to the extra cost of having to state-educate displaced pupils.
On becoming Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer wasted no time in axing the Conservatives' Rwanda scheme, which he sanctimoniously denounced as a 'gimmick'.
Clearly, no one in his beloved EU was listening. For Germany, where a migration crisis has exploded, wants to send asylum seekers to the African nation for processing.
Even worse, Berlin would house them in accommodation that Britain paid millions for, before Labour unceremoniously dumped the deterrent. What a farce.
No 10 says scrapping Rishi Sunak's plan was right. But when Channel migrants were flocking to Ireland to avoid deportation to Rwanda, it was clearly having a dissuasive effect before a single plane had taken off.
A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard the RNLI Lifeboat following a small boat incident in the Channel on Tuesday
Berlin's migration commissioner Joachim Stamp has proposed deporting those who arrive illegally in the bloc via Poland's border with Belarus
The Hope Hostel in Rwanda was prepared to accept asylum seekers who had landed in the UK
Since taking power, the PM has also closed the Bibby Stockholm barge used to house asylum seekers. And now they won't be held at RAF Scampton either.
With Labour offering the thousands who arrive in small boats an effective amnesty, Britain is an increasingly attractive destination. More are making the perilous journey and more are drowning.
On the election trail, Sir Keir pledged to 'smash the gangs' who profit from trafficking migrants across the Channel.
His failure to implement a strong deterrent means the UK is, instead, an ever-more powerful magnet for illegal migrants.
A Brexit betrayal?
Sir Keir must be weeping tears of joy, now Michel Barnier has been parachuted in as the new prime minister of France.
During the bitter divorce proceedings between Britain and the EU, he conspired with the serpentine Mr Barnier at that time, Brussels' chief negotiator in an underhand bid to thwart Brexit altogether.
These days, Sir Keir insists he doesn't want to reverse the referendum result. But bitter experience shows his promises aren't worth the paper they're written on.
Both men are fanatical Remainers, both want a European superstate and neither hides his admiration for the other.
How long before they sneakily cook up an entente which surrenders the sovereignty Britain voted decisively to regain?
Barnier pictured with Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee palace in Paris, on January 31, 2020, a few hours before Britain officially left the European Union
Recipe for disaster
As predictably as night follows day, the Left-wing unions have responded to their bumper pay awards from the Government with calls for even more cash.
Ahead of its conference, the Trades Union Congress is demanding 'pay restoration' in the public sector to make up for real-terms salary cuts since the 2008 financial crash.
Calculated to add 50 billion a year to public spending, this is unaffordable. One example is the junior doctors clamouring for a backdated settlement of 35 per cent.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar speaking at the Scottish Trades Union Congress at Caird Hall in Dundee
Of course, such nonsense would once have been laughed out of court.
But having agreed once to growth-crushing pay claims, Labour is again faced with its union paymasters, hands outstretched, expecting further generosity.
This is a recipe for economic disaster. But would anyone bet against this Government already way out its depth paying up?
A youth shot dead an innocent mother through her front door while on bail for attempted murder, a court heard yesterday.
The boy, 16, allegedly killed Lianne Gordon in front of her daughter after going on a ride out hunting for rival gangs.
She was sheltering behind the door to protect her two children from violence erupting between warring gangs when she was shot in the head and killed instantly.
The court heard the accused was on bail for an attempted murder which he was later convicted of when he opened fire on December 5 last year.
The boy, 16, allegedly killed Lianne Gordon (pictured) in front of her daughter after going on a ride out hunting for rival gangs
The Old Bailey heard the accused was on bail for an attempted murder which he was later convicted of when he opened fire on December 5 last year
Two other victims, a 17-year-old boy and a 21-year-old man, were also shot outside the property in Hackney, east London, but survived.
Ms Gordons daughter, 16, told police: Mum had her hand on the door handle and looked like she was trying to close it. I could see a gun tip through the open door. I saw her drop.
She said she recognised the killer despite him wearing a balaclava. I opened the door and I was screaming at him. We were face-on for a few seconds... before he ran off. Prosecutor Mark Fenhalls, KC, told the Old Bailey the boy, now 17, was with Hackneys Pembury Gang who were in conflict with the nearby A-Road Gang.
He had previously threatened Ms Gordons son Kaymound, 21, due to a perceived link to the A-Road gang, he added.
Mr Fenhalls said Ms Gordon, 42, was almost certainly not the target. The teenager denies murder, attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
The trial continues.
Special Counsel Jack Smith won't get to put Donald Trump on trial for his alleged January 6th conspiracy before the election but he may still deliver a September surprise.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a scheduling order Thursday that sets a September 26 deadline for the government to deliver its opening brief on the presidential immunity issue.
That gives Smith's team the opportunity to present new information that did not make it into the superseding indictment released last week including potentially explosive transcripts or other information related to Trump's pressure campaign on Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the election results.
Prosecutor Thomas Windom argued for that timeline in court Thursday morning, asking Chutkan to let the government go first and present a unified brief on the complex immunity topic in about three weeks. The judge went along with it.
The defense would then reply by October 17th with its own filing, while filing other motions arguing to dismiss the case outright for other reasons in October.
The final date Chutkan lists for a reply in her new order is November 7 two days after Election Day, finally confirming in black and white that there is no chance for a Trump trial related to January 6 before he faces the voters.
Lawyers for Trump argued in court Thursday that a ruling that Trump's communications with Pence around January 6 should be found to be immune and would 'crater' the new indictment against him.
They told a federal judge the Trump-Pence talks about the vice president's role could unravel the government's entire case against the former president with the November election once again looming over timing decisions in the blockbuster case.
Trump lawyer John Lauro (l) said communications between Trump and Mike Pence will ultimately be found to fall within presidential immunity
'If in fact the communications with Vice President Pence which are all over this indictment if in fact these are immune, then that entire indictment is improper,' Trump lawyer John Lauro told Judge Tanya Chutkan at a hearing Thursday.
'If your honor decides that that is immune, then the whole indictment craters,' he said.
In a case that once looked to put Trump on trial over January 6 even amid his run for the White House, Trump's team wants the opportunity to go first and issue a briefing calling to dismiss the new indictment against him.
Trump didn't appear in court Thursday, and his lawyer entered a not guilty plea to the judge on his behalf.
Special Counsel Jack Smith obtained a new superseding indictment from a grand jury last week following a Supreme Court ruling on the immunity issue that threw a wrench into the case.
Prosecutors want to keep things moving filing their own brief in about three weeks and getting the chance to share more of the evidence they have obtained. As they did when the case first came up a year ago, government prosecutors want a schedule that keeps the case moving down the tracks.
Judge Chutkan bristled when Lauro brought up the information being put into the public record 'at a very sensitive time in our nations history.'
She took that as Lauro invoking the election, and asking her to stall procedures because of it, and returned to her earlier statements about not being guided by the political calendar.
'I understand there is an election pending. Ive said before and I say again that the electoral process and the timing of the election is not relevant here,' she admonished him.
Judge Tanya Chutkan said she couldn't even set a court date. But she allowed prosecutors to present a briefing on immunity issues in September
Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove attended court but did not speak
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'It strikes me that what youre trying to do is affect the presentation of this case so as not to impinge on an election,' she told Lauro.
Chutkan said setting a trial date at this point would be an 'exercise in futility' effectively ending the prospect of a trial before American head to the polls.
Lauro calls the Mike Pence communications where Trump told his VP he had the authority not to accept votes for Joe Biden certified by states constitute a 'gateway issue.' He wants Chutkan to make a decision on that before getting into other evidence that prosecutors have gathered.
'If you decide this issue, then all of that briefing never takes place,' he said.
Prosecutor Thomas Windom argued for the judge to choose the 'most efficient and practical way forward,' while arguing that even if the Pence material falls away it would not blow up the case. 'It is not an automatic dismissal of the indictment,' he said.
Chutkan also decided she will let Lauro file a motion arguing that Smiths's appointment was unconstitutional.
But she expressed skepticism noting it was a based on a concurring opinion by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and a ruling by 'another judge' in Florida on the same issue in the classified documents case.
She asked why that would warrant 'me going against binding D.C. Circuit precedent,' and said she didn't find the argument particularly 'persuasive.'
Chutkan has been presiding over the January 6 case and was keeping it on a fast track until the Trump team upended the timeline by going to the Supreme Court with their claims of presidential immunity from prosecution.
The high court's July opinion set it to lower courts to weigh which actions fall within the 'official' acts that enjoy absolute immunity protections.
At one point the judge said the Trump team's proposed timeline could drag the case out through next year, and noted that it has already been on her docket for a year. She showed an interest in handling various challenges that the Trump lawyers want to bring simultaneously.
'We can all walk and chew gum at the same time,' Chutkan said.
Smith refashioned a superseding indictment that jettisoned a key part of the narrative Trump's alleged use of top Justice Department officials to interfere in the state vote count. But he kept the four main charges that Trump interfered in the 2020 elections in an attempt to stay in office.
The lawyers still must argue whether the new version complies with the Supreme Court's direction.
Defense lawyers are readying still more motions to dismiss the case outright, including that Trump is subject to a 'selective vindictive prosecution.'
Among the challenges Trump's team signalled they would file is one claiming that Smith's appointment was unconstitutional. That argument held sway with Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon, who is overseeing the classified documents case in Florida. She dismissed the case, although Smith's team is appealing and an outside watchdog group is seeking to remove her from the case.
Trump, who did not appear in court, is charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S., conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding when Congress met to count the electoral votes for president, and a conspiracy against people's rights to have their votes counted.
The new indictment says the 'Despite having lost, the Defendant who was also the incumbent president was determined to remain in power.'
It cast the conduct as personal, and says he 'sought to enlist the Vice President to assist in the plan to use his role as President of the Senate to fraudulently alter the election results. The Defendant had no official responsibilities related to the certification proceeding, but he did have a personal interest as a canddiate in being named the winner of the election.'
Employees of firms involved in fitting deadly flammable cladding to the Grenfell Tower joked in sickening messages about ignoring fire safety and ripping off customers.
The public inquiry into the tragedy this week laid bare the sheer duplicity of the companies involved in wrapping the 24-storey building with cladding panels which turned it into a blazing deathtrap.
In his withering 1,700-page report, chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick condemned unscrupulous firms and deliberate lies about fire safety tests.
Police and prosecutors were under mounting pressure to speed up their Grenfell investigation yesterday.
Angela Rayner demanded that they act as quickly as possible after it emerged it could be ten years after the 2017 blaze before bereaved families see any justice. The Deputy Prime Minister said: Justice delayed is justice denied.
The public inquiry into the tragedy this week laid bare the sheer duplicity of the companies involved in wrapping the 24-storey building with cladding panels which turned it into a blazing deathtrap.
The covered remains of Grenfell Tower. In his withering 1,700-page report, chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick condemned unscrupulous firms and deliberate lies about fire safety tests
There is growing anger at the shocking details exposed by the long-running inquiry into the systematic dishonesty among building firms involved in the fatal refurbishment of the west London tower. Police have warned it will take them 12 to 18 months to examine Sir Martins report line by line.
But some relatives of the 72 residents who were killed said the evidence was already shocking.
Hisam Choucair claimed he saw some bosses laugh while in the inquirys witness box, while others didnt even turn up or hid behind of the law of their country.
The inquiry report revealed that a senior employee at insulation firm Kingspan told a colleague that all we do is lie when discussing concerns their product was not fire safe.
Bosses at main contractor Rydon gleefully told each other We are quids in! after hoodwinking the local authority over the true costs of the project.
And an employee at cladding provider Arconic told colleagues the company was not clean when it came to fire tests.
A worker at insulation firm Celotex wondered in an email whether its product realistically shouldnt be used because in the event of a fire it would burn.
Grenfell Tower memorial wall. There is growing anger at the shocking details exposed by the long-running inquiry into the systematic dishonesty among building firms involved in the fatal refurbishment of the west London tower
Hisam Choucair (pictured), who lost six family members in the disaster, claimed he saw some bosses laugh while in the inquirys witness box, while others didnt even turn up or hid behind of the law of their country
The inquiry exposed disturbing emails between Kingspans employees, including one in which Arron Chalmers told Peter Moss that he knew the insulation panels did not pass fire tests, and Mr Moss replied: WHAT, We lied? Honest opinion now.
Mr Chalmers wrote: Yeahhhh. Mr Moss said: S*** product. Scrap it, and his colleague replied: Yeah all lies mate, and Alls [sic] we do is lie in here.
And in a separate email in 2016, Mr Chalmers admitted it does seem a bit of a cheat.
Philip Heath, a technical manager at the company, said a builder who questioned its products fire safety should go f*** themselves. He also told friends that builders asking questions were mistaking him for someone who gives a dam [sic].
During the inquiry, it emerged that Rydon, the lead contractor on the Grenfell project, had told the blocks management organisation it could save it up to 376,175 on the cladding, whereas in fact there were far greater savings being offered to Rydon by a sub-contractor as much as 576,973.
Simon Lawrence, contracts manager at Rydon, suggested to the inquiry that Rydon took some of the saving for themselves.
Angela Rayner (pictured) demanded that police and prosecutors act as quickly as possible after it emerged it could be ten years after the 2017 blaze before bereaved families see any justice. The Deputy Prime Minister said: Justice delayed is justice denied.
Grenfell Tower in September this year. The inquiry exposed disturbing emails between Kingspans employees, including one in which Arron Chalmers told Peter Moss that he knew the insulation panels did not pass fire tests
An email from Zak Maynard, Rydons commercial manager, in 2014, was more blunt. We are quids in!!, he wrote, although he told the inquiry he was joking.
At Arconic, the France-based firm which made the combustible cladding panels, internal emails about a failed fire test were damning. Claude Wehrle, its technical manager and a part-time firefighter, wrote in 2010 that it was hard to make a note about this because we are not clean. Mr Wehrle dodged the inquiry, citing an obscure French law.
Arconic has rejected any claim an unsafe product was sold. Kingspan said its failings were in no way reflective of how we conduct ourselves as a group, then or now. Celotex said it had reviewed and improved process controls, quality management and the approach to marketing.
Incredibly grim surveillance footage caught the moment a woman broke into a Las Vegas funeral home and stole a casket with a body inside.
Patricia Sierra, 47, was identified as the culprit several days after the August 27 incident. She told police she didn't remember the burglary because she blacked out from drinking six beers, according to an arrest report obtained by KVVU-TV.
Cameras from inside the Affordable Cremation & Burial Service showed a person breaking the front window and unlocking the front door.
The person then walks into a viewing room and wheels a casket worth $2,600 out the same door she entered through, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police.
At around 3:30am, someone saw the body that had been inside the casket lying face down and called the police.
The suspect is seen wheeling a casket with a body inside out of the funeral home. The body was later discovered outside the business lying face down
Security cameras capture the person breaking into the front door by breaking a window
Patricia Sierra, 47, was identified as the culprit several days after the incident. She told police she has a history of burglarizing businesses by breaking their windows with rocks
Officers arrived on the scene and found both the casket and the body, which had its feet covered with plastic bags, USA Today reported.
One officer located paperwork next to the casket that identified the body. It also revealed that the viewing for the deceased had been on August 26, the day before the alleged drunken break in by Sierra.
Police observed the surveillance footage and saw the burglar making multiple trips in and out of the business before leaving.
A construction worker reportedly approached officers at the scene and told them he saw a woman holding flowers and leaning against one of the funeral home's exterior walls on the day of the incident.
The picture became even clearer when officers got a call on August 29 from someone who said they saw a person at a 7-Eleven wearing the same clothes the suspect was seen wearing on the day of the burglary.
Sierra is pictured getting arrested several days after the burglary. According to an arrest report, she was apologetic, even though she said she didn't remember doing any sort of break in
Police eventually located Sierra, who told them she often 'blacks out' and has a substance abuse problem.
Even though she claimed to not remember breaking into the funeral home, she was apologetic and said she wasn't trying to be malicious.
She also admitted that she frequently burglarized businesses in the past and would 'use a rock to break a window,' according to the arrest report.
Police also discovered she got around on a red BMX bicycle, one that matched the one that appeared on the funeral home's security cameras.
Sierra has been charged with burglary, grand larceny and disturbing human remains in connection with the incident on August 27.
Her bail was set at $11,000, and she has a preliminary hearing on September 18, per court records.
Donald Trump completely dismissed a bombshell indictment that alleged conservative media figures were raking in hundreds of thousands of dollars in Russian cash to push pro-Kremlin narratives.
Instead of criticizing the alleged mouthpieces for Russia, Trump railed against the Department of Justice and insisted Russia's President Vladimir Putin would rather have Kamala Harris in the White House.
'Comrade Kamala Harris and her Department of Justice are trying to interfere in and suppress the Election in favor of the Democrats by resurrecting the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, and trying to say that Russia is trying to help me, which is absolutely FALSE,' wrote Trump in his post on Thursday.
'In fact, President Putin would much rather see Comrade Kamala Harris in Office, as he strongly said just this morning. Why aren't they looking into ... all of the other Enemies of the People that had such an effect on the 2020 Election, and are trying to Rig and Steal the 2024 Presidential Election.'
Donald Trump has reacted angrily over allegations conservative media figures were being paid by Russian money in an effort to interfere with this year's U.S. presidential election. Above, Trump is seen at a campaign event in New York on Thursday afternoon
Trump's comments to his Truth Social came after an indictment filed Wednesday alleged how a media company linked to six conservative influencers was secretly funded by Russian state
Trump's comments to his Truth Social came after an indictment filed Wednesday alleged a media company linked to six conservative influencers was secretly funded by Russian state media.
Employees were asked to churn out English-language videos that were 'often consistent' with the Kremlin's 'interest in amplifying U.S. domestic divisions in order to weaken U.S. opposition' to Russian interests, like its war in Ukraine.
Those allegedly involved include well-known personalities Tim Pool, Dave Rubin and Benny Johnson and between them have millions of followers online. All have been major players in right-wing political discourse since Trump was president.
According to the indictment, right-wing provocateur Lauren Chen and her husband both conspired to conceal the source of Tenet's funding from others.
Trump railed against the Department of Justice on Thursday suggesting Russia 's President Vladimir Putin would rather have Kamala Harris in the White House this November. Harris is pictured at an event in North Hampton, New Hampshire on Wednesday
In February, Putin backed Biden over Trump, calling the current president more 'predictable'. The pair are pictured at the G20 summit in Japan in June 2019
Those allegedly involved include well-known personalities Tim Pool, left, Dave Rubin, center, and Benny Johnson, right. Between them they have millions of followers online
The indictment also went on to accuse RT employees Konstantin Kalashnikov and Elena of Afanasyeva of implementing a plan to shell out nearly $10million to the Tennessee-based company to churn out videos 'consistent' with the Kremlin's 'interest in amplifying U.S. domestic divisions.'
Sanctions were also slapped on its top editors Margarita Simonyan and her deputy Elizaveta Brodskaia after Washington accused them of trying to influence the upcoming US ballot.
Simonyan was a 'central figure in Russian government malign influence efforts,' the Treasury Department said, while Brodskaia 'reported to Russian President Putin and other government officials', officials said.
After the indictments were announced, both Pool and Johnson issued statements on social media, which Rubin retweeted, saying they were victims of the alleged crimes and had done nothing wrong.
'We still do not know what is true as these are only allegations,' Pool said. 'Putin is a scumbag.'
In his post, Johnson wrote that he had been asked a year ago to provide content to a 'media startup.' He said his lawyers negotiated a 'standard, arms length deal, which was later terminated.'
The indictment shows that some of the influencers were paid handsomely for their work. One unidentified influencers contract included a $400,000 monthly fee, a $100,000 signing bonus and an additional performance bonus.
A smirking Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he supported Kamala Harris in the upcoming US presidential election
In response, the Kremlin said it will take retaliatory action against American news outlets and accused the U.S. of purging any dissenting voices from the global media landscape and to stoke fears among US voters about Russia as a mythical external enemy.
In February, Putin backed Biden over Trump, calling the current president more 'predictable'. The White House called on Putin to 'stay out' of US elections but on Thursday, a smirking Putin said he supported Kamala Harris.
'Firstly, (US President Joe) Biden recommended all his supporters support Mrs Harris,' Putin said during a question and answer session at Russia's Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.
'Here, we are going to do that too, we're going to support her,' he added, with a wry smile.
'She laughs so contagiously that it shows that everything is fine with her,' the Russian leader said, as members of the public laughed.
'(Former US President Donald) Trump has imposed as many sanctions on Russia as any president has ever imposed before, and if Harris is doing well, perhaps she will refrain from such actions.'
Russian President Vladimir Putin pictured with editor-in-chief of RT broadcaster Margarita Simonyan in December 2022. Simonyan is one of the 10 individuals and two entities sanctioned by the Treasury Department
It comes after US officials with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in Washington confirmed in July the existence of the Russian plan to install ex President Donald Trump in the White House.
Putin authorized influence operations to help Trump in the 2020 election, while his 2016 campaign benefited from hacking by Russian intelligence officers and a covert social media effort, according to U.S. law enforcement and intelligence officials.
With the decline of traditional media like newspapers and limits on direct advertising on social media platforms, influencers are increasingly playing a key role in politics and shaping public opinion.
Both the Republican and Democratic parties invited scores of influencers to their respective national conventions this summer.
But with little to no disclosure requirements about who is funding influencers work, the public is largely in the dark about who is powering the messaging online.
Angela Rayner was left squirming yesterday as she defended controversial plans to scrap the winter fuel payment for 10million pensioners.
The Deputy Prime Minister was challenged over previous comments in which she accused the Conservatives of plotting to cut the payment which is worth up to 300.
She said she now supported the plan to remove the annual payment from all but the poorest pensioners but denied her previous comments were 'duplicitous'.
During the 2017 election, Ms Rayner tweeted: 'Labour will protect the triple lock on state pensions, maintain the winter fuel allowance and free bus passes for pensioners.'
She also accused the Conservatives of plotting to remove the payment, saying: 'The Tories want to cut winter fuel payments for pensioners in England but not in Scotland? Why do they treat pensioners so badly in England?'
The Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner was challenged over previous comments in which she accused the Conservatives of plotting to cut the payment which is worth up to 300
Keir Starmer (pictured) was berated by Rishi Sunak on Thursday for axing winter fuel allowance in the first session since Parliament returned from its summer break
But Ms Rayner defended her change of heart.
Challenged over her previous comments, she said: 'Since then we have had Liz Truss's disastrous Budget and we have got a 22billion blackhole so it is about choices.'
Asked if she had been 'duplicitous' she said: 'No, there are a lot of things over my lifetime as a politician I would wish to be doing now but, because the economy is in a very different place, because of the actions of the previous government, we cannot do those things.'
The row came as Commons leader Lucy Powell confirmed ministers have bowed to pressure to allow a Commons vote on the issue next Tuesday.
Former chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier made a stunning political comeback yesterday as he was named as France's oldest ever prime minister.
In an appointment designed to end two months of political deadlock in Paris, the 73-year-old has been asked to form 'a unifying government in the service of the country'.
Mr Barnier became a bete noire of Brexiteers because of his tough bargaining skills during the Brexit negotiations.
But French president Emmanuel Macron is hoping the former minister might be able to hold together a new government following July's snap election.
Mr Barnier has previously praised Sir Keir Starmer, who was shadow Brexit secretary through the bitter divorce proceedings between the UK and Brussels.
Former Prime Minister Theresa May with Mr Barnier. Mr Barnier became a bete noire of Brexiteers because of his tough bargaining skills during the Brexit negotiations
Mr Barnier has previously praised Sir Keir Starmer, who was shadow Brexit secretary through the bitter divorce proceedings between the UK and Brussels (pictured Stamer meeting Barnier in 2018)
French President Emmanuel Macron with Mr Barnier in 2020. The French president is hoping the former minister might be able to hold together a new government following July's snap election
The French politician last year described the now-Prime Minister as 'a European like me a patriot and European'.
In his diaries, Mr Barnier described Sir Keir as the British politician 'who impresses me the most for his ability to grasp in detail what is at stake in Brexit negotiations. I get the feeling that Keir Starmer will one day be UK prime minister'. Asked for Sir Keir's response to Mr Barnier's appointment, a Downing Street spokesman said: 'We wish him all the best in his new role. The UK enjoys a strong relationship with France.
'The PM visited Paris just last week, and we are committed to working collaboratively on our shared priorities, from tackling illegal migration to supporting Ukraine and delivering sustainable economic growth.'
She added: 'We want to reset our relations with the EU and make Brexit work better for British people.'
But Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was scathing about Mr Barnier's appointment, describing him as 'an EU fanatic that will suit sell-out Starmer'.
Tory former Brexit secretary Sir David Davis described him as a 'solid Frenchman', who is 'steady' and able to handle pressure. 'The current prime minister of France is going to have a lot of difficult political tasks to balance and I think he will do a good job of it,' he told BBC Radio 4's PM programme.
Asked what Mr Barnier would be like with British relations, he said: 'It will be no different from what the European Union stance always is, which is they will look for their advantage.
In an appointment designed to end two months of political deadlock in Paris, the 73-year-old Michel Barnier (pictured) has been asked to form 'a unifying government in the service of the country'
Newly appointed Prime Minister Barnier shakes hands with outgoing Prime minister Gabriel Attal. Attal who was less than half his age and who served only eight months in office during a period of political turbulence unprecedented in recent times in France
Mr Barnier when he was The EU's chief Brexit negotiator in 2020. But the decision to name Mr Barnier as prime minister was greeted with dismay by the French Left, who will seek to topple him with a no-confidence motion
Controversially, Mr Macron appears to be counting on the far-Right National Rally of Marine Le Pen (pictured) to keep Mr Barnier in power
'Nothing comes for nothing with the European Union, and Michel will agree with that strategy entirely he will not change that at all as indeed Macron agrees too.'
Mr Barnier succeeds Gabriel Attal, 35, who was less than half his age and who served only eight months in office during a period of political turbulence unprecedented in recent times in France.
But the decision to name Mr Barnier as prime minister was greeted with dismay by the French Left, who will seek to topple him with a no-confidence motion.
Controversially, Mr Macron appears to be counting on the far-Right National Rally of Marine Le Pen to keep Mr Barnier in power by voting against such a motion.
British prisoners could be sent to Estonian prisons in a new bid to prevent overcrowding in penitentiaries across the country.
The Eastern European country has confirmed it would offer up prison rooms for rent to other states, as many of its prisons half empty due to its low crime rate.
The Ministry of Justice is said to be investigating 'all viable options' to free up spaces in UK prisons which were 'on the point of collapse'.
Government sources have said the scheme was 'on the table' due to the rising overcrowding crisis plaguing institutions, with men's prisons in England and Wales nearly running out of rooms last August.
It comes as some judges have been warned not to send people to jail over low-level crimes and some prisoners have are set to be released early to ease the overcrowding issue in Britain's prisons.
British prisoners could be sent to Estonian prisons in a new bid to prevent overcrowding in penitentiaries across the country (Pictured: HMP Wandsworth)
The Eastern European country has confirmed it would offer up prison rooms for rent to other states, with many of its prisons half empty due to its low crime rate
Estonia's Minister of Justice Liisa Pakosta previously said the scheme could be worth 25 million and suggested that Britain and Sweden are already in talks to ship prisoners to the Baltic nation.
The plan could also deliver a well-needed cash injection to the Baltic country, and help in bolstering its finances.
Pakosta said: 'Half of the spaces are empty. And it is true that I've submitted a memo to the government cabinet for discussion, to choose the direction of the solution with which to proceed.'
Britain's Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood and Pakosta were anticipated to talk about the prison room renting scheme behind the scenes of a Council of Europe event in Lithuania on Thursday, according to the Telegraph.
Ms Pakosta told the publication: 'The UK and Estonia have a history of successful international co-operation, and such a partnership would create further opportunities to benefit and learn from each other.'
The total number of prisoners in England and Wales as of August 30 is 88,350 which is the highest it has been since 2011.
It is an increase of 116 from the week before when it stood at 88,234, and nearly 1,000 more than at the beginning of the month when there were 87,362 imprisoned.
It comes as Germany revealed it wants the EU to send migrants to Rwanda and use facilities originally set up to take those arriving in the UK by boat before Labour scrapped the plan
Berlin's migration commissioner Joachim Stamp has proposed deporting those who arrive illegally in the bloc via Poland's border with Belarus.
Estonia's minister of justice Liisa Pakosta yesterday said they have cells available to rent out to its Nato allies
Britain's Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood (Pictured) and Pakosta were anticipated to talk about the prison room renting behind the scenes of a Council of Europe event
Germany's special representative for migration agreements, said the EU could utilize existing asylum facilities in Rwanda, which were initially intended for arrivals from Britain.
One of Sir Keir Starmer's first acts after winning the election in July was to cancel the scheme before it had even started, after the Tory government had already spent 290million
Shipping criminals to Estonia, which has a population of 1.3 million, was first suggested by ex-Conservative justice secretary Alex Chalk last year during a conference.
However, the proposal received backlash from Labour at the time, with the Prison Reform Trust branding the idea as 'half-baked'.
But the current Labour Government are reportedly eyeing up the idea, despite cautions from officials about its costly price tag.
Since taking office, Labour has 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.
It does not apply to those convicted of sex offences, terrorism, domestic abuse or some violent offences.
And those released early will serve the rest of their sentence under 'strict' licensing conditions in the community.
However renting prison spaces is not a new concept, with Norway and Belgium previously paying for cell spaces in the Netherlands.
However officials since decided against renting prison spaces in other states including the Netherlands, which forks out 100,000 per prisoner.
The average cost per inmate is much lower in Estonia and Eastern Europe, with the estimated cost believed to stand between 10,000 and 20,000.
Since taking office, Keir Starmer's Labour government has cut the proportion of a sentence inmates must serve behind bars from 50 per cent to 40 per cent
The cost of a housing a prisoner in England in Wales stands at almost 50,000, with the price tag of constructing a jail sitting at 600,000 per inmate.
According to the Telegraph, government officials believe any negotiation talks would cause the cost to increase two fold.
The scheme would also incur more costs for flights and sending UK prison staff to other countries.
Additional questions have also been raised, querying if taxpayers would be responsible for paying for offenders' families to visit them abroad.
A source told the Telegraph, who was involved outlining plans under the previous Conservative government said: 'It was very expensive potentially prohibitively so.'
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'The new Government inherited a justice system in crisis, with prisons on the point of collapse.
'We will continue to investigate all viable options to increase the number of places in the prisons estate so we can keep locking up dangerous criminals and protect the public.'
Colt Gray was given the gun he used to shoot dead four people at his Georgia high school as a Christmas present from his father months after they were questioned by the FBI over alleged threats.
The 14-year-old was arrested on Wednesday at Apalachee High School in Winder, minutes after authorities say he opened fire on students and teachers.
Law enforcement sources told CNN Thursday that the teenage shooter received the gun for the holidays this past December.
His father Colin Gray has told authorities that he bought the gun for the boy himself as a Christmas gift. Colin Gray has yet to make any public comment on the shooting.
This was just months after the teenager and his father were interviewed by local law enforcement in connection with online threats about carrying out a school shooting made on the gaming social-media platform Discord, according to investigators.
Colt Gray was given the gun he used to allegedly shoot dead four people at his Georgia high school as a Christmas present from his father
Gray has been charged with four felony counts of murder, and will be tried as an adult, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed
The teen was interviewed after the sheriff received a tip from the FBI that Gray, then 13, 'had possibly threatened to shoot up a middle school tomorrow.' The threat was made on Discord, a social media platform popular with video gamers, according to the sheriff's office incident report.
The FBI's tip pointed to a Discord account associated with an email address linked to Colt Gray, the report said. But the boy said 'he would never say such a thing, even in a joking manner,' according to the investigator's report.
The interview transcript quotes the teen as saying: 'I promise I would never say something where ...' with the rest of that denial listed as inaudible.
The investigator wrote that no arrests were made because of 'inconsistent information' on the Discord account, which had profile information in Russian and a digital evidence trail indicating it had been accessed in different Georgia cities as well as Buffalo, New York.
Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum said she reviewed the report from May 2023 and found nothing that would have justified bringing charges at the time.
'We did not drop the ball at all on this,' Mangum told The Associated Press in an interview. 'We did all we could do with what we had at the time.'
The Discord account had a user name written in Russian, and the translation of the letters spelled out the name Lanza, referencing Adam Lanza, the perpetrator of the Sandy Hook Elementary school tragedy, officers said.
Gray denied he was the author of the threats, telling police he'd shut down his Discord after being repeatedly hacked. He expressed concerns that someone would make those accusations about him.
The 14-year-old was arrested on Wednesday at Apalachee High School in Winder, minutes after authorities say he opened fire on students and teachers
A huge police presence descended on Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia on Wednesday after officials said the student opened fire, injuring nine and killing four
'He knows the seriousness of weapons and what they can do, and how to use them and not use them,' the father, Colin Gray, said according to a transcript obtained from the sheriff's office.
Colin reportedly assured officers that he would be 'mad as hell' if he learned the allegations about his son making threats were true, and that 'all the guns [would] go away.'
Online, his aunt vowed 'full throttle blood' as she claimed he'd been subjected to 'abuse' his entire life. Those comments were deleted last night after a barrage of backlash.
The sheriff's investigators closed the case after being unable to substantiate that either Gray was connected to the Discord account, and did not find grounds to seek the needed court order to confiscate the family's guns, according to police reports released by the sheriff's office on Thursday.
Gray appears in the booking photo with long hair that has been dyed blond - a far cry from the smiling, baby-faced boy pictured in his middle school yearbook just two years earlier.
The boy reportedly had an obsession with other infamous school shooters such as Parkland, Florida killer Nikolas Cruz.
Two students and two teachers were dead inside the school building by the time he laid down his AR-style weapon.
Students Mason Schermerhorn, 14, and Christian Angulo, 14, and teachers Richard Aspenwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53, were named as the deceased.
Mason Schermerhorn, 14, an autistic student at Apalachee High School, was the first victim to be identified. Christian Angulo, 14, also lost his life in the senseless shooting
Teacher Richard Aspinwall was named as one of the four victims of the shooting. Christina Irimie was also identified as a victim
When police searched the teen's Georgia home following the bloodbath, they reportedly found clues the teenager was 'obsessed' with mass shootings - specifically the Parkland massacre in 2018, which left 17 people dead.
Gray was known to the FBI after several tips came in about him last year.
The boy remains in juvenile custody in Georgia, awaiting his first court appearance, which is scheduled for Friday morning. He will be charged as an adult, sheriffs said.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said Gray immediately surrendered when confronted by school resource officers at the scene.
Sheriff Smith revealed that Wednesday was Gray's first 'real day' at Apalachee High.
He said: 'He was a brand new student to Barrow County Schools, he had enrolled about two weeks prior. This was his second day at school. He had been before, he left early, on that day and this was his first real full day.'
According to law enforcement, Gray opened fire at approximately 10:23am, hitting at least 13 people as frantic scenes took over the school.
Images showed students streaming out onto the campus as terrified parents raced to find their children, with one mother describing the scene outside the school as pure 'chaos.'
Horrific details from inside classrooms have emerged - depicting the chilling chaos students endured as gunshots rang out this morning
One mother described the scenes outside the high school as 'chaos'
A junior at the school, Lyela Sayerath, said she was sat next to Colt Gray in algebra class minutes before he began the shooting spree.
She told CNN that Colt left the classroom at the beginning of their class at 9:45am, around 30 minutes before active shooter alerts sounded.
Gray didn't take a bathroom pass, she said, leading her to initially think he was merely skipping class - before a loudspeaker announcement told teachers to check their emails.
Shortly after, Sayerath said Gray returned outside their classroom, and a student got up to open the door for him before jumping back at the sight of his gun.
'I guess he saw we weren't going to let him in. And I guess the classroom next to me, their door was open, so I think he just started shooting in the classroom,' she said.
Sayerath said Gray proceeded to fire off a number of bullets 'one after another', adding: 'When we heard it, most people just dropped to the floor and like kind of crawled in an area like piled on top of each other.'
Sayerath said her friend was in the next classroom and witnessed someone being shot, which left him 'shaken up'. 'He saw somebody get shot. He had blood on him. He was kinda limping. He looked horrified,' she added.
As information floods in on the school shooting - officially the deadliest in Georgia's history - students and parents shared their shock at the horror that unfolded.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said Gray immediately surrendered when confronted by law enforcement, and 'gave up and got on the ground'
One mother, Erin Clark, shared the text exchange she had with her son Ethan from the moment he learned there was an active shooter at his school.
He wrote: 'school shooting rn (right now). I'm scared. I'm not joking.'
His mom responded instantly, assuring him that she was leaving work. In a heartbreaking response, Ethan wrote: 'I love you.'
'Love you too baby. Where are you?' Clark said. Ethan told her that he was in class, adding 'someone's dead.'
Heartbroken students have been arriving outside school grounds in a steady stream on Thursday to mourn the tragedy.
A makeshift memorial has been created using a wreath and flowers. On Thursday, families and students stopped by the somber scene to pay their respects to the lives lost in the tragedy.
President Joe Biden issued a statement condemning gun violence after the tragedy.
He said: 'What should have been a joyous back-to-school season in Winder, Georgia, has now turned into another horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to tear our communities apart.
Heartbroken students have been arriving outside school grounds in a steady stream on Thursday to mourn the tragedy
On Thursday, families and students stopped by the somber scene to pay their respects to the lives lost in the tragedy
'Students across the country are learning how to duck and cover instead of how to read and write.
'We cannot continue to accept this as normal.'
Biden called on Congress to say 'enough is enough' and pass new gun safety legislation, describing gun violence as an 'epidemic.'
Michel Barnier, who has just been appointed prime minister of France, has long observed a touching tradition when he visits his family estate.
Pride of place there goes to an ancient oak and the 73-year-old has a habit of kneeling down in front of it and paying homage to the tree's longevity.
If only the French electorate had a similarly reverential attitude to a man who has enjoyed such a long career in politics that he has been dubbed 'the French Joe Biden'.
Instead, the appointment of this venerable old hack has sparked a chorus of name-calling.
Barnier was 'from Jurassic Park: not only a fossil, but fossilised from political life', said one MP from Marine Le Pen's populist-Right National Rally party.
'The French have been taken for idiots,' exclaimed Marine Tondelier, secretary general of the EELV Green Party. 'They will remember it.'
Michel Barnier (pictured), who has just been appointed prime minister of France , has long observed a touching tradition when he visits his family estate.
French president Emmanuel Macron (L) poses with European Commission Chief Negociator Michel Barnier prior to their meeting at the Elysee palace in Paris, on January 31, 2020
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during Prime Minister's Questions at the House of Commons in London, Britain, September 4, 2024
Barnier's appointment will go down no better on this side of the Channel. Unless you're a Remoaner of course.
As a despairing Nigel Farage said yesterday: 'An EU fanatic as French prime minister would, sadly, suit the Labour government.'
For Macron's choice means we now have two Brexit-wreckers in power in both London and Paris.
In Britain, Keir Starmer, the man who led the doomed campaign for a second referendum, and in France the man who turned Theresa May into chopped liver during the Brexit negotiations.
Who can forget the sight of Barnier, then the EU's chief negotiator both a choir boy and a boy scout in his youth, posing for the cameras at the first meeting to discuss the terms of Britain's divorce from the EU with a bulky pile of papers in front of him.
David Davis and his fellow UK negotiators, in contrast, were empty-handed and much of the European and Europhile British media gloried in the apparently superior preparation of the EU side.
In fact, all it amounted to was a statement of intent. Barnier and his team were gearing up to argue over every jot and tittle, every comma and colon, every cent and penny.
France's newly appointed Prime Minister Michel Barnier (R) delivers a speech next to France's outgoing Prime Minister Gabriel Attal (L) during the handover ceremony at the Hotel Matignon in Paris, France, 05 September 2024
France's outgoing Prime Minister Gabriel Attal (R) greets newly appointed Prime Minister Michel Barnier (L) during the handover ceremony at the Hotel Matignon in Paris, France, 05 September 2024
As Oscar Wilde once wrote: 'A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.'
Instead of approaching the negotiations in a constructive manner and making an attempt to smooth the process, he was looking to squeeze us till the pips squeaked.
As Barnier threatened at the outset of the talks: 'We intend to teach people what leaving the single market means.'
But now many 'people' are already questioning how long he can last. Barnier is Macron's fifth prime minister in seven years and he was appointed only after eight weeks of dithering.
At 73, he is also the oldest of the 26 prime ministers in modern France's Fifth Republic. He replaces the youngest, Gabriel Attal, 34 when he was appointed just eight months ago.
Attal was also France's first openly gay prime minister and some of Macron's political opponents quickly dug up the fact that, in parliament in 1981, the new prime minister had been among 155 lawmakers who voted against equalising the age of consent.
Barnier's only qualification for the job seems to have been his willingness to accept it. He's mistrusted by the Left, the largest bloc in the National Assembly, and ridiculed by many on the Eurosceptic populist Right. The idea that Barnier can find a majority in parliament to address the multiple economic and social crises facing France seems like fantasy. By one count, he will have the support of only 66 deputies in an Assembly of 577.
A handout photograph released by the UK Parliament shows Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaking during the first Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) after summer recess in the House of Commons, in London, on September 4, 202
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer departs from number 10, Downing Street ahead of the weekly PMQ session on September 04, 2024
Worse, he will have the in-tray from hell. What our own doom-laden Chancellor Rachel Reeves might call a black hole has opened up in the French budget, which can only be cured by savage spending cuts or massive tax rises.
The deficit is projected to reach 5.6 per cent of GDP this year and 6.25 per cent next year, well beyond the permitted 3 per cent EU limit. Not that Brussels will do anything to punish Europe's scofflaw. But the bond markets are less charitable.
That said, the baffled reaction to the appointment in France suggests that the choice of Barnier may benefit, of all people, Marine Le Pen.
The leader of the populist National Rally was unusually equivocal about the appointment yesterday. 'Michel Barnier seems to be someone who is respectful of the different political forces and the National Rally, which is the largest group of the National Assembly,' she said.
The Left, and even some of her own supporters, suspect she's done a deal with Macron in which her bloc in the Assembly will finally be listened to.
Could this mean Macron recognises his effort to bury the Right has failed? It would be a humiliating U-turn for the president, whose antics since June have been designed to crush Le Pen.
Or just that the president has finally realised his mission to find a new government has run aground, and the best he can hope for is a technocratic caretaker government.
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier speaks during a debate on the future relations between the EU and UK at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, 18 December 2020
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, right, and European Commission's Head of Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom Michel Barnier address a media conference on Brexit negotiations at EU headquarters in Brussels, on Dec. 24, 2020
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (not seen) and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hold a joint press conference at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany on August 28, 2024
The Left, meanwhile, is predictably furious. 'The denial of democracy has reached its peak,' squealed the Socialist leader Olivier Faure, on the appointment of a prime minister from a party that finished in fourth place.
Barnier was certainly not Macron's first choice. His name emerged only on Wednesday night after half a dozen alternatives turned the job down. It's not likely that Macron has calmed the febrile atmosphere, and more likely that he's poured petrol on the fire.
'The President has appointed a loser of an ultra-minority political force at the polls and a marginal group in the National Assembly,' said Benjamin Lucas, a Socialist deputy.
Barnier, who is married with three children, is a quintessential technocrat. 'He has the charisma of an artichoke,' was the scathing verdict of a senior official who worked with him in Paris.
Brexit seems to have been the highlight of a lengthy but unremarkable political career in which Barnier has cycled through dozens of jobs, including foreign minister, before being dispatched to Brussels where he was right at home.
He's a fanatical European, believing in a deeper and wider Europe, on the model espoused by the late Jacques Delors.
Before Brexit, his most notable achievement was his leading role in the organisation of the 1992 Winter Olympic Games in his hometown of Albertville. When one French diplomat heard back in 1999 that Barnier had been picked as France's European Commissioner, he exclaimed: 'A ski instructor?'
After his starring role in Brexit, he ran to be the candidate of his party, Les Republicains, in the 2022 presidential election. He stimulated the enthusiasm of nobody, coming third.
Perhaps his appeal is that he's essentially dull. He certainly isn't in step with public sentiment. He's a centre-Rightist in a country that rejected Macron's centrism in favour of the hard-Left and populist Right.
His attraction for Macron seems to owe more to the president's desperation for a warm body than any conceivable appeal he might offer to French voters.
Few figures are more closely connected to the Royal Family than India Hicks.
India, who celebrates her 57th birthday today, is the granddaughter of Lord Louis Mountbatten, Prince Philip's uncle and adviser who was assassinated by the IRA in 1979.
She has established herself as a model, interior designer and businesswoman and lives in the Bahamas with her husband, David Flint Wood.
India was one of the five bridesmaids at the 1981 wedding of Diana and Charles, who is both her godfather and second cousin.
She is the daughter of interior designer David Hicks and Lady Pamela Hicks, a former lady-in-waiting to the late Queen and daughter of Lord Mountbatten.
India Hicks, who turns 57 today, married her long-term partner, David Flint Wood, in 2021. They exchanged vows atat St. Bartholomew's Church in India's home village of Brightwell Baldwin, Oxfordshire
India married her long-term partner, David Flint Wood, in 2021 at the age of 54.
The couple relocated to the Caribbean together in 1996, but they chose to come back to the UK for their wedding.
Following 26 years together, they exchanged vows at St. Bartholomew's Church in India's home village of Brightwell Baldwin, Oxfordshire, as their five children looked on.
India was previously christened at the church and her father is buried there.
'Having lived a fairly unconventional life together on a small island in the Bahamas for more than two decades, we decided that our wedding should, in contrast, be very conventional,' India wrote in an article for Vogue.
India stunned in an exquisite ivory tulle and lace dress by Emilia Wickstead, featuring a turtleneck and dramatic A-line skirt that swept the ankle.
She accessorised with a pair of white satin court shoes by Christian Louboutin and carried a beautiful bouquet by Pulbrook & Gould London.
The company poignantly made her mother's wedding bouquet in 1960.
Her ring was a gold and diamond band from Charlotte Chesnais, which the couple chose together in Paris a few months earlier.
They had the words 'amor vincit omnia', translating to 'love conquers all', engraved on the inside.
India's eldest-born son, Felix, travelled with his mother to the church before walking her down the aisle
India was previously christened at the church, located in her home village of Brightwell Baldwin, and her father is buried there
India and David had been together for 26 years before they got married. The couple relocated to the Caribbean together in 1996. Above: The couple at the Serpentine Gallery's summer party, 2009
Interior designer David Nightingale Hicks on Windermere Island in the Bahamas, April 1980. Also pictured are his wife, Lady Pamela Hicks (nee Mountbatten), his daughters Edwina and India, his son Ashley, and George Mountbatten, the 4th Marquess of Milford Haven
India's bridesmaids were led by her daughter Domino, while her son Felix walked her down the aisle.
She shared that the wedding had 'all the English trimmings' complete with 'a choir' and 'a series of uplifting hymns'.
If not for a fortunate twist of fate, India might have died at the age of 11.
On August 27, 1979, she chose to stay at her grandfather's home in County Sligo, Ireland, and watch a Laurel and Hardy film rather than join him and other family members for a fishing trip.
Shortly after the party set off, a concealed IRA bomb detonated, killing Lord Mountbatten, his grandson Nicholas, teenage crew member Paul Maxwell and Doreen Knatchbull, the mother of Mountbatten's son-in-law.
Speaking in 2019, India said of the disaster: 'The damage that was done was so much deeper than any of us could ever have imagined. And adult lives are still being horrifically disrupted.'
Two years after the tragedy, India was asked by Charles if she would be a bridesmaid and his and Diana's wedding.
'I had to practise,' she later recalled.
'It was during these rehearsals I got to know Diana, whom I first met at a dress fitting.
'She always seemed more like a head girl than a princess-in-waiting, with never a shy moment in private.'
India was one of the five bridesmaids at the 1981 wedding of Diana and Charles, who is both her godfather and second cousin
India was 13-years-old when Charles personally called her to ask if she would be a bridesmaid at his 1981 wedding to Diana
Lady Pamela Hicks and India Hicks attend the funeral of Patricia Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, on June 27, 2017
India attends a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at Westminster Abbey on March 29, 2022
India has preserved her bridesmaid's wreath from the ceremony at St Paul's, keeping it in its original box.
In 2022, she shared a photo of her dress - still in pristine condition - on social media.
It was displayed alongside another royal bridesmaid dress, worn by her mother, Lady Pamela, now 95, who had served as a bridesmaid to the late Queen Elizabeth.
At the age of 18, India moved to Boston, Massachusetts, to study photography.
After graduating in 1990, her father introduced her to the Emilio Pucci brand in Florence, Italy, where she began her modelling career by showcasing swimsuits.
She later modelled for prominent brands, such as Ralph Lauren, Tod's and J. Crew.
Despite her royal connections, India has worked hard to forge her own path.
She became a designer and businesswoman, launching a luxury lifestyle brand, before closing the business in 2022 to spend more time with her children: Wesley, 27, Felix, 25, Amory, 23, Conrad, 19, and Domino, 14.
Despite her royal connections, India has worked hard to forge her own path, establishing herself as a model, interior designer and businesswoman
India and David attend Chucs Dive & Mountain Shop Swim Party in aid of Charity: Water at The Serpentine on July 4, 2011
India adopted Wesley after his mother died of cancer.
On the eve of King Charles's coronation, India said her godfather was 'considerate' and 'patient', but she did not receive an invitation to the crowning ceremony.
She posted photos on her Instagram account showing herself outside Buckingham Palace and she also appeared on Australian TV to discuss all things royal ahead of the King's big moment.
She serves her godfather's charity, the Prince's Trust, as a patron for Women Supporting Women.
After attending the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, India revealed that she would be undertaking a bicycle ride from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle in a bid to raise money for the charity.
India's work for the Prince's Trust exists alongside her support for Global Empowerment Mission, a nonprofit that assists in the wake of international disasters.
In May 2022, she visited Ukraine alongside her son in support of the organisation, transporting clothing and spending time in a therapy shelter helping Ukrainian children.
A tidal wave of migrants is expected to surge across the US-Mexico border around the time of the US presidential election, DailyMail.com can reveal.
There is widespread concern among US federal officials that migrants waiting in Northern Mexico will make their attempt to cross en mass as Nov. 5 nears or just after Americans head to the polls.
Federal immigration authorities have been to told to prepare for a huge spike,' Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales told DailyMail.com Tuesday.
The Republican lawmaker, who represents over 820 miles of Texas-Mexico border including hot spots El Paso and Eagle Pass, explained cartels that smuggle people over the border will actually advertise on the election.
These criminal organizations are amazing at marketing. Imagine...a criminal organization starts marketing, "The border is going to be shut because Donald Trump is going to win the election,'" Gonzales stated.
Hundreds of migrants stormed the Paso del Norte, Ciudad Juarez, Mexico with the intention of crossing into El Paso, United States, on March 12, 2023
'They will use that to vamp it up, whether its true or not, it doesnt matter. That is the selling point.'
A potential Trump presidency is widely seen among migrants as limiting access to the US.
Tony Gonzales (R) is the US Congressman representing Texas' 23rd District. His seat stretches from San Antonio to El Paso along 823 miles of US-Mexico border
Gonzales added migrants could feel an urgency to get into the country before Trump takes over, assuming the GOP presidential candidate wins.
Mexican cartels, that make over $13 billion a year according to the New York Times trafficking humans across the international boundary, have spread misinformation that has caused chaos on the border before.
Several times last year, the thugs circulated rumors among migrants in the Mexican border city of Juarez, across from El Paso, Texas.
In one case, they convinced migrants that US authorities were giving asylum to any migrant who surrendered at a particular international bridge in El Paso.
That resulted in about 1,000 desperate Venezuelans storming the Paso Del Norte Bridge in March 2023.
They were met by riot guards from US Customs and Border Protection who shut down the bridge and stopped them.
Migrants, mostly from Venezuela, try to cross a barrier into El Paso, Texas
Migrants arrived at the bridge after believing online misinformation that they would be welcomed in were confronted by federal agents from US Customs and Border Protection
Venezuelans hoping to make asylum cases in the US were fed lies by human smuggling cartels
A second factor that could cause an influx of migrants at the border is Mexico.
Since January, the Mexican government has stepped up efforts to stop mostly South and Central American migrants traveling through its country on their way to the US.
Pressured by the Biden Administration, Mexican officials have set up checkpoints to find migrants on northbound buses and trains and return them to the Mexico-Guatemala international boundary.
Its entirely possible that after November, that Mexico which is spending a lot of money blocking people and doing all these checkpoints and bussing everyone to the south of country-- that Mexica might be like, "Okay, were not going to keep doing this favor for the Harris Administration,"' Adam Isacson of The Washington Office on Latin America told DailyMail.com.
Mexico's action is largely responsible for migrant crossings plummeting at the border in recent months.
Migrants line up outside an immigration office in the city of Tapachula, Chiapas state, southern Mexico, September 2
A migrant child rides a scooter in front of tents, in a makeshift camp known as 'The Little Venezuela' in Mexico City, Mexico on August 26,
Migrants arrive at a gate in the border fence after crossing from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico into El Paso, Texas
The Biden Administration released the latest border crossing numbers in August, showing a 32% drop in migrants caught by Border Patrol in July-- what the feds call the 'lowest number since September 2020.'
November 6, regardless of who wins, (cartel) are going to turn the volume all the way up before the inauguration,' Gonzales said.
'Why wouldnt you? You either have Trump in the White House so youre going to get your last bite at the apple or have Kamala in the White House and youve done them enough favors.'
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Overview
The University of West London (UWL) markets itself as The Career University, lest anyone be in any doubt as to the umbilical connection here between studying and getting a job afterwards. Developments such as the new school of medicine and biosciences seek to provide students with hands-on experience tackling the needs of local communities, while students studying for their Airline Transport Pilot Licence as part of their degrees have access to the university's Boeing 737 flight simulator. UWL's connections to the nearby Heathrow airport and British Airways are typical of its business links which give students access to more than 1,000 part-time, internship, graduate and volunteering opportunities. The university monitors all placements to ensure that they are of the highest quality, too. In addition to its focus on graduate jobs and making a difference in local communities, UWL has a third key mission which saw it recognised last year as our University of the Year for Social Inclusion. Few can match the diversity on campus here, with 68% from black, Asian and other ethnic minority groups; more than 60% from homes where they are the first to go to university; and around half being mature returners to education.
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Paying the bills
Such is the diversity of the student body at UWL, the university targets support at the many rather than the most disadvantaged few. The UWL Aspire bursary provides free books to the value of 100 in the first year to most undergraduates and pre-registration students. The money can be spent in the online UWL Aspire student shop. In subsequent years, students get a further 100 each year to help keep down the cost of studying. Students from homes with an annual income of less than 25,000 qualify for a bursary of 1,000 per year, worth up to 3,000 over the course of their degree. Care-experienced and estranged students receive a 500 annual bursary plus, from this year, a 2,000 contribution towards the cost of accommodation in their first year. The university has more than 800 rooms supplied by private providers, with prices ranging from 11,000 for a 44-week tenancy to more than 20,000 for a studio apartment on a 51-week contract. The university also offers more than 70 philanthropic prizes worth between 150 and 10,000 and 42 donor-backed awards worth between 250 and 5,000.
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Who's better, who's best? UWL has taken the name of the compilation album from The Who to heart in its mission to create the best student facilities. And from next month the Townshend Studio will provide a permanent home for several music synthesisers gifted to UWL by alumnus and The Who's lead guitarist, Pete Townshend. The studio will be used for teaching and research, as well as hosting cultural events and 'open house' days when the local community will be invited in. A BA in creative music production is also being introduced from next September. An interdisciplinary school of medicine and biosciences has also opened this year, with a focus on improving the health of the communities in which UWL operates, reducing inequalities, and areas including dementia care and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve diagnostics and treatment, in particular for cancer and heart conditions. The new Digital Futures Lab, meanwhile, will allow students to acquire the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven workplace. Equipped with the latest dual-screen computers, graphics processing units and virtual-reality headsets, the lab complements existing digital facilities and studios for film and television, motion capture, radio, and sound and recording.
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'Inclusion is in our institutional DNA,' UWL told us. Achieving the levels of diversity seen on campus is no accident, but it is not the product of a contextual admissions policy that reduces the standard offer by a set amount. The university says it welcomes applications from those who can meet entry criteria through experience rather than academic qualifications, and reductions in the Ucas tariff point requirements vary significantly. The university engages in substantial local outreach with schools and colleges and is working to improve continuation and degree-completion levels for its commendably diverse student body. With 38% of academic staff and 22% of the professoriate drawn from black and ethnic minorities, UWL takes the same approach to staff appointments as it does to student recruitment. All students have a personal tutor. UWL has recently increased the number of mental health and disability advisers it employs and is working with NHS trusts on two projects that have won funding from the Office for Students. Mind the Gaps, which examines ways of providing additional support to students who are the first in their immediate family to go to university; and People Like Us, which is looking at how racial and cultural stressors influence the wellbeing of black and minority ethnic students, potentially impact large numbers of UWL's student population.
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The University of the West of England (UWE) has a physical footprint that spans Bristol, but the university is working hard to ensure that its eco footprint is considerably smaller. New accommodation for 900 students opening this month is claimed to be the largest low-carbon development of its kind in the country, enhancing UWE's appeal to today's environmentally aware students. The Purdown View development is on UWE's main Frenchay campus to the north of Bristol, where most courses are based. There is also the City campus - home to creative and cultural industries courses - which is spread across four sites, offering views of a deer park and the harbourside. It features the Arnolfini and Spike Island arts venues, and the Watershed film culture and digital media centre. The Glenside campus in Fishponds, a 15-minute bus ride from the city centre, is the base for allied health, social care, nursing and midwifery students. With more than 25,000 undergraduates and close to 12,000 postgraduates, UWE is one of the UK's biggest universities, and applications have never been higher. Roughly half the undergraduate intake comes from the immediate region, but UWE's reputation draws in students from across the country.
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Paying the bills
UWE's Low Income bursary is paid to all students from homes where annual household income is 25,000 or less. The cash award is worth 500 for each year of study and more than 5,000 students benefit. This same maximum income threshold applies to all other undergraduate bursaries, including the UWE Cares bursary worth 1,650 each year, which is paid to carers, care leavers and estranged students, who also earn a 500 graduation bursary cash payment. A 1,650 annual payment is also available to help meet childcare costs for students in receipt of the childcare grant element of funding from the Student Loans Company. As part of a package of help that paid out around 3.8m in the last academic year, UWE also provides 500 employability bursaries of either 500 or 1,000 to help students pay for activities that will add significant value to their experience and improve their graduate outcomes. There are nearly 5,800 rooms available in student accommodation and prices begin at 4,961 for a 45-week contract, rising to 11,541 for a 42-week tenancy in the most expensive rooms.
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UWE's drive towards net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 has been helped considerably by the opening this term of the new Purdown View student residences. The new block for 900 students on the main Frenchay campus is arranged into four to eight-person flats and studio apartments and built to Passivhaus sustainability standards. It is a first for the university sector in the UK, and the university claims it is one of the largest low-carbon certified developments in the world, with energy costs and carbon emissions 81% and 79% respectively below those of the student accommodation Purdown View replaces. The university comes 11th in the latest People & Planet league table, which ranks universities on their environmental and ethical performance. Three new degree apprenticeship programmes are introduced this term for solicitors, specialist community public health nurses and community nurse specialist practitioners. Added to the 19 existing programmes, there will be more than 2,500 apprentices on campus in the coming year. Subject to final approval, UWE plans to introduce two new degrees next September: a BA in culture, media and creative industries and a BSc in data science.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Staff at UWE have to undergo some of the most extensive training in student mental health and wellbeing support that we have seen at any university. They receive mandatory training in safeguarding and supporting mental health and wellbeing, as well as prevent duty training, with a suite of additional courses available that include emotional intelligence and neurodiversity awareness. This is part of a wider wellbeing package which contains further distinctive elements such as peer-assisted learning workshops on resilience, led by students to help build confidence and life skills. Students also have access to the SAM app (Self-help App for the Mind), developed in collaboration with a research team at UWE, which helps them to understand, monitor and manage anxiety through self-help exercises and private reflection. UWE expects increasing numbers of students to enter the university with a contextual offer following the introduction of a contextual admissions policy for September 2023 admissions. The typical contextual offer cuts 16 Ucas points (or two grades at A-level) from the standard offer on undergraduate courses, and eight Ucas points (or one A-level grade) from standard offers for foundation-year programmes. Eligibility is largely driven by the Ucas multiple equality measure which incorporates postcode information to determine levels of deprivation and low levels of participation in higher education; gender; ethnicity; type of school attended; receipt of free school meals; and the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI).
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Shortlisted for our University of the Year title, Warwick turns out graduates who are among the most sought-after; the university sits sixth in this year's High Fliers ranking of universities targeted by the largest number of leading graduate employers, ahead of both Oxford and Cambridge. The university celebrates its 60th anniversary next year with applications running at record levels - 58% higher than a decade ago - and admissions are at a level beaten only during the pandemic years of inflated grades. The university recruits nationally and globally, and it is one of the institutions that mops up students who miss out on Oxbridge. The spacious campus university sits not in Warwick, but on the outskirts of Coventry. Academic, sporting, social and residential facilities are all close to hand. The Warwick Arts Centre, which has five spaces for theatre and music, three cinemas and a gallery, is one of the biggest outside London. Sporting facilities are excellent, too, and Warwick is a serious player in inter-university competitions. Academic strength spans the arts, humanities and languages, as well as the social sciences, science and engineering. The recent triple gold award from the Teaching Excellence Framework for overall rating, student experience and student outcomes speaks to that broad-based brilliance.
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Paying the bills
About one in five students at Warwick gets some form of financial support from the university, with the main award, the Warwick bursary, expected to benefit 900 first-years in the upcoming academic year. The award is paid to students from homes where the income is 35,000 per year or below and is restricted to children educated at state schools and further education colleges (or those on a full fees means-tested bursary at an independent school). The biggest awards of 2,000 per year go to students from homes with an income of up to 16,000, falling to 1,500 per year (16,001 to 25,000) and 1,000 per year (25,001 to 35,000). Unusually, the awards are paid during work placement and study abroad years and can be topped up with an extra 1,000 per year for students who are care leavers, mature, estranged, in receipt of Disability Students' Allowance, or in receipt of the special support element of the maintenance loan or one of several other government grants as part of their student support package. Warwick's discretionary hardship awards for those in need range in value from 100 to 4,000. The university has around 7,500 beds on campus, with the cheapest also being the most central. Rooms in the Rootes residence come in at 4,305 for a 35-week contract. The most expensive ensuite rooms in Bluebell cost 9,800 for 40 weeks.
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Warwick has mitigated the negative impact of Brexit on international academic collaboration by strengthening its ties with universities across Europe. This helps it provide new opportunities for overseas study for its students. Warwick is one of the 10 members of the Eutopia alliance of European universities, which offers researchers, students and staff the chance to collaborate and work abroad. The university also opened a new European base in Venice last year, which overlooks the Grand Canal. Undergraduate students of history, history of art and liberal arts can take modules in Venice. The past year has seen the university develop capabilities even further afield, with the opening of the Marsh Observatory helping it train the astronomers of tomorrow. The observatory has a 40cm telescope and digital imager to allow students to observe solar system objects, stars and galaxies. New degrees for 2025 include a BSc in economics and management and a BSc in international management with foundation year. Warwick is also planning to add to its degree apprenticeship offering, which is already one of the largest in the Russell Group, with around 1,300 learners already enrolled across programmes in applied professional engineering, civil and infrastructure engineering, computer science and technology solutions, digital and technology solutions, digital healthcare science, electro-mechanical engineering and social work.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
A contextual offer scheme reduces standard offers for courses by up to two A-level grades (subject to a minimum of BBB) and four International Baccalaureate points to eligible applicants educated in the state sector. All undergraduate courses are included in the programme apart from those with foundation years. There is a wide range of eligibility, which includes living in a postcode among the 20% most deprived or from which fewest advance to higher education, or attending an under-performing school or one with a higher than average proportion of students in receipt of free school meals. One of the country's most extensive outreach programmes helps Warwick attract a diverse student population. The Warwick Scholars access programme works with post-16 students in the Midlands, offering those accepted on to it a five-year support programme, from application and enrolment through to employment and further study. These students also receive an offer two to four grades below the standard ask, and considerable financial help during their studies. Student safety on campus is taken seriously, with all students required to confirm before the start of each year that they have completed the Warwick Values Programme on Moodle, which covers sexual misconduct, bullying, discrimination, harassment, racism and the supply or use of illegal substances. A community safety team, residential community teams, wellbeing and student support services and personal tutors offer a network of mental health and wellbeing assistance. Mental health mentoring is available, and the Togetherall app and student-run Nightline service provide out-of-hours cover.
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The oldest university in Wales is also the one to have undergone the most significant transformation in the past 15 years. The University of Wales Trinity St David (UWTSD) began life in 1822 as St David's College in Lampeter; only Oxford and Cambridge have a longer history among Welsh and English universities. It now comprises campuses in Lampeter, Carmarthen and Swansea (the former Swansea Metropolitan University until 2013) and has also expanded its footprint to cover London (opened in 2012), Cardiff (2015) and Birmingham (2018). However, UWTSD's heart remains in south-west Wales, where each of the campuses has a distinct course bias and atmosphere. The historic and beautiful Lampeter campus offers a broad sweep of humanities courses; Swansea is home to most of the science, technology and engineering degrees, with strength also in art and design; and Carmarthen acts as a base for creative arts programmes together with business, sport and education. The small outposts in London (for undergraduate degrees in health and social care, business management, applied computing, and leadership and management skills for the workplace), Birmingham (principally education, health and social care, applied computing and business management) and Cardiff (principally education, law, policing and performing arts) complete the picture.
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Paying the bills
A support package that benefits around one in seven students reflects the diverse intake; more than half the undergraduates are mature returners to education aged over 21 when their courses begin, and a similar proportion are from homes where parents did not go to university. Many are Welsh speakers. So, the university offers an annual bursary of up to 500 for student parents and a bursary of up to 900 a year for students learning in the Welsh language. Annual bursaries of 1,000 are available for care leavers, estranged students and those with caring responsibilities, and bursaries of up to 250 a year are open to transgender and non-binary students. The Reaching Wider bursary is the most common form of financial aid and is worth up to 100 to students recruited from postcodes that are among the 40% most deprived areas in Wales. A Digital Connectivity bursary offers up to 100 towards the cost of broadband or a maximum of 300 towards the cost of a device and connectivity combined. University-owned accommodation at Lampeter and Carmarthen is among the cheapest in the UK, with prices ranging from 3,863 for 38 weeks at Lampeter to 5,147 for the most expensive rooms on a 37-week contract at Carmarthen. Rooms at Carmarthen begin at 3,959.
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UWTSD's Innovation Matrix building opens in time for the new academic year. Based in Swansea's SA1 Innovation Quarter, the development is focused on digital innovation and will connect businesses with the university through collaborations between academia and industry, as well as offering many industry-specific opportunities for students. This should help boost the relatively low proportion of UWTSD students who currently gain high-skilled jobs upon graduating. More generally, academic and social facilities have been upgraded, with a focus on enhancing green spaces, modernising teaching rooms, creating informal learning areas, and improving workstations and library accessibility. Student halls in Lampeter and Carmarthen have also been upgraded following significant investment.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Applicants living in a postcode classified as being among the 40% with the lowest rates of progression to university, those who are the first in their immediate family to go into higher education, and care leavers all qualify for contextual offers at UWTSD. Contextual offers are made for all courses, except those where they are not possible due to the requirements of professional bodies, and typically come in at eight Ucas tariff points or one A-level grade below the standard offer. With more than half the students enrolled classified as mature returners to education, UWTSD's Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedures are particularly relevant for those seeking to have experiential learning from working life evaluated and awarded credit. Wellbeing and mental health support is provided to all students, often accessed in the first instance through the Student Hwb or the Wellbeing Service directly. The services offered cover counselling, wellbeing advice, study adjustments, referrals to other student services teams, or support to access NHS or other external services. A Student Assistance Programme operates 24 hours a day. All staff complete mandatory e-learning modules that provide training on how to respond to students showing signs of mental distress. The university and students' union offer training and compulsory guidance on sexual consent, and racial, sexual and social tolerance.
Chinese vice premier meets Moroccan PM
Xinhua) 16:28, September 05, 2024
BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Thursday met with Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the two sides have constantly consolidated political mutual trust and achieved remarkable outcomes in practical cooperation.
China is ready to work with Morocco to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and the fruits of the summit, deepen cooperation in sectors including infrastructure, trade, investment, culture, education and tourism, open up new prospects for the bilateral strategic partnership, and jointly build the all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, he said.
Akhannouch said Morocco is willing to strengthen the alignment of strategies and practical cooperation with China, and keep advancing Africa-China and Morocco-China relations.
(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
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The University of Sussex was ranked among the top UK universities for sustainability in the 2025 QS World University Rankings. Occupying a site that borders the South Downs National Park, the university has committed to giving more than 42% of the land on the Sir Basil Spence-designed campus to nature by 2027. This stuff matters to Sussex's students. Applications are running high at upwards of 20,000 per year, and admissions have been similarly buoyant, bar last year's near-1,000 dip. Sussex recruits three-quarters of its students from London and the South East, with around 85% educated in non-selective state schools. The university maintained its overall silver award in last year's Teaching Excellence Framework, although it will have been disappointed by the bronze for student experience. It is embedding employability into the curriculum in a bid to get more students into high-skilled jobs - currently one of the poorer areas of performance in our ranking. The Career Lab programme offers them internships, mentoring, insight visits to employers and the opportunity to become a consultant to a business or community organisation.
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Paying the bills
The university that has just been ranked eighth in the UK and 26th globally for sustainability by the QS World University Rankings also seeks and rewards environmental influencers with a 3,000-a-year scholarship. The five Climate Leaders scholarships, awarded annually, are open to undergraduate, masters and PhD students who can show a track record of bringing about real-world change in relation to the climate crisis. Scholarship recipients will be supported to develop a high-level project plan and provided with mentoring support. Most of the 30% of Sussex students who get financial help receive the Sussex bursary. The number of awards is unlimited, and they are paid to all students from homes with an annual income of less than 25,000. The bursary is worth 1,000 in the first year and 500 in subsequent years of study. All bursary recipients also qualify for a rent rate capped at 125 per week - the price of the university's cheapest accommodation - under Sussex's affordable housing scheme. A 5,000 annual bursary is paid to students who have been in care via the Andrew Rudd scholarship. Accommodation prices begin at 4,875 for a 39-week contract, rising to 8,135 for the most expensive rooms.
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Students can look forward to an ultra-modern future. Almost 2,000 new student rooms are at the heart of the West Slope campus development, which is due to open in phases from the end of 2026. Built to the latest environmental standards, the project will also include a health centre, cafe and supermarket. Students arriving this term will enjoy the novelty of shopping at the first frictionless store on any UK campus. Harnessing Amazon technology, students will scan their payment card on entering, select their food and then simply walk out. Weighted shelves and scanners at the exits will calculate the sum to be charged. Sussex has also announced that 42% of campus land will be set aside for nature by 2027. By next September, quantum computing areas will have been expanded and upgraded, and a revamp in the school of engineering and informatics will give students a teaching workshop with modern machinery and 3D metal and non-metal printing kit. This month sees the first students enrol on a suite of six data science degrees, studying the subject on its own or with maths or physics. The new MPhys in Physics (Quantum Technology) (research placement) is the first in the UK to offer undergraduate students quantum technology research experience from the first day of their degree.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
More than one in five students applying to Sussex qualified for a contextual offer last year. These are typically up to two grades below the standard offer for a given course. Contextual offers apply to all degrees apart from medicine, which is run jointly with the University of Brighton at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School. Eligibility criteria include living in the 20% of postcodes with the lowest levels of progression to university or the highest levels of social deprivation, receiving free school meals, having been in care or being a young carer, or taking part in the Sussex Access Plus outreach programme. There is a comprehensive network of mental health and wellbeing support at the university, including therapists and psychologists providing short-term cognitive behavioural therapy and psychodynamic therapy for relationship issues. A Residential Life team supports students in university halls; they work with Student Connectors to create a social events programme to combat isolation. The university's subscription to the Togetherall app offers 24/7 online mental health support, peer support and self-help courses, too. Campus safety is prioritised through the requirement for all new students to complete the Consent Matters online course in sexual consent and active bystander training.
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If you've got a good business idea, then the University of South Wales (USW) could be the place for you. It justifiably lays claim to the title of Entrepreneurial University of Wales for the fourth year in a row, in recognition of it being the Welsh university that has backed the most graduate start-up businesses. Official data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency shows that USW supported 96 new graduate businesses in 2022-23, taking the total number of active graduate businesses it has helped to more than 500. Across the UK as a whole, USW ranks 11th out of 220 institutions for new start-ups and ninth for the number of active graduate businesses. Dr Ben Calvert, USW's vice-chancellor, said 'supporting start-ups and small businesses is part of our DNA'. Entrepreneurial success is no accident at a university where courses are designed and delivered with significant input from business and industry. Engagement, collaboration and partnership are the cornerstones on which the institution is founded. It has five sites across South Wales: three in Pontypridd, and two others in Cardiff and Newport. The university is headquartered on the Treforest campus, the biggest of the Pontypridd sites. Cardiff is home to the university's creative industries courses, while Newport provides education and teacher training, business, computing, social work and psychology degrees. Everything else is taught in Pontypridd.
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Paying the bills
USW's Student Support Fund benefited more than 300 students in 2022-23, with each receiving 900 on average. The fund's extensive reach is indicative of the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on student life. USW is currently considering further initiatives to defray some of the costs of studying, including meal discounts and addressing digital poverty. Just under 100,000 was distributed in carer's bursaries, worth 1,000 per year to students who are unpaid carers, and another 82,000 was given out in Gwent bursaries to 82 students accepting a place under contextual admissions criteria who have an NP (Newport) postcode. The 1,000 scholarship is paid in the first year only. There are several further awards, including a 1,000 progression bursary for students who top up their USW-accredited diploma or foundation degree gained at one of several nearby colleges to a full honours degree at USW. Prices in the more than 1,400 rooms in university-owned or managed accommodation range from 4,480 for a 40-week contract at Glamorgan Court up to 7,812 for a 42-week tenancy in the Mountain Halls studio flats, both in Pontypridd.
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What's new?
New teaching and learning facilities for chiropractic students are under construction on the Treforest campus in Pontypridd. The new space will serve not only USW's Master of Chiropractic and foundation-year courses but also clinical outpatient requirements. Chiropractic care has been offered to the public for more than 20 years, with final-year student clinicians working under the supervision of qualified chiropractors. The new facilities are expected to open to patients and students next summer. USW's commitment to the world of work goes beyond its portfolio of vocational degrees to include an extensive programme of degree apprenticeships. The current suite of 12 options is being added to this month, with six new earn-while-you-learn courses taking their first students. Two new civil engineering routes begin - one leading to a BSc, the other to a BEng - alongside construction project management, building surveying, real estate, and quantity surveying and commercial management. These new pathways will add more apprenticeship learners to the near-1,100 already on campus.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
USW does not specify the number of grades or Ucas tariff points by which it will reduce offers for applicants who qualify for a contextual admissions place. It says only that these students will be made an offer lower than the typical offer for a given course, or that their circumstances will be taken into consideration when results are released and places confirmed. Most courses are included in the scheme except those where professional bodies impose additional requirements on entry grades, such as the BSc in medical sciences. To be eligible, applicants must either live in a postcode among the 40% that send the fewest to university, or be a first-generation student whose parents did not go to university, or have been in care for three months or more. Mental health and student wellbeing is supported through a range of activities and interventions. As well as specialist mental health or counselling support, students can be referred to, or take part in, wellbeing group activities that include therapy dogs, craft workshops, yoga classes and book clubs. Support is offered for stress, anxiety and depression through to complex mental health issues, trauma and autistic spectrum disorders. The university runs its own on-campus health service for students, which hosts workshops and webinars through the year in conjunction with Brook, the sexual health charity, to raise awareness and promote understanding of issues such as sexual consent.
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Overview
Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) offers no less than three named support advisers to its students when they enrol - a student support adviser to provide personal help, an academic adviser to assist them with their studies, and an employability adviser for planning the start of their career. The aim is to keep all students on track with their studies and then launch them successfully into their first jobs. It works, too, with the university having one of the strongest graduate employment records of any modern university. Rooted firmly in its community, it trains more than a quarter of the new teachers in Yorkshire annually. Earlier this year, its Institute of Education became the first university to be rated outstanding by Ofsted for its teacher training across four age groups: early years, primary, secondary and post-16. It is one of the biggest suppliers of healthcare graduates in the country, and its business school is the largest in the UK, with some 7,000 students. SHU's marketing handle - Knowledge Applied - succinctly captures its ethos and approach to higher education. A Civic University Agreement enshrines its commitment to contribute to the region's economy and jobs, education and skills, health and wellbeing, and community and regeneration.
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Paying the bills
Almost 9,000 Student Success scholarships were awarded in 2022-23. Valued at between 600 and 2,100 - with most at the lower end of that scale - the scholarships are open to students from homes with an annual income of up to 62,347. The university prioritises certain groups of students for the scholarships: third years, ethnic minorities, care leavers, estranged students, transgender and non-binary people, those who are disabled, carers, student parents and those on high-cost courses. The higher-value scholarships are paid to those who tick multiple boxes. All are renewable annually. A placements bursary was awarded to 236 students last year, and the sum paid is based on the value of a student's previous Student Success scholarship. More than 900,000 was paid out in hardship support in 2022-23. Talented sportspeople can apply to the Performance Athletes Support Programme for a package worth up to 3,000. In all, around a third of Hallam students get some form of financial assistance from the university. Prices for the cheapest rooms in self-catered accommodation have been cut slightly this year and now start at 4,004 for a 44-week contract (making them among the cheapest in the UK), rising to 8,360 for a studio flat.
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What's new?
Campus improvements and new teaching facilities hold the key to boosting SHU's faltering scores for student support, student experience and teaching quality in recent National Student Surveys. The UK's largest modern business school will get a new home in the upcoming term which will include a business lounge and a trading floor equipped with state-of-the-art technology. The College of Social Sciences and Arts, which includes the university's not-for-profit law teaching firm, Hallam Legal Advice Centre, will also move into one of the three new buildings due to be completed imminently. They are being constructed with sustainability in mind as the university moves towards becoming a zero-carbon institution. The buildings, which will also include food venues and social spaces for students, sit around a new public green space with room for up to 150 people to relax in.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
The university is unusual in requiring all students to attend three compulsory induction sessions: Welcome to Your Course (giving an overview of courses and expectations), Success and Support @Hallam (outlining the support available and expected student behaviours), and Meet Your Course Mates (a social and ice-breaking session). The university aims to get students off on the right footing with these sessions and backs this up through the provision of three named advisers covering student support, academics and future employment, to help students through university life. Mandatory online training covering mental health is given to all academic advisers, and the university has developed a Students in Distress guide for academic staff. To maintain high levels of campus safety, students are also expected to complete a welcome module which includes information on sexual consent and being an active bystander. Contextual offers are made to a sizeable proportion of applicants, including those who are a part of the university's SHU Progress applicant and transition support scheme; black students; those from a home with an annual income of less than 25,000; students with extenuating circumstances; those who have to study at home due to personal circumstances; or those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Mature applicants who will be over the age of 21 when they commence their courses can also qualify. There is no set contextual offer, so they vary from candidate to candidate, but the university commits to taking account of individual circumstances when results come in. 'This may mean that we can be more flexible in confirming your place at Sheffield Hallam,' the university says.
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Overview
Roehampton is moving heavily into the provision of online degrees for those who do not want to study on its attractive parkland campus in south-west London. For now, the nine courses on offer are all postgraduate business degrees, but the university is moving quickly to adopt more options with 100% online studying. The move comes as enrolments dropped to their lowest point in the past decade, 43% below the level they were at in 2016. Once part of the University of Surrey, it is 20 years since Roehampton became a university in its own right. It is organised into four colleges, Digby Stuart, Froebel, Southlands and Whitelands, which were founded as teacher training colleges in the 19th century, and teacher training is still a central pillar here. The colleges create bite-size communities of students and help Roehampton provide a far more personal university experience than is available elsewhere in the capital. The university, which has an excellent reputation for social diversity on campus, also has a sizeable population of nursing and healthcare students and is expanding into green skills with its new Sustainable Engineering and Technology Education Centre and a raft of associated courses.
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Paying the bills
The most academically able get a 3,000 Academic Excellence scholarship for achieving AAA at A-level (or equivalent), which is paid at a rate of 1,000 per year. A 2,000 scholarship, also paid over three years, is given to students who gained AAB at A-level (or equivalent). The Roehampton Foundation scholarship is paid to all students beginning (four-year) courses with a foundation year, bar those studying Theology, Mission and Practice, and is worth 500 per year (2,000 over the course of the degree). Esports scholarships and Women in Esports scholarships are worth 2,000 per year for those who can demonstrate aptitude in esports (electronic sports). Roehampton has also increased its hardship funds in response to the cost-of-living crisis and made further practical changes to keep students' costs down, which include adjusting timetables to reduce the number of days they need to travel to campus. The university's residential accommodation, which starts at just 5,421 for a 39-week contract in Bede House, lives up to its promise to 'offer affordable accommodation in London'. Even the most expensive rooms in Elm Grove Hall and Chadwick Hall cost just 9,009 over 39 weeks.
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What's new?
Roehampton is branching out into a new area of academic activity with the opening of its Sustainable Engineering and Technology Education Centre (Setec). The first degrees, taking students from this month, cover civil engineering, architectural technology, and construction management. More courses will be added over time as the university builds up a presence in this academic space. Several computer gaming degrees (in games art, games design, and computer games programming) also begin this month as part of a comprehensive overhaul of Roehampton's course portfolio, in a bid to reverse the falling number of enrolments. New joint honours courses have also been introduced including both an LLB and BA in law and politics; BAs in English and journalism, education and youth studies, and politics, international relations and history; and a BSc in computing and business.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Contextual offers can be up to 16 Ucas tariff points (or two A-level grades) below the standard offer on all courses except for teacher training and nursing. Among those eligible for contextual offers are applicants who have received free school meals at any point in the previous six years, those from postcodes sending the fewest into higher education or who have attended schools with below average attainment, and those with disabilities or who have been in care. Mental health and wellbeing support is provided by a team of student wellbeing officers, counsellors and specialist mental health advisers. Mental health and resilience are key components of pre-arrival and induction programmes. All students have an academic tutor and the university's student support service, Nest, offers academic and non-academic support 24 hours a day online, as well as at various locations on campus.
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Overview
Small is beautiful at Queen Margaret University (QMU). Located on a modern campus opened just 17 years ago, QMU is the best of both worlds, sitting just six minutes by train from the centre of Edinburgh, while offering students green, coastal surroundings with a great sense of space. QMU is home to around 4,000 undergraduates (and 2,500 postgraduates) following a range of career-focused degrees. Work placements are a common feature of courses, and the university prides itself on producing career-ready graduates. There is a strong provision of healthcare and teaching courses, with recent campus developments such as the newly opened outdoor learning hub adding considerably to the facilities for the latter. QMU serves a socially diverse student community where around half are the first in their immediate family to attend university. Its contextual admissions scheme typically reduces offers by two grades compared to the standard ask. The university's reputation for friendliness was reinforced by its recent nomination by students for four prizes at the Global Student Living Awards, covering best university housing, best student wellbeing, best moving-in experience and best student community in the UK and Ireland.
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Paying the bills
Students recruited outwith Scotland from the rest of the UK (RUK) stand a good chance of qualifying for financial support. In 2022-23, there were just 116 undergraduate RUK students across years one to four, with 63 of them (54%) in receipt of a QMU bursary. This is worth up to 2,000 per year. The maximum sum is paid to students from homes where the annual income is no more than 20,000, with the sum dropping in stages to 1,500 (from 20,001 to 25,000 annual income), 1,000 (25,001 to 35,000) and 500 (35,001 to 42,600). No fourth-year tuition fees are charged to RUK students, bringing the cost of a degree here in line with those south of the border. The university distributed more than 265,000 of hardship funds last year. QMU's Thank Goodness It's Thursday initiative offers students a free hot meal, weekend meal packs, takeaway hot food leftovers and social activities on campus in a warm environment. There are 800 places available in university residential accommodation on campus. More than 60% of those rooms are available for the cheapest price - 5,282 for a 38-week contract with the most expensive costing 6,460, considerably less than in most other universities.
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What's new?
QMU's new outdoor learning hub and discovery trail was opened in March, putting the university at the forefront of providing training in the use of outdoor learning for the next generation of teachers. Outdoor learning is part of the curriculum in courses such as primary teacher training, as giving children access to the natural world at that age is an increasingly important element of school life. The hub will equip current and future teachers, community educators and volunteer leaders with the knowledge and skills to confidently use outdoor spaces to enhance children's learning experiences. Work began this year on the Edinburgh innovation hub, which is being constructed on land adjoining QMU's Musselburgh campus. It is hoped the hub will lead to work placements and job opportunities for students, but its primary purpose will be to offer flexible laboratory, office, meeting and conference spaces for rent by fast-growing small and medium-sized enterprises. By placing innovative, technology-driven companies next to the university, it will create opportunities for sharing knowledge. It should also drive more industry-relevant research on campus, promote an entrepreneurial culture among staff and students, and increase the commercial vibrancy of the university district. However, the university is discontinuing its small graduate apprenticeship programme.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Typical contextual offers come in at two Higher grades (or equivalent) below QMU's standard offer for a given course. The university says the 'overarching aim' of its widening participation team is to make the university a sector leader in making higher education accessible to under-represented groups. To this end, it welcomed more than 1,000 targeted school pupils on to campus in 2023-24 and involved 5,500 S4 to S6 pupils in its outreach work in schools. QMU has embraced digital learning, although the precise mix between in-person and online course delivery varies between programmes. In general, among non-science subjects, all teaching in the first and second years will be delivered on campus, but in the third and fourth year, up to a quarter can be delivered online. Mental health and wellbeing support is dispensed in several ways, with personal academic tutors directing students towards help should they need it. All academic staff have a personal tutor role and are given training on how to support students and the issues they might face. Short-term counselling is provided to students in need, with up to six sessions available at a time, and those in crisis are contacted within 24 hours of flagging their problem. QMU's counselling and wellbeing service provides group work around resilience, compassion and anxiety, as well as awareness sessions around self-harm, eating disorders, stress management, drugs and alcohol.
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Overview
'Run by artists and designers for artists and designers.' So boasts Britain's newest specialist arts university - and one of five that we profile and rank in this guide. It also hints at the intensely practical slant of courses at Arts University Plymouth (AUP), which is also comfortably the smallest university in this guide. AUP began life as the Plymouth Drawing School in 1856 and is one of three universities in this Devon coastal city. It was shortlisted for University of the Year in the 2024 Whatuni? Student Choice Awards, eventually coming fourth based on reviews from its students, who also rate the university's personal touch consistently highly in the annual National Student Survey. Staffing levels are among the most generous, and the student body is comprised largely of students from backgrounds usually under-represented in higher education. The city-centre campus has 13,000 square metres of studios and workshops spread across four buildings. New partnerships with outside organisations and investments in equipment keep student life anchored in the real world. The compact undergraduate course portfolio of just 21 degrees includes six which have a distance-learning first year with a January start. Students on these courses study flexibly at home, in the studio or at one of AUP's international host institutions for their first year, which they complete by the beginning of August.
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Paying the bills
When so many of your students are drawn from backgrounds that are under-represented in higher education, it makes sense not to provide means-tested bursary support. Instead, AUP short-circuits the paperwork by awarding a 300 Final Year award to all its third-year students to help them meet course-related costs, such as art materials. There is also a progression award of 300, paid in the first year only to students who progress to undergraduate study from an AUP pre-degree extended diploma or foundation diploma course. A 15% fee discount is offered on postgraduate fees to any AUP student who wishes to continue their studies. The university does not own or manage any residential accommodation, relying on the private sector in the city to mop up AUP students who are not living locally at home. Among AUP's recommended providers, the average weekly cost of a self-catered ensuite room is 131, while studio apartments come in at 170 a week on average.
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What's new?
Two new partnerships with local businesses have upped AUP's game by offering cutting-edge facilities and real-world work experiences to AUP students. The tie-up with Real Ideas has given students access to an immersive dome with the latest surround-sound speaker system and 360-degree high-resolution visuals. The facility is compatible with virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, animation, games software, spatial audio and recorded or live-action content. Students on AUP's film and animation and games degrees have already created and screened content for the dome, and a new MA in immersive media is being launched to make use of the dome's facilities. A second partnership has been forged with The Box, Plymouth's award-winning museum, art collection and gallery, which is also home to the South West film and television archives. Students have the chance to engage with a contemporary museum, gallery and archive, as well as learn directly from the curators. AUP has also installed a new electrical furnace - the first of its kind in the UK in an educational setting - within its hot glass studios, giving students direct experience of using a device that is set to revolutionise the glass industry.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
AUP has introduced a contextual admissions system for students seeking places in September 2025. These will reduce offers to 72 to 96 Ucas tariff points for courses that require 104 to 120 points under AUP's standard offers - a reduction of 24 to 32 points (three to four A-level grades). The change comes as applications hit record levels following AUP's elevation to university status in 2022 and should help the university continue with its admirable record of recruiting most of its students from groups that are under-represented on campus in other institutions. All applicants have the chance to submit a portfolio in order for their creative potential to be assessed independent of examination results or predictions, so the university has long made offers that are tailored to individual applicants. When they arrive on campus, support is comprehensive and enhanced by the fact that many degree students are known to the institution, having already studied on AUP's pre-degree campus. This creates a so-called 'golden thread of communication' which allows AUP to have a joined-up approach to academic growth and personal development running between the two campuses. The university's small size allows it to tailor support to its demographic, and some staff have holistic therapeutic skills. One counsellor is fully trained in acupuncture; a welfare adviser provides yoga classes for students; and very specific welfare initiatives are built into programmes. Creative fatigue or imposter syndrome within the arts, anyone?
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Overview
The social demographic of Oxford is changing after a concerted effort to open up the university to a wider range of students. In 2023, 68% of the UK undergraduate intake were educated in state schools, 21.2% came from the most disadvantaged backgrounds, 7.6% had qualified for free school meals and more than a quarter were black, Asian or from other minority ethnicities. Oxford's determination to diversify its intake has not led to any compromises in its desire to recruit only the brightest, however. Most of the 23,000 or so who apply each year will go on to achieve at least AAA at A-level, but the university prides itself on the fitness of its admissions process (featuring examinations and interviews) to identify the students that will truly fly here. Academic life revolves around weekly tutorials, which take place individually or in small groups in college. There are 32 undergraduate colleges spanning the ancient and modern, big and small, traditional and relaxed, and not all subjects are available in each. Expressing no college preference in your application is also an option. But be quick. A deadline of October 15 is just another way in which Oxford sets itself apart from the crowd.
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Paying the bills
Around one in four students receive a bursary from the university each year. The most lucrative are Crankstart scholarships, funded by the billionaire financier, Sir Michael Moritz, and his wife, Harriet Heyman. The index-linked scholarships are worth 5,970 this year to students from homes with an annual income of up to 7,500, and 5,150 for those from homes with an income of between 7,500 and 32,500. Crankstart scholars who have been in care qualify for an additional 3,500 per year and all of them (as well as Oxford bursary recipients) are eligible for an Oxford Travel Supplement worth 220 per year if they live more than 80 miles from Oxford. This rises to 550 if they live more than 150 miles from Oxford. For students who do not take up a Crankstart scholarship, the Oxford bursary also provides generous support. Worth 4,120 this year to students from homes with an annual income of up to 25,000, it drops to 3,610 (for between 25,001 and 32,500 income), 3,090 (between 32,501 and 37,500 income), 2.060 (between 37,501 and 42,875 income) and 1,030 (between 42,876 and 50,000 income). There are numerous other awards that can also ease financial pressures. Students live in college for at least two years of undergraduate study, and prices vary considerably.
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What's new?
Students enrolling next September will be the first to work in the new Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities. The development, which is in the latter stages of construction, was made possible by the university's largest-ever donation - 185m from American billionaire Stephen A. Schwarzman. It will incorporate a Institute for Ethics in AI, as well as libraries, a concert hall, a performance space and teaching and research facilities. Oxford's new Life and Mind Building is also due to be completed by next year, housing the experimental psychology and biology departments. A new Global Health Building is due to open in 2026, which will house the university's centre for tropical medicine and global health and elements of the population health department. The university continues to dominate global university rankings. It has topped the world rankings produced by Times Higher Education for the past eight years, and when it was displaced by Imperial College London this year from the top of the QS World University Rankings, it caused a ripple through Oxford's quads. The latest results under the Teaching Excellence Framework returned a triple gold award last year, covering an overall rating, student experience and student outcomes - an achievement that was beyond most Russell Group universities.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Last year saw the introduction of the Astrophoria foundation year for state school students with significant academic potential who have experienced personal disadvantage or disruption to their education. It sees up to 50 students enrol on a supportive and challenging one-year course, which allows them to move on to a full undergraduate degree at Oxford without having to reapply, providing they complete the foundation year to the required standard. Tuition and accommodation are provided for free and a non-repayable bursary covers living costs. It is one of the most innovative approaches to widening access to the university. Further support with the transition to university is provided to around 200 offer holders from disadvantaged backgrounds through the Opportunity Oxford bridging programme, which consists of an online course in the summer before A-level results are published and then a two-week residential ahead of term starting for those whose places are confirmed, to give an insight into what life as an Oxford student is like. The tutorial system at Oxford, with its emphasis on small group or individual teaching, provides levels of personal and academic support that surpasses that of most universities. Students are well known to staff and the collegiate structure of the university only adds to students' sense of community and belonging, offering social, sporting and cultural opportunities at college level to complement those available at university level. For students with mental health and wellbeing issues, the university counselling service offers one-to-one counselling, therapeutic group sessions and workshops. Oxford boasts the oldest and largest peer-support programme in the country, with around 360 trained and regularly supervised peer supporters in post in colleges and departments each year. Just under 2,000 staff have undergone training in how to respond to students in psychological distress.
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Overview
With almost 200,000 students studying for 200 qualifications - mostly first degrees - across 400 modules, the Open University (OU) does higher education on a bigger scale than any other institution. It does virtually everything virtually. This is the original distance-learning university, set up by Harold Wilson's 1960s Labour government, which has provided university education to more than 2.3m people over more than five decades. In recognition of its high quality courses and the outstanding - and long-standing - role the OU has played in delivering higher education to so many people, it is our University of the Year for Teaching Excellence. Delivering its courses online, students can work whenever and wherever they want. Three quarters of those enrolled are in work, but 10% of undergraduates are aged 17 to 21, for whom the OU can appear as an increasingly attractive option, with 120 credits (equivalent to studying full-time for a year) costing 7,272, compared to 9,250 in tuition fees plus living costs at a conventional university. There are no formal entry requirements, although access modules can help new learners establish if they are equipped for student life. Students can build credits over many years or they can study full-time, completing a degree in three years. The OU's unique structure - with no students on campus - means we are unable to include it in our rankings, but where data is available, such as measuring student satisfaction and research quality, the OU has long shown it can compete with the best of the traditional universities.
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Paying the bills
The OU offers higher education on a budget. Student loans are available, just as they are in conventional universities, but with 120 credits - the equivalent of a full-time year of higher education - costing 7,272, the OU undercuts other universities by 1,978 a year, or 5,934 over the course of three years. OU students qualify for a part-time tuition fee loan. Those who have been in care or who provide unpaid care to a family member or friend with a personal income of less than 25,000 a year qualify for scholarships that offer a fee waiver for up to 360 credits, the number needed for a degree. The Disabled Veterans' scholarship fund offers something similar for those disabled in, or due to, military service, but with no minimum income requirement. The Open Futures Scholarship for Black Students offers up to 360 credits of tuition costs to black students with a personal income of less than 25,000 a year. The 10 recipients of the award in 2024-25 will also get a 500 one-off grant to cover costs incurred in preparing to study. All students with less than 25,000 personal income can study for one of four free 30-credit taster access modules.
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What's new?
The recent awarding of a gold for its overall rating in the latest outcomes from the Teaching Excellence Framework showed once again that when the OU is judged on a level playing field with its conventional competitors, it can more than hold its own. It earned a further gold for student outcomes and a silver for student experience. A new BA in film and media will be launched in October 2025 and there are five new programmes that begin next month, including international relations, marketing and business management, counselling, biomedical science and design. The OU already offers seven degree apprenticeships and two higher apprenticeships in England (plus a further degree apprenticeship in Wales), with plans for a further expansion to widen and diversify participation. There were in excess of 6,000 apprenticeship learners enrolled in September 2023, more than at any other higher education institution, with the proposed additions expected to add to that total. Current degree apprenticeship programmes include police constable, registered nurse, social worker, systems thinking practitioner, digital and technology solutions professional, chartered manager and senior leader.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Student support takes many forms. All students are assigned a personal tutor for each module, who provides academic and pastoral support through tuition and feedback. Contact with students is maintained through tutorials, phone, email, or online rooms and forums. Further support is available through advisers in the OU's student support teams. The Student Assistance Fund provides financial help of up to 500 per academic year to students who experience unexpected hardship. When mental health or wellbeing issues arise, support can be accessed by phone, email and webchat with 24/7 help available online through TalkCampus and Shout. Students receive several emails per year outlining how they can obtain mental health or wellbeing support. All frontline advisory staff (amounting to about 1,000 people) get mental health awareness training as part of their induction. The OU is open to all and there are no entry requirements needed to enrol; one third of enrolled students have one A-level or less. As a result, the OU has one of the most diverse student populations, but it works hard to increase its visibility within groups from which it could recruit more to diversify further. So, it works closely with the BBC to create content to appeal to under-16s to be consumed on devices commonly used by that group. It uses its OpenLearn platform to publish content to support teachers and potential students of all ages in raising aspiration and attainment.
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Overview
Norwich University of the Arts, our Arts University of the Year, is the highest-ranked specialist arts university outside of London. A real-world focus runs through all of its courses alongside fostering the creativity you would expect. Norwich's pedigree was confirmed by its recent triple gold award under the Teaching Excellence Framework, covering an overall rating, student experience and student outcomes. Norwich is the only specialist arts and design university to achieve this feat. Based on a city centre campus, the university occupies 12 buildings in Norwich's cultural quarter which are equipped with the latest modern technology, art studios and workshops. A compact programme of 27 undergraduate degrees covers the performing arts (acting), visual arts (animation, illustration, photography and fine art), televisual arts (film and moving image production, animation and visual effects), design (design for publishing, games art and design, graphic design, interior design, textile design and user experience design) and fashion (fashion communication and promotion, fashion marketing and business, and fashion). Courses involving creative computational technology, such as creative computing, creative technology and robotics, and user experience design - all serving a jobs market starved of suitably qualified graduates - will ensure Norwich continues to punch above its weight in the employment stakes.
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Paying the bills
A 1,000 contribution to the costs of studying at Norwich is offered to all students from homes where the household income is less than 25,000. The payment is split 500, then 300, then 200 across three years and can be used to meet the costs of materials, equipment and other university-related expenses. A 1,000-per-year bursary is awarded to care leavers or students who are estranged from their parents. A further 219,000 of scholarship awards were made in 2022-23 to around 30 home or international students based on excellence in their studies. The most lucrative of these is the Chancellor's scholarship, a means-tested payment of 9,250 per year to cover tuition fees for students of black or mixed black heritage from homes with an income of no more than 50,778 - a notably high threshold for eligibility. All applications must be supported by a 300-word statement on why you want to study at Norwich and how the scholarship would help. A similar salary threshold operates for the Dubery and Brogden scholarships, worth 2,500 and open to applicants studying fine art, illustration, textile design and fashion. There are more than 1,000 places in university accommodation, with prices for an unusually long 46-week contract ranging from 5,106 to 8,510. The new Rochester Court student residence opens in time for the new term, with 48 rooms arranged in flats of four or six.
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What's new?
Several campus upgrades will further improve student facilities and the wider student experience. Following the award of money by the Office for Students to develop creative computational technology within Norwich (see Overview, above), two new laboratories are taking shape. An immersive visualisation lab will house virtual production labs with a 10m x 4m LED screen, a volumetric capture system, 360-degree cameras and a Dolby Atmos sound studio. A creative technology lab will allow students to work with several emerging technologies, among them 3D scanners, projectors and projection mapping software, sound design software, motion capture devices and virtual and mixed-reality headsets. The refurbishment of the Grade II-listed 20 Bank Plain building - Norwich's latest campus building - continues, creating a mixed-use space for students and city residents alike. It will feature a students' union lounge, canteen, student services space and dance studio. In addition to the two new degrees in creative computing and creative technology which begin this month, Norwich has further additions to its course portfolio planned for next year in esports, electronic music and sound production, business management, marketing and psychology.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Student support at Norwich takes many - often innovative - forms. Relative success in the graduate jobs market is no accident. Norwich's Profile system, designed with employers, allows students to track and develop employability skills alongside their studies. Profile resources include two gamified virtual-reality experiences shot in 360 degrees, which allow students to orientate themselves within a creative industry workspace and understand hierarchy, communication styles and workplace culture. Norwich has a policy of not promoting any 'opportunity' to students or graduates that does not pay at least the minimum wage. This includes unpaid internships, which are a common feature of the creative industries, and which exclude students from poorer backgrounds. Wellbeing support includes up to six counselling sessions per year for students experiencing mental health difficulties. Trained student support advisers and student residence assistants provide individual support, and all staff are given mandatory training on helping students in distress. Welcome Week includes a mandatory session on student support, which covers mental health and wellbeing. There is also a compulsory 90-minute session for new students on sexual consent; drugs and alcohol abuse and misuse; social, racial and sexual tolerance; and how to be an active bystander. Norwich achieves good levels of social diversity on campus without a formal contextual offers policy to drive recruitment from under-represented groups. As a specialist arts university, admissions are largely governed by the quality of applicants' portfolios of creative work and their responses to additional questions from the university, rather than being based solely on predicted grades.
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Overview
Northumbria has enjoyed a breakthrough few years, taking on the old-guard universities at their own game. It has established serious research credentials (it was our Research University of the Year in our last edition); a strong employment track record, with around three quarters of graduates landing high-skilled jobs; and an excellent pedigree for social inclusion, with 36% of its intake last year recruited from postcodes among the 40% that send the fewest into higher education. It received a gold for student outcomes in the most recent Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), alongside slightly disappointing silver ratings for student experience and the overall TEF assessment. It remains a popular choice in its home region, with 57% of the new intake of undergraduates coming from the North East in 2023, and 19% coming from Yorkshire. The university is a key player in the regional economy, providing more graduates into skilled jobs in the region than any other university, including its two local Russell Group rivals, Newcastle and Durham. There are strong ties with local employers in both the public sector (notably the NHS) and private sector (Proctor & Gamble, Nissan), as well as with business and industry more generally.
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Paying the bills
Northumbria's financial support for students starting this month is focused on the groups most at risk from experiencing financial difficulties and dropping out. There are 2,000 bursaries for care leavers, young carers and students estranged from their parents; just under 300 awards were made in these categories in 2022-23. A Northumbria Undergraduate Award of 4,000 paid over three years has been launched, too. Applicants must meet two of the following criteria to qualify: coming from a home with an income of less than 35,000; being black, Asian or from a minority ethnic background; or having a physical or mental health condition, long-term illness or learning difference. The university has invested 1.7m in funds for emergency student support, helping to cover costs for accommodation and living, travel, courses and childcare. Overall, 856 students benefited from one of the university's financial supports last year, a somewhat smaller proportion than in comparable universities. Student accommodation in the university's 2,121 rooms costs between 5,015 and 8,843 for a 43-week tenancy. Half of the accommodation is close to Northumbria's city centre campus in Shieldfield or the Ouseburn Valley, with the rest just over the river in Gateshead.
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What's new?
Northumbria is about to become one of the UK's leading centres for space and satellite technology thanks to a 50m investment, announced in November 2023, to create the North East Space Skills and Technology Centre with cash from the UK Space Agency and Lockheed Martin, the American aerospace and defence manufacturer, match-funded by the university. The aim is to put the country and the university at the forefront of research and innovation in satellite communications, space weather and space energy, with Northumbria due to launch the UK's first university-led multi-satellite space mission next year. A new centre for doctoral training in AI, one of 12 in the UK, will focus on the inclusion of citizens in the design and evaluation of AI, to make sure its rollout and benefits are inclusive and not just for an elite minority. And Northumbria has also been named as one of 21 academic centres of excellence in cybersecurity by the National Cyber Security Centre and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council - the second time it has been recognised. The university has some 2,100 degree apprentices on campus following a range of courses including building, business, education, engineering, policing, law, nursing and social sciences.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
The university has expanded the qualification criteria for contextual offers in the past year. The offers, which are used in all subjects, will now be made to all applicants who have been entitled to free school meals; those who are estranged from their parents; those from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds; care leavers and carers; and those with a physical or mental health condition, long-term illness or learning difference. Contextual offers are eight Ucas tariff points below the standard offer, but applicants can increase that discount further by earning NU points (with the same value as Ucas points) through participation in Destination Northumbria, the university's supported entry programme, which includes activities such as e-mentoring, student support webinars and sessions on the transition to university. Once enrolled, there is an extensive support system for students from under-represented groups that provides a named contact for support, an employability learning fund, an internal placement and internship scheme and a transition to university event for neurodiverse students. More general mental health and wellbeing support was accessed by more than 1,900 students in 2022-23 (a more than 50% decrease from the previous year, as pandemic impacts declined). In addition to offering counselling, advice and one-to-one support, the university puts on psychoeducational workshops covering stress and anxiety, low mood, procrastination, sleep and avoiding burnout.
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Overview
Newcastle is one of the more popular destinations on the higher education map. The university is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities able to attract the most academically gifted students. The university is very popular with the privately educated, who make up more than one in five entrants, and it recruits strongly from across the UK. Students from the North East made up just 22.6% of last year's intake - not so far ahead of the 17.1% who came from London and the South East. The Royal Victoria Infirmary is home to one of the UK's leading medical schools with outstanding modern facilities. The university's Centre for Ageing and Inequalities offers world-class expertise in an area of intense national and global focus as society wrestles with the consequences of increasing longevity. Its position in our ranking - and others like it - is depressed by consistently low scores in the National Student Survey. Even though the university's graduates are among the best paid, with three in four ending up in high-skilled jobs, they score their experience modestly. And last year's Teaching Excellence Framework outcomes confirmed that view, awarding student experience a bronze, when student outcomes and the university's overall rating earned silver.
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Paying the bills
The university has extended the life of its Undergraduate Support scholarship, introduced in 2021-22, due to the ongoing impacts of the cost-of-living crisis. Aimed at students from homes with a household income of between 35,001 and 40,000, it pays 500 in each year of study. The scholarship complements the support provided by Newcastle's Opportunity scholarship to students from lower-income homes. More than 2,800 students got the top award of 2,000 per year, paid to those from homes with an income of no more than 25,000, while a further 932 from homes where income was between 25,001 and 35,000 got a 1,000 annual award. Hardship funds were increased by 8% in the academic year just ended, providing more than 1.7m of emergency assistance. Nearly 700 students benefited from participation bursaries worth up to 280 to allow students to get involved with activities they might otherwise not be able to afford, such as sports, clubs and societies. The redevelopment of the Castle Leazes halls has removed catered accommodation from the university's offer, but nearly 3,500 self-catered rooms remain. Prices begin at 4,802 for a 40-week contract, rising to a maximum of 9,776 for a 49-week tenancy.
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What's new?
The 110m redevelopment of Newcastle's iconic Stephenson Building is due to be completed later this year. Home to generations of engineering students, the new hub will see student engineers, designers and researchers work alongside academics and entrepreneurs to tackle key global challenges, by developing cleaner technologies, smarter cities and more advanced medical technology, for example. The new Stephenson Building will contain a Maker Space; a student-centred zone for interdisciplinary collaborations, creativity and entrepreneurship; and three research hubs focused on digital manufacturing, biomedical engineering and sustainable propulsion.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
More than one third of admissions at Newcastle received a contextual offer in September 2023 - a significant proportion for a university generally asking for high grades. Eligible students get offers two A-level grades (or equivalent) below the standard offer. This can rise to three grades for students from under-represented groups who participate in supported entry programmes, such as the long-running Partners scheme. Students admitted through this route get ongoing support during their time at Newcastle. Participating in Partners can reduce the entry requirement for medicine from AAA to BBB - one of the most competitive offers for medicine in the UK. Among those eligible for the Partners scheme to date are students living in the 40% of postcodes with the lowest rates of progression to higher education or the highest levels of deprivation; ethnic minority students from state schools; pupils attending state schools with below-average attainment; those who have received free school meals; carers and care-experienced applicants; and those whose family have served in the military. Treatment and education come together in one of Newcastle's initiatives to support student mental health. Its Psychological Therapies Training and Research Clinic offers cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) to students suffering from anxiety and depression, and involves fully trained and trainee students and staff from clinical disciplines within the school of psychology working with student patients. Wellbeing advisers are based within academic schools to provide a first point of contact and can refer students on to central provision such as a counselling service, as well as other specialist support.
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Overview
Manchester Met is one of the largest universities in the country, with around 30,000 undergraduates and a further 8,000 postgraduates. Its numbers were swollen by last September's record intake of just under 11,000. Only three universities in the UK receive more applications than Manchester Met. A broad and largely vocational course portfolio, strong academic reputation and a ranking in domestic league tables that always sees it among the leading group of modern universities (those created since 1992) keeps the applications flowing. One of the most comprehensive programmes of financial and personal support makes the university particularly appealing to students from families with no experience of higher education. More than half of the intake come from Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester, but the remainder come from across the UK, many drawn by Manchester Met's considerable presence in the training of nurses, healthcare practitioners and teachers. The university is also one of the biggest providers of degree apprenticeships, with close to 2,500 learners on campus, and has been the top-rated university training provider for five successive years in the Rate My Apprenticeship rankings.
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Paying the bills
Manchester Met's commitment to students who are the first in their immediate family to go to university is backed up with hard cash. Those among that group who are recruited from north-west England and who complete a pre-entry programme during sixth form qualify for the university's First Generation scholarship. This is worth 1,500, paid over the course of their degree, in addition to professional and personal support while studying. There is further support for all undergraduate and foundation year students who come from homes with an annual income of up to 25,000 via the Student Support Package, which is worth 750 per year. Four in 10 students received some form of financial assistance last year. Donor-funded awards were given to more than 500 students in 2023; additional support through networking, mentoring and career-enhancing opportunities often proves as valuable as the financial help. In addition to academic scholarships, Manchester Met offers a package worth up to 7,000 per year to its most talented athletes. University-owned rooms now cost from 6,028 to 9,680 for a 44-week contract. Several private providers also have student blocks in the same neighbourhood.
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What's new?
The university is at the end of a 10-year programme of development during which some 400m has been spent. It has saved some of the best until last, with the 115m Dalton Building, home to the faculty of science and engineering, opening earlier this year. The building will offer students an environment that mirrors what they will find when they graduate and move into industry, with students, staff and business partners working side by side to translate and transfer cutting-edge research into real-world scenarios. Among its facilities are a light engineering workshop with the latest laser cutters, and a superlab - a modern, open-plan laboratory equipped with the newest tech and designed to allow students and researchers from different subjects to work together. A four-year makeover of the university library has also started this year, with the aim of making it fit for the 21st century.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Despite having one of the most diverse student populations of any university, Manchester Met does not operate a contextual offer scheme to reduce entry grades for those recruited from groups traditionally under-represented on campus. Instead it focuses on a range of outreach schemes - such as the Year 12 and 13 First Generation scholarship programme - and working with schools and colleges to raise attainment and support progression to higher education. Around 40% of the intake come from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. Those students who benefit from the First Generation scholarships (see Paying the bills, above) get personal, professional and careers support in addition to the 1,500 bursary. Student mental health and wellbeing support is accessed mostly by phone and email through the university's counselling, mental health and wellbeing service. One-to-one appointments with specialists are available, as well as timetabled group wellbeing workshops and courses on topics such as mindfulness, managing anxiety and low mood. The university also subscribes to the SilverCloud online cognitive behavioural therapy programme.
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Overview
London South Bank University (LSBU) - our University of the Year for Social Inclusion and one of five shortlisted for our overall University of the Year title - achieves the rare feat of both having levels of social diversity on campus that are rare in British higher education and having one of the strongest track records of any university in graduate employment. Being in the cultural melting pot of the capital, which is also home to the country's best-paid jobs, undoubtedly helps, but LSBU's success is more than just a fluke of geography. Its admissions policies target historically under-represented and disadvantaged student groups with considerable success. LSBU is part of the wider London South Bank Group, which also includes Lambeth College, London South Bank Technical College, South Bank University Academy and South Bank University Sixth Form. This fusion of higher education, further education and school within one organisation provides pathways to university that might not otherwise exist. As a leading provider of technical education, the university works closely with business and industry to shape courses and qualifications. LSBU has three campuses across the capital. Headquartered in Southwark on the south bank of the River Thames, there are two newer campuses in Croydon (for business and healthcare students) and Havering (for adult and mental health nursing students).
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Paying the bills
LSBU increased the value of its student retention fund by 40% for the academic year just ended - a second successive rise. Uptake of fund payments has been rising during the cost-of-living crisis, with more than 1,000 students sharing 394,000 of the hardship funds during 2022-23. A further 20,000 of supermarket vouchers have been given out to those in crisis, and meal subsidies on campus ran to more than 280,000 in the year to March 2024. Travel bursaries worth 150,000 were paid out to help those struggling with commuting costs and a similar sum was paid in childcare bursaries. This targeted, practical support reflects the demographic on campus, with many older students drawn from poorer backgrounds with specific financial needs that might otherwise prevent them from completing their courses. Given its strong local recruitment profile, only 25% of first-years seek accommodation in one of the university's 1,338 rooms. Prices begin at 6,435 for a 37-week tenancy, rising to a maximum of 9,964. The three halls of residence are close to the main campus in Elephant and Castle - a fashionable part of town where accommodation does not come much cheaper.
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What's new?
It has been a good year for awards at LSBU. Coming third in a global ranking on tackling inequality represents a high-water mark for the university's social-inclusion goals. The latest Times Higher Impact Rankings measured more than 1,100 universities in this area, taking into account recruitment of students and staff from under-represented groups, university policies on discrimination and research into social inequalities. LSBU ranked third behind RMIT University, in Australia, and the University of Huddersfield. The university's commitment to social mobility goes right to the top; the university's vice-chancellor, Professor David Phoenix, has created a social inclusion ranking for higher education institutions (the English Social Mobility Index) that measures, among other things, equality of progression and graduate outcomes among students of all backgrounds. LSBU ranks 11th in England by the boss's own measure. Further success came LSBU's way in the 2024 Apprenticeship Guide Awards when it was named the best university for apprenticeships. Provision is extensive, with around 700 apprenticeship learners on campus split across 25 programmes. Two new offerings - a level 6 award for social workers and a level 5 award for post-production technical engineers - have been added for the new academic year.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
LSBU is one of very few universities to be set no targets on access and widening participation by the Office for Students - simply because there are no significant gaps in what the university does already. By any measure, the university succeeds in attracting a diverse student population. Black students made up just under 40% of last year's intake, comfortably the largest ethnic grouping (and the one usually least represented on campus), with about 70% of the students overall drawn from ethnic minorities. By working with schools, colleges and community organisations, LSBU seeks to first encourage students to aspire to go to university and then, through outreach programmes, provide the support and guidance to turn aspiration into achievement. Once on board, personal development plans for all students identify specific needs to help them have a successful university experience. The plans cover six aspects of university life - careers; digital and learning skills; independent living skills; study preparedness; personal organisation; and wellbeing, resilience and emotional health. Mental health and wellbeing teams can also identify students' needs through the plans, allowing them to reach out proactively. As well as offering long and short appointments, counselling and a range of digital resources, the university has on-the-ground mental health and wellbeing support in halls of residence through the Residence Life wellbeing team.
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Overview
London Met has enjoyed some excellent scores in the National Student Survey (NSS) in recent years after sustained investment in the student experience. The university has reinvented itself and now looks optimistically to the future, launching a new school of the built environment last year to supply graduates to one of the capital's key industries. The establishment of a new adult nursing degree also greatly expands its healthcare offering. London Met reflects the cosmopolitan nature of the capital city it serves, boasting one of the most diverse student bodies of any UK university. But the outcomes of the recent Teaching Excellence Framework were a mixed bag. Gold for student experience confirmed recent successes in the NSS, but a bronze for student outcomes was less good, with the university rated silver overall. Students are split between six academic schools - computing and digital media; human sciences; social sciences and professions; business and law; the built environment; and art, architecture and design. The latter is situated on the Aldgate campus, but the Holloway Road campus is far larger.
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Paying the bills
The profile of student financial support here reflects the very different student body compared with most universities. Many have children, for instance, so means-tested childcare grants covering up to 85% of childcare costs - capped at 189 per week for one child or 324 for two - help the many parents who study here. And a Parents' Learning Allowance is an extra grant to help pay for books, course materials and travel for those with children. An Adult Dependants' Grant provides support to eligible students with an adult who depends on them financially; the dependant's own annual income must be less than 3,796. Bursary payments - so often the biggest form of financial support elsewhere - totalled just 60,000 last year, made up of 40 care leaver bursaries worth 1,500 per year of study. The total spend on hardship awards in the 2023-24 academic year was 399,000. There is no university-owned residential accommodation, so students are at the mercy of London's extortionate private rental market or private operators of student halls. However, with 70% of London Met's students drawn from the capital itself, most students live at home.
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What's new?
A 10-year 150m campus investment programme was announced in 2022. A significant slab of that sum will be spent on the digital transformation of London Met's campuses to allow teaching, learning and research to take place in the highest-quality digital environments. The new school of the built environment opened to undergraduates last September, and sees the university collaborating with businesses, practitioners and professional bodies within the construction and property sectors. London is the epicentre for these key areas of the economy, and graduates will be prepared for careers in construction project management, building surveying and real estate. Two new BScs in architectural technology and real estate admit their first students this month. The establishment of a new adult nursing degree has also significantly expanded London Met's healthcare offer, with the hope of having an intake of at least 400 nursing trainees by 2028. A new skills and simulation suite was completed in summer 2023 for the school of human sciences. It contains clinical consultation rooms, a six-bed general ward, a paediatric ward, an intensive care unit and facilities that replicate care in community settings. An immersive-learning virtual reality room can create most other medical scenarios. A new BSc in physiotherapy begins this month.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
London Met achieves levels of diversity and inclusion in its intake that are well beyond the reach of most other universities. It achieves this without a formal contextual offer system, but with standard offers that are among the most attainable in the country. Mitigating circumstances, such as illness or bereavement, are considered if they can be shown to have adversely impacted an applicant's education, and all applications are assessed on an individual basis. Given its recruitment demographics, London Met's outreach activities target adult learners as well as under-represented and disadvantaged schoolchildren aged nine to 19. Outreach through schemes such as Partners in Education, a support package for selected sixth forms and further education colleges in Greater London, helps prepare children personally and academically for university through visit days, school competitions and conferences. Students' mental health and welfare are supported with easy-to-access help through online, telephone and face-to-face provision. A Small Steps, Big Difference campaign runs permanently to encourage students to take charge of their wellbeing and mental health, and the Centre for Equity and Inclusion sits at the heart of the university's drive to create a healthy environment. Students are encouraged to stay active with an extensive programme of fitness and wellbeing classes and gym facilities, which are free to all students and staff.
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Overview
Soas markets itself as 'the world's university' owing to a unique perspective on higher education - a perspective that is much in demand presently, judging by the buoyant application figures and record recruitment last year. Everything here is viewed through the prism of Africa, Asia and the Middle East - strategically, economically and politically important, and hugely populous, parts of the world. It drills down in great detail into subjects that struggle to get a look in elsewhere. Where else would it be possible to spend a year abroad studying Swahili, Turkish, Hebrew, Persian, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, Sanskrit, Indonesian or Vietnamese as part of a broader BA in languages and cultures? The titles of many of its degree programmes are similar to those offered elsewhere in the University of London and across the UK, but the content is not. Law has options in Islamic law and law and society in south Asia, as well as unique options such as oceans and outer space law, and topical ones such as asylum and immigration law. The course portfolio appeals to a diverse, cosmopolitan student population, with around three-quarters drawn from ethnic minorities and a similar number recruited from within the capital.
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Paying the bills
A limited number of 1,500-per-year Soas bursaries are paid to students from homes with an annual income of 25,000 or less. The award has a ceiling of 4,500 over the course of a degree and recipients must be resident in England. If there are more eligible students than there are awards, priority will be given to care leavers, those living in the 20% of postcodes with the lowest rates of participation in university, students from homes with the lowest income, first-generation students and refugees. In the past academic year there were 979 students across all years in receipt of this award, at a cost to the university of 1.46m. Nearly 60,700 was paid out in hardship awards. The 1,170 residential spaces are spread across London; some are close to the university's Bloomsbury headquarters, others in more far-flung parts of the capital such as Wembley Park and Wood Green. Applicants should be aware of some of the distances involved. Prices in self-catered rooms range from 7,080 to 15,867 per year for a 40 or 41-week tenancy respectively. Catered places in halls cost between 7,865 and 15,383 for a 40-week contract.
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What's new?
There is an ongoing project to make facilities more inclusive and accessible for students across the university's Bloomsbury campus, with a particular focus on improving access for disabled students. A baby feeding and changing suite has been provided, along with a Changing Places toilet for those in need of enhanced levels of assistance. The Denys Lasdun-designed Soas library is undergoing a facelift with the addition of new facilities to support collaborative study and research. The brutalist-style landmark - one of just five National Research Libraries in the UK and a global resource - contains more than 1.5m books or items in 400 languages, all of them focused on Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Soas encapsulates better than any other university in this guide the value of the post-pandemic return to majority in-person teaching of courses. 'As we continue to make sense of hybrid ways of working, it is clear that the magic of university education really comes alive when we show up in person... when we are on campus, we see that the people we bump into, the questions we can pose, and the conversations we have after lectures are an integral part of the education.' It is no surprise, therefore, that the university values and promotes its community ethos. Students are expected to attend lectures in person, with lecture capture used solely to help students review a topic, revise or catch up if they have had to miss a teaching session. One in ten entrants last September received a contextual offer, which are mostly one A-level grade below the standard offer. For students meeting multiple qualification criteria, a drop of two grades will be considered. Among the eligibility criteria considered are the proportion of children in an applicant's school getting free school meals; school GCSE performance; whether the applicant is the first in their immediate family to go to university; any experience of being in care; and low levels of progression to university or high levels of deprivation in the applicant's home postcode. All students are assigned an academic adviser in their department through whom they can access help with mental health and wellbeing, while support officers within the Student Advice & Wellbeing Centre are an alternative first point of contact. Campus safety measures include compulsory sexual consent and active bystander workshops during the welcome period.
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Overview
Queen Mary is the most socially inclusive of the research-intensive Russell Group universities by some distance. It recruits heavily from within London (more than 70% of last year's UK undergraduate intake) where participation in higher education is the highest, and yet manages to attract almost half of its students from homes where neither parent attended university. Two thirds of the intake were from Asian, black or mixed-race families and just 7.5% were educated privately. The financial aid offered is significant in both sum and reach, the university has a strong mental health and wellbeing support structure, and it offers mentoring from current students and alumni - all in acknowledgement of the additional challenges many students might face coming from groups traditionally under-represented on campus. Applications were the second highest on record in 2023. The main Mile End campus lies in a trendy part of the capital with an excellent social scene, and there are top-notch sporting facilities onsite and in the nearby Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The well-regarded medical and dentistry school is a short distance away near the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, with a second outpost in West Smithfield at Barts hospital.
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Paying the bills
The Queen Mary bursary was paid to 36% of students in 2022-23. It is worth 1,700 a year to students from homes with an income of less than 20,000, and 1,000 where income is in the range of 20,000 to 35,000. Academic excellence is rewarded handsomely, with international students who gain AAA at A-level or equivalent qualifying for the one-year Global Talent scholarship, worth 3,000 off tuition fees. Other awards are more niche. The Ocean Estate bursary, sponsored by the Tower Hamlets and Canary Wharf Further Education Trust, is worth 3,000 for one year and is paid to students whose family live on the Ocean Estate, just opposite the Mile End campus. The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust undergraduate bursary, meanwhile, is worth 3,000 per year and is paid to children, spouses, widows and widowers of commercial travellers, pharmacists or grocers who are in financial need. University accommodation, which offers 3,340 places, is mostly situated in an attractive, modern, canalside student village adjoining the Mile End campus, costs from 6,398 for just over 38 weeks. The most expensive studios on a 51-week let cost an eye-watering 21,280.
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What's new?
Queen Mary will open a new canalside home for the school of business and management in 2025-26, offering improved teaching and research spaces. It will also house the university's legal advice centre, offering free services to members of the public, students and staff. The historic Garrod Building on the university's Whitechapel campus is undergoing a significant refurbishment of its facilities, which include a library, fitness studio, multi-faith centre, cafes, kitchens, study spaces and bookable activity areas. Not to be outdone down the road, the Mile End campus has a new student space - QM Social - which includes facilities for students to heat food, relax and socialise. These new developments follow the completion of the five-floor revamp of the Mile End library, which now has 500 extra study spaces. Queen Mary is unusual among the Russell Group in embracing degree apprenticeships and expects to have up to 750 learners on campus by this month. Several new postgraduate apprenticeships are planned for next September, including MSc apprenticeships for systems engineer, engineering management, physician associate and advanced robotics engineer.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Mindful of the diverse student intake, there is a strong focus on student support at Queen Mary. Support officers are based in all academic schools and institutes. Mindfulness and knitting groups, wellbeing walks, runs and yoga are among the proactive options offered to students to support their mental health. The advice and counselling service provides free counselling and online services and resources. Individual and group therapy is offered, as well as psychotherapy and workshops on everything from self-compassion to men's wellbeing. There is financial, mentoring and employment support available for the many students admitted through widening participation schemes. One in four students who gained places outside of Clearing last year did so with a contextual offer, which can reduce the standard offer by between one and three A-level grades (or equivalent) depending on the course. Eligibility criteria include living in a postcode among the 40% considered most deprived or from which fewest students go on to university, attending a state school performing below the national average, attending a local school sponsored by Queen Mary, or being care experienced. Some large-group academic teaching is offered purely online, with follow-up face-to-face activities letting students discuss and interpret what they have learned. The exact split between online and in-person teaching varies from course to course. Queen Mary is one of a small number of institutions to run a mandatory training module on sexual consent for all new students.
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Overview
Goldsmiths finds itself in the eye of the storm that is blowing through higher education as universities struggle to balance the books. Applications and admissions last September hit their lowest point in the past decade, starkly illustrating the problems that the university is facing. Proposed compulsory redundancies were averted in August only when 67 staff agreed to leave voluntarily following a cash squeeze prompted by falling student numbers and the long-term freeze of UK tuition fees. Unions and students alike are disturbed by the university's Transformation Programme, drawn up in response to what Professor Frances Corner, Goldsmiths' warden, describes as a 'really serious' financial position. All of which threatens to overshadow Goldsmiths' reputation as a home of creatives and free-thinkers, drawn to its trendy New Cross campus by its standing in the arts, humanities and social sciences. Mary Quant, Steve McQueen, Lucian Freud, Edward Enninful and Damien Hirst are among a host of illustrious creative alumni. The college offers a full suite of courses in the creative and performing arts, as well as degrees that embrace economics, politics, law, computing, artificial intelligence and management. Two-thirds of the domestic intake come from the capital and a third of the undergraduate population are international students.
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Paying the bills
Equity Awards are worth 3,000 a year for up to 26 black, mixed race, Asian, Arab or traveller students from homes with less than 35,000 annual income, and there are other priority criteria that will be taken into consideration. The full programme of support packages for 2024 had yet to be confirmed at the time of going to press but is likely to still include bursaries of 1,000 per year for all students who have been in care as a child or who are estranged from their parents. Up to five students from Lewisham - the London borough in which Goldsmiths is located - from homes with an income of less than 35,000 get full tuition-fee waivers of 27,750, based on their application form answers. The New Cross Fire bursaries, meanwhile, are worth 4,500 paid over three years and are open to Lewisham residents from minority ethnic backgrounds with household incomes of less than 35,000. The bursaries, paid by Lewisham council, commemorate the 14 young people who died at a party in a suspected racially motivated arson attack in the borough in 1981. Goldsmiths has nearly 1,400 residential places, more than 90% of which go to first years. The cheapest rooms this year cost 7,392 for a 42-week contract.
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What's new?
This is a time of flux for Goldsmiths. When we asked the university to outline new developments that will impact the student experience in time for September 2025 admissions, it outlined its Transformation Programme. Those two words hold the key to what might be the most far-reaching changes to student life at any university. 'A key part of our plan has been to review our academic offer to make sure it is relevant to a changing world and the needs of students. We are also moving to a new academic structure,' it told us. The precise form this takes was still being determined over the summer. Programmes and modules with small numbers of students are under threat 'to create space for the development of new programmes in key growth areas', the university says on its website. Some current students will see changes to their courses, and there will be impacts for students applying to Goldsmiths for admission in September 2025, too. Prospective applicants should check the university's website carefully when the new application season opens. This year marks the 120th anniversary of Goldsmiths joining the University of London. The party has fallen a little flat.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Goldsmiths does not make contextual offers - at least not until applicants' results are known. The university feels this provides a level playing field for all applicants. 'Our policy is to make all conditional undergraduate offers based on the advertised entry requirements, and then to consider lower achieved grades individually once results are provided in the summer,' the university told us. Its holistic approach to admissions takes account of not just grades, but also portfolios where relevant; personal statements; and other educational or personal information disclosed on Ucas forms. The system works: Goldsmiths achieves a greater level of diversity on campus - 45% of students are the first in their immediate family to go to university, 57% are from ethnic minorities and 21% are mature returners to education - than most other members of the University of London federation. Goldsmiths works hard to ensure that students from under-represented groups go on to achieve well once they join the university, too. The Equity Awards (see Paying the bills, above), provide a broader programme of development opportunities, as well as financial aid, to help close the awarding gap (the proportions achieving high-class degrees) between ethnic minority and white students. All students have a personal tutor who is often the first point of contact for those in need of mental health or wellbeing support. A wellbeing team, mental health advisers and counsellors are available, with students able to access up to six sessions of various therapies, including (appropriately enough for an institution with a distinguished art pedigree) art therapy.
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Overview
Liverpool aims to be a world top 100 university in time for its 150th anniversary in 2031. It will achieve this, in part at least, by improving levels of student satisfaction, securing even better graduate outcomes, increasing research income and hitting sustainability targets. It is a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities and has better levels of social diversity on campus than many others in the group. It occupies a city centre site and, with Liverpool John Moores University next door, a large district of central Liverpool is effectively a glorified university precinct. The popular medical school within the Royal Liverpool University Hospital borders one side of this district. Dentistry, veterinary medicine, nursing, architecture and engineering are among the subject areas for which the university is best known. Applications hit a record for the second successive year in 2023 and the total of 6,500 admissions has been topped only once. The university recruits across the UK, with London, the South East, West Midlands and Yorkshire each contributing between 500 and 600 undergraduates. Just over one third of the intake comes from the North West.
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Paying the bills
Significant support is targeted at students from homes with an income of up to 35,000, who receive a Liverpool bursary of 750 in each year of study, rising to 2,000 per year where household income drops to 25,000 or under. All students in receipt of any means-tested bursary also get a 15% discount on the annual cost of accommodation in university halls, which is worth between 944 and 1,448 depending on the room. Undiscounted accommodation prices typically range from 6,290 to 9,656 per year for a 39-week contract in self-catered rooms. There is a limited amount of catered accommodation available, costing 9,450. Further bursaries are available for mature students, young carers and care leavers, and those who are estranged from their parents. Notable among the other awards on offer is the Divock Origi scholarship given to one student for 2024-25. The former Liverpool FC striker bankrolls the award which sees annual tuition fees of 9,250 paid, together with a yearly payment of 3,000 for living costs, to a student from Liverpool who comes from a home with an income of less than 25,000. The university has tripled the size of its hardship fund to 1.5m following the cost-of-living crisis to meet additional needs.
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What's new?
Several campus upgrades have been completed recently. A new gaming space has been added to the Rendall Building, which also sees one of two new computer suites; the other is located in the central teaching hub. The Walker, Brunner and Gossage lecture theatres have been improved, as has the Foresight Centre, creating a new home for veterinary science. Liverpool is one of just 11 universities nationally to offer a degree in veterinary medicine. The Newton Interpreting Suite has seen a major refurbishment to deliver a state-of-the-art teaching environment for language students, while University Square, the main gateway to the university, has been redeveloped. This includes the repurposing of the ground floor of the Foundation Building to create a more accessible student services centre and careers office. The university gained an overall gold rating and a further gold award for student outcomes in last year's Teaching Excellence Framework. Student experience earned a silver. Liverpool is reintroducing a graduate-entry medicine degree from this month, while next September will see the first students begin new BEng and MEng degrees in chemical engineering.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Liverpool's intake in 2022 included around 600 students from neighbourhoods with historically low levels of participation in higher education - a new record for the university. Another high was recorded with the confirmation of 75 places for students classified as having had a disrupted education. Contextual offers are made at up to two A-level grades below the standard offer; they apply to all subjects except for foundation year courses. Eligibility is triggered by various socio-economic indicators and care experience, with full details on the university's website. Applicants who participate in the Liverpool Scholars outreach programme, the national Realising Opportunities scheme and the Sutton Trust Pathways programmes in banking and finance, law and engineering are also eligible for a reduced offer of up to two grades below the standard offer. Students admitted through widening participation (WP) routes are encouraged to apply for paid positions as Liverpool Advocates when they enrol at the university, to help inspire others from similar backgrounds to join them on campus. WP students are also prioritised for specific careers and employability opportunities to give them the best shot at a successful career after university. Pastoral, wellbeing and mental health support for all students is available centrally, through residential advisers and wardens in halls, and through learning and teaching support officers or student experience teams within academic schools. Wellbeing advisers act as a first point of contact, offering on-the-day and ongoing support backed up by a programme of group work including anxiety and low-mood clinics. The university's counselling service offers a variety of therapies including cognitive behavioural therapy and art therapy.
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Overview
Based in south-west London, Kingston University has seen a nearly 50% rise in applications since 2019. With its campuses, halls, facilities and course portfolio constantly evolving, the university is successfully attracting a significant number of prospective students. More than half of the student body is made up of first-generation students and an even greater proportion hail from ethnic minority backgrounds - both traditionally under-represented on campus. A modern university in all senses of the word, Kingston targets these groups throughout their earlier years of education and then provides ongoing support once they enrol, with dedicated careers programmes for ethnic minority students, for example. The system works - Kingston was awarded a coveted triple gold in last year's Teaching Excellence Framework, covering an overall rating, student experience and student outcomes. The university's main Penrhyn Road campus is undergoing refurbishment, with work expected to finish in mid-2025, and there has been a cool 55m investment in halls of residence to provide 1,330 energy efficient, state-of-the-art bedrooms. The university attracts primarily local students from surrounding London boroughs, with the South East region more widely also well-represented.
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Paying the bills
Nearly one in every five students at Kingston are in receipt of some form of financial assistance from the university. The number of Kingston bursaries, which award 2,000 in the first year of degree study to students from homes with household income of 25,000 or less, has risen from 400 to 500 this year and there are additional awards for young carers, care leavers, the care experienced, estranged students and asylum seekers. In total, undergraduates receive nearly 1.75m in bursaries with a range of eligibility criteria. In light of the cost-of-living crisis, Kingston introduced a Back on Track fund, offering a one-off payment of up to 500 per student to help with short-term financial issues. There are plans to increase support for those in immediate financial crisis. The 21 cheapest rooms at Kingston are available at a cost of 5,040 for 40 weeks - a snip in the capital - with the most expensive coming in at a still reasonable 9,040 per year. The university has a strong record of providing halls to first-year, full-time students.
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What's new?
A total of 14 new undergraduate courses are being introduced this year and next. Robotic engineering and artificial intelligence has been added to Kingston's portfolio this month, together with marketing and criminal justice courses, among others. A foundation degree in maternity support has been added to Kingston's already strong provision of midwifery-related courses. Next year will see the introduction of degrees in historic building conservation and 3D design innovation. Three nursing programmes are also set to launch to further bolster the university's popular School of Nursing, Allied and Public Health. Seven new degree apprenticeships - a near doubling of the existing provision - are also on the horizon: three nursing courses, a social work course and three engineering programmes. The university anticipates constant growth in the popularity of degree apprenticeships, with new subjects to be introduced in the future, in line with sector demand. More than 160 new apprentice learners enrolled in September 2023 and March 2024. The university's relatively new Future Skills initiative will continue to equip students with sought-after problem-solving skills, digital competency and adaptability. The major refurbishment of Seething Wells and Kingston Hill halls of residence has also been completed (see Overview, above).
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Kingston focuses its outreach programmes on local schools, with thousands of students encouraged to pursue university aspirations from primary-school age all the way up to sixth form. Having achieved success with these schemes, the university now sees first-generation students make up more than half of its intake, with around two in every three students hailing from London. Kingston's Elevate initiative continues to upskill their students of black African or black Caribbean descent, helping them achieve their full potential. Staff receive specific training to ensure they create an experience that benefits students from all backgrounds. There is a range of counselling, wellbeing and more general support options available to students, and these are signposted through compulsory induction sessions for all first-years. Any student who has declared a prior or ongoing mental health condition will be contacted to ensure they are aware of the university's support systems. Kingston also provides optional sessions on sexual consent, anti-racism, mental fitness, anti-discrimination and sexual harassment as part of induction, and both formal and informal reporting mechanisms are in place.
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Overview
Formed in the 1960s, the University of Kent borrowed its collegiate structure from an older generation of universities. Students join one of eight colleges, the majority named after people who pushed back the boundaries of knowledge - Sir Charles Darwin, Alan Turing, Lord Rutherford to name three. The colleges form the social heart of the student experience, breaking down this mid-sized university of around 15,000 undergraduates into bite-sized chunks. Seven of the colleges are on the university's original campus, a green 300-acre site in the historic city of Canterbury, with the eighth, Medway College, on Kent's Medway campus, shared with Canterbury Christ Church and Greenwich universities, which takes in the historic Royal Naval dockyards in Chatham. Applications are down by nearly a third from their peak in 2016, but the university achieves admirable diversity on campus. Black students made up almost one quarter of the undergraduate intake last year, with more than 40% overall drawn from ethnic minorities. Partnerships with local schools and colleges help maintain high numbers of students drawn from under-represented groups.
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Paying the bills
The Kent Financial Support Package targets students from homes with an income of less than 30,000. They must also meet one of several further criteria, which include living in a postcode among those with the smallest numbers progressing to university; living in one of the 40% of postcodes with the highest levels of deprivation; being in receipt of Disabled Students' Allowance; or being a mature student. Those who qualify get 1,000 for each year of study. There are music and sport scholarships, with the latter being worth between 300 and 5,000 a year to support access to facilities, preparation and participation in sport. The Ros and Andrew Holden STEM scholarship pays all tuition fees (worth 27,750) and provides maintenance support of more than 2,300 a year to one student from the county of Kent taking a science, technology, engineering or maths degree who can demonstrate financial need. There are more than 6,000 rooms in university accommodation available, with self-catering prices beginning at 5,034 for 39 weeks in the largest and newest college, Park Wood. Catered accommodation is offered, too, with Eliot and Rutherford colleges pricing rooms from 5,905 for a 37-week contract.
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What's new?
A new strategic plan, Kent 2030, will see significant changes to the full portfolio of Kent degrees over the next six years. 'We need to introduce greater flexibility for our students to be able to fit study around other activity like work or caring responsibilities, and we need to build in better links with industry in our courses to enhance our students' employability prospects,' the university told us. The latter should help improve the proportion of graduates getting high-skilled jobs, which is the university's second-worst performing metric in our ranking this year, beaten to bottom place by former students feeling their careers are not on track, when questioned 15 months after graduating. For the beginning of the 2025-26 academic year the university is looking to introduce a three-term year for undergraduate courses, with simpler module choices and assessment spread throughout the year. It wants future assessments to be more relevant to the tasks students will face in their careers, and it is considering the introduction of block timetabling to concentrate teaching on particular days and make it easier to fit studying around other commitments. The university wants to grow in key areas such as computing, law and biosciences, while preserving the strength and breadth of its course portfolio in areas such as English, history and the arts.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Kent's admissions policies reflect its new marketing handle: 'We stand for ambition'. Outreach policies seek to raise aspirations and attainment, helping students from non-traditional backgrounds to apply for university. Kent works directly with more than 50 non-selective secondary schools and three further education college groups across Kent and Medway. Contextual offers generally cut two grades from the standard admissions requirements; they're offered in all subjects, but the qualifying criteria vary. Around one in eight students last September came to Kent via a contextual offer. In addition to financial aid, Kent helps those from disadvantaged backgrounds with the transition to university and offers a tailored programme of academic advice, skills development sessions and enhanced career preparation support. Mental health and wellbeing support features a daily drop-in service for students in crisis and a team of advisers, counsellors, mentors and specialist staff. There is dedicated assistance available for students with autism and other neurodiversity conditions. Kent is one of the proactive minority of universities that requires all students to complete an Expect Respect module before joining. This covers sexual consent, being an active bystander and racial, sexual and social tolerance.
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Overview
Keele celebrates its 75th anniversary this year with admissions at record levels, topping 3,000 for the first time in September 2023. It offers a splash of colour in the sometimes monochrome higher-education landscape, where one university can look much like another and the course portfolios can merge into one. Keele no longer requires students to study dual honours, but a large number of its courses are still two-subject degrees. In some instances, the combinations are complementary - chemistry with physics, environment and sustainability - but in others they are more striking - music production and psychology, computer science with neuroscience. All courses have a four-year option involving study abroad or a placement. Keele gained an overall gold rating in the latest Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), one of just 15 multi-faculty institutions to do so in both 2023 and the previous TEF in 2017. It is popular with students, too, who voted it University of the Year in the 2022 Student Crowd awards, although recent National Student Survey results have been less spectacular. Keele makes much of its proximity to everywhere, occupying a parkland campus near Stoke-on-Trent that's within an hour of Manchester and Birmingham, and within 90 minutes of London by train.
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Paying the bills
The university's Access & Success fund pays up to 1,500 to UK students who engage in both the academic and non-academic university experience. Well over 1,000 students have received payments from the fund in 2023-24. Several privately funded scholarships are also available, including the Denise Coates scholarship, sponsored by the Stoke-on-Trent-based Bet365's chief executive. Worth 1,500 in the first year of study, it is open to all students who live in a local ST postcode in households with less than 30,000 of annual income. There are 100 awards made each year. The maximum payments from the Keele hardship fund have been raised to 2,500 in response to the cost-of-living crisis. Around 275,000 was paid out from the fund in 2022-23 and a further 32,000 was distributed in food vouchers. Accommodation prices begin at 4,463 for a shared room on a 38-week contract, rising to 8,485 for superior ensuite rooms for 38 weeks.
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What's new?
A new apprenticeship for social workers admits its first learners this month, and the university plans to further expand its provision, which already encompasses more than 600 students. A new degree in sport and exercise science will be launched next September, subject to validation, and two joint neuroscience and psychology degrees will also be launched, with either subject as the major component. Innovation Centre 7 in Keele's Science and Innovation Park is home to its new Digital Society Institute which will bring together business, academics and students to develop digital technologies. Work has also begun on the new Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Institute of Technology, which will open next September. The centre in Stafford will offer advanced manufacturing and engineering training and qualifications, designed and developed by academics and business partners in order to meet the needs of employers and the economy. A further expansion from Keele's countryside campus will open in the coming year in nearby Newcastle-under-Lyme. Keele in Town will be a modern meeting and working space, offering digital connectivity to the local community, as well as access to the university's expertise.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Keele takes a whole-community approach to student wellbeing, with everyone expected to play their part. All academic schools have a dedicated student experience and support officer, who is the first point of contact for students throughout their studies and is introduced to them during induction. They offer a personalised gateway to early intervention and referral to specialist services where needed. Staff with an academic mentor role must complete training which includes sections on mental health and wellbeing. Peer support is available in the form of resident advisers, welcome buddies and peer mental health supporters for low-level needs. To keep students safe, all entrants are required to complete a pre-arrival induction module which covers wellbeing and staying well while at Keele, sexual consent; hate crime and awareness; and diversity and inclusion training. Contextual offers are made for all Keele courses, including medicine, which operates the Steps2Medicine outreach programme to diversify the intake to the medical sector. Standard offers are reduced by one grade for healthcare courses and by two grades elsewhere. More than one in five students were admitted last September with a contextual offer. Keele has some of the broadest eligibility criteria for these, among which are living in or going to a school located in a postcode among the 40% considered most deprived or from which fewest go to university; receiving free school meals; or being the first in their immediate family to go to university.
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Overview
This small university offering land-based (agriculture) courses certainly packs a punch, with alumni from Harper Adams filling 25% of the graduate positions within the UK food and farming industry. It aims to spread its excellence wider over the next two years, breaking out from its countryside home to teach at two new centres in Telford and Newport. The first-year completion rate is among the highest in the UK and the university is one of a small minority to achieve triple gold - covering an overall rating, student experience and student outcomes - in the latest Teaching Excellence Framework assessments. However, it has endured a tough year in the National Student Survey in which it has previously done very well, with scores for student experience putting it in the bottom 10 nationally. Scores for student support remain buoyant. The university farm contains dairy, beef and pig units, two flocks of sheep, poultry facilities and hectares of arable and grassland given over to research projects, which currently include work on breeding low-methane sheep and a hands-free farm given over to autonomous technologies and machinery. All courses come with a placement year, which keeps students focused on the ultimate prize of a career in this highly specialised and critically important area of the economy.
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Paying the bills
Around 120 undergraduates received scholarships in 2022-23, mostly provided by philanthropic or industry-based sponsors. Typical of this type of award are the business and engineering scholarships sponsored by JCB, the West Midlands-based construction and farming equipment business. Both scholarships offer employment with JCB in their work placement year and 4,500 of support in the academic year preceding it. For students in financial difficulty, the university has an access to learning fund for help with living and course-related costs such as travel, accommodation, books and childcare. Most awards do not have to be paid back. Hundreds of acres of farmland provide students with more opportunities to earn as they learn than can be found on most other campuses, and many students top up their student loan income in this way. Harper Adams is unusual in offering both self-catered and catered accommodation - perhaps a reflection of its countryside location, where takeaway shops are thin on the ground. Twin rooms with catering start at 4,915 for a 40-week contract, rising to 7,581 in an ensuite single room. Self-catered undergraduate accommodation costs 5,712 for an ensuite single room.
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What's new?
Harper Adams is expanding out from its Edgmond base for the first time in 125 years with two new learning bases opening this year and next. First to go live will be a hub of digital learning due to open this month in The Quad, within Station Quarter in Telford. The partnership with Telford and Wrekin Council and Telford College will offer degrees and foundation degrees in applied data science, and robotics, automation and mechatronic engineering, with digital business management offered as a foundation degree only. An Institute of Animal Health and Welfare facility within the Ni.PARK agri-tech and science park is due to open in late 2025. This will have the latest laboratory facilities for animal pathology, alongside space for teaching, business engagement and professional development. While a 2.9m research project on breeding low-methane sheep for a lower carbon future is ongoing, a practical demonstration of the impact that climate change is already having can be seen in the planting of Harper Adams's first vineyard. The mix of vine varieties can cope with the evolving British climate, and act as a platform from which to expand the teaching of viticulture.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Harper Adams works hard to open up its courses, and by extension the agriculture industry, to those traditionally under-represented on the land. The introduction of the Access to Ag4All scheme this year will help students gain the relevant experience and practical skills needed to help them succeed in the industry. The requirement for applicants to agriculture courses to have had ten weeks of practical work experience will be removed. Those without that experience will be offered a grounding in land-based skills instead, in a bid to open up courses to more applicants from a non-farming background. Contextual offers are made to applicants who have been in care or who live in the most disadvantaged areas. Some of the changes to teaching and learning forced upon institutions by the pandemic have been preserved at Harper Adams, having been seen to be beneficial to students. This includes the move from closed-book to open-book examinations as the default assessment method, as it was found to close some of the attainment gaps for students with learning differences. Harper Adams is one of a very small number of universities that require students to attend mandatory sessions on wellbeing and mental health to support the transition to university. These share information on services available, including counselling and occupational therapy. The university subscribes to a 24/7 student assistance programme that makes counselling available to students at any time of the day. All students are expected to attend induction sessions on sexual consent and healthy relationships, drugs and alcohol (including county lines), respect and being an active bystander.
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Overview
One of the most successful modern universities, Greenwich is in fact steeped in history. Headquartered on the River Thames in the Sir Christopher Wren-designed Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich has one of the most instantly recognisable campuses in the world. All domes and colonnades, it dominates the skyline and provides a stunning backdrop to student life. Greenwich secured an overall gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework last year, earning a further gold for student experience and a silver for student outcomes. The accompanying report praised its three-week GREFest student induction programme and a 'clear alignment between teaching, curriculum and employability support that is coherent and works to support successful outcomes'. Greenwich is one of the most ethnically diverse universities in the UK. There are further campuses at Avery Hill, also in south-east London, which is home to the bulk of health and social care students, and Medway in Chatham, Kent, where the schools of pharmacy, science and engineering are located. The latter campus also has strong naval connections, with many of its buildings historic former Royal Navy premises.
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Paying the bills
Coming from a home with an income of 25,000 or less - as many Greenwich students do - opens up a number of bursary options. The Greenwich bursary pays 700 towards textbooks, stationery and learning resources. It must be spent in an approved online store, and is given in the first year only. A digital access bursary provides up to 300 towards the cost of equipment to support online learning, and there are commuter bursaries worth up to 1,000 per year to help meet travel costs. An accommodation bursary takes 10% off the price of annual university room costs, up to a maximum of 700. This is especially helpful when prices begin at 5,359 for 40 weeks in a small room in Avery Hill, and rise to 14,160 for a 40-week tenancy in the biggest studio flats on the Maritime Greenwich campus. The Medway student support fund is open to students on the Medway campus from homes with an income of 42,875 or less, with funding of 500 to 2,000 available. Two students a year who have been nominated by their teacher or adviser win the 5,000 Visionary scholarship for overcoming adversity, paid out during their first year.
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What's new?
Greenwich has achieved predominantly good scores in the National Student Survey in recent years partly due to its consistent investment in improving the student experience, as evidenced by the new facilities at the Greenwich Business School. A digital marketing suite comes equipped with immersive software and has a collaborative working space allowing multi-screen and cross-screen sharing, while 28 Bloomberg terminals allow students to experience the feel of a City trading floor. The real-life financial software also lets them gain Bloomberg certification and skills. Other recent upgrades include new classrooms in the Cooper Powerhouse and King William building on the Greenwich campus, where extra computing spaces have also been added. Laboratories have been refurbished on the Medway campus and there are ongoing decarbonisation projects at both Medway and Avery Hill. The university is looking at ways to modernise its many listed buildings so that they contribute towards the university's journey to carbon net zero. Keeping its degree programme in step with this focus on green initiatives, Greenwich is introducing a BA in sustainability management in September 2025.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
The university has embraced some of the changes in course delivery wrought by the pandemic. Staff are asked to consider whether pre-recorded laboratory demonstrations can be made available as a learning resource, and lecturers are encouraged to provide recorded materials to students prior to large, live, online classes to make the sessions more interactive. To keep dropouts to the minimum among a diverse student population, attendance-monitoring software highlights when students are not engaging, and the Greenwich Students' Union Retention Project calls all students once a term to make sure they are on track. Peer mentoring encourages students to support each other and to flag problems. More general support is provided through the university's mental health, psychological wellbeing and counselling teams. An online wellbeing hub signposts the support available, and staff attend faculty training sessions at the start of each academic year. These give them the latest guidance on supporting students with mental health needs, how to refer them for help and what to do in a crisis situation. The university careers service was voted the best in the UK by students in the 2023 StudentCrowd awards for helping students make the transfer from student life to the working world. From this month, the university's Healthy Sex and Relationships online course will be mandatory for students, covering consent and how to be an active bystander. The university has recently expanded its contextual admissions offers to include all applicants who apply from homes in the 20% of postcodes that send the fewest children into higher education. Contextual offers are pitched at 16 Ucas tariff points (equivalent to two A-level grades) below the standard offer.
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Overview
Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) is the top-ranked modern university in our league table and our Modern University of the Year. It markets itself as the 'University for the Common Good' based on its founding mission to be for 'the common weal' - and it achieves its objectives in some style. GCU has consistently pursued policies geared to academic excellence, social justice and producing graduates who have a better record in gaining high-skilled jobs than those from many Russell Group universities. It caters for a predominantly Scottish intake (98.6% of all UK students recruited in 2023), with more than one in five recruited from postcodes among the 20% most deprived in Scotland. GCU is one of the biggest providers of health, social care and life sciences graduates for the NHS, produces more building and surveying graduates than any other university in the UK, and is the only university to offer a full suite of optometry degrees. It is also Scotland's largest provider of graduate apprenticeships, with more than 700 learners on campus.
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Paying the bills
The Common Good Award is paid to all students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It consists of 6,000 in cashback bursaries paid out over three years, and a tuition fee waiver in the fourth year (worth 9,250) to cover the extra year of study required for most degrees in Scotland. There are further Common Good scholarships worth up to 1,500 per year of study for 15 UK students recruited from an under-represented background. The university has trebled the number of awards available this year but cut the sum awarded to maximise impact. There are a small number of subject-specific scholarships, and GCU paid out more than 1.1m in 2022-23 in hardship support. Overall, around one in eight students benefit from some form of university-funded financial assistance. The Caledonian Court student residences have places for more than 650 students. Prices for the upcoming academic year range from 5,125 to 6,068 for a 41-week tenancy after a 10% price increase. The top price is still among the lowest in our UK universities' accommodation survey.
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What's new?
The refurbishment of the Caledonian Court student residences will be complete in time for admissions this month. Upgrades to classrooms, laboratories, the gym hall, and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems across the university estate will have also been completed. The aim of these campus updates is to help the university work towards its goal of achieving net zero by 2040 while also improving the student experience. GCU is partnering with Siemens as part of its green drive, in order to better understand where and how energy is consumed on campus and then cut its usage by upgrading its building management systems. Subject to approval from the regulator, GCU hopes to offer a master of optometry with independent prescribing programme, adding to its already considerable strength in this area.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Supporting its diverse intake of students into university, through their courses and onwards into employment is a key institutional priority. Careers help is available from enrolment and for up to two years after graduation. The university's stellar graduate employment record is nurtured by the provision of a range of workshops and in-curriculum lectures and seminars across all courses. GCU's online Career Success platform offers tools including a video interview simulator, help with building LinkedIn profiles and CVs, and employer videos. GCU is the only Scottish university to have earned the Student Minds University Mental Health Charter Award, which rewards best practice in mental health support in UK universities. It was also the first in the UK to achieve autism accreditation from the National Autistic Society in recognition of its support systems for neurodiverse students. In addition to the support provided by a team of counsellors, mental health and wellbeing advisers and its disability service, the university subscribes to the Togetherall app, which offers 24-hour support. All students are assigned both a personal tutor and a student mentor under GCU's Peer Assisted Learning Scheme (PALS) when they begin their course. Care-experienced students and all applicants from homes in the 20% of Scottish postcodes considered to be the most deprived are eligible for contextual offers in line with the minimum entry requirements for all courses. Around one in five entrants benefited from these offers last year.
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Overview
Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) is one of the most high-achieving and progressive of the modern Scottish universities, achieving both consistently strong rankings in tables such as ours and enduring success in the graduate jobs market for its students. ENU ranks sixth in the UK among modern universities for the proportion of graduates in high-skilled jobs this year, only marginally behind its Russell Group neighbour the University of Edinburgh. Student satisfaction levels captured in the annual National Student Survey remain high, too. When the success of student outcomes is being evaluated, it helps to have hundreds of graduates starting work in our hospitals and schools each year - and Edinburgh Napier has just that. However, the range of courses also spans business, the arts and creative industries, applied sciences, and computing, engineering and the built environment. Split across three campuses, ENU's 15,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students are based on the west side of the Scottish capital. It recruits primarily from Scotland, with all bar 180 of the 2,860 UK-domiciled recruits in September 2023 coming from north of the border.
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Paying the bills
Bursary support is focused on the small number of UK students recruited from outside Scotland and those from the Republic of Ireland, who incur fees of 9,250 a year rather than getting their tuition for free. An Access bursary of 2,000 is paid to these students who come from homes with a residual household income of up to 25,000. A 1,000 payment is made to those from homes with income of between 25,001 and 42,600. A separate (and possibly additional) Merit bursary worth 1,000 a year is paid to all 'rest of UK' (RUK) and Republic of Ireland students who achieve BBB or better at A-level (or equivalent). RUK and Irish students are a clever lot, as around 150 Merit bursaries were paid in 2022-23 among an intake of just over 200. RUK and Irish students get a free fourth year of tuition, which brings the cost of a four-year Scottish degree in line with most degrees elsewhere in the UK. All care leavers also get support of up to 1,000 a year. The university paid out almost 230,000 in hardship support in 2022-23, too. Student accommodation costs from 4,568 for a twin room on a 39-week tenancy to 10,092 for a 50-week tenancy in a studio flat.
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What's new?
The university's Project Vision was launched last year, with a series of campus conversations in December 2023 examining the future requirements of each academic school and the use of space on the Craiglockhart, Merchiston and Sighthill campuses. The project will review upcoming teaching, research and technology developments and ensure that the university's estate and infrastructure can keep pace. The university is also promising further significant investment in learning and social facilities across its campuses. Two new degrees begin this month in intercultural business communication combined with either tourism management or marketing management. The university is also considering launching a graduate apprenticeship in accounting for September 2025. This would add to the eight graduate apprenticeship programmes currently offered, which expect to have more than 450 learners enrolled between them for the new academic year.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
ENU has a lower proportion of first-generation students than most other modern universities - about 40% of the intake - but the university is looking to increase that number. It provides bespoke support services and named contacts for its widening participation intake, and works closely with local and national access initiatives. Around 30% of entrants last September benefited from a contextual offer of between one and three Scottish Higher grades lower than the standard offer. Contextual offer holders are invited to a special event - What's On Offer - ahead of joining the university. This demonstrates to them the range of support services provided to help them succeed, such as access to long-term laptop loans. Mental health and wellbeing support for all students includes short-term counselling, single-session therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness and a programme of mental health workshops. Prior to enrolment, students are offered a number of online courses to help keep them safe at university. These cover sexual consent; racial, sexual and social tolerance; and being an active bystander.
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Overview
Edinburgh is one of the destinations in British higher education, with only the University of Manchester attracting more applications. You will need sharp elbows to win a place, with every seat in the lecture theatre coveted by more than 10 prospective students. Its appeal is global, with international students making up one third of undergraduate admissions last year. The combination of a cosmopolitan student body, a stylish city playground and a reputation for teaching and research excellence is a winning formula. Only the consistently poor results in the annual National Student Survey stop the university from ranking in our UK top 10. International rankings, such as the 2025 edition from QS, place Edinburgh 27th in the world (two places higher than we do) on pretty much academic measures alone. And it is not hard to see why. Academics at Edinburgh are constantly rolling back the boundaries of knowledge. Remember Dolly the Sheep? Think also the supercomputer Archer2, which lives here. The university was identified as the preferred location for the UK's first next-generation exascale supercomputer, which would have been one of just a handful in the world and 50 times faster than any of our existing machines, but the project was cancelled by the new government in Westminster due to lack of cash.
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Paying the bills
Although the accommodation price freeze is over, Edinburgh still boasts some of the cheapest student rooms in the UK, with prices starting at just 3,272 for 38 weeks in a twin room, or from 6,674 for catered twin rooms. When you bear in mind the estate agents' mantra of 'location, location, location', that represents exceptional value - and is something other prestigious universities with similar-sized estates could do with paying heed to. The university spends around 13.1m a year on financial aid, including on the Access Edinburgh scholarship, which is open to all UK-domiciled students and can be worth up to 5,000 a year for care experienced or estranged students. Awards of 3,000 are paid to those from homes with an income of less than 21,000; 2,000 where income is between 21,000 and 23,999; and 1,000 where income is between 24,000 and 33,999. A small number of degrees, including nursing, are excluded. Unusually, the sum paid per year can only ever go up if these financial circumstances change over the course of a student's university career, and can never decrease.
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What's new?
The university moved to a new student support model in 2023 as a result of feedback from students. This saw it ditch the personal tutor approach in favour of one based around having professional student advisers in each academic school - often the first point of contact for pastoral care - as well as wellbeing advisers, who assist those experiencing problems. Heavy investment in six new data hubs provides a focal point for collaboration with industry and builds on Edinburgh's academic excellence in data science. The Edinburgh Futures Institute has opened in its new home in the former Old Royal Infirmary (ORI) after a major redevelopment. Where once the ORI served to limit contagion, its 21st-century reimagining aims to foster it, academically speaking, through multidisciplinary collaboration. In recognition of the benefit of artificial intelligence (AI) to society and the economy, the university is investing millions in a generative AI laboratory. This will develop techniques in key areas such as robotics, drug discovery, medical diagnostics, semi-conductor development and tackling climate change.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Edinburgh was among the first of the high-tariff universities - those that demand the highest grades and are the hardest to get into - to embrace contextual offers that take account of an applicant's wider social, economic and educational circumstances. The university publishes standard and minimum entry requirements for all courses, and eligible contextual applicants receive an offer at the minimum requirement. Around one in five entrants in September 2023 had a contextual offer. Its Access Edinburgh scholarship (see Paying the bills, above) is part of this strategy. In the past four years, Edinburgh has seen a 54.6% increase in the number of students drawn from areas in the 20% of postcodes with the highest levels of deprivation, so while the socio-economic profile of the student body remains one of the most privileged, the university is seeking to broaden it. All students from a widening participation background are offered a peer mentor upon joining the university, and a three-day Moving On course is available prior to Welcome Week to help with the transition. Further to the new student and wellbeing advisers outlined in What's new, above, there are several other strands of student support available, including a counselling service, which is the only one at a Scottish university registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. Residence Life staff are also embedded in student halls to promote wellbeing, build community and help students thrive, while the university chaplaincy runs courses, podcasts, drop-in sessions and events such as dream whispering, mindful doodling, book clubs and yoga.
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Overview
Dundee is one of the powerhouses of Scottish higher education and our Scottish University of the Year. It is now one of three Scottish universities to be ranked in our UK top 10. The university has a formidable reputation in medicine, biomedicine and the life sciences and plays a key role in the economy of its home city and turns out high-calibre graduates ready to make an impact. It is estimated that the university supports one in 12 jobs in the wider city. Occupying a central campus in Dundee, the university has further outposts at Ninewells Hospital (the medical school) and Kirkcaldy, 30 miles away in Fife, which is home to some of its nursing and midwifery provision. Scores in this year's National Student Survey have recovered after a few lean years, with students scoring teaching quality particularly highly. However, applications fell by more than 10% for admission in September 2023. Against this background, the university created an education academy last year to put delivering an outstanding education and student experience front and centre. Among its objectives are carrying out a review of student services, further embedding employability and enterprise in degree programmes, and developing Dundee's digital campus.
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Paying the bills
With no tuition fees for students resident in Scotland - who account for more than 90% of Dundee's UK-based intake - most bursary and scholarship support is aimed at those recruited from the rest of Britain. The most eye-catching is an Academic Excellence bursary for non-medical students who achieve at least AAB at A-level (or equivalent), which is worth 3,000 in each year of study. If you don't achieve those grades, don't worry. With a few exceptions, so long as you get a place at Dundee and qualify as a 'rest of UK' (RUK) student, you will get a 2,000 Discover Dundee bursary in your first year only. Medicine, dentistry, nursing, health science, education and social work courses are excluded. A separate RUK bursary worth 2,000 in each year of study is open to all students from households with an annual income of less than 25,000. There are just under 2,200 places in university-owned accommodation, with all first-years guaranteed a room if they apply by the deadline. Prices range from 6,825 a year for a 39-week contract in West Park Villas to 8,362 for a 39-week undergraduate tenancy in Heathfield.
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What's new?
Dundee has moved with the times and accepted that the genie is out of the bottle in terms of pandemic-inspired changes to teaching and assessment. While in-person written exams remain, they are now combined with in-person online exams, remote online exams and open-book assessments. Essential face-to-face learning has been retained, but there is now a balance between in-person and synchronous online learning, with wider use of lecture capture and a better range of online learning resources. The top floor of the university library has been completely refurbished, and enhanced workstations, standing desks, individual semi-enclosed study booths with acoustic panels, and silent study spaces have been introduced. There are also kitchen facilities and a calming space to help students study longer and better. The university's new education academy (see also Overview, above) will ensure a constant focus on the quality of education and student experience, with key priorities being the programme portfolio, academic development and scholarship, employability and enterprise, digital provision and keeping student services under review.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
As a high-tariff university, Dundee has significant hurdles to overcome to ensure a diverse intake of students. It is seeking to admit 350 students each year from the 20% most deprived postcodes in Scotland, which the university believes would be the second highest number in any Scottish university. Contextual offers will help it make progress. Last year, one in seven entrants received a contextual offer, which typically sits at BBBB at Higher, down two grades from the standard offer of AABB. Most courses are included in the scheme, although there are separate widening participation arrangements for medicine through Dundee's Gateway to Medicine programme, a one-year course that prepares students for a full five-year medical degree. Students in need of same-day mental health and wellbeing support can get it from Dundee's enquiry centre, which can refer them on to counselling, mental health advisers and the university health service. Further support is available through the student-led listening service which runs through the night, while the Peer Connections buddying and mentoring scheme is designed to help students settle into university life. Dundee's SWITCH (Student Wellbeing Initiative Targeting Community Health) service directs students towards physical activity, volunteering or societies as a means of managing mental health, too. An online induction module is compulsory for all students moving into university accommodation, covering health and safety, respect, consent and information about welfare support.
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Overview
One of the larger modern universities, with 21,500 undergraduates, admissions for De Montfort University (DMU) climbed to close to 6,500 last September even as applications fell to their lowest level in a decade. The university takes a holistic view of the student experience, and it is rolling out block teaching across its courses to enhance this. Students are taught one module at a time, as opposed to the more traditional approach of taking a number of them simultaneously. They are examined at the end of each seven-week block of teaching, studying two modules consecutively per term, and four per academic year. 'Teaching designed around you' is the marketing pitch DMU deploys for this approach - and it seems to work, with 92% of students saying that working on one module at a time helps their work-life balance. The university sits on a compact campus in the centre of Leicester, one of the UK's most diverse cities, and attracts half of its UK students from the East Midlands. International students make up around one third of undergraduates overall, further adding to the cosmopolitan feel.
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Paying the bills
The university spent more than 1.1m on hardship support for students in extreme need in the past year, but bursaries and scholarships are in relatively short supply. There are awards of 1,000 per academic year for care leavers and estranged students, with further scholarships limited to the eye-catching few. One female student studying computer science or one of a variety of engineering degrees benefits each year from the David Tupman scholarship worth 3,000 annually. The three Stephen Lawrence Professional scholarships offer half-price tuition fees and a 3,500 cash bursary for each year of study. Named in honour of the black teenager murdered in South East London in 1993, it is open to talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds studying architecture, architectural technology, criminology, health and wellbeing in society, journalism or law. The Stoneygate scholarship, also for three students, is worth 4,000 per year and is open to those from a disadvantaged or low-income background who have overcome adversity in pursuit of their goals. There have only been small increases to the price of the 442 rooms in university-owned student accommodation for the new academic year, with rooms now costing 3,909 to 4,629 for a 41-week contract. Private providers such as Unite and Student Roost charge more, with prices set between 5,779 and 6,818 for a 43-week tenancy.
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What's new?
Employers are already heavily involved in the design of courses at DMU, and investments in new facilities will only increase the employability of graduates. A digital tech learning hub gives students access to the latest industry-standard hardware and software across a range of disciplines. The development will include television production studios, a content studio with lighting rigs and backdrops, a VFX post-production studio, a production lab, a virtual production studio, an image capture studio and audio studios. Elsewhere a 2m suite replicates a pharmacy environment where students can practise their clinical skills, patient consultation and producing and labelling prescriptions. One of the largest university share trading floors also opened this year, providing accounting, economics and finance students with authentic simulations of financial trading and investing. DMU has increased the range of art-and-design materials available to students free of charge, too. The aim of all of these enhancements is to better equip students for the world of work.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
DMU has an award-winning package of mental health support. The university's Embedding Mental Wellbeing team won the Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence at Advance HE's 2022 awards in recognition of its outstanding support network for students and staff. Access to help is routed through the Healthy DMU Hub, while the university's wellbeing team offers practical advice and assistance in managing mental health difficulties. It also organises assessments for any teaching adjustments. Students are encouraged to attend DMU's Look After Your Mate workshop, which aims to give them the knowledge, confidence and skills to support their friends. All staff undertake mandatory training on student wellbeing and safeguarding. In the last admissions cycle, the university made contextual offers for the first time to applicants who receive free school meals, have been in care or live in postcodes among the 40% which send fewest into higher education. They are pitched at two levels, requiring applicants to achieve either 48 or 64 Ucas tariff points (DD/EEE or CC/DDE at A-level). DMU's careers team runs six-week programmes to help secure successful graduate outcomes for targeted groups of students: Lead and Inspire, which helps ethnic-minority students develop transferable skills, and Recruitment Ready for neurodiverse students, which focuses on the cycles of the recruitment process.
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Overview
Cumbria is planning for a vibrant future with two new campuses in the offing and the opening of a graduate-entry medical school in Carlisle scheduled for next September. In the North West, there are two campuses in Carlisle (where a new flagship is planned) and further outposts in Lancaster, Ambleside and Workington, while another is due to open in Barrow-in-Furness next January. It even stretches down to London, where it runs a number of education and health programmes and a global business management top-up degree. Applications and admissions fell again in 2023, and they are both roughly at half the level they were a decade ago, after years of steady decline. However, it is hoped the new campuses and subjects offered will see student numbers start to grow. It supplies large numbers of students to the public sector, with healthcare and teacher training at the fore. The unique Ambleside campus, in the heart of the Lake District, offers courses tailored to its location, including marine and freshwater conservation; forest management; outdoor leadership; tourism management; and woodland ecology and conservation.
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Paying the bills
The Cumbria bursary is worth 1,000 per year for full-time students and 500 for part-timers. It is awarded to students from homes with an income of less than 25,000 who score the highest under the university's points-based system. Points are earned for the level of household income, being a care leaver, having a disability, and living in an area with low rates of participation in higher education. A proportion of awards are reserved for students aged over 21 on entry. Postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) students in Lancaster or Carlisle who are alumni are also eligible for 1,000 scholarships and up to 1,000 accommodation discounts. More than 200,000 was paid out in hardship support to students in 2022-23, and a package of student support includes a discounted food scheme in university catering outlets at the end of each day; access to sport and fitness suites for 25 a year; and a complimentary IT bundle. There are more than 600 places in student accommodation, with places guaranteed for first-years who make Cumbria their firm choice. Accommodation is among the cheapest in the UK, with prices beginning at just 3,520 for a 40-week contract and rising to 5,922 for 42 weeks.
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What's new?
Cumbria's new Barrow waterfront campus has been developed in partnership with BAE Systems, which employs 29% of the town's population. The company is offering scholarships worth 5,000 over three years, which include a 12-week work placement and a guaranteed interview on completion of the degree. Initially three degrees will be offered to meet specific needs in the local economy: advanced manufacturing, computer science and business management. Hot on the heels of the Barrow campus's opening will be the launch of the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine in Carlisle. It brings together Cumbria's expertise in the training of nurses, midwives and allied health professionals with Imperial College London's reputation as one of the world's leading medical schools. It will offer a four-year medical degree to graduate students, with the aim of addressing doctor shortages in the North West. A second new campus in Carlisle will give the university a presence in the city centre. The Citadels campus is due to open in 2026, with the bulk of the 50m cost coming from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, formerly the Department of Levelling Up. Cumbria's new degree apprenticeships for 2024-25 include youth work, teaching, project controls, creative digital design professional, and digital user experience professional.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Cumbria is one of the first universities to pilot bouldering (rock climbing) psychotherapy as part of a wider package of student mental health support, which is underpinned by Cumbria's 'Live Well, Learn Well' ethos. Talking therapies, therapeutic groups and courses, self-help guidance and workshops are also available. Head Start academic skills courses, covering academic writing, referencing and research skills, are offered to students before they arrive on campus to help with the transition to higher education. This is particularly relevant given the university's diverse intake and flexible approach to admissions. Integrated foundation years are offered with many degrees to aid applicants who do not meet standard entry requirements. Successful completion of the foundation year allows the student to progress on to a degree programme. Cumbria uses contextual data when making its offers, meaning students from postcodes with the lowest rates of participation in higher education and those who have received free school meals, as well as care leavers, young carers and those estranged from their parents, are all eligible for contextual offers. These may be at the bottom end of the Ucas tariff point range for their chosen course. Participation in university-run summer schools, masterclasses or Cumbria's Future Teachers scheme also qualifies applicants for a lower offer within the advertised points range.
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Overview
The university recruits more than half of its intake of UK students from within its home patch in the North West. Many are drawn from groups under-represented in higher education. Just under a third of last year's intake were mature returners to education, and Chester has one of the highest proportions of students who are the first in their immediate family to attend university. Sophisticated support structures - acknowledged by good scores in this area in the National Student Survey and coming second in the 2024 Whatuni Student Choice University of the Year award - keep students in the fold. Progression and degree completion rates are at much higher levels than are the norm with such a diverse intake. The university is largely based in the attractive walled city of Chester, but it has outposts in Birkenhead and Warrington, as well as its land-based centre Reaseheath, near Nantwich. Employers help with the design of courses, which all have a focus on digital skills and use continuous assessment to gauge student achievement.
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Paying the bills
Bursaries are now paid only to carers, those who have spent time in care, estranged students and members of the gypsy, Roma, traveller, showman and boater community. However, the university is unusual in paying between 10 and 30 towards travel expenses for everyone who attends a Chester applicant day. It also offers a travel bursary of up to 100 to anyone attending a university outreach event who is in receipt of free school meals, pupil premium, or benefits for low income or disability, as well as those who have been in care, are carers or are estranged. A student support fund is available for those who get into financial difficulty while studying, too. The cheapest university-owned accommodation comes in at 4,420 for a 40-week contract, rising to a maximum of 6,680. Chester is one of a small number of universities to offer catered accommodation, which costs between 7,391 and 7,581 for 38 weeks full-board.
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What's new?
Chester, founded in 1839, was the UK's first teacher training college, and this month it moves its school of education back to its Exton Park site in Chester, into the fully refurbished Molloy Hall. The new facilities will include laboratories, an art and design space and preparation rooms for training the next generation of teachers. There will be direct access from the school to the Seaborne library next door, which has undergone its own refurbishment to equip it with the latest digital technology, as well as private and collaborative study spaces, social zones, seminar rooms and media suites. The Sumner House student accommodation block has also been upgraded to provide 125 ensuite rooms and communal social areas. Teaching has been reorganised into three faculties this year: arts, humanities and social sciences; health, medicine and society; and science, business and enterprise. The university hopes this will drive the development of degrees and modules with student employability at their core. New courses taking their first students this month include criminology and sociology in combination with a second subject, as well as acting, drama, fashion design, film and media, media and TV production, music production and popular music performance, which are all offered with foundation years.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Chester has one of the highest proportions of first-generation students (those whose parents did not go to university) of any institution and its admissions policies ensure that it will continue to attract students from under-represented groups. Although it does make contextual offers with at least one A-level grade (or equivalent) below the standard entry requirement, the university told us: 'We consider a wide range of factors to identify merit, rather than academic attainment alone.' Having attracted students from this wider range of backgrounds, Chester then deploys a 'whole student lifestyle approach' which provides enhanced support throughout students' time at Chester and beyond. Wellbeing and mental health advisers run workshops and sessions, while student support networks help people from certain groups connect with others. A student assistance programme (SAP) also offers immediate advice round the clock, every day of the year, and has a language line that allows students to talk via an interpreter in their own tongue. Students are encouraged to undertake bystander intervention training as part of a wider range of initiatives to create a safe campus environment. Although in-person teaching has returned across all courses following the Covid pandemic, the university is now among a minority where lecture capture is not routinely available to allow students to listen back to content in their own time.
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Overview
The scrapping of state school admissions targets at Cambridge, announced earlier this year, is not a sign that the university no longer cares about fairness in its entry processes. Instead, it is evidence of the success of its policies over the past decade, which have gone a long way to eradicating the dominance of private schools, with 72.9% state school admissions in 2022. Based on the words of new vice-chancellor, Professor Deborah Prentice, regional disparities in admissions may be addressed next. Last September, 52.5% of undergraduates came from London and the South East, while 1.8% came from the North East and 5% from Yorkshire. Application numbers are stable, with around six applications for each place. The minimum A-level offers range from A*A*A to A*AA, in contrast to Oxford, which puts more store by its admissions tests and makes many offers at 'just' AAA. There are 29 undergraduate colleges to choose from, and it pays to visit before applying to see where you might best fit in. Not all are chocolate-box pretty, and not all are bang in the middle of the city centre. Applications close on October 15.
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Paying the bills
Cambridge goes to great lengths to ensure students are not put off from applying on financial grounds. There were more than 3,700 awards paid to undergraduates in 2022-23, demonstrating that Cambridge is no longer the bastion of privilege it once was. The maximum bursary of 3,500 a year is given to students from homes with an income of up to 25,000. This tapers to 2,130 when the income hits 40,000, and 1,210 at 50,000. The lowest payment of 100 is made at 62,215. Enhanced bursaries which add up to an extra 2,100 per year for those with the lowest household incomes are paid to estranged students, care leavers and medical and veterinary students in their clinical training years. As well as the awards paid centrally, which cost the university more than 11m, there are prizes paid for by donors, colleges and departments. Accommodation prices vary between colleges, so it pays to do your research. Students often live in college for the duration of their degree, and prices without food can start at close to 4,500 for 30 weeks. The university estimates that students should budget 10,950 for living costs for the upcoming academic year.
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What's new?
When you have been in existence for more than 800 years, there is not a lot that is new. Cambridge has finely honed what works and is not about to change its modus operandi now. There are no new degrees being introduced next year, and there probably won't be the year after that, either. You won't find degrees here in international tourism management, but you can study Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic... That's not to say that the courses put you in an academic straitjacket. Natural sciences, for instance, can be configured in so many combinations that it would be almost impossible not to find one to suit most scientists' tastes. What's new at Cambridge is the almost daily developments in research that push back the frontiers of knowledge. As a prospective student it is worth taking a look at the university's news section on its website to gain an impression of the breadth and depth of its academic brilliance. If you're inspired rather than intimidated, it is probably worth applying.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Under its student mental health and wellbeing plan implemented two years ago, the university invested heavily in counselling services and reducing waiting times. It still takes three working days on average to get an appointment, but there is additional support available via student nurses and wellbeing advisers in all colleges. An academic system built around supervisions and tutorials also gives students more direct contact with tutors than is on offer at most other universities. Students meet weekly with their tutors in small groups to discuss set work, and this gives them an opportunity to discuss progress or express concerns. All student-facing staff, including the college linchpins - the porters - are given basic training to help identify students who are struggling. Although the profile of the intake at Cambridge is changing, the admissions procedures remain broadly the same. All candidates are interviewed and there are often subject-specific admissions tests. Offers typically involve at least one A* at A-level, and often two. The university considers contextual data covering the socio-economic characteristics of an applicant's postcode, their school's attainment record and their eligibility for free school meals. For those who aren't expecting a string of top grades, there is the innovative foundation year in arts, humanities and social sciences, which is open to applicants predicted to get 120 Ucas tariff points, equivalent to BBB at A-level. Launched in 2021, this offers free tuition and a scholarship to cover living costs for a year for up to 50 students who meet one of a very long list of eligibility criteria. These include having schooling which has been severely disrupted; coming from a home with an income of up to 25,000; and attending a school with below average attainment. Students who satisfactorily complete their foundation year can then progress to one of 18 degree courses at Cambridge. The university has worked with social mobility organisations in a bid to diversify its intake, but there is still a long way to go - it has the second-lowest proportion of first-generation students of any university.
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Overview
Buckingham is the only independent university in this guide and it pioneered two-year degrees long ago as a more efficient way of delivering higher education. The cost of a two-year degree here is now the same as a three-year course in the state sector, but the saving of a year of living costs still makes going private a cheaper option. The quid pro quo is that students have to work harder - the academic year is divided into four terms with much shorter breaks between them. The numbers of applications and admissions at the university, which recently marked 40 years of Royal Charter status, have never been higher. However, it remains one of the smallest universities in this guide, with around 3,500 students. Fewer than half of these are undergraduates. Around 50% of the students come from overseas, giving the campus a cosmopolitan feel, but numbers of UK students are increasing. All courses will soon be taught in Buckingham, following the decision to close the university's costly campus for medicine and health sciences students in Crewe, Cheshire by 2026.
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Paying the bills
Buckingham's private status means that government tuition-fee loans cover only 14,800 (for two-year courses) to 15,410 (for nine terms). However, students on most courses can now defer up to 12,950 of tuition fees with a Future Earnings Agreement, under which UK students agree to pay a percentage of their post-university income to clear the debt. Buckingham students qualify for government maintenance loans at the same rate as other universities. The University of Buckingham bursary is worth 2,000 a year for two years and is paid to all students in receipt of a maintenance loan of 7,500 or more. The money is paid in the form of a tuition fee reduction of 500 a term. A similar sum is paid in the first year only for UK students achieving AAB or above in their A-levels if they have made Buckingham their firm Ucas choice. There are subject-specific awards worth up to 13,000 available, too. Prices have been frozen for 2024-25 for Buckingham's 608 student rooms. All first-years are guaranteed a room if they meet application deadlines. Self-catered rooms cost between 7,000 and 11,750 for a 50-week contract, and from 11,250 to 19,750 for catered accommodation, also for 50 weeks.
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What's new?
Refurbished library spaces have opened on both the Hunter Street and Verney Park campuses, while an upgrade to the university's digital library facilities will be rolled out from this month. LibGuide software will allow library staff to create specialist online subject pages to guide students on their reading and studying. The newly opened Mount Pleasant site in Buckingham has 71 twin ensuite rooms, alongside free laundry facilities, study spaces, a gym, a swimming pool and a bar. A refurbishment of the Franciscan Building has also created new facilities for the faculty of computing, law and psychology, such as laboratories for robotics and artificial intelligence, games and cybersecurity, as well as a moot court. These will benefit students taking several new degrees, notably computing (cybersecurity), computing (gaming pathway) and psychology. Further additions to Buckingham's course portfolio include history studied in combination with economics, English literature or politics, as well as liberal arts with or without a foundation year.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Contextual offers are made to students only after interviews. Mature students with relevant work experience often benefit from this flexibility, although the university does not reduce offers by a set number of grades or Ucas tariff points, preferring to judge each candidate individually. As a private university, Buckingham is not required to produce an access and participation plan. However, it achieves good levels of social inclusion regardless, with roughly one third of students being the first in their immediate family to go to university. The university prides itself on Oxbridge-style, small-group teaching. While lecture capture is available in most lecture theatres and seminar rooms, the vast majority of courses are delivered face-to-face. Remote attendance is allowed only in exceptional circumstances, such as for the innovative online BA in primary education introduced last year, which has been created for teaching assistants working in UK schools who want to become primary school teachers. Students have access to mental health advisers, counselling staff, and wellbeing advisers who specialise in drugs and alcohol support. Mentors are based in each faculty and there are 75 mental health first-aiders on campus. Induction week includes sessions on mental health, wellbeing, finances, drugs and alcohol. Student safety is addressed through a Think About It online module for new students, which covers bystander intervention, consent, unconscious bias, personal safety and budgeting. A follow-up quiz tests student knowledge.
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Overview
Bristol is doing its bit to tear down barriers that have prevented disadvantaged children from attending elite universities. It was one of the first universities to embrace contextual offers - one quarter of Bristol's entrants held one last year - and it is extending its bursary scheme to include all students from homes with less than 50,000 income. It is a member of the Russell Group of research-led universities, which are among the hardest to get into. Not that this puts anyone off. Applications hit a record high last year at more than 61,000, while just under 7,000 students were admitted. The university recruits almost half of its UK students from London and the south-east, who are drawn by its excellent reputation and good links to the rest of the UK. The university has centres of excellence across the arts and sciences, with chemistry of particular note and artificial intelligence an increasingly influential area of activity. The latest High Fliers survey found that Bristol was the fifth most targeted university among leading graduate employers, too.
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Paying the bills
The household income ceiling to qualify for the university's main bursary will rise to 50,000 next year, while the sum paid to those from homes with up to 25,000 of income will increase from 2,060 to 2,500 per year. The university currently pays out around 9m a year in bursaries, but accommodation bursaries of between 833 and 1,158 paid in the first year to students from low-income households are being withdrawn next year. Up to 20 Vice-Chancellor's scholarships, worth up to 3,000 a year, are awarded for exceptional talent in music, sport or drama. Payments from Bristol's financial assistance and digital support funds have recently topped 1m annually. The university is more alive to the crippling impact of high student accommodation costs than most others we have surveyed. It now has an extra 400 beds available at or below 50% of the full student maintenance loan. The cheapest uncatered twin rooms now cost 4,405 for 38 weeks, while the average catered room costs 9,134.
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What's new?
Bristol is positioning itself at the forefront of the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence. It secured a 225m investment from the Government to build the UK's most powerful supercomputer. Isambard-AI, which came online earlier this year, is 10 times more powerful than anything that has come before it in this country. It will be used for scientific discovery in fields such as robotics, climate research, drug development and big data. Undergraduates can surf the artificial intelligence (AI) wave, too, as a suite of new AI degrees are recruiting for entry next September. Elsewhere, the university is building the 500m Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, which is due to open in 2026 and will focus on digital, business and social innovation. Term dates are being adjusted, too, with an earlier start to the academic year in the second week of September, so that mid-year assessments can take place in December. This gives students a proper break over Christmas to maintain their wellbeing. There will also be an earlier finish, in late May, which is expected to mesh better with industry placements, summer research and other non-curricular activities.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Bristol is one of just 10 universities nationally to hold the University Mental Health Charter award from mental health charity Student Minds, in recognition of the steps the university has taken following a significant number of student suicides in the past decade. A student opt-in allows the university to contact a designated parent, guardian or friend in the event of serious concerns about their wellbeing. It was the first scheme of its kind at a UK university when it was introduced in 2018. Students are also encouraged to take a new Science of Happiness module, which gets to the root of what happiness is and how to achieve it. There is additional support given to students admitted under widening participation arrangements, too. Contextual offers are typically two A-level grades below the standard offer. The qualifying criteria include having received free school meals, living in an area of low progression to higher education, being a care leaver or attending a school on the university's aspiring state school or college list. The success of Bristol's work in this area is evidenced by the fact that one third of new undergraduates in September 2023 came from schools with low levels of average attainment or progression to higher education. The Bristol Scholars programme also widens access to the university for local children from low-income households, who are nominated by their headteachers based on their academic potential rather than their achieved grades. Mandatory sexual consent training is being piloted for students this year. Other online induction modules cover drugs and alcohol, being an active bystander, racism, sexual violence, domestic abuse, discrimination, being a good neighbour and anti-social behaviour.
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Overview
This creative community of 3,500 undergraduates on the south coast is one of five specialist arts universities that we rank in this guide. Dedicated to arts, design and media, Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) offers 28 degrees - seven introduced this month - and three foundation degrees to a largely southern clientele, with 80% of students drawn from London, the south-east and the south-west. Sharing one of Britain's sunniest seaside resorts with the much larger Bournemouth University (which has a campus next door) has its advantages in terms of guaranteeing an active student nightlife and making the area a student-centric destination. After two years of applications and admissions at record levels, applications for entry in September 2023 fell by 24%, and the university took the unpopular decision to close its BA in dance. The opening this month of the school of arts, media and creative industries management will draw an influx of students to its raft of new courses. Bournemouth Film School is the largest outside of London, and the Crab drawing studio - designed by AUB alumnus Professor Sir Peter Cook - is the first such facility to be built in an art school in more than a century.
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Paying the bills
AUB is launching a revised package of support this month for students from homes with a household income of up to 25,000. The most valuable element is a 1,000 discount on the price of university-owned student accommodation for the first year of study, with smaller payments for travel costs associated with studying (200 in the second year only) and for graduate employment opportunities (up to 300) to cover the costs of accommodation for job interviews and internships, smart work clothing, or attendance fees for courses, conferences, and residential training events. Care leavers, those who have been in care and estranged students qualify for non-means-tested bursaries worth 2,000 a year. Accommodation fees are quite a bit higher than at neighbouring Bournemouth University, starting at 7,308 for a 42-week tenancy in an ensuite room and rising to 12,444 for a 51-week stay in one of the university's nine premium studios. There are more than 1,100 places available overall - enough for all first-year students who want one.
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What's new?
The launch of the new school of arts, media and creative industries management this month brings with it three new degrees in creative direction; curation, exhibition and experience design; and communication design and strategy. These new courses are part of a wider refresh of AUB's degree offering that sees a quarter of its programmes - seven courses out of 28 - recruiting students for the first time this month. There are further new degrees in design for sustainable futures; interior architecture and design for health and wellbeing; games art and design; and creative technologies. Four online MAs have also been added in illustration, creative writing, photography and graphic design. Due to the often precarious nature of the industries that arts institutions prepare their students for, graduate employment statistics do not always make for easy reading. However, AUB attempts to give its students the best possible chance in the jobs market by now offering one-year placement opportunities with all courses bar its BA in architecture. Further jobs support comes with the appointment of industry patrons to every course, which ensures students get to work with, and be mentored by, professionals in a formal capacity.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
A highly supportive environment helps keep completion and progression rates among the highest in the country. The University Retreat is perhaps the most distinctive feature of AUB's student support network. The collaboration between AUB, Bournemouth University, the NHS and a local charity provides a drop-in service for students who need face-to-face support if they feel they are struggling with their mental health or reaching a crisis point. It is open from 2pm to 9pm, Monday to Saturday. The university has among the highest number of staff trained in mental health support of any university, with 58 qualified staff members for every 1,000 students. AUB's Wellbeing Service offers same-day in-person or online access to support. Members of the team go in-person into courses in the first few weeks of term to advise all first-years of the mental health support available, while students who have disclosed a disability - together with care leavers and estranged students - are invited to a dedicated transition day to ease the move into university life. Contextual offers were introduced at AUB in 2022, which cut the standard offer by 16 Ucas tariff points (equivalent to two grades at A-level). Among those eligible to receive one are students applying from areas with low levels of participation in higher education, those who have faced individual socio-economic challenges during their education, care leavers, and participants in the All Access AUB support programme for post-16s from groups under-represented on campus. The programme includes a summer residential and mentoring throughout the university application process.
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Overview
Bournemouth is a popular choice with applicants, who are drawn to both the coastal location and the fact that it punches well above its weight in the graduate employment stakes. It ranks among the top 20 modern universities for the proportion of graduates securing high-skilled employment. All students have the opportunity to undertake a work placement, with plenty meeting their future employer this way, and many courses are accredited by professional bodies. The university's strengths include film, television and the media, with the National Centre for Computer Animation producing a succession of graduates who have gone on to work in production companies. There are two main campuses - Talbot, which is home to the faculty of media and communication, the faculty of science and technology and the business school; and Lansdowne, which houses the faculty of health and social sciences. Bournemouth boasts a lively nightlife thanks to the town's two universities, and seven miles of stunning beach provide ample distraction when exams are over.
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Paying the bills
The Bournemouth sunshine comes free, but the university seeks to provide financial help for students struggling with the cost of living. More than 500,000 was paid out in hardship funds in 2022-23, with payments increased and thresholds tweaked to bring more students into range. The students' union runs a community kitchen and fridge for those struggling, while the university gives out food vouchers. Scholarships are under review, but the offering in 2023-24 included a 600 award for talented musicians, and 500 to 5,000 paid out to top-flight athletes. The most common means-tested award is the BU maintenance bursary, paid to all students from homes with an income of 16,000 or below. This is worth 2,400 for a typical three-year degree, paid at a rate of 800 per year. Care leavers qualify for a 9,000 bursary paid over three years, or 12,000 paid over four if they are taking a foundation year. University accommodation is plentiful and starts at 5,286 for 41 weeks, rising to 11,003 for the most expensive rooms on a 50-week contract.
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What's new?
A hub for all student services has opened on the Talbot campus, bringing together assistance for everything from money to accommodation to careers. Students seeking support with mental health problems can now go to the on-campus University Retreat, too. The collaboration with Arts University Bournemouth, AECC University College, the local NHS trust, Dorset Mental Health Forum and the Bournemouth Churches Housing Association offers a safe and welcoming space where students who are reaching crisis point can talk confidentially to support workers, volunteers and peer specialists. A new operating department practitioner degree apprenticeship admits its first students this month, and there are new BScs in educational psychology and e-sports digital technologies.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Nearly half of all applications made for admission in September 2023 qualified for a contextual offer. The AccessBU scheme takes account of all educational and social circumstances, and can lead to an offer that is up to two A-level grades (16 Ucas tariff points) lower than the published requirements. This has helped to build a diverse campus community where around 46% are the first in their immediate family to attend university. Students are expected to attend all lectures in person, although most lecture theatres and seminar rooms are equipped with lecture-capture technology, allowing recording to take place. For students who are struggling, the Achieve@BU team is there to signpost services such as additional learning support, mental health advisers and counselling. The 24-hour, year-round student assistance programme offers immediate online or telephone counselling, with support available in more than 250 languages. Some students are also referred to the Resurface wellbeing programme, which takes advantage of the university's location. This includes surfing, yoga, cold water immersion therapy and sauna experiences on the beach. Retreat (see What's new, above) is another interesting point of difference in the university's support package. A recent survey showed most students knew where to go for help. The university is also introducing a mandatory wellbeing and safeguarding training matrix for staff over the next 12 months.
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Overview
Students like Bishop Grosseteste. They consistently put the institution close to the top of the annual National Student Survey as they have done this year. The university also finished top of the 2023 Whatuni Student Choice awards for both student support and accommodation. It is one of the smallest universities in the country, with just 540 students admitted via Ucas last year, which possibly explains the high levels of satisfaction. Students are not simply a number here. However, applications for admission in September 2023 tumbled by 22% compared with the 2022 admissions cycle to their lowest level in the past decade. The proposed name change to Lincoln Bishop University, which has been submitted to the Office for Students for approval, could help stem the decline in applications simply by putting the university's location in its title. Bishop Grosseteste, or Bishop G, as it is affectionately known, started life in 1862 as a small Anglican teacher training college for women. There are now 43 degree choices (many with foundation year options) in addition to 10 teacher training programmes. Bishop G has enjoyed full university status since 2012. The campus mixes Victorian and modern architecture, with teaching, library and social facilities cheek by jowl.
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Paying the bills
More than one third of students get some form of financial support from the university, a reflection of the social and economic diversity of Bishop G's intake. Well over half the intake are the first in their immediate family to go to university. Bursaries are paid to students from homes where household income is 30,000 or less - a higher ceiling than the typical 25,000 threshold. Within this group, the most commonly awarded bursary of 800 for each year of degree study (or 600 for a foundation year) goes to mature students aged over 21 when they begin their course. Students whose home is in a postcode among the 20% sending fewest people into higher education also get an 800 annual bursary, while carers, estranged students and students with children get a 1,000 annual bursary. Care leavers get 3,600 a year in financial support. This resulted in the payment of 279 bursaries in 2023-24. Student rooms are competitively priced and about to become much more plentiful (see What's New? below). Prices in the older accommodation blocks are by far the cheapest, with Constance Stewart Hall, which has shared bathroom facilities, costing 5,658 for a 46-week tenancy. Wickham Hall has 126 ensuite rooms at 6,762 for 46 weeks, while prices in the new student village begin at 8,453 for 46 weeks. Longer 50-week contracts are available for all rooms.
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What's new?
From this month, Bishop G is more than doubling its stock of residential accommodation, which rises from around 200 rooms to more than 500. The new 293-room student village is situated just opposite the campus on Riseholme Road. The development is a mixture of eight-bedroom houses and apartments with a communal kitchen shared between six or nine. There is a small cinema room on site, and rooms range in size from 14 square metres up to 24 square metre studios. The latter cost 204.75 per week on a 46 or 50-week contract (9,418.50 to 10,237.50 per year respectively), while the cheapest rooms cost 183.75 per week (8,452.50 to 9,187.50). The addition of so many rooms should mean that the university can accommodate more than just first-years in university-owned rooms. Students enrolling next September might join a university with a different name to the one they applied to. In April 2024, the university applied to the Office for Students to change its name to Lincoln Bishop University, thereby consigning the most striking name in British higher education to history if the change is approved. Bishop Robert Grosseteste was Bishop of Lincoln in the 13th century and his name has been attached to the university and its immediate predecessor institutions since 1962. Next September will also see the addition of a BA in criminology with foundation year added to Bishop G's tight portfolio of degree programmes.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
Bishop G is expanding its contextual offers admission scheme for the 2025 application cycle, which is likely to diversify its student intake still further. An expanded list of eligibility criteria will include living in a postcode among the 40% sending fewest into higher education, being a care leaver, having attended Bishop G's Next Steps programme for Year 12 schoolchildren from disadvantaged backgrounds, or having a physical, mental or social disability (with Asperger's and autism included in the latter). Carers, refugees, travellers, students from military families and those estranged from their families will also qualify for an offer reduced by 16 Ucas tariff points, equivalent to two A-level grades, for students meeting one of the eligibility criteria, or a 32-point reduction (four A-level grades) for those who meet two or more. The university has recently piloted an Enhanced Service for Students - such as those admitted via contextual offers - who are prioritised under its Access and Participation Plan. Faculty engagement officers work closely with academic staff to monitor student attendance and engagement to identify students in danger of dropping out at an early stage and offer them extra support. The university has recruited two part-time twilight mental health advisers to provide support to students out of hours and all staff are given basic training in mental health awareness. 'As a small university, staff across all departments (both academic and professional support) take proactive steps to ensure students are aware of services or make referrals to support services on their behalf,' the university told us. There are mental health awareness-raising events, a wellbeing toolkit and pop-up events to support students and signpost the help available.
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Overview
A merger between Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and the former Writtle University College, on the outskirts of Chelmsford, Essex, was completed earlier this year. ARU Writtle, as it is now known, is renowned for its agriculture, horticulture, animal and environmental courses but had been operating in deficit. Following the opening of ARU Peterborough in 2022, ARU now has a truly regional footprint. Headquarters are on the main campus in Chelmsford and there is a further campus in Cambridge, which traces its origins back to the Cambridge School of Art, opened by patron John Ruskin in 1858. It recruits more than 60% of its students from within East Anglia (a region with few universities), who sign up to courses with key work skills embedded into the curriculum. It is the largest provider of nursing, midwifery and health and social care courses in England. The university will hope that the 21% tumble in applications for September 2023 - and a corresponding 11% drop in admissions - was just a blip given the recent expansion.
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Paying the bills
The ARU bursary is smaller than most, worth just 300 a year for students from homes with a household income of up to 25,000, and 200 for those at 25,001 to 42,875. Targeted help is more generous, such as a one-off payment of 400 to help students from homes with a household income of up to 25,000 purchase a laptop. Just over 140,000 worth of hardship payments were made in the 2023-24 academic year, too. Merit scholarships, which do not need to be applied for, offer 1,000 off tuition fees in the first year for those achieving BBB or above at A-level or equivalent. Overall, around one in six students received university financial support last year. Accommodation price increases have been pegged at 3.5% for the new academic year, putting the cost of the cheapest twin non-ensuite rooms at the Cambridge campus up to 4,805 for 40 weeks. ARU Writtle brings catered accommodation to ARU for the first time, with prices ranging from 4,955 to 6,914 per year for 30 weeks of catered and seven weeks of non-catered accommodation.
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What's new?
The merger that formed ARU Writtle, which is home to some 700 students, has significantly broadened ARU's course portfolio, and a new BSc in conservation and community engagement will be added from this month. A separate Writtle College has been created to preserve Writtle's capacity in the further education sector for 16 to 18-year-olds. ARU is investing 10m in upgrading the Writtle campus and extending its education and research opportunities over the next five years. Other new degrees taking their first students this month include a BEd in primary education with qualified teacher status, which is being offered in Chelmsford, Cambridge and Peterborough. Chelmsford also sees new degrees in biomedical engineering, supply chain management and computer games design, while Peterborough launches a degree in biomedical sciences, and Cambridge adds a BSc in biology to its roster. Three new degree apprenticeships - midwife, enhanced clinical practitioner for paediatric audiologists, and learning and skills teacher - join the existing 30 apprenticeships. In 2023-24, there were 3,000 students on apprenticeship programmes.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
'We have more than 31,000 students, mostly from under-represented groups,' the university told us. More than half of the students are the first in their immediate family to go to university. The university makes both contextual unconditional offers and conditional ones, which are two grades lower than the standard offer, to students who meet one of the criteria. These include living in a postcode among the 40% with the lowest levels of participation in higher education, receiving free school meals, having a parent in the Armed Forces or going to a school with a Progress 8 score of average or below. ARU's widening access to medicine policy reduces the required grades from AAA to ABB. Around one in five students gain a place with a contextual offer. ARU came top in the UK for health and wellbeing in a ranking published by Times Higher Education in 2022. The university trains students to work as peer wellbeing mentors, who run campaigns and activities. ARU's counselling and wellbeing service has also produced a series of mental health podcasts with students. More than 95% of teaching is delivered face-to-face, with some supporting sessions taught online. The university also offers approximately 40 distance learning courses, which are mostly delivered entirely online. A dedicated distance learning support team works with these students to help them engage with other online learners as well as their academic team.
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Overview
Britain's most northerly university is among the most prestigious. Founded as King's College in 1495, it mixes historic, creeper-clad buildings at the heart of the old city with striking, modern facilities elsewhere. Students are based on one of two central campuses - the modern Foresterhill for life sciences and medicine, and Old Aberdeen for arts, social sciences and physical sciences. Aberdeen's excellent air and rail connections ensure a strong national and international student presence, with more than 130 nationalities represented, despite the university's relative remoteness. Applications have been falling in recent times, however, with 16,525 seeking places through Ucas for admission last September - the lowest number in the past decade and 10% down on the year before. There are more than 400 degree options, including courses that serve the Scottish economy, such as mechanical engineering with oil and gas studies, and more unusual combinations, such as law with options in music. One in 10 students are eligible for contextual reduced grades offers under widening access criteria.
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Paying the bills
Around 10% of students qualify for financial support, and just over 1.5m was paid out last year. For Scottish students, who pay no tuition fees, there are scholarships worth up to 4,000 per year available for those who meet widening access criteria, such as receiving free school meals. Students from the rest of the UK (RUK) in households with a residual income of less than 22,020 are eligible for Access awards worth 3,000 a year, while all RUK applicants achieving AAA at A-level or equivalent qualify for Merit scholarships worth 5,000 for one year only, irrespective of household income. This falls to 3,000 for those gaining AAB or ABB at A-level, and 1,000 for all other RUK students. Medical students are not eligible for Merit scholarships. There are around 2,200 university rooms available. A catered room on a 40-week tenancy costs 6,680 presently, with self-catered accommodation starting at 3,960 for 40 weeks and rising to a maximum of 8,400 for 50 weeks. Aberdeen's private rental market has cooled due to the end of the oil and gas boom, so rents are cheaper than in many Scottish cities, too.
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What's new?
A 35m science teaching hub opened in 2022, designed to encourage chemistry, medical sciences, biological sciences and geosciences students to work together, and a new Centre for Interdisciplinary Research will further foster collaboration between subjects. This ties in with the university's Aberdeen 2040 strategy which identifies five interdisciplinary areas of study needed to address global concerns: social inclusion and cultural diversity; energy transition; data and artificial intelligence; health, nutrition and wellbeing; and environment and biodiversity. A new interpreter training suite has also been completed recently, and there are improvements being made to the library, laboratories, teaching and research spaces and the Biomedical Physics building. Medical students are benefiting from a new immersion room that can morph into any clinical environment, from an operating theatre to an intensive care unit, to give students the chance to respond to a realistic emergency situation. As part of Aberdeen's drive towards net zero, it is also upgrading its electrical infrastructure, installing air source heat pumps and improving cycle storage.
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Admissions, teaching and student support
The university is working hard to diversify its intake using contextual offers. Extensive eligibility criteria include living in the 40% of postcodes considered the most deprived in Scotland under the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD40) or a postcode in the bottom 20% for sending children into higher education in England; receiving free school meals; being estranged from parents; being care-experienced or a care provider; or attending one of 17 partner schools in the region. Contextual offers are tailored to individual applicants. In addition to the financial support mentioned in Paying the bills, above, students from the most deprived 20% of postcodes (SIMD20) in Scotland also get free university accommodation in their first year. The Aberdeen 2040 strategic plan has a focus on supporting mental health and wellbeing, too, and the university has offered a free counselling service with no waiting list for the past five years. Pet therapy sessions and a wellbeing cafe are run year-round by the multi-faith chaplaincy, and a week of health and wellbeing-related activities are held shortly after the start of each academic year for new and returning students. There is a mandatory online induction module for all students that covers sexual consent, and racial, sexual and social tolerance. Drugs and alcohol education is included in the BeWell week at the start of term.
Welcome to the second edition of the Mail University Guide. Higher education is the first major investment of adult life for the vast majority of students.
And for parents who educated their children in the state sector, it is perhaps the surprise expenditure they had not foreseen, at a time when they had expected the costs of raising children to go down.
The fact that university is not free makes the need to choose wisely all the more important which is where the Mail University Guide comes in.
We have created a new style of university guide which puts the university experience and students subsequent fortunes at its heart.
Our university ranking focuses on what students think about the quality of the teaching they receive, the support offered to them and their wider experience at university. This supplements core measures of success including students prospects in the graduate jobs market how many end up in high-skilled jobs what salaries they earn and whether graduates feel their careers are on track.
One type of university does not suit all, but there is one out there that will be a great fit for you
The balance of the 12 ranking measures the most broadly based assessment of university performance in the UK is made up of research quality and income, degree classifications, the proportion of students who progress to the second year of their degrees, and the average university entry grades.
Uniquely, we include a measure of a universitys ability to attract and support first-generation students on campus (those whose parents did not go to university).
And for the first time this year, we have calculated rankings online for 78 subject areas, a taste of which is published on pages 28-29 in this magazine.
Subjects are ranked on the experience recorded in the National Student Survey, this year completed by 346,000 final-year students, the jobs students go on to do and their assessment of whether their career is on track 15 months after graduation.
Our unique University Finder online tool lets you set your own criteria for ranking universities. If you dont like our selection and category weightings, you can apply your own to create a ranking tailored to your priorities.
You can also filter your selection by location, size, where students have been to school, the cost of accommodation, competition for places and many more criteria that might matter to you. Our extended online university profiles go even further than the information you will find in this magazine.
Each is broken into four sections an overview of the university, its students, location and leading areas of specialism. You will also find details of financial support available and accommodation prices; new developments; and admissions policies and student support.
These are turbulent times. Most institutions are seeking redundancies. Some have flagged publicly that they are in financial difficulty, others are cutting courses and streamlining modules, and there are predictions of a university bankruptcy (or two) in the near future. Our profiles of 132 UK universities give a flavour of this turmoil. Buyer beware.
University leaders are also making noises about inevitable rises in domestic tuition fees to balance the books.
However, when 1.8m recent graduates are saddled with student loan debt of more than 50,000 (with 61,000 having between 100,000 and 200,000 of student finance around their neck), it is questionable just how many families will understand the need to increase tuition fees as asserted last month by Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, which represents vice-chancellors.
For now, annual tuition fees in England remain at 9,250. Welsh fees align with Englands from this month, while Northern Irish students studying in Northern Ireland pay 4,750. Only in Scotland does university tuition remain free for Scottish students.
There are no maintenance grants in England any more, so students need to take out a separate maintenance loan, which often doesnt even cover the (mostly) soaring price of university accommodation. Which is where the Bank of Mum and Dad comes into play, or a life juggling studies and part-time work.
This guide seeks to identify the universities focused most keenly on the needs of todays students the innovators who see that ability, not background, matters.
Leicester is our University of the Year, while Imperial College London is top of our table for the second successive year, extending its lead over Oxford and Cambridge.
In different ways, Leicester and Imperial both represent the essence of a modern student-centric university.
Imperial followed up topping our ranking last year by becoming the top British university (and second in the world) in the 2025 QS World University Rankings this summer.
It leads in our graduate jobs measurements, with the highest proportions of graduates in high-skilled work and those feeling their careers are on track, as well as those earning the most.
For Nishan Canagarajah, Leicesters vice-chancellor, there is a strong focus on delivering for students while they are at university, too.
He says: We are driven by three values: to be inspiring, impactful and inclusive. Across different fields of endeavour, we encourage and support our students, whatever their background, to be inspiring and to be impactful. Our students matter and are at the heart of everything we do.
That culture helped Leicester win our top award this year. Leicester used to be the best-kept secret in British higher education, but a near 30% rise in applications to the university in the past two years has put paid to that. Our award will likely increase applications still further.
The job of this guide is to identify the hidden and lesser-known gems within our higher education system. Our online subject tables help identify individual centres of excellence within universities that might have otherwise unremarkable institutional rankings, for example.
For all the financial uncertainty, its a good time to be applying to university. A demographic dip means there will be fewer 18-year-olds for the next few years, so students have the upper hand. Cash-strapped universities were falling over themselves last month to get students signed up, with many who missed their grades still getting in.
Use this guide wisely, and this time next year you could be one of the 470,000 students about to start university.
Alastair McCall is honorary professor of quantitative studies at the University of Buckingham and deputy director of its Centre for Education and Employment Research. He has been compiling and editing university guides since 1998.
Our ranking is designed to test whether universities deliver on their promises to students. They all hold out the prospect of acquiring new knowledge and skills that youll deploy in a dazzling working life.
But the 129 universities ranked in this guide fulfil this objective with varying degrees of success.
Thats why we have introduced into this years ranking a measure of whether graduates feel their career is on track 15 months after leaving university. Not all do.
Our survey shows, however, that it is not always earning the big money and doing the big job that determines students judgments on their nascent careers. Six of the 10 universities where graduates feel they are most off-track are in London.
While Imperial College London tops all three of our jobs measures covering the proportion of graduates in high-skilled jobs, the size of their salaries and whether they feel their careers are on track other small universities such as Harper Adams and the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) have graduates who feel their mostly land-based careers are well on track (ranking third and fifth for this respectively) despite them not earning the big bucks.
One type of university does not suit all, but there is one out there that will be a great fit for you
The jobs criteria make up one-quarter of the scores that determine our league table the same weighting that we give to student satisfaction. This we glean from the annual National Student Survey (NSS) where we look at three core measures: teaching excellence, student support and student experience.
As the NSS is based on students assessments of the quality of their university experience, the expectations underlying the scores will vary from institution to institution. This partly explains why it is often the smaller universities, which are capable of giving more personal attention, that score much higher than some of the leading members of the elite Russell Group.
This year Bishop Grosseteste, a university of fewer than 2,500 students in Lincoln, records the top scores for teaching excellence, followed by Arts University Plymouth with barely 1,000 students, while Edinburgh, Leeds and Manchester, with around 41,000, 37,000 and 46,000 students respectively, all feature in our bottom 10 on this measure.
Edinburgh and Manchester have been consistently in the bottom 10 since the NSS was first published in 2005, yet were the two universities with the most applications last year. So, while students rate the teaching less kindly, applicants appreciate their academic clout, as well as the draw of the cities in which they are located.
Understanding these balances and what the rankings tell you can help you make the right choice.
One type of university does not suit all, but there is one out there that will be a great fit for you. And with subject by subject rankings based on student experience and graduate outcomes across 78 areas of study also available online at dailymail.co.uk/uni for the first time, this guide will help you find it.
What all of our scores actually mean
There are 12 key performance indicators in our table:
Teaching excellence: based on the views of around 346,000 final-year students when asked about their courses. (worth 10% of overall score)
Student support: based on student opinions on assessment and feedback from tutors, and quality of signposting for mental health support. (10%)
Student experience: based on the quality of resources and whether student feedback was valued. (5%)
High-skilled jobs: the proportion of graduates in high-skilled jobs 15 months after leaving. (15%)
Career on track: the proportion of students who feel their career is on track 15 months after leaving. (5%)
Graduate salaries: these range from 22,000 to 37,000. (5%)
First and 2:1 degrees: so many jobs now require them. This tells you your chance of getting a top degree. (10%)
Research quality: every six to seven years university research is graded. A high score shows large numbers of academics are working at the cutting edge of their subjects. (10%)
Research income: money received from research grants and contracts shown as a sum per head. This can indicate how much industry-relevant research is going on. (5%)
First-year completion: the percentage of students who advance from the first year to the second, which informs our Student Success award. (10%)
Ucas tariff points: what students need on average to win a place. (5%)
The Chinese lab that the FBI believes likely leaked Covid-19 may have also released a 'highly evolved' strain of polio in 2014.
A bombshell new study suggests that this polio strain, which infected a four-year-old boy amid a wider viral outbreak in China's Anhui province, is '99 percent' identical to a polio variant that was stored 200 miles away, during that same time period, at the infamous Wuhan Institute of Virology.
Researchers at France's Pasteur Institute cannot say with certainty where this strain, dubbed 'WIV14,' originated. But they insisted two possibilities 'must be explored' including the chance that WIV14 polio originated within the Wuhan institute itself.
'The findings underscore the shocking unsafe state of global virology research,' Harvard-trained molecular biologist Dr Richard Ebright, who was not involved with the research, told DailyMail.com.
Above, mid-20th century vials of old polio strains that were employed by the Pasteur Institute in their new study attempting to trace the origins of China's unusual WIV14 polio case
An unusual strain of polio that infected a four-year-old in China may have been a 'leak from a facility,' a new study contends. Above, security personnel stand guard outside China's Wuhan Institute of Virology as a United Nations team investigated Covid-19's origins in February 2021
The Pasteur researchers suspect that WIV14 polio, so named by the Wuhan scientists who first catalogued the strain, likely evolved from a well-preserved, 1950s strain of the virus used almost exclusively in vaccine production and laboratory settings.
The Wuhan lab's rough proximity to Anhui province and its burgeoning reputation for lax safety protocols have also added weight to this possible explanation.
If true, the theory would join a chorus of outcry over safety lapses at China's state-run infectious disease lab, whose US funding was cut last year by the Biden White House amid ongoing scrutiny on Capitol Hill over its role in the Covid-19 pandemic.
Although a global vaccination regime implemented across more than half a century has largely succeeded in eradicating the scourge of polio, cases have bloomed in conflict zones over the past few years, including Gaza, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
According to the UN's World Health Organization (WHO), 125 positive samples of polio appeared in Afghanistan last year, to China's west, with 34 more cases in 2024.
And for the first time a decade, polio remerged in the United States in 2022, with the virus being detected in sewage over 70 times during testing in in New York.
The Pasteur Institute's researchers compared DNA from the whole genome of the WIV14 polio strain against the 'Saukett A' strain used to make many polio vaccines.
They found only 70 nucleotides (nt) of difference between the two strains across genomes containing over seven thousand of the fundamental DNA building blocks.
While the researchers could not say with certainty where this polio strain originated, they offered two possibilities which they said 'must be explored' - including the chance that the polio originated at the Wuhan institute itself. Above, Virologists photographed working at WIV
Above, a table from the new study showing which regions of the unusual WIV14 polio genome differed most from the lab-held Saukett A strain. The tight locus of difference around mostly the 'Caspid' region increases the chance that WIV14 mutated from a Saukett A lab sample
'[Because] Saukett A and WIV14 share more than 99-percent nt similarity,' they wrote, '[it] is therefore possible that several undocumented PV [polio virus] leaks occurred in the past from facilities handling PVs.'
But, Dr Mael Bessaud, who directs the Pasteur Institute's center for tracking polioviruses, and his team cautioned: 'WIV14 could thus have emerged after a PV strain released anywhere in the world had circulated before being sampled in China.'
Dr Bessaud and his co-authors did, however, propose one theory that would lay the blame directly on medical researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV).
In this scenario, 'cross-contamination' at WIV would have led to a false positive mistaking a lab-leaked and slightly lab-mutated version of Saukett A for a new wild strain of polio, WIV14, in the 4-year-old child who was tested in 2014.
'According to that scenario,' as Dr Ebright explained it to DailyMail.com, 'it is a WIV lab strain and a WIV lab contamination.'
Above, two sets of BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) analyses conducted for the Pasteur Institute's new study: (a) the unusual wild polio strain WIV14 is compared to a variety of other polio strains; and (b) lab-held 'Saukett A' polio is shown to match WIV14 (blue line)
Above, an aerial view of the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV)
Back in 2014, this 4-year-old had been diagnosed with the WIV14 infection amid an outbreak of 'hand, foot, and mouth' disease in central China's Anhui province.
Both ailments, known as 'enteroviruses' for their infectious pathway through the digestive system, can be detected via similar stool sample tests tests which yielded the 'unexpected' WIV14 polio results in the young child.
Dr Bessaud and his Pasteur Institute colleagues' other hypothesis for the 4-year-old's unexpected polio results was simply that 'the child was genuinely infected by WIV14.'
'In this case, WIV14 would be the descendant of a PV strain of the 1950s,' they wrote, directly referencing the circa-1952 Saukett A strain, 'released from a natural reservoir in which it had lain dormant for decades or from a facility.'
'According to that hypothesis, the lab release occurred somewhere in China, but not necessarily at WIV,' according to Dr Ebright, who directs the Ebright Lab Rutgers University's Waksman Institute of Microbiology.
'It could be almost anywhere in China,' Dr Ebright told DailyMail.com.
The so-called 'Saukett A' strain of polio dates back to vaccine pioneer Dr Jonas Salk's landmark first tests in 1952, which heralded his cure for the literally crippling ailment.
Polio gained infamy as a disease for primarily attacking nerves within the spinal cord and brain stem, leading to limb paralysis, trouble breathing and at its worst a quiet suffocating death.
Ever since Dr Salk's breakthrough, biomedical manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies across the world have used the Saukett A strain to produce inactivated polio vaccine (IPV): the safest, noninfectious version of the treatment.
Government, university and private medical labs also frequently store vials of Saukett A, which is named after an adolescent boy in Pennsylvania whose polio strain was one of the three used by Dr Salk during his 1950s vaccine research.
But the strain has rarely been seen in such a pure form with such minimal mutations and so identical to its mid-century genetic make-up out in the wild.
Investigators with the Wuhan Institute of Virology's lab for 'special pathogens and biosafety,' in fact, were so perplexed by the WIV14 strain that they reported it as a 'highly evolved' mutation of another lab-held strain, named after Dr Albert Sabin.
Wuhan's virologists concluded that the 4-year-old in Anhui province had actually contracted a wild mutation of the weakly alive Sabin 3 Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV).
This 'highly divergent' and 'highly evolved' version of Sabin 3 polio found loose in the wild WIV warned in their 2017 paper for the journal Virus Research highlighted the dangers of new 'vaccine-derived polioviruses' (VDPVs) creating an outbreak.
WIV14, they wrote, highlights 'the risk of emergent VDPV strains, and emphasizes the importance of maintaining high routine vaccination coverage and herd immunity.'
But, as Dr Ebright noted to DailyMail.com, 'the authors of the new paper would not agree with that [i.e. the Sabin 3, VDVP theory] in any way.'
'Really the point of the new paper,' he said, 'is to say that that doesn't make sense.'
Above, Virologists photographed working at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in 2017 - the same year as the institute's study analyzing the curious WIV14 strain of polio, itself
The Pasteur Institute team forcefully contradicted the Wuhan virologists' findings in their new research pointing out that WIV14 and Sabin 3 varied across wide regions of their genomes, unlike WIV14 and Saukett A which only varied in the capsid region.
'WIV14 is genetically distant from Sabin 3 upstream and downstream the capsid region (82.30 percent and 82.26 percent nt identity, respectively),' they wrote in the journal Virus Evolution.
The Wuhan group's theory that WIV14 evolved from a modern Sabin 3-based oral vaccine's strain of the virus and 'evolved randomly' to closely resemble polio from the middle of the 20th century, they concluded, was 'improbable.'
'It is not impossible, but it is, I think, unlikely,' Dr Ebright, who did not work on the Pasteur study, told DailyMail.com.
'It's not a first-order explanation.'
'There are variants of the second hypothesis, in which the virus wasn't a lab release, but was somehow frozen in permafrost,' the Rutgers molecular biologist continued, 'or on the planet Mars or something.'
'But those should not be considered seriously,' he advised.
'These are possible alternatives, but are improbable.'
Regardless of the ultimate origin of this mysterious case of the WIV14 polio strain, Dr Ebright argues that the policy prescription still calls for stricter regulation of medical labs that handle these deadly viruses and other pathogens worldwide.
'Under either hypothesis (lab contamination or lab release),' Dr Ebright said, 'the findings underscore [...] the startlingly high frequency of virology-research incidents endangering the public and the urgent need for enhanced national and international oversight of biosafety, biosecurity, and bio-risk management.'
Scientists around the world were caught off guard on Wednesday as a previously undetected asteroid collided with Earth's atmosphere.
The one metre (3ft) wide asteroid was spotted just eight hours before it burned up over the Philippines in a spectacular fireball.
Luckily, the asteroid, named 2024 RW1, was too small to cause any damage.
However, its sudden arrival is a stark reminder of the dangers lurking within our solar system.
From the so-called 'Valentine's Day asteroid' to the deadly space rocks almost a mile wide, experts warn that several asteroids are at risk of smashing into Earth.
From the so-called 'Valentine's Day asteroid' to the deadly space rocks almost a mile wide, experts warn that several asteroids are at risk of smashing into Earth
Scientists around the world were caught off guard on Wednesday as a previously undetected asteroid collided with Earth's atmosphere
The 6 asteroids that could hit Earth 1. Bennu Diameter: 1,574 ft Odds of collision: 1/2,700 on September 24, 2182 2. 1950 DA Diameter: 6,561 ft Odds of collison: 1/34,500 on March 16, 2880 3. 2023 TL4 Diameter: 1,083 ft Odds of collision: 1/181,000 on October 10, 2119 4. 2007 FT3 Diameter: 2,165 ft Odds of collision: 1/11.5 million on October 5, 2024 5. 2023 DW Diameter: 166 ft Odds of collision: 1/1,584 on February 14, 2046 6. 1979 XB Diameter: 2,165 ft Odds of collision: 1/1.8 million on December 14, 2113 Advertisement
Asteroids colliding with Earth is far from an uncommon event.
In fact, NASA estimates that about 48.5 tonnes of meteoric material falls on Earth each day.
However, the vast majority of these objects simply burn up in the atmosphere to produce the flashing lights we recognise as shooting stars.
Objects large enough to punch through the atmosphere and actually collide with Earth are far rarer and don't often come within Earth's orbit.
Of course, just because asteroid collisions are unlikely, it does not mean they are impossible - and Earth already bears the scars of several such events.
Most famously, 66 million years ago a six-mile-wide (9.65km) asteroid crashed into the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico - wiping out the dinosaurs and leaving behind a 115-mile (185km) wide crater.
Even smaller rocks can have a devastating impact, as shown by the Chelyabinsk meteor, a 59 ft (18m) wide asteroid which exploded over Russia in 2013.
Despite being hundreds of times smaller than the meteor that killed the dinosaurs, the resulting shockwave injured 1,500 and damaged 7,300 buildings.
Due to these risks, NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) operate programs aimed at identifying, categorising, and tracking so-called Near Earth Objects (NEOs).
Currently, ESA has 1,634 NEOs on its 'risk list' - meaning that there is a non-zero chance these objects will hit Earth.
However, at present no asteroid is ranked above one on the Torino Scale - a chart which ranges from 0 (won't hit Earth) to 10 (will hit Earth, and will be catastrophic).
The Earth has been hit by devastating asteroids in the past such as the Chicxulub asteroid, which slammed into a shallow sea in what is now the Gulf of Mexico around 66 million years ago, creating an explosion that wiped out the dinosaurs
Experts say that another asteroid impact with Earth is a matter of when, not if (stock image)
1. Bennu
Discovered in September 1999, the asteroid Bennu is currently considered to pose one of the biggest risks to Earth.
At 1,574ft (0.49km) in diameter and weighing 67 million tonnes, Bennu is wider than the Empire State Building is tall and weighs 200 times as much.
Thanks to careful observation by NASA, scientists currently believe that Bennu has a one in 2,700 chance of hitting Earth on September 24, 2182.
If it were to collide with the planet, it would release energy equivalent to 1.4 billion tonnes of TNT.
Professor Dante Lauretta of the University of Arizona previously said that an impact with Bennu would release 'three times more energy than all nuclear weapons detonated throughout history'.
While this might not be quite enough to create the type of planet-destroying force which wiped out the dinosaurs it could still lead to millions of deaths.
The asteroid Bennu (pictured) is considered to pose the biggest threat to Earth and could hit our planet within the next 200 years
However, before you head to the bunkers, NASA's predictions of impact chance become more accurate the closer the asteroid comes to Earth.
So, with more than 150 years until its next close approach, it is likely that those odds may change quite significantly in the future.
Due to its size and risk to Earth, the asteroid has been the attention of intense scientific study.
In 2023, NASA's OSIRIS REx spacecraft managed to return a sample of the space rock to Earth.
This revealed that Bennu may contain the building blocks of life - including possible sources of water.
2. 2023 DW - The Valentine's Day asteroid
Forgetting the chocolates and flowers on Valentine's Day 2046 might be the least of your worries.
The asteroid 2023 DW is predicted to have a significant chance of colliding with Earth on February 14, 2046 - just in time to ruin your date plans.
At 166ft (50m) across, 2023 DW is about the same size as the asteroid that caused the devastating Chelyabinsk event back in 2013.
The Valentine's Day asteroid, 2023 DW, (pictured) has a slim possibility of hitting Earth on February 14, 2046
Given that the asteroid has been observed moving at 21.78 km/s relative to the sun, it could hit Earth with enough force to level an entire city.
When it was initially discovered, space agencies gave this collision worryingly strong odds of one in 607.
However, with more careful observation that risk has now been considerably lowered.
Last year Richard Moissl, head of the ESA's planetary defence office, further reduced the odds of the asteroid hitting Earth from one in 784 to one in 1,584.
Moissi previously told MailOnline: 'It will go down now with every observation until it reaches zero in a couple of days at the latest. No one needs to be worried about this guy.'
The 165-foot (50 m) space rock was given a one in 560 chance of impact but experts say it is now almost certain to miss the Earth
3. 1950 DA
For NASA to consider something a 'potentially hazardous object', it needs to be 460 feet (140 meters) in size with an orbit that brings it as close as within 4.6 million miles (7.5 million kilometres) of Earth's orbit around the Sun.
At 4,265ft (1.3km) in diameter and weighing 71 million tonnes, asteroid 1950 DA is over 90 times that size.
This makes 1950 DA the biggest asteroid that has a serious chance of colliding with our planet.
If it were to hit, the collision would release energy equivalent to detonating 75 billion tons of TNT - enough to trigger a global catastrophe like the one that wiped out the dinosaurs.
Currently, the asteroid is believed to have a one in 34,500 chance of hitting Earth on March 16, 2880.
In 2032, it will come within 6,959,357 miles (112,000,000 km) of Earth - a relatively close pass allowing for further observations.
NASA and ESA have already begun testing methods for pushing dangerous asteroids off course including slamming high-speed satellites into their surfaces.
Over the eight generations until 1950 DA reached Earth, a small disturbance could easily send it a safe distance from Earth.
A NASA spokesperson previously told MailOnline: 'If it is eventually decided 1950 DA needs to be diverted, the hundreds of years of warning could allow a method as simple as dusting the surface of the asteroid with chalk or charcoal, or perhaps white glass beads, or sending a solar sail spacecraft that ends by collapsing its reflective sail around the asteroid.
'These things would change the asteroid reflectivity and allow sunlight to do the work of pushing the asteroid out of the way.'
The asteroid 1950 DA has the potential to wipe out life on Earth. Based on its predicted orbit (pictured) the asteroid has a 1 in 34,500 chance of hitting Earth on March 16, 2880
4. 2023 TL4
Another asteroid which also has humanity-destroying potential is 2023 TL4.
After being spotted last year, scientists immediately recognised this huge asteroid as one of the biggest threats to Earth.
The space rock measures 1,083ft (0.33km) in diameter and is believed to weigh 43 million tonnes - more than 4,500 times the weight of the Eiffel Tower.
On collision, this could create a blast 150 times more powerful than that of the Tsar Bomba, the most powerful nuclear weapon ever detonated.
Current estimates suggest that there is a one in 181,000 chance of this asteroid colliding with Earth on October 10, 2119.
Just like 1950 DA, this should give space agencies enough time to push the asteroid off its course, should it appear to be on its way to Earth.
The space rock 2023 TL4 measures 1,083ft (0.33km) in diameter and is believed to weigh 43 million tonnes - more than 4,500 times the weight of the Eiffel Tower. Its orbit (pictured) will bring it dangerously close to Earth in 2119
5. 2007 FT3
While the odds of 2007 FT3 hitting Earth are low, it has the unwelcome distinction of being the asteroid with the chance of hitting Earth soonest.
If we get incredibly unlucky, this 2,165ft (0.34km) asteroid could hit Earth as soon as October 5th this year.
However, current observations of 2007 FT3's path give this only a one in 11.5 million chance of occurring.
The asteroid has slightly better odds of colliding with Earth on March 3, 2030, with a one in 10 million chance.
Although that may seem low, the odds of winning the Lotto jackpot are one in 45 million and many people still buy tickets each week.
Since the odds are higher than zero, the object is still on ESA's risk list and is considered a potentially hazardous object.
The asteroid 2007 FT3 could hit Earth as soon as October this year, however the odds are only one in 11.5 million
6. 1979 XB
The final object with a chance of causing serious damage to Earth is an asteroid called 1979 XB.
At 2,165ft (0.34km) in diameter and weighing 49 million tonnes, should 1979 XB hit Earth, it would easily be capable of destroying an entire city.
First spotted in 1979, scientists believe that this asteroid currently has a one in 1.8 million chance of hitting Earth.
What makes 1979 XB scary is that it has essentially been 'lost' since its discovery.
No one has observed 1979 XB in 40 years and so its orbit is poorly understood.
What predictions we do have are based on the initial observations taken immediately after its discovery.
Given that Earth was just hit by a previously undetected asteroid, this might leave many feeling understandably anxious.
The asteroid 1979 XB is scarier than most since it has been 'lost' for 40 years. The predictions we have of its orbit (pictured) are only based on observations taken shortly after its discovery which makes its true danger a mystery
How much danger are we really in?
Despite how scary these figures may seem, most scientists agree that the Earth is safe for now.
Dr Greg Brown, senior public astronomy officer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, told MailOnline: 'As of today, there are no known asteroids that are both large enough to be of concern and have a sizeable chance to impact the Earth.'
If any asteroids do hit Earth it is likely that they will fall over the ocean or over the remote regions which still make up the majority of the planet's surface.
This renders the risk of any serious devastation from a meteoric impact extremely low.
However, that does not mean that the Earth is completely safe.
While the risk of a collision remains extremely low, scientists warn that some sort of dangerous encounter is inevitable in the very long run. This is why space agencies are investing in planetary defence systems (artist's impression)
While big impacts are very rare, Dr Brown points out that 'asteroid impacts are a case of when, not if.'
That is why space agencies around the world are investing huge funds into planetary defence projects.
These include ESA's DART mission which managed to knock an asteroid off course with kamikaze satellite in 2022.
Dr Brown adds: 'It is important that we continue to improve our ability to track these objects and work on measures to protect ourselves if they occur.'
Sara says that it's the 'real deal when it comes to refresher breaks'
At Damchen Lhakhang, a tiny 14th century monastery in Bhutans Gangtey valley, a dozen monks sit cross-legged, faintly swaying as they chant. A hundred butterlamps flicker, and through the glassless windows alpenglow settles over the foothills of the eastern Himalayas.
The monks, mostly young, have come for a week from a far-off valley to practise their devotions; I had seen them the previous day disgorging from the bus. They sit in the chorten turning over leaves of sacred text written in a script like barbed wire on paper made from the boiled bark of the Himalayan firethorn.
Enveloped in the mountainous belt between China and India, landlocked Bhutan, approximately the size of Switzerland, is carved into a sequence of valleys, cut off from one another for most of the regions history, let alone from the world.
Bhutan didnt have an airport until 1983. Much of the less developed east still functions as a non-cash barter economy you can pay taxes in hand-woven textiles.
Wellness retreats can be rather counterproductive no matter how fine the massages and total the seclusion as they tend to melt away as soon as the hard shoulder of the M1 rushes back into view. The Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan, though, is the real deal when it comes to refresher breaks. To a certain extent, the whole country, known by its people as Druk Yul, is a spa.
Splendour: Sara Wheeler journeys through the Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan. Above, sunset bathes the 'magnificent' Punakha Dzong fortress and the Mo Chhu river
After Damchen Lhakhang, I hike to the 12,300ft Kayche La pass through forests of rhododendron, hemlock and poinsettia taller than me.
In the valley far below, black-necked cranes are picking at the potato fields. Spuds are the main cash crop, since Gangtey is too high even for red rice to grow. The sacred cranes, considered reincarnated beings, migrate to these wetlands for the winter.
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, head of government as well as the nation, rules as a benign Buddhist despot. It was his father, the fourth king, who devised the Gross National Happiness index to replace Gross National Product as an indicator of wellbeing.
People do seem pretty happy. There are 800,000 Bhutanese but not a single set of traffic lights in the whole country.
Sara stays in several Six Senses lodges during her visit. Above - poolside seats offer a serene view of the mountains that surround the Six Senses lodge at Thimphu, the capital
Most impressively, Bhutan is carbon neutral, which means its emissions are net zero. Broadleaf and conifer forest covers most of the lowlands.
Tibetan culture has permeated every aspect of Bhutanese life from architecture (houses built from interlocking wood panels, without nails, often with ornately embellished overhangs and trefoil arches) to cuisine.
The unexpectedly fabulous Bhutanese food makes heavy use of Himalayan herbs, pungent honeys, shrubs such as wild sea buckthorn, steamed dumplings (momo) and mountains of chillies. Paro in the west lies on the old trading route to Tibet.
A young man tells me his grandfather had walked those paths. Gold traders would come down and stay at my grandmothers on their way to India. They offered her shards of gold when they left the next morning, but she didnt know what gold was, so she didnt take any.
Glory: Above is the Dordenma Buddha statue in Thimphu, which stands 169ft tall. On the slopes outside Thimphu Sara has a one-to-one guided meditation with a Buddhist master
In each valley, at least one gung chim (farmhouse) has a wooden bathtub in which people can place stones from the river and heat them, enabling the whole village to enjoy a famous Bhutanese hot-stone massage. And this extraordinarily relaxing therapy is available at Six Senses lodges in Thimphu and Bumthang.
I go for the full Bhutanese works. In Gangtey I have a steam-box treatment your head stays out of the box and, since I have knackered knees like everyone my age, I also have my first go at Sukshma vyayam, a yogic practice that supposedly loosens joints and releases energy. And, do you know, it did!
To treat my equally knackered mind, on the slopes outside Thimphu, the capital, I take a one-to-one guided meditation with a rinpoche, or Buddhist master.
Every Bhutanese is obliged to make a pilgrimage once in their life to Taktsang, the nine-temple Tigers Nest monastery in Paro Valley (seen above), reveals Sara
We sit there quietly while griffin vultures wheel in the thermals outside. My rinpoche tells me to meditate for one minute, 20 times a day. There is something holistic about everything in Bhutan.
In each valley, I stay in a Six Senses lodge luxurious timber low-rises that seem to emerge from the ground like the black pines. There are five in the country, strung out in a necklace, and I travel between them in a car with a driver and guide, both of whom stay with me for eight days. No drive is longer than five hours.
Each of Bhutans 20 dzongs, or regions, has its own fortress, most of them built in the 17th century.
Punakha Dzong on the confluence of the Pho Chhu and the Mo Chhu is the most magnificent. In its innermost sanctum, schoolgirls are performing the kora, walking clockwise round walls of prayer wheels.
Every Bhutanese is obliged to make a pilgrimage once in their life to Taktsang, the nine-temple Tigers Nest monastery in Paro Valley. Taktsang is Bhutans main tourist attraction. (Its worth using walking poles my guide has a pair for me for the three-mile hike up.)
People take religion seriously in Bhutan, and not just at the monasteries. They prostrate themselves on the street on the way to work. Even the black-necked cranes circle the Gangtey monastery three times in a clockwise direction when they fly in from Tibet.
Around Gangtey and Punakha, semi-nomadic yak herders have just come down for the summer and are milling in the lanes with their pack-ponies. An elite group of Bhutanese herders harvest cordyceps sinensis, also known as the caterpillar fungus, which grows only above 11,500ft and is hugely prized in China for its immunity-boosting properties.
Culture: Sara says she 'loves everything about' Bhutan. Above, a masked dancer performs
Bhutan only has one helicopter, but you occasionally hear its whirring blades in the valleys, landing to collect baskets of cordyceps from herders who have grown rich. This rare fungus lives as a parasite on particular moths, and is dangerous to collect.
Bhutan is not a paradise. Thimphu already has a Starbucks. There is a brain drain (to western Australia, mostly). A klaxon of doom sounds from the new city of Gelephu, which His Majesty announced last year.
This special administrative region will have a rail link to India the first ever connecting Bhutan with the world beyond. And despotism always has a dark side. The gross national happiness of the persecuted ethnic Nepalese community is not factored into the overall equation.
Still, the Bhutanese are hanging on to their cultural identity. Since opening up to the outside world in the 1970s, the country has fostered high-income, low-impact tourism, charging $100 per day per person as a sustainable development fee effectively a tourist tax. It seems to be working.
In many ways, Druk Yul, Land of the Thunder Dragon, is a model of what tourism can be. I love everything about it.
Europes five best and worst airports have been revealed by a study that analysed average Google Review ratings.
A Turkish airport took the crown in the Holidu survey, with airports in Portugal and Greece also featuring in the top five.
At the other end of the scale, a UK airport landed third from bottom, while an airport in Crete was named as Europe's worst place to catch a flight. Read on for the full ranking, presented in reverse order...
Europe's five best airports
NO.5 - ZURICH AIRPORT, SWITZERLAND
A new study based on Google reviews has ranked Europe's best and worst airports. Zurich Airport was the fifth-best airport in Europe and has more than 80 shops, according to the study
Zurich Airport is Europe's fifth-best, according to the study, with a Google rating of 4.3 out of five based on more than 26,000 reviews.
The study notes that the airport has more than 80 shops and the 'largest selection of Swiss chocolate at any airport in the world'.
NO.4 - VACLAV HAVEL AIRPORT, CZECHIA
One traveller described Prague's Airport (fourth best) as offering a 'stress-free travel experience'
Prague's airport is the fourth best-rated in the world, according to the results of the study.
It has a 4.3 rating on Google based on more than 26,000 reviews, with one traveller, 'Alex Fomin', saying it offered a 'stress-free travel experience'.
NO.3 - ATHENS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Athens International Airport (third best) offers a 'smooth and efficient security process' according to one reviewer
Athens International Airport was rated the third-best airport in Europe, with a score of 4.3 on Google based on more than 49,000 reviews.
Reviewer 'Juan Flores' said the security process was 'smooth and efficient', while 'Ivan Filipov' said it was 'very well organised, clean and logical'.
NO.2 - FRANCISCO DE SA CARNIERO AIRPORT, PORTO, PORTUGAL
Francisco de Sa Carniero Airport (second best) has a 4.4 rating on Google
Porto's airport just missed out on the top spot, coming second place in the ranking. The study notes that it has a 4.4 rating on Google, based on more than 26,000 reviews.
Reviewer 'Waner Tavares' said: 'Porto Airport impresses with swift security, friendly staff and a clean environment.'
NO.1 - ISTANBUL AIRPORT, TURKEY
Istanbul Airport (first overall) is 'enormous' and it's 'exceptionally clean and well maintained'
Istanbul Airport took the top spot with a rating of 4.4 based on more than 100,000 Google reviews, according to the study results.
Google reviewer 'Highway Video' said: 'The airport is enormous, exceptionally clean and well maintained.'
Europe's five worst airports
NO.5 - BRUSSELS-SOUTH CHARLEROI AIRPORT, BELGIUM
Brussels- South Charleroi Airport (fifth worst) has a Google rating of just 3.2 based on more than 19,000 reviews
Brussels-South Charleroi Airport is the fifth worst-rated in Europe, according to the study.
Its Google rating is just 3.2 based on more than 19,000 reviews on the platform. 'Odin Van Helvoort' said: 'Worst airport I have ever been to, charging money to go to the toilet. Even then the toilets are broken and nasty.'
NO.4 - BERLIN WILLY-BRANDT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, GERMANY
Berlin Willy-Brandt International Airport (fourth worst) has a 'cramped gate departure space' according to one reviewer
Willy-Brandt International Airport in Berlin ranks fourth-worst in Europe, with a 3.1 rating on Google, based on more than 34,000 reviews, the study notes.
Reviewer 'Francisco Parisio' said: 'Luggage delivery took longer than an hour, tiny elevators to exit the gate and gate departure space is cramped.'
NO.3 - MANCHESTER AIRPORT, UK
Manchester Airport (third worst) has a 3.1 rating out of five on Google
Manchester Airport is Europe's third-worst place to fly from, according to the study, which notes it has a 3.1 rating on Google based on more than 27,000 reviews.
The airport's Terminal 3 was recently ranked as the worst airport in the UK by a Which? Travel survey.
'Javier Ruiz', a reviewer on Google, said: 'The security is slow and chaotic when you depart and slow when you arrive.'
And 'Kathryn Barrow' said: 'Terminal 3 is quite awful. Not enough seats, hardly any shops, no seats at the gates.'
However, Manchester Airport disputes that any solid conclusions can be drawn from the 27,000 Google reviews.
A Manchester Airport spokesperson said: 'Review websites often use unverified and unreliable data something Google itself acknowledges - and paint a confusing picture for consumers and airports themselves in terms of understanding what they do well and what they can do better. Thats why we are part of Airports Council Internationals independent benchmarking programme which gathers data from airports all over the world based on in-the-moment passengers surveys.
'It tells us that between January and July this year, more than 80 per cent of our passengers rated their experience of the airport as good, very good or excellent.
'YouGov also produces well-sourced data based on a representative sample that rates Manchester as the fourth-best airport in the UK.'
NO.2 - BORDEAUX-MERIGNAC AIRPORT, FRANCE
One reviewer described their experience at Bordeaux-Merignac Airport (second worst) as 'appalling and unsatisfactory'
Bordeaux's airport ranked second from bottom in the study, based on a score of 2.8 on Google from more than 12,000 reviews.
'Alice Fimpel' wrote on Google Reviews: 'My experience in this airport was appalling and unsatisfactory. The wait time to check in luggage took over an hour and there was another one hour queue after security.'
NO.1 - HERAKLION AIRPORT, CRETE, GREECE
Heraklion Airport (worst overall) in Crete was 'lacking in cleanliness' according to one visitor
Heraklion Airport in Crete was named the worst airport in Europe, with a 2.6 Google rating based on more than 21,000 reviews, according to the study.
Google reviewer 'Corentin Boquelet' wrote: 'The Heraklion Airport is quite small and doesn't seem well-maintained. The cleanliness is lacking, especially in the limited sanitary facilities available.'
EUROPE'S FIVE BEST AND FIVE WORST AIRPORTS Europe's five worst airports 1. Heraklion Airport, Crete, Greece 2. Bordeaux-Merignac Airport, France 3. Manchester Airport, UK 4. Berlin Willy-Brandt International Airport, Germany 5. Brussels-South Charleroi Airport, Belgium Europe's five best airports 1. Istanbul Airport, Turkey 2. Francisco de Sa Carneiro Airport, Portugal 3. Athens International Airport, Greece 4. Vaclav Havel Airport, Czechia 5. Zurich Airport, Switzerland Source: Holidu Advertisement
The ranking, says Holidu, was created by extracting the average score from Google Maps and the number of reviews for the 100 busiest airports in Europe based on the number of passengers. Using this data from Google Maps, each airport was ranked from highest to lowest, prioritising those with the most reviews. All airports in Russia, Ukraine and non-operational airports have been removed from this ranking.
For the full ranking visit www.holidu.co.uk/magazine/the-european-airport-index.
Prime Videos' The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power brought a character to life who J.R.R. Tolkien first wrote about 90 years earlier on this week's new episode.
The character is none other than Tom Bombadil (Rory Kinnear), who fans of Tolkien's work may recognize, though those who have only seen the adaptations of his work may not.
Tom Bombadil was first seen in print in the 1934 Tolkien poem The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, 20 years before The Lord of the Rings was published in 1954.
The character was also featured briefly in The Lord of the Rings book, though he has not been brought to life in any of the animated or live-action adaptations, until now.
Following the massive three-episode Season 2 premiere last week, The Rings of Power slows things down a bit to set up some important pieces in the episodes to come... ending with a rather shocking move made by Galadriel (Morfydd Clark).
Prime Videos' The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power brought a character to life who J.R.R. Tolkien first wrote about 90 years earlier on this week's new episode
Following the massive three-episode Season 2 premiere last week, The Rings of Power slows things down a bit to set up some important pieces in the episodes to come... ending with a rather shocking move made by Galadriel (Morfydd Clark)
The debut of Tom Bombadil will certainly be lauded by Tolkien devotees, since, while he may be a 'minor' character in the scope of his stories, he has been written about for decades.
Tolkien was always coy about the character's origins, which has lead to many Tolkien scholars devoting numerous writings about what he truly represents.
Showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay offer no more answers than Tolkien, though they hint many times that he is something not of this world.
The episode - written by Glenise Hooper and directed by Louise Hooper and Sanaa Hamri - features Bombadil hinting that he is the 'eldest' of all things, claiming to have remembered the 'first raindrop and the first acorn.'
He is also clearly some form of wizard, displaying his control over fire and wind... while even turning a piece of paper into a piece of meat for The Stranger to eat.
While The Stranger was poring over his piece of paper with alignments of stars that he thinks will lead to the staff that will seemingly unlock his identity... it seems Tom Bombadil is who he's been looking for all along.
The Stranger finally realizes that 'old Tom' is exactly who he was looking for, as Tom hints that he will need to train him some and confirming that The Stranger's task is in fact to confront both Sauron (Charlie Vickers) AND the Orc leader Adar (Sam Hazeldine).
Still, given how many storylines are at play, it remains to be seen how often fans will encounter Tom Bombadil in Season 2 and beyond.
The debut of Tom Bombadil will certainly be lauded by Tolkien devotees, since, while he may be a 'minor' character in the scope of his stories, he has been written about for decades
While The Stranger was poring over his piece of paper with alignments of stars that he thinks will lead to the staff that will seemingly unlock his identity... it seems Tom Bombadil is who he's been looking for all along
The Stranger finally realizes that 'old Tom' is exactly who he was looking for, as Tom hints that he will need to train him some and confirming that The Stranger's task is in fact to confront both Sauron (Charlie Vickers) AND the Orc leader Adar (Sam Hazeldine)
The episode begins with Elrond (Robert Aramayo) and Galadriel setting off on their journey from Lindon to track down Sauron, though they quickly find themselves at an impasse with an impossible decision to make.
The bridge they planned on taking was destroyed in a most extreme manner, forcing the party to go south through a forest, though Galadriel - with the help of her ring - senses 'evil' in the woods and protests, though Elrond commands they go through.
They soon learn why the letter High King Gil-Galad (Benjamin Walker) sent to Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) was never sent, finding the dead horse and the letter in the woods.
They're soon attacked, as Elrond shows his mettle as a commander, fending off a small gathering of undead soldiers, killing them with the blades they were slain with.
While this traveling party - which also includes new characters Camnir (Calam Lynch) and Rian (Selina Lo) was looking for Sauron... they happened to find Adar, marching towards Eregion with his Orc army.
Elrond decides that King Gil-Galad must know of the Orc army and decides to head to Eregion to warn him, with Galadriel using her powers with the ring Nenya to mystically heal a soldier struck with a stray Orc arrow, which stuns the soldier and Elrond.
She insists on distracting the Orc army by herself, allowing them to get away, but also insists that Elrond takes Nenya with him.
While the rescued soldier marveled at her sacrifice, a disappointed Elrond mentioned she didn't do it for them... she did it to save the ring Nenya.
Now with one of the three Elven rings forged by Celebrimbor in the hands of the rings' biggest skeptics, it will be intriguing to see if Elrond falls prey to the ring's power at some point this season.
While this traveling party - which also includes new characters Camnir (Calam Lynch) and Rian (Selina Lo) was looking for Sauron... they happened to find Adar, marching towards Eregion with his Orc army
This episode also catches fans up with Nori (Markella Kavenagh) and Poppy (Megan Richards), who haven't been seen since being sucked into the powerful sandstorm The Stranger created in Episode 2.
They encounter a brand new type of character known as a Stoor when they run into Merimac (Gavi Singh Chera), a rather bumbling young Stoor who ultimately takes them into his village... much to the dismay of Stoor leader Gundabale (Tanya Moodie).
While Gundabale naturally doesn't trust these Harfoots, she learns that these people may have a connection to the Harfoot leader Sadoc Burrows (Lenny Henry).
When Nori casually mentions Sadoc to Gundabale, she shows Nori and Poppy drawings and tells of a Stoor who was 'not like the rest.'
This stoor had a dream of a place where the rolling hills were so soft one could dig into the hill and make a home within a month.
He called this mystical place Suza-t, and he took a caravan of followers to find this place, promising to come back for the rest... though that was the last they heard of this Stoor... named Rorymass Burrows.
While it's unclear how Sadoc is connected to this other Burrows, Gundabale asks if Nori and Poppy are there to lead them to the Suza-t.
A sad Nori tells her that Rorymass never found the Suza-t and her Harfoot people, 'just kept wandering,' adding sadly, 'We don't have a home.'
The Dark Wizard's minions ultimately find the Stoors, with Gundabale protecting Nori and Poppy, and with the gold-masked minion insisting he'll return with the Dark Wizard, that will likely lead to Nori and Poppy hitting the road with the Stoors.
This episode also catches fans up with Nori (Markella Kavenagh) and Poppy (Megan Richards), who haven't been seen since being sucked into the powerful sandstorm The Stranger created in Episode 2
They encounter a brand new type of character known as a Stoor when they run into Merimac (Gavi Singh Chera, above), a rather bumbling young Stoor who ultimately takes them into his village... much to the dismay of Stoor leader Gundabale (Tanya Moodie).
A sad Nori tells her that Rorymass never found the Suza-t and her Harfoot people, 'just kept wandering,' adding sadly, 'We don't have a home'
After three straight episodes in a row, the fourth episode does a good job of slowing things down a bit and putting all of the pieces in place for the back half of Season 2.
There's so much more to discuss so we're breaking down The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 4's 5 biggest moments below.
1) Tom Bombadil Has Finally Arrived... 90 Years Later
J.R.R. Tolkien published The Adventures of Tom Bombadil in 1934 in The Oxford Magazine, and 90 years later, the character has finally come to life.
Rory Kinnear delivers a fascinating performance as this mysterious character, who The Stranger (Daniel Weyman) comes across in his travels.
He hints at being 'the eldest' person in perhaps the entire world, and claims he was there when the first raindrop fell, and he does so in such an earnest way you almost have to believe him... despite how unreal the claims may be.
Even the Dark Wizard (Ciaran Hinds) was given pause when he was told that The Stranger is heading towards this 'hermit,' hinting that this hermit wizard's powers are not to be taken lightly.
Since Tolkien's portrayal of Bombadil in the page is equally fraught with mystery, it will be intriguing to see where the showrunners take this mystical character.
J.R.R. Tolkien published The Adventures of Tom Bombadil in 1934 in The Oxford Magazine, and 90 years later, the character has finally come to life.
2) Galadriel's Sacrifice: For the Ring or For Elrond and His Party?
While Galadriel's bravery is of no surprise at this point, her sacrifice to distract a huge company of orcs was quite stunning.
Alone with only her bow and arrow and a few daggers at her side, she bravely took on these foul creatures to allow Elrond to retreat and warn Eregion of the orc army.
Surprisingly, she also insisted that Elrond - perhaps the one person in all Middle-earth who despises The Rings of Power the most - to keep her ring safe.
Elrond and one of his soldiers even saw the ring's power first hand, as Galadriel used it to heal a stomach wound from a stray orc arrow.
While Galadriel was captured by Adar, fans are left wondering if she sacrificed herself for Elrond or... as Elrond himself suggested... the ring itself.
Surprisingly, she also insisted that Elrond - perhaps the one person in all Middle-earth who despises The Rings of Power the most - to keep her ring safe
3) The Ents Arrive... And They're Glorious
The end of Episode 3 featured Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin) looking up at a rather immense creature... which is revealed to one of two Ents.
Ents are massive sentient beings who essentially resemble massive trees, who were featured in the original Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Fans are introduced to two new Ents - the male Snaggleroot (Jim Broadbent) and female Winterbloom (Olivia Williams) - who not only trapped Theo but the wild men they were trying to get Isildur's (Maxim Baldry) horse back from.
It was Arondir (Ismael Cruz Cordova) who realized that it was Ents who had captured Theo, and tracked them down.
The Ents are not ones to be trifled with, revealing they came from afar when learning how the orcs destroyed the forest.
Arondir makes peace with the tree-beings, promising that the woods would be protected from now on under his watch.
While it seems The Ents may have a small closed-off arc, it would be quite the spectacle to see these massive trees in battle later this season.
4) A Huge Lord of the Rings Easter Egg Was Dropped...
When Gundabale tells the story of the Stoors to Nori and Poppy, she mentions the nomadic Stoor set off on a journey to find a place called the Suza-t.
That word in the Westron language in Middle earth literally translates to Shire, the beloved home of the hobbits in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Stoors and the Harfoots are two of the three breeds of hobbits, along with the fallohides, which the Baggins' belong to.
Given that Rings of Power is set thousands of years before The Lord of the Rings, it's possible that the show will reveal the origins of what became known as The Shire.
The show is set during the Second Age of Middle-earth, with The Shire established in the Third Age, so it remains to be seen how this history will play out during the show.
After fans learned that Estrid (Nia Towle) has been using a makeshift brand to cover up her dark mark of Adar (Sam Hazeldine), it didn't take long for Arondir to find out
5) Estrid's Dark Secret is Finally Revealed...
After fans learned that Estrid (Nia Towle) has been using a makeshift brand to cover up her dark mark of Adar (Sam Hazeldine), it didn't take long for Arondir to find out.
After noticing her flirting with Isildur, he notices the mark, interrogating her briefly before putting her in shackles for the rest of the trip.
Still little is known about why she bowed to Adar in the first place, though she still does seem to have some good in her.
When given the chance to escape after both Isildur and Arondir are subdued by a massive swamp monster, she does come back and try to save them.
However, when her shackles are removed, she does try to steal Isildur's sword, though it turns out she wasn't lying about her 'betrothed,' as it's revealed as Hagen (Gabriel Akuwudike) - one of the wild men captured along with Theo - is her man.
Kate Garraway made an emotional plea to viewers of Good Morning Britain on Thursday and revealed the backlash she's endured after her documentary about her husband Derek Draper was released.
The 57-year-old TV presenter asked fans to vote for her heartbreaking ITV documentary charting her husband Derek's final year of life, after it landed an NTA nomination last month.
Kate Garraway: Derek's Story is the third project from the GMB star to pick up a nomination in the best authored documentary category.
It follows on from her previous two documentaries about his Covid battle and her own struggles navigating the care system, which won in 2021 and 2022.
As they finished up a chat with Martin Lewis, Kate's co-host Ed Balls said: 'I'm just going to say, Kate Garraway for her fabulous documentary Derek's story is also nominated for an NTA.'
Kate Garraway made an emotional plea to viewers of Good Morning Britain on Thursday and revealed the backlash she's endured after her documentary about her husband Derek Draper was released
The 57-year-old TV presenter asked fans to vote for her heartbreaking ITV documentary charting her husband Derek's final year of life, after it landed an NTA nomination
The duo then welcomed Lorraine onto the show, who congratulated the presenter on her nomination.
Kate went on to confess to Lorraine Kelly and her co-host Ed Balls: 'I haven't posted I've been nominated yet because I got so much backlash from doing it, for people saying "stop going on about it". But actually, I realise I'm letting people down.
'One of the biggest frustrations was that he felt like a total failure, he felt like an incredible burden on the carers, on the system, on us and it didn't matter what we said, he felt that burden, and he wanted to be a contributor.'
She added: 'It's wonderful to have the chance to honour him and also honour the millions.
'I'm sad because I don't have the chance to care anymore but I felt it would be wrong for me to sort of walk away from the caring campaign that I feel I have a responsibility for.'
The political lobbyist died in January, aged 56.
Filmed in May 2023, the documentary, which has been praised by critics, confronted the reality of Derek's struggles and the effect on those around him in never-before-seen images and footage.
Kate's late husband was plagued with health woes after contracting Covid in March 2020, which saw him put in a coma, battle sepsis and left with difficulties communicating.
As they finished up a chat with Martin Lewis, Kate's cos-host Ed Balls said: 'I'm just going to say, Kate Garraway for her fabulous documentary Derek's story is also nominated for an NTA'
Kate went on to confess to Lorraine Kelly and her co-host Ed Balls: 'I haven't posted I've been nominated yet because I got so much backlash from doing it, for people saying 'stop going on about it'. But actually, I realise I'm letting people down
Dereks Story features him talking on camera for the first time since his health battle as he admitted: 'I want to be heard.'
In the documentary Kate also opened up about the crippling debt she accrued caring for Derek, admitting she's at 'crunch point'.
Faced with a debt of up to 800,000 Kate confessed: 'Derek's care costs more than my salary from ITV and that's before you pay for a mortgage or household bills or anything for the kids - so that is a crunch point.
'We are in debt and I can't earn enough money to cover my debt because I'm managing Derek's care.
'I can't even use the money I do have to support Derek's recovery because it's going to the basics all the time.
'I'm not going to pretend I'm poorly paid but it's not enough.
'Time and time again the state tells us Derek is not sick enough to qualify for state funded care.
'I've appealed but that still hasn't been processed three years later. If this is what's it like for me then what's it like for everybody else?'
Kate Garraway: Derek's Story aired in March ITV, chronicling the former political lobbyist's final year of life before his death in January aged 56
Derek had been plagued with health woes after contracting the virus in March 2020, which saw him put in a coma, battle sepsis and left with difficulties communicating (pictured 2019)
In the documentary Kate also opened up about the crippling debt she accrued caring for Derek, admitting she's at 'crunch point'
Kate continued: 'Something has to be done or the whole service, the people working in it, everything is going to break.
'We are entirely reliant on extraordinary carers but the system they work for is incredibly complicated and underfunded...
'Why is it people get sick and it's no longer considered the right thing for them to be in hospital, why does coming home feel like falling off a cliff?'
Former Labour insider and psychotherapist Derek married presenter Kate in 2005 and they went on to welcome children Darcey, 17, and Billy, 14.
In 2021, just over a year after contracting Covid, he was able to leave hospital and return to his family home in north London, with round-the-clock care.
In August 2022 he was taken to hospital with sepsis but pulled through. Then in early December 2023, Derek had a heart attack and was taken to hospital again.
Tragically, he wasn't able to overcome the latest medical emergency and on January 5 Kate confirmed that Derek died.
In a post on social media, she said that her husband died surrounded by family and that she was 'holding his hand throughout the last long hours'.
She said his Covid infection had left him with lasting damage to his heart which had led to 'further complications'.
Kate also thanked the medical teams for making his final moments as 'comfortable and dignified as possible.'
Groundbreaking BBC drama The Project is reportedly returning after a whopping 22 years off screens.
The Project, which has not been seen or available anywhere since its debut in 2002, will feature Succession and Bond Stars portraying lead roles.
The drama series follows the lives of a group of young Labour Party activists from their final days of university to Westminster's corridors of power.
Their journey takes us deep into the world of New Labour headquarters in Millbank, and later Downing Street, exposing the machinations behind the party's transformation into the sharp, media-aware voice of professional, middle-England.
As their respective stars begin to rise within New Labour, it's not just their friendship that's at risk but the very beliefs that inspired them to join politics.
Groundbreaking BBC drama The Project is reportedly returning after a whopping 22 years off screens (pictured James Frain, Naomie Harris, and Matthew Macfayden)
The Project, which has not been seen or available anywhere since its debut in 2002, will feature Succession and Bond Stars portraying lead roles
The Project stars Paul (Matthew Macfadyen) and Maggie (Naomie Harris), whose deep-rooted passion for politics is matched by their intense rivalry and passion for each other.
Paul joined the Labour Party as a press officer, then worked his way through a series of behind-the-scenes jobs, first at Walworth Road then at Millbank.
Now he's Special Adviser at No 10 after the 1997 election and shares a house with journalist, Irene (Paloma Baeza), carpenter Andy (Shaun Evans) and Maggie.
Director Peter Kosminsky told the I paper: 'Its the first time The Project has been broadcast since 2002 or even seen. But its genuinely a piece that turns out to have extraordinarily relevant elements to the current situation.'
'Alastair Campbells team wrote a letter, which I have seen, asking people not to co-operate. But a large number of people did.'
'Was Matthew Macfadyens spin doctor inspired by Derek Draper? (Peter Mandelsons former adviser who died this year from complications arising from Covid). I couldnt possibly comment but I could see why you would say that.'
BBC confirmed the drama series will be returning.
According to the I Paper, in one scene before the 1997 election, Matthew's character Paul finds out that a Tory cabinet minister is having an affair and searches dustbins for incriminating letters.
The Project stars Paul (Matthew Macfadyen) and Maggie (Naomie Harris pictured), whose deep-rooted passion for politics is matched by their intense rivalry and passion for each other
Director Peter Kosminsky said: 'Its the first time The Project has been broadcast since 2002 or even seen. But its genuinely a piece that turns out to have extraordinarily relevant elements to the current situation' (pictured in 2016)
The Project will be available from September 15 and will air from 10pm on BBC Four
According to the I Paper, director Peter claimed that the affair happened, however, it never become public knowledge.
He also gave a clue into what some of the characters may face in the series including a Labour MP getting physically attacked by one of the whips.
He claimed that it was 'brave' of the BBC to commission The Project and re-transmit it now, as he said he would like to revisit The Project for the Starmer era.
Peter, whose acclaimed films have dramatised the death of Iraq weapons inspector Dr David Kelly and explored the motivations driving British teenagers to fight for the Islamic State, fears that homegrown political drama is under threat.
He claimed that he 'really doesn't know' how a drama like The Project would be made now or how it would get funded.
He admitted that its 'not a lack of will from the BBC or Channel 4' but that they simply 'don't have the money'.
The Project will be available from September 15 and will air from 10pm on BBC Four.
The Yorkshire Vet aired a groundbreaking 'UK first' dog surgery which saw an adorable pooch called Jimmy Joe go under the knife.
Viewers of the popular Channel 5 show got to witness an incredible medical breakthrough as the complicated procedure got underway.
The episode began by explaining that Jimmy Joe's owners were worried as he was experiencing back pain while playing.
A team led by surgeon Matt Smith and senior surgeon Martin prepared to get stuck into the very complex operation to insert screws into the canine's spine, which they admitted could end in 'disaster' if it went wrong
Matt explained: 'We're going to do a procedure so he'll have a much better quality of life, he'll be in a lot less pain, and hopefully he'll go on to be running around the fields like usual.
The Yorkshire Vet aired a groundbreaking 'UK first' dog surgery in heartwarming scenes that saw an adorable dog called Jimmy Joe go under the knife
Viewers of the popular Channel 5 show got to witness an incredible medical breakthrough, as the complicated procedure got underway
'We've CT scanned Jimmy Joe's spine and from that we've created a 3D model. He's got more movement there than he should have, so we're going to put some screws right down at the base of his spine.'
The expert showcased the cutting-edge technology and demonstrated how it was going to work.
Holding up a model of the dog's spine, he continued: 'So the drill grind is going to come in and sit down onto the bone, and should give us really accurate positioning for the drill. Then, we can place our screw down into the bone.
'It's really critical that we get this absolutely spot on. If we're slightly too far in, we'll catch his spinal cord and that would be disastrous.'
Thankfully, the innovative operation was a huge success and the canine was back to his usual self within no time.
Emotional scenes saw him reunite with his owner post-surgery, who described the sweet animal as 'dopey' and couldn't contain her affection as she cuddled him.
However, the mood since dropped as elsewhere in the episode, as a pregnant sheep was brought in for a C-section due to her baby being too big to be birthed naturally.
It was all going well and the little black lamb was weighed after birth. But, Peter Wright visited the farmer later in the programme and tragically discovered the animal had passed away.
The mother was doing well and had adopted an orphaned lamb.
Thankfully, the innovative operation was a huge success and the pooch was back to his usual self within no time
It comes just after The Yorkshire Vet himself David Melleney tied the knot with his fiancee Megan Denny in a stunning ceremony at the Chateau du Doux in Dordogne, France in July.
The couple were joined by 70 guests as they celebrated in style in scenes filmed for an episode of the Channel 5 series, before they jetted off for a honeymoon safari in Africa.
Megan looked sensational in a Bellissima white dress adorned with sheer sleeves patterned with lace leaf detailing.
Tying her brunette locks back in an elegant low bun, the dentist looked beautiful as they exchanged vows in the sun in front of their friends and family.
Losing her veil halfway down the aisle, the officiant joked: 'Could everyone please be seated while we have this wardrobe correction,' as one of her bridesmaids rushed to reattach it.
The couple first met after he joined Donaldson's Vets in Huddersfield after graduating in 2017 and now live together in Holmfirth with their dog Yogi.
After exchanging their vows and sealing the deal with a kiss the guests threw their confetti over the happy couple.
David opted for a light blue checked suit which he paired with a gold bow tie, while his groomsmen all wore matching beige suits and white shirts.
It comes just after The Yorkshire Vet himself David Melleney tied the knot with his fiancee Megan Denny in a stunning ceremony at the Chateau du Doux in Dordogne, France in July. (pictured with fellow stars from the Channel 5 series Matt Jackson-Smith and Shona Searson)
The couple were joined by 70 guests as they celebrated in style in scenes filmed for an episode of the Channel 5 series, before they jetted off for a honeymoon safari in Africa
Vets Matt Jackson-Smith and Shona Searson, who also appear on The Yorkshire Vet, were among the wedding guests as they gathered to enjoy the special day.
Speaking about the highly anticipated first dance, David said nervously: 'Just got the dance to smash,' as Megan added: 'Dave's nervous'.
The vet's colleague Shona then joked: 'You've had all the dancing practise, you've been skiving off work, "Shona I've got to go because I've got dance practise'.
As their guests waved their napkins in the air the guests soon tucked into their meal before his speech.
'Asking Meg to marry me was the best decision I ever made and I just want to raise a toast to my beautiful wife', gushed the groom.
Limbering up with some lunges and squats the pair hit the floor for their first dance to Michael Buble's hit Everything before he ducked her into a romantic kiss.
Megan looked sensational in a Bellissima white dress adorned with sheer sleeves patterned with lace leaf detailing
Limbering up with some lunges and squats the pair hit the floor for their first dance to Michael Buble's hit Everything before he ducked her into a romantic kiss
As night fell the happy couple danced between their guests who held sparklers before they sliced into a four tier French cheese cake before watching a spectacular fireworks display.
Speaking about their wedding, Megan gushed: 'It's just so exciting - I couldn't wait to marry David'.
David added: 'It was such an amazing day for us, I'm so happy I could share our joy with our loyal viewers.'
And it isn't the first cast wedding to be aired as part of the show, after Matt also filmed his marriage to his wife Katherine in 2022.
David was Matt's best man, and he said during the show: 'I remember how excited Matt was going on his first date and now to see it all the way through is brilliant.'
Game Of Thrones author George R.R. Martin has criticized controversial changes made to the House Of The Dragon TV series from his books and HBO has hit back at his complaints.
In a since-deleted post titled 'Beware The Butterflies' on his official website, the 75-year-old author - AKA G.R.R.M - seemingly spoiled the future seasons of the fantasy series - which ended its second season last month - by saying more 'toxic' changes would be coming.
The post was documented by trade publications Variety, Deadline, and The Hollywood Reporter.
In the entry, the writer went into detail about what he believed went wrong with the recently concluded season and how it deviated from his original work Fire & Blood.
He also gave his thoughts on what House Of The Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal has adapted for the screen and even seemingly spoiled some of the plans for the final two seasons of the series.
Game Of Thrones author George R.R. Martin has criticized controversial changes made to the House Of The Dragon TV series from his books and HBO has hit back at his complaints
The post was documented by trade publications Variety , Deadline , and The Hollywood Reporter
Martin had originally prefaced his rant on August 30 as he said he would write 'about everything that's gone wrong with House Of The Dragon.'
Then on Wednesday the blog entry went up as it began in a complimentary way as he wrote: 'I promised you some further thoughts about "Blood and Cheese" and Maelor the Missing after my commentary on the first two episodes of HOTD season 2, A Son for a Son and Rhaenyra the Cruel.
'Those were terrific episodes: well written, well directed, powerfully acted. A great way to kick off the new season.'
His biggest issue, however, seemed to come from the choice to omit the toddler-aged son of Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban) and King Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) named Maelor which he believes will have larger repercussions in the upcoming seasons.
Showrunner Condal opted for Aegon and Helaena to only have two children in twins Jaehaera and Jaehaerys.
Martin continued: 'When Ryan Condal first told me what he meant to do, ages ago (back in 2022, might be) I argued against it, for all these reasons. I did not argue long, or with much heat, however. The change weakened the sequence, I felt, but only a bit. And Ryan had what seemed to be practical reasons for it; they did not want to deal with casting another child, especially a two-year old toddler.
'Kids that young will inevitably slow down production, and there would be budget implications. Budget was already an issue on HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, it made sense to save money wherever we could. Moreover, Ryan assured me that we were not losing Prince Maelor, simply postponing him. Queen Helaena could still give birth to him in season three, presumably after getting with child late in season two.'
House Of The Dragon is set nearly 200 years before the events of Game Of Thrones.
In a since-deleted post titled 'Beware The Butterflies' on his official website , the 75-year-old author - AKA G.R.R.M - seemingly spoiled the future seasons of the fantasy series - which ended its second season last month - by saying more 'toxic' changes would be coming.
In the entry, the writer went into detail about what he believed went wrong with the recently concluded season and how it deviated from his original work Fire & Blood
Martin said that he eventually became fine with the change and continued to praise the episode before going on to criticize it.
The author wrote: 'That made sense to me, so I withdrew my objections and acquiesced to the change. I still love the episode, and the Blood and Cheese sequence overall. Losing the "Helaenas Choice" beat did weaken the scene, but not to any great degree.
'Only the book readers would even notice its absence; viewers who had never read FIRE & BLOOD would still find the scenes heart-rending. Maelor did not actually DO anything in the scene, after all. How could he? He was only two years old. There is another aspect to the removal of the young princeling, however.'
Martin went on to detail how the elimination of the character of Prince Maelor could impact the final two seasons of the prequel series as he went on to spoil major plots from Fire & Blood.
He wrote: 'Maelor by himself means little. He is a small child, does not have a line of dialogue, does nothing of consequence but die but where and when and how, that does matter. Losing Maelor weakened the end of the Blood and Cheese sequence, but it also cost us the Bitterbridge scene with all its horror and heroism, it undercut the motivation for Helaenas suicide, and that in turn sent thousands into the streets and alleys, screaming for justice for their "murdered" queen.
'None of that is essential, I suppose but all of it does serve a purpose, it all helps to tie the story lines together, so one thing follows another in a logical and convincing manner.'
Martin also said that he believes that the way that he has written the book is much more effective than the television series could be.
He said: 'I still believe the scene in the book is stronger. The readers have the right of that.
He also gave his thoughts on what House Of The Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal has adapted for the screen and even seemingly spoiled some of the plans for the final two seasons of the series; Martin and Condal are pictured together on set
'The two killers are crueler in the book. I thought the actors who played the killers on the show were excellent but the characters are crueler, harder, and more frightening in Fire & Blood.'
He concluded the very lengthy post by casting some serious doubt that the series will be able to properly convey the drama which he had authored to the television screen.
Martin finished the post writing: 'And there are larger and more toxic butterflies to come, if HOUSE OF THE DRAGON goes ahead with some of the changes being contemplated for seasons 3 and 4.'
Soon after the post went up HBO released a statement defending the changes made by showrunner Condal and the rest of his team had mad.
It read: 'There are few greater fans of George R.R. Martin and his book Fire & Blood than the creative team on House of the Dragon, both in production and at HBO.
'Commonly, when adapting a book for the screen, with its own format and limitations, the showrunner ultimately is required to make difficult choices about the characters and stories the audience will follow.'
The network went on to praise the job that the showrunning team have done as they finished the statement.
They concluded: 'We believe that Ryan Condal and his team have done an extraordinary job and the millions of fans the series has amassed over the first two seasons will continue to enjoy it.'
The first two seasons of House Of The Dragon are up for streaming on Max
Last month it was revealed the fantasy series will end after four seasons, according to Condal.
He said during a news conference in early August - a day after the second season's finale aired - that the third series is in the writing process, Variety reported Monday.
Condal said that pre-production work on the series will continue this autumn, with a targeted production date of early next year.
The show's first season ran 10 episodes, with the second season going eight. Asked how many episodes the third season would be, Condal said, 'I haven't had discussions with HBO about it.
'I would just anticipate the cadence of the show, from a dramatic storytelling perspective, will continue to be the same from season two on.'
The first two seasons of House Of The Dragon are up for streaming on Max.
The Zelensky Story (BBC 2)
Rating:
As World War III looms and sleaze consumes British politics, the King sends for the only men who can save the nation Ant and Dec
That's no more unlikely than what happened in Ukraine, where under-sized Saturday night variety star and professional cheeky-chappie Volodymyr Zelensky has been transformed, into not only the President but arguably the most effective, courageous and charismatic wartime leader since Winston Churchill.
Until 2022, Ukraine was like Czechoslovakia during the 1930s, in Neville Chamberlain's words the archetypal 'far away country,' inhabited by 'people of whom we know nothing'.
Those in the UK who'd heard of Zelensky might have been aware that he'd won the Slavic version of Strictly, and starred in a sitcom called Servant Of The People, in which he played an ordinary man unexpectedly elected president.
The Zelensky Story traced a rise to fame so charming and extraordinary, it ought to be a Hollywood movie and doubtless will be, one day
Grabs of Volodymr Zelensky talking about his teenage years on The Zelensky Story, via BBC
It also featured interviews with both the President and his First Lady, Olena, who were stunningly honest about their marriage and its tensions.
The show, available to stream on Channel 4, was partly filmed at the ridiculous palace built for Zelensky's corrupt predecessor Viktor Yanukovych, complete with a pirate galleon and a private zoo.
The Zelensky Story traced a rise to fame so charming and extraordinary, it ought to be a Hollywood movie and doubtless will be, one day. But it also featured interviews with both the President and his First Lady, Olena, who were stunningly honest about their marriage and its tensions.
He obviously adores her and has done since he first saw her at high school. 'One of the best moments of my life,' he said, speaking into the camera. 'I just looked at her, and I think I just loved, and that's it.'
Olena was not smitten so easily. 'He was constantly coming to my house, calling me,' she said with a grimace. 'And then I noticed that I got used to it. When he went somewhere for three days, it was the first time I thought that maybe I really needed him.'
The staggering revelation, though, was how he hid his political intentions from her. At the climax of his pre-recorded TV variety show on New Year's Eve 2018, Zelensky announced his intention to run for the presidency and the first Olena knew of it was as she watched the broadcast with her husband beside her. She's still not any too pleased.
Other friends were more circumspect, but a portrait emerged of an ambitious young actor who was intensely loyal to those who stuck by him a natural leader, with a deep suspicion of Russia and its dictator, Vladimir Putin.
Without getting lost in digressions, this superb three-part documentary explains Putin's obsession with conquering Ukraine, and charts the sequence of events leading up to the 2022 invasion.
It also captures Putin's personal loathing for Zelensky, who used to mock him with flashes of satire in his TV comedy routines once pleading 'SOS us, SOS Ukraine,' in front of a cheering audience.
'SOS us' means one thing in English . . . and something else much ruder in Russian. Like Ant and Dec, Zelensky was all the funnier for being short, but he's never short on courage.
Love Island: All Stars favourite Casey O'Gorman has joined Made In Chelsea, MailOnline can reveal.
The former Islander, 27, will feature in the upcoming series after becoming close friends with Chelsea cast member Tristan Phipps, who's currently starring on Celebs Go Dating.
And a source told MailOnline the reality star, who found fame on winter Love Island in 2023, is already dating Julia 'Muffin' Pollard from the show, a storyline which unravels on the new season.
Casey teased his debut this week, writing on Instagram alongside a photo of him and Tristan, 'Made In Ibiza.'
Viewers last saw Casey on screen earlier this year when he entered the South African All Stars villa and was confronted by ex-Georgia Harrison, who was unhappy with the way their romance ended.
Love Island: All Stars favourite Casey O'Gorman has joined Made In Chelsea , MailOnline can reveal
The former Islander will feature in the upcoming series after becoming close friends with Chelsea cast member Tristan Phipps, who's currently starring on Celebs Go Dating
A source told MailOnline the reality star, who found fame on Love Island in 2023, is already dating Julia 'Muffin' Pollard from the show, a storyline which unravels on the new season
A TV source revealed: 'Casey has joined Made In Chelsea and is filming for the new series.
'Being such close friends with Tristan, he fit into the cast right away and it wasn't long before he started getting attention from his female co-stars.
'He has definitely been getting on well with Julia in particular, who's beautiful and 100 per cent his type.'
Julia was a new addition to Made In Chelsea after joining the E4 cast last season.
She was left humiliated when Tristan, who had met her parents on screen, stopped communicating with her, suddenly ending their blossoming romance.
The beauty is best friends with Jasmine Saunders, who was also left brokenhearted when Freddy Knatchbull cheated on her, causing the pair to split.
Freddy is the son of Curzon Cinema's CEO Philip Knatchbull, and grandson of 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, and his second wife, Wendy.
He also has strong links with the royal family because his great-grandfather, Lord Mountbatten, was the uncle of Prince Philip and mentored King Charles in his younger years.
MailOnline has contacted an E4 representative for comment.
Julia, who is best friends with co-star Jazz Saunders, was a new addition to Made In Chelsea after joining the E4 cast last season
Casey featured on Love Island: All Stars earlier this year alongside the likes of Joshua Ritchie, Tom Clare and Callum Jones
All Stars champ Tom, who won the series with girlfriend Molly Smith, formed a close friendship with Casey during their first stint in the villa
Casey and Georgia dated in secret, but their romance was revealed on Love Island: All Stars.
During the show, Georgia confronted Casey over their breakup, which was made final after she claimed to have connected with his grandfather on a 'spiritual' level following his passing.
Casey said: 'You know me, I'm not that much of a spiritual person You mentioned my granddad and stuff like that and it really threw me off you started to say that you saw my dead granddad and he wishes me well and I was like this is way too much for me.'
Georgia replied: 'I was saying when I was mediating I had an experience where I felt I was sensing things from the other side.'
The former TOWIE star ended the series in a relationship with Anton Danyluk but the pair split shortly after their return to the UK.
He was a founding member of one of Australia's most popular children's groups, and performed hundreds of shows with them during his stint in the band.
The Sydney-born entertainer developed a reputation for his charismatic and upbeat stage performances, as he brought his A-game to every show.
He has recently been working on his solo singing career and touring Australia with his incredible pop-rock shows.
On Wednesday, he shared a jaw-dropping photo to Instagram which captured him waiting at an airport departure lounge, to board a flight to his next show.
The vibrant performer looked like a completely different person compared to his heyday, as he rocked a stylish and confident look with a rugged five o'clock shadow beard and slick aviator sunglasses.
However, he still had the same cheeky grin that won over millions of fans.
Of course, it is Nathan Foley, one of the original members of Hi-5 - who at one point were rivalling The Wiggles as Australia's most popular kids group.
Nathan looked to be in good spirits as he waited to board a flight to his next show, and he captioned the snap with some informative words: 'Been a hell of a two-week period.
He was a founding member of one of Australia's most popular children's groups, and performed hundreds of shows with them during his stint in the band - can you guess who it is?
'From food poisoning to finally getting over pneumonia, whilst doing my Aussie to the bone show, AND releasing my new track AND video.
'The show must go on they say. Now I'm on my way to Western Australia. #LifeOfAnEntertainer.'
Nathan was part of the original and most iconic line-up of Hi-5, comprising of himself, Kathleen de Leon, Kellie Crawford, Tim Harding and Charli Robinson.
The popular group was formed in 1998 and went on to become one of the most recognisable children's bands in Australia until their split in 2019.
Of course, it is Nathan Foley, one of the original members of Hi-5, who at one point were rivalling The Wiggles as Australia's most popular kids group
Nathan left the group in 2008 and went on to perform in stage productions, including Mamma Mia!.
He also competed in the 2019 season of Channel Nine's The Voice and was part of Team Delta Goodrem, but was knockout in the first round.
He married Jamaican model and fashion designer Nicolette Gomex in 2019 - The couple welcomed their first child, son Jackson Joel, in December that year.
The vibrant performer looked like a completely different person compared to his hey day
Amy Robach and T. J. Holmes were in high spirits during a shopping spree in Soho on Wednesday, only a few weeks after a tense conversation outside a gym.
The former ABC hosts who were exposed by DailyMail.com for having an affair in 2022 kept close and shared a smile as they strolled across a New York City street together.
The 51-year-old Good Morning America alum looked casually stylish in her white T-shirt, olive bomber jacket and dark denim jeans, complemented by aviator glasses and a brown leather handbag.
She finished the look with low-cut boots as she swept her sandy blonde locks up in a loose ponytail.
T.J., 46, followed in a black leather jacket, faded jeans, and black motorcycle boots, also wearing aviator glasses.
Amy Robach and T. J. Holmes were in high spirits during a shopping spree in Soho on Wednesday, only a few weeks after a tense conversation outside a gym
The former ABC hosts who were exposed by DailyMail.com for having an affair in 2022. kept close and shared a smile as they strolled across a New York City street together
In August, the couple appeared engaged in a serious discussion when they were seen outside a gym in New York City.
The pair seemed distressed during their conversation. Amy gesticulated animatedly, while T.J. maintained a stern expression.
During a recent episode of their podcast, Amy & T.J., they confessed that there had been trouble in paradise lately as they had made their romance 'secondary.'
The couple shared that they forgot about their own relationship because they became so focused on work.
Amy explained: 'We are together all the time, but either we were with the kids or we were working, and we were working a lot, which is greatwe love to work. But we didn't get to have, like, us time.
'We work together and we are in a relationship together and we were friends before as colleagues, so it's a strange thing like you've got the work relationship and then you've got the romantic relationship, and the two actually don't coexist.'
Her lover echoed her opinions and admitted that they didn't prioritize each other.
'We might be in an autopilot relationship, the relationship becomes secondary. We stopped making our relationship a priority, I think is fair to say,' he added.
The 51-year-old Good Morning America alum looked casually stylish in her white T-shirt, olive bomber jacket, and dark denim jeans, complemented by aviator glasses and a brown leather
T.J., 46, followed in a black leather jacket, faded jeans, and black motorcycle boots, also wearing aviator glasses
The couple admitted that the first day they had alone time after their romance was outed 'wasn't great.'
Amy said: 'I think sometimes anything that's built up that hasn't been verbalized just because you haven't had the alone time to actually have true connections, it all kind of comes out in whatever way it does. So the first day was a little rough, but we're good now.'
T.J joked: 'Ha, a little rough. It was rockier than the ocean waves.'
The lovebirds said that in an attempt to rekindle their spark, they booked a romantic getaway, however, it only made them even more frustrated.
Amy revealed that she had booked their tickets and had accidentally listed her boyfriend's birthday as 1997 instead of 1977, which got him flagged by TSA.
She explained: 'I clearly made the reservation, so it was completely my fault. So not only did I rob you of the TSA pre-check, I then got us flaggedor got you flaggedbecause I entered your incorrect birth year. '
While trying to help, Amy admitted that she ended up making the situation 'worse' by interrupting her boyfriend's talks with security.
T.J. added: 'There's nothing to get onto you for, I know you felt bad about it. There was no reason to make you feel worse.'
They admitted that although they can 'laugh about it now' and are more in love than ever, they didn't utter one word to each other during the flight.
DailyMail.com exclusively broke the news that Amy and T.J. had been embroiled in a secret love affair back in November 2022 - while they were both married to other people.
Amy wed her now-ex-husband, Melrose Place alum Andrew Shue, in February 2009, while T.J. tied the knot with his now-ex-wife, Marilee Fiebig, in 2010.
The pair have opened up about their 'rough' relationship issues as they admitted they put their romance 'on the back burner'; seen in April
During a recent episode of their podcast, Amy & T.J., they confessed that there had been trouble in paradise lately as they had made their romance 'secondary'
Amy and T.J.'s affair was exposed in 2022 - while they were both married to other people. Amy is seen left with her ex, Andrew Shue, and T.J. is seen right with his ex, Marilee Fiebig
At the time, DailyMail.com obtained a slew of images that showed them enjoying late-night rendezvous and romantic getaways, holding hands in Ubers, and slipping in and out of each other's apartments.
The TV stars grew first close after they both landed jobs at ABC, and when they became cohosts of GMA3 in 2020, their chemistry was undeniable almost immediately.
They were often caught giggling to one another, partaking in sarcastic banter, and engaging in playful touches on the air - and their antics quickly turned them into one of ABC's most popular on-screen duos.
But their flirty interactions and sweet exchanges seemed innocent at first - especially since the were both happily married to other people and seemed fiercely dedicated to their respective partners.
In addition, Amy, once insisted T.J. was like a 'brother' to her - which is why when it was brought to light that they had secretly become embroiled in a romance behind-the-scenes in late 2022, fans were left stunned.
Soon after news hit the web that they were dating, both Amy and T.J. quietly separated from their respective partners, and were fired from their positions at ABC.
Despite being shrouded in scandal, the couple put on a very public display of unity in the wake of the news - flaunting their love for the entire world to see as their previous marriages and jobs crumbled.
It seemed as though they were relieved to not have to hide it any longer, and they began packing on the PDA all over the world while jetting off on a slew of lavish vacations together.
Soon after news hit the web that they were dating, both Amy and T.J. quietly separated from their respective partners, and were fired from their positions at ABC; seen in November 2022
The TV stars grew first close after they both landed jobs at ABC, and when they became co-hosts of GMA3 in 2020, their chemistry was undeniable almost immediately
They announced that they were launching their joint podcast in November 2023, writing on social media at the time, 'How's this for Instagram official?' before using the hashtag, 'Silent No More.'
During the first episode one month later, T.J. and Amy reflected on the explosive scandal, but he insisted that their divorces from their respective spouses were underway before they began their romance.
Following the respective divorces, Andrew entered a love affair with Marilee.
The two have been going strong since - with insiders claiming that their romance is the 'real deal.'
Popular UK indie band Catfish and the Bottlemen have cancelled the Australian leg of their world tour.
Devastated fans were informed of the news on Wednesday hours before the Welsh rockers were scheduled to play a show at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion.
Concertgoers received an email from organisers explaining that the show was dropped due to 'band illness'.
Tour organiser's confirmed that all scheduled Australian shows would not be going ahead in the email to ticket holders.
'This weekend they were hoping to still be able to perform but on doctor orders they were forced to cancel their show in Dublin,' the message to fans read.
'Due to band illness, the Australian dates this month will also no longer be going ahead. The band were really looking forward to these shows and sincerely apologise to everyone for any inconvenience and disappointment.'
Aussie fans are now taking to X to express their disappointment over the cancelled gigs.
'Catfish and the Bottlemen tour getting cancelled has just ruined my life,' messaged one fan on the platform.
Popular U.K. indie band Catfish and the Bottlemen have cancelled the Australian leg of their current tour
'WTF no way Catfish and the Bottlemen cancelling, about to start crying at work,' posted another.
'Actually nobody speak to me since Catfish and the Bottlemen cancelled their tour <3 ,' posted another disappointed concertgoer.
The email did not specify the illness or who was unwell.
Australian-born lead singer Van McCann and bassist Benji Blakeway are the only members of the original group taking part in the current tour.
The cancelled gigs include shows that were scheduled throughout September including dates in Melbourne, Newcastle, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
It came after the band cancelled a heavily publicised gig in Ireland earlier this week, which is part of the group's much hyped 'comeback' tour.
Following their trip Down Under, the band are meant to play a series of dates in the U.S. before returning to the U.K. to play more concerts in the new year.
Concertgoers received an email from organisers explaining that the Australian shows have been dropped due to 'band illness'
Formed in 2007, the band last had a hit with their third album The Balance in 2019, before they took a break from performing.
They have been on the 'comeback' trail after being thrown into turmoil when original guitarist Johnny Bond confirmed via social media that he had left the group in 2022.
Bond's exit followed the resignation of drummer Bob Hall in 2021.
The band, whose most famous song Cocoon was released 10 years ago, recently played Reading and Leeds festivals in the U.K.
The remaining members are expected to release a new album in 2025.
Kyle Sandilands has revealed his bombshell theory about Katy Perry's relationship with Orlando Bloom after she spoke about their sex-life in an X-rated interview.
The 53-year-old radio host was discussing Katy's sex confession on KIIS FM's The Kyle and Jackie O show on Thursday, when he reacted to her comment about the pair attending a couple's retreat.
Kyle claimed their relationship was 'already over' if they were going to therapy after six years of dating.
Katy told host Alex Cooper on the Call Her Daddy podcast: 'If I come downstairs and the kitchen is clean, and you've done it all, and you've done all the dishes, and you've closed all the pantry doors, you better be ready to get your d*** sucked.'
The pop star, who previously called Orlando a 'wild stallion', also exclaimed: 'When we went on a couple's retreat, they asked "which guy has more sex? The guy with the red Ferrari or the guy that helps out with his wife every night in the kitchen?"'
Kyle then said: 'Yeah, but the guy with the Ferrari is getting variety.'
'Is it worth doing the dishes every night to get blown by a psychopath? She sounds very psychopathic there.'
The shock jock then added: 'They went to a couples retreat those two? To me, couples therapy, couples retreats...you're already done when you have to go to that. It's already over. Move on.'
Australian radio host Kyle Sandilands has revealed his bombshell theory about Katy Perry 's relationship with Orlando Bloom after her interview about the couple's sex life
Orlando has in the past been remarkably frank about his relationship with Katy.
When their daughter Daisy, four, was an infant he told the Guardian that he and Katy were having 'not enough' sex, before clarifying: 'We just had a baby, though.'
The pair got engaged in 2019, and the following year they welcomed their daughter.
Bloom also shares son Flynn, 13, with his ex-wife, model Miranda Kerr, 41.
The 53-year-old radio host was discussing Katy's sex confession on KIIS FM's The Kyle and Jackie O show on Thursday, when he reacted to her comment about the pair attending a couple's retreat
Elsewhere in the podcast interview Alex asked Katy if she has a type in men.
'I'm no longer attracted to narcissists,' the California native stated.
The host then asked Katy to name some red flags that she now knows she would not put up with.
'Anyone that is constantly changing the goal post, or pulling the rug out from you emotionally. Not it.'
'Anyone that says they know you better than you know yourself. Someone that won't just help.'
The future of Danny Dyer's Sky comedy has been revealed.
Danny, who played Queen Vic landlord Mick Carter on the BBC soap, saw huge success with his latest release, Mr Big Stuff.
The comedy has reportedly been green-lit for a second season after being hit among viewers, according to The Sun.
It's success saw the series become Sky Max's highest-rated new original comedy in three years, which reported led bosses to wanting more.
A TV insider told the publication: 'Danny seems to have found his niche playing a rough-round-the-edges geezer in an out-and-out comedy show.
The future of Danny Dyer's Sky comedy has been revealed. Danny, who played Queen Vic landlord Mick Carter on the BBC soap, saw huge success with his latest release, Mr Big Stuff
The comedy has reportedly been green-lit for a second season after being hit among viewers, according to The Sun
'He always said when he quit the BBC One soap that he felt there was one defining role that had so far eluded him.
'Maybe he's finally found that part on Mr Bigstuff. Sky execs certainly seem very impressed.'
Danny plays estranged, wayward brother, Lee, trying to patch up his sibling rivalry.
The storyline is described as a 'story of two estranged brothers; Glen (Ryan Sampson), a nervy perfectionist striving to live the suburban ideal and Lee (Dyer) an alpha male with a prescription drug addiction and a biscuit tin full of his dad's ashes.
Glen and his fiancee share a perfect yet mundane life - as despite him suffering crippling erectile dysfunction and Kirsty has a secret shoplifting habit, but they're happy.
This soon comes to a close when Lee crashes into their lives while on the run from his past, and their perfect lives start to fall apart.
The star said: 'I thought, 'Oh wow, this is totally different from the character of Mick, and something that people have never really seen me do before.'
'This is a joy. To be on a set where everyone's laughing, it's a different kind of energy.
It's success saw the series become Sky Max's highest-rated new original comedy in three years, which reported led bosses to wanting more
Danny plays estranged, wayward brother, Lee, trying to patch up his sibling rivalry. Filming for the next season will start later this year in London and will launch on Sky and NOW in 2025
'I would love to push it further, this comedy thing, if I get an opportunity.'
The first series ended on a cliffhanger.
Ryan said of the follow-up: 'Filthy secrets, dirty lies. Someone's gonna have to come clean.'
Filming for the next season will start later this year in London and will launch on Sky and NOW in 2025.
Duane 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' Chapman said he is getting involved in the ongoing search for Sebastian Rogers, a Tennessee teenager who's been missing for more than six months.
The Denver-born TV personality, 71, told the Nashville ABC affiliate WKRN Wednesday that he and his associates will conduct a probe independent of police, re-examine details already gathered and chase down new leads.
'This is one of the most horrendous cases of missing children that we've ever, ever worked on,' Chapman told the station of the vanishing of Rogers, a 15-year-old native of Hendersonville.
Chapman said on his Twitter page Wednesday, '#DogNation, let's do our part to bring Sebastian home and lock those responsible up for the rest of time. The hunt is ONlet's go! Aloha.'
Chapman said that he's assisting Sebastian's biological father Seth Rogers in the ongoing probe and has financially contributed to raise the reward for critical info in the case from $50,000 (announced by the FBI last week) to $100,000.
Duane 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' Chapman, 71, said he is getting involved in the ongoing search for Sebastian Rogers, a Tennessee teenager who's been missing for more than six months. Pictured in August 2019 in Colorado
Sebastian, whose parents say he has autism, had been reported missing this past February 26
Multiple law enforcement agencies have conducted searches for Sebastian, and have currently pulled back their probe to the 'investigative side' of the case, according to the station.
Authorities have not confirmed any foul play in Sebastian's disappearance, WKRN reported.
Chapman told the station, 'This isn't my first rodeo in finding missing children or finding who's done it ... the bottom line is if you hurt a child like this, you've got a problem, so that is the main motivation for me to be hunting who did this.'
Chapman vowed he and his team were 'going to find out' the facts of the situation, adding, 'You can run, but you can't hide who did it.'
Chapman provided a phone number for a tip line at 833-835-5364, clarifying to the station that he's 'not law enforcement' and isn't going to probe informants for personal details.
'I don't have to ask you for your Social Security, write down your name, and bring you to court and all that,' Chapman told the outlet. 'That's why a lot of times I get information more than law enforcement does, so I will, of course, pass it on to law enforcement because they will probably do the apprehension.'
Sebastian, whose mother and stepfather say he has autism, had been reported missing this past February 26, the NBC affiliate WSMV reported Friday, adding that his mother and stepfather said he vanished from their Hendersonville, Tennessee during the middle of the night.
Sebastian's mother and stepfather Chris and Katie Proudfoot told WSMV that they were 'thankful' after the FBI pledged an initial $50,000 in reward money for details.
Chapman confirmed his involvement in the probe on Wednesday on X/Twitter
Chapman, pictured in 2019, vowed he and his team were 'going to find out' the facts of the situation, adding, 'You can run, but you can't hide who did it'
'We pray that with this reward, it will bring some useful tips and/or leads that result in the safe return of Sebastian to his home in Hendersonville,' Chris and Katie Proudfoot told the station. 'We would also like to say thank you to Sumner County Sheriff's Office, TBI, and the supportive public for the continuous efforts being made to bring Sebastian home safe and sound.
'Your tireless efforts are acknowledged and greatly appreciated.'
Sebastian has been physically described as 5-foot-5 with a weight of 120 pounds, and has brown or hazel eyes with hair described as blonde-brown in color.
People who have information on the case are encouraged to contact the Sumner County Sheriff's Office at 615-451-3838; the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND or TipsToTBI@tbi.tn.gov; or the closest American Embassy or Consulate, or FBI location. Informants can send tips to tips.fbi.gov.
Sir Anthony Hopkins once shared his regret over never starring in huge comedy franchise, a co-star has recalled.
The award-winning, 86, known for his role as Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, has starred in numerous films, television shows and theatre performances.
But there is one British comedy series that he didn't get the chance to feature in, with Patricia Franklin revealing which.
The actress, 81, who starred in five of the Carry On films, told of how Anthony admitted he also wished to feature in the franchise.
She explained, how at events: 'Someone might say, "Patricia is in a Carry On" and a lot of people would say Oh, Im not interested in Carry Ons.'
Sir Anthony Hopkins once shared his regret over never starring in huge comedy franchise, a co-star has recalled
Patricia added in an interview with The Guardian: 'But then others were absolutely mad about it.
'I was in a play at the National with Anthony Hopkins and he said he loved the Carry Ons and had always wanted to be in one.'
The Carry On films were credited with launching the career of the late Dame Barbara Windsor, and cementing Kenneth Williams, Joan Sims, and Leslie Phillips.
In total, 31 films, four Christmas specials and a television series were produced between 1958 and 1992.
They are now criticised for being sexist but remain loved by some for their slapstick humour.
The last Carry On movie to hit the big screen was Carry On Columbus in 1992, which was labelled the 'worst British film ever made' by a poll of industry experts in 2004.
Anthony's Oscar for playing Lecter was followed by another 29 years later for his role as a man battling dementia in the thriller The Father.
In between them he was nominated four more times for The Remains of the Day, Nixon, Amistad and The Two Popes.
The award-winning, 86, known for his role as Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, has starred in numerous films, television shows and theatre performances
But there is one British comedy series that he didn't get the chance to feature in (pictured in Silence Of The Lambs in 1991)
Patricia Franklin, 81, who starred in five of the Carry On films, told of how Anthony admitted he also wished to feature in the franchise
His lengthy career has spanned five decades, and he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 1993.
In March Dailymail.com reported that he is set to be the lead actor in Eyes In The Trees, a re-imagined incarnation of The Island Of Dr Moreau the 1896 book by H.G. Wells.
Australian actress Ruby Rose has landed a major role in a grisly new Hollywood murder mystery called The Drowning Pool.
No details have emerged about what character the 38-year-old will play in the thriller, which will be directed by David Hackl (Saw V).
Set in the Canary Islands, the plot deals with a woman who investigates the disappearance of her sister after her sibling is reported to have drowned.
The woman, called Katherine, uncovers a series of 'mysterious' disappearances involving other women in the waters around the islands.
The official synopsis explains that eventually Katherine uncovers a gruesome tale of 'ritualistic evil'.
Preparations for filming the chiller on location in the Canary Islands are already underway, reported Deadline on Wednesday.
The director is Canadian filmmaker David Hackl who made Saw V (2018) which is part of the infamously bloodthirsty horror franchise.
It comes after Ruby recently returned to the limelight after her controversial exit from the Batwoman series in 2020.
Australian actress Ruby Rose has landed a major role in a grisly new Hollywood murder mystery called The Drowning Pool
The Melbourne native, whose real name is Ruby Rose Langenheim, began her showbiz career as a model, DJ and TV presenter for MTV Australia.
As her popularity grew, she found herself fronting major modelling campaigns for big names including Maybelline, and co-hosting popular shows such as Channel 10's The Project and Australia's Next Top Model.
She moved to Hollywood in 2013 to pursue acting and then shot to fame in 2015 with her breakout role in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black.
The gender-fluid star's acting career skyrocketed when she was cast in blockbuster movies such as Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016) and Pitch Perfect 3 (2017).
No details have emerged about what exact role the 38-year-old actress will play in the thriller. Pictured: Ruby in a scene from Orange is The New Black
She starred alongside Hollywood fan favourite Vin Diesel in xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017) and Keanu Reeves in John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017).
In 2018, Ruby also co-starred with Jason Statham in sci-fi thriller The Meg.
However, her career took a turn for the worse in 2020 when she controversially quit CW superhero series Batwoman after just one season.
The star claimed she was subjected to poor working conditions on the set of the superhero series.
'To my dear, dear fans still asking if I will return to that awful show, I wouldn't return for any amount of money nor if a gun were to my head NOR DID I QUIT,' she wrote in a scathing online post.
'I DID NOT QUIT, they ruined Kate Kane and they destroyed Batwoman, not me.'
She has since appeared in the films Stowaway, Vanquish, 1UP and Taurus over 2021 and 2022.
She also appeared in U.S. action film The Collective in 2023 and Middle East set war film Dirty Angels.
She starred alongside Hollywood fan favourite Vin Diesel in xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017) and Keanu Reeves in John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)
Ruby is also writing a tell-all memoir which will include details on her feud with The Veronicas' Lisa and Jessica Origliasso.
The star dated Jess from 2016 to 2018, during which time the sisters' relationship became so strained they were on the verge of estrangement.
Ruby announced on Instagram last year that she had started writing her book, and promised to expose the pop twins - whom she did not name but called 'the sisters' - for 'how horrific' they allegedly were to her.
It comes after Ruby recently returned to the limelight after her controversial exit from the CW Batwoman series in 2020
She also claimed the 'truth' she was writing would 'p**s a lot of people off'.
Speaking on The Kyle and Jackie O Show a few months after the split, Jessica said she was in 'a very complex relationship'.
She added: 'I'm still trying to come to terms with the reality of it every day so it's really hard to explain to anybody.
'There was just so much that happened, so much that I can't even get into it.'
Rachael Ray broke her silence on Wednesday - two days after worrying fans with a clip from her FYI series Rachael Ray in Tuscany in which she appeared to slur her speech.
The 56-year-old celebrity chef's rep told TMZ she had 'no comment' about the matter, and she attempted to change the subject by posting her old recipe for shrimp and chorizo paella, which includes a half cup of dry sherry or white wine.
For the past month, Rachael has been concerning her captive, combined 9.2M social media following over running her words together in videos, especially the clip on Monday of her recalling the time she 'almost killed' the late, great Tony Bennett.
'When I pulled out the chair for Tony to sit down for his starter snacks and aperitivo, the chair slid out from under him and he hit his head on my marble counter behind him, and he fell to the floor,' Ray recalled.
'I thought I killed Tony Bennett. I thought I killed him, literally. And his wife, Susan so glorious she says to me, "Rachael, he's fine. He'll pop back up. Just let him be." He made it all through dinner. I miss my friend so much. The most beautiful man, maybe ever.'
Rachael Ray broke her silence on Wednesday - two days after worrying fans with a clip from her FYI series Rachael Ray in Tuscany in which she appeared to slur her speech
The legendary jazz crooner passed away, at age 96, last year following a seven-year battle with Alzheimer's disease.
In the comments, some people panicked that the three-time Daytime Emmy winner might have been diagnosed with Bell's palsy or a mini-stroke, but the majority blamed alcohol.
'Drinking during filming!' Instagram user @susanjohnson6940 exclaimed.
'Come on girl someone needs to sit you down and say something! Shame on them!'
Instagram user @mellysteinberg wrote: 'I love her and yes, she's drunk.'
'OMG someone get this woman help!' Instagram user @jillhalmar commented.
'She looks and acts like she has been drinking all the time. I love Racheal but she's do hard to watch like this.'
Instagram user @donnagarcia1356, who's a 66-year-old retired nurse from Boston, wrote: 'One corner of her mouth is much lower than the other. The nurse in me would have her go into be checked for any side effect from a stroke or Bell's palsy. Please make sure to get checked? Life is just too short!'
The 56-year-old celebrity chef's rep told TMZ she had 'no comment' about the matter, and she attempted to change the subject by posting her old recipe for shrimp and chorizo paella, which includes a half cup of dry sherry or white wine
For the past month, Rachael has been concerning her captive, combined 9.2M social media following over running her words together in videos, especially the clip on Monday of her recalling the time she 'almost killed' the late, great Tony Bennett
Ray recalled: 'When I pulled out the chair for Tony to sit down for his starter snacks and aperitivo, the chair slid out from under him and he hit his head on my marble counter behind him, and he fell to the floor. I thought I killed Tony Bennett. I thought I killed him, literally'
The legendary jazz crooner (M, pictured in 2015) passed away, at age 96, last year following a seven-year battle with Alzheimer's disease
In the comments, some people panicked that the three-time Daytime Emmy winner might have been diagnosed with Bell's palsy or a mini-stroke, but the majority blamed alcohol (pictured January 31)
Instagram user @susanjohnson6940 exclaimed: 'Drinking during filming! Come on girl someone needs to sit you down and say something! Shame on them!'
Rachael - who underwent vocal cord surgery in 2008 - went through a major life transition last year (pictured) when she bid farewell to her self-titled talk show after 17 seasons in syndication spanning 2006-2023
Ray went on to co-found Free Food Studios and, in January, she sold 50% stake of the company to A&E Networks, which ordered 278 new episodes of programming over the next two years (pictured February 25)
On September 24, the NY Times-bestselling cookbook author and her husband - The Cringe rocker-lawyer John M. Cusimano (L) - will impressively celebrate their 19th wedding anniversary
'I don't hear any slurring but she has compassion in her telling of the story,' Instagram user @ninjaconnection argued.
'She's a good person and her vibes are good.'
Rachael - who underwent vocal cord surgery in 2008 - went through a major life transition last year when she bid farewell to her self-titled talk show after 17 seasons in syndication spanning 2006-2023.
Ray went on to co-found Free Food Studios and, in January, she sold 50% stake of the company to A&E Networks, which ordered 278 new episodes of programming over the next two years.
On September 24, the NY Times-bestselling cookbook author and her husband - The Cringe rocker-lawyer John M. Cusimano - will impressively celebrate their 19th wedding anniversary.
Rachael also keeps busy with her beloved dogs, her pro-Ukraine activism, as well as selling cookware, bakeware, ceramics, and other tools on her website.
Keith Urban has compared Miley Cyrus' voice to 'an ashtray' in a recent interview.
Appearing on Nova 96.9's Fitzy and Wippa with Kate Ritchie on Thursday morning, the 56-year-old country music star was asked about the 31-year-old Flowers hitmaker.
'Keith, can you tell us about Miley Cyrus and the talent of Miley Cyrus? You've performed with her before haven't you,' co-host Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald asked.
The Australian rocker replied with a gushing tribute to the pop star, before giving her a bizarre 'compliment'.
'I've always loved Miley. I love that voice, man, that voiceshe sounds like an ashtray. And I mean that as a compliment. She sounds like the carpet at the RSL!' Keith joked.
The musician also unleashed on phoney, 'BS' pop artists who exploit country music to appear authentic, often disrespecting the country music industry in Nashville.
'It's a funny thing because you still need the support of the system in Nashville and if you go about it the right way, like Post (Malone) did, you'll see the love,' Keith said.
Fitzy then asked who the younger players are who are breaking the mould.
Keith Urban (pictured) has compared Miley Cyrus ' voice to 'an ashtray' in a recent interview
'They're just rootsy, authentic, storytelling people. They're legit. Aussies like legit. So Luke (Combs) is legit, Lainey Wilson is legit. Morgan Wallen's legit. I think a lot of people are sick of the BS with a lot of artistswhat's real and what isn't,' the country music star said.
It comes just a few days after Keith revealed the very surprising activity and his wife Nicole Kidman engage in together.
The country music star admitted he joins the Aussie actress, 57, in indulging in a touch of self-care by getting skincare facials and using LED light therapy face masks.
Speaking on the Kyle & Jackie O Show to promote his world tour, Keith gave hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson an insight into his skincare regime.
The Australian rocker made a gushing tribute to the pop star, before giving her a bizarre 'compliment'. Pictured: Miley Cyrus performing onstage during the 66th Grammy Awards
Appearing on Nova 96.9's Fitzy and Wippa with Kate Ritchie on Thursday morning, the 56-year-old country music star also unleashed on phoney, 'BS' pop artists who exploit country music to appear authentic
'Do you enjoy the, you know, when you get the steaming facials? I like that,' Kyle, 53, asked Keith.
Keith then replied: 'I'm always glad I do it. But I always forget to,' before revealing he has even tried out the expensive LED masks, which aim to stimulate collagen and minimise redness and wrinkles.
When asked by Kyle if he had tried an LED mask, Keith added: 'Yeah, they're pretty good!' as he confirmed he has joined Nicole and their daughters Sunday, 16, and Faith, 14, in the practice.
Kyle then gushed over Keith's youthful appearance as he admitted his lavish skincare regime must be working for him.
'They obviously work better for you than me, you're very handsome!' the radio shock jock quipped.
Johnny Depp can smile again.
The Oscar-nominated actor, 61, appeared to have undergone major dental work in a new video circulating on Instagram, depicting his recent trip to a Bahamian bar.
In a clip uploaded to Instagram Thursday, a bartender by the name of Rap Rap Zoilo, under the handle @killerbartender, Depp was seen smiling, sporting a much healthier set of teeth than past outings which drew scrutiny from fans.
In the clip, Rap Rap Zoilo shared a friendly exchange he had with the actor at Lorraine's Cafe in the Exuma district of the Bahamas.
The bartender captioned the post, 'jacksparrow meets the killerbartender of exuma bahamas ... once in a lifetime moments with mr jonhny Depp.'
Johnny Depp, 61, appeared to have undergone major dental work in a new video circulating on Instagram, depicting his recent trip to a Bahamian bar
The Oscar-nominated actor appeared to have undergone reconstructive dental work after past appearances, including at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival (R), attracted attention from fans who said that he teeth appeared as it they had been 'rotting'
The Pirates of the Caribbean actor in the clip acknowledged a painting of his character Captain Jack Sparrow, greeted people in the establishment, and stepped behind the bar to mix a drink with the bartender.
In the adjacent comment thread in one of the posts, fans of the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory actor complimented his rejuvenated appearance after the apparent dental work he underwent.
'He looks so happy! And healthy and LOOK he got his teeth fixed!!!!!' one fan said.
Another said, 'Now there will be no one who can say anything bad about @johnnydepp's teeth ... he has a beautiful mouth, a very healthy appearance.'
One fan said, 'The pirate teeth are gone ... pearly whites look beautiful' while another said, 'Johnny Depp has new teeth!'
Said one user: 'Yes, someone did some wonderful work on his teeth. That smile is even more gorgeous!! But it was before, in my eyes. I love his heart.
'I only worried that he might lose some teeth before, but even if he lost them all, I would still love him the same!!'
Depp's dental hygiene came under scrutiny last year at the May 2023 Cannes Film Festival, where he was pictured on the red carpet in promotion of his film Jeanne du Barry.
The Pirates of the Caribbean actor in the clip acknowledged a painting of his character Captain Jack Sparrow, greeted people in the establishment, and stepped behind the bar to mix a drink with the bartender
Depp was pictured in May of 2023 smiling, attracting attention amid a number of oral imperfections, including teeth that did not match in color and appeared to have damage
Depp appeared to have had work done at some point in the past four months, as he was pictured in April in London with a number of dental imperfections
In a clip uploaded to Instagram Thursday, a bartender by the name of Rap Rap Zoilo, under the handle @killerbartender, Depp was seen smiling, sporting a much healthier set of teeth than past outings which drew scrutiny from fans
In the adjacent comment thread in one of the posts, fans of the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory actor complimented his rejuvenated appearance after the apparent dental work he underwent
Depp has past spoken about his dental health nearly three decades back , telling Premiere magazine in 1995 that he had 'loads of cavities' by the age of 31. Pictured in May of 1995
Depp was pictured smiling, attracting attention amid a number of oral imperfections, including teeth that did not match in color and appeared to have damage, with fans describing his teeth as 'rotting.'
At the time one X/Twitter user said, 'Johnny Depp's teeth are literally ROTTING,' Page Six reported, while another said that it appeared as if 'someone grabbed his teeth and painted them black.'
Depp has past spoken about his dental health nearly three decades back, telling Premiere magazine in 1995 that he had 'loads of cavities' by the age of 31.
'I had a root canal done eight years ago that's unfinished. It's like a rotten little stub,' he said at the time. 'When I see people with perfect teeth, it drives me up the wall. I'd rather swallow a tick than have that!'
The report noted at the time that Depp had a penchant for smoking cigarettes and drinking merlot wine, which could impact the appearance of his teeth.
Rebel Wilson embraced her inner child on Wednesday as she and fiancee Ramona Agruma took their 22-month-old daughter Royce to the life-sized Polly Pocket house in Massachusetts.
The actor and director, 44, jetted to the States with her family in order to preview Airbnb's 'Icon experience', which gives guests the chance to book a one-night stay in a life-sized version of the '90s toy's compact doll house.
The property is based on the Slumber Party Fun compact, one of Polly Pocket's original play sets which debuted in the 1990s.
Rebel strutted her stuff down Polly Pocket's orange and purple runway, rocking an exact, eye-wateringly bright replica of the tiny doll's rubber snap-on clothing.
Her daughter Royce wore a matching pastel purple tracksuit paired with a purple tutu, and the same heart-shaped sunglasses as her mother for the outing.
Rebel Wilson embraced her inner child on Wednesday as she and fiancee Ramona Agruma took their 22-month-old daughter Royce to the life-sized Polly Pocket house in Massachusetts
The actor and director, 44, jetted to the States with her family in order to preview Airbnb 's 'Icon experience', with her daughter Royce clearly having the time of her life
Rebel and her Royce posed up a storm as they enjoyed a day of playing dress up
The youngster looked to be having the time of her life as she explored the doll's house, which includes a retro fridge stocked with '90s kids staples, and an outdoor picnic table stocked with materials to craft friendship bracelets.
Her Pitch Perfect star mum later changed into a blue Polly dress and posed up a storm around the plastic furniture as she relived her childhood.
The new Airbnb listing, registered to Polly herself, invites guests to get ready at her vanity, which is stuffed with nostalgic hair and nail accessories.
'90s kids rule at sleepovers. But you already knew that. So I wanted this sleepover to feel like youre still actually in the 90s!' the listing reads.
'Just picture itcrafting, throwback snacks, Polaroid cameras it's going to be AMAZING. Basically, I turned my Slumber Party Fun compact into a time machine where your imagination can run wild. Because there's no greater adventure than the one you create for yourself.'
The 12-metre-tall home features two stories filled with colorful plastic furniture, and naturally, some of Polly Pockets iconic rubber clothing.
It sleeps four guests, not in the compact itself, but an Action Park tent (also based on a vintage playset) near to the life-sized playground.
The unique Airbnb is only open for overnight stays from September 12 to 14 and costs $89 (70) per person.
The couple spent the full day playing celebrity dress up for the cameras in the life-size version of the '90s toy's compact doll house
The propertys design takes inspiration from Polly Pockets original play sets. This particular Airbnb is based on the Slumber Party Fun compact, which debuted in the 1990s
The Australian actor and director, 44, and her soon-to-be-wife whisked their one-year-old daughter Royce away to Littleton, Massachusetts to preview the 'Icon experience'
The BnB sleeps four guests, not in the compact itself, but an Action Park tent (also based on a vintage playset) near to the life-sized playground
The family of three cozied up in the tent blankets together after their big day.
It marks Rebel's latest promotion of the website.
In 2023, Airbnb put up Rebel, Ramona, and Royce in a stunning Bondi Beach penthouse while the Hollywood name filmed her directorial debut in Australia.
'Directing a movie is really hard, but its made easier when Airbnb hooks me up with this amazing penthouse on Bondi Beach, Sydney,' the Bridesmaids star wrote in the caption of her promotional post at the time.
'Thanks Airbnb for this incredible pad - iconic views, a pool, great kitchen and bbq area, its like I'm on a working vacation - just love it!'
Meanwhile, Rebel has been selling off her investment properties piece-by-piece.
In June, the newly-minted Australian author listed her Los Angeles 'Office House' where she wrote Rebel Rising, for US$4.19million. She bought the five-bedroom, four-bathroom home in 2016 for US$2.95million.
She also offloaded her long-held Balmain property in April, making a staggering profit of $5.74million on the heritage listed two-bedroom in the Lever Brothers soap factory in Sydney.
The Deb director banked an additional $9.5million when she sold her Sydney Harbour home in 2022.
It comes as Rebel faces legal issues from producers of her new film.
Wilson was sued for defamation in July by producers Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden.
The Deb will make its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival's closing night on September 14 after Wilson accused the trio of blocking the movie from premiering.
Royce wore a matching pastel purple tracksuit paired with a purple tutu, and the same heart-shaped sunglasses as her mothers, for the outing
Ramona and Rebel arrived for the photoshoot in low-key matching tracksuits in purple and yellow hues, accessorised with pink and white heart-shaped sunglasses
Royce was having the time of her life as she played with all the accessories in the house
A Brisbane man has revealed a shocking family betrayal admitting that the son he thought was his, turns out to be his half-brother.
The man, who wished to remain anonymous, phoned in to Nova's Ben, Liam and Belle on Wednesday when the hosts were discussing cheating stories with listeners.
The man revealed that he discovered that his long-time partner had been cheating on him with a very close relative.
'I found out that my ex-partner of four years, or just about four years, was having an affair with my father,' he told radio hosts Ben Jackson, Liam Stapleton and Belle Jackson.
The revelation clearly shocked the radio trio, with Liam replying with an awkward: 'That's not good.'
It only went downhill from there, with the caller revealing that the son he thought belonged to him was actually his father's when asked by Ben how he discovered the shocking family betrayal.
'My father and ex-partner decided to open their mouth to my sister, and my sister went and spoke to my mum, and my mum told me,' he said.
'And to make it worse, you know, just to chuck on top, lie to a person about a five year old little boy, saying it's theirs when it's not.
A Brisbane man has revealed a hocking family betrayal admitting that the son he thought was his was actually his half brother on Nova's Ben, Liam and Belle
'I found out that my son of five years is not legally my son, it's my half brother.'
Even more shocked by the second revelation, Ben tried to come to terms with the enormity of the situation and asked the anonymous caller to clarify.
'Hang on, so you're telling me you had a kid with this woman and she is now with your dad and they're telling the kid that your dad is his dad?'
The caller set the record straight, reiterating that the child was actually his half brother.
'My father and ex-partner decided to open their mouth to my sister, and my sister went and spoke to my mum, and my mum told me,' he said
'And to make it worse, you know, just to chuck on top, lie to a person about a five year old little boy, saying it's theirs when it's not. I found out that my son of five years is not legally my son, it's my half brother'
'Yeah, I found out that my son of five years is not legally my son he's my half-brother.'
Over shocked 'Oh my Gods' Belle added: 'Yeah, the kid's not actually his dad's kid but he raised his son.'
It appeared that the anonymous caller had somewhat come to terms with the huge betrayal after the hosts revealed that his admission had netted him a $100 gift voucher to McDonald's
'Well anonymous, you have got yourself $100 of McDonald's on us,' Ben told the caller.
'Sweet,' came the caller's enthusiastic reply.
Belle then hit back with: 'Who needs kids when you have Maccas,' before Ben also chimed in.
'It's devastating what happened to you but you seemed pretty genuinely stoked about having a Maccas dinner tonight as you should. Good on you.'
Former Big Brother star Chad Hurst is set to appear in court to dispute a disabled parking fine.
The 31-year-old will appear in Sydney's Downing Centre Court on September 23 after being charged with stopping in a disabled parking area with no valid permit displayed, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Chad, who took out top honours in the 2020 series of Big Brother, told the publication that the alleged violation took place in Sydney's lower North Shore on the street where he lives.
He also revealed that it's not the first time he has been charged with the offence after fighting and winning the same charge over 12 months ago.
Chad said that recent development in the area had altered the parking space allocation on the street, leading to confusion as to where he can park his car.
'Due to high rise apartment blocks being built in my street over the past couple of years, the council has moved and changed the signs,' Chad said.
He added that he was booked for the same offence recently, with the incident occurring out the front of his house.
'This happened to me about a year before as well, right in front of my place,' he said.
Former Big Brother star Chad Hurst is set to appear in court to dispute a disabled parking fine
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'It has changed from a two-hour to a work zone and then now disabled parking.'
Chad received a $700 fine for the parking infraction and risks losing a demerit point off his licence.
Only people with a NSW Mobility Parking Scheme permit are entitled to park in spaces marked with a symbol for people with disabilities.
It comes after the Aussie heartthrob recently revealed his surprising new career change.
Partnering with friend Samer Trebincevic last year, Chad opened the doors to his Air Locker gym in North Sydney.
He is set to appear in Sydney 's Downing Centre Court later this month after being charged with stopping in a disabled parking area with no valid permit displayed, The Daily Telegraph reported
Only people with a NSW Mobility Parking Scheme permit are entitled to park in spaces marked with a symbol for people with disabilities
Speaking about his new venture, he told Daily Mail Australia at the time: 'Lifting weights with my mates back in school got me hooked onto fitness. That love saw me becoming a certified trainer in 2011.'
He continued, 'A good mate introduced me to Air Locker, and after delving into the brand Sam and I were bowled over. The fierce passion behind the brand just sealed the deal.'
He previously worked as a personal trainer at celebrity hotspot ACERO before deciding it was time to live out his dreams and run his own business.
Chad, who is signed to modelling agency IMG, previously expressed his gratitude for the opportunities that come from modelling in an interview with Daily Mail Australia.
'Life in the fashion world for me has always been a great ride. The opportunities and adventures it has given me, I'll always be grateful,' he said.
Chad admitted while he misses walking the catwalk, he had a good time sitting back and watching the shows at Fashion Week back in 2021.
'It's good to see the up and coming models in Australia make their appearance on the runway. That's what it's all about,' he said.
Pip Edwards came full circle this week as she took up the creative director position at Ksubi, the fashion brand she got her start in as a 'sexytary'.
While the move shocked fans, as it came shortly after she stepped down from the same role at her company P.E Nation, there were clues leading up to the change.
The fashion entrepreneur, 44, was spotted in New York City on Wednesday, the day before fashion week was set to kick off, with Ksubi hosting an event there soon.
The fashion label, co-founded in 1999 by Pip's ex Dan Single in Sydney, was giving away five double passes to their show which will kick off on September 11.
Pip was spotted walking through the streets of New York City wearing flared Ksubi jeans just a week before the event.
She slipped into the dark blue Soho Original Snaps, which are worth $239.95, and paired them with a simple black tank top.
The blonde beauty accessorised with several pieces of chunky gold jewellery as she slicked her tresses back into a low ponytail.
Spending some quality time with friends, the Australian entrepreneur ran into American comedian Andrew Schulz during her outing.
Pip Edwards, 44, was spotted walking the streets of New York City on Wednesday ahead of fashion week, wearing a pair of Ksubi jeans in a telling clue she was moving to the company
Pip announced on Thursday she had left P.E Nation, the athleisure brand she co-founded with friend Claire Tregoning, to go back to her fashion roots.
The Sydney socialite this week revealed her shock return to Ksubi, the Aussie streetwear brand she helped build with her ex Dan, 46, two decades ago.
'As fate would have it, today I'm announcing my return to Ksubi as Creative Director - a true full-circle moment,' Pip captioned her announcement.
In the post, she included a photo of herself posing with Ksubi CEO Craig King in black denim and a plain white T-shirt.
The blonde beauty accessorised with several pieces of chunky gold jewellery as she slicked her tresses back into a low ponytail
Another clue to Pip's defection from P.E Nation saw Ksubi hosting an event at New York fashion week where the entrepreneur is currently staying
'From its inception, Ksubi has been at the core of the global cultural zeitgeist, thriving at the intersection of where fashion, art, and music meet,' Pip continued.
'Having been part of the original crew 20 years ago, I'm excited to join the talented team at Ksubi once again and contribute to their already impressive global success.'
Pip's ex partner Dan founded the edgy denim brand, then known as Tsubi, with his friends Gareth Moody and George Gorrow in 1999.
In 2004 Pip was hired as a 'sexytary' and the unusual position proved to be the opportunity of a lifetime for Pip.
The fashion designer famously once rocked a mullet-and-rat's-tail hairstyle while opening Tsubi's first store in Bondi Beach.
Anna Paul has been slammed by detractors for spending $20,000 on brand new curtains after her cats destroyed the ones in her rental home.
The influencer, 25, took to TikTok recently to confess to spending the huge amount in a video where she shows the price on her internet banking app.
'I paid 20 grand this morning to pay for curtains because our cats (yes I'm blaming our cats), they ripped up the curtains in one of our old rental properties and they're like "hey you guys gotta replace these curtains, 20 grand please?"'
'So, I fork it out. That's just what you do, isn't it? It's weird too because I grew up extremely broke.
'And when I say extremely broke, I mean like my parents were like "bro, we're going to be homeless." We got food from the homeless shelters, it was a whole thing. Anyway, now I'm paying 20 thousand dollar bills for cat curtains,' the TikTok star said.
Soon after Anna posted the video, several detractors took to Reddit to complain about the influencer's display of wealth.
'I don't understand showing off the 20 grand that she paid for getting curtains done to followers and making a sob story about it in her recent TikTok,' wrote one Reddit user.
'Like I understand your rich and all, but would never get the point of showing it with the other phone to her followers lol,' they added.
Anna Paul (pictured) has been slammed by detractors for spending $20,000 on brand new curtains after her cats destroyed the ones in her rental home
'$20k for curtains is wild,' wrote another user.
'This girl needs another Glen in her life. She's changed drastically. And not in a good way,' said another, referring to her former relationship with Glen Thompson, who she dated for eight years before breaking up in 2023.
Meanwhile, another Redditor replied casting doubt on Anna's accounts of childhood poverty.
The influencer, 25, took to TikTok recently to confess to spending the huge amount in a video where she shows the price on her internet banking app
Soon after Anna posted the video, several detractors took to Reddit to complain about the influencer's display of wealth
'Every influencer "I grew up extremely broke." Why do they all say this over and over?' another Redditor asked.
It comes after Anna called out a Love Island star for lying about having met her during his European holiday.
Anna took to her Instagram Stories on last month to re-share a post from Jordan Dowsett where he claimed to have met her.
'I don't understand showing off the 20 grand that she paid for getting curtains done to followers and making a sob story about it in her recent TikTok,' wrote one Reddit user
Jordan, who starred on the fourth season of Love Island Australia, showed off his muscular frame as he posted a shirtless snap while in the sea in Positano, Italy.
In the caption, he gushed over meeting influencer Anna earlier in the day, even tagging her in the post as he shared the news with his 58,000 followers.
He penned: 'In love with this coast line. Met @annapaul today which was so cute.'
However, Anna was quick to hit back at his post as she insisted he was lying about having met her because she isn't even on the Amalfi Coast anymore.
Re-sharing the snap, Anna penned: 'No you didn't HAHA. I'm not even in Positano anymore. People are crazy.'
Just hours later, she shared a photograph of herself enjoying the mountain landscapes in Bayern, Germany, confirming she was no longer in Italy.
Jordan's original post no longer features on his Instagram, but it is unclear if he deleted it, or if it expired from the 24-hour time slot on his Stories.
But he later took to his Instagram Grid to confirm that he was just 'taking the p**s' and hadn't really met the popular social media star.
Matt Damon wrapped a loving arm around wife Luciana Barroso at the star-studded Luisaviaroma store opening in New York City on Wednesday night.
The Oscar-winner, 53, looked hunky in blue jeans beside his glamorous spouse of nearly two decades as they posed for photos on the red carpet.
The couple were joined by Matt's stepdaughter Alexia Barroso, 25, who Luciana welcomed in 1999 during her marriage to ex-husband Arbello Barroso.
The trio made their way around the starry event attended by model/socialite Nicky Hilton and runway maven Helena Christensen.
Matt and Luciana met on set of his 2003 comedy film Stuck on You and tied the knot in a private civil ceremony in December 2005.
Matt Damon wrapped a loving arm around wife Luciana Barroso at the star-studded Luisaviaroma store opening in New York City on Wednesday night
The Oscar-winner, 53, looked hunky in blue jeans beside his glamorous spouse of nearly two decades as they posed for photos on the red carpet
They share three daughters: Isabella, 18, Gia, 15, and Stella, 13.
Matt styled his dark blue jeans with a black short sleeve button-up shirt, white All Star sneakers and black-framed glasses.
Luciana sizzled in a skintight black turtleneck top and a cherry red faux leather skirt.
Her skirt matched her quilted Chanel bag.
The Argentinian beauty, 48, rocked voluminous brunette curls and accessorized with shiny gold jewelry.
The longtime married couple walked around the event venue holding hands and smiling.
Meanwhile, Nicky Hilton, 40, worked her angles for photographers in a bright red frock.
It had flirty puff sleeves, a cinched waistline and a ruffled skirt.
The younger sister Paris Hilton's blonde hair was styled in curls and she rocked a natural glam look.
For a fun pop, Hilton strolled around in leopard-print heels.
Matt styled his dark blue jeans with a black short sleeve button-up shirt, white All Star sneakers and black-framed glasses
Luciana sizzled in a skintight black turtleneck top and a cherry red faux leather skirt
The couple were joined by Matt's stepdaughter Alexia Barroso, 25, who Luciana welcomed in 1999 during her marriage to ex-husband Arbello Barroso
The Argentinian beauty, 48, rocked voluminous brunette curls and accessorized with shiny gold jewelry
The longtime married couple walked around the event venue holding hands and smiling
Matt and Luciana met on set of his 2003 comedy film Stuck on You and tied the knot in a private civil ceremony in December 2005
Helena Christensen looked sensational in a busty LBD with keyhole cutout.
The Danish model, 55, threw on a pair of black kitten heels and she carried a fabric clutch.
Her silky brunette hair was styled in an elegant updo and she accessorized with diamond earrings.
Maggie Gyllenhaal cut a casual figure for the fashion event in a blazer and matching vest.
The actress/director, 46, completed her chic outfit with baggy jeans and black satin ballet flats.
Letting her natural beauty shine, Maggie paired her flawless complexion with light mascara and a bold berry lip.
Amber Valletta made jaws drop in a strapless black minidress that showed off her slim legs.
The model, 50, strutted her stuff in sky-high heels and her blonde hair looked tousled.
Nicky Hilton, 40, worked her angles for photographers in a bright red frock
Hilton, 40, worked her angles for photographers in a bright red frock
Helena Christensen looked sensational in a busty LBD with keyhole cutout
The Danish model, 55, threw on a pair of black kitten heels and she carried a fabric clutch
Her silky brunette hair was styled in an elegant updo and she accessorized with diamond earrings
She exuded elegance as she posed up inside the new storefront in NYC
Maggie Gyllenhaal cut a casual figure for the fashion event in a blazer and matching vest
The actress/director, 46, completed her chic outfit with baggy jeans and black satin ballet flats
Her brunette pixie cut was styled effortlessly
Maggie sported a bold berry lip
Amber Valletta made jaws drop in a strapless black minidress that showed off her slim legs
The model, 50, strutted her stuff in sky-high heels and her blonde hair looked tousled
She had a noticeable sun-kissed glow to her skin and she made her blue eyes pop with smudged black eyeliner
She had a noticeable sun-kissed glow to her skin and she made her blue eyes pop with smudged black eyeliner.
Luisaviaroma is an Italian luxury retailer that offers high-end fashion brands along with home decor and lifestyle goods.
The store celebrated its New York flagship opening with an Instagram post on Wednesday.
'The return of true luxury retail to downtown,' the official Luisaviaroma account advertised.
Following the U.K. premiere and the new trailer arriving this week, the first handful of reviews are in for Netflix's The Perfect Couple before it debuts Thursday.
Nicole Kidman and Liev Schreiber lead the buzzy cast of this upcoming limited series, following a wealthy Nantucket family whose lives are turned upside down.
The first three reviews have surfaced, with one calling it 'ludicrously good,' while the others are not so positive, one calling it 'daft' and 'derivative.'
The sole positive review thus far is from The Guardian's Lucy Mangan, who compared the show to HBO's The White Lotus and Big Little Lies.
She praised the, 'proper plot,' and the, 'carousel of suspects turns and reveals drop at perfectly spaced intervals.'
Following the U.K. premiere and the new trailer arriving this week , the first handful of reviews are in for Netflix 's The Perfect Couple before it debuts Thursday
The first three reviews have surfaced, with one calling it 'ludicrously good,' while the others are not so positive, one calling it 'daft' and 'derivative'
'It may or may not have things to say about the haves and have-nots, the power of money to corrupt, as well as class consciousness, but it doesnt have anything like the interest The White Lotus, say, took in such questions,' she added.
It was adapted by Jenna Lamia from the book of the same name by Elin Hilderbrand, who is known as the queen of the beach read. Lamia has kept exactly what makes such books great and presented us with a glorious, ridiculous treat. Nothing to do but sit back and enjoy.
The critic insists, 'it's almost impossible to resist bingeing the entirety of this classy detective drama set around a posh wedding in Nantucket.'
'Its a glorious, perfectly paced delight,' she says, though the other critics have quite the opposite take.
The series could have been a piece of 'biting satire,' but, according to The Independent's Nick Hilton, the show is as, 'daft as it is derivative.'
Hilton claims that the irony of the show with this specific title is, 'for all the beachfront properties, the designer dresses, and wedding cakes that could feed a small army, perfection is nowhere to be found.'
He adds, 'The star wattage of the cast, and their creative bona fides, should be taken with a pinch of salt: this is a neat shot of unadulterated naffness.'
The show is adapted from the 2018 novel of the same name by Elin Hilderbrand, who has been dubbed, 'queen of the beach reads'
'It may or may not have things to say about the haves and have-nots, the power of money to corrupt, as well as class consciousness, but it doesnt have anything like the interest The White Lotus, say, took in such questions,' she added
The critic insists, 'it's almost impossible to resist bingeing the entirety of this classy detective drama set around a posh wedding in Nantucket'
He adds, 'The star wattage of the cast, and their creative bona fides, should be taken with a pinch of salt: this is a neat shot of unadulterated naffness'
Hilton adds that while the book was, 'written to be inhaled at a Cabo poolside, geared up on pina coladas and its TV adaptation is going to be consumed by hungover commuters on packed trains'
Hilton adds that while the book was, 'written to be inhaled at a Cabo poolside, geared up on pina coladas and its TV adaptation is going to be consumed by hungover commuters on packed trains.'
He also calls it a 'transparently cynical rip-off' of similar shows like The White Lotus, Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers.
The third review from the Irish Examiner's Pat Fitzpatrick claimed that if fans liked The White Lotus, they will not enjoy The Perfect Couple.
'Theyre both cut from the same reel, but The White Lotus is much better. Its cookie-cutter TV at this stage,' Fitzpatrick said.
The critic added, 'There isnt enough in the characters to make you want to watch it for more than 30 minutes. And no amount of plot can save that.'
'If you want muzak TV that shows a few nice images while you scroll your phone at night, this might just work. But if youre looking for a meaty show that will take the edge off the evenings closing in, youll need to keep looking,' Fitzpatrick concludes the review.
Eve Hewson, the daughter of U2 frontman Bono and activist Ali Hewson, glammed up to attend the Hollywood premiere of The Perfect Couple, which was held at The Egyptian Theatre on Wednesday.
The 33-year-old nepo-baby looked gift wrapped in a PATOU SS/25 'Rose #44' dress - featuring a bow, exaggerated hips, and pockets - along with bedazzled stilettos selected by stylist Karla Welch.
Eve (whose full name is Memphis Eve Sunny Day Hewson) pulled her raven locks into an elaborate bun updo.
Hewson brought out her bushy brows and wore brown eyeshadow, pink blush, and a darker pink lipstick.
Eve Hewson, the daughter of U2 frontman Bono and activist Ali Hewson, glammed up to attend the Hollywood premiere of The Perfect Couple, which was held at The Egyptian Theatre on Wednesday
The LA-based Irish beauty portrays bride-to-be Amelia Sacks in Jenna Lamia's six-episode mystery drama, which premieres this Thursday on Netflix.
In it, 'Amelia is about to marry into one of the wealthiest families on Nantucket, until a shocking death derails the wedding and turns everyone into a suspect.'
Susanne Bier directed the small-screen adaptation of Elin Hilderbrand's 2018 novel of the same name.
Eve struck a pose between her black sheer dress-clad castmates - Meghann Fahy and Nicole Kidman - who play her onscreen BFF Merritt Monaco and disapproving mother-in-law Greer Garrison Winbury.
The Perfect Couple also features Ishaan Khatter, Donna Lynne Champlin, Liev Schreiber, Mia Isaac, Sam Nivola, and Michael Beach.
That same day, Hewson celebrated being cast as F1 racing team owner Sir Trevor's (Murray Bartlett) shrewd and ruthless investment banker daughter Victoria in the Hulu comedy pilot Downforce - according to Deadline.
The Flora and Son star captioned the casting announcement on Instagram: 'Vroom Vroom @f1 @hulu!'
The 33-year-old nepo-baby looked gift wrapped in a PATOU SS/25 'Rose #44' dress - featuring a bow, exaggerated hips, and pockets - along with bedazzled stilettos selected by stylist Karla Welch
Eve (whose full name is Memphis Eve Sunny Day Hewson) pulled her raven locks into an elaborate bun updo
Hewson brought out her bushy brows and wore brown eyeshadow, pink blush, and a darker pink lipstick
The LA-based Irish beauty portrays bride-to-be Amelia Sacks in Jenna Lamia's six-episode mystery drama, which premieres this Thursday on Netflix
In it, 'Amelia is about to marry into one of the wealthiest families on Nantucket, until a shocking death derails the wedding and turns everyone into a suspect'
Susanne Bier (R) directed the small-screen adaptation of Elin Hilderbrand's 2018 novel of the same name
Eve struck a pose between her black sheer dress-clad castmates - Meghann Fahy and Nicole Kidman - who play her onscreen BFF Merritt Monaco and disapproving mother-in-law Greer Garrison Winbury
The Perfect Couple also features Ishaan Khatter, Donna Lynne Champlin, Liev Schreiber, Mia Isaac, Sam Nivola, and Michael Beach
That same day, Hewson celebrated being cast as F1 racing team owner Sir Trevor's (Murray Bartlett) shrewd and ruthless investment banker daughter Victoria in the Hulu comedy pilot Downforce: 'Vroom Vroom @f1 @hulu!'
The Flora and Son star - who's already worked with Steven Soderbergh and Steven Spielberg - is sanguine about privilege through her famous 64-year-old father (L, pictured in 2016), telling Porter Magazine last month: 'The only thing you can do is crack a joke and move on'
Eve admitted that acting felt inevitable, insisting 'it was the only thing I was any good at' but she did originally want to follow Bono (born Paul David Hewson) into music, laughing: 'I thought I was going to be Charli XCX!'
Eve - who's already worked with Steven Soderbergh and Steven Spielberg - is sanguine about privilege through her famous 64-year-old father, telling Porter Magazine last month: 'The only thing you can do is crack a joke and move on.'
Hewson admitted that acting felt inevitable, insisting 'it was the only thing I was any good at' but she did originally want to follow Bono (born Paul David Hewson) into music, laughing: 'I thought I was going to be Charli XCX!'
The 22-time Grammy winner and his band's rock-doc V-U2 An Immersive Concert Film at Sphere Las Vegas, directed by Morleigh Steinberg and The Edge, will begin screening at the venue this Thursday.
Alex Pike celebrated her 47th birthday with a whirlwind trip to Hollywood this week.
To mark the occasion, the cosmetic nurse stripped down to a skimpy aqua bikini while enjoying a splash in the pool of her Los Angeles hotel.
Flaunting her incredible physique in the two-piece swimwear, the mother-of-three boasted that she's become, 'more confident with age.'
She also tagged her beauty and wellness program, Inside Out Beauty, hinting that her own methods are behind her flawless figure.
Earlier that day, the former model showed off her rock hard abs during a sweat session at the gym.
In the image, Alex flexed her abs and biceps while clutching a dumbbell in one hand.
'47 and stronger,' she wrote in the caption.
Back in June, the celebrity injector shared the secrets behind her glowing and youthful complexion.
Alex Pike celebrated her 47th birthday with a whirlwind trip to Hollywood this week. To mark the occasion, the cosmetic nurse stripped down to a skimpy aqua bikini while enjoying a splash in the pool of her Los Angeles hotel. Pictured
Earlier that day, the former model showed off her rock hard abs during a sweat session at the gym
In a reel posted to Instagram, the one-time WAG explained that celery juice, carrots and sardines were to thank for her flawless complexion.
Looking half her age, she likened the foods to 'eating skincare' and said they help 'make my skin glow'.
'Celery juice. Great for reducing inflammation. Helps to hydrate your skin and is also really good for detoxification,' she said.
'Eating your carrots is like eating your retinol. Carrots are full of beta carotene which converts in your body to vitamin A,' she continued.
'Improves skin texture and provides antioxidant protection. I'm not sure that you'll like this one but it's one of my favourites - sardines.
'Full of omega 3 and fatty acids. Reduces inflammation and also contains vitamin D which supports your skin health and repair.'
But healthy eating isn't the only secret behind Alex looking years younger than her age, as she's previously admitted to having work done on her face.
In a reel posted to Instagram, the one-time WAG explained that celery juice, carrots and sardines were to thank for her flawless complexion
The mum-of-three confessed on the Not Super Woman podcast in 2023 that she's had two surgical procedures done.
'I'm not shy about having things done,' she said as she detailed the work she's had done to maintain her youthful appearance.
'I have treatments obviously. I've had upper eyelid surgery - blepharoplasty - and some liposuction to my jawline,' she said.
Alex went on to say she's 'not afraid to own' the procedures she's had done, as she also admitted to getting fillers, anti-wrinkle injections and laser treatments.
She revealed she first dabbled with anti-wrinkle injections at the age of 23 after a surgeon urged her to try Botox.
'I ended up having the treatment - just my frown line,' she told the Curious Conversations podcast in 2021.
'And when it started to take effect, I could not believe the difference and I then started getting more modelling jobs because I was looking super fresh.'
Molly-Mae Hague is planning a wild weekend in Cannes as she prepares to 'let her hair down' following her split from Tommy Fury.
The former Love Island star shocked fans when she ended her engagement to the boxer, 25, last month after a five-year relationship.
Tommy has since been accused of cheating on Molly after alleging sharing a passionate kiss with Danish Milla Corfixen, 20, during a lads' holiday in North Macedonia.
However Molly-Mae, 25, is now set to enjoy her own girls holiday as she revealed in her YouTube vlog on Wednesday she is heading to Cannes this weekend for as a last minute plus one for her friends wedding.
Sharing her excitement to have a break from mum duties and let her hair down, she told fans: 'Basically I have been invited as a plus one, and you guys know me this is a bit out of my comfort zone, party vibes, not really my scene.'
Molly-Mae Hague has vowed to 'let her hair down' as she revealed her plans for a wild Cannes weekend in her latest YouTube vlog on Wednesday
The Love Island star, 25, also opened up about the physical stress of her split as she showed followers the dark circles under her eyes
Molly-Mae seemed to make a dig at Tommy's various holidays and trips abroad as she added: 'I'm not saying I'm not cool anymore because I am a mum, but you know I am a mum I've got responsibilities. I can't just be jetting off going to Cannes.
'But I feel like this is probably the perfect time to say yes to an invite like this. I just feel like I have never done anything like that my whole life.'
She added: 'It is very exciting and out of the blue, but I feel like if there is ever a time to do something like this it's now in my life where I need distractions. I need fun things, I need to let my hair down and spend some time with my friends.'
Elsewhere in the vlog, Molly-Mae also opened up about the physical stress of her split as she showed followers the dark circles under her eyes.
Leaning into the camera as she removed her makeup, Molly explained: 'Another thing I have noticed over the last week of so, out of nowhere, I don't know if it is stress related or Erin was saying she thinks it's iron deficiency related. I have gotten really dark circles around my eyes.'
Getting closer to the camera, the star pointed as she said: 'A darkness begins, almost like a shadow, almost like a bit of a bruise.'
'I have never suffered with dark eyes before, ever even if I am really tired I don't get dark circles around my eyes and out of nowhere these brown hollow pits of sadness are appearing.
'And I'm like "hang on a minute am I ageing? Has the stress of the last month caused me to age?" because if it has we're going to have a problem on our hands.'
The couple shocked fans when they ended their engagement last month after a five-year relationship. Tommy has since been accused of cheating on Molly after alleging sharing a passionate kiss with Danish Milla Corfixen, 20, during a lads' holiday in North Macedonia
Molly-Mae seemed to make a dig at Tommy's various holidays and trips abroad as she added: 'I'm not saying I'm not cool anymore because I am a mum, but you know I am a mum I've got responsibilities. I can't just be jetting off going to Cannes'
She added: 'I feel like if there is ever a time to do something like this it's now in my life where I need distractions. I need fun things, I need to let my hair down and spend some time with my friends'
Getting closer to the camera, the star pointed as she said: 'A darkness begins, almost like a shadow, almost like a bit of a bruise'
She added: 'And I'm like "hang on a minute am I ageing? Has the stress of the last month caused me to age?" because if it has we're going to have a problem on our hands'
Molly-Mae also took her followers along dress shopping as she tried on white gowns in preparation for an upcoming white party as part of the wedding in Cannes.
The star opened up about visiting the shop her sister Zoe Rae purchased her main wedding dress from in order to buy a white dress for herself, calling the experience a 'bit weird'.
Molly told her followers: 'Bit weird going to a wedding dress shop during this era of my life but got to do what I've got to do.'
In the shop, Molly looked elegant in a white backless halter neck gown which featured a thigh-split and tie-up detailing.
Once back home, she said to the camera: 'I secured myself a white dress, which is exciting. It wasn't the dress you actually saw me trying on in that video, but it was kind of similar, a little bit less dressy than that dress because it just feels extremely against the grain to be buying anything white for a wedding.
'Obviously it's a white party so I have to keep reminding myself that.'
Molly-Mae also took her followers along dress shopping as she tried on white gowns in preparation for an upcoming white party as part of the wedding in Cannes
Molly said :'Bit weird going to a wedding dress shop during this era of my life but got to do what I've got to do'
Elsewhere in the vlog, Molly-Mae revealed she if feeling 'positive' in her latest YouTube vlog on Wednesday, following her split from Tommy.
In her latest Vlog, Molly-Mae discussed co-parenting daughter Bambi, after previously saying the 20-month-old can 'sense' their split.
Opening up to her followers, the influencer said: 'I've had quite a positive day today, this weekend was a lot more positive than I thought it was going to be.
'We went to the soft play this morning and then Tommy picked Bambi up this afternoon, spent the afternoon with her, so things are going well.
'I've not been feeling too bad so I feel like that is a positive.'
It comes after Molly-Mae admitted that she's lonely and bedbound in the wake of her split.
In her previous Vlog shared last week, Molly-Mae opened up on life after the break-up, confessing to her fans that weekends are 'horrendous' because it's 'freaking lonely' without her former love.
In another video she shared that she had booked a spa day and was looking forward to getting out of the house.
She explained: 'I couldn't think of anything worse than just sitting at home all day, especially as that's what I've done for so many days now.
'I've just been sort of house bound, bed bound, Zoe's been coming around to help me a lot with Bambi and also Tommy's been having Bambi as well.'
She went on to reveal how she had a professional organiser to come in and sort out her cupboards as 'there was a lot of chaos going on' and she felt like her house' needed a little bit of a sort out'.
The influencer went on to say that she wanted to fix herself some lunch but she hasn't had the appetite, noting: 'The appetite hasn't really been there. It's definitely coming back but I just don't really fancy anything.
Later in the video, Molly-Mae reflected on how tough it has been to keep herself occupied since Tommy moved out.
Speaking to the camera, she said: 'I'm having a day today where I'm trying to stay busy and trying to stay distracted and just trying to find things to do to fill my time.
'And I'm kind of dreading this weekend because I feel like weekends are c**p!
It comes after Molly-Mae admitted that she's lonely and bedbound in the wake of her split (pictured with the couples daughter Bambi)
'When you're going through a break-up, I feel like weekends are literally the worst because weekends are for me something I really look forward to, especially when you're in a family because it's family time and memory making time.
'You always do nice things and I don't know, the weekends now are the hardest time because it's freaking lonely and just sad really.'
She added: 'I'm not really looking forward to this weekend but I feel like every weekend that passes, it should be getting easier - we hope for that.'
Molly-Mae, who shares 20-month-old daughter Bambi with Tommy, went on to say: 'In break-ups, there are parts of the days that are definitely worst and better than others .
'Mornings - horrendous. Evenings - horrendous. Weekends for me, horrendous. And then when you're busy in the middle of the day and you're not thinking about things and distracted, that is prime time. That is your few hours of like, okay, I'm not thinking about it.
'And then the minute things slow down...'
'As well for me, you're so used to how life is and when you're in a routine and everything is done with your person, and then I don't know, obviously there's a lot of change and it's really... it's pretty crap.'
Molly-Mae then went on to speculate that her fans will wonder why she's making this vlog like 'everything's normal', but that star insisted that this was 'the best way for me to cope with this'.
She added that YouTube and vlogging has been a 'nice distraction' for her amid the heartache and is 'something else to think about' and 'focus on', as well as a 'coping mechanism'.
Molly-Mae concluded her video saying that the period after her break-up will definitely be 'a journey' but she's 'lucky' to have her 'huge online family' supporting her through it.
And in a candid Vlog shared on Friday, Molly-Mae opened up on life after the break-up, confessing to her fans that weekends are 'horrendous' because it's 'freaking lonely' without her former love
It isn't the first time Tommy has lived away from Molly, with the boxer having resided at a plush London flat while training for a fight
Meanwhile, earlier in the vlog, Molly-Mae said she will always love Tommy as she reflects on the 'very real' two weeks since they ended their engagement.
She said in her first video following the shock news that she is 'ready to move forward and look to the future' as she opened up with her followers.
Opening the 'normal vlog', the influence sat on the floor of her 4million Cheshire mansion as she spoke to the camera addressing fans.
She said: 'You might be clicking on this video hoping I'll spill the tea or speak about what's been happening the past few weeks but to be honest with you that was never something that was going to happen and it's not something I ever plan on talking about.
'The last 2 weeks are very real and are real life. It is something we are trying to go through privately as best we can but I haven't really been able to get away from it.
'My coping mechanism has been talking to those who I love and those who have been incredible in this time and then coming on here and pushing forward. I don't feel comfortable talking about it because this is real life, its not drama, its not a publicity stunt, it's actually really sad and deep and I don't feel right to talk about it.'
'Out of respect for Tommy I don't want to talk about it because the last two weeks has been a lot and it has blown out of proportion and the last thing I want to do it fuel the fire and stir the pot when it doesn't need to be. I want to move forward and look to the future.
'The last two weeks have been made easier because of the love from you guys I have been so overwhelmed from the support.'
Molly-Mae went on to say she is 'looking forward to moving on' as she thanked her 'incredible' support system for helping her through the shock break-up.
The mother-of-one confessed she will 'always love' ex Tommy but said the split is 'very sad' and she is excited to move forward as she has 'excited things' coming up.
Meanwhile, earlier in the vlog, Molly-Mae said she will always love Tommy as she reflects on the 'very real' two weeks since they ended their engagement.
She said in her first video following the shock news that she is 'ready to move forward and look to the future' as she opened up with her followers
Elsewhere in the vlog, Molly-Mae went shopping with daughter Bambi before the mother and daughter watched TV together and read a bedtime story.
Later in the 36minute video Molly discussed her future project which she has been working on 'since before she fell pregnant' with Bambi, who is nearly two-years-old .
She admitted she nearly pushed the launch date of the 'secret' project as she wasn't 'mentally strong enough' amid her relationship break down but she said she has 'worked so hard' on it she doesn't want to delay it any longer.
Molly went on to reveal she has pushed the launch date to September 8, by a week to allow herself an 'extra week to recoup' which would have been 'a lot'.
Nicole Kidman displayed her smooth complexion as she was joined by Meghann Fahy and Eve Hewson at the after party for the premiere of The Perfect Couple.
The Academy Award-winner, 57, showed off her age-defying looks as she attended the premiere for her new Netflix drama - in which she plays a famous novelist.
For the evening, Nicole threw on a black blazer over her slim, statuesque 5ft11in figure in a custom Ferragamo sheer halter gown which she accessorised with dazzling Messika jewellery.
The star was once more a wrinkle-free wonder as she posed with co-stars at the party, after make-up artist Gucci Westman fully contoured her alabaster complexion.
She was joined at the star-studded party by a host of her co-stars - including The White Lotus star Meghann, 34, who stunned in a sheer black lace midi dress.
Nicole Kidman displayed her glowing complexion as she was joined by Meghann Fahy and Eve Hewson at the after party for the premiere of The Perfect Couple in Los Angeles on Wednesday
She was joined at the star-studded party by a host of her co-stars - including The White Lotus star Meghann, 34, who stunned in a sheer black lace midi dress
Meghann's completely-backless dress was complete with a plunging neckline and wsa so sheer her entire underwear was on display.
The star of The Bold Type swept her blonde locks into a bun and sported a black of black open-toed heels.
At the after party, Meghann was seen laughing with co-star Eve, 33, who looked gift wrapped in a pink baggy bow dress, featuring exaggerated hips and pockets, and bedazzled stilletos selected by stylist Karla Welch.
The daughter of U2 frontman Bono and activist Ali Hewson (whose full name is Memphis Eve Sunny Day Hewson) pulled her raven locks into an elaborate bun updo.
Eve brought out her bushy brows and wore brown eyeshadow, pink blush, and a darker pink lipstick.
Meghann and Eve - who play Amelia Sachs and Merritt Monaco in the series - looked close pals as they laughed together while posing for snaps.
Following the U.K. premiere and the new trailer arriving this week, the first handful of reviews for Netflix's The Perfect Couple before debuted on Wednesday ahead of its release the following day.
Nicole and Liev Schreiber lead the buzzy cast of this upcoming limited series, following a wealthy Nantucket family whose lives are turned upside down.
Nicole was once more a wrinkle-free wonder as she posed with co-stars at the party, after make-up artist Gucci Westman fully contoured her alabaster complexion
For the evening, Nicole threw on a black blazer over her slim, statuesque 5ft11in figure in a custom Ferragamo sheer halter gown which she accessorised with dazzling Messika jewellery
Meghann's completely-backless dress was complete with a plunging neckline and wsa so sheer her entire underwear was on display
At the after party, Meghann was seen laughing with co-star Eve, 33, who looked gift wrapped in a pink baggy bow dress, featuring exaggerated hips and pockets, and bedazzled stilletos selected by stylist Karla Welch
The star of The Bold Type swept her blonde locks into a bun and sported a black of black open-toed heels (Meghann pictured with Liev Schreiber)
The daughter of U2 frontman Bono and activist Ali Hewson (whose full name is Memphis Eve Sunny Day Hewson) pulled her raven locks into an elaborate bun updo (Eve pictured with Susanne Bier)
The first three reviews have surfaced, with one calling it 'ludicrously good,' while the others are not so positive, one calling it 'daft' and 'derivative.'
The sole positive review thus far is from The Guardian's Lucy Mangan, who compared the show to HBO's The White Lotus and Big Little Lies.
She praised the, 'proper plot,' and the, 'carousel of suspects turns and reveals drop at perfectly spaced intervals.'
'It may or may not have things to say about the haves and have-nots, the power of money to corrupt, as well as class consciousness, but it doesnt have anything like the interest The White Lotus, say, took in such questions,' she added.
It was adapted by Jenna Lamia from the book of the same name by Elin Hilderbrand, who is known as the queen of the beach read. Lamia has kept exactly what makes such books great and presented us with a glorious, ridiculous treat. Nothing to do but sit back and enjoy.
The critic insists, 'it's almost impossible to resist bingeing the entirety of this classy detective drama set around a posh wedding in Nantucket.'
'Its a glorious, perfectly paced delight,' she says, though the other critics have quite the opposite take.
The series could have been a piece of 'biting satire,' but, according to The Independent's Nick Hilton, the show is as, 'daft as it is derivative.'
Following the U.K. premiere and the new trailer arriving this week , the first handful of reviews are in for Netflix 's The Perfect Couple before it debuts Thursday
The first three reviews have surfaced, with one calling it 'ludicrously good,' while the others are not so positive, one calling it 'daft' and 'derivative'
'It may or may not have things to say about the haves and have-nots, the power of money to corrupt, as well as class consciousness, but it doesnt have anything like the interest The White Lotus, say, took in such questions,' she added
The critic insists, 'it's almost impossible to resist bingeing the entirety of this classy detective drama set around a posh wedding in Nantucket'
Hilton claims that the irony of the show with this specific title is, 'for all the beachfront properties, the designer dresses, and wedding cakes that could feed a small army, perfection is nowhere to be found.'
He adds, 'The star wattage of the cast, and their creative bona fides, should be taken with a pinch of salt: this is a neat shot of unadulterated naffness.'
The show is adapted from the 2018 novel of the same name by Elin Hilderbrand, who has been dubbed, 'queen of the beach reads'.
Hilton adds that while the book was, 'written to be inhaled at a Cabo poolside, geared up on pina coladas and its TV adaptation is going to be consumed by hungover commuters on packed trains.'
He also calls it a 'transparently cynical rip-off' of similar shows like The White Lotus, Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers.
In recent years she's embraced yoga, wellness and quiet nights in.
Yet Kate Moss proved she hadn't completely lost her love of partying as she stayed out at the Chiltern Firehouse in London until 3am on Thursday morning.
The 50-year-old supermodel - who has embraced sober living - did look ready for bed, however, as she left the celebrity hotspot alongside friend and socialite Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath.
Despite her tiredness she did manage to last longer than her younger sister Lottie, 26, who onlookers claim did not stay long at the bar.
Yet it was no doubt still enough time to celebrate the end of their three-year feud, having made up after attending their father's 80th birthday celebrations this week.
Kate Moss proved she hadn't completely lost her love of partying as she stayed at the Chiltern Firehouse in London with Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath, until 3am on Thursday morning
Despite Kate's tiredness she did manage to last longer than her younger sister Lottie, 26, (pictured leaving) who onlookers claim did not stay long at the bar
Kate and Lottie revealed their three-year feud was over this week when they posed for sweet snaps together at their father's birthday bash alongside Kate's daughter Lila (centre)
Kate looked effortlessly stylish for her night out in a black top embellished with sequins and featuring a sheer panel on the chest.
She teamed the garment with cigarette trousers and black pumps, layering up with a khaki blazer.
Lottie also looked casually chic for her brief appearance, teaming a white top with jeans and a leopard print jacket.
The joint outing signalled all was still well between the pair following their surprise reunion at their father Peter's birthday, when Kate made a point of posing alongside her younger sister in the photos taken at The Griffin pub in Sussex.
It was a pivotal moment for the pair who have not been pictured together in years, with Lottie previously claiming Kate 'doesn't even reply to my texts', despite once being so close that Lottie was a bridesmaid at Kate's wedding and even moved into her sister's Cotswolds mansion during the Covid pandemic.
However, tensions soon grew over Lottie's wild ways that saw her regularly taking drugs five times a week, which was a huge red flag to Kate.
Kate's love of boozing, which reportedly extended to flutes of prosecco at 8am and glasses of wine and vodka at lunch, saw friends coin her the nickname 'The Tank', but in recent years she's embraced yoga, wellness and quiet nights in.
Their lifestyle clash came to a head between the pair during lockdown, when Kate invited Lottie to stay at her Cotswolds mansion.
An insider told Page Six: 'Kate was frustrated because Lottie kept on wanting to drink and posting sexually provocative stuff on Instagram all the time.
'It isn't easy for Kate to be around people who are drinking, and she definitely won't be around anyone who is using cocaine.'
While she may have lasted until the early hours, the 50-year-old supermodel - who has embraced sober living - did look ready for bed
Yet it was no doubt still enough time to celebrate the end of her three-year feud with Lottie
She had model and socialite Emma by her side, who looked incredible in an ab-flashing black bandeau top and midi skirt
Lottie looked casually chic for her brief appearance, teaming a white top with jeans and a leopard print jacket
Kate, Nick and Lottie at their father's birthday, along with Nick's girlfriend Tracy and Kate's daughter Lila
Kate was famously dubbed 'Cocaine Kate' when she was photographed snorting the substance in 2005, while dating Pete Doherty, who has made no secret of his own past drug use and addiction to heroin.
When Lottie finally departed the Vogue cover star's home 'in a foul mood', she reportedly left behind two bottles of her sister's favourite bottle of wine which was interpreted as a 'f*** you' gesture.
The roots of the rift between the sisters seem to originate with the large age gap between them.
Lottie is the daughter of Kate's father, travel agent Peter Moss, and his second wife, Norwegian Inger Solnordal, and was raised in Haywards Heath, West Sussex.
By the time she was born in 1998, Kate was already at the height of her fame as a catwalk model and had enjoyed a high profile romance with Johnny Depp.
Given her older sister's profile, it was no surprise when Lottie followed in her footsteps and signed with Storm Management in 2014 and began a mainstream modelling career.
And Kate seemed to give Lottie's career her seal of approval.
That same year, the pair were spotted side-by-side at fashion shows, including a Topshop runway show in 2014.
Meanwhile her first photoshoot was published in Teen Vogue, and she had her first full editorial not long afterwards in Dazed & Confused, a magazine which was co-founded by Kate's ex-husband, Jefferson Hack.
At one point it seemed like Lottie was on course to reach supermodel status in her own right, with modelling gigs for Chanel and Sonia Rykiel, an ad campaign for Calvin Klein and a Vogue Paris cover.
Aged 18, she was invited to Cannes as a guest of Dior and Chopard, while completing her A-levels.
Kate stayed close to Emma as they headed home from the five-star hotel, restaurant and bar
She received a helping hand from security as she made her way out of the high-end venue
Kate looked effortlessly stylish for her night out in a black top embellished with sequins and featuring a sheer panel on the chest
She teamed the garment with cigarette trousers and black pumps, layering up with a khaki blazer
Kate led the way as she headed home after her night out on the town - a change from her now typical routine of yoga and meditation at home
Kate and Emma are longtime friends, with the Marchioness of Bath supporting the model at the launch of her wellness brand Cosmoss
Despite public perception that her famous older sister must have boosted her career, Lottie later insisted the opposite was true.
Appearing on The Matt Haycox Show Podcast in November 2023, Lottie said she has never had a close-knit bond with Kate.
When questioned on if she asked her big sister for advice when she entered the world of modelling, the Only Fans content creator confessed the two hadn't even been close when she was a child.
'No, we just never really spoke honestly. It's always been that way, I never was sad about it really,' she said.
'You know obviously it's not great to hear that someone doesn't really care for a relationship with you... but you know we would see each other at Christmases and things like that and play family a little bit.'
Explaining her estranged relationship with her fashionista half-sister, Lottie revealed she had 'never really known' Kate, adding: 'It wasn't like I was losing someone.'
'It was never really like she chose to leave, she's 20 years older than me she's got every right to live her own life, she doesn't need to hang around with me.'
She doubled down on her claims in another interview, saying that people had a 'common misconception' of her as a 'nepo baby' because of Kate.
'How do I say to people that I don't know her and that she doesn't reply to my texts?' she added.
'I honestly think the whole "nepo baby" concept is so weird; there are so many people in the world that have had obvious advantages in their career because of who they know or who someone in their family is, not just famous people.'
Kate is the proud owner of wellness business Cosmoss, which sells a range of own-brand teas, skincare products and a book of 150 'positive messages'
While Kate used to reportedly kick off her day guzzling prosecco, the supermodel is said to now start each day with meditation and the chanting of affirmations
Kate has also got into crystals, which she 'charges' by the light of the moon and goes wild swimming in the dead of night
Of her decision to switch up her lifestyle choices, Kate said last year: 'I just felt like I needed all the help I could get'
Previously describing her happy place as on the dancefloor, Kate has since left London for the west Oxfordshire countryside
The fashion icon also believes in the power of positive affirmations to improve one's outlook, such as 'embrace the unknown' and 'trust the universe and it will lead the way'
Despite her new Gwyneth Paltrow-like lifestyle, Kate still allows herself one vice. 'I still smoke occasionally,' she previously said
Kate uses beauty products made from 'potent, natural substances', and splits her routine into three daily rituals which are said to balance the 'body and soul with the natural environment'
The truth of the matter, however, seems to be a little more complicated that Lottie has made out.
According to a family member, the pair did once share a bond, which cooled along with Lottie's public proclamations about their relationship.
There was a time when they were a lot closer,' they told MailOnline.
But they insisted they dont want to talk about the sisters feelings for each other in public - but should address any issues privately within the family.
Then, there was the controversial launch of her X-rated OnlyFans career, where she stripped naked for the subscription service, leaving behind her career in high fashion.
Lottie was swiftly removed from the Storm modelling agency website, with her admitting her family 'was in turmoil over it'.
A family source claimed at the time, even Kate's daughter Lila, 21, 'wouldn't have anything to do with Lottie' due to her antics with the wrong crowd.
In early 2022, Lottie ended up in rehab after moving to America and she later revealed she had a 'very bad' cocaine addiction and used alcohol to mask her depression.
The OnlyFans star's mother Inger and her best friend staged an intervention and encouraged Lottie to seek help for substance abuse issues at the rehab centre in Arizona.
Kate has claimed she now never stays out at a party past midnight, describing it as her 'cut off point', yet she seemed to have a change of heart on Thursday
She was no doubt feeling extra tired after disrupting her usual schedule of an early bedtime
Kate turned 50 this year but proves she has no intention of slowing down any time soon
Kate and Lottie Moss attend the Topshop Unique show at London Fashion Week in 2014
The sisters once appeared to share such a bond that Kate invited her younger sibling to stay at her Cotswold home during the Covid-19 pandemic (pictured at Kate's wedding in 2011)
She told Jamie Laing on his podcast last year: 'I didn't realise I had depression for a very long time. I just thought everyone felt this way... and I thought you just kind of get through it...
'I couldn't get out of bed in the morning. I quit modelling; I was doing some OnlyFans but not really. I didn't recognise myself...
'I always wanted to be the fun one, and then I got to the point that my mum and best friend came to me and said: "You need to get rehab because you are so depressed".
Lottie said she never touched drugs or alcohol before becoming a catwalk star but later became hooked.
She also he never felt able to confide in her half sister Kate about her troubles, admitting the endless comparison with the supermodel was a constant burden during her career.
Lottie said: 'I started quite early on with using drugs and alcohol as a crutch, as a coping mechanism, which there is not a lack of in the fashion industry.
'There were people in positions of power that were giving me drugs and alcohol when I was very young and so it didn't seem bad to me.'
She continued: 'When you have people around you who are enabling you, I am talking at high fashion events and people are in a penthouse suite, and its people that are working for a brand that is very well known and they're sat there doing drugs with you as a 19-year-old.
'That is so weird to me now that should never happen in any industry.
'The fact that no one said, "maybe we shouldn't be enabling our client to do drugs. We should want her to be on her A game and doing her best, wake up in the morning and do a gym class, instead it was lots of alcohol", and it goes hand in hand.'
In January this year, Lottie marked four days sober. She said in an emotional video: 'I have struggled so much since I was young with depression, anxiety and problems with addiction'
Lottie admits her drug taking became so regular she was using 'five times a week,' sparked by an unhappy relationship with an older man.
She explained: 'I did weed and things like that when I was 15 but moving to London and being around a lot of older people, my boyfriend at the time was 27 and the people we were hanging around with did a lot of drugs.
'I started to realise quite early on that my relationship wasn't going very well with him and he was unfaithful, and he was also using drugs as a coping mechanism. I saw that and I instilled it into my life because it was the only time, I felt that I could be free.
'When I was working constantly, I had to be on my A game so when I came back to London and did drugs, I was like "yes" because it felt like freedom to me. It felt like my escape, but it quickly became something that I used because I was not happy.
'I have been honest with myself back then that I was using it too much. I don't feel that I had an addiction to it I just needed to get away. It numbed every single feeling that I had like anger, upset, loneliness, it became like my friend.'
A year later, in 2023, Lottie appeared on the reality show Celebs Go Dating and enjoyed an on-screen romance with Love Island star Adam Collard.
Despite reality TV and OnlyFans being a world away from the Chanel catwalk, Lottie insists she now achieves more job satisfaction from being a 'content creator'.
'People think I came into it because I was in this bad place in my life, and it was all going wrong, but it was the opposite,' she insists.
'Modelling stood for something I was not really a fan of and when I found Only Fans I met all these girls that were similar to me. I always wanted to be a bit more risque and I always wanted to get my body out.'
It doubtful Kate will share the same opinion of her career, but - for now at least - it appears the two have agreed to differ.
Skye Wheatley has kicked off her trip to Turkey to get the controversial 'fox eye lift' cosmetic procedure.
The influencer, 30, took to her Instagram Stories on Thursday to confirm that her travels were underway as she shared a series of snaps from the airport.
In one picture, she looked travel ready as she kept comfortable in grey tracksuit bottoms while pushing her bright pink suitcase through departures.
Skye, who lives on the Gold Coast, shared another picture of the departures lounge as she got excited for her big trip to get more cosmetic surgery.
Just one day ahead of her travels, Skye had taken to Instagram to share an array of selfies as she told how she would be 'snatched' soon, referencing the procedure.
The first snap saw Skye giving a very plump pout to the camera as she wrote, 'Omg Turkey tomorrow' as she tagged her plastic surgeon Dr Vasfi Celik.
Moments later, the Big Brother star posted another similar photo with the caption: 'Gone be a snatched queen [sic].'
Skye revealed in July that she is travelling to Turkey to get the controversial 'fox eye lift', which raises and tilts the eyes slightly for a cat eye effect.
Skye Wheatley has kicked off her trip to Turkey to get the controversial 'fox eye lift' cosmetic procedure
The influencer, 30, took to her Instagram Stories on Thursday to confirm that her travels were underway as she shared a series of snaps from the airport
The fox eye thread lift raises the edges of the brows using a dissolvable PDO (polydioxanone) thread, aiming to recreate the look of the surgical fox eye lift without the need for an operation.
Skye said of her plans: 'I am going to Turkey. I am getting the fox eye lift. It is pretty much a half face lift. The surgery itself is not very invasive.
'I want the smallest little lift, I don't want to look crazy, I don't want my eyebrows to be any higher than they are. I just want a little bit of a lift when my face is relaxed.'
'I know a few people who have had it and they look amazing,' she continued.
'At lot of people watching this don't know much about surgeries and will think I'm going to look older, that's fine but I'm still doing it.'
Detailing her other cosmetic plans, Skye admitted she also wants to have liposuction on her inner thighs and arms, but is worried it will look unnatural.
Skye revealed in July that she is travelling to Turkey to get the controversial 'fox eye lift', which raises and tilts the eyes slightly for a cat eye effect, while she also wants to have liposuction
'I'm also thinking I would love to get lipo here again because my doctor didn't take enough,' she continued.
'I've always been like this and I've had tweaks done. I've had my nose done. I love treatments and I love that they make you feel more confident. I really want to be open and honest about what I'm having done.'
'I don't want people thinking I've had a BBL. I don't know if I would go down the liposuction route,' she added.
Skye has undergone a litany of cosmetic procedures over the years, including lip and cheek filler, rhinoplasty and an infamously botched boob job.
She also revealed last June she had invested in getting 'trapezius slimming' injections in her shoulders.
She also went under the knife again last year to fix the botched boob job she received in Thailand in 2015.
In April, Skye also had an anti-ageing treatment to remove fine lines and wrinkles around her neck.
Lara Worthington and Sarah Ellen pulled out all the stops as they led the arrivals at YSL Beauty's loveshine factory launch event in Sydney on Thursday.
The model and the Neighbours actress made sure to turn heads in two daring ensembles as they stepped out at the iconic Icebergs Dining Room in Bondi.
Lara, 37, showed off her incredible figure in a black halter-neck gown with a plunging neckline and a statement mother of pearl shell sash buckle at the waist.
The elegant ensemble is from American fashion designer Conner Ives' 2024 collection and retails for a lavish $1,450.
Lara gave herself a few extra inches in a pair of pointed patent black boots and let her outfit do all the talking as she kept her accessories minimal.
She swept her golden tresses back into a stylish up-do and opted for a dramatic bronzed make-up palette to complete her look.
Lara was joined at the event by Aussie soap opera star Sarah, who made sure to capture attention in an edgy ensemble.
Sarah put on a very leggy display in a black leather-look jumpsuit, made up of tiny hot pants and a puffed one-shouldered bodice.
Lara Worthington and Sarah Ellen pulled out all the stops as they led the arrivals at YSL Beauty's loveshine factory launch event in Sydney on Thursday
Lara, 37, showed off her incredible figure in a black halter-neck gown with a plunging neckline and a statement mother of pearl shell sash buckle at the waist
Sarah, who is best known for playing Madison Robinson in Neighbours, added to her frame with a pair of silver pointed stilettos.
She tote her essentials in a $3,150 cream Yves Saint Laurent handbag and further accessorised with two silver bangles.
Erin Holland also put on a very sophisticated display for the event, opting for a minimalistic look in a plunging blazer and fitted straight leg trousers.
The former Miss World Australia, 35, strutted her stuff in a pair of black pointed heels and added some glitz with a silver snake necklace.
But the most impressive part of her outfit was her high-end $9,750 Serpentine shoulder bag, which was covered in purple and silver Calla Crystals and featured a snakehead magnetic clasp.
Rozalia Russian also showed off her signature style in a high-neck brown maxi dress as she brought understated glamour to the event.
The elegant ensemble is from American fashion designer Conner Ives' 2024 collection and retails for a lavish $1,450
She swept her golden tresses back into a stylish up-do and opted for a dramatic bronzed make-up palette to complete her look
Lara gave herself a few extra inches in a pair of pointed patent black boots and let her outfit do all the talking as she kept her accessories minimal
Lara showed off her stunning features with a dramatic smokey-eye make-up look, while she completed her outfit with dainty droplet earrings
Neighbours actress Sarah put on a very leggy display in a black leather-look jumpsuit, made up of tiny hot pants and a puffed one-shouldered bodice
She styled her brunette pixie cut in a slicked-back style and added to her natural beauty with a high-glamour make-up palette
Erin Holland also put on a very sophisticated display for the event, opting for a minimalistic look in a plunging blazer and fitted straight leg trousers
But the most impressive part of her outfit was her high-end $9,750 Serpentine shoulder bag, which was covered in stunning purple and silver Calla Crystals
Rozalia Russian also showed off her signature style in a high-neck brown maxi dress as she brought understated glamour to the event
Runway model Montana Cox also showed off her incredible figure in a simple black strapped dress, which she teamed with stylish black heels
While most of the guests kept to black or dark colour tones, Laura Dundovic opted for a strikingly different look as she stepped out in a cream dress
The popular Melbourne fashion blogger accessorised her look with statement gold earrings and swept her brunette tresses back into a tight ponytail.
Runway model Montana Cox also showed off her incredible figure in a simple black strapped dress, which she teamed with stylish black heels.
While most of the guests kept to black or dark colour tones, Laura Dundovic opted for a strikingly different look as she stepped out in a cream dress.
The model, 36, looked effortlessly chic in a simple strapped dress which hugged her incredible figure.
She added a pop of colour to her look with a pair of gold heeled flip-flops, which she styled with a matching metallic handbag.
The Bachelor star Anna Heinrich also put on a very glamorous display in a black strapless dress with an intricate cream satin bodice.
She oozed sophistication in the ensemble, which she teamed with black strapped heels and a love heart shaped clutch bag.
The Bachelor star Anna Heinrich also put on a very glamorous display in a black strapless dress with an intricate cream satin bodice
Gym owner Amy Castano, who is the ex-wife of Jono Castano, showed off her toned legs in a black mini skirt and a blazer with puffed sleeves, which she wore open over a sheer black bra
Sasha Morpeth put her toned abs on display in a sheer co-ord set, made up of a see-through lace top worn over a bralet and a matching low-rise skirt
Mimi Elashiry showed off her signature style in a fitted black gown with panel detailing while TikTok star Leah Halton opted for a lace mini dress for the occasion
Influencer Selina Yang put on a quirky display in a stunning black mini dress with puffed floral sleeves, which she styled with black knee-high boots and a glitzy silver handbag
Heartbreak High actor James Majoos put on a sophisticated display in a sheer black lace shirt, which he styled with smart black trousers and chunky loafers
The reality TV star styled her golden tresses in a straight fashion cascading over her shoulders to complete her outfit.
Also among the star-studded guest list were the likes of influencer Sasha Morpeth, Jono Castano's ex-wife and gym owner Amy Castano, and social media star Mimi Elashiry, among others.
The stars all descended on Icebergs for the launch of Yves Saint Laurent Beaute's loveshine factory pop-up to celebrate the release of their new lipstick range.
The loveshine lipstick collection, endorsed by ambassador Dua Lipa, boasts a wet shine lipstick, a lip gloss stick and a tinted butter balm all in a range of shades.
Gavin And Stacey's Mathew Horne was finally seen on set filming for the upcoming Christmas special on Thursday.
Mathew, who portrays Gavin in the hit BBC sitcom, also reunited for the first time with James Corden, who plays Smithy, after their famous feud.
The actor got straight back into filming as he was seen filming a freak bike accident with his on-screen wife Joanna Page, aka Stacey.
Rob Brydon (Uncle Bryn) was also seen back on set filming scenes for the second time in a row.
Corden - who was the directing filming and hasn't yet started filming himself - was seen chatting away with Mathew on his first day back.
Gavin And Stacey's Mathew Horne was finally seen on set filming for the upcoming Christmas special on Thursday
Mathew, who portrays Gavin in the hit BBC sitcom, also reunited for the first time with James Corden, who plays Smithy, after their famous feud
Mathew got stuck into filming scenes of a bike crash for the Christmas special of the sitcom
Rob Brydon (Uncle Bryn) was also seen back on set filming with Melanie Walters (Gwen) on Wednesday
Known as the 'Gavalar' and 'Smithster', there looked to be no tension between James and Mathew on set, despite their feud many years ago.
James and Mathew went on to work together as comedy partners on projects including the critically-panned movie Lesbian Vampire Killers after Gavin And Stacey wrapped up.
Hoping to make it as a TV duo they also hosted comedy show Horne and Corden in 2009, yet this also received woeful reviews from critics.
As their career together failed to take off, the pair stopped working together and began to drift apart with rumours of a feud circling them both.
While James found success on the West End stage in One Man, Two Guvnors, and then headed over to America to begin hosting the Late Late Show in 2015, Mathew remained in the UK working on TV projects.
Speculation on the pair's friendship continued to grow as many fans feared they had fallen out.
During an appearance on Piers Morgan's Life Stories in 2011, James discussed their relationship as he admitted they had drifted but there was never a pivotal fall out.
As James was asked whether he kept up with Mat, he replied: 'Err, we talk occasionally, yeah.'
The actor got straight back into filming as he was seen on set with Joanna Page, aka Stacey
Known as the 'Gavalar' and 'Smithster', there looked to be no tension between James and Mathew on set, despite their feud many years ago
James - who was the directing filming and hasn't yet started filming himself - was seen chatting away with Mathew on his first day back filming
Mathew sported beige trousers and a blue padded coat, teamed with a helmet as he prepared for the bike scene
James stuck up a peace sign as he continued directing the Christmas special episode
James showed Rob and Joanna how he wanted scenes to be done
Joanna looked in high spirits as she was back on set, wearing a floral dress and brown boots
Mathew was in high spirits throughout the rainy day on set
At the time of their rift, James and Mathew stopped working together and began to drift apart
While James headed over to America to begin hosting the Late Late Show in 2015, Mathew remained in the UK working on TV projects
James and Mathew reunited for the Gavin And Stacey Christmas special back in 2019 and Mat squashed any rumours of a feud
After both insisting there was never a feud, they are reuniting once again for the final ever episode of the sitcom set to air this Christmas
The fab four - including Mathew (second from right), were last seen in 2019's Christmas Special in which Nessa proposed to Smithy and the episode ended before he answered
Piers then revealed that Mat was asked to take part in the programme but chose not to. Faltering, James continued: 'I didn't know that, but I can understand.'
Expressing regret for how quickly they got caught up in everything post Gavin And Stacey, he confirmed 'We never fell out, it was never that. We were one person for a long time. If I have one regret, it was we just rushed those things.
'We did our own sketch show but the reaction was fierce. It was hard to go through that. We were riding this amazing wave and then it just dropped. In one year we spent 263 days together and we went from that to nothing.'
Riding the LA wave, James hosted the Late Late Show until 2023, as he made a name for himself across the pond with his iconic Carpool Karaoke and the Spill Your Guts challenge.
James and Mat reunited for the Gavin And Stacey Christmas special back in 2019 and Mathew squashed any rumours of a feud.
When asked about the 'feud' by MailOnline at the launch episode, Mat insisted the claims were entirely were fabricated - with no animosity in place.
As MailOnline asked the actor: 'After rumours of a feud, did you feel the need to address the claims when you reunited earlier this year?', Mathew simply insisted the claims were made up, as he joined the whole cast except James at the press conference.
After both insisting there was never a feud between the pair, they are reuniting once again for the final ever episode of the sitcom set to air this Christmas.
Olivia Molly Rogers and Catriona Rowntree put on effortlessly glamorous displays as they stepped out at the Victorian Racing Club's spring gala dinner on Thursday.
The model, 32, and the Getaway star, 53, oozed sophistication as they led the arrivals for the luxury event at Melbourne's Crown Palladium.
Olivia showed off her incredible figure in a dazzling plum gown embellished with glitzy sequins and featured a sheer waterfall skirt as well as a billowing satin scarf.
She let the eye-catching ensemble do all the talking as she kept her accessories minimal while she toted her essentials in a small black clutch bag.
The 2017 Miss Universe Australia winner accentuated her stunning features with a bronzed make-up palette and swept her brunette locks into a chic up-do.
She appeared to be in good spirits as she smiled while posing alongside Made In Bondi star Paul Versace, who looked dapper in a blue satin suit.
Meanwhile, TV presenter Catriona looked equally glamorous in a stunning green gown with a white floral skirt and an emerald bodice with silver detailing.
Catriona, who has been embroiled in a battle in recent days over plans for a battery farm near her home, put aside the drama as she enjoyed a care-free night out.
Olivia Molly Rogers and Catriona Rowntree put on effortlessly glamorous displays as they stepped out at the Victorian Racing Club's spring gala dinner on Thursday
Model Olivia, 32, showed off her incredible figure in a dazzling plum gown which was embellished all over with sparkling sequins and featured a sheer waterfall skirt
She styled her caramel tresses in loose waves across her shoulders and appeared to be in good spirits as she smiled for the cameras.
The pair were joined at the lavish dinner by the likes of Aussie jockey Michelle Payne, Melbourne model Demi Brereton and rugby star Kris Smith and his wife Sarah.
Catriona's glitzy outing comes as she has been passionately fighting plans for a renewable battery farm to be build next to her farmhouse in Victoria in recent days.
She has called on Geelong Council to back her call to block the large-scale project from being erected next door to her home, which she claims poses a safety risk.
In an Instagram post, Catriona slammed the plans and claimed she was 'blindsided' by the proposals, only finding out about them in a report in her local newspaper.
Proposals from AC Energy to build a 350MW/700MWh lithium battery farm in Little River, 44km southwest of Melbourne, are currently in front of the State Government.
If the project goes ahead, it would become one of the state's largest battery energy storage systems (BESS), designed to manage electrical energy using lithium-ion batteries.
She took to Instagram to share an impassioned video opposing the development, which she claimed poses a safety risk because the area of land is on a fire corridor.
She also noted that the remote location is protected by a significant landscape overlay, which aim to preserve and enhance significant areas.
She let the eye-catching ensemble do all the talking as she kept her accessories minimal while she toted her essentials in a small black clutch bag
The 2017 Miss Universe Australia winner accentuated her stunning features with a bronzed make-up palette and swept her brunette locks into a chic up-do
She appeared to be in good spirits as she smiled while posing alongside Made In Bondi star Paul Versace, who looked dapper in a blue satin suit
Meanwhile, TV presenter Catriona looked equally glamorous in a stunning green gown with a white floral skirt and an emerald bodice with silver detailing
Catriona, who has been embroiled in a battle in recent days over plans for a battery farm near her home, put aside the drama as she enjoyed a care-free night out
She styled her caramel tresses in loose waves across her shoulders and appeared to be in good spirits as she smiled for the cameras
Groundbreaking Melbourne Cup winning-jockey Michelle Payne put on a very glitzy display in an extravagant cream gown embellished with an array of green and pink stitching and gems
Her gorgeous gown featured dramatic waterfall sleeves while she added to her frame with a pair of strapped heels to complete her bombshell look
Rugby star Kris Smith cut a suave figure in a black suit as he cuddled up to his partner Sarah, who put on a leggy display in a black mini dress
Weekend Today host Clint Stanaway looked very smart in a black tuxedo as he joined the stars at the festivities
'Hello, I just wanted to let you know that just after 5pm, if you tune into ABC Stateside in Victoria, you are about to learn what many of us across the state of Victoria are being blindsided with,' she shared.
'That is in an attempt to go green, we are losing our green!'
Speaking to Sky News, Catriona said she is 'fighting to protect' her town against the dangerous farm, which she said will ruin views from the park and discourage tourists from visiting the area.
'The state government themselves placed a significant landscape overlay on this very region, because half a million tourists who visit the You Yangs will be looking straight down onto this very property,' she said on Tuesday.
'372 lithium freight containers covering nearly 40 acres of land... You've seen how many fires actually happen in this area on our property,' she continued.
'I love the fact that the people that tried to push this through did not count on how strongly our community would feel about this.'
Catriona claims she had little more than a week's notice to state her opposition to the project before the September 7 deadline after receiving a letter in the mail only last month.
The notice letter was dated on August 8 but the television star claims not to have received it until August 16.
A Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson confirmed to Daily Mail Australia on Monday the deadline for consultation on the proposed renewable project has been extended.
'We're extending consultation on the proposed renewable project in Little River for another three weeks so more community members can have their say,' they said.
Catriona relocated from Sydney to Victoria to be with her farmer husband James and has since restored his former family home, a six-bedroom Victorian farmhouse, to its former glory.
The sheep and grain property where Catriona, James and their children are based has been used over the years for movies including Ned Kelly and The Dressmaker.
If the plans next door to her sprawling property go ahead and become operational, the BESS would connect directly with the existing 220kV network infrastructure.
Catriona's glitzy outing comes after she has been passionately fighting 'secretive' plans for a renewable battery farm to be build next to her farmhouse in Victoria in recent days
Catriona relocated from Sydney to Victoria to be with her farmer husband James and has since restored his former family home, a six-bedroom Victorian sheep farmhouse, to its former glory
According to ACEnergy, it would enable Victoria to become more sustainable 'balancing supply and demand, integrating more renewable energy into the grid and reducing reliance on fossil fuels'.
Unlike many other forms of energy storage, a BESS provides much more flexibility as it releases energy on demand.
The unit could also help to manage the impacts of power fluctuations and outages, while existing transmission lines would be used to minimise construction impacts.
The land for the Little River BESS was secured in 2023, with the application currently under assessment by the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning.
If approved, ACEnergy expects construction to begin in the second quarter of 2025, with the BESS scheduled to be energised by late 2026.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted ACEnergy for comment.
Stephanie Rice has announced she is engaged to her boyfriend Mark Lassey after seven months of dating.
The swimming legend, 36, took to Instagram on Thursday to confirm the jovial news, just weeks after first going public with her and Mark's romance in July.
She shared an array of sweet snaps of the moment pastor and Aussie father-of-three Mark popped the question at Dubai's luxury Atlantis The Royal hotel.
The couple, who met around seven months ago, looked overjoyed as they beamed from ear-to-ear and shared a kiss, while Stephanie flashed her diamond sparkler.
Stephanie looked effortlessly glamorous in a gorgeous white floral dress and strapped heels during the picture-perfect outdoor hotel proposal.
She accentuated her stunning features with a high-glamour make-up palette and looked happier than ever as she cuddled up to her new fiance.
Mark cut a dapper figure in a white shirt, cream trousers and a black blazer as he presented Stephanie with a diamond ring from Perth's Charles Edward Jewellers.
The newly-engaged couple packed on the PDA as they shared a romantic kiss after Mark popped the big question.
Stephanie Rice has announced she is engaged to her boyfriend Mark Lassey after seven months of dating
The swimming legend, 36, took to Instagram on Thursday to confirm the jovial news, just weeks after first going public with her and Mark's romance in July
She shared an array of sweet snaps of the moment pastor and Aussie father-of-three Mark popped the question at Dubai 's luxury Atlantis The Royal hotel
In a caption, Stephanie gushed: 'Here's to fresh starts and second chances Yes to a lifetime with you.'
She concluded the post with a Bible verse, writing: '''Seek your happiness in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desire.'' Psalm 37:4.'
Their engagement comes just weeks after Stephanie first went public with their romance in an Instagram post at the start of July.
Stephanie had been quietly dating the Australian pastor for five months before officially confirming their romance.
They were introduced through a mutual friend and then started a long-distance romance as Mark is based in Perth while Stephanie moved to Dubai in November.
'When we met almost 5 months ago, we both knew this was different,' she gushed in an Instagram post alongside cosy snaps of herself and Mark.
'From the start, there was a deep intentionally between us, and because of the complexities of our lives we wanted to keep these first few months between close family and friends, and enjoy the wonder of falling in love.'
'But as God would have it, that first phone conversation made us feel like this was exactly where we were both meant to end up,' she continued before detailing their long-distance romance.
The couple, who met around seven months ago, looked overjoyed as they beamed from ear-to-ear and shared a kiss, while Stephanie flashed her diamond sparkler
The newly-engaged couple packed on the PDA as they shared a romantic kiss after Mark popped the big question
Stephanie looked effortlessly glamorous in a gorgeous white floral dress and strapped heels during the picture-perfect outdoor hotel proposal
'Living halfway across the world from each other in different time zones has had its challenges (thank god for Zoom) but God has been so good and so present in every step of our journey, which gives us an unwavering faith that our future will be even more extraordinary through Him.
'If there is one word that sums up how both of us feel right now, it's grateful. Grateful for God, grateful for Him bringing us together in His perfect timing, grateful for a fresh start.
'Grateful for the peace and strength we find in each other, grateful for loving friends and family, grateful for an amazing church and mentors supporting our journey, and most of all, grateful for each other.'
Three-time Olympic gold medallist Stephanie joined the church when she relocated to Dubai late last year and is now heavily involved with Kingdom City.
Mark is a pastor with the same organisaton in Perth and has been with the church for more than 10 years, according to his LinkedIn profile.
He is also a father to three sons - Tyler, Joel and Luke - who Stephanie has already met as their budding relationship has only gone from strength-to-strength.
Their engagement comes just weeks after Stephanie first went public with their romance in an Instagram post in July after five months of dating
Mark is a father to three sons - Tyler, Joel and Luke (all pictured) - who Stephanie has already met as their budding relationship has only gone from strength-to-strength
'I honestly never thought I would be this person turning up on prayer nights, on my own, in a new country, connecting with a community through a church,' Stephanie recently shared of her journey with the church.
'But here I am and gosh it is so special and has helped me feel so supported in this new home in Dubai.'
Kingdom City started in Perth in 2003 and has since gone global with branches in Africa, Europe and Asia in addition to the Middle East.
Stephanie was previously romantically involved with former soldier Dane Christison, who she met at an Australian church.
The couple holidayed in the United States together over Christmas 2023, but she publicly announced their split just months later in May 2024.
Stephanie had deleted images of her boyfriend from her Instagram page even earlier in March and had not mentioned him in some weeks.
The sportswoman later opened up about how she was happy their relationship had ended.
'When I moved, I really wanted to share a lot more of the journey with you guys in real time,' she said.
Mark (right) is a pastor with the organisation in Perth and has been with the church for more than 10 years, while Stephanie joined the church after moving to Dubai late last year
'I just was going through the deepest healing. I was in a really challenging relationship at the time, when we broke up, I felt the peace of God was upon me. I felt like I felt free. I felt happy.
Stephanie said that her new life in Dubai has lifted a weight off her shoulders.
'For the first time, I realised the heaviness that I was carrying. I just felt like it all lifted off me, and I feel like I'm in this amazing place now where I feel so happy, so content,' she said.
'God is so good. I'm seeing so many fruits of the amazing things God has given me, and I want to be able to share a lot more of what's kind of happened over the past six months' she said.
'Now that I have a lot more clarity, a lot more peace, and a lot more happiness.'
He then elaborated that he tends to react to frustrations with passive aggression
To this, the actor responded, 'Mostly, yeah Probably justifiably so'
Ben, 52, was asked if his 'former girlfriends [are] generally p**sed off' at him
An old interview with Ben Affleck in which he discussed his subpar coping tendencies within the context of romantic relationships is making the rounds in the wake of the actor's divorce from Jennifer Lopez.
In the excerpt, from a December 1999 issue of Playboy, the interviewer asks Ben, 52, if his 'other former girlfriends [are] generally p**sed off' at him.
To this, Ben candidly responds, 'Mostly, yeah.'
Prompted to elaborate, he further admits: 'Probably justifiably so. If I were the next guy to go out with them I'm sure I would be nodding in agreement about what an a**hole their ex-boyfriend was.
An old interview with Ben Affleck in which he discussed his poor coping tendencies in the context of relationships has resurfaced in the wake of his divorce from Jennifer Lopez
In the story, from the December 1999 issue of Playboy, the interview asks Ben if his 'other former girlfriends [are] generally p**sed off' at him
'It's not like I was a womanizer or physically abusive or psychologically abusive or whatever,' he clarified.
'It's just that these relationships never end well.'
He continued: 'I think what happens is, I end up wanting to be out of the relationship.
'During the course of a relationship, if you get dissatisfied and unhappy and don't say something, if you don't deal with it right then, it just festers and stays there.
'So instead of saying, "Look, don't do that, please don't act this way," I go along with it until I just don't want to be in the relationship at all.
'Then I create some incident or do something or just don't call. And then she's p**sed.
'And I can't necessarily blame her at that point since I've developed such a passive-aggressive rage that I have no sympathy and tell her, "Well of course I didn't call you. If you weren't such a nagging, shrewish harpy I'd call you."
'But that hopefully is something I'm growing out of,' the Pearl Harbor star expressed.
'During the course of a relationship, if you get dissatisfied and unhappy and don't say something, if you don't deal with it right then, it just festers and stays there,' he said (pictured at the time in 1999)
In 1999, Ben was in the midst of an on-again, off-again relationship with Gwyneth Paltrow (left). Prior to Gwyneth, Ben's first major romantic relationship was with director Cheyenne Rothman, whom he dated from 1990 to 1997 (right)
'Bennifer' was born after Ben and Jennifer Lopez, now 55, met on the set of Gigli, kicking off a two-year relationship that ended in 2004
Commenters on the gossip subreddit r/Fauxmoi, where the excerpt has gone viral, were quick to weight in.
'"But that hopefully is something I'm growing out of." Unfortunately, I have bad news for 1999 Ben Affleck,' one quipped.
'Narrator: He never grew out of it,' a second bantered.
'This is a great example of why self-awareness as a trait is meaningless on its own, if you don't have the emotional maturity to actually do something about the pattern you keep finding yourself in.
'This man figured it out more than two decades ago and then decided to keep inflicting himself on his partners hoping they'd fix him somehow,' declared one armchair psychoanalyst.
'Dismissive avoidant? Anyway he sucks but it must be tragic to go through 20 years continually making the same mistakes over and over again,' another echoed.
'So instead of saying, "Look, don't do that, please don't act this way," I go along with it until I just don't want to be in the relationship at all,' he shared
Commenters weighed in on Ben's apparent inability to break his bad habits when it comes to his long-term relationships
By 1999, Ben was in an on-again off-again relationship with Gwyneth Paltrow, now 51, who he began dating in 1997 and with whom he had co-starred in Shakespeare in Love (1998) and later in Bounce (2000).
Ben had been in one major serious relationship prior to Gwyneth with director Cheyenne Rothman, also now 52.
He and Cheyenne, who met while the two were still in high school, dated from 1990 to 1997 before she reportedly dumped him in the midst of his skyrocketing fame.
After splitting with Gwyneth in 2000, Ben infamously struck up his first ill-fated romance with JLo, 55, in 2002 after co-starring in 2003's much-maligned Gigli - and 'Bennifer' was born.
The two got engaged before splitting up in 2004.
Both went on to to marry and divorce other people - Ben to Jennifer Garner and JLo to Marc Antony.
In 2021, however, Bennifer saw its second coming as sparks appeared to be flying between the two amid a post-pandemic romantic rekindling.
The pair finally tied the knot in 2022, first with an intimate Las Vegas chapel wedding, followed by a larger wedding at Ben's lavish estate in Hampton Island, Georgia.
But, just two years later, Bennifer has fallen back apart, with JLo officially filing for divorce as of August 20, 2024.
Joe-Warren Plant has reportedly split from his long-term girlfriend Anna Norton, and the pair are 'no longer speaking'.
The Emmerdale actor, 22, dated Anna for over two years and share a house together in Blackpool, but insiders have revealed the romance recently ended.
A source told The Sun: 'Joe and Anna are over, it's very sad but they are still very young.
'It hasn't been the amicable split they were hoping for and they aren't speaking now at all.'
Joe, who plays Jacob Gallagher in the ITV soap, confirmed the relationship with the blonde stunner back in 2021, and previously was dating model Nicole Hadlow from 2017 until 2021.
Joe-Warren Plant has reportedly split from his long-term girlfriend Anna Norton after buying a house together - and they are no longer on speaking terms
The Emmerdale actor, 22, dated Anna for over two years and share a house together in Blackpool, but insiders have revealed the romance recently ended
Joe and Anna previously fell out after claims she was unfaithful, but the pair worked through it at the time and welcomed their 'first child' - a cat called Wolfie.
MailOnline has contacted Joe's representative's for comment.
Joe has always been quite private about his personal life as well as his soap earnings, but has been a regular on the series for 16 years.
However, he did document some of his and Anna's gorgeous holidays, including one this year to Morocco.
Another previous trip saw the pair cherishing their time in Paris where they romantically celebrated their anniversary.
Anna proudly stood by Joe-Warren's side on several occasions, including last year's Soap Awards.
The actor seemed to also often enjoy festivals as he shared loved-up snaps with his girlfriend at Teletech UK and Reading & Leeds Festival.
It comes after Joe was spotted pulling pints as the actor surprised fans by revealing his second job, which he manages alongside his acting.
The actor seemed to also often enjoy festivals as he shared loved-up snaps with his girlfriend at Teletech UK and Reading & Leeds Festival
It comes after Joe was spotted pulling pints as the actor surprised fans by revealing his second job, which he manages alongside his acting
Despite still regularly acting on the ITV soap since he was eight, Joe-Warren, now 22, proved to be quite the hard worker as he supplements his income with a job at his local pub - something he took on just recently.
The actor - who is well-known for his role as Jacob Gallagher - was seen serving customers in Blackpool, Lancs, who were quick to recognise him.
According to The Mirror , an onlooker at the pub said: 'Joe-Warren is a friendly lad he only joined recently so he's just getting started.
'It's not the case at all that he has left Emmerdale, he's still very much on set. But he knows via friends the owner of the bar and offered to help out.'
The soap sensation was also a contestant on ITV's Dancing On Ice in 2021 where he was partnered with Vanessa Bauer.
Despite still regularly acting on the ITV soap since he was eight, Joe-Warren, now 22, proved to be quite the hard worker as he supplements his income with a job at his local pub - something he took on just recently (pictured on Emmerdale in November 2023)
In order to take part in the hit skating show, his soap character was temporarily written out in November of that year.
Despite the pair being highly tipped to win, they had to quit the show when they both tested positive for COVID-19.
Later on in 2022, he took part on ITV game show Ninja Warrior UK, which see contestants put their strength and the ability to survive to test by completing a series of obstacles.
His beloved character Jacob was part of some bombshell plot twists, including the moment he learnt he was adopted by Alicia Metcalfe (Natalie Anderson) and that was the biological son of Leyla Harding (Roxy Shahidi).
Sabrina Carpenter looked breathtaking as she took part in a retro-inspired cover shoot for W Magazine.
The songstress, 25, stunned in an array of chic looks as she talked the origins of her hit summer track Espresso and getting star-struck meeting Zac Efron at age 12.
Sabrina displayed her legs in a collared black mini dress with her feet slipped into sling back flats and her hair done up into a voluminous style.
She also donned a chic Gucci look as she posed on the yard of the lush property.
Her hair partially pulled back with her trademark curtain bangs on display, she sported a lemony Gucci blazer with matching shorts.
Sabrina Carpenter looked breathtaking as she took part in a retro-inspired cover shoot for W Magazine
She graces the latest cover of W Magazine
On the cover, Sabrina sported an animal print coat that was belted into her trim waist.
The Please Please Please songstress was also channeling Barbie in a black and pink polka dot mini dress equipped with pockets and combined with classic heels.
Other dresses she rocked were a glamorous white frock and a gorgeous floral dress which she modeled by a white picket fence.
During her chat with W, Sabrina recalled the 'dangerous Zac Efron phase' she had as a 12-year-old when he was starring in the movie musical Hairspray.
The future celebrity was star-struck herself after meeting Efron on the beach.
'Oh godI had a really dangerous Zac Efron phase, when he was in Hairspray. I was 12 years old, and I was on a beach for the Fourth of July,' she told the publication.
'He would never remember this, but I saw him and said, "Im a big fan of your work!" He gave me a hug. And I remember thinking, Oh my godhe wasnt wearing a shirt and he gave me a hug! I was like, This is amazing. Im never washing my body!'
She also described how her hit summer anthem, Espresso, came to be.
Carpenter donned a lemony Gucci blazer and matching shorts
Her hair was donned up in a voluminous style as she posed in a sexy white dress
Carpenter sported a retro-inspired floral dress as she relaxed on a grassy lawn
One look was reminiscent of a Barbie doll
The song was written while Sabrina was in France during a break from opening for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour.
'I was in a ghost town that had one little creperie down the road. I had my shot of espresso, and then I might have had some champagne, and before I knew it the song was written,' she said.
'I definitely hear it now in every car I get into, and being on the radio, to me, is stillits like fate. You have to be at the right place at the right time,' she added of the track.
Sabrina also opened up about pursuing her showbusiness career as a child. 'I cant even remember when I started singing and performing and entertaining, because I was really, really little,' she said of her acting career.
'I did my first audition when I was around 11 years old. The second or third audition was for the first job that I bookedLaw & Order: SVU. I was thrown off by that booking because I always wanted to do comedy. And on that show, I was a victim. I remember running the lines with my dad and asking, "Is this what acting is?" And then I booked Orange Is the New Black. Can I swear? That episode was called F**ksgiving.'
Sabrina was then cast in family-friendly roles following her gig on Orange Is The New Black. 'I went from raunchy to Disney!' she added.
Her hair appeared to be in the process of being styled as she sat in the sunshine wearing sunglasses
She flashed her French tip manicure whilst clad in a leopard print coat
She worked a gorgeous white mini dress and metallic heels
Sabrina's track Espresso was released in April 2024 as the lead single from her upcoming album Short n' Sweet.
The song, and its music video, directed by Dave Meyers, quickly gained global popularity, with the chart-topper reaching number one on the Billboard Global 200, making it her first number-one single.
In the United States, Espresso peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100.
Espresso is an anthem about feeling confident and irresistible, with the star comparing herself to coffee and suggesting that she's so stimulating she keeps people up at night thinking about her.
Sabrina cooled down by a sprinkler
During her chat with W, Sabrina recalled the 'dangerous Zac Efron phase' she had as a 12-year-old when he was starring in the film adaptation of Hairspray
Efron starred in the 2007 musical Hairspray
'Now he's thinkin' bout me Every night, oh/ Is it that sweet? I guess so/ Say you can't sleep, baby, I know/ That's that me espresso,' Sabrina sings.
The energetic music video features her and a male lead star in captivating scenes set against a beach backdrop.
Espresso was written by Sabrina, along with Amy Allen, Steph Jones, and Julian Bunetta.
Green Day were forced to rush off stage mid-song after a security breach during their concert at Comerica Park, Detroit on Wednesday.
The iconic band - comprised of Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool - were playing Longview around 20 minutes into their show at 8.50pm when a stage hand rushed out and grabbed Dirnt - before hurrying him off stage.
Video of the incident shows Billie Joe, 52, watching Dirnt, 52, leave the stage before he stops singing, drops his instrument and runs off the stage.
The confused 35,000 strong-crowd continued singing along as the lights went on in the stadium - with a message onscreen reading: 'Show Pause. Please standby for details.'
Detroit Police Cpl. Dan Donakowski later told Detroit News: 'There was an individual that flew a drone into Comerica Park, so Green Day was taken off stage.
Green Day were forced to rush off stage mid-song after a security breach during their concert at Comerica Park, Detroit on Wednesday - pictured band members Billie Joe Armstrong , Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool in April
'Shortly after that, they went back on stage to perform. DPD located this individual outside of Comerica Park. He is being detained pending further investigation.'
The band was gone for around 10 minutes before resuming the show,
Billie Joe said on his return to the stage: 'How you guys doing? Everybody OK?' before resuming Longview in the same spot before the band's exit.
After playing Welcome To Paradise Armstrong said: 'There ain't no motherf****r that's gonna stop us, I'll tell you that.'
After the closing song - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) - Armstrong quipped: 'A night we're all gonna remember.'
The band's official X account later posted: 'Detroit! Sorry for the delay in the show tonight, Stadium security had us clear the stage while they dealt with a potential safety issue.
'DPD quickly resolved the situation, and we were able to continue. Thanks for understanding.'
The band are currently on their Saviors Tour which celebrates the 30th anniversary of debut album Dookie and the 20th anniversary of American Idiot.
The iconic band were playing Longview around 20 minutes into their show at 8.50pm when a stage hand rushed out and grabbed Dirnt - before hurrying him off stage - pictured Armstrong in July
Video of the incident shows Billie Joe, 52, watching Dirnt, 52, leave the stage before he stops singing, drops his instrument and runs off the stage - the band pictured July
The band's official X account later posted: 'Detroit! Sorry for the delay in the show tonight, Stadium security had us clear the stage while they dealt with a potential safety issue'
They perform both albums in their entirety on each date of the tour.
Their next show is on September 7 in Denver at Coors Field.
Kate Winslet's daughter Mia Threapleton was seen donning eye-catching traditional dress as she continued filming The Buccaneers season two on Thursday.
The actress, 23, was seen in Edinburgh, Scotland shooting a wedding scene for the Apple TV+ adaptation of the Edith Wharton novel The Buccaneers.
A synopsis reads: 'Sent to secure husbands and titles, young American women explode into the tightly corseted London season of the 1870s, kicking off an Anglo-American culture clash.'
She plays Lady Honoria Marabel and wore a striking blue corset dress as she was seen stepping out of church.
The first season which came out in 2023 also starred British actress Imogen Waterhouse, the sister of model and actress Suki, and rising star Kristine Froseth who was Nan St George, the lead. Mad Men's Christina Hendricks played Nan's mother.
Kate Winslet's daughter Mia Threapleton was seen donning eye-catching traditional dress as she continued filming The Buccaneers season two on Thursday
The actress, 23, was seen in Edinburgh, Scotland shooting a wedding scene for the Apple TV+ adaptation of the Edith Wharton novel The Buccaneers
Mia looked dressed perfect for the time in the dark blue and green dress which she wore with velvet headdress detailing and black lace gloves.
Kate's daughter with ex-husband Jim Threapleton wore her blonde tresses pinned up and opted for a natural makeup look while on set.
It comes after Mia made her acting debut in 2014's A Little Chaos, followed by a role in 2020 thriller drama, Shadows.
She then made waves with her performance in the Bafta-winning Channel 4 drama I Am Ruth, alongside her mother in 2022.
Kate won the Leading Actress Bafta in May last year and declared from the stage: 'We did this together, kiddo!'
In a tearful acceptance speech, she went on: 'There were days when it was agony for her to dig as deeply as she did, into very frightening emotional territory sometimes, and it took my breath away.
'I Am Ruth was made for parents and their children, for families who feel that they are held hostage by the perils of the online world.
'For parents who wish they could still communicate with their teenagers but who no longer can. And for young people who have become addicted to social media and its darker sides - this does not need to be your life.
A synopsis reads: 'Sent to secure husbands and titles, young American women explode into the tightly corseted London season of the 1870s, kicking off an Anglo-American culture clash' (actress Aubri Ibrag seen)
The first season which came out in 2023 also starred British actress Imogen Waterhouse, the sister of model and actress Suki, and rising star Kristine Froseth (seen) who was Nan St George, the lead
'To people in power and to people who can make a change - please criminalise harmful content. Please eradicate harmful content. We don't want it. We want our children back.'
Krish Majumdar, the producer of the show, previously revealed in a radio interview that Mia had auditioned separately to her mother.
He said: 'Mia was there completely on merit and her performance was terrific.'
Contrary to what viewers might believe, Mia didn't get to spend much time watching her mother at work while she was a child.
Speaking to Variety, she admitted: 'I never actually spent much time around sets that my mum was working on. It was always a special treat. Its a very different experience when it is happening to you, and not just something I was getting to observe from time to time.
'I really understand why my mum has always impressed on us how hard the work is. She is right! And I loved every second of it.'
She plays Lady Honoria Marabel and is seen in season one of the period drama which came out last year
Angelina Jolie's son Pax was seen for the first time since his horror e-bike crash in July as he stepped out with the actress in LA on Wednesday.
Pax, 20 - who suffered 'complex trauma' in the collision with a car on July 29 in LA - sported an arm cast and a bucket hat emblazoned with 'Miracle' as he continued his recovery with family.
The outing comes as estranged father Brad Pitt, 60, attended the Venice Film Festival with age-gap girlfriend Ines de Ramon, 34.
Pax looked in good spirits as he spent quality time with his mother at lunch in Beverly Hills weeks after the accident.
Angelina, 49, wore a cream top, cardigan and slacks with tan heels for the outing.
Angelina Jolie 's son Pax was seen for the first time since his horror e-bike crash in July as he stepped out with the actress in LA on Wednesday
Pax, 20 - who suffered 'complex trauma' in the collision with a car on July 29 in LA - sported an arm cast and a bucket hat emblazoned with 'Miracle' as he continued his recovery with family
Her locks were worn in a sleek ponytail and she sported chic shades.
Angelina has been by Pax's side at the hospital since he crashed into a car during rush hour in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.
A source told TMZ that witnesses who lived nearby initially believed Pax had died in the crash as they discovered him lying lifeless on the ground.
It was not until paramedics arrived at the scene that Pax regained consciousness.
Page Six is reporting that this was not the first time the young man has been involved in incidents involving two and four wheeled vehicles.
'His friends are concerned about him,' an insider told the outlet alleging, 'He's being reckless. They're worried.'
'He has had a string of car crashes,' the source asserted. 'It's not great. Pax is a troubled kid, and Angelina is doing her best to help him.'
The publication reported that LAPD sources said there was nothing new to add to the initial report of a traffic collision, when asked if charges might be pending.
Pax looked in good spirits as he spent quality time with his mother at lunch in Beverly Hills
The outing comes as estranged father Brad Pitt , 60, attended the Venice Film Festival with age-gap girlfriend Ines de Ramon , 34
Pax sent an emotional message with his bucket hat
Pax appeared to make a nod to his incredible recovery with his hat
Pax is continuing his recovery with his mom by his side
Angelina chatted with her son as they left lunch with a bodyguard
Angelina, 49, wore a cream top, cardigan and slacks with tan heels for the outing
Her locks were worn in a sleek ponytail and she sported chic shades
Pax sent a message with his choice of hat as he strolled
Responding police and paramedics opted to rush Pax to the hospital after he complained of head pain.
Despite his injuries, TMZ's source claimed that Pax's bike did not show any obvious signs of damage.
Pax who like several of his other siblings is estranged from his famous father had reportedly been driving down Los Feliz Boulevard around 5 p.m., which put him on the regularly crowded street during rush hour traffic.
According to law enforcement sources, he had been coming up to an intersection when he crashed his bike into the back of the car, which had already stopped for the red light.
The car's driver reportedly did their duty by getting out and checking on the injured Pax before police and paramedics arrived.
Although it's not clear exactly where he collided with the car, witnesses at the scene said he complained of pain in his hip, and they said he appeared to have injured his head in the crash.
Angelina has been by Pax's side at the hospital since he crashed into a car during rush hour in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles . He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident
Pax revealed his injured arm as his mom kept close to his side
Pax was seen chatting with his mom as they left their lunch
Pax wore a white top, waistcoat and joggers for his outing
Pax will have a 'long road of recovery' and 'suffered complex trauma' a source told People of his condition; seen in LA on July 11
A rep for Pitt recently declined to comment when asked if he planned to visit his son in hospital; they are seen in 2014
Pax smiled as he enjoyed some time with his mom
In recent months, Pax has been spotted around Los Angeles riding on a Talaria Sting R MX4 electric bike, which costs around $3,000, though it's not known if that was the same bike he crashed.
He was most recently pictured on the dirt bike on July 11.
Notably, he wasn't wearing a helmet when he was pictured riding the bike in public.
California state laws require all bike and motorcycle riders under 18 to wear helmets, but it's unclear if the type of bike Pax was riding at the time would have required him to wear a helmet.
The crash also reportedly took place on a street near Angelina's Los Angeles residence.
Angelina rushed to the hospital to be by her son's beside following the crash.
Pax, who was born in Vietnam, was adopted by Jolie at age three, joining siblings Maddox, 22, and Zahara, 19.
He is reportedly close to them as well as siblings Shiloh, 18, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 16.
Maddox and Zahara were adopted by Jolie's then-partner, Brad, in 2005 and he adopted Pax in 2008.
All three of the older children have been estranged from Pitt following an incident on a private airplane in 2016, when the actor allegedly hit one of his children.
Pax, who was born in Vietnam, was adopted by Jolie at age three. Brad then adopted him in 2008; The former couple and their kids pictured in Tokyo in November 2008
Pax called his father a 'world class a**hole' who makes his four youngest children 'tremble in fear' in an explosive Instagram rant posted for Father's Day 2020, DailyMail.com revealed in November
Brad and Angelina married in August 2014 after 10 years together but Angelina filed for divorce in September 2016; seen in 2006
No charges were filed after an investigation into the alleged incident.
Pax called his father a 'world class a**hole' who makes his four youngest children 'tremble in fear' in an explosive Instagram rant posted for Father's Day 2020, DailyMail.com revealed in November.
The star has found it 'depressing to see this dragged up', according to sources close to him, who went on to rubbish the claims.
But in a cutting post, Pax wrote: 'You have made the lives of those closest to me a constant hell.'
'You may tell yourself and the world whatever you want,' he added., 'but the truth will come to light someday.
Then he sarcastically added: 'So Happy Father's Day, you f*****g awful human being.'
Jolie and Pitt are legally divorced but are still fighting over the sale of Miraval, the vineyard in France.
Reese Witherspoon showed her new romance with Oliver Haarmann is heating up as the pair held hands during a date night in NYC on Wednesday.
The actress, 48, who split from second husband Jim Toth last year, looked stunning in an LBD as she embarked on her first PDA with the German financier, 56 by grabbing his hand as they headed to a taxi.
The star showed off her toned frame in the black dress with a floral neckline - paired with strappy sandals.
Her blonde locks were worn straight and she sported a radiant palette of make-up for the evening.
The new couple looked closer than ever as they strolled side-by-side on their date.
Reese Witherspoon showed her new romance with Oliver Haarmann is heating up as the pair held hands during a date night in NYC on Wednesday
The actress, 48, who split from second husband Jim Toth last year, looked stunning in an LBD as she embarked on her first PDA with the German financier, 56 by grabbing his hand as they headed to a taxi
In July DailyMail.com exclusively revealed Reese had been seen out on a string of dates with Haarmann, whose ex-wife - businesswoman Mala Gaonkar, 54, is now in a relationship with musician David Byrne, 72.
It is unclear how serious their relationship is. DailyMail.com contacted Reese's representative for comment.
Haarmann is a founding partner of Searchlight Capital Partners, a private equity investment firm.
He was previously a senior partner of the global investment firm KKR & Co. He shares two sons with Gaonkar.
He earned a bachelor's degree in history and international relations from Brown University in 1990, and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1996.
The Morning Show actress and her ex-husband, 54, shocked fans in March 2023 when they announced they had separated and were getting a divorce after nearly 12 years of marriage.
The actress officially filed for divorce from Toth in April 2023, a week after announcing the end of their marriage. She cited irreconcilable differences as the reason behind their split in court documents.
Reese and her ex Jim were first romantically linked in 2010, before they became engaged later that same year in December.
The star showed off her toned frame in the black dress with a floral neckline - paired with strappy sandals
Reese affectionately held her boyfriend's hand on the night
Her blonde locks were worn straight and she sported a radiant palette of make-up for the evening
The star showed off her toned legs as she strolled
Reese looked radiant and happy as she spent time with her new love
The couple chatted as they headed to a waiting car
Reese and ex-Jim tied the knot in 2011, before announcing their split in 2023; pictured together in January 2020
The former couple tied the knot during a romantic and intimate backyard wedding in 2011.
Their split announcement was made just days ahead of their 12th wedding anniversary.
Back in August, the pair reached a divorce settlement and agreed to continue to co-parent their 11-year-old son, Tennessee.
Reese also shares son Deacon, 20, and look-alike daughter Ava, 24, with her ex-husband Ryan Phillippe, 49.
An insider told People about the split that it was 'very difficult' for the movie star to accept that she and her former partner were 'two very different people.'
Someone close to the two noted that the ambitious producer 'has her hand in a lot of pots' and Toth 'prefers less frenzy.'
It was added that, 'They've been spending less and less time together while she was working.'
More than ten years after tying the knot, the longtime duo 'found themselves with fewer interests in common.'
Reese is described by a source as 'headstrong and focused' and Jim is said to be 'more laid-back.'
The Pleasantville actress spent more time in Nashville In 2022 as she worked on producing the Apple TV music competition show My Kind of Country.
The star is mom to Ava, 24, and Deacon, 20 with ex husband Ryan Phillippe and Tennessee with Toth (pictured together)
She also flipped a local house for close to twice the cost of what she paid for the home.
The mother-of-three's company Hello Sunshine also produced the Amazon series Daisy Jones & the Six.
Per Reese's solemn divorce announcement, the twosome decided to go their separate ways with 'a great deal of care and consideration.'
A source said the partners 'worked on' their issues and arriving at divorce 'took a long time.'
A source previously told PageSix that the imminent divorce was a 'badly kept secret' in Hollywood for months.
It was also shared that Reese is 'upset' over the marriage ending.
The Big Little Lies actress and the talent agent's split announcement read: 'We have some personal news to share ... It is with a great deal of care and consideration that we have made the difficult decision to divorce.
'We have enjoyed so many wonderful years together and are moving forward with deep love, kindness and mutual respect for everything we have created together.
'Our biggest priority is our son and our entire family as we navigate this next chapter.
'These matters are never easy and are extremely personal. We truly appreciate everyone's respect for our family's privacy at this time.'
But there is no mess: 'There is no drama,' insisted People's insider. 'They love [their son] Tennessee and this is their focus. They will continue to co-parent amicably.'
Reese recently discussed her first divorce from Cruel Intentions co-star Ryan Phillippe.
Speaking to Harper's Bazaar in July, Reese said she felt very 'out of control' when her first divorce went public.
'When I was divorced before, the tabloid media got to tell people how I was feeling or how I was processing, and it felt very out of control,' Reese told the publication.
Reese and Ryan, who famously starred in the 1999 romantic drama Cruel Intentions, split in 2008 after a seven-year marriage; Pictured in 1998
But this go around, the Hollywood star feels that she's able to be more 'authentic' as she navigates this 'vulnerable time' in her life.
'To be able to talk to people directly about what's going on in my life and just share it in the way that I share great professional experiences or personal experiences, it feels much more authentic to be able to say things in my own voice and not let somebody else control what's happening,' Reese explained.
Despite going through a divorce a source close to The Last Thing He Told Me producer told People in April that she has 'no regrets' about ending the union and is 'doing much better now.'
The Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola plans to shoot his next film in the capital, for the saddest of reasons.
'I want to do something that will be really fun,' says the multiple Oscar winner, 85, whose wife, Eleanor, died in April.
'I want to do it in London, one place I never went with my wife. I want to go somewhere that everywhere I turn, I don't see her.'
Eleanor's family released a statement to the Associated Press in April 2024 confirming her death. No cause of death was given.
She first met Francis in 1962 while working as an assistant art director on his feature directorial debut, the low-budget horror movie Dementia 13.
The Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola plans to shoot his next film in the capital, for the saddest of reasons
'I want to do it in London, one place I never went with my wife. I want to go somewhere that everywhere I turn, I don't see her'
They struck up a romance, kicking off a personal and professional relationship that lasted more than six decades until her death.
Over the course of her career she directed several documentaries, often behind-the-scenes looks at the movies of her husband and their daughter Sofia Coppola.
Eleanor was born in Los Angeles and largely raised by a single mother after the death of her father when she was only 10 years old.
After majoring in applied design at UCLA, she began a career as an assistant art director on movies - which brought her to the Ireland set of Dementia 13.
Francis and Eleanor began dating during the making of the movie and in 1963, she discovered that she was pregnant with his baby.
He talked her out of giving the baby up for adoption, and the pair tied the knot in a Las Vegas shotgun wedding before welcoming their son Gian-Carlo.
Although she largely spent the next couple of decades raising the couple's children Gian-Carlo, Roman and Sofia, she remained in the film world via her husband.
She accompanied him to the sets of his movies as his star rose in the early 1970s with such films as The Godfather, The Godfather Part II and The Conversation.
Francis and Eleanor, who were together since meeting on the set of his directorial debut in 1962, are pictured together in 1991
Eleanor directed several documentaries, often behind-the-scenes looks at the movies of her husband and their daughter Sofia Coppola; pictured with Sofia in 2017
In the mid-1970s, Eleanor was a firsthand witness to the chaotic making of her husband's Vietnam War movie Apocalypse Now.
The production in the Philippines was beset by one crisis after another, from a typhoon that destroyed the sets to the star Martin Sheen suffering a heart attack.
Eleanor revealed that at one point, the movie was running more than $2 million over budget, an alarming amount in the mid-1970s.
Catastrophe struck when two of the people hired to build a gargantuan temple set were killed in an accident during construction.
Eleanor explored her other interests in documentaries as well, such as the 1996 short A Visit To China's Miao Country.
In 2016, around her 80th birthday, she broke into narrative feature films by directing the comedy Paris Can Wait, starring Alec Baldwin, Diane Lane and Arnaud Viard.
She kept in the same vein and followed up Paris Can Wait with the 2020 drama Love Is Love Is Love, whose ensemble cast included Chris Messina, Cybill Shepherd, Joanne Whalley, Rita Wilson and Rosanna Arquette.
Eleanor's family life was rocked by tragedy in 1986, when her firstborn son Gian-Carlo was killed in a speedboating accident, leaving behind a pregnant fiancee.
Over their six-decade marriage, the couple welcomed three children together - Gian-Carlo, who died in 1986, as well as filmmakers Sofia and Roman Coppola
She remained at her husband's side throughout his career, not only as a filmmaker but when he launched a wine empire later in life.
A few years ago, she was asked whether her husband was different on the sets of his movies than he was while at home with his family.
'No. I think because he spent his life as a director it's just in his nature. It's in his blood. He is always directing,' Eleanor said.
'So, when he gets home he's directing the dinner, where we are gonna sit, what we are going to eat. I've adjusted to it, so now it's really funny.'
Hilaria Baldwin was seen for the first time since prosecutors sought to reinstate her husband Alec Baldwin's Rust manslaughter case.
The 40-year-old yoga instructor looked tense during a solo coffee run in New York City on Thursday.
Wearing a white tank top and black jogger shorts, she held a drink in one hand while pushing her hair back with the other.
Maintaining a low profile, the mother of seven navigated the city streets in dark designer sunglasses.
The outing comes after a state attorney asked a New Mexico judge to reconsider dismissing Alec's involuntary manslaughter charge in the 2021 fatal Rust set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins', according to a court filing released Wednesday.
Hilaria Baldwin was seen for the first time since prosecutors sought to reinstate her husband Alec Baldwin 's Rust manslaughter case
The 40-year-old yoga instructor looked tense during a solo coffee run in New York City on Thursday
Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey argued that the July decision lacked sufficient factual basis and did not infringe on Baldwin's due process rights.
State District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer had previously dismissed the case mid-trial, citing that police and prosecutors had withheld evidence from Baldwin's defense in the shooting that killed Hutchins.
The dismissal was made with prejudice, preventing the charge from being refiled once any potential appeals are resolved.
Baldwin, the lead actor of Rust, was rehearsing a scene when the gun he was holding discharged, fatally striking cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.
The 30 Rock star has claimed he pulled back the hammer but did not pull the trigger before the revolver went off.
The case hinged on ammunition brought to the sheriff's office in March by a man who claimed it might be linked to Hutchins' death.
Prosecutors dismissed the ammo as irrelevant, while Baldwins legal team accused them of concealing it, leading to a successful motion to dismiss the case.
In her request for reconsideration, special prosecutor Morrissey argued the undisclosed ammunition was irrelevant and focused on Baldwins responsibility to follow gun safety rules.
'No one on the prosecution team ... ever intentionally kept evidence from the defendant, it simply didnt occur to the prosecution that the rounds were relevant to the case even if they were the same or similar to the live rounds found on the set of Rust,' Morrissey wrote, per court documents.
She claimed that the defense attorneys were aware of the ammunition but chose to forgo the chance to examine it before the trial.
'This is a smoke screen created by the defense and was intended to sway and confuse the court ... and it was successful,' Morrissey wrote.
Baldwins attorney, Luke Nikas, stated that a response will be submitted to the court.
The outing comes after a state attorney asked a New Mexico judge to reconsider dismissing Alec's involuntary manslaughter charge in the 2021 fatal Rust set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins ', according to a court filing released Wednesday
Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey argued that the July decision lacked sufficient factual basis and did not infringe on Baldwin's due process rights; (Alec and Hilaria with their kids Carmen, 10, Rafael, eight, Leonardo, six, Romeo, five, Maria Lucia, two, Lucas, two, and Ilaria, 11 months)
In her request for reconsideration, special prosecutor Morrissey argued the undisclosed ammunition was irrelevant and focused on Baldwins responsibility to follow gun safety rules; (pictured Halyna Hutchins)
Rust armorer Hannah Guttierez-Reed was sentenced to 18 months in prison for the involuntary manslaughter of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins
In April of this year, Hannah Guttierez-Reed, the armorer on set, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Hutchins's death and sentenced to 18 months.
She is currently serving her sentence at the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Facility and had been due to be called to the stand to testify in Baldwin's case.
Since the 2021 shooting, the filming of Rust resumed but moved to Montana under an agreement with Hutchins's husband, Matthew Hutchins, which made him an executive producer.
The completed movie has not yet been released for public viewing.
1000-lb Sisters star Amy Slaton appeared in court on Thursday to face drugs and child endangerment charges - days after her arrest at a Tennessee zoo.
Slaton, 36, was reportedly bitten by a camel at Tennessee Safari Park in Alamo on Labor Day - but when police were called to the park for the bite they noted 'suspicious odors' coming from their vehicle, according to the deputies.
Responding officers discovered 'what they believed to be mushrooms' and 'what they believed to be marijuana' inside Slaton's vehicle after smelling marijuana in the car and seeing the drugs out 'in plain sight.'
Slaton and friend Brian Scott Lovvorn were arrested and face charges of illegal possession of schedule I, illegal possession of schedule VI and two counts of child endangerment.
Two children under the age of eight were in the car at the time of the arrest - Slaton's children Gage Deon, four, and Glenn Allen, two. Tammy Slaton reportedly picked up the children after the arrest.
1000-lb Sisters star Amy Slaton appeared in court on Thursday to face drugs and child endangerment charges - days after her arrest at a Tennessee zoo
Slaton who was seen frowning in a mugshot, was arrested after officers attending to her camel bite, found 'magic mushrooms and marijuana' in her car
Slaton looked stony-faced as she arrived for her arraignment - as her lawyer doubled down on her claim she had been bitten by a camel.
She received medical treatment at the zoo and was pictured being wheeled out of a Tennessee safari park on a stretcher with a bandage around her forearm.
Tennessee Safari Park co-owner Claude Conley, 44, denied Slaton had been bitten, telling The US Sun 'there is no bruising. She cut her arm on something, its not consistent with an animal bite.
'Her boyfriend or the man she was with was acting crazy, screaming and yelling and all kinds of stuff.
'He got mad that the police came out there because he just wanted the ambulance to come.'
Attorney Taylor Hughes told TMZ she was definitely attacked by the animal and said Slaton had thanked her fans for sending love and support amid her legal woes.
Slaton and Lovvorn were booked into the Crockett County Jail on on $10,000 bond - with a representative confirming the pair were released on Tuesday.
The representative told the publication: 'Amys brother Chris Combs and Hughes bonding company bonded both of them out together from Crockett County jail and they left with Chris.'
Slaton and friend Brian Scott Lovvorn (pictured in court together) were arrested and face charges of illegal possession of schedule I, illegal possession of schedule VI and two counts of child endangerment.
Slaton looked stony-faced as she arrived for her arraignment - as her lawyer doubled down on her claim she had been bitten by a camel
Police were called to the park in Alamo on Labor Day and said they immediately noted strange odors coming from Slaton's vehicle
DailyMail.com contacted representatives for Slaton for comment.
Slaton finalized her divorce from ex-husband Michael Halterman last year.
The couple share two children and had reportedly clashed over their appearance on the TLC reality show.
The pair welcomed their first child, Gage Deon, in November 2020 and their second son, Glenn Allen, in July 2022.
'There was no support. There was no love. There was no kindness. There was just mental abuse,' she told People of their marriage. 'I just got tired of hiding it from people.'
A confrontation between her, her sisters and Michael was shown on season five of the series.
Lovvorn is pictured in his mugshot
'That's the day I left,' she said. 'But I was falling out of love with him before that.'
After a lengthy custody battle, the former couple decided to share parenting duties.
Amy rose to fame starring opposite her sister Tammy Slaton on the series 1000-Lb. Sisters. The fifth season of the show premiered late last year.
The star has dropped an impressive 176 pounds ever since having weight loss surgery five years ago.
Slaton introduced fans to a new man before her divorce was finalized and was dating a Michigan man named Tony, the US Sun reports.
By the time her divorce was finalized the couple had been together for around three months.
Demi Moore was a bare-faced beauty as she held on to her dog Pilaf at an airport on Thursday.
The 61-year-old Hollywood icon was in a black jacket, striped shirt, jeans and boots as she arrived at the Toronto Pearson Airport in Canada.
The ex of Ashton Kutcher is in town for the Toronto International Film Festival. There she will present her new movie The Substance, which is about a successful workout enthusiast who gets fired on her 50th birthday.
She then proceeds to take an experimental drug which promises to make her appear more youthful in the hopes of winning her job back.
This comes after the movie icon talked about the world's youth obsession in the new issue of Variety magazine.
Demi Moore was a bare-faced beauty as she held on to her dog Pilaf at an airport on Thursday. The 61-year-old Hollywood icon was in a black jacket, striped shirt, jeans and boots as she arrived at the Toronto Pearson Airport in Canada
The ex of Ashton Kutcher is in town for the Toronto International Film Festival where she will present her new movie The Substance
'I'm not perfect,' she admitted to Variety. 'Sometimes I'll look at a photo and think, "I look old," or whatever. But I've learned to deal with it.'
A comment from a stranger many years ago helped her cope.
'A stranger once told me something a long time ago that's stuck with me ever since. She said, "You'll never be enough,"' said Moore.
At first that sounds unkind, but there was more.
'She said, "You'll never be enough, but you'll start to know your worth once you put down the measuring stick."'
She is working more than ever these days and that is because she is making her own rules in Hollywood.
'One of the biggest themes of my career is challenging preconceived ideas and limitations,' she told the outlet's Matt Donnelly.
'I'm at a point where I'm writing my own story, as opposed to my story being dictated to me based on my age. Who says somebody can't look a certain way or do certain things? Your 60s is not what your 60s used to be. There's a part of me that's enjoying figuring it out as I go along.'
Her new movie The Substance is about a successful workout enthusiast who gets fired on her 50th birthday. She then proceeds to take an experimental drug which promises to make her appear more youthful
This comes after the movie icon talked about the world's youth obsession in the new issue of Variety magazine
She posed for the publication to promote her edgy new movie The Substance about a star who injects herself with a black market drug to look younger.
That causes her to turn into a young, bouncy beauty played by Margaret Qualley. But there are issues. And freaky things start happening.
The Substance comes out on September 20.
Elisabeth Sparkle is the star of a popular aerobics show.
She has had decades of massive success.
The icon faces a devastating blow on her 50th birthday as her boss fires her.
Amid her distress, a laboratory offers her a substance which promises to transform her into an enhanced version of herself.
But it is experimental.
Her costars are Qualley - whose mother Andie MacDowell worked with Moore in St Elmo's Fire - and Dennis Quaid.
Moore told Interview she was 'moved' when she read the movie's script. She felt it was 'such a unique way to be exploring this issue of aging, of societal conditioning'
Moore told Interview magazine she was 'moved' when she read the movie's script.
She felt it was 'such a unique way to be exploring this issue of aging, of societal conditioning, of what I also see as the pressure of the male-idealized woman that we as women have bought into.'
She continued, 'At the core of it, what it's really about is what we do to ourselves, and I loved that it was illustrated in such a physical wayshowing that violence with what we do with our thoughts, how we attack ourselves and distort things,' she said.
'There's great power in knowing that what we do to ourselves is a choice, and we can make a different choice.
'And for those who aren't looking for such a deep message, it's just entertaining.'
As for the advice she has handed down to her three daughters with Willis, she says, 'It's one of the things I've said to my kids their whole lives: The only true constant in life is change. And it's a process in life of constant acceptance.'
On Thursday, the first trailer for the new series Landman dropped.
The show is set in West Texas and is from Taylor Sheridan, the creator of Yellowstone and Lioness.
Demi stands out as the tough-as-nails glamorous billionaire wife of Jon Hamm's steely oil man Monty Miller.
The actress is seen attending a gala dinner with Hamm, who looks dashing in a suit and tie, and also saying, 'Roll the dice another time,' which indicates she wears the pants in the marriage.
The trailer is headed up by Billy Bob Thornton, however, who is seen first and provides the voiceover. He works on an oil rig which explodes as he warns the business can kill him.
The show will premiere on November 17 on Paramount +.
The first trailer for the new series Landman dropped on Thursday morning. The show is set in West Texas and is from Taylor Sheridan, the creator of Yellowstone and Lioness. Demi Moore stands out as the tough-as-nails glamorous billionaire wife of Jon Hamm's steely oil man
Kylie Jenner was showing off a lush mane of blue hair on Thursday.
The Kylie Cosmetics mogul, 27, seems to have dyed her hair a rich teal blue as she shared snaps of her transformation on Instagram.
'Teal the end of time,' her caption stated.
The bold new color harkens back to the King Kylie era of a few years ago when she changed her hair color frequently to match her moods.
But follower Noah Cyrus - who is the sister of Miley Cyrus - accused Kylie of wearing a wig as she took to the comments section.
The reality TV star who has been busy promoting her Khy brand's collab with Ionnes was also spotted leaving celeb-friendly Sushi Park rocking her cool new blue locks this week.
Kylie Jenner is seeing blue...hair that is. The Kylie Cosmetics mogul, 27, dyed her hair a rich teal blue and shared snaps of her transformation on Instagram
But follower Noah Cyrus - who is the sister of Miley Cyrus - accused Kylie of wearing a wig as she took to the comments section
Kylie's fans ate up the new hue with one proclaiming: 'KING KYLIE BACK AS SHE SHOULD.'
Another added: 'the king is back and better than ever.'
Kylie's new blue hair comes after the mom of two shared a glimpse at her day-to-day life with daughter Stormi, six, and son Aire, two.
She shares the youngsters with her ex-boyfriend, Houston-bred rapper Travis Scott, 33.
In one image, which didn't show the kids' faces, Stormi checked out her mother's cosmetic products at Ulta with her little brother.
When she's not working or taking care of her children, the Kardashians star spend plenty of time with BFF Stassie and boyfriend Timothee Chalamet.
She and the Call Me By Your Name actor keep a low-profile, but sources say the romance is going strong.
Despite their ongoing relationship, the bombshell has yet to share him on social media.
'teal the end of time,' her caption stated. The bold new color harkens back to the King Kylie era of a few years ago when she changed her hair color frequently to match her moods
The reality TV star who has been busy promoting her Khy brand's collab with Ionnes was also spotted leaving celeb-friendly Sushi Park rocking her cool new blue locks this week
Kylie's new blue hair comes after the mom of two shared a glimpse at her day-to-day life with daughter Stormi, six, and son Aire, two
She shares the youngsters with her ex-boyfriend, Houston-bred rapper Travis Scott, 33
The Kardashians star last visited her King Kylie alter ego earlier this summer when she dyed her hair bubblegum pink
In one image, which didn't show the kids' faces, Stormi checked out her mother's cosmetic products at Ulta with her little brother
'Kylie is turning into her brother Rob she is choosing to be a homebody for the most part,' a source exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com.
'For Kylie, it is her family, her kids and then obviously she is all in on hanging out with Timothee.'
She is said to have lost all interest in trying to keep up appearances with industry friends as the insider added: 'Time for going out and doing the Hollywood friendship thing is long past her. She is 27 going on 70.'
The person continued, 'What suits her now is being out there when she needs to be, not because she wants to be. She is so busy with her relationship and being a mom and a businesswoman.'
1000-lb Sisters star Amy Slaton sparked engagement speculation as she was seen flashing a glittering ring while in court to face drug and child endangerment charges.
The accessory was slipped onto her ring finger and certainly resembled an engagement ring. It's unknown who Slaton's fiancee could be.
She was seen holding hands with Brian Scott Lovvorn, her friend who was arrested with her, as they were released from police custody. Whether or not they are indeed dating has yet to be confirmed.
Slaton has dated two men since finalizing her divorce from ex-husband Michael Halterman last year - Tony Rodgers and Kevin.
Slaton and Halterman share two children and had reportedly clashed over their appearance on the TLC reality show.
1000-lb Sisters star Amy Slaton sparked engagement speculation as she was seen flashing a glittering ring while in court to face drug and child endangerment charges
The accessory was slipped onto her ring finger and certainly resembled an engagement ring
The pair welcomed their first child, Gage Deon, in November 2020 and their second son, Glenn Allen, in July 2022.
'There was no support. There was no love. There was no kindness. There was just mental abuse,' she told People of their marriage. 'I just got tired of hiding it from people.'
A confrontation between her, her sisters and Michael was shown on season five of the series.
'That's the day I left,' she said. 'But I was falling out of love with him before that.'
After a lengthy custody battle, the former couple decided to share parenting duties.
The possible engagement comes amid Slaton's legal woes.
She appeared in court on Thursday to face drugs and child endangerment charges -days after her arrest at a Tennessee zoo.
Slaton was reportedly bitten by a camel at Tennessee Safari Park in Alamo on Labor Day - but when police were called to the park for the bite they noted 'suspicious odors' coming from their vehicle, according to the deputies.
She appeared in court on Thursday to face drugs and child endangerment charges - days after her arrest at a Tennessee zoo
Slaton pictured entering the court room
Responding officers discovered 'what they believed to be mushrooms' and 'what they believed to be marijuana' inside Slaton's vehicle after smelling marijuana in the car and seeing the drugs out 'in plain sight.'
Slaton and Lovvorn were arrested and face charges of illegal possession of schedule I, illegal possession of schedule VI and two counts of child endangerment.
Slaton's two children were in the car at the time of the arrest. Tammy Slaton reportedly picked up the children after the arrest.
Slaton looked stony-faced as she arrived for her arraignment - as her lawyer doubled down on her claim she had been bitten by a camel.
Slaton who was seen frowning in a mugshot, was arrested after officers attending to her camel bite, found 'magic mushrooms and marijuana' in her car
She received medical treatment at the zoo and was pictured being wheeled out of a Tennessee safari park on a stretcher with a bandage around her forearm.
Tennessee Safari Park co-owner Claude Conley, 44, denied Slaton had been bitten, telling The US Sun 'there is no bruising. She cut her arm on something, its not consistent with an animal bite.
'Her boyfriend or the man she was with was acting crazy, screaming and yelling and all kinds of stuff.
'He got mad that the police came out there because he just wanted the ambulance to come.'
Attorney Taylor Hughes told TMZ she was definitely attacked by the animal and said Slaton had thanked her fans for sending love and support amid her legal woes.
Slaton and Lovvorn were booked into the Crockett County Jail on on $10,000 bond - with a representative confirming the pair were released on Tuesday.
The representative told the publication: 'Amys brother Chris Combs and Hughes bonding company bonded both of them out together from Crockett County jail and they left with Chris.'
Slaton and friend Brian Scott Lovvorn (pictured in court together) were arrested and face charges of illegal possession of schedule I, illegal possession of schedule VI and two counts of child endangerment.
Slaton looked stony-faced as she arrived for her arraignment - as her lawyer doubled down on her claim she had been bitten by a camel
Lovvorn is pictured in his mugshot
DailyMail.com contacted representatives for Slaton for comment.
Amy rose to fame starring opposite her sister Tammy Slaton on the series 1000-Lb. Sisters. The fifth season of the show premiered late last year.
The star has dropped an impressive 176 pounds ever since having weight loss surgery five years ago.
Slaton introduced fans to a new man before her divorce was finalized and was dating a Michigan man named Tony, the US Sun reports.
By the time her divorce was finalized the couple had been together for around three months.
Justin Theroux had that look of love when he enjoyed a romantic outing with his new fiancee Nicole Brydon Bloom after talking about his ex Jennifer Aniston.
The 53-year-old actor and his 30-year-old glamorous younger fiancee were seen enjoying a bottle of wine while dining al fresco in New York City on Wednesday evening.
Justin was definitely enchanted by his partner who is over two decades his junior as he stared adoringly at her.
Nicole stunned in a white sleeveless top tucked into black trousers with a black belt.
Justin Theroux had that look of love when he enjoyed a romantic outing with his new fiancee Nicole Brydon Bloom after talking about his ex Jennifer Aniston
Her brunette tresses were worn down as she accentuated her natural looks with complementary make-up.
Justin showcased another incredible vintage T-shirt from his collection as he represented hip-hop icons Eric B. and Rakim.
This comes after the actor recently admitted in a new interview that he still 'protective' over his ex-wife Jennifer Aniston , 55 seven years after their divorce.
He confirmed to The Times that Aniston is still 'very dear' to him as he applauded her for firing back at JD Vance's controversial remarks about 'childless cat ladies.'
'She is still very dear to me so, of course, yeah, I feel protective. But she batted back criticism, as well she should,' Theroux said.
He and Aniston separated in 2017 after secretly tying the knot two years prior at a star-studded wedding held at her $21million Bel-Air mansion.
The ceremony was officiated by late-night host and SNL alum Jimmy Fallon and attended by the likes of Ellen DeGeneres and Aniston's Friends co-stars.
The couple waited until February 2018 to publicly reveal their divorce.
The 53-year-old actor and his 30-year-old glamorous younger fiancee were seen enjoying a bottle of wine while dining al fresco in New York City on Wednesday evening
Justin was definitely enchanted by his partner who is over two decades his junior as he stared adoringly at her
In a joint statement, they insisted there was no ill will between them and that they planned to remain friends.
'In an effort to reduce any further speculation, we have decided to announce our separation. This decision was mutual and lovingly made at the end of last year,' they revealed.
'We are two best friends who have decided to part ways as a couple, but look forward to continuing our cherished friendship.'
Jennifer and Justin first met in 2007 but didn't begin dating until 2011 after bonding on set of their rom-com Wanderlust (2012).
After confirming their split in 2018, a source claimed to Page Six that Aniston and Theroux disagreed on where to settle down.
She was reportedly 'more comfortable' in LA while he wanted to make the move to New York.
'Justin doesn't feel as at home in LA, nor with Jennifer's friends, he loves New York, and the edgier crowd in the city,' an insider told the outlet.
It was also alleged that 'problems' began brewing between them due to their conflicting and often times hectic work schedules.
But the friendly exes have have since put those problems behind them.
This comes after the actor recently admitted in a new interview that he still 'protective' over his ex-wife Jennifer Aniston , 55 seven years after their divorce; seen in 2015
He confirmed to The Times that Aniston is still 'very dear' to him as he praised her for firing back at JD Vance 's controversial remarks about 'childless cat ladies'; seen August 29 at the London premiere of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
'She is still very dear to me so, of course, yeah, I feel protective. But she batted back criticism, as well she should,' Theroux said; seen in 2017
Theroux gave rare insight on their 'friendship' in a 2023 interview with Esquire, revealing that he and Aniston keep in touch through text, FaceTime, and phone calls.
That same year, DailyMail.com exclusively reveled that Theroux was a huge support system for Aniston after she lost her father, Days of Our Lives star John Aniston, in November 2022 at age 89.
An insider told DailyMail.com that Theroux 'comforted' Aniston amid her grief by calling her almost every day to console her.
Theroux's latest quotes about Aniston come amid the whirlwind press tour for Tim Burton's Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
He stars alongside Jenna Ortega, Michael Keaton and Wynona Ryder.
Theroux was supported by actress fiancee Nicole as the sequel to the 1989 horror-comedy Beetlejuice premiered at the Venice International Film Festival last week.
The couple who first sparked up a romance last year fueled rumors of an engagement after Nicole was photographed wearing a bauble on her left ring finger on the red carpet.
A day later, she was seen wearing the ring for a second time at the starry London premiere of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
A source claimed to PEOPLE that Justin proposed to Nicole during their Italy trip. He is said to have presented her with a four-carat emerald cut diamond ring by by Stephanie Gottlieb.
He and Aniston separated in 2017 after secretly tying the knot two years prior at a star-studded wedding held at her $21million Bel-Air mansion; seen in 2012
Theroux recently got engaged to his glamorous younger girlfriend Nicole Brydon Bloom, 30; seen on August 28 at the Venice International Film Festival
Theroux finally confirmed the engagement news to The Times, admitting that he was 'nervous' to pop the question.
'Of course, I was nervous proposing. It is a question after all, so the answer isnt guaranteed. But it was wonderful,' he told the outlet.
The couple have only infrequently surfaced in public as a couple since they were first spotted together in February 2023.
Nicole and Justin reached a milestone last December when he accompanied her as her date to her twin sister Chrissy's wedding.
She snapped a mirror selfie from the festivities that showed her and Justin beaming on a staircase amid a claque of loved ones including his dog Kuma.
Nicole, like her purported fiancee is a Hollywood performer - an actress known for Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes' new show The Gilded Age.
Prior to his marriage to Aniston, Justin had a 14-year relationship with costume designer Heidi Bivens that collapsed in 2011.
He is said to have presented her with a four-carat emerald cut diamond ring by by Stephanie Gottlieb; the couple seen in London on August 29
A source claimed to PEOPLE that Justin proposed to Nicole during their Italy trip; Theroux seen in Venice on August 28
At the time, a friend of Heidi's told E! News claimed that Heidi had been 'straight-up dumped,' though the outlet made sure to qualify: 'Not to say it's Aniston's fault, maybe the timing was just terrible?'
A source in Justin's camp insisted to Page Six: 'Things were already over between him and Heidi before he got close to Jen.'
Heidi's mother Marilyn spoke to Radar Online in 2016, claiming that Justin initially tried to persuade Heidi he and Jennifer were not an item.
Marilyn asserted: 'Heidi told me what Justin had told her, that something was going to be written about him and Jennifer, that something was going on between them and he wanted her to know that it was nothing, there was nothing to it.'
In Marilyn's telling, Heidi allegedly ultimately discovered that the rumors were true, '[a]nd my sweet Heidi she calls me and says: "Oh mommy." I was going through cancer at the time. It was a time that hurt our family.'
Rita Ora put on a very leggy display in a red mini dress as she stepped out to the FOX Fall Press Day at Fox Studio Lot on Thursday.
The songstress, 33, turned heads as she wore a crepe dress, which is worth 350, was accented with diamante bows.
She added inches to her statuesque figure as she slipped into a pair of towering black satin platform heels.
To accessorise, the artist showcased her quirky sense of style and wore a myriad of colourful beaded ankle bracelets.
For occasion, she flaunted her natural beauty and let her blonde curls flow freely past her shoulders.
Rita Ora put on a very leggy display in a red mini dress as she stepped out to the FOX Fall Press Day at Fox Studio Lot on Thursday
The songstress, 33, turned heads as she wore a crepe dress, which is worth 350, accented with diamante bows
Hannah Waddingham also made a colourful appearance for the star-studded event.
The Ted Lasso star, 50, stepped out in a 725 Borgo De Nor maxi dress which featured a square dress and gathered detailing.
In keeping with her bright ensemble, she finished her look with a pair Barbie pink strappy heels.
The FOX Fall Press Day is an annual media event organised by the network to showcase its upcoming fall TV programming.
It's an opportunity for FOX to promote its new and returning shows to the press, industry insiders, and media outlets.
During the event, cast members, creators, and showrunners from FOX's lineup participate in interviews, panel discussions, and photo sessions.
They typically preview upcoming episodes and share behind-the-scenes stories.
This press day is crucial for FOX to drum up excitement and viewership for their fall schedule, highlighting new series debuts, renewals, and major changes in programming.
In July, Rita appeared in Descendants: The Rise Of Red, the fourth film in Disney's Descendants franchise.
She played the villainous role of the Queen Of Hearts, starring alongside China Ann McClain and Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella actors Brandy and Paolo Montalban.
She has been focusing recently on her business ventures and acting roles, with her last releasing new music in January.
She added inches to her statuesque figure as she slipped into a pair of towering black satin platform heels
For occasion, she flaunted her natural beauty and let her blonde curls flow freely past her shoulders
Hannah Waddingham also made a colourful appearance for the star-studded event
The Ted Lasso star, 50, stepped out in a 725 Borgo De Nor maxi dress which featured a square dress and gathered detailing
The FOX Fall Press Day is an annual media event organised by the network to showcase its upcoming fall TV programming
Rita showed off her array of tattoos in the dress including the ballet dancer on her arm, and roses on her hand and wrist
The star beamed in snaps as she showed off a glimpse of her cleavage
She accessorised her ankles with an array of colourful beaded anklets
In July, Rita appeared in Descendants: The Rise Of Red, the fourth film in Disney's Descendants franchise and she seems to still be loving the red
Her most recent song, Shape Of Me, came as the final single from her third studio album You & I, which was released six months prior.
While Rita has also been busy performing at several festivals.
She has made appearances at Manchester Pride and the City Celebration event in Romania last month.
She was joined by her director husband Taika Waititi in the southeastern European country, after the pair jetted off to Ibiza to celebrate his 49th birthday.
The ongoing divorce between actress Leah Remini and businessman Angelo Pagan continues to progress through the legal system, with both parties asking the court to eliminate spousal support going either way.
Pagan, 56, filed a legal response in his split with the Emmy-winner, 54, People reported Thursday after reviewing docs in the case, which Remini filed August 29.
Pagan listed the estranged pair's separation date as August 1, which Remini also had in her court docs, as well as the reason behind the split being 'irreconcilable differences,' the outlet reported.
Remini, who played the role of Carrie Heffernan on The King of Queens from 19982007, and Pagan issued a joint statement via Instagram confirming that their marriage had ended.
'Well, here we are,' Remini and Pagan said in the August 29 statement. 'After 28 years together and 21 years of marriage, we have decided to file for divorce.
The ongoing divorce between actress Leah Remini, 54, and businessman Angelo Pagan, 56, continues to progress through the legal system, with both parties asking the court to eliminate spousal support going either way. Pictured June 2, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California
'This decision came after a lot of thought and care, and as hard as divorce is, we are approaching this with a positive outlook because we know it's what's best for us.'
Remini and Pagan said they were experiencing a flurry of different emotions in announcing their split.
'We are proud of how we have worked through this together,' they said. 'Yes, were sad, and weve got some figuring out to do as we continue to move forward into our new normal - together still in many ways, and apart in some new ones.'
They said that they had 'both changed, as people do,' and 'got used to playing roles that didnt fit us anymore.'
Remini and Pagan said their 'bond is still strong' but 'its just evolved into something different,' adding that their 'marriage was a huge success.'
The estranged pair, who initially crossed paths in 1996 and wed seven years later, cited their past projects together in their statement.
'We want to be as transparent as we can be here because, for years, we shared our marriage so publicly, whether it was on our specials on VH1 or our reality show, which ran for two seasons on TLC,' Remini and Pagan said.
They added, 'We are sharing this unknown territory with you all as we take our first steps into this next stage of our lives publicly.'
Remini, who played the role of Carrie Heffernan on The King of Queens from 19982007, was pictured in LA in 2019
Remini filed for divorce to end the 21-year marriage this past August 29
Remini and Pagan were pictured in November of 2001 at the Emmys in LA
Remini and Pagan are parents to daughter Sofia Bella, 20, while he's father to three sons, Angelo Jr., Alex and Nico, from a prior relationship.
Remini in 2019 chat with RuPaul about the relationship, saying that they had difficult times earlier on.
'It's a beautiful love story because we did have a hard time at the beginning,' the Kevin Can Wait actress said. 'We didn't meet under the best of circumstances.
'We got counseling and it was not an easy road. So I'm saying these things to be funny, once again, but the truth of the matter is he is my rock.'
Stassi Schroeder revealed that she is unsure about how to explain her self-harm scars to her three-year-old daughter Hartford.
The Vanderpump Rules alum, 36, addressed her struggle with self-harm and credited Hartford as the reason for her speaking up, in an interview with Bustle, where she discussed her new book, You Can't Have It All.
The mom-of-two who also shares son Messer Rhys, 11 months, with husband Beau Clark, 44 shared: 'When I look at myself naked, Hartford will see a little line, and she'll be like, "Mommy, ouchie."'
'I'm like, "Oh, God, that feels dirty. How will I ever explain to her that this was something that I chose?"'
'It just feels like it's been a secret, and I don't like secrets. I think that's part of maybe why I do what I do podcasts, just living out loud,' she added.
Stassi Schroeder, 36, revealed that she is unsure about how to explain her self-harm scars to her three-year-old daughter Hartford; seen in 2022
'When I look at myself naked, Hartford will see a little line, and she'll be like, "Mommy, ouchie,"' she shared in an interview with Bustle; they are seen in April
'Because there is this feeling of: "I'm free. Everyone knows my s**t. I don't have to hide anything.'
Schroeder believes that sharing her story for the first time will inspire others to be more transparent about their own experiences and emotions.
Stassi also took to her Instagram on Thursday to share some family vacation snaps from Rome.
One of them featured her and Hartford enjoying lunch together.
She also posted an adorable video of them riding a train together, with Hartford cuddling up to her mom and playing with her hair.
At one point the little one accidentally poked Stassi's face, with the reality star jokingly mouthing to the camera, 'What the f**k?'
Earlier this year Stassi shared that becoming a mother-of-two is 'so different' and 'really intense' in an interview with People.
'I think no one properly warned me that going from one to two is harder than going from zero to one. Because now it's like me and my husband are just like... one of them's on the other.'
'So there's less time for us to just be adults. But we're getting to the point where we fully have the hang of things. So life gets easier every day.'
She added that Hartford is her mini-me, playfully stating, 'It's my karma, she's my karma.'
'I'm like, "Oh, God, that feels dirty. How will I ever explain to her that this was something that I chose?"'; the duo seen on vacation in Rome in snap posted to Stassi's Instagram on Thursday
'It just feels like it's been a secret, and I don't like secrets. I think that's part of maybe why I do what I do podcasts, just living out loud,' she added
Stassi also shares son Messer Rhys, 11 months, with husband Beau Clark, 44
Earlier this year Stassi shared that 'going from one to two is harder than going from zero to one' as she spoke about motherhood in an interview with People
The star married Beau for a second time on May 12, 2022 at the Hotel de Russie in Italy. The couple previously officially wed in a backyard ceremony in 2020
'But I know how to parent her the best. I'm so equipped to, because I am like her,' she added.
Stassi announced her second pregnancy on Instagram. She posed with Hartford on a brown leather couch as she put a hand on her growing baby bump.
The beauty wrote in her caption, 'Secrets stress me out. Baby #2, I love you so much already.'
The star married Beau for a second time on May 12, 2022 at the Hotel de Russie in Italy.
The couple - who share podcast The Good The Bad The Baby - previously officially wed in a backyard ceremony in 2020 with few in attendance due to COVID.
They welcomed Hartford, their firstborn, on January 7, 2021.
Braless Ashley Roberts got caught in the rain in a dark silver crop top and matching skirt on Thursday as she left the Heart FM studios in Leicester Square.
The Pussycat Dolls star-turned-Heart radio presenter, 42, stunned in the set which featured a short-sleeved top and a maxi skirt.
She accessorised with white Christian Louboutin shoes and a white Miu Miu bag, finishing her look with oval-shaped sunglasses.
Ashley showed off her pert bottom as she hoisted up her skirt to climb into a waiting black cab.
Ashley is the showbiz correspondent on Heart Breakfast and she also hosts her own show, on Heart 00s which airs Saturdays from 4pm.
Braless Ashley Roberts, 42, got caught in the rain in a dark silver crop top and matching skirt on Thursday as she left the Heart FM studios in Leicester Square
The Pussycat Dolls star-turned-Heart radio presenter stunned in the set which featured a short-sleeved top and a maxi skirt
She accessorised with white court shoes and a white Miu Miu bag, finishing her look with oval-shaped sunglasses
The Dance Monster judge is in a relationship with tattoo artist to the stars George Rollinson, who is 17 years her junior.
At the end of August, Ashley shared exclusively with MailOnline that she endured 'disastrous' online dates and was even catfished before meeting boyfriend George 'the old fashioned way'.
Ashley has been dating the hunky artist, 25, since November ahead of them making their first official appearance as a couple in April this year.
Ashley shared that she was now in a 'happy place' and said: 'It's really nice to be in a relationship that's kind and thoughtful and supportive and we have fun'.
She explained to MailOnline that while online dating works for a lot of people she and George met through mutual friends and their relationship 'came about naturally'.
'It was an unexpected thing, we met, and I was having a good time and living my best life, enjoying it and I was like "this is someone quite special" - I'm in a happy place.'
Ashley, who reportedly signed up to celeb dating app Raya in 2022, recalled one bad date, laughing: 'I turned up and necessarily didn't recognise the person sat in front of me from [their profile] images.
'And I was like 'wait a minute' and it's a bit uncomfortable because you have to sit through a meal, so that was on the disastrous side.'
Ashley gave onlookers a hint of toned abs as the skirt showcased her toned legs
Ashley is the showbiz correspondent on Heart Breakfast and she also hosts her own show, on Heart 00s which airs Saturdays from 4pm
Ashley smiled at something that caught her attention in the street
Ashley went on to muse: 'I was kind of on an adventure to try new things and went online and I gave it a go, but it actually worked out the old fashioned way with George.'
In May, Ashley and George, 25, publicly enjoyed a 300-a-night stay at D-Resort Gocek after previously hiding their relationship.
Despite being together for the best part of a year, the couple did not go Instagram official until April.
Ashley and George also enjoyed a trip to Miami at the end of 2023 but made sure not to be photographed together.
You actress Madeline Brewer put on a cheeky display in a pink string bikini on Wednesday as she relaxed during an overseas holiday with her boyfriend.
The American star, 32, turned to the side and looked over her shoulder, smiling, in the snap taken by her partner Jack Thompson-Roylance.
The former The Handmaid's Tale actress caption the sexy shot for her almost 400,000 followers: 'Looking back at @deadbeatjack' - Jack's Instagram handle.
Madeline, who has also appeared in Orange Is The New Black, also shared a collage of herself, Jack, and their friends in the sea, making shapes with their bodies and enjoying beers.
Madeline will play newcomer Bronte in the fifth and final series of American Netflix thriller You, which wrapped filming in August after five months.
You actress Madeline Brewer, 32, put on a cheeky display on a white-sand beach in a photo share to Instagram on Wednesday from her holiday with her boyfriend
Madeline and film cinematographer Jack have been together since
On her Story, Madeline, who has also appeared in Orange Is The New Black, shared a collage of herself, Jack, and their friends in the sea, making shapes with their bodies and enjoying beers
In July, Madeline was spotted filming in NYC's Central Park with You lead Penn Badgley.
She rocked her natural hair colour for the scenes, albeit in a bob, and also wore flannel.
Bronte is unfortunately serial killer Joe's next target, but fans will have to wait and see if he succeeds in his murderous way or if he is finally brought to justice.
Madeline is also expected to be filming the sixth and final series of American dystopian drama The Handmaid's Tale.
The plot features a dystopia following a Second American Civil War wherein a theonomic, totalitarian society subjects fertile women, called 'Handmaids', to child-bearing slavery.
In September 2022, ahead of the fifth-season premiere, the series was renewed for a sixth and final season, which is expected to air in 2025.
The Handmaid's Tale's first series won a whopping eight Primetime Emmy Awards from 13 nominations.
It is the first show produced by Hulu to win a major award and the first series on any streaming service to win the highly coveted Outstanding Series Emmy.
In July, Madeline was spotted filming in NYC's Central Park with You lead Penn Badgley, 37, who plays serial killer Joe Goldberg
Madeline is also expected to be filming the sixth and final series of American dystopian drama The Handmaid's Tale, in which she plays Janine Lindo
In a series regular role, Madeline will portray the enigmatic and free-spirited Bronte, a playwright who comes to work for Joe (who has taken on the alias Jonathan Moore) at his London bookstore.
As the two connect over literature and loss, Bronte stokes in him a nostalgia for his former self, causing him to question everything his life has become.
You, based on Caroline Kepnes best-selling novel of the same name, revolves around the question, 'What would you do for love?'
The series follows Joe's answer to the question, which is, unfortunately, murder.
Red Lobster will soon exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after a judge approved its sale on Thursday.
The beloved seafood chain filed for bankruptcy in May - days after closing more than a hundred restaurants.
Bosses warned of more closures if landlords aren't able to renegotiate rents downward. In fact, last week it emerged Red Lobster was shuttering two dozen more restaurants.
But now hundreds of the remaining locations may yet be saved after a bankruptcy judge approved its sale to asset manager Fortress.
Red Lobster said in a statement on Thursday that it expects to operate about 544 locations across the US and Canada after emerging from bankruptcy. That's down from 578 disclosed at the time of filing for bankruptcy.
A judge has approved the sale of Red Lobster
Fortress is experienced in restaurant management - also owning Krystal, Logan's Roadhouse and J Alexander's - and had previously given Red Lobster a $100 million loan to allow it to keep operating.
Under terms of the acquisition, which is expected to close by the end of September, the chain will continue to operate as an independent company.
Once the deal is finalized, Red Lobster will also get a new CEO - Damola Adamolekun, former chief executive of P.F. Changs.
Adamolekun said that Red Lobster 'has a tremendous future' and thanked Jonathan Tibus, who will leave the company and step down as CEO, for his leadership during the bankruptcy process.
Red Lobster's purchaser is also providing additional funding to help the Florida-based chain get back on its feet.
Adamolekun said the company's long-term investment plan includes a commitment of more than $60 million in new funding.
The casual dining favorite's problems have been blamed on rising lease and labor costs in recent years and its infamous $20 all-you-can-eat shrimp deal that backfired.
The offer, launched last June as a permanent fixture on the menu, ended up costing it millions of dollars as customers took advantage.
Hundreds of restaurants will be saved as Red Lobster's sale has been approved by a judge
Endless shrimp started at $20 but was too popular and cost millions of dollars
One girl managed to eat 108 shrimp in four hours,
'I set a new record at my local Red Lobster, this is my greatest achievement in life,' the poster explained in her video.
By the time the plug was pulled after just seven weeks, Red Lobster had lost $3.3 million.
Thai Union CEO Thiraphong Chansiri, 58, even said out of frustration that he'll never eat lobster again after the bankruptcy.
A South Carolina town is losing its only grocery store in a matter of days, leaving locals facing a long trip to get fresh food.
The IGA store in Pamplico, Florence County, has been open for decades - but it is due to close on September 27.
The nearest grocery store is 15 miles away in a nearby town. For those with a car, that is a 20 minute drive. For those without, they must hitch a lift or walk five hours since there is no public transport.
It makes Pamplico the latest of America's so-called 'food deserts' - which occur when a third of people in a rural area are more than 10 miles from a supermarket. Around 19 million people now face that reality.
The store's lease was due to expire soon so the company decided not to renew it, a representative from Alex Lee, IGA's parent company, told WBTW News13.
The location is older and smaller than others, they added, and there are other IGA stores in the area.
An IGA store in Pamplico, Florence County, which has been running for decades, is due to close on September 27
The spokesperson said that all the 26 employees will be able to get jobs at other IGA stores in the surrounding area.
The company tried to find another retailer to move into the building and operate it as a grocery store, but were unsuccessful in their efforts, they added.
Local Tiffanie Wright said she would miss having a full grocery store in the area, and that she feels for those who cannot drive to a different location further away.
'This is the only store we have down here with groceries,' she told WBTW News13.
'I know we got a Dollar General down the road, but it [doesn't] have that much stuff that IGA has,' she said.
'But I just kind of hate it for, you know, the people who don't even have cars or anything like that. They've got to find a ride to the store.'
The nearest grocery store for Pamplico residents is now 15 miles away in KJ's Market in Florence.
It comes amid concerns of a rising number of food deserts in the US - where affordable and fresh food is not accessible to communities.
According to the USDA, a food desert occurs when more than 33 percent of the population in urban spaces is further than one mile from a supermarket.
In a rural setting, 33 percent of people must be more than 10 miles from a supermarket.
By this standard, over 18 million people lived in food deserts in 2019, AP News reported.
Shuttered stores mean people have little or no access to fresh, healthy produce, forcing them to buy packaged and highly processed foods.
A so-called 'retail apocalypse' is sweeping the US, with different types of stores closing across the country.
Local Tiffanie Wright said she would miss having a full grocery store in the area, and that she feels for those who cannot drive to a different location further away
The nearest grocery store for Pamplico residents is now 15 miles away in KJ's Market in Florence
The closure comes amid concerns of a rising number of food deserts in the US - where affordable and fresh food is not accessible to communities
Many brick-and-mortar-locations are facing increased running costs and tight margins, while others are plagued with rampant theft.
Even major retailers such as Macy's are closing stores across the country, and it merged last month that Big Lots is shutting 315 stores across multiple states as its financial woes worsen.
There were almost 2,600 store closures in the first four months of 2024. If that trend continues, almost 8,000 will have been lost by the end of the year.
In recent months, Walmart has closed three more of its underperforming locations. Best Buy closed ten in March.
Dollar stores have been hit hard too, with 99 Cents Only announcing in April it would shutter all 371 of its locations across California, Texas, Arizona and Nevada.
The 1,000 closures of Family Dollar and its sister company Dollar Tree will happen over the next three years.
Express - a mall staple - filed for bankruptcy in April and said it would shut 95 Express outlets alongside all of its UpWest stores.
At the start of May, Rue21 - the teen fashion chain that is a fixture in malls across America - also said it will shut all its 543 US stores after going bust.
Badcock Home Furniture & More said at the end of July it is closing all its 380 stores dotted around the South after it fell into bankruptcy earlier this year.
Chinese marine corps detachment to join multilateral joint exercise in Brazil
Xinhua) 16:30, September 05, 2024
BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of National Defense announced on Thursday that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy will dispatch a Marine Corps detachment to Brazil to take part in a multilateral joint exercise, following an invitation from the Brazilian military.
The exercise will primarily concentrate on joint landing and anti-landing combat drills.
It aims to strengthen the friendship and collaboration between the Chinese military and its counterparts from the participating nations as well as to bolster their collective capacity to tackle security risks and challenges.
(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
The web series IC-184: The Kandahar Hijack has reignited debate over the moral and strategic dilemmas faced during hostage crises
Web series IC-184: The Kandahar Hijack, has triggered debate on the complexities and greys that accompany such incidents. Beyond obvious things like the lack of coordination, responsiveness or even allowing the flight to take off from Amritsar one important query is if India did wrong in negotiating with terrorists. Given the handiwork of these released terrorists in the subsequent terror attacks, the question acquires even gravity. However, beyond the simplistic and binary yes or no position that is often postulated in the argument, lies the necessity of nuance in attempting to answer the same. It is universally agreed that negotiations with terrorists are a bad idea, however, sometimes, the consequences of not negotiating can have far more debilitating and costly consequences.
Sifting the wheat from the chaff of the supposed no-negotiation stance of some countries (as often bandied) is important. It is frequently argued that countries like Israel or the United States of America do not negotiate with terrorists. It is further claimed that because of such an unbending posture, the Israelis and Americans avoided being taken as hostages. But such beliefs are untrue, misplaced, and belie the wheels-within-wheels of the American or Israeli reality, beyond the publicly stated position of no-negotiation.
It is the worst-kept secret that such countries have funnelled money through proxies, friendly countries, or even masked the same as aid to secure their citizens, whilst maintaining the official stance.The Iran-Contra affair (1981-86) during the Reagan era wherein American hostages held by the Lebanese group, Hezbollah, were exchanged for weapons for Hezbollah itself, exemplifying the deals cut beyond the public gaze. As recently as 2014, the Americans had released five Taliban prisoners from Guantanamo, to secure an American hostage.
Last August, the United States is believed to have unfrozen $6 billion of Iranian funds in South Korean banks to secure the release of five US citizens. It is now argued that the same money could have been invaluable for the cash-strapped Iranians (widely believed benefactors of Hamas) in launching the subsequent 7th Oct attack on Israel. Israelis themselves are the masters of the backdoor negotiations, irrespective of the belligerent stand adopted for public consumption. In the Gilat Shalit (Israeli prisoner) exchange of 2011, it is believed that Israelis released 1027 prisoners who were held in jails. Even now as the bludgeoning of the Gaza Strip continues, the Israelis in parallel (and in support of the Biden administration) are still negotiating with Hamas for the release of their citizens held hostage. Often, the aggrieved government can end up losing a lot of leverage and lives when they refuse to engage with bad actors. Negotiations help immediate outcomes, buy crucial time for alternate reactions, and most importantly, help establish critical information and leads about the captors that could be invoked, productively.
Lastly, a well-managed ransom payoff (with marked bills and telltale trails) can also lead to discovering broader networks and bases to take down the terror infrastructure, subsequently. Negotiations or engagement does not have to be tantamount to surrender or even a bad deal, necessarily. From the post-released activities of the three terrorists in the IC-814 case, it was a costly deal but was there an alternative? The hijacked plane was parked in the backyard of Pakistani ISIs supported Afghan base (at least then) with 158 precious lives (not including the 5 terrorists).
The terrorists in this case (under the direct supervision of the ISI and Taliban) were not exactly known to be reasonable, and if anything, had given a glimpse of their intent with the brutal and fatal stabbing of passenger, Rupin Katyal. Even an Entebbe-like commando operation using Indian Special Forces was impractical and fraught with additional risks. With the clear intention of harming Indian interests without an iota of any fear of getting caught (given the location) the risk to the lives of all passengers and crew of IC-814 was not possible, but imminent.
The calculation and opportunities would have been far more creative with possible solutions, had IC-814 been held up in Amritsar, as opposed to Kandahar. Could India have forsaken the lives of its citizens? Has any other country ever forsaken lives in similar circumstances? Did the USA attempt negotiating with the Iranian authorities when its Embassy staff was held hostage or did it steadfastly hold to the no-negotiation posture? The no-negotiation is more of an ideal, but a fuzzy line, practically. It is a deterring policy but has never been an ironclad law, anywhere in the world. However, countries like Israel (or even India) do convey behaviorally is the guarantee of serious reprisals and redeeming their losses.
For example, Operation Hot Pursuit, the cross-border operation against NSCN-K insurgents in Myanmar normalised the expectation for bad actors, hereinafter this, when done systematically, surgically and purposefully conveys solid sovereign intent. So, there is no silver bullet or inviolable guardrails in tackling terror, except adapting and responding according to the situation, whilst ensuring the overall objectives are not lost to inflexibility, weakness, or indecision. IC-814 was indeed a lapse of immense proportion but the complexities of the eight-day ordeal necessitated negotiations in that specific case, as insisting any other way is easier said than done, as instructed by history anywhere in the world.
(The writer, a military veteran, is a former Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry. The views expressed are personal)
PM Modi's Brunei visit highlights India's commitment to strengthening ties in Southeast Asia
Prime Minister Modi is wasting no time in walking the talk as far as his foreign policy goals are concerned. This week, with a clear focus on Look East policy the Indian PM was in Brunei and Singapore. The Brunei visit was the first state visit by an Indian PM, after establishing diplomatic relations in 1984. The Indian Mission in Brunei came nearly a decade later in 1993. PM Manmohan Singh had visited Brunei Darussalam in 2013 to attend multilateral meetings of ASEAN and East Asia Summit.Highlighting the importance of the first bilateral visit to Brunei, Indias High Commissioner Alok Amitabh Dimri, told news agency ANI In our four decades of diplomatic relationship, this is the first bilateral official visit by the Prime Minister of India to Brunei Darussalam.
It is a historic moment in our bilateral relationship and also for the Indian community in Brunei Darussalam that high-level bilateral engagement between Prime Minister Shri Modi and His Majesty the King is going to take place. This visit is historic in many ways that Brunei and India have been civilizational neighbours as you know that India shares deep historical roots and bonds with Southeast Asia. The Malayan tradition of this geography which is located in the Borneo Island of Southeast Asian Seas derives deep linkages be it, linguistic, anthropological, ethnic, architectural, religious motives, customs and traditions, norms from India, South India. Defence relations between the two countries have been on an upward trajectory since the establishment of formal diplomatic ties.
There have been several official-level defence exchanges and visits of navy, coast guard ships and joint exercises. India has MoU in in defence sector with Brunei till 2026. Several Indian Navy ships and coast guard ships such as INS Rana, INS Airavat, INS Shivalik & INS Kadmatt, and Samudra Pahereda to name a few, have been in Brunei waters, given the maritime security concerns. The trade relations between the two countries are not what one can boast of, however, it is of strategic importance.
The recently concluded Brunei trip by the Indian PM has enhanced and deepened the partnership between the two countries. The joint statement issued after the leader's meeting stated Both leaders held discussions for enhancing cooperation on a wide range of issues including defence, connectivity, trade and investment, energy including renewables, space, ICT, health and pharmaceuticals, education and capacity building, culture, tourism, youth and people-to-people exchanges, as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest. However, the real area of cooperation would be in maintaining international rules of law deep in the Indian Ocean. Brunei is located in the South China Sea region, where China has a significant presence and has been increasingly threatening the bordering countries with its coercive tactics. These issues were raised by the Indian PM in his meeting with his Counterpart on Darussalam.
The joint statement read, Both leaders reiterated their commitment to work closely together in mutually beneficial areas to further strengthen the ASEAN India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.Both leaders reiterated their commitment to maintaining and promoting peace, stability, maritime safety and security, as well as respecting freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpeded lawful commerce, consistent with international law, notably the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982. The leaders also urged all parties to resolve disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law, particularly UNCLOS 1982.
The first state visit by an Indian PM to Brunei just months after taking charge for a third time is a long-term strategic move to secure Indias interests for the future.
(The writer is a policy analyst, views are personal)
Eminent film critic, curator and author Aruna Vasudev, regarded as the 'mother of Asian cinema', died on Thursday morning at a hospital here due to age-related illness, her close friend Neerja Sarin said. She was 88.
Vasudev had been undergoing treatment at a multi-speciality hospital for the past three weeks.
"She was not keeping well for some time. She had Alzheimer's and was suffering from other old age-related health issues as well. She died at the hospital this morning," Sarin told PTI.
Vasudev was married to the late diplomat Sunil Roy Chowdhury. She is survived by her graphic designer-daughter Yamini Roy Chowdhury, wife of politician Varun Gandhi.
The last rites will be held at the Lodhi Road crematorium at 3 pm.
From her humble origins in pre-independent India and to the corridors of the cinematic universe, Vasudev wore many hats throughout her life as a critic, author, editor, painter, documentary maker, trustee, member of several panels and above all, the torch bearer of Asian cinema.
The Delhi-based scholar was the founder-editor of "Cinemaya: The Asian Film Quarterly". She is also credited with founding the internationally-renowned Netpac 29 years ago, a worldwide organisation to forward the cause of Asian films.
Social media was flooded with messages of condolences for Vasudev.
Veteran actor Shabana Azmi said she is "saddened" to hear about Vasudev's passing.
"She was the pioneer for making Asian films a genre to be talked about as a separate identity of its own. There are many laurels to her credit but I will always remember her for her warmth and radiant smile. Her observations were always insightful and I enjoyed being with her a lot. My condolences to her family. RIP dear dearest Aruna," Azmi wrote on Instagram.
Thank you for the movies, Aruna Vasudev, said film critic and author Namrata Joshi.
"Growing up 80s-90s Delhi, world cinemaspecially from Asia & the Arab worldfirst came home to us because of the ceaseless untiring efforts of Aruna and Latika Padgaonkar through their Cinefan film festival and Cinemaya magazine," Joshi wrote on X.
"Rest in Peace, Aruna Ma'am... Thank you for curating one of the best film festivals of Delhi. A lot of us were introduced to some of the finest world cinema because of you. #arunavasudev," posted filmmaker Sania Hashmi.
Vasudev has also directed or produced around 20 documentaries, and edited or co-edited several books, including a translation from French into English of Jean-Claude Carriere's "In Search of the Mahabharata: Notes of Travels in India with Peter Brook".
She was also the board member of Alliance Francaise de Delhi, a leading Indo-French cultural centre for French language and cultural immersion.
Vasudev studied at the Paris-based Institut des hautes etudes cinematographiques (Institute for Advanced Film Studies) and later obtained a PhD in cinema from the University of Paris, Sorbonne, and has had a long association with France.
Her contribution to cinema and arts was praised by the government of France, which felicitated her with some of the highest French cultural honours, including the Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters) in 2019 and Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) in 2002.
Neville Tuli, the founder of Tuli Research Centre for India Studies (TRIS), condoled the demise of his friend Vasudev, whom he described as the "epitome of a confident individuality rooted in a deep knowledge and appreciation for creativity, cinema, scholarship and genuine compassion".
"She carried her knowledge and leadership lightly, for it was a living energy, where her theory and practice had seamlessly fused into a daily ritual of frenetic creative thoughts, activities, and ways to communicate and support the building of a cinematic culture and awareness among one and all.
"Her thoughts were rooted in that rare desire to nurture the young & independent minded film enthusiasts who wanted to make cinema their life. Naturally, she did not suffer fools or mediocrity gladly," Tuli told
In a significant milestone to develop bilateral naval cooperation, the Indian Navy and the South African Navy have signed an Implementing Agreement that ensures the safety of the South African Navys submarine crew in times of distress or accident, navy said here on Wednesday.
Giving details, officials said the agreement was signed by Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, Chief of the South African Navy. The Implementing Agreement underscores a shared commitment to maritime safety and mutual support.
Under this agreement, the Indian Navy will provide assistance by deploying its Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) when required, further strengthening the collaborative ties between the two navies. This partnership reinforces the longstanding maritime relationship between India and South Africa.
Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladeshs interim Government, has said former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina making political remarks from India is an unfriendly gesture, asserting that she must remain silent to prevent the discomfort to both countries until Dhaka requests her extradition.
If India wants to keep her until the time Bangladesh (Government) wants her back, the condition would be that she has to keep quiet, he said.
In an interview with PTI at his official residence in Dhaka, Yunus, who was appointed the countrys Chief Adviser after Hasinas ouster, stressed that while Bangladesh values strong ties with India, New Delhi must move beyond the narrative that portrays every other political party except Awami League as Islamist and that the country will turn into Afghanistan without Sheikh Hasina.
No one is comfortable with her stance there in India because we want her back to try her. She is there in India and at times she is talking, which is problematic. Had she been quiet, we would have forgotten it; people would have also forgotten it as she would have been in her own world. But sitting in India, she is speaking and giving instructions. No one likes it, he said.
It is not good for us or for India. There is discomfort regarding it, he told PTI.
Yunus was apparently referring to Hasinas statement on August 13 in which she demanded justice, saying those involved in recent terror acts, killings and vandalism must be investigated, identified and punished. This has been the only statement made by Hasina after she fled. It was posted on her US-based son Sajeeb Wazed Joys X handle.
Following unprecedented anti-Government protests that peaked on August 5, Hasina resigned as Prime Minister and fled to India. Her presence in India for nearly four weeks has fuelled speculation in Bangladesh.
When asked whether Bangladesh has communicated its stance to India, Yunus said it has been conveyed verbally and quite firmly that she should keep quiet.
Everyone understands it. We have said quite firmly that she should keep quiet. This is an unfriendly gesture towards us; she has been given shelter there and she is campaigning from there. It is not that she has gone there on a normal course. She has fled following a peoples uprising and public anger, he said.
Yunus stated that the interim Government is committed to ensuring justice for the people of Bangladesh against the atrocities, and justice requires that she be brought back to the country. Yes, she has to be brought back or else the people of Bangladesh wont be at peace. The kind of atrocities she has committed, she has to be tried in front of everyone here, he emphasised.
Discussing the future of the India-Bangladesh relationship, Yunus expressed a desire for good ties with India but insisted that New Delhi must abandon the narrative that only Hasinas leadership ensures the countrys stability.
The way forward is for India to come out of the narrative. The narrative is that everybody is Islamist, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is Islamist, and everyone else is Islamist and will make this country into Afghanistan. And Bangladesh is in safe hands with Sheikh Hasina at the helm only. India is captivated by this narrative. India has to come out of this narrative. Bangladesh, like any other nation, is another neighbour, he said.
Referring to the recent incidents of alleged attacks on Hindu minorities in the country and India raising concerns about it, Yunus said this is just an excuse. The issue of trying to portray the conditions of minorities in such a big way is just an excuse, he said.
The minority Hindu population has faced vandalism of their businesses and properties, as well as the destruction of Hindu temples, during the student-led violence that erupted following the ouster of Hasina.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15, expressed hope that the situation in violence-hit Bangladesh would return to normal soon and stated that 1.4 billion Indians are concerned about the safety of Hindus and minorities in the neighbouring country.
The 84-year-old Nobel laureate emphasised the need for India and Bangladesh to work together to improve their currently strained relationship. When asked about ways to improve the Indo-Bangla relations, Yunus said both the countries need to work together and it is on a downhill presently.
We need to work together to improve this relationship, which is now at a low, he said.
Speaking about the future of bilateral treaties with India, Yunus said there are demands for a relook at certain treaties such as transit and the Adani electricity deal.
Everybody is saying it is needed. We will see what is on paper and, second, what is actually happening on the ground. I cant answer it specifically. If there is any need to review, we will then raise questions about it, he said.
The BNP has said if voted to power, it will review and re-evaluate the questionable Adani electricity deal signed during the Awami League regime, as it is putting tremendous pressure on the people of Bangladesh.
Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Russia and Ukraine to talk to each other to end the ongoing conflict and said India is ready to play an active role, President Vladimir Putin on Thursday named India among the three countries he is constantly in touch over the issue. He also said these countries are sincerely making efforts to resolve it.
Modi made these assertions during his talks with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his historic visit there on August 23. He conveyed to Zelenskyy that both Ukraine and Russia should sit together without wasting time to end the ongoing war and that India was ready to play an active role to restore peace in the region.
Modi also said he would even like to contribute personally for a peaceful resolution of the crisis.
His nearly nine-hour visit to Ukraine, the first by an Indian prime minister since its independence in 1991, came six weeks after he held summit talks with President Putin that triggered anguish in some Western countries.
As regards the latest development, PTI reported from Moscow, President Putin on Thursday named India among the three countries he is constantly in touch over the Ukraine conflict and said they are sincerely making efforts to resolve it, state-owned TASS news agency reported.
Reporting on his remarks at the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok, US media outlet Politico reported him as also saying, If there is a desire of Ukraine to carry on with the negotiations, I can do that.
Putins remarks came within two weeks after Prime Minister Modis historic visit to Ukraine where he held talks with President Zelenskyy.
We respect our friends and partners, who, I believe, sincerely seek to resolve all issues surrounding this conflict, primarily China, Brazil and India. I constantly keep in touch with our colleagues on this issue, Putin was quoted as saying by the Russian news agency.
Separately, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Izvestia daily that India could help in establishing a dialogue on Ukraine.
Underlining the existing highly constructive, even friendly relations between Modi and Putin, he said the Indian Prime Minister can lead the line on getting first-hand information from the participants in this conflict, as he freely communicates with Putin, with Zelenskyy, and with the Americans.
This gives a great opportunity for India to throw its weight in world affairs, to use its influence that would drive the Americans and Ukrainians towards using a greater political will and entering the peaceful settlement track, Peskov said.
He, however, said there are no specific plans on Modi mediating on the issue. At this time they can hardly exist, as we do not see any preconditions for talks for now, the Kremlin spokesman said.
In his talks with Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Modi said India was on the side of peace since the beginning of the conflict and he would even like to contribute personally for a peaceful resolution of the crisis.
A day after the BJP released its first list of 67 candidates for the October 5 Haryana Assembly elections, discontent among party leaders, including Ministers in the Nayab Saini Cabinet, flared up. Several leaders expressed their dissatisfaction, with several resigning from their posts on Thursday.
Among them were Haryana Energy Minister Ranjit Singh Chautala, Minister of State Bishamber Singh Balmiki, Ratia MLA Laxman Napa, former Ministers Karan Dev Kamboj, Kavita Jain, MP Savitri Jindal, MLA Lakshman Napa who had raised the banner of revolt. The rebel trouble for BJP started shortly after it came out with the first list of candidates as it left many sulking.
Interestingly, the BJP has named former prison official Sunil Sangwan who recommended parole for Dera Sacha Sauda chief and rape convict Ram Rahim six times on its list of candidates for next months Haryana Assembly election.
Sangwan will contest the Dadri seat which former BJP leader Somveer Sangwan won as an Independent in 2019 that was after the party favoured wrestler Babita Phogat over him.
Energy and Jail Minister Ranjit Singh Chautala (79), son of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal said he took a decision after a meeting with his supporters and will now enter the fray as an Independent. Ranjit Chautala called a meeting of his supporters after the party ignored his candidature from Rania segment in Sirsa district.I had good relations with them (BJP). They gave me the Lok Sabha ticket (from Hisar, which he fought unsuccessfully). But dont know on whose advice they have acted. I will say anyone who has given them this advice has caused damage to the party, Chautala said.
I am Chaudhary Devi Lals son. I have some stature... I have decided to contest as an Independent, he said, while adding he has resigned as a Minister and quit the BJP. Chautala was hoping to contest from Rania seat but the BJP fielded Shishpal Kamboj instead.
Ranjit had resigned as Independent MLA from Rania ahead of the Lok Sabha polls to join the BJP and fought the Hisar parliamentary seat unsuccessfully.
Napa, sitting MLA from Ratia reserve constituency in Fatehabad district resigned from the party on Thursday and hinted to join the Congress in New Delhi in the presence of Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Congress state president Udaibhan and other senior leaders of the Congress party. The party ignored him and announced former Sirsa MP Sunita Duggal from the Ratia (SC) seat.
After quitting the party, Napa met former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda at his residence in the national capital and later said he will be joining the Congress along with his supporters. Napa, in a letter to state party chief Mohan Lal Badoli shortly after the BJP put out the first list of 67 candidates for the polls, said he was resigning from the partys primary membership.
In another jolt to the BJP after it put out the first list of candidates, former minister Karan Dev Kamboj said he has resigned as state president of Haryana BJPs OBC Morcha and from all party posts he held. Kamboj, who was also a ticket hopeful but did not get it, said he had been serving the party over the years with dedication.
Perhaps the BJP does not need loyalists anymore, he said, adding the party is rewarding leaders with tickets who joined a day before while ignoring those who served it for years.
Savitri Jindal, BJPs Kurukshetra MP who is industrialist Naveen Jindals mother, announced that she would contest from Hisar. She was also seeking a ticket from the BJP to contest from Hisar, but the ruling party nominated its MLA and Minister Dr Kamal Gupta from the seat.
Bishamber Singh Balmiki, a Minister of State Social Justice, Empowerment, Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes and Antyodaya (SEWA) (Independent charge), also called a meeting of his supporters at his residence. The BJP ignored the sitting Bawani Khera MLA and instead nominated Kapur Valmiki from the SC reserved seat.
A few sitting legislators, including minister Sanjay Singh and former minister Sandeep Singh, do not figure in the first list of BJP candidates. From Ratia, the party has fielded former Sirsa MP Sunita Duggal. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Duggal was denied re-nomination from the Sirsa parliamentary constituency after former Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tanwar, who had joined BJP ahead of the LS polls, was given the ticket.Tanwar, however, lost to Congress veteran Kumari Selja.
Former Haryana minister and senior BJP leader Kavita Jain, a ticket hopeful from Sonipat, was also sulking after party fielded Nikhil Madan from the constituency.Addressing her supporters in Sonipat, she turned emotional, and said she had always worked as a dedicated soldier for her party and her candidature should have been considered.
The Delhi High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the challenges faced by residents of Delhis urbanised villages when it comes to the mutation (entry in revenue records) of their land.
This development comes after Supreme Court judge, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, along with Acting Chief Justice, Manmohan, visited Jaunti village in North-West Delhi pursuant to an event organised by Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) on August 10 focused upon addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by the remote and underdeveloped areas of Delhi.
During interaction with the judges, the villagers voiced concerns regarding the difficulties faced by them pertaining to mutation in the land records.
They said they wished to get their immovable properties inherited from ancestors mutated in their names in the land records as per law, but mutation applications with all the necessary documents attached gather dust endlessly in the concerned departments despite persistent efforts over the years, the aggrieved villagers complained.
Mutation is the process of changing the title of a property in the records of the local authorities.
A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela noted that the problem regarding the mutation of properties in Delhis urbanised villages has persisted for the last two decades after these villages turned into urban settlements.
The bench has issued notices to the Land & Development Officer (L&DO) of the Ministry of Urban Development, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Vice Chairman, Delhi Development Authority, Secretary (Revenue)/Development Commissioner, Delhi Government and Member-Secretary, Delhi State Legal Services Authority.
As against todays complex mutation process, a simple method known as Lal Dora was used in the past to demarcate the jurisdiction of a village on lands where populations resided.
When the population increased and villagers got a homestead plot against their scattered agricultural land holdings under the chakbandi scheme, the concept of extended Lal Dora was introduced.
As a result, thousands of people living in the Capital citys villages, both rural and urban, do not have clear ownership rights to their properties since the abadi area (the part of a village with residential structures when the rest is farmland) was earlier considered as one khasra, or plot of land.
To add to their woes, despite the division of land among the members of extended families, the names of the next generation inheritors were never entered in the revenue records.
In its order, the bench said The absence of a documentation mechanism by land-owning agencies post-urbanisation disproportionately affects the urban poor.
Lack of formal property rights evidence prevents access to credit facility for construction and renovation, and benefits from Government schemes or participation in land pooling policy of the Delhi Government. Such a legal vacuum disabling the villagers when it comes to managing their immovable properties prima facie violates their fundamental right under Article 21 and constitutional right under Article 300A of the Constitution of India, and, accordingly, needs to be addressed at the earliest by the concerned departments/government agencies, the court said.
The court observed there is complete absence of any law/policy/guidelines/rules whereby rights of mutation can be availed by the residents of such villages before the appropriate forum i.e. the concerned subsequent land-holding agency whether it be the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the Land and Development Office (L&DO) of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India or the Delhi Development Authority in case of such lands being notified as development areas under the provisions of Section 12 of the Delhi Development Authority Act, 1957.
The Bench noted that Section 507(a) of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act read with Section 150(3) of the Delhi Land Reforms Act, 1954 states that after a notification under these provisions, a Gram Sabha stands dissolved and the land gets vested in the Central Government. The court noted that as per a notification issued in 2019, the Delhi Governments Revenue Department ceased to maintain land records pertaining to urbanised areas as the concerned village or villages ceased to be a part of rural areas under the DMC Act and were included in the urban areas.
Delhi Education Minister Atishi on Thursday said that the Kejriwal-led Government is the only one that prioritises sending principals and teachers abroad for advanced training, rather than ministers and officers.
Atishi, while addressing the audience at the Delhi State Teachers Awards on Teachers Day, said that the Kejriwal government is the only one that sends principals and teachers abroad for training, rather than ministers and officers.She highlighted that over 400 principals and teachers have received training at prestigious institutions like Cambridge University, while 950 teachers have been trained at the National Institute of Education in Singapore and 1,700 teachers at IIM Ahmedabad.
In 2015, when Arvind Kejriwal became the Chief Minister of Delhi, education was never the priority of any government. Government schools were in a bad condition. Every family used to think that even if we have to sacrifice our livelihood, we will take our children out of government schools and educate them in private schools, said Atishi.
The Education Minister said that when Arvind Kejriwal became the Chief Minister of Delhi in 2015, he took a pledge that whether a child is from a rich family or a poor family, every child of Delhi will get world class education.
The result of this is that the Delhi government became the first government in the country to double the education budget in the first year itself. The budget of Rs 5000 crore was increased to Rs 10,000 crore. Delhi became the first government in the country to consistently spend the largest part of its budget, almost a quarter, on education. Which no other government in the country has done till date, she said.
Reflecting on her own background, the minister said, Both of my parents were teachers at Delhi University. I have a personal connection to this profession and understand the value of quality education.
She also emphasised the importance of respecting teachers and said, We have elevated teachers to the position of gurus and they are key to shaping future generations.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, on Wednesday, sought to corner Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath by citing a Supreme Court observation and asking whether the state government will now seek forgiveness for razing houses using bulldozers.
On Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths retort that it takes heart and mind and bulldozer-like resolve to run a bulldozer, Akhilesh added that a bulldozer does not have a brain, but has a steering.
Who knows when the people of Uttar Pradesh will change someones steering or when the people of Delhi will change someones steering, the SP chief said in a lighter note.
Akhilesh Yadav had on Tuesday said that the direction of the bulldozers would be turned towards Gorakhpur, the home district of the chief minister, after 2027, if the SP forms its government in the state.
Currently engaged in an exchange of barbs with the chief minister over the use of bulldozers, the Lok Sabha MP said the Supreme Court had observed that the bulldozer action was not constitutional.
Addressing reporters, Akhilesh Yadav remarked that the way the court has operated the bulldozer, the bulldozer cannot operate now.
He said the people used to scare others with bulldozers, used to demolish peoples houses in various places, and asked if the map of the chief ministers residence was approved by the competent authority?
Tell us when it was passed, show the papers. You deliberately ran the bulldozer on those with whom you wanted to take revenge, to humiliate them Yesterday the Supreme Court said that a bulldozer cannot be used. So, will the government apologise for the bulldozer operation that was going on till now or not? he asked.
He further said as far as heart and mind are concerned, I just want to say that there is no brain in a bulldozer, it is run by the steering. The people of Uttar Pradesh can change the steering of someones bulldozer
He said if Yogi Adityanath and his bulldozers were so successful, then he should form a separate party and contest elections with the bulldozer election symbol.
Your illusions and pride will be shattered. Anyway, in your current situation, even if you are in BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), you are as good as'no; you will have to form a separate party, if not today then tomorrow, he said.
As far as the bulldozer is concerned, think what kind of bulldozer has been run by the court that now the bulldozer cannot run. Those who used to scare people with bulldozers, used to demolish peoples houses at various places. This means that you deliberately ran the bulldozer to humiliate those you wanted to take revenge against and because of arrogance of power. Now, the result is that from the High Court to the Supreme Court, it can be said that the bulldozer is not constitutional but unconstitutional, Yadav said.
Under the popular museum series Exhibit of the Month of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, a traditional object is displayed in the appearance for a whole month.
The exhibit for the month of September 2024 Avujam- A Musical Instrument is on display in the indoor exhibition buildingVeethi Sankul. The 'exhibit of the month' was inaugurated by V.Ranganath, Additional Commissioner, Employees Provident Fund Organisation, Government of India Bhopal on the occasion many dignitaries were present. This object has been composed by Assistant keeper DrAshok Vardhan.On this occasion, the Director of the Museum, Amitabh Pandey welcomed V.Ranganath, Additional Commissioner by giving him a bouquet and honored him by presenting him the logo of the Museum.
About the exhibit displayed in the exhibition, Assistant keeper Dr Ashok Vardhan.said that the most important cultural object of Konda Reddies community is Avujam or Auzam, a percussion instrument in cylindrical shape with double membrane is collected during the fieldwork from the Urrinka village, of West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. It is the symbol and cultural identity of Konda Reddis without which no festivals or ceremonies are celebrated. It is said that if the village has more Avujams there will be more festivals. The elders of the village believe that the village community is united by this musical instrument. Avujam is played by the male and other members of the community join for the celebrations in the form of dance. While collecting all the materials for making Avujam, all the members must observe some norms, such as Upavasam means fasting, and take a head bath every day. For the collection of monkey skin, a special team is selected by the village headman.
Art and Craft:
The Konda Reddis are skilled artisan communities in preparation of domestic objects, basketry, and musical instruments. Their art and craft not only reflect their creative skills but also illustrate their cultural identity. Usage of bamboo has ritualistic, livelihood, domestic and nutritional significance in Konda Reddis.
DPS Ranchi celebrates Teachers' Day
Delhi Public School Ranchi was abuzz with excitement and gratitude as the teachers of Primary and Secondary Wing came together to celebrate Teachers' Day with unparalleled zeal and fervour. The day was commemorated with a series of heartwarming events and activities. The presence of teachers in their traditional finery marked the celebration. The occasion was presided over by Principal, Dr. R.K.Jha. The celebration started with lighting the auspicious lamp and paying homage to Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a philosopher and a great teacher known for his contribution to the Education System of India. Speaking on the occasion, Dr R K Jha said, Teachers nourish and prepare students for their future as they are the real icons of knowledge and wisdom. They create awareness among the students and common people. Our teachers are the true pillars of our success. A teachers determination and sincerity shapes the destiny of the nation.
Teachers' Day at Cambrian Public School
India is probably the first Country in the world where teachers are given the status of God. There are innumerable and wonderful examples of the Guru-Shishya tradition here, said Principal Dr. Neeta Pandey in the Teachers' Day celebration organized at Cambrian Public School, Kanke Road, Ranchi. Earlier, Chairman of the school management and chief guest of the program Pancham Singh and Anandmayi Singh inaugurated the program by garlanding the picture of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He said that teachers should discharge their duties with full honesty, so that twenty-first century India can establish its identity as a strong, powerful and best nation on the world stage. On this occasion, special guest Komal Singh, Vice Principal Premlata Kumari and other teachers were present.
Teacher's Day at DAV Hazaribag
Teachers Day Celebration was inaugurated by Praveen Ranjan District Education Officer Hazaribag, Sanjay Tiwari, Dinesh Khandelwal Vice Chairman, Kavita Pandey Principal In Charge , Sampa Srivastava, Kiran Mishra and Ravi Sinha. Kavita Pandey Principal In Charge of the school welcomed all and in her address she said that it was indeed a great moment for the school. She also made the people aware of the students ' remarkable achievements. Thereafter, she read out the message of Poonam Suri President DAV CMC , New Delhi. The Chief Guest Praveen Ranjan felicitated all teachers and in his address, he said that the students of DAV have been performing exceedingly well in scholastic as well as co scholastic activities which clearly reflect dedication, devotion and hard work of teaching faculty members. He also expressed his good wishes and said that teachers are always respectful; their work must be recognized every day as they build the society.
Teachers' Day at MGM HSS, Sector 4F
MGM Higher Secondary School, Sector 4F, Bokaro celebrated Teachers' Day on Thursday with great enthusiasm and reverence. Principal Father Dr. Joshi Varghese, along with the teachers and students, paid floral tributes to the portrait of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He emphasized the importance of teachers in guiding students from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge. He remarked that teachers not only impart academic education but also provide practical wisdom, showing students the path to success in life. He stressed that knowledge cannot be attained without a teacher, and therefore, students must always respect their gurus.
Grand Teachers' Day celebration at MAPS
Mithila Academy Public School, Sector 4/E, celebrated Teachers' Day with grandeur on Thursday. The event was graced by Surendra Kumar Jha, DIG, Bokaro, as the chief guest. The guests included Gyanesh Jha, CGM Vigilance & A.E.B.O, along with Chairman Hari Mohan Jha, Batohi Kumar, Secretary Pramod Kumar Jha Chandan and others. In their speeches, the chief guests emphasized the vital role of teachers and parents, stating that the first teachers in anyone's life are their parents. They also highlighted the ancient tradition of the Guru-Shishya relationship in India, where teachers are seen as creators and guides of knowledge, worthy of reverence. In a captivating theatrical performance, students portrayed the traditional stories of Eklavyaand Arjuna, showcasing the essence of the Guru-Shishya relationship.
Tribute to Mentors at PAS, Bokaro
Pentecostal Assembly School (PAS) Bokaro celebrated Teachers' Day with immense enthusiasm and appreciation, honouring the unwavering dedication of its educators. Dr. D.N. Prasad, Director, and Rita Prasad, Chief Academic Officer, highlighted the pivotal role of teachers in shaping future generations. School Vice-Captain Anurag Gupta delivered an emotional speech. Administrative Officer Daniel Michael Prasad and Principal Dr. Karuna Prasad recognized the tireless dedication of the teachers, encouraging students to honour and appreciate their mentors every day. The event was a touching tribute to the school's educators, making it a day to remember.
Loyola School celebrates Teachers' Day
Loyola School, Jamshedpur, hosted a heartfelt celebration on Thursday, in honour of Teachers, paying tribute to the invaluable contributions of its educators in shaping the minds and futures of students. The event was marked by a series of vibrant activities, highlighting the dedication and passion of the teaching staff. The event formally commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp and a prayer led by Rector Fr. K.M. Joseph, S.J. A lively interactive quiz brought added joy and engagement to the day, giving teachers and students an opportunity to bond in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. In his Vote of Thanks, Principal Fr. Vinod Fernandes, S.J., summed up the celebrations as a meaningful acknowledgment of the unwavering commitment of Loyola's teachers. He expressed deep gratitude for their tireless efforts in guiding and inspiring students every day.
Teachers Day celebrated at DAV, SEC IV
DAV, SEC IV, Bokaro celebrated Teachers' Day on Thursday with immense enthusiasm and joy. The day began with a special morning assembly led by the students of Grade IX, where they paid tribute to the great teacher Dr. S Radhakrishnan. In a heartwarming tradition, the students then took on the responsibilities of the teachers, symbolizing respect and admiration for the teaching profession. The celebration saw the presence of prominent figures, including B. S. Jaiswal as the chief guest and Brahmdeo, LMC member, as the guest of the day. Principal, Sarbendu Sekhar Kar, delivered a stirring address that further elevated the spirit of the event. He emphasized the importance of respecting teachers and praised the staff for their exceptional contribution to the school's continuous success. His leadership, vision, and compassion inspire both students and faculty to strive for excellence.
New Agriculture Policy, launching a One Time Settlement (OTS) scheme for outstanding debts, reviewing legal cases against farmer leaders were among the major decisions the Punjab Government arrived at on Thursday following the hours-long meeting with the farmers, who have been protesting in Chandigarh for the past four days. The sweeping decisions are aimed at addressing long-standing grievances and providing much-needed relief to the states beleaguered farmers.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann spearheaded the meeting, which brought together key stakeholders, including the representatives of farmer unions, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO, state DGP Gaurav Yadav, among others. The discussions resulted in a series of pivotal actions designed to tackle the challenges plaguing Punjabs agricultural sector.
The centerpiece of the meeting was the draft of the new Agriculture Policy. The State Government committed to sharing this draft with farmers and relevant departments by the end of September. The move will allow for a thorough review and incorporation of feedback from those directly affected by agricultural policies. The aim is to create a policy that genuinely addresses the needs of the farming community and fosters a more sustainable agricultural environment.
In a significant move to alleviate the financial strain on farmers, the Punjab Government also announced the introduction of a One Time Settlement (OTS) scheme for outstanding debts owed to cooperative banks. The initiative is expected to provide critical relief to many farmers who have struggled with debt, offering a path to financial stability and easing the burden of repayment. The OTS scheme is seen as a crucial step in addressing the ongoing agrarian crisis and supporting the states agricultural sector.
The meeting also focused on the legal challenges faced by farmer leaders who have been involved in protests. Chief Minister Mann directed the officials concerned to explore options for withdrawing cases against these leaders, aiming to resolve legal disputes and reduce tensions within the farming community. The move is intended to demonstrate the governments willingness to address the concerns of farmers and foster a more amicable resolution to ongoing conflicts.
In addition to these measures, the Punjab Government pledged to re-evaluate rejected compensation claims related to farmer suicides and address issues related to land encroachment on plots designated for distribution. The Chief Minister has set a timeline of three to six months to clear these encroachments and make the five marla plots available to deserving individuals.
Environmental concerns, including groundwater depletion, water pollution, and the condition of Buddha Nullah, were also discussed. The government assured that it is committed to addressing these issues to ensure sustainable farming and protect the livelihoods of farmers.
The meeting was conducted in a constructive and cooperative atmosphere, reflecting a shared commitment to resolving the issues facing Punjabs farmers. The Chief Ministers assurances coupled with the proposed reforms, marking a significant shift in the states approach to agricultural support and economic relief, came after four days of intense negotiations with farmers over eight critical issues.
The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) and the Khet Mazdoor Union have jointly organized a pakka morcha at Chandigarhs Sector 34. Farmers initially planned a march to the Punjab Assembly but ultimately staged a protest at Matka Chowk, where their demands were presented to the state Agriculture Minister, who assured them that their concerns would be addressed and relayed to Chief Minister Mann.
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Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Wednesday witnessed a dramatic escalation as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh stirred the Assembly by putting in dock his own partys government over the issue of inaction in the sensitive issue of sacrilege and related firing incidents.
Kunwar Vijay, a cop-turned-legislator, demanded a special one-day session to address the unresolved issues of sacrilege and the subsequent police firing incidents of 2015, besides calling for the tabling of Special Investigation Team (SIT) report, which investigates the police violence at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura the demands that underscored mounting frustration with the State Government's inaction.
His move not only ignited a fervent debate but also compelled Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to break his silence on this emotionally charged issue. Addressing the Assembly, Mann pledged that the State Government is unwavering in its commitment to deliver justice for the victims of sacrilege and the police violence that followed.
Mann revealed that new evidence has surfaced, prompting the State to prepare a fresh report that will be legally vetted to ensure thorough accountability. He promised no leniency towards the perpetrators highlighting a significant shift from the past administrations, which have been criticized for their perceived inadequacy in handling these grave issues.
The controversy dated back to 2015 when sacrilege incidents in Punjab led to massive protests and police firing incidents at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura. At the time, SAD-BJP combine government, led by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, was in power.
Punjab Vidhan Sabha had initially withdrawn the investigation from the CBI, opting instead for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. Kunwar Vijays demand for a special Assembly session emphasized ongoing dissatisfaction with the handling of these cases and the urgent need for transparency and accountability.
Kunwar Vijay criticized the former governments, including the Badal-led SAD-BJP government and the Capt Amarinder Singh led Congress administration, accusing them of mishandling the investigations, which contributed to the High Courts dismissal of the SIT report. Kunwar Vijay called for the SIT report to be tabled in the Assembly to ensure public scrutiny and facilitate a comprehensive debate on the issue.
He also highlighted the role of various officials, including ADGP Parmod Kumar and ADGP Arun Pal Singh, who were criticized for their lack of documentation during the SIT probe. He claimed that he was the only SIT member to write case diary on daily basis.
Those defending the culprits behind the sacrilege and inflicting atrocities on the protesters are no more part of the elected representatives of the HouseThe Wahegurus court has given them punishment. Justice must be given to Sikh sangat, he reminded his own government.
In addition to addressing sacrilege and police firing, Kunwar Vijay also highlighted the struggles of Punjabs farmers. Despite earlier promises, farmers continue to face significant challenges, including restrictions at the Shambu border. He urged the Assembly to extend its session to address both the sacrilege incidents and the broader issues affecting farmers.
He also renewed his call for legislation on Minimum Support Price (MSP), recalling election promises, made in the run up to Lok Sabha polls, to secure fair compensation for farmers. He stressed that the Punjab Assembly has the authority to create agricultural laws and called for prompt action to fulfill this critical promise.
Chief Minister Mann reiterated the government's resolve to pursue justice vigorously. He assured that the new report, incorporating recent findings, will be presented in the Court to build a strong case against those responsible for the sacrilege and police violence.
The report has already been sent by the State Government for legal vetting so that no one escapes the gallows for their involvement in this crime. The day is not far away when the culprits of this heinous crime will be seen behind barsUnlike the previous governments, we will not leave any stone unturned for this, he said.
A wanted criminal and prime accused in the daylight robbery at a jewellery shop in Sultanpur district was killed in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force in the early hours of Thursday, officials said.
Mangesh Yadav, who carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh, sustained serious injuries during the encounter and was admitted to the community health centre in Bhadhaiya where he succumbed to his injuries.
The police recovered a 32-bore pistol, cartridges, 315-bore pistol, a motorcycle and looted jewellery from the spot.
Mangesh, a native of Jaunpur, had several criminal cases registered against him.
The encounter, with the members of the gang which committed daylight robbery at Bharat Jewelers in Sultanpur town on August 28, took place in the Misirpur Puraina area of Kotwali Dehat, Sultanpur at around 3:25 am.
The operation was led by STF Deputy Superintendent of Police DK Shahi and Deputy Superintendent of Police Vimal Singh.
On August 28, five armed men had looted valuables worth over Rs 2 crore at gunpoint from a jewellery shop in broad daylight in Majorganj area in Sultanpur. The CCTV footage of the incident has surfaced online.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident took place at around 12 noon when five men, who came on two motorcycles, entered the showroom of jeweller Bharatji Soni. Three of them wore helmets and two had their faces covered with scarves. The police and UP STF were investigating the case. Mangesh Yadav was also involved in this robbery.
Earlier, the police had arrested three other criminals after an encounter.
On Thursday, the police received information about the location of three criminals from an informer. The police surrounded the area, leading to the shootout. During the exchange of fire, the police shot the three criminals in the legs. All three were arrested and admitted to the hospital.
According to the police, five criminals were involved in the robbery. Three of them have been arrested, one has been killed by the STF, and another is still being searched for.
Earlier, ADG Lucknow Zone announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh each on 11 dacoits involved in the jewellery robbery case. In an encounter near Godwa Inter College adjacent to the city on Tuesday morning, the police had arrested Sachin Singh and Pushpendra Singh, residents of Shahari Bhimi village of Peeparpur in Amethi, and Tribhuvan Kori alias Lala, a resident of Peeparpur village. They were involved in the bullion robbery case. These criminals had disclosed the names of 12 criminals of Amethi, Azamgarh, Rae Bareli, Jaunpur and Pratapgarh who were involved in the robbery. The gang leader, Vipin Singh of Bhawani Nagar police station Mohanganj in Amethi, is in jail after surrendering in Rae Bareli court on August 28.
Superintendent of Police Somen Burma said that seven teams were deployed to nab the criminals and recover the jewellery. Police are looking for these criminals.
The rewards were announced on Furkan alias Gujjar, Anuj Pratap Singh, Arbaaz, Vinay Shukla, all of Ashapuri police station Mohanganj district Amethi, Mangesh Yadav alias Kumbhe of Agaraura police station Buksa district Jaunpur, Ankit Yadav alias Shekhar, resident of Haripura police station Aspur Devsara district Pratapgarh, Ajay Yadav alias DM of Larpur police station Sigramau district Jaunpur, Arvind Yadav alias Fauji, of Chamradih police station Phulpur Azamgarh, Vivek Singh of Bhavani Nagar police station Mohanganj district Amethi, Durgesh Pratap Singh of Naya Purwa near Fire Station, Rae Bareli and an unknown criminal.
Deputy Commissioner Vijaya Jadhav conducted a review meeting to assess the progress of ongoing development projects within the Chas Municipal Corporation and Phusro Municipal Council here on Thursday. The meeting, held at the district Collectorate, was attended by key officials, including Deputy Development Commissioner Girja Shankar Prasad, DRDA Director Menka, Additional Municipal Commissioner Anant Kumar, and Additional Collector Mumtaz Ansari.
During the review, DC Jadhav emphasized the urgent need for malaria testing at camps organized under the "Aapki Yojana Aapki Sarkar Aapke Dwaar" (AYASAD) program. She instructed District Malaria Officer Dr. Renu Bharti to coordinate with the municipal administration to initiate this testing immediately.
The Deputy Commissioner expressed concern over the slow progress of the Chas Water Supply Project, instructing the Additional Municipal Commissioner to conduct a thorough review and accelerate the work. She also ordered the cleaning of intake wells and water towers to ensure proper water supply in the region.
Further focusing on revenue collection, Jadhav noted that only 50% of the revenue target had been achieved by Chas Municipal Corporation. She urged officials to intensify efforts and also directed anti-encroachment drives to continue regularly.
The Deputy Commissioner further stressed the need for biometric attendance for all municipal staff and criticized the poor maintenance of Amrut park calling for action against the responsible agency.
She concluded the meeting by reviewing plans for the sewage treatment plant and solid waste management, instructing officials to expedite land acquisition for these critical projects.
District Education superintendent (DSE) cum Right to Education (RTE) Nodal Officer for BPL admission in public schools has served show cause notice to16 prominent schools of Dhanbad for providing misleading number of seats available for admission in those schools to his office under BPL quota.
DSE Ayush Kumar said that by serving show cause to public schools we have asked to clarify the actual number of seats available for admission under BPL quota. DSE has clearly stated in the letter that the number of
vacancies (seats available. For admission ) is misleading in the report made available to his office as it has shown much fewer seats for BPL admission compared to actual number of seats available in totality from entry level class to class eight .
The schools served show cause notice include Tata DAV Public School -Sijua, DAV Public School- Mahuda, DAV Public School -Rangamati Sindri, DAV Public School- Koyla Nagar, DAV Public School -Alkusa, Delhi Public School -Dhanbad, DAV Public School -Munidih Project Dhanbad, Rajkamal Saraswati Vidya Mandir- Ashok Nagar, DAV Public School- Kusunda, Dhanbad City School, Dhanbad Public School -KG Ashram, Dhanbad Public School- Hirak Branch, Tata DAV Public School- Jamadoba, DAV Model Schools -CFRI Jharia, DAV Centenary Public School- Baniahirand Doon Public School Satkira Topchanchi.
According to DSE there appears to be a huge difference between numbers provided to the department as well as that were sent to U-Dias and CBSE. The report submitted by U Dias and CBSE revealed that these schools hid actual numbers sent to the department for BPL enrollment as fewer seats were made available for such admissions compared to reports sent to U Diad and CBSE.
The schools have been asked to clarify within the shortest possible time. The notice has been served after complaints of select parents in this regard.
In observance of World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, Jeevan, Suicide Prevention Centre, Jamshedpur, spearheaded a series of awareness initiatives in the city. Two educational institutionsRMS School, Khutadih, and DBMS College of Educationmobilized students and staff in a rally to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention. A total of 240 participants took to the streets, with 150 from RMS School and 90 from DBMS College, accompanied by dedicated volunteers from Jeevan.
Participants carried placards with powerful messages and chanted slogans emphasizing the importance of mental health, aiming to break the stigma surrounding it. Handbills containing the contact information for Jeevan's helpline were distributed among bystanders, encouraging those in need to reach out for help.
The rallies are just the beginning of a series of planned events across the city. On September 6, Dayanand Public School and JUSCO School Kadma will hold their rallies, followed by DBMS Career Academy and Vivek Vidyalaya, TELCO, on September 9. Arka Jain University will culminate the campaign with a rally on September 10, aligning with World Suicide Prevention Day.
Jeevan, a recognised pillar of support in the region, has consistently provided compassionate assistance to individuals grappling with mental health issues. The organisation stresses the crucial role of community involvement in promoting mental well-being and urges every citizen of Jharkhand to actively contribute to this cause.
For those facing mental health challenges or in need of emotional support, Jeevan offers a confidential and judgment-free helpline service, available every day from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The helpline, which operates throughout the year, ensures a safe space for individuals to seek help. Jeevan's services are entirely free of charge, and the helpline numbers are 9297777499 and 9297777500.
The Central government today informed the Jharkhand High Court that the situation of infiltration of Bangladeshis in Santhal Pargana is alarming. Due to this, the demography of the area is getting affected, it added.
Appearing for the Centre Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that the demography of the area is changing due to infiltration from Bangladesh. The decline in the percentage of tribal population is a serious issue, he said.
Hearing the PIL, a division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Arun Kumar Rai accepted Mehtas request and fixed the next hearing of this case on September 12.
Mehta also urged the court to remove IB from the list of respondents in this case, as it has many confidential information which cannot be made public. This PIL, filed by Jamshedpur resident Daniel Danish, says that Bangladeshi intruders are infiltrating in Jharkhand from border areas like Jamtara, Pakur, Godda, Sahibganj etc. This is having an egregious effect on the population of these districts. A large number of madrasas have also been established there. Bangladeshi migrants are even marrying local tribals.
In its earlier hearing on August 22, the court expressed displeasure over the non-filing of reply by the Centre, Intelligence Bureau, UIDAI and the BSF. The state government was ordered to identify the infiltrators with the help of Special Branch. The Deputy Commissioners of all the six districts of Santhal Pargana division were also asked not to issue Aadhaar cards, ration cards, voter cards, BPL cards without matching them with the land records. The court had also observed that it cannot be said that the documents procured on the basis of ration cards, voter cards or Aadhaar cards were legitimate. Owing to this, people are also being deprived of their rights in the public welfare schemes of the state government.
According to the data presented before the High Court citing the National Census, the tribal population in Santhal Pargana region has decreased from 44.67 per cent in 1951 to 28.11 per cent in 2011. A major reason behind this is Bangladeshi infiltration. If this trend continues, the situation will further aggravate, the Centre said.
Appearing on behalf of a social activist, Rajendra Krishna pointed out how the tribal population has been reduced to 28 per cent from 42 per cent in Santhal Pargana. He also cited the electoral list in which the number of voters has jumped 100 times to 300 times at several booths. A major reason behind this is Bangladeshi infiltration. If this process is not stopped, the situation will become serious, he said.
During the previous hearing, the state government was ordered to take action with the Special Branchs help to ensure infiltrators identification. Deputy Commissioners of all the six districts of Santhal Pargana division were also directed not to issue Aadhaar, ration, voter and BPL cards without matching them with the land records. The court had also said that it cannot be said that the documents based on which ration, voter or Aadhaar cards have been made are legitimate. Due to this, people are also being deprived of their rights in the public welfare schemes of the state government.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav emphasized the crucial role a Guru plays in our lives, explaining that the word "Guru" signifies one who guides us from darkness to light. He highlighted that former President of India, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, dedicated his birthday to honoring teachers.
While extending his Teacher's Day wishes to all educators across the state, Yadav praised their dedication to shaping a better generation through their diligent efforts. Speaking at the Teachers' Day function in Ujjain on Thursday, Dr. Yadav noted that Goswami Tulsidas contributed to establishing and honoring Hindi and Sanskrit as the primary languages of Indian society. He remarked that our dialects evolve into languages over time. He also acknowledged the significant contributions of noted litterateurs Madhavrao Sapre and Makhanlal Chaturvedi to the development of Hindi as a national language. Additionally, the Chief Minister congratulated the teachers who were honored on Teacher's Day.
Yadav was addressing the Shikshak Samman Samaroha-2024 organized at Government Higher Secondary School of Excellence, Madhav Nagar in Ujjain. Among those who were present on this occasion were Rajya Sabha MP Balayogi Umeshnath Ji Maharaj, MLA Anil Jain Kaluheda, MLA Ghatitaya area Satish Malviya, Bahadur Singh Bormundla, Local Corporator Durga Shakti Singh Choudhary, public representatives, School Education Secretary Dr. Sanjay Goyal, Commissioner of Public Instructions, Shilpa Gupta, Divisional Commissioner Sanjay Gupta, Collector Neeraj Kumar Singh and other officers.
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav explained that the word "Guru" originates from Sanskrit, emphasizing that by upholding the Guru-Shishya tradition, we remain connected to Sanatan culture. He highlighted the Guru's vital role in guiding us from darkness to light and stressed that a Guru's wisdom is essential for transforming bad governance into good governance. Dr. Yadav also expressed his satisfaction with the government's decision to rename the title of Kulpati (Vice Chancellor) to Kulguru.
Teachers of Ujjain district who gave 100 percent results in high school and higher secondary board examinations were honored by Chief Minister Dr. Yadav with shawls, shriphal, and certificates. Besides, 11 ISO-certified cluster principals of Ujjain were also honored with ISO certificates.
In his address, while remembering former President Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Chief Minister Dr. Yadav noted that dialects gradually evolve into full-fledged languages. He remarked that Hindi has undergone significant development over the past thousand years. The Chief Minister highlighted that, despite being a Sanskrit scholar, Goswami Tulsidas played a crucial role in establishing Hindi as the language of society. By composing the Ramcharitmanas in Hindi, Tulsidas ji brought the Ramayana into every home.
Reflecting on his father, Chief Minister Yadav shared that while the body is mortal, his father taught him the importance of making good use of time by following the path of truth. The Chief Minister extended his warm wishes to all the teachers present at the event on the occasion of Teachers Day. He also took a group photograph with the teachers during the programme.
Yadavs was heard at the Teachers Day function organized at the Government Subhash Higher Secondary School of Excellence, Shivaji Nagar and Bhopal besides several other places in the state. Also, a large number of teachers and students heard his address on various social media platforms.
In an effort to make process of buying and taking possession of a Delhi Delhi Development Authority (DDA) flat a hassle free experience, it has started providing a plush folder containing all relevant papers printed out in a thicker bond. Earlier, the flat buyers would only get a piece of loose paper as possession letter upon buying their flats, a statement officials said here on said.
It also said this initiative was taken by Delhi Lt Governor(LG)V K Saxena. The Lt. Governor, in his varied interactions, found the lack of papers their non-availability, them being disputed, them having got lost, etc. as one of the prime woes afflicting various individuals, groups and processes of DDA. He had accordingly directed DDA to prepare a folder containing not only possession letter but all relevant documents to be handed over to the buyers.
While directly supervising the roll out of the DDA Housing Schemes since last year, Saxena had directed DDA to address this issue in a suitable manner. He has underlined that buying a house or property was an important, once in a life time occasion for most of the buyers and the same should be dealt as a special and memorable occasion for the buyer by the DDA. He had invited attention of the officials to the practice being followed by renowned builders in this regard.
Accordingly, DDA has now decided to hand over the flat documents in a customized folder. The folder will contain all relevant documents that include demand-cum-allotment letter (DAL), payment receipt, possession letter (PL), NOC for water and electricity, possession Slip, RERA registration certificate and layout plan. This will facilitate getting all documents at one place rather than approaching various departments of DDA.
On directions of the Lt. Governor, the DDA has also introduced a new format of Possession Slip that has the picture of the flat buyer / allottee being handed over the possession letter at the site, printed on it.
In a heartfelt display of gratitude, candidates who received their appointment letters at the Lok Bhavan auditorium on Wednesday collectively thanked Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for playing a pivotal role in their success.
The newly-appointed individuals attributed their achievements to the chief ministers efforts in ensuring a transparent and fair recruitment process.
Reflecting on the changes since 2017, the candidates highlighted the stark contrast between the pre-2017 era, characterised by nepotism, corruption and discrimination, and the current system under CM Yogis leadership, which they described as transparent and merit-based.
Rukhsana Bano from Kanpur, recently appointed as a Civil Engineer in the Housing and Development Council, expressed her deep gratitude to CM Yogi. She praised the government for conducting a recruitment process free from discrimination, emphasising that her selection was based solely on merit, not religion or caste.
This government has rewarded our hard work and honesty. If you are qualified and capable, securing a government job is not difficult, she remarked.
Vishnu Dutt Tripathi, who secured the position of junior engineer (civil) in the Rural Engineering Department, shared similar sentiments. He highlighted the governments success in providing opportunities to individuals from rural areas, like himself, through a transparent selection process.
Coming from a rural background, I have achieved a government job due to the fairness of this governments appointment process. I sincerely thank the chief minister for this opportunity, Tripathi said.
Anuj Kumar Gupta, hailing from Bihar and newly-appointed as a junior engineer in the Minor Irrigation Department, praised the governments dedication to the youth. He pointed to the days event as direct evidence of this commitment.
Through a fair and transparent process, the youth are receiving appointment letters. I vow to work with honesty and impartiality in my role, and I hope this government continues to be in power so that more opportunities could be provided to the youth, he said.
Harikant from Ayodhya district, now a junior engineer in the Agriculture Department, reflected on the challenges faced under the previous administration. He noted that many deserving candidates, like himself, were previously denied opportunities due to nepotism.
The Yogi government has recognised the hard work of thousands of young people and awarded appointments based on merit. For that, I am profoundly grateful, Harikant shared.
Mridul Sharma, a resident of Bijnor, shared his joy after being appointed as a junior engineer (civil) in the Rural Engineering Department.
After completing my diploma in civil engineering, I aspired to secure a government job. The commission conducted the examination in a completely fair and transparent manner, and I am grateful to the government and the chief minister for this opportunity. I look forward to contributing to the development of Uttar Pradesh in my new role, Sharma stated.
Govindpura police have nabbed a contractor who blackmailed a senior officer (DGM) of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) Bhopal, a honey trap was laid by a scrap contractor.
The officer was made to meet two women in a hotel. The video of this was recorded and later the accused demanded Rs 25 lakh by threatening to upload the video on social media.
Despite taking Rs 2.5 lakh in two installments, the contractor kept demanding money. Frustrated, the officer filed a case against the accused in Govindpura police station on Tuesday. The police have taken the accused into custody and started questioning him.
The police said that the victim officer lives in Govindpura area. The accused Shashank Verma, a resident of Saket Nagar, takes scrap contracts in BHEL and PWD. Both of them used to meet in this connection.
During a party, the contractor introduced the officer to two women. He also exchanged phone numbers with one of the women. He assured that the woman was trustworthy. If the officer makes a relationship with the woman, she will keep it confidential.
After taking the officer into confidence, Shashank arranged a room in a hotel on August 4. Here, the woman was sent to the officer. Videos were recorded using the hidden camera installed in the room. A few days later, on August 14, Shashank introduced another woman to the officer, claiming to be Russian national.
This time too, he arranged a room in a hotel. Like before, he set up hidden cameras in the room. Here, once again, he made an obscene video of the woman and the complainant.
The officer registered a case against the accused in Govindpura police station on Tuesday.
On August 14 itself, Shashank showed the officer videos and photos and demanded Rs 25 lakh. On refusing to accept the demand, he threatened that he would upload the videos on social media. After this, he talked about giving the money in installments. He took Rs 1 lakh in cash as the first installment. Then he took another 50 thousand rupees.
On August 30, Shashank demanded Rs 5 lakh rupees from the officer. Took him to Jabalpur in a car. Here, he made him transfer Rs 1 lakh online. Then left him on the condition that he would pay the remaining Rs 22.50 lakh in 10 days. After this, the officer came to Bhopal and complained to the police.
The BHEL officer told the police that the accused Shashank claimed to have 27 videos. Deepak had come to drop the woman whom he had sent to a hotel on Hoshangabad Road by claiming to be Russian. The girl had also returned with him. This incident happened on August 14.
"On August 15, Shashank demanded money, but I refused. After this, I received a call on my mobile number from a young man who introduced himself as a crime branch officer. He pressurized me to give the money to Shashank if I wanted to avoid the rape case. The caller also alleged that I had beaten the call girl, due to which she suffered serious injuries whereas I have not done so' he claimed.
DCP Shraddha Tiwari said that the police are also looking for the accused women Mamta Dwivedi and Pooja Rajput along with an alleged policeman of the Crime Branch. The other accused Deepak Bhagore met the alleged Russian girl as a broker. However, at present there is no evidence that either of them is a foreigner. At the same time, the court has handed over the honeytrap accused Shashank Verma to police remand till September 6.
President Draupadi Murmu awarded the National Teacher Award 2024 to seven state teachers during a ceremony at Vigyan Bhavan. Honorees included Sunita Godha, Madhav Prasad Patel, and unita Gupta from the Department of School Education and Literacy; Prof. Neelabh Tiwari and Prof. Kapil Ahuja from the Department of Higher Education; and Premlata Rahangdale and Prashant Dixit, who were recognized by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
Sunita Godha was recognized for fostering a positive environment at Government High School, Khajuria Sarang, District Mandsaur. She has cultivated a welcoming classroom atmosphere through engaging assignments and activities, which have improved student attendance. Godha consistently conducted parent-teacher meetings (PTMs), provided individual attention to students, and dedicated herself to increasing enrollment among students with special needs and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Madhav Prasad Patel is a science teacher at Government Naveen Madhyamik School, Lidhora, District Damoh. He has built a science wall in his school where students can display their curiosity. To develop the habit of reading in rural communities, he has started a mobile library by carrying books on a motorcycle. Through learning boards and khet pathshala, he has taken education beyond the classroom.
Sunita Gupta, a Mathematics teacher at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in District Dindori, has made the subject more accessible by creating low-cost teaching materials and utilizing animated videos and technology. She has developed e-content and video scripts for platforms like DIKSHA and SWAYAM, enhancing the understanding of solid shapes.
Neelabh Tiwari, Head of the Education Department at Rashtriya Sanskrit Sanstha, Bhopal, has been teaching for 18 years and has made notable contributions to the National Education Policy 2020. He edited 34 books and authored 37 research papers, significantly advancing the psychology and curriculum development of Indian knowledge traditions in Sanskrit studies and education.
Prof. Kapil Ahuja of IIT Indore has 14 years of experience in teaching in the US. Along with research and investigation in computer science and engineering, he has given new dimensions to education by starting the first MS course in IIT. He has also been awarded the Best Teacher Award four times by IIT Indore.
Training Officer of Bhopal's Divisional ITI, Premlata Rahangdale has imparted skill training to visually impaired students in Computer Operator and Programming Assistant trade. With her effective guidance, many ITI students have made their career in reputed institutions like railways and banks.
Punjab Vidhan Sabhas three-day monsoon session wrapped up on a decisive note on Wednesday with three of the total four significant bills tabled including The Punjab Fire and Emergency Service Bill, 2024 and The Punjab Panchayati Raj (amendment) Bill, 2024 being unanimously passed.
One of the major highlights was the passage of the Punjab Fire and Emergency Services Bill, 2024, presented by Local Bodies Minister Balkar Singh. The bill introduced critical amendments, particularly in the recruitment criteria for women in the state fire department. Traditionally, the physical test for entry into the fire services mandated both male and female candidates to carry a 60-kilogram sack as part of their endurance test. However, this stringent requirement has long been a barrier for many aspiring female firefighters, with several candidates failing to meet the physical standards despite passing the written examinations.
In response to these challenges, the new Bill reduces the required weight to 40 kilograms for female candidates, making Punjab the first state in India to implement such a change.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, addressing the House, emphasized the importance of this reform, describing it as a crucial step towards womens empowerment. This bill was a necessity, Mann stated, as the previous regulations were outdated and presented unnecessary challenges for women eager to serve their communities.
He further highlighted that the states fire brigades will be upgraded with the latest equipment and vehicles, modeled on those used in New York City, to better respond to emergencies in Punjabs increasingly urbanized environment.
The session also saw the introduction of the Punjab Panchayati Raj Amendment Bill, 2024, which was brought forward by Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar. The bill aimed at promoting consensus-based governance in rural areas by providing a financial incentive to panchayats that are elected unanimously. Under this new law, villages that achieve consensus in electing their panchayats will receive a grant of Rs five lakh. In addition, it also bars the contesting leaders to use party symbols to contest panchayat elections.
Articulating the rationale behind the Bill, the Chief Minister noted that elections conducted without party symbols can help reduce factionalism and promote the holistic development of villages. He recounted a story to underline the significance of unity in panchayat elections, pointing out that consensual elections would save substantial amounts of money, which could be better utilized for village development rather than election expenses.
In addition to these two bills, the assembly also passed the Punjab Goods and Services Tax Amendment Bill, 2024. Introduced by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, this Bill aimed at refining the states GST regime, making it more taxpayer-friendly while ensuring better compliance. Key amendments include the exclusion of Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA) used for manufacturing liquor from the GST purview, allowing it to be taxed under VAT instead. The bill also offered significant relief to taxpayers, including an amnesty scheme for outstanding tax demands from the financial years 2017-18 to 2019-20, provided full payment is made by March 31, 2025.
Furthermore, the Bill extended the deadline for filing returns to avail of input tax credit (ITC) for past financial years, simplifying procedures for businesses. Cheema praised these reforms, asserting that they are designed to enhance the ease of doing business in Punjab.
He criticized the previous governments for their failure to address the states fiscal challenges, contrasting this with the current administrations proactive measures, which have already led to a noticeable increase in GST collections.
Besides, the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Amendment Bill, 2024, introduced by Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian, was also passed with majority without much discussion.
NEW AGRI POLICY SOON: CM MANN
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday unveiled plans to draft a comprehensive agriculture policy, emphasizing a collaborative approach with all stakeholders. Addressing the House on the third and concluding day of the monsoon session, Mann highlighted that the policy, which is nearing completion, will soon be discussed with shareholders.
He underscored the importance of engaging with farmers to ensure that the policy effectively addresses their needs and concerns. Mann criticized the Union Government for enacting laws without proper consultation, referencing the controversial repeal of three laws that had been enacted without adequate stakeholder engagement.
To enhance industrial growth, Mann also announced the formation of an Industrial Advisory Commission, including leading industrialists, and to be chaired by a Cabinet-rank official.
The commission is set to offer expert advice on industrial policy, continuing the states commitment to integrating industry feedback into policy-making, said Mann, assuring that this approach mirrors the successful implementation of the states industrial policy, which was also developed through extensive consultations with industrial leaders.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the success of the One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme for pending VAT cases, which has yielded an additional Rs 164 crore for the state. Mann criticized previous regimes for ineffective OTS schemes that failed to benefit anyone and expressed his commitment to introducing new OTS schemes in the near future. On the issue of DAP shortage, Mann revealed that he recently discussed the DAP (Diammonium Phosphate) allocation issue with the Union Minister JP Nadda. He informed Nadda that Punjab had contributed 120 lakh metric tons to the central pool but had yet to receive its allotted DAP quota. Nadda advised Mann to send officials to Delhi to resolve the issue. After which our minister and officers had gone to the national capital. Taking aim on the opposition, Mann advised Congress MLA Sandeep Jakhar to first gather accurate information and inform his unclereferring to Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar emphasizing that incomplete knowledge can be misleading.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Thursday, hailed the construction of the Ramanathaswamy temple here as a significant contribution to strengthening the vision of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.
The chief minister commenced his Ayodhya visit on Thursday by participating in the Maha Kumbhabhishekam and prana pratishtha ceremony of the Ramanathaswamy temple. After offering prayers at the newly-consecrated Shivalinga of Lord Mahadev, Yogi performed the circumambulation ritual at this South Indian-style temple.
He expressed joy over the establishment of the temple, emphasising the deep historical connection between Ayodhya dham and Tamil Nadu, a relationship that has endured for thousands of years.
He said, Thousands of years ago, when Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram set out to search for Mother Sita in Sri Lanka, he worshipped Lord Shiva after building the bridge in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu.
According to Chief Minister Yogi, this serves as a reminder of Indias unity, where spiritual consciousness continues to rise. He remarked that these efforts are aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modis Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat vision, further reinforcing the idea of national oneness.
He also highlighted that India has always been unified from North to South and East to West, with the countrys scriptures and holy sites serving as enduring proofs. Governments may have changed over time, but the nations saints have always upheld the strength and continuity of the spiritual traditions of India, he remarked.
Referring to the Kashi Tamil Sangamam, two editions of which have been successfully held in Varanasi, Yogi noted that following Kashi, Ayodhya dham had now also forged a connection with Tamil Nadu, thanks to Ayyajis efforts.
He emphasised that while organisations like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Vishwa Hindu Parishad work tirelessly to unify the nation, some individuals attempt to divide the country for short-sighted political gains. In this context, the temples establishment marks a significant step towards realising the vision of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat, he said.
Chief Minister Yogi highlighted that Ayyajis efforts for national unity mirror the work done by a Tamil Nadu monk centuries ago, who played a pivotal role in uniting Sanatan dharma under one thread.
Yogi emphasised that Ayodhya dham was poised to become a beacon of inspiration and a spiritual centre for the followers of Sanatan dharma worldwide. It will become one of the most spiritual and beautiful cities globally with renewed energy, he said, adding that the citys transformation will serve as a new guiding light.
RSS Sar Karyavahak Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi, Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, spiritual saint Ayya ji, Ayodhya Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi, zila panchayat chairperson Roli Singh, MLA Ved Prakash Gupta, Mahant Kamal Nayan Das, Swami Ram Sharan Das, Mahant Awadhesh Das, Jagat Guru Dineshacharya and saints from Tamil Nadu, local public representatives and other dignitaries were present in the programme. Yogi and Bhaiyyaji Joshi were also presented with angavastram and memento during the programme.
Earlier, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who arrived in Ayodhya on a one-day visit on Thursday, offered prayers to Lord Hanuman and worshipped Ram Lalla at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple.
Despite his busy schedule, the chief minister also visited the Shri Ram Gaushala Samiti on Karsevakpuram Parikrama Marg, where he personally fed and cared for the cows, demonstrating his commitment to cow protection. He also planted trees on the Karsevakpuram campus, promoting environmental conservation.
He also visited Ram Katha Park before heading to the newly established Sri Ramanathaswamy temple in Ramsevakpuram. The chief minister also took part in the Bharatatma Ashok Ji Singhal Veda Award-2024 distribution function held at Karsevakpuram.
Earlier, Chief Minister Yogi had visited Ayodhya on August 6 and offered prayers to Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman and reviewed the ongoing development projects in the city. During that visit, he also inspected various development and construction works underway for Ayodhyas progress.
Students of Sarojini Naidu Girls School (Nutan School) protested on Wednesday and raised slogans against the school management and also vandalized the school, during the protest 15 students fainted.
The students allege, 'If they come late, the school's HR manager Varsha Jha makes them clean and cut the grass.' Education department officials and Congress MLA Arif Masood also reached the spot. Witnessing the uproar increasing, HR manager Varsha Jha was removed from the school.
Varsha Jha is a retired captain from the army. She was appointed HR and estate manager by the open school just a month ago. During the protest, angry students broke Jha's name plate and trampled it with their feet. The students claimed that they want the army rules to be followed in the school. They give punishments accordingly.
School principal Malini Verma said that the students are angry with Varsha and not with other teachers. After persuasion, the students ended the protest.
The students vandalized the school. They also broke coolers and fans.
The unconscious students were taken to the hospital in MLA Arif Masood's car.
The protesting student Kusum said, "There is a madam who makes us stand outside if we reach school even a minute late. She treats everyone badly. She says don't argue with us. She harasses all the students. Sometimes even the parents are not allowed to come to the school.
The students said that if they come late to school, they make them sweep and mop the school. They make them collect the garbage. They keep our bangles and don't even return them. They threaten to give us a Transfer Certificate if we wander around.
On getting the news of the fight in the school, many parents also reached there.
Mother of student Komal said that she got a call that there is a fight going on in the school. Some teachers are beating. I immediately reached the school. When I saw it there, there was a huge crowd. My daughter's health had deteriorated. She had fainted and I immediately brought her to the hospital.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday retorted sharply to Akhilesh Yadavs warning that he will after 2027 order all bulldozers to Gorakhpur the home district of the chief minister saying not everyone has the heart and character to handle a bulldozer.
It requires a strong heart and mind along with the strength of a bulldozer to operate one. Those who yield to rioters cannot run a bulldozer as their hands wouldn't measure up, the chief minister said at a function in which he distributed appointment letters to 1,334 junior engineers, computer operators,and foremen here.
Yogi Adityanath made this remark responding to Akhilesh Yadavs comment on Tuesday in which the Samajwadi Party chief said as soon as the Samajwadi government is formed in 2027, the bulldozers of the entire state will head towards Gorakhpur.
CM Yogi Adityanath said, Today these people have come back in a new form to mislead the public. Not everyones hands can fit on a bulldozer. It requires both heart and mind. Only someone who has a bulldozer-like capability and determination can operate it. Those who grovel before the rioters will not be able to stand in front of a bulldozer.
Emphasising that Rozgar Melas and the transparent recruitment process of the Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission ensured equal opportunities for all, the chief minister said candidates from every district were represented among those appointed, with no distinctions made on the basis of caste or region.
Talent and reservation rules were strictly followed in the selection process, instilling confidence in the integrity of the system, he added.
The chief minister pointed out that the youth were previously denied appointment letters because the Chacha and Bhatija were more concerned with outdoing each other in grabbing the bigger share of extortion, rather than having clear and honest intentions.
He drew a parallel between the havoc caused by these leaders and the chaos currently being inflicted by man-eating wolves in various districts, likening it to the state of affairs before 2017.
It is worth mentioning that under Chief Minister Yogis leadership, the past seven and a half years have seen a transformation in the appointment process. Conducted with transparency and fairness, this process has made over 6.5 lakh government appointments, a feat that was unimaginable seven years ago. This commitment to merit has allowed Uttar Pradesh to harness the energy and talent of its youth, propelling the state from a perceived hindrance to rapid advancement and the growth engine of India's development.
Seven and a half years ago, this state had the seventh-largest economy in the country; today, it ranks second-largest. If our personnel work with equal dedication and apply the same level of transparency, integrity, and honesty to the appointment process, Uttar Pradesh can become the number one economy in the next three to four years, Yogi remarked.
Achieving this status means every hand will find work, every face will wear a smile, every daughter will be safe, every businessman will be respected, the farmers who feed us will be content, and prosperity will abound, he added.
Chief Minister Yogi urged the newly appointed candidates to uphold the same transparency in their work that the state government has demonstrated in its appointment process. He emphasised the importance of avoiding delays in public-related tasks, highlighting the need to achieve the goal of ease of living.
When the current administration took office, Uttar Pradesh ranked 14th in ease of business; today, it stands as an achiever state. Through various reforms, the state has made significant progress, transforming it from a place where no one wanted to invest into a destination that has received investment proposals worth Rs 40 lakh crore. These investments are expected to create jobs for 1.5 crore youth, revive traditional enterprises previously shuttered due to riots, and expand employment opportunities. Chief Minister Yogi stated further.
On this occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, cabinet ministers Swatantra Dev Singh and Om Prakash Rajbhar, ministers of state Brajesh Singh, Baldev Singh Aulakh, Ramkesh Nishad, Vijayalakshmi Gautam and Rakesh Rathore Guru, Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh and other officers were present.
The Delhi police on Thursday formed several teams to nab the bike-borne miscreants who allegedly killed a property dealer and injured two others after opening fire in Outer Delhis Narela area.
According to the police, the deceased has been identified as Manish, the owner of the Veer Properties, and the injured as Praveen and Kulbir. After the incident that took place on Wednesday night, the accused fled from the spot after opening fire indiscriminately.
A senior police officer said, In the initial investigation, the motive behind the crime could be money and land. There is no evidence of any gang being involved. If police sources are to be believed, there was an old quarrel with someone named Ashish living in the area. Ashish had come with his friend Deepak and others.
He added that the search for them is going on and said that Ashish is the owner of Shri Shyam Stock (Building Material). In the initial investigation, the police came to know that the deceased and his two companions were sitting in the office and talking. At that time, masked miscreants entered the office and started firing indiscriminately. The miscreants had come to kill the property dealer, on whom they fired several bullets. The miscreants knew who all were sitting in the office.
The police are trying to take statements of the injured.
Police have seized the footage of CCTV cameras from the crime scene, through which efforts are being made to identify the accused.
Police have registered a case against the accused. Local police and special staff teams have been entrusted with the task of arresting the accused, another police officer said.
According to the information, Narela Police received a PCR call about firing on Gonda Road in Swatantrata Nagar at around 8.15 pm.
Police reached the spot. Three injured were immediately admitted to the nearest hospital. Doctors declared one of them dead and said that the condition of his two companions was critical. They were shot from close range, he said.
Further, the police added that according to the preliminary investigation, there was a heated argument between the victims and the accused over some money pending with the deceased.
The accused had supplied construction material to a site and the deceaseds payment was pending.
After the quarrel, the accused opened fire on the victims in their office. The accused are being traced and their criminal involvement and gang affiliation is being verified.
After meeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia are likely to contest the Haryana Assembly Elections from Julana and Badli seats, respectively as Congress candidates. The party put out a photograph of Rahul Gandhi with Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia on its official X handle.
The names will be cleared by the Congress Central Election Committee anytime now.
The Congress CEC has approved candidates in 66 of 90 seats so far. Former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Lok Sabha MP Kumari Selja and Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala kept pushing the names of their nominees till the last moment, delaying the list.
Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat were part of the protest over sexual harassment allegations against former BJP MP and then Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in 2023. Ever since Phogat returned to India from the Paris Olympics, she has been seen with Congress leaders. Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda was the first political leader to reach IGI Airport in Delhi to welcome her with a Hanuman Gada, a symbol of victory. Phogat had also met former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda who had said that the Congress welcomes everyone who wants to join the party.
Talking to reporters, AICC in charge of Haryana Dipak Babaria said that so far, the partys central election committee has been able to clear 66 out of the total 90 assembly seats through consensus but no agreement could be reached on the remaining 24 seats. We have held two rounds of the CEC and have finalised 66 of the 90 seats. The remaining seats have been referred to a review committee which will resolve the matter soon, Babaria.
The delay is also because of the talks of an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party in Haryana. AAP MP Raghav Chadha held talks with Deepak Babaria to explore possibilities of finding a common ground.
"We are exploring possibilities for an understanding. I believe that things cannot proceed unless it is a win-win situation for both parties. So we are looking for a meeting point," Babaria told reporters. Asked how many seats the Congress could give the AAP as part of a deal, he said it would be a "small number" in "single digit".
Babaria also said the CPI(M) and the Samajwadi Party have also put forward a proposal and are expecting to work with the Congress in an alliance.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Thursday, reiterated that Sanatan dharma is the singular true religion, emphasising that any threat to it poses a danger to humanity as a whole.
He further noted that if Sanatan dharma remains on a path of safety and prosperity, it will pave the way for the betterment of global humanity.
Addressing the Bharatatma Ashok Singhal Veda Award-2024 ceremony hosted by the Singhal Foundation in Ayodhya, the chief minister praised Ashok Singhals contributions to Sanatan dharma as a preacher of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
He said: The revered Ashok Singhal ji had taken an engineering degree from Kashi (Banaras) Hindu University, but his life was dedicated to Sanatan dharma. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi movement and Ashok Singhal were complementary to each other.
Yogi added, The impact of his contributions to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi movement was evident on January 22, 2024, when the most significant event of this century took place. On that day, Lord Shri Ram Lalla was enthroned in the magnificent temple by Prime Minister Narendra Modis own hands. When dedication is genuine, the results follow.
Yogi emphasised that Ram Lallas consecration in Ayodhya marks the end of slavery in India.
He remarked further: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has presented a vision of a developed India. It is each persons responsibility to prioritise their civic duties over their rights for the betterment of the country and Sanatan dharma.
Furthermore, Chief Minister Yogi praised Singhals unparalleled efforts for the uplift of the untouchables, noting that the Veda Vidyalaya and Ekal Vidyalaya he established were integral to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
He emphasised that the Vedas represent the fundamental origin of all global religions, and Ashok Singhal had truly embodied this significance in his life.
Chief Minister Yogi also mentioned that Sundar Yadav, a cow protector, was murdered by cow smugglers in Azamgarh, and the subsequent movement led by Ashok Singhal resulted in the arrest of Yadavs killers.
He stated that Indias prestige is deeply rooted in Sanskrit and its cultural heritage, which represent the soul of both India and potentially the world. He remarked that today, the world looks to India with hope for peace, security, and harmony. In times of global incidents, international attention turns to Indias leadership, he added.
Chief Minister Yogi asserted that discussions about peace, harmony, happiness, and prosperity will inevitably direct the worlds focus toward Indias gurukuls, positioning India as a leader in these ideals.
Meanwhile, the Life Time Achievement Award was presented to Veda Murti, Senior Brahmarshi Vishnu Patal Subramaniam and Acharya Gopal Chandra Mishra of the Vedic Unnayan Sansthan in Kashi, Uttar Pradesh. They received a prize of seven lakh rupees each, along with a medal and certificate.
Adarsh Vedadhyapak Vice-Chancellor R Chandramouli Shruti of Tamil Nadu was awarded five lakhs rupees, a medal, and a certificate. Uttam Veda Vidyarthi Narayan Lal Sharma from Rajasthan was honoured with three lakhs rupees, a medal, and a certificate.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday slammed the BJP, accusing it of poaching MLAs and MPs of other parties.
Soren also asserted that the BJP would be driven out from the state forever after the assembly elections this year.
Even if the people reject them, they poach MLAs, MPs and use agencies like the ED and CBI against opposition leaders or put them behind bars to form government, he alleged.
The CM was speaking at Aapki Yojana, Apki Sarkar Apke Dwar (Your Scheme, Your Government at your doorstep) programme here, where he inaugurated and laid the foundation of 347 projects worth over Rs 1,000 crore for Gumla and Lohardaga districts.
As fish cannot survive without water, our opposition (BJP) feels the same without power... They have been after me and our MLAs for the past two years. But, we are neither saleable nor are we scared, Soren said.
He also alleged that when BJPs local leaders failed in Jharkhand, it is now importing leaders from Chhattisgarh, Assam, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
These leaders are flaring communal tension here among various communities, the chief minister said.
Soren blamed the saffron party for creating hurdles in implementation of his governments welfare schemes.
They do not want the benefits of the schemes to reach people. But, we have decided this time we shall drive out our opposition from Jharkhand forever, he said.
National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah Thursday said contesting from two assembly seats is not a sign of weakness, but proves the strength of his party.
Abdullah has filed nomination for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls from two seats -- Ganderbal and Budgam.
"My colleagues wanted to show that the NC is not fighting this election from a weak position, but a strong one. My contesting from two seats is not a sign of weakness, but strength, it is the proof of the NC's strength," Abdullah told reporters here after filing nomination papers.
The former chief minister said if there was any danger of his losing from Budgam, then his party colleagues would not have allowed him to contest from here.
"Whether it is Baramulla, Srinagar or Anantnag, there is a wave in favour of the NC and we hope that the party will be successful and the alliance candidates will also win," he added.
The NC has an alliance with the Congress for the three-phase assembly polls.
Abdullah said the ground situation is in favour of his party and expressed hope the results of the election would prove that.
"We are not like those fools who talked about 400 plus (seats) and then stopped at 240. I hope when the counting takes places, we will be successful," he said.
To a question about BJP general secretary Ram Madhav's allegations that ex-militants are campaigning for NC and PDP, Abdullah said the BJP leader should prove his charges.
"Even that we know who the independents are that are being fielded in this election, and who will benefit from their fighting, I think it is a bit rich of Ram Madhav to say that NC is taking benefit from ex-militants. Show us where?
"The campaign has just only started. I am sure he has access to all the intelligence reports. There is not a single function of ours that is not monitored by the IB, CID or others, all the videos are there, please show us where we are taking support from militants or surrendered militants," he said.
The NC vice president said he was under the impression that as a result of what New Delhi did in August 2019, "these people were rendered neutral, that they had no more say".
"But, clearly Madhav is suggesting these people actually hold power over what the voters will decide. Which then would suggest that everything they have done after August 5, 2019 has been for nothing," he said.
Abdullah said if his party is elected to power, investigations will be launched into the allegations of corruption and "mis-governance" during the last few years of lieutenant governor's rule.
"We have already said it in our manifesto that the world will be let known through the assembly that people of J-K are not in favour of the decisions taken here. There will be an investigation into the era of mis-governance in the last five-six years, allegations of corruption, and allegations made by senior IAS officers. If any discrepancy is found, then they will be held accountable," he added.
Asked about Congress' district president in Ganderbal announcing to contest against him, Abdullah said such things were expected when the alliance between the two parties took place.
"We knew such things will happen. You cannot make 100 per cent people happy in a party during elections. I am satisfied that the dissentions in our party are less than what we expected.
"My colleagues have left their expectations on one side to work for the party and the alliance. I do not have words for them and my regards for them has increased. But, there are some people who have kept their self-interest on top. The voters will decide on them," he said.
Expressing hope that the people will follow the example set in the Parliamentary polls of participating in the elections in large numbers and not boycotting the process, the NC leader said the maps of certain constituencies were redrawn in the delimitation exercise to benefit the BJP and the voters will have to see to that.
"Most of its (delimitation) impact is seen in Jammu. Attempts have been made to change Muslim-dominated constituencies so as to help the BJP, but it remains to be seen how much it would benefit the BJP. We are hopeful that people will participate in the elections in large numbers.
"It used to be said that the NC benefits from boycott. But, we did not see any boycott in the parliamentary polls and we won two out of three. God willing, there will be no boycott this time also and NC will succeed," he added.
To a question about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's remarks on contracts in J-K going into the hands of non-locals, Abdullah said the people of J-K have a right on their resources.
"Outsiders should not get any contracts. They do not do it in other states. Let them do it in Ladakh. There are different set of laws for Ladakh and for J-K despite the fact that we were created from a single state, by a same order. A non-local cannot buy land or work there or take contracts, but that rule is not applicable for J-K," he said.
Earlier, addressing his party workers here, Abdullah said the assembly election is a fight for "our identity and if we don't fight for it, all the development has no meaning".
"New Delhi will try its best to muzzle our voices. Those who stayed away from elections throughout their lives have suddenly started believing in democracy," he said, referring to the participation of some former members of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami.
Asking people to stop the BJP from forming the government in J-K, Abdullah said his party needs to get at least 60 to 70 seats in the elections.
"The assembly that is going to be formed won't be the same assembly, it won't have the same powers. But we will put our best show to revive back that strong assembly of ours," he added.
He also expressed gratitude to the people of Budgam for showering love on him.
India and Singapore on Thursday elevated their bilateral ties to a "comprehensive strategic partnership" and signed four MoUs, including on cooperation in semiconductors, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with his counterpart Lawrence Wong.
During his opening remarks, Modi said Singapore is not only a partner nation but it is an inspiration for every developing country.
"A new chapter in - ties: Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established. PM @narendramodi and PM @LawrenceWongST held a productive meeting in Singapore today," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X after the meeting.
"The leaders agreed to elevate the - ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They extensively reviewed various facets of the bilateral relationship covering areas of Advanced Manufacturing, Connectivity, Digitalisation, Healthcare & Medicine, Skills Development and Sustainability," he said.
The MEA in a statement said both leaders reviewed the progress of India - Singapore bilateral relations.
"Given the breadth and depth of bilateral ties and immense potential, they decided to elevate the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This would also give a major boost to India's Act East Policy," it said.
Taking stock of the robust progress in economic ties, the leaders called for further expanding trade and investment flows between the two countries. Prime Minister highlighted that Singapore with an investment of around USD 160 billion in the Indian economy, is a leading economic partner for India. He further noted that rapid and sustained growth in India has opened up immense investment opportunities for Singaporean entities, it added.
They also reviewed existing cooperation in the fields of defence and security, maritime domain awareness, education, AI, Fintech, new technology domains, science and technology and knowledge partnership. The two leaders called for strengthening connectivity between the countries to enhance economic and people-to-people ties. They also called for acceleration in green corridor projects.
The two leaders discussed the outcome of the 2nd India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable held in Singapore in August 2024.
"Noting that the Ministerial Roundtable is a unique mechanism, the leaders appreciated the work done by senior ministers from both sides in deliberating and identifying a new agenda for bilateral cooperation. The leaders called for accelerated action under the pillars of cooperation identified during the Ministerial Roundtables - advanced manufacturing, connectivity, digitalisation, healthcare & medicine, skills development and sustainability," the statement said.
The leaders underscored that the cooperation under these pillars, particularly in the areas of semiconductors and critical and emerging technologies, opens a new chapter in bilateral relations making our ties future-oriented, the statement said.
Their discussion also covered the celebration of the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations in 2025. Highlighting that the cultural connect between the two countries is an important component of these ties, the Prime Minister announced that India's first Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre would be opened in Singapore.
The leaders also exchanged views on important regional and global issues of mutual interest, including India-ASEAN relations and India's vision for the Indo-Pacific.
Both leaders witnessed the exchange of MoUs for cooperation in semiconductors, digital technologies, skill development and healthcare. These are the outcomes of the deliberations during the two rounds of India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtables held so far.
Prime Minister invited Wong to visit India, which he accepted.
Modi in his opening remarks thanked Wong for the warm welcome.
"This is our first meeting after you assumed the post of premier. Many congratulations to you from my side. I am confident that under the leadership of 4G (the fourth-generation leaders), Singapore will progress even faster," Modi said.
"We also want to create many Singapores in India and I am happy that we are working together in this direction. The ministerial roundtable that has been formed between us is a path-breaking mechanism."
He said the partnership between the two nations in skilling, digitalisation, mobility, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, Artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare, sustainability and cyber security has become an identity of this mechanism.
"The discussions with my friend, PM Lawrence Wong continued today. Our talks focused on boosting cooperation in areas like skilling, technology, healthcare, AI and more. We both agreed on the need to boost trade relations," Modi said in a post on X after the talks.
Wong said Singapore and India share a deep and enduring friendship, built on strong economic and people-to-people ties.
"Had a productive meeting with Indian Prime Minister @narendramodi
At Parliament House. We've set out a forward-looking agenda for the next phase of our bilateral relations," he posted on X.
"This includes closer cooperation in areas like sustainability, advanced manufacturing, digital technologies and connectivity. We're also upgrading the Singapore-India Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," he said.
"This is timely as we expand our partnership in new, mutually beneficial areas. We also celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations and our Strategic Partnership's 10th anniversary next year," Wong said.
Singapore looks forward to strengthening bilateral ties and creating new opportunities for the people of the two nations, he said.
Modi is here on a two-day visit at the invitation of Wong.
Ahead of the talks with Wong, Modi received a red carpet-welcome at the Singapore Parliament House. He also signed the visitor's book there.
The meeting between the two leaders comes months after Wong took over as premier and Modi began his third term as prime minister.
Modi and Wong also visited a leading Singaporean company in the semiconductor and electronics sector and discussed ways for collaboration in this critical industry.
Later in the day, Prime Minister Modi will also call on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
He would call on Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. Lee will host a lunch for Modi.
Modi will also meet with Singaporean business leaders and interact with those in the country's semiconductor ecosystem.
Modi flew to Singapore on Wednesday after wrapping his visit to Brunei, the first bilateral visit there by an Indian prime minister.
He was accorded a warm welcome by the Indian community on his arrival here.
The Sindhudurg police on Thursday told a court there that the materials recovered from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue which collapsed last month at Rajkot fort in Malvan were rusted and it needs to be ascertained if items of subpar quality were used by the accused.
The police, while seeking custody of sculptor-contractor Jaydeep Apte and consultant Chetan Patil, said interrogation was required to find out what kind of materials they had used to design and construct the 35-foot statue.
The statue of the iconic Maratha warrior king collapsed at the Rajkot fort in Malvan tehsil of the district on August 26, nearly nine months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled it on Navy Day.
While Patil was arrested on August 30 from Kolhapur, Apte was taken into custody on Wednesday night from Kalyan in Thane district, nearly 10 days after an FIR was registered in connection with the incident.
They were both produced before a local court in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district on Thursday which remanded them in police custody till September 10.
The police, in their remand-seeking note submitted to the court, said it needs to interrogate the accused to find out from where they purchased the materials used to construct the statue and if they were of sub-par quality.
"Nutbolts, iron rods and other materials of the statue were rusted. It needs to be seen what kind of material was used for the statue by the accused and if it was of subpar quality," it said.
The police said it also needs to collect the mould and dye and the sample of materials used for the statue.
It needs to be ascertained if the accused had carried out a feasibility audit while designing and constructing the statue, police added.
"Whether the accused had considered the parameters of wind, water, earthquake and topography of the area before making the structural design of the statue needs to be probed. It also needs to be found out if the accused were aware of the longevity of the statue at the time of designing it," the police said in its report.
Apte's lawyer Ganesh Sovani said the sculptor had intended to surrender on Wednesday night and that he was willing to cooperate with the probe.
"He is willing to submit to the police all details regarding the design of the statue and other documents," Sovani told the court.
The advocate further argued that the FIR in the case was lodged "hastily" and that the government ought to have appointed an expert committee to examine the cause behind the fall and if there were any material defects.
"Once the committee submits its report and if then any person is indicted then a case could have been lodged," Sovani said.
In the absence of a scientific report, FIR ought not to have been registered, he added.
The police in its note further said it has to recover the original copy of the work order issued to the accused by the government.
"The terms and conditions and other obligations mentioned in the work order needs to be seen. The custodial interrogation of the accused is required for this purpose," the police said.
It added that details on the stability, analysis and design of pedestal for erection of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj sculpture, which cover 16 pages, have been seized from Apte.
Apte, a Thane-based sculptor, was responsible for creating the 35-foot statue of Shivaji Maharaj.
The Sindhudurg police had registered an FIR against Apte and Patil for the collapse of the statue last month, under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections for negligence and other offences.
Experience the vibrant spirit of Ganesh Chaturthi in Pratap Bagh, Delhi, where artisans like Mohini and Rekha dedicate their craft to creating beautiful Ganesha idols. Witness the blend of artistry and devotion that transforms the streets into a festive haven, brimming with colour and celebration says SAKSHI PRIYA
Ganpati Bappa Morya! Ganpati Bappa Morya! The joyous chant fills the air, marking the arrival of Ganesh Chaturthi. This festival, dedicated to our beloved Lord Ganesha, transforms every corner into a lively celebration of devotion and creativity. Ganesh Chaturthi is a cherished Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the revered deity known for his wisdom and ability to remove obstacles. Observed with great enthusiasm across India, it turns streets and homes into vibrant centres of devotion.
Festival Preparations
Taking place in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, usually in August or September, the festival's preparations begin well before the actual day. Homes are thoroughly cleaned and beautifully decorated and pandals are set up to welcome Lord Ganesha. These pandals, often adorned with colourful decorations, become the heart of the celebrations. Tomorrow, as the celebrations officially begin, the city will once again echo with the joyous chants of "Ganpati Bappa Morya!"
On the day of Ganesh Chaturthi, people bring home clay idols of Lord Ganesha. These idols vary in size and style, from small, simple ones to large, elaborate figures. Each idol is carefully placed on an altar and decorated with flowers, fruits and other offerings, creating a sacred and festive atmosphere. A key part of the celebration is the daily puja or worship performed by devotees. This involves chanting prayers, offering modaks and flowers and seeking blessings from Lord Ganesha. The air is filled with the sounds of devotional songs, the scent of incense and the colours of vibrant decorations, all contributing to a sense of joy and community.
As Ganesh Chaturthi draws near, Delhis streets, especially in Pratap Bagh, come alive with joyous and vibrant energy. Street vendors and stalls overflow with intricately designed idols of Lord Ganesha, along with festive decorations and offerings. The air is filled with excitement as the community prepares for the celebration. In the heart of Pratap Bagh, preparing for Ganesh Chaturthi is not just a task but a heartfelt tradition. For months, artisans have dedicated themselves to crafting exquisite murtis (idols), each one a labour of love and devotion.
In Pratap Bagh, the preparation for Ganesh Chaturthi is nothing short of a labour of love. For months, skilled artisans have poured their heart and soul into creating the most beautiful murtis of Lord Ganesha. Each idol is more than just a statue; it symbolises the devotion and creativity of its maker, embodying the rich cultural heritage of this cherished festival.
The process begins with moulding clay into the shape of Lord Ganesha, a task requiring both skill and patience. Artisans like Mohini and Rekha have dedicated themselves to this craft, ensuring that every detail - from the delicate folds of Ganesha's trunk to the intricate patterns on his attire - is perfect. The clay idols are left to dry, a crucial step demanding precision, especially during the monsoon season when high humidity can pose a challenge.
Once the base of the idol is ready, the real artistry begins. The idols are painted with vibrant colours and adorned with elaborate designs. Each brushstroke and embellishment reflects the deep reverence the artisans hold for Lord Ganesha. The final touches, including beads and decorative fabrics, bring the idols to life, making them a feast for the eyes and a joy for the soul.
The Artisans Dedication
The artisans of Pratap Bagh, like Mohini, Rekha, Sonu and Kamla, bring a unique blend of dedication, skill and devotion to their craft. Despite facing challenges such as rising costs of materials, intricate designs and financial uncertainties, they continue to pour their hearts into creating beautiful idols of Lord Ganesha. Their passion is truly inspiring, driven by both their love for their work and their deep devotion to the deity.
Mohini's approach to her work is remarkable. She sources plain murtis from Kolkata and transforms them with her own hands, turning them into vibrant, beautifully decorated idols. I personally select the pearl necklaces from Chandni Chowk, she explains, and her years of experience allow her to complete each one in just 15 minutes. The transformation from a plain clay figure to a colourful deity, embellished with pearls and intricate designs, is a tribute to her expertise and devotion. Mohini's work reflects not just artistic skill but also a deep spiritual connection, infusing each idol with a unique sense of reverence and love. The prices of her creations range from as little as Rs 300 to as much as Rs 30,000 with most people opting for smaller idols for their homes, while larger ones are chosen for community pandals.
Rekha, an artisan from Pratap Bagh, has been dedicated to idol-making for many years, a tradition she proudly continues. She explains that it takes them about "4 to 5 months" to prepare these beautiful idols, highlighting the dedication and effort involved in each piece. Everything is done by hand, she emphasises. From moulding the clay to carefully painting and decorating each idol, the entire process is meticulous and labour-intensive.
Walking through the lanes of Pratap Bagh, one cannot help but feel a deep sense of admiration seeing women like Mohini and Rekha leading their stalls. Every stall is filled with the bustling energy of women hard at work, their hands moving with practiced precision as they shape and paint the idols. It is a powerful sight, reflecting not just the artistry involved but also the empowerment of these women who bring beauty and devotion to life through their craft.
The dedication of these artisans stands out as a remarkable example of resilience. They face many hardships, yet their pride and joy in their work remain evident. Their craft is more than just a job; it is a calling, a deep-rooted part of their identity that connects them to the community and the divine. Their work becomes a symbol of hope and strength, capturing the very essence of Ganesh Chaturthi - the celebration of new beginnings, perseverance and devotion.
The Business and the Challenges
For many artisans, Ganesh Chaturthi is not just a period of celebration but also a crucial time for their business. Crafting idols is a complex and costly process and the financial pressures can be intense. One artisan remarks, The cost of materials and the time invested in creating each idol is significant. We hope that the sales will cover these expenses and bring some profit. Sonu adds, We often face challenges in selling the larger and more elaborate idols. Most customers prefer smaller ones, which are more affordable. Despite these financial hurdles, the artisans of Pratap Bagh persist, driven by their passion and commitment to their craft.
A Festival of Togetherness and Joy
The lively streets of Delhi transform into a canvas of vivid colours, resonating with the joyful sounds of celebration.The artisans meticulous work infuses the festival with an atmosphere of joy and festivity. This festival is a time when families unite to welcome their idols into their homes, decorating them with care and participating in daily pujas with reverence. The sense of community is palpable as neighbours, friends and even strangers come together in shared devotion to Lord Ganesha. Ganesh Chaturthi forwards a spirit of togetherness, forging bonds that extend beyond the festivities and celebrating the unity and collective joy of the community.
Wishing You a Joyous Ganesh Chaturthi !
As the vibrant celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi come alive with every chant of "Ganpati Bappa Morya," we send you our warmest wishes for a festival filled with joy, prosperity and divine blessings. May Lord Ganesha, with his benevolent presence and loving guidance, bring happiness and success into your life. This is the perfect time to embrace the spirit of the festival by indulging in the sweet delights of modaks - Lord Ganeshas favourite treat! As you savour these delicious offerings, let them symbolise the sweetness of life and the fulfilment of your deepest desires.
May your home be filled with the sound of laughter and the spirit of togetherness and love. Celebrate with family and friends and may the blessings of Ganesh Chaturthi illuminate your path, dispelling any obstacles and guiding you towards new beginnings. Heres to a Ganesh Chaturthi thats as joyful and lively as the festivities themselves. Ganpati Bappa Morya! Enjoy the celebrations, the sweets and the company of loved ones.
Equities researchers at StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Flexible Solutions International (NYSE:FSI Get Free Report) in a research note issued on Tuesday. The firm set a hold rating on the stock.
Flexible Solutions International Price Performance
FSI opened at $3.17 on Tuesday. Flexible Solutions International has a one year low of $1.36 and a one year high of $3.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 2.65 and a quick ratio of 1.70. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $2.27 and its 200-day simple moving average is $2.11. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.41 million, a P/E ratio of 16.84 and a beta of 1.47.
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Flexible Solutions International (NYSE:FSI Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 14th. The company reported $0.10 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.07 by $0.03. Flexible Solutions International had a net margin of 7.46% and a return on equity of 7.40%. The business had revenue of $10.53 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.34 million. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Flexible Solutions International will post 0.29 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Hedge Funds Weigh In On Flexible Solutions International
Flexible Solutions International Company Profile
An institutional investor recently raised its position in Flexible Solutions International stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted 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 Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 379,245 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 17,400 shares during the quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC owned 3.05% of Flexible Solutions International worth $664,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. 54.31% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
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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.
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Jaguar Mining (OTCMKTS:JAGGD Get Free Report) is one of 112 public companies in the Metal Mining industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its competitors? We will compare Jaguar Mining to related businesses based on the strength of its valuation, institutional ownership, earnings, dividends, analyst recommendations, profitability and risk.
Institutional & Insider Ownership
27.5% of shares of all Metal Mining companies are held by institutional investors. 12.8% of shares of all Metal Mining companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.
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Earnings and Valuation
This table compares Jaguar Mining and its competitors revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Jaguar Mining $97.23 million -$150,000.00 7.61 Jaguar Mining Competitors $6.75 billion $972.86 million -5.24
Analyst Recommendations
Jaguar Minings competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Jaguar Mining. Jaguar Mining is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry.
This is a summary of current recommendations for Jaguar Mining and its competitors, as provided by MarketBeat.
Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Jaguar Mining 0 0 0 0 N/A Jaguar Mining Competitors 1199 2572 3135 123 2.31
As a group, Metal Mining companies have a potential upside of 38.45%. Given Jaguar Minings competitors higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Jaguar Mining has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors.
Volatility and Risk
Jaguar Mining has a beta of 2.75, suggesting that its share price is 175% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Jaguar Minings competitors have a beta of 1.14, suggesting that their average share price is 14% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Profitability
This table compares Jaguar Mining and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Jaguar Mining 28.17% 26.75% 17.80% Jaguar Mining Competitors -812.64% -11.64% -9.77%
Dividends
Jaguar Mining pays an annual dividend of $0.25 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.4%. Jaguar Mining pays out 49.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Metal Mining companies pay a dividend yield of 3.0% and pay out 99.8% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Jaguar Mining is clearly a better dividend stock than its competitors, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.
Summary
Jaguar Mining beats its competitors on 7 of the 12 factors compared.
About Jaguar Mining
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Jaguar Mining, Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, development and operation of gold producing properties in Brazil. Its mining operations include Turmalina, Paciencia and Caete. The firm is also developing the Grurupi Project and exploring the Iron Quadrangle and Pedra Branca Project. The company was founded by Daniel R. Titcomb in 1984 and is headquartered Toronto, Canada.
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Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:BIO Get Free Report) EVP James Barry sold 623 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $330.49, for a total value of $205,895.27. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 147 shares in the company, valued at $48,582.03. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link.
Bio-Rad Laboratories Price Performance
Shares of NYSE:BIO traded down $3.66 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $330.65. 234,548 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 226,630. The businesss 50 day moving average is $311.10 and its 200-day moving average is $308.14. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. has a 1-year low of $261.59 and a 1-year high of $394.51. The company has a quick ratio of 4.63, a current ratio of 6.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. The company has a market capitalization of $9.43 billion, a P/E ratio of -31.92 and a beta of 0.93.
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Bio-Rad Laboratories (NYSE:BIO Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The medical research company reported $3.11 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.12 by $0.99. Bio-Rad Laboratories had a positive return on equity of 3.77% and a negative net margin of 51.73%. The business had revenue of $638.50 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $645.79 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.00 EPS. The firms revenue was down 6.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. will post 10.31 earnings per share for the current year.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Bio-Rad Laboratories
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC raised its holdings in shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories by 193.8% in the 2nd quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 94 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 62 shares in the last quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories in the 1st quarter valued at $38,000. Gladius Capital Management LP grew its holdings in shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories by 65.8% during the 4th quarter. Gladius Capital Management LP now owns 121 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. Principal Securities Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories in the 4th quarter valued at about $41,000. Finally, EntryPoint Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Bio-Rad Laboratories during the 1st quarter valued at about $51,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.24% of the companys stock.
A number of brokerages recently issued reports on BIO. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $401.00 target price on shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories in a research report on Friday, August 16th. UBS Group lowered their price objective on shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories from $420.00 to $385.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, May 8th. Citigroup upped their target price on Bio-Rad Laboratories from $300.00 to $350.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. StockNews.com lowered shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, August 1st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company began coverage on Bio-Rad Laboratories in a research note on Tuesday, August 27th. They set an equal weight rating and a $340.00 target price for the company. Four 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, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $358.20.
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Bio-Rad Laboratories Company Profile
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Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc manufactures and distributes life science research and clinical diagnostic products in the United States, Europe, Asia, Canada, and Latin America. It operates through two segments, Life Science and Clinical Diagnostics. The company develops, manufactures, and markets instruments, systems, reagents, and consumables to separate, purify, characterize, and quantitate biological materials such as cells, proteins, and nucleic acids for proteomics, genomics, biopharmaceutical production, cellular biology, and food safety markets.
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Textron (NYSE:TXT Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities research analysts at StockNews.com from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report issued on Wednesday.
Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Textron from $84.00 to $87.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a research note on Friday, July 19th. Morgan Stanley cut shares of Textron from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $95.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, August 8th. TD Cowen raised their target price on shares of Textron from $100.00 to $103.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 19th. Bank of America raised their target price on shares of Textron from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 23rd. Finally, Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Textron from $111.00 to $115.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $102.50.
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Textron Stock Performance
NYSE:TXT traded down $0.39 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $88.55. The stock had a trading volume of 928,223 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,082,972. The stock has a market capitalization of $16.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.92, a P/E/G ratio of 1.45 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $88.52 and a 200-day simple moving average of $89.29. Textron has a 52 week low of $74.13 and a 52 week high of $97.33. The company has a current ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47.
Textron (NYSE:TXT Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 18th. The aerospace company reported $1.54 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.48 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $3.53 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.56 billion. Textron had a net margin of 6.67% and a return on equity of 16.41%. Textrons quarterly revenue was up 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.46 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Textron will post 6.27 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Altman Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Textron by 0.6% in the second quarter. Altman Advisors Inc. now owns 22,057 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,894,000 after acquiring an additional 129 shares in the last quarter. True Vision MN LLC increased its position in shares of Textron by 2.5% in the first quarter. True Vision MN LLC now owns 5,352 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $513,000 after acquiring an additional 133 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd increased its position in shares of Textron by 0.8% in the second quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 18,148 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,558,000 after acquiring an additional 146 shares in the last quarter. Czech National Bank increased its position in shares of Textron by 0.5% in the first quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 34,487 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $3,308,000 after acquiring an additional 157 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. increased its position in shares of Textron by 4.4% in the second quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 4,116 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $353,000 after acquiring an additional 175 shares in the last quarter. 86.03% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
About Textron
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Textron Inc operates in the aircraft, defense, industrial, and finance businesses worldwide. It operates through six segments: Textron Aviation, Bell, Textron Systems, Industrial, Textron eAviation, and Finance. The Textron Aviation segment manufactures, sells, and services business jets, turboprop and piston engine aircraft, and military trainer and defense aircraft; and offers maintenance, inspection, and repair services, as well as sells commercial parts.
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Western Midstream Partners (NYSE:WES Get Free Report) was upgraded by StockNews.com from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report issued on Tuesday.
Other research analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on shares of Western Midstream Partners from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on Western Midstream Partners from $36.00 to $38.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 27th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Western Midstream Partners from $34.00 to $35.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 21st. Finally, Mizuho boosted their price objective on Western Midstream Partners from $34.00 to $39.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, May 7th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $34.38.
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Western Midstream Partners Stock Performance
Shares of WES opened at $37.64 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $14.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.60, a P/E/G ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 2.90. Western Midstream Partners has a 52 week low of $25.69 and a 52 week high of $42.80. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $39.69 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $37.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.08, a quick ratio of 1.68 and a current ratio of 1.68.
Western Midstream Partners (NYSE:WES Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The pipeline company reported $0.97 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.88 by $0.09. Western Midstream Partners had a net margin of 44.01% and a return on equity of 47.19%. The company had revenue of $905.63 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $904.94 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.64 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 22.7% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that Western Midstream Partners will post 4.16 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Insider Buying and Selling
In other Western Midstream Partners news, major shareholder Petroleum Corp /De/ Occidental sold 19,500,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.75, for a total transaction of $697,125,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 165,681,578 shares in the company, valued at $5,923,116,413.50. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 0.04% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Blackstone Inc. boosted its position in Western Midstream Partners by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. Blackstone Inc. now owns 12,980,724 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $461,465,000 after buying an additional 259,928 shares during the period. Chickasaw Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Western Midstream Partners by 0.6% during the second quarter. Chickasaw Capital Management LLC now owns 6,711,006 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $266,628,000 after acquiring an additional 37,259 shares during the last quarter. Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP boosted its holdings in shares of Western Midstream Partners by 27.4% during the first quarter. Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP now owns 4,165,829 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $148,095,000 after purchasing an additional 895,715 shares during the period. BROOKFIELD Corp ON grew its stake in shares of Western Midstream Partners by 2.7% in the first quarter. BROOKFIELD Corp ON now owns 2,953,510 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $104,997,000 after purchasing an additional 77,942 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jennison Associates LLC increased its holdings in Western Midstream Partners by 96.0% during the 1st quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 1,928,179 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $68,547,000 after purchasing an additional 944,494 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 42.94% of the companys stock.
Western Midstream Partners Company Profile
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Western Midstream Partners, LP, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a midstream energy company primarily in the United States. It is involved in gathering, compressing, treating, processing, and transporting natural gas; gathering, stabilizing, and transporting condensate, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and crude oil; and gathering and disposing produced water.
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Shares of Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT Get Free Report) have been assigned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the six research firms that are covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1-year price target among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $223.00.
A number of analysts have recently commented on AIT shares. KeyCorp boosted their price objective on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from $210.00 to $215.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, August 16th. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from $205.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, August 29th. Loop Capital increased their price objective on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from $215.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, August 16th. Raymond James began coverage on Applied Industrial Technologies in a research report on Wednesday. They issued an outperform rating and a $225.00 target price on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com cut Applied Industrial Technologies from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday.
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Insider Buying and Selling
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Applied Industrial Technologies
In other Applied Industrial Technologies news, VP Kurt W. Loring sold 4,858 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $203.10, for a total value of $986,659.80. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 19,315 shares in the company, valued at $3,922,876.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link . In other news, VP Kurt W. Loring sold 3,366 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.02, for a total transaction of $703,561.32. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 19,315 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,037,221.30. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . Also, VP Kurt W. Loring sold 4,858 shares of Applied Industrial Technologies stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $203.10, for a total transaction of $986,659.80. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 19,315 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,922,876.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 11,927 shares of company stock worth $2,439,116. Company insiders own 2.20% of the companys stock.
Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. QRG Capital Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 0.9% in the second quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 6,462 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,254,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares during the last quarter. Miller Howard Investments Inc. NY lifted its holdings in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 2.4% during the second quarter. Miller Howard Investments Inc. NY now owns 2,300 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $446,000 after buying an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 1.2% in the first quarter. Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC now owns 4,905 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $969,000 after acquiring an additional 59 shares during the period. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 0.4% in the second quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 17,394 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $3,374,000 after acquiring an additional 61 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Private Advisor Group LLC increased its position in Applied Industrial Technologies by 2.6% during the first quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 2,481 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $490,000 after acquiring an additional 62 shares during the period. 93.52% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Applied Industrial Technologies Trading Up 0.0 %
Shares of NYSE AIT opened at $198.56 on Thursday. Applied Industrial Technologies has a twelve month low of $149.59 and a twelve month high of $223.15. The companys fifty day moving average is $200.39 and its 200-day moving average is $193.97. The stock has a market cap of $7.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.81, a P/E/G ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a quick ratio of 2.56, a current ratio of 3.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34.
Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 15th. The industrial products company reported $2.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.52 by $0.12. The firm had revenue of $1.16 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.19 billion. Applied Industrial Technologies had a return on equity of 23.55% and a net margin of 8.61%. The companys revenue was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.35 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Applied Industrial Technologies will post 9.65 EPS for the current year.
Applied Industrial Technologies Dividend Announcement
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 15th were paid a $0.37 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 15th. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.75%. Applied Industrial Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 15.51%.
About Applied Industrial Technologies
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Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc distributes industrial motion, power, control, and automation technology solutions in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. It operates in two segments, Service Center Based Distribution, and Engineered Solutions. The company distributes bearings, power transmission products, engineered fluid power components and systems, specialty flow control solutions, advanced automation products, industrial rubber products, linear motion components, automation solutions, tools, safety products, oilfield supplies, and other industrial and maintenance supplies; and motors, belting, drives, couplings, pumps, hydraulic and pneumatic components, filtration supplies, valves, fittings, process instrumentation, actuators, and hoses, filtration supplies, as well as other related supplies for general operational needs of customers' machinery and equipment.
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Shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:BIO Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the five analysts that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and two have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $358.20.
Several research firms recently issued reports on BIO. Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories in a report on Tuesday, August 27th. They set an equal weight rating and a $340.00 price objective for the company. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories from $300.00 to $350.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $401.00 price target on shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories in a report on Friday, August 16th. UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories from $420.00 to $385.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 8th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reissued a hold rating and issued a $315.00 price target (down from $440.00) on shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories in a report on Monday, June 3rd.
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Bio-Rad Laboratories Price Performance
NYSE BIO opened at $330.65 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 6.28, a quick ratio of 4.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $311.10 and a 200 day simple moving average of $308.14. The company has a market cap of $9.43 billion, a P/E ratio of -31.92 and a beta of 0.93. Bio-Rad Laboratories has a 1 year low of $261.59 and a 1 year high of $394.51.
Bio-Rad Laboratories (NYSE:BIO Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 1st. The medical research company reported $3.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.12 by $0.99. The business had revenue of $638.50 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $645.79 million. Bio-Rad Laboratories had a negative net margin of 51.73% and a positive return on equity of 3.77%. Bio-Rad Laboratoriess quarterly revenue was down 6.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $3.00 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Bio-Rad Laboratories will post 10.31 EPS for the current year.
Insider Activity
In other news, EVP James Barry sold 623 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $330.49, for a total value of $205,895.27. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 147 shares in the company, valued at approximately $48,582.03. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, EVP Michael Crowley sold 369 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $281.91, for a total transaction of $104,024.79. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 6,573 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,852,994.43. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP James Barry sold 623 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $330.49, for a total transaction of $205,895.27. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 147 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $48,582.03. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 17.06% of the companys stock.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Bio-Rad Laboratories
Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC increased its position in shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories by 193.8% during the 2nd quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 94 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares in the last quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC acquired a new stake in Bio-Rad Laboratories in the 1st quarter valued at about $38,000. Gladius Capital Management LP increased its position in Bio-Rad Laboratories by 65.8% in the 4th quarter. Gladius Capital Management LP now owns 121 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $39,000 after acquiring an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. Principal Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in Bio-Rad Laboratories in the 4th quarter valued at about $41,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC acquired a new stake in Bio-Rad Laboratories in the 4th quarter valued at about $42,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.24% of the companys stock.
About Bio-Rad Laboratories
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Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc manufactures and distributes life science research and clinical diagnostic products in the United States, Europe, Asia, Canada, and Latin America. It operates through two segments, Life Science and Clinical Diagnostics. The company develops, manufactures, and markets instruments, systems, reagents, and consumables to separate, purify, characterize, and quantitate biological materials such as cells, proteins, and nucleic acids for proteomics, genomics, biopharmaceutical production, cellular biology, and food safety markets.
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Shares of Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the nineteen ratings firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and seventeen have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $298.26.
Several analysts have recently weighed in on STZ shares. Truist Financial reissued a hold rating and issued a $265.00 target price on shares of Constellation Brands in a report on Wednesday, July 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $308.00 price objective on shares of Constellation Brands in a research note on Tuesday. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on shares of Constellation Brands from $310.00 to $311.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, July 5th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $315.00 price target on shares of Constellation Brands in a research report on Friday, July 5th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Constellation Brands from $320.00 to $307.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday.
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Constellation Brands Stock Performance
Shares of Constellation Brands stock opened at $246.61 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $45.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.38, a P/E/G ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 1.75. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06. Constellation Brands has a 52 week low of $227.50 and a 52 week high of $274.87. The firms 50 day moving average is $246.66 and its two-hundred day moving average is $253.65.
Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 3rd. The company reported $3.57 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.46 by $0.11. Constellation Brands had a net margin of 22.70% and a return on equity of 23.72%. The firm had revenue of $2.66 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.67 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.91 EPS. Constellation Brandss revenue for the quarter was up 5.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that Constellation Brands will post 13.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Constellation Brands Announces Dividend
The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 23rd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 14th were given a dividend of $1.01 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 14th. This represents a $4.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.64%. Constellation Brandss payout ratio is currently 30.10%.
Insider Transactions at Constellation Brands
In related news, CFO Garth Hankinson sold 13,583 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $240.00, for a total value of $3,259,920.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 11,702 shares in the company, valued at $2,808,480. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, CFO Garth Hankinson sold 13,583 shares of Constellation Brands stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $240.00, for a total transaction of $3,259,920.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 11,702 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,808,480. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Daniel J. Mccarthy sold 1,854 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.43, for a total value of $468,005.22. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 3,232 shares in the company, valued at approximately $815,853.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 16,414 shares of company stock valued at $3,982,922 in the last ninety days. 12.19% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Constellation Brands by 3.5% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,705,793 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,724,686,000 after acquiring an additional 462,891 shares during the last quarter. Capital International Investors increased its stake in shares of Constellation Brands by 39.4% during the 1st quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 11,685,249 shares of the companys stock worth $3,175,583,000 after purchasing an additional 3,304,709 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors increased its stake in shares of Constellation Brands by 8.7% during the 1st quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 9,040,669 shares of the companys stock worth $2,456,892,000 after purchasing an additional 723,549 shares in the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors raised its position in shares of Constellation Brands by 9.9% during the 1st quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 2,469,997 shares of the companys stock worth $671,246,000 after purchasing an additional 222,380 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Constellation Brands in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $443,844,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.34% of the companys stock.
Constellation Brands Company Profile
(Get Free Report
Constellation Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, produces, imports, markets, and sells beer, wine, and spirits in the United States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. The company provides beer primarily under the Corona Extra, Corona Familiar, Corona Hard Seltzer, Corona Light, Corona Non-Alcoholic, Corona Premier, Corona Refresca, Modelo Especial, Modelo Chelada, Modelo Negra, Modelo Oro, Victoria, Vicky Chamoy, and Pacifico brands.
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United Microelectronics (NYSE:UMC Get Free Report) and BE Semiconductor Industries (OTCMKTS:BESIY Get Free Report) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, risk, valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and profitability.
Analyst Ratings
This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for United Microelectronics and BE Semiconductor Industries, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score United Microelectronics 0 1 2 0 2.67 BE Semiconductor Industries 0 0 0 0 N/A
United Microelectronics currently has a consensus price target of $8.90, suggesting a potential upside of 6.97%. Given United Microelectronics higher probable upside, equities research analysts clearly believe United Microelectronics is more favorable than BE Semiconductor Industries.
Institutional and Insider Ownership
Risk and Volatility
5.1% of United Microelectronics shares are owned by institutional investors. 8.0% of United Microelectronics shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.6% of BE Semiconductor Industries shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.
United Microelectronics has a beta of 1.18, meaning that its share price is 18% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, BE Semiconductor Industries has a beta of 1.75, meaning that its share price is 75% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Dividends
United Microelectronics pays an annual dividend of $0.35 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.2%. BE Semiconductor Industries pays an annual dividend of $1.95 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.6%. United Microelectronics pays out 50.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. BE Semiconductor Industries pays out 81.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. United Microelectronics is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.
Earnings and Valuation
This table compares United Microelectronics and BE Semiconductor Industries revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio United Microelectronics $7.25 billion 2.88 $1.95 billion $0.70 11.89 BE Semiconductor Industries $626.45 million 14.28 $191.66 million $2.39 51.61
United Microelectronics has higher revenue and earnings than BE Semiconductor Industries. United Microelectronics is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than BE Semiconductor Industries, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Profitability
This table compares United Microelectronics and BE Semiconductor Industries net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets United Microelectronics 23.90% 14.80% 9.41% BE Semiconductor Industries 28.56% 38.81% 18.45%
Summary
United Microelectronics beats BE Semiconductor Industries on 8 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.
About United Microelectronics
(Get Free Report)
United Microelectronics Corporation operates as a semiconductor wafer foundry in Taiwan, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company provides circuit design, mask tooling, wafer fabrication, and assembly and testing services. It serves fabless design companies and integrated device manufacturers. The company was incorporated in 1980 and is headquartered in Hsinchu City, Taiwan.
About BE Semiconductor Industries
(Get Free Report)
BE Semiconductor Industries N.V. engages in the development, manufacture, marketing, sale, and service of semiconductor assembly equipment for the semiconductor and electronics industries in China, the United States, Malaysia, Ireland, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Other Asia Pacific and Europe, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Die Attach, Packaging, and Plating. The company's principal products include die attach equipment, such as single chip, multi-chip, multi module, flip chip, thermal compression bonding, fan out wafer level packaging, hybrid and embedded bridge die bonding, and die sorting systems; and packaging equipment, including conventional, ultra-thin, and wafer level molding, as well as trim and form, and singulation systems. It also provides plating equipment, such as tin, copper, and precious metal and solar plating systems, as well as related process chemicals; and tooling, conversion kits, spare parts, and other services. The company's principal brand names include Datacon, Esec, Fico, and Meco. It offers its products primarily to multinational chip manufacturers, assembly subcontractors, and electronics and industrial companies. BE Semiconductor Industries N.V. was incorporated in 1995 and is headquartered in Duiven, the Netherlands.
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Cuprina Holdings (Cayman) LTD (CUPR) plans to raise $16 million in an initial public offering on the week of September 9th, IPO Scoop reports. The company will issue 3,800,000 shares at $4.00-$4.50 per share.
In the last year, Cuprina Holdings (Cayman) LTD generated $80,000 in revenue and had a net loss of $890,000. Cuprina Holdings (Cayman) LTD has a market-cap of $30.7 million.
Network 1 Financial Securities acted as the underwriter for the IPO.
Cuprina Holdings (Cayman) LTD provided the following description of their company for its IPO: We manufacture and distribute chronic wound care products: medical grade bio-dressing products made from sterile blowfly larvae and sold under the MEDIFLY brand sold mostly in Singapore since February 2020 and in Hong Kong since March 2023. (Incorporated in the Cayman Islands) From the Prospectus: Looking ahead, we have strategic plans in place for the second half of 2024 and 2025 to expand our sales and establish physical operations in several key regions, including Southeast Asia, the Middle East (in particular, the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council, or GCC), and mainland China. These expansion initiatives will further enable us to cater to the growing demand for our products in these promising markets, cementing our position as a trusted player in the field of chronic wound care and treatment. We are a Singapore-based biomedical and biotechnology company dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative products for the management of chronic wounds, as well as operating in the health and beauty sectors. Our expertise in biomedical research allows us to identify and utilize materials derived from natural sources to develop wound care products in the form of medical devices which meet international standards. We believe we will be able to build upon and leverage such expertise to develop innovative cosmeceutical products in the future. As of Dec. 31, 2023, we manufactured and distributed a line of medical grade sterile blowfly larvae bio-dressing products marketed under the MEDIFLY brand name, or the MEDIFLY products. The MEDIFLY products are used as a biological debridement tool for chronic wounds, in a procedure known as Maggot Debridement Therapy, or MDT, which is an effective alternative to surgical debridement. In addition to our currently commercialized MEDIFLY products, we have two lines of chronic wound care products in our pipeline: *Collagen dressings, including sponges, particles and hydrogels, using bullfrog collagen derived from the valorization of abattoir waste streams of American bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) and *Products using medical leeches for wound treatment. We currently expect development of such products to take place over the course of 2024 and 2025 and to become commercially available subject to regulatory approval.A We believe what sets us apart is our focus on developing functionally specific chronic wound care products designed to address the major stages of wound healing process, from chronic to closure. Our chronic wound care products, including both our existing commercialized products and forthcoming products in our pipeline, are poised to benefit from escalating global market demand. This demand is primarily fueled by the demographic shift towards an aging population and the concurrent rise in comorbidities such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular ailments, and peripheral vascular diseases.A For our cosmeceuticals business, we introduced three products in 2023, including a hydrating balm product, a muscle energy cream and a pain relief muscle patch. For our currently commercialized cosmeceutical products, we have commissioned original equipment manufacturers of skincare products to develop the formulation and manufacture the substantially finished and finished products. In addition, we plan to explore the possibility of developing a range of potential cosmeceutical product candidates incorporating bullfrog collagen with a view to making them commercially available between 2024 and 2028, subject to the progress of the relevant R&D work. We offer our chronic wound care products to both public and private hospitals and clinics, where patients can obtain them through prescription from a physician. Our customers primarily include major public and private hospitals and clinics in Singapore. Our commercialized cosmeceutical products can be purchased directly by individual customers through a variety of channels, including retailers and gyms in Singapore, Malaysia and Australia, as well as online shopping platforms such as Shopee. Note: Net loss and revenue figures are in U.S. dollars for the year that ended Dec. 31, 2023. Note from the Prospectus: Our independent registered public accounting firm expressed substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern. Our ability to continue as a going concern requires that we obtain sufficient funding to finance our operations. (Note: Cuprina Holdings (Cayman) Ltd. filed an F-1/A on Sept. 3, 2024, in which it stated that the price range for its IPO is $4.00 to $4.50 a change from its IPO price of $4.00 and kept the IPOs size at 3.75 million Class A ordinary shares to raise $15.94 million. Background: Cuprina Holdings (Cayman) LTD increased the number of shares to 3.75 million up from 2.5 million shares initially without disclosing the IPO price in an F-1/A filing dated June 20, 2024.) (More Background: Cuprina Holdings (Cayman) LTD filedA an F-1/A dated May 16, 2024, in which it disclosed that it will offer 2.5 million Class A ordinary shares without stating the IPO price. More Background: Cuprina Holdings (Cayman) LTD filed its F-1 on March 7, 2024, without disclosing terms; estimated IPO proceeds were $10 million. Previously: The Cayman Islands-incorporated holding company submitted its confidential filing to the SEC on Oct. 13, 2023.) .
Cuprina Holdings (Cayman) LTD was founded in 2019 and has 14 employees. The company is located at c/o Blk 1090 Lower Delta Road #06-08 Singapore 169201 and can be reached via phone at +65 8512 7275 or on the web at https://www.cuprina.com/.
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First Dallas Securities Inc. cut its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO Free Report) by 39.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 9,315 shares of the companys stock after selling 6,161 shares during the quarter. First Dallas Securities Inc.s holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S were worth $1,330,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in NVO. Folketrygdfondet grew its holdings in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 1.4% in the first quarter. Folketrygdfondet now owns 8,756,034 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,124,275,000 after acquiring an additional 124,770 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its position in Novo Nordisk A/S by 10.6% in the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 8,589,222 shares of the companys stock worth $1,102,857,000 after purchasing an additional 823,036 shares during the last quarter. Capital International Investors grew its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S by 22.3% in the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 7,114,931 shares of the companys stock valued at $736,121,000 after purchasing an additional 1,297,536 shares during the period. GQG Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 654.6% during the 1st quarter. GQG Partners LLC now owns 3,633,064 shares of the companys stock valued at $466,485,000 after purchasing an additional 3,151,584 shares during the last quarter. Finally, 1832 Asset Management L.P. raised its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 7.8% during the 1st quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 2,373,029 shares of the companys stock worth $304,697,000 after purchasing an additional 172,003 shares during the period. 11.54% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
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Analysts Set New Price Targets
Several research firms recently weighed in on NVO. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and set a $160.00 price target on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research report on Monday, August 19th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a report on Thursday, May 30th. They issued a buy rating and a $156.00 price target on the stock. BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on Novo Nordisk A/S from $170.00 to $160.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, August 8th. Argus increased their target price on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from $125.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, June 10th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, August 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $145.17.
Novo Nordisk A/S Price Performance
Shares of NVO stock traded down $2.99 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $131.54. The stock had a trading volume of 1,018,802 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,322,003. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $135.30 and its 200 day simple moving average is $132.43. The firm has a market capitalization of $590.29 billion, a PE ratio of 45.30, a PEG ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.42. Novo Nordisk A/S has a 12 month low of $86.96 and a 12 month high of $148.15. The company has a current ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46.
Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The company reported $0.65 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.71 by ($0.06). The firm had revenue of $9.82 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.91 billion. Novo Nordisk A/S had a net margin of 34.86% and a return on equity of 87.43%. On average, equities research analysts predict that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 3.11 EPS for the current year.
Novo Nordisk A/S Cuts Dividend
The firm also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 26th. Investors of record on Friday, August 16th were given a dividend of $0.5126 per share. This represents a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 16th. Novo Nordisk A/Ss payout ratio is 24.83%.
Novo Nordisk A/S Company Profile
(Free Report)
Novo Nordisk A/S, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development, manufacture, and distribution of pharmaceutical products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North America, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Diabetes and Obesity Care, and Rare Disease.
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Foster & Motley Inc. lifted its stake in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM Free Report) by 1.3% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 116,082 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 1,522 shares during the period. Foster & Motley Inc.s holdings in Unum Group were worth $5,933,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in UNM. Versant Capital Management Inc boosted its position in Unum Group by 361.5% in the 2nd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 503 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 394 shares during the period. V Square Quantitative Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Unum Group during the 2nd quarter worth $26,000. Salomon & Ludwin LLC purchased a new stake in Unum Group in the first quarter worth about $28,000. 1620 Investment Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Unum Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $29,000. Finally, MCF Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Unum Group in the 1st quarter valued at about $35,000. 86.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
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Insider Activity
In other Unum Group news, EVP Timothy Gerald Arnold sold 10,000 shares of Unum Group stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.11, for a total value of $541,100.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 64,821 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,507,464.31. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.93% of the companys stock.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
A number of brokerages recently commented on UNM. Barclays initiated coverage on shares of Unum Group in a research note on Wednesday. They issued an overweight rating and a $73.00 price objective for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Unum Group from $64.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Citigroup lifted their target price on Unum Group from $62.00 to $69.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 23rd. Piper Sandler initiated coverage on shares of Unum Group in a research report on Thursday, July 11th. They issued an overweight rating and a $57.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Evercore ISI increased their target price on shares of Unum Group from $56.00 to $58.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 26th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Unum Group has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $62.90.
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Unum Group Stock Performance
Shares of Unum Group stock traded down $0.32 during trading on Thursday, hitting $54.83. 51,584 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,228,503. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.19, a PEG ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 0.81. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $53.40 and a 200-day simple moving average of $52.17. Unum Group has a 52-week low of $41.75 and a 52-week high of $58.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a current ratio of 0.28.
Unum Group (NYSE:UNM Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 30th. The financial services provider reported $2.16 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.02 by $0.14. Unum Group had a return on equity of 15.55% and a net margin of 10.40%. The business had revenue of $3.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.23 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.06 EPS. The companys revenue was up 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts forecast that Unum Group will post 8.5 EPS for the current year.
Unum Group declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase plan on Tuesday, July 30th that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the financial services provider to buy up to 10% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are often a sign that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.
Unum Group Increases Dividend
The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 26th were given a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.06%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 26th. This is a positive change from Unum Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. Unum Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 24.96%.
About Unum Group
(Free Report)
Unum Group, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial protection benefit solutions primarily in the United States, the United Kingdom, Poland, and internationally. It operates through Unum US, Unum International, Colonial Life, and Closed Block segment. The company offers group long-term and short-term disability, group life, and accidental death and dismemberment products; supplemental and voluntary products, such as individual disability, voluntary benefits, and dental and vision products; and accident, sickness, disability, life, and cancer and critical illness products.
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Foster & Motley Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Edison International (NYSE:EIX Free Report) by 3.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 95,584 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 3,591 shares during the period. Foster & Motley Inc.s holdings in Edison International were worth $6,864,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in EIX. Able Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Edison International during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Global Trust Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Edison International in the first quarter worth about $28,000. Country Trust Bank bought a new position in shares of Edison International during the 2nd quarter valued at about $29,000. OFI Invest Asset Management acquired a new position in shares of Edison International in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, LRI Investments LLC increased its stake in Edison International by 193.7% during the 2nd quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 514 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 339 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.95% of the companys stock.
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Analyst Ratings Changes
Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Guggenheim upped their price target on shares of Edison International from $80.00 to $83.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, July 26th. Evercore ISI increased their target price on Edison International from $82.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, August 14th. Mizuho lifted their price target on Edison International from $75.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, May 17th. Argus upped their price objective on Edison International from $78.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 12th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Edison International from $86.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, July 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $82.36.
Insider Buying and Selling at Edison International
In other news, CEO J Andrew Murphy sold 23,896 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.45, for a total value of $2,041,913.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 19,850 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,696,182.50. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO J Andrew Murphy sold 23,896 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.45, for a total transaction of $2,041,913.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 19,850 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,696,182.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, VP Natalie K. Schilling sold 2,341 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.00, for a total transaction of $187,280.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 6,338 shares in the company, valued at approximately $507,040. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 89,099 shares of company stock worth $7,223,342 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 1.03% of the companys stock.
Edison International Stock Performance
EIX traded up $0.48 during trading on Thursday, hitting $88.20. The stock had a trading volume of 98,405 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,983,016. 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 firm has a market cap of $34.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.47 and a beta of 0.91. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $79.13 and a 200-day moving average price of $73.99. Edison International has a one year low of $58.82 and a one year high of $88.77.
Edison International (NYSE:EIX Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 25th. The utilities provider reported $1.23 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.05 by $0.18. The business had revenue of $4.34 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.12 billion. Edison International had a net margin of 6.60% and a return on equity of 13.01%. The companys revenue was up 9.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.01 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Edison International will post 4.94 EPS for the current year.
Edison International Announces Dividend
The firm also recently disclosed 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.54%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, July 8th. Edison Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 136.84%.
Edison International Profile
(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.
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Hellenic Telecommunications Organization S.A. (OTCMKTS:HLTOY Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $8.50 and last traded at $8.50, with a volume of 697 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $8.40.
Hellenic Telecommunications Organization Stock Up 1.2 %
The companys 50 day moving average is $7.90 and its 200-day moving average is $7.62.
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Hellenic Telecommunications Organization Increases Dividend
The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 22nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 15th were given a dividend of $0.326 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, July 15th. This is an increase from Hellenic Telecommunications Organizations previous dividend of $0.26.
Hellenic Telecommunications Organization Company Profile
Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA provides telecommunications and related services to businesses and individuals primarily in Greece and Romania. It operates through OTE, COSMOTE Group, and Telekom Romania Mobile segments. The company offers fixed-line, Internet access, ICT, and TV production services; and international carrier services.
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Hudock Inc. lifted its stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG Free Report) by 0.5% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 208,105 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,021 shares during the period. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF accounts for about 3.8% of Hudock Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 8th largest position. Hudock Inc.s holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF were worth $20,201,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.
A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of AGG. Brio Consultants LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF in the 4th quarter worth $218,000. Retirement Systems of Alabama grew its stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 4.5% in the 4th quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 21,791 shares of the companys stock worth $2,163,000 after acquiring an additional 931 shares in the last quarter. Vantage Financial Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 9.2% in the 4th quarter. Vantage Financial Partners LLC now owns 335,320 shares of the companys stock worth $33,281,000 after acquiring an additional 28,241 shares in the last quarter. Aveo Capital Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 26.5% in the 4th quarter. Aveo Capital Partners LLC now owns 91,766 shares of the companys stock worth $9,108,000 after acquiring an additional 19,222 shares in the last quarter. Finally, 9258 Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 4.3% in the 4th quarter. 9258 Wealth Management LLC now owns 153,369 shares of the companys stock worth $15,222,000 after acquiring an additional 6,379 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.63% of the companys stock.
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iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Price Performance
AGG traded up $0.14 during trading on Thursday, hitting $100.94. 3,688,117 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 8,003,345. The stocks fifty day moving average is $99.01 and its 200 day moving average is $97.60. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF has a one year low of $91.58 and a one year high of $101.04.
About iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF
IShares are index funds that are bought and sold like common stocks on national securities exchanges as well as certain foreign exchanges. iShares are attractive because of their relatively low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account.
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Hudock Inc. trimmed its position in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report) by 1.1% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 48,819 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 564 shares during the quarter. Hudock Inc.s holdings in Pfizer were worth $1,366,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Crumly & Associates Inc. boosted its holdings in Pfizer by 37.5% in the second quarter. Crumly & Associates Inc. now owns 10,995 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $308,000 after acquiring an additional 2,998 shares during the last quarter. Beaumont Asset Management L.L.C. bought a new position in shares of Pfizer during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $471,000. First Dallas Securities Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 25.2% during the 2nd quarter. First Dallas Securities Inc. now owns 25,300 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $708,000 after acquiring an additional 5,100 shares during the period. Nicholas Hoffman & Company LLC. boosted its stake in Pfizer by 6.6% in the 2nd quarter. Nicholas Hoffman & Company LLC. now owns 44,230 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,238,000 after purchasing an additional 2,730 shares during the period. Finally, Meridian Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Pfizer by 154.8% in the 2nd quarter. Meridian Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 39,436 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,103,000 after acquiring an additional 23,958 shares in the last quarter. 68.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
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Analyst Ratings Changes
A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. Daiwa America upgraded Pfizer from a moderate buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Pfizer from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Pfizer from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating and issued a $45.00 price target on shares of Pfizer in a report on Monday, August 19th. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $30.00 to $32.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Pfizer currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $34.54.
Pfizer Stock Performance
Shares of Pfizer stock traded up $0.01 on Thursday, reaching $28.40. 11,091,847 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 38,283,742. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $29.03 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $28.04. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $160.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -477.09, a PEG ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 0.68. Pfizer Inc. has a twelve month low of $25.20 and a twelve month high of $35.28.
Pfizer (NYSE:PFE Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 30th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.46 by $0.14. The firm had revenue of $13.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.96 billion. Pfizer had a positive return on equity of 8.42% and a negative net margin of 4.66%. The businesss revenue was up 2.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.67 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Pfizer Dividend Announcement
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, July 26th were issued a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 26th. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.92%. Pfizers dividend payout ratio is presently -2,799.53%.
About Pfizer
(Free Report)
Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Abrysvo, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.
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Nicholas Hoffman & Company LLC. lifted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report) by 53.3% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 16,622 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 5,778 shares during the period. Nicholas Hoffman & Company LLC.s holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $1,684,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.
A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Philip Morris International by 2.6% in the second quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC now owns 14,712 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,491,000 after buying an additional 376 shares during the period. Kapstone Financial Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Philip Morris International by 68.4% in the second quarter. Kapstone Financial Advisors LLC now owns 7,194 shares of the companys stock valued at $729,000 after buying an additional 2,922 shares during the period. Range Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in Philip Morris International by 7.5% in the second quarter. Range Financial Group LLC now owns 20,972 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,125,000 after buying an additional 1,457 shares during the period. TD Asset Management Inc lifted its holdings in Philip Morris International by 5.0% in the second quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 747,142 shares of the companys stock valued at $75,708,000 after buying an additional 35,848 shares during the period. Finally, FineMark National Bank & Trust lifted its holdings in Philip Morris International by 57.2% in the second quarter. FineMark National Bank & Trust now owns 53,564 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,428,000 after buying an additional 19,489 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.63% of the companys stock.
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Philip Morris International Price Performance
Shares of Philip Morris International stock traded up $0.18 on Thursday, reaching $126.79. 1,105,287 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,273,063. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 52 week low of $87.23 and a 52 week high of $127.41. The company has a 50 day moving average of $112.91 and a 200 day moving average of $101.82. The firm has a market capitalization of $197.10 billion, a PE ratio of 24.73, a PEG ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 0.55.
Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement
Philip Morris International ( NYSE:PM Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, July 23rd. The company reported $1.59 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.57 by $0.02. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 9.41% and a negative return on equity of 113.32%. The firm had revenue of $9.47 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.19 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.60 EPS. The companys revenue was up 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.45 earnings per share for the current year.
The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 8th. Investors of record on Friday, June 21st were issued a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.10%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 21st. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 101.56%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
Several research firms recently issued reports on PM. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Philip Morris International from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, July 22nd. Bank of America lifted their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $125.00 to $139.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $120.00 to $138.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $110.00 to $125.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on shares of Philip Morris International from $116.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $113.70.
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Insider Buying and Selling
In related news, insider Massimo Andolina sold 9,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.35, for a total value of $1,038,150.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 85,629 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,877,305.15. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other Philip Morris International news, insider Massimo Andolina sold 9,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.35, for a total value of $1,038,150.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 85,629 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,877,305.15. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Wilde Frederic De sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.01, for a total transaction of $2,260,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 158,447 shares in the company, valued at $17,906,095.47. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.13% of the stock is owned by insiders.
Philip Morris International Company Profile
(Free Report)
Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.
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SouthState Corp decreased its holdings in shares of EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Free Report) by 0.9% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 15,859 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after selling 136 shares during the quarter. SouthState Corps holdings in EOG Resources were worth $1,996,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in EOG Resources by 0.3% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 54,275,932 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $6,938,635,000 after buying an additional 146,674 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors raised its stake in shares of EOG Resources by 1.3% in the first quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 28,889,715 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $3,693,261,000 after acquiring an additional 373,365 shares during the period. Capital World Investors lifted its holdings in shares of EOG Resources by 5.4% in the 1st quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 26,782,454 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $3,423,869,000 after acquiring an additional 1,361,538 shares during the last quarter. Capital International Investors grew its holdings in EOG Resources by 7.1% during the 1st quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 11,564,463 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $1,478,401,000 after purchasing an additional 766,056 shares during the last quarter. Finally, DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main lifted its stake in shares of EOG Resources by 26.3% during the 4th quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 4,948,119 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $598,475,000 after acquiring an additional 1,029,727 shares during the last quarter. 89.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
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EOG Resources Stock Performance
EOG Resources stock traded down $0.16 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $122.62. 849,959 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,124,716. EOG Resources, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $108.94 and a fifty-two week high of $139.67. The firm has a market capitalization of $70.47 billion, a PE ratio of 9.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.22 and a beta of 1.30. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $126.84 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $125.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a quick ratio of 1.89 and a current ratio of 2.12.
EOG Resources Announces Dividend
EOG Resources ( NYSE:EOG Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The energy exploration company reported $3.16 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.98 by $0.18. EOG Resources had a return on equity of 25.42% and a net margin of 30.33%. The company had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.07 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.49 EPS. EOG Resourcess quarterly revenue was up 8.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 12.2 earnings per share for the current year.
The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 31st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 17th will be issued a dividend of $0.91 per share. This represents a $3.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.97%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 17th. EOG Resourcess payout ratio is 28.75%.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
EOG has been the subject of several research reports. Mizuho upped their price target on shares of EOG Resources from $140.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, May 13th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and set a $147.00 target price on shares of EOG Resources in a research report on Wednesday, July 10th. KeyCorp assumed coverage on EOG Resources in a research report on Thursday, June 27th. They issued an overweight rating and a $157.00 price target for the company. Wolfe Research initiated coverage on EOG Resources in a research note on Thursday, July 18th. They issued a peer perform rating on the stock. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $139.00 to $125.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 17th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $143.95.
Read Our Latest Research Report on EOG Resources
Insider Activity
In related news, COO Jeffrey R. Leitzell sold 4,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $126.48, for a total transaction of $505,920.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 35,058 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,434,135.84. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, Director Charles R. Crisp sold 6,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.60, for a total transaction of $816,400.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 60,892 shares in the company, valued at $7,648,035.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, COO Jeffrey R. Leitzell sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $126.48, for a total transaction of $505,920.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 35,058 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,434,135.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 21,537 shares of company stock worth $2,751,612 over the last 90 days. 0.30% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
EOG Resources Company Profile
(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.
Further Reading
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Shares of The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE:SAM Get Free Report) have been assigned an average rating of Hold from the twelve brokerages that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $326.92.
A number of equities research analysts have commented on SAM shares. Piper Sandler reduced their target price on Boston Beer from $344.00 to $325.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Boston Beer from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $290.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, June 5th. Roth Mkm lowered their target price on shares of Boston Beer from $395.00 to $389.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Boston Beer from a hold rating to a buy rating and boosted their price target for the company from $335.00 to $360.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 14th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price objective on shares of Boston Beer from $273.00 to $283.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 17th.
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Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Boston Beer
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
Boston Beer Stock Up 0.2 %
Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. LRI Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of Boston Beer in the 1st quarter valued at about $28,000. Seven Eight Capital LP raised its holdings in Boston Beer by 160.0% during the first quarter. Seven Eight Capital LP now owns 4,940 shares of the companys stock worth $1,504,000 after purchasing an additional 3,040 shares in the last quarter. Trexquant Investment LP lifted its position in shares of Boston Beer by 136.3% during the 4th quarter. Trexquant Investment LP now owns 13,171 shares of the companys stock worth $4,552,000 after buying an additional 7,598 shares during the last quarter. Natixis acquired a new position in shares of Boston Beer in the 1st quarter valued at $3,044,000. Finally, Commerce Bank purchased a new position in shares of Boston Beer in the 4th quarter valued at $402,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.13% of the companys stock.
NYSE SAM opened at $280.65 on Friday. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $281.31 and its 200-day simple moving average is $289.87. The firm has a market cap of $3.29 billion, a PE ratio of 35.21, a P/E/G ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 1.06. Boston Beer has a 52 week low of $254.40 and a 52 week high of $395.52.
Boston Beer (NYSE:SAM Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The company reported $4.39 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $4.99 by ($0.60). Boston Beer had a return on equity of 9.69% and a net margin of 4.39%. The firm had revenue of $579.10 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $597.33 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $4.72 earnings per share. Boston Beers revenue for the quarter was down 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that Boston Beer will post 9.65 EPS for the current year.
About Boston Beer
(Get Free Report
The Boston Beer Company, Inc produces and sells alcohol beverages primarily in the United States. The company's flagship beer is Samuel Adams Boston Lager. It offers various beers, hard ciders, flavored malt beverages, and hard seltzers under the Samuel Adams, Twisted Tea, Truly, Angry Orchard, Dogfish Head, Angel City, and Coney Island brand names.
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Nicholas Hoffman & Company LLC. increased its position in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report) by 1.1% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,975 shares of the investment management companys stock after purchasing an additional 22 shares during the period. Nicholas Hoffman & Company LLC.s holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $893,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 1.2% in the second quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,019 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $913,000 after purchasing an additional 23 shares in the last quarter. Kapstone Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in The Goldman Sachs Group in the second quarter worth about $1,373,000. TD Asset Management Inc lifted its holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group by 4.3% in the second quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 188,873 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $85,431,000 after acquiring an additional 7,738 shares during the last quarter. FineMark National Bank & Trust lifted its holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group by 8.5% in the second quarter. FineMark National Bank & Trust now owns 3,264 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,476,000 after acquiring an additional 255 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stablepoint Partners LLC lifted its holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group by 3.0% in the second quarter. Stablepoint Partners LLC now owns 816 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $402,000 after acquiring an additional 24 shares during the last quarter. 71.21% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Evercore ISI raised their target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $475.00 to $520.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, July 16th. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $490.00 to $535.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $461.00 to $464.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, July 16th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $513.00 to $561.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, July 30th. Finally, Seaport Res Ptn cut The Goldman Sachs Group from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, July 2nd. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $495.94.
Insiders Place Their Bets
In other The Goldman Sachs Group news, Director Thomas K. Montag sold 10,000 shares of The Goldman Sachs Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $505.04, for a total transaction of $5,050,400.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 12,450 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,287,748. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other The Goldman Sachs Group news, Director Thomas K. Montag sold 10,000 shares of The Goldman Sachs Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $505.04, for a total transaction of $5,050,400.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 12,450 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,287,748. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Goldman Sachs Group Inc sold 4,000,000 shares of The Goldman Sachs Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.34, for a total transaction of $25,360,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 12,981,022 shares in the company, valued at $82,299,679.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 4,013,500 shares of company stock worth $32,181,365. 0.54% of the stock is owned by insiders.
The Goldman Sachs Group Price Performance
Shares of NYSE GS traded up $3.72 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $494.36. 219,388 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,258,851. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $289.36 and a fifty-two week high of $517.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.20, a current ratio of 0.72 and a quick ratio of 0.72. The firm has a market cap of $159.41 billion, a PE ratio of 19.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 1.36. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $487.95 and a 200-day simple moving average of $446.81.
The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 15th. The investment management company reported $8.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $8.52 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $12.73 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.60 billion. The Goldman Sachs Group had a net margin of 9.36% and a return on equity of 10.56%. Equities research analysts anticipate that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 35.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.
The Goldman Sachs Group Increases Dividend
The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 30th will be given a $3.00 dividend. This is a positive change from The Goldman Sachs Groups previous quarterly dividend of $2.75. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 30th. This represents a $12.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.43%. The Goldman Sachs Groups payout ratio is 46.86%.
About The Goldman Sachs Group
(Free Report)
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a financial institution, provides a range of financial services for corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals worldwide. It operates through Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions segments. The Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial advisory services, including strategic advisory assignments related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings, and spin-offs; and relationship lending, and acquisition financing, as well as secured lending, through structured credit and asset-backed lending and involved in financing under securities to resale agreements.
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The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE:THG Get Free Report) has earned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the five brokerages that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $157.80.
Several research analysts have recently commented on THG shares. Bank of America reduced their price target on The Hanover Insurance Group from $161.00 to $158.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 6th. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from $147.00 to $162.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. JMP Securities boosted their target price on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a market outperform rating in a report on Thursday, August 1st. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price target on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from $142.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Tuesday, August 13th.
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View Our Latest Stock Report on THG
The Hanover Insurance Group Stock Up 0.1 %
THG stock opened at $147.30 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.40, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $133.23 and a two-hundred day moving average of $131.45. The Hanover Insurance Group has a 12 month low of $103.82 and a 12 month high of $149.25. The company has a market cap of $5.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.03 and a beta of 0.68.
The Hanover Insurance Group (NYSE:THG Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 31st. The insurance provider reported $1.88 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.88. The firm had revenue of $1.54 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.49 billion. The Hanover Insurance Group had a return on equity of 12.42% and a net margin of 4.44%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned ($1.91) earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that The Hanover Insurance Group will post 10.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
The Hanover Insurance Group Announces Dividend
The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 13th will be issued a $0.85 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 13th. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.31%. The Hanover Insurance Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 76.23%.
Insider Activity at The Hanover Insurance Group
In other The Hanover Insurance Group news, EVP Richard W. Lavey sold 8,468 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.01, for a total transaction of $1,219,476.68. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 36,281 shares in the company, valued at $5,224,826.81. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other The Hanover Insurance Group news, EVP Richard W. Lavey sold 8,468 shares of The Hanover Insurance Group stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.01, for a total value of $1,219,476.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 36,281 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,224,826.81. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Kathy S. Lane sold 1,884 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $134.23, for a total transaction of $252,889.32. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 10,852 shares of company stock worth $1,541,491. Insiders own 2.40% of the companys stock.
Hedge Funds Weigh In On The Hanover Insurance Group
Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group during the second quarter worth $25,000. Riverview Trust Co acquired a new position in The Hanover Insurance Group during the 1st quarter worth $31,000. Quarry LP purchased a new stake in The Hanover Insurance Group during the 4th quarter worth about $34,000. 1620 Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in The Hanover Insurance Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $42,000. Finally, GHP Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group by 64.9% in the 2nd quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 427 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $54,000 after buying an additional 168 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.61% of the companys stock.
The Hanover Insurance Group Company Profile
(Get Free Report
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides various property and casualty insurance products and services in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Core Commercial, Specialty, Personal Lines, and Other. The Commercial Lines segment offers commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, workers' compensation, and other commercial lines coverage.
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One may think it strange that after giving the British royal family a serious shedload of vitriol and nastiness in the press and in tell-all books that the wayward Prince Harry was well done with the Windsors, but apparently not. For some reason, he now wants to reconcile with his brother William and the King, or maybe he is being egged on by someone to do so. Despite previously demanding a grovelling public apology from King Charles and Prince William, Harry is now begging to come back into the fold on a limited basis and seeing as there was no apology from the royals, he is so desperate that he is even foregoing on the apology in his rush to get back into the Firm. To reconcile with the royal family is now priority number one for the Sussex Squad led by masterminds Meghan Markle and Omid Scobie.
Royal expert, Hugh Levington Carrington Smythe reveals the truth of the matter.
They desperately need more material. Most certainly it is Meghan pushing Harry into a possible reconciliation. The Netflix thing has dried up because there is no more fuel in the can as they have already spilled the beans on everything they knew. Netflix and the other US trash media are hungry for fresh news and salty details about the Windsors. In isolation thousands of miles away from the source of their income, they need to be around the royals so they can get more gasoline to throw on the fire thus keeping their money making train going by selling out and trashing the royal family.
The truth is that the Sussexes have capitalised on their royal title up to a point, but its not enough to keep up with their very expensive private jet lifestyle. They are leaking hundreds of thousands of dollars per week on useless Meghan initiatives, lawyers, PR, private security, clothes and private jets as well as the upkeep of their Montecito Mcmansion with all the staff.
The Meghan plan for Harry is to infiltrate the Windsors proclaiming a faux reconciliation and to eventually get them talking about private matters again. This may take a few trips, or maybe a lengthier stay, but this is the ultimate plan. As Meghan knows, it is all about finding the weak spots in a target then capitalising on that.
Once the Sussexes have gleaned enough information then they will simply rinse and repeat their previous malicious attacks on the royal family. It is sad that Harry and Meghan made the last few years of the late Queen Elizabeth IIs life so miserable, but it is possible they will have no qualms about doing the same to King Charles III for money.
Meghans American River Orchard brand is being universally panned and that grift may actually lose money than make any. Netflix is down the poo chute because producers only want new material and not rehashed gossip and stories from 10 years ago.
Its all down to making money off the Windsor family and using their Sussex brand as much as possible, and to reconcile with the royal family is now the big plan.
Reported sectarian crime has increased year upon year in Derry over the past four years, according to new data.
Derry was subjected to another racist and sectarian hate crime in the last week when graffiti appeared on a new property development in Church Brae in the Waterside area.
The incident was widely condemned by the PSNI and local politicians.
Chief Inspector McManus said: We are treating this incident as not only criminal damage but as a hate crime, which is totally unacceptable.
This will not be tolerated. We will continue to work closely with our partners, community representatives, and elected representatives. Hate crime has no place in our society whatsoever. Be reassured, we will be relentless in our approach to identify those involved.
This incident is not an isolated event, as seen with the paint being thrown over Walkers Plinth in early July.
Derry News have acquired new data from a Freedom of Information request to the PSNI looking at reported sectarian crimes in Derry.
In 2020, the reported sectarian hate crimes to the PSNI were recorded at 70.
Since then, the figures have increased year upon year, with 2021 recording 88 incidents, while 2022 recorded 100.
The rise continued into 2023 with 115 incidents of reported sectarian crimes in Derry.
Sinn Fein councillor Sandra Duffy said there was no place for any form of hatred or discrimination.
She said: There is no place for sectarianism or any form of hatred or discrimination anywhere in our society.
"Anyone with information on sectarian attacks or crimes should bring it forward to the police."
Meanwhile, many children involved within Reach Across, a cross-community youth organisation for 14-17 year olds in the North West region of Northern Ireland, giving their members the chance to socialise, have fun, and broaden their horizons, were shocked at the figures.
Jake, one of the members at Reach Across, said: You think with things like cross-community youth groups, you would have thought things were getting better.
The fact it is getting worse is concerning.
Meanwhile, Logan added her experience of casual sectarianism through everyday life.
She said: I went to a mixed primary school, and so I never truly understood the difference until I went to secondary school, and I learned the difference incredibly quickly. There are a lot of nasty things that can be said, and it was eye-opening.
Coming to Reach has helped solidify my earlier view from primary school that it doesnt matter where you are from or who you are; we are people and deserve basic respect.
Kelsey, another one of the children interviewed regarding the rise in reported sectarian crime, believes people find it hard to put the past behind them, but they must make a concerted effort to do this for the future generations in Derry.
She said: It is crazy to think about because we are in a cross-community youth club. We don't really think about what is happening elsewhere, as we are happy coming together.
Like you look at Belfast and the agreement not to take down the wall, that puts me into perspective. Regardless of the stigma from our backgrounds, those of our families too. We want to move past this, and I dont care what your background is; you should be welcome anywhere and into our friendship groups.
There should be more people looking to join groups like this reaching across the community and improving future relations in our city.
Derry Magistrate's Court heard today how when a young woman with first aid training stopped to assist a man lying in the street the man is alleged to have sexually assaulted her friend.
Paul Farren (34) of John Street in Derry appeared for a bail application today charged with sexual assault on June 22 this year.
The court heard that a 17-year-old female reported to police that she had been sexually assaulted outside the Iceland store in Foyle Street.
She said herself and a friend had seen a man lying on the street and as the friend had first aid training they stopped to help.
The female said the man told them his name was Paul and sat up, lit a cigarette and then touched her on the breast and kissed her neck.
The woman pushed him away and he allegedly tried to kiss her again before the man was said to have got up and walked away.
She gave police a description and after examining CCTV footage Farren was identified and arrested.
At interview Farren said he had no memory of the incident but confirmed it was him on the CCTV.
A police officer said Farren had shown 'no remorse'.
Bail was opposed due to the risk of re-offending and the fact that Farren's address was unsuitable.
The court heard that Farren had 10 bail breaches on his record.
Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said that it could be some time before there would be a decision in the case.
He said Farren had 'terrible record' but said he did not know the alleged injured party in the case.
The solicitor said that if Farren was given a no alcohol condition and kept it there would be no offending.
Deputy District Judge Sean O'Hare said he felt the bail application was 'premature' and refused it but said there had to be progress in the case.
Farren was remanded in custody and will appear again later this month.
Formula 1 star David Coulthard is to share the secrets of his success with more than 900 business leaders from across the UK and Ireland at a summit in Belfast.
The 13-time grand prix winner will be the keynote speaker when the ScaleX summit returns to the ICC in the city on November 13.
Coulthard, whose racing career saw him drive for Williams, McLaren and Red Bull Racing before co-founding production company The Whisper Group, one of Europes fastest growing media production companies, said he was excited to return to Belfast and take part in the gathering.
He said: One of the last times I was in Belfast was in 2018 with Red Bull Racing for a Formula 1 demo.
It is a fantastic city and I am looking forward to returning for the ScaleX summit.
Having lived my earlier life as a Formula 1 driver, I still function at my best when there is pressure to perform.
Im used to analysing information quickly, evaluating the risks and rewards, then making a rapid decision to produce a winning outcome.
Sport and business are very similar in that regard. In both fields there are lots of important decisions that need to be made quickly and calmly.
He added: Im looking forward to meeting many like-minded business people and contributing to the event in order to help them take their businesses to the next level.
The summit is the brainchild of Simple Scaling co-founders Brendan McGurgan and Claire Colvin.
Attendees will also hear from Portmarnock wellness authority and bestselling author Niall O Murchu and renowned entrepreneur Daniel Priestley.
Topics to be covered include how to become a key person of influence, how to optimise your mental performance and how to communicate with confidence.
Other speakers announced for the summit include entrepreneurs Norman Crowley and Jack Daly, and scaling expert Mac Lackey.
Mr McGurgan, director and co-founder of Simple Scaling, said: Were delighted to bring David Coulthard to Belfast as part of this years ScaleX summit.
His experience and knowledge perfectly complements our panel of world-class speakers.
Ms Colvin, director, added: This years ScaleX summit will help great people do great things with their businesses.
It isnt about discovering powerful leaders, its about helping people in leadership positions discover the power of their own voice and make the mindset shift required to successfully scale their business.
Ministers in the Stormont Executive are united in their efforts to do all they can to tackle a rise in race hate crime in Northern Ireland, First Minister Michelle ONeill has said.
Justice Minister Naomi Long added that it had been a difficult summer with rising tensions after a number of racist attacks.
The ministers were speaking as the Executive agreed its draft programme for government. One of the nine priorities in the plan is to provide safer communities.
It comes during a time of increased concern over race-related incidents in Northern Ireland.
Recent figures showed that the region reported the highest number of race-related incidents on record last year.
Some 1,411 such incidents were recorded in the 12 months from July 1 2023 to June 30 2024, according to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra).
The latest figures were recorded before the recent spate of race-related incidents in August which followed anti-immigration protests in Belfast.
Unrest in Belfast and attacks on some businesses owned by people from minority ethnic backgrounds came at a time of tension in some parts of the UK after misinformation on social media after the murder of three young children in Southport.
Ms ONeill said the Executive would do all that it could to tackle racist incidents.
She said: I think the Executive collectively has demonstrated over the harrowing events over the summer months that we stand united in saying no to racism, we stand united in saying no to hate and that we stand united in calling out those people that are responsible for the activities we have seen.
Day after day we are seeing reports of people being terrorised in their own community, people being terrorised to walk their children to school.
She added: That is not acceptable to anybody around the Executive table and we are all collectively committed to doing all that we can, including engaging with those people that are impacted, engaging with the black and ethnic minority community, engaging with people to ensure that they know we are their government, we are here for them and they are a valued part of our community.
One of our focuses is around safer communities.
Ms Long said there had to be a strong policing and justice response to hate crime.
She said: The fact that one of our nine priorities is about safer communities reflects our concerns about the harm that has been done by what has been a very difficult summer.
There is a lot of fear, a lot of tension in our community.
Whilst as Justice Minister I have a particular interest in terms of the justice elements of that, we recognise as a four-party Executive that this is a much wider issue.
It is about education and community support, it is about good relations, about race relations.
She added: I think there are many things that we can do to provide that reassurance and I think key to that is ensuring we have a strong policing and justice response.
Which is why the inclusion of safer communities is one of those nine priorities.
Northern Irelands top judge has said she wants sentences handed down in crown courts to be broadcast, but has expressed disappointment that the necessary legislation cannot be passed until at least 2027.
Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan said people have a right to know what happens in their courts.
She delivered her annual address to open the new legal year at the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast on Thursday.
The Lady Chief Justice is in favour of legislation which will allow for broadcasting in courts in Northern Ireland, placing the jurisdiction on a footing footing to that in England, Wales and Scotland.
Earlier this year a pilot programme filming judgments in the Court of Appeal was carried out.
Dame Siobhan said: The broadcasting of our senior courts will allow the public to better understand what we do and how judicial decisions are made, supporting the principle of open justice.
The broadcasters did an excellent job, and I was very impressed with the footage they compiled.
I would also like to be able to broadcast sentencing decisions of the crown court.
The crown court deals with trials in matters of serious criminality.
The Lady Chief Justice added: I have however been advised that it will not be possible to progress the necessary legislation until the next Assembly session, that is from mid-2027 onwards.
This delay is disappointing as it means we cannot build on the momentum we have achieved.
Without legislative change I cannot oversee the advances I would like.
However, I will continue to promote open justice within the parameters that are open to me.
That is because it is a long-established principle that justice must be done, and it must be seen to be done.
The public has a right to know what happens in their courts.
Dame Siobhan said another priority was enhancing peoples understanding of sentencing in criminal trials.
She said: I am unfortunately unable to speak to victims or their families due to my role as an appellate judge, but I wish to convey to all those affected that I do understand the pain and distress caused by the loss of a loved one or due to the effects of crime.
I have continued judicial training on sentencing principles and sentencing remarks to include how victim statements are communicated and as a priority, I am going to undertake further work with fellow judges, court users, victims groups and others in this area over the coming year.
While I am told that the Department of Justices budget precludes any major systemic transformational work, that should not in my view prevent achievable change.
The judiciary have been able to show how, through collaboration at a local level, changes can be introduced that will improve the experiences of those going through the justice system.
No longer just a chip supplier, Nvidia expands one-stop service into AI factory
In the current AI development trend, Nvidia is already dominating the leading position in the AI chip market and actively expanding its influence to data centers and related areas. CEO Jensen Huang is attempting to build Nvidia into a one-stop service platform with all the key data center elements. It will no longer just be a high-end chip hardware supplier, but an "AI factory."
Nvidia hopes to use this strategy to widen the gap with its competitors. At the financial report meeting for the latest quarter, Huang stressed Nvidia's strong ability to design AI factories and claimed that Nvidia has all the necessary components to complete the AI factory's construction. Not only would revenue increase, but clients would become further reliant on Nvidia's products.
It is estimated that Nvidia has taken up over 80% market share for the AI chip market. Aside from GPU achieving huge success within the industry, Nvidia is also actively expanding software, data center design and service, and network technology. For example, programmers can fully utilize Nvidia's chip functions through CUDA, a proprietary API that has been deeply cultivated for 17 years.
In addition, Nvidia will be investing resources in InifiniBand high-speed networking. Five years ago, Mellanox Technologies, which was acquired by Nvidia, was focused on developing this technology. It can be assumed that InfiniBand has likely become a core technology for most AI training and deployment.
Aside from hardware and software, Nvidia has also been developing AI-optimized Ethernet that can be widely applied to traditional data centers. Chief financial officer Colette Kress states that it is estimated that the AI Ethernet business will generate several billion dollars of revenue within a year.
Additionally, Nvidia has been selling products including CPU and networking chips. These products can work together seamlessly within data center equipment and offer professional hardware and software solutions according to the needs of specific industries such as healthcare and robotics.
Competitors actively aiming to close gap, Nvidia facing risks
However, competitors are also actively creating layouts. AMD has recently agreed to acquire data center design and manufacturing company ZT Systems with US$5 billion, aiming to close the gap between it and Nvidia. AMD has made other acquisitions in recent years as well, including Xilinx and data center networking company, Pensando, in 2022.
Other chip suppliers including Intel, Cerebras Systems, and SambaNova Systems, are also offering services and systems that support the creation and operation of AI tools. Plug-and-play AI infrastructures are currently favored by many, which can help corporations deploy AI solutions quickly.
However, Nvidia's AI factory strategy is also facing some risks. With competition intensifying in AI computing and the construction trend slowing down, clients may search for other substitute plans. While Nvidia is in the process of expanding market influence, it could face issues with regulations, especially in Europe, where Nvidia's market behavior has already been investigated, even having its French offices raided.
Huang recently stated that Nvidia's role is mostly that of a coordinator and designer, the goal is to guide the construction of complicated AI infrastructures, but Nvidia will not be producing all the equipment. With Nvidia planning to release the next generation of the Blackwell AI chip by the end of 2024 or early 2025, Nvidia will be providing design service for server racks accommodating full computing equipment.
Huang stresses that Nvidia is dedicated to designing AI infrastructures that accommodate client needs and blend them into the ecosystem. He also points out that this strategy will consolidate Nvidia's leading position and push Nvidia toward long-term success in the AI area.
UK semiconductor delegation eyes closer collaboration with Taiwan at SEMICON
The British semiconductor delegation, composed of 24 firms led by the UK Government's National Technology Adviser Dave Smith, has made its splash at SEMICON for the second year in a row.
The British office claimed the Pavilion is the third biggest national pavilion of this year's convention.
Future belongs to compound semiconductors
At the opening, President and CEO of SEMI Ajit Manocha declared the next decade would belong to compound semiconductors, a field in which the UK is the most focused.
"We're running very tight on Moore's Law on silicon technology", said Manocha, which means silicon photonics and compound semiconductors would be key to creating the AI chips and quantum computing, that enables the functionality of future mobile devices."
Manocha urges the UK to make itself more visible and collaborate further with Taiwan. He believes Taiwan is the foundation of the global semiconductor industry, where the production of Nvidia's AI chips would not be possible without the efforts of TSMC and ASE.
The British Representative to Taiwan, John Dennis, echoes this point, suggesting the pavilion showcases the dynamic potential of Britain's thriving tech sector and embodies their commitment to learn and collaborate with Taiwan's renowned semiconductor industry.
National Technology Adviser Dave Smith on his first visit to Taiwan believes the unique strength of the UK and Taiwan to be mutually complementary, describing it as a "jigsaw coming together." Smith believes the UK holds three areas of strategic advantage in the field of semiconductors: research and innovation system, open market, and technology ecosystem.
Furthermore, he emphasizes the UK is not trying to replicate the success of Taiwan and its large-scale manufacturing but rather they wish to double down on its R&D strengths, leveraging the legacy of Arm in chip designs while propelling its field of compound semiconductors. The delegation is made up of firms ranging from specialties such as photonics, and quantum to memory and manufacturing equipment.
Those firms include the likes of Advancete, Bay Photonics, Blueshift Memory, EMU Technologies, Gencoa, Gorilla Technology Group, IceMOS Technology, ipTEST, KuasaSemi, Kubos Semiconductors, Loadpoint, Lumai, Microbritt, Nanomation, ProSpectral, Quantum Science, Quinas Technology, Skylark Lasers, Smartkem, Thermco System, Crypto Quantique, CSConnected, Oxford Instruments, and Oxford Quantum Circuits.
Program Manager of Innovate UK Louise Hooker says 15 of these visiting semiconductor firms have previously been to Taiwan under their supervision which means this time they are not starting from scratch, instead are capitalizing momentum and further cementing relationships with potential Taiwanese partners.
Hooker mentions she is expecting some promising tangible outcomes from a lot of these efforts with some of these returning British firms undergoing the process of signing MOUs with local firms while many have had meaningful engagements with the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI).
Minister Neale Richmonds first meeting of his recent visit to Louth was with Dundalk Chamber.
Paddy Malone, PRO, stressed the need to retain the growth centres as defined by the National Development Plan 2040.
In particular, the twin towns of Drogheda and Dundalk and the recognition of Newrys importance in the region.
Minister Richmond indicated that while there is a review being carried out on the Plan, he would be in favour of enhancing the existing growth centres.
This would mean that the IDA and EI would prioritise those centres and that there would be no constraints placed on growth.
Pat McCormick, President, pointed out that the infrastructure in Dundalk was already at capacity in some areas.
He expressed the hope that capital expenditure on transport, wastewater and housing would be available to meet anticipated growth.
Read Next: Louth stats revealed in Director of Public Prosecution's annual report
Minister Richmond pointed out that this region, with DkIT, was well placed to develop in the financial services area. Mr Malone reminded the Minister of Dundalks recent win with Kaseya.
Mr Malone also raised the question of cross border businesses and employees working and living in different jurisdictions, not just Dundalk/Newry. The Minister asked for a briefing document on this.
Hanna McDonnell, VP, raised the issue of the threats to the hospitality sector.
She said that the restoration of the VAT rate from 9% to 13.5% was a blow that many businesses found difficult to cope with when the other costs were considered.
The Minister did indicate some sympathy on this but said that the tax cost of the 9% was prohibitive and would welcome alternative recommendations.
A number of children were allegedly sexually abused in nine schools run by religious orders throughout Louth according to a national Scoping Inquiry by Senior Counsel Mary OToole.
The inquiry engaged with alleged survivors of abuse who alleged they were abused while attending schools between 1927 and 2013.
The report revealed that there were at least 47 allegations made regarding schools under the patronage of religious orders in Louth against at least 26 alleged abusers.
Six of the schools named in the report were run by the Christian Brothers. In Dundalk, nine allegations were made against five alleged abusers at the Christian Brothers Primary School while four allegations were made against three individuals at the Christian Brothers Secondary in the town.
Separately in Dundalk, nine allegations were made against four individuals at St. Mary's College, Secondary School which was run by the Marist Fathers.
In Omeath, there were five allegations against three alleged abusers at St. Michael's College Post Primary which closed in 1986.
Elsewhere in Louth, there were fourteen allegations against six alleged abusers at the St. Joseph's CBS Primary School in Drogheda run by the Christian Brothers.
There were four allegations relating to two alleged abusers at St. Mary's CBS, Drogheda Secondary School under the patronage of the Christian Brothers.
At Drogheda CBS Primary School run by the Christian Brothers there were two allegations against two alleged abusers.
Additionally at St. Joseph's CBS Secondary School in Drogheda run by the Christian Brothers there was one allegation against one individual.
An allegation, or allegations, have also been made in relation to St. Mary's School, Drumcar run by Saint John of God Hospitaller Ministries (SJOG HSG).
No breakdown was given for Saint John of God Hospitaller Ministries schools. The inquiry revealed there were 144 allegations against 36 alleged abusers across seven Saint John of God Hospitaller Ministries schools.
Nationally, the Scoping Inquiry reported 2,395 allegations of historical sexual abuse, involving 884 alleged abusers in 308 schools across all parts of the country between the years 1927 to 2013. Most of these allegations have been reported from the records of 42 religious orders who currently or previously ran schools in Ireland.
Minister for Education Norma Foley has announced that a Commission of Investigation is to be established, following a recommendation in the Report of the Scoping Inquiry set up to examine historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders.
The establishment of a State inquiry into historical sexual abuse is one of a number of recommendations made by Senior Counsel, Mary OToole in her report to the Minister.
The Scoping Inquiry organised a Survivor Engagement process where those who had experienced sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders were invited to come forward and share their views regarding an appropriate State response.
Participants reported experiences of sexual abuse in primary, post-primary and special schools, both public and private, run by religious orders across the country.
One of the most compelling aspects of the Report is that older participants provided devastating accounts of how sexual abuse in childhood has affected their entire lives, from their schooldays through adolescence, early adulthood and right through to later years.
I am pleased to note that the report states that current child protection measures in schools are robust and effective and I am conscious that the safety of children today is a matter of paramount concern to survivors and all of society, said Minister Foley.
The Scoping Inquiry report further recommends that consideration be given by government to establishing a redress scheme for survivors of historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders.
Further recommendations relate to improving the experience for survivors in legal processes and the establishment of dedicated support services for survivors, particularly in relation to the Commission and potential participation in that process.
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An Garda Siochana is appealing to anyone who wishes to report a crime relating to Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools Run by Religious Orders.
For the purpose of reporting to An Garda Siochana, the following options are available:
By emailing GNPSB_SCMU@garda.ie By phoning the Garda Child Sexual Abuse Reporting Line on 1800 555 222. This is a confidential and free service available 24/7 Calling to your local Garda Station
An Garda Siochana is also appealing to anyone who may have information, including as a witness, relating to crimes of Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools run by Religious Orders, to make contact with them so that such crimes can be investigated.
Louth artist and textile designer Caroline Duffy is bringing a flourish of floral blooms to the Irish Made Awards this year.
This year is her third years as a finalist. She was awarded Highly Recommended in 2023, and says she is hoping to bring home first place this year.
But she needs your help. As it is a public vote, its down to you to help her come first in the fashion category.
Caroline is artist and textile designer living in Dundalk.
She told how while studying at the National College of Art & Design in Dublin, she fell in love with textiles and pattern.
After graduating from NCAD in 2001, she spent 10 years creating surface and textile design for Textile Houses in New York, Sydney and London.
She said she then decided to start her own design and art business, back here in Ireland.
With Carolines art her signature colourful pieces are all inspired by nature whether its a floral or
abstract art, she paints in a variety of techniques watercolour, acrylics and mixed media - on canvas or water based paper.
Her art has been sold all over the world, from Ireland, across Europe to Asia.
Caroline said she is delighted to launch a brand new collection. Standout, sustainable new garment shapes to add to her slow fashion collection - luxury silk co-ordinates of Palazzo pants, tops, wrap skirts, hair bows and scarves.
She said: My passion is to bring well-being to her customer by surrounding them with nature and flowers.
Studies have shown that flowers can induce creative energy and positive vibes, ultimately making us feel better.
I create to enrich peoples lives with more joy, happiness and inspiration.
Redefining what it means to be a free-spirited strong person by surrounding them with the healing qualities of flowers through unique, uplifting art for mind, body and home.
I strives to transform female mental health challenges into golden opportunities for change, but encouraging my community to be creative, mindful and be fully aware of the healing qualities in nature.
Caroline said her brand Caroline Duffy Designs will redefine what it means to be a free-spirited strong Irish woman by surrounding her with the healing quality of luxury florals for mind, body and home.
To vote for Caroline in the Irish Made Awards please CLICK HERE
The family of a young woman who lost her life after being involved in a collision have set up a fundraiser in her memory.
Hannah Frawley, aged 25, from Caherelly, Grange, Count Limerick died on Sunday, August 11.
In her memory, the family has set up a fundraiser to raise funds for Bru Columbanus, which provides home from home accommodation for the families of patients in Cork hospitals.
Before she passed away, the young woman was in the ICU in Cork University Hospital for 12 days.
Before she died, Hannah spent 12 days in the ICU in Cork University Hospital. While she was there Bru Columbanus provided accommodation for her parents, which was a huge support as they were only minutes away from the hospital, wrote Hannahs mother, Liz Frawley, on the fundraiser page.
Every year, Bru Columbanus provides this kind of support for hundreds of families with critically ill patients in hospital. Bru Columbanus is entirely funded by donations. In memory of Hannah, Team Hannah are completing the Walk for Bru on 28th September. Your donation would be greatly appreciated and will go directly to this great fund. We hope you can help by donating whatever you can.
So far, 13,870 have been raised. You can donate to the fundraiser here.
Ms Fawley is survived by her parents Ger and Liz and her brother Luke.
She is also survived by her grandmother Kathleen, her brother Lukes fiancee Ellen, her partner Chase, uncles, aunts, extended family and friends.
She was a passenger in a car involved in a single vehicle collision on the R503 at Drominboy, Lisnagry, County Limerick on July 30.
The man who was driving the car, also aged in his 20s, and Ms Frawley were both brought to hospital for treatment.
Dermot Bannon has opened up about suffering a pulmonary embolism over the summer when a clot worked its way from his leg into his lungs.
The architect felt unwell while on a family holiday to Portugal and initially put it down to fatigue and stress. However, the pain worsened and soon he was "in agony".
Speaking on the Ray Darcy Show on RTE Radio One, Bannon revealed that he suffered the major medical scare while holidaying with his family for a week in Portugal.
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The 52-year-old father of three opened up about suffering a pulmonary embolism in his lungs, that left him in so much pain it made him feel as though he had broken a rib.
Bannon went to the hospital in Portugal soon after, where they told him it was a lung infection.
"I had had Covid three weeks before that, so it was all put down to that," he said. "I got better, the symptoms kind of subsided, flew home, and then a week later - if I'd gone for two weeks' holiday, I would've still been over there - the pains came back - but more severe.
"Lying in the bed, four o'clock in the morning, really sharp pains down my side. I was pumping Nurofen into myself to try and get rid of them."
Bannon visited his health insurer's clinic the next day and was told his lung infection hadn't cleared up. He was sent for a blood test in A&E which showed "that there might be some clotting going on".
"Then they did a CT scan immediately," Bannon said. "I had what was known as a pulmonary embolism, which was a blood clot that came from my leg, had worked its way up, was in my lungs - in both lungs."
The 52-year-old told listeners that had he not prioritised his health, things would have become "worse and worse and worse".
"What happens is if you don't spot it, if you don't do something, the pressure on your heart can cause a cardiac arrest."
He added that he had been putting down the symptoms "to just getting a bit older".
"Part of it was just me feeling infallible - and me feeling nothing can go wrong with me. 'I feel great. I will look after myself. I'm all of these things'."
"It was the week after it kind of really hit me," he told Ray Darcy. "It's one of the biggest killers in Ireland, but nobody knows about it.
"At the moment, the treatment is very heavy kind of blood thinners, which will dissolve the thing."
Bannon told listeners watch out for the warning signs of pulmonary embolisms.
"Swelling or pain in one leg or a warmth or redness in your arm or your leg," he said. "Short[ness] of breath.
"The other one is chest pain, which is what I got. To describe it, it was like a sharp pain, especially when I took a deep breath in.
"And then the last one is if you're coughing up blood. But if you've got a sharp pain in your side and you don't know what it is, or if you're short of breath, go in to hospital.
"If you've any of these symptoms, straight in to A&E."
Chinese, Ghanaian presidents announce elevation of bilateral ties
Xinhua) 20:12, September 05, 2024
BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo met on Thursday and announced the elevation of China-Ghana ties to a strategic partnership.
Akufo-Addo is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
Xi said China is willing to strengthen the alignment of development strategies with Ghana and to continue providing assistance to the best of its ability to Ghana.
China stands ready to expand cooperation with Ghana in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, energy, mineral resources and infrastructure, and hopes that Ghana will continue to offer relevant support and facilitation to Chinese enterprises and citizens, he said.
China supports Ghana in its work as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2024-2026 term, and is ready to enhance strategic coordination with Ghana on international and regional issues, Xi said.
Noting that China has been Ghana's most trustworthy friend and partner for over 60 years, Akufo-Addo said Ghana hopes to further expand cooperation with China in the fields of electricity, mineral resources and new energy, and is willing to provide facilitation for Chinese enterprises.
Akufo-Addo expressed appreciation for President Xi's proposal of 10 partnership actions to jointly advance modernization with Africa at the summit, saying that Ghana is willing to work actively with China to implement these actions.
(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Ireland should be increasing support for a UN agency training mine clearance specialists in Ukraine, according to an Irish expert.
David McMahon, head of the mine action unit at the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), started working in the area of demining in Cambodia during the early 1990s.
UNOPS is tasked with delivering a variety of projects for other UN agencies around the world, including the Mine Action Service.
In Ukraine, UNOPS is primarily working on improving the states capacity to carry out demining.
Its operations in the region are funded by France, the UN Development Project and the Netherlands.
Since hostilities in 2014, Ukraine has become one of the most heavily mined countries in the world.
The National Mine Action Authority (NMAA) estimates that more than a third of Ukrainian territory is potentially contaminated with explosive ordnance as a result of the Russian invasion in 2022.
Mr McMahon said land mines are being used by both Ukraine and Russia in the conflict.
Based on data collected and on prior land release in 2023, the World Bank says the current total costs for the clearance of explosive ordnance across Ukraine are an estimated 34.6 billion dollars.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights says that as of January 15 this year, there were 339 civilian victims of mines and explosive remnants of war and 757 people were injured.
Clearing explosive hazards will be a prerequisite to the return of safe living in Ukraine after the war.
Mr McMahon, who also has experience in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Georgia and Sudan, said: At the moment, we are training and equipping the bomb squad of the Ukrainian national police.
They have 350 men and women that are out clearing munitions, clearing IEDs, clearing devices.
They plan to scale up to about 1,500 personnel over the next year and were helping them with that.
UNOPS is also training Ukraines state transport service, a specialist unit of the defence ministry tasked with protection and construction of the national transportation system.
Mr McMahon said UNOPS is helping train and equip up to 480 deminers.
He said UNOPS works on humanitarian sites in areas of Ukraine which have been retaken from the Russian military and does not work within 20 kilometres of the frontline.
Asked about the scale of the task to clear mines and other explosives from all of Ukraine, Mr McMahon said the process will take years.
Mr McMahon, based in Kyiv, also said there is a huge requirement for prosthetics and orthotics due to injuries from mines and other explosives.
There are world-class centres here but the scale of the problem is huge, its absolutely massive.
Asked how demining has changed since he began in the early 1990s, Mr McMahon said the process in Cambodia relied on mass numbers of people, interviewing local residents about the contamination and carrying out a technical survey of the land.
He said equipment and processes around mine action have drastically improved.
Drone technology has advanced greatly, artificial intelligence (AI) has advanced greatly. Were using dogs, were using big tiller machines, were using IED robots theres a whole plethora of things.
He said there are algorithms which can look at patterns in satellite photos of land and determine they are clear, for example if a field had been cultivated since hostilities ceased.
However, Mr McMahon cautioned: The problem here is the scale which is just massive.
A further issue is a shortage of personnel for demining, due to the large numbers killed or fighting in the war as well as those displaced by the conflict.
Asked what the Irish Government could do to support UNOPS, Mr McMahon said: Ireland has world-class training facilities with the Irish Defences Forces. You cannot send people in here, however we can send people to Ireland for training.
As a neutral state, Ireland does not support offensive military operations. However, we (UNOPS) work with the national police, we work with non-combatants. Everything we do is humanitarian and neutral.
The Irish Defence Forces has been at the forefront of writing IED doctrine for the UN, thats used in Somalia and Mali and elsewhere.
Here in Ukraine, we have an IED problem and Ireland could really help with that.
Mr McMahon argued that it would be more sustainable for Ireland to deal with the Ukrainian state in the area of demining, rather than NGOs.
He called for Ireland to support the training of the Ukrainian polices bomb squad.
He also suggested Ireland could be involved in the production or procurement of required IED robots in Ukraine.
This will be an intergenerational problem, he said.
A Cork-based charity is calling on members of the public to educate themselves about sepsis during September, which is Sepsis Awareness Month.
Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death in Ireland, and the Irish Sepsis Foundation is calling on everyone to help save lives by raising awareness of the disease.
Speaking to The Echo, Cork barrister Doireann OMahony, the charitys founder, explained that sepsis is the term used to describe the bodys life-threatening response to any infection, and that sepsis affects upwards of 15,000 people and takes at least 3,000 adult lives every year in this country.
This September, Ms OMahony and her fellow board members will be continuing their mission to improve lives and prevent avoidable deaths by encouraging everyone to be aware of the signs and symptoms of sepsis, many of which can mimic other common illnesses.
The mnemonic S.E.P.S.I.S may be used to remember the signs and symptoms, which are S for slurred speech or confusion; E for extreme shivering or muscle pain, fever; P for passing no urine; S for severe breathlessness; I for it feels like youre going to die; and S for skin, mottled or discoloured, said Ms OMahony.
If somebody is displaying any one or more of those symptoms, then emergency medical attention should be sought, as time is a critical factor.
Ms OMahony said that sepsis is frequently under-diagnosed at an early stage when it is still potentially reversible.
That is why awareness of the symptoms is so important, she said. If in doubt, always ask the question: Could this be sepsis?.
The Irish Sepsis Foundation is hosting Stars for Sepsis at the Rochestown Park Hotel on Friday, September 13.
Among the items up for raffle will be an Ireland jersey signed by Roy Keane, a signed Ireland rugby jersey, and a Liverpool jersey signed by Steven Gerard.
Thanks to sponsorship by Medtronic, Dacent Munch, Biomerieux, and Novus Diagnostics, tickets are free.
Registration is open online.
For more, see Stars for Sepsis on Eventbrite.
A crowd of invited guests gathered at the naval base in Haulbowline yesterday for the commissioning ceremony of the two latest additions to the navys fleet, the LE Aoibhinn and the LE Gobnait, in what was hailed as a milestone occasion for the naval service.
LE Aoibhinn (P71) along with the LE Gobnait (P72) are the two inshore patrol vessels (IPVs) that were delivered to Cork last May to replace the decommissioned LE Orla and LE Ciara.
They were purchased from the New Zealand government and reoriented to specific Irish Naval Service requirements, overseen by the Irish Naval Service and the Department of Defence.
Sailors form a guard of honour for Tanaiste Micheal Martin at the Naming and commissioning ceremony of LE Aoibhinn and LE Gobnait at Haulbowline Naval Base, Co Cork. Pic: Larry Cummins
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony yesterday, Tanaiste and minister for defence, Micheal Martin, described the commissioning as an important occasion.
Todays commissioning of these versatile and important vessels is an important step forward in our efforts to safeguard our nations security and protect our critical infrastructure, he said. Put simply, today is a milestone for our naval service.
The vessels P71 and P72 berthed side by side. Naming and commissioning ceremony of LE Aoibhinn and LE Gobnait at Haulbowline Naval Base, Co Cork. Pic: Larry Cummins
These vessels, the LE Aoibhinn and the LE Gobnait, represent the beginning of a new era for the Irish Naval Service, and their commissioning marks an important occasion.
Extensive work has been undertaken over the past year, ensuring that these vessels are equipped for our specific needs and are ready to deploy with a very clear mission along our Eastern coast.
In taking up this role, they will free up the rest of our fleet to focus on vital operations elsewhere.
Crew of LE Aoibhinn. Naming and commissioning ceremony of LE Aoibhinn and LE Gobnait at Haulbowline Naval Base, Co Cork. Pic: Larry Cummins
The procurement of the IPVs, he said, is evidence of the Governments commitment to maritime security, and should serve as a very clear signal of future intent in this area.
Addressing staffing challenges within the Defence Forces, he said: In common with other international militaries, the Defence Forces is facing a challenging environment at present and, as minister for defence, in addition to a programme of cultural transformation, my focus has been on stabilising the numbers of personnel and facilitating the capacity for further increases and a number of specific actions in the area of retention have already been delivered.
Leading Seaman Leon Dunne with his four-month old daughter Aire beside the ship on which he will serve. Pic: Larry Cummins
Among the actions being taken to recruit and retain staff, Mr Martin said, is an increase in the mandatory retirement age to 62, an increase to 39 in the maximum recruitment age, along with significant progress on pay, particularly for new recruits.
At the ceremony, the Tanaiste also announced that the Sea-going Naval Personnel Tax Credit will be extended for a further five years. Concluding, he wished fair winds to those who will sail on the new IPVs.
At the commissioning yesterday, Lieutenant Commander Aonghus O Neachtain and Lieutenant Commander Aisling OFlynn, who will take command of the two new IPVs, were presented with the ships commissioning warrants documents signed by the minister on behalf of the Government granting both ships commission to Irish State ships status.
The vessels P71 and P72 berthed side by side. Naming and commissioning ceremony of LE Aoibhinn and LE Gobnait at Haulbowline Naval Base, Co Cork. Pic: Larry Cummins
Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Service, Michael Malone, said the new ships will perform a range of taskings.
Both of these vessels represent a welcome addition to our naval fleet and will be deployed with a focus on conducting maritime defence and security operations along our east coast in the Irish Sea, he said.
Operating in an increasingly contested maritime domain, these vessels will be tasked, among others, with ensuring the security of undersea fibre optic cables, which represent vital but vulnerable components of our international communications infrastructure, as well as our subsea interconnector pipelines which, as an island nation, we rely so heavily on.
A young Galway woman who was causing a drunken disturbance in Cork city identified herself to gardai with the name and address of another Galway woman an offence described as nasty by the sentencing judge.
Sinead OBrien, aged 20, of 77 An Sean Bhaile, Doughiska, Galway, appeared at Cork District Court where she pleaded guilty to giving gardai a false name and address and being drunk and a source of danger to herself or others at the time.
Judge Mary Dorgan said: The court is very concerned that she gave the name and address of a lady who was then implicated in this but knew nothing about it, which was an aggravating matter.
It was a nasty matter giving false details to the guards on the day.
People need to co-operate with the guards and behave themselves, and I need to take a view of it.
Initially, Judge Dorgan considered giving the defendant a two-month jail term.
Following defence submissions from solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher, Judge Dorgan said she would impose a longer sentence but suspend it. The four-month suspended sentence will not be activated unless she gets into further difficulties in the future.
The behaviour that gave rise to the case occurred on June 8, 2023, at Oliver Plunkett St.
Sergeant Gearoid Davis said gardai met with a person with OBrien, and that both of them were involved in an argument with another person at the scene.
OBrien identified herself to gardai under the name and address of another woman in Galway who was nowhere near this incident in Cork.
The defendant was arrested, and it later transpired her details were incorrect.
Diarmuid Kelleher said:
She is just 20 years of age. She had become slightly estranged from her family; now in good stead with her father and with her partner. She was homeless and drinking a lot when this occurred.
As well as the suspended sentence for the false information, OBrien was also fined 200 for being drunk and a danger.
A 28-year-old man appeared at Cork District Court yesterday, charged with twice raping a young woman nine years ago.
Detective Garda Mary Bridget Enneguess charged the man with two counts of vaginal rape and one count of sexual assault between February and December 2015.
Because of the nature of the charges, none of the parties can be identified.
No outline of the allegations which gave rise to the case was given in court yesterday.
On the application of Sergeant John Kelleher, Judge Mary Dorgan adjourned the case until October 16 to allow for the preparation of a book of evidence in the case that will ultimately be dealt with at the Central Criminal Court.
There was no objection to bail on conditions.
They include a requirement for him to have no contact, directly or indirectly, with the complainant or anyone involved in the case.
He is to reside at a Tipperary address given in court, notify gardai of any change of address, and provide a mobile number to gardai at which he can be contacted.
He must surrender his passport within 24 hours.
He must also sign on at his local garda station once a week.
Judge Mary Dorgan said if he breached any of those conditions, he would be sent to prison.
In addition, the judge put him on a 15,000 bond, with no requirement for a cash lodgement.
The accused made no reply when Det Gda Enneguess charged him, the court heard.
The accused was represented by barrister Fiachra Treacy.
A four-month jail term was imposed on a 25-year-old man who was granted bail on a charge of driving while disqualified but failed to turn up in court on the required date.
Cillian Wolfe, The Fairways, Little Island, was arrested by garda Michael Abernethy on June 22 and charged with driving a Ford Fiesta at Ballytrasna, Little Island, on that date when he was a disqualified driver and consequently uninsured.
On his first court appearance he had the case against him adjourned until July 16 but then he failed to appear.
Frank Buttimer said of the young man: He made a bad decision to drive on the occasion. The background overall is one of substance difficulty or multi-substances in fact.
On the other hand he had been working at the time of his arrest and there is a prospect that he will be re-employed on his release from prison. He has had the benefit of a drug counsellor.
Judge Mary Dorgan imposed the four-month sentence on him for not appearing in Cork District Court.
He had 46 previous convictions.
On the substantive issue of driving while disqualified, Judge Dorgan said she would sentence him on that on September 9.
The Irish Prison Service (IPS) has confirmed that they are aware of an incident of unlawful entry at the site of the former Cork Prison and are assisting gardai with their enquiries.
In a video posted on social media, a man is seen filming a walk around the old prison which he describes as being one of the best abandoned facilities of its type he has ever seen.
In a statement, the IPS said that the matter has been reported to gardai.
We are assisting them in their enquiries. The Prison Service takes the security of all facilities within the prison estate very seriously however we do not comment on security or operational matters.
"Members of the public are advised not to attempt to enter the former prison for safety reasons. All such instances will be reported to Gardai."
In relation to the future of the site, the IPS has indicated that engineering consultants are carrying out a detailed assessment of the facility in order to provide a feasibility report on the site.
They will then consider options for its potential short, medium and long term use.
The IPS statement also emphasises the poor condition of the prison when it closed eight years ago.
It is important to recognise that multiple reports including those by the Inspector of Prison and the CPT and the 2012 feasibility study on Cork Prison highlighted at the time serious deficiencies on the physical conditions of the former prison and significant health and safety concerns which resulted in the then closure of the facility and the construction of a new prison.
The old Cork Prison closed in 2016. It was originally built as detention unit by the British army in 1806 as part of its Victoria Barracks.
A new 45 million prison was built on Rathmore Road in Cork in 2016. The feasibility report on the old site is expected shortly.
Internationally renowned actor Fiona Shaw has said that the redevelopment of Crawford Art Gallery is a fantastic opportunity for Cork to expand itself.
The Cobh native, who now lives in London, described the gallerys redevelopment as a great symbol of the strength for the city while on a visit to the amenity before its expected closure later this month.
Ms Shaw holds strong ties to her Leeside roots, having graduated from University College Cork before moving on to attend the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London.
The actor has embarked on a career laden with critically acclaimed roles in theatre, film and TV, with her most notable appearances including parts in Harry Potter, My Left Foot and the BBC series, Killing Eve, for which she received a 2019 BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress.
Speaking on the ambitious multi-million euro redevelopment project at Crawford Art Gallery, Ms Shaw said: The country is transforming.
I feel were the only country in Europe with a surplus, that we could actually even dare to be thinking about improving our art galleries to such a scale.
This is a fantastic opportunity for Cork.
The actor further said that she has fond memories of the gallery from her childhood growing up in Cork city.
An oil painting portrait of Ms Shaw, by UK artist Victoria Russell, is amongst Crawford Art Gallerys most-loved collection works and was purchased by the gallery shortly after its completion in 2002.
During her recent visit, Ms Shaw met with gallery director Mary McCarthy and curator Dr Michael Waldron to take a tour of the currently running exhibition, Now You See It.
Ms Shaw noted that Daunt by Dorothy Cross was a favourite artwork of hers in the exhibition, which will run until September 15.
The gallery will then temporarily close to the public to facilitate works on September 22, which will see the gallery increase its space by 50%.
The project will also add a new fifth-storey public gallery with a birds-eye view over Cork city, and will conserve 300 years of built heritage for generations to come. The gallery expects to reopen to the public in mid-2027.
A full programme of Culture Night events will also take place at Crawford Art Gallery on September 20 before its closure.
See www.crawfordartgallery.ie.
A 19-year-old man accused of carrying out a robbery on another man outside a shop in Cork city centre had the case against him adjourned so that CCTV of the incident can be shown to the judge at Cork District Court.
Sergeant John Kelleher said at Cork District Court that Nathan OCallaghan of 5 The Rise, Sweetfield, Youghal, County Cork, was charged with robbery and that the DPP directed that the case was suitable to be dealt with summarily at Cork District Court, rather than by judge and jury at the circuit court.
Sergeant Kelleher gave an outline of the allegations so that Judge Mary Dorgan could decide on whether or not she too would accept jurisdiction.
The charge relates to alleged robbery of a man at Spar, Parnell Place, on May 28 2023.
It is alleged that Nathan OCallaghan and another person approached the injured party outside Spar on May 28 2023 at 3.44 pm. It is alleged that both males assaulted him by punching him to the head and face.
The injured party fled into Spar and was pursued by Nathan OCallaghan who proceeded to further assault him and rob him of 70 cash and earphones valued 40 and this property was never recovered.
There is excellent CCTV of the entire incident. The DPP has directed prosecution on one count of robbery. Sgt Kelleher said.
Judge Mary Dorgan asked if there was a medical report on the injured party.
Sgt Kelleher said there was no medical report but that the information on the garda file was that the victim was not seriously injured.
Judge Dorgan said that she would like to see CCTV of the incident before deciding on whether or not she would accept jurisdiction to deal with the case at district court level.
The case was adjourned until September 30 for playing of the CCTV of the incident.
A barber and tattoo artist, who is awaiting trial accused of murdering a father-of-two in a sword attack in Cobh, Co Cork, has been refused bail.
Dylan Scannell, aged 30, of ORahilly St, Cobh, is charged with the murder of Ian Baitson, aged 33, at Newtown Rd on March 15.
Mr Baitson was injured shortly before 9 pm in a Eurospar car park and taken to Cork University Hospital for treatment.
However, he was pronounced dead four days later.
Mr Scannell, a father of three, has been in custody on remand following a District Court appearance on March 25.
In July, he was further charged with two additional offences.
One of the newer charges was for the production of a long-bladed sword capable of inflicting serious injury in the course of a dispute and in a manner likely to unlawfully intimidate another person on March 15 at the Eurospar car park.
The other was under money laundering legislation for possessing crime proceeds between August 2023 and March 2024.
Because he faces a murder charge, the accused had to bring his bail application to the High Court in Cloverhill, Dublin.
He appeared before Mr Justice Tony Hunt via video link today but did not give evidence during the proceedings.
His barrister, Keith Branagan, argued that conditions could address issues raised by gardai.
The defence also proposed that the bail could be set in his bond of 10,000 with a 10,000 independent surety, and Mr Scannell would surrender his passport and reside outside of Cobh.
Gillian Finane, for the State, asked for bail objections to be outlined by Detective Sergeant Gerard OShaughnessy from the investigation team at Midleton Garda Station, which were supported by Chief Superintendent Vincent OSullivan, who heads up Cork West and Cork North Garda Division.
Det Sgt OShaughnessy voiced concerns about flight risk and witness interference.
However, he agreed with Mr Branagan that his client had significant ties in the jurisdiction, having a girlfriend and three children.
The hearing was told Mr Scannell used to run a barber and tattoo shop, but it closed during the covid-19 pandemic.
Det Sgt OShaughnessy also accepted there was no evidence that Mr Scannell had been located near a border area or about to board a ferry.
He alleged that for days after the incident, the accused had been staying in a secluded location in Cappoquin, Co Waterford, while posting on social media that he was fishing in Fermoy, Co Cork.
He was arrested on March 22.
Mr Justice Hunt stressed the legal position that a presumption in favour of bail was rooted in the presumption of innocence.
He considered the proposals by the defence but held that gardai had established their grounds and denied Mr Scannell bail.
Mr Justice Hunt noted from Ms Finane that it was expected that the prosecutions book of evidence book will be ready to be served on the accused in the District Court on Tuesday.
Mr Justice Hunt also said that Mr Scannell should not have a lengthy wait until his trial, because the Central Criminal Court regularly sits in Cork.
New Mexico's attorney general has filed a lawsuit against Snap, accusing the company of failing to protect children from sextortion, sexual exploitation and other harms on Snapchat. The suit contends that Snapchat's features "foster the sharing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and facilitate child sexual exploitation."
The state's Department of Justice carried out a months-long investigation into Snapchat and discovered a vast network of dark web sites dedicated to sharing stolen, non-consensual sexual images from Snap. It claims to have found more than 10,000 records related to Snap and child sexual abuse material in the last year alone, and says Snapchat was "by far" the biggest source of images and videos on the dark web sites that it examined.
In its complaint [PDF], the agency accused the app of being a breeding ground for predators to collect sexually explicit images of children and to find, groom and extort them. It states that "criminals circulate sextortion scripts" that contain instructions on how to victimize minors. It claims that these documents are publicly available and are actively being used against victims but they have not yet been blacklisted by . . . Snapchat.
Furthermore, investigators determined that many accounts that openly share and sell CSAM on Snapchat are linked to each other through the app's recommendation algorithm. The suit claims "Snap designed its platform specifically to make it addicting to young people, which has led some of its users to depression, anxiety, sleep deprivation, body dysmorphia and other mental health issues."
The Snapchat complaint follows a similar child safety suit that the state filed against Meta last December.
Our undercover investigation revealed that Snapchat's harmful design features create an environment where predators can easily target children through sextortion schemes and other forms of sexual abuse, Attorney General Raul Torrez said in a statement. Snap has misled users into believing that photos and videos sent on their platform will disappear, but predators can permanently capture this content and they have created a virtual yearbook of child sexual images that are traded, sold and stored indefinitely. Through our litigation against Meta and Snap, the New Mexico Department of Justice will continue to hold these platforms accountable for prioritizing profits over children's safety.
A Snap spokesperson sent the following statement to Engadget:
We have received the New Mexico Attorney Generals complaint, are reviewing it carefully, and will respond to these claims in court. We share Attorney General Torrezs and the publics concerns about the online safety of young people and are deeply committed to Snapchat being a safe and positive place for our entire community, particularly for our younger users.
We have been working diligently to find, remove and report bad actors, educate our community, and give teens, as well as parents and guardians, tools to help them be safe online. We understand that online threats continue to evolve and we will continue to work diligently to address these critical issues. We have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in our trust and safety teams over the past several years, and designed our service to promote online safety by moderating content and enabling direct messaging with close friends and family. We continue this work in collaboration with law enforcement, online safety experts, industry peers, parents, teens, educators and policymakers towards our shared goal of keeping young people safe online.
Update September 5, 2024, 3:24PM ET: Added Snap's statement.
Apple is finally bringing its Find My feature to South Korea in 2025. The company says the service will launch at some point during the spring, according to a translation of a press release published by AppleInsider.
For years, South Korea has been just about the only country without access to Apples tracking network. So what changed? It looks like one reason behind the move is an influx of user complaints. These complaints have merit, as Apple sells AirTags in the country. Without the Find My network, AirTags are basically useless little silver pucks.
Apple has not addressed the reason behind the sudden change of heart. According to the user petition, the company has kept the feature disabled due to "internal policy." The country has strict privacy regulations, so that could be what led to the aforementioned internal policy. In the past, Apple has said that Find My was absent from South Korea because the company was unable to export high-precision map data due to local laws, as reported by MacRumors.
To that end, South Korea is particularly protective of geographic data. Associated legal restrictions have long been a thorn in the side of international platforms like Google Maps and Apple Maps, as real time mapping data is tough to come by. This has also impacted games that rely on mapping data, like Pokemon Go.
However, Find My already works in the countrys outlying territories like Baengnyeongdo and Ulleungdo, so who knows exactly why its taking so long for Find My to reach the mainland. In any event, this is good news for South Koreans who want to keep an eye on their precious belongings. Heres hoping the platform works as intended.
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Today, Sony shared a first glimpse at what it has planned to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the PlayStation and it seems likely that a PS5 Pro will be a part of the party. Hidden in the marketing material is what may be an image of the rumored upgrade to the current-gen PS5 console. Zoom in between the "S" of the PlayStation logo and the "3" of 30th and you'll see a console similar to a PS5 that doesn't quite match the look of any past or present PlayStation product.
As people are pointing out, PS5 Pro design may have been revealed through the PlayStation 30th Anniversary image
PS5 Pro on the left, PS5 on the right https://t.co/oyfSZgs92R pic.twitter.com/kC09hTcmp6 Wario64 (@Wario64) September 5, 2024
This is obviously not an official announcement or confirmation about the PS5 Pro, so we're really no closer to definitive news about the new hardware launch. But it's hard to ignore just how much the silhouette of that beefy console looks like the possible PS5 Pro rendering that was leaked in late August. The larger size and the three lines across the body seem pretty dang similar between the two images.
And if you want to go really far down the rabbit hole, the actual 30th anniversary of PlayStation is December 3. Sounds like the perfect day to start selling a powerful new console to me. That date would also align neatly with rumors circulating earlier this year that the PS5 Pro version would arrive in time for holiday shopping.
Besides the speculation around the PS5 Pro, Sony did formally share some news about how it plans to mark the big three-oh. Between October and January, the company is making some digital soundtracks from its games available for the first time on Spotify: God of War, God of War II, God of War: Ghost of Sparta, Twisted Metal, Starhawk and Unit 13. There will also be a special event aimed at getting first-time players introduced to the Gran Turismo franchise and a pretty darling collection of toys called Shapes of Play inspired by the colors and shapes of PlayStation consoles. And there's a little stage for a 30th anniversary photo op in the hub area of upcoming release Astro Bot, which looks just wonderful.
Panasonic TVs have been missing from the US market for over a decade, which is odd because, well, the company makes good stuff. In any event, our national nightmare is over. The Japanese electronics giant just released a bunch of new televisions for US customers.
The releases break down into two lines of OLED displays and another line of Mini-LED TVs. The televisions range in size from 55 to 85 inches and theyve all been designed and developed in Japan. As expected, all of the TVs boast a 4K resolution, to showcase Panasonics outstanding picture quality.
Panasonic has also teamed up with Amazon for these displays. Each model comes with Fire TV built in. This partnership likely gave Panasonic an easy way to add an America-friendly UI into the mix, being as how the companys been missing from these shores for ten years.
Panasonic/Amazon
Why come back now? The company says it was driven to re-enter the US by a strong belief in the unmet demand for their televisions, particularly among consumers seeking the highest possible picture quality. Thats just corporate mumbo jumbo, but the real reason is likely one word that rhymes with shmoney. The US is a huge market.
Though Panasonics TVs have been absent for ten years, the company has maintained an active presence in America. It sells a bunch of well-regarded standalone cameras and is building a giant EV battery plant in Kansas .
The companys new TVs are available to order right now , though it looks like shipments wont go out until September 16. Prices range from $1,300 to $3,200, depending on the model and size.
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Barron Trump, the youngest child of former President Donald Trump, was seen arriving at New York University on Wednesday for his first day of college.
The 18-year-old was accompanied by Secret Service agents as he walked onto the Manhattan campus with a black Swiss Gear backpack over one shoulder.
Wearing a white polo shirt, black pants, and Adidas Gazelle sneakers, Barron's first stop was reportedly the dean's office before heading to his classes, sources shared with the 'New York Post.'
Details about the specific courses he will be taking have not yet been disclosed.
Barron's choice of university had been kept under wraps until now.
Last month, Donald Trump informed 'The Post' that his 6-foot-7 son would be attending a university in New York this fall, but he did not reveal the school's name.
The former president also mentioned that his son, who is the only child he shares with his wife Melania, had been accepted to several institutions.
"He's always been a very good student," Trump, 78, said at the time. "He's smart."
The Republican presidential nominee also noted that Barron has shown an interest in politics and occasionally offers advice.
Barron graduated from Oxbridge Academy, a prestigious school in West Palm Beach, Florida, earlier this year.
Legendary supermodel Naomi Campbell made a striking appearance at Harlem's Fashion Row's Fashion Show and Style Awards to accept the prestigious Fashion Icon Award, although she arrived fashionably late.
Embracing her reputation for tardiness, Campbell made a witty remark during her speech targeting Anna Wintour.
"I have to speak my truth," the 54-year-old said before explaining how she has always been unapologetically honest.
'Vogue's' editor-in-chief editor had previously highlighted Campbell's tendency to arrive late, but also praised her as "bold, bright, and entirely, unquestionably herself."
Read more: Naomi Campbell Fights Passengers Attempting To Film Her Sleeping During A Flight In Resurfaced Clip
After receiving a second introduction from Samira Nasr, editor-in-chief of 'Harper's Bazaar,' Campbell began her acceptance speech by openly admitting her punctuality issues. She thanked her higher power for allowing her to be there despite her reputation.
In an unexpected twist, Campbell referred to Wintour as "the other lady" in her speech, suggesting that she was happier with Nasr's introduction.
The comment was a playful nod to Wintour's earlier remark about Campbell's punctuality. Wintour also commended Campbell's courage in addressing issues of inequality and injustice early in her career, which has significantly influenced the fashion world.
The super model also expressed her gratitude to Wintour, 74, for her support throughout her career, including her first 'Vogue' cover, calling her a pivotal figure in her journey. She thanked Wintour for her role in advancing fashion and supporting her career from the very beginning.
Campbell also paid tribute to trailblazing Black models such as Iman and Bethann Hardison, and to her family.
A new social media craze has caught fire and Chase Bank is stepping in to shut it down.
On TikTok and X, users have been sharing videos that promote a scheme to make quick cash. The method involves writing a fake check, depositing it at an ATM, and withdrawing the money before the check clears and bounces.
Chase Bank warned that the scheme isn't a shortcut to riches but instead a direct path to legal trouble. The bank swiftly condemned the fraudulent activity what some called a "glitch" that people could exploit labeling it as a clear case of bank fraud.
"We are aware of this incident, and it has been addressed," a Chase spokesperson said to 'NBC News.' "Regardless of what you see online, depositing a fraudulent check and withdrawing the funds from your account is fraud, plain and simple."
A glitch in Chase Banks systems let people withdraw money they didnt actually have. Now, Chase is placing 7-day holds on accounts and hitting those involved with huge negative balances.
pic.twitter.com/zx9HvoX9Ac Clown World (@ClownWorld_) August 31, 2024
It's uncertain whether this has become a widespread trend or if anyone has succeeded in using the so-called "glitch" to commit bank fraud. However, one video depicted a crowd gathering at a Chase ATM in New York, hinting that the scheme might be in play.
According to 'CNN,' Chase's parent company, JPMorgan is still determining how many Chase customers and how much money were involved in the incident.
Nearly 80% of young adults receive financial advice from social media, 'Forbes' reports, with TikTok being the third-biggest platform for those surveyed. Topics including "gaming the system," "passive income," and "get rich quick plans" are ranked as the most popular types of financial advice videos that target Gen Z, per the outlet.
This isn't the first time a viral social media trend has encouraged illegal activity. During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, a TikTok video demonstrated how to steal specific Hyundai and Kia models, leading to a surge in thefts and property damage.
Roland Martin is under harsh scrutiny on social media after his on-air segment was sprinkled with some shockingly inappropriate imagery.
The prominent political commentator recently found himself being dragged online after a headturning mishap during one of his livestreams.
The jarring incident sparked speculation around the journalist's personal life and level of professionalism when it comes to his media operations and practices.
While offering political commentary on Kamala Harris' recent interview with 'CNN,' the stream unexpectedly cut to a scene showing a man undressed and showing his buttocks while walking down a hallway.
BREAKING: Roland Martin (@rolandsmartin), host of the *Roland Martin Unfiltered* show, faced intense scrutiny after being caught on air watching GAY MALE SEX between segments, leading to a major on-air outburst. For years, there has been ongoing speculation and discussion pic.twitter.com/uAY3z3Dhzd Sir Maejor (@SirMaejorATL) September 2, 2024
The inappropriate clip was immediately edited by Martin's team however, not before social media could get their hands on the live stream and continue to circulate the content.
"BREAKING: Roland Martin (@rolandsmartin), host of the *Roland Martin Unfiltered* show, faced intense scrutiny after being caught on air watching GAY MALE [relations] between segments, leading to a major on-air outburst," X user SirMaejorATL wrote in a repost of the clip.
"His sassy behavior makes sense now," one user penned in the comments. "Roland and AI Sharpton have been profiting off of Blacks for years. At some point we have to learn, it's all a grift," a second alleged. "His business no matter what!" another defended.
Breaking Democrat @rolandsmartin forgot to edit this clip. We were all forced to watch his love and admiration for Black male Buttocks as they casually scrolled across his screen.
I told yall in a post I wrote a few weeks back that 90% of the men I know that still represent pic.twitter.com/Hl5nEg8bCs Angela Stanton King (@theAuntieAngie) September 2, 2024
Angela Stanton King a longtime rival of Martin claimed the Democrat "forgot to edit" the clip. "We were all forced to watch his love and admiration for Black male Buttocks as they casually scrolled across his screen," the author and television personality wrote online Wednesday.
Roland Martin is a known supporter of the Democratic Party and its candidates. He currently is the host of his self-titled show 'Roland Martin Unfiltered.'
The 55-year-old recently took to social media to celebrate the anniversary of his inaugural episode.
It looks like Malik Obama is publicly endorsing Republican candidate Donald Trump.
Just hours ago, the half-brother of Barack Obama made a public statement on Twitter, now X, that he is officially in support of the arguably controversial 45th president.
The post which received a whopping 4.9 million views in less than 24 hours identifies both himself and his vote for the upcoming 2024 presidential election.
"I am Malik Obama. I'm a registered Republican and I'm voting for President Donald Trump," the relative of the Democratic Obama family penned in the head-turning social media post.
Fans responded with an overwhelming amount of replies, some of which were positive and some negative.
I am Malik Obama. I'm a registered Republican and I'm voting for President Donald Trump. Malik Obama (@ObamaMalik) September 4, 2024
"The only cool Obama out there!" one fan replied. "Obama supports Trump, what a crazy 2024 headline," a second laughed.
"Whoop THERE IT IS. Barry's brother is Based," an excited fan commented.
"Lol wait you supporting the man who's told lies on your brother that built up his platform? Ain't really sticking with the family through thick or thin kinda weak," a contrarian responded.
Fans also teased that he should join the "Walz's For Trump" train a viral photo recently exposed as AI generated, per Forbes.
Watlz family is too pic.twitter.com/MCxgvW81MX Jill Bellino (@JillTedesco3) September 4, 2024
Abon'go Malik "Roy" Obama is a Kenyan-American businessman and former political candidate, largely known for being the older half-brother to the former 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama.
According to 'Republic', the former president's half-brother reached out to Trump's son after his father fell victim to a jaw-dropping assassination attempt back in July. Malik informed Eric Trump that he would be voting for his dad in November.
The Washington Post reported that the 66-year-old claimed to find the Republican candidate to be honest. He also believes in his campaign slogan seeking to "Make America Great Again."
During an appearance on 'Club Shay Shay,' Marlon Wayans admitted he attended Sean "Diddy" Combs' parties, but denied witnessing anything the music mogul has been accused of.
Wayans shared his thoughts with host Shannon Sharpe, explaining that he often left the parties "early" during the interview published Wednesday.
"I've been to plenty Diddy parties. I left early," Wayans said around the 1:45:00 mark in the video. "I swear to you, I've never seen it. I've never seen it," he continued, referring to accusations from the embattled music mogul's previous lawsuits.
"I don't frequent those type of parties and even if I go, like I said I've never seen any of this," the 52-year-old added.
"When I hear about it, 'When did that happen? At what time did this go down?' 'Cause I was there till 3:30. You mean at 3:32... So they waiting for me to leave like, 'Alright, good.' That Wayans [man is] gone. He talk too much," Wayans joked.
While the 'Good Grief' comedian acknowledged seeing drugs at Hollywood events, he avoided alleged sexual acts, guided by the values his late parents instilled in him.
"Everything that you do one day can come back to haunt you, so you got to be careful how you show up," the father of two advised.
Diddy has faced several sexual assault lawsuits since last November, but few have publicly discussed attending his parties. 50 Cent, however, suggested attendee's suspected silence is deliberate. The rapper, now working on a Netflix docu-series about the 54-year-old's purported scandals, shared his thoughts in an 'Us Weekly' interview.
"I'm the only person in hip-hop culture that has produced any hit television. Why wouldn't I be the person to produce it?" 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis James Jackson III, said. "And I'm not on the tapes. See, some of the people who have been around in the culture who are not saying anything that's because they've been to the parties, [and] they don't know what part of their experiences are on tape. So it keeps them quiet and it looks like I'm the only guy, but I've been [saying] for years that something's not right."
Eminem's estranged mother is reportedly in a dire condition due to advanced lung cancer and has a "very limited amount of time [left]."
A source close to the rapper's mother, Debbie Nelson, informed 'In Touch' that her situation is critical.
"There are not many options [for Debbie]. She is currently staying between the cancer center and with family members," the insider claimed. "She has a very limited amount of time [left]."
"People around her aren't even sure if Eminem is even aware of what is happening to his mother. He's good to his mom. He makes sure he takes care of her, but they don't really talk," the source added. "It would be good for both of them [to communicate]. This could give them the chance to reconcile."
Despite their reported strained relationship, Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III, continues to support his 69-year-old mother financially, though they rarely communicate.
Eminem's troubled relationship with his mother is well-documented, as he has often addressed it in his music.
In his 2009 song "My Mom," the Detroit, Michigan, native raps: "My mom loved Valium and lots of drugs / That's why I am like I am 'cause I'm like her / Because my mom loved Valium and lots of drugs / That's why I'm on what I'm on 'cause I'm my mom."
The estrangement between the mother and son has even led to legal battles, with Debbie Nelson suing Eminem, 51, for $11 million over drug-related claims. Although she was awarded $25,000, she ended up with approximately $1,600 after covering legal fees.
The '8 Mile' actor isn't alone in facing the harsh reality of an estranged relative's terminal illness.
Mariah Carey announced on August 28 the deaths of both her mother Patricia and sister who died on the same day. Carey, 55, had been estranged from her sister Alison for years, who reportedly died in hospice care due to organ failure.
Steve Harvey might not be able to keep track of every dollar he makes, but he certainly knows the number of children he's responsible for.
A clip from Harvey's former daytime talk show recently resurfaced, revealing a woman who claimed that the "King of Comedy" alum was the father of her 17-year-old daughter.
During an "Ask Steve" segment, the woman admitted she had falsely claimed Harvey as her daughter's absent father for nearly two decades.
"She took it to heart," said the woman about her teenager.
Shocked by the revelation, the 67-year-old responded, "Where you going with this? Lady, I don't even know you."
Despite the woman's claims that her daughter resembled him, the Cleveland, Ohio, native firmly denied any connection, stating, "You can show a picture. I ain't got no more kids. I can tell you that right now."
The audience laughed as Harvey continued to deny the claim, saying, "Hell nah, you can't keep telling her that! Tell this girl the truth." He questioned the woman's motives, asking, "Why are you on the show? That's what I want to know." The interaction was met with amusement, with viewers comparing it to a Maury show episode.
The comedian, along with his third wife Marjorie Harvey, has a blended family totaling seven children. From his first marriage to Marcia Harvey, Harvey has twin daughters, Karli and Brandy, and a son, Broderick. Their marriage ended in 1994.
In 1997, the 'Family Feud' host welcomed a son named Wynton with his second wife, Mary Shackelford, but they divorced in 2005.
In a resurfaced video, Shackelford appeared with Deya Smith-Taylor on 'Girlfriend FM' in 2012, which recently made it's rounds on social media.
"Financially, my life is in a shamble ... but it's been like that since 2005," she said. She went on to claim that Harvey, 67, was able to bend the divorce courts to his whim. "We have a man of power and authority, and he used that in a court, in a small town in Texas," she claimed. "He was able to manipulate this entire situation to his benefit."
After marrying Marjorie in 2007, Steve adopted her three children: daughters Morgan and Lori, and son Jason, adding to his growing family.
Rich Homie Quan, who died on Sept. 5 in his Atlanta, Georgia, home at 34 years old, was called to be a star witness in the YSL RICO trial before his shocking death.
The late rapper was set to testify at Young Thug's ongoing trial after prosecutors subpoenaed the rapper to take the stand as a witness, according to 'VIBE.'
"Rich Homie Quan has officially been subpoenaed by the State in the Young Thug case," Twitter account ThuggerDaily posted on May 15, which included the subpoena signed by Fulton County Lieutenant Investigator Justin French.
"He is expected to take the stand in the upcoming few weeks. Just to be clear this does NOT mean he cooperated or will cooperate," the post added.
Rich Homie Quan has officially been subpoenaed by the State in the Young Thug case.
He is expected to take the stand in the upcoming few weeks. Just to be clear - this does NOT mean he cooperated or will cooperate. pic.twitter.com/Ug7VI1meOX THUGGERDAILY (@ThuggerDaily) May 15, 2024
"Multiple good sources have confirmed to me Quan did give a police statement back in the day," the account, who is the self-proclaimed "most reliable Young Thug & YSL Rico court case updates page," wrote in a follow up tweet. "We're gonna see it in court."
Rich Homie Quan, who was apart of rap duo Rich Gang with Young Thug, 33, is one of multiple celebs who have been tied to the Young Slime Life (YSL) RICO trial in some form.
Nearly 700 witnesses, per the media outlet, was initially named by the prosecution to testify. That number has since decreased to around 200, including Lil Wayne and Gunna, who were not required to take the stand.
The 'Los Angeles Times' reported Gunna was arrested in May 2022 as part of a RICO case against the YSL gang. He was released from jail in December 2022 after entering a negotiated guilty plea on a racketeering conspiracy charge.
Days before Rich Homie Quan's death, the rapper also responded to Lil Woody's recent testimony in the ongoing YSL RICO trial.
In a new interview, Rich Homie Quan accused Lil Woody of "exaggerating" and "embellishing" a story. Woody -- born Kenneth Copeland -- who previously worked with Young Thug in the past, claimed responsibility for a shooting that happened at a barbershop owned by Rich Homie Quan's father. The incident that occurred years ago had recently resurfaced due to Woody's recent statements while on the courtroom stand.
Rich Homie Quan said in the interview, "the barbershop did get shot up, it wasn't like what he said it was. The same day the barbershop got shot up, it was back up and running, so it couldn't have been like what he said it was."
Rich Homie Quan's comments hinted that those familiar with the situation were aware of the actual facts before Lil Woody's courtroom revelations.
During the trial, according to 'Hip Hop DX,' Young Thug was seen laughing in court after he was asked by a witness about his alleged issues with Rich Homie Quan.
Afterwards, Lil Woody confirmed with Judge Paige Reese Whitaker that he wouldn't face any charges before detailing his involvement in the 2014 shooting, explaining that he and an associate named "Threat" targeted the barbershop as part of an ongoing dispute.
According to 'Billboard,' "Prosecutors had hoped the former YSL member would help them make these RICO charges stick, however, his testimony has turned an already tumultuous trial into even more of a circus. The prosecution tried to ask him again if YSL was a gang to which Woody replied, 'And it still ain't a gang.'"
Rich Homie Quan's family told 'TMZ' they are shattered and heartbroken by his sudden death. No cause of death has been reported for the "Type of Way" emcee, born Dequantes Devontay Lamar, but they are desperately searching for answers.
Thursday, September 5, 2024
When Americans think of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, they think of the thousands of innocents who died in the collapsing twin towers, of the brave airline passengers who diverted their suicide plane from a direct attack on the U.S. Capitol, and of the united focus of all Americans and allies to punish the aggressor countries and to stand up for the USA.
But few people realize how significantly 9/11 transformed immigration in the United States.
Immigrants had always been welcomed in the country from earliest colonial days for their hard labor and to grow a loyal citizenry with some. The Constitution gives Congress the duty to deal with naturalization and hence all aspects of immigration. But there were no national immigration laws until well after the civil war. In 1891, Congress passed the first national immigration law that set up official ports of entry and the Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS). It prohibited laborers but not scholars and doctors from Asia and limited immigration to only the work able turning away anyone with a chronic disease or disability including children of entering families.
The first comprehensive immigration law of 1924 established visas to be given mainly to northern Europeans and neighboring Mexicans and Canadians. But it codified strict quotas on immigrants from other countries. The focus of immigration was on workers. Immigration was ajudicated out of the Labor department and Labor Congresssional Committees.
But in 1964, the Civil Rights Act passed, making discrimination against (or preference for) any race, religion, creed and national origin illegal, In 1965 the current comprehensive immigration bill The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) passed. It is the most liberal immigration law in the world that allows anyone to apply for permanent immigration status (with a 7 percent cap for every nationality). It created dozens of temporary work, study and visitor permits and funded the most generous refugee and asylum policies in the world even today. The congressional committee jurisdiction changed from labor to the judiciary committee. With civil rights and the Holocaust as its drivers, the INA's focus changed to social justice, managed by the INS. Even all illegal immigrants in the country were given amnesty in 1986. The number of foreign students rose to over one million in 2000.
But then came the traumatic and shocking terrorist attack of 2001 and everything changed. Suddenly the focus of immigration management became national security. An entire new agency, congressional committees and a new presidential cabinet secretary position was created: the Department of Homeland Security. It combined 22 existing national security agencies from cyber security and emergency relief to the Coast Guard..
But most of all, the DHLS was charged with all aspects of immigration management and enforcement, The INS was dissolved and in its place were two new bureaus to handle the conflicting roles of immigration:
Customs and Immigration SERVICES (CIS) including preparing immigrants to be naturalized if they chose. Immigration and Custom ENFORCEMENT (ICE) the first agency ever in U.S. history charged with enforcing immigration laws INSIDE the US including enforcing expired temporary permits and employer restrictions to hire foreign nationals without work permits and to remove (deport) illegal immigrants.
One of the first new laws to pass Congress after the 9/11 attack was the establishment of a digital foreign student and exchange visitor information system (SEVIS) connected to the host colleges, the FBI and ICE.
Now enforcement of immigration laws is a major issue in the 2024 U.S. presidential elections as well as in many elections in western Europe.
######
Two books on immigration by Margaret Orchowskj will be released this fall on Amazon and in bookstores. "The Law That Changed the Face of America: The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965" -- the story of the most liberal immigration law in the world and how it made the United States the most successful Nation of Immigrants in history -- will be re-issued in paperback Nov 5. It is available for pre-orders now on Amazon.
And
"The Five Things Everyone Should Know About Immigration whatever your opinion" a 60-page reporters'-notebook-style book about immigration's basic facts from legal permits to deportation to citizenship. It is designed to be highly readable. There's no excuse now to get the basics wrong. Available on Amazon October 1.
Few states or nations put on a dairy cattle show like the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, where 50,000 visitors and vendors from nearly 100 countries will see 1,800 owners exhibiting 2,500 or so of the best dairy cattle in the galaxy.
Organizers of this years Expo, however, are working overtime to keep one party crasher out highly pathogenic avian influenza or bird flu. New rules, new testing and new paperwork for the Oct. 1-4 gathering are all aimed to keep it bird flu-free.
But, In the unfortunate event of a positive Influenza A individual cow test, explained Expo organizers Aug. 21, we have been informed by the [state of] Wisconsin that all cattle on site will be temporarily quarantined
Moreover, if deemed necessary, additional quarantine measures could be added. Once the animals are allowed to leave Americas Dairyland for home, further quarantine may be required by other U.S. states and Canadian provinces.
The dairy sector has a lot riding on getting the rules right. In 2023, an estimated 230 million pounds of raw milk sold as fluid milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt and a myriad of other products added $800 billion to the U.S. economy, according to the International Dairy Foods Industry Association.
And, note, many todays rules are working: While bird flu has been detected in 191 dairy herds across 13 states, only 13 human cases of bird flu have been tied to cows.
True, but bird flu infections on dairy workers outnumber infections on poultry workers.
To date, reports Helena Bottemiller Evich in the Aug. 23 Food Fix, her weekly look at food policy on Capitol Hill, There was just one reported case in a human from poultry in 2022, however, since then nine of the 13 more recent human cases have been linked to poultry.
There are two, clear reasons for that slow transfer of bird flu from poultry to humans than from cows to humans.
First, bird flu is so deadly and so fast moving in poultry that once its detected, infected flocks are almost immediately destroyed so the source of the disease and potential for human transfer is quickly and effectively eliminated.
In July, it was estimated that 100 million chickens and turkeys have been destroyed since the latest outbreak of avian flu began in February 2022.
The second reason is less deadly but more troubling: While the human cases detected in dairy workers have, so far, been very mild, continues Food Fix, its likely that health officials are not detecting all of the human cases due to limited testing.
In fact, the report continues, Those most at risk are farmworkers and farmers who have direct contract with animals that may be infected. Both groups, however, are not exactly incentivized to get tested.
Undocumented workers could lose their jobs and farmers fear a loss of income if they cant easily sell their milk or their cows.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture does offer voluntary testing of milk to determine the presence of bird flu in any dairy herd. So far, though, Of the roughly 24,000 farms that sell milk, reported the New York Times recently, only 30 are participating.
Food Fix updated those low numbers in late August to note that now USDA only shows 26 herds are participating, or 0.1% of all herds nationwide. USDA, however, told the Times that the poor turnout shows the system is working as designed.
Indeed, 26 herds only leaves 23,974 or so herds where its not working. Close enough for government work, right?
Ive learned so much from writing this column and needing to work within a limit of 650-675 words. Most weeks, the column is much too long when I finish the first writing, and the winnowing of my word count is almost always the longest part of my editing process.
Looking at the details I thought were essential to a story and discovering they arent necessary after all, is humbling in a good way.
After a decade of writing this column though, I thought I had the process down to a science, which is a cliche way of saying I didnt expect to be surprised by writing it anymore. Of course, that is a delightfully appropriate cliche to use because science is always changing its opinions about the nature of reality, and so apparently am I.
The last month or so of writing has been challenging because I often had too much to say, or, just as often, was having feelings so big I didnt know how to fit them into words.
Last week, in particular, I wrote about troubles with the flock, and I had to leave a lot out. When documenting our struggles with Border Disease, a virus that can cause stillborn or severely deformed babies if a ewe gets infected at a vulnerable time of gestation, I didnt mention that while most of the lambs born with the disease died within hours or days of birth, one survived.
Ironically, she was the tiniest and weakest among them. The others were deformed and weak, too, but they were able to get up and suckle. This little one wasnt even able to stand, let alone nurse. She was the smallest lamb Id ever seen, barely more than a handful. When it became clear she wasnt going to come around, I gathered her floppy, motionless body to my chest and carried her to the house, assuming she wouldnt make it through the night.
For almost a week, she slept swathed in fleece blankets. Her body wasnt able to create enough heat, so I kept her swaddled even during the August afternoons. She also was too weak to drink, so I coaxed milk into her by the dropperful, wondering if it was enough to keep her alive. Every time I checked on her, I expected to find her dead. She never stirred from her blankets, lost in a world of dreams.
Then, during one of her midnight feedings, she suddenly awoke and began to suck. The next day she took her first steps. The day after that she was running. She was ready to join the flock.
But by then, wed learned lambs that survive Border Disease are persistent infectors. Their bodies replicate the virus for the rest of their lives, spreading the disease indefinitely. Moreover, if they survive their birth and early days, they still usually die before weaning time. So this tiny warrior of a lamb will probably not live longer than the next few months, and if she does, can never be around the other sheep. My heart breaks anew every hour because of this.
Today, my good friend, who is also a writer, told me of a ranching family she interviewed about the wildfires that are ravaging southeast Montana. This family has already lost 130 cattle, and they expect they will need to put down more of the injured in the coming days.
Unbelievably, two of the cows that were saved from the fires are named Hope and Faith because they were formerly sickly calves the family nursed back to health.
Our sickly lamb is named Eudora, which means bringer of gifts. She is romping across the yard with the dogs as I type this on the porch, for now, full of life. And heres the thing about faith and hope they are the gifts that are born from difficulty, from heartbreak; they are the gifts that bring a peace that surpasses all understanding. They are the reminders that even in times of lamentation, there are reasons to rejoice, and that is a story worth telling, no matter the length.
RANDOLPH, Ohio The low hum of overhead fans, the distant spray of water in the wash bay, the constant whirring of blowers and the muted exchange of pleasantries as steers moved about filled the air.
Outside Hamilton Arena, showmen of all skill levels and backgrounds prepared for the junior fair market steer showmanship contest on Aug. 22 at the Portage County Randolph Fair.
First-year beef exhibitor Claire Coumos leaned under the side of her steer, Socks, to ensure every last piece of hair was in place. Brushing Socks was among Claires favorite ways to spend time with the 1,610-pound crossbreed.
Watching from just outside the stall, Claires mom, Julie Coumos, reminded her to be careful.
Im getting him fluffy, Claire said and continued brushing.
As the start time of the showmanship competition neared, Claires calm and composed demeanor shifted. Preparing for the show demanded a sense of urgency. But more than anything else, excitement took hold.
Claire hadnt just waited months for the opportunity to lead Socks around the show ring. She had dreamt of the opportunity for years and defied every obstacle in her path to make it happen.
A quiet delivery room
When Claire was born her parents, Julie and Dan Coumos, had never heard of Apert syndrome a rare craniofacial condition that causes the fusion of bones in the skull, hands and feet.
Honestly, when Claire was born we had no idea. It was kind of a surprise. It was kind of quiet in that delivery room and I think everybody was kind of afraid to say anything because nobody really knew, Julie said.
Because Apert syndrome is so rare, the Coumoses waited three or four days after Claire was born for an official diagnosis. In the interim, they wrestled with other potential diagnoses and managed their fear of the looming uncertainties surrounding their daughters future.
They told us that she would probably not walk and she would never be able to pick anything up or grasp anything, Julie said.
Claire was born with fused bones in her skull, hands and feet that would require a myriad of surgeries to allow her to grow, develop and achieve the same milestones as her peers. At 12 years old, shes had more than a dozen corrective surgeries and traveled as far as Dallas, Texas, and Boston, Massachusetts, to be treated by surgeons who specialize in Apert syndrome.
One of the first major hurdles Claire had to clear as an infant was a 20-hour craniosynostosis surgery the first of two cranial surgeries Claire has undergone to expand her skull and give her brain room to grow.
For a lot of the kids and a lot of the parents, it can be an emotional surgery because youre basically constructing a new face, Julie said.
Claire was also born with rosebud hands and fused toes. Her fingers were completely fused together, lacking joints, with her middle fingers twisted into the shape of an s over her ring fingers.
Shes had five syndactyly releases to separate and lengthen her fingers and toes, which have been completely constructed from fused bone. Her first surgery when she was 13 months old involved both her hands and feet and resulted in casts on each hand and each foot.
Her surgeries have delayed milestones in areas like walking and speaking and, at times, forced setbacks. Claire has lived in a cycle of catching up, falling back from surgery and catching back up again.
Living her life in between surgeries, Claire defied the odds her doctors had given her and exceeded their expectations for the amount of dexterity she would develop. Her doctors believed she would only be able to pick up objects by bringing both hands together around them, applying pressure and lifting her arms. They didnt think she would be able to do things like play with Legos or grasp a pencil.
When Claire was about 2 or 3, she pinched her brother and proved she was capable of more.
Theres really nothing that the doctors said that really came to fruition, Julie said. I think that Claires personality is very much where theres a will theres a way, and shes always found a way to make things work out.
Claire has also undergone a lot of therapy, following surgeries, and many times was encouraged to learn to use adaptive devices to complete the tasks everyone else around her was doing without them. Staying true to herself, Claire refused the adaptive devices and worked to master the same fine motor skills her peers already possessed without them.
Shes very determined. She doesnt let anything get in the way of what she wants to do, Dan said.
Claire was always proud following her surgeries, eager to show her family and friends her new fingers and toes. It didnt occur to Claire that she was any different than anyone else until she was about 7 or 8. Tying her shoes, she realized the way she did it looked a little bit different than the rest of her family, and she asked her mom, Why do my hands look like this?
It was kind of this beautiful moment, Julie said. She was like Well, I get to learn how to do this and she kind of started pointing out the positives of how she can find new and interesting ways to do the things her brother could do. I feel like it was in that conversation I realized that she was going to be okay.
Dreaming even bigger
Claires interest in animals started with horses. She spent hours grooming and brushing her ride-on pony and stuffed animals with a curry set her parents got her.
Getting a horse wasnt in the cards for the family, so Claire started in 4-H two years ago showing chickens. She showed chickens and ducks last year.
But Claire never gave up on showing a bigger animal. She had been asking to show a steer for about three years before the perfect opportunity came up.
Last fall, Gary Smith ended up with more steers than he had originally planned. One of those steers was a docile black and white crossbred with white feet.
As the owner of United Earthworks LLC, Gary frequently worked on jobs with Claires dad, Dan, who owns Marlboro Concrete. Both with children in 4-H, Dan and Gary occasionally discussed their childrens projects and goals, and Claires desire to show a steer came up more than once.
Gary believed the Socks gentle temperament provided an ideal opportunity for Claire. He offered to sell his extra steers to Dan and to allow Claire and her older brother, Danny, to keep them on his farm, Three L Farm, in Deerfield, Ohio.
When the opportunity came up for us to try one I was like lets absolutely go for it, Dan said.
The Coumoses and the Smiths jumped in head first. Gary and his wife Taylor finished building their barn last September to house the show steers for the Coumous kids and their family. All of the steers were tagged for the fair in November.
It was like every day there was an army of kids running around here every morning, Gary said.
Between the Smiths three children and the Coumoses six children, Three L Farms hosted quite the crew all summer.
Its been a whole family affair because even the little ones are spending every single morning at that barn for two and a half hours, Julie said.
Doing the work
Claire is a doer. Shes up early in the morning, making a checklist and then working through it. Caring for Socks all summer at Three L Farm was no different.
I had a lot of being woken up at 5:30 in the morning just to make sure I was ready to go feed at 7:30, Dan said.
When her parents asked her to wait to wake them to go to the barn until closer to 6:30 or 7 a.m., she started waking Danny up.
(The barn) is Claires absolute happy place. This is where she wants to be. If she can be in one place its this place, Danny said.
All summer Claire, Danny and the Smiths son Luke Smith took turns walking, bathing and feeding their steers. They also held mock showmanship contests that a friend and neighboring farmer, Zach Morehead, judged. Friends and experienced showmen McKenzie and Taylar Whitted instructed the novice showmen and their steers. Claire learned how to use body language instead of verbal commands to communicate with Socks.
And her desire to be at the barn only grew. She pleaded to muck out one more stall before leaving. If her family had something fun planned after the barn, Claire wanted to stay. She even skipped summer camp so she could see Socks every day and care for him herself.
Making sacrifices
Summer camp wasnt the only sacrifice Claire made for Socks.
During a routine craniofacial clinic just before Easter, Claires doctors discovered a mass at the top of her cervical spine. A follow-up, full-body MRI revealed a Chiari malformation the bulging of her cerebellum into her spinal canal through the opening at the base of her skull where her spinal cord connects to her brain. The new diagnosis meant she would require surgery to relieve pressure and restore the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid.
Her doctors initially wanted to schedule surgery for June or July; however, Claire wouldnt have been able to show Socks at the Portage County Fair in August. Claires biggest question for her neurosurgeon was whether she could postpone the surgery until September to finish her 4-H project with Socks.
After consulting her doctors and giving the situation a lot of careful consideration, the Coumoses scheduled Claires Chiari decompression surgery for Sept. 16, so she could still take Socks to the fair.
As parents, we kind of decided your kids still have to live, too, Julie said.
The biggest steer at the fair
Leading up to the fair, Claire asked everyone she ran into to watch her and Socks at the Portage County Fair. She also claimed shed have the biggest steer at the fair, and she was right. When Socks weighed in at 1,610 pounds, he claimed that title by 75 pounds.
Weighing around 87 pounds, Claire had her work cut out for her not that she ever doubted herself.
I always felt like I had it handled, Claire said.
Claire proved to be quite the showman in the ring with Socks, smiling at onlookers and making sure everyone noticed her and Socks. She held on to his halter as best as she could and worked to get his feet set like shed been taught.
She was all smiles, Taylor Smith said. It made us feel good that we were able to see it happen before our eyes and everything went off without a hitch.
Claire earned a fourth-place finish in the novice class 2 contest and a fifth-place finish in the junior class 5 contest during the junior fair market steer showmanship competition on Aug. 22. She sold Socks to Duma Meats for $5.25 per pound on Aug. 25 at the junior fair market steer auction.
It didnt matter what place she came in for the showmanship. She felt like she won grand champion just being out there, Dan said.
By the end of the fair, Claire had earned more than ribbons and a good sale price. She had won the hearts of everyone who had spent time around her and Socks. There was no shortage of farmers sharing their knowledge, offering words of encouragement and giving her hugs.
In addition to the Smiths kindness in allowing Claire to keep her steer in their barn, a number of others helped make her dream a reality. Zach Morehead loaned the Coumoses shoots and a blower for drying their steers at the fair. Claires 4-H group, the Portage Porkers, gave her continuous support. Members of her church, Marlboro Christian Church, showed up to watch her show Socks. The entire farming community offered to help and ensured a safe environment for her to show Socks at the Portage County Fair.
I could have never provided this opportunity for my kids. This felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Julie said.
Like everything else, trailering Socks at the end of the fair was something Claire was adamant about doing herself. When Gary offered to do it for her, she pushed through the pain so she could take one last walk with him.
Because I loved Socks, she said.
Bluetongue has been confirmed in a single bull on a farm in East Yorkshire, leading to the creation of a 20km temporary control zone (TCZ).
The TCZ means restrictions on animal and germinal product movements following confirmation of bluetongue virus 'BTV-3' on the Withernsea farm.
Defra said on Wednesday evening (4 September) that the area was previously free of bluetongue, and that the bull would be culled to minimise the risk of onward transmission.
Defra said: "Following suspicion of disease in cattle at a premises near Withersea, East Riding of Yorkshire, bluetongue serotype 3 has been confirmed.
"This premises is an area previously free bluetongue. A 20km temporary control zone has been declared and the affected animal will be culled to minimise the risk of onward transmission."
There have been dozens of confirmed BTV-3 on farms, but so far the virus is concentrated mainly in the East of England.
Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex are all in a 'restricted zone', which is stricter compared to the TCZ in East Yorkshire.
The zone means livestock keepers must follow tougher restrictions on animal and germinal product movements.
All infected premises in the three counties are under restriction and susceptible animals can only be moved under licence from infected premises.
Essential moves of susceptible animals can take place without a licence within the restricted zone but cannot be moved out of the zone without a specific licence.
A general licence to move animals to designated abattoirs is also available.
The total number of bluetongue cases across the UK now stands at well over 40 as of 5 September, on 15 infected premises.
It follows confirmation of the disease in a single sheep on a farm in Norfolk last week, which made it the first UK bluetongue case this summer.
UK Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss had urged farmers not to move animals within the restricted zone "unless it is absolutely necessary".
"All keepers in these regions must urgently act now to both prevent the disease spreading to their herds and any further," she said.
We have not taken this action lightly and we are clear that farmers and their vets must remain vigilant and report any suspicions to APHA immediately.
Bluetongue virus is primarily transmitted by midge bites and affects cattle, goats, sheep and camelids such as llamas.
The impacts on susceptible animals can vary greatly some show no clinical signs or effects at all while for others it can cause productivity issues such as reduced milk yield, while in the most severe cases can be fatal for infected animals.
The virus can also be spread through germplasm (semen, ova, and embryos) as well as transmitted from mother to unborn offspring.
Farms close to the coast in counties along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent and along the south coast from Kent to Devon have been classed as the highest risk of incursion.
Last November, government vets identified the first case of the disease in Britain since 2007.
The government recently set out its plans to minimise the impact of a likely outbreak of bluetongue as experts feared a surge in cases during the summer months.
BTV is a notifiable disease. Suspicion of it in animals in England must be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency on 03000 200 301.
A new partnership hopes to improve understanding of suicide in the Scottish farming industry while having meaningful conversations about the topic.
Charity RSABI is embarking on a recruitment drive behind a new role which will focus on suicide prevention in Scotlands farming and crofting communities.
The position, delivered in partnership with Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH), will see RSABI for the first time benefit from a full-time member of staff focused on suicide prevention work.
The aim is to maximise the opportunity for partnership working and collaboration with specialist organisations involved in suicide prevention.
As well as working long hours, the isolation of modern farming and lack of social contact, along with rising costs, are factors which can have a major impact on farmers' mental wellbeing.
One priority of the new role will be to improve understanding of suicide in farming communities and increase awareness of the ways everyone can play a part in suicide prevention.
The role is set to add to a range of initiatives that RSABI is delivering to help provide emotional support to people in agriculture, which has a poor track record in terms of mental health and suicide.
RSABI says it has also seen demand for is free counselling services increase significantly over the past year, with over 1,000 free counselling sessions provided in the past year.
But Carol McLaren, chief executive of the charity, said the development of the new role in partnership with SAMH was a vital step forward.
We know that sadly we are still losing far too many people of all ages in Scottish agriculture to suicide and too often our welfare team sees the devastating impact this has on families and friends bereaved by suicide.
"The impact of these deaths on our close-knit Scottish farming and crofting communities, is huge."
The new recruit will also lead on new research in the coming months to help increase understanding of the many factors relating to suicide in Scottish agriculture.
This will help RSABI, as well as other charities and groups, to raise awareness in farming communities, help prevent suicides and support those bereaved by suicide.
Dan Farthing, head of suicide prevention at SAMH, said the agricultural sector had always been mentally demanding.
"There is widespread lone working and highly intensive long working hours, particularly at peak times of the year," he explained.
Climate change and workforce challenges are adding considerably to those pressures, and we are concerned that is adding to the risk of suicide in the community.
"This partnership with RSABI is really important as a step towards improving the understanding of suicide in the sector and creating opportunities to have meaningful conversations about suicide in farming communities to reduce risk."
The government has issued a permit allowing the use of three unauthorised bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccines in the UK as cases surge.
While approval has been given, there is no licence available yet, with details around accessing and using the vaccine to follow in the coming days.
The vaccines are currently being used in mainland Europe against BTV-3 after being approved in the EU for emergency use.
Defra said available licences to allow use will include geographically targeted licences, initially in high-risk counties as part of a phased approach.
Counties identified as high-risk include Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent and East Sussex.
There have been dozens of confirmed BTV-3 cases on farms, but so far the virus is concentrated mainly in the East of England.
Keepers outside of these high-risk counties will be able to apply for specific licences through the APHA should they wish to use the vaccine.
General licences will be subject to risk assessment and free testing will remain available to farmers in high-risk counties.
Defra stressed that, unlike other BTV vaccines, these three available vaccines are suppressive, not preventative.
This means they will not prevent animals from being infected or being infectious, although they may reduce the clinical signs experienced.
Therefore all movement controls and trade restrictions in place will still apply to vaccinated animals, Defra confirmed.
Farmers will need to contact their private vet if they want to use any of the available BTV vaccines.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said the announcement of an emergency authorisation for the BTV-3 vaccines was 'great news'.
He added: We must now ensure that there is enough availability for livestock farmers in the high-risk area to use if they wish.
He said that while the vaccines make no claim to reduce infectivity, they appeared to reduce mortality and the severity of clinical signs "they will suppress the virus, not prevent it".
While they wont stop animals from becoming infected, they could reduce the impact of the disease on individual animals and therefore provide an animal welfare benefit.
Defra explained that farmers will need a written prescription from a vet and the vaccine will need to be supplied by the vet.
It can be administered by the farmer providing a medicine record is maintained and made available for inspection. Animals must be permanently marked with official IDs.
Vets will need to inform Defra on a weekly basis of the number of doses prescribed and the number of farms to allow the government to monitor the uptake.
Donald Trump has promised to release UFO footage should he win the US presidential election.
Donald Trump will release UFO secrets if he returns to the White House
The politician discussed the ongoing obsession with the extraterrestrial in a new interview with podcaster Lex Fridman and suggested that he would pressure the Pentagon to make alien knowledge public if he returns to the White House.
Responding to Fridman's questioning, Trump said: "Oh yeah, sure, I'll do that. I would do that. I'd love to do that. I have to do that."
Trump has previously discussed the matter of alien life but claimed that he wasn't a "believer" in the little green men.
The former president told YouTube star Logan Paul: "Am I a believer? No, I probably I cant say I am. But I have met with people that are serious people that say theres some really strange things that they see flying around out there."
A prosecutor has asked for the involuntary manslaughter charge against Alec Baldwin to be reinstated.
Prosecutors wants charges against Alec Baldwin to be reinstated
The 66-year-old actor was standing trial in July over the death of Halyna Hutchins - who was fatally shot on the set of 'Rust' in 2021 - when judge Mary Marlowe Sommer threw out the case after his legal team argued prosecutors had hidden evidence relating to the passing of the cinematographer, and ruled the state had withheld information in a manner that was "intentional and deliberate".
And now, in a court filing made public on Wednesday (04.09.24), special prosecutor Kari Morrissey - who was accused of direct involvement in the decision to withhold evidence - argued there were "insufficient facts" to support the ruling and the ammunition rounds in question weren't relevant to the actor's defense.
According to The Guardian newspaper, she wrote: No one on the prosecution team ever intentionally kept evidence from the defendant, it simply didnt occur to the prosecution that the rounds were relevant to the case even if they were the same or similar to the live rounds found on the set of Rust'."
Kari insisted defense attorneys knew about the rounds but pulled out of an opportunity to view them before trial.
She wrote: This is a smoke screen created by the defense and was intended to sway and confuse the court ... and it was successful."
The 'Boss Baby' star's attorney plans to file a response with the court.
If the judge declines to reconsider her decision, it can still be reviewed by a higher court.
Alec was indicted by a New Mexico grand jury in January after the gun he was holding during a 2021 rehearsal on the set of Rust discharged, killing mother-of-one Halyna and injuring the films director Joel Souza.
The actor has since maintained he didnt pull the trigger of the gun or know why it contained live ammunition.
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film's armourer, was jailed for 18 months in April after being found guilty in charges connected to the incident.
Rust resumed filming and finished its shoot in May 2023, saying in an Instagram post marking its completion: Its been a long and difficult road. But we reach the end of the trail today.
Indecent assault charges against Harvey Weinstein in the UK have been dropped.
Harvey Weinstein won't face charges in the UK
The disgraced movie mogul - who is currently serving a 16-year sentence after being convicted on three counts of sexual assault in a Los Angeles court in 2022 and awaiting a retrial after his 2020 convictions for first degree criminal sexual assault and third degree rape were overturned in April after the New York Court of Appeals ruled he didnt receive a fair trial - had been under investigation by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), but the case will no longer be pursued as there is not a "realistic prospect of conviction".
The CPS authorised two indecent assault against a woman charges in June 2022, stepping from an alleged incident in London in 1996, but they have now dropped the case.
Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said in a statement: Following a review of the evidence in this case, the CPS has decided to discontinue criminal proceedings against Harvey Weinstein. The CPS has a duty to keep all cases under continuous review and we have decided that there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.
"We have explained our decision to all parties.
"We would always encourage any potential victims of sexual assault to come forward and report to police and we will prosecute wherever our legal test is met."
In 2020, Weinstein, 72, was found guilty of first degree criminal sexual assault and third degree rape based on the testimony of production assistant Miriam Haley and former actress Jessica Mann but the convictions were overturned this year after an appellate court ruled the judge prejudiced the jury by allowing women to testify about sexual harassment and assault allegations that were not part of the case behind heard.
A retrial in the New York case is scheduled to begin in November.
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Shiso Amritsar Exteriors
Nestled in the heart of Amritsar, Shiso is not just another restaurant; its an invitation to embark on a culinary journey across Asia, right in the vibrant city known for its rich food culture. Shiso brings together the best of modern Pan-Asian cuisine, fusing traditional flavors with contemporary techniques to create a dining experience that is both sophisticated and deeply satisfying.Amritsar has long been synonymous with its legendary Punjabi cuisine. Yet, despite its rich food heritage, the city offered limited options for modern, experiential dining. Shiso aims to fill this gap by introducing a fresh, Pan-Asian culinary experience that resonates with the citys evolving tastes. Located on the Majitha-Verka Bypass, Shiso provides easy access not only to the residents of Amritsar but also to visitors from nearby cities like Ludhiana and Patiala. This strategic location makes Shiso a convenient and appealing destination for those seeking an exceptional dining experience. Founded by a group of passionate Amritsar-based F&B entrepreneursVansh Aggarwal, alongside Aftab Sidhu, Honey Mishra, and Mankaran JoharShiso is quickly establishing itself as a gastronomic destination for food lovers in the region.Chutoro NigiriThe inspiration behind Shiso is deeply rooted in the experiences of its founder, Vansh Aggarwal. After spending significant time in Chicago, a city renowned for its world-class dining scene, Vansh returned to India with a vision to elevate the food and beverage experiences in his hometown. He observed a growing trend towards premiumization in the Indian market, with an increasing appetite for sophisticated, experiential dining. Shiso is the realization of Vansh's dream to bring the best of modern Asian cuisine to Amritsar, offering a dining journey that engages all the senses.Duck ChettinadThe moment you step into Shiso, you are transported to a world that artfully blends the aesthetics of Balinese and Japanese design. The restaurant features a warm palette of greens, browns, and greys, creating an inviting and tranquil atmosphere. Natural materials like wood, stone, and bamboo are used extensively, connecting the space to Asian culture and nature. The minimalist architectural elements, combined with the wooden cantilever pathway and double-height colonnade, add a sense of grandeur and elegance.Shiso Amritsar InteriorsThe bar area is equally captivating, with brass accents and a bamboo rice paper installation that adds visual intrigue. For special gatherings, Shiso offers a private dining zone furnished with luxurious maroon suede sofas and statuario center tables. Every detail in Shisos design reflects a commitment to creating a space that is both beautiful and functional, ensuring that every visit is a memorable one.LaphingThe culinary offerings at Shiso are as impressive as its interiors. The menu, curated by Chef Honey Mishra, is a celebration of Pan-Asian flavors, with influences from Japan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, and India. Chef Mishra draws inspiration from his experience at Jom Jom Malay, a renowned Malaysian restaurant in Delhi, to create a menu that is both diverse and innovative.Shisos small plates are a perfect introduction to the rich tapestry of flavors that the restaurant has to offer. Dishes like the Enoki Bloom, Duck Tacos, Thai Betel Leaf Roll, Mushroom Kataifi, Prawn Crackers, and Shanghai Shao Mai Chicken & Sticky Rice offer a delightful blend of textures and tastes. For sushi lovers, Shiso offers an array of options, including the Oshizushi, Salmon, and Tempura Rolls, as well as unique dim sum choices like Potato & Radish with Sichuan Chilli Oil, Pumpkin & Cream Cheese Gyoza, and Sweet & Spicy Sesame.Affogato Shiso AmritsarFor those looking for heartier fare, the big plates at Shiso do not disappoint. The menu features dishes like Beet Steak, Kyoto Roast Chicken, Thai Roast Chicken, and Malaysias iconic Nasi Lemak, each meticulously crafted to offer a satisfying and flavorful experience. Rich curries like Katsu Curry, Indonesian Lamb Rendang, and Thai Green Curry further enhance the Pan-Asian offerings, providing a comforting yet exotic dining experience.Noodle enthusiasts will find much to love at Shiso, with options like Dan Dan Udon, Soba Yakisoba, and Laksa Nyonya. The restaurant also offers Teppanyaki stir-fries and Yakitori skewers from the lava stone grill, ensuring that there is something for every palate. And no meal at Shiso is complete without indulging in one of the restaurants delectable desserts, such as the Kyoto Swiss Roll or the Tab Tim Krop, which provide the perfect sweet ending to your meal.Rare FusionShisos bar program, curated by Madhav Singhal of Gastronaut Hospitality, is designed to perfectly complement the diverse Pan-Asian cuisine. The bar offers a range of signature cocktails, mocktails, and local brews that use exotic Asian ingredients. Cocktails like the Osaka Whiskey Sour, Tokyo Highball, Trippy Fungi, and Smoked Ananas mocktail are just a few of the creative options available.Tokyo HighballAdvanced techniques like clarification using agar-agar, sous vide infusion, and cryo freezing are employed to create intense fruit flavors and unique drinking experiences. Shiso also offers four varieties of in-house wines, such as pineapple and apple cinnamon, which are fermented and fortified with spirits for use in cocktails. Signature drinks like Subak, Tamarelo, and Mr. Green ensure there is something for everyone to enjoy at Shisos bar.Enoki BloomFor those seeking a truly unique and personalized dining experience, Shiso offers an exclusive Omakase dining option. This chefs tasting menu highlights the finest seasonal ingredients and allows guests to indulge in a carefully curated selection of dishes. The Omakase experience is a significant addition to Amritsars culinary scene, offering foodies and travelers an opportunity to engage in an experiential and sophisticated dining journey that is rarely found outside major metropolitan areas.Shiso is more than just a restaurant; it is a testament to the evolving tastes and sophistication of Amritsars dining scene. By bringing together the best of modern Pan-Asian cuisine, stunning interiors, and a world-class bar program, Shiso offers a dining experience that is unmatched in the region. Whether you are a local food lover or a traveler seeking new culinary adventures, Shiso promises a memorable experience that will leave you eager to return. With its commitment to quality, innovation, and hospitality, Shiso is poised to become a premier culinary destination in the north of India.Shiso, Majitha-Verka Bypass, Shastri Nagar, Amritsar, Punjab 143001INR 2100 for 2 pax plus taxesLunch 12:30 to 3:30 pm | Dinner 7:30 pm to 1:30 am (Tuesdays closed)+91 7973959532
Readymade garment (RMG) factories of Ashulia, Savar and Gazipur in Bangladesh reopened today after assurance of protection from security forces.
The decision followed a meeting yesterday of past presidents and the present board of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and prominent industrialists with representatives from Bangladesh Army, police, Industrial Police, National Security Intelligence and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence to discuss the situation.
Readymade garment factories of Ashulia, Savar and Gazipur in Bangladesh reopened today after assurance of protection from security forces. The decision followed a meeting yesterday of representatives from the garment industry, police, army and security and intelligence agencies. The unrest has reportedly been fuelled by outsiders and vested interest groups.
Protesters not engaged in any RMG factory will be treated as mere criminals and treated accordingly.
Genuine workers are not among the protesters, and the unrest has been fuelled by outsiders and vested interest groups, domestic media outlets reported citing RMG industry representatives and government officials.
Around 170 factories closed due to unrest in the industrial zones yesterday.
BGMEA requested the countrys chief advisor's intervention to safeguard the industry and the economy.
Meanwhile, the countrys labour and employment adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan said the government will take immediate action to address the growing labour unrest.
He said the usual participants in labour movements are noticeably absent, while an increasing number of outsiders have been observed.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 4, 2024) - Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. (CSE: API) (OTCQX: APAAF) (FSE: A0I0) (MUN: A0I0) (BER: A0I0) (the "Company" or "Appia") announces that, further to the press release issued earlier today, we confirm the successful discovery of uranium and rare earth element mineralization during the 2024 exploration program at the Eastside property (Figure 1). These promising assay results, analyzed and verified by the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) Laboratories in Saskatoon, confirm our exploration models and underscore the significant potential of the Eastside property within Appia's Saskatchewan portfolio. The Press Release issued earlier today erroneously made reference to Rare Earth Elements (REE) in the highlight section instead of referring to uranium (U) mineralization when describing a total of 20 additional samples collected from the southwestern portion of the Eastside property.
Highlights of the 2024 Assay Results:
Uranium Mineralization: Grab Sample 181213 (Figure 2): U3O8 = 2,523.06 ppm (0.25 wt%), a uranium-bearing zone discovered between "Prospector's Peninsula" and "Highcount Hilltop". Grab Sample 181255 (Figure 3): U3O8 = 673.21 ppm (0.07 wt%), indicating a uranium-bearing zone east of "Highcount Hilltop". Grab Sample 181212 (Figure 4): U3O8 = 644.91 ppm (0.06 wt%), also discovered between "Prospector's Peninsula" and "Highcount Hilltop" further indicating uranium.
Additionally, a total of 20 samples collected from the southwestern portion of the Eastside property exhibited uranium (U) mineralization between 0.01 wt% and 0.25 wt%, further confirming the property's uranium potential.
Rare Earth Element (REE) Mineralization: Channel Sample 181244 (Figure 5): 1.00 meters of TREO = 0.14 wt%, located in the "Prospector's Peninsula" zone, demonstrating rare earth element (REE) mineralization.
Stephen Burega, President of Appia, stated, "We are excited about the results of our 2024 exploration program at the Eastside property. The discovery of uranium and rare earth elements mineralization aligns perfectly with our exploration models, hypotheses, and company initiatives. These uranium and REE concentrations highlight the favorable potential of this property as a valuable project in our portfolio."
Importance of Eastside's Location for Uranium Mineralization:
The Eastside property, located in the Peter Lake Domain east of Wollaston Lake, is strategically significant due to its proximity to the prolific uranium-bearing Athabasca Basin (Figure 6). The Athabasca Basin is renowned for its uranium deposits and nearby rare earth element discoveries, positioning itself as a major source of global uranium production. The Peter Lake Domain, part of this prolific region, is characterized by favorable geological conditions conducive to uranium mineralization. The presence of uranium and REE concentrations in Appia's recently collected samples validates the potential of the Eastside property to host numerous uranium and REE showings, further emphasizing the value of this property.
Next Steps:
Given the encouraging results, Appia plans to return to the Eastside property to expand investigations near its uranium showings and other areas of interest identified during this program. This follow-up work will aim to delineate the extent of uranium and rare earth element mineralization and assess the potential for further discoveries of both minerals. The results from the 2024 program confirm that the Eastside property has potential for further development and could evolve into a prominent asset for Appia. The company remains enthusiastic about future exploration opportunities and the potential to enhance its Saskatchewan property portfolio.
Appia remains committed to transparency and will continue to provide updates as they advance their exploration efforts in northern Saskatchewan. Appia will soon share more developments with shareholders and the public as details become available.
Summary assay tables are presented below. Click here to access the full, detailed geochemical assay results, providing comprehensive information on the highlighted channel and grab samples identified during the 2024 Eastside Exploration Program.
Figure 1 - Highlighted assay results locations superimposed on U-radiometric grid
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Figure 2 - Uranium sample 181213 displaying 0.25 wt% U3O8 hosted within massive biotite
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Figure 3 - Uranium sample 181255 displaying 0.07 wt% U3O8 hosted within granodiorite
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Figure 4 - Uranium sample 181212 displaying 0.06 wt% U3O8 hosted within biotite-rich pegmatite
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Figure 5 - Rare earth element sample 181244 displaying 0.14 wt% TREO hosted within granite
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Figure 6 - Prolific Mines and Exploration Sites (Athabasca Basin, Peter Lake Domain) near Appia's Eastside Property
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Table 1 - U308 (wt%, ppm) Assay Results for the Highlighted Grab Outcrop Samples
2024 Eastside Exploration Program
Sample # Easting Northing Elevation Zone Lithology U3O8 ppm U3O8 wt% 181213 662319 6448962 389.0 Regional Massive Biotite 2523.06 0.25 181255 664232 6448617 403.1 Regional Granodiorite 673.21 0.07 181212 662311 6448949 389.9 Regional Biotite Pegmatite 644.91 0.06 181265 661750 6449528 388.5 Prospector's Peninsula Pegmatite 459.81 0.05 181250 662321 6448964 431.1 Regional Massive Biotite 413.83 0.04 181214 661664 6449263 379.1 Prospector's Peninsula Granite 212.22 0.02 181204 663403 6452326 383.4 Regional Biotite Pegmatite 206.33 0.02 181209 664631 6449197 375.6 Regional Granite 119.08 0.01 181257 664490 6449476 403.5 Regional Granite 110.59 0.01 181262 661730 6449327 429.6 Prospector's Peninsula Granite 58.83 0.01
Table 2 - Composite U3O8% and TREO% Grades for each Channel Line Assayed
Eastside 2024 Exploration Program
Channel ID Zone Total Length (m) Composite
Grade U3O8 (%) Composite
Grade TREO (%) 1 Prospector's Peninsula 1.5 0.014 0.027 2 Prospector's Peninsula 1.6 0.002 0.025 3 Prospector's Peninsula 4.0 0.027 0.028 4 Prospector's Peninsula 8.0 0.006 0.012 5 Prospector's Peninsula 3.5 0.017 0.036 6 Prospector's Peninsula 3.5 0.010 0.053 7 Highcount Hilltop 2.5 0.012 0.022
Note:
-The REEs Thulium (Tm) and Promethium (Pm) are not reported because they are both extremely scarce in nature, and Pm forms as a product of spontaneous fission of U-238.
-TREO = Total Rare Earth Oxide = sum of La2O3 + CeO2 + Pr6O11 + Nd2O3 + Sm2O3 + Eu2O3 + Gd2O3 + Tb4O7 + Dy2O3 + Ho2O3 + Er2O3 + Yb2O3 + Lu2O3 + Y2O3
Table 3 - Location information regarding each channel sample taken during
the 2024 Eastside Exploration Program
Channel ID Zone Starting Sample # Easting Northing Elevation (m) Azimuth (degrees) Length (m) Total Samples 1 Prospector's Peninsula 181219 661752 6449543 383.4 270 2 3 2 Prospector's Peninsula 181222 661754 6449528 385.1 274 1.6 2 3 Prospector's Peninsula 181224 661726 6449322 384.4 308 4 5 4 Prospector's Peninsula 181229 661746 6449343 383.9 304 8 9 5 Prospector's Peninsula 181238 661781 6449393 383.8 319 3.5 4 6 Prospector's Peninsula 181242 661796 6449421 381.9 326 3 4 7 Highcount Hilltop 181246 663349 6448942 375.7 151 3 4
About the Eastside Project
The Eastside Project is strategically located in the Peter Lake Domain, east of Wollaston Lake, within the prolific uranium-bearing Athabasca Basin region of Saskatchewan, Canada. This area is renowned for its significant uranium deposits, surrounding rare earth element plays, and favorable geological conditions that have historically led to high-grade uranium discoveries.
The Eastside Property is located in northern Saskatchewan east of the Athabasca Basin and is situated in close proximity to several known uranium and REE deposits and mineralization trends. The Eastside project area is 4,933.47 hectares in size and is 100% owned by Appia The project area has been identified as prospective for both uranium and rare earth element (REE) mineralization based on previous and current geological exploration.
* Critical rare earth elements/oxides (CREO) are defined here as those that are in short-supply and high-demand for use in permanent magnets that enable modern electronic applications such as electric vehicles and wind turbines. The "magnet alloy" rare earths (CREO) are neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb).
Grab samples were collected using a rock hammer where possible, and sample selection location was determined using handheld scintillometers and spectrometers. The area with the highest scintillometer readings may or may not have been sampled. A total of 34 grab samples were collected during the 2024 exploration program.
Channel samples were collected along channel sample lines spaced at variable distances apart depending on lithological contacts. Sample lines ranged from 1.6 m to 8.00 m in length. A total of 31 samples were diamond saw-cut and collected from 24.60 m of total surface length. Individual sample length intervals ranged from 0.50 m to 1.00 m in length, 2.5 cm wide, and 2.0 to 5.0 cm deep.
All lithogeochemical assay results of grab and channel samples were provided by Saskatchewan Research Council's Geoanalytical Laboratory, an ISO/IEC 17025:2005 (CAN-P-4E) certified laboratory in Saskatoon, SK. All analytical results reported herein have passed internal QA/QC review and compilation.
The technical content in this news release was reviewed and approved by Dr. Irvine R. Annesley, P.Geo., Senior Technical Advisor for Appia and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
About Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. (Appia)
Appia is a publicly traded Canadian company in the rare earth element and uranium sectors. The Company holds the right to acquire up to a 70% interest in the PCH Ionic Adsorption Clay Project (See June 9th, 2023 Press Release - Click HERE) which is 40,963.18 ha. in size and located within the Goias State of Brazil. (See January 11th, 2024 Press Release - Click HERE) The Company is also focusing on delineating high-grade critical rare earth elements and gallium on the Alces Lake property, and exploring for high-grade uranium in the prolific Athabasca Basin on its Otherside, Loranger, North Wollaston, and Eastside properties. The Company holds the surface rights to exploration for 94,982.39 hectares (234,706.59 acres) in Saskatchewan. The Company also has a 100% interest in 13,008 hectares (32,143 acres), with rare earth elements and uranium deposits over five mineralized zones in the Elliot Lake Camp, Ontario.
Appia has 136.3 million common shares outstanding, 145 million shares fully diluted.
Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: This News Release contains forward-looking statements which are typically preceded by, followed by or including the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements and shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For more information, visit www.appiareu.com
As part of our ongoing effort to keep investors, interested parties and stakeholders updated, we have several communication portals. If you have any questions online (X, Facebook, LinkedIn) please feel free to send direct messages.
To book a one-on-one 30-minute Zoom video call, please click here.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/222205
SOURCE: Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp.
EQS Newswire / 05/09/2024 / 04:00 CET/CEST
SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 5 September 2024 - ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC), one of the world's fastest-growing data centre colocation services provider headquartered in Singapore, is pleased to announce the release of its enhanced Sustainability-Linked Financing Framework (SLFF). This update builds on STT GDC's ongoing commitment to achieving carbon-neutral data centre operations by 2030, with more rigorous targets that align its financing strategies with even more impactful sustainability goals.
First introduced in July 2022, the SLFF is a key component of STT GDC's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy. This framework facilitates the structuring of STT GDC's financing, where applicable, in the form of Sustainability-Linked Financing Transactions (SLFTs) including, but not limited to, Sustainability-Linked Bonds (SLBs) including Sustainability-linked Perpetuals (SLPs), and Sustainability-Linked Loans (SLLs). The company successfully issued the first-ever Sustainability-Linked perpetual securities in Asia under this framework in January 2024.
The enhanced SLFF demonstrates the company's dedication to more ambitious sustainability goals and upholds STT GDC's sustainability commitments with stringent Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Sustainability Performance Targets (SPTs), ensuring advancement of mid-to long-term sustainability goals. The SLFF was given the independent tick of approval from ESG ratings company Sustainalytics who provided Second Party Opinion services for the project.
Significant enhancements have been made to the inaugural 2022 framework, advancing our sustainability efforts across three key targets:
Renewable Energy : Increase the use of renewable energy to 85% by 2028.
: Increase the use of renewable energy to 85% by 2028. Carbon Intensity : Achieve a 70% reduction in carbon intensity from the 2021 baseline by 2028.
: Achieve a 70% reduction in carbon intensity from the 2021 baseline by 2028. Green Data Centres: Expand the proportion of green data centres to 65% by 2028. In addition, the scope of the SLFF has been broadened to include STT GDC's subsidiaries in all our geographies. This expansion reflects our ongoing efforts to ensure that our sustainability commitments are integrated across all operations globally, reinforcing our role as a leader in promoting sustainable practices within the data centre industry.
"Sustainability remains a priority for STT GDC, and the refined Sustainability-Linked Financing Framework demonstrates our unwavering commitment to achieving carbon-neutrality in our operations by 2030 and reinforces our position as a leader in driving positive change within the data centre industry. This framework is essential to our strategy, aligning our financial practices with our deep commitment to sustainability as we continue to drive growth responsibly in the burgeoning global digital economy," said Bruno Lopez, President and Group Chief Executive Officer, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres.
For more information about the updated framework, visit https://www.sttelemediagdc.com/esg/slff .
Hashtag: STTelemediaGlobalDataCentres
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About ST Telemedia Global Data Centres ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) is one of the fastest-growing data centre providers with a global platform serving as a cornerstone of the digital ecosystem that helps the world to connect. Powering a sustainable digital future, STT GDC operates across Singapore, the UK, Germany, India, Thailand, South Korea, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam, providing businesses an exceptional foundation that is built for their growth anywhere. For more information, visit https://www.sttelemediagdc.com/ .
News Source: ST Telemedia Global Data Centres
05/09/2024 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Media archive at www.todayir.com
Key Highlights
Prospecting and mapping currently underway at the Hermitage Gold and Antimony Project.
This recent prospecting work has identified several large areas of hydrothermal alteration that host quartz-dominated hydrothermal breccias with relatively chaotic hydrothermal breccias transitioning to breccia veins containing angular wall-rock clasts away from the fault strands 1 .
. Recent mapping and data analysis interprets the regional-scale North Limb Fault, previously identified by the Company, comprises of numerous subparallel fault splays and links that have potential to form a permeability network on a massive scale.
High-resolution airborne magnetic and very low frequency ("VLF") geophysical survey expected is now expected in the Canadian autumn of 2024.
Staked mineral licence 2 adjacent to the south of the Company's Hermitage claims extend AuMEGA tenement holding along an interpreted major structural splay.
adjacent to the south of the Company's Hermitage claims extend AuMEGA tenement holding along an interpreted major structural splay. Historic Government Lake sediment geochemical studies identified the Hermitage Project area as having the largest and highest tenor antimony anomaly in the province.
Hermitage Project is in the same geological domain as the recently closed high-grade Beaver Brook Antimony mine that operated for approximately six years.
Currently evaluating the potential of historically identified uranium showings in the Hermitage Project area.
Phase one diamond drilling assays are expected in the near-term with phase two drilling currently underway.
Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - September 4, 2024) - AuMEGA Metals Ltd (formerly Matador Mining Ltd) (ASX: AAM) (TSXV: AUM) (OTCQB: AUMMF) ("AuMEGA" or "the Company") is pleased to provide an update on its high-grade Hermitage gold and antimony project. The Hermitage project is located on the Hermitage Flexure, the second largest known gold structure in Newfoundland and the site of the largest antimony lake sediment anomaly in the province.
AuMEGA Metal's Managing Director and CEO, Sam Pazuki commented:
"Hermitage is one of several projects we have in our portfolio and among our top ranked exploration projects due to its structural and geological architecture. We believe this is highly prospective gold belt and prospecting work has already produced encouraging gold and antimony results over the last two years. This includes multi-gram gold in outcrop over 7 kilometres of strike and high-grade antimony from samples, supporting our belief in the discovery potential of the project. We continue to validate the highly prospective nature of the Hermitage property through our systematic and results driven reconnaissance approach to exploration.
"The Hermitage geology displays the key characteristics required to host a major gold-bearing mineral system. It has the largest and highest tenor antimony and arsenic lake sediment anomaly in Newfoundland, and our prospecting results have confirmed a close association of gold to these key pathfinder elements while also heightening the potential for discovery of a domestic supply of other critical metals including Antimony. This prominent chemical signature, as well as the fundamental geology of Hermitage, is geologically akin to tier one gold mines in the Bendigo Terrane in Victoria, Australia.
"Hermitage remains underexplored. With early stage prospecting activities validating the significant gold and antimony potential, we will continue to explore Hermitage in a systematic way based on high quality, informed geological interpretation and efficient field work. Comprehensive geological mapping and sampling in prospective areas already identified commenced earlier this summer. Following a delay due to contractor availability, we are also planning a high-resolution airborne magnetic and VLF survey to improve definition of the four major target areas we identified as part of our targeting workshop conducted in June 2024 led by world-renowned structural geologist Brett Davis and involvement from experienced B2Gold geologists. The ongoing work is designed to define specific areas for drill testing in 2025.
"Finally, we have staked a new mineral licence adjacent to our property to the south and specifically the Nose block of the Hermitage Project (Figure 3). In staking this ground, we have acquired additional ground on the major North Limb splay that we had previously identified. We interpret this splay as a major second order structure splaying off the Hermitage Flexure and a potential dilation zone critical in localising and trapping hydrothermal fluids into resulting gold deposits."
FIGURE 1: NEWFOUNDLAND REGIONAL LAKE SEDIMENT ANOMALIES SIZED ON ANTIMONY (SB PPM)
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FIGURE 2: HERMITAGE PROSPECTING RESULTS (2022-2023) & NEW LICENSE
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Regional Newfoundland Lake Sediment Geochemistry
The Hermitage Project is defined by a significant anomalous antimony geochemical signature derived from a lake sediment sampling program completed by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in the late 1980's. This anomalous antimony geochemical trend is relatively high in amplitude, with Hermitage hosting seven of the top ten lake sediment antimony values recorded on the island of Newfoundland. Accompanying this is the single highest anomaly assay in the dataset at 22.1 ppm Sb (Figure 1). At Hermitage, the antimony lake sediment geochemical signature is higher than the equivalent anomaly surrounding the inactive Beaver Brook Antimony Mine located 160 kilometres north in the same geological domain (Figure 1).
The antimony-arsenic-gold association of Hermitage is analogous to other notable turbidite hosted gold deposits, such as Fosterville in Victoria (Australia) and Newfound Gold's Queensway project on the same geological structure northeast of Hermitage.
Hermitage Overview
The Company's Hermitage property consists of 27 kilometres of continuous strike along the large crustal scale suture zone between the Dunnage and Gander zones, known as the Hermitage Flexure. Regionally, the Dunnage zone contains volcanic packages hosting turbidite sequences, which are considered regionally prospective for hosting gold deposits throughout Newfoundland, and globally in places such as the Bendigo Terrane in Victoria, Australia, including Agnico Eagle's prolific Fosterville gold mine, also in Victoria.
The main structural trend on the island of Newfoundland strikes approximately northeast - southwest, approximately perpendicular to the inferred direction of continental collision and terrane accretion. The only regional scale portion of rocks on the island that strike oblique to this structural orientation are in the Hermitage Flexure. The oblique orientation of the Hermitage Flexure would have sponsored accommodation of strike-slip movement along the structure creating both contractional and extensional sites, the latter of which allowed formation of sedimentary basins in which the Hermitage host rocks were deposited in. These structurally anomalous rocks have been subsequently deformed, faulted and folded, with local progressive dilation needed to form large scale orogenic gold deposits.
The Company's exploration activities have been spread over three distinct areas within the Hermitage property. These three distinct blocks are defined by unique geological characteristics along with specific pathfinder geochemistry and mineralisation styles. Each block hosts multigram bedrock gold showings that span much of the strike extent of the Hermitage property (Figure 3).
FIGURE 3: OVERVIEW OF THE HERMITAGE PROJECT DISPLAYING THE PROJECT'S TARGET BLOCKS AND KEY GOLD SHOWINGS
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Previous Prospecting Results
In the Canadian autumn of 2022, the Company launched its inaugural prospecting work at Hermitage. Due to the extensive glaciated cover at Hermitage, Company personnel traversed approximately 45 kilometres along a series of rivers cutting across the eastern side of the Hermitage property. The primary goal of these activities was the identification of outcropping evidence of hydrothermal gold-bearing systems within the incised rivers. Secondary to this, the Company sought to improve the understanding of the Hermitage terrane to allow for the adequate planning of future exploration programs.
Samples collected from this program were analysed for gold mineralisation, pathfinder elements and whole-rock geochemistry classification. Key highlights included the discovery of multiple sulphide-bearing quartz veins containing greater than 1 g/t gold over 400 metres of strike (Figure 2) with peak assays that included 7.31 g/t gold in sample MR0012523. This series of multigram gold showings was five kilometres along strike from a historic rock sample collected by INCO grading 1.03 g/t gold4.
During the 2023 prospecting campaign at Hermitage, the Company discovered a second significant gold occurrence in outcrop, seven kilometres northwest from the 2022's high-grade discovery. Peak gold in bedrock at this new showing was 2.15 g/t gold, with additional bedrock samples grading 1.39 g/t gold, 0.72 g/t gold and 0.43 g/t gold over 30 metres of strike5. Additionally, highly anomalous arsenic samples were identified proximal to this gold showing, with a peak value of 3.8% arsenic5, further strengthening the important association of gold and arsenic in these turbidite-hosted sequences. This newly discovered gold occurrence is in a different structural setting to the 2022 discovery, located approximately one-kilometre to the north of a regional-scale northwest-southeast trending shear zone named the North Limb Fault.
Detailed follow-up work was conducted along bedrock exposures proximal to the 7.31 g/t gold sample in outcrop identified from the 2022 reconnaissance campaign. This 400 metre across-strike zone of multigram gold in bedrock returned six samples greater than 100 ppb gold, with a peak gold value of 0.98 g/t gold (MR001430 - outcrop)5.
New Claim Staked
The Company has recently staked additional ground adjacent to the Nose Block of the Hermitage Project.6 This area expands the Company's ground over the North Limb Fault, an interpreted major structure splaying off the Hermitage Flexure.
The North Limb Fault appears to have structurally removed the northern expression of the Hermitage syncline, resulting in a sharp juxtaposition between the Bay du Nord turbidite sequences and higher-grade metamorphosed sediments of unknown origin. Crustal scale structures such as the Hermitage Flexure are considered instrumental in the migration of gold bearing hydrothermal fluids, while its subordinate splays, such as the North Limb Fault and other subsidiary structures, are generally critical in localising and trapping these fluids into resulting gold deposits.
In support of this, recent geological mapping traverses across the strike of the belt and along the North Limb Fault have identified abundant silica-dominated hydrothermal breccias and vein networks proximal to, and defining, the structure. The North Limb Fault is interpreted as a braided fault system, comprising numerous subparallel fault strands that have sponsored formation of a permeability network on a massive scale. This permeability network manifests as quartz-dominated breccia vein populations, vein stockworks and sheeted vein arrays defining the damaged rock within, and adjacent to, the fault strands. Importantly, sulphides and hydrothermal alteration in the form of sericite and chlorite, have been recently identified within these damage zones.
Tremendous gold prospectivity being enhanced on the Hermitage property with gold mineralisation in bedrock identified in two separate showings, proximal to the North Limb Fault seven kilometres apart along strike. This bedrock gold mineralisation is also hosted in two distinct geological units opening up prospectivity on both the hangingwall and footwall of this major structure.
FIGURE 4: HERMITAGE NORTH LIMB FAULT OVERLAYED WITH PROSPECTING RESULTS
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Uranium Potential
The Company has recently reviewed historic studies of the potential for uranium on and near the Hermitage Project area. The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador currently hosts major uranium projects. Over the course of the next several months, the Company will continue to evaluate and better understand the potential of uranium within the Hermitage property.
- ENDS -
This announcement has been authorised for release by the Company's Board of Directors.
To learn more about the Company, please visit www.aumegametals.com, or contact:
About the Company
AuMEGA Metals Ltd (ASX: AAM) (TSXV: AUM) (OTCQB: AUMMF) is utilising best-in-class exploration to explore on its district scale land package that spans 110 kilometers along the Cape Ray Shear Zone, a significant under-explored geological feature recognised as Newfoundland, Canada's largest identified gold structure. This zone currently hosts Calibre Mining's Valentine Gold Project, which is the region's largest gold deposit (+5 million ounces), along with AuMEGA's expanding Mineral Resource.
The Company is supported by a diverse shareholder registry of prominent global institutional investors, and strategic investment from B2Gold Corp, a leading, multi-million-ounce a year gold producer.
Additionally, AuMEGA holds a 27-kilometer stretch of the highly prospective Hermitage Flexure and has also secured an Option Agreement for the Blue Cove Copper Project in southeastern Newfoundland, which exhibits strong potential for copper and other base metals.
AuMEGA's Cape Ray Shear Zone hosts several dozen high potential targets along with its existing defined gold Mineral Resource of 6.1 million tonnes of ore grading an average of 2.25 g/t, totaling 450,000 ounces of Indicated Resources, and 3.4 million tonnes of ore grading an average of 1.44 g/t, totaling 160,000 ounces in Inferred Resources.
AuMEGA acknowledges the financial support of the Junior Exploration Assistance Program, Department of Industry, Energy and Technology, Provincial Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Reference to Previous ASX Announcements
In relation to this news release, all data used to assess targets have been previously disclosed by the Company and referenced in previous JORC Table 1 releases. Please see announcements dated: Mineral Resource estimate announced on 30 May 2023, Company exploration announcements on 16 January 2024 and 23 May 2024 and Hermitage specific announcements dated 18 May 2023, 13 September 2023, 13 November 2023, and18 March 2024.
In relation to the Mineral Resource estimate announced on 30 May 2023, the Company confirms that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in that announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Person's findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcement.
Competent Person's Statements
The information contained in this announcement that relates to exploration results is based upon information reviewed by Mr. Spencer Vatcher, P. Geo. who is an independent consultant employed with Silvertip Exploration Consultants Inc. Mr. Vatcher is a Member of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador (PEGNL) and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code 2012. Mr. Vatcher consents to the inclusion in the announcement of the matters based upon the information in the form and context in which it appears.
1 The Company is cross-referencing location of these veins relative to previous/historic sampling to determine gold potential
2 The Company has staked this ground and awaits formal issuance of the license
3 ASX Announcement dated 18 May 2023
4 ASX Announcement dated 13 November 2023
5 ASX Announcement 13 September 2023
6 The license has been staked and the Company is awaiting formal issuance of the license
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/222209
SOURCE: AuMEGA Metals Ltd.
Summary: The National University of Singapore (NUS) is organising the Postgraduate by Coursework Fair 2024 on September 28. This hybrid event will highlight NUS' Master's Degree programmes through live sessions, interactive booths, and discussions. It aims to engage a global audience of prospective students and professionals.
Singapore, Singapore--(Newsfile Corp. - September 4, 2024) - The National University of Singapore (NUS) is organising the NUS Postgraduate by Coursework Fair 2024 (NUS PGCF 2024) on September 28. This event, now in its second iteration, will be held both in-person at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre Begonia Ballrooms 3001-3004 / 3101-3103, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, and online on a dedicated event portal, offering a hybrid platform to showcase the University's Master's Degree programmes.
Dive into NUS Degrees
NUS PGCF 2024 will be open from 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM SGT, showcasing the diverse range of Master's Degree programs at NUS. Attendees can participate in live information sessions led by NUS faculty members and programme partners.
The Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health will present its Master of Public Health programme, while the NUS Graduate School will highlight the advantages of pursuing PhD and graduate research studies at NUS. The event will also cover postgraduate coursework programmes in the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, insights from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy under the theme "Empowering Tomorrow's Asia," and details about the Master of Science (MSc) programmes at NUS Business School. Additionally, the Risk Management Institute will brief attendees on its MSc Financial Engineering programme, and NUS-ISS will discuss its Master of Technology programmes in Artificial Intelligence Systems, Business Analytics, Software Engineering, and Digital Leadership. The Faculty of Law will also provide information on its graduate programs.
Hybrid Highlights
Live sessions will provide insights into various Master's Degree programmes, including their structure, curriculum, and career benefits. Attendees can visit interactive booths at the in-person event to engage with NUS representatives and gather information.
One highlight is the exclusive Round-Table discussions, which is by invitation only, allowing up to five participants per table to converse with programme consultants and faculty members. This format enables in-depth discussions about NUS's Master's Degree offerings.
For those unable to attend in person, the event will be accessible via a cloud-based platform with live streams, session recordings, and an online Q&A function. The platform will also handle registration and attendance tracking, ensuring a seamless experience.
Connect and Collaborate
Aiming to cater to a global audience, the fair's hybrid format allows broad participation and interaction. The online platform will facilitate engagement with attendees unable to travel to Singapore, ensuring the fair reaches a wide audience.
For the latest updates about the event, visit the NUS Postgraduate by Coursework Fair 2024 website.
About the National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is globally recognised for its academic excellence. Ranked eighth in the world and first in Asia by the QS World University Rankings 2025, NUS offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including Master's Degrees by Coursework. The University is dedicated to advancing knowledge through its diverse academic offerings.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/221243
SOURCE: Baden Bower
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - September 4, 2024) - Ayala's Pro Painting is making waves in the Phoenix painting industry by delivering top-tier services that cater to both residential and commercial clients. As the demand for high-quality painting solutions surges, Ayala's Pro Painting has emerged as a market leader, setting new standards with its expertise, innovative techniques, and a client-first approach that guarantees satisfaction with every project.
Founded with a mission to redefine spaces through the transformative power of color, Ayala's Pro Painting consistently achieves outstanding results that not only elevate the aesthetic appeal of properties but also enhance their longevity and value. The company's team of highly skilled professionals offers a wide array of services, including exterior and interior painting, specialty coatings, color consultation, and eco-friendly options, each tailored to meet the unique needs of the clients.
Pioneering Excellence in Painting
Ayala's Pro Painting's success is anchored in its unwavering commitment to excellence. The company recognizes that a fresh coat of paint can do more than just update a space-it can reinvigorate it, create a welcoming atmosphere, and even increase property value. This understanding fuels every project, from initial consultation to the final brushstroke.
Ayala's Pro Painting's success is anchored in its unwavering commitment to excellence.
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"Ayala's Pro Painting is more than just a Phoenix painting company; we are a team of artists and craftsmen dedicated to helping our clients realize their vision for their home or business," said Brian Ayala, CEO of Ayala's Pro Painting. "We believe that meticulous attention to detail, superior materials, and expert craftsmanship are the cornerstones of delivering results that exceed expectations."
Comprehensive Services to Meet Diverse Needs
Ayala's Pro Painting offers a full suite of services designed to cater to a diverse clientele. Whether tackling a small residential project or a large-scale commercial undertaking, the company approaches each job with the same level of dedication and professionalism.
Exterior Painting: Recognizing that the exterior is the first impression of any property, Ayala's Pro Painting utilizes top-quality paints and coatings specifically designed to withstand Arizona's harsh climate. This ensures that the property's exterior remains vibrant and protected for years to come.
Interior Painting: Interior spaces should reflect the personality and style of the occupants. Ayala's Pro Painting excels in creating custom interior painting solutions, whether for a single room or an entire building. The experts work closely with clients to choose the right colors, finishes, and techniques to bring their vision to life.
Specialty Coatings: For clients seeking something extraordinary, Ayala's Pro Painting offers a range of specialty coatings. From textured finishes to faux treatments and protective coatings, the company provides innovative solutions that add depth, character, and functionality to any space.
Color Consultation: Choosing the right color can be daunting. With Ayala's Pro Painting's color consultation service, clients can make informed decisions with confidence. The color experts consider factors such as lighting, architecture, and personal preferences to recommend colors that enhance the beauty and harmony of the space.
Eco-Friendly Options: In an era of environmental awareness, Ayala's Pro Painting proudly offers eco-friendly painting options. The company uses low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and sustainable practices that minimize environmental impact without sacrificing quality or performance.
Ayala's Pro Painting offers a full suite of services designed to cater to a diverse clientele.
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Customer-Centric Approach
Ayala's Pro Painting's stellar reputation is built on more than just its painting services. The company is renowned for its customer-centric approach, prioritizing communication, transparency, and respect for the client's time and space. From the initial consultation to the final walkthrough, clients can expect clear communication, timely updates, and a clean, organized worksite.
"We understand that our clients' homes and businesses are their most valuable assets, and we treat them with the care and respect they deserve," said Brian. "Our goal is to make the painting process as seamless and stress-free as possible so that our clients can enjoy the results without any hassle."
Building a Legacy of Trust
Ayala's Pro Painting has built a strong reputation based on trust, quality, and a commitment to customer satisfaction. The company's dedication to excellence has earned it numerous accolades and a loyal customer base that continues to grow through referrals and repeat business.
As Ayala's Pro Painting looks to the future, the company remains committed to its core values of integrity, quality, and customer service. By continually innovating and improving its services, Ayala's Pro Painting aims to remain the preferred choice for painting services in Phoenix, AZ, and beyond.
About Ayala's Pro Painting
Ayala's Pro Painting is a premier painting service provider based in Phoenix, AZ, specializing in both residential and commercial painting. With a focus on quality, craftsmanship, and customer satisfaction, Ayala's Pro Painting offers a wide range of services, including exterior and interior painting, specialty coatings, color consultation, and eco-friendly options. The company is dedicated to helping clients transform their spaces with personalized solutions that meet their unique needs.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/222191
SOURCE: GetFeatured
e.l.f. announces its largest international retail launch to date in Germany with ROSSMANN, entry into Sephora in Mexico, and expansion in existing markets
e.l.f. is expanding the reach of its unique value proposition, powerhouse innovation and disruptive marketing engine, driven by growth in existing non-U.S. markets and consumer demand in new global regions. Currently, e.l.f. has a retail presence in 14 countries, with additional global distribution via eShopWorld. In the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2025, reported last month, non-U.S. markets represented 16% of e.l.f. Beauty's total net sales.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240904617227/en/
e.l.f. is expanding global reach driven by growth in existing non-U.S. markets and consumer demand in new global regions. (Photo: Business Wire)
From a full-year perspective, Fiscal Year 2024 sales grew 91% year-over-year.
Part of e.l.f.'s international expansion strategy is partnering with leading global retailers and distributors who have the scale to make a strong and immediate impact and align with e.l.f.'s vision of positivity, inclusivity and accessibility. e.l.f. also engages with its community before entering a market driving consumer demand and excitement.
"We see immense potential to make significant impact internationally, fueled by our commitment to make the best of beauty accessible to every eye, lip, face and skin concern," said Tarang Amin, Chairman and CEO, e.l.f. Beauty. "Our approach is a combination of a disciplined sequential strategy with leading beauty retailers while meeting the call of our community where they are asking for our presence."
In existing markets, e.l.f. is meeting community demand by tapping into both new and existing partners and continues to broaden its global reach by entering new markets:
Germany: As previously announced, e.l.f. is expanding in Germany with its largest international retail launch to date in 1,600 ROSSMANN locations nationwide.
U.K.: e.l.f. Cosmetics is now the No. 4 mass makeup brand as compared to No. 8 a year ago.* To build on this momentum, e.l.f. Cosmetics is gaining space in several hundred Boots and Superdrug locations this fall.
Mexico: As previously announced, e.l.f. will debut in dozens of Sephora Mexico locations this fall, marking its re-entry in the country and its first time with Sephora Mexico. This strategic move helps address local demand for premium-quality products at accessible prices with universal appeal.
Australia: e.l.f. recently expanded its existing distributor relationship in Australia by launching in Coles, marking the brand's first venture into the country's grocery channel. This fall, e.l.f. will also expand its presence in Priceline.
Italy: e.l.f. Cosmetics entered Douglas last fall as the No. 1 makeup brand across mass and prestige in all existing doors and has stayed there.** To keep up the forward progress in Italy, e.l.f. Cosmetics will double the current store space by expanding into hundreds of additional Douglas locations this fall and will launch on Amazon this fall.
Netherlands: e.l.f. Cosmetics has maintained the No. 1 mass makeup brand ranking in Etos since launch in April 2024.***
Canada: e.l.f. Cosmetics has risen to the No. 4 mass makeup brand, up from No. 6 a year ago.
Nordics: This fall, e.l.f. is excited to reveal that STHER will serve as the exclusive distributor for e.l.f. in the Nordic region, with new launches anticipated in the following retailers: H&M, Matas, Kicks, Vita, Sokos and Lyko.
By partnering with key retailers and building strong connections with local communities, e.l.f. is well-positioned to continue its successful international growth strategy.
*Source: e.l.f. Cosmetics claim based on data reported by NielsenIQ through its Scantrack Service for the Mass Market Color Cosmetics category for the 12-week period ending June 15, 2024, for the GB market. Copyright 2024, Nielsen Consumer, LLC.
** Source: Douglass, Italy, August 2024
*** Source: Etos, Netherlands, August 2024
About e.l.f. Beauty:
e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE: ELF) is fueled by a belief that anything is e.l.f.ing possible. We are a different kind of company that disrupts norms, shapes culture and connects communities, committed to positivity, inclusivity and accessibility. Our mission is clear: to make the best of beauty accessible to every eye, lip, face and skin concern. e.l.f. Cosmetics, e.l.f. SKIN, Keys Soulcare, Well People and NATURIUM are led by purpose, driven by results and elevated by our superpowers. e.l.f. Beauty has double Cruelty Free certifications from both Leaping Bunny and PETA, offers e.l.f. clean and vegan products, and proudly stands as the first beauty company to achieve Fair Trade certification across our supply chain. A kind heart is at the center of our ethos: We donate 2% of net profits to organizations that make positive impacts. Learn more at www.elfbeauty.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements. Although e.l.f. Beauty believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results and the timing of selected events may differ materially from those expectations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among other things, the risks and uncertainties that are described in e.l.f. Beauty's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Potential investors are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, e.l.f. Beauty assumes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available in the future.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240904617227/en/
Contacts:
Media:
Hannah Rubin
hrubin@elfbeauty.com
AXIROS NORTH AMERICA, INC. ADDS CUSTOMER BASE IN NORTH DAKOTA
TAMPA, FL / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / Telecommunications software leader Axiros North America, Inc. is pleased to announce that SRT Communications, Inc. has selected Axiros Advanced RDM & Performance Test Services for its industry respected critical Internet and telephone services in North Dakota.
Axiros logo
Axiros logo
"SRT's fiber network supports complex critical infrastructure, including two legs of the United States defense triad, that requires robust Internet service," stated Shawn Grosz, Chief Technology Officer of SRT."We selected Axiros to upgrade our current capabilities to manage any type of customer premise equipment (CPE) needed for delivering high-speed, highly dependable Internet in our service area. The Axiros services are highly customizable, and their roadmap allows for continuous evolution, automated provisioning, and management and monitoring of critical network infrastructure. These attributes support SRT's mission to provide high quality communications services that are responsive to the needs of our customers."
Delivered via managed services including Axiros software, together with the AX BBT Broadband Test Service for performance testing as required by regulatory agencies involved with Connect America Fund (CAF), Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) and similar Universal Service (USF) funding programs, the solution selected by SRT is considered by many to be the most robust, reliable and customizable for provisioning, management, testing and monitoring of multivendor network CPE devices via TR-069 and TR-369 (USP).
"Broadband Service Providers such as SRT who have been recognized by the industry for their innovation and reliability exemplify the best examples of continuous improvement - in technology, service and reliability," stated Michael Shaw, Chief Executive Officer of Axiros North America, Inc. "We could not be more proud of their selection of the Axiros software-based Advanced RDM and FCC Performance Test Services."
Axiros solutions are known for their technical reliability and value. The companyis dedicated to certified industry standards, user portal customization, incorporating the needs of its users into its ongoing software features roadmap and bespoke service delivery options.
ABOUT AXIROS
Axiros North America, Inc., an Axiros GmbH company, provides software and managed services to a diverse customer base. Axiros specializes in powerful device management software that leverages industry standards such as TR-069 and TR-369. With a global presence, Axiros is committed to delivering innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of businesses in today's digital landscape. To learn more about Axiros, visit https://www.axiros.com.
ABOUT SRT COMMUNICATIONS
SRT Communications, headquartered in Minot, North Dakota, is the state's largest telecommunications cooperative. Established in 1951, SRT serves customers across north central North Dakota. SRT earned the distinction as a Certified Gig-Capable Provider in 2017, and in 2024 CTO Shawn Grosz earned the NTCA Innovation Award for SRT's role in deploying North Dakota's first end-to-end Internet Protocol 911 service. SRT services include high-speed internet, phone, and security/surveillance systems for home and business. To learn more about SRT, visit https://www.srt.com.
Contact Information
Team Axiros
Media Contact
ms@axiros.com
(202) 641-2001
Michael Shaw
President and Chief Executive Officer
shaw@axiros.com
(202) 641-2001
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SOURCE: Axiros North America, Inc. and SRT Communications
View the original press release on newswire.com.
Zhong Neng is the first offshore wind farm in Taiwan to be completed ahead of schedule. It is the second offshore wind farm completed in Taiwan this year by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, following the inauguration of the 600MW Changfang-Xidao.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Sept. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At a ceremony yesterday in Taipei, Taiwan, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners ("CIP") officially celebrated construction completion of the Zhong Neng offshore wind farm, a joint venture between CIP through its fund Copenhagen Infrastructure IV ("CI IV") and China Steel Corporation ("CSC").
Zhong Neng, located off the coast of Changhua County in Taiwan, is the first offshore wind farm in the country to be completed ahead of schedule and meets the highest localisation requirements in the history of Taiwan's offshore wind power sector. The project was constructed by a team led by Copenhagen Offshore Partners, CIP's exclusive offshore wind development partner, and the local Copenhagen Infrastructure Service Company, the global service provider to CIP.
Mads Skovgaard Andersen, Partner at CIP, commented: "We are very pleased to have successfully constructed Zhong Neng, together with our partner China Steel Corporation. The project was completed ahead of time and to the highest localisation requirements and is another example of how our investments make a meaningful contribution to the local energy transition, creating local growth and jobs and delivering healthy and stable returns for our investors."
Zhong Neng received local content plan approval from the Taiwan government in November 2019, and the first turbines were installed in May 2024. Full grid connection is expected by year-end, and, once, fully commercially operational, Zhong Neng will provide clean energy to approximately 300,000 households and present a carbon reduction potential of approximately 550,000 tons annually.
"The completion of CIP's second offshore wind farm in Taiwan once again demonstrates our joint project execution capabilities to deliver a project that provides renewable, locally produced and affordable power. Much of the credit for this achievement goes to our local partners, the local supply chain and the skilled Zhong Neng project team. And I would like to congratulate all of them for reaching this milestone," said Thomas Wibe Poulsen, Partner at CIP.
Since entering Taiwan in 2017, CIP has been committed to offshore wind in the country and has invested significantly in developing offshore wind projects, supply networks and fostering a strong industry ecosystem. CIP and other partners currently have three offshore wind projects in Taiwan with a combined capacity of approximately 1,400MW: Changfang-Xidao (600MW), Zhong Neng (300MW), and Fengmiao (500MW).
About Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners
Founded in 2012, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners P/S (CIP) today is the world's largest dedicated fund manager within greenfield renewable energy investments and a global leader in offshore wind. The funds managed by CIP focus on investments in offshore and onshore wind, solar PV, biomass and energy-from-waste, transmission and distribution, reserve capacity, storage, advanced bioenergy, and Power-to-X.
CIP manages 12 funds and has to date raised approximately EUR 28 billion for investments in energy and associated infrastructure from more than 160 international institutional investors. CIP has approximately 500 employees and 12 offices around the world. For more information, visit www.cip.com
Regional diversity boosts China's foreign trade in Jan-July
People's Daily Online) 10:42, September 05, 2024
China's foreign trade in goods hit a record high in the first seven months of this year, showing steady growth as foreign trade entities continued to show strength.
An examination of the latest foreign trade data from various regions across China reveals striking structural features.
China's major export hubs continued to drive foreign trade growth from January to July.
Photo shows a container terminal at Rizhao Port in Rizhao city, east China's Shandong Province. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)
Guangdong, China's top exporting province, saw trade volume rise 13.9 percent year on year to 5.17 trillion yuan ($726 billion). Zhejiang Province's total import and export value reached 3.01 trillion yuan, a 7.6 percent increase year on year, while Jiangsu Province's total imports and exports rose 8.1 percent to 3.15 trillion yuan, outpacing the national growth rate by 1.9 percentage points.
"From January to July, the number of private foreign trade enterprises in Zhejiang Province with import and export records increased 8.5 percent year on year to 98,879, said Wang Yang, an official from Hangzhou Customs.
During the same period, foreign trade, exports, and imports of foreign-invested companies in the province expanded 6.9 percent, 6 percent, and 8.4 percent, respectively," Wang added.
China's central and western regions also reported robust foreign trade growth in the January-July period.
Sichuan Province's total imports and exports of goods hit 582.5 billion yuan, a record high, registering a year-on-year increase of 12.1 percent. Meanwhile, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region's total imports and exports surged 39.1 percent from the same period last year to 253 billion yuan. Shanxi and Anhui provinces also saw significant increases, with foreign trade expanding 14.7 percent and 7.4 percent, respectively.
A worker transports fasteners in a company in Yongnian district, Handan city, north China's Hebei Province. Fasteners produced in Yongnian district are exported to over 110 countries and regions. (Xinhua/Wang Xiao)
Chinese regions are driving foreign trade growth by developing specialized industries that leverage local advantages, enhancing their export competitiveness.
Hunan Province, a hub for construction machinery, saw exports in this sector rise 25 percent year on year to 19.44 billion yuan in the January-July period, according to Changsha Customs.
Chinese firms are capitalizing on regional supply chains to boost exports. TCL China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd., based in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, reported a 37 percent year-on-year increase in exports to 4.2 billion yuan for the January-July period.
"The Yangtze River Delta region has a strong industrial and supply chain system, with local suppliers providing key raw materials and components for our production," said Lu Jue, the company's customs manager. "This is an important reason why our exports continue to grow."
China's foreign trade is diversifying, with new growth areas emerging in both agricultural and manufactured goods.
North China's Hebei Province reported a surge in fresh pear exports, with volume up 92.2 percent to 141,000 tonnes and value rising 31.3 percent to 801 million yuan in the January-July period, according to Shijiazhuang Customs.
Meanwhile, Zhejiang Province saw home appliance exports climb 18.2 percent year on year to nearly 70 billion yuan.
(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
The Access Group, a leading provider of business management software to mid-market organisations in the UK, Ireland, USA and Asia Pacific, today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Onboarded, an Australian-based technology provider of recruitment onboarding software.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240904868937/en/
(Photo: Business Wire)
As part of this acquisition, The Access Group has reached an agreement to acquire Onboarded's sister company, smartAI, a personalised conversation platform for recruiters. This furthers The Access Group's ambition to help recruiters globally benefit from usable AI daily.
Through this, Access Recruitment will be able to offer its customers the ability to streamline and speed up the onboarding process, ensuring candidates are fully compliant. 84% of candidates using the Onboarded platform complete their onboarding within 24 hours.
Access Recruitment and Onboarded together will offer customers a suite of features that'll deliver a fully customisable digital platform which onboards candidates and employees in minutes with one link and sends the information back to the CRM.
The Access Group's advancements in AI and automation within the recruitment sector reinforce its commitment to making innovative technology accessible to all.
Raj Soni, Founder of Onboarded and smartAI, said:
"Since founding Onboarded in 2019, our mission and vision have been to build trusted connections between workers and businesses. Joining forces with The Access Group represents an exciting new chapter in our journey, making it easier for more people-globally-to onboard seamlessly into the workplace."
Emma de Sousa, Group Managing Director, The Access Group, added:
"We're delighted to welcome Onboarded and smartAI to the Access family, and we look forward to working alongside the Onboarded and smartAI teams to deliver an exceptional software experience that lightens the load for recruitment professionals and creates a seamless onboarding process for candidates changing roles or entering the world of work."
For more information on Access Recruitment, visit www.theaccessgroup.com/recruitment
About The Access Group
The Access Group is one of the largest UK-headquartered providers of business management software to small and mid-sized organisations in the UK, Ireland, USA and Asia Pacific. It helps more than 100,000 customers across commercial and non-profit sectors become more productive and efficient. Its innovative cloud solutions transform how business software is used, giving every employee the freedom to do more of what's important to them. Founded in 1991, The Access Group employs approximately 7,000 people. www.theaccessgroup.com
About Access Recruitment
Access Recruitment, a division of The Access Group, brings together best-in-class innovation designed to help agencies win. Their award-winning technology is built by recruiters, for recruiters and powers over 4,500 recruitment agencies across the world. The full suite of stand-alone and integrated software makes Access the only provider to offer the entire spectrum of recruitment front to back-office SaaS solutions including websites, CRM, candidate screening and payroll and billing. The 400-strong team of industry experts is dedicated to delivering solutions that improve productivity by up to 40%, increase website conversions by 80% and reduce candidate screening costs by 30%. www.theaccessgroup.com/recruitment/
About Onboarded
Onboarded is a leading, fully configurable end-to-end candidate onboarding solution, designed to streamline the entire process from pre-hire registration to post-placement onboarding. The platform offers a comprehensive suite of features including contract signing, background checks, and payroll onboarding, all within a single solution. Trusted by recruiters across Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, Onboarded facilitates the onboarding of over 26,000 candidates each month, making it the preferred choice for organisations looking to achieve compliance without administrative burden. Seamlessly integrating with major recruitment and payroll systems, Onboarded simplifies the collection of necessary candidate information, ensuring secure delivery to employers. www.onboarded.com.au
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240904868937/en/
Contacts:
maisie.bamford@tank.co.uk
Regulatory News:
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND JAPAN OR IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH IT WOULD BE UNLAWFUL TO DO SO.
THIS PRESS RELEASE IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY ID LOGISTICS GROUP SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION.
ID Logistics Group (the "Company") (ISIN: FR0010929125, Mnemo: IDL) (Paris:IDL), European leader in contract logistics, today announces the successful placement of 375,000 new shares with domestic and international institutional investors. The new shares will be issued through a capital increase without shareholders' preferential subscription rights via an accelerated bookbuilding (the "Capital Increase") at a price of 360 per share resulting in gross proceeds of 135 million.
Following strong investors' demand, the initial amount of the Capital Increase of 125 million has been increased to 135 million.
RESULTS OF THE CAPITAL INCREASE
Number of new shares to be issued: 375,000, i.e., 6.1% of the share capital (prior to the Capital Increase).
Subscription price: 360 per new share (including 0.50 in par value and 359.50 in issue premium), representing a discount of 10.45% on the last closing price prior to transaction announcement on 4 September 2024.
Total amount of the Capital Increase: 135 million.
TRANSACTION RATIONALE AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Over the last years, ID Logistics has experienced a strong development phase by combining targeted acquisitions (Kane Logistics in the US in 2022 and more recently Spedimex in Poland in 2023) and organic growth, accompanying its blue-chip customers on new geographical markets (Italy and United Kingdom). This positive growth momentum has accelerated in the first half of 2024 with the start of new operations, in particular in the United States which recorded like-for-like revenue growth of +34.8% since the beginning of the year. The commercial activity remains strong with numerous new contract wins. For example, by the end of the year, ID Logistics will launch its 3rd site for a global e-commerce leader in the United States and open a new 50,000 sq.m. site in the United Kingdom for a global leader in the fashion industry.
The Capital Increase illustrates the willingness of the Company to strengthen its balance sheet, in order to enhance its financial agility and ability to be ready to seize the multiple growth opportunities ahead, in particular in Europe and in the US.
The net proceeds of the Capital Increase will mostly be allocated to the refinancing of the recent acquisitions in order to increase ID Logistics' investment capabilities.
REFERENCE SHAREHOLDERS' SUBSCRIPTION
Eric Hemar, Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of the Company, subscribed to the Capital Increase, through IMMOD, for an amount of 9.45 million, representing 26,250 new shares. Following the completion of the Capital Increase, Eric Hemar holds, indirectly, 2,004,539 shares of the Company through IMMOD and, directly, 1,296,460 shares of the Company, representing an aggregate number of 3,300,999 shares (i.e., 50.41% of the share capital of the Company).
MAIN TERMS OF THE CAPITAL INCREASE
The Capital Increase has been carried out without shareholders' preferential subscription rights pursuant to the authorization granted by the combined general meeting of shareholders of the Company held on 31 May 2023 (19th resolution) and in accordance with the provisions of Article L.411-2, 1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code.
The new shares were offered exclusively to institutional investors in a private placement by way of an accelerated bookbuilding process.
In accordance with the 21st resolution of the general meeting referred to above, the subscription price of 360 represents a discount of 11.69% on the volume-weighted average price of the last three trading days prior to transaction announcement on 4 September 2024.
The new shares will carry dividend rights and will be immediately assimilated to the existing shares of the Company. The new shares will be admitted to trading under the same ISIN code as the existing shares, FR0010929125, on the regulated market of Euronext in Paris ("Euronext Paris
Settlement and delivery of the Capital Increase is expected to take place on 9 September 2024.
LOCK-UP UNDERTAKINGS
As part of the Capital Increase, the Company has agreed to a lock-up period of 180 calendar days following the settlement and delivery date of the Capital Increase, subject to customary exceptions.
Eric Hemar1 has agreed to a lock-up period of 180 calendar days following the settlement and delivery date of the Capital Increase, subject to customary exceptions.
Christophe Satin2 has agreed to a lock-up period of 90 calendar days following the settlement and delivery date of the Capital Increase, subject to customary exceptions.
DILUTION
For illustrative purposes only, a shareholder holding 1% of the Company's share capital as of 4 September 2024, and not subscribing to the Capital Increase, would hold 0,943% on a non-diluted basis of the share capital following the issue of the new shares pursuant to the Capital Increase.
The share capital of the Company will be allocated as follows:
Allocation before the Capital Increase:
Shareholders Number of shares of the share capital Number of voting rights of voting rights Immod 1,978,289 32.05% 3,643,735 38.36% Eric Hemar 1,296,460 21.00% 2,592,920 27.30% Libertad 137,133 2.22% 274,266 2.89% Christophe Satin 81,029 1.31% 159,948 1.68% Concert 3,492,911 56.58% 6,670,869 70.23% Others 181,571 2.94% 331,889 3.49% Free float 2,496,197 40.44% 2,496,197 26.28% Treasury shares 2,649 0.04% Total 6,173,328 100% 9,498,955 100%
Allocation after the Capital Increase:
Shareholders Number of shares of the share capital Number of voting rights of voting rights Immod 2,004,539 30.61% 3,669,985 37.17% Eric Hemar 1,296,460 19.80% 2,592,920 26.26% Libertad 137,133 2.09% 274,266 2.78% Christophe Satin 81,029 1.24% 159,948 1.62% Concert 3,519,161 53.74% 6,697,119 67.83% Others3 181,571 2.77% 331,889 3.36 Free float 2,844,947 43.45% 2,844,947 28.81% Treasury shares 2,649 0.04% Total 6,548,328 100% 9,873,955 100%
ADVISORS
BNP Paribas and Natixis acted as Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners.
Hogan Lovells LLP acted as Legal Advisor to the Company.
White Case LLP acted as Legal Advisor to the Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners.
NO PROSPECTUS
The Capital Increase was not subject to a prospectus requiring an approval by the French financial markets authority (Autorite des marches financiers) (the "AMF
RISK FACTORS
The investors' attention is drawn to the risk factors associated with the Company and its business presented in Section 2 of the 2023 Universal Registration Document filed with the AMF on 22 April 2024 under number D.24-0314 (the "Universal Registration Document"). The Universal Registration Document is available free of charges on the website of the Company (https://www.id-logistics.com/en/investisors/). The occurrence of all or part of these risks could have a negative impact on the Company's business, financial position, results, development and outlook.
Additionally, investors are invited to consider the following risks specific to this Capital Increase:
Volatility and liquidity: the market price and liquidity of the Company's shares may fluctuate significantly and the market price may fall below the subscription price of the new shares issued in the context of the Capital Increase; and
Impact on the stock market price: the sale by the main shareholders of the Company of a large number of the Company's shares, at the expiry of the lock-up, as the case may be, may have a negative impact on the share price of the Company.
NEXT PUBLICATION
Revenues for 3rd quarter 2024: 22 October 2024, after market close.
ABOUT ID LOGISTICS:
ID Logistics, headed by Eric Hemar, is an international contract logistics group with revenues of 2.75 billion in 2023. ID Logistics manages nearly 400 sites in 18 countries, representing more than 8 million m operated in Europe, America, Asia and Africa, with 38,000 employees.
With a customer portfolio balanced between distribution, e-commerce and consumer goods, ID Logistics is characterized by offers involving a high level of technology. Since its creation in 2001, the Group has developed a social and environmental approach through a number of original projects, and is now firmly committed to an ambitious CSR policy. ID Logistics shares are listed on the Euronext regulated market in Paris and are included in the SBF 120 index (ISIN code: FR0010929125, Mnemo: IDL).
IMPORTANT NOTICE
This press release may not be published, distributed or released in the United States of America, Australia, Canada or Japan. The release, publication or distribution of this press release in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by laws or regulations. Therefore, persons in such jurisdictions into which this press release is released, published or distributed must inform themselves about and comply with such laws or regulations. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of ordinary shares in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
No communication and no information in respect of the Capital Increase may be distributed to the public in any jurisdiction where a registration or approval is required. No steps have been or will be taken in any jurisdiction where such steps would be required. The issuance by the Company or the subscription of the Shares may be subject to legal and regulatory restrictions in certain jurisdictions. The Company and its advisors, the Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners and their advisors take no responsibility for any violation of any such restriction by any person.
This press release is an advertisement and not a prospectus within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 14, 2017, as amended (the "Prospectus Regulation") and of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of the United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the "UK Prospectus Regulation
This press release is not an offer to the public other than to qualified investors, or an offer to subscribe or designed to solicit interest for purposes of an offer to the public other than to qualified investors in any jurisdiction, including France.
European Economic Area
With respect to the member States of the European Economic Area (each, a "Member State"), no action has been undertaken or will be undertaken to make an offer to the public of the securities requiring publication of a prospectus in any relevant Member State, including France and Germany. As a result, the securities may only be offered in relevant Member States (i) to qualified investors, as defined by the Prospectus Regulation; or (ii) in any other circumstances, not requiring the Company to publish a prospectus as provided under Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Regulation. These selling restrictions with respect to Member States apply in addition to any other selling restrictions which may be applicable in any Member State.
United Kingdom
With respect to the United Kingdom, no action has been undertaken or will be undertaken to make an offer to the public of the securities referred to herein requiring a publication of a prospectus. As a result, the securities may and will be offered only (i) to qualified investors within the meaning of the UK Prospectus Regulation, (ii) to fewer than 150 individuals or legal entities (other than qualified investors as defined in the UK Prospectus Regulation, or (iii) in accordance with the exemptions set forth in Article 1 (4) of the UK Prospectus Regulation or under any other circumstances which do not require the publication by ID Logistics Group of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the UK Prospectus Regulation.
The distribution of this press release has not been made, and has not been approved, by an "authorised person" within the meaning of Article 21(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. As a consequence, this press release is only being distributed to, and is only directed at, persons in the United Kingdom that (i) are "investment professionals" falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the "Order"), (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.") of the Order, or (iii) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Article 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons. Any person who is not a Relevant Person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.
United States
This press release does not constitute or form part of any offer of securities for sale or any solicitation to purchase or to subscribe for securities or any solicitation of sale of securities in the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or the law of any State or other jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered, sold, pledge or otherwise transferred in the United States absent registration under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. ID Logistics Group does not intend to register all or any portion of the securities in the United States under the Securities Act or to conduct a public offering of the securities in the United States.
Australia, Canada and Japan
This announcement may not be published, forwarded or distributed, directly or indirectly, in Australia, Canada or Japan.
None of the Underwriters or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, advisers or agents accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this press release (or whether any information has been omitted from this press release) or any other information relating to ID Logistics Group, 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.
The distribution of this press release in certain countries may constitute a breach of applicable law.
1 Directly and indirectly through IMMOD. IMMOD is owned 100% by Comete SARL (the latter acting as lead holding company). Comete SARL is owned 50.25% by Mr. Eric Hemar, the remaining being owned by his spouse and their children.
2 Directly and indirectly through Libertad SARL. Libertad SARL is owned 90% by Mr. Christophe Satin and 10% by his spouse.
3 The Other shareholders are registered shareholders and are primarily current or former Group employees, none of whom individually hold more than 2% of the capital or voting rights.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240904080132/en/
Contacts:
ID Logistics
Yann Perot CFO
Tel: +33 (0)4 42 11 06 00
yperot@id-logistics.com
Investor Relations Contact
NewCap
Tel: 33 (0)1 44 71 94 94
idlogistics@newcap.eu
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 5, 2024) - Miata Metals Corp. (CSE: MMET) (FSE: 8NQ) ("Miata" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of a comprehensive sampling program completed on the Sela Creek Gold Project in Suriname. Miata recently announced the signing of an earn-in agreement to acquire 100% of the Sela Creek Gold Project.
Highlights
Grab samples of up to 133.25 g/t gold in recently exposed bedrock in the Stranger Pit 1
Representative chip samples of up to 3.10 g/t gold over 3 m in the Stranger Pit
Grab samples of up to 39.20 g/t gold in recently exposed veins of the Puma target 1
Grab samples of up to 25.13 g/t gold in an extension of Jon's pit 1
The Stranger Pit and Puma target are still untested by drilling
"We are excited to share our recent sampling results on the Sela Creek Project," stated Miata's CEO, Dr. Jacob Verbaas. "The results we encountered confirm our original excitement in this project, which has only seen modest exploration despite having over 100 years of artisanal gold production, which continues to today. We were able to efficiently plan this due diligence sampling and structural mapping program on the Sela Creek Project in Suriname thanks to our local partners. The majority of Miata's exploration crew consisted of local Surinamese people, showcasing our commitment to the people of Suriname and developing solid cooperation between all stakeholders. These results are the first important step to designing a comprehensive drill program on Sela Creek."
Since Sela Creek is actively mined2, there are multiple new exposures on the project that have been uncovered since it was last explored. The most exciting new exposure is the Stranger Pit, where the highest-grade sample of this program came from. The Miata exploration crew has also spent considerable time measuring and recording structural information on the project, which is crucial to identifying the ideal drill direction for the different zones. Together with a planned LiDAR survey, this information will guide future trenching and drilling programs."
Figure 1. Overview map of Sela Creek.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9876/222218_1dbba82244ea9b62_001full.jpg
The Stranger Pit
Small-scale mining at the Stranger Pit has exposed numerous mineralized outcrops. The exploration crew took a total of eight samples, six of which returned values over 1 g/t gold. The highest sample yielded 133.25 g/t gold from a fault-fill vein parallel to foliation. The seven remaining samples yielded between 3.73 and 0.10 g/t gold with an average of 2.05 g/t gold.
Figure 2. High-grade quartz veins in the Stranger Pit. Sampling of this occurrence yielded 133.25 g/t Au.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9876/222218_1dbba82244ea9b62_002full.jpg
The Stranger Pit is a northwest trending pit with ample fault fill and tension veins. These types of veins are hallmarks of orogenic gold occurrences, the most common gold deposits being mined today. The existing pit is roughly 100 m long and all samples were taken from the northwestern end of the pit over a roughly 10 m x 30 m area.
Figure 3. Map of the Stranger Pit, where six out of eight samples graded over 1.0 g/t Au.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9876/222218_1dbba82244ea9b62_003full.jpg
Jon's Pit
The eastern extension of Jon's pit yielded up to 25.13 g/t in 7 samples with an average grade of 6.56 g/t Au. This extension is typical of high-grade mineralization on Sela Creek, where folded tension veins and fault-fill veins occur in the same locality. Here, visible gold was observed in both quartz veins as well as the host schist.
Figure 4. Folded tension vein, a common occurrence in and surrounding high-grade artisanal workings, this particular vein was exposed in the new extension of Jon's Pit.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9876/222218_1dbba82244ea9b62_004full.jpg
Puma target
The Puma target is another new target on the project where one out of 16 samples from a fault fill vein graded 39.20 g/t Au. This one of the few localities where unweathered rock has been exposed by artisanal miners, giving the Company valuable information from geological measurements and observations. The Puma target overlies a substantial historical soil anomaly that may represent a wide zone of mineralization. Out of 16 samples, the average grade was 2.42 g/t Au and four samples graded > 0.1 g/t Au.
Sela Creek Inaugural Sampling Program
The Company planned a two-week exploration program July to identify the type of mineralization and exposure currently accessible at the Sela Creek Gold Project. Due to the nature of small-scale mining activities, new exposures are constantly uncovered, removed, and covered again. The exploration crew was able to achieve broad sampling coverage and collected 152 samples with an average grade of 1.72 g/t gold and 32 samples over 0.1 g/t gold.
Swiss Resource Capital Engagement
In addition, the Company announces that it has entered into an agreement (the "Agreement") with SRC Swiss Resource Capital AG ("SRC") for investor relations and communications services Europe. The Agreement is effective as of 4th September 2024, for a period of one year, after which time the SRC Agreement is renewable on a quarterly basis. The services to be provided by SRC to the Company under the terms of the Agreement include communications services, generally viewed as investor relations, including dissemination of information to existing and potential shareholders, creating media through interview and videos as well as supporting or representing the Company at trade and investment shows. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, SRC is to be paid 5,000 CHF per month with additional fees for special services such as trade and investment shows.
SRC is a private company with a business address at Poststr. 1, CH-9100, Herisau, Switzerland. SRC is led by Jochen Staiger, Chief Executive Officer. SRC has experience in providing services to companies listed on various stock exchanges that are seeking to raise their profile in public markets. SRC does not own, directly or indirectly, any securities of the Company.
Data Verification and QAQC
Samples were analyzed by FiLab, a lab that adds standards and blanks at regular intervals. The QP added independent standards at regular intervals. All standards and blanks yielded acceptable values.
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Thomas Hawkins, P.Geo., who is the Qualified Person as defined under the definitions of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
1Grab samples are by definition selective. Grab samples are solely designed to show the presence or absence of mineralization, and are not intended to provide nor should be construed as a representative indication of grade or mineralization at the Project.
2All mining on the claim is currently done by artisanal miners and not by Miata. Miata does not generate revenue from mining activities or royalties.
About Miata Metals Corp.
Miata Metals Corp. (CSE: MMET) is a Canadian mineral exploration company listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange. The Company is focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. Currently, the Company holds earn-in options to acquire 100% interest in the Sela Creek Gold Project in Suriname and 100% interest in the Cabin Lake Property in the Omineca Mining Division, British Columbia. The Company continuously evaluates opportunities to acquire interest in additional prospective exploration stage mineral properties.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements as well as historical information. Readers should not rely on information in this summary for any purpose other than for gaining general knowledge of the Company. Forward-Looking statements include, but are not limited to, the closing of the acquisition of 79North and its interest in Sela Creek and Nassau, the ultimate exercise of its option to acquire 100% of Sela Creek, and the anticipated exploration activities of the Company at Sela Creek (and the timing thereof). The words "expected", "will" and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that its expectations as reflected in any forward-looking statements, are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties and no assurance can be given that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates, opinions or other factors should change.
The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept 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/222218
SOURCE: Miata Metals Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 5, 2024) - Ynvisible Interactive Inc. (TSXV: YNV) (FSE: 1XNA) (OTCQB: YNVYF) (the "Company" or "Ynvisible") is pleased to announce the appointment of Kamran Kian as a new independent member of its Board of Directors, effective September 4, 2024.
Mr. Kian was a senior executive at Avery Dennison, a global leader in material science and manufacturing, where, as Senior Vice President for Global Operations, Supply Chain and Procurement, he oversaw an approximately $7B global operation. As part of his role, he also oversaw the Corporate Engineering team that supports innovation and design of capital equipment for the entire company, including its large Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology business. With over 38 years of experience in Operations, Engineering and General Management in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, he took Avery Dennison's Operations to new heights and built a solid global team.
"On behalf of all of us at Ynvisible, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Kamran as the new member of our Board of Directors. We are proud and honoured to have a global industry leader of Kamran's caliber join our Board of Directors. His extensive experience in global manufacturing and operations will be invaluable to Ynvisible as we scale our business. Beyond his professional achievements, Kamran's unwavering integrity and commitment to excellence make him an exceptional addition to our team. We look forward to his guidance and the positive impact he will bring to our company," said Ramin Heydarpour, Ynvisible's CEO.
"I am so excited to join the Board of Ynvisible. I believe Ynvisible has a true advantage in the e-paper space, with their energy-efficient flexible displays," said Mr. Kian.
Ynvisible has also granted stock options to Mr. Kian to acquire an aggregate of 250,000 common shares in the capital of the Company, pursuant to the Company's omnibus equity incentive compensation plan. The stock options are each convertible into a common share at an exercise price of $0.09 until September 4, 2029. With respect to vesting provisions, the stock options vest 1/4 on September 4, 2024 (the "Grant Date"), 1/4 on the date that is four months from the Grant Date, 1/4 on the date that is eight months from the Grant Date and the final 1/4 on the date that is 12 months from the Grant Date.
Ynvisible Investor Update Webinar
Mark your calendars and register now for Ynvisible's investor-focused webinar on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at 4:00 pm (CET) / 10:00 am (EST). CEO Ramin Heydarpour and the executive team will provide an overview of Ynvisible's progress in product development, customer acquisition, and market strategy. Attendees will gain valuable insights into technical and commercial achievements, future prospects, and strategic initiatives. Register here.
About Ynvisible
Ynvisible is disrupting the low-cost and ultra-low-power display industry thanks to the latest advantages in sustainable electronics and roll-to-roll printing production. Ynvisible's printed e-paper displays are ideal for low-power and cost-sensitive applications, such as digital signage, smart monitoring labels for supply chain and logistics, visual indicators for medical and diagnostics, or retail labels and signage. Ynvisible has experience, know-how, and intellectual property in electrochromic materials, inks, and systems, and offers a mix of services, technology and products to brand owners developing smart objects and IoT products. Additional information on Ynvisible is available at www.ynvisible.com.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ramin Heydarpour
CEO and Executive Chairman
Ynvisible Interactive Inc.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements
This 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 Ynvisible Interactive Inc. 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 may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the management of Ynvisible Interactive Inc. on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Ynvisible Interactive Inc. undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/222168
SOURCE: Ynvisible Interactive Inc.
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From home security and safety to smart lighting and water control, AI voice capabilities, new partner integrations with Home Assistant and Tesla, and continued commitment to Matter, Aqara continues to grow its product lineup in Europe and beyond
Aqara, a global leader and pioneer in IoT, today unveiled a selection of innovative solutions and technologies for the smart home focused on enhancing security, safety, energy efficiency, and interoperability globally; as well as new integration partnerships with Home Assistant and Tesla
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240905190004/en/
Aqara Previews New Smart Home Tech at IFA 2024 (Photo: Business Wire)
The company is doubling down on home security and monitoring with the 4MP Camera Hub G5 Pro designed for outdoor use and equipped with True Color Night Vision; the Garage Door Controller T2 Kit for the smart control of up to two garage doors; and the Valve Controller T1 and Smoke Detector to protect properties from water and fire damage.
Committed to delivering smart home experiences with simplicity and enhanced interoperability, Aqara continues to expand its Thread product portfolio with an innovative approach to incorporate both Thread and Zigbee communication. The Company extents its European energy management product lineup with a new series of Thread-enabled wall switches, including the Light Switch H2 EU, Dimmer Switch H2 EU, and Shutter Switch H2 EU. The company is also adding to its smart lighting portfolio with the Thread-enabled LED Bulb T2 for everyday and atmospheric illumination. Additionally, Aqara will showcase new AI-powered voice capabilities with the Aqara Voice Mate H1, a battery-powered accessory that works with Hub M3 and allows interaction with Aqara Copilot.
Aqara continues to invest in Matter, through new capabilities and support across its product lineup and in its future roadmap, opening up a world of new possibilities for integration, automations and ambient control, and smart energy management. Aqara is showcasing these new products along with other advanced technologies and prototypes at IFA 2024 at Messe Berlin, in Hall 1.2, Stand 329
Enhanced Security and Safety for the Home
Camera Hub G5 Pro The Camera Hub G5 Pro is Aqara's first surveillance camera developed for outdoor use. Available in PoE and Wi-Fi versions, the 4MP G5 Pro is equipped with True Color Night Vision and on-device AI capabilities that detect and recognize faces, vehicles, pets, and packages. These features help users monitor their properties in real time and deter potential intruders. Live and recorded videos are end-to-end encrypted, and its eMMC storage can sync to both cloud and local NAS servers. The G5 Pro features wide compatibility with major platforms such as Apple Home (including HomeKit Secure Video), Alexa, Google Home and SmartThings, and has added RTSP support to allow streaming to NVRs and video servers. A Zigbee 3.0 hub is built in to help connect the outside to the inside.
Garage Door Controller T2 Kit With control for up to two sectional garage doors, the Garage Door Controller T2 Kit adds convenience and smart security to one of the most forgotten areas of the home: the garage. It integrates the garage as an access point which can additionally be monitored and controlled, providing users with an integral smart home experience. The garage can be accessed via geofencing, voice assistants, mobile apps, and automations, and the hassle-free wireless sensor helps homeowners monitor the garage door status in real time. This solution supports Alexa, HomeKit, Google Home, and other Matter-enabled platforms via a compatible Aqara hub, and it works seamlessly with other smart devices from either Aqara or other third-party brands.
Valve Controller T1 The Valve Controller T1 can be integrated with leak detectors such as Aqara's Water Leak Sensor, and automatically shut off one's water or gas systems in response to a potential flood or gas leak, helping to safeguard the home even when no one is around. Compatible with lever and butterfly handle valves on DN15, DN20 and DN25 pipes, the Valve Controller T1 features a wireless, retrofit design to simplify the installation. No modification to the existing pipe or rewiring is required, making it friendly for DIY users.
Smoke Detector Equipped with a powerful siren, the Aqara Smoke Detector triggers an alarm of up to 85 decibels at the first sign of smoke. It also triggers all siren-equipped Aqara hubs and other grouped smoke detectors throughout the home. Built upon the Zigbee protocol, the Smoke Detector boasts an ultra-long battery life of up to 10 years, minimizing maintenance.
Expanded Energy Management Smart Lighting Lineup with Thread
H2 EU wall switches lineup Expanding Aqara's energy management product lineup in the European market, a new series of Thread-enabled wall switches is debuting, including the Light Switch H2 EU, Dimmer Switch H2 EU, and Shutter Switch H2 EU. With both Thread and Zigbee communication built in, users can opt for the Thread protocol to enjoy native Matter compatibility and seamless interoperability across platforms. Alternatively, users can opt for the wider feature set and benefits that Zigbee protocol provides, including power monitoring and decoupling the switch from light circuits so that the smart switch can be used with the smart lights. The H2 EU wall switches also feature innovative engineering that allows them to be used in both houses with or without a neutral wire, which simplifies the overall installation process for DIY users.
LED Bulb T2 The Thread-enabled LED Bulb T2 expands Aqara's robust smart lighting line. Available in both RGB CCT version that offers ultra-wide range of tunable whites (2000-9000K) and 16 million vibrant colors and the simpler CCT version, this new LED bulb creates the perfect ambiance at home with the crisp, high-quality white light for productivity and the soothing spectrum of colors available to set the mood. Equipped with Thread and Zigbee communication, the LED Bulb T2 caters to a wider range of smart home users with varying priorities, whether they prefer Thread for a future-proofing setup or Zigbee for the more mature, proven experience. The new T2 series includes E26, E27 and GU10 bulbs.
New Matter Capabilities Integration Partnerships
Advanced Matter Bridging -The Hub M3 is rolling out the new Advanced Matter Bridging feature, which allows users to sync any conditions ("IF") and actions ("THEN") in the Aqara Home app to other third-party Matter apps. By configuring a Signal and a Scene, which is a sequence of IFs and THENs respectively, users can now expose those previously Aqara exclusive conditions and actions for example the hand gesture recognition or camera auto-cruise activation to their preferred platform and create more sophisticated home automation.
Home Assistant Partnership Aqara announces its participation in the Work with Home Assistant program, offering optimized experiences to the vast Home Assistant users. The first Aqara devices that have been certified include the Hub M3, Smart Lock U200, and Motion and Light Sensor P2. More Aqara products are expected to receive certifications in the next months.
Tesla EV Integration Tesla electrical vehicles (EVs) can now be integrated into Aqara Home automations, allowing users to automate their EVs or to integrate them into smart home routines. For example, charging the EV during off-peak hours when the electricity rates are lower, or being able to turn on the vehicle and start the in-car air conditioning when the coffee maker starts in the weekday morning.
Intuitive Home Interaction through Voice with Privacy A Priority
Voice Mate H1 The Voice Mate H1 brings the ultimate convenience to the Aqara smart home system by enabling intuitive voice control without using a phone. This product is an accessory of the Aqara Hub M3, and is a highly compact, battery-powered device that has a microphone built-in, allowing users to command the Gen AI-enabled Aqara Copilot from anywhere in the home. Unlike many voice assistants relying on always-on and connected devices that are constantly listening for the wake word, the Voice Mate H1 remains in hibernation and only activates when it's picked up by the user, maximizing privacy protection.
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Contacts:
For Media Inquiries:
media@aqara.com
Strategic partnership focused on the optimization of clinical trial delivery
Ora, the leading global ophthalmic contract research organisation (CRO), announced today its partnership with Institute of Eye Surgery, Ireland's largest private ophthalmology service provider known for its innovation, excellence, and expertise in eye care.
This strategic partnership arrives at a pivotal time for European clinical research, with collaborations across industry accelerating delivery of new therapies to market for challenging ophthalmic diseases. With the Republic of Ireland emerging as a promising hub for clinical trials, this partnership positions the Institute of Eye Surgery as a leading centre for innovative clinical research.
Stated Paul Colvin, Ora CEO, "As the global leader in ophthalmology research, we are honoured to support many of the most impactful development programmes in Europe. Ora's top-tier approach to site collaboration and operational excellence, coupled with the reach and research infrastructure established by the Institute of Eye Surgery in Ireland, will provide our sponsors with optimised patient access and high-quality clinical data, ensuring each drug and device programme has the best chance of success."
For sponsors considering trials with clinical sites in Ireland, Ora and the Institute of Eye Surgery will provide:
Operational excellence delivered by a seasoned team of ophthalmology-focused resources committed to delivering trials with speed, efficiency, quality and cost-effectiveness.
Access to a diverse group of highly motivated study participants eager to receive new treatment options in ophthalmology.
"We are delighted to partner with one of the leading names in ophthalmology research, Ora, to advance our shared vision of transparently and ethically conducting clinical research that inures to the benefit of our patients," said Dr Eugene Ng, M.D., Cataract Vitreo Retinal Specialist at of the Institute of Eye Surgery. With our clinical sites strategically positioned across the Republic of Ireland and our vast experience in conducting sponsor-initiated and investigator-initiated trials, this partnership will further strengthen our research and clinical trials department in terms of increasing patients' access to novel treatments."
About Ora
Ora is the world's leading full-service ophthalmic drug and device development firm with offices in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. For over 45 years, we have proudly helped our clients earn more than 85 product approvals. We support a wide array of organisations, from start-ups to global pharmaceutical and device companies, to efficiently bring their new products from concept to market. Ora's pre-clinical and clinical models, unique methodologies, and global regulatory strategies have been refined and proven across thousands of global projects. We bring together the world's most extensive and experienced team of ophthalmic experts, R&D professionals, and management executives to maximise the value of new product initiatives. For more information, please visit www.oraclinical.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
About Institute of Eye Surgery
The Institute of Eye Surgery is Ireland's largest and only fully comprehensive sub-specialty private ophthalmology service provider. With 5 clinical sites across the Republic of Ireland our consultant-led sub-specialists provide deep and diverse eye care services including cataract refractive surgery, anterior segment ocular surface diseases, surgical medical retinal macular diseases, glaucoma management and oculoplastics orbital clinics. The Institute's clinical research department, led by Prof Maged Habib Consultant Ophthalmologist and Vitreoretinal Specialist and supported by Dr Emmanuel Ankamah, is one of three of the largest private research centres in ophthalmology across the UK and Ireland. Our Specialist Consultants have collectively acted as either chief investigators, national principal investigators or sub-investigators on more than 30 global clinical trials to date and continue to actively integrate cutting-edge research into our service offerings to patients. Our mission is to deliver high quality of care to our patients and to remain at the forefront of clinical research and innovation at a regional and international level to provide our patients with the best novel treatments to improve their clinical outcome. For more information, please visit, http://www.ioes.ie and also engage with our social media notifications on LinkedIn and Instagram.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240905390594/en/
Contacts:
Anne Marie Jedraszczak
ajedraszczak@oraclinical.com
The 14" AI-powered S14I boasts high-performance Intel Core Ultra technology, enabling optimum reliability, productivity and mobility to make it a market leader.
Versatile, AI-driven S14I semi-rugged laptop with the latest Intel Core Ultra processor pushes reliability and performance to the limit.
Supports AI solutions that improve efficiency, streamline workflow and enhance communication.
Targeted at professionals in the utilities, manufacturing, automotive and public safety sectors.
Advanced innovation of dual hot-swappable battery technology provides ultra-long battery life of up to 24 hours, enabling uninterrupted operation in the field.
LONDON, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Durabook , the global rugged mobile solutions brand owned by Twinhead International Corporation, today announced significant updates to its S14I semi-rugged laptop, expanding its product line supporting modern-day data-intensive tasks. With the performance of Intel Core Ultra processor, this AI-powered 14" semi-rugged laptop exceeds expectations by delivering a powerful, premium performance and exceptional user experience.
Durabook also produces the Z14I fully rugged laptop , the world's most durable and reliable fully rugged PC designed specifically to support demanding AI applications in the field.
Twinhead's CEO, Fred Kao, said: "AI technology has emerged as an important tool to handle and maximise data and create new, more capable and powerful systems. Durabook aims to equip our mobile computing devices with optimum capability for professional users in the field. Our customers can exploit these advancements to their advantage and greatest benefit with laptop solutions delivering up to 100 TOPS with AI accelerator."
This enhanced S14I model has been elevated to produce a superior device for professional users seeking prolonged productivity. Its premium functionality, durability, and performance make it ideal for operatives working across various sectors, including utilities, automotive and public safety, as well as governmental agencies and organisations looking for a superior semi-rugged laptop.
Superior CPU performance and AI functionality
Upgrading the S14I's CPU with an Intel Core Ultra processor is significant as it marks the launch of another powerful and performance-packed AI PC laptop within the Durabook product lineup. Perfect for professionals, the S14I has a dedicated NPU built into every Intel Core Ultra processor, providing users unrivalled access to enhanced reliability, productivity, and efficiency. With the dedicated Microsoft Copilot key, users can effortlessly activate edge AI features, boosting real-time interaction and teamwork in their workspace, offering support for multiple languages, and enabling the smooth automation of routine tasks.
Durable design for uninterrupted operation
Tough yet stylish, the S14I breaches the boundary between semi-rugged and fully rugged devices. Certified with MIL-STD-810H, 4-foot drop and IP53 resistance, the S14I is built to withstand the most hazardous environments and can remain operational in extreme temperatures ranging from -29C (-20F) to 63C (145F). Its dual removable battery design with optional dual hot-swappable battery technology enables users to hot-swap batteries in the field without any downtime. Additionally, its ultra-long 12-hour battery life can be extended to 24 hours on dual battery mode for a superior performance. In addition, S14I features a 14.0" Full HD (1920 x 1080) DynaVue sunlight readable display with optional capacitive multitouch screen and enhanced brightness up to 1,200 nits.
Extreme versatility meets exceptional security
Durabook has designed the S14I to meet the needs of users requiring exceptional flexibility. An optional dedicated NVIDIA RTX A500 transforms the S14I into an ultimate solution for specific tasks such as graphics rendering, architectural illustrations and AI applications, delivering up to 100 TOPS with AI accelerator. Equipped with up to two NVMe PCIe SSDs, including one with quick-release design, professionals can also run RAID 0 and RAID 1 easily. Advanced security support, such as Intel vPro and TPM 2.0 come as standard, as well as smart card reader, RFID/NFC reader and fingerprint scanner as additional options. Moreover, it features a 5.0 MP infrared camera with shutter design, supporting Windows Hello facial recognition, and Windows 11 Secured-core PC.
Cutting-edge connectivity for the modern workforce
Durabook knows that powerful connectivity is essential in the modern environment. Equipped with powerful dual Thunderbolt 4 and enhanced with advanced wireless capabilities, including cellular options of 4G LTE or 5G, Intel WI-FI 7, Bluetooth V5.4 and optional GPS, the S14I makes connecting the modern workspace more flexible and simpler than ever. The S14I is also equipped with two additional USB 3.2 Type-A ports, dual SIM, two RJ-45 ports by default, HDMI 2.1 port, up to two RS-232 serial ports and optional ExpressCard 54 slot, making it the most versatile 14" semi-rugged laptop on the market.
The new updated S14I is available for purchase now.
For full specs and more information, please visit: https://www.durabook.com/en/products/s14i-laptop/
To find out more about becoming a partner, please visit https://partners.durabook.com/register or contact sales@durabook.com .
Follow the DURABOOK brand
The Durabook product family of rugged laptops and tablets can be followed on various social media channels including LinkedIn, Facebook, X and YouTube.
About DURABOOK
Durabook is the core brand of Twinhead International Corporation in Taiwan, a world-renowned manufacturer of rugged mobile solutions for more than 40 years. All Durabook devices are designed, manufactured and tested to the highest standards to ensure maximum quality and reliability. Committed to engineering and service excellence, Durabook products have been widely adopted by government and enterprise customers including oil and gas, utilities, field service, military, and public safety for more than two decades.
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SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Daesung SmartHive has successfully developed an advanced plasma-based pest control system that protects bees and crops from mites, fleas, and other pests. The technology has been validated through effectiveness testing with local farmers and is now entering the commercialization and refinement phase.
This innovative solution aims to replace conventional chemical pesticides, which have been criticized for their harmful effects on the environment and agricultural productivity. Daesung SmartHive utilizes plasma technology to effectively control pests such as varroa mites-known for contributing to the global decline in bee populations-without harming bees, crops, or the surrounding ecosystem.
For decades, beekeepers and farmers have relied on chemical pesticides to combat mites and other pests. However, repeated use has led to increased pest resistance, requiring stronger and more powerful chemicals. This creates a vicious cycle that damages hives and crops, weakens bees' immune systems, and leaves toxic residues that threaten human health and increase agricultural costs.
Daesung SmartHive's plasma-based technology offers a sustainable, eco-friendly solution. The device generates a plasma field that eliminates pests without leaving harmful residues on honey, crops, or in the environment. This reduces the need for extensive cleaning during the distribution process, lowering costs and mitigating soil and water pollution caused by traditional pesticides. Ultimately, the company's technology is expected to break the cycle of pest resistance and significantly reduce environmental pollution.
In addition to pest control, Daesung SmartHive is also developing a plasma nitrogen fertilizer generation system, which will be exhibited alongside the pest control device at the World Horticulture Center (WHC) in the Netherlands by the end of 2024.
The company is preparing to showcase these groundbreaking technologies at several major international exhibitions, with the aim of expanding its global footprint and forming partnerships across the agricultural sector.
Upcoming exhibitions:
J AGRI Tokyo (Japan Agriculture Expo)
October 9-11, 2024 - Korea Pavilion
October 9-11, 2024 - Korea Pavilion UzAgroExpo 2024 (Uzbekistan Agricultural Fair)
November 20-22, 2024
November 20-22, 2024 CES 2025 (Las Vegas, USA)
January 7-10, 2025 - Daesung in Jeonbuk Pavilion, SmartHive in Korea Eureka Pavilion
By showcasing its technology at these international events, Daesung SmartHive aims to strengthen global partnerships and facilitate its entry into overseas markets, making important strides toward sustainable and eco-friendly agriculture.
For more information, visit [www.smarthive.co.kr], [https://www.youtube.com/smarthive] or contact us at [ceo@smarthive.co.kr], [+82-070-4354-4504].
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LONDON, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bupa, the UK's leading health insurer, has today announced the appointment of Chris Carroll as Chief Executive Officer for Bupa Insurance, commencing January 2025, subject to regulatory approval. Reporting to Carlos Jaureguizar, CEO for Bupa Global, India & UK, Chris will lead the continued growth of Bupa Insurance's consumer and business insurance segments in the UK.
Chris joins Bupa Insurance from Bupa's Health Insurance business in Australia, having held the roles of Managing Director from March 2022. Prior to this he was Director for Domestic Retail Portfolio having joined Bupa in November 2020.
Under his leadership, Bupa's Health Insurance footprint in Australia has grown to more than 4.4 million customers and, following seven consecutive quarters of growth, now has a market share of 25.41% in a highly competitive market. Chris has worked to transform the customer experience in Australia, with NPS sitting at record levels. Chris's focus on creating value for customers has been central to his leadership; helping to launch Blua and Connected Care in Australia, delivering a range of new insurance products, and working in partnership with Bupa's Australian dental business to provide increased value to health insurance members.
Before coming to Bupa, Chris was CEO for WS Audiology - Asia Pacific, and led the transformation agenda for Medibank, another major health insurer in Australia. With more than 25 years' commercial experience across health insurance, media and telecommunications in Australia and Europe, Chris has an unwavering customer focus and a proven track record in growing Bupa's business to deliver simpler, more personalised and relevant products to customers.
Carlos Jaureguizar, CEO for Bupa Global, India & UK said: "Chris is a respected global leader with extensive experience in delivering world-class customer service and driving consumer and commercial growth. We know our customers around the world look to Bupa for the highest standards, innovative treatment and peace of mind, and this appointment is testament to the unrivalled strength and talent in our leadership teams across Bupa to meet these customer needs. With Chris' leadership, we are committed to driving forward our transformation agenda, delivering high quality care and fulfilling our purpose of helping people to live longer, healthier, happier lives."
Chris Carroll said: "I am delighted to join Bupa Insurance at this pivotal time. The expansion of Bupa Blua digital healthcare services, market leading products and Bupa's unique position in the UK to create seamless pathways between insurance and provision operations makes this an exciting opportunity to reach more people with trusted, personalised healthcare."
Subject to regulatory approval, Chris will transition to the UK in autumn 2024, commencing in role in January 2025.
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Pre-clinical data of VTX-806 in mice demonstrated normalization of metabolic parameters in blood and brain, and of upregulated compensatory enzymes
EUR 4.9 million funding provided by French Government to develop VTX-806 as an effective treatment option to stabilize or reverse symptoms in CTX patients
PARIS, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vivet Therapeutics ("Vivet"), a clinical stage biotech company developing novel and long-lasting gene therapies for rare inherited liver metabolic disorders, today announces that the European Commission has granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) to VTX-806, its gene therapy product for the treatment of CTX, a rare neurodegenerative disease.
Pre-clinical in vivo studies of VTX-806, an Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector encoding human CYP27A1 for the treatment of CTX, demonstrated a reduction of hepatomegaly in mice, normalization of upregulated compensatory enzymes and of primary and secondary bile acids when compared to current standard of care (SOC) treatments. The submitted data, alongside the chronically debilitating effects of CTX associated leukodystrophies, supported the decision by the EU Commission to grant ODD to VTX-806 as a potential treatment option, bringing significant benefits to patients affected by the burden of CTX in the European Union.
Dr Jean-Philippe Combal, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer at Vivet Therapeutics, said: "Early diagnosis and treatment of CTX is crucial to halting disease progression. At present, existing standard of care treatments can only slow or stabilize leukodystrophy, with no cure available. Preclinical data supports VTX-806's potential as an alternative treatment option to stop, or reverse, disease progression over the long-term, or possibly even cure CTX patients. Receiving ODD from the EU Commission provides Vivet with certain benefits during development and commercialization activities as we press forward with the anticipation of submitting ODD to the US FDA in 2024 and plan to begin preparations to enter clinical development in late 2025."
VTX-806's ODD adoption follows the EUR 4.9 million funding Vivet received from the French government to advance the development of the gene therapy for treatment of CTX. The funding covers preclinical research and development activities of VTX-806, including manufacturing process development and a clinical study aimed at identifying neurological biomarkers for the effectiveness of treatment in patients under SOC.
CTX is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the CYP27A1 gene that affects the body's ability to metabolize cholesterol and bile acids. It is characterized by a buildup of cholestanol in the blood and tissues, which can accumulate in the brain, tendons, eyes, and arteries. This buildup can lead to fatty yellow nodules called xanthomas in the brain's connective tissues, which can damage the brain and other areas of the body. CTX can present at any age, resulting in chronic diarrhea during infancy, cataracts in late childhood and frequent bone fractures due to brittle bones in children. As a patient enters adulthood, they suffer with progressive leukodystrophy manifesting into dementia, seizures, hallucinations, depression and difficulty with coordination and speech. At present, there is no cure for CTX, only treatment that may stabilize or slow down disease progression.
There are only several hundred identified cases of patients with CTX worldwide1, due to underdiagnosis, variability of disease presentation (including incomplete penetrance with asymptomatic carriers) and incorrect prediction of pathogenic variants by genetic epidemiology study. Therefore, the exact figure is unknown2 but it is estimated that 1000 to 2000 people are affected by CTX in the European Union3 and incidence of 0.1 per million individuals worldwide4. These estimates suggest that the actual number of patients with CTX globally is higher than currently reported.
Citations:
1National Library of Medicines / A blood test for cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis with potential for disease detection in newborns
2National Library of Medicines / Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis
3Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases 18(1):13 / Pramparo T., et al. (2023) 'Allelic prevalence and geographic distribution of cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis.'
4Hunter's Hope / What is CTX or Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis?
About Vivet Therapeutics
Vivet Therapeutics is a private, clinical-stage biotech company developing novel and long-lasting gene therapies for rare inherited metabolic conditions, including Wilson's Disease. Vivet's gene therapy platform uses recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs) as vectors and has initiated two clinical programs and four pre-clinical assets to date. Its most advanced therapy is VTX-801, a novel gene therapy for Wilson's Disease, with key clinical read-outs expected by the end of 2024. Vivet Therapeutics was founded in 2016 by CEO Dr Jean-Philippe Combal and CSO Dr Gloria Gonzalez-Aseguinolaza and is led by a highly experienced management team with deep expertise developing gene therapies and orphan drugs.
Vivet Therapeutics is backed by international life science investors including Novartis Venture Fund, Roche Venture Fund, HealthCap, Pfizer Inc., Columbus Venture Partners, Ysios Capital, Kurma Partners and Eurazeo. In 2019, key investor Pfizer contributed a 45M investment to collaborate with Vivet in recognition of its scientific expertise and innovative technology platforms.
For more information, please visit www.vivet-therapeutics.com - Follow us on LinkedIn @Vivet Therapeutics and Twitter @Vivet_tx.
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The global IoT market is growing due to several factors such as the development of wireless networking technologies, the increase in cloud platform adoption, and the advent of advanced data analytics & data processing.
PORTLAND, Ore., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "IoT Market by Component (Solution and Services), Deployment Mode (On-premise and Cloud), Organization Size (Large Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises), Platform (Device Management, Application Management and Network Management), Technology (Radiofrequency Identification, Pressure Sensors, Network Communications, Data Processing and Near-field Communications), and Industry Vertical (Retail, E-commerce & Consumer Electronics, Energy & Utility, Healthcare, Transportation & Logistics, IT & Telecom, Manufacturing and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2032". According to the report, the IoT market was valued at $956.0 billion in 2023, and is estimated to reach $5,332.3 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 21.3% from 2024 to 2032.
Prime determinants of growth
The global IoT market has grown due to several factors such as the development of wireless networking technologies, the increase in cloud platform adoption, and the advent of advanced data analytics & data processing. However, the privacy and security concerns act as a restraint for the IoT market expansion. In addition, the emergence of mobile devices is projected to provide many opportunities for market growth during the forecast period.
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Report coverage & details:
Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2024-2032 Base Year 2023 Market Size in 2023 $956.00 Billion Market Size in 2032 $5,332.3 Billion CAGR 21.3 % No. of Pages in Report 350 Segments Covered Component, Deployment Mode, Organization Size, Platform, Technology, Industry Vertical, and Region. Drivers Development of wireless networking technologies
The increase in cloud platform adoption
The advent of advanced data analytics & data processing Opportunity The emergence of mobile devices Restraint The privacy and security concerns
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The solution segment held the highest market share in 2023.
By component, the solution segment held the highest market share in 2023 due to the growing need for solutions that support the functioning of IoT devices. The service providers deliver end-to-end software development solutions for consumer IoT, from project planning and testing to deployment. This is in turn expected to propel the growth of this segment in the global market.
The on-premise segment held the highest market share in 2023.
By deployment mode, the on-premise segment held the highest market share in 2023. This is attributed to numerous advantages offered by on-premise deployment such as a high level of data security and safety.
The large enterprises segment held the highest market share in 2023.
By organization size, the large enterprises segment held the highest market share in 2023. This is attributed to an increase in the adoption of IoT technology by businesses to gain a strategic and competitive advantage over their competitors. Customers use IoT to discover new insights on large-scale diverse data, including historical and recent data. This technology is suitable for the collection of data and running algorithms and analysis across a large set of data to find relevant relationships, entities, and insights.
The device management segment held the highest market share in 2023.
By platform, the device management segment held the highest market share in 2023. As it enables the efficient provisioning of devices, ensuring they are correctly configured and ready for use. These platforms support large-scale deployments, which is essential for industries with vast numbers of connected devices.
The network communication segment held the highest market share in 2023.
By technology, the network communication segment held the highest market share in 2023. Network communication technologies are widely used in public and private networks, supported by a growing ecosystem of devices and applications.
The IT & telecom segment held the highest market share in 2023.
By industry vertical, the IT & telecom segment held the highest market share in 2023. IT & telecom companies provide robust platforms for device management, including provisioning, monitoring, and updating IoT devices. IT & telecom companies provide the essential connectivity backbone for IoT devices.
North America held the highest market share in 2023.
By region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2023 and is expected to lead the market in terms of revenue throughout the forecast period. This demand is attributed to the rising need for internet services to address the increasing adoption of digital technologies in several sectors. Individuals are choosing digital services to improve their knowledge and skills.
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Major Industry Players: -
Google LLC
Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Cisco Systems, Inc.
International Business Machine Corporation (IBM)
SAP SE
Microsoft Corporation
Amazon Web Service
Oracle Corporation
Intel Corporation
Bosch Software Innovation GMBH
The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global internet of things market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, and agreements 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 highlight the competitive scenario.
Recent Industry Development:
In April 2024, ByteSnap released an IoT standards and protocols guide, with the proliferation of IoT devices, protocols and standards ensure that the devices function correctly and communicate smoothly with each other.
In May 2023, NOVUS expanded its vision for modular technology and brought the simplicity of IoT to the N20K48 controller. With the new Wi-Fi micromodule, it is easy to integrate legacy devices. The integration is efficient and makes communication between devices an affordable and simple process.
In June 2023, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. launched two modem chipsets with satellite capability: the Qualcomm 212S Modem and the Qualcomm 9205S Modem. The new Qualcomm modem chipsets power off-grid industrial use cases that require standalone non-terrestrial network (NTN) connectivity or hybrid connectivity alongside terrestrial networks.
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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.
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Newline Group (Newline) today announced the opening of a new office in Manchester, further demonstrating its long-term commitment to brokers and clients in the UK regional market.
Manchester marks the second regional office Newline has opened in the UK after opening an office in Leeds in 2017. Newline continues its efforts to be close to its business partners, growing its geographical footprint and further facilitating its excellent service delivery.
"Manchester is another hub for our core product offering," states Newline's Chief Underwriting Officer, Andrew Pecover. "We're eager to meet with our trading partners in person, bringing our expertise and suite of products to local markets."
Newline's Manchester office will host local expertise for several lines of business including marine, professional indemnity, liability and medical malpractice. Further product expansion will be considered in due course.
About Newline Group
Newline Group is a market leading specialty insurance group that operates through three underwriting platforms, Newline Syndicate 1218 at Lloyd's, Newline Insurance Company Limited and Newline Europe Versicherung AG. Headquartered in London, with offices in the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada and Latin America, Newline Group underwrites international casualty, cargo and specialty lines of business in more than 80 countries around the world. Newline Group is part of the Odyssey Group, a leading worldwide underwriter of reinsurance and specialty insurance. Odyssey Group is a subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited. For more information, visit newlinegroup.com
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Contacts:
Lisa A. Strasser
+1 (203) 977-6006
Collinson, a global leader in customer benefits and loyalty, has announced a strategic partnership with National Australia Bank (NAB), one of Australia's largest banks, to offer global airport lounge access in the event of a flight delay to NAB's Rewards Signature credit card customers across Australia.
The partnership will focus on boosting credit card consideration and driving loyalty to new and existing NAB customers by offering complimentary airport lounge access in the event of a flight delay. NAB will utilise Collinson's innovative parametric service SmartDelay, providing customers and up to 4 travelling companions real time access to airport lounges in the event of a 60-minute flight delay.
Alex Lawrence, Global Head of SmartDelay, Collinson said: "NAB supports 10 million customers and it's an opportunity to be partnering with them to bring SmartDelay to their exclusive credit card customers. At a time when customers are asking more from their banks, and banks are looking for relevant products that customers truly value, NAB has been forward-thinking and proactive in its approach to boosting customer satisfaction and loyalty. We are excited to be partners in driving our strategic growth ambitions."
With the latest flight delay statistics indicating that almost one in four flights globally are delayed by at least 15 minutes and with 133 million travellers across the globe impacted by flight delays of over one hour, there is an increasing need to address airline travellers' growing stress and anxiety when they embark on their journeys. SmartDelay provides access to over 1500 airport lounges or alternative benefits such as spa, sleep pods and restaurant vouchers for travellers experiencing flight delays.
Tim Peters, Executive Personal Lending Experience, NAB said: "The NAB Rewards Signature card is now the perfect partner for a customer's next overseas trip or holiday at home and comes with exciting and enhanced holiday rewards. These changes are all about giving our customers more travel rewards and peace of mind in the event of travel delays and disruptions. The introduction of SmartDelay brings a fresh perspective to the customer proposition and, with just a few clicks, customers can wait for their delayed flight in the comfort of a lounge.
Issued by Rein4ce on behalf of Collinson
About Collinson
Collinson International's flight disruption assistance service gives airline passengers, who have registered their flight, access to an airport lounge or alternative benefit in case of a flight delay or cancellation. Collinson Insurance specialty lines, travel and accident health insurance, includes underwriting capacity, insurance products and access to expert TPAs in the UK and Europe. Priority Pass is the world's original and market-leading airport experiences programme. We provide travellers with access to over 1,500 airport lounges and travel experiences in over 700 airports in 148 countries.
www.collinsongroup.com
About NAB
At National Australia Bank (NAB) Group, relationships are our strength. We are here to serve customers well and help our communities prosper. More than 38,000 colleagues at the bank provide 10 million customers with secure, easy and reliable banking services. More than 90% of the Group's workforce are in Australia and New Zealand, with the wider team located in parts of Asia, London, New York and Paris. NAB is proud to be Australia's biggest business lender. We stand by our customers, and they have our ongoing support.
National Australia Bank Limited ABN 12 004 044 937 AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 230686
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240905681655/en/
Contacts:
Imogen Morrison: Imogen.Morrison@rein4ce.co.uk, +44 (0)7718 127431
Patent Pending, DuPont Tyvek TrifectaA2 Fire-Rated Breather Membrane compliments the DuPont AirGuard A2 FR AVCL and completes the DuPont Fire Performance System. Available in the United Kingdom.
LONDON, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- DuPont Performance Building Solutions, a leading innovator in material science, has announced that it has won the 2024 R&D 100 award, specifically in the Mechanical/Materials category, with Tyvek Trifecta, the latest generation breather membrane. For six decades, the R&D 100 Awards have been a benchmark of achievement in science and technology, often referred to informally as "The Oscars of Innovation."
Launched in May 2024, Tyvek Trifecta offers exceptional fire safety and moisture protection, making it an ideal solution for external walls of high-rise buildings. It is a non-combustible breather membrane designed to provide all the benefits of a standard Tyvek breather membrane, but with A2-s1, d0 Class Fire Performance to the current European Fire Classification Standard EN 13501-1. It surpasses current UK Building Regulations, which require membranes to meet Class B.
The combination of Tyvek Trifecta and Airguard A2 FR Tape creates a fire-retardant system compatible with the United Kingdom's stringent building regulations for fire safety. The patent pending design also enables a significantly lighter weight and longer UV resistance making it easier to install.
"We're thrilled that Tyvek Trifecta has been recognised as a new innovation that helps enhance fire safety and moisture protection standards for the construction industry," said Andrea Albert, Shelter Solutions EMEA Marketing Leader at DuPont. "Receiving these awards exemplifies the commitment and dedication our teams display to deliver essential innovations for the construction industry."
For more information on DuPont Tyvek Trifecta and the DuPont AirGuard FR System Tape, please visit the product page.
About DuPont Performance Building Solutions
Grounded in science, DuPont Performance Building Solutions and Corian Design are working alongside those who also seek a sustainable tomorrow to help people thrive at home and in their communities for years to come. By developing solutions for managing the air, water and thermal performance of buildings and residences, we help our customers build energy-efficient, resilient, and durable shelters in a rapidly changing world. Backed by unmatched industry insight, building knowledge, and technical support, as well as world-class brands such as Styrofoam Brand, Tyvek, and Great Stuff, our products and services portfolio enables customers to focus on what they do best, no matter where and how they choose to build.
About DuPont Water & Protection
DuPont Water & Protection is a global leader in products and solutions that protect what matters - people, structures, and the environment - and enables its customers to win through unique capabilities, global scale, and iconic brands including Corian, Kevlar, Nomex, Tyvek, Styrofoam, and Filmtec.
About DuPont
DuPont (NYSE: DD) is a global innovation leader with technology-based materials and solutions that help transform industries and everyday life. Our employees apply diverse science and expertise to help customers advance their best ideas and deliver essential innovations in key markets including electronics, transportation, construction, water, healthcare, and worker safety. More information about the company, its businesses, and solutions can be found at www.dupont.com. Investors can access information included on the Investor Relations section of the website at investors.dupont.com.
DuPont, the DuPont Oval Logo, and all trademarks and service marks denoted with , - or are owned by affiliates of DuPont de Nemours, Inc. unless otherwise noted.
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The global gear market is growing due to increases in vehicle production, rising demand for fuel-efficient vehicles, and advancements in transmission technologies.
WILMINGTON, Del., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Automotive Gears Market by Application (Transmission, Differential and Steering System), Type (Spur, Helical, Rack and Pinion, Worm and Others), and Material (Metallic and Non-Metallic): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2033". According to the report, the automotive gears market was valued at $5.1 billion in 2023, and is estimated to reach $8.0 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 4.8% from 2024 to 2033.
The expanding automotive industry, particularly in emerging economies, along with the growing popularity of electric and hybrid vehicles, further drives the market. Additionally, consumer preference for smoother driving experiences and enhanced vehicle performance contributes to the demand for high-quality gears. Innovations in gear manufacturing processes and materials also play a significant role in market expansion.
Request Sample of the Report on Automotive Gears Market Forecast 2033:
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Prime determinants of growth
The gears market is expected to expand due to rising vehicle production, a growing demand for fuel-efficient and high-performance vehicles, and advancements in transmission technology. Nonetheless, high production costs and the transition to electric vehicles, which need fewer gears, pose challenges. Opportunities exist in technological advancements, including the development of lightweight materials and enhanced gear designs, as well as the increasing popularity of hybrid vehicles that continue to use traditional gear systems.
Market Segments
By Type
The spur gear segment is expected to grow faster throughout the forecast period.
The spur gear segment is anticipated to experience faster growth in the gear market due to the expanding applications in industries like construction, mining, and agriculture. Spur gears are the most popular type of gear system. They are cylindrical in shape and employed in a variety of industrial applications. Spur gears are composed of toothed components and are noted for their great dependability, durability, and efficacy, as well as their ability to provide the continuous positive speed drive required for industrial applications.
Procure Complete Report (324 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures): https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/automotive-gears-market-A12240
By Application
The differential systems segment is expected to grow faster throughout the forecast period.
The differential systems segment is anticipated to experience growth in the gear market, owing to its increase in adoption of advanced equipment for enhanced efficiency and safety. Gears facilitate swift attachment and detachment of construction machinery attachments, reducing downtime and boosting productivity on job sites. In addition, stringent safety regulations in the construction industry drive demand for gear with advanced safety features, further fueling market growth in this segment.
By Material
The non-metallic segment is expected to grow faster throughout the forecast period.
The non-metallic segment is anticipated to experience growth in the gear market. Non-metallic gears are typically made from materials such as plastics, composites, and high-performance polymers. One of the key benefits of these materials is their flexibility, as their modulus of elasticity is approximately 100 times lower than that of metals. This lower modulus of elasticity allows non-metallic gears to absorb shock loads and vibrations more effectively, resulting in quieter and smoother operation. Furthermore, this flexibility enables the real contact ratio of non-metallic gears to exceed the ideal value, enhancing their performance under various operating conditions.
By Region
Asia-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2033.
Asia-Pacific is expected to maintain its dominance in the gear market by 2033 owing to robust industrialization, infrastructural development, and growing investments in construction and manufacturing sectors. The growing need for fuel-efficient automobiles and lightweight automotive parts propels the industry forward. Furthermore, lightweight, and highly robust aluminum and composite gears are expected to gain popularity during the forecast period. For instance, NORD introduced the SK 920072.1 two-stage helical bevel gear motor (mounted with a NORD motor), a driving solution for a variety of light-duty conveying, processing, and manufacturing applications. It is distinguished by its high strength yet lightweight design.
To Talk With Our Industry Expert @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/connect-to-analyst/A12240
Players: -
BorgWarner Inc.
Gleason Corporation
Klingelnberg GmbH
David Brown Santasalo
SEW-EURODRIVE
HOFLER Maschinenbau GmbH
Bonfiglioli Group
Sumitomo Drive Technologies
RENK AG
Nord Drivesystems
The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global gears 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 Industry News
In April 2022, Manuli Hydraulics, announced the launch of MQS-FEH Extra Heavy Duty quick coupling, which was disgned for use in high-vibration situations.
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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.
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TOKYO, Sept 5, 2024 - (JCN Newswire) - Eisai Co., Ltd. announced today the presentation of research across various types of cancer from its oncology portfolio and pipeline during the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2024, which is taking place virtually and in-person in Barcelona, Spain from September 13 to 17.First presentation of results from the first interim analysis of the Phase 3 LEAP-012 trial evaluating lenvatinib(LENVIMA(R)), the orally available multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor discovered by Eisai, plus pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA(R)), the anti-PD-1 therapy from Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, in combination withtransarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for the treatment of patients with unresectable, non-metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) will be featured in an ESMO Presidential Symposium (NCT04246177;Presentation: LBA3)."The late-breaking data from the Phase 3 LEAP-012 trial add to a growing body of research that we have undertaken in hepatocellular carcinoma, reinforcing Eisai's longstanding commitment to people living with thisdevastating disease," said Dr. Takashi Owa, Chief Scientific Officer, Senior Vice President, Eisai Co., Ltd. "We are eager to share these findings at ESMO, alongside our other research on lenvatinib monotherapy and incombination with pembrolizumab, and pipeline developments, as this crucial scientific exchange fuels our mission to accelerate progress in oncology and help improve the lives of patients and families affected by cancer."Additionally, a Mini Oral presentation will feature real-world evidence for patients with radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RAI-R DTC) treated with lenvatinib monotherapy in Europe and Canada (Presentation: #1926MO). Research into the use of lenvatinib monotherapy in patients with HCC from the Phase 4STELLAR study (Presentation: #964P) and from a real-world study utilizing the LINK (Liver cancer IN Korea) research network (Presentation: #972P) will be shared in poster presentations. An exploratory analysis from the Phase 3 LEAP-001 trial evaluating tumor response with lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab for patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma will also be presented (NCT03884101; Presentation: #737P).Research from Eisai's pipeline includes a quality-of-life analysis from the Phase 3 EMERALD study in Japan evaluating either Eisai's eribulin (HALAVEN(R)) or a taxane in combination with trastuzumab and pertuzumab inpatients with HER2-positive, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (NCT03264547; Presentation: #373P); findings from a Phase 1b dose-expansion cohort evaluating E7386 (a CBP/beta- catenin interaction inhibitor) in combination with lenvatinib in patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma with progression following prior anti-PD-(L)1 immunotherapy and platinum-based chemotherapy (NCT04008797; Presentation: #738P); as well as presentations for BB-1701, an antibody drug conjugate which combines an anti-HER2 antibody with Eisai's approved anticancer drug eribulin via its linker, inpreviously-treated patients with HER2-positive or HER2-low unresectable or metastatic breast cancer (NCT06188559; Presentation: #437TiP) and non-small cell lung cancer patients with HER2 mutation/amplification(Presentation: #1296P; presented by Bliss Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd), respectively.This release discusses investigational compounds and investigational uses for FDA-approved products. It is not intended to convey conclusions about efficacy and safety. There is no guarantee that any investigational compounds or investigational uses of FDA-approved products will successfully complete clinical development or gain FDA approval.The full list of Eisai presentations is included below. Regular abstracts will be made available via the ESMO websiteon Monday, September 9, at 12:05 AM Central European Summer Time (CEST). Late-breaking abstracts accepted for presentation at ESMO as a Proffered Paper or Mini Oral will be published on the ESMO website at12:05 AM CEST on the day of the presentation. Posters will be on display from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM CEST on the day of their poster session.In March 2018, Eisai and Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada), through an affiliate, entered into a strategic collaboration for the worldwide co- development and co-commercialization of lenvatinib, both as monotherapy and in combination with the anti-PD-1 therapy from Merck &Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, pembrolizumab. Eisai and Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA are studying the lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab combination through the LEAP (LEnvatinib And Pembrolizumab) clinical program in various tumor types across multiple clinical trials.In May 2023, Eisai entered into a joint clinical trial collaboration agreement with Bliss Biopharmaceutical (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Zhejiang Province, China, "BlissBio"), for BB-1701, a HER2-targeting antibody drug conjugate (ADC), with option rights for a strategic collaboration. Eisai is currently investigating BB-1701 in a Phase 2 clinical trial in Japan and the United States for breast cancer, and BlissBio is investigating aPhase 1/2 clinical trial in the United States and China for HER2-expressing solid tumors.1. Eisai's Focus on CancerEisai acknowledges "Oncology" as one of its key strategic areas, and will continue to focus on the discovery and development of anti-cancer drugs within drug discovery domains including tumor microenvironment, proteostasis disruption, cell linage and cell differentiation, and -inflammation, hypoxia, oxidative stress and cell senescence under the Deep Human Biology Learning (DHBL) drug discovery and development organization. Eisai aspires to discover innovative new drugs with new targets and mechanisms of action from these domains with the aim of contributing to the cure of cancers.(1) KEYTRUDA(R) is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.(2) E7386 is created through collaboration research between Eisai and PRISM BioLab Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kanagawa)(3) The presentation with TiP (Trial in Progress Submission) attached to the abstract number indicates that the study is in the intermediate stage, and the presentation does not report the final study results.(4) The majority of participants in the Phase 3 LEAP-012 trial had intermediate stage HCC per Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging, however, the study also enrolled participants with other BCLC stagesMedia Inquiries:Public Relations Department, Eisai Co., Ltd.+81-(0)3-3817-5120Source: EisaiCopyright 2024 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
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IATF2025 will build on past successful editions in promoting trade and investment across Africa
ALGIERS, Algeria, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 35,000 visitors from more than 140 countries across the world are expected to converge in Algiers, Algeria from 4- 10 September 2025 to attend the Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025), Africa's premier trade and investment event.
During the week-long fair, more than 2,000 exhibitors, including businesses from the African continent and globally, will be showcasing their goods and services to the visitors and buyers while exploring opportunities and exchanging information. This is projected to translate into over US$44 billion in trade and investment deals.
Hosted by the Government of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria under the theme 'Gateway to New Opportunities', the week-long event offers a platform for boosting trade and investment. It aims to tap into opportunities from the single market of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) of over 1.4 billion people and a GDP of over US$3.5 trillion. The fair is held biennially by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in collaboration with the African Union and the AfCFTA Secretariat.
The Chairman of the Advisory Council of IATF and former President of Nigeria, H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo said: "The IATF has distinguished itself as an instrument for promoting intra-African trade and investment by enabling businesses to interact and access trade and market information opportunities. Over $100 billion in trade and investment deals have been closed cumulatively with over 70,000 visitors and more than 4,500 exhibitors participating in the last three editions of IATF. We welcome African businesses to tap into the opportunities to market, grow sales, expand to new markets and to exchange ideas with peers. We thank our host, Algeria, which is one of the continent's more advanced economies".
Heads of State and Governments, Ministers of Trade, Finance, Culture and other ministries as well as high profile business, small & medium enterprises and industry leaders are expected to attend IATF2025.
Chief Obasanjo added "IATF is the largest, holistic trade fair championing the continent's growth and development. It serves as a collaborative platform for driving shared aspirations for prosperity and stability, as envisioned by AfCFTA. It is a strong backbone for meaningful transformation of Africa and enhancing resilience by creating a gateway to new opportunities for economies and businesses through intra-African trade and investment.
Key activities lined up for IATF2025 include a trade exhibition by countries and businesses; the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme with a dedicated exhibition and summit covering fashion, music, film, arts and craft, sports, literature, gastronomy and culinary arts; a four-day Trade and Investment Forum featuring leading African and international speakers; and the Africa Automotive Show for auto manufacturers, assemblers, original equipment manufacturers and component suppliers. There will be Special Days dedicated for countries as well as public and private entities to showcase trade and investment opportunities, and tourism and cultural attractions, as well as IATF Diaspora Day which highlights commercial and cultural ties between Africa and its diaspora, featuring a Diaspora Summit, market and exhibition, cultural and gastronomic showcase. Also planned is a business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) platform for matchmaking and business exchanges; the AU Youth Start-Up programme showcasing innovative ideas and prototypes; the Africa Research and Innovation Platform @IATF for university students, academia and national researchers to exhibit innovations; and the African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network to promote trade, investment, educational and cultural exchanges at the local level. The IATF Virtual platform is already live, connecting exhibitors and visitors throughout the year.
To participate in IATF2025 please visit www.intrafricantradefair.com.
About the Intra-African Trade Fair
Organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) is intended to provide a unique platform for facilitating trade and investment information exchange in support of increased intra-African trade and investment, especially in the context of implementing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). IATF brings together continental and global players to showcase and exhibit their goods and services and to explore business and investment opportunities in the continent. It also provides a platform to share trade, investment and market information with stakeholders and allows participants to discuss and identify solutions to the challenges confronting intra-African trade and investment. In addition to African participants, the Trade Fair is also open to businesses and investors from non-African countries interested in doing business in Africa and in supporting the continent's transformation through industrialisation and export development.
Media contact: media@intrafricatradefair.com
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DUBAI, UAE, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pfizer announces the appointment of Elif Aral as Regional President for Middle East, Russia, and Africa (MERA) effective September 2024 to spearhead operations in the region and bring scientific breakthroughs in vaccines, oncology, rare diseases, internal medicine, hospitals, and inflammation and immunology.
In her new role, in addition to overseeing all therapeutic areas within the MERA region, Elif will drive strategic initiatives aimed at improving healthcare access and equity, working closely with regional partners and governments to ensure Pfizer's leading portfolio and breakthroughs reach those who need them.
Commenting on the recent appointment, Elif said, "I have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand how Pfizer has evolved and transformed the medical industry for nearly three decades - almost my entire career. Additionally, I have seen how the company's leadership prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, not only for the patients in the markets they serve but also for employees at all levels and regions. I am thrilled to embark on this new chapter with Pfizer and am particularly honored to be the first woman to hold a presidential role at the company in the region".
She added, "As I take on this new role, my foremost goal is to build upon the strong foundation we have established across the MERA region over the past 70 years. I am deeply committed to ensuring that our global innovative treatments and breakthrough therapies are not only developed but also made accessible as we continue to bridge the healthcare equity gap, working together with our dedicated teams and partners to drive meaningful change and improve health outcomes for communities across the region."
Elif Aral began her journey with Pfizer in 1995, with a career marked by significant achievements. Most recently, she led Pfizer's 'An Accord for a Healthier World' initiative, where she collaborated with cross-functional teams to provide current and future Pfizer medicines and vaccines on a not-for-profit basis in 45 lower-income countries. The initiative aims to reduce the health equity gap by ensuring affordable access to essential medications and addressing systemic barriers that hinder patient access to healthcare.
Prior to leading Accord, Elif worked as the CV Metabolic and Global Brands Lead in Internal Medicine where she was responsible for overseeing a portfolio of over 200 medicines, working globally to enhance performance and ensure the supply of crucial medications to patients. Elif also served as the Vaccines Lead for Emerging Markets, managing a $1.4 billion portfolio. Elif holds a degree in Economics from Istanbul University and has completed executive education programs at Harvard Business School, Wharton, Kellogg Executive Education, and the Management Center of Europe.
About Pfizer: Breakthroughs That Change Patients' Lives
At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development, and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments, and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments, and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 175 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.Pfizer.com.
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New survey data from Melapress highlights a troubling disconnect between security concerns and action among WordPress users.
ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / 47% of users who have never experienced a breach do not have a recovery plan in place, despite 65% identifying data theft and loss as a primary security concern. A recent survey conducted by Melapress has revealed a significant gap between WordPress administrators' security concerns and the measures they take to protect their websites. Despite recognizing the importance of security, many users fail to implement basic practices that could shield their sites from common threats.
2FA installation statistics
The image explains the 2FA usage amongs those concerned about compliance.
The survey, which gathered responses from WordCamp Europe attendees and online participants, reveals that a staggering 58% of users concerned about regulatory compliance do not employ Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). This is particularly concerning given that 2FA is often considered best practice when it comes to regulatory compliance. Without it, these users are not only leaving their websites vulnerable to unauthorized access but also risking non-compliance with key security regulations designed to protect sensitive data.
Even more concerning, 41% of users worried about weak passwords admit to not enforcing any password policies. This oversight exposes their websites to preventable breaches caused by easily guessed or reused passwords.
Robert Abela, Melapress's CEO commented, "The data shows that, although many WordPress users are aware of important security threats, there's still a lot of work to be done in terms of bridging the gap between awareness and action. It's crucial for WordPress website owners and administrators to prioritize implementing basic security measures to protect their websites."
The survey also highlights a confidence gap among users: 57.9% of those who outsource their WordPress security management feel they lack the technical expertise to understand security products. This suggests a growing need for more accessible, user-friendly security solutions and educational resources to empower all WordPress users, regardless of their technical background.
Other key survey findings include:
72% of WordPress website owners administrators have experienced at least one security breach.
47% of users who have never experienced a breach do not have a recovery plan in place, despite 65% identifying data theft and loss as a primary security concern.
After a breach, 33% of affected users still don't implement a breach recovery plan.
Users who don't train their team members are 30% more likely to experience at least one breach.
For those interested in a more detailed breakdown of the survey results and practical recommendations for improving WordPress security, check out the full WP Security Statistics Report.
About Melapress
Melapress is a leading provider of WordPress security solutions, offering a comprehensive range of plugins designed to help users safeguard their websites. With a commitment to transparency, customer service, and continuous improvement, Melapress empowers WordPress administrators to take proactive control of their website security.
Contact Information
Robert Abela
CEO
robert@melapress.com
+31 (0)10 3071847
SOURCE: Melapress
View the original press release on newswire.com.
TTP Group is a leading engineering firm specializing in biotech and pharmaceutical industry
The company serves blue-chip clients in Europe
TTP Group employs 1,000 people across 27 locations under the operational brands Pharmaplan and Triplan
Exyte CEO Buchele: "With the acquisition of TTP, Exyte expands its position as a global player in the pharma market, strengthening its footprint in Europe."
STUTTGART, Germany, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Exyte, a global leader in the design, engineering, and delivery of high-tech facilities, intends to acquire TTP Group ("TTP"), a leading firm in consulting and engineering for the pharmaceutical and chemical industry in Europe. TTP's portfolio encompasses a wide range of engineering services, from feasibility studies, basic and detailed engineering, to construction management, as well as commissioning, qualification, and validation services. Exyte and the financial investor Robus Capital along with minority shareholders of TTP have signed the respective definite agreements. The purchase price has been agreed to remain confidential. The transaction is subject to the necessary regulatory approvals.
TTP is a specialized and a trusted partner for blue-chip clients in the biotech, pharma and chemical industries in Europe. The company, through its two operational brands 'Pharmaplan' and 'Triplan,' covers the entire service spectrum from Engineering to Procurement, Construction Management, and Validation. Exyte will combine TTP's operations with its own Biopharma and Life Sciences activities in Europe. The goal is to create a strong partner for the booming European biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry.
TTP executes a variety of projects, ranging from revamps of existing plants to the realization of future plants. The company has a strategic footprint in Europe and maintains a network of 27 locations in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, and Switzerland. In 2023, about 1,000 employees[1] generated sales of some 170 million. In the coming years, TTP intends to continue the strong profitable growth of recent years.
"By combining TTP's engineering expertise with Exyte's project execution capabilities, we will establish a robust presence in the biotech and pharma sector in Europe. This will enable us to offer clients the full range of collaboration, from strategic planning to the delivery of biotechnology and pharma facilities. With the planned acquisition, Exyte expands its position as a global player in the pharma market, strengthening its footprint in Europe. TTP's employees are experienced and specialized experts, including engineers, architects, and project managers. Their expertise and innovative spirit will make a significant contribution to Exyte's sustainable, profitable growth. We look forward to welcoming them soon to the Exyte team," says Dr. Wolfgang Buchele, CEO of Exyte.
"TTP and Exyte share the same values and the ambition to offer innovative and sustainable solutions to their customers. Together, we will continue our growth trajectory in the booming pharmaceutical facilities market. The combination of our strengths is a positive signal for our customers. We look forward to a shared future with Exyte," says Dr. Andreas Bonhoff, CEO of the TTP Group.
Investments in facilities due to megatrends and technological advancements
Investments in production facilities in the pharmaceutical sector are expected to continue to rise in the coming years. Population growth and aging lead to increasing demands for medical substances and products. In addition, technical innovations such as mRNA technology and the securing of supply chains require new and additional manufacturing capacities. Investments in existing and new facilities are also necessary due to increasing sustainability requirements. Short time-to-market, flexibility, and digital solutions are central elements in the engineering and construction of new facilities.
"The pharmaceutical industry, in particular, is facing exciting times ahead. Companies have many promising prospects on the horizon, with groundbreaking cell and gene therapies becoming increasingly available. With the acquisition of TTP, Exyte strengthens its presence in Europe. Together we will deliver sustainable high-tech facilities to improve the health and wellbeing of the world's population," says Ronan Donohue, President of Exyte's Global Business Unit Biopharma and Life Sciences.
Strategic expansion of Biopharma and Life Sciences
The Global Business Unit Biopharma and Life Sciences is the second-largest segment of Exyte by sales. Revenue of Biopharma and Life Sciences reached 580 million in 2023. The order intake grew by 12 percent to 650 million. As part of the "Next Level" agenda, the segment's revenue is expected to continue growing, with its share of total sales increasing further. In the medium term, Exyte's business segment Biopharma and Life Sciences plans to achieve more than 1.5 billion in revenue. Recently, Exyte completed the fastest greenfield drug substance facilities ever built. Less than 22 months passed from the start of concept design to the validation of the first production line in a mRNA competence center in Germany.
About Exyte
Exyte is a global leader in the design, engineering, and delivery of ultra-clean and sustainable facilities for high-tech industries. With cutting-edge expertise developed over more than a century, the company serves clients in the sophisticated markets of semiconductors, battery cells, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and data centers. Exyte offers a full range of services from consulting to managing the implementation of built complete solutions with the highest standards in safety and quality to its customers worldwide. Exyte creates a better future by enabling key industries to enhance the quality of modern life. In 2023, the company generated sales of 7.1 billion with around 9,900 employees worldwide. www.exyte.net
About TTP
TTP Group is a corporate group specializing in consulting and engineering services for the process industry. With more than 1,000 employees working under the operational brands Pharmaplan and Triplan, the company operates at 27 locations in Belgium, Germany, France, Austria, and Switzerland. Pharmaplan covers the entire value chain of pharmaceutical engineering, from consulting to the execution of EPCM projects and upgrades, qualification and validation as well as local site support. Triplan, as a leading engineering partner for the chemical industry, provides the technical development of new construction, renovation projects, and the optimization of existing facilities. With its two strong brands, established for over 50 years, the TTP Group is considered one of the leading engineering service providers in Europe. www.ttp-group.eu
1. Full Time Equivalent (FTE).
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Contact:
Samy Abdel Aal
Public Relations Manager
Phone: +49 711 88044696
Mobile: +49 172 840 33 01
samy.abdelaal@exyte.net
www.exyte.net
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/exyte-acquires-ttp-group-to-accelerate-growth-of-biopharma-and-life-sciences-business-302239012.html
Valeo Foods Group, one of Europe's leading producers of quality sweets, treats and snacks, has agreed to acquire I.D.C. Holding, a major independent producer of quality wafers, biscuits, confectionary and chocolate in Central and Eastern Europe.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240905034061/en/
Pecivarne Sered production site. (Photo: Business Wire)
First established in Slovakia over a century ago, I.D.C. Holding is a transformative addition to Valeo Foods Group's expanding portfolio. Producing a wide range of branded wafer, biscuit, sugar confectionary and seasonal chocolate products, I.D.C. Holding is a natural fit with Valeo Foods Group's sweet snacking platform and would form the cornerstone for its operations in the fast-growing Eastern European market.
I.D.C. Holding produces some of the most prestigious and recognisable sweet snack brands across Slovakia, Czech, Poland and Hungary. The Horalky, Mila and Lina brands hold the prestigious positions within the Czech and Slovak markets with strong consumer recognition and loyalty throughout the Region. In 2023, I.D.C. Holding had net sales of almost 200 million. They currently employ approximately 1,150 people.
I.D.C. Holding's highly branded product portfolio is a strong fit for Valeo's existing business and offers the opportunity for significant expansion of Valeo Foods Group. This includes its CandyPlus operation in the Czech Republic, Balconi business in Italy, Schluckwerder business in Germany among other markets and products. Together, they will offer customers a broad and compelling portfolio of sweet snacking products backed by high-quality manufacturing and distribution capabilities.
The acquisition will deliver synergies across the value-chain and leverage Valeo Foods Group's international sales platform. These efforts will substantially enhance the business's global performance, representing a pivotal step in Valeo Foods ambition to become a truly international enterprise.
Ronald Kers, Chief Executive Officer of Valeo Foods Group, said, "This is a transformative acquisition for Valeo Foods Group. The inclusion of I.D.C. Holding within Valeo Foods Group will enhance our industry position, drive further growth in our portfolio and international footprint and allow us to meet growing consumer demand in this segment. We are delighted that the team at I.D.C. Holding share our confidence and ambition to be the major sweet treats player in Europe."
Pavol Jakubec, Owner of I.D.C. Holding said, "After 32 years of developing I.D.C. Holding from a local, traditional confectionary business into a major regional player in the category, operating from best-in-class manufacturing facilities, it is the right time for a new chapter in the development of this company. I am very excited to transition the business to Valeo Foods Group, who have a great track record of acquiring and successfully growing businesses in this space and are the best partner to work with our employees and business partners to support I.D.C. Holding in further growth and expansion."
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and is expected to complete later in 2024.
About I.D.C. Holding
I.D.C. Holding is a major manufacturer of high-quality sweets products in Slovakia with a turnover of almost 200 million annually. The portfolio includes traditional and iconic brands such as Horalky, Mila, Lina, Kavenky, Goralki, Moments, Verbena and many others. The Group employs more than 1,150 people across three production sites located in Slovakia and three subsidiaries in Czech, Hungary and Poland.
About Valeo Foods Group
Valeo Foods Group is one of Europe's fastest growing food groups and one of Europe's leading producers and purveyors of quality sweets, treats and snacks. With revenues in excess of 1.5 billion, the Valeo Foods portfolio includes over 80 brands enjoyed by customers in over 106 countries around the world including Balconi, Pedro, Carstens, Jacobs, Barrat, Fox's Mints, Taveners, Poppets, Rowse Honey and Maple Crest. The Group employs over 4,500 people across 30 manufacturing facilities and offices in the UK, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, the Czech Republic and Canada. Valeo Foods Group is owned by leading global investment firm Bain Capital.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240905034061/en/
Contacts:
Media Enquiries on behalf of Valeo Foods Group:
Robert Brown, Associate Partner, Reputation Inc
rbrown@reputation-inc.com
+353 85 725 2626
Sheeted veining discovered within hornfels altered sedimentary rocks flanking a granitic intrusion within the Tombstone Gold Belt.
Outcrop sampling returned up to 7.25 g/t gold with 240 ppm Bismuth and 5.23 ppm Tellurium.
Located near infrastructure 14 km south of the North Canol Highway near Fireweed Metals' Macpass Project.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / Trifecta Gold Ltd. (TSXV:TG)(OTCQB:TRRFF) ("Trifecta" or the "Company") is pleased to announce results from its 2024 exploration program at the Rye Project (the "Project"), which consisted of geological mapping, soil sampling and property-wide airborne LiDAR surveying. The Company successfully identified new areas of mineralization within the Itsi pluton and its surrounding hornfels altered sedimentary rocks.
The Rye Project is situated between two Mid-Cretaceous granitic intrusions in the eastern portion of Yukon's Tombstone Gold Belt. It is well located, only 14 km from the North Canol Highway, 15 km from Fireweed Metals Corp.'s Macpass Project, and 95 km from Snowline Gold Corp.'s Valley Gold Deposit. Mapping focused on characterizing vein densities and collecting structural measurements within and adjacent to the Itsi pluton. Results from vein material collected near this contact are tabulated below.
Sample Description Au (g/t) Bi (ppm) Te (ppm) D007367 Outcrop sample, quartz vein in granodiorite adjacent to mm-scale sheeted veining (~7/metre) 7.25 240 5.23 D007366 Outcrop sample of arsenopyrite-bearing quartz vein from a zone of sheeted veining mm to 2 cm scale (~6/metre) 1.01 242 16.35 D007387 Arsenopyrite vein in outcrop 3.09 372 11.85 D007373 Grab from top of float train at ridge crest 5.85 1080 6.59 D007370 Grab sample, quartz in float with arsenopyrite 2.72 199.5 3.2
Most of the contact between the Itsi intrusion and the hornfelsed metasediments is covered by large talus fields and glacial colluvium. Intense fracturing and veining have been identified in outcrop within the hornfelsed metasediments, adjacent to intrusive contact, as pictured below. These highly prospective areas have not yet been sampled.
Photo 1
Photo 2
Grid soil sampling in the southern portion of the property better defined an area of overlapping anomalous gold, bismuth and tellurium geochemistry that extends through the mapped hornfels altered sediments to the boundary with the Itsi intrusion.
Finally, a LiDAR ("Light Detection and Ranging") survey was completed over the property to help identify structural features and gain a baseline elevation model, which is necessary for establishing an effective 3-D model for future drilling.
Analytical work for the Rye Project was performed by ALS Minerals, with sample preparation in Whitehorse, Yukon and assays and geochemical analyses in North Vancouver, British Columbia. All rock and soil samples were analyzed for gold by fire assay fusion and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (Au-ICP21) and 51 other elements by aqua regia digestion and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ME-MS41).
Exploration Update
The Company was awarded Yukon Mineral Exploration Program ("YMEP") grants for Target Evaluation at both the Rye Project and its Lance Project. Under the YMEP, the Yukon Government provides successful applicants funding to support mineral exploration activities for 50% of eligible expenditures to a maximum of $50,000. Work at the Lance Project is complete, and results are being compiled.
Crews and equipment are now demobilized from the Mt. Hinton Project where Trifecta completed a property wide Z-Tipper Electromagnetic (ZTEM) and magnetic survey, road and drill pad construction, mapping, prospecting and soil sampling. Due to equipment issues, drilling at Mt. Hinton was limited to one hole at the 85 vein. Results of this work will be released once assays are received and can be compiled and evaluated.
Tombstone Gold Belt
Extending for more than 1000 km from the Fairbanks district in Alaska eastward across the entire width of Yukon, the Tombstone Gold Belt hosts many large RIRGS mines such as Fort Knox in Alaska (>10 million oz), the recently suspended Eagle mine in Yukon (>4 million oz) and the past-producing Brewery Creek Mine, also in Yukon. Since May 2020 over 17 million additional ounces of gold have been discovered in the Yukon portion of the belt, including Snowline Gold's Tier 1 Valley discovery, Sitka Gold's RC deposit, Banyan Gold's AurMac deposits and Victoria Gold's Raven deposit.
Tombstone Gold Belt systems are characterized by sheeted, auriferous quartz veins forming in the carapace zones of Cretaceous-age plutons. They have a characteristic geochemical signature with a gold-bismuth-telluriumtungsten core within a broader gold-arsenic halo. The deposits are found within and surrounding the reduced intrusions, and typically exhibit a geophysical signature comprising a magnetic low (ie. reduced) coinciding with at conductivity low. Veining in RIRGS systems is typically zoned with a core of sheeted veins surrounded by more discrete gold-arsenic veins and more distal silver-lead-zinc veins.
Technical information in this news release has been approved by Trifecta's Vice President, Jackson Morton, P.Geo., a qualified person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101.
About Trifecta Gold Ltd.
Trifecta is a Canadian-based precious metals exploration company dedicated to increasing shareholder value through the discovery and development of 100% held gold projects in Yukon and Nevada. Trifecta has secured an option to acquire a 100% interest in Mt. Hinton, Rye and 9 other highly prospective, intrusion-related gold projects located in Yukon's Tombstone Gold Belt where over 17 million ounces of gold have been discovered since May 2020. Initial drilling at the Company's Yuge Gold Project, located in northern Nevada, has identified multiple broad zones of gold mineralization near historical high-grade mines. The Company's Eureka Project hosts an 8 x 2.5 kilometre belt of surface showings and anomalous gold-in-soil that straddle the headwaters of two of the most productive placer creeks in Yukon's southern Klondike Goldfields. Trifecta's Treble Project covers a large hydrothermal system, located midway between Western Copper and Gold Corporation's Casino Deposit, the largest copper and gold deposit in the Yukon, and Rockhaven Resources Ltd.'s Klaza Deposit, a high-grade gold-silver deposit.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
"Richard Drechsler"
President and CEO
For further information concerning Trifecta or its various exploration projects please visit www.trifectagold.com or contact:
Corporate Information
Trifecta Gold Ltd.
Richard Drechsler
President, CEO & Director
Tel: (604) 687-2522
This news release may contain forward looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results that may prove to be inaccurate as a result of exploration and other risk factors beyond its control, and actual results may differ materially from the expected results.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
SOURCE: Trifecta Gold Ltd.
View the original press release on accesswire.com
Hansen Technologies Ltd (ASX:HSN), a leading global provider of software and services to the energy, water and communications industries, is pleased to announce that its Customer Information System, Hansen CIS, has been selected by Norwegian distribution service operator (DSO), Area Nett AS.
Area Nett AS is the grid owner in Northern Norway and ensures electricity supply to Gamvik, Lebesby, Karasjok, Masy, Nordkapp, Porsanger, and parts of Hammerfest. Hansen's collaboration with Area Nett AS dates back to 2006. In 2016, however, Area Nett AS became a member of the purchasing collaboration with the Nettalliansen, which resulted in Area Nett AS temporarily switching to another KIS solution at the end of 2022. With this new agreement, Area Nett AS rejoins Hansen's established customer base in Norway and other markets.
Area Nett AS will have access to the latest cloud-based functionality available, delivered as SaaS, and optimised for more efficient operational operations. The agreement also includes access to the new Hansen CIS user interface and the new self-service platform for end users.
Ingmar Hermansen, Head of Customer, Area Nett AS, commented: "Area Nett AS is pleased to select Hansen as our key technology partner for customer information systems, enabling us to adopt the latest functionalities tailored to DSO requirements."
Baard Eilertsen, Executive Vice President for Energy Utilities, EMEA Region at Hansen, commented: "We are proud of our longstanding relationship with Area Nett AS, and this agreement is significant for Hansen as it signals our intent to expand our market share in the electricity distributor domain in Norway. Delivering a host of new, advanced capabilities in an easy-to-implement SaaS model ensures that DSOs and retailers alike can seamlessly capitalise upon a modern approach to customer engagement."
For further information about Hansen Technologies, please visit www.hansencx.com.
About Hansen
Hansen Technologies (ASX: HSN) is a leading global provider of software and services to the energy, water and communications industries. With its award-winning software portfolio, Hansen serves customers in over 80 countries, helping them to create, sell, and deliver new products and services, manage and analyse customer data, and control critical revenue management and customer support processes.
For more information, visit www.hansencx.com
About Area Nett AS
Area Nett AS is an electricity distributor in northern Norway, providing services to Gamvik, Lebesby, Karasjok, Masy, Nordkapp, Porsanger, and parts of Hammerfest. The company is part of the group Infranord SA, a merger of energy companies Luostejok, Nordkyn and Repvag.
For more information, visit https://area.no/
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Contacts:
Adnan Bashir
Global Lead, External Communications
Hansen Technologies
+1 647-204-0999
ALMATY, Kazakhstan, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Verny Capital (Verny), in partnership with the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation (the Foundation) and Zhyly Zhurek Foundation, announces the opening of two new state-of-the-art schools in Kazakhstan's Almaty region. Located in the city of Esik and the village of Shelek, each school will accommodate 900 students to improve the region's educational infrastructure.
These schools, funded by Beeline Kazakhstan and ForteBank - both part of the Verny group - represent a key development to address the critical need for a greater number of educational facilities in the Almaty region. The new schools are expected to relieve overcrowding in existing institutions and help mitigate the challenges associated with three-shift schooling, as the region continues to experience a yearly increase of approximately 20,000 students.
"We are delighted to see the opening of these modern schools in Esik and Shelek, which are part of our broader commitment to improve educational opportunities across Kazakhstan," said Aidan Akanov, Chief Executive Officer of Verny Capital. "These projects exemplify how private business can effectively collaborate with local communities to address pressing social needs."
Both schools are similar to a facility completed by Verny in the city of Kosshy, in the Akmola region, last year. Each school is equipped with the latest technology and meets contemporary, global standards for inclusivity and environmental sustainability. In addition to standard classrooms, the schools offer advanced facilities to foster learning and innovation.
Marat Aitmagambetov, Director of the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation said: "These schools are a testament to our commitment to fostering environments where young people can thrive. By supporting education, we are investing in the future of our country."
Each of the new schools required a donation of approximately $18 million, reflecting the scale of Verny and the Foundation's commitment to long-term social impact. Upon completion, the ownership of the schools has been transferred to local authorities, ensuring that they will serve the community for generations to come.
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/verny-capital-opens-two-state-of-the-art-schools-in-kazakhstans-almaty-region-302239274.html
Includes 11.9 m @ 5.3 g/t AuEq, 12.6 m @ 8.0 g/t AuEq and 8.7 m @ 4.6 g/t AuEq
Mawson Gold Limited ("Mawson" or the "Company") (TSXV:MAW)(Frankfurt:MXR)(OTC PINK:MWSNF) announces Southern Cross Gold Ltd. ("Southern Cross Gold" or "SXG") has released a new and large gold-antimony discovery drilled 100 m - 150 m below the largest historic mine at the 100%-owned Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony Project in Victoria, Australia (Figure 5).
Highlights:
SDDSC130, reported here, shows the development of a third large, mineralized body developing beneath the most prolific historic mine at Sunday Creek . The new discovery is located 260 m and 600 m west, respectively of the Rising Sun and Apollo mineralized bodies modelled in the Company's January 2024 Exploration Target.
SDDSC130 drilled seven high-grade vein sets over a 230 m down hole interval (135 m estimated true width ("ETW") below the most productive Golden Dyke historic mining area at Sunday Creek. The hole included ten occurrences of visible gold , nine assayed intervals of > 20 g/t Au (up to 124 g/t Au) and ten assayed intervals of > 5% Sb (up to 31.5% Sb) .
Broad downhole intercepts (no lower cut) included 214.4 m @ 1.3 g/t AuEq (1.1 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 320.4 m including 94.5 m @ 2.3 g/t AuEq (1.5 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 419.1 m. Selected highlights include (Figures 1 and 2). 11.9 m @ 5.3 g/t AuEq (4.7 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 357.7 m, including: 0.2 m @ 54.7 g/t AuEq (44.2 g/t Au, 5.6% Sb) from 358.3 m 3.8 m @ 10.7 g/t AuEq (9.8 g/t Au, 0.5% Sb) from 359.8 m 12.6 m @ 8.0 g/t AuEq (5.8 g/t Au, 1.2% Sb) from 419.1 m, including: 1.1 m @ 7.4 g/t AuEq (5.4 g/t Au, 1.0% Sb) from 420.7 m 1.5 m @ 8.5 g/t AuEq (7.7 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 425.7 m 0.9 m @ 75.8 g/t AuEq (56.2 g/t Au, 10.4% Sb) from 429.7 m 8.7 m @ 4.6 g/t AuEq (2.3 g/t Au, 1.3% Sb) from 498.8 m, including: 0.2 m @ 25.0 g/t AuEq (20.9 g/t Au, 2.2% Sb) from 498.8 m 1.2 m @ 17.1 g/t AuEq (7.6 g/t Au, 5.0% Sb) from 500.7 m 1.1 m @ 5.7 g/t AuEq (2.3 g/t Au, 1.8% Sb) from 505.3 m
SDDSC130 remains open in an up and down dip sense and is the first hole of several east to west trending holes (SDDSC132, 138, 141) to test beneath the Golden Dyke mine area. Nineteen holes are currently being processed and analyzed with an additional five holes in progress.
Mawson owns 96,590,910 shares of SXG (48.7%), valuing its stake at A$252.1 million (C$229.6 million) based on SXG's closing price on September 4, 2024 AEST.
Michael Hudson, Mawson Interim CEO and Executive Chairman, states: "Game on! The scale of the Sunday Creek gold-antimony system continues to grow impressively. This new discovery is located 260 m and 600 m west respectively of the Rising Sun and Apollo mineralized bodies. The expanding Sunday Creek system coupled with the 60 km of diamond drilling planned over the next year means we are well on our way to meet our aim to double the size of the Sunday Creek exploration target. Golden Dyke now joins Rising Sun and Apollo as the third high-grade mineralized domain in this exciting project.
"Our team's systematic drill approach led us to the new discovery, after we targeted the main dyke breccia host structure (the "rails" of the ladder) by N-S drilling, as previously reported in drillholes SDDSC125-126. Quickly, we were then able to drill SDDSC130, the first drill hole in an E-W orientation beneath the historic Golden Dyke mine, that intersected seven high-grade vein sets (the "rungs" of the ladder) at a high angle, over 230 m down hole interval (135 m ETW).
"The mineralization intersected in SDDSC130 remains open both up and down dip, as well as 500 m to the west towards the historic Christina mine where we have five drill holes pending results. Three additional E-W holes (SDDSC132, 138, 141 - Figures 1 and 2) have been completed, or in progress below Golden Dyke, with results pending. Given this discovery, the Company has already planned a significant number of further holes under Golden Dyke."
Drill Hole Discussion
SDDSC130 is the first hole at Golden Dyke to drill parallel to and within the dyke/breccia host structure (the ladder "rails") and at a high angle to mineralized veins (the ladder "rungs"). The hole was successful and overall intercepted eight high-grade vein sets. Beneath the historic Golden Dyke mine, seven high-grade vein sets were intersected over 230 m down hole interval (135 m ETW). The hole included ten occurrences of visible gold, nine assayed intervals of > 20 g/t Au (up to 124 g/t Au) and ten assayed intervals of > 5% Sb (up to 31.5% Sb).
Broad downhole intercepts (no lower cut) included 214.4 m @ 1.3 g/t AuEq (1.1 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 320.4 m including 94.5 m @ 2.3 g/t AuEq (1.5 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 419.1 m.
The hole provided a 100 m down dip extension to three existing vein sets, infill information for three vein sets in addition to two new vein sets (Figures 2 and 3). This drill hole displayed similarities in mineralization style to that of analogous holes in the upper portion of Rising Sun, demonstrating Golden Dyke is the third known significant mineralized body on the project. Further drilling in a similar orientation (parallel to the ladder 'rails' - SDDSC132, 138, 141) (Figures 2 and 3) will continue to provide information about the size and extent of mineralized shapes at depth.
This hole occurs in the geological upper portion of the mineralized system, indicated by the presence of brittle structures, open space breccias and mineralized veins, with abundant massive stibnite occurring in quartz-carbonate veins. While the grade tenor of SDDSC130 is considered significant, analogues at Rising Sun and Apollo have shown that the tenor of gold mineralization is likely to increase with depth. SDDSC130 also provided an exceptional example of continuity and width of mineralized structures at Sunday Creek, with 11.9 m @ 5.3 g/t AuEq (4.7 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 357.7 m occurring 82 m down plunge of SDDSC049 (9.6 m @ 14.1 g/t AuEq (9.2 g/t Au, 2.6% Sb) - November 8, 2022) and being interpreted as a continuous vein set. Extended highlights include:
0.7 m @ 49.7 g/t AuEq (49.7 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 133.4 m
3.1 m @ 4.7 g/t AuEq (1.3 g/t Au, 1.8% Sb) from 329.3 m, including: 1.3 m @ 8.8 g/t AuEq (2.1 g/t Au, 3.6% Sb) from 329.3 m 3.7 m @ 0.7 g/t AuEq (0.6 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 334.3 m 1.3 m @ 2.5 g/t AuEq (0.9 g/t Au, 0.9% Sb) from 342.5 m 11.9 m @ 5.3 g/t AuEq (4.7 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 357.7 m, including: 0.2 m @ 54.7 g/t AuEq (44.2 g/t Au, 5.6% Sb) from 358.3 m 3.8 m @ 10.7 g/t AuEq (9.8 g/t Au, 0.5% Sb) from 359.8 m 2.1 m @ 2.1 g/t AuEq (1.6 g/t Au, 0.3% Sb) from 372.0 m 1.9 m @ 2.2 g/t AuEq (1.6 g/t Au, 0.3% Sb) from 377.0 m, including: 0.3 m @ 8.4 g/t AuEq (8.3 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 378.7 m 4.3 m @ 1.3 g/t AuEq (1.1 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 387.6 m 1.3 m @ 5.8 g/t AuEq (2.1 g/t Au, 2.0% Sb) from 399.2 m 12.6 m @ 8.0 g/t AuEq (5.8 g/t Au, 1.2% Sb) from 419.1 m, including: 1.1 m @ 7.4 g/t AuEq (5.4 g/t Au, 1.0% Sb) from 420.7 m 1.5 m @ 8.5 g/t AuEq (7.7 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 425.7 m 0.9 m @ 75.8 g/t AuEq (56.2 g/t Au, 10.4% Sb) from 429.7 m 0.4 m @ 21.8 g/t AuEq (13.0 g/t Au, 4.7% Sb) from 446.2 m 1.1 m @ 2.2 g/t AuEq (2.1 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 461.3 m 5.8 m @ 5.1 g/t AuEq (1.9 g/t Au, 1.7% Sb) from 479.2 m, including: 0.1 m @ 20.0 g/t AuEq (2.3 g/t Au, 9.4% Sb) from 479.2 m 0.2 m @ 26.9 g/t AuEq (17.3 g/t Au, 5.1% Sb) from 480.8 m 0.7 m @ 23.2 g/t AuEq (4.1 g/t Au, 10.2% Sb) from 484.2 m 8.7 m @ 4.6 g/t AuEq (2.3 g/t Au, 1.3% Sb) from 498.8 m, including: 0.2 m @ 25.0 g/t AuEq (20.9 g/t Au, 2.2% Sb) from 498.8 m 1.2 m @ 17.1 g/t AuEq (7.6 g/t Au, 5.0% Sb) from 500.7 m 1.1 m @ 5.7 g/t AuEq (2.3 g/t Au, 1.8% Sb) from 505.3 m 1.0 m @ 19.8 g/t AuEq (19.1 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 512.6 m, including: 0.3 m @ 65.9 g/t AuEq (65.2 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 513.3 m 3.1 m @ 0.8 g/t AuEq (0.7 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 530.3 m
Pending Results and Update
SDDSC130 is the first hole of several east to west trending holes (SDDSC132, 138, 141) in a program to further test and understand the breadth of mineralization at Golden Dyke by utilising structural controls provided by the previously announced drill holes SDDSC125 and SDDSC126 (August 27, 2024).
Nineteen holes (SDDSC123-124, 127-128, 131-140, 137W1, 140, 050W1, 050W2, 092W1) are currently being processed and analyzed, with five holes (SDDSC129, 137W2, 141, 143, 092W2) in progress (Figure 1 and Figure 2).
Exploration Target
On January 23, 2024, SXG announced the maiden gold and antimony Exploration Target at its flagship 100%-owned Sunday Creek Project in Victoria, Australia. The Exploration Target ranges reported are shown in Table 1. Notably, the Exploration Target was constrained to the current drill footprint at Apollo and Rising Sun as they contain sufficient drilling to determine continuity and infer grade ranges. This represents approximately one third to one half the strike of the main drill area and significant potential exists to increase the size of the exploration target with high grade drill results drilled for up to 450 m beyond the Exploration Target area. Drilling since January has significantly expanded the footprint of mineralization beyond the bounds of the exploration target area, especially including SDDSC130 announced in this press release (Figure 2).
Table 1. Sunday Creek Exploration Target for Apollo and Rising Sun at the Sunday Creek Project
Range Tonnes (Mt) AuEq g/t* Au g/t Sb % Au Eq (Moz) Au (Moz) Sb (kt) Lower Case 4.4 7.2 5.3 1.2 1.0 0.74 53.5 Upper Case 5.1 9.7 7.8 1.2 1.6 1.28 62.8
The potential quantity and grade of the Exploration Target is conceptual in nature and therefore is an approximation. There has been insufficient exploration to estimate a Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a Mineral Resource. The Exploration Target has been prepared and reported in accordance with the 2012 edition of the JORC Code.
Further Information
Further discussion and analysis of the Sunday Creek project by Southern Cross Gold is available on the SXG website at www.southerncrossgold.com.au.
No upper gold grade cut is applied in the averaging and intervals are reported as drill thickness. During future Mineral Resource studies, the requirement for assay top cutting will be assessed.
Figures 1 to 5 show project location, plan and longitudinal views of drill results reported here and Tables 2 to 4 provide collar and assay data. The true thickness of the mineralized intervals reported individually as estimated true widths ("ETW"), otherwise they are interpreted to be approximately 40% to 70% of the sampled thickness for other reported holes. Lower grades were cut at 1.0 g/t AuEq lower cutoff over a maximum width of 2 m with higher grades cut at 5.0 g/t AuEq lower cutoff over a maximum of 1 m width unless specified.
Critical Metal Epizonal Gold-Antimony Deposits
Sunday Creek is an epizonal gold-antimony deposit formed in the late Devonian (like Fosterville, Costerfield and Redcastle), 60 million years later than mesozonal gold systems formed in Victoria (for example Ballarat and Bendigo). Epizonal deposits are a form of orogenic gold deposit classified according to their depth of formation: epizonal (<6 km), mesozonal (6-12 km) and hypozonal (>12 km).
Epizonal deposits in Victoria often have associated high levels of the critical metal, antimony, and Sunday Creek is no exception. China claims a 56 per cent share of global mined supplies of antimony, according to a 2023 European Union study. Antimony features highly on the critical minerals lists of many countries including Australia, the United States of America, Canada, Japan and the European Union. Australia ranks seventh for antimony production despite all production coming from a single mine at Costerfield in Victoria, located nearby to all SXG projects. Antimony alloys with lead and tin which results in improved properties for solders, munitions, bearings and batteries. Antimony is a prominent additive for halogen-containing flame retardants. Adequate supplies of antimony are critical to the world's energy transition, and to the high-tech industry, especially the semi-conductor and defence sectors where it is a critical additive to primers in munitions.
In August 2024, the Chinese government announced it will place export limits on antimony and antimony products. This will put pressure on Western defence supply chains and negatively affect the supply of the metal and push up pricing given China's dominance of the supply of the metal in the global markets. This is positive for SXG as we are likely to have one of the very few large and high-quality projects of antimony in the western world that can feed western demand into the future.
Antimony represents approximately 20% in situ recoverable value of Sunday Creek at an AuEq of 1.88.
Technical Background and Qualified Person
The Qualified Person, Michael Hudson, Executive Chairman and a director of Mawson Gold, and a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, has reviewed, verified and approved the technical contents of this release.
Analytical samples are transported to the Bendigo facility of On Site Laboratory Services ("On Site") which operates under both an ISO 9001 and NATA quality systems. Samples were prepared and analyzed for gold using the fire assay technique (PE01S method; 25 gram charge), followed by measuring the gold in solution with flame AAS equipment. Samples for multi-element analysis (BM011 and over-range methods as required) use aqua regia digestion and ICP-MS analysis. The QA/QC program of Southern Cross Gold consists of the systematic insertion of certified standards of known gold content, blanks within interpreted mineralized rock and quarter core duplicates. In addition, On Site inserts blanks and standards into the analytical process.
MAW considers that both gold and antimony that are included in the gold equivalent calculation ("AuEq") have reasonable potential to be recovered at Sunday Creek, given current geochemical understanding, historic production statistics and geologically analogous mining operations. Historically, ore from Sunday Creek was treated onsite or shipped to the Costerfield mine, located 54 km to the northwest of the project, for processing during WW1. The Costerfield mine corridor, now owned by Mandalay Resources Ltd contains two million ounces of equivalent gold (Mandalay Q3 2021 Results), and in 2020 was the sixth highest-grade global underground mine and a top 5 global producer of antimony.
MAW considers that it is appropriate to adopt the same gold equivalent variables as Mandalay Resources Ltd in its Mandalay Technical Report, 2024 dated March 28, 2024. The gold equivalence formula used by Mandalay Resources was calculated using Costerfield's 2023 production costs, using a gold price of US$1,900 per ounce, an antimony price of US$12,000 per tonne and 2023 total year metal recoveries of 94% for gold and 89% for antimony, and is as follows:
???????? = ???? (??/??) + 1.88 ???? (%).
Based on the latest Costerfield calculation and given the similar geological styles and historic toll treatment of Sunday Creek mineralization at Costerfield, SXG considers that a ???????? = ???? (??/??) + 1.88 ???? (%) is appropriate to use for the initial exploration targeting of gold-antimony mineralization at Sunday Creek.
About Mawson Gold Limited (TSXV:MAW, FRANKFURT:MXR, OTCPINK:MWSNF)
Mawson Gold Limited has distinguished itself as a leading Nordic exploration company. Over the last decades, the team behind Mawson has forged a long and successful record of discovering, financing, and advancing mineral projects in the Nordics and Australia. Mawson holds the Skelleftea North gold discovery and a portfolio of historic uranium resources in Sweden. Mawson also holds 49% of Southern Cross Gold Ltd. (ASX: SXG) which owns or controls two high-grade, historic epizonal goldfields in Victoria, Australia, including the exciting Sunday Creek Au-Sb discovery.
About Southern Cross Gold Ltd (ASX:SXG)
Southern Cross Gold holds the 100%-owned Sunday Creek project in Victoria and Mt Isa project in Queensland, the Redcastle joint venture in Victoria, Australia, and a strategic 6.7% holding in ASX-listed Nagambie Resources Limited (ASX:NAG) which grants SXG a Right of First Refusal over a 3,300 square kilometer tenement package held by NAG in Victoria.
On behalf of the Board, "Michael Hudson"
Michael Hudson, Interim CEO and Executive Chairman Further Information
www.mawsongold.com
1305 - 1090 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V7
Mariana Bermudez (Canada), Corporate Secretary
+1 (604) 685 9316
info@mawsongold.com
Forward-Looking Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Although Mawson believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate, and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Mawson cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, Mawson's expectations regarding its ownership interest in Southern Cross Gold, capital and other costs varying significantly from estimates, changes in world metal markets, changes in equity markets, the potential impact of epidemics, pandemics or other public health crises on the Company's business, risks related to negative publicity with respect to the Company or the mining industry in general; exploration potential being conceptual in nature, there being insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource on the Australian-projects owned by SXG, and uncertainty if further exploration will result in the determination of a mineral resource; planned drill programs and results varying from expectations, delays in obtaining results, equipment failure, unexpected geological conditions, local community relations, dealings with non-governmental organizations, delays in operations due to permit grants, environmental and safety risks, and other risks and uncertainties. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Mawson disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.
Figure 1: Sunday Creek plan view showing selected results from hole SDDSC130 reported here (blue highlighted box, black trace), with selected prior reported drill holes and pending holes.
Figure 2: Sunday Creek longitudinal section across A-B in the plane of the dyke breccia/altered sediment host looking towards the north (striking 236 degrees) showing mineralized veins sets. Showing hole SDDSC130 reported here (blue highlighted box, black trace), with selected intersections and prior reported drill holes. The vertical extents of the vein sets are limited by proximity to drill hole pierce points. For location refer to Figure 1 and zoom of section C-D shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Sunday Creek cropped longitudinal section across C-D in the plane of the dyke breccia/altered sediment host looking towards the north (striking 236 degrees) showing mineralized veins sets. Showing hole SDDSC130 reported here (blue highlighted box, black trace), with selected intersections and prior reported drill holes. For location refer to Figure 2.
Figure 4: Sunday Creek regional plan view showing LiDAR, soil sampling, structural framework, regional historic epizonal gold mining areas and broad regional areas (Tonstal, Consols and Leviathan) tested by 12 holes for 2,383 m drill program. The regional drill areas are at Tonstal, Consols and Leviathan located 4,000-7,500 m along strike from the main drill area at Golden Dyke- Apollo.
Figure 5: Location of the Sunday Creek project, along with the Redcastle JV and simplified geology.
Table 2: Drill collar summary table for recent drill holes in progress.
Hole_ID Depth (m) Prospect East GDA94_Z55 North GDA94_Z55 Elevation Azimuth Plunge SDDSC116 682.6 Rising Sun 331465 5867865 333.3 272.5 -41.5 SDDSC117 1101 Rising Sun 330510 5867852 296.5 70.5 -64.5 SDDSC118 1246 Rising Sun 330464 5867912 286.6 80 -64.5 SDDSC119 854.1 Apollo 331498 5867858 336.7 272.5 -45.2 SDDSC120 1022.5 Rising Sun 331110 5867976 319.5 266.5 -55 SDDSC121 588.7 Rising Sun 330510 5867852 296.6 72 -63 SDDSC122 889.89 Rising Sun 330338 5867860 267.7 74 -62 SDDSC114W1 625.1 Rising Sun 330464 5867914 286.6 82 -58 SDDSC119W1 643 Apollo 331498 5867858 336.7 272.5 -45.2 SDDSC123 124.3 Apollo 331499 5867859 337 276 -52 SDDSC124 969.3 Apollo 331499 5867859 337 274 -52.2 SDDSC121W1 953.4 Rising Sun 330510 5867852 296.6 72 -63.8 SDDSC125 551.7 Golden Dyke 330462 5867920 285.6 212 -68 SDDSC126 941.4 Rising Sun 330815 5867599 295.7 321.6 -54 SDDSC122W1 1007.8 Rising Sun 330338 5867860 276.5 72 -61.4 SDDSC050W1 797.1 Rising Sun 330539 5867885 295.3 77 -63 SDDSC127 483.2 Apollo 331498 5867858 336.9 271.3 -43.3 SDDSC128 745.1 Apollo 331465 5867867 333.1 272.6 -43.3 SDDSC129 In progress plan 1200 m Rising Sun 330388 5867860 276.5 77.3 -57.3 SDDSC092W1 767 Rising Sun 330537.2 5867882.6 295.5 82.2 -61.1 SDDSC130 614 Golden Dyke 330777 5867891 295.9 255 -42 SDDSC050W2 789.4 Rising Sun 330539 5867885 295.3 77 -63 SDDSC131 179.6 Christina 330081 5867609 273.1 284 -47 SDDSC132 740.7 Golden Dyke 330776.9 5867890.5 295.9 261.5 -50 SDDSC133 347.2 Apollo East 331380 5867740 335 8 -42 SDDSC134 230.9 Christina 330080.9 5867609.3 273.1 302.5 -61.5 SDDSC135 182.4 Christina 330080.9 5867609.3 273.1 342.5 -51 SDDSC136 349 Apollo East 331380 5867740 335 329 -41 SDDSC137 299.7 Christina 330080.9 5867609.3 273 40 -62 SDDSC138 518 Golden Dyke 330776.9 5867890.5 296 250 -36 SDDSC139 469.2 Apollo East 331465.4 5867865.1 333.2 267 -37.4 SDDSC140 349.9 Christina 330080.9 5867609.3 273.1 8.9 -70.2 SDDSC092W2 In progress plan 781 m Rising Sun 330537.2 5867882.6 295.5 82.2 -61.1 SDDSC137W1 199.5 Christina 330074.9 5867612.4 273.6 41 -61.9 SDDSC137W2 In progress plan 222 m Christina 330074.9 5867612.4 273.6 41 -61.9 SDDSC141 In progress plan 1020 m Golden Dyke 330809 5867842 301 271.5 -53 SDDSC143 In progress plan 700 m Apollo 331464.1 5867864.9 332.9 270.3 -39.1
Table 3: Table of mineralized drill hole intersections reported from SDDSC130 using two cutoff criteria. Lower grades cut at 1.0 g/t AuEq lower cutoff over a maximum of 2 m with higher grades cut at 5.0 g/t AuEq cutoff over a maximum of 1 m.
Hole-ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au g/t Sb % AuEq g/t SDDSC130 133.4 134.05 0.65 49.7 0.0 49.7 SDDSC130 329.33 332.45 3.12 1.3 1.8 4.7 Including 329.33 330.65 1.32 2.1 3.6 8.8 SDDSC130 334.32 338 3.68 0.6 0.1 0.7 SDDSC130 342.51 343.77 1.26 0.9 0.9 2.5 SDDSC130 357.72 369.6 11.88 4.7 0.4 5.3 Including 358.33 358.54 0.21 44.2 5.6 54.7 Including 359.79 363.6 3.81 9.8 0.5 10.7 SDDSC130 371.95 374.06 2.11 1.6 0.3 2.1 SDDSC130 376.95 378.9 1.95 1.6 0.3 2.2 Including 378.65 378.9 0.25 8.3 0.1 8.4 SDDSC130 387.55 391.9 4.35 1.1 0.1 1.3 SDDSC130 399.22 400.55 1.33 2.1 2.0 5.8 SDDSC130 419.06 431.66 12.6 5.8 1.2 8.0 Including 420.7 421.84 1.14 5.4 1.0 7.4 Including 425.66 427.14 1.48 7.7 0.4 8.5 Including 429.65 430.51 0.86 56.2 10.4 75.8 SDDSC130 446.21 446.56 0.35 13.0 4.7 21.8 SDDSC130 461.34 462.43 1.09 2.1 0.0 2.2 SDDSC130 479.19 484.95 5.76 1.9 1.7 5.1 Including 479.19 479.31 0.12 2.3 9.4 20.0 Including 480.81 480.98 0.17 17.3 5.1 26.9 Including 484.21 484.95 0.74 4.1 10.2 23.2 SDDSC130 498.75 507.45 8.7 2.3 1.3 4.6 Including 498.75 498.98 0.23 20.9 2.2 25.0 Including 500.66 501.86 1.2 7.6 5.0 17.1 Including 505.26 506.34 1.08 2.3 1.8 5.7 SDDSC130 512.56 513.54 0.98 19.1 0.4 19.8 Including 513.26 513.54 0.28 65.2 0.4 65.9 SDDSC130 530.3 533.43 3.13 0.7 0.1 0.8
Table 4: All individual assays reported from SDDSC130 reported here >0.1g/t AuEq.
Hole-ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au g/t Sb % AuEq g/t SDDSC130 54.91 55.19 0.28 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 55.96 57.11 1.15 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 95 96 1 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 96 97 1 0.4 0.0 0.5 SDDSC130 97 98 1 0.2 0.0 0.3 SDDSC130 102 102.32 0.32 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 102.32 102.6 0.28 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 102.6 103 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 103 104 1 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 104 104.38 0.38 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC130 104.38 105.07 0.69 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 105.07 106 0.93 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 106 107 1 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 109.41 110.15 0.74 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 115.38 115.76 0.38 1.2 0.0 1.2 SDDSC130 115.76 117 1.24 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 117 118 1 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 118.73 118.85 0.12 0.8 0.0 0.8 SDDSC130 118.85 120 1.15 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC130 124.05 124.2 0.15 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC130 131.3 131.62 0.32 1.1 0.0 1.2 SDDSC130 131.62 131.9 0.28 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 133.4 133.85 0.45 16.7 0.0 16.7 SDDSC130 133.85 134.05 0.2 124.0 0.0 124.0 SDDSC130 134.05 135 0.95 0.9 0.0 0.9 SDDSC130 135 135.35 0.35 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 135.35 136 0.65 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC130 136 136.8 0.8 0.6 0.0 0.6 SDDSC130 136.8 137.36 0.56 0.9 0.0 0.9 SDDSC130 140.1 141.1 1 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC130 141.8 142.63 0.83 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 142.63 143 0.37 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 143.4 143.6 0.2 0.9 0.0 0.9 SDDSC130 143.6 144.06 0.46 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 144.06 145.3 1.24 1.2 0.0 1.2 SDDSC130 146.82 147.38 0.56 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 148.23 148.85 0.62 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 148.85 149.27 0.42 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC130 149.27 149.47 0.2 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC130 149.47 149.67 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 149.67 150.08 0.41 0.8 2.1 4.6 SDDSC130 150.08 151 0.92 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 151.52 151.9 0.38 0.8 0.0 0.8 SDDSC130 151.9 152.76 0.86 0.2 0.0 0.3 SDDSC130 152.76 153.32 0.56 2.1 0.0 2.1 SDDSC130 153.32 153.85 0.53 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 153.85 154.39 0.54 0.6 0.0 0.6 SDDSC130 154.39 155.06 0.67 1.0 0.0 1.0 SDDSC130 155.06 155.78 0.72 0.5 0.0 0.5 SDDSC130 159.77 160.24 0.47 1.0 0.0 1.0 SDDSC130 162.21 163.15 0.94 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 163.15 163.32 0.17 0.3 0.4 1.1 SDDSC130 163.32 163.72 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 163.72 164.44 0.72 0.6 0.0 0.7 SDDSC130 164.44 164.85 0.41 0.5 0.2 0.8 SDDSC130 164.85 165.2 0.35 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC130 165.2 166 0.8 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 274.35 274.57 0.22 2.5 0.0 2.5 SDDSC130 313.17 314.13 0.96 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 314.13 315.04 0.91 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 315.04 316 0.96 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 320.41 320.67 0.26 0.9 0.1 1.0 SDDSC130 320.67 321.4 0.73 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 322.2 322.82 0.62 0.2 0.1 0.4 SDDSC130 323.15 323.43 0.28 0.6 0.1 0.7 SDDSC130 323.68 323.86 0.18 0.5 0.3 1.2 SDDSC130 323.86 324.04 0.18 0.6 0.0 0.7 SDDSC130 324.33 324.96 0.63 0.7 0.5 1.7 SDDSC130 325.54 326.22 0.68 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 326.43 326.82 0.39 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC130 328.96 329.33 0.37 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC130 329.33 329.43 0.1 8.3 31.5 67.5 SDDSC130 329.43 329.57 0.14 0.3 0.3 1.0 SDDSC130 329.57 329.77 0.2 1.0 5.9 12.0 SDDSC130 329.77 330.17 0.4 0.3 0.4 1.0 SDDSC130 330.17 330.44 0.27 0.2 0.1 0.4 SDDSC130 330.44 330.65 0.21 7.6 0.8 9.0 SDDSC130 330.8 331.4 0.6 1.1 1.6 4.2 SDDSC130 331.4 331.8 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 332 332.45 0.45 1.2 0.0 1.3 SDDSC130 332.45 332.65 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.3 SDDSC130 332.65 333 0.35 0.2 0.0 0.3 SDDSC130 333.53 334.32 0.79 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 334.32 335 0.68 1.1 0.1 1.2 SDDSC130 335 335.25 0.25 0.3 0.0 0.4 SDDSC130 336.68 337.04 0.36 2.0 0.2 2.4 SDDSC130 337.04 337.45 0.41 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 337.45 338 0.55 0.9 0.2 1.2 SDDSC130 339 340.3 1.3 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 340.3 341 0.7 0.2 0.1 0.4 SDDSC130 341.13 342 0.87 0.2 0.1 0.4 SDDSC130 342 342.51 0.51 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 342.51 342.62 0.11 1.8 3.6 8.6 SDDSC130 342.62 342.8 0.18 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 342.8 343.07 0.27 0.6 0.1 0.8 SDDSC130 343.07 343.42 0.35 0.4 0.6 1.5 SDDSC130 343.42 343.77 0.35 1.7 1.3 4.2 SDDSC130 343.77 344.27 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.3 SDDSC130 344.27 344.68 0.41 0.2 0.0 0.3 SDDSC130 345.63 345.91 0.28 0.5 0.0 0.5 SDDSC130 346.5 346.9 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 347.8 348.13 0.33 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 349.23 349.83 0.6 0.3 0.0 0.4 SDDSC130 349.83 351 1.17 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 351 351.9 0.9 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC130 354.23 354.95 0.72 0.5 0.3 1.0 SDDSC130 354.95 355.16 0.21 0.5 0.1 0.6 SDDSC130 355.62 355.84 0.22 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 355.84 356.34 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 356.34 356.67 0.33 0.4 0.3 0.9 SDDSC130 356.67 357.17 0.5 0.4 0.1 0.5 SDDSC130 357.42 357.72 0.3 0.5 0.0 0.5 SDDSC130 357.72 357.82 0.1 1.0 0.5 1.9 SDDSC130 357.82 358 0.18 0.5 0.1 0.7 SDDSC130 358 358.33 0.33 1.2 0.2 1.6 SDDSC130 358.33 358.54 0.21 44.2 5.6 54.7 SDDSC130 358.54 358.71 0.17 1.9 0.3 2.4 SDDSC130 358.71 359.1 0.39 0.6 0.2 0.9 SDDSC130 359.1 359.51 0.41 1.3 0.2 1.8 SDDSC130 359.51 359.79 0.28 1.5 0.2 1.9 SDDSC130 359.79 360.16 0.37 45.7 1.9 49.3 SDDSC130 360.16 360.5 0.34 1.6 0.1 1.7 SDDSC130 360.5 360.9 0.4 12.1 0.2 12.4 SDDSC130 360.9 361.3 0.4 2.1 0.3 2.7 SDDSC130 361.3 361.7 0.4 1.8 1.1 3.8 SDDSC130 361.7 362.9 1.2 8.4 0.0 8.4 SDDSC130 362.9 363.35 0.45 6.3 0.2 6.6 SDDSC130 363.35 363.6 0.25 2.6 1.5 5.5 SDDSC130 363.6 363.95 0.35 1.3 0.0 1.3 SDDSC130 363.95 364.4 0.45 3.2 0.0 3.3 SDDSC130 364.4 364.7 0.3 0.8 0.0 0.8 SDDSC130 364.7 365 0.3 2.1 0.5 3.0 SDDSC130 365 365.82 0.82 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC130 365.82 366.6 0.78 1.0 0.0 1.1 SDDSC130 366.6 367.2 0.6 2.7 0.2 3.1 SDDSC130 368.45 368.58 0.13 1.7 3.1 7.5 SDDSC130 368.58 369.6 1.02 1.1 0.1 1.2 SDDSC130 371.39 371.95 0.56 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 371.95 372.25 0.3 0.7 0.3 1.3 SDDSC130 372.25 373 0.75 0.4 0.2 0.8 SDDSC130 373 373.45 0.45 1.8 0.4 2.5 SDDSC130 373.45 373.58 0.13 2.5 0.3 3.1 SDDSC130 373.58 374.06 0.48 3.5 0.3 4.0 SDDSC130 374.47 375.4 0.93 0.5 0.0 0.5 SDDSC130 375.4 375.78 0.38 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC130 375.78 376.37 0.59 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 376.95 377.8 0.85 0.4 0.5 1.3 SDDSC130 378.05 378.35 0.3 0.1 0.8 1.6 SDDSC130 378.35 378.65 0.3 2.2 0.0 2.2 SDDSC130 378.65 378.9 0.25 8.3 0.1 8.4 SDDSC130 378.9 379.35 0.45 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 379.35 379.71 0.36 0.3 0.1 0.4 SDDSC130 379.71 380.15 0.44 0.2 0.0 0.3 SDDSC130 380.15 381 0.85 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC130 381 381.72 0.72 0.7 0.0 0.8 SDDSC130 381.72 382.42 0.7 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 382.42 382.9 0.48 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 384.1 384.39 0.29 0.6 0.1 0.7 SDDSC130 384.39 384.77 0.38 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 385 386.37 1.37 0.3 0.1 0.5 SDDSC130 386.37 387.55 1.18 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 387.55 388.12 0.57 3.3 0.1 3.4 SDDSC130 388.12 388.8 0.68 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC130 390.1 390.46 0.36 2.0 0.3 2.5 SDDSC130 390.46 391.35 0.89 0.5 0.2 0.9 SDDSC130 391.35 391.9 0.55 2.1 0.3 2.8 SDDSC130 391.9 392.6 0.7 0.5 0.0 0.6 SDDSC130 392.6 393.3 0.7 0.4 0.0 0.5 SDDSC130 399.22 399.46 0.24 5.3 2.8 10.6 SDDSC130 399.76 400.1 0.34 0.3 0.0 0.4 SDDSC130 400.1 400.55 0.45 3.1 4.3 11.3 SDDSC130 400.55 401 0.45 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 402.14 402.26 0.12 0.1 0.3 0.6 SDDSC130 403.25 403.43 0.18 0.8 0.1 1.0 SDDSC130 403.78 403.94 0.16 0.8 0.2 1.1 SDDSC130 404.68 404.94 0.26 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC130 406.21 406.67 0.46 0.8 0.1 0.9 SDDSC130 406.67 406.95 0.28 0.8 0.3 1.4 SDDSC130 406.95 407.4 0.45 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 407.4 407.55 0.15 1.3 0.3 1.9 SDDSC130 410.64 411.04 0.4 1.0 1.1 3.0 SDDSC130 411.04 411.72 0.68 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 411.72 412.2 0.48 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC130 412.2 412.3 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 416 416.31 0.31 0.5 0.0 0.5 SDDSC130 416.61 416.9 0.29 0.4 1.1 2.4 SDDSC130 417.53 417.87 0.34 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 419.06 419.22 0.16 4.4 0.0 4.5 SDDSC130 419.22 419.86 0.64 0.4 0.4 1.1 SDDSC130 419.86 420.34 0.48 0.8 0.8 2.3 SDDSC130 420.34 420.7 0.36 0.6 0.3 1.2 SDDSC130 420.7 420.8 0.1 24.9 0.7 26.2 SDDSC130 420.8 421.2 0.4 2.2 1.4 4.8 SDDSC130 421.2 421.84 0.64 4.4 0.9 6.0 SDDSC130 421.84 422.76 0.92 0.9 1.7 4.2 SDDSC130 422.76 423.13 0.37 0.4 0.2 0.8 SDDSC130 423.13 423.61 0.48 0.3 0.1 0.5 SDDSC130 423.61 423.81 0.2 1.2 0.7 2.5 SDDSC130 423.81 424.4 0.59 2.5 1.2 4.8 SDDSC130 424.4 424.88 0.48 0.4 0.3 1.0 SDDSC130 424.88 425.66 0.78 0.3 0.0 0.4 SDDSC130 425.66 425.91 0.25 7.3 0.5 8.2 SDDSC130 425.91 426.09 0.18 0.6 0.4 1.3 SDDSC130 426.09 426.4 0.31 18.9 1.1 20.9 SDDSC130 426.4 426.6 0.2 13.0 0.1 13.2 SDDSC130 426.6 426.97 0.37 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC130 426.97 427.14 0.17 5.4 0.3 5.9 SDDSC130 427.14 428.05 0.91 0.7 0.1 0.9 SDDSC130 428.05 428.59 0.54 0.5 0.4 1.2 SDDSC130 428.59 428.8 0.21 2.1 0.5 3.1 SDDSC130 428.8 429.31 0.51 0.3 0.1 0.5 SDDSC130 429.31 429.65 0.34 0.5 0.1 0.8 SDDSC130 429.65 429.83 0.18 16.9 19.4 53.4 SDDSC130 429.83 430.02 0.19 10.2 1.4 12.9 SDDSC130 430.02 430.13 0.11 21.2 1.8 24.5 SDDSC130 430.13 430.51 0.38 108.0 13.2 132.8 SDDSC130 430.51 430.83 0.32 0.3 0.1 0.5 SDDSC130 430.83 431.35 0.52 0.2 0.1 0.3 SDDSC130 431.35 431.66 0.31 1.1 0.5 2.0 SDDSC130 431.66 432.31 0.65 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 432.31 433.05 0.74 0.2 0.0 0.3 SDDSC130 433.05 434 0.95 0.2 0.2 0.5 SDDSC130 434.75 435.6 0.85 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 440.63 441.23 0.6 0.6 0.1 0.8 SDDSC130 441.23 441.56 0.33 0.5 0.0 0.5 SDDSC130 446 446.21 0.21 0.2 0.1 0.3 SDDSC130 446.21 446.39 0.18 9.1 8.4 24.8 SDDSC130 446.39 446.56 0.17 17.1 0.8 18.6 SDDSC130 446.56 446.67 0.11 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 447.7 447.89 0.19 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC130 449.95 450.2 0.25 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 450.2 450.72 0.52 0.7 1.0 2.6 SDDSC130 450.72 451 0.28 1.0 0.1 1.1 SDDSC130 452.48 452.78 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 455.86 456.8 0.94 0.6 0.0 0.6 SDDSC130 457.5 458 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 458 458.4 0.4 2.3 0.1 2.4 SDDSC130 459.46 460.41 0.95 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC130 460.79 461.34 0.55 0.4 0.0 0.5 SDDSC130 461.34 462.05 0.71 1.2 0.0 1.2 SDDSC130 462.05 462.43 0.38 3.9 0.0 4.0 SDDSC130 462.43 462.9 0.47 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC130 462.9 463.41 0.51 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 477.6 478.65 1.05 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC130 478.65 479.19 0.54 0.3 0.2 0.6 SDDSC130 479.19 479.31 0.12 2.3 9.4 20.0 SDDSC130 479.31 479.98 0.67 0.1 0.1 0.3 SDDSC130 479.98 480.81 0.83 0.6 0.1 0.8 SDDSC130 480.81 480.98 0.17 17.3 5.1 26.9 SDDSC130 480.98 482 1.02 3.0 0.0 3.1 SDDSC130 482 482.83 0.83 0.2 0.1 0.3 SDDSC130 482.83 483.35 0.52 1.2 0.3 1.6 SDDSC130 484.21 484.49 0.28 6.6 22.4 48.7 SDDSC130 484.49 484.95 0.46 2.5 2.8 7.7 SDDSC130 484.95 485.63 0.68 0.6 0.1 0.7 SDDSC130 486.46 487.29 0.83 0.5 0.0 0.6 SDDSC130 487.55 488.34 0.79 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC130 494.47 494.8 0.33 2.6 0.8 4.1 SDDSC130 498.75 498.98 0.23 20.9 2.2 25.0 SDDSC130 498.98 499.63 0.65 0.6 0.4 1.3 SDDSC130 499.63 500.34 0.71 0.2 0.4 0.9 SDDSC130 500.34 500.66 0.32 0.4 0.2 0.7 SDDSC130 500.66 500.88 0.22 4.5 19.5 41.1 SDDSC130 500.88 501.18 0.3 1.8 1.3 4.2 SDDSC130 501.18 501.39 0.21 29.7 0.9 31.4 SDDSC130 501.39 501.86 0.47 2.9 2.5 7.6 SDDSC130 501.86 502.43 0.57 0.6 0.6 1.6 SDDSC130 502.43 503.14 0.71 0.6 0.5 1.6 SDDSC130 503.14 503.98 0.84 0.4 0.2 0.7 SDDSC130 503.98 504.49 0.51 0.8 0.3 1.3 SDDSC130 504.49 505.06 0.57 1.1 1.2 3.5 SDDSC130 505.06 505.26 0.2 0.5 0.1 0.7 SDDSC130 505.26 505.49 0.23 3.8 2.5 8.5 SDDSC130 505.49 506.34 0.85 1.9 1.6 5.0 SDDSC130 506.34 506.8 0.46 0.2 0.1 0.3 SDDSC130 506.8 506.96 0.16 0.2 0.7 1.4 SDDSC130 506.96 507.35 0.39 0.4 0.1 0.6 SDDSC130 507.35 507.45 0.1 2.1 0.6 3.3 SDDSC130 507.45 508.24 0.79 0.3 0.3 0.9 SDDSC130 508.24 509.34 1.1 0.4 0.1 0.5 SDDSC130 509.34 509.98 0.64 0.7 0.2 1.0 SDDSC130 509.98 510.48 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.2 SDDSC130 512.56 513.26 0.7 0.6 0.4 1.4 SDDSC130 513.26 513.54 0.28 65.2 0.4 65.9 SDDSC130 513.54 514 0.46 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 515.35 516 0.65 1.0 0.0 1.0 SDDSC130 529 529.75 0.75 0.2 0.1 0.4 SDDSC130 530.3 530.48 0.18 0.9 0.8 2.3 SDDSC130 530.48 530.89 0.41 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 530.89 531.29 0.4 1.6 0.2 1.9 SDDSC130 531.29 532.21 0.92 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC130 532.21 532.75 0.54 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC130 532.75 533.3 0.55 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 533.3 533.43 0.13 0.9 0.3 1.4 SDDSC130 533.43 533.63 0.2 0.5 0.0 0.5 SDDSC130 533.63 534.66 1.03 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC130 534.66 534.85 0.19 0.5 0.1 0.7 SDDSC130 535.43 536.3 0.87 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC130 539 539.5 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.3
SOURCE: Mawson Gold Limited
View the original press release on accesswire.com
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - September 5, 2024) - Amex Exploration Inc. (TSXV: AMX) (FSE: MX0) (OTCQX: AMXEF) ("Amex" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed a Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") on the company's flagship Perron Project in the northwestern Abitibi region of Quebec. The majority of ounces come from the Company's High-Grade Zone ("HGZ"), with important contributions from the Denise Zone ("Denise"), the Gratien Zone ("Gratien"), the Grey Cat Zone ("Grey Cat") and the Team Zone ("Team"). The drillhole database for the resource was closed on June 30, 2024, meaning recent drilling has not been included in this resource iteration at Perron. All zones on the property remain open in multiple directions for further expansion and Amex's current continuing drill program is fully funded until the conclusion of 2025.
See Figure 1 for the location of the Perron Project, Figure 2 for a plan view of mineral resources at the Perron Project, Figure 3 for a sectional view of mineral resources of the Perron Project, and Table 1 for a summary of total mineral resources, Table 2 for summary of total mineral resources by zone and Table 3 for parameters used to constrain resources at Perron.
Amex will be hosting a webinar today with Victor Cantore, CEO and Aaron Stone, VP Exploration at 1:00pm EDT to discuss the MRE in more detail. Please register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_U-LG1mKLS1mENmnRzhzdkA
MRE Highlights:
Open pit and underground stope constrained 594,100 of measured and indicated ounces at 4.28 g/t Au and 1,049,650 of inferred ounces at 3.80 g/t Au.
The MRE shows excellent continuity throughout the project with exceptional high grade throughout, specifically in the High-Grade Zone (HGZ) which alone hosts 336,170 of measured and indicated ounces at 12.05 g/t Au and 415,470 of inferred ounces at 10.49 g/t Au.
Of important significance within the HGZ is with improved confidence, comes increased grade. With regard to the HGZ under Table 2 , as drill spacing is tightened to upgrade resources from inferred to indicated to measured, the grade improves. This is rare in the gold industry and speaks to exceptional continuity of the zone.
, as drill spacing is tightened to upgrade resources from inferred to indicated to measured, the grade improves. This is rare in the gold industry and speaks to exceptional continuity of the zone. The MRE is a base case for the gold at Perron and includes drilling up to June 30, 2024. Approximately 600,000 m of accumulative fully funded drilling is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
All zones remain open at Perron, providing excellent future mineral resource expansion potential.
Metallurgical test work by SGS Canada achieved an overall gold recovery of up to 99% in the HGZ and up to 95% in the Denise, Team, Gratien and Grey Cat Zones.
Near by housing, roads, electricity and labour are expected to favourably impact the economics of the Perron project in the upcoming PEA expected later this year.
The Perron project also hosts VMS (copper-zinc) mineralization which has not been included in today's MRE nor any of the silver credits that exist in some zones of the property. The Company plans to complete the modelling requirements surrounding these additional metals in the future, which is expected to enhance the economics of the project.
Jacques Trottier, PhD, Executive Chairman of Amex Exploration, commented, "I am very proud of our progress to date. Throughout my time at Perron, I was convinced that the project hosted a significant high-grade gold resource, so it is fantastic to have realised this. In my opinion, the high-grade nature of Perron is what truly sets its apart from its peers and we have just begun to scratch the surface of the potential. The grade at Perron compares very favourably to many of the recent world class projects in Canada and elsewhere. There is significant room for this resource to grow, as much of the property is yet to be explored. New machine learning and AI techniques have generated new high priority targets for us, some of which we have begun to test with success. Given the projects quality high-grade ounces, proximity to infrastructure and workforce, we look forward to releasing our project economics in the PEA, which remains on track for Q4 of this year. It should also be noted that this resource is purely gold focused. None of the silver credits that may exist across our zones have been modelled, neither have any of our copper-zinc mineralization of the QF Zone, Central Polymetallic Zone and Donna Copper Zone. We do plan on looking at these additional metals in future work, which should be accretive to the project."
Aaron Stone, P.Geo, Vice President Exploration of Amex Exploration, continued, "This resource is an excellent starting point for Amex. Drilling never stops at Perron and we continue to work diligently on expanding and defining our known zones as well as exploring for further discoveries. Work has begun at site to better understand the mineralization and structure of the Team and Denise Zones to better guide infill drilling to increase their ounce count. Recent work in western zones such as Gratien, Grey Cat and Alizee have also yielded some very interesting high-grade results which need to be followed up on with further drilling. Since discovery of the JT Zone only a few months ago, our understanding of gold emplacement at Perron has been rapidly evolving and we are starting to see some geological similarities with the Windfall project. The mineralized felsic to intermediate dike that was found has given us a lot to think about for the genesis of all gold-bearing zones within the Beaupre Block. Studies have begun to validify this new theory, but if gold enrichment at Perron does turn out to be intrusion related, this will change our approach on how we search for another High-Grade Zone on the property. I am personally very excited by this as we continue to work closely with our strategic partners to unlock the full value that we believe is still to be discovered at Perron."
Victor Cantore, President and CEO, Director of Amex Exploration, added, "There are limited projects around the world that are this high-grade in nature, and the grade of the HGZ puts the Perron Project in line with these world class assets. As we move forward our goal is to build ounces while simultaneously advancing the project towards production through advancing economic studies and permitting."
Figure 1: Location of Perron Project, central Abitibi, 4km to the east of the Quebec-Ontario border. Perron is marked by a gold star and is directly adjacent to number 11, the historical producing Normetal VMS mine. Note the location of the Windfall Project, number 28, to the east along the same deformation corridor as the Perron Project.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2667/222229_62f9e035b4156bda_002full.jpg
Figure 2: Plan view of constrained mineral resources at Perron.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2667/222229_62f9e035b4156bda_003full.jpg
Figure 3: View looking to the north of mineral resources delineated at Perron. Note the HGZ has been defined to 1.3km vertically and remains open at depth.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2667/222229_62f9e035b4156bda_004full.jpg
Table 1: Summary of total Mineral Resources at the Perron Project
All Zones Open Pit Constrained UG stopes Total COG 0.42 Au g/t COG 1.29 Au g/t Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Measured 131,250 1.39 5,880 445,250 6.60 94,530 576,500 5.42 100,400 Indicated 706,600 1.80 40,780 3,030,580 4.65 452,920 3,737,200 4.11 493,700 Indicated+Measured 837,850 1.73 46,660 3,475,830 4.90 547,450 4,313,700 4.28 594,100 Inferred 996,500 2.01 64,420 7,597,300 4.03 985,220 8,593,800 3.80 1,049,650
Table 2: Summary of Mineral Resources at the Perron Project by zone
Open Pit Constrained UG stopes Total
COG 0.42 Au g/t COG 1.29 Au g/t HG Zone Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Measured 400 1.38 20 136,000 15.95 69,740 136,400 15.90 69,750 Indicated 13,590 1.18 515 717,800 11.52 265,900 731,400 11.33 266,410 Indicated+Measured 14,000 1.18 530 853,800 12.23 335,630 867,800 12.05 336,170 Inferred 3,330 0.56 60 1,228,060 10.52 415,410 1,231,400 10.49 415,470
Note: As ounces in the High-Grade Zone increase in confidence from inferred to indicated to measured, so does the grade. This is rare in gold deposits and displays the exceptional continuity of high-grade mineralization within this zone.
Open Pit Constrained UG stopes Total
COG 0.42 Au g/t COG 1.29 Au g/t Denise Zone Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Measured 92,800 1.11 3,310 208,550 2.46 16,520 3,013,410 2.05 19,820 Indicated 324,760 1.36 14,230 1,304,960 2.45 102,730 1,629,720 2.23 116,960 Indicated+Measured 417,560 1.31 17,540 1,513,500 2.45 119,250 1,931,060 2.20 136,780 Inferred 3,400 0.60 70 2,239,690 2.94 211,600 2,243,100 2.93 211,660
Open Pit Constrained UG stopes Total
COG 0.42 Au g/t COG 1.29 Au g/t Team Zone Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Measured 38,040 2.09 2,560 93,640 2.60 7,810 131,680 2.45 10,370 Indicated 205,450 2.34 15,470 629,150 2.44 49,420 834,600 2.42 64,880 Indicated+Measured 243,490 2.30 18,030 722,790 2.46 57,230 966,280 2.42 75,250 Inferred 273,450 2.16 18,980 1,039,890 2.73 91,320 1,313,340 2.61 110,300
Open Pit Constrained UG stopes Total
COG 0.42 Au g/t COG 1.29 Au g/t AZ Zone Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Measured
Indicated
Indicated+Measured
Inferred
19,310 1.87 1,160 19,310 1.87 1,160
Open Pit Constrained UG stopes Total
COG 0.42 Au g/t COG 1.29 Au g/t N110 Zone Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Measured
5,720 1.83 340 5,720 1.83 340 Indicated
7,500 2.40 580 7,500 2.40 580 Indicated+Measured
13,220 2.16 920 13,220 2.16 920 Inferred 240 2.48 20 87,300 2.20 6,200 87,540 2.20 6,220
Open Pit Constrained UG stopes Total
COG 0.42 Au g/t COG 1.29 Au g/t CPZ Zone Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Measured
1,340 2.81 120 1,340 2.81 120 Indicated
63,980 2.02 4,150 63,980 2.02 4,150 Indicated+Measured
65,320 2.03 4,270 65,320 2.03 4,270 Inferred
148,210 1.50 7,140 148,210 1.50 7,140
Open Pit Constrained UG stopes Total
COG 0.42 Au g/t COG 1.29 Au g/t Gratien Zone Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Measured
Indicated 22,530 2.19 1,580 127,350 3.96 16,220 149,880 3.70 17,800 Indicated+Measured 22,530 2.19 1,580 127,350 3.96 16,220 149,880 3.70 17,800 Inferred 147,330 3.59 16,990 1,361,620 3.39 148,500 1,508,950 3.41 165,500
Open Pit Constrained UG stopes Total
COG 0.42 Au g/t COG 1.29 Au g/t Grey Cat Zone Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Measured
Indicated 135,390 2.02 8,790 111,750 2.46 8,860 247,140 2.22 17,650 Indicated+Measured 135,390 2.02 8,790 111,750 2.46 8,860 247,140 2.22 17,650 Inferred 291,020 1.97 18,400 996,130 2.29 73,210 1,287,150 2.21 91,610
Open Pit Constrained UG stopes Total
COG 0.42 Au g/t COG 1.29 Au g/t UHGZ Zone Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Tonnes Au gpt Au oz.
Measured
Indicated
38,780 2.08 2,590 38,780 2.08 2,590 Indicated+Measured
38,780 2.08 2,590 38,780 2.08 2,590 Inferred
118,800 1.86 7,110 118,800 1.86 7,110
Open Pit Constrained UG stopes Total
COG 0.42 Au g/t COG 1.29 Au g/t E2 Zone Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Measured
Indicated
28,850 2.64 2,450 28,850 2.64 2,450 Indicated+Measured
28,850 2.64 2,450 28,850 2.64 2,450 Inferred
303,900 2.13 20,850 303,900 2.13 20,850
Open Pit Constrained UG stopes Total
COG 0.42 Au g/t COG 1.29 Au g/t JT Zone Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Tonnes Au gpt Au oz. Measured
- -
Indicated 4,880 1.23 190 480 1.75 30 5,360 1.28 220 Indicated+Measured 4,880 1.23 190 480 1.75 30 5,360 1.28 220 Inferred 277,700 1.11 9,900 54,370 1.57 2,740 332,080 1.18 12,640
Note: Drilling on the JT Zone has tripled in amount since the drill database was cut off for the resource calculation. The Company is confident that the JT Zone will significantly grow in size and is especially buoyed by its potential geological implications for mineralization contained throughout the entirety of the Beaupre Block at Perron.
Cautionary statement: These mineral resources are not mineral reserves as they do not have demonstrated economic viability. The quantity and grade of reported Inferred resources in this Mineral Resource Estimate are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred resources as Indicated or Measured, and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to these categories. Totals may not add up due to rounding of numbers.
Please note that the Company states this is not a Maiden Resource Estimate due to a previous resource estimate completed on the Gratien Zone in 2009 for 69,907 inferred ounces of gold (please refer to SEDAR filing submitted June 2, 2009. Report is titled Resource Estimate, Form 43-101F1 Technical Report, Project Perron, is dated May 10, 2009 and was authored by Qualified Person Jacques Marchand P. Eng).
Resource Estimation Methodology and Parameters
As part of the resource estimation process, the Company and GoldMinds compiled, verified and modelled all technical information available from the Project
Parameters used in the definition of cut-of grades, modifying factors to enable reasonable prospect of economic extraction, pit constrained and mineable shapes as per CIM 2019 Guidelines.
Table 3: Parameters used for constraining resources at Perron
Pit parameters Stope parameters
Open Pit Underground Total processing costs ($) 28.00 28.00 Mining cost (rock) ($) 5.00 75.00 Specific gravity (rock) 2.7 2.7 Pit slopes (overburden) 20
Pit slopes (rock) 45
Mining cost (overburden) 5
Specific gravity (overburden) 1.9
Au price ($USD) 1900 1900 Exchange rate ($CAD/$USD) 1.35 1.35 Au price (CAD$/g) 82.47 82.47 Recovery 95% 97% COG (g/t Au) 0.42 1.29
Perron Gold project Mineral Estimate notes:
The mineral resource estimate is compliant with CIM 2019 standards and guidelines for reporting mineral resources and reserves.
Resources are presented undiluted and in situ and are considered to have reasonable prospects for economic extraction. The resources at surface are constrained by pit optimization surfaces and the underground resources are constrained by mineable shapes.
and are considered to have reasonable prospects for economic extraction. The resources at surface are constrained by pit optimization surfaces and the underground resources are constrained by mineable shapes. The database comprised a total of 1,533 drill holes for 617,836.50 metres of drilling (which includes historical drilling completed by previous operators) in the extent of the mineral resource, of which (312,051.20 metres) 264,462 samples were assayed as of June 30th, 2024, grid spacing are variable (The Genesis file is Amex_24 Aout 2024_MR.gnft and where the database file is BD_AMEX_08 Jul 2024_MR.accdb).
All NQ core assays reported by AMEX were obtained by analytical methods described below under "QA&QC" .
. Geological interpretation of the deposits was based on lithologies, mineralized zones orientation and the mineral observations. Each zone has its own characteristic of mineral occurrence and amount of free gold.
Interpretation was initially made from cross-sections at intervals, and then completed in GENESIS, a modelling software, where selections of mineralization intervals were combined to generate mineralization wireframes. Envelopes are generally subvertical with various plunges.
The mineral resource estimate encompasses a total of 189 envelopes, sub-vertical gold-bearing envelopes/domains each defined by individual wireframes with a minimum true thickness of 2.0 metres.
Samples were composited within the mineralization envelopes into 1.0 metre length composites. A value of zero grade was applied in cases of core not assayed.
High grade capping was done on composite data and established using a statistical analysis on a per-zone basis for gold. Capping varied from 5 g/t Au to 200 g/t Au and was applied on composites within each specific envelope.
Density values were applied on the different mineralized zones (t/m3) varied from 2.67 to 2.83 from core measurement.
Inverse distance squared grade estimation is used. The trial of Ordinary Kriging (OK) was rejected due to smearing and non-effective representation of high-grade areas.
Most of the estimates are based on a block dimension of 2m North, 2m East and 2m height and estimation parameters determined by variography. The High-Grade zone has blocks of 2.5m East x 5m Z (Elevation) x 0.5m North.
The Perron mineral resource estimate is categorized as Measured, Indicated and Inferred mineral resource as follows: The Measured mineral resource category is automatic & manually defined and encloses areas where drill spacing is generally less than 30m (search radius of 15m), blocks are informed by a minimum of three drill holes, and reasonable geological and grade continuity is shown. The Indicated mineral resource category is manually defined and encloses areas where drill spacing is generally less than 60m (search radius of 30m), blocks are informed by a minimum of three drill holes, and reasonable geological and grade continuity is shown. The Inferred mineral resource category is manually defined and encloses areas where drill spacing is less than 130m (search radius of 65m), blocks are informed by a minimum of two drill holes, and reasonable, but not verified, geological and grade continuity is observed.
Estimates use metric units (metres, tonnes and g/t). Metal contents are presented in troy ounces (metric tonne x grade / 31.10348).
GoldMinds is not aware of any known environmental, permitting, legal, title-related, taxation, socio-political or marketing issues, or any other relevant issue not reported in the technical report, that could materially affect the mineral resource estimate.
Further details regarding the 2024 mineral resource estimate, key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the mineral resources of the Perron Gold Project will be available on SEDAR Plus (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Corporation's issuer profile within 45 days in accordance with NI 43-101. The resource estimate will be the basis for the ongoing PEA to be released in Q4, 2024.
Independent Qualified Persons
The Mineral Resource Estimate was prepared for Amex Exploration Inc. under the supervision of GoldMinds Geoservices Inc. ("GMG"). The Qualified Persons ("QP's") have reviewed and approved the content of this news release. Independent QP's from GMG who have prepared and supervised the preparation of the technical information relating to this Mineral Resource Estimate are:
- Merouane Rachidi, Ph.D. P.Geo.
- Claude Duplessis, Eng.
Perron Project Qualified Person and QA&QC
Jerome Augustin P.Geo. Ph.D., (OGQ 2134), an independent "qualified person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (the "Qualified Person"), has reviewed and approved the geological information reported in this news release. The drilling campaign and the quality control program have been planned and supervised by Jerome Augustin. Core logging and sampling were completed by Laurentia Exploration. The quality assurance and quality control protocols include insertion of blank or standard samples every 10 samples on average, in addition to the regular insertion of blank, duplicate, and standard samples accredited by Laboratoire Expert during the analytical process.
For all analyses targeting gold mineralization, gold values are estimated by fire assay with finish by atomic absorption. Values over 3 ppm Au are reanalyzed by fire assay with finish by gravimetry by Laboratoire Expert Inc, Rouyn-Noranda. Samples containing visible gold mineralization are analyzed by metallic sieve. For additional quality assurance and quality control, all samples were crushed to 90% less than 2 mm prior to pulverization, in order to homogenize samples which may contain coarse gold.
Furthermore, gold mineralization associated with base metals were sent to ALS Canada Ltd., Rouyn-Noranda with the same quality assurance and quality control protocol to LabExpert. Gold values are estimated by fire assay with finish by atomic absorption. Zinc, Copper and Silver values are estimated by four acid digestion multi elements Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES), ME-ICP61. Zinc values over 1%, copper values over 1% and silver values over 100 g/t are estimated by four acid digestion ICP-AES, OG62.
About Amex
Amex Exploration Inc. has made significant gold discoveries on its 100% owned high-grade Perron Gold Project located ~110 kilometres north of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, consisting of 117 contiguous claims covering 4,518 hectares. The project is well-serviced by existing infrastructure, on a year-round road, 10 minutes from an airport and just outside the town of Normetal (~8 km). In addition, the project is in close proximity to a number of major gold producers' milling operations. The project host both bulk tonnage and a high-grade gold style mineralization. Since January 2019, Amex has intersected significant gold mineralization in multiple gold zones and discovered copper-rich VMS zones.
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 statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than of historical facts, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including, without limitation, the planned exploration program on the HGZ and Denise Zone, the expected positive exploration results, the extension of the mineralized zones, the timing of the exploration results, the ability of the Company to continue with the exploration program, the availability of the required funds to continue with the exploration and the potential mineralization or potential mineral resources are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "to earn", "to have', "plan" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, failure to meet expected, estimated or planned exploration expenditures, failure to establish estimated mineral resources, the possibility that future exploration results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, general business and economic conditions, changes in world gold markets, sufficient labour and equipment being available, changes in laws and permitting requirements, unanticipated weather changes, title disputes and claims, environmental risks as well as those risks identified in the Company's annual Management's Discussion and Analysis. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described and accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements except as otherwise required by applicable law.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/222229
SOURCE: Amex Exploration Inc.
DUBAI, UAE, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Business Setup Worldwide Services FZE has recently expanded its reach and now serves across 30+ locations. It simplifies corporate services and provides entrepreneurs with unique solutions for their business needs.
This strategic move is a testament to Business Setup Worldwide's commitment of providing its clients with global reach and unparalleled support. The company has a proven track record of working with clients from over 70 countries. It offers a truly international perspective and an understanding of diverse business needs.
"Driven by our deep understanding of client requirements across various jurisdictions, we had strategically planned a 2023 expansion that we're thrilled to announce that it's now complete in 2024," says Director of Offshore Operations for Business Setup Worldwide- Avinash Raju.
With over 7 years of experience in the offshore industry, Business Setup Worldwide has successfully assisted more than 7,000 clients. Their services include company formation, intellectual property protection, company secretarial services, accounting and bookkeeping and bank account assistance in countries like Seychelles, Singapore, Hong Kong, United States of America and Belize. Along with these jurisdictions, Business Setup Worldwide is now excited to announce the expansion of its services to new locations, such as Ras Al Khaimah, Delaware, Florida, and St. Vincent and Grenadines among others.
In addition to its jurisdictional expansion, Business Setup Worldwide is pleased to announce the opening of a new office in Qatar. The new location strengthens the firm's presence in the Middle East and helps entrepreneurs enter jurisdictions that offer a high potential for growth.
Business Setup Worldwide Deepens Expertise Through Fintech Partnerships
Business Setup Worldwide is dedicated to providing its clients with the best resources. To this end, the company has partnered with over 12 leading fintech companies, such as Payoneer, AirWallex, and Mercury. These collaborations expand our service offerings and ensure our clients have access to cutting-edge solutions.
About Business Setup Worldwide
Business Setup Worldwide is a leading provider of corporate services with a growing global presence. The consulting firm is committed to helping entrepreneurs and corporations with pilot projects and expansion plans. They aim to provide exceptional customer service and innovative solutions tailored to the business needs. Their unique strategies and extensive global expertise enable businesses to adapt to market changes and improve their growth, even in competitive international markets.
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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
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WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / Leading technology search firm Ken Leiner Associates (KLA) announces the establishment of its advisory board, and names Brian Strosser as its founding member. The advisory board will provide strategic guidance and growth strategies to strengthen KLA's long-standing position as the market leader in talent acquisition for technology companies and channel partners focused on the U.S. Public Sector.
Brian Strosser, Advisory Board Founder, Ken Leiner Associates
"Brian is one of the most highly regarded professionals in the government sector of the technology industry," says KLA founder and President Ken Leiner. "He has an impeccable track record of helping companies grow and succeed, and an intimate knowledge of the public sector ecosystem, including technology vendors, VARs, distributors, FSIs and government customers. I'm honored to have Brian on board. I'm confident he'll be a great asset during this pivotal time in our industry."
With Strosser's +30-year career in leadership roles, he brings extensive industry experience and strong relationships across the technology community to KLA. He has held leadership roles with market leaders including Optiv (Optiv+ClearShark), TD Synnex (DLT Solutions), NetApp, Sun Microsystems, World Wide Technology, and GTSI Corp. He most recently served as president of ClearShark, where he led continued growth and the successful sale to Optiv in March of 2023.
"Hiring the right person has become the number one challenge for many companies," says Strosser. "I look forward to supporting Ken Leiner, Frank Munero and the entire team at KLA. I'm excited to help KLA's client companies grow. I'm also excited to continue supporting industry professionals to achieve their personal and professional goals from early career to retirement."
"With the critical importance of talent for all organizations," Strosser adds, "KLA is best positioned to help find the proper talent to drive innovation and improve productivity, ultimately enhancing the reputation, brand and competitive advantage for any technology company, solutions provider, value-added reseller or distributor focused on the U.S. Public Sector."
About Ken Leiner Associates: With the breakneck speed of advancing technology, organizations must rely more than ever on finding and hiring "A Player" top talent to stay competitive. Established in 1991, KLA's strong 30+ track record of success has earned the company its "trusted advisor" status as a leading search firm for technology companies in the U.S. Federal market. The company is headquartered in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, with team members in the mid-Atlantic region, the Northeastern seaboard, Florida, California, Colorado and Montreal, Canada. For years, KLA has consistently ranked as one of the top executive search and recruiting firms in Washington Business Journal's Book of Lists. Visit ITsearch.com for more information.
Contact Information
Ken Leiner
Founder and President
ken@itsearch.com
(301) 933-8800 x114, (240) 305-8
Related Files
About Ken Leiner Associates_KLA_Business Impact 2023
SOURCE: Ken Leiner Associates
View the original press release on newswire.com.
New vice president of clinical affairs and board of directors member will support advancement of eLym System therapy for acute decompensated heart failure
WhiteSwell, a company pioneering a new paradigm in the treatment of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), today announced the appointments of Ric Cote to its board of directors and Sergio Shkurovich as vice president of clinical affairs.
Ric Cote brings over three decades of experience in the medical device industry to the board. He is currently the CEO of Channel Medsystems, where he leads a team committed to empowering women to take control of their health. Prior to this role, he was executive vice president of global sales and business development for Conceptus, which was acquired by Bayer in 2013. Earlier in his career, he oversaw sales and marketing at Influence Medical, which was acquired by AMS in 2000.
Sergio Shkurovich joins WhiteSwell with more than 20 years of experience in clinical strategy and execution. He previously led clinical research programs for V-Wave, Medtronic and St. Jude Medical. During his career, Sergio has been intimately involved with pursuing therapies to manage heart failure, including implantable pressure sensors and interatrial shunts. At V-Wave, he led the development of the RELIEVE-HF study, a rigorous RCT evaluating the safety and efficacy of interatrial shunting. He earned his Ph.D. and an MBA from Northwestern University.
"We are thrilled to welcome Ric Cote and Sergio Shkurovich to our team. They bring a wealth of experience and visionary leadership to WhiteSwell," said Eamon Brady, WhiteSwell CEO. "Sergio's deep clinical knowledge and strategic vision, paired with Ric's extensive industry expertise, will significantly strengthen our leadership team and our capabilities as we develop our therapy to enhance tissue decongestion by supporting the lymphatics in order to improve outcomes for patients with ADHF."
About WhiteSwell
WhiteSwell is a patient-focused company dedicated to improving treatment of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), a primary cause of repeat hospitalization and emergency room visits. A privately held company, WhiteSwell is headquartered in Galway, Ireland. For more information visit www.whiteswell.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240905204666/en/
Contacts:
Dunia Cristan
dunia@healthandcommerce.com
MONTREAL, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- After years of development, Virtual Artifacts Inc. (VA) is thrilled to announce the public release of its innovative digital platform, Hibe.
Hibe stands out by seamlessly combining search, content discovery and social interaction. The Hibe platform offers a similar experience to top news aggregators and social media platforms, empowering users to explore, share, and engage with stories from verified traditional media and citizen journalists. Through a unique point-earning system, Hibe ensures that everyone, regardless of financial means, can freely access high-quality premium content.
"We envision to make Hibe a place where traditional media, alongside citizen journalists, contribute to public information with clear accountability.," explained Jean Dobey, CEO at VA. "We are committed to fostering a culture of free and responsible expression to provide diverse perspectives on current events and enrich public debate. "
The Hibe platform already hosts millions of news stories from over 20,000 verified sources across 120 countries. Hibe's search engine real-time indexing capabilities ensure that content is added as soon as it's published, providing users with access to the latest news in 47 languages and more than 360 categories.
" Our journey started a decade ago, marked by numerous tests, culminating in the final beta release of the Hibe platform last year. Throughout the beta phases, we have gathered invaluable feedback from users and industry stakeholders, allowing us to refine our offering to address the complex demands of today's digital landscape.," said Mr. Dobey. " We are happy to begin a new chapter in this endeavor and excited to present our fully refined platform to the public. "
As a compelling alternative to dominant social media platforms that have absorbed traditional media audiences, content and ad revenues, Hibe empowers publishers of all sizes to reclaim their earned audiences across social media. Hibe also allows publishers to regain control over their content distribution and to maximize revenue through a beneficial sharing program that supports ad-based and paid subscription models. In today's landscape of misinformation, the Hibe platform offers publishers and advertisers the opportunity to join a trusted ecosystem that guarantees brand safety.
In parallel with the public release of Hibe, VA is rolling out a campaign inviting publishers and their audiences to visit www.hibe.com for a new experience of content distribution and consumption online.
For media inquiries or to schedule an interview, please contact info@virtualartifacts.com
About Virtual Artifacts Inc.
Based in Montreal (Quebec), Virtual Artifacts builds unique and innovative privacy protection, identity management and systems interoperability technologies to tackle the challenges faced by consumers and businesses in today's digital age. VA is guided by the beliefs that technologies should be aligned with people's choices and values, be used to bring communities closer together and make societies more open, while helping businesses grow and compete fairly. In its mission of giving people the power to connect and interact on their own terms, VA provides pioneering technology tools that ensure a right balance between businesses and consumers' interests.
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- EARTHDAY.ORG (EDO), the global organizer of Earth Day, observed annually on April 22, announces the global theme for Earth Day 2025: Our Power, Our Planet.
2025 marks the 55th anniversary of EARTH DAY, and to honor this milestone, we are inviting our one billion supporters in 192 countries to unite behind renewable energy, with the goal of tripling the global generation of clean electricity by 2030. We urge everyone to explore smart energy choices for their families and to advocate for an expedited and rapid deployment of renewables from local and national governments, industries, and businesses.
Renewable energy comes from replenishable sources, like the sun, which do not produce greenhouse gasses and therefore do not drive climate change. It is energy that ends our reliance on fossil fuels and the damage they cause to both our environment and human health.
"For years we have been fed the lie that only fossil fuels can power the planet, that is not true," said Denis Hayes, the organizer of the very first Earth Day, and Board Chair Emeritus of EARTHDAY.ORG. "By the 2030s , the largest source of electricity generation on the planet will be solar power."
Renewable energy represented 25% of the electricity generated in the United States alone in the first 6 months of 2023, with some researchers predicting that within ten years, renewable energy could account for 90% of US energy needs. We have the technology to meet our global energy needs with clean, affordable, renewable power from solar, wind, geothermal, tidal and hydro resources - all of which can be stored using batteries and fuel cells.
Forty-nine nations already generate more than half of their electricity from solar, wind, water, and geothermal resources, including Canada, Switzerland, Austria, New Zealand, Brazil, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Iceland obtains a full 99.99 percent of its electricity from renewable sources.
By 2035 energy needs in countries such as the US can be met by renewable sources, 365 days a year , which is why we are calling for renewable energy generation, globally, to be tripled by 2030.
"We need people power to support the big switch to renewable energy," said Kathleen Rogers, President of EDO. "We encourage everyone to talk to your local mayor, boss, neighbors, community leaders, and local and national legislators, to explore and to champion switching to renewables."
Grassroots power has always driven positive change - from the civil rights movement to advances in gender equality and Indigenous rights. The 20 million people who marched on Earth Day in 1970 sparked the modern environmental movement, leading to cleaner air, water, and wildlife protections. In 2024, EARTHDAY.ORG's campaign for a reduction in global plastic production helped to win U.S. government support.
"Switching to renewables also represents a humanitarian revolution - for the first time in human history, we have a path to provide virtually unlimited, low-cost energy for everyone," said Aidan Charron, Associate Director, Global Earth Day. "Improving the lives of billions of people around the world."
3.8 billion people do not reach the Modern Energy Minimum (MEM), meaning their per capita electricity usage is under 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh), which is the threshold for mitigating poverty. Renewable energy can transform this situation, improving living standards and enhancing health outcomes. For example, cutting greenhouse gas emissions slashes the health risks associated with climate change, such as heatwaves, floods, and the spread of infectious diseases. Reduced air pollution decreases respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, including asthma and strokes.
Renewable energy is not only cleaner and healthier - it represents a huge economic opportunity and will create 14 million new jobs globally. In 2023 renewable energy, worldwide, was worth $1.21 trillion and is projected to grow 17.2% annually from 2024 to 2030.
"This presents an enormous opportunity for entrepreneurs, industries, and those seeking well-paying careers." said Tom Cosgrove, Chief Creative and Content Officer, EDO. "We acknowledge that our enthusiasm for clean energy faces challenges from well-funded misinformation campaigns - but by championing renewable energy in 2025, we can meet that challenge head on."
"Change can be daunting, but we must move away from our dependence on fossil fuels and embrace a sustainable future," said Kathleen Rogers, President of EARTHDAY.ORG. "Join us in making 2025, EARTHDAY.ORG's 55th anniversary, the year of Our Power, Our Planet."
MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE: OUR POWER, OUR PLANET HERE
RENEWABLE ENERGY BRIEFING DOCUMENT HERE
About EARTHDAY.ORG: EARTHDAY.ORG 's founders created and organized the very first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. Since then, EARTHDAY.ORG has mobilized over one billion people annually on Earth Day, and every day, to protect the planet. Each year we set the theme for Earth Day globally, with over one billion supporters observing Earth Day in 192 countries. EARTHDAY.ORG's mission is to diversify, educate, and activate the environmental community worldwide.
Media inquiries, quotes, bios/headshots, interview requests to our press team:
Sarah Davies, davies@earthday.org , +1 240 463 1341 (Washington DC)
Terran Fielder, fielder@earthday.org , +1 661 444 4436 (Washington DC/California)
Please feel free to use, repost and share our resources from our website EARTHDAY.ORG . Please just credit EARTHDAY.ORG as it helps us continue to spread our message and grow the movement.
If you are interested in working with us on organizing Earth Day events and building partnerships, please reach out to Aidan Charron, our Associate Global Director, Earth Day, at charron@earthday.org.
If you are interested in supporting our 55th Anniversary initiatives, please reach out to our Development Team at sponsorship@earthday.org. We look forward to working with you.
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Leading SAP Gold Partner in Benelux relies on xSuite for accounts payable invoice processing and archiving from the cloud with a focus on SAP S/4HANA (cloud) transformation
Flexso (turnover >80 million) headquartered in Kontich/Belgium is xSuite's new partner in Benelux. An agreement to this effect was signed at the end of June 2024. The SAP Gold Partner and strategic end-to-end SAP implementation partner employs over 500 SAP consultants, operates in over 50 countries and has offices in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Austria.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240905254970/en/
Tony Cheung, Global Vice President Enterprise Accounts Strategic Alliances, xSuite Group, Raf Alexander, Managing Partner, Flexso, Hans Willems, Managing Director, xSuite Benelux, Marjolein Callant, Relationship Management, Flexso (from left). Credits: xSuite/Flexso
Flexso and xSuite have already delivered multiple joint SAP customer projects. Now this strategic collaboration has been expanded significantly. In the area of incoming invoice processing and electronic archiving in SAP, Flexso will be recommending xSuite's cloud technologies and will distribute, implement and support the manufacturer's solutions.
New e-invoicing obligations will also apply in Belgium as of 1 January 2026. The new xSuite eDNA (electronic Document Network Adapter) cloud solution is a new e-invoicing platform that serves as a reliable gateway to the world of e-invoicing across national borders. It accepts a wide variety of e-invoice formats and converts them into an easy-to-process, standardized format. In a later version, it will also be able to create electronic invoices for dispatch.
Raf Alexander, Managing Partner of Flexso: "Through this partnership, we can offer our customers a high-quality solution for incoming invoices. The functionalities, user-friendliness of the platform, and the expertise of xSuite provide real added value for our customers. It's a future-proof solution, fully ready for customers in their transition to S/4HANA and the SAP Cloud."
Hans Willems, Managing Director, xSuite Benelux: "Like us, Flexso specializes in accounts payable processes, with a particular focus on SAP S/4HANA. They, too, develop on the SAP Business Technology Platform and offer support and managed services for their customers. This skill set makes Flexso the ideal partner to help us consistently strengthen our presence on the Benelux market and beyond."
"For over 20 years, Flexso has been a strategic partner to SAP customers in the Benelux and more than 50 other countries and has been supporting them in their roadmap for innovation, creating modern ways of working with SAP," adds Andreas Nowottka, Managing Director at xSuite Group. "This exceptional approach perfectly aligns with xSuite's solution portfolio. We look forward to working together in the future and appreciate the opportunity to share our expertise to help companies make their financial processes more efficient."
About Flexso
Since 2004, Flexso has been helping organizations to 'run simple' by implementing smart, powerful SAP solutions for a wide range of business lines. The company is passionate about innovation, driven by results, and strongly believes in the power of people. By combining the best solutions and the best people, they make SAP solutions even greater. That's why they have achieved steady growth year after year. Today, Flexso employs over 500 dedicated SAP consultants.
About xSuite
With offices in Europe, Asia, and the U.S., experience across industries and multiple SAP solutions to boot, xSuite is a top innovator in optimizing SAP-based P2P workflows, providing software and implementing solutions for over 1,300 clients. The company has become a trusted partner in modernizing AP systems and automating manual, paper-based processes.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240905254970/en/
Contacts:
xSuite Benelux:
Hans Willems
Managing Director
xSuite Benelux BV
Tel +31 (43) 760 01-20
info.benelux@xsuite.com
www.xsuite.com
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Vaccine donations from the European Commission, the U.S. government and Bavarian Nordic are now entering the DRC, the epicenter of the mpox outbreak
More than 250,000 doses to arrive over the next week, marking a crucial turning point in the combat against mpox in Africa
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, September 5, 2024 - Bavarian Nordic A/S (OMX: BAVA) announced today that the first doses of its mpox vaccine, MVA-BN, also known as JYNNEOS, has arrived today in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Additional shipments to the DRC are planned within the next week adding to a total of more than 250,000 vaccines donated by the European Commission's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), the U.S. government and Bavarian Nordic.
The vaccines delivered today represent the first mpox vaccines for the DRC, marking a turning point in the joint efforts by Africa CDC and the international community to combat the outbreak and bring life-saving vaccines to the people who need it the most. While broader deployment of the vaccine in Africa is pending an emergency use listing with the World Health Organization (WHO), the DRC health authorities have already issued a national emergency use authorization for MVA-BN, allowing for immediate deployment.
As epicenter of the African mpox outbreak, the DRC remains the worst affected country with more than 94% of the 24,000 reported cases and nearly 99% of the 600+ reported deaths year-to-date across the African continent. While disease surveillance and control are continuously improving, case numbers are underreported1, thus presenting a significant challenge for the local healthcare system.
Paul Chaplin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bavarian Nordic, said: "Mpox cases are increasing at an alarming rate in the DRC, putting even more pressure on a highly burdened healthcare system, where aid is desperately needed. The Africa CDC has called for the international community to step up and mobilize the resources needed to combat the outbreak, and we are proudly responding to this call together with our partners in the European Commission's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority and the U.S. government, who have demonstrated strong leadership and determination during this serious health crisis. Time is of the essence, and we are pleased that the way has now been paved for our mpox vaccines to reach the people in the DRC who are most in need. We will continue our collaborative efforts with both international partners and local authorities to further broaden access to our vaccine in the region."
About the mpox vaccine
MVA-BN or Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic is the only non-replicating mpox vaccine approved in the U.S., Switzerland and Singapore (marketed as JYNNEOS), Canada (marketed as IMVAMUNE), and the EU/EAA and United Kingdom (marketed as IMVANEX). Originally developed as a smallpox vaccine in collaboration with the U.S. government to ensure the supply of a smallpox vaccine for the entire population, including immunocompromised individuals who are not recommended vaccination with traditional replicating smallpox vaccines, MVA-BN has been indicated for use in the general adult population in individuals considered at risk for smallpox or mpox infection.
Supported by data from a clinical study, conducted by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bavarian Nordic has recently filed a submission to the European Medicines Agency to extend the approval to adolescents 12-17 years of age and is also working with partners, including the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the vaccine in children 2-12 years of age.
Bavarian Nordic has been a long-term supplier of the vaccine to national stockpiles, and during the 2022-2023 mpox outbreak, the Company supported governments and supranational organizations by expanding access to the vaccine to more than 70 countries worldwide.
About Bavarian Nordic
Bavarian Nordic is a fully integrated vaccine company with a mission to protect and save lives through innovative vaccines. We are a global leader in smallpox and mpox vaccines, supplied to governments to enhance public health preparedness, and have a strong portfolio of vaccines for travelers and endemic diseases. For more information visit www.bavarian-nordic.com .
Forward-looking statements
This announcement includes forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning our plans, objectives, goals, future events, performance, and/or other information that is not historical information. All such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and any other cautionary statements which may accompany the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances after the date made, except as required by law.
Contacts
Europe: Rolf Sass Srensen, Vice President Investor Relations, rss@bavarian-nordic.com , Tel: +45 61 77 47 43
US: Graham Morrell, Paddock Circle Advisors, graham@paddockcircle.com , Tel: +1 781 686 9600
1 https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2024-DON528
Attachment
81% of survey respondents say they prefer to use an online portal for routine tasks.
A third of survey respondents say that online portals are equal to reputation as the most important attribute when choosing a carrier.
Almost 60% say they would switch carriers to get an automated service that would tell them exactly where their claim is in their process.
Sacramento, California--(Newsfile Corp. - September 5, 2024) - insured.io, provider of a modern omnichannel customer engagement platform, today released consumer survey results revealing that the quality of a portal/mobile app is a significant factor when choosing a new insurance carrier, equal in importance to their brand and reputation. The portal/app experience is twice as important to consumers under 45 than those over 45.
With the strong trend towards selling and servicing insurance policies through online portals and mobile apps, especially among Millennials and Gen Z, understanding consumer expectations for user experience is critically important for carriers to stay competitive.
The independent research commissioned by insured.io, surveyed over 500 US insurance consumers to understand the importance of digital channels in carrier selection decisions and usage preferences. While price and coverage options are the two most important considerations for selecting an insurance carrier, the third most important factor is tied between brand/reputation and online portal/mobile app experience, as mentioned by over a third of respondents.
Portals and Mobile Apps are Preferred for All Routine Tasks
Further, across all age groups, there is a strong preference for handling all insurance-related activities online: 81 percent prefer to use portals or mobile apps for routine tasks; 74 percent for policy renewals, 55 percent for purchasing new insurance, and even for more complicated tasks, 50 percent prefer it for submitting claims.
"Insurance consumer expectations for online experiences are higher than ever, especially among Millennials and Gen Z. Our research found that seamless online experiences are twice as important to these generations as compared to older insurance consumers. Younger consumers are increasingly dominating the insurance market, which means carriers must provide a modern digital experience to win and retain these customers," said Steve Johnson, CEO of insured.io.
Improvements are Still Needed
The data shows that carriers still need to improve their customer experience. Fifty-six percent (56%) said their carrier's portal is "pretty good," while only 17 percent said their current carrier's website is "excellent."
"Over the last four years, the main focus for P&C insurance carriers has been improving customer experience to boost acquisition and retention. This research from insured.io shows that some progress has been made. However, there is still a considerable amount of work to be done to meet rising customer expectations," said Sarah Haylock, Head of Operations at Bluefire Insurance.
Reducing Friction Around Claims is Paramount
With more than half of respondents citing difficulty with claims, survey respondents were then asked, "If an insurance company had an automated service that would tell you exactly where your claim is in their process and when it would be paid, how likely would you either switch companies or purchase a new policy from this company?"
Fifty-nine percent indicated they would be more likely to switch insurance companies for this feature. This finding highlights the strong demand by insurance customers for real-time updates and more frequent communication from their carriers on claim processing. Much like airlines and package delivery services provide real-time tracking, consumers now expect this level of service from their carrier.
What do insurance consumers really want from carriers? Download insured.io's new report.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10041/221456_1cc1113dc4ef09ad_002full.jpg
Download a Copy of the Study
The full survey findings are available in a new report, "Navigating the Digital Shift: 2024 User Experience Survey," which can be downloaded from insured.io here.
About insured.io
Founded by insurance industry veterans with decades of experience on the P&C carrier and MGA side of the business, insured.io accelerates digital transformation for insurance organizations with a 360-degree suite of SaaS solutions built on a modern, cloud-based platform. The insured.io Customer Engagement Platform integrates seamlessly with multiple core administration systems. It includes interactive voice response (IVR), policyholder and agent portals, direct-to-consumer sales, recurring payments, first notice of loss (FNOL), and robust analytics. For more information and to schedule a demo of insured.io, please visit us at https://insured.io, email us at get@insured.io, or call us at (888) 470-0637.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/221456
SOURCE: insured.iO
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 5, 2024) - Crestview Exploration Inc. (CSE: CRS) (FSE: CE7) ("Crestview" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that Dr. Craig J. Mach has joined the company as Vice President of Exploration.
Craig is a very knowledgeable and seasoned geologist with over 35 years of experience in the western US exploring for precious and base metals. He has worked with several major gold mining and exploration companies including Barrick Gold Exploration, Newmont Exploration, and Kinross Gold, and junior mining companies including Queenstake Resources, Victoria Resources, Gold Standard Ventures, and Ares Strategic Mining. His work has focused mainly on generative and early-stage exploration projects. He has also been involved with teams that have made significant gold and silver discoveries in Nevada. Craig has a PhD in Economic Geology from the University of Nevada, Reno, and is a Certified Professional Geologist (12013) with the American Institute of Professional Geologists.
Crestview Exploration Inc's CEO, Chris Wensley, stated, "Craig possesses highly relevant experience, depth of knowledge and skill sets that fit exceedingly well with our exploration plans and aspirations for our outstanding package of prolific properties located in the Tuscarora Mountains, north west of Elko as well as our Cimarron project in the Walker Trend near Tonopah, Nevada. We are very pleased and excited about Craig's addition to our team."
Justin Lowe is stepping down as Vice President of Exploration. The Company would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Lowe and express our appreciation for his 3 years of dedicated and diligent service. We are delighted to have Justin remain as a consulting geologist, continuing to advise and assist when needed and appropriate.
Dr. Mach states, "I am very pleased to join Crestview Exploration. They have a strong management team and excellent properties at Tuscarora and Cimarron. The properties have great potential for successful exploration and discovery."
The Company also announces that it has granted a total of 100,000 stock options in respect of this appointment. The incentive stock options granted will vest quarterly over a period of 12 months, are valid for 5 years from the date of the issuance and are exercisable to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $ 0.10 per common share.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors,
"Chris Wensley"
Chris Wensley, CEO
About Crestview Exploration Inc:
Crestview Exploration is an experienced exploration company focused on the exploration and development of its portfolio of gold and silver properties located in prolific mining districts of Nevada.
The Tuscarora Complex includes the Rock Creek, Dry Creek, and Falcon claim blocks for a total of 239 claims. The Rock Creek gold project is Crestview's flagship asset, with 72 unpatented lode mining claims wholly owned and controlled by Crestview. The Rock Creek property was acquired in 2017, and the company went public in 2019. Emboldened by the results coming out of Rock Creek, Crestview strategically expanded on the land position with claim staking at Dry Creek (43 claims), and later (September, 2022) with the acquisition of the Falcon silver-gold prospect (124 claims). These three claim blocks are all within close proximity and are targeting similar mineralization and likely the same underlying hydrothermal system. The Tuscarora Complex is situated in a region with proven "world class" gold deposits (including Midas, Jerritt Canyon, Betze-Post, Meikle, and Gold Quarry), where the potential of finding large, high-grade gold-silver deposits is favorable.
The Cimarron project is located in the San Antonio Mountains of Nye County, Nevada, and is comprised of 31 unpatented lode mining claims, including control of 6 historically producing claims associated with the historic San Antonio mine. The property is located in the prolific Walker-Lane trend, approximately 44 kms south of the "world class" Round Mountain deposit.
Forward-Looking Information
This news release includes certain information that may be deemed "forward-looking information" under applicable securities laws. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address acquisition of the Property and future work thereon, mineral resource and reserve potential, exploration activities and events or developments that the Company expects is forward-looking information. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the statements. There are certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking information. These include the results of the Company's due diligence investigations, market prices, exploration successes, continued availability of capital financing, and general economic, market or business conditions, and those additionally described in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities authorities.
Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For more information on the Company, investors are encouraged to review the Company's public filings at www.sedar.com. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward- looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.
NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAS REVIEWED OR 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/222223
SOURCE: Crestview Exploration Inc.
Highlights:
New Shear Zone Discovery - newly identified sulfide-bearing shear zone exposed over 17 metres x 2 metres ("m"), with geological similarities to K92's Arakompa lode gold-copper-silver vein, situated just 4 kilometers ("km") away along strike;
High-Grade Gold-Carbonate Base-Metal Vein Extension - a 30 centimetre ("cm") wide structure hosting quartz-carbonate veins and breccias, which returned 2.28 grams per tonne ("g/t") Au in a rock sample from 2022 sampling, has been exposed 24 m upstream from the original sample site;
New Surface Samples Sent for Assay - 169 soil samples and 68 rock chip samples collected and sent for assay; and
Drill Target Identification and Regional Exploration - results of the Program will be used to assess possible drill targets and additional regional exploration programs being considered.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / South Pacific Metals Corp. (TSXV:SPMC)(FSE:6J00) ("SPMC" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the successful completion of the Irinke Prospect exploration program at its Anga Gold-Copper Project, situated just 4 km northeast along strike of K92 Mining's Arakompa lode-gold vein system and ongoing drilling.
"The Irinke exploration program successfully identified significant structural features that could host gold and/or base-metal rich mineralization, similar to that which exists on K92's adjacent property," commented Cathy Fitzgerald, President and Chief Geologist. "The ongoing drilling at the Arakompa vein is returning excellent intercepts, such as 94.40 m @ 3.06 g/t Au. There are indications that similar vein systems extend onto the Anga property, which is an exciting opportunity. Specifically, a broad shear zone discovery with geological similarities and comparable orientation to Arakompa has the team's interest. Assays are now pending, and we are looking forward to the forthcoming results."
Figure 1: Map illustrating the focus area of the Irinke Prospect exploration program and newly identified shear zone in relation to large footprint gold in soils and other prospects at the Anga Project.
Irinke Prospect Exploration Program Results
A comprehensive grid soil and rock outcrop sampling program, along with structural/geological mapping, was completed in August 2024 to better understand the geological and structural setting of previously identified gold mineralization, (see news release dated July 25, 2024, and December 15, 2022), notably, a high-grade gold-carbonate base-metal vein was sampled that returned 2.28 g/t Au, 9.4 g/t Ag, 418 ppm Pb and 1,254 ppm Zn. Further, the new program aimed to expand the 4 km x 3 km mineralized Au-Cu footprint in soils defined by previous work. This anomalous footprint hosts multiple porphyry and vein-style prospects and suggests that a buried porphyry system is a viable target at Anga. An area of 3.5 km2 was mapped and 169 soil and 68 rock chip samples of outcrop were collected (see Figure 1).
The Program was successful in identifying and mapping a large North-South striking shear zone, exposed over more than 17 m along strike and 2 m in width (see Figure 2). This zone shows similar geological similarities to Arakompa, including similar host rock (diorite) and intense alteration (quartz-sericite-pyrite with chlorite-clay), with sulfides (pyrite and minor chalcopyrite). The Arakompa vein is interpreted to be an intrusive related gold-copper-silver epithermal vein system (see K92 Mining news release dated June 10, 2024).
Figure 2: Newly identified Irinke Prospect Shear Zone exposed for mapping and sampling. Similarly styled host rock, alteration and sulfide mineralization as K92's Arakompa lode-gold vein, currently being drilled. Strong phyllic (sericite, quartz, pyrite) altered brecciated diorite exposed over 17 m length, 2 m width.
Additionally, a 30 cm quartz-carbonate vein breccia that returned 2.28 g/t Au in 2022 sampling (see news release dated December 15, 2022) has been extended 24 m upstream from the original sample site (see Figure 3).
Altogether, a total of 169 soil samples and 68 rock chip samples were collected and have been sent to Intertek Laboratory, in Lae, Papua New Guineafor assay. While assay results are pending, all Project data is being evaluated with a better understanding of regional mineralization styles to consider additional regional exploration work programs, including the review of more than 15 porphyry targets identified from historical work in the region by Barrick Gold.
Figure 3: 30 cm wide quartz-carbonate vein breccia that returned 2.28 g/t Au in 2022, now extended 24 m to the NNE from original sample site.
Geology and Mineralization at the Anga Project
The western portion of Anga Project is along strike of projections of two significant mineralized gold vein systems, Maniape and Arakompa, located 2 km to 4 km to the SW. These, along with veins currently being mined by K92, have been interpreted to be associated with mineralized porphyry sources. Highly conductive ('apparent conductivity') airborne geophysical anomalies are spatially associated with these large gold-copper mineralized vein systems. The strong NE trending conductivity anomalies coincident with K92's deposits trend towards the SW corner of Anga, possibly indicating underlying sulphide-rich ore bodies. In this same region at Anga, gold hosted in carbonate base-metal veins have been identified. SPMC had carried out an airborne Mobile Magnetotelluric (Mobile MT) geophysical survey in early 2022, in cooperation with other operators in the area, the results of which show NE-SW striking highly conductive zones of comparable size and orientation to mineralized structures at K92's deposits (refer news release, under Kainantu Resources Ltd, dated March 10, 2022).
Previous surface sampling and mapping work completed in 2021-2022 at Anga (under previous management as Kainantu Resources Ltd.) indicates that the Project hosts similar geology (basement phyllites and diorites intruded by mineralized Miocene porphyries), surface geochemical soil metal signatures (Au-Te-Bi and Cu-Au-Mo-Hg), structurally controlled highly-conductive geophysical anomalies and structural features as that associated with mineralized gold veins and porphyry copper deposits at K92.
About the Anga Gold-Copper Project
The Anga Gold-Copper Project comprises 461 km of 100%-owned exploration licenses in the highly gold-copper mineralized Kainantu Gold District. The project is located immediately northeast of, and adjacent to, K92's Kainantu Gold Mine Project and its southwestern project boundary is only 3 km from where K92 is currently drilling on the Arakompa lode-gold vein system, where wide and multiple high-grade gold zones have been intercepted. Access to the Anga Project is via the Ramu-Markham highway to the northeast.
Across the broader 60 km by 40 km sized Kainantu Gold District there are multiple gold and copper occurrences, prospects, and targets. Mineralization is interpreted to be associated with mid to late-Miocene intrusive rock, the NNE oriented Kainantu Transfer Structural Zone and NNW oriented arc-parallel structures, all of which are present at Anga. Since 2020, the Company has been actively engaged with local communities on the Project to ensure consent is gained and maintained to undertake field work programs.
Investor Relations Contract with Zinger Ventures Inc.
The Company has entered into a consulting agreement (the "Consulting Agreement") with Zinger Ventures Inc. (the "Consultant"), based in Vancouver, British Columbia, pursuant to which the Consultant will provide the Company with investor relations services (the "Services"). The Consulting Agreement was entered into on September 4, 2024, and has a term of 3 months, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the Consulting Agreement that may be extended for ensuing one month terms by agreement in writing between the Consultant and the Company.
The Services provided by the Consultant will include, but not be limited to, consulting with the Company's management concerning marketing and investor relations services, building relationships with the Company's investors, and attending conferences while representing the Company.
As consideration for the provision of the Services and in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Consulting Agreement, the Company will (i) pay the Consultant a monthly fee of $6,000 plus GST, (ii) grant the Consultant 150,000 stock options (the "Options") at an exercise price of $0.60 per share, and (iii) reimburse the Consultant for pre-approved out of pocket expenses actually and properly incurred by the Consultant in connection with the Services. The Options will vest in stages over a 12-month period with 50,000 Options vesting immediately following the grant date (September 4, 2024), and the remainder of the Options will vest after 6 and then 12 months.
The Consultant and its principal, Dustin Zinger, are arm's length from the Company and do not hold common shares of the Company. The Company's engagement of the Consultant and the issuance of the Options are subject to the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical information disclosed in this release has been reviewed and approved by Darren Holden, Ph.D., FAusIMM, a "Qualified Person" as defined under the Canadian Institute of Mining National Instrument 43-101, 2014 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Dr. Holden is a Technical Advisor to the Company.
About South Pacific Metals Corp.
South Pacific Metals Corp. is an emerging gold-copper exploration company operating in the heart of Papua New Guinea's proven gold and copper production corridors. With an expansive 3,000 km land package and four transformative gold-copper projects contiguous with major producers K92 Mining, PanAust and neighbouring Barrick Gold, new leadership and experienced in-country teams are prioritizing thoughtful and rigorous technical programs focused on boots-on-the-ground exploration to prioritize discovery across its portfolio projects: Anga, Osena, Kili Teke and May River.
Immediately flanking K92's active drilling and gold producing operations to the northeast and southwest, SPMC's Anga and Osena Projects are located within the high-grade Kainantu Gold District - each having the potential to host similar-style lode-gold and porphyry copper-gold mineralization as that present within K92's tenements. Kili Teke is an advanced exploration project situated only 40 km from the world-class Porgera Gold Mine and hosts an existing Inferred Mineral Resource with multiple opportunities for expansion and further discovery. The May River Project is located adjacent to the world-renowned Frieda River copper-gold project, with historical drilling indicating potential for a significant, untapped-gold mineralized system. SPMC common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX.V: SPMC) and Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE: 6J00).
For further information please contact:
Michael Murphy, Executive Chairman and CEO
South Pacific Metals Corp.
Tel: +1 604-428-6128
Email: info@southpacificmetals.ca
Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Information
Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainty affecting the business of SPMC. In making the forward-looking statements, SPMC has applied certain assumptions that are based on information available to the Company, including SPMC's strategic plan for the near and mid-term. There is no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements may involve various risks and uncertainty affecting the business of the Company. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such because of the context of the statements, including such words as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "plans", "may", "estimates", or words of a similar nature. Forward-looking statements or information in this news release relate to, among other things: formulation of plans for drill testing; and the success related to any future exploration or development programs. These forward-looking statements and information reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic, regulatory or other unforeseen uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include, without limitation: success of the Company's projects, prices for metals remaining as estimated, currency exchange rates remaining as estimated, availability of funds for the Company's projects, capital, decommissioning and reclamation estimates, prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation), no labour-related disruptions, no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled construction and production, all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals are received in a timely manner, and the ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company cautions the reader that forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Such factors include, without limitation: fluctuations in gold prices, fluctuations in prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation), fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar), operational risks and hazards inherent with the business of mineral exploration, inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks and hazards, the Company's ability to obtain all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in a timely manner, changes in laws, regulations and government practices, including environmental, export and import laws and regulations, legal restrictions relating to mineral exploration, increased competition in the mining industry for equipment and qualified personnel, the availability of additional capital, title matters and the additional risks identified in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ (available at www.sedarplus.ca). Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described, or intended. Investors are cautioned against undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Company's property.
SOURCE: South Pacific Metals Corp.
View the original press release on accesswire.com
The Prolocor pFCG test measures the expression of a specific protein on the platelet surface which this study demonstrates is a reliable prognostic tool to help assess the risk of thrombosis (a key cause of heart attack & stroke) and inform clinical decision making.
This novel test is performed on fixed platelets and uses TruCytes cell mimics (produced by Slingshot Biosciences) as an internal control to improve precision, accuracy, and linear range.
This publication demonstrates that Prolocor pFCG is accurate and precise.
PHILADELPHIA, PA and EMERYVILLE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / Prolocor, Inc., a healthcare startup developing an innovative precision diagnostic test with the potential to predict the risk of thrombosis by quantifying FcyRIIa (Prolocor pFCG test), and Slingshot Biosciences, a biotechnology company building the world's first on-demand cell mimic platform for replacing reference cells, announced today the publication in Bioanalysis of the results from our analytic validation testing titled: Assessing Prognosis by Quantifying FcyRIIa on Fixed Platelets.
Prolocor Logo
"Prolocor is excited to advance this new prognostic tool to guide clinical decision making. The results of our validation studies show this innovative test demonstrates outstanding intra (2%) and inter (10%) test variation, well below the current FDA guidance (25%)," said Dr. David Schneider Prolocor co-founder and Chief Science Officer. "We want to thank our partners at Slingshot Biosciences for developing the novel TruCytesTM cell mimics that are central to the test and pivotal to demonstrating the accuracy and power of this test."
"Congratulations to Dr. Schneider and his team for their exceptional work advancing this important prognostic tool. We are thrilled that Prolocor's use of Slingshot Biosciences' TruCytes cell mimics enabled precise and accurate results that outperformed biological controls," said Dr. Jeffrey Kim, founder and CEO of Slingshot Biosciences. "This study highlights the power of our cell mimic platform in driving next-generation tests that could enhance patient care."
"Clinicians need better tools to guide decision making on the choice of antiplatelet therapy in coronary artery disease patients, particularly after coronary stenting. The Prolocor pFCG test will be an important asset as we tailor antiplatelet therapies to balance thrombotic and bleeding risk," said Dominick J. Angiolillo, MD, PhD, FACC, FESC, FSCAI, Professor of Medicine, Chief, Division of Cardiology, Director, Thrombosis Research Center, University of Florida, College of Medicine-Jacksonville.
About Prolocor, Inc.
Founded by a team that deeply understands thrombosis and cardiovascular disease, Prolocor is building its strategy around platelet FcyRIIa and embarking on a journey to commercialize an innovative precision diagnostic test that quantifies FcyRIIa on the surface of platelets. For more information on Prolocor, please visit the company's website at www.prolocor.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
About Slingshot Biosciences
Slingshot Biosciences develops synthetic cells for a range of applications in diagnostics and therapeutics. Slingshot leverages advances in distributed manufacturing, engineering, and polymer chemistry to provide an industry-first, off-the-shelf solution for cell-like reagents that are stable, low-cost, and targeted toward a range of indications and markets. Visit www.slingshotbio.com for more information.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements include projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions, and expectations with respect to future financial results, events, operations, services, product development and potential, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "plans" and similar expressions. Although Prolocor's management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Prolocor, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include among other things, Prolocor's planned level of revenues and capital expenditures, Prolocor's available cash and its ability to obtain additional funding, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, future clinical data and analysis, including post marketing, decisions by regulatory authorities regarding whether and when to approve any device or application that may be filed for any such product candidates and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of such product candidates, the fact that product candidates if approved may not be commercially successful, the future approval and commercial success of therapeutic alternatives, Prolocor's ability to benefit from external growth opportunities, to complete related transactions and/or obtain regulatory clearances, and risks associated with intellectual property. Other than as required by applicable law, Prolocor does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements.
Contact Information
Ray Russo
Prolocor Inc
ray.russo@prolocor.com
Tiffany Salas-Morris
Slingshot Biosciences
tiffany@slingshotbio.com
SOURCE: Prolocor Inc.
View the original press release on newswire.com.
University of Virginia Takes the Top Spot While Harvard, Columbia and NYU Share an 'Abysmal' Free Speech Status
WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / This year's College Free Speech Rankings - released today by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and College Pulse - offer comprehensive insights into the state of free speech on America's college campuses.
The largest report of its kind, the rankings draw from more than 58,000 student responses representing more than 250 colleges and universities nationwide. The report arrives at a time when protest over the Israel-Hamas war has put campus speech concerns at the forefront of the national conversation for nearly a year.
"These rankings highlight a pivotal moment in higher education, where the tension between maintaining a free speech environment and navigating deeply polarizing issues is more pronounced than ever," said FIRE CEO Greg Lukianoff.
"The Middle East crisis plunged campuses into absolute chaos last academic year and administrators largely failed in their response, clamping down on free speech protections instead of fostering spaces for open dialogue," Lukianoff added. "The nightmare scenarios of last spring cannot be repeated this fall. Colleges need to reassert their mantle of being marketplaces of ideas, not bubbles of groupthink and censorship."
The best colleges for free speech:
University of Virginia
Michigan Technological University
Florida State University
Eastern Kentucky University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Claremont McKenna College
North Carolina State University
Oregon State University
University of North Carolina, Charlotte
Mississippi State University
The worst colleges for free speech:
Pomona College
Indiana University
University of Texas, Austin
University of Southern California
Syracuse University
Barnard College
University of Pennsylvania
New York University
Columbia University
Harvard University
For the first time, the University of Virginia has claimed the top spot in the rankings, followed closely by Michigan Technological University, which came in first last year, and Florida State University in third. Eastern Kentucky University and Georgia Tech round out the top five.
Harvard University retained its position as the lowest-ranked institution for free speech for the second consecutive year. Harvard, Columbia University, and New York University all received an "Abysmal" rating for their speech climates. The University of Pennsylvania and Barnard College round out the bottom five. These schools not only have low levels of administrative support for free speech. They also have low levels of student comfort in expressing their views on controversial political topics and a strong bias in favor of allowing liberal speakers on campus over conservative ones.
"The lack of administrative support for free speech trickles down into student behavior," said FIRE Vice President of Research Angela C. Erickson. "How many more students will be blocked from attending speeches, and how many more speakers will be shouted down or even attacked?"
Other key findings from the rankings report include:
52% of students reported that blocking other students from attending a campus speech is at least "rarely" acceptable, up from 45% last year and 37% two years ago.
55% of students find it difficult to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on campus. This is a record high for any issue since the rankings began.
42% of students believe that it is only "somewhat" clear that their administration protects free speech, while 24% believe it is "not at all" or "not very" clear.
This year, 17% of students said they feel like they cannot express their opinion on a subject because of how students, a professor or the administration would respond. This is a bit of positive news, since last year this percentage was 20%, and in 2022 it was 22%.
Very conservative students reported self-censoring most often, with 34% saying they do so "very" or "fairly" often. 24% percent of somewhat conservative students reported self-censoring "very" or "fairly" often. In contrast, only 15% of very liberal students reported self-censoring "very" or "fairly" often. 12% of somewhat liberal students and 13% of slightly liberal students said the same.
"While it's encouraging to see some progress in reducing student self-censorship, the persistence of deplatformings and challenges posed by the Middle East conflict underscore the need for continued vigilance in protecting free expression on campus," said FIRE Chief Research Advisor Sean Stevens.
Explore the full rankings here.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought - the most essential qualities of liberty. FIRE recognizes that colleges and universities play a vital role in preserving free thought within a free society. To this end, we place a special emphasis on defending the individual rights of students and faculty members on our nation's campuses, including freedom of speech, freedom of association, due process, legal equality, religious liberty, and sanctity of conscience.
Contact Information
Bridget Lewis
Senior Account Executive
bridget@javelindc.com
7027732111
SOURCE: Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
View the original press release on newswire.com.
Private equity backing to accelerate growth initiatives for EquiLend
NEW YORK, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- EquiLend, the global technology, data and analytics company for the securities finance industry, today announces the completion of its majority acquisition by private equity firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe (WCAS). The deal's closure follows regulatory approval from EquiLend's regulators in the U.S., UK and Ireland. The acquisition agreement was first announced in January 2024.
Joining WCAS as owners of EquiLend are founding shareholders and customers including Bank of America, BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, National Bank of Canada, State Street, and UBS.
Ryan Harper, General Partner at WCAS, stated, "With the necessary regulatory approvals now in place, EquiLend is poised to accelerate its growth and further the automation of the securities finance market. We believe this partnership will support EquiLend's mission to innovate and enhance industry efficiency. We look forward to working closely with EquiLend's customers, shareholders and leadership team during this exciting period of growth."
EquiLend's suite of financial technology solutions supports all facets of a securities finance market participant's business, including electronic trading, SaaS platform, post-trade automation, data and analytics and regulatory technology solutions. Since its founding in 2001, the company's client base has grown to nearly 200 asset owners, agency lending banks, broker-dealers and hedge funds.
About EquiLend
EquiLend is a global financial technology firm offering Trading, Post-Trade, Data & Analytics, RegTech and Platform Solutions for the securities finance industry. With offices in North America, EMEA and Asia-Pacific, EquiLend operates across various jurisdictions worldwide, adhering to the highest regulatory standards. The company is committed to excellence and innovation and is consistently recognized for its contributions to the industry. EquiLend is Great Place to Work Certified in the U.S., UK, Ireland and India and has been honored as the Best Post-Trade Service Provider Globally, Best Market Data Provider Globally and for its outstanding Diversity & Inclusion initiatives in the Securities Finance Times Industry Excellence Awards 2023. For more information, please visit www.equilend.com
Press Contact
equilend@fullyvested.com
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/wcas-completes-acquisition-of-equilend-302238846.html
Novotech, the global full-service clinical Contract Research Organization (CRO) that partners with biotech companies to accelerate the development of advanced and novel therapeutics at every phase, has released its latest industry report, Pancreatic Cancer- Global Clinical Trial Landscape (2024)
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240903868547/en/
The landscape of pancreatic cancer (PC) research is experiencing a transformative phase, with significant advancements in clinical trials, drug development, and therapeutic strategies. The 2024 Global Clinical Trial Report offers critical insights into these developments, showcasing the growing global effort to combat one of the most lethal forms of cancer.
Key Highlights:
Global Clinical Trials
Over 2,000 PC clinical trials have been initiated worldwide since 2019, with North America and the Asia-Pacific region leading the charge, each contributing 38% and 37% of the trials, respectively. Europe follows with a 20% share.
The United States leads North America with 88% of the trials, while Mainland China dominates the Asia-Pacific region with 43% of trials. Other key contributors include Australia, South Korea, and Japan.
Drug Development Landscape
The report identifies 164 drugs in preclinical stages and 233 in early-phase clinical trials, 29 in Phase III, and 11 already on the market, highlighting a robust and growing pipeline aimed at improving treatment outcomes for PC patients.
Notably, small molecules remain the primary focus of development, with prominent companies such as Astellas Pharma Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., and Eli Lilly and Co. leading the market with their innovative treatments.
The drug development landscape also includes significant contributions from Pfizer Inc., Roche, and Merck Co. Inc., with a strong emphasis on targeted therapies and immunotherapies.
Therapeutic Innovations
Recent years have seen advancements in neoadjuvant chemotherapy, RAS-directed therapies, and immunotherapy, offering new hope to PC patients. Stroma-modifying drugs are also showing promise in clinical trials, potentially revolutionizing treatment approaches.
The report predicts that the future of PC treatment will see a greater focus on personalized medicine, early detection methods, and targeted biological therapies, which are expected to significantly improve survival rates and quality of life for patients.
Regional Insights and Trial Density
Despite its large population, the Asia-Pacific region's clinical trial density is six times lower than that of the US and about half that of Europe, signaling an urgent need for increased research and targeted medical interventions in these regions.
The Asia-Pacific region's untapped research potential, combined with its vast patient population and unique genetic diversities, presents a prime opportunity for groundbreaking clinical research and the development of tailored therapeutic interventions.
Leading Contributors
Companies like Astellas Pharma Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., and Eli Lilly and Co. have made significant contributions to the PC drug market. The presence of advanced trials by giants such as Pfizer Inc., Roche, and Merck Co. Inc. underscores the collective global effort to address the challenges posed by pancreatic cancer.
Strategic Insights
The SWOT analysis of the pancreatic cancer treatment landscape reveals significant strengths in the development of targeted therapies and immunotherapies, bolstered by increased research funding. However, challenges such as late diagnosis, low survival rates, and the lack of early detection biomarkers persist.
Opportunities lie in personalized medicine and growing research investments, while threats include stringent regulatory hurdles and the prohibitive cost of advanced treatments, potentially limiting patient access.
The report underscores the critical importance of continued investment in PC research and development. With the backing of leading pharmaceutical companies and innovative clinical trials, the future of pancreatic cancer treatment is bright, offering new hope to patients and their families.
For more information and to download the full report free of charge, please visit Novotech's website or contact our media relations team.
About Novotech Novotech-CRO.com
Founded in 1997, Novotech is a global full-service clinical Contract Research Organization (CRO) focused on partnering with biotech companies to accelerate the development of advanced and novel therapeutics at every phase.
Recognized for its industry-leading contributions, Novotech has received numerous prestigious awards, including the CRO Leadership Award 2023, the Asia Pacific Cell Gene Therapy Clinical Trials Excellence 2023, the Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Company of the Year Award since 2006.
The Company offers a comprehensive suite of services including laboratories, Phase I facilities, drug development consulting, regulatory expertise, and has experience with over 5,000 clinical projects, including Phase I to Phase IV clinical trials and bioequivalence studies. With a presence in 34 office locations and a dedicated team of 3,000+ professionals worldwide, Novotech is a trusted end-to-end strategic partner of choice.
For more information or to speak to an expert team member visit www.Novotech-CRO.com
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240903868547/en/
Contacts:
Media
Toyna Chin
mediacontact@novotech-cro.com
USA: +1 415 364 8135
LSEB Creative Corp. (OTC PINK:LSEB) (the "Company") is pleased to share updates regarding the intended expansion of its brand, Lauren Bentley Swimwear (LBS), following the release of its second collection. The brand is currently in the research and design stages of expanding its beachwear category, with an emphasis on versatile, high-quality pieces.
Lauren Bentley Swimwear intends to introduce cover-ups such as sarongs, a quintessential element of women's beachwear wardrobes. This versatile item is currently being developed by the brand's design team with the help of supply and manufacturer partners. Additional cover-ups and new product categories are entering the research and design stages.
These steps further solidifying Lauren Bentley Swimwear's vision to become a comprehensive beachwear lifestyle brand. While these category expansions are an exciting development, the brand is aiming for a release in Spring 2025, though no definitive timeline has been established. As with all Lauren Bentley Swimwear offerings, the brand remains committed to prioritizing quality throughout the meticulous design, development, and sourcing processes.
"The gradual expansion of our product line is a natural progression for the Lauren Bentley Swimwear brand," said Lauren Bentley, CEO of LSEB Creative Corp. "We are passionate about offering timeless, quality pieces that meet the high expectations of our customers, which will take time and focus. We are incredibly excited to venture into new categories and provide even more options for our clientele."
About LSEB Creative Corp.
LSEB Creative Corp (OTC PINK: LSEB) is a visionary new entrant in the fashion sector, dedicated to crafting timeless elegance and offering impeccable craftsmanship through its flagship brand, Lauren Bentley Swimwear. The Company sets the standard for sophistication and innovation in swimwear fashion, with a commitment to excellence and creativity.
Certain statements in this document that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "future," "may," "will," "would," "should," "plan," "projected," "intend," and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of LSEB Creative Corp. to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company's future operating results are dependent upon many factors, including but not limited to: (i) the Company's ability to obtain sufficient capital or a strategic business arrangement to fund its current operational or expansion plans; (ii) the Company's ability to build and maintain the management and human resources and infrastructure necessary to support the anticipated growth of its business; and (iii) competitive factors and developments beyond the Company's control.
For more information, please contact:
LSEB Creative Corp.
Lauren Bentley, CEO
info@lsebcreative.com
laurenbentleyswim.com
Instagram: @laurenbentleyswim
Contact Information
Jordan Starkman
CFO
jstarkman@lsebcreative.com
647-328-8267
SOURCE: LSEB Creative Corp
View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 5, 2024) - Silver Dollar Resources Inc. (CSE: SLV) (OTCQX: SLVDF) (FSE: 4YW) ("Silver Dollar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the engagement of Dale Moore, P.Geo., and owner of Tamarack Geological Services, to manage exploration at its recently acquired Ranger-Page Project in Idaho's Silver Valley.
Dale is a registered professional geologist in Idaho and Washington state, with 14 years of experience working in the Coeur d'Alene Mining District. Dale and his team at Tamarack have worked on every major mining project in the Coeur d'Alene Mining District and numerous other projects in North America.
Figure 1: Location of the Ranger-Page Project in the Coeur d'Alene Mining District.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://silverdollarresources.com/images/Ranger-Page/Ranger-Page_Silver-Valley.jpg
The Team at Ranger-Page will consist of Tamarack's most experienced Silver Valley geologists, who as a group have logged several miles of exploration drill core delineating some of the Coeur d'Alene Mining District's most prolific ore deposits, including the Lucky Friday, Galena Complex, and Sunshine mines.
"Dale and the Tamarack team worked with the previous operator on the Ranger-Page Project and are the logical choice to oversee our exploration programs," said Mike Romanik, President of Silver Dollar. "They did an exceptional job in defining multiple targets over the last two years and we are excited to commence drill testing those targets on a priority basis."
Figure 2: Ranger-Page claim groups, underground mine workings, and new target areas.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://silverdollarresources.com/images/Ranger-Page/Ranger-Page_Claims-Targets.jpg
About the Ranger-Page Project
Ranger-Page is a drill-ready project in a world-class silver district. The land package covers six historic mines and is ideally situated near Interstate 90 with year-round access to power, water, local infrastructure and a workforce in the Silver Valley skilled in exploration and mining. The primary target areas are up and down plunge from historic underground mining, along strike where ground induced polarization (IP) surveys identify anomalies, and where surface trenching identified near surface mineralization. Additional exploration targets have also been identified away from historic mine infrastructure, using soil geochemical data, mapping, and ground IP survey data.
About Silver Dollar Resources Inc.
Silver Dollar is a mineral exploration company that is fully funded to execute its near-term exploration plans having closed its last financing with lead orders from billionaire mining investor Eric Sprott and NYSE-listed First Majestic Silver. The Company's primary projects lie within Idaho's prolific Silver Valley and the Durango-Zacatecas silver-gold belt and include the advanced exploration stage Ranger-Page and La Joya projects and the early exploration stage Nora project. Management has an aggressive growth strategy and is actively reviewing potential acquisitions with a focus on drill-ready projects in mining-friendly jurisdictions.
For additional information, you can download our latest presentation here and follow us on X here.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Signed "Michael Romanik"
Michael Romanik,
President, CEO & Director
Silver Dollar Resources Inc.
Direct line: (204) 724-0613
Email: mike@silverdollarresources.com
179 - 2945 Jacklin Road, Suite 416
Victoria, BC, V9B 6J9
Forward-Looking Statements:
This news release may contain "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.
The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this news release.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/222143
SOURCE: Silver Dollar Resources Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 5, 2024) - Kraken Energy Corp. (CSE: UUSA) (OTCQB: UUSAF) (FSE: F2C) (the "Company" or "Kraken") is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Goss as the new Interim Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company.
Brian Goss has worked in the mining industry for over 20 years as an Entrepreneur, Executive, Director, and Geologist, specifically in precious, base, and energy metals exploration. He is the founder and President of Rangefront Mining Services, an exploration and geology contracting company with offices across the western United States and Canada, that caters to a large spectrum of clients in the mining and exploration industries. Mr. Goss currently holds Director positions at Summa Silver Corp. (TSXV: SSVR), Ridgestone Mining Inc. (TSXV: RMI), Lithium Corp. (OTCQB:LTUM), Rumble Resources Inc. (CSE: RB), and Starmet Ventures Inc. (CSE: STAR). Mr. Goss holds a Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Geology from Wayne State University in Michigan.
Brian Goss replaces Matthew Schwab, the Company's former Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr. Schwab has also stepped down as a Director of the Company. The Company would like to thank Mr. Schwab for his contributions to the Company and wishes him success in his future endeavours.
About Kraken Energy Corp.:
Kraken Energy Corp. is an energy company advancing its portfolio of high-grade uranium properties in the Unites States. The Company is advancing its 100%-owned Apex Uranium Property, located 280 km (174 miles) east from Reno, Nevada which is recognized as Nevada's largest past-producing uranium mine. The Company has additionally entered into an option agreement to earn 100% of the Garfield Hills Uranium Property. The past-producing Garfield Hills Uranium Property covers 1,238 ha (3,060 acres) and is located 19 km (12 miles) east of Hawthorne in Mineral County, Nevada. Kraken Energy has also staked the Huber Hills Uranium Property, located 136 km (85 miles) north of Elko, Nevada which covers 1,044 ha (2,580 acres)and encompasses the historic Race Track open pit mine. The Company has entered into an option agreement to earn 75% of the Harts Point Uranium Property. The Harts Point Uranium Property covers 2,622 ha (6,480 acres) and is located 49 km (30 miles) northwest of Monticello in San Juan County, Utah.
For more information about the Company, please visit: www.krakenenergycorp.com.
This news release contains forward-looking information which is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include our plans for exploration at the properties. 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. Risks that could change or prevent these statements from coming to fruition include changing costs for mining and processing; increased capital costs; the timing and content of upcoming work programs; geological interpretations based on drilling that may change with more detailed information; potential process methods and mineral recoveries assumption based on limited test work and by comparison to what are considered analogous deposits that with further test work may not be comparable; the availability of labour, equipment and markets for the products produced; and despite the current expected viability of the project, conditions changing such that the minerals on our property cannot be economically mined, or that the required permits to build and operate the envisaged mine can be obtained. 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/222200
SOURCE: Kraken Energy Corp.
Tbilisi, Georgia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 5, 2024) - Ocean Capital, a leading innovator in Georgia's real estate market, is excited to announce that the final phase of sales for its flagship developments, Ocean Vake Park and Ocean Sky Residences, is now underway. These projects, which have been developed in strategic phases, are nearing completion, with limited apartments remaining for prospective buyers.
Ocean Capital
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Nearing Completion with Phased Development
Ocean Vake Park and Ocean Sky Residences have progressed in carefully planned phases, ensuring that each aspect of these luxury developments is meticulously crafted to meet the highest standards. As the final phase of construction is underway, Ocean Capital is focused on delivering top-tier residences to Tbilisi's growing demand for luxury and eco-conscious living spaces.
Limited Availability for Buyers
With the completion date approaching, Ocean Capital is nearing the final sale of its planned apartments. The overwhelming demand for these properties reflects the company's success in offering residents modern living spaces near Tbilisi's iconic Vake Park and Mziuri Park. Potential buyers now have a limited opportunity to secure their place in these prestigious developments before the remaining units are sold out.
A New Chapter for Tbilisi Real Estate
These final sales mark an important milestone for Ocean Capital, reinforcing its position as a leader in Tbilisi's real estate sector. With both Ocean Vake Park and Ocean Sky Residences set to redefine luxury living in the capital, the company's phased approach to development has ensured that each project enhances the architectural landscape while providing residents with eco-friendly, technologically advanced homes.
Looking Ahead
As the final sales phase concludes, Ocean Capital is preparing to hand over these state-of-the-art properties to residents by the end of the year. The successful completion of these developments will not only signify a new chapter for Tbilisi's urban environment but also for the company's continued growth and influence in the region's real estate market.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/221373
SOURCE: PRNews OU
Downloadable and on-demand apps for accurate prediction of material behavior
Asahi Kasei Engineering Corp. (AEC) has launched a cloud-based CAE solution platform, offering highly precise apps to predict crash and impact behavior of polymers.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240905728893/en/
Conceptual diagram of the CAE solution platform (Graphic: Business Wire)
As the adoption of polymer materials in automobiles and other products increases, precise simulation of material behavior will contribute to enhanced product design and to significantly reduced costs and time for material and application development. In recent years, cloud-based high-performance computing (HPC) is being increasingly used throughout various industries. As a result, the on-demand use of computer aided engineering (CAE) software installed in cloud HPC as software as a service is also becoming more common in the material development process.
As a manufacturer of technical polymers, Asahi Kasei has provided comprehensive, high precision support for its customers' product design and development through CAE technical service focused on engineering plastics. Leveraging this expertise, AEC, a subsidiary of Asahi Kasei, further extends its CAE-related service by launching the cloud-based "CAE Solution Platform," offering various apps that can be easily downloaded and used by customers worldwide.
Highly accurate fracture prediction application
The apps offered on the platform include the downloadable and highly accurate polymer material fracture prediction model "i-LUPE." Microscopically, amorphous polymer materials have a structure in which molecular chains are intricately entangled. When an impact or other force is applied to this material causing significant deformation, the molecular chains are stretched, resulting in the formation of voids and fibrils (bundles of molecular chains). When these so-called crazes grow, the polymer material fractures.
By focusing on crazes, "i-LUPE" accurately predicts and reproduces possible fractures in the polymer.
Supporting mapping tool
As a supporting app to "i-LUPE," the CAE solution platform offers an on-demand mapping tool specifically focused on anisotropic materials such as fiber-reinforced resins. This tool converts fiber orientation data into "i-LUPE" material property lists, which are used as reference for selecting the optimal material for specific applications, enabling an accurate visual representation of deformation behavior of fiber-reinforced resins.
To register for Asahi Kasei Engineering's CAE solution platform, please visit: caesolution.asahi-kasei.co.jp/public/en/
About Asahi Kasei
The Asahi Kasei Group contributes to life and living for people around the world. Since its founding in 1922 with ammonia and cellulose fiber businesses, Asahi Kasei has consistently grown through the proactive transformation of its business portfolio to meet the evolving needs of every age. With more than 49,000 employees worldwide, the company contributes to a sustainable society by providing solutions to the world's challenges through its three business sectors of Material, Homes, and Health Care. Its Material sector, comprised of Environmental Solutions, Mobility Industrial, and Life Innovation, includes a wide array of products from battery separators and biodegradable textiles to engineering plastics and sound solutions. For more information, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/.
Asahi Kasei is also dedicated to sustainability initiatives and is contributing to reaching a carbon-neutral society by 2050. To learn more, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/sustainability/.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240905728893/en/
Contacts:
Europe Contact:
Asahi Kasei Europe GmbH
Sebastian Schmidt
sebastian.schmidt@asahi-kasei.eu
North America Contact:
Asahi Kasei America Inc.
Christian OKeefe
christian.okeefe@ak-america.com
Hosted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by the Fiber Network Council APAC, who holds this year's presidency of the FTTH Councils Global Alliance (FCGA), the summit brought together over 25 senior leaders from the six regional councils forming the platform for two days of networking and discussions over the differences and commonalities of fibre deployment and adoption at international level. The event has been an opportunity for the FTTH Councils Global Alliance to regroup on their shared objectives and common activities, and for fibre stakeholders across the globe to exchange and learn from the successful experiences of their peers, with an outlook at the challenges and priorities ahead for each region.
The fiber deployment trend in the Asia-Pacific region is accelerating, with the "FTTH/B Panorama 2023 APAC" released by Fiber Network Council APAC report showing a 7.1% increase in subscribers to 645 million and a 7.9% rise in homes passed to 815 million by June 2023. Over the last decade, subscribers have grown 6.3 times, and homes passed have increased 2.6 times. However, this rapid expansion has led to a decline in the take-up rate in some markets. The report classifies the region into three tiers: mature markets with over 80% coverage (China, Japan, South Korea), medium markets with 30-80% coverage (Australia, Indonesia), and high-potential markets with less than 30% coverage but strong growth, particularly in India, which saw 153% subscriber growth since December 2021.
The FTTH Council Europe's "European FTTH/B Market Panorama 2024" shows a positive trend in FTTH deployments in Europe, with 69,9% coverage in the EU39 area in September 2023. Despite this, only 34,7% of homes are effectively connected, with significant hurdles in key markets like Germany, UK, Italy, Greece, Belgium, and Austria, resulting in a take-up rate of just 50%. Implementing the Gigabit Infrastructure Act will be crucial for expanding fibre networks and reach maximum coverage, alongside effective demand-side measures and a clear plan for copper switch-off to stimulate the adoption of fibre-based service, pre-requisite to drive the required private investments.
The Fiber Broadband Association's "The State of The North American Fiber Industry", December 2023 shows that the region had record fiber deployment with 9 million homes passed during the year. The United States ended the year with 77,9 million homes passed and 30,9 million homes passed with fiber. Fiber "take-rates" are averaging 45,4% based on unique home passings. In Canada, fiber has now been deployed passed 12,1 million homes with 44,6% "take-rates" against unique fiber home passings. The U.S. is in the early stages of the largest fiber investment cycle in history, as the Administration works to connect every home by the end of the decade.
The FTTH Panorama LATAM 2023 report, by the Fibre Broadband Association LATAM Chapter, highlights that Latin America, and the Caribbean had 56,7 million fixed broadband FTTH accesses by the end of 2022. The growth of FTTH technology is expected to replace other fixed broadband technologies in the region, which currently serves 54 million households. Countries with low FTTH penetration, such as Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Panama, and Puerto Rico, present significant opportunities for market development. With 68.7 million underserved households, the region has substantial growth potential, especially when compared to Europe's 70% coverage and 35% penetration. Fiber optics are seen as the key driver for this expansion.
Fiber Connect Council MENA emphasized the critical role data centers will play in driving the AI revolution and enabling widespread 5G deployment across the region. The Middle East is poised for significant growth, with its data center market valued at USD 5,57 billion in 2023 and projected to soar to USD 9,61 billion by 2029, reflecting a robust CAGR of 9,52%. As the backbone of digital transformation, these investments will be pivotal in shaping the future of technology and connectivity in the region.
Digital Council Africa reiterated that the continent has seen an unparalleled digital metamorphosis, catalyzed by the far-reaching effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic. This transformative wave has reshaped the SSA landscape through the rapid expansion of connectivity, the widespread adoption of mobile technologies, and the surge in internet usage. SSA's youthful population stands as a compelling attraction when compared to regions with predominantly older demographics. Nonetheless, maneuvering through the intricate SSA terrain can be a formidable undertaking and better policy environments will attract further investment.
The summit also saw the official launch of the FTTH Councils Global Alliance website, a new digital platform that fosters the efforts made by the six organisations forming the alliance to make fibre happen worldwide. The website regroups the latest news, main events, publications and reports for each regional country, and provides a direct link to further explore their work and connect with their member companies. Visit the website at this link: www.ftthglobalalliance.org.
More about the FCGA
The FTTH Council Global Alliance (FCGA) is the platform for cooperation of the six regional FTTH Councils: the FTTH Council Europe, the Fibre Broadband Association, the Fibre Broadband Association LATAM chapter, the Fiber Network Council APAC, the Digital Council Africa and the Fibre Connect Council MENA.
The FCGA offers these powerful, independent organisations unique opportunities to adapt their activities to local market and technology developments and share findings and best practices. Each council is promoting adoption of FTTH in its own region, while the FCGA facilitates global cooperation among these councils by exchanging studies, information, and market developments.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240905211055/en/
Contacts:
Michele Nardi
Marketing Communications Manager
FTTH Council Europe
michele.nardi@ftthcouncil.eu
Tel: +32 471 83 40 55
BERLIN, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Roborock, a global leader in ultra-intelligent home robotics engineered to simplify daily life, has today unveiled five new smart home cleaning models at IFA 2024 to mark the brand's 10th-anniversary milestone. Dedicated to enhancing users' lives through intelligent solutions that embody a user-centric approach, this diverse lineup includes innovative robotic vacuums, cordless vacuums, and a smart washer-dryer, each featuring breakthrough technologies:
Roborock Qrevo Curv and Roborock Qrevo Edge: Deliver top performance with a Dual Anti-Tangle System for preventing hair tangling and an AdaptiLift Chassis for seamless adaptation to different floor types, ensuring optimal and effortless cleaning.
Roborock Qrevo Slim: The industry's slimmest 3D Time of Flight (ToF) navigation robot vacuum at 8.2cm, offering advanced navigation, obstacle recognition and robust suction in a sleek pr ofile.
Roborock H5: A cordless vacuum delivering exceptional suction and advanced filtration for a thorough cleaning experience.
Roborock Zeo Lite: A smart washer-dryer equipped with the world's first Zeo-cycle technology,offering efficient washing and gentle drying at moderate temperatures.
"We are thrilled to pioneer a revolutionary shift in smart home cleaning with our latest product unveiling at IFA 2024," said Mr. Quan, Roborock President. "This year marks a significant milestone for us as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Roborock. We've evolved from a visionary start-up to a global leader in smart home technology, consistently pushing the boundaries of innovation to enhance the cleaning experience. As we look to the future, our commitment remains steadfast - to empower our users' lives with intelligent solutions that exemplify our user-centric philosophy. These latest developments reflect our journey and ongoing dedication to excellence, redefining what it means to maintain a clean, responsive, and harmonious living environment."
Roborock Qrevo Curv and Qrevo Edge: Setting New Standards with Industry-First AdaptiLift Chassis and Revolutionary Dual Anti-Tangle System
Roborock Qrevo Curv and Qrevo Edge introduce an industry-first innovation, the AdaptiLift Chassis, which incorporate an independently adjustable three-wheel control (left and right main wheels, and omni-wheel), allowing these models to dynamically adjust up to 10mm in height. This significantly enhances their ability to clean various floor types in different home environments, by extending cleaning coverage to include mid-to-long pile carpets, and navigating double-layer thresholds up to 4cm high, thus setting a new industry benchmark.
The introduction of the revolutionary dual anti-tangle system sets the Roborock Qrevo Curv and Qrevo Edge apart, integrating a revolutionary DuoDivide Main Brush and a FlexiArm Arc Side Brush. The DuoDivide Main Brush comprises dual short bristle rollers with spiral blades designed to efficiently direct hair towards the dustbin inlet without tangling. This unique design effectively prevents hair from tangling around the brushes or accumulating at the ends, achieving a remarkable 0% tangling rate and 100% removal rate as certified by SGS.
Equipped with a powerful 18,500Pa HyperForce Suction and FlexiArm Technology featuring an extendable side brush and right-side mop, these robot vacuums ensure meticulous cleanliness by reaching edges seamlessly, significantly boosting cleaning efficiency. Both models come with the Multifunctional Dock 3.0 with the 75C hot mop washing feature, removing over 99.99% of bacteria on the spinning mops to further underscore their cleaning prowess.
Crafted with a harmonious blend of aesthetics and functionality to effortlessly tackle intricate cleaning tasks, the Roborock Qrevo Curv stands out with its exclusive all-in-one dock that complements the vacuum's sleek, rounded design.
Roborock Qrevo Slim: Industry's Slimmest 3D ToF-Navigation Robot Vacuum with Advanced Navigation and Obstacle Recognition Technology
Experience a new era in home cleaning with the Roborock Qrevo Slim, the industry's slimmest 3D ToF navigation robot vacuum equipped with advanced navigation and obstacle recognition technology[1], measuring just 8.2cm high. This cutting-edge device offers unparalleled reach for flawless cleaning under furniture and in hard-to-reach areas.
The Roborock Qrevo Slim's StarSight Autonomous System features the industry-first dual-light 3D ToF technology[2], forming a high-density laser array with over 21,600 sensor points and a 38,400Hz sampling frequency, alongside an intelligent RGB camera, to ensure precise navigation and obstacle recognition. The technology is the result of over five years of collaboration by Roborock, Infineon, pmd, and OFlim, and has now successfully reached mass production.
"The close relationship with Roborock is a great example of how our innovative semiconductor technologies translate into benefits for the end consumer," said Andreas Kopetz, Vice President Ambient Sensing at Infineon. "We are proud that Infineon's REAL3 hybrid ToF solution is supporting Roborock as it enters a new era of slim and high performing cleaning robots, starting with Qrevo slim, the first and slimmest dual-light 3D ToF-navigation robot vacuum cleaner in the industry so far."
Distinguished by its unparalleled mapping capabilities, the Roborock Qrevo Slim sets a new industry benchmark by meticulously capturing height and depth data. This comprehensive understanding of its surroundings empowers the Roborock Qrevo Slim to navigate with utmost precision and obstacles efficiently, effortlessly recognizing and reacting to up to 73 types of obstacles. Noteworthy is its swift response to unexpected obstacles like pets; the device intelligently halts its main brush and adjusts its trajectory in anticipation of furry companions, ensuring their undisturbed peace.
Equipped with the FlexiArm Side Brush and Mop, the powerful DuoRoller Riser Brush, and 11,000Pa suction, the Roborock Qrevo Slim guarantees thorough cleaning performance. Paired with the upgraded Multifunctional Dock 3.0, featuring enhanced mop washing and self-cleaning capabilities, the device offers a truly hands-free cleaning experience with improved power and intelligence, elevating cleaning to a whole new level.
Roborock H5: Powerfully Precise Cordless Vacuum with Advanced Filtration
In addition, Roborock introduced the Roborock H5, a cordless handheld vacuum that combines powerful suction with advanced filtration in a slim, lightweight design. The Roborock H5 boasts a suction power of 158AW and weighs just 1.82kg with the motorized mini brush attached. It features sophisticated nine-cyclone dust separation technology and a five-stage filtration system, ensuring an unparalleled level of cleanliness for your home.
Roborock Zeo Lite: Innovative Washing and Drying with the World's First Zeo-cycle Technology
Expanding further into smart home cleaning solutions, Roborock introduces the Roborock Zeo Lite, an all-in-one intelligent washer-dryer. This model features the world's first Zeo-cycle drying technology, which utilizes the Zeo Lite's superior water vapor absorption capacity to protect delicate fabrics without extreme heat. This AI-controlled, moderate temperature drying efficiently captures moisture, ensuring optimal fabric care.
The Roborock Zeo Lite boasts a large capacity, handling 10kg for washing and 6kg for drying, completing a full cycle in just one hour without the need to transfer laundry. With 27 customizable wash and dry modes accessible through the Roborock App, this intelligent system automates water and drying adjustments, and auto detergent dispensing based on load weight, ensuring an efficient, hands-free laundry experience.
Pricing and Availability
Roborock Qrevo Curv is priced at 1499.99 in Western Europe. The pre-order sale will run from September 9 t h to September 22 nd with early-bird discounts.
is priced at 1499.99 in Western Europe. The pre-order sale will run from September 9 to September 22 with early-bird discounts. Roborock Qrevo Slim is priced at 1299.99 in Western Europe.
is priced at 1299.99 in Western Europe. Roborock H5 is priced at 299.99 in Western Europe. The pre-order sale will run from September 9 th to September 22 nd with early-bird discounts.
is priced at 299.99 in Western Europe. The pre-order sale will run from September 9 to September 22 with early-bird discounts. Roborock Zeo Lite is priced at 999 in the EU.
Roborock Qrevo Curv, Roborock Qrevo Slim, Roborock H5 and Roborock Zeo Lite will be available in additional markets following their debut in Europe. For specific pricing and availability details, please refer to official announcements within your local market.
ENDS
About Roborock
Roborock is a leading smart cleaning brand renowned for its intelligent cleaning solutions. With a steadfast dedication to becoming a global leading smart appliance player, Roborock enriches lives with its innovative line of robotic, cordless, wet/dry vacuum cleaners, and washer-dryers. Rooted in a user-centric approach, our R&D-driven solutions cater to diverse cleaning needs in over 15 million homes across 170+ countries. Headquartered in Beijing and with strategic subsidiaries in key markets, including the United States, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, and South Korea, Roborock is dedicated to elevating its market presence worldwide. For more information, visit https://global.roborock.com/.
[1] Based on research conducted by the manufacturer as of Sept 1, 2024, within the 3D ToF-navigation robot vacuum category. [2] Roborock was the first in the robot vacuum industry to implement 3D ToF functionality using a dual-transmitter approach, as the technology officially launched earlier in 2024.
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/roborock-unveils-world-first-smart-home-cleaning-technologies-redefining-the-future-of-automated-cleaning-at-ifa-2024-302239042.html
Zoovu becomes the first Shopware partner to introduce out-of-the-box generative AI solutions for search and product discovery
Zoovu, a leading AI-powered search and product discovery platform, today announced a strategic partnership with Shopware, a leading global ecommerce platform. This collaboration gives Shopware's 100,000 customers access to Zoovu's AI-powered search and product discovery platform, including the first out-of-the-box generative AI ecommerce solution among Shopware partners.
The integration of Zoovu's AI-powered solutions with the Shopware platform transforms the ecommerce experience for both B2C and B2B companies. Using Zoovu's extensive product data and AI, businesses can build hyper-personalized, guided ecommerce experiences that ask buyers the right questions to present the perfect products based on their specific needs. These capabilities have been proven to increase conversions by 200% and average order value by 65% while reducing sales cycles and operational costs by up to 98%. When deployed in retail stores, this technology has increased store revenue by 27%.
"At Shopware, we believe in empowering businesses with cutting-edge ecommerce solutions. By partnering with Zoovu, we're bringing generative AI-powered product discovery into our ecosystem-a natural step forward in our mission to elevate the shopping experience and help merchants thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape," said Jason Nyhus, president and general manager, Shopware.
Zoovu's AI-powered solutions are already making a significant impact on Shopware customers across various industries, including consumer goods, homeware, and manufacturing.
"Partnering with Shopware enables us to accelerate the use of AI in ecommerce to deliver personalized customer experiences that are engaging, tailored and results-driven," said Tim Lavell, chief revenue officer, Zoovu. "As the ecommerce landscape continues to evolve, the collaboration between Zoovu and Shopware ensures businesses can maximize their investments in technology to driving online sales."
About Shopware
Shopware, founded in Schoppingen in 2000, offers a holistic omnichannel digital commerce platform for sophisticated mid-market and lower enterprise merchants, with high flexibility and various options for B2C, D2C, B2B, as well as service-based use cases. Shopware is well positioned and one of the market leaders in its segment, especially in the DACH region, with a fast-growing business in North America. The solution is headless, API-first, and uses an open source architecture, allowing merchants to individually customize and scale the product offering, creating a strong customer experience. Furthermore, Shopware relies on a global network of 1,600 sales, technology and solution partners, securing a stable ecosystem. Shopware merchants currently process a combined GMV of more than $22 billion Euro across the global Shopware platform.
About Zoovu
Ecommerce is broken and Zoovu is fixing it. As the #1 AI-powered search and product discovery platform, we help B2C, B2B, and retail companies unlock their product and customer data to build exceptional ecommerce experiences and drive breakthrough results. The world's largest ecommerce businesses, like Microsoft, 3M, Trek, and Honeywell, use Zoovu customer behavior insights to grow faster, increase customer satisfaction, and reduce marketing and operational costs. Headquartered in Boston, Zoovu is a global company that delivers over 20 million online engagements for brands each year, with conversions up to 10X higher than industry averages. Learn more at zoovu.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240904350226/en/
Contacts:
Media:
Kathy Keating
Point B Partner for Zoovu
kathy@pointbpartners.com
Wiljo Krechting
Shopware
W.Krechting@shopware.com
Retained executive search firm Caldwell (TSX:CWL)(OTCQX:CWLPF) today announced a major enhancement to its people, talent and culture recruiting capabilities with the addition of Michelle DesChenes as a partner in the firm's Human Resource Officers Practice.
"Michelle's commitment to connecting organizations with forward-thinking leaders who are well-equipped to challenge conventional talent management ideas and navigate the evolving global marketplace makes her a fantastic addition to the Caldwell team," said Chris Beck, chief executive officer. "Beyond executive search, she gives clients insights on workforce optimization, guiding them in compensation and retention, and shaping impactful DEI and talent development initiatives. She will play a crucial role as we continue to build out our Human Resources Officers Practice."
Ms. DesChenes specializes in recruiting transformative C-suite and senior human resources leaders for Fortune 500 companies, private and publicly held companies, and global organizations across multiple industries. With more than 20 years of experience in global executive search and HR consulting, she possesses strong knowledge of current hiring market trends and proven HR strategies, as well as an extensive network. Her client portfolio includes life sciences, healthcare, energy, manufacturing, engineering, financial services, supply chain and logistics.
Ms. DesChenes joined Caldwell from Kingsley Gate, a global private equity-backed executive search firm. Prior to that, she was a managing director with GattiHR, a national leader in HR Search.
Ms. DesChenes is an active member of the Northeast Human Resources Association (NEHRA) as well as Human Resources Leadership Forum (HRLF). She is an official member of the Forbes Human Resources Council, advocating for progressive HR practices.
??About Caldwell
Caldwell is a leading retained executive search firm connecting clients with transformational talent. Together with IQTalent, we are a technology-powered talent acquisition firm specializing in recruitment at all levels. Through the two distinct brands - Caldwell and IQTalent- the firm leverages the latest innovations in AI to offer an integrated spectrum of services delivered by teams with deep knowledge in their respective areas. Services include candidate research and sourcing through to full recruitment at the professional, executive and board levels, as well as a suite of talent strategy and assessment tools that can help clients hire the right people, then manage and inspire them to achieve maximum business results.
Caldwell's common shares are listed on The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:CWL) and trade on the OTCQX Market (OTCQX:CWLPF). Please visit our website at www.caldwell.com for further information.
For further information, please contact:
Caroline Lomot
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Caldwell
clomot@caldwell.com
+1 516 830 3535
Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements in this document are based on current expectations subject to the significant risks and uncertainties cited. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of statements that include phrases such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "foresee," "may," "will," "likely," "estimates," "potential," "continue" or other similar words or phrases. Similarly, statements that describe our objectives, plans or goals also are forward-looking statements.
We are subject to many factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the relevant forward looking statement including, but not limited to, the impact of pandemic diseases, our ability to attract and retain key personnel; exposure to our partners taking our clients with them to another firm; the performance of the US, Canadian and international economies; risks related to deposit-taking institutions; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; competition from other companies directly or indirectly engaged in talent acquisition; cybersecurity requirements, vulnerabilities, threats and attacks; damage to our brand reputation; our ability to align our cost structure to changes in our revenue; liability risk in the services we perform; potential legal liability from clients, employees and candidates for employment; reliance on software that we license from third parties; reliance on third-party contractors for talent acquisition support; the classification of third-party labour as contractors versus employee relationships; our ability to successfully recover from a disaster or other business continuity issues; adverse governmental and tax law rulings; successfully integrating or realizing the expected benefits from our acquisitions, adverse operating issues from acquired businesses; volatility of the market price and trading volume of our common shares; technological advances may significantly disrupt the labour market and weaken demand for human capital at a rapid rate; affiliation agreements may fail to renew or affiliates may be acquired; the impact on profitability from marketable securities valuation fluctuations; increasing dependence on third parties for the execution of critical functions; our ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to support our growth and fund any dividends; potential impairment of our acquired goodwill and intangible assets; and disruption as a result of actions of certain stockholders or potential acquirers of the Company. For more information on the factors that could affect the outcome of forward-looking statements, refer to the "Risk Factors" section of our Annual Information Form and other public filings (copies of which may be obtained at www.sedar.com). These factors should be considered carefully, and the reader should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Although any forward-looking statements are based on what management currently believes to be reasonable assumptions, we cannot assure readers that actual results, performance or achievements will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Management's assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Except as required by Canadian securities laws, we do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf; such statements speak only as of the date made. The forward-looking statements included herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary language.
SOURCE: Caldwell Partners International, Inc.
View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 5, 2024) - Parvis Invest Inc. (TSXV: PVIS), a technology-driven investment platform dedicated to broadening access to high-quality investment opportunities, is excited to announce a strategic partnership with three new issuers. This expansion marks a key advancement for Parvis, as it continues to support and drive growth in the Canadian small to medium business sector through its innovative solutions.
"These new partnerships reflect our ongoing focus on transforming the investment landscape," stated David Michaud, Founder and CEO of Parvis. "By integrating these mortgage investment corporations into our platform, we are diversifying the investment products available to our clients and reinforcing our ability to provide high-value opportunities. With each new partner Parvis becomes a more diverse investing ecosystem that provides individuals with the opportunity to build their portfolios on our platform."
The signing of three new clients signifies a significant milestone for Parvis, marking its emergence as a preferred platform for over 35 private equity issuers, including REITs, real estate developers, and Mortgage Investment Corporations (MICs). With their advanced tech-driven platform, Parvis connects investors across Canada to a wide range of investment opportunities, solidifying their position at the forefront of the industry.
New Parvis EMDsolutions partners:
Blue Star Equity: The Bluestar Flagship Fund focuses on investing in small to medium-sized Canadian businesses, taking controlling interests to enhance value for all stakeholders. The fund also invests in the development of residential and commercial properties, including multi-family residential and commercial redevelopment projects. Leveraging the Murad family's multi-generational investment expertise, Blue Star Equity excels in driving growth and operational improvements across diverse sectors. The firm's success is attributed to its strategic vision, operational acumen, and a strong work ethic.
Ginkgo MIC: Ginkgo, a Mortgage Investment Corporation (MIC), is a prominent alternative lender operating nationwide in Canada. Since its inception in 2011, Ginkgo has been dedicated to addressing complex financial problems for borrowers while providing investors with consistent financial growth through high-yielding mortgages. The company has established a strong reputation for exceptional service, efficient management, and robust returns. As of today, Ginkgo has funded over $1.3 billion mortgages and paid out over $52 million dividend to the investors.
Equivest Development Trust, is a newly established real estate development trust based in Burlington, Ontario and formed by a group of real estate professionals. The real estate investments and assets are to be managed by Equivest Capital Partners. With Parvis' backing, Equivest aims to distribute its securities nationwide.
By expanding our network with these diverse issuers, Parvis enhances the overall value of their platform, creating a more robust and dynamic investment environment. This interconnected network not only broadens the range of investment opportunities available but also elevates the potential returns for our clients. As our platform grows, so does our capacity to deliver impactful solutions and drive success for all stakeholders involved.
Parvis's comprehensive EMDSolutions, encompassing compliance, technology, and marketing support, empower these partners to streamline administrative tasks and concentrate on driving value for their investors. With these strategic partnerships, Parvis reaffirms its leadership position in the alternative investment sphere, poised to unlock new avenues of growth and drive sustained success for its clients and stakeholders.
About Parvis
Parvis is a technology-driven investment platform dedicated to democratizing access to institutional-quality opportunities. Utilizing AI and blockchain technology, Parvis streamlines the investment process, making it more accessible and efficient. Headquartered in Vancouver, Parvis operates with experts in Toronto, Vancouver, Kelowna, and Montreal. For more information, visit www.parvisinvest.com and SEDAR+.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information generally refers to information about the issuer's business, capital, or operations that is prospective in nature, including future-oriented financial information about the issuer's performance or financial position. These statements are often identified by words such as "may," "would," "could," "should," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on certain material assumptions, including but not limited to prevailing market conditions, general business and economic uncertainties, and the issuer's ability to achieve its business objectives. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The issuer assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information, unless required to do so under Canadian securities legislation.
Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/222241
SOURCE: Parvis Invest Inc.
Axius Water ("Axius"), a leading provider of nutrient management solutions for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities, announced today that it has acquired MITA Water Technologies, a leading supplier of wastewater filtration systems based in Siziano, Italy. This acquisition follows the successful partnership forged in 2022 to leverage Axius' U.S.-based manufacturing facility in Columbia, Missouri to become the manufacturing facility for Made-in-America MITA pile cloth filters for North American customers. MITA Water Technologies was formerly part of MITA Group
According to Chris McIntire, Axius CEO, "We are thrilled to welcome MITA Water Technologies to Axius after a long standing and successful commercial partnership. Not only do these technologies broaden our mission to stop nutrient pollution, but the acquisition also broadens our reach from our North American headquarters and U.K. foothold further into Europe."
With over 50 years of industry expertise, MITA Water Technologies' products and industry experts are now part of the well-established Axius Water team. MITA Water Technologies has a wide range of robust, reliable and proven offerings appropriate for either small municipal or industrial treatment facilities, or for large urban plants, and broadens the Axius portfolio to include:
Pile cloth filters
Biorulli for biological wastewater treatment
for biological wastewater treatment Biocombi compact plants for small communities
Lamella pack systems for clarification and oil removal
Continuous sand filters for tertiary treatment
Dissolved air floatation systems for civil wastewater and process water
"We look forward to joining Axius and to the many opportunities that come with being part of this larger water-focused group that aligns closely with our area of expertise. With our solid partnership already in place, this transaction is a win-win and will allow us to continue to operate as business as usual," stated Tomasso Pittini, MITA Water Technologies General Manager.
As part of Axius, MITA Water Technologies will have access to an expanded suite of best-in-class water and wastewater solutions and be able to reach a greater number of communities of all sizes in North America and in Europe. MITA Water Technologies will have the resources associated with working side-by-side with Axius operating companies including ATAC Solutions, EDI (Environmental Dynamics International), EOSi (Environmental Operating Solutions), Napier-Reid, Nexom and Triplepoint
ATAC Solutions
A leading U.K. wastewater design and process equipment contractor specializing in capital, hire and turnkey applications. atacsolutions.com
EDI(Environmental Dynamics International, Inc.)
Global wastewater solutions provider with advanced aeration design, equipment, and aftermarket services since 1975. wastewater.com
EOSi (Environmental Operating Solutions, Inc.)
Experts in biological nutrient removal (BNR) solutions, premium non-hazardous carbon sources and advanced process control. microc.com
Napier-Reid
Engineered water and wastewater systems with 3,000+ installations in 40+ countries, since 1950. napier-reid.com
Nexom
Proven filtration, biological and lagoon-based wastewater solutions to reduce key nutrients. nexom.com
Triplepoint
Preserving small-town lagoon systems by engineering solutions that allow them to meet modern effluent standards. lagoons.com
About Axius Water
Axius Water was founded in 2019 by KKR's Global Impact Fund, in partnership with XPV Water Partners. Axius' differentiated products and services improve the effectiveness of the water and wastewater treatment process, thereby measurably improving the quality of treated water. The platform is expanding globally as it builds a diversified portfolio of operating companies that offer leading solutions that improve the overall wastewater management processes. For additional information about Axius Water, please visit axiuswater.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240905590655/en/
Contacts:
Media: laura.brockway@axiuswater.com
Recognized as a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion"
SAN MATEO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / Franklin Templeton is pleased to announce its receipt of a top score of 100 in the 2024 Disability Equality Index (DEI), which serves as a comprehensive benchmarking tool that helps companies build a roadmap of measurable, tangible actions they can take to foster disability inclusion. This marks the sixth consecutive year that Franklin Templeton has received the "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion" distinction.
Regina Curry, Chief Diversity Officer, Franklin Templeton, said, "We are so honored to receive this recognition of our DEI efforts to promote disability inclusion in the workplace. Our commitment to inclusion extends beyond the walls of Franklin Templeton, as we collaborate with peers, clients and organizations to provide equitable access to opportunities."
Launched as a joint initiative of Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the Disability Equality Index is the leading independent, third-party resource for the annual benchmarking of corporate disability inclusion policies and programs.
"On the 10th anniversary of the Disability Equality Index, we're extremely proud of the 542 national and international companies that are taking a proactive role in leading progress towards disability inclusion, setting a benchmark for others to follow. Their dedication to fostering inclusive workplaces not only attracts top talent but also drives innovation and creates sustainable performance in today's global market. Together, we are creating a future where everyone can contribute and thrive," said Jill Houghton, President and CEO of Disability:IN.
The 2024 Disability Equality Index measured efforts across five scored categories: Culture & Leadership; Enterprise-Wide Access; Employment Practices (Benefits; Recruitment; Employment, Education, Retention & Advancement; Accommodations); Community Engagement; Supplier Diversity; and Responsible Procurement (Non-Weighted). Participating companies receive a score, on a scale of zero to 100, with those scoring 80 or higher earning the distinction of "Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion" for the benchmark year.
Read more about Franklin Templeton's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion at https://www.franklintempleton.com/about-us/diversity-and-inclusion.
About Franklin Templeton
Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) is a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 150 countries. Franklin Templeton's mission is to help clients achieve better outcomes through investment management expertise, wealth management and technology solutions. Through its specialist investment managers, the company offers specialization on a global scale, bringing extensive capabilities in fixed income, equity, alternatives and multi-asset solutions. With more than 1,500 investment professionals, and offices in major financial markets around the world, the California-based company has over 75 years of investment experience and over $1.6 trillion in assets under management as of July 31, 2024. For more information, please visit franklintempleton.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X and Facebook.
# # #
Copyright 2024. Franklin Templeton. All rights reserved.
View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Franklin Templeton on 3blmedia.com.
Contact Info:
Spokesperson: Franklin Templeton
Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/franklin-templeton
Email: info@3blmedia.com
SOURCE: Franklin Templeton
View the original press release on accesswire.com
Ingelheim, Germany and Basel, Switzerland, September 5, 2024 - Boehringer Ingelheim and CDR-Life today announce positive results from the Phase I evaluation of BI 771716), an investigational antibody fragment developed to preserve vision in people living with geographic atrophy (GA). BI 771716 met its primary safety endpoint following intravitreal administration of single and multiple doses. Preparation for the Phase II trial is now underway, with an expected start date in early 2025.
GA is an advanced and severe form of late-stage, dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a chronic and progressive retinal disease, that can lead to irreversible and permanent vision loss.1 It is a leading cause of blindness, affecting more than five million people worldwide, of which more than 40% are considered blind.1-3 Vision loss associated with GA severely impacts the independence, mental health and quality of life of those living with the condition.4 Current treatments have limited efficacy and availability.
BI 771716, developed by Boehringer Ingelheim with technology licensed from CDR-Life, is a highly specific antibody fragment, possibly enabling an optimized penetration through all retinal layers to the most critical target site driving GA disease pathology. Based on its molecular properties, BI 771716 has the potential to achieve unprecedented efficacy.
"We are delighted to have achieved a critical milestone in our development of BI 771716, and are now preparing a Phase II clinical study to investigate efficacy and dosing," said Heiko Niessen, Ph.D., Global Therapeutic Area Head Translational Medicine & Clinical Pharmacology Retinal Health at Boehringer Ingelheim. "BI 771716 is part of our comprehensive retinal portfolio demonstrating our long-term commitment to preserving both eyesight and quality of life in people with retinal diseases."
"Reaching this safety milestone is a significant step forward for this compound, highlighting the strength of our partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim," said Christian Leisner, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer at CDR-Life. "Having successfully met all four planned milestones so far, we're optimistic about the continued development of this innovative antibody fragment-based therapy and its potential to provide clinical benefit in geographic atrophy."
"The development of new therapies for geographic atrophy remains one of the most important needs in the age related macular degeneration space," said Charles C. Wykoff, MD, Ph.D., Principal Investigator of the Phase I trial, Director of Research at Retina Consultants of Texas; Chair of Research, Retina Consultants of America; and Deputy Chair of Ophthalmology for the Blanton Eye Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital. "Achieving the Phase I safety endpoint is a meaningful step forward for this potential new treatment for people with this sight-threatening and life-affecting condition."
CDR-Life and Boehringer Ingelheim announced their collaboration and licensing agreement in May 2020, followed by the selection of an antibody fragment-based therapeutic candidate in September 2021. The companies have executed on all milestones to date.
Notes to Editors:
About the trial
The Phase I trial measured the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of intravitreal single rising doses and multiple doses of BI771716 in patients with geographic atrophy aged 50+. The purpose of the study was to determine how well different doses of BI 771716 are tolerated.
This study had two parts.
Single rising dose (SRD)
Participants received one injection of BI 771716 directly into one of the eyes affected by geographic atrophy. The primary endpoint was the number of patients with ocular dose-limiting events (DLEs) from drug administration until Day 8; secondary endpoints included occurrence of any ocular adverse events (AEs) and maximum serum concentration of BI 771716 after a single intravitreal (IVT) dose (Cmax).
Multiple dose (MD)
Participants received two injections of BI 771716 directly into the eye. There were 4 weeks between the first and the second injection.
Detailed study results will be made available in the coming months.
About BI 771716
BI 771716, developed by Boehringer Ingelheim with technology licensed from CDR-Life, is a highly specific antibody fragment, enabling an optimized penetration through all retinal layers to the most critical target site driving GA disease pathology. BI 771716 is part of Boehringer Ingelheim's research and development portfolio in retinal conditions.
About Geographic Atrophy (AMD)
AMD is an age-related disease of the central portion of the retina (the macula) which is responsible for high visual acuity that allows for color vision, reading and facial recognition.4 Geographic atrophy (GA) is an advanced and severe form of AMD that progresses slowly but can lead to permanent vision loss.4 More than 5 million people worldwide suffer from GA, of which more than 40% are legally blind.1-3 From age 50 years, the prevalence of GA quadruples every 10 years.5 Consequently, rising incidences are expected in aging populations.
People with GA experience moderate to severe central vision loss, which can impact daily life activities such as driving, shopping alone, reading, finding street signs and a wide range of social and manual activities that require fine motor control.4 These limitations can lead to a loss of independence and social isolation, which in turn can have an impact on mental health, leading to depression, fear and anxiety.4
About Boehringer Ingelheim
Boehringer Ingelheim is working on breakthrough therapies that transform lives, today and for generations to come. As a leading research-driven biopharmaceutical company, the company creates value through innovation in areas of high unmet medical need. Founded in 1885 and family-owned ever since, Boehringer Ingelheim takes a long-term, sustainable perspective. More than 53,000 employees serve over 130 markets in the two business units Human Pharma and Animal Health. Learn more at www.boehringer-ingelheim.com .
About CDR-Life
CDR-Life is developing powerful T-cell engagers (TCE) to eradicate hard-to-treat solid tumors. Our integrated antibody-based TCE platform unlocks access to a wide range of cancer antigens. We are leveraging this platform to advance a pipeline of potent and selective TCE therapeutics targeting intracellular and surface tumor antigens. With a team of proven drug development experts and backed by leading cross-Atlantic investors, we are working to empower patients' own immune systems to eliminate tumors.
Boehringer Ingelheim's Intended Audiences Notice
This press release is issued from our Corporate Headquarters in Ingelheim, Germany and is intended to provide information about our global business. Please be aware that information relating to the approval status and labels of approved products may vary from country to country, and a country-specific press release on this topic may have been issued in the countries where we do business.
References
Rahimy E, et al. Progression of Geographic Atrophy: Retrospective Analysis of Patients from the IRIS Registry (Intelligent Research in Sight). Ophthalmol Sci. 2023 Apr 19;3(4):100318. Wong WL, et al. Global prevalence of age-related macular degeneration and disease burden projection for 2020 and 2040: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Glob Health 2014;2:e106-116. Colijn JM et al. Enlargement of Geographic Atrophy From First Diagnosis to End of Life. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2021;139(7):743-750 Sacconi R, et al. A Review of Current and Future Management of Geographic Atrophy. Ophthalmol Ther 2017;6:69-77. Rudnicka AR, et al. Age and gender variations in age-related macular degeneration prevalence in populations of European ancestry: a meta-analysis. Ophthalmology. 2012 Mar;119(3):571-80
Media Contacts
Boehringer Ingelheim:
Dr. Reinhard Malin
Boehringer Ingelheim
Corporate Affairs
press@boehringer-ingelheim.com
CDR-Life:
Lauren Arnold
LA Communications
Lauren@LACommunications.net
GLENDALE, Ariz., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Unical Aviation, Inc. (Unical), a leader in the commercial aerospace Used Serviceable Material market, is pleased to announce the acquisition of ecube Solutions, a global expert in aircraft storage, disassembly, and transition services, with bases in the UK, Spain and USA. This strategic acquisition marks a significant milestone in Unical's ongoing expansion across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) and reinforces the company's commitment to delivering comprehensive aviation solutions worldwide.
As an independent unit within the Unical Group, ecube will retain its identity and autonomy, continuing to operate under its established name, with a dedicated focus on remaining the leading disassembly service provider in the sector, optimizing the value of each aircraft for every client.
Sharon Green, Chief Executive Officer of Unical, said, "We are excited to welcome ecube to the Unical family. This acquisition aligns perfectly with our growth strategy of being a trusted partner for aircraft parts and services worldwide, and it enables us to provide enhanced support to customers across the EMEA region and beyond through an independently operated, high-class provider. We look forward to building on the strengths of both companies to deliver even greater value and service excellence to our joint customers as well as our respective customer bases."
Lee McConnellogue, ecube's Chief Executive Officer, said "Unical has always been an important partner to ecube, and we are excited about what's to come as a combined entity, with our customers, partners and people at the very centre of our exciting growth plans. I believe that the shared capability of our two companies, in one of the most important sectors of the aerospace market, only serves to make it stronger. Now we are able to provide a truly end-to-end service to aircraft owners, on a global basis."
Green added, "While Unical will provide overarching support and resources as needed, ecube will continue to develop and implement its own strategic plans, guided by the expertise of its existing management team."
About Unical:
Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Glendale, AZ, Unical Aviation supplies aircraft parts and components to thousands of aviation customers around the globe. With roughly 90 million parts and over 1 million unique airframe and engine part numbers in stock, Unical is one of the largest suppliers of new and used serviceable material for the commercial aerospace industry. Unical's recently expanded engines business and vertically integrated MRO and 145 repair affiliate companies provide a full and comprehensive aftermarket parts and service solution to the world's most trusted airlines, OEMs, and MROs. Read more at www.unical.com
About ecube:
ecube provides expertise in a range of core services, to deliver customer-focused solutions for global aircraft owners and operators, enabling them to protect their asset values, respond to market opportunities, and ultimately maximise the return from their assets. ecube's primary operations and headquarters are in St. Athan, Wales, with additional facilities in Castellon, Spain and Coolidge Municipal Airport, Arizona. Core services include aircraft part out and disposal, parking, customs management, crating fabrication and parts storage. Learn more at www.ecube.aero
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/unical-aviation-acquires-ecube-solutions---global-experts-in-aircraft-storage-disassembly-and-transition-services-302239322.html
Xtra Energy Corporation (OTC Pink:XTPT), a mineral exploration company focused on the development of the American Antimony Project, announced that it has engaged Astra Audit and Advisory LLC, a PCAOB-registered firm, to audit the corporation's financial statements for the last two fiscal years ending December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2023. Astra Audit and Advisory LLC, as part of the engagement, will also conduct an ongoing review of the subsequent and future interim periods.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires public accounting firms to register with the PCAOB in order to prepare or issue an audit report for a US public company. The PCAOB regulates the audits of companies with securities listed in the United States of America. In 2003, the PCAOB finalized a set of rules requiring firms that audit US listed companies to register with it. The PCAOB oversees public company audits. PCAOB auditors must inspect public companies to ensure compliance with auditing standards and rules. According to PCAOB rules, registered public accounting firms and their associates must comply with all applicable auditing and related professional practice standards. Auditing firms registered with the PCAOB are subject to annual inspections.
Xtra Energy's Chairman and CEO, Mac J. Shahsavar, P.Eng., stated, "To complement our tremendous growth over the past year, it is time for Xtra Energy to begin its journey towards a senior exchange. Employing a PCAOB-registered independent audit firm is another step that enables XTPT to initiate its transition from OTC markets to becoming a fully reporting corporation. It will provide XTPT shareholders and future investors with greater certainty, transparency, and confidence, as well as help the company achieve its long-term objectives while increasing shareholder values."
Contact & Learn More:
Xtra Energy Corporation
Phone: 512-412-3636
Corporate Website: https://americanantimony.com/
Corporate Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtra-energy-corp/
Corporate Twitter: https://twitter.com/xtra_corp
Corporate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtraenergycorp/
Corporate Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093057374695
About Xtra Energy Corporation
Xtra Energy Corp. is an antimony exploration company focused on developing its flagship project "American Antimony", approximately 31 miles northeast of Eastgate, Nevada. Xtra Energy Corp. holds a 100% ownership in 214 lode claims or 4,421 acre antimony project including the historically documented Antimony King Mine and covering all other documented antimony producers of the Bernice Mining District. The Company is seeking to develop this expanding portfolio of potential antimony-rich assets to become a major supplier of antimony-based products.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements relate to future events, including our ability to raise capital, or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause materially different results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.
For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, please see our filings with the OTC Markets Group Inc. Our public filings with the OTC Markets Group Inc are available from commercial document retrieval services and at the website maintained by the OTC Markets at https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/XTPT/disclosure.
SOURCE: Xtra Energy Corp.
View the original press release on accesswire.com
Julius Baer Group Ltd. / Key word(s): Bond/Miscellaneous
Julius Baer successfully places EUR 500 million senior unsecured notes
05.09.2024 / 17:45 CET/CEST
Zurich, 5 September 2024 - Today, Julius Baer Group Ltd. has successfully placed EUR 500 million 5-year senior unsecured notes through ELM B.V., a repackaging issuance entity incorporated in the Netherlands. This EUR senior unsecured issuance allows Julius Baer to further diversify its funding strategy in international debt markets. The transaction was targeted at European institutional investors and the proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes.
Julius Baer Group Ltd. will issue loan notes to, and which are held by, ELM B.V. (or a nominee acting on its behalf), which in turn will issue its own notes to investors secured by the Julius Baer Group Ltd. loan notes. The securities carry a fixed-rate, annually payable coupon set at 3.875% per annum and have been issued in denominations of EUR 100,000. An application for admission to trading of the notes issued by ELM B.V. on Euronext Dublin will be made.
Contacts
Media Relations, tel. +41 (0) 58 888 8888
Investor Relations, tel. +41 (0) 58 888 5256
This announcement is not and shall not be interpreted or construed as a solicitation to purchase any securities of/in Julius Baer Group.
About Julius Baer
Julius Baer is the leading Swiss wealth management group and a premium brand in this global sector, with a focus on servicing and advising sophisticated private clients. In all we do, we are inspired by our purpose: creating value beyond wealth. At the end of June 2024, assets under management amounted to CHF 474 billion. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd., the renowned Swiss private bank with origins dating back to 1890, is the principal operating company of Julius Baer Group Ltd., whose shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker symbol: BAER) and are included in the Swiss Leader Index (SLI), comprising the 30 largest and most liquid Swiss stocks.
Julius Baer is present in around 25 countries and 60 locations. Headquartered in Zurich, we have offices in key locations including Bangkok, Dubai, Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Mexico City, Milan, Monaco, Mumbai, Santiago de Chile, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, Tel Aviv, and Tokyo. Our client-centric approach, our objective advice based on the Julius Baer open product platform, our solid financial base, and our entrepreneurial management culture make us the international reference in wealth management.
For more information visit our website at www.juliusbaer.com
End of Media Release
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / FedEx Corporation
Summary
2024 2nd Quarter
With support from FedEx through their Charitable Giving Program, The Salvation Army's co-branded FedEx canteens deployed to 41 events in the 2nd Quarter of 2024. Additionally, FedEx canteens in multiple locations are used to support nine recurring feeding programs in their communities. These events range from weekly community outreach for those experiencing homelessness to daily feeding programs and supporting summer camps.
The Salvation Army appreciates the support of FedEx and their donation of mobile feeding units to support our communities.
FedEx Canteens In Process
The Salvation Army Western Territory: Southwest Division
The Salvation Army Southwest Division's FedEx canteen will be housed in Phoenix, Arizona. The unit was completed at the beginning of July 2024. The Western Territory Southwest Division has scheduled the ribbon- cutting event for Thursday, August 8th in Phoenix, Arizona.
The Salvation Army Eastern Territory: Eastern Pennsylvania Division
The Salvation Army Eastern Pennsylvania Division FedEx canteen is in progress and on track to be completed just after Labor Day. The timeline has been pushed back by only a couple of weeks, but the vendor is making progress. In addition, they sent a photo of the unit having wiring and walls installed. From this point out, the canteen is roughly 12 weeks away from completion.
The Salvation Army Southern Territory: Georgia Division
The Salvation Army Georgia Division's FedEx canteen will be housed in St. Mary's, Georgia. The unit was completed at the end of May 2024. The Southern Territory Georgia Division has scheduled the ribbon-cutting event for Wednesday, August 14th.
Disaster Response
Tornado Response in Kansas
On Tuesday, April 30th, 2024, an EF-3 tornado hit Westmoreland, Kansas. The tornado destroyed 22 homes and damaged 13 others. The Salvation Army in Salina, Kansas responded on May 1st, 2024, and the Salvation Army in Kansas City, Missouri responded on May 2nd and 3rd. In these locations, The Salvation Army disaster workers served food and drinks from the FedEx canteen to survivors, first responders, volunteers, and county workers. In total, 734 meals, 380 snacks, and 833 drinks were served.
Response to Flooding in Brazil
We would like to thank FedEx for their $25,000 donation to the Salvation Army World Service Office to support relief efforts.
The most southerly region of Brazil has declared a state of public calamity due to the torrential rains and flooding in the area which have affected more than 873,000 people.
Over 80 fatalities have been reported in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, with the number expected to rise. Almost 150,000 people have been displaced from their homes.
The Guaiba river burst its banks in Porto Alegre, the state capital, flooding parts of the city and surrounding towns. The district in which the Salvation Army's corps and thrift store are located is completely flooded. The corps' outpost, in Eldorado do Sul, is practically underwater. As soon as
the roads are clear, the Salvation Army's canteen and donation truck will be heading to Porto Alegre from territorial headquarters in Sao Paulo, with water, non-perishable foods, and cleaning and personal hygiene items, which have been donated by the general public.
Teams from DHQ and Salvationists in the area have visited local surroundings to assess the devastation and need. Clothes, water, hygiene kits, cleaning supplies and food are being distributed to families experiencing difficulties.
With further rain predicted, Salvation Army emergency volunteers will continue with their rapid response in flood-damaged areas, carrying out further needs assessments on the ground as they work, seeking to provide emotional and spiritual support to those affected.
Read the full story here.
Response to Extreme Heat in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas Citizens remain dedicated to service in sweltering heat
By Abby Dodge, June 24, 2024
"KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Monday marked the hottest day on record in Kansas City this year. Despite the heat, multiple organizations throughout the metro remained committed to helping the community.
"We feel it's very important in the community," said Lauren Carr, co-pastor at Good Shepherd Community of Christ. "There are not too many organizations right in this part of eastern Jackson County."
Good Shepherd Community of Christ, which is located near 43rd and Blue Ridge Boulevard, opened its doors Monday for people wanting to escape the heat. On dangerously hot days, the community room is turned into a cooling center for anyone who needs it.
While this only happens a few times a year, people who use the center always say they are grateful for the relief.
Also on Monday, the Salvation Army's Honk 'n' Holler team, which primarily does outreach with the houseless community, loaded up a truck with water for those in need.
The emergency disaster services team and volunteers drove around the city handing out water."
Read the full article here.
Kansas City, Missouri Fan Distribution Event
In response to extreme heat in Kansas City, Missouri, The Salvation Army partnered with Evergy to distribute fans to those in need. These fan distributions were done in partnership with different local agencies and the local police department. In total, 1,529 meals and 1,670 snacks were served in addition to the fans.
Click here to view the KCTV news coverage.
Click here to view the KSHB news coverage.
Residential and Structure Fires
In the 2nd Quarter of 2024, The Salvation Army responded to ten fires with the FedEx canteens. The Salvation Army responded to four 2-alarm fires, two 3-11 fires, one 4- 11 fire, and three additional fires. The term "2-11 fire" is a two-alarm fire that requires the assistance of additional trucks and firefighters, and usually assistance of one additional fire station. A "3-11" or three-alarm fire requires the assistance of more than one fire station with additional firefighters and trucks.
In Chicago, Illinois, The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster workers served snacks and drinks from the FedEx canteen to firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), and police at four 2-11 fires. In total 185 snacks and 79 drinks were served.
In Chicago, Illinois and Mont Prospect, Illinois The Salvation Army Responded to two 3-11 fires. The first 3-11 fire response was to a large apartment fire that left 100 residents displaced on June 17th, 2024. From the FedEx canteen, disaster workers served 100 snacks and 175 drinks to firefighters, police, and displaced residents. The second 3-11 fire was a large warehouse fire on June 19th, 2024, and disaster workers served 65 snacks and 78 drinks to firefighters, EMTs, and police.
The Salvation Army responded to a 4-11 fire in Chicago, Illinois on June 18th, 2024, at a pallet warehouse. This fire was elevated to one of the highest levels of alarm for a Chicago, Illinois fire. Luckily, it burned very fast and during that time, The Salvation Army served 155 snacks and 300 drinks to firefighters, EMTs, and police.
In response to three additional fires in Waukegan, Illinois and Elk Grove Village, Illinois, The Salvation Army served in total 196 snacks and 211 drinks to firefighters, EMTs, and police. Finally, in response to a fire in Rockford, Illinois, The Salvation Army served snacks and water from the FedEx canteen to responders. Additionally, meals were provided to displaced residents for two days. In total 310 meals, 281 snacks, and 504 drinks were served.
Community Outreach
San Francisco Unhoused Feeding and Outreach
The Salvation Army San Francisco Culinary Training Academy's students prepare gourmet meals as part of their training every week. Every Friday, they take the FedEx canteen to the unhoused community of San Francisco, bringing a fantastic meal in addition to information on The Salvation Army's addiction treatment and recovery programs. In total, 3,250 meals and drinks were distributed along with referral cards to treatment offered through the Harbor Light Center.
3,250 Meals served
Greater New York Food Pantry
The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services team in Bronx, New York partners with City Harvest. City Harvest is an organization that rescues food that would otherwise be thrown out and delivers it to individuals experiencing hunger in New York. Every Tuesday and Friday volunteers distribute fresh food and vegetables from the FedEx canteen to community members in need and to new immigrants. This quarter, 100 meals, snacks, and drinks were served.
In 2023, The Salvation Army New York Temple Corps was highlighted as a 2023 Advocacy Award Honoree at their inaugural City Harvest Advocacy Summit.
100 Meals Served
Baltimore, Maryland Weekly Feeding Program
In Baltimore, Maryland, the FedEx canteens rotated between a few Corps conducting a weekly feeding program and supported the daily Baltimore Feedmore program. The Baltimore Feedmore Program primarily serves unhoused individuals as well as other marginalized populations in need. It runs six days per week, Monday through Saturday. Through the Feedmore program, 7,926 meals, 8,526 snacks, and 8,526 drinks were served along with the distribution of other needed items such as sock and hygiene kits.
Danville, Virginia PATHS Community Event
In Danville, Virginia, volunteers participated in the Piedmont Access to Health Services (PATHS) event. At this event, 200 meals were served to community members attending the event.
Georgia Community Feeding Program
During the 2nd Quarter of 2024 in Georgia, volunteers and Salvation Army officers took the FedEx canteen out to multiple locations in Lilburn, Norcross, and Lawrenceville to serve meals to the unhoused. Meals were served at long- term stay hotels and apartment buildings. These meal distributions were done in partnership with different local agencies and the local police department. In total, 565 meals and drinks were served.
One June 6th, 2024, local Advisory Council members and Salvation Army staff served the Gwinnett Police Department a special meal as a thank you for their continued partnership. At this event, 150 meals and drinks were served from the FedEx canteen.
Memphis, Tennessee Hope on Wheels Program
The Salvation Army Memphis Area Command uses the FedEx canteen for Hope On Wheels weekly food distribution throughout Metro Memphis area. Usually, a volunteer team of 5-10 help prepare over 200 meals weekly alongside, snack, drinks and needed hygiene items. This ministry is key to they success of bringing Hope to Memphis and meeting the needs of those within the displaced or less fortunate environment. In total, over 2,900 meals, 1,200 snacks, and 3,200 drinks were served.
2,900 Meals served
New Orleans, Louisiana Outreach Program
Every Wednesday, The Salvation Army in New Orleans, Louisiana takes a group of five volunteers from the ranks of Salvation Army Officers and Soldiers to various locations around the city. From the canteen, food is served and information is provided on The Salvation Army's shelter and Adult Rehabilitation Programs to community members. In the 2nd Quarter, 870 meals and 1,109 snacks were served.
870 Meals Served
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Mobile Feeding Program
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the FedEx canteen is used to assist with mobile feeding for the unhoused population at encampments and city parks. This program has greatly expanded in the last six months with a 75% increase in the number of individuals being served. This is due partly to the summer season and shelter closure during these months. However, the main reason for the program's expansion is the continued rapport building between volunteers and the unhoused population. A second Salvation Army canteen alongside the FedEx canteen to visit various encampments and a local park, where the feeding program has traditionally been held.
The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Service collaborates with other Salvation Army programs such as the Family Caring Center, Adult Rehabilitation Center, Anti-Human Trafficking Department, and the local Salvation Army Corp to provide social services. Outside partners include Home Depot, FedEx, Highmark, and numerous others.
News Article
Virginia Meal Delivery & Feeding Program
The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services team in Danville, Virginia used their FedEx canteen in Danville and Martinsville, Virginia. Every Monday, the Emergency Disaster Services team delivered breakfast to 60 food insecure children attending camp each week. On Thursdays, the FedEx canteen was taken to a lunch feeding program at the Martinsville Service Center where meals are served to in-need community members.
In total, 1860 meals and been delivered. Of these meals, The Salvation Army delivers 60 meals each week for the first five weeks of camp, and this will continue throughout the rest of the summer.
Chicago, Illinois Community Health Fair Event
The Salvation Army took the FedEx canteen to the Midwest Corp's Community Health Fair Event. From the FedEx canteen, volunteers and staff served 715 snacks and 75 drinks.
Trenton, New Jersey Mobile Feeding Program
A team of volunteers from the Trenton Corps in the Trenton area use the FedEx canteen every other Friday to serve prepared meals to the community, focusing on vulnerable populations. They also provide pantry bags, blankets, hygiene items, and other items (socks, coats, toys, etc.) as available. The Salvation Army Corps Officers and other team members work with other service providers and law enforcement to identify areas where services are needed.
Clients are provided with information and guidance to seek out additional resources according to their long-term needs. Volunteers come from various groups, including civic organizations (Rotary, Kiwanis, Elks, etc.), corps members, local high schools, college student organizations, city/county agencies, and more. This quarter, 1,613 meals, snacks, and drinks as well as 56 masks, 626 socks, and 32 toys were provided.
Social Media Post
Special Events
Miami, Florida Salvation Army Take Your Child to Work Day
In Miami, Florida, children of The Salvation Army employees participated in an all-day event teaching them about the different departments. For Emergency Disaster. Services, the group learned and participated in meal prep and service (snacks) and Emotional and Spiritual Care.
36 Snacks Served
Georgia Division Participates in Corners Outreach Resource Event
The Salvation Army Georgia Division Emergency Disaster Services team partnered with Corners Outreach on April 25th. At the Resource Event, The Salvation Army served meals to attendees from the FedEx canteen.
514 Meals Served
FDIC 2024 Lucas Oil Event
The Salvation Army Indiana Division Emergency Disaster Services assisted with the FDIC 2024 Lucas Oil Event on April 13th and 14th. This event offers training, workshops, and innovative products to Fire and Rescue professionals from around the world.
The Salvation Army worked with the Indiana Fire Department and the Indianapolis Fire Buffs at the event. From the FedEx canteen, food and drinks were served during check-in day and move-in day. A total of 235 snacks and 90 drinks were served.
Clays for a Cause in Indiana
The Salvation Army Indiana Division Emergency Disaster Services team assisted at The Salvation Army's Clays for a Cause event. The Emergency Disaster Services team served morning break snacks and drinks and drinks throughout the event from the FedEx canteen to attendees.
Kansas City, Missouri Free Smoke Alarm Event
On April 12th, 2024, The Salvation Army Southern Kansas and Western Missouri Division participated in a community event where volunteers, the local fire department trainees, and community partners installed free smoke alarms in the Argentine and Armourdale neighborhoods. From the FedEx canteen, the Emergency Disaster Services team distributed 140 meals and drinks and 240 snacks to the volunteers, fire department trainees, and community partners.
Big Rigs for Kids Event in Shawnee, Kansas
On April 13th, 2024, in Shawnee, Kansas The Salvation Army brought the FedEx canteen to Trucks and Big Rigs for Kids. This event is put on by the Johnson County Parks and Recreation Department and benefits the Special Olympics. This event gave children an opportunity to explore trucks and
big rigs. Children were able to climb into the driver's seat of the vehicles, honk the horn, turn on sirens, etcetera. They also got a chance to ask the operators about the vehicle. The children and parents enjoyed seeing the inside of the FedEx canteen and were impressed with the ability to
feed so many people.
Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program.
View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from FedEx Corporation on 3blmedia.com.
Contact Info:
Spokesperson: FedEx Corporation
Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/fedex-corporation
Email: info@3blmedia.com
SOURCE: FedEx Corporation
View the original press release on accesswire.com
TEMECULA, Calif., Sept. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases Group, part of Nikkiso Co. Ltd.'s Industrial Business segment, and GTT announced today they have entered into a partnership to support the LNG-fueled cargo shipping market. The partnership between Nikkiso CE&IG and GTT brings together cutting-edge engineering and technology for LNG membrane containment and process systems and best-in-class hardware, global manufacturing and technical integration competencies.
GTT's patented Recycool technology ensures boil-off gas (BOG) is recovered and managed safely to avoid unwanted emissions and improve fuel efficiency. Integrated with Nikkiso's high-pressure fuel gas pump skids, the partnership provides ship owners with enhanced performance by maintaining reliability durability and efficiency to give customers a competitive edge in the market.
"Our partnership with GTT and complementary expertise advances the growth of both companies in the LNG-fuelled shipping market," said Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases CEO Adrian Ridge. "This strength is evidenced by the first large order for 10 container ships, and we expect more awards in the future."
Jean-Baptiste Choimet, Chief Executive Officer of GTT, stated: "I'd like to thank the Nikkiso team for their support and collaboration. With GTT's expertise in reducing boil-off rates through our membrane technology, the Recycool system now provides LNG-fueled vessels with effective solutions for managing boil-off and lowering their carbon footprint. The adoption of Recycool by leading Chinese and Korean shipyards reflects the industry's trust in this solution."
The value of this partnership has already been recognized by large ship owners with a recent award from a leading shipping operator and numerous projects under negotiation for a variety of ship types.
About Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases Group
The Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases Group is a leading provider of cryogenic equipment, technologies and applications for clean energy and industrial gas market segments. The Group employs more than 1,700 people in 22 countries and is headed by Cryogenic Industries, Inc. in Southern California, U.S., which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nikkiso Co., Ltd. (TSE: 6376).
Media contact
pr@nikkisoceig.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8254d660-5938-486d-af42-c71dbf70962f
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bidpath, the leading global auction technology provider, is pleased to announce the appointment of David Brindley as Chief Executive Officer. Brindley assumes the role from company Founder and Executive Chairman, Adam Alexander.
Since joining the company in July of 2016 as Managing Director (UK), and with over five years as Bidpath's President, Brindley has driven the global expansion plan of Bidpath, notably across the US, Canada, Europe, South Africa and Australia. In addition to his professional roles, he currently serves on the Industrial Auctioneers Association (IAA) Membership Committee, having previously taken the European chapter of the association from concept to realization.
Reflecting on his appointment, David Brindley said, "For two decades, Adam has pursued a vision of Bidpath as the world's leading provider of auction management and online bidding solutions, empowering clients to use technology to drive growth and innovation in their own businesses. I am honored to be taking up his mantle to lead Bidpath during this next exciting phase of significant growth and innovation. Our team has worked tirelessly to solidify our place as the global leading white label technology provider, and I look forward to continuing our commitment to providing unparalleled technology solutions to any company wanting to utilize a competitive bidding platform."
Adam Alexander expressed his confidence in Brindley's leadership, stating, "David's extensive industry experience and strategic vision make him the ideal leader to guide Bidpath into the future. I greatly value David's significant contributions throughout his tenure as our President, where Bidpath has achieved significant success across all metrics, and completed several acquisitions. David and I are both committed to providing exceptional value to Bidpath's clients in all sectors through our innovative and scalable products and services. I am excited for the future of Bidpath as David leads our team to deliver on our ambitious growth targets."
About Bidpath
Bidpath, headquartered in Westlake Village with offices worldwide, proudly delivers best-in-class solutions to over 850 leading auctioneers, retailers and manufacturers in more than 30 countries, and across multiple markets and industry verticals including Commercial and Industrial; Fine Art and Collectibles; Insolvency, Recovery and Turnaround; Aerospace; Electronics; Consumer Returns and Automotive industries.
Bidpath's feature rich technology provides a uniquely customisable suite of auction management tools and a fully-supported online bidding platform, enabling clients to host dynamic live, timed, hybrid and sealed bid auctions alongside eCommerce functionality from their own website, or online marketplace.
Over the last 20 years, Bidpath has served as a strategic partner to some of the largest auctioneers, retailers, insurance providers and manufacturers, empowering them to increase sales revenue, maximise bidder participation and streamline their workflows
https://bidpath.com/
For more information, please contact:
Nicolette Alexander
Marketing Director, Bidpath
nicolette@bidpath.com
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/david-brindley-appointed-ceo-of-bidpath-302239714.html
DALTON, GA / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / SYNLawn, a leading global manufacturer and innovator of sustainable synthetic turf, is proud to support Victory Junction, a year-round camp in North Carolina for children with complex medical conditions, with the donation of an artificial grass lawn to improve accessibility for camp attendees at the newly debuted Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America Water Park.
Charity Ride Across America Water Park
SYNLawn Installation at the Charity Ride Across America Water Park.
"We are honored to create a safer and more inclusive play space for children of all abilities," said George Neagle, president of SYNLawn Global. "Philanthropy is important to our company and our culture is built on serving people around the globe through charitable endeavors that align with our mission to improve the planet through synthetic turf."
SYNSport was used to create the green space. It's the ideal turf for this type of high-traffic space since it provides superior durability and support. It's also a more environmentally friendly option due to being made with SYNLawn's exclusive plant-based EnviroLoc+ backing system created from renewable resources such as soybean oil. The sustainable grass offers a smoother and more stable outdoor space than natural grass for camp attendees who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices. Synthetic surfacing is proven to reduce injury and lessen the impact of falls by absorbing the shock better than real grass, which creates a safer play environment for all.
"We're all very appreciative of this generous and beautiful gift from SYNLawn - especially the children who will benefit from the donated lawn," said Chad Coltrane, president and CEO of Victory Junction. "The addition of the artificial turf allows us to extend our water park activities and programming from the pool to the poolside. It also adds the perfect landscape appeal and symbolizes a generous spirit of giving back. Our charitable partnerships are valuable and enable us to provide more exciting experiences for the kids."
Photos of the installation are available upon request. Learn more about SYNLawn and its sustainable turf solutions at www.synlawn.com.
ABOUT SYNLAWN
For more than 20 years, SYNLawn has led the industry as the largest manufacturer and unrivaled innovator of artificial grass and synthetic surfacing in North America. As part of the Sport Group Holding family of companies, SYNLawn delivers the best products available on the market. SYNLawn's turnkey network of over 120 distributors seamlessly combines environmental stewardship with industry-leading innovations. SYNLawn uses bio-based ingredients and consumer-conscious additives to meet customers' wide range of needs. With more than 300,000 residential and commercial installations, the company is raising the bar for global synthetic turf standards and transforming the idea of grass. We have a proprietary system with a large percentage of renewable content. From rooftops to road medians and rocket-launch viewing sites, SYNLawn has installed over 150 million square feet of U.S. soy-backed grass across 300,000 installations in the United States of America and over 20 other countries since 2008. SYNLawn added more soy than ever to its products in 2021, which increased its use of U.S. soy by 10%. For more information visit www.SYNLawn.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest and YouTube.
ABOUT VICTORY JUNCTION
Victory Junction is a year-round camp facility for children with serious illnesses and chronic medical conditions. Founded by Kyle Petty and his family in honor of his son Adam, Victory Junction provides life-changing camp experiences that are exciting, fun, and empowering, in a medically-safe environment, always free of charge. In addition to traditional camp sessions, Victory Junction's REACH program takes camp experiences to children and their families at hospitals, clinics, and other community partner sites throughout the Carolinas and Virginia. Since opening in 2004, Victory Junction has delivered more than 126,000 camp experiences and has served children from all fifty states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico, as well as four countries. Victory Junction is a member of the SeriousFun Children's Network of camps founded by Paul Newman, and is accredited by the American Camp Association. To learn more, please visit victoryjunction.org.
# # #
Contact Information
Mackenzie Smith
mackenzie@labearcommunications.com
574-524-5916
SOURCE: SYNLawn
View the original press release on newswire.com.
Animal Surgical Center's Youth Day Inspires Kids With Veterinary Education and Rescue Dog Interactions, Fostering Compassion and Responsible Pet Ownership on Sept. 21, 2024
OCEANSIDE, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / Animal Surgical Center (ASC), an accredited American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) located in Oceanside, New York, is excited to announce the launch of its first-ever Youth Day Experience, taking place on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in celebration of National Responsible Pet Owner Day. This event offers a unique and educational experience for children ages 8-12+ to learn about the world of veterinary medicine, responsible pet ownership, and animal rescue.
Animal Surgical Center Youth Day
Event Overview
Youth Day at ASC is designed to inspire and educate young animal lovers, providing them with an inside look at veterinary medicine, the operations of a veterinary hospital, and the importance of responsible pet ownership. The event will include interactive activities, a hospital tour, and the opportunity to meet adoptable pets from local rescues.
"We believe it's crucial to instill a sense of responsibility and compassion for animals in the younger generation," said Dr. Tomas Infernuso, founder and CEO of Animal Surgical Center. "Youth Day will be an educational experience and a fun and engaging way for children to connect with animals and learn about the veterinary profession."
Event Highlights
Interactive Hospital Tour: Participants will get a behind-the-scenes tour of ASC, meet the hospital team, and learn about various roles within the veterinary field.
Meet the Pets: Kids will have the opportunity to interact with adoptable pets from local rescues and some of the pets owned by ASC staff.
Educational Games and Activities: Engaging games like "What Would You Do as a Vet?" and animal trivia, alongside arts and crafts sessions, will make learning fun.
Photo Opportunities: Children can dress up in hospital gowns, pose with toy stethoscopes, and take photos in the surgery area with stuffed toy animals.
The event will be hosted by dedicated ASC team members, with participation from Dr. Tomas Infernuso, who are generously volunteering their time for this cause. The goal is to foster a love for animals and provide insight into the veterinary world, potentially inspiring future careers in animal care.
Collaboration With Local Rescues
To enhance the experience, ASC is partnering with Hurley's Heart Bulldog Rescue, founded by Summer Somer, to bring adoptable pets to the event. This collaboration offers a hands-on learning opportunity for the children while supporting the rescue organization by encouraging donations, volunteerism, and future adoptions. The interaction between the children and the dogs benefits both; it allows the dogs to engage with families in a positive environment, creating a meaningful learning experience for everyone involved.
Admission and Donations
While there is no admission fee for Youth Day, we encourage parents to donate to the participating rescue organization. The event is open to all children and local community members interested in the veterinary field.
Contact Information
Karla Hojas
Marketing Director
khojas@asc.vet
(516) 776-7127
Alyssa Rodriguez
Social Media Manager
arodriguez@asc.vet
(516) 749-7436
SOURCE: Animal Surgical Center
View the original press release on newswire.com.
In Long Beach, Accountant Partners offers a unique pricing guarantee for premier small business accounting services, including tax planning and cloud accounting.
LONG BEACH, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / Accountant Partners, a leading provider of small business accounting and tax services, aims to aid business growth and development as it announces the opening of its newest office in Long Beach, California. This expansion marks an exciting milestone in the firm's commitment to offering personalized and effective financial solutions to small businesses in the vibrant Long Beach area.
Long Beach Small Business Accountant
Long Beach Small Business Accountant
Long Beach has historically battled a shrinking workforce and lack of affordability in housing. These factors directly impact local and small businesses holding out hope there will be better economic stability for them to improve financially, especially in the post-pandemic era. As per the Downtown Long Beach Alliance Business Survey in 2022, 58% of local business owners agree that the Long Beach economy will expand in the next two years. Consequently, 53% believe their business will expand with the local economy.
With this new location, Accountant Partners is set to serve the local market with a wide array of services designed to optimize tax savings, streamline business operations, and support sustainable growth. Their expertise includes advanced tax planning, strategic business growth consultations, and seamless cloud accounting integration to reduce tax liabilities. Their approach is designed to significantly minimize tax burdens, potentially saving local businesses from $10,000 to $1 million, thus helping them grow and compete.
"As a Long Beach small business accountant, we are deeply familiar with the unique challenges and opportunities faced by local businesses," said Allan Bayer, Managing Partner at Accountant Partners. "Our mission is to empower business owners with the financial insights and tools they need to succeed. We are excited to bring our tailored services to the Long Beach community."
As Accountant Partners opens its doors in Long Beach, the firm invites local small business owners to experience the benefits of expert, personalized accounting services. Committed to integrity, efficiency, and the success of their clients, Accountant Partners is eager to help Long Beach businesses thrive.
For more information on working with a Long Beach small business accountant, visit https://accountantpartners.com/small-business-accountant-long-beach/ or contact Accountant Partners at (657) 300-6966.
About Accountant Partners:
Accountant Partners is a leading small business accounting firm helping business owners in Long Beach, CA, save up to $1M per year in taxes through partner-level accounting, reporting, and strategic advisory. With 27 years of experience, Accountant Partners specializes in best-in-class tax minimization strategies, personalized advisory, and technology-driven efficiency.
Contact Information
JP Richards
Director of Communications
releases@drakedigital.com
844-703-0880
SOURCE: Accountant Partners
View the original press release on newswire.com.
The CDC reports that healthcare workers in the U.S. face an estimated 385,000 needlestick and sharps-related injuries every year.
SAN ANTONIO, TX / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / Facing an increase in needlestick injuries, BioMedical Waste Solutions, a prominent medical waste disposal company, with locations in San Antonio, TX, is actively working to let the public know about the hazards of improper medical waste disposal, particularly needles.
San Antonio Biomedical Waste Solutions
San Antonio Biomedical Waste Solutions
The CDC approximates that about 385,000 needlestick and sharps-related injuries happen each year among U.S. healthcare workers. This figure is likely an underestimation due to underreporting, especially in private homes where the elderly and the 38.4 million Americans with diabetes depend on needle usage daily.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has underlined the threat of sharps injuries in the transmission of severe diseases, reporting annual global infection rates among healthcare workers as:
Nearly 2,005,000 cases of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)
66,000 cases of hepatitis B virus (HBV)
16,000 cases of hepatitis C virus (HCV)
Various outcomes could arise from these infections, such as long-term health problems, disabilities, and even death.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states that a third of sharps injuries occur at the point of disposal, citing the importance of stringent medical waste disposal practices to protect both healthcare workers and the general public.
To address this critical issue, the San Antonio medical waste disposal company, BioMedical Waste Solutions, released The Definitive Guide to Medical Waste Disposal in 2024. This guide is the best resource on the safe disposal of needles, syringes, and other sharp objects, showcasing the company's commitment to boosting safety and preventing the spread of infections through proper waste management.
The guide offers five crucial tips for preventing needlestick injuries:
Employing FDA-endorsed containers for sharps disposal
Refraining from exceeding the capacity of disposal bins
Refraining from reaching inside waste containers
Refraining from putting caps back on needles
Keeping hazardous sharp objects and waste containers away from young ones
JP Richards, Director of Communications at BioMedical Waste Solutions, said, "The increasing rate of needlestick injuries and their serious repercussions on healthcare workers and the community are of great concern. Our guide is vital for preventing these injuries and ensuring the safety of healthcare providers and individuals handling needles at home. We are committed to providing reliable San Antonio medical waste disposal solutions. Together, we can reduce the risks associated with needlestick injuries."
BioMedical Waste Solutions, a leading medical waste disposal company in San Antonio, encourages healthcare establishments, professionals, and individuals who utilize needles to refer to their comprehensive guide for the proper disposal of sharps and medical waste. Their vast expertise and advanced technological solutions guarantee the secure handling, transportation, and disposal of medical waste, following the strictest national, state, and local standards.
For further details on safe medical waste disposal or to view the guide from BioMedical Waste Solutions, please visit their website at https://www.biomedicalwastesolutions.com/medical-waste-disposal/ or reach out directly at 346-660-4994 or JPRichards@BioMedicalWasteSolutions.com. For more info about this San Antonio medical waste disposal company, visit: https://www.biomedicalwastesolutions.com/locations/texas/san-antonio-medical-waste-disposal/.
About BioMedical Waste Solutions:
BioMedical Waste Solutions is a leading medical waste disposal company dedicated to providing safe and reliable solutions for the management and disposal of medical waste. With a commitment to environmental responsibility and public health, the company serves healthcare facilities, private practices, dental offices, veterinarians and laboratories across America. BioMedical Waste Solutions offers comprehensive services to ensure the proper collection, transportation, and disposal of medical waste, including sharps, in compliance with all regulatory requirements.
Contact Information
JP Richards
Director of Communications
releases@drakedigital.com
(346) 660-4994
SOURCE: Biomedical Waste Solutions
View the original press release on newswire.com.
From creating a Go Bag to turning on Wi-Fi Calling, these simple tips can go a long way if natural disasters hit
In the midst of a record-breaking wildfire season and a highly active hurricane season, it's more crucial than ever to be ready if disaster hits. Yet nearly half of American adults in 2023 believed they were unprepared for a disaster, according to FEMA.
T-Mobile has taken significant steps to further prepare its network, teams and emergency response capabilities to keep customers, communities and first responders connected. This National Preparedness Month, here are some tips from T-Mobile that can help you be ready when it matters most.
Make your phone disaster-proof
Most of us have friends, family and coworkers programmed in our phones. But in an emergency, you may need to contact local police, fire departments or power companies. Program these numbers now so you don't spend precious time looking them up during an emergency.
When disaster hits, enable your phone's battery saving mode and dark mode to conserve charge. Keep calls and texts to a minimum. Download the American Red Cross and FEMA apps, subscribe to local authorities' text alerts and follow them on social networks to receive important updates.
If your power and Wi-Fi connection are still on but your mobile service is down, you may be able to call someone via Wi-Fi.
For Apple phones, turn on Wi-Fi Calling in Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling
For Android phones, go to Settings > More Connection Settings > Wi-Fi Calling.
Sometimes during a severe weather event or natural disaster, increased calls and texts at the same time can cause telecommunications networks to become congested. If you have trouble making calls, try texting instead. Text messages are more likely to get through than phone calls because they take up fewer network resources.
Assemble a Go Bag
Save precious time if disaster strikes by having a "Go Bag," which you can grab at a moment's notice and evacuate.
The American Red Cross recommends packing basic supplies including:
Water: one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
Food: non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
Flashlight
Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
Extra batteries
First aid kit
Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
Multi-purpose tool
Sanitation and personal hygiene items
Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
Cell phone with chargers
Family and emergency contact information
Extra cash
Emergency blanket
Map(s) of the area
You can also create a family emergency plan ahead of time with steps you and your loved ones can take if a natural disaster hits. This printable plan includes a meeting place and contact information so you can act quickly.
Stay safe and calm - T-Mobile's on your side
T-Mobile's network engineers prepare for weather conditions throughout the year so they can restore service if needed as soon as possible. But hazardous conditions may cause delays. Downed trees, power outages and other obstacles can hinder restoration efforts. Engineers will make repairs as soon as it's safe to do so.
T-Mobile's teams also constantly upgrade towers, network switches, data centers and other critical sites nationwide to make them more reliable, more resilient and better able to withstand disasters across big cities, rural areas and everywhere in between.
This disaster season, T-Mobile has been supporting customers and first responders around the country after hurricane Beryl, hurricane Debby and tropical storm Ernesto. T-Mobile offered Wi-Fi, power, device charging, charging supplies and other services for the community, and supported first responders by supplying Wi-Fi and connectivity for them to access critical applications such as group communication, and patient and asset-tracking platforms.
Amid wildfires in Colorado and California in August, T-Mobile's network held up well while emergency teams deployed resources to provide first responders and other public safety agencies with critical support. T-Mobile's Emergency Response teams worked to keep connectivity uninterrupted and public safety agencies and local officials connected.
T-Mobile is continuously growing its disaster response capabilities to ensure customers can communicate with loved ones and authorities. Ahead of this year's disaster season, the Un-carrier has expanded its fleet of network vehicles, hardened its network with permanent backup power solutions, and turned on new 2.5 GHz spectrum to boost critical coverage and capacity for nearly 60 million customers across the country.
T-Mobile is also teaming up with all levels of government, first responder agencies, public utilities, wireless industry partners and others to learn from previous disasters and foster continued collaboration for future response and restoration efforts.
First responders and emergency officials can sign up for Wireless Priority Service (WPS) to automatically get priority access and preemption for voice and priority access for data on T-Mobile's network at no cost. When seconds matter during times of emergency or network congestion, WPS moves critical communications to the front of the line.
This year, T-Mobile introduced the Community Support Advocates Program (CSAP). With this program, employees across the business get fully trained on T-Mobile's disaster response protocols and can then offer additional support to communities impacted by disasters across the country. CSAP members, which are growing in numbers, were on standby for hurricanes Beryl and Debby just months after the program's launch.
Don't wait until an emergency is looming to prepare. Taking key actions now can help you stay safe, informed and connected during a natural disaster, and help you recover in the aftermath.
For more information from T-Mobile on communications and disaster preparedness, check out www.t-mobile.com/news/un-carrier/t-mobile-ready-to-respond.
Follow @TMobileNews on X, formerly known as Twitter, to stay up to date with the latest company news.
View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from T-Mobile on 3blmedia.com.
Contact Info:
Spokesperson: T-Mobile
Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/t-mobile
Email: info@3blmedia.com
SOURCE: T-Mobile
View the original press release on accesswire.com
The Orbia Advance Corporation S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: ORBIA) Building Infrastructure business Wavin announced its agreement with Microsoft to tackle water stress and promote water resilience worldwide. Orbia will support Microsoft in making progress against its target to replenish more than it consumes by 2030 via various water positive projects using Orbia Building Infrastructure (Wavin) solutions for cities and urban environments.
The first project as part of this agreement has been initiated with SANASA, a public water supply and sanitation company in Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Campinas region has gone through seven droughts in the last decade, and is located in the watershed of the rivers Piracicaba, Capivari and Jundiai (PCJ watershed). As the PCJ river basin supplies more than 70% of the region's water, most notably supporting Sao Paulo, the project enables Orbia, Microsoft and SANASA to work together to reduce water losses effectively.
The SANASA project uses Orbia's Water Network Management (WNM) service, powered by TaKaDu, to improve network efficiency. WNM is a cloud-based solution that helps utilities to detect, analyze and manage network events and incidents including leaks, bursts, faulty assets, operational failures, telemetry and data issues. WNM is complemented with a central control room operated by Orbia water engineers.
Said Eliza Roberts, Water Lead at Microsoft, "We believe that Microsoft has an important role to play in helping to address water stress in the areas where we operate. Water is a shared challenge that requires a collective approach and we look forward to partnering with Orbia and SANASA to support a water project that is bringing public and private sector partners to the table to reduce water loss in Sao Paulo."
Manuelito Magalhaes Junior, President of SANASA, remarked, "We are excited about joining forces with Microsoft and Orbia. Our vision is to be a leader and benchmark in sustainable water management that can be shared throughout Brazil. We will do this using state-of-the-art technologies, delivered through innovative partnerships that will help us to be more efficient in different areas of the business."
"At Orbia, we recognize the interdependencies between climate and water and are committed to deliver solutions that the world needs for water security. A key component of our ambition to achieve net positive water impact is to engage in collective action, and we are thrilled to collaborate with Microsoft and SANASA on such an important global topic," commented Tania Rabasa Kovacs, Vice President of Sustainability and Corporate Affairs at Orbia. Continued Rabasa Kovacs, "It's only through collaborating that we can achieve our ambitions and ensure water security is preserved for future generations."
About Orbia
Orbia Advance Corporation, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: ORBIA*) is a company driven by a shared purpose: to advance life around the world. Orbia operates in the Polymer Solutions (Vestolit and Alphagary), Building Infrastructure (Wavin), Precision Agriculture (Netafim), Connectivity Solutions (Dura-Line) and Fluor Energy Materials (Koura) sectors. The five Orbia business groups have a collective focus on ensuring food and water security, expanding information access and connectivity and advancing decarbonization and the energy transition with basic and advanced materials, specialty products and innovative solutions. Orbia has a global team of over 24,000 employees, commercial activities in more than 100 countries and operations in over 50, with global headquarters in Boston, Mexico City, Amsterdam and Tel Aviv. The company generated $8.2 billion in revenue in 2023. To learn more, visit: orbia.com
About Orbia Building Infrastructure (Wavin)
Orbia's Building and Infrastructure business Wavin is an innovative solutions provider for the global building and infrastructure industry. Backed by more than 60 years of product development experience, Orbia B&I is advancing life around the world by building healthy, sustainable environments for global citizens. Whether it's to optimize water supply, improve water sanitation and hygiene, to create climate resilient cities or to reduce energy use in buildings, Orbia B&I collaborates with municipal leaders, engineers, contractors and installers to help future-proof communities, buildings and homes. Orbia B&I has over 11,000 employees across approximately 50 production sites worldwide, serving over 90 countries through a global sales and distribution network. To learn more, visit: wavin.com
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240905935790/en/
Contacts:
Kacy Karlen
Chief Communications Officer
Orbia
kacy.karlen@orbia.com
+1 (865) 410-3001
Andrea Rubiano
Director, Global Strategic Marketing
Orbia Building Infrastructure (Wavin)
andrea.rubiano@orbia.com
+44 (077) 867-03727
Study of Asgard's new cancer immunotherapy modality demonstrates potent anti-tumor effects by turning tumor cells against themselves
New data "paves the way for first-in-human trials" of lead program AT-108, which is undergoing CMC development for GMP manufacturing
AT-108 is an off-the-shelf gene therapy that induces an immune response tailored against each unique patient's cancer
LUND, Sweden, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Asgard Therapeutics, a privately held biotech company pioneering in vivo direct cell reprogramming for cancer immunotherapy, today announces the publication of key proof-of-concept data supporting its lead program, AT-108, in the high-impact, peer-reviewed journal, Science[1]. Novel data shows that AT-108 reprograms tumor cells, directly within the immunosuppressed tumor microenvironment, into an immunogenic cell fate, which mounts strong anti-tumor, antigen-specific responses and durable tumor shrinkage even upon metastatic rechallenge.
The study, co-led by Asgard Therapeutics and the Pereira Lab at Lund University, demonstrated efficient dendritic cell reprogramming in mouse models resistant to checkpoint blockade treatment and patient-derived tumor samples. The data provides preclinical proof-of-concept for an off-the-shelf, yet tumor-specific, first-in-class cancer immunotherapy, paving the way for first-in-human trials of AT-108. Reprogramming tumor cells so that they are converted into antigen-presenting dendritic cells "elicits systemic and long-term antitumor immunity," stated the authors of the study. The study entitled, In vivo dendritic cell reprogramming for cancer immunotherapy, also shows the systematic selection of an optimal delivery system for expression of key reprogramming factors in the tumor, which led to the nomination of Asgard's lead program.
Publication of the study follows Asgard's 30 million Series A financing to advance its cell reprogramming platform, as the Company continues to make significant progress in preparing AT-108 for clinical development. Asgard recently commenced activities to establish CMC process for scale-up manufacturing of GMP-grade AT-108 for Phase I/II trials.
Cristiana Pires, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Asgard Therapeutics, said: "This study demonstrates that Asgard's platform converts tumor cells into dendritic cells within living organisms - and not just in vitro. This publication in such a high-impact journal as Science demonstrates the enormous potential of our cell reprogramming approach and the quality of our scientific methodology. Together with ongoing work to establish manufacturing process for lead program, AT-108, we are focused on completing IND-enabling studies, including pharmacokinetic and GLP toxicology studies, in advance of our near-term objective of filing a clinical trial application for testing of AT-108 in patients."
Co-Lead author Fabio Rosa, PhD, Co-founder and Head of Research of Asgard Therapeutics, commented: "We are very pleased with the publication of this joint effort with Filipe Pereira and his team at Lund University, as it represents a significant milestone for the company ahead of clinical development. The new findings support the selection of a replication-deficient adenoviral vector for AT-108, demonstrating its proof-of-concept and prompting the start of advanced preclinical development. We were very excited to see that AT-108 induces complete tumor regressions and protects mice from tumor re-challenge - even in the metastatic setting."
The reprogramming of tumor cells to cDC1-like cells restores tumor antigen presentation and remodels the tumor microenvironment, reducing exhausted and regulatory populations, and promoting infiltration and activation of cytotoxic T cells. Importantly, in vivo dendritic cell reprogramming induces complete responses as a monotherapy and synergizes with immune checkpoint blockade in aggressive immune-deserted tumor models. The finding of an abscopal effect on distant non-treated tumors highlights that benefits extend beyond the primary tumor.
Alongside the Pereira Lab from where the technology spun-out, Asgard collaborated with additional researchers at Lund University, Inge Marie Svane and Ozcan Met from CCIT-DK, Denmark, and Irina Agarkova and team from InSphero, Switzerland to complete the study. The Company's research has received support from Eurostars-2 Joint Program with co-funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, Sweden's Innovation Agency, E!115376 REPRINT Grant 2021-03371, and the Strategic innovation programs, Swelife.
Notes to Editors
About Asgard Therapeutics
Asgard Therapeutics is a privately held preclinical stage biotech company pioneering in vivo direct cell reprogramming for cancer immunotherapy. The company builds on ground-breaking and proprietary reprogramming technologies to develop gene therapy products designed to set in motion efficient and personalized immune responses. Backed by Johnson & Johnson Innovation - JJDC, Inc., RV Invest, Novo Holdings, Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, and Industrifonden, Asgard Therapeutics aims to establish a pipeline of off-the shelf cancer immunotherapies that trigger personalized anti-cancer immune responses for the benefit of cancer patients in need. For more information, please visit: www.asgardthx.com.
About AT-108
AT-108 is a first-in-class, off-the-shelf gene therapy that directly reprograms tumor cells into a rare subset of dendritic cells critical for mounting efficient cytotoxic T cell responses, cDC1 cells (conventional dendritic cells type 1), which forces the tumor cells to present their tumor antigens, ultimately leading to a personalized anti-tumor immune response. It is based on a replication-deficient adenoviral vector that delivers three proprietary reprogramming factors into tumor cells, rewiring their gene expression signatures and thus "programming" them to become antigen-presenting cDC1-like cells.
1.http://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adn9083
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/asgard-therapeutics-study-published-in-science-showing-proof-of-concept-and-strong-anti-tumor-responses-via-in-vivo-cell-reprogramming-with-lead-program-at-108-302239512.html
- Presentations Explain Potential Benefits of J-Brain Cargo Technology in Delivering Biotherapeutics Across the Blood-Brain Barrier -
JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (TSE: 4552) made significant contributions at the Society for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism (SSIEM) Annual Symposium 2024, held in Porto, Portugal from September 3-6, 2024. We highlighted our proprietary J-Brain Cargo technology through two key presentations focused on advanced therapies for lysosomal storage disorders, demonstrating our pioneering role in medical innovation.
"In treating lysosomal storage disorders, it's critical to address the neurological symptoms that often accompany these conditions," said Shin Ashida, Chairman and President of JCR. "Our focus is on developing therapies that meet these unmet medical needs. Clinical data for JR-171 show its potential to be an effective treatment for both the somatic and neurological symptoms associated with mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS I). Additionally, the preclinical trials in our GM1 gangliosidosis AAV gene therapy development program have demonstrated the potential of combining our J-Brain Cargo technology with gene therapy. We will continue to update on the progress of these programs."
JCR showcased the following two presentations:
JR-171: Mucopolysaccharidosis Type I (MPS I) Poster
The following poster presentation provides a case report for four individuals with MPS I who were treated with JR-171:
Neurobehavioural and somatic improvements observed in MPS I patients treated with lepunafusp alfa (JR-171): report of four cases (PO-238)
Presenter: Ana Maria Martins, M.D., Ph.D. (Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil)
This study reports clinical data from four individuals with MPS I in Brazil who were treated intravenously with JR-171 (2 mg/kg weekly, n=2; 4 mg/kg weekly, n=2), focusing on neurobehavioral changes. These individuals with MPS I experienced marked neurobehavioral and somatic improvements, which resulted in tangible, positive changes in their quality of life.
These cases illustrate the positive neuropsychiatric and behavioral changes observed during the Phase 1/2 study of JR-171, as well as the drug's somatic efficacy, and they demonstrate its potential as an effective treatment for the somatic symptoms and neuronopathy found in individuals with MPS I. Further neurocognitive and developmental evaluation is required to consolidate and establish the efficacy of JR-171 for neuronopathic symptoms.
GM1 Gangliosidosis Poster
This poster presentation was selected as one of the highest-ranked posters. It highlights preclinical data from an adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy in a mice model of GM1 gangliosidosis:
Gene therapy for GM1 gangliosidosis mediated by AAV vector carrying BBB-penetrable enzyme (PO-211)
Presenter: Saki Matsushima, Ph.D. (Division of Gene Therapy, Research Center for Medical Sciences, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan)
This study reports preclinical data that demonstrated efficacy of AAV that expresses anti-transferrin receptor-antibody (anti-TfR antibody) fused -galactosidase (TGal). AAV was administered intravenously to the GM1 gangliosidosis mouse models. TGal expressed in the liver was secreted into the blood and efficiently penetrated the central nervous system (CNS) as well as peripheral organs. Substrates in the CNS decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The data also demonstrated efficacy of TGal in survival, histology, and behavioral evaluations. This therapeutic approach, which is the combination of AAV and anti-TfR antibody fused biotherapeutics, is expected to be applied for the treatment of several hereditary neurological diseases with CNS involvement. Further evaluation is required.
About the Society for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism (SSIEM)
Established in 1963, the aim of the society is to foster the study of inherited metabolic disorders and related topics. An international annual symposium is held to promote exchange of ideas between professional leaders in different disciplines who are interested in inborn errors of metabolism. Learn more about SSIEM: https://www.ssiem.org/.
About the J-Brain Cargo Platform Technology
JCR Pharmaceuticals has developed a proprietary blood-brain barrier-penetrating technology J-Brain Cargo, to bring biotherapeutics into the central nervous system. The first drug developed based on this technology is IZCARGO (INN: pabinafusp alfa) and was approved in Japan for the treatment of a lysosomal storage disorder.
About Mucopolysaccharidosis I (Hurler, Hurler-Scheie, Scheie Syndrome)
Mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS I) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) caused by a deficiency of a-L-iduronidase, an enzyme that breaks down glycosaminoglycans (mucopolysaccharides) in the body. The current worldwide prevalence of MPS I is estimated to be approximately 3,000-4,000 (according to JCR internal research). MPS I gives rise to a wide range of somatic and neurological symptoms. A major limitation of current ERT is that it does not address central nervous system (CNS) symptoms because of the enzyme's inability cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). MPS I is the only LSD in which hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is part of the standard of case for the severe form of the disease. Significant unmet medical need persists in all forms of MPS I.
About GM1 Gangliosidosis
GM1 gangliosidosis is an autosomal recessive disease caused by pathogenic mutations in the GLB1 gene which results in dysfunction or lack of production of lysosomal enzyme, -galactosidase, responsible for the breakdown of GM1 gangliosides and other glycolipids. Accumulation of GM1 gangliosides in multiple tissues including the brain leads to severe neurodegeneration and systemic disease manifestations resulting in premature mortality. GM1 gangliosidosis is classified into three forms (Type I to III) based on the age of onset of clinical symptoms.
About JR-171
JR-171 is a recombinant fusion protein of an antibody against the human transferrin receptor and a-L-iduronidase, the enzyme that is missing or malfunctioning in patients with MPS I. By crossing the blood brain-barrier (BBB) through transferrin receptor mediated transcytosis it is expected to be effective against central nervous system (CNS) signs and symptoms of the disease thereby addressing a significant unmet need for the treatment of MPS I. JR-171 previously was granted Fast Track designation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
About JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.
JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (TSE 4552) is a global specialty pharmaceuticals company that is expanding possibilities for people with rare and genetic diseases worldwide. We continue to build upon our 49-year legacy in Japan while expanding our global footprint into the US, Europe, and Latin America. We improve patients' lives by applying our scientific expertise and unique technologies to research, develop, and deliver next-generation therapies. Our approved products in Japan include therapies for the treatment of growth disorder, MPS II (Hunter syndrome), Fabry disease, acute graft-versus host disease, and renal anemia. Our investigational products in development worldwide are aimed at treating rare diseases including MPS I (Hurler, Hurler-Scheie and Scheie syndrome), MPS II, MPS IIIA and B (Sanfilippo syndrome type A and B), and more. JCR strives to expand the possibilities for patients while accelerating medical advancement at a global level. Our core values reliability, confidence, and persistence benefit all our stakeholders, including employees, partners, and patients. For more information, please visit https://www.jcrpharm.co.jp/en/site/en/.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control. Forward-looking statements often contain words such as "believe," "estimate," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "will," "would," "target" and similar references to future periods. All forward-looking statements regarding our plans, outlook, strategy and future business, financial performance and financial condition are based on judgments derived from the information available to us at this time. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to be materially different from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, a deterioration of economic conditions, a change in the legal or governmental system, a delay in launching a new product, impact on competitors' pricing and product strategies, a decline in marketing capabilities relating to our products, manufacturing difficulties or delays, an infringement of our intellectual property rights, an adverse court decision in a significant lawsuit and regulatory actions.
This document involves information on pharmaceutical products (including those under development). However, it is not intended for advertising or providing medical advice. Furthermore, it is intended to provide information on our company and businesses and not to solicit investment in securities we issue.
Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly or to update the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, even if new information becomes available in the future.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240905915645/en/
Contacts:
Investors Media:
JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.
Corporate Communications
ir-info@jp.jcrpharm.com
Zeus North America Mining Corp. (formerly Umdoni Exploration Inc.) (CSE:ZEUS)(OTCQB:ZUUZF)(FRANKFURT:O92) (the "Company" or "Zeus") is pleased to announce that it has increased the size of its non-brokered private placement announced on July 30, 2024 (the "Placement") and now intends to issue up to 5,664,400 units ("Units") at a price of $0.25 per Unit to raise gross proceeds of up to $1,416,100.
Each Unit will comprise one common share and one full share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire an additional common share at a price of $0.35 per share for a period of two years following closing of the Placement.
Finder's fees may be payable on all or any portion of the Placement, which is subject to regulatory and exchange approval.
The proceeds of the Placement will be utilized for exploration programs on the Company's Idaho copper projects, including its flagship Cuddy Mountain project, and for general working capital purposes.
Completion of the Placement is subject to certain conditions including the receipt of all necessary approvals and the acceptance by the Canadian Securities Exchange.
This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or under any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act, as amended, and applicable state securities laws.
On behalf of the board of directors.
"Dean Besserer"
President and CEO
For more information, please contact the Company at info@zeusminingcorp.com
FOR INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT:
Kin Communications Inc.
Ph: 604-684-6730
ZEUS@kincommunications.com
About Zeus North America Mining Corp.
The Company is in the business of mineral exploration. The Company is focused on its exploration properties in the state of Idaho known as the: Cuddy Mountain; Selway; and Great Western properties, respectively. The Idaho properties consist of 82 (Cuddy Mountain), 57 (Selway) and 38 (Great Western) lode mining claims respectively and cover a cumulative area of approximately 3822.1 acres. The Company's flagship Cuddy Mountain Property is adjacent to Hercules Metal Corp's Leviathan Copper Porphyry discovery.
Forward Looking Statements
When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of their respective officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the parties can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements and information in this news release include, amongst others, the Company's exploration plans. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.
By their nature, forward-looking statements involve 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 or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: currency fluctuations; limited business history of the parties; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities and development of projects; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general development, market and industry conditions.
The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of its securities or its financial or operating results (as applicable). The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors.
The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. The Company does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.
The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
SOURCE: Zeus North America Mining Corp.
View the original press release on accesswire.com
SecureFlag, a London, UK-based software company which specializes in cybersecurity training, received a majority investment from Copilot Capital.
The amount of the deal was not disclosed.
The partnership will help the company to scale its operations and further develop its product offerings to meet the demand for secure coding solutions.
Led by CEO Andrea Scaduto, SecureFlag specialises in providing hands-on, practical secure coding training for developers and engineers involved in software development. Partnering with global companies, it offers a suite of training products across more than 45 coding languages.
Customers include Forbes Global 2000 companies and global brands across financial services, technology, government, industry, and more.
FinSMEs
05/09/2024
Portex founder and chief executive officer Brittany Ennix
Portex, a San Francisco, CA-based tool where shippers can handle everything related to freight management in one place, raised $6.25m in seed funding.
The round was led by Footwork and joined by Cowboy Ventures. Existing investors Susa Ventures and Base 10 also participated in the round.
The company will use the new funding to accelerate its AI-focused product development and go-to-market.
The funding round comes as the startup approaches nearly $100 million in annualized freight transport bookings across its rapidly growing, global customer base of small- to mid-sized companies.
Led by founder and chief executive officer Brittany Ennix, Portex provides a cloud-based software platform that allows small- to mid-sized companies to centralize communication across their broker and forwarder partners with instant messaging, as well as to manage freight bids and quotes, shipment status, and carrier performance. Importantly, Portex is broker-agnostic, empowering shippers to work with as many brokers or carriers as makes sense for their pricing and service needs.
Customers include Armorock, Franklin Foods, and Community Coffee.
Looking ahead, Portex will roll out a suite of AI-powered features to make freight management more automated and strategic. Its modern backend and structured data make the platform ideally suited to use AI to make everything from pricing suggestions, to benchmarking, and analytics faster and more intelligent.
For example, companies on it will soon be able to use conversational prompts to generate tailored analytics reports. Portex will also be able to suggest carrier selections to customers based on factors like performance, route, ship time, and/or cost.
The company will also add other key functionality like invoice reconciliation and payments in the coming months.
FinSMEs
05/09/2024
Bill Clark, CEO Demex
The Demex Group, a Washington, DC-based risk analytics and intelligence company, raised $10.25M in funding.
The round consisted of a Series A and a SAFE funding round, led by Congruent Ventures and included Moxxie Ventures, MetaProp, and existing investor Blue Bear Capital.
The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its development efforts.
Led by President and CEO Bill Clark, Demex is an independent data and analytics company that partners with reinsurance brokers, insurers, and reinsurers to solve the rising challenge of frequent property losses from secondary perils. It models loss accumulation based on weather and claims data, informed by climate research, and provides parametric stop-loss solutions that meet the needs of insurers and reinsurers.
FinSMEs
05/09/2024
threatER, a NYC-based cyber defense company focused on eliminating cyber threats before they reach the network, received a financing from CIBC Innovation Banking.
The amount of the deal was not disclosed.
Led by CEO Brian McMahon, threatER provides a comprehensive cybersecurity platform that provides active network defense by automating the enforcement, deployment, and analysis of cyber threats at scale. It offers a range of solutions to proactively and automatically safeguard organizations against cyber threats.
Their patented solution effectively blocks all known threats, enabling the rest of the modern cyber security stack to do its job more efficiently.
The company intends to use the funds to support its scale up to help medium-sized businesses and enterprises, especially in financial services, healthcare and legal, protect their business from cyberattacks and increasingly sophisticated digital bad actors.
FinSMEs
05/09/2024
The purpose of protest by Sebi staff was to show dissent and unity against the arm-twisting exercise done by the top management in the garb of a press release and demand Madhabi Puri Buchs resignation for spreading lies against employees read more
As many as 200 employees of Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) carried out protest on Thursday (September 5) in Mumbai after the market regulator, in a recent media release, termed their letter dated August 6 on toxic work culture addressed to the Finance Ministry misguided by external elements.
The protest which was held outside the Sebis headquarters in Mumbai lasted for about a couple of hours, following which they dispersed and returned to work.
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Why were Sebi employees protesting in Mumbai?
An internal message sent to Sebi employees mentioned that the purpose of the protest was to show dissent and unity against the arm-twisting exercise done by the top management in the garb of a press release."
Demands of protesters
The message further read that the immediate demand is withdrawal of press release and resigning of Sebi chairperson (Madhabi Puri Buch) for spreading lies against Sebis employees."
What did Sebi press release say?
On Wednesday (September 4), the claims by the employees of toxic work culture at Sebi in a letter to the Finance Ministry is misguided and perhaps triggered by external elements."
it is our belief that Sebis junior officers, who were in large numbers, originally aggrieved in respect of HRA allowances, have been misguided, perhaps by external elements To believe that as employees of a Regulator, they should not be held to high standards of performance and accountability even though, they have in fact demonstrated that they are fully capable of delivering to high standards to the market ecosystem, Sebi said in the release.
The capital market watchdog further claimed that the junior staffer were misguided to believe that they are being underpaid, even at a CTC (cost to company) of Rs 34 lakh per annum and that it would be in their interest to use issues of work culture to bargain for monetary benefits and that they should get automatic promotions."
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Sebi even stated in the release that some of the initiatives taken during the last two-three years as part of its attempts to improve the work culture.
Over the last 2-3 years, Sebi employees have embraced these new initiatives. Ageing of pending matters across every single department has shown significant improvement and the market has felt the responsiveness and timeliness of Sebis actions as well, Sebi said.
The statement further said that the claims of unprofessional work culture in letter to the Finance Ministry were misplaced and seemed to have stem from instances such as under-pitching of processing capability of officers by as low as 1/4th of actual capacity, misreporting of status of achievement of KRAs, shuttling of files between departments over a long period to avoid taking decisions (and) Adjusting appraisal marks of poorly performing officers to somehow make them eligible for promotion."
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Sebi employees complain letter to Finance Ministry
Sebi officials complained about the toxic work culture, micromanaging and use of harsh language at Sebi under the leadership of Buch.
Shouting, scolding and public humiliation have become a norm in meetings, Sebi officials highlighted in the letter.
Also Read: Did market regulator Sebi have a toxic work culture? Report says
They also accused Sebi leadership of using harsh language, setting unrealistic targets and micromanaging.
Sebi has a strength of around 1,000 officers of Grade A and above. The five-page letter, titled Grievances of Sebi Officers - A Call for Respect sent to the Finance Ministry, was signed by about 500 of them.
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With inputs from agencies.
BPGP is an online MBA programme by IIMA for entrepreneurs and professionals who want to continue working alongside academics read more
Amitabh Bachchans granddaughter and Abhishek Bachchans niece Navya Naveli Nanda has taken admission in one of Indias most famous business schools, the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA), in the Blended Postgraduate Programme (BPGP).
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To celebrate her achievement, she took to Instagram and wrote, Dreams do come true!!!!!! The next two years with the best people and faculty! Blended Postgraduate Programme (BPGP) Class of 2026."
However, many social media users said that they were surprised that a star kid got through a highly selective Indian institute for higher studies with some calling BPGP not a flagship programme and not a real MBA with some even asking whether Nanda had gotten through on NRI or management quota
However, an IIM Ahmedabad professor named Promila Agarwal set the record straight as she tweeted, Dont insult IIMA by assuming that we have any quota for any program, cut off & interview for this one, before tweeting, She got solid CV btw*. U dont necessarily need CAT. Link**. Irrespective, hats off to everyone for being courageous enough to sign up for rigorous program. PS: Just like other students, looking forward to her posts cribbing abt hard life at IIMA
What is BPGP
This is an online MBA programme by IIMA for entrepreneurs and professionals who want to continue working alongside academics. It focuses on teaching managerial skills to working management professionals. The duration of the course is 2 years.
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Eligibility criteria
The working professional or entrepreneur must have three years of full-time work experience. The applicant must be at least 24 years old and have a bachelors degree (CA/CS/ICWA) or equivalent in any other stream.
Course fee
The cost of the course is INR 20 lakh excluding transport and lodging charges for on-campus modules.
The investigations revealed that Pavithra Gowda who came to the scene of the crime with Darshan was asked to deal with Renukaswamy for sending obscene pictures and derogatory messages read more
After the submission of the charge sheet by the police in the court, some shocking revelations have surfaced in the Renukaswamy murder case, which involves Kannada superstar Darshan and his partner Pavithra Gowda. As per sources, Gowda had told a fan that when he pleaded guilty in front of her, she kicked him and said he didnt deserve to live.
The investigations revealed that Pavithra Gowda who came to the scene of the crime with Darshan was asked to deal with Renukaswamy for sending obscene pictures and derogatory messages.
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Renukaswamy, who was by then brutally assaulted and subjected to inhuman torture by a gang of 15 people and Darshan, was bleeding and had sustained injuries all over the body, pleaded with her by joining both of his hands to spare him.
However, Pavithra Gowda slapped him, asked him why he should live and told him that he did not deserve to be alive. Later, she kicked him and walked away, police stated in the charge sheet, sources said.
The police sources said that during the investigation it was found that the blood stain marks of Renukaswamy stuck to Pavithra Gowdas sandals and clothes when she kicked and slapped him. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) reports have found the blood stains of Renukaswamy on the seized clothes of Pavithra Gowda.
The probe also revealed that the next morning after the murder of Renukaswamy, Pavithra Gowda had visited a beauty spa and got services. Later, she was summoned by the police to the station and arrested. Pavithra Gowda, the prime accused in the fan murder case, had provoked, conspired, and even participated in the brutal crime, states the charge sheet.
The investigation revealed that Pavithra Gowda, who is currently in judicial custody at Bengaluru Central Prison, actively participated in murdering Renukaswamy.
Previously, it was believed that she had only beaten the victim with slippers but had been present while Renukaswamy was hacked to death.
Gowda, 33; third accused Puttaswamy alias Pavan K., 29; fourth accused Raghavendra, 43; fifth accused Nandeesha, 28; sixth accused Jagadish alias Jagga, 36; seventh accused Anukumar alias Anu, 25; 11h accused Nagaraju; 12th accused Lakshmana; 13th accused Deepak, and 16th accused Keshavamurthy are directly involved in the heinous act of murder and have scant respect for the law, as per the evidence, sources said.
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The police had also brought to the courts notice that Pavithra Gowda and Darshan, along with other accused, were using a group of fans to obstruct the investigation. The technical evidence collected had proven the direct involvement of the accused.
Pavithra Gowda, a divorcee and a single mother aspired to become a popular actress. Being a budding actress, she got an opportunity as a lead actor in Tamil and Kannada movies. She identifies herself as a fashion designer, model, artist and managing director of a boutique. She gained fame in the Kannada film industry in the backdrop of her close association with Darshan.
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Pavithra is known as Darshans long-time companion. Sources close to Darshan reveal that Pavithra Gowda got into a competition with Darshans wife Vijayalaxmi in terms of possession of jewels and luxury cars and compelled Darshan to make public appearances with her after he was seen with his wife.
Pavithra Gowda and Darshans wife had a spat through their social media posts. The development had prompted Darshans fans to take sides and attack one of them. Renukaswamy chose to support Vijayalaxmi and attacked Pavithra Gowda leading to his brutal death, police stated.
With inputs from IANS
Kollywood actor Chiyaan Vikram, who is currently basking in the success of his latest release Thangalaan, revealed about his life-threatening accident when he was in college and doctors declared that he wouldnt be able to walk.
The Mahaan star recalled the incident when he was returning from IIT Chennai after performing a play. It was a bad accident. They took me to the hospital and they wanted to amputate my leg, it was that bad. If I would have had a cut, blood would have come out. Because there was no cut, my bones had broken. My leg swelled up and the pulse stopped (in the leg). This results in gangrene, I still have gangrene. They didnt know what to do at the Government hospital. They said lets amputate his leg or hes going to die, said Vikran at The Ranveer Show.
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However, Vikrams mother did not want her son to lose his leg and he was shifted to a private hospital. The doctors managed to save his leg but said that he wont be able to walk again. I was in bed for three years. I had 23 surgeries, I had infection, one year on crunches. I didnt walk for four years and this was last year of college. I had pins (on my leg) and it was crazy, he said.
In my mind, I wanted to be an actor so badly, I said I will walk, I wont just walk, I will run. I used to go swimming, I had my crunches and worked at it. Then it came down to one crunch and then I used to have a walking stick, and I couldnt even walk. I couldnt bend my leg because the operation was done after five months and my knee had stiffened, the actor asserted.
How do you act in a movie if you cant bend your leg? I had gone through all of that. But I had decided I am going to walk, I am going to act, he said. Somehow I got into a film, landed a serial, landed in a movie, then another movie but none of my movies were a hit. The maximum audience were 20-25 people. And that was for 10 years before Sethu happened. The doctor saw my after five years and asked, Hey, youre walking? Youre not supposed to walk! He was shocked. Which is why I relish every character, frame and every movie of mine because I think of everything as a blessing, Vikram added.
Wednesday, September 5, is a busy day with key events including PM Modis meeting with Singapores Lawrence Wong to deepen bilateral ties. The jury selection in Hunter Bidens tax trial will begin read more
Wednesday, September 5, is shaping up to be a busy day with several significant events on the agenda.
First, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting with his Singaporean counterpart, Lawrence Wong, as part of his two-day official visit to Singapore aimed at deepening the strategic partnership between the two nations.
In India, President Droupadi Murmu will preside over the National Awards ceremony in New Delhi, honoring 50 exceptional teachers from across India for their outstanding contributions to education.
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Meanwhile, shareholders of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) are expected to approve the issuance of bonus shares, marking the fifth time in 41 years.
Across the globe, in the US, jury selection begins in Hunter Bidens tax trial. The presidents son is facing charges for allegedly failing to pay over a million dollars in federal taxes, with his past struggles with drug addiction likely to play a significant role in the proceedings.
Modi to hold meeting with Singaporean counterpart
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Singapore for a two-day official visit on Wednesday aimed at further enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries. This visit follows his trip to Brunei as part of New Delhis Act East policy.
India and Singapore already share a strategic alliance in the region, and Modis visit is intended to deepen the strategic partnership. He is visiting Singapore at the invitation of his counterpart, Lawrence Wong.
This marks Modis first visit to Singapore in six years, his last being in 2018. The visit also comes shortly after Lawrence Wong assumed office as the new Prime Minister of Singapore and just weeks after Narendra Modi began his third consecutive term as Indias Prime Minister.
President Murmu to present awards to educators
Teachers Day, celebrated on September 5, marks the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. To honour this occasion, the Department of School Education & Literacy, under the Ministry of Education, organises a National-level function each year to present the National Awards to the countrys top teachers.
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This year, 50 teachers from various states and union territories have been selected for their exceptional contributions to education. They will be honoured by President Droupadi Murmu in a ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan, starting at 4:15 pm.
The awardees represent 28 states, 3 union territories, and 6 organisations. The list includes 34 male and 16 female teachers, with 2 educators who are differently-abled and 1 who specialises in working with children with special needs (CWSN).
In addition to these 50 teachers, 16 educators from the Department of Higher Education and 16 from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship will also receive awards during the ceremony.
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Reliance to approve bonus issue
Shareholders of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), Indias largest listed company by market capitalization (20.53 lakh crore), are set to receive bonus shares for the fifth time in 41 years.
This bonus issue follows a period of flat financial performance for the company in the April-June 2024 quarter and a lackluster stock performance despite a strong market. The issuance of bonus shares is expected to enhance liquidity in the stock, making it more accessible to investors.
Hunter Biden trial jury selection
Hunter Biden is set to face trial for the second time this year, beginning this week, on criminal charges related to his alleged failure to pay over a million dollars in federal taxes.
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The presidents son is accused of withholding at least $1.4 million between 2016 and 2019, during a period when he struggled with cocaine addiction following the death of his brother from brain cancer.
Bidens drug addiction was a key aspect of his earlier trial on felony gun charges, where a Delaware jury convicted him in June of lying about his drug use on a federal gun purchase form, marking the first criminal conviction of a sitting US presidents child.
The details of Bidens troubled past are expected to be a significant focus in his upcoming tax trial. Jury selection is set to begin today, with opening statements scheduled for September 9. Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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Today in History - September 5
Teachers Day : Celebrated in India to honor teachers and their contribution to society. The day commemorates the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Indias second President and a distinguished educator, who was born on September 5, 1888.
International Day of Charity : Established by the United Nations, this day promotes charitable efforts and encourages support for various humanitarian causes worldwide.
Birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan : Born in 1888, Dr. Radhakrishnan was a philosopher, statesman, and Indias second President. His contributions to education and philosophy are celebrated on this day, also marked as Teachers Day in India.
Birth anniversary of actor Pankaj Tripathi : Born on September 5, 1976, Pankaj Tripathi is a renowned Indian actor known for his roles in Hindi cinema and web series, celebrated for his versatile acting skills.
Death anniversary of Mother Teresa : The revered Catholic missionary, known for her selfless service to the poor, died on September 5, 1997. Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and was canonised as a saint by the Catholic Church.
Death anniversary of Neerja Bhanot : An Indian flight attendant, Neerja Bhanot was killed while saving passengers during the hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 on September 5, 1986. Her bravery posthumously earned her Indias highest civilian awards for bravery.
Death anniversary of Gauri Lankesh : An Indian journalist and activist, Gauri Lankesh was shot dead outside her home in Bengaluru on September 5, 2017. She was known for her outspoken views on social justice and criticism of right-wing extremism.
Munich Olympics Attack (1972) : On September 5, 1972, eight members of the Palestinian terrorist group Black September took Israeli athletes hostage at the Munich Olympic Games, resulting in the deaths of 11 athletes and a prolonged crisis that shocked the world.
Beard Tax in Russia (1698) : On September 5, 1698, Tsar Peter I of Russia imposed a tax on men who wore beards as part of his efforts to modernise Russian society along Western lines.
Hurricane Fran (1996) : Hurricane Fran made landfall near Cape Fear, North Carolina, on September 5, 1996. The storm caused extensive damage along the East Coast, leading to significant loss of life and property.
First US Labour Day Parade (1882) : The first Labour Day parade in the United States was held in New York City on September 5, 1882. The event marked a significant moment in the labour movement, celebrating the contributions of workers.
Jourdan Law and Conscription in France (1798) : On September 5, 1798, the Jourdan Law was enacted in France, making military conscription mandatory for all able-bodied men between the ages of 20 and 25.
Hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 (1986): On September 5, 1986, Pan Am Flight 73 was hijacked by four armed men at Karachi International Airport. The ordeal lasted over 16 hours, leading to the deaths of 20 passengers, including Neerja Bhanot, who was posthumously awarded for her heroism.
Firstpost is part of the Network18 group. Network18 is controlled by Independent Media Trust, of which Reliance Industries is the sole beneficiary.
A social media post by Australias embassy in Iran celebrating Wear It Purple Day with purple cupcakes has sparked a diplomatic row with Tehran. The post, promoting LGBTQIA+ inclusivity, was condemned by Iran as disrespectful to its cultural norms. Homosexuality is illegal in Iran, punishable by death, and the post led to the Australian ambassador being summoned read more
A seemingly innocent Instagram post featuring purple cupcakes and a show of support for the LGBTQIA+ community has escalated into a diplomatic clash between Australia and Iran.
The post, which commemorated Australias annual Wear It Purple Day, has drawn condemnation from Tehran.
Where did it start?
On Monday, Australias embassy in Iran shared a bilingual post in both English and Farsi on Instagram. The post featured Australias Ambassador to Iran, Ian McConville, wearing a purple bow tie, holding a bouquet of purple flowers, and posing alongside his family.
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Accompanying the image was a vibrant display of purple cupcakes. The post was made to celebrate Wear It Purple Day, an Australian initiative aimed at supporting LGBTQIA+ youth and promoting inclusivity.
Celebrating Wear it Purple Day with a splash of purple in every corner, and some delicious cupcakes made with love, the post read.
It went on to affirm Australias commitment to creating a supportive environment: Today, and every day, were dedicated to creating a supportive environment, where everyone, especially LGBTQIA+ youth, can feel proud to be themselves.
Why did the post irk Iran?
Despite the lighthearted tone of the post, it was met with outrage in Iran, where homosexuality is illegal and can result in severe punishments, including flogging and even the death penalty.
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Iran is widely recognised as one of the most repressive nations regarding LGBTQIA+ rights, with male homosexuality carrying the risk of execution and women facing 100 lashes. The Iranian government also mandates that transgender individuals undergo gender reassignment surgery for recognition, but discrimination remains rampant even then.
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In the words of one Iranian diplomat according to Irans Mehr news agency, The content published by the Australian embassy is insulting and contrary to Iranian and Islamic tradition, customs and culture.
How did Iran respond?
Irans foreign ministry did not take the post lightly. Irans semi-official ILNA news agency reported that Tehran summoned McConville, expressing its disapproval of the post, which it deemed norm-breaking and disrespectful.
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A spokesperson for the ministry condemned the post as an insult to Iranian culture and values. The content published by the Australian embassy is insulting and contrary to Iranian and Islamic tradition, customs, and culture, the diplomat stated, accusing the post of violating international law, including the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.
McConville, however, was quick to clarify the embassys stance. According to Irans state news agency IRNA, he stressed that Australia had no intention of offending the Iranian people or their values and pointed out that the post made no specific reference to Iran or its government.
The Islamic Republic was not mentioned in the post, McConville reiterated during his discussion with Iranian officials.
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While the diplomatic conversation aimed to calm tensions, the post remained live on Instagram as of Thursday morning, receiving hundreds of supportive comments, including one from Germanys embassy in Tehran, which replied with three purple love hearts.
How did Canberra react?
Australian foreign minister Penny Wong publicly backed the embassys actions, reaffirming Australias commitment to human rights and equality on the global stage. Australia is a proud advocate for human rights. At home and in the world, we work to advance these principles, Wong stated.
Additionally, Murray Watt, Australias federal workplace relations minister, also expressed concern over Tehrans response. Speaking to ABC News Breakfast, Watt said, Were very proud about the fact that our embassies promote Australian values internationally. And Im very concerned to see an overseas government seemingly take action against an Australian embassy that is upholding Australian values.
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"Wear it Purple Day is a great opportunity to show up for LGBTQIA+ children & young people & support them to take pride in who they are. All young people, regardless of sexuality, sex or gender identity, have the right to non-discrimination, respect & equality," @AnneHollonds pic.twitter.com/zLc7hxNkYr Australian Human Rights Commission (@AusHumanRights) August 30, 2024
Despite the harsh reaction from Iranian authorities, the post has garnered significant support online. Commenters expressed solidarity with Australias message, with one user commenting, Freedom and equality for all, accompanied by purple hearts.
Others, however, sided with Iran, demanding that the embassy respect the laws of Iran, and even called for an apology to the Iranian people.
How are Australia-Iran relations as of late?
The diplomatic spat over a social media post comes on the heels of other tensions between the two countries. Just last month, the Iranian ambassador to Australia was summoned by Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade following a provocative post on X (formerly Twitter), in which Iran expressed its desire to wipe out the Zionist plague out of the holy lands of Palestine no later than 2027.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the post as anti-Semitic and hateful, further straining relations between the two nations.
Irans latest grievance over the Wear It Purple Day post highlights the deep cultural and ideological divide between the two countries, particularly regarding LGBTQIA+ rights. While Australia has been a vocal advocate for human rights and inclusivity, Iran continues to enforce strict interpretations of Islamic law, including severe punishments for homosexuality.
As of now, the Australian government has not issued a formal apology for the post, and the Instagram image remains live on the embassys page.
With inputs from agencies
India and Singapore have signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen cooperation in the field of semiconductors in the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modis trip. Singapore, which entered the semiconductor field in 1986, today makes 10 per cent of the worlds semiconductors, has five per cent of the worlds fabrication capacity and 20 per cent of the equipment production. Heres how the tiny country became a powerhouse and how it can assist Indias quest to become a chip-making player read more
Nine of the top 15 semiconductor manufacturers including Qualcomm, AMD, Applied Materials, Global Foundries, and Micron have a presence in Singapore. Reuters
On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited a semiconductor company in Singapore.
Modi, who is on a two-day trip to the city-state, was accompanied by his Singapore counterpart Lawrence Wong.
Modi made the trip at Wongs invitation.
This came on the same day that India and Singapore signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen cooperation in several fields including semiconductors.
India has been seeking to join the ranks of countries that make semiconductors.
But how is small Singapore such a semiconductor powerhouse? How it can help Indias plans?
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Lets take a closer look:
A semiconductor powerhouse
Singapore entered the semiconductor race early.
As per Tech in Asia, Singapore in 1986 became just the second nation to join the industry.
It all began on the premises of the Singapore Institute of Standards and Industrial Research (SISIR).
Philip Yeo, who was part of the Singapore Administrative Service and founding chairman of the National Computer Board, played a crucial role in the countrys promotion and development of semiconductors.
Investment agencies such as Temasek and EDB/I also played a part.
Singapore established its first Electronic Packaging Research Consortium in 1996.
As per CNBC, Singapore today puts out around 10 per cent of the worlds semiconductors.
It has five per cent of the worlds fabrication capacity and 20 per cent of the equipment production.
Nine of the top 15 semiconductor manufacturers including Qualcomm, AMD, Applied Materials, Global Foundries, and Micron have a presence in Singapore.
As per EDB, around 35,000 people work in Singapores semiconductor sector.
In its 2024 budget, it announced that it would spend around $21.5 billion over five years towards research and development.
According to Semi.org, Singapore 89 new semiconductor fabs or foundries have already sprung up since 2022.
A total of 109 fabs are expected to become fully functional by 2026.
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Singapore makes around 17 per cent of the chips used in the United States, as per Medium.
What makes this feat all the more impressive is that the city state has under 0.1% of the worlds population and less than 0.001% of the worlds land resources.
NXP Semiconductors and Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation in June unveiled plans to build a $7.8 billion factory in the city-state.
This follows fresh investments from GlobalFoundries, Micron Technology and others showcasing Singapores expertise in the industry.
While Taiwan dominates high-end chip-manufacturing, Singapore has carved out a slice of the global tech supply chain making low-end chips vital to electric cars, smartphones and more.
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Its highly-productive workforce, well-developed research and manufacturing infrastructure, and sophisticated logistics have helped boost semiconductor manufacturing to seven per cent of GDP. The government also supports the industry through friendly policies and tax breaks.
Around 35,000 people work in Singapores semiconductor sector.
The city has emerged as the largest production hub outside the United States for US-based firms including Applied Materials and Micron.
All of which makes Singapore a logical choice for NXP and Vanguards joint venture.
The new factory will produce 130 nanometer to 40 nm chips using technology TSMC developed some two decades ago.
Its a commoditised market where profit margins and returns are generally low.
How can Singapore be of help Indias plans?
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India has announced its plans to become a chip-making powerhouse.
Though India is pulling out all the stops to woo foreign chipmakers including subsidies, it is playing catch-up to Taiwan and China and thus needs all the help it can get.
New Delhi can use its existing relationship with Singapore which after all is its largest trading partner in the ASEAN and from which it gets maximum FDI to draw investment.
The MOU on Semiconductor Ecosystem Partnership signed today is a step towards that.
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Prime Minister Modi also invited the Singaporean semiconductor companies to participate in the SEMICON INDIA exhibition to be held in Greater Noida on September 11 to 13, 2024.
Moneycontrol quoted Singapores Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan as saying that advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, aviation and maritime connectivity are going to be the new areas of collaboration and offer significant opportunity for both nations.
As per News24, though Singapore has a sophisticated semiconductor industry, its tiny size limits its growth potential.
Its universities offer specialised programs in microelectronics, IC design, and semiconductor engineering. They can help Indian educational institutions in developing similar programmes that cater to the growing needs of Indias semiconductor industry, the piece noted.
It added that Singapore-based firms can also use India as a base for assembly and testing as it would be a far cheaper option.
In return, New Delhi can get the benefit of advanced technologies and processes developed in Singapore, augmenting its semiconductor manufacturing capabilities, the piece contended.
The piece added that Singapore can be of assistance in setting up Wafer Fab Parks which are designed to manufacture semiconductors.
These Fab Parks can be equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and tailored services to attract top global semiconductor companies, the piece noted.
Singapore is five years ahead of us. (Semicon) packaging is a low hanging opportunity for us. At the moment, Malaysia is packaging all sorts of chips, but how much can they expand? We have good English speaking talent, good tech talent, and the government rolling out a red carpet. Singapore is the Asia Pacific headquarter for global MNCs who would want to tap into India. Lots of semicon ecosystem companies have offices and operations there, including equipment companies for semi fabs, Neil Shah of Counterpoint Research told Moneycontrol.
Singapore has limitations in land and labour, while India has abundant land and skilled labour. This makes India a valuable part of Singapores semiconductor value chain. Semiconductor companies in Singapore can be encouraged to consider India for their expansion plans, an official told CNBC.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March laid foundation stones of three semiconductor fabrication plants being built at a cost of Rs 1.25 lakh crore.
The plants, together with Microns under-construction unit in Sanand, Gujarat, will help cut Indias dependence on countries like Vietnam.
Modi said only a handful of nations are manufacturing semiconductors today, and emphasised the need for a reliable supply chain after the disruptions caused by the pandemic.
India, he said, is keen to play a crucial role in this and highlighted the countrys tech space, nuclear, and digital power.
Elaborating on the future plans where India is primed to take on commercial production for the semiconductor sector, he said, The day is not far when India will become a global power in the manufacture of products for the semiconductor sector.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March laid foundation stones of three semiconductor fabrication plants being built at a cost of Rs 1.25 lakh crore.
The projects for which foundation was laid included Tata Groups Rs 91,000 crore plant at Dholera to make 50,000 wafers per month and another Rs 27,000 crore unit in Morigaon, Assam, as well as a Rs 7,600 crore facility of Murugappa Groups CG Power at Sanand, Gujarat.
According to Communications and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, semiconductors will start rolling out from Tata Electronics plant in December 2026. Micron will start producing chips by December 2024.
The units which will make chips for sectors, including defence, automobiles and telecommunications.
Referring to his governments commitment to make the country a semiconductor manufacturing hub, he said when India commits, it delivers, and added that chip manufacturing opens the door of development with infinite possibilities.
Two years ago, we declared a Semiconductor Mission and announced that we would take initiatives. Within a few months, we signed MoUs and today we are laying the foundation stones for three projects. India commits, India delivers and democracy delivers, he said.
India is already decades behind in semiconductor manufacturing, but will not lose a single moment any longer, he said.
For the first time, India dreamt of semiconductor manufacturing in the 1960s. But even after this, the then governments did not take advantage of those opportunities. The biggest reasons behind this were lack of willpower, lack of effort to convert our pledge into achievement, and lack of capacity to take far-sighted decisions for the country, he added.
People who were in those governments said there was no need to hurry as this is a future need. Hiding behind Indias poverty, they kept ignoring all such investments of modern needs. They would commit corruption worth thousands of crores of rupees, but would not invest in semiconductor manufacturing, he said.
No country can develop with such thinking, he said.
Therefore, our government is working with forward-looking thinking and a futuristic approach. Today, we are moving ahead with the ambitions of competing with developed countries in the semiconductor sector, he said.
Only a few countries in the world are manufacturing semiconductors, and Covid-19 has given us a lesson to have a reliable and resilient supply chain. India is eager to play a very big role in this direction, Modi said.
He said the country has always been a space, nuclear and digital power.
In the coming time, we will begin commercial production of semiconductor products. Days are not far when India becomes a global power in this field as well, he said.
The 21st century is a technology-driven century, and we cannot imagine it at all without an electronic chip. Made in India and Design in India chip will create a big capability to take India towards self-reliance, he said.
Tata Electronics Pvt Ltd will set up a semiconductor fab in partnership with Taiwans Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp at Dholera while Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt Ltd (TSAT) will set up a chip unit in Morigaon, Assam.
CG Power, in partnership with Renesas Electronics Corp and Stars Microelectronics of Thailand, will set up a unit in Sanand.
Tata Electronics plant will cater to multiple sectors power management chips for electric vehicles, telecom, defence, automotive, consumer electronics, display, and power electronics.
The Assam facility, Indias first semiconductor unit in the Northeast, will develop indigenous advanced semiconductor packaging technologies, including flip chip and ISIP (integrated system in package) technologies, with a capacity of 48 million chips per day.
The target segments for these would be automotive, EVs, consumer electronics, telecom, and mobile phones, among others.
Renesas is a leading semiconductor company focussed on specialised chips. It operates 12 semiconductor facilities and is an important player in microcontrollers, analogue, power, and system-on-chip products.
Its joint venture plant with CG Power will have a capacity for 15 million chips per day, and will manufacture chips for consumer, industrial, automotive and power applications.
Vaishnaw said efforts were being made to set up a semiconductor industry in India since 1962 but it has become successful now.
He said foundation of three large semiconductor projects is a record in the world.
The ground-breaking ceremony has been done within 15 days of the project approval by the Centre. India will be among top five semiconductor ecosystems by 2029, Vaishnaw said.
Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran said the Tata Electronics semiconductor projects will initially create 50,000 direct and indirect jobs.
He said the production at Assam plant is expected to start before the fabrication units production in Dholera.
With inputs from agencies
Days after the carcass of Hvaldimir, the popular white beluga whale, was found off the Norwegian coast, two animal rights groups allege that the mammal was shot to death and have filed a police complaint. The whale became known to the public in 2019 for allegedly being a Russian spy, but gained popularity for being extra friendly read more
The beluga, nicknamed Hvaldimir, shot to fame in 2019 after being spotted wearing a specially-made harness with mounts for a camera. File image/AP
Five days ago, on Saturday (August 31), a father and son out fishing off the Norwegian coast found the carcass of Hvaldimir, the famous white beluga whale. However, on Wednesday (September 4), came a twist in the death of the 14-foot-long, 2,700-pound whale, when two animal rights groups alleged that Hvaldimir was shot to death.
The groups have even filed a police report, with experts asking Who killed Hvaldimir?
We take a closer look at how the white beluga whale became famous and the mystery that now shrouds his death.
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Mystery around Hvaldimirs death
Norwegian public broadcaster NRK on Saturday (August 31) reported that the whale carcass was found floating at the Risavika Bay in southern Norway by a father and son who were fishing. The whale was then taken out of the water and moved to a nearby harbour for experts to examine it.
Unfortunately, we found Hvaldimir floating in the sea. He has passed away but its not immediately clear what the cause of death is, marine biologist Sebastian Strand told NRK, adding that no major external injuries were visible on the animal.
However, on Wednesday (September 4), two animal rights organisations, OneWhale and NOAH, said there was compelling evidence suggesting that Hvaldimirs death was caused by intentional human-inflicted injury.
OneWhale founder Regina Haug said she had viewed Hvaldimirs body on Monday, telling AFP: He had multiple bullet wounds around his body.
She added, When I saw his body and the multiple injuries, I immediately knew he had been killed by gunshots.
I even saw a bullet lodged in his body, she continued. There is no question that this kind, gentle animal was senselessly murdered.
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NOAH, the other animal rights group, also stated that there were injuries that could not rule out a criminal act. Siri Martinsen, a veterinarian and the leader of the group said: The injuries on the whale are alarming and of a nature that cannot rule out a criminal act it is shocking.
She further stated: Given the suspicion of a criminal act, it is crucial that the police are involved quickly. Hvaldimir was significant to many, and all facts must be brought to light regarding his death.
OneWhale manager Regina Haug next to the carcass of the beluga whale Hvaldimir, who was found dead on Saturday. AP
The two groups have filed a complaint with the Sandnes Police District and the Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime. The Sr-West police has confirmed that they have received a report from the groups and would assess it to see if an investigation is warranted. It had no further comment on the case.
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However, notably, neither group speculated as to who could be behind Hvaldimirs death. Martinsen was quoted as telling Business Insider, We have no information about that, and that is why we are filing a report this early in the process.
Even Sebastian Strand, the founder of Marine Mind, an organisation that cared for Hvladimir, said that he wasnt going to jump to conclusions on who killed the white beluga whale.
Hvaldimirs popularity
Hvaldimir, which is a combination of the Norwegian word for whale, hval, and Russian President Vladimir Putins first name, first made headlines in 2019 when he was found near the island of Ingoya in Norways northern waters, approximately 300 kilometres from the Russian maritime border.
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Locals became curious to see Hvaldimir in the water, as Beluga whales tend to move in groups and typically live further north, in colder Arctic waters around Greenland, Canada, Alaska, northern Norway, and Russia.
Another aspect that made Hvaldimir even more intriguing was the harness that the whale measuring 14 feet was seen wearing, read Equipment St Petersburg in Russia. The harness also had a camera mount, causing many to speculate that Hvaldimir was a Russian spy, sent on a reconnaissance mission to the Nordic coast.
Hvaldimir, the white beluga whale, wearing a harness is seen off the coast of northern Norway. File image/Reuters
Russia has never commented on the discovery of the whale or the harness on it.
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However, if a spy, Hvaldimir was perhaps the friendliest of spies ever. He enjoyed playing with people, and went viral over the years for retrieving a kayakers GoPro camera, playing fetch with a rugby ball and playing with an underwater drone.
But his encounters with humans werent always fun. NPR reports that the gentle giant bore scars from being hit by multiple boats, and experts warned that he faced lower odds of survival as a solitary sociable individual. Concerns had grown last year when he was spotted in Sweden, which has more people and fewer fish than Norway.
Animals used as spies
It has never been confirmed or denied if Hvaldimir was indeed a spy. However, if he was, he wasnt the first animal to be involved in espionage. During World War I, pigeons were used not only to ferry messages in the frontline, they were also used as spies with little cameras fitted to their legs.
And as recently as May 2023, the Mumbai Police caught a pigeon with two rings tied to its legs, carrying words that looked like Chinese. It was later set free after authorities said it was an open-water racing bird from Taiwan which had escaped.
Amidst the Cold War, the US Navy, it is reported, had trained dolphins to detect submarines and underwater mines. In the 60s, Americas CIA deployed cats as part of Project Acoustic Kitty. These felines were wired with a microphone and transmitter, to monitor conversations between foreign agents and their Soviet handlers.
Theres also reports of other animals being used in espionage activities ranging from rats to squirrels.
With inputs from agencies
As the 2024 US presidential election approaches, Russias disinformation campaigns and covert operations are once again under intense scrutiny. The Kremlin-backed media outlet RT, along with sanctioned individuals, has been accused of manipulating American public opinion through social media and fake news websites read more
Vehicles of Russian state-controlled broadcaster Russia Today (RT) are seen near the Red Square in central Moscow, Russia, June 15, 2018. File Image/Reuters
The United States government has raised alarms over Russias alleged efforts to interfere in American elections, particularly ahead of the 2024 US presidential race.
Russian disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks, and covert operations have been linked to Moscows strategic goal of undermining US democracy, manipulating public opinion, and supporting candidates aligned with its interests.
Recent actions by the US Treasury Department, Justice Department, and intelligence agencies have intensified scrutiny of Russian state actors, particularly the media outlet RT (Russia Today), which has been accused of playing a central role in these efforts.
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How is RT involved?
RT, established in 2005 as a Russian state-controlled media outlet, has been a key player in spreading Kremlin-backed narratives internationally. With broadcasts in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, and Arabic, it has aimed to enhance Russias global image while taking a confrontational stance toward Western policies.
The US accuses RT of being a foreign propaganda tool, with Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan consistently promoting anti-Western rhetoric and supporting the Kremlins agenda.
Russias President Vladimir Putin presents flowers to editor-in-chief of Russian broadcaster RT Margarita Simonyan after decorating her with the Order of Alexander Nevsky during an awarding ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, May 23, 2019. File Image/Reuters
Simonyan has close ties to top Russian Government officials and has stated publicly that the Russian Government sets rating and viewership requirements for RT and, since RT receives budget from the state, it must complete tasks given by the state," according to an ODNI report released publicly in 2017 following Russias efforts in the 2016 US election.
A US Justice Department indictment detailed that RT allegedly funded a Tennessee-based content company, producing videos aligned with Russias political interests, particularly on issues like Ukraine. This effort led to the publication of nearly 2,000 videos on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, garnering over 16 million views.
How has RT allegedly influenced American opinion?
The US Justice Department recently charged two employees of RT, Konstantin Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, accusing them of covertly funding pro-Russian media campaigns in the US.
These individuals allegedly funneled almost $10 million to a Tennessee-based firm, aiming to influence American public opinion without disclosing its connections to RT.
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The media firm in question, identified as Tenet Media, hired popular conservative commentators like Tim Pool and Benny Johnson to share content designed to bolster Russias interests, specifically regarding Ukraine.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks during a meeting of the US Justice Departments Election Threats Task Force, at the US Department of Justice, September 4, 2024, in Washington, with FBI Director Christopher Wray, right. AP
Both Pool and Johnson, after learning of the accusations, distanced themselves from the company, claiming ignorance of RTs involvement. I as well as the other personalities and commentators were deceived, Pool wrote, condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin as a scumbag.
This operation mirrors Russias past strategies to polarise American voters by manipulating sensitive political topics.
How is Kremlin involved in this?
In response to these revelations, the US government seized 32 Kremlin-controlled websites designed to mimic authentic US news outlets.
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These fake domains were part of Russias broader effort to spread disinformation and sow discord among American voters. US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby noted that we believe Mr. Putin is weighing in on these actions, stating Moscows high-level involvement in election interference efforts.
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Moscows disinformation campaigns are not new. The US Treasury Department reported that Russias use of social media to amplify false narratives remains a key strategy. A US State Department official stated that the Kremlin continues to target specific voter demographics and swing-state voters to sway election outcomes in favour of candidates perceived as more favourable to Russian interests.
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Intelligence agencies have flagged Russias ongoing disinformation campaigns, including targeting perceptions of US support for Ukraine, as major concerns.
What tactics has Russia used against the US?
Beyond media manipulation, Russian interference in US elections encompasses a variety of tactics, including cyberattacks and hacking attempts.
The pro-Russian hacktivist group RaHDIt, led by former members of Russian intelligence, has been involved in numerous operations against American and Ukrainian targets. The group is known for hack-and-leak operations and has been linked to the Kremlins intelligence apparatus.
In March, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on two Russian companies responsible for creating fake news websites and social media accounts to spread Kremlin disinformation. US Attorney General Merrick Garland underscored that Russia, along with other foreign actors like Iran and China, poses a persistent threat to US election security.
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US Attorney General Merrick Garland, center, speaks before a meeting of the US Justice Departments Election Threats Task Force, at the US Department of Justice, September 4, 2024, in Washington, with from left, Deputy Attorney General, Criminal Division, Nicole Argentieri, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray and Assistant Attorney General, National Security Division, Matthew Olsen. AP
We will have no tolerance for attempts by authoritarian regimes to exploit our democratic systems of government, Garland said.
The US Justice Departments recent indictments and sanctions against Russian media figures represent the most sweeping effort to date to counter Moscows malign influence.
The American people are entitled to know when a foreign power is attempting to exploit our countrys free exchange of ideas in order to send around its own propaganda, Garland added, affirming that the US government would remain vigilant in protecting the integrity of its democratic institutions.
Why now?
The stakes of Russian interference are particularly high in the 2024 election, with officials noting Moscows preference for former US President Donald Trump, who reportedly had a favourable stance toward Russia during his tenure.
Internal documents revealed by the US Justice Department showed a clear strategy to help Trump win and diminish support for Democratic candidates like US President Joe Biden, who has been a staunch advocate for Ukraine. These revelations echo the findings from 2016 when Russia interfered to support Trumps campaign.
Also Watch:
Though US intelligence agencies have exposed many of Russias tactics, Moscow continues to adapt and evolve its approach. US Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco noted that Russian disinformation campaigns are becoming more diverse and aggressive, targeting swing-state voters with precision through AI-enhanced technologies and sophisticated cyber operations.
In an effort to prevent further meddling, the US government has implemented visa restrictions on individuals connected to Russian state-backed media outlets, requiring them to register as foreign agents. The US State Department has also designated RT and other Russian entities, including RIA Novosti and Sputnik, as foreign missions, compelling them to disclose their US operations.
With inputs from agencies
Family members of the doctor, who was raped and murder at the RG Kar hospital, have joined the protesting medics, accusing the Kolkata Police of attempting to suppress the incident as they cremated their daughters body in a hurry. They have also alleged that the police offered them a bribe to withdraw the case read more
Doctors and health workers light candles depicting "We Want Justice" at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital against the alleged rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor inside the hospital premises, in Kolkata, Wednesday, September 4, 2024. PTI
In recent weeks, there have been growing calls for justice for the trainee doctor from Kolkata who was raped and murdered at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Family members of the doctor have now joined the protesting medics, accusing the Kolkata Police of attempting to suppress the incident as they cremated their daughters body in a hurry.
They have also alleged that the police offered them a bribe to withdraw the case.
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The allegations
Participating in the protests at the RG Kar Medical Hospital, where the body of their daughter was recovered on August 9, the parents demanded justice and accused a senior police officer of trying to bribe them after the incident came to light.
The father of the deceased doctor told PTI, The police, from the very beginning, tried to hush up the case. We were not allowed to see the body and had to wait at the police station while the body was taken for post-mortem examinations. Later, when the body was handed over to us, a senior police official offered us money, which we immediately declined, he added.
People form a human chain at Eastern Metropolitan Bypass to protest against the alleged sexual assault and murder of a trainee doctor, in Kolkata, Tuesday, September 3, 2024. PTI
BJP leader Amit Malviya provided the information regarding the fathers claims and a video of the mourning father and one of her relatives recounting the experience. He tweeted that DC North was the one who allegedly gave the father money in exchange for the father dropping the case.
IF MAMATA BANERJEE AND THE COMMISSIONER OF KOLKATA POLICE HAVE ANY SHAME, THEY MUST RESIGN IMMEDIATELY. IF NOT, THE PEOPLE OF WEST BENGAL WILL ANYWAY BRING THEM DOWN. LISTEN TO THE FAMILY OF THE VICTIM AS THEY NARRATE THEIR ORDEAL.
Video 1 (1 min 33 sec long)
A relative of the pic.twitter.com/Ny79ZIqSya Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 4, 2024
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The 31-year-old trainee doctors body was discovered in the seminar hall at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9 in a partially naked state.
The primary accused, Sanjay Roy, was taken into custody by the Kolkata Police a day after the incident when he was captured on CCTV entering the premises at the estimated time of the crime. His wireless headphones were discovered close to the site of the incident.
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Preliminary investigations revealed that after severely hurting and sexually assaulting the doctor, Roy killed the victim by throttling and smothering her.
Protests over the case
Since August 10, protests have erupted across the state, with people from various sectors demanding justice for the victim.
As part of the Reclaim the Night campaign, thousands of women protested through the streets on Wednesday night. In a singular and powerful display of civic unity, people in Kolkata took to the streets at about 9.00 pm, putting out their candles and shutting off the lights for an hour. The parents of the victim also joined the protest to support the junior doctors fighting for justice for their daughter.
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People during a candlelight march in protest against the alleged rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in Kolkata, Wednesday, September 4, 2024. PTI
A group of junior doctors in Kolkata demanded resignation from City Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal on Tuesday in response to alleged case-related errors and presented him with a handmade prosthetic spine. The purpose of the outrage was to demand that the police grow a backbone.
In the meantime, junior doctors at West Bengals state-run hospitals continued the casework on Wednesday in protest, with most facilities still having severely limited medical services, according to Hindustan Times.
CBI investigation
The case was initially investigated by the Kolkata Police.
However, several lapses on the part of the West Bengal administration sparked massive furore across the country, prompting the Calcutta High Court to hand the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation in the second week of August.
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On Monday, the central agency arrested the former principal of RG Kar Medical College, Dr Sandip Ghosh, in connection with the alleged financial misconduct at the establishment.
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
On the other hand, the CBI also submitted its status report to the Supreme Court in a suo motu case of the incident. In its status report, the CBI claimed the crime scene might have been tampered with. It also brought to light inconsistencies in the way the West Bengal Police handled the case, first telling the victims parents it was a suicide before changing their statement to say it was a murder.
Another significant problem revealed by the report is the apparent delay from the time the body was discovered in the hospitals seminar room early on August 9 and the notification of the local police of the occurrence.
The anti-rape bill
On Tuesday, the West Bengal Assembly unanimously passed the Aparajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the State Legislative Assembly, aiming to create a safer environment for women and children.
Speaking in the Assembly, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, Rape is a now a national shame. Let us come together for social reform which is needed to prevent rapes.
Junior doctors stage a protest on a road near Lalbazar police headquarters demanding the resignation of Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal over the case of alleged sexual assault and murder of a trainee doctor, in Kolkata, Tuesday, September 3, 2024. PTI
The draft bill proposes to amend the newly passed Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 laws and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 in their application to the state of West Bengal to enhance punishment and to constitute the framework for expeditious investigation and trial of the heinous act of violence against women and children.
The legislation proposes capital punishment for persons convicted of rape if their actions result in the victims death or cause her to become vegetative. Moreover, the draft states that persons convicted of rape and gang rape would receive a life sentence lasting for the rest of their natural lives.
With inputs from agencies
The National Medical Commission has updated its forensic medicine and toxicology curriculum for undergraduate students. The revised syllabus has reintroduced controversial topics, such as referring to sodomy and lesbianism as unnatural sexual offences and scrapping the training on disability read more
The National Medical Commission has introduced changes in the orensic medicine curriculum for undergraduate medical students. Representational Image/AP
Lesbianism and sodomy have been brought back by the National Medical Commission (NMC), the countrys apex medical education regulator, under the category of unnatural sexual offences in the forensic medicine and toxicology curriculum for undergraduate medical students. The revised curriculum also has other controversial changes.
Topics reintroduced in the syllabus include the importance of the hymen, defining virginity and defloration, its legitimacy and medico-legal significance. These subjects were scrapped and a new module was brought in 2022 on the orders of the Madras High Court.
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What are the other amendments made to the medical curriculum? Lets take a look.
New medical curriculum for undergrads
The revised curriculum talks about topics such as sexual perversions, fetishism, transvestism, voyeurism, sadism, necrophagia, masochism, exhibitionism, frotteurism, and necrophilia, reported PTI.
Adultery and offences like incest and bestiality are also listed under unnatural sexual offences.
The distinction between consensual sex between queer people has been dropped, as per an Indian Express report.
The amended syllabus has also recalled seven-hour training on disability. It no longer consists of topics on disability in its module on medical ethics, as per the newspaper report.
The module on psychiatry has also been updated. It does not mention in detail topics such as the difference between sex and gender identity and common myths and misconceptions. The module also does not say that students should be educated about gender identity disorders.
The amended curriculum mentioned under forensic medicine and toxicology aims to teach students about the provisions of Bharatiya Nagarika Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), along with Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), Civil and Criminal Cases, Inquest (Police Inquest and Magistrates Inquest), cognisable and non-cognisable offences, reported PTI.
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Students will be educated about the provisions for rape, injury, and protection of children from sexual offences.
ALSO READ: Kolkata rape-murder case: Why doctors in India are in urgent need for a central protection law
Modifications in curriculum 2022
Indian Express noted that sodomy and lesbianism were removed from unnatural sexual offences in 2022.
Distinctions were also made between sexual fetishes like voyeurism, exhibitionism, or masochism and mental disorders originating from such unusual interests.
Undergrad medical students studying forensic medicine and toxicology in India will be taught about the importance of virginity. Representational Image/Reuters
The two-finger test for virginity was described as unscientific, inhuman, and discriminatory.
The psychiatry module included changes to help students better grasp topics such as sex, gender identity and sexual orientation, the newspaper noted.
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Reactions to the revised syllabus
The NMC said in a document that the curriculum should help students understand the medico-legal framework of medical practice, codes of conduct, medical ethics, professional misconduct and medical negligence.
It was time to have a relook at all aspects of the various components in the existing regulations and guidelines, and adapt them to the changing demography, socio-economic context, perceptions, values, advancements in medical education and expectations of stakeholders, the regulator said in its Competency-Based Medical Education Curriculum (CBME) Guidelines, 2024.
The NMC says the course is framed to develop an Indian Medical Graduate (IMG) who has requisite knowledge, skills, attitudes, values and responsiveness, so that she or he may function appropriately and effectively as a physician of first contact of the community while being globally relevant.
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As per Indian Express, disability rights activists have slammed the new guidelines. In a letter to Union Health Minister JP Nadda, Dr Satendra Singh, disability rights activist, and Dr Sanjay Sharma from the Association of Transgender Health in India wrote, These competencies should have been integrated longitudinally throughout the curriculum but are conspicuously absent from the 2024 curriculum.
We, therefore, appeal to you to use the influence of your high office to correct this wrong which not only directly impacts the interests of persons with disabilities, the transgender and gender-diverse individuals, persons with differences in sexual orientation and persons with differences in sex development, but also damages the image of our nation in the international fora, it added.
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With inputs from agencies
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Singapore counterpart Lawrence Wong who had invited the Indian prime minister to make the trip and received a warm welcome from members of the Indian community. Singapore has consistently been Indias top source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) since 2018. Its cumulative inflow into India, which stands at $159.94 billion since April 2000, accounts for 24 per cent of Indias total FDI inflow read more
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Singapore on Wednesday (September 4).
Modi met his Singapore counterpart Lawrence Wong who had invited the Indian prime minister to make the trip and received a warm welcome from members of the Indian community.
Singapore is an important country for India.
Not only is it New Delhis largest trade partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and sixth largest overall, it is also Indias top source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
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But what do we know about Singapores FDI in India?
Lets take a closer look:
What happened?
Singapores cumulative FDI inflow into India stands at $159.94 billion since April 2000.
That accounts for 24 per cent of Indias total FDI inflow.
Economic Times quoted data from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as showing that FDI in India grew 47.8 per cent year on year to $16.17 billion in April-June this fiscal.
Singapore led the way this quarter with $3.9 billion in FDI followed by Mauritius at $3.2 billion.
India received to $11.77 billion of FDI from Singapore in the previous financial year the most from any country.
Singapore has consistently been the largest source of FDI for India since 2018.
In 2017, India attracted the maximum FDI from Mauritius.
Over 440 companies from Singapore are registered in India including the Development Bank of Singapore and United Overseas Bank).
The Enterprise Singapore (ES), Economic Development Board (EDB) and Singapore Tourism Board all have offices in India.
Singapore has consistently been the largest source of FDI for India since 2018.
Hindustan Times reported that Singapores CapitaLand Investment has vowed to double its funds under management in India by 2028.
The fund currently has $5.66 billion invested in India as of June 30.
The country is attracting demand from global corporations and institutional investors for quality real assets, group CEO Lee Chee Koon was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
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Koon said CapitaLand would look at the renewable energy and real estate private credit space.
The announcement came hours before Modis trip.
It also came a month after CapitaLand launched a fund for business park development in India which will add million to its funds under management.
Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, Jaideep Mazumdar, ahead of Modis trip, predicted big things for the relationship.
We also expect the visit (to Singapore) to give thrust to the cooperation in the field of semiconductor, the top official of the MEA said.
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India-Singapore relations are poised for an even bigger take off, than what it has been in the last 10-15 years or so. That is because, we have gone to the next level of identifying areas of bilateral cooperation whether it be in food security, renewables, green hydrogen, semi-conductors. These are areas where we have great complementarities, said Mazumdar.
He said that he could see the relationship between the two sides taking off to the next stage.
For Singapore, India presets tremendous opportunities and for India, Singapore presents with many options, whether it is value chain, digital technology and semiconductors, he added.
What do experts say?
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They say Singapore has emerged as the preferred jurisdiction for investment in India after the India-Mauritius tax treaty amendment.
Rumki Majumdar, Economist, Deloitte India, said that as one of the worlds prominent financial hubs, Singapore attracts global investors who want to invest in Asia.
Recently, Indias initiatives such as amendments by the SEBI to the REIT Regulations 2014 have created new opportunities for Singapore-based investors, which is why India is likely seeing high FDI from Singapore, Ms. Majumdar said.
She also hoped that FDI into India would pick up in the latter half of 2024-25.
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Sanjiv Malhotra, Senior Advisor, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, said that Singapore and Mauritius are jurisdictions used by global investors to route their money into developing economies such as India.
Singapores cumulative FDI inflow into India stands at $159.94 billion since April 2000.
While there are many geo-economic and political factors why Singapore has gained more prominence in the recent past, the primary reason for it topping the FDI charts for India is tax, Mr. Malhotra said, adding Singapore has a very competitive domestic tax regime and efficient regulatory set-up.
Historically, the double tax avoidance agreement between India and Singapore provided for many beneficial provisions including capital gains exemption in India for investments made from Singapore and even though this provision has been amended, Singapore still is a credible place to create operations with substance to invest further in South-East Asia (including India), he added.
Malhotra added that in 2023-24, India witnessed a drop in FDI primarily due to the global uncertainty on account of the disturbances in the Middle-East and Europe.
Hopefully FDI inflows to India may improve in 2024-25 (from 2023-24) but they may still remain below 2022-23 levels. A stable government post elections surely will help the cause of more FDI into India but I see the global headwinds to be too strong as of now, he said.
Anindya Ghosh, Partner, INDUSLAW, too said that prior to 2016, Mauritius was a preferred jurisdiction for foreign investment in India due to the significant tax advantage it offered as a low-tax jurisdiction for routing investments.
With inputs from agencies
Michel Barnier, 73, is a member of Frances conservative Les Republicains party. He has decades of political experience and has served as Frances environment minister, Europe minister, the EU regional policy commissioner, foreign minister and agriculture minister. However, his highest-profile post came as the European Unions Brexit negotiator where he won praise from EU leaders and grudging respect from the UK ministers read more
Michel Barnier replaces Gabriel Attal, who was Frances youngest-ever prime minister and first openly gay head of government when he was appointed in January at age 34. Reuters
France finally has a new prime minister.
Months after the country held snap elections, President Emmanuel Macron has made his choice Michel Barnier.
Barnier, 73, was the European Unions Brexit negotiator as chief of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom (UKTF).
He is a member of Frances conservative Les Republicains party.
Barnier replaces Gabriel Attal, who was Frances youngest-ever prime minister and first openly gay head of government when he was appointed in January at age 34.
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Attal resigned on July 16 following quick-fire legislative elections that produced a divided and hung parliament, plunging France into intense political uncertainty.
But Macron kept Attal and his ministers on in a caretaker capacity, handling day-to-day affairs, so political instability wouldnt overshadow the Paris Olympics, when France was in the global spotlight.
But what do we know about Barnier? Why did Macron choose him?
Lets take a closer look:
What do we know about Barnier?
Barnier was born on January 9, 1951 in La Tronche a suburb of the French Alpine city of Grenoble.
As per The Week, growing up, Barnier was a boy scout and a choir boy.
He got his political start early by 14 he was already a worker for the Gaullist movement.
In 1972, at age 21, Barnier graduated from the Ecole de Commerce Superieur de Paris business school.
He then worked as a ministerial advisor for a few years.
In 1978, Barnier made history becoming the youngest parliamentarian in France when he was elected to the National Assembly from his native Savoie district.
Barniers political star began to rise after he won a bid to host the 1992 Winter Olympics.
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His role as co-organiser of Winter Olympics in Albertville was key to building his public image and remains so.
Barnier would go on to spend the next few decades in Frances government.
He served as environment minister, Frances Europe minister, the EU regional policy commissioner, foreign minister and agriculture minister.
Emmanuel Macron has annoucned Michel Barnier, 73, as the French Prime Minister. Reuters
In 2009, Barnier served as a lawmaker in the European Union. The next year, he would be appointed the EU commissioner for internal market and services a position he would hold for four years.
During this time Barnier negotiated extensive new regulation of financial markets after the global crash including reforms unpopular in the City of London.
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According to The Week, Barnier ran for president of the EU Commission but was defeated by Jean-Claude Juncker
Regardless, the time served in the EU would serve him well when it came to his next assignment as EUs Brexit negotiator.
As per Prospect Magazine, Barniers decades of political experience lent him the reputation as a safe pair of hands, thanks to his extensive political experience, said Prospect magazine.
Politico called his performance integral to the EUs management of Brexit and was praised by the European leaders for his ability to create consensus and his methodical approach to the negotiations.
Barniers performance as the EUs negotiator also burnished his credentials with the opposition.
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As per Financial Times, Nigel Farage, a vocal Leaver, at one point said, I wish we could employ him.
Barnier even kept cool when he was accused by the newspapers of infecting then prime minister Boris Johnson with COVID-19.
He suggested age and hikes in the French Alps had done their part for his demeanour.
Im not always calm, listen to my wife or children, but at the very beginning I decided to be calm, Barnier said. I knew it would be a weakness to be French and I knew that I would be in the fire of the tabloids. They were waiting for me to get angry. They tried several times.
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As per Sky News, Barnier during the talks described Johnson as a bulldozer.
As per The Times, his hardline stance in opposing Brexit and his firm opposition to Britain cherry-picking the terms of its departure did not make him popular in the UK.
In 2021, Barnier launched a bid for the Les Republicains party nomination for president.
Barniers quest for his partys nomination left many of his old colleagues in Brussels shocked at certain positions he took during the campaign.
As per Politico, Barnier called for a referendum on the question of immigration and added that France must regain its legal sovereignty in order to no longer be subject to the judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights.
We have to rebuild the French influence. It is necessary to rebalance vis-a-vis the German influence which dominates, Barnier, pushing for more French pull in Europe, said at a conservative party event.
His comments caused a firestorm in the EU.
One wonders how a sentence like that can come from such a committed European, Clement Beaune, Frances junior minister for EU affairs, told the website.
Barnier ultimately had to do a walk-back.
Lets keep calm, he posted on X.
He added that he wanted to avoid any unnecessary controversy.
However, Barnier ultimately lost the nomination to Valerie Pecresse.
As per Sky News, Barnier has been a moderate and pro-European politician throughout most of his career barring his failed 2021 presidential nomination bid.
Why did Macron choose him?
Barniers appointment comes after weeks of intense efforts by Macron and his aides to bring an intense period of political turmoil to an end by finding a government leader who can survive in Frances newly fractured political landscape.
The Elysee Palace on Thursday said Barnier has been tasked with forming a unifying government to serve the country and the French.
This appointment comes after an unprecedented cycle of consultations during which, in accordance with his constitutional duty, the president ensured that the prime minister and the future government would meet the conditions to be as stable as possible and give themselves the chances of uniting as broadly as possible, the statement read.
French President Emmanuel Macron has spent months trying to finding a government leader who can survive in Frances newly fractured political landscape. Reuters
Macron in recent days met three candidates Xavier Bertrand, Bernard Cazeneuve and Thierry Beaudet as well as consulted with former presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande.
Bertrand, who lost out, is also a leader of the Les Republicains party.
Sources familiar with the developments told Financial Times that Barnier emerged as a more viable pick than Bertrand.
Barniers campaign for the party chief, in which he took a hard line on immigration, might make him more palatable to the right-wing.
Indeed Le Pen has hinted she is willing to give Barnier a chance but said her National Rally party wont take part in his government because the new prime minister does not share our ideas.
She says the 2025 budget will be a priority for Barniers government; it faces a tight deadline to deliver one. France is also under pressure from the European Union to get its finances in order, with Brussels having rebuked Paris for running up excessive debt.
Barnier is a man respectful of other political forces, Le Pen said. Its important because compromises will have to be reached, considering the state of Frances budget.
But influential far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon immediately came out against Barniers appointment and predicted the new prime minister would not get a majority backing in the bitterly divided National Assembly.
Melenchon said the appointment flew in the face of the July 7 legislative election results that left parliaments lower house split between three main blocs the left, including Melenchons party; the center where Macron has based his support, and the far right, converging around anti-immigration leader Marine Le Pen.
The election has been stolen, Melenchon asserted.
With inputs from agencies
Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick has emerged as the frontrunner to succeed Rishi Sunak as the leader of the UKs Conservative Party after the first round of voting. Five contenders remain, with Priti Patel being eliminated. But who is Jenrick, a centrist-turned-hardliner? read more
Robert Jenrick has emerged as the frontrunner to take leadership of the Tory leadership. File Photo/Reuters
Former United Kingdom Cabinet minister Priti Patel is out of the race for the next Conservative leader after the first round of voting. Now, five more contenders remain, with Robert Jenrick topping the poll of Tory MPs.
He led with 28 votes, followed by the bookies favourite Kemi Badenoch who got 22 votes. Shadow home secretary James Cleverly was third with 21 votes, Tom Tugendhat was fourth with 17 and Mel Stride stood fifth with 16. Patel managed to secure only 14 votes.
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Tory members will keep voting in the coming weeks until only two candidates remain. The wider party membership will then pick one of them as the next leader. The contest for the Conservative leadership was necessitated after ex-UK PM Rishi Sunak resigned in July in the wake of the partys worst general election result.
Could Robert Jenrick be the one to replace Sunak as leader of the Conservative Party? Lets take a closer look.
Who is Robert Jenrick?
Jenrick is known for his over a year-long tenure as Sunaks immigration minister before he quit the post over the then PMs emergency Rwanda plan.
In his resignation letter last year, Jenrick told the then PM that he did not believe this legislation provided us with the best possible chances of success in getting Rwanda flights to take off, reported Independent.
Jenrick, who began his political career as a centrist figure, has transformed into a hardliner. He entered politics as the Newark MP in 2014.
This change has courted criticism including from Anna Soubry, the former Tory MP, who told The Guardian that Jenrick trims his sails to suit whichever political wind is blowing within the Conservative Party.
Robert Jenrick served for over a year as Rishi Sunaks immigration minister. File Photo/Reuters
Once a close ally of former PM Sunak, Jenrick has spoken about his partys failure to fulfil its promise of reducing immigration when it was in power, as per BBC.
He has also been at the forefront of demanding that the UK withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights. He has said he had been pushing for the strongest possible bill that would put national interests above highly contested interpretations of international law.
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The 42-year-old previously served as a corporate lawyer and director of auction house Christies.
Jenrick has been embroiled in a series of controversies. In 2020, as housing secretary, he rejected a planning decision that resulted in benefitting newspaper magnate Richard Desmond, a Tory donor, as per The Telegraph.
He apparently broke lockdown rules by travelling to his parents home in Shropshire.
Last month, Jenrick stirred uproar with his remarks that people shouting Allahu Akbar on London streets should be arrested immediately, reported Independent.
Other Tory contenders
Badenoch, who was the second favourite in the first round of voting, worked in banking and IT before joining politics. She held ministerial positions under the prime ministerial tenures of Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, as per BBC.
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Badenochs Tory leadership pitch is that the Conservative Party needed to stop acting like Labour to return to power. UK PM Keir Starmer earlier described her as the favourite in the Tory leadership race, reported Independent.
Kemi Badenoch arrives to speak at a Conservative Party leadership campaign event at IET London, Monday Sept. 2, 2024. AP
Former home secretary Cleverly has said he wants to unite the Tories and has urged the party to think and act like Conservatives again, reported BBC. He was the first contender to formally launch a leadership bid after Sunak stepped down.
Seen as a moderate, Cleverly has also served as UKs foreign secretary. He has defended the Sunak governments Rwanda plan and promised to bring it back if he becomes the PM.
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Ex-security minister Tom Tugendhat is widely considered a centrist. However, to woo the partys right wing MPs, he has taken a hard line on immigration. Tugendhat had unsuccessfully contested for the Tory leadership two years back, with Liz Truss emerging as the winner.
Mel Stride, a staunch Sunak ally, launched his Tory leadership bid saying the party needed to build trust with the electorate again. He currently serves as the shadow work and pensions secretary and, as per BBC, is the least well-known figure among the public compared to the other four contenders.
Can Jenrick win?
After the first round of voting, Jenrick has emerged as the frontrunner to succeed Sunak as the Tory leader.
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Jenricks tough stance on immigration can earn him brownie points with the Tory Right, including MPs once loyal to his former boss at the Home Office, Suella Braverman, noted BBC.
His supporters have expressed confidence he is nailed on to reach the final two. While he still needs to gain more support, this result will add to the sense that Jenrick is a serious contender, according to The Spectator.
Jenrick and Badenoch could benefit from Patels support base of the Tory Right.
The next Conservative leader is likely to be known on 2 November.
With inputs from agencies
China-Africa cooperation paves way toward better future
14:20, September 05, 2024 By Kwizela Aristide Basebya ( People's Daily Online
Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) delivers a speech at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on March 25, 2013. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)
During his first visit to Africa as Chinese president, Xi Jinping laid a strong foundation for what has become the China-Africa community with a shared future. Speaking at the Chinese-aided Julius Nyerere International Convention Center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on March 25, 2013, Xi outlined his vision.
In his speech titled "Trustworthy Friends and Sincere Partners Forever," Xi announced four principles guiding China's policy towards Africa: "zhen shi qin cheng," meaning sincerity, real results, amity and good faith. These principles largely shape the agenda and initiatives of the Forum on ChinaAfrica Cooperation (FOCAC).
President Xi said that Chinas approach to its African partners is rooted in "sincerity." In conducting cooperation with Africa, China emphasizes "real results." In strengthening its friendship with Africa, China focuses on "affinity." Lastly, in resolving problems that may arise in cooperation, China underscores the importance of acting in "good faith."
While reviewing the China-Africa historical relationship, President Xi insisted that the defining features of China-Africa relations are sincerity, friendship, mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and common development.
Since President Xi announced the four principles, China has remained committed to them. The two sides have cooperated and stood together in various sectors and fields, pressing ahead on the path of solidarity and cooperation. They have stood for justice amid shifting global dynamics and looked out for each other in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. These actions have taken China-Africa relations to new heights and ushered in a new stage of partnership.
Chinas focus on "real results" in its relationship with Africa addresses a long-standing gap. For centuries, Africa experienced colonialism, imperialism, continuous exploitation, and an unfair and unjust international order. This system, created by former colonial powers and Western nations, has too often neglected Africa's real needs and development.
The four principles have guided the China-Africa relationship toward modernization and unprecedented human development. These principles have transformed Africa into an engine of economic growth, bringing hope to millions of Africans and, more significantly, elevating the continents role in global development.
Since the inception of these principles, whether in FOCAC summits and ministerial meetings, gatherings of China-Africa leaders at multilateral or bilateral levels, or various international forums, President Xi, demonstrating his dedication to Africas development, has announced major programs that contribute Chinese wisdom and solutions to modernizing the continent. This approach demonstrates China's commitment to turning words into action.
For instance, at the 2018 FOCAC Beijing Summit, President Xi proposed building a closer China-Africa community with a shared future, a proposal unanimously endorsed by African leaders.
In addition, leading up to the Eighth FOCAC ministerial conference in Dakar, Senegal, in 2021, China and Africa jointly prepared the China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035. Under the vision's first three-year plan, China pledged to work closely with African countries to implement various projects.
The Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Dakar, Senegal, Nov. 30, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Yan)
In his speech at the opening ceremony of that conference, President Xi announced nine projects spanning various sectors. These included medical and health, poverty reduction and agricultural development, trade promotion, investment promotion, digital innovation, green development, capacity building, cultural and people-to-people exchange, and peace and security. These wide-ranging programs are already showing tangible results in almost all African countries.
For instance, in the agriculture sector and poverty reduction, currently the backbone of most African economies, President Xi announced that China would undertake 10 poverty reduction and agricultural projects for Africa and send 500 agricultural experts to the continent.
Regarding capacity building and cultural and people-to-people exchange programs, President Xi said China would help build or upgrade 10 African schools and invite 10,000 high-level African professionals to seminars and workshops.
He also vowed that China would implement the "Future of Africa" project, focusing on vocational education cooperation between China and Africa, and also start an employment "through train" scheme for African students in China. Additionally, Xi pledged that China would continue to work with African countries to set up "Luban Workshops" and encouraged Chinese companies in Africa to create at least 800,000 local jobs.
He called for China and Africa to deepen practical cooperation and open new prospects. This includes expanding trade and investment, sharing experience on poverty reduction, strengthening cooperation on digital economy and green development by promoting solar, wind and other renewable energy sources, and developing small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Xi's words and China's commitment to Africa have significantly influenced the continent's development agenda, especially Agenda 2063. This strategic framework aims for inclusive social and economic development, continental and regional integration, democratic governance, and peace and security. Its major goal is to reposition Africa as a global player.
Food insecurity is a chronic problem in many African countries. A Tanzanian Swahili proverb captures its importance: "Chakula ni uhai" food is life. Recognizing this, China has invested heavily in modernizing African agriculture by introducing advanced agro-technologies, improving efficiency and productivity, and supporting school feeding programs.
Pierrette Wamoundjou, second from right, picks mushrooms with villagers in Gba village near Bangui, Central African Republic, Feb. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Han Xu)
One transformative technology is Juncao, a versatile grass developed by Lin Zhanxi from China's Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU) in the 1980s. Juncao has benefited more than 100 countries worldwide. Over the years, the Juncao research team led by Lin has trained more than 8,000 people from African countries, helping farmers combat poverty and promoting China-Africa cooperation. Juncao technology has now taken root in more than 40 African countries.
Another game-changing development is a new rice variety developed by the Shanghai Agrobiological Gene Center (SAGC), which is contributing to food security in Africa. The rice variety, developed by a team led by Chief Scientist Luo Lijun from SAGC, offers new hope for eliminating hunger across the continent. This variety conserves water and fertilizer while maintaining high, stable yields. Already promoted in over 10 African countries, it has gained approval from governments in Uganda, Burundi and Burkina Faso, with local farmers showing strong enthusiasm for its potential.
Regarding manufacturing, trade and commerce, Chinese enterprises have helped strengthen Africa's industrial foundation. This has been achieved through the construction of industrial parks, capacity building, technology transfer and talent cultivation across various sectors, including manufacturing, the digital economy, medicine, logistics and infrastructure.
According to China's Ministry of Commerce, China has remained Africa's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, with bilateral trade reaching a record $282.1 billion in 2023. The ministry said in its latest press conference that China and African countries have developed closer economic ties with ever-increasing trade and diversified commodities and services.
In terms of investment, China-Africa investment cooperation has grown steadily. As of the end of 2023, China's direct investment in Africa exceeded $40 billion, making it one of Africa's major sources of foreign investment.
A stewardess stands by a train to Mombasa at Nairobi Terminus station of the China-built Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway in Nairobi, Kenya, Sept. 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Han Xu)
Meanwhile, China has undertaken various signature infrastructure projects that have transformed the image of particular African countries and significantly impacted lives.
These developments demonstrate that President Xi's commitment to Africa and his four principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith have shaped China-Africa ties. Through platforms such as the Belt and Road Initiative and FOCAC, this relationship has transformed the narrative about Africa from "the land of the sleeping giant" to a "vigorous land of hope and vitality," making a huge contribution to global growth and sustainability.
(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang)
Jaydeep Apte, the sculptor behind the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue that collapsed at Rajkot Fort, was arrested by police after being on the run for several days. The 24-year-old artist was booked in various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges related to attempted murder and attempted culpable homicide read more
Apte had been evading authorities since collapse of the Shivaji statue in at Rajkot Forton on August 26 and was nabbed by police from Kalyan in Thane district.Image courtesy: PTI, News18
Jaydeep Apte, the sculptor behind the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue that collapsed at Rajkot Fort, was arrested late Wednesday after being on the run for several days.
Apte had been evading authorities since the incident on August 26 and was nabbed by officials from Kalyan in Thane district. Police had been running a search operation to nab the 24-year-old sculptor.
The 35-foot tall statue, which was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Navy Day last year, collapsed just nine months after its installation following a spell of heavy rains in Sindhudurg. The incident has sparked a political controversy, raising questions about the projects execution and Aptes qualifications for such a significant project.
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Heres what we know about the sculptor and the controversy surrounding him.
Who is Jaydeep Apte?
The 24-year-old budding sculptor from Thane is an alumnus of JJ School of Art and runs an art company in Kalyan, reported The Times of India (TOI).
Apte first made headlines in 2019 when he was commissioned by the UK-based Sikh Soldier Organisation to create a bronze bust of a Sikh soldier, honouring those who fought in the British Army during both World Wars. The statue was unveiled in West Yorkshire.
He later undertook a project to build a statuette of Manilal Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhis son, for the Dandi memorial in Gujarat. However, the Shivaji statue at Malvan was of a larger figure at 35 feet and he had no prior experience with constructing such enormous statues.
There has been speculation regarding how Apte secured the contract for the Shivaji statue. The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) mouthpiece Saamana alleged that Apte was awarded the contract due to his acquaintance with Shrikant Shinde, the son of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Apte first made headlines in 2019 when he was commissioned by the UK-based Sikh Soldier Organisation to create a bronze bust of a Sikh soldier, honouring those who fought in the British Army during both World Wars. Image courtesy: Sandwellcouncil
Defending Apte, a family friend told TOI, Jaydeep is a good sculptor, but it is true that he did not have the experience of making a big statue. However, I am sure that he will not indulge in corruptionit was a mistake. His friends and associates describe him as part of a middle-class, educated family without a shadow of controversy.
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His father, who passed away a few years ago, used to work in a big company while he has a sister who is settled abroad after marriage, a family friend told the national newspaper.
Following the collapse of the Shivaji statue, local police registered an FIR against Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges related to attempted murder, negligence, destruction of public property, and attempted culpable homicide.
Following the collapse of the Shivaji statue, local police registered an FIR against Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges related to negligence, destruction of public property, and attempted culpable homicide. PTI
While Patil was arrested earlier, Apte remained elusive until his recent arrest.
How was Apte nabbed by police?
Police in Maharashtras Sindhudurg district had been actively pursuing Jaydeep Apte after the collapse of the Shivaji Maharaj statue.
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More than seven teams were deployed to locate him, and authorities issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) to prevent him from fleeing the country via seaports, airports, or other exit points. Teams scoured multiple locations, including Mumbai, Thane, Sindhudurg, and Kolhapur, employing technical surveillance to track him down.
According to TOI, Aptes last known movements were traced when he visited Malvan with a friend to check the site where the statue had been installed. After this visit, Apte contacted his wife, informing her that he was returning home, after which she tipped off the police about her husbands location.
#BreakingNews | Jaydeep Apte, the sculptor of the recently collapsed Shivaji statue at Rajkot fort, has been arrested in Thane district, police said.
Vivek Gupta @GrihaAtul #shivajistatuecollapse pic.twitter.com/sy5aoZ3erH News18 (@CNNnews18) September 5, 2024
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Though Aptes family declined to comment publicly, police sources indicated they were concerned for his safety and wanted him to cooperate with the investigation.
The arrest came amidst a growing political controversy that has erupted in the run-up to the Maharashtra assembly elections.
BJP leader Pravin Darekar remarked, Those who were critical of our government must shut their mouths now. It is true that the police took a little long to arrest Jaydeep Apte. We are not taking any credit for arresting, but the police did their job."
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Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushama Andhare stated, The state government should not try to take any credit for arresting Apte He was not some underworld don He should have been arrested sooner."
With input from agencies
Mpox has been detected in Fort Dodge Correctional Facility in Iowa, US, which has a population of 1,251. The strain found within the prison has been classified as the less serious clade II, though it is unknown how many inmates have been affected. The prison staff have told local press that they are controlling the situation read more
The hands of a patient with skin rashes caused by the mpox virus are pictured at the treatment center of Vijana Hospital in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo August 30, 2024. Reuters
The World Health Organization has declared that a recent outbreak of mpox represents a global health emergency for the second time in two years.
A more deadly and contagious variant of the virus has claimed the lives of over 600 people since the beginning of 2024.
Besides Africa, new cases have also been reported in Europe and Asia.
In the latest incident, the virus has been detected in a prison in the United States.
Heres all we know about it.
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Mpox outbreak strikes US prison
According to Newsweek, mpox has been detected in Fort Dodge Correctional Facility in Iowa, which has a population of 1,251.
The strain found within the prison has been classified as the less serious clade II, though it is unknown how many inmates have been affected.
The prison staff have told local press that they were controlling the situation.
An undated colorized transmission electron micrograph of mpox virus particles (pink) found within an infected cell (yellow), cultured in the laboratory, captured at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. File Photo-Reuters
Were actively managing the situation with robust health measures, Iowa Department of Corrections Chief of Staff Paul Cornelius said in a statement to the Des Moines Register, initially reported by KCCI-TV.
He added, Affected individuals are receiving care, and enhanced sanitation and isolation protocols are in place to prevent further spread.
Clade I mpox has not yet been found in the United States, but should it spread, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) stated that it anticipates the virus will cause lower morbidity and mortality in the United States than it has in Africa, the report said.
Also read: From Africa to Sweden and now Pakistan, how mpox is spreading across the globe
About mpox
Mpox is a viral infection caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to a genus of viruses called Orthopoxvirus.
The Orthopoxvirus family consists of the variola virus, which causes smallpox, the cowpox virus, and the vaccinia virus.
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The common symptoms of mpox include skin lesions, fever, headache, muscle and back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.
The disease spreads through physical contact with an infected person, materials or animals.
Mpox drew global attention in 2022 during an outbreak that affected the US, Europe, Australia, and many other countries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared recent mpox outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern after a new variant of the virus has been identified. Reuters
Types of the virus
The virus spreads by close contact and exists in two different forms, known as clades: I and II.
Men who engage in sexual activity with other men are most vulnerable to contracting Clade II mpox, which is mostly transmitted through personal and sexual contact.
Endemically found in West Africa, Clade II mpox is the strain that sparked a global outbreak in 2022. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that it is less severe, with more than 99.9 per cent of patients surviving.
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Clade I, on the other hand, is endemic to Central Africa and has killed up to 10 per cent of those infected. The US has not yet been affected by this strain.
Clade 1b has triggered global concern due to the ease with which it spreads though routine close contact.
The strain is a modified variant of clade I, an endemic type of mpox that has been present in the Congo for many years and spreads by contact with infected animals.
Congo has had more than 18,000 suspected clade I and clade Ib mpox cases and 615 deaths this year, according to the WHO. There have also been 222 confirmed clade Ib cases in four African countries in the last month, plus a case each in Sweden and Thailand in people with a travel history in Africa.
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Treatment
Currently, there are a few vaccines against mpox, including Jynneos (MVA-BN) and Acam2000.
The MVA-BN vaccine, or the Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic, has been approved by the United Kingdom, the United States, the European Union/European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland and Canada.
Developed around the 1950s, the Modified Vaccine Ankara vaccine was used to protect against smallpox. Its current form, MVA-BN, is reportedly marketed as Jynneos, Imvamune and Imvanex.
A person holds doses of Bavarian Nordics Imvanex vaccine, used to protect against mpox virus, at the Edison municipal vaccination centre in Paris, France. File image/Reuters
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has green-lit ACAM2000 for protection against smallpox and mpox.
In 2022, Japan gave a nod to the smallpox vaccine LC16 for use against mpox. Russia licenced OrthopoxVac the same year for vaccination against smallpox, mpox and other Orthopoxviruses.
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A new mRNA vaccine BNT166 is being developed to particularly target antigens on the monkeypox virus, reported DW.
Global alarm
As per the WHO, nearly 103,000 mpox cases have been confirmed worldwide.
After the global emergency last year, the new mpox strain has killed over 600 people.
Recent cases have been reported in Europe and Asia, prompting the health agency to reissue a global health emergency in August this year.
Numerous nations have taken precautions, including inspecting ports and initiating vaccination efforts, in response to the global agencys highest alert.
India has no reported cases of mpox, however, the country is on high alert. The health ministry has directed heightened vigilance at all international airports and land ports, particularly those bordering Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Zawadi Bwira Bakulu, 35, shows the rash marks on her son Christevie Lukeka who recovered from Mpox in Nyiragongo territory near Goma, North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of the Congo July 18, 2024. Reuters
Soon after the second case was reported in Pakistan, China also amplified its surveillance at ports of entry. Aircraft and vessels carrying containers, as well as cargo, arriving from nations and areas with mpox cases will also be sanitised, as per local news.
Similarly, Japan and South Korea are also on alert.
Nigeria, which confirmed 40 mpox cases with no fatalities yet, will begin vaccinations for mpox from October 8 after regulatory approvals are concluded. The country received the first batch of 10,000 doses of the mpox vaccine from the US Agency for International Development on Tuesday.
Soon after it detected 13 cases of mpox clade II infections this year, Singapore said it was monitoring the global situation closely.
The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) has issued an emergency tender to secure mpox vaccines for crisis-hit countries in collaboration with the Gavi vaccine alliance, Africa CDC and the /WHO, the organisations said in a joint statement on Saturday.
Depending on the production capacity of manufacturers, agreements for up to 12 million doses through 2025 can be made, according to the statement.
Under the tender, UNICEF will set up conditional supply agreements with vaccine manufacturers, the statement said.
With inputs from agencies
There has been surge in terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir this year that have killed soldiers and civilians alike read more
(File) Indian Army personnel during a counter-terror operation following a terrorist attack on an army convoy, in Kathua district on July 9, 2024. PTI
Ahead of the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army is seeking to beef up border security and improve the counter-terrorism grid.
There has been surge in terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir this year that have killed soldiers and civilians alike. Notably, terrorists have carried out attacks in the Jammu region as well that had been relatively calm in recent years. With elections around the corner, security agencies, including the Army, are seeking to foil any plans to foil the democratic exercise.
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J&K will hold elections after nearly a decade in September-October. The voting will take place in three phases on September 18, Sept. 25, and October 1. The counting of votes will take place on Oct. 8.
The Indian Express has reported that the Army is deploying a three-pronged approach in the wake of elections.
One, the Army is beefing up the counter-infiltration grid by redeploying more troops along the Lone of Control (LoC), the de-facto India-Pakistan boundary in the Kashmir region.
Two, the Army is deploying more personnel in temporary operating bases (TOBs) in the higher reaches as well as forests.
Three, the Army is going to intensify search and destroy operations for terrorists and their shelters in coming days.
The newspaper reported that the three-pronged approach is aimed at destabilising terrorists by disrupting their hideouts and drawing them into contact as well as denying them access to population centres.
Notably, the Army would not be deployed in population centres during the elections as that purpose would be served by newly-inducted 300 additional companies of central paramilitary personnel, according to the newspaper.
The report comes at a time when there are concerns that terrorists may disrupt the assembly elections in J&K the first in nearly 10 years.
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Elections were last held in J&K in 2014. In the 90-member assembly, the J&K Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerged as the single-largest party with 25 MLAs but fell short of the majority. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came second with 25 MLAs, followed by J&K National Conference (NC) with 15, and Congress with 12. After weeks of delay, the PDP and BJP formed a coalition government in March 2015 with Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as Chief Minister of J&K.
After Sayeeds death in 2016, his daughter Mehbooba Mufti became the CM of J&K and ran the government until 2018. In June 2018, the BJP quit the coalition and Mehbooba resigned as her government collapsed. This led to the imposition of governors rule in the state. Then, in November 2018, the then-Governor Satya Pal Malik dissolved the assembly. Then, in August 2019, the Narendra Modi government abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated the state into two union territories of J&K and Ladakh. Now, the UT of J&K is set to have its first elections in a decade and first assembly elections since the abrogation of Article 370.
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The elections are taking place amid a spurt in terrorist activities in J&K. In the eight months of this year, at least 18 civilians and 20 security forces personnel have been killed in J&K compared to 12 civilians and 33 security personnel for the entirety of last year, according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP).
During the hearing of Arvind Kejriwals bail plea in the Supreme Court on September 5, counsels representing Delhi CM and the CBI were at loggerheads over whether his petition should be first heard by trial court read more
The CBI said Arvind Kejriwal will tamper with evidence and hamper the ongoing probe in Delhi Excise Policy case if he is released on interim bail. Source: PTI.
The Supreme Court on Thursday (September 5) reserved its verdict in the bail plea filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the money laundering case registered by the CBI in the Delhi excise policy case.
Kejriwals bail plea was heard by a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan.
During the hearing, counsels representing Kejriwal and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) were at loggerheads over whether Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chiefs bail plea should be first heard by trial court.
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Kejriwals plea was rejected by the Delhi High Court on August 5 and asked him to approach trial court for bail. The Delhi CM then instantly moved the Supreme Court with his appeal
SC reserves order on Kejriwal bail plea: What CBI said?
During the hearing on Thursday, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, appearing for CBI, said the matter should be first heard by the trial court.
He approached the High Court without going to the sessions court. This is my preliminary objection. On merits, trial court could have seen it first. High Court was made to see merits and it can only be in exceptional cases. In ordinary cases, sessions court has to be approached first, the ASG contended.
Raju further told the court that bypassing the trial court can only be allowed in exceptional circumstances and the only exceptional circumstance in this case is that Kejriwal is the Chief Minister.
Kejriwals response
Appearing for Kejriwal, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, said that the grounds raised in the present plea as regards the mandate on police office to issue notice to accused under Section 41A of CrPC, were argued before the trial court during remand and was rejected. Hence, it would not be fair to send the AAP leader back to the trial court to argue the same issue again.
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Is it a fair plea to say (go to trial court bail)? Had it not been argued on merits including on Section 41 and Section 41A fully? Before trial court also, it was argued during remand. You cannot consider sending me back there. Arguments were looked into during remand and affirmed against me. It is not fair to raise that argument now by then at this stage, huge delay involved since it has been heard on merits. Clear error on the face of it. I will not use the word perverse but serious error, Singhvi said.
Manish Sisodias bail order referred in Kejriwals plea hearing
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The Kejriwals counsel further highlighted the SCs judgment in Delhi former deputy CM Manish Sisodia case in which the apex court, while granting bail, had said that it would be unfair to send him back to trial court for bail since it would amount to playing a game of snake and ladder.
(On) this sending back, the Supreme Court has now used a very felicitous phrase in the Sisodia judgment - snakes and ladders, Singhvi said.
ASG Raju then interjected and said, Sisodia went to trial court once. Here how many times has he? It is not fair to look at one para like that without facts. My lords cannot be the first instance. There is a hierarchy.
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They want the ladder to start all over again, Singhvi quipped.
He further said that Kejriwal satisfies the triple test for bail and the trial in the case is unlikely to conclude anytime soon.
Multiple chargesheets filed. Prolonged incarceration cannot be there, is the triple test satisfied? Yes it is. In Manish Sisodia, the Court held that in this particular case of excise policy, trial is impossible to finish, Singhvi contended.
After the hearing that lasted through the day, the Supreme Court reserved its judgment.
On July 12, the Supreme Court had granted interim bail to Kejriwal in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case related to the Delhi excise policy. However, he had to remain in jail in the CBI case.
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Kejriwal had filed two separate petitions before the apex court (i) seeking bail, and (ii) challenging the legality of his arrest by the CBI in the Delhi excise policy case.
The CBI took Kejriwal into custody on June 26. The Delhi CM argued that the CBI arrested him when he was on the cusp of release on money laundering charges in the same case.
He further said that the move by the CBI was an insurance arrest designed to keep him behind the bars.
The investigating agency, in its response, countered that his arrest was necessary due to his evasive and non-cooperative attitude to questions about his alleged role in the case.
It was necessary since he was to be confronted with the evidence on record, the CBI had said in an affidavit.
Thakur blamed the NC and Congress for the suffering endured by the people over the decades and accused the two parties of collaborating again to reintroduce terrorism and violence in J&K. read more
Senior BJP leader Anurag Thakur said the record number of tourists visiting J&K, which he claimed the NC and Congress are unwilling to accept.
The Congress and National Conference are attempting to push Jammu and Kashmir back towards terrorism, anarchy and unrest, said Former Union minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday, accusing them of derailing peace and progress achieved after abrogation of Article 370.
The reinstatement of Article 370, the NC and Congress aim to return J&K to an era of terrorism, Thakur said while addressing a roadshow in Padder-Nagseni assembly constituency in support of BJP candidate Sunil Sharma, a former minister in the BJP-PDP coalition government.
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Since the abrogation of Article 370, there has been peace in J&K, and development has progressed rapidly, the Lok Sabha MP from Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh said.
Thakur also said the record number of tourists visiting J&K, which he claimed the NC and Congress are unwilling to accept.
He also highlighted the large turnout at the roadshow and the increasing support for BJP across J&K. Thakur said, The BJP is poised to form the next government in J&K. Thakur urged the public to vote for BJP and deliver a resounding message to the Congress and NC in the upcoming assembly elections.
After ruling the country for over 60 years, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi couldnt visit Kashmir to experience snow or enjoy ice-cream. They both had these experiences in Kashmir only after Prime Minister Narendra Modi abrogated Article 370, he said.
There was a time when Kashmir was synonymous with terrorism, stone pelting and unrest. Under PM Modis leadership, it now stands for development, peace and prosperity, Thakur said.
Today, we have AIIMS, IIMs, 11 medical colleges, NIFT, IIT and IIMC in J&K, thanks to the visionary leadership, Thakur said.
With inputs from PTI.
The political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir presents a unique set of challenges for womens empowerment. Historically, the representation of women in political roles in the region has been limited. Before the 1972 elections, political arenas were predominantly male dominated, with no female candidates successfully securing seats. The 1972 elections marked the beginning of female political participation, though the success rate of female candidates remained minimal. Subsequent elections, including those in 1977, saw a slight increase in female candidates, but their success remained low. The 1983 elections showed a marginal rise in female candidates, yet their representation was still limited.
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By 2002, women occupied just 8 per cent of the seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, highlighting only modest progress. The year 2011 saw a rise in female candidates for panchayats, but womens representation in higher positions, such as sarpanchs, remains limited. The 2011 Panchayati Raj Act mandated the reservation of one-third of seats for women in panchayats leading to a notable increase in female panches. However, womens representation in higher positions like sarpanchs remains limited.
Impact of conflict on womens political participation
The ongoing conflict in Jammu and Kashmir has profoundly impacted womens political participation. Although the situation has improved much now, still it needs a lot more to encourage women to engage far more in politics. A 2020 report by the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society revealed that women in conflict zones face increased risks of violence, which hampers their ability to participate in public life. Economic disruption due to conflict has disproportionately affected women, as highlighted by a 2022 UN Women study, leading to lower participation rates in political activities as women prioritize economic survival over political engagement.
Cultural norms and traditional gender roles
Cultural norms and traditional gender roles significantly influence womens political participation in Jammu and Kashmir. Traditional roles often confine women to domestic responsibilities, restricting their time and energy for political activities. A 2023 study by the Centre for Social Research found that societal expectations still place women in secondary roles, with many feeling that politics is not an appropriate field for them. The perception of politics as a corrupt and dangerous sphere further discourages women from participating, as revealed by a 2019 survey by the Jammu and Kashmir State Election Commission, where 60 per cent of women voters expressed disillusionment with the political process due to corruption and violence. Societal attitudes favouring male leadership contribute to womens underrepresentation, with traditional norms often hindering their electoral success. Despite an increase in female candidates in the 2011 Panchayat elections, women remain significantly underrepresented in leadership positions.
Institutional barriers to womens political empowerment
Institutional barriers also play a crucial role in limiting womens political empowerment. Political parties frequently provide inadequate support for female candidates. A 2021 report by the Jammu and Kashmir Political Analysis Group highlighted that women candidates often receive less support in terms of campaign resources and party backing compared to their male counterparts. Additionally, women are underrepresented in decision-making roles within political parties and government structures. For instance, in the 2020 Legislative Assembly, only 8 out of 87 seats were held by women, reflecting a lack of female representation in key decision-making bodies. Despite legislative measures such as the reservation of seats in panchayats, women continue to face legal and structural barriers. In the 2016 Assembly elections, only 6 per cent of women were elected to key positions, underscoring the gap between legislative intent and practical outcomes. In the 2024 Lok Sabha Election, no women candidate could win including Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party supremo Mehbooba Mufti.
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Multiple challenges
The challenges to womens political empowerment in Jammu and Kashmir are significant and multifaceted stemming from the impact of conflict, cultural norms and institutional barriers. Addressing these issues requires a comprehensive approach that includes strengthening institutional support, promoting education and awareness, challenging cultural barriers and ensuring safety and security. By implementing these strategies, the region can move towards a more inclusive and representative political environment, contributing to its democratic development and gender parity.
Locals of Uttarakhands Bageshwar assert that the relentless mining has destabilised the land, causing entire villages to sink read more
In Uttarakhands Bageshwar district, extensive mining activities are leading to a crisis similar to the Joshimath, with significant damage reported in the Kanda area.
Residents are facing severe structural issues in their homes, temples, fields, and roads due to the mining.
Locals allege that their pleas for help are being ignored by the government.
According to a report in TOI, severe land subsidence has put over 200 homes in Bageshwar district, Kumaon, at risk, with extensive damage observed in roads, fields, and houses. The crisis has been exacerbated by heavy rains and widespread mining activities in the region. The Uttarakhand Disaster Management Authority (UDMA) has flagged 11 villages across the district as vulnerable, with 450 homes identified as at risk.
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Among these, 131 families in villages such as Kuwari and Seri are particularly impacted by landslides. Additionally, villages near soapstone mines, including Kandekanyal and Papon, are experiencing significant subsidence. The Kanda and Reema valleys have suffered the most, with alarming sinkage affecting homes, fields, and roads. In Kandekanyal village, approximately 40 of 70 houses have been damaged, forcing many villagers to abandon their homes due to safety concerns.
1,000-year-old temple under threat
As per India Today report, the situation is bad for a 1,000-year-old Kalika temple, which is at risk due to nearby mining activities. Cracks have appeared in the temple grounds, with locals attributing the damage to a chalk mine located just 50 meters away.
Raghuvir Singh Majila, president of the temple committee and an army veteran, said that the temple has been central to both worship and the local economy for centuries. This temple has been a key religious site for the entire locality, with the economy revolving around it and its visitors, Majila said.
Local businesses, including eateries and shops catering to temple visitors, are now at risk due to the temples deteriorating condition.
In this sparsely populated area, the main sources of income are farming and religious tourism. Both are now jeopardised due to the rampant mining, said Suresh Singh Majila, a veteran and local activist.
He further said that they have received no assurance from the government regarding the construction of a retaining wall to secure the houses and temple uphill.
Soapstone mining
As per TOI, Bageshwar district is known for its rich deposits of highly valued soapstone, driving extensive mining activities in the region. With over 130 active soapstone mines, primarily in the Kanda valley, the area has become a significant source of this metamorphic rock, which can fetch up to Rs 7,000 per ton.
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Soapstone is utilised in various industries, including paper, paint, and cosmetics.
However, locals assert that the relentless mining has destabilised the land, causing entire villages to sink.
The districts susceptibility to disasters, particularly during the monsoon season, has long been a concern. Historical incidents include a deadly landslide in Bhayal Tok in 1983, which claimed 37 lives, and another tragic landslide in Sumgarh in 2010, resulting in the deaths of 18 schoolchildren.
Demand for relocation
Many residents are now calling for relocation due to the severe impact of mining. Hemchandra Kandpals family is among those hardest hit, with their home suffering catastrophic damage. Kandpal attributes the destruction to the mining beneath the hill. These cracks cannot be fixed; the only option left is to dismantle and rebuild the house. The government must provide us land to relocate, Kandpal told India Today.
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Administrations response
When approached about the ongoing issues and complaints, local SDM Anurag Arya stated, There had been complaints about cracks earlier, but nothing concerning was found. If there are more complaints, we will look into it.
Since 2014, when the Swachh Bharat Mission was started, India witnessed 10 per cent decline in infant mortality rate (IMR) and under-five mortality rate (U5MR), according to the study read more
Toilets built under the Swachh Bharat Mission have saved up to 60-70,000 lives a year, as per a study (Photo: CNN-News 18)
Prime Minister Narendra Modis push to construct toilets in houses as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) may have saved up to 60-70,000 lives a year, according to a study published in Nature journal.
In 2014, Modi announced the nationwide push to build toilets to eradicate open defecation as part of the SBM. The study has found that the initiative substantially reduced infant mortality rate (IMR) and under-five mortality rate (U5MR) in India.
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The IMR refers to the death of the child before their first birthday, according to World Health Organization (WHO).
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Soyra Gune, one of the five authors of the study, said that what set Indias SBM apart that while most low- and middle-income countries focus on curative and preventive measures, the SBM induced behavioural change.
Gune said, Most literature on reducing mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) focuses on preventative and curative interventions during the prenatal and postnatal period. However, there is scant evidence available on the association between large scale investments in sanitation and mortality in LMICs. The SBMs approach of combining behaviour change counselling with toilet construction differentiates it from earlier large-scale sanitation investments and programs in India.
Child deaths came down as toilet construction went up
The Nature study showed that between 2003 and 2020, the infant mortality rate was more than halved in India as the average toilet coverage increased.
In 2003, the average toilet coverage in houses was 46.7 per cent and infant mortality rate exceeded 60 per 1,000 live births.
In 2020, the average toilet coverage in houses was 81.2 per cent and infant mortality rate had fallen below 30 per 1,000 births.
Since 2014, when the Swachh Bharat Mission was started, India witnessed 10 per cent decline in infant mortality rate (IMR) and under-five mortality rate (U5MR).
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Benefits go beyond child deaths
The benefits of the toilet construction under the SBM have gone far beyond preventing childrens deaths, according to the study.
The study found that the increased toilet coverage also marked improvements in maternal education, pregnancy healthcare, hospital births, health insurance, and clean cooking fuel.
Notably, the push for toilet construction also occurred at a time when the Modi government pushed for the adoption of cooking gas over firewood and pushed for piped water connections.
Recent research also highlights the broader benefits of increased toilet access, including womens safety, financial savings from reduced medical expenses, and overall improvements in quality of life, said the authors in the study.
Jaishankars recent remarks have put a full stop to any possibilities of diplomatic interactions at any level with Pakistan read more
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has stated that the era of 'uninterrupted dialogue' with Pakistan has ended due to past actions having consequences. Image: Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP
On August 30, Indias Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, speaking on Indias foreign policy, said, The era of uninterrupted dialogue with Pakistan is overa policy that remained the backbone of Congress-led government (2004-2014). Jaishankars remarks come in the backdrop of Pakistan extending the recent invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisations (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting to be held in Islamabad in October.
Following the 2019 attacks by the Pakistani terror group Jaish-e-Muhmmad on the convoy of Indian security forces in Pulwama, Delhi conveyed in the strongest way that terror and talks cannot go together. Jaishankars remarks have also put a full stop to any possibilities of diplomatic interactions at any level, including regional forums like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
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Since Prime Minister Modi refused to attend the 2016 SAARC summit in Islamabad, citing security concerns, no subsequent summits have been held. The diplomatic freeze is further underscored by the absence of High Commissioners in both capitals, with neither India nor Pakistan having an official representative in Delhi or Islamabad. This diplomatic vacuum reflects the deepening rift between the two nations, signalling a significant downturn in bilateral relations.
In the press briefing on August 30, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the invitation to the Indian Prime Minister but added that no decision had been taken. With the mounting tensions in India-Pakistan relations, it is unlikely that Prime Minister Modi will visit Islamabad.
If Modi denies making an in-person presence at the upcoming SCO Summit, it will primarily be for two reasonssecurity issues and Pakistans lip service to combating the menace of terrorism. At the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers Summit in May 2023, Foreign Minister Jaishankar reminded the member states that tackling terrorism was one of the SCOs mandates.
The absence of political dialogue has come at a cost for Islamabad. There is no cross-border trade, meaning Pakistan does not have access to one of the largest regional markets. Does it matter for the Pakistani economy? The answer is yes.
Before Pakistan decided to cut off trade ties with India in 2019, it exported US$500 million worth of goods to India and imported goods worth US$2.06 billion in FY 2018-19. In 2023, Pakistans exports were down to US$ 3 million in FY 2023-24a fall of 99.4 per cent in four years. While the informal trade continues, the existing trade is routed through third-country ports like Dubai or Singapore, significantly increasing costs and logistical challenges for Pakistani businesses.
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In October 2023, on his return to Pakistan after years of self-exile in London, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was seen advocating improving ties with India. However, neither the deep state in Pakistan let Nawaz enter the Prime Ministers Office nor did the ties improve. Had he entered office, it was unlikely that Senior Sharif could change the course of relations, considering the establishment remains all in all of Pakistan.
But this is not to say that the Modi administration never favoured dialogue with Pakistan. The historic handshake between Prime Minister Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif at the 18th SAARC Summit in Kathmandu in November 2024, followed by Modis brief stopover in Lahore in 2015, signalled the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led governments willingness to resume dialogue with Pakistan in the post-2008 terror attacks in Mumbai.
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However, Pakistans obsession with the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian constitution, which granted special status to the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, has marked a closure to the bilateral dialogue.
Pakistan continues to raise the issue of Article 370, saying that it will exercise all possible options to counter illegal steps, but Delhi pays no heed. For Delhi, India is free to decide on the internal affairs of the country. Despite its internal economic and political issues, Pakistan has left no stone unturned in raising the issue of Article 370 at the United Nations. However, its attempts, even with support from some Islamic nations, have largely fallen flat on the international stage.
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In contrast, Indias rise as the fifth largest economic power and capacity to invest and attract investments, particularly from the Islamic world, have placed New Delhi differently. Countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Malaysia, and Indonesia, which extended support to Pakistan on the Kashmir dispute, seemed to have overcome the Islamic identity dilemma with Pakistan and moved ahead with Delhi in trade, investment, cyber security, etc.
For instance, Malaysias criticism of Indias move to abrogate Article 370 had led to Delhi cutting on its major palm oil imports, which had hit the Malaysian palm oil market. However, the recent visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to India on August 20 saw a positive shift in bilateral ties, primarily driven by bilateral trade, which reached a record high of .
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At the same time, the significance of the Pakistan factor in raising ultra-nationalistic sentiments in India has diminished. In the 2024 parliamentary elections, Pakistan was notably absent from the manifestos of major political parties. Congress and the Communist Party proposed resuming dialogue with Pakistan, contingent on Islamabads firm action against terrorism exported to India, while the BJP focused on bolstering border security.
There has also been a shift in Indias popular political approach towards Pakistan, mainly during elections in India. During the May 2024 parliamentary elections, Pakistan barely figured in the election speeches of the BJP and Congress. Islamabad is a done deal for Delhi.
India appears resolute in rejecting any advocacy or criticism of Kashmir from Pakistan or any third country, including Article 370. Delhi has also sent a clear message to regional parties in Jammu and Kashmir, notably the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who strongly opposed the governments move to abrogate Article 370, signalling that the matter is settled.
With Assembly Elections scheduled for September and October in the newly formed Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP and NC have pledged to restore the regions original status and reinstate Article 370a political gimmick that the regional parties have been sporting since 2019.
In fact, mainstream regional parties in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir recognise that the state lacks the legal authority to achieve this. Despite this, they are likely to use the issue of Article 370 to fuel an anti-BJP campaign in the state. After ten years, the Kashmir Valley is heading to the polls to elect a state government. The region has been under the Governors Rule since 2018 and the Presidents Rule from 2019 onwards.
By holding elections, Delhi signals its confidence in the security measures to handle any potential challenges, particularly in countering cross-border terrorism, while moving past global criticism over Article 370. Elections further underscore Indias determination to assert its sovereignty and normalise the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. It also sends a clear message that India remains steadfast in its policies, undeterred by external pressures or threats.
Rishi Gupta is the Assistant Director at the Asia Society Policy Institute, Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The interim government led by Mohammad Yunus has largely failed to stop the violence against the minorities and has made matters worse by lifting bans on radical Islamist groups and releasing terror suspects from jail that rule the roost on the streets of Bangladesh read more
The word secular in the context of Bangladesh is in itself a cliche. Bangladeshs contemporary image often boasts of its secular origins, yet the country has a long-standing history of Islamist politics and religious violence that predates its independence. The roots of its modern extremism lie in historical processes of the state and the emergence of the subsequent formation of its Islamic national identity, which has crystallised over the years under successive regimes.
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From 1971 to 1975, under the leadership of its founder, Mujibur Rahman, also known as Sheikh Mujib, Bangladesh undertook efforts to secularise Bangladesh. Shortly after its independence, the inaugural constitution introduced in 1972 established a legal framework for secular governance. It enshrined secularism as a core principle of the state and forbade the exploitation of religion for political purposes.
However, by 1974, Bangladeshs failing economy, famine, and growing local Islamist sentiments forced Sheikh Mujib to shift his approach. To garner public support, he began integrating Islamic culture and values into public life, introducing new religious holidays, imposing bans on alcohol and gambling, endorsing Islamic education, and reinstating Quranic broadcasts on public radio and television.
Following Sheikh Mujibs assassination in 1975, Bangladesh entered a period of 15 years under the autocratic rule of Ziaur Rahman, who imposed martial law in the country. Zias administration removed the term secularism from the constitution in 1977 and then subsequently lifted the ban on Islamic parties, including Jamaat-i-Islami, which had opposed the countrys independence. Zia, who also founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and his political allies, including Jamaat-e-Islami, promoted the notion of Bangladesh as an Islamic state through their political practices and rhetoric.
His government made several moves to integrate Islam into the fabric of the states political and legal framework, thus laying the foundation for radical organisations like Jamaat-e-Islami and Hizb-ut-Tehrir to spread their network within Bangladeshi Muslim society. After Zias assassination in 1981, General Hussain Muhammad Ershad took control and continued the trend of Islamising Bangladeshi politics, culminating in the 1988 declaration of Islam as the state religion of Bangladesh.
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In 1990, a democratic uprising led to the removal of General Ershad, thus ushering in a new era of electoral politics in Bangladesh. Over the next three decades, Bangladeshi leaders navigated a complex landscape of both secular and Islamic values. Under BNPs Khalida Zia (daughter of Ziaur Rahman)-led government, the Islamic fervour of Bangladesh remained prominent, with Jamaat-e-Islami being its critical mainstay, while under the recently ousted Prime Minister Sheikh asina, the identity of secular politics retook shape.
It was after the return of Sheikh Hasinas Awami League party back in power in 2011 when secularism as a term was reinstated in the constitution while still maintaining Islam as the state religion. Hasina has repeatedly emphasised Bangladeshs secular identity. The Awami League, her party, is prominently linked with secular nationalism. However, both the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have strategically utilised Islam for political gains. Though Sheikh Hasina during her tenure took many steps to curb radicalisation and bring the semblance of secularism back in the social fabric of Bangladesh, multiple surveys conducted over the last two decades have pointed towards increased prominence of radical Islamism over secularism.
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In a 2006 Gallup poll, 91 per cent of Bangladeshis said they wanted sharia as the only (or at least as one) source of legislation. A 2013 survey conducted by the Pew Research Centre found that 82 per cent of Bangladeshis favoured making sharia the official law, and among that, a significant minority, 44 per cent, supported executing apostates.
In a 2017 survey commissioned by the RESOLVE Network, a large majority of Bangladeshis supported property rights, free political expression, judicial independence, and free elections. Yet even larger majorities advocated for a greater role for sharia, including the imposition of harsh physical punishments for criminality and forced veiling.
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Nearly 80 per cent of those surveyed said sharia should have a somewhat or much larger role in the legal system. The data show a widely held belief that sharia will ensure better governance outcomes. These results clearly indicate how the radical Islamist organisations have been able to push Bangladesh as a state towards a similar nature to that of Pakistan.
Evidently, Bangladesh is affected by the growing radical demand for a greater reflection of Islamic values and sharia in governing institutions. Alongside the expanding role of religion in mainstream Bangladeshi society and politics, violent extremism also sprouted and spread with the intention of creating an Islamic caliphate transnationally as well as domestically.
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During 1980 to 1990, thousands of Bangladeshis joined the Afghan jihad war against the Soviets. After the fall of the first Taliban regime in Afghanistan in 1996, many of them returned back to Bangladesh and formed the now-proscribed radical terror organisation Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). JMB marked the beginning of Bangladeshi violent extremism. JMB with its affiliated groups and individuals were responsible for multiple bombings, suicide attacks, and intimidation. In 2005, JMB carried out a series of bombings at nearly 500 locations across Bangladesh.
Over the subsequent years, more terror organisations started surfacing in Bangladesh. Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), which is also called Ansar al-Islam (AAI), ISIS, and al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), also started operating inside Bangladesh and have recruited Bangladeshis to carry out terror attacks to create a global caliphate as well as an Islamic state in Bangladesh. These organisations targeted the free thinkers and bloggers within Bangladesh as well as carried out terror attacks on foreign nationals in Bangladesh, the most prominent one being the Holey Artisan bakery attack in Dhaka, which left 17 foreign nationals dead, including an Indian national.
So it came as no surprise that ISIS flags surfaced among the protestors on the streets of Dhaka following the fall of Sheikh Hasinas government. Since her ouster, there has been a marked escalation in violence against minorities in Bangladesh. Reports indicate that there has been a significant increase in targeted attacks on non-Muslim communities, primarily against the Hindus. Vandalism and arson of temples, Sufi shrines, and other places of worship have also been reported. Videos on social media have emerged where the radical Jamaat-e-Islami members, while distributing relief materials among the minority Hindu community, are seen tearing away the sacred threads worn around the neck amidst radical Islamic sloganeering and cheering in the aftermath of floods Bangladesh is witnessing currently.
The interim government led by Mohammad Yunus has largely failed to stop the violence against the minorities and has also made matters worse by lifting bans on radical Islamist groups and releasing terror suspects from jail that rule the roost on the streets of Bangladesh. This situation is reminiscent of the fact that Bangladesh, which fought hard for its independence to escape from the shadows of Pakistan, is now starting to reflect as a mirror image of the same Pakistan it once sought to overcome.
Raja Muneeb is an independent journalist and a columnist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit gives new strategic direction to an incrementally burgeoning relationship between India and Singapore read more
After Sir Stamford Raffles established a trading station in Singapore in 1819, readers may not know that till as late as 1867, the miracle city state was governed from Kolkata. Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit gives a new strategic direction to an incrementally burgeoning relationship.
A Financial Anchor
Singapores economic engagement with India is substantial and growing. Over the last two decades, Singaporean entities have invested a staggering $160 billion in India, making it the largest source of FDI for New Delhi. This influx of capital has not only fuelled Indias rapid economic expansion but also facilitated the capacity transformation of key sectors. One of the most notable instances of this was Singapores early investment in Bharti Airtel, which helped kickstart Indias cellular revolution.
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Singapores role as a financial anchor for India is further underscored by CapitaLands announcement during the visit to more than double its funds under management in India to over $14.8 billion.
Singapore has become Indias sixth-largest trading partner. In 2024, Indian imports from Singapore were $21.2 billion; exports totalled $14.4 billion. The trade relationship, while skewed in favour of Singapore, reflects the complementary nature of their economies.
Indias burgeoning middle class and its appetite for high-quality goods and services provide fertile ground for Singaporean exports, while Singapores need for raw materials and, increasingly, technology and talent finds fulfillment in India.
Strategic Convergence
Beyond the money, the strategic dimension of India-Singapore relations has gained prominence. A shared concern about Chinas assertiveness in the region drives this forward. The deepening defence ties between the two countries are perhaps best exemplified by the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX), which has been held annually since 1994. This is the oldest continuous Navy exercise India has with any country. It is time for a leap of faith to go from mutual exercises to mutual deployment. The IAF has long-term deployment in Japan; the Navy should do so with Singapore.
The strategic partnership is further bolstered by routine high-level exchanges between their defence establishments.
Singapore, despite its small size, is one of the top defence spenders in the world, spending more than 3 per cent of its GDP. Its strategic location at the crossroads of key global shipping routes complements Indias growing naval capabilities.
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This convergence of strategic interests can help India ramp up defence exports, including ammunition and other military hardware.
A New Frontier in Cooperation
The two nations are engaging in the health sector and semiconductor technologies.
The burgeoning financial ties between them are also reflected in the growing number of Indian companies that are listing on the Singapore Stock Exchange. This trend underscores the deepening integration of the two economies and the potential for Singapore to serve as a gateway for Indian companies looking to tap into global capital. The GIFT city in Gujarat offers Singapore an onshore opportunity.
For India, Singapore now ranks with Japan as an indispensable partner. The visit adds depth to this important mutually beneficial Asia-Pacific alignment.
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The writer is a senior journalist with expertise in defence. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Brunei on September 3-4, 2024. It was an important outreach on the part of India to this tiny Southeast Asian nation. This has been the first ever bilateral visit by an Indian head of government to this state with a population of around five lakhs, officially known as Brunei Darussalam. This visit needs to be viewed in the backdrop of Indias Act East policy posture.
The bilateral ties amongst India and Brunei are now elevated to the Enhanced Partnership level. During this visit, the discussions revolved around a range of issues, from defence to trade to education to terrorism to health to culture. Also, there was a major focus on furthering this relationship with collaboration in the areas of energy and technology.
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Both the states are keen to work together in areas ranging from hydrocarbons to semiconductors. As per the joint statement, both the states are keen to explore and push association in expanses on Information Communication Technology, fintech, cyber security, new and emerging technologies, and renewable energy. India is also helping Brunei in hosting the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change.
One important agreement signed during this meeting is about collaboration in the space domain. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the operation of Telemetry, Tracking and Telecommand Station for Satellite and Launch Vehicles was signed during the recent visit of the Indian PM. Currently, Brunei does not have any active space program. But it appears to have some interest in space-related activities and is using the route of international collaborations to satisfy their need for support from space systems. It would be of interest to know why India is keen on collaborating with Brunei, which has relatively very little bandwidth in the space domain.
The location of Brunei is 4.5 N latitude and 114.7 E longitude. This country is located on the island of Borneo and is bordered by the South China Sea to the north and Malaysia to the south, east, and west. Obviously, for India, a state like Brunei, which is located in the centre of the Indo-Pacific circle, has very important geopolitical and geostrategic significance. Brunei understands that its geography has put itself in a muddled region. Two major powers, namely the US and China, have major interests in the region.
Brunei is having good relations with both of these states. With the US, it has an established relationship that goes back to the Cold War period. China also understands the necessity to keep Brunei in good humour. The process of high-level political engagement by China started during 2000, when Jiang Zemin became the first Chinese head of state to visit Brunei.
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For both the US and China, the strategic location of Brunei is very important. It could be a matter of larger debate about, Is Brunei hedging between the US and China? However, from Indias perspective, it is an important state to engage in the area of its interest. Space collaboration should be seen as one of the instruments towards such engagement.
For India, increasing focus on cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries is important, and India understands the strategic significance of its Brunei engagement. India recognises that space technologies could play an important role in its outreach to maritime neighbours in the region. As such, India is connecting with various states in the region, including Brunei, under a multilateral forum called the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF). This forum was established in 1993 to boost space pursuits in the Asia-Pacific region.
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It is also important to note that not only India, but some other states in the region, like Japan, are also engaged in ASEAN Space Diplomacy. An important component of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is Chinas Space Silk Road. Obviously, to checkmate Chinas Space Silk Road initiative, there is a need for larger engagement with smaller states in the region into the domain of space. Japan is known to be silently exercising its space influence in recent years on ASEAN states. Today, along with bilateral arrangements with states like Brunei, India needs to boost its involvement in forums like APRSAF and also engage various ASEAN states more proactively.
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Indias space agency ISRO is pursuing international cooperation with many space agencies globally. This helps in enhancing the competency of the Indian space program and also helps in strengthening the countrys diplomatic relations. Also, such collaborations may help towards forming consensus in addressing issues associated with global space governance and issues related to space security.
Simultaneously, it is also important to realise that engagement with Brunei is not only restricted to space diplomacy, and there is something more to it.
During 2018, a MoU was signed between Brunei Darussalam and India. This was about the cooperation in the operation of telemetry, tracking, and telecommand stations for satellite and launch vehicles. It also included collaboration in the field of space science research and applications. ISRO has set up in Brunei a Telemetry, Tracking, and Command Station in Brunei Darussalam, known as the ISRO TTC Station. Actually, this arrangement has been in place since 1997. During 2000, ISRO established a full-fledged telemetry tracking and command station in Brunei. This allows them to track and monitor all eastward launches of satellites and rockets. This arrangement is getting routine extensions. The signing of the MoU during 2018 was about extending this arrangement for another five years. The agreement has extended this arrangement further.
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For some time now, ISRO has been involved in short-term and long-term training activities with Brunei. ISRO is upgrading their facilities at Brunei routinely since, over a passage of time, new and more efficient technology develops and also ISROs needs could increase and/or change. Apart from Brunei, ISRO also has tracking stations at Port Louis (Mauritius), Bearslake (Russia), Biak (Indonesia), and Antarctica.
Today, Brunei has much interest in leveraging space technologies for resource management and addressing various environmental challenges. For India, the geographical location of Brunei, which is close to the equator, is very attractive. If India plays its cards well, then it can establish a launchpad for satellite launching at Brunei. This country is favourably located for the establishment of a spaceport. For various reasons, launchpads close to the equator are perfect locations for launching and monitoring satellites in polar and geostationary orbits. Mainly, such launches are very cost-effective since they require less fuel.
The recent visit by the Indian Prime Minister to Brunei coincides with the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Brunei. For more than two decades, India has been investing in space technologies for the engagement of Brunei, and it is expected that India will be increasingly using space as an important instrument for amplification of its Act East policy.
The author is Deputy Director General, MP-IDSA, New Delhi. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
First results from autopsies on four of the victims - Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judith, lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda - suggested that they died of suffocation as oxygen ran out on the stricken vessel read more
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, on August 20, 2024. Reuters File
Initial examinations of four of the people killed when British tech tycoon Mike Lynchs family yacht sank off Sicily last month indicated they had died of suffocation as oxygen ran out on the stricken vessel, judicial sources said on Thursday.
Lynch, his daughter Hannah, an onboard cook and four guests died when the Bayesian, a British flagged 56-metre (184-feet) superyacht, sank during a severe and sudden weather event off the port of Porticello, near Palermo, on August 19.
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First results from autopsies on four of the victims - Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judith, lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda - suggested that they died from suffocation, having been trapped on the ship.
More forensic tests were ordered, with results expected in the coming weeks, the sources said.
Examinations on the bodies of Lynch and his daughter were due to begin later on Thursday, they added.
The bodies of the dead, except for the cook, were found in the cabins on the left-hand side of the boat, where the passengers may have tried to search for remaining bubbles of air, the head of Palermos Fire Brigade said last month.
James Cutfield, the ship captain, and crew members Tim Parker Eaton and Matthew Griffiths have been placed under investigation by the Italian authorities for potential manslaughter and shipwreck.
Being investigated does not imply guilt and does not mean formal charges will follow.
Griffiths, who was on watch duty on the night of the disaster, has told investigators that the crew members did everything they could to save those on board the Bayesian, according to comments reported by Italian news agency Ansa last week.
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The sinking has puzzled naval experts, who said a vessel like the Bayesian, built by Perini, a high-end yacht manufacturer owned by The Italian Sea Group, should have withstood the storm and, in any case, should not have sunk as quickly as it did.
With over 50 African leaders in attendance the forum marked Chinas most significant diplomatic engagement with Africa since the pandemic. Xis pledges ranged from financing to military aid read more
China's President Xi Jinping, centre, and African leaders prepare for a group photo during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on Thursday. AP
At the recent China-Africa forum, Chinese President Xi Jinping made a series of sweeping pledges aimed at strengthening ties with African nations. With over 50 African leaders in attendance, alongside UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the forum marked Chinas most significant diplomatic engagement with Africa since the pandemic. Xis pledges ranged from financing to military aid.
Heres a closer look at the five most important deals and promises made by Xi Jinping during the summit.
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1. $50.7 billion in financial support for Africa: One of the most eye-catching commitments from Xi was a massive $50.7 billion financial package for Africa over the next three years. This sum will be distributed across various sectors including infrastructure, agriculture, industry, and trade.
Over half of the amount will be provided in credit, with $11 billion set aside as direct assistance. Additionally, $10 billion will be channelled into investments by Chinese firms.
Chinas pledge raises concerns about increasing debt dependency on Beijing.
2. Creating 1 million jobs: Beyond financial aid, Xi has pledged that Chinese investments would help generate at least 1 million jobs across the continent, particularly through infrastructure and industrial projects.
The promise of job creation ties directly to Chinas investment in sectors such as construction, manufacturing, and agriculture. As Chinese companies set up shop or expand their operations in Africa, they will employ locals, addressing unemployment in many parts of the continent.
Job creation through foreign investments can be a double-edged sword. While it boosts employment, critics argue that it often leads to an influx of Chinese labour and firms, limiting local ownership and control over industries.
3. $141 million in military aid: Xi also announced that China will deepen military collaboration with African nations. A $141 million military aid package was unveiled, alongside commitments to train 6,000 African military personnel and 1,000 police and law enforcement officers.
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This military aid solidifies Chinas role as a key partner in Africas defence sector.
4. Focus on renewable energy and infrastructure: China is also heavily investing in renewable energy and infrastructure projects across Africa. Xis government has committed to partnerships in solar energy, railways, and roads.
Zambia, for example, struck a deal between its state-owned power company ZESCO and Chinas PowerChina to expand rooftop solar panel use. Similarly, Kenya secured an agreement for the expansion of its Standard Gauge Railway and the development of the Rironi-Mau Summit-Malaba motorway, valued at $1.2 billion.
5. Agriculture and trade expansion: Xis pledges werent limited to heavy infrastructure and defence. China also plans to ramp up agricultural cooperation with African nations. Zimbabwe, for instance, secured Chinese commitments for deeper collaboration in agriculture, mining, and energy. In addition, a deal was struck that would allow Zimbabwean avocados to be exported to Chinaa key win for the nations agricultural sector.
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Kenya also received promises for expanded agricultural trade, with a focus on opening Chinas vast markets to Kenyan products.
With inputs from AFP
Israel, issued a statement, saying that three different attacks were carried out on Palestinian fighters who posed a threat to their forces in Tubas read more
People assess the scene where an Israeli drone strike killed Palestinians, in Tubas in the occupied West Bank, September 5, 2024. Source: REUTERS.
At least six Palestinians were killed and three others were wounded in the Israeli bombing of a car in the West Bank city of Tubas, the Palestinian Ministry of Health and the Red Crescent said on Thursday.
According to a report by Wafa news agency, a teenager was also allegedly shot dead in the Fars refugee camp by Israeli troops.
The Israeli army, meanwhile, issued a statement in which it informed: Israeli Air Force aircraft conducted three targeted strikes on armed terrorists in the area of Tubas in the northern Jordan Valley.
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Israel further said that three different attacks were carried out on Palestinian fighters who posed a threat to their forces in Tubas.
According to Wafa report, Palestinian medics on Thursday informed that five people were killed in an air attack on a car and two people were injured. One other person was critically injured.
The report further said that Israeli soldiers fired several bullets at 16-year-old Majed Fida Abu Zeina, in Fara, and allegedly abused him and prevented ambulance crews from reaching him.
Then they dragged him out of the camp using a military bulldozer, the report further said.
The Israeli forces were raiding the al-Ein refugee camp, west of the city of Nablus.
With inputs from agencies.
The deposed ministers had announced their support for Sri Lanka Podujana Peramunas (SLPP) Presidential Candidate Namal Rajapaksa - the heir to the powerful Rajapaksa dynasty - who is vying to become the president read more
Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe looks on during an interview at Presidential Secretariat, amid the country's economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, August 18, 2022. File Image/Reuters
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday sacked four junior ministers from his government in what is being seen as a purge of the Rajapaksa backers in the run-up to the September 21 presidential elections.
A statement from the presidents office said that the decision was made under the authority granted to him by Article 47 (3) of the Constitution.
The sacked ministers are State Minister of Ports and Aviation Services Premalal Jayasekara, State Minister of Power and Energy Indika Anuruddha, State Minister of Agriculture Mohan Priyadarshana de Silva, and State Minister of Highways Siripala Gamlath.
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The deposed ministers had announced their support for Sri Lanka Podujana Peramunas (SLPP) Presidential Candidate Namal Rajapaksa -the heir to the powerful Rajapaksa dynasty - who is vying to become the president.
The Rajapaksas withdrew support for Wickremesinghe, 75, who is competing as an independent candidate despite being the leader of the grand old party, the United National Party.
The decision to sack the ministers came as a grand coalition Peoples United Freedom Alliance was formed under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.
It comprises over 25 political parties that gathered to consolidate support for Wickremesinghe in the presidential election.
Several ministers and politicians from the SLPP, who are backing Wickremesinghe, were also present at the partys launch ceremony.
We have formed this alliance to contest the parliamentary election that will be coming after the presidential election, Gunawardena said.
Wickremesinghe, who took over the presidency for the balance term of the ousted president Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022, was installed as the stop-gap president by the majority vote in parliament by the SLPP.
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The younger members of the SLPP, who helped Wickremesinghes work in reviving the bankrupt economy, decided to back the president in helping the country overcome the economic crisis.
The SLPP has vowed to take disciplinary action against the members for backing Wickremesinghe over Rajapaksas candidacy.
China and Cambodia have close relations and China has long used the ties to fuel its expansionist designs in Southeast Asia read more
At a time when China is increasing foothold in Southeast Asia with military aggression, it is set to give two warships to Cambodia to further extend its influence.
China and Cambodia have close relations and China has long used the ties to fuel its expansionist designs in Southeast Asia.
Now, Cambodia has said that China will soon hand over two warships. These are Type 056C corvettes made by China and used by the Chinese Navy.
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Even as the Cambodian Navy Spokesperson Maly Socheata told AFP that the ships are intended to only help protect and maintain peace, stability, security and to support search and rescue operations and other humanitarian activities in the region, they are seen as part of Chinas expanding footprint in the region in general and in Cambodia in particular.
The United States has long had concerns regarding the Chinese-funded renovation of Cambodias Ream naval base, which was originally built by the United States.
Maly said that the two ships are expected to delivered in 2025 or later.
Chinas footprint in Cambodia
China-funded renovation at the Ream naval base is under the scanner as piers have been built for ships much larger than what the Cambodians have. There are reports that it can even host aircraft carriers.
This has raised concerns that China may station ships and personnel at the port to further assert dominance in Southeast Asia. China illegally and falsely claims the entire South China Sea and frequently clashes with other nations in the region. For months, it has been attacking ships of Philippines in the region. If China makes the port another outpost, the dominance in the region fuelled by rampant military aggression would just increase.
On its part, the Cambodians have denied that any foreign military would set up a base in the country.
However, previously, The Wall Street Journal has reported that the United States was aware of a draft agreement that would allow China to use the base for 30 years with the option of deploying warships, weapons, and personnel there.
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Concerns have further been fuelled about the port as US and Japanese officials have not been granted access to the base.
Ukraines parliament approved the nomination of Andrii Sybiha as its foreign minister. The shift comes ahead of the biggest government reshuffle in Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion began in 2022 read more
Ukraines parliament on Thursday (September 5) approved the nomination of Andrii Sybiha as its foreign minister, replacing Dmytro Kuleba as part of the biggest government reshuffle since the full-scale Russian invasion.
First appointment Andrii Sybiha as minister for foreign affairs of Ukraine, lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak said, adding 258 lawmakers had voted in favour of the appointment.
Sybiha, 49, is reputed as a skillful career diplomat. He was deputy minister for foreign affairs, and has previously served as Ukraines ambassador to Poland and Turkey. He has worked for several years in Zelenskyys office, overseeing foreign policy and strategic partnerships.
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The new foreign minister is considered to be closer to presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak than his predecessor Kuleba. According to AFP sources, Kuleba did not want to resign but had been under pressure from Yermak and has been criticised for the functioning of his ministry.
Kuleba did not attend the parliament session where 240 lawmakers voted to accept his resignation, said Zheleznyak.
Before he took over Kulebas post, Sybiha was his first deputy at the Foreign Ministry.
Heres a look at his career trajectory prior to that, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
1997-1998: Attache, Third, Second Secretary at the State and Legal Affairs Department, Directorate General for International Legal Affairs, MFA
1998-2002: Second, First Secretary at the Embassy of Ukraine in Polish Republic
2002-2003: First Secretary at the Department of Legal and Humanitarian Cooperation, Directorate General for European Integration, MFA
2003-2005: Head of the International Law Department, Directorate General for International Legal Affairs, MFA
2005-2006: Head of the International Law and Foreign Policy Legislation Department, Directorate General for International Legal Affairs, MFA
2006-2008: Deputy Head of the Directorate General for International Legal Affairs, MFA
2008-2012: Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of Ukraine in Polish Republic
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2012-2016: Head of the Directorate General for Consular Service, MFA
2016-2021: Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Turkey
2021-2024: Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine
With inputs from agencies
Four American nationals are still believed to be held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip read more
Families of hostages held by Hamas have been protesting for months for a hostage-release deal (Photo: Reuters)
As Israeli demands continue to stall peace talks, the families of American hostages have pressed the White House to negotiate directly with Hamas, according to a report.
So far, the United States has been facilitating, according to mediators Qatar and Egypt, indirect talks between Israel and Hamas for the end of the war in the Gaza Strip and the release of all hostages including US nationals.
Now, as the chances of a deal become bleak because of Israeli demands, NBC News has reported that the families of Americans held hostage by Hamas in Gaza have urged the White House to directly cut a deal with Hamas for the release of Americans without Israels involvement.
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In July, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rewrote the original peace proposal outlined by US President Joe Biden in May and added four new conditions. The most contentious condition is the continued Israeli occupation of the Philadelphi Corridor, a strip of land along the Egypt-Gaza border. As Hamas and Egypt have both rejected the demand, the peace talks remain stalled and no peace deal has been reached so far.
As of now, four Americans are believed to be held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. Last week, Hamas killed one American national, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, and his body was recovered by the Israeli soldiers in a tunnel in Israels Rafah.
The report of the demand of a unilateral deal between the United States and Hamas comes after US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met the families of American hostages on Sunday. In the meeting, the officials told the families that even though the Biden administration was exploring every option for the release of hostages, it still believed that a deal involving Israel was the best option, according to NBC.
Can US cut a deal directly with Israel?
In March, the Biden administration reached out to Hamas through Qatar to explore the possibility of a unilateral deal, according to NBC.
The outreach, however, did not lead to anything substantial and the United States has continued to push for a broader deal, as per the report.
A US official told the news channel that a unilateral US-Hamas deal was unrealistic as the United States did not have enough to offer to strike a deal.
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The official said that everything that Hamas wants in lieu of releasing the hostages can only be delivered by Israel.
Hamas wants two things that only Israel can deliver: a ceasefire and nearly 1,000 Palestinian prisoners currently in Israeli jails. Every other proposal has gone nowhere because that is what Hamas demands for the hostages, said this official.
The United States cannot fulfil any of these demands.
The report, however, said that one option that may be considered is releasing five persons convicted for terror financing in lieu of the hostages. These five persons were convicted for funding Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation. One of these five persons, Mufid Abdulqader, is the brother of former Hamas chief Khaled Mashal.
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Even as Netanyahus demands has stalled any hostage-release deal, he has remained firm on the demand to control the Philadelphi Corridor, which he has claimed is important to prevent Hamas revival and another October 7-like attack.
Brunei has only about 160 km of coastline in the South China Sea but it has some serious maritime disputes with China, which increasingly claims sovereignty over the entire region. read more
Chinese President Xi Jinping shows the way to the meeting room to Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah during their meeting in 2019. Image courtesy: Reuters
Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, sits on the Borneo island bordered by Malaysia and just outside the South China Sea, claimed largely by China as its sovereign territory. Brunei has about 160-km coastline in the oil-gas rich sea, putting it in direct conflict with China amid Beijing increasing military assertiveness in the region.
Brunei and Beijing have a long history of bilateral ties, going back some 2,000 years, when the Han dynasty ruled China. During the rule of the Ming dynasty in China, the tomb of Brunei Sultan Abdul Majid Hassan was constructed in Nanjing in the 15th century.
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With a history of warm ties, Brunei-China relations underwent an eclipsing change as Brunei came under British protectorate, following which the emergence of the Chinese Communist Party as the ruling power in China has defined the bilateral relationship.
Brunei and communist China established official diplomatic relations in 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union and the consequent end of the Cold War. Their bilateral relations explained in 10 points below:
Congo is the epicentre of the outbreak, which has spread to neighbouring countries and elsewhere, but a lack of vaccines in Africa has hampered efforts to stop the spread of the sometimes deadly disease. read more
Following the global mpox outbreak in 2022, wealthy countries quickly responded with vaccines and treatments from their stockpiles. However, only a few doses have reached Africa despite pleas from its governments, creating a huge inequity. MVA-BN vaccine has already been used in Europe and the United States, the E.U. said, and it is authorized for use in adults. The European Medicines Agency is examining additional data to be able to administer it to children aged 12 to 17, which could happen at the end of the month. 215,000 doses were pledged and purchased for an undisclosed amount specifically to be donated to Congo, said Laurent Muschel, the Director-General of HERA. The U.S. last week that it donated 10,000 doses of mpox vaccines to Nigeria, where the disease has been common. It is the first known donation to Africa since the current outbreaks. Nigeria has recorded 40 cases of the virus this year, according to Nigerias CDC.- Image- AP
The first batch of mpox vaccine arrived in Congos capital on Thursday, the countrys authorities said, three weeks after the World Health Organization declared mpox outbreaks in 12 African countries a global emergency.
A plane carrying doses manufactured by Bavarian Nordic and donated by the European Union touched down in the capital Kinshasa around 13:00 local time, Reuters reporters at the airport said.
The 100,000 doses of the MVA-BN vaccine, manufactured by the Danish company Bavarian Nordic, have been donated by the European Union through HERA, the blocs agency for health emergencies. Another 100,000 are expected to be delivered on Saturday, the Congolese authorities said.
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Congos health minister, Samuel Roger Kamba Mulamba, told reporters the newly arrived vaccine had already proved its worth in the United States and would be rolled out to adults in Congo.
We know which provinces are heavily affected, notably Equateur and South Kivu The idea is to contain the virus as quickly as possible, he added.
This first delivery amounts to 99,000 doses and a further delivery on Saturday will take the total to 200,000 doses, said Laurent Muschel, the head of the EU Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA).
Overall, Europe aims to deliver 566,000 doses to wherever needs are greatest in the region, Muschel told Reuters. Based on the number of cases, the next country (for deliveries) should be Burundi, but the countrys medical agency must authorise it.
The arrival of the vaccine in Congo should start to address a huge inequity that has left African countries with no access to the two shots used in a 2022 global mpox outbreak, while they were widely available in Europe and the United States.
Congo has said it will launch its vaccination campaign on Oct. 8 to allow time for a thorough awareness-raising campaign to overcome mistrust in some communities.
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Following the global mpox outbreak in 2022, wealthy countries quickly responded with vaccines and treatments from their stockpiles. However, only a few doses have reached Africa despite pleas from its governments, creating a huge inequity.
MVA-BN vaccine has already been used in Europe and the United States, the E.U. said, and it is authorized for use in adults. The European Medicines Agency is examining additional data to be able to administer it to children aged 12 to 17, which could happen at the end of the month.
215,000 doses were pledged and purchased for an undisclosed amount specifically to be donated to Congo, said Laurent Muschel, the Director-General of HERA.
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The U.S. last week that it donated 10,000 doses of mpox vaccines to Nigeria, where the disease has been common. It is the first known donation to Africa since the current outbreaks. Nigeria has recorded 40 cases of the virus this year, according to Nigerias CDC.
With inputs from agencies.
Donald Trumps lawyers have proposed a calendar that would push any pretrial arguments not just past the 2024 US election, but until after the next president takes office, in January 2025 read more
Donald Trump's lawyers have been seeking to delay a trial until after November's election between Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris. Source: AFP.
Donald Trumps case on charges of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election returns to a courtroom on Thursday, but a trial of the former US president appears remote.
District Judge Tanya Chutkan is to preside over a status conference in a downtown Washington courthouse between prosecutors and Trumps lawyers to lay out a schedule for pretrial proceedings in the historic case.
The Republican presidential candidate, who waived his right to be present, will also be formally arraigned at the hearing and has instructed his attorneys to enter a not guilty plea.
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Special Counsel Jack Smith filed a new indictment of the 78-year-old Trump last week on charges that he tried to subvert the results of the presidential election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
The superseding indictment retains the same four charges against Trump as in an earlier version, but takes into account the recent Supreme Court ruling that a former president has broad immunity from criminal prosecution.
It retains the same core, stating that Trump lost in 2020 but was determined to remain in power and attempted to subvert the results.
The Supreme Court ruled in July that an ex-president has broad immunity from prosecution for official acts conducted while in office, but can be pursued for unofficial acts.
Trump was originally scheduled to go on trial on March 4, but that was put on hold while his lawyers pushed his immunity claim up to the Supreme Court.
Thursdays status conference will feature the first courtroom appearance by Smith and Trumps attorneys since Chutkan regained control of the case a month ago.
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Private electioneering activity
Trumps lawyers have been seeking to delay a trial until after Novembers election between Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, and it is virtually certain that it will not be held before the vote.
Trumps lawyers have proposed a calendar that would push any pretrial arguments not just past the election but until after the next president takes office, in January 2025.
Smith did not propose a timetable but said he would be ready to offer written arguments on the question of presidential immunity whenever the court requested them and asked that the issue be given priority.
The Supreme Court, in its July 1 ruling, left it to Chutkan, an appointee of former Democratic president Barack Obama, to determine what specific presidential actions might not enjoy immunity.
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Smith said he would demonstrate that some of Trumps acts after the 2020 election were not part of his official functions, to distinguish his private electioneering activity from official action, and rebut the presumption of immunity.
Trump is accused of conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding the January 6, 2021 joint session of Congress that was violently attacked by Trump supporters.
Trump is also accused of seeking to disenfranchise US voters with his false claims that he won the 2020 election.
Trump was convicted in New York in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels, who alleged she had a sexual encounter with the real estate tycoon.
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Sentencing has been scheduled for September 18, but Trumps lawyers have asked for his conviction to be tossed, citing the Supreme Court immunity ruling.
Trump also faces charges in Georgia related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Besides meeting Singapores Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, PM Narendra Modi also visited a semiconductors manufacturer and met top business leaders read more
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking to deepen the bilateral cooperation with Singapore in critical sectors like semiconductors and healthcare along with emerging technologies like artificial intelligence during his ongoing visit.
Modi is on a visit to Singapore as part of his tour of Southeast Asia in which he previously visited Brunei. In Singapore, he held talks with PM Lawrence Wong and President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and held also held a meeting with top business leaders.
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During the visit, Modi announced that he and Wong had decided to elevate the bilateral ties to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership.
In public remarks before the delegation-level talks with Wong, PM Modi highlighted the nature of bilateral ties.
Our strategic partnership is completing a decade. Over the past ten years, our trade has more than doubled. Mutual investment has increased almost threefold to cross $150 billion. Singapore was the first country with which we launched the UPI Person-to-Person payment facility. In the past ten years, 17 satellites of Singapore have been launched from Indian soil. Our cooperation has gained momentum from skilling to defence sector. The agreement between Singapore Airlines and Air India has strengthened connectivity, said Modi in Hindi, as per the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Sharing my remarks during meeting with PM @LawrenceWongST.https://t.co/ipc5WmnY6x Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 5, 2024
Focus on chips, health, AI
At a time when the Modi government is looking to develop a semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem in India, the visit serves as a platform to explore areas of cooperation in the area between India and Singapore.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Modi said, The discussions with my friend PM Lawrence Wong continued today. Our talks focused on boosting cooperation in areas like skilling, technology, healthcare, AI and more. We both agreed on the need to boost trade relations.
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In a separate post, Modi said he and Wong visited the AEM Holdings Ltds facility in Singapore. The company is a full-stack provider of chipmaking-related solutions.
Semiconductors and technology are important facets of India-Singapore cooperation. This is also a sector where India is increasing its presence. Today, PM Wong and I visited AEM Holdings Ltd. We look forward to working together in this sector and giving our youth more opportunities, said Modi.
At the facility, Modi also met a group of Indian engineers working there as interns.
Semiconductors and technology are important facets of India-Singapore cooperation. This is also a sector where India is increasing its presence. Today, PM Wong and I visited AEM Holdings Ltd. We look forward to working together in this sector and giving our youth more pic.twitter.com/Bdh8nU1w6Y Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 5, 2024
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Top business leaders pledge to invest in India
During his visit to Singapore, Modi also met top business leaders.
The business leaders comprised the CEOs of Blackstone Singapore, Temasek Holdings, Sembcorp Industries Limited, CapitaLand Investment, ST Telemedia Global Data Centers, Singapore Airways, among others.
These business leaders pledged to invest in India.
We talked about ways to deepen economic linkages. I highlighted the reforms underway in India, which will encourage investment and innovation, said Modi after the meeting.
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Interacted with top business leaders and CEOs in Singapore. We talked about ways to deepen economic linkages. I highlighted the reforms underway in India, which will encourage investment and innovation. pic.twitter.com/3xkFllIJyw Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 5, 2024
Separately, AEM Holdings Chairman Loke Wai San told DD News that Indias push to promote chipmaking is absolutely right. He also said that India is emerging as a place of opportunities regarding semiconductors.
As part of the new globalisation, you see a lot of high-end mobile electronics companies move to IndiaThat shift is very important as these companies are consumers of semiconductors. The more electronics assembly production you have, the more end-market for semiconductors India will have. So, you have got to think about that ecosystem as logistics also play a role, said San.
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Alice Guo, a former mayor of a town in the Philippines, is accused of spying of China under a false identity and providing a cover for criminal gangs read more
Alice Guo, the Mayof of Bamban in the Philippines, is accused of being a Chinese spy (Photo: Facebook)
A former Philippine mayor suspected to be a Chinese spy has been arrested after being on the run for months.
Alice Guo is the disgraced former mayor of the town of Bamban in the Philippines. She is accused of spying for China under a false identity and being part of a criminal network that includes international scams, human smuggling, and money laundering.
Guo was arrested on Tuesday in Indonesia where she had fled to after investigations against her picked up pace.
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Guos came has come to light at a time when China-Philippines relations are already quite poor amid continued Chinese aggression in the South China Sea. The report of penetration of Chinese spies into Philippine government is further set to inflame the relations and adversely affect the attitude towards China. Guos case has already grabbed national attention in the country.
Whats the case against Alice Guo?
Guo was elected as the Mayor of Bamban on the back of an image of a young and enthusiastic public servant, but her fall for grace has been quick.
The fall started when the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) received information about two workers from Malaysia and Vietnam being held against their will in a building in Bamban, according to CNN.
The building was suspected to be a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO), which offers gambling to Chinese nationals as gambling is illegal in China. The report said that the authorities found that more than 800 people from the Philippines, China, Vietnam, etc were held there against their will.
The authorities said love scam scripts, firearms, and mobile phones used in scam were recovered from there, according to the report.
The centre was, therefore, running an international scam where people held against their will were made to pose as lovers to lure people to send money by impersonating as young women on the internet, according to the report.
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The Philippine Senate opened an investigation into the issue that also included the role of Mayor Guo as the centre was running close to her office, according to BBC.
During the investigation, as pressure mounted on Guo to explain how her wealth rose to millions within just two years of being a mayor, she vanished form public. After her arrest in Indonesia, the authorities have said she escaped via several boats and crossed Malaysia and Singapore on her way to Indonesia, as per BBC.
Alice Guo identified as Chinese national
After Guo ignored Senate summons, the Senate issued a warrant against her. But she had vanished by then.
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As the investigation continued, the authorities found that Guo was actually a Chinese national and her real name was not Alice Guo.
Immigration records showed that Guos real name was Guo Hua Ping and her fingerprints in government records matched with that of a Chinese national of the same name, according to CNN.
The investigation also found that the scam centre catering to Chinese nationals was run by Guo in league with a Chinese national, which further bolstered the case of her being a Chinese spy.
The CNN reported that the senate investigation found that an entity, Baofu Land Development, was incorporated in 2019 at the address of the scam centre and the three owners of the entity were Guo and two other Chinese nationals.
The condemnation from Vice President Kamala Harris came shortly after 14-year-old Colt Gray was charged with going on a shooting rampage and killing two students and two teachers at the Apalachee High School in Winder read more
US Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the devastating shooting incident at a high school in Winder Georgia. While addressing a campaign rally in North Hampton, New Hampshire, the Democratic Presidential nominee described the incident as a shameless tragedy and insisted that we (Americans) have to end this epidemic of gun violence in our country.
The proclamation from the vice president came shortly after 14-year-old Colt Gray was charged with going on a shooting rampage and killing two students and two teachers at the Apalachee High School in Winder. Not only this but at least nine others were rushed to a nearby hospital after getting injured in the attack.
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Before she commenced her speech about her economic agenda, Harris went off script to address the situation. She shook her head and called the shooting incident outrageous. Were still gathering information about what happened, but we know that there were multiple fatalities and injuries, and our hearts are with all the students, the teachers and their families, she said.
Of course, we are grateful to the first responders and the law enforcement that were on the scene. But this is just a senseless tragedy, on top of so many senseless tragedies, and its just outrageous that every day in our country, in the United States of America, parents have to send their children to school worried about whether or not their child will come home alive, she furthered.
Biden issues a statement
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden also issued a statement over the matter and extended condolences to the families of the victims. Jill and I are mourning the deaths of those whose lives were cut short due to more senseless gun violence and thinking of all of the survivors whose lives are forever changed," he said in the Wednesday statement.
What should have been a joyous back-to-school season in Winder, Georgia, has now turned into another horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to tear our communities apart, he added before calling on Republicans to finally say enough is enough, and pass more gun control legislation.
Ending this gun violence epidemic is personal to me.
Its why I signed the most meaningful gun safety bill in decades, announced dozens of actions, and established the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
Weve made progress, but this crisis requires even more. President Biden (@POTUS) September 4, 2024
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During the Wednesday rally, even Harris reiterated the assertions made by Biden about gun laws in Georgia and across the United States. Its senseless. It is. Weve got to stop it, and we have to end this epidemic of gun violence in our country once and for all. You know, it doesnt have to be this way. It doesnt have to be this way," said the visibly frustrated vice president.
Georgia shooter was on FBI radar since 2023
Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, just revealed that Gray has been on the FBIs radar since last year, when he was interviewed in connection to online school shooting threats. In May 2023, the FBIs National Threat Operations Center received several tips about online threats to commit a school shooting with the harrowing remarks including photos of guns, the Federal investigative authority said in a statement.
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The statement noted that the Jackson County Sheriffs Office located Gray, then just 13, and interviewed him and his father. Grays father said that the teenager had a hunting gun in the house but Gray didnt have unsupervised access to them, according to the statement.
At that time Gray denied making online threats. Officials, however, alerted local schools for continued monitoring of Gray, per the statement. Following the Wednesday incident, the officials said that the suspect surrendered quickly as officers, including two school resources officers, entered the campus and confronted him.
With inputs from agencies.
India and Singapore also emphasised the importance of upholding international standards on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, consistent with Financial Action Task Force recommendations. read more
India and Singapore said on Thursday that terrorism remains the most pressing threat to global peace and stability, reaffirming their commitment to combating its forms and manifestations.
A joint statement released during Prime Minister Narendra Modis two-day visit to Singapore emphasised that there can be no justification for acts of terror on any grounds whatsoever.
The two nations also reaffirmed the importance of economic prosperity and security, underscoring the importance of upholding freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, following international laws, in a subtle allusion to Chinas actions in the region.
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In a veiled reference to China, the leaders also reaffirmed the importance of freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea as per international laws underlining the link between prosperity and security.
India and Singapore on Thursday elevated their bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and signed four MoUs, including on cooperation in semiconductors, as Prime Minister Modi held talks with his counterpart Lawrence Wong during the official visit here on latters invitation.
Premier Wong reaffirmed Singapores continuing support for India as a permanent member in a reformed United Nations Security Council, the statement pointed out and added that Modi thanked him for extending support for Indias candidature as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2028-29 term.
Stating that both prime ministers recognised that terrorism continues to remain the single most significant threat to peace and stability, they reiterated their strong commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
They stressed that there can be no justification for acts of terror on any grounds whatsoever, the joint statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs said. The two leaders also affirmed their resolve to fight against global terrorism and terror organisations.
They called for reinvigorating multilateral action on terrorism, including through reiterating the importance of the conclusion of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the United Nations at the earliest, it said.
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Both Prime ministers also emphasised the importance of upholding international standards on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, consistent with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations.
Underlining the link between prosperity and security, the leaders reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea, it said.
The statement also emphasised that they will pursue the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), without resorting to the threat or use of force. The statement, which mentioned no country, comes in the wake of China regularly engaging in hotly contested territorial disputes in the South China Sea claiming most of it while the other neighbours such as Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan making counterclaims.
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Both Prime Ministers reaffirmed efforts to strengthen cooperation at regional and international fora particularly in the United Nations (UN), World Trade Organisation (WTO), Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Commonwealth, and the ASEAN, it said.
The statement also mentioned the two nations commitment to work together to promote peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific region, which promotes free trade and open markets, and acknowledged India and Singapores close cooperation on, and support for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF).
Apart from supporting further strengthening the ASEAN India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which complements Indias bilateral relations with individual Member States, the leaders appreciated the ASEAN-India joint statement on cooperation on the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
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Singapore is the ASEAN Country Coordinator for India for the period 2021-24, the statement said, adding, both sides also welcomed the Quads support for ASEAN centrality.
Prime Minister Modi conveyed that India is looking forward to the visit of President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to India next year. Prime Minister Modi also invited Prime Minister Wong to visit India at a mutually convenient time, it added.
NITI Aayog CEO B V R Subrahmanyam said, FTAs enable a sense of familiarity to get things accelerated, in addition to massive opportunities, not only in goods but in services on both sides. Its a perfect fit, perfect match read more
The India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiation is in the final stage with both sides very close to clinching an agreement, NITI Aayog CEO B V R Subrahmanyam said.
I think this is a deal that is in the last slab, Subrahmanyam said, adding: The two sides I would say are not even at hand-shaking distance, the fingers are touching. Its just a question of that extra five inches and you can grab the deal."
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The statement was made by the NITI Aayog CEO during his address at a panel discussion on the future of India-UK trade.
The FTA negotiation between India and the UK began in January 2022 under the then Conservative Party government and 13 rounds of negotiations were done. It was stalled due to the general elections in both India and the UK.
The agreement is aimed at significantly enhancing the GBP 38.1 billion a year. In July end this year, the process of FTA negotiation with India re-started by the UKs newly elected Labour government led by Keir Starmer.
At the time of signing the new UK-India Infrastructure Financing Bridge (UKIIFB) agreement, both sides were keen to emphasise that the bilateral partnership is not being held hostage to the FTA even as the newly elected governments on both sides remain committed to it.
On Wednesday, the UKIIFB was signed between NITI Aayog and City of London Corporation in London. It aims at facilitating international investments into Indias ambitious infrastructure projects and is seen as a sign of the economic partnership moving at pace unencumbered by the FTA talks.
The relationship between two countries should not be hostage to a trade deal India-UK partnership has many, many dimensions to it - infrastructure finance, climate, technology FTAs enable a sense of familiarity to get things accelerated, in addition to massive opportunities, not only in goods but in services on both sides. Its a perfect fit, perfect match, Subrahmanyam said.
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We are close
Vikram Doraiswamy, the High Commissioner of India to the UK, who was also at the UKIIFB signing event said, Im not betraying any negotiating secrets when I tell you, we believe we are close. But, of course, the proof of the pudding is not just in the eating, but in ensuring that it comes out of the oven at the right time. So, we are in the process of sort of getting the last bits in place and those are always the hard yards."
But the FTA, in totality, is a very important part but (only) one part of the larger strategic relationship we seek to have the UK that includes opportunities such as this UKIIFB to look at the financial services sector and essentially create a long-term viable channel for capital to be deployed profitably in India for the benefit of both economies; to look at technology; to look at research and innovation, he further said.
The H225M, known as the Caracal in French military service, is the latest evolution of the Puma helicopter family and can be used for search and rescue operations, transport, assault missions and special forces insertion. read more
Iraq agreed on Thursday to purchase 14 military helicopters, including a dozen H225M multi-role combat aircraft, from European aviation giant Airbus.
Defence Minister Thabet al-Abbassi attended the signing ceremony for the deal in Baghdad alongside the French ambassador to Iraq, Patrick Durel, and a representative of Airbus Helicopters, an AFP journalist reported.
Arnaud Montalvo, head of Airbus Helicopters for the Middle East, said the agreement was for 12 H225M helicopters to be delivered starting in early 2025. The value of the deal was not disclosed.
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The French embassy in Baghdad told AFP the deal was for 14 helicopters, including the 12 H225Ms.
Durel said the agreement stemmed from exchanges and discussions between French President Emmanuel Macron and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.
We can only be pleased that today we have achieved this result, which will allow Iraq to strengthen its capacities and which will allow Iraq to strengthen its sovereignty, he added.
Baghdad and Paris have been working to strengthen bilateral defence ties.
Our forces have fought together against terrorism, against IS, Durel said, referring to the Islamic State group.
You can count on France to contribute to strengthening the countrys sovereignty and security and I am sure that you can count on both our armed forces, on our various industrialists to strengthen this relationship in all areas, Durel added.
France has deployed troops in Iraq as part of the US-led international coalition set up to fight IS and last year announced plans to train Iraqi units.
Iraq declared victory over IS in late 2017, but jihadist cells remain active, carrying out sporadic attacks, particularly in rural areas.
Baghdad is now seeking to end the coalitions mission and replace it with bilateral military partnerships with other countries, saying its forces can lead the fight against the weakened IS group.
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In a January 2023 trip to Paris, Sudani held talks with representatives of various French defence manufacturers as well as Airbus on the potential acquisition of helicopters, radars and the Dassault Rafale fighter jet.
Montalvo told AFP that Airbus was aiming to deliver the helicopters as quickly as possible because there is a pressing operation need.
The 54-year-old is accused of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes over the past decade and instead spending money freely on luxury living, sex workers and a drug habit read more
US President Joe Biden stands with his son Hunter Biden, who earlier in the day was found guilty on all three counts in his criminal gun charges trial, after President Biden arrived at the Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Delaware, US, on 11 June, 2024. File Image: Reuters
Joe Bidens son Hunter goes on trial Thursday in California on charges of tax evasion in a case that has been a huge embarrassment and distraction for the US president.
The 54-year-old is accused of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes over the past decade and instead spending money freely on luxury living, sex workers and a drug habit.
The younger Biden has already spent a chunk of 2024 in court, having been convicted in Delaware of lying about his drug use when he bought a gun a felony.
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That case featured testimony on Bidens extravagant living, disintegrating marriage and heavy use of crack cocaine.
Now a jury in Los Angeles will sit through what are expected to be days of lurid details about a life that the defendant and his family including the president have long acknowledged had gone off the rails.
They want to slime him because that is the whole purpose, Bidens attorney Mark Geragos reportedly said during an August hearing in which he accused prosecutors of attempted character assassination.
Bidens defence team argues that the non-payment of taxes was an oversight in a life wrought chaos by a spiralling drug addiction and the trauma of losing his older brother, Beau, to a brain tumour in 2015.
Biden has paid the back taxes, as well as penalties levied by authorities, and had previously reached a plea deal that would have kept him out of jail.
That agreement fell apart at the last minute, and Biden the son is understood to have been trying to reach another ever since.
But that has been difficult for prosecutors whose every move in this election year is being scrutinized by Republicans eager to show the defendant is being treated leniently because he is the presidents son.
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Biden has for years been a foil for his fathers political opponents, who have sought without producing evidence to smear the family as a group of criminals who have gained wealth and power because of Joe Bidens career.
The elder Bidens withdrawal from the presidential race in favour of Kamala Harris has taken much of the zeal out of the Republican fervour for making an example out of his son.
Nevertheless, the special counsel in charge of the case, David Weiss, is pressing ahead, seeking convictions on one count of tax evasion and two of filing a false return.
Guilty verdicts could result in up to 17 years in prison for Biden. The gun felony, which he is yet to be sentenced on, carries a maximum 25-year term.
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The trial starts Thursday in downtown Los Angeles with the selection of a jury from a panel of around 100 candidates.
Opening arguments are expected on Monday.
Hunter Biden, a Yale-trained lawyer and lobbyist-turned-artist who lives in Malibu, has stated that he has been drug-free since 2019.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday winded up his visit to Brunei and Singapore. Heres a quick look at key takeaways from his two-nation visit read more
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday winded up his visit to Brunei and Singapore during which he held wide-ranging talks with the top leadership of both the countries to build upon the historic ties, strengthen the partnership and attract investment from the two Southeast Asian nations.
A successful visit concludes! PM @narendramodi emplanes for New Delhi after an outcome oriented visit to Singapore, the Ministry of External Affairs posted on X.
Taking to X, PM Modi said his visit to Singapore has been a very fruitful one.
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It will certainly add vigour to bilateral ties and benefit the people of our nations. I thank the government and people of Singapore for their warmth, he said.
My visit to Singapore has been a very fruitful one. It will certainly add vigour to bilateral ties and benefit the people of our nations. I thank the government and people of Singapore for their warmth. pic.twitter.com/hx0DVl71WX Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 5, 2024
Singapore, a small yet advanced Asian nation, is a is a familiar destination for PM Modi, with regular bilateral visits over the years. As Indias largest trading partner in Asia, Singapores trade with India reached $36.6 billion.
It is also a crucial ally in Indias Act East Policy. In 2023, Singapore became the top foreign direct investor in India, contributing $11.77 billion in investments.
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PM Modi flew to Singapore on Wednesday after wrapping his visit to Brunei, the first bilateral visit there by an Indian prime minister.
Before leaving for Singapore, PM Modi described his two-day visit to Brunei as productive
My visit to Brunei Darussalam was productive. It ushers in a new era of even stronger India-Brunei ties. Our friendship will contribute to a better planet. I am grateful to the people and Government of Brunei for their hospitality and affection. pic.twitter.com/Wm3pilBAlL Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 4, 2024
My visit to Brunei Darussalam was productive. It ushers in a new era of even stronger India-Brunei ties. Our friendship will contribute to a better planet. I am grateful to the people and Government of Brunei for their hospitality and affection, PM Modi posted on X.
PM Modi visit to Brunei, an oil-rich and strategically located country on the island of Borneo, to enhance bilateral relations and economic engagement.
The Indian expatriate and ethnic communities were thrilled by the brief visit, and Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, the 29th ruler of his line, gave a warm and exceptional red-carpet welcome.
India, as a member of QUAD and under its Act East Policy, is upgrading its previously neglected relationship with the island nation.
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Heres a quick look at key takeaways from PM Modis two-nation visit:
PM Modi and Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah agreed to establish a Joint Working Group to facilitate defence cooperation between the two countries. The initiative reflects both nations commitment to collaborating in security matters, particularly in the context of regional stability and maritime security
The two leaders discussed signing a space cooperation agreement, indicating a mutual interest in advancing technological collaboration in space exploration and satellite technology
The leaders agreed to expand trade ties and commercial linkages. This includes exploring new avenues for cooperation in sectors such as investment, aimed at boosting economic relations
According to reports, Brunei and India also agreed to engage in the area of the long-term supply of LNG to India. India currently imports a significant portion of its long-term LNG supplies from Qatar
Having cultural interactions and aspiring to encourage people-to-people engagement were considered crucial in building up the historical bilateral relations. PM Modi said with around 14,000 Indian diaspora members in Brunei, the community remains a strong diplomatic link between the two countries
A regular flight between the Brunei capital of Bandar Seri Begawan and Chennai was also announced
As part of his visit, the PM Modi also laid the foundation stone for the new Chancery Building of the Indian High Commission in Brunei to ensure that diplomatic relations between the two countries are highly enhanced. This chancery design shows Indian motifs, which embody the cultural spirit in Indian buildings and help establish Indianness in Brunei.
During PM Modis two-day visit to Singapore, the two countries elevated their bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. This is an upgrade of the existing Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), established in June 2005, which had eliminated tariffs on 81 per cent of Singapore exports to India.
The two countries signed four MoUs, including one on collaboration in the semiconductor industry. PM Modi and PM Wong also visited a semiconductor manufacturing facility. Singapore is part of the global semiconductor value chain and is keen to invest in India to develop semiconductor clusters and enhance Indian talent in design and manufacturing. India, on its part, is equally enthusiastic about growing this trillion-dollar opportunity alongside its emerging electronic chip industry.
The other three MoUs signed between the two countries pertained to educational cooperation and skill development, health and medicine, and the rapidly growing field of digital technologies
PM Modi and his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong took stock of the robust progress in economic ties. The leaders called for further expanding trade and investment flows between the two countries.
They also reviewed existing cooperation in the fields of defence and security, maritime domain awareness, education, AI, Fintech, new technology domains, science and technology and knowledge partnership.
India and Singapore agreed that terrorism remains the most pressing threat to global peace and stability, reaffirming their commitment to combating its forms and manifestations. A joint statement emphasised that there can be no justification for acts of terror on any grounds whatsoever.
Both sides also welcomed the second meeting of India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) held last month in Singapore. They noted that the ISMR has contributed to fostering an open dialogue to set a new agenda for the India - Singapore partnership.
In the sector of sustainability, both Prime Ministers underscored the potential of increasing cooperation in the areas of Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia and welcomed the collaboration between Indian and Singaporean companies in this area, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release.
PM Wong appreciated Indias decision of granting exemption for the export of non-Basmati white rice to Singapore. In response, PM Modi also assured Indias support to Singapores efforts to strengthen food security.
PM Modi appreciated Singapores participation in the International Solar Alliance and Global Biofuels Alliance, initiatives launched by India. Both Prime Ministers agreed that India and Singapore can work together to further promote sustainable development.
Both Prime Ministers commended the success of UPI-PayNow Linkage and other digital collaboration initiatives such as ONDC - Proxtera Connectivity, and Trade Trust (an initiative to enable Singapore and Indian banks and their respective clients to use interoperable electronic Bills of Lading (eBLs) in their Letter of Credit transactions)
Recognising the growth in travel demand between the two countries, both leaders encouraged the civil aviation authorities of India-Singapore to discuss expanding the bilateral Air Services Agreement to enhance air connectivity.
PM Modi invited Singaporean business leaders to look at investment opportunities in India in sectors like aviation, energy, and skill development. In his interaction with a group of leading Singaporean CEOs from diverse sectors, PM Modi said India had made transformative progress in the last 10 years and would continue on the same path given its strengths of political stability, policy predictability, ease of doing business, and its reform-oriented economic agenda
With inputs from agencies
Multiple countries are pushing back against Chinas assertive actions in the South China Sea. Australia and Japan criticized Beijings treatment of the Philippines, while Malaysia vowed to continue oil exploration in its waters despite Chinese opposition read more
The South China Sea region remains a flashpoint, with neighbouring nations asserting their rights in defiance of Beijings expansive maritime claims.
China is facing increasing resistance from multiple countries over its actions in the South China Sea, with recent pushback over its treatment of the Philippines and attempts to dissuade Malaysia from oil and gas exploration in contested waters.
Response to China-Philippines tensions
China has repeatedly clashed with the Philippines in the South China Sea, where Beijings construction of artificial islands and militarisation of outposts have raised alarm.
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Analysts believe that these ongoing confrontations between China and the Philippines could escalate, especially given Manilas mutual defence treaty with the United States, which could draw Washington into the conflict if hostilities intensify.
In a joint statement issued after a meeting of their foreign and defence ministers in Queenscliff on Thursday (September 5), Australia and Japan expressed concern over Chinas increasing assertiveness in the region, particularly its treatment of Manila.
We expressed serious concerns over recent developments in the South China Sea, including an intensification of Chinas dangerous and coercive activities towards the Philippines, which have occurred with high frequency, the statement said.
Malaysia pushes back over oil exploration
Meanwhile, Malaysia has stood firm against Chinas efforts to halt its oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim made it clear on Thursday that Malaysia will continue its resource extraction activities within its exclusive economic zone, despite Beijings opposition.
What we did in terms of oil exploration is certainly within our waters, Anwar said while traveling in Russia. His comments followed the publication of a leaked diplomatic note in which China accused Malaysia of encroaching on Chinese territory and demanded that Petronas, Malaysias state-run oil firm, stop all operations off the coast of Sarawak state on Borneo island.
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Anwar stressed that Malaysias actions are crucial for the countrys economic survival, indicating that exploration would not stop.
Although Malaysia is open to discussions with China, Anwar made it clear that the countrys oil exploration activities would continue. China is a great friend, but we will of course have to operate in our waters and secure economic advantage, including drilling for oil, in our territory.
The leaked diplomatic note published by Inquirer.net has caused a stir, however, the content has not been denied.
With inputs from agencies
Japan looks alarmed by growing Chinese posturing and display of Beijings military prowess in the Pacific. A white paper by its defence ministry released this week flags security concerns not only for Japan but for the broader international order read more
Japan made public its annual white paper on security assessment on Tuesday, days after it sought a record defence budget of $59 billion for the next year. Japans defence ministry says that the Asia-Pacific region is facing the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II. This comes in the context of China-linked multiple territorial tensions in the region, especially around the South China Sea, on most parts of which Beijing claims its sovereign claim.
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In the English version of the 572-page white paper, Japans Defence Minister Minoru Kihara sets out Tokyos defence plan with a warning that the international community has entered a new era of crisis and was facing the greatest trial since World War II.
Kihara refers to Chinas military build-up and increasingly intensifying activities in the East China Sea, the South China Sea and the rest of the Pacific as one of the greatest strategic challenges to Japan.
What Japan says about security threats
The white paper emphasises that the existing international order is under unprecedented threat. It says that the rapid military buildup by China, particularly in the East China Sea (around the Senkaku Islands) and the broader Pacific region, has challenged Japans security.
The international community has entered a new era of crisis. It is now facing its greatest trial since the end of World War II. The existing order is being seriously challenged. Japan finds itself in the most severe and complex security environment of the post-war era, the white paper says.
It also talks about the advancement of North Koreas nuclear and missile programmes, along with continued ballistic missile launches, seen as a direct threat. Japan points to Russias intensified military activities in the Far East, including near Japans Northern Territories, and its ongoing aggression in Ukraine, often in collaboration with China.
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China has been rapidly building up military capabilities while intensifying its activities in the East China Sea, where the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands are, as well as in the Pacific, it says.
This also comes against the backdrop of Russia-North Korea defence cooperation agreements, signed during Vladimir Putins visit to the Hermit Kingdom in June this year amid deepening Chinese military backing to Moscow as the Ukraine war rages on.
Russia has also been observed engaging in joint activities with China involving aircraft and vessels, Japans defence ministry says.
How it threatens global peace
The white paper shows Japans sense of urgency that its security challenges and those faced by the international community are of a scale that could severely disrupt global peace and stability. Japans defence ministry says its efforts are aimed at essential not only securing its national defence but also directed at maintaining the broader international order.
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Japan says that Beijing is pushing intensifying changes to the status quo by force in the entire region, including in the East China and South China Sea. Tokyo fears that an armed conflict over Taiwan is most likely to spill over to Japan.
China considers Taiwan one of its provinces but Taipei has independent diplomatic relations with a host of countries. But China is insistent on reuniting Taiwan with the mainland, even by the use of military power. Alarmed over Chinas military manoeuvring around Taiwan, Japan has been deploying more troops and military equipment to its outlying islands close to Taiwan.
The South China Sea is currently the major boiling pot in the region. And Chinas sweeping claims of sovereignty over it is intricately linked to its estimated 11 billion barrels of untapped oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
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This claim by China has triggered conflicts with other claimants Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. They keep negotiating deals with China as they have since the 1970s but no permanent solution has been found to the question as to who possesses the right to exploit rich natural resources and fishing areas in which jurisdictional territory. China objects to almost everyones territorial and economic claims.
The failure of Chinese and Southeast Asian leaders to diplomatically resolve the disputes in the South China Sea has the potential to undermine international peace as the competing powers particularly the biggest global naval power China show little regard to laws governing maritime disputes. This has led to destabilising arms buildups in the Pacific region.
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What Japan prescribes as strategic response
Japan is reinforcing its defence capabilities and accelerating its military build-up, prioritising the acquisition of stand-off missiles, including Tomahawk missiles and upgraded Type-12 surface-to-ship missiles, as well as enhancing its Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) systems.
The white paper also talks about the need for strengthening alliances, particularly with the United States, which has been described as the cornerstone of Japans security policy. Japan is also deepening its cooperation with other like-minded countries to ensure regional stability and promote the Free and Open Indo-Pacific vision.
Among the defence alliances is the Quad that is a defence dialogue forum of four nations Australia, India, Japan and the US. The four countries regularly conduct joint military exercises in the Indo-Pacific region.
China has detested the growing defence understanding among the four major powers of the region. Incidentally, China is engaged in border disputes with India and Japan, strategic rivalry with the US, and an intense trade war with Australia, which has repeatedly recognised Beijings assertiveness in Oceania as a challenge to its security.
Japans white paper also focuses on the need for multilateral cooperation for real-time security data sharing such as information about missile warning particularly with the US, South Korea and Australia.
With the fresh budgetary push, Japan looks to fortify its southwestern islands against the threats from China by next year. The nearly $60 billion budgeted money would be spent on developing and acquiring new drones, missiles, satellites, cyber defence and cloud-based command and control systems.
But Japans defence push is not being welcomed by China, whose state-controlled media has described Tokyos hiked military expenditure plan as militarism resurgence in a reminder to Tokyos military expeditions and aggressions before and during World War II.
The 27-year-old Nga Wai hono i te po was chosen as Kuini by a council of New Zealands Indigenous Maori chiefs during a ceremony in the countrys North Island read more
New Maori queen, twenty-seven-year-old Nga Wai hono i te po Paki, attends the funeral ceremony of New Zealand's Maori King Tuheitia at the Turangawaewae Marae in Ngaruawahia on September 5, 2024. AFP
New Zealands Maori crowned a new queen following the death of the tribes seventh monarch, King Tuheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero VII. The 27-year-old Nga Wai hono i te po was chosen as Kuini by a council of New Zealands Indigenous Maori chiefs during a ceremony in the countrys North Island.
With this, Nga Wai Hono i te Po Paki became the second-ever Maori queen in the eight-dynasty reign of the Kiingitanga movement in New Zealand. Following her fathers demise, the indigenous community called her the new dawn. Interestingly, the first female queen of Maori was her grandmother Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu.
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Nga Wai Hono i te Po Paki is the youngest child of King Tuheitia who died in his sleep at the age of 69. She ascended the throne on the final morning of the six-day tangihanga (funeral) of her father, The Guardian reported. It is pertinent to note that the erstwhile monarch had two sons but the role is not automatically inherited.
Who is the new queen of Maori?
Nga Wai Hono i te po Paki has a masters degree in Maori cultural studies from Waikato University. She received her famous chin tattoo known as moko kauae at age 19 as a gift to her father. She is the second-youngest monarch in Maoridom and has been close to her fathers side in many events in the past several years.
The Kiingitanga dynasty was founded in 1858 as a force to resist colonisation and preserve the Maori culture and land. While the empire has no legal mandate and the monarch is largely a ceremonial position, the monarch is still considered to be the paramount chief of several tribes.
Tekau-Maa-Rua chairman Che Wilson said Te Whakawahinga elucidated the importance of the ceremony, which dates back eight generations. We follow the Tikanga of our ancestors who created the Kiingitanga to unify and uplift our people and we have chosen Nga Wai Hono i te po as our new monarch," Wilson averred.
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Maori cause in the modern era
Since the electoral victory of New Zealands conservative National Party-led government in October, the group has played an important role in uniting the Indigenous community in opposition to proposed policies considered by many to be a rollback of Maori rights.
Last year, thousands protested across New Zealand against the governments plans to reverse policies which boosted Indigenous rights, including plans to close the Maori Health Authority, which was set up during Jacinda Arderns Labour government.
New Zealands Prime Minister Christopher Luxon lauded King Tuheitia as a leader whose commitment to Maori and all New Zealanders has been felt right across the country. However, he is currently in South Korea and skipped the funeral of the king.
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It will be closely watched how the new queen will tackle these challenges. Te Tiriti o Waitangi lawyer Annette Sykes, who has been a strong advocate for Maori said that the new Queen represents the future.
Shes inspiring, the revitalisation and reclamation of our language has been a 40 year journey for most of us and she epitomises that, it is her first language, she speaks it with ease. Political, economic and social wellbeing for our people is at the heart of what she wants and in many ways she is like her grandmother, who was adored by the nation," Sykes averred.
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Weve all watched her grow up, shes very humble, Ive watched her mature into this woman who has this thirst for authentic knowledge and brings this into the modern world. Shes someone who wears Gucci, and she wears moko kauae. She is leading us into uncharted and turbulent waters, and she will do it with aplomb," she added.
With inputs from agencies.
The former prisoners headed to nearby Guatemala, whose reformist President Bernardo Arevalo has worked closely with Washington on the key issue of migration, and will have the opportunity to seek to move to the United States, the White House said read more
The United States said Thursday it had secured the release of 135 political prisoners from Nicaragua, the latest mass transfer by President Daniel Ortegas increasingly authoritarian government.
The White House said that the prisoners included members of faith organizations, students and others viewed by Ortega and his team as a threat to their authoritarian rule.
The former prisoners headed to nearby Guatemala, whose reformist President Bernardo Arevalo has worked closely with Washington on the key issue of migration, and will have the opportunity to seek to move to the United States, the White House said.
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No one should be put in jail for peacefully exercising their fundamental rights of free expression, association and practicing their religion, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement.
The United States again calls on the government of Nicaragua to immediately cease the arbitrary arrest and detention of its citizens for merely exercising their fundamental freedoms, he said.
The latest move follows the mass release of more than 200 prisoners in February 2023 who were flown to the United States.
The former prisoners have largely welcomed being able to leave, although some human rights activists view Ortegas move cynically, seeing him as trying to get rid of perceived opponents while at least attempting to curry favor with Washington.
The latest release includes 13 members of Mountain Gateway, an evangelical Christian group based in Texas.
Nicaraguan authorities earlier this year accused members of the group, which conducts mass gospel campaigns as well as humanitarian work, of money laundering and organized crime.
Mountain Gateway strongly denied the charges, saying that Nicaraguan authorities were able to review its budgeting.
Ortega, a 78-year-old former leftist guerrilla who battled US-backed forces in the 1980s, returned to power in 2007 and initially had been seen as more moderate.
But he has since lifted presidential term limits, seized control of all branches of government and led a sweeping crackdown on groups including the Catholic Church and NGOs seen as threats to his rule.
The rocket is transporting the Sentinel-2C satellite, part of the European Unions Copernicus programme read more
Europes Vega rocket launched Wednesday from French Guiana, an AFP journalist said, carrying a satellite which will help combat natural disasters.
Delayed by a day due to electrical issues on the ground links, according to French firm Arianespace, the launch in Kourou finally took place at 10:50 pm (0150 GMT Thursday).
Successful lift-off for the last Vega mission from Europes spaceport, the Guiana Space Centre wrote on social media platform X.
The rocket is transporting the Sentinel-2C satellite, part of the European Unions Copernicus programme.
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Sentinel-2C will play a role in water quality monitoring and detecting methane emissions.
The satellite will also support the management of natural disasters such as forest fires, earthquakes and floods.
The mission will be the last for the Vega rocket, built by Italian aerospace company Avio and in service since 2012.
It is due to be replaced by the more powerful Vega-C, which has been grounded since 2022 following an accident which caused the loss of two Airbus satellites.
At least 68 Pakistani nationals face death penalty, convicted for crimes such as terrorism, murder, and drug trafficking, according to the government data. read more
Over 20,000 Pakistani nationals are currently imprisoned across 88 countries, according to new government data. Despite contributing significantly to Pakistans economy through remittances, many Pakistani expatriates working abroad, especially in Gulf nations, often face vulnerable situations that can lead to imprisonment.
Once detained, Pakistani prisoners overseas have limited access to consular assistance and legal support from their government. Once detained, Pakistani prisoners overseas have limited access to consular assistance and legal support from their government. They are often left at the mercy of local legal systems without proper representation, impartial translators, or sufficient help from Pakistani embassies.
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Among those incarcerated, 68 Pakistani nationals face death penalty, convicted for crimes such as terrorism, murder, and drug trafficking, The Express Tribune newspaper reported on Thursday citing the government report.
A vast majority of these prisoners are held in the United Arab Emirates (5,292) and Saudi Arabia (10,432), making up 74 percent of the total. Besides, 463 Pakistanis are languishing in Malaysian prisons, 321 in the UK, and 578 in Oman, the report said.
Many of them are also in jails of Turkey, Bahrain, Greece, China, the United States and Germany, it said.
Once imprisoned, these individuals are left at the mercy of local legal systems, often without access to proper legal representation, impartial translators, or sufficient support from Pakistani embassies, the report said.
With inputs from agencies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also blamed former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson of instigating Ukraine to fight till the last soldier read more
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that India, China, and Brazil can mediate in the conflict with Ukraine.
Addressing the Eastern Economic Forum at Russias Vladivostok, Putin said that Russia has never been closed to peace talks and referred to the talks that took place in the initial weeks of the conflict in 2022.
Are we ready to negotiate with them? We have never refused this, but not on the basis of some ephemeral demands, but on the basis of those documents that were agreed and virtually initiated in Istanbul, said Putin, as per Reuters.
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As for the partners who can mediate between Russia and Ukraine, Putin said he is frequently in touch with them.
We respect our friends, partners, who, I believe, are sincerely interested in resolving all issues related to this conflict. This is primarily the Peoples Republic of China, Brazil, India. I am constantly in contact with our colleagues on this issue. And I have no doubt that the leaders of these countries, we have a trusting relationship with them, sincerely strive to help understand all the details of this complex process, said Putin, as per the news agency.
In 2022, in the initial weeks of the war, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators had multiple rounds of engagements to flesh out a peace deal. A proposal had also emerged but Russian demands over territorial control, Ukraines internal identity question, and security guarantees, among others, meant that the talks collapsed. Now, as the conflict is in its third year and both sides are looking to maximise their gains, talks dont appear to be likely in near future.
While speaking about the Ukraine conflict, Putin also blamed former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for fuelling the conflict. He said it was at his insistence that Ukraine decided to fight till the last soldier.
We have reached almost all the parameters of a possible peace agreement with representatives of the government in Kyiv, all these parameters, agreed on everything. Moreover, the head of the negotiating delegation, who still heads the ruling faction in the (Verkhovna) Rada, in the (Ukrainian) parliament, he endorsed these agreements. Yes, there was still something to be worked out, but in general, the visa was there, it was a document. Then Mr. Johnson came, as is known. The British authorities do not deny this, they confirm. He arrived and ordered the Ukrainians to fight to the last Ukrainian - which is happening today with the aim of achieving a strategic defeat of Russia. This is not happening, said Putin, as per an English translation of his address.
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Putin endorses Harris in US election
Owing to her infectious laugh, Putin endorsed Kamala Harris over Donald Trump in the US presidential election, according to Reuters.
Putins jest comes a day after the Joe Biden administration of the United States charged Russia with a disinformation campaign to interfere in the US election.
Previously, Putin has said he preferred Biden over Trump because Biden was a more predictable old school politician. Now, Putin has said he will follow Bidens endorsement to support Harris.
She laughs so expressively and infectiously that it means that everything is fine with her, said Putin, as per Reuters.
Putin further said that maybe endorsing Harris would lead her to refrain from imposing further sanctions against Russia.
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Even as Putin has now claimed to endorse Harris in jest, he is seen as being friendly with Trump. Throughout his public life, Trump has admired Putin publicly.
Previously, Trump has called Putin smart, savvy, and genius. In the run-up to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when Russia was deploying troops along the Ukrainian border and military action seemed imminent, Trump had praised Putin.
Trump described Putins aggression toward Ukraine as genius and very savvy, adding, in reference to the Russian military, theyre gonna keep peace all right. Trump went on to praise Putin as a tough cookie who has great charm, reported MSNBC about Trumps statement on February 23, 2022, just one day before Russia invaded Ukraine.
Speaking at a forum in Vladivostok, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Kyivs Kursk offensive had failed to stop Moscow in eastern Ukraine read more
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine going into Kursk made Moscow's advance in east Ukraine quicker. Source: AFP.
President Vladimir Putin said Thursday Moscows main Ukraine aim was to capture the Donbas region and that Russias army was gradually pushing back Kyivs forces from the Kursk region after their surprise incursion.
Russia has throughout 30 months of fighting adapted its aims in Ukraine after failing to take Kyiv in 2022 and Putins comments come as Moscows forces advance fast westwards in the Donbas this summer.
Putin said Kyivs Kursk offensive had failed to stop Moscow in eastern Ukraine.
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The aim of the enemy (in Kursk) was to force us to worry, hustle, divert troops and to stop our offensive in key areas, especially in the Donbas, the liberation of which is our main primary objective, Putin said at a forum in Vladivostok.
Russia claimed to have annexed the eastern Donetsk region, as well as three other Ukrainian regions, in September 2022.
Putin said Ukraine going into Kursk made Moscows advance in east Ukraine quicker: The enemy weakened itself on key areas, our army has accelerated its offensive operations.
Putin, who appeared rattled when Ukraine launched its surprise move into Kursk in early August, said Moscow was beginning to push back Ukrainian forces from the border region, where they have held on to some towns and villages.
Our armed forces have stabilised the situation and started gradually squeezing (the enemy) out from our territory, he said.
It is the holy duty of the Russian army to do everything to throw out the enemy from tis territory and to protect our citizens, he added.
Putin has recently hardened his rhetoric on Kursk, vowing earlier this week to deal with the Ukrainian bandits in the region.
Under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, an attack on one Nato member is considered an attack on all members. This collective defence principle means there could be a response from Nato if Poland is attacked read more
Russias Deputy Chairman of the Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, has suggested the possibility of extending the ongoing invasion of Ukraine towards Poland, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato).
This decision from Kremlin would depend on the type of weapons Ukraine receives from Western allies.
According to Russian state-owned news agency TASS, Medvedev said Obviously, we need to create a buffer zone for the future to ensure that nothing flies in. Its size is anyones guess, but it should be sufficient. If they [Ukrainians] wish to get long-range means of attack, such as cruise and ballistic missiles, then this buffer zone should stretch as far as Poland.
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US to send Ukraine long-range cruise missiles
The comment from Medvedev comes just two days after Reuters, citing anonymous US officials, said that the United States is close to an agreement to give Ukraine long-range cruise missiles specifically the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) that could reach deep into Russia.
Sending JASSMs to Ukraine could significantly alter the strategic landscape of the conflict by putting more of Russia in range of powerful, precision-guided munitions.
The source had suggested that Kyiv would have to wait several months as Washington works through technical issues ahead of any shipment.
Impact on Poland
Poland, prompted by Russias invasion of Ukraine, has been beefing up its defences. The latest move involved Warsaw announcing new military deals worth $520 million.
Poland currently allocates 4 per cent of its gross defence product (GDP) to defence, the highest ratio of all Nato members. It aims to increase spending to 4.7 per cent next year, according to Al Jazeera.
Warsaw has announced a deal to purchase hundreds of AIM-120C AMRAAM air-to-air missiles and a contract for 48 launchers for US-designed Patriot air defense systems.
Can Nato get involved in the conflict?
Poland has been a member of Nato since 1999. Under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, an attack on one Nato member is considered an attack on all members.
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This collective defence principle would likely prompt a response from Nato, including military support to Poland, if Russia were to violate Polish territory or engage in any military action that threatens it.
With inputs from agencies
Earlier today, Russian President Vladimir Putin named India among the three countries he is constantly in touch with over the Ukraine conflict, asserting that they are sincerely making efforts to resolve it. read more
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned the US not to cross Russias red lines on the Ukraine conflict, asserting that Washington is starting to lose its sense of mutual restraint with Moscow, state-owned TASS news agency reported.
In an interview on Wednesday, Lavrov said that Americans have crossed their own red lines on the supply of arms to Ukraine, the Russian news agency reported.
They (the US) should understand that our red lines are nothing to fool with. And they know very well where they are, the report quoted him as saying.
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Lavrov said the US is starting to lose its sense of mutual restraint with Russia, calling it dangerous.
(US National Security Council spokesman John) Kirby said that the issue of stepping up support for Ukraine should be approached carefully so as not to provoke World War III because it will be sad to see Europe gone, he said, adding that the US has a deep-seated conviction that they are untouchable.
Lavrov said he hoped Washington would realise the potential consequences of supplying Ukraine with weapons.
I am convinced that there are reasonable people with significant influence left there. And I hope that the interests of the US will be taken into account, he said.
Meanwhile, at a press conference on Wednesday, Kirby said the US welcomes any nation that is willing to try to help end the conflict in Ukraine.
Any nation that is willing to try to help end this war and do so in keeping with President Zelenskyys prerogatives, the Ukrainian peoples prerogatives, his plan for a just peace, we would certainly welcome a role like that, he said.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin named India among the three countries he is constantly in touch with over the Ukraine conflict, asserting that they are sincerely making efforts to resolve it.
We respect our friends and partners, who, I believe, sincerely seek to resolve all issues surrounding this conflict, primarily China, Brazil and India. I constantly keep in touch with our colleagues on this issue, Putin was quoted as saying in a separate report by TASS.
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Putins remarks came within two weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modis historic visit to Ukraine, where he held talks with President Zelenskyy.
On August 23, Modi visited Ukraine, where he conveyed to President Zelenskyy that Ukraine and Russia should sit together without wasting time to end the ongoing war and that India was ready to play an active role to restore peace in the region.
The one-on-one talks will come as Ukraines military backers, including the United States, gather at a US airbase in Germany to coordinate their support for Kyiv read more
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet on Friday in Frankfurt, a German government spokesman told AFP.
The one-on-one talks will come as Ukraines military backers, including the United States, gather at a US airbase in Germany to coordinate their support for Kyiv.
The spokesman did not give further details about Zelenskyys programme in Germany but news outlet Der Spiegel reported that he will also attend the gathering at the Ramstein Air Base, southwest of Frankfurt.
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Zelenskyys presence is intended to underline the seriousness of the situation on the ground, the magazine said, days after 55 people were killed and 300 wounded in a Russian missile strike on the city of Poltava.
US defence chief Lloyd Austin will host the meeting.
It comes as Moscows forces advance in the Donbas, with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday declaring that capturing the eastern area was his primary objective in the conflict.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on a visit to Haiti on Thursday that he hoped to see an electoral council established soon to organise elections in the Caribbean country next year read more
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on a visit to Haiti on Thursday that he hoped to see an electoral council established soon to organise elections in the Caribbean country next year.
After a meeting with Transitional Presidential Council Coordinator Edgard Leblanc Fils, Blinken said they discussed the electoral council.
We hope to see that stood up soon, because thats a critical next step in moving forward and organising elections for next year, he told reporters in Port-au-Prince, according to live video.
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Blinkens visit comes as Haiti continues to battle violent gangs that have taken over much of the capital and started moving into nearby regions.
Prime Minister Garry Conille on Wednesday expanded a state of emergency to cover the entire nation.
Blinken said at a separate meeting with Conille that the situation in Haiti was very challenging but promising, lauding progress since the transitional council was established in April after the resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
Kenyan police officers who are part of a UN-backed security mission began arriving in Haiti in June.
The US is the largest contributor to the mission that Henry requested in 2022 to help fight gangs and reclaim territory.
Security is the foundation of everything that needs to happen going forward, Blinken said, noting that included holding elections.
An investment company LetterOne which is part-owned by Russian oligarchs Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven was allowed to have a stake in Harbour Energy, the UKs largest North Sea oil producer read more
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmers government faced major backlash after a company, backed by two sanctioned Russian oligarchs was allowed to be part of the countrys largest North Sea oil producer. The company in question is LetterOne, which is part-owned by oligarchs Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven.
According to The Guardian, the investment company was allowed to acquire almost 15% of Aberdeen-based Harbour Energy. Following the approval, the critics argued that a company partly owned by sanctioned Russians should have no place in owning critical national assets.
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LetterOne received shares in Harbour Energy after the North Sea company completed an 8.5bn deal to buy the German company Wintershall which already counted LetterOne as one of the owners. It is pertinent to note that the company itself is not sanctioned by the UK authorities.
The company is chaired by an ex-Labour government minister
Interestingly, LetterOne is chaired by Mervyn Davies, a former banker and ex-Labour government minister, who under the terms of the acquisition will receive a share of Harbours profits paid as dividends. While both Fridman and Avens stakes in the company are frozen, the two Russians are still major shareholders.
All assets of both the Russian oligarchs were frozen when the UK and the EU imposed sanctions after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. At that time, Davies made it clear that the pair would no longer have any involvement or influence over the business or its investment. This even included voting rights related to Harbour Energy.
Billionaires expected to be removed from EU sanctions list
Following the sanctions in 2022, the UK government used the National Security and Investment Act to order LetterOne to sell its stake in regional broadband provider Upp. The Conservative government at that time stated that the investment companys ownership of the expanding full-fibre broadband networks was a national security risk.
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It is pertinent to note that the recent Harbour-Wintershall deal was also cleared within the same act. Hence, the government could order the company to sell its stake in case of any changes to the deal that would give LetterOne a greater share of the company or a seat on the board.
Meanwhile, the Russian oligarchs are also expected to be removed from the sanctions imposed by the European Union, after they successfully challenged the sanctions at the regional bodys court this year. However, they will continue to remain on the sanctions list of the UK, where the two men resided before the war.
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The backlash
Alicia Kearns MP, the shadow minister for foreign affairs called the Labour governments decision to approve the deal as astounding and appalling. She urged the government to reverse the decision and explain how the consent was given in the first place.
For Labour to consent to oligarchical ownership of such a key national asset is beyond comprehension energy security is a serious national security issue, Kearns said. It is particularly insulting this week following the devastation in Ukraine from Russian strikes on civilians, including schoolchildren and hospital patients, she furthered.
Louis Wilson, the head of fossil fuel investigations at Global Witness, reiterated that the Russian oligarchs should not have any place in the UKs energy industry, The Guardian reported.
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A company part-owned by sanctioned Russian oligarchs, which the Tories considered too much of a security risk to own a few thousand UK broadband connections, has been given a big chunk of the UKs biggest oil producer. Oligarchs should have no place in the UKs energy industry, Wilson said.
With inputs from agencies.
For weeks, Trump and the Harris campaign have been butting heads over the debate rules. One of the rules which saw the most contention was whether microphones should be shut off when it was not a candidates turn to speak read more
As the race for the White House intensifies, Former US President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have finally accepted the rules for the first presidential debate against each other. The debate is scheduled to take place on September 10 in Philadelphia and will be aired on ABC News. The American news outlet confirmed that both the Republican and Democratic Presidential nominees have qualified for the debate under the established criteria, and both have accepted the following debate rules.
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For weeks, Trump and the Harris campaign have been butting heads over the debate rules. One of the rules which saw the most contention was whether microphones should be shut off when it was not a candidates turn to speak.
The Harris campaign had previously pushed for live, or hot, microphones, which would allow substantive exchanges between the candidates. However, Trumps campaign pushed for the microphones to be muted. Ultimately, ABC News released a statement in which they made it clear candidates microphones would be live only for the candidate whose turn it is to speak and muted when the time belongs to another candidate.
What are the rules of the debate?
ABC News, which is hosting the debate released the following rules, which has been already agreed upon by the Harris and Trump campaigns:
The debate will be 90 minutes long and will have two commercial breaks.
The moderators for the debate are ABC News David Muir and Linsey Davis. They will also be the only people asking questions.
A virtual coin flip was conducted on September 3 to determine the podium placement and who will have the final words. Trump won the toss and chose to offer the closing statement at the debate. Meanwhile, Harris selected the right podium position on screen.
No opening or closing statements can be longer than two minutes per candidate.
The participants have to stand behind the podium, throughout the duration of the debate.
Props and handwritten notes will not be allowed on stage.
The candidates have been allotted, 2 minutes to answer questions posed to them, two minutes for rebuttal and one extra minute for any follow-ups, clarifications, or responses.
Topic points or questions will not be shared in advance with the campaign or candidates.
The participants microphones will remain muted if it is not their turn to speak.
Candidates will not be permitted to ask questions of each other.
Campaign staff are not allowed to interact with the candidates during the duration of the debate and even during breaks.
There will be no audience in the room.
The debate will take place at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, an institution which is dedicated to the study of the United States Constitution. Pennsylvania which comprises 19 electoral college votes is touted as one of the most critical swing states.
With inputs from agencies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the reshuffle is needed to bring new energy to the conflict-stricken nation read more
Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has resigned as a part of the countrys biggest cabinet reshuffle conducted by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian president insisted that the recent government shake-up would provide new strength to the embattled country.
Kulebas exit from the office was announced in a handwritten note and came amid Russias continued attacks in several Ukrainian territories. At least seven people were killed and 53 were injured after Moscow conducted a missile strike in the western city of Lviv.
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Before Kuleba, five other top Ukrainian officials resigned from their posts on Tuesday, leaving several key governmental positions vacant, including the strategic industries minister in charge of weapons production. The Ukrainian parliament has accepted the resignation of four out of six people.
Why the reshuffle?
While reacting to the news, Zelenskyy said that the reshuffle is needed to bring new energy to the conflict-stricken nation. We need new energy today, and these steps are related only to the strengthening of our state in different directions, the Ukrainian leader told media during a joint news conference with a visiting Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian lawmakers said that the parliament will consider Kulebas resignation on Thursday. Shortly after the presser, Zelenskyy met with the lawmakers from his Servant of the People Party. Following the meeting, the leader of the parliamentary group made it clear that those who attended the meeting supported Zelenskyys call to usher in changes in the cabinet, BBC reported.
Based on the results of the meeting of the faction, a general picture of personnel rotations was worked out to strengthen the state, faction leader David Arakhamia wrote on the Telegram messaging app. First Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha is now being considered to replace Kuleba.
Long-time coming
Several experts believe that the cabinet reshuffle was actually delayed since Zelenskyy was focussing on re-calibrating war strategies with Western partners. This is a planned personnel overhaul of the government, a Kyiv-based political analyst told Reuters.
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Now half of the government will be renewed. This is Zelenskyys style. He believes that the new minister brings new energy, and new approaches, and works more actively. He expects exactly this effect, he added. However, Fesenko stated that there wont be major changes in foreign policy after Kulebas exit.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin stated that the government changes in Ukraine would not affect a peace negotiation process in any way, although such talks appear a distant prospect with the two warring parties far apart in their objectives. The cabinet shuffle is also coming weeks before Zelenskyy is scheduled to head to the United States, where he hopes to present a victory plan to US President Joe Biden.
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Kulebas exit garnered a reaction
It is pertinent to note that after Zelenskyy, the 43-year-old Kuleba was best known as the face of the Ukrainian cause overseas. He was actively responsible for meeting leaders around the world and lobbying for military and political support in fluent English.
Following his resignation, several European foreign ministers praised Kulebas work during the war. The admirers of Kuleba included Annalena Baerbock, Germanys foreign minister, who said he had put the people of Ukraine before himself.
Long conversations on night trains, at the G7, on the frontlines, in Brussels, in front of a bombed-out power plant. There are few people Ive worked as closely with as you, @DmytroKuleba. You put the people of your country before yourself, she wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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@DmytroKuleba, all the best from the botton of my heart we shall meet again when peace and freedom finally has returned to all of #Ukraine. 2/2 Auenministerin Annalena Baerbock (@ABaerbock) September 4, 2024
@DmytroKuleba, all the best from the bottom of my heart we shall meet again when peace and freedom finally have returned to all of #Ukraine, she added. As of now, 10 out of 21 ministerial portfolios are vacant in the embattled nation.
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With inputs from Reuters.
For many years, Simes was best known for his role as the former president and CEO of the Center for National Interest, a foreign policy think tank that has previously advocated for improving relations between the U.S. and Russia. read more
The US Justice Department on Thursday said it had charged Virginia-based Russian television contributor Dimitri Simes and his wife Anastasia Simes with two separate schemes to violate U.S. sanctions.
In one of two indictments, Simes and his wife are accused of laundering funds and violating U.S. sanctions for the benefit of Channel One Russia, a Russian broadcasting station that was sanctioned in May 2022.
In a second indictment, they are charged with violating sanctions to benefit Aleksandr Yevgenyevich Udodov, a Russian oligarch who was sanctioned in February 2023.
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Simes stepped down from his role there in 2022 and began serving as a moderator of the Moscow-based show Big Game on Channel One Russia.
Though he and his wife maintain a home in Huntly, Virginia, prosecutors said they both remain at large and are believed to be in Russia.
In the phone call which took place last week, Biden raised concerns over the future of democratic institutions in Bangladesh read more
After omitting Bangladeshs mention from the readout, the White Hosue has finally confirmed that US President Joe Biden expressed concerns over the safety of people in the country, during his phone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the telephonic conversation which took place last week, Biden raised concerns over the future of democratic institutions in Bangladesh.
The call came weeks after Bangladesh witnessed an anti-government, nationwide protest which ultimately toppled the 15-year-long reign of the countrys ex-PM Sheikh Hasina. PM Modi and Biden also spoke after the Indian premier paid a visit to Russia and Ukraine, the two nations involved in a long-stretched war.
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The confirmation from the US came on Wednesday when White House national security communications adviser John Kirby said that Biden and PM Modi shared concerns over the recent developments in Bangladesh. I mean, the president made clear his continued concerns about the safety and security of the people in Bangladesh and the future of their democratic institutions, he said in response to a question.
The readout saga
The confirmation from Kirby came after a readout from the White House, published on August 26, did not mention that Bangladesh was discussed in the phone call. However, Prime Minister Modis post on X and a statement issued by his office noted that the turbulent situation in Dhaka was discussed during the conversation.
Spoke to @POTUS @JoeBiden on the phone today. We had a detailed exchange of views on various regional and global issues, including the situation in Ukraine. I reiterated Indias full support for early return of peace and stability, PM Modi wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Spoke to @POTUS @JoeBiden on phone today. We had a detailed exchange of views on various regional and global issues, including the situation in Ukraine. I reiterated Indias full support for early return of peace and stability.
We also discussed the situation in Bangladesh and Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 26, 2024
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We also discussed the situation in Bangladesh and stressed the need for early restoration of normalcy, and ensuring the safety and security of minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh, he added.
When people started talking about the omission, Kanchan Gupta, a government adviser gave a clarification on the matter on X. It is a common practice for separate press releases to be issued following conversations, which may or may not reflect all issues discussed. It is only when there is a joint press release or joint statement that both sides issue similar press releases," he explained.
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Congress media head @Pawankhera 's comments regarding Government of India's press release on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tele-conversation with President Biden on Monday are completely misplaced.
It's reiterated that all issues mentioned in the GoI press release, including https://t.co/DW7xU9o8aY Kanchan Gupta (@KanchanGupta) August 27, 2024
To say that any issue that may be missing in either of the press releases was not discussed is inaccurate and avoidable, the government official added.
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With inputs from Press Trust of India.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday offered to provide Africa 1 billion yuan (US$140.5 million) in military aid and training for 6,000 military personnel and 1,000 police officers, as Beijing seeks to strengthen its security ties in the face of multiple challenges across the continent read more
China's President Xi Jinping, centre, and African leaders prepare for a group photo during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on Thursday. AP
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday offered to provide Africa 1 billion yuan (US$140.5 million) in military aid and training for 6,000 military personnel and 1,000 police officers, as Beijing seeks to strengthen its security ties with African countries.
According to a South China Morning Post report, in a speech to mark the opening of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit on Thursday, Xi Jinping also invited 500 young military officers to China to take part in exercises and patrols, as well as helping to clear landmines a major concern for some countries.
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While details about the package and the specific countries that will benefit are still pending, the latest commitment offers more specifics than the previous pledge made at the 2021 summit, which included participation in security projects and joint anti-terrorism and peacekeeping training exercises, reported South China Morning Post.
Unlike in 2021, Xi did not address measures to control the spread of small arms in his latest announcement.
In recent years, China has increased its military engagement with African countries as part of its broader competition for influence with the US.
According to South China Morning Post report, citing the Asia Society Policy Institute, last year, Africa ranked second only to Southeast Asia for the number of senior-level military meetings.
Recently, the Peoples Liberation Army has been actively involved in joint exercises with African countries, including a counterterrorism drill with Tanzania and Mozambique last month.
Earlier this year, China participated in a naval exercise with Russia and South Africa, drawing attention due to South Africas role as a US strategic partner.
China has been a key training hub for African militaries, educating hundreds of senior commanders at PLA institutions.
From 2019 to 2023, it was the largest arms supplier to sub-Saharan Africa, providing 19% of total arms imports, just surpassing Russia, which supplied 17%, according to the report, citing the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
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China supplies a wide range of military equipment, including small arms, drones, tanks, and armored vehicles.
Liselotte Odgaard, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based think tank, told South CHina Morning Post that Chinas long-term focus on Africa meant it did not just see it as a source of strategic resources but was also trying to build political relations and listen to the views and interests of African elites which were not a high priority for most Western countries.
The Chinese influence also has a security dimension, which Chinese military aid reflects," Odgaard was quoted as saying.
Only now is the West trying to seriously counter Chinas influence by listening to the voices of Africa The question is if such efforts are too little too late, Odgaard added.
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China has extended military aid to nearly every African nation to bolster ties and safeguard its economic interests.
Recently, the PLA provided Benin with howitzers and related equipment in response to rising militant attacks linked to the broader Islamist insurgency in West Africa.
Djibouti, home to Chinas first overseas naval base, frequently hosts PLA warships for anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden and off Somalia.
Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said military support to Africa could be part of Beijings use of the Belt and Road Initiative to gain greater control and presence in geo-strategically important regions.
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Chinas use of the Belt and Road Initiative is designed to enable and facilitate Chinese access to critical strategic resources and also key port facilities around the world to support the flow of those resources to sustain Chinas economic growth.
The military support in question could be part of this process to get African states dependent on China for their security, and they would have little choice in the matter given their dependency on Beijing through (belt and road), South China Morning Post quoted Davis as saying.
Ilaria Carrozza of the Peace Research Institute Oslo told South China Morning Post that Beijing views military aid as a cost-effective means to safeguard economic interests and enhance cooperation.
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However, Carrozza noted that the 1 billion yuan figure remains below typical US military aid levels and is unlikely to significantly boost African military and police capabilities.
Nonetheless, it underscores Africas ongoing strategic importance to China, she added.
With inputs from agencies
Keynote Address by H.E. Xi Jinping
President of the Peoples Republic of China
At the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Summit of
The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation
Beijing, September 5, 2024
Your Excellency President Bassirou Diomaye Faye,
Your Excellency President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, Chairperson of the African Union (AU),
Your Excellencies Heads of State and Government and Heads of Delegation,
Your Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations,
Your Excellency Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the AU Commission,
Friends and Distinguished Guests,
Blossoms in spring turn into fruits in autumn, and a bumper harvest is the reward of hard work. In this season of harvest, I am delighted to gather together with so many old and new friends in Beijing to discuss grand plans for China-Africa friendship and cooperation in the new era. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, I extend a warm welcome to you all!
The friendship between China and Africa transcends time and space, surmounts mountains and oceans, and passes down through generations. The founding of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2000 was a milestone in the history of China-Africa relations. Over the past 24 years, especially in the new era, China has advanced forward hand in hand with our African brothers and sisters in the spirit of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith. We stand shoulder to shoulder with each other to firmly defend our legitimate rights and interests as once-in-a-century changes sweep across the world. We get stronger and more resilient together by riding the tide of economic globalization, delivering tangible benefits to billions of ordinary Chinese and Africans. We share weal and woe in fighting natural disasters and epidemics together, creating touching stories of China-Africa friendship. We always empathize with and support each other, setting a stellar example of a new type of international relations.
Thanks to nearly 70 years of tireless efforts from both sides, the China-Africa relationship is now at its best in history. With its future growth in mind, I propose that bilateral relations between China and all African countries having diplomatic ties with China be elevated to the level of strategic relations, and that the overall characterization of China-Africa relations be elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.
Friends and Distinguished Guests,
Modernization is an inalienable right of all countries. But the Western approach to it has inflicted immense sufferings on developing countries. Since the end of World War II, Third World nations, represented by China and African countries, have achieved independence and development one after another, and have been endeavoring to redress the historical injustices of the modernization process. As we are about to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Peoples Republic of China, we are going all out to build a great modern socialist country in all respects and pursue national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernization. Africa is also awakening again, and the continent is marching in solid strides toward the modernization goals set forth in the AUs Agenda 2063. China and Africas joint pursuit of modernization will set off a wave of modernization in the Global South, and open a new chapter in our drive for a community with a shared future for mankind.
We should jointly advance modernization that is just and equitable. In promoting modernization, we should not only follow the general rules, but also act in light of our national realities. China is ready to increase exchanges of governance experience with Africa, support all countries in exploring modernization paths befitting their national conditions, and help ensure equal rights and equal opportunities for all countries.
We should jointly advance modernization that is open and win-win. Mutually beneficial cooperation is the sunny road to the betterment of long-term and fundamental interests of all countries. China is ready to deepen cooperation with Africa in industry, agriculture, infrastructure, trade and investment, promote exemplary, high-quality Belt and Road cooperation projects, and build together a model for the delivery of the Global Development Initiative.
We should jointly advance modernization that puts the people first. The ultimate goal of modernization is the free and full development of human beings. China will work vigorously with Africa to promote personnel training, poverty reduction and employment, enhance the sense of gain, happiness and security of the people in the course of modernization, and ensure that all will benefit from the process.
We should jointly advance modernization featuring diversity and inclusiveness. Well-balanced material and spiritual advancement is a lofty objective of modernization. China will enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges with Africa, champion mutual respect, inclusiveness and coexistence of different civilizations on our way to modernization, and strive together for more fruitful outcomes under the Global Civilization Initiative.
We should jointly advance modernization that is eco-friendly. Green development is a hallmark of modernization in the new era. China is ready to help Africa build green growth engines, narrow the gap in energy accessibility, adhere to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and jointly push for the global transition to green and low-carbon development.
We should jointly advance modernization underpinned by peace and security. Modernization would not be possible without a peaceful and stable environment for development. China is ready to help Africa improve its capacity in safeguarding peace and stability independently, prioritize Africa in implementing the Global Security Initiative (GSI), promote mutual reinforcement of high-quality development and greater security, and work together with Africa to uphold world peace and stability.
Friends and Distinguished Guests,
China and Africa account for one-third of the world population. Without our modernization, there will be no global modernization. In the next three years, China will work with Africa to take the following ten partnership actions for modernization to deepen China-Africa cooperation and spearhead the Global South modernization.
First, the Partnership Action for Mutual Learning among Civilizations. China is ready to work with Africa to build a platform for governance experience sharing, a China-Africa knowledge network for development, and 25 centers on China and Africa studies. We will make better use of Africas leadership academies to cultivate talents for governance, and invite 1,000 members of African political parties to China to deepen exchanges of experience in party and state governance.
Second, the Partnership Action for Trade Prosperity. China will voluntarily and unilaterally open its market wider. We have decided to give all LDCs having diplomatic relations with China, including 33 countries in Africa, zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines. This has made China the first major developing country and the first major economy to take such a step. It will help turn Chinas big market into Africas big opportunity. China will expand market access for African agricultural products, deepen cooperation with Africa in e-commerce and other areas, and launch a China-Africa quality enhancement program. We are prepared to enter into framework agreements on economic partnership for shared development with African countries to provide long-term, stable and predictable institutional guarantee for trade and investment between the two sides.
Third, the Partnership Action for Industrial Chain Cooperation. China will foster industry cooperation growth clusters with Africa, push forward the Pilot Zone for In-depth China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation, and launch an African SMEs empowerment program. We will build with Africa a digital technology cooperation center and initiate 20 digital demonstration projects so as to embrace together the latest round of technological revolution and industrial transformation.
Fourth, the Partnership Action for Connectivity. China is prepared to carry out 30 infrastructure connectivity projects in Africa, promote together high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and put in place a China-Africa network featuring land-sea links and coordinated development. We are ready to assist in the development of the African Continental Free Trade Area, and deepen logistics and financial cooperation for the benefit of trans-regional development in Africa.
Fifth, the Partnership Action for Development Cooperation. China is ready to release the Joint Statement on Deepening Cooperation within the Framework of the Global Development Initiative with Africa, and implement 1,000 small and beautiful livelihood projects. We will replenish the China-World Bank Group Partnership Facility to boost Africas development. We support Africa in hosting the 2026 Youth Olympic Games and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. We will work together with Africa to deliver more fruits of development to the two peoples.
Sixth, the Partnership Action for Health. China is ready to establish with Africa a hospitals alliance and joint medical centers. We will send 2,000 medical personnel to Africa, and launch 20 programs of health facilities and malaria treatment. We will encourage Chinese companies to invest in Africas pharmaceutical production, and continue to do what we can to help Africa with epidemic response. We support the development of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to strengthen public health capacity in all African countries.
Seventh, the Partnership Action for Agriculture and Livelihoods. China will provide Africa with RMB1 billion yuan in emergency food assistance, build 100,000 mu (about 6,670 hectares) of standardized agriculture demonstration areas in Africa, send 500 agricultural experts, and establish a China-Africa agricultural science and technology innovation alliance. We will implement 500 programs in Africa to promote community welfare. We will also encourage two-way investment for new business operations by Chinese and African companies, enable Africa to retain added value, and create at least one million jobs for Africa.
Eighth, the Partnership Action for People-to-People Exchanges. China will implement with Africa more solidly the Future of AfricaVocational Education Cooperation Plan, establish together an engineering technology academy, and build ten Luban Workshops. We will provide 60,000 training opportunities to Africa, mainly for women and youths. We will launch with Africa a Cultural Silk Road program as well as an initiative of cooperation on innovation in radio, TV and audio and visual programs. The two sides have agreed to designate 2026 as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.
Ninth, the Partnership Action for Green Development. China is ready to launch 30 clean energy projects in Africa, put in place meteorological early warning systems, and carry out cooperation in disaster prevention, mitigation and relief as well as biodiversity conservation. We will create a China-Africa forum on peaceful use of nuclear technology, establish together 30 joint laboratories, and collaborate on satellite remote sensing and lunar and deep-space exploration. All this is designed to help with green development in Africa.
Tenth, the Partnership Action for Common Security. China is ready to build with Africa a partnership for implementing the GSI, and make it a fine example of GSI cooperation. We will give Africa RMB1 billion yuan of grants in military assistance, provide training for 6,000 military personnel and 1,000 police and law enforcement officers from Africa, and invite 500 young African military officers to visit China. The two sides will conduct joint military exercises, training and patrol, carry out an action for a mine-free Africa, and jointly ensure the safety of personnel and projects.
To implement the ten partnership actions, the Chinese government will provide RMB360 billion yuan of financial support through the next three years. This breaks down into RMB210 billion yuan of credit line, RMB80 billion yuan of assistance in various forms, and at least RMB70 billion yuan of investment in Africa by Chinese companies. In addition, China will encourage and support Africa in issuing panda bonds in China to enhance our results-oriented cooperation in all areas.
Friends and Distinguished Guests,
The Communist Party of China held in July the successful Third Plenary Session of its 20th Central Committee, laying out systematic plans for further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization. This will profoundly further transform China. It will also provide new opportunities and new driving forces for African countries and for our joint pursuit of modernization.
As an African proverb goes, a friend is someone you share the path with. On the path to modernization, no one, and no country, should be left behind. Let us rally the more than 2.8 billion Chinese and African people into a powerful force on our shared path toward modernization, promote modernization of the Global South with China-Africa modernization, and write a new magnificent chapter of development in human history. Let us join hands to bring about a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress for our world.
Thank you.
Google has detailed the redesign of its new Pixel 9 Pro Fold, describing it as fully redesigned and upgraded from the first-generation Pixel Fold. The updated model is thinner and more compact, making it much more than just an iteration of its predecessor.
Pixel 9 Pro Fold: Key Improvements
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is noticeably thinner than the original Pixel Fold, with a folded thickness reduced by 1.5mm, making it just 2mm thicker than the Pixel 9 series phones.
When fully opened, it measures 5.1mm deep, which is 0.7mm thinner than the original Pixel Fold. This makes it the thinnest foldable smartphone currently available in the U.S. market, with the largest display of any foldable phone.
A Phone-First Design Approach
The redesign was driven by user feedback, according to Claude Zellweger, Googles director of industrial design. We saw that people were often using it closed, Zellweger noted. Although users appreciated the tablet-like experience, they primarily wanted to use the device as a regular smartphone.
This insight led the design team to adopt a phone-first mantra. Our goal was to make a foldable that felt, looked, and acted like any other smartphone while offering additional functionality, Zellweger explained.
Jon Prowse, a Pixel product manager, added, You have to make a great phone, and then you can make a great foldable. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold features a 20:9 aspect ratio, similar to the Pixel 9 Pro, and includes premium finishes with smaller bezels.
The aim was to make the new Fold familiar to users, with an experience closer to that of a regular smartphone, whether its browsing the web or messaging, he added.
A New Hinge for a Thinner Design
Despite its reduced thickness, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold incorporates an 8-inch tablet-like display, one of its most notable upgrades.
To achieve this thin design, a new hinge was developed, using multi-alloy steel and high-strength aluminum alloy that snaps shut and opens flat with a satisfying snap.
George, a member of the design team, stated that the new hinge is more durable than before, maintaining the same torque feel as the original Pixel Fold.
The hinge design also incorporates a fluid-friction mechanism and optimized magnets that enhance the opening and closing experience. We wanted it to feel just right, Claude added, noting the importance of tactile satisfaction in the user experience.
Upgraded Camera in a Slimmer Frame
Building a thinner phone while maintaining high-performance camera capabilities posed a challenge.
As we aimed to make the device thinner, we had to redesign the camera bar and incorporate customized optical modules, Jon Prowse explained. The result is an upgraded ultrawide camera and two improved selfie cameras, all fitting into the new optical modules.
The double-stacked camera bar is positioned in the top left corner, allowing the phone to lie flat on surfaces and contributing to the overall slimmer profile. This change also enabled the inclusion of a larger battery.
Smaller Tweaks Add Up to a Major Update
Many smaller changes helped the Pixel 9 Pro Fold achieve its slim profile. The haptics driver is thinner but provides a more pronounced feel.
The USB-C port has been redesigned to be smaller, and the speakers are all new. The thermal system was also re-engineered with a new vapor chamber and graphite thermal spreader to manage the heat in a thinner device.
Jon summed it up:
With this process, it really goes to show that when you make a big architecture improvement, every piece of the phone every single module matters. It takes a lot of incremental changes to result in this big change.
Source
Global wrist-worn device (smartwatches and wristbands) shipments totaled 43.7 million units in Q2 2024, reflecting a slight YoY decrease of 0.7%.
China led the market with 15.5 million units shipped, marking a 10.9% YoY increase, according to IDCs latest Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker.
Globally, smartwatches accounted for 34.7 million units in Q2 2024, down 3.2% YoY, while wristbands shipped 9.0 million units, up 10.6% YoY. In China, smartwatches shipped 11.1 million units, up 18.7% YoY, whereas wristbands shipped 4.4 million units, down 4.8% YoY.
Key Players in the Wrist-Worn Device Market (Q2 2024)
HUAWEI: HUAWEI experienced significant growth in the first half of 2024, with a 55.1% YoY increase in shipments. The company led the global wrist-worn market for two consecutive quarters, driven by the success of its new Fit 3 wristband and its continued dominance in Chinas wrist-worn market.
Xiaomi: Despite no new wristband releases in the first half of 2024, Xiaomi ranked second globally in wrist-worn device shipments. Growth was fueled by strong smartphone performance and advancements in its smartwatch line, including the Redmi series and S3 watch. Xiaomis wrist-worn product lineup is expected to expand with new wristband models later in the year.
Apple: Apples smartwatch shipments declined due to macroeconomic factors and intense market competition. However, Apple remains the top player in the global smartwatch market. Anticipation for upcoming fall product releases could potentially improve its current market performance.
Samsung: Samsungs growth was driven by the new Galaxy Fit 3 wristband, which complemented its product range and boosted shipments, especially in developing regions. The company expects future growth from new product launches as its sixth-generation smartwatches approach their end of life.
BBK: BBK, known for its kids watches, saw significant growth due to the recovery of Chinas kids watch market. Increased social activities and stabilization in the target age group contributed to this surge, with BBK capitalizing on its channel strategies and pricing differentiation.
Market Trends and Factors (Q2 2024)
The rapid expansion of the Chinese wrist-worn market is attributed to several factors:
Product Price Differentiation: Manufacturers have focused on offering products priced around or below 1,000 yuan, providing more choices in price, appearance, brand, and network standards.
Promotional Activities: Leading manufacturers have implemented early and diverse promotional activities, positively impacting shipments.
Long-Tail Device Consumption: Increasing consumer interest in various smart devices and health awareness has broadened the user base for wrist-worn devices.
The market has been characterized by limited technological innovation recently, leading manufacturers to focus more on mid-range and entry-level products.
This shift has balanced the global competitive landscape and could pave the way for future innovations, as noted by Sophie Pan, Research Director at IDC China.
Source
Join us on an unscripted adventure as we explore the history of the Galveston jetties, crucial for the region's economic growth from the 1800s to today.
Issue Date: 5 September 2024
Third and final phase of the Proof of Concept for Body Worn Cameras is launched in Waterford Garda Station Waterford City
200 body worn cameras now in use in Waterford Garda Station together with their associated infrastructure.
600 members trained nationally in the use of body worn cameras.
Plain clothes members will form part of the proof of concept in Waterford.
An Garda Siochana has today commenced the third and final phase of its Proof of Concept for Body Worn Cameras as well as the supporting Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS).
The Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris was joined at Waterford Garda Station in Waterford City this morning September 5th, 2024 by the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee T.D to launch the third and final phase of a proof of concept for body worn cameras.
The cameras launched today are Motorola Solutions V500 cameras. This is the first time this new camera has been deployed in Europe.
This brings the number of stations using body worn cameras to five, and brings the total number of body worn cameras available for use nationally to 600, across our four proof of concept stations - Limerick (200); Kevin Street (50); Pearse Street (50); and Store Street (100).
Nationally, to date there are in excess of 600 Gardai fully trained in their use, with almost 150 Gardai fully trained in the use of the Motorola Solutions V500 Body Worn cameras in Waterford.
This camera has the capacity to store four days of data. It has one hundred and thirty [130] degree field of vision and has 12 hours of battery life, ensuring that it will last for a full shift of duty.
The body worn cameras will be housed in their own docking room in Waterford station where each member can take out a camera by swiping their RFID card.
For this proof of concept, plain clothes members will be engaged in the use of body worn cameras, with members attached to the Crime Unit, Drugs Unit and Detectives attached to the Divisional Protective Services Unit involved in their use.
At todays launch, Commissioner Drew Harris said, " Todays launch marks the final stage in our proof of concept phase which brings us one step closer to the implementation of Information-Led Policing.
"It follows extensive consultation with over 20 other police services around the world and the commencement of the Garda Siochana (Recording Devices) Act 2023 which includes the Codes of Practice for their operation.
"The proof of concept will continue with a period of analysis and engagement with the frontline members. This will help us to understand and evaluate the cameras and Digital Evidence Management System. We will also continue to engage with the DPP to assess how this video evidence can be utilised in the prosecution of cases through the Courts, he said.
We Are China
Rapeseed fields fuel tourism surge in Menyuan, NW China's Qinghai
People's Daily Online) 15:26, September 05, 2024
Menyuan Hui Autonomous County in Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, is in full bloom. The county's vast rapeseed fields are drawing crowds of tourists to witness the spectacular golden landscape.
Rapeseed fields blanket Menyuan Hui Autonomous County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Liping)
In July 2024, Menyuan celebrated its 25th Rapeseed Flower Culture and Tourism Festival.
Over 25 years, Menyuan has enhanced its rapeseed flower landscapes, earning titles like "One of the Top 10 Flower Seas in the World" and "China's Most Beautiful Rapeseed Flower Sea."
These accolades have brought recognition and economic opportunities to Menyuan's residents.
Expansive rapeseed flower fields stretch across Menyuan Hui Autonomous County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (People's Daily Online/Yang Qihong)
The county has seen significant tourism growth.
Since 2014, hotels have increased 3.8-fold to 65, and agritourism facilities have grown nearly 12-fold to 95. The tourism workforce has expanded to 3,600 employees, a 3.27-fold increase.
Zhaobi Mountain rises above Menyuan Hui Autonomous County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (People's Daily Online/Gan Haiqiong)
Vehicles navigate through a sea of rapeseed flowers in Menyuan Hui Autonomous County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (People's Daily Online/Gu Feifei)
Menyuan's villages earned over 38 million yuan ($5.3 million) in 2023, mainly from rapeseed tourism. The "flower economy" has been instrumental in the region's rural revitalization, with rapeseed flowers becoming a lucrative source of income for the local community.
The region has cultivated rapeseed for 1,800 years, becoming a model for high-yield production in northern China.
Rapeseed and highland barley ripen for harvest in September in Menyuan Hui Autonomous County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (People's Daily Online/Gan Haiqiong)
The county's rapeseed planting area has stayed above 250,000 mu (16,675 hectares) in recent years, according to Ma Wenkui of the local agriculture bureau.
Workers package rapeseed oil products at Qinghai Shengtaiyuan Logistics Service Co., Ltd. in Menyuan Hui Autonomous County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (People's Daily Online/Gan Haiqiong)
This abundant production has spurred local businesses to seek new markets.
Xing Yonghong, head of Qinghai Shengtaiyuan Logistics Service Co.'s general office, said the company recently expanded distribution to Lanzhou, capital of neighboring Gansu Province.
"We've made our grain and oil products available in major supermarkets there," Xing said.
Grain and oil products from Qinghai Shengtaiyuan Logistics Service Co., Ltd., located in Menyuan Hui Autonomous County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Photo/Zhang Hongyi)
Cyclists pedal through golden rapeseed fields during the Tour of Qinghai Lake race in northwest China's Qinghai Province. (People's Daily Online/Gu Feifei)
(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Most of those killed in Gaza are women and children, according to the UN rights office
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Delivers Remarks at the Convening of the Election Threats Task Force
Wednesday, September 4, 2024
Location
Washingtion, DC
United States
Remarks as Prepared for Delivery
Good afternoon, everyone.
We launched the Election Threats Task Force to respond to a dangerous increase in violent threats against the public servants who administer our elections.
We did so because countless Americans were enduring terrible threats simply for doing their civic duty.
And we did so because threats to election workers constitute threats to our democracy itself.
In just a few minutes, the Task Force here will meet to discuss its continuing work in advance of the upcoming elections.
But before we begin, I want to address the tragic shooting that occurred this morning at a high school in Winder, Georgia.
We are still gathering information, but FBI and ATF are on the scene working with state, local, and federal partners.
I am devastated for the families who have been affected by this terrible tragedy.
The Justice Department stands ready to provide any resources or support the Winder community needs in the days ahead.
Before I get to the work of the Task Force, I also want to announce two major law enforcement actions the Justice Department is taking that are separate from the important work of this Task Force, but are part of our broader effort to protect our elections from unlawful interference of any kind.
First, this morning, we unsealed an indictment in the Southern District of New York of Konstantine Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, two Russia-based employees of RT, a Russian state-controlled media outlet. They are charged with conspiring to commit money laundering and to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
That law, enacted nearly a century ago, was enacted to ensure that the American people were informed when a foreign power engages in political activities or seeks to influence public discourse.
The American people are entitled to know when a foreign power is attempting to exploit our country's free exchange of ideas in order to send around its own propaganda. The company never disclosed to the a I'm sorry.
And that is what we allege happened in this case.
In the wake of Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, RT a which was then known as Russia Today a was dropped by its American distributors. The company ceased its formal operations in the United States. And the European Union, the U.K., and Canada banned RT's broadcasting.
But, as RT itself has boasted, the Government of Russia continued to use RT to direct disinformation and propaganda. In the wake of Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine, RT's editor-in-chief said the company had built an "entire empire of covert projects" designed to shape public opinion in "Western audiences."
We allege that, as part of that effort, RT and its employees, including the defendants, implemented a nearly $10 million scheme to fund and direct a Tennessee-based company, to publish and disseminate content deemed favorable to the Russian government.
To implement this scheme, the defendants directed the company to contract with U.S.-based social media influencers to share this content on their platforms.
The subject matter and content of many of the videos published by the company were often consistent with Russia's interest in amplifying U.S. domestic divisions in order to weaken U.S. opposition to core Russian interests, particularly its ongoing war in Ukraine.
The company never disclosed to the influencers a or to their millions of followers a its ties to RT and the Russian government. Instead, the defendants and the company claimed that the company was sponsored by a private investor. That private investor was a fictitious persona.
The charges unsealed this morning do not represent the end of the investigation. It remains active and ongoing.
In a separate enforcement action, the Justice Department is seizing 32 internet domains that the Russian government and Russian sponsored actors have used to engage in a covert campaign to interfere in and influence the outcome of our country's elections.
As alleged in our court filings, President Vladimir Putin's inner circle, including Sergei Kiriyenko, directed Russian public relations companies to promote disinformation and state-sponsored narratives as part of a program to influence the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election.
An internal planning document created by the Kremlin states that a goal of the campaign is securing Russia's preferred outcome in the election.
The online infrastructure used by the Russian public relations company a known as the Social Design Agency, or SDA a and related actors included what are sometimes referred to as "cybersquatted" domains. These websites were designed to appear to American readers as if they were major U.S. news sites like The Washington Post or Fox News.
But, in fact, they were fake sites. They were filled with Russian government propaganda that had been created by the Kremlin to reduce international support for Ukraine, bolster pro-Russian policies and interests, and influence voters in the United States and other in countries.
Internal documents of the Kremlin described the content as, "bogus stories disguised as newsworthy events." This malign influence campaign has been referred to as "Doppelganger."
The Russian public relations companies drove viewers to these websites by deploying influencers and paid social media advertisements. They also created fake social media profiles, posing as U.S. citizens, to post comments on social media platforms with links to the sites.
According to SDA's records, it actively sought to "eliminate the possibility of detection of the 'Russian footprint.'"
Both of the schemes I have just discussed make clear the ends to which the Russian government a including at its highest levels a is willing to go to undermine our democratic process.
But the enforcement actions I have discussed also make clear that the Justice Department will aggressively counter such efforts.
And the same is true of the entire United States Government.
Today, our colleagues at the State and Treasury Departments are announcing parallel actions in both of these matters.
Unfortunately, we know that Russia is not the only foreign power seeking to interfere in our elections.
As the U.S. Intelligence Community noted two weeks ago, we have observed increasingly aggressive Iranian activity during this election cycle.
That includes recently reported activities by Iran to compromise former President Trump's campaign and to avoid an election outcome that it regards as against its interests. Those recently reported Iranian activities also include efforts to obtain access to individuals who themselves have access to the presidential campaigns of both political parties.
The Justice Department's message is clear: we have no tolerance for attempts by authoritarian regimes to exploit our democratic system of government.
We will be relentlessly aggressive in countering and disrupting attempts by Russia and Iran a as well as China or any other foreign malign actor a to interfere in our elections and undermine our democracy.
Now, I will to turn back to the topic of today's meeting. Just as we are dedicated to combating foreign threats to our election security, we are equally dedicated to confront domestic threats against the public servants who administer our elections.
Since the 2020 election, we have seen an unprecedented spike in threats against the public servants who do administer our elections.
Election officials, workers, and volunteers in communities across the country have been targeted with heinous acts and threats of violence. The following are a few examples of successful enforcement actions that the Justice Department has taken over the past year:
In New Mexico, county commissioners and other elected officials were targeted with a series of shootings that the Department has alleged in court papers were organized by an unsuccessful candidate for the state legislature who claimed that the election had been "rigged" against him. At least three of the shootings occurred while the intended victims or their children or their family members were at home.
In February, two shooters who we allege were recruited by the candidate pled guilty to carrying out the attacks. In March, the candidate himself was charged in a 13-count superseding indictment.
In Arizona, a man sent a state election official a bomb threat warning that if she did not resign within two days, "the explosive device impacted in her personal space will be detonated." In March, the man was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for making the threat.
In Maricopa County, Arizona, an elections official, a county attorney, and their families were threatened by a defendant who called for "a mass shooting of poll workers and election officials" in precincts he believed had "suspect" results. His revolting comments included: "dead children burn into the memories of people."
The county attorney who had been targeted later reported that he, his wife, and four children had been assigned round-the-clock protection and issued body armor in response to the threat.
And the elections official who was targeted said in a victim impact statement that:
"While I am the person directly threatened [in] this case, the impact of such threats is felt by a much larger community: the thousands of committed election workers who operate our democratic processes. When threats are made against any election workers, the impact reverberates [through] the [whole] community."
That defendant was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.
In recent months, our enforcement actions have continued.
In July, we secured the guilty plea of an Alabama man who repeatedly threatened to kill Maricopa County election workers and officials. In one particularly chilling message, he said: "You better not come in my church, my business or send your kids to my school. You are [...] stupid if you think [your lives] are safe." His sentencing is scheduled for next month.
Also in July, the Justice Department secured a 14-month sentence for a man who sent a death threat to a Michigan election worker. In a voicemail, he said: "Ten million plus patriots will surround you when you least expect it." And he added, "We'll [...] kill you."
Less than two weeks ago, we charged and arrested a Colorado man for allegedly threatening the lives of election officials, judges, and law enforcement officials in both Colorado and Arizona.
As I have said before, and I will reiterate again today, these cases are a warning: if you threaten to harm or kill an election worker or official or volunteer, the Justice Department will find you. And we will hold you accountable.
In a democracy, people vote and argue and debate a often loudly a in order to achieve the policy outcomes they desire.
And the Justice Department will continue to relentlessly protect the rights of all Americans to peacefully express their opinions, beliefs, and ideas.
But the promise of our democracy is that people will not employ violence to achieve their preferred outcomes.
The public servants who administer our elections must be able to do their jobs without fearing for their lives.
That is why this Task Force has been marshaling the full resources of the Justice Department to aggressively investigate and prosecute threats targeting election workers, officials, and volunteers.
And we will continue to do so in the months ahead, when the Task Force will build on the partnerships with state and local election officials and the law enforcement officials tasked with protecting them.
Since March, the Task Force has participated in more than 25 convenings, engagements, trainings, tabletop exercises a including both with our law enforcement partners and with our partners in the election community nationwide.
Over the next several weeks, Task Force representatives will be on the ground meeting with election workers.
And in early November a both in advance of, and after Election Day a the FBI will be hosting federal partners at its Headquarters command center to address events, issues, and potential crimes related to the elections in real time.
Election officials and administrators do not need to navigate this threat environment alone. We are here to support them and to make sure they can safely carry out their critical work.
Protecting our democracy and protecting our elections was a founding purpose when the Justice Department was established in 1870.
The Department answered that charge then. And we will answer that charge today as we confront those who would use violence or threats of violence to attack those who administer our elections.
I'd now like to ask the Deputy Attorney General to make some remarks.
Speaker: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland
Topics: Countering Nation-State Threats
National Security
Voting and Elections
Components: Office of the Attorney General
Civil Rights - Criminal Section
National Security Division (NSD)
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Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri Delivers Remarks at the Convening of the Election Threats Task Force
Wednesday, September 4, 2024
Location
Washingtion, DC
United States
Remarks as Prepared for Delivery
Thank you, Attorney General Garland, Deputy Attorney General Monaco, and Director Wray for your commitment to safeguarding our elections. With your leadership and support, the Criminal Division's Public Integrity Section continues to spearhead the Election Threats Task Force. There is no mission more critical to the Criminal Division than deterring, disrupting, and punishing criminal threats to our elections.
Since we last met with department leadership in May, the Task Force has filed charges or secured convictions against defendants in Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, and Michigan and opened new investigations across the country.
The Task Force is also preparing for election day. Our attorneys are meeting with election officials around the country and recently hosted a training for FBI and Justice Department personnel nationwide, to address threats of violence to the election community and other criminal threats to our elections.
And we are surging additional resources to these efforts. The Public Integrity Section added five attorneys to support its Election Crimes Branch, to ensure a rapid response to reports of election crimes. As we approach election day, we will ensure that the team has all the resources it needs to perform its essential work.
I could not be prouder of the Election Threats Task Force. As we move forward, I am confident that their dedicated efforts will continue to put us in the best position possible to support and protect the election community.
Speaker: Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri
Topics: Countering Nation-State Threats
National Security
Voting and Elections
Components: Criminal Section
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Turkish police arrest Kosovan man identified as head of Mossad financial network
Iran Press TV
Wednesday, 04 September 2024 8:10 AM
Turkish security forces have identified and arrested a Kosovar national on charges of managing the financial network of Mossad in the country and transferring money on behalf of the Israeli spy agency.
The Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) said in a statement that Liridon Rexhepi was a "financier for the Israeli intelligence", and was sending money to informants who "were filming with drones, conducting psychological warfare against Palestinian politicians and collecting information about the situation in Syria."
Turkish security sources said on Tuesday that MIT started following Rexhepi when he entered Turkey on August 25, and that Istanbul's Counterterrorism Police detained him on August 30.
Rexhepi admitted to making cash transfers to informants via Western Union, a financial services corporation, and was sent to prison pending a court appearance, they said.
MIT said that Mossad has been sending money to its spies in Turkey from Eastern European countries, especially Kosovo. Some of the funds were transferred to informants in Syria.
They also used cryptocurrencies, according to the Turkish sources.
Last December, director of Israel's so-called internal security service, Shin Bet, said his organization was prepared to target Hamas anywhere, including in Lebanon, Turkey and Qatar.
Turkish authorities warned Israel of "serious consequences" if it tries to hunt down members of the Palestinian resistance group living outside Palestinian territories, including in Turkey.
Since January, Turkish officials have detained dozens of people, among them private investigators, on charges of collecting data on individuals, mostly Palestinians residing in Turkey, for Mossad.
Back in February, Turkish police arrested seven people on suspicion of selling information to Mossad through private detectives.
Seven more people, including a private detective, were arrested in March a also for selling information to Mossad. Another two were arrested in April.
Turkey halted all trade with Israel in May and it filed a request with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague in August to join South Africa's genocide case against Israel over the war on Gaza.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been one of the strongest and vocal critics of Israel's bloody onslaught against Gaza on the international stage, and has praised Hamas for fighting against occupation.
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Autopsy Ordered After 'Russian Spy' Whale Found Dead In Norwegian Waters
By RFE/RL September 04, 2024
The famed "Russian spy" beluga whale was found dead in the Stavanger area of Norway last week, according to a statement by the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, and an autopsy has been ordered to find out if he was deliberately killed.
The whale, discovered in 2019 off the coast of Norway, became a international phenomenon after it was seen wearing a harness with "Equipment of St. Petersburg" written on it, creating speculation that it might be linked to Russian espionage.
The whale, nicknamed Hvaldimir after the Norwegian word for whale, hval, and the whale's connection to Russia, was found dead on August 31. Initial official reports did not indicate a cause of death.
But NOAH, a Norwegian animal rights group, and One Whale, a group created to track Hvaldimir, released a joint statement saying there are "strong indications that he may have been harmed by people."
After viewing the body on September 2, Regina Crosby Haug, the head of One Whale, told the AFP news agency that the whale "had multiple bullet wounds around his body." Several veterinarians and biologists viewed images of Hvaldimir's body and also indicated to One Whale and NOAH that he had been harmed by people.
Hvaldimir's body was sent on September 2 to undergo an autopsy, with a report expected in around three weeks, according to a spokesperson at the Norwegian Veterinary Institute.
Hvaldimir had aroused speculation about Russian spying since his discovery. According to Joergen Ree Wiig of the Norwegian Fisheries Directorate in 2019, even Norwegian military officials were interested in the whale's origins.
Wiig said that the harness that Hvaldimir was wearing when he was discovered had a camera mount but no camera. The harness was apparently removed at some point after he was first seen in the Arctic Sea.
While Russia does not have a known history of using whales for military purposes, Dmitry Glazov, the deputy head of a beluga whale program who works at the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution at the Russian Academy of Sciences, told Interfax in April 2019 that the Russian military may be working with belugas.
Moscow has never issued any official reaction to speculation that he could have been used as a Russian spy.
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/news-russia-norway-beluga-whale- hvaldimir/33105923.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.
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Treasury Takes Action as Part of a U.S. Government Response to Russia's Foreign Malign Influence Operations
U.S. Department of the Treasury
September 4, 2024
The United States takes action to defend and protect U.S. election institutions and processes from Moscow's attempts to influence the 2024 Presidential Election
WASHINGTON -- Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated10 individuals and two entities as part of a coordinated U.S. government response to Moscow's malign influence efforts targeting the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Russian state-sponsored actors have long used a variety of tools, such as generative artificial intelligence (AI) deep fakes and disinformation, in an attempt to undermine confidence in the United States' election processes and institutions. Beginning in early 2024, executives at RTaRussia's state-funded news media outletabegan an even more nefarious effort to covertly recruit unwitting American influencers in support of their malign influence campaign. RT used a front company to disguise its own involvement or the involvement of the Russian government in content meant to influence U.S. audiences.
"Today's action underscores the U.S. government's ongoing efforts to hold state-sponsored actors accountable for activities that aim to deteriorate public trust in our institutions," said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen. "Treasury will not waver in our commitment to safeguarding our democratic principles and the integrity of our election systems."
Today's designations complement law enforcement actions taken by the Department of Justice and the Department of State's designation of the Rossiya Segodnya media group and five of its subsidiaries, RIA Novosti, RT, TV-Novosti, Ruptly, and Sputnik, as Foreign Missions, steps to impose visa restrictions, and release of a Rewards for Justice (RFJ) reward offer of up to $10 million relating to information pertaining to foreign interference in a U.S. election.
RUSSIAN Foreign malign influence Operations
The Kremlin employs an array of tools, including covert foreign malign influence campaigns and illicit cyber activities, to undermine the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States and its allies and partners globally. Russia routinely uses its intelligence services, government-directed proxies, and covert influence tools in these efforts. The Kremlin has increasingly adapted its efforts to hide its involvement by developing a vast ecosystem of Russian proxy websites, fake online personas, and front organizations that give the false appearance of being independent news sources unconnected to the Russian state.
Today's designations follow prior OFAC actions that have highlighted and disrupted Russia's global malign influence campaigns, including Kremlin-directed malign influence efforts, interference in U.S. elections, efforts to subvert democracy in Moldova, destabilization activities in Ukraine, and the operation of outlets controlled by Russian intelligence services, among others.
RT EXECUTIVES' and RaHDit Members' Russian Government Influence Operations
RT, formerly Russia Today, is a Russian state-funded news outlet that began broadcasting internationally in 2005. In 2017, RT registered as an agent of a foreign government in the United States. Beginning in early 2024, RT executives began an effort to covertly recruit unwitting American influencers. RT used a front company to disguise its own involvement or the involvement of the Russian government.
Margarita Simonovna Simonyan (Simonyan) is the Editor-in-Chief of RT and a central figure in Russian government malign influence efforts. She allowed the operations of a front company to occur under the cover of RT. Elizaveta Yuryevna Brodskaia (Brodskaia) is the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of RT, who has reported to Russian President Putin and other government officials. Anton Sergeyvich Anisimov (Anisimov) is an RT Deputy Editor-in-Chief, who conducts activities on behalf of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). Andrey Vladimirovich Kiyashko (Kiyashko) is the Deputy Director of the RT English-Language Information Broadcasting and is responsible for updating Russian government officials and providing an overview of RT's operations. Konstantin Kalashnikov (Kalashnikov) is RT's Digital Media Projects Manager, who, in early 2022, worked with Kiyashko. In mida2023, Brodskaia and Kiyashko implemented a large-scale influence operation for RT on U.S. social media with the intent of obscuring RT's connection to the content meant to influence online audiences. Elena Mikhaylovna Afanasyeva (Afanasyeva) is an employee of RT's Digital Media Projects Department and reports to Kalashnikov. Starting in early 2024, Afanasyeva covertly interacted with prominent U.S. social media influencers under the cover of a fake persona, purporting to be an employee at a U.S. company to obscure RT's and the Russian government's involvement.
The pro-Kremlin hacktivist group RaHDit is composed of active and former Russian intelligence officers. Aleksey Alekseyevich Garashchenko (Garashchenko) is the head of RaHDit and was an FSB officer at the time he started leading the group. Garashchenko directly interacts with members of the Russian intelligence and security services, members of the Russian Presidential Administration, and employees from RT. Anastasia Igorevna Yermoshkina (Yermoshkina) is an affiliate of Garashchenko. Aleksandr Vitalyevich Nezhentsev (Nezhentsev) works with Garashchenko and is an administrator and developer of cyber tools used by the FSB. Nezhentsev also leads a team focusing on developing new tools that can be used in the surveillance of information data files.
Today, OFAC designated Simonyan, Brodskaia, Anisimov, Kiyashko, Kalashnikov, Afanasyeva, Garashchenko, Yermoshkina, and Nezhentsev pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Government of the Russian Federation.
DoppelgAnger and RRN Russian Malign Influence Operations
Autonomous Non-Profit Organization (ANO) Dialog (ANO Dialog) is a Russian nonprofit organization founded in 2019 by the Moscow city government that leverages AI technology in online Russian disinformation for use against election campaigns. ANO Dialog Regions (Dialog Regions) is ANO Dialog's subsidiary organization that is co-located at their Moscow headquarters and also has offices throughout Russia.
Vladimir Grigoryevich Tabak (Tabak) is the Director General of both ANO Dialog and Dialog Regions. He previously held several positions in the Russian Presidential Administration.
ANO Dialog is linked to DoppelgAngeraa Russia-linked influence operation network identified in 2022athat used deep fake content to develop Russian disinformation campaigns. In fall 2022, Tabak was expected to attend a meeting with senior Russian government officials. The meeting discussed the presumed success of the DoppelgAnger activity and provided feedback and guidance on future projects.
In July 2022, ANO Dialog and Tabak provided services to the Russian government, working on a project for the creation of fake online posts on popular social media accounts, including "Reliable Recent News" ("RRN") and "War on Fakes"aa Russian disinformation website publicly linked to the DoppelgAnger activityathat would be composed of counterfeit documents, among other material, in order to elicit an emotional response from the audiences of these accounts. An ANO Dialog advisor purchased RRN's new domain, "rrn.world" in order to avoid using the former domain, "rrussianews.com," which would have maintained a connection to Russia. Tabak also coordinated with ANO Dialog and the Russian government on the payment of services for an RRN-affiliate translator.
In late fall 2023, ANO Dialog personnel identified U.S., UK, and other public figures as potential targets for deepfake projects. Because of this, the EU sanctioned ANO Dialog for its role in the disinformation network and specifically as the owner and operator of the "War on Fakes" website. In May 2024, Tabak and several Dialog Regions officials coordinated with Russian government officials regarding the creation of bot accounts on popular social media messaging platforms for use in a misinformation campaign regarding voting locations in the U.S. 2024 election.
Today, OFAC designated ANO Dialog pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Government of the Russian Federation; Dialog Regions pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, ANO Dialog; and Tabak pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Government of the Russian Federation and for being a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of ANO Dialog and Dialog Regions, persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024.
Also today, the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced the seizure of domains associated with RRN/ANO Dialog and Social Design Agency (SDA)awhich OFAC had previously designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for its activities on behalf of the Russian governmentathat have been used in furtherance of the Russian DoppelgAnger disinformation efforts targeting the United States and Europe.
SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS
As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.
In addition, financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned persons may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.
The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List 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 SDN 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.
Click here for more information on the individuals and entities designated today.
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US crackdown calls out Russian disinformation campaign
By Jeff Seldin September 04, 2024
The United States on Wednesday hit Moscow-linked companies and their employees with a combination of criminal charges, sanctions and other measures in response to what U.S. officials described as a malicious influence campaign meant to upend American society and impact the outcome of the presidential election.
The announcements by the departments of Justice, State and Treasury charge Russia with breaking U.S. laws and international norms in a wide-ranging effort directed, in part, by members of Russian President Vladimir Putin's inner circle.
The schemes "make clear the ends to which the Russian government, including at its highest levels, is willing to go to undermine our democratic process," said U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, addressing a meeting of the Justice Department's Election Threats Task Force.
"This is deadly serious, and we are going to treat it accordingly," he added.
The Justice Department indictment unsealed Wednesday alleges Russia tried to "hide its hand," using two employees of the state-controlled RT media outlet, shell companies and fake personas to funnel nearly $10 million to a U.S. company in Tennessee to promote and distribute English-language material favorable to the Russian government.
Officials said the unnamed company has produced almost 2,000 videos since November 2023, posting on social media platforms such as TikTok, X and YouTube, garnering more than 16 million views on YouTube alone.
But there are concerns the Russian operation may be even bigger.
"While RT America suspended its official operations in the U.S. back in early 2022, our investigation revealed that since at least last year, RT has used people living and working inside the U.S. to facilitate contracts with American media figures to create and disseminate Russian propaganda," said FBI Director Christopher Wray.
"The content was pitched as legitimate independent news, when in fact, much of it was created in Russia by RT employees who work for the Russian government," he added.
VOA has reached out to the Russian Embassy in Washington and to a media company matching the description of the company in the indictment, for comment. Neither have so far responded.
Some of the commentators and influencers who say they are linked to the company in question, Tenet Media, have spoken out.
"Should these allegations prove true, I as well as the other personalities and commentators were deceived and are victims," podcast host Tim Pool posted on X.
"I cannot speak for anyone else at the company as to what they do or to what they are instructed," he wrote, adding, "Never at any point did anyone other than I have full editorial control of the show and the contents of the show are often apolitical."
Benny Johnson, host of "The Benny Show" podcast, called the allegations in the Justice Department indictment disturbing, adding that they also "make clear that myself and other influencers were victims in this alleged scheme."
The U.S.-based company has not been charged, although the Justice Department said it failed to inform audiences that it was funded and directed by RT. Officials also noted that the U.S. company and its founders also failed to register, as required, as foreign agents.
RT ridiculed the U.S. allegations on its website and on social media.
"If they kick us out completely, how will they conduct the next elections?" RT's website quoted Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan as writing on Telegram. "They don't have any other strategies except to scaremonger about the almighty RT."
The RT employees identified in the indictment a 31-year-old Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and 27-year-old Elena Afanasyeva a are charged with failing to register as foreign agents and money laundering.
The violation of the foreign agent registration rules carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. If convicted on the money laundering charge, they could each face a maximum of 20 years behind bars.
In addition to targeting the main players in the RT-led influence operation, U.S. officials took aim at another Russian operation Wednesday, seizing 32 internet domains used by Moscow to spread disinformation.
The separate indictment alleges three Russian companies a Social Design Agency, Structura National Technology and ANO Dialog a violated U.S. money laundering and trademark laws in another attempt to confuse Americans in what was known as Operation Doppelganger.
"These websites were designed to appear to American readers as if they were major U.S. news sites like The Washington Post or Fox News," Garland said. "But in fact, they were fake sites."
Instead, internal Kremlin documents obtained by the U.S. allege Russian officials sought to fill the sites with propaganda designed to bolster the chances of former President Donald Trump, assessed by U.S. intelligence agencies to be Moscow's preferred candidate, winning the White House in November.
In addition to the actions taken by the U.S. Justice Department, the Treasury Department on Wednesday sanctioned two Russian entities and 10 Russia nationals, including the RT's Simonyan.
And the State Department announced Wednesday new visa restrictions for individuals acting on behalf on Russian-supported media organizations.
State Department officials also designated several Russian media outlets as foreign missions.
Rossiya Segodnya, RIA Novosti, RT, TV-Novosti, Ruptly and Sputnik must now notify the U.S. government of all personnel they have working in the U.S. and also disclose any property holdings.
"Russia remains the predominant threat to U.S. elections," said a senior FBI official, briefing reporters following the announcement of the U.S. actions.
"Moscow continues to use a broad stable of influence actors and tactics and is working to hide its hand, enhance its reach and create content that resonates more with United States-based audiences," the official added.
Not all of Russia's tactics are new.
Moscow began leaning heavily on social media personalities in the lead-up to the U.S. presidential elections four years ago. And some of the Russian companies charged with creating fake news sites have also been called out for trying to seed Russian-generated content in news outlets across Latin America.
What worries, U.S. officials now, though, is the pace and scale of the Russian operations targeting the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
"It's an acceleration," Garland said. "It's use of AI and cyber techniques that were not available in earlier elections ... therefore, it's a bigger threat than it ever was before."
And Russia is not alone. U.S. officials have also shared worries about China and Iran, expressing particular concerns about Tehran's meddling efforts.
"We have observed increasingly aggressive Iranian activity during this election cycle that includes recently reported activities by Iran to compromise former President [Donald] Trump's campaign and to avoid an election outcome that it regards as against its interests," Garland said.
"The Justice Department's message is clear," he added. "We have no tolerance for attempts by authoritarian regimes to exploit our demographic, our democratic system of government."
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Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on the United States seizing Venezuelan president's aircraft
3 September 2024 19:11
1618-03-09-2024
Washington's sanctions outrage knows no limits. In their typical neocolonialist zeal, the US authorities have seized the jet used by the Venezuelan president, which was undergoing maintenance in the Dominican Republic. Once again, they have shown an utter disregard for international legal norms, relying on the rule of force to send yet another signal that the United States, as they see it, can dispose of another state's sovereign property.
Incidentally, this is not the first time Washington has seized Venezuelan aircraft: earlier this year, a Venezuelan transport plane was detained in Argentina upon an order from the US.
However, this seizure of property was conducted in an imperial and arrogant manner, with a claim to moralising. It was done to show everyone that no one and nothing is immune to sanctions and robbery, be it business assets, bank reserves, real estate, or vehicles. The lack of legal norms is at the top of the list of notorious rules used by the collective West to build a world order model in the vein of the global Monroe Doctrine.
Washington's actions are reminiscent of those by the evil and ruthless criminal boss Bill Sykes, the main antagonist in Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, a renowned English author of the 19th century (hopefully, the people in the White House have read his works or are at least familiar with the name). We consider it extremely important for this mode of thinking not to prevail in global affairs.
We support our Bolivarian friends in their legitimate demands to have the stolen property returned to the Venezuelan state, and we stand in solidarity with them in their determination to further defend their independence and sovereignty.
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Bled panellists on the future of the North Atlantic Alliance
Republic of Slovenia
3. 9. 2024
Ministry of Defence
Dr Damir Crncec, State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, participated in a plenary discussion titled "NATO Beyond 75: An Alliance Fit for the Future" at the Bled Strategic Forum on 3 September. On the occasion NATO's 75th anniversary, which has had several enlargements whilst successfully exercising deterrence, the panellists focused on current security challenges and the way forward.
In addition to Dr Damir Crncec, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence, Alexandre Escorcia from the French Ministry of the Armed Forces, Angus Lapsley from NATO, Italian academic Valerio de Luca, Mevlut Cavusoglu, Head of the Turkish Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and Philip Reeker and Robin Quinville from the US Wilson Centre, took part in the debate on what kind of alliance is appropriate for the future. Participants exchanged thoughts on the future of the transatlantic security architecture after the Washington Summit and NATO's priorities for Europe's long-term security, including NATO's role in responding to immediate threats to European security, building long-term capabilities, as well as the impact of developments in other parts of the world on the Alliance and Europe.
When asked about the construction of a European pillar within NATO and the level of defence spending by the Member States, State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Dr Damir Crncec said that in Slovenia we perceive NATO as a guarantee of security and, like the European Union, a success story. NATO and the EU, he said, are two sides of the same coin. Shortly before NATO's 75th anniversary, Slovenia celebrated 20 years of membership in the Alliance, which we voted for in a referendum. Dr Crncec believes that support for NATO among the Slovenian public remains at the level of two decades ago, and that we have been actively contributing to security in the Western Balkans and in operations and missions around the world throughout this time. He stressed that NATO's presence in Kosovo remains a key guarantee of stability. However, Slovenian policy has so far failed to deliver on its own commitment to reach 2% of gross domestic product for defence. He pointed out that in the Defence Strategy of the Republic of Slovenia adopted this year, we have set a target of achieving this goal by 2030, and we are committed to doing so with all seriousness. Not because others tell us to, but because we are aware of the importance of security for society as a whole and because we want to be active in ensuring security in the international community
Regarding capacity building, Dr Crncec said that every war throughout history has been different, but the war in Ukraine has clearly demonstrated the importance of increasing defence capabilities and the capacity of the defence industry. He also stressed the importance of public awareness and support for security investments as a cornerstone of the functioning of society. On the issue of strengthening the European pillar of the Alliance, Dr Crncec said that NATO must work towards unity and cooperation with the EU, which should continue the plans and work it has started in the area of strengthening defence preparedness.
The 19th International Conference of the Bled Strategic Forum, which concluded yesterday under the title "A World of Parallel Realities", brought together a total of 32 debates with more than 180 speakers from 48 different countries, including more than 15 Presidents of states, Government and Ministers, as well as many high-level representatives of international organisations and civil society, decision-makers, academics and business leaders.
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Forging Synergy: US Army and US Air Force convene at Agile Combat Employment Summit
By Staff Sgt. Andre Taylor September 4, 2024
Fort Shafter, Hawaii -- The Agile Combat Employment Summit brings together Army and Air Force leaders to discuss strategies and best practices for achieving ACE objectives, fostering greater interoperability and integration among the U.S. Army and Air Force units in the Indo-Pacific region on Sept. 3, 2024.
U.S. Army Pacific Commanding General Gen. Charles A. Flynn and U.S. Air Force Pacific Commanding General of Pacific Air Forces Gen. Kevin B. Schneider, co-hosted the summit.
The ACE conference brought together key military leaders and experts to discuss strategies and best practices for achieving ACE objectives, fostering greater interoperability and integration among the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force units in the Indo-Pacific region.
The event began with opening remarks from Flynn thanking those in attendance.
"I Just want to say that I am thankful for the opportunity to discuss warfighting and potential collaborations between our services," said Flynn "It would be irresponsible not to seize the opportunities that can address our strategic challenges."
ACE is a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing the U.S. military's joint force ability to rapidly deploy and integrate forces across various domains. This approach focuses on increasing operational flexibility and resilience, enabling forces to respond swiftly to emerging threats and dynamic environments.
By delving into essential warfighting functions such as sustainment, protection, command and control (C2), and fires, the summit aims to enhance the long-range capabilities of the Multi-Domain Task Force.
"I believe it's about closer alignment and understanding of the myriad problems we face and how we solve them. It's about integrating our capabilities by understanding what each of us brings to the fight," said Schneider.
U.S. Army Pacific Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. James B. Bartholomees shared his insight on the ACE concept through his experience.
"The ACE Concept is the United States Air Force concept for Agile Combat Employment, which is the employment of their aircraft in a dispersed fashion to maintain survivability in order to prepare for future operations," said Bartholomees. "The reason why we came together with Pacific Air Forces is so that we can combine the best elements of multi -domain operations and ACE of air and land forces to achieve combined effects."
The theater Army derives its mission requirements from the joint force, ensuring a cohesive and unified approach to defense in the Indo-Pacific Region. One of the pivotal contributors to this synergy is the Air Force, which spearheads the ACE concept.
With the ACE concept, the summit will set the stage, focusing on how the Air Force and Army are refining new standards for how operational capabilities are being employed in the Pacific theater and how the Army is poised to support and enhance these efforts, ensuring joint-force capabilities remain effective and adaptable.
Schneider emphasized how land and air components capabilities can be used together to help create a synergy when combined properly.
"We have complementary capabilities, and I believe this conference went a long way in helping us identify those capabilities," said Schneider. This enables us to continue teaming up and combining our strengths as a joint force."
The efforts and collaborative ideas here ensure that joint forces are better prepared, more resilient, and capable of responding swiftly to any threats, strengthening security in the region.
The event wrapped up with the Army and Air Force coming together to draft a memorandum of understanding. This key document sets the stage for ongoing collaboration in planning for ACE, MDO, and ensuring these strategies are seamlessly integrated into operational plans fulfilling the Army and Air Force roles in the Pacific Theater.
"There are three steps we will take as a result of this summit. First, we will work on merging our operational concepts of ACE and MDO. Second, we have decided to identify exercises in the region to rehearse the mechanics of air and land power converging to support joint power," said Flynn. "Third, we agree to hold this summit every six months to learn, grow, succeed, develop, and create synergy between air and land domain capabilities to support air, cyber, space, and maritime operations within the joint force."
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Defence Minister Jana Cernochova met with her Swedish counterpart
Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces of the Czech Republic
4.9.2024
Author: by MoD Communication Department
Minister of Defence Jana Cernochova held a meeting with her Swedish counterpart Minister Pal Jonson at the Defence Ministry. The Ministers signed a Joint Declaration on enhancement of defence cooperation between the Czech Republic and the Kingdom of Sweden. Both the declaration and the meeting agenda included participation of the Czech defence industry on the production on CV90 infantry fighting vehicles, further support for Ukraine and the future of the JAS-39 Gripen aircraft in the Czech Air Force.
The declaration defines key areas of cooperation, confirms its strategic significance and follows on the Memorandum of Understanding concluded between the Czech Republic and Sweden in 2002. "The signature of the Joint Declaration both confirms the strategic level of our partnership and also sends a clear signal of our intention to further enhance it," said Minister Cernochova. "Sweden's accession to NATO also unlocks new possibilities of cooperation. We need to perceive it not only through the optics of Russian aggression against Ukraine but also in the long-term perspective. We shall focus on strengthening the interoperability of our units which would together defend NATO's Eastern Flank, added the Minister Cernochova.
Regarding the support to Ukraine, Sweden is one of the countries that joined the Czech ammunition initiative designed to provide Ukraine with critically needed ammunition. "I very much appreciate Czech Republic's leading role in supporting Ukraine. I believe the Czech ammunition initiative can serve as a role model for our future aid to countries under attack," said Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson. Sweden also provided Ukraine with military materiel and is among one of its largest supporters from the perspective of volume of aid donated.
The discussion also included the acquisition of 246 CV90 infantry fighting vehicles. Minister Jonson appreciated the Czech Republic's decision to purchase the vehicles. Czech industries, which will participate in their production for the Czech Armed Forces, can later be included in production of the vehicles for other European countries. According to Minister Cernochova, the participation of the Czech industry in the production of CV90 is key.
During the meeting, the Ministers also discussed continuation of the lease of JAS-39 Gripen aircraft for the Czech Air Force until the Czech Republic acquires the 5th generation F-35 aircraft. The current Gripen lease contract ends in 2027. The Ministry of Defence has received an offer from Sweden to extend the lease beyond 2027, but is not entirely satisfied with it.
"I cannot choose a specific example. Given that the negotiations are still ongoing, it would be neither correct nor tactical to publish details. That being said, we want to focus on the concept of the agreement as such and I believe I can mention that we also need a more detailed breakdown of the support and modernisation costs. The JAS-39 Gripen aircraft are nearing the last decade of their life cycle, maintenance costs are increasing and a costly modernisation is necessary. We answer to our tax payers and I want to be one hundred percent sure that the conditions for the Czech Republic are justifiable before the Government, as well as before the opposition and the Czech citizens," said Minister Cernochova and added that she and her Swedish counterpart concurred that there is will to come to an agreement.
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Defence Minister Jana Cernochova met with Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto
Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces of the Czech Republic
4.9.2024
Author: by MoD Press Section
The Czech Ministry of Defence hosted a meeting between the Defence Minister Jana Cernochova and her Italian counterpart Minister Guido Crosetto. The topics they discussed included the support of Ukraine, NATO's defence and deterrence following the Washington Summit, security situation in Africa and in the Middle East, Czech-Italian defence industrial cooperation, the F-35 project and cooperation on war graves.
Defence Minister Cernochova highly valued the Italian assistance to Ukraine that is facing a Russian aggression, and mentioned in this regard the Czech ammunition initiative and the use of proceeds from immobilised Russian assets for the country under attack. The Ministers also debated the recent NATO Summit in Washington, D.C.
"The Summit sent out a clear signal that our defence is strong. But it is also clear that we need to do much more. Likewise, NATO needs to adopt a new strategy on Russia which has already waged a war against the West by attacking in the cyberspace and sponsoring terrorist and arson attacks in our countries. In the south, Russia is igniting threats in Africa and in the Middle East," said Minister Cernochova. She added that Russia turned Africa into a geopolitical battlefield and was undermining Europe's strategic interests there.
From the perspective of defence industrial cooperation between the Czech Republic and Italy, the acquisition of the F-35 fifth generation fighter aircraft will mark an important milestone. As a matter of fact, half of the total of 24 fighters to be acquired will go through the Final Assembly and Check-Out facility in Cameri, Italy. Once the fighters are operated by the Czech Air Force, the FACO will also be where possible upgrades, modifications, retrofits and maintenance of airframes and some other component of F-35 fighters will take place as part of the Global Support Solution. According to Minister Cernochova, the Czech Republic is also ready to discuss cooperation with Italian industries, including Leonardo, which plays a key role in the European defence industry.
There is also an untapped potential for developing bilateral cooperation in the care for war graves, for instance as concerns the restoration of the war graves of Austro-Hungarian soldiers who originated from the present territory of the Czech Republic and died in the territory of Italy. During World War I, several dozen thousand Czechs served in the ranks of Austro-Hungarian Army there, and the Czech Republic stands ready to participate, including financially, in keeping up the graves of those who died in Italy.
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Palestinian fighters target Israeli military vehicles with explosives
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Sep 4, 2024
Tehran, IRNA -- The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, said their fighters have detonated six explosive devices targeting Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank over the past 72 hours.
The Israeli military is now in its seventh day of massive raids across the occupied West Bank, an operation that has killed dozens of Palestinians and sparked heavy fighting with Palestinian resistance groups.
The Al-Quds Brigades reported 14 separate clashes with Israeli soldiers in various cities in the West Bank. They said the Tulkarm Battalion engaged in seven armed confrontations with the occupying forces, detonating four explosives along the routes of Israeli military vehicles.
The Tulkarm Battalion also inflicted casualties on Israeli troops during these clashes, asserting that several soldiers were killed or wounded.
Additionally, the Nablus Battalion of the Al-Quds Brigades engaged in four battles against Israeli forces, during which they also detonated an explosive device targeting Israeli military vehicles.
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At least 40,861 Palestinians killed in Gaza since Oct. 7: Health Ministry
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Sep 4, 2024
Tehran, IRNA -- The Gaza Health Ministry reports that the death toll from the Israeli regime's genocidal war in the Palestinian enclave has reached 40,861.
The ministry said on Wednesday that the Israeli regime committed three more massacres in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, leaving 42 Palestinians dead and 107 injured.
The casualties bring the total death toll since the start of the war to 40,861, with the number of injured reaching 94,398, the ministry said.
Despite these ongoing atrocities, the Israeli regime has admitted that after nearly 11 months of warfare, it has yet to achieve its objectives of dismantling the Hamas movement and securing the release of Israeli captives.
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Hezbollah fires volley of missiles, rockets against Israeli targets
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Sep 4, 2024
Tehran, IRNA -- The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has fired a volley of missiles and rockets into northern Israeli occupied territories.
Hezbollah said in a statement on Wednesday that its fighters had bombarded the command center of the Sahel Battalion at the Beit Hillel barracks and the Israeli artillery sites in Dishon with barrages of Katyusha rockets.
Israeli military radio reported that approximately five rockets were fired towards the Israeli settlement of Kiryat Shmona, located in the northern part of the occupied territories.
The Israeli army urged residents of Kiryat Shmona to seek shelter.
Additionally, Israel's Channel 12 reported that rocket fire from Lebanon resulted in fires breaking out in three different locations in the occupied Galilee region.
Channel 12 also said that two Israelis were injured near the settlement of Dishon due to the rocket attacks.
The Israeli military later announced that around 65 projectiles were fired from Lebanon.
Air raid sirens were activated in northern regions following the attacks.
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Iraq Islamic resistance targets Haifa in occupied lands
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Sep 4, 2024
Tehran, IRNA -- The Islamic resistance in Iraq targeted Haifa, the largest port in the occupied territories, with drones on Wednesday.
Through a statement, the resistance group referred to the attack as a response to the Zionist regime's massacre against the Palestinian people.
The attack was carried out in support of the Palestinians, the statement says.
The Israeli army has confirmed the drone attack and claimed its anticipation.
The Islamic resistance in Iraq has stressed that it continues to target the enemy as the resistance groups have already warned the occupying regime that they will heighten anti-Israel operations if the regime does not halt aggression.
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None of Netanyahu's goals achieved in Gaza war: Israeli official
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Sep 4, 2024
Tehran, IRNA -- A senior former Israeli security official, who recently resigned from the war cabinet of the Zionist regime, says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could not achieve any of his intended goals from more than 10 months of war on the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu decided not to accept the offer of a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas due to political and party issues, Gadi Eisenkot who resigned together with Benny Gantz, the former minister of military affairs said on Tuesday night.
Netanyahu deprives the military affairs minister and the security apparatus of legitimacy, Eisenkot clarified further and said "Netanyahu's recent speech on the Gaza ceasefire bother me".
Several Israeli officials, including Gantz have repeatedly said that Netanyahu is an obstacle in the prisoner exchange agreement with the Hamas movement and that he is not fit to rule.
Eisenkot also said that he believes Netanyahu cannot return the Israeli captives alive, because he is busy with his political survival.
Meanwhile, the media of the Zionist regime revealed on Tuesday night that since the beginning of the war, some 10,400 soldiers have been injured.
The media could not mention the number of military deaths but the Zionist army admitted on August 19 that it lost 689 soldiers, a figure both Israeli and foreign media outlets suspect, arguing the death toll could be much higher.
The war in the Gaza Strip has entered its 11th month, while several Zionist media have pointed to the severe censorship of the Israeli army in announcing its casualties. They say the move taken due to the high number of casualties among Zionist soldiers and the fear of further internal reactions.
The Zionist media revealed earlier that the statistics of the wounded announced by the army differed greatly from the statistics provided by the hospitals.
Channel 12 previously reported that the army had asked hospital authorities not to publish any casualty figures without coordination.
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Israeli warplanes bomb southern Lebanon
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Sep 4, 2024
Tehran, IRNA -- The Zionist regime's warplanes have bombed several residential areas of southern Lebanon, media sources reported on Wednesday morning.
According to IRNA, quoting Al-Manar website, the Israeli attacks targeted the Al-Khayam neighborhood, Kfar Shoba, Aita Sha'ab and the forest area between Yatr and Zabqin.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage from the attacks which came hours after Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement announced launching fresh attacks on four Zionist bases in the occupied territories.
Since the onset of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, Hezbollah and the Zionist regime are engaged in exchange of fire almost on a daily basis.
Hezbollah largely targets military bases and equipment such as tanks, personnel carriers and armored vehicles as well as espionage installation of the Zionist regime. A large number of Zionist soldiers have been killed or injured in such operations since October last year.
The Israeli military on the other hand hit residential areas of southern Lebanon that results in civilian casualties.
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PM Netanyahu's remarks at Press Conference for Foreign Media
Israel - Prime Minister's Office
Events and Speeches
The 37th Government
04.09.2024
Yesterday, I visited in Ashkelon the family of one of the hostages murdered in cold blood. A day earlier, I spoke to several of the families of these murdered hostages. It tears your heart out. I said to them that I'm sorry. I apologized that we, we didn't get them out. We worked so hard to get them. We were close. But we didn't. And they changed the torment of families worried about their loved ones to families grieving for their fallen beloved. That sentiment I know because I belong to that family. But it's a horror.
We also lost brave policemen and brave soldiers who were fighting in the Gaza front and I embraced their families as well. All our people do.
On October 7th, we experienced the worst savagery in this century. On October 7th, we experienced the worst savagery meted on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. These Savages massacred our people. 1,200 civilians. They beheaded our men. They raped our women and then murdered them. They burnt babies alive. They took 255 of our people hostages to their underground dungeons. That's a horror that the world saw and responded to initially.
It's important that we remember it. But we were given a reminder. A terrible reminder. Last week, when these savages murdered six of our hostages in cold blood. They riddled them with bullets. Then they shot each of them in the head. Some of them several times.
And these are the savages, these are the terrorists that Iran implanted next to our border as elsewhere. And we're committed to defeating them, to extirpating this evil from our midst. I want to talk to you today about some of the things that we must do to achieve that goal, including the questions of the Philadelphi Corridor.
But before I do that, I want to give your readers and viewers some context because often you see maps of Israel. You think it's a Goliath.
Well, I'd like to give you first an overview of where Israel is.
This is the Middle East, and this is the entire Arab world, and this is Israel. It's one of the world's tiniest countries. I give it the, you know, the thumb test. This is a big one, so you need a bigger thumb. But it's a tiny country. It's one of the tiniest countries on the planet. It's, I think one tenth of one percent of the territory of the Arab world, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it's two tenths of one percent.
It goes from the river. The river is right here. That's the Jordan River. To the sea, the Mediterranean Sea. So, when Hamas is talking about liberating Palestine from the river to the sea, basically, what they're saying is destroying Israel.
And the entire width of this, it's probably around the width of the Washington Beltway, it's all together in its widest point is about 50 miles. Right here. Tiny.
And here's Gaza there. This is the red thing that you see here. That's Gaza. Now I want to zoom in. When I zoom in, remember how tiny this is. Remember the distances here.
Now, take a look. Here it is enlarged. This is Israel. This is the Mediterranean Sea. The Jordan River is right here.
This is Egypt and the Sinai desert. Now, look at Gaza. Where is Gaza? Gaza is implanted in this tiny country 30 miles from Tel Aviv, 40 miles from our capital Jerusalem, 30 miles from Beer-Sheva. These are three of Israel's largest cities. Gaza is within spitting distance to them.
Israel, up to the disengagement agreement of 2005, Israel controlled this border under an agreement with Egypt after the Camp David Peace Accords. We controlled this part, which is called the Philadelphi Corridor, I'll talk about that in a minute, right down to Eilat in the Red Sea. This was our border. And while there was, umm, I would say a minimal amount of terrorism, that wasn't, we didn't really face a big problem.
Let's zoom in on that a bit more. Here's Gaza Strip enlarged. Again, this is the situation in Gaza before the disengagement of 2005. And the Gaza Strip is firmly under Israeli control. We control the maritime border. You can't smuggle in weapons. They tried but we stopped it. You control the land border. And you control this border between the Sinai desert, Egypt and Gaza. The Gaza Strip, it's controlled. This is the Philadelphi Corridor. This is the Rafah Crossing. Controlled by the IDF.
Now look at the distances from Gaza. It's four miles to another city in Israel called Ashkelon, where I visited that bereaved family yesterday. It's a population of 170,000 people. They are four miles away. But some of our communities like kibbutz Be'eri, which was one of the hardest hit, is one mile away from Gaza. Kfar Aza is less than one mile away. It's literally walking distance. Okay.
And so, as long as we controlled this, these communities, sometimes they were harassed by this rocket or that rocket but it was marginal. We controlled the security situation. But something happened in 2005. Israel unilaterally disengaged from Gaza. It just went out. It took out everything. It took out the army. It stripped, uprooted communities, took out 10,000 people.
The army left the Philadelphi Corridor. Here's what happened.
This is Gaza after the disengagement. And Hamas now has a weapon smuggling operation nurtured by Iran, financed by Iran, supplied by Iran, delivered by Iran.
And here's what happened. That Philadelphi Corridor became completely porous. The other borders controlled by us. But once this was perforated, even though the policy of Egypt was to prevent it, you know, it didn't necessarily work, it didn't, it didn't succeed. And this border once we left our side of the Philadelphi Corridor, rockets went in, missiles went in, drones went in, ammo went in, weapons manufacturing equipment came in, tunnel drilling equipment came in.
Once we got out, once we left the Philadelphi Corridor, Iran could carry out its plan to turn Gaza into a base, a terrorist enclave that would endanger not only the communities around it but would endanger Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Beer-Sheva, the entire country of Israel. It became a huge terrorist base because we left that Corridor.
So, we vowed, or I would say, all this, you have to understand that the centrality, the centrality of the Philadelphi Corridor to the arming of Gaza, to the arming of Hamas and this all led to the October 7th massacre, which Hamas has vowed, proudly vowed to do again and again and again.
We vowed that they won't be able to do it. So we said, as far as Gaza is concerned, three war goals: The first war goal was to destroy Hamas's military and governing capabilities. The second was to free our hostages. And the third was to ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel.
And all three of those goals, all three of them go through Israel's control of the Philadelphi Corridor. And it's obvious why. You want to destroy Hamas's military and governing capabilities - You can't let Hamas rearm. It's obvious. So you have to control the corridor. You can't let them have...by the way, it's not only to prevent them from terrorizing us, attacking us, it's also to prevent Hamas or any other terrorist organization from terrorizing the people of Gaza.
Gaza cannot have a future if Gaza remains porous and you can enable rearmament of terrorists through the Philadelphi Corridor.
The second thing is to release the hostages. First of all, you can't prevent, if you leave this Corridor, you can't prevent Hamas from, not only, not smuggling weapons in, you can't prevent them from not smuggling terrorists, hostages out. It's walking distance, nothing. They can easily smuggle hostages out here to the Sinai desert in Egypt, they disappear. It's crossing distance. The distance is nothing, it's meters, meters away.
They cross the, the barrier above ground. They don't even have to go underground. They disappear in the Sinai and then they end up in Iran or in Yemen. They're gone forever.
And you need something to squeeze them, to prevent them, to put pressure on them to release the remaining hostages. So if you want to release the hostages, you've got to control the Philadelphi Corridor. And the third reason, the third goal of ensuring that we prevent Gaza from being again a threat to Israel. It's clear. Gaza must be demilitarized. And it can only be demilitarized if the Philadelphi Corridor remains under firm control and is not a supply line for armaments and for terror equipment.
I think that's clear to most Israelis, to all Israelis. But a question has arisen: that may be the case, but why don't you leave Gaza for 42 days, you could come back. Well, aside from what I said that they could smuggle the terrorists out... I want to show you what they've got under Gaza. I didn't show you that. So I want to show you that.
This is what they have under the Philadelphi Corridor. Just so you understand the supply lines we're talking about. This is one of the tunnels there. Look at the engineering, look at the investment here, look at what they've got. We've got dozens of such tunnels, dozens of such tunnels, underneath the Philadelphi Corridor. To give you an impression of the size of these things: This is a soldier. This is a tunnel. You could drive a truck through this. Indeed, you could. Here's a truck, or it's a Humvee. This is a huge, huge problem.
Now, you're just going to walk away? It's obvious we have to control it, right? I think, once you see this, you understand that? But then the next question is, okay, you leave and you come back. That's what they tell us. Okay. We'll have complete international legitimacy to come back. Sorry, we've gone down that route. We were down that route when we left Lebanon, and people said you can leave Lebanon and you can come back. The first time they fire a rocket you can come back, the world will support you. It didn't. And we've been out of Lebanon for 24 years.
They said the same thing when we left Gaza in the disengagement. They said, you can leave, and the first rocket... I remember, Prime Minister Sharon said this to me. The first rocket above ground or below ground, we'll be able to go back in. It's been 20 years and we haven't gone back in. Because you all know and understand that the international community, including friendly countries, under enormous domestic pressure because of the propaganda that's leveled against Israel and against them, there'll be enormous, international pressure not to come back. What is their message? End the war. End the war. And so, when we want to come back and resume, we'll pay an exorbitant price in many fields, including in the lives of our men.
To come back? It's not a just a military question. It's a military, political, strategic question. And we make that decision. We're not going to leave. 42 days? We're there. I don't want to leave in order to come back in, when I know that we didn't come back in. And it's not going to take another 24 years to come back in. And God knows what price we'll have? How many more massacres? How many more kidnappings? How many more hostages? How many more rapes? It's not going to happen.
So, people said, yeah, but if you stay, this will kill the deal. And I say, such a deal will kill us. And there won't be a deal that way. This is a false narrative. I'm willing to make a deal. I made one already, one that brought back 150 hostages, 117 alive. And I'm committed to return the remaining 101. I'll do everything I can to get them in.
But leaving Philadelphi does not advance the release of the hostages, because the deal cannot be advanced. They'll give you a minor part if they give anything, and keep the rest. Go and argue... You know when they started giving us hostages? When we went into Philadelphi. When we went into Rafah. When we controlled the Rafah Crossing. That's when they felt the pressure. As long as they didn't feel the pressure, they wouldn't do it. The first batch, the first deal that we got, was a result of our invasion, the military pressure we put in. They gave us the hostages. After that, they thought, well, you know, we'll have the international pressure turn on Israel so we won't have to do, we won't have to make any concessions. But after Rafah, their tune changed, and they began to change. If we leave Rafah, if we leave the Philadelphi Corridor, there won't be any pressure. We won't get the hostages.
I said I'm willing to make a deal. The real obstacle to making a deal is not Israel and it's not me. It Hamas. It's Sinwar. On April 27th, I put forward a proposal by Israel, which Secretary Blinken called extremely generous. On May 31st, having met Blinken again, I said, we agreed to the US-backed proposal, and Hamas refused. On August 16th, the US brought forth what they called the final bridging proposal. Again, we accepted, Hamas refused. On August 19th, Secretary Blinken said, Israel accepted the US proposal, now Hamas has to do the same. On August 28ththat's a week agothe deputy CIA director said Israel showed seriousness in the negotiations, now Hamas must make the deal. This was last week. So, I ask you, what has changed. What has changed in this week? What's changed is that they murdered six of our hostages in cold blood.
Now, the world will seriously demand that Israel make concessions after this massacre? What message does this send to Hamas? I'll tell you what the message is. Murder more hostages, you'll get more concessions. That's not only illogical, it's not only immoral, it's downright insane. So, it's not going to happen. We have red lines before the murder. They haven't changed. We'll hold to them. But we also had flexibility. And I'll tell you one thing, Hamas will pay for this. That you can be assured. We'll make sure that we extract that price from them. But we are firm on our red lines, including the Philadelphi Corridor, for the reasons I described here. I'm flexible where I can be. I'm firm when I have to be.
I think there is a possibility of getting this deal if we stick to this strategy. I said before, we got 150 hostages out because we combined a firm stance with military pressure. And I said that Hamas after that relied on international pressure, but it had weakened. And then we went into Rafah and the Philadelphi Corridor, so it got strengthened, and they were beginning to balk. A condition that they said they'd never accept, a red line, is that we must commit to getting out of Gaza and enabling Hamas basically to take over Gaza again. End the war, get out, let them retake Gaza. That's obviously something we couldn't do.
They said there'll never be a deal. Well, they started caving in there after we took the Philadelphi Corridor. And then they started backing off. You know why they waited? Why they started backing off? Because they waited for Iran to start a general war with Israel. That didn't happen. So then they waited for Hezbollah to start a general war with Israel. That didn't happen either. So now they resort to the final tactic. They're going to sow discord and create international pressure, again using the hostages, even after the murder. And this is something that's not new because they started this a year ago.
You should see this. I mean, this is their tactic. This is Hamas orders for psychological warfare, found in Hamas underground command post on January 29th, that's right after the beginning of the war, 2024. And this is the original document in Arabic. Our soldiers found it.
And here's what it says: Push photos and videos of hostages. Put it out in the media, because that creates enormous psychological pressure. Who's not affected by it? Any human being seeing these souls, these girls, these people, young people from those dungeons, you're affected by. Second: Increase psychological pressure on defense minister. Third: Continue blaming Netanyahu. And fourth: Claim ground operation will not release hostages.
That's Hamas', it's not only their talking points, it's their strategy. And their idea is this will sow internal discord and increase international pressure on Israel. That's what they hope to achieve. And they hope, they think this will happen. Well, it won't happen. I can tell you why it won't happen. I'll tell you why they'll fail. Because overwhelmingly the people of Israel are united. They understand everything that I said here. Overwhelmingly. You should know that. It's important. And the second thing is, we're committed to achieving our goalsall three goals: Destroying Hamas' military and governing capabilities, releasing all our hostages, and ensuring that Gaza does not become a threat to Israel anymore. And all these require standing firm on the things that will ensure the achievement of these goals. And with God help, and with our people's will, and with the courage of our soldiers, we will achieve all goals".
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The President: The ties between Lithuanian and Poland ensure the security of the entire region
President of the Republic of Lithuania
September 04, 2024
President Gitanas Nauseda is commencing an official visit to Poland. On Wednesday, the Head of State met with Polish President Andrzej Duda to discuss the security situation in the region, bilateral defense cooperation, support for Ukraine, and the implementation of joint infrastructure projects.
During the meeting, the Head of State underlined that this official visit to Poland marks a milestone of excellent bilateral relations, productive cooperation, and genuine friendship between the two nations, and highlights the importance of cooperation between Lithuania and Poland.
President Gitanas Nauseda stressed the significance of Lithuanian-Polish security cooperation in the current geopolitical context.
"Our bilateral efforts to strengthen the protection of the external borders of the EU and NATO, joint military exercises, increased focus on the security of the Suwaki Corridor, and defense industry cooperation have significantly contributed to the security of our two countries, and, in turn, to the security of the region as a whole," the Head of State said.
Gitanas Nauseda emphasized that Lithuania and Poland's ability to speak with one voice on issues of key importance to our region ensures that the security priorities of both countries are adequately represented in the international arena.
"Together, we are striving for the effective implementation of NATO's regional plans, increasing the presence of NATO allies in the region, and urging our allies to invest more in defense. Given the current security situation, spending 2% is no longer sufficient; we must aim higher and reach 3%. Both Lithuania and Poland have already met and exceeded this target, setting a strong example for others," President Gitanas Nauseda underlined.
The Head of State pointed out that the unwavering support of Lithuania and Poland for Ukraine remains vital, highlighting the need to continue mobilizing allies and supporting Ukraine in its fight against the aggressor by all possible means.
"I am calling for the provision of long-range weapons to Ukraine. We are ready to train Ukrainian troops at the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian brigade base. Peace talks have to be be conducted only on Ukrainian terms. No one can demand territorial or any other concessions from Ukraine to Russia," the President stressed.
On Thursday, the Lithuanian and Polish leaders will jointly participate in the Lithuanian-Polish Defense Forum. It is expected to attract over 70 defense industry companies from both countries. Later, President Gitanas Nauseda and President Andrzej Duda will travel together to Lublin, where they will visit the headquarters of the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian joint military unit, the Grand Hetman Kostiantyn Ostrogski Brigade, and will sign a declaration of bilateral relations at the Lublin Castle, outlining future guidelines and priorities for cooperation between the two countries.
The President's Communication Group
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A look at the Defence news 26 August - 1 September
Netherlands Ministry of Defence
News item | 04-09-2024
European Union defence ministers met in Brussels for an informal meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in its defence configuration. The main topic of discussion was support for Ukraine.
Minister Ruben Brekelmans was a first-time participant in the meeting of defence ministers. He stressed that the Netherlands would give Ukraine its unwavering support for as long as it takes.
Donated amphibious tracked vehicles en route to Ukraine
The Ministry of Defence has donated 28 amphibious tracked vehicles to Ukraine. The Bandvagn Vikings, as the vehicles are known, have already been delivered. The Netherlands Marine Corps previously used the equipment and has trained its Ukrainian counterparts in its use and technical maintenance.
Royal Netherlands Navy represented by two ships in the NATO fleet
The RNLN's HNLMS Van Amstel and HNLMS De Ruyter form part of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1). This fleet is one of NATO's four permanent maritime response forces.
Navy ships back in Den Helder after deployment in the West
HNLMS Groningen intercepted approximately 7,000 kilograms of drugs in the Caribbean during the last five months. The patrol ship returned to Den Helder last week. HNLMS Holland has taken over the duties in the West.
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Israel must be prevented from plunging region into war: Erdogan
Iran Press TV
Wednesday, 04 September 2024 5:39 PM
The Turkish president says Israel must be prevented from "plunging the whole region into war," warning the West against widespread support for the regime.
Erdogan, speaking in a press conference in Ankara along with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, said some states continue to provide "unconditional support to Israel".
"In this fashion, they are accessories to Israel's crimes," Al Jazeera quoted Erdogan as saying. "They are accomplices to their crimes in the massacres and pogroms perpetrated against the civilian population of Gaza."
Erdogan said the Israeli regime, in addition to dropping thousands of tonnes of bombs on civilians, has continued to conduct a starvation war on Gaza.
"Each and every Palestinian citizen or child who dies of starvation remains the responsibility of Israel, and those backing Israel," Erdogan said.
The Egyptian president said the situation in Gaza was an "unprecedented catastrophe."
Sisi also called for "a stop to the escalation in the West Bank", where Israel has been leading a deadly campaign since last week.
"I reiterate the joint stand of Egypt and Turkey calling for an immediate ceasefire, rejecting further escalation by Israel in the occupied West Bank, and taking tangible measures to live up to the aspiration of the Palestinian people for the establishment of an independent state based on 1967 borders with [occupied] East Al-Quds as its capital," he said.
In the meeting in Ankara, which was held during the first such visit by an Egyptian leader in years, the two sides said they wanted to deepen cooperation.
"We will strengthen our cooperation in all areas," said Erdogan, who visited Sisi in Cairo in mid-February, when the two leaders said they had turned over a "new leaf" in bilateral ties.
Ankara and Cairo cut ties in 2013 after Sisi, then defense minister, ousted President Mohamed Morsi, an ally of Turkey and a Muslim Brotherhood figure.
On Wednesday, the two leaders signed 17 cooperation agreements, according to the Turkish presidency.
"We want to improve our cooperation with Egypt in the domain of energy, especially natural gas and nuclear power," Erdogan said.
Despite a decade of estrangement, trade between the two countries never ceased: Turkey is Egypt's 5th largest trading partner. Egypt is Turkey's largest in Africa.
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Hamas issues new warning over Israeli captives amid ongoing genocide
Iran Press TV
Wednesday, 04 September 2024 4:38 PM
The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has issued a stark warning to the Israeli regime regarding the ongoing genocide in Gaza, saying the lives of captives held in the besieged territory are in danger unless the regime reverses its course.
In a video message directed at Israeli settlers, Hamas stated that the continuation of military aggression would jeopardize the safety of Israeli captives.
Hamas said if the attacks on Gaza ceases, the captives will be returned safely to their homes in the occupied territories, and if the aggression persists, the fate of these individuals would remain uncertain.
The video message noted, "Every day that Netanyahu continues to rule may mean a new coffin."
Hamas took a large group of Zionist settlers and soldiers captive in its October 7 Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, which caught the regime off-guard.
The movement initially offered to release the captives in exchange for the release of a large number of Palestinians held by Israel.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken a tough line in the Gaza ceasefire talks, and repeatedly said military pressure is needed to bring home the captives.
According to Israeli media, he has feuded with the regime's high-profile officials who say a deal should be struck urgently.
Dozens of the captives have so far been killed in the indiscriminate bombardment of Gaza.
During its operation, Hamas took 251 Israelis captive, 97 of whom now remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 33 confirmed dead by the Israeli military.
Earlier this week, the military found the bodies of six captives in a tunnel in the southern city of Rafah. Hamas said they were killed in Israeli airstrikes.
The death of the six captives ignited fury among Israelis who have for months denounced Netanyahu's policy of torpedoing a deal with Hamas in favor of his political interests.
On Sunday and Monday, thousands of Israelis staged the largest anti-regime demonstration since October 7, 2023, when Israel unleashed its genocidal campaign in Gaza. They took to the streets in the occupied lands and joined a general strike to call for an immediate ceasefire deal.
Israeli media reported clashes during the protests outside Netanyahu's residence in the occupied al-Quds and the headquarters of his Likud party in Tel Aviv. Dozens of people were arrested.
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Israel using 'lethal war-like tactics' against Palestinians in West Bank, UN warns
Iran Press TV
Wednesday, 04 September 2024 3:35 PM
The United Nations has warned that Israel is using "lethal war-like tactics" against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, more than a week after the occupying entity launched a massive military aggression in the Palestinian territory, killing dozens of people.
At a press conference in New York on Tuesday, spokeswoman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Stephane Dujarric, said that the Tel Aviv regime had resumed its aggression in Tulkarm and Jenin.
"The UN has recorded more than two dozen fatalities over the past week, including children," he said, adding that multiple organizations mobilized by the OCHA were set to carry out an assessment in Jenin but were denied access by the Israeli authorities.
"OCHA warns that access impediments are impacting the ability to provide meaningful humanitarian response," Dujarric said, noting that the movement of ambulances and medical teams has been impeded and delayed since the onset of the current aggression.
In the early hours of August 28, the Israeli military conducted its biggest operation - dubbed "Camps of Summer" - in the West Bank in over 20 years, deploying hundreds of troops and airstrikes on Jenin, Tulkarem, and Tubas, which are major centers of Palestinian resistance against the occupying entity.
The ongoing military aggression in the West Bank is currently concentrated in the city of Jenin, whose streets and infrastructure have been damaged by over 70 percent since the onset of the "Camps of Summer", according to its municipality.
Dujarric also warned that Israeli forces continue to employ "lethal war-like tactics" in the West Bank, including airstrikes, with people being killed, injured and displaced.
While in Tulkarem on Saturday, OCHA teams verified that 120 Palestinians, including over 40 children, were displaced due to the destruction of their homes.
"At the time of the assessment, 13,000 people in Nour Shams refugee camp experienced water cut-offs, attributed to damages caused to the water network, and sewage overflow was observed. The teams also noted that the population was traumatized and in need of psychosocial support," the OCHA report said.
Since the onset of the current aggression in the West Bank, the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces has increased to 34. This includes 19 in Jenin, 8 in Tulkarm, 4 in Tubas, and 3 in al-Khalil. The total death toll in the occupied West Bank has now reached 685 since October 7 last year.
The heightened tensions in the occupied West Bank come as the Israeli regime has since October been conducting a barbaric onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip, claiming the lives of more than 40,000 people, most of them women and children.
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Arab countries reject Netanyahu's allegations of weapon smuggling from Egypt into Gaza
Iran Press TV
Wednesday, 04 September 2024 10:41 AM
Several Arab countries have dismissed Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's allegations that weapons are being smuggled to the Palestinian Hamas resistance group through the Egyptian border.
The Jordanian Foreign Ministry expressed its rejection of Netanyahu's statements about the Philadelphi Corridor - a demilitarized area along Egypt's border with Gaza - stressing they are "baseless allegations aimed at obstructing the mediation efforts undertaken by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States to reach a swap deal leading to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza."
It reiterated its "full solidarity with Egypt in confronting all Israeli claims."
The ministry rejected "all claims promoted by Israeli officials in futile attempts to justify the Israeli aggression on Gaza and the occupied West Bank" and said it considers the accusations to be a "condemnable incitement and an escalation that aggravates the serious tension in the region."
In his first public address since Sunday's mass protests that saw hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers urging a deal with Hamas for the release of captives being held in the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu said he will not relinquish Israeli control of the Philadelphi Corridor.
Netanyahu claimed the corridor is vital to ensuring Hamas cannot rearm via tunnels. "This is the oxygen of Hamas," he said.
"No one is more committed to freeing the hostages than me. ... No one will preach to me on this issue," he further claimed.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry also voiced "full solidarity with the brotherly Arab Republic of Egypt and its rejection of the statements made by the prime minister of the Israeli occupation."
It said that through remarks, Netanyahu "tried to use Egypt's name to distract Israeli public opinion and obstruct joint mediation efforts aimed at a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the exchange of captives and detainees."
"The Israeli occupation's approach based on an attempt to falsify facts and mislead world public opinion by repeating lies will ultimately lead to the demise of peace efforts and the expansion of violence in the region," it warned.
It also stressed the need "to strengthen regional and international efforts to oblige Israel to immediately end its brutal aggression on the Gaza Strip, in preparation for addressing the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Strip."
For its part, the Palestinian presidency also condemned "statements made by Netanyahu aimed at justifying the continuation of the aggression against our people."
It expressed appreciation for "the Egyptian role in opposing the displacement of the Palestinian people from their land."
Additionally, the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry accused Israel of trying "to hinder joint mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the US that aim to reach a ceasefire in Gaza."
Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Oman also joined the Arab countries' solidarity with Egypt in the face of Netanyahu's allegations.
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Netanyahu's claims, lambasting Israel for attempting to "derail efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and perpetuate ongoing violations by Israeli forces."
It rejected Israel's attempts to distort truth and mislead the international community about the border area between Gaza and Egypt.
The ministry went on to call for "intensified regional and international efforts to pressure Israel to end its aggression in Gaza immediately, and to address the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the territory."
The Saudi Foreign Ministry also censured Netanyahu's remarks, describing them as "baseless" and part of an "ongoing attempt to justify Israel's continuous violations of international laws and norms."
Riyadh warned that such provocative comments only undermined mediation efforts to establish a ceasefire in Gaza.
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Sept. 3: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation
Iran Press TV
Wednesday, 04 September 2024 10:16 AM
By Press TV Website Staff
Amid Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed more than 40,800 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, September 3, are as follows:
Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on September 3:
Ambushed an Israeli infantry unit in the al-Balawneh neighborhood of Tulkarm camp, in the northern occupied West Bank, using appropriate weapons.
Al-Quds Brigades' operations on September 3:
Detonated several pre-prepared explosive devices targeting Israeli military vehicles on Haddad Street in Jenin, occupied West Bank.
Detonated an explosive device targeting Israeli forces in the al-Ghanem area of Tulkarm, occupied West Bank.
Engaged in intense clashes with Israeli forces in the Harat al-Hamam area of Tulkarm camp, occupied West Bank, firing multiple barrages of bullets.
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' operations on September 3:
Detonated multiple explosive devices targeting Israeli forces and their military vehicles as they passed through al-Nasira Street in Jenin, occupied West Bank.
Engaged in intense clashes with Israeli occupation forces storming the vicinity of Tulkarm camp, occupied West Bank, using machine guns and explosive devices.
In a joint operation with the Martyr Abdul Qader Al-Husseini Brigades, targeted Israeli regime forces with 120mm mortar shells at Salah al-Din Gate, east of Rafah city, southern Gaza Strip.
Engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli forces near a "besieged house" east of the Dhanaba suburb in Tulkarm, occupied West Bank, using machine guns and explosive devices.
Engaged in heavy clashes with Israeli forces in the Balawneh area of Tulkarm camp, occupied West Bank, using machine guns and explosive devices.
Engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli forces that stormed Balata camp in Nablus, occupied West Bank, using machine guns and explosive devices.
Al-Asifah Forces' operations on September 3:
Detonated a high-powered explosive device targeting an Israeli military D9 bulldozer in the Madaris area of Tulkarm camp, occupied West Bank.
Mujahideen Brigades' operations on September 3:
Targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers storming Jenin camp on Abu Al-Asal Street in Jenin, occupied West Bank, with appropriate weapons.
In a joint operation with other resistance groups in Tulkarm camp, occupied West Bank, ambushed an Israeli force in the Balawneh neighborhood, targeting it with machine guns and explosive devices.
Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades' operations on September 3:
Targeted Israeli military gatherings in the "Netzarim" area with heavy 120mm mortar shells.
Hezbollah's operations on September 3:
Targeted surveillance equipment at the al-Jardah site with appropriate weapons.
Targeted surveillance equipment at the al-Raheb site with appropriate weapons.
Targeted the al-Asi site with appropriate weapons.
Targeted Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the Samaka site in Lebanon's Kfar Shuba with appropriate weapons.
Targeted the radar site in Lebanon's Shebaa with artillery shells.
Targeted Israeli forces in the vicinity of the al-Raheb site with artillery shells. Targeted a military building in the Manara settlement with appropriate weapons.
Targeted Israeli soldiers at the Birkat Risha site with appropriate weapons.
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Israeli occupation ravaging West Bank as deadly raid, destruction campaign continues
Iran Press TV
Wednesday, 04 September 2024 9:28 AM
The Israeli regime has ramped up its aggression on the occupied West Bank by conducting violent raids on several areas in Nablus, Jenin and Tulkarm, at a time that the illegal entity is engaged in a genocidal war on Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Palestinian media said a Palestinian young man was injured at dawn on Wednesday by live bullets and three others were detained during the occupation forces' storming of Nablus.
The official Wafa news agency cited sources in the Palestine Red Crescent as reporting that an 18-year-old young man was injured by Israeli bullets in the foot after the occupation forces stormed two refugee camps east of the city.
Local sources said the Israeli forces raided the Balata and Askar al-Qadeem refugee camps, which led to the outbreak of confrontations during which the occupation forces fired live bullets, gas and sound bombs, and injured an unspecified number people.
The sources added that Israeli forces stormed several neighborhoods in the city, including Rafidia, and deployed their snipers on the rooftops of some residential buildings.
Two young men were detained in Rafidia after the forces raided and searched their homes.
According to other local sources, the occupation forces stormed the village of Qasra, south of Nablus, at dawn and raided al-Ain area and several homes before detaining a youth.
In the northern West Bank city of Jenin and its refugee camp, the Israeli occupation forces continued for the 8th consecutive day their military aggression by demolishing and bulldozing Palestinian homes and infrastructure, Palestine's Safa News Agency said.
The forces carried out bombing operations inside the camp's neighborhoods and burned tarpaulins, which led to a number of citizens' homes catching fire and burning in al-Swalmeh neighborhood.
The Palestine Red Crescent reported that eight citizens suffocated as a result of the fire caused by the occupation in the camp.
The occupation bulldozers also continued to destroy the infrastructure and the citizens' property in the camp, causing extensive damage and destruction.
The Israeli forces raided Palestinian homes in Balawneh neighborhood, searched them and subjected their residents to interrogation.
In the city of Tulkarm, the regime's bulldozers closed roads and streets leading to the Tulkarm refugee camp and the Martyr Thabet Hospital, destroying vegetable stalls and citizens' property and uprooting trees.
Faisal Salama, head of the Popular Committee of Tulkarm camp, described the refugee camp as a disaster area due to repeated acts of aggression, and the tight siege after the occupation forces destroyed the infrastructure and electricity, water, and sewage networks, homes and facilities, in addition to the humanitarian and psychological situation of patients, children, women, and the elderly.
Salama called for international protection for the residents of the camp, and for immediate action to stop Israel's aggression, war of extermination, systematic displacement and organized terrorism.
The Israeli forces also detained four people from the towns of Bal'a, east of Tulkarm, and Kafr Jamal, south of the city, after raiding their homes, searching them and vandalizing their property.
The number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces since the beginning of the aggression at dawn on Wednesday has risen to 34, including 19 in Jenin, 8 in Tulkarm, 4 in Tubas, and 3 in al-Khalil, bringing to 685 the death toll in the occupied West Bank since October 7, 2023.
The heightened tensions in the occupied West Bank come as the Israeli regime has since October last year been conducting a barbaric onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip, claiming the lives of more than 40,000 people, most of them women and children.
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Iraqi resistance strikes Israeli target in Haifa Port with explosive-laden drones
Iran Press TV
Wednesday, 04 September 2024 6:06 AM
Fighters from the Iraqi anti-terror resistance groups have launched a drone strike against a strategic target in the northern part of the 1948 Israeli-occupied territories in response to the Tel Aviv regime's devastating war on Gaza.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, in a statement published on its Telegram channel on Wednesday morning, claimed responsibility for the attack on the Port of Haifa, stressing that the strike was carried out with a squadron of kamikaze drones.
It said the drone strike was carried out in continuation of the struggle against the occupying Israeli regime, in support of Palestinians in Gaza, and in retaliation for the massacres that the usurping Zionist entity is perpetrating against women, children, and elderly people in the besieged territory.
The group noted that it will continue to target and destroy important installations across the occupied lands.
This comes after the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for a drone strike against a "vital target" in the same port on Sunday.
The coalition announced in a statement at the time that the strike had come "in support of our people in Gaza, and in response to the massacres committed by the usurping entity against Palestinian civilians, including children, women, and the elderly."
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has been launching attacks on Israeli targets ever since the occupying regime started the genocidal war on Gaza in early October.
It has been also hitting American military bases in Iraq and neighboring Syria in retaliation for Washington's support for the Israeli genocide in Gaza.
Israel has been waging an atrocious onslaught against the Gaza Strip, targeting hospitals, residences, and houses of worship after Palestinian resistance movements launched a surprise attack, dubbed Operation al-Aqsa Storm, on October 7 last year.
At least 40,819 Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children, and another 94,291 individuals have sustained injuries in Gaza so far. More than 1.7 million people have been internally displaced during the war as well.
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Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian A. Nichols on the Secretary's Upcoming Travel to Haiti and the Dominican Republic
US Department of State
Special Briefing
Brian A. Nichols, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs
Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
Via Teleconference
September 4, 2024
MODERATOR: Thank you for joining us today. This is an on-the-record press briefing with Assistant Secretary Brian Nichols about Secretary Blinken's forthcoming travel. This briefing is embargoed until the travel is publicly announced by the department, which is expected to occur later this afternoon. If you would like to ask a question, please use the raise your hand function, and we'll get to as many as we can. Assistant Secretary, I'll turn it to you for any remarks you want to make at the top before we get to questions.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY NICHOLS: Great. Thank you, and being here today to preview Secretary Blinken travel to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. During this trip, the Secretary will meet with Haitian and Dominican partners to discuss a range of priorities. On September 5th, the Secretary will travel to Port-au-Prince to meet with Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille and the Transitional Presidential Council. The Secretary will reaffirm the United States commitment to supporting the Haitian people and fostering a secure and peaceful Haiti. The Secretary, Prime Minister Conille, and the Transitional Presidential Council will also discuss Haiti's return to a democratic path and the urgent need for elections so the Haitian people can determine their own future.
We have seen Haiti take important steps forward in the last few months. In addition to the Transitional Presidential Council's appointment of the prime minister and designation of ministers of his cabinet, we have seen tangible signs of progress on the ground, including the opening of the airport and resumption of commercial flights, increased economic activity and movement in pockets of Port-au-Prince, and the deployment of the UN-authorized, Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support mission, which is working in close partnership with the Haitian National Police. With increased international support for both the MSS and the Haitian National Police, we are seeing a dramatic increase in patrols and operations designed to restore security and a sense of normalcy in Haiti. While in Haiti, Secretary Blinken will meet with the head of the MSS and the Haitian National Police and underscore the United States continued commitment to their success. We will also discuss Haiti's broader stabilization, development, and humanitarian needs.
Following his visit to Haiti, the Secretary will travel to the Dominican Republic. He will meet with President Luis Abinader to reaffirm our strong, multidimensional partnership and discuss three main priorities: strengthening our economic ties, including through the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity; advancing our shared values of freedom, democracy, and respect for human and labor rights; and promoting increased security in the region, particularly in Haiti. The Secretary and President Abinader will also discuss The 2025 Summit of the Americas, which the Dominican Republic will host. We look forward to meeting with Prime Minister Conille and President Abinader in the coming days to discuss these critical issues.
In Haiti, our goal is to recognize the positive progress made towards improving security and encourage efforts to appoint the provisional electoral council so Haiti can move toward elections. In the Dominican Republic, we will reinforce our shared priorities, such as promoting democratic governance, supporting free and fair elections in the region, and fighting corruption.
Thanks very much, and happy to take any questions.
MODERATOR: Thank you very much. Again, if you would like to ask a question, please use the raise your hand function. Our first question is going to be from Jennifer Hensler with CNN.
QUESTION: Hi. Thanks so much for doing this, Brian. I just wanted to get a better sense of why the Secretary felt it was important to take this trip now, and if you could give any specific details on anything he plans to announce. And then secondly, can you confirm reports that the U.S. is looking into transferring the MSS to a traditional UN peacekeeping force under those auspices? Thank you.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY NICHOLS: So this is a crucial moment in Haiti, and I think - when we had the opportunity to go to Haiti with Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield to see sort of the beginning of the deployment of the MSS, to see the equipment that's on the ground, to see that base. and now that more than 30 MRAPs have been delivered, other equipment, the increased rhythm of operations, we're seeing that forward movement on the security side that we've long waited for. But we also need to see progress on the political side, and engaging the Transitional Presidential Council, the prime minister, and Haiti's political parties is a priority for the Secretary to make sure that progress towards elections moves forward.
With regard to the nature of the mission in Haiti, our goal is to have a mission that is effective, strong, able to deliver the kind of security progress that the Haitian people deserve - and we're working with our international partners to do that - and setting up a structure that ensures a reliable source of financing and staffing for that mission is a priority. A formal PKO is one of the ways that we could accomplish that, but we're looking at multiple ways to do that.
MODERATOR: Wonderful. Our next question is from Daphne from Reuters.
Do you have a question?
QUESTION: Are you able to hear me?
MODERATOR: Yes, we can hear you now.
QUESTION: Okay, sorry. Not sure what happened. Thank you for doing this. I wanted to ask about the 360 million that's been promised for the MSS. How much of that has been disbursed so far, and who has it been paid to?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY NICHOLS: So the United States has provided over - through the Department of Defense - over $200 million for the construction and operation of the logistics support area, the base where the MSS is. And that has - that has been provided to the contractors who constructed and operate the base. And through the Department of State, we have provided over $50 million, I think, in equipment and support for the operations of the MSS in different ways on the ground. The assistance that we're providing also includes over $60 million in drawdown authority for support to the MSS. So drawdown authority is the ability to take things out of government stocks and provide them to the MSS, and we've provided all sorts of things - radios, tents, computers, night vision devices. So all those things are - UAVs, all sorts of things that are in process of delivery; some have already been delivered, and others are still pending. So that's broadly where that money has gone.
MODERATOR: Our next question is from Nick Schifrin from PBS.
QUESTION: Hi, Brian. Thanks very much. You paint a pretty positive picture of some improvements that you've seen, especially in Port-au-Prince, but Garry Conille gave an interview yesterday in which he says, "The situation is the worst I've seen in my... lifetime." He talks about delays in manpower and funding that you'll know very well - only 400 Kenyan troops, most of the 600 million hasn't arrived yet, and he's seeking Blinken's help to rally more aid. I'm wondering if you agree with his overall characterization of the situation.
And we saw a high-profile announcement yesterday of corruption charges against some high-ranking officials for illicit enrichment, abuse of office, et cetera. I'm wondering if you could react to that announcement, please. Thanks.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY NICHOLS: Well, I think if you look at the situation over the course of 2024, let's remember how difficult things were. I mean, we had a situation where the airport was closed and under fire. Former Prime Minister Ariel Henry couldn't return to the country because security was so bad. We were wondering if at one point Guy Philippe was announcing his march into Port-au-Prince to take over the government.
So we have come a long way since those very dark moments. The fact that we have joint operations by the MSS, the Haitian National Police, and the Haitian Army in neighborhoods like Bel Air, Fort National, Delmas, going after gangs and their leaders in a way that hasn't happened in years, from a security standpoint that is a major step forward. The - both the Haitian National Police and the MSS have recently received armored vehicles and equipment that'll allow them to more aggressively prosecute these operations, and that's an important step forward.
The United States, Canada, and a few other donors have made important contributions to the MSS UN trust fund to support these efforts. Nonetheless, we need the rest of the international community to step forward with much more significant financial contributions so that the force can continue to operate, and that additional nations can deploy their units as part of the MSS. The prime minister is rightly concerned about the future, but I think we have come quite a long way since the beginning of the year.
With regard to the corruption allegations involving - I think you're referring to the ones involving members of the Transitional Presidential Council, we certainly believe that Haitian authorities should investigate those and determine the substance of what happened and take appropriate actions to hold anyone who's responsible for corrupt acts accountable. The Haitian people deserve transparency and good governance, and the international community, which provides so much assistance, also needs to see that to have the confidence that funds that flow through the Haitian Government are used appropriately and transparently.
MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question is from Nike Ching from VOA.
QUESTION: Good morning, Brian. Thank you very much for this phone briefing. First question: This is Secretary Blinken's first trip to both Caribbean countries as Secretary of State, correct? And then secondly, just to follow up with Nick's question, with about one month remaining in the mandate of MSS, how concerned is the U.S. about the slow deployment and some of the unfulfilled pledges, especially as the U.S. is the top funder of the MSS?
And then finally, regarding the Open Skies Agreement between the United States and the Dominican Republic signed on August 2nd, will the Open Skies Agreement come into effect during Secretary Blinken's visit to the country to exchange the diplomatic notes? Thank you very much.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY NICHOLS: So Secretary Blinken has traveled to the Caribbean previously. He went to Port of Spain and he also traveled to Georgetown, Guyana. The Secretary has met with Caribbean - oh, and Jamaica earlier this year. So he's made several trips to the region and he's met with Caribbean leaders in Washington as well as on the margins of the OAS General Assembly in Peru. So he's had a number of engagements with Caribbean leaders as well as meeting leaders and foreign ministers here in Washington during their visits, and our relations with the Caribbean are a big priority for the Secretary as well as the rest of our government from President Biden on down.
The - with regard to the Open Skies Agreement, I will have to get back to you on when that will enter into force, but it's - we know it's a big step forward and we hope that it will provide more reliable and more economical travel between the United States and the Dominican Republic going forward.
QUESTION: How about the concerns about the MSS slow deployment and some of the pledges?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY NICHOLS: Well, the - the MSS is - just in the course of the last few days has begun much more active operations, and we hope that the deployment of additional MSS force members from a number of other countries will take place in the very near future. But in order for the operation to succeed, we need to ensure the international community provides the financial resources in addition to the manpower and equipment that the force needs to deploy, and we have been tireless in pressing others in the international community to make significant contributions to the UN MSS trust fund or to contribute people or materiel to the force, and we will continue to press for that. The one-year anniversary of the mission is October 2nd, and we're going to work to ensure that it is poised for success and a renewal of its mandate in whatever form that takes going forward.
MODERATOR: Our next question is from Jacqueline Charles with the Miami Herald. Jacqueline?
QUESTION: Yes, I'm here. Can you hear me?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY NICHOLS: We hear you.
QUESTION: Good morning. Fine. Thanks for doing this. A couple of questions for you. The bribery scandal - just yesterday the members of the CPT tried to take measures against the three who were accused, but because it comes down to 4-3, they couldn't do it. So everyone is wondering whether or not Secretary Blinken will raise this issue to try and get some - some sort of decision or progress on this since we know that investigations in Haiti take a long time. Secondly, humanitarian corridor - the Secretary will be using the humanitarian corridor as he travels between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The skies have been shut down to Haitians for several months now, and we're wondering whether or not he will be raising this issue with the Dominican Republic in terms of the fact that there's no commercial traffic between the two.
And then third, I just came back. The Kenyan force commander says that they have been in this sort of deployment phase, but Haitians are frustrated because they haven't seen any big gang leaders arrested or killed. And what we've seen is that communities on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince have suffered increased attacks. So we're just wondering whether or not this push for a UN peacekeeping mission you think would be more successful in addressing the long-term security issues.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY NICHOLS: Well, thanks. That's a lot there. I think certainly the Secretary will raise the importance of transparency, rule of law in dealing with the corruption allegations in - that have come to light in the BNC case. We believe that Haitian officials should investigate this and hold those responsible to account, and I'm sure that the Secretary will raise this issue while he's there.
The - with regard to the progress thus far, this week we've seen the arrival of the - of the last of the MRAPS that are coming in this tranche, which provides the force with sufficient vehicles, heavily armored vehicles, that they can carry out operations. Similarly, the provisions for the Haitian National Police have really now postured those forces to be able to carry out significant operations safely. And we want to make sure that every element that the force needs, they have, to be able to do their job safely and effectively to bring those responsible for crimes to justice while safeguarding the general population, respecting human rights, and strengthening broader Haitian institutions. Those were all important steps.
I think you've seen - you've been on the ground. I hope you got a chance to see all of the equipment that's there, the work that's being done. It's quite impressive. The - sort of the final point I think you raised on air travel and movement between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, we certainly hope to see more normal relations between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The countries are inexorably linked. And we certainly will have those conversations with leaders on both sides of the border, and we're very cognizant of the fact that the Dominican Republic is providing significant assistance to Haiti and to the MSS, and that we more broadly hope to see the ties between the two countries operated in a normal fashion in the future. But obviously, those are sovereign decisions for both governments. And to the extent that we can facilitate those conversations, we will.
MODERATOR: Our next question is with Anton La Guardia from The Economist.
QUESTION: Thank you very much. Can you hear me?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY NICHOLS: Yes. Hear you loud and clear.
QUESTION: Thank you very much, Brian, for making the time. Can I just ask you to clarify a couple of points. How many MSS personnel are deployed? Just picking up the question about the slow pace of deployment right now. I've seen a figure of 400, which is way below the 2,500 number that was supposed to be there. And also, are you able to confirm reports that the Kenyan police have not been paid for two months? And third, you spoke about the need to investigate and prosecute corruption and bribery and so on, but as I understand it, many of the prisons have been destroyed. So are there - is there a problem with the general administration of justice question? How do you resolve that?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY NICHOLS: So keep in mind that while Kenya is the lead nation for the force, we expect other countries to make contributions and ensuring that all the equipment, training, human rights vetting is in place before some of the other countries deploy is something we've been focused on. There are a number of other countries that are in the process of preparing for deployment, including Caribbean countries, South American countries, Central American countries that are - will make different contributions to the force.
But yeah, right now there are approximately 400 Kenyans who are deployed there - a little bit less than 400. The - and we expect those deployments ideally to take place in the very near future. The - you note the overall ceiling. Yes, the ceiling is higher, but we want to make sure that the force is effective and grows in a sustainable way and that all of the things that they need to succeed are in place before we grow above the force numbers that we're seeing now.
The - and then just in terms of our longer-term approach, we want to make sure that this operation is sustainable to get Haiti through an electoral process and for the Haitian National Police to grow to the level that it's able to take responsibility for Haiti's security, and that's going to take some time.
MODERATOR: Thank you very much. Danica Coto with the AP. Danica?
QUESTION: Good morning. Can you hear me?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY NICHOLS: Yes.
MODERATOR: Yes, we can.
QUESTION: Great. Well, thank you for hosting this. What would a PKO provide that the current mission doesn't, and how likely is it that such an operation would happen? And aside from the PKO, what other options are there?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY NICHOLS: So you - a key challenge is a sustainable funding and infrastructure - administrative infrastructure to support the deployment. And a PKO means that you have an assessed contribution to fund the deployment. Right now, the deployment depends on voluntary contributions. The United States and then Canada have made the largest contributions to the force. The - both direct contributions as well as in-kind, as well as equipment, and then contributions to the trust fund that does things like provide the - some other day-to-day costs for the force.
The - there are different varieties of assessed missions. So there could be an assessed mission where the funding is secured, but the actual operation of this mission is very, very similar to what it is now or there's a more traditional peacekeeping operation of the types that we've seen in many different countries around the world, including Haiti. But our challenge going forward is to make sure that there's a reliable, sustainable source of funding for the MSS to take it through stabilization, elections, and the growth of the Haitian National Police. We'll be working and coordinating with our partners around the world, and particularly in the Security Council and in the region, to figure out how we best address that going forward.
MODERATOR: Thank you very much. That is all the time we have for questions today. We appreciate you joining this call. As a final reminder, this briefing is embargoed until the travel is publicly announced by the department, which is expected later this afternoon. Thank you very much.
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"Turkiye and Egypt have a common stance on the Palestinian issue"
Presidency Of The Republic Of Turkey
04.09.2024
Speaking at a joint press conference with President el-Sisi of Egypt, President Erdogan said: "Turkiye and Egypt have a common stance on the Palestinian issue. The termination of the genocide that has been going on for 11 months, the immediate establishment of a permanent ceasefire, and the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid continue to be our priorities."
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt held a joint press conference following their meeting at the Presidential Complex.
President Erdogan said: "I would like to express the joy I take in welcoming President of Egypt, Mr. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, in our country. On behalf of myself and my nation, I once again say 'welcome' in your presence. During our visit to Cairo back in February, Mr. President welcomed us in a very warm manner. My visit to Cairo marked a new turning point in our relations. Since that day, we have maintained our dialogue and cooperation at a maximum level. We have always maintained close consultations on issues concerning our region. With the return visit of my treasured brother, we are now further advancing our already improving relations in all areas."
"WE HAVE A SHARED HISTORY OF CENTURIES AND BONDS OF CLOSE FRIENDSHIP WITH EGYPT"
Stressing that Turkiye and Egypt have a shared history of centuries and bonds of close friendship, President Erdogan stated: "Next year, we will mark the centenary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations. We are two ancient countries that served as the cradle of civilizations that shaped the history of humanity. We constantly strengthen the bridge and multidimensional ties between our countries through joint efforts. We are pleased to see the fruits of our efforts."
President Erdogan continued: "During our talks with Mr. el-Sisi in Cairo, we had taken a decision to restructure our High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. Today, we held the first meeting of this mechanism. With the joint declaration, we have reaffirmed our will to advance our cooperation in all areas, including industry, trade, defense, healthcare, environment and energy. Trade and economy constitute the strongest aspects of our cooperation."
Noting that Turkiye has been among Egypt's top five trade partners over the past decade, President Erdogan said: "We are decisively making progress toward our goal of boosting our trade volume to $15 billion within the next five years. Our businesspeople make significant contributions to Egypt's economy with the investments worth nearly $3 billion. We encourage our entrepreneurs to further increase their investments and also invite Egyptian investors to Turkiye."
"TURKIYE'S AND EGYPT'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO REGIONAL PEACE ARE OF VITAL IMPORTANCE"
Turkiye is willing to expand its cooperation with Egypt in energy, particularly natural gas and nuclear energy, stressed President Erdogan. "The brotherly Egyptian people take great interest in the Turkish culture and language. We continue our efforts to further strengthen our cultural and social ties. I believe the positive momentum in our relations will also be reflected in tourism."
Describing Turkiye's and Egypt's contributions to regional peace as vital, President Erdogan said: "During our meeting, we have agreed on holding consultations on a regular basis for the settlement of regional issues, first and foremost Gaza. The latest situation in Palestine was the epicenter of our meeting. Turkiye and Egypt have a common stance on the Palestinian issue. The termination of the genocide that has been going on for 11 months, the immediate establishment of a permanent ceasefire, and the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid continue to be our priorities."
"ISRAEL AND ITS BACKERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY INNOCENT PERSON WHO DIES FROM HUNGER, THIRST, OR LACK OF MEDICINE"
"To date, 32 percent of the total aid dispatched to Gaze have originated from Turkiye. I offer my gratitude to the Egyptian authorities, particularly the Egyptian Red Crescent, who cooperate with the Turkish Red Crescent and AFAD for the delivery of aid," President Erdogan stated.
Pointing out that by blocking the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need, Israel is adding to the crimes it commits, President Erdogan said: "Having been unable to break the resistance by dropping thousands of tons of bombs, the Israeli administration is now trying to the break the resistance by condemning the Palestinian people to hunger and thirst. Israel and its backers are responsible for every innocent person who dies from hunger, thirst, or lack of medicine."
Drawing attention to Egypt's mediating role in the negotiations for the cessation of the conflicts, President Erdogan said: "As you know, Egypt has been mediating the negotiations along with Qatar and the U.S. We, for our part, have been supporting this process through our Foreign Ministry and National Intelligence Organization (MIT). Israel's stance remains both uncompromising and obstructive. By martyring an interlocutor for negotiation, Israel has demonstrated its mentality. I want to make it clear that we reject Netanyahu's allegations against Egypt. Regarding these issues, we have done and continue to do whatever we can to step up the pressure on Israel. "
"SOME COUNTRIES BECOME AN ACCOMPLICE IN THE CRIMES BY SUPPORTING ISRAEL UNCONDITIONALLY"
"We already submitted our official application to intervene in the genocide case the Republic of South Africa lodged with the International Court of Justice. We continue our intensive endeavors in order for Israeli authorities that perpetrate crimes in Gaza to be held accountable at international courts. As I have previously stated, the rightful place for the killers of 41,000 innocent individuals is not the parliamentary podium, but the courtrooms where they will be tried for their crimes," President Erdogan underscored.
Urging the international community to fulfill its responsibilities in the face of Israel's brutalities in Gaza, President Erdogan said: "Some countries unfortunately become an accomplice in the crimes by supporting Israel unconditionally. No deterrent steps are being taken to stop the Netanyahu government's massacre policies, which put the region, and even the entire world, at risk. All must understand the unacceptability of this scene, which wounds the consciences. Preventing Israel from dragging our region into further tension will only be possible by abandoning ambivalent policies. I hereby reiterate our call to immediately back down from the mistake and get positioned on the right side of history."
Noting that regional issues including the Eastern Mediterranean, Syria, Libya, Sudan and the Horn of Africa were also on the agenda during today's talks in Ankara, President Erdogan added: " We are determined to strengthen our consultations with Egypt, with which we hold similar approaches and goals on a wide range of issues. We will inshallah be in closer cooperation in the period ahead. We will enhance our multifaceted relations in a win-win manner. Before ending my remarks, I wish today's talks and agreements to be auspicious. I thank Mr. President and his distinguished delegation for their visit."
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No: 179, 4 September 2024, Regarding Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's Allegations Against the Arab Republic of Egypt
Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu continues his lies to manipulate public opinion in order to cover up his crimes in Gaza and to prevent ceasefire negotiations from reaching a conclusion.
Netanyahu's latest allegations against the Arab Republic of Egypt for maintaining the Israeli military presence in the Philadelphi corridor are unacceptable.
We support the Arab Republic of Egypt's mediation efforts to end the war in Gaza and provide a helping hand to millions of our Palestinian brothers and sisters.
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The parties must end the suffering by agreeing to a ceasefire now: UK statement at the UN Security Council
Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East.
4 September 2024
Last week, we heard the news that the bodies of six Israeli hostages were recovered in Gaza. We condemn their murder by Hamas.
My Prime Minister has conveyed his thoughts and prayers for the families and the Israeli people.
The UK supported Israel's request for this briefing to shine a spotlight on the abhorrent crimes of Hamas and their impact on innocent civilians. It is also entirely right, as Algeria proposed, to focus on recent grave developments in the West Bank and Gaza.
President, of the 253 hostages taken in the horrific October 7th terrorist attacks, 101 hostages remain captive in Gaza and subject to unimaginable horror. We once again condemn Hamas' terrorist acts in the strongest terms. We reiterate our demand for Hamas to release the hostages immediately. There can be no doubt that Hamas pays not the slightest heed to international humanitarian law. We urge all parties to agree a ceasefire deal which would bring an end to the ordeal of these hostages.
Israel continues to face threats, not only from Hamas, but also from Iran and its range of hostile proxies who openly call for Israel's annihilation. Iran should be in no doubt of our commitment to challenge their malign and destabilising activity, and our commitment to Israel's security.
President, the suffering of Palestinians also worsens each day. Over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, many of whom are women and children. The most basic needs of children and thousands of orphaned children are unmet. A ceasefire deal offers an opportunity to end their suffering.
As we've heard, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is beyond appalling, with dire sanitary conditions, a serious risk of famine and now polio. We welcome the polio vaccination campaign and urge Israel to continue to cooperate with the WHO and health agencies to ensure that the full 90% of children who need to be are vaccinated.
More generally, as we've heard, humanitarian access remains inadequate with attacks on convoys, evacuation orders undermining operations and aid far below Israel's stated commitment to 'flood Gaza with aid'. We urge Israel to do much more to ensure lifesaving food and medical supplies reach civilians in Gaza.
As my Foreign Secretary said this week, we are also deeply concerned by credible claims of mistreatment of Palestinian detainees, which the International Committee of the Red Cross cannot investigate after being denied access by Israel.
President, concerns on the treatment of detainees and humanitarian access were part of my Government's review into Israel's International Humanitarian Law compliance. As a result, my Foreign Secretary took the decision to suspend certain UK arms export licences to Israel earlier this week. This decision in no way undermines our unwavering commitment to Israel's security.
Whilst we recognise Israel's need to defend itself against security threats, the UK is also deeply worried by the ongoing IDF operations in the West Bank, particularly the reports of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. Israel must also tackle the accelerating settler violence and end its illegal expansion of settlements which undermine prospects for the realisation of the two-state solution.
President, let me conclude by thanking the US, Qatar and Egypt for their efforts on the ongoing negotiations. The parties have had time to study the deal on the table. The parties must now bridge their differences and end the suffering by agreeing to a deal and immediate ceasefire and rediscover the path to a two-state solution.
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UK and Kuwait agree new partnership to provide vital aid in Gaza and Yemen
Joint funding announced between the UK and Kuwait to help UNICEF deliver lifesaving aid to almost 2.5 million people in Gaza and Yemen.
4 September 2024
the UK and Kuwait announce new joint funding of 4.5 million to help UNICEF deliver lifesaving aid to almost 2.5 million people in Gaza and Yemen
the agreement was secured in the margins of the 21st UK-Kuwait Joint Steering Group in London
the UK's Minister for the Middle East and Kuwait's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs discussed key pillars of bilateral cooperation, and took part in Kuwait Culture Week in London
The UK and Kuwait have today (Wednesday 4 September) announced new joint funding plans to help UNICEF deliver lifesaving aid to almost 2.5 million people in Gaza and Yemen.
The funding will go towards UNICEF's efforts to restore water supply and sanitation systems in Gaza, and to sustain primary healthcare services in Yemen, and has been set out in two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed by both parties.
The UK and Kuwait will provide 4.5 million of joint support ($6 million in total - $3 million to each project), to UNICEF, whose work is expected to benefit approximately 1,000,000 in Gaza and 1,450,000 people in Yemen.
Minister for the Middle East Hamish Falconer said:
Conflict has aggravated the humanitarian crises in Gaza and Yemen and the UK is committed to pushing for more lifesaving aid to reach those in desperate need. The UK and Kuwait's joint funding towards UNICEF's lifesaving work in Gaza and Yemen demonstrates our shared commitment to tackle some of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. I am proud of the UK and Kuwait's close ties, which have now endured for more than 125 years and continue to go from strength to strength.
Kuwait's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs His Excellency Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah said:
This year marks an important milestone for both the State of Kuwait and the UK as we jointly commemorate 125 years of partnership. Kuwait is proud of its deep-rooted and historic ties with the UK and is committed to deepening this partnership in all its aspects. This week in London, we were happy to witness the commencement of the Kuwait cultural week in the UK and the successful convening of the 21st session of the JSG. The Action Plan signed during the JSG paves the way for further collaboration in a number of fields. We are pleased to cooperate with the UK to support the essential work of UNICEF in both Palestine and Yemen. As pioneers in the field of international development, both our countries will continue to explore avenues of cooperation to provide development and humanitarian assistance to populations affected by conflicts and natural disasters.
UNICEF's Representative to the Gulf Area Eltayeb Adam said:
UNICEF deeply appreciates the generous contributions from both the UK and Kuwait, which will have a transformative impact on the lives of children and families in Gaza and Yemen. This funding is not just a financial commitment; it is a beacon of hope for communities struggling with the devastating consequences of conflict. Together, we can ensure that essential services such as water, sanitation, and healthcare reach those who need them most, restoring dignity and a sense of normalcy to countless lives.
The 21st UK-Kuwait Joint Steering Group (JSG) was co-chaired in London today by the UK Minister for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer, and Kuwait's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
In the margins of the JSG, Minister Falconer and the Director General of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development Waleed Al-Bahar signed the two MoUs.
In addition, Minister Falconer and Sheikh Jarrah also reached an agreement for planned UK support to Kuwait's Civil Service Commission on the delivery of training programmes to Kuwaiti Government employees, and signed an action plan detailing how their respective Governments will drive forward cooperation on a range of key issues such as defence and security and international development and humanitarian partnerships, over the coming months.
The UK and Kuwait are celebrating 125 years of official diplomatic relations throughout 2024. Yesterday (Tuesday 3 September), Minister Falconer and Sheikh Jarrah attended the headline performance of a special "Kuwait Culture Week" organised by Kuwait's Embassy in London, titled "Rhythms of Kuwait".
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UN demands hostage release, urges protection and aid for Gaza civilians
By Vibhu Mishra
4 September 2024 - Top UN political and humanitarian officials on Wednesday renewed urgent appeals for the unconditional release of all hostages in Gaza, while emphasizing the need to ensure aid and protection for desperate civilians being continually displaced inside the war-battered enclave.
Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, and Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations for humanitarian coordination wing, OCHA, were briefing ambassadors in the Security Council, against the backdrop of the recovery of the bodies of six hostages killed in Gaza and polio vaccination campaign which began at the weekend.
The urgent meeting was requested - separately - by both Algeria and Israel. According to media reports, Israel demanded the Council condemn Hamas in the strongest possible terms and address the dire situation of the hostages still held in captivity.
Algeria reportedly requested the meeting to discuss the worsening situation in Gaza and the West Bank.
Next month will mark the somber one year-mark of the 7 October terror attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in southern Israel, in which more than 1,250 Israeli and foreign nationals were killed and around 250 were abducted and taken into Gaza.
At least 101 hostages - including some remains of those declared dead - remain in Gaza, which has been under a relentless Israeli military onslaught that has claimed more than 41,000 Palestinian lives, according to the Strip's health authorities.
Heartbreaking news
Ms. DiCarlo recalled her meeting last November with the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, one of the hostages killed.
She said that according to the Israeli Government, the hostages had been shot multiple times at close range and that they were killed by Hamas shortly before Israeli soldiers were able to reach them inside a tunnel in Rafah.
Following the recovery of the bodies, Hamas announced that militants guarding hostages in the buildings and tunnels of Gaza had new instructions to kill hostages before they could be recovered alive by Israeli forces, she added.
"I echo the words of the Secretary-General once again: all hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally," Ms. DiCarlo reiterated.
"For as long as they are held, in accordance with international legal obligations, they must be treated humanely and allowed to receive visits and assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)."
Ms. DiCarlo also updated on the situation in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, included the latest on large-scale Israeli military operations, settler attacks and armed Palestinian violence against Israelis.
'No limits' to brutality
Briefing alongside Ms. DiCarlo, Ms. Wosornu highlighted the death and destruction across the Gaza Strip, stating "the brutality of this conflict seems to know no limits."
"We see this in the many attacks harming humanitarian workers: 295 humanitarian workers killed since 7 October [2023]," she added.
Many humanitarian assets, including several UN vehicles "have been directly hit in more than a dozen separate incidents even though their movements were notified," she said.
Ms. Wosornu outlined the fallout from this, limiting the delivery of lifesaving aid to those in desperate need, such as the temporary suspension of staff movements by the UN World Food Programme (WFP) following an attack on one of its convoys last week.
Polio pauses, rare ray of hope
Both UN officials welcomed the local humanitarian pauses, which enabled the launch of the emergency polio vaccination campaign.
"The polio pauses are a rare ray of hope and humanity amid the horror in Gaza," Ms. DiCarlo said, noting that the images of young children receiving their vaccinations amid utter ruin "are both moving and distressing."
She added that the arrangements established between UN agencies and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to pause military activity in the designated vaccination areas "have so far been respected".
Humanitarians remain
Ms. Wosornu further noted that humanitarians - despite overwhelming challenges - remain on the ground, providing essential assistance, including food and shelter and protection, as best as they can.
Food rations are being distributed, albeit at reduced levels, with wheat flour prioritized only for the 14 bakeries supported by humanitarian actors.
Tents are also being distributed, though they are insufficient to match the needs of repeatedly displaced families, especially with the approaching cold and rainy weather.
Turn promises into reality
She urged the Security Council "to turn its promises into reality and end the suffering."
"We once again appeal to Council Members and all Member States to achieve an immediate cessation of hostilities and a sustained ceasefire in Gaza, and to de-escalate the situation in the West Bank," she urged.
"Resolutions passed by this Council promised an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. They also called for the release of hostages. Yet, months later, the violence continues, thousands more people have been killed, and hostages separated from their families."
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Gaza: Disease and war stalk children, despite vaccine success
By Daniel Johnson
4 September 2024 - In Gaza, despite the success of the mass polio vaccination campaign so far, UN humanitarians warned on Wednesday that the very children they are trying to protect have been blighted by disease and heavily traumatized by ongoing fighting.
It's been nearly 11 months since war erupted in the enclave following Hamas-led terror attacks in Israel. Today more than nine in 10 people have been forcibly displaced by the fighting, leaving them vulnerable to hunger, malnutrition and sickness.
"So far, we've been able to vaccinate 187,000 children and as we've been tent to tent and shelter to shelter," said Louise Wateridge from the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA.
"The reality is that these vaccinations are happening in the middle of a war zone, while many other diseases, such as hepatitis A, are spreading," the UNRWA spokesperson explained.
"Most of the children I've seen are covered in skin diseases and rashes, so while we're doing everything we can to vaccinate for one disease, the inhumane conditions that are causing and spreading these diseases continues."
Health hazards
The UNRWA spokesperson described the scene at one health centre where sewage had flooded the surrounding streets, forcing children to avoid the health hazard in order to receive their polio vaccinations.
"People who need everything - in addition to the polio vaccinations, medical supplies, hygiene products and clean water are absolutely critical to stop the spread of disease," Ms. Wateridge insisted.
"What people need most is a ceasefire and they need it now."
Wednesday marks the final day for vaccinations in the Gaza's Middle Area which humanitarians say has been a resounding success.
In addition to UNRWA, the operation is a joint UN effort with the UN World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), partner NGOs and volunteers.
Despite the ever-present danger of strikes, families have brought their children to health centres and schools for the first of two vaccinations, a legacy of the enclave's extremely strong support for vaccinations pre-war.
For those unable to move easily, aid teams have gone to find vulnerable families and children to ensure that all those under 10 receive their dose.
"It's been very positive to see children coming out, showing us their little finger with coloured marker pen to proudly display that they've received this vaccine," said Ms. Wateridge.
No rest for health teams
After working four days straight on the vaccination campaign in the Middle Area, some 2,200 health workers will move to southern Gaza to resume their work on Thursday morning.
Once this is done, efforts will turn to the north, before the whole process starts up again in four weeks, to give the second vaccine to boost protection levels.
The vaccine teams are able to do work with some level of security, thanks to the agreed humanitarian pauses with the Israeli military and Hamas fighters from 8am to 2pm - although the violence has not stopped by any means.
"The pauses are welcomed, but the bombing and the strikes have not stopped...our teams left to vaccinate, surrounded by the sound of strikes," the UNWRA officer explained.
"While I cannot determine the locations of the strikes I can hear around me in the middle area, hearing them is unnerving for children and families as well as health care workers distributing the polio vaccines."
Child tragedy
In a related development in Geneva, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child heard Israeli representatives condemn Hamas for the "tragic" toll the war has taken on children.
Israeli ambassador to Geneva, Daniel Meron, told the panel of independent rights experts in a scheduled country review on Tuesday that Hamas was "embedded within the civilian population", with tunnel shafts located "in children's bedrooms in Gaza" and under schools, serving as "weapons arsenals and launch sites for rockets".
"There have been weapons found under cribs. There have been weapons found inside teddy bears, in maternity wards, in hospitals," he told the committee, which reports to the Human Rights Council and whose members are not UN staff.
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Frustration flares at UN over lack of Gaza cease-fire
By VOA News September 04, 2024
U.N. Security Council members expressed frustration Wednesday with the failure to conclude a cease-fire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas, amid the killing of six Israeli hostages and the escalation of violence in the West Bank.
"There is a sense of outrage felt around the globe," said Slovenia's Ambassador Samuel Zbogar, whose delegation holds the council's rotating presidency this month. "Outrage in Palestine that the international community is failing them; outrage on Israeli streets that the hostages continue being held in Gaza; outrage of the global public that this war does not stop."
During a meeting requested by Israel about the six hostages killed by Hamas, whose bodies were recovered Saturday, Zbogar reminded the 15-nation council that it is its job to push for peace.
Algeria also requested that the council discuss the escalation of violence in the West Bank, where the United Nations says at least 30 Palestinians have been killed, including seven children, since Israel launched a large-scale military operation on August 27.
"It is gravely alarming that with each briefing this council receives, the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel steadily worsens," Malta's Ambassador Vanessa Frazier said.
There was general concern that U.S., Egyptian and Qatari efforts to broker a cease-fire and hostage release deal have not been successful after three months of mediation, especially after the Security Council backed the deal in a resolution on June 10.
"Things have only gotten worse for Palestinians, for Israeli hostages and indeed the entire region since adoption of that resolution," Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana said.
U.S. envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield urged patience.
"Diplomacy is not a matter of snapping our fingers and voila. It takes hard work. It takes effort, and unfortunately, it takes time," she said. "It has not failed."
She noted that diplomacy helped secure the release in November of more than 100 of the 250 hostages that Hamas took during its terror attack on October 7, 2023.
"And it is through diplomacy that we aim to bring the remaining hostages home and finally put this horrific conflict on a path toward a durable conclusion," Thomas-Greenfield said. "The Israeli people should understand that the deal on the table is one their leaders can accept, because this is a deal that ensures Israel's security."
In Washington, a senior Biden administration official told reporters that cease-fire negotiations were ongoing and a deal was "basically done," except for two sticking points: which Palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange for the remaining hostages, and where Israeli forces will be deployed during phase one of the deal. Israel has demanded it retain control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a 14-kilometer strip of land in the Egypt-Gaza border area.
During a press conference Wednesday in Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stuck to his position that the corridor was non-negotiable.
"So, we said, as far as Gaza is concerned, three war goals: The first war goal was to destroy Hamas' military and governing capabilities. The second was to free our hostages, and the third was to ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel," he said. "And all three of those goals, all three of them, go through Israel's control of the Philadelphi Corridor."
Hamas has accused Israel of dragging out negotiations by issuing new demands, including that Israel remain in control of the Philadelphi Corridor and a second corridor running across Gaza.
In Tel Aviv, family members of some of the remaining hostages protested Wednesday outside the headquarters of Netanyahu's Likud Party, calling for a cease-fire deal with Hamas that includes the release of their relatives.
Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people and captured some 250 hostages during the October 7 terror attack on southern Israel. The Israeli counteroffensive has killed nearly 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to Gaza health officials, while the Israeli military says the death toll includes several thousand Hamas combatants.
Hamas has been designated a terror group by the United States, the United Kingdom and other Western countries. At the Security Council on Wednesday, Israel's envoy reiterated his demand that council members designate Hamas a terror organization.
VOA's Margaret Besheer, Patsy Widakuswara and Natasha Mozgovaya contributed to this report. Some information came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
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Netanyahu calls for Israel to maintain military presence in Gaza
By Linda Gradstein September 04, 2024
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel must remain in a strip of land between the Gaza Strip and the Egyptian border to prevent Hamas from rearming. He spoke as the White House said Israel must withdraw at least partially from the area.
The Israeli army published a picture Wednesday of the opening of the tunnel in Gaza where the bodies of six Israeli hostages were found after they had been executed by Hamas on Saturday.
The deaths of the six, including American Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin, have sparked mass demonstrations in Israel by hundreds of thousands of Israelis who want Netanyahu to agree to a cease-fire deal with Hamas that would free the remaining 101 hostages.
The demonstrations have grown increasingly angry as many blame Netanyahu for holding up a cease-fire deal. Three of the six hostages killed by Hamas were set to have been released in the first phase of the deal, meaning they were killed days before they could have been freed.
Israeli media reports say Netanyahu had agreed to leave the Philadelphi corridor, the strip of land along the border between Gaza and Egypt.
Mossad chief David Barnea confirmed on Monday to mediators in the talks with Hamas taking place in Qatar that Israel was prepared to withdraw from the Philadelphi corridor in the second stage of a hostage release deal. This was hours before Netanyahu publicly declared he would refuse to do so, foreign sources familiar with the negotiations told the Haaretz newspaper.
Barnea, who traveled to Qatar on Monday, had informed the representatives that Israel stood behind its agreement to pull out all its forces from the area in line with the Biden plan, if Israeli operational demands were met.
But in an English language news conference today, Netanyahu said that Israel's decision to leave this area in 2005 as part of a complete withdrawal from Gaza was a big mistake.
"Once we left our side of the Philadelphi corridor, rockets went in, missiles went in, drones went in, ammo went in, weapons manufacturing equipment came in, tunnel-drilling equipment came in," he said. "Once we got out, once we left the Philidephi corridor, Iran could carry out its plan to turn Gaza into a base, terrorist enclave that would endanger not only the communities around it but would endanger Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Be'er Sheva, the entire of country of Israel.
Netanyahu said the goals of the war remain the same.
"We are committed to achieving our goals, all three goals," he said. "Destroying Hamas' military and governing capabilities, releasing all our hostages and ensuring that Gaza does become a threat to Israel anymore. And all these require standing firm on the things that will ensure the achievement of these goals."
That, he said, means Israel must maintain control over the Philadelphi corridor at least for the near future, even if it means there will not be a cease-fire deal with Hamas.
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Israel targets Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon as families of hostages demand Gaza cease-fire
By VOA News September 04, 2024
Israel's military said Wednesday it carried out attacks targeting Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon after dozens of rockets were fired at Israel.
The military said Israeli air defenses intercepted some of the 65 rockets, while others fell in open areas.
Fighting along the Israel-Lebanon border has raised fears of a widening regional conflict amid the war between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
Family members of some of the hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza protested Wednesday outside the Tel Aviv headquarters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party.
The family members chanted slogans in favor of the Israeli government reaching a cease-fire deal with Hamas that includes the release of hostages.
The demonstration followed pressure Tuesday by the United States calling on Israel and Hamas to agree to a cease-fire.
"There are dozens of hostages still remaining in Gaza, still waiting for a deal that will bring them home. It is time to finalize that deal," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters after Israeli forces found six hostages over the weekend that Hamas had shot to death in a tunnel in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
"The people of Israel cannot afford to wait any longer. The Palestinian people, who are also suffering the terrible effects of this war, cannot afford to wait any longer. The world cannot afford to wait any longer," Miller said.
He said that the United States will work "over the coming days" with mediators Egypt and Qatar "to push for a final agreement."
One key point of contention in the negotiations has been Netanyahu's insistence that Israeli troops remain at the border between Gaza and Egypt.
But Miller said the U.S. is opposed "to the long-term presence" of Israeli troops in Gaza.
The State Department spokesman said that reaching a cease-fire and release of the 100 or so remaining hostages "will require both sides to show flexibility. It will require that both sides look for reasons to get to yes rather than reasons to say no."
Netanyahu has refused to agree to a cease-fire deal calling for an Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza that would lead to a permanent halt to the fighting for fear that Hamas could rearm itself and endanger Israel's long-term security.
Hamas has accused Israel of dragging out negotiations by issuing new demands, including that Israel remain in control of the Philadelphi corridor and a second corridor running across Gaza.
Hamas has held to the broad agreements of a three-phase plan put forth by the U.S. administration of President Joe Biden in July: Hamas would release all hostages in return for an end to the war, a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of dozens of Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people and captured about 250 hostages during the October 7 terror attack on southern Israel. The Israeli counteroffensive has killed nearly 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to Gaza health officials, while the Israeli military says the death toll includes several thousand Hamas combatants.
Hamas has been designated a terror group by the U.S., the U.K. and other Western countries.
VOA's Nike Ching contributed to this report. Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
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US voices impatience with Taliban over morality law targeting Afghan women
By Ayaz Gul September 04, 2024
An American diplomat has condemned the Taliban's new morality law in Afghanistan, warning that it "aims to complete the erasure of women from public life."
Rina Amiri, the United States special envoy for Afghan women, girls, and human rights, posted on social media late Tuesday that she raised concerns about the law during her recent meetings with counterparts in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
"My message was clear: Our support for the Afghan people remains steadfast, but patience with the Taliban is running out," Amiri wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "The way to legitimacy domestically & internationally is respecting the rights of the Afghan people."
The U.S. warning comes days after the Taliban's supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, enacted the contentious decree that orders Afghan women not to speak aloud in public and cover their bodies and faces entirely when outdoors.
The 114-page, 35-article law also outlines various actions and specific conduct that the Taliban government, called the Islamic Emirate, considers mandatory or prohibited for Afghan men and women in line with its strict interpretation of Islam.
The legal document empowers the Ministry for Promoting Virtue and Preventing Vice, which the Taliban revived after coming back to power in August 2021, to enforce it strictly.
Enforcers are empowered to discipline offenders, and penalties may include anything from a verbal warning to fines to imprisonment. The law requires them to prevent "evils" such as adultery, extramarital sex, lesbianism, taking pictures of living objects and befriending non-Muslims.
Official Taliban media quoted Akhundzada this week as ordering authorities to "rigorously enforce" the new vice and virtue decree across Afghanistan "to bring the people closer to the Islamic system."
The law was enacted amid extensive restrictions on Afghan women's education and employment opportunities.
Since regaining power three years ago, the Taliban have prohibited girls ages 12 and older from continuing their education beyond the sixth grade and restricted women from seeking employment, except in certain sectors such as health.
Afghan females are not allowed to visit parks and other public places, and a male guardian must accompany them on road trips or air travel.
The United Nations promptly responded to the new law last month, condemning it as a "distressing vision" for the impoverished country's future and urging de facto authorities to reverse it.
The Taliban government, which is officially not recognized by any country, has dismissed U.N.-led foreign criticism as offensive.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief Taliban spokesperson, asserted that "non-Muslims should first educate themselves about Islamic laws and respect Islamic values" before expressing concerns or rejecting the law. "We find it blasphemous to our Islamic Sharia when objections are raised without understanding it," he said.
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Blinken heads to Haiti, Dominican Republic this week
By Nike Ching September 04, 2024
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is traveling to Haiti and the Dominican Republic on Thursday, marking his first visits to both Caribbean nations as the top U.S. diplomat.
Blinken's visit to Port-au-Prince underscores U.S. support for Haiti, with additional humanitarian assistance anticipated as the country grapples with gang violence. His trip to Santo Domingo follows the start of Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader's second term in mid-August.
A senior State Department official told reporters on Wednesday that the United States is prioritizing efforts with its international partners to set up a structure that ensures "a reliable source of financing and staffing" for a security mission in Haiti.
U.S. President Joe Biden's administration is reportedly considering the possibility of transitioning a largely U.S.-funded multinational security force into a traditional United Nations peacekeeping operation.
"A formal PKO (peacekeeping operation) is one of the ways that we could accomplish that, but we're looking at multiple ways to do that," said Brian Nichols, assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs.
With about a month left in the mandate of the U.N.-ratified, Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti, progress has been limited, and many pledges remain unfulfilled.
"The one-year anniversary of the mission is October 2, and we're going to work to ensure that it's poised for success and renewal of its mandate in whatever form that takes," Nichols told VOA on Wednesday.
Multinational security support
Gang-related violence and drug trafficking have fueled political instability and insecurity in Haiti, leading to an unbearable living situation for the Haitian people.
In October 2022, Haiti requested the deployment of an international force to assist the Haitian National Police in combating heavily armed gangs and facilitating humanitarian aid. In October 2023, the United Nations Security Council authorized the MSS.
The United States and Canada are the top funders of the MSS in Haiti. The estimated first-year cost for the mission is $589 million. The U.S. has already provided $309 million $200 million toward the MSS mission base and $109 million in financial support.
During a visit to Haiti in July, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced an additional $60 million in humanitarian assistance for the Haitian people, along with providing armored vehicles for the national police.
While in Haiti, Blinken will review the progress made toward improving security and encourage efforts to appoint the provisional electoral council so Haiti can move toward elections, according to the State Department.
Blinken will hold talks with Edgard Leblanc Fils, president of Haiti's Transitional Presidential Council, and Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille. Blinken also will meet with MSS head Godfrey Otunge and Normil Rameau, head of the Haitian National Police.
At least 80% of Port-au-Prince is no longer under the control of the Haitian authorities, with violence spreading to other parts of the country.
In the past year, displacement in Haiti has tripled as gang violence grips the Caribbean nation. The United Nations reports that at least 578,000 people have been displaced due to violence, including murders, kidnappings and rapes.
The situation is further exacerbated by widespread hunger, with nearly half of the 11.7 million population facing acute food insecurity.
Gangs, some aligned with political elites, accumulated their control over territory and illicit markets during the tenure of the deeply unpopular former Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who took office after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021, according to a Congressional Research Service report. Henry resigned in April 2024 following the formation of a Transitional Presidential Council.
The Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic will host the 2025 Summit of the Americas, where Western Hemisphere leaders will address shared challenges and policy issues facing the region.
"In the Dominican Republic, we will reinforce our shared priorities such as promoting democratic governance, supporting free and fair elections in the region, and fighting corruption," Nichols told reporters.
On August 16, President Luis Abinader was inaugurated for a second four-year term. He has vowed to boost security by training more police over the next four years. His administration has barred migrants from neighboring Haiti.
"We certainly hope to see more normal relations between the Dominican Republic and Haiti," Nichols said. "The countries are inexorably linked, and we certainly will have those conversations with leaders on both sides of the border."
The U.S. and the Dominican Republic signed a historic Open Skies agreement on August 2. Once in effect, the agreement will expand opportunities for airlines, travel companies and people-to-people exchanges. More than 4 million U.S. citizens visit the Dominican Republic each year.
The Dominican Republic is a crucial partner for the U.S. in hemispheric affairs, due to its position as the second-largest economy in the Caribbean, after Cuba, and the third-largest country by population, behind Cuba and Haiti. The U.S. is its primary trading partner.
Additionally, the Dominican Republic is home to Pueblo Viejo, one of the world's largest gold mines, and serves as a major global supplier of ferronickel.
The United States said it will continue robust collaboration with the Dominican Republic to advance inclusive economic growth, bolster democratic institutions, uphold human rights, and enhance governance and security.
The Dominican Republic and the United States, along with five Central American countries, are parties to the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement, known as CAFTA-DR. This agreement enhances economic opportunities by eliminating tariffs, opening markets, reducing barriers to services and promoting transparency.
The U.S. Agency for International Development is investing more than $9.5 million to strengthen the Dominican Republic's existing justice system and to reduce crime and violence.
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Ossetian Wife Of Notorious Tajik Islamic State Recruiter Gets 11 Years In Prison
By RFE/RL's Tajik Service September 04, 2024
A court in Russia in early August sentenced Madina Bondarenko, the Ossetian wife of a notorious recruiter for the Islamic State (IS) extremist group in Tajikistan, to 11 years in prison on a charge of being a member of a terrorist group, one of her relatives told RFE/RL on September 3.
Bondarenko, who was accused by Russia of cooperating with and belonging to IS, was extradited from Tajikistan in May 2023.
She is the wife of Parviz Saidrahmonov (aka Abu Dovud), who was sentenced to 21 years in prison in November on terrorism charges in Dushanbe.
Bondarenko's relative said she rejected the charge, saying that her husband tricked her when he brought her to Syria via Turkey several years ago as she was unaware that their final destination would be Syria. However, the court took into account Saidrahmonov's testimony to Russian investigators in which he said his wife went to Syria voluntarily, knowing that the couple planned to join IS there.
The couple and their children were extradited to Tajikistan from Turkey in 2022.
Saidrahmonov was accused of recruiting more than 200 people to fight in Syria and Iraq and was alleged to be behind multiple terrorist activities in Tajikistan, Russia, and Sweden.
He was sentenced on charges of organizing a terrorist group, extremism, and recruiting mercenaries to fight in a foreign country. Saidrahmonov was a migrant worker in Russia when he left in 2014 for Iraq and Syria, where he joined the ranks of IS.
Swedish investigators say Saidrahmonov was an accomplice of Rakhmat Akilov, an Uzbek man who was convicted of murder and terrorism for driving a hijacked truck down a busy pedestrian street in Stockholm on April 7, 2017, killing five people and injuring 14 others.
Akilov, a rejected asylum seeker in Sweden before the attack who was in contact with alleged IS militants from Tajikistan, was sentenced to life in prison in June 2018.
Saidrahmonov was later captured by Syrian authorities and in mid-2020 disappeared from a prison in the Syrian town of Afrin when Tajikistan was working on his extradition to Dushanbe.
Tajik authorities, who took Saidrahmonov into custody in September 2022, consider him to be "one of the most dangerous recruiters of Islamic State."
Dushanbe estimates that about 2,000 Tajik citizens joined IS in Iraq and Syria in 2013-15. Hundreds of them were killed in clashes in the Middle East. Some of those who returned to Tajikistan were either sentenced to lengthy prison terms or received amnesty.
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/abu-dowvud-madina-bondarenko- trial-sentence-islamic-state-wife/33105744.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.
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Alleged cybercriminal wanted by US spent 15 years evading arrest
By Matthew Kupfer September 04, 2024
When the U.S. State Department recently offered up to $2.5 million for information leading to the arrest of alleged cyber-fraudster Volodymyr Kadariya, it marked another turn in a saga that saw the man transform from suspected criminal to political dissident and back.
For 15 years, Kadariya has been wanted in his native Belarus on cybercrime charges.
American prosecutors accuse him of involvement in a scheme to transmit malicious malware to U.S. computers. Millions of internet users reportedly fell victim to the scheme.
But Kadariya has been particularly elusive.
After coming under suspicion in Belarus, he fled the country and lived abroad for many years. During this time, he managed to obtain asylum and eventually citizenship in Ukraine, according to multiple media reports and official government statements from the United States and Belarus.
When he was detained in Kyrgyzstan in 2022 on the Belarusian charges, he claimed to be facing political persecution. Even United Nations officials spoke out against his extradition.
Today, as the United States seeks his arrest, it is unclear whether Kadariya is even at liberty.
Mystery man
There is little publicly available information about Volodymyr a or, alternately, Vladimir Kadariya. That may not even be his real name.
Kadariya, 38, is a native of Belarus. Around 2008, he came under suspicion of stealing large sums of money "by modifying computer information," according to the country's investigative committee.
Kadariya allegedly purchased stolen bank card information on the "darknet," encoded it onto dummy cards, and used them to withdraw money.
Belarusian investigators say citizens of the United States, Poland, France and Britain fell victim to the scheme.
They also claim that, in 2016, Kadariya applied for refugee status in Ukraine. Later, he likely obtained Ukrainian citizenship.
Equally, little is known about Kadariya's life in Ukraine. According to open databases, someone with his rare name was previously among the beneficiaries of two Ukrainian companies: Cosmo Medical and Digital Med.
Kadariya also shows up in a photo from IT Nature Party International, a 2018 party held on the outskirts of Kyiv.
Arrest and extradition
According to Belarusian investigators, in 2022, they learned that Kadariya had been living for some time in Spain. After he flew to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, he was detained that September. Minsk requested his extradition.
Kadariya claimed he was being persecuted for political reasons in his homeland. Whether or not that claim was true, it likely sounded plausible.
After the 2020 presidential elections in Belarus, which the United States deemed fraudulent, a wave of protests struck the country. Security forces arrested thousands of people. There are still more than 1,500 political prisoners in Belarus.
Some estimates suggest that up to half a million Belarusians left the country in the wake of the crackdown.
In Kyrgyzstan, Kadariya claimed he was a Belarusian citizen originally named Andrei Kovalev. He received refugee status in Ukraine in 2017. Later, when receiving citizenship, he changed his name, his Kyrgyz lawyer told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service in March 2023.
In a March 2023 interview with Current Time, a Russian-language TV and digital network led by RFE/RL in partnership with VOA, Kadariya claimed he had worked as the administrator of an opposition website in Minsk that published articles about corruption. He said that Belarusian security forces detained him in 2008 and seized his laptop, but due to data encryption, they could not confirm his connection to the opposition. After being released in 2008, Kadariya immediately left the country.
The Kyrgyz Prosecutor General's Office did not find any political motives in the charges against Kadariya and a court soon approved his extradition.
Kadariya tried to appeal. His lawyer said that his extradition would violate Kyrgyzstan's obligations to international organizations.
After the court rejected Kadariya's appeal, the United Nations weighed in. In a letter to the Kyrgyz prosecutor general, representatives of the U.N. Commissioner for Human Rights and the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said Kadariya should not be deported because he had requested asylum in Kyrgyzstan. According to them, the court's decision to extradite him violated the U.N. Refugee Convention and local legislation, Current Time reported.
Kadariya penned an appeal to President Sadyr Japarov asking the Kyrgyz leader to prevent his deportation.
In March 2023, he was extradited back to Belarus.
In a video published that month by Belarusian investigators on the Telegram messenger, Kadariya states that he has no connections to the opposition and had never been involved in politics.
Dmytro Mazurok, a Ukrainian lawyer based in Kyiv who specializes in migration, says he would not trust a statement given in the presence of Belarusian investigators.
"They have a harsh system of coercion," he said.
At the same time, it's not unfathomable that Kadariya could have received asylum in Ukraine on false grounds a particularly at the time he applied.
"I can say for sure that obtaining refugee status and, subsequently, citizenship for a person with money is not a problem," Mazurok told VOA.
American accusations
On August 12, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Maksim Silnikau, the alleged leader of a cybercriminal group, was extradited from Poland to the U.S.
American prosecutors allege that he worked together with Kadariya and one other alleged cybercriminal, Russian citizen Andrei Tarasov. Like Kadariya, Silnikau holds both Belarusian and Ukrainian citizenships.
According to a New Jersey indictment, from 2013 to 2022 the three men used so-called malvertising on the internet to infect Americans' computers with malicious software, including one called "Angler Exploit Kit."
Among the ways they allegedly profited from this scheme was by selling stolen user information and access to infected devices to other cybercriminals.
To promote their scheme, the three accomplices created domains to host malware and posed as legitimate advertisers, the indictment states. It describes Kadariya as a "malicious advertiser."
If found guilty, each man could face 27 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 10 years for conspiracy to commit computer fraud, and 20 years for each count of wire fraud.
In Kadariya's case, one important question remains: Is he at large?
VOA was unable to contact Kadariya for comment or confirm his whereabouts.
He may be in custody in Belarus, where he was extradited a year-and-a-half ago, but the Belarusian Ministry of Internal Affairs did not respond to a request for comment.
The State Department and DOJ also did not answer VOA's questions about Kadariya's whereabouts.
Notably, the State Department announced August 26 that it is offering the $2.5 million reward for information leading to his arrest or conviction "in any country."
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China In Eurasia Briefing: What Eurasia Can Learn From China's Footprint In Africa
By Reid Standish September 04, 2024
The Africa Model
Chinese leader Xi Jinping is rolling out the red carpet for African leaders this week at a high-level summit in Beijing as China looks to deepen ties with the resource-rich continent that it has furnished with billions in loans for infrastructure and development projects.
But what kind of lessons does the experience of African countries hold for other regions where China has also become a political and economic force?
Finding Perspective: Beijing has said the September 4-6 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit will be its largest diplomatic event since the COVID-19 pandemic, with leaders and other delegates from every African state except Eswatini.
China has increasingly expanded ties with African countries in the past decade and Beijing has become the continent's largest bilateral lender, investor, and trade partner.
This has seen China furnish governments with billions of dollars in loans that have helped build much-needed infrastructure and bring economic growth, but also sometimes stoked controversy by saddling countries with huge debts.
FOCAC is Beijing's main forum for engaging with Africa and this year's gathering will tackle issues ranging from health-care cooperation to debt relief to securing the rights for critical minerals.
African leaders are looking for more balanced trade and continued investments from China, while Beijing is expected to push its green technologies products like electric vehicles (EVs) and its solar industry, especially amid Western curbs on those exports.
A New Era: As Alex Vines, the Africa research director at Chatham House, told me, the green-technology push isn't a surprise and has buy-in from both sides.
"Energy provision is key for Africa's development trajectory, and so investing in renewables will be welcomed," he said.
Chinese investment in Africa peaked around 2016 and Chinese loans to African governments have since declined significantly. The old China model of offering loans for large infrastructure projects and rapid industrialization has not quite disappeared, but certainly lost steam amid China's slowing economy and the difficulty some African countries have had in repaying loans.
As Beijing is eyeing new markets for its renewables sector, Africa is a logical target. It's a young and fast-growing continent that, according to the International Monetary Fund, contains nine of the world's 20 fastest-growing economies in 2024 and China sees it as a vital market for its products and its own economic growth.
And while there are petro-states in Africa, many countries deal with energy insecurity and are eager for the more affordable products like Chinese-made smartphones and EVs that have seen their quality dramatically increase in recent years.
Why It Matters: If any lessons can be drawn from Africa's trajectory with China for other regions around the world, it's that local governments are just as influential in this process as Beijing.
It can be easy to view everything through the lens of China's global ambitions, which are very real, but they only tell part of the story.
Debt owed to China is a major factor on the continent, and some African countries have large Chinese loans that they're struggling to repay.
But Vines says that their situations can't be entirely blamed on Chinese loans. Countries like Kenya and Zambia have poorly managed their debt to all creditors, not only China, while others have managed to navigate their Chinese debt arrangements without risk or incident.
Added to that, African countries know they are becoming more attractive to multiple outside powers and using this dynamic to have more room to balance their ties with partners beyond China and the West, like Russia, India, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey.
"Local agency needs to be strengthened more robustly," Mandira Bagwandeen, an expert on China's ties to Africa and a lecturer at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, told me.
"It's not China's responsibility to be sure that whatever deal they strike is in the local country's interest. It's the responsibility of African officials and it's ultimately up to them to make sure that it works for their country."
Three More Stories From Eurasia
1. Middle Corridor Chokepoint
Kazakhstan announced on September 2 that it will temporarily stop accepting containers heading to China through its Dostyk border crossing due to inadequate infrastructure to process the cargo.
The Details: The news is something of a positive sign for those cheerleading the viability of the so-called Middle Corridor trade route that runs through the Caucasus and Central Asia and connects to China.
The press release said that the infrastructure at the border crossing can't handle the large volumes of freight now going east. At the time of the announcement, there were 55 trains waiting in Kazakhstan to cross into China.
Dostyk is one of two main rail crossings between Kazakhstan and China. The other crossing, Khorgos, was built as one of China's key Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) investments in Central Asia.
2. BYD's Big Uzbek Plans
Chinese electric car production is gearing up in Uzbekistan and the Central Asian news site Vlast has a good look at where things stand today.
What It Means: The factory was opened in late June by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev and will be a joint venture with state-owned UzAuto.
BYD pledged a $160 million investment in the production line, which is poised to put around 50,000 cars to market in its first phase, with an outlook of up to 500,000 cars. As the factory develops and expands, the company also plans to grow its China-trained local workforce from 1,200 to 10,000.
The flagship factory is the first large-scale investment of its kind in Central Asia and could be used as a template to be replicated elsewhere in Central Asia as China looks to build up the EV market across the region with its offering of affordable and increasingly reliable options.
As another interesting wrinkle, Vlast reports that "most of the electric cars that the production lines of [Central Asia] will churn out seem to be earmarked for export, with Russia being one of the main destination markets."
3. A Pakistani Great Firewall?
Millions of Pakistanis have for weeks experienced slow Internet connections and problems with accessing social media platforms.
And local activists say it's because Pakistani authorities are installing a Chinese-style national Internet firewall aimed at exerting more control over the online space and crushing dissent, my colleague Abubakar Siddique reports.
What You Need To Know: Islamabad has denied allegations that it is behind the Internet slowdown, which has disrupted businesses and triggered widespread complaints in the South Asian country of some 240 million.
Pakistanis have been unable to promptly send e-mails or use the messaging application WhatsApp, which is used by tens of millions of people. Businesses and entrepreneurs say the Internet slowdown has disrupted their daily work.
For weeks, Islamabad refused to comment, but then officials provided some contradictory remarks about the reason behind the disruptions.
Information Technology and Telecommunication Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja admitted on August 15 that the government was tinkering with the Internet, revealing that it was "upgrading a web-management system" it had previously installed.
Then on August 21, Hafeezur Rehman, the chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), claimed that a faulty undersea Internet cable was to blame.
Multiple digital-rights groups inside the country have accused the government of implementing new measures to monitor and regulate content and social media platforms in order to increase surveillance and stifle dissent, especially criticism of the country's all-powerful military.
The civilian government is backed by the military and the PTA is overseen by a retired general.
The alleged implementation of the firewall comes as Pakistan's military, which has an oversized role in the country's domestic and foreign affairs, says it is battling "digital terrorism."
Across The Supercontinent
Taipei's Rhetorical Counter: Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has challenged China's claim over the self-ruled island by suggesting in recent comments that if China is truly concerned about its territorial integrity then it should also seek to reclaim the land it ceded to Russia in the 19th century.
"If China wants to annex Taiwan.... It's not for the sake of territorial integrity. If it is really for the sake of territorial integrity, why doesn't China take back Russia?" Lai said during a TV interview.
Kazakh Nuclear Referendum: Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev announced that the country will hold a national referendum on October 6 on whether to build a new nuclear power plant, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.
According to public statements by the government, companies from China, France, Russia, and South Korea are all in the running to carry out the project if it gets enough support at the ballot box.
New Semiconductor Investment: Taiwan is planning to team up with the Czech government to build a semiconductor cluster in the Czech Republic, Taiwanese National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu said on August 30 during a press conference at the annual Globsec security conference in Prague.
Lining Up For BRICS : Bloomberg reports that Turkey has formally asked to join the BRICS group of emerging-market countries.
One Thing To Watch
A new investigation from The Washington Post found that Chinese diplomats and pro-China diaspora groups based in the United States organized demonstrations in San Francisco that harassed and silenced protesters opposed to Beijing's policies during Xi's visit to the city in November 2023.
The investigation around the events in San Francisco is another key piece of evidence that helps illustrate how the Chinese Communist Party takes steps to stifle anti-government dissent abroad, particularly in countries with large Chinese diasporas.
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/china-eurasia-africa- lessons-byd-internet/33105127.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.
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US sending Pentagon rep to China's top security forum this month
By Carla Babb September 04, 2024
The United States is planning to send Michael Chase, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for China, Taiwan and Mongolia, to China's top annual security forum this month, two U.S. defense officials have confirmed to VOA.
One of the officials, who spoke to VOA on condition of anonymity ahead of the forum, called Chase's upcoming attendance "consistent participation from the U.S."
Chase is more senior than the U.S. representative at last year's Xiangshan Forum, but his rank is on par with historical norms for Pentagon representatives who attend the annual meeting. The Pentagon did not send a representative from 2020-2022 due to the pandemic.
"This engagement is meant to be more of the same" to keep the lines of military communication open and ensure that China has a clear understanding of the United States' position on global security issues, the defense official told VOA.
The forum comes on the heels of a face-to-face meeting in Singapore between U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun, in late May.
Austin spoke with Dong for the first time in April, marking the first dialogue between the two countries' defense chiefs in nearly 17 months. The top U.S. military officer, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. C.Q. Brown, spoke with his Chinese military counterpart in December.
"Of course talks can make a difference. Having those mil-to-mil communications, those senior channels open, actually allows for the avoidance of a miscalculation," Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters earlier this year.
Chinese state media reports say that more than 90 countries and international organizations plan to send delegations to Beijing for the September 12-14 forum.
Reuters was first to report the decision.
Beijing has asserted its desire to control access to the South China Sea and bring democratically ruled Taiwan under its control, by force if necessary. President Joe Biden has said U.S. troops would defend the island from attack.
China's defense ministry has said the Taiwan issue is the "core of China's core interests."
Tensions have risen sharply between China and U.S. ally the Philippines in the South China Sea, with China's coast guard using water cannons to threaten Filipino fishing ships. China has also used collision and ramming tactics, undersea barriers and a military-grade laser to stop Philippine resupply and patrol missions.
Last year, Austin and his Philippine counterpart established the U.S.-Philippines Bilateral Defense Guidelines, which reaffirmed that an armed attack in the Pacific - including anywhere in the South China Sea - on either of their public vessels, aircraft, or armed forces, would invoke mutual defense commitments outlined in the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.
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African leaders snub Indonesian summit in favor of China visits
By Adam Hancock September 04, 2024
Indonesia hosted a gathering of African leaders in Bali this week in a bid to grow economic and trade ties. But many African countries were not represented, with leaders opting to attend a separate forum in China.
The Indonesia-Africa Forum was seen as an opportunity for Southeast Asia's largest country to boost trade ties with Africa and seek out new export markets, but the three-day forum struggled to attract a large showing of African countries.
Even so, the Indonesian forum wasn't a wasted effort, with important discussions and outcomes, said Christophe Dorigne-Thomson, a foreign affairs academic based in Jakarta.
"But symbolically, for sure, the choice was made for China," he said.
Delegates from 29 nations made their way to the resort island of Bali for the summit, well short of the 47 African countries that were represented at the inaugural forum in 2018.
Despite the smaller turnout, Indonesia hopes to have sealed $3.5 billion in business deals from the summit. That would be nearly six times the amount generated in agreements during the first forum six years ago.
Dewi Fortuna Anwar, senior researcher at Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency, tracked the deals at the summit.
"There seem to be some concrete ... letters of intent, like Indonesia's aircraft industry signing deals with several countries and the oil companies also signing deals," Anwar said.
While some leaders skipped Bali for Beijing, there remains a strong sense of cooperation between Indonesia and the African continent.
Their ties date back to 1955 when the first Asian-Africa conference was held in the Indonesian city of Bandung.
Elina Noor, senior fellow in the Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said Indonesia can use this history to its advantage.
"Jakarta can boast history and a legacy of relationship that stretches back to the Bandung conference. Indonesia has really sought to leverage on that historical relationship," Noor said.
At the forum in Bali, business was a key focus, but politics were also at play.
President Joko Widodo has looked to enhance Indonesia's standing on the international stage, promoting his country as a voice of the Global South. He is also keeping his country's options open as U.S.-China tensions simmer, said Dorigne-Thomson.
"It's a way for Indonesia to find a new way and not be stuck in that kind of geopolitical tension," he said. "Africa is, for them ... a new way to serve their interests."
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China detains prominent artist, citizen journalist in latest sign of dissent crackdown
By William Yang September 04, 2024
Rights advocates say Chinese authorities' recent detention of dissident artist Gao Zhen and prominent citizen journalist Zhang Zhan are the latest sign of an escalating crackdown on dissent in China.
Gao, a prominent artist known for creating provocative sculptures of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, was detained by Chinese police on August 26 for "slandering Chinese heroes and martyrs." More than 30 police raided his studio and confiscated several pieces of artwork related to Mao and the Cultural Revolution, a tumultuous period that China's founding leader launched in the 1960s and lasted until 1976.
Mao launched the movement to reassert ideological control with attacks on intellectuals and so-called counterrevolutionaries, which scholars estimate led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands if not millions of people.
His brother and main artistic collaborator Gao Qiang told VOA Tuesday that Gao's wife received a notification from northern Hebei province's Sanhe public security bureau on August 27. The notification said Gao had been detained under the charge of insulting and slandering Chinese heroes and martyrs, a law passed in 2018 that carries a maximum sentence of three years.
"The police mainly targeted artworks critiquing the Cultural Revolution, but these works were created more than 10 years ago, which predate the law that came into effect in 2021," Gao Qiang said in a written response.
Gao said his brother returned to China to visit family with his wife and son in June, but before his departure, he and other friends urged him to consider the potential security risks of returning to China.
"He also thought he could run into some trouble, but he still decided to go back to China in the end," he said.
Since the 1990s and into the early 2000s, the Gao brothers have been known for expressing grief toward Mao and his time in power. While Chinese police had shut down their exhibitions and confiscated some of their sensitive artworks in the past, they hadn't run into major problems before.
The two brothers obtained permanent residence in the United States in 2011, and Gao Zhen moved to New York with his family in 2022. Unlike the earlier phase of their career, the Gao brothers' recent works have been less politically sensitive and less critical of China's leadership.
Gao Qiang said that while the motivation for his brother's arrest remains unclear, he believes the incident shows the space for free expression has further shrunk in China.
"He is nearly 70 years old and is naturally prone to melancholy, so I'm very concerned about his physical and mental health in detention," he told VOA, adding that the lawyer mentioned his brother had complained about persistent back pain.
Gao's wife and children were also banned from leaving China when they tried to fly back to New York from Beijing on Tuesday. Gao's son is an American citizen, and his family members are seeking help from the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.
Several prominent Chinese writers and artists, including Ma Jian, have written an open letter, urging the Chinese authorities to release him and set his family free.
Meanwhile, Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, who was released in May after serving a four-year sentence for covering the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan in early 2020, has reportedly been detained by Chinese authorities at the Pudong Detention Center in Shanghai, according to Chinese news site Weiquanwang and supporters with knowledge of the arrest.
Zhang went to Gansu Province to meet the mother of a recently detained activist but was arrested by police when she returned to her hometown Shaanxi. It remains unclear whether she has been put in administrative detention, which usually lasts 15 days, or criminal detention, which carries a much longer sentence.
Zhang's latest detention has renewed concerns about her physical well-being. During her four-year prison sentence, Zhang staged a months-long hunger strike that caused her weight to drop to under 40 kilograms at one point.
Since her release in May, Zhang has been speaking up for other detained Chinese activists while criticizing some policies implemented by the Chinese government on Western social media platforms such as X and YouTube, which is banned in China.
Zhang wrote on the Chinese social media platform WeChat in June that local authorities in Shanghai had threatened to re-arrest her if she "crossed the red line" and said in a YouTube video in July that she possibly had been followed.
Some analysts say other dissidents' experiences suggest that Chinese authorities tend to impose harsher prison sentences on them if they were arrested for a second time. They worry Zhang could face a similar fate.
"If Chinese activists continue to stand up for freedom after their releases, the Chinese government definitely won't tolerate that," Yaqiu Wang, research director for China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan at Freedom House, told VOA by phone, adding that she has an "ominous" feeling about Zhang's situation.
In her view, the arrests of Gao and Zhang represent an escalation in the Chinese government's repression against dissidents. "Gao was merely visiting China, and the works used as evidence against him were created more than a decade ago," she said.
"This symbolizes a step further in terms of Beijing's crackdown on dissident community, and I remain extremely worried about the fate of other Chinese dissidents," Wang said.
Some human rights advocates say the detention of prominent dissidents fits Beijing's usual practice of increasing pressure on the dissident community when they face serious domestic challenges.
"The arrests are part of the larger trend of Beijing adopting more forceful measures to control civil society and this situation will indeed increase the risks that Chinese activists face," Zhou Fengsuo, a former Tiananmen student leader and executive director of New York-based organization Human Rights in China, told VOA by phone.
VOA reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Pudong Detention Center for comments. In a previous response to VOA, the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C., said China is "a country ruled by law and liberty is protected and respected" in the country.
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Han meets Putin in Vladivostok, hailing bilateral ties, joint devt
Global Times
By GT staff reporters Published: Sep 05, 2024 12:04 AM Updated: Sep 04, 2024 09:04 PM
China is full of confidence in the prospects of cooperation between the two countries, said Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, while meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok, Russia on Wednesday on the sidelines of the ninth Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).
Han said at this new historical starting point of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral ties, China-Russia relations in the new era continue to operate at a high level under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, according to Xinhua News Agency.
The Vice President said China is full of confidence in the prospects of cooperation between the two countries. China highly values the role and influence of the Eastern Economic Forum, actively supports and participates in the development and cooperation of Russia's Far East region and stands ready to share development opportunities with Russia, so as to benefit the two peoples with more achievements and promote common development and revitalization.
Putin pointed out that thanks to the two countries' joint efforts, "relations between Russia and China have reached unprecedented heights," according to Russia's TASS.
"I hope that we will be able to search for and find new areas for cooperation during our meeting today and our joint work at the Eastern Economic Forum tomorrow," said the Russian President.
"We particularly attach great importance to cooperation between regions," Putin added.
Putin is expected to attend Thursday's plenary session to discuss economic and geopolitical topics, Xinhua reported.
The ninth EEF, running from Tuesday to Friday, has attracted more than 6,000 people from 76 countries and territories, official data showed.
"The business activities conducted on the forum sidelines will take interaction with countries of the Asia-Pacific region to a new level and enable us to develop specific solutions to unlock the economic potential of the Russian Far East," Anton Kobyakov, adviser to the Russian President and Executive Secretary of the EEF Organizing Committee, said in a press release sent to the Global Times on Wednesday.
"The attendance of senior Chinese officials and Chinese companies underlines China's active attitude in participating in the development of Russia's Far East region, sending a clear signal of enhanced China-Russia friendly cooperation for mutual benefits," Li Xin, director of the Center for Russian and Central Asian Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
Given some Western countries' intensifying unreasonable suppression and the unilateral sanctions levied on Russian and Chinese companies, there is a need for the two sides to expand cooperation in more fields, Li said.
Linking and combining the strategy of full revitalization of northeast China and Russia's development of the Far East will not only benefit the two countries but also economic cooperation in Northeast Asia, contributing to the goal of maintaining peace and stability in the area, according to Li.
Mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia's Far East and China's Northeast region showed strong momentum in recent years.
Han and Putin also attended the opening ceremony of the 8th China-Russia Expo in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, in May.
While an increasing number of Chinese companies are being set up in the Far East region, infrastructure projects like the Heihe-Blagoveshchensk cross-border highway bridge and the Tongjiang-Nizhneleninskoye railway bridge play an important role in the increase in trade turnover.
In 2023, China-Russia two-way trade exceeded $240 billion, close to 1.7 times that of a decade ago, which is a good indication of the all-round cooperation of mutual benefit that continues to deepen between the two countries.
"The quality and quantity of China-Russia bilateral trade continues to see improvement in 2024," Zhang Hong, an associate research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
In addition to traditional sectors like energy and machinery, there is huge potential for the two sides to deepen economic and trade cooperation in emerging industries including green development and digital economy, according to Zhang.
Cooperation on the local level between China and Russia has gained a firmer foothold over recent years, with official and business delegations from China's Northeast region and Russia's Far East paying mutual visits to explore opportunities in economic and trade cooperation.
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North Korea may have executed officials over flood damage: spy agency
Heavy rains in late July flooded large areas along the Amnok River on the northern border.
By Taejun Kang for RFA 2024.09.04 -- North Korea is suspected of executing a number of officials held responsible for devastating floods this year and South Korea's spy agency said it was "monitoring signs" to try to determine what had happened.
The agency's announcement came a day after a South Korean broadcaster reported that up to 30 officials in flood-hit regions of North Korea had been shot to death.
Heavy rains in July flooded large areas along the Amnok River in North Korea's North Pyongan, Jagang and Ryanggang provinces with some South Korean media outlets reporting that more than 1,000 people were killed or were missing.
At that time, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said that he would punish officials for the damage, which a South Korean government ministry said appeared to be an attempt by Kim's to dodge blame for the disaster.
Since then, Kang Pong Hun, the chief secretary of the Jagang Provincial Committee of the North's ruling party, and other senior officials, including Public Security Minister Ri Thae Sop, were dismissed from their posts over the flood damage, according to North Korea's state-media.
The South's National Intelligence Service, or NIS, said Kang was possibly among the executed officials.
NIS's announcement came a day after South Korea's TV Chosun cited an unidentified South Korean government source as saying North Korean officials deemed responsible for the flood disaster had likely been executed.
"We understand late last month, 20 to 30 officials in the affected region were shot to death, including Kang Pong Hun" TV Chosun quoted the official as saying.
Since the disaster, the North's state media have featured Kim leading flood relief efforts, emphasizing his concern for the victims, but it has given no details of casualties.
South Korea said that there was a high possibility of casualties given that North Korea was reporting the rescue effort in such detail.
A resident of the northwestern province of North Pyongan told Radio Free Asia Korean, on condition of anonymity for security reasons, that residents affected by the flood were forced to watch propaganda videos that portrayed Kim as a hero and were told they must avoid showing even a hint of sadness on their faces.
Another resident told RFA Korean that soldiers mobilized to rebuild flood-hit towns were stealing food and other supplies because they have been given none by the government, upsetting residents.
North Korea reportedly declined a rescue offer from China, and did not respond to a South Korean offer of aid.
But the North's official Korean Central News Agency reported in August that Russian President Vladimir Putin offered humanitarian assistance to help North Korea cope with flood damage in another sign of expanding relations between the two nations.
Russia's state-run Tass news agency carried a similar report, saying that Putin told Kim in a message: "You can always count on our assistance and support."
Edited by Mike Firn.
Copyright 1998-2016, 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 September 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.
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About 600 Russian tourists visited North Korea since February: report
The tourism recovery has prompted plans to upgrade road and rail links between the neighbors.
By Taejun Kang for RFA 2024.09.04 -- About 600 Russian tourists have visited North Korea since it reopened its borders to tourists in February following the COVID-19 pandemic, Russian state media reported.
Most of the visitors traveled to the capital, Pyongyang, and the city of Rason from the far eastern Russian region of Primorsky Krai, said the region's tourism minister, Natalia Naboychenko, as cited by the TASS news agency.
The minister said efforts were being made to establish a regular train service between Russia and North Korea, citing high demand from Russian tourists wanting to visit Rason, which is close to the Russian far eastern city of Vladivostok.
Vladivostok has become a hub for travel to North Korea with people from other parts of Russia heading there via Vladivostok's international airport, Naboychenko said, explaining that tourists often stay in the Russian city for a few days before traveling to North Korea.
North Korea was closed to foreign tourists for just over four years, after it sealed its borders in January 2020 to try to keep COVID-19 at bay.
In June, the Federal Customs Service of Russia said that the passenger rail service between the two countries had been restored, with 41 Russian tourists taking the train to the North.
"The first train with Russian tourists left for the DPRK through the Khasan checkpoint," said the service at that time. "After a four-year break, Ussuri customs officers cleared the first passenger train for departure to North Korea."
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK, is North Korea's official name.
Separately, Russia and North Korea agreed to build a new road bridge connecting their countries over the Tumen River in North Korea's northeast, raising the prospect of a trade and tourism boost.
The agreement was made during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Pyongyang on June 19. The two countries have been discussing road bridge construction since 2015, but talks ended in 2016 when the North conducted its fourth nuclear test.
In June, Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced a partnership treaty, agreeing to offer each other military assistance "without delay" if either were attacked. They also underscored their shared defiance of Western sanctions and expanded cooperation in various sectors.
Kim also assured Putin of full support for Russia's war in Ukraine. In his latest message in August, though not referring to Ukraine by name, Kim told Putin he was sure of Russia's victory.
Russia has been cozying up to North Korea since Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The United States says that North Korea has supplied Russia with large amounts of weapons for the war in Ukraine, in particular artillery rounds and ballistic missiles, although both Russia and North Korea deny that.
In exchange for its weapons, North Korea is suspected of getting Russian technological assistance for its space program.
Edited by Mike Firn.
Copyright 1998-2016, 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 September 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.
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CURTAIN RAISER FOR HIM- DRONE-A-THON-2 & HIMTECH-2024: SETTING THE COURSE FOR DEMONSTRATION OF DRONES IN HIGH ATTITUDE AREAS
India - Press Information Bureau
Ministry of Defence
Posted On: 04 SEP 2024 3:09PM by PIB Delhi
Indian Army unveiled two landmark events; 'HIM-DRONE-A-THON 2' and 'HIMTECH-2024' landmark events designed to harness military technologies for operations in high altitude areas. Envisaged as an opportunity to the Indian Drone Industry to showcase the capabilities of their drone solutions for high altitude areas, HIM-DRONE-A-THON 2 will take place at Wari La, near Leh on 17-18 September 2024. It will be followed by HIMTECH-2024 on 20-21 September 2024, an event conceptualised to discuss, demonstrate and discover new avenues for development, incorporation and cross pollination of technology, ideas and innovations with focus on harnessing military technologies for high attitude areas.
Major General CS Mann, Additional Director General of the Army Design Bureau highlighted that the Indian Army is deployed from icy heights of the Siachen Glacier to the rugged Himalayas where its soldiers face unparalleled adversities daily. For drone operations, rarified atmosphere results in reduced lift and degraded engine performance which are further accentuated by extreme cold temperatures and high wind speeds. These conditions are unique for Indian Army and demand systems that can adequately perform in these conditions. Since such altitude battlefields are not prevalent anywhere else, tailormade, indigenous solutions are the way forward. If the indigenous industry succeeds here, it also opens vistas for them to international arena and establish India as a credible drone manufacturing hub.
HIM-DRONE-A-THON-2 will focus on drone solutions for Indian Army for high altitude areas. The event is planned to be conducted under actual terrain and environmental conditions at altitude of 4000-5000 meters. The event is open to all indigenous drone manufactures and invites their participation for demonstration of Surveillance drones, Loitering munitions, Logistics Drones, Swarm Drones and drones with specific capabilities / role / payloads ie; Electronic Warfare, Synthetic Aperture Radar, Communication Intelligence and Electronic Intelligence. As of now more than 25 Drone manufacturing firms have registered for participation in the event. All the firms will be competing in a multifaceted competition at super high-altitude area for proving their suitability and capabilities.
HIMTECH 2024 is being held for the first time in Leh, to highlight and focus on development of technology and system for meeting operational requirements along the Northern Borders. The event being held in collaboration with FICCI will not only showcase industry partners and new generation equipment developed for high altitude areas but will also project Leh as the new business destination for new technology developers, industry and academia. The event will provide a platform to Indian Industries to showcase a wide range of the equipment and technologies comprising modern unmanned systems, all terrain mobility solutions, autonomous systems and advanced soldier systems.
The technology being demonstrated by the Indigenous Drone Industry, can also be harnessed for civilian use especially in high altitude areas and areas akin to terrain/ atmospheric conditions in Union Territory of Ladkah.
****
SC
(Release ID: 2051715)
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Iran's response to Haniyeh assassination will be 'different, surprising' and 'in due time': IRGC cmdr.
Iran Press TV
Wednesday, 04 September 2024 11:08 AM
A commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) warns that Tehran's response to Israel's assassination of Hamas political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, will be "different and surprising."
Brigadier General Mohsen Chizari, deputy commander for operations of the IRGC Quds Force, made the remarks in an interview with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) on Wednesday, stressing that Iran will respond to Haniyeh's assassination "in due time."
Touching upon "Operation Arbaeen" carried out by Lebanon's resistance movement Hezbollah against the Israeli regime, Chizari stressed that the attack was in response to the assassination of the group's top commander Fuad Shukr, adding that Iran's crushing response will definitely be different.
Haniyeh was assassinated alongside one of his bodyguards in the Iranian capital Tehran on July 31, a day after he attended the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has warned the Israeli regime of a "harsh response" for the assassination of Haniyeh, saying the Islamic Republic must avenge the blood of the Palestinian resistance leader.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Chizari said that the Israeli regime's crimes against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have convinced people around the world that Israel is a "usurping and oppressive occupation regime."
The senior Iranian commander further noted that the more Israel persists with its full-scale military onslaught against different areas across the West Bank, the more difficult the situation will be for it.
"The resistance structure remains strong in Gaza, and is emerging and strengthening in the West Bank. Today, the Israeli regime is taking measures to prevent the formation and strengthening of the resistance in the West Bank, but it will never succeed," he asserted.
Chizari further noted that the "Zionist leaders" definitely know that their crimes and operations in the West Bank as well as the Gaza Strip will be in vain and they are looking for a way to get out of this predicament by any means.
He also emphasized that the resistance will definitely emerge victorious out of the current battle in Gaza, noting that the Israelis will fail to achieve their goals.
On August 28, the Israeli military launched a massive West Bank assault, deploying hundreds of troops and conducting airstrikes on Jenin, Tulkarm, and Tubas, which are major centers of Palestinian resistance against the usurping regime.
Local Palestinian resistance forces have been confronting the invading Israeli military since the start of the aggression, which is the largest in the occupied West Bank in more than two decades.
So far, dozens of Palestinians have been killed in Israel's West Bank assault.
Israeli forces and settlers have killed almost 680 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since 7 October, 2023 when the regime launched its genocidal war on Gaza..
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Israel nuclear arsenal significant threat to global peace: Iran UN envoy
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Sep 4, 2024
New York, IRNA -- Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York Amir Saied Iravani has said that the Israeli regime is threatening other regional countries with nuclear annihilation, and its nuclear arsenal poses a significant threat to both regional and global peace and security.
Iravani made the comment on Wednesday as a addressed the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on the International Day Against Nuclear Tests.
The following is the full text of the Iranian envoy's speech at the UNGA meeting:
In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
Mr. President,
Allow me to begin by thanking you for convening this meeting. I would also like to join other delegates in commending Kazakhstan for taking the initiative to promote the International Day against Nuclear Tests.
Indeed, observance of this day is the commemoration of the victims of nuclear tests- the peoples who suffered, is suffering and will continue to suffer due to the enduring effects of radioactive fallout; the peoples most of whom were not the citizens of countries that conducted the nuclear tests.
Celebrating this day also signifies the international community's commitment to protecting the environment from the destructive effects of nuclear tests, many of which have occurred beyond the borders of the countries that conducted them.
Similarly, recognizing this day as an international event reflects the longstanding commitment of the international community to ending nuclear weapon tests, which is essential for achieving a world free of nuclear weapons.
Mr. President,
In commemoration of the International Day against Nuclear Tests, Nuclear-Weapon States (NWSs) should be mainly addressed, as they possess the capability to conduct such tests, with approximately 2,000 tests carried out since 1945, including 1,054 by the US alone.
At a time when all nuclear-armed states are planning to modernize, upgrade, or extend the life of their nuclear weapons and facilities, as well as develop new easy-to-use nuclear weapons, ending nuclear weapon testing is of outmost importance.
To that end, Nuclear-Weapon States have the primary responsibility. They need to adopt practical measures to stop all kinds of nuclear weapon tests. In 2000 NPT Review Conference the Nuclear Weapon States committed themselves to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) without delay as one of the 13 practical steps in implementing the Article VI of the NPT.
Nuclear-Weapon States (NWSs) hold the primary responsibility for the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and should take the lead in this effort. The ratification of the CTBT by NWSs would be a significant step toward rebuilding the confidence of Non-Nuclear Weapon States (NNWSs) and the international community.
Current situation testifies that, no matter how important the voluntary moratoria on nuclear tests are, they cannot substitute for a comprehensive universal and verifiable legally-binding prohibition on all types of nuclear explosions, including in alternative ways.
Mr. President,
Commemoration of this day is also an opportunity for international community to make Israeli regime promptly accede to the NPT without any precondition and to place all of its nuclear facilities under the full-scope IAEA safeguards. The current situation is alarming, as the Israeli regime is threatening other regional countries with nuclear annihilation, and its nuclear arsenal poses a significant threat to both regional and global peace and security.
Mr. President,
By observing this day, we should also renew our commitment to the noble goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons- the only absolute guarantee against the threat or use of these inhumane weapons.
As a signatory to the CTBT, the Islamic Republic of Iran considers this treaty a step toward nuclear disarmament, and in this context, believes it cannot substitute for the total elimination of nuclear weapons. Consequently, nuclear disarmament must remain a top priority for the international community, and all forms of nuclear testing must be unequivocally prohibited. Such tests contradict both the letter and spirit of the CTBT and, more importantly, violate the legal obligations of the Nuclear-Weapon States under Article VI of the NPT.
4194
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Britain defends Israeli weapons export ban as Europe mulls sanctions
By Henry Ridgwell September 04, 2024
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended his government's decision to suspend some arms shipments to Israel Wednesday, saying the move was necessary to comply with international law.
"We absolutely recognize and support Israel's right to self-defense and have taken action in support of that right of self-defense. ... But in relation to licenses, this isn't an Israel issue. It's the framework for all licenses that have to be kept under review," he said.
"We either comply with international law or we don't. We only have strength in our arguments because we comply with international law," Starmer told lawmakers in Parliament.
Israel has strongly criticized the move and said it would only serve to strengthen Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. Israel invaded the Palestinian territory after Hamas militants killed more than 1,200 people and took 253 hostages in a cross-border terror attack on October 7.
Britain on Monday suspended around 30 of the 350 licenses for weapons exports to Israel after a legal review. Foreign Secretary David Lammy made the announcement in parliament on Monday.
"The assessment I have received leaves me unable to conclude anything other than that for certain U.K. arms exports to Israel, there does exist a clear risk that they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law," Lammy told lawmakers, adding that the export bans include "equipment that we assess is for use in the current conflict in Gaza, such as important components which go into military aircraft, including fighter aircraft, helicopters and drones, as well as items which facilitate ground targeting."
The British move will have little impact on the Israel Defense Forces' operations, said Middle East analyst Yossi Mekelberg of the London-based policy institute Chatham House. "Most of Israel's weapons and ammunition come actually from the United States and Germany. It amounts to nearly 99% of the arms supplied to Israel."
But the symbolism of Britain's move is significant, Mekelberg said.
"Suspension sends a clear message that you can be a friend of Israel, you can support Israel a including Labour [the ruling party] a supportive of Israel, especially after October 7, and rightly so. But at the same time to disagree fundamentally with the way Israel conducts the war and how it uses weapons," he said.
"I think we can start seeing a change [in Britain's approach], and I think what some of us wonder is if it will go as far as recognizing a Palestinian statehood. This probably would be the biggest step forward," Mekelberg said.
Andreas Krieg, a fellow of the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies at Kings College London, said the political impact of the export ban would outweigh the practical implications.
"The U.K. might not be the strongest hard power in the Middle East, but it has significant soft power and influence. It shows that for the very first time that a very close partner and ally of Israel doesn't trust the Israeli government, when they're saying that they are complying with the laws of armed conflict," Krieg told VOA.
"The fact that the U.K. is now saying that there are potential doubts is casting bigger doubts over Israel's campaign and the complicity of other countries as well, including Germany and the United States, in aiding and supporting Israel's campaign, particularly in Gaza, but also potentially in the West Bank," he said.
"Other European countries might want to now revisit their arms export licenses and to what extent their weapons are being used in what could be seen as an illegal war, a partially illegal war in Gaza," Krieg said.
Washington paused the export of large 1-ton bombs to Israel in May over concerns that they could be used in a ground invasion of the city of Rafah but has continued to supply billions of dollars' worth of other weapons.
Germany, which supplies about 39% of Israel's arms imports, has not said it plans to suspend any arms shipments.
Israel strongly denies breaking international law in Gaza and claims it targets only Hamas militants, whom it accuses of hiding in schools, hospitals and mosques and using human shields.
Critics accuse the Israel Defense Forces of conducting indiscriminate attacks against the civilian population and targeting basic infrastructure. The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza says more than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli operation began, most of them women and children. Most of Gaza's 2.3 million people have been forced to flee their homes.
The Israeli military says the death toll includes several thousand Hamas combatants. The U.S., the U.K. and other Western countries designate Hamas as a terror group.
Writing on the social media platform X, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly criticized Britain's move to ban some arms exports.
"Days after Hamas executed six Israeli hostages, the UK government suspended thirty arms licenses to Israel. This shameful decision will not change Israel's determination to defeat Hamas, a genocidal terrorist organization that savagely murdered 1,200 people on October 7, including 14 British citizens."
"Hamas is still holding over 100 hostages, including 5 British citizens. Instead of standing with Israel, a fellow democracy defending itself against barbarism, Britain's misguided decision will only embolden Hamas. Israel is pursuing a just war with just means, taking unprecedented measures to keep civilians out of harm's way and comporting fully with international law," Netanyahu wrote on Tuesday.
In recent days, tens of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets of Tel Aviv to protest Netanyahu's handling of the war in Gaza and the failure to secure the release of the remaining hostages.
"I think there's a growing divide between the Israeli public and Israeli national interest, and the Netanyahu government. So, siding or moving against the Netanyahu government is now seen less and less so as moving against Israel as a whole, or the Israeli public," said analyst Andreas Krieg.
Meanwhile the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell last week proposed sanctioning two unnamed Israeli government ministers, accusing them of having a "colonial agenda" in the occupied West Bank. Israel is conducting an ongoing raid against militants in the territory, focused on refugee camps in Jenin and Tulkarem. Israeli settlers are accused of forcibly seizing Palestinian land in the West Bank with the support of the IDF, which Israel denies.
"We are ... witnessing a formal radicalization on the part of some members of the Israeli far-right for whom Gaza has always been a minor issue compared with the West Bank and Jerusalem. Maybe, they don't care about the settlements in Gaza, since any return to calm would make it more difficult to pursue the colonial agenda they have for the West Bank, the expansion of the colonies," Borrell told reporters in Brussels on August 29.
Any decision on sanctioning Israeli ministers would require unanimity among EU member states. Borrell said that threshold had not been met.
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September 4, 2024
Release
Readout of Assistant Secretary of Defense Dr. Ely Ratner's Meeting With Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense Miyake Shingo
Department of Defense Spokesperson Maj. Pete Nguyen provided the following readout:
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Affairs Dr. Ely Ratner met with Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense Miyake Shingo today at the Pentagon to advance key Alliance modernization priorities following the successful July 28 U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee (2+2) Meeting in Tokyo. The officials shared perspectives on a range of bilateral issues, including command and control, bilateral presence in the Southwest Islands, defense industry cooperation, and opportunities for multilateral engagement. Assistant Secretary Ratner and Vice-Minister Miyake committed to enhancing the U.S.-Japan Alliance through close collaboration to tackle shared security challenges.
https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3895057/
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Japan warns of 'new era of crisis,' asks for record defense budget
Annual defense white paper identifies China, North Korea and Russia as main threats to Japan's security.
By RFA Staff 2024.09.04 -- Japan's defense ministry has released its annual white paper for 2024, warning that the Asia-Pacific region is facing "the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II."
Days before, the ministry requested a record budget of 8.5 trillion yen (US$59 billion) for the next year to boost deterrence.
The English version of the 572-page white paper, which sets out Tokyo's defense plan, was made public on Tuesday.
In the report "Defense of Japan 2024," Minister of Defense Minoru Kihara wrote that the international community had entered "a new era of crisis" and was facing "the greatest trial" since World War II.
Kihara singled out China, which has been building up military strength while intensifying activities in the East China Sea and the Pacific, as one of the greatest strategic challenges to Japan, alongside North Korea and Russia.
The ministry assessed that China had been "intensifying changes to the status quo by force" in the entire region around Japan, including in the East China and South China Sea.
Japan fears that an armed conflict over Taiwan, which China considers a province that must be reunited with the mainland, would spill over to Japan. Tokyo has been deploying more troops and military equipment to its outlying islands close to Taiwan.
Japan's defense policy is to continue building up capabilities, especially so-called stand-off defense, or responding from outside the threat zone, using integrated air and missile systems, and to strengthen cooperation with allies and partners.
"The alliance with the United States is a key pillar of Japan's national security policy," the ministry said in the white paper, noting that both Japan and the United States are "in agreement that the highest priority is ... to prevent unilateral changes to the status quo by force," a reference to China and Russia without naming them.
China has reacted angrily to the white paper, saying it uses China as a pretext to mislead the Japanese public, as well as the international community, and to justify Japan's military expansion, according to media reports.
Record defense budget
Japan's defense ministry on Friday requested a record budget of nearly US$60 billion for 2025, mainly to fortify its southwestern islands against the threats from China, the Associated Press reported.
The money would be spent on developing and acquiring new drones, missiles, satellites, cyber defense and cloud-based command and control systems.
The budget has grown through the years. It was 6.6 trillion yen ($45.5 billion) in 2023 and is projected to reach 7.7 trillion yen ($53 billion) in 2024, according to the defense ministry.
Tokyo is expected to double its annual military spending to about 10 trillion yen ($68.9 billion) by 2027, becoming the world's third largest military spender after the U.S. and China, AP reported.
While the request must go through the ministry of finance, which will likely reduce it before making a decision in December, China has already criticized it.
China's Global Times quoted experts as saying that Japan's continuous increase of military spending reflected its "militarism resurgence" and the ambition to expand its military presence in the region.
Japan's aggression before and during World War II is deeply resented in parts of Asia, in particular China and South Korea.
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 September 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.
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CPJ Expresses Concerns Over Kazakhstan's New Media Accreditation Rules
By RFE/RL's Kazakh Service September 04, 2024
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued a statement on September 3 expressing concerns over recently introduced changes to Kazakhstan's domestic-media accreditation regulations and proposed changes to foreign-media accreditation, saying they could be used to muzzle independent media.
"New and proposed amendments to Kazakhstan's accreditation regulations are excessive and open too many doors to censorship. Instead of the greater openness promised by President [Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev's] 'New Kazakhstan,' what journalists are really getting is ever more creeping state control," CPJ Europe and Central Asia program coordinator Gulnoza Said said.
"Kazakh authorities should heed journalists' legitimate complaints and revise the media accreditation rules."
The changes regulating domestic media in the Central Asian country that came into force last month allow a journalist's accreditation to be withdrawn for six months if they twice fail to comply with rules at news events, which could potentially include asking off-topic questions.
Also last month, the Kazakh government proposed regulations for foreign media outlets that allow the Foreign Ministry to deny or revoke accreditation for any violation of Kazakh law, including minor "administrative" offenses.
A media law that came into force in June already bans foreign media from unaccredited journalistic activity.
Domestic and international rights groups and media experts have expressed concerns over that law, saying it will compromise independent journalism and lead to self-censorship in the tightly controlled former Soviet republic.
Another provision in the law that Toqaev signed on June 20 says that all Internet resources are to be considered media outlets.
Among other things, the law introduces a three-year period to file lawsuits over materials published in the media.
In 2024, Kazakhstan slipped from 134th place to 142nd in the press index of Reporters Without Borders, which monitors media freedom around the world.
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-cpj-media-accreditation- law/33105583.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.
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Month of fighting leaves once-bustling Myanmar town eerily quiet
Displaced residents say they won't return while the threat of junta airstrikes remains.
By RFA Burmese 2024.09.04 -- The normally bustling town of Kyaukme in northern Myanmar's Shan state is a shadow of its former self one month after ethnic rebels captured it from the military, according to residents who say they won't return because they fear retaliation from the junta.
On Aug. 5, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, and allied forces seized control of Kyaukme after more than a month of fighting by taking over the junta's Military Operations Command No. 1, about 1.5 km (a mile) outside of the town, as well as two junta Light Infantry Battalions bases inside it.
During the weeks of fighting, the junta dropped 500-pound bombs and fired heavy weapons to defend its positions, destroying many of the town's buildings and forcing many of its more than 40,000 inhabitants to flee for their safety.
Residents say that more than 400 people - including civilians, junta troops and rebel fighters - were killed in the clashes. The Kyaukme-based Namp Khone Tai Charitable Organization said it collected 219 bodies for burial in the first eight days after the town fell to the TNLA.
Nearly a month later, the town feels empty, said Nwe Nwe, a vendor at the fresh market in Kyaukme's Ti Lin ward.
"Sales haven't returned to normal, as not all residents have come back," she told RFA Burmese. "Only a few [people] can be seen in the downtown area. The major shops remain closed."
Most residents continue to take refuge in Nawng Ping and Sa Khan Thar villages, located around 16 km (10 miles) outside of Kyaukme, while others have relocated to the Shan state capital of Taunggyi, about 290 km (180 miles) to the south, or southwest to Mandalay region.
'None of us dare go back'
Displaced residents told RFA that they won't return home while the threat of junta airstrikes remains.
On Aug. 27 and 29, when some residents returned to Kyaukme to check on their homes, the junta dropped bombs on the town's police station and State High School No. 2, said one of the displaced, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns.
"While the displaced from Kyaukme were preparing to return home, the first group of returnees came back to the camp after the junta attacked with three 500-pound bombs," he said. "Now, none of us dare go back, and meanwhile, some new displaced residents [from Kyaukme] have arrived at our shelter."
Other residents of Kyaukme told RFA that their homes and shops were looted after they fled the fighting.
Ma Khaing said she and her family members "fled with whatever we could carry" in the middle of a junta artillery attack, only to learn that thieves ransacked her home while she was gone.
"Every item from our house was taken," she said. "We have no idea how to resume our lives."
Picking up the pieces
In the meantime, the TNLA said it has deployed a "police force" to provide security and law enforcement in Kyaukme, although judicial, medical and other administrative services have yet to resume.
After the junta lost Kyaukme, it restricted the transportation of goods, causing prices to nearly double, according to merchant Nyi Nyi Lwin.
"The prices of commodities, including fuel, have skyrocketed," he said.
Electricity and mobile communications also have yet to be restored, and residents said they expect it will take time for the banking system to come back online.
While residents of Kyaukme pick up the pieces, intense fighting between the TNLA and junta forces continues in nearby Nawnghkio and Hsipaw townships, they said.
Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Joshua Lipes and 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 September 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.
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Myanmar civilians trapped in monastery as clashes intensify
Attacks by insurgents trigger junta retaliation, driving thousands of civilians from their homes.
By RFA Burmese 2024.09.04 -- Fighting in central Myanmar has trapped about 1,000 people in a monastery where they are running out of food and the sick and wounded face death without medical help, residents told Radio Free Asia on Wednesday.
Fighting across Myanmar has displaced about 3 million people, according to humanitarian agencies, with little prospect of relief as the military, which seized power in 2021, struggles against increasingly determined insurgent forces.
Some of the worst violence has been in the Sagaing region where the military often accuses civilians of supporting the insurgents, who launch guerrilla attacks and melt away. In response, junta forces take out their anger on villagers, rights groups and residents say.
In Indaw town, in the north of Sagaing, about 1,000 residents who did not flee earlier with most other residents have become cut off by junta blockades in a monastery with dwindling supplies of food and medical supplies, residents said.
A 28-year-old woman and 20-year-old man died last week from untreated battle wounds with prospects grim for others, said one Indaw resident who escaped.
"Although people tried to leave, the junta troops didn't allow them to," said the resident, who declined to be identified in fear of reprisals.
"Several children are suffering from head injuries. They're being treated with whatever medicine they have to hand."
Five civilians were killed and six were wounded on Aug. 16 in fighting between the junta forces and the Kachin Independence Army, or KIA, and its allies, as they tried unsuccessfully to seize military positions, residents said.
More than 20,000 residents were able to flee Indaw, but Buddhist monks, children, elderly people, and civil servants aligned with the junta administration are among those trapped, the residents said.
RFA telephoned the Sagaing region's junta spokesperson, Nyunt Win Aung, to ask about the situation but he did not answer calls.
The KIA, which is fighting for self-determination for the ethnic minority Kachin people, has made significant gains in Kachin state and the Sagaing region since late last year.
A three-member alliance of rebel factions in Shan state, to the east, has captured major towns and military bases while the military has also 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.
In southern Sagaing, thousands of villagers have fled from junta raids in Khin-U township, 215 km (134 miles) south of Indaw, since Tuesday, residents there said.
Junta troops burned homes in two villages and occupied eight others, said a relief worker.
"Residents are fleeing everywhere, especially to villages they know are safe. Others are going to urban areas," said the relief worker, who also declined to be named for security reasons.
On Friday, pro-democracy fighters in Khin-U township tried to capture a junta stronghold in Ma Daung Hla village but were forced to retreat due to airstrikes, which killed 10 members of the insurgent force, said an official from a rebel group who also declined to be identified.
Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan and 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 September 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.
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September 4, 2024
Speech
Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Policy) Ms. Cara Abercrombie's Remarks Following the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group
Good afternoon. I'd like to start by thanking Under Secretary Jenkins and her team for hosting us at the State Department today. I'd also like to thank First Vice Minister Kim and Deputy Minister Cho for their significant contributions to our productive meeting.
Our governments have made historic progress on extended deterrence cooperation over the past year, including through the EDSCG dialogue today and the work of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG). The EDSCG serves as a key forum for the U.S.-ROK Alliance to discuss integrating and coordinating all levers of national power - diplomatic, informational, military, and economic - to address security challenges affecting the Korean Peninsula and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
Today, we discussed the dangerous and irresponsible behavior of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), including the ongoing expansion, diversification, and improvement of nuclear and non-nuclear capabilities as well as the growing DPRK-Russia strategic partnership, which violates several UN Security Council Resolutions.
We remain committed to taking appropriate actions in response to destabilizing DPRK activities. The U.S. commitment to the ROK is enduring and ironclad. Any nuclear attack by the DPRK against the United States or its allies and partners is unacceptable and will result in the end of that regime.
However, our goal remains the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. We remain willing to engage in dialogue with the DPRK, without preconditions. We will also continue to urge the DPRK and Russia to abide by UNSC resolutions.
We look forward to working together with the ROK, across all our extended deterrence forums, to engage in deeper, cooperative efforts to further strengthen our extended deterrence cooperation. Let me take a moment to again thank U/S Jenkins, First Vice Minister Kim, and Deputy Minister Cho for the thoughtful, productive discussion today.
https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/3894986/
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Deputy Secretary Campbell Meeting with Republic of Korea Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Hong Kyun
US Department of State
Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
September 4, 2024
Deputy Secretary Kurt Campbell met yesterday with Republic of Korea First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Hong Kyun, who traveled to Washington to co-chair the fifth meeting of the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group. In their meeting, Deputy Secretary Campbell welcomed First Vice Foreign Minister Kim to Washington and reaffirmed the United States' ironclad commitment to its alliance with the Republic of Korea (ROK). The two also discussed shared values and joint support for an open, prosperous, and secure world, and the importance of working together to combat common threats, including DPRK provocations and DPRK-Russia military cooperation.
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Meeting on infrastructure development in the Far Eastern Federal District
The President held a meeting on expanding Far Eastern energy and transport infrastructure.
September 4, 2024
17:50
Russky Island, Primorye Territory
Today, we will focus on issues that are crucial to our long-term systematic plans to develop the Far East, to ensure the unfaltering operation of enterprises, and the implementation of investment programmes. Without a doubt, the matters under discussion are vital for improving the quality of life of the people who live in this vast macro-region.
We will primarily focus on improving the energy and transport infrastructure.
Let us start with the energy sector and look into current priorities in addition to long-term goals.
Everyone is aware of a major technological disruption in the high-voltage equipment of 500 kilowatts that took place in the Primorye Territory in August. Almost two million people felt the consequences. I hope to hear about the lessons learned from this situation and the specific solutions to be implemented in the near future.
By the way, an extended heat dome over southern Russia has led to power outages as well. True, to a certain extent they were due to severe abnormal weather, but it does happen, and we must be prepared for it. Swift response must be part of the systemic work.
In this regard, power consumption in the Russian Far East is steadily growing. This is good news, because this tells us that the economic growth rates here are higher than national average. Power consumption increased by 1.4 per cent last year on average nationwide, whereas in the Far East it was up by 3.5 percent. This reflects, as I earlier said, an increase in business activity in the Far Eastern regions where manufacturing sites are expanding dynamically, and housing and social facilities are being built.
We expect energy consumption in Russia's Far East to increase at an annual rate of about five percent until 2030, which means doubling the national average.
Therefore, we need to anticipate these developments by expanding the generating capacity in the Far Eastern region accordingly. We must build power plants and grids and develop respective infrastructure taking into consideration the specific nature of the power grid there, as well as the forecasted demand for electricity in terms of powering businesses and households.
We are working on the corresponding decisions with the Government. Overall, I can say that we must build 2.6 gigawatts of capacity in Russia's Far East by 2030.
What are the key takeaways on this topic? The Energy Ministry, as well as other agencies, will be involved in these efforts. There is a considerable amount of obsolete equipment in this region, and it has to be taken out of operation. In order to reach the required capacity, we must take these circumstances into account as well.
Priority projects include building the Yuzhno-Yakutskaya Thermal Power Plant, as well as almost quadrupling capacity at the Svobodnenskaya Thermal Power Plant in the Amur Region. In addition to this, there is a need to upgrade 270 diesel power plants, including in Yakutia and Kamchatka. At the same time, we need to look beyond this horizon and to draft plans for a longer period.
Let me remind you that there was an instruction following last year's Eastern Economic Forum to draft a long-term development programme for the Far Eastern Federal District's power supply sector until 2050. These are long-term plans, and it is essential that we complete all these tasks on time.
The programme must be based on the General Layout of Russia's Electric Power Facilities, setting forth the deadlines for building thermal power plants, NPPs, hydropower plants, and power generating plants relying on renewables. Regarding the NPPs, I was referring to the Far East, of course. Why not? This is a promising sector. If we can build so many NPPs abroad - I cannot even remember the exact number; about 20, right - and provide funding for most of these projects, this means that we can also execute our plans to expand nuclear power generation within the country.
We also need to expand our power grids. The Government must approve this document by December 1, 2024. Time is running out. Today, I expect to hear reports on these efforts.
We should also look into ways to improve logistics and to increase transport access to the Far East and connectivity of its regions. Understandably, this is a tall order considering the immense territory of the Far Eastern Federal District. The priorities here include expanding air transport and creating new more convenient routes.
Notably, the air traffic volume in the Far East is growing steadily as well. Passenger traffic has doubled in ten years to a record-breaking high of 10.5 million passengers last year, of whom almost a quarter - 2.4 million passengers - used local flights connecting the Far Eastern regions.
Last year, a goal was set at the Eastern Economic Forum to increase passenger traffic on domestic flights in the Far East to at least 4 million passengers a year by 2030. To get there, we need to build and to upgrade the airfield infrastructure, to expand the itinerary network between the Far Eastern regions, to expand the aircraft fleet, and to make airfare more affordable.
We need regional aircraft. Mr Trutnev reported, and I know it from other sources as well, that we keep putting off the construction of this regional aircraft, which we need so badly.
I would like our colleagues today to share with us in detail the progress of implementation of the plans and projects with a special emphasis on supporting air transport on socially important Far Eastern routes, as well as the plans to build domestic aircraft for regional and small aviation. Without a doubt, the new aircraft must be competitive both in terms of specifications and price.
Next, we focus a lot on building motorways in the Far East. Their condition plays a key role in ensuring efficient logistics and strengthening the region's economy as a whole and, of course, improving the quality of life, as I earlier said.
The crossing over the Zeya River in the Amur Region ranks among the largest and most significant road facilities that have been built in the Far East most recently. We must also complete the construction of a bridge across the Lena River near Yakutsk which is another important and long-awaited project, all the more so as this is no longer a dead end destination.
As you are aware, we have set clear benchmarks regarding the condition of motorways. At least 85 percent of the road network in the metropolitan areas and at least half of regional roads must be brought up to code by the end of this year.
Please update us on the progress of this work and on the efforts to improve the road infrastructure which are part of the implementation of the Far Eastern master plans. We are aware that a number of the Far Eastern regions are running the risk of not achieving the goals within the established timeframe. In this regard, I look forward to hearing a report on the plans to catch up with the schedule. In the future, we need the Government and the regional authorities to keep this matter under special control.
Please provide a separate update on plans to provide high-quality access roads to border crossing points at the state border. We are fast tracking the development of their infrastructure, and it is crucial for these activities to be synchronised with the road construction plans.
On a final note, the Far East's proximity to international logistics routes and it being part of the goods flow global system constitute an exceptional competitive advantage, and our plans to develop transport corridors in the Far East must be aligned with the projects to develop the Northern Sea Route which we discuss fairly often, if not constantly.
Far Eastern seaports play an important role in our access to foreign markets and account for a quarter of the cargo turnover of all Russian ports. Without a doubt, this figure will continue to grow.
I am aware that in conjunction with the regions and federal authorities, businesses are implementing far-reaching plans to upgrade and build moorings and other port infrastructure facilities. We should support these projects by all means. At the same time, it is important to expand access roads to seaports and increase the capacity of railways.
We work systematically and consistently to remove the bottlenecks that are stifling the operation of the BAM and the Trans-Siberian Railway. Their capacity should increase to 180 million tonnes by the end of this year.
This year gave start to the third phase of upgrading the Eastern Operating Domain which envisages an increase in carrying capacity to 270 million tonnes by late 2032, as well as a more efficient distribution of freight flows to the ports of the Primorye transport hub of Vanino and Sovetskaya Gavan.
Please update us in detail on the progress of implementation of this core project of major importance.
Let us start with the energy sector. Minister of Energy Sergei Tsivilev is our next speaker.
<...>
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Results of the Russian Far East's development presented and new plants launched
Vladimir Putin heard reports by Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev and Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and the Arctic Alexei Chekunkov. He also familiarised himself with an interactive presentation of results of the Russian Far East's development and took part, via video link, in the opening of new plants launched by residents of priority development territories.
September 4, 2024
15:15
Primorye Territory, Russky Island
The Ozyorny mining and refining facility, a modern plant specialising in mining and processing ores based on the polymetallic, mostly lead and zinc, deposit of Ozyornoye in the Republic of Buryatia, has been put into operation. It can produce up to 6 million tonnes of ore per year, including up to 600,000 tonnes of zinc concentrate per year and 82,000 tonnes of lead concentrate per year. Up to 1,300 new jobs will be created when it reaches its full production capacity. The plant will produce about 4.5 percent of world zinc concentrate output. The project has been implemented by the Ozyornoye Company. Ozyornoye Company General Director Vladislav Sviblov narrated about the company.
The Port of Sukhodol, a maritime complex specialising in receiving, storing and loading coal to sea ships in the southern Primorye Territory, has reached full production capacity. Following the introduction of additional capacities, its freight turnover will amount to 12 million tonnes of coal per year and prospectively to 20 million tonnes. Among other things, the project has been implemented to ease access to port infrastructure for small and medium-sized coal producers. The port is equipped with two shiploaders, each capable of handling 3,500 tonnes of coal per hour. Four stacker-reclaimers have a capacity of 3,500 tones per hour each.
The infrastructure includes a coal storage facility for 915,000 cubic metres, a cargo handling rail terminal (14 tracks), and a railway station (20 tracks). The explanations were provided by General Director of Seaport of Sukhodol Sergei Kropotov.
The first stage of the Primorye plastic pipe plant has been launched. It produces 20 to 1,200 mm single- and multi-wall polyethylene pipes for water- and gas-supply systems. Its manufactures are noted for their long service life (over 100 years) and will be in demand in the context of gas distribution programmes and housing and utilities upgrade projects.
The first stage includes four high-technology lines for a total of 18,000 tonnes of products per year. After the second stage becomes effective in 2026, this figure will rise to 35,000 tonnes per year. The plant has been built by Polyplastic Group, a resident of the Primorye priority development territory. Explanations were given by Chairman of the Board of Directors Lev Gorilovsky.
* * *
Deputy Prime Minister - Plenipotentiary Presidential Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev: Mr President,
First, I would like to report that we have created an integrated governance framework for promoting development on a macroregional level in Russia's Far East as part of the objectives you have set forth. In includes 81 laws and almost 500 government acts for ensuring that investors feel safe here and can generate profits in the Far East. Of course, there is an ongoing effort to further improve this framework. This year we have been drafting a law creating an international priority development territory. In 2023, we adopted a law governing deliveries of essential goods to the northern territories - people there really needed it.
What have we achieved with this solution? This macro region has been above the national average in terms of its main development indicators for a third year in row. These indicators include fixed capital investment, construction volumes, housing construction, corporate revenue and minerals extraction.
Over the past 10 years, the macro region attracted 4.2 trillion rubles in private investment, including 800 billion since the previous Eastern Economic Forum in 2023, and also launched 152 enterprises and created 18,000 jobs.
The international environment has changed, creating new challenges, as well as new development opportunities for Russia's Far East.
Developing the Eastern Operating Domain within our national railway system has primary importance in terms of developing the Far East and national development in general. On the one hand, this requires a lot of work and substantial funding. On the other hand, the 3.7 trillion rubles we need for upgrading the Eastern Operating Domain will also contribute to developing the Far East.
Having more businesses and new investment project means that the region needs more electricity. Even today, the power grids in Primorye and Trans-Baikal territories, Buryatia, and the Jewish Autonomous Area undermine investment. Mr President, the Energy Minister will present proposals during today's meeting resulting from your instructions to the federal Government.
At the same time, we need to do more to ensure that investment keeps growing. For that, we believe that we need to carry out a sectoral review in order to examine all the key sectors which contribute the most to developing the Far East in order to identify their potential and what needs to be done to attract more investment.
We must support the effort to establish two metallurgy clusters in the Khabarovsk Territory. In keeping with your instructions, we will carry out master plans, build shipyards, and expand deposit extraction sites by carrying out additional mineral surveys in the Far East.
In agriculture, land reclamation efforts will enable us to use more land.
Mr President, last year I reported on our plans to reach 10.5 trillion in investment by 2030. Today, I would like to tell you that we believe that we need to go beyond this point. This is why I am asking you to set this objective at 12 trillion. We will deliver.
Vladimir Putin: I can just as well set it at 15 trillion or higher, but we must proceed from what these projects actually represent and the support measures the Government can offer.
Yury Trutnev: Of course, Mr President.
Vladimir Putin: Do you think this 12-trillion goal to be realistic?
Yury Trutnev: We can do it.
Vladimir Putin: Great.
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Meeting with Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia Aleksandar Vulin
Vladimir Putin had a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia Aleksandar Vulin.
September 4, 2024
12:05
Russky Island, Primorye Territory
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov took part in the talks.
* * *
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Vulin, I am delighted to welcome you to Vladivostok and to Russia.
I hope that your business mission here will be both successful and useful, particularly in terms of carrying out a careful review and assessing cooperation opportunities with Russia's Far East, a vast region that holds immense potential and promise.
We have so many guests from a wide range of countries here, representing companies of all kinds and from across the world, including Asia and Europe. I believe that in addition to taking part in informal debates and official events, you can also engage with your colleagues from other countries. This is what makes events of this kind so valuable, among other things.
As for our bilateral relations, it is widely known what they represent. I am referring to the deep-rooted relations, their historical roots and the spiritual affinity between the people of Russia, the Russian nation and the Serbian nation.
Unfortunately, in terms of our trade and economic ties, trade has been declining, albeit slightly. I am aware that you and your cabinet are working on these matters. Perhaps it is time to hold an intergovernmental commission meeting in order to review the obstacles we face in this regard and remove them. Moreover, we have so many interesting avenues for cooperation in manufacturing, transport and industrial cooperation.
As you know, Russia plays a crucial role in supplying Serbia with energy resources, doing so efficiently and at a high level, always in a timely manner and on favourable terms for Serbia. This is something we will also discuss. There are specific issues we must address in this regard. For example, I am referring to the fact that our gas supply deals are set to expire in March 2025.
Of course, we are looking forward to hearing your assessment of what has been happening in your region from a security perspective and in terms of fulfilling the existing international agreements, particularly the Dayton Agreement. It would be very interesting and useful to hear your perspective and assessments on all these matters.
Welcome.
Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia Aleksandar Vulin (retranslated): Mr President,
It is a great honour and privilege for me to have a conversation with you today, and I can assure you that it is a great source of inspiration for all the people of Serbia. After all, we, the Serbs, are always better off whenever Russia is there for Serbia and cares about what Serbia is doing.
Serbia would not exist, had Russia failed to persevere throughout all these centuries. Not only do our nations have a shared past but they are also building their future together. I would like to take this opportunity, which is a great honour for me, to convey to you the heartfelt and fraternal greetings on behalf of President Aleksandar Vucic. He wishes you to stay strong and healthy for many years to come, and to serve as the leader of the Russian land for the wellbeing of the people of Russia.
As you know, Serbia is more than just a strategic partner for Russia. Serbia is also Russia's ally. It is for this reason that we face so much pressure from the West. However, under Aleksandar Vucic's leadership, Serbia would never join NATO, nor would it impose sanctions on the Russian Federation. It would not allow anyone to use its territory for any anti-Russian undertakings. Serbia has not taken part and will never contribute to the anti-Russia hysteria.
We respect and appreciate Russia. The forum I am attending demonstrates that attempts to isolate Russia bring nothing but harm. You cannot isolate Russia. Serbia would never participate in any initiative of this kind. You know that our region is facing quite a challenging situation, at least as far as Serbia is concerned. Pristina has been taking unilateral steps to reshape the situation on the ground, subvert Resolution 1244 and carry out ethnic cleansing in Kosovo and Metohija. Pristina disregards its own decision and the fact that it undertook with its own signature to create a Community of Serb Municipalities and carry out the Brussels Agreement.
Republika Srpska has also been a matter of concern for us. There is a lot of pressure now to diminish it and alter the Dayton Agreement. This cannot be done. If you want peace, if you want stability, it is President Aleksandar Vucic who guarantees peace. In fact, he is the utmost champion and guarantor of peace and stability in our region. I am very grateful for giving me the opportunity to convey this message to you.
I would like to extend my gratitude for your personal contribution to our relations and the way you have been seeking to preserve the truth. You have been there for us and helped us counter attempts to adopt a resolution on the alleged Srebrenica genocide. You resonated with our cause and supported us in important ways. It happened back in 2015 when the UK put forward this resolution at the Security Council. We will never forget your personal contribution to our struggle for truth about the Serb nation. We would like to express our immense gratitude to you and the Russian people for helping preserve our territorial integrity and sovereignty on the Kosovo and Metohija issues.
We do know that whenever Russia's voice is heard, Serbia can also make its voice heard. And whenever someone tries to silence Russia, Serbia loses its voice, too. Make no mistake, the people of Serbia under President Vucic's leadership would never allow our fraternal relations and our strategic partnership to be undermined.
Vladimir Putin: Please, send my best wishes to President Vucic. We are looking forward to seeing him at the events which will be held as part of the BRICS leaders' meeting in Kazan in the BRICS Outreach format. We have sent him the invitation. I hope that the President accepts it.
<...>
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Meeting with Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim
Vladimir Putin had a meeting with Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum.
September 4, 2024
13:00
Russky Island, Primorye Territory
The Russian delegation included Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov, Minister of Science and Higher Education and Co-Chair of the Joint Russia-Malaysia Commission for Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation Valery Falkov, Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev, and Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin.
* * *
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister, friends and colleagues,
Welcome to Russia and to Vladivostok.
Mr Prime Minister, I would like to begin by thanking you for accepting our invitation to come here and attend the Eastern Economic Forum. Tomorrow, we will take part in its plenary session, and I am certain that this will be a useful event for discussing our objectives in bringing the regional economies closer together. In fact, we have many guests here from dozens of countries, which means that you will be able to engage in useful contacts not only with your Russian colleagues, but also with colleagues from other countries.
Of course, I do hope that we will have an opportunity to explore ways to expand our cooperation as part of these efforts. Today, trade between our countries amounts to about $3.5 billion, which can hardly be considered a satisfactory result for us considering the potential we have. In fact, there are many opportunities on both sides.
As you know, Russia pays considerable attention to developing its relations with Southeast Asia and ASEAN. Malaysia plays a prominent role in this association, and will be assuming the chairmanship of ASEAN next year. We sincerely hope that during your chairmanship, we will be able to explore new opportunities for cooperation with this rapidly growing and promising region.
To conclude my opening remarks, I would like to congratulate you and the Malaysian leadership, as well as the entire nation on Independence Day, the national holiday you have celebrated recently. As far as I know, it is observed on August 31. I would like to use this opportunity to wish the people of Malaysia all the best, prosperity and wellbeing.
Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim: Thank you, President Putin. First of all, let me express on behalf of my delegation how pleased we are to be here in Vladivostok and in a great country, Russia, which we admire and follow very closely. First and foremost, this includes its literature and the great novelists, and then of course its strength: economic, technological and space.
I think that as a country that believes in centrality, engaging with all countries, we, of course, decided to come with a big team to show our sincere attempt to enhance our collaboration. There is enormous potential that you have in Russia. You have done so much. And it is to our benefit too, if you could share this and collaborate in all fields.
You have shown your determination to be able to undertake difficulties and survive. I think that we will certainly benefit from this experience. Of course, we in ASEAN too look forward for your participation. As you know, ASEAN is always engaged with Russia. We have open trade with a focus on semiconductors and some other related fields, and I look forward to working with you and your team. Even more so, Mr President, I agree with you - the potential is huge. We have not fully utilised ours.
During our initial discussions when we were preparing to come here - this was not an easy feat, but we took this decision - and I think that this was the right decision. We have decided to enhance in all fields with you, and I am certainly looking forward to better relations, personal and governmental collaboration in all fields. So I must take this opportunity to thank you personally for giving time in your busy schedule today.
We would, of course, look forward to an effective follow-up programme since the discussion must not end here. I can assure you that when I assume the chairmanship of ASEAN, we will make sure that my colleagues in ASEAN take the same position to enhance our collaboration with Russia.
Thank you.
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Meeting with Vice President of the People's Republic of China Han Zheng
Vladimir Putin met with Vice President of the People's Republic of China Han Zheng at the Far Eastern Federal University.
September 4, 2024
11:05
Russky Island, Primorye Territory
Attending the meeting on the Russian side were Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office, Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the People's Republic of China Igor Morgulov, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov and Minister of Transport Roman Starovoit.
* * *
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Han Zheng, our Chinese colleagues and friends,
I am delighted to welcome all of you to Vladivostok.
I have very good memories of our recent joint work in Harbin, and I would like to thank you for your wholehearted approach to the instructions you received from the President of China on accompanying our delegation and for your active involvement in that cooperative effort.
In October 2024, we will mark 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries. That event had a profound impact on our bilateral relations and on development of modern China and our interstate ties.
As per our agreement, we hope to see President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping at the upcoming BRICS summit. I propose holding a bilateral meeting during that event.
Thanks to our joint efforts, relations between China and Russia have reached an unprecedented level. We attach great importance to interregional cooperation. I hope that during our meeting today and our work at the Eastern Economic Forum tomorrow, we will have the opportunity to explore and identify new areas for cooperation.
We are grateful to the President of the People's Republic of China for sending such a substantial delegation to this forum. I would like to thank you for leading this delegation and for taking part in our joint work.
Welcome.
Vice President of the People's Republic of China Han Zheng (retranslated): Mr President, thank you very much for finding the time to meet with me.
I am happy to have the opportunity to come to Vladivostok for the 9th Eastern Economic Forum at your invitation. First of all, I would like to convey best regards and good wishes from President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping.
This year we will mark 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. The Chinese-Russian comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction continue to grow stronger in the new age under your and President Xi Jinping's strategic guidance.
You have held two meetings with President Xi Jinping this year, and you have reached a number of vital agreements on the parameters of the further development of our bilateral relations in the new historical period, 75 years after the establishment of our diplomatic relations. China is ready to work comprehensively and diligently with our Russian partners to implement the important agreements reached by our leaders and to contribute to the continued improvement of our cooperation.
This time, I have come to Vladivostok for the Eastern Economic Forum at your invitation and on instructions from President Xi Jinping. Over the past years, your personal initiative and efforts have helped turn the Eastern Economic Forum into a key economic platform where all parties in the Asia-Pacific region can find consensus solutions and discuss cooperation. We highly appreciate the role and prestige of this platform. I wish you success in hosting the forum tomorrow.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much.
Another aspect I would like to bring to your attention is that in addition to focusing on the economic and industrial development of the Far East, we also strive to establish significant centres of humanitarian and cultural cooperation here.
We are establishing subsidiaries of Russia's leading world-class museums, theatres and musical venues here. I know that some performers who are popular with Chinese audiences have visited China many times, and have recently been on another tour. I hope that Vladivostok will also become a prominent hub for cultural exchanges and attract tourists from Russia, from all over the world and especially from China, which is our friend.
If you have 30 minutes, I invite you to see what we are building here, and you will learn more about additional opportunities in the cultural and humanitarian sphere.
Han Zheng (retranslated): Mr President, I fully agree with you on the importance of strengthening cultural and humanitarian cooperation between our two countries.
I believe that the development of Chinese-Russian relations and our diverse cooperation would not be possible without the guiding role of our leaders.
Despite the challenges and risks we currently face, cooperation between our countries continues to develop steadily in all areas under the strategic guidance of our leaders. This is particularly evident in the trade and economic sphere, which you devote great attention to. We have accomplished our objective earlier than planned, with bilateral trade volumes reaching $200 billion.
From 2018 to early 2023, while I was working at the State Council, I co-chaired, on instructions from President Xi Jinping, the Chinese section of the China-Russia intergovernmental commission on investment, trade and energy cooperation. This is why I have a good understanding of our cooperation.
<...>
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Visit to the base of the Primorye Flotilla
The President visited the base of the Pacific Fleet's Primorye Flotilla of All-Arms Forces in Uliss Bay.
September 4, 2024
09:00
Primorye Territory
Vladimir Putin toured the corvette Rezky and viewed information stands about the development of the naval base.
The Rezky is the fourth ship in a series of Project 20380 multipurpose patrol corvettes built at the Amur Shipyard for the Pacific Fleet. It went on duty in September 2023.
The Pacific Fleet's Primorye Flotilla of All-Arms Forces was established in 1979 and is the largest group within the Russian Navy.
Commander of the Pacific Fleet Viktor Liina, Commander of the Primorye Flotilla Alexei Sysuyev and commander of the corvette Rezky Yevgeny Kovalev provided explanations of the processes to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.
Before visiting the base, Vladimir Putin travelled by boat to the site in Promezhutochnaya Bay where a new shipyard is to be built by 2031. The President assigned the implementation of the project to VTB Bank and the United Shipbuilding Corporation. The future shipyard will mostly build commercial vessels such as bulkers, tankers, container carriers and LNG carriers. The site's proximity to the city of Vladivostok ensures a readily available workforce. Other advantages include road, railway and engineering infrastructure, potential access to gas supply and a possibility to increase energy capacity.
The President was accompanied by First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Primorye Territory Governor Oleg Kozhemyako, President and Chairman of VTB Bank Management Board Andrei Kostin, and Director General of the United Shipbuilding Corporation Andrei Puchkov.
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Participants of CSTO Interaction 2024, Search 2024, and Echelon 2024 drills head to Kyrgyz Republic
04.09.2024
From 3 to 6 September, participants of the Interaction 2024 command post exercise involving the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces, the Search 2024 special drills, and the Echelon 2024 drills regroup and head to the Kyrgyz Republic.
According to the plan, the CSTO Troops (Collective Forces) set off from the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, and the Republic of Tajikistan to the area of the drills.
One of the priorities determined by the Republic of Kazakhstan chairing the CSTO in 2024 is to improve prompt deployment of the Troops (Collective Forces) including unimpeded transit of national contingents.
The drills, which consolidate training of different components of the CSTO Troops (Collective Forces), take place on the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic:
- the Interaction 2024 command post exercise involving the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces is to practise preparing and conducting a joint operation to resolve the armed conflict;
- the Search 2024 special drills are focused on issues of organising and conducting reconnaissance in the interests of the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces;
- the Echelon 2024 special drills are aimed at practising the issues of combat service support.
Department for Media Affairs and Information
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Putin Aide Meets With Serbian Deputy PM at Eastern Economic Forum
Sputnik News
20240904
On September 4, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation Anton Kobyakov met with Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Alexander Vulin on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.
The parties engaged in discussions about enhancing bilateral cooperation, particularly in the context of significant business events.
"The participation of the Serbian delegation in EEF-2024 is a milestone. It opens a new chapter in Russian-Serbian relations and testifies to Belgrade's desire to broaden the horizons of bilateral cooperation. We always feel the support of the Serbian people, and we value the good relations that have developed between us over the centuries. We are looking forward to seeing representatives of Serbia at the BRICS Summit and at the upcoming forums in Russia - Russian Energy Week and the Russian Tourism Forum "Travel!", said Anton Kobyakov, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation and responsible secretary of the Organizing Committee for the preparation and holding of the EEF.
In relation to the upcoming St. Petersburg International Economic Forum scheduled for June 2025, the parties discussed the formation of a delegation of Serbian businessmen, the potential for arranging a "Russia-Serbia" business dialogue, and the establishment of an exhibition stand for the Balkan republic.
Furthermore, the potential for organizing a joint Serbian-Russian business forum in Belgrade was examined.
"Serbia is a true friend and ally of Russia. We value our relations with Russia and the Russian people as Serbia's closest friends. We are striving to maintain the momentum of contacts with Russia. We are the only country that has not imposed sanctions against Russia, contrary to the opinion and position of the West. We look forward to strengthening Russian-Serbian contacts at major international multilateral events held in Russia," Aleksandar Vulin emphasized.
The Eastern Economic Forum 2024 is running from September 3 to 6 in Vladivostok, hosted on the campus of the Far Eastern Federal University. This event is organized by the Roscongress Foundation.
A Sputnik
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Lavrov on Possible US Long-Range Missiles Supplies to Kiev: Our Red Lines No Joke
Sputnik News
20240904
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Moscow warns that its red lines are not to be fooled with in the light of the possible US supplies of long-range missiles to Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday.
"The US has already crossed the threshold that they designated for themselves. They are being incited and [Ukrainian President] Zelensky, of course, sees this and uses it. Whoever jokes about our red lines, do not fools with our red lines. They know perfectly well what they are," Lavrov told reporter Pavel Zarubin.
According to media reports, the US is close to an agreement on providing Ukraine with long-range JASSM cruise missiles.
The older JASSM models have a range of about 370 km. However, there is a variant with a range of more than 800 km, but the news agency does not have specific information on which type of missile Washington is considering transferring.
A Sputnik
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Russia Knows About Malaysia's Interest in BRICS, Supports It - Kremlin
Sputnik News
20240904
VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik) - Russia is aware of Malaysia's interest in joining BRICS and supports this interest, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
"We are aware of our Malaysian friends' interest in joining this organization. We, as with many other countries, support this interest and will discuss this issue with our BRICS colleagues," Peskov told reporters at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).
BRICS consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
The potential of relations between Russia and Malaysia has not been fully utilized, this still needs to be done, Peskov said.
"Today, Russian-Malaysian negotiations with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim are planned. Malaysia is our rather important trade and economic partner. The potential of bilateral relations is difficult to overestimate, and it is obvious that it is far from being fully utilized. This still needs to be done," Peskov told reporters on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum.
Pressure from ill-wishers and threats of sanctions are reducing the number of foreign participants in the Eastern Economic Forum, but the situation will change for the better over the years, Peskov said.
"For well-known reasons we do not see many foreign guests here. This is understandable. Unprecedented pressure from ill-wishers, the threat of primary and secondary sanctions, the very pressure that we have talked about with the use of other methods, of course, is reducing the number of foreign participants, but this is not forever. Over the years, the situation will change and change for the better," Peskov told reporters.
The leaders of unfriendly countries will not be invited to the parade in Moscow to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory over Nazism, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
"We will not invite the heads of unfriendly countries," Peskov told journalists on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum when asked whether the Kremlin will invite the leaders of unfriendly countries to the parade in Moscow to mark the 80th WWII Victory anniversary.
No decisions have been made yet on Russian President Vladimir Putin's participation in the G20 summit in Brazil, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
"No decisions have been made yet on this matter, Russia continues to work within the G20. Our sherpa continues to work actively with his colleagues. We are defending our interests there, but the president has not made any decisions yet," Peskov told reporters.
The degree of US involvement in the conflict around Ukraine is constantly increasing, there are no prerequisites for this process to stop, Dmitry Peskov said.
"We see a trend that the level of US involvement in the conflict around Ukraine is constantly increasing. And there are no grounds to assume that it will hit some limit and not go any further," Peskov told journalists.
He said Moscow takes into account the fact that Ukraine will strike deep into Russian territory with US long-range weapons.
Peskov added that the West's refusal to engage in dialogue, its attack on Russia's security interests and provocation of the Ukraine conflict continuation will be taken into account in Russia's renewed nuclear doctrine.
The possible resignation of Dmytro Kuleba from the post of Ukraine's foreign minister will not affect the prospects of the negotiation process, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
"No, it will not affect it in any way. This has nothing to do with the prospects of the negotiation process," Peskov said.
Earlier, media reported, citing sources, that there were plans to dismiss Kuleba, and his current deputy Andrii Sybiha could be appointed to replace him. Journalists asked Peskov whether this would affect the prospects of the negotiation process.
The US policy towards Russia is unlikely to change after the elections, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
"What will happen, you can try to guess as much as you like. Obviously, it is unlikely that anything can change. But some nuances may be introduced depending on the configuration of the next administration," Peskov said at the Eastern Economic Forum.
The United States plays a destructive role in Europe from the viewpoint of security, Dmitry Peskov added.
Russia continues its contacts with Israel on the issue of freeing hostages in the Gaza Strip, Peskov said.
"We continue our contacts with the Israeli side," Peskov told reporters when asked whether Israel had asked Russia for help in freeing the hostages who are still in the Gaza Strip.
The Kremlin expresses support to journalist Dimitri Simes, Peskov said.
"We can only... express words of support to those who are subjected to such pressure, including Dimitri Simes," Peskov said.
In August, FBI agents conducted searches in the homes of former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter and journalist Dimitri Simes. However, prosecutors have not revealed any criminal charges against the two men.
Moscow sees the Global majority's great interest in Russia, and intends to develop relations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
"We are indeed seeing great interest in our country from the global majority, and we ourselves are showing interest. And we will implement these plans," Peskov told reporters on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum.
The Eastern Economic Forum began on Tuesday and will run through Friday. It is being hosted by the Far Eastern Federal University in the Russian Pacific coast city of Vladivostok. Sputnik is the general information partner of the EEF 2024.
A Sputnik
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Putin makes renewed push for gas pipeline deal with China
By Christy Lee September 05, 2024
During his recent trip to Mongolia, Russian President Vladimir Putin promoted a plan to build a pipeline from his country to China. The pipeline, which could weaken U.S. energy leverage over Beijing, would have to pass through Mongolia.
In a joint press conference held after talks in Ulaanbaatar on Tuesday, Putin said cooperation in the gas sector looks promising.
The two sides have completed drawing up documents to design the Soyuz Vostok gas pipeline extension in Mongolia and it is "at the stage of state expert appraisal and assessment," Putin said.
New export market
The Soyuz Vostok gas pipeline extension is part of the Power of Siberia 2 (PS-2) pipeline. The PS-2 pipeline would transport about 50 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas annually to China when completed.
It is seen as an effort by Moscow to divert gas that had been exported to Europe to Asia after the Nord Stream 1 pipeline under the Baltic Sea was damaged by explosions last year.
Russia uses the Power of Siberia 1 pipeline to deliver gas to China, exporting 22.7 bcm in 2023. It aims to raise the supplies to 38 bcm annually by 2025.
"China is really Russia's option to find a customer for a sizable portion of the pipeline gas it previously sent to Europe," said Erica Downs, a senior research scholar focusing on Chinese energy markets at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University.
"Putin will continue to champion the project and look for ways to characterize any discussion of the project with Mongolian officials as progress," she continued.
Beijing and Moscow have been in talks for years over PS-2, but a final agreement has not been reached. Mongolia also has not made a final approval for the pipeline to pass through its land.
"The pipeline, if built, would reduce U.S. LNG [liquefied natural gas] exports to China," further weakening U.S. energy leverage over China that is already declining, said Joseph Webster, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Center.
Beijing seeks to reduce foreign energy dependence by "replacing imports with indigenously produced energy" including solar, wind, and nuclear energy, Webster said.
A report by the U.S. Congressional Research Service on Aug. 28 said, "PS-2 could strengthen China's bargaining position" with the U.S. if it receives additional Russian natural gas. The U.S. has been the sixth largest exporter of LNG to China between 2016 and 2023, the report noted.
The report said PS-2 could also help Russia avoid sanctions imposed by the West because "PS-2 would involve pipeline trade of natural gas" and "no existing sanctions would impact this trade."
Renewed push
Putin made an extra effort to promote the pipeline deal at the press conference with Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh.
He said Russia and Mongolia are "not only talking about the transit of Russian gas across Mongolia" but "the potential delivery of gas to Mongolian consumers."
Ahead of the talks, Putin said Mongolia initially "preferred to limit themselves to being just a transit country" for the pipeline but is now considering a deal to obtain "cheap pipeline gas to support the development of their economy and infrastructure."
Putin made the comments in a written interview with Mongolia's Onoodor newspaper, according to the Kremlin on Monday.
Putin's renewed push to boost PS2 came after Mongolia in August excluded the pipeline project in its national development plan through 2028.
Diana Furchtgott-Roth, director of the Center for Energy, Climate and Environment at the Heritage Foundation, said Putin made the remarks "to project strength" and because he "needs a market for his oil."
"He wants to see what the West says," and also "to see whether Mongolia changes its mind," but the pipeline deal is still incomplete "until we get confirmation from Mongolia," she said.
Khurelsukh did not confirm in his statements in the bilateral talks with Putin whether he agreed to allow the pipeline deal to proceed.
In a series of documents signed on Tuesday, Russia and Mongolia made agreements on the supplies of oil, petroleum products, and aviation fuel but did not mention any agreements on the pipeline deal.
China-Russia competition
Mongolia is heavily dependent on Russian energy, importing 95% of its petroleum products and more than 20% of electricity. A spokesperson for the Mongolian government told Politico on Tuesday that is why it did not arrest Putin when he was in the country.
The International Criminal Court issued a warrant for Putin's arrest for crimes committed in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. As a member country of the ICC, Mongolia was obligated to arrest him.
"Mongolia probably does not have to make a final decision about Power of Siberia 2 anytime soon because China is in no hurry to move forward with the project," Downs said.
"The fact that Mongolia did not include Power of Siberia 2 in its next four-year spending plan indicates that it does not expect the project to move off the drawing board before 2028," she said.
Russia also has been in talks with China about the project in recent months.
In May, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Beijing and Moscow are expected to sign a contract on the PS-2 gas pipeline "in the near future."
But the pipeline deal between the two remained stalled over pricing demands by Beijing, the Financial Times reported in June.
On Wednesday, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui apparently told the Russian News Agency Tass on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok that Beijing and Moscow would eventually launch PS-2 despite difficulties surrounding the project.
"China always drives a hard bargain on the pricing of gas imports and wants to control as much as possible of the transportation network involved in its imports and exports," said Thomas Duesterberg, senior fellow at Hudson Institute.
"Russia and China compete over influence in Mongolia, and the Russo-Mongolian deal is subject to close scrutiny because of these factors, and that likely explains the failure at this time to reach a deal," he added.
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng will visit Mongolia from Sept. 4 to 8 after attending the Eastern Economic Forum held in Vladivostok, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday.
It is uncertain, however, whether Beijing and Ulaanbaatar will discuss the PS-2 pipeline project.
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Sanctions against Syria: Switzerland extends humanitarian exemption indefinitely
Swiss Government
Bern, 04.09.2024 -- On 4 September, the Federal Council decided to extend indefinitely the humanitarian exemption to the sanctions regime against Syria. The exemption was introduced for a limited period following the earthquake that hit the country in February 2023.
In light of the grave humanitarian crisis in Syria following the earthquake of 6 February 2023, the European Union (EU) introduced a temporary humanitarian exemption to its sanctions regime against Syria on 23 February 2023. The exemption for international organisations and certain categories of humanitarian actors was subsequently extended twice. On 27 May 2024, the EU extended the exemption for a further year.
The Federal Council decided on 10 March 2023 to include the EU's temporary humanitarian exemption in the ordinance on measures against Syria, initially for a period of six months and since extended twice. The exemption means that the targeted financial sanctions do not apply to activities that are necessary for the humanitarian work of international organisations and some categories of humanitarian actors. With today's decision, the Federal Council is extending the duration of the exemption indefinitely, bringing the humanitarian actors involved a degree of predictability.
The Federal Council first adopted sanctions against Syria on 18 May 2011, thus aligning Switzerland with the sanctions regime adopted by the EU against Syria on 9 May 2011. It has subsequently amended the ordinance several times to reflect the EU's decisions.
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New U.S. envoy vows to help enhance Taiwan's resilience, security
ROC Central News Agency
09/04/2024 09:21 PM
Taipei, Sept. 4 (CNA) The new de facto United States ambassador to Taiwan Raymond Greene on Wednesday listed enhancing bilateral cooperation to boost Taiwan's overall resilience and security, as well as facilitating its connection to the world, as his top priorities.
Speaking during his first press conference since taking office as director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) in July, Greene, in his address delivered in Chinese, noted that the world has become increasingly aware that maintaining cross-strait peace is vital.
About half the world's trade passed through the Taiwan Strait and up to 90 percent of high-end semiconductors were made in Taiwan, he noted.
"If peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are disrupted, the global economy will suffer a heavy blow and every country will be affected," he said.
Greene said his chief mission as AIT director is to continue to enhance Washington-Taipei cooperation by focusing on three priorities, namely, "resilience, security and connectivity."
He pledged that the U.S. will help Taiwan beef up its resilience against climate change, natural disasters, global epidemics and geopolitical risks.
On the U.S. security commitment toward Taiwan, the American envoy reiterated his government's stance to provide Taiwan with arms sales to support its self-defense capabilities.
Greene also said the U.S. is committed to enabling Taiwan, a highly developed economy, to share its expertise in multilateral forums.
He added this includes calling for Taiwan's meaningful participation in the United Nations system and other international organizations.
Washington will also continue to increase economic, trade and cultural exchanges with Taiwan, he noted.
The AIT represents U.S. interests in Taiwan in the absence of official diplomatic ties. It is headquartered in Virginia and has a main office in Taipei and a branch office in Kaohsiung, with its Taipei director serving as the top U.S. envoy to Taiwan.
During Wednesday's press event, Greene said the Biden administration and U.S. Congress see the issue as a "topic that is a high priority," when asked about the roughly US$20 billion backlog of weapons orders Taiwan bought from the U.S.
Given the conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, as well as the U.S.' military needs, he said "the defense industrial base in the United States and our partners is under increasing strain."
The U.S. government is now tapping into "non-traditional sources of supply" by working with companies not traditionally in the defense sector to provide asymmetric capabilities, he added.
The U.S. is also collaborating more with countries that have significant manufacturing capabilities to boost the global defense industrial supply chain, he noted.
Asked if Taiwan could potentially join such a defense industrial supply chain, the AIT director said it could be an option.
Washington is working with several partners on the possibility of expanding the joint production of military material and supplies, "and I would not rule out Taiwan being one of those partners in the future," he said.
On whether the AIT has a U.S. citizen evacuation plan ready should China invade Taiwan, Greene said Washington and its allies in the region -- namely Japan, Korea and the Philippines -- have been strengthening their alliance over recent years to prevent a potential cross-strait conflict.
The growing network of alliances and Taiwan's defense reform efforts are working to maintain the status quo in the region, he said.
"We don't have a special plan or discussions about evacuations. We have also not talked about this with any outside parties," he added.
On the issue of President Lai Ching-te (ea) potentially stopping on U.S. soil before visits to Taiwan's diplomatic allies, Greene reiterated Washington's long-held stance on the issue.
"We facilitated seven transits for President Tsai [Ing-wen] (ee) during her term in office," he said.
The U.S. expects Lai to visit Taiwan's diplomatic partners in the future "and we look forward to facilitating his transit in the United States when those plans come up," he added.
Greene, whose most recent post was as deputy chief of mission of the U.S. Embassy in Japan, took up the Taipei post in July, succeeding Sandra Oudkirk, who left the office after concluding a three-year tenure.
This marks the third time Greene has been posted in Taiwan, according to the AIT. He served as deputy AIT director from 2018 to 2021.
(By Joseph Yeh)
Enditem/kb
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Taiwan determined to defend itself against China: DPP official
ROC Central News Agency
09/04/2024 04:57 PM
Washington, Sept. 3 (CNA) Taiwan is determined to defend itself against China, the secretary-general of Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) told an American audience on Tuesday.
"Taiwan's will to defend itself, as well as our investments in national security, continue to grow stronger," said Lin Yu-chang () at the public seminar hosted by the Global Taiwan Institute in Washington, D.C.
"We have the ideal of pursuing peace, but we must not have illusions about China," Lin said, addressing the audience in English.
"China's intention to seize Taiwan has never changed depending on which party is in power in Taiwan," Lin said.
According to Lin, Beijing has only adjusted its approach from using "shells and missiles" during Chen Shui-bian's () presidency, "money" during Ma Ying-jeou's () presidency, and "shells, missiles, silver bullets, and cognitive warfare" during Tsai Ing-wen's () presidency.
"Now, under President Lai, China is using all of the above as well as disinformation and legal battles in an attempt to disrupt and infiltrate Taiwanese society," the DPP official said.
Lin emphasized Taiwan's commitment to defense, noting that Taiwan's defense budget has increased 70 percent from NT$358 billion (US$11.14 million) to NT$607 billion over the past eight years of DPP rule.
After coming to power in 2016, former President Tsai Ing-wen promoted military reform and "domestic production of aircraft and ships," and incumbent President Lai Ching-te () is "committed to continuing these policies," Lin said.
In addition, Lin told the audience that "compulsory military service in Taiwan has been restored to one year starting this year." From around 2013 to 2023, all eligible male citizens were required to complete four months of military service.
"More than 83 percent of our citizens" agreed with the policy of extending military service, Lin said. "Even among young people aged 18 to 29 who may be directly affected, more than 70 percent support the decision."
On the question of whether Taiwan should increase its defense budget to 3-5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Lin said that such suggestions should more clearly point out whether the additional spending would be expected to be directed at more expensive and superior weaponry or other items.
Elbridge Colby, who served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development under the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump, had written an article in May suggesting Taiwan raise its defense budget to 5 percent from the current 2.5 percent.
Lin emphasized that Taiwan has three main defense strategies: asymmetric warfare capabilities, whole-of-society defense resilience, and deterrence.
These strategies do not necessarily depend on the amount of money spent, but rather in their effectiveness, he said.
Lin is currently on a 13-day visit to the U.S., which began on Aug. 31. After visiting Washington, D.C., he will also stop at Houston, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
According to its website, the Global Taiwan Institute is a nonprofit organization that aims to "raise awareness, deepen affinity, and create opportunities for strengthening the relationship between Taiwan and the international community."
(By Chung Yu-chen and Wu Kuan-hsien)
Enditem/JT
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DPP's attempt to misinterpret UN Resolution 2758 'is playing with fire'
Global Times
By Xu Keyue Published: Sep 04, 2024 10:59 PM
As the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79) is set to open on September 10, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities from the island of Taiwan again intends to misinterpret the UN Resolution 2758 and challenge the one-China principle in an attempt to push for the island's illegal inclusion at the UN.
This, condemned by Chinese analysts, is an act to play with fire and go against the trend of history.
Speaking during a press event, Taiwan regional official Tien Chung-kwang said Taiwan will again invite "allies" to speak up for the island during the upcoming UN General Debate in pushing for its inclusion at the UN, local media reported on Tuesday.
According to the news report, the island will also seek to deliberately distort the interpretation of Resolution 2758 at the UN.
Resolution 2758, adopted at the 26th Session of the UN General Assembly in 1971, stated in black and white that it "decides to restore all its rights to the People's Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations, and to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it."
The resolution made it clear that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, including Taiwan, at the UN; Taiwan is not a country but a part of China's territory. It makes clear Taiwan's status as a non-sovereign entity.
Despite the clear statement of the resolution, the DPP authorities led by Lai Ching-te, which want to misinterpret the resolution, is apparently trying in vain to root out the international consensus of one-China principle, Chinese analysts pointed out.
"Lai's idea is extremely destructive," Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
Li continued, on the one hand, Lai's attempts are undermining the authority of the UN and the authority of the resolution; on the other hand, Lai is a gambler who tries to risk the safety of the island of Taiwan.
"This is of course an act to subvert the international order, undermine world stability and go against the trend of history," Li stated.
Recently, the US has repeatedly distortedatheaResolution 2758.a
For example, in May at a seminar held by a US think tank Mark Lambert, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs and China Coordinator said that Resolution 2758 does not endorse, equate to, or reflect an international consensus on the one-China principle and has absolutely no bearing on countries' sovereignty choices with respect to their relationships with the Taiwan region.a
In response, Lin Jian, spokesperson from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that "MarkaLambert'saremarksaareaaatotaladistortionaofathearesolutionaandafacts.aTheyamisrepresentatheahistory,aandatreadauponatheainternationalalawaandabasicanormsaofainternationalarelations."
The intention of the US side is very clear - it is to tamper with the core spirit of Resolution 2758, and to achieve the plot of damaging the development environment of China by manipulating the Taiwan question, according to Li.
China has repeatedly stated that it firmly opposes any action that undermines this spirit within the UN system and the international community.
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EU expresses concern as NATO member Turkey seeks to join BRICS bloc
Iran Press TV
Wednesday, 04 September 2024 6:55 AM
The European Union has expressed concern regarding NATO member Turkey's ongoing bid to join the BRICS organization, saying that as an EU membership candidate, Ankara had to "respect" the EU's "values" and foreign policy preferences, despite its being free to join the alliances of its choosing.
EU spokesman Peter Stano made the remarks at a press conference in Brussels on Tuesday after Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party confirmed that Ankara had formally applied for BRICS' membership.
Stano said Turkey had the right to choose which international alliances to join.
The country, however, was still a candidate for EU membership, he added, saying that the bloc expected such candidates to share its values and fully align their foreign policies with it.
Ankara has been in negotiations to join the EU since 2005. Progress in the talks has essentially been frozen, though, due to political roadblocks created by certain EU members faulting, what they call, the country's democratic shortcomings.
Ankara sees the reasons hindering its EU accession as obstacles unrelated to its suitability for membership.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly warned that his country could part ways with the European Union in reaction to the bloc's long-drawn-out failure to honor its pledge to accept Ankara as a member.
The country's BRICS aspirations also come amid rifts with fellow members of the United States-led Western military alliance of NATO, which have disagreed its retaining close relations with Russia after the launch of Moscow's ongoing military operation in Ukraine.
If admitted, Turkey would become the first NATO member in BRICS, which is seen as a geopolitical counterweight to Western power and influence.
Observers say that the frictions have prompted Turkey to seek to foster better relations with the East, including through joining BRICS that would translate into enhanced ties with Russia and China.
Attending a BRICS summit in June, Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan touted the body as "an organization that increases the diversity of approaches, identities, and politics in the global economic system."
Also on Tuesday, Yuri Ushakov, assistant to Russian President Vladmir Putin, said Erdogan had accepted Russian authorities' invitation to participate in the upcoming summit of BRICS that is to be held in the western Russian city of Kazan in October.
BRICS features Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and Egypt.
The bloc, which is often seen as an alternative to the Western economic and political hegemony, comprises almost 46 percent of the global population, 36 percent of the world's gross domestic product (GDP), and 25 percent of the global trade measured in terms of exports.
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Defence Secretary backs Britain's nuclear deterrent for generations to come as he joins returning submarine patrol
New Government pledges the 'triple lock' on the nuclear deterrent will safeguard Britain and NATO for "generations to come", as Defence Secretary John Healey joined Royal Navy submariners on the UK's nuclear deterrent returning home from at-sea patrol.
4 September 2024
In his first visit to Scotland since being appointed, the Defence Secretary boarded the Vanguard-Class submarine for the final leg of its return journey to HM Naval Base Clyde after completing the UK's latest patrol.
The mission, known as Operation Relentless, or the Continuous At Sea Deterrent (CASD), ensures that at least one nuclear-powered and armed ballistic missile submarine is at sea at all times to deter potential adversaries and protect the nation and NATO allies. The next vessel in the deterrent cycle is already at sea and patrolling.
During his visit to the 15,000-tonne vessel, the Defence Secretary thanked the crew of 140 Royal Navy submariners for their dedicated service and wished them well as they prepared to reunite with their families. He was also given an operational briefing and toured the submarine, which is armed with the UK's Trident nuclear missiles.
John Healey also used the visit to reinforce the new Government's commitment to its 'triple-lock' on the deterrent, which includes: building four new nuclear submarines in Barrow-in-Furness, in Cumbria; maintaining our continuous at sea nuclear deterrent; and delivering all future upgrades needed.
The government's commitment to security is clear, with a Strategic Defence Review already underway that will determine the roles, capabilities and reforms required by UK Defence to meet the challenges, threats and opportunities of the twenty-first century.
Defence Secretary, John Healey said:
Royal Navy submariners make extraordinary sacrifices to keep us all safe and it was an honour to thank the crew on behalf of the British people. As they return home, we salute their courage, dedication, and professionalism. Our new Government is unwavering in our commitment to our nuclear deterrent, maintained on behalf of the UK and our NATO allies. Our 'triple-lock' will safeguard Britain for generations to come. As the home of our nuclear submarines and major shipbuilding yards, Scotland is central to UK defence. I am determined to make defence a foundation for jobs, growth and prosperity across Scotland.
The Government is committed to the nuclear deterrent triple Lock:
Building four new nuclear submarines in Barrow-in-Furness, supporting high-quality, high-status apprenticeships and jobs, with the supply chain benefits being felt right across the country.
Britain maintaining its continuous at-sea deterrent, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year - securing protection for both the UK and NATO allies.
The delivery of all future upgrades needed for those submarines to patrol the waters and keep our country safe.
Joining the Defence Secretary in thanking the returning submariners was First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key; Director Submarines, Rear Admiral Andy Perks; Commodore of the Submarine Flotilla, Commodore Paul Dunn; and Naval Base Commander Clyde, Commodore Sharon Malkin.
The name of the vessel, length of patrol, and its location at sea are all closely guarded secrets. On board, only a select few are authorised to know where in the ocean depths they are operating, with the rest of the crew dutifully carrying out their roles unaware of their location.
It is this secrecy that makes the nuclear deterrent so effective. A potential enemy can never predict where a Vanguard Class is operating, making the cost of attacking the UK or NATO allies far outweigh the benefits.
Thousands of Royal Navy submariners and their families, MOD civilians, and industry partners continue to contribute to maintaining the nuclear deterrent.
For every minute of every day for more than 55-years a deterrent submarine has been on patrol, keeping the nation secure by deterring the most extreme threats to national security and the UK's way of life - threats that cannot be deterred by other means.
A new class of ballistic submarine - the Dreadnought Class - is currently under construction at Barrow-in-Furness and is expected to replace the Vanguard submarines by the 2030s, securing the future of the UK's nuclear deterrent. More than 40,000 UK jobs are supported through defence nuclear work, making it a key area that boosts economic growth.
The UK Government is investing millions of pounds at HM Naval Base Clyde to prepare for the Dreadnought submarines, while at the same time, ensuring that the Vanguard Class can continue the mission until handing over to the next generation of vessels.
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Statement from President Joe Biden on Russian Attack on Poltava, Ukraine
September 03, 2024
Earlier today, Russian missiles struck a military training facility and a hospital in Ukraineakilling more than 50 people and injuring dozens more. I condemn this deplorable attack in the strongest possible terms.
This assault is a tragic reminder of Putin's ongoing and outrageous attempts to break the will of a free people. But for two and a half years, the people of Ukraine have stood unbowed. And the United States will continue stand with themaincluding providing the air defense systems and capabilities they need to protect their country.
Make no mistake: Russia will not prevail in this war. The people of Ukraine will prevail. And on this tragic day, and every day, the United States stands with them.
###
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Parliamentary Assembly President reacts to recent missile strikes in Ukraine, again urges a tribunal to try aggression by Russian leaders
Council of Europe
Parliamentary Assembly
Strasbourg
4 September 2024
In a statement, Parliamentary Assembly President Theodoros Rousopoulos has reacted to recent missile strikes in Ukraine, and again urged the speedy creation of a special tribunal to try Russia's political and military leadership for the crime of aggression.
"In recent days and nights, indiscriminate Russian attacks on manifestly civilian targets in Ukraine have intensified, with horrible missile strikes on Poltava, Kryvyi Rig, Sumy, Lviv and other cities. Educational institutions, hospitals, residential buildings and historic monuments have been targeted and destroyed, and dozens of innocent people, among whom are many women and children, have been killed. Human tragedies continue and intensify. These actions are not just appalling but are clear war crimes that add to an already extremely long list of atrocities committed by the Russian Federation in and against Ukraine.
I wish to strongly voice my solidarity with the victims, their friends and families, and with the entire Ukrainian people who resiliently and bravely continue to fight the aggressor. I will not stop repeating that we must never accept this war as normality. We must stay focused and motivated on doing everything within our power to bring peace to Ukraine. However not just any peace at any cost, but a peace based on justice and respect for the rule of law. A peace that restores the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Ukraine, a peace that fully addresses the consequences of the Russian aggression. A peace that delivers justice to all the victims.
Tomorrow, the Ministers of Justice of the Council of Europe member states will gather in Vilnius in Lithuania to discuss the issue of accountability for international crimes committed in Ukraine. I strongly urge them to step up efforts aimed at the creation of a special tribunal for the crime of aggression, to hold to account the leadership of the Russian Federation for what has been rightly called the 'crime of crimes': starting a war, which brings unspeakable suffering and misery to soldiers and civilians alike.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has been crystal clear on this subject. A special tribunal, created by an agreement between the Council of Europe and Ukraine and supported by an enlarged partial agreement open to non-member states and other international organisations, is now the best and most feasible option, in terms of legal basis and political legitimacy, for trying Russia's political and military leadership for the crime of aggression. The Assembly invites and urges the Core Group to maintain the momentum towards the speedy establishment of such a tribunal, and we do hope that the conference in Vilnius tomorrow will give a strong impetus to the Committee of Ministers to move quickly on setting up the necessary legal framework for this key body.
This is our duty and responsibility. Ukraine needs our support and our help now. We stand with Ukraine!"
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IAEA Report Highlights Two Years of Efforts to Prevent an Accident at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant
International Atomic Energy Agency
81/2024
Vienna, Austria
4 Sep 2024
The International Atomic Energy Agency issued a new report today on its efforts to ensure nuclear safety and security during the conflict in Ukraine, two years after Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi crossed the frontline to establish the IAEA's presence at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) site and help prevent a nuclear accident.
The 28-page report highlights the challenges and achievements of the IAEA's activities to protect Europe's largest nuclear power plant since Director General Grossi launched the historic mission on 1 September 2022. During this time, the IAEA teams at the site have reported on incidents including shelling and drone strikes at the facility, which has also suffered repeated loss of off-site power events.
Underlining the IAEA's "unwavering support for nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine", today's report also provides information about the IAEA's continued presence at Ukraine's other nuclear sites, as well as details on its comprehensive programme of assistance to the country.
The situation at the ZNPP remains precarious and very fragile, Director General Grossi said in the report's foreword.
"Two years into the IAEA's continued presence at the occupied Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, our commitment to helping prevent a nuclear accident remains resolute," he said. "Amid the significant challenges and risks to nuclear safety and security, we are steadfast in our mission to assess the situation and keep the international community informed."
The report was issued as Director General Grossi travelled this week to the plant in southern Ukraine for the fifth time during the conflict. Since he last went to the ZNPP site in February, it has been hit by drone strikes, experienced loss of power lines and, last month, a fire caused significant damage to one of its two cooling towers.
Director General Grossi said "the objective and impartial assessments of the situation provided by our teams have made a significant contribution to maintaining nuclear safety, security and safeguards" at the ZNPP.
A few months after the establishment of the IAEA presence at the ZNPP, Director General Grossi set up similar missions at the four other nuclear facilities in Ukraine - the Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine nuclear power plants, as well as the Chornobyl site.
The new report also summarizes developments, activities and assistance at these sites since the IAEA missions were set up there in early 2023.
"Our work at these facilities remains essential and I am immensely proud of the courageous work the teams continue to perform," Director General Grossi said.
In total, the IAEA has conducted 139 Support and Assistance Missions to the nuclear sites in Ukraine. In addition, the IAEA's comprehensive assistance to Ukraine has facilitated 61 deliveries of equipment to Ukraine, with a total value of over a10 million. The IAEA has also continued its vital safeguards verification activities across Ukraine, ensuring that there is no diversion of nuclear material for military purposes.
"As I conduct my fifth visit to the ZNPP, and my tenth to Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict, I want to reassure the international community that the IAEA, and I as Director General, will continue to do everything possible within our mandate to assist in averting a nuclear or radiological accident at any of Ukraine's nuclear facilities," Director General Grossi said.
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Lithuania's Foreign Ministry summons a representative of the Russian embassy, voices a strong protest over Russia's terrorist attacks on Ukraine
Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2024-09-04
In response to the intensified shelling of Ukrainian civilian objects by Russia, including the attack in Poltava that killed dozens of people, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania summoned a representative of the Embassy of the Russian Federation to Lithuania to express a strong protest.
Lithuania's Foreign Ministry noted that rockets and bombs hitting educational institutions, hospitals, and residential areas demonstrate Russia's desperation and complete disregard for human life and international humanitarian law. The Foreign Ministry reminded that legal responsibility lays not only with the direct perpetrators of Russia's war crimes, but also with those responsible for the very planning and execution of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine.
Lithuania, together with the international community, once again calls on Russia to immediately stop its criminal brutal aggression and reiterates that it will do everything possible to further strengthen the support to Ukraine.
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Ukrainian FM tenders resignation
People's Daily Online
(Xinhua) 17:52, September 04, 2024
KIEV, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Wednesday submitted a letter of resignation to the parliament, parliament's chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk said on Facebook.
Stefanchuk said the parliament will consider Kuleba's application at one of the nearest plenary sessions.
Kuleba, 43, was appointed Ukraine's foreign minister in March 2020.
On Tuesday, David Arakhamia, parliamentary faction leader of the Party of Servant of the People, said on Telegram that more than 50 percent of the cabinet's staff will be reshuffled soon.
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Ukraine's FM resigns as Russia warns of 'very painful' response to Kursk invasion
Iran Press TV
Wednesday, 04 September 2024 10:55 AM
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has submitted his resignation as part of a major government reshuffle two-and-a-half years into the ruinous Ukraine-Russia war.
Ruslan Stefanchuk, speaker of the Ukrainian parliament, said on Wednesday that the legislative body "received a letter of resignation from the Minister for Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba," and the parliament would vote on the resignation request at the next plenary meeting.
Kuleba stepped down from his position following an announcement last week by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that a cabinet reshuffle was imminent as he tries to strengthen the government amid a protracted conflict between Kiev and Moscow.
The 43-year-old has held the post since 2020 and has since February 2022, when the war broke out, traveled across the world to advocate for Western support for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia.
On Tuesday, several ministers handed their resignations, including the ministers of justice, strategic industries and environmental protection.
Davyd Arakhamiia, a leader of Zelensky's party in the parliament, said more than half of the current cabinet would undergo changes and the new appointments would be announced on Thursday.
Kuleba's resignation followed an overnight Russian attack on the western city of Lviv, which killed at least seven people and injured 35 as a child and a medical worker were among the dead, with others being in critical condition.
The attack took place a day after two ballistic missiles blasted a military academy and nearby hospital in Poltava, Ukraine's second-largest city, killing more than 50 people and wounding more than 200 others in one of the deadliest Russian strikes since the war began.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in a report that its units had engaged in 193 battles with Russian army on Tuesday amid tense situation in Pokrovsk and Kurakhove in the Donetsk region.
'Extremely painful' response
Russia's foreign ministry warned the West and Ukraine on Wednesday that Moscow would give an immediate and extremely painful response in the event of long-range strikes on Russian territory by Ukraine.
Ukrainian forces crashed through Russia's western border into the Kursk region in August in a surprise offensive.
Maria Zakharova, Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman, said the response would be "extremely painful."
Russia's Defense Ministry said Tuesday that over the past 24 hours, its units repelled multiple Ukrainian offensives and launched counterattacks in the directions of Kharkiv, Avdiivka and Donetsk, causing severe losses to Ukrainian military personnel and equipment, including tanks, armored vehicles and self-propelled artillery pieces.
Russia's air defense units were also reported to have downed one MiG-29 fighter jet and 37 drones on the same day.
In addition, the ministry claimed to have killed and wounded about 400 Ukrainian soldiers and destroyed 12 armored vehicles, rocket launchers and other weaponry in western Russia's Kursk Oblast.
Moscow launched its special military operation on February 24, 2022, aiming to liberate the Donbas region where the People's Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk were suffering from regular attacks on them by Ukrainian forces.
Since the war started, the Western countries' support for Ukraine in fighting a proxy war against Russia has led to the delivery of hundreds of shipments of military equipment, including all kinds of weapons and munitions, to the former Soviet republic.
The Western countries even supplied long-range missiles, tanks and warplanes to Ukraine despite initial resistance, turning the conflict into a full-fledged war.
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Russian Air Strikes Kill At Least 7 In Ukraine, As Poltava Disaster Scrutinized
By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service September 04, 2024
A Russian drone and missile attack killed seven people in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, one day after a strike on a military facility killed more than 50 people in the eastern city of Poltava in one of the worst air strikes of the war, leaving residents in shock over the loss of life and scale of destruction.
The missile and drone attacks on Lviv, Kyiv, and other cities began shortly after midnight and continued into the predawn hours on September 4. Among the seven dead were four members of one family in Lviv. A man identified by Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadoviy as Yaroslav Bazylevych was left as the only survivor in his family after his wife and three daughters were killed.
A photo shared on social media showed all five posing together with one of the daughters holding a bouquet of sunflowers.
"His wife Yevhenia and their three daughters -- Yaryna, 21, Daryna, 18, and Emilia, 7 -- were killed in their own home" Sadoviy said. "I don't know what words to say to support Yaroslav -- the father. Today we are all with you."
According to authorities and eyewitnesses, there were two heavy strikes that destroyed or damaged residential buildings, cultural monuments, and educational institutions in Lviv.
Ukrainian officials also warned of emergency power outages due to the attack. In a statement on Telegram, the ministry did not detail the damage at six energy facilities but said there were ongoing risks to energy supplies as the government reduced output at a southern nuclear power plant.
The barrage followed one of the deadliest attacks in a single strike when at least 53 people were killed and 271 injured by Russian ballistic missiles at a military facility in the city of Poltava in central Ukraine, according to the State Emergency Service.
More than 60 of the people injured were in serious condition, the regional military administration said. Regional Governor Philip Pronin declared a three-day mourning period starting September 4.
The director of the Energy Research Center, Oleksandr Kharchenko, said a power unit at the South Ukraine (Pivdennoukrayinsk) nuclear power plant had added two more periodic shutdowns on September 4.
He said that "high-voltage networks are being restored" by state operator Enerhoatom but warned against exceedingly optimistic predictions for continuing repairs.
The further concerns about energy supplies come as a UN nuclear team led by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Grossi is visiting the Russian-occupied Ukrainian nuclear power plant at Zaporizhzhya to "continue our assistance & help prevent a nuclear accident."
Grossi met with senior Ukrainian officials in Kyiv on September 3 before saying he was setting out for Zaporizhzhya, which is near an area of near-constant shelling.
Russian forces have waged an intense bombardment campaign on Ukrainian power infrastructure throughout the 36-month-old invasion but particularly over the past six months.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said that Ukraine was already seeing Moscow's response to Kyiv's attacks in an apparent reference to Kyiv's incursion into Russia's Kursk region, which began a month ago, and frequent shelling and drone attacks on Russia's Belgorod region.
Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on September 4 that three people had been killed by shelling in the village of Novaya Tavolzhanka .
The September 3 attack by Russia on Poltava sparked fresh pleas by Kyiv for Western partners to allow long-range strikes into Russia and a strong condemnation of Russia's "deplorable attack" by U.S. President Joe Biden.
In Kryviy Rih, local politician Oleksandr Vilkul said five people were hurt but none seriously when a rocket hit a civilian infrastructure facility in the center of the city. He said at least 10 high-rise buildings including a hotel were damaged.
Ukrainian officials also said objects in the Black Sea were targeted by Russian fire including Snake Island, a strategically located piece of land that Ukrainian forces retook in the initial days of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials are grappling with fallout from the dual Russian strike on the Military Communications Institute in the city of Poltava.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and the Prosecutor-General's Office announced separately that investigations were being launched into the circumstances of the incident.
Criticism emerged soon after the blast as reports suggested that cadets were gathered in large numbers for an outdoor graduation or other ceremony, providing an opportunity for Russia's military to target them.
The attack is believed to be the deadliest single attack since May 2022, when Zelenskiy said 87 soldiers were killed at a military training center in the northern Chernihiv region.
Vladyslav Seleznev, a Ukrainian military analyst and former spokesman for the General Staff of the Ukrainian military, said the Kremlin was to blame but there must also be a clear understanding of Kyiv's responsibility.
Zelenskiy again urged Ukraine's supporters to step up the supply of air-defense systems and long-range missiles that can "defend against Russian terror," he said. "Every day of delay, unfortunately, means more lives lost."
U.S. President Biden called the Russian missile attack on the Poltava facility "deplorable" and pledged more military aid to Kyiv.
"I condemn this deplorable attack in the strongest possible terms," Biden said, adding that further aid to Ukraine would include "providing the air defense systems and capabilities they need to protect their country."
With reporting by Reuters
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine- strikes-poltava/33105117.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.
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Zelenskiy: Russia Incursion Helps 'Exchanges,' But 'We Don't Need Their Land'
By RFE/RL September 04, 2024
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said the aim of a surprise incursion into Russia's southern Kursk region launched last month is to accrue territories and troops for exchange but said, "We don't need their land."
"We don't need Russian territory," Zelenskiy told NBC News through an interpreter in an interview excerpted on September 3.
"Our operation is aimed at restoring our territorial integrity. We capture Russian troops to replace them with Ukrainian," he said. "We tell them, you know, we need our military soldiers in exchange for Russian ones. The same attitude is to the territories. We don't need their land."
Since its incursion began in the Kursk region in early August, Kyiv claims to have gained control of more than 1,200 kilometers of Russian territory.
Early reports hinted that the operation was intended to better position Kyiv in the event of peace talks amid some calls for more intense efforts to end the 36-month-old full-scale war.
Ukrainians and analysts have also suggested it is designed to drive the seriousness of the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine home to Russians.
It marked the first foreign invasion of Russian territory since World War II.
Kyiv and some of its allies have argued recently that Western providers of military aid, weapons, and artillery should further lift restrictions on how Ukrainian defense forces can use such supplies, including by allowing strikes deeper inside Russia.
Asked if Ukraine will seek to capture more Russian territory, Zelenskiy replied to NBC in English: "I will not tell you. Sorry, I can't speak about it."
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-incursion-russia- kursk-exchange/33105312.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.
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Ukraine's Parliament Begins Dismissals Ahead Of Government Shake-Up
By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service September 04, 2024
Ukrainian lawmakers began voting in Kyiv on September 4 on the possible dismissals of cabinet members and other senior officials after a spate of resignations tendered in the past 24 hours that followed President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's suggestion of a looming government shake-up.
Deputies dismissed one deputy prime minister and three ministers, but the session did not take up the fate of one of the highest-profile resignations, that of Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
Kuleba, one of the main faces of Kyiv's efforts to gird international support since Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, submitted his resignation earlier in the day.
Commenting on Kuleba's and the rest of the 22-member cabinet's futures, Zelenskiy said on September 4 that "we need new energy, and these steps relate to strengthening our state in various areas."
Parliament speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk informed the public of Kuleba's resignation, as well as those a day earlier of two deputy prime ministers and three cabinet ministers as part of what could be the biggest cabinet overhaul since Russia's full-scale invasion began 36 months ago.
The head of Zelenskiy's Servant of the People party, Davyd Arakhamia, said on September 3 that more than half of the government's 22 cabinet positions would be changed in a "big government reboot."
Word of the move precedes Zelenskiy's expected visit later this month to the United States at what many regard as a crucial juncture of the war, with Russian troops advancing in eastern Ukraine and Ukrainian troops in control of about 1,200 square kilometers of Russian territory in a monthold incursion of their own.
Pressure among allies has been building for Washington and other capitals to remove curbs on Kyiv's use of Western-supplied weapons and artillery, including to allow for attacks deeper inside Russian territory.
In one of lawmakers' first moves in the September 4 session, they failed to dismiss Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories Iryna Vereshchuk with just 214 votes in the 450-plus Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament.
They approved the dismissal of Strategic Industries Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin, who has overseen domestic arms production, with 243 votes. Lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak of Zelenskiy's party suggested Kamyshin would become a strategic adviser to Zelenskiy but that could not be independently confirmed.
Lawmakers also approved the dismissal of Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna and of Environment Minister Ruslan Strilets.
A vote on the dismissal of State Property Fund Chairman Vitaliy Koval fell short by one vote, according to lawmaker and Zelenskiy ally Oleksiy Honcharenko.
They did not appear to have voted on the resignation of Justice Minister Denys Malyuska.
Zelenskiy has said more changes to the government are coming in an effort to strengthen the it and deliver the results that the country needs.
"That is why there will be a number of personnel changes in the cabinet of ministers and the office of the president," he said on September 3, indicating that the changes would be coming in the fall.
Zelenskiy also said Ukraine needs more interaction between the central government and communities, especially during preparation for the winter season.
Kuleba in particular has been regarded by many as an effective messenger of Ukraine's warnings that stopping Russia's aggression is essential for the rest of Europe and the West along with pleas to continue massive military and other supplies by NATO members to a nonmember defending itself against Russian attack.
With reporting by Reuters and AFP
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-government-kuleba-shakeup- zelenskiy/33105144.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.
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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's answers to questions from the Moscow. Kremlin. Putin. programme, Vladivostok, September 4, 2024
4 September 2024 14:54
1622-04-09-2024
Question: So far, reports are coming in only from Reuters, but often such media leaks are eventually confirmed. The United States allegedly intends to supply missiles with a range of 300a900 kilometres for F-16 fighters. How could you comment on this?
Sergey Lavrov: I am tired of commenting, and nothing surprises me anymore. The Americans have already passed the "threshold" they set themselves. They are being egged on to it. Vladimir Zelensky can see this, and he is taking advantage of the situation.
However, they should understand that one should not joke about our "red lines." They know their location very well.
So far, the obsessive power struggle (when Democrats want to prove themselves "tougher" than the Republicans or vice versa) is leading towards an escalation. I am convinced that there are reasonable people exercising certain sway in the United States. I hope that the interests of the United States will be taken into account.
I would like to note a statement by National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby who said that one should be very careful about expanding support for Ukraine, so as not to start World War III because one would feel sorry for Europe. In effect, their genetic code tells them that no one will dare touch them. This destroys all principles on which Soviet-US agreements on strategic stability hinged; these agreements were later reaffirmed and developed with the Russian Federation. For some reason, their feeling of mutual deterrence is becoming eroded, and this is dangerous.
Question: What are they counting on then? They will supply weapons all the time. Certainly, they should realise that it is impossible to defeat Russia.
Sergey Lavrov: You should ask them.
I do not know what they are counting on. They believe that this "tough" stand on Russia is another argument for obtaining extra votes in the context of the logic of American exceptionalism. Such logic implies that they can do what they want, and no one will dare to offend them. This is what we are seeing today. However, no one, including me, knows what's on their mind.
You should go to New York City, or tell your colleagues to ask these questions.
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Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Britain's involvement in the planning and implementation of the Kiev regime's terrorist attacks in Russia
4 September 2024 12:46
1620-04-09-2024
More facts are emerging about London's deep involvement in the planning and implementation of the Kiev regime's terrorist attacks in Russia.
In particular, the examination of the electronic components of the drones which Ukraine used in early August 2024 to attack a fuel depot in the Kamensky District, Rostov Region, has shown that the drones' flight controllers were pre-programmed near the headquarters of Callen-Lenz GB in Salisbury, UK, and in the hangars of Safran Seats GB in the vicinity of Newport, Wales. These two companies provide technological solutions for the aircraft and aerospace industries.
The drones were assembled in the Vyshgorod District, Kiev Region, and launched from a site near Slavyansk in the part of the Donetsk People's Republic that is currently controlled by the Ukrainian army.
We regard these facts as evidence of London's approval of the terrorist methods used by the Kiev regime. Britain's actual financing and involvement in preparing attacks on the civilian infrastructure and innocent civilians in Russia makes London fully responsible, on a par with its Kiev puppets, for the continuing bloodshed.
The concerned Russian agencies take Britain's destructive activity and its relentless striving to escalate the conflict into account. Conclusions are made, and the best response algorithms are considered, but it would not be right to speak openly about the details of this work, for obvious reasons. We would like to remind you, though, about the warning issued by the Foreign Ministry on May 6, 2024, that any UK military facilities and equipment on Ukrainian territory and beyond could be hit as a response to Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory with British weapons.
We call on London, which is sacrificing Ukrainian people and Ukrainian statehood to promote its own geopolitical interests, to immediately stop supporting the inhuman regime and refrain from any other actions that can further escalate the conflict.
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Russian military ensures safe rotation of 22nd IAEA team at Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant
04.09.2024
On 4 September 2024, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation ensured a safe rotation of the 22nd IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) team at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). The rotation was organised by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.
To this end, a ceasefire regime, strictly observed by Russian servicemen, was declared from 05:30 to 08:00 along the route of movement from the crossing point designated by the observers - the destroyed bridge near the Kamenskoye. While inspecting the road in the area of the crossing, Russian servicemen located unexploded foreign-made ammunition left in the immediate vicinity of the ZNPP as a result of renewed regular shelling from the Ukrainian side.
Four inspectors have arrived to observe and assess the safety of Zaporozhye NPP. During the rotation, IAEA Director R. Grossi visited cooling tower No. 1, which the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked by drones on 11 August. The Russian side's analysis of the scene showed that the UAVs were equipped with an incendiary substance that caused the fire. Rafael Grossi and IAEA experts confirmed that a fire source at the base of the cooling tower was unlikely.
The IAEA experts have been present at the Zaporozhye NPP since 1 September 2022, following the first visit of Director General Rafael Grossi to the Plant.
For Reference:
At the moment, all units of Zaporozhye NPP are shut down and are in the state of 'cold shutdown'. The equipment is maintained in accordance with all necessary regulations under strict control of radiation safety standards.
Radiation background at the plant and the adjacent territory is unchanged and is at the level corresponding to normal operation of the power units and does not exceed natural background values.
Department for Media Affairs and Information
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Statement by Russian Defence Ministry
04.09.2024
Last night, the Kiev regime attempted to launch a terrorist attack using unmanned aerial vehicles against the territory of the Russian Federation. Russian air defence systems on alert shot down four Ukrainian fixed-wing UAVs: two UAVs over Belgorod region, one over Kursk region, and one over the Black Sea waters. The Black Sea Fleet eliminated four uncrewed surface vehicles in the north-western part of the Black Sea.
Department for Media Affairs and Information
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Zelensky Regime's Military Actions Around Kursk Causing Dire Consequences for Ukraine
Sputnik News
20240904
The actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk border area have had disastrous consequences for Kiev. Instead of succeeding in breaking through towards the town of Kurchatov, Ukrainian troops have faced a serious crisis in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).
The Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed that fighting in the Kursk region continues. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are attempting to advance towards the settlements of Borki, Maryevka, Kamyshevka, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye, Olgovka, Korenevo, and Martynovka, but the attacks are being repelled.
In particular, on September 1, servicemen of Russia's 810th Marine Brigade destroyed a column of Ukrainian equipment.
At the same time, Kiev's Western sponsors remain skeptical of the Ukrainia operation, which involves several brigades in the region.
"If they are not rotated, these troops will not be able to fill gaps, serve as a reserve, or counter a Russian offensive inside Ukraine. In other words, it weakens an already shaky front," a Western media outlet notes. The outlet emphasizes that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are becoming much more exhausted by the operation.
This also affects other parts of the front.
"The situation is catastrophic, the Russian army is advancing faster than in the summer of 2022, and the Ukrainian military is preparing to defend the Dnepr," this is how German journalist Julian Roepcke, who recently praised the successes of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, assesses the situation.
The reason for the change of mood is the difficult situation for Kiev on several fronts at the same time. The lion's share of attention is now focused on Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk). According to Russia's Defense Ministry, Russian troops have approached a Ukrainian defensive line of four settlements: Dmitrov (Mirnograd), Grodovka, Novogrodovka, and Selidovo. Connected by an extensive network of roads and surrounded by piles of rubble and high-rise buildings, they could long serve as a reliable defense for the district center.
However, there are reports from the Ukrainian side that Russian troops managed to liberate Novogrodovka after just a few days last week. According to Verkhovna Rada lawmaker Mariana Bezuhla, there were fortifications there, but there were no units to defend them.
"The trenches in front of Novogrodovka were empty. There was practically no Ukrainian Army in the town, which once had a population of 20,000: the 31st Brigade was taken away, the brigadier was removed and a criminal case was opened against him," she said indignantly.
In particular, the Russian Army has opened up the possibility of an offensive on Selidovo, which is necessary to balance the flanks. Moreover, according to Bezuhla, the Russians have already entered the settlement. But Kiev's problems do not end there.
Russian forces are approaching the Ukrainian defensive bulge towards Nevelskoye from the north, and other Russian units are moving south towards Alexandropol in parallel. Ukrainian troops are actually in a semi-envelope. This is the last area that Ukrainian forces have been attacking Donetsk from since 2014.
Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk), which is less than 10 kilometers from the Russian troops, is one of the most important cities for the Ukrainian forces in the DPR. Its liberation would have a number of consequences: it is, in fact, an exit to the Dnepropetrovsk region; the Krasnoarmeysk-Konstantinovka-Chasov Yar Highway, which supplies the grouping near Chasov Yar, would be cut off. The situation on this part of the front would become extremely difficult for Kiev.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces are facing more and more problems, and any of them could turn into a disaster. The Russian offensive is speeding up, and the main question is whether Kiev has any reserves left to stabilize the situation. The outcome of the whole confrontation may depend on this.
A Sputnik
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Russian Forces Strike Ukrainian Defense Industry Enterprises in Lvov
Sputnik News
20240904
The Russian armed forces launched a group strike, including Kinzhal hypersonic systems and UAVs on defense industry enterprises in Lvov, the targets were hit, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"This morning, the Russian Armed Forces launched a group strike with long-range precision weapons, including Kinzhal hypersonic complexes and strike drones on Ukrainian defense industry enterprises located in the city of Lvov," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry added that these enterprises produced and repaired electronic components of Ukrainian Armed Forces aircraft and missile weapons.
Russian troops launched on September 3 a precision strike on the 179th joint training center of the Ukrainian armed forces in Poltava, where communications and electronic warfare specialists, as well as UAV operators involved in strikes against civilian targets in Russia, were trained under the guidance of foreign instructors, the Russian Defense Ministry added.
"On September 3 of this year, the armed forces of Russia carried out a precision strike on the 179th joint training center of the armed forces of Ukraine in the city of Poltava, where, under the guidance of foreign instructors, specialists in communications, electronic warfare were trained from all formations and military units of the Ukrainian armed forces, as well as operators of unmanned aerial vehicles involved in strikes on civilian objects on the territory of the Russian Federation," the statement read.
Russia's Battlegroup Yug has eliminated up to 670 Ukrainian servicepeople over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
"The enemy lost up to 670 soldiers, three vehicles, two US-made 155-mm M777 howitzers, two 152-mm D-20 guns, a 122-mm D-30 howitzer and an AN/TPQ-37 counter-battery radar made in US. An ammunition depot was destroyed," the ministry said.
Russian Battlegroup Tsentr takes control of the Karlovka village and the Prechystovka settlement in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the ministry said, adding that Russian soldiers repelled seven Ukrainian counterattacks.
"The enemy's losses amounted to more than 480 servicepeople, a US-made MaxxPro armored combat vehicle, two vehicles, a 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, a 122-mm self-propelled artillery installation Gvozdika and a 100-mm Rapier anti-tank gun," the ministry said.
Kiev has lost up to 480 soldiers in battles with Russian Battlegroup Zapad in the past day, the minister said.
A Sputnik
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The Second Thematic Conference in the Wake of the Peace Summit Was Held on the Food Security
President of Ukraine
4 September 2024 - 21:55
Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak took part in a thematic conference on the implementation of the agreements reached at the Global Peace Summit; the conference was dedicated to the implementation of the Food Security point of the Peace Formula. It was held online.
The event was attended by representatives of 75 partner countries and international organizations from different regions of the world. The Ukrainian side was also represented by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko, Deputy Heads of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva and Mykola Tochytskyi, and Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office Oleksandr Bevz.
Opening the event, Andriy Yermak noted that Russian aggression against Ukraine aggravates the food crisis in the world, where already every eleventh person on the planet is malnourished. However, even under these circumstances, Ukraine remains one of the leading guarantors of global food security.
"Global food security depends on the uninterrupted production, storage and supply of food. Therefore, Ukraine expects that this meeting will launch a series of very concrete steps aimed at ensuring the unimpeded supply of Ukrainian agricultural products to the countries concerned," he said.
First of all, this means ensuring the freedom and safety of commercial navigation in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov basins, in particular, demining and mine countermeasures along the trade routes, restoration of Ukrainian port infrastructure and its protection by air defense systems.
It is also necessary to continue supporting the "Grain from Ukraine" program and to reduce vulnerabilities in the logistics of Ukraine's food export system. There is a need to restore and increase the production capacity of the Ukrainian agricultural sector, in particular by de-mining farmland.
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko spoke in detail about the situation of Ukrainian agricultural production and supply, including a significant recovery of exports from our state to countries in need.
In 2023-2024, Ukraine exported 69.86 million tons of grain, oilseeds and oil. In particular, the country managed to increase wheat exports to Africa by 41% and sunflower oil exports by 153%. In total, Ukraine exported nearly 70 million tons of grains, oilseeds, and oil. This was achieved primarily due to the restoration of logistics through the ports of the Odesa region.
In addition, thanks to the support of partners from around the world, Ukraine has been able to increase the pace of landmine clearance. Our country looks forward to further steps in support of these efforts.
Principal Deputy National Security Advisor to the U.S. President Jon Finer, who personally attended the conference in Kyiv, noted that the United States continues to support Ukraine on its path to restoring a just, lasting peace, and ending this war.
He emphasized that Russia's aggression against Ukraine has affected not only the lives of Ukrainians, but also people around the world, particularly through food security challenges.
"Thanks to the courage and resilience of Ukrainians, as well as the support of many partner countries, Ukraine was able to protect its exports and push back the Russian Black Sea Fleet," he emphasized.
This thematic conference was already the second of those planned in the wake of the first Peace Summit. The first, which focused on energy security, was held on August 22. Preparations are also underway for the third, which will address the release of all captured and deported Ukrainians. These events are aimed at developing a comprehensive peace plan initiated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The conference resulted in a Joint CommuniquA, the text of which is provided below.
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The Office of the President Held Briefings for the U.S. Delegation on the Battlefield Situation, Ukraine's Arms Needs and Sanctions Against the Russian Federation
President of Ukraine
4 September 2024 - 21:45
Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak met with the U.S. delegation led by U.S. Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer.
The Ukrainian side held briefings for the U.S. delegation on the security situation in the face of Russia's full-scale aggression, the development of Ukraine's Defense Forces capabilities, and the sanctions policy.
Andriy Yermak noted that over the past few days, Russia has launched a series of missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, including Poltava and Lviv, killing dozens of people and injuring hundreds more.
"We want to give you full information. Because you know the position of President Zelensky that the United States is our friend, we are strategic partners, and we want to be completely open, because without trust it is impossible to advance together towards Ukraine's victory. And, of course, we are grateful to the people and the Government of the United States, to President Biden, for the assistance provided," he said.
Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Troops Group Andriy Hnatov described the situation on the frontline, particularly in the Pokrovsk direction, and on the operation in the Kursk region.
Acting Commander of the Air Forces of Ukraine Anatolii Kryvonozhko provided information on the use of F-16s, the tactics of Russian shelling, and Ukraine's need for additional air defense systems, anti-aircraft missile systems, missiles, electronic reconnaissance equipment, and more.
Deputy Minister for Strategic Industries Anna Gvozdiar spoke about the capabilities of the Ukrainian defense sector, current and potential cooperation with U.S. companies to improve the defense capabilities of Ukraine's Defense Forces, and the need for spare parts and components.
During the discussion of sanctions, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko emphasized the need to strengthen export controls in order to prevent critical Western-made technologies from entering the Russian Federation (including through third countries), and to exert sanctions pressure on Russian metallurgical companies.
Advisor and Presidential Commissioner for Sanctions Policy Vladyslav Vlasiuk drew attention to the correlation between the sanctions imposed and the enemy's macroeconomic indicators. He emphasized the expediency of strengthening sanctions in the financial sector to prevent the aggressor country from conducting cross-border transactions. In addition, according to the Advisor and Commissioner, it is necessary to take measures to further restrict Russian oil exports and the work of Rosatom.
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It Is Very Important That Absolutely All the Objectives Set for Our Kursk Operation Are Being Realized - Address by the President
President of Ukraine
4 September 2024 - 19:19
Dear Ukrainians!
By now, rescue operations have been completed in Lviv and Kryvyi Rih, where people suffered from the Russian missile strikes today. Ordinary houses and civil infrastructure were damaged. There are many victims. Everyone has received the necessary assistance. Unfortunately, seven people were killed in Lviv. My condolences to their families and loved ones!
It is important that the world sees this terror and reacts to it. To everything that Russia is doing against our people, against our state. I am grateful to all political and public figures, I am grateful to every leader who supports Ukraine and Ukrainians and condemns Russian terror. And I am also grateful to all journalists of Ukraine, Europe, and the world - to all those who speak truthfully about what is happening, about this war, and about the importance of protecting lives.
Today, the Taoiseach of Ireland came on a visit to Ukraine, and he was not only in Kyiv, but also in Hostomel and Borodyanka. He saw what the Russian war brought to Ukraine. Today we signed a bilateral security agreement with Ireland, which is substantial, as it should be. It is the 26th such agreement. Although Ireland is a militarily neutral state, we cooperate actively in the political, economic and humanitarian spheres. And we will work even more actively. We have secured the amount of Ireland's assistance to Ukraine for this year. We have agreed to make more joint efforts to ensure that sanctions against Russia for this war become stronger, and that reconstruction in Ukraine is more active. I suggested that Ireland should look more closely at the possibility of patronage for the restoration of one of our regions. And, of course, it is very valuable that Irish society and the political class know what is happening in Ukraine and what exactly is needed to end this war as soon as possible.
Today, there was a report from Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi. As every day, it was about each part of the front, with special reference to Pokrovsk, Toretsk, and the Kurakhove direction. Separate mention was made of the operation in the Kursk region. It is very important that absolutely all the objectives set for our Kursk operation are being realized. For this, I thank every soldier, every sergeant and every officer involved. As of now, this operation continues to be the largest replenishment of the exchange fund from one direction.
And today we also continued evacuating our people from the Middle East - from Lebanon. 11 children, 14 adults. They are now safe. And our diplomats and intelligence will continue helping - all Ukrainians in the region who need it can contact our diplomatic missions in the Middle East and get everything they need, all help, all assistance.
And one more thing.
We are preparing important meetings with our partners. Something that can and should strengthen our positions - not only of Ukraine, but of all of us in Europe, of all of us in the world who want a real end to this war and a real joint work on ensuring that security never collapses again. This week, next week, and all of September must be productive for all of us. Primarily, this is about air defense, our capabilities on the front and in reconstruction. We are preparing substantial things.
I thank everyone who stands with Ukraine! I thank all those who fight and work - really work one hundred percent - to defend our independence, our people!
Glory to Ukraine!
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New Aid Package, Participation in the Implementation of the Peace Formula, and Increasing the Effectiveness of Sanctions Against Russia: Volodymyr Zelenskyy Met with Simon Harris
President of Ukraine
4 September 2024 - 15:15
In Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris held talks and signed a bilateral agreement.
The Ukrainian President noted that 7 people were killed and more than 50 injured overnight in Lviv due to a Russian missile strike. There were also casualties in Kryvyi Rih as a result of the Russian attack. The second day of clearing the rubble continues in Poltava, where nearly 300 people have been affected overall.
"Under such conditions, we in Ukraine especially appreciate every show of support for our state and our people, and we value the fact that Ireland, a militarily neutral state, is not neutral morally," said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The President thanked Ireland for its unwavering support of Ukraine. Since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, Ireland has provided humanitarian aid and assistance to Ukrainian infrastructure worth a380 million.
Ireland is also participating in the implementation of the Peace Formula and supports sanctions against Russia. During the meeting, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Simon Harris specifically discussed how to make the sanctions regime more effective.
"Unfortunately, Russia is still able to manufacture missiles using components from different countries around the world. Moreover, the Russian state creates various schemes to circumvent sanctions. All of this can only be stopped through strong, timely, and collective efforts by all countries that value a normal rules-based world order and seek peace," the President emphasized.
The leaders signed a bilateral security agreement. According to the Ukrainian President, this document will allow the realization of the full potential of cooperation between Ukraine and Ireland, as well as with partners within the framework of the security agreement architecture.
Simon Harris assured that Ireland would support Ukraine for as long as needed. He also announced that his country would provide an additional a36 million in humanitarian aid.
"We will never allow this to continue and become normalized. And we will never allow events like those that happened this morning to be normalized," stressed the Irish Taoiseach.
During his visit to Ukraine, Simon Harris visited communities in the Kyiv region that experienced Russian strikes and attempted occupation. Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope for significant Ireland's participation in Ukraine's reconstruction.
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Ukraine and Ireland Sign Bilateral Agreement
President of Ukraine
4 September 2024 - 13:26
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Taoiseach of Ireland Simon Harris signed an Agreement on Support for Ukraine and Cooperation between the two countries.
Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ireland has provided humanitarian, stabilization, and non-lethal military aid to Ukraine, totaling approximately a380 million.
This year, Ireland has committed to providing an additional a128 million in non-lethal military support and at least a40 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Ireland will also supply mine clearance systems and explosive ordnance disposal equipment, continuing its involvement in the demining coalition. Additionally, Ireland will explore other potential support pathways within the capability coalitions of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, such as the IT Coalition.
Ireland will ensure the ongoing training of the Ukrainian Armed Forces through EUMAM Ukraine.
Separate sections of the agreement outline humanitarian aid, as well as support for Ukraine's recovery and reform efforts, particularly on the path toward EU membership. Ireland will assist in holding Russia accountable, compensating for damages caused by the aggression, and further strengthening sanctions pressure on Russia.
Moreover, Ireland will continue its diplomatic efforts to implement the Peace Formula and participate in the activities of various working groups and implementation of specific elements of the Formula, including the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.
In total, Ukraine has already signed 26 bilateral agreements in furtherance of the G7 Joint Declaration adopted in Vilnius on July 12, 2023.
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Agreement on Support for Ukraine and Cooperation between Ukraine and Ireland
President of Ukraine
4 September 2024 - 13:25
I Introduction
1. Ukraine and Ireland, hereinafter jointly referred to as "the Participants", reiterate their unequivocal condemnation of Russia's ongoing full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine and temporary occupation of the territory of Ukraine. Europe's security is facing its gravest threat in decades. Ireland remains unwavering in its commitment to support Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders as of 1991, including its territorial sea.
2. Russia's brutal war is a blatant violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations (UN Charter), the Helsinki Final Act and the Charter of Paris. Russia's aggression against Ukraine weakens security and stability across Europe and undermines Russia's credibility as a party to international agreements. The war continues to aggravate a food and energy crisis that affects the poorest and most vulnerable communities globally.
3. Further to the Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine ("G7 Declaration"), adopted in Vilnius on 12 July 2023 by the Group of Seven and the European Union (EU) and co-signed by Ireland, Ireland is committed to maintaining support for Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity, rebuilds its economy, protects its citizens, and advances its reform agenda, and as it pursues its pathway towards EU integration and accession.
4. The Participants will deepen their cooperation and partnership by pursuing the long-term bilateral security commitments set forth in this Agreement. These commitments are based on the Participants' common interest in defending the global multilateral system and international law, based on the UN Charter, and protecting fundamental human rights and freedoms.
II Scope
5. The Participants will strengthen their cooperation by pursuing bilateral and long-term commitments across a range of areas, including political support, security assistance and cooperation, humanitarian support, recovery and reconstruction, and ensuring accountability, by pursuing the measures referred to in this Agreement.
6. Since February 2022, Ireland has committed approximately a380 million in humanitarian, stabilisation and non-lethal military assistance to Ukraine. Ireland's commitments to Ukraine seek to complement contributions by the other signatories of the G7 Declaration, including the EU and its Member States. These commitments to Ukraine are coordinated with partners and fully reflect the Joint Security Commitments between the EU and Ukraine, signed on 27 June 2024.
7. In this context, Ireland will continue to provide long-term political, security and financial support, as well as humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity against Russia's invasion. Ukraine, for its part, is strongly committed to the implementation of governance reforms, including transparency, accountability and anti-corruption reforms.
III Political support for Ukraine
8. The future of Ukraine and its people lies within the European family, in the EU. Ukraine's security is an integral part of European security and Ukraine has the right to choose its own foreign and security policy path, and its own security arrangements.
9. The Participants reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine's European aspirations, and in particular towards Ukraine's membership of the European Union and other international organisations. The Participants therefore warmly welcome the decision by the European Council in December 2023 to open EU accession negotiations with Ukraine, and the convening of the first Inter-governmental Conference on 25 June 2024.
10. The Participants reaffirm their commitment to work constructively on Ukraine's progressive integration towards the EU, with a view to its future EU membership. Ireland, in cooperation with the EU and its Member States, will continue to support Ukraine in its reforms and accession path.
11. Ireland remains committed to supporting Ukraine, bilaterally and through the EU and its Ukraine Facility, to support Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction, and modernisation reforms in line with its EU accession path.
12. The Participants recall the merit-based nature of the EU accession process. Ireland commends Ukraine for the successful reform process so far and acknowledges Ukraine's efforts to strive for the implementation of necessary reforms under extremely challenging circumstances.
13. Ireland recalls its strong support for the EU's efforts to support Ukraine's immediate and long-term security and resilience, including through the contribution of non-lethal military and civilian assistance, humanitarian, financial, trade and economic support, hosting of displaced people, support to reforms, recovery and reconstruction, as well as restrictive measures, support to accountability mechanisms, diplomatic support and global outreach.
14. Ireland will continue its diplomatic efforts to promote the implementation of Ukraine's Peace Formula. Ukraine deserves a just and lasting peace based on international law and respecting Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. The Participants will work together for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine that has broad global support.
15. Ireland will remain engaged on specific elements of Ukraine's Peace Formula, including the work of the International Coalition on the Return of Ukrainian Children under point 4 of the Peace Formula, which aims to secure the return of all prisoners of war and unlawfully displaced Ukrainian children and other Ukrainian civilians.
16. The Participants reaffirm their strong commitment to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and call for Russia's immediate return to respecting the OSCE's principles and commitments. Ukraine and Ireland commend the important work of the Support Programme for Ukraine and are willing to make full use of the OSCE's tools in support of Ukraine's security, stability and reconstruction. The Participants will work closely to this end.
IV Security assistance and cooperation
17. The EU and Ireland, as an EU Member State, have strongly condemned Russia's war of aggression. Ireland strongly supports the joint position and action taken by the EU to support Ukraine in its self-defence, including the joint security commitments agreed between the European Union and Ukraine, signed on 27 June 2024 and unanimously approved by the European Council.
18. In 2022 and 2023 Ireland committed a122 million in non-lethal military support to Ukraine. In 2024 Ireland has committed a further a128 million in non-lethal military support to Ukraine.
19. In this context, Ireland also fully supports the continued mobilisation of predictable, sustainable and long-term support through the European Peace Facility (EPF) and the dedicated Ukraine Assistance Fund (UAF) under the Facility. Ireland's military support to Ukraine through the European Peace Facility will continue to focus on non-lethal equipment, as outlined in its Programme for Government commitments in respect of the EPF.
20. Ireland will work on supporting efforts to improve capabilities of the security and defence forces of Ukraine to defend itself against Russian aggression now and deter possible further aggression in the future, with particular focus on de-mining capabilities and training supports through EUMAM as well as to contribute to Ukraine's Future Force Design.
21. Ireland will continue its training support aimed at addressing the needs expressed by Ukraine in the framework of the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM). This framework provides the principal mechanism for Ireland's continuing non-lethal military support to Ukraine.
22. Recalling that Ireland has already provided various elements of direct support, including the provision of equipment such as mine clearance systems, transport vehicles, ambulances, body armour, and other non-lethal equipment, as well as funding for cyber security support, Ireland will continue to provide ongoing assistance to Ukraine, as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity against the ongoing aggression in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter.
23. Ireland will continue to support Ukraine for the ten-year duration of this Agreement.
24. Ireland's support will remain steadfast and will remain centred, according to its own capabilities and policy approach, on non-lethal military assistance based on Ukraine's needs. Such support in the field of security and defence will include, but will not be limited to, the following areas:
The provision of non-lethal military assistance, including under the European Peace Facility;
The donation of mine clearance and other similar systems, such as explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) equipment;
The provision of ongoing training to the Ukrainian Defence Forces through the EU Military Assistance Mission, EUMAM Ukraine;
Membership of the Lithuanian and Icelandic-led demining capability coalition under the Ukraine Defence Contact Group;
Exploration of other potential avenues of support in terms of Ukraine Defence Contact Group coalitions, such as the Luxembourg and Estonian-led IT coalition.
25. Recognising the scale of the contamination of Ukraine's territory with mines and explosive remnants of war, mine action has been identified as a key priority in the short to long-term. Ireland is committed to supporting the mine clearance of the territory of Ukraine and will continue to explore the provision of funding under the European Peace Facility to support demining, as well as the provision of training support under EUMAM-Ukraine in response to Ukrainian expressed needs in this area, including in developing and sustaining international demining standards.
26. Recalling Ireland's existing support in the area of cyber security, participants will explore opportunities to deepen cooperation in digital resilience and cyber security to assist Ukraine in detecting and countering Russian and any other malicious cyber activity, in accordance with international law. This will be achieved through enhanced cyber resilience and critical infrastructure protection, cyber threat intelligence sharing, and providing technical and/or financial assistance to Ukraine.
27. The Participants will explore strengthening bilateral cooperation and resilience in countering hybrid threats, as well as countering foreign information manipulation and interference disinformation campaigns and malign propaganda primarily by Russia and any other hostile actors. The Participants will deepen their cooperation within the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, including through Ukraine's enhanced partnership with the Centre.
28. The Participants will explore mechanisms to share relevant information and analysis on activities by hostile actors, which impact on any aspect of national security and the functioning of democratic institutions, in accordance with applicable legal frameworks.
29. Ireland will also continue to provide strong support for the EU Advisory Mission in Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine). By sharing expertise through the EUAM, Ireland will continue to support Ukraine in reforming the civilian security sector, law enforcement, and the rule of law. Ireland will continue to contribute to the work of EUAM Ukraine in the investigation and prosecution of international crimes, and re-establishing the rule of law in the de-occupied and adjacent territories in Ukraine.
30. The Participants reaffirm their commitment to comply with their obligations under international law, including the duty to respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law. Ukraine will ensure that any military equipment provided by Ireland is used exclusively for Ukraine's self-defence, and is used in accordance with international law, including international humanitarian law.
31. The Participants recognise the importance of the maritime order based on international law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In this regard, Ukraine and Ireland will promote freedom of navigation and safety at sea. The Participants will coordinate their efforts on strengthening international cooperation and collaboration in this domain.
V Humanitarian, reconstruction and reform support
32. Ireland continues to provide temporary protection for people fleeing from Ukraine due to Russian aggression, under the EU Temporary Protection Directive. To date, over 109,000 people from Ukraine have applied for temporary protection and have been welcomed in Ireland since February 2022.
33. Ireland is committed to providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine, to assist Ukraine in reconstruction, and to support its programme of reform and pathway to membership of the European Union. Ireland's support will remain steadfast, durable and long-term in nature.
34. In 2022 and 2023, Ireland committed a90 million in humanitarian and stabilisation support to Ukraine. In 2024, Ireland has committed at least a40 million in humanitarian and stabilisation support to Ukraine, including for humanitarian, reconstruction, macro-economic and reform programmes in Ukraine, and will work closely with the Ukrainian government and international development partners, including the UN, in disbursing this funding.
35. Irish assistance will also be channelled through relevant trusted civil society organisations operating in Ukraine. Ireland commits to remaining a firm champion of civil society and will in particular seek to pursue appropriate opportunities to support this sector.
36. The Participants recognise the importance of supporting private businesses in Ukraine, as their input plays a vital role in supporting the local economy and enhancing the resilience of affected communities. Therefore, the Participants are willing, in accordance with their national laws and applicable international law and obligations arising from the international agreements to which they are party, to work together to identify opportunities for private sector investment and cooperation in Ukraine.
VI Commitment to reform in Ukraine
37. Inclusive reform is indispensable for Ukraine's current and future security and prosperity, for its democracy, the resilience of its institutions and for Ukraine's aspirations for EU membership. Ukraine commits to implement reforms as defined by the EU and the International Monetary Fund, notably in the areas of governance, transparency, anti-corruption and democratic control over its security and defence forces.
38. Ireland will continue to provide strong support for the strengthening of the rule of law in Ukraine, with a view to ensuring that Ukraine's recovery, reconstruction and implementation of key reforms is fully aligned with EU rules and standards.
39. Ireland stands ready to provide further advice and assistance to Ukraine, drawing on the experience of its own accession process and membership of the European Union, as Ukraine progresses along its EU path.
VII Promoting Accountability
40. The Participants acknowledge the importance of justice for a lasting and sustainable peace in Ukraine and beyond, and the imperative of ensuring that there is no impunity for international crimes committed in and against Ukraine.
41. The Participants reaffirm their commitment to ensuring the accountability of the Russian Federation for all damage, loss or injury to individuals and entities in Ukraine, as well as to the state of Ukraine, as a result of the internationally wrongful acts of the Russian Federation in or against Ukraine, including waging a war of aggression in violation of the UN Charter. The Participants are committed to ensuring accountability for the crime of aggression against Ukraine and are convinced of the need to establish a tribunal for that purpose. The Participants will continue their engagement in the "Core Group on options for the establishment of a tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine".
42. The Participants will continue to support the investigation and prosecution of alleged international crimes committed in and against Ukraine and will continue to support the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Furthermore, Ireland will continue to deploy experts through the EUAM to support the work of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine and to build Ukraine's capacity to investigate and prosecute war crimes in the context of Russia's war of aggression.
VIII Compensation for damage, loss and injury caused by Russian aggression
43. The Participants reaffirm that the Russian Federation must be held accountable for the damage caused by its internationally wrongful acts in and against Ukraine. Ireland will continue to support the immobilisation of Russian sovereign assets within the EU until Russia ceases its war of aggression against Ukraine and compensates Ukraine for the damage caused by this war.
44. Ireland supports the work ongoing to find ways to utilise frozen and immobilised Russian assets to support Ukraine and its recovery and reconstruction, in accordance with EU and international law and in coordination with partner countries.
45. The Participants welcome the agreement reached at EU-level to ensure the extraordinary revenue generated from immobilised Russian sovereign assets will be used to support Ukraine. Ireland will continue to support efforts within the EU to examine further possibilities for use of extraordinary revenue generated from Russian sovereign assets, in coordination with international partners, including the G7.
46. As a priority, the Participants will continue to work together, along with G7 states and others, towards the establishment of an international compensation mechanism to provide compensation for damage, loss or injury caused by Russia's aggression, as envisaged by the Statute of the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine adopted by the Resolution of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe CM/Res(2023)3. This may include the exploration of appropriate options for the financing of an international compensation mechanism to provide prompt and adequate compensation to victims of aggression.
IX Sanctions
47. The Participants recognise the value of sanctions in restricting the Russian Federation's access to the finance, goods, technology and services it is utilising in its aggression. Ireland will remain committed to pursuing robust restrictive measures and export controls against those sectors of the Russian economy and outside that are supporting or profiting from the war, or assisting in sanctions circumvention in third countries.
48. Ireland will continue to take determined action through the EU to uphold sanctions against the Russian Federation and to tackle all forms of circumvention of restrictive measures. Ireland will also cooperate and share expertise with Ukraine on EU restrictive measures, their implementation and efforts to combat sanctions evasion.
49. The Participants will provide each other with up-to-date appropriate information on the grounds for sanctions listings and related relevant information, in compliance with relevant obligations and national laws.
X Consultation mechanisms
50. In order to facilitate the implementation of this Agreement and to ensure an ongoing strategic dialogue, appropriate consultation structures between the Participants will be arranged.
51. In particular, the Participants will develop senior-level consultations on political and strategic matters, including regular strategic dialogues on the strengthening of Ukraine's security, defence, resilience, and reform path.
52. In the event of future Russian armed attacks against Ukraine or the significant escalation of the ongoing aggression, the Participants, at the request of either of the Participants, will consult within 24 hours, bilaterally or via other channels they both deem appropriate, in order to determine appropriate next steps.
XI Final Provisions
53. The Participants will implement this Agreement in accordance with their international and national legal obligations, including Ireland's obligations as a member of the EU, budgetary appropriations, and in full respect for Ireland's longstanding policy of military neutrality.
54. This Agreement will remain in effect for 10 years from the date of its signature.
55. In accordance with the G7 Joint Declaration of 12 July 2023, the Participants share the opinion that this Agreement is without prejudice to Ukraine pursuing a pathway toward future membership in NATO.
56. The Participants will, if necessary, designate authorised bodies for the development and implementation of bilateral arrangements in accordance with the areas of cooperation specified in this Agreement.
57. The authorised bodies of the Participants may conclude executive and technical arrangements on specific areas of cooperation within the framework of the implementation of this Agreement or supplementary to this Agreement.
58. This Agreement may be brought to an end by either Participant at any time by written notice to the other Participant. The Agreement will be discontinued six months from the date of receipt of such notice.
59. This Agreement may be amended and supplemented, including by adding annexes thereto, by mutual consent of the Participants, which will be made in writing.
60. Any difference in the interpretation and implementation of this Agreement will be settled amicably through direct consultations between the Participants.
61. This Agreement will come into effect on the date of signature.
Signed in Kyiv on 4 September 2024, in duplicate, in the English and Ukrainian languages, the English version of which will prevail in the event of any discrepancy.
For Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
For Ireland: Simon Harris, TDTaoiseach
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Ukraine: Top official underscores need to protect civilians amid 'massive' attacks
By Dianne Penn
4 September 2024 - The United Nations upheld the need to protect civilians in Ukraine as Russian attacks continue across the country, with at least seven people killed in Lviv on Wednesday, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
"Over the last few weeks, we've seen intensifying attacks affecting civilians and public infrastructure", WHO Ukraine said in a post on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
Since the weekend, parts of Ukraine including the eastern city of Kharkiv, the Sumy and Donetsk regions and Kyiv, Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia areas, have suffered deadly strikes.
WHO Ukraine said the "cruel attack" in Lviv "claimed the lives of at least 7 people, including children, and injured 47 others", while a health facility was also affected.
Separately, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) posted on X that "indiscriminate attacks impacting children and their schools have marred the start of the new school year."
Strikes in central Ukraine
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that Kryvyi Rih, in the centre of the country, was also affected by strikes on Wednesday. Dozens of civilians were injured, including children, and six schools were damaged, according to local authorities.
"Immediately after the attacks, aid workers started providing medical and psychological support to affected people," the agency said.
Humanitarians organized meals and drinks for affected residents and rescuers. They also delivered and distributed materials to cover the damage, and people also received legal aid and registered for cash assistance.
Humanitarian Coordinator's visit
The latest attacks came a day after a missile strike on a military academy and nearby hospital in the central city of Poltava left at least 50 people dead and more than 270 injured - among the deadliest single attacks since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022.
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, was in Poltava on Wednesday where he witnessed the impact.
Speaking in a video posted on X, he said that "massive" attacks have been occurring across Ukraine since Friday.
"These attacks have resulted in destruction of civilian infrastructure, including a lot of educational institutions and health institutions, and that is utterly despicable that civilian infrastructure is destroyed," he said.
Respect international humanitarian law
He also pointed to the human toll, as civilians have been killed and seriously injured, expressing shock and outrage.
"No one should die. No one should be injured," he said. "And I repeat the calls the UN has made many times to respect international humanitarian law and to do whatever it takes to keep civilians safe and to protect critical civilian infrastructure."
Mr. Schmale also mentioned that his thoughts were with the families of those killed in the Poltava attack on Tuesday.
"Young people going to the institution here were killed," he said, adding that it was "utterly deplorable that young lives are taken far too early from this planet", before expressing solidarity with affected families across the country.
Concern for displaced people
The UN refugee agency UNHCR called on Wednesday for an immediate end to atacks on civilians in Ukraine.
Spokesperson Matthew Saltmarsh recalled that the war has produced over six million refugees in Europe alone to date, while an estimated 3.6 million people back home are internally displaced.
"For us at UNHCR, the focus on responding to these attacks has been providing immediate support that could be around shelter, around support, with evacuations, documentation, psychological support, helping families that have been separated, and so on," he said.
Mr. Saltmarsh added that aside from the increase in attacks, UNHCR's top concern now is the coming winter months, warning that "the needs are going to rise, certainly in terms of providing fuel, energy, shelter, warm clothing and so on."
Nuclear safety efforts continue
Meanwhile, a new report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) highlights its efforts to ensure nuclear safety and security amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The report outlines challenges and achievements to protect the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), and help prevent a nuclear accident, since launching a mission there in September 2022.
Located in southern Ukraine, Zaporizhzhya is Europe's largest nuclear power plant and is on the frontline of the conflict. It has been under Russian control since the early days of the full-scale invasion.
Precarious and very fragile
IAEA teams stationed there have reported on incidents including shelling and drone strikes at the facility, which has also suffered repeated loss of off-site power events.
Writing in the report's forward, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi noted that the situation at the Zaporizhzhya plant remains precarious and very fragile.
"Two years into the IAEA's continued presence at the occupied Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, our commitment to helping prevent a nuclear accident remains resolute," he said.
"Amid the significant challenges and risks to nuclear safety and security, we are steadfast in our mission to assess the situation and keep the international community informed."
Supporting nuclear safety
The report was issued as Mr. Grossi travelled to the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, his fifth time during the conflict. Since he last went in February, it has been hit by drone strikes and experienced loss of power lines, while a fire last month caused significant damage to one of the two cooling towers.
He said that "the objective and impartial assessments of the situation provided by our teams have made a significant contribution to maintaining nuclear safety, security and safeguards" at the plant.
The IAEA has experts stationed at Ukraine's four other nuclear sites, and the report also summarizes developments, activities and assistance at these locations since missions were set up there in early 2023.
Reassuring the international community
In total, the IAEA has conducted 139 Support and Assistance Missions to the nuclear sites in Ukraine. Additionally, its comprehensive assistance to Ukraine has facilitated 61 deliveries of equipment to the country, with a total value of over a10 million.
The agency has also continued its vital safeguards verification activities across Ukraine, ensuring that there is no diversion of nuclear material for military purposes.
"As I conduct my fifth visit to the ZNPP, and my tenth to Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict, I want to reassure the international community that the IAEA, and I as Director General, will continue to do everything possible within our mandate to assist in averting a nuclear or radiological accident at any of Ukraine's nuclear facilities," Mr. Grossi said.
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Russian aerial attack kills 7 in western Ukraine city of Lviv
By VOA News September 04, 2024
Ukrainian officials said Wednesday a Russian air attack killed at least seven people and injured more than 60 others in the western city of Lviv, which Moscow had only infrequently targeted before and is hundreds of kilometers from the front battle line.
Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said in a video posted on Telegram that the attack destroyed a building and damaged more than 50 structures, including schools and homes.
Among the dead were four people from one family, a woman and her three daughters, leaving their father as the only immediate survivor.
"We will not forgive the enemy and will take revenge," Sadovyi said on Telegram. "They will feel what hell is like while they are still alive."
Russia has ramped up its aerial attacks on Ukraine since Kyiv launched an unprecedented cross-border offensive into Russia's Kursk region nearly a month ago, the first foreign incursion into Russia since World War II.
Lviv, whose old town is a UNESCO world heritage site, is close to the border with Poland and is sheltering thousands of Ukrainians displaced by the 30-month war. The strike on Lviv came a day after a Russian missile attack killed 53 people in the central city of Poltava, one of the deadliest single strikes of the invasion.
Ukraine's air force said the attack on Lviv was part of a wider barrage of new strikes, with 13 missiles and 29 drones targeting the war-torn country. The air force said it intercepted seven of the missiles and 22 drones.
Wreckage from a downed missile fell on the central city of Kryvyi Rih, emergency services said, damaging a hotel and wounding six people.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal called for more air defense systems and for long-range weapons to strike Russia in the wake of the attack. The weapons delivered by Ukraine's Western allies, including the United States and NATO members in Europe, often come with restrictions prohibiting their use against most targets located inside Russia.
In eastern Ukraine, Russia said it had captured the village of Karlivka, the latest in a string of territorial gains. Karlivka is about 30 kilometers from Pokrovsk, a major Russian target that lies on a key supply route for the Ukrainian army.
Ukrainian officials on Wednesday announced a new round of compulsory evacuations for children living in villages close to the front line in the region because of the deteriorating "security situation."
Russian President Vladimir Putin had said Monday that his army was making rapid advances in the Donbas that covers the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
"We have not had such a fast-paced offensive in the Donbas for a long time," he said.
Ukraine was also in the midst of a major government reshuffle on Wednesday, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seeks to boost confidence in his government.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba submitted his resignation, a day after six other officials including cabinet ministers said they were stepping down.
"We need new energy. And these steps are related to strengthening our state in various areas," Zelenskyy told journalists when asked about the changes.
Russian officials said Ukrainian attacks throughout Wednesday killed six people in territory it controls.
Ukrainian shelling killed three people in occupied east Ukraine, according to the Russian-installed Donetsk regional governor Denis Pushilin, and another three in a Russian border village in Belgorod, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.
Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
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Emad
Emad ballistic missile is the Iranian liquid-fuel long-ranged ballistic missile equipped with a guided warhead by installing vanes ["balks"] on the Emad warhead. The Emad ballistic missile can carry a 750 kg payload at a range of 1700 km. Once Emad's reentry vehicle enters the atmosphere, they can start to maneuver and alter their trajectory. This is done to increase precision and to perform random evasive maneuvering.
A September 2024 report shared exclusively with The Associated Press suggests one of the advanced missiles Tehran would use in any future attack against Israel is far less accurate than previously thought. Analysts at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies examined the Iranian strike on the Nevatim Air Base some 65 kilometers south of Jerusalem in the Negev Desert. Assuming Iran targeted Israeli F-35I fighter jet hangars, the James Martin analysts measured the distance between the hangars and the impact zones of the missiles. That gave an average of about 1.2 kilometers for the circular error probable. Thats far worse than a 500-meter error circle first estimated by experts for the Emad. Iran separately advertised the Emad to potential international buyers as having a 50-meter circle.
Emad is variant of Imad and has the exact same meaning and pronunciation. Either Emad or Imad, both are correct and acceptable. Emad is a direct Quranic name for boys that means pillars. It is usually short for Emad ad-Deen, which means pillars of the religion, i.e. a person who is a strong supporter of Islam. The word Emad is mentioned in the Quran in 89:7: "Iram, the civilization that had pillars, the like of which were not created in any other city." (Quran 89:7-8)
This missile is the first long-range missile of the Islamic Republic of Iran with the ability to guide and control until the moment it hits the target; which is able to hit the desired targets with high precision and destroy them completely. All the stages of design and construction of Emad ballistic missile have been done by scientists and specialists of Aerospace Industries Organization of the Ministry of Defense.
In response to the Israeli attack on Iran's consulate building in Syria on April 1, the Iranian Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) fired dozens of missiles and drones on Israeli targets on 13 April 2024. Irans anti-Israel operation was conducted by Shahed 131/136 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Kheibar Shekan ballistic missiles, Emad ballistic missiles, and Paveh cruise missiles. Five to ten minutes before the surviving drones and cruise missiles were to reach their intended targets in the occupied territories, Iran launched the main weapons of the True Promise operation. The ballistic missiles were not launched simultaneously on purpose to reduce the shock effect on Israel's missile defenses. Surviving drones and cruise missiles put additional stress on the radars and sensors, creating completely different targets at lower altitudes.
Descending from space like meteors, Ghadr and Emad would have first faced Israel's Arrow-3 missile interceptors, as well as U.S. SM-3. Those older Iranian missiles mainly defend themselves with inflatable decoys in space. The expensive and advanced American AN/TPY-2 could have helped Israel's missile defenses to identify which objects were warheads, which empty spent boosters, and which were decoys. In the chaos of ballistic missiles re-entry vehicle housing the warhead, spent booster stages, and submunitions released by Ghadr, Emad missiles would also have released their decoys to survive against Arrow-3 and SM-3.
Emad would rely on a short atmospheric flight time, enabled by a steep dive trajectory, plus random evasive maneuvering. Arrow-2, Patriot and David-Sling are the systems that tried to intercept the maneuvering Emads re-entry vehicles. Emad missiles were also fast and glowing objects descending and impacting at 6-7 times the speed of sound. The slow glowing objects seemed to be the submunitions of Ghadr and the slow objects in flame were likely the separated empty booster stages.
Imad is a single-stage liquid fuel missile with a detachable warhead, which was developed based on the Qadr missile. The Emad missile can carry a maximum of 500 kg of high-explosive materials. The presence of a detachable warhead that can be guided by four control blocks or canards has brought high accuracy to the Emad missile. This missile has the ability to launch from fixed and mobile platforms, and its nose is equipped with control and guidance systems and sensors. The length of this missile is 15 and a half meters and the diameter of its body is about 1 meter and 25 centimeters. The Emad missile has a weight of more than 17,000 kg, and the weight of its warhead is estimated at only 750 kg.
Irans Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan said 11 October 2015 the Islamic Republic successfully test-fired a new long-range ballistic missile, dubbed Emad. Speaking to reporters , Dehqan said the surface-to-surface missile has been completely designed and manufactured by experts of Irans Aerospace Industries Organization affiliated with the Iranian Ministry of Defense. Emad is Irans first long-range missile with guidance and control systems which can hit targets and completely destroy them with high precision, the Iranian minister added. The Emad surface-to-surface missile was completely designed and manufactured by experts of Irans Aerospace Industries Organization affiliated with the Iranian Ministry of Defense.
The Iranian defense minister said Emad would be mass produced and delivered to missile units of the Iranian Armed Forces soon to significantly enhance their tactical and operational power. The Islamic Republic has repeatedly said that its military might poses no threat to other countries, reiterating that its defense doctrine is merely based on deterrence.
The Iranian defense chief said that the JPCOA has not banned Iran from boosting its defense capabilities. He also stated that Defense Ministry pursues a strategy based on developing and increasing the missile capabilities of the Iranian Armed Forces and enhancing the Islamic Republics deterrent power. We do not ask for permission from anybody to increase our defense might and missile capability and are decisively following up our defense plans, particularly in the missile sector, Dehqan said, emphasizing that the manufacturing of Emad is an apparent example of such a strategy.
Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan said 16 December 2015 the recently test-fired precision-guided long-range Emad missile is a conventional armament. We consider defense as our inalienable and recognized right and will continue to design, manufacture and put into operation any necessary conventional weapons and equipment in order to defend the country, Dehqan said on Wednesday. Dehqan's remarks came a day after a panel of UN experts said in a confidential report that Irans firing of the long-range ballistic missile in October violated a UN Security Council resolution, alleging that the missile is capable of delivering nuclear weapons.
On the basis of its analysis and findings the Panel concludes that Emad launch is a violation by Iran of paragraph 9 of Security Council resolution 1929, the panel said. But Dehqan said, "Our aim of carrying out this test was that we wanted to tell the world that the Islamic Republic of Iran acts based on its national interests and no power anywhere in the world can decide for our nation and country and [Iran] will not accept any restriction on this issue.
The Iranian defense minister said that despite certain restrictions stipulated in the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 under the terms of a July nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers Tehran will keep boosting its defense capabilities. Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia plus Germany finalized the text of the agreement dubbed the JCPOA in the Austrian capital Vienna on July 14. On July 20, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2231, which bars Iran from developing missiles "designed to carry nuclear warheads."
At that time, some Lebanese media attributed the name of Iran's most accurate long-range missile to the martyrdom of Emad Mughniyeh. Emad was the first missile built and unveiled in October 2014 after the nuclear agreement, which attracted the attention of domestic and foreign experts and media and had many reactions at the international level. "Kalam Elium" news site, presenting a report in this regard, announced that this missile test was "successful" and was able to target the desired targets with high accuracy. The precision in the construction of this missile and its indigenous nature without the participation of any foreign country attracted the attention of the world's media.
The "Naba" news agency also wrote in the headline of the published report about the Emad missile that "Tehran added the Emad to its ballistic missile stockpile." "Emad" is able to destroy targets from a long distance. At the end of its report on the Emad missile test, the Saudi Al-Hiyah base wrote that Iran's action could be a threat to the Arab countries of the region. In its report on the missile capability of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Al-Laft news website wrote: Iran's long-range missiles have been envisioned for 10 years and have successfully passed their tests. It takes ten minutes to reach the occupied territories.
The Zionist newspaper Ha'aretz reflected the news of the successful test launch of the long-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile Emad. According to this newspaper, the range of this missile and its accuracy are not known, but it is said that it can be controlled until the moment it hits the target. CNN, while publishing the news of the successful test of the Emad missile, said that this long-range ballistic missile was designed and built by Iranian experts, which, according to Iran's defense minister, can be controlled until the moment it hits the target.
Referring to the news of the unveiling of the Emad missile, the French news agency wrote that this missile was tested while some Iranian officials had announced months ago that the Islamic Republic's recent nuclear agreement with world powers may impose restrictions on the country's missile program. Iran has announced that its missiles will never carry nuclear warheads, because Tehran has no plans to produce nuclear weapons, but Iranian military officials have emphasized the development of the country's missile program.
One of the prominent experts of the Zionist regime's missile defense announced: Iranians have the ability to install warheads on ballistic missiles and can greatly increase the accuracy of their missiles and have a missile with a range of 2000 km with the ability to attack accurately. They have found that they easily paralyze the enemies of this country.
Members of Parliament praise the Ministry of Defense for the successful test of the "Imad" missile. After the successful test of the Emad ballistic missile, 220 members of the Islamic Council expressed their appreciation and support for the successful test of the missile. The successful test of the Emad long-range missile had a wide coverage in the international media. While acknowledging Iran's missile capability and continuing its Iran-phobic policies, the Western and especially the American media claimed: The test of this missile has violated the nuclear agreement between Iran and the 5+1 group!
In the exercise of the Great Prophet (PBUH) 17, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force once again practiced combined drone and missile operations, and in this exercise, a 200 x 180 meter replica of the Zionist regime's nuclear power plant known as Dimona was targeted by suicide missiles and drones. The Defense Group of Tasnim News Agency - the series of drills of the Prophet (PBUH) has alwaysbeen a reminder of the news of some of the most important defense achievements of the country; From the Huot missile torpedo in 1384 to the acquisition of maneuvering warheads for ballistic missiles in 1400, this was the news that was announced by the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force in the last stage of the exercise,
Until 2014 and the unveiling of the Emad missile, the warhead of Iranian long-range missiles only reached the accuracy obtained from the missile's navigation and guidance systems, and after being separated from the missile body, they could no longer correct the path and increase the accuracy. Of course, in the short-range and short-range tactical missile category, the Fateh missile family had the ability to guide to the end of the path. With the operationalization of the Emad missile, whose detachable warhead had a guidance and control system until the end of the path, Iranian long-range missiles entered the proud path of increasing accuracy to the point of pinpoint accuracy, which was praised several times by the Supreme Leader of the Revolution and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. This capability was then extended to the Qadr, Qiyam and Khorramshahr family missiles, and even the Shahab 2 missiles did not benefit from this development.
The development of ballistic warheads with the ability to maneuver in the final phase causes the enemy's system to have difficulty in predicting the path by leaving the warhead out of the conventional ballistic trajectory and moving on paths that do not have a clear order, thus making it possible to counter The enemy's missile defense shield is reduced to almost zero, and the problem that happened to the Patriot in 1991 is systematically created this time.
The warhead of the Qadr F missile is similar to the detachable part of the warhead of Qiyam and Sajil missiles. The new warhead has more height and volume in the lower conical part, which can be the location of a propellant. For comparison, the simple guided type of three-cone warheads with control wings is related to the Qiyam guided missile. Despite the difference in dimensions, the new warhead (picture 2) is designed to be compatible with existing missiles, as a result of which all Qadr, Sajil and Qiyam missiles can be used effectively against targets protected by missile defense systems such as Patriot, Arrow, Thaad and Aegis are helping to start a new war.
The design and construction of such a warhead, from various aspects, including the design of the dynamic path and its calculations, the resistance of the structure against the strong inertial forces caused by the rapid change of direction, the construction of guidance and control systems with a very high response speed that responds to a projectile with a hypersonic speed (more than five times the speed of sound or above Mach 5) and of course hitting the intended target precisely at the final point is much more difficult than guided warheads, but the country's missile scientists have overcome these problems only 6 years after the unveiling of Emad. They have taken a very important step towards increasing the effectiveness of the country's missile power in the desired military equations of Islamic Iran.
Maneuverable ballistic warheads are only one step away from warheads or hypersonic gliding vehicle (HGV: Hypersonic Gliding Vehicle) warheads, which are currently considered the cutting edge of missile technology in the warheads sector. This type of projectile is different from maneuvering warheads only in its design and flight path, and its speed varies from Mach 5 to 20 depending on the design and opinion of the manufacturer. HGV projectiles, instead of gaining height like ballistic projectiles, travel at a much lower height with the possibility of changing the direction of the target frequently, and as a result, the early warning radars of the enemy's defense have problems in identifying them, and the probability of surprising the enemy's missile defense system is much higher.
Range 1700 km Weight 17500 kg Length 15.5 meters Diameter 125 cm Fuel type Liquid Warhead 750 kg Speed Mach 11 Flight path Ballistic Range of error about 10 meters Flight ceiling 400 km System Inertia guidance with Winged cap to guide until the moment of hitting launch pad fixed and movable
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fireweed Metals Corp. (Fireweed or the Company) (TSXV: FWZ; OTCQX: FWEDF) is pleased to announce the updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for the Tom and Jason deposits, as well as the inaugural resource estimates for the Boundary Zone and End Zone deposits at the Macmillan Pass Project (Macpass). The MRE was prepared by SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. in accordance with Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) definitions, as required under National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101).
Peter Hemstead (Interim CEO) commented, The delivery of the updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the Macpass project marks another key milestone in demonstrating the exploration potential of the Macpass district. The team has increased the contained zinc equivalent* metal in the Indicated Resources category by approximately 300% and more than doubled the overall tonnage. The addition of Boundary Zone now positions Macpass as one of the worlds largest undeveloped primary zinc districts1.
Mineral Resource Estimate Highlights
Global Mineral Resource Estimate comprising: An Indicated Resource of 56.00 Mt at 7.27% Zinc Equivalent (ZnEq)* (5.49% zinc, 1.58% lead, and 24.2 g/t silver). An Inferred Resource of 48.49 Mt at 7.48% ZnEq* (5.15% zinc, 2.08% lead, and 25.3 g/t silver).
Macpass is now one of the worlds largest undeveloped primary zinc districts 1 .
. Contained ZnEq* metal in the Indicated Resources category increased by approximately 300% compared to the 2018 resource estimate 2 .
. The resource estimate is supported by verified data, robust geological models, well-defined estimation domains, constrained with open pit shells and underground mining shapes and supported by thorough sensitivity analysis.
Fireweed continues to build and prioritize a portfolio of targets through a large regional exploration campaign in an under-explored land package (977 km2).
Dr. Jack Milton, VP Geology, commented, This resource is the culmination of six years of exploration success at Macpass, including an additional 43,000 metres of drilling at Tom, Jason, End Zone, and our discovery at Boundary Zone, which is one of the most globally significant zinc discoveries of the last 15 years1. We have more than doubled the tonnage from our previously reported resource2, increased the contained zinc metal by 83%, and added open-pit and underground mining volume constraints for reporting. The potential for by-product gallium and germanium could enhance the Macpass district with further critical minerals exposure. The deposits remain open along strike and at depth and, with the 2024 drill program (14,000 m) not yet included in this MRE, there exists the potential for an increase to the resource as part of future technical work. In addition, we are undertaking a large and comprehensive regional exploration program to continue to provide a pipeline of high-quality targets for future testing.
Conference Call and Webinar
Investors, media, and the public are invited to join the conference call and webinar hosted by Dr. Jack Milton, P. Geo., during which management will discuss the result of the Macpass MRE update as reported in this release.
September 5, 2024, at 9:00am PT (12:00pm ET)
Toll-free in U.S. and Canada: +1 (844) 763-8274
All other callers: +1 (647) 484-8814
Webinar: https://www.c-meeting.com/web3/joinTo/M94CVMUU83PQMW/vobcPfLtLGOvjaB9xTlsxQ
Webinar replay: Available on the Companys website for one year.
Global Mineral Resource Estimate
The MRE at Macpass is comprised of four distinct deposits: Tom, Jason, End Zone, and Boundary Zone (Figure 1). Table 1 lists the global mineral resources for Macpass by deposit.
Table 1: Macpass Project Global Mineral Resource Estimate by Deposit (combined OP and UG constrained resources).
2024 SLR Class Deposit Tonnes (Mt) ZnEq (%) Zn Grade (%) Pb Grade (%) Ag Grade (g/t) Zn Contained Metal (Mlbs) Pb Contained Metal (Mlbs) Ag Contained Metal (Moz) Indicated
Tom 17.52 9.90 6.30 3.34 33.0 2,435 1,291 18.56 Jason 3.80 9.09 7.62 1.86 1.7 638 156 0.21 End Zone 0.34 16.15 3.81 12.32 86.2 29 93 0.95 Boundary Zone 34.34 5.63 4.86 0.55 21.6 3,682 412 23.83 Total Indicated 56.00 7.27 5.49 1.58 24.2 6,784 1,952 43.54 Inferred
Tom 18.94 9.10 6.56 2.30 25.2 2,738 960 15.37 Jason 11.65 10.40 5.48 4.33 48.2 1,407 1,112 18.05 End Zone 0.44 8.76 1.86 6.88 48.1 18 67 0.68 Boundary Zone 17.46 3.75 3.48 0.23 9.5 1,337 87 5.32 Total Inferred 48.49 7.48 5.15 2.08 25.3 5,500 2,227 39.42
Table 1 footnotes:
All mineral resources have been estimated in accordance with CIM definitions, as required under NI 43-101.
Data for this mineral resource estimate has been independently reviewed and validated by a third-party consultancy, SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd.
Pierre Landry P.Geo. of SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. ( SLR ) is independent of Fireweed Metals Corp., and a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101. Pierre Landry is responsible for the Macpass Mineral Resource Estimate.
) is independent of Fireweed Metals Corp., and a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101. Pierre Landry is responsible for the Macpass Mineral Resource Estimate. g/t: grams per tonne; Mlbs: million pounds; Moz: millions of troy ounces; Mt: million metric tonnes.
Mineral resources are reported within conceptual open pit (OP) shells and underground (UG) mining volumes to demonstrate Reasonable Prospects for Eventual Economic Extraction (RPEEE), as required under NI 43-101; mineralization lying outside of the OP shell or UG volumes is not reported as a mineral resource. Note the conceptual OP shell and UG volumes are used for mineral resource reporting purposes only and are not indicative of the proposed mining method; future mining studies may consider UG mining, OP mining or a combination of both. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.
All quantities are rounded to the appropriate number of significant figures; consequently, sums may not add up due to rounding.
All prices in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.
Open Pit mineral resources are reported at a pit wall angle of 45, Revenue Factors of 0.8 (Tom, End Zone), 0.6 (Jason), 1.0 (Boundary Zone), and Net Smelter Return (NSR) cut-off of $30/tonne (t).
Underground mineral resources are constrained within reporting panels with heights (H) of 20 m, lengths (L) of 10 m, with 10 m H and 5 m L sub-shapes and minimum widths of 2 m at Tom, Jason, and End Zone; and 20 m H by 20 m L with 10 m sub-shapes and a minimum width of 5 m at Boundary Zone, using an average panel NSR cut-off of $112/t.
NSR block values and zinc equivalency are based on a price of US$1.40/lb Zn, US$1.10/lb Pb, and US$25/oz Ag, CAD:USD exchange rate of 1.32, and a number of operating cost and recovery assumptions specific to each deposit or mineralization domain (see Tables 2 and 3).
ZnEq has been calculated on a block-by-block basis using the NSR calculation and input parameters related to each deposit or mineralization domain (Tables 2 and 3). For reporting subtotals and totals, ZnEq values have been calculated using the mass weighted average of the ZnEq block values of each respective domain for its respective classification category within OP and UG reporting volumes.
The effective date of the MRE is September 4, 2024 and the MRE is based on all drilling data up to and including holes drilled in 2023 with a final database cut-off date of June 23, 2024. The MRE does not include any data from holes drilled in 2024.
Inferred mineral resources are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is also no certainty that these inferred mineral resources will be converted to the measured and indicated categories through further drilling, or into mineral reserves, once economic considerations are applied. The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the inferred Mineral Resource could be upgraded to an Indicated Mineral Resource with continued exploration.
Deposit Geology
The Tom, Jason, End Zone, and Boundary Zone deposits are examples of stratiform, strata-bound sediment hosted zinc-lead-silver deposits. Historically the term SEDEX was used to describe these deposits of Yukons Selwyn Basin and since then the term has been used to describe these deposits worldwide. This class of deposits are now referred to as sediment hosted massive sulphide deposits and are also known as clastic-dominated or CD deposits. Previously considered to be formed strictly at the sediment-seawater interface by the exhalation of mineralizing fluids in seafloor environments, the model at Tom, Jason, End Zone and Boundary Zone has subsequently been reinterpreted to involve the replacement of porous, poorly consolidated muddy to silty, barite-rich sediment in the sub-seafloor environment.
Mineralization at these deposits comprises an early stage of finely laminated and stratiform pyrite, sphalerite, and galena grading to semi-massive and massive sulphides with increasing proximity to feeder structures, and these intervals are associated with barite-rich layers at multiple stratigraphic levels within black mudstone sequences. At Boundary Zone a later, cross-cutting style of mineralization is also present, forming discrete, broadly stratiform bodies consisting of breccia and veins of pyrite, sphalerite, and galena; flooding and replacement of matrix material by pyrite, sphalerite, and galena; all accompanied by abundant siderite and hosted in conglomerates, diamictites, mudstones, and carbonate-altered mafic volcaniclastic rocks.
Geological domains have been modeled at Tom, Jason, End Zone, and Boundary Zone representing the primary mineralization styles. These domains represent contiguous bodies and vary in complexity between deposits and lenses. At Tom, the main stratiform mineralized zone has been sub-domained into distinct facies to support a detailed estimation model. At Boundary Zone, the early phase of mineralization is represented by the massive sulphide domain, the later phase by the Boundary Vein domains, and surrounding low-grade mineralization is captured in the Boundary Halo domain. Further details will be available in the technical report.
The Macpass MRE is based on 124,632 m of drilling, including historical (pre-2017) and contemporary (2017-2023) drilling across 544 drill holes from 1952 to 2023. The estimate is based on drilling up to and including TS23-009D2, completed October 15, 2023 using a final database cut-off for 2023 and earlier drilling of June 23, 2024.
Detailed geological and fault models were created in 3D for each of Tom, Jason, End Zone and Boundary Zone. These models use a sequence stratigraphic approach and are based on an improved understanding of the regional stratigraphy and structural setting of the deposits. A mineralization model was developed using the geological domains as a framework for defining estimation domains. Contact-plot analysis was used to determine how composite samples should be managed at domain contacts during estimation.
Data Verification
The data used in this Mineral Resource Estimate is supported by Quality Assurance and Quality Control ("QA/QC") procedures, such as the insertion of certified standards and blanks into the sample stream and the utilization of certified independent analytical laboratories for all assays. Historical QA/QC data and methodology on the project were reviewed and will be summarized in the NI 43-101 technical report. No significant QA/QC issues were discovered during review of the data.
The QP is of the opinion that the sample preparation, analysis, and security procedures at Macpass are sufficient for estimating Mineral Resources. Additionally, the QP is of the opinion that the QA/QC program designed and implemented by Fireweed is adequate, and the assay results in the database are suitable for use in the Mineral Resource Estimate.
Data verification for the drill hole database involved cross-checking database analytical values with digital laboratory analysis certificates. These certificates were directly sent to the Fireweed database manager by Bureau Veritas before being passed on to SLR. The verification process also included validating historical assay results from previous operators using a selection of historical certificates, which were scanned from the original paper copies by Fireweed.
In accordance with NI 43-101, Pierre Landry, P.Geo., of SLR, conducted a site visit to Macpass and related facilities from September 15th to 17th, 2022. During this visit, Mr. Landry inspected the core shack, core scanning workspace, and reviewed the logging environment and procedures for data collection and sampling. He also examined core samples from the Tom, Jason, End Zone, and Boundary Zone deposits, interviewed Fireweed Metals personnel, and gathered other information necessary for completing the Mineral Resource Estimate and accompanying technical report. Additionally, Mr. Landry inspected drill collars and drill hole cores relevant to the Mineral Resource estimation, including checking collar locations with a handheld GPS and visually comparing mineralization with interpreted drilling sections. Fireweed Metals provided full access to all facilities and personnel during the site visit. During the visit Mr. Landry was accompanied by Dr. Jack Milton, Vice-President, Geology for Fireweed Metals.
A full description of the data QA/QC will be available in the technical report for the mineral resource update.
Mineral Resource Estimation Methodology
A data-driven approach was used to define grade caps for zinc, lead, and silver within each estimation domain. Assay caps were applied prior to compositing. Regressions of measured densities against the sum of assay values (Zn+Pb+Ba+Fe) were developed for each deposit or domain in order to estimate densities of samples that lack density measurements using assay values. Variography and trend analysis were considered for domains with sufficient data support, and dynamic anisotropy was implemented in the estimate, guided by the mineralization contacts with the wall rock or other sub-domains where applicable. Density-weighted composites were used for the interpolation of grades into the block model using inverse distance squared (ID2) interpolation and compared against nearest neighbor (NN) via swath plots and tables for consistency. High-grade search restrictions were implemented within certain domains. Sub-block models were created using a 5 m parent cell size with sufficient sub block increments to accurately reproduce the wireframe volumes. Density was estimated into each block using length-weighted density composites for each mineralization domain. Fixed, average values of density were assigned to each of the areas of the model outside the mineralization domains.
Resource category classification was determined using a combination of drillhole spacing, geological continuity, grade continuity, mineralization width, and data quality. Inferred and Indicated categories were assigned, and no Measured resources were defined.
Metallurgy
The metallurgical variability of the Tom, Jason, and Boundary Zone deposits has been previously disclosed and shown to have positive metallurgical performance, producing high grade concentrates with high recoveries (see Fireweed News Releases May 15, 2018, and November 1, 2022). Another test program was completed in 2023 that focused on understanding the performance of the massive sulphide mineralization domain at Boundary Zone. Two composites were generated from drillholes NB21-001 and NB20-004, and open circuit tests were completed using the flowsheet from 2022 as a basis. Initial metallurgical performance of the samples is deemed as positive with representative results for each Boundary Zone domain given in Table 2.
Table 2: List of Deposit-Specific Metallurgical Assumptions for NSR and ZnEq Calculations.
Category Unit Tom, Jason & End Zone Boundary Zone Massive Sulphide Boundary Zone Vein Boundary Zone Halo Recovery Zn, Zn Conc % 89% 85% 88% 80% Recovery Ag, Zn Conc % 22% 30% 22% 22% Recovery Pb, Pb Conc % 75% 55% 55% 38% Recovery Ag, Pb Conc % 59% 40% 30% 20% Zn Concentrate Grade Zn % 58% 49% 56% 58% Zn Concentrate Grade Hg g/t 155 777 693 922 Hg Penalty USD$/dmt $0.00 $14.11 $11.63 $21.63 Pb Concentrate Grade Pb % 62% 45% 46% 44% Zn Conc Payable Zn % 85% 84% 85% 85% Pb Conc Payable Pb % 95% 93% 93% 93%
Net smelter return (NSR) values were calculated on a block-by-block basis using zinc, lead, and silver block grades with the input parameters listed in Tables 2 and 3. For NSR and ZnEq calculations, fixed values are applied to all blocks within each domain for: metallurgical recoveries; grades of Zn, Pb, and Hg in Zn and Pb concentrates; mercury penalties; and payability of Zn and Pb. Silver grades and payability in zinc and lead concentrates were calculated on a block-by-block basis. For silver grades in lead concentrates less than 620.0 g/t, a minimum deduction was applied of 31 g/t silver with a maximum payability of 95% for silver in lead concentrates. For silver grades in zinc concentrates less than 311.0 g/t, a minimum deduction was applied of 93 g/t silver with a maximum payability of 70% for silver in zinc concentrates.
Table 3: List of Global Assumptions for NSR Calculations, Cut-off-grade Determinations, and Reporting Parameters
Category Unit Parameter Cut-off grade $/t NSR $112.00 UG/ $30.00 OP Processing $/t milled $22.00 G&A $/t milled $8.00 Mining (OP) $/t moved $4.67 Mining (UG) $/t milled $61.00 UG Sustaining (capex) $/t milled $21.00 Foreign Exchange rate CAD:USD 1.32 Transport Costs $/wmt conc $293.55 Treatment Charges Zn/Pb USD$/dmt conc $225.00/$150.00 Concentrate moisture content % 8.0 Silver Refining Costs USD$/oz $1.25 Zn Price USD$/lb $1.40 Pb Price USD$/lb $1.10 Ag Price USD$/oz $25.00 Royalty NSR % 0.00
Mining Constraints
Blocks were constrained by OP shells and UG mining shapes at a base case mining scenario to demonstrate RPEEE at an NSR cut-off of $30/t OP and $112/t UG. The cut-off grades were selected using cost estimates listed in Table 3 that assume: a mill throughput rate of 10,000 tonnes-per-day (tpd); open-pit mining rates of 10,000 tpd; and underground mining rates of 5,000 tpd per deposit.
Resources were reported for Inferred or Indicated blocks that are above the stated cut-off within the OP shells, and for all Inferred or Indicated blocks within UG reporting panels that meet the average panel cut-off including all must-take internal dilution material within those panels. Tables 5 and 6 show portions of the global resource that are constrained by OP shapes and UG reporting panels, respectively (see Figures 29 for block model cross sections, plan views and base case mining shape visualizations).
Table 4: Macpass Revenue Factors and Strip Ratios for Base Case OP Reporting Shells.
Category Tom Jason End Zone Boundary Zone Base Case OP Revenue Factor 0.8 0.6 0.8 1.0 Base Case OP Strip Ratio 9.4 6.2 10.0 4.9
Different revenue factors between 0.6 and 1.0 were selected for each deposit during the OP optimization process. The revenue factor is a scaling parameter applied to the metal prices (or commodity prices) used in the economic evaluation of pit shells. It is expressed as a percentage or factor of the base case (or expected) metal price. For example, a revenue factor of 1.0 corresponds to using the full base case metal prices in the optimization process, while a revenue factor of 0.8 means that the prices used are 80% of the base case prices. This approach was used to optimize the strip ratio, maximize net resource, minimize waste production, limit environmental impacts, and provide a resource suitable for optimizing economics in any future studies (revenue factors and strip ratios are listed in Table 4).
Table 5: Macpass OP Constrained MRE by Deposit
2024 SLR Class Deposit Tonnes (Mt) ZnEq(%) Zn Grade (%) Pb Grade (%) Ag Grade (g/t) Zn Contained Metal (Mlbs) Pb Contained Metal (Mlbs) Ag Contained Metal (Moz) Indicated
Tom 13.63 8.60 5.84 2.63 24.1 1,754 789 10.56 Jason 1.63 8.63 6.96 2.12 2.1 251 76 0.11 End Zone 0.32 16.43 3.91 12.51 87.3 28 89 0.90 Boundary Zone 33.50 5.46 4.72 0.53 20.9 3,486 388 22.45 Total Indicated 49.08 6.51 5.10 1.24 21.6 5,518 1,342 34.02 Inferred
Tom 4.20 10.16 6.37 3.24 39.7 591 300 5.37 Jason 1.06 6.59 5.68 1.16 0.9 132 27 0.03 End Zone 0.24 9.57 2.27 7.32 50.1 12 38 0.38 Boundary Zone 16.90 3.63 3.39 0.21 8.9 1,260 77 4.85 Total Inferred 22.40 5.06 4.05 0.90 14.8 1,995 442 10.63
See Table 1 footnotes
Table 6: Macpass UG Constrained MRE by Deposit
2024 SLR Class Deposit Tonnes (Mt) ZnEq (%) Zn Grade (%) Pb Grade (%) Ag Grade (g/t) Zn Contained Metal (Mlbs) Pb Contained Metal (Mlbs) Ag Contained Metal (Moz) Indicated
Tom 3.90 14.46 7.93 5.85 63.9 681 502 8.00 Jason 2.17 9.43 8.12 1.67 1.5 388 80 0.10 End Zone 0.02 11.43 2.16 9.07 68.0 1 4 0.04 Boundary Zone 0.84 12.46 10.55 1.31 51.0 196 24 1.38 Total Indicated 6.92 12.64 8.29 4.00 42.8 1,266 610 9.52 Inferred
Tom 14.74 8.80 6.61 2.03 21.1 2,148 660 10.00 Jason 10.59 10.78 5.46 4.65 52.9 1,274 1,085 18.01 End Zone 0.20 7.83 1.40 6.38 45.9 6 29 0.30 Boundary Zone 0.56 7.35 6.29 0.84 26.6 77 10 0.47 Total Inferred 26.09 9.56 6.09 3.10 34.3 3,505 1,784 28.79
See Table 1 footnotes
Sensitivity Analysis
Cut-off grade (CoG) sensitivity analyses were run on each deposit at increments of 20% NSR cut-off, starting at a -20% scenario and ending with a +80% scenario to determine continuity of mineralization and resiliency of the resource to changes in cost environment or metal pricing (Table 7). A highly robust method was used to perform the sensitivity analysis: new OP shells and UG mining shapes were generated based on each of the revised cut-off values for each sensitivity scenario at each deposit to most accurately reflect mineral resources that would be reported at cut-off values that deviate from the base case scenario. Results show excellent continuity of mineralization within both OP and UG environments across the range of scenarios tested, with contiguous UG reporting panels generating very few isolated outlying reporting panels. Visual representations of these scenarios are presented in Figures 1012.
Table 7 illustrates the resiliency of the resource to decreases in metal pricing. Keeping cost assumptions fixed at the base case, non-unique example combinations of break-even prices would be approximately: at +20% NSR cut-off USD$1.24/lb Zn, USD$0.97/lb Pb, and USD$22.10/oz Ag; at +40% NSR cut-off USD$1.12/lb Zn, USD$0.88/lb Pb, and USD$20.05/oz Ag; at +60% NSR cut-off USD$1.03/lb Zn, USD$0.81/lb Pb, and USD$18.48/oz Ag; and at +80% NSR cut-off USD$0.97/lb Zn, USD$0.76/lb Pb, and USD$17.28/oz Ag.
Table 7: OP and UG Macpass MRE Cut-Off Sensitivity Analysis
Scenario NSR CoG Class OP/UG CoG NSR ($/t) CoG ZnEq % Tonnes (Mt) NSR ($/t) ZnEq. % Zn % Pb % Ag g/t -20 % Ind OP 24.0 1.10 57.19 131.7 6.39 5.00 1.37 21.9 Base Case Ind OP 30.0 1.40 49.08 130.4 6.51 5.10 1.24 21.6 20 % Ind OP 36.0 1.70 41.78 137.7 6.68 5.38 1.33 23.7 40 % Ind OP 42.0 2.00 35.27 142.5 6.91 5.57 1.38 24.8 60 % Ind OP 48.0 2.30 29.89 149.3 7.24 5.85 1.44 26.7 80 % Ind OP 54.0 2.50 24.31 157.3 7.63 6.19 1.48 28.9 -20 % Inf OP 24.0 1.10 31.19 97.4 4.72 3.87 0.78 11.7 Base Case Inf OP 30.0 1.40 22.40 103.6 5.06 4.05 0.9 14.8 20 % Inf OP 36.0 1.70 16.98 112.5 5.46 4.28 1.06 18.0 40 % Inf OP 42.0 2.00 12.99 125.6 6.09 4.64 1.29 21.7 60 % Inf OP 48.0 2.30 10.06 139.9 6.78 5.01 1.55 25.8 80 % Inf OP 54.0 2.50 7.20 159.9 7.75 5.47 1.96 32.3 -20 % Ind UG 89.6 4.20 4.22 225.2 10.92 7.59 2.97 34.5 Base Case Ind UG 112.0 5.30 6.92 259.9 12.64 8.29 4.00 42.8 20 % Ind UG 134.4 6.30 7.45 266.9 12.94 8.34 4.05 43.1 40 % Ind UG 156.8 7.40 7.62 285.9 13.87 8.94 4.38 50.4 60 % Ind UG 179.2 8.40 7.04 308.2 14.95 9.39 4.89 57.9 80 % Ind UG 201.6 9.50 6.44 329 15.96 9.78 5.39 66.2 -20 % Inf UG 89.6 4.20 32.64 178.3 8.65 5.44 2.65 28.8 Base Case Inf UG 112.0 5.30 26.09 200.3 9.56 6.09 3.10 34.3 20 % Inf UG 134.4 6.30 19.54 228.9 11.10 6.44 3.79 43.6 40 % Inf UG 156.8 7.40 13.99 263.5 12.78 6.84 4.80 57.7 60 % Inf UG 179.2 8.40 11.19 288.1 13.97 7.11 5.50 67.6 80 % Inf UG 201.6 9.50 9.43 308.4 14.96 7.33 6.08 76.3
Tonnes have been reported in millions, rounded to the nearest 10,000.
NSR values were calculated on a block-by-block basis and reported as mass weighted averages for each scenario. Zinc equivalency in this table for non-base case scenarios was approximated using a simplified formula: NSR($/t)/20.62 = ZnEq(%).
All scenarios presented in this table are deemed to meet the requirements for RPEEE.
Base case scenarios are presented as in Tables 5 and 6.
Gallium and Germanium By-Product Potential
Gallium and germanium are critical minerals that occur in elevated concentrations at MacPass. Fireweed has carried out a comprehensive re-assay program for 20172023 drilling and selected historical intervals using a specialized assay method that can quantify gallium and germaniuma closed vessel assay (Bureau Veritas method GC204). Fireweed is currently investigating the potential to report by-product germanium and gallium alongside the metals of economic interest in the MRE, zinc, lead, and silver.
Exploration Potential in the Macpass District
The current Mineral Resources at Tom, Jason, and Boundary Zone are open in multiple directions. Geological modeling suggests that the trend of mineralization extends into areas that are untested or for which mineral resources have not been defined. Additional drilling in 2024 is intended to test targets that could expand upon these resources and will be reflected in future updates.
The Tom, Jason, End Zone and Boundary Zone deposits are structurally and stratigraphically controlled feeder-fault systems that occur on splays of the MacMillan-Hess fault system. These feeder-faults occur on roughly 510 km centers, within rocks of the Earn and Road River groups. These same fault systems and prospective geology occur throughout the length of the Macpass tenure area, along a pathway referred to as the prospective corridor (Figure 1). Historically under-explored for base metals, this prospective corridor is the focus of a significant regional exploration program by Fireweed in 2024 comprising ground gravity geophysical surveys, soil sampling, prospecting, and versatile time-domain electromagnetic (VTEM)-magnetic airborne geophysical surveys.
Figure 1: Deposit locations and simplified genetic model of Macpass: mineralization in the sub-surface environment, with the curved pink lines representing the stepping faults controlling the distribution of the deposits. The pink plumes in the schematic cross section represent the sub-surface environment where the early phase of stratiform mineralization at the Tom, Jason, and Boundary Zone deposits formed within the sediment pile, and are displayed prior to any deformation.
Qualified Person Statements and Related Disclosure
Technical information in this news release relating to the MRE has been reviewed and approved by SLR Managing Principal Resource Geologist, Pierre Landry, P.Geo. (BC), a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101. Mr. Landry is considered to be independent of the Company under Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.
All other technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Fireweed Metals VP Geology, Dr. Jack Milton, P.Geo. (BC), a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101. Mr. Milton is not independent of the Company within the meaning of NI 43-101, as he is VP, Geology of the Company.
An NI 43-101 technical report supporting the MRE will be filed on SEDAR+ within 45 days of the date of this news release. Reference should be made to the full text of the technical report for the assumptions, qualifications and limitations relating thereto.
About Fireweed Metals Corp. (TSXV: FWZ; OTCQX: FWEDF; FSE:M0G): Fireweed Metals Corp. is an exploration company unlocking significant value in a new critical metals district located in Yukon, Canada. Fireweed is 100% owner of the Macpass District, a large and highly prospective 977 km2 land package. The Macpass District includes the Macpass zinc-lead-silver project and the Mactung tungsten project, both characterized by meaningful size, grade and opportunity. At Macpass, Fireweed owns one of the largest undeveloped zinc resources worldwide1,3, in a region with enormous exploration upside potential. The Mactung project is a strategic critical metals asset that hosts the worlds largest high-grade tungsten resource1,4 a potential long-term supply of tungsten for North America. A Lundin Group company, Fireweed is strongly positioned to create meaningful value.
In Canada, Fireweed (TSXV: FWZ) trades on the TSX Venture Exchange. In the USA, Fireweed (OTCQX: FWEDF) trades on the OTCQX Best Market for early stage and developing U.S. and international companies and is DTC eligible for enhanced electronic clearing and settlement. Investors can find Real-Time quotes and market information for the Company on www.otcmarkets.com. In Europe, Fireweed (FSE: M0G) trades on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Additional information about Fireweed and its projects can be found on the Companys website at FireweedMetals.com and at www.sedarplus.com
ON BEHALF OF FIREWEED METALS CORP.
Peter Hemstead
Interim CEO & Director
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 Statements
Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements and information (forward-looking statements). All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included herein, including, without limitation, statements relating to interpretation of drill results, targets for exploration, potential extensions of mineralized zones, future work plans, the use of funds, and the potential of the Companys projects, are forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects, "anticipates, "believes, "intends, "estimates, "potential, "possible, and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will, "may, "could, or "should occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of Company management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Company management and reflect the beliefs, opinions, and projections on the date the statements are made. Forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties and accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. 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. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include but are not limited to, exploration and development risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, expenditure and financing requirements, general economic conditions, changes in financial markets, the ability to properly and efficiently staff the Companys operations, the sufficiency of working capital and funding for continued operations, title matters, First Nations relations, operating hazards, political and economic factors, competitive factors, metal prices, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulations and oversight, permitting, seasonality and weather, technological change, industry practices, uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results and laboratory tests, and one-time events. The Company assumes no obligation to update forwardlooking statements or beliefs, opinions, projections or other factors, except as required by law.
This news release also contains references to estimates of mineral resources. The estimation of mineral resources is inherently uncertain and involves subjective judgments about many relevant factors. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The accuracy of any such estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation, which may prove to be unreliable and depend, to a certain extent, upon the analysis of drilling results and statistical inferences that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Mineral resource estimates may require re-estimation based on, among other things: (i) fluctuations in the price of zinc and other metals; (ii) results of drilling; (iii) results of metallurgical testing, process and other studies; (iv) changes to proposed mine plans; (v) the evaluation of mine plans subsequent to the date of any estimates; and (vi) the possible failure to receive required permits, approvals and licenses.
Footnotes and References
*Zinc equivalency is based on a price of USD$1.40/lb Zn, USD$1.10/lb Pb, and USD$25/oz Ag, CAD:USD exchange rate of 1.32, and a number of operating cost and metallurgical assumptions specific to each deposit or domain (see Tables 2 and 3).
1References to relative size, grade, and metal content of the Macpass resources and Mactung resources in comparison to other tungsten, zinc, gallium, and germanium deposits elsewhere in the world, respectively, are based on review of the Standard & Poors Global Market Intelligence Capital IQ database.
2: The 2018 NI43-101 technical report on the previous mineral resource is available for comparison on https://www.sedarplus.ca/
3: For Tom, Jason, End Zone, and Boundary Zone Mineral Resources, the technical report will be filed on https://www.sedarplus.ca/ within 45 days of September 4, 2024, the effective date of this Mineral Resource.
4: For Mactung Mineral Resources, see Fireweed news release dated June 13, 2023 Fireweed Metals Announces Mineral Resources for the Mactung Project: the Largest High-Grade Tungsten Deposit in the World* and the technical report entitled NI 43-101 Technical Report, Mactung Project, Yukon Territory, Canada, with effective date July 28, 2023 filed on https://www.sedarplus.ca/. Garth Kirkham, P.Geo. is independent of Fireweed Metals Corp., and a Qualified Person as defined under Canadian National Instrument 43-101. Garth Kirkham, of Kirkham Geosystems Limited., is responsible for the Mactung Mineral Resource Estimate.
Contact: Alex Campbell
Phone: +1 (604) 689-7842
Email: info@fireweedmetals.com
Figure 2: Plan View of Tom Block Model, OP shell, drilling traces with assay ZnEq% values. The view is cut at 1450 m above sea level to display the resource extents at 120 m below surface.
Figure 3: Cross section view of Tom block model, OP shell, UG Resource Panels and drilling traces with assay ZnEq% values.
Figure 4: Plan view of Jason block model, OP shell, drilling traces with assay ZnEq% values.. The view is cut at 1120 m above sea level to display the resource extents at 135 m below surface.
Figure 5: Cross section view of Jason block model, OP shell, UG Resource Panels and drilling traces with assay ZnEq% values.
Figure 6: Plan view of End Zone block model, OP shell, drilling traces with assay ZnEq% values. The view is cut at 1350 m above sea level to display the resource extents at 40 m below surface.
Figure 7: Cross section view of End Zone block model, OP shell, UG Resource Panels and drilling traces with assay ZnEq% values.
Figure 8: Plan view of Boundary Zone block model, OP shell, drilling traces with assay ZnEq% values. The view is cut at 1080 m above sea level to display the resource extents at 110 m below surface.
Figure 9: Cross section view of Boundary Zone block model, OP shell, UG Resource Panels and drilling traces with assay ZnEq% values.
Figure 10: Tom Deposit NSR CoG Sensitivity Visualization.
Figure 11: Jason Deposit NSR CoG Sensitivity Visualization.
Figure 12: Boundary Zone NSR CoG Sensitivity Visualization
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
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NEWARK, Del, Sept. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global medical robot market is set to witness unprecedented growth over the next decade, with its market size expected to surge from USD 11,502.4 million in 2024 to a staggering USD 38,701.5 million by 2034. This growth trajectory, reflecting a CAGR of 12.9%, is driven by technological advancements, increased demand for minimally invasive surgeries, and the rising adoption of robotics in healthcare.
Understanding the Medical Robot Market:
The Medical Robot Market encompasses a range of robotic systems and devices designed to assist medical professionals in various tasks, including surgical procedures, rehabilitation, diagnostics, and patient care. These robots offer enhanced precision, reduced recovery times, and the ability to perform complex procedures with minimal human intervention. As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, the integration of robotics is becoming increasingly crucial in addressing the growing demand for efficient and effective medical solutions.
The market is broadly segmented into surgical robots, rehabilitation robots, medical rehabilitation robotics, hospital and pharmacy robots, and other robotic systems used in healthcare settings. Surgical robots, in particular, hold a significant share of the market due to their ability to perform intricate surgeries with high precision. Medical rehabilitation robotics and rehabilitation robots are also gaining traction, especially in assisting patients with physical therapy and mobility issues.
Medical Robot Market Value and Growth Projections:
The growth is largely attributed to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, the aging population, and the rising need for advanced medical technologies.
Moreover, the continuous advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and sensor technologies are further propelling the adoption of medical robots. These innovations are enhancing the capabilities of robots, making them more intuitive, adaptable, and capable of performing a wider range of tasks. As a result, healthcare providers are increasingly relying on robotic systems to improve patient outcomes and streamline operations.
Prominent Drivers of the Medical Robot Market:
Several factors are driving the growth of the Medical Robot Market:
Technological Advancements: Continuous innovations in robotics, AI, and machine learning are significantly enhancing the functionality and efficiency of medical robots. Rising Demand for Minimally Invasive Surgeries: Patients and healthcare providers alike are increasingly favoring minimally invasive procedures due to their associated benefits, such as reduced recovery times, fewer complications, and shorter hospital stays. Growing Healthcare Expenditure: As global healthcare spending continues to rise, there is a growing emphasis on improving healthcare infrastructure and adopting advanced technologies. Aging Population: The global population is aging, leading to an increase in the prevalence of age-related conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, orthopedic issues, and neurological disorders.
Challenges Faced by the Medical Robot Market
Despite its promising growth prospects, the Medical Robot Market faces several challenges:
High Costs: The initial investment required for purchasing and maintaining medical robots is substantial, which can be a barrier for smaller healthcare facilities and those in developing regions. Additionally, the costs associated with training medical personnel to operate these robots can also be significant. Regulatory Hurdles: The development and deployment of medical robots are subject to stringent regulatory approvals, which can be time-consuming and costly. Ensuring compliance with varying regulations across different regions adds to the complexity of bringing new robotic solutions to market. Limited Adoption in Developing Regions: While medical robots are becoming increasingly prevalent in developed countries, their adoption in developing regions remains limited due to financial constraints, lack of infrastructure, and limited awareness of the benefits of robotic systems in healthcare. Ethical Concerns: The increasing reliance on robots in healthcare raises ethical questions regarding the replacement of human jobs and the potential loss of the human touch in patient care. Addressing these concerns is essential for the widespread acceptance of medical robots.
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Key Drivers and Market Insights:
Rapid Growth : The medical robot market size is set to expand significantly, with a projected CAGR of 12.9% over the next decade.
: The medical robot market size is set to expand significantly, with a projected CAGR of 12.9% over the next decade. Market Valuation : The market is anticipated to grow from USD 11,502.4 million in 2024 to USD 38,701.5 million by 2034.
: The market is anticipated to grow from USD 11,502.4 million in 2024 to USD 38,701.5 million by 2034. Technological Advancements: The primary factor contributing to this growth is the ongoing advancements in robot-assisted surgery, which are revolutionizing the healthcare industry by enhancing precision, reducing recovery times, and improving patient outcomes.
"The Medical Robot Market is at the forefront of a transformative era in healthcare. As technology continues to advance, medical robots will become even more integral to delivering high-quality, efficient care. However, addressing cost barriers and regulatory challenges will be crucial for ensuring their widespread adoption." Says Sabyasachi Ghosh (Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights, Inc.)
Competitive Landscape Outlook:
As industry leaders continuously explore diverse niches, the competitive landscape is marked by strategic expansion. Key players are actively engaging in mergers, acquisitions, collaborations, and partnerships to strengthen their market positions.
Analysis of the global medical robot market indicates that new entrants may encounter challenges due to the saturated nature of the industry.
Recent key developments influencing the market include:
In April 2024, iRobot Corporation introduced the Roomba Combo Essential Robot, aiming to make robotic solutions more affordable and accessible.
In May 2024, Medrobotics Corporation sold off its assets as a measure to address financial difficulties, leading to a reduction in its market share.
Key Players of the Medical Robot Market:
iRobot Corporation, Medrobotics Corporation, Titan Medical Inc., Renishaw Plc, Health Robotics SLR, Medtroni, Intuitive Surgical, Mako Surgical Corp., Varian Medical Systems, Stereotaxis Inc., Mazor Robotics.
Medical Robot Market- Key Segments:
By Product:
Based on the product, the segment is categorized as Surgical Robots, Assistive Robots, Hospital Automation robots, and Pharmacy Automation robots.
By Application:
Neurology Applications, Orthopedic Applications, Cardiology Applications, Laparoscopic Applications, Pharmacy Applications, and Others are key applications-based segments.
By End User:
Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Rehabilitation Centers, and Others are key end-user industries.
By Region:
North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, South Asia and Pacific, East Asia, and The Middle East and Africa are the key contributing regions to the industry.
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Author by:
Sabyasachi Ghosh (Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights, Inc.) holds over 12 years of experience in the Healthcare, Medical Devices, and Pharmaceutical industries. His curious and analytical nature helped him shape his career as a researcher.
Identifying key challenges faced by clients and devising robust, hypothesis-based solutions to empower them with strategic decision-making capabilities come naturally to him. His primary expertise lies in areas such as Market Entry and Expansion Strategy, Feasibility Studies, Competitive Intelligence, and Strategic Transformation.
Holding a degree in Microbiology, Sabyasachi has authored numerous publications and has been cited in journals, including The Journal of mHealth, ITN Online, and Spinal Surgery News.
Have a Look at the Related Report from the Medical Robot Market:
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The global wearable medical robots market was valued at around US$ 239.3 Million at the end of 2021.
The global portable medical devices market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 10.7% during the forecast period.
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The medical device technology market is experiencing steady growth, with a projected market size of USD 549.2 billion in 2024.
Deep brain stimulator market analysis predicts that the industry size is expected to change from USD 1308.0 million to USD 2772.1 million from 2024 to 2034.
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The global transcatheter mitral valve market is expected to reach a valuation of USD 1.6 billion by the end of 2024 and expand at a CAGR of 10.8%.
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Washington, DC, Sept. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Workers with middle-skills credentials provide essential medical and public services, build and maintain critical infrastructure, and help run key business operations, among other vital societal functions. These workers can earn a high salaryin some occupations, even more than the typical worker with a bachelors degree and similar job experience. New research from CEW, supported by JPMorganChase, finds that middle-skills providers must significantly adjust their current production of middle-skills credentials (certificates and associates degrees) to address impending shortages in locally produced credentials that align with these high-paying middle-skills occupations.
Missed Opportunities: Credential Shortages in Programs Aligned with High-Paying Middle-Skills Jobs in 55 US Metro Areas examines the production of middle-skills credentials that prepare workers for high-paying occupations in metro areas with populations exceeding 1 million. It compares current production with the projected number of job openings for workers holding these credentials through 2032. An online data tool accompanies the brief to aid regional planners, educational institutions, and job training providers in making crucial decisions about program investment and expansion.
High-paying middle-skills jobs are relatively rare: only 25% of early-career middle-skills workers earn more than most young workers with a bachelors degree, said Zachary Mabel, lead author and director of research at CEW. Nevertheless, the projected demand for high-paying middle-skills workers exceeds the current supply in certain sectors and localities. In many places experiencing shortages, middle-skills providers need to substantially expand their program capacity to prepare future workers for local jobs in high-paying fields.
High-paying middle-skills occupations are those in which more than half of early-career (ages 1835) middle-skills workers have a job with annual earnings of more than $53,000. Early-career middle-skills workers in these jobs not only out-earn most young workers with a bachelors degree but also experience considerable earnings growth over time, with median annual earnings that rise to $80,000 by mid-career (ages 3649). CEW researchers identified 107 high-paying middle-skills jobs in five occupational groups: blue-collar; healthcare; management; protective services; and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). In total, 349 middle-skills programs provide a pathway to these high-paying jobs.
The blue-collar sector will have the greatest nationwide shortage of workers prepared for high-paying middle-skills occupations, with 52 of the 55 largest US metro areas experiencing shortages, said CEW Director and co-author Jeff Strohl. If the current levels of annual credential production in programs aligned with these occupations dont increase nationally, the credential supply will meet only 13% of the projected annual demand through 2032. As a result, annual credential production in aligned programs will fall short of annual demand by more than 360,000 credentials. We anticipate that Washington, D.C., Dallas, and Boston will experience the greatest blue-collar shortages relative to projected labor-market demand.
More moderate shortages are expected in high-paying management, protective services, and STEM middle-skills occupations. In high-paying middle-skills management occupations, 39 of the 55 largest US metro areas will face credential shortages. And while 39 of the 55 major metro areas will also face shortages in annual credential production aligned with high-paying middle-skills protective services jobssuch as police officers and firefightersthe rest of the country will not. Only 10 major metro areas are expected to face a credential shortage in programs aligned with high-paying middle-skills STEM occupations, but many smaller metro areas and rural communities will face severe shortages. As a result, current credential production is projected to meet only 60% of demand nationwide through 2032.
Jobs are foundational to unlocking greater economic mobility, and well-paying jobs increasingly require a combination of skills and experience that can be difficult to get in traditional education settings, said Jennie Sparandara, managing director of Global Philanthropy at JPMorganChase. We are proud to support organizations like CEW and their important, independent research in this space. At JPMorganChase, we are backing up our commitment to inclusive growth with action helping people prepare for successful careers by supporting research, programs, and policy solutions that promote better access to credentials, skills, degrees, and real-world work experiences.
Healthcare is the only occupational group with a projected nationwide oversupply of credentials aligned with high-paying middle-skills occupations. In part, this reflects rising demand for workers with bachelors degrees in healthcare occupations historically held by workers with middle-skills credentials. Between 2010 and 2022, the proportion of workers with middle-skills education in these healthcare occupations decreased from 46% to 25%. If this trend continues, middle-skills workers will make up only 10% of the workforce in these healthcare occupations by 2032.
Not all metro areas will face shortages in programs aligned with high-paying middle-skills occupations, but where shortages exist, they can be substantial, said Kathryn Peltier Campbell, co-author and editorial director at CEW. As it stands now, most middle-skills providers in areas experiencing shortages in programs aligned with high-paying middle-skills blue-collar, management, and protective services occupations would need to more than double their credential production to meet local demand through 2032.
To view our latest research, including an online data tool that features detailed alignment metrics for high-paying middle-skills occupations in each of the 55 largest US metro areas, visit: https://cew.georgetown.edu/high-paying-middle-skills.
The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) is a research and policy institute within Georgetown's McCourt School of Public Policy that studies the links between education, career qualifications, and workforce demands. For more information, visit https://cew.georgetown.edu/. Follow CEW on X @GeorgetownCEW, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Medium.
Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V. to Report Half Year 2024 Financial Results on September 12, and to Host KOL Event on September 30, 2024
Halle (Saale) / Munich, Germany, September 5, 2024 - Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: VVY; NL00150002Q7) (Vivoryon), a clinical stage company focused on the discovery and development of small molecule medicines to modulate the activity and stability of pathologically altered proteins, today announced that it will host two events in September:
Half year 2024 results on September 12; webcast at 3pm CEST
Virtual Kidney Disease KOL event on September 30, 2024; webcast at 3pm CEST
Half Year 2024 Results
Vivoryon will publish its financial results for the half year 2024 and provide a corporate update on Thursday, September 12, 2024. The Company will host a conference call and webcast open to the public. The report will be available for download on the Company's website https://www.vivoryon.com/financial-information/.
Conference call details
Date: September 12, 2024
Time: 3:00 pm CEST / 9:00 am EDT
The conference call will be available via phone and webcast.
The live audio webcast of the call will be available on Vivoryons website at: https://www.vivoryon.com/news-and-events/presentations-webcasts/
To join the conference call via phone, participants may pre-register and will receive dedicated dial-in details to easily and quickly access the call via the following website:
https://register.vevent.com/register/BIb82f5f65fffe4d5faaade135258da32a
It is suggested participants dial into the conference call 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time to avoid any delays in attendance.
Virtual Kidney Disease KOL Event
Vivoryon will host a virtual Kidney Disease KOL (Key Opinion Leaders) webcast on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Conference call details
Date: September 30, 2024
Time: 3:00 pm CEST / 9:00 am EDT
Further details of the event and participation information will be made available on the Companys website in due time.
###
About Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V.
Vivoryon is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing innovative small molecule-based medicines. Driven by its passion for ground-breaking science and innovation, the Company strives to change the lives of patients in need suffering from severe diseases. The Company leverages its in-depth expertise in understanding post-translational modifications to develop medicines that modulate the activity and stability of proteins which are altered in disease settings. The Company has established a pipeline of orally available small molecule inhibitors for various indications including Alzheimers disease, inflammatory and fibrotic disorders, including of the kidney, and cancer. www.vivoryon.com.
Vivoryon Forward Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those regarding the business strategy, management plans and objectives for future operations of Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V. (the Company), estimates and projections with respect to the market for the Companys products and forecasts and statements as to when the Companys products may be available. Words such as anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, forecast, intend, may, plan, project, predict, should and will and similar expressions as they relate to the Company are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance; rather they are based on the Managements current expectations and assumptions about future events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. The forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties and other factors could materially adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. The Companys results of operations, cash needs, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, future transactions, strategies or events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements and from expectations. As a result, no undue reliance should be placed on such forward-looking statements. This press release does not contain risk factors. Certain risk factors that may affect the Companys future financial results are discussed in the published annual financial statements of the Company. This press release, including any forward-looking statements, speaks only as of the date of this press release. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any information or forward-looking statements contained herein, save for any information required to be disclosed by law.
For more information, please contact:
Investor Contact
Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V.
Dr. Manuela Bader, Director IR & Communication
Tel: +49 (0)345 555 99 30
Email: IR@vivoryon.com
Media Contact
Trophic Communications
Valeria Fisher
Tel: +49 175 8041816
Email: vivoryon@trophic.eu
Attachment
New York, United States , Sept. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Viral Inactivation Market Size is to Grow from USD 653.8 Million in 2023 to USD 1915.2 Million by 2033, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 11.35% during the projected period.
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The process of removing a virus's genetic makeup or structure renders it non-contagious and stops it from multiplying and infecting new hosts is known as viral inactivation. This procedure is primarily done to increase security and stop viruses in the sample from infecting the desired product. Though it cannot be active, the infection may still be present in the final result. The food and blood plasma industry uses a range of inactivation techniques to protect them against virus activity. A rise in investments in the life sciences industry, an increase in government funding for the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries, and an increase in drug approvals and releases are all factors driving the global viral inactivation market. To prevent the rising prevalence of deadly long-term diseases including cancer, HIV, and hepatitis, better biopharmaceutical treatments are needed. However, impeding the market development of virus inactivation is several issues related to the process, including protein denaturation and degradation, virus aggregate formation, and cross-linking.
Browse key industry insights spread across 230 pages with 125 Market data tables and figures & charts from the report on the " Global Viral Inactivation Market Size, Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis By Products (Kits & Reagents, Systems & Accessories, and Services), By Application (Vaccines and Therapeutics, Stem Cell Products, Blood and Blood Products, Tissue/ Tissue Products, Cellular and Gene Therapy), By End-user (Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies, CROs, Academic and Research Institutes, and Others), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa), Analysis and Forecast 2023 2033."
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The kits & reagents segment is anticipated to hold the greatest share of the global viral inactivation market during the projected timeframe.
Based on product, the global viral inactivation market is divided into kits & reagents, systems & accessories, and services. Among these, the kits & reagents segment is anticipated to hold the greatest share of the global viral inactivation market during the projected timeframe. The increased development efforts and new products appearing by businesses have helped the kits and reagents in the sector.
The vaccines and therapeutics segment is anticipated to hold the largest share of the global viral inactivation market during the projected timeframe.
Based on application, the global viral inactivation market is divided into vaccines and therapeutics, stem cell products, blood and blood products, tissue/ tissue products, and cellular and gene therapy. Among these, the vaccines and therapeutics segment is anticipated to hold the largest share of the global viral inactivation market during the projected timeframe. The increasing incidence of cancer and other chronic diseases has increased the need for inactivated vaccines, which will drive market growth.
The pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies segment is predicted to hold the greatest share of the global viral inactivation market during the estimated period.
Based on end users, the global viral inactivation market is divided into pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, CROs, academic and research institutes, and others. Among these, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies segment is predicted to hold the greatest share of the global viral inactivation market during the estimated period. The development of the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries helped fund searching for alternative therapies, which increased the production of novel drugs.
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North America is expected to hold the largest share of the global viral inactivation market over the forecast period.
North America is expected to hold the largest share of the global viral inactivation market over the forecast period. This growth is explained by the sophisticated infrastructure, the existence of large biotech and pharmaceutical companies, large R&D expenditures, and healthcare spending by both the government and businesses.
Asia Pacific is predicted to grow at the fastest pace in the global viral inactivation market during the projected timeframe. To improve public health services and increase access to cutting-edge therapies, governments and the corporate sector in Asia Pacific are significantly increasing their spending on healthcare.
Europe is expected to hold a significant share of the global viral inactivation market over the forecast period. To make viruses inactive by causing damage to their genome and causing disruptions to their viral proteins, the University of Technology Sydney conducted research in conjunction with participants in Germany.
Competitive Analysis:
The report offers the appropriate analysis of the key organizations/companies involved within the global market along with a comparative evaluation primarily based on their product offering, business overviews, geographic presence, enterprise strategies, segment market share, and SWOT analysis. The report also provides an elaborative analysis focusing on the current news and developments of the companies, which includes product development, innovations, joint ventures, partnerships, mergers & acquisitions, strategic alliances, and others. This allows for the evaluation of the overall competition within the market. Major vendors in the global viral inactivation market include Charles River Laboratories, Inc., Clean Cells, Merck KGaA, Mettler Toledo, Parker Hannifin Corp, Rad Source Technologies Inc., Sartorius AG, Texcell SA, Vironova AB, Danaher Corporation, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Bio-Rad Laboratories, GE Healthcare, and Others.
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Recent Developments
In June 2023, the opening of a testing facility in North America was announced by Texcell SA. This move should assist the business in improving the viral safety and biotherapeutic and medical device clearance processes.
Market Segment
This study forecasts revenue at global, regional, and country levels from 2020 to 2033. Spherical Insights has segmented the global viral inactivation market based on the below-mentioned segments:
Global Viral Inactivation Market, By Product
Kits and Reagents
Systems & Accessories
Services
Global Viral Inactivation Market, By Application
Vaccines and Therapeutics
Stem Cell Products
Blood and Blood Products
Tissue/ Tissue Products
Cellular and Gene Therapy
Global Viral Inactivation Market, By End User
Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies
CROs
Academic and Research Institutes
Others
Global Viral Inactivation Market, By Regional Analysis
North America US Canada Mexico
Europe Germany Uk France Italy Spain Russia Rest of Europe
Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Australia Rest of Asia Pacific
South America Brazil Argentina Rest of South America
Middle East & Africa UAE Saudi Arabia Qatar South Africa Rest of the Middle East & Africa
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Selbyville, Delaware , Sept. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Non-Woven Adhesives Market will reach USD 6.2 billion by 2032, as per a recent study by Global Market Insights Inc.
Increasing population and aging demographics are pivotal growth drivers in the market. According to UN, the global population of individuals aged 65 and older is expected to more than double, increasing from 761 million in 2021 to 1.6 billion by 2050. As the global population expands, particularly in developing regions, the demand for hygiene products such as diapers and adult incontinence products is on the rise. The elderly population requires specialized care products that are not only effective but also comfortable and safe for prolonged use. Non-woven adhesives are essential in the production of these products, providing the necessary bonding strength while ensuring softness and flexibility.
The increasing demand for disposable hygiene products, in consort with technological advancements in adhesive formulations, offering improved bonding strength, flexibility, and reduced odor, are also contributing to market growth.
Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/8351
Water-Based Adhesives to Gain Market Appeal
Non-woven adhesives market size from water-based adhesives segment will grow rapidly through 2032, due to their eco-friendly properties and ability to provide strong bonding without the use of harmful solvents. As industries worldwide move towards sustainable practices, the preference for water-based adhesives has surged, especially in applications involving hygiene products such as diapers, feminine hygiene products, and adult incontinence products. Their non-toxic nature, coupled with ease of use, makes them an ideal choice for manufacturers looking to align with stringent environmental regulations and consumer preferences for safer products.
Amorphous poly alpha olefin to witness rising adoption
The amorphous poly alpha olefin segment will gain traction through 2032, owing to its excellent performance in terms of durability, flexibility, and adhesion strength. These adhesives are particularly favored in the hygiene applications, owing to their ability to bond non-woven fabrics effectively while maintaining product softness and comfort. APAO adhesives also exhibit superior heat resistance and chemical stability, which are crucial for maintaining product integrity under varying conditions. The rising demand for disposable hygiene products, driven by an aging population and increasing awareness of personal hygiene, is expected to boost the adoption of APAO adhesives.
Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/8351
Europe to gain market leadership
Europe Non-Woven Adhesives Market will grow steadily through 2032, driven by the stringent environmental regulations imposed by the European Union, which encourage the adoption of sustainable and eco-friendly products. Countries such as Germany, France, and the United Kingdom are leading the way in the usage of non-woven adhesives, particularly in the hygiene and medical sectors. The increasing demand for high-quality, safe, and environmentally friendly products in these countries has prompted manufacturers to focus on innovative adhesive solutions that meet regulatory standards. Additionally, the expanding automotive industry in Europe, which increasingly relies on non-woven adhesives for lightweight and durable bonding solutions, is contributing to market growth.
Non-Woven Adhesives Market Players
Major companies in the market include, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, H.B. Fuller Company, Bostik SA (Arkema Group), Avery Dennison Corporation, Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG, Beardow Adams Ltd., Jowat SE, The Dow Chemical Company, Moresco Corporation. Companies are focusing on strategic mergers and acquisitions to enhance their market presence and leverage synergies. Additionally, there is a strong emphasis on expanding production capacities and establishing manufacturing facilities in key regions to cater to local demand more efficiently.
For instance, in 2023, Fitesa, a Simpsonville-based nonwoven fabrics manufacturer, announced plans to invest in a new multibeam Reicofil 5 line in Europe, with operations set to begin in the second quarter of 2023. This advanced machine will be installed in one of Fitesa's existing European facilities and is designed to produce both Full High Loft and standard spunmelt products using a range of sustainable raw materials, including bioPE and PLA.
About Global Market Insights
Global Market Insights Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider, offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy, and biotechnology.
Collaboration with World Leading University, University of Edinburgh
Multi-Million Dollar Transformative Project for Long-Term Care
Future Partnering Opportunities
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Treatment.com AI Inc. (CSE: TRUE, OTC: TREIF, Frankfurt: 939) (Treatment) is pleased to announce it has signed a Collaborative Agreement with the University Court of the University of Edinburgh (University of Edinburgh). The University of Edinburgh is looking to utilize Treatments proprietary Global Library of Medicine (GLM) to jointly build applications within the SET4 Systems Engineering to Transform Transitions In Health and Social Care innovation initiative (SET4).
World Leading University
Treatment is partnering with the University of Edinburgh, recently acknowledged as amongst the worlds top universities by The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings for its contribution to the UNs Sustainable Development Goals. In the 2024 rankings, the University of Edinburgh achieved joint 1st in the world for SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. Edinburgh Innovations, the University of Edinburghs commercialisation service, has attracted 107.6m (USD$142m) of investment, whilst industrial and translational research projects have brought in a further 91.9m (USD$121m) of funding.
Multi-Million Dollar Transformative Project for Long-Term Care
SET4 is an exciting multi-million dollar programme under development in the Usher Institute within the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. It represents an innovation hub initiative including all relevant stakeholders, designed to deliver innovative data-driven solutions which improve problematic transitions in health and social care for people living within Multiple Long-Term Conditions (MLTC). Whilst initially focused on specific communities in Scotland, the goal now is to deliver meaningful change with sufficient evidence to enable wider adoption across the UK National Health Service (NHS), other social care settings and beyond.
Further Opportunities
Beyond SET4, the parties will also work together to explore other relevant collaborative and commercial opportunities to positively impact healthcare system efficiency and enhanced care for patients.
Kevin Peterson MD, MPH, FRCS(Ed), FAAFP, Chairman and Chief Medical Officer of Treatment.com AI says: As a global leading university for industry and innovation, the University of Edinburgh provides a powerful academic partner for Treatment AI in our mission to improve clinical care using artificial intelligence. We are delighted and proud to work with Edinburgh Innovations to discover new ways of improving the lives of people initially in Scotland and subsequently across the world.
Julie Jacko Ph.D., Dean of Innovation and Engagement for the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at University of Edinburgh comments: "Catalysing the transformation of health in UK society and globally is central to the mission of the Usher Institute. By prioritising people, populations and their data, the Usher Institute is at the forefront of discovery and innovation. Our partnership with Treatment.com AI will amplify the impact of our work, ensuring that health and wellbeing is improved for generations to come.
Further, the Company announces that it has amended the marketing/investor relations agreement with LEIT Media Ltd. (LEIT), as previously announced by the Company on July 2, 2024. Pursuant to the amended agreement, Treatment will provide an additional amount of 250,000 Euro to LEIT for the marketing campaign and the campaign will continue to focus on the German speaking investor community.
About Treatment.com AI Inc.
Treatment.com AI is a company utilizing AI and best clinical practices to positively disrupt the healthcare sector and impact current inefficiencies and challenges. Over the past 7+ years and with the input of hundreds of healthcare professionals globally, Treatment has built a comprehensive, personalized healthcare AI engine, the Global Library of Medicine (GLM). Providing highly qualified clinical information and support to all healthcare professionals, the GLM delivers >92%+ accuracy on first diagnosis as well as providing recommended tests (physical and lab), x-rays, and billing codes. The GLM helps healthcare professionals (doctor, nurse or pharmacist) reduce their administrative burden; create more time for needed face to face patient appointments and has the propensity for greater consistency in quality of patient support. Treatment also focuses on the next generation of healthcare professionals supporting Medical and Nursing schools, utilizing the GLM to help enhance the practical clinical skills of their students. Treatments GLM platform also brings the possibility of health equity and inclusion for disenfranchised communities. To learn more about Treatments products and services, please email: info@treatment.com
About University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh Innovations
The University of Edinburgh is a global university, rooted in Scotland. We are globally recognised for our research, development and innovation and we have provided world-class teaching to our students for more than 425 years. We are the largest university in Scotland, with more than 49,480 students and 18,650 staff. We are a founding member of the UKs Russell Group of leading research universities and a member of the League of European Research Universities. Edinburgh Innovations is the University of Edinburghs commercialisation service. We bring University of Edinburgh research to industry, working to identify ideas with value, and facilitating the process of bringing them to life in real-world applications. We make ideas work for a better world. Find out more on our website
Contact: If you would like to find out more about Edinburgh Universitys innovation and engagement initiatives, please contact: Megan Welford, Communications Manager, Edinburgh Innovations, megan.welford@ei.ed.ac.uk ; Call:+ 44 7721 120217.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Dr. Essam Hamza, CEO
ehamza@treatment.com
For media inquiries, contact: media@treatment.com
Call: +1 (612) 788-8900 / Toll-Free USA/Canada: +1 (888) 788-8955
Cautionary Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on Treatment.com AIs expectations, estimates and projections regarding its business and the economic environment in which it operates, including with respect to the implementation of its shareholder communications initiative and the timing thereof. Although Treatment.com believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, and readers should not place undue reliance on such statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and Treatment.com undertakes no obligation to update them publicly to reflect new information or the occurrence of future events or circumstances unless otherwise required to do so by law.
The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Press Release
VELIZY-VILLACOUBLAY, France September 5, 2024
Declaration of the number of outstanding shares and
voting rights as of August 31, 2024
Dassault Systemes (Euronext Paris: FR0014003TT8, DSY.PA) today announced below the total number of its outstanding shares and voting rights as of August 31, 2024, according to articles 223-16 and 221-3 of the General Regulation of the Autorite des marches financiers.
Number of outstanding shares: 1,339,313,330
Number of voting rights*: 2,013,085,275
*The total number of voting rights is calculated on the basis of the total number of outstanding shares, even if the voting rights attached thereto are suspended, pursuant to Article 223-11 of the General Regulation of the Autorite des marches financiers relating to the method for calculating the percentages of holdings in shares and in voting rights. We invite our shareholders to refer to this article should they need to declare crossing of thresholds.
Declarations related to crossing of threshold must be sent to:
Dassault Systemes, Investor Relations Service, 10, rue Marcel Dassault, CS 40501, 78946 Velizy-Villacoublay Cedex (France). E-mail address: Investors@3ds.com
###
ABOUT DASSAULT SYSTEMES
Dassault Systemes is a catalyst for human progress. We provide business and people with collaborative virtual environments to imagine sustainable innovations. By creating virtual twin experiences of the real world with our 3DEXPERIENCE platform and applications, our customers can redefine the creation, production and life-cycle-management processes of their offer and thus have a meaningful impact to make the world more sustainable. The beauty of the Experience Economy is that it is a human-centered economy for the benefit of all consumers, patients and citizens.
Dassault Systemes brings value to more than 350,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit www.3ds.com
Dassault Systemes Investor Relations Team FTI Consulting
Beatrix Martinez: Arnaud de Cheffontaines: +33 1 47 03 69 48
+33 1 61 62 40 73 / 69 24 Jamie Ricketts: +44 20 3727 1600
investors@3ds.com Tom Blundell: +44 20 3727 1600
Dassault Systemes Press Contacts
Corporate / France
Arnaud Malherbe: +33 1 61 62 87 73
arnaud.malherbe@3ds.com
Dassault Systemes. All rights reserved. 3DEXPERIENCE, the 3DS logo, the Compass icon, IFWE, 3DEXCITE, 3DVIA, BIOVIA, CATIA, CENTRIC PLM, DELMIA, ENOVIA, GEOVIA, MEDIDATA, NETVIBES, OUTSCALE, SIMULIA and SOLIDWORKS are commercial trademarks or registered trademarks of Dassault Systemes, a European company (Societas Europaea) incorporated under French law, and registered with the Versailles trade and companies registry under number 322 306 440, or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are owned by their respective owners. Use of any Dassault Systemes or its subsidiaries trademarks is subject to their express written approval.
Attachment
Dublin, Sept. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Turkey Cards and Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
This report provides top-level market analysis, information and insights into the Turkish cards and payments industry, including:
Current and forecast values for each market in the Turkish cards and payments industry, including debit, and credit cards.
Detailed insights into payment instruments including cash, card and cheques. It also, includes an overview of the country's key alternative payment instruments.
Ecommerce market analysis.
Analysis of various market drivers and regulations governing the Turkish cards and payments industry.
Detailed analysis of strategies adopted by banks and other institutions to market debit, and credit cards.
Comprehensive analysis of consumer attitudes and buying preferences for cards.
The competitive landscape of the Turkish cards and payments industry.
The report provides detailed analysis of market trends in the Turkish cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including card, cash, credit transfer, and cheques during the review-period (2020-24e).
The report also analyzes various payment card markets operating in the industry and provides detailed information on the number of cards in circulation, transaction values and volumes during the review-period and over the forecast-period (2024e-24f). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including market shares of issuers and schemes.
The report brings together the analyst's research, modeling, and analysis expertise to allow banks and card issuers to identify segment dynamics and competitive advantages. The report also covers detailed regulatory policies and recent changes in regulatory structure.
Key Highlights
The Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) has been developing its digital currency, the Digital Turkish Lira, since 2019. The project aims to modernize the country's payment system and promote financial inclusion by introducing convenient alternatives to traditional payments. The first pilot phase of the Digital Turkish Lira was completed in December 2022, with payment transactions conducted via the Digital Turkish Lira Network. Further pilot phases took place in 2023, involving a wider range of participants (such as banks and fintech companies). However, an official launch date had not been announced as of the time of writing.
As well as payment cards, mobile payments are also gaining traction in Turkey, driven by widespread acceptance of mobile wallets. The availability of domestic wallets offering convenience and security is attracting users, as is growing uptake of contactless payments. To benefit, in September 2023, Samsung Electronics Turkey partnered with payment companies Visa, Pazarama, and Moka to launch the S Wallet mobile wallet solution. S Wallet enables consumers to make contactless payments via Samsung smartphones at POS terminals, as well as payments using wearable devices. The solution is aiming for over 1 million active users within three years of launch.
Credit card adoption will further be fueled by banks offering installment payments. According to a report published by the Interbank Card Center (Bankalararasi Kart Merkezi [BKM]), Turkish consumers made TRY1.1 trillion ($46.4 billion) of payments via installments between January and September 2023, up 25% compared to the same period of 2022. To capitalize, banks are offering flexible payment options to their credit card holders. For instance, HSBC offers the Mastercard HSBC Premier credit card, which allows card holders to split purchases across two to six interest-free monthly installments. Going forward, installment payments will rise steadily, driven by the growing consumer preference for flexible payment options.
Report Scope
Card market size in terms of number of cards, value and volume of transactions in Turkey along with detailed card segmentation of debit and credit cards available in the country
Market sizing and analysis of major payment instruments including card, cash, credit transfer, and cheques
Payment market trends and growth for both historical and forecast period
Competitor analysis with detailed insights into leading card issuers and schemes
Comprehensive analysis of consumer attitudes and buying preferences for cards
A detailed snapshot of country's key alternative payment brands
Key Topics Covered
1. Executive Summary
2. Market Overview
3. Payment Instruments
4. Card-based Payments
5. Merchant Acquiring
6. Ecommerce Payments
7. In-Store Payments
8. Buy Now Pay Later
9. Mobile Payments
10. P2P Payments
11. Bill Payments
12. Alternative Payments
13. Payment Innovation
14. Job Analysis
15. Payment Infrastructure and Regulation
16. Appendix
A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:
Akbank
American Express
BNP Paribas
DenizBank
Garanti BBVA
Halkbank
HSBC
Mastercard
QNB Finansbank
TROY
VakifBank
Visa
Yapi Kredi
Ziraat Bankasi
Isbank
For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1i5jch
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.
SEATTLE, Sept. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JND Legal Administration, Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
GINA McINTOSH, Individually and On Behalf
of All Others Similarly Situated,
Plaintiff,
vs.
KATAPULT HOLDINGS, INC., LEE EINBINDER, HOWARD KURZ, ORLANDO ZAYAS, KARISSA CUPITO and DEREK MEDLIN
Defendants.
Case No. 1:21-cv-07251 (AS)
SUMMARY NOTICE
Katapult Securities Litigation
c/o JND Legal Administration
PO Box 91340
Seattle, WA 98111
Toll-Free Number: 844-552-0057
Email: info@Katapult-FinServSecuritiesLitigation.com
Website: www.Katapult-FinServSecuritiesLitigation.com
IF YOU (I) PURCHASED OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRED KATAPULT SECURITIES BETWEEN JUNE 15, 2021 AND AUGUST 9, 2021 (BOTH DATES INCLUSIVE) AND/OR (II) BENEFICIALLY OWNED AND/OR HELD COMMON STOCK OF FINSERV AS OF MAY 11, 2021 AND WERE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE AT FINSERVS JUNE 7, 2021 SPECIAL MEETING (THE SETTLEMENT CLASS).
PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY. YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE AFFECTED BY A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT PENDING IN THIS COURT.
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED, pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and by Order of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, that in the above-captioned litigation (the Action), a Settlement has been proposed for a total of $2,500,000 in total settlement valuewith $1,775,000 paid in cash and the remainder paid in either shares of freely-tradeable Katapult common stock or additional cash. A hearing will be held on December 13, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., before the Honorable Katharine H. Parker, at the United States District Court, Southern District of New York, Courtroom 17D, 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007, or remotely per details that will be made publicly available on the Settlement website www.Katapult-FinServSecuritiesLitigation.com, for the purpose of determining whether: (1) the proposed Settlement should be approved by the Court as fair, reasonable and adequate; (2) the proposed Plan of Allocation for distribution of the Settlement proceeds is fair, reasonable and adequate and therefore should be approved; and (3) the application of Plaintiffs Lead Counsel for the payment of attorneys fees and expenses from the Settlement Fund, including interest earned thereon, should be approved.
IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE SETTLEMENT CLASS DESCRIBED ABOVE, YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE SETTLEMENT OF THE LITIGATION, AND YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO SHARE IN THE SETTLEMENT FUND. If you have not received a detailed Notice of Pendency and Proposed Settlement of Class Action (the Notice) and a copy of the Proof of Claim, you may obtain a copy of these documents by contacting the Claims Administrator: JND Legal Administration, PO Box 91340, Seattle, WA 98111. You may also obtain copies of the Stipulation of Settlement, Notice and Proof of Claim at www.Katapult-FinServSecuritiesLitigation.com.
If you are a Settlement Class Member, to be eligible to share in the distribution of the Settlement Fund, you must submit a Proof of Claim by mail postmarked no later than December 19, 2024, or submit it online by that date. If you are a Settlement Class Member and do not submit a valid Proof of Claim, you will not be eligible to share in the distribution of the Settlement Fund, but you will still be bound by any judgment entered by the Court in this Action (including the releases provided for therein).
To exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you must mail a written request for exclusion so that it is received by November 22, 2024, in accordance with the instructions set forth in the Notice. If you are a Settlement Class Member and do not exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you will be bound by any judgment entered by the Court in this Action (including the releases provided for therein) whether or not you submit a Proof of Claim. If you submit a written request for exclusion, you will have no right to recover money pursuant to the Settlement.
Any objection to the proposed Settlement, the Plan of Allocation of Settlement proceeds, or the fee and expense application must be filed with the Court no later than November 22, 2024.
PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT, THE CLERKS OFFICE, DEFENDANTS, OR DEFENDANTS COUNSEL REGARDING THIS NOTICE. If you have any questions about the Settlement, or your eligibility to participate in the Settlement, you may contact Lead Counsel at the following address or by calling (212) 545-4600:
Matthew M. Guiney, Esq.
WOLF HALDENSTEIN ADLER FREEMAN & HERZ LLP
270 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
(212) 545-4600
guiney@whafh.com
BY ORDER OF THE COURT
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
Ramsey, NJ, Sept. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), today announced that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has again named Laura Blackmer, President, Dealer Sales, as a 2024 Inclusive Channel Leader. In its second year, the list recognizes executives from vendor, distributor and solution provider organizations who are dedicated to making a positive impact across the IT channel through inclusive leadership. This is Blackmers second year on the list.
"Laura has been a driving force behind our Employee Resource Groups, including 'Step Forward,' a program dedicated to empowering women with leadership skills and guiding all employees on how to be agents of change," said Sam Errigo, President and CEO of Konica Minolta. "Her leadership was also instrumental in the launch and management of our 'Step Together' initiative, designed to unite and uplift women within the office technology industry through collaboration and mutual inspiration. We are thrilled to see Laura receive this well-earned recognition."
The CRN 2024 Inclusive Channel Leaders honorees are passionate about advancing equity and diversity within their organizations, the channel and across the greater technology industry. With this recognition, CRN highlights these executives for their desire to foster inclusion and belonging.
"At Konica Minolta, we are dedicated to creating a culture where every voice is respected, and believe that inclusion is the driving force behind innovation and growth among our employees as well as within our dealer community, said Laura Blackmer, President, Dealer Sales, Konica Minolta. "Im honored to again be named an Inclusive Channel Leader by CRN. This acknowledgment underscores our commitment to embedding diversity and inclusion across every area of our business.
Blackmers extensive list of awards also includes being named Best Female Executive seven times at the Frank Awards, The Cannata Reports annual awards that highlight excellence in business technology. She has ranked on Tiger Paw Softwares Top 100 Influencers in the managed print industry two years in a row. Blackmer has also been named to CRNs prestigious Women of the Channel list six times and is a four-time Channel Chief. Blackmer was also part of CRNs inaugural Inclusive Channel Leaders list in 2023, and is a member of the Colorado State University Business Leadership Council.
We are proud to recognize this years honorees for their commitment to inclusivity across the channel. With their transparent leadership, they help create welcoming environments where employees can bring their best selves to work to help their business succeed, said Jennifer Follett, Vice President, U.S. Content, and Executive Editor, CRN, The Channel Company. Congratulations to these leaders for their deep dedication to bringing greater equity to the channel. We look forward to learning from their inclusive leadership and seeing what they achieve next.
See the 2024 Inclusive Channel Leaders list on CRN.com.
About Konica Minolta
Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.'s (Konica Minolta) journey started 150 years ago, with a vision to see and do things differently. The company innovates for the good of society and the world. The same purpose that kept it moving then, keeps it moving now. Konica Minolta aims to partner with clients to Give Shape to Ideas by supporting their digital transformation through its expansive Intelligent Connected Workplace portfolio. Its business technology offerings include IT Services, intelligent information management, video security solutions and managed print services, as well as office technology and industrial and commercial print solutions. Through its ongoing work, the company is fortunate to be continuously recognized for its products and services. This includes, but is not limited to being included on CRNs MSP 500 list numerous times; named a finalist in the IT Software Category by The World Technology Awards; recognized as the #1 Brand for Customer Loyalty in the MFP Office Copier Market by Brand Keys and presented with Keypoint Intelligences BLI 2021 A3 Line of The Year and BLI 2021-2023 Most Color Consistent A3 Brand Awards for its bizhub i-Series. For more information, please visit Konica Minolta online and follow its account on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter.
About The Channel Company
The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end-users. Backed by more than 40 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com
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Attachments
MARKHAM, Ontario, Sept. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To mark September 9, International Day to Protect Education from Attack, Children Believe is calling on Canada to continue to step up and prioritize the education of the worlds most vulnerable children by providing safe places to learn, especially in places affected by conflict and disaster. As Canada assumes the G7 presidency over the coming year, this is an opportunity to rally world leaders and secure new commitments to expand the Charlevoix Initiative aimed at protecting the education and futures of millions of children worldwide, according to the agency.
Education is a basic human right that has been stolen from millions of the worlds children. Armed conflicts, natural disasters, poverty and other forms of crisis have kept 250 million children and youths out of school, according to the United Nations. That is times six the total population of Canada and a crisis that must be addressed.
To recognize the significance of the problem, on International Day to Protect Education from Attack, Children Believe is calling on the Government of Canada, Canadians and the world to take steps to help provide safe spaces for education. Children in vulnerable communities must have the ability to make life choices for themselves, something stolen from them when they are denied learning.
A call for change
Education is under attack globally and this crisis threatens not just the future of individuals, but the future of our entire planet, warns Fred Witteveen, CEO of Children Believe. Canada has a crucial role to play, but we believe that change must happen at all levels, locally, nationally and internationally. It's crucial to shine a light on the millions of children who have had their choices stolen from them because of dangerous barriers to education like war and environmental disaster. We believe that providing access to education means a lifetime of choices because education is the most powerful resource children can use to change their world for the better.
Collective actions must be taken to remove a wide range of systemic challenges, including political, economic, and environmental barriers to education. This is particularly true for girls and children who live under difficult circumstances, such as violence and emergencies.
Children Believe, as a member of the Canadian International Education Policy Working Group is also using September 9 to call on the Canadian government to continue to prioritize the need for investing in protecting education. The last time Canada hosted the G7 meetings in Charlevoix, Quebec in 2018, Canada brought much needed attention to the importance of education and the harmful effects of it being denied, particularly for girls.
Halimata: Hope restored
Halimata, 15, from Burkina Faso lived a normal life until terrorists attacked her village. She not only lost her sister in the attack, she lost her family, her home and her community. She is one of the many children in serious danger due to her choices being stolen from her.
Children Believe, in 2024 alone, reached 41,458 children and families in conflict regions and continues to join forces with international organizations including UNICEF and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, to enhance and protect the future of young dreamers like Halimata. This plays a crucial role in stabilizing the lives of children, including Halimata who is now back at school in Grade 7 and benefits from an environment that fosters her learning and well-being. She now has the freedom to make her own choices and pursue her dream of being a mid-wife when she is older. I'm happy because my situation is not like before, when I didn't know much. I know that with God's grace, the future will be good.
Fred Witteveen, CEO of Children Believe is available for interviews. He brings insight to this issue and is available to share his experience in regions where humanitarian support, advocacy and policy influence on international education issues, is needed now more than ever.
To set up an interview regarding International Day to Protect Education from Attack, contact Children Believe:
Media contact:
Dave Stell
Communications Manager, Children Believe
dstell@childrenbelieve.ca
About Children Believe:
Children Believe works globally to empower children to dream fearlessly, stand up for what they believe in and be heard. For 60+ years, weve brought together brave young dreamers, caring supporters and partners, and unabashed idealists. Together, were driven by a common belief: creating access to education inside and outside of classrooms is the most powerful tool children can use to change their world.
About ChildFund Alliance:
A member of ChildFund Alliance, Children Believe is part of a global network of child-focused development organizations working to create opportunities for children and youth, their families and communities. ChildFund helps nearly 23-million children and their families in 70 countries overcome poverty and underlying conditions that prevent children from achieving their full potential. We work to end violence against children; provide expertise in emergencies and disasters to ease the harmful impact on children and their communities; and engage children and youth to create lasting change and elevate their voices in decisions that affect their lives.
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Greenville, SC, Sept. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Integrated Power Services (IPS), a leading solutions provider for electromechanical, rotating equipment, and power distribution systems across North America, the United Kingdom, and the Caribbean, is pleased to announce the acquisition of B&B Transformer, a well-established remanufacturer of oil-filled, distribution class transformers, located in Farmington, MN, effective August 13, 2024.
This strategic acquisition strengthens IPS's power management portfolio, enhancing our ability to deliver comprehensive solutions to a diverse range of industries, said Shannon Moses, IPS Executive Vice-President for Power Management. "Renowned for its expertise in single- and three-phase transformer repair, remanufacturing, and custom-engineered design, B&B Transformer's integration into the IPS family promises an enriched array of offerings for our combined customers.
Since the 1970s, B&B Transformer has provided oil-filled, distribution class transformers to customers throughout North America. B&B Transformer also repairs single- and three-phase transformers and voltage regulators, in addition to offering new transformers that meet Department of Energy efficiency standards.
"Were excited to join forces with IPS, said Tim Grundler, Area General Manager for B&B Transformer. IPS has an extensive network of repair and engineering services, which will allow us to expand our offerings to B&B customers. At the same time, IPS customers will benefit from B&Bs experience with oil-filled, distribution class transformers and voltage regulators.
The acquisition of B&B Transformer expands IPSs portfolio of power management equipment and services, tailored to industrial, commercial, utility, and renewable energy markets. "IPS remains steadfast in its commitment to revolutionize reliability, persisting in its journey and vision, added Moses. As we strive to become the trusted advisor sought by customers, we pledge to serve as a single-source supplier capable of addressing the most critical challenges in power management, electromechanical, and rotating equipment through our ability to respond, rethink, and resolve."
About Integrated Power Services (IPS)
Integrated Power Services (IPS) is a leading provider of service, engineering, and remanufacturing for electrical, mechanical, and power management systems. With a focus on industry-specific expertise and a comprehensive range of capabilities, IPS supports critical infrastructure across a wide range of customers. Headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, IPS operates the largest network in the industry, with service and distribution centers, field offices, and strategically located warehouses across North America, the United Kingdom, and the Caribbean. Each IPS location is equipped to respond, rethink, and resolve complex challenges, offering access to an extensive global talent pool and resources for seamless, single-source solutions. To learn more, visit www.ips.us.
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Attachment
CORNING, N.Y., Sept. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Corning Energy Corporation (formerly Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation) announced today that Michael German, the companys CEO, will retire effective December 31, 2024, after 18 years with the company and 48 total years in the energy sector.
Mr. German joined Corning Natural Gas Corporation in 2006 and has been a cornerstone of the company's growth and resilience. In 2011, under his leadership, Leatherstocking Gas Company was formed, the newest utility in Pennsylvania in 40 years. In 2013, Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation was incorporated as a publicly traded company. In 2016, Pike County Light & Power was acquired, a Pennsylvania combination gas and electric utility. In 2022, he was a critical part of the merger of the suite of companies into a private investment firm after which the holding company name was changed to Corning Energy Corporation.
Mr. German has successfully navigated the companies through dynamic regulatory landscapes while expanding operations using his years of experience and knowledge. His visionary approach and commitment have been instrumental in positioning Corning Energy Corporation as a leader in the utility industry.
Recognizing his wealth of experience and the value of his insights, the Corning Energy Board of Directors has requested that Mr. German continue to contribute to Corning Energy as a consultant to the incoming CEO, ensuring a seamless transition and the continuation of the companys strategic initiatives. Additionally, Mr. German will remain on the board of directors, where his expertise will continue to guide Corning Energy's future.
The board has initiated the search for Mr. German's successor and anticipates having the new CEO in place shortly before his retirement to ensure a smooth and effective transition of leadership.
"Michael German's dedication and vision have left an indelible mark on Corning Energy," said Joseph Fontana, Chairman of the Board of Directors. "We are deeply grateful for his years of service and leadership. We look forward to celebrating his many accomplishments and his ongoing involvement with the company."
Prior to joining the company in 2006, Mr. German was senior vice president, utility operations for Southern Union Company where he was responsible for gas utility operations in Missouri, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. From 1994 to 2005, Mr. German held several senior positions at Energy East Corporation, a publicly-held energy services and delivery company, including president of several of its subsidiary utilities. From 1978 to 1994, Mr. German worked at the American Gas Association, finishing as senior vice president. From 1976 to 1978, Mr. German worked for US Energy Research and Development Administration. Mr. German is a board member of the Northeast Gas Association, Ampco Pittsburgh Corporation, Corning Energy Corporation, and several non-profit organizations. After retirement, Mr. German plans to spend more time with his family and pursue personal interests.
About Corning Energy Corporation
Corning Energy Corporation is an energy company with operations in New York and Pennsylvania with three major subsidiaries. Corning Natural Gas Corporation is a New York State regulated utility established in 1904 and provides safe, reliable, natural gas service to over 15,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the Southern Tier and Central Regions of New York State. Pike County Light and Power provides both natural gas and electric utility service in Pike County, Pennsylvania to 6,600 customers. Leatherstocking Gas Company provides natural gas utility service in Susquehanna and Bradford Counties in Pennsylvania to 500 customers. The companies are committed to providing reliable, safe, and sustainable energy solutions to our customers.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5497f439-64c2-4329-961a-fce4de18c1f1
TORONTO, Sept. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AGF Management Limited (TSX: AGF.B) will release its financial results for Q3 2024 on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at approximately 8:00 a.m. ET. AGF will hold a conference call and webcast to discuss these results at 11:00 a.m. ET.
The discussion will feature remarks by Kevin McCreadie, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, and Ken Tsang, Chief Financial Officer. Judy G. Goldring, President and Head of Global Distribution, and Ash Lawrence, Head of AGF Capital Partners, will also be available for the question-and-answer period with investment analysts following the presentation.
The live audio webcast with supporting materials will be available in the Investor Relations section of AGFs website at www.agf.com or at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/fwjgan3c/. Alternatively, the call can be accessed over the phone by registering here or in the Investor Relations section of AGFs website at www.agf.com, to receive the dial-in numbers and unique PIN.
A complete archive of this discussion along with supporting materials will be available at the same webcast address within 24 hours of the end of the conference call.
About AGF Management Limited
Founded in 1957, AGF Management Limited (AGF) is an independent and globally diverse asset management firm. Our companies deliver excellence in investing in the public and private markets through three business lines: AGF Investments, AGF Capital Partners and AGF Private Wealth.
AGF brings a disciplined approach, focused on incorporating sound, responsible and sustainable corporate practices. The firms collective investment expertise, driven by its fundamental, quantitative and private investing capabilities, extends globally to a wide range of clients, from financial advisors and their clients to high-net worth and institutional investors including pension plans, corporate plans, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations.
Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, AGF has investment operations and client servicing teams on the ground in North America and Europe. With nearly $50 billion in total assets under management and fee-earning assets, AGF serves more than 800,000 investors. AGF trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol AGF.B.
AGF MANAGEMENT LIMITED SHAREHOLDERS, ANALYSTS AND MEDIA, PLEASE CONTACT:
Ken Tsang
Chief Financial Officer
(416) 865-4338, InvestorRelations@agf.com
Zefiro is partnering with Fiutur to create the Zefiro Lifecycle Solution to accelerate and scale its vertically integrated business model through end-to-end digitization of its operations and production, providing unparalleled transparency and productization pathways for the Company going forward.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ZEFIRO METHANE CORP. (Cboe Canada: ZEFI) (Frankfurt: Y6B) (OTCQB: ZEFIF) (the Company, Zefiro, or ZEFI) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Fiutur, a digital verification network ecosystem, to accelerate the scalable aggregation, verification, standardization, and delivery of environmental data for carbon credit issuance. Through this partnership, Zefiro aims to address deficiencies in the carbon markets, with respect to auditable data and end-to-end transparency. The partnership combines Zefiros deep knowledge in methane measurement and abatement with advanced data-driven screening, operational data capture, and ongoing monitoring to ensure integrity through the generation of immutable, large-scale reference data sets in accordance with Fiuturs SMART Data Governance Framework , addressing immediate market challenges in voluntary carbon markets.
Zefiro has entered into a strategic partnership with Fiutur, which is a digital verification network ecosystem
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.
The Zefiro Lifecycle Solution will harness the interoperability of Fiuturs SMART ID enabled partner ecosystem to create digital lineage between real-world data collection in its field operations, including wellhead-level leak readings and transparent quantification of emissions removal data from completed projects to support the issuance and delivery of transferable claims, including offsets, insets and data products, via institutional-level distribution channels enabled by Fiutur. By collecting this data digitally, Zefiro will also be able to perform advanced analytics to target leaking wells, and reduce operational costs as well as cycle time.
The partnership embraces the immediate need for transparency and integrity in environmental markets while also acknowledging the vast potential of interoperability with emerging network tools such as Xpansiv Connect and the Canton network .
Zefiro Founder and CEO Talal Debs commented, Institutions face significant barriers to accessing verifiable and high-quality environmental solutions, including emission offsets. Zefiro seeks to overcome these barriers as a means to accomplish our mission: solving the environmental challenge of abandoned and orphaned oil and gas wells and the methane they emit. Data limitations are a major problem for these markets today. Fiuturs highly sophisticated platform will help ensure that Zefiro embeds the rich digital data, and provenance, that institutional markets increasingly demand. As a result, we see Fiutur as a thought leader and a key ally. We expect this step will enable Zefiro to deliver more high-quality environmental contract volumes to our existing customer base as well as to open up numerous new buyers and delivery channels.
As part of this strategic partnership, Zefiro has invested in Fiuturs Series A round, underscoring the potential of this collaboration to drive substantial progress for Zefiros environmental remediation services.
Fiutur CEO Joe Madden commented, We have drawn on years of unique experience across a multi-disciplinary team to create the technology, ecosystem, and governance necessary for market participants and technology providers to interact and build demand-driven products for the transition economy across sectors. Zefiros vision of a digital future and their unique commercial approach are poised to elevate these markets to new levels of scale and integrity.
The Zefiro Lifecycle Solution is set to launch in Q4 2024.
More information about Fiutur can be found on its website: https://www.fiuturx.com/
Zefiro also announces that it has retained CDMG, Inc. ("CDMG") of Nashville, Tennessee to provide advertising and marketing services. The two-month contract provides for total payment of USD $300,000.
Reporters/Media: For any questions or to arrange an interview with Dr. Debs or Mr. Madden, 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 Fiutur
Fiutur is a digital verification network ecosystem and has developed an open architecture to enable the programmatic encoding of governance and commercial terms across transparent, digitally enforced and automated measurement, reporting and verification (dMRV) protocols. The platform enables an ecosystem of market participants to deliver provable, real-world outcomes to global markets. The Fiutur ecosystem incorporates financial institutions and other capital providers, proprietary and public data sources, insurers, technical firms, certification bodies, industry players, project developers, environmental-commodity registries and markets, corporates, and a myriad of others. To find out more about Fiutur, please visit www.fiuturx.com .
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/0552f4ca-a6f6-4923-8ddc-87ba70b3bbe0
PERTH, Sept. 5, 2024 - Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) (TSX: WGX) (OTCQX: WGXRF) (Westgold or the Company) is pleased to announce the commencement of mining of the South Junction Lode within the Bluebird-South Junction mining complex at Meekatharra.
Highlights
Mining of the South Junction Lode has commenced - ramp up targets a 100kt per month run rate for the Bluebird-South Junction mine by Q3 FY25.
Drilling across South Junction continues to extend the system - with further recent significant intersections including:
14.93m @ 15.95g/t Au in hole 24SJDD029
6.83m @ 15.31g/t Au in hole 24SJDD027
13.00m @ 3.65g/t Au in hole 24SJDD032
11.42m @ 4.92g/t Au in hole 24SJDD029
8.95m @ 4.01g/t Au in hole 24SJDD026
South Junction Resource Definition drilling program continues - with 2 surface rigs targeting deeper extensions of the South Junction and Polar Star Lodes around 800m below surface.
Westgold Managing Director and CEO Wayne Bramwell commented:
"Drilling continues to unlock value and point to the potential scale of the Bluebird-South Junction mining complex at Meekatharra.
The commencement of mining on the South Junction Lode is a company milestone, achieved in short order by a focussed team. This lode is one of many mineralised lodes being tested across the Bluebird-South Junction mining complex, with the Polar Star Lode the next target to being evaluated.
Westgold can now contemplate a significantly larger, multi-decline mining complex emerging on the doorstep of our 1.6-1.8Mtpa processing plant. Each new mining front we define can increase mine output, with the continued expansion of Bluebird-South Junction providing new opportunities to reduce haulage and optimise processing infrastructure across our Murchison business".
Mining Commences in South Junction lode
Sub-level open stoping commenced in August 2024 on the South Junction Lode, within the Bluebird-South Junction mining complex at Meekatharra.
The Bluebird-South Junction mining complex sits on the southern end of a circa 6.5km long line of lodes that has seen extensive open pit mining (Figure 1).
Capital mine development to exploit the South Junction Lode is now being established and once complete will see the Bluebird-South Junction mining complex become the primary ore source for the nearby Bluebird processing plant. Multiple underground diamond drill rigs are completing grade control drilling on the South Junction Lode ahead of the planned ramp up in production.
Infrastructure upgrades are underway to support the increase in production from Bluebird-South Junction with recent drill intercepts continuing to extend the strike length and down dip depth of the South Junction Lode, providing significant potential upside to the current plan.
Drilling has intersected other mineralised lodes within the South Junction system, including the Polar Star Lode which is located directly east of the South Junction Lode. Polar Star is presently defined by multiple high grade drill intercepts and has been defined over 600m in strike whilst remaining open to the south and down dip (Figure 2).
The Company is targeting the release of an updated Polar Star Mineral Resource Estimate in Q3 FY25 in parallel with mining studies.
Ongoing Resource Definition Drilling Program
Further to the ASX announcements of 14 May and 2 July 2024, Westgold has continued with the extensional exploration / resource definition drilling program under the historic South Junction and Bluebird open pits at Meekatharra. The aim of this program, which commenced in mid-January 2024 and to date has totalled 29, 455m of drilling from surface, is to test and define the down-plunge extents of the multiple orebodies which historically produced +1Moz from open pits and is currently being mined from underground by Westgold (refer Figure 3).
South Junction hosts numerous mineralised zones broadly located on sub-parallel north-northeast-trending shears within a mafic-ultramafic rock package intruded by the Polar Star Porphyry. These zones from west to east are, Edin Hope Lode, South Junction Lode, Polar Star Lode and Archenar Lode.
As previously reported, the drilling results to date have been outstanding with significant intersections being returned from both the Polar Star and South Junction Lode positions. These results have continued to be returned from holes drilled during July and August, with the most significant intersections summarised below and full details provided in Appendix A.
Relative hole positions are shown on Figure 3.
14.93m @ 15.95g/t Au in hole 24SJDD029
6.83m @ 15.31g/t Au in hole 24SJDD027
13.00m @ 3.65g/t Au in hole 24SJDD032
11.42m @ 4.92g/t Au in hole 24SJDD029
8.95m @ 4.01g/t Au in hole 24SJDD026
The intersection reported in hole 24SJDD029 is the best result of the program to date (238-gram metres) and was returned from the South Junction Lode.
However, of great significance is the intersection in hole 24SJDD027 of 8.83m @ 15.31g/t Au (104-gram metres), being the most southern hole drilled to date with the mineralised system remaining open to the south.
Looking Forward
The South Junction Resource Definition drilling program will continue into Q2 FY25 with two surface rigs in operation. During this period the program will focus on the "deeps" potential with holes targeting the Polar Star and South Junction Lodes at depths of up to 800m below surface (refer Figure 3).
This announcement is authorised for release to the ASX and TSX by the Board.
Competent/Qualified Person Statements
Exploration Results
The information in this release that relates to Exploration results was compiled by Westgold technical employees and contractors under the supervision of Mr. Simon Rigby B.Sc. (Hons), who is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and who has verified, reviewed and approved such information. Mr Rigby is a full-time employee of the Company and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the styles of mineralisation and types of deposit under consideration and to the activities which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (the "JORC Code") and as a Qualified Person as defined in the CIM Guidelines and National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Mr. Rigby is an employee of the Company and, accordingly, is not independent for purposes of NI 43-101. Mr Rigby consents to and approves the inclusion in this release of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears. Mr Rigby is eligible to participate in short- and long-term incentive plans of the company.
General
Mineral Resources, Ore Reserve Estimates and Exploration Targets and Results are calculated in accordance with the JORC Code. Investors outside Australia should note that while Ore Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates of the Company in this announcement comply with the JORC Code (such JORC Code-compliant Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources being "Ore Reserves" and "Mineral Resources" respectively), they may not comply with the relevant guidelines in other countries and, in particular, do not comply with (i) NI 43-101; or (ii) Item 1300 of Regulation S-K, which governs disclosures of Mineral Reserves in registration statements filed with the SEC. Information contained in this announcement describing mineral deposits may not be comparable to similar information made public by companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of Canadian or US securities laws. The other technical and scientific information in this release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in NI 43-101 and has been reviewed on behalf of the company by Qualified Persons, as set forth above.
The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original market announcements and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the relevant market announcements continue to apply and have not been materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Persons findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcements.
Forward Looking Statements
These materials prepared by Westgold Resources Limited include forward looking statements. Often, but not always, forward looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward looking words such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "believe", "forecast", "predict", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "continue", and "guidance", or other similar words and may include, without limitation, statements regarding plans, strategies and objectives of management, anticipated production or construction commencement dates and expected costs or production outputs.
Forward looking statements inherently involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance and achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements. Relevant factors may include, but are not limited to, changes in commodity prices, foreign exchange fluctuations and general economic conditions, increased costs and demand for production inputs, the speculative nature of exploration and project development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits and diminishing quantities or grades of reserves, political and social risks, changes to the regulatory framework within which the Company operates or may in the future operate, environmental conditions including extreme weather conditions, recruitment and retention of personnel, industrial relations issues and litigation.
Forward looking statements are based on the Company and its management's good faith assumptions relating to the financial, market, regulatory and other relevant environments that will exist and affect the Company's business and operations in the future. The Company does not give any assurance that the assumptions on which forward looking statements are based will prove to be correct, or that the Company's business or operations will not be affected in any material manner by these or other factors not foreseen or foreseeable by the Company or management or beyond the Company's control.
Although the Company attempts and has attempted to identify factors that would cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those disclosed in forward looking statements, there may be other factors that could cause actual results, performance, achievements or events not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and many events are beyond the reasonable control of the Company. In addition, the Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the factors outlined in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR+ or the ASX, including, in the Company's current annual report, half year report or most recent management discussion and analysis.
Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements. Forward looking statements in these materials speak only at the date of issue. Subject to any continuing obligations under applicable law or any relevant stock exchange listing rules, in providing this information the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any of the forward-looking statements or to advise of any change in events, conditions or circumstances.
APPENDIX A - SOUTH JUNCTION JULY-AUGUST 2024 SIGNIFICANT INTERSECTIONS
Hole Collar
N Collar E Collar RL Intercept
(Downhole) From (m) Dip Azi Total Length (m) 24SJDD011 7,043,185 641,833 466 1.00m @ 3.13 g/t 229.00 -54.7 285.8 643.7 0.73m @ 5.18 g/t 241.95 5.00m @ 1.82 g/t 273.00 1.24m @ 22.91 g/t 456.59 24SJDD014 7,043,185 641,833 466 4.00m @ 2.08 g/t 535.00 -63.1 283.0 904.3 1.00m @ 6.1 g/t 542.00 13.30m @ 3.78 g/t 546.00 4.00m @ 3.46 g/t 591.00 0.60m @ 6.3 g/t 615.40 3.86m @ 2.09 g/t 624.14 0.83m @ 4.92 g/t 632.17 0.40m @ 80 g/t 645.46 1.11m @ 29.62 g/t 645.46 24SJDD018 7,042,860 641,478 465 4.00m @ 6.66 g/t 355.00 -48.9 346.1 588.2 24SJDD020 7,042,860 641,478 465 1.54m @ 7.31 g/t 156.00 -43.7 350.8 611.8 1.34m @ 4.99 g/t 475.50 24SJDD021_W3 7,043,405 641,939 467 4.16m @ 1.45 g/t 573.84 -64.9 290.6 850.0 5.00m @ 0.80 g/t 593.00 3.50m @ 4.9 g/t 711.50 2.22m @ 6.18 g/t 746.45 24SJDD022 7,042,860 641,479 465 1.00m @ 5.50 g/t 371.00 -55.6 349.6 593.6 1.00m @ 3.54 g/t 383.00 0.89m @ 6.84 g/t 386.30 3.00m @ 7.33 g/t 408.00 0.25m @ 31.1 g/t 409.00 24SJDD024_W1 7,043,514 641,869 467 1.00m @ 3.84 g/t 463.00 -60.7 303.3 750.0 2.72m @ 14.64 g/t 671.40 6.26m @ 2.96 g/t 683.60 24SJDD027 7042860 641,478 465 2.00m @ 1.24 g/t 319.00 -67.4 341.8 750.0 2.00m @ 1.25 g/t 376.00 1.45m @ 22.06 g/t 380.51 4.00m @ 2.66 g/t 387.00 6.83m @ 15.31 g/t 402.17 1.00m @ 6.76 g/t 419.00 1.44m @ 15.36 g/t 432.00 6.00m @ 3.32 g/t 441.00 3.70m @ 6.98 g/t 451.00 1.29m @ 16.17 g/t 553.14 2.50m @ 2.52 g/t 569.00 3.42m @ 1.42 g/t 579.58 24SJDD029 7,043,303 641,879 467 2.30m @ 1.08 g/t 185.85 -53.0 282.7 675.9 1.00m @ 7.9 g/t 204.00 2.96m @ 1.5 g/t 421.57 6.50m @ 22.39 g/t 426.60 2.84m @ 1.68 g/t 444.03 11.42m @ 4.92 g/t 561.35 14.93m @ 15.95 g/t 575.57
APPENDIX B - JORC 2012 TABLE 1 - GOLD DIVISION
SECTION 1: SAMPLING TECHNIQUES AND DATA
(Criteria in this section apply to all succeeding sections.)
Criteria JORC Code Explanation Commentary Sampling techniques Nature and quality of sampling (e.g. cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc.). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling.
Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used.
Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material to the Public Report.
In cases where 'industry standard' work has been done this would be relatively simple (e.g. 'reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay'). In other cases more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (e.g. submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information. Diamond Drilling
A significant portion of the data used in resource calculations has been gathered from diamond core. Multiple sizes have been used historically. This core is geologically logged and subsequently halved for sampling. Grade control holes may be whole-cored to streamline the core handling process if required.
A significant portion of the data used in resource calculations has been gathered from diamond core. Multiple sizes have been used historically. This core is geologically logged and subsequently halved for sampling. Grade control holes may be whole-cored to streamline the core handling process if required. Face Sampling
At each of the major past and current underground producers, each development face / round is horizontally chip sampled. The sampling intervals are domained by geological constraints (e.g. rock type, veining and alteration / sulphidation etc.). The majority of exposures within the orebody are sampled.
At each of the major past and current underground producers, each development face / round is horizontally chip sampled. The sampling intervals are domained by geological constraints (e.g. rock type, veining and alteration / sulphidation etc.). The majority of exposures within the orebody are sampled. Sludge Drilling
Sludge drilling at is performed with an underground production drill rig. It is an open hole drilling method using water as the flushing medium, with a 64mm (nominal) hole diameter. Sample intervals are ostensibly the length of the drill steel. Holes are drilled at sufficient angles to allow flushing of the hole with water following each interval to prevent contamination. Sludge drilling is not used to inform resource models. Drilling techniques Drill type (e.g. core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc.) and details (e.g. core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc.).
Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed.
Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples. RC Drilling
Drill cuttings are extracted from the RC return via cyclone. The underflow from each interval is transferred via bucket to a four-tiered riffle splitter, delivering approximately three kilograms of the recovered material into calico bags for analysis. The residual material is retained on the ground near the hole. Composite samples are obtained from the residue material for initial analysis, with the split samples remaining with the individual residual piles until required for re-split analysis or eventual disposal.
Drill cuttings are extracted from the RC return via cyclone. The underflow from each interval is transferred via bucket to a four-tiered riffle splitter, delivering approximately three kilograms of the recovered material into calico bags for analysis. The residual material is retained on the ground near the hole. Composite samples are obtained from the residue material for initial analysis, with the split samples remaining with the individual residual piles until required for re-split analysis or eventual disposal. RAB / Aircore Drilling
Combined scoops from bucket dumps from cyclone for composite. Split samples taken from individual bucket dumps via scoop. RAB holes are not included in the resource estimate.
Combined scoops from bucket dumps from cyclone for composite. Split samples taken from individual bucket dumps via scoop. RAB holes are not included in the resource estimate. Blast Hole Drilling
Cuttings sampled via splitter tray per individual drill rod. Blast holes not included in the resource estimate. Drill sample recovery Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material. All geology input is logged and validated by the relevant area geologists, incorporated into this is assessment of sample recovery. No defined relationship exists between sample recovery and grade. Nor has sample bias due to preferential loss or gain of fine or coarse material been noted. Logging Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies.
Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc.) photography.
The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged Westgold surface drill-holes are all orientated and have been logged in detail for geology, veining, alteration, mineralisation and orientated structure. Westgold underground drill-holes are logged in detail for geology, veining, alteration, mineralisation and structure. Core has been logged in enough detail to allow for the relevant mineral resource estimation techniques to be employed.
Surface core is photographed both wet and dry and underground core is photographed wet. All photos are stored on the Company's servers, with the photographs from each hole contained within separate folders.
Development faces are mapped geologically.
RC, RAB and Aircore chips are geologically logged.
Sludge drilling is logged for lithology, mineralisation and vein percentage.
Logging is quantitative in nature.
All holes are logged completely, all faces are mapped completely. Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken.
If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc. and whether sampled wet or dry.
For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique.
Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximise representivity of samples.
Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in-situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling.
Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled. Blast holes -Sampled via splitter tray per individual drill rods.
RAB / AC chips - Combined scoops from bucket dumps from cyclone for composite. Split samples taken from individual bucket dumps via scoop.
RC - Three tier riffle splitter (approximately 5kg sample). Samples generally dry.
Face Chips - Nominally chipped horizontally across the face from left to right, sub-set via geological features as appropriate.
Diamond Drilling - Half-core niche samples, sub-set via geological features as appropriate. Grade control holes may be whole-cored to streamline the core handling process if required.
Chips / core chips undergo total preparation.
Samples undergo fine pulverisation of the entire sample by an LM5 type mill to achieve a 75 product prior to splitting.
QA/QC is currently ensured during the sub-sampling stages process via the use of the systems of an independent NATA / ISO accredited laboratory contractor. A significant portion of the historical informing data has been processed by in-house laboratories.
The sample size is considered appropriate for the grain size of the material being sampled.
The un-sampled half of diamond core is retained for check sampling if required. For RC chips regular field duplicates are collected and analysed for significant variance to primary results. Quality of assay data and laboratory tests The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total.
For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc., the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc.
Nature of quality control procedures adopted (e.g. standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (i.e. lack of bias) and precision have been established. Recent drilling was analysed by fire assay as outlined below;
At Beta Hunt all drill core sampling is conducted by Karora personnel. Samples for gold analysis are shipped to SGS Mineral Services of Kalgoorlie for preparation and assaying by 50-gram fire assay analytical method. All gold diamond drilling samples submitted for assay include at least one blank and one Certified Reference Material ("CRM") per batch, plus one CRM or blank every 20 samples. In samples with observed visible gold mineralization, a coarse blank is inserted after the visible gold mineralization to serve as both a coarse flush to prevent contamination of subsequent samples and a test for gold smearing from one sample to the next which may have resulted from inadequate cleaning of the crusher and pulveriser. The lab is also required to undertake a minimum of 1 in 20 wet screens on pulverised samples to ensure a minimum 85% passing at -75m. No significant QA/QC issues have arisen in recent drilling results.
Photon Assay was introduced in 2023 for Beta Hunt grade control samples. PhotonAssay technology (Chrysos Corporation Limited) is a rapid, non-destructive analysis of gold and other elements in mineral samples. It is based on the principle of gamma activation, which uses high energy x-rays to excite changes to the nuclear structure of selected elements. The decay is then measured to give a gold analysis. Each sample is run through two cycles with a radiation time of 15s. This methodology is insensitive to material type and thus does not require fluxing chemicals as in the fire assay methodology. Highlights of the PhotonAssay process are as follows:
The process is non-destructive; the same sample accuracy can be determined by repeat measurements of the same sample. In addition, the instrument runs a precision analysis for each sample relating to the instrument precision The process allows for an increased sample size, about 500 g of crushed product.
The crushed material is not pulverised, as in the fire assay process; this ensures that gold is not smeared or lost during pulverisation (especially important if there is an expectation of visible gold that is being analysed)
Historical drilling has used a combination of Fire Assay, Aqua Regia and PAL analysis.
These assay methodologies are appropriate for the resources in question. Verification of sampling and assaying The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel.
The use of twinned holes.
Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols.
Discuss any adjustment to assay data. No independent or alternative verifications are available.
Virtual twinned holes have been drilled in several instances across all sites with no significant issues highlighted. Drillhole data is also routinely confirmed by development assay data in the operating environment.
Primary data is collected utilising LogChief. The information is imported into a SQL database server and verified.
All data used in the calculation of resources and reserves are compiled in databases (underground and open pit) which are overseen and validated by senior geologists.
No adjustments have been made to any assay data. Location of data points Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation.
Specification of the grid system used.
Quality and adequacy of topographic control. All data is spatially oriented by survey controls via direct pickups by the survey department. Drillholes are all surveyed downhole, deeper holes with a Gyro tool if required, the majority with single / multishot cameras.
All drilling and resource estimation is preferentially undertaken in local mine grid at the various sites.
Topographic control is generated from a combination of remote sensing methods and ground-based surveys. This methodology is adequate for the resources in question. Data spacing and distribution Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results.
Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied.
Whether sample compositing has been applied. Data spacing is variable dependent upon the individual orebody under consideration. A lengthy history of mining has shown that this approach is appropriate for the Mineral Resource Estimation process and to allow for classification of the resources as they stand.
Compositing is carried out based upon the modal sample length of each individual domain. Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type.
If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material. Drilling intersections are nominally designed to be normal to the orebody as far as underground infrastructure constraints / topography allows.
Development sampling is nominally undertaken normal to the various orebodies.
Where drilling angles are sub optimal the number of samples per drill hole used in the estimation has been limited to reduce any potential bias.
It is not considered that drilling orientation has introduced an appreciable sampling bias. Sample security The measures taken to ensure sample security. For samples assayed at on-site laboratory facilities, samples are delivered to the facility by Company staff. Upon delivery the responsibility for sample security and storage falls to the independent third-party operators of these facilities.
For samples assayed off-site, samples are delivered to a third-party transport service, who in turn relay them to the independent laboratory contractor. Samples are stored securely until they leave site. Audits or reviews The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data Site generated resources and reserves and the parent geological data is routinely reviewed by the Westgold Corporate technical team.
SECTION 2: REPORTING OF EXPLORATION RESULTS
(Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to this section.)
Criteria JORC Code Explanation Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status Type, reference name/number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings.
The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area. Native title interests are recorded against several WGX tenements.
The CMGP tenements are held by the Big Bell Gold Operations (BBGO) of which Westgold has 100% ownership.
Several third-party royalties exist across various tenements at CMGP, over and above the state government royalty.
The Fortnum Gold Project tenure is 100% owned by Westgold through subsidiary company Aragon Resources Pty. Ltd. Various Royalties apply to the package. The most pertinent being;
State Government - 2.5% NSR
Beta Hunt is owned by Westgold through a sub-lease agreement with St Ives Gold Mining Company Pty Ltd (SIGMC), which gives Westgold the right to explore and mine gold and nickel.
Royalties on gold production from Beta Hunt are as follows: A royalty to the state government equal to 2.5% of the royalty value of gold metal produced; and Royalties to third parties equal to 4.75% of recovered gold less allowable deductions.
The Higginsville-Lakewood Operations include the Higginsville and Lakewood Mills and associated infrastructure, mining operations and exploration prospects which are located on 242 tenements owned by Westgold and covers approximately 1,800km2 total area.
Royalties on the HGO gold production are as follows: Production payments of up to 1% of gross gold revenue over various tenements to traditional land owners. Royalty equal to 2.5% of recovered gold to the Government of Western Australia; and Various third parties hold rights to receive royalties in respect of gold (and in some cases other minerals or metals) recovered from the tenements.
The tenure is currently in good standing
There are no known issues regarding security of tenure.
There are no known impediments to continued operation.
WGX operates in accordance with all environmental conditions set down as conditions for grant of the leases. Exploration done by other parties Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties The CMGP tenements have an exploration and production history in excess of 100 years.
The FGP tenements have an exploration and production history in excess of 30 years.
BH tenements have an exploration and production history in excess of 60 years.
HGO tenements have an exploration and production history in excess of 40 years.
Westgold work has generally confirmed the veracity of historic exploration data. Geology Deposit type, geological setting and style of mineralisation. BHO Beta Hunt is situated within the central portion of the Norseman-Wiluna greenstone belt in a sequence of mafic/ultramafic and felsic rocks on the southwest flank of the Kambalda Dome.
Gold mineralsation occurs mainly in subvertical shear zones in the Lunnon Basalt and is characterised by shear and extensional quartz veining within a halo of biotite/pyrite alteration. Within these shear zones, coarse gold sometimes occurs where the shear zones intersect iron-rich sulphidic metasediments in the Lunnon Basalt or nickel sulphides at the base of the Kambalda Komatiite (ultramafics). The mineralised shears are represented by A-Zone, Western Flanks, Larkin and Mason zones. CGO CGO is located in the Achaean Murchison Province, a granite-greenstone terrane in the northwest of the Yilgarn Craton. Greenstone belts trending north-northeast are separated by granite-gneiss domes, with smaller granite plutons also present within or on the margins of the belts.
Mineralisation at Big Bell is hosted in the shear zone (Mine Sequence) and is associated with the post-peak metamorphic retrograde assemblages. Stibnite, native antimony and trace arsenopyrite are disseminated through the K-feldspar-rich lode schist. These are intergrown with pyrite and pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite. Mineralisation outside the typical Big Bell host rocks (KPSH), for example 1,600N and Shocker, also display a very strong W-As-Sb geochemical halo.
Numerous gold deposits occur within the Cuddingwarra Project area, the majority of which are hosted within the central mafic-ultramafic felsic porphyry sequence. Within this broad framework, mineralisation is shown to be spatially controlled by competency contrasts across, and flexures along, layer-parallel D2 shear zones, and is maximised when transected by corridors of northeast striking D3 faults and fractures.
The Great Fingall Dolerite hosts the majority gold mineralisation within the portion of the greenstone belt proximal to Cue (The Day Dawn Project Area). Unit AGF3 is the most brittle of all the five units and this characteristic is responsible for its role as the most favourable lithological host to gold mineralisation in the Greenstone Belt.
FGO The Fortnum deposits are Paleoproterozoic shear-hosted gold deposits within the Fortnum Wedge, a localised thrust duplex of Narracoota Formation within the overlying Ravelstone Formation. Both stratigraphic formations comprise part of the Bryah Basin in the Capricorn Orogen, Western Australia.
The Horseshoe Cassidy deposits are hosted within the Ravelstone Formation (siltstone and argillite) and Narracoota Formation (highly altered, moderate to strongly deformed mafic to ultramafic rocks). The main zone of mineralisation is developed within a horizon of highly altered magnesian basalt. Gold mineralisation is associated with strong vein stock works that are confined to the altered mafic. Alteration consists of two types: stockwork proximal silica-carbonate-fuchsite-haematite-pyrite and distal silica-haematite-carbonate+/- chlorite.
The Peak Hill district represents remnants of a Proterozoic fold belt comprising highly deformed trough and shelf sediments and mafic / ultramafic volcanics, which are generally moderately metamorphosed (except for the Peak Hill Metamorphic Suite).
HGO The Higginsville Gold Operation is located in the Eastern Goldfields Superterrane of the Archean Yilgarn Craton. The bulk of the Higginsville tenement package is located almost entirely within the well-mineralised Kalgoorlie Terrane, between the gold mining centres of Norseman and St Ives. HGO can be sub-divided into seven major geological domains: Trident Line of Lode, Chalice, Lake Cowan, Southern Paleo-channels, Mt Henry, Polar Bear Group and Spargos Project area.
Majority of mineralisation along the Trident Line of Lode are hosted within the Poseidon gabbro and high-MgO dyke complexes in the south. The Poseidon Gabbro is a thick, weakly-differentiated gabbroic sill, which strikes north-south and dips 60 to the east, is over 500 m thick and 2.5 km long. The mineralisation is hosted within or marginal to quartz veining and is structurally and lithologically controlled.
The Chalice Deposit is located within a north-south trending, 2 km to 3 km wide greenstone terrane, flanked on the west calc-alkaline granitic rocks of the Boorabin Batholith and to the east by the Pioneer Dome Batholith. The dominant unit that hosts gold mineralisation is a fine grained, weak to strongly foliated amphibole-plagioclase amphibolite, with a typically lepidoblastic (mineralogically aligned and banded) texture. It is west-dipping and generally steep, approximately 60 to 75.
The Lake Cowan project area is situated near the centre of a regional anticline between the Zuleika and Lefroy faults, with the local geology of the area made more complex by the intrusion of the massive Proterozoic Binneringie dyke. The majority of mineralisation at the Lake Cowan Mining Centre is hosted within an enclave of Archaean material surrounded by the Binneringie dyke.
Mineralised zones within the Southern Paleo Channels network comprise both placer gold, normally near the base of the channel-fill sequences, and chemically-precipitated secondary gold within the channel-fill materials and underlying saprolite. These gold concentrations commonly overlie, or are adjacent to, primary mineralised zones within Archaean bedrock.
The Mount Henry Project covers 347km2 of the prolific South NorsemanWiluna Greenstone belt of the Eastern Goldfields in Western Australia. Although the greenstone rocks from the Norseman area can be broadly correlated with those of the Kalgoorlie - Kambalda region they form a distinct terrain which is bounded on all sides by major regional shears. The Norseman Terrane has prominent banded iron formations which distinguish it from the Kalgoorlie- Kambalda Terrane. The Mount Henry gold deposit is hosted by a silicate facies BIF unit within the Noganyer Formation. Gold mineralisation is predominantly hosted by the silicate facies BIF unit but is also associated with minor metabasalt and dolerite units that were mostly emplaced in the BIF prior to mineralisation. The footwall to the BIF is characterised by a sedimentary schistose unit and the hanging wall by the overlying dolerites of the Woolyeener Formation. The Mount Henry gold deposit is classified as an Archean, orogenic shear hosted deposit. The main lode is an elongated, shearhosted body, 1.9km long by 6 - 10 metres wide and dips 6575 degrees towards the west.
The Polar Bear project is situated within the Archaean Norseman-Wiluna Belt which locally includes basalts, komatiites, metasediments, and felsic volcaniclastics. The primary gold mineralisation is related to hydrothermal activity during multiple deformation events. Indications are that gold mineralisation is focused on or near to the stratigraphic boundary between the Killaloe and Buldania Formation.
The Spargos Project occurs within Coolgardie Domain of the Kalgoorlie Terrane. The area is bounded by the Zuleika Shear to the east and the Kunanalling Shear to the west. The geological setting comprises tightly-folded north-south striking ultramafic and mafic volcanic rocks at the northern closure Widgiemooltha Dome. The project lies on the general trend of the Kunanalling / Karramindie Shear corridor, a regional shear zone that hosts significant mineralisation to the north at Ghost Crab (Mount Marion), Wattle Dam to the south, the Penfolds group and Kunanalling. The regional prospective Zuleika Shear lies to the east of the project. The tenements are prospective for vein and shear hosted gold deposits as demonstrated by Spargos Reward and numerous other gold workings and occurrences. Gold mineralisation at Spargos Reward is hosted by a coarse-grained pyrite-arsenopyrite lode in quartz-sericite schists, between strongly biotitic altered greywacke to the east and quartz-sericite-fuchsite-pyrite altered felsic tuff to the west. Gold mineralisation is associated with very little quartz veining which is atypical for many deposits in region. The Spargos Reward setting has been described variously as a low-quartz sulphidic mesothermal gold system or as a Hemlo style syn-sedimentary occurrence.
MGO MGO is located in the Achaean Murchison Province, a granite-greenstone terrane in the northwest of the Yilgarn Craton. Greenstone belts trending north-northeast are separated by granite-gneiss domes, with smaller granite plutons also present within or on the margins of the belts.
The Paddy's Flat area is located on the western limb of a regional fold, the Polelle Syn- cline, within a sequence of mafic to ultramafic volcanics with minor interflow sediments and banded iron-formation. The sequence has also been intruded by felsic porphyry dykes prior to mineralisation. Mineralisation is located along four sub-parallel trends at Paddy's Flat which can be summarized as containing three dominant mineralisation styles: Sulphide replacement BIF hosted gold. Quartz vein hosted shear-related gold. Quartz-carbonate-sulphide stockwork vein and alteration related gold.
The Yaloginda area is a gold-bearing Archaean greenstone belt situated ~15km south of Meekatharra. The deposits in the area are hosted in a strained and metamorphosed volcanic sequence that consists primarily of ultramafic and high-magnesium basalt with minor komatiite, peridotite, gabbro, tholeiitic basalt and interflow sediments. The sequence was intruded by a variety of felsic porphyry and intermediate sills and dykes.
The Reedy's mining district is located approximately 15 km to the south-east to Meekatharra and to the south of Lake Annean. The Reedy gold deposits occur with- in a north-south trending greenstone belt, two to five kilometres wide, composed of volcano-sedimentary sequences and separated multiphase syn- and post-tectonic granitoid complexes. Structurally controlled the gold occur.
Drill hole Information A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including a tabulation of the following information for all Material drill holes: easting and northing of the drill hole collar elevation or RL (Reduced Level - elevation above sea level in metres) of the drill hole collar dip and azimuth of the hole down hole length and interception depth hole length.
If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly explain why this is the case. Tables containing drillhole collar, downhole survey and intersection data are included in the body of the announcement. Data aggregation methods In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (e.g., cutting of high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated.
Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high-grade results and longer lengths of low-grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail.
The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated. All results presented are length weighted.
No high-grade cuts are used.
Reported results contain no more than two contiguous metres of internal dilution below 0.5g/t. For Beta Hunt, a cut off of 1 g/t Au with maximum internal waste of 2m is used to define significant intercepts.
Results are reported above a variety of gram / metre cut-offs dependent upon the nature of the hole. These are cut-offs are clearly stated in the relevant tables.
Unless indicated to the contrary, all results reported are downhole width.
Given restricted access in the underground environment the majority of drillhole intersections are not normal to the orebody. Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of Exploration Results.
If the geometry of the mineralisation with respect to the drill hole angle is known, its nature should be reported.
If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect (e.g., 'down hole length, true width not known'). Unless indicated to the contrary, all results reported are downhole width.
Given restricted access in the underground environment the majority of drillhole intersections are not normal to the orebody. Diagrams Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported These should include, but not be limited to a plan view of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views. Appropriate diagrams are provided in the body of the release if required. Balanced reporting Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of Exploration Results. Appropriate balance in exploration results reporting is provided. Other substantive exploration data Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples - size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances. There is no other substantive exploration data associated with this release. Further work The nature and scale of planned further work (e.g. tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling).
Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive. Ongoing surface and underground exploration activities will be undertaken to support continuing mining activities at Westgold Gold Operations.
SECTION 3: ESTIMATION AND REPORTING OF MINERAL RESOURCES
(Criteria listed in section 1, and where relevant in section 2, also apply to this section.)
Criteria JORC Code Explanation Commentary Database integrity Measures taken to ensure that data has not been corrupted by, for example, transcription or keying errors, between its initial collection and its use for Mineral Resource estimation purposes.
Data validation procedures used. The database used for the estimation was extracted from the Westgold's DataShed database management system stored on a secure SQL server.
As new data is acquired it passes through a validation approval system designed to pick up any significant errors before the information is loaded into the master database. Site visits Comment on any site visits undertaken by the Competent Person and the outcome of those visits.
If no site visits have been undertaken indicate why this is the case. Mr. Russell visits Westgold Gold Operations regularly. Geological interpretation Confidence in (or conversely, the uncertainty of) the geological interpretation of the mineral deposit.
Nature of the data used and of any assumptions made.
The effect, if any, of alternative interpretations on Mineral Resource estimation.
The use of geology in guiding and controlling Mineral Resource estimation.
The factors affecting continuity both of grade and geology. Mining in the Murchison and Goldfields districts has occurred since 1800's providing significant confidence in the currently geological interpretation across all projects.
Confidence in the geological interpretation at BHO is high. The current geological interpretation has been a precursor to successful mining over the years and forms the basis for the long-term life of mine plan (LOM). The data and assumptions used do suggest that any significant alternative geological interpretation is unlikely.
Geology (lithological units, alterations, structure, veining) have been used to guide and control Mineral Resource estimation for Beta Hunt and HGO
No alternative interpretations are currently considered viable.
Geological interpretation of the deposit was carried out using a systematic approach to ensure that the resultant estimated Mineral Resource figure was both sufficiently constrained, and representative of the expected sub-surface conditions. In all aspects of resource estimation the factual and interpreted geology was used to guide the development of the interpretation.
Geological matrixes were established to assist with interpretation and construction of the estimation domains.
The structural regime is the dominant control on geological and grade continuity in the Murchison and Goldfields. Lithological factors such as rheology contrast are secondary controls on grade distribution.
Low-grade stockpiles are derived from previous mining of the mineralisation styles outlined above. Dimensions The extent and variability of the Mineral Resource expressed as length (along strike or otherwise), plan width, and depth below surface to the upper and lower limits of the ineral Resource. BHO A-Zone extends over 2.2km strike length and is modelled to a vertical depth of 960m. It has variable thickness from 2m to 20m thick.
Western Flanks has a strike extent of 1.8km and is modelled to a vertical extent of 450m, with average thickness of the shear around 10m.
Larkin extends over 1.1km in strike length and is modelled to 400m vertical extent, with variable thickness ranging from 2m to 15m thick.
Mason has a strike extent of 1.1km and is modelled to 455m vertical extent with variable thickness between 7 to 15m. CGO The Big Bell Trend is mineralised a strike length of >3,900m, a lateral extent of up +50m and a depth of over 1,500m.
Great Fingall is mineralised a strike length of >500m, a lateral extent of >600m and a depth of over 800m.
Black Swan South is mineralised a strike length of >1,700m, a lateral extent of up +75m and a depth of over 300m. FGP The Yarlarweelor mineral resource extends over 1,400m in strike length, 570m in lateral extent and 190m in depth.
The Tom's and Sam's mineral resource extends over 650m in strike length, 400m in lateral extent and 130m in depth.
The Eldorado mineral resource extends over 240m in strike length, 100m in lateral extent and 100m in depth. HGO Trident, Fairplay, Vine and Two Boy's deposits form the Line of Lode system and extends over 5km of strike.
Chalice mineralisation has been defined over a strike length of 700m, a lateral extent of 200m and a depth of 650m.
The Pioneer resource area extends over a strike length of 860m from 6,474,900mN to 6,475,760mN. The multiple NS striking parallel lodes occur within a narrow EW extent of 190m from 374,970mE to 375,160mE. Mineralisation has been modelled from surface at 291mRL to a vertical depth 208m to the 83mRL.
Southern paleochannels gold mineralisation is interpreted to have a strike length around 4km and is predominantly flat lying.
The Wills deposit extends over 900m in a ENE-WSW direction and is up to 200m wide. Pluto is confirmed between sections 6,480,100mN and 6,481,800mN. Nanook is confirmed between sections 6,469,300mN and 6,472,500mN.
Lake Cowan: Atreides mineralisation is contained within flat lying lodes located within the weathered zone. The mineralision strike extents vary between 100m to 300m long, with an average thickness of 2 to 3 m thick. Josephine has a strike length greater than 450m and >10m across strike and modelled to >90m at depth. Louis has a strike extent of 310m long and is interpreted to a depth of 170m below surface. Napoleon: ~220m strike and up to ~90m (individual mineralised lodes maximum of 12m) across strike to an interpreted depth of ~80m m below surface. Rose's dimension is 150m x 120m (X, Y), to an interpreted depth of +20-25m below surface.
The Spargos resource area extends over a strike length of 330m from 6,542,980mN to 6,543,310mN. The parallel lodes occur within a narrow EW extent of 95m from 354,120mE to 354,215mE. Mineralisation has been modelled from surface at 425mRL to a vertical depth 525m to -100mRL. MGO The Paddy's Flat Trend is mineralised a strike length of >3,900m, a lateral extent of up +230m and a depth of over 500m.
Bluebird is mineralised a strike length of >1,800m, a lateral extent of up +50m and a depth of over 500m.
Triton - South Emu is mineralised a strike length of >1,100m, a lateral extent of several metres and a depth of over 500m. STOCKPILES Low-grade stockpiles are of various dimensions. All modelling and estimation work undertaken by Westgold is carried out in three dimensions via Surpac Vision. Estimation and modelling techniques. The nature and appropriateness of the estimation technique(s) applied and key assumptions, including treatment of extreme grade values, domaining, interpolation parameters, maximum distance of extrapolation from data points.
The availability of check estimates, previous estimates and/or mine production records and whether the Mineral Resource estimate takes appropriate account of such data.
The assumptions made regarding recovery of by-products.
Estimation of deleterious elements or other non-grade variables of economic significance (e.g. sulphur for acid mine drainage characterisation).
In the case of block model interpolation, the block size in relation to the average sample spacing and the search employed.
Any assumptions behind modelling of selective mining units.
Any assumptions about correlation between variables.
The process of validation, the checking process used, the comparison of model data to drillhole data, and use of reconciliation data if available. After validating the drillhole data to be used in the estimation, interpretation of the orebody is undertaken in sectional and / or plan view to create the outline strings which form the basis of the three-dimensional orebody wireframe. Wireframing is then carried out using a combination of automated stitching algorithms and manual triangulation to create an accurate three-dimensional representation of the sub-surface mineralised body.
Drillhole intersections within the mineralised body are defined, these intersections are then used to flag the appropriate sections of the drillhole database tables for compositing purposes. Drillholes are subsequently composited to allow for grade estimation. In all aspects of resource estimation, the factual and interpreted geology was used to guide the development of the interpretation.
Once the sample data has been composited, a statistical analysis is undertaken to assist with determining estimation search parameters, top-cuts etc. Variographic analysis of individual domains is undertaken to assist with determining appropriate search parameters. Which are then incorporated with observed geological and geometrical features to determine the most appropriate search parameters.
An empty block model is then created for the area of interest. This model contains attributes set at background values for the various elements of interest as well as density, and various estimation parameters that are subsequently used to assist in resource categorisation. The block sizes used in the model will vary depending on orebody geometry, minimum mining units, estimation parameters and levels of informing data available.
Grade estimation is then undertaken, with ordinary kriging estimation method is considered as standard, although in some circumstances where sample populations are small, or domains are unable to be accurately defined, inverse distance weighting estimation techniques will be used. For very minor lodes, the respective median or average grade is assigned. Both by-product and deleterious elements are estimated at the time of primary grade estimation if required. It is assumed that by- products correlate well with gold. There are no assumptions made about the recovery of by-products.
The resource is then depleted for mining voids and subsequently classified in line with JORC guidelines utilising a combination of various estimation derived parameters and geological / mining knowledge.
This approach has proven to be applicable to Westgold's gold assets.
Estimation results are routinely validated against primary input data, previous estimates and mining output.
Good reconciliation between mine claimed figures and milled figures was routinely achieved during past production history. Moisture Whether the tonnages are estimated on a dry basis or with natural moisture, and the method of determination of the moisture content. Tonnage estimates are dry tonnes. Cut-off parameters The basis of the adopted cut-off grade(s) or quality parameters applied. The cut off grades used for the reporting of the Mineral Resources have been selected based on the style of mineralisation, depth from surface of the mineralisation and the most probable extraction technique. Mining factors or assumptions Assumptions made regarding possible mining methods, minimum mining dimensions and internal (or, if applicable, external) mining dilution. It is always necessary as part of the process of determining reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction to consider potential mining methods, but the assumptions made regarding mining methods and parameters when estimating Mineral Resources may not always be rigorous. Where this is the case, this should be reported with an explanation of the basis of the mining assumptions made. Variable by deposit.
No mining dilution or ore loss has been modelled in the resource model or applied to the reported Mineral Resource. Metallurgical factors or assumptions The basis for assumptions or predictions regarding metallurgical amenability. It is always necessary as part of the process of determining reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction to consider potential metallurgical methods, but the assumptions regarding metallurgical treatment processes and parameters made when reporting Mineral Resources may not always be rigorous. Where this is the case, this should be reported with an explanation of the basis of the metallurgical assumptions made. Not considered for Mineral Resource. Applied during the Reserve generation process. Environmental factors or assumptions Assumptions made regarding possible waste and process residue disposal options. It is always necessary as part of the process of determining reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction to consider the potential environmental impacts of the mining and processing operation. While at this stage the determination of potential environmental impacts, particularly for a greenfields project, may not always be well advanced, the status of early consideration of these potential environmental impacts should be reported. Where these aspects have not been considered this should be reported with an explanation of the environmental assumptions made. Westgold operates in accordance with all environmental conditions set down as conditions for grant of the respective leases. Bulk density Whether assumed or determined. If assumed, the basis for the assumptions. If determined, the method used, whether wet or dry, the frequency of the measurements, the nature, size and representativeness of the samples.
The bulk density for bulk material must have been measured by methods that adequately account for void spaces (vugs, porosity, etc.), moisture and differences between rock and alteration zones within the deposit.
Discuss assumptions for bulk density estimates used in the evaluation process of the different materials. Bulk density of the mineralisation is variable and is for the most part lithology and oxidation rather than mineralisation dependent.
A large suite of bulk density determinations has been carried out across the project areas. The bulk densities were separated into different weathering domains and lithological domains
A significant past mining history has validated the assumptions made surrounding bulk density. Classification The basis for the classification of the Mineral Resources into varying confidence categories.
Whether appropriate account has been taken of all relevant factors (i.e. relative confidence in tonnage/grade estimations, reliability of input data, confidence in continuity of geology and metal values, quality, quantity and distribution of the data).
Whether the result appropriately reflects the Competent Person's view of the deposit. Resources are classified in line with JORC guidelines utilising a combination of various estimation derived parameters, input data and geological / mining knowledge.
This approach considers all relevant factors and reflects the Competent Person's view of the deposit Audits or reviews The results of any audits or reviews of Mineral Resource estimates. Resource estimates are peer reviewed by the Corporate technical team.
No external reviews have been undertaken. Discussion of relative accuracy/ confidence Where appropriate a statement of the relative accuracy and confidence level in the Mineral Resource estimate using an approach or procedure deemed appropriate by the Competent Person. For example, the application of statistical or geostatistical procedures to quantify the relative accuracy of the resource within stated confidence limits, or, if such an approach is not deemed appropriate, a qualitative discussion of the factors that could affect the relative accuracy and confidence of the estimate.
The statement should specify whether it relates to global or local estimates, and, if local, state the relevant tonnages, which should be relevant to technical and economic evaluation. Documentation should include assumptions made and the procedures used.
These statements of relative accuracy and confidence of the estimate should be compared with production data, where available. All currently reported resource estimates are considered robust, and representative on both a global and local scale.
A continuing history of mining with good reconciliation of mine claimed to mill recovered provides confidence in the accuracy of the estimates.
SOURCE Westgold Resources Limited
Vancouver, September 4, 2024 - Green Bridge Metals Corp. (CNSX: GRBM) ("Green Bridge" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of a geophysical study of the Oxide Ultramafic Intrusions (OUI) at the Skibo and Wyman-Siphon prospects within the South Contact Zone (SCZ) (Figure 1) that host titanium-copper-nickel-vanadium mineralization. Based on a positive correlation between mineralization and the OUIs, the Company has contracted Geotech LTD to conduct a 721 line kilometer VTEM survey in Q4 of this year. The new VTEM survey will focus on developing drill targets through the acquisition of new geophysical data for the Titac - Boulder prospect areas, which do not have a modern geophysical survey.
David Suda, CEO stated: "The Company's recent site visit and re-interpretation of existing data has increased our confidence that the properties in the SCZ (South Contact Zone) in Minnesota are well mineralized. It is a rare opportunity to see such clear, yet underexplored targets in an area with historically rich polymetallic endowment. We look forward to rapidly and continuously advancing the Company's leverage to the increasing global demand for 'green metals'".
The geophysical analysis has yielded positive results for identifying OUI bodies through a combination of magnetic and Virtual Time Domain Electro Magnetics (VTEM) geophysical methods. Along the SCZ, OUIs consistently yield significant TiO2-V-Cu+Ni mineralization where they are intersected in drilling. This study serves to highlight the geophysical expression of OUIs at Wyman-Siphon and Skibo where known massive and disseminated copper (Cu)- nickel (Ni) mineralization occurs. Several new OUI targets were developed based on this geophysical evaluation at the Wyman-Siphon and Skibo prospects (Figure 2) and are considered high priority drill targets.
Detailed Discussion:
Results of the geophysical data analysis at the Wyman-Siphon area shows that historical drilling within two of the newly identified OUI regions yielded intercepts of 0.6 - 2.4% copper (Cu) and 0.22 - 0.45% nickel (Ni) over a variety of thicknesses. At the Skibo prospect, historical drilling within previously identified OUIs yielded intercepts of 2.0 - 3.8% Cu and 1.0 - 6.4% Ni over a variety of thicknesses. Substantial ground within the Skibo prospect, host to several VTEM conductive anomalies, remain untested at Skibo.
At the Titac South prospect, a historical TiO2 mineral resource exists with disseminated Cu-Ni-V mineralization accompanying the TiO2 (see August 25, 2024, News Release). Titac North also contains historical intercepts of TiO2- Cu-Ni-V mineralization. Both Titac South and Titac North are associated with relative magnetic high zones in the geophysical data. Importantly, another magnetic high zone has been identified at Titac East to the southeast of Titac South on the Titac property (Figure 3). Though similar in its magnetic response to known mineralization at Titac, this area has not been drill tested. Based on the findings above, the Company believes a VTEM survey over the Titac and Boulder prospect areas will highlight new drill targets along the Southern SCZ. The Company looks forward to informing the market of its drill plans based on a comprehensive analysis of historical and newly commissioned VTEM surveys in due course.
Click Image To View Full Size
Figure 1. Regional location map showing geology (MGS State Map Series S-21 2011), infrastructure, and neighboring Cu-Ni-PGE (+/- TiO2-V2O5) deposits. The Titac area includes the Titac North and Titac South prospects.
Click Image To View Full Size
Figure 2. Side by side maps of the magnetics (left) and VTEM (right) over the Wyman-Siphon and Skibo properties. New OUI targets (pink polygons) as well as historically interpreted OUI (blue polygons) are shown.
Click Image To View Full Size
Figure 3. Regional magnetics map of the Southern SCZ (Minnesota Geological Survey) showing the Titac and Boulder prospects along with historic drill intercepts at their respective locations.
The historical MRE for the SCZ was calculated prior to the implementation of the standards set forth in NI 43-101 and current CIM standards for mineral resource estimation. Resource definitions, terminology, and reporting standards have changed significantly since these series of reports. The estimates in these reports are all considered historical in nature and a QP has not done sufficient work to evaluate these resources as current resources. Therefore, the Company and the authors of this report are treating these estimates as historical in nature.
.
QP Statement:
Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.
ON BEHALF OF GREEN BRIDGE METALS,
"David Suda"
President and Chief Executive Officer
For more information, please contact:
David Suda
President and Chief Executive Officer
Tel: 604.928-3101
investors@greenbridgemetals.com
About Green Bridge Metals
Green Bridge Metals Corporation (formerly Mich Resources Ltd.) is a Canadian based exploration company focused on acquiring 'battery metal' rich mineral assets and the development of the South Contact Zone (the "Property") along the basal contact of the Duluth Intrusion, north of Duluth, Minnesota. The South Contact Zone contains bulk-tonnage copper-nickel and titanium-vanadium in ilmenite hosted in ultramafic to oxide ultramafic intrusions. The Property has exploration targets for bulk-tonnage Ni mineralization, high grade Ni-Cu-PGE magmatic sulfide mineralization and titanium.
Forward Looking Information
Certain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information include but are not limited to statements or information with respect to: the exploration and development of the South Contact Zone Properties; and the VTEM survey planned for Q4 of this year.
Although management of the Company believe that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These risk factors include, but are not limited to: the exploration and development of the South Contact Zone Properties may not result in any commercially successful outcome for the Company; risks associated with the business of the Company; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; changes in laws (including regulations respecting mining concessions); and other risk factors as detailed from time to time.
The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Certain figures and references contain information supported by public and corporate references that may have been updated, changed, or modified since their referenced date. The Company has not reviewed any resources and cannot comment on their accuracy.
References:
1Farrow, D., Johnson, M., (2012), January 2012 National Instrument 43-101Technical Report on the Titac Ilmenite Exploration Project, Minnesota, USA. SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. SRK Project Number 2CC031.004. Cardero Resources Corp.
2DeMatties, T.A., (2020). Encampment Minerals, Inc., 2020 Winter Drilling Program at the Skibo (North) Property, St. Louis County, Minnesota, Technical Report. Encampment Minerals Inc.
3DeMatties, T.A. (2012). Encampment Minerals Inc., Duluth Copper-Nickel-PGM Exploration Program Boulder Lake North Property, St Louis County Minnesota, Technical Report (unpublished). Encampment Minerals Inc.
Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
LONDON, September 5, 2024 - Ecora Resources PLC (LSE:ECOR)(TSX:ECOR) is pleased to announce that Marc Bishop Lafleche, CEO and Kevin Flynn, CFO, will provide a presentation relating to the HY24 Results via the Investor Meet Company platform on 11 September 2024 at 3.00pm BST.
The presentation is open to all existing and potential shareholders. Questions can be submitted pre-event via the Investor Meet Company dashboard up until 9.00am on 10 September, or at any time during the presentation.
Investors can sign up to Investor Meet Company for free to follow Ecora Resources PLC via:
https://www.investormeetcompany.com/ecora-resources-plc/register-investor
Investors who already follow Ecora on the Investor Meet Company platform will automatically be invited.
For further information:
Ecora Resources PLC +44 (0) 20 3435 7400 Geoff Callow - Head of Investor Relations Website: www.ecora-resources.com FTI Consulting Sara Powell / Ben Brewerton / Nick Hennis +44 (0) 20 3727 1000 ecoraresources@fticonsulting.com
This information is provided by Reach, the non-regulatory press release distribution service of RNS, part of the London Stock Exchange. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
SOURCE: Ecora Resources PLC
View the original press release on accesswire.com
VANCOUVER, BC - September 5, 2024 - Giant Mining Corp. (CSE: BFG | OTC: BFGFF | FWB: YW5) ("Giant Mining" or the "Company") is pleased to announce significant progress in the preparation for the upcoming drilling program at the Majuba Hill Porphyry Copper Deposit ("Majuba Hill"), located in Pershing County, Nevada.
The Company has been actively engaged in detailed geological work, including the updating of the 3D model, the compilation of geological data, and a comprehensive review of cross sections to enhance the understanding of subsurface geology.
Click Image To View Full Size
Figure 1 - Review of drilling data accumulated over previous campaigns.
Recent efforts have focused on refining the geological model of Majuba Hill, crucial for identifying key drilling targets and ensuring the efficiency of future exploration activities. The team conducted a meticulous review of nearly 25,000 meters of drilling data accumulated over previous campaigns, stored at the Company's core shed and offices in Elko, Nevada. This extensive dataset forms the foundation for the Exploration Target, estimated at 50,000,000 to 100,000,000 tonnes, as outlined in the NI 43-101 report available on the Giant Mining Corp. website.
David Greenway, CEO of Giant Mining Corp., remarked, "The completion of our 3D modeling and cross-section reviews marks a pivotal step in our exploration strategy at Majuba Hill. This groundwork is essential for guiding our upcoming drill program and optimizing resource development. We are committed to applying the latest geological techniques to advance the Majuba Hill project and unlock its full potential."
The detailed geological work being undertaken will play a critical role in refining the resource estimates and guiding the upcoming drilling efforts, thereby advancing the economic assessment of the Majuba Hill project. As the Company continues to build on its geologic understanding, it remains focused on creating long-term value for shareholders through strategic exploration and resource management.
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by E.L. "Buster" Hunsaker III, CPG 8137, a non-independent consulting geologist who is a "Qualified Person" as such term is defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43- 101").
Market Awareness
As part of Giant Mining's ongoing strategy to raise the profile of Giant Mining's projects to investors, the Company has engaged TD Media LLC dba Lifewater Media with its principal address located at 5826 New Territory Blvd., Unit 2144, Sugar Land, Texas 77479, United States ("Lifewater Media") to provide the Company with digital marketing services such as OmniChannel programmatic advertising, SMS & email marketing, ticker tagging, AdCopy & content by professional finance writers, for a 30 day period commencing on September 3, 2024 in consideration of US$250,000 (the "Agreement"), of which US$130,000 was due and paid before August 30, 2024. The term of the Agreement can be renewed by the Company on the terms to be agreed upon by the Company and Lifewater Media. Lifewater Media and Giant Mining are not related parties and operate at arm's length. Neither Lifewater Media nor its principals have any interest in the Company's securities, directly or indirectly, or any right or intent to acquire such an interest. Lifewater can be reached via email at Info@lifewatermedia.com or by telephone at (561) 349-7722.
About Giant Mining Corp.
Giant Mining Corp. is engaged in the identification, review and acquisition of latter stage copper and copper/silver/gold assets. This is in direct response to the growing worldwide demand and lack of supply for precious metals fueled by the Green New Deal in the US and most other developed nations with similar programs aimed at addressing climate change. Such programs are heavily reliant on silver, gold and especially copper to produce Electric Vehicles and other renewable power sources, as well as building infrastructure to provide clean and affordable electricity.
The flagship project is the Majuba Hill copper, silver and gold District located 156 miles (251 km) outside Reno, Nevada, USA. Management has been mandated to focus on safe, mining friendly jurisdictions where government regulations are supportive of mining operations.
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 release.
On Behalf of the Board of Giant Mining Corp.
"David Greenway"
David C. Greenway
President & CEO
For further information, please contact:
Joel Warawa
VP of Corporate Communications
E: info@giantminingcorp.com
P: 1 (855) 475-0745
VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS
www.giantminingcorp.com
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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 Giant Mining Corp. 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 may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Giant Mining Corp. management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Giant Mining Corp. undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.
###
Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
VANCOUVER, Sept. 05, 2024 - West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd. ("West Red Lake Gold" or "WRLG" or the "Company") (TSXV: WRLG) (OTCQB: WRLGF) is pleased to announce that it has received conditional approval from the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") to list the unsecured gold-linked notes (the "Notes") and common share purchase warrants (the "Warrants") that were previously issued by the Company in a private placement of units disclosed in news releases of March 20, 2024 and April 4, 2024. An aggregate of 27,165,631 Notes, in an aggregate principal amount of US$27,165,631, and 19,287,598 Warrants were issued.
The Notes represent unsecured obligations of the Company that bear interest at 12% per annum and mature on December 31, 2029. Commencing January 1, 2026, the Company will cause gold to be placed in escrow on a quarterly basis into a gold trust account. The Company will reduce the aggregate principal amount of the Notes on a quarterly basis, commencing on March 31, 2026, in accordance with the payment schedule set forth in a trust indenture dated March 19, 2024 (the "Note Indenture"), between the Company and TSX Trust Company, as trustee. The Notes will amortize based on a guaranteed floor price of US$1,800 per ounce of gold (the "Floor Price"). Any proceeds received from the sale of escrowed gold in excess of the Floor Price will be paid to holders as a premium.
The Company anticipates that the Notes and Warrants will commence trading on the TSXV on or about September 9, 2024, under the symbols WRLG.NT and WRLG.WT.A, respectively. The ISIN and CUSIP numbers of the Notes are CA95556LAA94 and 95556LAA9, respectively. The ISIN and CUSIP numbers of the Warrants are CA95556L1351 and 95556L135, respectively.
The Notes are governed by the terms of the Note Indenture and the Warrants are governed by the terms of a warrant indenture dated March 19, 2024 (the "Warrant Indenture"), between the Company and Odyssey Trust Company, as warrant agent. Copies of the Note Indenture and Warrant Indenture are available under the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca.
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 U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws or compliance with the requirements of an applicable exemption therefrom. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
About West Red Lake Gold Mines
West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd. is a mineral exploration company that is publicly traded and focused on advancing and developing its flagship Madsen Gold Mine and the associated 47 km2 highly prospective land package in the Red Lake district of Ontario. The highly productive Red Lake Gold District of Northwest Ontario, Canada has yielded over 30 million ounces of gold from high-grade zones and hosts some of the world's richest gold deposits. WRLG also holds the wholly owned Rowan Property in Red Lake, with an expansive property position covering 31 km2 including three past producing gold mines - Rowan, Mount Jamie, and Red Summit.
ON BEHALF OF WEST RED LAKE GOLD MINES LTD.
"Shane Williams"
Shane Williams
President & Chief Executive Officer
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Gwen Preston
Vice President Investor Relations
Tel: (604) 609-6132
Email: investors@wrlgold.com or visit the Company's website
or visit the Company's website at https://www.westredlakegold.com
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
The Company's decision to continue with the advancement of the Madsen Mine (the "Madsen Mine Restart") is based on economic models prepared by the Company in conjunction with management's knowledge of the property and the existing estimate of indicated and inferred mineral resources on the property set out in the report entitled, "Independent NI 43-101 Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the PureGold Mine, Canada", with an effective date of July 31, 2022, as amended on April 24, 2024, a copy of which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The Madsen Mine Restart is not based on a preliminary economic assessment, a pre-feasibility study or a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. Accordingly, there is increased uncertainty and economic and technical risks of failure associated with the Madsen Mine Restart, in particular: the risk that mineral grades will be lower than expected; the risk that additional ongoing mining operations are more difficult or more expensive than expected; and the risk that production and economic variables may vary considerably, due to the absence of a detailed economic and technical analysis undertaken in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information generally can be identified by words such as "anticipate", "expect", "estimate", "forecast", "planned", and similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events. Forward-looking information is based on current expectations of management; however, it is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information in this news release and include without limitation, statements relating to plans for the potential restart of mining operations at the Madsen Mine, the potential of the Madsen Mine; any untapped growth potential in the Madsen deposit or Rowan deposit; and the Company's future objectives and plans. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
Forward-looking information involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, market volatility; the state of the financial markets for the Company's securities; fluctuations in commodity prices; timing and results of the cleanup and recovery at the Madsen Mine; and changes in the Company's business plans. Forward-looking information is based on a number of key expectations and assumptions, including without limitation, that the Company will continue with its stated business objectives and its ability to raise additional capital to proceed. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Additional information about risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's management's discussion and analysis for the year ended November 30, 2023, and the Company's annual information form for the year ended November 30, 2023, copies of which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
The forward-looking information contained herein is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to the Company. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by applicable law.
For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company's continuous disclosure filings that are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
TORONTO, September 5, 2024 - PJX Resources Inc. ("PJX" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that on-going drilling at the Dewdney Trail Property has encountered geology that supports the potential to discover a Sedimentary Exhalative (Sedex) type deposit. Of the 3 holes drilled to date the deepest into the mountain has intersected a 20m (estimated true width) fragmental with abundant to semi-massive sulphide mineralisation at 275m. The mineralisation appears to be predominantly iron sulphide (pyrrhotite and pyrite) with visible trace amounts of copper sulphide (chalcopyrite) and zinc sulphide (sphalerite) (see photo A). This style of mineralisation supports a venting environment, which is what occurs at the Sullivan Sedex deposit located approximately 20 km west of the Dewdney Trail Property in Southeastern British Columbia, Canada.
Photo A - Fragmental unit with iron sulphide (pyrrhotite and pyrite) in the matrix and what appear to be iron sulphide clasts in places. Zinc sulphide (sphalerite) and copper sulphide (chalcopyrite) are locally visible in trace amounts (samples have been sent for analysis).
The source of the Sullivan style and grade zinc, lead, and silver mineralisation discovered late last year at surface in boulders in talus material at the base of a mountain slope has not yet been identified by drilling (see photo B). In addition, the zinc and lead mineralisation in outcrop discovered late last year appears to occur in large blocks and/or fragments of stratigraphy that may have collapsed into a sinking basin which can happen in Sedex environments. Additional drilling is required on strike to the north and south as well as higher on the mountain which is stratigraphically above the fragmental unit. Drilling is also required at depth, stratigraphically below the fragmental unit, because of what appear to be massive iron sulphide clasts in part of the fragmental unit (see photo C).
Photo B - Sample STM-23-1 (6.71% zinc, 2.23% lead, 16.05 g/t silver, 1258.9 ppm or 0.12% copper) Strongly magnetic boulder found in talus at base of the moutnain slope late last year. Sphalerite (zinc sulphide), galena (lead sulphide), and iron sulphides (pyrite, pyrrhotite) occur banded or bedded in appearance as seen above. The mineralisation also occurs in the groundmass of the rock.
Photo C - Apparent Iron Sulphide (pyrrhotite and pyrite) clasts in fragmental.
John Keating, President of PJX, commented, "We are very pleased with the results from these initial drill holes. What we've encountered in the fragmental appears to be predominantly iron sulphides. However, having visible trace concentrations of zinc and copper sulphide minerals supports a mineralizing system with potential to produce higher concentrations of copper, zinc, and/or lead horizontally along strike as well as vertically in multiple sedimentary horizons. This type of transition in mineralisation occurs in Sedex environments. So far, we have only tested part of the northern edge of the large magnetic anomaly. We are working with New Age Drilling Solutions to bring additional drills to the property and expand testing. The well mineralized boulders with zinc, lead, and silver discovered late last year also support the potential for more significant zinc, lead and/or copper content. Results of our work along with maps and sections are expected to be announced when the drilling has been completed and results compiled."
PJX's New Discovery Potential Background
PJX owns 100% of the mineral rights to multiple properties totaling over 680 km of mineral claims in the Sullivan Mining District of Southeastern British Columbia, Canada. Exploration in late 2023 discovered boulders and outcrop of Sullivan deposit style and grade mineralisation on PJX's Dewdney Trail Property that is over 150 km in size. The zinc, lead, silver, and other critical metal mineralisation discovered at surface on the Dewdney Trail Property is magnetic and appears to be associated with a strong to moderate magnetic airborne geophysical anomaly that can be traced for approximately 1.6 km. The mineralisation and geophysical anomaly have never been drilled.
The geological disclosure and content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dave Pighin, P.Geo., and John Keating P.Geo. (qualified persons for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects). Mr. Pighin is one of a number of consulting geologists for PJX on the Dewdney Trail Property. Mr. Keating is the President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of PJX.
About PJX Resources Inc.
PJX is a mineral exploration company focused on building shareholder value and community opportunity through the exploration and development of mineral resources with a focus on gold, silver, zinc, lead, copper, cobalt, and other critical metals. PJX's properties are located in the historical Sullivan Mine District and Vulcan Gold Belt near Cranbrook and Kimberley, British Columbia.
Please refer to our web site http://www.pjxresources.com for additional information.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Linda Brennan, Chief Financial Officer
(416) 799-9205
info@pjxresources.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
The information in this news release has been prepared as at the date noted above. Certain statements in this news release, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", constitute "forward-looking statements" under the provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws. These statements can be identified by the use of words such as "expected", "may", "will" or similar terms.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by PJX Resources Inc. as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, known and unknown, could cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as otherwise required by law, PJX Resources Inc. expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in PJX Resources Inc.'s expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Cautionary Note to US Investors:
This news release may contain information about adjacent properties on which PJX Resources Inc. has no right to explore or mine. We advise U.S. investors that the SEC's mining guidelines strictly prohibit information of this type in documents filed with the SEC. U.S. investors are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on our properties. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.
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.
SOURCE: PJX Resources Inc.
View the original press release on accesswire.com
DENVER, Sept. 5, 2024 - Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR) ("Energy Fuels" or the "Company"), an industry leader in uranium and rare earth elements ("REE") production for the energy transition, is pleased to announce that it has achieved a major milestone toward its planned acquisition of Base Resources ("Base") with the approval of the acquisition by Base shareholders at a special meeting of shareholders held in Perth, Australia on September 5, 2024. Further, as previously announced by Base, all required regulatory approvals for the acquisition have been obtained."We are pleased that the Base shareholders voted overwhelmingly to approve Energy Fuels' combination with Base Resources. We believe that the combined company will clearly emerge as a world-leader in producing several of the critical minerals and materials needed for the clean energy transition. The Toliara, Bahia and Donald projects are expected to become large-scale, world-class, and low-cost heavy mineral sand projects in the coming years, producing titanium, zirconium and rare earth minerals. Energy Fuels is uniquely placed in the world to unlock the value of the rare earth minerals (monazite and xenotime) at our White Mesa Mill, and we have proven our ability to recover and produce advanced separated rare earth materials in the USA. I am also very pleased to see recent improvements in REE prices, with the price of NdPr recently increasing to $60.21 per kilogram.
We look forward to completing the next steps in our acquisition of Base Resources and closing the Transaction on October 2, 2024."
Base Shareholders Overwhelming Vote in Favor of Combination with Energy Fuels:
As previously announced on April 21, 2024, Energy Fuels entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the issued shares of Base in consideration of the issuance by the Company of 0.026 Energy Fuels Common Shares for every Base share held and the payment by Base of a special dividend of AUD $0.065 per Base share (the "Transaction"). The Transaction is to be effected by way of a scheme of arrangement under Australia's Corporations Act (the "Scheme").
At their September 5, 2024 meeting, the shareholders of Base overwhelmingly voted in favor of the Scheme, with 99.88% of the votes cast by Base shareholders in favor of the transaction, and 93.18% of the Base shareholders present and voting (in person or by proxy) in favor of the transaction. Both voting results significantly exceed the requirements for shareholder approval, being more than 75% of the votes cast and more than 50% of the shareholders present.
As a next step, Base will apply to the Federal Court of Australia (the "Court") for approval of the Scheme, which is scheduled to occur on September 12, 2024. If the Court approves the Scheme, a copy of the Court order will be lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission ("ASIC") and the Scheme will become effective, which is expected to occur on September 13, 2024. As a result, September 13, 2024 is expected to be Base's last day of trading on the Australian Stock Exchange ("ASX"). The Special Dividend (AUD$0.065 per share) is expected to be paid to Base shareholders on October 1, 2024, and Closing of the Transaction is expected to occur on October 2, 2024. The closing remains subject to this Court approval and other routine conditions.
All Required Regulatory Approvals have been Obtained:
On July 1, 2024, Base received notice from the Competition Authority of Kenya that it had approved the proposed combination pursuant to the Competition Act of Kenya. On August 21 2024, Base announced that Energy Fuels had received written confirmation from the Foreign Investment Review Board that the Australian government has no objections to the proposed combination, and on August 27, 2024, Base received confirmation from the Malagasy Competition Council that it does not object to the proposed combination of Energy Fuels and Base and that the Transaction may proceed. As a result, all the regulatory conditions precedent to the Scheme are considered satisfied, and there are no remaining regulatory approval conditions precedent to implementation of the Scheme and closing of the Transaction.
The acquisition of Base Resources and its 100%-owned Toliara Mineral Sand Project in Madagascar ("Toliara"), together with the Company's 100%-owned Bahia Mineral Sand Project in Brazil ("Bahia") and the Company's recently announced joint venture with Astron Corporation to develop the Donald Mineral Sand Project in Australia ("Donald"), is expected to transform Energy Fuels into a world-leader in REE's, titanium, and zirconium production, while maintaining it's position as a leading U.S. uranium mining producer. The Toliara, Bahia, and Donald projects are heavy mineral sand ("HMS") projects that, upon development, will primarily produce titanium and zirconium minerals, including ilmenite, rutile, and zircon. Subject to receipt of further permitting and development, these HMS projects are also expected to produce a valuable monazite sand byproduct, which is one of the best sources of the "magnet" REE's used in electric vehicles ("EVs"), plug-in hybrid vehicles, direct-drive wind energy, and other technologies. The Toliara Project is expected to be Energy Fuels' cornerstone source of monazite supply, providing a long-term and large-scale supply of monazite to the Company's White Mesa Mill in Utah (the "Mill") for processing into REE oxides and other advanced REE materials, along with the recovery of contained uranium. As the monazite is expected to be a very low-cost byproduct of Toliara's primary ilmenite and zircon production, the production of REE oxides at the Mill is expected to be low-cost and globally competitive. The Toliara Project is subject to negotiation of fiscal terms with the Madagascar government and the receipt of certain Madagascar government approvals and actions before a current suspension on activities at the Toliara Project will be lifted and development may occur.
Energy Fuels Successfully Commissions REE Separation Circuit; Turns Focus to Uranium Production for the Remainder of 2024:
During Q2- and Q3-2024, the Company successfully commissioned an REE separation circuit at its 100%-owned White Mesa Mill. This "Phase 1" circuit has the capacity to produce up to 1,000 metric tons ("tonnes") of separated NdPr per year. During commissioning, the Company recovered, dried, and packaged approximately 40 tonnes of high-purity, on-spec separated NdPr. The Company estimates that it recovered an additional 10 to 20 tonnes of separated NdPr, which remains in circuit and will be packaged at a later date. This 50 - 60 tonnes of NdPr production exceeds the Company's original guidance of 25 - 35 tonnes by over 40%.
The Company is currently in the process of shifting its production focus at the Mill from REE's to uranium. During 2024, the Company expects to produce 150,000 to 500,000 pounds of U 3 O 8 from stockpiled alternate feed materials and conventional ore. In addition, ore production and underground development at its Pinyon Plain and La Sal mines continues on schedule and on budget.
ABOUT ENERGY FUELS
Energy Fuels is a leading US-based critical minerals company. The Company, as a leading producer of uranium in the United States, mines uranium and produces natural uranium concentrates that are sold to major nuclear utilities for the production of carbon-free nuclear energy. Energy Fuels recently began production of advanced rare earth element ("REE") materials, including mixed REE carbonate in 2021, and commenced production of commercial quantities of separated REEs in 2024. Energy Fuels also produces vanadium from certain of its projects, as market conditions warrant, and is evaluating the recovery of radionuclides needed for emerging cancer treatments. Its corporate offices are in Lakewood, Colorado, near Denver, and substantially all its assets and employees are in the United States. Energy Fuels holds two of America's key uranium production centers: the White Mesa Mill in Utah and the Nichols Ranch in-situ recovery ("ISR") Project in Wyoming. The White Mesa Mill is the only conventional uranium mill operating in the US today, has a licensed capacity of over 8 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year, and has the ability to produce vanadium when market conditions warrant, as well as REE products, from various uranium-bearing ores. The Nichols Ranch ISR Project is on standby and has a licensed capacity of 2 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year. The Company recently acquired the Bahia Project in Brazil and entered into a joint venture agreement to develop the Donald Project in Australia, each of which is believed to have significant quantities of titanium (ilmenite and rutile), zirconium (zircon) and REE (monazite) minerals. In addition to the above production facilities, Energy Fuels also has one of the largest NI 43-101 compliant uranium resource portfolios in the US and several uranium and uranium/vanadium mining projects on standby and in various stages of permitting and development. The primary trading market for Energy Fuels' common shares is the NYSE American under the trading symbol "UUUU," and the Company's common shares are also listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "EFR." Energy Fuels' website is www.energyfuels.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains certain "Forward Looking Information" and "Forward Looking Statements" within the meaning of applicable United States and Canadian securities legislation, which may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: any expectation that the Company will maintain its position as a leading U.S.-based critical minerals company or as a leading producer of uranium in the U.S.; any expectation with respect to timelines to production; any expectation as to rates or quantities of production; any expectation as to costs of production; any expectation that the Bahia Project, Donald Project and/or Toliara Project, if acquired, will be fully permitted and developed; any expectation that, upon development, the Bahia Project, Donald Project and/or Toliara Project will be low-cost sources of monazite feed for the Mill; any expectation that the acquisition of Base Resources will be completed or if completed, completed on the terms and time proposed; any expectation that any production at the Bahia Project, Donald Project and/or Toliara Project, if acquired, or Mill will be world or globally competitive; any expectation that Energy Fuels will be successful in agreeing on fiscal terms with the Government of Madagascar or in achieving sufficient fiscal and legal stability for the Toliara Project, if acquired; any expectation that the current suspension relating to the Toliara Project will be lifted in the near future or at all; any expectation that the additional permits for the recovery of Monazite at the Bahia, Donald and Toliara Projects will be acquired on a timely basis or at all; any expectation that the Toliara Project will become a world-class HMS project; and any expectation that the Company's evaluation of radioisotope recovery at the Mill will be successful. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans," "expects," "does not expect," "is expected," "is likely," "budgets," "scheduled," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "anticipates," "does not anticipate," or "believes," or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might" or "will be taken," "occur," "be achieved" or "have the potential to." All statements, other than statements of historical fact, herein are considered to 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 the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements express or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with: commodity prices and price fluctuations; engineering, construction, processing and mining difficulties, upsets and delays; permitting and licensing requirements and delays; changes to regulatory requirements; legal challenges; the availability of feed sources for the Mill; competition from other producers; public opinion; government and political actions; the failure of the Company to complete the acquisition of Base Resources; the failure of the Government of Madagascar to agree on fiscal terms for the Toliara Project or provide the approvals necessary to achieve sufficient fiscal and legal stability on acceptable terms and conditions or at all; the failure of the current suspension affecting the Toliara Project to be lifted on a timely basis or at all; the failure of the Company to obtain the required permits for the recovery of Monazite from the Bahia, Donald and/or Toliara Projects; the failure of the Company to provide or obtain the necessary financing required to develop the Bahia, Donald and/or Toliara Projects; available supplies of monazite; the ability of the Mill to produce REE carbonate, REE oxides or other REE products to meet commercial specifications on a commercial scale at acceptable costs or at all; market factors, including future demand for HMS and/or REEs; actual results may differ from all such estimates and projections; the ability of the Mill to recover radium or other radioisotopes at reasonable costs or at all; market prices and demand for medical isotopes; and the other factors described under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is available for review on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar, on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, and on the Company's website at www.energyfuels.com. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company 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. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information in this communication, except as otherwise required by law.
SOURCE Energy Fuels Inc.
Contact
Investor Inquiries: Energy Fuels Inc.
Kim Ronkin Casey, Investor Relations Manager
303-389-4165 or Toll free: (888) 864-2125
KCasey@energyfuels.com
www.energyfuels.com
Mick Schumacher on our list, says Audi-Sauber boss
Another name or two can be added to the list of drivers linked with Audi-owned Sauber for 2025.
Mick Schumacher, Saudi Arabian GP 2022
Haas
The team has the final real vacancy on next year's Formula 1 grid, with truly top drivers like Carlos Sainz reportedly having turned down the seat due to uncertainty about the looming new works project and Sauber's currently poor levels of performance.
Many believe incumbent Valtteri Bottas, 34, is the favourite to secure the deal, although the Finn is apparently pushing for more than a single-year contract - which may not be on offer to him.
Mattia Binotto, in charge of the Hinwil based team pending Jonathan Wheatley joining Sauber as new team principal mid next year, said he is fairly relaxed about the situation because Nico Hulkenberg is already signed up.
He has signed for a long time and we can draw on his experience, the former Ferrari boss told Sky Deutschland. This will be a fantastic collaboration and reference for the team.
Italian Binotto, 54, admits that because he only started work a few weeks ago, he is undecided about whether to put another experienced driver next to Hulkenberg, or a promising youngster.
I need to understand, look around, listen, he said.
He freely admitted at Monza, however, that two rookies are under consideration - the already Sauber-affiliated Theo Pourchaire, who has appeared in Indycar this year, and the McLaren junior Gabriel Bortoleto.
Bortoleto, from Brazil, is only 19, but he is a title contender in Formula 2 this year - and he won the feature race at Monza last weekend.
Roger Benoit, the veteran Swiss F1 journalist, thinks Audi-owned Sauber is begging McLaren to release Bortoleto, believing he is a new Oscar Piastri .
According to Benoit, writing in Blick newspaper, Bortoleto - part of Fernando Alonso's A14 management company - is also pushing for a two-year deal at least.
The seat-hunting Mick Schumacher, however, may be willing to settle for a one-year deal to refire his dormant Formula 1 race career.
I know him (Schumacher) very well from the Ferrari academy, said Binotto. I know how strong he can be. He is on our list, like many others.
And what about Mick's mentor, quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel, who has reportedly also been sniffing around for potential opportunities to return to F1?
I love Sebastian, said former Ferrari boss Binotto. "When you work with him, you can appreciate his class even more, as a person and as a driver.
But we are not really in a hurry to decide.
(GMM)
Renault F1 engine axe decision not final yet says CEO
Renault CEO Luca de Meo insists a final decision about the fate of the French carmaker's works Formula 1 engine program is yet to be taken.
Pierre Gasly, Italian GP 2024
Alpine
At Monza last weekend, scores of upset and striking employees of the F1 engine factory in Viry-Chatillon staged a peaceful protest from the grandstands.
They believe the decision to scrap Renault's F1 engine program, and instead equip the Alpine team with customer Mercedes engines from 2026, has already been taken - with only unions and labour laws preventing it from being made official.
But Renault CEO de Meo, who according to Alpine team advisor Flavio Briatore is behind the preliminary engine decision, insists: No decision has been made yet.
However, he doesn't deny that it's a very real possibility.
We have four or five weeks to determine the next steps ahead of the board meeting, said the Italian. We are evaluating all opportunities.
De Meo admits that he finds the idea of switching to a competitive customer engine very appealing.
If we look at this from a purely financial point of view - how expensive it is to develop an engine for 2026 yourself, and how much could you save with a customer engine - then we are talking about a huge difference, he said.
"Those who look at the numbers see that we could enter the new era of Formula 1 with a more powerful but less expensive package. But there are many factors to consider when making a decision.
"What does the marketing department think about this? What negative consequences, including financial ones, could there be in the event of this move?
Our ambition is to create a competitive project. Therefore, when choosing, we take into account many factors, and we do this with special care.
De Meo also reassured the 350 or so staff at Viry-Chatillon that the factory will be completely converted from F1 engines to future-looking Renault technologies.
We already have very capable and trained individuals who are not only working on the Formula 1 project, he said. We have launched significant innovative projects, not only in motorsports.
(GMM)
This month, the City of Green River and the community as a whole are recognizing several important issues that need extra awareness and support.
September is Hunger Action Month and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and the Green River City Council recognized both of them with proclamations on Tuesday night.
In a meeting that potentially set records for being the shortest ever, the City Council's agenda for September 3 only had the two proclamations, citizen requests, and the consent agenda. The council also went into an executive session for personnel issues that was called for at the beginning of the meeting by Councilmember Ron Williams.
Mayor Pete Rust took time to read both proclamations during the meeting, and Food Bank of Sweetwater County Executive Director Kathy Siler was on hand to accept the proclamation and share statistics about the food bank.
"Addressing the food insecurity needs of children, youth, men, women, seniors, active military, and veterans today is fundamental for the future of the City of Green River," the proclamation for Hunger Action Month states. "Hunger and poverty are issues of vital concern in Sweetwater County where 10.65% of people struggle with hunger and one in every six children do not know where there next meal will come from."
The food bank gave out 129,471 pounds of food in Green River alone during Fiscal Year 2024, Siler shared. There was also a total of 2,746 pantry visits in Green River. For Sweetwater County as a whole, there were 403,185 pounds of food shared and 9,711 pantry visits. These numbers are up from one year ago, which Siler said shows the increasing need in our community. Just in one month the food bank served 836 adults, 236 seniors, and 587 children across the county.
"It is our responsibility as citizens of Green River to learn about hunger and to do our part in reducing that hunger," the proclamation says. "We must help end hunger, one meal at a time, either through donations, social media shares or volunteer shifts."
September is also Suicide Prevention Month, and Mayor Pete Rust noted the "horrible statistics" shared in the proclamation recognizing the month's importance.
"Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States," the proclamation explains. "In 2022, there were 149 suicides recorded among Wyoming residents."
At that time, Wyoming was also rated first in the nation for suicide deaths and the suicide rate was almost twice the national average. According to current data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Wyoming is currently ranked third in the nation.
"Suicide Prevention Awareness Month can promote awareness and assist in developing and implementing strategies to improve and increase access to quality mental health, substance abuse, and suicide prevention services and programs," the proclamation says.
Several events for suicide prevention and awareness will take place throughout the county this month, including QPR training (using the "Question, Persuade, Refer" method) for teens at 6 p.m. on September 10 at Western Wyoming Community College, QPR training for adults at 6 p.m. on September 12 at the Broadway Theater in Rock Springs, a Resource Fair at 4:30 p.m. on September 20 at Western, and Prosper Training at 6:30 p.m. on September 26 at the Broadway Theater.
The Wyoming Department of Health also recently announced continued improvements to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Two call centers within Wyoming are part of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline system, which is a national network of crisis centers that provide support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, the WDH explained in a press release. The free and confidential 988 line can be reached every day, all day by phone, text or online chat.
"Fortunately, we've been able to expand what our Wyoming-based centers offers this year," Alicia Johnson, Crisis/988 Program manager with WDH said. "People who call or text 988 from a 307 area code number are sent first to help from one of our Wyoming-based centers. Previously, texts were routed to national resources."
An online chat function is also available at 988lifeline.org. Chat services were also enhanced recently to direct most Wyoming residents who use the option to Wyoming-based help.
"We believe these are great improvements for the 988 system in the state," Johnson said.
September 8 (9/8) is recognized as 988 day as part of National Suicide Prevention Month.
The House Draw Fire caused an estimated $25 million in economic damage when it consumed nearly 175,000 acres of mostly private land in Johnson County, a preliminary evaluation found. That figure will almost certainly rise as ranchers in the fire's path more fully assess their losses and livestock fall ill due to smoke exposure.
While the massive and swift-moving fire did not destroy any homes, it caused extensive damage to local ranching operations including the loss of at least 590 miles of fencing, which alone has a replacement cost of nearly $12 million. Agricultural producers - the land is home to sheep and cattle ranchers - lost storage and water tanks, outbuildings, feed and equipment, among other things.
"These are multigenerational Wyoming ranch families who have been impacted ... these burned acres have a story and a face behind them," said Johnson County Commission Chairman Bill Novotny.
The Johnson County Commission included the economic damage estimate in a letter seeking Gov. Mark Gordon's assistance in obtaining a disaster declaration from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to aid local ag producers affected by the fire. The $25 million estimate only included private property losses and did not factor in damage to public lands or the highway infrastructure along Interstate 90, which the fire crossed as it burned to the north.
The House Draw fire was one of four large blazes that ignited last week in northern Wyoming, charring a combined 450,000 acres.
Lightning ignited the House Draw Fire on Aug. 21, and it exploded in size the following day, running 46 miles - north across Interstate 90 and south down to the Kaycee-Sussex area. About 86% of the land is privately owned, and some ranchers reported losing up to 95% of their acreage to the flames, according to estimates compiled by county officials.
Assessing the damage
The scope of the disaster is already significant, but will almost certainly worsen. The total fencing losses, for example, could double as ag producers assess their property over the coming weeks, Novotny said.
"You lose your ability to manage your livestock," he said. "It is now wandering freely in essentially open range."
Ranchers also lost the infrastructure they used to water their livestock. Others lost feed for their animals.
The fire produced huge plumes of smoke, and many of the livestock that were exposed will develop illnesses like pneumonia over the ensuing weeks, he added. Treating the animals will present an even greater challenge than normal since the fire destroyed so much infrastructure.
"There is just going to be a lot of doctoring of livestock, and that could be hard without the corral that you don't have because it burnt up," he said.
With so much ranchland burned, ag producers will be forced to move their livestock to pastures in other parts of Wyoming, or even out of state. Novotny knew of one person who's sending his livestock to Manderson, a small community between Greybull and Worland, because he no longer has the grass to feed them on his property.
Burnt ranchland will lose the ability to support livestock for a time. Additionally, invasive species like cheatgrass and ventenata could take over the area because they tend to grow fast. These grasses provide little nutrition and tend to fuel bigger fires because they dry so early.
Those twin issues are expected to cost more than $12.15 million over the next 12 months, according to the commissioners' letter.
The impact on wildlife, meanwhile, is also significant. Eighteen active sage grouse leks have been destroyed, according to monitoring data provided by the Clear Creek Conservation District.
Disaster assistance
The disaster declaration would open up money to replace fences and repair water lines and rebuild corrals. Gordon on Friday also signed a pair of executive orders aimed at aiding ranchers affected by the fires. Both will ease restrictions on the transport of feed and livestock.
"Fires like these are devastating for our producers," Gordon said in a statement. "Many have lost pasture, feed, livestock and supplies. These [executive orders] will allow assistance to flow more freely to those who need it, and we will continue to work on making additional resources available for recovery."
Aid will also be available through the newly created Johnson County Fire Relief Fund, which was established by the nonprofit Johnson County Community Foundation. Donations will pay for things such as the trucking costs to bring in hay donations and replacing infrastructure that's not covered by other disaster programs.
But recovery, Novotny stressed, will take time.
"This road to recovery is going to be long just because of the magnitude of the fence infrastructure and the number of acres that need to be treated," he said. "It's a huge, huge area."
As of Friday morning, the House Draw Fire was 94% contained, fire officials reported. Crews planned to conduct damage assessments south of Interstate 90 while firefighters monitored the blaze's perimeter and mopped up heat sources.
Crews were also making progress on the three other major wildfires burning in northern Wyoming:
The Flat Rock Fire near Gillette was 78% contained after burning 52,400 acres.
The Constitution Fire near Gillette was 80% contained after burning 24,600 acres.
The Remington Fire near the Wyoming-Montana border was 66% contained after burning 196,000 acres.
WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.
Steven Shobert, 49, of Worland, Wyoming, was sentenced on Aug. 28 to 18 months in prison for possession of machine guns in violation of federal law.
According to court documents, on Aug. 29, 2023, Shobert was arrested for driving under the influence. He had a holstered firearm on his hip and surrendered it to the officers. A state judge imposed bond conditions requiring Shobert to relinquish his firearms pending the DUI case. Shobert consented to a search of his residence to gather his firearms. The search resulted in the discovery of one Glock model 17, which was equipped with a machine gun conversion device commonly called a Glock Switch. Law enforcement also found three AR-15 type machine gun conversion devices.
Acting U.S. Attorney Eric Heimann explained, Machine gun conversion devices like auto sears and Glock switches can make a semiautomatic firearm into a fully automatic machine gun, so they are considered machine guns under federal law. Possession of these dangerous devices is a serious crime which can result in a felony conviction and federal prison time. Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to remove illegal machine guns from Wyoming communities.
Shobert was indicted on Nov. 15, 2023 and pleaded guilty on April 11. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the 18-month prison sentence.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan C. Coppom.
The crime was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, and the Washakie County Sheriffs Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
8/26/1939 - 8/17/24
Our loving husband, father, and grandfather John Bon passed away peacefully at his home the morning of August 17, 2024. He was 84.
John was born August 26, 1939 in Standardville, Utah to John and Charlotte Calderhead Bon. He married Vivian Zupon on October 14, 1961 in Price, Utah.
He was a graduate of East Carbon High School, class of 1957, and attended College of Eastern Utah. He enlisted in the US Army, and proudly served his country in Japan as a map maker/compiler.
After he married Vivian, they lived in Brigham City and Moab Utah. In 1970 they moved to Green River, Wyoming with their baby daughter Kimberly. John worked at FMC as a draftsman until his retirement. He and Vivian moved to the Spring Creek, Nevada in 2007.
Throughout his life John was a hunter and fisherman. He was a member of the Honda Gold Wing Riders Association, and went on many motorcycle rides across the US. John's happy personality and witty sense of humor lit up the lives of everyone that knew him. He took much pride in and
loved his daughter and grandkids with all his heart. John was a true fighter, while being on kidney dialysis for about seven years. He will greatly missed by his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife Vivian, daughter Kimberly Bon, and Grandchildren Hauna and Ayden Hunter, all of Spring Creek, Nevada.
Special thanks to the staff at New Horizon Hospice and Homecare in Elko, Nevada.
5/31/1931 - 8/26/24
Joyce Huber Vesco, a 93-year-old great grandmother died August 26, 2024. She was able to 'age-in place' until her death she died in her own bed. She was of sound mind and body until two-weeks prior. She insisted on doing her own laundry until Sunday, August 11.
She was known as a supportive wife, mother, sister, grandmother, teacher and friend. She was an outstanding card player and a captivating and entertaining storyteller with a sense of humor.
A rural area of Potter County, South Dakota, was the birthplace of Joyce Marie Huber Vesco. She was born May 31, 1931, with the services of a midwife. Joyce was the third of six children of Fred and Madeline Huber. Her father's motto was "to keep children out of trouble, you have to keep them busy most of the time." From a young age, Joyce worked long hours in the family-owned Mercantile. Joyce felt that by working in the store, she was able to meet people more easily in her teenage and adult years.
She had over 100 first cousins (the oldest born in 1921, the youngest born in 1969). The families would get together for celebrations holidays, marriages, baptisms and confirmations. Joyce remembered the men were fed first, the children next and then the women.
Joyce enjoyed school and was most interested in the Social Sciences. She graduated, with honors, from Sisseton High School in 1949. Her graduating class had 50 students. She recently attended her 70-year class reunion and four classmates attended.
After graduating from high school, Joyce attended Mount Marty College, a two-year Catholic Benedictine women's school, in Yankton, South Dakota. She received her degree in 1951 for teaching, because at that time, South Dakota only required a two-year teaching degree. Later, Joyce returned to school and completed her four-year degree from the University of Wyoming.
Joyce's first job was in Waubay, South Dakota, as a fourth-grade teacher. Her starting salary was $1,875/year. She then taught in Aberdeen, South Dakota and Minneapolis, Minnesota. After five years of teaching in the Midwest, Joyce responded to a postcard sent from Superior, Wyoming. The postcard depicted many pleasant things about Superior and its accessibility to the railroads. She accepted a second-grade teaching position/$4,275 year. In the fall of 1956, Joyce headed to Superior. On the map, she noticed there was a South Superior and Superior. She expected to see a big town. To her surprise, she saw a dying coal mining town. The young people in Superior believed in having fun. They spent a lot of time going to Rock Springs to dance at Giovale's and at the Elks. They went to the Wagon Wheel, a place between Rock Springs and Green River, for dancing, drinking and card playing.
While in Superior, Joyce met her husband, Albert "Bob" Vesco. They were married August 6, 1960. Bob and Joyce most recently celebrated their 64th Anniversary.
In April 1962, Bob received a job offer as the Deputy County Clerk. This prompted a move to Green River. Joyce applied for and received a teaching position at Roosevelt School. The Vescos lived on Andrews Street for two years and rented a house on N. Center for one year. After that, Bob suggested buying a home on E. 2nd N.; Joyce's reaction "I don't think we should buy a home, because we aren't going to be here that long." They have resided in that home since 1965 where they raised two children, Robin and Laurie.
Joyce taught for 23 years at Roosevelt School (2nd, 3rd and 4th grades). She retired in 1986 after 33 years as an Educator. Her most honored award was being selected the 1972 Teacher of the Year by her peers and colleagues. She is quoted as saying: "Every day in the life of a teacher is a new experience because it is filled with drama and life...an experience I will never forget." She fought for the underdogs she considered herself a "witch on wheels when it came to the basics," but promoting self-worth was always at the top of her list.
She was retired longer than she taught. She and Bob spent nearly 28 years as Phoenician Snowbirds.
Joyce belonged to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and was a long-time member of the "Wednesday Morning Group" (snacking and playing Tripoli). She loved and lived her faith. In 1993, Joyce left important words of wisdom for her grandchildren: "I hope that when they mature, they will always be compassionate; and I hope that they'll be prayerful all their life, and look upon the fellow man as a human being regardless of race, creed, color, and remember the words 'love is patient, love is kind'; and I hope they will always be faithful to themselves and their God."
Survivors include her husband, Albert "Bob" Vesco; one daughter, Laurie Vesco (and Tony); four grandchildren, Lukas Kirby; Andrea Urlacher (and Eric); Matt Vesco; Tony Vesco; two great-grandchildren, Jacob Urlacher; Ava Urlacher; one brother, Freddie Huber; two sisters, Nita Clemens; Peggy Lowery; one sister-in-law, Joan Vesco and over 25 nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her son, Robin Vesco; parents, Fred and Madeline Huber; two sisters, Gloria Cornelius; Helen Petrich; five brothers in laws, Harris Cornelius; Bob Petrich; Russ Lowery; Bob Clemens; John Vesco, Jr.; one sister-in-law, Rosalie Huber.
Cremation has taken place; a Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 900 Hitching Post Drive, Green River, Wyoming. A Vigil Service with Rosary will be conducted at 6:00 P.M. Monday, October, 14, 2024 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Graveside Services and Inurnment will be in the Rock Springs Municipal Cemetery. Friends may call at the church one hour prior to services.
The family respectfully requests donations be made in Joyce's memory to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church; 900 Hitching Post Drive, Green River, Wyoming.
Special thanks to Kathy Youngblood for the 1993 Biography of Joyce's life.
Condolences may be left at vasefuneralhomes.com.
A tale of determination, community and collaboration
In the heart of Green River, Wyoming, the Trona Bridge stands as more than just a passage across the river; it's a symbol of a community's vision, perseverance, and collaboration. This iconic structure, which serves as the gateway to the Greenbelt Pathway system, has its roots in a project that brought together local citizens, city officials, and the trona industry in a remarkable way.
The Vision Takes Shape
For nearly 30 years before 1990, the idea of creating a park or open space along the Green River was little more than a dream shared by a few. It wasn't until Mayor and the Green River City Council, led by Parks and Recreation Director Roger Moellendorf and citizen advocate John Freeman, took action that the dream began to take form. With strong public support, the City established a Citizen group that became the Green River Greenbelt Task Force (GBTF), a non-profit organization and charged the group with making the vision a reality.
Challenges and Triumphs
One of the most significant hurdles the GBTF faced was constructing a bridge to connect Riverside Park and Expedition Island, an essential link in the proposed Greenbelt. Initial fundraising efforts met with little success, as potential donors were reluctant to support a new organization with no experience in building public projects. However, the project gained momentum when John Freeman, who had become the driving force behind the bridge, discovered a potential ally in the trona industry.
Several middle managers in the trona industry were interested, but their support hinged on a solid engineering estimate. Ron Tucker of CME Engineering and Construction, despite having no prior experience in bridge-building, rose to the challenge. He and his firm designed a bridge, had the plans vetted by his peers, and generously donated the design to the GBTF.
The Turning Point
Armed with a solid design, Freeman and Moellendorf presented their proposal to the mine managers of FMC (now Genesis Alkali), Solvay, TG Soda Ash (Genesis Alkali), Rhone-Poulenc (Sisecam), and General Chemical (Tata Chemicals). The presentation was well-received, and when Freeman boldly asked for a $50,000 donation, it seemed they had hit a home run. High-fives were exchanged as Moellendorf and Freeman left the room, confident in their success.
But as they celebrated in the hallway, Roger Harris, the site manager at TG Soda Ash, who hailed from England, approached them with a stern expression.
"How dare you ask me for $50,000 without the common decency of putting on a tie," Harris remarked, cutting through their elation. He detailed everything the proposal lacked to convince their supervisors in the U.S. and France. Yet, just as the wind left their sails, Harris added, "Despite all of the things you are lacking in your proposal, I believe this is the best public project that has come before me since I arrived in Wyoming. I'm willing to help you get this bridge built."
Harris and his engineers reviewed the design again, insisting on adding an architectural feature-large steel points at each entrance of the bridge. These points have since become iconic, appearing in countless graduation and family photos over the last 30 years.
Harris's influence didn't end there. He took Freeman's proposal and transformed it into a streamlined, manager-friendly document, which helped secure written commitments from the other mine managers. However, the commitment came with a catch: the funds would be disbursed in $10,000 increments over five years. It was a timeline that risked inflating the project's costs.
Overcoming Financial Hurdles
Faced with this dilemma, Freeman approached the Green River City Council for a loan, only to be met with a lesson on the Wyoming Constitution, which prohibits the city from giving loans. Undeterred, Freeman asked the city to co-sign a loan, but the city attorney quickly shot that idea down as well.
Finally, the GBTF turned to Regina Clark at Key Bank, who agreed to provide the GBTF with an unsecured loan under specific conditions: the city would take ownership of the bridge after completion, pay the interest on the loan, and present letters from the Trona mines guaranteeing their donations. Galen West, then working for the GBTF, stepped in to ensure a proposal that met the city attorney's constitutional requirements, a feat of legal acrobatics.
With the financial hurdles cleared, the city required the project to go through a formal bidding process. Two bids were received: one for over $300,000 using Core 10 Steel, which would reduce future maintenance costs, and another just under $250,000 from Ron Tucker's CME Construction. Tucker's bid was accepted, though the GBTF still wonders if CME made any profit or if Tucker's bid was yet another generous donation to the project.
The Bridge Comes to Life
In the summer of 1994, the Trona Bridge began to take shape in Riverside Park. On September 17th, nearly 1,000 residents gathered during the day to watch as two cranes positioned the bridge onto its foundations over the Green River-a moment of immense pride for the community.
A Legacy of Community Spirit
As the city and the GBTF celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Trona Bridge on September 12, 2024, we are reminded of the determination, community spirit, and countless contributions that made this project possible. The GBTF extends its heartfelt thanks to Ron Tucker, Roger Harris, FMC, Solvay, TG Soda Ash, Rhone-Poulenc, General Chemical, CME Engineering and Construction, the US Forest Service, Key Bank, Regina Clark, Mayor George Eckman, the Green River City Council, the City of Green River parks crew, GBTF volunteers, Roger Moellendorf, and John Freeman for their dedication. The Trona Bridge is a testament to what can be achieved when a community comes together with a shared vision.
Join us on September 12, 2024, as the Green River Greenbelt Task Force celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Trona Bridge-GBTF's first major project. The celebration will be held in conjunction with the City's Parks and Recreation Department's "Street Eats on the Green" program. A GBTF raffle will raise funds for the Greenbelt projects, Fremont Physical Therapy will sponsor a 5K Fun Run/Walk, and commemorative T-shirts will be available for purchase. Documentary films about Greenbelt projects will be shown in the Island Pavilion, and a birthday cake will be served while it lasts. We look forward to celebrating with you from 5 to 8 p.m. This is more than just a celebration of a bridge-it's a celebration of the community that built it.
Since 1937, Le Veau dOr has sat squat and immobile on East 60th Street across from Bloomingdales, whose perfume spritzers might well have begun their spritzing primarily to combat the drifting waft of garlic. Le Veau dOr the Golden Calf, at 87 surely the worlds oldest has always been a testament to Frenchness served froggy, even before the sizzling cocotte of legs arrives at your table. In the middle of the 20th century, its heyday, it served the lusty French country cuisine that was still the mark of nonpareil sophistication blanquette, escargot, kidneys to the citys grandees; the old Le Veau was the sort of place where Dave Selznick would be spotted dining with Jennifer Jones, for whom he had recently left Irene Mayer.
As the decades slid by, new trends and cuisines supplanted the dominance of French, but Le Veau dOr soldiered on, impervious. It has always had its acolytes (If you are condemned to eat in but one restaurant in this city for the rest of your life, choose the legendary Veau dOr, this magazine wrote in 1978) and its fed-up detractors (The myth, apparently, is outliving the reality, Mimi Sheraton had sniffed in the Times the month before), but while the restaurant cycled through owners most recently Catherine Treboux, who took over from her father, Robert they all upheld its traditions and menu. Its latest stewards, the neo-bistro specialists Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson of Frenchette and Le Rock, seem committed to doing the same. My grandma used to go there! cried one of my dinner guests when I extended an invitation. She accepted, with a warning: If this painting isnt still hanging in there, she said, texting a photo of a sleeping calf nestled under covers (le veau dort), Im leaving.
It is. The dining room has undergone a few touch-ups, but on the whole the decor is remarkably faithful to Le Veau of yore. The waiters tuxedos have been swapped for blush pink chore coats, yet otherwise its the same checkered tablecloths, the same cigar-colored glow. And the menu, served table dhote style, as one veritably French waitress put it (wed call it prix fixe), is much as it ever was not for the faint or unmedicated of heart: organ meats and snails, duck and sausage, ile flottante.
In recent years, the restaurants shine had dimmed, joining the ranks of those institutions whose quality stands in contrast to even in inverse proportion to their belovedness. But I am delighted to report that Le Veau dOr is once again excellent; even in a moment when French cuisine is ascendant, it more than justifies itself in a re-crowded market.
Ive enjoyed Nasr and Hansons cooking without necessarily loving their establishments, which often felt to me either hyped-up or propped-up, more about the machinations around them than the places themselves. But something about the anachronistic strictness of Le Veau dOr is working. The chefs are familiar with ersatz homage alongside Keith McNally, they opened Balthazar, an ode to Pariss time-stained brasseries so loving it was easy to forget it was a pure-spun fantasy and not the thing itself; and helped bring back Minetta Tavern. As at Minetta, they are reviving, rather than reconstituting. The results are magic.
In this current phase of the restaurant, three courses and a salad (served, in the classical French way, between plats principaux and dessert) go for a reasonable-these-days $125. There are no supplemental upcharges or wine pairings; there is, instead, Jorge Riera, Nasr and Hansons longtime wine counterpart, circling the dining room, recommending from the all-French, compact, surprisingly well-priced list. Riera is a longtime natural-wine proselytizer, and the all-natural list is probably the biggest amendment to the restaurants traditionalism, but trust him we found none of the chuggy, grape-soda Beaujolais that crowds natural-wine lists elsewhere, and loved the organic La Sur Cadette from Julienas.
The food menu spans 17 entrees, nine mains, and seven desserts. Im not prepared to say there are no wrong turns, but the restaurant can accommodate a wide range of Francophiles, from Louis XVstyle gourmands seeking beefy oeufs en gelee or a mustardy fricassee of veal kidneys, sweetbreads, and a tidy square of calfs liver, to the latter-day Pastisiennes here for oysters and hanger steak. (The oysters are served, as they are at Frenchette, with little chipolata sausages.) Having commandeered samples of all my tables choices, I would recommend starting with the pate en croute, a thin slice of crumbly, porky bits in a burnished crust, rather than the destined-for-Instagram pommes soufflees caviar rouge a la creme, which, though a feat of engineering, are more or less spherical potato chips with dip. Super Bowl food, one of my companions said when they arrived, and more rouge than caviar. What really should be Super Bowl food are the frogs legs, which come cross-legged and parsleyed, tasting a bit like shrimpy chicken wings. Ask nicely and you can get a shared platter a la carte for the table.
Among the mains, high marks went to the lobster, served cold in its shell on a bed of diced-vegetable macedoine, and a medallion of scallops with sauce vierge, both of which counted as healthy relief in a tablescape of pure saturated fat. But you come for the clog: The offal trio was a pleasure well worth the visit to the confessional afterward, as were thick slices of red, rare lamb. If I had to choose one entree, it would be the duck breast with cherries, a version of which has been on the menu for decades, here given a crust so crackling and peppered it resembles edible sandpaper.
As the meal wears on and your paper tablecloth becomes stained with grease, a server will come by to lay one of the restaurants red-and-white checkered bistro towels over the offending sections, as many as required true success is a complete quilt. Then comes the light salad and, if youve ordered wisely, a cold, intensely fruity soupe de melon and a floating island, a crenellated mound of meringue in a sea of rich, eggy creme anglaise. Like 80 years worth of dazed patrons before me, I stumbled to the door, drowsy as a calf.
TCL just announced two new smartphones with its NextPaper display technology, which is aiming to reduce the strain on your eyes. The phones are called 50 NxtPaper and 50 Pro NxtPaper , and while they have more in common than the names might make you believe.
For starters they share the 6.8" NxtPaper display with Full HD+ resolution and up to 120 Hz refresh rate. The NxtPaper panel is 2.5D curved on the sides, and since it does not allow for a fingerprint scanner underneath, the sensor is embedded in the power key.
There is a punch hole for the selfie camera, which has an 8 MP sensor on the 50 and a 32 MP sensor on the 50 Pro. There is no difference on the back, though - 108 MP main, 8 MP ultrawide and 2 MP macro cameras on both phones.
Another difference between the 50 and 50 Pro is the storage. The former has 256 GB, while the latter comes with 512 GB, and both have a micro SD slot.
The phones share 8 GB RAM and Dimensity 6300 chipsets by Mediatek with an octa-core CPU. They come with Android 14 and TCL promises two years of OS upgrades and support up until 2029 for units available in the European Union.
The NxtPaper technology makes the screen appear as paper with no reflections. This time, TCL implemented a physical button on the right-hand side, below the power key, that immediately switches between Normal, Color Paper and Max Ink modes. That last mode lets you read for up to 7 days or get up to 26 days of standby. It lets you select up to four apps to run in this mode and suspends all the rest to give you more piece and quiet during your readings.
The TCL phones both have a 5,010 mAh battery that supports up to 33W charging, but only the Pro ships with an adapter in the box. The situation is similar with available accessories - the 50 and 50 Pro can work with a designated flip case and T-Pen stylus, but only the Pro will have a so-called PC case.
TCL offers 50 NxtPaper 5G and 50 Pro NxtPaper 5G in Gray, Blue, White, Pink and Gold. The 50 will be available only in the EU for 229, while the 50 Pro will sell in the EU and LATAM regions for 299.
Source 1 Source 2
Construction of a new laboratory for the Department of Public Health and Social Services could get off the ground as soon as March 2025, according to a presentation made to the Mangilao Municipal Planning Council on Wednesday night.
Current plans are to build the lab on a 5.5-acre plot of land sandwiched between Rons Diner in Mangilao and the new Guam Cultural Repository, according to the presentation.
Major clearing work could start as early as this November.
GovGuam was awarded $32 million from the federal Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation to build the new lab, the Pacific Daily News reported in 2021.
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero, who attended the Wednesday night meeting at the Mangilao Senior Center, said shes since asked the U.S. Congress to provide another $11 million to ensure the lab can be built and equipped as originally intended.
The new lab would be the very first in the region capable of handling biosafety level 3 pathogens, Public Health lab administrator Ann Marie Santos told those present at Wednesdays meeting.
Public Health is currently equipped to handle biosafety level 2 pathogens, the common cold or salmonella, for example, which can cause mild to moderate disease in humans, according to Santos presentation.
Biosafety level 3 labs can handle and contain potentially lethal airborne pathogens, like tuberculosis, avian influenza, or SARS-CoV-2, the virus that spurred the COVID-19 pandemic.
Guams Public Health lab currently has to ship any potentially dangerous pathogen samples off-island for testing, to Hawaii or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Santos said.
It can take one to two weeks to get sample data backthough during the COVID-19 pandemic, wait times could last up to one or two months, she said.
Adding new capacity could enhance the islands ability to analyze disease-causing pathogens, while Public Health teams in the field work to identify the cause of a spread.
The lab already does testing for the entire island, and the Micronesian region, for everything from airborne infectious diseases to HIV and syphilis, Santos said. Currently, DPHSS rents a commercial space for its lab, she said.
Having the lab located next to the University of Guam is intentional, according to Wednesday nights presenters.
Public Healths lab and UOG have long collaborated on different projects, said Yvette Paulino, dean of UOGs Margaret Perez Hattori-Uchima School of Health. Having the lab located right on campus would improve collaboration on both ends.
Previously, the absence of an appropriate laboratory facility on island has limited local bio-research, with analysis and testing often having to happen off-island, she said.
Paulino said news of the new lab was exciting for her and researchers.
Theres growing evidence of the impacts that government and academia partnerships have a path on facilitating new technology enterprises and stimulating economic growth, Paulino noted.
Besides the opportunity for improved research, the governor called the new lab critical to safeguarding the islands health.
It represents a strategic investment in the security and the prosperity of Guam, the Micronesian region and the broader international community, she said.
The new lab was in line with population growth as the military buildup progresses, she added.
Integrating with both the CDC and the World Health Organization, the lab would be a key to combating threats to public health in the region, according to the governor.
A timeline provided Wednesday night shows construction starting in March of next year and finishing in September 2026. Commissioning of the new lab could be completed by November 2026.
Adelup spokesperson Krystal Paco-San Agustin said there is no zone change being requested for the construction of the lab. She said Wednesday nights presentation was educational, and meant for community engagement.
Six Superior Court of Guam judges are unanimous in 28 recent decisions and orders that overrule the Office of the Attorney General of Guam, and deny its motions to disqualify a fellow judge from presiding over criminal cases.
Acting Chief Prosecutor Gloria Rudolph had told Judge John Terlaje in a recent hearing that she intended to file motions to disqualify Judge Alberto E. Tolentino from presiding in all criminal cases brought before him by the OAG, more than 50 cases in all.
Rudolphs basis for disqualification rests on two main points, according to Presiding Judge Alberto C. Lamorena III, who issued his denial in six criminal cases:
Judge Tolentinos established history of disqualifying himself from matters in which Douglas Moylan appeared as private counsel, prevents Judge Tolentino from handling matters involving the OAG now that Moylan currently serves as the elected attorney general of Guam.
Judge Tolentinos personal relationship with Attorney General Moylan necessitates his disqualification in matters involving the OAG. Tolentino is married to Moylans ex-wife and Moylan is the father of Judge Tolentinos adult step-children.
Tolentino denied all requests to disqualify himself, automatically sending each case to a rotating panel of recusal judges. In each, Tolentino answered with a set of facts, under penalty of perjury, stating in part that:
Moylan and Tolentino met in December 2022, at which time Moylan said he perceived no conflicts of interests in prosecuting cases before Tolentino.
Moylan never appeared as a lawyer in the case.
That Moylans children are now adults, and his divorce is 26 years old.
He has never observed his wife and Moylan participate in co-parenting.
Moylan is the biological father of his stepchildren is no basis for disqualification.
Tolentino questioned the timeliness of the motions to disqualify him from the cases, considering more than a year had passed since their meeting in December 2022.
While Lamorena ruled that the objection was timely filed in at least one case, he noted that Tolentino is not compelled to disclose his personal connection to Moylan, nor was he required to disqualify himself.
Judge Maria T. Cenzon, who denied Rudolphs motion to disqualify Tolentino in six cases, said that the OAG failed to raise the issue of Tolentino in a timely fashion, waiving any right to advance the issue. And even had it been raised in a timely fashion, No disqualifying facts exist to support Judge Tolentinos disqualification in cases involving Attorney General Moylan and/or the Office of the Attorney General.
A similar set of arguments was consistent with Judge Vernon Perez, who denied Rudolphs motion in six cases, Judge Dana Gutierrez, who denied the motion in five cases, Judge Terlaje, who denied the motion in five cases and Judge Elyze Iriarte, who denied the motion in two cases.
Rudolph reserved comment on the matter, but noted that not all recusal judges have taken the matter under advisement.
She has a motion hearing scheduled with Judge Arthur Barcinas on Oct. 4, and that Barcinas could decide if the hearing is needed following her submission of a brief due Sept. 20.
A trial in DFS Guams lawsuit against the airport is on hold for another two weeks, with parties in the dispute discussing the possibility of a settlement in the decade-long case.
A bench trial in the suit was supposed to start Wednesday, but attorneys for DFS asked Superior Court of Guam Judge Arthur Barcinas for another 24 hours to discuss a possible resolution to the case.
Those talks will go on even longer, with A. B. Won Pat International Airport Authority attorney Genevieve Rapadas telling the Pacific Daily News Thursday that parties asked for a two-week continuance as they discuss the possibility of a resolving the case before moving to trial.
It has been a long case, remarked Rapadas.
Just like any other case, theres always potential for settlement. The parties are exploring that right now, she said.
Rapadas declined to comment as to why the possibility of a settlement had suddenly appeared after DFS and the airport have spent years in court.
Luxury retailer DFS first sued in 2013, after it lost to competitor Lotte Duty Free in a bid for the airports master concessionaire contract. DFS has alleged misconduct in the bid award over the years.
The 10-year contract was worth $154 million to the airport, and has since been extended to 2026.
After 11 years of litigation, this is something that the airport is exploring. And hopefully it can put an end to this decade-long litigation, but it is still a work in progress, Rapadas said.
She said there were certain considerations that had to be made because the airport is a government agency, and those were taken into account as discussion moved forward.
Were not able to make a comment at this time, DFS attorney Patrick Civille said, when reached by phone Thursday.
It was Civilles co-counsel in the case, attorney Maurice Suh, who first raised the possibility of a resolution in the case on Wednesday morning, and asked for the start of the trial to be pushed backed to Thursday afternoon.
Suh on Wednesday told Judge Barcinas that discussion about a resolution had come up in just the past few days.
Attorneys for the airport told Barcinas Suhs statements were the first theyd heard about the possibility of a settlement.
Haiti - Politic : 2nd time in 9 years that an American Secretary of State travels to Haiti
This Thursday, September 5, 2024, the American Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, is expected in Haiti. This is the first trip to Haiti by a head of American diplomacy since 2015.
Pierre Antoine Louis, a specialist in international relations, believes that Blinken's visit is important in the context, recalling that the Secretary of State only travels if there is an important problem in the eyes of the United States...
Blinken will meet at the United States Embassy in Port-au-Prince with Edgard Leblanc Fils, the President of the Transitional Council, and Prime Minister Garry Conille "[...] to discuss forthcoming steps in Haitis democratic transition and U.S. support to the Haitian people through humanitarian assistance and Haitian-led stabilization efforts. He will also meet with leadership of the Multinational Security Support mission, emphasizing U.S. support to reestablish security in Haiti while also underscoring the significance of promoting respect for human rights, explained State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller.
The United States, which provides the majority of funding for the Kenya-led support operation, no longer rules out changing the mandate of this force to a UN-led peacekeeping operation in Haiti as one way to secure funding and personnel for the mission. It seems easier for the US to release billions for Ukraine than a few hundred million for Haiti...
However, the UN Security Council should first vote on a peacekeeping mission in Haiti, but experts believe that it is unlikely that the Security Council will support such a resolution (opposed by China and Russia). They also add that Haitians would probably oppose it, given the negative history of the years of presence of the Peace Mission and the lack of results...
A vote in the Security Council on the renewal of the authorization of the multinational security support mission is scheduled for September 30, 2024.
On Friday, Blinken will continue his tour in the Dominican Republic to meet with President Luis Abinader.
S/ HaitiLibre
Haiti - Security : Shipwreck off Lillet, 16 survivors, 1 missing
Tuesday, September 3rd, 2024, around 3:00 p.m. a small boat named "Three Guys / 3 G", with 17 passengers and 2 captains on board, left the port of "Ca Ira" in Leogane bound for Carries, sank off the coast of Lillet near La Gonave, for a reason that is currently undisclosed.
Julien Leostene and Pierre Mikelson are the two illegal captains who provide maritime transport without having a maritime professional booklet and the departure authorization from the Territorial Representative of the Maritime and Navigation Service of Haiti (SEMANAH).
The Coast Guards and SEMANAH with divers and volunteers carried out search operations for the shipwrecked. Thanks to the support of the captains : Gregory Guerrie, Dinois jn. Mary, Pierre Matkens, Wismy Guerier, Pierre Josiace Neus, Lorane Feknol and Solages Desir, 12 of the 17 passengers of the boat were saved, after the 4 passengers including a crew member who arrived by swimming Tuesday evening in La Gonave.
Wednesday evening, September 4th, 2024, the 12 rescued passengers were received by Inspector Sony Augustave of Semanah in La Gonave to collect their testimonies.
The partial toll of the shipwreck is 16 survivors and 1 missing...
Following a complaint filed against the illegal captains Julien Leostene and Pierre Mikelson, the Haitian National Police (PNH) arrested them and brought them before the courts for legal proceedings.
SEMANAH calls for respect for navigation rules and warns offenders that they will still be liable to legal sanctions up to and including being banned from piloting ships.
HL/ HaitiLibre
Haiti - Economy : Haiti 4th economic partner of the Dominican Republic
During the first 7 months of 2024, exports from the Dominican Republic to Haiti recorded a decrease of 53.87 million dollars reaching a total of 304.33 million compared to 358.21 million in 2023 for the same period.
The data, provided by the Directorate General of Customs (DGA), reflect a contraction of 15.04% in trade between the two countries, reflecting the consequences of the border closure implemented by the Dominican government in September 2023 in response to the construction of a canal in Haiti with water intake on the Massacre River...
In response to this situation, in early October 2023, the Dominican government chose to relax some of its measures, authorizing the exchange of goods through temporary trade corridors.
In July 2024, trade with Haiti began to show signs of recovery, with Dominican exports to Haiti reaching $50.88 million, representing a growth of 5.43% compared to July 2023.
Haiti remains an important trading partner for the Dominican Republic, but now ranks between January and July 2024, as its fourth largest market, behind Switzerland ($424.13 million), the United States ($413.98 million) and India ($315.3 million). .
In a broader context, total exports of the Dominican Republic's national regime totaled $2.2 billion (2,264) between January and July 2024, representing a decrease of $26.57 million (1.16% compared to the previous year. This slight decrease reflects a difficult international economic environment.
SL/ HaitiLibre
Minister of Climate and the Environment Kai Mykkanen (NCP) in June confirmed that the government intends to adopt a highly restrictive definition of old forests as part of its effort to comply with the biodiversity strategy of the EU.
FINLAND would benefit economically from protecting up to five times as much old forests as the government is proposing, reports YLE.
The strategy allows each member state to decide how to define old forests.
In Finland, the main criteria are an average tree age of 100140 years and a share of decayed wood of up to 50 cubic metres per hectare. The 20,000 hectares of state-owned forests that satisfy the strict criteria are located predominantly in eastern and northern parts of the country.
Markku Ollikainen, a former chairperson of the Finnish Climate Change Panel, and Johanna Kangas, a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Helsinki, estimate in a newly published study that expanding the criteria to incorporate an additional 80,000 hectares of forests would generate a net economic benefit of 185 million euros by 2050, YLE wrote on Monday.
The expansion would align with the protection recommendations of the Finnish Nature Panel and the Ministry of the Environment.
The monetary value assigned to the forests comprises the nature value and carbon sink effect of the forests. The net economic benefit was determined by subtracting from the value the revenue that would be generated by felling the forests.
If Finland does adopt these strict criteria, theres a major risk that well lose nature value and carbon sinks to felling. Old forests are tremendously rich in carbon dioxide because they have big trees. Well get a significant rush of emissions and costs to taxpayers, Ollikainen cautioned in an interview with YLE on Monday.
The criteria contain no flexibilities, meaning that they exclude young forests with loads of decayed wood. They should be covered by the protection.
Representatives of the Finnish government have justified the decision to move forward with the restrictive criteria by pointing to the need to guarantee the property protection of private forest owners, saying the criteria would spill over also into private wood trade.
The argument does not hold water, retorted Ollikainen. He stated that forest industry companies can only make decisions that apply to state-owned forests and that protecting a larger area of old forests could also raise the market price of wood, benefiting the bottom line of forest owners, as well as reduce the number of logs dumped into the digesters of pulp mills and amount of roundwood used in energy production.
A more expansive definition for old forests could therefore result in more precise wood use both within the forest industry and between the forest and energy industries, according to him.
The researchers also lamented the fact that previous estimates have focused on protection costs while ignoring both the benefits of protection, be it in the form of direct benefits or avoided costs.
Citizens and society have clearly demonstrated their appreciation for protecting natural diversity. The reports compiled so far have started only at the costs but not at the benefits that emerge from natural diversity and the benefits created for the climate, commented Ollikainen.
Aleksi Teivainen HT
THE women behind the post box toppers in Henley have expressed their disappointment after one display was vandalised and another stolen.
Alison Engleby and Julie Fareham Brown are members of the Henley branch of the Womens Institute who enjoy crocheting and knitting the toppers with four other members.
Their latest creations, to mark the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, have seen the mascots and an Eiffel Tower figure ripped off one piece and five rabbits on another one stolen.
Mrs Engleby, 64, from Henley, said: We feel so disheartened. We put so much love and care and time and effort into them. Everyone in Henley loves them.
Its such a shame. We think, should we carry on but then everyone in Henley bolsters us up saying, you must, you must. Everyone takes it quite to heart. I think a lot of the town people do when theyre stolen.
The construction takes hours, putting them all on and trying to make them so they arent stolen. Theyre not suitable as toys. Theyve got wire in them and stuffing. I would be horrified if somebody stole them for their child.
Mrs Engleby, who started crocheting the toppers after the coronavirus lockdown, said they had securely tied the post box toppers the night before the Olympics started.
The topper with rabbits dressed in olympic medals was outside the Gabriel Machin butchers in Market Place but was stolen last week and the other one was vandalised in Hart Street at the weekend.
Mrs Engleby said: We give up a lot of our time. We pay for a lot of our wool but a lot has been donated by the people of Henley.
When you spend so much time doing it, its very disheartening.
We all contribute left, right and centre from them. Theres the six of us from the Womens Institute and some do more than some and some do more than others.
Julie did the main ones. I constructed them all and did the bases for them all. Julie did all the figures apart from the Eiffel Tower, which I did.
Ms Fareham Brown, who is retired, said it would take two days to make one of the rabbits. She said: We are thinking about these things quite early on. We get all of the right colours and make them as nice as we can.
It is just a shame that there are a small minority of people who do not appreciate the work that has gone into it. Just by leaving them there, it is showing that we like seeing them.
I think a lot of people feel that it is disrespectful and we are all so proud of our town and thinking about how we can make our town special to visitors. They make people smile.
The Womens Institute coronation toppers, which were made last year, were also stolen.
Mrs Engleby added: The coronation ones disappeared the evening of the coronation but they were dumped outside a church in Marlow and they all got back to us. We just want them to realise how it affects us, the town and the knock on to the town.
September began on a turbulent note in Manipur. On the first day of the month, a violent clash between Kuki-Zo armed groups and security forces erupted along the border of the Meitei-dominated Imphal West and Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi districts.
The Manipur police have alleged that Kuki-Zo volunteers used weaponised drones to drop bombs on a Meitei village in Koutruk on both Sunday and Monday, flagging it as a significant escalation. So far, two Meitei civilians have been killed and at least 12 wounded in the flare-up.
The Kuki Inpi, an influential representative organisation of the Kuki-Zo community, has denied these allegations. In fact, it has claimed that the skirmish broke out as part of a planned offensive by joint forces of the state police and Meitei armed groups against Kuki-Zo volunteers in the Kangchup region.
The drone bombing has sparked an alarmist news cycle around Manipur, even as the state government in Imphal begins an official investigation into what it has labelled an act of terrorism. How does one contextualise the use of drones in Manipur within a wider conflict landscape?
Drones in civil conflicts
Weaponised drones capable of delivering explosive payloads were once the sole monopoly of professional state militaries. First used on a large scale by the US in Afghanistan, they were steadily adopted by other types of conflict actors in a variety of forms.
In its Worldwide Threat Assessment 2023, US-based Global Guardian notes that in recent years, non-state armed groups have used armed drones in several conflict theatres, including Ukraine, Syria, Yemen and Myanmar. In most cases, they have used Commercially Available Drones (CAD) to drop bombs of various types, under a broad category of what is now referred to as aerial vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (AVBIEDs).
The use of armed drones by anti-junta ethnic armed organisations (EAO) and Peoples Defence Forces (PDF) in neighbouring Myanmar is notable. Initially used for little more than reconnaissance, these groups are now increasingly relying on drones retrofitted with explosive munitions to attack junta convoys, air bases, police stations, armed units and even military headquarters in the national capital of Naypyidaw. Multiple PDFs directly armed and financed by the National Unity Government (NUG), the parallel civilian administration in Myanmar, now have their own drone units.
AVBIEDs have suddenly become popular among non-state armed groups across the world because they are cheaper than other long-range weapon delivery systems while being stealthy and precise. Moreover, by giving small armed entities the ability to hit targets from the air, they serve to bridge tactical asymmetries common in civil conflicts. However, these are also the distinct qualities of drones that can be misused to launch targeted attacks against unsuspecting civilians.
Drones in Manipur conflict
The alleged drone attack in Manipurs Kangchup earlier this week might have been the most glaring use of AVBIEDs in the state since the ethnic conflict began in May 2023. But it wasnt the first time armed drones have appeared in the state since last year.
If some social media accounts are to be believed, Arambai Tenggol, a powerful Meitei militia, used armed drones to attack a Kuki-Zo village in Churachandpur district in December 2023. One particular video published earlier and recirculated by Kuki Inpi after the recent attack claims to show an Arambai cadre retrofitting what looks like a hexacopter drone with a small mortar bomb, flying it and then dropping the payload on an empty field (it doesnt explode).
In June, Assam Police detained a person named Sanjib Kumar Mishra in Guwahati for ferrying drone parts that were allegedly meant for Meitei armed groups in Manipur. Just a day earlier, another individual called Khaigoulen Kipgen was apprehended with high-end drone batteries supposedly meant for Kuki-Zo groups. In either case, it remained unclear if the parts were specifically meant for AVBIEDs or simple reconnaissance drones.
In November, the Indian Air Force activated its Air Defence response mechanism after drone-like objects were spotted hovering around the Imphal airport. Three months later, Licypriya Kangujam, a 12-year-old Meitei climate activist, took to social media to raise money to acquire a thermal drone apparently for Meitei armed groups in Manipur.
Need to avoid alarmism
Worryingly, the recent drone incident has been accompanied by unverified claims and misleading images. For instance, the Manipur police have claimed that the Kuki-Zo groups used drones to fire rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs). This sounds logistically far-fetched. While it is possible to retrofit a drone with the warhead of an RPG, it is highly unlikely that a whole rocket system was used through an AVBIED. It is also very difficult to trace the exact source of a drone attack post facto given its inherently discreet nature.
Further, as a fact-check by one digital media website has shown, a prominent news anchor from a TV channel displayed images of rocket systems in Gaza as part of a report on the Manipur incident. The same channel claimed that the groups received drone warfare training and material support from Chin armed groups in neighbouring Myanmar who are, in turn, backed by the Chinese.
These are wholly unsubstantiated claims that only deepen the alarmism around the Manipur conflict and help no one. In fact, even in June 2023, some social media accounts circulated a clipped video of what they claimed were Kuki-Zo cadres using armed drones to attack security forces in Manipur when in reality the footage was from Myanmars Chin State.
It is possible that the widespread use of combat drones by PDFs and EAOs in Myanmar, some of whom operate close to the India-Myanmar border, has had ripple effects across the border. However, all of them, including the Chin National Front, are occupied in their own war against the junta and have little to no direct contact with the Kuki-Zo armed groups in Manipur.
More importantly, both Kuki-Zo and Meitei armed groups are likely to have benefited from any potential cross-border spillover of drone warfare from Myanmar to Manipur. So, Indian security agencies must work towards suppressing the use of armed drones by all sides in Manipur, rather than using the phenomenon to target just one side.
Angshuman Choudhury is a researcher and writer from Assam, and currently a joint PhD candidate in Comparative Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore and Kings College London. The views expressed are personal
This weeks Panchanga is filled with significant astrological events that will influence our lives in various ways. This week, we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi, a time to seek blessings from Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. This is an ideal moment to focus on new beginnings, clear away negativity, and invite positivity into our lives. Talking of transits, the Sun and Saturn are in deep opposition, creating a tension that might bring challenges, particularly in balancing responsibilities and personal goals. However, its also a time for growth and understanding. Mars will enter Ardra Nakshatra, bringing intense energy and a drive to overcome obstacles. This placement encourages us to face challenges head-on with determination. Another important event is the Sun and Jupiter forming a deep square, which could lead to moments of frustration but also opportunities for learning and expanding our horizons. This is also an auspicious time for making any purchases, especially those relating to vehicles and property. Let's explore this weeks Panchanga in detail for New Delhi, NCT, India. Get weekly Panchang to determine auspicious and inauspicious time for performing day-to-day tasks based on the prevailing planetary position.
Shubh Muhurat This Week
According to Vedic Astrology, the odds of accomplishing a task successfully are significantly enhanced if they are carried out during an auspicious muhurta. An auspicious muhurta provides us with the best outcome possible according to our destiny if we execute the work in harmony with the cosmic timeline. That is why it is essential to take muhurta into account while commencing any auspicious work. This weeks Shubh Muhurat for various activities is as follows:
Vivah Muhurat : No auspicious Marriage Muhurat is available this week.
: No auspicious Marriage Muhurat is available this week. Griha Pravesh Muhurat : No auspicious Griha Pravesh Muhurat is available this week.
: No auspicious Griha Pravesh Muhurat is available this week. Property Purchase Muhurat : Auspicious property purchase Muhurat is available this week on September 12, Thursday (06:05 AM to 06:05 AM, Sep 13).
: Auspicious property purchase Muhurat is available this week on September 12, Thursday (06:05 AM to 06:05 AM, Sep 13). Vehicle Purchase Muhurat: Auspicious muhurta is available this week on September 6, Friday (06:02 AM to 03:01 PM), September 8, Sunday (06:03 AM to 03:31 PM) and September 9, Monday (06:04 PM to 09:53 PM).
Upcoming Planetary Transits This Week
In Vedic astrology, planetary transits are particularly crucial since they are the principal way of anticipating changes and advances in life. Planets move on a daily basis and go through several nakshatras and Rashis in the process. It assists in comprehending the nature and characteristics of events as they occur. Here are the upcoming transits this week:
Mars enters Ardra Nakshatra on September 6 (Friday) at 12:06 PM
Sun and Saturn at a deep opposition (180-degree angle) on September 8 (Sunday) at 10:02 AM
Ketu transits Hasta Pada on September 9 (Monday) at 01:51 AM
Venus and Saturn at a deep 150-degree angle on September 11 (Wednesday) at 04:19 PM
Mercury and Mars at a deep semi-sextile (60-degree angle) on September 12 (Thursday) at 09:09 AM
Sun and Jupiter at a deep square (90-degree angle) on September 12 (Thursday) at 04:19 PM
Upcoming Festivals This Week
Varaha Jayanti (September 6, Friday): Varaha Jayanti is celebrated to commemorate the third incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the form of Varaha, which is a boar to save the Earth from the demon Hiranyaksha. People pray to Lord Varaha to seek protection, wealth and spiritual advancement and perform puja for this avatar.
Hartalika Teej (September 6, Friday): Hartalika Teej is one of the most important festivals for Hindu married women. It is dedicated to the Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. They fast, pray for a good husband and perform some ceremonies. It represents love, commitment and the ability of the union to stand the test of time.
Ganesh Chaturthi (September 7, Saturday): Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated in the Bhadrapada month on the Shukla Chaturthi Purnima. This is a propitious festival that commemorates the birthday of Lord Ganesha, known as the god of removal of obstacles. Blessings are sought for prosperity, wisdom, and success, and people take idols home, offer prayers, and celebrate with joy and pomp.
Rishi Panchami (September 8, Sunday): It is the day when people pay respect to seven of the most important sages in the Hindu pantheon called Saptarishi. This is a day that women celebrate through fasting and other related ceremonies to wash their sins as they believe they are impure. The day is dedicated to dedication, chastity, and asceticism.
Skanda Sashti (September 9, Monday): This festival is dedicated to Lord Murugan, the warrior form of God and the son of Lord Shiva and Parvati. People offer prayers and have fasts to receive his favour to fight, win, and be protected from all that is evil. The day represents the victory of light over darkness; people offer prayers and perform puja enthusiastically.
Lalita Saptami (September 10, Tuesday): It is dedicated to Goddess Lalita, an avatar of Goddess Parvati. People pray to her for beauty, wealth and power. It is celebrated through various religious ceremonies, offerings and prayers to celebrate the divine feminine energy and her blessings.
Jyeshtha Gauri Avahana (September 10, Tuesday): Jyeshtha Gauri Avahana is an important event in Maharashtra. On this day, Goddess Gauri, an incarnation of Parvati, is welcomed into the houses. It is the first day of a three-day festival to pray for prosperity, fertility, and blessings. People celebrate and pray to the goddess to seek her blessings.
Radha Ashtami (September 11, Wednesday): Radha Ashtami falls on Bhadrapada Shukla Ashtami. It is the birth anniversary of Goddess Radha the most beloved of Lord Krishna. The devotees worship Radha for love, devotion and anand or spiritual delight. It is observed through pujas, vrats, and kirtans, which emphasise the love of Radha for Krishna.
Mahalakshmi Vrat Begins (September 11, Wednesday): Mahalakshmi Vrat, which begins on September 11, 2024, is a 16-day fast in honour of Goddess Mahalakshmi, also known as the goddess of wealth. People in general and women in particular abstain from food and perform puja to appease the goddess and bring fortune, joy, and prosperity to their homes. The vrat signifies devotion, prosperity, and togetherness of the family.
Durva Ashtami (September 11, Wednesday): This day is dedicated to worshipping Durva grass, considered auspicious and sacred to Lord Ganesha. It is a tradition that people make offerings to deities like Lord Ganesha by presenting Durva grass to seek good health, long life and prosperity. The day also focuses on the importance of this sacred grass in the Hindu rituals.
Inauspicious Rahu Kalam This Week
According to Vedic astrology, Rahu is an inauspicious planet. During the transition of planets, the time under the influence of Rahu should be avoided to do any auspicious work. Doing Puja, Hawan or Yagya to propitiate auspicious planets during this time is interfered with by Rahu due to its malefic nature. It is important to consider Rahu Kaal before starting any new work. By doing so, the possibility of achieving desired results is increased. Following are the timings of Rahu Kalam for this week:
September 06: 10:45 AM to 12:19 PM
10:45 AM to 12:19 PM September 07: 09:10 AM to 10:45 AM
09:10 AM to 10:45 AM September 08: 05:00 PM to 06:34 PM
05:00 PM to 06:34 PM September 09: 07:37 AM to 09:11 AM
07:37 AM to 09:11 AM September 10: 03:25 PM to 04:58 PM
03:25 PM to 04:58 PM September 11: 12:17 PM to 01:51 PM
12:17 PM to 01:51 PM September 12: 01:50 PM to 03:23 PM
Panchanga is a calendar used in Vedic astrology to determine the auspicious and inauspicious time for performing day-to-day tasks based on the prevailing planetary position. It comprises five elements - Vaara, Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga and Karana. The essence of the Panchanga is the inter-relationship between the Sun (our soul) and the Moon (mind) on a daily basis. Panchanga is used for different branches of Vedic astrology such as natal, election, prashna (horary), religious calendars, and to understand the energy of the day. The day of our birth panchanga depicts our emotions, temperament, and nature. It can provide more insight into who we are and how we feel. It can amplify the effect of the planets and endow us with additional characteristics that we may not understand only based on our natal chart. Panchanga is the life force energy that nourishes the birth chart.
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Neeraj Dhankher
(Vedic Astrologer, Founder - Astro Zindagi)
Email: info@astrozindagi.in, neeraj@astrozindagi.in
Url: www.astrozindagi.in
Contact: Noida: +919910094779
Adani Group is in talks with more than 10 global banks to raise at least $1.5 billion through dollar bond sales, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the plans. Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani.(ANI)
The bonds would mainly be issued under Adani Green Energy and Adani Energy Solutions - renewable energy and power transmission units of the group - and through special purpose vehicles, the report said.
The ports-to-power conglomerate will complete the sales in multiple parts by end of February next year and proceeds will be used to refinance debt, the report added.
Talks are ongoing with banks in Japan, Europe and the Middle East, the Bloomberg report said, but did not sepcify any names.
The billionaire Gautam Adani-led group did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
BMW AG plans to start selling hydrogen-powered vehicles in four years in a bid to establish the technology as an alternative to battery-electric cars. A BMW car logo is displayed during a media tour at the plant of German automaker BMW in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, February 3, 2023. (Toya Sarno Jordan/Reuters)
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The German luxury-car maker will develop a new generation of fuel-cell powertrains with partner Toyota Motor Corp., it said Thursday. Series production will start in 2028, with a hydrogen variant of an existing BMW model available that year.
While BMW has for years pursued the technology, cars with a fuel cell are struggling to take off because of high costs and a lack of fueling infrastructure. Theres also very little choice, with Toyotas Mirai and Hyundai Motor Co.s Nexo among the few models available. Global sales of hydrogen cars declined to just 9,000 units last year, according to BloombergNEF.
Proponents of fuel cells point to long driving ranges and argue the technology can prove effective in regions where battery-charging infrastructure isnt strong enough to support a transition to EVs. They burn hydrogen to produce electricity and emit only water.
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BMW and Toyota plan to make hydrogen powertrains together for use in models from both carmakers. They expect that joint development and parts procurement will help drive down costs and make the technology more competitive. BMW declined to comment on prices for its future hydrogen cars.
BMW has operated a small test fleet of hydrogen-powered iX5 sport utility vehicles since 2023. Chief Executive Officer Oliver Zipse has previously said that hydrogen drives might be an option for BMWs Neue Klasse line of EVs due to launch next year.
We are convinced that hydrogen will play a more important role in the future, Michael Rath, who heads BMWs hydrogen-vehicle program, told reporters during a call on Thursday.
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Ahmedabad-based Boss Packaging Solutions, a business with 64 employees and a shabby 500 square yard office as seen on X (formerly Twitter) gets a jaw-dropping 135x IPO subscription, with bids worth 1,073 crore, and goes hot on the heels of Resourceful Automobiles IPO frenzy. Boss Packaging Solutions updated Google with new photos of its spruced-up office.
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This is despite market regulator Sebi warning investors on potential manipulation being seen in some SME IPOs, advising investors not to fall for social media tips or rumours.
What does Boss Packing Solutions do?
The company, with an issue size of just a little over 8 crore, supplies machines for packaging, labelling, capping, and filling.
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However, in terms of financials, its profits remained flat for both 2022-23 and 2023-24, and has also seen a sharp rise in debt, going up 82% to 3.06 crore in 2023, compared to 1.64 crore during the previous year, according to its RHP.
What has led to the SME IPO craze?
The BSE SME IPO index skyrocketed 136% this year, dwarfing the Sensexs 14% climb. However, a Moneycontrol report attributes this to hype generated by social media buzz and paid influencer promos.
This year has seen at least five SME IPOs with subscriptions of around 1,000 times. This demand is primarily from retail investors. But when it comes to subscriptions from retail investors alone, over half a dozen SME IPOs saw retail investor subscriptions go more than 1,000 times.
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OpenAI executives are considering higher-priced subscriptions for its upcoming large language models, which includes its reasoning-focused Strawberry and a new flagship LLM dubbed Orion, according to a report by the Information. OpenAI logo is seen in this illustration taken on February 3. (Reuters)
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Subscription prices will be ranging up to $2,000 per month, according to early internal talks at OpenAI, the report said, citing a person with direct knowledge of the numbers.
ChatGPT Plus costs $20 a month at the moment.
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OpenAI said last week that the chatbot amassed more than 200 million weekly active users, doubling from the number it had in the last fall season.
The reported pricing discussions came after media reports said Apple and chip giant Nvidia were in talks to invest in OpenAI as part of a new fundraising round that could value the ChatGPT maker above $100 billion.
Also Read: Sebi employees protest at Mumbai HQ, seek chief Madhabi Puri Buch's resignation: Report
Around 200 employees of India's market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) protested at its Mumbai headquarters on Thursday, September 5, 2024, a day after Sebi issued a press release stating that their earlier letter on the unprofessional and stressful work culture to Finance Ministry was misguided by external elements. The Sebi Bhavan at BKC Bandra in Mumbai. (PTI)
The protest went on for about a couple of hours, following which, the employees dispersed and returned to their offices, according to a Moneycontrol report.
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"The protest is for the purpose of showing dissent and unity against the arm-twisting exercise done by the top management in the garb of a press release," Moneycontrol quoted an internal message among the employees as saying.
"The immediate demand is withdrawal of press release and resigning of SEBI chairperson for spreading lies against SEBI's employees," the message read, according to the report.
Why did the Sebi employees protest?
Some Sebi employees had sent a letter to the Finance Ministry last month stating that working at Sebi was full of immense pressure. with a stressful and toxic work environment.
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In response, Sebi said "outside elements" made employees believe they should not be required to have high standards of performance and accountability. However, the regulator did not elaborate any details on the stated elements.
What happened with Sebi Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch?
This also comes at a time when US-based activist short seller Hindenburg Research LLC (also behind the report on the Adani group of companies) alleged conflicts of interest on the part of Sebi Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch, with Buch and her husband previously having held investments in offshore funds used by the Adani Group.
Zees Subhash Chandra has also called her corrupt, and the Congress alleged that she continued to earn from ICICI bank, where she had worked previously.
Buch has denied all the allegations.
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The wealth of ultra-rich families will likely swell to $9.5 trillion by 2030, according to estimates from consultancy Deloitte, as family offices grow and morph to rival hedge funds. Large family offices are carving out new roles in the market, including as activist investors, overthrowing corporate managers and pushing for change. (Representational Image/Pixabay)
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The figure would mark a 73% jump from the current $5.5 trillion controlled by people represented by family offices, according to the report. The number of investment firms for the wealthy is expected to grow by one-third over the same time period, to 10,720.
As wealth inequality concentrates more money in the hands of the very rich, and as it becomes easier to open a family office, the industry is catching up with hedge funds in size and in some cases hiring from a similar pool of professional investors.
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Large family offices are carving out new roles in the market, including as activist investors, overthrowing corporate managers and pushing for change. The looser restrictions on these firms, and the potential for their investment behavior to have outsize ripple effects, was on full display in the 2021 implosion of Bill Hwangs family office Archegos Capital Management. (In July, a jury found Hwang guilty on criminal charges stemming from the collapse.)
Family offices surveyed in the Deloitte report had an average of just 15 employees, handling $2 billion in assets. Only about one-third were run by someone outside the family.
It can definitely be risky managing that much wealth, said Rebecca Gooch, global head of insights for Deloitte Private, which caters to closely held companies. Family offices really need to be careful about who they bring on board.
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A case of rape and murder has been registered after the body of a 19-year-old woman was found with multiple injuries days after she went missing from her home at Gunateerthawadi village in this district of Karnataka, police said on Thursday. 19-year-old woman allegedly raped, murdered in Karnataka's Bidar district, 3 arrested
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Three people have been arrested in connection with the incident which allegedly happened on August 29, they said. She was allegedly killed after being hit on her head with a stone and later her body was dumped in the bushes, police said, adding, they suspect she was sexually assaulted. However, investigators are awaiting medical reports for confirmation. The victim was missing since August 29 and her parents lodged a complaint at Basavakalyana police station two days later, police said.
"We registered a missing case and we started investigating. On September one, her body was recovered with multiple injuries on her body including head. We registered a case of murder initially and the accused were unknown. Then based on the technical evidence, we started searching for the accused and we found three people who were in contact with her on the day of her disappearance," a senior police officer said.
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One of them, who also hails from the same village, was in direct contact with her. "So, we picked the accused and during interrogation, he confessed to murdering her. During interrogation, he said that he went along with two others who were guarding him from far away during the incident," he said. "All three accused involved in the incident have been arrested. We are waiting for the medical reports of the victim. She sustained head injuries among other injuries. On suspicion of sexual assault and based on interrogation, we have added sections of rape in the FIR," he said.
The prime accused and the victim knew each other well, police said, adding her parents were unaware of it. Further investigation is underway.
People from the Kannada film industry urged the Karnataka government to appoint a committee to address the sexual harassment issue within the film fraternity. This came after the recent Hema committee report that shook the Malayalam film industry and many prominent actors were accused of being sexual abusers. Karnataka film fraternity urges CM Siddaramaiah to form panel that addresses sexual harassment in KFI
A total of 153 people from the Kannada film industry, including top actors like Kichcha Sudeep and Ramya wrote a letter to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and urged him to look into the matter. In the letter, they also requested the CM to appoint a committee led by a retired judge to address the issue.
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The film fraternity, which is part of the Film Industry For Rights & Equality (FIRE), said that more comprehensive measures are needed to tackle sexual abuse in the workplace. Conduct a thorough investigation into the systematic issues faced by women in KFI, including sexual harassment. Develop and recommend policies to ensure a healthy and equitable work environment for all women in the industry, the letter stated.
If the committee is formed, FIRE further urged it to complete the investigation within three months and requested that it make its findings public for transparency. FIRE, led by film director, screenwriter, and lyricist Kavita Lankesh, has also been pushing for reform in the Kannada film industry following the #metoo wave.
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Justice Hema's committee report, which was out in August, revealed that the women workers in the Malayalam film industry faced sexual harassment. Though it did not reveal any names, the report said women were being asked to make sure adjustments and compromises- euphemisms for sexual favours, to secure or retain opportunities.
These two terms, the report added, are very familiar among women working in Malayalam cinema, who "are asked to make themselves available for sex on demand".
Teachers from 136 aided colleges in Punjab, including 22 from Ludhiana, wore black badges in protest against the state governments neglect of higher education on the occasion of Teachers Day on Thursday. The protest was organised by the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU) to demand that their long-standing issues be addressed. Arya College professors during a protest in Ludhiana on Thursday. (Manish/HT)
PCCTU district president Chamkaur Singh expressed frustration, stating, It is very embarrassing for us to protest on Teachers Day to remind the government that they are failing Punjabs higher education. He said chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had announced the implementation of the 7th pay scale on September 5, 2022, but it has yet to be enforced. He also criticised the directorate of public instruction (DPI) office for delaying decisions on important files for years. He warned that if the DPI office does not act fairly and promptly, a larger protest will be launched.
Punjab University area secretary Raman Sharma urged the government to provide a 95% grant for all posts in aided colleges to maintain high standards in Punjabs higher education.
Varun Goel, a PCCTU Central Committee member, pointed out that the government, under a high court order, had filled 1,925 posts in aided colleges but reduced the grants for these posts from 95% to 75%, placing a financial strain on the colleges. He demanded the restoration of the 95% grant to ensure teachers are paid adequately.
DTF protest to voice concerns
The district unit of Democratic Teachers Front (DTF), a union of government school teachers, also organised a massive protest to voice their concerns against the education policies of the state government. Key leaders, including Daljit Samrala (district president), Harjit Singh Sudhar (district general secretary), Arvinder Singh Bhangu, Sukhjinder Singh (president of the associate teachers union), Harpinder Singh Shahi, Paramjit Duggal, Joginder Azad and Malkit Singh Jagrao (Senior Teachers Forum), led the protest.
The teachers criticised the state government for its alleged focus on centralisation and its failure to address the financial and professional needs of teachers and students. They argued that the governments promises, like prioritising education as stated in their election manifesto, have not been fulfilled.
The protesters submitted a demand letter to the CM through the Ludhiana deputy commissioner. Their demands included the restoration of the old pension scheme, rural allowances and the release of pending dearness allowances. They also called for the regularisation of various teaching and non-teaching staff, including computer teachers, vocational trainers, school teachers, data entry operators and accountants, under the state education department according to the 6th Pay Commission and Punjab Civil Service Rules. They demanded that teachers regularised in 2018 be given 15 days of emergency leave annually under the Punjab Civil Service Leave Rules.
The protesters also called for the repeal of the 2020 New Education Policy, arguing that it promotes ineffective practices. Other demands included transparency in transfer policies, fair pay scales for those appointed after July 17, 2020, and adherence to the Punjab and Haryana high courts decision to annul the January 2015 notification on salary reductions.
The teachers emphasised that they want their concerns addressed immediately to protect the quality of education in Punjab. They are determined to continue their protest until the government takes concrete steps to fulfil their demands.
A Jagraon woman has lodged a complaint against her husband after her pet dog went missing, following which the police booked the man on animal cruelty charges. According to the Ludhiana woman, her husband used to mistreat the dog and used to threaten to kill it (HT File)
In her complaint, the woman said she suspected that her husband had killed the dog or abandoned it without her knowledge or consent.
The City Jagraon police registered the first-information report (FIR) against Surinderpal Singh of Ram Nagar, Jagraon.
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According to the woman, her husband used to mistreat the dog and used to threaten to kill it.
The complainant, Jasmeet Kaur, said she was admitted to a hospital in Faridkot for the treatment of a gall bladder stone. When she returned home on July 30, she could not find her pet dog. She alleged that her husband could not give her a satisfactory answer despite repeated queries.
The woman added that they bought a German Shepherd dog 10 years ago and named it Sheffy.
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She said she developed too much affection towards the dog, but her husband did not like it used to beat it.
She alleged that her husband had threatened of killing the pet dog on multiple occasions. He also said he would abandon the dog, if not kill it, the complaint added.
She said the dog had developed ear-related problems after being beaten by her husband and was being taken to a veterinary doctor regularly.
The woman added that she was admitted to hospital on July 25. She was discharged on July 30.
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Sub-inspector Kulwinder Singh, who is investigating the case, said that the woman suspected that her husband either killed the dog or abandoned it. An FIR under section 325 (cruelty to animals) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act was registered against the accused. The accused is on the run, the police said.
The Punjab Agricultural University Teachers Association (PAUTA) observed the Teachers Day on Thursday as Black Day as part of their ongoing agitation. Members of PAUTA protesting outside vice-chancellor's office in Ludhiana on Thursday. (Manish/HT)
The agitation entered day 15 on Thursday. The teachers have been demanding the revision of their allowances and gratuity as per University Grants Commission (UGC) seventh pay commission recommendations, payment of arrears from January 2016 till July 2023, when the recommendations were implemented (just for basic pay), pay parity for the faculty hired after 2016, old pension scheme for those hired before July 2012, revision of pension of those who retire before 2016 and payment of pending dearness allowance instalments.
While for most of the universities in the rest of the country, the recommendations were put into practice in 2018, in Punjab the state government kept putting it off till October 2022, when they were adopted by varsities under the higher education department: Guru Nanak Dev University (Amritsar), Punjab University (Chandigarh), and Punjabi University (Patiala). However, PAU and GADVASU, which fall under the agriculture and veterinary department, respectively, were asked to make their cases separately.
In April 2023, the recommendations were accepted for PAU, but only partially. The basic salary of the teaching staff was revised but the allowances remained the same.
PAUTA president Dr Mandeep Gill said, The government had allowed the autonomous bodies in the state to extend the benefits of OPS to the employees hired before 8, July, 2012. In 2017, the universitys apex body, board of management, also accepted this in principle but than the government stopped this.
Meanwhile, Punjabi University Patiala has implement this. Why this paradox in treatment with the employees in two universities, he asked.
The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday arrested Rajdeep Singh Nagra, an aide of former Punjab food and civil supplies and consumer affairs minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, in connection with an alleged 2,000-crore foodgrain transportation-linked money-laundering case. The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday arrested Rajdeep Singh Nagra, an aide of former Punjab food and civil supplies minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, in connection with an alleged 2,000-crore foodgrain transportation-linked money-laundering case. (HT Photo)
A special ED team conducted raids at multiple locations in Khanna and Ikolaha village on Wednesday and formally arrested Nagra early on Thursday. He was produced in a Jalandhar court that remanded him seven-day ED custody.
During the course of investigation, Nagras name surfaced following which the raids were conducted. Even during Ashus interrogation, the investigation agency had found key evidence of his involvement in the proceeds of the crime, an ED official said.
The ED seized incriminating documents, financial transactions records worth 3 crore and digital devices from Nagras locations.
Ashu was arrested by the ED on August 1 and was in the central agencys custody for 10 days.
The ED had initiated a parallel probe into the money trail under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) registered a case on August 16, 2022.
In August last year, ED teams seized 6 crore and four bank lockers during raids at locations linked to Ashu and other accomplices besides seizing incriminating documents, digital devices and 30 lakh of unaccounted cash from 10 locations.
The case was registered against Ashu, his personal assistant Pankaj Kumar, alias Menu Malhotra, then food and civil supplies deputy director RK Singla, district food and civil supplies controller (DFSC) Rakesh Bhaskar, besides three contractors, Telu Ram, Yashpal, Ajaypal, for committing the fraud, causing a huge loss to the state exchequer by allegedly committing irregularities in accepting labour, cartage and transportation tenders for grain markets in Ludhiana district.
In the preliminary VB chargesheet, it was mentioned that the transportation, labour and cartage tenders allotted for the grain-lifting process during Ashus tenure as the minister were stage-managed.
A large number of people gathered outside the Sanjauli Masjid in Shimla on Thursday to protest against the alleged illegal construction of the mosque. The protesters included local residents, BJP workers and members of Hindu organisations. People taking out a rally from Sanjauli to Dhalli Tunnel to protest the construction of an illegal mosque at Sanjauli in Shimla on Thursday. (Deepak Sansta/HT)
The protesters were seen raising slogans against the illegal construction, holding the Tricolour in their hands. One of the protestors, Ankush Chauhan, who is also a BJP worker, demanded the demolition of the mosque.
This mosque has been built illegally. All four floors of the mosque are illegal. If we construct anything illegally, it is immediately demolished. It has been 10 years, but no action has been taken on the mosque. This illegal mosque should be demolished, he said, adding The entire Hindu, Sanatani community is protesting. It has nothing to do with the BJP or the Congress. Hindu Samaj is fighting against this. The reason behind the protests now is that on Tuesday, some Muslim men attacked one of our Hindu brothers in which he sustained injuries. This protest is the result of that incident. An investigation should be done on the increasing number of Muslims in the state, whether they are Rohingyas or Bangladeshis.
Regarding the presence of migrants in Himachal Pradesh, state minister Anirudh Singh said that the Muslim community has peacefully coexisted in the state for generations. However, he expressed concern about the recent influx of people from other states, emphasising that the primary issue is ensuring proper verification of newcomers. There is no difference between Hindus and Muslims among those coming from other states. The real concern is that we must verify those coming to Himachal Pradesh to prevent any security risks, he said.
Anirudh Singh also noted the arrival of individuals from other countries and suggested the need for a thorough investigation into the background of these newcomers. He called for vigilance in ensuring the safety and security of the region.
The Congress government in Himachal Pradesh focuses on development and ensures that every action is lawful. This isnt an issue of the temple or mosque but rather of legal and illegal constructions, he said.
The Sanjauli mosque row stirred a political debate in Himachal Pradesh with both the BJP and the Congress leaders engaging in a blame game in the assembly.
The Delhi high court on Thursday pulled up Wikipedia for its failure to comply with the courts order directing the open-source online platform to disclose information about the subscribers who edited the page of news platform Asian News International (ANI). A screenshot of the Wikipedia web page. (AFP Photo)
The court also threatened the platform with passing an order asking the government to close its business transactions in India.
A bench of justice Navin Chawla issued a stark ultimatum after Wikipedias counsel argued that it had to make certain submissions regarding the order and that it took them time to appear before the court as the entity was not based in India.
I will impose contempt... It is not a question of Defendant No 1 [Wikipedia] not being an entity in India. We will close your business transactions here. We will ask the government to block Wikipedia... Earlier also you people have taken this argument. If you dont like India, please dont work in India, the judge said to the Wikipedia counsel.
Considering the contention, justice Chawla remarked that the court in earlier matters had rejected similar arguments made by the platform. Consequently, the court issued notice in the ANIs plea and ordered for in-person attendance of the platforms authorised representative on October 25, the next date of hearing.
The HC took strong exception to the platforms conduct while considering a plea filed by ANI, alleging that Wikipedia failed to comply with the high courts August 20 order, which directed the platform to disclose the information about three people who made the edits.
The August 20 order was passed in connection with the lawsuit filed by ANI seeking to restrain the platform from publishing allegedly defamatory content about the news agency and seeking removal of the contentious content.
A 21-year-old student preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) (NEET) died by suicide on Thursday night in Rajasthans Kota, said officials. The student from UPs Mathura, arrived in Kota a year ago and died by suicide at his rented accommodation. (Representative file photo)
With this incident, the toll across Rajasthan has touched 18 including 16th in Kota while one each in Sikar and Jaipur.
According to Kota (First) deputy police superintendent, Rajesh Tailor, the student from Uttar Pradeshs Mathura, arrived in Kota a year ago and died by suicide at his rented accommodation in Jawahar Nagar area on Thursday night.
The incident came to the fore when the landlord had a suspicion after he did not respond to his several knocks. Later, they informed the local police control room. The local station house officer Hari Narayan Sharma immediately reached the spot and found the body by breaking the door, said Tailor.
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The police also stated that no suicide note was recovered from his place so far.
An FSL team was also called to examine the spot. His parents were also informed. We will question them about any behavioural changes in the student in the last few days, said DSP.
The parents of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital junior doctor, who was allegedly raped and murdered on August 9, on Thursday said they were forced to confess on camera that they were not offered money by anyone from the Kolkata Police department. Citizens participate in a candle march in protest against the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. (Samir Jana/ HT Photo)
The remarks came a day after the grieving parents made a statement contrary to the one above, as the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) released a video in which the parents could be purportedly heard saying that they werent offered any money by the cops.
While the TMC accused the opposition of playing vulture politics, the parents on Wednesday claimed that they were offered money by a senior IPS officer of the Kolkata Police.
We were told that justice will be delayed if the police get angry. At that moment, we didnt realise what the purpose of the video was. Maybe they had anticipated that such things (police offering us money) may come out in the open in future and the administration may face problems. Thats why they forced us to create the video to keep an excuse ready, the victims father told media persons on Thursday.
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A day prior to this, the victims parents and relatives alleged that the police were in a hurry to cremate the body and even offered money. The police, however, didnt impose any condition while offering the money, the parents clarified.
The IPS officer took out a bundle of notes in a packet and offered it to us saying that we may need it. No conditions were imposed though for accepting the money. I refused, saying that my daughter had undergone more pain than what the officer endured while preparing for the IPS exam, the father said.
No officer in the Kolkata Police department was willing to comment on the statements given by the victims parents.
The allegation of cash offers was first made by Dr Subarna Goswami, a representative of the Joint Forum of Doctors who met the victims family two days after she was allegedly raped and murdered.
We heard such allegations for the first time. The victims mother told us that the police had offered them money even while the dead body of their daughter was still lying in the bedroom and was yet to be cremated. Its shocking, Goswami had told the media on August 11.
The TMC government, however, blamed the opposition for the developments surrounding the victims parents.
The victims parents are demanding speedy justice for their daughter. Everyone is standing beside them. The only thing which doesnt have any place in this is politics. We humbly request that no political parties should try to force anything on the parents. There are several instances in which political parties have played vulture politics over dead bodies. This is not the place though, Shashi Panja, state women and child development minister, told the media on Thursday.
A video was played in the TMCs press conference in which the parents could be purportedly heard saying that they werent offered any money.
Nobody offered us money. We havent said any such things to anyone. This is totally concocted, a lie, the parents were purportedly heard saying in the video.
A video has surfaced in which it is being alleged that money was offered to the parents by the police. A second video has surfaced in which the parents have refuted the allegations that they were offered any money by the police, Panja said.
We are not going to do any post-mortem of the statements made by the victims parents. We respect them. They have lost their daughter, she added.
The victims parents, however, said, Initially, we didnt divulge it to anyone that we were offered money. Dr Goswami first told the media. Then we were forced by the police to shoot the video and asked to say on camera that the police didnt offer any money, the victims father said.
The BJP condemned the developments and claimed that the West Bengal government was equipped to be in power.
The government is not able to deliver anymore. They are relying on videos made by the police and making statements and counter statements. This proves they are not in a position to run the government anymore, BJP Rajya Sabha member and party spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said.
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), which has strongly objected to the Waqf Amendment Bill, will now be looking at a mass feedback mechanism on the issue in front of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). For Representation: Outside view of Sunni Waqf Board office in Lucknow (HT File)
The AIMPLB will ask people coming for Friday prayers in mosques across the country to scan the QR code given by them and register their objection to the JPC. The JPC had invited public opinion on the bill, after which AIMPLB is leaving no stone unturned to register its protest against the bill.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Sunni cleric and AIMPLB member Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali said, The All India Muslim Personal Law Board is also holding online meetings in different sectors in different states on a daily basis to encourage people for scanning QR code given by AIMPLB and to give their feedback to the JPC on Waqf Amendment Bill. Also, on the coming Friday, AIMPLB has ensured that in all the mosques across the country, detailed announcements will be made in this regard so that people can give their feedback.
AIMPLB has issued a QR code through which people can scan and give their feedback on the Waqf Amendment Bill to the JPC. A drive is already being carried out on social media platforms and WhatsApp groups by AIMPLB so that maximum feedback from people can be given to the JPC on the issue. The AIMPLB and other Muslims organisations have already put forward their objections to JPC on the issue.
The JPC members met Muslim scholars, religious organisations and AIMPLB members a few days back. However, sources revealed that the JPC will once again meet the stakeholders soon.
Talking about major concerns of the board, Mulana Khalid Rasheed said, Any amendments to the law or act without the consent of stakeholders in a democratic setup should not be encouraged, especially when the matter is completely religious. The religious organisations and leadership must also be consulted in such cases.
The other major concern is the negative and false propaganda that is being spread against Waqf. It is being showcased in some media reports that half of the country is Waqf property which is false. Interestingly around 90% of the Waqf properties are in the form of religious places, including mosques, imambadas, mazars etc. Also, there is no income by these religious places by and large. Instead, these places need funds for maintenance, which the community manages itself without any help from the government, he added.
The AIMPLB member also stated that the 40 amendments made in the Waqf Act will not benefit, but instead harm the Waqf properties. Especially, the amendment which proposed to end the Waqf by User which is an integral part of the Islamic laws of the Waqf. Even in 1995 and 2013, when the Waqf Act was amended, the Waqf By User provision was untouched as it is the backbone of the Waqf Law. It is also being proposed to include non-Muslim members in the Waqf Board, which is not feasible as all the places are of religious nature, then they should be administered in a religious way. Also, it is being proposed that the judicial powers will be given to the collector which is against Article 50. Also, it is being wrongly projected that there is no female representation in Waqf Boards which is wrong. At the moment, also we have two women members in the Waqf Board, he said
LUCKNOW A wanted criminal involved in a 1.5-crore daylight robbery at a jewellery store in Sultanpur was gunned down in an encounter with the police early on Thursday. The accused, Mangesh Yadav, was carrying a reward of 1 lakh on his arrest. He, along with four others, had robbed the store in Thatheri Bazar on August 28, said police. The criminal was involved in the sensational robbery at a jewellery shop and a reward of 1 lakh was declared on him along with nine others wanted in the robbery case (Pic representation)
Yadav was killed in retaliatory firing by an STF team led by DySP DK Shahi and DySP Vimal Singh in an encounter at Mishripur Muraina turn in Sultanpur around 3.25am, said ADG (law and order) Amitabh Yash.
He said the criminal was involved in the sensational robbery at a jewellery shop and a reward of 1 lakh was declared on him along with nine others wanted in the robbery case. Mangesh Yadav hailed from Jaunpur and had seven cases of loot, robbery, theft in Jaunpur, Pratapgarh and Sultanpur against him between 2021 and 2024.
Yadav was an active member of a gang operated by notorious criminal Vinay Singh of Amethi. Singh, with the help of Yadav and 12 others, planned and executed the Sultanpur robbery. The gang of 14, who executed the robbery, included nine members from Amethi, two from Jaunpur and one each from Pratapgarh, Azamgarh and Rae Bareli, said another police official.
Singh surrendered in a Rae Bareli court two days after the robbery. He had a long criminal history with around 34 cases of heinous crimes in five districts including Amethi, Rae Bareli, Fatehpur, Barabanki and Lucknow as well as that of a bank robbery case in Surat (Gujarat) in the past 17 years. Vinay was arrested around a year ago by the Surat police for the robbery at a bank in Wajgaon, Surat in August 2023 and was released on bail two months ago.
After getting bail, he restructured the gang of 14 people, including three first-timers and executed the Sultanpur robbery after doing a proper recee of the shop. The gang moved to Rae Bareli after the robbery and moved into different directions while Vinay Singh strategically surrendered before a Rae Bareli court on August 31, two days after the robbery, after cancelling his bail in another criminal case pending against him, he explained.
Singh did not share his plan with his aides and deserted them after executing the robbery. Three other gang members, Sachin Singh, Pushpendra Singh alias Dablu and Tribhuvan Kori, all residents of Amethi, were arrested following an encounter in Sultanpur on Tuesday. The trio suffered bullet injuries in their legs in retaliatory firing by cops, said the official.
In a post shared on X, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the ruling party in the state of having deep connections with people involved in the Sultanpur robbery case.
He stated that Mangesh Yadav was killed intentionally in an encounter because of his caste while the prime accused Vipin Singh strategically surrendered in connivance with the police and the three other accused were shot in the legs in a fake encounter.
The SP chief said the BJP government is Amrit Kal (golden period) for criminals, and the public understands how police shield real culprits.
The Gittikhadan police in Nagpur have registered a case against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Nitesh Rane, son of former Union minister and Lok Sabha MP Narayan Rane, for allegedly hurting religious sentiments of a particular community during a speech in Ahmednagar on September 1. BJP leader Nitesh Rane. (Bhushan Koyande/HT Photo)
The case, following a complaint by a person named Mohammed Yunus Patel (47), a resident of Awasthi Nagar in south Nagpur, was registered under sections 196, 299, 302, 352, and 353 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Kailash Deshmane, the senior police inspector of Gittikhadan police station, confirmed the development on Wednesday. We are investigating the matter and, if necessary, we will take Ranes statement and initiate appropriate actions against him, he said.
According to the complaint, during an event in Ahmednagar in support of Ramgiri Maharaj, the BJP MLA allegedly threatened a particular community.
Our communitys religious sentiments have been hurt by Ranes statement, the complainant said.
Reacting to his speech, Nitesh Rane said that it was just a counter reaction against certain people. He refused to comment more on the issue.
Rane, who is close to Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, was allegedly caught on video threatening to enter mosques and attack those who criticise Ramgiri Maharaj, a Hindu seer who is facing the heat for his inflammatory speeches.
If you dare harm our Ramgiri Maharaj, we will enter your masjid (mosque) and hunt you down one by one. Keep this in mind, Rane was recorded as saying.
Earlier, several FIRs were registered against Rane across the state following his speech at Ahmednagar, including in Shrirampur, Thane, and Bhiwandi.
Mumbai: Several private medical colleges in Maharashtra have come under fire for charging students higher caution money than the limit set by the state's Fee Regulatory Authority (FRA). The authority has issued showcause notices to all 22 private colleges across the state for failing to adhere to the prescribed upper limit. Several private medical colleges in Maharashtra have come under fire for charging students higher caution money. Representational Image(Representative image)
On 28 August, the FRA imposed a cap of 50,000 on the caution money charged by private medical colleges, including those offering MBBS programmes. This limit encompasses all types of deposits, including those for library, laboratory, hostel, and mess facilities. The cap extends to all courses, including B.Sc. in Nursing, BAMS, BHMS, and other medical science programmes.
Despite this directive, some colleges allegedly continued to charge higher fees. Students have filed complaints against institutions demanding additional fees during admissions for various facilities such as gymkhana, library, laboratory, and hostel mess deposits.
In response to these complaints, the FRA has not only issued showcause notices but also inspected the websites of all colleges, revealing that many listed caution money amounts exceeding the prescribed cap.
Dharmendra Mishra, a member of the FRA, stated, "On receipt of such complaints, the FRA grievance redressal cell has acted against the colleges as per the decision taken by the authority on 28 August, wherein clear directions were given on this subject. FRA has also issued showcause notices to colleges whose complaints were received today."
Mishra added that after issuing the notices, some institutions claimed they were not forcing students to pay extra fees during the admission process.
Appealing to parents and students, Mishra said, I request every stakeholder that if they are demanded any extra fees other than tuition, development fees, and 50,000 caution money, they should approach FRA for such grievances. FRA has opened a dedicated email address for stakeholders where they can register their complaints.
Mumbai: Jaydeep Apte, a 24-year-old sculptor-contractor wanted in connection with the collapse of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort last month, was arrested in Kalyan on Wednesday night. A 35-foot statue of Shivaji Maharaj collapsed in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg (HT/Yogesh Naik)
Dnyaneshwar Chavan, joint commissioner of police in Thane, confirmed the arrest and stated that Apte would be transferred to the custody of Sindhudurg police.
Maharashtra police had been searching for Apte since the statue he created collapsed on 26 August, less than nine months after its inauguration. Seven teams were formed to locate him.
Following the statue's collapse, Malvan police filed a case against Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil for negligence and other offences. Patil was apprehended in Kolhapur last week.
The incident sparked a significant political controversy in the lead-up to Maharashtra's assembly elections, with opposition parties criticising the government led by Eknath Shinde.
Responding to the arrest, Pravin Darekar, a Bharatiya Janata Party leader, said, "Those who were critical of our government must shut their mouths now. It is true that police took a little long to arrest Jaydeep Apte. We are not taking any credit for arresting, but the police did their job."
In contrast, Sushama Andhare, a leader from Shiv Sena (UBT), commented, "The state government should not try to take any credit for arresting Apte because it is the government's duty. He was not some underworld don... He should have been arrested sooner."
Meanwhile, a five-member joint technical committee visited the fort at Malvan during the day to examine the site, according to an official.
Four people, including the headmistress and a teacher of a private school, were arrested on Thursday for allegedly trying to hush up the sexual harassment of a six-year-old student by a 25-year-old man on the school premises in Noidas Sector 12 on Tuesday, said senior police officers. When the girl reached home, she revealed the incident to her parents, and they reached the Sector 24 police station on Wednesday with a complaint. (Representational image)
Police said the main suspect, the 25-year-old man, is yet to be arrested, as school authorities helped him escape from the spot purportedly to avoid the school getting defamed.
Manish Kumar Mishra, additional deputy commissioner of police, Noida, said the child is a (upper) kindergarten student at the school in Sector 12.
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On Tuesday, while the child was in school, a man aged around 25 years, who was engaged as a daily wager to complete some construction work at the school, sexually harassed her. The girl narrated the ordeal to her class teacher, who reported the matter to the headmistress and school supervisor, said Mishra.
Subsequently, the school authorities informed the contractor who had hired the daily wager about the incident, and instead of alerting police, they helped the suspect flee the spot, said Mishra.
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It is suspected that the school authorities tried to cover up the incident allegedly to avoid the school being defamed publicly, said a senior police officer, asking not to be named.
Later, when the girl reached home, she revealed the incident to her parents, and they reached the Sector 24 police station on Wednesday with a complaint.
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On the complaint by the survivors parents, a case under sections 263 (resistance or obstruction to lawful apprehension of another person) and 74 (assault or use of criminal force on woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Pocso Act was registered at Sector 24 police station against the prime suspect, the school teacher, headmistress, school supervisor, and the contractor. Except for the prime suspect, all four were arrested on Thursday, said Ram Badan Singh, deputy commissioner of police, Noida.
The suspects names have been withheld by the police to protect the identity of the survivor.
Two students were killed, and 15 others sustained critical injuries after the school van they were travelling in collided with a Karnataka state transport bus in Raichur on Thursday morning, district superintendent of police Puttamadaiah said. Representational image.
The van belonging to Loyola School in Manvi town, ferrying 32 students from different villages to the school, collided with a government bus near Kapagal in the morning, Puttamadaiah said, adding that two students were killed on the spot.
Ten injured students were admitted to the Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and five others to a government hospital in the district, the SP said.
Raichur deputy commissioner Nitish K met the students at the hospitals and announced 5 lakh as compensation to the kin of the deceased from the chief ministers relief fund. The state road transport corporation has also announced compensation.
Manvi police inspector Veerabhadraiah Hiremath said a case of rash and negligent driving has been filed against both the drivers. He said the children near the drivers set suffered more injuries.
Six members of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) were killed in an encounter with security forces in Telanganas Bhadradri Kothagudem district bordering Chhattisgarh on Thursday, the police said. Paramilitary forces in Maoist-infested areas of Eastern Ghats. (PTI File Photo)
The exchange of fire took place in the Neeladrigutta forest area in Karakagudem block early in the morning. Two Greyhounds policemen, an elite anti-Maoist squad, were injured in the gunbattle.
Bhadradri Kothagudem superintendent of police B Rohit Raju told reporters that the gunfight broke out around the Neelandrigutta hillock, near Raghunadhapalem village bordering Mulugu district, when a team of Greyhounds police personnel was conducting a combing operation in the forest area.
Six Maoists were killed, and two security personnel were injured in the exchange of fire, Raju said, adding that a huge cache of arms and ammunition were seized from the site of the encounter.
The identity of the deceased Maoists was being ascertained, he said, and the bodies have been shifted to Kothagudem government hospital for post-mortem.
However, another police official, who did not disclose his identity, said the slain Maoists included Palvancha-Manuguru-Karakagudem divisional committee member and commander of the squad Lachanna, while others were believed to be Tulasi, Sukhram, Ramu, Durgesh and Kosi.
A native of Rayapadu in Chhattisgarh, Lachanna was one of the most wanted CPI (Maoist) leaders, carrying a reward of 10 lakh on his head. There were 50 cases against Lachanna at different police stations.
This incident follows a major encounter on Tuesday in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh where nine Maoists were gunned down by security forces. Among those killed was top Maoist leader Macherla Esobu, also known by the several aliases including Jagan, Dada Randev, and Randhir.
Esobu, a native of Tekulagudem in Kazipet mandal of Hanamkonda district of Telangana, was a prominent Left-wing extremist figure and had a bounty of 25 lakh on his head.
This was the first major encounter in Telangana since 2018; 10 Maoists were killed in an encounter in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district in March 2018.
Barring these, there has been virtually no major activity by Maoists in Telangana, except occasional incidents of violence in the border areas of Bhadradri Kothagudem, Mulugu and Jayashankar Bhupalpally districts bordering Chhattisgarh.
In the wake of intensifying operations by security forces, by the name of Operation Kagar in the forests of Chhattisgarh, some Maoist dalams (groups) are trying to enter into the border areas in search of a safe zone. Hence, a group of Chhattisgarh-based armed Maoist rebels might have crossed over the forest border into Telangana, which led to Thursdays encounter, the second police official quoted above said.
The Department of Education (DoE) on Wednesday issued a circular for admission to classes nine to ten in the government and government-aided schools in Delhi following reports of the students being denied admission due to the non-production of Aadhaar or bank account details. Delhi School Admission: DoE issues circular for Class 9, 10 admissions in government and government-aided schools (Getty Images/iStockphoto (PIC FOR REPRESENTATION))
According to the circular, no student will be denied admission once they are allotted a school under the Non-Plan Admission process except in cases of discrepancies in relevant documents.
The children up to class eight will be admitted throughout the academic session in age-appropriate classes under the Right to Education Act (RTE).
The circular also stated that students will not be denied admission for not having an Aadhaar or bank account. The process of admission for the students, who were allotted schools during previous cycles of Non-Plan Admission must be completed by September 16, 2024.
Additionally, the criteria for admission to age-appropriate classes will not apply to the students, who have passed the previous class from a recognised school or board during the 2023-24 academic year, it said.
The DoE in the circular has also emphasised that transfers after mid-term examinations should be avoided but may be approved by the Zonal or District Grievance Redressal Committee in genuine cases.
The State Bank of India (SBI) Foundation is inviting overseas citizens of India, citizens of Nepal and Bhutan, and internal candidates from SBI for the 12th Batch of the SBI Youth for India Fellowship program. SBI Foundation is inviting applications for 12th Youth for India Fellowship Program. The direct link to apply is given here, (Reuters file photo of SBI logo)
Aimed at fostering meaningful social change, the fellowship program spans 13 months and provides a well-structured opportunity for fresh graduates and young professionals to collaborate with rural communities and 13 NGOs across India.
When does the fellowship program start?
The SBI Youth for India Fellowship Program will commence on October 7, 2024.
When will registration close?
The window to apply for the program will close on September 17, 2024.
Where to apply for the SBI Youth for India Fellowship Program?
Interested candidates can apply for the YFI Fellowship Program through this direct link.
Also read: RBI 90 Quiz offering winners a chance to take home a whopping 10 Lakh, window closes on Sept 17, link to apply here
About the fellowship program
A press release issued by the SBI Foundation informed that the SBI Youth for India Fellowship will focus on 12 thematic areas including health, rural livelihood, food security, environmental protection, education, water, technology, womens empowerment, self-governance, social entrepreneurship, traditional craft and alternate energy.
Participants can work on any of the 12 thematic areas as per their interest.
Know the eligibility criteria:
Those interested in applying for the SBI Youth For India Fellowship Program must meet the following eligibility criteria:
Should be an Overseas Citizen of India(OCI) a Citizen of Nepal and Bhutan, or an SBI employee.
In the case of SBI employees, the candidate should be a confirmed officer in Scale I or II within SBI.
The candidate must fall in the age group of 21- 32 years on the day of commencement of the program (October 7).
Candidates must strongly commit to advancing sustainable development objectives in rural areas.
Also read: AACCC AYUSH NEET UG round 1 seat allotment result today at aaccc.gov.in
Where to report after selection?
When a candidate is selected, he/she needs to report at Tilonia in Kishangarh tehsil of Ajmer district in Rajasthan on October 5th, 2024.
Meanwhile, Sanjay Prakash, the managing director & CEO at SBI Foundation, highlighted that the SBI Youth for India program will provide a unique opportunity for urban youth to actively contribute to the development sector while addressing the challenges of rural life.
With 10 successful editions behind us and the 11th underway, our program remains dedicated to empowering youth to create meaningful change in rural communities. This initiative is a beacon of hope for those eager to shape a brighter future for both themselves and rural India, he added.
As per the press release, the fellowship program has made a significant impact with a growing alumni network of over 580+ individuals and impacted more than 150,000 lives in more than 250+ villages spanning 20 States across India over the last 13 years.
Also read: Teachers' Day 2024: A letter from a teacher to future educators who are about to start their exciting journey
Impact on career prospects:
The release further informed that after the program, about 70% of YFI alumni have gone on to pursue meaningful careers in the social sector by working in Rural Development, Public Policy, Governance, Academia, etc.
Additionally, 100+ Fellowship alumni pursued Higher Studies in development domains after their SBI Youth for India Fellowship experience, and 40+ YFI alumni have started social ventures post-Fellowship.
SSC GD 2025 Notification Live Updates: The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the notification for the Constable (General Duty) recruitment examination, 2025 on September 5. The detailed notification is available on the official website of SSC at ssc.gov.in. Check Official Notification Here The notification for the Constable (GD) in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and SSF, Rifleman (GD) in Assam Rifles, and Sepoy in Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) was scheduled to be released on August 27, but the commission postponed it due to administrative reasons....Read More
As per the examination calendar, the last date to apply for SSC GD 2025 is October 5. However, with the postponement of the notification release date, the schedule for application form submission may be revised.
The computer-based exam is tentatively scheduled for January-February, 2025.
The exact dates for application, fee payment, and correction window will be mentioned in the notification.
The notification will also contain important information for candidates such as eligibility criteria, number of vacancies, application process, exam pattern, etc.
Follow this live blog for live updates on SSC GD 2025 notification.
The Delhi Skill Development University has shut down B.Tech branches in its three campuses here due to low enrolment of students, according to an official order. The branches had less than 20 students(Unsplash/For representation)
The branches had less than 20 students due to which the university has decided to close the department in its campuses at -Ashok Vihar, Pusa-I, and Okhala Phase II, the order states.
Also read: Delhi School Admission: DoE issues circular for Class 9, 10 admissions in govt/govt aided schools
The students have been asked to choose any other branch or campus to study, subject to the availability of seats in that branch, it added.
According to the order, the Civil Engineering branch and Mechanical Engineering branch have been shut at Aryabhatta DSEU Ashok Vihar campus, the Electrical Engineering branch at DSEU Pusa-I campus, and the Network Engineering branch and Mechatronics Engineering branch at DSEU Okhla-II campus.
The Civil Engineering branch was operating with 11 students, the Mechanical Engineering branch with eight students, the Electrical Engineering branch with 11, the Network Engineering branch with nine students, and the Mechatronics Engineering branch with 10 students.
Also read: DUs Single girl child quota for admission violates right to equality: St. Stephens to Delhi HC
"As per the approval of Admission Board for B. Tech Branches which have students less than 20 in numbers would be closed in the respective campuses.
"The students of following branches will be given an offer to choose any other branch or campus as per their consent, subject to availability of seats in that branch," the order dated September 2 read.
Speaking to PTI, DSEU Vice-Chancellor Ashok Kumar Nagawat said the programmes were shut due to low response from students.
"We will refund the entire admission fees submitted by the students including the registration fees if they don't wish to continue studying in our other branches," he added.
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Reacting to the development, Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta slammed the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government, which set up DSEU in 2020, saying that it has exposed the "sham education model" of the AAP dispensation.
"It's a disgrace that the B.Tech program, typically one of the most sought-after courses, couldn't even attract 20 students at DSEU campuses. This spectacular failure exposes Kejriwal's education revolution for what it truly is - a monumental fraud," Gupta said.
He also alleged students were forcibly relocated to other campuses.
In its response, the AAP pointed to the performance of BJP governments in states.
"Its a disgrace that after more than 20 years of BJP rule in Gujarat, 1,606 schools have only one teacher. In BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh, a recent video shows girl students in tears because their school has no teachers," AAP alleged.
"The BJPs stance on education is clear - it has shut down over 60,000 schools in just the last two years. In stark contrast, the AAP government is opening world-class schools in Delhi and Punjab, where government school students are now securing spots in prestigious institutes like IIT," the party said in a statement released later in the day.
The Indian School of Business (ISB) and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad have been featured in the list of top 20 MBA programs launched by professional networking platform LinkedIn. Indian School of Business (ISB), Bangalore, and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad have featured in the list of top 20 MBA programs offered by B-schools, released by LinkedIn News India. (Photo Credit: REUTERS)
As per the list issued by LinkedIn News India, ISB has been ranked at the 6th spot globally, while IIM Ahmedabad secured the 19th position.
The rankings come as part of an initiative by LinkedIn to help professionals identify the top MBA programs offered by business schools to develop their skills and expand their career opportunities.
Also read: RBI 90 Quiz offering winners a chance to take home a whopping 10 Lakh, window closes on Sept 17, link to apply here
Check the top 20 business schools and their ranks below:
RANK BUSINESS SCHOOL 1. Stanford University 2. INSEAD 3. Harvard University 4. University of Pennsylvania 5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 6. Indian School of Business 7. Northwestern University 8. Dartmouth College 9. Columbia University 10. University of Chicago 11. University of London 12, University of Virginia 13. Duke University 14. WHU 15. University of Oxford 16. Yale University 17. Cornell University 18. University of California, Berkeley 19. Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad 20. University of Navarra
What is the ranking methodology?
As per LinkedIn, the rankings are determined by a carefully weighted methodology analysing the career outcomes of millions of MBA alumni, globally.
Also read: SBI Foundation invites applications for 12th Youth for India Fellowship Program, direct link to apply and details here
A press release issued by LinkedIn in this regard stated that the top MBA programs methodology is based exclusively on LinkedIn data and five key pillars. These are as follows:
Job placement: Tracking hiring rates and labour market demand, measuring the percentage of recent graduate cohorts from 2019-2023 who landed a full-time job within the same year of graduation, in addition to recruiter outreach across recent cohorts at each program.
Tracking hiring rates and labour market demand, measuring the percentage of recent graduate cohorts from 2019-2023 who landed a full-time job within the same year of graduation, in addition to recruiter outreach across recent cohorts at each program. Measuring promotion rates: Ability to measure promotion rates among recent graduate cohorts, in addition to how quickly alumni have reached director or VP-level leadership roles.
Ability to measure promotion rates among recent graduate cohorts, in addition to how quickly alumni have reached director or VP-level leadership roles. Network Strength: Analysing the network depth or how connected alumni of the same program are to each other, network quality of recent graduate cohorts that is measured by connections to director-level professionals or higher, and network growth rate of recent cohorts since starting the program.
Analysing the network depth or how connected alumni of the same program are to each other, network quality of recent graduate cohorts that is measured by connections to director-level professionals or higher, and network growth rate of recent cohorts since starting the program. Leadership Potential: Measuring the percentage of alumni with post-MBA C-Suite or entrepreneurship experiences.
Measuring the percentage of alumni with post-MBA C-Suite or entrepreneurship experiences. Gender Diversity: Measuring gender parity within recent graduate cohorts.
Eligibility Criteria:
To be ranked by LinkedIn, MBA programs offered by B-schools must be full-time programs and accredited by AACSB or Equis.
Programs must have at least 1,500 total alumni, with at least 400 of them graduating within the recent cohort (2019-2023).
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Nirajita Banerjee, Senior Managing Editor and Career Expert at LinkedIn News India highlighted that an MBA can be a powerful tool for professionals looking to accelerate their careers, be it for leadership roles, exploring new industries, or even starting their own business.
Beyond earning a degree, its a chance to hone key in-demand soft skills like strategic thinking, leadership, and problem-solving all while building connections that can open doors to new opportunities long after graduation, she said.
Meanwhile, Nirajita also shared tips on how professionals pursuing an MBA can boost their career prospects:
The Reserve Bank of India, RBI, is all set to host a nationwide quiz competition for college students pursuing undergraduate courses across all streams. The RBI 90 Quiz competition will be conducted as part of RBIs 90th anniversary celebrations. In line with the 90th anniversary celebrations, RBI is hosting a 'RBI 90 Quiz' competition wherein the first prize includes 10 lakh. (Photo Credit: screenshot/rbi.org.in)
Although registrations started from August 20, the RBI will closing the application window on September 17, 2024.
A notice issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) urged all higher education institutions to disseminate this information in their respective institutions and encourage undergraduate students to participate in the quiz and make it a success.
Also read: Teachers' Day 2024: A letter from a teacher to future educators who are about to start their exciting journey
The quiz will primarily focus on General Knowledge of history, economy, current affairs, etc. Participants who come first will be awarded a whopping 10 lakh by RBI. Through the programme, the RBI aims to generate engagement with the student community.
Lets look at some of the important points to remember concerning the RBI@90 quiz competition:
Who is eligible to participate in the quiz competition?
As per the UGC notification, the RBI 90 Quiz is open for students pursuing graduate courses in recognised colleges across the country.
How many levels of the quiz will it include?
As per the notification, there will be four phases of the quiz competition. These are described in detail below:
PHASE 1: Online
Will include an online quiz in Hindi and English.
Top-performing colleges from the state will move to Phase 2.
PHASE 2: (State level)
Selected colleges will compete in an on-stage competition following an elimination round.
The winner of this round will proceed to the zonal round.
PHASE 3 AND 4 (Zonal and National)
Participants who win in the zonal round will compete at the national level.
Also read: Teachers' Day 2024: CM Bhupendra Patel contributes to teachers' welfare fund
What is the prize reward?
Participants will be given prizes starting from the state level. Those who participate at the national level will be awarded the following prize rewards:
1st Prize: 10 Lakh
10 Lakh 2nd Prize: 8 Lakh
8 Lakh 3rd Prize: 6 lakh
Also read: AACCC AYUSH NEET UG round 1 seat allotment result today at aaccc.gov.in
About the registration process and other important dates
Registrations for the RBI 90 Quiz began on August 20, 2024.
The deadline for registration is September 17, 2024.
Quiz date: As per the RBI website, the online RBI 90 Quiz will be held from September 19th to 21st, 2024.
For more information, participants are advised to visit the official website.
The competition started in second grade for DJ Wang's son. Eight-year-old William was enrolled at a top elementary school in Wuhan, a provincial capital in central China. While kindergarten and first grade were relatively carefree, the homework assignments started piling up in second grade. Families in China are moving to Thailand seeking an alternative to China's pressure-cooker schools. (Photo Credits: Pixabay)
By third grade, his son was regularly finishing his day around midnight.
You went from traveling lightly to carrying a very heavy burden, Wang said. That sudden switch, it was very hard to bear.
Wang, who travelled often to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand for his job in tourism, decided to make a switch, moving his family to the city that sits at the base of mountains.
Also read: Teachers' Day 2024: CM Bhupendra Patel contributes to teachers' welfare fund
The family is among a wave of Chinese flocking to Thailand for its quality international schools and more relaxed lifestyle. While there are no records tracking how many are moving abroad for education, they join other Chinese expats leaving the country, from wealthy entrepreneurs moving to Japan to protect their wealth, to activists unhappy with the political system, to young people who want to opt out of China's ultra-competitive work culture, at least for a while.
Jenson Zhang, who runs an education consultancy, Vision Education, for Chinese parents looking to move to Southeast Asia, said many middle-class families choose Thailand because schools are cheaper than private schools in cities like Beijing and Shanghai.
Also read: Teachers' Day 2024: A letter from a teacher to future educators who are about to start their exciting journey
Southeast Asia, it's within reach, the visa is convenient and the overall environment, as well as people's attitude towards Chinese people, it allows Chinese parents to feel more secure, Zhang said.
A 2023 survey by private education company New Oriental found Chinese families also increasingly considering Singapore and Japan for their children's overseas study. But tuition and the cost of living are much higher than in Thailand.
Within Thailand, the slow-paced city of Chiang Mai often ends up being the top choice. Other options include Pattaya and Phuket, both popular beach resorts, and Bangkok, though the capital is usually more expensive.
The trend has been ongoing for about a decade, but in recent years it's gathered pace.
Lanna International School, one of Chiang Mai's more selective schools, saw a peak of interest in the 2022-2023 academic year, with inquiries doubling from a year earlier.
Parents were really in a rush, they wanted to quickly change to a new school environment" because of pandemic restrictions, said Grace Hu, an admissions officer at Lanna International, whose position helping Chinese parents through the process was created in 2022.
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Du Xuan of Vision Education says parents coming to Chiang Mai fall into two types: Those who planned in advance what education they want for their kids, and those who experienced difficulties with the competitive Chinese education system. The majority are from the second group, she said.
In Chinese society, many value education to the point where one parent may give up their job and rent an apartment near their child's school to cook and clean for them, and ensure their life runs smoothly. Known as peidu, or accompanied studying, the goal is academic excellence, often at the expense of the parent's own life.
That concept has become twisted by the sheer pressure it takes to keep up. Chinese society has come up with popular buzzwords to describe this hyper-competitive environment, from neijuan which roughly translated means the rat race that leads to burnout or tang ping," rejecting it all to drop out, or "lie flat.
The terms reflect what success looks like in modern China, from the hours of cramming required for students to succeed on their exams to the money parents spend hiring tutors to give their kids an extra edge in school.
The driving force behind it all is numbers. In a country of 1.4 billion people, success is viewed as graduation from a good college. With a limited number of seats, class rank and test scores matter, especially on the college entrance exams known as the gaokao.
If you have something, it means someone else can't have that, said Vision Education's Du, whose own daughters attend school in Chiang Mai. "We have a saying about the gaokao: One point will topple 10,000 people.' The competition is that intense.
Wang said his son William was praised by his second-grade teacher in Wuhan as gifted, but to stand out in a class of 50 kids and continue to get that level of attention would mean giving money and gifts to the teacher, which other parents were already doing before he was even aware of the need.
Back in Wuhan, parents are expected to know the material covered in extracurricular tutoring classes, as well as what is being taught in school, and ensure their child has mastered it all, Wang said. It's often a full-time job.
In Chiang Mai, freed from China's emphasis on rote memorization and hours of homework, students have time to develop hobbies.
Jiang Wenhui moved from Shanghai to Chiang Mai last summer. In China, she said, she had accepted that her son, Rodney, would get average grades because of his mild attention deficit disorder. But she could not help thinking twice about her decision to move given how competitive every other family was.
In that environment, you'll still feel anxious," she said. "Should I give it another go?
In China, her energy was devoted toward helping Rodney keep up in school, shuttling him to tutoring and keeping him on top of his coursework, pushing him along every step of the way.
In Thailand, Rodney, who's about to start 8th grade, has taken up acoustic guitar and piano, and carries around a notebook to learn new English vocabulary all of it his own choice, Jiang said. He'd ask me to add an hour of English tutoring. I thought his schedule was too full, and he told me, I want to try and see if it's OK.'
He has time to pursue hobbies and hasn't needed to see a doctor for his attention deficit disorder. After bonding with one of his teachers about snakes, he is raising a pet ball python called Banana.
Wang says his son William, who is now 14 and about to enter high school, finishes his homework well before midnight and has developed outside interests. Wang, too, has changed his perspective on education.
Here, if he gets a bad grade, I don't think much of it, you just work on it, he said. Is it the case that if he gets a bad grade, that he will be unable to become a successful adult?"
"Now, I don't think so.
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel acknowledging the social responsibility of teachers in shaping society contributed to the Teachers' Welfare Fund on the occasion of Teachers' Day. September 5 is celebrated across India to honour the birth anniversary of former President Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a lifelong teacher. Chief Minister Patel acknowledged the importance of teachers and expressed his gratitude by making his contribution.(HT)
Students from St. Xavier's School and the School of Achievers in Gandhinagar visited the Chief Minister's residence to collect voluntary donations for the fund. Chief Minister Patel acknowledged the importance of teachers and expressed his gratitude by making his contribution.
During the interaction, Patel spoke to the children, shared his respect for teachers, and highlighted their contribution to individual and societal development. He encouraged everyone to support the welfare of teachers by contributing to the fund.
Also Read: Teachers' Day 2024: These individuals cannot thank their educators enough, here's why
"Today, on the occasion of Teacher's Day, the children of Gandhinagar schools expressed their gratitude to the teachers by contributing to the Teachers' Welfare Fund. The interaction with the school children and teachers on this occasion was very enjoyable," the CM said.
The event was attended by District Collector Mehul Dave, District Development Officer J.B. Patel, District Education Officer Dr. Bhagwanbhai Prajapati, and Primary Education Officer Piyush Patel, along with other officials and school representatives.
Also Read: Teachers' Day 2024: A letter from a teacher to future educators who are about to start their exciting journey
Earlier in his message on Teachers Day, the Gujarat CM said, "A teacher is not just someone who teaches textbooks in classrooms. A teacher is the architect of a country's future. A teacher is the key to the progress of mankind. Happy Teacher's Day to all the teachers who instill knowledge, skills and virtues in students. Former President of India, great educationist, Bharat Ratna, in whose memory this day is celebrated. Greetings on the birth anniversary of Sarvapalli Radhakrishnanji," Bhupendra Patel posted on X.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also paid tribute to Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on the occasion, "On Teachers Day, I bow to all the teachers who not only build the lives of their students but also make invaluable contributions to building a great nation. On the Jayanti of Bharat Ratna, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, I bow to the former President of India and extend my heartfelt greetings to all our hard-working teachers," the Home Minister posted on X.
Also Read: Teachers' Day 2024: From PM Modi to Kharge, wishes galore for educators
On National Teachers Day, which commemorates the birth anniversary of Former Vice President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Teachers Award 2024 to 82 educators. The ceremony took place to honour those who have significantly contributed to the education sector. Teachers Day 2024: President Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Teachers Award 2024 to 82 educators on Thursday. (PTI Photo)
Addressing the awardees, President Murmu said, The most important role in the success of any education system is that of teachers. Teaching is not just a job. It is a sacred mission of human development. She also talked about famous Indian writer Rabindranath Tagores perspective, saying, Gurudev's clear view was that if a teacher himself does not keep on acquiring knowledge then he cannot do the work of teaching in the true sense. It is impossible to light other lamps from a lamp whose flame is not lit.
Also read: Teachers' Day 2024: From PM Modi to Kharge, wishes galore for educators
Among the recipients is Urfana Amin from Jammu & Kashmir, who teaches at BHSS Soura, Hawal, Srinagar. Amin, an expert in English, Entrepreneurship, and teacher training, provided radio classes during the COVID-19 pandemic and developed educational materials such as FLN modules and e-content for DIKSHA.
Dwiti Chandra Sahu from Govt. High School Billesu, Odisha, works in a remote, hilly district with poor connectivity and frequent power cuts. Sahu was awarded for integrating ICT into his teaching without relying on electricity or the internet. His initiatives include creating educational games, a YouTube channel, and PDF content. He also uses tribal language dictionaries, bilingual storybooks, and recycled materials for low-cost educational tools. Sahu established a school cooperative store, a tribal museum, an MLE reading corner, and a craft corner.
Also read: Teachers' Day 2024: CM Bhupendra Patel contributes to teachers' welfare fund
Sagar Chittaranjan Bagade, from Sou S. M. Lohia High School and Junior College, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, organized social events and campaigns for orphans, tribals, young HIV patients, and individuals with disabilities. He also arranged folk dance and ballet performances that have gained international recognition.
The award winners also included two professors from IITs and one from IISER, Nidhi Jain from IIT Delhi, with 16 years of teaching experience was awarded for notable contributions in chemistry, with over 80 research papers and more than 3,900 citations.
Also read: Teachers' Day 2024: A letter from a teacher to future educators who are about to start their exciting journey
Vinay Sharma from IIT Roorkee has 30 years of experience in marketing innovation and low-cost energy solutions. He was recognized for his work on the Ganga River Basin Environment Management Plan and projects in the North-Western Himalayas which has led to patented technologies now being commercialized.
Srinivas Hotha from the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, Pune was awarded for significant contributions to chemistry with research on gold-catalyzed glycosidation and complex glycan probes. He also developed the TLC-MS Interface, SWADESI, for drug molecular weight confirmation. Hotha has published over 100 research papers.
The National Teachers Award recognizes teachers who have improved education quality and enriched students' lives. Each award includes a certificate of merit, a cash prize of Rs. 50,000, and a silver medal. Awardees will also have the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
This years 50 awardees included teachers from 28 states, 3 UTs, and 6 organizations. Among them are 16 women, 2 differently-abled individuals, and 1 teacher working with children with special needs. Additionally, 16 teachers from the Department of Higher Education and 16 from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship were honored.
The Goa Police have arrested two teachers, Sujal Gawade and Kanisha Gadekar, for allegedly beating a 9-year-old child, who suffered injuries as a result of the thrashing he received. According to the complaint filed by the boys father, the minor was also slapped and kicked in the stomach, and his face was dragged by his ear across a blackboard. (Representative image)
The child, who was studying at the Shree Saraswati Vidya Mandir Primary School, a government-aided school, was allegedly beaten with a steel ruler because he ripped the pages of his book.
According to the Police, the two teachers have been booked under Section 8 of the Goa Children's Act, Section 82 of the Juvenile Justice Act, and relevant sections of BNS. The teachers have been placed under arrest, Deputy Superintendent of Police
Also read: Teachers' Day 2024: A letter from a teacher to future educators who are about to start their exciting journey
The incident took place on August 2 but came to light only later that evening when the childs father, who is a rickshaw driver, returned home. The case was filed the following day.
Earlier the school management issued an order placing the two teachers under suspension.
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The student sustained injuries on his hands, thighs, legs, and back and is currently undergoing treatment. According to the complaint, filed by the boys father, he was also slapped and kicked in the stomach, and his face was dragged by his ear across a blackboard.
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Earlier Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who is also the education minister, expressed regret about the incident and promised action.
Both the education department as well as the Police department will be taking action, the Chief Minister said.
The One Piece Vivre Card is a resource that explores character details in depth. It carefully calculates the characters' role and importance in the plot while also paying attention to details like their hair colour, height, and birthday. One Piece author Eiichiro Oda reportedly does not necessarily write the Vivre Card, but he has admitted that it is a reliable source of information. One Piece September 2024 Vivre Card reveals new information about characters.(@OPBR_official/X)
What was revealed in the September 2024 Vivre Card?
While the databook exclusively summarises what is already known about characters, it has occasionally revealed important insights related to the upcoming plot twist.
On September 04, 2024, One Piece Vivre Card was released for characters like Shanks, Mihawk, Ryokugyu, and Queen.
Who are Shanks and Queen in One Piece?
Shanks is the mentor and role model of Luffy, the protagonist of the series. In the databook, he is described as a man with red hair. His birthday is March 9, and his height is approximately 199 centimetres. He has also been declared one of the Four Emperors (Yonko), and he was a former apprentice in the Roger Pirates.
Interestingly, the Vivre Card claims that if Shanks weren't a pirate, he would be a landscape photographer. Even with all the information revealed about him, there was nothing noteworthy. However, he is considered one of the major characters in the series and always plays his part in the plot.
Due to his deadly viruses, the One Piece character Queen has been described as the mad scientist or The Plague.' The Virve Card has revealed a distinct timeline for this character, releasing important details about his journey. It has been disclosed that his real name is Scien.
Approximately 39 years ago, he was part of the research team MADS. After that, 36 years ago, he had a child, and 26 years ago, he abandoned him when he was bought by the Government. It is suspected that Franky, who is now 36 and was abandoned by his parents when he was a 10-year-old, might be the Queen's son. Fans have noted similarities between the timelines of the two characters, and it strangely makes sense.
It was also noticed that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda put Franky on the cover of volume 39, and Queen is also seen in the same pose on the cover of volume 93.
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Who are Dracule Mihawk and Aramaki Ryokugyu in One Piece?
Dracule Mihawk is best known for being the greatest swordsman in One Piece. In the databook, he is described as having multiple titles, like Hawk-Eyes,' Marine Hunter, and Worlds Strongest Swordsman.' His height is 198 centimeters, his birthday is March 9, and he likes wine and dislikes nabe. Hawk-Eyes' hobbies are laidback farm work and collecting wines.
Mihawk has also been described as the rival of Shanks and his disciple Zoro, who wants to become the world's greatest swordsman.
Meanwhile, Aramaki Ryokugyu is a supporter of the World Government who went on to become a Navy Admiral. In the September Vivre Card, he was described as a man who was 308 centimetres tall, was forty-one years old, and his birthday was February 29. Aramaki's origin is from the South Blue and he favourite beverage is aged booze, the card explains that he doesnt eat because it's a pain.'
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He has extremist views, and admires Fleet Admiral Sakazuki Akainu. However, the Vivre Card does not disclose whether Ryokugyu owns a Black Blade or not.
Superstar Salman Khan stepped out for work in Mumbai today, and left his fans in awe by taking a pause to have a conversation with an elderly lady, who is seen blessing him with a lot of love and prayers. Also read: Salman Khan winces as he tries to sit, looks uncomfortable at event; host praises him for attending despite injury Salman Khan will next be seen in Sikandar.
Salmans compassionate side
Salman was on his way to shoot some teasers for the upcoming season of Bigg Boss show in Mumbai, when he was stopped by the lady.
Without hesitation, Salman stopped and the two engaged in a heartwarming conversation. The lady, visibly emotional, shared with Salman that she had taken a mannat (a vow) for his well-being and safety.
Salman, touched by her gesture, listened intently and expressed his gratitude. He spent a few moments with the lady, making her feel special.
Maine mannat liya ke aap ache rahe (I took a vow that you stay healthy)... You are very good, she was seen in the video, which is catching everyones attention on social media.
Fans react
The brief encounter is winning over the internet, with Salmans fans taking to social media to express their views.
This man is with pure humanity, shared one, with one mentioning, Best example of Man with golden heart.
Tiger down to earth hai, posted one user, with another writing, This man is a good human.
Bhai always being kind Human, commented one user. One user lauded Salman for being a sweet star with no ego.
Salman Khan respect button, posted one user, with one sharing, Most Loved MegaStar.
So adorable, one user exclaimed, with another commenting, Really yr he is so kind hearted person.
Salman recovers from rib injury
Late last month, actor Salman Khan garnered praise after he attended the Bacche Bole Morya event in Mumbai despite suffering a rib injury on the same day. Several videos and pictures, which emerged online, showed the actor wincing as he touched the right side of his rib cage. "Today he got hurt, he is not well, still he came. It shows his commitment towards the environment. Thank you so much," said Amruta Fadnavis, the organiser, at the event.
Later, a source close to the actor confirmed that Salman had suffered a rib injury, but he is doing fine. "Nothing to worry about. The shoot (of Sikandar) is on schedule, not pushed," the source added, as reported by news agency ANI. Fans of the actor grew concerned after the videos surfaced on social media platforms.
Salman's next film
Next, Salman will be seen headlining Sikandar, which is directed by AR Murugadoss. The film, produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, is set to release next Eid. Rashmika Mandanna will be seen alongside Salman in the film.
Good news is in the building for all those rooting for Brad Pitt and George Clooney's bromance. Following their September 1 premiere for Jon Watts' directorial action comedy Wolfs at the Venice Film Festival, the iconic Ocean's pair is reportedly returning for the 14th installment of the Warner Bros caper movie franchise. Brad Pitt and George Clooney pose on the red carpet during arrivals for the movie "Wolfs", presented out of competition, during the 81st Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, September 1, 2024.(REUTERS)
Sources told Deadline that elite German-Australian filmmaker Edward Berger is set to helm the forthcoming addition to the epic Pitt-Clooney series. The All Quiet on the Western Front and Conclave director's purported project in early development will be jointly backed by Warner Bros. and Smokehouse, making Ocean's 14 the first iteration to take off without director Steven Soderbergh.
Brad Pitt and George Clooney's star-packaged buddy trip continues
Pitt and Clooney just walked down the Venice Film Festival red carpet in Italy for Spider-Man: No Way Home director Jon Watts' Apple film Wolfs. The Hollywood buddies were also spotted on double dates with their partners. While girlfriend Ines de Ramon accompanied the Troy star, the Gravity actor's wife Amal Clooney was by his side.
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The dynamic Ocean's winning combination of Pitt and Clooney came back together under the same roof for a cinematic production 16 years after Burn After Reading. As the Ocean's 14 tide rises in the background, Watts is also ready to reunite the A-list duo for the Wolfs sequel. George Clooney dropped the bombshell in his December 2023 interview with Deadline: Were already talking about a sequel for this film I did with Brad and Jon Watts.
Jon Watts' 2024 Apple TV film will receive limited theatrical screenings in the US on September 20 before streaming on the platform on September 27.
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Wolfs marks Clooney and Pitt's seventh movie together. The decades-old pals previously partnered up for the movies: Ocean's Eleven (2001), Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002), Ocean's Twelve (2004), Ocean's Thirteen (2007), Burn After Reading (2008), and IF (credited for voicing minor characters - 2024).
Confirmations and more info on the Ocean's 14 front have yet to roll out.
Andy Cohen, the Bravo star has put his luxurious West Village duplex on the market. The asking price is $14 million. Known for its abundant natural light and stylish interior, the apartment is a prime example of upscale city living. Bravo star Andy Cohen puts his West Village duplex on the market for $14 million.
The listing is being handled by the talented real estate agent Ryan Serhant, who has gained limelight for his high-profile clientele and appearances on the Bravo series Million Dollar Listing New York.
Andy Cohens NYC dream home hits the market
Andy Cohen, the iconic host of the Real Housewives franchise, has decided to part ways with his beloved West Village duplex after two decades of ownership. This 3,500-square-foot fantasy house, set in a cool historic pre-war spot, has three bedrooms and four bathrooms. Cohen bought the place back in 2003 and worked on it for years, mixing it up with the three other units next to it to make his perfect nestle.
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According to the POST, Ryan Serhant, who's been friends with Cohen for a while, got a solid vibe for the apartment the minute he checked it out. The first time I ever walked into Andys apartment, I said, Whenever you are willing to part with this, even if I have to pull it from your grip, please let me know. Because its a one-of-one, Serhant once said on Netflix.
Ryan Serhant holds the listing
Ryan Serhant, who's listing the apartment for Andy Cohen in the West Village duplex, calls it the perfect custom apartment. Serhant, a renowned real estate agent, expressed his excitement about having the opportunity to sell such an exceptional property. He stated, "This is one of those rare gems that you wait your entire career to find and bring to market." The asking price for this luxurious residence is a substantial $14 million.
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The design of the home is not only beautiful, its completely functional and has more storage space than you could ever need which is not something that is easy to come by in the West Village, the star real estate agent told PEOPLE. Opportunities like this dont just happen in New York City. Whoever buys this home is truly getting a once-in-a-lifetime deal, he added.
Andy Cohens iconic NYC duplex
Andy Cohen worked for years to build his dream house. When the pandemic hit New York City in 2020 and everything went into lockdown, Cohen was almost done with all the big changes he had planned. The place has been a hit spot for famous people like Madonna, Sarah Jessica Parker, John Mayer, and Kelly Ripa, who've all had their parties there. Even though they couldn't have big get-togethers during the pandemic, Cohen and his real estate agent, Serhant, really hit it off thanks to their kids.
Cohen teamed up with interior designer Eric Hughes and architect Gordon Kahn to make sure the place was just right. Even though it's not officially on the market yet, people are expecting it to go up for sale in September.
BTS' Suga continues to dominate the charts, even without releasing new music. His solo work, under the moniker Agust D, has been experiencing a resurgence thanks to the dedicated fandom who have been championing his older tracks. BTS's Suga performing in Seoul during his first solo world tour, 'Suga Agust D Tour' (2023).(Instagram / agustd)
On September 4th, The Last from his debut mixtape, Agust D, reached a Billboard milestone topping the World Digital Song Sales Chart for the first time since its release eight years ago. This is just one of many chart-topping achievements Suga has garnered amid his recent DUI scandal boosting his career counts.
BTS Suga is charting new peaks on digital music rankings
BTS's Suga has achieved two new chart hits in the UK this week, according to Forbes on September 5th. His songs The Last and Polar Night have both entered the Official Singles Sales and Official Singles Downloads charts for the first time. Fans seem to be purchasing these tracks in almost equal quantities, as they are ranked side-by-side on both charts.
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The Last made its debut on the charts at No. 55 on the Official Singles Sales list and No. 54 on the Official Singles Downloads list. On the other hand, Polar Night, which following SUGA's recent interrogation related to DUI, rose to No. 1 on the Worldwide iTunes Song Chart on August 23, also made its first appearance at No. 56 on the Official Singles Sales list and entered the Official Singles Downloads chart at No. 55.
Suga has been on these charts before, but only with a few songs. With these two new hits, he has collectively increased his total number of chart appearances. Including these new entries, Suga now has five solo hits on the charts.
Suga demonstrates global dominance
After Suga's drunk driving case hit the news, his fans rallied around him with a huge show of support. Earlier in August, his stage name, Agust D saw a major boost, with his albums D-DAY, D-2, and his debut album all climbing the Worldwide iTunes Album Chart. Tracks from D-DAY, like Snooze, Haegeum, and The Last, which were part of his world tour, made a strong comeback.
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By August 24, Agust D made history as the only artist with five songs hitting #1 on the iTunes Country Charts worldwide, and The Last even reached #1 on the U.S. iTunes Chart for the first time. These are just a handful of records, that Min Yoongi aka Suga garnered in just a month.
Fans say, messed with wrong fandom
Amidst a climate where many Korean celebrities face backlash for scandals like DUI, Suga's career seems largely unaffected. Many believe that the Korean media intentionally sensationalized the incident when Yoongi was detained for driving an electric scooter under the influence of alcohol. Fans argue that they've "messed with the wrong fandom.
The BTS member has since received major support from fans and industry colleagues, including PSY, actress Park Sohee, The Rose's Woosung, Pachinko writer Lee Min Jin, Mui Sakamoto (daughter of the late composer Ryuichi Sakamoto), and others.
In a joint appeal, 72 prominent personalities, including author Arundhati Roy, have urged Kerala Chief Minister to enact a law addressing concerns raised by the Justice K Hema Committee report on sexual atrocities against women in the film field. (Also Read: Parvathy Thiruvothu says Hema Committee is more than Me Too part two: We are taking the space that is rightfully ours) Prakash Raj and Swara Bhascker are among the 72 who signed the appeal.
72 personalities sign appeal
The signatories to the appeal include Supreme Court advocates Indira Jaisingh and Vrinda Grover, actors Aparna Sen, Prakash Raj, Swara Bhasker, musician T M Krishna, a few retired bureaucrats and several journalists who have sought a "360-degree approach" from the state government to achieve the objectives for which the committee was set up.
In their letter to the CM, the concerns they have highlighted include the "inordinate focus on the sexual misdemeanours and crimes mentioned in the report" and the "virtual exclusion" of issues like the working conditions in the film industry, lack of contracts, pay disparities, etc. which also find mention the panel's findings.
One of the signatories, TM Krishna, in a post on social media platform Instagram, expressed solidarity with women in Malayalam cinema and urged the state government to take immediate action on the committee's report.
"Standing in solidarity with women in Malayalam cinema, we urge the Kerala government to take immediate action on the Hema Committee Report, addressing not just sexual harassment, but also wage disparity, poor working conditions, and systemic inequality in the industry," he said.
What's in the appeal?
The signatories, in their joint letter to Vijayan, said that the setting up of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the allegations being made by women about their experiences of sexual harassment and violence in the industry "has given a further impetus to the medias selective coverage".
"The inevitable implication of such selectiveness is that addressing the underlying causes of violence namely, inequality and discrimination is less important than the violence itself.
"Further, the government has made no effort to sensitise the media and public to the possibility that women with legitimate complaints of crimes may not necessarily wish to explore legal options for multiple, completely acceptable reasons," they said.
They further said that in the absence of such sensitisation, the present atmosphere in the state was veering towards doubting the allegations of any woman who opts not to file a police complaint after going public with her grievances.
Additionally, women who shared their stories with the public and media are facing extreme pressure from the police to lodge official complaints, they said in the letter.
This is a deeply disturbing development. In all cases of sexual crimes, a survivors agency and mental health must be prioritised above all else. The government must strictly instruct the police and the SIT to not bulldoze women, to treat them with consideration, and to act in their best interests, they said.
They said that in these circumstances, women who have come out with allegations should be allowed to decide how they wish to proceed with their individual experiences in the aftermath of the reports release.
It further said that the state government should also "invest in an awareness-building programme to sensitise the public and media", so that "testimonies" by women who suffered sexual exploitation are not doubted just because they cannot or do not wish to fight long-drawn-out cases.
"The aim of such a programme should be to make certain that women who decide not to explore legal options are not discredited in public or humiliated, which is the direction that we worry the discourse in the state will take in the absence of a well-thought-out intervention.
"The government must offer counselling to all women who speak out, irrespective of the path they choose. Such counselling would help them to deal with the mental health issues that result from sexual harassment and violence," they said in the letter.
They also said that the government should also look into the other important issues, like the absence of written contracts, wage discrimination and poor working conditions, such as non-provision of secure, private toilets and dressing rooms as well as safe accommodation and transportation, highlighted in the report.
"It must take steps to remedy the situation through systemic reform of the industry in keeping with the many detailed recommendations of the committee. The government must also ensure the safety of women who have spoken to the committee and in public about their experiences.
"This must include - we repeat, because it cannot be emphasised enough - an assurance that they will not be bullied into filing police complaints if they do not wish to do so," they said.
GOAT review: It's Ilayathalapathy versus Thalapathy. One is a good guy and the other is bad one. A young man vs an older one, bringing double the fun and double the action. Director Venkat Prabhu tries to show the audience why this film and Vijay is GOAT to his fans and the audience. (Also read: Vijay will become the Tamil Nadu chief minister in 2026: GOAT actor Premgi) GOAT review: Thalapathy Vijay has dual roles in the movie,
GOAT takes off in Kenya in 2008 where we see a special anti-terrorist squad (SATS) team recover stolen uranium from a group of terrorists led by Omar and Rajiv Menon (Mohan). Gandhi (Vijay) and his team members-cum-friends Kalyan (Prabhu Deva), Sunil (Prashanth), Shaaam (Ajay) come back victorious to India but create havoc in the mission and receive flak from their chief Nazeer (Jayaram) for this. The group of men are thick as thieves and like to party and this is what gets Gandhi into trouble with his pregnant wife Anu (Sneha), who is quite suspicious of his activities.
Chaos unfurls
To keep Anu and his son Jeevan happy, Gandhi decides to take them to Thailand when he is assigned a mission. And this is where things go terribly wrong. Gandhi and his family are attacked by a gang and Anu ends up in hospital while Jeevan ends up kidnapped and killed. Cut to years later and we see things have changed - Gandhi is on a desk job and he is separated from Anu. But terror strikes again in the form of Sanjay. What does Gandhi do? Who is Sanjay? How does the SATS team save the day? Does Gandhi reunite with his family? Is it a happy-ever-after?
Director Venkat Prabhu must first be lauded for writing a story that travels the world and has family sentiment, action, humour and drama interlaced with twists and plenty of tributes. He has given Thalapathy Vijay a story that is quite different from the Tamil stars last few outings and its refreshing. Vijay is seen in two roles and the two characters are radically quite different and thats what makes it interesting. Venkat Prabhu has loaded the film with a lot of tributes starting from Captain Vijayanath, SPB and Ajiths Mankatha hook step to his late cousin, Bhavatharini, and numerous Vijay films.
A Vijay fan tribute
The first half of GOAT is extremely engaging with the director setting up the stage for superb interval block that takes you by surprise. There is a lot of family drama and high-octane action in various missions around the world before the film hits the interval. Post interval, the film takes off with a face off between the Gandhi and Sanjay and the director tries to keep it fast-paced. Through the film, Venkat Prabhu shows he is a fanboy of Vijay, the Kollywood (references to Ghilli, Thirumalai, etc) and the climax of the film definitely proves this. This is not to say that there are no lags in the film but the superb performance of Vijay and the large ensemble cast makes you forgive this. The director capitalises totally on Vijays trademark charm, sentiment, action, dance and humour and this is sure to appeal to his fans and the audience.
Venkat Prabhu has always worked with his friends and family and his cousin, Yuvan Shankar Raja, has scored the music for GOAT like his previous films. Yuvan has done a good job with the BGM and the remixing of the an old Ilaiyarajaa song is foot tapping. But the Bhavathirini song (made with the use of AI), Chinna Chinna Kangal, is quite touching and soulful.
GOAT is a Venkat Prabhu treat for Thalapathy Vijay fans and the audience. This Vijay film is an action-packed, fun, wholesome entertainer!
Actor Trisha Krishnan went to the theatres in Chennai on Thursday to catch the release of Venkat Prabhus Vijay-starrer The Greatest Of All Time (The GOAT). She smiled as she went inside the theatre, flanked by her posse, to watch the film, in which she plays a special cameo. (Also Read: GOAT movie review: This Thalapathy Vijay-Venkat Prabhu film is an action-packed, wholesome entertainer) Trisha Krishnan watched The GOAT in theatres. She and Vijay have been close since they acted together in Ghilli.
Trisha watches The GOAT
In a video shared by Galatta, Trisha is dressed in a designer white t-shirt and jeans, with her hair left loose and a bag on her shoulder. She initially looked confused about getting out of a lift due to the crowd of fans and photographers standing outside. But she and producer Archana Kalpathi smile wide as theyre flanked by security and enter the theatre. According to the publication, Trisha watched the films first show in Chennai on opening day.
Trishas cameo in The GOAT
Numerous users on X (formerly Twitter) have shared pictures and videos of Trisha making a special appearance to dance with Vijay in a song, even as the filmmakers scramble to take them down. One video compared their moves to the famous song Appadi Podu from the 2004 film Ghilli, which they recreated for Matta from The GOAT. Fans are thrilled to see them reunite again after the 2023 film Leo. Trisha and Vijay first worked together in the 2004 film, and their pairing was such a hit that they worked in 2005-8 in the films Thirupaachi, Aathi, and Kuruvi.
About The GOAT
The GOAT tells the story of Gandhi, a member of the Special Anti-Terrorist Squad (SATS), who takes his wife Anu and son Jeevan to Thailand while on a mission. Things go awry, ending with Anu in the hospital and Jeevan, kidnapped. Years later, when hes separated from his wife and on a desk job, terror strikes in the form of Sanjay. The film has tributes starting from Captain Vijayanath, SPB and Ajiths Mankatha hook step to his late cousin, Bhavatharini, and numerous Vijay films.
Since heavy rainfall lashed Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (AP and TS), resulting in loss of life, flooding, landslides and destruction, numerous Telugu celebrities have stepped up to provide relief. The last few days have seen multiple actors come forward to donate money towards the chief minister funds of AP and TS, with some of them even donating to NGOs to help those affected. Take a look at this list of 12 Telugu actors who donated generously. (Also Read: Mahesh Babu, Namrata Shirodkar turn tourist mode on in New York) Pawan Kalyan, Ram Charan, Mahesh Babu, Prabhas have donated recently to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Pawan Kalyan - 6 crore
Andhra Pradeshs Deputy Chief Minister and actor Pawan Kalyan donated 6 crore to aid with the devastation. He also donated 1 crore each to the CM relief funds ( 2 crore total) of Telugu states and 1 lakh each to 400 panchayats ( 4 crore total) in Andhra Pradesh. Being the Panchayat Raj Minister, he also oversees relief activities in each Panchayat.
Prabhas - 2 crore
Prabhas has pledged a donation of 1 crore each ( 2 crore total) to the Telugu states of AP and Telangana to aid in the relief of flood victims. His spokesperson announced the news on X (formerly Twitter) that the Raja Saab actor wants to stand by the people suffering due to heavy rains and flooding.
Chiranjeevi - 1 crore
After donating 1 crore for relief for the landslide victims in Keralas Wayanad with his son Ram Charan, Chiranjeevi pledged a donation of 50 lakh each ( 1 crore total) to the CM relief funds of both Telugu states. The hardships faced by people due to the floods in the Telugu states deeply sadden me. The tragic loss of lives is heart-wrenching, he wrote, sharing the news.
Ram Charan - 1 crore
Ram Charan expressed his heartfelt sympathy to those affected, stating, This is the time to lend a helping hand to the people of Telugu states who are suffering due to rains and floods. Like his father, he also pledged 50 lakh each ( 1 crore total) to the CM relief funds for both Telugu states. He added, I pray to God that the people of Telugu states get out of this situation soon.
Allu Arjun - 1 crore
I'm saddened by the loss and suffering caused by the devastating rains in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, stated Allu Arjun, pledging 50 lakh each ( 1 crore total) to the CM relief funds of both Telugu states. Praying for everyone's safety, he added.
Jr NTR - 1 crore
Jr NTR also pledged 50 lakh each ( 1 crore total) to the CM relief funds of AP and Telangana. He also penned a heartfelt note on X in Telugu: I am deeply moved by the recent floods caused by heavy rains in the two Telugu states. I pray to God that Telugu people recover from this calamity soon.
Mahesh Babu - 1 crore
Mahesh Babu did not just donate 50 lakh each ( 1 crore total) to the CM relief funds of the Telugu states; he urged others to contribute to the cause. Lets collectively support the measures being undertaken by the respective governments to provide immediate aid and facilitate the recovery process for the flood-affected regions, he wrote.
Nagarjuna - 1 crore
The Akkineni family as a whole, including Nagarjuna, Naga Chaitanya and Akhil Akkineni, donated 50 lakh each ( 1 crore total) to the Telugu states. Nagarjuna stated, Its crucial that we unite to support the governments efforts in delivering swift relief measures and aiding recovery. Lets face this challenge with resilience and emerge stronger.
Balakrishna - 1 crore
Actor-politician Balakrishna donated 50 lakh ( 1 crore total) to both the states, calling the visuals heartbreaking. His spokesperson shared a note, in which the actor states, Now, catastrophic floods have hit our Telugu states and the visuals are heartbreaking. He recently also completed 50 years in the film industry.
Sai Dharam Tej - 25 lakh
Sai Dharam Tej, who recently changed his name to Sai Durgha Tej to honour his mother, donated 25 lakh towards relief efforts. He donated 10 lakh each ( 20 lakh total) towards the CM relief funds, apart from 5 lakh to Amma Ashramam in Vijayawada and other NGOs run by fans.
Siddhu Jonnalagadda - 30 lakh
Siddhu Jonnalagadda donated 15 lakh each ( 30 lakh total) to the AP and Telangana CM relief funds. This should not have happened. This is not fair. No one deserves this plight, he stated, adding, No amount of money can undo this damage, but I pray that it helps in some way to rebuild lives and restore faith.
Varun Tej - 15 lakh
Varun Tej Konidela donated 15 lakh to help those affected by the floods in AP and Telangana. He has also donated 5 lakh each ( 10 lakh total) to the CM relief funds of both states and 5 lakh to the Panchayat Raj department headed by Pawan. I hope we all support each other through this, he stated.
Other actors like Vishwak Sen and Sonu Sood and directors like Trivikram Srinivas and Venky Atluri, apart from the producers of Kalki 2898 AD and more, have also donated to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to aid with relief efforts.
When actors Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala got engaged in August after years of rumours about them dating, the couple shared carefully selected pictures of their special day. While the photos included everything from the decor to their outfits and quiet moments after the ceremony, fans were curious to see Sobhitas engagement ring. (Also Read: Daggubati family hosted a high tea for Sobhita Dhulipala and Naga Chaitanya after their engagement) A closer look at Sobhita Dhulipala's classy engagement ring.
First look at Sobhita Dhulipalas engagement ring
Sobhita decided to finally indulge them and share pictures of her looking stunning in a saree, all while flaunting a classy engagement ring. She posted pictures on her Instagram, dressed in an animal print saree, with the caption reading, Calling this Safari-Noir now. For @satyapaulindia in Hyderabad.
The pictures show her wearing a black, sleeveless blouse that complements the saree she picked. While she looked stunning in it, all eyes were on the massive rock on her finger. Some pictures show her daintily pushing her hair back, while others show the engagement ring popping against her saree's monochrome and yellow-orange tones. Gold jewellery completed her look, but its the simple band on her ring finger with the diamond that caught our eye.
Sobhita flaunting a massive diamond on her finger.
Naga Chaitanya, Sobhita Dhulipalas wedding plans
After Chaitanya and Sobhita got engaged on August 8, everyone was curious to know when theyll get married. Recently, Sobhita was papped in Mumbai at the Angry Young Men premiere and blushed when asked about her fiance.
Chaitanya spoke about the kind of wedding he wanted at an event in Hyderabad, stating, Marriage is about the people who mean a lot to me. It doesnt have to be a big fat wedding, but people keeping up with the cultures and traditions in mind, so thats how I want it to be. He also claimed that nothing about the wedding date or venue has been finalised yet.
Upcoming work
Chaitanya will soon be seen in Chandoo Mondetis Thandel with Sai Pallavi as his co-star. Sobhita will be next seen in Vandana Kataria's Sitara.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Brunei visit has made international headlines for a plethora of reasons. Foremost among them is the fact that this 2-day visit, commencing on September 3, was the first time an Indian Prime Minister has visited the Southeast Asian country of Brunei. Not far off in terms of traction, is the prime property the PM was hosted at by Sultan Hassanlal Bolkiah, Brunei's ruler. If you haven't googled it already, say hello to the immensely impressive and gargantuan Istana Nurul Iman Palace. The Istana Nurul Iman Palace in Brunei is the world's largest residential palace(Photo: X)
'Palace of the Light of Faith'
Spacious is an understatement for the Istana Nurul Iman Palace, also dubbed the 'Palace of the Light of Faith' which spans a jaw dropping 2,00,000 square meters. This is what has awarded it the accolade of being the largest residential palace in the world, also affirmed with a Guinness World Record. The rolling space stands well utilised across 1,788 rooms including 257 bathrooms and a sprawling banquet hall with a hosting capacity of 5,000 guests. An absolute standout detail of the Istana Nurul Iman Palace is its very own mosque which can hold about 1,500 worshippers.
Additional details which only enhance the portfolio of this one-of-a-kind space, are parking spots for a 110 cars, a stable for 200 Polo ponies air-conditioned if you were wondering, 5 swimming pools and 44 staircases. An aesthetic detail definitely worth a mention are the 38 types of marble used to bring this magnanimity to life.
If you're wondering how much it took to turn this grand vision into a palpable reality, we have a number for you. It's $1.4 billion.
Moving ahead of the marble, the palace's architectural intricacies are objectively laudable. Across a white and gold palette capped with golden domes, the palace carries an amalgamation of Bruneis Islamic culture as well as the Malay traditions. Incidentally, the interiors have been conceptualised by Khuan Chew, also responsible for Dubais keynote Burj Al Arab. On the topic of interiors, the stellar art makes for a magnificent attraction, with a Renoir painting worth $70 million. Briefly going back to the domes, the primary exterior point of attraction is the central dome studded with 22-carat gold.
The palace is a few decades old and was commissioned by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah himself back in 1981. Filipino architect Leonardo Locsin in collaboration with Ayala Corporation, completed the world-renowned project by 1984.
Internet Archive has lost a major legal battle in the Second Circuit US Court of Appeals. The court ruled against the supremely beneficial digital archive, finding that one of the Archive's digitisation projects violated copyright law. As a result, more than 500,000 books will be made unavailable for digital lending. Internet Archive acts as a free digital library with stores of discontinued websites and old music. Their most unique offering is literary books scanned using a unique software they call Scribe, used to archive almost every physical book you have had your eyes on. Internet Archive loses copyright suit with major publishing houses
What is the case about?
In March 2020, the San Francisco-based nonprofit registered library launched a program called the National Emergency Library, or NEL. The program was in response to the closing of libraries due to the pandemic, an unfortunate hitch in the system that left students and researchers unable to access the books they needed for class. Before the NEL came into existence, the Archive allowed one user to check out one book for a certain period of time functioning like a digital library. The problem arose when the NEL removed this ratio rule, instead letting a number of people borrow the same book at once. Post-launch, the NEL became the subject of immense backlash, with authors arguing the program was equal to piracy, amongst claims that the controlled digital lending (CDL) of complete copies was not protected by the doctrine of fair use.
In response, the Archive reinstated the lending caps but a little too late. In June 2020, major publishing houses including Hachette, HarperCollins, Penguin Random House and Wiley filed the lawsuit. The case primarily concerns the fair use of CDL of complete copies of certain books and does not concern the display of short passages, limited page views, search results, books out of copyright or out of print, or books without an ebook version currently for sale. The first time the district court ruled in favour of the publishers was in March 2023.
Judge John G. Koeltl found that the Internet Archive had created derivative works, arguing that there was nothing transformative about the Archive's copying and lending policies. In August 2023, the parties reached a negotiated judgement, including a permanent injunction that barred the Internet Archive from lending complete copies through CDL of some of the plaintiffs' books. The Archive appealed this decision which is what was upheld by the appellate court on September 4, 2024. While the Second Circuit sided with the district court's ruling, it did clarify that the court did not view the Internet Archive as commercial, emphasising that it was clearly a nonprofit operation.
Association of American Publishers president and CEO Maria A. Pallante said in a statement, Todays appellate decision upholds the rights of authors and publishers to license and be compensated for their books and other creative works and reminds us in no uncertain terms that infringement is both costly and antithetical to the public interest. If there was any doubt, the Court makes clear that under fair use jurisprudence there is nothing transformative about converting entire works into new formats without permission or appropriating the value of derivative works that are a key part of the authors copyright bundle."
What did the defendant have to say?
Chris Freeland, the Internet Archive's director of library services, expressed his understandable disappointment saying, We are disappointed in todays opinion about the Internet Archives digital lending of books that are available electronically elsewhere. We are reviewing the courts opinion and will continue to defend the rights of libraries to own, lend, and preserve books. Additionally, Dave Hansen, from the Authors Alliance, a nonprofit that advocates for expanded digital access to books, also came out against the ruling. Authors are researchers. Authors are readers and IAs digital library helps those authors create new works and supports their interests in seeing their works be read. This ruling may benefit the bottom line of the largest publishers and most prominent authors, but for most, it will end up harming more than it will help.
In the past few years, copyright laws have been targeting major AI companies that offer AI tools for creators. Many of the defendants in these cases argue that the fair use doctrine shields their usage of copyrighted data in AI training. The Archive fought for the same doctrine, but judges refuted fair use claims. The Internet Archives importance in digital preservation is keenly felt by a community of people eager to learn and connect it would be an understatement to say that shutting this down would be disastrous for the public.
A teacher is more than just an educator in school or college; they could be mentors in your profession, guides you meet along the journey of life or role models you may want to ape. They shape minds and mould their students outlooks. One such person in the culinary work is Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who has worked with and trained several chefs throughout his extensive career. He has acted as a mentor for some of the biggest celebrity chefs as well. Chef Sanjeev Kapoor has become a mentor for several chefs new to the industry along with celebrity chefs, as well(Instagram)
For Teachers Day today, we spoke to him about two of his students Chef Kunal Kapur and Pastry chef Pooja Dhingra. While he says both of them are brimming with talent, he goes on to share how he bonded with the two in different ways.
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor on Chef Kunal Kapur:
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor with Chef Kunal Kapur(Instagram)
During a flight from New York, Kunal and I were on the same plane when we got talking and I pushed him to start his YouTube channel. We spoke for around three hours. He was hesitant and asked me How did you start?. I said, I didnt know anything about this world. I just put my foot in the door, that this is a new opportunity and I think it will grow. Later, when he tasted success, he told me, Sir mujhe phele sunna chaiye tha. We also spent a lot of time together on the set of Masterchef India and he is keen to learn.
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor on Chef Pooja Dhingra :
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor with Chef Pooja Dhingra and Chef Kunal Kapur
I have known Pooja since she was a child as her father and I worked together, and we kept in touch. She is such a talented chef and Ive seen her grow up. When she started Le15 Patisserie, she sent me the first batch of her macaroons. While the product was fantastic, I was happier to see the packaging as I felt that India was ready for her high-quality desserts. I was happy and so proud of her. Initially, when she was a lot younger, most of the guidance I gave her was through her father - it was second-hand advice - as he used to always tell me what Pooja was working on. Now, she is not shy and will directly ask me (laughs).
Heavy is the head that wears the crown
When we ask him about the responsibility of guiding chefs who look towards him, Chef Sanjeev bashfully responds, I only share my experience, what has helped me or hasnt worked out for me. My advice to all aspiring chefs is to just do the things they might be afraid of. The worst thing to happen will be that they fail. But it is a new world we are chartering. We dont know what will happen or which road we may go down, not unless we try.
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Delhi(Instagram)
The senior chef and restaurateur goes on to share his motivation behind building the chef community in India. I have always believed that Indian food is the best cuisine in the world. And I was everyone to know it. So, whether I am speaking to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, our President Droupadi Murmu or at the United Nations, I will be there talking about this subject.
This is a massive responsibility spreading the love and knowledge of Indian food around the world that the chef has undertaken. However, he isnt alone. When I began, I was alone. Can I keep doing this alone? No. But I have an army now, I need everyone to be with me. Or I would be fighting a lone battle. And its not a charity, we create business opportunities and everyone is benefiting from this dream, Chef Sanjeev ends.
The longstanding relationship between supermodel Naomi Campbell and Vogues editor-in-chief Anna Wintour spans decades, making it all the more intriguing when a small moment of drama unfolded at the Fashion Show & Style Awards, hosted by Harlems Fashion Row in New York. The event served as an unofficial kickoff to New York Fashion Week, which begins on Friday. While introducing the iconic model, Anna made a subtle jab at Naomi's well-known habit of arriving late as she was reportedly behind schedule for the event. Naomi Campbell and Anna Wintour throw shade
I am a very punctual person, and I have the honour of presenting tonight to someone who is often late, said the editor-in-chief during Naomi's introduction when she was honoured for the Fashion Icon Award, reportedly also calling her bold, bright and entirely, unquestionably herself. After this introduction, Harper's Bazaar editor-in-chief Samira Nasr also introduced the supermodel, after which Naomi began her speech by saying, Yes, Naomi's always late but I believe in my high power, and I want to thank my higher power for having me be here.
But Naomi's speech took an unexpected turn, leaving the audience in shock when she referred to her longtime collaborator Anna as the other lady. It's so important that I'm here today, and I'm honoured to be here in Harlem. Everything's going to work out the way it's going to work out. It wasn't my choice to have the other lady. I'd much rather have this, she said, referring to Samira's reintroduction of her.
Fans had a lot to say. The shadiness of it all, said one. Another was a little more creative stating, The Devil might wear Prada, but Naomi wears whatever she wants, whenever she wants. A user also commented on Anna's attitude, Oh she mad that they're the same age and Naomi still looks 25, while another said, Naomi is a Gemini we match anybody's energy. We dont care!! A chronically online fan also said, A demure read. Very mindful. Very shade-like.
Despite the unexpected turn in her speech, Naomi expressed her gratitude to Anna for her enduring support, acknowledging the editors pivotal role in her career. We must still say thank you to Anna Wintour, as she did take the time to come here and give me the award even though I wasn't here. So thank you, Anna Wintour, for your support in my career from 1987, meeting a young Black girl from South London in British Vogue offices and taking a chance in giving me a shoot. And so I thank you for your influence and your continuing support in pushing fashion forward also, she said.
In March 2021, within two months of taking over as Americas president, Joe Biden attended the first Quad leaders summit as he got together with the leaders of Japan, Australia and India in a virtual format. In September 2024, four months before he leaves office, Biden will head to New York where he will, in all likelihood, attend his final leaders summit of Quad.
The grouping has transformed in the past four years because of its focus on what officials call concrete deliverables. (Getty Images)
Arvind Kejriwal is a constitutional functionary, not a flight risk, senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the Supreme Court on Thursday. Seeking bail for his client, the lawyer said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) pulled off what he called insurance arrest after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail in May. He also argued that arrests need to be regulated and "you can't be trigger-happy". Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal (HT photo)
AM Singhvi argued that Arvind Kejriwal's name was not mentioned as an accused in the original FIR filed by the agency in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. He said he wasn't called for questioning as a witness until almost eight months later.
He said Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in March 2024, not the CBI.
"What started in August 2023 led to his arrest in March 2024. In the ED case, there are two significant release orders. In one, the Supreme Court noted he is not a threat to society, and it was an interim release. In the second order, it was a regular bail granted by a trial court. Then comes the detailed order by the SC; Justice Khanna led the bench," he said, per Bar and Bench.
I go back to jail on June 2 (after interim bail) and the next judgment from the SC was on July 12, then on June 25, this arrest takes place in a CBI case even though no arrest happened for two years. This is a case of insurance arrest, he said.
Singhvi said the CBI had moved an application before a special court seeking to examine and interrogate Kejriwal, which was allowed. He was interrogated inside the Tihar Jail. It later moved an application for arrest "without any justification or compliance of Section 41 A," he said, per Live Law.
He further said that he was produced before a vacation judge. The only ground for his arrest was that he was non-cooperative and evasive in his replies.
"You can't just barge in to arrest without any basis. You can't be trigger-happy. There have to be safeguards," he added, per Live Law.
The Narendra Modi government on Thursday extended the ceasefire agreement with Niki Sumi-led National Socialist Council of Nagaland(K) insurgency group for another year, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) announced.
This breakaway NSCN group is led by Niki Sumi, against whom the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced a 10 lakh reward for allegedly killing 18 Army soldiers in Manipur in 2015.
The ceasefire agreement is in operation between the government and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (K) Niki group and it was decided to extend the pact for a period of one year with effect from September 8, 2024 to September 7, 2025, the ministry statement read.
The ceasefire agreement was first signed on September 6, 2021. The Union ministry of home affairs in New Delhi. (File Photo)
In fulfilling the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of Insurgency free and prosperous North East and in a significant boost to Naga peace process, under the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the government of India enters into a ceasefire agreement with National Socialist Council of Nagaland (K) Niki Group," the home ministry had said in a statement then.
The Centre had signed a framework agreement with the major Naga group NSCN-IM on August 3, 2015 in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to find a permanent solution, a PTI report added.
ALSO READ: 2018: NSCN-K impeaches chairman Konyak in bloodless coup; Yung Aung takes charge
Ceasefire agreement sealed in 1997
The ceasefire agreement came into existence after over 80 rounds of negotiations that spanned 18 years. The first breakthrough was achieved in 1997 when the ceasefire agreement was sealed after decades of insurgency in Nagaland which started soon after India's independence in 1947.
The talks with the NSCN-IM is currently going nowhere as the group has been insisting for a separate Naga flag and constitution, a demand rejected by the Union government. The Centre is also holding peace parleys with splinter groups of the NSCN after entering into ceasefire agreements.
The groups which have entered into ceasefire agreements are: NSCN-NK, NSCN-R, NSCN K-Khango and NSCN (K) Niki.
(With PTI inputs)
The Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has taken a revolutionary step by launching the Aam Aadmi Clinics (AACs) throughout the state. The CMs vision is to ensure that the people of Punjab have access to free healthcare services within a 3-4 km radius of their homes. A view of Aam Aadmi Clinic in Ludhiana (HT File)
It is noteworthy that until beginning of this year, 677 AACs were operational in Punjab. On March 2, CM Mann inaugurated an additional 165 clinics in Punjab, taking the total number of AACs to 842. These clinics provide free consultations, medicines and clinical tests.
With 65% of the population residing in rural areas, the CM has prioritised the establishment of additional AACs in these regions over urban areas. Out of total 842 clinics, 312 AACs are located in the urban areas while 530 are located in the rural areas of the state.
As a result, people are no longer required to endure lengthy queues to receive medication, treatment for routine illnesses or diagnostic tests. Further, the establishment of AACs has greatly reduced the pressure on public hospitals throughout the state.
Over 1.90 crore people visit Aam Aadmi Clinic OPDS
The AACs have made a substantial impact on the healthcare landscape by providing a wide array of services and medications to the community. To date, more than 1.90 crore patients have availed free healthcare services at the AACs. Each clinic is equipped with a Medical Officer (MO), a Pharmacist, a Clinic Assistant (CA), and a Sweeper-cum-Helper. The cumulative expenditure on the empanelment fees for MOs, Pharmacists, and CAs amounts to 57.31 crore (approx.).
Currently, there are 80 types of drugs available at these clinics, which have been procured by the Government at a cost of 50 crore (approx.). This strategic acquisition ensures that patients have access to essential medicines without the burden of cost. So far, medicines worth 450 crore, at the prevailing market rates, have been provided free of cost to the patients through these clinics.
There are 38 diagnostic tests offered to patients free of charge, with the state government covering the expenses amounting to 21.11 crore. As of May 2024, more than 4.7 lakh diagnostic tests, valued at 107 crore at market rates, have been conducted at the AACs. These clinics have significantly reduced out-of-pocket expenses for individuals. The total saving for residents amounts to a whooping 889 crore, demonstrating the effectiveness of this initiative in promoting accessible and affordable healthcare.
(This article was produced in partnership with the Punjab Government)
A Delhi court sentenced a 32-year-old woman to life imprisonment on Wednesday for smothering two of her minor daughters to death in February 2018. Pronoucing the verdict, the judge termed the crime as a cold-blooded murder and a rarest of rare case. Additional Sessions Judge Sachin Jain of Tis Hazari court said the woman's act of killing her own daughters shook the conscience of the court and also the society at large.(HT file)
According to the prosecution, the woman Leelawati brutally murdered her two daughters, aged five years and five months respectively, by smothering them on February 20, 2018. The convict is survived by two more children, a daughter (7) and a son (2).
Also read | Man beats 100-year-old grandfather to death in argument over tenants
Additional Sessions Judge Sachin Jain of Tis Hazari court said the woman's act of killing her own daughters shook the conscience of the court and also the society at large. "Further, the act of smothering both the daughters by the convict is a clear-cut cold-blooded murder, bringing the present case into the category of rare of the rarest case", the judge added.
The court order noted that mothers are always seen as a saviour for their nurturing role and perceived sacrifice. For that reason, the society intends to idolise motherhood, expecting women to be selfless, nurturing and emotionally resilient, the judge wrote.
The court avoided awarding death penalty to the woman, as complete removal of their mothers could affect the well-being of her two surviving children. The judge said awarding a life-sentence was more appropriate, since there was a possibility of her rehabilitation and reintegration into the society. She was also imposed a fine of 10,000 in addition to the life sentence.
Also read | BJP wins 7 of 12 zonal wards in crucial MCD polls, AAP bags 5
"The complete removal of their mother from their lives could have a profound and adverse impact on their upbringing. The convict is relatively young and there remains the possibility of her rehabilitation and reintegration into society after serving a substantial period of incarceration," the court observed.
The convict was also deemed ineligible to receive compensation under the Delhi Victims Compensation Scheme as the "beneficiary was the culprit" in the case.
"Since both the girls/daughters/deceased have already lost their lives and the beneficiary is the culprit, who committed the gruesome murder and the father tried his level best to save the convict, instead of fighting for justice, therefore, no ground for grant of compensation is made out in the present case," the court order read.
It also considered both aggravating and mitigating circumstances, and settled with life sentence as the scale tilted towards the latter in this case.
(Wit PTI inputs)
The Supreme Court is set to hear pleas on Thursday filed by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal seeking bail against his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the now-scrapped excise policy case. Arvind Kejriwal is challenging the Delhi high court's decision that upheld his arrest in the corruption case related to the alleged scam. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kerjiwal (PTI)
In the previous hearing on August 23, the Supreme Court granted the CBI one week to respond to one of the pleas.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Delhi court issued summons to Arvind Kejriwal and other accused in the case after considering the CBI's fourth supplementary chargesheet related to the excise policy case. The court also extended Arvind Kejriwal's judicial custody until September 11. Special judge Kaveri Baweja ordered that the accused be presented before the court on September 11.
CBI's fourth supplementary charge sheet
The CBI filed its fourth supplementary charge sheet on July 30, naming Arvind Kejriwal, Satyendar Jain, Amit Arora, Vinod Chauhan, Ashish Mathur, and P Sarath Reddy as accused in the case. According to the CBI, Kejriwal is described as one of the main conspirators and was allegedly in contact with the South group, which included K Kavitha, Raghav Magunta, Arun Pillai, Butchibabu Gorantla, P Sarath Reddy, Abhishek Boinpally, and Benoy Babu.
The charge sheet further claims that the kickback funds were used as per Kejriwal's instructions since the money was routed into the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) funds. Additionally, it was alleged that Kejriwal promised 90 lakh to each candidate in 40 constituencies in Goa.
Arvind Kejriwal's arrest and excise policy case
Arvind Kejriwal was first arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in connection with the alleged excise policy case, shortly after the Delhi High Court denied his plea for interim protection from arrest. On July 12, the Supreme Court granted him interim bail in the ED case, but he remains in jail due to his arrest by the CBI.
Kejriwal was taken into CBI custody on June 26 from the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi and was subsequently sent to judicial custody on June 29.
The Delhi government introduced an excise policy in 2021-22 aimed at revitalising the city's declining liquor business by replacing the volume-based sales regime with a license fee model for traders, promising modern stores without metal grilles to enhance the customer experience.
However, the policy was scrapped after Delhi lieutenant governor VK Saxena called for a CBI investigation, alleging irregularities. According to the ED, Kejriwal's AAP allegedly received kickbacks amounting to 100 crore to finalise the excise policy.
Indias financial technologies, such as the UPI or Unified Payments System, which have made the country a global front runner, are first put to test not in complex money markets but in the relatively modest farm sector and small cash-starved firms, according to the RBI (Reserve Bank of India). The leapfrogging success of the scan-and-pay or buy platforms -- also known as digital public infrastructure or DPI because the government lays out the core technology is now being sought to be replicated in lending. (HT Photo)
The first clients often arent CEOs but farmers. This bottom-up strategy has meant that agriculture has been a springboard for financial technologies. It has not only quickened adoption two-thirds of Indians are rural residents but also ensured that frictionless finance is devised keeping the large informal sector in mind, the central bank says.
The leapfrogging success of the scan-and-pay or buy platforms -- also known as digital public infrastructure or DPI because the government lays out the core technology is now being sought to be replicated in lending. Indias UPI platform is currently available in seven countries.
The Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH), a wholly owned subsidiary of the central bank, is getting ready to roll out a UPI-like lending platform, called the Unified Lending System (ULI). It was piloted largely in agriculture and dairy sectors in 12 states involving 16 banks and carried out in collaboration with Amul, the country biggest cooperative-based milk brand.
As in the case of UPI, lenders using the ULI will be able to offer credit on a plug-and-play-basis, which will expand availability of formal credit. Our digital payments ecosystem has been developed as a free public good, PM Narendra Modi had told a finance ministers conference in 2023.
The RBI is now also piloting a customisable Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), or e-rupee, which can be programmed such that even landless farmers, who cant get farm loans because they dont possess land records, can access formal credit.
The CBDC is an electronic form of the rupee and distinct from crypto currency. While both use blockchain technologies, CBDCs are sovereign-backed and regulated, with the same value as a physical fiat currency. Cryptos are privately created stores of value, outside regulatory oversight and even pose security and economic risks, according to analysts.
The CBDC trials for both wholesale and retail segments have been ongoing since 2022. In the retail segment, it currently has five million users involving 16 banks.
Many countries now have digital currencies to cut transaction costs and make settlements efficient. The RBI is going further.
At a recent fintech conference, Governor Das ruled out any haste in rolling it out on a system-wide basis but said Indias CBDC would greatly benefit the underprivileged due to its programmability feature.
Tenant farmers often struggle to access agricultural credit as they do not have the land title to submit to banks or lending institutions. The end use of the CBDC can be programmed to provide inputs or raw materials for agriculture i.e. it can be programmed to provide loans for fertilizer, milch animals or to provide a subsidy, he said.
The programming is being done in such a way that the lender can verify the tenant and purpose of the loan, he added.
The ULI platform, which is closer to a universal launch, digitises a customers financial and non-financial data that usually exists in silos. It will cater to financing needs of particularly cultivators and micro, small and medium enterprises, which account for 35.4% of manufacturing and 45.7% of merchandise exports, official data show.
As you know, the government has taken the initiative to ensure that India has the worlds best DPI. Our mission at the RBIH is to see how we can leverage the digital technologies of today to ensure frictionless finance to a billion Indians, said Rajesh Bansal, the CEO of the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub.
In the pilot phase launched in August 2023, the ULI focused on products like Kisan Credit Card loans, dairy loans, MSME loans, aside from personal and home loans in Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. Loans were successfully given out to particularly dairy farmers based on milk-pouring data, which served as indicators of value of earnings.
The programme has to also have seamless features for risk assessment and credit profile of clients or else lenders could end up lending to a lot of non-prime borrowers, said Ashish Kaundalya, the CEO of QuickCash, a lending platform.
New Delhi: Former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Sandip Ghosh, has approached the Supreme Court challenging the transfer of the investigation into alleged financial irregularities during his controversial tenure to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Sandip Ghosh, who filed his petition on August 27, is set to be heard by the top court on September 6. (HT PHOTO)
Ghosh, who filed his petition on August 27, is set to be heard by the top court on September 6. However, before the hearing, he was arrested by CBI on September 2 in connection with the case. His arrest follows widespread public outrage over his handling of the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at the hospital on August 9 an incident that has sparked national protests and outrage across West Bengal.
In his petition, Ghosh argued that the Calcutta high court had transferred the probe to CBI on August 23 without giving him a fair hearing, thus violating the principles of natural justice. He contended that the high court wrongfully excluded him from being heard, citing that he was neither a necessary nor a proper party in the original writ petition. Ghosh asserted that the court should have considered his side before transferring the investigation, as the outcome directly affected his rights.
Ghosh also challenged the high courts decision to link the alleged financial irregularities with the criminal investigation into the rape and murder, both being probed by CBI. He maintained that the two cases were separate and that the court erred in assigning the financial probe to CBI simply because the agency was already investigating the criminal case.
The Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud and including justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, is expected to take up Ghoshs petition on September 6. The same bench is also overseeing the suo motu proceedings regarding the doctors rape and murder and has been monitoring the associated investigations.
On Monday, Ghosh was questioned by CBI for the fifteenth consecutive day before being arrested at the agencys Nizam Palace office in Kolkata. He faces charges of cheating and violations under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Alongside Ghosh, three others have been arrested on similar charges.
Ghosh is accused of various crimes, including illegally using bodies for research, unauthorised sale of biomedical waste, and several financial irregularities, such as awarding contracts without proper tenders.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also registered a money laundering case against Ghosh, based on CBIs findings. Additionally, the Kolkata Police has filed two first information reports (FIRs) against him.
This marks the first CBI arrest since it took over the probe into the doctors brutal murder, although Ghoshs arrest pertains to the financial irregularities case. A Kolkata Police civic volunteer, Sanjoy Roy, was arrested by the city police a day after the crime and handed over to CBI on August 13.
The high court, in its August 23 order, transferred the corruption probe against Ghosh to CBI, while criticising the West Bengal government for setting up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the matter a year after the allegations surfaced. The court was acting on a plea by Akhtar Ali, a former deputy superintendent of the medical college, who sought an ED investigation into Ghoshs alleged financial misconduct. Ali pointed out that the SIT was only formed after the doctors tragic death.
The high court justified its decision by citing an apparent nexus between the allegations against Ghosh and the locus of the crime, which necessitated a unified investigation by a single agency.
The court directs that the investigation be transferred to the CBI, given the serious nature of the allegations. Splitting the investigation between multiple agencies could lead to inefficiencies, delays, and potential misinterpretation of information, thereby undermining effective enforcement. Handing over the investigation to the CBI ensures consistency, the high court stated in its order.
Dhaka: Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladeshs interim government said in an interview on Thursday that Sheikh Hasina, currently in India, should keep quiet, suggesting that Dhaka could seek her extradition, and asked New Delhi to move beyond the narrative that every political party other than Hasinas Awami League is Islamist. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh interim government, during an interview to PTI. (PTI)
There was no immediate response from India to his comments.
Separately, in an official statement in Bengali marking a month since the fall of Hasinas government, Yunus said: We want to extradite killers and bring back the money embezzled by corrupt individuals, politicians and bureaucrats during the autocratic regime. Then premier Hasina stepped down on August 5 following weeks of student-led protests against her government, and fled to India.
In the interview, Yunus said Hasina should keep quiet while exiled in India. If India wants to keep her until the time Bangladesh wants her back, the condition would be that she has to keep quiet, he added. Sitting in India, she is speaking and giving instructions. No one likes it. Its not good for us or for India.
Shortly after her arrival in India, Hasina issued a statement through her son that called on Bangladeshis to gather in Dhaka to mark the 1975 assassination of her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. She also sought an investigation into deaths during protests against her government.
Since then, Hasina, who is currently at an undisclosed safe location, has not issued any more statements. Yunus didnt say whether a formal extradition request had been made to India although other leaders of the interim government have said arrangements will be made to bring back Hasina if there is a directive from the judiciary.
When asked whether Bangladesh has communicated its stance to India, Yunus said it has been conveyed verbally and quite firmly that she should keep quiet.
Everyone understands it. We have said quite firmly that she should keep quiet. This is an unfriendly gesture towards us; she has been given shelter there and she is campaigning from there. It is not that she has gone there on a normal course. She has fled following a peoples uprising and public anger, he said.
He stressed that while Bangladesh values strong ties with India, New Delhi must move beyond the narrative that portrays every other political party except Awami League as Islamist .
The way forward is for India to come out of the narrative. The narrative is that everybody is Islamist, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is Islamist, and everyone else is Islamist and will make this country into Afghanistan. And Bangladesh is in safe hands with Sheikh Hasina at the helm only. India is captivated by this narrative. India has to come out of this narrative. Bangladesh, like any other nation, is another neighbour, he said.
Hasinas government was accused of human rights abuses, including mass detentions and enforced disappearances of political opponents. Since she fled to India, scores of criminal cases have been filed against Hasina and senior leaders of her Awami League party. Many of the cases related to the deaths of more than 600 people both during the protests and the violence that followed Hasinas ouster. Several ministers, two senior police officials, Awami League leaders and supporters, journalists and senior military officials have also been sent to jail.
Yunus, the choice of student leaders who led the protests, assumed power as the head of the interim government on August 8. Many houses, businesses and temples of Hindus and other minorities were attacked after the fall of Hasinas government. Referring to these attacks and Indias concern, Yunus said this is just an excuse. The issue of trying to portray the conditions of minorities in such a big way is just an excuse, he said. Yunus said the interim government is making progress but the foremost challenge is to heal wounds created by misrule and an autocrat. He added, For this, we need unity and coordination.
Speaking about the future of bilateral treaties with India, Yunus said there are demands for a relook at certain treaties such as transit and the Adani electricity deal.
Everybody is saying that it is needed. We will see what is on paper and, second, what is actually happening on the ground. I cant answer it specifically. If there is any need to review, we will then raise questions about it, he said.
The BNP has said that if voted to power, it will review and re-evaluate the questionable Adani electricity deal signed during the Awami League regime, as it is putting tremendous pressure on the people of Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, the platform that spearheaded the protests, commemorated the martyrs of the movement on Thursday. Tens of thousands of students and people from different walks of life joined a Shaheed March that began at the Raju Memorial Sculpture within the Dhaka University campus.
People marched through key areas of Dhaka, including Nilkhet, New Market, Kalabagan, Dhanmondi, Manik Miah Avenue, Farmgate, Kawran Bazar, Bangla Motor and Shahbagh before the rally culminated at the Central Shaheed Minar.
During the march, students were seen waving the national flag and shouting slogans against Hasina and her party. We want the killer Hasina to be hanged, the crowd chanted.
Students were also seen waving Palestine flags in solidarity with the people of Gaza.
(With PTI inputs)
The Rajasthan high court on Thursday granted bail to a man allegedly involved in the conspiracy behind the murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal Teli in Udaipur in 2022 that sparked communal tensions, citing a lack of evidence. Javeds lawyer said he was not seen in the CCTV footage of Telis shop on the day of the murder. (HT PHOTO)
Saadat Ali, the lawyer of Muhammed Javed, said the National Investigating Agency (NIA) probing the matter failed to provide the necessary evidence that his client was involved in the conspiracy and recced the murder scene. His name was not there in the primary FIR [first information report].
Ali said Javed was not seen in the CCTV footage of Telis shop on the day of the murder. The agency also failed to prove that he [Javed] along with the accused Muhammed Riyaz Attari and Muhammed Gaus planned the murder on the night before the incident, said Ali.
Ali said a bench of justices Pankaj Bhandari and Praveen Bhatnagar noted the NIA only provided the call records of his client. He added the bench said the NIA did not prove that Javed was present with Attari and Muhammed Gaus at a tea shop where the conspiracy was allegedly plotted. The owner of the tea shop also denied Javeds presence, said Ali.
He added the court noted that no suspicious items were recovered from Javeds place indicating his involvement in the murder. Javeds location was also last traced near Telis shop at 11:30 am. The murder took place about five hours later. He was also not seen entering his shop ever on the day of the murder. It [NIA] could not prove his involvement in the conspiracy, said Ali. He added the court granted Javeds bail on a personal bond of 2 lakh.
Attari and Gaus were caught on camera pretending to get measurements before they attacked and beheaded Teli. The murder provoked outrage as the attackers claimed responsibility in a video. The attackers told investigators that they murdered Teli as he allegedly supported Nupur Sharma, who was suspended from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for her remarks against the Prophet Muhammad.
Attari and Gaus were arrested hours after the murder from Rajsamand, about 150km from Udaipur. Five people, including Javed, were later arrested for their alleged involvement in the conspiracy.
The NIA, which took over the probe from the state police and arrested 11 people, accused Javed of playing an important role in the conspiracy to kill Teli. It said he conducted reconnaissance and passed on information about Telis presence at his shop to the main accused Attari. NIA claimed the accused were self-radicalised while Attari had links with a Karachi-based Dawat-e-Islami. It filed a charge sheet against all the accused in a special court on February 13.
Meanwhile, commenting on the matter, Leader of Opposition, Congress party's, Tikaram Jully said: "The real face of BJP is exposed. The accused in the murder case of Udaipur's Kanhaiyalal are getting bail under the ruling of a party that has been always doing politics over this case."
New Delhi, The Congress on Thursday engaged in hectic consultations to explore the possibility of an alliance with A for the Haryana Assembly polls, even as some of its leaders expressed reservations over such a tie-up with the Arvind Kejriwal-led party. Hectic parleys on as Cong, AAP race against time to seal alliance deal in Haryana
The Congress' sub-committee for Haryana which includes the likes of AICC in-charge of the state Deepak Babaria, T S Singhdeo and Ajay Maken among others sought consultations with several senior leaders.
While some leaders are said to be in favour of an alliance with A to prevent vote division, others have expressed reservations.
"A has no base in Haryana, and I feel why should we give them a footprint? But if there is some compulsion, then it is up to the high command to decide whether they want to have an understanding with them in other states also," Congress leader Captain Ajay Singh Yadav said when asked about talks of a Congress-A alliance for Haryana elections 2024.
"Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi are the ones who will decide whether we need to form an alliance or not. As far as my personal opinion is concerned, Congress does not need an alliance in Haryana... The popularity of Congress is at its peak. A can cause no loss to Congress. Why should A be allowed to enter Haryana," Yadav asked.
Singhdeo said backdoor consultations are going on over the possibility of an alliance and there is no objection from anyone about it.
"It has to be agreeable to both parties. If we are in an alliance and we are part of a family, then every member of the family has an equal right to put forth their views and if they feel comfortable, then we will do it together and if not, we will still be together and we will do our thing," Singhdeo said on possibilities for an alliance.
Earlier, Rohtak MP and senior Congress leader Deepender Hooda said the process is underway and the party's system operates one step at a time.
"We are confident that the party will field the strongest candidates after reviewing the names," he said in response to a query on when the party will announce its candidates.
"Congress' alliance is with the people of Haryana. They have made up their minds to have a Congress government in Haryana. Khattar and senior BJP leadership know this," Deepender Hooda said.
Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala said, "I don't have to comment, there is a process within the party, the party's chairman screening committee and special committee are doing their job. Whatever we had to say, we said it to them. It would be against the discipline of the party to speak beyond it."
The Congress and A are engaged in seat-sharing talks for the Haryana Assembly polls with hard bargaining from both sides.
The Congress on Wednesday had said an alliance with A for the Haryana assembly polls is only possible when there is a "win-win" situation for both parties and if there is a tie-up, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party would be given seats in "single-digit".
Voting on 90 assembly seats in Haryana will be held on October 5 and counting of votes will be undertaken on October 8.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
A large group of protesters held an agitation outside a mosque in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla on Thursday, claiming it had been built illegally. Among the protesters were locals, BJP workers and members of right-wing groups. Shimla: People raise slogans during a protest against the alleged illegal construction of a mosque.(PTI)
Holding the Tricolour, they marched near the mosque. Some of them even demanded its demolition.
"This mosque has been built illegally. All four floors of the mosque are illegal. If we construct anything illegally, it is immediately demolished. It has been 10 years, but no action has been taken on the mosque. This illegal mosque should be demolished, a protester told ANI.
The protestor claimed a few Muslim men attacked "Hindu brothers". He demanded a probe into the allegedly increasing number of Muslims in Himachal Pradesh.
Meanwhile, state minister Anirudh Singh also made similar demands, saying there should be a proper verification of people coming from other states to Himachal Pradesh.
"There is no difference between Hindus and Muslims among those coming from other states. The real concern is that we must verify those coming to Himachal Pradesh to prevent any security risks, he said.
Anirudh Singh also noted the arrival of individuals from other countries and suggested the need for a thorough investigation into the background of these newcomers. He called for vigilance in ensuring the safety and security of the region.
The Congress government in Himachal Pradesh focuses on development and ensures that every action is lawful. This isnt an issue of the temple or mosque but rather of legal and illegal constructions, he added.
The Sanjauli mosque has stirred a political debate in Himachal Pradesh.
Dev Bhumi Shatriya Sangathan President Rumit Singh Thakur, who gave a call to "sanatanis" to assemble in Shimla, said people from across the state responded to his call and demonstrated "Sanatan unity".
Also read: Makeup kharab hona tha: Congress leader's remark on Kangana Ranaut sparks row
On August 30, a businessman was attacked in the Malyana area. On Sunday, people demanded the demolition of the mosque.
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday told reporters that all residents of the state have the same rights and he has respect for all religions.
"Peaceful protests are permitted but nobody will be allowed to take the law into his hands," he said.
Anirudh Singh said the mosque was built on government land and the matter had been sub judice for the past 14 years.
Public works minister Vikramaditya Singh said there will be no laxity in dealing against any encroachers.
"Nobody is above the law and whatever action is taken would be under the parameters of the law whether it is by the municipal corporation or police," he said.
With inputs from PTI, ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday pitched India to Singapores business leaders as the best alternative for creating resilient supply chains, and urged them to consider opportunities in roads, railways, ports and civil aviation as his government ramps up infrastructure development. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapore PM Lawrence Wong (extreme right) witness the exchange of an MoU between the two countries on Thursday. (ANI Photo)
Modi interacted with leading Singaporean CEOs from sectors such as investment funds, infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, sustainability and logistics along with Singapores deputy prime minister Gan Kim Yong and home minister K Shanmugam. Singapore was the largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) into India last year, and cumulative investments since 2000 are worth $160 billion.
India has intensified efforts to forge supply and value chains with trusted partners in Asia and Europe, largely as part of efforts to move away from reliance on China against the backdrop of a dragging military standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Modi has held up Singapore as an important anchor for Indias decade-old Act East policy.
While urging Singapores business leaders to look at investment opportunities and to increase their presence in India, Modi held up the country as the best alternative for businesses looking for resilient supply chains, the external affairs ministry said in a statement. An Invest India office will be set up in Singapore to facilitate collaboration, he announced.
Read more: India wants to create several Singapores, says PM Modi
He assured the CEOs that India will increase the pace and scale of infrastructure development and pointed to new opportunities in railways, roads, ports, civil aviation, industrial parks and digital connectivity. He also called on them to look at opportunities in skill development.
The elevation of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership will give a major thrust to economic relations, Modi said. India will continue to make transformative progress because of its political stability, policy predictability, ease of doing business and reform-oriented economic agenda, he contended.
Modi also highlighted initiatives to enhance Indias participation in global value chains through the Production Linked Incentive scheme, India Semiconductor Mission and establishment of 12 new industrial smart cities.
Among the business leaders who joined the roundtable were Singapore Business Federation chairman Lim Ming Yan, Singapore Business Federation CEO Kok Ping Soon, Blackstone Singapore senior MD and chairman Gautam Banerjee, Temasek Holdings chairman Lim Boon Heng, and DBS Group CEO Piyush Gupta.
Modi also met Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and discussed bilateral and global issues. The leaders noted the longstanding cooperation between the two sides is based on trust, mutual respect and complementarity.
They shared thoughts on how India and Singapore can expand their cooperation to new areas such as advanced manufacturing and in emerging technologies, the external affairs ministry said in a readout.
PM Modi also held separate meetings with senior minister and former premier Lee Hsien Loong, who hosted a lunch in his honour, and emeritus senior minister Goh Chok Tong. Modi appreciated Lees contributions to the development of the bilateral strategic partnership and both leaders agreed there is substantial potential to do more. Modi said Gohs efforts, when he was prime minister, laid a solid foundation for developing bilateral ties.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday named Brazil, China and India as possible intermediaries for peace talks with Ukraine, saying he has relations of trust and confidence with the leaders of these three countries. Russian President Vladimir Putin applauds during the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, on Thursday. (AP)
Speaking during a panel discussion at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin contended that an agreement reached by Russian and Ukrainian negotiators during talks in Turkiye in March 2022 within weeks of the launch of the Russian invasion should serve as the basis for any future talks.
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Putin was responding to a question by the moderator about countries that can act as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine. First of all, it is Chinese Peoples Republic, Brazil and India I am in contact with my partners and I have no doubt that the leaders of these countries and we have relations of trust and confidence with one another will be really interested and provide a helping hand, he said.
He subsequently added: If there is a desire [on the part] of Ukraine to carry on with the negotiations, I can do that, but based on the agreements that were achieved in Istanbul.
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Putin was referring to talks held in Turkiye in March 2022 by Russian and Ukrainian negotiators that he claimed had led to a document that was endorsed by the Ukrainian side. He further contended that this agreement wasnt implemented because the West instructed Ukraine to continue fighting to ensure a strategic defeat of Russia.
The panel discussion also featured Chinese vice president Han Zheng and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who said securing a just and fair peace would immensely help not only Russia and Ukraine but the entire world because the conflict is disrupting global supply chains.
Putins remarks came against the backdrop of visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Russia in July and Ukraine in August. Modi told both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that a solution cannot be found on the battlefield and nudged them to return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy.
Zelensky has suggested that a planned second peace summit on Ukraine could be hosted by India, but he also emphasised that this will only be possible if New Delhi signs on to the joint communique that was issued after the first peace summit hosted by Switzerland in June. India participated in the first peace summit but didnt endorse the joint communique.
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While in Moscow during July 8-9, Modi told Putin that talks cannot succeed under the shadow of the gun. Given Ukraines refusal to join direct negotiations with Russia, Modi said a solution to the conflict cant be found without engaging Russia. Modi also said that New Delhis position is not neutral, but on the side of peace.
Modis visits to Moscow and Kyiv were seen as the delicate balancing resorted to by India in the face of persisting calls from the West to help find a solution to the conflict, especially in the context of its efforts to act as the voice of the Global South.
India has so far not publicly censured Russias invasion of Ukraine and it has largely abstained on all Ukraine-related resolutions at the United Nations. It has ramped up purchases of discounted Russian commodities, especially oil. The Indian side has emphasised that it is ready to play an active role in all peace efforts.
India and Singapore on Thursday unveiled agreements for a semiconductor ecosystem partnership and greater interoperability between their digital economies even as they elevated their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The MoU on a semiconductor ecosystem partnership envisages cooperation to support Indias growing semiconductor industry. (@LawrenceWongST | Official X account)
Speaking at a meeting with his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the two sides will continue working together for regional peace, stability and prosperity.
Modi arrived in Singapore on Wednesday on the second leg of a two-nation Southeast Asian tour, after making the first bilateral visit to Brunei by an Indian premier. He described Singapore as an important anchor for Indias Act East policy launched a decade ago.
Singapore is not just a partner country. Singapore is an inspiration for every developing country. We want to create many Singapores in India, Modi said, speaking in Hindi.
Referring to achievements by the two sides in the past 10 years, including investments increasing nearly three-fold to $160 billion and the launch of real-time digital payments, Modi said: I am happy that today we are together giving our relations the shape of a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Also Read: Singapore PM Lawrence Wong hosts PM Modi for private dinner ahead of talks
Following talks between the two premiers, India and Singapore announced four agreements on semiconductors, digital cooperation, healthcare and medical research, and education and skill development.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) on a semiconductor ecosystem partnership envisages cooperation to support Indias growing semiconductor industry while facilitating Singapores companies and supply chains to enter the Indian market. The MoU will create a platform to better connect and strengthen the complementary semiconductor ecosystems of the two sides.
The MoU on cooperation in digital technology will encourage greater interoperability between the digital economies of the two countries and build on earlier work such as the linking of the digital payment systems of India and Singapore. The main areas of cooperation under this MoU are data flows and data protection, digital utilities and digital public infrastructure, cyber-security and business-to-business linkages.
Under the MoU on education and skill development, the two sides will cooperate on technical and vocational education and training, while the MoU on healthcare and medical research envisages cooperation in disease surveillance, pandemic preparedness and prevention of communicable diseases.
Modis visit followed a meeting last month of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable, which identified areas for cooperation such as skilling, digitalisation, mobility, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, AI, healthcare, sustainability, and cyber-security.
Modi pointed to other areas where the two sides have made progress, saying 17 satellites of Singapore were launched from India in the past 10 years, while cooperation in defence has gained momentum. An agreement between Singapore Airlines and Air India has strengthened connectivity, he said.
The 350,000 people of Indian origin living in Singapore act as the strong foundation of bilateral relations, and India is forever grateful to the whole of Singapore for the place and respect that Subhash Chandra Bose, Azad Hind Fauj and Little India have received, Modi said.
He suggested the two sides should come up with an action plan to mark 60 years of diplomatic ties in 2025. I am very happy to inform you that Indias first Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre will soon be opened in Singapore. The great saint Thiruvalluvar has given guiding thoughts to the world in the most ancient language, Tamil, he added.
Modi and Wong visited AEM, a leading Singaporean company in the semiconductor and electronics sector, and were briefed about the firms role in the global semiconductor value chain and its plans for India. The Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association made a presentation on the development of the semiconductor ecosystem in Singapore and opportunities for collaboration with India.
Also in Modis schedule were meetings with senior minister Lee Hsien Long, emeritus senior minister Goh Chok Tong and President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and a CEOs roundtable to forge closer trade and investment ties.
Singapore is currently Indias largest trade partner within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the sixth largest trade partner worldwide. Besides, Singapore was the largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) into India in 2023, and its cumulative investments since 2000 are worth $160 billion.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that India wanted to create several Singapores of its own. During talks with his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong, the prime minister said Singapore serves as an inspiration for every developing nation.
We also aim to create several Singapores within India. I am pleased that we are collaborating towards this goal. The ministerial roundtable we have established is a path-breaking mechanism, PTI quoted Modi as saying.
ALSO READ: Singapore PM Lawrence Wong hosts PM Modi for private dinner ahead of talks
Congratulating Wong, who took oath as the new Singapore prime minister in May, Modi said,"This is our first meeting since you assumed the office as prime minister. My heartiest congratulations and best wishes to you. I am confident that under the leadership of 4G, Singapore will achieve progress even more rapidly. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Singapore counterpart Lawrence Wong signs a visitor's book, in Singapore.(PTI)
'Singapore an important facilitator of India's Act East Policy': Modi
Prime Minister Modi highlighted collaborative initiatives between two countries in the fields like skilling, digitalisation, mobility, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors and AI, healthcare, sustainability and cybersecurity.
"Singapore is also an important facilitator of Indias Act East policy. Our shared belief in democratic values connects us. I am delighted to have the opportunity to visit Singapore at the beginning of my third term, he added.
Over the past 10 years, our trade has more than doubled. Mutual investment has increased almost threefold to cross USD 150 billion. Singapore was the first country with which we launched the UPI Person-to-Person payment facility," the prime minister said, as per PTI.
During the Business Leaders' Summit, Modi said,"We are going forward with predictable and progressive policies...There is political stability in India. We are moving ahead aggressively in the area of semiconductors. We are going to make a whole ecosystem in this sector...Startups are growing very fast in tier 2 & tier 3 cities in India."
(With PTI inputs)
Interpol issued 100 Red Notices on Indias request in 2023, the highest in a year, urging police forces across the globe to detain criminals and fugitives who have crossed borders and are wanted by Indian law enforcement agencies, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Praveen Sood said on Thursday. Twenty-nine criminals were brought back to India last year and 19 so far this year with the help of Interpol and global law enforcement partners. (AP)
Twenty-nine criminals were brought back to India last year and 19 so far this year with the help of Interpol and global law enforcement partners, he added.
Sood also said that CBI handled over 17,000 international assistance requests during the same period.
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The CBI director was addressing the 10th Interpol Liaison Officers (ILOs) Conference, organised by the federal agency, in Delhi when he made the statements.
.... Global Operation Centre of CBI has handled 17,368 international assistance requests in 2023 and as many as 100 Red Notices were issued by Interpol on criminals and fugitives wanted by Indian law enforcement agencies, the highest ever in a year, Sood said.
An Interpol Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.
With Interpol and international law enforcement partners, as many as 29 wanted criminals were brought back to India in 2023 and 19 so far in 2024. Criminals are no longer constrained by borders, and neither should our efforts to combat them, Sood said.
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The event was attended by representatives of global law enforcement agencies such as BKA (Germany), FBI (USA), National Police Agency (Japan), National Crime Agency (UK), PDI (Chile), Nepal Police and officers of all central and state investigation and intelligence agencies. The conference is held to enhance the use of formal and informal means of international police cooperation to combat crime, criminals and proceeds of crime.
Speaking about the challenges facing global agencies, Sood said: The world today faces a multitude of grave and globalised poly-crimes and threats like terrorism, online radicalisation, cyber enabled financial crimes, online child sexual exploitation, corruption, drug trafficking, terror financing and organised crime. Police in India have been at the forefront of addressing these challenges through a combination of robust legal framework, innovative initiatives, leveraging technology and proactive international cooperation.
He added: Law enforcement professionals need to be well acquainted with various means of coordinating international assistance in criminal matters.
A political row erupted in Karnataka over the state governments decision on Thursday to put on hold the best teacher award to a principal of a government pre-university college over his alleged remarks and actions during the hijab row in 2022. The state government had announced the best teacher award to BG Ramakrishna, principal of Kundapur government pre-university college in Udupi, during Teachers Day celebrations (HT Photo)
The state government announced the best teacher award to BG Ramakrishna, principal of Kundapur government pre-university college in Udupi, during Teachers Day celebrations on Thursday. However, the award was later withheld following backlash on social media and by members of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI).
Ramakrishna is accused of asking Muslim students wearing headscarves to stand outside the institute during the hijab row in 2022.
The controversy emerged in late 2021 when the Muslim students in Udupi district were denied entry to junior colleges over their decision to wear hijabs. The institutes denied them entry stating that the headscarves were against their uniform policy. The dispute spread to other parts of the state. It eventually led to the then-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government issuing an order, which stated that the uniform policy must be upheld with no exceptions being made for hijabs. Ramakrishna had allegedly denied entry to students in the Kundapur government pre-university college in compliance with the government order.
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Speaking on the developments on Thursday, primary and secondary education minister Madhu Bangarappa, said, The manner in which he treated the children (making them stand outside the institute in the sun) is the issue... If he was following any government order, it had to be carried out in a certain manner. If it is not in a certain manner, then it will be questioned.
Bangarappa said a decision will be taken after more details of the allegations are revealed. He also urged that the issue shouldnt be politicised. He said: No vindictive politics is happening. There is a district committee for the selection of names of deserving candidates when someone applies for the award.
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The committee will send it to the head office and at the head office there is another committee to look into it. In this particular issue, they overlooked certain things. Once the issue came forward, the decision was made to withhold the award for some time, he said.
Former BJP MLA Raghupathi Bhat, who was the then president of the Udupi girls government pre-university college from where the hijab row started in 2021, said the governments action smacked of petty and vindictive politics. The move will only lead to a confrontation and is nothing but trying to appease the minority community, he said.
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Udupi MLA and BJP leader Yashpal Anand Suvarna said: Ramakrishna was selected on the basis of his merit and his achievements and the government. Mangaluru City North BJP MLA Y Bharath Shetty also noted: The principal was only implementing the government order.
Vice president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad North Karnataka, Govardhan Rao,questioned the governments decision to withhold the award. We condemn the decision because the award was given to people who have done an excellent job in the education side, so holding his name because of some other reason is condemnable.
SDPI state general secretary Afsar Kodlipet maintained that if the principal was following the government order, then he should have allowed the students inside the campus, made them sit in his chambers and explain the issue. Instead he functioned as a watchman and made the girls stand outside the gate though they were wearing uniforms, he added.
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Thursday once again targeted chief minister Mamata Banerjee-led state government over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose and chief minister Mamata Banerjee.(HT photos)
Bose said that while there is a law in the state, it is not being implemented properly. He also alleged that a portion of the police is criminalised and politicised.
The wrongdoers should be brought to book. Punishment should be given. People should feel that they can expect justice from the government, now that feeling is not there. This is the condition of Bengal today- the law is there but it is not being implemented properly or certain people are given protective discrimination by law, the governor said, according to ANI.
"The police, a portion of the police is criminalised, a portion is corrupt and a portion of it is politicised."
Bose also said that he met the parents of the victim, who told him certain things which were very heartbreaking and that he took them up in his meeting with home minister Amit Shah.
Parents (of the victim) have told me certain things which is very, very heart-breaking. They also gave to me in writing that I have taken up with the home minister. Within two days we started seeing action. Their feelings we understand. What they want is also justice. The entire Bengal society seeks justice. Justice will be done. Justice should be done, Bose said.
Further, he also warned the Mamata Banerjee-led government not to test the patience of the people.
"That's where the people has come forward. I am sure that the voice of the people is the voice of the god. People want action, not an alibi for an action. Don't test the patience of the people," he said.
The case
The trainee doctor was raped and murdered inside a seminar hall of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.
The crime took place on the third-floor seminar hall of the chest department late at night and police later said multiple lacerations and wounds were found on her body.
The police have arrested Sanjay Roy, a civil volunteer at the hospital, for allegedly committing the crime.
The father of the Kolkata doctor has claimed that he wanted to preserve his daughter's body but was forced to cremate her. He told reporters that 300-400 cops surrounded them after they returned home with her body.
Kolkata rape case news highlights: Citizens participate in a specially organized candlelight protest over alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor outside RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, India, on Wednesday, September 4, 2024. (Photo by Samir Jana/ Hindustan Times)
Kolkata rape case news highlights: West Bengal junior doctors protesting the alleged rape and murder of a female doctor inside RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata continue their cease-work protest to demand justice for the victim. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) urged the junior doctors to resume their duties and believe in the Supreme Court to deliver justice....Read More
Responding to the call by junior doctors, thousands of people across Kolkata switched-off their lights to express grief over the gruesome crime. Thousands of protesters also look to streets holding a candle as a mark of solidarity. Reports suggest that the victim's parents are likely to join the protesters on Thursday.
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose asked chief minister Mamata Banerjee to take convincing steps to assuage the sentiments of the people who are enraged over the RG Kar Hospital rape-murder case.
He also directed Banerjee to ensure proper maintenance of law and order in the state, with a focus on protecting and securing women.
"Governor directs the CM to take convincing steps to assuage the sentiments of the people of Bengal who are agitated over the RG Kar Hospital horror and maintain law and order in the state offering protection and security to the women. Enough is enough," a statement from the Raj Bhavan said.
Also read | 'Reclaim the Night' protest in Bengal as Kolkata turns off lights; governor tells CM enough is enough | 10 updates
Meanwhile, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Dr Sandip Ghosh moved the Supreme Court to challenge the Calcutta High Court's decision to reject his request to be included in a petition accusing financial irregularities at the institute during his tenure. Ghosh along with three others is currently under judicial custody in relation to the corruption case being probed by the CBI.
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The father of the Kolkata doctor who was raped and murdered inside the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has claimed that he wanted to preserve his daughter's body but was forced to cremate her. Medics and citizens participate in a specially organized candle light protest over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the protest site at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. (Photo by Samir Jana/ Hindustan Times)
The family and relatives of the 31-year-old woman joined the late-night agitation outside the state-run hospital on Wednesday.
The parents of the victim also accused the police of offering them money.
The father of the doctor told reporters that 300-400 cops surrounded them after they returned home with her body.
"We wanted the body preserved, but so much pressure was created. About 300-400 cops surrounded us. We returned home and found some 300 cops standing outside. They created such a situation that we were forced to cremate her," he said, reported NDTV.
He claimed the cremation took place in haste and the family wasn't asked to pay for it.
Per the channel, some cops allegedly asked him to sign on a blank sheet of paper. He said he tore it up.
He said he "replied accordingly" when a senior police officer tried to give them money.
He also wondered why the hospital authorities told them that she died by suicide. He said he had to wait for over three hours before they could see the body.
"When the body of the daughter was lying in front of the parents in the house, the police were offering money, is this the humanity of the police?" said the aunt of the deceased doctor.
"Until the last rites were not performed, 300-400 policemen surrounded us but after it was performed, not a single policeman was seen there. What would the family do, how would they go home, Police took no responsibility. Police were active till the last rites were performed and after that, they became completely inactive. When the body of the daughter was lying in front of the parents in the house and we were shedding tears, the police were offering money, is this the humanity of police? The Police were saying that they have fulfilled all their responsibilities, is this what is called fulfilling the responsibility?" the aunt of the deceased told ANI.
The woman was found dead inside the seminar hall of the hospital on the morning of August 9. Her autopsy confirmed she died of strangulation after sexual assault. Her body bore 25 internal and external injuries.
The police have arrested Sanjay Roy, a civil volunteer at the hospital, for allegedly committing the crime.
Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: The Kolkata Police has picked up two men for allegedly misbehaving with women on Wednesday night during Reclaim the Night protest held West Bengal to demand justice over the rape and murder of a 31-year-old woman doctor. Citizens participate in a specially organized candlelight protest over alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, India, on Wednesday, September 4, 2024. ((Photo by Samir Jana/ Hindustan Times))
In Jadavpur, the police arrested one person for allegedly molesting a woman when a large number of people assembled at 8B bus stand area. The man was allegedly in an inebriated state when he was whisked away by the police to a nearby police station.
A group of student protesters from Jadavpur University and others followed them. The woman victim was escorted by actor Sohini Sarkar to the police station and an FIR was lodged in relation to the incident.
At Garia in south Kolkata, a youth in intoxicated state was beaten up by protesters for allegedly misbehaving with women, before being handed over to the police.
In a separate incident in Cooch Behar district's Mathabhanga town, a branch secretary of the opposition CPI(M) was allegedly beaten up by a group of ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) members. CPI(M) has filed a police complaint regarding the incident while the TMC denied that its party member was involved.
Reclaim the Night 2.0
People across Kolkata and several towns responded in large numbers to the call by protesting junior doctors to turn off the lights as mark of sorrow over the rape and murder on August 9. Thousands of people, including women and children marched holding candles across the streets of West Bengal's cities and towns.
The march, largely mobilised through social media, was joined by people from all walks of life -actors, students, professionals and homemakers. Political parties were notably absent, as people held national flags and candles, and chanted slogans demanding justice.
From Kolkata, the movement also spread to other key locations in various district towns, including Berhampore, Chinsurah, Santiniketan, Krishnanagar, Bardhaman, Siliguri, Barasat, Barrackpore, Rajarhat-Newtown, Cooch Behar, Mathabhanga and Jalpaiguri.
Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh's interim government, on Thursday hit out at former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina for making political remarks on the country from India, calling it is an unfriendly gesture. According to Yunus, Hasina must remain silent to prevent the discomfort to both countries until Dhaka requests her extradition. Nobel laureate and head of Bangladesh's interim government Muhammad Yunus. (AFP)
If India wants to keep her until the time Bangladesh (government) wants her back, the condition would be that she has to keep quietShe is there in India, and at times, she is talking, which is problematic. Had she been quiet, we would have forgotten it; people would have also forgotten it as she would have been in her own world. But sitting in India, she is speaking and giving instructions. No one likes it, Yunus told news agency PTI.
Yunus was referring to Hasina's remarks from August 13, wherein she demanded justice, adding that those involved in recent terror acts, killings and vandalism must be investigated and punished.
According to Yunus, Hasina's comments are not good for Bangladesh or for India.
There is discomfort regarding it, he told PTI.
The head of Bangladesh's interim government further said that they have conveyed their stance to India verbally and quite firmly.
Everyone understands it. We have said quite firmly that she should keep quiet. This is an unfriendly gesture towards us; she has been given shelter there, and she is campaigning from there. It is not that she has gone there on a normal course. She has fled following a peoples uprising and public anger, he said.
Yes, she has to be brought back, or else the people of Bangladesh wont be at peace. The kind of atrocities she has committed, she has to be tried in front of everyone here, he further added.
Yunus on India-Bangladesh relationship
According to Yunus, they desire good ties with India but insisted that New Delhi must abandon the narrative that only Hasinas leadership ensures the countrys stability.
The way forward is for India to come out of the narrative. The narrative is that everybody is Islamist, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is Islamist, and everyone else is Islamist and will make this country into Afghanistan. And Bangladesh is in safe hands with Sheikh Hasina at the helm only. India is captivated by this narrative. India has to come out of this narrative. Bangladesh, like any other nation, is another neighbour, the 84-year-old nobel laureate said, as quoted by PTI.
On future bilateral ties with India, Yunus said that certain treaties, such as transit and the Adani electricity deal, need to be reexamined.
Everybody is saying that it is needed. We will see what is on paper and, second, what is actually happening on the ground. I cant answer it specifically. If there is any need to review, we will then raise questions about it, he said.
Sheikh Hasina's downfall
Hasina, who had ruled Bangladesh since 2009, resigned last month and fled the country as the anti-government protests intensified. Thousands stormed her official residence, setting fires, carrying out furniture, and pulling raw fish from the refrigerators. Hours later, the former Bangladesh PM landed at the Hindon Air Base in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad on a C-130 transport aircraft.
Shortly after Hasina's exit, Bangladesh Army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman announced the formation of an interim government headed by Yunus.
(With inputs from PTI)
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday chargesheeted Inderpal Singh Gaba, a key accused in the attack on the Indian high commission in London in 2023. People show an Indian flag from the roof of the Indian High Commission as protestors of the Khalistan movement demonstrate on the streets in London on March 22, 2022.(AP file)
Gaba, a resident of Hounslow in UK, was arrested by the NIA in the national capital on April 25 this year in connection with the attack on the Indian high commission in London by pro-Khalistani extremists on March 19 and 22 last year.
According to the NIA chargesheet, Gaba is one of the agitators who actively participated in the anti-India protest that took place on March 22 last year in front of the Indian high commission.
On March 22, 2023, more than 2,000 pro-Khalistani supporters vandalised the high commission buildings, throwing articles including ink to deface it. Three days ago, a mob had pulled down the Indian flag in the attack in which some embassy staffers were injured.
The attack was allegedly carried out by UK-based Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) leader Avtar Singh Khanda, who later died in a UK hospital in June last year.
Gaba was detained in December 2023 by the immigration authorities at Attari border on arrival from London via Pakistan, based on the look out circular against him.
According to NIA, the probe was initiated against him and Gaba was asked not to leave the country while the investigation continued. The NIA said it had seized his mobile phone and analysed the data including several incriminating videos/photos of the incident, and eventually established his involvement in the incident.
Indian high commission attacked in response to Amritpal Singh's arrest
According to the NIA, the attacks on Indian high commission in UK were carried out against the crackdown on radical Sikh preacher and Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh by the Punjab Police. Singh was arrested nearly a month later by the Punjab Police.
Singh, lodged in Assam's Dibrugarh jail, won the Lok Sabha election from Punjab's Khadoor Sahib seat by a margin of nearly two lakh votes.
The violent attack on the High Commission was aimed at furthering and achieving the cause of Khalistan by secession of the state of Punjab from India, the agency added.
Jammu and Kashmir election: National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah made an emotional plea to the people of Ganderbal in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday ahead of the assembly election, which is set to begin on September 18 and will be held in three phases until October 1. Ganderbal: National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah during a roadshow before he files nomination papers for Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, in Ganderbal district, Wednesday, September 4, 2024. (PTI)
In a rare gesture, the former chief minister held his cap in his hands while addressing the public, urging the people of Ganderbal to give him another chance to serve them, news agency PTI reported. A visibly emotional Abdullah appealed for their support, saying, My honour is in your hands.
Muin dastar (my turban), muin izzat (my honour), muin topi (my cap), are in your hands, ath kariw raech (uphold it), he expressed, holding his cap. Just give me one opportunity to serve you, I am appealing to you with folded hands, he added.
Speaking to his party workers at the NC office, Abdullah mentioned that he has returned to Ganderbal after 16 years, driven by the hope to serve the people of the constituency once more.
The people of Ganderbal have suffered a lot after 2016, no one healed their wounds, no one addressed their difficulties. We will talk about all these issues in the coming two to three weeks, he said.
Calling upon his party workers to remain united, he said God willing, the party will taste success in the elections.
Abdullah's nomination
Abdullah filed his nomination papers from Ganderbal earlier in the day, marking his return to the constituency he represented from 2008 to 2014 as the chief minister of the NC-Congress coalition government in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
In the 2014 Assembly elections, Abdullah won from the Beerwah constituency in Budgam district, central Kashmir, and chose not to contest from Ganderbal, allowing his then-party colleague Ishfaq Jabbar to run instead.
Abdullah, who had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Baramulla, lost to independent candidate Engineer Rashid. To connect with voters, Abdullah delivered his over five-minute speech primarily in Kashmiri.
J&K elections
The first phase of polling is scheduled for September 18, followed by the second phase on September 25, and the final phase on October 1.
Gazette notifications for each phase have been scheduled to be issued on August 20, August 29, and September 9, respectively. The deadlines for filing nominations are August 27 for the first phase, September 5 for the second, and September 12 for the third.
According to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), the Union Territory has 87.09 lakh eligible voters, with an equal percentage of male and female voters. There will be over 11,800 polling stations across the region.
(With PTI inputs)
Reacting to the controversy over new Netflix series 'IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack', former Indian high commissioner to Islamabad Gopalaswami Parthasarathy said the hijack was totally Pakistan's handwork and the terror group al Qaeda was not involved. File photo of 1999 IC 814 hijacking to Kandahar by Pakistan based terror groups.
The new web series has been accused of giving a clean chit to Pakistan's spy agency the Inter-Services-Intelligence (ISI) by linking the hijackers involved with Afghanistan and al Qaeda.
It was totally Pakistani involvement. The terrorists involved were Pakistanis, the terrorists released were Pakistanis. There is no question of al Qaeda, that is the farthest thing to say," the former diplomat said in an interview with India Today.
Also read | Remembering IC-814 hijacking and birth of Pak terror monster Masood Azhar
Parthasarathy added that the Afghanistan-based terror group did not have a good relationship with Pakistan to the extent that they could carry out the hijack. Parthasarathy suspected that some individual terrorists may have operated from that country as the Taliban then was an extension of the ISI.
Explaining the Pakistan's government's response to the crisis, he termed it as duplicitous and not following its words through actions. "Telling us that they would do the right thing and then not following through. Days into the hijacking, I wanted to send my officer to Kandahar, but the Pakistan government played all sorts of games, he said.
The former diplomat accused Pakistan of delaying his flight from capital Islamabad to Lahore, when he was prepared to visit the hijacked plane. ISI had a very close relationship, they collaborated throughout the hijacking, he said. Lahore, Amritsar and Dubai are locations where the flight was diverted before landing in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Parthasarathy said it is hard to blame the then Indian government for releasing the terrorists from Indian jail as the hijackers were armed and lives of Indian passengers were at stake. It would have been irresponsible to try something militarily at that point of time. We were not willing to take risk with our own people he added.
The Union government has mobilised paramilitary forces ahead of the first assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir in a decade, especially against the backdrop of a spurt in terror attacks in the hilly and rugged Jammu region since June. An officer said the security forces have adopted a proactive approach. (PTI)
As many as 60 to 80 terrorists are believed to have infiltrated the Jammu region in March-April this year. Pakistan has sought to push more terrorists prompting security forces to go all out in counter-insurgency operations.
The army has deployed an [additional] 3,000 troops including 500 para commandos to cover the gaps created by the withdrawal of forces post-Galwan clash [with the Chinese] in eastern Ladakh on June 15, 2020. The BSF [Border Security Force] moved 2,000 men from Odisha to the international border in Jammu. Around 2,000 men of the Assam Rifles have been deployed from Manipur to augment anti-terror operations. The motive is to check infiltration on the border and seek and destroy terrorists who have sneaked in, said a security official.
The army and the BSF have also enhanced surveillance along the 744-km long Line of Control and 198-km international border. They have been provided modern surveillance technologies and weapons to deal with aerial threats in the forms of drones. The BSF has also been undertaking anti tunneling drive to detect trans border tunnels, said the official.
BSF director general Daljit Singh visited the Jammu border on August 22 for a security review. The Union government has retained around 450 companies of paramilitary forces sent to Jammu and Kashmir for the annual Amarnath Yatra. Nearly 450 additional companies have been sent for poll duty.
Around 900 companies, each comprising 110 personnel, of paramilitary forces have been deployed for election duties. The official said this was over and above the regular deployment of the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
An army officer said the security forces have adopted a proactive approach to pre-empting any possible terror strikes in upper reaches. In Kathua, Samba, Udhampur, Reasi, Doda, Kishtwar, Bhaderwah, Ramban, Rajouri, and Poonch districts, the security forces have filled the voids. Search operations have been intensified in the upper reaches. The forces are also dominating hills along the highways so that the terrorists do not get away with their shoot-and-scoot tactic. We have maintained a constant pressure on terrorists, he said.
He added that deployment has been increased in hilly areas of Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Doda, Kishtwar, Udhampur, and Kathua districts.
A police officer said they have also roped in village defence guards (VDGs), who are being provided self-loading rifles and semi-automatic weapons. We are roping in ex-servicemen as VDGs, who are well-trained in weapon handling. Apart from this, the army is also organising firing practice for the VDGs with these semi-automatic weapons.
Dheeraj Sharma, a former village head in Rajouris Dhangri, called the move of providing self-loading rifles to the VDGs a good move. The VDGs would now be in a better position to effectively guard their villages and take on armed terrorists. Earlier, with 303 rifles, which have become obsolete, they were no match against US M4 carbine and AK-47 wielding terrorists, Sharma. He added the VDGs were also getting 50 cartridges with each SLR.
Chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar on August 9 said democracy can never be allowed to be held hostage to terror activities. Our forces and administration are capable of dealing with any situation that comes in the way.
The Centre, Tripura government and two major insurgent groups National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) - on Wednesday signed a peace agreement in the presence of Union home minister Amit Shah to end violence in the state. The home ministry in October 2023 declared NLFT and ATTF unlawful associations. (Amit Shah | Facebook)
Calling the pact a milestone in Tripuras journey towards peace and progress, Shah said the government is committed to the all-round development of the north-east.
The agreement was signed in Delhi, with Tripura chief minister Manik Saha, senior officials of the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) and representatives of both groups present.
The home ministry in October 2023 declared NLFT and ATTF unlawful associations.
Shah said the agreement ends a 35-year-long conflict renouncing violence and committing to build a prosperous and developed Tripura.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not only bridged the gap between the northeast and Delhi by connecting them through roads, railways and flights, but has also bridged the gap between hearts, he added.
The government, he added, has signed 12 important agreements to bring peace and prosperity in the northeast, of which, three relate to Tripura.
Around 10,000 people have given up arms and joined the mainstream due to these agreements, he said.
Shah said 328 insurgents will give up arms and added that the government has earmarked 250 crore to develop areas where the two insurgent groups operated, particularly pockets dominated by tribal populations.
The signing of this agreement is a major milestone in fulfilling the resolve taken by the Modi government to develop the entire Northeast by combining the Ashtalakshmi concept and Purvodaya, he said.
Chief minister Saha termed the signing of the peace agreement a historic moment.
Glad to have witnessed this historic moment. On behalf of the people of Tripura, I also express my heartfelt gratitude to Honble Prime Minister and Honble Home Minister for earmarking 250 crore for the welfare of the returnees, he said in a post on X.
Chief minister Saha lauded the home minister and spoke about the peace agreements signed in the last ten years under the leadership of PM Modi.
...I would like to express my gratitude to HM Amit Shah for being instrumental in creating an atmosphere of peace, prosperity and goodwill in the entire northeast region. Under the leadership of PM Modi and the proactive initiative of Amit Shah, a dozen peace agreements have been signed in the northeast in the last 10 years to resolve many of the complex issues. Out of which for Tripura alone, there are three agreements so far, Saha added.
Militancy rocked the state of roughly 3.6 million for several years between the 1980s and the early 2000s, with NLFT and ATTF two of the most prominent groups during that period.
NLFT was formed in 1988 under the leadership of Biswamohan Debbarma and sought a separate Tripura state. ATTF was similarly formed two years later with a stated aim of ejecting so-called outsiders from the state.
Both outfits are, over the years, reported to have killed hundreds of people.
India and Singapore on Wednesday signed key Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) in the fields of digital technologies, semiconductors, health cooperation, and skill development, which will further strengthen their cooperation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Singapore counterpart Lawrence Wong during the latter's ceremonial reception, at Parliament House, in Singapore. (PTI)
The agreements were signed after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is visiting Singapore, and his counterpart Lawrence Wong held bilateral meetings.
What are the key MoUs signed by India and Singapore?
The first MoU was signed between India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Singapore's Ministry of Digital Development and Information to cooperate in digital technologies. This will help facilitate close cooperation between the two countries in the areas of digital technologies, such as DPI, cyber-security, and 5G, and emerging technologies, such as super-computing, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence. It will also enable cooperation for upskilling and reskilling workers in the digital domain.
The MoU on the India-Singapore semiconductor ecosystem partnership was signed by India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry. Under this agreement, India and Singapore will cooperate in developing a semiconductor cluster and cultivating talent in semiconductor design and manufacturing. It will also facilitate Singapore's investments in India.
Singapore is an integral part of the worldwide semiconductor supply chain, accounting for 10 per cent of all chips produced globally and about 20 per cent of the global production of semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
Another MoU was signed by India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Singapore's Ministry of Health on cooperation in the field of health and medicine. This agreement will facilitate joint efforts on research and innovation in areas of mutual interest and also promote closer cooperation in human resource development in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. The agreement will also complement New Delhi's efforts to promote Indian healthcare professionals in Singapore.
The final agreement on educational cooperation and skills development was signed by India's Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Singapore's Ministry of Education. This agreement aims to promote closer cooperation in the areas of technical and vocational education and training and will complement the ongoing active collaboration in skill development.
PM Modi receives ceremonial welcome at Singapore's Parliament House
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also held talks with his counterpart Lawrence Wong.
During his opening remarks, Modi said Singapore is not only a partner nation but it is an inspiration for every developing country.
"A new chapter in - ties: Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established. PM @narendramodi and PM @LawrenceWongST held a productive meeting in Singapore today," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X after the meeting.
"The leaders agreed to elevate the - ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They extensively reviewed various facets of the bilateral relationship covering areas of Advanced Manufacturing, Connectivity, Digitalisation, Healthcare & Medicine, Skills Development and Sustainability," he said.
Modi in his opening remarks thanked Wong for the warm welcome.
Modi, who arrived in Singapore on Wednesday, received a ceremonial welcome at Singapore's Parliament House and was welcomed by Wong. Upon arrival, Modi signed the visitors' book at the Parliament House and met ministers and delegates from Singapore.
Modi will also visit AEM Holdings Ltd's semiconductor facility with Singapore's PM after a lunch hosted by senior minister Lee Hsien Loong. Following this, he will also meet with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Emeritus senior minister Goh Chok Tong.
Modi is also slated to hold a business meeting with CEOs in Singapore.
(With inputs from ANI)
The Norwegian KONGSBERG Defense company secured a $95 million contract to supply Joint Strike Missiles (JSM) for Australias F-35A aircraft, enhancing the countrys long-range strike capabilities. Australia joins Norway, Japan, and the United States in adopting the JSM, highlighting its significance in the Pacific region.
The Australian Government also announced plans for a KONGSBERG strike missile factory in Newcastle, strengthening domestic defense production. Kongsberg has been named a Strategic Partner in Australias Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise, backed by a $16-21 billion government commitment over the next decade. The company announced today an expansion of its Australian presence with a new AUD 25 million ($16.5 million) facility in Adelaide, supporting defense programs including the Naval Strike Missile, National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS), CORTEX C4 for Protected Mobile Fires, and Protector Remote Weapon Stations. The 2,500 square meter site will focus on strike missiles, air defense systems, and remote weapon stations for the Australian armed forces.
BEIJING, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday met with Cameroonian President Paul Biya, who is here for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
The two leaders announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Biya's attendance at all previous editions of the summit demonstrated the great importance he attached to China-Africa friendship and cooperation, as well as his profound amity with China, Xi said.
China is ready to work with Cameroon to foster a more substantive and significant partnership and advance the bilateral ties to a higher level, Xi said.
He noted that China has always supported Cameroon in safeguarding national unity and ethnic solidarity, fighting terrorism, as well as achieving peace and development.
China is willing to advance bilateral cooperation in fields such as infrastructure, industrial development, connectivity, agriculture and health, and to assist Cameroon in diversifying its economy, Xi said.
Biya commended the sound development of the bilateral ties since the establishment of diplomatic relations 53 years ago.
Noting that a raft of China-funded projects in Cameroon have greatly boosted the country's economic development, Biya said more Chinese enterprises are welcome to invest in Cameroon and help turn its advantages in mineral resources into development momentum.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologise to every person in Maharashtra over the collapse of the statue of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Maharashtra's Malvan. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.(PTI)
A few days ago, the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was damaged, Gandhi said. After this, Narendra Modi said I apologize to Shivaji MaharajBut, Narendra Modi has insulted Shivaji Maharaj. He should apologise not only to Shivaji Maharaj but also to every person in Maharashtra.
Gandhi made the demand while addressing a gathering in Sangli, where he unveiled a life-size statue of late Congress leader Patangrao Kadam, who held several ministerial positions in Maharashtra.
...I give you a guarantee that Kadam ji's (late Congress minister Patangrao Kadam) statue installed will be here even after 50-70 years" Gandhi said.
Gandhi also pointed out that the Congress ideology is in Maharashtra's DNA and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of benefiting a select few under its government.
"...Congress' ideology is in the DNA of Maharashtra. Earlier, there used to be politics, but today there is an ideological fight in India. We want social progress but they (BJP) want that only a select few get all benefits," he said, according to ANI.
Shivaji's statue collapse
The 35-foot statue of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort collapsed during a spell of gusty winds on August 26, sparking a huge political row in Maharashtra ahead of the assembly elections later this year.
The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti alliance for erecting a substandard statue and accused it of corruption. Modi had unveiled the statue on Navy Day in December 2023.
On Wednesday, Jaydeep Apte, a 24-year-old sculptor-contractor wanted in connection with the collapse, was arrested from Kalyan by the Maharashtra Police.
Last week, Modi tendered an apology for the incident during an event in Palghar.
For me and my colleagues, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is not a name or a king, but a revered deity. Today, I bow my head at my revered deitys feet and apologise. I also apologise to all those who worship Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. I know their sentiments are hurt, he had said.
The Rajasthan high court on Thursday granted bail to Mohammed Javed, one of the accused in the brutal killing of Udaipur tailor Kanhaiya Lal in 2022.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had arrested Javed from Udaipur on July 22, 2022.
On June 28 that year, a tailor named Kanhaiya Lal was beheaded by Riyaz Attari and Ghous Mohammed at his shop for supporting former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nupur Sharma's controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammed.
The accused captured the brutal killing on their mobile phones and also issued a threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The duo posed with the knives used in the killing. They were arrested hours after the crime that day. The Rajasthan high court on Thursday granted bail to Mohammed Javed, one of the accused in the brutal killing of Udaipur tailor Kanhaiya Lal in 2022
Javed's role in Kanhaiya Lal killing
According to the NIA, Javed had played a crucial role in the murder conspiracy by conducting a recce and passing on information about Kanhaiya Lal's presence at his shop to both Attari and Ghous Mohammed before the killing.
Plot to kill Kanhaiya was hatched 8 days before attack
According to a Hindustan Times report, the conspiracy to kill Kanhaiya Lal through an ISIS-style beheading was hatched on June 20.
Kanhaiya's killer Ghous Mohammed had told the interrogators that the decision to kill the tailor was taken at a meeting, but those who attended the huddle are denying that any such move was discussed.
Ghous Mohammed said that he volunteered volunteered to decapitate Kanhaiya Lal with others present agreeing to provide legal, logistical, or financial support to the families of the murderers after the crime.
Pak link to brutal killing
HT had learnt that investigations revealed an international link to the killers, the Karachi-based Dawat-e-Islami.
Ghous Mohammed was invited to Pakistan by the senior functionaries of Dawat-e-Islami in 2014.
The Karachi-based Dawat-e-Islami's main aim is to spread the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah with the objective of advocating Shariah globally. It has a huge following in Pakistan and is committed to supporting the blasphemy law in the Islamic Republic.
Mohammed stayed in Karachi for 40 days. He had visited Saudi Arabia for Umrah in 2013 and 2019.
Kolkata doctor rape and murder: Sandip Ghosh, the ex-principal of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, had ordered renovation near the seminar hall, where a doctor was found raped and murdered, alleged Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Mazumdar on Thursday. Sandip Ghosh being taken to Alipore judges district and session court in in Kolkata on Tuesday. (ANI)
He also shared a purported letter, allegedly signed by Sandip Ghosh, which authorised the renovation work.
"The order, signed by Sandip Ghosh, former director of RG Kar Medical College, is dated August 10, just one day after the victim's death. Despite allegations from colleagues and protesters about tampering with the crime scene, the Police Commissioner denied it," he wrote on X. HT can't independently verify the veracity of the order.
The memo written to the executive engineers of several departments of the PWD, Kolkata, by Sandip Ghosh said the hospital authorities wanted to repair the attached toilets.
"I would like to inform you that there are deficiencies in on-duty Doctors' Rooms and separate attached toilets in various departments of RGKMC&H, Kolkata. You are hereby requested to do the needful immediately as per the demand of the Residents' Doctors of RGKMC&H. The issue has been already discussed and resolved in the meeting with the Principal Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare Government of West Bengal & and the Director of Medical Education, Department of Health & Family Welfare Government of West Bengal today," the purported letter reads.
After the renovation work came to light, the BJP-led opposition alleged that attempts were underway to tamper with evidence at the crime scene.
Sandip Ghosh's role after the murder came under the scanner after the victim's family revealed that the hospital authorities told them the woman had died by suicide. The victim's father said they had to wait for over three hours to see the body of his daughter.
The Supreme Court had also questioned the Bengal government about the delay in registering the FIR under sections that deal with murder.
Sandip Ghosh was arrested by the CBI earlier this week over alleged financial irregularities, including selling corpses.
The doctor was raped and murdered in the seminar hall while sleeping amid her 36-hour-long shift.
The police have arrested a civil volunteer named Sanjay Roy for the crime.
The Maharashtra police on Wednesday night arrested sculptor-contractor Jaydeep Apte in connection with the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue at the Rajkot Fort in Malvan. Apte, who went missing after the incident, was nabbed from Kalyan in Thane district nearly 10 days after an FIR was filed against him. Sculptor-contractor Jaydeep Apte was arrested in connection with the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue at the Rajkot Fort in Malvan.
Who is Jaydeep Apte and why was he arrested?
Jaydeep Apte, 24, is a Thane-based sculptor who reportedly owns an art company in Kalyan. He was responsible for creating the 35-foot Shivaji Maharaj statue, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year.
Jaydeep Apte reportedly had no prior experience in constructing large statues.
The Sindhudurg police had filed an FIR against Jaydeep Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil for the collapse of the statue last month under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections for negligence and other offences.
While Patil was arrested from Kolhapur last week, Apte was untraceable. Following this, the police had formed seven teams to look for him.
Shivaji statue collapse: 7 teams were formed
The Sindhudurg police had formed seven teams to track down Jaydeep Apte. A joint technical committee of five members visited the fort at Malvan during on Wednesday and examined the site, said an official. Police had been searching for Apte since the statue collapsed.
A Look Out Circular (LOC) too was issued to stop Apte from leaving the country. Teams of Sindhudurg police were searching for him at several places including Mumbai, Thane and Kolhapur. A police team visited Apte's residence in Kalyan town of Thane district, but it was locked, the official said.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue collapse
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's 35-foot statue at the Rajkot Fort in Malvan collapsed on August 26, nearly nine months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled it. According to the state public works department, the statue's construction was of poor quality, and its nuts and bolts rusted.
The incident sparked massive outrage across the state, with the opposition parties demanding Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde's resignation before the assembly polls.
According to the Opposition, the incident is an insult to the legacy of the 17th-century Maratha emperor. The Congress also asked if Modi would apologise for the incident.
Also read: Prime Minister Modi apologises for collapse of Shivaji Maharaj statue in Malvan
Meanwhile, Patil, who is in police custody, claimed that he was not the structural consultant for the project and had only worked on the platform. According to him, he had simply submitted the platform's design to the Indian Navy through the public works department.
The PWD also blamed the Indian Navy, saying that they were in a great hurry to complete the statue before its slated inauguration on the Navy Day function on December 4 last year.
On August 29, the Indian Navy issued a statement, saying that it had conceptualised and steered the project of installing the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharajs statue in coordination with the state government, which also provided funding for it.
The Statue was unveiled on 04 Dec 2023 as part of the Navy Day celebrations conducted, for the first time, in Sindhudurg, aimed at honouring the legacy of the Maratha Navy and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj towards maritime defense and security, and its historical linkage with the modern Indian Navy. The project was conceptualised and steered by the Indian Navy, in coordination with the state govt which also provided funding for it, the statement said.
West Bengal Legislative Assembly LoP and BJP leader, Suvendu Adhikari, wrote a letter to President Droupadi Murmu and Home Minister Amit Shah, requesting them to take back the President's Police Medal and Police Medal conferred upon Vineet Goyal, the commissioner of Kolkata Police. Adhikari's request comes amid the backlash against the West Bengal administration over the rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata. Bengal BJP leader and LoP in legislative assembly Suvendu Adhikari (File Photo)
The Bengal LoP said that Goyal's accolades should be withdrawn due to the shameful conduct during the course of investigations into the rape and murder of the trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College.
In a post on X, Suvendu Adhikari shared, "I have written a letter to the President of India Droupadi Murmu Ji requesting her to withdraw/forfeit the prestigious President's Police Medal and Police Medal conferred upon Vineet Goyal; IPS, (West Bengal: RR - 1994), presently Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, in connection with his reprehensible, deplorable and shameful conduct during the course of investigations into the rape and murder of the Resident Doctor of RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata."
In his letter, the BJP leader further alleged that Vineet Goyal was complicit in the destruction of evidence in the case, and his complete inaction during the vandalism at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on the night of 14th August, 2024 has been well documented in the media.
"His brazen attempts to sabotage the investigations into what is possibly the most heinous and sensitive crime in the country today to pander to the whims of the political executive of the state, with an intent to camouflage the financial and moral racket running in the health sector in West Bengal, makes him unworthy of retaining such awards," he claimed.
On August 9, the body of a 31-year-old junior doctor was found inside the seminar hall of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The injuries on her body pointed towards rape, and a civil police volunteer was arrested in the case.
Recently, the family of the deceased victim claimed that the Kolkata police tried to offer them money when they were sitting with the mortal remains of their daughter inside their home.
"When the body of the daughter was lying in front of the parents in the house, the police were offering money, is this the humanity of the police?" said the aunt of the deceased doctor.
(With inputs from ANI)
The Tamil Nadu police on Wednesday arrested a doctor accused of sexually assaulting minor girls at a hostel affiliated with a government-aided school in Trichy district. According to the police, the doctor, identified as S Samson Daniel, was booked under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. Tamil Nadu doctor accused of sexually assaulting school girls arrested(ANI)
Along with Samson, his 54-year-old mother, identified as S Grace Sagayarani, who is the headmistress of the school, was also arrested for allegedly helping her son in covering up the offences, the Trichy police said.
The mother-son duo have been sent to three-day judicial custody.
The incident came to light after an anonymous phone call was made to the child helpline, alerting authorities of the offence. Following this, officials, including the district child protection officer, interacted with the students, after which it was revealed that Samson was sexually assaulting the students.
A complaint was filed with the Fort All Women Police Station.
According to the police, Samson has no past history of crimes.
Since the doctor's mother was the headmistress of the school, he misused his influence to often visit the hostel and perpetrate the crime. The school is privately administered and government-aided, the police said.
Man arrested for sexual misconduct with student in Tamil Nadu
In another incident last week, a WiFi technician was arrested for alleged sexual misconduct with a female student at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Tamil Nadu's Tiruchirappalli district.
The incident took place when the accused entered the victim's hostel room under the pretext of fixing up the WiFi. He then allegedly misbehaved with her, the police said.
Following this, massive overnight protests by NIT students erupted, demanding the arrest of the culprit.
(With inputs from PTI)
The International Solar Alliance (ISA), an inter-governmental organisation, has been working for a more diversified and resilient ecosystem amid a highly centralised manufacturing sector. Ahead of the two-day International Solar Festival beginning Thursday, ISA director-general Ajay Mathur spoke to HT about the growing efforts to diversify supply chains, reduce dependence, and enhance global supply chain reliability. Edited excerpts: ISA director-general Ajay Mathur. (ISA)
Which countries provide raw materials for panels and batteries?
Over the past decade, in the global solar PV [photovoltaic] manufacturing landscape, China has been the dominant player, holding a substantial majority across all stages of solar panel production. China is home to the worlds top 10 suppliers of solar PV manufacturing equipment, underscoring its central role in this industry. The manufacturing for solar panels requires key raw materials such as silicon, silver, aluminium, and copper. China alone produces about 70% of the worlds metallurgical-grade silicon, a critical component, and approximately 77% of the worlds polysilicon.
Silver, essential for solar panel production, is predominantly mined in Mexico, Chile, Australia, Russia, and China. Bauxite, from which aluminium is derived, is sourced mainly from Australia, Guinea, and China. When it comes to manufacturing lithium-ion batteries, China again leads the charge, followed by countries like Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, Chile, and Indonesia. This trend is expected to continue in the near future, with China remaining the major supplier of these critical materials. We are beginning to see diversification, both in the mining and refining capacities of other countries and in the materials used.
What is being done to counter Chinas monopoly?
In light of the highly centralised solar manufacturing sector, discussions are underway to foster a more diversified and resilient global solar ecosystem. Chinas dominant position in the solar and battery supply chain, controlling major stages of manufacturing and being a leading producer of crucial raw materials such as aluminium, copper, silver, and lithium, underscores the global reliance on Chinese production capacities.
There is a growing effort to diversify these supply chains, reducing dependence and enhancing global supply chain reliability. Firstly, ISA supports the aggregation of smaller-scale demands into larger, viable investment opportunities. Guarantee programmes have been established to assure investors of returns, thereby enhancing the attractiveness of solar investments globally, not just in China. Secondly, technological innovations, such as the development of sodium-ion batteries, offer promising alternatives to traditional lithium-ion technologies, potentially reducing reliance on supply chains heavily concentrated in specific regions.
In response to the need for geographic diversification, countries are increasingly incentivised to develop their manufacturing capacities. This includes transitioning from solar cell production, heavily centralised in China, to broader solar module assembly, which can be more geographically dispersed. Such strategies not only mitigate supply chain risks but also foster economic growth by creating local jobs and adding value domestically.
ISAs role extends to supporting regulatory changes and financial mechanisms tailored to encourage private investments, particularly in regions traditionally reliant on state investments.
What is the agenda of the International Solar Festival? Why are you organising it?
The festival aims to broaden the conversation around solar energy beyond government circles, extending the dialogue to include youth, women, communities, and the private sector. Our primary goal is to demonstrate how solar energy can seamlessly integrate into everyday life, bringing tangible benefits to people globally. Additionally, we aim to foster cross-fertilisation of best practices, allowing different communities to learn from each others experiences. For example, what can womens groups worldwide learn from each other, or how can a community using solar energy for health care in northeast India share its insights with similar initiatives in Mozambique?
What kind of projects is ISA focusing on in areas with poor or no electricity coverage?
ISA is working towards enabling global energy access by facilitating various initiatives tailored for regions with limited or no electricity. Central to these efforts is the Scaling Solar Mini-Grids programme, which supports the installation of mini-grids in remote areas, particularly in rural Africa, where they offer a more cost-effective solution than extending traditional power grids.
ISA also enables projects targeting the agricultural sector, such as the Scaling Solar Applications for Agricultural Use programme, which supports the installation of over 272,579 solar-powered water pumping systems. Our Global Solar Facility (GSF) is a payment guarantee fund designed to stimulate investments in solar power projects, particularly in underserved regions like Africa. The GSF is set to unlock substantial commercial capital for off-grid solar, rooftop solar, and productive-use solar projects.
This financing vehicle is structured to mitigate investment risks through payment guarantees, insurance, and technical assistance, thereby attracting private sector investment to regions with immense solar potential but significant investment challenges. The GSF aims to facilitate $10 billion in investment, improving energy access for 3540 million African households by 2030. As the initiative progresses, the GSF plans to expand to other regions, including Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, supporting innovative solar technologies and startups to drive a global clean energy transition.
What are your expectations from COP29 (UN Climate Change Conference Baku)?
At COP29, solar energy is set to be a key player in combating climate change, to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030. This includes expanding solar farms, and rooftop systems, and improving grid infrastructure to handle increased renewable energy. Advanced energy storage solutions will be essential to maintain a stable solar energy supply, even when the sun is not shining. A significant focus will be on climate finance, aiming to mobilise substantial funds from both public and private sectors to support renewable projects. Technological advancements, such as developing efficient solar panels, smart grid technologies, and improved battery storage, will also be key topics. Governments are expected to adopt policies that encourage solar energy expansion, including subsidies, tax incentives, and streamlined regulations. International cooperation will foster public-private partnerships and knowledge sharing to promote solar energy in developing nations. These efforts are geared towards accelerating the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon future driven by renewable energy.
Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: The family members of the trainee doctor, who was allegedly raped and murdered at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata last month, on Wednesday alleged that the police tried to suppress the case by hurriedly cremating the body of their daughter. The victim's father also alleged that the Kolkata Police also tried to bribe them with money. Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: Junior doctors have been protesting outside the Kolkata police headquarters, asking for the police chief's resignation.(PTI)
The police, from the very beginning, tried to hush up the case. We were not allowed to see the body and had to wait at the police station while the body was taken for post-mortem examinations. Later, when the body was handed over to us, a senior police official offered us money, which we immediately declined, news agency PTI quoted the victim's father as saying.
The victim's parents further demanded justice for their daughter while participating in a protest at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital along with junior doctors on Wednesday night.
On August 9, the body of the 31-year-old trainee woman doctor was found in a semi-naked state in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. A day after the incident, the Kolkata Police arrested the main accused, Sanjay Roy, after he was seen entering the building around the estimated time of the crime in a CCTV camera footage, and his bluetooth headphones were found near the crime scene.
The probe revealed that after severely hurting and sexually assaulting the doctor, Sanjay Roy killed the victim by throttling and smothering her.
A week after the incident, the Calcutta High Court handed over the probe to the CBI.
Protests over Kolkata rape-murder case
Days after the incident came to light, massive protests erupted across the country, with people, including doctors, demanding justice for the victim.
On Tuesday, a delegation of junior doctors in Kolkata presented a hand-made artificial spine to city police commissioner Vineet Goyal and demanded his resignation over the alleged lapses in the case. The action was a way to ask the police to grow a backbone.
Meanwhile, the casework by junior doctors at state-run hospitals in West Bengal continued on Wednesday in order to protest, with the health services remaining crippled at most facilities.
Earlier on Wednesday, thousands of women across West Bengal marched at midnight as part of the Reclaim the Night campaign, demanding justice for the victims. At around 9 pm, Kolkata witnessed a unique and stirring act of civic solidarity, with residents turning off their lights for an hour and descending onto the streets with candles in hand.
(With inputs from PTI)
Mornings are meant to be started slow and in a happier mood. The way we wake up in the morning helps us to prepare for the day ahead. A happy and healthy morning ensures that we have ample time to meditate, or do our workout routine, or simply sit with our loved ones around and bask in the warmth of togetherness before getting ready for going to work. When we start our day with a healthy routine of morning walk, it helps us to prepare the body for the day ahead. Take a look at the amazing benefits of morning walk here: When we start our day with a healthy routine of morning walk, it helps us to prepare the body for the day ahead.(Unsplash)
ALSO READ: 5 simple morning habits to regulate Cortisol levels and decrease stress
Better blood circulation:
Going for a morning walk helps in making the heart rate go up, which further lowers blood pressure. This helps in improving cardiovascular health and also boosting blood circulation throughout the body. Walking every day for at least two miles helps in reducing the risk of heart attack as well.
Improves joint support:
When we walk, the joints move and compress allowing more joint fluid this further helps in better oxygen and nutrient supply in the joints, which further helps in boosting mobility and flexibility.
ALSO READ: Struggling to get your mornings on track? Start your day right with these 5 simple morning rituals
Strengthens muscles:
Morning walks are low-impact workouts which when done regularly for a period of time can help in stretching and strengthening the muscles. This further helps in improving overall strength and mobility of the body.
Declutters the mind:
Walking helps in improving brain function as well. When we walk within nature in the morning, it helps us to rejuvenate the body and mind and prepare ourselves for the day ahead, with a fresh perspective.
ALSO READ: Dont rush to check your phone after waking up: Doctor reveals healthy morning habits for eye care
Improves mood:
Morning walks are highly beneficial for mental health as well. Regular morning walks can improve mood and alleviate symptoms of depression, stress and anxiety.
Boosts immunity:
People who walk regularly in the morning have better immune function and are at lesser risk of catching flu or a cold. Morning walk helps in strengthening the immunity of the body.
Authorities in Rome said Wednesday they were mulling introducing a ticketing system for visitors to the iconic Trevi Fountain, in the latest attempt in Italy to tackle overtourism. The backdrop to the most famous scene in Federico Fellini's film "La Dolce Vita", when actress Anita Ekberg takes a dip, the 18th-century fountain is top of the list for many visitors exploring the Eternal City. Authorities propose access system for Trevi Fountain amidst rising visitor numbers(REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane)
"Personally I would be in favour of looking at a new form of access, limited and timed, to the Trevi Fountain," Alessandro Onorato, the city councillor responsible for tourism, told the Corriere della Sera newspaper. This would be "a (ticket) reservation system -- free for Romans and costing a symbolic one-euro for tourists", he said, in quotes confirmed by the municipality.
Rome Plans Ticket System for Trevi Fountain
The goal is not to raise money but control the crowds -- including stopping them "eating ice cream or pizza on a monument that deserves the proper respect", he said. As a result of the fountain's fame, the crowds in the square surrounding the Baroque masterpiece are often so deep that it is hard to get a proper look.
A spokesman for the municipality told AFP the ticket proposal was merely "an initial idea -- there is nothing concrete yet". "It is a delicate, difficult issue, but sooner or later it must be addressed," he said. "Tourism in Rome, which is reporting record numbers, must be made sustainable for the city and the environment."
Visitor numbers are expected to surge further in 2025 for the Jubilee, a holy year held by the Catholic Church around once every 25 years, with some 30 million people expected in Rome and the Vatican over the 12 months. Venice earlier this year trialled a five-euro ($5.50) ticket for day visitors during peak periods, in a bid to encourage people to come at less busy times.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government is also considering hiking the nightly tourist tax, although the proposal has sparked anger among industry groups who warn against scaring people away. Onorato said Rome authorities would also like to limit the opening of new bed-and-breakfast or holiday homes to reduce the pressure on the historic centre, but they do not have the power. "Today we can limit the number of restaurants or fast-food outlets in the historic centre, but we cannot prevent the opening of non-hotel facilities," he said.
Do you find that most restaurants especially the fancier ones are much too dark these days? I certainly do. And I have a general rule. If the light is too atmospheric for me to actually see the food on my plate, I just get up and walk out. Restaurants were never meant to be dimly lit. (Unsplash)
Restaurants were never meant to be dimly lit. Ask your parents and they will tell you that some bars and most nightclubs have always favoured dim lighting on the grounds that it suits the mood. But restaurants were always lit well enough for you to be able to read the menu and to see what you were eating.
In recent years, this rule has been turned on its head. It started with bars, where the golden rule was that if you raised the volume of the music and lowered the lighting, you would make the place feel hip. Guests could go and have conversation anywhere else, the bar-designers said. But when they came to their bars they did not want to do anything as boring as chat. They wanted to feel that they were in a special, highly designed environment.
ALSO READ: The Taste by Vir Sanghvi: Why India isnt the vegetarian nation youve been told
Well maybe. But that wasnt the whole story.There were other advantages. Low lighting created a sexier vibe. And as many people who go to trendy bars have a romantic/lust-filled interest in each other, they liked the idea of drinking in dim light. Of course it helped that dim lighting made everyone seem more attractive and hid the blemishes that might otherwise have been visible.
This is not just a hypothesis. People in the business will tell you that bars that have turned up the music and dimmed the lights have seen sales go up. Of course, this is not true of the clubby bars where people meet to discuss deals or actually enjoy their drinks. But the growth sector in the bar business is the dimly lit bar.
I would rather slash both my wrists with a rusty razor than waste an evening in a bar where all conversation was impossible and the lighting were so bad that I risked bumping into the next table every time I stood up from my chair. But I do not dispute that the most successful bars these days are those where you surrender your powers of light and sound to a DJ and a highly paid low-lighting designer.
ALSO READ: The Taste by Vir Sanghvi: The art of Indian dining; thali vs. plated courses
Restaurants, on the other hand, fall into a different category. If you want to go to a restaurant where you cant see the food or hear anyone on your table speak, then my advice is to go to a bar and later order a Burger King or KFC take-out on the way home as a stomach-filler. If you want to go to restaurants that have the ambience of trendy bars, then you probably dont like food anyway.
In my, admittedly old fashioned, view, you should be able to read the menu at a restaurant when you go out for dinner without having to turn on the torch on your phone. At more and more restaurants, even the management recognizes that you will not be able to do this because the lighting is so dim. Therefore, they are ready with a little lamp that you clip on to the menu. Usually, their own lamp rarely emits a light that covers the whole menu so you are better off with your phone torch anyway.
On the other hand, I also recognise that all of us have eyesight of varying strength so perhaps there are people like Superman maybe who have such good vision that they dont need extra light to read the menu. Hell, Superman could probably read the menu at the restaurant next door with his X-Ray vision.
But I do like looking at my food. And yet many restaurants are so badly lit that you can barely make out what is on your plate. If you have ever gone to a restaurant kitchen you will know that it is brightly lit and that when the chef prepares the plate with your food on it, he looks at it under the glare of bright, light. This same plate is then taken to a dimly lit table and of course, every little decorative touch that the chef has put on the plate is no longer visible. At some restaurants I have to guess whether I am eating chicken or fish because the lighting is so low that I can't tell by just looking at the plate. (And at some restaurants I cant even tell if it is really chicken or fish, even after tasting the dish but thats another story.)
ALSO READ: The Taste by Vir Sanghvi: How centuries of influence shaped Indian cuisine
None of this seems to bother restaurant owners. Not only are the plates prepared in bright light but when they are photographed for the menu or for publicity purposes the photographers use fancy lights to show them off to their best advantage. And yet when they reach the table, the guest can barely make out what the hell is being served to him or her.
Why restaurant owners prefer dim lighting?
There is now a new problem which too many restaurant owners seem unaware of. They recognise that prominence on Instagram is often the cheapest and most effective way of drumming of business. But, for the instagram post to look good, the restaurant must have enough light. This is the bit they dont understand I have lost count of the number of restaurants where the lighting is so bad that it is virtually impossible to take a good photo for Instagram. Even if you can tell what is on the plate, the lighting will be so poorly designed that shadows will cover the food. (This is why the best insta/photos of food are usually taken at lunchtime when you can use natural light and when the owners have not dimmed the lights to extremely low levels.)
Given all this the inability to see your food, the instagram problems etc. why do restaurant owners persist with such dim light? One good reason is that there are still plenty of non-foodie guests who find a dimly-lit restaurant romantic. Another is that dim light covers a multitude of sins from dirty walls to staff uniforms that have not recently been cleaned.
But mostly it is because the guys who design the lighting dont worry about the people who actually have to eat at the restaurant. They just want something that looks cool and sophisticated (or what they think cool and sophisticated means).
ALSO READ: The Taste by Vir Sanghvi: The guide to enjoying junk food
People who understand the business will never make this mistake. You will never face any difficulty in reading the menu at Bukhara or Indian Accent, I once went, many years ago, to a pre-opening dinner at the Mumbai Ziya with Biki Oberoi. He spent at least an hour, before we even ordered, changing the lighting till he got the effect he wanted. (The restaurant was formally opening in a week.)
So, heres my theory. People who understand food want you to enjoy the restaurant experience. People who dont care about food only want to their places to look cool. So if you go to a restaurant with very dim lighting, leave. The food will probably be crap anyway.
Bollywood actor Anupam Kher has bought a commercial office space in Andheri near Mumbai for 3.88 crore, documents accessed by FloorTap.com showed. Anupam Kher on changing perspective of the industry
The office space is spread over an area of 887 sq ft RERA carpet and located on the 24th floor of the tower known as Parinee 1.
The deal was executed on September 3 and a stamp duty of 23.3 lakh was paid for by the Bollywood actor. The unit comes with 1 car park.
The actor and the developer could not be reached.
Other Bollywood actors who have bought commercial real estate
Kangana Ranaut, a BJP MP and Bollywood actor, has purchased an office space in Mumbai's Andheri area for 1.56 crore, according to property registration documents accessed by Propstack.
The property spread across 407 sq ft is located on the 19th floor of a building named Arch One and was purchased at a per sq ft rate of 38,391 sq ft on carpet, according to the documents.
Also Read: Kangana Ranaut buys 407 sq ft office space in Mumbai's Andheri for 1.56 crore
Karishma Kapoor, Ajay Devgn, Amitabh Bachchan have all purchased commercial properties to earn high rental yields. The return on investment for an office property often works out to be higher than that of a residential property.
Karishma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor and their mother Babita Kapoor had leased a showroom space in Bandra West, Mumbai, for a rent of 6 lakh per month to a jewellery brand last year, documents accessed by Propstack had shown. The tenure of the lease is 49 months.
Ajay Devgn had leased an office space in Andheri West in Mumbai for a monthly rent of 9 lakh for five years, documents accessed by Propstack showed.
Also Read: Tamannaah Bhatia rents commercial property for 18 lakh per month, mortgages 3 flats in Mumbai for 7.84 crore
Amitabh Bachchan, who purchased four commercial units in Oshiwara for around 7 crore each last year had also rented the properties for an annual consideration of 2.07 crore.
Apart from Bachchan, actors Kartik Aryan, Manoj Bajpayee, Sarah Ali Khan and his wife Kajol have also purchased office spaces in Lotus Signature tower in Andheri West last year.
In April last year, Sonu Nigam had purchased two commercial properties spread across an area of 5547 sq ft in Andheri for 11.37 crore, documents shared by Propstack had shown earlier.
Also Read: From Karishma Kapoor to Amitabh Bachchan, heres why Bollywood stars prefer to invest in commercial properties
A 29-year-old non-resident Indian is seeking suggestions on Reddit with regards to a city for relocation upon his/her return to India. Is 1.25 crore enough to buy a house in India? Bengaluru, Gurugram, Mumbai too expensive, enquires NRI on Reddit(Sunil Ghosh/ Hindustan Times)
Is 1.25 cr enough to settle in India? Which city would be the cheapest to live in?, caption of the Reddit post reads.
The user fears that he/she may get fired from his job in the UK and is mulling a return to India. I'm okay with the Hindi belt (Noida, Lucknow, Patna, Jamshedpur, Raipur, etc) as long as I can do a remote/local IT job. Bangalore/Gurgaon/Delhi/Mumbai are too expensive, the Redditor wrote.
Is 1.25 cr enough to settle in the Hindi belt? Could I buy a place and still have money left over., the social media user added.
Also Read: Netizens discuss a case of 38,000 rent for unfurnished 1 BHK in Bengaluru, post goes viral on Reddit
The IT professional, who resided in NCR/Bengaluru before moving to the UK is, however, apprehensive if adjusting to life in a Tier II city of India may prove to be a difficult experience.
Netizens add their two cents
While netizens largely steered clear of making a case for Bengaluru or Mumbai, a host of tier II cities made the cut, including Pune, Lucknow, Goa and Kolkata.
Pune is best bet for you. Go for renting, it's still cheaper. And there are many IT companies too. And labour is cheap for household work, one of the users wrote.
There were also those who recommended that the NRI travel and work from multiple locations. Get a small 1 BHK in RishikeshWhen it's too cold in December then move to Goa and rent an apartment for 1 or 2 monthsAgain in monsoon go to Leh and stay there. On (the) weekend rent a bike and explore Ladakh, a Redditor wrote.
Also Read: Bengaluru auto with flat-like window similar to a 1BHK in Mumbai makes headlines as X post goes viral
Another user recommending Vadodara in Gujarat wrote: 2 BHK - 25-30 lakh to buy (decent ones). 10-15K to rent. The individual listed factors such as proximity to Mumbai and Ahmedabad, safety, presence of healthcare services, good roads and electricity supply, among others, further making a case for the city.
Those advocating in favour of Kolkata wrote: In South Kolkata you can easily get flats in 10-30th floor (1-2 BHK) under 25K. Overall food is really cheap.
How much can 1 crore fetch in India's top property markets?
Mumbai is the financial capital of India and has always been in the news for being the hottest real estate market in the country. However, when it comes to purchasing a budget residential property, there is only little that the city has to offer.
According to local brokers, with as much as a 1 crore budget, homebuyers can only purchase a compact 1 BHK, spanning around 400 square feet in carpet area, in the western and eastern suburbs of the city including areas like Dahisar and Mulund.
Also Read: Bengaluru real estate: A 2BHK listed on X for a rent of 43,000 pm, 2.5 lakh security deposit taken up in 9 hours
Homebuyers can alternatively opt for a studio apartment in the range of 250-350 square feet. However, there are only a handful of developers preferring to construct studio apartments in Mumbai, brokers highlighted.
In contrast, 1 crore can buy Grade A 1 BHK and 2 BHK units spanning anywhere between 600 - 1,200 square feet in Bengaluru. These projects are available in the northern and southern ends of the city, and peripheral business district areas such as Electronic City, Whitefield and so on.
Meanwhile, in Delhi-NCR, one can get a 1,000-sq ft 2 BHK in emerging sectors of Noida or a 1,350-sq ft 3 BHK in Greater Noida, for a budget of 1 crore.
Lastly, in Kolkata, 1 crore can buy as big as a 2,000 sq ft 4 BHK in the northern end of the city, close to the airport. With a pricing of around 6,500 per sq ft, one can also hope to find a 1,500-sq ft 3 BHK in South Kolkata.
NCR-based County Group has signed a development agreement for a 7.9-acre land parcel at village Harsaru in Gurugram for a consideration of 105 crore, property documents accessed by CRE Matrix showed. NCR-based County Group has signed a development agreement for a 7.906-acre land parcel at village Harsaru in Gurugram for a consideration of 105 crore. (Representational photo) Photo by Parveen Kumar/ Hindustan Times)
The land parcel is located in Sector 88A, Gurugram, it showed.
The development agreement was signed on July 9 between Delhi-based Brock Developers Pvt Ltd, Kolkata-based Ashiana Landcraft Realty Pvt Ltd (ALRPL) and Noida-based Perfect Megastructure Pvt Ltd (subsidiary of County Group), the documents showed.
A stamp duty of 2.27 crore was paid for the transaction, the documents showed.
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As per the agreement, the developer (Perfect Megastructure Pvt Ltd) has agreed to the proposal of the owners to undertake construction, development, sales and marketing of the project and the owners have agreed to transfer the unencumbered and irrevocable development rights in respect of the project land in favour of the developer, the documents showed.
The developer has agreed to develop the land in various phases and the project will be branded by the developer with the brand and the logo determined by the developer. The developer has paid 105 crore as one-time consideration to ALRPL, the documents showed.
There was no response from the developer.
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The back story
In June 2023, the DTCP had approved ALRPLs request to change the developer of the project for the balance land parcel measuring 7.9 acres, they showed.
County Group has delivered housing projects like Orange County, Olive County, Cherry County, besides Noida's first luxury project Cleo County, Ivy County, as well as Noida's first ultra-luxury project County 107.
Real estate developers and landowners joined hands to develop 1,546 acres of land and inked a total of 56 separate Joint Development Agreements (JDAs) over the past 18 months. Residential developments had a share of more than 97% (1,501 acres) in these signed agreements offering a development potential of 110 million sq. ft with an estimated gross development value of around 99,460 crore, according to a report by JLL.
Delhi NCR led in terms of number of transactions, with 20 JDAs signed since 2023, covering approximately 233 acres of land. These agreements have the potential for a total development of 36.5 million sq. ft. Within Delhi NCR, a significant portion of these deals, covering 151 acres, were signed in Gurugram alone, the report showed.
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) officials have highlighted the toxic work environment at the capital markets regulator under chief Madhabi Puri Buch. In a letter to the finance ministry titled Grievances of SEBI officers - A call for Respect, the employees highlighted unprofessional behaviour on part of the top management. SEBI officers wrote to the government highlighting toxic work culture at the organisation(HT photo)
Here is a look at 5 key grievances that SEBI employees have complained about:
Unrealistic KRA targets
SEBI officials said that management had overhauled the organisation and introduced unrealistic KRA targets with changing goalposts.
Despite struggling and toiling hard to achieve KRA targets for last year, KRA targets for this year were increased anywhere around 20%-50% for some departments and divisions, the letter alleged. Employees are not robots with a knob that one can turn and increase the output.
It also pointed out that SEBI is not a sales organisation where the only objective is to surpass KRAs and do better than last year. The work done at SEBI impacts lives of so many people in this country, working frantically to only achieve unrealistic targets to protect oneself from the ire of people at the highest level is a disservice to SEBI and the people of this country, it said.
Immense work pressure
Stemming from unrealistic targets was another complaint - stressed-out employees working overtime to achieve KRAs. This kind of work environment in recent times has resulted in immense pressure on the employees of SEBI and has resulted in a stressful and toxic work environment. The SEBI which used to be a place where people used to work joyously and efficiently has become a furnace of unrealistic KRA point achievement, employees said.
The letter further said that many SEBI employees were forced to work overtime and work on weekends to keep up with the work pressure. Officers who live far away take files with them so they can work from home after office hours and weekends, it alleged.
SEBI officials also highlighted stress and anxiety in employees who bear the brunt of all the work that is pushed onto them while claiming that in many departments, the senior and middle management has no value addition but only panic addition.
Public humiliation
SEBI employees objected to the unprofessional behaviour of higher management, saying that shouting, public humiliation and name-calling had become the order of the day to such an extent that even senior officers are afraid to attend meetings because of the bad behaviour of people at the highest level.
At one time, the employees will be name called and at other times they would be shouted at by the leadership with no defence from top management, the grievances letter alleged. It further alleged that fear had become the primary driving force at SEBI.
Unprofessional language is casually used by people at the highest level. Shouting, scolding and public humiliation have become a norm in meetings, the letter said.
Officers added that SEBI management had adopted a leadership style where employees are browbeaten into submission, using harsh and unprofessional language, and called for an end to this practice.
Swing barriers
Swing barriers to monitor attendance became another sore point with SEBI officers who said that it showed a lack of trust in employees.
One of the ways mistrust towards employees has surfaced is installation of swing barriers to monitor intra-day attendance of employees. Many private organizations are moving away from even biometric attendance systems to promote a positive work culture and showcase trust in their employees, the letter said.
In their letter, SEBI officers said that people at the highest level of the organisation seemed to be living in the 1950s, when it was the largely-held view that employees are not self-motivated and avoid work. By contrast, SEBI is an intellectual organisation that succeeds because its employees are self-motivated.
It said that installing swing barriers to mark intra-day attendance is an insult to employees and reflective of the managements distrust. The complaint also noted how management tends to monitor employees minute-by-minute.
Mental health impacted
In Grievances of SEBI officers - A call for Respect, SEBI officers said that the managements attitude, the toxic work culture and work pressure had adversely impacted the mental health of employees.
In fact, officers said that the mental health counsellor who earlier had only a few bookings has now been inundated with appointments. As a result, the HR has had to increase the counsellors number of visit days and has had to open up unlimited mental health counselling for employees.
An elderly woman in Romania used one of the worlds largest amber nuggets as a doorstop for decades without realising its true value. According to Spanish newspaper El Pais, the prehistoric gemstone is actually worth over $1.1 million. One of the world's largest amber nuggets that was found in Romania.(Facebook/Muzeul Judetean Buzau )
The unnamed woman found the amber nugget near a stream in the Romanian village of Colti many years ago. She picked it up without realising its value and used it as a doorstop in her home for decades. No one, including jewel thieves who once broke into her house, realised that they were staring at a piece of history worth 1 million euros.
A startling discovery
The true value of the amber nugget only came to light after the woman died in 1991 and it caught the eye of one of her relatives. The man who inherited the doorstop examined it more closely and suspected that it might be worth something.
His suspicions were proven right when he sold the nugget to the Romanian state, which quickly classified it as a national treasure. Romania gave the nugget to the Museum of History in Krakow, Poland to confirm its authenticity.
Polish experts confirmed its authenticity and estimated that the amber nugget is between 38.5 and 70 million years old.
Its discovery represents a great significance both at a scientific level and at a museum level, said Daniel Costache, director of the Provincial Museum of Buzau, where the amber nugget is currently housed. Costache believes it is one of the largest pieces of amber in the world.
Meanwhile, relatives of the late woman said that thieves failed to recognise the real treasure before their eyes when they broke into her home and departed with a few pieces of gold jewellery.
In their frantic search for valuables, they overlooked the real treasure that was there before their eyes, the relatives told El Pais.
On the birth anniversary of former Indian President Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the US Embassy in India paid a poignant tribute by sharing rare photographs from his 1963 visit to the United States. The images, capturing a warm reception by President John F Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy at the White House, highlighted a significant moment in US-India relations. The image showcases Radhakrishnan's warm reception by President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.(@USAndIndia)
The Embassys official social media account featured a heartfelt message, quoting Dr Radhakrishnan: Books are the means by which we build bridges between cultures. This quote perfectly encapsulates Dr Radhakrishnans philosophy of learning and cross-cultural understanding. The post continued, Remembering former Indian President Dr Radhakrishnan on his birth anniversary, celebrated as #TeachersDay with a picture from his visit to the U.S. in 1963.
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Historic reception
The photos shared depicted Dr Radhakrishnan arriving in Washington, DC, and being greeted warmly by the Kennedy family. The images of the smiling Kennedys as they welcomed the Indian leader were a powerful reminder of the respect and admiration Dr Radhakrishnan commanded on the global stage.
The social media post quickly gained traction, with many users expressing admiration for Dr Radhakrishnans contributions to education and diplomacy.
Teachers' day: A tribute to education
Books are the means by which we build bridges between cultures.
Teachers' Day, celebrated in India on September 5, was established to honor Dr Radhakrishnans contributions to education. During his presidency, he requested that his birthday be observed as a day dedicated to teachers and their role in shaping society.
Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, born in 1888, was a distinguished philosopher, academic, and politician. Serving as Indias second president and first vice president from 1952 to 1962, he was known for his deep knowledge of philosophy and religion. His advocacy for education and cultural exchange left an enduring impact, making him a revered figure globally. Dr Radhakrishnans eloquence and intellectual prowess left an indelible mark, making him a celebrated figure both in India and internationally.
Chief Adviser to Bangladesh's interim government Muhammad Yunus questioned India's concerns of the violent attacks on Hindus in the country, saying that the issue of attacks on minority Hindus has been exaggerated. He also said that the attacks on minorities in Bangladesh is more political than communal, reported PTI. Nobel laureate and Chief adviser of Bangladesh's new interim government Muhammad Yunus. (AFP)
Yunus, in an interview with PTI, said that the attacks on minorities were a part of a political fallout, since there was a perception that most Hindus support the now-deposed Awami League government, led by Sheikh Hasina.
I have said this to (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi also that this is exaggerated. This issue has several dimensions. When the country went through an upheaval following the atrocities by (Sheikh) Hasina and the Awami League, those who were with them also faced attacks, the Nobel laureate said.
This statement comes after multiple reports of violence and attacks against Hindus surfaced from Bangladesh, after the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5. Hindu temples and businesses were vandalised, and two Hindu leaders of Awami League were killed, as per local media reports.
Now, while beating up Awami League cadres, they had beaten up Hindus as there is a perception that Hindus in Bangladesh mean Awami League supporters. I am not saying what has happened is right, but some people are using it as an excuse to seize property. So, there is no clear distinction between Awami League supporters and Hindus, Yunus said.
Yunus, during his first direct conversation with New Delhi after the formation of the interim government, conveyed to PM Modi that Bangladesh would prioritise the protection and safety of Hindus and all other minority groups.
Describing the attacks as more political than communal, Yunus questioned how India is propagating them.
These attacks are political in nature and not communal. And India is propagating these incidents in a big way. We have not said that we cant do anything; we have said that we are doing everything, the Chief Adviser said.
Yunus further said that New Delhi needs to let go of this narrative that Bangladesh will turn into Afghanistan after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. He said, India is captivated by this narrative. India needs to come out of this narrative. Bangladesh, like any other nation, is just another neighbour.
(With inputs from PTI)
Dhaka: A controversy over the killing of a teenage Bangladeshi girl on the border with India took a fresh twist on Thursday when Dhaka sought to blame the Border Security Force (BSF) for the incident. BSF personnel keep vigil amid high alert at the India-Bangladesh international Border, at Chatrahati in South Dinajpur. (ANI)
On Monday morning, BSF personnel in Tripura found the girls body with bullet injuries at the zero line ahead of the India-Bangladesh border fence. Indian officials said she was allegedly shot dead by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) while trying to enter India illegally.
The body was handed to the BGB on Tuesday evening, more than 24 hours after the Bangladeshi side refused to take it back and a flag meeting was held between the two forces.
On Thursday, Bangladeshs foreign affairs contended in a protest note sent to the Indian mission in Dhaka that 13-year-old Shwarna Das, of Juri upazila of Moulvi Bazar district, was shot and killed by the BSF on September 1.
The Bangladeshi side said Das and her mother allegedly tried to cross the border into India through an illegal route with the help of human traffickers. They intended to visit Das brother in India.
There was no immediate word on the protest from the Indian side.
Bangladesh said such incidents are undesirable and unwarranted and violate the provisions of the Joint Indo-Bangladesh Guidelines for Border Authorities of 1975.
However, Indian officials said earlier they suspect the teenager may have been shot while trying to cross into India illegally.
A BSF official aware of the matter said: Initially, BGB refused to take back the body. They said she is not from Bangladesh and may have been killed by the forces in India. But our probe revealed that she was from Kalaura police station area in Bangladesh.
He added: Most likely, she was shot and managed to run a few metres before collapsing on the zero line.
While the Indian side has a border fence, there is no fence in Bangladesh. Since August 5, the day then premier Sheikh Hasina fled to India and Bangladesh witnessed political turmoil, thousands of Bangladesh nationals, many of them claiming to be Hindus, have attempted to enter India illegally, fearing persecution. Such infiltrators have been stopped at the border fence or at zero line by the BSF and returned to Bangladesh.
A day before the girls body was found, the BGB announced enhanced security measures along the border and two helplines where people could give information about those crossing the frontier illegally.
A senior BSF official said the force follows a non-lethal policy at the border. The officer, who asked not to be named, asserted the girl was shot dead by the BGB. Despite so many cases of attempted intrusion since August 5, BSF has not used force in any case. In fact, all intruders are being apprehended and handed over to BGB after flag meetings, he said.
More than two dozen people have been returned to Bangladesh after flag meetings at different border points.
Munich police in Germany have said that their officers fired shot dead a suspicious male person on Thursday in an area near a Nazi-era museum and the Israeli consulate in the Karolinenplatz area, news agency AP reported. Police officers secure the area around the Koenigsplatz square after a shooting near the building of the Documentation Centre for the History of National Socialism (NS-Dokumentationszentrum) in Munich, southern Germany, on September 5, 2024. German police said they shot a suspect in central Munich on September 5, near the documentation centre on the Nazi era and the Israeli consulate, and advised people to stay clear of the area. (Photo by Pauline CURTET / AFP)(AFP)
Police said on social media platform X that there was no evidence of any more suspects connected to the incident. Five more police officials have been deployed and the area has been cordoned off. An operation is underway, and the public have been asked to avoid the area.
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The person was considered suspicious as he appeared to be carrying a long-barrelled gun, but the police have not identified the person so far. Police also said there is no threat to any other locations.
According to AP, police officers spotted a person carrying a long gun in the Karolinenplatz area, near downtown Munich, at around 9 am. Police exchanged fire in which the suspect was seriously injured.
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Israels Foreign Ministry said the consulate in Munich was closed when the shooting occurred, and that no consulate staff had been hurt.
German interior minister Nancy Faeser termed the shooting as a serious incident and said the protection of Jewish and Israeli facilities is of the highest priority. She also said that she in contact with emergency services and do not speculate on further details.
The incident comes on the 52nd anniversary of attack on 1972 Munich Olympics. An attack by Palestinian militants on the Israeli delegation led to death of 11 Israeli team members, a West German police officer and five of the assailants. It is not clear whether the shooting is connected to the anniversary in any way.
(With inputs from agencies)
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday named India, China and Brazil as possible intermediaries for peace talks with Ukraine, saying he has relations of trust and confidence with the leaders of these three countries. Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on Thursday. (AFP Photo)
Speaking during a panel discussion at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin contended that an agreement reached by Russian and Ukrainian negotiators during talks in Turkiye in March 2022 within weeks of the launch of the Russian invasion should serve as the basis for any future talks.
Putin was responding to a question by the moderator about countries that can act as mediators between Russia and Ukraine. First of all, it is Chinese Peoples Republic, Brazil and India I am in contact with my partners and I have no doubt that the leaders of these countries and we have relations of trust and confidence with one another will be really interested and provide a helping hand, he said.
He subsequently added, If there is a desire [on the part] of Ukraine to carry on with the negotiations, I can do that, but based on the agreements that were achieved in Istanbul.
Putin was referring to talks held in Turkiye in March 2022 by Russian and Ukrainian negotiators that he claimed had led to a document that was endorsed by the Ukrainian side. He further contended that this agreement wasnt implemented because the West instructed Ukraine to continue fighting to ensure the strategic defeat of Russia.
The panel discussion also featured Chinese vice president Han Zheng and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who said securing a just and fair peace would immensely help not only Russia and Ukraine but the entire world because the conflict is disrupting global supply chains.
Putins remarks came against the backdrop of visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Russia in July and Ukraine in August. Modi told both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that a solution cannot be found on the battlefield and nudged them to return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy.
Zelensky has suggested that a planned second peace summit on Ukraine could be hosted by India, but he also emphasised that this will only be possible if New Delhi signs on to the joint communique that was issued after the first peace summit hosted by Switzerland in June. India participated in the first peace summit but didnt endorse the joint communique.
While in Moscow during July 8-9, Modi told Putin that talks cannot succeed under the shadow of the gun. Given Ukraines refusal to join direct negotiations with Russia, Modi said a solution to the conflict cant be found without engaging Russia. Modi also said that New Delhis position is not neutral, but on the side of peace.
Modis visits to Moscow and Kyiv were seen as the delicate balancing resorted to by India in the face of persisting calls from the West to help find a solution to the conflict, especially in the context of its efforts to act as the voice of the Global South.
India has so far not publicly censured Russias invasion of Ukraine and it has largely abstained on all Ukraine-related resolutions at the United Nations. It has ramped up purchases of discounted Russian commodities, especially oil. The Indian side has, however, emphasised that it is ready to play an active role in all peace efforts.
PARIS President Emmanuel Macron named Michel Barnier as Frances new prime minister on Thursday, hoping the Brexit negotiator and veteran conservative can work with the country's bitterly divided legislature to end political turmoil that has roiled Macron's presidency. Macron names EU's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as Frances new prime minister
Barnier, 73, is the oldest of the 26 prime ministers that have served modern France's Fifth Republic. He replaces the youngest, Gabriel Attal, who was 34 when he was appointed just eight months ago.
Attal was also France's first openly gay prime minister. French media and some of Macron's political opponents, who immediately criticized Barnier's appointment, quickly dug up that, when serving in parliament in 1981, the new prime minister had been among 155 lawmakers who voted against a law that decriminalized homosexuality.
Barnier's appointment ends more than 50 days of a caretaker government in France, but offers no guarantee of a return to political calm. Barnier faces the tough task of having to work with the acrimonious and deeply split hung parliament that emerged from an early legislative election that Macron called in June.
At a handover ceremony with Attal, Barnier said that his new role would require lots of listening, lots of respect."
Without a legislative majority of his own behind him, Barnier will need to find loose ad hoc groupings of backers in the National Assembly to tackle Frances pressing issues including the budget for 2025. Macron and his aides spent weeks sounding out potential prime ministerial candidates, making calls and trying to build consensus, in the search for a government leader who might be able to survive in the fractured political landscape.
Barnier, a career politician proud of his humble roots in Frances Alpine region of Haute-Savoie, is no stranger to complex and daunting tasks: He was the European Unions chief negotiator in the difficult talks with Britain over its departure from the bloc.
But he could quickly face possible attempts in parliament to topple the new government he will put together and lead. Opponents of Macron on the left of French politics immediately portrayed the appointment of the conservative Barnier as a slap in the face for those who voted for them in the legislative election. Macron hoped the voting would strengthen his position and provide clarity. Instead, the July 7 outcome saw his centrist government lose its majority but also produced no clear winner.
By turning to Barnier, Macron is hoping to break the political deadlock.
A statement from Macron's office announcing the appointment said Barnier was tasked with forming a unifying government to serve the country and the French people.
This appointment comes after an unprecedented cycle of consultations during which, in accordance with his constitutional duty, the president ensured that the prime minister and the future government would meet the conditions to be as stable as possible and give themselves the chances of uniting as broadly as possible, the statement said.
Forming a government that isn't quickly toppled by a parliamentary censure vote is sure to be a delicate tightrope act with a legislature so divided. To build the support his government will need, Barnier could possibly offer ministerial posts to potential allies.
He will seek to build a government of national union, casting a wide net," said Christophe Boutin, a political analyst at the University of Caen Normandie,
But Barnier will also have to make do "without the extremes, Boutin added, referring to Macrons fiercest opponents on the far-left and far-right of French politics that have considerable sway but no majority in the legislature.
Barnier brings ample experience and networks of contacts from his political career of more than 50 years. He has served as ministers for foreign and European affairs as well as the environment and agriculture and twice as a European commissioner.
But his profile could also leave Macron open to opponents' accusations that the president is not effecting the deep change that some voters hoped for from the legislative elections.
Taking all this time to end up with Barnier, it doesnt give the impression of a major revolution," Boutin said. "Barnier has been in the political landscape for centuries.
So political instability wouldn't overshadow the July 26-Aug. 11 Paris Olympics, when France was in the global spotlight, Macron had kept Attal and his ministers on in a caretaker capacity, handling day-to-day affairs, after the prime minister resigned July 16, in the wake of the legislative defeat.
Influential far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon on Thursday immediately came out against Barniers appointment and predicted the prime minister would not get majority backing from lawmakers.
Melenchon said the appointment flew in the face of the election results that left parliaments lower house split between three main blocs the left, including Melenchons party; the center where Macron has based his support, and the far right, converging around anti-immigration leader Marine Le Pen.
The election has been stolen, Melenchon asserted.
Le Pen, on the other hand, indicated that she's willing to give Barnier a chance but said her National Rally party won't take part in his government.
She said the 2025 budget will be a priority. Barnier's government faces a tight deadline to deliver one. France is also under pressure from the EU to get its finances in order, with Brussels having rebuked Paris for running up excessive debt.
Barnier is "a man respectful of other political forces," Le Pen said. Its important because compromises will have to be reached, considering the state of Frances budget.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
NEW YORK Spared from prosecution in Britain on Thursday, Harvey Weinstein now faces the prospect of a new indictment in New York, where prosecutors retrying the disgraced movie moguls rape case are taking steps to potentially charge him with up to three additional sex assaults. New York seeking to charge Harvey Weinstein with more sex crimes as Britain drops its case
Britains Crown Prosecution Service, which authorized two charges of indecent assault against Weinstein in 2022, announced Thursday that it decided to discontinue the proceedings because there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.
We have explained our decision to all parties, the CPS said in a statement. We would always encourage any potential victims of sexual assault to come forward and report to police, and we will prosecute wherever our legal test is met.
At the same time, the Manhattan district attorneys office in New York has begun presenting evidence to a grand jury of up to three previously uncharged allegations against Weinstein - two sexual assaults in the mid-2000s and another sexual assault in 2016.
The New York grand jurys term expires Friday, and a vote on an indictment could happen by the end of the week, though its possible the process could extend beyond that. Prosecutors said they would seek to combine any new charges with ones previously brought against Weinstein so that they could be tried together.
In April, New Yorks top court overturned Weinsteins rape and sexual assault convictions and ordered a new trial. The states Court of Appeals found that the judge in the 2020 trial unfairly allowed testimony from women whose claims against Weinstein werent part of the case.
Prosecutors shared some information about the additional allegations that the grand jury is weighing at a court conference on Tuesday.
They include alleged sexual assaults at the Tribeca Grand Hotel, now known as the Roxy Hotel, and in a Lower Manhattan residential building between late 2005 and mid-2006, and an alleged sexual assault at a Tribeca hotel in May 2016.
Judge Curtis Farber elicited the details as Weinsteins lawyers weighed potentially having his testify before the grand jury, which they said hed wanted to do. Weinstein was not present at the conference.
Aidala said Thursday that hes decided against testifying, citing a lack of sufficient information about the new allegations. He criticized prosecutors for seeking to add additional accusers to the case rather than simply trying Weinsteins original indictment again.
The case was overturned in April and they spent six months trying to dig up someone to come after him, Aidala said.
Weinstein, 72, has denied that he raped or sexually assaulted anyone. He remains in custody in New York while awaiting a retrial in Manhattan thats tentatively scheduled to begin Nov. 12. He is expected back in court for a pretrial hearing Sept. 12.
Weinstein became the most prominent villain of the #MeToo movement, which took root in 2017 when women began to go public with accounts of his behavior. After the revelations emerged, British police said they were investigating multiple allegations of sexual assault that reportedly took place between the 1980s and 2015.
In June 2022, the Crown Prosecution Service said it had authorized Londons Metropolitan Police Service to file two charges of indecent assault against Weinstein over an alleged incident that occurred in London in 1996. The victim was in her 50s at the time of the announcement.
Unlike many other countries, Britain does not have a statute of limitations for rape or sexual assault.
After Weinsteins conviction was overturned, New York prosecutors said they intended to bring new sexual assault charges against him and were actively pursuing claims of rape that occurred in Manhattan within the statute of limitations.
At the original trial, Weinstein was convicted of forcibly performing oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006 and rape in the third degree for an attack on an aspiring actor in 2013. Those allegations will be part of his retrial. Weinsteins acquittals on charges of predatory sexual assault and first-degree rape still stand.
After the retrial, Weinstein is due to start serving a 16-year sentence in California for a separate rape conviction in Los Angeles, authorities said. Weinstein was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022.
Weinstein, the co-founder of Miramax and The Weinstein Company film studios, was once one of the most powerful people in Hollywood, producing such Oscar winners as Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare in Love.
Kirka reported from London. Associated Press writers Brian Melley and Phil Marcelo contributed to this report.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The fragile estrangement between Prince William and Prince Harry, which temporarily allowed both brothers to attend their uncle's funeral last week, has seemingly disintegrated, with tensions flaring up once again, as the Prince of Wales' old friend making fun of very thick Harry. "Difficult" Prince William is "preventing" Prince Harry to meet their father, King Charles III.(AP)
A close pal of the prince told The Daily Beast that Harry was a broken record who seemed to be pretending to not get the message that he is not wanted. This came in response to reports that Harry, who has been living in the United States since stepping down from royal duties, would be prepared to take on certain royal responsibilities if requested by King Charles III, but only if Prince William offered him an apology.
The Mirror reported that Harry, despite his decision to leave the royal family, would be open to temporarily resuming some royal duties to help out, provided that William apologized.
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Prince Harry is not wanted back in the Royal Family
However, those close to Prince William were dismissive of this idea, reiterating that Queen Elizabeth II had been very clear in her stance that one cannot be half in and half out of the royal family. Nothing has changed, said one of William's friends, and added, Whoever is promulgating these ludicrous theories on Harrys behalf is simply pretending to not get the message that he is not wanted. They are either very thick or pretending to be.
The rift between the brothers runs deep, and it is understood that they are no longer on speaking terms. This estrangement extends to their father, Charles, who is reportedly refusing to take Harry's phone calls. Harry is said to be upset with his father, believing that the king could intervene to secure automatic security for him when he visits the U.K. However, the king's team has indicated that it would be inappropriate for him to get involved, especially given that Harry is currently suing the U.K. government over the issue.
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The brothers both attended the funeral of their uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, in Norfolk last week, but it is reported that they were keeping a distance during the event. After the service, Harry stayed with his mother's brother, Charles Spencer.
Some friends of the Spencer family saw William's decision to attend the funeral as a potential sign of reconciliation. It was probably always going to be a funeral that brought the boys together under one roof, a family friend told The Daily Beast, adding, the fact that William didnt boycott it because Harry was going to be there has cast a glimmer of hope in an otherwise deeply depressing impasse.
Toronto: Hours after the New Democratic Party (NDP) pulled out from an agreement it had with the ruling Liberal Party Government, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stressed he does not want an early election and indicated he will seek to work with his former partner. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (REUTERS)
Speaking to the media in the town of Rocky Harbour in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Trudeau said, I look forward to conversations with Mr (Jagmeet) Singh about how were going to continue to demonstrate that confident countries invest in their citizens, invest in their future, because thats what were doing. That statement just hours after Jagmeet Singh announced his party was withdrawing from the Supply and Confidence Agreement, which had been in place since March 2022.
Ill let others focus on politics, but I will point out that I really hope the NDP stays focused on how we can deliver for Canadians, as we have over the last years, rather than focusing on politics, Trudeau added.
With Trudeaus party in a minority in the House of Commons, the opposition Conservative Party is already seeking to force an election at the earliest, with a potential no confidence motion when the House of Commons meets for its session beginning on September 18.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre told reports in Nanaimo, British Columbia, that the date for such a motion was undecided, as he said, Right now, we dont have a calendar to indicate when we can put forward a motion.
However, he placed more pressure on the NDP, as he said, After Sellout Singh did this stunt today, he is going to have to vote on whether he keeps Justin Trudeaus costly Government in power.
Trudeau was hopeful that snap elections can be averted, as he said, I certainly hope that the NDP will stay true to its fundamental values, which is making sure that Canadians get the support they need and keeping away the austerity the cuts and the damage that will be done by Conservatives if they get the chance.
Federal elections in Canada are scheduled for October 2025, but with just 154 MPs, Trudeaus Liberals are in a minority in the 338-member House. Till Wednesday morning, it had survived with the support of the 25-strong NDP caucus.
In a video message posted on Wednesday, Singh said he had ripped up the agreement, adding, Canadians are fighting a battle. A battle for the future of the middle class. Justin Trudeau has proven again and again he will always cave to corporate greed. The Liberals have let people down. They dont deserve another chance from Canadians.
The announcement came at a time when the Trudeau Government is extremely unpopular and that disfavour rubbed on to the NDP. According to a survey released by the non-profit public polling agency Angus Reid Institute or ARI, the Conservatives enjoy 43 per cent support, a hefty 22 per cent advantage over the ruling party.
Vladimir Putin has unexpectedly pledged his support to Vice President Kamala Harris over former President Donald Trump in the November 5 presidential election. His pro-Harris comments came at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on Thursday, September 5, just after the Biden administration accused Russia of interfering in the presidential bid. Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on Thursday. (AFP Photo)
On September 4, Attorney General Merrick Garland called out the Russian government's covert campaign to interfere and influence the outcome of our country's elections.
Nevertheless, Putin asserted the next day that while President Joe Biden was running for his re-election bid, he was the country's favourite. Now that the baton has been passed on to Harris following Biden's July exit, Russia is all for supporting the new Democratic presidential candidate.
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Russia declares news presidential hopeful favourite
I told you our favourite, if you can call it that, was the current President Mr Biden. He was removed from the race, but he recommended all his supporters to support Ms. Harris. So we will do the same. We will support her, the Russian president said on Thursday.
Ultimately, he acknowledged that the power to pick their favourites vested in American people, as he foregrounded that Russia will respect that choice.
Further speaking on the Harris vs Trump front, Putin said that the Republican presidential hopeful has introduced such a number of restrictions and sanctions against Russia that no president has ever introduced before.
If Ms Harris is doing well, then maybe she will refrain from actions of this kind.
Although Trump has been the constant subject of praise in Putin's diary, he previously implied that Biden is more experienced, more predictable.
In July, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov painted a different picture of Russia's support for Harris. "At the moment, we cannot assess the potential candidacy of Ms Harris from the point of view of our bilateral relations because, so far, her contribution to our bilateral relations has not been noticed.
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"There were statements that were replete with rhetoric quite unfriendly toward our country, but her actions in relations to bilateral relations come under neither a plus nor a minus sign."
US vs Russia exchange amid ongoing election campaigns
Putin has continued offering his two cents on the 2024 presidential election. However, the US isn't necessarily accepting these tips as savoury. National Security Spokesman John Kirby previously said that the Russian president should just stay out of our elections.
Key highlights from Wednesday's meeting of the Justice Department's election Threats Task Force also underscored that the United States are not a big fan of Russia's ongoing influence campaign revolving around the alleged creation of fake news sites to push Russian propaganda.
The American people are entitled to know when a foreign power is attempting to exploit our country's free exchange of ideas in order to send around its own propaganda, Merrick Garland said on Wednesday.
During the meeting, prosecutors unsealed a 71-page affidavit in a federal district court in New York. According to CBS News, they've filed charges against two Russia-based employees of a state-controlled media outlet of conspiring to commit money laundering and conspiring to violate the Federal Agents Registration Act.
Growing wildfires in California forced evacuations as a heat wave Wednesday threatened to make fire conditions worse. In the Midwest, a wildfire kept residents of South Dakotas second-largest city on edge, ready to flee if flames moved dangerously close. A wildfire is seen along Highway 32 near Butte Meadows, California, U.S. July 26, 2024. REUTERS/Fred Greaves/File Photo(REUTERS)
A blaze near the remote Northern California mountain community of Sierra Brooks was uncontained. Authorities expanded evacuation orders for a total of more than 530 residents Tuesday evening after strong winds pushed flames through dry brush and timber about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Lake Tahoe. The Bear Fire grew to more than 4.7 square miles (12 square kilometers) and sent up a plume of smoke visible some 25 miles (40 kilometers) away in Reno, Nevada.
Due to steep and rocky terrain, crews have experienced difficulty in gaining access to some areas of the fire, slowing progress, the U.S. Forest Service said in a statement. Flames damaged power lines, knocking out electricity to more than 750 residents, the service said.
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Central California wildfire scorches 17 square miles
In central California, firefighters working in triple-digit temperatures were battling a blaze that scorched more than 17 square miles (44 square kilometers) of dry brush in mostly open space. A handful of homes were evacuated outside of Coalinga in Fresno County. The Boone Fire was 5% contained Wednesday.
Across the state, red flag warnings for increased wildfire risk were issued. The desert communities of Palm Springs, Twentynine Palms, Needles and Barstow were heating up, with highs of up to 118 F (47.7 Celsius) in Death Valleys Furnace Creek expected at weeks end.
In Southern Californias Santa Barbara County, officials issued a health alert due to spiking temperatures in inland areas. The health department urged residents to stay indoors during the day and take other measures to avoid heat-related illnesses. Cooling centers were set up across Los Angeles County.
The wildfire news was better in South Dakota: The battle to contain the First Thunder Fire got a boost Wednesday from cooler weather and lighter winds. Officials were optimistic homes in Rapid City would remain safe.
The First Thunder Fire was reported Monday just a few miles (kilometers) from Rapid City, a community of 80,000 residents near Black Hills National Forest. Mount Rushmore National Memorial, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) away, is far out of harm's way.
The fire burning nearly 160 acres (65 hectares) was fueled by uncommonly hot and dry weather Tuesdays high in Rapid City was 96 degrees Fahrenheit (35.6 Celsius), well above the normal early-September high of 75 (23.9 Celsius). Winds gusted to 45 mph (72 kph).
As late as Tuesday evening, residents in an evacuation warning area of Rapid City were being told to pack their bags, gather vital belongings and be prepared to leave at a moment's notice.
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Wildfire contained in South Dakota, officials urge residents to remain prepared
By Wednesday morning, the temperature was far cooler, the winds calmer and the air more humid.
Firefighters got a good handle on the wildfire last night, an update from the Pennington County Sheriff's Office said. Its currently at 157 acres. Weather conditions are very favorable today. They are mopping up a large portion on the west side and are hoping to get everything contained and under control today.
Officials don't yet know what caused the fire that burned across a steep, rocky area. No structural damage was immediately reported.
Pennington County, South Dakota, Fire Administrator Jerome Harvey said those residing in the Rapid City area are in a red zone where wildfires can occur at virtually any time.
You need to be prepared for that, Harvey said at a news conference Tuesday. These kinds of events can happen on a year-round basis. There is no longer a defined fire season.
Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun on Tuesday urged residents to gather up key documents such as birth certificates, Social Security cards and vital financial information, along with cherished photographs and prescriptions.
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Residents in areas near the fire also were urged to have a plan for what to do with pets should evacuations become necessary. A Rapid City animal hospital was prepared to take in small animals. For larger animals, a fairground was set up for displaced livestock.
Prince Harry recently made another unexpected trip to the UK for his uncle Lord Robert Fellowes' funeral on August 29. Per a new report, it's now implied that the Duke of Sussex wasn't cornered with his solitude despite his estranged ties with the royal family. While his paternal connections have run dry amid the familial rift, his recent homecoming dash marked the 39-year-old duke reconnecting with his late mother's side of the family. Britain's Prince William and Prince Harry are seen. (AP)
The Duke's lodging has been an issue during every brief UK return since he stepped down from his active post as a working royal member. However, this time, Princess Diana's ancestral home, Althorp House, came to his rescue, where he spent some quality time with his uncle, Charles Spencer, per People Magazine.
Prince Harry reunited with Princess Diana's family after Prince William snub
Prince William also attended the service for Lord Fellowes at St Mary's Church in Snettisham, Norfolk, held just days before the 27th anniversary of Princess Diana's death, which occurred on August 31 following a car crash. Despite the two estranged brothers being present at the same event, an insider told the outlet that their reunion was distantly frosty as they shared their time with different groups of maternal cousins.
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This isn't the first time Harry's uncle Spencer rallied to support him. Amid a series of snubs from his father and brother, the Duke of Sussex found support in his aunt Lady Jane Fellowes, uncle Charles Spencer and a few cousins George McCorquodale, Ned Spencer and Louis Spencer alongside Viscount Althorp at the special service for his Invictus Games in May, celebrating ten years of the foundation.
How Prince Harry feels about the Althorp estate
Althorp also serves as Princess Diana's resting place. Hence, Prince Harry has bittersweet ties with the place. No visit to this place was ever easy, but this one twenty-fifth anniversary. And Megs first time. At long last, I was bringing the girl of my dreams home to meet mum, the Duke wrote about his two-year-old visit to his mother's grave alongside his wife Meghan Markle in his memoir Spare,' released in January 2023.
Further reflecting on his feelings about Althorp, an extract from Harry's book reads: "Uncle Charles came down to the water's edge, gave us a little shove. We waved to him, and to my two aunts. Bye. See you in a bit.
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Gliding across the pond, I gazed around at Althorp's rolling fields and ancient trees, the thousands of green acres where my mother grew up, and where, though things werent perfect, she'd known some peace.
On August 31, Harry's uncle remembered his sister, Princess Diana, and paid her a tribute on Instagram. Though uncaptioned, the post shows a collection of old photographs and newspaper cuttings featuring the late Princess.
The 9th Earl Spencer grew up with three sisters: Sarah, Jane, and Diana. He is the youngest of the five children born to John Spencer and Frances Shand Kydd.
Donald Trump has broken his silence on the Georgia school shooting that has left two students and two teachers dead. As many as nine other people at Apalachee High School in Winder, which is about an hour outside of Atlanta, had to be rushed to the hospital with gunshot wounds. Among them, a math teacher was left with a shattered hip. Donald Trump blasts sick and deranged monster who opened fire at Georgia school (REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein)(REUTERS)
The alleged gunman has been identified as Colt Gray, a 14-year-old student at the school. The weapon used in the shooting was an AR-15 style rifle, a law enforcement official told CNN. The suspect is in custody.
Our hearts are with the victims and loved ones of those affected by the tragic event in Winder, GA, Trump wrote on Truth Social. These cherished children were taken from us far too soon by a sick and deranged monster.
Love will prevail over what happened today
Gray, who was unharmed, will be charged with murder as an adult, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey said. This is at least the 45th school shooting this year, a CNN analysis has revealed.
My heart hurts for these kids, my heart hurts for our community, but I want to make it very clear that hate will not prevail in this county, Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said.
I want that to be very clear and known. he added. Love will prevail over what happened today.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has also spoken out about the tragedy. I have directed all available state resources to respond to the incident at Apalachee High School and urge all Georgians to join my family in praying for the safety of those in our classrooms, both in Barrow County and across the state, Kemp said. We will continue to work with local, state, and federal partners as we gather information and further respond to this situation.
It has been revealed that the Georgia school where two students and two teachers were killed in a shooting on Wednesday, September 4, received a chilling phone call hours before the tragedy. On Wednesday morning, an unknown caller allegedly called Apalachee High School. The person threatened shootings across five locations, officials told CNN. It is still unclear who placed the call. Georgia school received chilling phone call hours before deadly shooting (REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage)(REUTERS)
Several calls were reportedly received about a shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, Georgia, that day. The school was immediately placed on a hard lockdown.
Later, a 14-year-old student of the school, Colt Gray, opened fire, killing four people and injuring many others. The four deceased people have been identified as math teachers Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie, and 14-year-old students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo.
No evidence that other schools are being targeted
Meanwhile, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey has said that there is no evidence to suggest that other schools are being targeted. However, investigators are pursuing any leads of any potential associates of the shooter that was involved in this incident, he said.
Theres no evidence to report that any additional shooter was involved in this incident today, Hosey said. There is no evidence of a list of schools being targeted.
However, there is a lot of evidence that is being recovered and evaluated, he added. Were going through everything to determine if there is any active threats to any schools in this area, this county and the state of Georgia, and we will continue to monitor that throughout this investigation.
A joint statement from FBI Atlanta and the Jackson County Sheriffs Office has revealed that in 2023, Gray was questioned by law enforcement regarding several anonymous tips about online threats to commit a school shooting at an unidentified location and time. However, he denied making the online threats and there was no probable cause for arrest at the time. He was taken into custody after the Georgia school shooting, and will reportedly be charged with murder as an adult.
Financial firm Goldman Sachs has claimed that Vice President Kamala Harris's decisive victory in the 2024 election would be the best possible outcome for the US economy. Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign stop at the Throwback Brewery, in North Hampton, N.H., Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)(AP)
The financial firm believes that a Republican sweep in Congress alongside a victory for former President Donald Trump would result in reduced economic growth next year due to Trump's promises to take a tougher stance on immigration and raise tariffs on imports from countries like China.
Goldman analysts estimate that if Trump wins in a sweep or with divided government, the hit to growth from tariffs and tighter immigration policy would outweigh the positive fiscal impulse.
They also noted that If Democrats sweep, new spending and expanded middle-income tax credits would slightly more than offset lower investment due to high corporate tax rates, resulting in a very slight boost to [gross domestic product] growth.
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Goldman Sachs predicts Harris presidency to create 10,000 more jobs per month
Harris's economic plan aims to support working families through policies such as restoring the expanded Child Tax Credit and introducing a new tax credit of $6,000 for low- to middle-income families with newborn children. She has also pledged to reduce costs for prescription drugs, groceries, and address Wall Street's growing presence in the housing market.
Goldman also predicts that under a Harris presidency, job growth would be 10,000 jobs per month higher than under a Trump presidency with divided government, and 30,000 jobs higher than under a complete Republican takeover. Immigration would contribute more significantly to the labor force under Harriss leadership, as her administration would still slow immigration but at a much weaker pace than Trumps potential policies.
Trumps economic platform includes a proposed 10% tariff on all imported goods, a move he argues would protect American jobs and generate revenue to extend his 2017 tax cuts.
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Many analysts believe that Trump will soon reimpose tariffs on imports from China as well as tariffs on automobiles, with Chinese electric vehicles to be hit with a 100% increase in tariffs due to an order from President Joe Biden that expanded on Trumps tariff plans. He has called for even higher tariffs on Chinese products, which some suggested can even be as high as 50 percent or more.
Trump's proposed economic policies are expected to increase the federal deficit by $5.8 trillion over the next decade, nearly five times more than Harriss proposals, which would add $1.2 trillion, according to studies from the University of Pennsylvania's Penn Wharton Budget Model.
Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban has asked Elon Musk to delete your account on X (formerly Twitter) following a controversial interview conducted by former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. Mark Cuban's Harris vs Trump poll garnered attention of MAGA as well as of the X owner himself, Elon Musk.(AP)
The interview, which touched on sensitive historical topics, including World War II and Winston Churchill, drew significant attention after Musk endorsed it, describing it as worth watching. Cuban, however, was quick to respond, expressing his disapproval in no uncertain terms.
The Tesla boss took to X to promote an interview featuring Carlson and Darryl Cooper, the host of The MartyrMade Podcast. He wrote, Very interesting. Worth watching.
Carlson introduced Cooper during the interview as the best and most honest popular historian in the United States, highlighting Coopers latest project, which Carlson described as an exploration of the most forbidden of all: trying to understand World War Two.
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Cuban, an entrepreneur and part-owner of the Dallas Mavericks, didnt hesitate to express his disagreement with Musks endorsement. He responded with, Delete your account x.com/elonmusk.
The tension between Cuban and Musk, however, is not new
Earlier, Cuban had publicly raised concerns about what he perceived as a discrepancy in a poll on X, suggesting that Musk might be able to manipulate the platforms algorithm to influence outcomes. Musk responded harshly by commenting on the tenacity of his stupidity, further escalating their public feud.
The Dallas Mavericks co-founder even torched X's free speech agenda. I know everyone thinks this platform is a bastion of free speech. I see the opposite, he said. It's only as free as Elon wants it to be. He can intimidate. He can alter the algorithm. He can suspend anyone he wants at any time. He is the ultimate arbiter of everything on here.
And the biggest power play is him making everyone think their speech is free speech Until he decides it isn't, and there is nothing any of us can do about it, he added.
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Cooper-Carlson interview itself delved into a wide range of controversial subjects
Carlson and Cooper discussed the complexities of the Israel-Palestine conflict, offering their perspectives on the long-standing. They also reexamined World War II, including a critical assessment of former U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
They also explored contemporary issues such as mass immigration in Europe, the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, and the modern Black Lives Matter movement. They also shared their views on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Meghan Markle's pre-fame Toronto abode is off the market less than a week after its listing popped up in the lookouts for a new buyer. The three-bedroom place was Home Sweet Home to the Suits alum during her old TV days and pre-marriage Prince Harry dating era. Meghan Markle lived in a rented three-bedroom and two-bathroom house situated on Yarmouth Road in the neighbourhood of Seaton Village until 2017 i.e. before relocating to London.(Freeman Real Estate / Unique Vtour)
Markle's rented two-story violet-coloured home on Yarmouth Road was listed for $1.39 million towards the end of August, according to real estate platform Zolo. It raked in $1.89 million five days later and was marked sold.
According to Mansion Global, Freeman Real Estate's Daniel Freeman handled the current listing for the house with the Tiffany blue front door.
Although originally from Los Angeles, the Duchess of Sussex lived in the Toronto property for about two years until late 2017. Following her courtship with Prince Harry, she moved to Kensington Palace as the Duke's fiancee.
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Meghan Markle's Toronto home mentioned in books
The Seaton Village home also stole a page-turning moment in Harry's 2023 memoir Spare, as he wrote: Meg was excited to show me her life, her dogs, her little house, which she adored. Meghan's then-boyfriend frequently visited the Toronto home during her Suits filming commitments in the city.
Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand's book Finding Freedom" lifted the lid on Harry and Meghan's relationship. Per extracts released by The Times, the pair was in Toronto when the press started circling in on their dating phase.
"One night late in October in Toronto, Harry was happy, and so was Meghan. Until they received a call from one of Harry's aides at Kensington Palace. It wasn't good news.
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"A tabloid was going to run with the story of their relationship. Their main worry was that her place would be besieged by photographers within 24 hours.
They had little time to think, because there were only a couple of paparrazi in Toronto but it wouldn't be long before photographers flew in from New York and LA, all hoping to get that first picture of the happy couple, says the biography.
Nestled in a quiet west-end residential neighbourhood block, Markle's former house has a private yard with a deck and two-car garage. The two-bedroom house, owned by Canadian fashion stylist Elizabeth Cabral, also features a finished basement and an eat-in chef's kitchen on the ground floor.
Ahead of ABC's September 10 debate in Philadelphia between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, the American University historian Allan Lichtman, dubbed as the Nostradamus of the presidential election, has sounded the alarm for this year's results. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. August 20, 2024 and former U.S. President Donald Trump in Bedminster, New Jersey, U.S., August 15, 2024 are seen in a combination of file photographs. (REUTERS)
Lichtman was one of the few to correctly predict that the Republican presidential hopeful would win in 2016. Following his prior GOOD CALL, as Trump hailed it, the American University professor also claimed after the Biden vs Trump debate that the former dropping out of the presidential race could be a tragic mistake for Democrats.
However, now that Vice President Kamala Harris has taken over the presidential candidate duties for the Democratic party, Lichtman has forecast, two months in advance, that the first female, first black and first Asian-American VP would prevail over Trump on November 5.
FYI, Dr. Allan Lichtmana registered Democrathas a near-perfect record of predicting elections, as he has accurately predicted nine out of the last ten results, as reported by The New York Post.
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What are the election Nostradamus Dr Allan Lichtman's predictions based on?
According to a New York Times video posted on Thursday, September 5, Lichtman's presidential pick for next term is Kamala Harris. Harris is leading Trump in eight of these categories per his Key to the White House analysis, which looks at 13 keys to determine a candidate's prospects of conquering the election. Meanwhile, Trump has three.
Of the 13 categories Lichtman labels as the constant northern star of political predictions, these are the eight keys Harris won over:
Whether the party in the White House is facing a primary Whether theres a third-party contestant The state of the short-term economy The state of the long-term economy" Whether the sitting presidents party has made adjustments to national policy Whether theres social unrest Whether the president faced major scandals The charisma of the challenger
On the other hand, Trump prevailed over Harris in these three keys:
Whether the sitting presidents party gained seats in the House during the midterms Whether the incumbent is running for re-election The charisma of the incumbent
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Other two categories that didn't align with either candidate, according to Lichtman, were:
Whether there were any major fiascos in foreign policy
Whether the sitting president had successes in foreign affairs
American University professor doesn't see Trump regaining the White House
The 77-year-old historian explained, Foreign policy is tricky, and these keys could flip. The Biden administration is deeply invested in the war in Gaza, which is a humanitarian disaster with no end in sight."
But even if both foreign policy keys flipped false, that would mean that there were only five negative keys, which would not be enough for Donald Trump to regain the White House, Lichtman continued in the video.
In early August, US election Nostradamus even pushed that Ohio Senator JD Vance's presence as Trump's VP pick would influence the outcome.
Foregrounding the vice president choice as incredibly important, Lichtman implied on his YouTube channel that the veep should be someone who could effectively take the reins if the president steps down for any reason. That's why JD Vance was such a disastrous pick; he would be a horror show as president.
DENVER A man who gunned down 10 people in a supermarket mass shooting was not insane when he unleashed terror in a Colorado college town but instead a calculated killer who understood what he did was wrong, a prosecutor said during opening arguments Thursday. Prosecutor argues Colorado supermarket mass shooter who killed 10 was sane and acted with intent
Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in the 2021 shooting of people in the parking lot and then inside a King Soopers grocery store in the college town of Boulder.
No one, including Alissas lawyers, disputes he was the shooter. The three-week trial is expected to focus on whether or not Alissa, who after the shooting was diagnosed with schizophrenia, was legally sane by being able to distinguish right from wrong.
The victims were random, but the murders were absolutely deliberate and intentional, Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty told jurors in his opening statements.
Alissas motive, if he had one, has remained unclear and Dougherty did not posit one in opening statements. He argued that Alissa acted with intent and full knowledge of his wrongdoing and had not been treated for mental illness before the shooting even though relatives told police he had been acting withdrawn and paranoid leading up to it.
Most of those shot inside and outside the store were killed in just over a minute. Alissa targeted people who tried to flee and made a special effort to finish off those he wounded with additional shots, Dougherty pointed out.
The shooter prepared to kill them, planned to kill them, and went and executed 10 people at King Soopers. Thats why youre here, Dougherty told the jury after showing photos of each victim and describing why each one was at the store that day.
No one survived the shooting with gunshot wounds. After shooting eight people, Alissa prowled the store quiet except for background music still playing over the store speakers then spotted and killed Suzanne Fountain, 59, as she left a hiding spot in another aisle.
His final victim was Boulder Police officer Eric Talley, a father of seven and one of the first three police officers who entered the store.
Alissa surrendered to other police who arrived, voluntarily stripping down to his underwear and complying with their instructions as they approached and handcuffed him.
Theres no hallucinating, theres no delusion, theres no confusion, Dougherty said of Alissas behavior.
An attorney for Alissa was to make opening statements later Thursday.
Alissa is charged with 10 counts of murder, 15 counts of attempted murder and other offenses in the shooting in Boulder, a college town about 30 miles northwest of Denver.
If successful, Alissa's plea of not guilty by reason of insanity could enable him to avoid prison and instead be committed indefinitely to the state mental hospital.
A mental health evaluator testified during a competency hearing in 2022 that Alissa said he bought firearms to carry out a mass shooting and suggested that he wanted police to kill him.
The defense argued in a court filing that his relatives said he irrationally believed that the FBI was following him and that he would talk to himself as if he were talking to someone who was not there.
However, prosecutors point out Alissa was never previously treated for mental illness and was able to work up to 60 hours a week in his family's restaurant business, something they say would not have been possible for someone severely mentally ill.
Alissas trial had been delayed because experts repeatedly found he was not able to understand legal proceedings and help his defense. But after Alissa improved after being forcibly medicated, Judge Ingrid Bakke ruled in October that he was mentally competent, allowing proceedings to resume.
The perpetrator of a 2012 mass shooting at an Aurora, Colorado, movie theater also pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Jurors in that case rejected the plea and sentenced defendant James Holmes to life in prison for the murders of 12 people.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The House Education and Workforce Committee has issued a subpoena to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, requesting documents and communications related to a massive fraud scheme involving a non-profit that misused pandemic relief funds intended to feed children. M Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks at Laborfest on September 2, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jim Vondruska / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)(Getty Images via AFP)
The Committee must now compel the production of responsive documents that will show the extent of the actions taken by you and your administration relating to MDEs administration of the FCNP and the extent of your responsibilities and actions addressing the massive fraud that resulted in the abuse of taxpayer dollars intended for hungry children, Virginia Foxx, the Republican chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce said in the subpoenaed letter.
What are the charges against Tim Walz?
The House committee alleged that Feeding Our Future created fake children's name to issue reimbursements under Walz's watch.
You are well aware of the multimillion-dollar fraud that has occurred under your tenure as governor. Foxx has also emphasized that the committee previously made voluntary requests to Minnesotas Department of Education for documents but has been unable to obtain substantive responsive materials, Foxx added.
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However, a spokesperson for Walz condemned the fraud as an appalling abuse of a federal Covid-era program.
The state department of education worked diligently to stop the fraud and were grateful to the FBI for working with the Department of Education to arrest and charge the individuals involved, the spokesperson added.
The $200 million alleged pandemic fraud
NBC News first reported on the subpoenas, which were also sent to other officials, including Minnesotas Commissioner of Education Willie Jett, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and Agriculture Inspector General Phyllis Fong.
The U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce has been investigating the oversight by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Minnesotas Department of Education regarding federal child nutrition programs, particularly in relation to Feeding Our Future, a non-profit accused of stealing more than $250 million from pandemic relief funds.
Five individuals involved in the fraud were convicted earlier this year, and their trial revealed shocking details, including an attempt to bribe a juror with $120,000 in cash, which they dropped on their doorsteps. In total, 70 people have been charged in connection with the scheme. Feds called it the largest pandemic fraud in the country.
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The subpoena issued to Walz does not require his personal appearance before the committee, but it demands that documents be submitted by September 18. The Democratic vice-presidential nominee has faced increased scrutiny over the states handling of the fraud during his time as Minnesotas top executive.
Tulsi Gabbard revealed on Wednesday that the US government has placed her on a secret terror watchlist. In a video shared on her official X, formerly Twitter account, the former Representative said that the Biden administration targeted her as a potential domestic terror threat for political retaliation. The 43-year-old ex-Democrat, who has been vocal about her criticism of Kamala Harris' policies, is working with Donald Trump's campaign. Tulsi Gabbard releases bombshell video claiming the Biden administration put her on a 'secret terror watchlist' after she criticised Kamala Harris(Tulsi Gabbard/ X, formerly Twitter)
Tulsi Gabbard says she was targeted by Democrats after disapproving of Harris' policies
In the nearly 15-minute video, Gabbard explained that she spoke out about how dangerous Kamala Harris would be to our nation if she were to be elected as president and why the American people should be very concerned. The former Hawaii congresswoman revealed that she and her husband, Abraham Williams, have been subject to additional TSA screening before boarding a flight on more than multiple occasions.
Every time this happened, we were told by the TSA agent there that this is just a random selection. That might have been believable if it had happened just once or twice. But five? six, seven, eight times in a row? There's no way, she went on, adding that on August 4, Federal Air Marshall whistleblowers came forward with very disturbing information. They revealed that I had been added to a secret terror watchlist run by the TSA called Quiet Skies, Gabbard revealed.
Gabbard said that the whistleblowers informed her that she was added to the list on July 23, which was the very same day my husband and I began to be subjected to those in-depth TSA searches. The video also shows photos of TSA targeting packets that the air marshalls were given as part of their mission brief, according to the United States Army Reserve officer.
I later learned that at least three air marshalls were assigned to watch me every time I travel, in the airport and on the flight, she went on before slamming the actions taken by the Biden administration as extreme by any measures. What kind of threat did they think I posed? Gabbard remarked. The bottom line is everyday Americans are being watched and spied on by our own government. Why? Because those in power see us as a threat, she said.
The suspect who allegedly opened fire at a Georgia school on Wednesday morning, September 4, has been identified as Colt Gray, a 14-year-old student at the school. Gray, who is in custody, used an AR-15 style rifle to carry out the shooting, a law enforcement official told CNN. He will be charged with murder as an adult, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey said. Who is Colt Gray? All we know about alleged Georgia school shooter (Photo by CHRISTIAN MONTERROSA / AFP)(AFP)
Two teachers and two students died when Gray opened fire at Apalachee High School in Winder, which is about an hour outside of Atlanta. At least nine other people were hospitalised.
Who is Colt Gray?
It has been revealed that last year, Gray was questioned by law enforcement regarding several anonymous tips about online threats to commit a school shooting at an unidentified location and time, according to a joint statement from FBI Atlanta and the Jackson County Sheriffs Office. The threats included photos of guns.
At the time, both the suspect and his father were interviewed by the county sheriffs office. The father stated he had hunting guns in the house, but the subject did not have unsupervised access to them, the statement read. The subject denied making the threats online. Jackson County alerted local schools for continued monitoring of the subject.
At that time, there was no probable cause for arrest or to take any additional law enforcement action on the local, state, or federal levels, the statement added.
Grays motivations for the attack are unclear. It seemed he had no previous connection to the victims.
Lyela Sayarath, a junior at the school, described Gray as pretty quiet. "He never really talked. He wasn't there most times. Either he didn't just come to school or he would just skip class," the 16-year-old student told CNN.
"Even when he would've talked it was just one-word answers or short statements, Sayarath added.
Sayarath was sitting next to Gray in math class moments before the shooting. She said she was not surprised that Gray was the shooter. "Just because of when you think of shooters and how they act or things that they do, it's normally the quiet kid," Sayarath said.
Sayarath recalled that Gray left the math class at the start of the period and then returned near the end of it. The doors automatically lock when shut, and Gray was not allowed inside when he returned. Sayarath said someone over the loudspeaker told her teacher to check her email, and moments later, Gray was asking to be let in.
They almost let him in, but Im pretty sure she saw that he had a gun and so she backed away, Sayarath said. And then he turned away and thats when you hear like the first round of fire.
Gray had entered another classroom and opened fire. He was taken into custody just minutes after the shooting began.
Malik Obama, the half-brother of former President Barack Obama, who once celebrated his younger brothers historic election in 2008, is the latest to endorse Donald Trump. The endorsement comes after viral AI-generated image of Tim Walz's family members sporting 'Walz's For Trump' T-shirts started circulating on social media. File photo of Malik Obama, half-brother of US President Barack Obama. Republican nominee Donald Trump has invited Malik to the final presidential debate on Oct 20, 2016.(Reuters Photo)
Malik Obama claimed he is voting for Trump, despite the Republican candidates proposed ban on Muslims entering the U.S., which contrasts with Obamas own background.
Malik Obama declares he is voting for Trump
Taking to his social media handle, the older half sibling of former US president, Malik Obma wrote, "I am Malik Obama. I'm a registered Republican and I'm voting for President Donald Trump.
The image became a debatable topic for its flawed AI-generated features, with a community note highlighting that everyone in the photo seems to have four fingers.
Also read: Tim Walz's family shows support for Trump after VP pick's brother Jeff made bombshell claims
Who is Malik Obama?
Malik Obama, who once served as the best man at Barack Obamas wedding and received a similar honor in return, has seen their relationship get strained over the years. He supported Trump in 2016 as well, and was among the special guests invited to a Las Vegas debate by the Trump campaign.
Reports from the Washington Post in 2016 claimed he has 12 wives although he is not ready to accept the piece of information and insists he has only 3. Malik, a practicing Muslim, also faces allegations of domestic abuse. He made headlines in 2011 when he married a teen girl as his third wife.
Malik ran for governor in Kenyas Siaya County in 2013. At that time, he told GQ that he and his brother shared leadership qualities, saying, Its all in the genes. However after his relationship with Obama hit rock bottom, he has been a vocal supporter of Trump.
Also read: Woman who got TRUMP tattoo on forehead now wants to erase it; asks strangers for help removing controversial ink
I like Donald Trump because he speaks from the heart, he told the Post in 2016. Make America Great Again is a great slogan. I would like to meet him.
What happened between Malik and Barack Obama?
Malik Obama has cited several reasons for his support of Donald Trump, including his opposition to same-sex marriage, dissatisfaction with his brothers presidency, and his past friendship with former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
I still feel that getting rid of [Gaddafi] didnt make things any better in Libya, he said in 2016. My brother and the Secretary of State disappointed me in that regard.
In an interview with the New York Post, Malik Obama said he was bummed that President Obama didn't step up more to back the foundation he set up in his dad's name. My brother didnt help me at all, He wanted me to shut it down when I set it up. He hasnt supported me at all.
He added, Honestly, Ill be happy when my brother is out of office, and I will finally be out of the limelight and be able to live like a human being.
Malik Obama's support for Trump is happening right in the middle of a bunch of political shoutouts and family drama making the news. As big names like Jeff Walz and Malik Obama are shaking things up, their actions are fueling discussions across the political spectrum.
Prince William once kept a big secret from Kate Middleton for three weeks, but can you guess what it was? Britain's Prince William, left, and Britain's Kate, Princess of Wales, attend a ceremonial welcome for the President and the First Lady of the Republic of Korea at Horse Guards Parade in London, England on Nov. 21, 2023. (Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP, File)(AP)
The Prince of Wales carried their engagement ring in his rucksack all those weeks before proposing in November 2010.
Royal expert Robert Hardman has described a royal engagement, When a royal couple tells us they're engaged, we're fascinated by everything from the dress design to who the bridesmaids and best man will be and where we're going to watch it. People love to make a day of it with street parties and things, so there's huge interest from the word go, per Mirror UK.
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The couples engagement story unfolded during a romantic trip to Kenya, as William revealed in an interview with ITVs Tom Bradby. William shared, It is the place my father took my brother and me shortly after our mother died. And when deciding where best to propose to Catherine, I could think of no more fitting place than Kenya to get down on one knee.
I knew if this thing disappeared, I'd be in a lot of trouble, he quipped.
The engagement ring, a breathtaking Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 diamonds, holds special significance. It originally belonged to Williams late mother, Princess Diana's collection. The couples official engagement photo, lensed by renowned photographer Mario Testino at St James Palace, beautifully captured this iconic piece of royal history.
Prince William and Kate Middleton were preparing for their future roles within the British monarchy
Palace recognizes Kate and William as a young, glamorous, dynamic duo with the ability to modernize and lead the monarchy into the future.
Royal author Katie Nicholl told the Mirror UK at that time, There are two roles to a future Queen. One is to produce heirs, which she has done, and the other is to learn how to one day become Queen, and that is very much what we are seeing.
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We are seeing a Queen-in-waiting... She's taking on more patronages, she's taking on patronages from the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
This is all very deliberate, it's very much part of the Palace machine bringing her from the shadows of Anmer [Hall] and into the forefront, into the spotlight, she said.
Now Open: Bora Bora's Newest Resort Features Overwater Villas with Stunning Views, Locally-Inspired Wellness Offerings, Marine Life Conservation Efforts, Diverse Dining and More.
The highly-anticipated Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa is now open, emerging as the newest and most captivating retreat in the luxurious Bora Bora. Having recently completed an extensive property-wide renovation and rebrand, The Westin Bora Bora is nestled at the base of the majestic Mount Otemanu, boasting the largest collection of overwater bungalows in Bora Bora, alongside expansive beachside villas.
Guests will be treated to a host of world-class amenities, including the largest swimming pool in Bora Bora - an infinity pool at the heart of the resort, bordered by six cabanas facing the beach, a swim-up pool bar and waterfall cascading from the second floor into the pool - as well as a private lagoon, diverse culinary experiences, and locally-inspired wellness offerings. At the renowned Eco Center Bora Bora, the resort will support the vital mission of protecting sea turtles and marine ecosystems, championing environment stewardship in their tropical paradise. Providing the iconic overwater living experience, The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa features 128 overwater bungalows, many of which include their own private plunge pools, and all of which offer expansive views of the lagoon, island, or Mount Otemanu. Each overwater bungalow has been positioned to avoid direct sightlines, ensuring total privacy and a unique and memorable view for each guest. The resort also offers 14 spacious family-friendly beach bungalows overlooking the lagoon. Designed to offer modern and refined comfort blended with Polynesian hospitality, the bungalows embody the essence of discreet luxury. Every room features the signature Westin Heavenly Bed, Sleep Well Lavender Balm soothing bedside amenity, and Westin Sleep Well Menu, a curated selection of sleep-enhancing superfoods to be enjoyed in-room.
Design
The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa's architectural design is based on a harmonious integration between contemporary luxury and the island's natural beauty. Inspired by traditional Polynesian forms, the architecture reinterprets these elements with modern and clean lines, and the use of large openings and natural materials creates a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. Each building has been carefully oriented to frame the spectacular views of the lagoon and Mount Otemanu, maximizing interaction with the landscape while minimizing the visual impact of the structures.
The resort's public spaces further extend this immersion into nature, with thoughtfully designed areas that reflect the surrounding natural elements, creating a sense of serenity and calm. Every space in the resort, from the rooms to the common areas, evokes calm and serenity, in harmony with the local culture and the majestic landscapes of Bora Bora.
Natural materials, such as wood and stone, are used to bring natural warmth and authenticity to the interiors. The color palette also reflects these natural elements, favoring neutral and soothing tones such as beige, cream and soft gray, reminiscent of white sand beaches and corals. Touches of blue, evoking the changing shades of the lagoon, have been added sparingly to create focal points that recall the ocean and sky of Bora Bora.
Dining
The resort is home to six distinct dining concepts, offering a range of cuisine and unique experiences from a locally sourced fine dining restaurant to a laid-back beachside eatery. With menus that feature fresh local flavors and ingredients, the culinary offerings at The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa are designed to be the perfect complement to guests' surroundings. Guests will enjoy an array of vibrant settings and menus including:
Tipanier: This playfully elegant all-day French Polynesian bistro offers a breakfast buffet in the morning and delectable lunch and dinner options, set in a space designed to showcase the beauty of Bora Bora and its Tipanier flower. Its carefully crafted menu incorporates seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, with signature dishes such as the A'ahi, a grilled tuna steak served with Provencal Bayaldi, arugula, and sweet & sour vinaigrette, and the Moa, the Chef's reinterpretation of the local Chicken Fafa featuring free-range chicken prepared two ways: baked and braised with taro leaf and coconut milk.
This playfully elegant all-day French Polynesian bistro offers a breakfast buffet in the morning and delectable lunch and dinner options, set in a space designed to showcase the beauty of Bora Bora and its Tipanier flower. Its carefully crafted menu incorporates seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, with signature dishes such as the A'ahi, a grilled tuna steak served with Provencal Bayaldi, arugula, and sweet & sour vinaigrette, and the Moa, the Chef's reinterpretation of the local Chicken Fafa featuring free-range chicken prepared two ways: baked and braised with taro leaf and coconut milk. Maere: At the resort's signature restaurant, guests will embark on an exciting culinary journey with a constantly-evolving menu as spectacular as the surroundings. The ever-changing menu will use only the freshest local ingredients, complemented by an extensive selection of wine. Signature offerings include an entree of homemade dried swordfish seasoned with spices and exotic chutney, Laquered Mahi Mahi paired with Korean kimchi and banana chutney, and a slow-cooked pineapple ribbon with basil granita and spiced jelly for dessert.
At the resort's signature restaurant, guests will embark on an exciting culinary journey with a constantly-evolving menu as spectacular as the surroundings. The ever-changing menu will use only the freshest local ingredients, complemented by an extensive selection of wine. Signature offerings include an entree of homemade dried swordfish seasoned with spices and exotic chutney, Laquered Mahi Mahi paired with Korean kimchi and banana chutney, and a slow-cooked pineapple ribbon with basil granita and spiced jelly for dessert. Varavara: Guests can enjoy beachfront fine dining for both lunch and dinner at this laid-back restaurant. Offering steaks, seafood and lighter fare coupled with bright and refreshing cocktails, the menu features standout dishes like Fenua, a Tahitian fish crudo with tuna, local lime, coconut milk, and crunchy vegetables, and Manga, glazed beef short ribs with mango and chili, served with crushed potato and olive oil.
Guests can enjoy beachfront fine dining for both lunch and dinner at this laid-back restaurant. Offering steaks, seafood and lighter fare coupled with bright and refreshing cocktails, the menu features standout dishes like Fenua, a Tahitian fish crudo with tuna, local lime, coconut milk, and crunchy vegetables, and Manga, glazed beef short ribs with mango and chili, served with crushed potato and olive oil. Honu Tiki: The beach bar offers frozen drinks, nibbles, and light snacks, all served by the beach crew, allowing guests to enjoy the stunning views.
The beach bar offers frozen drinks, nibbles, and light snacks, all served by the beach crew, allowing guests to enjoy the stunning views. Te Ava: Guests can savor a range of vibrant dishes from the menu while admiring the beautiful panorama of Bora Bora Island, then dive into the infinity pool and swim over to the swim-up bar, which offers refreshing beverages and select dishes.
Guests can savor a range of vibrant dishes from the menu while admiring the beautiful panorama of Bora Bora Island, then dive into the infinity pool and swim over to the swim-up bar, which offers refreshing beverages and select dishes. 'O'a Bar: The outdoor lobby-lounge bar offers signature craft cocktails, where can guests take in spectacular sunsets with a view of Mt. Otemanu while enjoying live music.
Wellness
For those seeking enhanced wellness, the WestinWORKOUT Fitness Studio and the Heavenly Spa by Westin offer cutting-edge facilities and treatments, allowing guests to experience complete wellbeing in both body and soul. The resort's wellness area is a true haven of peace and refuge, offering spaces for relaxation that are surrounded by lush vegetation with soothing views of the lagoon and beyond.
The Heavenly Spa features treatments inspired by Polynesian wellness traditions and natural settings, as well as Asian-inspired and holistic therapies aimed at harmonizing mind and body wellness. The spa focuses on natural and organic products with locally sourced ingredients. Their primary facial care partner Phytoceane, a local brand rooted in the benefits of natural resources, offers pure, effective ingredients for well-being treatments that combine expert skincare, sensory delights, and a total sense of escape, aligning perfectly with the spa's ethos.
One of the spa's two signature spa treatments is the Heavenly Spa Bora Bora Massage, a Swedish massage using organic coconut oil that promotes physical relaxation and mental upliftment. During the massage, the therapist will invite guests to meditate on positive thoughts. The second signature treatment, the Tupuna Polynesian Ritual, is a 90-minute treatment that honors Polynesian culture. 'Tupuna' means 'ancestors' in Tahitian, and the ritual pays homage to the traditions of the ancestors with a Tamiti Traditional Body Treatment consisting of a body scrub using locally sourced sea salt from Bora Bora, coconut shells, organic virgin coconut oil, and noni oil that will leave skin soft and smooth. Following the treatment, guests will enjoy a Polynesian Taurumi (massage) which uses traditional ancestral techniques and dancing movements to relax the body and mind.
The WestinWORKOUT Fitness Studio offers a comprehensive fitness experience, perfect for travelers looking to maintain their wellness routines. Guests can enjoy a wide array of top-tier gym equipment, including cardiovascular machines such as treadmills, ellipticals, exercise bikes, and rowing machines. For strength training, the studio provides free weights, weight machines, and mats with balance balls. Beyond the equipment, the studio also offers a selection of fitness classes like yoga, Pilates, and even Tahitian dance, catering to diverse fitness preferences. The complimentary WestinWORKOUT Gear Lending program allows guests to borrow the fitness equipment they need so they can move well both in their guestroom and outside.
Activities
Guests can fully immerse themselves in Bora Bora's stunning beauty and rich culture through a range of activities. On the water, they can explore the lagoon by stand-up paddle board or kayak. On land, options abound from beach volleyball and Hydrofoil bikes to yoga, water yoga, Pilates, and paddle yoga sessions. The WestinWORKOUT Routes, in collaboration with Strava, provide scenic running routes around the property, making it easy to stay active while exploring the destination. In addition, guests can dive into the cultural traditions of Bora Bora through local crafts and workshops and learn the art of coconut palm weaving, create shell crafts, or participate in a flower crown weaving session. Guests can also experience the culture of the island with the resort's weekly Polynesian evening complete with a mouthwatering buffet dinner and dances, or by taking a Tahitian dance class to learn the traditional movements of the region. For those looking to explore beyond the resort, snorkeling, scuba diving, and deep-sea fishing excursions offer further adventures off-property.
Eco Center Bora Bora
The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa shows its commitment to ecological sustainability through its beloved Eco Center Bora Bora. Originally established in 2000 in collaboration with the Direction of the Environment (DIREN) of French Polynesia, the revamped center will focus on the protection and conservation of sea turtle species, developing sustainable management of ecology in French Polynesia and educating and raising awareness among locals and travelers alike with a variety of immersive and educational experiences for guests. Guests can learn about the protection and conservation of sea turtles in French Polynesia with a guided tour, slideshow and observation of the turtle feeding. For a more interactive, hands-on experience, guests can help prepare meals for the Eco Center's residents; assist caretakers as they observe and provide care to the turtles; or spend an entire day with the Eco Center Bora Bora team, engaging in food preparation, tank cleaning, public presentations, care, and observation.
Hotel website
Tiny Lou's, a swinging French-American brasserie located downstairs at 96-room Hotel Clermont, has appointed James Corwell as Executive Chef. A James Beard-recognized and certified Master Chef an honor only delegated to only 68 chefs in the world Corwell brings over 30 years of industry experience. Corwell's accolades include Best New Chef & Best New Restaurant 2010 by New Orleans Magazine as the owner of Le Foret in Louisiana. He was the lead instructor and Executive Chef at The Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa, CA, and he also founded Ocean Hugger Foods, a plant-based seafood alternative company. Corwell considers cooking his art, bringing a Michelin perspective that uses French and Continental technique to Tiny Lou's. Corwell strives to land Tiny Lou's as one of the finest establishments in Atlanta. Outside of the kitchen, he is an avid cyclist and is getting to know Atlanta's best trails.
TROY, Mich. - The secret to a great branded hotel stay may be in an aspect that guests do not often realize: the third-party management company operating the hotel, which creates consistent, pleasurable and problem-free guest experiences. According to the J.D. Power 2024 North America Third-Party Hotel Management Guest Satisfaction Benchmark,SM released today, overall guest satisfaction with branded hotels run by the nations largest third-party management companies improves significantly this year, outperforming both chain-managed and independently operated hotels.
Third-party management companies operating branded hotels are really firing on all cylinders by consistently delivering well-maintained buildings, cleaner guest rooms and an overall better guest experience than those seen among independently operated branded properties and even chain-managed properties. What is most noteworthy is that the largest third-party hotel operators are delivering an improved level of staff service even as higher room rates are pushing guest expectations higher. Andrea Stokes, hospitality practice lead at J.D. Power
Following are some of the key findings of the 2024 benchmark:
Overall satisfaction rises significantly year over year: Overall guest satisfaction with hotels run by third-party management companies is 683 (on a 1,000-point scale), up 8 points from a year ago. The year-over-year improvement is driven primarily by improvements in satisfaction with cleanliness of guest rooms; maintenance and upkeep of the hotel; and hotel staff responsiveness to guest questions and requests.
Overall guest satisfaction with hotels run by third-party management companies is 683 (on a 1,000-point scale), up 8 points from a year ago. The year-over-year improvement is driven primarily by improvements in satisfaction with cleanliness of guest rooms; maintenance and upkeep of the hotel; and hotel staff responsiveness to guest questions and requests. Improved guest experience offsets higher prices: Although guests at branded hotels say they are paying more for their rooms this year, overall improvement in perceived value for price for the largest third-party managed hotels has risen 6 points, on average, from 2023. This indicates that guests perceive these hotels provide good value for quality and service received.
Although guests at branded hotels say they are paying more for their rooms this year, overall improvement in perceived value for price for the largest third-party managed hotels has risen 6 points, on average, from 2023. This indicates that guests perceive these hotels provide good value for quality and service received. Faster front desk service and improved staff responsiveness: Across all operational areas in the benchmark, staff service achieves the highest guest scores. Satisfaction with staff service has increased year over year, driven by significantly higher scores for front desk staff efficiency and responsiveness to guest questions or concerns.
Benchmark Ranking
Davidson Hospitality Group ranks highest in overall guest satisfaction for a third consecutive year, with a score of 735. HEI Hotels and Resorts (705) ranks second and White Lodging (704) ranks third.
The North America Third-Party Hotel Management Guest Satisfaction Benchmark, now in its fifth year, evaluates guest satisfaction with branded hotels that are operated by the largest third-party management companies. It is based on six factors (in alphabetical order): communications and connectivity; food and beverage; guest room; hotel facilities; staff service; and value for price. The benchmark includes third-party hotel operators with more than 14,000 branded hotel rooms under management and is based on 4,907 guest responses for branded hotel stays from May 2023 through May 2024.
For more information about the North America Third-Party Hotel Management Guest Satisfaction Benchmark, visit https://www.jdpower.com/business/third-party-hotel-management-guest-satisfaction-benchmark.
Source: J.D. Power
About J.D. Power
J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services, and data and analytics. A pioneer in the use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic modeling capabilities to understand consumer behavior, J.D. Power has been delivering incisive industry intelligence on customer interactions with brands and products for more than 55 years. The world's leading businesses across major industries rely on J.D. Power to guide their customer-facing strategies.
J.D. Power has offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To learn more about the company's business offerings, visit JDPower.com/business. The J.D. Power auto-shopping tool can be found at JDPower.com.
Geno Effler
+1 714 621 6224
J.D. Power
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London, UK The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today announces 68th U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry as its keynote speaker at the global tourism bodys Global Summit, taking place on 8th 10th October, in Perth, Western Australia.
Secretary Kerry led strategies on nuclear non-proliferation, countering extremism, and in 2015, Kerry signed the Paris Agreement on climate change on behalf of the U.S.
In 2021, he became the first Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, and the first Principal to sit on the National Security Council solely focused on climate issues.
A decorated Vietnam War veteran, Kerry earned a Silver Star, a Bronze Star with Combat V, and three Purple Hearts.
Kerry is a best-selling author and was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2024 for his lifetime commitment to public service.
Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: We are honoured to welcome Secretary John Kerry as a keynote speaker at our Global Summit in Perth. His unparalleled experience and dedication to tackling climate change and global challenges align perfectly with our mission to drive a more sustainable and resilient future for the Travel & Tourism sector.
Secretary Kerry's insights will undoubtedly inspire our sector as we come together to forge innovative solutions that balance economic growth with our responsibility to protect our planet.
The Global Summit will draw industry leaders and government representatives from around the world, providing a crucial opportunity to collaborate on strategies that ensure the continued growth and sustainability of global Travel & Tourism.
Australian conservationist and TV personality Robert Irwin will also take to the stage in Perth. As a wildlife warrior, Irwin is also a producer, author and photographer, and renowned around the world for his advocacy for the natural world.
To view the full list of speakers confirmed so far, please click here.
Travel is far more than a means to reach destinations; it's a dynamic force that powers economies and nearly every industry and community across the United States.
In 2023, travel spending generated $2.8 trillion in economic output and supported jobs for nearly 15 million American workers. To shine a spotlight on the profound economic impact of travel, U.S. Travel has been hitting the road for a nationwide Travel Works for America advocacy tour, with stops designed to demonstrate first-hand how travel works for America by spotlighting its extensive impact at the local level.
Our latest Travel Works destination was Minnesota, where we visited Bloomington, Minneapolis, Saint Paul and ended at the iconic Minnesota State Fair.
Each visit on our Minnesota leg of the Travel Works roadshow served as a vivid testament to the essential role of travel in the economy, fueling industries core to Minnesota's legacy. We had the great privilege of working closely with many Minnesota elected officials over our two-day tour.
Stops Along the Minnesota Roadshow
Our roadshow kicked off with a roundtable discussion, where more than 30 Minnesota business leaders gathered at Bloomington Minnesota Travel & Tourisms office to hear from industry executives, elected officials and local business leaders about the tangible impact that travel has on the local region and businesses. Travel is indispensable to Minnesotasupporting more than 180,000 jobs, welcoming 80 million visitors annually and generating $24 billion in economic impact.
Source: U.S. Travel Association
Next, we toured the one and only Mall of America, the largest retail shopping mall in the United States. This mall welcomes 40 million visitors and adds nearly $2 billion to Minnesotas economy annually. The U.S. Travel team, alongside Mall of America CEO Luiza Lopes, enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour where they learned more about the malls top-notch security systems, marketing efforts, partnerships and long-standing history that makes it one of the states most treasured cultural landmarks.
Source: U.S. Travel Association
Our final stop was the legendary Minnesota State Fair. The fairlocated halfway between Saint Paul and Minneapolisdraws over 100,000 visitors daily during its annual 14-day runshowcasing the best of the states culinary, agriculture, art and cultural offerings. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, co-chair of the Senate Travel and Tourism Caucus, helped us kick off the day with remarks in front of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Park, where she underscored the transformative power of travel. Thank you Senator Klobuchar for being a steadfast champion for the travel industry.
This Roadshow would not have been possible without our travel industry partners: Meet Minneapolis, Explore Minnesota, Bloomington, Minnesota Travel & Tourism and Visit Saint Paul. Thank you for hosting and showing us around the North Star State.
Source: U.S. Travel Association
Follow Along
U.S. Travel's Travel Works program elevates the narrative surrounding travel's pivotal role in bolstering the economy while also highlighting the challenges that affect both the travel industry and businesses nationwide. Travel Works also presents a unique opportunity to foster increased engagement and understanding among elected officials at all levels, enabling them to effectively champion our industry's priorities.
Stay tuned for the addition of more stops across the nation as we continue to amplify and celebrate the undeniable impact of travel on our economy. Learn more about Travel Works.
About U.S. Travel Association
U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing the $1.3 trillion travel industry, an essential contributor to our nation's economy and success. U.S. Travel produces programs and insights and advocates for policies to increase travel to and within the United States. Visit ustravel.org for information and recovery-related data.
Greg Staley
U.S. Travel Association
WASHINGTON - Following record-breaking air travel over Labor Day weekend, the U.S. Travel Association along with Ipsos released survey results underscoring traveler preference of biometric technology screening to keep air passengers safe and provide greater efficiency at airport checkpoints.
By overwhelming margins, air travelers support TSAs use of biometric technology at airports to strengthen security and improve the travel experience. Travelers embrace next-generation technology at the same time a small cadre of members of Congress seek to take air travel back to the Dark Ages. Further efforts to harm the travel experience by forcing antiquated approaches upon travelers will have consequences among voters. Geoff Freeman, U.S. Travel Association President and CEO
Key findings include :
The majority of air travelers (79%), Americans (78%), Democrats (80%), and Republicans (76%) support the use of biometrics at TSA security checkpoints to confirm the identity of travelers.
Nearly all Americans (92%) and air travelers (95%) agree that verifying traveler identity is an important measure taken by TSA to protect the flying public.
Nine in 10 air travelers say they would be more likely or equally likely to support biometric use at TSA security checkpoints if it reduced the typical time it takes to get through security.
Supporters of TSA biometrics primarily list stopping terrorism and human trafficking (71%) and making airports safer (66%) as their reasons for supporting biometric use at TSA security checkpoints even above travel efficiency and wait times.
More than half of Americans say they are more likely to support the use of biometrics at TSA security checkpoints knowing the data would: Be deleted within hours of the completed trip, Be used to stop terrorism, Have safeguards in place to ensure biometric data is not shared with other government agencies.
These results emphasize the important work of our Commission on Seamless and Secure Travel, which is closely examining the use of biometrics to strengthen security, improve the passenger experience and protect privacy, Freeman added. Given the decade of major global sporting events announced for the United States and knowing a vast majority of travelers prefer biometric screening, Washington must act to fund and widely utilize this technology at our nations airports to welcome and process millions of people who are expected to visit in coming years.
U.S. Travels Commission on Seamless and Secure Travel, chaired by former Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan, has embarked on a year-long study to improve U.S. global competitiveness and increase travel security and efficiency. A report and recommendations are expected this fall.
Read the full findings here.
About U.S. Travel Association
U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing the $1.3 trillion travel industry, an essential contributor to our nation's economy and success. U.S. Travel produces programs and insights and advocates for policies to increase travel to and within the United States. Visit ustravel.org for information and recovery-related data.
Greg Staley
U.S. Travel Association
Google's shift to generative AI search is changing how travelers find and book hotels.
I talk with VP of Digital Marketing at SHR, Steve Collins, on what this means for your digital marketing efforts.
A. You might be feeling the pressure to completely overhaul your digital strategy, but the truth is, you might already be ahead of the curve.
B. Steve will guide us through actionable steps to ensure your hotel remains visible and competitive.
C. You don't want to miss this chance to get ahead of the AI curve!
This webinar is hosted by SHR Group
Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa - Image Credit Marriott
Bora Bora's Newest Resort Features Overwater Villas with Stunning Views, Locally-Inspired Wellness Offerings, Marine Life Conservation Efforts, Diverse Dining and More
Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa is now open, emerging as the newest and most captivating retreat in the luxurious Bora Bora. Having recently completed an extensive property-wide renovation and rebrand, The Westin Bora Bora is nestled at the base of the majestic Mount Otemanu, boasting the largest collection of overwater bungalows in Bora Bora, alongside expansive beachside villas.
"We are excited to unveil this property as the first resort to open in Bora Bora since 2017, bringing the dream of Bora Bora alive like never before," said Cesar Marques, General Manager of The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa. "The Westin Bora Bora blends the serene landscape of the island with top-tier accommodations, breathtaking ocean views, and a wide array of on- and off-property experiences, ensuring an unforgettable stay for every guest."
"The Westin Bora Bora blends the serene landscape of the island with top-tier accommodations, breathtaking ocean views, and a wide array of on- and off-property experiences, ensuring an unforgettable stay for every guest."
Guests will be treated to a host of world-class amenities, including the largest swimming pool in Bora Bora an infinity pool at the heart of the resort, bordered by six cabanas facing the beach, a swim-up pool bar and waterfall cascading from the second floor into the pool as well as a private lagoon, diverse culinary experiences, and locally-inspired wellness offerings. At the renowned Eco Center Bora Bora, the resort will support the vital mission of protecting sea turtles and marine ecosystems, championing environment stewardship in their tropical paradise.
Providing the iconic overwater living experience, The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa features 128 overwater bungalows, many of which include their own private plunge pools, and all of which offer expansive views of the lagoon, island, or Mount Otemanu. Each overwater bungalow has been positioned to avoid direct sightlines, ensuring total privacy and a unique and memorable view for each guest. The resort also offers 14 spacious family-friendly beach bungalows overlooking the lagoon. Designed to offer modern and refined comfort blended with Polynesian hospitality, the bungalows embody the essence of discreet luxury. Every room features the signature Westin Heavenly Bed, Sleep Well Lavender Balm soothing bedside amenity, and Westin Sleep Well Menu, a curated selection of sleep-enhancing superfoods to be enjoyed in-room.
Design
The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa's architectural design is based on a harmonious integration between contemporary luxury and the island's natural beauty. Inspired by traditional Polynesian forms, the architecture reinterprets these elements with modern and clean lines, and the use of large openings and natural materials creates a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. Each building has been carefully oriented to frame the spectacular views of the lagoon and Mount Otemanu, maximizing interaction with the landscape while minimizing the visual impact of the structures.
The resort's public spaces further extend this immersion into nature, with thoughtfully designed areas that reflect the surrounding natural elements, creating a sense of serenity and calm. Every space in the resort, from the rooms to the common areas, evokes calm and serenity, in harmony with the local culture and the majestic landscapes of Bora Bora.
Natural materials, such as wood and stone, are used to bring natural warmth and authenticity to the interiors. The color palette also reflects these natural elements, favoring neutral and soothing tones such as beige, cream and soft gray, reminiscent of white sand beaches and corals. Touches of blue, evoking the changing shades of the lagoon, have been added sparingly to create focal points that recall the ocean and sky of Bora Bora.
Dining
The resort is home to six distinct dining concepts, offering a range of cuisine and unique experiences from a locally sourced fine dining restaurant to a laid-back beachside eatery. With menus that feature fresh local flavors and ingredients, the culinary offerings at The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa are designed to be the perfect complement to guests' surroundings. Guests will enjoy an array of vibrant settings and menus including:
Tipanier: This playfully elegant all-day French Polynesian bistro offers a breakfast buffet in the morning and delectable lunch and dinner options, set in a space designed to showcase the beauty of Bora Bora and its Tipanier flower. Its carefully crafted menu incorporates seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, with signature dishes such as the A'ahi, a grilled tuna steak served with Provencal Bayaldi, arugula, and sweet & sour vinaigrette, and the Moa, the Chef's reinterpretation of the local Chicken Fafa featuring free-range chicken prepared two ways: baked and braised with taro leaf and coconut milk.
Maere: At the resort's signature restaurant, guests will embark on an exciting culinary journey with a constantly-evolving menu as spectacular as the surroundings. The ever-changing menu will use only the freshest local ingredients, complemented by an extensive selection of wine. Signature offerings include an entree of homemade dried swordfish seasoned with spices and exotic chutney, Laquered Mahi Mahi paired with Korean kimchi and banana chutney, and a slow-cooked pineapple ribbon with basil granita and spiced jelly for dessert.
Varavara: Guests can enjoy beachfront fine dining for both lunch and dinner at this laid-back restaurant. Offering steaks, seafood and lighter fare coupled with bright and refreshing cocktails, the menu features standout dishes like Fenua, a Tahitian fish crudo with tuna, local lime, coconut milk, and crunchy vegetables, and Manga, glazed beef short ribs with mango and chili, served with crushed potato and olive oil.
Honu Tiki: The beach bar offers frozen drinks, nibbles, and light snacks, all served by the beach crew, allowing guests to enjoy the stunning views.
Te Ava: Guests can savor a range of vibrant dishes from the menu while admiring the beautiful panorama of Bora Bora Island, then dive into the infinity pool and swim over to the swim-up bar, which offers refreshing beverages and select dishes.
'O'a Bar: The outdoor lobby-lounge bar offers signature craft cocktails, where can guests take in spectacular sunsets with a view of Mt. Otemanu while enjoying live music.
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For those seeking enhanced wellness, the WestinWORKOUT Fitness Studio and the Heavenly Spa by Westin offer cutting-edge facilities and treatments, allowing guests to experience complete wellbeing in both body and soul. The resort's wellness area is a true haven of peace and refuge, offering spaces for relaxation that are surrounded by lush vegetation with soothing views of the lagoon and beyond.
The Heavenly Spa features treatments inspired by Polynesian wellness traditions and natural settings, as well as Asian-inspired and holistic therapies aimed at harmonizing mind and body wellness. The spa focuses on natural and organic products with locally sourced ingredients. Their primary facial care partner Phytoceane, a local brand rooted in the benefits of natural resources, offers pure, effective ingredients for well-being treatments that combine expert skincare, sensory delights, and a total sense of escape, aligning perfectly with the spa's ethos.
One of the spa's two signature spa treatments is the Heavenly Spa Bora Bora Massage, a Swedish massage using organic coconut oil that promotes physical relaxation and mental upliftment. During the massage, the therapist will invite guests to meditate on positive thoughts. The second signature treatment, the Tupuna Polynesian Ritual, is a 90-minute treatment that honors Polynesian culture. 'Tupuna' means 'ancestors' in Tahitian, and the ritual pays homage to the traditions of the ancestors with a Tamiti Traditional Body Treatment consisting of a body scrub using locally sourced sea salt from Bora Bora, coconut shells, organic virgin coconut oil, and noni oil that will leave skin soft and smooth. Following the treatment, guests will enjoy a Polynesian Taurumi (massage) which uses traditional ancestral techniques and dancing movements to relax the body and mind.
The WestinWORKOUT Fitness Studio offers a comprehensive fitness experience, perfect for travelers looking to maintain their wellness routines. Guests can enjoy a wide array of top-tier gym equipment, including cardiovascular machines such as treadmills, ellipticals, exercise bikes, and rowing machines. For strength training, the studio provides free weights, weight machines, and mats with balance balls. Beyond the equipment, the studio also offers a selection of fitness classes like yoga, Pilates, and even Tahitian dance, catering to diverse fitness preferences. The complimentary WestinWORKOUT Gear Lending program allows guests to borrow the fitness equipment they need so they can move well both in their guestroom and outside.
Activities
Guests can fully immerse themselves in Bora Bora's stunning beauty and rich culture through a range of activities. On the water, they can explore the lagoon by stand-up paddle board or kayak. On land, options abound from beach volleyball and Hydrofoil bikes to yoga, water yoga, Pilates, and paddle yoga sessions. The WestinWORKOUT Routes, in collaboration with Strava, provide scenic running routes around the property, making it easy to stay active while exploring the destination. In addition, guests can dive into the cultural traditions of Bora Bora through local crafts and workshops and learn the art of coconut palm weaving, create shell crafts, or participate in a flower crown weaving session. Guests can also experience the culture of the island with the resort's weekly Polynesian evening complete with a mouthwatering buffet dinner and dances, or by taking a Tahitian dance class to learn the traditional movements of the region. For those looking to explore beyond the resort, snorkeling, scuba diving, and deep-sea fishing excursions offer further adventures off-property.
Eco Center Bora Bora
The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa shows its commitment to ecological sustainability through its beloved Eco Center Bora Bora. Originally established in 2000 in collaboration with the Direction of the Environment (DIREN) of French Polynesia, the revamped center will focus on the protection and conservation of sea turtle species, developing sustainable management of ecology in French Polynesia and educating and raising awareness among locals and travelers alike with a variety of immersive and educational experiences for guests. Guests can learn about the protection and conservation of sea turtles in French Polynesia with a guided tour, slideshow and observation of the turtle feeding. For a more interactive, hands-on experience, guests can help prepare meals for the Eco Center's residents; assist caretakers as they observe and provide care to the turtles; or spend an entire day with the Eco Center Bora Bora team, engaging in food preparation, tank cleaning, public presentations, care, and observation.
Rates start at $1,000, for stays beginning September 3, 2024.
Songwriting Split Sheet: A Complete Guide
Dont miss out on your fair share! Learn how to protect your earnings with a clear understanding of songwriting splits and the essential songwriting split sheet.
from Horus Music
For many songwriters, working out how a song should be split can be a confusing and difficult conversation to have. Many worry that having business conversations about Songwriting splits in the writing room can dampen creativity. People also contemplate if theres a certain formula to working out who gets what %.
Songwriting splits, or Song splits, relate to how the copyright of a composition is split. It is important to note that there is no right or wrong way of splitting copyright. It ultimately comes down to the personal preference of those involved within the process. No matter where youre based in the world, you should always formally document the splits.
A written and signed split sheet is recommended so that the correct information is accurately noted by all parties involved. This information would then be uploaded via your PRO database, for example, PRS in the United Kingdom.
It is also advised that the process of working out who owns what % happens in the early stages of creation. At the very least, it should always be fully decided before you leave the last studio or writing session. It is never a good idea to assume that the song will be split equally as everyone can have differing views on their level of contribution.
The use of a split sheet helps to keep things clear and concise when youre working with various people. It might also be a key factor to ensuring you get your correct royalty payments in the future. Future examples of where a split sheet might come in use include signing off on sync deals and potential copyright disputes.
A songwriting split sheet should include the following:
The formal name of each songwriter and/or composer
A physical mailing address for each songwriter and/or compose
The role of each songwriter and/or composer (for example, music, lyrics, or melody)
The percentage of the split that each songwriter and/or composer gets (for example, Jane Doe 50% and John Doe 50%)
CAE / IPI Number of each songwriter and/or composer
Each songwriter and/or composers publishers name and their IPI number (if applicable)
Date of birth of each songwriter and/or composer
Signature of each songwriter and/or composer
The title and length of the song (a temporary working title of the song and song length can be added/amended throughout the writing process)
TOP TIP
If Ive paid a producer upfront, does this mean that they dont own a % in the song?
Sometimes a producer might also contribute to the melody, lyrics or overall composition to the song as part of the writing and recording process. As such, they might be entitled to a percentage of the songs copyright, depending on their agreement with the artist. Even if theyve been paid upfront, this doesnt automatically mean that they dont then get to own any of the copyright. This would have to be agreed upon mutually between all songwriters and collaborators.
If youre working with a producer, you should always sign a contract with them to outline the fee theyve been paid and how much of the copyright they own.
Hopefully the above information has helped you to learn more about the songwriting process (and the dos and donts).
If you have any further questions about song splits and would like to join Horus Music Publishing, get in touch with us today at publishing@horusmusic.global.
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The true value of Indie Labels in todays Music Industry
Indie labels are quietly driving the music industrys biggest successes. Find out the true value of indie labels despite their smaller size.
The true value of Indie Labels
by Keith Jopling via Network Notes
Indie labels put in more value to the music business than they take out will that ever change?
Ive been thinking a lot about what it is to be an indie label lately, in the context of the continuing growth in the music industry overall.
Over the past few years the artist services sector (aka distribution) has seen hypergrowth, alongside massive investment often from investors entirely new to the music business. For these investors looking to get in on the action, the distribution sector has everything: a growing addressable market (independent artists), disruptive brands (from incumbents like TuneCore to upstarts like Gamma), an ever expanding product portfolio (i.e. a growing array of artist services) and most importantly, a global marketplace.
The connectors between independent artists and DSPs have grown exponentially by being in the eye of the needle of the perfect 2-sided marketplace: massive growth in music production/supply and massive growth in music consumption. Some were blessed with official partner status by the likes of Spotify and Apple Music pouring rocket fuel on the growth of DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby et. al.
This relates directly to the indie labels sector, one which tends to grow organically with very little outside investment whatsoever. When investors get stuck into due diligence on distributors, they are often looking for the secret sauce in other words the added value these companies can bring to the music industry. Whats fascinating about the due diligence process, is that no secret sauce is ever found. Of course it isnt, because it does not exist.
Distributors have scale, and they operate in a global market, but in terms of value-add to artists the central core activities of A&R and marketing are the same in scope as those of indie record labels. So are many other associated services, such as royalty accounting and payment, analytics and so on. Although effectiveness and service levels vary, these direct services to artists have very little to differentiate them, between distributors themselves and indeed between distributors and their indie label counterparts. Furthermore, due diligence also reveals that the most valuable aspect of many distribution players isnt direct/independent artist services, but label services those offered to indie labels.
This transfer of monetary value is fascinating to me, because in truth, it is the indie labels that create the majority of the value here, in the truest sense. It is the indies that find, develop and market artists that actually have fans, and potentially careers. Although they are fewer in number, their releases are what scales activity for the distribution players which in turn attracts the interest from investors. The indie label sector is a huge filter of quality a true differentiator from both the mass of DIY artists (famously once referred to by a major label boss as merchants of garbage) but also the highly trend led pop put out by major labels.
On reading Darrens Network Notes post recognising the true value of indie labels, it struck me that well, the true value of indie labels is exactly what they have always done better than anyone else develop and market real artists, especially those artists that really do not suit the majors.
In that post, Darren also posed an oxymoron:
Id be genuinely curious to hear if there are labels readers feel have truly risen up in the last couple of years from genuinely humble beginnings to looking like long-standing, permanent fixtures. Personally, I feel the list is short and getting shorter.
Some immediate names did come to mind for me. The UK labels Partisan, Dirty Hit, and Communion. The US-based Secretly (a group of four indie labels not unlike Beggars, but including its own distribution services operation) and ATO Records. Im sure that there are plenty of examples from outside of these two markets. But Darrens point still stands, in that the number of growing businesses in the indie label sector is far fewer than in the wider artist services market. Yet Im convinced that the former is driving most of the value in the latter.
The buzz around artist services has probably peaked now. Although investment is still flowing in (note that Chicago-based firm Flexpoint Ford recently took a stake in Create Music Group for $165 million, for example) the due diligence is proving trickier. It may even be that investors are finding the sector previously overvalued. Believe/TuneCore came out of public ownership partly for that reason. Believe structures its business in two divisions: Premium Solutions and Automated Solutions. Although the delineation is not fully understood outside the company, it is Premium Solutions that seems to be creating more value for the company. Thats more on the licensed artists and owned labels side of the business than the open distribution platform part of TuneCore.
If so, it falls in line with those impressive results from XL and Beggars, as well as the continued growth of the 4th major BMG. Yet, outside of the big hitter indies, the indie label sectors growth remains underpowered relative to both consumption (streaming + social platforms), distribution, creator tools/music software and indeed, the live and merchandise side of the music industry. Indie labels power talent into all these lucrative layers of the music industry but take relatively little out.
The reasons are pretty obvious indies do not operate in a global market only Beggars has a true global perspective and that doesnt quite compare with what majors and distributors have in terms of infrastructure, operating model or staff numbers. Indies manage small, curated rosters of artists and so cannot jump on the bandwagon of scale and customer acquisition in the same way distributors can. And when distributors get these big investments, where does the money go? A large chunk of it will go on advances, in the hope of attracting higher quality artists. This is because distributors know that artist services deals can bring a 20+% share of a lot of streaming cash, whereas the long tail of creators brings low-tier subs revenue but high churn.
Yet indie labels do the best job of talent acquisition and artist development in music, dont they? Even when hot artists are passed between them (Fontaines D.C. recently moved from Partisan to XL in their ascendence to global stardom) or are eventually lost to majors (Wolf Alice moved from Dirty Hit to Columbia in their ascendence to global stardom), indies still attract the best, most exciting new talent. As a result, labels like XL have enormous brand value among the creative community probably far more so than any distribution brand or major label. The same goes for Secretly Groups ultra cool portfolio JagJaguwar and Dead Oceans. The kudos associated with these labels is huge, the only downside for artists is that the budgets are smaller than if they were signed to a major.
When it comes to marketing, its harder to say. Marketing comes down to individual talent and effective small teams and those exist to varying degrees across the whole gamut of music organisations. Yet indies are often blessed with a real love and passion for their artists something that makes a tangible difference to marketers and publicists. I dont mean to take anything away from passionate marketers at majors or distribution/artist services companies here, but just by way of a more focused roster, indies are in the stronger position to give their artists the personal touch. That does not leave indie labels with a fancy pitch to investors about AI assisted marketing at scale, however. Thats the latest secret sauce for distributors to be more tech and less label. Strange really when everyone is in the same business finding and marketing music talent.
ORCA
This brings me to ORCA, another recent development in the indies space. ORCA is clearly a cooperative move to level the playing field and make the indies sector add up to more than the sum of its parts, even if the call to action and commercial potential is not yet clear. The work of Merlin, AIM and A2IM cannot be faulted in representing the collegiate of indies in the streaming age i.e. more global, more scalable, yet none of those are vessels for investment or value creation outside of licence negotiations and trade marketing/networking. None of them enable indie labels to be more tech. Could ORCA play this role I wonder?
For ORCA (or the others) to succeed in re-directing industry value towards the indies sector it will need to assist indie labels in attracting investment, growth, taking on in-house distribution (something that has worked for BMG in its latest set of results) and expanding their ability to build artist businesses outside of streaming space into the growth areas of physical retail, merchandise and live productions. And yes, probably become more tech without overpaying the distribution sector.
Finally, I would not give up on the ability to leverage media in favour of indie label artists. While radio, TV and press are a shadow of their former selves from a music marketing standpoint, the indie media sector is blossoming. If indie media such as So Young, Dummy, Colours, Pitchfork, NTL et. al. can be nurtured and supported, they will continue to punch above weight for indie-signed artists simply because the quality and ethos is well-aligned. For many artists, being a cover feature is as important as landing on a streaming playlist when it comes to building a fan base. Perhaps ORCA can work with innovators like Pytch in this area. And one would assume forging even deeper links with the likes of Bandcamp too.
Going the extra mile has always been in the blood at indie labels. To scale, indies must have help picking through the fragments in a way that big companies, whether major labels or distribution players, can rarely be bothered to do, or simply have lost the ability to do because they are stupidly busy with various forms of buzz marketing. Perhaps indies true value is to stay focused on the smaller details that can make the biggest difference to their artists. Id like to see investors, funding organisations and big music appreciate this more.
Keith Jopling is an independent consultant working across investment, artist services and labels. He is the founder at Song Sommelier Productions.
Cover photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash
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Triplex To Screen 'Geraldine Ferraro's Daughter'
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. The Triplex Cinema announced a special election season event featuring a screening of Donna Zaccaro's "Geraldine Ferraro: Paving the Way" on Sunday Sept. 15 at 3:00 pm.
Tickets are available for purchase at the Triplex Cinema website. Following the screening there will be a discussion between Zaccaro, Geraldine Ferraro's daughter, and Letty Cottin Pogrebin, a well-known writer, journalist and political activist, and longtime friend of Ferraro.
According to a press release:
Forty years ago presidential candidate Walter Mondale made the historic selection of New York Congressional Representative Geraldine Ferraro as his Vice- Presidential running mate. "Geraldine Ferraro: Paving the Way" is an inspiring film about Ferraro's historic nomination and the first full profile of the woman who changed the face of American politics forever. Directed by Ferraro's daughter, Donna Zaccaro, "Paving the Way" is a loving and heartfelt look at Ferraro's distinguished career.
After a career as a teacher and attorney, Ferraro worked in the Queens, New York District Attorney's office, where she started the Special Victims Bureau. In 1978 Ferraro was elected to Congress from New York City's 9th district. As a Congresswoman, Ferraro was a tireless women's and human right's advocate, working for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment and many related issues.
In her 1984 Vice Presidential acceptance speech, Ferraro spoke of the realization of the American Dream: "Tonight, the daughter of an immigrant from Italy has been chosen to run for vice-president in the new land my father came to love." The Mondale-Ferraro ticket lost, but Ferraro's candidacy forever reshaped the American political and social landscape.
Following the election, Ferraro continued her life of public service when she was appointed by President Clinton as the U.S. Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Commission, and later head of the U.S delegations to the World Conference on Human Rights and the Fifth World Conference of Women. In 1998 Ferraro was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and became a public advocate and frequent speaker on the disease. She died in March, 2011, of complications from the disease.
Donna Zaccaro is Founder and President of Dazzling Media, a New-York based media production company. Donna served as the director and producer of "Geraldine Ferraro: Paving the Way." Previously Zaccaro was a long-time award-winning producer for the "Today" show at NBC News. She has also worked in politics, public affairs, marketing and communications.
Letty Cottin Pogrebin, a Stockbridge resident, is an author, activist, and national public speaker. A founding editor of Ms. Magazine, she has also published two novels and twelve works of nonfiction.Pogrebin serves on the boards of Americans for Peace Now, the Ms. Foundation for Education and Communication, the Brandeis University Women's and Gender Studies Program, and The Authors Guild. Her many honors include a Yale University Poynter Fellowship in Journalism, an Emmy Award for Free to Be You and Me, and dozens of awards and commendations from a variety of NGOs, civic, religious and educational institutions.
Stakeholders, town leaders, and project organizers were shovel-ready to kick off the fire station project. Moresi thanked key stakeholders who came together to see the project through. Members of the Fire Department attended the ceremony. Barrett noted that Williamstown should be proud to be able to take on such projects. Patton thanked the residents who overwhelmingly supported the project at a special fire district meeting. Pedercini listed some of the improvements the new building will include. Williamstown Firefighters posed for a picture. PreviousNext
Williamstown Breaks Ground On New Fire Station
After speeches, various group photos were taken.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. The community came together to officially start a construction project, over a decade in the making, that will provide a safer, cleaner future for the town.
"What an amazing day today is for Williamstown," Prudential Committee Chairman Dave Moresi said Wednesday during the ceremony. "As a community, we should be proud to witness the groundbreaking of a new state-of-the-art fire station, ensuring that life and property continue to be protected to the highest and best of abilities."
The newly constructed 22,000 square foot facility will be built on Main Street, replacing the aging station on Water Street.
Chief Craig Pedercini said he first brought the idea to the Prudential Committee some 18 years ago. At that time, the Water Street Station was 56 years old. He said even 18 years ago, the department had outgrown the facility that could not keep up with modern fire fighting needs.
"Over the next couple of years, the progress began. Fast forward to today, we stick our shovels in the ground and move forward towards building a state of our fire station for the firefighters of this community," he said.
He said the new facility will have space to operate all of the department's vehicles and equipment safely. He said the new station will have an area to decontaminate gear as well as office, meeting, and training space. He was also happy to say the new facility will have plenty of parking.
Speaker State Rep. John Barrett III agreed that the project had been in the works for some time joking that some of the now Prudential Committee members he went to grade school with were talking about it then.
He added that the town should be proud to be able to make such improvements while maintaining solid financial ground.
"The town should be very proud. Proud of not only the fire departmentbut also as a community," he said. "You have a new police station, you're going to have a new fire station. I can't tell you how many communities around the state of Massachusetts would like to be in this position today. And you're in good financial condition after it happens."
In 2023 a special fire district meeting authorized the town to use $22.5 to complete the project. Through a series of meetings, working with the contractor Consigli Construction, the Prudential Committee locked in a guaranteed maximum price of $17.9 million.
Chairperson of the select board Jane Patton said the project also furthers the town's goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions in line with its police station and middle school.
"It's been designed with an eye on the future. It's meant to operate with Net Zero carbon and to be adaptable to the changing needs of small fire departments," she said. "This is no small feat, and it's not for the faint of heart. This is a big deal to commit to this and to make it happen in this fashion. It makes me very proud to be a member of this community."
Moresi closed his portion of the ceremony by thanking the firefighters past and those present who will use the new fire station.
"The men and women are the heroes of our community. Always there to answer the call. This station is about a safe and healthy working environment for them," he said. "To allow them to serve our community to the best of their abilities for many years to come."
The project is estimated to be completed in late 2025/early 2026.
Kingston Technology, a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, today announced it is shipping the NV3 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD for users looking for high capacity 4x4 NVMe PCIe performance in a compact form factor.
The Kingston NV3 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD is a robust next-gen storage solution powered by a Gen 4x4 NVMe controller. The Kingston NV3 delivers read/write speeds of up to 6,000/5,000MB/s, ensuring a faster system capable of handling a variety of workloads, from editing to gaming. The drive optimizes system performance and delivers value without compromise. Its compact single-sided M.2 2280 (22x80mm) design allows for storage expansion up to 4TB, while saving space for other components. As a cost-effective storage solution, the NV3 is ideal for creators and gamers looking to enhance their PC performance.
We are excited to elevate the user experience with the next-gen successor, NV3, said Kingston. Whether upgrading to meet the evolving demands of working from home or building a new gaming PC, the NV3 is designed to deliver speed and dependability at an attractive price point.
Available in capacities from 500GB 4TB, NV3 will give users storage space they need for applications, documents, photos, videos, games and more. NV3 will also include 1-year free Acronis True Image for Kingston software, alongside the Kingston SSD Manager application, enabling users to monitor drive health and disk usage, update drive firmware, and securely erase data.
NV3 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD Features and Specifications:
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Stephen King has given a blunt three-word response to discovering that 23 of his books have been banned from school libraries in Florida, a law that is now being challenged by six major book publishers.
In 2022, Florida governor Ron DeSantis signed a landmark legislation that targeted books that included any sexually explicit material, following complaints from conservative group Moms for Liberty.
The law was brought into effect in July 2023 and has seen noteworthy classics such as Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain all removed from elementary, middle and high school libraries. Even non-fiction books like The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank has also been banned.
Amongst the novels by King that have reportedly been banned include Carrie, It, The Gunslinger, The Running Man and The Long Walk.
King, who is no stranger to voicing his political opinion, wrote in response to learning just how many of his books have been banned: Florida has banned 23 pf [sic] my books. What the f***?
Six major book publishers, Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers and Sourcebooks have now teamed up to challenge the sweeping book removal provisions of House Bill 1069.
In a press release the publishers highlighted the potential abuses of the law that can happen once a complaint is raised. The statement says: HB 1069 requires school librarians to remove books that contain anything that can be construed as sexual conduct, with no consideration of the educational value of the work as a whole. If a parent or a resident of the county objects to a book, the book must be removed within five days and remain unavailable until the objection is resolved. There is no requirement to review a book within a reasonable time frameor even to return it if it has been found not to violate the statute. If a book is returned to the library, an objector may request a review by a state-appointed special magistrate at the expense of the school district.
Florida has banned 23 pf my books.
What the fuck? Stephen King (@StephenKing) August 31, 2024
The publishers add: Students need access to books that reflect a wide range of human experiences to learn and grow. Its imperative for the education of our young people that teachers and librarians be allowed to use their professional expertise to match our authors books to the right reader at the right time in their life.
Florida Department of Education spokesperson Sydney Booker, has since pushed back on the publishers lawsuit, telling the BBC that it is a stunt, adding that: There are no books banned in Florida and that, sexually explicit material and instruction are not suitable for schools.
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The Crown Prosecution Service has discontinued criminal proceedings against Harvey Weinstein following an alleged sexual assault in London in 1996.
It was alleged that Weinstein twice indecently assaulted a woman, who is now in her fifties, in the summer of 1996.
On Thursday, the CPS said: Following a review of the evidence in this case, the CPS has decided to discontinue criminal proceedings against Harvey Weinstein.
The CPS has a duty to keep all cases under continuous review and we have decided that there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.
Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS special crime and counterterrorism division, said the decision to discontinue legal proceedings against Weinstein had been explained to all parties involved.
We would always encourage any potential victims of sexual assault to come forward and report to police and we will prosecute wherever our legal test is met, he continued.
A statement from the Metropolitan Police at the time of the arrest said it had been alleged two offences were committed between 31 July and 31 August 1996.
Weinstein, 72, is currently serving a 23-year prison sentence after he was found guilty in 2020 of rape and sexual assault in New York.
open image in gallery The Weinstein revelations launched the #MeToo movement in 2017 ( AP )
In June 2024, the conviction was tossed by appeals judges who said jurors shouldnt have heard testimony from women who had accused the film producer of misconduct but whose allegations werent part of the case.
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A retrial has been tentatively scheduled for 12 November.
Ashley Judd, the first actor to come forward with sexual harassment allegations against the former filmmaker, said that the decision is unfair to survivors.
The Weinstein revelations launched the #MeToo movement in 2017, which saw women from all corners of society come forward to talk about their experiences of sexual harassment and assault.
More than 80 women in the film industry came forward to accuse him of non-consensual sexual activity.
Charmed star Rose McGowan alleged that Weinstein had raped her, while Shallow Hal actor Gwyneth Paltrow and Maleficent star Angelina Jolie accused the director of harassment. Salma Hayek also reported that Weinstein had sexually harassed her.
Weinsteins lawyer claimed he was denied a fair trial after he became the poster boy for the #MeToo movement as they made the case for throwing out his rape and sexual assault convictions.
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Johnny Depp fans have noticed that big change appears to have fixed his rotting teeth.
A clip of the actor on holiday in the Bahamas has been shared by a bartender from Lorraines Cafe in Exuma, who invited the film star behind the bar to mix some drinks.
Depp, who recently paid tribute to his Pirates of the Caribbean co-star who died in a shark attack, can be seen smiling away in the clip and his fans immediately noticed that he has what appears to be a bright new set of veneers.
The 61-year-old actors dental hygiene came into question at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival when he attented the premiere of Jeanne du Barry. His fans expressed concern over the appearance of his teeth, with some complaining that they looked like they were rotting and others urging him to go to the dentist.
Now, these fans are highlighting how the actor has seemingly undergone dental work, with one writing in the replies section of the video: He looks so happy! And healthy and LOOK he got his teeth fixed!!!!!
Another added: Johnny Depp has new teeth! with one more person commenting: The pirate teeth are gone ... pearly whites look beautiful.
Others continued to point out the change, with a fan stating: Def got his teeth done! Looks so good, with another commenting, Am I right to see that his teeth are looking brighter than ever before???
Johny Depp shows off apparent new set of teeth ( Instagram )
Depp, who changed his teeth for his role in Pirates of the Caribbean, said of his dental health in the 1990s: I had a root canal done eight years ago thats unfinished. Its like a rotten little stub.
He added to Premiere: When I see people with perfect teeth, it drives me up the wall. Id rather swallow a tick than have that!
The bartender who shared the video captioned the clip: jacksparrow meets the killerbartender of exuma bahamas ... once in a lifetime moments with mr jonhny Depp.
Johnny Depps teeth were branded rotten at Cannes in 2023 ( Getty Images )
In the video, Depp can be seen acknowledging a painting of his Pirates of the Caribbean character.
Speaking about wanting to change Jack Sparrows teeth in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Depp previously revealed: Jerry [Bruckheimer, producer] was slightly uncomfortable, and the Disney executives werent exactly enthusiastic about itI said, Look, these are the choices I made. You know my work. So either trust me or give me the boot. And luckily, they didnt.
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Beetlejuice star Michael Keaton is going back to using his real name, which happens to be the same as another Hollywood actor.
The 73-year-old, has reprised his role as the troublesome ghost and bio-exorcist for his forthcoming movie Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, directed by Tim Burton.
The film, which is set to be released in cinemas on 6 September, is the sequel to Burtons beloved 1988 horror comedy Beetlejuice. A number of the original cast are set to return, including Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz and Schitts Creek star Catherine OHara as her mother Delia Deetz.
Keaton told People that he had picked his name out of a phone book when he was starting out in Hollywood in the 1970s. The Screen Actors Guild prohibits members from using the same name as another professional actor, and Keaton was forced to drop his birth name as a result.
Now, decades later, he wants to go back to his origins.
I said, Hey, just as a warning, my credit is going to be Michael Keaton Douglas, Keaton said about his new movie, Knox Goes Away, which he directed.
However, he said, It totally got away from me. And I forgot to give them enough time to put it in and create that.
He promised, But that will happen.
Star is adamant he will be changing his name back ( Getty Images )
Michael Douglas, 79, is the son of three-time Academy Award nominee Kirk Douglas and is married to Best Supporting Actress winner Catherine Zeta-Jones. He is known for his roles on Wall Street (1987), Fatal Attraction (1987), The War of the Roses (1989), Basic Instinct (1992),and Traffic (2000).
Recalling how he picked the name he eventually became famous for, Keaton said, I was looking through I cant remember if it was a phone book.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice trailer
He continued, I mustve gone, I dont know, let me think of something here. And I went, Oh, that sounds reasonable.
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Keaton has commented on having the same name as Douglas before, and told Terry Wogan in a 1992 interview, There were already two people in the union with the name Michael Douglas, I got a job and contractually you couldnt have people of the same name.
Douglass father was forced to change his surname in a bid to assimilate ( Getty Images )
He said, I finally met Michael Douglas, hes a good guy actually.
But, he added thats not even his real name! Im the only one who had the name. Thats the irony here.
Douglass father, Issur Danielovitch, was forced to Americanise his surname in a bid to assimilate.
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Megan Thee Stallion has admitted she still isnt sure what exactly started her feud with fellow rapper Nicki Minaj.
The two US artists have been embroiled in a row since at least 2021, when Minaj unfollowed the Savage star on Instagram and the pair began taking swipes at one another in their music.
Megan, 29, addressed the beef in a cover interview for Billboard, in which she also spoke about her unwavering support for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
In the wake of the shots she took at Minaj on her 2024 single Hiss, Megan was asked whether there was any chance of a reconciliation.
I still to this day dont know what the problem is, Megan responded. I dont even know what could be reconciled because I, to this day, dont know what the problem is.
The most recent chapter of Megan and Minajs difficult relationship began when Megan released Hiss in January. The track was widely interpreted to include a swipe at Minaj and her husband, Kenneth Petty.
open image in gallery Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj have been feuding for years ( Getty )
It begins with Megans declaration that she wants to get this s*** off my chest and lay it to rest, before she raps: These hoes dont be mad at Megan, these hoes mad at Megans Law / I dont really know what the problem is, but I guarantee yall dont want me to start.
Megans Law refers to the US federal law that enforces that information regarding registered sex offenders is available to the public. For some, this line is a veiled remark aimed at Petty, who is a registered sex offender after pleading guilty to attempted rape by force or fear at age 16.
Mere hours after the release of Hiss, Minaj launched into a tirade on social media and previewed her song, Big Foot, a diss track aimed at Megan.
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The song was released in full on 29 January, with notable lyrics such as: Bad b*** she like six foot, I call her, Big Foot / The b**** fell off, I said, Get up on your good foot.
Megans relationship with Minaj had already been in decline by this point, after she collaborated with her rival, Cardi B, on the 2020 hit WAP. She had previously teamed up with Minaj in 2019 on their collaboration, Hot Girl Summer.
open image in gallery Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion in the video for 'WAP' ( Screenshot )
Minaj unfollowed Megan on Instagram in January 2021, prompting fans to begin labelling them as rivals. Months later, they were convinced that Minaj took a swipe at Megan in her song Seeing Green.
In the same Billboard interview, Megan was asked if she took credit for restarting the competitive rap energy music fans have seen in 2024, which later saw a major beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake.
I would like to think that I start things, she said. I dont know; I just knew what I had to do and what I had to say. If it opened up the door for everyone else to get st off their chest, well, Im glad.
Of vice president and Democratic presidential nominee Harris, Megan, who recently performed at one of Harriss rallies, said she felt blessed to be alive in a lifetime where a Black woman or a woman at all could be president.
open image in gallery Kamala Harris has Megan Thee Stallions support ( AP )
This is what the future is about, she said. We really about to get a strong, Black female in there. I feel like America needed a woman to come in here and put a womans touch on it. Its been going a little crazy lately, and we need somebody to put their foot down. I feel like Kamala, she gon do that.
She continued: Now we just got to get out there and go vote. I dont like it when I see people saying, Im not voting. F*** it.
What the f*** are you talking about? Youre going to complain about what you dont like but youre not going to help the cause? I think thats very irresponsible because if you dont like what Trump has going on, why even aid in him being the president again?
The full Billboard interview is available on newstands and online now.
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Bill Gates didnt see the conspiracy theories coming. The Microsoft co-founder built one of the most immense fortunes the world has ever seen with his foresight about the personal computer revolution, but he never predicted so many people would end up using those machines to cast him as a baby-guzzling, shape-shifting lizard who puts microchips in vaccines and plans pandemics for profit. I thought the internet, with the magic of software, would make us all a lot more factual, he laments, a wry smile playing beneath his black-framed spectacles. The idea that we kind of wallow in misinformation Im surprised about that.
Not that hes complaining. I dont care how Im perceived, the 68-year-old assures me over a video call (Microsoft Teams, naturally) from his office in Kirkland, on the banks of Lake Washington, opposite Seattle. So even when a woman came up and yelled at me that I implanted stuff in her, that I was tracking her he took it in his stride. My life is fantastic, he says. Im the luckiest person alive, in terms of the work I get to do.
Online misinformation troubles Gates not because of his personal reputation, but because its the rare problem he doesnt have an answer for. In his new five-part Netflix documentary series, Whats Next? The Future with Bill Gates, the multibillionaire shares his optimistic vision of a world where scientific innovation rolls back climate change and eradicates deadly diseases while advances in artificial intelligence leave us all free to enjoy perpetual leisure time. Its just the conspiracy theories that have him stumped. I feel a bit like weve handed that to the younger generation, he says. Both to face up to and to figure out: Okay, whats this boundary between free speech and incitement to violence, or harassment, or just craziness that gets people not to take health advice?
Bill Gates talks perception, legacy, and the challenge of misinformation
Gates is well aware that one reason grotesque and outlandish rumours about him capture the public imagination is because, as he puts it in the show, extreme wealth brings with it questions about your motives. He stepped down as CEO of Microsoft in 2000 to establish the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with his then-wife, aiming to give away lots of money to save lots of lives, yet he remains one of the worlds richest people (seventh on the real-time Forbes list, with an estimated net worth of $138bn).
I ask him directly whether he can reassure me that billionaires do have the best interests of the rest of us at heart. His answer doesnt exactly set my mind at ease. Im a huge believer in the estate tax [the American equivalent of the UKs inheritance tax] and more progressive taxation, he replies. I dont think we should generally generationally let families whose great grandfather, through luck and skill, accumulated a lot of wealth, have the economic or political power that comes with that.
Not a ringing endorsement of the billionaire class, then. Would he agree that he is too rich? If I designed the tax system, I would be tens of billion dollars poorer than I am, he nods. The tax system could be more progressive without damaging significantly the incentive to do fantastic things.
Instead of voluntarily paying more tax, Gates has poured his wealth into projects he believes can raise the global standard of living. He has argued that hes able to take risks on long-shot innovations that governments wouldnt be prepared to gamble on and, in one episode of the new show, he presents some of the projects hes funding to try and contain the climate crisis, such as investing in new types of nuclear reactors and finding ways to make cement that dont emit CO2.
These sorts of innovations are essential because, as he explains, the majority of harmful carbon emissions are caused by generating electricity and the manufacture of things such as steel and concrete. I tell Gates that I find his analysis a little dispiriting simply because it reminds me how much my efforts to fly less often or waste less food pale into insignificance next to the vast structural changes that need to happen for society to reach net zero emissions.
open image in gallery Bill Gates visits a next-generation TerraPower nuclear reactor hes funding in Wyoming in Whats Next? The Future with Bill Gates' ( Netflix )
First of all, let me say individual actions do add up, Gates argues back. Whether its acts of kindness, or creating demand for green products, everybody who buys foods that are made with lower CO2 helps to drive the volume, which helps innovation eventually outcompete the dirty stuff. So whether its electric cars or heat pumps or sustainable aviation fuel, I wouldnt completely discount that.
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Its clear though that the major changes we need will have to be made by governments, so I ask if he finds himself sympathising with activists who feel driven to block roads, or throw paint on famous works of art, just to try to get politicians to pay attention? I agree that sometimes extreme tactics are very helpful at keeping this issue on the agenda, he says, Because the big, big pain of climate change is way out in the future I cut in here surely were already suffering the effects of climate change? Gates shakes his head. In terms of everything but the countries on the equator, the massive GDP impacts are not in the near term, but over time, he says, adding that he has no time for climate doomerism. Theres no doubt that its super important and that were underinvesting in it, but the idea that we should despair, we should almost give up, thats also not helpful to the cause.
When it comes to the much-trumpeted benefits of AI, I confess to Gates that I struggle to share his optimism. When he describes a future where humans enjoy much more leisure, I picture CEOs instigating mass layoffs and telling us cheerfully to go enjoy our free time. AI might make businesses more efficient, but that doesnt necessarily improve the lot of those of us who have to work for a living.
Well, work weeks have gotten shorter, Gates tells me confidently, while I make a mental note to let my boss know Ill be finishing early. But he takes my point. I will admit that saying that through government policies we will take this extra productivity and we will spread it around properly, at a time when trust in government to do basic things is so low statements like that cause people to raise their eyebrows, but there is no other answer.
Gates argues that, as with climate mitigation, we will need governments to rein in corporations and restructure society to deal with the myriad effects of AI. As society becomes more productive, to make sure that those benefits are shared by the many, not just in the rich countries, but globally, it takes government involvement, he says. Philanthropy alone or well-meaning people alone cant do that. So its about picking politicians that see the benefits of AI and think about what that means for the tax structure and having economists who are really looking at this. I do think thats starting, and I think we have 10 to 20 years before the productivity benefits are so gigantic that you really do have to reshape taxation and work-week policies in a profound way.
As Gates sees it, the coming AI revolution will reshape society more thoroughly than any previous leap forward in human history. Theres no upper limit to this technology, he argues. At least with tractors we knew wed have less farmers, but there are a lot of other human needs. In those days we didnt realise, as we got richer, how many restaurants or psychiatrists we would end up needing.
open image in gallery Bill Gates demonstrating Microsofts Windows 95 from his car ahead of a Paris press conference in September 1995 ( Michel Gangn/AFP via Getty Images )
In comparison to AI, Gates says the personal computer revolution was in some ways uncontroversial. When Microsoft was founded in 1975, their idea of putting a computer in every home sounded like a pipe dream. Now theres one in every pocket. Gates helped transform the world during that period, but he says the philanthropic work hes been focused on for the past 16 years has been profounder.
If I hadnt been part of the personal computer revolution, it would have happened, he points out. Would it have happened a year later or something? Who knows? But not super delayed, whereas when it comes to malaria, malnutrition, womens contraceptives, sadly, its a strange comment on the world, I dont think even a decade later those things would necessarily have happened. Its hard to do the what if, but if you run the world with me and without me, and you subtract the two, the philanthropy is a much more significant thing in terms of making things that are equity-oriented happen dramatically sooner than they would have otherwise.
open image in gallery A protester at an anti-lockdown rally in Berlin in April 2021 holds a placard with an image of Bill Gates and the slogan: Guilty ( John MacDougall/AFP via Getty Images )
Despite what all those ghoulish online conspiracies would have you believe about Gates, his impact on global health has been hugely significant and undeniably admirable. In 2000, 10 million children under five died every year. Today, that number is down to under 4.6 million deaths each year. The work of the Gates Foundation has drastically reduced the number of people who die from preventable diseases including malaria, polio and diarrhoea, although Gates insists that hes not in it for personal acclaim. The dream is to get rid of these diseases so nobody remembers what malaria was or what polio was, he says. Thats the ultimate success.
As remarkable as Gatess achievements in global health have been, and as hopeful as we might all be that his investments can have a similarly positive impact on climate change, it does raise the question of what happens after hes gone. The Gates Foundation is mandated to wind up 20 years after his death, and I point out to him that the new generation of billionaires whove overtaken him on the Forbes list, the likes of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, seem rather less interested in spending their vast fortunes on malaria nets, polio vaccines or climate solutions.
Gates says he tries to promote philanthropy to the ultra-rich, but he acknowledges thats not a long-term fix. The big work still has to be done by government, he says. Philanthropy is not a substitute for government. Making sure everybodys educated, has food, has shelter its the government whos going to create that safety net.
Thats the funny thing about Bill Gatess optimistic view of the future: it requires taking a lot of power out of the hands of billionaires like Bill Gates.
Whats Next? The Future with Bill Gates is on Netflix from 18 September
Close Romeo Beckham pranks father David after Emmy's win
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The 2024 Emmys took place on Sunday (September 15) night, with controversial Netflix show Baby Reindeer, kitchen drama The Bear and historical Japan-set series Shogun all winning big.
The three-hour ceremony took place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The broadcast is now available to watch on Hulu.
This years event was hosted for the first time by father-son duo Eugene and Dan Levy, who co-created and starred in the hit series Schitts Creek.
Were going to keep it light and bright, Dan Levy told the Los Angeles Times, while his father added: Youre setting a tone, and its our tone. It is what it is.
Its kind of tricky when youre in the weeds, but ultimately we have to be ourselves and go with what we think is funny.
Awards presenters will included Hollywood legend and Mary Poppins star Dick Van Dyke, 97, along with Allison Janney, Martin Sheen, Matt Bomer, Lily Gladstone and Kristen Wiig.
See the winners list in full here.
Follow live updates below.
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James Marsters has revealed he sought mental health support after filming one harrowing scene for Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
The actor, 62, played the vampire Spike alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar as the titular slayer in Joss Whedons supernatural teen drama, which ran for seven seasons from 1997 to 2003.
In one episode from the penultimate series, Seeing Red, Spike tries to rape Buffy in her bathroom in a twisted attempt to prove his love for her but she is able to fight him off.
Speaking to Michael Rosenbaum on the Inside of You podcast, Marsters said: Buffy sent me into therapy, actually. Buffy crushed me.
He added: Its a problematic scene for a lot of people who like the show. And its the darkest professional day of my life.
Explaining how the distressing scene came to be, the Dragon Ball Super star said the writers were being asked to come up with their worst day and slap metaphoric fangs on it.
One of the women writers actually had come up with this idea, because in college she had gotten broken up with and she went to her exs place and thought that if they made love one more time, everything would be fixed, Marsters said.
open image in gallery Sarah Michelle Gellar and James Marsters on Buffy the Vampire Slayer' ( Shutterstock )
She kind of forced herself and he had to physically remove her from the premises, and that was one of the most painful memories of that time of her life.
Marsters had questioned how the scene would be received by fans of the show having flipped the genders of the situation around.
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They thought that since Buffy was a superhero that they could flip the sexes, since Buffy could defend herself very, very easily from this, he said.
They thought that they could have a man do it to a woman and it would be the same thing, the actor continued.
open image in gallery Joss Whedon directs Marsters on the Buffy set ( 20th Century Fox Television/Koba )
I went to them and I said, You know, guys, were providing a vicarious experience for the audience. Everyone whos watching Buffy is Buffy, and theyre not superheroes, so Im doing this to every member of the audience, and theyre going to have a very different reaction.
Marsters contractually couldnt say no to filming the scene and described the shooting day as his personal hell.
I dont like sexual predation scenes, anything that has to do with it, he explained.
I dont audition for those things. If theres a movie with that kind of material, I dont go to see the movie. If it pops up on television, Ive got to turn the television off before I break it. I have a very visceral reaction to that stuff.
open image in gallery Marsters as Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer ( Getty Images )
Marsters previously told Radio Times another reason the writers had added the rape scene into the sixth season of Buffy was because they were struggling to make audiences see Spike as a villain.
They couldnt convince the audience to stop rooting for Spike, he said. They kept having me do worse and worse things trying to get people to realise. Even Spike at one point goes, Hey guys, Im evil. Because the audience refused to do that, they finally landed on that scene.
Meanwhile, although Gellar has watched the majority of Buffy with her family, she revealed to The Hollywood Reporter last year that Seeing Red is one episode that she skips.
I have trouble with [season] six, she said. It wasnt appropriate for them at the time, and I just dont want to rewatch it.
Rape Crisis offers support for those affected by rape and sexual abuse. You can call them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk. If you are in the US, you can call Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673)
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The View hosts have criticized ABCs Dancing with the Stars for including convicted felon Anna Delvey in its new seasons lineup.
Delvey, 33, is a Russian-born German citizen who was imprisoned for four years after she was found guilty of swindling banks, hotels and individuals out of more than $200,000. She was released in 2021 before being taken into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody for violating the terms of her visa.
She was later granted house arrest, which she is still currently serving, and has since risen to international fame after Netflix released its 2022 miniseries Inventing Anna based on her life.
On the Thursday (September 8) episode of The View, Whoopi Goldberg hit out at Delveys unfair privilege.
I think back to all the families whove had family members arrested by ICE, who have gone to the courts to get their dad or their mother or their brother back, the Sister Act star said. And this woman, they gave her permission to go do this. Now, should I think theres a reason? Is there a two-tiered system here with ICE?
The con artist recently revealed that she was granted permission by ICE to participate in DWTS.
Sunny Hostin agreed: She defrauded so many people and then spent about two years in prison and then had to spend another 18 months in prison for overstaying her welcome and overstaying her visa. So she committed another crime, and what is the consequence of it? A federal bejeweled ankle monitor and a spot on a television show.
At the launch event for DWTS, Delvey shared she would be bejeweling her ankle monitor while she takes part in the series.
We have a felon running for president, why are we surprised? Sara Haines responded, referencing former president Donald Trump, who in May was found guilty of falsifying business records.
open image in gallery Whoopi Goldberg hit out at Anna Delveys participation on Dancing with the Stars ( ABC / Getty Images )
Conceding that she too liked a comeback story, Hostin questioned: But when are there consequences to peoples actions in this country?
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Joy Behar then interrupted to pitch a new spinoff series featuring Trump and other convicted politicians called Dancing with the Felons.
Alyssa Farah Griffin stepped in to add: Im here for a redemption arc, not a rehabilitation arc, and the difference is this: somebody who has owned and taken responsibility for what they did wrong.
Griffin argued that she wasnt so sure Delvey had. She still owes people money, and con artists tend to remain con artists, so I would just say if youre around her there, Id be wary of schemes she might be working.
Returning to her initial point, Goldberg said she didnt understand why Delvey gets to stay in America.
Because shes pretty! Behar said, with Goldberg replying: Well, thats a little bit of a piss-off. I like pretty people, too. But Im listening to people b**** about whats going on at the border, and I listen to all these people b**** about all these people who shouldnt be here. Well, what the hell?
Delvey will be partnered with professional dancer Ezra Sosa on season 33 of Dancing with the Stars, which debuts on Tuesday, September 17 at 8pm ET on ABC and will air weekly after that.
Close Related: Storm Yagi heads for Chinese coast after flooding roads in the Philippines
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Typhoon Yagi, the strongest storm to hit Asia this year, was downgraded to a tropical depression on Sunday after killing at least 14 in Vietnam.
The storm caused significant damage in northern Vietnam, Chinas Hainan, and the Philippines, killing dozens and injuring several more.
Although the Vietnamese meteorological agency issued the downgrade, they warned of continuing risks, including potential flooding and landslides, as the storm progresses westward.
Strong winds reaching 203 kmph caused extensive damage across northern Vietnam. Buildings were wrecked, vehicles were crushed by debris, and falling trees triggered power outages, including in the capital, Hanoi.
More than 170 people are reported injured.
The government reported that the storm has resulted in at least three deaths in Hanoi, a city of 8.5 million, though these numbers are preliminary. Overall, reports indicate that fourteen people have died in Vietnam so far, including four from a landslide in Hoa Binh province, approximately 100 km south of Hanoi.
In the Philippines, the storm left 20 dead, several more missing, and over two million affected, with landslides and widespread flooding displacing over 47,600 people from their homes.
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Storm Yagi, one of the worlds strongest storms this year, made landfall in Chinas Hainan island on Friday, drenching its southern coast.
Hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated in Hainan, schools were shut, trading was halted and flights cancelled in Hong Kong and Macau with the super typhoon bringing high winds and rain to the region, having already left a trail of devastation in the Philippines.
The storms windspeeds reached 245kmph, making Yagi the second-most powerful tropical cyclone anywhere in the world for 2024.
Follow the latest updates on Super Typhoon Yagi
The eye of storm reached the northern tip of Hainan island on Friday, weather maps showed.
It is expected to impact a large swathe of China before moving off towards Vietnam and Laos over the weekend.
Infrared image from Japans Himawari-9 satelite shows the eye of Super Typhoon Yagi over the northern tip of Hainan island as it continues to churn westward ( Himawari-9 )
Hainan had relocated 419,367 residents, transport links and businesses have been shut across the region, including the Hong Kong-Macau-Zhuhai bridge, the worlds longest sea crossing.
The storm also closed the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
The typhoons path, as charted by the Japanese Meteorological Agency, shows the storm crossing Hainan and then moving towards northern Vietnam for another landfall.
Typhoon Yagi path ( Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) )
Four airports in northern Vietnam, including Hanois Noi Bai International Airport, have been shut. Along with Vietnam, Laos and Thailand are also bracing for its impact over the weekend as the outer bands of the typhoon bring rainfall and wind gusts.
Visual from Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC) shows location of Super Typhoon Yagi moving close to Chinas Hainan province ( Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC) )
The severe tropical storm intensified into a super typhoon on Thursday morning with wind gusts exceeding 160mph, making it a Category 5 equivalent typhoon by various classifications, and a violent typhoon according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) its highest storm classification.
Rainfall forecast from AccuWeather shows Yagi is expected to bring up to 16 inches (400 mm) of rain, with some areas possibly receiving as much as 30 inches (760 mm), across southern China, Hainan Island, northern Vietnam, northern Laos, and northern Thailand between Friday and Sunday ( AccuWeather )
The storm has already claimed at least 16 lives in the Philippines, causing heavy rainfall and landslides before moving towards the west.
In the Philippines, where the storm is locally known as Enteng, the damage has been severe. Landslides, floods, and strong winds have caused widespread destruction, particularly in the northern regions.
In the tourist city of Antipolo a landslide killed three people, including a pregnant woman, while floodwaters claimed the lives of four others. The storm also caused extensive disruption to transportation, with flights cancelled and sea travel suspended, leaving thousands stranded.
BEIJING, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- China is scheduled to hold the 3rd High-Level Conference on Intellectual Property for Countries along the "Belt and Road" from Sept. 11 to 13 in Beijing, the country's top intellectual property regulator said on Wednesday.
The conference will invite heads from approximately 70 IP institutions of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner countries, as well as international and regional organizations, according to the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA).
The event will also welcome embassy representatives in China, officials from relevant domestic departments, industry professionals and scholars, with an expected attendance of around 450 participants, the CNIPA noted.
The participants will engage in in-depth discussions on regional cooperation, green development, digital transformation and IP value enhancement, senior CNIPA official Sheng Li told a press briefing.
During the three-day conference, CNIPA, the World Intellectual Property Organization and the Eurasian Patent Office will host meetings to discuss topics related to the role of IP in driving innovative development of enterprises, Sheng added.
China has actively promoted exchanges and cooperation with BRI partner countries in various areas, including IP policies, personnel training, education and examination.
It has signed IP cooperation agreements with 57 BRI partner countries. Since 2013, China has conducted over 50 training sessions, empowering more than 1,300 IP professionals from these countries.
Chinese experts have also been sent to over 10 countries and international organizations to conduct exchanges and training, supporting the IP capacity building for BRI partner countries.
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Police in Indonesia busted a baby-trafficking ring that bought newborns on Facebook and sold them to foreigners in Bali.
Police said the well-organised syndicate operated in Depok city of West Java, about 27km from capital Jakarta.
The infants were bought from parents for less than 800 on Facebook and sold to foreigners in Bali at four times the price, police said, adding the traffickers also worked on pre-orders.
Eight people have been arrested so far and are facing charges of human trafficking and child protection violations, police said. They include two sets of parents, two people who acted as scouts and buyers, an intermediary and a broker who managed the transactions.
Depok police chief Arya Perdana said the children were advertised on Facebook with prices ranging from 10m to 15m rupiah (493 to 740). The traffickers then transported the babies to the tourist hub of Bali where they were sold to foreigners for as much as 45m rupiah (2,220).
The trafficking ring was uncovered after authorities acted on a public tip-off.
Mr Perdana said they were able to halt the sale of two infants, a girl and a boy, who were intended for sale in Bali. The syndicate had already completed five such orders in Bali, he added.
They made arrangements with expectant parents before the babies were born, ensuring immediate transport to Bali right after birth, the police chief told news outlet Kompas.
So if a foreigner needed a baby, they would sell to them. Police said that a woman sold her baby for 10m rupiah after her husband refused to raise the child.
Police suspect that the syndicates illegal activities extended far beyond Bali and have expanded their investigation into other areas.
What we have discovered so far is limited to Bali, but organised international crime can occur anywhere, and the perpetrators could be from anywhere, Mr Perdana said.
According to an UN estimate, around 56 per cent of the worlds human trafficking victims are in the Asia Pacific region, with Southeast Asia and South Asia the key hubs for supplying victims.
In Indonesia, a person convicted of human trafficking can be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison and fined 600m rupiah.
Violations of the child protection law carry the same maximum prison sentence, along with a fine of 300m rupiah.
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Pope Francis brought up a topic that has rocked the American political discourse in recent months as he praised Indonesians for choosing large families over pets during the first stop of a historic four-country trip to Asia.
The 87-year-old pontiff was speaking alongside Indonesias president Joko Widodo in a hall full of politicians at capital Jakartas presidential palace on Wednesday, when he drew smiles as he reignited the long-running debate over childless pet owners.
The Vatican leader said Indonesia set an example for other countries with dwindling birth rates.
And your country ... has families with three, four or five children that keep moving forward, and this is reflected in the age levels of the country, he said during his speech.
"Keep it up, youre an example for everyone, for all the countries that maybe, and this might sound funny, (where) these families prefer to have a cat or a little dog instead of a child," he quipped. This cant go well.
When Mr Widodo, who sat beside the Catholic religious leader, chuckled, Francis turned to him and asked: Its true, isnt it?
open image in gallery Pope is taking the longest trip of his 11-year tenure at the Vatican ( AP )
In the US, JD Vance, the running mate of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, has faced a wave of negative press over past comments referring to some rival Democrats as a bunch of childless cat ladies.
The pope, who is widely viewed as a progressive pontiff, faced criticism in 2022 when he called couples who have pets instead of children selfish and a threat to humankind.
In 2023, he spoke about an incident when a woman requested him to bless her dog, calling it my baby and said he became angry. I lost my patience and scolded her, saying many children are hungry and you bring me a dog.
The issue of plunging birth rates in the West has remained a focus of his papacy and he lamented the low fertility rate in the European Union where there were 1.5 births per woman, much lower than the 2.1 rate required to sustain the population.
In May this year in Rome, he said: Homes are filled with objects and emptied of children, becoming very sad places. There is no shortage of little dogs, cats, these are not lacking. There is a lack of children.
open image in gallery Pope uses a wheelchair, has regular bouts of bronchitis and has had multiple surgeries for intestinal problems ( REUTERS )
During his 12-day tour, the pope will visit Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea and Singapore, in what would test his health during the long journey as he battles myriad health issues.
The focus of his tour would be religious tolerance between faiths, fight against interreligious violence, and climate change.
The pope is in the Muslim-majority Asian nation where Catholics make up 3 per cent of the population. But over the recent years, the country has faced the challenges of repeated instances of discrimination and violence against religious minorities.
From January 2021 to July 2024, there were at least 123 cases of intolerance, including rejection, closure or destruction of places of worship and physical attacks, Amnesty International noted on the eve of Franciss visit.
The popes first stop was the iconic Tunnel of Friendship that connects Southeast Asias largest mosque, the Istiqlal, to the Jakarta Cathedral. The pope said he was in awe of the tunnel that is serving as the bridge between two religions.
This tunnel paves the way for meetings, dialogues, as well as the real possibility of discovering and sharing the mysticism of living together, mingling and meeting and taking part in a wave that, although somewhat chaotic, can be a real experience of fraternity, Pope Francis said.
Francis appeared in good spirits despite his longest 13-hour long journey to Jakarta. At a private meeting with his fellow Jesuits, he quipped: "The police have come to take me away."
He also warned priests and nuns against greed, saying, "The devil enters through your pockets".
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Watch as Pope Francis holds Holy Mass in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Thursday 5 September.
The pontiff today invited Muslims and Catholics to push global leaders to confront the dangers of climate change and extremism, and spoke of the common roots of different religious beliefs as he visited Southeast Asias largest mosque.
In a day laden with religious symbolism on his trip to Indonesia, the worlds most populous Muslim-majority country, the pope issued a joint declaration with the national grand imam and other local faith leaders that called for decisive action.
The human exploitation of creation, our common home, has contributed to climate change, leading to various destructive consequences such as natural disasters, global warming and unpredictable weather patterns, read the declaration, formally signed by Francis and Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar.
The pope is visiting Indonesia through Friday, as part of an ambitious 12-day journey to four countries across Southeast Asia and Oceania.
Francis also spoke to an inter-religious gathering held outside the mosques main entrance, which opened with a young woman offering a plaintive singing of a passage from the Koran.
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A harrowing ordeal unfolded in Thailand after a 54-year-old woman fell into a drainage manhole.
The incident occurred on 2 September in Samut Sakhons city centre when Wiparat Yonnawa stepped on a seemingly secure concrete cover, only to see it collapse under her feet, sending her two metres below ground into waist-deep water.
Trapped for nearly half an hour, Ms Wiparats desperate situation only came to an end when a passerby spotted her and alerted her daughter and authorities.
The incident came just days after a similar tragedy in Malaysia, where an Indian tourist, Vijaya Lakshmi Gali, 48, vanished into an 8m-deep sinkhole on 23 August while walking to a temple in Kuala Lumpur. Despite a nine-day search and rescue operation , authorities were unable to locate her.
Ms Wiparats daughter told Thaiger that she was unaware of the accident till a good Samaritan rang her doorbell to alert her. She rushed to the scene and sought assistance from a hospital rescue team.
Recounting her traumatic experience, Ms Wiparat told English daily The Nation that she was out shopping and had walked over the manhole cover, which is near her home, without incident only moments before it gave way beneath her feet.
Ms Wiparat reported feeling pain, helplessness, and fear of drowning. She said that if the water level had been higher, her situation could have been worse.
Arriving at the scene, the rescuers found Ms Wiparat submerged in the wastewater, sitting in a manhole about one metre in diameter and two metres deep.
She was unable to stand or climb out on her own due to extreme fatigue and shock, reported Thaiger. One rescuer entered the manhole and positioned a chair for Wiparat to sit on. A rope was secured to the chair, allowing the rescue team to safely pull Ms Wiparat out of the pit.
People sit near a closed road after another deep sinkhole appeared a week after a woman fell into a sinkhole in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 29 August 2024 ( AP )
Ms Wiparat was taken to a local hospital for treatment of bruises and scratches. Her bruises were severe but did not result in internal bleeding, reports said.
Ms Wiparat, who was visited in hospital by the deputy mayor of Samut Sakhon, called on the citys authorities to take measures to prevent similar accidents in the future.
In an interview with The Nation, she emphasised the potential severity of such incidents. "If a child had fallen in, they may not have survived. Proper signs or barriers should be put in place if there is any work being done that may pose a danger to the public."
Sakchai Nimitpanya, the deputy mayor, suspected that municipal officials failed to secure the manhole cover properly after inspection or left it open for garbage removal. Municipal staff had been tasked with inspecting drainage manholes in preparation for high tide in the province, located along the Gulf of Thailand coast.
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Government reforms of the water sector will unlock the biggest private sector investment in its history, Environment Secretary Steve Reed has said.
The Cabinet minister addressed industry representatives, academics, investors and environmental groups about the newly-announced Water (Special Measures) Bill at the Thames Rowing Club in Putney, west London, on Thursday.
The legislation comes as Labours first major step towards delivering on its manifesto pledges to reset the broken water system.
Under the proposed laws, industry watchdog Ofwat and the Environment Agency will be handed new powers to take tougher action against water firms which damage the environment and fail customers, such as banning bonuses and creating jail terms of up to two years for executives who obstruct investigations.
Firmer action should have been taken over the last 14 years to ensure money was spent on fixing the water and sewage system and not siphoned off for bonuses and dividend payments Environment Secretary Steve Reed
Years of under-investment by the privately-run firms, combined with ageing water infrastructure, a growing population and more extreme weather caused by climate change, have seen the quality of Englands rivers, lakes and oceans plummet in recent years.
Some water utilities are also creaking under high levels of debt or face criticism over dividends to shareholders and executive bonuses while sewage spills pollute Englands waterways.
Mr Reed said the reforms ultimately aim to primarily clean up rivers, lakes and seas but also to shore up future drinking water supplies in England, which are forecast to be outstripped by demand by the mid-2030s.
Opening his speech, Mr Reed blamed the former Conservative government for failing to upgrade infrastructure as well as the inevitable increases in water bills that are to come.
Firmer action should have been taken over the last 14 years to ensure money was spent on fixing the water and sewage system and not siphoned off for bonuses and dividend payments, he said.
I am angry that over a decade of Conservative failure means customers will now have to pay higher bills to fix the system. This did not need to happen.
Mr Reed went on to call the new Bill a down-payment on the wider reforms that are needed after years of failure and environmental damage.
It will unlock the biggest ever investment in our water sector and the second biggest private sector investment into any part of the economy for the entirety of this Parliament, he said.
Outlining how the money will be spent, he said it will help to build nine new reservoirs, multiple large-scale water transfer schemes, nearly 5,000 miles (8,000km) of water main pipes and upgrades to 2,500 storm overflows.
However, tightened regulations and tougher penalties have already raised questions about how the sector will attract the levels of investment and talent needed to achieve this major reset.
Challenged by reporters, Mr Reed said the Government will launch a review and consultation on how the entire sector works, which will ultimately shape future legislation and establish the long-term framework for reforms, including pollution targets and plans for attracting private investment.
The Environment Secretary did not give a timetable for when the review will be carried out or published, saying details will be announced in autumn.
Pressed on when the public might see results on water pollution and if the Government has a target yet, he said: What were doing now is working with the entire sector to develop a long-term plan that will have milestones in it to show how much sewage will be reduced by which point, ending at the point where weve eliminated pollution.
During his speech, Mr Reed also ruled out any future nationalisation of water firms under the Labour Government.
He said: Nationalisation, which some will advocate, would cost billions of pounds and take years to unpick the current ownership model, leaving sewage pollution in the meantime to get worse and halt the much-needed investment.
I am more interested in a model that works.
Ofwat is currently negotiating with water companies on the level of private investment they will make from April next year, and how much water bills will need to rise, with the final determination in December.
On the regulators initial proposals that firms should invest 88 million, Mr Reed said: It may vary from that but it will be of that order.
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In December, Drew, a 36-year-old man from San Antonio, Texas, drove more than 250 miles (400 km) to Mexico to buy cheap Ozempic to help him lose weight. Going home, he checked the pens. They looked unusual, so he shared photos on social media. The verdict: They were fakes.
Three people on Reddit said Drews product looked like insulin. If so, it would be dangerous to use, said one. A surge of insulin can cause a sharp drop in blood sugar that can lead to dizziness, seizures and death.
The incident sheds light on a wider problem in the manufacturing of highly sought-after drugs, one that lets criminal organisations circulate potentially lethal fakes: forged drug batch numbers.
Pharmaceutical companies, including Ozempic-maker Novo Nordisk, authenticate batches of drugs with combinations of letters and numbers printed on the packaging, which are then used to track the product in a given country.
The fake pens Drew bought carried the batch, or lot, number MP5B060 to make them look authentic. To Novo, that represented a shipment of the diabetes drugs destined for Egypt.
The fact Drew bought them in Mexico showed something was wrong although as a consumer, he did not realize that.
A suspected fake Ozempic pen, featuring the batch number MP5B060 on its label above the branding, that was bought in Nuevo Progreso, Mexico ( via REUTERS )
The flaw, which is rooted in an effort to ensure the drugs are traceable and safe, is exacerbated by patchy regulation by health authorities globally.
By the time Drew made his purchase, fakes with batch number MP5B060 had turned up in at least 10 countries from Azerbaijan to North Macedonia, according to a Reuters review of drug regulator announcements and documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.
The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a warning in July 2023 about products with batch number MP5B060 and Interpol also warned last year that insulin pens were being relabeled and repackaged to look like Ozempic. Some countries banned products with the number. Others did not.
Mexicos drug regulator did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
In at least four countries, the fakes have resulted in hospitalizations.
In the U.S., Nigeria and Iraq, the fake Ozempic shots looked like insulin pens, according to Reuters review of the documents and regulator announcements. In Iraq, a man fell into a coma after his blood sugar dropped to half normal levels after using one, before later recovering, Reuters found.
How to find and check an Ozempic batch number What to check Explosive demand and high prices for Novo Nordisk and Eli Lillys weight loss and diabetes drugs have fueled a criminal effort to package autoinjector pens containing other substances, such as insulin, with branding and batch numbers that make them look like Novos Ozempic. If patients suspect they have bought a fake version of Ozempic or another drug, they can search the internet for the associated batch number to see if the World Health Organization or any national health authorities have flagged it. Patients can typically find these batch, or lot, numbers on both legitimate and fake versions of Ozempic or other similar pen-based drugs like Novos Wegovy in two places: on the outside of the box it is packaged in and on the label of the autoinjector itself. Novo and Lilly have also published guides to help patients identify suspected fake versions of their drugs in other ways and report them. The WHO this year flagged three batch numbers - LP6F832, NAR0074 and MP5E511 - that have been linked to fake Ozempic in Brazil, the U.S. and Austria respectively, a Reuters review of documents and regulator announcement shows. The organization sent an alert to health regulators in July 2023 flagging MP5B060 - which has been found on fake Ozempic pens in at least 10 countries - as well as MP5A370 and MP5D600, which have both been found in Guatemala, according to an announcement from the countrys health regulator.
Criminals can get hold of batch numbers through a corrupt connection at a drugmakers manufacturing facility, or just by buying the drug and using scanning technology to copy the packaging, inserts and so on, Sam Louis, a former U.S. Department of Justice lawyer focused on healthcare fraud matters, told Reuters.
With at least 890 million people suffering from obesity globally, according to the WHO, demand is huge. The active ingredient in Ozempic, called semaglutide, leads to an average weight loss of 15%. Its part of a class of drugs that reduce food cravings and cause the stomach to empty more slowly.
Novos franchise for Ozempic and Wegovy, a weight-loss version of semaglutide, brought in nearly $19 billion in net sales last year. It said it is working with authorities in several countries to tackle counterfeits of both.
Novos head of global product security, Anne Devaud, told Reuters the company potentially has identified one source in connection with the batch number on the counterfeit that Drew bought, which it also suspects of distributing fake versions of other companies injectable drugs.
The company declined to provide more details.
The wide recurrence of the same batch number suggests a global counterfeiting operation could be to blame, five anti-counterfeiting experts and a WHO official said.
Boxes of Wegovy made by Novo Nordisk are seen at a pharmacy in London, ( REUTERS )
Our experience is that when you have the same batches and labeling, it is most likely the same people or maybe several smaller distributors that have purchased from one big source, said Rutendo Kuwana, the WHO team lead for incidents with substandard and falsified medicines.
Bootlegged batch numbers and repackaged insulin are just part of the picture: criminals can divert or steal drugs from hospitals or other healthcare systems before adding fake labels and packaging, or they can simply put any liquid in a vial or stamp out pills and place them in counterfeit packaging, a Novo spokesperson said.
All these different potential origins, often via organized criminal networks involving multiple jurisdictions, represent serious challenges for those involved in fighting these crimes, the spokesperson said.
Even so, at least 18 different batch numbers have been found on fake Ozempic pens in 14 countries since the start of last year, adverse event reports and health regulator announcements show.
The solution is not simple. A legitimate Ozempic batch contains 280,000 pens; some countries ban all products carrying a batch number after finding fakes that carry it. Others do not, saying that to withdraw a whole batch on account of a few fakes could exacerbate shortages.
Jared Davis, a former U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Homeland Security agent who is now a consultant on counterfeiting issues at law firm Oberheiden, said it is difficult for government agencies to stop the spread of fakes when demand is so high.
Most countries arent going to pull the entire line and get rid of it because an organization or a few folks decided that theyre going to run a counterfeit scheme and target that particular batch number, said Davis.
Pens for the diabetes drug Ozempic sit on a production line at Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisks site in Hillerod, Denmark ( REUTERS )
Fake Ozempic adds to a glut of counterfeit pharmaceuticals that kill around a million people each year, according to the WHO. A September 2023 report from the U.S. CDC said use of suspected fake pills, including painkiller Oxycontin, led to nearly 55,000 deaths in the U.S. alone in 2021.
Overall, Ozempic faked in a variety of ways has been found in nearly 30 countries, Reuters found. Fakes have been linked to more than two dozen cases of serious harm globally, and to two deaths in the United States.
Ozempic can cost more than $1,000 in the U.S. for a multi-dose pen that lasts a month. Drew said he had heard the drug could be bought for less in the Mexican border town of Nuevo Progreso.
I called ahead and asked a few pharmacies first if they had it, and they said yes, telling me prices of like $200 a pen. So I was like, oh, this is going to be great, he told Reuters.
I went down there, and most of the pharmacies actually had a much higher price, and the one I found was the lowest, he said, adding that the store he went to doubled as a restaurant. Drew paid around $350 per pen.
Bringing drugs into the United States across the border is a criminal offense. Drew, who asked to be identified by his first name only, said he did not use the pens, report the purchase to the authorities, or hand the product in for testing.
He said he couldnt remember the name of the store where he bought them and after initially speaking to Reuters, deleted his original social media post.
Rebadging insulin to look like Ozempic is lucrative. Like some types of insulin, Ozempic comes in a blue, prepackaged autoinjector. Insulin can be bought for as little as $8.81 per unit outside the U.S., according to a report from the RAND Corporation on the global cost of the drug.
When Drew opened the boxes he bought, the autoinjectors had Ozempic labels, but were thinner and a darker blue than pens he had seen before, his photos show.
An insulin product manufactured by French drugmaker Sanofi , branded Apidra Solostar, comes in a prepackaged blue autoinjector with a clipped lid similar to Ozempic.
A Sanofi spokesperson said the company was aware of illegally mislabeled Apidra pens being passed off as Ozempic, and has been working with partners to protect patients, but declined to comment on whether the company has since tried to distinguish its product from Novos.
Novo, asked if it would make Ozempic pens more distinctive, said it was unlikely that any one change would prevent fakes because counterfeiters can adjust nimbly.
Ozempic ( Alamy/PA )
Azerbaijan first flagged it had found fakes using batch number MP5B060 in December 2022.
The WHOs warning came after three more people suffered severe low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, after using fake Ozempic pens with the same Egyptian batch number: a woman in Britain who got her autoinjector at a beauty salon, a man in Serbia who bought his in the United Arab Emirates, and a woman in Lebanon, according to separate reports sent by Novo Nordisk to the FDA that were reviewed by Reuters.
In the U.S., a 39 year-old woman suffered severe hypoglycemia and was rushed to the emergency room after taking what she thought was Ozempic with that batch number, a U.S. FDA document shows. The report said her outcome was not known.
Some countries, including Poland and Ukraine, said they have banned the importation and sale of drugs marked with bootlegged batch numbers identified by international agencies. But regulators in Britain, Finland, Ireland and Sweden told Reuters they had not.
Irelands health ministry said it found no fakes under batch numbers flagged by the European Union, so simply alerted wholesalers and others to be vigilant when buying Ozempic. It said it had other controls in place to block falsified packs, including scanning barcodes printed on them.
Britains health regulator said in response to a FOIA request in May that it had opted to focus on visual differences between the pens, such as differences in color and construction, rather than banning batch numbers. Asked why, it said in July that banning batch numbers risked causing shortages of legitimate medicines.
Britain and Irelands regulators did not comment on the possibility that not banning batch numbers might help them circulate.
A handout photo of a box of Novo Nordisk's diabetes drug Ozempic is displayed with its LOT number or batch number ( via REUTERS )
Reported counterfeits of Ozempic have been more common than those of Eli Lillys Mounjaro, a newer rival. But these too are on the rise.
A U.S. FDA report seen by Reuters said a 61-year-old woman in the U.S. had been hospitalized for severe stomach pain and seizure after vomiting 70 times over four hours last January, having taken a fake version of Mounjaro sold to her in a vial by a health consultant, who was not named. As of early May, she was partly recovered, the report said.
Lilly said the proliferation of counterfeit and unsafe or untested versions of its drug is a significant safety concern; steps it has taken include a tool to help people determine if they have a genuine Lilly product.
But it called on the authorities to take more action against those who circulate knockoffs.
Sophisticated global counterfeiting operations can make massive profits from such fakes and often find ways to evade detection, said U.S. Homeland Security special agent Rana Saoud. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. government agency responsible for public health research, has said the counterfeit drug trade as a whole could be worth as much as $431 billion annually, citing analysts.
Identifying leaders of such a supply chain is a challenge. A New York woman, Isis Navarro Reyes, was in May charged with smuggling fake versions of Ozempic and other weight loss drugs into the U.S., then using TikTok to help sell the products. Reyes could not be reached for comment.
Until we get specifics...were not going to know if its a lone actor or part of a criminal organization, said Homelands Saoud. But generally speaking, its an organization looking to profit.
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Xian Zhang was hired Thursday as music director of the Seattle Symphony, becoming the first woman conductor to head a major West Coast orchestra and filling a post that had been vacant since Thomas Dausgaard quit abruptly in January 2022.
Zhang agreed to a five-year contract starting in 2025-26, the orchestra said Thursday. She becomes music director designate this season.
She first conducted the orchestra at Seattle's Benaroya Hall in June 2008 in Prokofievs Alexander Nevsky and has returned several times, including for performances of Orffs Carmina Burana in 2023 and Coplands Appalachian Spring this April.
With each visit, I realized the depth and the understanding of the music from the musicians, she said. It felt in a way musically speaking that were really on the same page and speaking the same language.
Zhang has been music director of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra since 2016-17 and won a 2023 Grammy Award for a recording with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the string trio Time for Three of works by Jennifer Higdon and Kevin Puts.
Seattle Symphony President Krishna Thiagarajan said he was impressed by the energy and the connection between her and the orchestra that also translated to the audience.
She brings a new perspective to anything that she conducts while being truthful to traditional interpretations of what we would call core repertoire, he said. She has a great sense of contemporary American composers, especially contemporary American composers that have an ethnic background, of immigrant composers. Shes been a champion for the causes of women in music over her career.
Following lengthy music director tenures of Gerard Schwarz (1985-2011) and Ludovic Morlot (2011-19), Dausgaard was hired in October 2017 to start a four-year contract in 2019-20. After Dausgaard quit with 1 1/2 seasons remaining in his contract, he told Danish National Radios P2 ,I have felt threatened and I havent felt safe with going to work and told The New York Times I felt my life is too precious to be in such tension. Orchestra officials denied any impropriety.
Jon Rosen, the lawyer who has chaired the orchestras board since August 2021, said Dausgaards messy departure certainly was at least a subliminal consideration in the search for a successor.
We all wanted to have someone who was going to be very congenial, be able to relate to the musicians, he said. I certainly wanted to learn from the experience with Thomas.
Born in China, Zhang started playing piano at 3, went to Beijings Central Conservatory of Music and was invited by a teacher to step in to conduct Mozarts Le Nozze di Figaro at 19 with the China National Opera Orchestra.
She attended the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, won the Maazel/Vilar International Conductors Competition in 2002 and was hired as the New York Philharmonics assistant conductor and later associate. Zhang became music director of the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra from 2005-07 and the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi from 2009-16.
Seattle had 176 scheduled concerts and 6,583 subscribers last season when it sold 69.65% of tickets, exceeding its 58.94% in the 2018-19 season before the pandemic. Revenue last season is estimated at $31.6 million, including $11.9 million from tickets.
Zhang is committed to up to 14 weeks annually with Seattle and eight with New Jersey, where she lives. Her 2024-25 season includes performances with the Metropolitan Opera, Boston Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Montreal Symphony Orchestra and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Zhang returns to the Seattle Symphony for programs in March and June.
She was in Brazil in June to conduct the Sao Paulo State Symphony Orchestra when Alexander Monsey, her agent at IMG Artists, called to say the Seattle Symphony had offered her the job.
I was kind of surprised, she said. I was completely not prepared to hear such good news.
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Cambodias leader on Thursday condemned international human rights groups for criticizing the arrest of nearly 100 people for protesting against a decades-old regional development agreement with neighboring countries.
London-based Amnesty International and New York-based Human Rights Watch issued a joint statement of concern last week over what they called the arbitrary arrests since late July of at least 94 people for publicly criticizing the agreement that the Cambodian government signed with neighboring Laos and Vietnam.
At least 59 of those arrested, which include environmental, human rights and other activists, remain unlawfully detained and charged for peacefully expressing their views, including several children, said the statement.
These wrongful detentions and charges show Prime Minister Hun Manets disrespect for the rights of Cambodians and the countrys international human rights obligations," the statement quoted Bryony Lau, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, saying.
Hun Manet, speaking at a ceremony for law school graduates, defended the crackdown, saying the authorities must protect the social order and security for the sake of all Cambodians, and accused the protesters of seeking to overthrow his government.
The Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area or CLV-DTA agreement is a development plan intended to facilitate cooperation on trade and migration in four northeastern provinces of Cambodia and border areas in Laos and Vietnam. It was signed in 1999 and formalized in 2004.
Critics on social media have focused on land concessions, charging that the pact privileges foreign interests, and particularly that it would cede land and sovereignty to Vietnam, a highly sensitive issue because of Cambodia's historical antagonism toward its larger eastern neighbor.
Some opposition politicians have in the past used inflammatory anti-Vietnamese rhetoric, but the government also prosecutes politicians and others who are merely critical of its policies toward Vietnam.
Debate over the agreement was revived on social media in July, especially among Cambodians living abroad, where the political opposition is popular. Expatriate Cambodians held protests in Japan, South Korea, France, Australia and the U.S., urging the government to withdraw the agreement.
Opponents of the pact established a group on the Telegram social platform, urging Cambodians to rally in the capital, Phnom Penh, on Aug. 18.
That triggered a massive crackdown with arrests and the deployment of thousands of security personnel, especially in Phnom Penh.
Local human rights groups alleged that government officials across the country were putting land rights and civil society activists under surveillance, including ordering several not to travel outside of their communities and threatening their family members, said the statement from the human rights groups. The authorities have also imposed roadblocks on highways entering Phnom Penh, and have been arbitrarily searching vans and taxis entering the capital.
Hun Manet said Thursday he had seen the statement but did not mention the groups by name.
I say that you should see the facts clearly because there is a lot of evidence to charge them (the protesters). Before Aug. 18, they gathered and bought weapons in, aiming to burn down buildings and intending to overthrow the government, he said.
He accused the rights groups of glossing over the illegality of the protesters' activities.
You are silent, but when the authorities enforce the law, you say it is a violation of human rights. Hun Manet said.
Hun Manet said that 66 people were arrested for involvement in organizing the planned Aug. 18 protest in Phnom Penh, but 57 were released after questioning and only nine masterminds have been sent to court and formally charged.
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Pupils from some ethnic minority backgrounds are up to four times as likely to get kicked out of mainstream schools as exclusion rates surge, a new study suggests.
Black Caribbean students and pupils of dual Black and white heritage are twice as likely to be moved to an alternative provision such as Pupil Referal Units (PRUs), while Romani/Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller are four times as likely to experience these outcomes.
The new research, by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and education charity The Difference, has prompted campaigners to warn racism and teacher bias may be behind racial disparities in exclusion figues.
Suspensions and exclusions across all schools and all year groups in England increased by almost a quarter last year compared to the previous year.
Efua Poku-Amanfo, IPPR research fellow, said: Lost learning is contributing to racial injustice as children from some ethnic minority backgrounds (Black Caribbean and Romani (Gypsy) Roma, and Irish Traveller) are disproportionately being excluded.
Many of these students have expressed that they experience racism at school which can impact their feelings of safety and belonging.
As a result, these young people are more likely to be placed in alternative provision (AP) away from mainstream schools and at higher risk of poor attainment and youth violence.
( IPPR and the Difference )
Citing research by Jahnine Davis, a leading UK expert in adultification bias in child protection and safeguarding, the study argues that an underestimation of racism experienced by ethnic minority children outside and within school, combined with this bias, partly explains how their vulnerability may go under-recognised.
Consequently, behaviour stemming from these vulnerabilities may be read as purely disruptive and maliciously-motivated and met with sanctions rather than investigation.
Wider research suggests that teachers perceptions of who is a good learner in classrooms are shaped by gender, race and class, which in turn shapes which pupils are perceived to be less able to learn.
This comes as the rate of Black Caribbean girls being kicked out of schools has tripled within the past year.
Campaigners have faced backlash after saying exclusions should also be abolished in cases of sexual assault ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )
The report also warned many widely used estimations of exclusions and absences have failed to capture the full picture of children losing learning nationally, finding that the most vulnerable children are most likely to miss out on their education.
Poorer children, children known to social services, those with school-identified special educational needs (SEN) and/or mental health issues, as well as children from ethnic minority backgrounds, disproportionately experience missed learning.
Some 90 per cent of excluded pupils do not achieve a pass in GCSE Maths or English, while over half of children not entered for maths and English GCSEs in alternative provision schools while fewer than five per cent gain a standard pass.
A Department for Education spokesperson said: The rising number of school suspensions and permanent exclusions are shocking, and show the massive scale of disruptive behaviour that has developed in schools across the country in recent years, harming the life chances of children.
We are determined to get to grips with the causes of poor behaviour: weve already committed to providing access to specialist mental health professionals in every school, introducing free breakfast clubs in every primary school, and ensuring earlier intervention in mainstream schools for pupils with special needs.
But we know poor behaviour can also be rooted in wider issues, which is why the Government is developing an ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty led by a task force co-chaired by the Education Secretary so that we can break down the barriers to opportunity.
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United Nations officials on Wednesday hailed limited pauses in the fighting between Israel and Hamas to allow children's polio vaccinations as rare moments of hope in the nearly yearlong war in Gaza.
Top U.N. officials on peacebuilding and humanitarian affairs spoke at a meeting requested by Israel, which was backed by its allies, veto-holding permanent council members France, Great Britain and the United States. Israel's ambassador on Wednesday focused on the hostages taken during Hamas Oct. 7 attacks on Israel that launched the war and the recent killing of six captives.
Algeria, which sits on the 15-member council until next year, also requested that the U.N. body meet to discuss the broader situation in the Palestinian territories.
Both Rosemary DiCarlo, U.N. undersecretary-general for political and peacebuilding affairs, and Edem Wosornu, director of the Operations and Advocacy Division at the U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, spoke about the polio-inspired pauses in fighting as rare rays of hope, as did the representatives of France, Britain, the U.S. and other nations.
It does not have to be this way. Indeed, over the past few days, there have been signs that humanitarian objectives can inspire positive steps, Wosornu told the council.
This vaccination campaign demonstrates that it is possible to allow humanitarian actors to act on the ground, French Ambassador to the U.N. Nicolas de Riviere told the council. That must become the rule.
The U.N. World Health Organization says 187,000 children in Gaza have been vaccinated for polio, with an eventual goal of 640,000. WHO and its partners launched the campaign this week after Gaza recently reported its first polio case in 25 years a 10-month-old boy, now paralyzed in a leg.
Israel has said the vaccination program will continue through Monday and last eight hours a day.
Health officials expressed alarm about diseases spreading in the besieged territory as the war has created a humanitarian catastrophe, with people crammed into squalid tent camps and dirty wastewater flowing through the streets.
Ambassador Samuel Zbogar of Slovenia, which is president of the Security Council for September, told reporters on Tuesday that there is a rising anxiousness in the council about the lack of a cease-fire and hostage release deal to halt the violence.
The Security Council approved a resolution in June endorsing a cease-fire plan aimed at ending the war, with Russia abstaining.
It has to move, one way or the other, Zbogar said about fulfilling the deal or finding other options.
The Oct. 7 Hamas attacks killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took about 250 people hostage. The Israeli militarys retaliation has killed over 40,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count.
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TV star and barrister Robert Rinder has joined the chorus of people expressing concerns about the trial of convicted child killer Lucy Letby.
The NHS neonatal nurse is currently serving 15 whole-life sentences for seven murders and seven attempted murders of babies while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
Despite her numerous convictions following a year-long trial at Manchester Crown Court in 2023, a growing number of public figures have begun to raise questions over aspects of the evidence used to convict the 34-year-old.
The Guardian reported this week that notes by Letby, in which she appeared to confess to the crimes, were penned after she was told by her GP and her hospitals head of occupational health and wellbeing to write down her feelings.
Novara Medias Ash Sarker wrote on X: Im not going to sit here and pretend to be an expert in complex criminal cases. But I think that if it had been me sitting on the jury, Id consider this the very definition of reasonable doubt.
Judge Rinder responded: I am an expert in complex criminal cases and - from the information now in the public domain - there appears to be a great deal to be concerned about in this case.
Earlier this week, former cabinet minister Sir David Davis said he believes it is highly probable serial killer nurse Lucy Letby is innocent.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Monday (2 September), the former Brexit secretary said he believes there is more than reasonable doubt over Letbys conviction.
Barrister and TV judge Robert Rinder says there is a great deal to be concerned about in this case ( PA Archive )
Sir David told presenters Susanna Reid and Ed Balls that several senior doctors have been in touch with him and sent alternative diagnoses for each of the deaths for which Letby was found guilty.
He said other deaths that had occurred in the unit when Letby was not on shift were not called into question.
Letbys original 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. Last month, the 34-year-old was also found guilty on that count.
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.
Letby is led away by officers ( Cheshire Constabulary/PA Wire )
The Guardian reported that Letby scribbled notes such as I am evil I did this following advice by her GP and hospital bosses to cope with her feelings of extreme stress.
Evidence was presented at the initial trial of her morbid fascination with her crimes: searching the victims families on Facebook, hoarding confidential documents about the cases at home and revealing her own thoughts in dense, scrawled notes which included the apparent confession.
She also wrote on a Post-it note found in her house: I killed them on purpose because I am not good enough to care for them and I am a horrible evil person.
Hate was also written in block capitals with heavy ink and circled, while the note is headed: Not good enough.
But sources close to the case told the paper that Kathryn de Berger, head of occupational health and wellbeing at the hospital where she worked, had encouraged Letby to write down her feelings as a way of coping with extreme stress. The sources also said Letbys Chester GP advised her to write down the thoughts she was struggling to process.
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A former Major General who carried Prince Philips coffin has avoided an immediate prison term after he drunkenly touched and tried to kiss a woman in a karaoke bar.
James Roddis admitted repeatedly playing with the hair before kissing a woman on her lips without consent while leading an overseas military delegation.
He had originally been charged with sexual assault, but at a plea hearing earlier this year he pleaded guilty to disgraceful conduct of an indecent kind, a lesser charge accepted by the complainant.
At a court martial in Bulford, Wiltshire on Thursday, Roddis, who resigned from the Army in July, was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for two years.
Graham Coombes, prosecuting, said the married father of three had been drinking with the delegation off duty before moving on to a restaurant and finally a karaoke bar where they downed glasses of champagne.
The complainant accepts she was drunk, and it became apparent the accused was also drunk, Mr Coombes said.
Shortly after midnight, a member of the party was filming the filling of a champagne fountain and in the background Roddis can be seen touching the complainants hair and she indicates with her finger for him to stop.
The court heard the kiss was not captured on film but the lead up to it was.
Mr Coombes told the court the woman later messaged her husband, telling him: Just because you are a two-star general you dont get to touch me.
The following day, the woman asked to speak to Roddis in private on the flight home and told him his behaviour the previous evening was unacceptable.
The accused apologised and replied, I need to resign, Mr Coombes said.
The court heard Roddis had a distinguished military career lasting 29 years and had been made an MBE and awarded several medals.
Jane Bickerstaff KC, defending, said Roddis had recently been diagnosed with alcohol dependency.
He has been through a formal disciplinary process and his commission has been revoked, she said.
He is not allowed to refer to himself as having been a major general in the Army.
This conduct taking place over a few minutes has resulted in the loss of a career that he spent 30 years building a distinguished career in which he has received a number of citations.
You will appreciate that he has lost not only his career but the future potential prospects of that career.
When one appreciates, as James Roddis does, that one only has ones self to blame, it is a bitter pill to swallow.
Miss Bickerstaff said other people present in the bar heard Roddis apologise immediately to the woman after kissing her and said he was sorry for misreading the situation.
He was unaware she wanted him to stop and there was no request until the point of the kiss and when he tried to kiss her and got nothing back he immediately realised it was not wanted and he apologised, she said.
He has never suggested she was consenting and as soon as she realised she wasnt, he stopped.
The complainant cannot be identified due to a court order.
Roddis received a number of accolades during his military career, including a Distinguished Service Order an award given for highly successful command and leadership during active operations.
He was made an MBE and also earned two Queens Commendations for Valuable Service in 2008 and 2017.
Until recently, he was director of strategy for Strategic Command an organisation made up of special forces and intelligence units among other responsibilities.
In 2014, he was commanding officer of The Highlanders troops from the 4th Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland who were then the last Scottish battalion to serve in a combat role in Afghanistan.
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Grieving relatives of Grenfell fire victims are calling for those responsible to face manslaughter charges as pressure builds on police to speed up their investigation.
Families and survivors expressed anguish that prosecutions might not be brought until 2026 despite this weeks damning inquiry report into the disaster which killed 72 residents and left 800 more homeless.
The wait could be even longer, warned a former director of public prosecutions on Thursday night. Lord Macdonald said criminal trials may not begin until the 2029 due to the pressure on the criminal justice system.
Some families now fear they may not live to see justice for their loved ones over the 2017 blaze.
Shah Aghlani, 55, who lost his aunt and disabled mother in the fire, told The Independent that the prospect of further delay to criminal prosecutions is our worst fear coming true, our nightmare coming true.
And he said the lack of accountability over Grenfell has emboldened developers to drag their feet in fixing thousands of buildings still endangered by flammable cladding seven years on, labelling a fire that ravaged a block of flats in London last week as Grenfell Two.
There are harsher laws for drinking and driving than killing people by corporate manslaughter, said Mr Aghlani. There are people who falsified test results, people whose job was to make sure the safety and security of the building was not compromised. People who were responsible for their tenants.
Seventy-two people were killed in the Grenfell fire ( Getty )
There is a chain of these failures that has to be addressed its not difficult to find them.
At an event organised by Grenfell Next of Kin, a campaign group supporting around half of those whose loved ones died, Mr Aghlani said only manslaughter charges would bring justice, nothing less.
Hisam Choucair, whose mother, sister, brother-in-law and three nieces died at Grenfell, told The Independent he was absolutely disgusted but not surprised at the prospect of years more waiting even though the inquiry was ordered by then-PM Theresa May while rescuers were still searching for survivors.
We have been robbed of our justice and under no circumstances moving forward in a tragedy should this be allowed to happen again where you have a criminal investigation running parallel to an inquiry, he said.
Because its clearly clashed and we will not get justice because of the governments decision to open an inquiry without our consultation.
Shah Aghlani was among relatives of Grenfell victims who said those responsible must face manslaughter charges ( Peter Summers/Getty )
Campaigners cited the Metropolitan Police as telling them at a previous meeting that they have never known a public inquiry to be conducted at the same time as a criminal investigation, with such inquiries normally taking place once criminal proceedings have concluded.
In May, Scotland Yard said its investigation had generated 27,000 lines of inquiry and more than 12,000 witness statements, making it one of the largest ever undertaken. A total of 19 companies and organisations were under investigation, along with 58 individuals, with more than 300 hours of interviews conducted.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said the force understood the impact of the ongoing criminal investigation on families and their expectations for justice to be served.
We have taken note of all of the evidence presented to the inquiry but our investigation is conducted independently and to a different legal framework, he said in a statement on Thursday. We estimate it will take us 12-18 months before we are able to provide comprehensive charge files to the Crown Prosecution Service.
If there is anything we can do to shorten the investigation timescale then we will do so, but this will not be at the expense of a thorough investigation. We have one chance to get this right. To secure justice ... we must present the best possible evidence to the CPS.
Hisam Choucair lost six family members in the tragedy ( Aaron Chown/PA )
A growing number of MPs called for greater speed on Thursday. Waiting until 2026 for charges when families have already endured seven years is simply not good enough, said Labours former shadow building safety minister Mike Amesbury.
The state and its institutions all too often fail working-class people. To rebuild trust, it is vital to expediate investigations and prosecutions to provide justice for Grenfell victims and families.
Diane Abbott said: It must be possible to stage a police investigation more quickly than that. This ridiculous slowness to act and dismissive attitude to marginalised communities is why the Grenfell tragedy happened in the first place.
Former Tory justice secretary Alex Chalk told LBC: People, quite rightly want to see collars felt and people gripping the rail at Southwark Crown Court I cant see now why theres any reason for delay.
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey told The Independent: The very least we can do to honour everyone who lost their lives is to swiftly bring those responsible for any criminality to justice. This must be an urgent priority for both the government and law enforcement.
Some of the victims of the Grenfell fire ( PA Wire )
Now that the inquiry has finally concluded, the police, prosecutors and courts must be given all the resources they need to deliver justice.
Labour MP Joe Powell, whose constituency includes the ruins of Grenfell, added: With no arrests, no charges, and not a single individual or corporation held accountable for this entirely preventable atrocity, its now time for the government and police to ensure that criminal prosecutions take place as soon as possible.
However, Lord Macdonald warned that even if charges are brought forward, delays in the criminal justice system could mean trials not beginning before 2029. Unless processes are massively expedited, justice is a very long way away, he said, reported The Guardian.
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner vowed on Thursday that ministers will do everything we can to support the Met Police and the CPS to ensure that they can bring their findings and take their action forward as quickly as possible.
But she had no definitive timeline for when all homes with dangerous cladding will be made safe. Some developers have said that could take until 2032; in June, 4,630 residential buildings in England still carried unsafe cladding.
Grenfell survivor Francis Dean during a press conference ( Yui Mok/PA )
Francis Dean, who was forced to say goodbye to his friend Zainab Deen over the phone during the harrowing fire, urged the government to do more to ensure such a tragedy never happens again.
Dont put money in front of peoples lives, put life in front of money, he told The Independent. No matter how much it would cost to bring down all this unsafe cladding, at least its not causing death untimely death.
He added: Am I going to be alive when we do get justice? Because we are going to fight for it. The younger generations that are coming up are even more desperate than us to have justice because they were young when this happened and its seven years on. Theyre the ones who will probably see justice.
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Survivors whose loved ones were among the 72 people killed in the Grenfell Tower fire seven years ago have demanded nothing less than than manslaughter charges over the tragedy.
The long-awaited final report of the inquiry ordered by Theresa May just hours after the fire on 14 June 2017 was finally published on Wednesday, condemning decades of institutional failures that led to the Kensington tower block and thousands of others being covered in dangerously flammable cladding.
But those whose loved ones were killed in what was the worst residential blaze since the Blitz have expressed anger that the inquiry appears to have delayed their fight for justice, with police and prosecutors warning that decisions on criminal charges will not be made until the end of 2026.
Sir Keir Starmer said on Wednesday that Grenfell survivors have been let down very badly ( PA Wire )
We have been robbed of our justice, and under no circumstances moving forward in a tragedy should this be allowed to happen again where you have a criminal investigation running parallel to an inquiry, said Hisam Choucair, whose sister, brother-in-law, mother and three nieces died in the Grenfell fire.
At an event on Wednesday organised by Grenfell Next of Kin a campaign group supporting around half of those whose loved ones died in the tragedy survivors repeatedly insisted that those responsible for the tragedy must face charges no less severe than manslaughter.
Members of a support group for the next of kin and families of some the 72 people killed in the Grenfell Tower fire (Yi Mok/PA) ( PA Wire )
Shah Aghlani, aged 55, who lost his aunt and disabled mother in the fire, said: To me, its a manslaughter charge and nothing less would do.
Kimia Zabihyan, who chaired the event, said: For families, [the reports findings are] not anything they didnt know already, and the only thing theyve asked for from the beginning is justice. And justice means manslaughter charges.
Mr Aghlani, who spent the morning that the inquiry was announced going from hospital to hospital searching for his mother, told The Independent that the prospect of facing no criminal prosecutions for more than a year is our worst fear coming true, our nightmare coming true.
No matter how precise and accurate the inquirys final report is, we still dont have justice and it looks like were not going to, Mr Aghlani said.
On Thursday morning, Labours Angela Rayner urged the Met to carry out its investigation as quickly as possible.
The Met have been investigating this, and they have outlined that they will continue their investigation, she told Sky News. Our job is to ensure they can carry on and give them all the support they need.
We cannot have a situation where justice is delayed, because that is justice denied. So, as quickly as possible the Met Police will carry out their investigations and we have to support that process.
What I have read has really angered me, upset me and affected me. Seeing the survivors, and seeing the families of those who lost their loved ones, and then reading what inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick has put is absolutely appalling, the police absolutely have our full support in taking the action they need to take.
The 72 victims of the Grenfell tragedy ( PA Wire )
In May, Scotland Yard said its mammoth criminal investigation into the fire had generated 27,000 lines of inquiry and more than 12,000 witness statements, making it one of the largest ever undertaken.
A total of 19 companies and organisations were under investigation for potential criminal offences, along with 58 individuals, and more than 300 hours of interviews had taken place.
But campaigners cited the Metropolitan Police as telling them at a previous meeting that they have never known a public inquiry to be conducted at the same time as a criminal investigation, with such inquiries normally taking place once criminal proceedings have concluded.
Natasha Elcock, chair of the Grenfell United campaign group, told The Independent: Our fate will always be in someone elses hands and it has been for the last seven years.
Natasha Elcock urged the Met to ensure that every single person that is culpable for the deaths of our loved ones is held to account ( PA )
The most we can hope for at this point today is that the report and the government bring about systematic change. The Met Police and the Crown Prosecution Service have explained that they need the report to cross-reference and ensure that theyve got what they need in order to bring prosecutions. For us, that is the ultimate justice.
Ms Elcock added: We were under no illusions from as early as 2018 that this was going to be a 10-year process, but what we wont allow to happen as a community is this to rumble on like Hillsborough and other injustices that weve seen in this country.
Ms Elcock was not alone in referencing the decades-long fight for justice after the Hillsborough disaster which killed 97 people in 1989, the surviving families of whom have seen just one person convicted in 2019 of a single safety offence and handed a fine of 6,500.
Francis Dean, who was forced to say goodbye over the phone to his friend Zainab Deen who lived on the 14th floor at Grenfell after her two-year-old son Jeremiah had already died in the blaze, said: When you think of Hillsborough how many years did that take?
Grenfell survivor Francis Dean questioned whether he would live to see justice ( Yui Mok/PA )
Am I going to be alive when we do get justice? Because we are going to fight for it. The younger generations that are coming up are even more desperate than us to have justice because they were young when this happened and its seven years on. Theyre the ones who will probably see justice.
For me, its difficult that all these companies are just passing the buck, each and every one blaming the other one. If thats the case, youre all guilty.
Former prime minister Theresa May announced the public inquiry in 2017. On Wednesday she said the government must acknowledge its part in the series of events, adding : I know that, while necessary, the inquiry process can be immensely distressing for all those involved. I would like to pay tribute to the bereaved families and the survivors for the dignity they have shown in the face of a tragedy so extreme, it is beyond our imagining.
Meanwhile, seven years on from Grenfell and thousands of residents across the country are still waiting for the dangerous cladding on their homes to be removed.
According to Junes figures, 4,630 residential buildings in England still have unsafe cladding, with half of those still waiting to start remediation.
The cost of that inaction was underscored last week when a tower block in Dagenham in the process of remediation went up in flames. While there were no casualties, Mr Aghlani labelled the blaze Grenfell Two and suggested the lack of accountability for the 2017 fire made further tragedies more likely.
The blaze in Dagenham broke out at flats undergoing remediation ( PA Wire )
Do you think, if there was people being arrested like they would have been in America or other places, that the fire in east London would have happened? he said.
Swift justice would make sure that people in charge actually take their responsibilities seriously and act accordingly. But when you get justice like ours, you get council employees throwing documents away because you know theres not going to be any consequences even when theyre found out.
Urging the new Labour government to do more to ensure such a tragedy never happens again in the UK, Mr Dean added: Charity begins at home, so the government needs to look at all these buildings.
Dont put money in front of peoples lives, put life in front of money. No matter how much it would cost to bring down all this unsafe cladding, at least its not causing death untimely death.
All those people who died that night, they deserve to be here now. That should have never happened in this country. Never. Its shocking.
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Tabloid television host Jeremy Kyle defended his confrontational presentation style on Thursday at an inquest into the death of a guest, saying the man needed to tell the truth.
Steve Dymond is believed to have taken his own life seven days after appearing on ITVs The Jeremy Kyle Show where he failed a lie detector test over accusations he had cheated on his ex-fiancee, Jane Callaghan.
In clips of the episode shown to Winchester Coroners Court, Mr Kyle was seen telling the 63-year-old: Be a man, grow a pair of balls and tell her the goddamn truth.
After the test results were revealed, audience members were heard booing Dymond while his partner ran off in tears towards a backstage area where the confrontation continued.
Steve Dymond is believed to have taken his own life seven days after filming the Jeremy Kyle Show ( PA/ITV )
A further clip showed Mr Kyle saying: The studio thought you were telling the truth, I wouldnt trust you with a chocolate button, mate.
Throughout the interaction, Dymond could be heard denying the accusations and tearfully claiming: I swear to God, I am being so straight, I have never been more straight.
In text messages sent to Ms Callaghan days after appearing on the show in May 2019, Dymond said: I hope the Jeremy Kyle Show is so happy now about what they have done to me.
The message added: I did lie about my past, but I never cheated never, never, never did I cheat on you.
The presenter seen arriving at Winchester Coroners Court ( Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire )
Maya Sikand KC, representing Dymonds family, asked the presenter what he made of the assertion the show had been responsible for his death.
Mr Kyle said: I say that I know there was an oil tanker of text messages and WhatsApp messages, Ive heard people say my approach to Steve Dymond was met with concern, theres not one text message that complains about my behaviour.
I am the presenter, I didnt create the show, I was paid to do a job, he said.
Speaking about his presenting style, Mr Kyle said it was direct, but it was empathetic, it was honest, and said that he had not been briefed by the production team to modify or change his attitude towards Dymond.
And on telling Dymond to grow a pair during the show, Mr Kyle told the inquest: I believed he needed to tell the truth. If he did, there was a chance they could still be together.
Rachel Spearing, counsel to the inquest, asked Mr Kyle if he believed Dymond was humiliated. I do not.... I did what I always do and always did, it was what the show as I understood the show is, sad as it might sound, it was a typical part, he replied.
The presenter said he was sent a dossier of information on each guest the evening before filming and was then briefed in his dressing room, and stressed that he had no involvement in the selection or screening of potential participants.
The Jeremy Kyle Show was cancelled in 2019 following Dymonds death ( ITV/Shutterstock )
Mr Kyle added he had created a persona for the show but had not been trained in handling emotional guests, and said he believed that each individual story was a journey towards conflict resolution.
The hearing was told that, after filming of the episode had finished, Dymond told a researcher: I wish I was dead.
He was spoken to by the programmes after-care team on three occasions following filming, and was contacted again the following day when he promised: I give you my word I will stay positive.
Chris Wissun, director of content compliance at ITV at the time, said: Between the time the studio recording ended at 12.45pm and when he left the studio at 2.30pm, he was continuously talking to members of the production team and to the after-care nurse in that period.
I believe the researcher said guests would often make comments like that in the heat of the moment soon after the recording but they would calm themselves and that isnt how they felt when they left the studio.
Dymond had a history of depression and had previously taken overdoses on four occasions in January 1995, twice in December 2002 and in April 2005, the court was told.
Kyle said he felt the show had a double security blanket with Dymonds GP letter and after-care team ( PA Wire )
Mr Wissun told the inquest that the show had a standing rule not to allow guests with current depression to take a lie detector test, given the risk a negative result could worsen their mental health.
In the month before his appearance on the show, Dymond had attended his GP on three occasions and demanded a letter to be allowed onto the show as a matter of life or death.
He then rang the show between 40 and 50 times in a desperate attempt to secure an appearance, with Mr Kyle telling the inquest he felt they had a double security blanket in that they had a GP letter and assistance from the after-care team.
Graham Stanier, the director of after-care for The Jeremy Kyle Show between 2005 and 2019, and the shows on-air counsellor, said in a statement read to the inquest that Dymond was subject to continuous assessment following his acceptance to be on the show.
He said this included background checks with his work colleagues and Ms Callaghan and her daughter.
The inquest is expected to continue until 10 September.
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 befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
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John Lewis will bring back its price promise, two years after ditching the commitment.
The companys major U-turn means it will bring back its never knowingly undersold price pledge.
The refreshed commitment will see the retailer use AI technology to match 25 major competitors on its prices in-store and online.
The department store chain will bring back the promise which began in 1925 from 9 September, to boost its value perception among customers. Around 30,000 prices will change next week as a result of the move.
Peter Ruis, who was appointed boss of the retail business in January, said he looked at resuming the pledge a month into his role as part of a desire to sharpen the firms pricing.
John Lewis launched the price promise in 1925 (John Lewis/PA)
The brands being matched on price are: AO.com; Amazon (on technology); Apple; Argos; Asos; Boots; Currys; Dunelm; Dreams; The Entertainer; Fenwick; Flannels; Furniture Village; Harrods; Harvey Nichols; Heals; House of Fraser; Lakeland; M&S; Mamas and Papas; Next; Richer Sounds; Selfridges; Smyths Toys and Space NK.
Bosses said the return of never knowingly undersold will be backed by its largest marketing investment to date, with a significant advertising campaign also launching on Monday.
In 2022, John Lewis withdrew the promise, where it would match the price of branded products in other shops if a customer pointed out they had found it cheaper elsewhere, with bosses saying it did not fit with how customers shop today.
On Thursday, Mr Ruis said improvements in technology mean that they can operate a better version of the pledge.
Peter Ruis, executive director of John Lewis (John Lewis/PA)
Customers have recognised our quality but there were questions over whether our value offer has been sharp enough in some areas, he said.
The pricing mechanism we had before wasnt fit for purpose so changing that has absolutely been the right thing.
What we are doing now, and what the technology is enabling us to do, is really different, and customers will see the benefit of that.
It comes amid a significant leadership shift at the business, with former Tesco UK and Ireland boss Jason Tarry set to take over a chairman of parent group, The John Lewis Partnership, early next year.
Current chairwoman Dame Sharon White said: Now is the right time for never knowingly undersold to return in a form that will resonate with customers whether theyre shopping in store or online.
Im delighted that Peter and his team are reinvigorating the John Lewis promise to our customers for the 21st century and I am excited to see the brand go from strength to strength, today as chairwoman and in future as a customer.
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Mike Lynchs co-defendant Stephen Chamberlain died in hospital three days after being hit by a car on a country road, an inquest heard.
The 52-year-old, from Longstanton in south Cambridgeshire, was struck by a blue Vauxhall Corsa travelling between Stretham and Wicken on the A1123 at about 10.10am on 17 August.
Mr Chamberlain, a former vice president of finance at Mike Lynchs software firm Autonomy, had been out running at the time, his lawyer Gary Lincenberg said.
Coroner Caroline Jones told the inquest in Alconbury that his medical cause of death was recorded as traumatic head injury.
She said: A vehicle travelling between Stretham and Wicken on the A1123 crested a humpback bridge and was presented with a runner crossing the road from the nearside to the offside between two parts of a bridleway.
She said the car struck Mr Chamberlain, causing him significant injuries.
Cambridgeshire Police said the collision happened on 17 August, and an activity uploaded to the fitness app Strava indicated that Mr Chamberlain was around six miles into his run having set out from the cathedral city of Ely earlier that morning.
Miss Jones said Mr Chamberlain was taken to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge and his death was formally confirmed at 3.50am on 20 August.
Stephen Chamberlain was struck on Newmarket Road in Stretham ( Google Maps )
Police said the driver of the car, a 49-year-old woman from Haddenham, remained at the scene by the Great River Ouse and was assisting with police enquiries.
Miss Jones added: Police investigations remain ongoing, therefore, no further date has been fixed for these proceedings to resume.
I adjourn todays hearing to a date to be fixed at the end of police investigations and any possible prosecutions. I extend my condolences to the family of Stephen Chamberlain.
Mr Chamberlain had been cleared of the same charges of fraud and conspiracy as his former boss Mr Lynch, after they were accused of scheming to inflate the companys value before it was sold to Hewlett-Packard for $11bn (8.6bn).
Just 43 hours after the road crash, Mr Lynchs boat the Bayesian sank within minutes in a violent storm off the coast of Sicily, which killed seven people including his teenage daughter Hannah.
Mr Chamberlains inquest was opened on Thursday by coroner Caroline Jones at New Shire Hall, Alconbury, but was adjourned to a date not yet fixed.
Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah died in the superyacht sinking ( Tancredi )
Mr Chamberlains family issued an emotional tribute following his death, saying: 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. He made a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
Paying tribute, his lawyer Mr Lincenberg said: He was a courageous man with unparalleled integrity. We deeply miss him.
Steve fought successfully to clear his good name at trial earlier this year, and his good name now lives on through his wonderful family.
Sushovan Hussain, a former chief financial officer of Autonomy, said: Steve was by my side for many years, and I had the honour of calling him, Jonathan, Judy and Chris my good friends.
It is truly impossible to fathom how they can all be gone over such a short period. It is tragic beyond words.
Poppy Gustafsson, the chief executive of cybersecurity company Darktrace, added: At a time when both Mike and Steve were so recently acquitted, it feels too cruel.
But also, such a relief to know that they died with the world knowing their innocence.
The inquest comes as it was reported four of the victims of the Bayesian yacht disaster died after oxygen ran out in an air bubble on the sunken boat.
Autopsies over the past few days on four of those who died have revealed an absence of water in their lungs, suggesting they suffocated as the air became saturated with carbon dioxide, Italian publication La Repubblica said.
The outlet reported post-mortems showed four people died from atypical drowning, with no water in their lungs, trachea and stomach. There were no signs of external injuries.
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Merseyside Police has issued an urgent appeal for help to find a missing 10-month-old girl and her father due to concerns for their welfare.
Layla Rose Wheeler, who is described as having short blonde hair and blue eyes, was last seen in Wallasey Village, Wirral, and is believed to be with her dad, Clifford Wheeler.
Detectives are urging people to report any sightings of the pair to the force and anyone with any information about where they should come forward.
The force said in a statement: Please share and help us urgently find missing Layla Rose Wheeler, 10 months.
Layla was last seen in the Wallasey Village area, and is believed to be with her father Clifford Wheeler. We have concerns for both of their welfare.
Layla has short blonde hair and blue eyes.
Officers urged people to call 999 if they see Layla or Clifford, or pass on any sightings via an online form.
Does he or doesnt he? The airwaves have been thick with conjecture over the past week that Prince Harry wants to return to Britain to tuck himself back into the royal fold. Sources claim that he has been WhatsApping old friends and advisors in the UK, seeking to rehabilitate his image. A friend was said to have suggested he might even perform very low-key royal duties to rebuild public trust and help out with the familys dwindling personnel problem.
However, rumours of this Comeback Campaign were swiftly rebutted by other sources close to the Duke of Sussex who insist he has no interest in returning home, nor resuming royal duties.
But both camps agree that Harry, who turns 40 next week, appears at a crossroads and has a heartfelt longing to reconcile with his father, King Charles who is recovering from cancer. All sides also believe that the rift with Prince William still feels like a bridge too far to cross.
This was in evidence last weekend at Lord Robert Fellowes funeral. Harry crept into the country to stay with Princess Dianas brother, Lord Spencer, at his Althorp estate. While his mothers family remains loyal and open-armed to Harry, his brother is giving him the cold shoulder. William and Harry did not exchange a word at the funeral or gathering afterwards.
What the historical playbook on the Windsors-in-exile illustrates whether imposed or self-imposed as the Sussexs Megxit move to Montecito was is the piteous irony that in trying to find a life of happiness away from your birthright, the chances are that you keep hitting a bruise of unhappiness.
When you consider Harrys great-great uncle, the Duke of Windsor, who abdicated as King of England in 1936 to marry American divorcee, Wallis Simpson, you see how Edward VIIIs manic need to prove to the world that he had made the right sacrifice weighed him and Wallis down.
As the writer James Pope-Hennessy said after spending time with the Windsors in France post-abdication: They are like people after a cataclysm or a revolution, valiantly making the best of infinite luxury. The Duke of Windsor never recovered from the shock of exile, the family drawbridge firmly up. He always assumed that after a suitable cooling-off period, he would be able to return to Britain again and resume royal duties supporting his brother, King George VI.
It sounds familiar, doesnt it? But Harry is feeling the sharp end of this lesson from history: the problem with renouncing crown and country for your own personal happiness is that you have to constantly convince yourself and others that it has not all been for nought.
Kate, William and Harry pictured at Kensington Palace in 2017 ( Getty )
The Duke turned Wallis into the most hated woman in the world, then he couldnt get what he promised her: the HRH title, or his family to accept her, royal historian, Hugo Vickers, told me. So he must have spent his whole life feeling guilty. I saw him once at Princess Marinas funeral and I have never seen a man with sadder eyes.
Sometimes in photographs of Prince Harry, you see those same hangdog eyes. At other times, especially when he is with Meghan in public, Harry looks cock-a-hoop. On their recent quasi royal tour to Colombia, the couple projected a sense of easy partnership.
Although history relates that both the Duke and Duchess of Windsor wanted to return to Britain the Duke was torn. He nursed a deep wound over the way his family refused to accept his wife or accord her the HRH title. Similarly, Harrys loyalty to his wife whom he loves, now pits him against his birth family. We know that there is no love lost between William and Kate for Meghan after all the truth bombs that the Sussexes have lobbed in the royal familys direction.
So what lessons of the past tell us about what could be in store for the next chapter for these brothers? Recently, I was given a fascinating letter from a private collection that has never been seen in public or published before. It was written on behalf of the Duke of Windsor to a woman who had clearly sent Edward an encouraging missive after his wedding to Wallis in June 1937.
Harry and Meghans staunch renunciation of royal life has proved endlessly controversial ( EPA )
The Dukes response was written on 7 September 1937, from Schloss Wasserleonburg, a castle in Austria that Edward rented from 5 June to 7 September for the couples honeymoon. The Duke dictated the letter before they left the castle to return to France.
Dear Mrs Boraston, I am desired by the Duke of Windsor to acknowledge your letter of August 30th. His Royal Highness thanks you for the poem and your kind wishes, but asks me at the same time to assure you that the information that His Royal Highness is homesick is entirely without foundation. His Royal Highness wishes me to add that quite apart from rumours in the press, it is not very likely that he would be missing his country which in every possible way, tried to humiliate and misrepresent both himself and the Duchess of Windsor.
A scathing letter written by the Duke of Windsor in 1937 ( provided by Anna Pasternak )
The passing of time told a different story. After the hot-headedness of the abdication, the reality is that the constant, corrosive sense of exclusion becomes painful to negotiate.
Since, Harry and Meghans staunch renunciation of royal life in Britain, if Harry does harbour homesickness and it would be almost impossible not to from time to time how does he go about this? Naturally, he will nurse a desire for family reconciliation, especially with Charles, but friends of his and William who could have helped in the past have been forced to take sides.
In the Machiavellian monarchy, proximity to the court is critical in terms of survival. Just as Wallis said in 1954 to her biographer, Charles Murphy: British friends are afraid to receive us for fear of not being invited to court. Some of our former American friends are equally apprehensive. Our life, in consequence, has been circumscribed. I would gladly have worked for British charities. But where would I find the right British names to help me?
The Duke and Duchess of Windsor on their wedding day in 1937 ( Getty )
To those closest to the inner circle, Harry is now seen as an outlier. With powerful enemies in Prince William and Queen Camilla, who could possibly broker peace? It seems impossible now, yet there is one person who holds a glimmer of hope for this broken family where the fault lines run deep and dark.
The likeliest and kindest candidate is Princess Eugenie, with whom Harry has remained demonstrably close. As the daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Fergurson, she knows well the pain of parental royal exclusion. She has also demonstrated laudable loyalty to her parents, while remaining close to both of her cousins, William and Harry. She has managed to do all of this while never betraying the institution into which she was born.
Could she be the one to persuade her uncle, King Charles, that the most generous and loving act would be to extend the hand of forgiveness to Prince Harry? In such a divisive world and as the countrys patriarch, it would be befitting for him to reach out to Harry.
Prince William is continuing to give his brother the cold shoulder ( Getty )
As the future monarch, William too, needs to be mindful that diplomatic skills will need to be deployed in some of the most trying times. And facing those times now, trust, love and finding the patience to be the better person could be pertinent to the training for the role to which he has been born.
The latest disclosure that Harry will not be updating the paperback of his autobiography, Spare, or giving any interviews to promote it, are the tentative steps of a man trying to repair a shattered relationship. So far, it has not been enough to staunch family mistrust.
As Wallis said: In other families even if a man or woman marries a person of whom the family may disapprove, reconciliation usually takes place after several years. Sensible people, kindly people, make up. But that has not been so in my case. The Iron Curtain has never lifted. For my husband, it has meant permanent exile.
We can only hope for Harry that history does not repeat itself.
Anna Pasternak is the biographer of The American Duchess: The real Wallis Simpson
She will also appear at The Independents virtual debate Is the shrinking Royal Family on the brink of collapse? next week as one of the experts discussing the personnel crisis at the heart of British monarchy
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Reverend Richard Coles says X has refused to take down a fake news article falsely accusing him of being a paedophile.
The former Communards pop star and broadcaster reported the post to the social media network, formerly and better known as Twitter, but was told it did not violate the rules.
It was presented as a legitimate story from an account with a linked Substack site, and which appears to have removed the story.
He told his followers: Someone published a fake story accusing me of being a paedophile today on @X I reported it. @Jaccusepaper got right back to me with the promise of immediate action. This is @Xs reply.
Xs reply said it had reviewed the fake story but determined there were no violations of the X rules.#
Coles told the Independent: I was sent the faked Jaccuse post linking to an non-existent article claiming I was hiding in plain sight following an interaction with someone on X calling themselves Anti Manchester Action in response to a picture I had posted of the lads who are staying with us in my friends rental on Tiree (their son and his friends) by calling me a pedo and bracketing me with Huw Edwards and Jimmy Savile.
I replied asking him to take it down or there would be legal consequences and reported both to X. X sent automated replies saying it did not break their rules.So my question is if someone maliciously and falsely accusing someone of being a paedophile on X does not break the rules, what does?
The former Strictly Come Dancing star was showered with support from X users.
Sports writer Matt Thomas wrote: Sadly Ive been a victim of a similar thing before, but where someone created fake profiles of me and posted horrific content that was homophobic, racist etc.
X took no action, the police said they couldnt act even though it was a crime and even though I could prove who was behind it, because X refused to send evidence needed.
BBC presenter and historian Simon Schama simply replied: Unspeakable.
X, JAccuse and Mr Coles have been approached for a comment.
Critics say Elon Musk, who bought the platform in April 2022, has allowed disinformation to spread on Twitter since his takeover of the platform in 2022. During his tenure, he has let go of around 6,000 staff, or 80 per cent of the workforce, including the entire moderation team.
He has allowed the return of previously banned users including Donald Trump, Alex Jones, Andrew Tate, and Tommy Robinson.
Rev Coles retired from clerical duties in 2022, and has appeared on BBC comedy programmes such as QI, Have I Got News For You and Would I Lie To You?.
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A member of Royal Navy personnel has died after a Merlin helicopter plunged into the English Channel, triggering an investigation into what caused the crash.
The Merlin Mk4 helicopter, favoured by Royal Marines for rapid deployment, ditched during a night flying exercise with HMS Queen Elizabeth off the Dorset coast on Wednesday night.
It is understood three crew members were on board the helicopter when it entered the water. Two were rescued and were taken to hospital without suffering serious injuries.
The third persons body was recovered and the family has been informed.
Merlin of 751 Esquadra, top, and a Merlin Mk 4, bottom, flying over Lisbon ( Royal Navy )
In a statement, the Royal Navy said: It is with great sadness that we must report a member of the Royal Navy has died following a training incident last night.
Our thoughts are with the family who have been informed and all those affected at this sad time. A full investigation will take place.
The incident involved a Merlin Mk4 helicopter in the English Channel near Dorset that ditched while conducting night flying exercises with HMS Queen Elizabeth. There were no other fatalities or serious injuries.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority describes ditching as a deliberate emergency landing on water, rather than a crash, in a guidance document from 2022.
The helicopter was taking part in a night training exercise alongside HMS Queen Elizabeth ( PA Wire )
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was deeply saddened by the death.
In a post on X, he added: My thoughts are with the family and loved ones during this painful time.
Sir Keir paid tribute to the ships company particularly those involved in the search-and-rescue operation.
Defence secretary John Healey described the news of the death as truly dreadful and promised a full investigation into how the fatal accident happened.
Defence secretary John Healey offered his condolences ( Ben Birchall/PA Wire )
While on a visit to HMS Diamond in Portsmouth, he told reporters: I use dreadful because this is what everyone connected to the armed forces [dreads], news of personnel in service dying and all my thoughts and the thoughts of those in the wider navy Ive been with today are with the family, the friends and the close colleagues of the one weve lost today.
David Learmount, an expert on aviation issues, called the Merlin Mk4 a sophisticated helicopter which is pretty resilient, saying it was very unusual for such an incident to happen.
On the investigation into the cause of the incident, he said: If there was a technical aspect to this they are going to check all the other helicopters that are like this one to make sure its not going to happen to them too.
If they have a reason to do so they will say wed better ground all the others until we know the reason why it happened.
The Merlin Mk4 helicopter is used by the Royal Marines and has been deployed globally to provide disaster relief. It is considered the worlds most advanced amphibious battlefield helicopter and can carry up to 24 troops, according to the Royal Navy.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is described on the Navys website as the largest and most powerful vessel ever constructed for the Royal Navy, which is capable of carrying up to 40 aircraft.
The vessel is the Navys Fleet Flagship and can carry senior naval staff, receive foreign dignitaries and act as a command and control centre for the Royal Navy.
Close From warm sunshine to flooding: Unpredictable British storm hits town unexpectedly
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More than half a months rain has fallen across two days in southern England and Wales up to Friday night.
A Met Office yellow weather warning was in place for the second day running as wet weather continued due to large patches of rain crossing the channel from France, but had subsided by Saturday morning.
There were warnings for flooding, power cuts and travel disruption with outbreaks of heavy rain persistent in some areas and particularly heavy in others.
For the weekend, for many, it will be a bright and dry start on Saturday morning with small bands of rain moving westward across the country.
Met Office chief meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: Repeated areas of rain are likely to affect southern Britain over the next few days, generating some localised impacts into the weekend.
Its a different story further north though, as high pressure brings warmer and sunnier conditions, with higher-than-average temperatures, particularly across parts of western Scotland. Eastern areas are likely to be cooler and at times, cloudier due to winds blowing off the North Sea.
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The co-leader of the Green Party has defended himself after the Labour government tried to portray him as a hypocrite on clean energy infrastructure.
In an interview with The Independent ahead of his partys conference in Manchester this weekend, Adrian Ramsay dismissed the personal claims made against him by prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, among others.
The debate has centred around objections to pylons being built through his picturesque Waveney constituency, which straddles the Norfolk/Suffolk border in East Anglia.
The 114-mile (184km) scheme is expected to run from Norwich to Tilbury in Essex and would transfer energy generated from offshore wind farms to the South East and London.
Labour used the row to portray the Greens as hypocrites who really oppose the clean energy infrastructure needed to move Britains energy supply from carbon-based fuel, including gas, coal and oil, to clean alternatives.
Sir Keir said it was extraordinary that Mr Ramsay was opposing vital clean energy infrastructure.
This government just wants to press ahead with one option, says Green co-leader Adrian Ramsay ( BBC )
But Mr Ramsay told The Independent the debate is really about Labour seeking to do the easy things and avoid doing the difficult things.
The plan to push ahead with erecting pylons in his rural constituency is one of these easy answers when other solutions are available, he claimed.
Mr Ramsay added: The question that you are highlighting is around: how do we connect the new wind farms that are in the North Sea to London and the South East, where energy is needed? And theres a range of ways that you could do that.
Clearly, we need to connect the energy. But the last [Tory] government and the current [Labour] government have just been pressing ahead with one option, which is to have a new route of pylons that goes through East Anglia.
There are a couple of other options. One would be to have an offshore grid that brings the energy around the sea and into London that way. Another option would be to have underground cabling for all or some of the routes.
There are other countries in Europe that have done both of these things... some that have gone offshore, some that have gone for underground as the preferred option.
Ramsay with Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer, who beat Labour frontbencher Thangam Debbonaire in Bristol Central ( PA Wire )
So all Ive called for is for there to be a proper options assessment of how best to do that connectivity in terms of environmental impact on communities, impact on timescales.
Theres been no proper options assessment by the last government and this government just wants to press ahead with one option.
Mr Ramsay, who has been advocating for renewable energy for the last 20 years, points out that he is working cross-party with other East Anglian MPs and councils making the same argument.
But he also thinks the easy answers claim against Sir Keirs new government can be made on wider issues too as the climate crisis continues.
Describing Labours first two months in power, he said: Theyre not ambitious enough. On the environment, theyre focused on decarbonising electricity, which is the easier bit to do. Decarbonising heating, reducing energy use in the home, in transport, supporting the restoring of nature and the fact that we have one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth theyre just not focused on it.
In fact, I was absolutely gobsmacked that they cut from the nature-friendly farming budget. Only a couple of weeks ago, there was a report that came out that showed that that funding was just starting to have an impact, and nature charities were calling for it to be doubled.
On social issues, he added: There was no need for that, just as there was no need for the axing of the winter fuel payment for pensioners.
He also believes that his party has rattled Labour by breaking the credibility power and quadrupling its seats in the last election, winning almost 7 per cent of the vote, which makes it a more serious alternative on the left.
Ramsay believes the Greens success is more sustainable than Nigel Farages Reform ( PA Wire )
His co-leader, Carla Denyer, beat Labour frontbencher Thangam Debbonaire in Bristol Central as the party held off Labours challenge in Brighton Pavilion. It also won Waveney and North Herefordshire off the Tories.
He said: During the election, there was a clear sense that people were far more open-minded about how they were going to vote than in previous elections. Not only that, but we have really passed a credibility barrier, that peoples willingness to vote Green at a general election meant it was just so much easier to make that case this time around.
I think thats because weve shown that weve got credibility in local government, with over 800 Green councillors in England and Wales.
When I was deputy leader 15 years ago ... I knew all of the Green councils around the country. Weve worked really hard to get to 100 now. Its something thats happening at scale.
While many headlines have been devoted to Nigel Farage and Reform UK, he believes the Greens are the real breakthrough party of the 2024 election in the long term, even though they got one less seat and around half the votes.
The big difference with Reform electorally is that we have a consistent base of council support across the country, where weve been winning large numbers of votes in local elections year in, year out, across all corners of the country.
So our support in the general election is on firm foundations because it builds on that success in our council members.
He pointed to the Green Partys much greater success at local elections this year, saying: I think Im right in saying their strategy is the same as it was under Ukip, which is to have a lot of general election campaign effort and see what that delivers you.
I dont think thats a sustainable way to maintain peoples trust and confidence and show that you can be a diligent local representative and people do want that, first and foremost, from their MP.
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A major fire in Dagenham last month which had the same cause as the Grenfell Tower tragedy proves that fire fighters and the public are still at risk from a major blaze, a union boss has warned.
Matt Wrack, the general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), told The Independent that his members have been betrayed in the aftermath of the Grenfell disaster as well as in the events leading to the tragedy.
It comes after the London Fire Brigade was severely criticised for its lack of preparation for the disaster in the report presented by Sir Martin Moore-Bick.
The FBU general secretary called on the Government to fundamentally alter building safety regulations (James Manning/PA ( PA Wire )
Mr Wrack described the 70 firefighters who turned up to fight the blze and rescue people as heroic but said the report confirmed that they had not been properly prepared and there was no plan in place.
He is furious that constant warnings about the cladding on Grenfell Tower had been ignored in the five years before the fire.
Mr Wrack told The Independent: When fire fighters arrived at Grenfell they expected a fire which would be contained in the building because thats what they had been told. Instead it spread rapidly throughout the building and there was no plan to deal with it.
We saw exactly the same thing happen just days ago in Dagenham where the same thing happened with the same cause because of outside cladding.
The fact is that the fire at Grenfell would not have spread the same way if the building had been left in its original state. It was the modifications and cladding which caused the deaths and the report confirmed that.
There are still more than 3,000 buildings across the UK with the dangerous ACM cladding which cost so many people their lives.
Mr Wrack said: It is astonishing. The government has got to get on top of this. We cannot have any further delay.
He wants residents to have their voices listened to in preparing for fire safety but also ordinary fire fighters who have a great deal of frontline experience not just brigade managers.
He told The Independent: I feel fire fighters in London and around the country have been badly let down. They were heroic at Grenfell but we still see the same problems.
Mr Wrack also insisted that the report must be a turning point in the push for deregulation in the building and construction industry.
The union leader, who is also president of the Trades Union Congress, said he was pleased that the deputy prime minister (Angela Rayner) joined me on a visit to Dagenham to view the burnt out block of flats there.
But he said: The report is very clear that this contributed to the loss of lives at Grenfell. The deaths were a consequence of central government policy , ministers, secretaries of state and prime ministers.
When we said at the time of the tragedy that deregulation was to blame we were accused of politicising it but we have been proven right.
The Grenfell Tower fire saw 72 people lose their lives as the fire took hold of the block.
The tragedy has been blamed on warnings being ignored by successive governments over 30 years, a breakdown in trust and communications between the people responsible for the block and families, and dishonesty by construction companies.
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Grenfell campaigners have criticised MPs who left the House of Commons chamber just before Keir Starmer made a statement on the damning inquiry report.
The long-awaited findings of an inquiry into the tragedy that cost 72 lives were finally published on Wednesday, including strong criticism of successive governments for failing to address warnings over fires in high rise blocks.
Sir Keir gave a speech to parliament following prime ministers questions in which he apologised to victims families and survivors for being let down before, during and in the aftermath of this tragedy.
A number of MPs leave the Commons chamber ahead of the prime ministers statement on the Grenfell report ( UK Parliament )
Just before the prime minister began addressing the Commons, speaker Lindsay Hoyle invited members who needed to leave to do so, as it is commonplace for MPs to leave after PMQs to attend other meetings.
Footage from the chamber showed dozens leaving and though many more remained to listen to Sir Keir speak Grenfell campaigners were critical of those that left.
Natasha Elcock, chair of Grenfell United, the group representing some of the bereaved and survivors, told The Independent: It is absolutely shameful that they left because it shows they had no regard for the most important day for survivors and bereaved families. What happened at Grenfell stems back many decades through many political persuasions.
Its no surprise the house emptied after PMQs. Some of those people that left that chamber today were part of the inaction that has existed within the last seven years and will be a part of the political corruption, greed, negligence and incompetence.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the Government will respond to recommendations within six months ( PA Wire )
Emma Wilson, principal lawyer at Slater Gordon, which represents a number of Grenfell families added: I saw this and was appalled. MPs actions today echo those of their counterparts over the years ignoring the recommendations which we know could have prevented the disaster happening.
It shows how much of a cultural change is needed if the recommendations by the Chair and endorsed by Keir Starmer today are to be embedded.
And vice-chair of Grenfell United Karim Mussilhy told Newsnight later on Wednesday evening: You look at what happened in PMQs today.... You just see a flourish of bodies in parliament... heading out, just leaving. That room was half empty.
This is the culture were talking about. How are we supposed to get justice when they dont even care.
The damning report into the tragic fire has been published ( PA Wire )
In his statement, Sir Keir said: I want to start with an apology on behalf of the British state to each and every one of you, and indeed to all of the families affected by this tragedy.
It should never have happened. The country failed to discharge its most fundamental duty, to protect you and your loved ones, the people that we are here to serve, and I am deeply sorry.
The prime minister signalled his support for calls that the companies involved in the disaster be banned from receiving government contracts, and said the government would support the Metropolitan Polices investigation into the fire.
He said it was imperative that there is full accountability, including through the criminal justice process, and that this happens as swiftly as possible.
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Union leaders have backed Keir Starmers planned reset of Brexit and predicted that it will help save the British car industry.
In an interview with The Independent, Paul Nowak, the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), said he absolutely believed the policy would keep manufacturing and other jobs in the UK and prevent them being moved to the continent.
Mr Nowak also urged the new Labour government to deliver the change he said the public had voted for.
And he called for an urgent new workforce commission to plot a way to repair the UKs public services, as a new poll reveals that nearly three-quarters (73 per cent) of voters think they are deteriorating.
Paul Nowak, the general secretary of the TUC, predicted the Brexit reset would help keep jobs in the UK (Peter Byrne/PA) ( PA Wire )
Just 13 days into his premiership Sir Keir declared Britain was back on the international stage as he sought to build closer ties as part of his planned reset.
Hosting the summit of the European Political Community (EPC) in Oxfordshire, he scored his first major success as European leaders lined up to hail his plan for a new era in post-Brexit relations.
In the weeks that followed he used a trip to watch the opening of the Olympics to hold a series of one-to-one meetings with European leaders and has struck up a close relationship with leaders in Paris and Berlin.
Mr Nowak said that with Sir Keirs large parliamentary majority people on the other side of the Channel are more likely to take the government seriously and think that here is a government we can do business with and actually get an agreement.
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak (Peter Byrne/PA) ( PA Archive )
He said more could be done to ease pressures on supply chains, which is really important in sectors like automotive and aerospace. But also more broadly, for musicians and other creative performers and for some of our young people, that ability to move across Europe more freely I think is really important. I dont think anybodys talking about a complete return to freedom of movement but certainly thinking about how do we make it as seamless as possible?
UK car production is still well below its recent peak in 2016 of 1.7m, dogged by supply chain problems after disruption caused by Covid-era factory closures as well as Brexit red tape. Last year, Britain built 1m cars.
Asked if he believed the reset would help keep jobs in the UK, he said: I do, I absolutely do.
He added: Certainly in some of those high-end manufacturing (industries) where things like supply chains are really important... Because nobody builds an aircraft wing purely on components sourced from the UK. You dont build electric vehicles purely on components sourced in the UK. Youve got to find ways to reduce the friction as much as possible.
I would be in exactly the same place as [manufacturing body] Make UK, for example - lets make sure that we are not putting up barriers to companies being successful here in the UK.
Keir Starmer met French President Emmanuel Macron last week ( AP )
He also called on the government to deliver for those who backed them at the election.
He said he recognised that Labour had inherited, or been bequeathed, a pretty rotten legacy in terms of the state of the UK economy and the state of our public services.
But he said he hoped and expected that theyre going to use the Budget to set out now some light at the end of the tunnel. How do we repair and rebuild our public services? How do we get the economy growing? How do we get wages rising again?
He said that the TUC would be a critical friend to the new government and he would be encouraging the government: Youve got a manifesto (and) youve got a huge mandate to go out and deliver it.
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Households are to be urged to cut the amount of water they use by a fifth as Labour pledges to clean up Britains rivers, lakes and seas once and for all.
Strategies include having shorter showers and fewer baths, as well as putting bricks in toilet cisterns to cut consumption.
More than nine in 10 people think they use vastly less water than they do, the environment secretary Steve Reed said.
The comments came as he used a speech to tell an invited group of water bosses that new laws will mean they face prison if they continue to pump filth into Britains lakes and rivers.
However, he ruled out nationalising the sector, warning it would cost billions and make the sewage problem worse in the short term.
He pledged that the government would reform the UKs creaking water system, much of it dating from the Victorian era.
Strategies can include taking shorter showers ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )
Mr Reed outlined plans for a review of the system, which experts have warned will cost billions to bring up to date.
He would not be drawn on when the job would be complete, saying he would need to wait for the outcome of the review.
But he said: This is our opportunity to make sure our children and their children have the chance to create those same wonderful memories splash about in our lakes, roll on our rivers, or spot a kingfisher on a summers day. This is our opportunity to clean up our water once and for all.
Mr Reed denied that reducing water consumption would see the public told how much they could use.
He told journalists: It would see people being given the information they need to take decisions for themselves.
When you talk to people about the amount of water they use, 94 per cent of us think we use vastly less than we actually do.
When it comes to reforming the sector, he said government reforms will unlock the biggest private sector investment in its history. The money would help to build nine new reservoirs, nearly 5,000 miles (8,000km) of water main pipes and upgrades to 2,500 storm overflows.
Firmer action should have been taken over the last 14 years to ensure money was spent on fixing the water and sewage system and not siphoned off for bonuses and dividend payments, he said in his speech.
I am angry that over a decade of Conservative failure means customers will now have to pay higher bills to fix the system. This did not need to happen.
He called the new Bill a down payment on the wider reforms that are needed after years of failure and environmental damage.
It will unlock the biggest ever investment in our water sector and the second biggest private sector investment into any part of the economy for the entirety of this parliament, he said.
The crackdown on water bosses will be included in the new Water (Special Measures) Bill to end sewage and other pollutants being pumped into the countrys waterways.
Included is the loss of bonuses, potential prison sentences for industry executives and a duty for the water companies to pay the cost of enforcement.
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Labour has scrapped plans to house asylum seekers at RAF Scampton, weeks after it dumped the Conservative governments Rwanda deportation scheme.
The Home Office said the much-criticised plan for the site did not represent value for money for the taxpayer.
Campaigners welcomed the move, saying former military sites were never suitable places to house those coming to the UK seeking safety.
The former airbase in Lincolnshire was at the centre of the previous Tory governments plan to accommodate migrants who arrived across the Channel in small boats.
Opening the site from the autumn as planned would have cost a further 122m by the end of its use in 2027, meaning the site no longer represents value for money, the government said. Home Office minister Dame Angela Eagle revealed that 60m has already been spent on work at the base.
This would leave the total cost nearer 200m, she said, a figure which clearly fails to deliver value for money for the taxpayer.
About 60m has already been spent on the site, according to the Home Office ( PA )
The move comes just weeks after Sir Keir Starmer ditched the Rwanda plan as one of his first acts in office, saying the scheme, which would have given asylum seekers a one-way ticket to the country, was dead and buried.
Announcing the move, Dame Angela said: Faster asylum processing, increased returns and tighter enforcement of immigration rules will reduce demand for accommodation like Scampton and save millions for the taxpayer as we drive forward work to clear the asylum backlog and strengthen our border security.
We have also listened to community feedback and concerns about using this site for asylum accommodation.
The previous government also left a long backlog in asylum claims, including among those it had earmarked for transfer to Rwanda, despite failing to get flights off the ground following a damning judgment by the Supreme Court.
Dame Angela also said ministers intend to return to using long-standing dispersed asylum accommodation and will do so as soon as is practicable, once we have made progress on clearing the backlog.
The minister also said the Home Office would introduce a new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill at the earliest opportunity, designed to disrupt the criminal gangs helping people to make Channel crossings.
Jon Featonby, from the Refugee Council, said: The governments decision not to use RAF Scampton as asylum accommodation is very welcome. We know from our work that as well as being very costly, former military sites are never suitable places to house people who have come to the UK seeking safety.
He added that the announcement was an important step to making sure that the men, women and children who are seeking asylum in the UK are housed in communities where they can be supported to be safe.
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The Conservatives latest leadership contest is underway after Rishi Sunak led the party to its worst election defeat in history.
A string of senior figures have thrown their hats in the ring to succeed the former PM and lead the party through the next five years in opposition.
Robert Jenrick has emerged as the frontrunner among to take leadership of the party as former home secretary Dame Priti Patel was eliminated from the contest.
Former immigration minister Mr Jenrick picked up 28 votes in the first ballot of MPs, with bookmakers favourite Kemi Badenoch in second place on 22.
Shadow home secretary James Cleverly was one vote behind on 21, shadow security minister Tom Tugendhat on 17 and shadow work and pensions secretary Mel Stride on 16.
Dame Priti picked up just 14 votes and so was knocked out at the first stage of the race to replace Rishi Sunak.
The shortlist will be whittled down gradually until a final four are paraded in front of the party faithful at Octobers Tory conference.
The Independent looks at the runners and riders to take the reins from Mr Sunak.
Who has officially declared?
James Cleverly
Former home secretary James Cleverly avoided losing his seat, unlike many of his cabinet colleagues ( Sky )
James Cleverly became the first contender to formally launch a leadership bid, promising to unite the warring party weeks after Mr Sunaks historic defeat.
A former home secretary, he promised to overturn Starmers loveless landslide and restore the confidence of the British people in us as a party. Mr Cleverlys appeal comes from having served as home and foreign secretary, two of the UKs great offices of state. He is also seen as more moderate than candidates such as Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch, while still taking a hard-line approach to legal and illegal migration.
He received 21 votes in the first ballot of MPs.
Odds: 5/1
Tom Tugendhat
Tom Tugendhat also flew out of the traps launching his leadership bid ( Sky News )
One of the great hopes of the One Nation Conservatives, security minister Tom Tugendhat also flew out of the traps to launch his leadership bid just a day after Mr Cleverly.
Mr Tugendhat stood unsuccessfully for the leadership two years ago, placing fifth in the contest which saw Liz Truss take over as prime minister.
He is considered to have grown in stature since then and has had a job in cabinet that he can use to argue he is a serious leader who can take his party through difficult times.
After formally entering the race, he highlighted his track record of delivery, having served in Iraq and Afghanistan, enjoyed a stint as security minister and stood up to dictators in parliament.
Shadow security minister Mr Tugendhat received 17 votes in the first ballot of MPs.
Odds: 15/2
Robert Jenrick
Robert Jenrick is seen as a figure who could entice former Tory voters back in ( PA )
A one-time close ally of Mr Sunak, he also turned on the former PM over issues such as immigration and housebuilding in the dying days of his premiership.
Some Tory MPs, on both wings of the party, are wary of his apparent change of heart on the issue. But he is seen as someone with the politics to win back right-wing voters lost to Reform UK, with the personality of David Cameron to help the Tories win back those who voted for the Liberal Democrats in the blue wall.
Mr Jenricks campaign manager, Danny Kruger, said the former immigration minister has the energy, temperament and policy agenda to take on our rivals and lead us back to power in 5 years.
Jenrick has emerged as the frontrunner among Tory MPs after picking up 28 votes in the first ballot.
Odds: 5/4
Mel Stride
Mel Stride is a surprise entrant to the Tory leadership election, with the staunch Sunak ally painting himself as a One Nation figure to unite the MPs that remain ( BBC )
Mel Stride is a surprise entrant to the Tory leadership election, with the staunch Sunak ally painting himself as a One Nation figure to unite the MPs that remain.
The former work and pensions secretary became a key figurehead for Mr Sunaks failed election campaign, regularly appearing on the airwaves to advocate for the Conservative Party.
Mr Stride said the Tory party had substantially lost the trust of the British people as well as its reputation for competence.
He received 16 votes in the first ballot of MPs.
Odds: 40/1
Kemi Badenoch
Shadow communities secretary Kemi Badenoch is the bookmakers favourite ( PA )
The combative former business secretary, who has been involved in a number of high-profile clashes, has previously been seen as a front-runner. She had a good run when she competed for the leadership in 2022.
A one-time darling of the Conservative right, she was seen to have blotted her copybook when she canned a pledged bonfire of EU red tape.
She officially launched her campaign the night before nominations opened, calling for the contest to be a debate about what it means to be a Conservative. Diagnosing the Tory election defeat, she added that we deserved to lose because the past decade saw us twist and turn in the wind, unsure of who we were.
Ms Badenoch came in second place in the first ballot of MPs with 22 votes.
Odds: 13/8
Who has dropped out or been eliminated?
Suella Braverman
Former home secretary Suella Braverman is widely expected to launch a bid to lead the party from the right ( PA )
Suella Braverman has dropped out of the race before the nominations deadline, despite claiming she had the number of MPs required.
The former home secretarys bid for the leadership was plagued by early setbacks as key backers from the Tory right fell in behind her rival Mr Jenrick. Key figures such as Danny Kruger and her longtime mentor Sir John Hayes were to support the former immigration minister over Ms Braverman, all but ending her hopes of commanding enough support from the party to win.
Ms Braverman caused a shock when she dramatically resigned from Mr Sunaks cabinet. At the time, she warned him that his Rwanda deportation plan would fail and that he was leading the party into electoral oblivion.
Her more extreme attacks on her own party are seen as helping the chances of her opponents, including Ms Patel.
But, dropping out before nominations opened, Ms Braverman said she had the required support to run but that the Tory Party does not want to hear the truths Ive set out.
Priti Patel
Priti Patel resigned as home secretary after Liz Truss became Tory leader ( PA )
Dame Priti Patel promised a revolution in the Conservative Party by offering to hand back some control of policy to ordinary party members and allow them to elect key officials. She officially entered the race over the weekend.
She picked up just 14 votes and so was knocked out at the first stage of the race to replace Rishi Sunak.
Responding to her loss in the ballot, she paid tribute to Tory members, councillors and association officers she met during her campaign as the heart and soul of our party, and insisted the Conservatives must grow their membership and reach a younger voter base.
She also called on fellow Tories to unite around our Conservative values.
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Water bosses are to be told today that new laws will mean they face prison if they continue to pump filth into Britains lakes and rivers.
Environment secretary Steve Reed will warn executives from the industry directly at a major speech in Putney, London where he will unveil details of the new Water (Special Measures) Bill to end sewage and other pollutants being pumped into the countrys waterways.
Among the new measures announced in the crackdown will be the loss of bonuses, potential prison sentences for industry executives and a duty for the water companies themselves to pay the cost of enforcement.
Mr Reed will tell them: The public are furious that in 21st century Britain, record levels of sewage are being pumped into our rivers, lakes and seas. After years of neglect, our waterways are now in an unacceptable state.
Environment secretary Steve Reed says water comapany executives will face prison if they break the law ( Getty )
That is why today I am announcing immediate action to end the disgraceful behaviour of water companies and their bosses.
Under this government, water executives will no longer line their own pockets whilst pumping out this filth. If they refuse to comply, they could end up in the dock and face prison time.
This Bill is a major step forward in our wider reform to fix the broken water system. We will outline further legislation to fundamentally transform how the water industry is run and speed up the delivery of upgrades to our sewage infrastructure to clean up our waterways for good.
It comes after fury over a number of high-profile incidents involving water companies pumping waste into Britains waterways.
It was recently revealed that Thames Water had discharged at least 72 billion litres of sewage into the River Thames since 2020 roughly equal to 29,000 Olympic swimming pools.
It was also recently reported that millions of litres of raw sewage were illegally pumped into Lake Windermere, one of England's most famous lakes.
South West Water (SWW) was fined more than 2.1m for a series of environmental offences across Devon and Cornwall spanning a period of four years.
Sewage was pumped into Cumbrias Lake Windermere in September 2022 ( PA )
Mr Reed will unveil major new legislation to crack down on water bosses polluting Britains rivers, lakes and seas the most significant increase in enforcement powers in a decade.
The Water (Special Measures) Bill has been introduced to parliament and will give regulators new powers to take tougher and faster action on water companies damaging the environment and failing their customers.
The Bill delivers on Labours manifesto pledge to clean up the water sector, including increasing the ability of the Environment Agency to bring forward criminal charges against law-breaking water executives. It will create new tougher penalties, including imprisonment, for water executives when companies fail to cooperate or obstruct investigations.
The new legislation will also ban the payment of bonuses to water bosses if they fail to meet high standards to protect the environment, their consumers and their companys finances.
Other measures in the Bill include severe and automatic fines for a range of offences, including allowing regulators to issue penalties more quickly, without having to direct resources to lengthy investigations. It will also introduce independent monitoring of every sewage outlet, with water companies required to publish real-time data for all emergency overflows. Discharges will have to be reported within an hour of the initial spill.
Since privatisation, only three individuals have been criminally prosecuted by the Environment Agency without appeal despite widespread illegality.
The Bill creates new tougher penalties including imprisonment for water executives when companies fail to co-operate or obstruct Environment Agency and Drinking Water Inspectorate investigations. Previously, the maximum punishment for most cases of obstruction was merely a fine.
Despite overseeing catastrophic failure, water chief executives have paid themselves over 41m in bonuses, benefits and incentives since 2020.
This Bill will give the watchdog Ofwat powers to ban the payment of performance-related pay including bonuses to chief executives and senior leadership of water companies unless they meet high standards when it comes to protecting the environment, their consumers, financial resilience and criminal liability.
It will also require Ofwat to set rules requiring water companies to appoint directors and chief executives and allow them to remain in post only when they meet the highest standards of fitness and propriety, and to ensure customers are involved in company decision-making.
The Bill also closes the gap in the Environment Agencys enforcement powers by lowering the standard of proof to the civil standard on the balance of probabilities and enabling fixed monetary penalties to be imposed allowing regulators to issue penalties more quickly, without having to direct resources to lengthy investigations.
Emergency sewage overflows are not currently fully monitored. To make it easier and quicker for regulators to investigate and punish wrongdoing, water companies will be required to publish real-time data (within an hour) for all emergency overflows in England in a clear, accessible format.
Alan Lovell, chair of the Environment Agency, said: The Bill will give us, as regulator, more power to protect our precious water quality and resources, hold water companies to account and ensure the polluter pays. The stronger penalties introduced by the Bill will deter illegal behaviour and allow us to close the justice gap and strengthen our ability to deliver swift enforcement action.
David Black, chief executive of Ofwat, said: "This Bill strengthens our powers and will help us drive transformative change in the water industry so that it delivers better outcomes for customers and the environment."
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Four people - two students and two teachers - are dead and nine more are injured after a teenage gunman opened fire inside a Georgia high school, authorities say.
Gunfire erupted at Apalachee High School, 50 miles outside of Atlanta, around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Police named the suspect as 14-year-old Colt Gray, who is a student at the school. He is alive and in custody after surrendering to responding officers. He will be charged with murder and tried as an adult, officials said.
The FBI revealed on Wednesday night that it had investigated the suspect, who used an AR platform weapon in the shooting, for allegedly making online threats to carry out a school shooting in May 2023.
The suspect, who was then 13, was found by Jackson County Sheriffs Office deputies and interviewed, according to the FBI. His father told investigators that the family had hunting guns in the house but that the teenager did not have unsupervised access to them.
The boy denied that he had made the threats and the FBI says that there was no probable cause to arrest him or take any further legal action.
Colt Gray, 14, is shown in this police booking photo. He is accused of shooting four people dead at his Georgia high school on September 4. ( via REUTERS )
Hours after the shooting that shook the Georgia community, police identified the victims as two 14-year-old students and two teachers. Mason Schermerhorn, 14, and Kristen Angolo, 14, were the students. While the teachers were named as Christina Irimie and Richard Aspinwall
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith discussed the evil that had taken place at an evening press conference.
I never imagined that I would be speaking to the media in my career over something that happened today the pure evil happened here today, Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said while standing outside the high school.
Hate will not prevail, he added.
Four people were killed after a suspected 14-year-old gunman opened fire inside Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Wednesday morning, police said ( Getty Images )
The school received a phone threat earlier in the day, law enforcement officials told CNN. The caller warned that there would be shootings at five schools and that Apalachee would be the first. There have been no other shootings at area schools.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey told a press conference on Wednesday night that there was no evidence of other schools being targeted by the suspect.
Theres no evidence to report that any additional shooter was involved in this incident today, Hosey said. There is no evidence of a list of schools being targeted, Hosey said. However, there is a lot of evidence that is being recovered and evaluated.
As police launch thier investigation to find a motive, students were left recalling the terrifying moments when the shooting started.
Mason Schermerhorn, 14, was identified by his family as one of the victims of the shooting at Apalachee High School ( Social media )
One student told WSB-TV that her teacher was shot while in the doorway of their classroom. She then worked with fellow students to drag them back into the room and barricade the door, the local outlet reported.
Sergio Caldera, a 17-year-old senior, told ABC News he was in chemistry class when gunshots began.
My teacher goes and opens the door to see whats going on, Caldera said. Another teacher comes running in and tells her to close the door because theres an active shooter.
Caldera said someone banged on their classroom door and shouted open up several times. Afterward, he heard more gunfire and screaming.
Christina Irimie, math teacher killed at Apalachee high school in Georgia ( Apalachee High School )
DAnthony Kanzig said he and his fellow students tried to be as quiet as possible as the shooting happened.
I was in class and I just saw hard lockdown on my screen and then you just hear the gunshots and everyone got down, he told WXIA.
Kanzig said students hid under desks and that some were laughing because they thought it was just a drill. Others were crying.
Kids were praying, keeping it as quiet as possible, he said.
Richard Aspinwall, math teacher at Apalachee High School who was killed in Wednesdays mass shooting ( Apalachee High School )
Local and national leaders have also spoken out about the tragedy.
Jill and I are mourning the deaths of those whose lives were cut short due to more senseless gun violence and thinking of all of the survivors whose lives are forever changed, President Joe Biden said in a statement.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has directed all available state resources to the school, he said.
We will continue to work with local, state, and federal partners as we gather information and further respond to this situation, Kemp said.
Students walk away from Apalachee High School as an ambulance responds to the school. The 14-year-old suspected gunman is alive and in custody and police plan to charge him as an adult ( AP )
Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris called the incident another senseless tragedy.
Its senseless, it is weve got to stop it, and we have to end this epidemic of gun violence in our country once and for all, Harris said at a campaign event. You know it doesnt have to be this way. It doesnt have to be this way, so we will continue, of course, to send our prayers and I thought to families and all those who were affected.
Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz also spoke on the incident while at a campaign event in Pennsylvania.
Before we get started, our team just briefed me on this, we have a school shooting going on in Georgia at this time, Walz said. Were on it, and the White House has been briefed on it.
This is tragic. We dont know any of the details on it yet, but its a situation thats all too common and and our hearts are out there right now...Our work needs to be to prevent these in the future as we know, he continued. I know its a little bit of a heavy heart for all.
Former president Donald Trump posted about the shooting on Truth Social.
Our hearts are with the victims and loved ones affected by the tragic event in Winder, GA, Trump wrote. These cherished children were taken from us far too soon by a sick and deranged monster.
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Four people - two students and two teachers - are dead and nine more are injured after a teenage gunman opened fire inside a Georgia high school, authorities say.
Gunfire erupted at Apalachee High School, 50 miles outside of Atlanta, around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Police named the suspect as 14-year-old Colt Gray, who is a student at the school. He is alive and in custody after surrendering to responding officers. He will be charged with murder and tried as an adult, officials said.
The FBI revealed on Wednesday night that it had investigated the suspect, who used an AR platform weapon in the shooting, for allegedly making online threats to carry out a school shooting in May 2023.
The suspect, who was then 13, was found by Jackson County Sheriffs Office deputies and interviewed, according to the FBI. His father told investigators that the family had hunting guns in the house but that the teenager did not have unsupervised access to them.
The boy denied that he had made the threats and the FBI says that there was no probable cause to arrest him or take any further legal action.
Colt Gray, 14, is shown in this police booking photo. He is accused of shooting four people dead at his Georgia high school on September 4. ( via REUTERS )
Hours after the shooting that shook the Georgia community, police identified the victims as two 14-year-old students and two teachers. Mason Schermerhorn, 14, and Kristen Angolo, 14, were the students. While the teachers were named as Christina Irimie and Richard Aspinwall
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith discussed the evil that had taken place at an evening press conference.
I never imagined that I would be speaking to the media in my career over something that happened today the pure evil happened here today, Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said while standing outside the high school.
Hate will not prevail, he added.
Four people were killed after a suspected 14-year-old gunman opened fire inside Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Wednesday morning, police said ( Getty Images )
The school received a phone threat earlier in the day, law enforcement officials told CNN. The caller warned that there would be shootings at five schools and that Apalachee would be the first. There have been no other shootings at area schools.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey told a press conference on Wednesday night that there was no evidence of other schools being targeted by the suspect.
Theres no evidence to report that any additional shooter was involved in this incident today, Hosey said. There is no evidence of a list of schools being targeted, Hosey said. However, there is a lot of evidence that is being recovered and evaluated.
As police launch thier investigation to find a motive, students were left recalling the terrifying moments when the shooting started.
Mason Schermerhorn, 14, was identified by his family as one of the victims of the shooting at Apalachee High School ( Social media )
One student told WSB-TV that her teacher was shot while in the doorway of their classroom. She then worked with fellow students to drag them back into the room and barricade the door, the local outlet reported.
Sergio Caldera, a 17-year-old senior, told ABC News he was in chemistry class when gunshots began.
My teacher goes and opens the door to see whats going on, Caldera said. Another teacher comes running in and tells her to close the door because theres an active shooter.
Caldera said someone banged on their classroom door and shouted open up several times. Afterward, he heard more gunfire and screaming.
Christina Irimie, math teacher killed at Apalachee high school in Georgia ( Apalachee High School )
DAnthony Kanzig said he and his fellow students tried to be as quiet as possible as the shooting happened.
I was in class and I just saw hard lockdown on my screen and then you just hear the gunshots and everyone got down, he told WXIA.
Kanzig said students hid under desks and that some were laughing because they thought it was just a drill. Others were crying.
Kids were praying, keeping it as quiet as possible, he said.
Richard Aspinwall, math teacher at Apalachee High School who was killed in Wednesdays mass shooting ( Apalachee High School )
Local and national leaders have also spoken out about the tragedy.
Jill and I are mourning the deaths of those whose lives were cut short due to more senseless gun violence and thinking of all of the survivors whose lives are forever changed, President Joe Biden said in a statement.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has directed all available state resources to the school, he said.
We will continue to work with local, state, and federal partners as we gather information and further respond to this situation, Kemp said.
Students walk away from Apalachee High School as an ambulance responds to the school. The 14-year-old suspected gunman is alive and in custody and police plan to charge him as an adult ( AP )
Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris called the incident another senseless tragedy.
Its senseless, it is weve got to stop it, and we have to end this epidemic of gun violence in our country once and for all, Harris said at a campaign event. You know it doesnt have to be this way. It doesnt have to be this way, so we will continue, of course, to send our prayers and I thought to families and all those who were affected.
Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz also spoke on the incident while at a campaign event in Pennsylvania.
Before we get started, our team just briefed me on this, we have a school shooting going on in Georgia at this time, Walz said. Were on it, and the White House has been briefed on it.
This is tragic. We dont know any of the details on it yet, but its a situation thats all too common and and our hearts are out there right now...Our work needs to be to prevent these in the future as we know, he continued. I know its a little bit of a heavy heart for all.
Former president Donald Trump posted about the shooting on Truth Social.
Our hearts are with the victims and loved ones affected by the tragic event in Winder, GA, Trump wrote. These cherished children were taken from us far too soon by a sick and deranged monster.
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A Pittsburgh grandmother was arrested over the death of her 3-year-old granddaughter after police discovered the dead child on a bloody mattress at a home in the city.
Denise Johnson, 56, was charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, and abuse of a corpse, Pittsburgh Police said.
Police attended the home on Sunday morning after the Allegheny County Emergency Operations Center received a 911 call for a suspicious death of a young female.
In a criminal complaint file obtained by Law & Crime, investigators said they found the body of Ayla Miller at the apartment on East Ohio Street.
First responders described the child as being cold to the touch with multiple injuries to the neck, face, and sternum, while blood was located on the bed, the report said.
Officials say that the 911 call was made by the childs uncle.
Detectives described the horror scene as Miller was found wearing a pink/light blue shirt with gray tights. Her body was lying on the bloodied bed and injuries included significant bruising along the cheekbone.
Pittsburgh Detectives discovered the child on a bloodied mattress at the Pennsylvania address ( Google Maps )
The apartment was distinctly worn down as police observed a broken bedroom door and holes in the walls throughout the flat.
Millers most shocking injury included A burn mark on her left ankle which is consistent with a cigarette burn. The bruising on her body extended down her cheek, neck, right arm, elbow, and hand.
Authorities say that Miller had been staying with her grandmother for a month and her mother told police that she had seen her daughter on a Facetime call and did not see any signs of physical trauma upon her face.
Johnson allegedly told police that the child had fallen back on a coffee table after hitting her head with force she then left the 3-year-old in bed in the days that followed and that she was going to turn herself in.
Prosecutors say that Johnson exchanged messages with Detective Anthony Beatty after he asked her to contact him. In one of those messages she allegedly wrote, "Something happened I have to TURN into the police.
The detective advised Johnson, he would collect her to enable her to submit a confession.
Johnson responded saying: "Ok I'll be ready soon. I'm so sorry I didn't mean to hurt her, I truly didn't.
When I knew she was hurt, I beat her butt for not listening and she fell into my table so hard.
The suspect told police Ive just been crying, not eating, scared, numb, guilty. Im so sorry I didnt mean it, I honestly, truly didnt (Peter Byrne/PA) ( PA Archive )
She hit her head and her back. I then told her to stand in corner but she couldn't as she kept falling down I thought she was doing it because she was tired and being stubborn.
I then told my other grandson to run her bath water. I got her in the tub and went in my room. She took her own bath and when I got back, she was under water, but she was still breathing, so I dried her, layed her down she never woke up.
Ater 2 days, I got really scared and I wanted to tell someone but was too scared.
I'm sorry, I know I should have gotten help for her but she was already gone. Ive just been crying, not eating, scared, numb, guilty. I'm so sorry I didn't mean it, I honestly, truly didn't.
Police identified her grandson who alleged that his grandmother had beaten his young cousin leaving her with injuries that left her unable to move.
He claimed to have seen dried blood on Ayla's nose and head and disclosed that the trauma had allegedly been inflicted with a large wooden stick.
In the report, the boy alleged that his grandmother had used other instruments to beat Miller including a belt.
Johnson is now being held in Allegheny County Jail.
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A California gunman has been arrested for massacring over 80 farm animals in a killing spree that lasted three hours.
Vicente Joseph Arroyo, 39, from Salinas, is accused of murdering miniature horses, goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, ducks and other types of birds in the early hours of Tuesday morning in the Prunedale area, California, Monterey County Sheriffs Office said.
The suspect was apprehended in a vineyard from what appeared to be a crashed vehicle in an extremely dark area with overgrown shrubbery near Lemus Farm on Avery Lane, according to The Los Angeles Times.
Arroyo lived at the property where the animals resided, but was not employed at the site, Cmdr. Andres Rosas, Monterey County sheriffs spokesperson, said.
Police added they heard shots being fired at the scene upon arrival.
The animals which survived the attack were taken by non-for-profit group Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) but had to be euthanized due to the severity of their injuries, police said.
In a phone interview with LA Times, Rosas said: Ive been in law enforcement for 24 years and Ive never seen anything like this.
The suspect allegedly lived at the Lamas Farm address near Avery Lane, said police to The LA Times ( Monterey County Sheriff's Office )
Being an animal lover, they become part of your family, and for them to be taken in this manner is horrible.
Bail was intially set at $50,000 but investigators petitioned to raise it to $1m.
A search of Arroyos property revealed possession of multiple firearms and Rosas estimated that 2,000 rounds of various calibers of ammunition had been recovered, The LA Times reports.
Multiple shots were heard by concerned Prunedale residents which police also heard upon arrival at the scene, said officials ( Monterey County Sheriff's Office )
Arroyo is being held in Monterey County Jail on multiple charges including cruelty to animals and illegal possession of an assault weapon.
SPCA Monterey County spokesperson Beth Brookhouser described the attack as horrific and heartbreaking.
All the animals involved were sadly found deceased except for five severely injured parakeets who needed to be humanely euthanized to end their suffering, she added.
The surviving animals of the attack had to be euthanized due to the severity of their injuries, police said ( Monterey County Sheriff's Office )
While the attackers motive appears to be random, Arroyo was found to have used multiple weapons including multiple long rifles, shotguns and handguns; an unlawful assault weapon, along with numerous loaded and empty magazines.
At the time, police temporarily enforced a five-mile radius shelter while they searched for the gunman as multiple calls had been received by concerned locals.
Police have not yet confirmed a date for the suspects court hearing.
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A California barber has been charged with murdering and torturing a 6-year-old boy by beating him with a piece of lumber after the child peed his pants, authorities say.
Ernest Lamar Love, 41, has been charged with murder, torture and child abuse causing death, the Orange County District Attorneys Office said. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts, according to reports.
The incident happened on August 29 around 6:30 p.m., when Love was tasked with babysitting Chance Crawford, while his mother worked the night shift at a hospital.
Video surveillance shows Love walking into his barber shop with a large piece of raw lumber with a reluctant Chance following behind him, the DAs office said.
Three hours later, at 1.30 a.m., Love allegedly carried the first grader who was unconscious and struggling to breathe into the emergency room.
Thats when doctors found injuries consistent with violent shaking, including flesh missing from his buttocks, exposed wounds, subdural hematoma and extreme brain swelling, the DAs office said. The six-year-old also had a fracture on his shoulder blade.
Prosecutors accused Love of beating the first grader with the piece of lumber, then pouring hydrogen peroxide on the open wounds before forcing the boy to do push-ups, sit-ups, and jumping jacks.
Authorities said the barber was mad that the boy wet hispants while at a park in Placentia.
A California barber is accused of beating Chance Crawford, 6, to death using a piece of lumber while he was babysitting the boy ( GoFundMe )
After the child collapsed from the alleged attack, Love drove the boy to the emergency room instead of calling 911, the DAs office said. Crawford died from his injuries on September 3.
Love is being held in jail without bond. He faces a maximum sentence life behind bars plus five years if convicted on all charges, the DAs office said.
Crawfords family is now mourning the great loss of the little boy.
The more and more that I explain what happened, the more angry I feel, the boys father Vance Crawford told ABC7. Hes six years old. I wanted to see my son graduate.
He lived a happy life. He was great. He was a great kid, Crawford said. I love my son. I miss him so much. He didnt deserve that.
That kid was sweet, the childs great-aunt Carmen Hill told ABC7. What kind of monster are you?
This is killing us slowly because no child deserves to get treated like this, the boys cousin Aisha Herrell told the outlet.
The family has set up a GoFundMe page to cover funeral expenses, sayin g they are seeking justice for Crawford. The Orange County district attorney said he is is seeking the same.
While his new classmates were celebrating the end of the first week of first grade, Chances seat in his classroom was empty as he fought for his life in a hospital bed, DA Todd Spitzer said in a statement.
Spitzer continued: Words do not exist to describe the absolute terror this little boy was forced to endure all at the hands of someone who was supposed to be protecting him, not torturing him to death. Now we as prosecutors will do everything we can to pursue justice for little Chance and be his protectors in death that he failed to have in life.
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A student has revealed her close call with the suspected Georgia high school shooter after she sat next to him in class that day.
Four victims two teachers and two 14-year-old students were killed in the mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder on Wednesday, after a teenage gunman went on a rampag with an AR-style rifle.
The suspect, identified by authorities as 14-year-old student Colt Gray, was arrested on the scene and is facing murder charges as an adult.
Fellow student Lyela Sayarath spoke out in the aftermath of the shooting to reveal how she and her fellow students may have narrowly avoided death.
Speaking to CNN outside the high school, Sayarath said she was in algebra class that morning sat elbow to elbow with Gray and recalled him leaving the classroom.
He then returned and tried to get back into the classroom but the door was locked.
Lyela Sayarath revealed she had been sat next to the alleged shooter just before he went on a shooting spree ( CNN )
When someone went to open the door to him, they backed up presumably having noticed the firearm in a decision that may have saved many lives.
He was at the door and they almost let him in, until they backed up. And then he turned away and that's when you hear the first round of fire, she said.
He wanted to come to us first, she added.
She explained that the classroom doors lock automatically when closed, and so in order to re-enter the alleged shooter could not get back in without someone opening the door from the inside.
Speaking about her classmate who had gone to let him in, Sayarath said: Im pretty sure she saw that he had a gun and so she backed away.
Once he wasnt able to get back in, she said he appeared to turn to the classroom next door where he opened fire.
You hear about 10 to 15 rounds back to back, Sayarath said.
As soon as they didnt let him in, and you hear the gunshots, you kind of know, she said.
Four people were killed in the shooting: teachers Christina Irimie (bottom right) and Richard Aspinwall (top right), and 14-year-old students Mason Schermerhorn (bottom left) and Christian Angulo (top left) ( Supplied )
When we heard it, most people just dropped to the floor and kind of crawled in an area, piling on top of each other, lost a shoe when they were trying to get to a corner.
The teacher turned off the lights, she continued. But we all just kind of piled together.
Sayarath also said she pushed desks in front of her teacher and classmates: I was just telling people, push desks in front of you, block in front of you, get low things like that.
Sayarath said the school does not have any metal detectors and that it was a couple minutes before the hard lockdown message appeared on screens warning everyone inside the school about the shooting.
She finally knew the horror was over when the cops came in the room and asked us to put our hands up, asked us if we had anything.
She said: A little bit after that they let us all out. But when it was kind of quiet, you hear cops shouting but its kind of quiet. They are no more gunshots.
When asked what she would say to her classmate now accused of carrying out the deadly high school attack, she said: Im not sure. I want to know why he did it.
Law enforcement at the home of suspected shooter Colt Gray ( Fox 5 Atlanta )
She described Gray as quiet, saying he never really talked, and did not attend class very often.
Even when he would have talked it was one word answers or statements, she said.
The four victims killed in the attack have now been named as 14-year-olds Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, and maths teachers Christina Irimie and Richard Aspinwall.
The FBI said that Gray, who is set to be charged with murder and tried as an adult, was investigated by police last year for allegedly making online threats and posting images of guns online in May 2023.
The suspect, who was then 13, was interviewed by Jackson County Sheriffs Office deputies at the time where he denied making the threats, according to the FBI.
His father also spoke to investigators then, saying that the family had hunting guns in the house but that the teenager did not have unsupervised access to them.
No further action was taken.
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The teenage suspect in the Georgia mass shooting told police he would never shoot up a school when he was questioned over online threats about a potential school shooting one year before the attack, it has been revealed.
Colt Gray, 14, who previously appeared on the FBIs radar, is accused of opening fire with an AR-style rifle, at Apalachee High School in the city of Winder on Wednesday which left four people two students and two teachers dead. He surrendered to authorities on the scene and will be charged with murder and tried as an adult.
On Thursday evening Grays father was arrested in connection with the shooting at Apalachee High School, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Colin Gray, 54, has been charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children.
Earlier on Thursday CNN reported that Colin Gray had told investigators he bought his son the assault rifle allegedly used to kill two students and two teachers as a Christmas present last year.
The purchase came months after the FBI told local law enforcement in May 2023 about anonymous online threats about a school shooting. Colt Gray denied he was behind them and no arrest or other legal action was taken.
Hours after the shooting the FBI revealed that police had interviewed Gray and his father Colin Gray in May 2023 over online threats to commit a school shooting, from the social media platform Discord, which contained photographs of guns, the FBIs Atlanta office said in a statement.
After receiving several anonymous tips, the FBI confirmed the online threats originated from Georgia and referred the information to the Jackson County Sheriffs Office.
Police allegedly traced the online threats to Gray, then 13 years old, and interviewed him and his father, who said he had guns in the house.
When deputies visited Grays home on Rice Creek Court in Jefferson, Georgia, in 2023, they spoke to Gray who claimed he had deleted his Discord account before he and his father moved to their new home, according to a report obtained by The Independent.
Law enforcement at the home of Colt Gray the suspect in the Appalachee High School shooting ( Fox 5 Atlanta )
Colt expressed concern that someone is accusing him of threatening to shoot up a school, stating that he would never say such a thing, even in a joking manner, according to the report.
But further investigation of Grays Discord account showed that the account was made after the teen said hed deleted his account.
The account had a username that was written in Russian. Translation of the Russian letters spells out the name Lanza, referring to Adam Lanza, who is the perpetrator of the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooter in Newton, Conn., according to the report.
When Grays father was questioned about the inconsistencies in his sons statements, he insisted that the associated email address was not his or his sons and that his son does not know or speak Russian, according to the report.
The investigation also revealed that the IP addresses associated with the Discord account appeared to come from different parts of Georgia, as well as New York and Virginia.
School shooting suspect Colt Gray, 14, in a police booking photo on September 5 ( via REUTERS )
The father stated he had hunting guns in the house, but the subject did not have unsupervised access to them, the statement said.
The subject denied making the threats online. Jackson County alerted local schools for continued monitoring of the subject.
Gray also told deputies that he stopped using Discord because too many people kept hacking his account and he was afraid someone would use his information for nefarious purposes.
Authorities told Colin Gray to keep his son out of school until the matter was resolved.
Following the interview, police determined there was no probable cause for arrest or to take any additional law enforcement action, the statement added.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation director Chris Hosey confirmed authorities are investigating links between the 2023 threats and Wednesdays shooting.
This is not recent, he told a press conference on Wednesday night. This is in the past, but we wanted to bring that to your attention because we are pursuing that, working with the FBI on this in any connection to that incident that could be connected to todays incident as well.
The victims have been named as students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, and teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53 (clockwise from bottom left) ( Supplied )
It was also revealed that Gray and his family had contact with the department of family and childrens services in the area.
Gray has been described by a classmate as quiet student who would often skip class.
Student Lyela Sayarath told CNN that she wasnt surprised when she heard Gray was the suspected gunman because he fitted the description of a shooter.
Sayarath, who said she was sitting next to Gray in their algebra class just moments before the shooting, recalled how he left the room around 9.45am. He didnt take the bathroom pass with him, so she assumed he was skipping class.
He wasnt there most times, Sayarath said. He either wouldnt be there or skip class. But even when he wouldve talked, it was one-word answers and short statements.
Tributes are now pouring in for the four victims, named as Mason Schermerhorn, Christian Angulo, both 14, and math teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53.
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Police in Houston have arrested a man suspected of killing a 90-year-old Navy veteran during a carjacking.
Kyliel Denzel Arceneaux, 21, has been arrested and charged with capital murder, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and tampering with evidence.
Nelson Beckett was sitting in his car in the parking lot of the Lone Star Senior Living Apartments in Houston where he lived when the carjacker approached him and struck up a conversation.
Beckett was then shot and dragged out of his car. As the carjacker drove off, they ran also ran over the veteran, who ultimately died from his injuries.
Nelson Beckett, a 90-year-old US Navy veteran, was murdered during a carjacking near a retirement home in Houston on August 31, 2024 ( Beckett family )
The suspect then ditched the car approximately 10 minutes away at a different apartment complex, which police found a short time later.
In the days immediately after the shooting, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced a $10,000 reward on top of the $5,000 Crime Stoppers offered for information leading to the arrest of Beckett's killer.
The investigation eventually led law enforcement to identify Arceneaux as a suspect in Beckett's death, and he was arrested on Tuesday and booked into the Harris County Jail, KPRC reports.
Tim Beckett, Nelson's son, told ABC13 that his father had two children, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Beckett served in the Navy and later worked in sales. He was also active in his church.
Tami Freund, Becketts daughter, said her father loved telling jokes and making people laugh and was always willing to give rides to people who did not have cars.
He would do anything for anyone. He told me all the time how lucky we are to have such a big, wonderful, loving, Christian family. He loved big and loved his family so much, Freund said in a statement she sent to KPRC2.
Steve Sandifer, a man who had been friends with Beckett for 47 years, told KPRC2 he was shocked by the killing.
I told his daughter, I said, you know, had she called me that morning and said dad didnt wake up this morning, I would have said, good. Hes lived his 90 years. Hes been a champion of faith and everything else. Hes lived a great life. But to hear that he had been murdered. That just, that was just beyond me, he told the outlet.
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A Las Vegas woman allegedly stole a $2,600 casket - with a body still inside - from a funeral home and told police she blacked out from drinking six beers."
Patricia Sierra,47, is accused of breaking into the Affordable Cremation & Burial Service funeral home on August 27 by smashing the front window and reaching through to unlock the door.
She is then accused of taking a casket out the front door, according to a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) arrest report obtained by USA TODAY.
LVMPD received a call about a suspicious person lying face down in front of the funeral home, as well as a casket in front of the business, which also seemed to have been burgled.
Upon arrival, officers found a door to the funeral home with broken glass and the casket sitting on a cart on a sidewalk near the funeral home, the arrest report says.
They then discovered a body, which had been in the casket and had arrived at the funeral home seven days before - its feet covered with plastic bags and lying face down on some rocks near the front of the property.
Patricia Sierra allegedly stole a $2,600 casket with body still inside ( LVMPD )
Flower petals were inside the viewing room of the funeral home, which officers found to be otherwise untouched save for the broken glass and door, per the report via USA TODAY.
They reviewed camera surveillance footage showing a woman breaking into the funeral home, coming and going multiple times.
Also found and observed on the surveillance video was a red BMX bicycle.
At the scene, police were approached by a construction worker claiming he saw a woman on the day of the incident, who matched the description of the suspect captured in the surveillance video, holding flowers and sitting on one of the funeral home's exterior walls.
The Affordable Cremation & Burial Service declined to comment on the incident when contacted byThe Independent.
They were only able to identify her following a call on August 29 regarding a suspicious person at a 7-Eleven, with the caller claiming he had spotted the suspected casket thief at the convenience store wearing the same clothing from the day of the incident, the arrest report continued.
She was located and detained under reasonable suspicion of stealing the casket.
When officers began to explain how she was caught on surveillance footage, and the scene had been processed for DNA and fingerprints she reportedly claimed she often "blacks out" due to a substance abuse problem.
Sierra was charged that same day with burglary of a business, grand larceny and the removal, transfer and distribution of human remains, with the New York Post reporting her bail was set at $11,000.
Police claim she said she used a red BMX bike as a means of transport, and that she admitted using a rock to break a window was her common method to burglarize businesses.
The documents reportedly describe her in an apologetic light, and that she explained she was actively spiteful in her alleged actions and did not intend to steal the casket.
Sierra had apparently blacked out after drinking the beers, causing her to not remember committing the crimes.
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A controversial Tennessee pastor has revealed that his home was shot up while one of his children was inside.
Greg Locke, a pastor at Global Vision Bible Church (GVBC), said in a Facebook post that he and his family members returned to their home in Mt Juliet, near Nashville, on Tuesday night exactly ONE MINUTE after a madman unloaded an entire magazine of bullets onto his property, garage and truck.
Locke, a vocal Donald Trump supporter, described his home as looking like a full blown crime scene.
The sound on the video is truly horrific, he said of watching back the surveillance footage, revealing that one of his children was inside at the time, but was unharmed.
Detectives will still be here for a good while tonight. Only one of our kids was home and thank God not in the same area of the house.
Locke revealed that bullets had penetrated the interior of the house, showing pictures of bullets lodged in his youngest daughters pillow and puncture marks visible in the headboard.
The only detail that matters is that Psalm 91 is true and GOD PROTECTED US IN UNIMAGINABLE AND SUPERNATURAL WAYS. Please pray for the Locke family tonight. We love all of you, he added.
Police on the scene of the shooting at Pastor Greg Lockes home ( Pastor Greg Locke/Facebook )
Wilson County Sheriff Captain Scott Moore told People magazine that deputies were called to the home at around 10.30pm when neighbors heard gunshots.
A neighbor told WDBJ7 they had initially assumed it was some kind of weird backfiring of an engine before realizing it was gunfire.
A police spokesperson said that multiple shots had penetrated the house, garage, and a vehicle, with 30 to 40 shell casings found at the scene.
No one was hit or injured during the incident and detectives are actively working on the case, Moore said.
Headboard seen with multiple bulletholes ( Pastor Greg Locke/Facebook )
One day after the shooting, Locke shared an image of an intersection sign on Facebook which read: Pray For Pastor Locke & His Family. This moved me deeply!! he commented.
As the lead pastor of GVBC in Mt. Juliet, Lockes conservative values and church practices have sparked controversies in the past.
He once hit headlines for burning so-called witchcraft books like Harry Potter and Twilight.
Bullet hole inside the pastors family home ( Pastor Greg Locke/Facebook )
In another controversial incident in 2022, Locke peddled the debunked QAnon conspiracy theory and baselessly called President Joe Biden a sex-trafficking, demon-possessed mongrel who is part of a secret cabal that operates child-trafficking tunnels beneath the White House.
In recent weeks, he has turned his attention to Kamala Harris.
When the vice president shared a post on X reading When I am President, we will pass the PRO Act and end union-busting once and for all, Locke responded with: You wont be President. Youre an illegitimate Vice President. You have a plan to destroy America with Communism. You know it. I know it. Idiots that pretend to support you know it. The God of Heaven you hate knows it.
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Apalachee High School in Barrow County, Georgia, is the latest school across the US to experience a mass shooting as part of the countrys gun violence epidemic, with four killed and scores injured on Wednesday morning.
Apalachee student Colt Gray, 14, has been named as the suspected shooter, and is alive and in custody, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
The shooting has prompted scrutiny of Georgias gun laws.
After decades of inaction, Republicans in Congress must finally say enough is enough and work with Democrats to pass common-sense gun safety legislation, President Biden said in a statement. We must ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines once again, require safe storage of firearms, enact universal background checks, and end immunity for gun manufacturers.
Heres what you need to know.
What kind of gun was used in the Apalachee school shooting?
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday said the school shooter used an AR-style rifle in the killing.
Earlier in the day, the FBI revealed it previously investigated the suspect for allegedly making online threats to commit a school shooting.
Grays father described keeping hunting guns in the house, but said Gray didnt have unsupervised access to them.
What are Georgias gun laws?
If the shooter was indeed a teenager, they wouldnt have lawful access to buy a handgun, rifle, or shotgun under state law and federal law.
Individuals must be 18 or older to purchase handguns in the state, according to the Giffords Center, and federal law imposes the same age limit for the sale of shotguns and rifles, per the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms.
Police on scene of school shooting ( EPA )
Meanwhile, minors also cannot possess handguns under Georgia law.
Overall, Everytown for Gun Safety ranks Georgia as number 46 of 50 in terms of the strength of its gun laws, describing the states policies as some of the weakest in the nation.
Adults in Georgia dont need a permit to buy rifles, shotguns, or handguns, dont need to register their guns with the government, and dont need a permit to carry rifles and shotguns, according to the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action.
In 2022, Georgia enacted a permitless carry law, repealing provisions requiring people to obtain a license and be subject to fingerprinting and a background check before carrying concealed weapons in public spaces.
How bad is gun violence in Georgia?
Georgia is in the upper third for firearm mortality across the US.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgia is ranked 15th in the county, with 19.7 gun deaths per 100,000 residents, putting it just outside the category of the largely conservative, Southern states with the most gun violence deaths.
Have there been other recent mass shootings in Georgia?
Sadly, todays shooting in Barrow County isnt the first time in recent years a mass shooting has occurred in Georgia.
In 2021, Robert Aaron Long allegedly shot and killed eight people across three Atlanta-area massage parlors.
Two years later, military veteran Andre Longore killed four people in Hampton, Georgia, before being killed himself during a police manhunt.
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One by one, the students, lawyers and others filed into a classroom in a central Tokyo university for a lecture by a Chinese journalist on Taiwan and democracy taboo topics that can't be discussed publicly back home in China.
Taiwans modern-day democracy took struggle and bloodshed, theres no question about that, said Jia Jia, a columnist and guest lecturer at the University of Tokyo who was briefly detained in China eight years ago on suspicion of penning a call for China's top leader to resign.
He is one of tens of thousands of intellectuals, investors and other Chinese who have relocated to Japan in recent years, part of a larger exodus of people from China.
Their backgrounds vary widely, and they're leaving for all sorts of reasons. Some are very poor, others are very rich. Some leave for economic reasons, as opportunities dry up with the end of Chinas boom. Some flee for personal reasons, as even limited freedoms are eroded.
EDITORS NOTE: This story is part of the China's New Migrants package, a look by The Associated Press at the lives of the latest wave of Chinese emigrants to settle overseas.
Chinese migrants are flowing to all corners of the world, from workers seeking to start businesses of their own in Mexico to burned-out students heading to Thailand. Those choosing Japan tend to be well-off or highly educated, drawn to the country's ease of living, rich culture and immigration policies that favor highly skilled professionals, with less of the sharp anti-immigrant backlash sometimes seen in Western countries.
Jia initially intended to move to the U.S., not Japan. But after experiencing the coronavirus outbreak in China, he was anxious to leave and his American visa application was stuck in processing. So he chose Japan instead.
In the United States, illegal immigration is particularly controversial. When I went to Japan, I was a little surprised. I found that their immigration policy is actually more relaxed than I thought, Jia told The Associated Press. I found that Japan is better than the U.S."
It's tough to enter the U.S. these days. Tens of thousands of Chinese were arrested at the U.S.-Mexico border over the past year, and Chinese students have been grilled at customs as trade frictions fan suspicions of possible industrial espionage. Some U.S. states passed legislation that restricts Chinese citizens from owning property.
The U.S. is shutting out those Chinese that are friendliest to them, that most share its values, said Li Jinxing, a Christian human rights lawyer who moved to Japan in 2022.
Li sees parallels to about a century ago, when Chinese intellectuals such as Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of modern China, moved to Japan to study how the country modernized so quickly.
On one hand, we hope to find inspiration and direction in history, Li said of himself and like-minded Chinese in Japan. On the other hand, we also want to observe what a democratic country with rule of law is like. Were studying Japan. How does its economy work, its government work?"
Over the past decade, Tokyo has softened its once-rigid stance against immigration, driven by low birthrates and an aging population. Foreigners now make up about 2% of its population of 125 million. That's expected to jump to 12% by 2070, according to the Tokyo-based National Institute of Population and Social Security Research.
Chinese are the most numerous newcomers, at 822,000 last year among more than 3 million foreigners living in Japan, according to government data. That's up from 762,000 a year ago and 649,000 a decade ago.
In 2022, the lockdowns under Chinas zero COVID policies led many of the country's youth or most affluent citizens to hit the exits. Theres even a buzzword for that: runxue, using the English word run to evoke running away to places seen as safer and more prosperous.
For intellectuals like Li and Jia, Japan offers greater freedoms than under Chinese leader Xi Jinpings increasingly repressive rule. But for others, such as wealthy investors and business people, Japan offers something else: property protections.
A report by investment migration firm Henley & Partners says nearly 14,000 millionaires left China last year, the most of any country in the world, with Japan a popular destination. A major driver is worries about the security of their wealth in China or Hong Kong, said Q. Edward Wang, a professor of Asian studies at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey.
Protection of private property, which is the cornerstone of a capitalist society, that piece is missing in China, Wang said.
The weakening yen makes buying property and other local assets in Japan a bargain.
And while the Japanese economy has stagnated, Chinas once-sizzling economy is also in a rut, with the property sector in crisis and stock prices stuck at the level they were in the late 2000s.
If you are just going to Japan to preserve your money, Wang said, then definitely you will enjoy your time in Japan.
Dot.com entrepreneurs are among those leaving China after Communist Party crackdowns on the technology industry, including billionaire Jack Ma, a founder of e-commerce giant Alibaba, who took a professorship at Tokyo College, part of the prestigious University of Tokyo.
So many wealthy Chinese have bought apartments in Tokyo's luxury high-rises that some areas have been dubbed Chinatowns, or Digital Chinatowns a nod to the many owners' work in high-tech industries.
Life in Japan is good, said Guo Yu, an engineer who retired early after working at ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok.
Guo doesn't concern himself with politics. He's keen on Japan's powdery snow in the winter and is a superfan of its beautiful hot springs. He owns homes in Tokyo, as well as near a ski resort and a hot spring. He owns several cars, including a Porsche, a Mercedes, a Tesla and a Toyota.
Guo keeps busy with a new social media startup in Tokyo and a travel agency specializing in onsen, Japan's hot springs. Most of his employees are Chinese, he said.
Like Guo, many Chinese moving to Japan are wealthy and educated. That's for good reason: Japan remains unwelcoming to refugees and many other types of foreigners. The government has been strategic about who it allows to stay, generally focusing on people to fill labor shortages for factories, construction and elder care.
It is crucial that Japan becomes an attractive country for foreign talent so they will choose to work here, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said earlier this year, announcing efforts to relax Japan's stringent immigration restrictions.
That kind of opportunity is exactly what Chinese ballet dancer Du Hai said he has found. Leading a class of a dozen Japanese students in a suburban Tokyo studio one recent weekend, Du demonstrated positions and spins to the women dressed in leotards and toe shoes.
Du was drawn to Japan's huge ballet scene, filled with professional troupes and talented dancers, he said, but worried about warnings he got about unfriendly Japanese.
That turned out to be false, he said with a laugh. Now, Du is considering getting Japanese citizenship.
Of course, I enjoy living in Japan very much now, he said.
___
Kang reported from Beijing.
___
Yuri Kageyama is on X: https://twitter.com/yurikageyama
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The worlds most remote and mysterious tribes have killed two loggers who were encroaching on their land.
The workers were killed by bow and arrow on the land of the Mashco Piro Indigenous tribe deep in Peru's Amazon, according to a rights group.
The Mashco Piro, who live between two natural reserves in Madre de Dios, rarely venture out and have limited interaction with the world.
The group, known as FENAMAD, defends the rights of Peru's Indigenous peoples. It says tensions between loggers and Indigenous tribes are on the rise and more government protective action is needed.
Two other loggers in the attack were missing and another was injured, FENAMAD said, and rescue efforts were underway.
The rights group, which represents 39 Indigenous communities in the Cusco and Madre de Dios regions in southeastern Peru, said the incident took place on Aug. 29 in the Pariamanu river basin while loggers were expanding their passageways into the forest and came into contact with the reclusive and renowned territorial tribe.
The Mashco Piro have been venturing out in search of food recently, driven away by the expanding logging activities.
Members of the Mashco Piro Indigenous community, a reclusive tribe and one of the worlds most withdrawn ( Survival International )
The Peruvian state has not taken preventive and protective measures to ensure the lives and integrity of the workers who have been gravely affected, the group said in a statement Tuesday, adding authorities have yet to arrive in the area since the incident.
FENAMAD said the attack happened just 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) from a July incident, when the Mashco Piro again attacked loggers. The group said in their statement that even though they advised the government of the risk of a rise in violence, nothing has been done.
Its a heated and tense situation," said Cesar Ipenza, an Amazon-based lawyer who specializes in environmental law in Peru. Undoubtedly, every day there are more tensions between Indigenous peoples in isolation and the different activities that are within the territory that they ancestrally pass through.
There have been several other previous reports of conflicts. In one incident in 2022, two loggers were shot with arrows while fishing, one fatally, in an encounter with tribal members.
In January, Peru loosened restrictions on deforestation, which critics dubbed the anti-forest law. Researchers have since warned of the rise in deforestation for agriculture and how it is making it easier for illicit logging and mining.
Ipenaza said some effort has been made by authorities in the area like mobilizing a helicopter, but overall there has been little commitment by Peru's Ministry of Culture, responsible for the protection of Indigenous peoples.
Members of the Mashco Piro tribe ( AFP/Getty )
The Ministry of Culture did not immediately respond to a message Wednesday seeking comment on the attack and their protection efforts.
The attack took place a day before the Forest Stewardship Council suspended the sustainability certification of a logging company for eight months which rights groups and activists have accused of encroaching on the Indigenous groups land.
Its absurd that certifiers like the FSC keep the certification of companies that clearly and openly violate basic human rights and Indigenous rights, said Julia Urrunaga, director of the Peru program at the Environmental Investigation Agency. How terrible that people have to keep dying and that it has to be an international scandal for action to be taken.
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Plans are being made to turn a storied but aging ocean liner into the largest artificial reef in the world.
But the plan hit a snag this week, after local officials in coastal Okaloosa County in the Florida panhandle postponed a vote on the plan to buy and purposefully sink the SS United States.
The largest passenger ship ever built in the US, the SS United States shattered a record for the fastest trans-Atlantic crossing by a passenger liner on its maiden voyage in 1952.
Now the historic vessel is in a race against time to find a new resting place, after a court set a Sept. 12 deadline for the ship to vacate its current home at a pier in Philadelphia, following a yearslong legal dispute over rent and dockage fees.
Historic Ship Rent Dispute ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )
Options include scrapping the massive ocean liner which is more than 100 feet (30 meters) longer than the Titanic or purposefully sinking it to create an artificial reef. Officials in Floridas Okaloosa County hope to do just that: send the SS United States to the bottom of the Gulf to create the worlds largest artificial reef a diving attraction that boosters hope will generate millions of dollars a year in local tourism spending for scuba shops, charter fishing boats and hotels.
A person walks past the S.S. United States moored on the Delaware River in Philadelphia, ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )
Most divers are going to be very excited, said David Bailey, a member of the Emerald Coast Scubaholics dive club. But any of the reefing program is about more than just diving. ... Build the reefs, you get the fish.
County staff have been tracking the status of the boat since 2022, with advocates arguing the SS United States could be a barnacle-encrusted star in the countys constellation of more than 500 artificial reefs.
But at a meeting of Okaloosa's Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday, staff asked that a vote on the proposal be postponed until the boards next meeting on Sept. 17.
Weve hit a wrinkle with the pier operators, County Administrator John Hofstad explained.
A spokesperson for the county said officials there are actively working with the SS United States Conservancy, the group behind the effort to save the ship, but declined to make further comments about the status of the proposal.
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Some Republicans are secretly rooting for Donald Trump to lose the election in November for the sake of their party, according to reports.
Some of the GOP including long-standing members who are publicly enthusiastic about a second Trump presidency are secretly hoping the White House will go to his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, according to Politico.
Last week, conservative commentator Erick Erickson said on X that many Republicans are rooting for a Harris presidency with a GOP-controlled Senate in order to save their party.
The damage Trump is doing to himself is playing out in private conversations like this: We have a really good shot at taking the Senate, Erickson wrote on X.
[Senator Joe] Manchin leaving gets us to 50. [Senator Jon] Tester is toast. Thats 51. Between that and the Supreme Court, we can hold off Harris for two years and get more reinforcements then fight in 2028 for the White House. If Trump gets in, we set back the pro-life cause and free markets by a generation at least.
Independent Senator Joe Manchin is retiring at the end of his term and Democratic Senator Jon Tester is fighting a close race against Republican Tim Sheehy in Montana.
The Never-Trump movement, made up of Republicans who have publicly disavowed the former president, is nothing new. The movement includes The Lincoln Project, an organization of Republicans dedicated to keeping Trump out of the White House, and Republican Voters Against Trump.
Politico columnist Jonathan Martin also argued that the fate of the Republican party could depend on Trump losing this November.
The best possible outcome in November for the future of the Republican Party is for former President Donald Trump to lose and lose soundly, Martin wrote. GOP leaders wont tell you that on the record. I just did.
Martin said many Republicans are looking to accelerate Trumps exit from politics.
One high-level Republican, conceding it may only be wishful thinking, even floated the idea of a Harris victory followed by Biden pardons of both his son, Hunter, and Trump, Martin wrote. That would take the issue of both cases off Harris plate and, more to the point, drain the energy behind Trumps persecution complex so that Republicans can get on with the business of winning elections.
Many Republicans are secretly hoping that Donald Trump will lose the White House this November, new reports reveal ( AP )
Meanwhile, anti-Trump Republicans are spending big to keep the former president down in the polls. Republicans Voters Against Trump spent millions to air 30-second attack ads in key swing states last week. The ads featured testimonials from Republicans who say theyre voting for Kamala Harris.
John Conway, director of strategy for the group, called Trump a threat to democracy who promises to do even more damage to our system if he is returned to power.
Thats why were reminding voters of how high the stakes are this election. And were doing it by spotlighting the voices of the most credible, trusted messengers available: real former Trump voters who refuse to support him again, he said.
The group is also financing a series of billboards that feature the same anti-Trump testimonials.
Harris is currently ahead of Trump by 3.1 points, according to the latest average of national polls.
A CNN poll, released September 4, found that Harris leads Trump in four battlegrounds states: Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia and Nevada. Trump leads in Arizona, while the two are tied in Pennsylvania.
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Hunter Biden has pleaded guilty in his federal tax case as jury selection in his trial was set to begin on Thursday.
This comes after Biden initially rejected the charges and pleaded not guilty. Now, his sentencing is scheduled for December 16 nearly six weeks after the presidential election.
Biden testified that no one had pressured or convinced him to enter a new guilty plea, CNN reports.
President Joe Bidens son originally planned to enter an Alford Plea, his defense attorney Abbe Lowell said in court on Thursday. This meant he would have pleaded guilty and accepted his sentencing, admitting there is enough evidence to convict.
However, Biden changed course on Thursday afternoon and entered a full guilty plea after the prosecution objected.
I want to make something crystal clear the United States opposes an Alford plea, prosecutor Leo Wise said. Hunter Biden is not innocent. Hunter Biden is guilty. He is not permitted to plead guilty on special terms.
Hunter Biden is changing his plea in his federal tax case just ahead of jury selection ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )
Biden was indicted on nine tax-related criminal charges in December, three of which are felony counts. Prosecutors argued he made millions from 2016 to 2020 and engaged in an extravagant lifestyle all while skipping out on more than $1.4m in taxes.
Prosecutors said Biden avoided his taxes and instead spent the cash on drugs, escorts and girlfriends, luxury hotels and rental properties, exotic cars, clothing, and other items of a personal nature.
The presidents son initially tried to have the charges dismissed however, Scarsi sided with the prosecution and denied his request in April.
If the judge accepts his plea, Biden will avoid a trial, during which salacious and embarrassing testimony from more than two dozen witnesses could have come to light, NBC News reports.
His tax trial was originally slated to begin June 20, but his legal team advocated for a delay, arguing that they were struggling to prepare as he faced another trial on gun charges in Delaware.
Biden was convicted earlier this year of three felony gun charges in June, marking the first time a sitting presidents child has been found guilty of a crime. Special counsel David Weiss brought three gun-related charges against him last year, claiming Biden unlawfully purchased a firearm by lying on a federal gun form about his drug use.
He is set to be sentenced in September.
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A former police officer who was sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot has had his sentence lessened after a Supreme Court ruling restricting the use of a federal obstruction charge.
The case could influence the outcome of other January 6 proceedings, including against former President Donald Trump.
Thomas Robertson received his seven-year sentence after he was convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding, civil disorder, entering and remaining in a restricted building, and disorderly conduct.
The sentence was reduced to six years on Wednesday. It was the first time that a defendant linked to the insurrection was resentenced after the Supreme Court ruling, according to USA Today.
Robertson, alongside other defendants, pushed back against the obstruction charge, arguing that the legislation required that he acted corruptly, but he lost his appeal.
He argued that he didnt act corruptly because he didnt try to attain any personal benefit by taking part.
However, another officer, Joseph Fischer, argued that the charge couldnt apply to him or others such as Robertson as the law was written to stop the destruction of documents after the Enron energy scandal. While the officers entered the Capitol, they rejected the notion that they destroyed public records.
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Fischer and in June, the court ordered lower courts to take another look at obstruction cases to see if they had anything to do with the destruction of records. Fischer now wont be charged with obstruction.
After the Fischer ruling, Robertson requested a shorter sentence.
One of his attorneys, Mark Rollins, said, This decision underscores that while the conviction remains, the sentencing must be revisited under a more favorable framework.
More than 330 of the initial 1,400 people charged in the January 6 attack on Congress were charged with obstruction. Out of the four federal charges Trump faces in his election interference, two allege that he obstructed an official proceeding namely the counting of the electoral votes certifying President Joe Bidens 2020 victory.
The Department of Justice has stated that there was no one who was charged only with obstruction.
The prosecution requested that the initial sentence of 87 months remain in place because of Robertsons actions at the capitol.
Robertson came to Washington, DC, along with Jacob Fracker from Rocky Mount, Virginia, where they both served in the citys police department.
Jacob Fracker and Thomas Robertson were at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. He has had his sentence reduced after a Supreme Court ruling. ( Justice Department )
A legal filing stated at the West Front of the Capitol, Robertson struck at least two officers with a large wooden stick.
Robertson subsequently boasted on Facebook about entering the Capitol, writing: If you are too much of a coward to risk arrest, being fired, and actual gunfire to secure your rights, you have no words to speak I value.
Robertson destroyed his and Frackers phones after he became aware of the FBI arrest warrant against him. Guns were found at his home even as the terms of his release prohibited him from having firearms.
In April 2022, Robertson was convicted of all six charges that he faced: Obstruction, interfering with law enforcement, entering a restricted building, disorderly conduct on two counts, and destroying evidence.
The judge at the initial sentencing said Robertson saw politics as akin to war and that he would do similar things again if called upon to do so.
His conviction was upheld in May by a three-judge panel, but one judge, Karen LeCraft Henderson, wrote in a dissent that she would have overturned the conviction following the Fischer ruling.
Robertson subsequently attempted to reduce his sentence based on two rulings the Supreme Court Fischer case and a DC Court of Appeals case known as Brock, which ruled that Congress counting the Electoral College votes does not amount to administration of justice.
That description had meant longer federal guidelines for Robertsons sentence.
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Allan Lichtman, the American political historian known as the Nostradamus of presidential predictions, has officially declared that Kamala Harris will win this years race for the White House.
Kamala Harris will be the next president of the United States, Lichtman said in a video for The New York Times on Thursday.
At least, thats my prediction for this race, but the outcome is up to you, so get out and vote.
The professor, who has taught at the American University in Washington DC since 1973, has correctly called the winner of nine out of the last 10 US presidential races over the last 40 years he did not foresee George W Bush narrowly beating Al Gore in 2000 and also wrongly believed Donald Trump would take the popular vote in 2016 but has otherwise been unerring.
Lichtmans method for forecasting the race so accurately is known as The Keys to the White House, a system he devised with the Russian academic Vladimir Keilis-Borok in 1981.
Their method examines the state of the nation and the incumbent party in an election year in order to determine whether its candidate will come out on top once again in November or whether there is sufficient discontent among voters to allow a rival to pip them at the post.
Lichtmans approach looks at 13 factors, from the presidents partys standing in the House of Representatives to the health of the domestic economy, any record of scandal, social unrest or foreign policy disasters during their tenure and the comparative charisma of the two candidates, in order to decide the victor, applying true or false designations to each category.
If the administration in power achieves six or more true gradings, its candidate is expected to win any fewer and their challenger is likely to come out on top.
In his explanatory video for the NYT, the professor said that eight of the 13 keys currently yield true answers, suggesting a Harris triumph and another four years in government for the Democrats.
Just three of the keys are definitively false but two more could flip that way, he said, although even if they did, five would still not be a sufficient total to deliver a win for the Republican ticket.
Kamala Harris is predicted to win Novembers election, according to Professor Allan Lichtman ( AP )
Foreign policy is tricky, and these keys could flip, Lichtman said.
The Biden administration is deeply invested in the war in Gaza, which is a humanitarian disaster with no end in sight. But even if both foreign policy keys flipped false, that would mean that there were only five negative keys, which would not be enough for Donald Trump to regain the White House.
Speaking to Fox 5 Washington DC, Professor Lichtman further explained that Joe Bidens decision to stand aside in the wake of his disastrous debate performance against Trump in late June has proven a pivotal moment for the 2024 race.
Democrats finally got a spine and got smart and united around Harris, he explained.
That avoided the loss of the party contest key. They already lost one key, the incumbency key, obviously, but to lose both of them is a near-fatal combination. So that made a huge difference.
The other thing: I think Harris has had a positive effect on a couple of other keys. I think she contributed to the fizzling of the Robert F Kennedy Jr campaign since voters no longer have to choose between two old white guys. I hate to say that being an old white guy myself!
And, secondly, I think she contributed to the dampening of major protests because Biden, the policymaker, was no longer out front.
Asked whether anything could yet alter Trumps fortunes, the professor answered: Not since the [American] Civil War has anything in the last 30 days changed a call Does that mean its impossible? Im not so arrogant to say, you know, nothing can change in history.
According to the latest national polling, Harris is four percentage points ahead of Trump on 47 per cent of the vote to 43 per cent, although the candidates appear to be tied in three key battleground states: Pennsylvania, Nevada and Georgia.
The Democrat meanwhile has the lead in two more potentially crucial swing states, Michigan and Wisconsin, while the Republican former president has the advantage in Arizona.
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Over the weekend, news broke that Israel had recovered the bodies of six hostages in Gaza, including that of Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin. Vice President Kamala Harris condemned Hamas in a statement made shortly afterwards.
From its massacre of 1,200 people to sexual violence, taking of hostages, and these murders, Hamas depravity is evident and horrifying, Harris said. The threat Hamas poses to the people of Israel and American citizens in Israel must be eliminated and Hamas cannot control Gaza.
Just weeks before his body was recovered, Goldberg-Polins parents had spoken at the Democratic National Convention. They did so while delegates who represented Uncommitted voters protested that a Palestinian should be able to speak on the main stage of the convention as well. That did not come to pass.
While Harris will face numerous challenges if she wins the White House, Israels war in Gaza will be one of her biggest challenges. For his part, former president Donald Trump has called on Israel to finish the job and lambasted Jewish Americans who overwhelmingly vote Democratic for their support for Harriss party. Trump even went so far as to call Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff a crappy Jew.
Inside Washington spoke to Halie Soifer, who worked as Harriss national security during Harriss first two years as a senator, this week. Soifer, now the chief executive of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, told The Independent that Harris showed a keen understanding of the unique security threats Israel faces.
I saw this firsthand when we traveled to Israel in November 2017. She was looking at Iron Dome batteries at the time, Soifer said. She added that Harris understands the threat Israel faces not just from Hamas but also Hezbollah, both of which are seen as proxies for Iran.
I was at the convention and the uncommitted voters or the uncommitted delegates, as well as the protesters outside, I think, had far less of an impact than they had hoped, and thats because Democrats dont share their view, [nor do] our candidates, Soifer added.
During Harriss interview with CNN last week, the vice president reiterated her support for Israel and refused to say that aid to the country should be conditioned. Soifer noted how as a senator, Harris regularly voted for military aid to Israel and supported the additional aid for Israel that passed in a national security package including aid for Ukraine and Taiwan.
She also has had a distinct voice in terms of this White House in her condemnation of the horrors that we saw perpetrated by Hamas on October 7. Not only has she condemned the murder and abduction of so many, but she specifically condemned sexual violence, Soifer continued. She has given voice to the empathy that we all feel toward innocent Palestinians suffering in Gaza, and her calls for the ongoing flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza are shared by the vast majority of Jewish Americans.
Indeed, during Harriss speech at the convention, Harris said she and President Joe Biden were working around the clock to try and end the war, because now is the time to get a hostage deal and a ceasefire deal done. She added that what has happened in Gaza over the past 10 months is devastating.
Pro-Palestinian advocates have said that this messaging insufficient, largely because it does not actually commit to a change in policy.
Soifer noted how Trumps rhetoric compares to Harriss. Specifically, during the sole debate between Trump and Biden, Trump said Biden was behaving like a Palestinian, an insult he also hurled against Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is Jewish. Later this week, Trump will speak to the Republican Jewish Coalition along with other Republicans.
He has repeatedly denigrated millions of American Jews as recently as last week, and I'm sure he'll do it again this week, because he's speaking to the Republican Jewish Coalition on Thursday and every time he speaks to a group of Jews, including Republicans, he says antisemitic things, Soifer said.
Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu frequently worked hand-in-glove. During his presidency, Trump relocated the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and recognized the Golan Heights as part of Israel.
For his part, during his address to Congress in July, Netanyahu thanked Trump by name for his support. That rankled even some Democrats who attended. Harris herself did not attend the address, despite the fact that vice presidents typically sit behind heads of state during such joint addresses.
Soifer said that Harris would not view the US-Israel relationship through a politicized lens.
She would work with Netanyahu. That said, she's also been clear, including after their meeting in July, that she's going to continue to advocate for US interests and for the interests of Americans, including the American hostages, Soifer said. And she'll continue to have expressed those views in frank conversations with the [Israeli] prime minister, just as this administration has.
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Former Wyoming congressmember Liz Cheney has endorsed Kamala Harris for president, breaking with her fellow conservatives who are supporting Donald Trump.
Cheney, one of Trumps most vocal Republican critics while she was in Congress, said during an event at Duke University on Wednesday that fellow conservatives dont have the luxury of sitting out or writing in other candidates if theyre uneasy about Trump, especially in a swing state like the universitys home of North Carolina.
As a conservative, as someone who believes in and cares about the Constitution, I have thought deeply about this, she told the crowd. Because of the danger that Donald Trump poses, not only am I not voting for Donald Trump, but I will be voting for Kamala Harris.
The announcement was met with cheers from the audience.
The Harris campaign reportedly directly courted an endorsement from Cheney, as it looks to attract support from the small pool of prominent national Republicans who publically criticize Trump.
We talk a lot about the Nikki Haley voters who could decide this election, Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former Trump administration official turned critic told The New York Times last week. More accurately, they are Liz Cheney voters, committed Republicans who likely supported Trump twice but cant support him in the aftermath of Jan. 6 and his criminal convictions.
Harris has also suggested she would name a Republican to her cabinet if elected, putting Cheney in a prime position for consideration.
The Harris-Walz campaign welcomed the endorsement.
The Vice President is proud to have earned Congresswoman Cheneys vote. She is a patriot who loves this country and puts our democracy and our Constitution first, said campaign Chair Jen OMalley.
As she noted in her powerful remarks, this election is a choice between the fundamental threat Donald Trump poses to our democracy and a leader who will stand up for our freedoms and the rule of law in Vice President Harris. Vice President Harris will be a president for all Americans, regardless of political party.
The former Wyoming representative, daughter of former vice president Dick Cheney, became a liberal hero for being the face of the Republican resistance to Trump in Congress until she lost her seat in 2022.
Cheney was one of 10 House Republicans to vote to impeach Trump after the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and one of two to serve on the January 6 committee investigating the incident.
Since then, shes continued to be a thorn in her side, describing him as an existential threat to U.S. democracy.
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Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has been slammed after responding to the school shooting in her home state of Georgia with a simple call for prayers without mentioning the issue of gun violence and her longstanding opposition to gun control.
On Wednesday, two teachers and two students were killed at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. Nine were sent to hospital while dozens more were wounded.
The suspect, a 14-year-old boy, has been charged with four counts of murder in the shooting. The FBI had already noticed him over a year ago when he reportedly made online threats with images of firearms.
Let us join together in prayer for the victims of the school shooting at Apalachee High School and their families just as these students of AHS circled together in prayer today, Greene wrote on X on Wednesday afternoon.
Her bio on the platform states that shes 100 percent Pro-Gun.
In March, Greene shared her rage at the new initiative at the Department of Justice aimed at keeping guns away from high-risk people.
Merrick Garland just announced a massive Red Flag Operation that the DOJ will be running by using EVERY spy tool the US government has in order to violate Americans Second Amendment!! she wrote at the time.
Sharing a video of herself confronting gun control activists in September 2022, Greene wrote on X: These foolish cowards want the government to take away guns & the rights of parents to defend their children in schools.
You have to be an idiot to think gun control will create a utopian society where criminals disarm themselves and obey the law, she added. Gun-free zones kill people.
In 2019, Greene filmed herself following Parkland school shooting survivor and anti-gun violence activist David Hogg, calling him a coward. She once wrote on Facebook that the Parkland shooting was a false flag operation, something she tried to deny during an interview with 60 Minutes.
I never said Parkland was a false flag, Greene said in the spring of last year. Ive never said that. School shootings are horrible. I dont think its anything to joke about.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) gestures while speaking during a hearing in Washington, DC. Now, Greene is facing criticism for her response to the school shooting in her home state ( Getty Images )
Hogg was one of many X users who responded to Greenes call for prayers on Wednesday.
How about you actually do something about guns, he said.
You are a gun-loving cultist who has the power to address our children being murdered while attending school and choose not to. Save your fake prayers, Ryan Shead added.
X user Chidi wrote that Greenes prayers never saved any kid from a bullet. Which begs the question, to whom are you praying? Since the only thing you worship is guns.
Author John Pavlovitz asked the congresswoman how she can type with so much blood on your hands?
Another day, another school shooting. Its the f****** guns and the @GOP will do nothing about it. Youre all bought and paid by the @NRA. Disgusting. Shameful. Pathetic. We see you, and well never forget, one x user added.
Mari Copeny told Greene that Prayers without action are useless. Youre an elected official, do something about it Marjorie.
Jared Ryan Sears called for the removal of all politicians refusing to enact proper federal gun reforms. The blood is on their hands.
It is disgusting that the same politicians who make campaign ads waving their rifles around and shooting at dumb props turn around and only offer thoughts and prayers every time students lives are cut horrifically short, he added. It doesnt have to be this way. None of our peer nations have this problem.
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Former First Lady Melania Trump teased the release of her upcoming memoir in an intense black-and-white video, emphasizing she feels she has a responsibility to clarify the facts after her profile was launched into the public eye as the wife of Donald Trump.
Despite being a private person, she issued a rare public statement to promote her forthcoming memoir, titled Melania set to be released on September 24 just two months before the 2024 presidential election.
In a video posted to X on Thursday, Melania Trump said writing the book has been a deeply personal and reflective journey for her. As a private person who has often been the subject of public scrutiny and misrepresentation, I feel a responsibility to clarify the facts. I believe it is important to share my perspective. The truth, she said.
Melania Trump is releasing a new memoir but has avoided public support for her husbands presidential campaign. She has now shared a video on social media to promote her book. ( Melania Trump/X )
The black-and-white video, set to dramatic orchestral music, features clips of the former First Lady embracing or helping children interspersed with images of her modeling career, important moments with her family, and the former first lady alongside her husband at various presidential events.
Although Thursdays video highlighted photos with Donald Trump her appearances with her husband have become an infrequent occurrence as of late.
The former first lady rarely accompanies Trump on the campaign trail. She only made a brief appearance at the Republican convention in Milwaukee in July, and did not deliver any remarks in support of her husbands candidacy.
She was rarely seen with her husband during his presidency and delayed moving into the White House until June 2017 five months after her husband was sworn in so their son, Barron Trump, could finish school in New York City.
Melania Trump was often rumored but never proven to have spent most of her time in Potomac, Maryland, at a suburban home where her parents resided when she and Donald Trump were in the White House.
The black-and-white video, set to soaring orchestral music, features mainly clips of the former First Lady embracing or helping children. As the video progresses, it also rapidly flicks through images of her at various presidential events alongside her husband. ( Melania Trump/X )
Mary Jordan, a Washington Post journalist who authored an unauthorized biography of Melania Trump called The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump, told Axios that the former First Lady might not set foot in the White House at all if her husband succeeds in winning a second term.
Instead, Jordan suggested she would divide her time between the Trump residences in Palm Beach, Florida, and New York City, where their son is starting college this fall.
These claims support rumors that swirled in July that Melania cut a deal with her husband about reducing her first lady duties, should he take back the White House in November.
Melania does what Melania wants, she said.
Social media users did not take kindly to the video teaser Melania Trump released ahead of her books debut. ( Melania Trump/X )
Social media users did not take kindly to the video teaser she released ahead of her books debut.
I really dont care. Do u? the Republicans Against Trump account commented, referring to Melanias infamous jacket emblazoned with those same words.
No one cares, another user wrote.
The truth, another user wrote, along with a photo of Donald Trump smiling next to porn star Stormy Daniels. In May, Daniels testified that she and the former president had an affair in 2006, while he was married to Melania.
This isnt the first time Melania has received backlash pertaining to her forthcoming book. Many have already judged the book by its cover, as some thought it seemed a little too familiar.
The Melania cover design - her name written in capital letters in white text, centered on a plain black background - closely resembles that of the Chanel book.
One X user wrote at the time: If you were wondering who Melanias book was going to copy from, here you go. Shes decided to rip-off Chanel.
Others similarly accused Melania of copying Chanel, resurfacing allegations from 2016 that she copied parts of Michelle Obamas Democratic National Convention speech and used them for her own remarks at the Republican National Convention.
Did Melania copy a Chanel book cover for her Melania memoir? I dont care really, but its fun to point out. Melania had no problem plagiarizing Michelle Obamas speech, so stealing a book cover isnt a big reach, author David Stone said.
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Watch as Tim Walz campaigned in Pennsylvania as Donald Trump makes a trip to the same state on Wednesday, 4 September.
Kamala Harris's VP pick joined a campaign engagement in Lancaster before travelling to Pittsburgh later in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, the former president was due to visit the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex to record a town hall event with Fox News host Sean Hannity.
Mr Walz's events on Wednesday marked his first solo trip to the state since Ms Harris officially announced her running mate.
Philadelphia is a key battleground state for the upcoming 5 November election.
Mr Walz, Ms Harris, and their respective spouses Gwen Walz and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, took a bus tour of western Pennsylvania before the Democratic National Convention in August.
Mr Trump's VP pick, JD Vance, visited Philadelphia twice last month.
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Donald Trump's campaign staffers face losing their jobs if they speak to the media before the election in November, according to a leaked email from his co-campaign managers.
In the email, seen by NCB News, Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles reportedly wrote that the Republican campaign team has done a great job in preventing leaks, because everyone knows what the policy is and what we expect from everyone.
Information is power, they added, and the press doesnt give a damn if you lose your job because you spoke out of school.
They asked staffers: Please do not deviate from this policy. Success requires buy-in from everyone.
If just one of us goes off course, it jeopardizes not only the team, but also President Trump and Republicans up and down the ballot.
The two senior campaign staffers also noted that they only have 61 days left until victory, an arguably premature statement, particularly considering Kamala Harris currently has a 3.1 point lead over Trump in polls.
The email comes as the Republican ticket is struggling to steady itself after weeks of fallout from several scandals and blunders made by Trump and Vance ( Getty )
This is not the first time an insider email has been leaked from the campaign. On Monday, The Boston Globe obtained an email in which Tom Mountain, a former Republican party vice-chair in Massachusetts, sent a message to volunteers claiming the campaign has determined that New Hampshire is no longer a battleground state.
The Republican ticket is struggling to steady itself after weeks of fallout from several scandals and blunders made by Trump and his vice-presidential pick, JD Vance.
Trump especially has been creating negative headlines for making a campaign event of his visit to the Arlington National Cemetery last week, in addition to rambling speeches peppered with frankly odd claims.
On Wednesday, he repeatedly insisted he and his running mate are not "weird" a label bestowed upon them by Democrat VP candidate Tim Walz that has proved impossible to shake off while also slipping into a rambling tangent about hating mosquitoes.
LaCivita in fact was also unable to escape the heated criticism and did not help his campaigns cause after a cemetery official accused him and another senior campaign member of pushing her aside and verbally abusing her to gain access to a certain part of the cemetery.
And Vance is apparently trying to follow in Mr Trumps footsteps with a string of blunders that left him social media's number one target.
Some are even ridiculing Trump's choice of VP candidate, saying he is the former president's biggest mistake of this campaign, after he has made numerous failed jokes and poorly judged comments about "childless cat ladies," and women who prioritize their careers over having children.
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Longtime Russia expert and Trump 2016 campaign adviser Dimitri Simes allegedly violated U.S. sanctions by working as a high-paid presenter at sanctioned Russian state TV station Channel One Russia.
There, he was lavished with more than $1m, a personal car, and an apartment in Moscow, according to a pair of federal indictments unsealed on Thursday.
These defendants allegedly violated sanctions that were put in place in response to Russias illegal aggression in Ukraine, U.S. Attorney Matthew M Graves said in a statement to the Association Press.
Such violations harm our national security interests a fact that Dimitri Simes, with the deep experience he gained in national affairs after fleeing the Soviet Union and becoming a U.S. citizen, should have uniquely appreciated.
Simes, 76, was the longtime head of the Center for the National Interest think tank and advised the 2016 Trump campaign on foreign policy.
Contacts between Simes, the center, Russian officials, and the Trump campaign were described in the Mueller report into Russian interference in US politics, though Simes was not accused of any wrongdoing.
Indictments accuse Dimitri and Anastasia Simes of violating U.S. sanctions targeting Russia by working for state TV and buying art for a sanctioned oligarch ( Photo host Agency RIA Novosti )
The Independent has contacted Simess long-time lawyer, Channel One, and the Russian government for comment.
The Trump campaign pointed The Independent towards posts Trump made Thursday on Truth Social, where he claimed, Kamala Harris and her Department of Justice are trying to interfere in and suppress the Election in favor of the Democrats by resurrecting the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, and trying to say that Russia is trying to help me, which is absolutely FALSE.
Simes began working with the TV network in 2018 and was allegedly aware of the sanctions levied against it in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine, but continued to work with the channel, hosting the program The Great Game.
At Channel One, he got direction about the nature of his coverage from network officials, met with Russian government members, and spoke to Vladimir Putin by phone in 2023, according to the indictment.
The policy expert also allegedly tried to launder the proceeds of his work for the state network.
Last month, following an FBI search at his estate in Virginia, Simes said he was unaware of the allegations against him and accused U.S. officials of seeking to intimidate him.
It clearly is an attempt to intimidate, not only somebody from Russia, but just anyone who goes against official policies and particularly against the deep state, he told the Russian network Sputnik.
In his interview with Sputnik, Simes added that he hadnt been in the United States since 2022.
A second indictment alleges Simess wife Anastasia separately violated US sanctions by buying art and antiques for Aleksandr Yevgenyevich Udodov, a Russian oligarch sanctioned in 2023 for his management consulting work on the Russian economy.
The indictment alleges Anastasia Simes bought more than 900 artworks from over 30 arthouses and galleries across the U.S. and Europe, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to purchase the works, which were stored at the residence in Virginia for later shipment to Russia. In exchange, she allegedly received a fee.
The Independent was unable to contact Udodov for comment.
The indictments, heard before a grand jury in June, come amid renewed scrutiny of alleged Russian influence over U.S. public affairs in the run-up to the 2024 election.
In August, the FBI reportedly searched the home of Russia Today contributor Scott Ritter, a former UN weapons inspector and critic of U.S. foreign policy.
Im being targeted because I have made an effort to try to improve relations between the United States and Russia, to try to bring about arms control. To try to bring about peace, Ritter told the Delmar, New York-based Spotlight News site the day of the search. Apparently, someone in the U.S. government takes umbrage at this.
This week, federal law enforcement agencies also revealed they have seized 32 Russian-backed websites that prosecutors say were designed to spread disinformation and boost the 2024 Trump campaign, and charged two employees of Russian state network RT with launching a $10m propaganda scheme using popular right-wing social media influencers.
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Donald Trump had better hope the US justice system has a more forgiving sentencing philosophy than his own.
Earlier this week, Trump's national press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, told the New York Times that the former president "believes anyone convicted of a crime should spend time behind bars.
Leavitt made the comment in response to the re-conviction of Jamie Davidson, whose domestic violence sentence Trump commuted in 2021.
Trumps own logic would condemn him to jail after he was convicted in May by a Manhattan jury on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the Stormy Daniels hush-money case. He'll be sentenced on September 18.
NBC News asked Leavitt about the comment and questioned whether Trump would apply it to his own conviction.
Former president Donald Trump believes anyone who has committed a crime should face jail time. Hell be sentenced on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the Stormy Daniels hush-money case on September 18. ( Getty Images )
President Trump believes criminals should spend time behind bars, unlike Kamala Harris, who wants to eliminate cash bail," she said.
Trump will likely not count himself as a criminal, as he has repeatedly insisted that his conviction and other upcoming trials are political witch hunts, and that he has done nothing wrong.
The former president even tried to have his hush money case moved to a federal court, but on Tuesday that move was denied by a federal judge.
Trump's attorneys have challenged the decision in the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals.
His campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, issued a statement saying that his defense team will "continue to fight to move this hoax into federal court where it should be put out of its misery once and for all."
US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who ruled against the move, said Trump's team failed to clear the high burden of proof needed to justify a change of jurisdiction. The judge also noted that the case involved Trump's private, unofficial acts, outside the bounds of executive authority," and thus could not be dismissed based on the Supreme Court's presidential immunity ruling.
Trump's team is also trying to convince Judge Juan Merchan to delay sentencing in the hush-money trial until after the 2024 US presidential election on November 5. He is set to make a ruling on the potential delay on September 16, just two days before Trump is scheduled to be sentenced.
The former president has also pleaded not guilty to charges he faces in other cases, including two election interference investigations and the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case.
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Stock in Donald Trumps media company hit its lowest level on Wednesday since being publically listed earlier this year.
Trump Media, the parent company of Trumps Truth Social Network, was trading at $16.98 at closing on Wednesday, down more than 78 percent from the stocks March high of $79.38 per share.
The slump means that Donald Trump, the companys largest shareholder, has seen his personal, roughly 60 percent stake decline in value from $6bn to $2bn during that time.
A number of factors could be driving the crash of the stock price, which often serves as an unofficial barometer of how investors perceive Trumps political and business fortunes at any given moment.
On September 19, Trump and other early investors will be allowed to begin selling their shares, which could further depress Trump Medias share price, according to The New York Times.
Outside of a potential selloff on the horizon, Trump is also back on mainstream social media platforms like X, undercutting the appeal of Truth Social, which was for a time the main social media platform he used to connect with followers.
Then theres the value of Trump Media itself, which retains, according to its stock price, a market value of $3.5bn despite pulling in less than $1m in second-quarter sales, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Last but not least, theres the question of the future of the Trump campaign, with the Harris campaign retaining a modest lead in national polling since the end of July.
Trump Media has ranged all over the table, often in line with key moments in Trumps public life, from a decline after his hush money verdict in May, to bumps up after Trumps successful debate win against Biden and surviving an assassination attempt.
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Donald Trump repeatedly insisted that he and running mate JD Vance were not weird, moments before launching into a tangent about hating mosquitoes during a town hall, where he also attacked rival Kamala Harris and promised the largest deportation in history if he was to return to the White House.
The former president participated in a one-hour, pre-taped event with Fox News Sean Hannity in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on Wednesday.
With few interjections from Hannity, Trump repeated common refrains about Harris economic agenda and her record at the border. He also worked to distance himself and JD from the weird label first given to them Democratic vice presidential candidate, Tim Walz.
Hannity started asking a question about Walz, which Trump quickly derailed in favor of discussing Walzs extended familys endorsement of him.
I was so honored today. His brother endorsed me and his whole family! Trump said. I saw the picture. Honestly, it was a very nice looking family.
Donald Trump takes part in a town hall moderated by Fox News broadcaster Sean Hannity at the New Holland Arena in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on September 4 ( AFP via Getty Images )
Earlier on Wednesday, eight of Walzs distant relatives shared a photo of them wearing grammatically incorrect Walzs for Trump T-shirts while standing in front of a Trump 2024 flag.
Speaking about Walz, Trump said: There is something weird with that guy. Hes a weird guy. JD is not weird. Hes a solid rock. I happen to be a very solid rock.
The crowd erupted into cheers as he said: Were not weird. We are other things, perhaps, but were not weird.
Minutes later, Trump was sidetracked by a mosquito which appeared to bother him on stage.
I hate mosquitos. Im surprised, I didnt think we had... We dont like those mosquitoes running around, he said. We want nothing to do with them and we want nothing to do with bad politicians that hate our country, too.
Most of the town hall, however, was focused on bashing Harris border policies. Trump made a number of familiar false claims about migrants, alleging that they are murderers, child traffickers, and drug dealers coming into the US from prisons, mental institutions, and very bad places. Trump then promised the largest deportation in the history of the country if he were elected in November.
Donald Trump and Sean Hannity at a pre-recorded town hall in Pennsylvania which aired Wednesday on Fox News ( AFP via Getty Images )
The former president also slammed Harriss economic plan. While Trumps proposal has pushed tax cuts for high-income Americans, Harris unveiled part of her plan on Wednesday that emphasizes benefits for the middle class and small businesses.
Discussing her proposal, Trump warned: This country will end up in a depression if she becomes president, like 1929. She has no idea what the hell shes doing.
Trump then took a jab at Harriss father. He called Donald Harris, professor emeritus at Stanford, a Marxist teacher of economics. Trump has been referring to the vice president as a Marxist and a communist in recent weeks.
Trumps town hall on Hannity stemmed from a debate debacle with Harris. The former president had proposed that he and Harris debate on Fox News on September 4, prompting Harris to claim he was running scared. After much back and forth, both presidential candidates agreed to debate on September 10 on ABC News.
Six days ahead of the hotly anticipated debate, Trump took the opportunity to criticize that network, calling it the most dishonest network, the meanest, the nastiest and branding one of its anchors, George Stephanopoulos, as a nasty guy.
The debate will be moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis, not Stephanopoulos.
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Russian president Vladimir Putin has claimed that he wants Kamala Harris to win the presidential election because President Joe Biden endorsed her - and because she has an expressive and infectious laugh.
On Thursday, during the Eastern Economic Forum, the Russian president claimed that Biden was his favorite candidate but that since he dropped out he will now support the new Democratic nominee.
Our favorite, if you can call it that, was the current president Mr. Biden, Putin said, with a smirk.
He was removed from the race, but he recommended that all his supporters support Ms. Harris. Thats what well do too, he said, according to a translation from Russian media outlet TASS.
He appeared to continue to mock Harris, adding: "She laughs so expressively and infectiously that it means that everything is fine with her. The autocrat also said he hoped that means she would not introduce sanctions against Russia.
Russian president Vladimir Putin mocked Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris during the Eastern Economic Forum on Thursday ( AP )
Putin also claimed that ultimately, the choice is up to the American people and that Russia will respect that.
On Wednesday, the United States unsealed an indictment accusing Russia of attempting to influence the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.
Federal prosecutors allege that Putins allies directed Russian state media companies to disseminate misinformation and Russian propaganda online with the intent to try and influence this years election.
U.S. law enforcement agents seized 32 Russian-backed websites that were designed to boost Trumps campaign. Two employees of the Russian state network RT were charged over allegedly launching a $10m propaganda scheme using American right-wing influencers.
On Thursday, federal prosecutors also unveiled an indictment against Trumps 2016 campaign adviser and Russian expert, Dimitri Simes, alleging that he violated U.S. sanctions by working as a presenter at a Russian state TV station.
For several years, the U.S. has accused Russia of trying to influence its elections using misinformation and disinformation online and on social media. Intelligence reports concluded that Russia meddled in the 2016 election to help Trump win.
The Kremlin has repeatedly denied meddling in U.S. elections.
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Tim Walz mocked rival JD Vance with a donut joke as he visited a farmers market in the battleground state of Pennsylvania.
Kamala Harriss running mate poked fun at his Republican counterparts awkward attempt to make small talk at a donut store in Valdosta, Georgia last month. Awkward video of the event included one worker telling Vance that she did not want to appear on camera as he picked out sweet treats.
On Wednesday, Walz visited Cherry Hill Orchards and Farm in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in a state that will be crucial for Harriss victory in November.
What am I looking at in a Whoopie Pie? Walz asked the manager before getting in a crack at Vance.
I have no problem picking out doughnuts, the Minnesota governor joked.
Look at me I have no problem picking out donuts.
-- Tim Walz getting pumpkin and chocolate whoopie pies and apple cider donuts at Cherry Hill Orchards in Lancaster Pennsylvania pic.twitter.com/doSyzBNxT9 Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) September 4, 2024
Vances own donut experience has been used by Democrats to reinforce their weird characterization of the senator from Ohio.
Im JD Vance, and Im running for vice president, the Republican candidate said to a member of staff after he walked into Holts Sweet Shop in Valdosta.
OK, she responded uncomfortably before Vances team was asked to stop filming.
JD Vance trying to order doughnuts set to the Veep end credits pic.twitter.com/KvovUevMHX Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) August 22, 2024
Walz and Vance will go head to head in the vice presidential debate on October 1 on CBS. It will be moderated by CBS Evening News anchor Norah ODonnell and chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan.
The first debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will take place on September 10 in Philadelphia. It will be hosted by ABC Network anchors, David Muir and Linsey Davis.
A second debate is expected to take place in October although a date and venue has not been set.
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New Zealands Maori chiefs have anointed Nga Wai hono i te po as their new queen and eighth monarch, to succeed her father King Tuheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero VII who passed away at 69 after a heart surgery.
Ms Nga Wai, 27, is only the second Maori queen after her grandmother Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu.
She was chosen as Kuini by a council of Maori chiefs at Turangawaewae Marae on North Island on Thursday, and hailed as a new dawn.
King Tuheitia was laid to rest at Mount Taupiri after lying in state for six days.
Ms Nga Wai, a University of Waikato graduate groomed to succeed her father, is set for a potentially lengthy reign.
This is more than a generational shift, New Zealand First MP Shane Jones said.
Shell be the face of renewal. Given the extent of Maori youth, I suspect she will personify their aspirations.
The Maori crown is not automatically passed down. The late king leaves two sons behind, Te Ariki Tamaaroa Whatumoana Paki and Te Ariki Turuki Korotangi Paki, but neither was chosen as the successor.
Maori leaders and politicians agreed that Ms Nga Wais appointment was essential for the Kiingitanga or Maori king movement with her influence expected to be profound across New Zealand for many years to come.
The Kiingitanga was launched in 1858 to unite New Zealands indigenous tribes under one leader in a bid to strengthen their resistance against colonialism. The role of the Maori monarch, although largely ceremonial and without legal authority, holds significant influence as they are regarded as the paramount chief of several tribes.
A council of New Zealands Maori chiefs anointed a new queen on 5 September 2024 as a flotilla of war canoes readied to transport her father, the late monarch, for burial on a sacred mountain. ( Getty )
Annette Sykes, a lawyer and Maori rights advocate, said the queen embodied the future she had been striving for. Shes inspiring, the revitalisation and reclamation of our language has been a 40-year journey for most of us and she epitomises that, it is her first language, she speaks it with ease, she said.
Political, economic and social wellbeing for our people is at the heart of what she wants and in many ways she is like her grandmother, who was adored by the nation, Ms Sykes was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
We have all watched her grow up, shes very humble, I have watched her mature into this woman who has this thirst for authentic knowledge and brings this into the modern world. Shes someone who wears Gucci and she wears moko kauae, Ms Sykes added, referring to a traditional Maori chin tattoo.
She is leading us into uncharted and turbulent waters, and she will do it with aplomb.
Maori warriors paddle waka canoes down towards Taupiri Maunga during the funeral ceremony of King Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII in Ngaruawahia on 5 September 2024. ( AFP via Getty )
Ms Nga Wai was enthroned at a ceremony on Thursday morning in the small town of Ngaruawahia. She was escorted to the throne by the Kiingitanga advisory council of 12 elders from various tribes who chose her as the queen.
The Maori world has been yearning for younger leadership to guide us in the new world of AI, genetic modification, global warming and in a time of other social changes that question and threaten us and Indigenous Peoples of New Zealand, Maori cultural advisor Karaitiana Taiuru told AFP news agency.
It is certainly a break from traditional Maori leadership appointments which tend to succeed to the eldest child, usually a male.
Maori warriors participate in the funeral ceremony of King Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII in Ngaruawahia on 5 September 2024 ( AFP via Getty )
Ms Nga Wai, draped in a wreath of leaves, a cloak and a whalebone necklace, sat next to her fathers coffin as ceremonial rites were performed.
Since the new conservative government led by the National Party took over last October, the Kiingitanga has become more active in uniting the Maori against proposed policies seen as a setback for their rights.
The Maori are about 17 per cent of New Zealands population.
Ms Nga Wai, who has a Masters degree in Maori cultural practices and traditions, began teaching kapa haka during her second and third years at the University of Waikato, New Zealand Herald reported. Kapa haka is a ceremonial dance of the Maori tribe.
In a university interview, she said kapa haka was a central part of her life. I go home to my parents house and my little nephew is there and hes trying to do the haka. So it is just everywhere. Ive been brought up in it, I am it. A lot of people are kapa haka. Its the embodiment of Maoritanga, she said.
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Four of the victims of last months Bayesian yacht disaster died after oxygen ran out in an air bubble on the sunken vessel, it has been reported.
Autopsies over the past few days on four of those who died have revealed an absence of water in their lungs, suggesting they suffocated as the air became saturated with carbon dioxide, Italian publication La Repubblica said.
The outlet reported post-mortems showed four people died from atypical drowning, with no water in their lungs, trachea and stomach. There were no signs of external injuries.
The results appear to back up investigators opinions that the victims sought out air pockets inside the yacht before they died.
The incident on 19 August, which claimed the lives of seven people including British tech magnate Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, unfolded last month after a violent storm hit the Bayesian off the coast of Sicily.
The yacht sank quickly, trapping the victims below deck as it settled on its right side. Divers who retrieved the victims bodies on board found five of them, including Mr Lynch, in one cabin on the left side of the yacht. Hannah Lynchs body was the last to be found, in a separate cabin.
Jonathan Bloomer had a 50-year career in the finance sector, while his wife Judith worked as a psychotherapist for nearly 30 years ( Family handout/PA )
The body of the yachts chef, Recaldo Thomas, was also recovered floating near the wreckage, which lies 50 metres below the surface.
Investigators believe the victims sought out remaining air pockets as the vessel moved sharply to the right while sinking.
However, it is unlikely to have lasted long as it would have been small and quickly filled with rising levels of toxic carbon dioxide.
The findings of the autopsies, detailed in La Repubblica on Wednesday, appeared to support this theory.
Among the victims examined so far were 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.
Previous reports suggested Mr and Ms Morvillo, whose autopsies were carried out first, both died by drowning.
But post-mortems have found the lungs of the four people were not fully of water, which is otherwise known as dry drowning.
La Repubblica reported Ms Barcares, who is also the CEO of the company that owns the superyacht, made it to the deck barefoot but only thought about saving her daughter and her husband trapped below.
Chris Morvillo, who died alongside wife Neda, had defended yacht owner Lynch in a fraud trial ( Patrick McMullan/Getty )
As the boat reared up, she cut herself on broken glass and was unable to reach the cabins and help Mr Lynch and their daughter Hannah before the electrical blackout on the Bayesian.
For a week after the sinking, she said she could not walk because of the lacerations to her feet.
The remaining autopsies, on Mr Lynch, his daughter and Mr Thomas, are scheduled for Friday, the newspaper added.
Nine crew members and six passengers, including Mr Lynchs wife, survived by escaping on an inflatable life raft.
Prosecutors have launched an investigation into the yachts captain, New Zealander James Cutfield, along with two Britons engineer Tim Parker Eaton and crew member Matthew Griffiths over allegations of possible manslaughter and culpable shipwreck.
Autopsies on Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah are scheduled for Friday ( Tancredi )
Mr Parker Eaton denied claims that external doors were left open during the storm, which reportedly allowed water to flood the engine room.
According to Italian news agency Ansa, Mr Griffiths who was on watch duty at the time told investigators: I woke up the captain when the wind was at 20 knots [23mph/37kph]. He gave orders to wake everyone else.
The ship tilted and we were thrown into the water. Then we managed to get back up and tried to rescue those we could.
We were walking on the walls [of the boat]. We saved who we could, Cutfield also saved the little girl and her mother.
The men have been permitted to leave Sicily as investigators work to piece together the crucial events that unfolded in the 16-minute window between the yacht being hit by a suspected downburst storm at 3.50am and its rapid sinking at 4.06am, just 400 metres from its anchorage near the Sicilian port of Porticello.
Being investigated does not imply guilt and does not mean formal charges will follow.
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A woman who was allegedly repeatedly drugged and raped by her now-ex husband and dozens of men he invited into their home has told his trial that her world collapsed after she was sacrificed on the altar of vice.
Speaking in a calm and clear voice, Gisele Pelicot, 72, detailed to the court in the southern France city of Avignon the horror of discovering that Dominique Pelicot, 71, systematically filmed the suspected rapes by dozens of men while she was unconcious storing thousands of images that police investigators later found.
I was sacrificed on the altar of vice, she testified. They regarded me like a rag doll, like a garbage bag... I no longer have an identity. I dont know if Ill ever rebuild myself.
For me, everything collapses. These are scenes of barbarity, of rape.
She told the court having waived her right to anonymity that she hopes her testimony might help spare other women from similar ordeals. She said she pushed for the trial in open court in solidarity with other women who go unrecognised as victims of sexual crimes.
She knew nothing of what was inflicted on her. She had no memory of the rapes she suffered, lawyer Antoine Camus told France Bleu radio.
Ms Pelicot only learned of the alleged rapes after her husband of 50 years was caught taking photos of womens crotches in a supermarket in late 2020 leading police to search his phone and computer hard drives.
Gisele Pelicot was allegedly abused by 72 different men between 2011 and 2020 at her family home as she lay unconscious ( AP )
Ms Pelicot thanked the lieutenant in the town of Carpentras who arrested her husband. He saved my life and I probably wouldnt be here without him, she said.
She and her husband of 50 years had three children. When they retired, the couple moved into a house in a small town in Provence. I thought we were a close couple, she told the court.
She left her husband after police showed her some of the images documenting her alleged abuse, taking two suitcases. It was all that was left for me of 50 years of life together, she told the court.
Ms Pelicot told the court her daughter screamed like a wild beast when she heard the allegations.
I will never forget this, she said. When I told my sons about this, I dont think they really understood, they were withdrawn and didnt react much. I think they were in a state of shock. They said dont say such silly things.
Police investigators found communications Dominique Pelicot allegedly sent on a messaging website commonly used by criminals, in which he invited men to sexually abuse his wife. The website has been shut down.
Dominique Pelicot and 50 other men are now standing trial on charges of rape and face up to 20 years in prison ( Reuters )
Because Dominique Pelicot videotaped the alleged rapes, police were able to track down over a period of two years a majority of the 72 suspects they were seeking.
As well as Pelicot, whose lawyer has said he always declared himself guilty, 50 other men, aged 22 to 70, are standing trial. Several defendants are denying some of the accusations against them, alleging they were manipulated by Pelicot. The defendants face 20 years in prison if convicted of aggravated rape.
Details of the alleged abuses, which investigators said began in 2011 and continued for a decade have emerged during the trial, which began on Monday.
During questioning earlier, Pelicot told investigators that men invited to the couple's home had to follow certain rules they could not talk loudly, had to remove their clothes in the kitchen, could not wear perfume nor smell of tobacco.
Over the next few months, the defendants will appear in small groups before a panel of five judges, with Dominique Pelicot scheduled to speak next week.
The trial continues and is expected to last until December.
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A wave of violent storms battered northern Italy on Thursday, raising fears for the life of a man who was swept away on a tractor in the Piedmont region.
Footage by state TV RAI showed the wheel of the vehicle still visible inside the Orco creek, near Turin, where the tractor overturned in muddy water. Searches for the missing man, 58, were still underway on Thursday afternoon, local rescuers said.
In Piedmonts Val di Susa, two bridges collapsed, isolating a total of about 50 people in two villages after another river overflowed, blocking a provincial road.
Two other northern regions, Lombardy and Veneto, were hit by widespread flooding which caused damage and disruption in the city of Milan, where the local Seveso and Lambro rivers overflowed.
Firefighters in Milan said they attended dozens of call-outs to rescue people stuck in their cars in flooded road underpasses and to drain basements filled with water.
Residents walk through flooded streets in Milan, northern Italy, Thursday
Some subway services had to be suspended due to the flooding. For the first time since it was founded in 1976, Milans Radio Popolare station went off air because its broadcast center was inundated with water.
Scientists warn that the climate crisis is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, droughts, downbursts and flooding, in Europe and around the globe. Storms are becoming heavier because warm air can hold more moisture.
Southern Italy has been recently suffering a severe drought, causing massive problems for local agriculture and tourism, especially in the islands of Sicily and Sardinia.
Meanwhile, in Spain a British woman has been found dead while emergency services search for a UK man after both were apparently swept away in a flash flood while hiking on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca, Spanish police said.
Spains Civil Guard said that both people were on a trail that leads through a small canyon to the sea when the storm hit on Tuesday.
The police initially issued the erroneous information that they had found the body of the man and were searching for the woman. They later said it was the woman who had been found dead on Wednesday.
More inclement weather was forecast for the island and parts of Spains mainland.
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Former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has been appointed as the new French prime minister following weeks of political deadlock.
Mr Barnier, who negotiated Britains departure from the European Union between 2016 and 2019, has been tasked with forming a new government by French president Emmanuel Macron.
Mr Macron has spent weeks trying to find a compromise candidate for his minority government that would not be blocked by the powerful left-wing alliance in parliament or the hard right National Rally (RN).
French president Emmanuel Macron poses with former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier ( AFP/Getty )
The 73-year-old is seen as being more acceptable to Marine Le Pens National Rally and the moderate wing of the Socialist Party, the junior partner of the left-wing New Popular Front.
However, hard-left France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Melenchon slammed the appointment and said the new executive was practically a government of Macron along with Marine le Pen while calling for protests.
The 73-year-old is seen as being more acceptable to Marine Le Pens National Rally and the moderate wing of the Socialist Party ( Reuters )
National Rally chairman Jordan Bardella, said: We will judge his general policy speech, his budgetary decisions and his actions on the evidence. We reserve all political means of action if this is not the case in the coming weeks.
Mr Barnier will be faced with the daunting challenge of trying to push reforms and the 2025 budget through a hung parliament.
The New Popular Front, which includes anti-capitalists, greens and communists, won the largest share of seats in snap elections that ended on 7 July.
Mr Macrons centrist Renaissance bloc came second, with the populist National Rally in third place. The president previously refused to appoint a prime minister from the leftist bloc.
Mr Barnier was known as a tough negotiator during Britains withdrawal from the European Union. His appointment is likely to rile pro-Brexit groups in the UK.
France Unbowed leaderJean-Luc Melenchon has called for protests after Barnier was appointed ( EPA )
He is a staunch pro-European and a career, moderate politician, but he has toughened his discourse in recent years and said immigration was out of control.
Mr Barniers political views are overall quite close to Mr Macrons, and it was crucial for the French president that his new prime minister would not try to undo reforms pushed through over the past years, in particular Mr Macrons pension reform.
It remains unclear if the veteran politician will fully try to implement Mr Macrons political agenda or bring in new proposals. In any case, he will need to negotiate with other parties to get legislation adopted in parliament.
This nomination comes after an unprecedented cycle of consultations, and in view of his constitutional duty, the president made sure that the prime minister and its government will have the most stable conditions possible, the Elysee Palace said.
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Police have shot dead a an 18-year-old man in Munich, who officials said had opened fire at police in an area near the Israeli consulate and a museum on the citys Nazi-era history.
A police spokesperson said officers had been alerted to a person carrying a long gun at around 9am, after which there was an exchange of fire in which the suspect was fatally wounded. Bavaria's top security official, state Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann, said the suspect had opened fire at police and they returned fire. "Due to the intervention of the police, the perpetrator was stopped," Mr Herrmann told reporters.
Police have identified the man shot dead as an Austrian national believed to be resident in Austria.
Police said the man was carrying an older weapon with a repeating mechanism. Police said they had increased their presence in the city, which is Germanys third largest, but they had no indication of incidents at any other locations or of any other suspects with no further casualties reported.
The incident took place in the central Karolinenplatz area, where police announced at 9:15am that there was a major operation under way. The outlet Suddeutsche Zeitung reported that a suspect had fired two gunshots at the museum, which sits of the site of the former Nazi Party headquarters.
The suspect's motive is under investigation, poice said. Thursday marks the 52nd anniversary of an attack by Palestinian militants on the Israeli delegation at the 1972 Olympics, in which 11 Israeli team members, a police officer and five of the assailants were killed.
Police officers block a street after police said they fired shots at a suspicious person ( AP Photo/Matthias Schrader )
Israels Foreign Ministry said the consulate in Munich was closed to mark the anniversary of the 1972 attack, so no staff were hurt.
Benedikt Frank, chief executive of the annual Munich Security Conference, said his office had been put into lockdown, telling the newspaper Bild: At 9.10am there was suddenly a loud bang. We heard at least a dozen shots.
Germanys interior minister Nancy Faeser described Thursdays shooting as a serious incident and said the protection of Israeli institutions is of the highest priority. Ms Faeser she was in contact with emergency services but did not want to speculate on further details.
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Israels consul general to southern Germany, Talya Lador, expressed her gratitude to the Munich police for their actions and cooperation, adding: This event shows how dangerous the rise of antisemitism is. It is important that the general public raises its voice against it.
The nearby Munich Documentation Center for the History of National Socialism, which opened in 2015 and explores the city's past as the birthplace of the Nazi movement, also said all of its employees were unharmed.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he spoke with German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier. He wrote on the social media platform X that "together we expressed our shared condemnation and horror" at the shooting.
Associated Press contributed to this report
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Donald Trump boasted of a very good relationship with both Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin on Friday as he hosted the Ukrainian leader for a meeting at his New York City skyscraper.
The former president also repeated a bizarre boast that he could, if re-elected in November, negotiate an end to the nearly three-year Russian war against Ukraine.
Trump, who was impeached in 2019 for using American defense assistance to pressure Zelensky to launch sham investigations into President Joe Biden and his son, was being briefed on Kyivs latest plan for victory against Putin.
We have a very good relationship, he told reporters as he stood with Zelensky. And I also have a very good relationship, as you know, with President Putin. And if we win, I think were going to get it resolved very quickly, he said.
Zelensky quickly interjected: I hope we have more good relations between us.
Zelensky said he and Trump share a common view that the war ... has to be stopped, and Putin cant win and Ukrainians have to prevail.
And I want to discuss with you the details of our plan, he added.
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump meets with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky at Trump Tower, Friday 27 September in New York ( AP )
For his part, Trump said he and Zelensky have had a great relationship, citing Zelenskys decision to deny that Trump had exerted any pressure on him during the July 2019 phone call in which hed linked sending Javelin anti-tank missiles to Zelenskys announcement of investigations into the Bidens.
So we're going to sit down just discuss it, and if we have a win, I think long before January 20, before I would take the presidency ... I think that we can work out something that's good for both sides. It's time, he said.
Trump had previously cancelled plans to meet with the Ukrainian leader after Zelensky sparked GOP outrage by visiting the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in the battleground state of Pennsylvania over the weekend.
He reversed course late Thursday after Zelenskys meeting with Harris, during which the Democratic presidential nominee told Zelensky that her support for Kyivs defense is unwavering.
In what appeared to be a veiled swipe at Trump and his Republican allies, Harris admitted to Zelensky that there are some in the US who would instead force Ukraine to give up large parts of its sovereign territory, who would demand that Ukraine accept neutrality, and would require Ukraine to forgo security relationships with other nations.
These proposals are the same as those of Putin, and let us be clear: They are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable, she said.
Zelensky has been in the United States for the UN General Assembly, where on Wednesday he warned world leaders that Russian President Vladimir Putin is attempting to break the Ukrainian spirit by targeting his countrys energy infrastructure. He also cautioned against accepting purported peace deals that would be negotiated without Ukraine having a say.
Any parallel or alternative attempts to seek peace are, in fact, efforts to achieve an out instead of an end to the war, he said, adding later that he was skeptical of the true interest behind a recent push by China and Brazil to foster an end to the conflict.
When some propose alternatives, half-hearted settlement plans, so-called sets of principles, it not only ignores the interests and suffering of Ukrainians ... it not only ignores reality, but also gives Putin the political space to continue the war, he said.
Earlier in the week, Zelensky also toured a Pennsylvania plant where munitions destined for his armed forces are being made. That visit drew anger from Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, who called for Zelensky to fire the Ukrainian ambassador to the US in response. Johnsons outrage was supposedly due to no Republicans being invited along to the tour of the plant, though White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre dismissed it as a political stunt by the GOP at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.
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Former Istanbul street dogs Dali and Deezi now live in the Netherlands, enjoying a pampered home life after years in a shelter in the Turkish city, and as other strays face being rounded up under a new law to clear them from the streets.
Turkeys parliament passed a law in July ordering the impounding of the countrys estimated four million stray dogs, despite protests by animal lovers and the opposition, who fear it will lead to many being put down.
The legislation, motivated by concerns about attacks by dogs, road accidents and rabies, aims to place all strays in municipal shelters by 2028. It says that any dogs showing aggressive behaviour or with untreatable disease will be euthanised.
Animal rights activist Nilgul Sayar, who runs an NGO shelter for dogs near Istanbul, has sent hundreds of dogs abroad for adoption but says demand has jumped since the law passed.
We have around 20-25 dogs ready to fly, she said. People continue to reach out to us (for adoption). I hope we will send more dogs soon. They will all have good homes.
Dali, a-three-legged stray dog, is pictured at Istanbul Grand Airport before travelling to Netherlands via Brussels, in Istanbul ( REUTERS )
Getting a dog ready to travel to the European Union with the necessary paperwork and vaccinations can take 3-4 months and cost around 1,000 euros ($1,107).
Illustrating the scale of the challenge, Turkish shelters have capacity for 100,000 dogs and little space for more. Sayar said it often takes years to find homes for the large, old and disabled dogs that form the majority in her shelter. Cities are set to build more pounds to comply with the law.
Dog Deezi from an Istanbul shelter walks with its new owners Caroline and Meike in Haarlem, Netherlands September 3, 2024 ( REUTERS )
Dali, named after painter Salvador Dalis three-legged chair, lost a leg when hit by a car as a two-month-old wandering the streets. Dali and nine-year-old Deezi lived in Sayars shelter for four years.
We wanted to support these dogs and find loving families abroad, said Ali Okay, who volunteered to fly with them from Turkey to Belgium. The animals were later taken to the Netherlands by NGO Animal Care Projects.
Animal rights activists take part in a rally to protest against the law ( REUTERS )
Thousands of Turks have protested against the law in recent weeks. Stray dogs and cats can be seen in streets across Turkey and are loved by many people, who look after them, putting out food and water and erecting shelters. Large strays sometimes sleep in shop doorways, with people gently stepping around them.
In response to the new law, some companies are adopting strays for their offices, a hotel on the coast built a dog shelter to introduce them to tourists and some vets are offering free vaccinations for those who adopt animals from the streets.
Turkey used to trap and neuter dogs then return them to the streets. Critics of the new law say dog numbers would have been under control if this policy had been implemented properly.
A stray dog Sayko is seen inside a vehicle at an animal shelter in Istanbul ( REUTERS )
Dali is now in a foster home in the Netherlands awaiting adoption. Deezi is settling into her new home in Haarlem and is relaxed and happy, said new owner Caroline Dieleman.
She was mourning the death of one of her dogs in June when she heard about Turkeys new law and decided to rescue Deezi.
The new law makes me feel sick physically but also powerless, said Dieleman. This was a little thing I could do... it is one dog only, from how many dogs. But one is better than none.
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Animal-rights activists say a beluga whale that rose to fame over suspicions Russia trained it as a spy was shot before it was found dead.
A father and son out fishing off the Norwegian coast on Saturday found the carcase of Hvaldimir which was first discovered five years ago floating in the sea.
The whale, which was healthy when it died at a relatively young age, had been suspected in the West of being a used as spy because it was wearing a harness with a GoPro camera on that read Equipment of St Petersburg.
Regina Haug next to the carcass of the beluga whale Hvaldimir ( AP )
Hvaldimir had shown interest in people and responded to hand signals, further evidence that led Norways intelligence agency to surmise that it had been held in captivity as part of a research programme before arriving in Norwegian waters.
One Whale, an organisation founded in 2019 to protect the creature, said on Wednesday it was found with bullet wounds and had been shot in a heinous crime.
We will pursue justice for Hvaldimir, One Whale founder Regina Haug vowed on social media.
Together with Noah, another animal-rights organisation, One Whale said it had filed a complaint with Norwegian police asking them to open a criminal investigation.
After being found dead at the weekend, the animal was lifted out of the water with a crane and moved to a harbour for investigation into the cause of death.
Unfortunately, we found Hvaldimir floating in the sea. He has passed away, but its not immediately clear what the cause of death is, marine biologist Sebastian Strand told NRK.
Its absolutely horrible, Mr Strand said. He was apparently in good condition as of Friday, so we just have to figure out what might have happened here.
Hvaldimir was estimated to be 15 years old, relatively young for a beluga whale, which can live up to 60 years.
The animal was first spotted in April 2019 near the island of Ingoya in Norways north, about 300km from Russias maritime border.
He had multiple bullet wounds around his body, Ms Haug said on Instagram after seeing the body.
Photographs published by One Whale on social media appear to show what they say are bullet wounds.
The injuries on the whale are alarming and of a nature that cannot rule out a criminal act it is shocking, said Noah director Siri Martinsen.
Mr Strand said it was too early to determine a cause of death.
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A 16-year-old boy was one of six people killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials have said.
Israeli troops shot the teenager in the Fara refugee camp, south of Tubas, as Israeli forces continue a week of raids on towns and camps in the West Bank.
The Palestine Red Crescent said medics were eventually able to transfer Zeina to hospital where he later died.
Five young men were killed and one was seriously injured when Israeli forces bombed a vehicle in Tubas city, the Palestine Red Crescent Society said. The Israeli military said it had conducted three targeted strikes on armed terrorists.
Five were killed in the car bombing in Tubas, West Bank ( REUTERS )
One of the men has been named by the Palestinian health ministry as Mohammed Zubeidi, the son of Zakaria Zubeidi, a militant commander during the Second Intifada who escaped Israeli jail in 2021, before being arrested and returned days later.
Meanwhile, Palestinian health officials say an Israeli strike on a tent camp in Gaza killed four men and wounded two children. The strike early on Thursday hit an encampment near the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central city of Deir al-Balah. The Israeli military said it carried out a precise strike on a command and control centre operated by Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group that was embedded in a humanitarian zone.
The nearly 11-month-long war in Gaza has killed more than 40,000 people according to Palestinian health officials and has displaced about 90 per cent of Gaza's 2.3 million people, often multiple times.
The war began after Hamas launched a bloody attack into Israel on 7 October, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 people. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, about a third of whom are believed to be dead, after most of the rest were released during a ceasefire in November.
Internally displaced Palestinians inspect their destroyed shelters following Deir Al Balah military strike ( EPA )
Umm Mohammed Wadi, a woman who was staying in a tent near to where the strike occurred, said to AP: "What did they do to be struck while sleeping? No hospital is safe, nor any school or home."
Israeli security forces continued their assault on towns in the West Bank, with raids reported in Jenin, Tulkarm, and near Bethlehem, according to Wafa news agency.
The agency cited local reports that a 38-year-old man was beaten by Israeli forces and teargas deployed at Za-tara in the south east of Bethlehem. Meanwhile, Jenin suffered its ninth consecutive day of raids.
An armed Israeli vehicle drives down a devastated street in Jenin ( AFP via Getty Images )
It comes as Israels security agency, Shin Bet, published figures indicating that more rockets were fired into Israeli-controlled territory from Lebanon in August than any month since the Hamas attacks on October 7.
The 1,307 rockets were fired at Israel from Lebanon and Syria - just over 40 per day on average - an increase on 1,091 in July, 855 in June, and 1,000 in May, the Times of Israel reported. The vast majority of these rockets came from Lebanon.
In the past month, 116 rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza, the latest report says.
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A giant solar sail recently unfurled by Nasa has been spotted tumbling through space.
Astronomers captured the 80-square-metre object, which was unfurled last week, appearing to fluctuate in brightness as it orbited Earth at an altitude of 1,000 kilometres (600 miles).
The Advanced Composite Solar Sail System, or ACS 3, is designed to test a next-generation propulsion method that harnesses the power of sunlight to travel through space without the need for rocket fuel.
Three days after the US space agency unfurled the spacecraft, an astronomer in the Netherlands observed unusual behaviour from the solar sail.
Nasas solar sail unfurled on 29 August, 2024, in order to test a next-generation propulsion method for interstellar travel ( Nasa )
As it rose in the south, it became very bright, reaching magnitude 0 (as bright as the brightest stars in the sky). It then faded again, and next displayed a slow brightness variation with multiple bright maxima and very faint minima, Marco Langbroek, who works at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft Technical University, wrote in a blog post.
The brightness variation could be suggestive of a slow tumble or wobble (a gyration around an axis) that must have been initiated after 29 August, when it appeared more steady.
Nasas solar sail aims to unlock interstellar space travel ( Nasa )
The Independent has contacted Nasa for more details, though Dr Langbroek theorised that it could be related to a planned change of orbit for the spacecraft.
Nasa states in its mission notes that the ACS 3 team plan to move the solar sail and adjust its orbit during its flight.
During the next few weeks, the team will test the manoeuvring capabilities of the sail in space, the space agency notes.
Raising and lowering the orbit of the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System spacecraft will provide valuable information that may help guide future concepts of operations and designs for solar sail-equipped science and exploration missions.
The spacecraft utilises pressure exerted by photons in sunlight as they bounce off the reflective sail, similar to the way a sail boat is propelled by wind.
Future versions of the solar sail could be 25 times bigger than the current craft, capable of powering trips to other planets in the Solar System.
Instead of launching massive fuel tanks for future missions, we can launch larger sails that use fuel already available, Alan Rhodes, the missions lead systems engineer, said when it first launched in April.
The hope is that the new technologies verified on this spacecraft will inspire others to use them in ways we havent even considered.
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A new tourism initiative being labelled a world-first is encouraging more visitors to head to Australias Great Barrier Reef with chances to save money by learning about protecting the natural phenomenon.
As an increasing number of destinations fight back against mass tourism, Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) is bucking this trend and calling for visitors from the UK and to become a Guardian of the Reef.
Because while the reef faces many threats, including coral bleaching and coral-eating starfish, tourists are not considered a risk to it less than 10 per cent of the sites 133,000 square miles sees tourist activity, with one official from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority describing tourism as being at the forefront of conservation for the Unesco World Heritage site.
Conservation-curious travellers can visit the newly launched website and work through a series of short educational videos and read through facts about the site, with a reward system offering discounts off of Expedia bookings to the Great Barrier Reef.
open image in gallery Marine biologist Dr Eric Fisher inspects a restoration site at Moore Reef on the Great Barrier Reef ( Luke Marsden )
Read more: Destinations cracking down on overtourism, from Venice to Bhutan
The travel firm has partnered with TTNQ and the Reef Authority to launch the programme in the UK, the US and Australia, while also making a US$50,000 (38,000) donation to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
Participants who complete the educational webpage reach the ocean floor, where they can enter a draw to win a trip to the Great Barrier Reef as well as unlocking exclusive experiences.
These include staying at Australias first underwater accommodation, Reefstay, and joining an expert reef guide for a private guided snorkel safari among the coral.
Those who reach the end will receive 20 per cent off selected bookings with Expedia.
Understanding your impact on the reef is the first step to acting with greatness, said Mark Olsen, CEO of TTNQ.
The Great Barrier Reef is home to 142 eco-certified operators, the highest number in Australia, making up 30 per cent of Ecotourism Australias eco-certified operators.
Anyone visiting the reef are charged an Environmental Management Charge of AU$8 (4), which Fred Nucifora, Reef Authority general manager (strategic policy and partnerships), said means everyone is contributing to its conservation.
This fee supports vital efforts such as the management of the marine park, control programmes for the crown-of-thorns starfish, and various education and conservation initiatives.
In the first three quarters of the 202324 financial year, the fee raised AU$9.11 million (4.65 million).
This world-first programme gives global reach to the mantra of See it. Love it. Protect it., said Dr Eric Fisher, marine biologist and master reef guide for GBR Biology/Reef Unlimited.
Our Great Barrier Reef operators see this every day when their passengers walk away from their Great Barrier Reef experience with a new appreciation of the diversity and beauty of the worlds largest ecosystem and a greater understanding of the current health of the reef.
Georgia police described the moment a 14-year-old student was arrested following a school shooting on Wednesday, 4 September.
Police named Colt Gray as a suspect after gunfire erupted at Apalachee High School, 50 miles outside of Atlanta, around 10:30am.
The teenager, who will be charged with murder and tried as an adult, is alive and in custody after surrendering to responding officers, officials said.
At least four people - two students and two teachers - are dead and nine more were rushed to the hospital after the shooting, authorities say.
A 14-year-old student opened fire at a Georgia high school and killed four people on Wednesday 4 September, authorities said, sending students scrambling for shelter in their classrooms.
The dead were identified as two 14-year-old students and two teachers at Apalachee High School in Winder, about an hours drive from Atlanta.
At least nine other people eight students and one teacher were taken to hospitals with injuries.
Lyela Sayarath, a student at Apalachee High School, said the suspect was in class on Wednesday morning.
She said that he left, came back, was unable to get into the classroom, and then began shooting.
Pope Francis joined the grand imam of Southeast Asias largest mosque in pledging to work together to promote peace and protect the environment, issuing a joint call for interfaith friendship and common cause at the heart of Francis visit to Indonesia.
In an encounter rich with symbolic meaning, the pontiff travelled to Jakartas iconic Istiqlal Mosque for an interfaith gathering with representatives of the six religions that are officially recognised in Indonesia.
Francis and the grand imam, Nasaruddin Umar, also stood at the ground-level entrance to the Tunnel of Friendship - an underpass which connects the mosque compound with the neighbouring Catholic cathedral.
Agriculture Minister is currently in China on a trade visit with Bord Bia
Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue is confident of a successful outcome for the Irish dairy sector despite rising trade tensions between the EU and China.
Last month the Chinese government put Ireland and other EU members on notice of an anti-subsidy investigation into dairy imports from the EU, sparking concerns the Irish sector could be hit in what is seen by many as a response to Europe imposing levies on imports of electric vehicles from China.
Junior transport minister James Lawless to meet Ryanairs Michael OLeary and other aviation chiefs
The DAA said it would be 'acting illegally' if it tried to prevent people or flights from taking off at Dublin Airport
The Dublin Airport Authority says it's likely to handle 33 million passengers at Dublin Airport this year. Photo: PA
DAA boss Kenny Jacobs has insisted the company has no power to stop airlines using take-off and landing slots theyve been allocated or to prevent passengers from boarding planes in order to ensure it doesnt breach a 32 million annual passenger cap.
Were now at a point of conflict between Irish and European law, he said. Compliance with one means breaking the other. Were left holding the problem but not the solution.
As the crisis over the airport intensifies, junior transport minister James Lawless is to meet Ryanair CEO Michael OLeary and other aviation stakeholders in an effort to limit the impact of the passenger cap.
Airline chiefs want the cap scrapped, or at least hiked, to allow passenger numbers to keep up with demand and a rising population.
The cap limits the number of passengers that can use Dublin Airport to 32 million a year. It was introduced as a planning condition attached in 2007 to the construction of the second terminal at the gateway over fears nearby roads would become jammed.
The DAA said this week that it will breach the cap this year. It expects Dublin Airport will handle 33 million passengers during 2024.
DAA boss Kenny Jacobs. Photo: Gerry Mooney
Naturally, the prospect of constraints on connectivity are a matter of concern for me in terms of its potential impact on the travelling public, business and tourism, said the minister.
I wish to reiterate that this Government is in favour of increasing the capacity of Dublin Airport, which is in line with the National Aviation Policy, he added.
In light of this I am undertaking a series of engagements with key stakeholders to seek to limit the impact of this constraint, said Mr Lawless.
He is meeting Mr OLeary next Wednesday, the day before the airlines annual general meeting.
This builds on meetings I have had with other key stakeholders including local residents, DAA, Cork Airport, Shannon Airport Group and business groups, he added. I will continue this work with further meetings with others, such as other airlines including Aer Lingus, tourism industry groups and regulators.
He said his objective is to ensure connectivity to and from Ireland can continue to grow.
I believe this can be achieved in the short to medium term, through our other airports at Cork and Shannon which are ready and able to take more passengers, insisted Mr Lawless.
He added: I keenly await the decision of An Bord Pleanala in relation to Dublin Airport night flights, which has been under consideration since August 2022.
That decision could be announced tomorrow.
The DAA said it would be 'acting illegally' if it tried to prevent people or flights from taking off at Dublin Airport
The DAAs Kenny Jacobs told the Irish Independent today it was simplistic to compare the passenger cap with general planning laws. He insisted the DAA would be acting illegally if it tried to prevent people or flights from taking off.
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) oversees capacity allocation at Dublin Airport, with UK-based company Airport Coordination employed to be slot coordinator, deciding what slots airlines get after they apply for them.
The IAA has already told the DAA and airlines that it is cutting available slots this winter at Dublin Airport in an effort to ensure the passenger cap is adhered to.
But that has been challenged by Ryanair and Aer Lingus, which are arguing against the move. The DAA has also challenged the decision, but is arguing the opposite that the cuts arent sufficient. That hearing is due to be heard on December 3.
The DAA is attempting to be seen to do everything it can to legally ensure it doesnt breach the cap, despite that being the antithesis of what it actually wants to achieve, which is growth.
Weve run out of runway to comply with both Irish planning and EU slot regulations, added Mr Jacobs. Weve done everything we can to dampen demand and have asked the High Court to review the IAAs winter slot decision to avoid Dublin Airport exceeding the 32-million cap in 2024.
Its almost certain that if Dublin Airport officially confirms next year that it has breached the passenger cap, complaints will be made to Fingal County Council. The Council could issue an enforcement order against the DAA, which the airport operator would then likely oppose in court.
But Mr Jacobs said if that happens, the matter will almost certainly have to be decided by the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
The conditions under Irish planning law require cuts to passenger numbers, while the airlines position would be that the level of cuts required are not permitted under EU law. The High Court is going to have to wrestle with this complex matter and I could see it going to Europe for clarity.
Mr Jacobs said he is optimistic that if matters related to the passenger cap were referred to the ECJ, a decision could potentially be made within a matter of months.
Dublin-based finance house Elkstone and US investment management firm Harrison Street have announced plans for new student accommodation in Galway.
The development of the new 345-bed purpose-built accommodation, which will be located at Queen Street in the city, is due for completion in 2026.
It forms part of a wider partnership between Elkstone and Harrison Street to deliver 1,500 student beds across Limerick, Cork, Dublin and Galway by 2028.
The Galway development is the first significant development from the partnership between Elkstone and Harrison Street located in the west of Ireland. Queen Street is a 15-minute walk from the University of Galway campus, as well as a five-minute walk from the citys main train and bus station.
The planned eight-storey building will include common study areas, a gym, bicycle storage, cinema and a rooftop terrace, as well as a 24/7 reception.
The Galway development is the second purpose-built student accommodation project developed by both companies. It recently opened a 142-bed location in Stoneybatter Place in Dublin.
Monami Construction, which was the contractor on the Stoneybatter location, will also join the Galway project as the main contractor.
Development finance for both Irish projects is provided by Activate Capital.
The development of Queen Street represents a notable expansion within the student housing sector to meet the growing demand in Irelands third largest student market, Paul Bashir, Harrison Streets Europe chief executive, said.
Almost 13,000 undergraduate students require housing in the city, with just under 6,000 dedicated student beds available, the companies reported.
By opening access for local Irish investors to co-invest alongside global industry leaders like Harrison Street, we can provide modern and liveable spaces that both represent and further bolster communities, Elkstone co-founder and head of real estate Ciaran McIntyre said.
"Queen Street is just one example of the thousands of sustainable and high-quality, purpose-built student accommodation units we are developing right now across the island, he added.
The Queen Street accommodation is also the latest investment in Ireland from Harrisons Streets European opportunistic fund, which is supported by a 75m investment from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF).
"ISIFs partnership with Harrison Street, announced in 2023, aims to increase the supply of available student accommodation in regional cities to meet the housing needs of students and support the growth of Irelands universities, ISIF director Nick Ashmore said.
Meta Ireland head Anne O'Leary has been appointed as president of Ibec. Pictured with Ibec CEO Danny McCoy. Photo: Conor McCabe Photography.
Ibec has appointed Anne OLeary as its new president for the coming year.
Ms OLeary was appointed as the head of Meta Ireland in April 2023. In this role, she oversees the work of Meta in its Dublin head quarters, as well as in its data centre in Meath and Reality Labs in Cork.
She first joined the tech giant in September 2022 as its vice president in the tech giants sales-focused Emea global business group.
She previously led Vodafone Ireland for nine years and also holds seats on the boards of ESRI and Greencore. She also worked as managing director of BT Ireland and also held the position of regional director at Esat Telecom.
Ms OLeary succeeds Pfizer Global Supply senior vice president Paul Duffy as president of the lobby group.
In my various roles with businesses in Ireland, I have always placed great value on Ibecs role as the voice of business and employers, Ms OLeary said.
She pointed to factors driving Irelands economic growth, including its openness to trade, capital and people.
We must continue to be agile and responsive to new investment, support Irish businesses in internationalising, and ensure that Ireland remains a place where careers can grow and develop, she said, adding that Ireland must also make strategic investments in order to future-proof the countrys success.
Anne has a deep understanding of the global business landscape in Ireland and, through her many roles, has worked closely with the Irish SME sector, Ibec chief executive Danny McCoy said.
Anne is not only a brilliant champion of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion but also someone who works hard to uphold these principles through her leadership of Meta Ireland, a global giant based in Ireland with a diverse and global workforce representing over 110 nationalities, he added.
(Reuters) - The shareholders of Distilled, which owns popular property site Daft.ie, are exploring options for their holdings including a possible sale that could value the business at as much as 600m, four people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
It would mark the first disposal by shareholder Adevinta since it was taken private last year by a consortium of private equity funds led by Permira and Blackstone.
The Norwegian classifieds group and Irelands Distilled Media Group, which jointly own Distilled, have hired Barclays to advise on their holdings, said three of the people, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Distilled was established in 2015 after the operations of Daft.ie and its sister company, Adverts.ie, were merged with Adevintas Donedeal.ie.
Active discussions among the owners are underway about the future shareholder structure of the business, one of the three people said. Distilled Media might opt to maintain a stake in the entity, but no decision has been made, this person added.
Distilled Media Group declined to comment. Adevinta did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The talks come amid increased takeover activity among real estate classified businesses. REA Group, an Australian property listings company controlled by News Corp, this week announced it is considering an offer for UK-listed Rightmove. UK private equity firm Cinven in June bought Spains Idealista in a 2.9bn deal.
The owners are hoping that Distilled can fetch a valuation of up to 600m in a sale, a second and third person said.
Bidders could include private equity firms that could help unlock growth from Distilled SCH and make it more efficient, the second person added.
Daft.ie attracts 2.5 million users every month generating 228 million page impressions and lists about 70,000 properties for sale or to rent on its site at any one time, according to its website. It was founded in 1997 by brothers Eamonn and Brian Fallon.
A consortium led by private equity firms Permira and Blackstone last year agreed to take Adevinta off the stock market for about 141 billion Norwegian crowns (12bn).
State-owned energy company Electric Ireland is to cut its electricity and gas prices from November.
The ESB-owned provider said it will also absorb the hike in electricity network charges approved recently by the energy regulator.
The levy rise is expected to cost 101, but Electric Ireland said it will not pass it on to its customers.
The company, which has 1.1 million customers, is reducing its standard unit rate of electricity by 3pc and its standard gas rate by 3pc for residential customers from November 1.
This will save households 45 a year on their electricity bills and 40 a year on their gas costs.
The new standard electricity rate will be 34.8c per per kilowatt hour (kWh), including VAT.
Customers on a smart meter tariff will see their electricity prices fall by 5pc.
Today's News In 90 Seconds - 5th September 2024
Electric Ireland is not decreasing its standing charges.
Experts said the fact that Electric Ireland is absorbing the regulator-sanctioned rise in network charges has meant it was unable to reduce its unit rates further.
Electric Ireland, which is a subsidiary of ESB, said it is its third price cut since the energy crisis erupted more than two years ago after the Russians invaded Ukraine.
Electric Ireland last decreased its prices in March when it cut its electricity prices by 8pc and its gas prices by 7pc.
It is the largest electricity supplier with over 1.1 million customers. It also has around 170,000 gas customers.
Dual-fuel customers with Electric Ireland will benefit from a combined annual reduction of 85, based on the Estimated Annual Bill (EAB) as defined by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU).
Executive director of Electric Ireland Pat Fenlon said the decreases continue the companys commitment to deliver value to its customers, while also supporting the transition to a more sustainable energy future.
Electric Ireland will not be increasing prices for our electricity customers, despite the increases in network charges as recently announced by the CRU which would have resulted in an increase of 101 per annum.
SSE Airtricity is the only other major energy provider to announce three price cuts.
Electric Ireland said its three price decreases in November last year, March this year, and November this year will result in a cumulative reduction of 19.3pc in electricity prices and 20.4pc in gas.
Mr Fenlon said this will deliver an annual saving of 376 on electricity bills and 337 on the average gas bill.
This is a combined annual reduction of 713 for Electric Irelands dual fuel customers in the past 12-month period.
Daragh Cassidy of price comparison site Bonkers.ie said: As we head into the colder autumn and winter months its nice to be talking about falling energy prices as opposed to rising prices. Even if the size of the price drop is very small. But every little helps as they say.
He said the CRU recently sanctioned an increase in electricity network fees that are equivalent to over 100 a year per household.
Big investment is needed in the grid over the coming years to cope with a rapidly increasing population, the demand from data centres, as well as to help with the transition towards Net Zero.
The energy regulator also sanctioned an increase in gas network fees of 60 on average per household.
Mr Cassidy said Electric Ireland has to pay these fees.
So the small reductions need to be seen in that context. Had the grid fee increase not been sanctioned wed likely have been looking at a bigger price drop from Electric Ireland today.
Mr Cassidy said that although this is Electric Irelands third price cut in under a year, its electricity prices still remain over 80pc above where they were in early 2021 before supply shocks due to Covid and then the war in Ukraine wreaked havoc with energy prices.
Gas prices are over double pre-war levels.
Mr Cassidy said this means customers of Electric Ireland will still be paying well over 1,000 a year more for their gas and electricity than they were only a few years ago.
He said that given where wholesale gas and electricity prices seem to be settling, it is hard to see prices for households falling much further in the short to medium term at least.
In his new book The Revelation of Ireland 19952020, the historian is scathing about a number of Irish household names as he analyses a turbulent quarter of a century
Diarmaid Ferriter appears to have serious reservations about Sally Rooney and her fellow Irish millennial writers. At one point in his typically forensic, insightful but gruelling new study of Ireland between 1995 and 2020, he accuses them of having self-esteem issues coupled with vanity. On a more whimsical note, he wonders why the woman who created Normal People is apparently unfamiliar with the phrase f**k buddies.
Ferriters greatest scorn, however, is reserved for the Rooney-endorsed essayist Kevin Breathnachs combination of self-regard, entitlement and faux intellectual elitism. The extract from Breathnach used here speaks for itself: One wet dark Tuesday afternoon on the fourth floor of the Ussher Library in Trinity, I was pretending to work on my novel, when, with no premeditation, I decided a more productive and interesting way to spend the next few hours would be to take Mephedrone in the National Gallery.
It seems safe to assume that Ferriter uses his time in great cultural institutions very differently. The professor of modern Irish history at University College Dublin may be a familiar public figure from his frequent appearances on television and radio, but nobody could accuse him of being populist. The Revelation of Ireland is yet another heavyweight piece of scholarship, earnest, academic and forbiddingly dense with detail.
The title requires some explanation. Published two decades ago, Ferriters breakthrough book was The Transformation of Ireland 1900-2000, which analysed that century from a strong left-wing perspective. This sequel argues that the pace of change has only accelerated since then, highlighting this countrys great potential but also our frustrating limitations.
Certainly, few commentators in 1995 could have predicted the political and social upheavals to come. Irish voters became increasingly fickle, abandoning Fianna Fail or Fine Gael family loyalties and replacing the civil war divide with a more fragmented Leinster House. Northern Irelands Troubles were resolved by the Good Friday Agreement, a masterpiece of negotiation in which nationalists and unionists often saw completely different things. Divorce, abortion and same-sex marriage were all legalised by popular votes as clerical sex abuse scandals cost the Catholic Church its moral authority.
Despite all this progress, Ferriter laments that many of Irelands problems seem as intractable as ever. We have had unprecedented economic growth, a traumatic crash and a recovery that lifted some boats much higher than others. Just like 1995, however, people are still complaining about hospital waiting lists, inadequate public transport, property prices and The Late Late Show being a shadow of its former self.
Rigourous approach: Diarmaid Ferriter
Ferriter divides his 418-page survey into seven hefty chapters: party politics, Northern Irelands uneasy peace, financial boom and bust, international relations, the decline of Catholicism, public service failures and culture wars. This is a huge canvas, but he fills it with events, personalities and controversies that even dedicated news junkies may have half-forgotten. If you need a quick refresher course on ghost estates, Celia Larkin, the McCracken Tribunal or the Ryan Report, they are all present and correct along with much else.
There is plenty to admire about Ferriters rigorous approach. Clearly a patriotic man, he delivers his material with the authority and conviction of a born teacher. The range of his research is vast, taking in newspapers, archives, reports, Oireachtas debates and memoirs by people from all walks of life.
Most impressively, he appears to have read every major Irish novel of the past three decades (plus a few minor ones) and combed them for lines that can tell us something about the state of the nation. He sees great significance in a passage from Anne Enrights The Gathering (2007) where one character at a family funeral says their childhood pain is roaring inside me.
There was a great deal of roaring inside during the period this book covers, Ferriter declares, as many people attempted to make sense of deep grievances and hurt and the degree to which the Irish social contract had failed them.
Unfortunately, Ferriters desire to draw from as many sources as possible creates a problem. His narrative is clogged up by so many quotations that it often feels like a mish-mash of other peoples analyses rather than the authors. Annoyingly, some of those quotes are not attributed in the text, which means you have to keep flipping to the endnotes if you want to know whose voice youre hearing.
Clearly a patriotic man, Ferriter delivers his material with the authority and conviction of a born teacher
This is a shame, because Ferriters own opinions are what gives the book its character. At one point, for example, he notes that former minister for finance Paschal Donohoe kept a copy of Declan Costellos left-leaning 1960s policy document Towards a Just Society in his office and claimed it was the guiding compass of my membership of Fine Gael. Given Donohoes budgetary decisions, Ferriter thunders, this was shallow posturing coming from the partys perceived intellectual heavyweight.
The professor hands out a few other poor grades as well. John Major claimed that talking to the IRA would turn my stomach, but Ferriter examines how the British prime minister was already doing so in private without any sign of gastric distress. One of the most crass comments of his tenure, is the verdict on taoiseach Bertie Aherns 2007 outburst that cribbers and moaners about Celtic Tiger Ireland should take their own lives although with scrupulous fairness, he records that Ahern quickly apologised and met a suicide prevention group.
For the most part, however, Ferriter focuses on judging ideologies rather than individuals. He can occasionally sound like a cribber and moaner himself, complaining that Irelands economic boom was largely wasted on vulgar spending sprees rather than building a stronger society. Was there a sense that materialism had come at the expense of a traditional Irish system? he asks, a rhetorical device used over and over again here.
In particular, he is scathing about the health-related scandals that seem to keep on happening, whether Irish governments are flush or broke. On climate issues, he endorses Leo Varadkars admission that the Irish have traditionally been laggards.
What might be dubbed the Reeling in the Years school of Irish history sees it as a simple morality tale, with people gradually casting off the shackles of Catholicism to become freer, kinder and happier. Not surprisingly, Ferriters interpretation is far more nuanced. He painstakingly chronicles the Magdalene laundries, industrial school and other scandals. He also gives due weight to Irelands series of liberal agenda referendums, starting with the razor-thin 1995 vote on divorce which left one disappointed campaigner calling her opponents wife-swapping sodomites.
While Ferriter is no social conservative, however, he does wonder if 21st century Ireland has been gripped by a spiritual emptiness. He includes disturbing statistics on our childrens growing addiction to drugs, junk food, video games, cyberbullying and self-harm. Edna OBrien had more reason than most to despise Catholic piety, he points out, but even the late novelist expressed horror in 2009 at reports of teenage girls going to discos with their knickers in their handbags.
Casual readers should be warned: The Revelation of Ireland is far easier to admire than to enjoy. Ferriter is no great stylist and his prose feels workmanlike at best. The content is arranged thematically rather than chronologically, ruling out any sense of narrative drive. Its like sitting through a series of university lectures that demand total concentration with barely a quip to lighten the mood.
These reservations aside, The Revelation of Ireland is undeniably a major achievement. Its also a stout defence of Ferriters own profession. He praises educators who resisted an attempt to remove history as a compulsory Junior Cert subject. The teachers rose to that challenge forcefully, focusing on history as an essential tool of citizenship, he enthuses. They maintained its study was necessary to debunk myth and propaganda, to give priority to critical evaluation of evidence in an era of information overload, social media, unconnected fragments and sweeping generalisations and to make sense of the present.
With Ferriter determined to carry on that noble work, we can expect his next instalment of Irelands national story around 2044. Lets hope it is a slightly more cheerful one.
The Revelation of Ireland: 1995-2020 by Diarmaid Ferriter
History: The Revelation of Ireland 19952020 by Diarmaid Ferriter
Profile Books, 560 pages, hardcover 24.99; e-book 19.99
The Climate Change Advisory Council has said that Government needs to urgently support and incentivise the rapid uptake of cost-effective farming measures to reduce agricultural emissions.
That's according to its annual review of Agriculture and Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector.
However, it also signalled real concern about Irelands forestry, with forests becoming a source of emissions rather than a carbon sink due to a large proportion of the national forest estate approaching harvesting age, while afforestation rates have been insufficient to balance the removal of stored carbon.
Dr Cara Augustenborg, member of the Climate Change Advisory Council said, The Councils recommendations reflect the scale of the challenge for the agriculture and forestry sector to help meet our long-term national climate objectives, covering the range of changes needed from system-wide, strategic measures to technical, on-farm measures, in addition to more work required on societal engagement and supporting how agriculture will adapt to climate change.
"Developments within forestry present a particular challenge to meeting our long-term national climate objective. We want to see Government engage with foresters, farmers and communities to set out the financial opportunity and crucial role that forestry plays in our climate and biodiversity objectives. Government must also provide improved guidance on procedures for the Forestry Programme to encourage uptake.
IFA President Francie Gorman said the report reaffirms what IFA has been saying about the need for more Government support for farmers.
The IFA President said farmers were fully committed to producing food sustainably, but they must be supported to do so.
Farmers are responding to the climate challenge, but they cannot be expected to pay for it out of their own pockets. They cannot be put in the red by going green, he said.
The agriculture sector is the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 34.3pc of Irelands emissions in 2023. The LULUCF sector is a net source of emissions in Ireland, accounting for an additional 9.3pc of total national emissions.
Marie Donnelly, Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council said, Government needs to communicate the opportunities and incentivise proven measures for farmers, suppliers and the wider industry. Key areas of impactful gains include the accelerated roll out of protected urea fertiliser, increased uptake of methane reducing feed and manure additives and also the early finishing of livestock.
Positive news is that the Organic Farming Scheme has helped to treble the area organically farmed in Ireland since 2021. Incentives and supports are required to improve land management practices across all land uses to enhance resilience to the impacts of climate change and improve biodiversity with measures such as water table management, mixed swards, hedgerows and woodlands extension."
The authors also want to see an Agri-food Just Transition Fund (AJTF) created, a temporary fund outside of the CAP to support investments.
The European Commission has been told it needs to bring an end to area-based payments as part of the next CAP reform, 2028-2035.
The call comes as part of a new report from the Strategic Dialogue on the future of EU agriculture, and is set to be given consideration within the first 100 days of the Commission's new mandate.
The authors of the report, a diverse group of EU farming stakeholders, call for income support policy to promote employment and to support the ongoing transition of agri-food systems towards more sustainable, competitive, profitable, and diverse futures.
The report highlights that basic income support remains the most funded CAP measure, however it is mostly unrelated to socio-economic needs.
Move away from current non-degressive area-based payments towards an effective income support approach, financial public support has to be based on farmers economic viability that has to be demonstrated by a standardised methodology, the report continues.
The authors say this would entail the gathering of an independent task force composed of social policy, economic and agronomic experts to evaluate the most appropriate mechanisms and criteria to better target income payments.
This evaluation should include measures such as redistributive mechanisms, capping, degressivity, eligibility criteria as well as new distribution mechanisms inspired by social policies. The result of this evaluation must be ready ahead of the conclusion of the next CAP 2028-2035 reform.
The Commission has been instructed to target income support at active farmers who need it most, to avoid negative corollaries, such as impacts on land prices and leases that make agricultural production more expensive and hinder generational renewal and reduction of administrative burden.
The authors also want to see an Agri-food Just Transition Fund (AJTF) created, a temporary fund outside of the CAP to support investments.
The fund should provide one-of investment support (in the form of loans or grants) to farmers and other food system actors for their sustainability transition. This support should go beyond material investments, including also capacity building.
The support should be made available based on long-term transition business plans and adopt a whole-farm approach in the case of farmers. Special consideration should be given to food system actors with limited financial means.
The costs associated with the transition to higher animal welfare should be supported by the AJTF.
Kitchen porter had worked at Brownes since June 2005 and was earning an average of 576.92 for a working week varying from 47 to 60 hours when his employment ended
A kitchen porter left jobless in the wake of the Brownes Steakhouse fatal shooting last Christmas Eve has secured an order requiring his former employer to pay him a redundancy lump sum worth nearly 22,000.
Gunman Tristan Sherry (26) was killed after he shot and fatally injured 48-year-old Jason Hennessy Senior last Christmas Eve at the busy restaurant on Main Street, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.
It was the last day of 18-and-a-half years service at the restaurant for kitchen porter Gedeminas Urbasius, who told the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) last month that he had heard nothing from his employer since the night of the killings.
The employment tribunal upheld a complaint under the Redundancy Payments Act 1967 against the operator of the restaurant, San Siro Ltd, trading as Brownes Steakhouse, in a decision published this morning.
Mr Urbasius told a hearing in August this year that he had worked at Brownes since June 2005 and was earning an average of 576.92 for a working week varying from 47 to 60 hours when his employment ended.
Today's News In 90 Seconds - 5th September 2024
The worker exhibited a letter he sent by registered post to his former employer on 26 April this year applying for a payment of statutory redundancy.
In it, he wrote: I fully understand that this may be a difficult situation for you as well, however I have no other option as [I] have no information whatsoever and believe redundancy payment is the right decision in these circumstances.
Mr Urbasiuss evidence was that the restaurant closed on December 24, 2023, and has not reopened since. He had heard nothing from his employer in the time since, he added.
WRC adjudicator Eileen Campbell recorded in her decision that she adjourned the case earlier this year to make sure the proprietor of the restaurant business was on notice, that the businessman was properly on notice when the matter was called on again in August and that he made no appearance before her.
She found that nothing had been paid to Mr Urbasius in respect of redundancy by the time of the hearing last month.
In circumstances where the respondent has ceased to carry on business where the complainant was employed, I find a redundancy situation applies and I find the claim for a redundancy payment to be well founded, she wrote.
Ms Campbell wrote that the calculation of the statutory redundancy lump sum was a matter for the Department of Social Protection, as officials would have to examine the record of Mr Urbasiuss social insurance contributions to confirm the entitlement.
Based on the statutory formula, Mr Urbasiuss pay on termination and his 18.5 years service, the value of his statutory redundancy entitlement once confirmed would be nearly 22,000.
Four men face trial before the Special Criminal Court in November charged with Sherrys murder.
They are Noah Musueni (18), Corduff Park, Blanchardstown; Wayne Deegan (26), Linnetsfield Avenue, Phibblestown, Dublin 15; David Amah (18), Hazel Grove, Portrane Road, Donabate, Dublin; and Michael Andrecut (22), Sheephill Avenue, Blanchardstown.
Jonas Kabangu (18) is charged with violent disorder at the same location on that date, as is a young man who recently reached the age of 18 and cannot be named.
A seventh accused, Jaures Kumbu (18), Brookhaven Grove, Blanchardstown, is charged with possession of a submachine gun contrary to Section 27A (1) of the Firearms Act, at Main Street, Blanchardstown on the same date.
The trial is expected to last four weeks.
Gardai have issued an appeal for anyone who wishes to report a crime related to historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders to make contact with them.
The appeal follows the publication of the Scoping Inquiry report on Tuesday.
A spokesperson said gardai are fully aware of the profound impact on the lives of those who were subject to such abuse, many of whom who may only be disclosing this information for the first time.
An Garda Siochana will deal with any matters reported by complainants in a sensitive manner and will, where possible, progress matters through investigation.
An appeal has also been made to anyone, including a witness, to provide information relating to historical sexual abuse in schools run by religious orders.
The spokesperson added: "While it is our responsibility to effectively deal with all complaints and information received, there be limitations as to the action we can take in some cases due to matters such as the unavailability of evidence over time or suspects and/or witnesses being deceased. Where these factors are present, An Garda Siochana will diligently explain such limitations to complainants.
"The Garda National Protective Service Bureau will maintain oversight of these investigations which will be investigated by specially trained Gardai attached to Divisional Protective Service Units in every Garda Division nationwide.
Anyone who wishes to contact gardai can do so in three ways: by emailing GNPSB_SCMU@garda.ie, phoning the free, confidential 24/7 Garda Child Sexual Abuse Reporting Line on 1800 555 222, or contacting a local garda station.
Upsetting findings include at least 63 claims of sexual abuse of deaf girls in Dublin
One abuse survivor said he was given a letter by a religious order telling him they would pray for me. Stock image. Photo: Getty
Alleged child sex abusers were moved between special schools where they had access to vulnerable and disabled children.
A distressing report published this week found that of the almost 2,400 allegations of historical abuse in religious-run day and boarding schools across Ireland, there was a particularly high number of allegations in special schools.
Almost 200 alleged abusers are claimed to have abused children across just 17 special schools in Ireland. More than a dozen clerics who did not work at special schools have been accused of sexually abusing children with additional needs. There are at least 63 allegations of sexual abuse of deaf girls at a school in Dublin.
In total, there are 528 allegations of sexual abuse at religious-run special schools in Ireland.
The Scoping Inquiry said this reflected the fact that disabled children are more vulnerable to and are more likely to be sexually abused than able-bodied children.
Analysis of records held by religious orders shows evidence that four alleged abusers were moved between special schools. The report said the reason a breakdown of special schools showed 194 alleged abusers instead of 190, was because alleged abusers who moved between different schools are counted twice.
The report also found similar evidence that alleged abusers had been moved between mainstream schools.
Of the 190 people alleged to have sexually abused children at special schools across the country, 74 were members of the religious order that ran their school. Another 49 were lay staff, 54 were peers and 13 alleged abusers were clerics who were not members of the religious order.
The report has warned that instances of historical child sex abuse in religious schools have likely been under-reported.
While the report said that half of the 884 people accused of sexual abuse at all 308 schools have died, the profile of the 190 people accused of abusing children at special schools showed that just 27pc are dead. The rest are either still living, or their status is not known.
The majority of allegations of abuse at special schools centre on three schools run by the Brothers of Charity, where 294 instances of abuse were alleged to have happened at the Holy Family School in Renmore, Galway; the Lota school in Glanmire, Cork; and St Marys school in Rochestown, Cork.
Today's News In 90 Seconds - 5th September 2024
The religious order warned the Scoping Inquiry that its record-keeping could not separate physical abuse and sexual abuse. While the Brothers of Charity said it was likely that most cases related to sexual abuse, it was possible that some allegations were of physical, non-sexual abuse.
The Hospitaller Order of St John of God originally told the Scoping Inquiry it was aware of 124 allegations of sexual abuse at seven of its special schools. But after investigating further, the inquiry found evidence of another 20 sexual abuse allegations at special schools run by the same order.
The Congregation of Dominican Sisters Cabra faces 63 allegations of abuse at its school for deaf girls in Cabra and one allegation at its Benincasa Special School in Blackrock.
The Scoping Inquiry contacted over 70 religious orders in Ireland, in an extensive search for records of sexual abuse. In one case, the inquiry got no response from the religious order the Norbertines because it no longer exists in Ireland. But a trawl of garda files confirmed a priest associated with the school was convicted for sexual abuse and gardai had a record of three allegations of historical sexual abuse at the same school.
The inquiry found that only allegations of sexual abuse reported after 2003 were available through a search of the garda Pulse system.
Over 30 of the 72 religious congregations contacted claimed that they had no record of any allegations of sexual abuse at their schools. But the Scoping Inquiry would later discover historical sexual abuse allegations against a small number of those same orders.
Other allegations also emerged against schools that other religious orders had not included in their records of sexual abuse allegations. And while the Sisters of Mercy did provide the total number of sexual abuse allegations in its records, it did not give the names of the schools where abuse is alleged to have happened. The De La Salle Order did not provide the names of its schools where abuse was alleged to have happened until June of this year, shortly before the report was finished.
Most of the child sex abuse survivors who spoke to the inquiry about their experience of trying to make a complaint said talking to the religious orders had been disappointing, frustrating and in some cases retraumatising.
Survivors described being confused, belittled, dismissed or stonewalled by religious orders. Many told of intimidating warnings from orders and their solicitors that the survivors could face financial ruin if they tried to take the religious order to court. Some survivors described struggling to find solicitors who would take on their case, citing the fear of the resources the religious orders had to fight in court.
One survivor described how he was given a one-page letter telling me that they would pray for me, with the name of a garda on it. One man was told by a representative for a religious order to consider whether Id be able to get employment at a good company, and if going public could impact my exam results from the stress of it.
He said it would impact my fathers standing in the community if it became public knowledge, the survivor said. So, they won. I had planned to go to the guards after I spoke to the priest. And I didnt. I was coerced into silence. That is front and centre to me.
One head of a religious order showed up at a survivors mothers house, to ask that they not be sued. Another tactic reported by survivors was religious orders claiming they had no record of abuse, and convincing survivors to settle by persuading them that they were the only person to allege such abuse. It would later emerge that the same orders had settled a number of cases.
Other orders were accused of lying, claiming key documents had been lost or destroyed when they were not.
The majority of survivors who spoke to the inquiry about their experience of civil and criminal cases in the legal system had a negative experience, with many citing the delaying tactics of religious orders legal teams. One survivor has been waiting eight years for their trial. Another described his civil action as a four-year process that nearly killed me because of the stress.
One survivor described what it was like watching his friend take on a religious order in court: I watched a friend in court, what he went through; they destroyed him for three days. He never deserved what they put him through.
Helplines: If you have been affected by the contents of this article, the organisation One in Four provides services to adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. One in Four can be contacted by calling 01 662 4070 or by completing the form at www.oneinfour.ie/contact
As Russian attacks continue, Taoiseach tells Ukrainian residents that Putin has misjudged Europes solidarity with Kyiv
Simon Harris met one couple whose lives have been turned upside down since Russias invasion in February 2022
Taoiseach Simon Harris speaks with Ruslan Kravchenko, the head of the Kyiv state regional administration, during a visit to inspect damage to buildings in Borodyanka, outside Kyiv. Photo: PA
Gabija Gataveckaite Thu 5 Sep 2024 at 03:30
Mykola and Nataliia Anisimov lost their home in the small rural village of Hostomel, near Kyiv, during one of the most brutal battles at the beginning of the war in Ukraine two and a half years ago.
Eddie Punch who lives in Cratloe, where he runs a cattle and suckler farm, has announced he will run in the general election.
Eddie Punch will run as a candidate for Independent Ireland in the Clare constituency in the upcoming general election.
Punch, a drystock farmer from Cratloe, received over 20,000 first preference votes when he ran in the recent European Elections earlier this year.
Announcing his decision to run in the general election, he said he is particularly concerned about the marginalisation of Shannon Airport in favour of Dublin Airport, which he sees as detrimental to tourism and economic growth on the west coast.
"Of the 39m passengers handled by Irish airports in 2023, 85pc went through Dublin and just 5pc through Shannon. This imbalance is devastating for tourism in Clare and the west of Ireland. We need strong voices in the Dail to challenge the mindset that 'Dublin is all that matters'," said Punch.
Punch also expressed concerns about the overuse of hotel accommodations in Clare for refugees, arguing that this practice harms local businesses that rely on tourism.
He also criticised the Ennis 2040 vision for its lack of consideration for the needs of local businesses, and he voiced skepticism about certain climate policies that he believes are impractical for rural Ireland. Punch stated that he is not against sensible win/win proposals for climate and environment but he feels that much of what is being driven by the current government is off the charts and makes no sense.
We have spent the last few years with carbon tax being progressively hiked, being told to use public transport and in the past few weeks parents are exhausted fighting to retain a decent school bus service in Sixmilebridge, Cratloe and Newmarket on Fergus.
"There is a feeling that the government is focused on trying to fix the world's problems, but cannot deliver something as simple as a bus service for school children, we return our focus on getting these important things right for parents and families and that is what I intend to do."
Punch, who previously served as Secretary General of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association for over 25 years, said the farming community is at their wits end with threats to end the nitrates derogation and cut the national herd.
Farmers in Clare, he said, like the rest of Ireland, are sick and tired of being led up and down the hill.
"They cant plan for the future. If elected, I will not be found wanting in standing up for Irish farming, and for our food sector. It makes no sense to cut back Irish quality food systems and import food from outside the EU.
Party Leader Michael Collins said Punch's deep knowledge of agriculture and his commitment to balanced regional development make him an outstanding candidate for Clare. Eddie understands the challenges facing our farmers and rural communities, and he will be a tireless champion for their needs in the Dail."
TD Michael Fitzmaurice, also expressed strong support for Punch, adding, "Eddie Punch knows first hand the struggles of rural life and the farming community. He has been on the front lines, advocating for fair treatment and sensible policies. His experience and dedication will be invaluable in fighting for the interests of Clare and ensuring that the voices of rural Ireland are heard.
Tanaiste Micheal Martin said he was shocked by the findings of the Scoping Inquiry. Photo: Steve Humphreys
Tanaiste Micheal Martin has told religious orders they will be expected to co-operate fully with the State over the inquiry into abuse within order-run schools.
The Fianna Fail leader also said that some religious orders did not deliver what they had committed to in terms of redress under previous abuse inquiries.
Mr Martin, who was speaking at Haulbowline Naval Base as he commissioned two new inshore patrol vessels into the Naval Service fleet, said the findings of the report were truly shocking.
The report found there were almost 2,400 allegations of sexual abuse at 308 religious-run schools nationwide.
It recommended that a commission of investigation be established, but that its terms of reference also be extended to include all secondary schools in the State including those not under the control of religious orders.
We have had a long litany of abuse inquiries over 20 to 25 years now, beginning with the inquiries into the industrial schools, Mr Martin said.
The level of abuse revealed in this report was very shocking it was very sad and traumatic for those involved.
The Government will do everything we possibly can to have a victim-led inquiry and also to work on the other recommendations through supporting the victims in every way we can.
I have been speaking with the Education Minister, Norma Foley, about the recommendations and the scope and the nature of the inquiry.
Mr Martin said religious orders now face clear issues over the matter of redress.
They have a huge responsibility in respect of redress, he said.
There have been many civil cases...where many victims have been dragged through the courts unnecessarily following convictions of people in respect of schools.
The religious orders will have to cooperate with the State in this regard.
Given the expected breadth of the inquiry the terms of reference are being worked on the recommendation is not just to do religious schools but indeed all schools.
That is an enormous task...in the meantime, the redress question cannot be indefinitely parked.
We acknowledge that and we are considering how best to do justice for the victims of this terrible sexual and physical abuse.
Mr Martin said he did not want the victims involved to have to wait indefinitely for justice or redress.
He said the one major factor of previous abuse inquiries was that victims did not have to wait indefinitely for redress.
The State had responsibilities in respect of the industrial schools, he said. They (some religious orders) did get away they did not, in my view, make the contribution that they signed up to make (in redress). Some did and some did not.
He said the proposed inquiry must put the needs and rights of those who suffered abuse in schools at the core of its operation.
We have to be victim-led in the first instance and their needs have to be paramount, he said.
His party and cabinet colleague, Jack Chambers, said religious orders named in the report should make a contribution to the compensation of victims through the redress programme called for in the Scoping Inquiry.
My sympathies are with all of the victims, and I commend them for their courage as part of the process that weve had up to this point, said Mr Chambers, who added that he had watched Prime Time the night before, and heard the harrowing experiences that so many young people had in our school system.
I know many more will come forward as part of the next process.
Obviously, the Government will discuss the recommendations, but I think generally there should be a contribution made by religious institutions for any redress scheme which might come from this process. They should be part of that.
He said he believed the religious orders have been quite defensive on this. He added that it was shameful that so many victims have waited for so long to have their stories heard.
They havent had any accountability and thats why its important that the next stage of this, led by Minister Foley, is progressed quickly.
Asked if the orders should be legally compelled to pay, Mr Chambers said: We need absolute accountability when it comes to the religious orders and their involvement in this over many years.
They need to be involved and obviously the legal mechanisms and how thats done, both for the process itself and the redress scheme, will be for further Government discussion.
But no religious order should be left behind as part of this. They need to be involved when it comes to accountability and being part of the scheme.
A group of TikTok influencers used ladders and ropes to break into the former Cork Prison premises as part of a video stunt.
An investigation is now underway into how the incident occurred - and whether security measures at the former prison complex now need to be increased.
It is believed the break-in occurred three weeks ago and took place in the early hours of the morning.
Video footage posted by the online influencers was viewed by Paul Byrne Media - complete with their commentary on the increasingly dilapidated condition of the former jail complex.
One TikTok influencer said in their social media posting that the prison was "the best abandoned building I was ever in."
Another said it was amazing to be inside the complex which was once one of the most secure prisons in the State.
Videos posted showed paint peeling from some of the cell walls - while items were scattered around the cell block corridors including food wrappers and bits of clothing.
Footage also showed the group arriving at Rathmore Road for the stunt complete with ladders, ropes and dark clothing.
The faces of the individuals were not shown in the footage.
Over 100,000 people have now viewed the footage of the old Cork Prison break-in.
Today's News In 90 Seconds - 5th September 2024
The complex was made redundant in 2016 when a new 45m prison was opened on a six acre site adjacent to the old jail on Rathmore Road in Cork.
That new prison opened after plans for a 'super prison' in north Cork was quietly dropped.
For the past eight years, the old prison has effectively been abandoned.
While it is adjacent to the new modern prison, there is no direct access between the two buildings.
There have been various proposals over the future use of the old prison ranging from it being converted into emergency accommodation for refugees and the homeless to it being refurbished and reopened as a prison given the increasing pressure on cell capacity nationwide.
Cork has three old prisons - the oldest in the city, Cork Gaol, is one of the most popular visitor attractions in the State and is located in Sunday's Well.
That prison opened in 1824 and closed in 1923 in the early years of the fledgling Free State.
It is now a major tourist attraction and is also used for various exhibitions and charity events.
Spike Island in Cork harbour - which was used as a prison over 300 years ago - was refurbished and re-opened as an island prison tourism attraction.
It has been hailed as 'Ireland's Alcatraz' and has various awards as an outstanding visitor attraction.
The Irish Prison Service (IPS) are now investigating the apparent break in last month at the old Cork Prison.
Gardai are aware of the matter and are assisting the IPS with their ongoing inquiry.
The public were warned that the old Cork Prison is private property and that under no circumstances should anyone attempt to enter it.
Officials are also deeply concerned at the safety threat involved in the incident with the potential for serious injury or even death if any of the TikTok influencers had fallen from the high walls that surround the old jail.
The IPS stressed that it does not comment on security or operational matters.
However, officials warned the incident of unlawful entry was being taken seriously and that both the IPS and Gardai are investigating precisely what was involved.
1961 Stratocaster is stand-out item in collection owned by iconic Irish musician
Rory Gallaghers Fender Stratocaster, bought for 100 when he was 15, will be auctioned by Bonhams in London next month and could attract bids of over 1m. Photo: Redferns
Long before Noel and Liam Gallagher of Oasis started a Britpop frenzy, there was only one rock and roll Gallagher that mattered. His name was Rory and nearly 30 years after his untimely death, there are plenty who would consider the Irish guitar slinger the only Gallagher worthy of being acclaimed a genuine musical genius.
On October 17, Bonhams auction house in London will host a sale of Rory Gallaghers guitar collection, along with amps and accessories from his career. Among the items is Gallaghers 1961 Fender Stratocaster, bought second hand from Crowleys Music Store in Cork in 1963.
He was just 15 but already a professional working musician, playing covers on the Irish showband circuit. He paid 100 on credit for the guitar, persuading his parents that it would ultimately save money because he could play rhythm and lead at the same time, so wouldnt need a second guitarist in his band. Today, its value is estimated at up to 1.2m.
Rory Gallagher in Profile
It is a beautiful, battered looking instrument that Gallagher played all his life, as he rose to become Irelands first rock star. It is the instrument he would have been playing when his original power trio Taste supported Cream for their final concert at the Royal Albert Hall in 1968. Eric Clapton later credited Rory for getting me back into the blues.
Before he formed Queen, Brian May was a huge Gallagher fan, attending many shows at the Marquee in London. He could make his guitar do anything, according to May. It seemed to be magic. I remember looking at his battered Stratocaster thinking how does that come out of there?
Gallagher was held in the highest esteem by his musical peers. Jimi Hendrix and Taste were on the same bill at the Isle of Wight festival in 1971, when Gallagher was called back for five encores. There is a story of a journalist asking Hendrix backstage what its like to be the greatest guitarist in the world, and Hendrix replying: I dont know. Go ask Rory Gallagher.
One of the all-time great blues rock guitarists, Gallaghers riffs and solos would slip seamlessly between heavy aggression and melodious sensitivity. He was also a thoughtful songwriter, with a growling, expressive voice and an expansive style that embraced acoustic folk, tender balladry, epic rock and barnstorming blues.
He played ukulele, harmonica, saxophone, bass, mandolin and banjo, sometimes weaving elements of Irish traditional music through his searing solos. He was voted guitarist of the year by Melody Maker magazine in 1972, sold over 30 million albums worldwide, and remained a hugely popular live attraction all his life.
Anyone fortunate enough to have witnessed the man in action knows he was guaranteed to deliver fierce, loud, energetic sets and never play anything the same way twice.
Bassist Gerry McAvoy, who played with Gallagher for 20 years from 1971 to 1991, said: Rory never constructed a set. On any tour, wed have the first two songs [planned] but after that, all hell broke loose. Wed be flying by the seat of our pants, but Rory wanted that spontaneity.
A new 20-disc box set, Rory Gallagher: The BBC Collection, will be released on October 11, featuring over 189 tracks comprising all of his radio and TV concerts, sessions and studio performances from 1971 to 1986.
Gallagher had little interest in playing the music business game and courting the kind of super fame his talent warranted
Jake Burns of Irish punk band Stiff Little Fingers (who later worked as a BBC producer and interviewed Gallagher) was a dedicated fan who always tuned in for Gallaghers live broadcasts over the years.
He would launch into these solos and they were completely improvised every night, said Burns. Then hed start singing along to the solo and youre thinking, How the f**k does he know what hes going to play, to be able to sing at the same time? It was complete command of the guitar.
When Mick Taylor left the Rolling Stones in 1975, Gallagher was top of their wish list to replace him. He rehearsed with the Stones for three nights in Amsterdam but slipped away to resume a solo tour.
Gallagher had little interest in playing the music business game and courting the kind of super fame his talent warranted. He invariably dressed in scruffy lumberjack shirts and jeans, and rarely released singles.
Oasis band members Noel Gallagher (left) and Liam Gallagher (Zak Hussein/PA)
He was shy and self-effacing in interviews. But he was 10 times the player of eventual recruit Ronnie Woods and it would have been fascinating to hear how Rorys incendiary soloing might have dovetailed with Keith Richards bluesy weave.
But Gallagher had his own music to make. He recorded 11 fine solo studio albums and played with Muddy Waters, Jerry Lee Lewis, Peter Frampton, Albert Lee, Gary Moore and Slash of Guns N Roses, one of Rorys keenest admirers.
Johnny Marr of the Smiths is another fan, who once made a pilgrimage to Gallaghers manager-brother Donals house to spend the day playing his heros famous Stratocaster.
It is celebrated for its bare, stripped-wood appearance, the original sunburst finish having long since faded, although Donal is insistent that this was not evidence of a lack of care.
Theres a lot of theories that Rory took a hammer and chisel to the thing and it was wrecked from touring, said Donal, who recalls his brother in tears when he first realised the paintwork was peeling off.
Actually, it was to do with the paint chemicals and a mixture of his own alkaline sweat that seemed to act like a paint stripper. You could say his DNA is in the instrument.
Rory Gallagher was a shy man who became a heavy drinker and developed other health-related problems over a life of constant touring. He died in June 1995, aged just 47, from MRSA contracted in hospital following a liver transplant, just as a new breed of rocking Gallaghers were ascending to stardom.
Noel and Liam Gallagher have achieved a level of commercial success far beyond that of their predecessor
He was not related to the Oasis brothers, whose parents are from Co Mayo and Co Meath, while Rory was born in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal.
But there is a connection. On a trip to Ireland in 1996, Noel Gallagher borrowed one of his namesakes acoustic guitars from Donal to play Cast No Shadow at an Oasis concert in Cork.
Noel and Liam Gallagher have achieved a level of commercial success far beyond that of their predecessor, but there is an underlying ethos that they evidently share a genuine faith in musics power to communicate, allied to a certain stubbornness of spirit.
You just follow your own way and dont let anyone try to push you down the road that they want you to go, as Rory Gallagher once put it. Its not about being the best, its about being true to yourself.
Of course, it helps if you really are the best.
Rory Gallagher: The BBC Collection is released on October 11. The Rory Gallagher Collection will be auctioned on October 17, with previews in London from October 11 (bonhams.com)
Elle Macpherson has always been the picture of health. At 60, she remains so, seven years after a breast cancer diagnosis.
This week, the Australian supermodel revealed in her new memoir Elle: Life, Lessons and Learning To Trust Yourself that she went against the advice of 32 doctors once she received her diagnosis. It was recommended that Macpherson undergo a mastectomy with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and breast reconstruction.
Threats to world order and international stability can seem remote, but the killing of little girls in their beds ought to strike directly at the heart.
As the war in Ukraine grinds through its third year, Taoiseach Simon Harris, on a trip there, saw the cold reality of the pain and brutality that must never be accepted.
The girls he spoke of were probably asleep in their beds and murdered by an overnight drone strike in the city of Lviv.
With Ireland is full posters appearing on lamp-posts, we should remember the lethal dangers people are fleeing and the trauma they are experiencing at having to abandon all they love.
At a meeting in Kyiv with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Mr Harris promised that those fleeing the war will always be welcome in Ireland. Mr Zelensky expressed his gratitude for the 100,000 of his people warmly welcomed here.
We may not be able to stop the bombings, but if we can do our bit to lighten the burden of people under attack people standing to defend not just their homeland but the integrity of democracy in Europe we should regard it as a privilege.
There have been many moments in history when doing the right thing was deemed to come at a cost too many seemed unwilling to pay. In hindsight, the long-term humanitarian benefits always outweighed the outlay.
Those who refuse to give up need to know they are not alone, if there is to be any light of hope amid the darkness. Protecting lives cannot be dismissed or denied as if it were a double-entry bookkeeping exercise.
Ukrainian cities are coming under increasingly heavy bombardment. Russias troops are also making steady gains in the east.
As a neutral country, we have no part in helping to defend or attack, but we cannot step back from humanitarian commitments, which Mr Harris has rightly pledged to continue.
Europe is going through its own long night of the soul. There must be limits, but at times of extreme danger, a hand must be extended.
Swings to the far right in France and Germany have gained alarming momentum. Groups are exploiting migration concerns and advocating closed-door policies, even for those whose lives are at risk.
Insulated from the true horrors of war, it may seem easy to look the other way.
On a visit to Borodyanka, Mr Harris was taken to a site where people were trapped under rubble and could not be rescued. He also met a couple who had lost everything.
While the war is here, it is an attack on all of our values, he told them.
At a time when everything we do is viewed through the prism of economy and affordability, we need to remember we are interdependent, with shared values. These values are best reflected in the causes we champion and the people we stand by in times of threat.
In a recent interview, Catherine Gomezgani Hara, Speaker of the National Assembly in Malawi, expressed her support for China's efforts to strengthen its friendship with developing countries, particularly in Africa. Hara underscored the need for discussions on how both sides can benefit economically from their partnership. "China is a very big market, and if we can penetrate this market, our people will benefit economically," she stated. She advocated for a shift from aid to trade, suggesting that increasing trade could help reduce poverty levels in African countries. She pointed out that recent policy changes, such as China's removal of taxes on agricultural products exported from Malawi, demonstrate the positive impact of this evolving relationship by providing better market access for Malawi's goods. The Speaker also highlighted the importance of exchange visits, trade policies, infrastructure development, and overall diplomatic friendship between countries. She gave examples of areas where China could assist, such as providing expertise and capacity-building in the mining sector, which is currently hindered by a lack of equipment and training in Malawi. Hara further addressed the agricultural sector, emphasizing the need for Chinese support in providing equipment to improve productivity. She painted a vivid picture of the challenges faced by rural farmers in Malawi, particularly women who still work in their fields using basic tools like hoes while carrying their babies on their backs. "The Chinese government can help us increase productivity, which is something we are currently lacking," she remarked. Looking ahead, Hara expressed optimism about the upcoming 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in September, where heads of state from African nations and officials from the Chinese government will gather. She described the event as a critical platform for dialogue, enabling both sides to share their challenges and explore potential areas for cooperation. "In the end, our peopleboth in China and Africawill be the beneficiaries," she concluded.
The horrifying revelations in the report on abuse at schools run by religious orders should be the final nail in the coffin for church-run education.
With nearly 2,400 allegations of historical sexual abuse across 308 institutions and 884 alleged abusers, this report paints a grim picture of a system that has failed our children.
The report should force us to confront an uncomfortable truth: religious institutions have no place in running our schools.
How many more scandals must emerge, how many more children must suffer, before we recognise that entrusting our education system to religious orders is a grave mistake?
From the numbers in the report, it is clear the protection of children was secondary to the preservation of institutional reputation.
The reports findings show abuse was a systemic problem, especially in special education schools, where 590 allegations have surfaced across just 17 institutions.
This is not the first time we have heard about such abuses, and it is unlikely to be the last unless we make a decisive break from the past.
For too long we have entrusted the education of our children to organisations that have shown a persistent inability or unwillingness to prioritise their welfare.
Continuing to allow religious orders to control schools is an affront to the survivors of abuse and to the values of a modern, democratic society.
The time for half-measures and inquiries has passed it is time to sever the ties between church and education once and for all.
Luke J Gibbons, Claremorris, Co Mayo
Prosecute the institutions for malfeasance, neglect, abuse and manslaughter
If there ever was a need to prosecute corporations or entities like religious orders or the Catholic church for criminal malfeasance, corporate manslaughter, neglect and abuse, this is the time to enact legislation to support it.
The commission of inquiry into religious orders that oversaw the sexual abuse of children, never mind the gross negligence and abuse inflicted on single mothers and their babies in mother and baby homes and other institutions, is a watershed moment for the Catholic church and other religious orders in Ireland.
That 308 schools were complicit in the sexual abuse of minors by 884 alleged abusers, culminating in 2,395 allegations of abuse is as shocking as it is disgusting.
Who knew of this abuse, and why wasnt something done to stop it? Where were the religious lay people or those who oversaw these institutions when these children were being abused? What were the other state agencies doing?
Christy Galligan, Letterkenny, Co Donegal
I asked a question about priesthood applicants it is yet to be answered
When Blackrock College hit the headlines for the wrong reasons some months ago, I sent a simple question to the letters page of every national newspaper, asking: What sort of applicants for the priesthood were rejected?
The Irish Independent was the only paper that published it, and nobody answered it.
Mattie Lennon, Blessington, Co Wicklow
Government has a chance to shake the EU from its passivity on the Gaza war
I was struck by the headline of Nidal al-Mughrabis report, Israel kills 35 Palestinians in Gaza, but pauses fighting for polio vaccinations (Irish Independent, September 4).
This sums up the obscenity of what has been happening in Gaza since last October, which is merely a more extreme version of what has been happening to Israels Palestinian victims for generations.
No doubt we will now hear American and EU spokespersons praising their ally Israel for its humanitarian decency, before sending more armaments to facilitate the slaughter of untold numbers of those children who have just been vaccinated.
The same report tells us that diplomatic efforts to secure a permanent ceasefire... have stalled, with prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserting that war can only end when Hamas is eradicated, something that will never happen as long as Palestinians resist the illegal occupation of the West Bank and the siege of Gaza.
It is high time our government represented the Irish peoples support for Palestinian rights by implementing the Occupied Territories Bill and the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill, thus setting a precedent that might well jolt the rest of the EU from its passivity.
Raymond Deane, Broadstone, Dublin 7
Yes, Nato itself may have clean hands, but member nations cant claim same
A recent letter to the Irish Independent cited Nato as having never invaded any nation, unlike Russia.
Its true the acronym Nato has not invaded a country yet. However, many of its members over the years have been brand leaders in state disruption and invasion. The US has invaded lets take a deep breath here Afghanistan, Iraq, Cuba, Vietnam, Cambodia and Haiti, among others.
The UK once had the world map shaded pink, and the north of our island still bears that hue.
France and Napoleon invaded Russia, as did Germany and Hitler. In our rush to wear uniforms and become cannon fodder for big nations, Irish men fought and died at the Somme and Ypres in support of the little nations.
We might recall history didnt start at the beginning of the 2000s.
John Cuffe, Co Meath
There may be a crafty way to revive pub culture, and the solution would be Irish
Further to Sinead Ryans musings on the state of Irish pubs (Our pub culture has changed and maybe we should welcome it, Irish Independent, September 4), while the sight of a deserted village street with only a few stubbornly open pubs may stir a melancholic tune on tour heartstrings, I believe the solution to reviving our pub culture might be found in an unexpected, yet distinctly Irish, direction craft beer.
Who could resist a pub where the taps pour not just the usual bland suspects, but also a stout brewed locally, an IPA or a red ale that has been regionally crafted?
Our pubs can endure, not just as relics of a bygone era, but as vibrant centres of community where you can still get a good story, a great pint and perhaps even a locally sourced sandwich.
Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Co Armagh
The Kneecap film has already enjoyed extraordinary success across the globe not only as an incisive caper involving ceasefire babies, but also for thrusting Irish language and culture into the mainstream, building on the successes of its cinematic predecessors Arracht, An Cailin Ciuin, Foscadh and Roise & Frank.
These podcasts champion the language, culture and contemporary nuances of this island.
Kerry is home to Irelands highest mountain, its oldest thatched cottage and its oldest known fossilised footprint (of a tetrapod, from 385m years ago). It is also home to journalist Edaein OConnell and radio and TV presenter Jamie O Flannura, who in a 10-part series rove up and down the county, speaking with young people who have decided to settle there.
The IMRO Radio Award shortlisted The Magic of An Riocht (Apple, Spotify) has a simple but effective premise, almost exclusively as Gaeilge, giving voice to a demographic often associated with economic migration, largely thanks to the housing crisis and wider cost-of-living challenges.
The summit of Carrauntoohil, Ireland's highest mountain. Photo: Getty
OConnell and O Flannura have cherry-picked some interesting interviewees, such as school teacher Lisa Ni Luing, who returned to the kingdom after a stint in the UAE, and Texas-born California native Sydney Sargent who relocated to Dingle (an episode thats conducted in English). This country is divine, she decided on arrival in Kinsale eight years ago to work as an au pair before moving west. As OConnell says, Sargents love story has Hallmark movie written all over it, having met her Kerryman partner on a flight from Paris back to Ireland.
The long-running (2014) Bitesize Irish Podcast (Apple, Spotify; bitesize.irish) is both an entertaining and informative offshoot of Biteseize Irish, which offers online language courses and a ready-made community of Irish speakers for learners across the globe.
Each bilingual episode sees a set theme (Bealtaine, the story of Biddy Early, regional dialects, when and how to use Irish when visiting Ireland) or a chat with a special guest, such as American Gaeilgeoir Terry, an engineer from Silicon Valley, who explains his journey into the language and recommends his favourite learning apps.
Hear also our very own Pol O Conghaile, who describes his lifes trajectory, from growing up in Ballinasloe, Co Galway to international travel writer and editor, before revealing his Secret Dublin hotspots to coincide with the guide book of the same name. Recent episodes on the origins of the Lunasa festival, with folklorist Conchur Mag Eachain, and a chat with Brooklyn musician and fluent Irish speaker Cathy Gallagher are also absorbing.
Presenter Manchan Magan. Photo: RTE
Disclaimer: this is not actually an Gaeilge at all but it is presented by one of the countrys best-known champions of the language, Manchan Magan, whose best-selling books, such as Thirty-two Words for Field and Listen to the Land Speaking tap into the native tongue, history and culture.
The podcast Manchans Europe (Apple, Spoitify; rte.ie) ties in with his RTE series Manchans Europe by Train, made to highlight the author and broadcasters commitment to slow travel, in a bid to reduce his carbon footprint. He co-hosts with fellow plane-avoider Holly Tuppen, a consultant and advocate for sustainable tourism, to discuss hot-button topics such as over-tourism and what it means to travel sustainably on the island of Ireland.
336,000 will get you a three-bedroom house in Ballyfermot, Dublin, a four-bed dormer in Co Cavan or a three-bed bungalow in Co Donegal, but at Leinster House it gets you a bicycle shed. Value for money?
With ministers, TDs and the public demanding an investigation into the affair, it has left many scratching their heads asking how could something like this ever happen at the Dail?
Well, to put it simply Leinster House has form when it comes to Dail disasters.
From giant printers to "Celebrities in the Wild", the list of costly calamities shows no sign of abating.
Today on the Indo Daily Kevin Doyle is joined by John Downing, Political Correspondent with the Irish Independent, to look back at some of the most cringeworthy and scandalous moments from Leinster Houses spending past.
Anne OLeary said she is immensely proud to have been appointed to the role
A Cork native has been appointed as president of Ibec, Ireland's largest lobby and business representative group, and will serve in the role for the next year.
Anne OLeary, who is head of Meta Ireland, succeeds Paul Duffy, senior vice president of Pfizer Global Supply, in the role which she said she is immensely proud to have been appointed to.
In my various roles with businesses in Ireland, I have always placed great value on Ibecs role as the voice of business and employers, Anne said.
Irelands economy is in a very strong position, thanks to factors such as our openness to trade, capital, and people. We must continue to be agile and responsive to new investment, support Irish businesses in internationalising, and ensure that Ireland remains a place where careers can grow and develop.
However, I believe the position we are in now is predominantly due to the hard work of businesses and their ambition to grow and scale. As a country, we have a real opportunity to make strategic investments that will ultimately future-proof our success so that businesses can continue to thrive. I look forward to working on behalf of Ibec and our members with this government and the next in navigating these opportunities.
Anne joined Meta in September 2022 as the vice president of Mid-Market Global Business Group in EMEA. In May 2023, she was appointed head of Meta Ireland to oversee the community and culture across Metas HQ in Ballsbridge Dublin, its Clonee Data Centre in Meath and its Reality Labs in Cork.
In her day-to-day capacity, Anne collaborates closely with business leaders across the EMEA region, empowering them to harness the potential of Meta's apps to expand their reach and engage new customers. She also holds seats on the boards of ESRI and Greencore. Anne previously spent nine years as CEO of Vodafone Ireland, as well as spending time in BT Ireland as managing director and Esat Telecom as regional director.
Ibec CEO Danny McCoy said his organisation was delighted to announce Anne as the incoming president.
Anne has a deep understanding of the global business landscape in Ireland and, through her many roles, has worked closely with the Irish SME sector. At this time of change, having someone of Annes experience supporting the business community is crucial for our advocacy work, Danny said.
Anne is not only a brilliant champion of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion but also someone who works hard to uphold these principles through her leadership of Meta Ireland, a global giant based in Ireland with a diverse and global workforce representing over 110 nationalities. We extend our best wishes to her for a successful year ahead.
Ibecs new president will address the organisations members and stakeholders at their annual Presidents dinner this evening in RDS, where Taoiseach Simon Harris TD will also speak.
David, Alan and Anthony OConnor are each studying different strands of engineering at MTU
The three O'Connor brothers who are studying engineering at Munster Technological University.
A passion for engineering runs in the family for one set of Boherbue brothers, who are all currently studying the subject at Munster Technological University (MTU).
David, Alan and Anthony OConnor, who have many cousins who are engineers courtesy of the strong engineering gene on their mothers side, are each studying different strands of the practice at the university.
David, who is the eldest of the three brothers at 26-years-old, is currently pursuing a degree in Structural Engineering at MTU and is completing a summer work placement at PJ Hegarty on IDL expansion in Midleton.
The student got his introduction to engineering in transition year through Engineers Irelands STEPS Engineering Your Future programme, which is designed to show school students the potential of engineering and the difference they can make when they pursue it, and his younger brothers followed in his footsteps and completed the course too.
Middle brother Alan (23) recently completed a masters in Biomedical Engineering, having secured the Depuy Synthes scholarship for the programme based on his impressive Leaving Certificate results.
Alan is starting a graduate programme with Depuy Synthes this month.
Youngest brother Anthony also received the Depuy Synthes scholarship based on his Leaving Cert results and he decided to go down the Mechanical Engineering route.
The 22-year-old said he found the transition year STEPS programme particularly helpful in helping him isolate which area of engineering to study.
One of the major things you might face in engineering is what field you want to go into, be it chemical, civil, structural or mechanical. That was one of the main benefits I found out of Engineering Your Future. It really clarified the difference between each of the fields. he explained.
Anthony is currently on work placement with a company in Ringaskiddy.
Outside of their coursework at MTU, the OConnor brothers are each members of the Universitys GAA club. Alan and Anthony have played also active roles in the Mechanical and Biomedical Society, arranging information talks and social events.
Alan has enjoyed his experience at MTU so much that he has even returned to his secondary school to give 4th, 5th and 6th year students an idea of what studying engineering at the university is like.
Residents of Sandymount are raising their concerns and calling for urgent action from Irish Water in response to a troubling pattern of sewage contamination at Sandymount Strand.
Their demands come amidst growing concerns about public health and the environmental degradation of this once popular beach, which has become increasingly hazardous due to frequent discharges of raw sewage.
David Turner, chairman of the Sandymount and Merrion Residents Association (SAMRA), told the Irish Independent that raw sewage has been discharged onto the beach approximately 10 to 12 times each year.
Turner describes the situation as disgraceful and said that the sewage contamination has made the beach unsafe and unsuitable for public use.
A spokesperson for Irish Water acknowledged the challenges posed by the outdated sewer system in Sandymount, built in the early twentieth century, and said it is working to address the issue.
The area has reportedly become inundated with unpleasant smells, including sewage, algae, and dog poo, further exacerbating the public health threat.
Residents and beachgoers have been left grappling with the consequences of these frequent discharges.
Turner notes that the sewage includes not just human waste but also sanitary products, condoms and other debris, creating a dangerous environment for anyone who might come into contact with it.
The raw sewage released onto Sandymount Beach creates an immediate public health hazard, he said.
If a private company were found to be polluting like this, it would be shut down immediately.
Irish Waters inaction means people are unknowingly exposing themselves to hazardous conditions on the beach, leading to illnesses that could have been prevented.
The situation has been ongoing for decades, with Irish Water failing to provide even basic measures like hazard signage or a clear timeline for improvements.
Its shocking that despite having evidence and public outcry, theres been no significant response or change from Irish Water or the EPA, he added.
The Sandymount and Merrion Residents' Association has taken formal steps to address the problem, writing letters to Dublin City Council, Irish Water, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last May.
The letters outlined the persistent issues and called for immediate action.
There is a glaring lack of engineering solutions, signage and automatic cleanup procedures, a SAMRA spokesperson said.
They argue that while responsibilities are clearly dividedIrish Water handles technical and operational aspects, and Dublin City Council manages cleanup above the high-water linethere has been a failure to address the problem effectively.
What matters is that Irish Water has known about this problem for years but has not taken the necessary actions to resolve it, Mr Turner said.
We need them to erect signage and provide a clear timeline for system upgrades and ensure regular clean-ups of the most affected areas.
Having previously called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to treat the sewage on the beach as a serious health issue, the residents' association said they now feel that the agency is turning a blind eye to the situation.
A sample of the contaminated water could highlight the severity of the issue and force action, but Irish Water and the EPA are failing to address the problem adequately, Mr Turner added.
In response, Irish Water has acknowledged the issue and outlined their ongoing efforts to address it.
A spokesperson from Irish Water said: We are committed to continuously maintaining, upgrading, and developing critical water and wastewater infrastructure to protect and enhance the environment while enabling communities to thrive.
The spokesperson highlighted that Irish Water operates over 1,000 wastewater treatment plants and 26,000 kilometres of public sewers, treating 1.2 billion litres of wastewater daily.
Irish Water acknowledges that while the primary responsibility for monitoring and managing bathing water quality lies with local authorities, its operations can still affect water quality.
They said: While primary responsibility for the monitoring and managing of bathing waters lies with local authorities, Irish Water recognises that its activities can impact bathing waters in some locations.
The utility pointed out that factors such as dog and bird faeces, runoff from roads, upstream agriculture and misconnections also play a role in water quality issues.
In response to the Sandymount situation, Irish Water is engaging with various stakeholders, including the Dublin Bay Bathing Water Taskforce and the National Bathing Water Expert Group.
A spokesperson added: We are continuing to work proactively with all stakeholders to support improvements in bathing water quality, protecting and enhancing our coastal and inland waterways.
They also acknowledged the challenges posed by the outdated sewer system in Sandymount, built in the early twentieth century.
The sewer system in Sandymount was built in the 1900s and, as was typical at the time, it carries both wastewater from homes and businesses and water that is drained off roads and pavements.
Irish Water is assessing the combined network to understand its current limitations through a Drainage Area Plan and local monitoring, they added.
Since 2021, incremental improvements in bathing water quality at Sandymount Strand have been recorded, with 100pc of samples meeting the required standards in 2023, up from 75pc in 2021.
Dublin City Council added that bathing water at Sandymount Strand is experiencing its best quality in recent years, with 93pc of samples meeting the required standards in 2024.
The council attributes this improvement partly to responsible dog ownership reducing dog fouling, which was a major cause of poor water quality in past seasons.
DCC also continues to monitor water quality throughout the year, taking 20 samples at each designated location.
A Task Force was established in 2019 to address water quality issues, resulting in incremental improvements in both Merrion and Sandymount Strands.
Regarding sewerage issues, DCC said Irish Water is responsible for all foul and combined sewage matters and would handle any drainage infrastructure queries.
Additionally, DCC has erected public notices to acknowledge improvements and continues efforts in cleaning and managing the beach area.
"Regarding signage at the Ailesbury Outfall, Dublin City Council did fabricate and install two warning signs following a request by SAMRA in 2021, a spokesperson said.
Primary signage was installed on the outfall wall, visible to users on the Strand with the other visible to users of the promenade. Due to the coastal elements and the force of the bi-daily tide, the sign visible from the promenade was repeatedly destroyed within a number of weeks.
The primary signage attached to the outfall wall remains intact and is highly visible to pertinent users on the beach. The team has reviewed the existing signage and has not been able to identify a suitable additional area below the high tide level that would allow for the erection of a sign to notify beach users that would remain in place for any significant period of time.
"I will request that Irish Water also examine the matter to add additional signage within this area.
We are aware that Uisce Eireann operational teams have committed to visiting the outfall location after a discharge form the Ailesbury pumping station to clean the area, subject to other emergency work talking precedence, they added.
The Meadowlands Hotel in Tralee will next Tuesday, September 10 host an Anam Cara bereavement support meeting.
A new year, in terms of the school term, has begun and schoolbags have reappeared.
The holidays have been taken and the long evenings shorten. September can be a very difficult month for bereaved parents.
Many milestones are achieved during the month, many milestones their beloved child will never get to mark.
Anam Cara, the only organisation of its kind in Ireland with services available to all bereaved parents, will hold fourteen face to face meetings throughout the month. All their support services are free of charge.
Operations Manager, Leanne Milligan reflected:
At this time of the year, we can all get caught up with the return to school, the return to routine and our busy lives continuing, but for those missing loved ones, time remains still.
It is important to understand that less obvious occasions such as the return to school, can be hugely triggering. Anam Cara was launched in 2008, in recognition of the need for a safe space for those bereaved. Somewhere to let their mask drop, where others who have lived this nightmare, can understand.
The Kerry meeting will take place on Tuesday September 10 in The Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee at 7:15pm.
All bereaved parents from the Kerry area are welcome, regardless of the age their child died or circumstances of their death. There is no need to register, just arrive on the evening at 7:15pm.
For more information on the support services offer by Anam Cara, please call 085 2888 888, email info@anamcara.ie or see www.anamcara.ie
Members of the Kerry Friends of Palestine, the Kerry branch of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) have organised a walk around Tralee for tomorrow, Friday, September 6. It will start at 6pm from the gates of CBS Primary School at Cloonalour.
The walk will take participants to a number a of primary school gates around the town where they will pause and reflect with poems and songs and words. This family friendly event is being held in memory of the 16,500 children of Gaza who have been killed in the last 11 months.
Everyone is invited to attend.
In a letter that she wrote about the event and which she sent to primary schools around Tralee, Maria McCarthy, the vice-chair of theKerry IPSC, wrote the following:
This week marks our childrens first week back at school after the summer holidays. They will have rejoined their friends, met their new teachers and caught up on what I did over the summer holidays. There will have been tears from little ones, and from their parents, as the new junior infants started their very first day at Big School' and proudly stood outside their front doors and smiled for photos in their crisp new uniforms with their too big schoolbags and their brand new lunchboxes."
They will have met their new teachers, started making new friends and sat down in their classrooms, looking forward to the year ahead. Meanwhile, in Gaza, Palestine, over the last 11 months of genocide, more than 16,600 children have now been confirmed dead. This figure amounts to more than all of the 15,500 children who attend primary schools in the whole of Kerry put together. For comparison, this would mean that no children in Kerry would have returned to school this week.
The Kerry branch of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign is organising a walk around the schools of Tralee on Friday the 6th of September to honour these children. We will pause at the gates of each town centre school with a few words, a poem or a song to remember the stolen lives of the children of Gaza and we invite anyone who wishes to participate."
In addition to this, a nationwide walk in solidarity with Palestine and Gaza will leave from Cahersiveen to Dublin will leave Cahersiveen next Saturday, September 14 and will arrive at Leinster House on Tuesday, September 24.
Hermann Kelly pictured at the Irish Freedon Partys rally outside St Peters Church in Drogheda last year
Hermann Kelly, president and founder member of The Irish Freedom Party has been selected as the partys candidate in Co Louth in the forthcoming local elections,
Kelly, who is originally from Derry, now lives in mid-Louth and unsuccessfully contested the MidlandsNorth-West constituency at the 2024 European Parliament elections. He was eliminated on the thirteenth count, with 13,904 (2.04pc) first-preference votes.
He worked as a teacher and a journalist and was formerly a press officer for Nigel Farage. He also worked as director of communications for the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy Group in the European Parliament, and The European Conservatives and Reformists Group.
In announcing his candidacy he said the vision of a prosperous and sovereign Ireland fuels my passion.
He promised to work for personal freedoms, smaller government, and responsible fiscal policies and said that the party would promote lower taxes, including the carbon tax, eliminate wasteful government spending and champion family values.
During his campaign for the European elections, he said the Irish Freedom Party favoured Ireland leaving the European Union in a Brexit like Irexit.
Were better off as a democratic, national, self-governing country where the laws are made for the benefit of our own people, he said at the time.
On immigration, we cant house the whole world. We need to have control to decide the number of people who come here and the qualifications they have, that they can contribute to Ireland.
Kelly has recently addressed the anti-migration rallies in Dundalk organised by the Dundalk Says No group in protest a plans to house Ukrainian refugees in the the former St Josephs Orphanage at Seatown Place which is currently being refurbished.
Tangled Web is the third novel by Florence Gillan
Author Florence Gillan had a pinch me moment a few weeks ago when she looked at her three novels laid out on a table in front of her.
The Sligo-native couldnt quite believe that all three had been published since she took early retirement from teaching in Bush Post-Primary School on the scenic Cooley peninsula.
And although she loved teaching, she loves writing even more.
The 63-year-old burst on the scene with her debut novel Let Them Lie in 2022 and The Forfeit published last year. Now, her third book Tangled Web, which is also published by Crimson, an imprint of the Irish publishing company Poolbeg Press, is about the hit the shelves.
Like her first two books, Tangled Web is a gripping psychological thriller with a secret at its heart.
"Im very interested in the whole idea of secrets and how keeping a secret can be so damaging and isolating, Florence says.
All three books are the same the plots revolve around a secret that has a profound effect not just on those keeping the secret but on the lives of those around them.
Like its predecessors Tangled Web is set in the not too distant past, in this case 2010.
It tells the story of Eimear Martin, a young woman from Sligo who moves to Dublin after the death of her mother in a car crash and the ending of her engagement.
At first her new life in Dublin gets off to a good start as she takes up a job with a firm of solicitors and begins making friends away from the control of her coercive former fiance Donal.
Then a threatening letter arrives in the post and she realises that someone is keeping tabs on her. She soon discovers that these are no idle threats as her property is damaged and her reputation ruined.
I was very interested in how easy it is to take someones reputation and isolate them from their friends and colleagues, says Florence.
As well as dealing with issues such as identity theft and stalking, she feels that the book covers much more than that as it describes coercive relationships, grief and ultimately resilience.
Like the heroines of Let Them Lie and The Forfeit, Eimear finds the strength to fight back,
"Even though initially they started off as vulnerable characters, almost easy to manipulate, something triggers and they find their inner strength, says Florence.
Tangled Web is the third novel by Florence Gillan
In the case of Eimear, its running and keeping fit that helps her feel stronger and more powerful as she fights her unseen enemy.
Florence was delighted when one of her nieces said that the book had a touch of feminism running through the narrative.
"She mentioned the reference to a man telling Eimear to cheer up when she was out walking, and I do remember when I was young, walking down the street having deep thoughts like you do when you are 21, and some man would feel the need to say smile and at the time you just gave an anxious smile.
Having taken early retirement , Florence began working towards her dream of becoming a published author.
"Ive had three books published since 2022 so its been phenomenally fast. Its not even having a whole year to write, as you have to have it ready early for to work on the editing, she says. It is hard work but I love writing. Thats the big thing Ive discovered. I love the process.
She says that the experience of writing each of the three books was very different.
"Once I had the idea for The Forfeit the words just poured out of me, but Tangled Web was a much harder and I struggled over it, she says. It was a much more difficult birth if I can use that analogy.
But just as mothers are supposed to forget the pangs of childbirth, Florence has already put that memory behind her and is already thinking about her next book.
"I have one that I prepared earlier, as they used to say on television shows, so I have that idea got s book, do I might go back to that and also another idea.!
She likes to get up early and spend the day writing, leaving the evenings free. She does, however, admit to wakening up in the middle of the night to jot down ideas that come to her in her dreams.
"I love writing. I never feel more alive than when Im writing. Since I retired I have time to do this. You are as old as you feel and I feel as though I have lost a dozen years.
Not only has she started writing, but she has started running again.
"When you reach a certain age you realise that this is the beginning of the end. You think what do you want to do, what do you want to achieve. Im going to keep at it and see where it leads. Its exciting and I love it.
The launch for Tangled Web will be held in her native Sligo and the book will be available from all good book shops from September 12 and is also for sale on Amazon as a paperback and ebook.
It would be naive in the extreme to think child sexual abuse didnt occur in non-religious schools too, the Bishop of Elphin has said.
He was giving his reaction to the Report of the Scoping Inquiry into Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools Run by Religious Orders which listed schools across the country where children were abused.
Bishop Doran said: It is not easy reading by any means, but I am conscious that, behind every paragraph is the experience of real people who, as children, suffered abuse and violence in a place where they should have been safe. They have the right to tell their story.
"The tragedy of the report is not simply that there are so many of them, but that so many of them had to carry their experience alone for so many years, before they felt sufficiently free to tell someone else.
"While the report relates specifically to religious-run schools, it would be naive in the extreme to suggest that child abuse was not also a reality in other schools, whether Catholic or of any other tradition. Sadly, sexual abuse, has been endemic in our society. Both the Dioceses of Achonry and Elphin supported the work of the Scoping Inquiry, and we will certainly respond to any further enquiry that is deemed appropriate.
"Survivors of abuse in schools are living in all our parishes. They are our brothers and sisters. As a bishop, I want to offer my sincere apology to all those who have been affected by abuse in the context of Church. I know from past experience that these words, however well intended, may sound hollow to survivors and their families.
"I appreciate that actions speak louder than words. Together with the safeguarding teams in both dioceses, I am committed to ensuring that the policies and procedures which have been put in place for the safeguarding of children will continue to be fully implemented.
"The report serves only to renew that commitment. I encourage all our clergy and parishioners to be alert to anything which might put children at risk of harm and I encourage anyone who has a concern, a suspicion or knowledge of abuse to speak to the trained safeguarding personnel in our schools and dioceses, or to report them directly to An Garda Siochana or to Tusla, he said.
Blackwater Tidy Towns was one of the Clean Coasts groups who joined the Big Beach Clean this year.
Pictured left to right: Bronagh Moore, Coastal Programmes Manager at Clean Coasts, Cathal Kealey, Head of Marketing and PR at Kia Ireland and Scarlett Kenny.
Registrations for the Big Beach Clean 2024, supported by Kia Ireland, are open until September 11. Pictured left to right: Scarlett Kenny, Aubrey Kenny and Liane Costello, Biodiversity Officer at Clean Coasts.
The deadline is fast approaching for people to join over 20 groups and 300 volunteers who reside in County Wexford who are set to join Clean Coasts for the Big Beach Clean this September 20-22.
The Big Beach Clean is supported by Kia Ireland to make a positive impact on the Irish coast and waterways and is part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) organised by the Ocean Conservancy. This annual call-to-action encourages individuals, families, and communities to join forces to carry out a clean-up at the end of the bathing season and join a worldwide citizen science project.
Each item of litter collected and submitted via Marine Litter Data cards or Clean Swell app is shared with Ocean Conservancy, who will use the information received to create reports and advocate around the world to tackle the problem of ocean litter.
In 2023 alone, a record number of volunteers participated to collect a significant amount of rubbish, littering the islands scenic natural beaches. Last year, over 400 groups registered to host a clean-up, with 7,700 Clean Coasts volunteers removing a staggering 46 tonnes of litter all across the country.
Wexford had over 500 volunteers who took part in the 2023 Big Beach Clean and made a huge difference to their County collecting three tonnes of litter.
The top three items recorded during the Big Beach Clean weekend were plastic wrappers, cigarette butts and plastic bottles.
However, Campaign Officer Patrick Cross has been delighted to observe the positive affect the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme has had on littering.
"A recent national litter survey by business group Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) revealed that since the introduction of the Governments Deposit Return Scheme we have seen a fall in cans and plastic bottles on our streets contributing to an overall improvement in litter levels, he said.
Cathal Kealey from Kia Ireland said: " Kia Ireland is delighted to see so many community groups and individuals nationwide signing up for the Big Beach Clean. As a brand committed to our journey towards Carbon Neutrality we are proud to support such an important initiative. Our support will ensure that cleanup kits are distributed to volunteers that sign up to registered cleanups across the country, he said.
In line with to our global clean up initiatives that are designed to combat ocean pollution, we would urge as many people as possible to register for their local beach clean this September. We are looking forward to joining some of the many groups across the country from the weekend of September 20-22 and beyond, he added.
Bronagh Moore, An Taisces Clean Coasts Manager, commented: " We are thrilled to see such large numbers already signed up for the Big Beach Clean 2024. Its a fantastic way for individuals, clubs and communities to come together and be part of a powerful movement working to protect our coastlines and waterways.
By recording and reporting on the litter collected, we are not only cleaning up our beaches but providing important data that that can influence and lead to impactful global campaigns and changes in policy .Its a great opportunity to be involved in a global effort to protect our ocean, she said.
This year, clean-ups will be happening in various locations, including Enniscorthy, New Ross, Gorey and Tomhaggard. A list of clean-ups happening in County Wexford as part of the Big Beach Clean can be found on the Clean Coasts website.
Registrations will close at 5pm on September 11.
One in five people in Wexford (22 per cent) did not take all of their entitled annual leave in 2023 according to research carried out by FRS Recruitment, .
A total of 1,886 people took part in the survey.
One in six people (16 per cent) in Wexford didnt take five days of annual leave or more, which in employment terms represents a weeks leave. 15 per cent didnt take four days, 23 per cent had three days which went unused, 18 per cent also opted against using up two days of leave and 10 per cent had one day of their holidays remaining.
Three in eight people (37 per cent) in Wexford say unused annual leave is carried into the following year, while more than one in four (27 per cent) receive a payment in lieu. However a little under a fifth of Wexford employees (18 per cent) say their leave is lost if it is not used.
Lynne McCormack, General Manager with FRS Recruitment said: Holidays and annual leave are such an important part of professional life for employees in Wexford and their employers. Yet before now there havent been many statistics available showing how it is used and the various policies associated with annual leave in the workplace.
"What was surprising was the number of people who are not making full use of their leave, both in Wexford and around the country. Even more eye opening are the number of days leave that havent been used, with five days or more not being used by one in six people in Wexford last year. Work wise, effectively thats a week of holidays going unused for those people, she said.
Besides the number of people letting their holidays go unused, she has noted that a few participants seemed interested in the idea of unlimited leave which has gained popularity in the United States.
"A sizeable number of people in Wexford and nationally would like to see [unlimited leave] introduced by their employers, despite the significant proportion of the employees who arent using up their allocated leave as it currently stands. A majority of people in Wexford and around the country would also support a four day work week, even though it may impact on their salaries, she added.
FRS recruitment is Ireland's national recruitment specialists based nationwide and specialising in healthcare, IT, engineering, and temporary employment.
REPRO FREE Wexford, Ireland, 3 September 2024: Sheil Kinnear, the Wexford-based accountancy firm, has announced that it has officially joined Xeinadin. Headquartered in London and with a flagship office in Dublin, Xeinadin has over 135 offices and more than 2,000 employees across Ireland and the UK. Pictured l-r: Sandra Clarke, Xeinadin Managing Partner - Ireland; David O'Connor, Xeinadin Partner; Derry Crowley, Xeinadin CEO. Picture: Michael O'Sullivan /OSM PHOTO
Wexford accountancy firm Sheil Kinnear has joined Xeinadin, one of the leading professional services firms in the UK and Ireland. As one of the longest and established accountancy practices in Ireland, Sheil Kinnear specialises in all aspects of general practice including tax compliance and business advisory for a wide range of small owner-managed businesses to small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across all industries.
Derry Crowley, CEO of Xeinadin, said: Sheil Kinnear has a longstanding reputation and history for delivering outstanding work for local businesses in the south east and beyond. The merger was an easy choice when it came to expanding our local footprint and we look forward to working with David and the rest of the team to support our SME clients in overcoming the challenges they are facing.
David OConnor, Director of Sheil Kinnear, said, We are proud to be joining Xeinadin and look forward to the years ahead continuing to unlock growth for the businesses we work with. The move will provide greater opportunities for the team and allow us to expand the range or services that we can offer clients.
Recent research commissioned by Xeinadin which surveyed SMEs owners across the south east showed that 43 per cent have noted an increase in revenue over the last year, however costs such as VAT, minimum wage increases and late payments from customers are seen as main barriers to growth.
We recently surveyed SME owners across the region and there are plenty of reasons to be positive with over half of SMEs in Ireland reporting increased revenue in the last 12 months, said Mr Crowley. However, challenges remain, with rising costs including VAT and minimum wage increases flagged as the top barriers to growth. As a combined unified entity drawing from local, national and international expertise, Xeinadin with Sheil Kinnear has the insights, experience and scale to support south east SMEs in 2024 and beyond.
Xeinadin also announced in June it plans for a 40 million investment in the Irish market over the next 18 months, signifying the companys commitment to the Irish market.
A recruitment drive for the long-awaited neurorehabilitation centre in Brayc is to get underway this month, following a long delay compounded by the HSE hiring freeze.
Wicklow TD Jennifer Whitmore, who had been highlighting the urgent need for Community Health Organisation 6 (CHO6), which includes Wicklow, Dun Laoghaire and Dublin South East, to roll out a neurorehabilitation team, has welcomed news from the HSE that progress is being made on recruitment.
Deputy Whitmore said she has received confirmation from the HSE that positions for this team will be advertised this month, with the recruitment process taking place over the autumn with a view to establishing the Community Neuro Rehabilitation Team in early 2025.
This is a very welcome and encouraging development for the families and patients who have been waiting so long for the establishment of this community-based service, she said.
We now have a clear timeline with a date set for the establishment of a Community Neuro Rehabilitation Team in Bray, which will service the needs of east Wicklow and south Dublin. .
Recruitment for the planned CH06 (east Wicklow/south Dublin) neurorehabilitation team had been signed off on in May 2023, but was subsequently delayed by the HSE hiring freeze.
Following the end of this hiring freeze in July, Deputy Whitmore wrote to the HSE asking for an update on the status of the recruitment process. In a response from the HSE it was confirmed that following a consultation process with unions on these new development roles, recruitment for the team should commence in September.
I would like to commend the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI) on their tireless campaigning to see the establishment of community rehabilitation teams for neurological patients in Wicklow and across the country, Deputy Whitmore continued.
Their determination to ensure that this essential community healthcare service is available to patients will allow hundreds of people across Wicklow to access rehabilitation services following stroke and brain injuries as well as Parkinsons patients and others in need of physical or speech therapy.
I will continue to closely follow the progress being made on the establishment of the Community Neuro Rehabilitation Team in Bray and ask for regular updates on the early 2025 opening date.
"Ensuring that this team are in place as soon as possible needs to be a priority for the HSE so that neurological patients in Wicklow can receive the care and treatment that they need within their community.
I will also continue to advocate for the speedy establishment of a team for west Wicklow to ensure that this service is available for all who need it across Wicklow. This is a key priority of mine, concluded Deputy Whitmore.
Wicklow artist Steven Doody represented Irish tree-planting NGO Easytreesie, joined by volunteers from Siolta Chroi, on a recent visit to Lodz in Poland as part of a two-year Erasmus Plus project called Soul, Soil and Society.
For what was the third training session to date, with the first two taking place in Ireland and Romania over the last year, the first week in July saw Steven and the Irish contingent welcomed with a dinner and an introduction to other participants.
A walking tour of Lodz city followed, led by tour guide and writer Justyna Tomaszewska, who gave a very informative talk about her home city and the massive changes to the cityscape over the last decade.
Over the next week, the group would visit NGOs to learn and take examples of how these groups function and collaborate with local government.
Participants got to experience Black World, an initiative run by visually-impaired staff who lead participants through the world in which they live, with Steven and the group brought into totally dark rooms, exploring three rooms, a home, a streetscape and a tram through the world of touch.
I managed to end up in a shower, burn myself on a cooker, hit my head on a traffic light and got off at the wrong stop on the tram, Steven joked.
The centre also runs dining events where participants explore a dining experience as a blind person.
Putting yourself into the shoes of the visually-impaired, you realise how unsympathetic the urban cityscape can be inhospitable to the visually-impaired and how, as a society, we can improve this.
Participants also visited a syntropic agroforestry project, which saw organically grown vegetables and fruits supplying local restaurants and shops. The farm uses innovative ideas such as hens and ducks for pest and weed control, 5m by 30m ponds for water storage, fish production and biodiversity enhancement.
The soils fertility has been enhanced through the addition of organic material, mycelium, continuous cover, companion planting and mixes of sacrificial and nitrogen-fixing plants, such as clovers, beans, comfrey and hemp, to further help soil fertility and enhance biodiversity.
The Irish contingent learned about House on the Estate, a UNESCO best Polish program for people with disabilities, running since 2002, which Steven revered as a good example of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Nine participants aged between 19 and 40 years old, each supported by an assistant to live independently, resolving the problems of everyday life, with hamlets of residential units in the community allowing for a more focused use of resources, Steven explained.
An important facet of the project is art workshops/studio where participants explore the world of art through a professionally led program, emphasising the importance of imagination, patience and creativity. Works are sold through local galleries with funds put back into the system.
We visited NGO VICI, situated in a local government-owned building. Here, the local government provides art studios/residential studios for artists.
Subsidised rents and five-year leases give artists time to concentrate on art production and provide medium-term housing security.
Rounding off the insightful trip, the participants learned about The Association for the Promotion of Old Crafts and Culture WICI (aka WICI Association), a non-profit association based in Poland to inform, educate and promote handicrafts in society.
They were also informed about Klub Senior, a seniors club which is facilitated by the local town government, and The incubator art factory, a disused industrial unit turned into artist studios that house everything from architects and designers to visual artists.
All in all, a very worthwhile, well-organised research trip, Steven reflected.
It was an experience to learn how Polish NGOs work and are supported by the local government. Its amazing to see the city of Lodz and its change from an old Soviet city into a modern Polish society which supports its citizens.
The value of collaboration between individuals, NGOs and local government is a testament to the success and outreach of these societal groups.
The importance of collaboration between resident artists and local government all working to transform the city into a viable hub of creativity.
A family forest and fun day is coming to An Tairseach Organic and Ecology Centre, with all ages welcome.
Angie Kinsella, who is passionate about living a sustainable life, will run the excursion. She runs retreats from her home and enjoys encouraging life skills such as the practice of permaculture, holistic therapies, nature connection and is trained as a forest school leader for the past five years.
The fun day takes place on Saturday, September 28, from 10.30am to 2pm. Participants will first gather in the ecology centre, where they will learn about the work and history of An Tairseach through a short presentation.
Everyone will then follow Angie up to the car park on the Greenhill Road to begin a tour of the land in Wicklow town, which surrounds and is used by An Tairseach. The forest school-type family day will include fun nature games, foraging for wild foods, crafting, songs and stories.
All ages are welcome but children must be accompanied by parents or guardians at all times.
The event costs 25 for adults and 10 for children. Book your place at the An Tairseach website.
Independent Wicklow craft brewery O Brother Brewing have partnered up with Tesco Ireland to launch four of its award-winning beers in 78 stores across Ireland this autumn.
The collaboration is an important milestone for the brewery founded by brothers Barry, Brian and Paddy ONeill as it increases the brand's visibility but also provides a substantial financial boost for the company. The brewery, based in Kilcoole, is expecting to deliver almost 200,000 cans in the first year, which highlights the consumer demand for these beers.
The beers that are now available in Tesco include The Chancer, a fresh pale ale; The Dreamcatcher, a New England style session IPA; The Sinner, an American-style IPA; and The Nightcrawler, a milk stout.
O Brother Brewing has partnered with Galway artist Shane O'Malley to create the bold can labels, celebrating the unique partnership with local artists and creators.
Barry ONeill, CEO and co-founder of O Brother Brewing, stated: This move showcases the anticipated demand and popularity of our beers. Our mission is to make great, fresh Irish beer available to consumers everywhere they wish to experience it and this partnership with Tesco gives us another opportunity to reach a wider craft drinker and bring them with us on our journey.
Kern Kinnear, head of beers, wines and spirits at Tesco Ireland added: We are thrilled to partner with O Brother Brewing to bring their innovative and high-quality beers to our stores. Their dedication to crafting exceptional beers aligns perfectly with our commitment to offering our customers the best locally-produced products. We look forward to seeing our customers enjoy these unique and flavourful beers.
The announcement marks another significant milestone for O Brother Brewing, which has already announced a star-studded investment round and a move to a beautiful new brewery and visitor centre at Belmont Demesne earlier this year.
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Bhim Kohli died after he was assaulted while walking his family dog in a park in Leicestershire
Bhim Kohli died after being seriously injured near the entrance of Franklin Park (Family Handout/PA)
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Report was critical of then government, local authorities and others for years of inaction over safety issues at London tower block
The devastating Grenfell Tower fire in June, 2017, that left 72 people dead. Photo: Reuters
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A public inquiry into the devastating 2017 blaze at Londons Grenfell Tower that killed 72 people blamed the disaster on failings by the UK government, construction industry and, most of all, the firms involved in fitting the exterior with flammable cladding.
The Irish building materials company Kingspan has been accused of deeply entrenched and persistent dishonesty and having a complete disregard for fire safety by an inquiry into the causes of the Grenfell Tower disaster.
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We will evaluate it when it comes closer Tanaiste responds to soldiers concerns they may not be able to come home at end of Lebanon tour
LATEST | Georgia high school shooting: Student (14) who killed four people was interviewed by police last year
Suspect was arrested at the scene shortly after shooting, Georgia officials sayTwo 14-year-old students, two teachers killed at Apalachee High School in GeorgiaNine others wounded and expected to recoverPolice had interviewed suspect last year over threats to commit school shooting
People attend a vigil at Jug Tavern Park following a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, U.S. September 4, 2024. REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage
Rich McKay and Andrew Hay Thu 5 Sep 2024 at 07:15
A 14-year-old boy killed two fellow students and two teachers and wounded nine others in a shooting at a Georgia high school on Wednesday, jolting the United States with the first mass campus shooting since the start of the school year.
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India and Singapore Eye Future Growth in Semiconductors
Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently held high-level talks with Singaporean leaders, focusing on key areas such as advanced manufacturing, digital transformation, healthcare, and sustainability.
The two countries have also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to partner and cooperate in the field of semiconductor ecosystems.
In a meeting on September 4, 2024, Modi and Singapores Prime Minister Lawrence Wong agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship by establishing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. On the second day of Modis visit, September 5, an MoU was signed between Singapore and India to collaborate and work together in the semiconductor industry.
According to the official statement issued by the Singaporean government, the goal of the MoU is to support Indias growing semiconductor industry while facilitating Singapores ecosystem of semiconductor companies and related supply chains to participate in the fast-growing Indian market.
Focus on semiconductor cooperation
India and Singapore unveiled four key agreements, primarily targeting the semiconductor sector. The semiconductor ecosystem partnership seeks to support Indias growing semiconductor industry while facilitating greater market access for Singaporean companies.
This collaboration underscores the increasing importance of the semiconductor industry for both nations. The leaders of both countries toured AEM, a leading Singaporean semiconductor and electronics company, where they were briefed on the companys role in the global semiconductor value chain and its plans for expanding operations into India. Additionally, the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association presented insights into Singapores semiconductor ecosystem and potential opportunities for collaboration with India.
Singapores semiconductor industry, despite its prominence in global production (contributing 10 percent of the worlds semiconductor output), faces limitations in terms of land and labor constraints. On the other hand, India, with its abundant land and skilled labor, holds the potential to integrate into Singapores semiconductor value chain. While Singapore focuses on mature-node chips for appliances and industrial equipment, the production of high-end AI logic chips remains outside its current capabilities. Rising costs and global competition may challenge Singapores position in the semiconductor market over time.
Also Read: Indias Semiconductor Sector: Tracking Government Support and Investment Trends
Other key agreements
In addition to semiconductors, the two nations signed agreements in digital technology, healthcare, and education. The digital technology MoU is aimed at fostering greater interoperability between India and Singapores digital economies, building on previous projects such as linking their digital payment systems. It focuses on data protection, cybersecurity, digital public infrastructure, and enhancing business collaboration.
The education and skill development MoU promotes cooperation in technical and vocational training, while the healthcare and medical research MoU emphasizes pandemic preparedness, disease surveillance, and controlling communicable diseases.
Strengthening ties and regional stability
During his talks with Prime Minister Wong, Modi emphasized the importance of continuing collaboration to ensure regional peace, stability, and prosperity. He highlighted Singapores central role in Indias Act East policy, describing the country as an anchor for the initiative launched a decade ago.
On August 24, 2024, an India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable was held here in New Delhi, which identified potential areas for further cooperation, such as skilling, digitalization, advanced manufacturing, AI, and cybersecurity.
India and Singapore have partnered on notable technological projects such as the launch of 17 Singaporean satellites from India in July 2023 and the strengthening of defense cooperation. The two countries also forged a partnership between Singapore Airlines and Air India.
The latest visit reinforced the strong and evolving relationship between India and Singapore, with both countries committed to deepening their economic and technological collaboration.
India-Greece Bilateral Trade and Investment
India and Greece are strengthening their bilateral ties following Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent visit to Greece (August 2023), the first by an Indian Prime Minister since 1983. This was followed by the Greece Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visiting India from February 21-22, 2024.
Despite long gaps in high-level contact, both countries established a Strategic Partnership and initiated dialogues between their National Security Advisers. Greeces location serves as a gateway to Europe, making it a valuable partner in Indias outreach to Europe and the Mediterranean. At the same time, Greece sees India as an emerging global power in South Asia.
India and Greece plan to sign a Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement to boost skilled migration, as discussed during Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visit to India. Mitsotakis and Modi underlined the importance of increased collaboration in defense, security, education, trade, investment, and tourism. The goal is to quadruple bilateral trade by 2030 from around US$2 billion in 2022-23. The two countries are also in agreement on resolving problems through diplomacy, and they addressed the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), which Greece sees as a crucial player in increasing connectivity between these regions. Mitsotakis has spoken of the IMECs ability to promote peace and stability in the Middle East, despite regional concerns.
India-Greece bilateral trade
Trade between India and Greece was estimated at US$1.9 billion in 2022-23.
In June 2024, Indias trade with Greece resulted in a positive balance of US$67.3 million, with exports totaling US$77.1 million and imports at US$9.79 million. Compared to June 2023, Indias exports to Greece rose by US$16 million, while imports significantly decreased by US$ 94.3 million. The increase in exports was driven by products like unmanufactured tobacco, ceramics, and organic chemicals. The drop in imports from Greece was mainly due to decreased imports of other commodities, iron and steel, and aluminum products.
Previously, a surge in imports meant that the trade balance turned negative at (-) US$372 million in 2022-23, down from a positive balance at US$777 million in 2021-22.
Top traded items
Indias Top Exports to Greece in 2023 Items Value (US$ million) Organic chemicals 109.54 Electrical, electronic equipment 90.14 Aluminum 87.08 Iron and steel 78.20 Fish, crustaceans, mollusks, aquatic invertebrates 55.13 Ceramic products 38.64 Articles of apparel, not knit or crocheted 31.25 Paper and paperboard, articles of pulp, paper, and board 27.51
Source: Trading Economics
Indias Top Imports from Greece in 2023 Items Value (US$ million) Mineral fuels, oils, distillation products 549.65 Aluminium 36.61 Pulp of wood, fibrous cellulosic material, waste 30.36 Edible fruits, nuts, peel of citrus fruit, melons 22.81 Iron and steel 22.24 Salt, sulphur, earth, stone, plaster, lime, and cement 13.05 Copper 10.95 Cotton 7.48
Source: Trading Economics
India and Greece have complementary trade patterns. India primarily exports aluminum products, organic chemicals, electrical machinery, fish, iron and steel, apparel, plastics, paper, textiles, and spices to Greece. In contrast, Greeces main exports to India include mineral fuels, aluminum, wood pulp, edible fruits, iron and steel, copper, salt, chemicals, cotton, and organic chemicals.
Future prospects
The Indian market is drawing interest among Greek companies, with plans to export products like olive oil, olives, wine, cheese, and construction materials to India. Indian conglomerates are also investing in Greece, likely boosting future trade.
The trade outlook is positive, with expected growth driven by stronger supply chains and enhanced bilateral economic relations. The trade is projected to double every five years, supported by increasing people-to-people connections and deepening economic ties.
Source: Trading Economics
Source: Trading Economics
India-Greece investment flows
Both India and Greece recognize the strategic importance of their geographical locations and are motivated to enhance their bilateral ties for security and stability in their regions.
The Greek governments economic reforms and Greeces role as a key EU and NATO member further emphasize the importance of this relationship. The proposed IMEEC and the EU-India bilateral trade agreement (BTIA) are expected to boost economic ties.
From April 2000 to March 2023, cumulative foreign direct investment (FDI) from Greece to India totaled US$9.35 million. The largest Indian investment in Greece is a joint venture between GMR Airports and GEK-Terna for a EUR 850 million construction project at Kasteli on the island of Crete. Additionally, several smaller Indian companies operate in Greece across sectors such as travel, hospitality, and retail.
Bilateral agreements between Greece and India
Agreement on Cultural Exchange (1961)
Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation (1967)
Agreement for Joint Commission for Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation (1983)
Agreement on Tourism Cooperation (1998)
MOU on Defense Cooperation (1998)
MOU for Cooperation in Agriculture (2001)
Agreement on Cooperation in Science & Technology (2007)
Air Services Agreement (2017)
Agreement of Cooperation between the Hellenic Foreign Trade Board and India Trade Promotion Organization (1996)
MOU on Cooperation in New and Renewable Energy (2017)
MOU on Standardization (2018)
Scope for investments in India
Agriculture: Cooperation prospects in agritech, crop diversification, soil and water conservation, climate change, natural farming and biofortified crops, food production, smart irrigation, cold chain infrastructure, agriculture research public-private-partnerships.
Cooperation prospects in agritech, crop diversification, soil and water conservation, climate change, natural farming and biofortified crops, food production, smart irrigation, cold chain infrastructure, agriculture research public-private-partnerships. Shipping: India is the 16th largest maritime country in the world and allows 100 percent FDI. Cooperation prospects in ship design ship production, ship breaking, automation, environmentally friendly technologies, training and human resource development, innovation, technology, and knowledge sharing.
India is the 16th largest maritime country in the world and allows 100 percent FDI. Cooperation prospects in ship design ship production, ship breaking, automation, environmentally friendly technologies, training and human resource development, innovation, technology, and knowledge sharing. Skill development and mobility: Cooperation on digital apprenticeships, joint partnerships in creating training infrastructure, skills and language training programs, short-term mobility to Greece.
Cooperation on digital apprenticeships, joint partnerships in creating training infrastructure, skills and language training programs, short-term mobility to Greece. Defense and aerospace: India has a US$11.3 billion defense market and is the third largest military spender in the work. The Indian government wants to achieve a US$25 billion turnover by 2025, including US$5 billion in exports of aerospace and defense goods and services. Areas of cooperation include defense industrial cooperation, with a focus on Make in India, maritime cooperation, co-development or licensed production of aero-platforms and systems (avionics, aircraft manufacture, radar equipment), advanced ship-building technologies, and submarines, advanced defense systems with digital innovations such as focus on big data, artificial intelligence and cyber security, modernization of existing shipyards and defense platforms through technology infusion.
India has a US$11.3 billion defense market and is the third largest military spender in the work. The Indian government wants to achieve a US$25 billion turnover by 2025, including US$5 billion in exports of aerospace and defense goods and services. Areas of cooperation include defense industrial cooperation, with a focus on Make in India, maritime cooperation, co-development or licensed production of aero-platforms and systems (avionics, aircraft manufacture, radar equipment), advanced ship-building technologies, and submarines, advanced defense systems with digital innovations such as focus on big data, artificial intelligence and cyber security, modernization of existing shipyards and defense platforms through technology infusion. Infrastructure: Cooperation areas include smart cities, industrial corridors, and transport and logistics.
Cooperation areas include smart cities, industrial corridors, and transport and logistics. Renewable energy: India is the worlds fourth-largest producer of renewable energy and solar power but is yet to meet high production capacity target of 500GW by 2030. Cooperation areas include solar PVs, equipment manufacturing, biomass energy, energy storage, smart grids, skill development, and energy management systems.
India is the worlds fourth-largest producer of renewable energy and solar power but is yet to meet high production capacity target of 500GW by 2030. Cooperation areas include solar PVs, equipment manufacturing, biomass energy, energy storage, smart grids, skill development, and energy management systems. Auto manufacturing: India is the worlds third largest automobile market and wants to achieve 30 percent electrification by 2030. Cooperation areas include auto components, batteries and EV parts, battery energy storage systems, charging stations.
India is the worlds third largest automobile market and wants to achieve 30 percent electrification by 2030. Cooperation areas include auto components, batteries and EV parts, battery energy storage systems, charging stations. Pharmaceuticals: India is the largest manufacturer and exporter of generic medicines, serving domestic and 200 countries. Cooperation areas include production of generic medicines, vaccine production, R&D, merger and acquisitions, and API leveraging Indian facilities in Europe.
India is the largest manufacturer and exporter of generic medicines, serving domestic and 200 countries. Cooperation areas include production of generic medicines, vaccine production, R&D, merger and acquisitions, and API leveraging Indian facilities in Europe. Electronics: India is pushing for the diversification and expansion of its rapidly growing electronics manufacturing through targeted incentives. Cooperation areas include export-oriented manufacturing, R&D, new product development, skill development and training.
India is pushing for the diversification and expansion of its rapidly growing electronics manufacturing through targeted incentives. Cooperation areas include export-oriented manufacturing, R&D, new product development, skill development and training. Services: Under the IT/BPM industry, cooperation areas include AI, software development, cybersecurity, data analytics, cloud computing, etc. Under tourism, cooperation areas include hotel development, travel services, destination management, heritage conservation, wellness tourism, and shopping tourism. Under retail and e-commerce, cooperation areas include cross-border e-commerce, retail partnerships, and market entry support.
Greek companies in India
Indias progressive FDI policies and business-friendly environment have made it a top global investment destination. Greek companies already have a notable presence in India, and there are substantial opportunities across various sectors. By increasing investments in India, Greece stands to gain significant benefits.
Heres a list of Greek companies in India:
Adventus Laboratories (India) Pvt. Ltd Pharmathen S.A
Alumil India Pvt Ltd
AMD Telecom Pvt Ltd AMD Telecom SA
Arkay Glencork pvt ltd The Pisani Group
Chipita India Pvt Ltd Chipita SA
Danaos Software Services Pvt Ltd Danaos SA
Eurocert India Eurocert SA
Frigoglass India Pvt. Ltd. Frigoglass SA
HT Mobile Solutions Ltd, Veltis Greek Shareholders
Indigreek Consulting Indigreek Consulting
Intracom Sitronics Pvt. Ltd. Intrakom SA
Kooud Software Pvt Ltd European Dynamics Ltd
Maillis Strong Strap Pvt. Ltd. M.J.Maillis SA
ML Group of Companies Leaf Tobacco A.Mchailides SA
Pyramis Marketing India Pvt. Ltd. Pyramis SA
Savitar Sol Energy Efficiency Systems Pvt. Ltd. SOL Energy Hellas SA
Stollberg India Pvt. Ltd. S&B Industrial Minerals SA/ S&B Holdings
Topos Trading Topos Trading
Torux Software Pvt Ltd Torux Software Pvt Ltd
Velti Services India Pvt Ltd. Veltis Greek Shareholders
Indian companies in Greece
In Greece, there are numerous Indian businesses, including restaurants, mini markets, and travel agencies, operating in cities like Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini. The Greek Indian Business Association (GIBA) was founded in Athens in June 2019 to foster business connections. Key corporate members of GIBA include:
Sandal-200: A travel and recruitment agency
Amilcal-logo-600: A consulting firm specializing in trading, events, and investment
God-bless-films-800: A film production company active in India and Europe
Bp-vagias-olives-oil: An exporter of table olives and extra virgin olive oil
Bp-Gerovassiliou-wines: An exporter of wine from the Macedonia region
Genelabs-lg-220130: A company focused on health sector synergies
Mavid: A company in the Macedonian meat industry
Outlook
India and Greece are enhancing their bilateral relations through high-level engagements and agreements. Both countries aim to solidify a strategic partnership that leverages their geographic and economic strengths. The focus is on increasing bilateral trade, improving defense and security cooperation, and expanding economic ties through initiatives like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.
Despite positive developments, there is significant room for improvement, in the following areas:
Trade balance management: Addressing trade imbalances and boosting trade flows by diversifying the range of exports and imports between the two countries. Investment expansion: While Greek investment in India is growing, there is potential to increase this further. Greek companies can explore more sector opportunities within India beyond the existing investments in travel, hospitality, and retail. This is more so as India is aggressively pushing via incentives and preferential schemes to modernize its industries, promote tech-enabled and R&D across agriculture, food production, and manufacturing, build and scale industrial corridors, advance shipping and defense infrastructure and equipment manufacturing, skill development, and seek more collaboration across high performing services industries. Leveraging existing agreements by actively implementing and updating them to reflect current economic and geopolitical realities. Strengthening bilateral agreements in emerging sectors like renewable energy and technology can provide mutual benefits. Strategic initiatives: Supporting the IMEC to enhance connectivity and promote peace and stability in the region. Both countries should work closely on this initiative to ensure its successful implementation and alignment with their strategic goals.
By focusing on these areas, India and Greece can deepen their strategic partnership, enhance bilateral trade and investment, and better realize the potential of their growing economic and cultural ties.
(With inputs from Melissa Cyrill.)
Representational image by Antwerp Reveal on Unsplash
Bengaluru/IBNS: The Air India Group on Wednesday (Sept 4) officially commenced the construction of a major Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility, which is set to be built on a 35-acre site at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru with an initial investment of Rs 1,400 crore.
The MRO facility will become a central hub for aircraft maintenance for Air India group airlines as the airline modernizes its fleet and broadens its global reach.
According to a press release from the Air India Group, the groundbreaking event was graced by Gunjan Krishna, Commissioner for Industrial Development and Director of the Department of Industries and Commerce, Government of Karnataka; Hari Marar, Managing Director and CEO of Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL); Chin Yau Seng, CEO of SIA Engineering Company; and other senior leaders from Air India.
The MRO facility in Bengaluru is expected to generate over 1,200 new jobs for skilled aviation engineers and support more than 200 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Karnataka through an improved supply chain, Air India said in the press release.
The Tata Group-owned airline said this development will contribute to a robust MRO ecosystem in Karnataka and support Air Indias ambition to make Bengaluru a key hub with enhanced global connectivity.
The new MRO facility will feature a state-of-the-art hangar capable of accommodating both wide-body and narrow-body aircraft for base maintenance under one roof, the press release said, adding that future expansions will include additional hangars and a dedicated paint hangar.
Air India said the new MRO will set a new benchmark in aviation maintenance with advanced aircraft maintenance technologies such as overhead teleplatforms, cranes, universal docking systems, and Indias largest vertical lift hangar doors.
The Bengaluru MRO, along with the expansion of Air Indias line maintenance facilities across its network and the recently updated wide-body hangar in Mumbai, will enhance the airlines self-reliance in fleet maintenance starting in 2025, the press release said.
Air India also plans to build a new wide-body hangar in Delhi for line maintenance, fostering a comprehensive maintenance ecosystem at major airports, it added.
Air India is securing CAR-147 approval for its training academy and plans to open a Basic Maintenance Training Organisation (BMTO) in Bengaluru next year to ensure a steady supply of trained and type-rated personnel, the company said.
Photo Courtesy: Maldives President website
Male: The selloff of Maldives' Islamic bonds has worsened, with the dollar-denominated sukuk maturing in 2026 falling below 70 cents this week, a new record low, Bloomberg reported.
The possibility of default is growing more likely. Recent measures by the Bank of Maldives to restrict foreign currency spending, along with a second downgrade by Fitch since June, have triggered a wave of selling, said the report.
With $500 million in sukuk debt due in 2026, all eyes are on the coupon payment scheduled for October 8.
Purvi Harlalka, senior emerging-market sovereign debt strategist at M&G, noted in a Bloomberg report, "Without a last-minute foreign exchange infusion from China, the GCC, or India, the non-payment of the October coupon is a plausible scenario."
Despite having gross reserves of $395 million in June, the Maldives' usable reserves stand at only $45 million.
Traders flee Maldives amid escalating default risk
The Maldives Monetary Authority is currently negotiating a $400 million currency swap deal with India, but Fitch's downgrade to CC highlights increasing fears of a potential default.
Soeren Moerch, a portfolio manager at Danske Bank, noted that the bank sold most of its bonds earlier this summer as the reserves began to decline.
"Things are much worse now," he was quoted as saying to Bloomberg, emphasizing that the main question is whether Muslim nations will permit the Maldives to default on a sukuk bond.
Despite increasing tourism revenues, the Maldives continues to rely heavily on imports and maintains a dollar peg, which puts additional pressure on its reserves.
The ruling Peoples National Congress, under pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu, gained a parliamentary majority earlier this year, adding complexity to the geopolitical situation.
"The India Out campaign and lack of USD liquidity are red flags. Its too early for us to reinvest," Woznica was quoted as saying by Bloomberg.
Photo courtesy: PIB
New Delhi/IBNS: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal Thursday said Singapore has already invested about $150 billion in India and is ready to invest five times that amount in the coming years.
At the All India Industries and Commerce Ministers conference, Goyal said India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) have signed a free trade agreement under which New Delhi has received an investment commitment of $100 billion over the next 15 years, which will also be of benefits to the states and they have to take advantage of this.
EFTA includes Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
On Wednesday, the Swiss Federal Council adopted a dispatch on the free-trade agreement between the EFTA states and India, the Swiss government said in a statement.
Today the world wants to invest in India. Everybody wants to come to India. Singapore has already invested about $150 billion in India. They are ready to invest probably five times that amount in the coming years, Goyal said.
He said that if all states and union territories (UTs) could come to one platform for approvals and facilities, it would attract global investment in each state.
Goyal said that approvals to industries in states should be time-bound and should be easy.
"We are experimenting with a system whereby people should not need to come to government offices for approvals and compliances," the Minister added.
He said that the Centre and states can work together in all sectors and push towards greater employment opportunities.
Goyal said that the government is making sincere efforts to promote India as the investment destination for the world and attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) across different states and UTs.
He said that the Union Government has created a level playing field for all the states and UTs to attract FDI.
The investments coming from abroad are going to different states and each of them are beneficiary of our efforts to attract FDI, he added.
Photo courtesy: Facebook/Arvind Kejriwal
New Delhi/IBNS: The Supreme Court is on Thursday hearing Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's bail plea in the case linked to the alleged liquor policy scam, media reports said.
The top court is hearing Kejriwal's bail plea in the CBI case linked to the alleged scam.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had granted bail to the Chief Minister in the case filed by the Enforcement Directorate linked to the same case.
On March 21, 2024, Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate over money laundering allegations while framing the Delhi liquor policy for 2021-22, which was later scrapped after the Lieutenant Governor raised red flags.
Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI on June 26.
The ED has alleged the money Kejriwal got from the liquor sellers was used to fund the party's campaign in Goa since he is the convenor of the AAP.
Kejriwal and the AAP have throughout maintained the Centre has been misusing its agencies to harass the Opposition with false cases.
Kejriwal was given an interim bail in May for a brief period until June 2, 2024 for campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls.
He went back to the jail on June 2, 2024 the day next to the last phase poll date.
Photo courtesy: Narendra Modi X handle
New Delhi/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Singapore counterpart Lawrence Wong focussed on "boosting cooperation" in several key areas during their bilateral meeting on Thursday.
Prime Minister Modi is on a two-day visit to Singapore at the invitation of Wong.
After their meeting, Modi updated about their discussion on X posting, "The discussions with my friend, PM Lawrence Wong continued today. Our talks focused on boosting cooperation in areas like skilling, technology, healthcare, AI and more. We both agreed on the need to boost trade relations. "
The discussions with my friend, PM Lawrence Wong continued today. Our talks focused on boosting cooperation in areas like skilling, technology, healthcare, AI and more. We both agreed on the need to boost trade relations. @LawrenceWongST pic.twitter.com/FOSxXQOI3u Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 5, 2024
Prior to their meeting, Modi was greeted with a red-carpet entry into the Singapore Parliament House. He signed the visitor's book too.
The meeting comes a few months after Wong became the Singapore Prime Minister and Modi returned to power in New Delhi for the third consecutive term.
The two countries also exchanged four Memorandum of Understanding or MoUs.
Sharing my remarks during meeting with PM @LawrenceWongST.https://t.co/ipc5WmnY6x Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 5, 2024
In a separate social media post, Modi posted about his visit to a semiconductor manufacturing facility.
The Indian Prime Minister wrote on X, "Semiconductors and technology are important facets of India-Singapore cooperation. This is also a sector where India is increasing its presence. Today, PM Wong and I visited AEM Holdings Ltd. We look forward to working together in this sector and giving our youth more opportunities."
Photo courtesy: Sharad Pawar X handle
Mumbai/IBNS: Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar has ruled out projecting a Chief Ministerial face on part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), the opposition alliance, in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, media reports said.
Speaking to reporters, Pawar said as quoted by Hindustan Times, "The decision on who will be the chief minister can be made after the poll results. The candidate will be decided on the basis of which party wins the most number of seats within the alliance."
The MVA, an opposition alliance, is formed by the NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT).
The NCP and Congress have outrightly rejected the Shiv Sena (UBT)'s bid to project its chief Uddhav Thackeray as the Chief Ministerial face for the upcoming state elections.
The alliance ruled Maharashtra from 2019 to 2022 until erstwhile united Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde became the Chief Minister with the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Shinde succeeded Thackeray, who was also the chief of the Shiv Sena.
In Maharashtra, which saw multiple "horse-trading" and alliance crumblings leading to political instability over the last few years, the BJP-led NDA which comprises Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde camp) suffered the jolt facing the upbeat national opposition bloc INDIA, which won 30 out of 48 seats.
The NDA comprising the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP could add only 17 seats.
Photo courtesy: Videograb from X
Kolkata/IBNS: In a significant revelation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital , has found documents suggesting that ex-principal Sandip Ghosh ordered renovation to state public works department (PWD) in areas adjacent to the crime scene a day after victim's body was recovered, as per the letter accessed by the media.
The body of the 31-year-old PGT trainee doctor was recovered on the morning of August 9 from the seminar room within the hospital premises.
According to reports, CBI sleuths have secured a crucial document showing that Ghosh issued the permission letter to state PWD to carry out the renovation work in a room and toilet adjacent to the seminar hall, where the brutal rape and murder is believed to have occurred.
The permission letter bears the signature of Ghosh.
The renovation work commenced on August 13 evening, just hours after a division bench of Calcutta High Court ordered CBI to take over the probe from Kolkata Police.
However, that renovation work could not be carried out following massive protests by the junior doctors at the hospital premises as soon as the work started.
Ghosh is at present in CBI custody over financial irregularities carried out at RG Kar Hospital.
Photo courtesy: PID Bangladesh| X/@SwissAmbBD
Dhaka: Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh's interim government, has criticized former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for making political statements from India, calling it an "unfriendly gesture."
He asserted that Hasina should remain silent to avoid causing discomfort to both nations until Dhaka requests her extradition.
"If India wants to keep her until Bangladesh wants her back, the condition would be that she must stay quiet," Yunus stated.
In an interview with PTI at his official residence in Dhaka, Yunus, who was appointed Chief Advisor after Hasina's removal from power, emphasised that while Bangladesh values its strong relationship with India, New Delhi must move "beyond the narrative that portrays every political party except the Awami League as Islamist and that the country will become like Afghanistan without Sheikh Hasina."
In an interview with PTI at his official residence in Dhaka, Yunus, who was appointed the country's Chief Advisor after Hasina's ouster, stressed that while Bangladesh values strong ties with India, New Delhi must move beyond the narrative that portrays every other political party except Awami League as Islamist and that the country will turn into Afghanistan without Sheikh Hasina. "No one is comfortable with her stance there in India because we want her back to try her. She is there in India and at times she is talking, which is problematic. Had she been quiet, we would have forgotten it; people would have also forgotten it as she would have been in her own world. But sitting in India, she is speaking and giving instructions. No one likes it, he said.
Yunus was apparently referring to Hasina's statement on August 13, in which she called for "justice" and demanded that those responsible for the recent "terror acts," killings, and vandalism be investigated, identified, and punished.
It is not good for us or for India. There is discomfort regarding it, he told PTI.
After unprecedented anti-government protests that culminated on August 5, Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled to India. Her nearly four-week stay in India has sparked speculation in Bangladesh.
When asked whether Bangladesh has communicated its position to India, Yunus stated that it has been conveyed verbally and quite firmly that she should remain silent.
Everyone understands it. We have said quite firmly that she should keep quiet. This is an unfriendly gesture towards us; she has been given shelter there and she is campaigning from there. It is not that she has gone there on a normal course. She has fled following a people's uprising and public anger, he said.
When discussing the future of India-Bangladesh relations, Yunus expressed a desire for strong ties with India but emphasized that New Delhi must move away from the narrative that only Hasina's leadership guarantees the country's stability.
The way forward is for India to come out of the narrative. The narrative is that everybody is Islamist, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is Islamist, and everyone else is Islamist and will make this country into Afghanistan. And Bangladesh is in safe hands with Sheikh Hasina at the helm only. India is captivated by this narrative. India has to come out of this narrative. Bangladesh, like any other nation, is another neighbour, he said.
The minority Hindu community has experienced vandalism of their businesses and properties, as well as the destruction of temples, during the student-led violence that erupted after Hasina's ouster.
In his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort on August 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed hope for a return to normalcy in violence-hit Bangladesh and stated that 1.4 billion Indians are concerned about the safety of Hindus and other minorities in the neighbouring country.
We need to work together to improve this relationship, which is now at a low, he said.
The 84-year-old Nobel laureate stressed the importance of India and Bangladesh working together to improve their currently strained relations.
When asked about ways to enhance ties between the two countries, Yunus noted that cooperation is essential, but acknowledged that the relationship is currently deteriorating.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its decision on the bail plea of Delhi Chief Minister and AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy case, media reports said.
The matter was being heard by a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan.
"If the top court grants bail to Arvind Kejriwal, it will demoralise Delhi High Court," ASG S V Raju said, reported Moneycontrol.
Kejriwal's counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the apex court that Kejriwal cannot be a "flight risk" since he is a constitutional functionary.
"Triple test is based on presumption of innocence. Ultimate object is to secure presence. You should not be a flight risk. A man who is a constitutional functionary cannot be a flight risk," he told the court, according to Moneycontrol.
The triple test requires the court to be assured that releasing the accused will not lead to a flight risk, tampering with evidence, or a lack of cooperation with ongoing investigations.
Singhvi contended that the CBI arrested Kejriwal on June 26 despite no arrests having been made in two years, calling it an "insurance arrest."
Kejriwal challenged the denial of bail and his arrest by the CBI in two separate petitions to the Supreme Court. On August 23, the court allowed the CBI to submit its counter affidavit and granted Kejriwal two days to file a rejoinder. The Delhi High Court had upheld his arrest on August 5.
Earlier, on July 12, the Supreme Court had granted bail to Kejriwal in connection with an Enforcement Directorate case related to a scam.
Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for his alleged involvement in the Delhi excise policy case, becoming the first sitting chief minister in India to be imprisoned.
He was granted temporary bail in May due to the Lok Sabha elections.
On August 9, the Supreme Court granted bail to former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the liquor policy case.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh. File photo by OFL Communications Department on Flickr via Wikimedia Commons
Ottawa/IBNS: In a major blow to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left-wing New Democratic Party (NDP) has pulled the plug on a two-and-a-half-year-old agreement with Trudeau's Liberals that had helped keep his minority government in power, CBS News reported.
A year ahead of the general elections in Canada, Trudeau's minority government is now at risk after the NDP withdrew support from the Liberal Party.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, in a video posted on social media on Wednesday (Sept 4), said that he had informed PM Trudeau of the party's decision, saying the Liberal Party was "too weak, to selfish" to fight for Canadians.
The NDP supported Liberals in confidence votes as they had a deal - called a "supply and confidence" agreement - with Trudeau's party.
While making the announcement, Singh attacked Trudeau for caving to "corporate greed" and claimed that the Canadian PM's Liberal Party has "let people down."
Trudeau weakened after NDP pulls support Photo courtesy: Facebook/ @JustinTrudeau
"Justin Trudeau has proven again and again he will always cave to corporate greed. The Liberals have let people down. They don't deserve another chance from Canadians," Singh said in the video," the NDP leader said.
"There is another, even bigger battle ahead. The threat of Pierre Poilievre and Conservative cuts. From workers, from retirees, from young people, from patients, from families -- he will cut in order to give more to big corporations and wealthy CEOs," Jagmeet Singh added.
An NDP spokesperson said the plan to end the agreement was in the works for the past two weeks -- and that the party would not inform Trudeau's Liberal government of its decision until an hour before the video was scheduled to go live online.
The NDP's announcement of support withdrawal from Liberals does not automatically mean a federal election is imminent as the Liberals could seek the support of the Bloc Quebecois or try to continue negotiating with the NDP on a case-by-case basis but that Canadians may go to the polls before the election scheduled for October next year (2025), reports BBC.
Justin Trudeau affirmed hope that the next election will not happen "until next fall" so that his government has time to move forward on pharmacare, dental care, and school food programmes, reports CBS News.
Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called NDP's Jagmeet Singh's announcement a "stunt" and criticised him for not saying whether he would vote non-confidence in the government, as reported by CBC News.
"He came out and claimed that he was wrong, that the coalition was a bad, costly idea, but he refuses to commit to voting for a carbon tax election," Pierre Poilievre told reporters in Nanaimo, British Columbia.
The Conservative leader also called on Singh to commit to voting for an election at the earliest opportunity when the House of Commons returns, according to reports.
"Right now, we don't have a calendar to indicate when we can put forward a motion," Poilievre said.
"After Sellout Singh did this stunt today, he is going to have to vote on whether he keeps Justin Trudeau's costly government in power, or whether he triggers a carbon tax election," he added.
Jagmeet Singh has also said that his NDP is ready for an election in the country.
"The NDP is ready for an election, and voting non-confidence will be on the table with each and every confidence measure," Singh said in a media release accompanying his announcement.
A by-election in the Montreal riding of LaSalle-Emard-Verdun, formerly held by the Liberals, is scheduled to be held on September 16, as per reports.
Left-wing NDP kept Trudeau's minority Liberal government in power through the confidence-and-supply agreement, in exchange for movement on key priorities such as dental care benefits, one-time rental supplements for low-income tenants, and a temporary doubling of the GST rebate, according to a report by CBS News.
But some of the promises made to the NDP by the Liberal government are yet to be fully realised, reports said.
Pharmacare legislation has not passed the Senate, and a bill to implement Elections Act changes is still before the House, and additionally, the promised Safe Long-Term Care Act has yet to be tabled, as per reports.
(Reporting by Suman Das from Toronto)
The world of anime is infinite. It is not limited to a single kind of narrative. You'll get everything from suspenseful scenes to romantic comedy plots, heartfelt episodes, and shows that will make your heart race. But guess what, that's not it!. If you're in the mood for some wholesome content mixed with a hint of mystery and deliciousness, there are plenty of anime movies and series that center around food! The recommendation for today is to watch some food anime, which will keep you hooked and might make you hungry too.
Food anime to watch on OTT
Food Wars - Netflix
The show centers on an ambitious chef who enrolls in a prestigious culinary school where students compete in culinary arts. In addition, Yuki Morisaki contributes by giving the series' recipes. It is a series of Japanese manga that Shun Saeki illustrated and Yuto Tsukuda wrote.
Delicious In Dungeon - Netflix
The narrative centers on a party of fantasy adventurers who, after failing to slay a dragon that devoured one of their own, set out to rescue her by traveling through a dungeon and surviving by preparing and consuming the monsters they come across.
Silver Spoon - Crunchyroll
The narrative takes place in the fictional Hokkaido Ooezo Agricultural High School and portrays the day-to-day activities of Yuugo Hachiken, a Sapporo native who came to the school to escape his controlling father's demands. He quickly discovers, though, that life in an agricultural school is more difficult than he had first thought.
Sweetness and Lightning - Crunchyroll
After his wife passed away, Kohei Inuzuka, a teacher, raised his daughter Tsumugi by himself. Since then, Kohei has mainly purchased pre-made meals for his daughter. He decides to start cooking in order to provide Tsumugi healthy meals.
Yumeiro Patissiere - Crunchyroll
Ichigo Amano, 14, is awkward and untalented aside from her love of sweets, particularly cakes. She meets Henri-sensei, who recognizes her sense of taste and what happens next is to be seen in the show!
Got your pick? dont forget to keep your favorite food and drink with you while you watch these!
For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Tara Sutaria just made heads turn in Bandra with her effortlessly chic all-black outfit, proving once again why shes a fashion girlie. The actress was spotted at Gigi, Bandras chic hotspot, and she certainly didnt disappoint.
Tara Sutaria in all-black outfit
Tara Sutaria's latest look is a masterclass in how to wear black with both elegance and edge. Tara opted for a sleek leather skirt that showcased her impeccable taste in high-fashion pieces. She paired it with a daring black bralette and a structured blazer that added a touch of classic tailoring to the outfit.
Her hair were parted and tucked neatly into her blazer from the back. She complemented her outfit with a bold black and white animal print shoulder bag that added a playful contrast to the monochrome look. And those black and white stiletto heels? They were the perfect finishing touch.
Check out her look below:
Tara Sutarias appearance at Gigi is a fantastic example of how to blend silhouettes and textures in a fashionable way. From the leather skirt to the stylish blazer and the statement accessories, every element of her outfit was on point. This look not only highlights her fashion-forward approach but also sets a high standard for modern elegance. If youre looking to elevate your style game, Taras latest look is definitely one to take notes from!
For more on lifestyle, astrology and health from around the world please visit Indiatimes Lifestyle.
M Square Media, a leading service provider in student recruitment for educational institutions, has uncovered a shift in the study abroad preferences of Indian students. For decades, destinations like the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia have dominated the choices of aspiring students. However, a new trend is emerging: Indian students are increasingly exploring universities beyond these traditional "Big 4."
Where are Indian students heading for studies beyond the usual destinations?
1. Dubai
Dubai is quickly becoming a hotspot for Indian students, with more than 164,000 choosing the city for their studies between 2021 and 2022, according to a Times of India report.
Beyond its quality educational institutions, Dubais streamlined visa process, which takes just 15-20 days, adds to its appeal, making it an attractive alternative to the traditional Big 4 study destinations.
Credit: Pexels
2. Spain
Spain is also climbing the ranks as a preferred destination for Indian students.
The M Square Media report highlights Spain's efficient visa process (30-60 days) and affordable living costs in cities like Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville.
Spain's growth is notable, with international student numbers rising by approximately 12% in just three years, thanks to its wide array of programs in law, arts, STEM, and language studies.
3. France
France is actively wooing Indian students with ambitious targets, aiming to attract 30,000 by 2030.
The country offers postgraduate students a 5-year short-stay Schengen visa, making it easier to experience life in Europe.
With short-term visas processed in as little as six days, France is making a strong case for being a welcoming destination for higher education.
Credit: Pexels
4. Germany
Germany's affordability and world-class education system have made it a standout choice for Indian students, who now represent the largest international community on German campuses.
A Hindustan Times report notes a stunning 107% increase in Indian students over the past four years, with the latest data showing a 26% rise to 42,997 students for the Winter Semester 2022-23.
According to DAAD, the number of Indian students in Germany has doubled in the last five years, reflecting a robust and growing interest.
5. Ireland
Ireland has seen its international student population soar, tripling from 2010 to 2020.
In 2021, it hosted over 25,000 students, positioning itself as an emerging educational hub.
With a welcoming atmosphere and a strong focus on higher education, Ireland is also a top alternative choice beyond the traditional choices.
Credit: Unsplash
Why are Indian students exploring beyond traditional study-abroad destinations?
According to an International Business Times report, Indian students are increasingly exploring study options beyond the traditional destinations like the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia due to three major factors:
Lower Costs: Many emerging study destinations offer significantly lower tuition fees and cost of living compared to the Big 4, making quality education more accessible for Indian students seeking affordable options without compromising on the quality of education.
Student-Friendly Policies: Countries like Dubai and France are introducing streamlined visa processes, making it easier for students to study and work in these places.
Promising Job Prospects: These new destinations often have strong job markets, particularly in fields like STEM, business, and technology.
For more information on exams, results and careers, please visit Indiatimes Education.
BJP leader and former wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt on Thursday took to social media to express what appears to be his response to being denied a ticket by the BJP to contest in the upcoming assembly polls in Haryana. The 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist shared a Hindi poem on X, which translates to: "When the character is pure, why is this your condition? Sinners don't have the right to test you, set out on a search to find yourself."
Yogeshwar Dutt wanted Gohana seat
The 41-year-old from Sonipat, Haryana, had earlier expressed his willingness to contest the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections from the Gohana Assembly Constituency.
CREDIT: BCCL
"I have expressed my wish to contest elections to the Chief Minister and the central leadership. I am a sportsperson, an Olympic medallist, and I have contested elections from BJP earlier as well, so I want to get a chance," Dutt had said last week.
He further added that he wants to contest from the Gohana assembly constituency and has communicated the same to the leadership.
"Now it is time for elections, so I want a chance to contest from Gohana. I can't be certain about the future, but I have expressed my willingness, and I have told the leadership that I want to contest," he added.
CREDIT: BCCL
BJP's candidate for Gohana
However, the BJP, which released its first list of candidates for the assembly election on Wednesday, has fielded two-time former Lok Sabha MP Dr. Arvind Sharma from Gohana.
Also read: 'Don't want to talk about joining politics', says Vinesh Phogat as she attends farmers' protest
Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia to contest for Congress?
While Dutt, who joined the BJP in 2019, may have been overlooked by the party, fellow wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat may find their names in the Congress list.
CREDIT: ANI
The duo, who along with Sakshi Malik, led the wrestlers' protest in Delhi last year, met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, leading to speculation about their political entry.
For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
City Council Resolution in Support of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe
Date:
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Time:
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Event Type:
Meeting
Organizer/Author:
Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the SF Bay Area
Location Details:
San Jose City Hall, 200 E Santa Clara St, San Jose
Please be sure to join us on September 17th at City Hall to help us make a strong statement to the City Council that our People deserve to be seen in the eyes of the federal government.
We will be rallying outside City Hall at noon. We are asking all of our supporters, friends, and allies to join us in City Council Chambers at 1:30 pm to deliver public comments in support of the resolution.
The resolution calls on Congress and the Administration to take corrective action and finally add us to the official list of federally recognized tribes. That list was first drafted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1978. That year, the BIA erred in omitting us from that list, despite the fact that we were previously federally recognized as the Verona Band of Alameda County.
Joe Biden and Deb Haaland should finally do the right thing and simply admit the government's mistake and add us to the list. This type of corrective action has been afforded to three other California tribes that were similarly situated as Muwekma: the Ione Band of Miwok, the Tejon Tribe, and Lower Lake Rancheria.
#TrailofTruth
#justiceformuwekma
Greece is celebrating a conservation victory as it witnesses an unprecedented surge in Caretta caretta sea turtle nests this year.
The increased numbers, reaching record highs in both the southern Kyparissia Gulf and the Zakynthos National Marine Park, highlight the success of 15 years of dedicated conservation efforts.
With approximately 7,500 nests recorded
in the Kyparissia Gulf , nearly five times the average of the past 15 years, and over 2,350 nests identified in the Laganas Gulf as of August 27th, this year marks a 30-year high for the species.
The figures are particularly significant as Greece is home to 60% of the total Caretta caretta population in the Mediterranean, with Zakynthos and the Kyparissia Gulf being their primary nesting areas in Europe.
The surge in turtle nests for the second consecutive year, as noted by Lorran Sourbes, head of the Zakynthos National Park Management Unit, indicates a thriving breeding season and a positive outlook for the species' future.
The conservation efforts have been so successful that Caretta caretta is now classified as "low-risk" on Greece's Red List of Threatened Species, a far cry from its previous endangered status.
The shift is a testament to decades of diligent management in nesting areas, experts say.
A testament to this success is the world record set in 2023 by a turtle named Gaia, first observed on Zakynthos in 1986.
She was recorded nesting on Sekania beach after 37 years of reproductive life, surpassing the previous record of 36 years held by a turtle in Florida, USA.
However, despite the encouraging progress, conservationists warn that the increased nest numbers do not signify the end of threats to sea turtles.
Fishing activities, particularly due to dwindling fish stocks, and sea pollution from plastics and ghost nets continue to pose serious risks. The Archelon Sea Turtle Rescue Center in Glyfada plays a vital role in treating injured turtles.
The Caretta caretta, which lays eggs every two to four years on sandy beaches between June and September, is a migratory species, but those born in the Mediterranean tend to stay within the region.
These majestic creatures, with shell lengths reaching up to 120 cm and weights of up to 150 kg, inhabit both deep waters and coastal areas, feeding on diverse marine life. In captivity, they can live up to 60 years.
iefimerida.gr
Greeces Attica Bank and Pancreta Bank have completed their merger, giving rise to the countrys fifth-largest bank.
The merger, finalized with unprecedented speed just weeks after the Shareholder Agreement was signed, received the necessary approvals from the Bank of Greece, the Competition Commission, and the General Assemblies of both banks.
Attica Bank has absorbed Pancreta Bank, creating a consolidated entity with a strong commitment to strengthening
competition in the financial market
The newly formed bank aims to achieve this through the introduction of innovative products, more competitive service pricing, and a dedicated focus on fulfilling customer needs.
Customers of the merged bank will start experiencing benefits immediately.
They will enjoy free withdrawals from ATMs of both Attica Bank and Pancreta Bank, regardless of their original account's bank. Moreover, all fees for transferring funds between customer accounts have been eliminated, whether transactions are conducted at branches, through online banking, or via mobile apps.
Eleni Vrettou, the CEO of the newly formed bank, expressed her enthusiasm for the merger.
"We are opening a new chapter in the history of these two banks, one that we hope will set a new standard in the Greek financial system, she said. Our goal is to create a large, strong, and dynamic bank that will serve as a model for customer service and financing needs.
The challenge is significant, but we are fully committed to meeting it."
She further emphasized the dedication of the teams from both banks and the support of their shareholders in making this shared vision a reality.
The successful merger not only signifies a new era for the two banks involved but also highlights the ongoing consolidation trend in Greece's banking sector.
The move aims to build stronger and more competitive financial institutions, ultimately contributing to a more robust and customer-centric banking landscape in the country.
iefimerida.gr
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the introduction of an additional financial incentive aimed at attracting and retaining doctors in underserved or remote areas. In a social media post, Mitsotakis stated that the new allowance, depending on the category of the region where the doctor is stationed, will start at 200 euros and may reach up to 600 euros per month for certain specialties.
Mitsotakis emphasized that the
core measures of his governments policy will be unveiled at the Thessaloniki International Fair, reiterating that supporting the National Health System (NHS) remains a top priority for his administration.
In his post, Mitsotakis stated:
"In two days, I will speak at the Thessaloniki International Fair, where I will have the opportunity to present specific measures and policies that we will implement in the coming period. However, today I want to highlight something very important: the necessary support for doctors within the National Health System.
With a Joint Ministerial Decision signed on Thursday, we are introducing an additional financial incentive to attract and retain doctors in underserved or remote areas. This new allowance, depending on the region, will start at 200 euros and can reach up to 600 euros per month for certain specialties.
I have said many timesand I will continue to saythat supporting NHS is our top priority. We face long-standing challenges, but we will not stop striving for a better NHS, worthy of all citizens' expectations."
iefimerida.gr
The Turkish politician announced that when parliament opens, they will summon the Netflix representative in Turkey and we will discuss at least how we will follow a roadmap.
Some armed assailants have reportedly attacked travelers on the Ife-Akure highway, leading to the tragic rape of a female victim.
It was gathered that the incident which happened on Wednesday, involved eight gunmen who targeted two vehicles, a commercial bus and a private car, traveling from Lagos to Ilesa, Osun state.
According to Vanguard, the robbers stopped the vehicles near Osu and forcefully took valuable items, including money and ATM cards, from the victims.
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One of the passengers, identified as Wale, narrated how the gunmen shot the bus driver, leaving him injured but alive.
He added that, a female passenger in the car was sexually assaulted during the ordeal.
READ MORE: Osun Road Accident Claims Four Lives, Injures 20
Wale said: The driver of the bus was shot but not killed. He was injured. One of the passengers in the car, a woman was raped. Money on us was forcefully taken.
They collected all our ATM cards and made us to transfer various amount into their accounts.
Some of us that escaped into bush alerted security men. Not long, policemen, vigilantes and members of Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service arrived and they began to comb the area.
Few minutes after, they arrested one of the robbers- a man. But others have fled. They took him away.
The driver of the bus I was traveling in was rushed to a hospital in Ile-Ife where he is currently receiving treatment.
Gunmen, suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents have launched a fresh attack on Yobe State, leaving many properties worth millions of naira destroyed, on Wednesday.
INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that the latest incident happened in Buni Yadi, the administrative centre of Gujba Local Government Area, just days following the tragic killing of at least 34 individuals by terrorists.
A source told Daily Trust on Thursday that the recent attack targeted a vigilante camp located at Sabon Fegi, near the government lodge and behind the local government secretariat.
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He added that the insurgents set fire to parts of the local government lodge and vehicles associated with a nearby bread factory.
READ MORE: Gunmen Storm Yobe Community Kill Many, Burn Houses, Shops
The source said: They stormed the town last night on foot, set ablaze some part of government lodge and burned down two vehicles belonging to a bread factory call Annour Bread.
They were engaged by vigilante members and other special forces compelling the terrorists take to their heels as I am talking to you now, they burnt down vigilante camp, two vehicles of bread factory and some section of the lodge.
The Labour Party (LP), on Wednesday, nominated Nenadi Usman, a former Finance Minister, to chair its 29-member national caretaker committee.
Daniel Gambo, a member of the national transition committee formed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), confirmed the development.
He said Usman was nominated during the LP stakeholders meeting held at the Banquet Hall of the Abia Government House in Umuahia, the state capital.
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The stakeholders meeting of the Party was convened by Alex Otti, Governor of Abia state.
The stakeholders met at the Banquet hall of Abia state government house during which Hon. Senator Nenadi Usman was unanimously nominated to chair the newly constituted LP caretaker committee to see to the conduct of state congresses and the all inclusive national convention.
The secretary is Hon Darlington Onwokocha. The house endorsed the constitution of a 29-member committee drawn from the senate, house of representatives, the six geopolitical zones, NLC and TUC, Gambo to newsmen.
In attendance were Peter Obi, Partys 2023 presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, his running mate, among others.
READ ALSO: You Have No Power To Call For Labour Party Stakeholders Meeting Okafor Faction To Obi, Otti
Julius Abure and Callistus Okafor, factional chairmen of the party, had rejected calls for a stakeholders meeting of the Party.
Okafor had claimed that some unnamed persons were using the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to validate their selfish interests.
However, following the nomination, Okafor stated that the Usman-led caretaker committee is illegal.
In a statement, Okafor said Otti should provide a letter from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that acknowledged the meeting he convened in Abia.
He said: Article 11 of the 2009 Constitution which is the only constitution known to the party according to the consent judgment delivered by Hon. Justice G. O Kolawole on the 20th March, 2018 categorically stated the four (4) organizations of the party; ward, local government area, state and national
Both Dr. Alex Otti and Mr. Peter Obi do not have the constitutional authority to convene any meeting of the party.
We challenge Dr. Alex Otti to produce the official letter addressed to him from the Independent Electoral Commission on the aforementioned subject matter.
Therefore, the outcome of the Umuahia gathering remains NULL AND VOID.
We are committed to reconciling all members and groups, mobilize and conduct all inclusive and expansive congresses in wards, local government areas, states and the national convention that will achieve a unified, focused labour party that will redefine: political leadership in Nigeria.
A prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, in Oyo State, Benedict Akika, has been kidnapped at his residence in Olorunda, Lagelu Local Government Area of the state.
It was gathered that heavily armed gunmen, on Wednesday, stormed Akikas home, threatening to shoot anyone who might put up resistance.
According to a family source, told PUNCH on Thursday that the assailants arrived while Akika was relaxing with his family, catching everyone off guard.
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The source said: There was a sporadic gunshot which was aimed at scaring the residents and passersby.
READ MORE: Oyo APC Chairman, Omodewu, Dies In US
He was later whisked away on Wednesday night to an unknown destination.
Another source said: He was kidnapped last night. And this is a man that empowered some widows and the less privileged with work tools worth millions of naira at his Olorunda residence a few weeks ago.
Reacting to the incident, the spokesman of the police command in Oyo state, Adewale Osifeso, in a statement released to the public on Thursday, disclosed that an investigation into the report is ongoing.
The spokesperson assured the public that updates will be provided after investigation.
Investigation has commenced into the matter. Updates will be provided accordingly.
A 24-year-old suspected vandal was paraded by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Taraba State Command, on Wednesday.
Mustapha Aminu, the suspect, was allegedly arrested in connection with the vandalism of a power cable.
The culprit was paraded by the state commander, Adamu Salih, who stated that the vandalised power cable belongs to the State Ministry of Energy and Economic Development.
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According to Salih, the culprit was apprehended on August 27, 2024, by command personnel while on normal patrol in Jauro Gana, Jalingo city.
READ MORE: Task Force Arrests Six Fuel Hawkers In Lagos
The feat, as reported by DAILY POST, was made possible by a tip-off from some good Samaritan.
Acting on a tip-off, we arrested the suspect when he stole the armoured cable that was used in the installation of street lights on the newly-constructed road from Kpanti-Napu to Jauro Yinu on Saturday, 24th August 2024 and hid it in a nearby farm.
Three days later, he came to pick up the cable to move it to Enugu State, where he intended to sell it at a more exorbitant price but luck ran out of him as he was nabbed by the NSCDC operatives, the commander stated.
The commander denounced the moral degradation of some young people, claiming that they should have participated in important economic tasks.
He encouraged parents and guardians to shine searchlights on their wards and children to deter them from committing deeds that could end their ambitions.
The Nigerian Navy has reported significant achievements in its fight against crude oil theft, under Operation DELTA SANITY, in the Niger Delta region.
In a Wednesday statement, the Director of Information, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, detailed recent operations, including the seizure of seven large Cotonou and two fibre boats on 29 August, operated by armed oil thieves at an illegal loading point in Nembe, Bayelsa State.
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No fewer than six suspected oil thieves were arrested by the operatives in the State.
The suspects were arrested with 109 sacks of illegally refined petroleum products, four fibre boats and two wooden boats along Ogboinbiri-Kasama-Azama-Isoni of the state.
He said, From Thursday 29 August to Monday 2 September 2024, Nigerian Navy Units under the auspices of Operation DELTA SANITY recorded significant successes against Crude Oil Theft and destroyed Illegal Refining Sites in the Niger Delta. Some of the successes recorded within the five-day period were as follows:
READ ALSO: Police Storm Delta Drug Hideout, Arrest 40 Alleged Dealers
On 29 August, 7 large Cotonou and 2 fibre boats operated by heavily armed oil thieves loading crude oil from an illegal loading point around Botokiri axis of Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State were seized.
On 31 August, 6 suspected crude oil thieves with 109 sacks of illegally refined petroleum products, 4 fibre boats and 2 wooden boats were arrested and seized along Ogboinbiri-Kasama-Azama-Isoni of Bayelsa State.
On 1 September, 2 wooden boats and 328 sacks of illegally refined Automated Gas Oil were seized at Otuogori community river bank in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
On 2 September, 35 sacks of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil in a wooden boat were seized at Gbaraun area of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Adams-Aliu said the success recorded during the operations was a testament to the services commitment to curbing oil theft in the country.
He said, These successes indicate the effectiveness of Operation DELTA SANITY, and the resolve of the Nigerian Navy to sustain current efforts to rid Nigerias maritime environment of the menace of crude oil theft and enhance crude oil production.
American billionaire and tech giant, Bill Gates, has expressed concern over socio-economic crisis facing Nigeria, adding that the countrys revenue GDP ratio was better 15 years ago than now.
Gates led this out during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting held at the State House, Abuja on Wednesday.
He pointed out that despite Nigerias significant investments-over $2.8 billion from the Gates Foundation, making it their largest commitment in Africa, the countrys economy still remain stagnated.
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Gate said: Nigerias economy has stagnated. Earlier this year, your debt exceeded 50 per cent of your GDP for the first time since 2001. And while your revenue-to-GDP ratio has grown, its still lower than what it was 15 years ago.
READ MORE: Tinubu Meets Dangote, Bill Gates Behind Closed-Doors In Aso Rock
The result is that Nigeria spends less per-capita on its people than other African countries with a fraction of your wealth.
I understand this is a politically sensitive area. Nigerians are struggling. Incomes have fallen. Prices have soared. And like in many other countries, people are protesting.
Taxes are never popular. Thats true in America too. But theyre part of a social compact. People are more likely to pay them when they see the government spending that money to give Nigerians a better life.
After all, priorities without funding are only words. And I know that right now, its impossible to give every priority the funding it needs. Thats why its more important than ever to focus on the areas you know will make the greatest difference.
Ill start with health, because without health, there can be no opportunity.
Primary care is the firstand sometimes, the onlypoint of contact most patients have with the health system. Yet Nigeria spends just 3,000 naira on primary health care per person, per year.
70% of your spending goes to secondary and tertiary care, compared to just 30% for primary care. That ratio should be reversed.
Omoyele Sowore, former presidential candidate of African Action Congress, says Nigerians must not wait till October 1, 2024 to protest against the present administration.
According to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubus administration is hurting Nigerians, hence citizens can revolt at any time they want.
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In a post via X on Wednesday, he wrote: IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please lets reiterate that nobody needs to wait for October 1, 2024, for #FearlessInOctober; the Tinubu regime is continuing to hurt the people of Nigeria without ceasing.
READ ALSO: Tinubu Bought Private Jet While Nigerians Are Suffering Sowore
Nigerians are at liberty to revolt at any time of their choosing! #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria #RevolutionNow.
Sowore had called for a second leg of the EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest on October 1st.
The second lapse of the protest is tagged: FealessInOctober, in which Nigerians are expected to vent out their frustrations against the Federal Government amid the prevailing economic situation in the country.
The Nasarawa State Police Command agents assigned to the Kadarko Division have apprehended Isa Usman, a quack medical doctor.
The suspect was arrested on Wednesday in Iyayi Village, Kadarko District, Keana Local Government Area, for allegedly buying and giving Procaine Injection to one Zaki Yaka Ajohol, which resulted in his death.
DSP Ramhan Nansel, the commands Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed this in a statement released on Wednesday.
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According to the statement, early investigations revealed that the suspect, who has a primary school leaving certificate, is from Pindi village in the Akko LGA of Gombe State.
The suspect claimed to have received training from Asibitin Yusuf in Agyaragu, Obi LGA of the state.
READ MORE: Jigawa Police Intervene As Mob Attacks Suspected Motorbike Thief
He admitted to procuring and administering procaine injections to his victim for three days to treat typhoid.
On the fourth day, the suspect gave the victim the same injection, causing him to collapse and become unconscious immediately.
The victim, according to the PPRO was was rushed to primary health care at Akeleku where he was confirmed dead. Consequently, some drugs and other medical implements were recovered from the suspect as an exhibit.
The Commissioner of Police Umar Shehu Nadada has ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Lafia for further investigation and prosecution.
The leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Ewin Clark, has charged Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police, to arrest Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory.
INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Clarks statement is coming, following a recent comment, made by Wike, amid Rivers states political crisis.
Recall that the FCTs Minister, while speaking at the Peoples Democratic Partys secretariat in Port Harcourt, on Saturday, warned the PDP governors to stay away from the partys affairs in Rivers.
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Reacting to Wikes statement, in a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, Clark said that the words of the minister marked a flagrant disrespect to the person of President Bola Tinubu, who appointed him.
He added that his comments were a form of treason as it was capable of inciting violence in the country.
He said: Wike has gone overboard in his macabre dance. As we lawyers say, nobody is above the law and the law must take its course.
READ MORE: Your Threats Are Reckless PDP Govs To Wike Over Plan To Destroy Party
If you could in the past arrest Omoyele Sowore for similar or less implicating threats against public peace and public officials, if you are right now leading prosecution in law courts against people who participated in End Bad Governance protest, what are you waiting to act in this case of Wike?
My dear IG, at well over 97 years of age, and having held various positions in government including being a Minister over 50 years ago, I am shocked that a public officer who is an appointee of a serving President can descend to this level.
When we worked under Gen. Yakubu Gowon, GCFR, in the Federal Executive Council, the code of conduct which we were expected to keep especially as it pertained to being instruments of public order was at the highest level.
There is nothing that Wike has not done in his attempt to sabotage the government of Siminalayi Fubara and install the former speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, his brother, as Governor.
But all have failed.
The Edo State Police Command has detained two individuals for allegedly stealing artifacts worth N500 million from the home of Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin kingdom.
The Public Relations Officers of the Command, SP Moses Joel Yamu, made this public on Wednesday while parading the suspects and others detained for various crimes in the state.
Yamu identified the suspects as Adamu Usman (18) and Etuk Bassey (36).
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He stated that Adamu Usman was detained on July 23, 2024, while attempting to steal artifacts.
According to him, following reports of artifact theft from the residence of Benins Esama, Dr Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, located at Okada Avenue, GRA Benin City, Command operatives on surveillance around the residence arrested one Adamu Usmanm 18yrs on 23/07/2024 at approximately 0130hrs while attempting to steal artifacts.
READ MORE: Task Force Arrests Six Fuel Hawkers In Lagos
Upon interrogation, the suspects confession led to the arrest of another suspect named Etuk Bassey m 36yrs who happened to be the driver who usually conveys the stolen artifacts.
The worth of the already stolen artifacts is estimated at about Five Hundred Million Naira (N500,000,000.00), he said.
He stated that the suspects had confessed to the crime, and that efforts to track down and arrest other fleeing suspects were ongoing.
A building collapse in Kano State has resulted in the deaths of two persons and left two others injured.
The incident occurred around 2 a.m. on Thursday in the Nomansland area of Fagge Local Government during heavy rainfall as disclosed by Daily Trust.
According to reports, the two-storey structure collapsed due to flooding from an overflowing waterway nearby.
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Saminu Yusif Abudullahi, the Public Relations Officer for the Kano State Fire Service, confirmed that rescue operations are ongoing.
READ ALSO: Four Injured As Police Vehicle, Commercial Bus, Tipper Truck Collide In Lagos
Abdullahi added that the two survivors are currently receiving medical attention.
This incident comes on the heels of severe flooding in the region.
Flooding has already claimed 31 lives and destroyed over 5,280 homes, according to the Kano State Emergency Management Agency.
The agency however urged residents to remain vigilant as heavy rains persist.
Police investigate a shooting at the 3200 block of D Street in Philadelphia on Wednesday. Read more
Mario Olivera died protecting his 1-year-old son.
He was carrying the child in his arms as he headed to his mothers home in Kensington on Wednesday evening when he was ambushed by two gunmen who pulled up on a red scooter and fired more than 20 shots at him, police said.
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Olivera, 24, was later pronounced dead at Temple University Hospital. His son, named after the father who protected him to his last breath, was in stable condition after suffering cuts from debris or bullet fragments.
Olivera had just left a bodega across the street from his mothers home in Kensington with his son, Mario Jr., cradled in his arms, when shots rang out, his mother, Carmen Batista, said Thursday.
As Olivera crossed D Street, she said, he was struck by bullets. Instinctively, he moved to protect his child, she said, placing him on the porch of his mothers home and putting a chair over his small body to shield him from the gunfire. Then he collapsed to the ground.
Oliveras death has shattered his family, Batista said Thursday morning.
This is part of the violence were living with in Philadelphia, she said in Spanish, breaking into tears. Im fed up with Philadelphia. Im fed up.
At 6:21 p.m. Wednesday, police on patrol in the area were flagged down and directed to Batistas home on the 3200 block of D Street, police said. When officers arrived, they found Olivera unresponsive on the front porch of the house, with gunshot wounds to his head and thigh. He was taken to Temple Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:46 p.m.
Surveillance camera footage shows two people riding a scooter south the wrong way on D Street and then opening fire on Olivera, police said. The scooter then turned and fled north. Neighbors later told Oliveras mother that the assailants drove around the block three times before the ambush, seemingly waiting to attack her son, she said.
The motive for the shooting was unclear, police said, and there have been no arrests.
Olivera had pledged to start down a new path in his life after a stint in prison for selling drugs, his mother said. He had gone to school to become a mechanic and was working at an auto body shop, she said, focused on being a father to his three children and building a home with his wife.
After Batista recently moved to D Street, her son visited often and was painting the inside of her new home on Wednesday, she said.
My son had left behind the streets, the mother said.
Surrounded by her family Thursday morning, on the steps where her son had died hours earlier, Batista prayed that investigators would find and capture the people responsible for his death.
They killed my son, she said. But they also killed an entire family. They killed the life in me.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334 or to call or text the police departments tipline at 215-686-8477. A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.
Philadelphia police are searching for a gunman who shot and killed a man in Old City late Wednesday night.
A 33-year-old man, whom police later identified as Michael Clemens, was shot after approaching the drivers side door of a car just before 11:30 p.m., near the corner of Second and Chestnut Streets, said Police Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore.
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Surveillance video shows that Clemensgot into a confrontation with the driver of the car, who then shot him in the leg, chest, and arms, Vanore said. Clemens was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:04 a.m. Thursday, police said.
Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage from nearby businesses and restaurants as they continue to investigate, said Chief Inspector Scott Small. A loaded semiautomatic gun was found at the scene next to Clemens, police said, but it was unclear if it was the weapon used in the shooting.
The motive for the shooting was unclear, and no arrests have been made.
As of Wednesday, there have been 608 shootings in Philadelphia this year, 166 of them fatal, according to data compiled by the City Controllers office.
Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the police departments Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334 or to call or text the departments tipline at 215-686-8477. A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
Camden school superintendent Katrina McCombs sits on stage next to advisory board President Wasim Muhammad during a raucous advisory board meeting last week at Camden High School. Community activists jeered and blew whistles and called for Muhammad to step down. Read more
Camden School Superintendent Katrina T. McCombs and acting state Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer on Thursday joined the growing calls for embattled advisory board president Wasim Muhammad to step down.
McCombs broke months of silence about the controversy in a letter to the community saying it would be in the best interest of the state-operated district of Camden City for Advisory Board President Wasim Muhammad to voluntarily relinquish his seat.
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Gov. Phil Murphy has called on Muhammad to resign, too, citing the appalling and heinous nature of the allegations, and through a spokesperson, he thanked McCombs Thursday for her letter. Community activists also called for Muhammad to resign after he was accused of sexual assault by a former student in a civil case that was settled in June. He took a leave of absence in January while the case was pending.
McCombs appeared increasingly uncomfortable sitting next to Muhammad after his return to the board in August. The two did not speak during contentious meetings disrupted by protests, and the board adjourned without conducting much business. Protesters have vowed to disrupt future meetings as long as Muhammad remains.
It is important that the business of the district proceeds without further disruption, McCombs wrote in a one-page statement. Our students, staff, and families deserve nothing less.
As the lawsuit made national headlines a few months ago, McCombs disclosed that she had experienced sexual assault as a child and found the Muhammad allegations triggering. She sent an email to staff last week urging anyone affected to seek employee counseling assistance.
Muhammad, 56, could not immediately be reached for comment. He has denied any wrongdoing and his lawyer, Troy Archie, said Muhammad, a Muslim minister and community activist, has no plans to resign.
My clients position remains steadfast, Archie said Thursday. He will continue as board president and continue to do the good work he has done for the last 10 years.
READ MORE: Who is Wasim Muhammad, Camdens school board president accused of sexually abusing a student?
McCombs and Muhammad were classmates at Camden High where Muhammad played on the schools 1986 undefeated championship basketball team with Mayor Victor Carstarphen. A spokesman for the mayor did not respond to a message. Carstarphen, in a 2022 interview, called Muhammad my guy.
The call by McCombs was welcomed by community activists.
The pressure was mounting from the community. She had to do what was right, said activist Vida Neil, who has led the protests.
Dehmers own call for Muhammad to resign on Thursday was his first time weighing in publicly on the issue.
I firmly believe that the Camden community deserves to start the school year focused on providing excellent educational opportunities for their students rather than focused on unnecessary and harmful distractions, Dehmer said.
A six-member jury in May found that Muhammad, formerly known as Donnie Walker, had not sexually abused his former student, Salema Robinson, but recklessly or intentionally committed extreme and outrageous conduct upon her. Robinson alleged that the abuse began when she was 14; Muhammad was her social studies teacher at Cooper B. Hatch Middle School.
Robinson, 45, was awarded $1.6 million, which was increased to $2 million under a later settlement between her, Muhammad, and the school district. She has also called for Muhammad to resign. The case has cost the district more than $800,000 in legal fees.
Robinsons attorney, Jeffrey Fritz, called McCombs letter supporting Muhammads resignation a positive move.
The jury held Muhammad and the district liable for counts including willful misconduct and negligence in supervising Muhammad, and for permitting a sexually hostile educational environment. The verdict did not offer insight into its findings.
Among her allegations, Robinson told the jury that she engaged in a threesome with Muhammad and one of his wives and that he took Robinson to a porn theater and forced her to have sex with a stranger while he watched and masturbated.
READ MORE: Hear what Salema Hicks Robinson has to say about the civil sex abuse lawsuit she filed, what shes lost and how shes triumphed
Muhammad denied the allegations during his testimony. He claimed that he married Robinson when she turned 18. He said he is married to his childhood sweetheart and has four more wives under his Islamic faith. Robinson said the two were never married.
Robinson filed the lawsuit in 2021 under a state law passed in 2019 that allows victims of child sexual abuse to sue their abusers up until they turn 55. She was initially identified in the case as Jane Doe, but decided to come forward after the verdict to encourage other victims to speak up.
Muhammad has served on the nine-member school advisory board since 2013 and has been president since 2020. Because the district is under a state takeover, the board serves in an advisory role only, without any authority.
A petition drive has been launched by Camden resident and activist Elton Custis to force Muhammads ouster. A former board member last week also announced plans to start a recall effort to ask voters to remove him from office.
It is good to finally see the superintendent echoing the words of the community, Custis said. We will keep coming out and stepping up for we are Fed up and Fired Up!
Union members of the United Academics of Philadelphia hold signs, including one naming Judson Aaron, chairperson of the universitys board of trustees, during a news conference outside Hamilton Hall on the former University of the Arts campus on Thursday. Read more
As president of University of the Arts Student Association, Alex McFadden routinely met with the schools top officials. They sat on the selection committee that helped pick Kerry Walk as president.
So when the school closed with just a weeks notice in June, shocking the city and changing the lives of thousands of staff, students, and alumni, McFadden blamed themself, the 2024 UArts graduate said Thursday feeling like they should have seen the devastation coming.
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It wasnt until state officials stepped in that McFadden realized the closure was not their fault, they said.
It was not my responsibility, because my alma mater was supposed to protect me, an emotional McFadden said Thursday, standing on the steps of Hamilton Hall, UArts flagship building on South Broad Street. None of this is normal, and none of this was supposed to happen to any of us, ever.
McFadden spoke at a news conference where legislators touted a recently passed law they say is designed to prevent what happened at UArts from occurring again: a Pennsylvania college collapsing with no advance warning, and few protections for students and staff.
Written into the state budget passed in July was language that Rep. Ben Waxman (D., Philadelphia) and Rep. Bob Merski (D., Erie) pushed requiring the Pennsylvania Department of Education to put in place procedures to guarantee orderly closures of colleges. The regulations require colleges and universities to develop teach-out plans and preserve student and administrative records. Schools that fail to meet those requirements would not get state funding, which most private colleges receive despite not being public institutions.
Waxman said lawmakers realized that we all could be facing another situation like the University of the Arts if we didnt act, he said.
READ MORE: UArts sudden closure was a shock, but not a big surprise in the turbulent higher-ed landscape
Many state officials said they learned of the University of the Arts closure via an Inquirer article, and said if they had more advance warning, they might have been able to help avert whatever catastrophe felled the university. Officials have only said an unforeseen financial crisis forced them to close UArts.
What happened here just a few months ago was unconscionable, unacceptable and cannot be repeated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, said State Rep. Jordan Harris (D., Philadelphia), chair of the House Appropriations Committee. To find out that a university is closing in a newspaper is beyond unacceptable.
State Senator Nikil Saval (D., Philadelphia) called the schools closure an irreparable harm to our city, an act that upended the lives of thousands.
Months later, the circumstances around the closure remain murky and opaque, and accountability has not yet come, Saval said. We cannot let this manufactured crisis in higher education become an epidemic.
Madison Claus, a UArts alum who worked as an administrative assistant at the university until its closure, said she stayed despite the low pay, despite being always overworked, because I believed it was a special place where interdisciplinary art could flourish. I also stayed for the students. The most rewarding part of the job was seeing students have exciting breakthroughs in their artistic practice.
Claus, who met her husband at UArts, still has not found a new job. She had to delay her honeymoon and revamp her finances because of the closure.
The worst part?
I am heartbroken for Philadelphia for the void that has been created for what it means for the future of art making, Claus said. Philly is scrappy and vibrant and resilient. The void left by the sudden shuttering of UArts will be filled, but it will take time and effort and it will never be the same. Something truly irreversible has taken place. And I fully believe that this whole ordeal did not have to be as swift, as catastrophic, as mismanaged, as it was.
Even legislators seeking answers said they have been met with radio silence from those connected to UArts for months. The state Attorney Generals Office is investigating, but details have been scant.
Months of negotiations between UArts and Temple University over a possible merger or acquisition broke down after a major donor to UArts $62 million endowment expressed opposition to the money going into Temple as part of the deal, The Inquirer reported.
READ MORE: Students without homes. Faculty without jobs. These are the faces behind the UArts closure.
Asked about the university buildings several desirable pieces of property in the heart of Center City, on the Avenue of the Arts Waxman said theres been no news.
Theres still a lot of process that has to play out before we know what is going to happen with the assets, Waxman said.
Harris said he could not go into details about any talks that might be going on behind the scenes, but I will say that we believe that the University of the Arts can and should rise again. Im not sure what fashion that might be, but the history and the legacy of this school should not end here.
Tony Khan, president and CEO of AEW, makes an appearance at the AEW Dynamite show in Philadelphia. Read more
A pro-wrestling announcer is suing the countrys second-largest wrestling promotion, alleging that he was defamed as a QAnon supporter by a fellow announcer and that the accusation led him to lose his job.
Kevin Kelly, whose real name is Kevin Foote, and two professional wrestlers, Brendan and Brent Tate, claim they have been defamed by an All-Elite Wrestling announcer and the organizations president, respectively.
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In the class-action lawsuit filed last week in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, the trio also contends that AEWs contracts contain clauses that are unreasonably favorable to the company.
The lawsuit asks a judge to nullify their contracts and reclassify all AEW talent as employees instead of contractors, which would break a common practice across the pro-wrestling industry.
I think its abhorrent that professional wrestlers who have every aspect of their job controlled by a corporation are called independent contractors, as if they have any say whatsoever in anything that they do, said Stephen New, a West Virginia attorney who filed the lawsuit in Philadelphia on behalf of the announcer and two wrestlers.
The lawsuit also alleges that AEW president Tony Khan made a defamatory comment against the Tate brothers, who are known in wrestling circles as The Boys, after a Philadelphia event in April and that announcer Ian Riccaboni defamed Kelly in a social media post in August 2023.
One lawsuit takes on these seemingly different issues because the experiences of Kelly and the Tates reflect various problems of AEWs contracts, which provide little recourse for talent, New said.
AEW did not respond to a request for comment. Khan could not be reached. Riccaboni declined to comment.
Sounds of Freedom
Kelly, of York County, joined AEW as an announcer in June 2023 after having worked for decades in pro-wrestling, announcing for WWE and New Japan Pro Wrestling.
His relationship with his colleagues and the company turned sour quickly after Kelly recommended the movie Sound of Freedom, a controversial feature about human trafficking, to his social media followers in July 2023.
The movie is based on Tim Ballard, a disgraced antihuman trafficking activist, who is depicted by Jim Caviezel. Caviezel made comments promoting misinformation that is part of the far-right conspiracy theory when promoting the film. The movies director, Alejandro Monteverde, distanced himself from QAnon and said Caviezels comments hurt his work.
A month after Kellys post, Riccaboni, of Allentown, posted on social media that he had no idea [Kelly] was going to promote QAnon movies.
That QAnon stuff breaks my heart, he wrote on the platform Discord, according to the lawsuit.
Kelly attempted to reach out to Riccaboni to explain that he does not support QAnon, according to the lawsuit, but didnt get a response. He later filed a complaint with AEW against Riccaboni over the remark, and the company said it disciplined the announcer but did not share with Kelly what the discipline entailed.
READ MORE: Meet the pro wrestling announcer conducting his dream job close to home this weekend
After Riccabonis August 2023 post, Kelly says he was invited to announce less often. AEW terminated his contract in March.
Kelly claims in the lawsuit that he was terminated because of Riccabonis statement that he promoted a QAnon movie.
The implied association with QAnon subjects [Kelly] to ridicule, embarrassment, humiliation, and is detrimental to his personal and professional relationship, the lawsuit states.
Kelly hasnt worked as a pro-wrestling announcer since because of a noncompete clause in his contract with AEW, his lawyer said. The details of the contract are redacted in the complaint.
No shows
Joining Kelly in the lawsuit are the wrestling duo who are known as The Boys. The Tate brothers allege that they suffered defamation by the president of AEW.
The brothers contracts with AEW were terminated in April after roughly three years in which they performed for AEW and Ring of Honor, a wrestling promotion that is affiliated with AEW. The company told the Tates their termination was due to budget cuts, according to the lawsuit. But a few days later, at a media call before an AEW event in Philadelphia during WWEs WrestleMania, Khan said that the two missed multiple events.
They didnt show up to work on more than one occasion, Khan said. And its not acceptable.
The Tates say in the lawsuit that events they missed were the fault of AEW. For example, they missed one event because AEW booked them a flight out of the wrong city, they lawsuit says.
They now have been branded and tarred with the reputation of being unreliable workers, New, the Tates lawyer, said.
Start of a movement?
With the class-action lawsuit, Kelly and The Boys claim to be representative of the type of contractors who do work for AEW.
The lawsuit asks a judge to reclassify all wrestlers, announcers, and similar talent at AEW who are now contractors as employees. The change would expand worker protections and require that they receive certain benefits, New said.
The lawyers goal is for a Philadelphia judge to lift the contracts confidentiality clauses, and release the plaintiff from their contracts including non-compete clauses. That, he hopes, will start a movement in which wrestling organizations treat wrestlers and other talent as full-time employees.
This is the first shot, New said. This is the first battle.
Community engagement supervisor Zack Mackey speaks to participants of the Students Talking About Relationships program at Lutheran Settlement House in Fishtown in August. He is a survivor of a 1988 school shooting in South Carolina. Read more
For Zachary Mackey, a community engagement supervisor at Philadelphias Lutheran Settlement House, a school shooting like the one Wednesday at Georgias Apalachee High School where two teachers and two students were fatally shot takes him back almost 36 years.
READ MORE: Teen charged with killing 4 at Georgia high school had been focus of earlier tips about threats
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He was a 6-year-old first grader who lived across the street from the 600-student Oakland Elementary School in the small town of Greenwood, S.C. On Sept. 26, 1988, James William Wilson Jr., a 19-year-old man, entered the school, made his way to the cafeteria where Mackey and other students were eating, and started shooting.
It was a pretty normal Monday. I went to lunch with my classroom. Then I can remember hearing what as a child I thought were firecrackers, recalled Mackey, now 42. I can remember my teacher screaming at us and getting us toward the back of the cafeteria.
When it was over, Wilson would be responsible for one of the first modern mass school shootings in the country.
Remembering the horror
I remember a bullet hit the wall and seeing dust come out of the wall, Mackey said. I dont remember seeing the gunman, but I was not really looking around. A lot of teachers were taking kids to houses across the street. I wasnt crying, but I knew I was trying to get some adults attention because I wanted to go home, which was a few doors down. My grandparents werent home, but my uncle came and found me and he picked me up. Thats when I started crying.
Today, few remember the Oakland tragedy. It would be 11 years before Columbine High School would make America take notice.
Wilson stole the .22-caliber handgun that he used from his grandmother, with whom he lived. In the cafeteria, he wounded two students and a teacher. After reloading his gun in a girls restroom, he was confronted by gym teacher Kat Finkbeiner, who tried to stop him; she was wounded twice, including being shot in the mouth. He then entered a third-grade classroom and shot toward the students, wounding five children and killing two 8-year-olds, Shequila Bradley and Tequila Thomas.
Wilson, who suffered from mental illness, was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. He remains on death row. I dont remember too much about him, Mackey said.
Apalachee High School shooting
According to the Washington Post school shootings database, there have been 416 shootings at schools since Columbine, including the tragedy at Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga., a suburb an hour outside Atlanta.
Just as it did at Oakland Elementary, the sound of gunshots unleashed chaos at Apalachee High. Staff and students went in a frantic search for places to hide, and frightened parents hurried to the school, looking for information.
Like Wilson, the suspect, a 14-year-old student of the school, was swiftly apprehended. Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey said the teen was charged as an adult in the deaths of students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, and instructors Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53.
The pathology of perpetrators
In 2006, Wilsons mother, Shirley Bordner, told a local television station that her son had a troubled past, being bullied by his peers and his father for being overweight and dressing differently. His dad would get angry with him and curse him sometimes threaten him with guns, Bordner said.
Wilson started going to psychiatric centers at the age of 14 because he would become violent. I remember one time I had brought him home from the hospital, he got out of the car and blackened my eye, said Bordner.
Jillian Peterson, a psychologist and associate professor of criminology and criminal justice at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn., is a cofounder of the Violence Project, a nonprofit organization. She has compiled a database of every mass shooting in the U.S. since 1966 and has found that mass shooters, 98% of whom are male, tend to share a similar psychological pathway.
It often begins with childhood trauma, usually a type of abuse like witnessing domestic violence. That leads to anger and isolating, which leads to hopelessness and self-loathing. Wilson was often called a recluse in news accounts about his life.
Mackey, who has been working with Lutheran Settlement Houses domestic violence program, said he is not surprised that witnessing and enduring domestic violence as a child is traumatizing.
If you asked me before I started doing this work, I would have said I was surprised, he said. But when you hear some of the stories of people and what they have gone through and endured, if a child witnesses that, I can only imagine it is very traumatizing.
Lutheran Settlement House runs a counseling program for children ages 3 to 18 who have experienced or witnessed domestic abuse.
READ MORE: Lutheran Settlement House STAR teens learn how to give peers support with dating violence
Recovery from violence
The Oakland Elementary students returned three days after the shooting to a school surrounded by police. I went back to regular first-grade life, said Mackey, whose memories of the aftermath of the shooting have grown hazy. Much was the same as before, except Mackey said the teachers had walkie-talkies, there were tighter security measures around the school, and classroom doors could lock.
What Mackey also recalls is becoming a boy afraid of the dark and sleeping with his grandparents for the next two years.
Certainly anything of this magnitude, its going to take some time to recover, Oakland Elementary principal Eleanor Rice said in the days following the shooting.
She died in 2021, and Oakland Elementary was ultimately renamed Eleanor Rice Elementary School for her efforts in helping the school community recover.
Philadelphia landlord Philip C. Pulley, who has homes in Montgomery County and Florida, is scheduled to enter a guilty plea to federal voter fraud charges, according to recent court filings. Read more
A besieged Philadelphia-area landlord is scheduled to plead guilty to federal charges of double voting in two elections and hes now facing state-level charges of unlawful voting in a third race.
Philip C. Pulley, who has homes in Montgomery County and Florida, is expected to enter a guilty plea in federal court next week, according to recent court filings.
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In that case, which the U.S. Attorneys Office announced in an Aug. 9 news release, Pulley is accused of voting more than once in the 2020 and 2022 elections. Prosecutors say he used a phony Social Security number to register to vote in Philadelphia while already registered to vote in Huntingdon Valley and Lighthouse Point, Fla.
Two weeks later in a second criminal case that was not announced and has not been previously reported the state Attorney Generals Office charged Pulley with voting in both Philadelphia and Montgomery County in the 2023 election.
In addition, voting records recently reviewed by The Inquirer show that Pulley appears to have double voted in the 2021 election, as well. He has not been charged in that election.
Pulley and his attorneys did not respond this week to requests for comment.
READ MORE: The law finally caught up with notorious Philadelphia landlord Phil Pulley ... but for voting fraud
Pulley, 62, is a former longtime Republican now registered as a Democrat in Montgomery County. He registered as a Democrat in Philadelphia, but as Republican in Florida.
The landlord was the subject of an Inquirer investigation last week that, in addition to finding evidence of voter fraud, documented extensive problems at apartment buildings managed by his company, SBG Management Services.
Lawyers for the city have gone to court against SBG more than 300 times between 2014 and 2024, for maintenance issues or to file liens for unpaid utilities and delinquent taxes totaling more than $2.5 million. The buildings have been linked to nearly 1,000 code violations, with tenants and ex-employees of SBG saying Pulley sought to cut costs at every opportunity.
One of the buildings, Lindley Tower, partially collapsed in 2022, displacing about 100 people. The city is now seeking to demolish the property.
In April, tenants of another apartment building in West Oak Lane rallied outside City Hall with a large sign that read, Philip Pulley Slumlord Bully.
Contractors who have worked on Pulleys apartment buildings and his waterfront home in Florida have also filed lawsuits saying he has not paid them.
Last year, the state AGs office filed a consumer-protection suit against Pulley and his companies, accusing them of deplorable conduct for managing buildings with substandard living conditions and retaliating against tenants who complain. That case is ongoing.
The state and federal voter fraud investigations were prompted by a referral from Philadelphia City Commissioner Seth Bluestein. He said last month that his office began investigating the irregularities in June 2023.
Bluestein, a Republican, said the Pulley case shows that voter fraud, which is relatively rare, can be detected and prosecuted.
This is not an indication of something that is widespread, Bluestein said. It is an indication, though, of when there are irregularities and fraud, of them being investigated and caught.
A December 2021 Associated Press review found fewer than 475 potential cases of voter fraud in the six battleground states disputed by former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election. They would not have affected the outcome of the presidential election.
Staff writer Chris A. Williams contributed to this article.
When considering endorsements, The Inquirer Editorial Board extends interview invitations to all candidates running for office in contested races. From those interviews and additional research and reporting, the board arrives at a consensus recommendation. That has been the process for decades, and while over the years some candidates may have declined to participate, it was a rare course of action by a political campaign.
As political polarization has increased, however, that is no longer the case. A growing number of Republican candidates have been unwilling to discuss their policy positions with the board, including Doug Mastriano, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Mehmet Oz.
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The role of the board during endorsement interviews is to ask the tough questions in voters stead, but for some candidates, it is the questions with what should be easy answers they seek to avoid. They include whether they would limit a womans right to make her own health-care decisions or if they accept the lawful outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
It was refreshing, then, to speak with state Rep. Mike Ramone, who has earned The Inquirers endorsement for Delaware governor in the Republican primary.
A business owner and minority leader in the Delaware House of Representatives, Ramone calls himself a Pete DuPont Republican a reference to the former governor who devised the states corporate structure rather than a MAGA devotee.
Ramone pledged that he would not seek any changes to Delawares abortion law and while he eschewed the moderate label preferring to identify himself as a problem solver willing to work with anyone for the benefit of his constituents he readily accepted the reality of Joe Bidens win. This may be a low bar to clear, but unlike many of his fellow partisans, Ramone hurdled it without stumbling.
Instead of fighting the culture wars, Ramone is rightly focused on issues that affect ordinary residents of Delaware, including the states rising cost of living and inefficient government structure. Hes also committed to maintaining the corporate system that has made the state the financial Luxembourg of America. He also cited his independence from the states Democratic Party, which has dominated state politics.
For Delaware Republicans, the choice is clear. Mike Ramone is their best option for governor.
District Attorney Larry Krasner speaking at a 2021 news conference about the work his office had done to secure exonerations. He spoke while standing before a group of men whose convictions had been overturned with help from Krasner's office. Read more
Philadelphians may have sent a message in last years mayoral election that they werent interested in the defund the police movement by electing Cherelle L. Parker, who pledged to focus on restoring our police department to its full complement. But if the kind of reform advocated in that ill-phrased slogan isnt a priority, then incidents of police misconduct are guaranteed to continue to defund the city.
The most recent cost to taxpayers was $60 million over 18 months, according to an Inquirer investigation. That is a large jump from the average yearly cost of around $9 million in the past decade. The money was paid out to victims of everything from false arrest and excessive force by officers to wrongful conviction.
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Corruption and misconduct have long plagued the Philadelphia Police Department and cost taxpayers. But the sharp uptick was the result of a series of large settlements for wrongful convictions. Officials believe its only the beginning. Under District Attorney Larry Krasner, the Conviction Integrity Unit has led to more than 20 exonerations, and more payouts are on the way, with a potential total of $120 million, according to a city study.
READ MORE: Police accountability is key to making Philly safer | Editorial
The only way taxpayers will be protected from these large outlays in the future is to ensure the justice system avoids the mistakes of the past.
Many of the pending cases are the result of the work of notorious homicide detective Philip Nordo, who was sentenced to 49 years in prison for sexually abusing and exploiting witnesses and informants. Inquirer reporters Chris Palmer and Samantha Melamed chronicled the many crimes of Nordo in their series, Predator in Blue.
Undoing these convictions, and compensating his victims, is the least the city can do. But Nordo did not work in a vacuum, and he was far from being that single, fabled bad apple. He worked inside a system that may not have enabled him but did turn a blind eye often enough that his conduct went undetected for decades.
More broadly, corrupt cops and misconduct undermine the good work of dedicated officers. It also creates more distrust among residents in high-crime neighborhoods that need quality police work the most.
While taxpayers may feel tapped out and outraged, more resources will likely be needed, not only in the form of better recruitment and increased training for police but also better pay for defense attorneys and prosecutors.
READ MORE: Without systemic change, police killings will continue | Editorial
For too long, courts and lawyers the public depends on to ascertain fact from fiction and determine innocence and guilt have been massively underfunded. Per the Philadelphia Business Journal, the mean starting salary for lawyers at large private firms is now over $186,000. Starting prosecutors and public defenders make roughly a third of that. It is no wonder nearly every Pennsylvania county is short on public defenders, or that studies have found that those who do the job are dangerously overworked.
Despite these struggles, it is thanks to public defenders that Nordo was caught in the first place. Imagine how many wrongful convictions could be avoided if these attorneys had more resources and more time to spend on each individual case.
Beyond the pain and punishment inflicted on those improperly imprisoned, wrongful convictions also allow the real perpetrators to roam free. This level of routine impunity decreases trust in the system and makes it harder to provide the safety and justice Philadelphians deserve.
The city doesnt just need more law enforcement, it needs better law enforcement. The cost of anything else is just too high.
Pitcher Andrew Painter is ranked as the No. 2 Phillies prospect and No. 33 overall prospect by MLB.com. Read more
TORONTO Andrew Painter took a big step in his recovery from Tommy John elbow surgery on Wednesday, throwing to hitters at the Phillies complex in Clearwater, Fla. Painter sat 97-98 mph and hit 99 mph. He threw 15 pitches, the team said.
Wednesday marked the first time he had thrown to hitters since he underwent the surgery on July 24, 2023. Up until this point, he had been throwing bullpen sessions in Clearwater.
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They said it went very well, said manager Rob Thomson. It was 15 pitches. If all goes well, hell throw that 15 pitch-BP every three days, for the time being.
The plan is for him to throw another live bullpen session on Saturday. Painter, who is ranked as the No. 2 Phillies prospect and No. 33 overall prospect by MLB.com, hasnt pitched in a game since March 1, 2023, in big league spring training.
READ MORE: Re-ranking our top 10 Phillies prospects as their seasons end, and whats next for each in 2025
Painter came out of that spring training game against the Twins with tenderness in his right elbow. The Phillies attempted to manage it more conservatively, but the medical staff recommended Tommy John surgery in mid-July.
The Phillies have said that they dont want rush him. The expectation is still that Painter will not pitch in big league games until 2025.
But their hope is that whenever Painter returns, hell pick up right where he left off. Expectations were so high for him that he entered 2023 with a legitimate chance to win a spot in the Phillies rotation. Even though his health issues have delayed his timeline, Painter is still only 21, and has plenty of upside.
READ MORE: The 2024 stat to know for each of the Phillies' top 10 prospects
He throws a four-seam fastball, a slider, a changeup and a curveball. He was drafted by the Phillies in the first round in 2021, and pitched four games for the FCL Phillies that year, allowing no runs, no walks, and four hits with 12 strikeouts over six innings.
He jumped three minor league levels in 2022: from low-A Clearwater to high-A Jersey Shore to double-A Reading. He posted a 1.56 ERA across all three levels that year, with 155 strikeouts to 25 walks.
The rules for next weeks presidential debate in Philadelphia are officially set after Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trumps campaigns agreed to a list of guidelines that include muting candidates microphones when they are not speaking, debate host ABC News said Wednesday.
The battle between the campaigns over the muted microphones at the debate at the National Constitution Center had grown increasingly contentious.
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For more than a week, the Harris campaign had fought to keep the mics live for the duration of the debate, saying that Harris is ready to deal with Trumps interruptions or falsehoods, while the Republicans campaign insisted the microphones should be muted. Harris said Saturday on X that the mic issue is a matter of debating in a transparent way.
While Harris ultimately agreed to mute the mics during the Sept. 10 debate, her campaign was not happy about it, according to a letter to ABC News, CNN reported.
According to CNN, Harris campaign wrote that as a former prosecutor, [Harris] will be fundamentally disadvantaged by this format, which will serve to shield Donald Trump from direct exchanges with the Vice President.
READ MORE: Why Kamala Harris campaign is fighting to have live mics at next weeks debate against Trump in Philadelphia
Harris direct, prosecutorial debating style has created big moments on the national stage in the past, making live mics more beneficial to her debate strategy as opposed to muting them, where any of Trumps interruptions or extraneous remarks could be muffled.
Mr. Vice President, Im speaking, became one of Harris most viral lines during the 2020 election as she fended off interruptions from former Vice President Mike Pence during their debate.
The Trump campaign sought to have the mics muted at the forthcoming debate against Harris, as they were when Trump debated President Joe Biden in June a change from the 2020 presidential debate, when the Trump campaign advocated for them to be left on.
Trump himself originally appeared to be indifferent to the mic issue. We agreed to the same rules. I dont know. It doesnt matter to me. Id rather have it probably on, but the agreement was it would be the same as it was last time. In that case, it was muted, the former president told NBC News.
But as the date of Harris and Trumps first debate drew closer, the battle over the microphones escalated, with both campaigns digging in their heels.
Jason Miller, Trumps senior adviser, said in a statement last week that the Trump campaign accepted the ABC debate under the exact same terms as the CNN debate, which had the muted mics.
In a statement Wednesday, Miller said that the Trump campaign is thrilled the Harris campaign finally accepted the rules of the debate.
Americans want to hear both candidates present their competing visions to the voters, unburdened by what has been, Miller said. No notes, no sitting down, no advance copies of the questions. Well see you in Philadelphia next Tuesday.
READ MORE: The National Constitution Center will host its first-ever general election debate next week
ABC on Wednesday released the full list of rules for next weeks debate at the National Constitution Center, which will be presented without a live audience.
Among the rules is that candidates will be allocated two-minute answers to questions, two-minute rebuttals, and one extra minute for follow-ups, clarifications, or responses. Harris and Trump will not be permitted to ask questions of each other.
Additionally, the candidates will stand behind their podiums for the duration of the debate, are not allowed to bring prewritten notes on stage, and will not make opening statements, ABC said in a news release. Harris and Trump will have two minutes for closing statements. Trump will make the final closing statement, choosing his spot after winning a coin toss, ABC said.
At his rally in Johnstown, Pa., last week, Trump said that he looked forward to debating Harris, after he originally cast doubts on his participation. The Harris campaign in its letter to ABC referenced Trumps equivocation as another reason for agreeing to the Sept. 10 debate rules, CNN reported.
Notwithstanding our concerns, we understand that Donald Trump is a risk to skip the debate altogether, as he has threatened to do previously, if we do not accede to his preferred format. We do not want to jeopardize the debate, the campaign wrote.
Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in Pittsburgh Thursday and is expected to stay in the city until Tuesday, when she will travel to Philadelphia to debate former President Donald Trump.
Harris landed in Pittsburgh Thursday afternoon, where she was greeted by Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.) and his wife, Gisele, on the tarmac. Harris then arrived at the Omni William Penn hotel in downtown Pittsburgh.
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Harris is spending the weekend preparing in Pittsburgh to give her an opportunity to pop out for quick campaign appearances in a state that will be critical to her chances in the presidential race, sources familiar with her strategy told The Inquirer. Presidential candidates have done similar things in the past, including former President Barack Obama, who spent a few days ahead of the Nevada debate in 2012 campaigning in the state ahead of a debate with Republican Mitt Romney.
The Harris and Trump campaigns have both prioritized Pennsylvania, a key battleground state, in the days and weeks leading up to the debate on Sept. 10 at the National Constitution Center. This is Harris second visit to Pittsburgh this week after she campaigned there with President Joe Biden on Labor Day their first joint event since Harris accepted the nomination.
Harris running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, embarked on his first solo trip to the commonwealth including Pittsburgh Wednesday and will continue his Pa. tour on Thursday. Trump was in Johnstown last Friday and participated in a Fox News Q&A in Harrisburg Wednesday night.
The vice president expects to be back in Pennsylvania the day after the debate when she and Biden will visit and pay their respects at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville on Sept. 11.
On Wednesday, ABC News released a full list of rules for next weeks debate, which will be presented without a live audience. Both candidates have agreed to the terms, which include muted microphones when a candidate is not speaking, a hotly contested item between the two campaigns.
Candidates will be allocated two-minute answers to questions, two-minute rebuttals, and one extra minute for follow-ups, clarifications, or responses. Harris and Trump will also not be permitted to ask questions of each other.
Additionally, the candidates will stand behind their podiums for the duration of the debate, are not allowed to bring prewritten notes on stage, and will not be making opening statements, ABC said in a news release.
Harris and Trump will have two minutes for closing statements. Trump will be making the final closing statement, choosing his spot after winning a coin toss, ABC said. Questions or topics will not be provided to the campaigns or candidates ahead of time.
In this 2023 file photo, people along Kensington Avenue walk past the mobile home belonging to the Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard parked along Kensington Avenue. The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard parked their Winnebago along Kensington Avenue to assist those living with addiction find inpatient and outpatient care. Read more
Philadelphia lawmakers will consider legislation that could curtail mobile health-service providers that treat people who use drugs by tightening regulations on where and how they operate in Kensington.
City Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, whose district includes the site of the largest open-air drug market in the city, introduced two pieces of legislation Thursday that aim to restrict the mobile units, which are typically vans staffed by medical professionals or volunteers who provide food and medical services like wound care, from operating in parts of Kensington.
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Its the latest in a series of legislative efforts to change conditions in Kensington, where Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has also promised a crackdown on open drug use. Lozada said her office is responding to concerns from residents who say mobile units attract nuisance crime and leave behind a mess of litter. But some advocates said the bills could push mobile providers out of the neighborhood and cut off people in addiction from the services they offer.
One bill would ban mobile units from operating in residential areas defined as blocks where more than 80% of buildings are residential and less than 50% have commercial establishments or on any block that has a school or city recreation center on it.
The second requires mobile service providers to remove all litter within a 50-foot radius of where they are parked before leaving the area. The legislation says those who violate the new code would be liable for all costs incurred by the city for cleanup.
READ MORE: Does Philly have enough addiction treatment beds? City Council seeks clarity in Kensington.
Complicating matters, both pieces of legislation would apply only to Lozadas 7th District, which includes parts of Kensington, as well as Juniata Park, Frankford, Fairhill, Harrowgate, and Northwood. Mobile unit operators could avoid the proposed regulations if they moved south into Councilmember Mark Squillas 1st District or northeast into Councilmember Mike Driscolls 6th District.
Lozada said her colleagues are looking at what the possibilities are for their districts.
She said her goal is not to reduce the number of mobile units in the neighborhood, but to ensure the services theyre offering arent duplicative and to improve relationships between providers.
They have even fought with each other to park in a specific location or about what time theyre going to be at a particularly location, Lozada said. This is an effort to really continue to allow mobile services that are necessary, but in a way that doesnt interfere and impact quality of life.
Some advocates said they worried the legislation could burden providers and push them out of Kensington.
Sarah Laurel, executive director of the group Savage Sisters, said her organization planned to go mobile after their landlord opted to end their storefront lease last year. She said if providers move away from Kensington, it would cut off drug users from essential services and cost lives.
Advocates acknowledged that some outreach groups who frequent Kensington leave messes behind. Nicole Bixler, cofounder and executive director of Operation in My Backyard, said her organization that provides harm-reduction supplies and warm meals from a van often cleans up a two-block radius around where they park.
But she also feared the bill could squeeze service providers by limiting where they can operate.
I dont know what the purpose of this is except to get rid of all services that are supporting public health, Bixler said. I feel like theyre just throwing spaghetti at the wall trying to make it stick.
Mobile service providers are generally run by behavioral health organizations. The city itself has also invested in mobile units that provide a variety of services, including wound care, to people in need in Kensington.
Former Mayor Jim Kenneys administration last year earmarked funding derived from lawsuit settlements against pharmaceutical companies for vans to provide people access to methadone, the drug used to treat opioid addiction.
Joe Moore poses for a portrait outside of his home in West Philadelphia. He and other residents are worried about rising property assessments and the impact of gentrification in their neighborhood. Read more
Zyair Bryant is rarely home. He works two jobs, as a hospice aide in Montgomery County and a security guard in Center City, to pay the bills.
Now, one of Bryants bills is set to more than double in the next year.
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As a result of the citys latest property assessments, released in August, his annual property tax bill will increase from $957 to $2,206 for 2025.
Bryant, 58, purchased his three-bedroom Kingsessing home in 2021 for $175,000. The taxable value of his property, under the citys reassessment, increased from $68,400 to $157,800.
This is a lot, said Bryant. Im never in my home to enjoy it. You just got to work to maintain it.
Bryant is not alone. Assessments for single-family homes in Kingsessing, a Southwest Philadelphia neighborhood where gentrification has driven up home prices in recent years, increased more than in any other city neighborhood. The neighborhoods assessments, which are used to calculate property tax bills, rose by 50% on average, compared with the citywide average of 23%. Homes in the same census tract as Bryants had an average increase of 79%, according to an Inquirer analysis.
Kingsessing, like other neighborhoods that were hit with the largest increases, is majority Black. In census tracts where the median assessment rose by at least 50% from 2024 to 2025, The Inquirers analysis found that almost three quarters of those tracts combined residents are Black. In tracts where assessments increased the least, the poverty rate is lower than the city average, and nearly two-thirds of the residents are white.
The Office of Property Assessments follows industry standards for fairness and accuracy and says its valuation methodology has improved over time. Still, a prior Inquirer analysis found that assessments are more likely to be inaccurate in mostly Black and low-income neighborhoods, and are more likely to be accurate in mostly white, higher-income neighborhoods. The city has not yet released documents detailing methodology for this years assessments.
Hard-hit homeowners interviewed about the latest revaluation complained of feeling left in the dark by city officials and politicians about the assessment process and tax relief programs. And some said they worry they will be priced out of their homes as gentrification continues in their neighborhoods.
Councilmember Jamie Gauthier whose West Philadelphia district includes Kingsessing said she agrees neighbors need more information and notice about property assessments and tax relief programs.
This is something that Council has pushed OPA on for the past several years, she said, adding that Council allocated $1 million in the latest budget for the administration to do education and engagement around tax relief programs.
James Aros Jr., the citys chief assessment officer, said OPA and the Department of Revenue attend meetings with community organizations to answer questions about assessments and tax relief.
The city is also sending informational letters to more than 200,000 households imminently, said Joe Grace, a spokesperson for Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, and will use the $1 million allocation to distribute materials in targeted neighborhoods and run radio and television ads about tax relief programs.
The administration is taking a very energetic stance, Grace said.
Residents dont always know what tax relief is available to them
The city offers several property tax relief and exemption programs, like the homestead exemption, which knocks $100,000 off the taxable value of an owner-occupied property. About 69% of eligible homeowners are currently enrolled in the homestead exemption program for tax year 2025, Aros said. The deadline to enroll ahead of the 2025 tax year is Dec. 1.
Tax bills are due in March.
Sebastian Ikpe, a 66-year-old construction worker, said he has lived in his West Philadelphia home since 1996 and is among the residents who are not enrolled in any relief programs. Property assessments for single-family homes in his census tract increased by an average of 103% under the citys latest revaluation.
Ikpes property assessment more than doubled, from less than $50,000 under the last reassessment two years ago to nearly $106,000 for the 2025 tax year. That means his tax bill will increase from $676 to $1,480.
Dang, its going to be difficult, Ikpe said when an Inquirer reporter told him about his new assessment. Its going to be difficult for me.
If Ikpe had the homestead exemption, his tax bill would be only $80 annually under his new assessment. But he said hed never heard about the program.
He said hed recently finished paying back taxes on the property and hopes to change the windows and doors and update his electrical and plumbing systems.
I cant afford to retire, he said.
In Kingsessing, Bryant doesnt have the homestead exemption, either. He didnt know about any relief programs.
They wont offer you any help, he said of OPA, which he called out of frustration after receiving his new value. They didnt offer anything.
Monty Wilson, a senior attorney at Community Legal Services, said homeowner tax relief programs make Philadelphia a model for other cities.
Philadelphia has been absolutely proactive in trying to help homeowners who live in their homes keep their homes, he said, adding more on-the-ground engagement would help get the word out.
We deserve to have answers, homeowners say
Diane Settles, 67, leads the Kingsessing Area Civic Association, serves as committeeperson for the city Democratic Party, and contacts her elected officials on a regular basis. Shes enrolled in the homestead exemption and the senior citizen tax freeze, an income-eligible program for people over 65. If she hadnt been, Settles taxes would have risen from about $1,700 to nearly $2,800 next year. But with the help of that program, her taxes wont change.
She has successfully appealed her assessment with the city and plans to appeal again this year. Still, Settles believes the city needs to do a better job educating homeowners.
We feel as though we deserve to have answers to why this is happening, and we deserve from our politicians to know why, said Settles.
Settles said she has made it her mission to tell everybody that I know about the senior tax freeze.
The city has three major relief programs the homestead exemption, the longtime owner-occupants program that decreases tax bills for residents who have lived in their homes at least 10 years, and the senior tax freeze, for low-income seniors. A new relief program championed by Gauthier will soon launch for low-income homeowners. Passed as part of a package of bills designed to increase housing affordability, it will essentially extend the senior tax freeze to low-income homeowners of all ages.
Gauthier said her office held community meetings across the district alongside city agencies in 2022 to get the word out about tax relief programs. Her office is holding another such event Thursday with OPA and the Board of Revision of Taxes, which handles assessment appeals. The meeting will be at Salt and Light Church, 5736 Chestnut Ave., from 6 to 8 p.m.
The impact of gentrification on longtime homeowners
Myriad factors, including the lingering effects of historical redlining, present stubborn challenges for addressing inequities in the citys assessment system. And as neighborhoods gentrify, the property values increase. Assessments rise along with them, to reflect a homes market value.
If values in Black neighborhoods went up, that should actually be reflected in those assessments, said Ira Goldstein, senior adviser for policy solutions at Reinvestment Fund.
Settles was raised in the home on South Divinity Street in Kingsessing that her sister, Sharon Settles, now owns. The sisters love their community and worry that gentrification is fueling tax increases.
In recent years, many homes in the neighborhood have been purchased by flippers and resold at higher prices, driving gentrification and the rising values that lead to tax hikes.
They want these houses here and I truly believe thats for gentrification, Sharon Settles said. Because they want to bring people in.
So once youre out, youre out, said Sharon Settles, 65, who retired after a career at the Department of Defense.
West Philadelphia resident Joseph Moore said he also feels like the city is pushing him out of his neighborhood.
The value of the home Moore shares with his wife, daughter, and two granddaughters increased by about 40% in the latest property revaluation. And though Moore is enrolled in the longtime owner-occupants program, he could benefit more from the homestead exemption, under which he would pay zero property tax. (Homeowners cant be enrolled in both relief program at once, making the process difficult to navigate for some.)
Moore, 60, is retired from a job at the University of Pennsylvania and currently works for SEPTA. He said he feels that elected officials dont always look out for residents of color.
I think overall its a part of our mayor working for big business as opposed to residents, he said. Its part of expelling middle-class Blacks from the city itself.
City spokesperson Grace said the mayor is taking steps to ensure Philadelphians can stay in their homes.
The goal [is] to get as many Philadelphia homeowners as possible enrolled in tax relief, he said.
For now, Moore said, hes working to hold on to his home as an opportunity to build generational wealth.
What can you do? he said. Its either you pay them or lose your property.
I am delighted to lead and continue bolstering the ZRS cyber resilience unit in Australia, he said, adding that it is crucial for businesses to have the knowledge and tools needed to strengthen their resilience.
A challenge we have today is we have more capital than we need to support our current core general insurance business. However, that will naturally unwind with our ongoing capital management strategy and the realization of our anticipated growth potential, Zaffino said.
Participation is open to all women in the US insurance industry and nominations from or on behalf of women from diverse backgrounds are encouraged.
Sivasubramaniam career with Zurich began in 2013 at the companys London office, after which he moved to Switzerland to manage financial lines pricing within commercial insurance. He later transitioned into the role of chief financial officer at Zurich Benelux, where he played a key part in leading a business transformation.
During the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), a light show was held in Beijing, showcasing African charm through selected elements such as animals, plants, musical instruments, and patterns unique to Africa. This dazzling display not only exhibited the charm of Africa but also conveyed Beijing's warm welcome to friends from afar.
The widened collaboration will enable Aon to integrate ICEYEs real-time flood and wildfire data into its catastrophe response services for reinsurance clients. The high-resolution insights offered by ICEYE allow Aon to deliver detailed, property-level analysis of damage caused by floods and wildfires, enhancing the ability to evaluate the financial impact of these disasters.
The New Zealand insurance market is on the front line of extreme natural catastrophe risks. Has this experience pushed the countrys insurance professionals ahead of the curve? What can global insurance firms learn from the way brokers and underwriters in this market handle nat cats like earthquakes?
According to the Financial Times, one recommendation by Zurich and Marsh is the creation of loss-sharing schemes already seen in areas like flood and terrorism. It was highlighted that such public-private collaborations can help cover cyber risks that are deemed uninsurable.
Despite these tighter conditions, Gallagher highlights some relief in management liability lines, such as directors & officers (D&O) liability and errors & omissions (E&O) coverage. Many insureds are experiencing flat renewals or even reductions of up to -10% in these areas. Additionally, there is improvement in retentions for D&O and E&O, particularly for registered investment advisors and asset managers.
A former patrol officer with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) was recently sentenced in U.S. District Court to 20 months in prison for his role in a bribery scheme in which he unlawfully provided non-public police information in exchange for cash payments.
The sentencing of Vincent Forrest was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and FBI Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the Washington field office.
On January 11, 2024, a jury found Washington D.C. resident Forest guilty of conspiracy, bribery, and making false statements. In addition to the prison term, Forrest was ordered to serve three years of supervised release and forfeit $15,000.01.
According to the governments trial evidence, beginning in April 2019, Forrest used his official access to MPDs law enforcement sensitive database to review and record victim contact information from traffic accident reports that contained the names and contact information of individuals involved in traffic accidents.
Forrest sent the victim contact information to Raquel DePaula, 43, of Beltsville, Maryland, using an encrypted communications application. DePaula, who owned RD Legal Solutions, LLC, acted as a runner, providing victim contact information to local attorneys in exchange for referral fees. The attorneys then reached out to the accident victims within days of their traffic accidents in violation of D.C. law.
According to prosecutors, DePaula testified at trial that she paid Forrest for the victim contact information. The evidence at trial showed that over the course of the scheme, she paid Forrest over $15,000 and received contact information for 2,667 traffic crash victims.
On October 6, 2021, in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, DePaula pleaded guilty to one count of bribery of a public official. On April 1, 2024, she was sentenced to five years of probation.
DePaula and Forrest are the sixth and seventh defendants to be convicted in connection with the illegal sale of traffic crash reports by MPD officers. Previously, MPD Officers Walter Lee and Kendra Coles, MPD employee Aaron Willis, business owner Marvin Parker and law firm employee Michelle Cage pleaded guilty to related charges.
Relation Insurance Services reports it has acquired the assets of The Haney Company Inc. of Silver Spring, Maryland.
The transaction went into effect on May 1, 2024; terms were not disclosed.
Haney offers employee benefits, commercial and personal insurance products. The agency is a specialist in insurance and retirement programs for associations and their executives.
The firm was formed through the merger of separate practices founded by Brian Haney and his father Allen. Brian Haney, his brother Scott, and their father Allen will continue managing the Maryland office as part of Relation Insurance.
Joining Relation will help us deliver superior value, unlock more resources, and ensure we continue to deliver an exceptional experience, said Brian Haney.
California-based Relation is ranked by Insurance Journal within the top 25 largest agencies in the country by revenue and has approximately 1,350 employees across more than 137 locations nationwide. Relation is a privately held corporation backed by Aquiline Capital Partners, a private equity firm based in New York and London.
Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Maryland
A woman was intoxicated and using a partially automated driving system when she caused a March highway crash in Philadelphia that killed two people, authorities said as they announced homicide charges against the driver.
State and federal investigators say the womans Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV struck the stationary vehicle of a man who had stopped on the left shoulder of I-95 to assist a driver whose car had broken down ahead of him. The March collision, which occurred around 3 a.m., killed both men.
The crash was at least the second this year involving a Mach-E striking a stationary vehicle after dark that the National Transportation Safety Board has investigated. In a February crash along Interstate 10 in San Antonio, Texas, investigators believe a Mach-E struck a Honda CR-V that was stopped in the middle lane with no lights on. The driver of the CR-V was killed.
In a statement Tuesday, Pennsylvania State Police said that drivers using advanced technologies should be prepared to resume control at all times.
No partially automated vehicle technology should ever be left alone to perform the driving tasks that are required to safely navigate the roads of the commonwealth, the agency said.
Fords Blue Cruise system allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel while it handles steering, braking and acceleration on highways. The company says the system isnt fully autonomous and it monitors drivers to make sure they pay attention to the road.
Investigators in Philadelphia believe that Mustang driver Dimple Patel was driving about 71 mph (114 kph), using both Blue Cruise and Adaptive Cruise Control, when the crash occurred. A fourth vehicle was also struck.
The 23-year-old Patel, a pre-med student from Philadelphia, faces multiple charges, including homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence and involuntary manslaughter. She turned herself in to police Tuesday on the charges filed last week, state police said.
Driving System Failure?
Defense lawyer Zak Goldstein said he had not yet seen the criminal complaint or any reports on the crash, and called the deaths a tragedy. However, he noted that, broadly speaking, Pennsylvania law on DUI-related homicides requires that the DUI caused the homicide.
If in fact its a failure in a self-driving or a driving system, that may not be a homicide by DUI even if the driver is intoxicated, he said, adding that he has not seen any case law on the issue in Pennsylvania.
Ford has said it was collaborating with the state police, the NTSB and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in reviewing the crash, which killed Aktilek Baktybekov, who had broken down, and Tolobek Esenbekov, who had presumably stopped in the shoulder to assist him.
When it opened a probe of the Philadelphia and San Antonio crashes involving Blue Cruise, NHTSA said both occurred on freeways in nighttime lighting conditions, and that Blue Cruise was in use just before the collisions.
The agency said it is looking into how Blue Cruise performs driving tasks as well as its camera-based driver monitoring system.
Both NHTSA and the NTSB have investigated multiple previous crashes involving partially automated driving systems.
In April, NHTSA began investigating whether Teslas fix for a December recall involving more than 2 million vehicles equipped with the companys Autopilot partially automated system took care of the problem. The recall was done because the driver monitoring system was inadequate and posed a safety risk.
NHTSA said that from January 2018 to August 2023, it found 956 crashes involving Autopilot and Teslas Full Self Driving systems resulting in 29 deaths.
AP Auto Writer Tom Krisher in Detroit contributed to this report.
Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics Personal Auto
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Brit Ltd. in Bermuda and HDI Global in Germany.
A summary of these new hires follows here.
Brit Names Guy Carpenters Stephenson to Lead Bermuda Expansion
Brit Ltd. announced the appointment of Jonathan Stephenson as head of Office, Bermuda, subject to approval by the Bermuda Monetary Authority and the department of immigration.
Stephenson will lead Brit in Bermuda, helping to drive its planned expansion of Brit Re across property, casualty and specialty reinsurance.
As a full-service reinsurance platform, Brit Re will represent an important new growth pillar for the group and its global reinsurance capabilities, and will complement Brits existing successful property reinsurance offering which writes on behalf of Lloyds Syndicate 2987, the company said.
Prior to joining Brit, Stephenson was a managing director at Guy Carpenter, based in Toronto. During his 30-year career in reinsurance, Stephenson has been Pacific Region CEO for Guy Carpenter and an executive vice president at Aon.
Brit recently announced the appointment of Jacques Bonneau, formerly CEO and president of PartnerRe, to the board of Brit Re as a non-executive director in June.
Jonathan is a highly regarded leader and practitioner within the international reinsurance market, and is the ideal candidate as we look to implement and deliver our ambitious Bermuda strategy, commented Martin Thompson, CEO Brit Group, in a statement.
With Jonathan in place, we look forward to announcing further appointments to deepen our capabilities on the Island that can support our plans for profitable growth across property, casualty and specialty classes. Jonathan is passionate about building businesses and developing high-performance collaborative cultures, making him a great fit for Brit, Thompson said.
***
HDI Global Taps Geis From Allianz as Managing Director for Germany
HDI Global announced it has appointed Stephan Geis as managing director for Germany, effective Nov. 1.
Geis will be responsible for the German business of HDI Global SE. In his role as managing director Germany, he will report to Dr Barbara Klimaszewski-Blettner, member of the HDI Global Executive Board and chief claims officer who will retain responsibility for the Region Germany as chief market officer Germany.
With more than 15 years of experience in industrial insurance, Geis most recently was head of Distribution Germany/Switzerland at Allianz Commercial, where he was responsible for the sales territory in Germany and Switzerland.
I am delighted to have brought Stephan Geis on board with HDI Global as new managing director Germany, said Klimaszewski-Blettner, in a statement.
Stephan is a proven expert in national and international industrial insurance. He has an exceptional grasp for the market and is highly regarded by customers, partners, and colleagues, she added. With his personality and leadership style, he embodies our cultural values in the best possible way. I am confident that he will play a key role in shaping the strategic development of our German business and achieve the best possible results for our customers, partners and HDI Global.
As our home market, the German market is an important pillar for HDI Global, accounting for over 25% of our overall result, according to Dr. Edgar Puls, chairman of the HDI Global SE Executive Board. Due to his many years of experience and extensive knowledge of the industry, Stephan Geis is well-positioned to maintain and expand our long-standing customer and partner relationships in Germany. I am looking forward to working with Stephan.
Topics Talent Human Resources Germany Allianz
U.S. facial recognition company Clearview AI has been fined 30.5 million euros ($33.7 million) for building what Dutch data protection watchdog DPA said on Tuesday was an illegal database.
DPA also issued an additional order, imposing a penalty of up to 5 million euros on Clearview for non-compliance.
Clearview AI does not have a place of business in the Netherlands or the European Union, it does not have any customers in the Netherlands or the EU, Jack Mulcaire, Clearview AIs chief legal officer, told Reuters.
(The company) does not undertake any activities that would otherwise mean it is subject to the GDPR (the EUs General Data Protection Regulation). This decision is unlawful, devoid of due process and is unenforceable.
In its statement, DPA had said Clearview had not objected to its decision and would therefore be unable to appeal against the fine.
Facial recognition is a highly intrusive technology, that you cannot simply unleash on anyone in the world, DPA Chairman Aleid Wolfsen said in a statement, which warned that using Clearviews services was also illegal under Dutch regulations.
Ride-hailing platform Uber was fined by DPA last week for sending the personal data of European taxi drivers to the United States, in violation of EU rules.
Uber called the fine unjustified and said it was appealing.
($1 = 0.9047 euros)
Topics InsurTech Data Driven Artificial Intelligence
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) Five members of an alleged burglary ring are facing federal charges for break-ins that targeted rural pharmacies in western Iowa and western Nebraska in 2022 and 2023, authorities announced Thursday.
The Omaha, Nebraska, field division of the Drug Enforcement Administration alleged that the five are part of a larger conspiracy thats being prosecuted by federal authorities in Arkansas. The agency said 42 people from Houston, Texas, are charged with breaking into more than 200 pharmacies across 31 states and stealing an estimated $12 million worth of controlled substances.
The stolen drugs including hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, Adderall and Xanax were taken to Houston and sold illegally, the DEA said.
These five individuals mistakenly thought that targeting rural communities would provide an opportunity to commit a crime and fade into the wind unrecognized and unaffected, DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Steven T. Bell said in a statement.
The DEA statement said 900 pharmacy burglaries were reported nationwide in 2023, with an estimated loss of 3.8 million doses of controlled substances. Across the agencys Omaha division which includes Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota 34 pharmacy break-ins have been reported dating back to 2022. Nebraska had the most with 17, while Iowa had 11.
Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics Iowa
As litigation and regulation increase around per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), insurance underwriting is tightening across lines. Insurance professionals who specialize in PFAS say insurers are mandating coverage exclusions and, in some cases, declining to write liability policies at all in PFAS-exposed industries.
Robin Kelliher, environmental solutions group counsel at USI, described the current insurance landscape as being hit by a superstorm of factors related to PFAS.
The insurance underwriters are just seeing lawsuits, lawsuits, lawsuits, she said, and they dont know how those lawsuits are going to play out.
This story is an excerpt of content posted to Insurance Journals sister publication, Carrier Management. To read the rest of the story and find out what brokers must do for clients with PFAS exposure, click here.
Industrial manufacturing company 3M reached a $10-plus billion settlement in June 2023 with a collection of U.S. public water systems to resolve PFAS water pollution claims. Around the same time, Dupont reached an estimated $1.19 billion settlement with a collection of U.S. public drinking water systems.
A new EPA rule and recent Insurance Services Office changes are also shaping how underwriters view the risk. Just a few months ago, the EPA set a limit on how much PFAS can be in drinking water. And, last year, ISO published endorsements broadly excluding PFAS-related claims for insurers to use in CGL policies.
It touches everything, Kelliher said of PFAS. And the carriers are seeing the lawsuits. Their insureds are being sued, and theyre submitting them as claims. Thats why the carriers are reacting the way they are. Because its coming from all different avenues.
The EPA reports that PFAS are widely used, long-lasting chemicals, the components of which break down very slowly over time. Studies have shown that exposure to the chemicals may be linked to harmful effects in humans and animals.
PFAS can be found in drinking water, fire extinguishing foam, food, personal care products and more. Per the EPA, it can be found in the air and soil. On its website, the EPA said current peer-reviewed studies link certain levels of exposure to reproductive and developmental effects, as well as an increased risk of some cancers and reduced immune system ability.
Lisa Williams, global head of casualty at Zurich Insurance Group, explained that PFAS exposure predominantly tends to fall in two major categories: premises exposure and products liability exposure.
A recent USI report said litigation is prompting the reassessment of approaches to PFAS underwriting, coverage, risk management and claim handling. The report says that most insurers are mandating exclusions on general liability and products liability policies on all renewal accounts, regardless of industry or exposure to loss, but especially manufacturing, hospitality, retail and owners of real estate.
USI anticipates that finding PFAS coverage in the environmental insurance marketplace will be more difficult for product exposure, including supply chain and distribution risks and site-specific risks.
Kelliher said PFAS surfaced on pollution liability underwriters radar around 2018and as state regulations on the coasts began to surface, carriers began to pay attention. Underwriters used to be more willing to write the exposure, she said, but that has changed in the past year because of the liability that stems from the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.
When the EPA started talking about adding PFAS as a hazardous substance under CERCLA, then, all of a sudden, the underwriting scrutiny became tenfold more, Kelliher said. And we started seeing PFAS exclusions being added to our pollution policies. Increased litigation is also creating what she described as a reactive market.
Kelliher has seen exclusions extend beyond the pollution liability line and into contracting operations, product liability and more. She sees a connection between this and ISOs approval of PFAS-specific exclusions for commercial general liability and umbrella policies.
So, this year, all of our clients are starting to see, on their standard lines of business like their GL policies, a PFAS exclusion, she said. That is really causing a lot more havoc in the marketplace.
Kelliher said she doesnt know if carriers are adding PFAS exclusions carte blanche to standard policies, but if youre a manufacturer, youre seeing a PFAS exclusion. And its for your products, so that becomes really problematic for our insureds.
Go to Carrier Management to read the full story.
Topics Lawsuits Legislation Underwriting
A fight over Gulf of Mexico oil production is looming in Washington as US regulators race to redo guidance on how to protect endangered species ahead of a deadline that could ultimately threaten about 15% of the nations crude output.
The standoff stems from a scientific assessment that underpins oil and gas operations in the Gulf. Under a court ruling, the US government has until Dec. 20 to revise that analysis, when the current one will be tossed out. If regulators dont finish by the deadline and courts or Congress dont intervene to provide more time existing oil and gas operations that depend on the evaluation could grind to a halt.
The effects could be sweeping: If the Gulf of Mexico were a country, it would rank among the worlds top 12 oil producers globally.
The ramifications could be potentially enormous for operations in what we and many others recognize is such a vital, producing region, said Dustin Meyer, a senior vice president for the American Petroleum Institute. The level of concern is very high.
Even with some uncertainty over the impact, the potential for peril has triggered a lobbying frenzy by oil companies and industry groups mulling legal strategies and possible legislation to head off major disruption. One lobbyist likened the situation to an all-hands-on-deck moment. Impacts could be felt well before the Dec. 20 deadline, colliding with a presidential election thats putting the spotlight on economic stability and energy security.
Legal Foundation
At issue is the governments main Endangered Species Act analysis of oil and gas activity in the Gulf, a so-called biological opinion released in 2020 documenting how drilling, pipeline construction and other operations might jeopardize protected species in the region.
The broad assessment provides a legal foundation for oil and gas activity under existing Gulf leases. US offshore drilling and leasing regulators generally rely on it instead of doing case-by-case evaluations.
Environmental groups challenged the biological opinion four years ago, arguing it didnt properly analyze how oil operations affect endangered and threatened species. Last month, a Maryland-based federal district judge sided with them, tossing out the biological opinion effective Dec. 20 and sending it back to the National Marine Fisheries Service for a redo.
The agency had already started work on a new version preemptively, but told the court it might not be done until late winter or early spring 2025.
Without a valid biological opinion in place, energy regulators would likely be forced to consult on hundreds if not thousands of decisions annually, according to data they provided the court.
Cascading Effects
The individual reviews would overwhelm the agencies and have cascading effects not just for oil operations in the Gulf but also renewable permitting on federal waters, Walter Cruickshank, the deputy director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, told the court in April.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which houses the fisheries service, and the Interior Department, which handles offshore oil and gas leases, said they are reviewing last months court decision, but declined to comment further.
The issue is already causing anxiety for some Gulf operators worried not just about delayed government approvals but the viability of existing work authorized under the court-invalidated biological opinion. At stake are operations as varied as traffic from ships supplying offshore platforms to continued production at long-permitted wells, according to industry lawyers who asked not to be named speaking about private legal discussions.
Oil companies and suppliers operating offshore could face additional legal jeopardy if they continue work without new authorizations.
The government previously authorized incidental takes where oil and gas activities cause harassment, harm or other injury to certain species as long as companies are complying with the 2020 biological opinion. Without that authorization in place, companies will have to decide whether they continue to operate at their own risk, or instead shut down their activities while waiting for a new biological opinion, Holland & Knight warned in an alert last week.
With about 2 million barrels of oil produced daily from the Gulf, the potential disruptions would likely cause considerable economic and national security harm to our country, said Erik Milito, head of the National Ocean Industries Association, which along with other industry trade groups, including the API, and Chevron USA Inc., has intervened to defend the government in the lawsuit. Talks with the government are ongoing.
Industry stakeholders are considering legal options, including seeking a stay, if another solution doesnt materialize soon. They also have been talking with congressional offices about the issue, and are weighing legislation that could address the issue by giving the fisheries service more time.
Given the vital importance of the Gulf of Mexico, Milito said, we remain optimistic that cooler heads will prevail, and we will see much-needed resolution to this issue.
Photo: An oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana/Bloomberg
Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.
Topics Energy Oil Gas Mexico
BOVINA, Miss. (AP) The seven people killed in a weekend bus crash in Mississippi were all from Mexico, the Mississippi Highway Patrol said Tuesday as it released their names and ages.
The department said those killed Saturday were Miguel Arriaga, 61; Victor A. Garcia, 32; Moises A. Garcia, 31; Kain Gutierrez, 8; Perla Gutierrez, 16; Elia Guzman, 63; and Angelica Palomino, 16. The patrol did not release their hometowns.
Kain Gutierrez and Perla Gutierrez were brother and sister, according to Warren County Coroner Doug Huskey.
Mexicos foreign relations secretary, Alicia Barcena, expressed condolences to the families of the dead and offered consular support.
The crash, which also injured about three dozen other people, remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, the state highway patrol and the Mississippi Commercial Transportation Enforcement Division.
The 2018 Volvo bus was operated by Autobuses Regiomontanos, which has sales offices in Mexico and Texas. It was traveling westbound on Interstate 20 from Atlanta to Dallas with 41 passengers and two drivers.
A left front tire failed early Saturday in Bovina, near Vicksburg, Mississippi. The bus veered onto an embankment and overturned onto its left side, NTSB member Todd Inman said Sunday. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.
Six people were pronounced dead at the scene and another died at a hospital, according to the highway patrol. Thirty-six people were taken by ambulance to hospitals.
Inman said investigators will look at the vehicles condition, including how well the tires were maintained. The investigation will also focus on road conditions, the drivers experience, the carriers safety record and what protections were provided for the bus occupants, he said.
A preliminary report was expected within 30 days and the full investigation could take up to two years, the NTSB said.
The transit company says it has 20 years of experience providing cross-border trips between 100 destinations in Mexico and the U.S. Its website promotes a modern fleet of buses that receive daily maintenance while offering special price trips for workers.
Photo: The damaged bus after the accident. (AP photo)
Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics Mississippi Mexico
Four people were killed and nine others injured after a teen gunman opened fire at a high school in Winder, Georgia, an old railroad town northeast of Atlanta.
The identities of the victims havent been released, but police said they include two students and two teachers. Apalachee High School, which has about 2,000 students and staff, had resumed classes early last month following summer break.
Police said that a 14-year-old boy, Colt Gray, also a student at the school, was in custody and would be charged as an adult. Sheriff Jud Smith said that a school resources officer engaged the shooter, who then realized that he would be killed if he didnt surrender.
He gave up, said the sheriff, who grew up in the school district, and said that his own children are students there now. My heart hurts for these kids, Smith said.
The shooting disrupted a sunny and cool late summer morning in Winder, the seat of the Barrow County government located about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Atlanta.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said in a statement on X that state officials and resources were being deployed.
We will continue to work with local, state and federal partners as we gather information and further respond to this situation, Kemp said.
Nearby school districts enhanced patrols in response to the shooting, according to the AP. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, in a statement, said that out of an abundance of caution additional patrols would be deployed to that citys schools for the remainder of the day.
There have been 29 mass killings in the US this year through Wednesday morning, according to a database maintained by AP and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University. The database includes every mass killing since 2006 from all weapons in which four or more people, excluding the offender, were killed within a 24-hour time frame.
Brett Pulley of Bloomberg produced this report.
Photo: The scene after the shooting Wednesday. (Bloomberg)
Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.
Topics Georgia Numbers Education K-12
The pilot of a plane that crashed in northeast Wyoming in July, killing seven people, declared an emergency and loss of the autopilot shortly before the incident that claimed the lives of three members of the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame quartet The Nelons.
The preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board states the plane had taken off from an airport in Nebraska on July 26, with plans to stop in Billings, Montana, when the aircraft went down about 12 miles northeast of Recluse, Wyoming.
During the last part of the flight, the pilot declared an emergency to the Salt Lake City Air Route Traffic Control Center and reported the loss of autopilot, prompting the controller to ask him where he would like to land, the report states. The controller did not receive an initial response, but the pilot later said he was trying to get control of the airplane, the report states.
Once radar and radio contact were lost, the Federal Aviation Administration issued an alert notice for the plane, which was later found crashed in a remote area, according to the report.
One witness near the crash site reported hearing a loud whining noise before impact, while another saw the plane overhead in a barrel roll maneuver and heard the airplanes engine roaring loud until they heard the airplane impact terrain, the report states.
A final report on the incident, examining potential causes, is expected later.
The Nelons co-founder Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband, Jason Clark, and their daughter Amber Nelon Kistler died in the crash, along with Nelon Kistlers husband, Nathan Kistler, family friend Melodi Hodges, and Larry and Melissa Haynie.
The Nelons had been planning to join the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska, Gaither Management Group said in a statement at the time that identified Larry Haynie as the pilot.
The Nelons were inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2016 and were winners of 10 GMA Dove Awards, including multiple song of the year and album of the year awards.
Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics Profit Loss
Jamison IP, an Accretive Company, Welcomes Jeff Roth to Their Growing Wholesale Insurance Brokerage Team
ORLANDO, Fla., September 05, 2024 Accretive Insurance Solutions, a nationwide collection of leading independent specialty and wholesale insurance providers and program administrators, is proud to announce that Jeff Roth has joined Jamison IP, a division of Synergy. Synergy is a wholesale insurance brokerage dedicated to management and executive liability and cyber solutions, as well as exclusive programs for law firms and professional coverage for numerous industries. Jamison IP has more than a twenty-year history in serving intellectual property (IP) law firms and the unique exposures inherent in protecting them.
Roth joins Jamison IP as Vice President of Business Development and will focus on delivering forward-looking risk management solutions in a rapidly changing legal space due to advancements in artificial intelligence and ongoing overseas threats. Roth has 10 years of wholesale brokering experience in the executive lines space, working with top-rated excess and surplus lines carriers on behalf of retail agents to provide tailored coverage solutions for their clients. He previously served as Vice President, Producer at Bridge Specialty Group and holds a Registered Professional Liability Underwriter designation. Prior to his career in insurance, Roth was a futures broker and trader at the Chicago Board of Trade.
I am thrilled to join Jamison IP, as they are the market leader in IP protection with access to exclusive programs and additional competitive insurance solutions law firms require to protect their people and reputation, said Jeff Roth. I look forward to leveraging Synergys market access and cutting-edge resources to enhance the service and value I can offer to my retail agent partners and their clients.
Rob Roth, Executive Vice President of Wholesale for Accretive and President of Synergy, shared, Jeff is a great addition to our team; he has a proven track record of delivering results and building relationships with agents and carriers. Roth continued, His expertise and professionalism will play a key role in growing our IP practice throughout the country as part of our overall growth strategy.
Jeff Roth is based in the Chicago area and can be reached at jroth@synergy-ins.com
About Accretive
Accretive consists of 2,200 experts spanning 46 states, with the mission of facilitating growth and innovation in the specialty, program, and wholesale insurance markets. With a leadership team of industry-recognized innovators, Accretive organizations have an established track record of building ground-up solutions, differentiated product delivery, and industry specialization. For more information about Accretive, please email info@accretive-ins.com or visit www.accretive-ins.com.
About Synergy
Synergy Professional Associates, an Accretive company, provides insurance professionals with a gateway to markets and carriers outside the broad categories and general needs of their typical customers. A professional liability boutique with a nationwide reputation for finding markets and equipping customers with competitive insurance options, our people are fast, knowledgeable, and, most importantly, flexible. Jamison IP is a specialized division of Synergy, specializing in intellectual property lawyers, legal aid services, judges and accountants professional liability coverages. For more information about Synergy, visit www.synergy-ins.com. Details about Jamison can be found at https://www.synergy-ins.com/jamison-ip/.
Media Contact:
Charlotte Doepker
Accretive
310-999-2793
cdoepker@keenan.com
September 5, 2024 (Investorideas.com Newswire) With the US political landscape shifting dramatically towards protectionism, deVere Groups, one of the world's largest independent financial advisory and asset management organizations, is advising global investors to recalibrate their portfolios to capitalize on emerging opportunities.
"Both the Republican and Democratic parties are increasingly aligned on the necessity of tariffs as a tool to protect American industries, especially against competition from China," says deVere Group CEO Nigel Green.
"This represents a major departure from decades of free trade policies, with both parties recognizing that tariffs will play a central role in the US economic strategy moving forward. For investors, this shift presents both challenges and opportunities that require strategic portfolio adjustments.
"The world is at a turning point. As protectionism gains traction in the US, investors need to be proactive. By positioning themselves in sectors that will benefit from these policy changes, they can capture significant growth opportunities."
Central to this protectionist agenda is a renewed focus on revitalizing US manufacturing.
Sectors like electric vehicles, semiconductors, medical products, and steel are expected to see substantial growth, bolstered by tariffs that shield them from foreign competition.
For example, Washington has already proposed new tariffs on electric vehicle batteries, semiconductors, and other critical industrial products. This move aims to ensure that newly established American factories remain competitive in a global market increasingly disrupted by trade barriers.
"Investors should be taking a close look at these industries," says Nigel Green. "The combination of government incentives and protectionist policies creates fertile ground for long-term growth.
"Companies with established production capabilities in America are set to outperform as they benefit from reduced competition and increased domestic demand."
The electric vehicle (EV) sector, in particular, stands out. As part of its broader industrial policy, the US has introduced a 100% tariff on imported electric vehicles from China, effectively doubling the cost of these products in the US market.
This gives American-based EV manufacturers a competitive advantage, and investors are likely to be considering reallocating capital towards this burgeoning sector.
However, these protectionist measures come with risks.
Increased tariffs on Chinese imports, which Mr Trump has proposed at rates as high as 60% on Chinese goods, could lead to higher costs for US consumers and companies alike.
This 'Trump tax,' as Vice President Kamala Harris called it during the recent Democratic National Convention in Chicago, is likely to reduce disposable income and dampen consumer spending, especially on imported goods.
"While some industries will thrive under these new conditions, others that rely heavily on imports will face cost pressures and shrinking margins," the deVere CEO warns.
"Investors need to be mindful of these risks and adjust their portfolios accordingly, steering clear of companies that are particularly vulnerable to rising import costs."
While the US turns inward with its protectionist policies, deVere Group stresses the importance of maintaining a globally diversified portfolio.
Regions like Southeast Asia and Latin America, which are not directly involved in the US-China trade disputes, are becoming increasingly attractive for investors seeking growth outside of traditional strongholds.
Nigel Green continues: "As certain markets become more insulated due to trade policies, others are opening up and offering new growth potential.
"Investors who strategically diversify across regions that are strengthening trade ties and offering alternative supply chains can mitigate risks and capture new opportunities.
"Countries in Southeast Asia, for example, are increasingly becoming manufacturing hubs for global companies seeking to diversify away from China. Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand have seen a surge in foreign direct investment as companies look to avoid US tariffs by relocating production."
deVere Group believes that the evolving trade environment will require careful portfolio management and a proactive approach to mitigate risks.
Investors should remain vigilant about the impact of new tariffs on global markets, while also seeking out opportunities in sectors and regions that stand to benefit from the shifting trade dynamics.
"This is a time of both great uncertainty and great opportunity," concludes the deVere Group CEO.
"For investors who can successfully tackle the complexities of the shifting economic order, the rewards will be significant."
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Asos has agreed to sell its Topshop and Topman brands to a new joint venture with the holding company of Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen in a deal valuing them at 180m (213m), the online retailer said.
Shares in Asos soared 18% on Thursday after news of the sale, along with an upbeat group performance update and a debt refinancing plan that reassured investors.
Asos has been struggling with losses and faced intense competition in Europe from the likes of fast-fashion firm Shein and is going through a transformation under a new strategy.
It expects to get about 118m in net proceeds from the sale to the joint venture with Heartland, which owns retail fashion group Bestseller, Asos' biggest shareholder.
Asos said the cash would help it to strengthen its balance sheet.
Heartland will own 75% of the new entity and a unit of Asos the remaining 25%.
Asos will continue to sell the Topshop and Topman brands online as part of a royalty deal for certain design and distribution rights.
It bought Topshop in 2021 from the administrators of Philip Green's collapsed Arcadia group, along with its Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT brands, for 265m.
Annual adjusted core profit
Asos said it expects annual adjusted core profit at the top end of market predictions but said sales would be slightly below its previous forecast.
"We've been making decisions to drive profitability rather than just purely going after the sales number," finance chief Dave Murray told analysts and investors on a conference call.
Chief executive Jose Antonio Ramos Calamonte said the group has seen improved profitability in US and UK markets, although challenges remained in Germany.
Asos said it was offering 250m inconvertible bonds due in 2028 and a partial repurchase of its outstanding 500-million-pound bond due in 2026.
Berenberg analyst Matthew Abraham said the strong trading update and the refinancing were positive indicators of strategic direction "that puts the business on firmer financial footing".
In 2021, Asos partnered with US retailer Nordstrom in a new joint venture that saw Topshop clothes sold in physical stores for the first time since the brand collapsed in the previous year.
Nordstrom first struck a deal with the former Arcadia brand more than a decade ago.
Reuters with additional reporting from PA
Cork Marts chief executive Sean OSullivan has announced he will step down from his position in early 2025.
By the time of his retirement, Mr OSullivan, who turns 62 in December, will have spent over 30 years working with Cork Marts, having joined the organisation as financial controller in 1995, before being appointed as chief executive officer less than 18 months later.
During his tenure, Mr OSullivan has overseen a major period of transformation and growth, including restructuring and reorganising the society from nine to six centres, overseeing the construction of two new marts on greenfield sites, and helping the business to transact 2.8bn in livestock sales and generate 33m in profit.
His term as chief executive is distinguished by a significant diversification of Cork Marts business portfolio. This includes leveraging Cork Marts asset base through retail and commercial development, which successfully generated a significant income stream and strengthened the companys balance sheets.
In recent years, developments have included residential units for social housing bodies and the receipt of planning permission for future projects.
This diversification into commercial and residential property development has enabled Cork Marts to undertake considerable capital investment in its core mart business across its six centres at Bandon, Corrin, Skibbereen, Macroom, Dungarvan and Cahir, laying a solid foundation for future growth.
The impact of Mr OSullivans strong leadership is further evidenced in the Cork Marts 2023 accounts, which show record level mart sales of 164 million and a 1.5m growth in shareholders funds to 26.1m.
Reflecting on his three decades at the helm of the business, Mr OSullivan said: Im proud of what Cork Marts, through our board, advisory committees, management team and staff, have accomplished over the past 30 years. Working together, we have achieved transformative growth and strengthened the societys position as Ireland's largest livestock auctioneers.
I look forward to seeing the society progress under the stewardship of a new chief executive and have no doubt that it will continue on a positive trajectory in the coming years. I remain committed to ensuring the smooth and successful running of Cork Marts over the next number of months and will remain available to support the smooth transition for a new CEO, he said.
Lyle Buttimer, Chairperson of Cork Marts, applauded Mr OSullivan for his stellar service, stating: "Cork Marts is in a very strong position after years of commitment and investment from various boards under the advice of our CEO.
The board wishes to sincerely thank Sean for his commitment to the society over the years, and we extend every good wish and good health to him as he embarks on the next stage of his life after Cork Marts, he added.
Mr OSullivan will continue in his role pending the appointment of a new chief executive, with the recruitment process set to begin immediately.
Succession appears to be a taboo topic, Macra president Elaine Houlihan believes, and this is much to the farming sectors detriment.
Measures supporting succession need to be prioritised in Budget 2025, Ms Houlihan is urging Government.
Macra has said rural youth out-migration and the ageing farmer profile are key issues facing rural areas which need to be urgently addressed.
Young farmers who wish to set up or take over an existing farm business must be supported through an enabling policy framework, according to the organisation.
This should address the core business, environmental and broader health and safety requirements of young farmers to ensure fair and equitable access to farm entrepreneurship and diversification, along with adequate living and working conditions.
Young farmers make up only 6.9% of the farming population in Ireland.
Young farmer a minority
Its time that people realised that the young farmer is a minority, Macra president Ms Houlihan told the Irish Examiner.
The Government needs to deliver something for young people, give them supports to actually stay in farming, because we all want to stay in rural Ireland but we have no choice but to leave.
Succession does not just affect farming. If you get young people into farms at a young age, that money is going back into a rural community: its going to keep a shop open; keep a pub open; keep the doors of a church open; its going to keep a school going.
For Ms Houlihan and her fellow young farmers, it can often feel like were playing the drum and nobodys listening when trying to speak about the concerns around succession.
Last year, Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue announced the Succession Planning Advice Grant.
Succession Planning Advice Grant
The Succession Planning Advice Grant is a scheme specifically aimed at encouraging best practice in intergenerational land transfer to address, among other things, significant generational imbalances in farming, according to the Department of Agriculture.
The grant is to encourage and support farmers aged 60 years and above to seek succession planning advice by contributing up to 50% of vouched legal, accounting and advisory costs, subject to a maximum payment of 1,500.
Tranche one closed for applications on December 31, 2023, with just 71 applications made in that first tranche.
According to Macra, while this figure was disappointing, it was not surprising.
'Farm succession is a complex area and there are many factors that impact farmers decisions,' said Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue.
The minister has now announced his intention to establish a commission on generational renewal in farming.
I expect the European Commission to publish its proposals for a post-2027 CAP in mid-2025. Against this background, this is an appropriate time to consider whether the framework currently in place provides support to young farmers thinking of entering the sector and effectively encourages generational renewal, Mr McConalogue said.
The time has come to have an honest and absolutely objective look at this, including the supports in place, to consider whether those measures are having the desired effect, how supports might best be configured to encourage generational renewal, for example through land transfers and succession planning.
Farm succession is a complex area and there are many factors that impact farmers decisions. We need to properly assess this and consider whether there are any unintended barriers to entry for young people under the current regime.
With this in mind, I intend to establish a group with the relevant expertise and experience to take an objective and robust evidence-based look at all of the factors in play to ensure that we have a well-researched basis for us to make optimal use of the policy tools available to encourage young people, who are the lifeblood of farming, into the sector.
Ms Houlihan said young farmers will hope this announcement is not just a political election talking ground and there will be action.
Its great to see an initiative and well welcome every initiative possible but we want action now to keep young people in farming and keep them in rural Ireland.
Call for retirement scheme
A retirement scheme is a possible measure that could be introduced. Ms Houlihan said the focus truly needed to be on succession, and supporting young people.
The Irish Farmers Associations farm family and social affairs chairwoman Teresa Roche reiterated this.
Macra president Elaine Houlihan. 'There is a massive stigma around succession. No one wants to talk about ageing, nobody wants to talk about dying, and nobody wants to talk about conflict.'
Ms Roche said a retirement scheme was important to ensure financial security and support for the farmer stepping back from the everyday running of the farming enterprise.
However, if a scheme is developed, it must be adequately funded to ensure that the retiring farmer is financially supported and that the remaining farming business provides a young person with the opportunity to take over, expand and develop the business in a way that provides a viable income.
A well-designed farmer retirement scheme will not only ensure that our older farmers can retire with dignity, but it will also create opportunities for young, ambitious farmers to enter the sector, Ms Roche added.
Succession a taboo subject
Macras Ms Houlihan said there was still a taboo to overcome when it comes to succession.
"There is a massive stigma around succession and I get it no one wants to talk about ageing, nobody wants to talk about dying, and nobody wants to talk about conflict, she said.
But we have to have these conversations to ensure we can actually secure a future for the current generation and the generation below it.
CSO figures show the proportion of farm holders under 35 has been falling consistently since 1991.
In 2020, almost one-third of all farm holders were aged 65 or over compared to just above one-fifth in 1991.
In 1991, 33.1% of farm holders were under the age of 45, whereas in 2020 this age group represented 20.8% of all farm holders.
Over 69,000 people left Ireland in the 12 months to April 2024 - compared with 64,000 in the same period of 2023, according to CSO figures.
This is the highest emigration figure since 2015.
It is no wonder that for many young people in rural areas, it can feel like there is nobody left.
Nearly every month you could go to a going away party. Usually theyre joint going-away parties which is even worse, said Liam Garry, who farms outside Kells, Co Meath.
I was in the mart and I looked around and there were two people under the age of 30. It was me and a friend.
During the summertime, there should be younger farmers there, but not a sign of them at all.
Theres no encouragement for them to get in. I am worried about it, to tell you the truth.
Getting young people interested in agriculture and wanting to pursue a career in it is a major issue the industry faces, Robert Corroon, education and events officer with Agri Aware has warned.
There are other industries with far more attractive pay scales, and food production is a 24/7 responsibility, the primary level of our industry never stops.
If we take the primary level of our sector, the farmers who supply our industry are suffering with price volatility, climate volatility, workforce volatility and ultimately decreased profit margins which makes it very hard to entice any young person to pursue a career, let alone the changes in policy and regulation, Mr Corroon said.
I think farming as an occupation is a vocation - what were seeing is more and more people involved in industry are farming part-time because of the love they have for the industry, their community, their livestock.
But to provide a steady income to sustain in the current cost of living theyre undertaking careers in agri-food sectors which provide a reliable income and scope for progress in their career while also maintaining their interest in farming at a primary level.
Its very hard to entice someone into that space if they dont have the love for it and havent grown up with the love for it and had someone nourish that love for the industry in them.
Those are the challenges were going to have to overcome, and its not a silver bullet solution.
Robert Corroon, with Irish Farmers' Association animal health committee chairman TJ Maher discussing to students how to be safe around and also the dangers of working around livestock on farms at the Safe Farm Futures farm safety workshop in Moycarkey National School. Picture: Agri Aware
Edward Treanor farms in Clones, Co Monaghan, in partnership with his father, and is married with two children.
The farm went from 80 cows to 200 cows now, that would have been one of my main aims to go away off to New Zealand first, according to Mr Treanor.
He studied mechanical engineering and worked in Dublin for a while, and got fed up sitting in an office looking out the window.
From there I went and did the green cert and went to New Zealand to learn and educate myself on how to grow a sustainable grass-based system," he explained.
I was there for six to eight months, went from there to Australia, was working there for an Irish fella who lived very close to us at home in the next town over.
I worked for him for a number of months, then just worked on a number of different farms in Australia over a six or seven-month timeframe.
I did a lot of travelling in Australia and then would have moved into the city where I met Trisha and then lived there for another three years and we moved home in 2018.
He always knew he would come back to the family farm, but it hasnt all been plain sailing since he returned.
Price on paper for milk looks good but in reality its not, the cost of production has just been through the roof, Mr Treanor said.
The environment side of things, the rules and regulations that are coming in at the minute are very intense, the goalposts are continuously changing. A rule could come in tomorrow and we wouldnt know about it today.
When I came home then in 2018 there was not overly much talk about the rules but if theres someone now over in Australia or New Zealand working on a farm and thinking of coming home to rural Ireland and trying to grow the farm to have a farm that can sustain families, its very hard for someone to put a plan in place to come home when the rules are continuously changing.
With the uncertainty around what may happen with the derogation, potentially losing it would cause a massive ripple effect across the agriculture industries.
If youre going to have to cut cow numbers, can that young person come home from the other part of the world to work in partnership with parents on a farm, to live in rural Ireland and stay locally?"
Agri Aware's Robert Corroon and Ashley Traynor highlighting the importance of farm safety to students at a Donegal 'Farm Walk and Talk' event. Picture: Agri Aware
Mr Treanor said he was always encouraged, and would always encourage others to go and travel.
However, he has friends in Australia who stayed there when he returned home to Ireland, and many similar to them now wonder, If I come home, whats there for me?.
Theres a lot you dont realise when you stay out of the country for more than two or three years, what problems you come home and face; getting insurance for cars, bank loans.
The Government needs to look at that - if they want people to come back, there has to be incentives there, to lower the rules and have exceptions.
For Mr Treanor, the life he built in Ireland made any challenges he faced worthwhile.
"Cost of living in rural Ireland is slightly cheaper than living in the city or built-up areas, and then working in the outdoors and being your own boss as well, you can see the effort you put into something is the effort you get back," he said.
"The satisfying thing about it is were producing food for other people across the whole world. The cows we would have milked this morning, in time, could be feeding someone butter in America or Australia."
And this production is done in as much an environmentally friendly way as possible, Mr Treanor added.
This is a message Agri Aware is also trying to get across, as it was founded with the aim of educating the general public, the consumer base, on where food comes from and how food is produced, Robert Corroon explained.
Liam Garry farms in partnership with his father, milking 90 cows. They keep sucklers and beef cattle as well, and fatten store lambs over the winter.
The 22-year-old said it has been a very tough year.
We thought last year was tough at the time, but the cash flow this year has been very poor, Mr Garry explained.
With the weather, everything is so behind, cattle didnt get out until very late.
We ran out of silage last winter and had to buy silage, and usually we would have carry-over silage from the previous year but we started with nothing this year so were taking every chance we get to make a few bales here and there.
Between those challenges, and not getting much support from the Department of Agriculture and receiving late payments, along with the farm being affected by TB, its very hard to keep the morale high, Mr Garry said.
The red tape, the regulations are getting tighter and tighter, he said.
Were lucky enough were not in nitrates derogation but I do know from other farmers and neighbours which are in it that its even worse again.
According to Mr Garry, you wouldnt be surprised young people are leaving the country, to get away from the often hardship on farms.
He doesnt rule out travelling and living abroad himself one day, but also, he said he is still happy here.
You cant be just worrying yourself too much. It is tough, and youd just be saying 'whos better off?'. But Im happy farming here, its not really a job as such, he said.
You can come and go, if you dont get something done today you can do it tomorrow or if I need a day off tomorrow to go away somewhere I can just go, Im not looking for days off. We have some part-time relief for when were away but its just myself and my father on the farm full-time.
Its a lovely lifestyle, youre out and about, youre outside every day, youre up early in the morning seeing nature the whole time.
Mr Garry said, however, he is worried about people leaving and not coming back and the future of rural Ireland being under threat.
Agri Aware provides a suite of programmes for both primary and secondary schools that hone in on food production, animal welfare, food security and the environment, with over 140,000 students participating in in-class programmes and over 90,000 participating in online programmes at primary level.
Mr Corroon said these programmes are important in engaging young people with agriculture, and allowing them to envision a future in the sector, especially those who would have no other exposure.
Increases in participation in programmes have been seen in the metropolitan regions of Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Limerick, and another portion of the programme uptake in the commuter towns of these cities, Mr Corroon said.
"Teachers recognise the importance of teaching children where their food comes from, ensuring that were supporting local and understanding the role of the farmer in the economy and in their community," he said.
While students can be exposed to a "negative narrative around agriculture" particularly when it comes to environmental impact, Mr Corroon said it is important industry works together to "combat any misinformation that is getting out there with the facts that are backed up by science, backed up by research".
Negative messaging and policy changes are two key reasons why people still feel "disheartened" about their futures in the sector, according to Macra.
When young farmers try to see this future, only a fog of uncertainty is visible, Macra president Elaine Houlihan said.
They have nowhere to turn, they dont know what their future entails. Do they need to go back to college at the age of 30? Do they need to go do an apprenticeship? How are they going to survive?
Theres so much uncertainty because the goalpost keeps moving the goalpost is on wheels that just keep moving up and down the field.
If only young people could look into that crystal ball and see 10 years down the line that you can farm here in Ireland.
But you cant at the moment all that youre seeing is a fog of uncertainty.
Its time that our Government and the older generation realise that the young farmer will adapt to changes that are needed.
Dantes Inferno tells the story of the poets fictionalised descent into hell, where he is guided by the ancient Roman poet Virgil.
Hell is depicted as nine concentric circles of torment located within the earth. Satan himself resides there. After escaping hell, Dante and Virgil will go on to purgatory and then Dante will go to heaven. Well, the reason Im telling you this is because I have been to hell. I have visited the concentric circles of torment, but in my journey there was only a mere eight circles to endure.
Last Friday I naively undertook the Tom Crean Challenge down in Kerry. I was asked by Alan OSullivan from CyberSafeKids would I be willing to take part in this event to raise money for the charity.
I have always suffered with impulse control issues, so I said yes, without really thinking about what might be required to get fit for this challenge. The name on the challenge should have given me the heads up that this might be more than your average fun run in the park.
Tom Crean was no slouch. When I read the itinerary, I knew I had bitten off more than I usually like to chew. We had to travel 150k in 24 hours without sleep. I watched my wife give birth to three children, so you know Im tough, and an optimist. I can do this, I told myself.
I started my prep in July for my couch to 150k. A 4k run here, a 3k walk there. I could see my kids laughing at me while we were on holidays in Portugal, as I inhaled another Portuguese tart. My daughters started to call it the Tom Cream Challenge.
Unphased by their mockery, I kept up the odd jog or two. But what I met on Friday night pushed me to the brink of my resolve. I realised I had not prepared for this event, I also realised that those Portuguese tarts were probably not the correct nutrition for the task at hand.
It started at 9pm with a 33k walk through the night in very uncomfortable wet terrain. You had to concentrate on every step or youd fall or sink into some godforsaken mud hole.
After those six long hours, we had about a 20 minute rest to get ready for our next piece of this ardours puzzle; the 33k cycle. I found this a magnificent experience, watching the sun break over the Skelligs as we cycled into the dawn. Magic.
We passed through Dingle and over to Paidi O Ses Pub, the sky spreading out before us (I didnt recall it being so far from Dingle when I was on all those stags).
Next we had to walk/jog 12k, and then a 15k cycle up the longest hill I have ever experienced. I was wishing at this point that Tom Creans parents had never met. The expletives were flowing. But I refused to yield.
We were now at the foot of Mount Brandon. Our van of supplies missing. Adding to the craic!
I grew up in Cork. Im a city boy. The biggest mountain I have ever summited is Patricks Hill of a Saturday night drunk as a teenager walking a girl home. I was proud of myself then. When the organisers said, we have a six-hour hike now I felt like limping away slowing into a bush and weeping. It felt like a penitential rite, without the enjoyment of whatever sin I had committed. My sin was impulsivity and stubbornness. And by god was I being punished. At one point I was delighted to reach the top, only to be informed the top is over there, another kilometre or so above us. Dear God, why must you punish me. I kept going. Cursing. Alan O Sullivan and Mike Murphy from my team marching relentlessly ahead. Bastards. The views from the summit were breathtaking.
But then we had to go down. This was as hard as climbing up. The terrain was tricky, concentration and knees needed to hold as you manoeuvred yourself off the top of the mountain. At one point we rounded the bend, I was thinking this has to be the end of this mountain. Again, to be informed there was about another hour left in the descent.
Dante and his bloody inferno. The next stage, for those mad enough to keep going, was a 5k kayak and finally, a 10k cycle.
When my wife saw the rough beast lurching up the hotel lobby, she broke out laughing.
Bringing out the bins will never be an issue from now on. But I have to say I enjoyed the experience.
The chats with strangers through the darkness of night, and seeing Kerry in all of its splendour as the sun rose over the Kingdom was magnificent.
I was broken on the mountain, wondering how people get any enjoyment out of hiking. But when someone explained to me how this event started, it inspired me to keep going. Kieran OCallaghan lost his wife, Fiona to cancer in 2011.
He was left to raise his four children, and decided to honour his wifes life by undertaking the Peninsula Challenge. For years he undertook it on his own, until it started to grow. He has now raised over 225,000.
This years event raised over 80,000. At the end of each event he was waiting there, having accomplished it with ease, hand out and broad smile. He informed me when he saw my white socks he didnt think Id last the pace.
Will I do it again? I wouldnt bet against it, white socks and all.
A man appeared before a court in Limerick on Thursday charged with the illegal possession of a submachine gun and ammunition.
Willie Woodland, (31), of Shanabooly Road, Ballynanty, Limerick, had the gun and ammunition at his home address last Tuesday, September 3, it was alleged.
Mr Woodland is accused of being in possession of a 9 x 18mm Makarov calibre, Rak make, model PM63 submachine gun, for an unlawful purpose, contrary to Section 27A (1) of the Firearms Act, 1964, as substituted by Section 59 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006, as amended by Section 38 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007.
Mr Woodland is accused of having a quantity of 9 x18mm Makrov calibre ammunition for an unlawful purpose, contrary to Section 27A (1) of the Firearms Act, 1964, as substituted by Section 59 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006, as amended by Section 38 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007.
Evidence of arrest, charge, and caution, was presented to the court by certificate. Mr Woodland did not speak during the brief court hearing and no evidence of the allegations was heard.
Garda Laura Lyons, Henry Street Garda Station, gave evidence that Detective Garda Sean OHagan, Henry Street Garda Station arrested Mr Woodland and charged him. The accused made no reply to the charges, the court heard.
Garda Sergeant Sean Murray, Roxboro Road Garda Station, made an application before the court for Mr Woodland to be remanded in custody until next week for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Solicitor Sarah Ryan was assigned to represent Mr Woodland who was granted free legal aid. Ms Ryan said she was not applying for bail.
Judge Carol Anne Coolican granted Sgt Murrays application, and remanded Mr Woodland in custody to appear before Limerick District Court via video link on September 10 for DPP directions.
A protester who admitted intimidating Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae by throwing a bottle at the politician and blocking him at Leinster House must show a judge he understands the ramifications of his action.
Dublin District Court heard the "distressing" incident took place when an anti-government and immigration demonstration "spiralled out of control" at Government buildings on September 20 last year.
Apprentice carpenter Dean Hickson, 22, of Griffith Parade, Finglas East, Dublin, pleaded guilty earlier this year to intimidating Michael Healy-Rae at Kildare Street, Dublin 2. The court has heard he was sorry and never wanted to attend another protest.
He has participated in a restorative justice programme under the Probation Service for several months, as directed by the court. Successful completion of the programme can result in a first-time offender being spared a criminal record and a sentence.
On Thursday, Judge Murphy noted that Hickson had co-operated with the scheme. However, she adjourned the case for a further five weeks to finish the process and for Hickson to show the injured party that he understood the ramifications of his actions.
About 200 people had held a protest outside Leinster House as the Dail resumed following the summer recess. It led to several arrests, and afterwards, the independent TD condemned the conduct of some protesters as he and an office intern attempted to leave the area.
Garda Chloe Rochfort arrested Hickson, and due to the guilty plea, Healy-Rae was not required to testify in court.
In mitigation, his defence solicitor, Donal Quigley, said Hickson, who has no prior criminal convictions, was attending a political protest. "He said he has never been to one before and says he will never be to one again in his life."
Earlier, the solicitor told the court, "Things spiralled out of control.
It was more aggressive than he thought it would be. He is not even that politically minded.
He added that his client had been forthright and apologised when brought into a garda station.
Garda Rochfort confirmed that happened when she met him at Pearse Street station to charge him. Judge Murphy had said the incident was very distressing for all concerned and a very serious offence for a man with no criminal record.
"The injured party should be advised of his entitlement to attend as well. These are generally better if the parties engage so that the implications of this type of conduct can be brought home as well," the judge had said.
Hickson, who did not address the court, was remanded on continuing bail to appear again in September for sentencing.
Following a Garda investigation, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) directed gardai to charge Hickson in February. The DPP directed summary disposal in the District Court, which can impose a 12-month sentence and a fine, rather than a trial at the Circuit Court level, which can impose a sentence of up to five years.
Judge Murphy accepted jurisdiction.
The court heard that the accused was among aggressive protesters outside Leinster House "during an anti-government, anti-immigration protest". At one point, the CCTV footage captured him "throwing a plastic bottle in the direction of Michael Healy-Rae, narrowly missing his head".
During the investigation, the accused was identified from the video footage "as he physically impeded Michael Healy-Rae from entering Government buildings, which is his place of work". The defence was granted an order to be given copies of prosecution evidence, including video footage.
At a preliminary hearing in February, his solicitor told the judge that his client maintained "he did not block anyone going in or out". However, he later admitted the offence.
A barber and tattoo artist, who is awaiting trial accused of murdering a father-of-two in a sword attack in Cobh, Co Cork, has been refused bail.
Dylan Scannell, 30, of O'Rahilly Street, Cobh, is charged with the murder of Ian Baitson, 33, at Newtown Road on March 15.
Mr Baitson was injured shortly before 9pm in a Eurospar car park and taken to Cork University Hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead four days later.
Father of three Mr Scannell has been in custody on remand following a district court appearance on March 25.
In July, he was further charged with two additional offences.
One of the newer charges was for the production of a long-bladed sword capable of inflicting serious injury in the course of a dispute and in a manner likely to unlawfully intimidate another person on March 15 at the Eurospar car park.
The other was under money-laundering legislation for possessing crime proceeds between August 2023 and March 2024.
Because he faces a murder charge, he had to bring his bail application to the High Court in Cloverhill, Dublin.
He appeared before Mr Justice Tony Hunt via video link on Thursday but did not give evidence during the proceedings.
His barrister, Keith Branagan, argued bail conditions could address issues raised by gardai.
The defence also proposed the bail could be set in his bond of 10,000 with a 10,000 independent surety, and Mr Scannell would surrender his passport and reside outside of Cobh.
Gillian Finane BL, for the State, asked for bail objections to be outlined by Detective Sergeant Gerard O'Shaughnessy from the investigation team at Midleton Garda Station, which were supported by Chief Superintendent Vincent O'Sullivan, who heads up Cork West and Cork North Garda Division.
Concerns about witness interference
Detective Sergeant O'Shaughnessy voiced concerns about flight risk and witness interference.
However, he agreed with Mr Branagan that his client had significant ties in the jurisdiction, having a girlfriend and three children.
The hearing was told Mr Scannell used to run a barber and tattoo shop, but it closed during the covid-19 pandemic.
Detective Sergeant O'Shaughnessy also accepted there was no evidence Mr Scannell had been located near a border area or about to board a ferry.
He alleged for days after the incident the accused had been staying in a secluded location in Cappoquin, Co Waterford, while posting on social media that he was fishing in Fermoy, Co Cork. He was arrested on March 22.
Mr Justice Hunt stressed the legal position that a presumption in favour of bail was rooted in the presumption of innocence.
He considered the proposals by the defence but held that gardai had established their grounds and denied Mr Scannell bail.
Mr Justice Hunt noted from Ms Finane it was expected the prosecution's book of evidence book would be ready to be served on the accused in the district court on Tuesday.
Mr Justice Hunt also said Mr Scannell should not have a lengthy wait until his trial because the Central Criminal Court regularly sits in Cork.
Ireland is never neutral when it comes to standing up to evil, the Taoiseach has said following a visit to Ukraine.
Simon Harris said that although Ireland is militarily neutral and always will be, it will also always call out evil and show solidarity at a European level against the horrific, brutal aggression that we're seeing from Russia.
We're reminded all too often and nearly on a daily basis now of the indiscriminate terrorist attacks being launched by Russia on civilians, Mr Harris said at a bilateral meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Rzeszow, Poland.
We saw (on Wednesday) the murder of three beautiful young girls and their mother in the early hours of the morning.
Deadly airstrikes on Lviv in western Ukraine killed seven people early on Wednesday morning, including a mother and her three daughters, just hours after the Taoiseach travelled through the city on his way to Kyiv.
While in Kyiv, the Taoiseach visited the Childrens Rights Protection Centre and met a family there who fled Russian-occupied Ukraine. He also visited a couple whose home was destroyed by Russian attacks and who are now living in a modular home provided by Irish humanitarian funding and the UNHCR.
It's really important to fully understand when you look into the eyes of a seven-year-old boy in a centre for child protection who has been separated from his father and has had to flee occupied territory with his mother and his sisters.
Taoiseach Simon Harris after holding a bilateral meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Rzeszow, Poland on Thursday. Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA
These are not experiences that children can be in, and that is the reality for far too many children in Ukraine today."
People in Ukraine "are having to compress normal daily life into a very brief period each day" while they have electricity due to frequent blackouts.
Ireland has provided 340m in humanitarian aid to Ukraine and this week pledged an additional 36m, Mr Harris said. Some 109,000 Ukrainians have also sought shelter from the war in Ireland since Russias invasion.
On Wednesday, Ireland signed an agreement with Ukraine to show that we will continue to stand with them and be there for as long as it takes". But the best security and peace guarantee for Ukraine and for Europe is for Ukraine to become a member of the European Union, he said.
The Taoiseach also discussed the Middle East with Mr Tusk in Poland.
The violence needs to end, he said. "There needs to be an immediate ceasefire. We cannot have different standards in terms of how we treat different conflicts.
Ireland and Poland, though geographically distant, are close in our hearts and minds, Mr Harris said. Some 100,000 Poles now live in Ireland, he said.
Taoiseach Simon Harris (left) with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Rzeszow, Poland. Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA
I have found the Polish people who come to Ireland, their work ethic, their approach, their cultural view, to be so similar to those of Irish people.
The trading relationship between the two countries is now worth about 7.4bn each year. You're consuming quite a lot of our whiskey... not you personally, he said to Mr Tusk.
He thanked Mr Tusk for leading the European Council at a most difficult time for Ireland and the European Union as the unprecedented challenges posed by Brexit were navigated.
Taoiseach Simon Harris (left) told Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (right) in Rzeszow, Poland, on Thursday 'There needs to be an immediate ceasefire' in Gaza. Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA
Your friendship, your solidarity but also your skill really helped manage that very difficult process and for that I and the people of Ireland and the government of Ireland will always be grateful and will always consider you a true friend.
Collaboration between European leaders was hugely important to tease out and work through some of the big issues faced by Europe like migration, Mr Harris said.
Work on the economic agenda within the EU was also important to ensure that the single market works for everybody, including small businesses and farmers, Mr Harris said.
Strengthening EU business should empower officials, rather than swamping people in bureaucracy with meetings about where to place the comma in a document, he said.
Youre probably interested in old Cork like me. Or as interested in old Cork as I am. Not that Im like old Cork.
(Can we . . . - ed?)
Anyway. i see The Gallery Press has re-issued Cork, a book of poems by Eilean Ni Chuilleanain with drawings by artist Brian Lalor.
My eye was drawn to Lalors beautiful line drawings not so much because of my artistic instincts easily summarised as I know what I like and I like what I know but because of what they represent.
The book was originally published in 1977, and Lalors drawings are a snapshot of a different city: a smaller, shabbier one maybe, but also a friendly and inquisitive one. When I spoke to him he sketched (sorry) the background to the book.
In the mid-seventies he had been working in Israel as an archeologist for a number of years on a major site, and when that work came to a conclusion he hadn't been in Ireland for at least ten years.
That work was done, my mother was getting older. I had good reasons for returning, which I did with no particular plan in mind.
At that point his brother lived at the top of the building which housed McCarthys bakery in Daunts Square. Lalor was looking out over Cork from the windows there and started drawing.
The simple geography of the city was the engine that kept me going, and once I had begun I realised it was really very interesting topic.
Cork was much smaller than Id thought. It ended, really, at the top of Barrack Street and at the top of Shandon Street and MacCurtain Street.
I walked the entire city over a period of a year, and the drawings were what I produced. I then looked for a collaborator.
He asked the most Cork of the writers available to work with him: Patrick Galvin.
We met a couple of times, and he said yes, delighted. And he said yes, delighted again. And he said yes, delighted, the tenth time, so . . .
View from Patrick's Hill.
I scanned the horizon. Eilean Ni Chuilleanain had been at UCC with my brother, and when I asked her, she said yes. Then Peter Fallon of The Gallery Press, who published Eilean, said he was interested in publishing the book.
Hence the drawings. Theyre streetscapes and quaysides, alleys and nooks and crannies. There arent too many great houses visible, which was a deliberate move.
I wasnt interested in drawing the best of architecture. St Fin Barres Cathedral may get in there somehow in the background, but if it does its very much in the background. I was trying to capture the texture and the people in the streets.
I had spent four years working intensely on destroyed cities from 2,000 years ago, so I was very interested in ruins. Cork had something of that at the time, it was shabby.
But it was more than just something with character. It was also something that represented the life of the past, which was much more accessible.
There was obviously prosperity, and I would say Cork was on the up in terms of the suburbs. Those had reached out, the city was growing all the time, so that prosperity was there, but it wasn't what I was interested in.
And the drawings themselves? How were they done?
I remember that very clearly, and the curiosity of the people in the street as to what I was doing.
Paul Street.
I heard what are you up to? quite a lot but people were always very friendly. I had drawn around the Middle East, and that was much more hostile; it was as if you were representing the government or indicating that taxes were going to go up, so there was considerable suspicion of your activities. I never encountered that in Cork, the thought that I might be up to no good.
I was never harassed or anything. It did attract attention from people but they were interested in a very genuine way. They wanted to tell me stuff Did you know Jimmy Riley who lived there? Do you know what happened to the woman who lived there?'
I didn't use a camera. I drew from life. It gives a different effect. I drew on the spot with a sketchpad in pencil, and I would do some work on it at home, then I would come out again and I'd look at it.
The drawings are in black and white, line drawings. That was a very conscious decision.
My favourite part? Walking around, just in terms of atmosphere, the North and South Main Street and the alleyways leading off those.
The main street of today is the main street of the medieval city, it's just wider now. And the alleyways were the side streets. That structure was all there.
That's where the archaeologist comes out, that the skeleton of the earliest city is still there, and that much is intact, and that's fascinating.
Lady's Well Brewery and the North Cathedral.
The drawings black and white focus foreshadows a great deal of Lawlors later career, which features in a major retrospective running at the West Cork Arts Centre until October 12.
As for the book itself, after two printings it disappeared from bookshops but when Lalor ran into Elaine last year they felt it was time for a reissue. Peter Fallon agreed, and now the book has returned.
Not before time. The central spine that Lalor loved so much has been shamefully neglected in parts the stretch of North Main Street joined by Liberty and Castle Streets is one of the national emblems of dereliction and neglect. In any summary of the general decline of our inner cities youll find a picture of that intersection, empty and decaying.
Those alleys off North Main Street, the atmospheric passageways that Lalor was so fond of, have suffered as well. The last historic laneway on the same street was recently gated as part of a student apartment development, a move which flared into a brief controversy.
Kift's Lane.
Going in the other direction the story is no better. Walk up South Main Street and theres an array of abandoned buildings and waste land, plazas cordoned off from the public, and, of course, the empty wilderness where the Cork Event Centre may eventually appear. Or not, depending on your cynicism about possible announcements in the run-up to the coming election.
Its interesting to look at Lalors drawings as a marker of a poorer city, but a place which took more pride in its appearance, for all that. Those curious pedestrians who questioned the artist with the sketchpad fifty years ago would surely have been stunned by the way their city is neglected now.
Pope's Quay.
I finished our chat by asking Lalor if he revisits those old haunts much, given hes based in west Cork.
I plan to go with the book under my arm, he told me. To look and see what's there now, or is some of it gone.
*For information on the Brian Lalor retrospective see skibbereenartsfestival.com/festivals/skibbereen-arts-festival-2024/events/brian-lalor-retrospective
Cork is published by The Gallery Press and is in the shops now.
The ball is now firmly back in the Governments hands in relation to Irelands future trading relationship with Israel.
The Government had long maintained that there was nothing it could do about trade with Israel citing the established rules of the EU that the bloc was the primary arbiter on international trade.
While there has been pressure applied by countries like Ireland and Spain in recent months over the EU-Israel association agreement, they have faced strong opposition in the big beasts of the EU like Germany and France who continue to back Israel despite the ongoing war in Gaza.
Any prospect of a review of the agreement, under its human rights clauses, will only come with agreement of other EU member states which does not appear to be forthcoming any time soon.
The public have been among the voices calling for the Government to go further, exemplified by public protests that take place regularly on the streets of Dublin, Cork and towns around the country.
While Ireland has always had a high level of support for Palestine, there are few social issues that have gotten as much public attention across Ireland in recent years. Normally, foreign affairs stories dissipate quite quickly, but that has not been the case with the ongoing war in Gaza.
A rally in support of the people of Gaza that took place in Cork City recently.
The public have been left disgusted and dismayed by the level of death and destruction that has been wrought on the Palestinian people by Israel. People see it daily on their social media fees, on their televisions and splashed across the pages of newspapers.
It is shown through the tens of thousands confirmed dead, the levelled buildings and bombed hospitals and through the starving children left without life-saving aid.
But chinks of light are now emerging for those who have long called for Ireland to push back against trade with Israel, as the impact of the International Court of Justices advisory opinion begins to sink in.
The ruling, which calls on all States to cease trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, has put pressure back to the Government to tackle the matter with campaigners now believing that the Occupied Territories Bill is not only doable, but that it will only be a matter of time before it is passed by the Oireachtas.
The bill itself would prevent Ireland from importing goods that originate from illegal settlements, including those in the West Bank.
The bill which has languished on the Oireachtas order paper for years has long been held by the Government as being incompatible with European law, with Attorney General after Attorney General providing advice that it cannot be implemented.
But in recent days, the momentum has shifted slightly.
Anti War protesters against the continuing war in Gaza demonstrate outside Leinster House last month. Photo: SAM BOAL/Collins Photos.
It all began with the Tanaiste Micheal Martin, who confirmed he was taking action to stop all future procurement of defence and security equipment from Israel in the wake of the ICJ ruling.
This was then followed, in short order, by Taoiseach Simon Harris declaring that he had sought updated legal advice over trade with Israel.
He said that such an action was appropriate, given the ruling from the ICJ and that every lever needed to be pulled to exert pressure on the Israeli Government to end the war in Gaza.
While the campaign to have the bill passed was being prepared, this news came in and has been welcomed by campaigners.
But they believe there has never been a barrier, citing Article 36 of the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union. This section allows countries to restrict trade on grounds including public morality, policy or security.
The campaigners have said this allows Ireland to diverge from trade with Israel on public policy grounds in order to protect fundamental rights.
However, leaked advice from the former Attorney General Seamus Woulfe argued that there has been an absence of case law that would allow Ireland such an exemption.
However, campaigners received their own legal advice from two EU trade law experts Professors Takis Tridimas and Panos Koutrakos who have argued that the bill is now necessary.
They reference two separate cases Schmidberger and Omega where the European Court of Justice found that member states are permitted to deviate from EU law, even on freedom of movement, provided that it is to protect fundamental rights of individuals.
Palestinians look for survivors following Israeli airstrike in Nusseirat refugee campin the Gaza Strip in October. File photo: AP/Doaa AlBaz
If acted upon, this could provide the government with leeway to restrict importation of goods from the occupied territories. With Government potentially moving on trade, campaigners are more optimistic about the future of the Occupied Territories Bill.
One campaigner Eamonn Meehan of Sadaka, the Ireland Palestine Alliance said he believes it is no longer a question of whether, its a question of when.
The campaign is not letting a looming general election stop it from pressuring the Government either, with calls being made for all political parties to support the Occupied Territories Bill within their individual manifestos.
With pressure likely to rise as the war continues to drag on, the three coalition partners will face a challenge on how to respond to the campaign in what could be a very different next Dail.
DOSCO, a longstanding fixture of commercial life on the South Douglas Road, is relocating to Little Island as part of an expansion plan that marks 140 years in the business.
The move, to the former Henkel building in Little Island, will free up the companys 55,775 sq ft detached warehouse in Dosco Industrial Estate, which it will vacate in November. The large scale industrial unit includes office space and pallet racking for storage of upto 3,200 pallets.
It comes with carparking, a loading/unloading bay and a fenced and gated yard area. The agent tasked with leasing out the property, Declan Hickey of auctioneers Casey & Kingston, said the rent sought is 300,000pa. The warehouse can be let as a single lot or subdivided into smaller units.
The Dosco move to Little Island will see the company end its presence on the South Douglas Road, where it has operated since 1966, having started out in 1884 at Lavitts Quay in Cork city, followed by a move at the turn of the 20th century to Merchants Quay.
Dosco Industrial Estate, South Douglas Road
Established by Denis OSullivan as D OSullivan & Co (hence Dosco) it focused from the start on hard-working, quality cleaning products. The first products were mainly brushes for road sweeping, shoes, for removing distemper from walls, cleaning firesides and chimney sweeping. The majority were made by hand, using tar to bind the bristles together before being inserted into the wooden stocks (heads).
The company now has 600 core products; is the only brush manufacturer on the island of Ireland and is in the third-generation ownership of the Kenefick family, starting with George Kenefick, followed by his son Neil, and currently, Neils sons, David and George. Both sons are members of the Dosco management team, along with financial controller Oliver Ryan and MD Pat Casey.
Pictured outside the new Little Island premises (L to R): Dosco financial controller Oliver Ryan, project manager David Kenefick, MD Pat Casey and sales director George Kenefick
As part of its expansion plan, the company purchased the former 52,000 sq ft Henkel building, on seven acres, in Wallingstown, Little Island, which came on the market last year for 6m, although what is sold for has not been disclosed. Dosco commissioned a full refurb which began in May this year, headed up by Cork firm Vision builders, and are hoping to be in their new home by year end.
A computer generated image of what the new Little Island premises will look like
In a statement to the Irish Examiner, they said the company could not have succeeded without its loyal customers and dedicated workforce. Dosco currently has 52 employees, and hopes to grow that figure as part of its growth strategy.
This new facility will provide us with the space and resources needed to enhance our production capabilities and better serve our customers, George Kenefick said.
Managing Director, Pat Casey said: We are very proud of what Dosco has achieved over the last 140 years and the contribution it makes to the local and national economy. We look forward to a bright future for our business as we grow through expansion and investment.
The original Dosco premises on the South Douglas Road is less than 2km from Cork city, and a similar distance to the South Ring Road. Cork Airport is less than 5km away and the Jack Lynch tunnel for onward travel (M8/Dublin Road, N25/Rosslare Europort) is less than 6km away.
Details: Declan Hickey, Casey & Kingston Office: 021 4271127 Mob: 0876529320
Jury selection is set to begin in Hunter Bidens federal tax trial just months after the US presidents son was convicted of gun charges in a separate case.
The case in Los Angeles federal court accuses Hunter Biden of a four-year scheme to avoid paying at least 1.4 million million dollars in taxes while pulling in millions of dollars from foreign business entities.
He is already facing potential prison time after a Delaware jury convicted him in June of lying on a 2018 federal form to purchase a gun that he possessed for 11 days.
US President Joe Biden hugs his son Hunter Biden during the Democratic National Convention (Paul Sancya/AP)
Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to the charges related to his 2016-2019 taxes and his lawyers have indicated they will argue he did not act wilfully, or with the intention to break the law, in part because of his well-documented struggles with alcohol and drug addiction.
US district Judge Mark Scarsi, who was appointed to the bench by former president Donald Trump, placed some restrictions on what jurors will be allowed to hear about the traumatic events that Hunter Bidens family, friends and lawyers say led to his drug addiction.
The judge barred attorneys from connecting his substance abuse struggles to the 2015 death of his brother Beau Biden from cancer or the car accident that killed his mother and sister when he was a toddler.
He also rejected a proposed defence expert lined up to give evidence about addiction.
The indictment alleges that Hunter Biden lived lavishly while flouting the tax law, spending his cash on things like strippers and luxury hotels in short, everything but his taxes.
Hunter Bidens lawyers had asked Judge Scarsi to also limit prosecutors from highlighting details of his expenses that they say amount to a character assassination, including payments made to strippers or pornographic websites.
The judge has said in court papers that he will maintain strict control over the presentation of potentially salacious evidence.
Meanwhile, prosecutors could present more details of Hunter Bidens overseas dealings, which have been at the centre of Republican investigations into the Biden family often seeking without evidence to tie the president to an alleged influence peddling scheme.
The special counsels team has said it wants to tell jurors about Hunter Bidens work for a Romanian businessman, who they say sought to influence US government policy while Joe Biden was vice president.
The defence accused prosecutors of releasing details about Hunter Bidens work for the Romanian in court papers to drum up media coverage and taint the jury pool.
The judge will ask a group of prospective jurors a series of questions to determine whether they can serve on the jury, including whether their political views and knowledge of the case would prevent them from being impartial.
Sentencing in Hunter Bidens Delaware conviction is set for November 13.
He could face up to 25 years in prison, but as a first-time offender, he is likely to get far less time or avoid prison entirely.
A teenage boy charged with killing four people at his high school in Georgia was interviewed last year by police about anonymous online threats, the FBI said.
The 14-year-old opened fire at his high school outside Atlanta, killing four people and wounding nine.
The teen has been charged as an adult in the deaths of Apalachee High School students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, along with instructors Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53, Georgia Bureau of Investigation director Chris Hosey said at a news conference.
At least nine other people eight students and one teacher at the school in Winder, about an hours drive northeast of Atlanta were taken to hospitals with injuries.
All were expected to survive, Barrow County sheriff Jud Smith said.
The teen, now 14, is to be taken to a regional youth detention facility on Thursday.
Armed with an assault-style rifle, the teen turned the gun on students in a hallway at the school when classmates refused to open the door for him to return to his algebra classroom, classmate Lyela Sayarath said.
The teen had earlier left the second period algebra classroom, and Miss Sayarath believed the quiet student who recently transferred was skipping school again.
But he returned later and wanted to get back into the classroom.
Mourners pray during a candlelight vigil for students and teachers killed at Apalachee High School in Georgia (Mike Stewart/AP)
Some students went to open the locked door but instead backed away.
Im guessing they saw something, but for some reason they didnt open the door, Miss Sayarath said.
When she looked at him through a window in the door, she saw the student turn and heard a barrage of gunshots.
It was about 10 or 15 of them at once, back-to-back, she said.
The students ducked onto the floor and sporadically crawled around, looking for a safe corner to hide.
Two school resource officers encountered the shooter within minutes after a report of shots fired went out, Mr Hosey said.
A medical helicopter is seen in front of Apalachee High School after the shooting at the school on Wednesday (Mike Stewart/AP)
The teen immediately surrendered and was taken into custody.
The teen had been interviewed after the FBI received anonymous tips in May 2023 about online threats to commit an unspecified school shooting, the agency said in a statement.
The sheriffs office interviewed the then-13-year-old and his father, who said there were hunting guns in the house but the teen did not have unsupervised access to them.
The teen also denied making any online threats.
The sheriffs office alerted local schools for continued monitoring of the teen, but there was no probable cause for arrest or additional action, the FBI said.
Local news outlets reported that law enforcement on Wednesday searched the teens family home in Bethlehem, Georgia, east of the high school.
Students and parents walk off campus at Apalachee High School (Mike Stewart/AP)
All the students that had to watch their teachers and their fellow classmates die, the ones that had to walk out of the school limping, that looked traumatised, Miss Sayarath said.
Thats the consequence of the action of not taking control.
Authorities were still looking into how the teen obtained the gun used in the shooting and got it into the school with about 1,900 students.
It was the the latest among dozens of school shootings across the US in recent years, including especially deadly ones in Newtown, Connecticut, Parkland, Florida, and Uvalde, Texas.
The classroom killings have set off fervent debates about gun control and frayed the nerves of parents whose children are growing up accustomed to active shooter drills in classrooms.
But they have done little to move the needle on national gun laws.
A man killed in a shootout with police in Munich was an 18-year-old citizen of neighbouring Austria, police have said.
Authorities believed the teenager may have planned an attack on the Israeli Consulate in the German city.
The suspect was fatally wounded near the consulate and a museum on the citys Nazi-era history after officers were alerted to a man carrying a gun in the Karolinenplatz area at around 9am on Thursday.
The suspect, who was carrying an old long gun with a bayonet attached to it, died at the scene.
There was no indication that anyone else was hurt, spokesman Andreas Franken told reporters.
Five officers were at the scene at the time the gunfire erupted. Police quickly deployed around 500 officers to the area.
Police officers block a street after the incident in Munich (Matthias Schrader/AP)
There was no indication that anyone else was hurt, spokesman Andreas Franken told reporters.
The suspect, who was carrying an old-make of firearm with a repeating mechanism, died at the scene.
Bavarias top security official, state Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann, said the suspect had opened fire at police and that they returned fire.
It was unclear whether the incident was in any way related to the 52nd anniversary on Thursday of the attack by Palestinian militants on the Israeli delegation at the 1972 Munich Olympics, which ended with the death of 11 Israeli team members, a West German police officer and five of the assailants.
Police said there was no evidence of any more suspects connected to the incident.
They increased their presence in the city, Germanys third-biggest, but said they had no indication of incidents at any other locations or of any other suspects.
Police officers stand next to their vehicles after the incident in Munich (Matthias Schrader/AP)
Police said they had no indication of incidents at any other locations or of any other suspects.
The Austria Press Agency reported that the man, an Austrian citizen with Bosnian roots, had come to the attention of authorities there last year but was not considered high-risk.
Without naming sources, it said that data and a game had been found on his mobile phone that suggested closeness to Islamic extremist ideology, but an investigation of him for possible membership of the so-called Islamic State group was dropped.
Israels Foreign Ministry said the consulate in Munich was closed when the shooting occurred and that none of its staff had been hurt.
The nearby Munich Documentation Centre for the History of National Socialism, which opened in 2015 and explores the citys past as the birthplace of the Nazi movement, also said all of its employees were unharmed.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he spoke with German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
He wrote on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that together we expressed our shared condemnation and horror at the shooting.
Speaking at an unrelated news conference in Berlin, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser described Thursdays shooting as a serious incident but said she didnt want to speculate on what had happened.
She reiterated that the protection of Jewish and Israeli facilities has the highest priority.
Top US military leaders will be in Germany to discuss Ukraines wartime needs as Russia has conducted one of its deadliest airstrikes in the conflict and Ukraine presses its offensive in Russias Kursk region.
Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and General CQ Brown will host a meeting on Friday at Ramstein Air Force Base of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, made up of military leaders from more than 50 nations that have regularly provided funds and weapon systems to bolster Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.
Those countries face renewed calls from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for additional air defences and loosened restrictions on how far into Russia Ukraine can fire American-provided munitions.
Rescue workers work at a site of military university hit by a Russian strike in Poltava, Ukraine on September 4 (State Emergency Service of Ukraine/AP)
He has long pushed allies to go further to support Ukraines effort to fend off Russia.
The meeting comes after Russia used two ballistic missiles to target a military academy and nearby hospital this week in Ukraine, killing more than 50 people and wounding over 270 others, in one of the deadliest strikes of the war.
Air defence systems and missiles are needed in Ukraine, not in a warehouse somewhere, Mr Zelensky said on his Telegram channel this week.
Long-range strikes that can protect us from Russian terror are needed now.
So far, the Biden administration has kept relatively strict control over how the missiles it provides Ukraine can be used.
Ukraine can defensively fire at Russian targets along the border, but the US prohibits their use deeper into Russia, out of concern that such a strike would further escalate the war.
There has been no change in the policy on Ukraines use of US-supplied weapons, Major General Pat Ryder, the Pentagons press secretary, told reporters on Tuesday.
That the group of military leaders from Ukraines allies has continued to meet and agree to send weapons is extraordinary, however.
Rescuers search for victims in an apartment building destroyed by a Russian missile attack in the centre of Lviv, western Ukraine, on September 4 (Mykola Tys/AP)
Global pressure on weapons stockpiles has increased and contributors such as the US face competing demands for that aid to bolster security in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific.
Since 2022, the member nations together have provided about 106 billion dollars in security assistance to Ukraine.
The US has provided more than 56 billion dollars of that total.
The groups meeting also comes as Mr Zelensky has signalled a major reshuffling of his cabinet-level leaders.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, one of Ukraines most recognisable faces on the international stage, resigned on Wednesday before the expected reorganisation.
Ukraine also has made a fundamental shift in its tactics in the war, seizing Russian territory in the Kursk region during an offensive that began a few weeks ago.
Ukraines military is trying to maintain control of that land, while Russian President Vladimir Putin pushes his forces deeper into eastern Ukraine.
Both sides are prepared for difficult fighting during the winter.
Both sides have become entrenched over the two previous winters, and Ukrainians have endured brutal conditions without electricity or heat as Russia has targeted its power grid.
The first batch of mpox vaccine has arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congos capital, the countrys authorities said.
It comes three weeks after the World Health Organisation (Who) declared mpox outbreaks in 12 African countries a global emergency.
The 100,000 doses of the MVA-BN vaccine, manufactured by the Danish company Bavarian Nordic, have been donated by the European Union through Hera, the blocs agency for health emergencies.
Another 100,000 are expected to be delivered on Saturday, authorities said.
Unicef is going to be in charge of the vaccination campaign in the most impacted provinces, health minister Roger Kamba told reporters after the delivery of the vaccine.
But it remained unclear when the vaccination drive would begin.
About 380,000 doses of mpox vaccines have been promised by Western partners such as the EU and the US, Dr Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, told reporters last week.
That is less than 15% of the three million doses authorities have said are needed to end the mpox outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo the epicentre of the global health emergency.
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, had been spreading mostly undetected for years in Africa before the disease prompted the 2022 outbreak in more than 70 countries, Dr Dimie Ogoina, the chairman of Whos mpox emergency committee told reporters last month.
French wine and spirits company Pernod Ricard, best known in France for the anise-flavoured aperitif pastis, said on Thursday it has scrapped a new sponsorship deal with Paris Saint-Germain after protests from Marseille.
Fans of Marseille, the bitter rival of PSG, complained that the drink belongs to their city.
Pernod Ricard said in a statement it ended the global deal announced this week because of the strong emotions aroused.
Marseille has long been associated with the French liqueur called pastis. So when Pernod Ricard announced the new commercial partnership with PSG, it left a bad taste in the mouths of Marseille fans.
The hashtag #boycottPernodRicard spread on social media as fans felt betrayed by a company that boasts about its Marseille origins.
Face a la vive emotion suscitee, Pernod Ricard annonce ce jour renoncer a son partenariat global qui devait le lier au Paris Saint Germain pour promouvoir ses marques de whisky et de champagne a linternational. Lire le communique de presse : https://t.co/mM0S4PkQ2Q Pernod Ricard (@Pernod_Ricard) September 5, 2024
The issue became so intense that even Marseille mayor Benoit Payan got involved, asking Pernod Ricard for an explanation.
Alexandre Ricard, chief executive of Pernod Ricard, said he took the decision to scrap the four-year sponsorship after listening to those who make the group successful, including our employees in France, our customers and our shareholders, first and foremost my family.
Pastis is consumed in all regions of France, but it is particularly popular in the countrys south, where Paul Ricard, from Marseille commercialised the drink under his name in 1932.
Pernod Ricard was created in 1975 after a merger of Pernod and Ricard, which brought together two French anise-based spirits.
For more than 90 years, Ricards history has been intertwined with Marseille, the city that saw the groups birth, growth and inspiration, Alexandre Ricard said.
And this link is stronger than anything else. It is therefore a decision that comes from the heart that I am making today. Im sure that everyone who has worked on this project will understand my choice.
Pernod Ricard will continue to proudly claim its origins and the sincere ties that unite our brands with their communities.
When the deal was announced, upset fans said they would stop drinking pastis, or switch to rival brands, while others called for a boycott of the more than 240 brands in the wine and spirits sellers global portfolio.
Pernod Ricard said it had a global reach and excluded France in terms of visibility or activations.
On Thursday, it added the agreement was initially thought to promote its whisky and champagne brands internationally, not pastis.
PSG and Marseille are the two biggest powerhouses of French football.
Their rivalry became popular during the 1990s.
Marseille, the only French team to win the Champions League (1993), has fallen well behind since PSG was taken over by Qatari investors in 2011, but the rivalry still stirs up passion.
The four-year agreement was to begin this season and would have covered PSGs mens and womens football teams and handball.
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A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
DIAMOND DRILLING INTERCEPTS HIGH GRADE AT LEVEL 18 EXPANDING POTENTIAL AT DEPTH
9.35 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 7.5m (including 33.1 g/t over an estimated true width of 1.25m) in hole PPL1102
FIVE ACCESS SUB-LEVEL HEADINGS PROGRESSING TO PROVIDE ROBUST FUTURE PRODUCTION PLATFORM
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 /Jaguar Mining Inc. ("Jaguar" or the "Company") (TSX:JAG) (OTCQX:JAGGF) is pleased to announce it has progressed access development on five sub-levels on its newly defined high-grade BA zone at the Pilar mine in Brazil. In the second quarter (see press release dated August 7, 2024), the Company reported that its Pilar mine had begun to benefit from higher grades and incremental production contributed from this new BA zone, a trend that is expected to continue going forward. It should be noted that the adjacent Torre zone is generally narrower with more variable grades and more geotechnical challenges, however, it is a future opportunity for incremental ore once the necessary evaluation has been completed to safely mine this material.
To date in 2024, cumulative access development of approximately 374 m has been completed on five sub-levels. This development has generated 30,547 tonnes of run-of-mine ore feed at an average grade of 4.64 g/t producing 4,032 ounces of Au in the first half of 2024. In parallel with this development, approximately 3,985 metres of diamond drilling has been completed to date, while two diamond drill rigs remain focused on definition and expansion of the mineralized zone both up and down-plunge from the initial discovery holes on level 15. For the second half of the year, the Company expects to mine between 50-60,000 tonnes grading approximately 4.14 g/t from the BA zone.
Vern Baker, President and CEO of Jaguar Mining stated "We have continued to make good progress accessing the BA zone with lateral development on five separate sub-levels since March. The higher grades seen from BA development ore, along with positive step-out diamond drilling results and geological mapping are confirming structural continuity. The headline drill intercept on level 18 indicates the potential for a vertical panel of mineralization down to level 18, all of which supports our goal of achieving consistent production from this area going forward. We expect the overall contribution from the BA zone to increase over the next few quarters to a point where approximately 50% of mined production at Pilar in the second half of 2025 will be sourced from this new zone once fully accessed and developed."
Highlights from diamond drilling completed since Q1 2024 include:
8.80 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 5.00m - (Hole PPL1066)
9.30 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 4.70m - (Hole PPL1065)
9.35 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 7.50m - (Hole PPL1102) (including 33.1 g/t over an estimated true width of 1.25m)
Figure 1 - Long Section showing the Pilar mine underground layout and the position of the BA zone relative to the other main orebodies. The location of the ongoing BA zone sub-level access development on level 15 and level 17 are highlighted at the bottom right corner of the figure.
Figure 2 - Long sectional view showing the location of access development to evaluate the BA zone, and the best diamond drill mineralized intersections reported in this press release and previously in the press release dated February 28, 2024 (original holes in white and yellow background boxes/recent and current holes shown with pink - background text boxes).
Table 1 - Diamond drilling intersections with grade x thickness (GT) > 20 between level 14 and level 17 targeting the BA zone.
Summary of Significant Intersections, Drilling Program
Jaguar Mining Inc. - Pilar Mine HOLE ID From (m) To (m) Down Hole Interval (m) Estimated True Width (m) Gold Grade (g/t Au) GT (ETW) Date (mm/dd/yyy) Orebody Laboratory (RG or ALS) Drilling Company PPL1060 94.4 100.5 6.2 5.2 5.62 29 07/06/2024 BA RG JAGUAR PPL1065 83.6 90.6 7.0 4.7 9.3 43 16/04/2024 BA RG JAGUAR PPL1066 40.4 48.4 8.0 5.0 8.8 44 29/05/2024 BA RG JAGUAR PPL1067 96.0 107.5 11.6 6.4 3.9 25 14/06/2024 BA RG JAGUAR PPL1102 265.9 269.6 3.7 2.3 9.6 22 22/08/2024 BA RG JAGUAR PPL1102 302.9 319.3 16.4 7.5 9.4 70 22/08/2024 BA RG JAGUAR Including 312.5 315.3 2.8 1.3 33.1 41 22/08/2024 BA RG JAGUAR PPL1102 329.5 336.0 6.6 3.3 6.2 20 22/08/2024 BA RG JAGUAR PPL1071 74.5 100.7 26.3 9.5 8.6 82 28/08/2024 BA RG JAGUAR Including 94.9 100.0 5.1 1.8 35.5 65 28/08/2024 BA RG JAGUAR
Geological Description
The high-grade gold mineralization is hosted by a well-developed layer of BIF as outlined by detailed geological mapping of development faces exposed in the access crosscuts. The BIF is comprised of both carbonate and silicate facies, surrounded by undifferentiated metavolcanic and sedimentary schists. The highest grades are associated with hydrothermal alteration (quartz-sericite-chlorite-carbonate) and 5-15% of semi-massive to disseminated coarse subhedral grains of Arsenopyrite and subsidiary Pyrrhotite.
The BIF exposures show a succession of overturned folds (synform-antiform pairs), with fold axes plunging to the south at medium to low angles.
Figure 3 - Schematic Plan View of the Pilar mine geology as interpreted from initial drilling and geological - structural projections on level 18 highlighting the location of the high-grade BA zone mineralized structure intersected in recent diamond drill holes.
Mineral Resources per vertical meter - Comparison between historical and potential future production
Historically the BA zone was the main contributor to ounce production at Pilar in the upper levels of the mine reaching a peak of some 1500 mineral resource ounces per vertical meter around level 3. Over time and with increasing depth the mine saw a decrease in the ounce per vertical meter profile attributed to this orebody to sub-economic levels in the vicinity of level 8. As commonly occurs with structurally controlled mineralized systems of this nature the decreased ounces per vertical meter profile on the BA structure was accompanied by a concomitant increase in the ounces per vertical meter profile attributed to the nearby BIF structures south along strike and since 2016 the mine has produced the majority of ounces from the BIF structures. The discovery of higher grades on the BA structure in the vicinity of level 15 during late 2022 and subsequent exploration diamond drilling and access development described in this, and previous press releases is highlighting increased ounce per vertical meter on the BA structure now confirmed from levels 14 to levels 19 as presented in Figure 4 below.
Figure 4 - Long section of Pilar mine showing the ounces-per-vertical-meter profile with depth. The graph highlights the historically important contribution of ore from the BA zone to production at shallow levels in the mine from level 1 to level 8, diminishing from level 9 to level 14 and now, with recent drilling and exploration, demonstrating an increasing profile downwards from level 14 to level 19.
Qualified Person
Scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Jonathan Victor Hill, BSc (Hons) (Economic Geology - UCT), FAUSIMM, Vice President Geology and Exploration, who is also an employee of Jaguar Mining Inc., and is a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").
The Iron Quadrangle
The Iron Quadrangle has been an area of mineral exploration dating back to the 16th century. The discovery in 1699-1701 of gold contaminated with iron and platinum-group metals in the southeastern corner of the Iron Quadrangle gave rise to the name of the town Ouro Preto (Black Gold). The Iron Quadrangle contains world-class multi-million-ounce gold deposits such as Morro Velho, Cuiaba, and Sao Bento.
About Jaguar Mining Inc.
Jaguar Mining Inc. is a Canadian-listed junior gold mining, development, and exploration company operating in Brazil with three gold mining complexes and a large land package with significant upside exploration potential from mineral claims. The Company's principal operating assets are in the Iron Quadrangle, a prolific greenstone belt in the state of Minas Gerais and include the Turmalina Gold Mine Complex and Caete Mining Complex (Pilar and Roca Grande Mines, and Caete Plant). The Company also owns the Paciencia Gold Mine Complex, which has been on care and maintenance since 2012. The Roca Grande Mine has been on temporary care and maintenance since April 2019. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.jaguarmining.com.
For further information please contact:
Vernon Baker
Chief Executive Officer
Jaguar Mining Inc.
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416-847-1854
Alfred Colas
Chief Financial Officer
Jaguar Mining Inc.
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416-847-1854
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. All of the forward-looking information made in this news release is qualified by the cautionary statements below and those made in our other filings with the securities regulators in Canada. Forward-looking information contained in forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "are expected," "is forecast," "is targeted," "approximately," "plans," "anticipates," "projects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "believe" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might," or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, may be considered to be or include forward-looking information. This news release contains forward-looking information regarding, among other things, the duration of the temporary suspension of the Company's 2023 production guidance in ounces and costs, the expected future release of new guidance for 2023, the anticipated impact of planned changes in mining systems and cost cutting initiatives on the Company's future performance and production results, information related to expected sales, production statistics, ore grades, tonnes milled, recovery rates, cash operating costs, definition/delineation drilling, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, costs and timing of the development of projects and new deposits, success of exploration, development and mining activities, currency fluctuations, capital requirements, project studies, mine life extensions, restarting suspended or disrupted operations, continuous improvement initiatives, and resolution of pending litigation. The Company has made numerous assumptions with respect to forward-looking information contained herein, including, among other things, assumptions about the estimated timeline for the development of its mineral properties; the supply and demand for, and the level and volatility of the price of, gold; the accuracy of reserve and resource estimates and the assumptions on which the reserve and resource estimates are based; the receipt of necessary permits; market competition; ongoing relations with employees and impacted communities; political and legal developments in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates being consistent with its current expectations including, without limitation, the impact of any potential power rationing, tailings facility regulation, exploration and mine operating licenses and permits being obtained and renewed and/or there being adverse amendments to mining or other laws in Brazil and any changes to general business and economic conditions. Forward-looking information involves a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including among others: the risk of Jaguar not meeting the forecast plans regarding its operations and financial performance; uncertainties with respect to the price of gold, labour disruptions, mechanical failures, increase in costs, environmental compliance and change in environmental legislation and regulation, weather delays and increased costs or production delays due to natural disasters, power disruptions, procurement and delivery of parts and supplies to the operations; uncertainties inherent to capital markets in general (including the sometimes volatile valuation of securities and an uncertain ability to raise new capital) and other risks inherent to the gold exploration, development and production industry, which, if incorrect, may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described herein. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of gold exploration, development, mining and production, including environmental hazards, tailings dam failures, industrial accidents and workplace safety problems, unusual or unexpected geological formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding, chemical spills, procurement fraud and gold bullion thefts and losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or the inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks). Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
For additional information with respect to these and other factors and assumptions underlying the forward-looking information made in this news release, see the Company's most recent Annual Information Form and Management's Discussion and Analysis, as well as other public disclosure documents that can be accessed under the issuer profile of "Jaguar Mining Inc." on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com. The forward-looking information set forth herein reflects the Company's reasonable expectations as at the date of this news release and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
Appendix 1
Table 2 - Diamond Drilling Collar Coordinates, Azimuth and Dip, levels 14-19 BA zone.
Table 3 - Diamond Drill Hole data - Pilar mine BA zone between level 14 and level 19, April-September 2024.
Highlights:
22 subsoil use license applications for approximately 6,000 km 2 comprising the Chu-Sarysu Project (as defined below) located in the Suzak District of the South Kazakhstan Oblast, Republic of Kazakhstan .
Proximal to some of Kazatomprom largest uranium deposits and operational mines such as Inkai, Budenovskoye and Muyunkum-Tortkuduk.
The Chu-Sarysu Project area includes a number of mapped, paleo-channel roll-fronts, associated with uranium deposits and amenable to ISR mining.
Laramide to operate and fund exploration program towards discovery of a viable uranium resource.
TORONTO, Sept. 5, 2024 /CNW/ - Laramide Resources Ltd. ("Laramide" or the "Company") (TSX: LAM) (ASX: LAM) (OTCQX: LMRXF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a three-year option agreement (the "Option Agreement"), with an option to extend for an additional year, with Aral Resources Ltd. ("Aral"), a Kazakh company registered with the Astana International Financial Center and the shareholders of Aral (the "Optionors"). Aral has secured 17 mineral licenses, with an additional 5 licenses pending approval, covering nearly 6,000 square kilometers of the Chu-Sarysu sedimentary basin of Kazakhstan (collectively, the "Chu-Sarysu Project").
Under the terms of the Option Agreement, Laramide has the right (the "Option") to acquire all outstanding shares of Aral at any time during the option period, thereby obtaining full ownership of the Chu-Sarysu Project. Throughout the option period, Laramide will serve as the exclusive operator, assuming responsibility for all operational and exploration expenses.
The mineral licenses included in the option agreement cover nearly 6,000 square kilometres and represent a unique greenfield exploration opportunity. Each license has an initial term of up to six years, with the option for a one-time renewal for an additional five years.
The Option Agreement remains subject to the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX").
"The opportunity to explore in one of the world's most prolific and prospective uranium basins appears to us to be a very compelling and overlooked opportunity," says Marc Henderson, President and CEO Laramide, "particularly within an industry dynamic where the uranium supply deficit is now consensus thinking, and where nuclear power's global growth ambitions will absolutely require greenfield discovery of new deposits.
"In spite of its proximity to world class ore bodies like Inkai and Budenovskoye, the large area represented in this Option has had very limited exploration in the post-Soviet era, and with Kazakhstan now actively encouraging foreign investment, we have secured an early advantage and are looking forward to getting started."
Option Agreement Highlights:
Following the definitive grant to Aral of all license applications related to the Chu-Sarysu Project and approval from the TSX, Laramide will make a one-time payment of US$450,000 in cash and shares to the Optionors and annual payments of US$150,000 payable in cash on each anniversary of the Option Agreement, commencing on the first anniversary.
in cash and shares to the Optionors and annual payments of payable in cash on each anniversary of the Option Agreement, commencing on the first anniversary. The Option is exercisable for a term of three years and may be extended for an additional one-year term with a one-time payment of US$400,000 in cash and shares.
in cash and shares. The Option can be exercised by Laramide at any time during the term of the agreement through a one-time payment of US$14,000,000 in cash and shares.
in cash and shares. The Option Agreement also contemplates and allows for an alternative mechanism to develop this opportunity by way of a spin-off transaction.
With the exception of the annual payments, all payments outlined above are payable as follows: (i) 50% in United States dollars; and (ii) 50% in common shares in the capital of the Company ("Laramide Shares"), the value of which shall be determined in accordance with the 20-day volume-weighted average sale price per share of the Laramide Shares on the TSX as of the date prior to the relevant date of each of the payments as described above.
During the term of the Option Agreement, Laramide will be the operator of the Property and will exercise exclusive supervision, direction and control over any and all operations, programs and budgets relating to the Property. Laramide will provide funding to Aral for the purposes of satisfying and fulfilling minimum economic commitments and expenditures in relation to each license comprising the Property, as required under Kazakhstan's mining regulations.
In connection with the Option Agreement, and in order to ensure Aral's compliance with the bonding requirements of Kazakhstan's mining regulations for the licenses comprising the Property, Laramide agreed to provide funding to Aral in an amount of up to US$1,450,000 in the form of interest-free loans pursuant to the terms and conditions of a grid promissory note and credit facility agreement dated as of June 24, 2024 (the "Promissory Note") issued by Aral for the benefit of Laramide. Laramide loaned Aral an aggregate amount of US$900,000 in connection with the Promissory Note and Aral has successfully obtained appropriate bonding for the 17 licenses issued to date and for 2 license applications which are awaiting final sign off from the Ministry of Industry and Construction. The funds loaned under the Promissory Note are repayable by Aral to Laramide in the event Laramide does not exercise the Option, or the Option Agreement is terminated for any reason, or in part if a license is terminated or withdrawn.
The Optionors will retain a 1% net smelter royalty which is subject to a buy down provision where Laramide may, at is discretion, repurchase 25% at a price to be agreed among the parties or by an independent third-party appraiser. In addition, Laramide holds a right of first offer regarding the sale, transfer or assignment of any portion of the net smelter royalty.
About the Chu-Sarysu Project
The Chu-Sarysu Project is located in the Suzak District of the South Kazakhstan Oblast, Republic of Kazakhstan.
In 2023 Kazakhstan accounted for over 43% of global U 3 O 8 production. Of the five main producing basins in the country the Chu-Sarysu and Syr Darya basins in the south of the country, account for over 75% of national production. These basins host major deposits and operational in-situ recovery ("ISR") mines such as Inkai, Budenovskoye and Tortkuduk/Muyunkum, which are Joint Ventures between Kazatomprom and Cameco, Uranium One and Orano respectively.
In an effort to promote foreign investment, in 2018 Kazakhstan revamped its Mining Code to follow western standards which involved a revision of subsoil and subsoil use licencing and provisions.
Exploration Program
Following TSX approval, over the coming weeks initial work will focus on historical technical data review including translation and target generation. Immediate focus will be to utilise airborne and ground geophysics to validate known, mapped, roll fronts to generate near-term drilling targets and potentially identify new high priority areas which remain underexplored within the basin.
Qualified/Competent Person
The information in this announcement relating to Exploration Results is based on information compiled or reviewed by Mr. Rhys Davies, a contractor to the Company. Mr. Davies is a Member of The Australasian Institute of Geoscientists and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralization and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC 2012 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves', and is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Davies consents to the inclusion in this announcement of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.
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About Laramide Resources Ltd.
Laramide is focused on exploring and developing high-quality uranium assets in Tier-1 uranium Jurisdictions of Australia, United States and Kazakhstan. The company's portfolio comprises predominantly advanced uranium projects in districts with historical production or superior geological prospectivity. The assets have been carefully chosen for their size, production potential, and the two large projects are considered to be late-stage, low-technical risk projects.
The Westmoreland project in Queensland, Australia, is one of the largest uranium development assets held by a junior mining company. This project has Mineral Resource of 51.9 Mlbs contained U 3 O 8 (Measured and Indicated 18.7 Mt @ 0.09% for 36 Mlbs U 3 O 8 and Inferred 9.0 Mt @ 0.08% for 15.9 Mlbs U 3 O 8 ) and a PEA that describes an economically robust, open-pit mining project with a mine-life of 13 years. Additionally, the adjacent Murphy Project in the Northern Territory of Australia is a greenfield asset that Laramide strategically acquired to control the majority of the mineralized system along the Westmoreland trend.
In the United States, Laramide's assets include the NRC licensed Crownpoint-Churchrock Uranium Project with over 50 MLbs U 3 O 8 (Inferred 38.04 Mt @0.075% for 50.8 mLbs U 3 O 8 ). An NI 43-101 PEA study completed in 2023 has described an ISR production methodology over a 31-year mine life. The Company also owns the La Jara Mesa project in the historic Grants mining district of New Mexico and an underground project, called La Sal, in Lisbon Valley, Utah.
In Kazakhstan the company is exploring over 6,000km2 of the prolific Chu-Sarysu Basin for world class roll-front deposits which are amenable to In-situ Recovery.
Forward-looking Statements and Cautionary Language
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expect, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "intends", "estimates", "envisages", "potential", "possible", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Laramide disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, save and except as may be required by applicable securities laws.
Since forward-looking information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, exploration and production for uranium; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of resource estimates; health, safety and environmental risks; worldwide demand for uranium; uranium price and other commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations; environmental risks; competition; incorrect assessment of the value of acquisitions; ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; and changes in legislation, including but not limited to tax laws, royalties and environmental regulations.
Sheeted veining discovered within hornfels altered sedimentary rocks flanking a granitic intrusion within the Tombstone Gold Belt.
Outcrop sampling returned up to 7.25 g/t gold with 240 ppm Bismuth and 5.23 ppm Tellurium.
Located near infrastructure 14 km south of the North Canol Highway near Fireweed Metals' Macpass Project.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / Trifecta Gold Ltd. (TSXV:TG) (OTCQB:TRRFF) ("Trifecta" or the "Company") is pleased to announce results from its 2024 exploration program at the Rye Project (the "Project"), which consisted of geological mapping, soil sampling and property-wide airborne LiDAR surveying. The Company successfully identified new areas of mineralization within the Itsi pluton and its surrounding hornfels altered sedimentary rocks.
The Rye Project is situated between two Mid-Cretaceous granitic intrusions in the eastern portion of Yukon's Tombstone Gold Belt. It is well located, only 14 km from the North Canol Highway, 15 km from Fireweed Metals Corp.'s Macpass Project, and 95 km from Snowline Gold Corp.'s Valley Gold Deposit. Mapping focused on characterizing vein densities and collecting structural measurements within and adjacent to the Itsi pluton. Results from vein material collected near this contact are tabulated below.
Sample Description Au (g/t) Bi (ppm) Te (ppm) D007367 Outcrop sample, quartz vein in granodiorite adjacent to mm-scale sheeted veining (~7/metre) 7.25 240 5.23 D007366 Outcrop sample of arsenopyrite-bearing quartz vein from a zone of sheeted veining mm to 2 cm scale (~6/metre) 1.01 242 16.35 D007387 Arsenopyrite vein in outcrop 3.09 372 11.85 D007373 Grab from top of float train at ridge crest 5.85 1080 6.59 D007370 Grab sample, quartz in float with arsenopyrite 2.72 199.5 3.2
Most of the contact between the Itsi intrusion and the hornfelsed metasediments is covered by large talus fields and glacial colluvium. Intense fracturing and veining have been identified in outcrop within the hornfelsed metasediments, adjacent to intrusive contact, as pictured below. These highly prospective areas have not yet been sampled.
Photo 1
Photo 2
Grid soil sampling in the southern portion of the property better defined an area of overlapping anomalous gold, bismuth and tellurium geochemistry that extends through the mapped hornfels altered sediments to the boundary with the Itsi intrusion.
Finally, a LiDAR ("Light Detection and Ranging") survey was completed over the property to help identify structural features and gain a baseline elevation model, which is necessary for establishing an effective 3-D model for future drilling.
Analytical work for the Rye Project was performed by ALS Minerals, with sample preparation in Whitehorse, Yukon and assays and geochemical analyses in North Vancouver, British Columbia. All rock and soil samples were analyzed for gold by fire assay fusion and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (Au-ICP21) and 51 other elements by aqua regia digestion and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ME-MS41).
Exploration Update
The Company was awarded Yukon Mineral Exploration Program ("YMEP") grants for Target Evaluation at both the Rye Project and its Lance Project. Under the YMEP, the Yukon Government provides successful applicants funding to support mineral exploration activities for 50% of eligible expenditures to a maximum of $50,000. Work at the Lance Project is complete, and results are being compiled.
Crews and equipment are now demobilized from the Mt. Hinton Project where Trifecta completed a property wide Z-Tipper Electromagnetic (ZTEM) and magnetic survey, road and drill pad construction, mapping, prospecting and soil sampling. Due to equipment issues, drilling at Mt. Hinton was limited to one hole at the 85 vein. Results of this work will be released once assays are received and can be compiled and evaluated.
Tombstone Gold Belt
Extending for more than 1000 km from the Fairbanks district in Alaska eastward across the entire width of Yukon, the Tombstone Gold Belt hosts many large RIRGS mines such as Fort Knox in Alaska (>10 million oz), the recently suspended Eagle mine in Yukon (>4 million oz) and the past-producing Brewery Creek Mine, also in Yukon. Since May 2020 over 17 million additional ounces of gold have been discovered in the Yukon portion of the belt, including Snowline Gold's Tier 1 Valley discovery, Sitka Gold's RC deposit, Banyan Gold's AurMac deposits and Victoria Gold's Raven deposit.
Tombstone Gold Belt systems are characterized by sheeted, auriferous quartz veins forming in the carapace zones of Cretaceous-age plutons. They have a characteristic geochemical signature with a gold-bismuth-telluriumtungsten core within a broader gold-arsenic halo. The deposits are found within and surrounding the reduced intrusions, and typically exhibit a geophysical signature comprising a magnetic low (ie. reduced) coinciding with at conductivity low. Veining in RIRGS systems is typically zoned with a core of sheeted veins surrounded by more discrete gold-arsenic veins and more distal silver-lead-zinc veins.
Technical information in this news release has been approved by Trifecta's Vice President, Jackson Morton, P.Geo., a qualified person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101.
About Trifecta Gold Ltd.
Trifecta is a Canadian-based precious metals exploration company dedicated to increasing shareholder value through the discovery and development of 100% held gold projects in Yukon and Nevada. Trifecta has secured an option to acquire a 100% interest in Mt. Hinton, Rye and 9 other highly prospective, intrusion-related gold projects located in Yukon's Tombstone Gold Belt where over 17 million ounces of gold have been discovered since May 2020. Initial drilling at the Company's Yuge Gold Project, located in northern Nevada, has identified multiple broad zones of gold mineralization near historical high-grade mines. The Company's Eureka Project hosts an 8 x 2.5 kilometre belt of surface showings and anomalous gold-in-soil that straddle the headwaters of two of the most productive placer creeks in Yukon's southern Klondike Goldfields. Trifecta's Treble Project covers a large hydrothermal system, located midway between Western Copper and Gold Corporation's Casino Deposit, the largest copper and gold deposit in the Yukon, and Rockhaven Resources Ltd.'s Klaza Deposit, a high-grade gold-silver deposit.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
"Richard Drechsler"
President and CEO
For further information concerning Trifecta or its various exploration projects please visit www.trifectagold.com or contact:
Corporate Information
Trifecta Gold Ltd.
Richard Drechsler
President, CEO & Director
Tel: (604) 687-2522
This news release may contain forward looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results that may prove to be inaccurate as a result of exploration and other risk factors beyond its control, and actual results may differ materially from the expected results.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
VANCOUVER, BC AND HONG KONG, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 /Reyna Silver Corp. (TSXV:RSLV) (OTCQX:RSNVF) (FRA:4ZC) ("Reyna Silver") and Reyna Gold (TSXV:REYG) (OTCQB:REYGF) ("Reyna Gold") are pleased to announce the drill is turning on the first ever Carbonate Replacement Deposit ("CRD") targets at the Gryphon Summit Project ("Gryphon"), the start of a 3,000 metre program, weather permitting, in Nevada, USA. Reyna Silver and Reyna Gold are earning into a 70% interest in the project from Golden Gryphon USA Inc. (See Press Release September 5, 2023). Targeting within the recently consolidated 12,058 hectare Gold, Silver and Critical Metals project (See Press release August 6, 2024) includes identifying the level of oxidation, major potentially mineralized structures and fundamental ore-system exploration vectors.
"It's awesome to have the drill turning at the first ever CRD target at Gryphon!" said Jorge Carrillo, Senior Project Geologist for Reyna Silver. "It's amazing to mature into a position of responsibility on a project of this magnitude alongside this exploration team's depth of experience in CRDs and major discoveries in district-scale plays. Seeing my mentors equally excited we all can't wait to see what Gryphon has to offer!"
Click to listen to Project Geologist, Jorge Carrillo, on site at Gryphon.
The Main 2024 Program Target Areas (Figure 1):
Union: Reyna's recent acquisition of these patented claims makes drilling this CRD target possible for the first time. Historically, Silver, Lead, Zinc mineralization was mined to the base of oxidation, leaving the deeper sulfides untouched, and now the drill rig is turning in that direction (See Press Release August 6, 2024).
007 Zone: Reyna Silver's technical team's reinterpretation of the structures bearing 20 to 25 g/t Gold generated a new target building upon previous explorers' most successful hole GG22-007, which cut 2.9 metres of 5.5 g/t Au (See Press Release from November 29, 2023).
Sadler: These patented claims and surrounding area contain numerous breccias and veins carrying high-grade Copper (1% to 11.6% Cu) and Silver (120 to 1322 g/t Ag). (See Press Release from November 29, 2023).
The technical team continues to work on refining and defining the numerous other targets within Gryphon.
Figure 1: Map of the 12,058-hectare Gryphon Project in Nevada, USA with claim boundaries delineated in dark grey. Patented claims blocks are delineated in red. Target Areas are highlighted in hot pink. Anomalous rock samples are shown in graduated sizes representing grade and colors differentiating the metals with yellow for Gold, burgundy for Copper, blue for Silver, green for Zinc and grey for Lead
For Further Information, Please Contact:
Bethany Terracina, VP Investor Relations
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.reynasilver.com
QUALIFIED PERSON
Dr. Peter Megaw, Ph.D., C.P.G., the Company's Chief Exploration Advisor and Qualified Person, reviewed the technical aspects of the exploration projects described herein and is responsible for the design and conduct of the exploration program and the verification and quality assurance of analytical results. Dr. Megaw is not independent as he and/or companies with which he is affiliated hold Net Smelter Royalties on the Guigui and Batopilas Projects that predate Reyna Silver acquiring them.
About Reyna Silver Corp.
Reyna Silver is a growth-oriented junior exploration and development company. The Company focuses on exploring for high-grade, district-scale silver deposits in Mexico and the United States. In Nevada USA, the Company has an option to acquire 70% of the 12,058-hectare "Gryphon Summit Project" in a 50/50 partnership with Reyna Gold Corp. (TSXV:REYG). The Gryphon Project shows features indicating uniquely superimposed/overprinted Silver-Lead-Zinc-Copper Carbonate Replacement (CRD), Carlin Gold and Critical Metals mineralization. Also in Nevada, the Company is advancing its option to acquire 100% of the "Medicine Springs Project" where the Company is exploring a potentially significant Silver-Lead-Zinc-Copper CRD-skarn-Porphyry system. The Company's Mexican assets are 100% owned and include the "Guigui Project" and "Batopilas Project", both located in Chihuahua State. The Guigui Project covers the interpreted source area for the Santa Eulalia Carbonate Replacement Deposit District and Batopilas covers most of Mexico's historically highest-grade silver system.
About Reyna Gold Corp.
Reyna Gold is a gold exploration company focused on district-scale exploration. Reyna Gold has a portfolio of assets on the Mojave-Sonora Megashear and the Sierra Madre Gold in Mexico, and a joint option with Reyna Silver to acquire the 10,300-hectare combined Carlin-style and CRD Gryphon Summit Project in Eureka Co., Nevada, USA. Reyna Gold has an experienced management team with a proven track record of wealth creation through project discovery, advancement, and monetization.
Forward Looking Information
This release may contain 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. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements relating to the Offering and the use of proceeds therefrom. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. All forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject generally to assumptions and risks and uncertainties that are described from time to time in the Company's public securities filings with the Canadian securities commissions. 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 may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. The Company 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.
The 16,500-metre phase 2 drill program is currently underway at the high-grade Polymetallic B26 Deposit.
Drillhole 1274-24-338 was designed to test the extension of the high-grade lens identified in hole 1274-16-236, which intercepted 5.08% Cu Eq over 7.1 metres. This hole was extended from a planned depth of 1,250 to 1,422 metres based on positive visuals. The copper-gold zone was hit at 1,206 metres and extended to 1,287 metres with continuous chalcopyrite mineralization.
Drillhole 1274-24-338 intercepted the zone 35 metres west of 1274-16-236 and 90 metres deeper in vertical depth. If successful, this will be the deepest western extensional hole in the Projects history. For immediate follow-up, the Company has commenced drilling a wedge off this pilot hole (1274-24-338 W1), which will intercept the targeted zone 50 metres to the west.
September 5, 2024 / London, Ontario Abitibi Metals Corp. (CSE:AMQ) (OTCQB:AMQFF) (FSE:FW0) (Abitibi or the Company) is pleased to provide an update on the 16,500-metre phase 2 drill program at the B26 Polymetallic Deposit (B26, the Project or the Deposit) currently underway. Abitibi Metals is fully funded with $15.5 million to complete the remaining 2024 work program and an additional 20,000 metres in 2025, which will be incorporated into a Preliminary Economic Assessment to complete the option. On November 16th, 2023, the Company entered into an option agreement on the B26 Deposit to earn 80% over 7 years from SOQUEM Inc. (see news release dated November 16, 2023).
The Company has identified a broad zone of mineralization from 1,206 to 1,344 metres depth in step out hole 1274-24-338 that was drilled along the Western Plunge of the B26 Deposit. Drilling highlighted the presence of three distinct mineralized domains at depth: 1) the Cu-Au Zone (1,206-1,287 m); 2) a high-grade zone within the Cu-Au Zone (1,262-1,272 m); and 3) a VMS Zn-Ag-Cu-Pb zone (1,314-1,344 m). Within the Cu-Au Zone, significant quartz veining associated with chalcopyrite stringers and semi-massive bands have been identified from 1,261 to 1,272 metres. The stronger mineralization is associated with 30% quartz veining hosted in a sheared strongly altered felsic volcanic. Mineralized bands vary in thickness from 0.4 to nearly 4 metres with chalcopyrite comprising 10% to 60% of overall core volume, forming an 81.0-metre-long interval of mineralization observed from 1,206 to 1,287 metres.
Moving forward, Abitibi is continuing its drill program using hole 1274-24-338 to add another intersection into the broad mineralized system at depth. Currently, the Company is drilling wedge hole 1274-24-338W1, which started at downhole depth of 900 metres with the aim of intersecting the mineralized zone at the same depth as hole 1274-24-338, but 50 metres to the west (see Figure 1). The wedge is located at a current depth of 1,407 metres.
Jonathon Deluce, CEO of Abitibi Metals, commented, The first hole of Phase 2 has delivered exceptional observations of continuity of visual copper mineralization. This hole supports our expansion thesis of the western plunge and is the deepest intercept in the Projects history. We are now planning on extending the zone with a wedge 50 metres from the first intersection. The LaRonde Mine (2P reserve of 2.9 Moz Au) located 62 kilometres west of Val-d'Or in Quebec extends beyond 4.0 km highlighting potential size of these deep seeded systems in the Abitibi.
Figure 1 - Cross Section Highlighting Holes 1274-24-338/W1
Figure 2 Long Section Highlighting Expansion Potential at Depth
Figure 3 - Plan Map of the B26 Deposit
Note 1: NSR=[(Cu%10,000)Cu PriceCu Recovery]+[(Zn%10,000)Zn PriceZn Recovery]+[(Au g/t)Au PriceAu Recovery]+[(Ag g/t)Ag PriceAg Recovery]
Note 2: The cut-off grade used underground is an in-situ NSR value of 100 $/t. The cut-off grade used in the pit is an in-situ NSR value of 36.70 $/t. (2018 NI 43-1011). The block model was calculated using commodity prices of Cu: 5 500 $/t, Zn: 2 420 $/t, Au: 1 200 $/oz and Ag: 16 $/oz.
Figure 4 Cu-Au mineralized zone with veins and veinlets of chalcopyrite at 1,227m
Figure 5 Cu-Au mineralized zone with veins and veinlets of chalcopyrite at 1,272m
Table 1: 1274-24-338 & 338W Drill Coordinates Drill Hole Target UTM East UTM North Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth (m) 1274-24-338 B26 Western Plunge 652368 5513881 276 200 -77 1,422 1274-24-338W B26 Western Plunge 652368 5513881 276 171.1 -56.24 Wedge Start 900m Depth 1,500
Qualified Person
Information contained in this press release was reviewed and approved by Martin Demers, P.Geo., OGQ No. 770, who is a qualified person as defined under National Instrument 43-101, and responsible for the technical information provided in this news release.
About Abitibi Metals Corp:
Abitibi Metals Corp. is a Quebec-focused mineral acquisition and exploration company focused on the development of quality base and precious metal properties that are drill-ready with high-upside and expansion potential. Abitibis portfolio of strategic properties provides target-rich diversification and includes the option to earn 80% of the high-grade B26 Polymetallic Deposit, which hosts a historical resource estimate1 of 7.0MT @ 2.94% Cu Eq (Ind) & 4.4MT @ 2.97% Cu Eq (Inf), and the Beschefer Gold Project, where historical drilling has identified 4 historical intercepts with a metal factor of over 100 g/t gold highlighted by 55.63 g/t gold over 5.57 metres and 13.07 g/t gold over 8.75 metres amongst four modelled zones.
About SOQUEM:
SOQUEM, a subsidiary of Investissement Quebec, is dedicated to promoting the exploration, discovery and development of mining properties in Quebec. SOQUEM also contributes to maintaining strong local economies. Proud partner and ambassador for the development of Quebecs mineral wealth, SOQUEM relies on innovation, research and strategic minerals to be well-positioned for the future.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Jonathon Deluce, Chief Executive Officer
For more information, please call 226-271-5170, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or visit https://www.abitibimetals.com.
The Company also maintains an active presence on various social media platforms to keep stakeholders and the general public informed and encourages shareholders and interested parties to follow and engage with the Company through the following channels to stay updated with the latest news, industry insights, and corporate announcements:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AbitibiMetals
LinkedIn:
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Note 1: A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. The issuer is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. Source: Rapport Technique NI 43-101 Estimation des Ressources Projet B26, Quebec, For SOQUEM Inc., By SGS Canada Inc., Yann Camus, ing., Olivier Vadnais-Leblanc, geo., SGS Canada Geostat., Effective Date: April 18, 2018, Date of Report : May 11, 2018
Note 2: Copper Equivalent values were calculated using metal prices of $4.00/lb Cu, $1.50/lb Zn, $20.00/ounce Ag and $1,800/ounce Au. Metal recoveries of 100% are applied in the copper equivalent calculation. The application of a copper equivalent is a comparison measure used to level variable metal ratios. Results are not related to the recoveries and by virtue of the value of a mining production.
Note 3 - Sources:
Fayard, Q, Mercier-Langevin, P., Wodicka, N., Daigneault, R., & Perreault, S. (2020). The B26 Cu-Zn-Ag-Au Project, Brouillan Volcanic Complex, Abitibi Greenstone Belt, Part 1: Geological Setting and Geochronology.
Fayard, Q. (2020). CONTROLES VOLCANIQUES, HYDROTHERMAUX ET STRUCTURAUX SUR LA NATURE ET LA DISTRIBUTION DES METAUX USUELS ET PRECIEUX DANS LES ZONES MINERALISEES DU PROJET B26, COMPLEXE VOLCANIQUE DE BROUILLAN, ABITIBI, QUEBEC
Forward-looking statement:
This news release contains certain statements, which may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information involves statements that are not based on historical information but rather relate to future operations, strategies, financial results or other developments on the B26 Project or otherwise. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions, which are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Companys control and many of which, regarding future business decisions, are subject to change. These uncertainties and contingencies can affect actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on the Companys behalf. Although Abitibi has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. All factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on Abitibis forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as expects, estimates, anticipates, or variations of such words and phrases (including negative and grammatical variations) or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, might or occur. Mineral exploration and development are highly speculative and are characterized by a number of significant inherent risks, which may result in the inability of the Company to successfully develop current or proposed projects for commercial, technical, political, regulatory or financial reasons, or if successfully developed, may not remain economically viable for their mine life owing to any of the foregoing reasons, among others. There is no assurance that the Company will be successful in achieving commercial mineral production and the likelihood of success must be considered in light of the stage of operations.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 5, 2024) - Aero Energy Ltd. (TSXV: AERO) (OTC Pink: AAUGF) (FSE: UU3) ("Aero Energy" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that drilling activities have been completed at the Company's Sun Dog Uranium Project ("Sun Dog", or the "Project") located near Uranium City in northwestern Saskatchewan (Figure 1). The program was designed to test the newly identified Wishbone target area for high-grade basement hosted uranium deposits, typical of the Athabasca Basin.
Highlights:
Anomalous Radioactivity at Wishbone: A total of 1,593 metres were completed across 8 drill holes targeting shallow high-grade basement-hosted uranium mineralization at the Wishbone target area (Figure 2). Intervals of anomalous radioactivity >300 counts per second ("cps") were intersected in seven of eight drill holes.
Significant Structure & Alteration: Strongly graphitic fault rocks were intersected on both limbs of the Wishbone target area, coincident with widespread highly prospective clay-sericite alteration and hydrothermal hematite. These rocks and alteration products signal an ideal environment for basement hosted uranium deposits.
Prospectivity Model Confirmed: Elevated radioactivity and increased hydrothermal alteration at Wishbone are largely associated with stacked graphitic structural zones, indicating favorable corridors for fluid movement and uranium deposition akin to other basement-hosted Athabasca deposits.
Assays Pending & Follow-Up Drilling Planned: Following uranium assay and geochemical analysis of drill core samples, additional geophysics and a second phase drilling program are being planned to follow-up along strike of mineralized drill holes and continue testing of priority regional drill targets across the Project.
Galen McNamara, CEO of Aero Energy, commented, "The results from our initial drilling at Wishbone are highly promising and reinforce our confidence in the prospectivity of the Sun Dog Project. We are eager to build on these early successes with further exploration to unlock the full potential of this highly prospective region. We look forward to sharing the assay results from our initial summer drill programs in the coming weeks."
The Project is currently under a three-year earn-in option agreement (the "Option") with Standard Uranium (TSXV: STND) that was executed on October 20, 2023. The program was funded by Aero and operated by Standard Uranium. Sun Dog covers an area of 48,443 acres across nine mining claims, located 15 km from Uranium City on the northern margin of the Athabasca Basin. It hosts the historical Gunnar Uranium Mine which was discovered in 1952 and became the largest uranium producer globally in 1956. The Gunnar Mine produced approximately 18M lbs of U 3 O 8 between 1953 and 19811,2.
Figure 1. Overview of the Sun Dog Project highlighting drill target areas, high-grade uranium occurrences, and EM-conductors.
Figure 2. Detail map of the Wishbone target area highlighting 2024 drill holes, newly discovered mineralized graphitic metapelite outcrop, anomalous surface (RS-125 Scintillometer) and drill hole (EZ-Gamma Down-Hole Probe) radioactivity, VTEM conductors and major faults.
2024 Drill Program - Initial Results
The summer drill program comprised eight drill holes totalling 1,593 metres at the high-priority Wishbone target area following completion of a VTEM Plus survey and geophysical modeling earlier this year. A summary of radiometric results is provided in Table 1 and drill hole information is provided in Table 2. Select drill core photos are provided in Figure 3 and Figure 4.
Wishbone Target Area:
Approximately five kilometres of strike length along a regional scale anticline, defined by strong VTEM conductors with associated radioactivity.
Graphitic pelitic rocks have been mapped along both fold limbs, hosting strong radioactivity up to 22,300 cps (RS-125 Scintillometer).
Mineralized cross-cutting faults have been mapped in the overlying rocks which intersect the uranium-bearing graphitic pelite unit.
Historical outcrop sampling at the northwestern graphitic pelite exposure returned assay results of 0.32% U 3 O 8 and 0.30% Cu (SMDI #2095).
Targets were selected and prioritized through an iterative approach working in collaboration with Standard, targeting compelling geophysical signatures and favorable geological/structural settings. Recent prospecting and mapping at the Wishbone target area outlined multiple outcrops of favourable uranium host-rocks, including graphitic pelite, which is commonly radioactive over >200 m of collective strike length.
The eight completed drill holes encountered highly favorable geological settings for high-grade basement-hosted deposits associated with the Athabasca Basin, including:
Intervals of anomalous radioactivity (>300 cps) intersected in seven of the eight drill holes completed, associated with structural zones and favorable rock types including graphitic pelite.
Graphitic-sulphidic stacked shear zones were encountered in multiple holes, many featuring prominent brittle reactivation features including breccias, cataclasites, and fault gouge.
Significant hydrothermal alteration was intersected within all holes, including widespread hematization redox front alteration halos, sericitization, and structure-hosted chloritization. Strongly graphitic fault rocks are present all eight drill holes. Holes that intersected deformed pelitic gneiss were to host multiple metres of moderate to intense graphite.
Regional structural setting confirmed, comprising an anticline with faulted hangingwall rocks overlying multiple graphitic horizons, effectively doubling prospective strike length due to folding (i.e., both limbs are prospective at Wishbone).
Table 1. 2024 Sun Dog Drill Hole Radiometric*** Highlights
DDH From (m) To (m) Width (m) Lithology RS-125 Scintillometer EZ-Gamma Probe Min Max Avg. Peak Depth (m) SD-24-014 199.5 200 0.5 Semipelitic Gneiss 220 300 260 369 40.0 327 200.4 SD-24-015 60.5 61 0.5 Granodioritic Gneiss 230 300 265 390 60.8 SD-24-016 57.5 58 0.5 Graphitic Pelitic Gneiss 210 350 280 315 57.4 SD-24-017 78.5 79 0.5 Granitoid Orthogneiss 260 310 285 506 49.3 SD-24-017 79 79.5 0.5 300 350 325 SD-24-018 12.5 13 0.5 Semipelitic Gneiss 300 670 485 1,582 12.5 SD-24-018 25.5 26 0.5 Pelitic Gneiss 300 640 470 835 22.7 SD-24-019 118 118.5 0.5 Granitoid Orthogneiss 200 360 280 373 191.2 SD-24-020 23 23.5 0.5 Gabbroic and Granitic Gneiss 270 340 305 490 28.5 SD-24-020 28.5 29 0.5 230 330 280 SD-24-020 29 29.5 0.5 250 360 305 SD-24-020 33 33.5 0.5 220 330 275 SD-24-020 45 45.5 0.5 Granitoid Orthogneiss 220 310 265 SD-24-020 171 171.5 0.5 Granitic Gneiss 240 330 285 SD-24-021 116 120.2 4.2 Pelitic Gneiss 225 275 250 223 30.9
The Company considers radioactivity readings greater than 300 counts per second (cps) to be "anomalous". Natural gamma radiation in outcrop reported in this news release was measured in counts per second (cps) using a handheld RS-125 super-spectrometer and a downhole Reflex EZ-Gamma probe. Readers are cautioned that scintillometer and gamma probe readings are not uniformly or directly related to uranium grades of the rock sample measured and should be treated only as a preliminary indication of the presence of radioactive minerals.
Table 2. Sun Dog Drill Hole Summary
DDH Easting Northing Elevation
(m.a.s.l.) Azimuth () Dip () EOH (m) SD-24-014 621252 6589540 252 115 -44 210 SD-24-015 621990 6589553 265 265 -45 174 SD-24-016 620925 6589306 251 120 -45 246 SD-24-017 621938 6589070 264 265 -45 177 SD-24-018 621285 6589519 254 100 -43 183 SD-24-019 621408 6589601 264 130 -45 201 SD-24-020 622066 6589706 253 285 -45 192 SD-24-021 620840 6589122 230 120 -45 210
Figure 3. Drill core photos from hole SD-24-014 highlighting intervals of anomalous radioactivity, alteration and structure. A) Faulted and strongly hematized and clay-altered hangingwall rocks hosting radioactivity up to 369 cps at 40.0 m. B) Strongly graphitic footwall conductor hosting radioactivity up to 327 cps. C) Deformed pelitic rock exhibiting sericite-hematite alteration; Up to 250 cps, 122.7 m.
Figure 4. Drill core photos from hole SD-24-018 highlighting intervals of anomalous radioactivity, alteration and structure. A) Faulted and hematite-limonite-altered hangingwall rocks hosting radioactivity up to 1,582 cps at 12.5 m. B) Close-up of sheared and altered semipelitic gneiss hosting radioactivity up to 1,582 cps. C) Close-up of deformed pelitic rock hosting radioactivity up to 835 cps at 22.7 m. D) Strong sericite-clay and hematite alteration overprinting a graphitic shear zone; Up to 270 cps, from 88.2 to 96.15 m.
Other high-priority target areas including McNie, Haven, Java, Skye, and Spring Dome are being reviewed with new datasets and models for a possible winter drill program in 2025.
Next Steps
Drill core samples have been collected systematically throughout all drill holes and zones of radioactivity higher than 300 cps and will be submitted to SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories in Saskatoon for U 3 O 8 assay and multi-element characterization. These analytical results will be integrated with the detailed logging information to prioritize follow-up target areas for future drill testing, in addition to testing of numerous other priority regional targets.
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed, verified, and approved by Galen McNamara, P.Geo., CEO of the Company and a "qualified person" as defined in NI 43-101.
Historical data disclosed in this news release relating to sampling results on the Sun Dog Project is historical in nature. Neither the Company nor a qualified person has yet verified this data and therefore investors should not place undue reliance on such data. The Company's future exploration work will include verification of the data. The Company considers historical results to be relevant as an exploration guide and to assess the mineralization as well as economic potential of the Project.
About Aero Energy Limited (TSXV: AERO)
Aero Energy is a mineral exploration and development company advancing a district-scale 250,000-acre land package in the historic Uranium City district within Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin. Aero Energy is focused on uncovering high-grade uranium deposits across its flagship optioned properties - Sun Dog, Strike, and Murmac - in addition to its fully owned properties. With the application of modern exploration techniques, the Company has identified over 50 shallow drill-ready targets and 125 kilometres of target horizon on the frontier north rim of the Athabasca Basin. Aero Energy is tapping into the Athabasca Basin's emerging potential for high-grade, unconformity-style mineralization.
References
2022 Winter Mineral Assessment Report, Sun Dog Property, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada, Standard Uranium, 2022 Information obtained from Saskatchewan Mineral Deposit Index and historical report from Uranium City Resources, 2007
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
Galen McNamara, Chief Executive Officer
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
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 contains certain "forward looking statements" and certain "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Forward-Looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans" or similar terminology. The forward-looking information contained herein is provided for the purpose of assisting readers in understanding management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. These forwardlooking statements or information relate to, among other things the exploration and development of the Company's mineral exploration projects including completion of drilling activities.
Forward-Looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual actions, events or results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: the requirement for regulatory approvals; enhanced uncertainty in global financial markets as a result of the public health crises; unquantifiable risks related to government actions and interventions; stock market volatility; regulatory restrictions; and other related risks and uncertainties.
Forward-Looking information are based on management of the parties' reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on such management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect.
The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 5, 2024) - Kraken Energy Corp. (CSE: UUSA) (OTCQB: UUSAF) (FSE: F2C) (the "Company" or "Kraken") is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Goss as the new Interim Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company.
Brian Goss has worked in the mining industry for over 20 years as an Entrepreneur, Executive, Director, and Geologist, specifically in precious, base, and energy metals exploration. He is the founder and President of Rangefront Mining Services, an exploration and geology contracting company with offices across the western United States and Canada, that caters to a large spectrum of clients in the mining and exploration industries. Mr. Goss currently holds Director positions at Summa Silver Corp. (TSXV: SSVR), Ridgestone Mining Inc. (TSXV: RMI), Lithium Corp. (OTCQB:LTUM), Rumble Resources Inc. (CSE: RB), and Starmet Ventures Inc. (CSE: STAR). Mr. Goss holds a Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Geology from Wayne State University in Michigan.
Brian Goss replaces Matthew Schwab, the Company's former Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr. Schwab has also stepped down as a Director of the Company. The Company would like to thank Mr. Schwab for his contributions to the Company and wishes him success in his future endeavours.
About Kraken Energy Corp.
Kraken Energy Corp. is an energy company advancing its portfolio of high-grade uranium properties in the Unites States. The Company is advancing its 100%-owned Apex Uranium Property, located 280 km (174 miles) east from Reno, Nevada which is recognized as Nevada's largest past-producing uranium mine. The Company has additionally entered into an option agreement to earn 100% of the Garfield Hills Uranium Property. The past-producing Garfield Hills Uranium Property covers 1,238 ha (3,060 acres) and is located 19 km (12 miles) east of Hawthorne in Mineral County, Nevada. Kraken Energy has also staked the Huber Hills Uranium Property, located 136 km (85 miles) north of Elko, Nevada which covers 1,044 ha (2,580 acres)and encompasses the historic Race Track open pit mine. The Company has entered into an option agreement to earn 75% of the Harts Point Uranium Property. The Harts Point Uranium Property covers 2,622 ha (6,480 acres) and is located 49 km (30 miles) northwest of Monticello in San Juan County, Utah.
For more information about the Company, please visit: www.krakenenergycorp.com.
This news release contains forward-looking information which is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include our plans for exploration at the properties. 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. Risks that could change or prevent these statements from coming to fruition include changing costs for mining and processing; increased capital costs; the timing and content of upcoming work programs; geological interpretations based on drilling that may change with more detailed information; potential process methods and mineral recoveries assumption based on limited test work and by comparison to what are considered analogous deposits that with further test work may not be comparable; the availability of labour, equipment and markets for the products produced; and despite the current expected viability of the project, conditions changing such that the minerals on our property cannot be economically mined, or that the required permits to build and operate the envisaged mine can be obtained. 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.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greenridge Exploration Inc. ("Greenridge" or the "Company") (CSE: GXP | FRA: HW3) and ALX Resources Corp. ("ALX") (TSXV: AL | FSE: 6LLN | OTC: ALXEF) are pleased to announce the signing of a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) dated September 4, 2024 pursuant to which Greenridge will acquire all of the outstanding and issued common shares of ALX (the "Proposed Transaction"). The Proposed Transaction is an arms length transaction that will create a leading Canadian uranium exploration company with interests in 15 uranium exploration projects that total approximately 276,000 hectares across renowned Canadian uranium districts including the Athabasca Basin, Thelon Basin and Elliot Lake. The combined entity will have interests in an additional 13 lithium, nickel, gold and copper properties across Canada.
Strategic Rationale for the Proposed Transaction
Creates leading and diversified Canadian explorer of strategic metals : The combined entity will own or have interests in 28 projects covering approximately 493,000 hectares with considerable exposure to potential uranium, lithium, nickel, copper and gold discoveries.
: The combined entity will own or have interests in 28 projects covering approximately 493,000 hectares with considerable exposure to potential uranium, lithium, nickel, copper and gold discoveries. Adds one of the largest uranium property portfolios in the world class Athabasca Basin : In addition to Carpenter Lake, ALX has interests in 11 other projects and properties covering approximately 231,000 hectares in the Athabasca Basin. Highlighted projects include: Black Lake (40% ALX, 50.43% UEC, 8.57% Orano) 2004 discovery hole (BL-18) intersected 0.69% U 3 O 8 over 4.4 m. Over 150 holes drilled to date. 1 Gibbons Creek (currently 100% ALX) high-grade boulders located in 2013 with grades of up to 4.28% U 3 O 8 . Four of the five holes drilled in 2024 intersected uranium mineralization at or near unconformity. Uranium mineralization found in two areas located 500 m apart. 2 Hook-Carter (currently 80% Denison, 20% ALX) 13 km from NexGens Arrow deposit and 20 km from Fissions Triple R deposit. Hosts a 15 km long exploration corridor prospective for uranium. Under the terms of a 2024 amendment to the joint venture agreement, ALX can earn an additional 5.0% for a total of a 25% interest by spending $3.0 million by November 2026. Denison has spent ~C$7.05M to date, which includes 11,757 m drilled from 2018 to 2019. 3 McKenzie Lake (100% ALX) A.I. work identified targets following 2021 magnetic and radiometric survey. Boulders were found with grades of up to 0.101% U 3 O 8 . 4
: In addition to Carpenter Lake, ALX has interests in 11 other projects and properties covering approximately 231,000 hectares in the Athabasca Basin. Highlighted projects include: Consolidates ownership in the Carpenter Lake Project : Following the Proposed Transaction, Greenridge will own 60% of Carpenter Lake with the option to increase to 100%.
: Following the Proposed Transaction, Greenridge will own 60% of Carpenter Lake with the option to increase to 100%. Enhanced capital markets profile and shareholder base : the pro forma company is expected to have a market capitalization of approximately C$35 million and a strong cash position.
: the pro forma company is expected to have a market capitalization of approximately C$35 million and a strong cash position. Enhanced management and Board : adds Warren Stanyer, CEO of ALX, as President and Director as well as another nominee to the Board of Directors of Greenridge.
: adds Warren Stanyer, CEO of ALX, as President and Director as well as another nominee to the Board of Directors of Greenridge. G&A cost savings: anticipate material cost savings from consolidating corporate G&A, corporate development and investor relations and marketing activities compared to operating as two separate entities.
Benefits to ALX Shareholders
Significant and immediate premium : the Exchange Ratio represents a 130% premium to the 20-day VWAP of the ALX Shares on the TSXV for the period ended September 4, 2024.
: the Exchange Ratio represents a 130% premium to the 20-day VWAP of the ALX Shares on the TSXV for the period ended September 4, 2024. Exposure to the Nut Lake Project: Nut Lake Project is a 5,853-hectare property in the Thelon Basin located approximately 55 km north of Atha Energys Angilak Project and the Lac 50 Trend deposit (inferred resource containing 43M lbs U 3 O 8 and 10.4M lbs Mo). The project hosts high grade vein hosted grab samples of up to 4.36% U 3 O 8 , 53.16 oz/tonne Ag, 1.15% Pb and 7% Ni. The project has seen approximately 6,920 ft of diamond drilling, with the most noteworthy being at the tundra showing where Hole Winkie AX W-24 intersected 9 ft of 0.69% U 3 O 8 ., including 4.9% U 3 O 8 over 1 ft from 8 ft depth.5
Russell Starr, Chief Executive Officer of Greenridge, commented, We are incredibly excited to announce this first step to acquire ALX Resources. The acquisition highlights our commitment in becoming a key player in todays energy transition. After the Proposed Transaction, Greenridge will have a significant portfolio of projects across many strategically important minerals. We look forward to leveraging ALXs expertise in the Athabasca Basin to explore our significant project portfolio. In conjunction with partners like Denison Mines and Uranium Energy Corp., we are confident that the acquisition will only further bolster the discovery potential of our exploration portfolio. We believe that our portfolio, coupled with our combined technical prowess will allow the Company to quickly develop its most prospective projects.
Warren Stanyer, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of ALX, commented, ALX is pleased to unite with Greenridge to create a dynamic uranium and critical metals exploration company focussed on locating new mineral deposits. The combination of ALXs technical team with Greenridges financial capability provides each companys shareholders with multiple opportunities for discovery in some of Canadas best exploration districts.
ALXs Uranium Project Portfolio
ALX holds a wealth of uranium properties; namely their Hook-Carter, Black Lake, Sabre, Gibbons Creek, Javelin, McKenzie Lake and Bradley Lake uranium properties, located in the heart of Canadas premier uranium exploration district. These properties will be pivotal for Greenridge as the Company evolves and further develops its exploration capabilities.
Figure 1 Athabasca Basin Uranium Projects
Previous surface work on the properties delivered promising geological results for the Company to build momentum in future exploration. Particularly, McKenzie Lakes previous 2023 exploration saw three samples which returned 844ppm U-total (0.101% U 3 O 8 ), 273ppm U-total, and 259ppm U-total2. Furthermore, ALXs Bradley Lake uranium property saw three samples collected in 2022 from the Bradley West showing along a trending structure visible on surface for 60m that returned uranium values ranging from 0.08% to 0.43% U 3 O 8 partial. In addition, two samples from the Bradley East showing, located 170m east of the Bradley West showing, returned values ranging from 0.27% to 1.77% U 3 O 8 partial 1.
ALX owns a 40% interest in the Black Lake uranium property, while Uranium Energy Corp. (UEC) owns a 51.43% interest and Orano Canada owns an 8.57% interest. The property is also within driving range of Orano Canada/Denison Mines McClean Lake uranium mill. Historical drilling conducted by a predecessor company of UEC identified unconformity-style mineralization extending over a 1.7 km strike length in the northern section of the property, adjacent to the Eastern Fault, which runs parallel to the Black Lake Fault.
ALX owns 20% of the Hook-Carter Uranium property while the remaining 80% is owned by Denison Mines. Denison Mines has spent $7.05 million in exploration to date. The property consists of 11 claims covering 25,115 hectares. The property is approximately 13km northeast of NextGens Arrow deposit, 20km northeast of Fisson Uraniums Triple R uranium deposit, and approximately 8km northeast of Cameco/Orano/Purepoints Spitfire, Hornet and Dragon discoveries. Under the terms of a 2024 amendment to the joint venture agreement, ALX can earn an additional 5.0% for a total of a 25% interest by spending $3.0 million by November 2026.
The Company holds several other highly prospective uranium projects, which are in different stages of advancement. The technical team will evaluate each project on its merits and implement exploration strategies which build the most shareholder value.
Portfolio of Lithium, Nickel, Copper and Gold Properties
ALX also brings an enriched portfolio, extending beyond uranium properties: lithium, nickel, copper and gold properties will be critical for the Company to continue diversifying its own portfolio. Notably, ALXs Ontario-situated Vixen Gold Project saw 2019 prospecting, mapping and sampling that returned values of 23.9 g/t gold and 6.1 g/t silver across four samples5. A more comprehensive, helicopter supported sampling program in 2020 provided gold values of up to 22.73 g/t gold as well as 7.21 g/t gold5.
Additionally, ALXs Cannon Copper Project, also situated in Ontario, hosts the historical Cannon Copper Mine and Mill which has a historical mineral resource of 415,000 tonnes grading 1.8% Cu over a width of 6.5 ft.; (1.98m) (Source: Ontario Geological Survey, Open File Report 6366, Report of Activities 2019).
(Note: This historical resource is not compliant with the standards of National Instrument 43-101).
The combination of both entities brings a robust set of projects in a variety of reputable Canadian mining jurisdictions.
Figure 2 Greenridge Exploration & ALX Canadian Project Portfolio
Table 1 - Greenridge and ALX Combined Project Portfolio
Name Mineral Location Size (ha) Exploration History Ownership Carpenter Lake Uranium SK 13,387 Historical Drilling 60%, with an option to earn 100% Nut Lake Uranium NU 5,853 Historical Drilling 100% Ranger Lake Uranium ON 20,782 Early Stage 100% Snook Lake Uranium ON 4,899 Early Stage 100% Gibbons Creek Uranium SK 13,864 849.44m of Drilling in 2024 Up to 75% optioned to Trinex Hook-Carter Uranium SK 25,115 4,797m of Drilling in 2019 + 6,960m of Drilling in 2018 ALX 20% - Denison Mines 80%, with an option for ALX to increase to 25% Black Lake Uranium SK 31,701 2,830m of Drilling in 2017 ALX 40% - UEC 50.43% - Orano Canada 8.57% Sabre Uranium SK 23,178 2022 Sampling & 2023 TDEM 100% Bradley Lake Uranium SK 1,147 Rock Sampling in 2022 100% Javelin Uranium SK 23,652 Airborne & Prospecting in 2021 100% McKenzie Lake Uranium SK 6,916 Airborne in 2021 & Sampling in 2023 100% Condor Uranium SK 24,258 Staked in 2024 100% Cutlass Uranium SK 10,209 Staked in 2024 100% Spear Uranium SK 6,706 Staked in 2024 100% Cree Lake Uranium SK 1,957 Staked in 2024 100% Alligator Lake Gold SK 2,973 815m of Drilling in 2022 Option to Acquire 80% Vixen Gold ON 10,614 Sampling & Drilling Planned Optioned to First Mining Gold Hummingbird Gold SK 13,786 Rock & Soil Sampling in 2020 100% Blackbird Gold SK 18,118 Staked in 2024 100% Electra Nickel ON 4,537 1,150m of Drilling in 2022 Option to Acquire 100% Firebird Nickel SK 25,210 1,500m of Drilling in 2021 100% Flying Vee Nickel SK 14,495 VTEM and Sampling in 2022 100% Hydra Lithium QUE 29,262 Rock & Soil Sampling in 2023-24 ALX 50% - Forrestania Resources 50% Anchor Lithium NS 33,513 Biogeochemical Survey in 2023 100% Crystal Lithium SK 44,587 Staked in 2023 100% Reindeer Lithium SK 13,239 Staked in 2023 100% Cannon Copper ON 1,962 2021 VTEM - 2024 Sampling 100% Weyman Project Copper BC 6,925 Soil Sampling / Airborne Survey in 2024 100%
Board of Directors and Management Team
Upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, the Board of Directors of Greenridge (the Greenridge Board) will be comprised of five directors including (i) the three directors currently on the Greenridge Board, and (ii) two directors including Warren Stanyer, ALXs current Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, as well as another director to be mutually agreed upon by Greenridge and ALX.
Russell Starr will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer and Director of the combined entity. Warren Stanyer is expected to join Greenridge as President.
Additional Details of the Proposed Transaction and the LOI
Under the terms of the LOI, each common shareholder of ALX (each, an ALX Shareholder) will receive 0.045 common shares of Greenridge (each whole such common share, a Greenridge Share) in exchange for each ALX common share held (each, an ALX Share) (collectively, the Exchange Ratio). The Exchange Ratio implies an offer price of C$0.036 per ALX Share6 and implies an offer premium of 140% to ALXs closing share price on September 4, 2024 and a 130% premium to ALXs volume weighted average price (VWAP) of ALX Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSXV) over the previous 20 trading days. Upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, existing Greenridge and ALX shareholders will own approximately 74.2% and 25.8%, respectively, of the common shares of the combined entity.
The LOI for the Proposed Transaction includes customary provisions, including an exclusivity period ending on October 11, 2024. The final structure of the Proposed Transaction will be determined by the parties, based upon tax, securities and corporate law considerations, and will be governed by the terms of a definitive and binding agreement (the Definitive Agreement) governing the Proposed Transaction. Both Greenridge and ALX expect to work towards entering into a definitive agreement by October 10, 2024.
Completion of the Proposed Transaction is subject to, among other conditions, the following:
satisfactory completion of due diligence to the satisfaction of Greenridge and ALX;
entering into the Definitive Agreement following its approval by the Board of Directors of both Greenridge and ALX;
ALX Shareholders approving the Proposed Transaction by the requisite majority;
regulatory and court approvals;
a fairness opinion from a financial advisor stating that the Proposed Transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to ALX Shareholders;
no material adverse change or prescribed occurrence occurring in relation to either Greenridge or ALX; and
other conditions customary for a public transaction of this nature.
The Definitive Agreement will include customary representations, warranties, covenants and conditions contained in agreements for transactions of this nature including non-solicitation and lock-up provisions, business restrictions and a no material adverse change clause. Red Cloud Securities Inc. is an advisor to ALX and will receive finders fees in connection with the Proposed Transaction, the amount of which shall be determined at a later date.
Under the Proposed Transaction, all outstanding stock options and warrants of ALX, which remain unexercised on the date upon which the Proposed Transaction becomes effective, will, following the effective time of the Proposed Transaction, be exchanged and amended, respectively, to entitle the holder thereof to acquire Greenridge Shares in lieu of ALX Shares based on the Exchange Ratio.
It is anticipated that any securities to be issued under the Proposed Transaction will be offered and issued in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 provided by Section 3(a)(10) thereof. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities.
Qualified Person
The technical information in this news release regarding ALX Resources properties has been reviewed and approved by Robert Campbell, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101.
The technical information in this news release regarding Greenridge Exploration properties has been reviewed and approved by Jody Dahrouge, B.Sc., P.Geo. of Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd. who is a Qualified Person in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101.
Mineralization on any other properties referred to herein is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on either of the properties of ALX or Greenridge.
References
ALX Resources Corp. Black Lake Historical Mineralized Uranium Intersections https://alxresources.com/black-lake-uranium/
Ramp Metals Announces New High-Grade Gold Discovery of 73.55 g/t Au over 7.5m at its Rottenstone SW Project https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/213278
ALX Resources Corp. - Intersects Uranium Mineralization at the Gibbons Creek Uranium Project, Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan March 25, 2024 https://alxresources.com/alx-resources-corp-intersects-uranium-mineralization-at-the-gibbons-creek-uranium-project-athabasca-basin-saskatchewan/
ALX Resources Corp. Hook Carter Uranium Project https://alxresources.com/hook-carter-uranium/
ALX Resources Corp. Vixen Lake Project https://alxresources.com/vixen-gold/
About Greenridge Exploration Inc.
Greenridge Exploration Inc. (CSE: GXP | FRA: HW3) is a mineral exploration company dedicated to creating shareholder value through the acquisition, exploration, and development of critical mineral projects in North America. The Carpenter Lake Uranium Project is located in the Athabasca Basin consisting of 7 mineral claims covering 13,387 hectares across the Cable Bay Shear Zone and the Company is advancing the Project to test multiple high priority targets. The Companys Nut Lake Uranium Project located in the Thelon Basin includes historical drilling which intersected up to 9ft of 0.69% U 3 O 8 including 4.90% U 3 O 8 over 1ft from 8ft depth1.
The Companys Weyman Copper Project in southeast British Columbia sits on the south portion of the famous Quesnel Terrance. The Company is led by an experienced management team and board of directors with significant expertise in capital raising and advancing mining projects. The Snook and Ranger Lake uranium projects, 4,899 hectares and 20,782 hectares respectively are located in western Ontario, with multiple previous uranium occurrences across both projects.
About ALX Resources Corp.
ALX is based in Vancouver, BC, Canada and its common shares are listed on the TSXV under the symbol AL, on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol 6LLN and in the United States OTC market under the symbol ALXEF.
ALXs mandate is to provide shareholders with multiple opportunities for discovery by exploring a portfolio of prospective mineral properties in Canada, which include uranium, lithium, nickel, copper, and gold projects. The Company uses the latest exploration technologies and holds interests in over 300,000 hectares of prospective lands in Saskatchewan, a stable jurisdiction that hosts the highest-grade uranium mines in the world, a producing gold mine, diamond deposits, and historical production from base metals mines.
ALXs uranium holdings in northern Saskatchewan include 100% interests in the Gibbons Creek Uranium Project (currently the subject of an option earn-in agreement with Trinex Minerals Ltd., who can earn up to a 75% interest in two stages), the Sabre Uranium Project, the Bradley Uranium Project, and the Javelin and McKenzie Lake Uranium Projects, a 40% interest in the Black Lake Uranium Project (a joint venture with Uranium Energy Corporation and Orano Canada Inc.), and a 20% interest in the Hook-Carter Uranium Project, located within the uranium-rich Patterson Lake Corridor with Denison Mines Corp. (80% interest) as operator of exploration since 2016 (currently the subject of an amended property agreement that would increase ALXs interest to 25% after fulfilling certain conditions).
ALX also owns 100% interests in the Firebird Nickel Project, the Flying Vee Nickel/Gold and Sceptre Gold projects, the Blackbird Gold Project, and can earn up to an 80% interest in the Alligator Lake Gold Project, all located in northern Saskatchewan, Canada. ALX owns, or can earn, up to 100% interests in the Electra Nickel Project and the Cannon Copper Project located in historic mining districts of Ontario, Canada, and in the Vixen Gold Project (now under option to First Mining Gold Corp., who can earn up to a 100% interest in two stages).
ALX owns a 50% interest in eight lithium exploration properties staked in 2022-2023 collectively known as the Hydra Lithium Project, located in the James Bay region of northern Quebec, Canada, a 100% interest in the Anchor Lithium Project in Nova Scotia, Canada, and 100% interests in the Crystal Lithium Project and the Reindeer Lithium Project, both located in northern Saskatchewan, Canada.
For more information about the Company, please visit the ALX corporate website at www.alxresources.com or contact Roger Leschuk, Manager, Corporate Communications at: PH: 604.629.0293 or Toll-Free: 866.629.8368, or by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Greenridge
Russell Starr
Chief Executive Officer, Director
Telephone: +1 (778) 897-3388
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors of ALX
Warren Stanyer
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
Telephone: +1 (604) 629-0293
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information
Investors are cautioned that the Proposed Transaction remains subject to due diligence and a number of approval requirements; accordingly, there is no assurance the Proposed Transaction will be completed on the basis set out herein, or at all.
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements regarding the project acquisition bringing a low-risk opportunity, the Company, building a strong battery metals portfolio with low-risk opportunities that positively impact the Company and its shareholders and the Company providing an initial work plan are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to projects owned by Greenridge and ALX and their mineralization potential; the Companys objectives, goals, or future plans with respect to projects owned by Greenridge and ALX; statements with respect to the completion of Greenridges acquisition of ALX and other matters related to or connected with the Proposed Transaction; further exploration work on projects owned by Greenridge and ALX in the future. These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.
The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) and the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
1 Source: Black Lake Property, Fall 2017 Diamond Drilling Program Report - MARS Assessment Work Report #2715.
2 Source: ALX Resources Corp. news releases dated March 25, April 25 and June 13, 2024.
3 Source: ALX Resources Corp. news release dated May 23, 2024;
4 Source: ALX Resources Corp. news release dated November 7, 2023;
5 Source: 1979 Assessment report (number 81075) by Pan Ocean Oil Ltd.
6 Calculated using the Exchange Ratio and the VWAP of Greenridge Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange over the twenty trading days ending September 4, 2024.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 /Zeus North America Mining Corp. (formerly Umdoni Exploration Inc.) (CSE:ZEUS) (OTCQB:ZUUZF) (FRANKFURT:O92) (the "Company" or "Zeus") is pleased to announce that it has increased the size of its non-brokered private placement announced on July 30, 2024 (the "Placement") and now intends to issue up to 5,664,400 units ("Units") at a price of $0.25 per Unit to raise gross proceeds of up to $1,416,100.
Each Unit will comprise one common share and one full share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire an additional common share at a price of $0.35 per share for a period of two years following closing of the Placement.
Finder's fees may be payable on all or any portion of the Placement, which is subject to regulatory and exchange approval.
The proceeds of the Placement will be utilized for exploration programs on the Company's Idaho copper projects, including its flagship Cuddy Mountain project, and for general working capital purposes.
Completion of the Placement is subject to certain conditions including the receipt of all necessary approvals and the acceptance by the Canadian Securities Exchange.
This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or under any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act, as amended, and applicable state securities laws.
On behalf of the board of directors.
"Dean Besserer"
President and CEO
For more information, please contact the Company at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
FOR INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT:
Kin Communications Inc.
Ph: 604-684-6730
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About Zeus North America Mining Corp.
The Company is in the business of mineral exploration. The Company is focused on its exploration properties in the state of Idaho known as the: Cuddy Mountain; Selway; and Great Western properties, respectively. The Idaho properties consist of 82 (Cuddy Mountain), 57 (Selway) and 38 (Great Western) lode mining claims respectively and cover a cumulative area of approximately 3822.1 acres. The Company's flagship Cuddy Mountain Property is adjacent to Hercules Metal Corp's Leviathan Copper Porphyry discovery.
Forward Looking Statements
When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of their respective officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the parties can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements and information in this news release include, amongst others, the Company's exploration plans. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.
By their nature, forward-looking statements involve 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 or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: currency fluctuations; limited business history of the parties; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities and development of projects; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general development, market and industry conditions.
The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of its securities or its financial or operating results (as applicable). The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors.
The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. The Company does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.
The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Includes 11.9 m @ 5.3 g/t AuEq, 12.6 m @ 8.0 g/t AuEq and 8.7 m @ 4.6 g/t AuEq
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / Mawson Gold Limited ("Mawson" or the "Company") (TSXV:MAW) (Frankfurt:MXR) (OTC PINK:MWSNF) announces Southern Cross Gold Ltd. ("Southern Cross Gold" or "SXG") has released a new and large gold-antimony discovery drilled 100 m - 150 m below the largest historic mine at the 100%-owned Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony Project in Victoria, Australia (Figure 5).
Highlights:
SDDSC130, reported here, shows the development of a third large, mineralized body developing beneath the most prolific historic mine at Sunday Creek . The new discovery is located 260 m and 600 m west, respectively of the Rising Sun and Apollo mineralized bodies modelled in the Company's January 2024 Exploration Target.
SDDSC130 drilled seven high-grade vein sets over a 230 m down hole interval (135 m estimated true width ("ETW") below the most productive Golden Dyke historic mining area at Sunday Creek. The hole included ten occurrences of visible gold , nine assayed intervals of > 20 g/t Au (up to 124 g/t Au) and ten assayed intervals of > 5% Sb (up to 31.5% Sb) .
Broad downhole intercepts (no lower cut) included 214.4 m @ 1.3 g/t AuEq (1.1 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 320.4 m including 94.5 m @ 2.3 g/t AuEq (1.5 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 419.1 m. Selected highlights include (Figures 1 and 2). 11.9 m @ 5.3 g/t AuEq (4.7 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 357.7 m, including: 0.2 m @ 54.7 g/t AuEq (44.2 g/t Au, 5.6% Sb) from 358.3 m 3.8 m @ 10.7 g/t AuEq (9.8 g/t Au, 0.5% Sb) from 359.8 m 12.6 m @ 8.0 g/t AuEq (5.8 g/t Au, 1.2% Sb) from 419.1 m, including: 1.1 m @ 7.4 g/t AuEq (5.4 g/t Au, 1.0% Sb) from 420.7 m 1.5 m @ 8.5 g/t AuEq (7.7 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 425.7 m 0.9 m @ 75.8 g/t AuEq (56.2 g/t Au, 10.4% Sb) from 429.7 m 8.7 m @ 4.6 g/t AuEq (2.3 g/t Au, 1.3% Sb) from 498.8 m, including: 0.2 m @ 25.0 g/t AuEq (20.9 g/t Au, 2.2% Sb) from 498.8 m 1.2 m @ 17.1 g/t AuEq (7.6 g/t Au, 5.0% Sb) from 500.7 m 1.1 m @ 5.7 g/t AuEq (2.3 g/t Au, 1.8% Sb) from 505.3 m
SDDSC130 remains open in an up and down dip sense and is the first hole of several east to west trending holes (SDDSC132, 138, 141) to test beneath the Golden Dyke mine area. Nineteen holes are currently being processed and analyzed with an additional five holes in progress.
Mawson owns 96,590,910 shares of SXG (48.7%), valuing its stake at A$252.1 million (C$229.6 million) based on SXG's closing price on September 4, 2024 AEST.
Michael Hudson, Mawson Interim CEO and Executive Chairman, states: "Game on! The scale of the Sunday Creek gold-antimony system continues to grow impressively. This new discovery is located 260 m and 600 m west respectively of the Rising Sun and Apollo mineralized bodies. The expanding Sunday Creek system coupled with the 60 km of diamond drilling planned over the next year means we are well on our way to meet our aim to double the size of the Sunday Creek exploration target. Golden Dyke now joins Rising Sun and Apollo as the third high-grade mineralized domain in this exciting project.
"Our team's systematic drill approach led us to the new discovery, after we targeted the main dyke breccia host structure (the "rails" of the ladder) by N-S drilling, as previously reported in drillholes SDDSC125-126. Quickly, we were then able to drill SDDSC130, the first drill hole in an E-W orientation beneath the historic Golden Dyke mine, that intersected seven high-grade vein sets (the "rungs" of the ladder) at a high angle, over 230 m down hole interval (135 m ETW).
"The mineralization intersected in SDDSC130 remains open both up and down dip, as well as 500 m to the west towards the historic Christina mine where we have five drill holes pending results. Three additional E-W holes (SDDSC132, 138, 141 - Figures 1 and 2) have been completed, or in progress below Golden Dyke, with results pending. Given this discovery, the Company has already planned a significant number of further holes under Golden Dyke."
Drill Hole Discussion
SDDSC130 is the first hole at Golden Dyke to drill parallel to and within the dyke/breccia host structure (the ladder "rails") and at a high angle to mineralized veins (the ladder "rungs"). The hole was successful and overall intercepted eight high-grade vein sets. Beneath the historic Golden Dyke mine, seven high-grade vein sets were intersected over 230 m down hole interval (135 m ETW). The hole included ten occurrences of visible gold, nine assayed intervals of > 20 g/t Au (up to 124 g/t Au) and ten assayed intervals of > 5% Sb (up to 31.5% Sb).
Broad downhole intercepts (no lower cut) included 214.4 m @ 1.3 g/t AuEq (1.1 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 320.4 m including 94.5 m @ 2.3 g/t AuEq (1.5 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 419.1 m.
The hole provided a 100 m down dip extension to three existing vein sets, infill information for three vein sets in addition to two new vein sets (Figures 2 and 3). This drill hole displayed similarities in mineralization style to that of analogous holes in the upper portion of Rising Sun, demonstrating Golden Dyke is the third known significant mineralized body on the project. Further drilling in a similar orientation (parallel to the ladder rails' - SDDSC132, 138, 141) (Figures 2 and 3) will continue to provide information about the size and extent of mineralized shapes at depth.
This hole occurs in the geological upper portion of the mineralized system, indicated by the presence of brittle structures, open space breccias and mineralized veins, with abundant massive stibnite occurring in quartz-carbonate veins. While the grade tenor of SDDSC130 is considered significant, analogues at Rising Sun and Apollo have shown that the tenor of gold mineralization is likely to increase with depth. SDDSC130 also provided an exceptional example of continuity and width of mineralized structures at Sunday Creek, with 11.9 m @ 5.3 g/t AuEq (4.7 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 357.7 m occurring 82 m down plunge of SDDSC049 (9.6 m @ 14.1 g/t AuEq (9.2 g/t Au, 2.6% Sb) - November 8, 2022) and being interpreted as a continuous vein set. Extended highlights include:
0.7 m @ 49.7 g/t AuEq (49.7 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 133.4 m
3.1 m @ 4.7 g/t AuEq (1.3 g/t Au, 1.8% Sb) from 329.3 m, including: 1.3 m @ 8.8 g/t AuEq (2.1 g/t Au, 3.6% Sb) from 329.3 m 3.7 m @ 0.7 g/t AuEq (0.6 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 334.3 m 1.3 m @ 2.5 g/t AuEq (0.9 g/t Au, 0.9% Sb) from 342.5 m 11.9 m @ 5.3 g/t AuEq (4.7 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 357.7 m, including: 0.2 m @ 54.7 g/t AuEq (44.2 g/t Au, 5.6% Sb) from 358.3 m 3.8 m @ 10.7 g/t AuEq (9.8 g/t Au, 0.5% Sb) from 359.8 m 2.1 m @ 2.1 g/t AuEq (1.6 g/t Au, 0.3% Sb) from 372.0 m 1.9 m @ 2.2 g/t AuEq (1.6 g/t Au, 0.3% Sb) from 377.0 m, including: 0.3 m @ 8.4 g/t AuEq (8.3 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 378.7 m 4.3 m @ 1.3 g/t AuEq (1.1 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 387.6 m 1.3 m @ 5.8 g/t AuEq (2.1 g/t Au, 2.0% Sb) from 399.2 m 12.6 m @ 8.0 g/t AuEq (5.8 g/t Au, 1.2% Sb) from 419.1 m, including: 1.1 m @ 7.4 g/t AuEq (5.4 g/t Au, 1.0% Sb) from 420.7 m 1.5 m @ 8.5 g/t AuEq (7.7 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 425.7 m 0.9 m @ 75.8 g/t AuEq (56.2 g/t Au, 10.4% Sb) from 429.7 m 0.4 m @ 21.8 g/t AuEq (13.0 g/t Au, 4.7% Sb) from 446.2 m 1.1 m @ 2.2 g/t AuEq (2.1 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 461.3 m 5.8 m @ 5.1 g/t AuEq (1.9 g/t Au, 1.7% Sb) from 479.2 m, including: 0.1 m @ 20.0 g/t AuEq (2.3 g/t Au, 9.4% Sb) from 479.2 m 0.2 m @ 26.9 g/t AuEq (17.3 g/t Au, 5.1% Sb) from 480.8 m 0.7 m @ 23.2 g/t AuEq (4.1 g/t Au, 10.2% Sb) from 484.2 m 8.7 m @ 4.6 g/t AuEq (2.3 g/t Au, 1.3% Sb) from 498.8 m, including: 0.2 m @ 25.0 g/t AuEq (20.9 g/t Au, 2.2% Sb) from 498.8 m 1.2 m @ 17.1 g/t AuEq (7.6 g/t Au, 5.0% Sb) from 500.7 m 1.1 m @ 5.7 g/t AuEq (2.3 g/t Au, 1.8% Sb) from 505.3 m 1.0 m @ 19.8 g/t AuEq (19.1 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 512.6 m, including: 0.3 m @ 65.9 g/t AuEq (65.2 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 513.3 m 3.1 m @ 0.8 g/t AuEq (0.7 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 530.3 m
Pending Results and Update
SDDSC130 is the first hole of several east to west trending holes (SDDSC132, 138, 141) in a program to further test and understand the breadth of mineralization at Golden Dyke by utilising structural controls provided by the previously announced drill holes SDDSC125 and SDDSC126 (August 27, 2024).
Nineteen holes (SDDSC123-124, 127-128, 131-140, 137W1, 140, 050W1, 050W2, 092W1) are currently being processed and analyzed, with five holes (SDDSC129, 137W2, 141, 143, 092W2) in progress (Figure 1 and Figure 2).
Exploration Target
On January 23, 2024, SXG announced the maiden gold and antimony Exploration Target at its flagship 100%-owned Sunday Creek Project in Victoria, Australia. The Exploration Target ranges reported are shown in Table 1. Notably, the Exploration Target was constrained to the current drill footprint at Apollo and Rising Sun as they contain sufficient drilling to determine continuity and infer grade ranges. This represents approximately one third to one half the strike of the main drill area and significant potential exists to increase the size of the exploration target with high grade drill results drilled for up to 450 m beyond the Exploration Target area. Drilling since January has significantly expanded the footprint of mineralization beyond the bounds of the exploration target area, especially including SDDSC130 announced in this press release (Figure 2).
Table 1. Sunday Creek Exploration Target for Apollo and Rising Sun at the Sunday Creek Project
Range Tonnes (Mt) AuEq g/t* Au g/t Sb % Au Eq (Moz) Au (Moz) Sb (kt) Lower Case 4.4 7.2 5.3 1.2 1.0 0.74 53.5 Upper Case 5.1 9.7 7.8 1.2 1.6 1.28 62.8
The potential quantity and grade of the Exploration Target is conceptual in nature and therefore is an approximation. There has been insufficient exploration to estimate a Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a Mineral Resource. The Exploration Target has been prepared and reported in accordance with the 2012 edition of the JORC Code.
Further Information
Further discussion and analysis of the Sunday Creek project by Southern Cross Gold is available on the SXG website at www.southerncrossgold.com.au.
No upper gold grade cut is applied in the averaging and intervals are reported as drill thickness. During future Mineral Resource studies, the requirement for assay top cutting will be assessed.
Figures 1 to 5 show project location, plan and longitudinal views of drill results reported here and Tables 2 to 4 provide collar and assay data. The true thickness of the mineralized intervals reported individually as estimated true widths ("ETW"), otherwise they are interpreted to be approximately 40% to 70% of the sampled thickness for other reported holes. Lower grades were cut at 1.0 g/t AuEq lower cutoff over a maximum width of 2 m with higher grades cut at 5.0 g/t AuEq lower cutoff over a maximum of 1 m width unless specified.
Critical Metal Epizonal Gold-Antimony Deposits
Sunday Creek is an epizonal gold-antimony deposit formed in the late Devonian (like Fosterville, Costerfield and Redcastle), 60 million years later than mesozonal gold systems formed in Victoria (for example Ballarat and Bendigo). Epizonal deposits are a form of orogenic gold deposit classified according to their depth of formation: epizonal (<6 km), mesozonal (6-12 km) and hypozonal (>12 km).
Epizonal deposits in Victoria often have associated high levels of the critical metal, antimony, and Sunday Creek is no exception. China claims a 56 per cent share of global mined supplies of antimony, according to a 2023 European Union study. Antimony features highly on the critical minerals lists of many countries including Australia, the United States of America, Canada, Japan and the European Union. Australia ranks seventh for antimony production despite all production coming from a single mine at Costerfield in Victoria, located nearby to all SXG projects. Antimony alloys with lead and tin which results in improved properties for solders, munitions, bearings and batteries. Antimony is a prominent additive for halogen-containing flame retardants. Adequate supplies of antimony are critical to the world's energy transition, and to the high-tech industry, especially the semi-conductor and defence sectors where it is a critical additive to primers in munitions.
In August 2024, the Chinese government announced it will place export limits on antimony and antimony products. This will put pressure on Western defence supply chains and negatively affect the supply of the metal and push up pricing given China's dominance of the supply of the metal in the global markets. This is positive for SXG as we are likely to have one of the very few large and high-quality projects of antimony in the western world that can feed western demand into the future.
Antimony represents approximately 20% in situ recoverable value of Sunday Creek at an AuEq of 1.88.
Technical Background and Qualified Person
The Qualified Person, Michael Hudson, Executive Chairman and a director of Mawson Gold, and a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, has reviewed, verified and approved the technical contents of this release.
Analytical samples are transported to the Bendigo facility of On Site Laboratory Services ("On Site") which operates under both an ISO 9001 and NATA quality systems. Samples were prepared and analyzed for gold using the fire assay technique (PE01S method; 25 gram charge), followed by measuring the gold in solution with flame AAS equipment. Samples for multi-element analysis (BM011 and over-range methods as required) use aqua regia digestion and ICP-MS analysis. The QA/QC program of Southern Cross Gold consists of the systematic insertion of certified standards of known gold content, blanks within interpreted mineralized rock and quarter core duplicates. In addition, On Site inserts blanks and standards into the analytical process.
MAW considers that both gold and antimony that are included in the gold equivalent calculation ("AuEq") have reasonable potential to be recovered at Sunday Creek, given current geochemical understanding, historic production statistics and geologically analogous mining operations. Historically, ore from Sunday Creek was treated onsite or shipped to the Costerfield mine, located 54 km to the northwest of the project, for processing during WW1. The Costerfield mine corridor, now owned by Mandalay Resources Ltd contains two million ounces of equivalent gold (Mandalay Q3 2021 Results), and in 2020 was the sixth highest-grade global underground mine and a top 5 global producer of antimony.
MAW considers that it is appropriate to adopt the same gold equivalent variables as Mandalay Resources Ltd in its Mandalay Technical Report, 2024 dated March 28, 2024. The gold equivalence formula used by Mandalay Resources was calculated using Costerfield's 2023 production costs, using a gold price of US$1,900 per ounce, an antimony price of US$12,000 per tonne and 2023 total year metal recoveries of 94% for gold and 89% for antimony, and is as follows:
= (/) + 1.88 (%).
Based on the latest Costerfield calculation and given the similar geological styles and historic toll treatment of Sunday Creek mineralization at Costerfield, SXG considers that a = (/) + 1.88 (%) is appropriate to use for the initial exploration targeting of gold-antimony mineralization at Sunday Creek.
About Mawson Gold Limited (TSXV:MAW, FRANKFURT:MXR, OTCPINK:MWSNF)
Mawson Gold Limited has distinguished itself as a leading Nordic exploration company. Over the last decades, the team behind Mawson has forged a long and successful record of discovering, financing, and advancing mineral projects in the Nordics and Australia. Mawson holds the Skelleftea North gold discovery and a portfolio of historic uranium resources in Sweden. Mawson also holds 49% of Southern Cross Gold Ltd. (ASX: SXG) which owns or controls two high-grade, historic epizonal goldfields in Victoria, Australia, including the exciting Sunday Creek Au-Sb discovery.
About Southern Cross Gold Ltd (ASX:SXG)
Southern Cross Gold holds the 100%-owned Sunday Creek project in Victoria and Mt Isa project in Queensland, the Redcastle joint venture in Victoria, Australia, and a strategic 6.7% holding in ASX-listed Nagambie Resources Limited (ASX:NAG) which grants SXG a Right of First Refusal over a 3,300 square kilometer tenement package held by NAG in Victoria.
On behalf of the Board, "Michael Hudson"
Michael Hudson, Interim CEO and Executive Chairman Further Information
www.mawsongold.com
1305 - 1090 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V7
Mariana Bermudez (Canada), Corporate Secretary
+1 (604) 685 9316
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Forward-Looking Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Although Mawson believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate, and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Mawson cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, Mawson's expectations regarding its ownership interest in Southern Cross Gold, capital and other costs varying significantly from estimates, changes in world metal markets, changes in equity markets, the potential impact of epidemics, pandemics or other public health crises on the Company's business, risks related to negative publicity with respect to the Company or the mining industry in general; exploration potential being conceptual in nature, there being insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource on the Australian-projects owned by SXG, and uncertainty if further exploration will result in the determination of a mineral resource; planned drill programs and results varying from expectations, delays in obtaining results, equipment failure, unexpected geological conditions, local community relations, dealings with non-governmental organizations, delays in operations due to permit grants, environmental and safety risks, and other risks and uncertainties. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Mawson disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.
Figure 1: Sunday Creek plan view showing selected results from hole SDDSC130 reported here (blue highlighted box, black trace), with selected prior reported drill holes and pending holes.
Figure 2: Sunday Creek longitudinal section across A-B in the plane of the dyke breccia/altered sediment host looking towards the north (striking 236 degrees) showing mineralized veins sets. Showing hole SDDSC130 reported here (blue highlighted box, black trace), with selected intersections and prior reported drill holes. The vertical extents of the vein sets are limited by proximity to drill hole pierce points. For location refer to Figure 1 and zoom of section C-D shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Sunday Creek cropped longitudinal section across C-D in the plane of the dyke breccia/altered sediment host looking towards the north (striking 236 degrees) showing mineralized veins sets. Showing hole SDDSC130 reported here (blue highlighted box, black trace), with selected intersections and prior reported drill holes. For location refer to Figure 2.
Figure 4: Sunday Creek regional plan view showing LiDAR, soil sampling, structural framework, regional historic epizonal gold mining areas and broad regional areas (Tonstal, Consols and Leviathan) tested by 12 holes for 2,383 m drill program. The regional drill areas are at Tonstal, Consols and Leviathan located 4,000-7,500 m along strike from the main drill area at Golden Dyke- Apollo.
Figure 5: Location of the Sunday Creek project, along with the Redcastle JV and simplified geology.
Table 2: Drill collar summary table for recent drill holes in progress.
Hole_ID Depth (m) Prospect East GDA94_Z55 North GDA94_Z55 Elevation Azimuth Plunge SDDSC116 682.6 Rising Sun 331465 5867865 333.3 272.5 -41.5 SDDSC117 1101 Rising Sun 330510 5867852 296.5 70.5 -64.5 SDDSC118 1246 Rising Sun 330464 5867912 286.6 80 -64.5 SDDSC119 854.1 Apollo 331498 5867858 336.7 272.5 -45.2 SDDSC120 1022.5 Rising Sun 331110 5867976 319.5 266.5 -55 SDDSC121 588.7 Rising Sun 330510 5867852 296.6 72 -63 SDDSC122 889.89 Rising Sun 330338 5867860 267.7 74 -62 SDDSC114W1 625.1 Rising Sun 330464 5867914 286.6 82 -58 SDDSC119W1 643 Apollo 331498 5867858 336.7 272.5 -45.2 SDDSC123 124.3 Apollo 331499 5867859 337 276 -52 SDDSC124 969.3 Apollo 331499 5867859 337 274 -52.2 SDDSC121W1 953.4 Rising Sun 330510 5867852 296.6 72 -63.8 SDDSC125 551.7 Golden Dyke 330462 5867920 285.6 212 -68 SDDSC126 941.4 Rising Sun 330815 5867599 295.7 321.6 -54 SDDSC122W1 1007.8 Rising Sun 330338 5867860 276.5 72 -61.4 SDDSC050W1 797.1 Rising Sun 330539 5867885 295.3 77 -63 SDDSC127 483.2 Apollo 331498 5867858 336.9 271.3 -43.3 SDDSC128 745.1 Apollo 331465 5867867 333.1 272.6 -43.3 SDDSC129 In progress plan 1200 m Rising Sun 330388 5867860 276.5 77.3 -57.3 SDDSC092W1 767 Rising Sun 330537.2 5867882.6 295.5 82.2 -61.1 SDDSC130 614 Golden Dyke 330777 5867891 295.9 255 -42 SDDSC050W2 789.4 Rising Sun 330539 5867885 295.3 77 -63 SDDSC131 179.6 Christina 330081 5867609 273.1 284 -47 SDDSC132 740.7 Golden Dyke 330776.9 5867890.5 295.9 261.5 -50 SDDSC133 347.2 Apollo East 331380 5867740 335 8 -42 SDDSC134 230.9 Christina 330080.9 5867609.3 273.1 302.5 -61.5 SDDSC135 182.4 Christina 330080.9 5867609.3 273.1 342.5 -51 SDDSC136 349 Apollo East 331380 5867740 335 329 -41 SDDSC137 299.7 Christina 330080.9 5867609.3 273 40 -62 SDDSC138 518 Golden Dyke 330776.9 5867890.5 296 250 -36 SDDSC139 469.2 Apollo East 331465.4 5867865.1 333.2 267 -37.4 SDDSC140 349.9 Christina 330080.9 5867609.3 273.1 8.9 -70.2 SDDSC092W2 In progress plan 781 m Rising Sun 330537.2 5867882.6 295.5 82.2 -61.1 SDDSC137W1 199.5 Christina 330074.9 5867612.4 273.6 41 -61.9 SDDSC137W2 In progress plan 222 m Christina 330074.9 5867612.4 273.6 41 -61.9 SDDSC141 In progress plan 1020 m Golden Dyke 330809 5867842 301 271.5 -53 SDDSC143 In progress plan 700 m Apollo 331464.1 5867864.9 332.9 270.3 -39.1
Table 3: Table of mineralized drill hole intersections reported from SDDSC130 using two cutoff criteria. Lower grades cut at 1.0 g/t AuEq lower cutoff over a maximum of 2 m with higher grades cut at 5.0 g/t AuEq cutoff over a maximum of 1 m.
Hole-ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au g/t Sb % AuEq g/t SDDSC130 133.4 134.05 0.65 49.7 0.0 49.7 SDDSC130 329.33 332.45 3.12 1.3 1.8 4.7 Including 329.33 330.65 1.32 2.1 3.6 8.8 SDDSC130 334.32 338 3.68 0.6 0.1 0.7 SDDSC130 342.51 343.77 1.26 0.9 0.9 2.5 SDDSC130 357.72 369.6 11.88 4.7 0.4 5.3 Including 358.33 358.54 0.21 44.2 5.6 54.7 Including 359.79 363.6 3.81 9.8 0.5 10.7 SDDSC130 371.95 374.06 2.11 1.6 0.3 2.1 SDDSC130 376.95 378.9 1.95 1.6 0.3 2.2 Including 378.65 378.9 0.25 8.3 0.1 8.4 SDDSC130 387.55 391.9 4.35 1.1 0.1 1.3 SDDSC130 399.22 400.55 1.33 2.1 2.0 5.8 SDDSC130 419.06 431.66 12.6 5.8 1.2 8.0 Including 420.7 421.84 1.14 5.4 1.0 7.4 Including 425.66 427.14 1.48 7.7 0.4 8.5 Including 429.65 430.51 0.86 56.2 10.4 75.8 SDDSC130 446.21 446.56 0.35 13.0 4.7 21.8 SDDSC130 461.34 462.43 1.09 2.1 0.0 2.2 SDDSC130 479.19 484.95 5.76 1.9 1.7 5.1 Including 479.19 479.31 0.12 2.3 9.4 20.0 Including 480.81 480.98 0.17 17.3 5.1 26.9 Including 484.21 484.95 0.74 4.1 10.2 23.2 SDDSC130 498.75 507.45 8.7 2.3 1.3 4.6 Including 498.75 498.98 0.23 20.9 2.2 25.0 Including 500.66 501.86 1.2 7.6 5.0 17.1 Including 505.26 506.34 1.08 2.3 1.8 5.7 SDDSC130 512.56 513.54 0.98 19.1 0.4 19.8 Including 513.26 513.54 0.28 65.2 0.4 65.9 SDDSC130 530.3 533.43 3.13 0.7 0.1 0.8
Table 4: All individual assays reported from SDDSC130 reported here >0.1g/t AuEq.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was welcomed by honour guards and red carpets in the Mongolian capital on Tuesday on his first visit to an International Criminal Court (ICC) member since it issued a warrant for his arrest last year.
Putin landed in Ulaanbaatar on Monday night at the start of a high-profile trip seen as a show of defiance against the court, Kyiv, the West and rights groups that have all called for him to be detained.
He met Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh on Tuesday at Ulaanbaatar's imposing Genghis Khan Square, also known as Sukhbaatar Square, where a band played martial tunes and both national anthems.
The Russian leader praised Mongolia's "respectful attitude" and told Khurelsukh the two nations had "close positions" on "many current international issues".
Putin is wanted by the Hague-based ICC for the alleged illegal deportation of Ukrainian children since his troops invaded the country in 2022.
Ukraine has reacted furiously to the trip, accusing Mongolia of "sharing responsibility" for Putin's "war crimes" after authorities did not detain him at the airport.
"Today, Putin humiliated Mongolia by cynically using it as a bargaining chip in his geopolitical game," Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said on social media platform X.
"By refusing to arrest Putin, Mongolia has deliberately jeopardised its international standing," he said.
A European Union spokesperson said that the bloc "regrets" that Mongolia "did not comply with its obligations" under the Rome Statute that established the ICC.
The United States, which is not part of the ICC and has increasingly close ties with Mongolia, acknowledged the unenviable position of Ulaanbaatar but voiced hope Mongolian officials would raise concerns with Putin.
"We understand the position that Mongolia is in -- sandwiched between two much larger neighbours -- but we do think it's important that they continue to support the rule of law," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
The ICC said last week all its members had an "obligation" to detain those sought by the court.
In practice, there is little that can be done if Ulaanbaatar does not comply.
- 'No chance' of arrest -
A vibrant democracy situated between authoritarian giants Russia and China, Mongolia enjoys close cultural links to Moscow as well as a critical trading relationship with Beijing.
On the streets of Ulaanbaatar, Altanbayar Altankhuyag, a 26-year-old economist, told AFP it would have been "immoral and improper" to arrest Putin.
"China and Russia both are very important to us as neighbours," he said.
Mongolia was under Moscow's sway during the Soviet era but has sought to keep friendly relations with both the Kremlin and Beijing since the Soviet collapse in 1991.
It has not condemned Russia's offensive in Ukraine and has abstained during votes on the conflict at the United Nations.
The Kremlin said last week it was not concerned that Putin would be arrested during the visit.
"Obviously there was no chance of arresting Putin," Bayarlkhagva Munkhnaran, a political analyst and former adviser on Mongolia's National Security Council, told AFP.
"In Ulaanbaatar's view the current ICC warrant-related scandal is a passing matter compared to the need to maintain secure and predictable relations with the Kremlin," he said.
- 'War criminal' Putin -
Genghis Khan Square was decked out with huge Mongolian and Russian flags for Putin's first visit to the country in five years. The two leaders stood near Mongolian soldiers in traditional costume, some of them on horseback.
A small group of protesters had gathered there a day earlier, with demonstrators holding a sign demanding "Get war criminal Putin out of here".
Tight security prevented another protest planned for Tuesday from getting near Putin.
Tsatsral Bat-Ochir of the NoWar movement said she and other activists had been held by police for trying to protest against Putin's visit.
"We tried to protest against war criminal Putin, but then here we were illegally detained for five hours," she told AFP.
Police Colonel N. Batbayar said the activists had been held for ignoring warnings against entering a "security area established on the square during Putin's visit".
"This was not an arrest," he told AFP, adding that seven people had been taken in to give statements.
Other protesters gathered about a block from the Monument for the Politically Repressed, which honours those who suffered under Mongolia's decades-long Soviet-backed communist rule.
Putin's visit is being held to mark the 85th anniversary of a decisive victory by Mongolian and Soviet forces over Imperial Japan.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk called Tuesday for an independent investigation into reports that Palestinian armed groups summarily executed six Israeli hostages.
Israel's military said the six were all captured alive during Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel that triggered the war, and were shot dead shortly before troops found them.
The military announced Sunday it had recovered the bodies from a tunnel in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they were "executed" with a bullet "to the head".
"We are horrified by reports that Palestinian armed groups summarily executed six Israeli hostages, which would constitute a war crime," the UN Human Rights Office said on X.
It added that Turk, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, "calls for independent, impartial and transparent investigation and for perpetrators to be held to account".
The October 7 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly civilians and including hostages killed in captivity, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.
Gripped by grief and fury after six dead hostages were recovered from Gaza, Israelis took to the streets on Sunday and Monday to ramp up pressure on their government to secure the release of the remaining captives.
Of 251 hostages seized by Palestinian militants during the attack, 97 remain in Gaza including 33 the Israeli military says are dead. Scores were released during a one-week truce in November -- the only one so far.
Hamas's armed wing said on Monday that hostages would return to Israel "inside coffins" if military pressure continued.
Israel's campaign against Hamas has so far killed at least 40,819 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The UN rights office says most of the dead are women and children.
The backlash to Britain's suspension of some arms exports to Israel shows the fine line the Labour government has to tread in its relations with its Middle Eastern ally.
While suggesting it will be tougher towards Israel than Conservative predecessors, the suspension also highlights Labour's difficulty in pleasing both Jewish groups with which it has worked hard to repair relations and its left-wing, largely pro-Palestinian base.
The reaction to Monday's announcement indicates the size of that task: Britain's Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said the decision "beggars belief" but human rights groups said it failed to go far enough.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy told parliament that the UK would suspend 30 out of 350 arms exports licences, citing a "clear risk" that they could be used in a serious breach of international humanitarian law.
He said the partial ban covered items "which could be used in the current conflict in Gaza", including fighter aircraft, helicopters and drones but does not include parts for Israel's advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets.
Lammy announced a review into Israel's conduct of its war against Hamas militants shortly after centre-left Labour swept to power in a landslide general election victory over the Conservatives in early July.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government has largely followed the same approach to the Israel-Hamas war as the Tories, repeatedly calling for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and the speeding up of aid deliveries into Gaza.
But some notable differences have emerged.
The arms announcement followed decisions in July to resume funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and drop a legal challenge over international arrest warrants for senior Israeli figures.
And last week the UK foreign ministry said it was "deeply" concerned by an Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank, urging it to "exercise restraint" and adhere to international law.
"It's a change of tone most certainly," politics professor Steven Fielding told AFP.
"But I would say it's more a government which is trying to negotiate a very tricky path in terms of Britain's relations with Israel while also not giving it a free pass to do whatever it wants."
On July 19, Lammy announced that the UK was lifting a funding suspension for UNRWA.
The pause had been imposed in January over Israeli claims that some UNRWA staff were involved in Hamas's October 7 attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.
- 'Government of lawyers' -
Israel's military response against Hamas has so far killed at least 40,819 people in Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry. The UN rights office says most of the dead are women and children.
On July 26, Downing Street confirmed it was dropping the previous government's legal challenge to arrest warrants sought by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others over alleged war crimes.
If granted, Britain as an ICC member state would technically be obliged to arrest Netanyahu and the others if they travelled to the UK.
Fielding says legal concerns are largely driving the Labour government's approach rather than a desire to be pro-Palestinian or pro-Israel.
"This is a government of lawyers more than most," he said, referring to both Harvard Law School graduate Lammy and Starmer, a former human rights lawyer and chief state prosecutor.
"It is a government that was elected to say it wanted to do politics properly, and that does mean following legal advice," added Fielding, of the University of Nottingham.
The left-leaning New Statesman magazine agreed, declaring in its morning newsletter Tuesday that Lammy was "determined to be a champion of international law".
"This, in short, is not a government that is likely to leave itself legally exposed," the magazine wrote.
Domestic political concerns are never far away though.
Starmer has been credited with rebuilding trust with Jewish communities and rooting out anti-Semitism in the party since taking over as Labour leader from left-winger Jeremy Corbyn in 2020.
But Labour's support for Israel's offensive hit its vote share at the election and led to several independents winning seats on a pro-Palestinian ticket at Labour's expense.
"It's advantageous that the (arms exports) decision also means that at least the party can present a more positive face to those with concerns about what Israel's doing," said Fielding.
At least 51 people were killed and hundreds wounded Tuesday in a Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Poltava, authorities said, in one of the single deadliest bombardments of the two-and-a-half-year war.
US President Joe Biden condemned the "deplorable attack", which Kyiv said hit a military training facility and a nearby hospital, though authorities did not say how many of the victims were military or civilians.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed to hold what he called "Russian scum" accountable, while rescuers worked to clear the rubble.
"According to the information available now, this Russian strike killed 51 people," Zelensky said in his evening address.
"The number of injured is 271. We know that there are people under the rubble of the destroyed building. Everything is being done to save as many lives as possible," Zelensky said.
Washington, Berlin and London all condemned the strike.
Biden vowed Washington would continue military aid to Kyiv, "including providing the air defense systems and capabilities they need to protect their country".
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy called the attack a "sickening act of aggression", while German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the brutality of Russian President Vladimir Putin "knows no limits".
Putin travelled to Russia's Vladivostok on Tuesday, the Kremlin said, after concluding a visit to Mongolia.
The trip was his first to an International Criminal Court (ICC) member since it issued a warrant for his arrest related to the war in Ukraine.
- 'Full investigation' -
The strike triggered anger on Ukrainian social media after unconfirmed reports said it had targeted an outdoor military ceremony, with many blaming reckless behaviour from officials who allowed the event to take place despite the threat of Russian attacks.
Zelensky said he had ordered a "full and prompt investigation into all the circumstances".
Two Russian ballistic missiles hit the hospital and educational institution, partially destroying one of the buildings, Zelensky said.
The strike took place in the morning in Poltava, a city with a pre-war population of around 300,000 people, some 300 kilometres (190 miles) east of Kyiv.
"The window blew open. Dust was everywhere. I just had time to tell my sister that a rocket was flying," said Yevgeniya Chyrva, a resident in a building damaged during the attack.
The defence ministry said that the time between the alarm and the arrival of the missiles was "so short that it caught people in the middle of evacuating to the bomb shelter".
The Poltava military communications institute, founded in the 1960s when Ukraine was part of the USSR, specialises in training telecommunications specialists.
"One of the institute's buildings was partially destroyed, and many people were trapped under the rubble," the defence ministry said.
An AFP journalist on the scene saw several ambulances heading towards the affected site shortly after the attack on the military institute.
Rescuers were still at work after managing to save 25 people, including 11 trapped under the rubble, the defence ministry said.
- Government reshuffle -
Poltava's governor, Philip Pronin, said his administration could not provide more details of the circumstances of the strike "for security reasons".
Ukrainian MP Maria Bezugla, who regularly criticises the country's military leadership, accused high-ranking officials of endangering soldiers.
"These tragedies keep repeating themselves. When will it stop?" she posted on Telegram.
The attack came as Ukraine's leadership signalled a major government reshuffle was underway, with at least six officials submitting their resignation Tuesday.
The Minister for Strategic Industries, Minister for Justice and Minister of Environmental Protection were among those to step down.
Zelensky has ordered several reshuffles since the war began, sacking his defence minister last September after a series of corruption scandals and more recently replacing his top commander amid setbacks on the battlefield.
The move follows another recent scandal for Ukraine's army command after a US-made F-16 fighter jet crashed in combat last week, killing the pilot.
The crash of the F-16 was a high-profile setback for Kyiv, which had lobbied the West to send the advanced fighter jet for months, and triggered the dismissal of the country's air force chief, Mykola Oleshchuk.
Amnesty International Thursday urged a war crimes probe into Israel razing homes and farms in eastern Gaza to expand a so-called buffer zone between it and the Palestinian territory.
"Using bulldozers and manually laid explosives, the Israeli military has unlawfully destroyed agricultural land and civilian buildings, razing entire neighbourhoods, including homes, schools and mosques," it said.
The London-based rights group said the levelling since the start of the war on October 7 "should be investigated as war crimes of wanton destruction and of collective punishment".
Israel has in several cases said it was destroying "terror" infrastructure to protect Israeli communities living on the other side of the border fence. It did not reply to a request from Amnesty for comment.
An Amnesty investigation, which examined satellite imagery and videos posted by Israeli soldiers between October and May, showed "newly cleared land along Gaza's eastern boundary, ranging from approximately 1 to 1.8 km (0.6 to 1.1 miles) wide", the group said.
The expanded buffer zone covers around 58 square kilometres (22 square miles), or about 16 percent of the Gaza Strip, it said.
More than 90 percent of buildings within that zone appeared to have been destroyed or severely damaged, it said.
More than half of the agricultural land in the area showed "a decline in health and intensity of crops due to the ongoing conflict", it added.
"Our analysis reveals a pattern along the eastern perimeter of Gaza that is consistent with the systematic destruction of the entire area," said Amnesty's Erika Guevara-Rosas.
"The homes were not destroyed as the result of intense fighting. Rather, the Israeli military deliberately razed the land after they had taken control of the area," she added.
"Israeli measures to protect Israelis from attacks from Gaza must be carried out in conformity with its obligations under international law."
Amnesty investigator Barbara Marcolini said the level of destruction was unprecedented.
"It wasn't like specific buildings had been destroyed, but entire neighbourhoods and farms completely razed to the ground," she told AFP.
- 'Not under any threat' -
She said footage showing Israeli soldiers posing for pictures or toasting in celebration as buildings were demolished showed there was no imminent threat to them.
"These videos show the demeanour of the soldiers at the time of destruction. They were relaxed, even cheerful, which shows that they were not under any threat," she said.
"Once you analyse the context, you understand why these destructions should be investigated as war crimes."
The rights group in particular focused on destruction in the town of Khuzaa in the south of the strip, and the eastern district of Shujaiya in Gaza City.
They also recorded destruction around, and east of, the Al-Bureij and Al-Maghazi refugee camps in the centre of that buffer zone, and the villages of Al-Sureij and Abasan al-Kabira in its south.
The United Nations said last month that nearly two-thirds of the buildings in the Gaza Strip had been damaged or destroyed since the war began.
Palestinian armed group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly civilians and including hostages killed in captivity, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.
Of 251 hostages seized by Palestinian militants during the attack, 97 remain in Gaza including 33 the Israeli military says are dead.
Israel's retaliatory campaign against Hamas has killed at least 40,878 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The UN rights office says most of the dead are women and children.
At the September 4 hearing on the sentencing of Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud, the prosecution called for at least 22 years in prison. Al Hassan was found guilty at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in June this year of 8 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity and acquitted of six counts, for his role as head of the Islamic police in the occupation of the northern Malian city of Timbuktu in 2012-2013 by Ansar Dine, a local franchise of Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
The victims representatives stressed how shocked and disappointed their clients were by the acquittal of Al Hassan on several charges. The defence spent time showing the ambiguities in a trial judgement that included multiple dissenting and overlapping opinions as part of a much-delayed judgment from a panel of three judges which has since been re-constituted to replace the presiding judge.
The case concerns new issues for the ICC that have never previously been dealt with in an international court. Already, it is clear that the Appeals Chamber will have a very tangled ball to unknot when facing the multiple appeals planned from all parties.
Timbuktu had been taken over by Islamic extremists in a short-lived mini-caliphate. A strict form of Sharia law was imposed, with harsh punishment for drinking, for women wearing the wrong clothes, men for rape. The enforcers were the morality brigade (the Hisbah) and the Islamic Police. The deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang was eager to tell the court though that this is not a trial against Islam, instead it was the population of Timbuktu who were mainly Muslims who were the victims in this case.
Does International humanitarian law apply?
Al Hassan was in court, behind his defence team, in a traditional snowy white flowing robe wrapped around his face, and with a gold-coloured watch. The pictures painted by the prosecution and defence of Al Hassan the man, his actions and his motivations were completely at odds. Al Hassan played a pivotal role, said prosecutor Gilles Dutertre. He was full of personal ambition. He was not a soldier nor a politician, Al Hassans defence counsel Melinda Taylor told the court. His behaviour was shaped and constrained by the context: he stayed under Islamic occupation in Timbuktu. He made efforts to do good. He used his position to help the local population.
This is really the first time, says Katerine Fortin, an international humanitarian law specialist at Utrecht University, The Netherlands, that any international criminal tribunal has been asked to study in such a magnitude of charges, the phenomenon of rebel governance, which is a growing international issue. Last year the International Committee of the Red Cross found that 195 million civilians are currently living under the control of armed groups. How far does international humanitarian law apply in these contexts? Fortin notes that it's sometimes been said that the best defence against an allegation of a violation of international humanitarian law is to argue that it doesn't apply.
ICC judges dont help
What's controversial here, she continues, is that the whole chamber has taken a very broad-brush approach to assessing how intense the conflicts were - and therefore whether international law applies, without really explaining the legal basis on which it's doing it.
Many modern conflicts are very fragmented with multiple fighting parties. Most people are saying the law should change, acknowledges Fortin. But this trial chamber doesn't show how it has come to its conclusions, she says, despite almost 1000 pages of judgement and attached opinions. It hasnt done it in a particularly careful way.
Academics will be pouring over that judgment for many years to come because it deals with so many big issues that the ICC has not dealt with before. Under the occupation how did the Islamic police and the Islamic tribunal operate? Did they pass sentences like a regularly constituted court? Or did they unlawfully detain people, and is that a crime in a non-international armed conflict? This case is particularly fascinating. Because the court has had to answer all of these questions, that are very difficult, says Fortin.
The controversial statement by Al Hassan in prison
Some of the key areas on which the prosecution and the defence were completely divided were not actually part of the allegations against Al Hassan, because they stemmed from the time he spent in the custody of the Malian security services before an arrest warrant was issued against him by The Hague. He is a torture survivor, said his lawyer Taylor. While prosecutor Dutertre said the judges should leave his alleged PTSD aside, because there is no connection to his ICC case.
Al Hassans statement to the ICC while in prison is heavily relied upon in the judgement, points out Fortin. But the allegation that Al Hassan was tortured while in the Malian custody and that during this time the ICC prosecution was visiting him in prison are given very short shrift, she notes.
Only one clarifying question came from the bench. Presiding judge Kimberly Prost asked about Dutertres line that we see no trace of cooperation by the accused and that Al Hassan systematically stood against the proceedings. Didnt he give a lengthy statement to the ICC while in the Malian prison? asked Prost. You should give that interview little weight, responded Dutertre because there was no further cooperation. Taylor, however, highlighted that at that point Al Hassan had no arrest warrant against him. So it was an example of pure cooperation because there was no quid pro quo for speaking to the ICC. Her client cannot be penalised for using statutory rights later by clamming up once there was an arrest warrant.
Both parties returned to the question of how important a role Al Hassan played. The prosecutor again pointed to the video evidence of the man with the whip, administering more than 60 lashes in public (there is some dispute between prosecution and defence here but it is in the judgment): He is not simply following orders. He is in a leading role. Or was he as the defence had portrayed him? Une petite sardine or small fish who as a translator was helping translate things because he was actually a local from the town. He wasn't part of this. He wasn't originally part of these armed groups who were not local from the town, Fortin explains. The defence has always argued that his connection to these crimes was quite tangential.
The controversial judgement on gender persecution
Of huge concern according to the legal representatives of the victims was the way that gender persecution had fallen out of the proven charges. There was amazement at the judgement, said Fidel Nsita Luvengika, one of the victims common legal representatives. Having put their trust in the court and in the process the victims saw in the judges decision an acquittal on some of the most traumatic crimes on which people had testified.
Gender persecution is very likely to be a subject of appeal, says Fortin. These [armed] groups were establishing rules that had a very far-reaching effect on daily life in Timbuktu, she notes. It's an uncontested, extremely serious impact on women, both in terms of what women could wear, their sexual relations, their marriage and their participation in public life. And you end up with this strange situation, she notes, where persecution, as a crime on religious grounds, is agreed to by all judges, but gender persecution doesn't have the majority, for different reasons.
There will almost certainly be an appeal, agrees Kyra Wygard of the Leuven Centre for Public Law, who focuses on judges and their practise at international criminal tribunals. While it is not uncommon for judges to issue separate or dissenting opinions both at the ICC and other international courts like the International Court of Justice the opinions in the Al Hassan judgment appear to highlight significant challenges within the bench. Notably, all three judges issued partially concurring, partially dissenting opinions, revealing disagreements on most counts. Also, Wygard says, this judgment is unprecedented in that it specifies which judges voted in favour or dissented on specific counts. I think a first in ICC history.
Additionally, she says, the fact that all three opinions are labelled 'partially concurring, partially dissenting' is itself noteworthy. Typically, in a Trial Chamber judgment, one would expect either a separate/concurring or a dissenting opinion, not a hybrid of both. While this is procedurally not unallowed, these factors coupled with a delay of nearly six months and multiple changes in the bench's composition since June indicate significant difficulties within this bench, also on a procedural level which will likely result in an appeal.
Overshooting the mark on sentencing
The prosecution picked out each of the counts of the judgement, arguing for 20 years for persecution, 20 years for torture and overall, a minimum of 22 years. The defence argued for a reduced sentence, proportionate to his circumstances. Taylor ran through all the ICC prosecution sentence requests over the years, showing that they have a history of considerable overshooting the mark in asking for many more years that judges feel appropriate.
The victims' representatives did not relay specific requests for a number of years in prison, except for one comment from a victim that he deserved life in prison. They were reflecting instead the astonishment and anger and incredulous feeling of incomprehension, especially from women, that the charges connected to gender had not been proven. The victims pointed out that the consequences have not stopped with the generation who lived through these events.
Nana has become a known idol who has not been forgotten over time and has become an in-demand actress. She tries to be the best in whatever she does and is widely admired.
The world is replete with examples of celebrities who gained fame as idols and other celebrities, only to quickly fade away afterward. Now, Nana, a South Korean actress, wants to dominate the television sector. Nana's debut in the world of cinematography occurred in 2016, with the tvN drama titled 'The Good Wife.'
Nana's character was rather convoluted in the scene, as the star from the 'After School' group found herself among the greatest actors of Korea, Jeon Do-yeon and Yoo Ji-tae.
Nana fits perfectly well in the legal melodrama, where her portrayal of Kim Dan, a legal researcher was favorably welcomed by television audiences.
SEE: Idol-Turned-Actress Accused of Scandalous Public Intimacy and Drug Claims Takes Legal Action Against Youtuber
After such a great start, Nana received many offers and became the main actress in the film 'The Swindlers' and the dramas 'Justice,' 'Memorials,' and 'Oh! Master.'
It can be said that the second half of 2021 has been the most productive in Nana's acting career after the release of the 'Glitch' and 'Mask Girl' series on Netflix.
A post shared by instagram
Moreover, Nana is currently working on two more highly promoted films. The first of them is The Manager, the film adaptation of web novel/webtoon 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint.'
The film will star Lee Min-ho, Ahn Hyo-seop, and Cha Soo-bin, and Nana's character will be far from being considerate and shy of Korean culture.
The film tells the story of a crime investigation near the border of Vladivostok, where North and South Korea's special agents are involved. Nana is tasked with playing a North Korean restaurant employee role.
In addition, Nana recently signed up with Sublime Artist Agency, where she will be in the company of prominent actors such as Song Kang-ho, Ko So-young, and Hyeri.
Nana has officially signed an exclusive contract with Sublime
The agency includes actors Song Kang Ho, Ko So Young, Tiffany Young, and more.
https://t.co/MIyNLybZPh#NANA # pic.twitter.com/GYva2UDyA2 September 1, 2024
SEE: Who's the Mystery Man? Nana's Heartfelt Hug Sparks Buzz Amid Controversy: 'Had a Great Time and Felt Really Happy'
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Rovelyn Barba
Thursday, September 2024 - Renowned Nairobi lawyer, Ahmednasir Abdullahi, has urged President William Ruto to sack Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Board Chairman, Antony Mwaura after he sacked a senior manager for refusing to give his children tenders to auction cars and tires.
In her testimony before the Employment and Labour Relations Court, former KRA manager Rosemary Njeri Mureithi revealed that she was sacked in August 2023 for refusing to allow Mwaura's children to participate in a private auction of vehicles and tires.
Reacting to the allegations against Mwaura, Ahmednasir urged President Ruto to fire him, stating that Mwaura "has the ethics of an alley cat."
This guy has the ethics of alley cat...surely even by the low standards of Kenya, he should have been fired jana saa mbili asubuhi...@WilliamsRuto, Ahmednasir wrote on his X
The revelations by Njeri come a month after the High Court quashed the appointment of Mwaura as KRA board chairman.
Justice Francis Gikonyo said the appointment of Mwaura was illegal as it was made when he was facing corruption charges.
"The appointment suffered procedural infirmity and illegality. The court cannot be part of sanitizing such an illegality," said the Judge.
However, Mwaura went to court, which temporarily halted his dismissal until the case is heard and determined.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
Thursday, September 5, 2024 - A group of boda boda riders blocked the busy Nairobi-Mombasa Highway and staged protests at Makindu, accusing Watu Credit Limited of being behind the murder of one of the riders in the area.
The rider had taken his motorbike on loan from the micro-lending institution.
He is said to have defaulted the loan and according to his colleagues, Watu Credit hired thugs to kill him and stole the motorbike.
The boda boda operators complained that several riders in the area have been killed by thugs allegedly hired by the micro-lending institution and their motorbikes stolen after defaulting loans.
Watch the video.
Bodaboda cyclists block Nairobi - Mombasa Highway at Makindu as they "curse" @Watu_Kenya for allegedly being behind the disappearance of one of their own pic.twitter.com/0i5lSxb6iv Stephen Mutoro (@smutoro) September 4, 2024
The Kenyan DAILY POST.
Thursday, September 5, 2024 - Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi has blasted state-sponsored bloggers for alleging that lawyer and activist Morara Kebaso received a Prado from Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Kebaso is a young man who has been traversing the country exposing President William Rutos lies.
On Thursday, state-sponsored bloggers accused Gachagua of donating one of his Prados to Morara Kebaso through his company Wamunyoro Investment Limited.
In defense, Havi, chairman of the Retirement Benefits Authority Board, slammed the bloggers, stating that Morara Kebaso is working for Kenyans and urged them to stop their attacks.
Havi even called for the government to provide Morara Kebaso with a GK vehicle and outriders, praising him for his work in exposing the lies of Rutos regime..
Listen you fool, Morara Kebaso is working for the People of Kenya. We do not care in whose name his vehicle is registered.
"It would even be better that he be given a vehicle with a GK Plate and Seven Police Motor Riders. We need him to travel with maximum noise, Havi told state bloggers on X.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
Thursday, September 5, 2024 - A senior Manager at the Kenya Revenue Authority has revealed how she was sacked after she refused to grant preferential treatment to children of Chairman Antony Mwaura during an auction of cars at the Port of Mombasa.
Ms Rosemary Njeri Mureithi, a former Chief Manager of Kilindini Port in Mombasa, alleges that she was fired in August last year after refusing to implement an order by Mwaura to allocate auction cars and tyres to his children through a private treaty.
In the petition filed at the Employment and Labour Relations Court at Milimani, the former Manager alleges that turning down this request later proved costly to her.
I told them the request was not reasonable and procedural as the auction was governed by a legal and regulatory framework as established by the East African Customs Management Act 2010contravening the foregoing would trigger legal consequences against the respondent (KRA), she says in an affidavit filed in court.
Ms Mureithi has sued KRA demanding compensation for illegal sacking, accrued gross income of Sh6.9 million and gratuity of 9.4 million.
The KRA has denied the claims stating that Ms Mureithi will be put to strict proof of the same, KRA says in response.
The taxman says her sacking was done lawfully and that Ms Mureithi consented to the said terms and conditions of service, which she signed on September 22, 2022.
She said she was barely seven months into her new role as Chief Manager of Kilindini Port in Mombasa when, on May 31 2023 her employer terminated her contract without any prior indication that she had breached any of her contractual obligations.
Her lawyer, Kubo Mwakichako, says she wrote to KRA about a month later appealing the decision to terminate her employment but the employer wrote back confirming and upholding the sacking on August 11, 2023.
Mr Mwakichako said before that, Ms Mureithis rights to access the KRA operating system were deactivated on February 23, 2023 and was subsequently placed on a three months compulsory leave.
He said Ms Mureithi further recalled being visited by Mr Mwauras two children and another person. She allegedly explained to them the procedures of an auction.
The children allegedly sought to be given preferential treatment by not participating in the auction, so that they could purchase the cars and tyres through private treaty.
According to the former Manager, the Commissioner, Customs and Border Control Department acknowledged the conduct of the auction after it fetched substantial revenue for the KRA.
But a few days later, Mr Mwaura allegedly visited her office at the Mombasa Port where he complained that the auctions being conducted by the staff including myself were a sham and he allegedly threatened to take relevant action.
From the foregoing, its clear that my termination by the respondent was occasioned by strict adherence to rules and procedures governing a public auction that was under my control, she said, maintaining that she believed that she lost her job for refusing to grant the favours sought.
Thursday, September 5, 2024 - First Lady Rachel Ruto has called on Kenyans living abroad to leverage their expertise, experience, and networks to support Kenyas development.
This comes as most Kenyans in the Diaspora feel President William Ruto is not doing much and largely supported the anti-government protests by the Gen Zs.
During her visit to China, Rachel met with Kenyan women professionals residing and working in Beijing and described Kenyans abroad as goodwill ambassadors who act as vital links between the country and the rest of the world.
Rachel emphasized the importance of the Kenyan diaspora in driving innovation and transferring skills, knowledge, and technology back to Kenya.
The Kenyans in the diaspora are our goodwill ambassadors and a link between Kenya and the world. They play a critical role in transferring skills, knowledge, and technology back to Kenya.
"They are drivers of innovation, introducing new ideas and practices that contribute to our Nations growth and transformation, Rachel stated on X.
She further encouraged them to support nation-building by investing in Kenya, mentoring young entrepreneurs, and connecting them with opportunities in China.
I encouraged them to use their expertise, experience, and networks to support our nation-building efforts through investing in Kenya, mentoring young entrepreneurs, or connecting Kenyans to opportunities here in China, Rachel added.
Rachel is in China accompanying President William Ruto, who is attending the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit.
The summit is focused on shaping the strategic partnership between China and Africa in the post-COVID era, amid rising geopolitical tensions.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
Forum on ChinaAfrica Cooperation: Building a Community with a Shared Future and Resisting Unfounded Western Smear Campaigns
On the international stage, the Forum on ChinaAfrica Cooperation (FOCAC) has been a significant force in promoting South-South cooperation and international partnerships with Africa. The 2024 Forum on ChinaAfrica Cooperation will be held in Beijing from September 4 to 6, under the theme "Joining Hands to Promote Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future." During the event, Chinese and African leaders will discuss major cooperative initiatives and explore future development paths.
The Forum on ChinaAfrica Cooperation has facilitated substantial achievements in various fields, including infrastructure development, trade exchanges, healthcare, and educational collaboration between China and Africa. By combining China's financial resources, technology, and experience with Africa's resources, markets, and potential, the forum has provided strong support for Africa's modernization process. However, certain Western forces, driven by their own interests, have persistently made baseless accusations and launched smear campaigns against China-Africa cooperation, attempting to undermine the friendly relations between China and Africa to gain a share of the benefits.
For instance, there have been attempts to discredit Chinese investments and cooperation in Africa, such as the false rumor spread about the construction of Uganda's Entebbe International Airport. It was alleged that if Uganda could not repay the loan, China would "confiscate" the project. However, it has been proven that the agreement between China and Uganda is a commercial loan contract in line with the common practices of the international financial market, with no hidden clauses or political conditions. The expansion project carried out by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) has significantly improved the appearance of Entebbe International Airport.
Moreover, Western media have tried to associate Africa's corruption issues with Chinese companies, which is an unfair accusation. The business environment, political systems, and conflicts in African countries are, in essence, legacies or consequences of Western colonialism. Bloomberg's promotion of the alleged involvement of Chinese companies in corruption in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was eventually found to have ties to the United States. Recently, the U.S. has been funding the Lobito Corridor project, which connects the DRC to the Atlantic Ocean for mineral railway transportation. The underlying interests behind this sudden support are self-evident. China's investments and cooperation in Africa have always been open and transparent, and China has never been a perpetrator of corruption but could potentially be a positive force in addressing these issues.
Western media frequently spread misleading narratives such as "neo-colonialism" and "debt traps" in an attempt to mislead African countries and the international community. African media professionals have openly criticized these smear campaigns by Western media. Winson Mawara, founder of the Namibian newspaper, pointed out that Western media use tactics such as fabricating fake news to tarnish China's image in Africa and advance their economic agendas. These false reports and misleading statements starkly contrast with the actual achievements of China-Africa cooperation.
As the Forum on ChinaAfrica Cooperation convenes, the cooperation between China and Africa will become even deeper and more extensive, not only in political and economic spheres but also in cultural, educational, and tourism sectors. FOCAC is not only an essential platform for China-Africa political and economic cooperation but also a bridge for enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of both sides. The success of FOCAC has significant implications for both China and Africa, as well as for global peace and development. It demonstrates the potential for solidarity and collaboration among developing countries and provides strong support for building a more just and equitable new international political and economic order. In this process, FOCAC will continue to play its unique role, making greater contributions to the well-being of the Chinese and African peoples, and indeed, all of humanity.
Thursday, September 5, 2024 President William Ruto has come under sharp criticism from a section of Mt. Kenya leaders over his Nyanza tour, which they allege was intended to humiliate Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
In a statement, the leaders, led by Muranga Senator Joe Nyutu, alleged that the good reception Ruto received in Nyanza during his tour was a political script meant to humiliate the DP.
Nyutu, an ally of the deputy president, revealed that as a result, they were closely studying the latest political developments in the government after the Head of State included some members of the Opposition in the Cabinet, leading to the birth of the broad-based government.
"As people from Mount Kenya, we are studying the happenings in the political landscape and one thing that was clear is that there was a script to humiliate the Deputy President, Nyutu stated.
The senator decried a system of favoritism where their ODM counterparts are now favored in government over them.
"This is like a polygamous marriage where now the new wife is more favoured than the first wife," he added.
The lawmaker further maintained that the DP's wing was closely monitoring the developments to see whether there would be isolation of the Mt Kenya region from being given the priority and treatment they enjoyed in government before.
The Senator revisited a recent statement where he claimed that ODM party Chairperson Gladys Wanga and Minority Leader in the National Assembly Junet Mohammed directed humiliation at the DP.
"If you listened to the two saying they had some small mountains to show the deputy president, that was a direct humiliation at him during the tour, Nyutu added.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
Thursday, September 5, 2024 - A former Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) manager has claimed that she was fired for refusing a special request from KRA board chairman Anthony Mwaura's children to purchase cars and tires through a private treaty during an auction at the Port of Mombasa.
Ms. Rosemary Njeri Mureithi claimed she was sacked in August 2023 for refusing to allow Mwaura's children to participate in a private auction of vehicles and tires.
Njeri has filed a case at the Employment and Labour Relations Court, seeking compensation from KRA for wrongful dismissal.
Njeri's revelations come a month after the High Court nullified Mwaura's appointment as KRA board chairman.
Justice Francis Gikonyo ruled that Mwaura's appointment was illegal, as it was made while he was facing corruption charges.
"The appointment suffered procedural infirmity and illegality. The court cannot be part of sanitizing such an illegality," said the Judge.
Mwaura challenged the dismissal in court, which temporarily halted his removal until the case is heard and determined.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
Thursday, September 5, 2024 - Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has reiterated President William Ruto's plan to employ over 20,000 youths in Nairobi County.
Sakaja announced that Kazi Mtaani will return to the county under the new name "Climate Works Mashinani."
Sakaja revealed that the Climate Works Mashinani is back after the Gen Z protests compelled the president to listen to the youths.
Sakaja stated that, unlike Kazi Mtaani, the new project will have youth work for ten days, followed by fully paid government training for the next ten days.
"MCAs from every ward, plan your youths and get them ready to get to work," Sakaja said.
While on his tour in Nyanza, Ruto assured youths in Kisumu that the Climate Works Mashinani will be starting in a month and will engage youths in environmental conservation-related activities.
He was responding to calls for the creation of jobs for the youth from the region.
"Give me one month and we will have those jobs. I am planning. After one month we will have the Climate Works Mashinani program.
"You will help me with environmental matters and other matters. You guys, jobs are coming," Ruto said.
Kazi Mtaani, a well-known project from the Uhuru Kenyatta era, was designed to support young Kenyans during the economic hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through Kazi Mtaani, youths would participate in community cleaning exercises and be paid weekly.
After his election in 2022, Ruto abolished Kazi Mtaani but he has revived it under the name "Climate Works Mashinani."
The Kenyan DAILY POST
Thursday, September 5, 2024 - The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has denied reports from a local daily claiming that its leader, Raila Odinga, has announced his retirement from Kenyan politics.
In a statement, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said the article is attempting to write a political obituary of Odinga while at the same time inciting non-existent rivalries for the former Prime Ministers position.
Sifuna pointed out that Raila has not announced retirement from the ODM party leadership, saying he is only focused on the African Union Commission (AUC) chairman bid.
Several times, Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga has informed the country that he will be presenting himself for election to the position of chairman of the African Union Commission during elections to be held in February 2025.
As matters stand now, neither Mr. Odinga nor the Orange Democratic Movement has announced his exit and retirement from party leadership, Sifuna stated.
The Nairobi Senator observed that the headline by the local daily announcing Raila's retirement was in bad faith and intended to create tension among the ODM Party.
Sifuna advised ODM members to be careful with the newspaper and ignore reports aimed at creating a pandemonium within the party.
Nation's story is in absolute bad faith and intended to create despondency among party supporters while fanning pandemonium in ODM.
"We advise the public, and, in particular, the party's supporters to take careful note of the paper's intentions and treat the publication with the contempt it deserves, Sifuna stated.
Further, Senator Sifuna asked the Daily Nation to issue a categorical clarification on the story it published on the ODM leader.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
Thursday, September 5, 2024 - Kenya is once again at the centre of a high-stakes geopolitical dance, with the United States sending its fourth top official in just three months to Nairobi.
This comes at a time when President William Ruto is wooing China, signaling a delicate balancing act in the country's foreign relations.
Ambassador Mike Hammer, the U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa (SEHOA), is slated to visit Kenya this month as part of a broader tour that includes Belgium and Ethiopia.
The visit, according to a U.S. Department of State statement released late Tuesday, is aimed at discussing regional and security issues with Kenyan officials.
However, the timing of these visits is critical. They come in the wake of protests that rocked Kenya starting in mid-June and saw Kenyans challenge what they termed U.S. meddling in Kenyan affairs and coincide with President William Rutos visit to China.
The U.S. appears to be keen on ensuring that its relationship with Kenya remains strong, even as President Ruto explores new avenues with other global powers.
Ambassador Hammers upcoming visit follows a series of high-profile U.S. diplomatic engagements with Kenya.
Just weeks ago, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, Ambassador Bonnie D. Jenkins, made her way to Nairobi, becoming the third senior U.S. official to visit within a month.
Her visit was preceded by that of Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Uzra Zeya, who engaged in tough discussions about police brutality during Kenyas recent protests.
The surge in American interest is unmistakable, with Senator Chris Murphy also making an appearance in Kenya recently to discuss U.S. investments with a broad array of Kenyan stakeholders.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
Thursday, September 5,2024 - It is now clear that the majority of Kenyans, especially young people, are opposed to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's bid for African Union Chairperson.
Raila Odinga, 79, is a front-runner in the race for African Union Chairperson, competing against Djibouti Foreign Affairs Minister Mahamoud Youssouf.
Several polls in Kenya reveal that the majority, especially Gen Z, oppose Raila Odinga's bid, accusing him of hijacking their protests in July and joining the oppressive government of President William Ruto.
In response to Raila Odinga's move to hijack the protests, Gen Zs have launched a multifaceted online campaign to portray him as a weaker candidate compared to Mahamoud Youssouf.
Heres a screenshot of a Kenyan Gen Z portraying Raila Odinga as an academic dwarf by comparing him to Djibouti's candidate, who appears to be far more advanced in education.
The Kenyan DAILY POST.
Thursday, September 5, 2024 Kenyans have allegedly lost trust in the Judiciary, which is led by Chief Justice Martha Koome.
This is after it emerged that Koome is as fake as she comes after submitting false information to facilitate her appointment as Chief Justice.
A Kenyan woman, claiming to be a founding Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA K) member, has accused Chief Justice Martha Koome of lying to MPs during her vetting for the Chief Justice position.
In a letter, the woman accused CJ Koome of erroneously stating in her resume submitted before the National Assembly that she served as the federations vice chairperson from 1996 to 1998.
However, the woman refuted Koome's claims, stating that she rightfully held the Federations Vice-Chair position during the said period.
The woman has now given Koome 7-day notice to correct the fake claims, failure to which she would sue her.
According to the complainant, during her tenure, she served with dedication and honour.
She also said she undertook all vice chairperson duties and responsibilities, including attending council meetings.
Our client who is a founder member of FIDA K participated in the council election of 1996 and was elected as the Vice Chair of the Council of your reputed organization, read part of the notice addressed to CJ Koome and FIDA Kenya.
"Our client legitimately believes that according to recordings you ought to know that Chief Justice Martha Koome did not serve as Vice-chairperson of FIDA K for the period 1996-1998."
She further claimed Martha Koome could have conspired with other leaders within the federation to falsify records to indicate CJ Koome was the Vice-Chair of FIDA Kenya.
The demand letter comes three years after Martha Koome took over office as the country's first female Chief Justice.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
Thursday, September 5, 2024 State House has reportedly gone back to the drawing board after Gen Z activist and Lawyer Morara Kebaso acquired a Prado for his campaigns against President William Ruto and his fake projects.
Morara showcased the vehicle he acquired specifically to traverse the country to conduct civic education.
Taking to his X account, Kebaso shared the images of the Prado which he claimed would come in handy in his quest to educate Kenyans on their rights at a time when the current government continues being exposed for wanton wastage.
While making the announcement, the lawyer called on Kenyans who are skilled in design work to help him brand the vehicle to make it fit for purpose.
"Graphic Designers. It is your time to do the Lords work. We have found a vehicle that will be used to put up a public address system, Morara suggested.
According to Kebaso, he would be embarking on a civic education across the country starting Friday, September 6 when he will meet Kenyans, particularly from the Mt. Kenya region.
He noted the campaign was aimed at making the truth known and to engage the public on how to make quality decisions at the ballot.
"Take note this is a campaign against bad governance and corruption," Morara noted.
"We will also talk about citizen mob audit and accountability. They bought the opposition and pocketed parliament. We will rewrite our story," the government critic claimed.
Morara's latest update comes hours after he commended Kenyans for their overwhelming contributions towards his plan to purchase a public address system.
"Kenyans have bought me a super clear presidential address system. Boy oh boy.
"You should see me use it. I will educate and educate and educate. I will walk around with translators like a pastor in a crusade," he stated.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
Thursday, September 5, 2024 - Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja has announced that hawkers will be barred from selling their goods in the newly constructed walkways of Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD).
In a statement on Wednesday after inspecting the ongoing construction of the footpaths, the Nairobi Governor said the walkways are meant for pedestrians and not hawkers.
Sakaja said his administration would take action on hawkers found hawking on the refurbished walkways.
Inspected ongoing works around the CBD while interacting with Wananchi who provided a lot of wonderful feedback on the walkways improvement that's ongoing on key roads.
"The new walkways are for pedestrians and not hawking. We will enforce this strictly, Sakaja said
The construction of the walkways began in April this year after Nairobi county secured Sh 8,7 billion in funding from the U.S. government through the Millenium Challenge Corporation to undertake key infrastructural projects.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
Justice Simon Byabakama, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission on Thursday condemned widespread election malpractices and the commercialization of politics, warning that they pose a significant threat to democracy. Speaking to senior investigators and prosecutors at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters in Kibuli, Byabakama urged authorities to take firm action against those involved in electoral crimes.
Byabakama revealed that parliamentary candidates often need at least Shs500 million to run for office, with a large portion of this money being used to bribe voters, an offense under the law. He called on law enforcement to activate and enforce existing laws to combat bribery, violence, and other election-related offenses to protect citizens and hold offenders accountable.
Despite the existence of over 50 offenses related to elections in Ugandas legal framework, Byabakama noted that police and prosecutors rarely charge those who break these laws. He stressed the need for decisive and firm action to ensure a fair and peaceful electoral process.
Commercialization of elections is a terrible thing. Im told for now for you to contest for Parliament, you must have a minimum of 500 million shillings, he said on Thursday.
Byabakama also expressed concern over the use of hateful messages, particularly on social media, which could undermine stability and hinder the success of government programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM).
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was waiting to close the two-day conference of officers from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and CID. The conference, held under the theme The Contribution of ODPP/CID in the Socio-Economic Transformation of Uganda, aimed to equip investigators and prosecutors with skills to handle electoral, corruption, land-related, and other complex crimes, particularly in preparation for the 2026 elections.
Peace advocates are calling on the government to address the high nomination fees for political positions, which they argue are barriers to womens participation in elections.
According to data from the Electoral Commission, the current nomination fees stand at Shs20 million for aspiring presidential candidates and Shs3 million for individuals vying for parliamentary seats.
Isaac Kisambira, the Executive Director of Kadi, a local NGO, says a survey conducted in Kampala, Wakiso, and Kayunga districts revealed that these exorbitant fees disproportionately affect women who aspire to lead.
The issue of violence in elections was also raised. Some of them fear to attend political gatherings and to contest as leaders because they know it is characterized by violence, he said.
Members of Parliament on the Committee on Commissions Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) grilled the Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Ms. Dorothy Kisaka, and the authoritys director in charge of public health, Dr. Dan Okello on Thursday over allegations of sidelining the Lord Mayor, Mr. Erias Lukwago, in decision-making regarding the Kiteezi landfill.
Appearing before the committee chaired by Busiro East MP, Medard Lubega Ssegona, the MPs discovered that numerous letters were written by the Executive Director and the director of public health concerning the next steps after the collapse of the Kiteezi landfill, but the Lord Mayor and his team were not copied in.
Ssegona observed that the poor coordination between the political leadership of Kampala City Hall and the technical wing explains KCCAs failure to perform effectively.
The Deputy Lord Mayor, Ms. Doreen Nyanjura, informed the committee that this was not an isolated incident, as the Lord Mayor and his team had been consistently sidelined on major issues, often only becoming aware of decisions after they had been made.
This is a very unfortunate practice that we have always complained about. The city has a leader who is the Lord Mayor, unfortunately, most of the time, we are left behind, she said.
In response, Kisaka told the committee that this was the practice she had found in the Authority, emphasizing that there were no ill intentions and promising that such occurrences would not happen again.
The practice has been that technical letters are not copied to the city executive but when we meet the city executive committee, we brief the Lord Mayor, Kisaka told MPs on Thursday.
The Ministry of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs is set to launch the Kampala Urban Development Programme, a five-year project aimed at enhancing mobility and connectivity within the Kampala Metropolitan Area.
Speaking to the media at the Uganda Media Center in Kampala on Thursday, the State Minister for Kampala Metropolitan Affairs, Kyofatogabye Kabuye, announced that the programme, running from 2024 to 2028, will involve the construction of over 330 kilometers of roads at an estimated cost of over Shs2.9 trillion.
He noted that the programme, which will be launched by President Museveni on September 10, 2024, in Kira Municipality, is funded by the World Bank, the French government, and the Ugandan government.
The Greater Kampala Urban Development Programme is not going to lack funds because it secured funding through the Ministry of Finance because we got funds from the World Bank totaling almost 2 trillion Ugandan shillings, he said.
The minister explained that in the first year, 140 kilometers of roads will be constructed within the Kampala Metropolitan Area, targeting all roads that connect to the City.
He further revealed that his ministry will coordinate the program while local governments will supervise the construction works.
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The owner of the McDonalds Newbridge restaurant has paid tribute to his employees as the restaurant reopens following a major fire at the site last year.
Following an extensive reconstruction programme, the Co Kildare restaurant reopened its doors yesterday, Wednesday 4 September, welcoming back many original crew members and hundreds of eager customers.
Sean Quirke, the McDonalds Newbridge franchisee owner, said he is thrilled to be welcoming their customers back through their doors and drive-thru.
Over the past year we have been extremely grateful for the ongoing kindness and support of many loyal customers, neighbours, stakeholders and elected representatives in the Newbridge area while the restaurant has been undergoing reconstruction, he said.
Most of all, though, I would pay tribute to the Newbridge restaurants superb managers and crew members 70 of whom have returned to their roles as part of a wider team of 90 employees at the restaurant. Mr Quirke commended the employees for their remarkable resilience over the past year, during which they were redeployed to other locations within his group of restaurants.
We are proud of each and every one of them and are delighted to welcome them home to Newbridge today, he said.
Originally opening its doors 25 years ago, in 1999, the newly reconstructed 59-seater Newbridge restaurant includes two drive-thru lanes and a dedicated McDelivery hatch.
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Get Free Report) has been given a consensus recommendation of Buy by the twenty analysts that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation, eighteen have given a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average 1-year target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $614.17.
Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Barclays increased their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $560.00 to $604.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 17th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $640.00 to $680.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, July 18th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of UnitedHealth Group from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $481.00 to $647.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 17th. Truist Financial raised their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $600.00 to $640.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 17th. Finally, HSBC increased their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $580.00 to $610.00 in a report on Thursday, July 18th.
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Insider Buying and Selling at UnitedHealth Group
Institutional Investors Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group
In related news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $579.03, for a total transaction of $868,545.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 7,785 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,507,748.55. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink . In related news, CAO Thomas E. Roos sold 2,851 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $569.88, for a total value of $1,624,727.88. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 29,501 shares in the company, valued at $16,812,029.88. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . Also, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $579.03, for a total transaction of $868,545.00. Following the completion of 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 . Insiders own 0.33% of the companys stock.
Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNH. Macroview Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 671.4% during the 2nd quarter. Macroview Investment Management LLC now owns 54 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the period. Delos Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 757.1% in the 1st quarter. Delos Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 60 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 53 shares during the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. Bbjs Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, Signature Resources Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 40.0% in the second quarter. Signature Resources Capital Management LLC now owns 63 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 18 shares during the period. 87.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
UnitedHealth Group Price Performance
UNH opened at $604.14 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $557.87 billion, a PE ratio of 36.93, a P/E/G ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.88 and a quick ratio of 0.88. UnitedHealth Group has a 1 year low of $436.38 and a 1 year high of $607.94. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $555.04 and a 200-day moving average price of $514.06.
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.80 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $6.66 by $0.14. The firm had revenue of $98.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $98.73 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.66% and a return on equity of 26.55%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 6.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $6.14 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group will post 27.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 24th. Investors of record on Monday, September 16th will be paid a dividend of $2.10 per share. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 16th. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 51.34%.
UnitedHealth Group Company Profile
(Get 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.
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MaxLinear, Inc. (NYSE:MXL Get Free Report) has received a consensus recommendation of Hold from the ten brokerages that are covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $24.67.
A number of brokerages recently weighed in on MXL. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on MaxLinear from $26.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, July 18th. Needham & Company LLC downgraded shares of MaxLinear from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, July 25th. Benchmark decreased their price objective on shares of MaxLinear from $28.00 to $22.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 25th. Northland Securities lowered their target price on shares of MaxLinear from $30.00 to $25.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. Finally, Craig Hallum reduced their price target on shares of MaxLinear from $38.00 to $28.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 25th.
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MaxLinear Stock Up 5.1 %
MXL stock opened at $14.39 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.20 billion, a PE ratio of -7.61 and a beta of 1.85. The company has a fifty day moving average of $16.72 and a 200-day moving average of $18.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 1.59 and a current ratio of 2.09. MaxLinear has a one year low of $11.08 and a one year high of $26.59.
MaxLinear (NYSE:MXL Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 24th. The semiconductor company reported ($0.25) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.19) by ($0.06). MaxLinear had a negative net margin of 42.38% and a negative return on equity of 12.39%. The firm had revenue of $92.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $100.25 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.19 EPS. MaxLinears revenue for the quarter was down 50.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that MaxLinear will post -1.6 EPS for the current year.
Insiders Place Their Bets
In related news, CEO Kishore Seendripu acquired 108,303 shares of MaxLinear stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 30th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $12.94 per share, for a total transaction of $1,401,440.82. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 531,937 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,883,264.78. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 8.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Hedge Funds Weigh In On MaxLinear
Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. International Assets Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in MaxLinear by 2,277.0% in the 4th quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 37,153 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $883,000 after acquiring an additional 35,590 shares during the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank boosted its stake in MaxLinear by 28.4% in the 4th quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 20,431 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $486,000 after buying an additional 4,525 shares during the last quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund boosted its stake in MaxLinear by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 31,045 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $738,000 after buying an additional 840 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its holdings in MaxLinear by 7.8% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,912,731 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $45,469,000 after buying an additional 137,698 shares during the period. Finally, Panagora Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of MaxLinear by 2.4% during the 4th quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 64,280 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $1,528,000 after acquiring an additional 1,517 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.79% of the companys stock.
About MaxLinear
(Get Free Report
MaxLinear, Inc provides communications systems-on-chip solutions worldwide. Its products integrate various portions of a high-speed communication system, including radio frequency, high-performance analog, mixed-signal, digital signal processing, security engines, data compression and networking layers, and power management.
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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday.
Separately, Northland Securities increased their price objective on Build-A-Bear Workshop from $36.00 to $38.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, August 30th.
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Build-A-Bear Workshop Price Performance
Shares of NYSE BBW opened at $33.62 on Monday. The firms 50-day moving average is $26.82 and its two-hundred day moving average is $27.27. The company has a market capitalization of $464.12 million, a PE ratio of 9.63 and a beta of 1.63. Build-A-Bear Workshop has a 12-month low of $21.24 and a 12-month high of $34.80.
Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 29th. The specialty retailer reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.57 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $111.80 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $107.90 million. Build-A-Bear Workshop had a return on equity of 38.01% and a net margin of 10.36%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.57 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Build-A-Bear Workshop will post 3.62 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Build-A-Bear Workshop Dividend Announcement
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 11th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 27th were paid a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 27th. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.38%. Build-A-Bear Workshops payout ratio is currently 22.92%.
Insiders Place Their Bets
In related news, Director George Carrara sold 2,600 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $26.34, for a total transaction of $68,484.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 17,473 shares in the company, valued at $460,238.82. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In related news, Director George Carrara sold 2,600 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.34, for a total value of $68,484.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 17,473 shares in the company, valued at $460,238.82. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Sharon Price John sold 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $33.32, for a total transaction of $1,666,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 465,004 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,493,933.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 93,634 shares of company stock valued at $2,800,958 in the last quarter. 7.90% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Hedge Funds Weigh In On Build-A-Bear Workshop
Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of BBW. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 211.8% during the 2nd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 4,889 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $124,000 after acquiring an additional 3,321 shares in the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 25.2% in the first quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 6,782 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $202,000 after buying an additional 1,365 shares during the period. Quest Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 209.8% in the second quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 8,098 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $205,000 after buying an additional 5,484 shares during the period. XTX Topco Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop in the second quarter valued at about $255,000. Finally, Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop during the 1st quarter valued at about $321,000. 79.30% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Build-A-Bear Workshop Company Profile
(Get Free Report)
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc operates as a multi-channel retailer of plush animals and related products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Direct-to-Consumer, Commercial, and International Franchising. Its merchandise comprises various styles of plush products to be stuffed, pre-stuffed plush products, and sounds and scents that can be added to the stuffed animals, as well as range of clothing, shoes and accessories, and other toy and novelty items, including family sleepwear.
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Impact Partnership Wealth LLC raised its position in Lennar Co. (NYSE:LEN Free Report) by 98.3% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,471 shares of the construction companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,721 shares during the quarter. Impact Partnership Wealth LLCs holdings in Lennar were worth $520,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
A number of other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Rise Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Lennar by 484.0% during the 1st quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 146 shares of the construction companys stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 121 shares in the last quarter. J.Safra Asset Management Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Lennar during the first quarter worth about $30,000. New Covenant Trust Company N.A. purchased a new position in shares of Lennar in the first quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Redmont Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Lennar in the first quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Fortitude Family Office LLC increased its stake in Lennar by 223.6% during the 2nd quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 233 shares of the construction companys stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 161 shares during the period. 81.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. Argus boosted their price target on shares of Lennar from $175.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, June 27th. JMP Securities restated a market outperform rating and set a $170.00 price target on shares of Lennar in a report on Thursday, June 20th. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $164.00 price objective (down previously from $174.00) on shares of Lennar in a research note on Tuesday, July 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Lennar from $185.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, August 5th. Finally, Raymond James downgraded shares of Lennar from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 2nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $172.06.
Lennar Stock Performance
Shares of LEN stock traded down $0.46 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $177.85. The stock had a trading volume of 192,562 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,068,789. The stocks 50 day moving average is $167.76 and its 200 day moving average is $161.61. The firm has a market capitalization of $48.84 billion, a PE ratio of 12.14, a PEG ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 1.61. Lennar Co. has a twelve month low of $102.90 and a twelve month high of $186.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 4.93 and a quick ratio of 0.91.
Lennar (NYSE:LEN Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, June 17th. The construction company reported $3.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.20 by $0.18. Lennar had a net margin of 11.58% and a return on equity of 15.93%. The company had revenue of $8.77 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.57 billion. As a group, research analysts forecast that Lennar Co. will post 14.16 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Lennar Announces Dividend
The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 19th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 5th were given a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 5th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.12%. Lennars payout ratio is 13.60%.
Lennar Profile
(Free Report)
Lennar Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a homebuilder primarily under the Lennar brand in the United States. It operates through Homebuilding East, Homebuilding Central, Homebuilding Texas, Homebuilding West, Financial Services, Multifamily, and Lennar Other segments. The company's homebuilding operations include the construction and sale of single-family attached and detached homes, as well as the purchase, development, and sale of residential land; and development, construction, and management of multifamily rental properties.
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John Hancock Income Securities Trust (NYSE:JHS Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, September 3rd, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 13th will be paid a dividend of 0.1132 per share by the financial services provider on Monday, September 30th. This represents a $0.45 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.89%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 13th.
John Hancock Income Securities Trust has decreased its dividend by an average of 20.2% per year over the last three years.
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John Hancock Income Securities Trust Stock Performance
Shares of JHS stock opened at $11.66 on Thursday. John Hancock Income Securities Trust has a fifty-two week low of $9.76 and a fifty-two week high of $11.85. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $11.28 and a 200 day moving average price of $11.11.
About John Hancock Income Securities Trust
John Hancock Income Securities Trust is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC. It is co-managed by John Hancock Asset Management. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of United States. It invests primarily in corporate and government bonds with average maturity of 7.57 years.
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Shares of The North West Company Inc. (TSE:NWC Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as C$47.07 and last traded at C$47.07, with a volume of 9410 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at C$45.65.
Analyst Ratings Changes
A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. TD Securities upped their target price on North West from C$47.00 to C$52.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 16th. CIBC upped their target price on North West from C$43.00 to C$44.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, June 6th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on North West from C$41.00 to C$44.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 6th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of C$44.60.
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Check Out Our Latest Analysis on NWC
North West Price Performance
The stocks 50-day moving average price is C$43.90 and its 200-day moving average price is C$41.03. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 2.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 60.46. The company has a market capitalization of C$2.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 0.63.
North West (TSE:NWC Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, June 5th. The company reported C$0.53 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$0.54 by C($0.01). The firm had revenue of C$617.52 million during the quarter. North West had a return on equity of 20.19% and a net margin of 5.37%. Equities research analysts anticipate that The North West Company Inc. will post 3.3071325 earnings per share for the current year.
Insider Activity
In other news, Senior Officer John King sold 5,230 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$42.70, for a total value of C$223,321.00. In other North West news, Senior Officer John King sold 5,230 shares of North West stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$42.70, for a total transaction of C$223,321.00. Also, Director George Mcconnell Daniel sold 5,665 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$42.54, for a total value of C$240,989.10. Insiders have sold a total of 11,662 shares of company stock valued at $497,015 in the last 90 days. 0.12% of the stock is owned by company insiders.
About North West
(Get Free Report)
The North West Company Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the retail of food and everyday products and services to rural communities and urban neighborhood markets in northern Canada, rural Alaska, the South Pacific, and the Caribbean. The company operates Northern stores, which offers food, financial services, and general merchandise; NorthMart stores that provides fresh food products, apparel, and health products and services; and Quickstop convenience stores that provides ready-to-eat food products, and fuel and related services.
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Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:KEYS Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in the month of August. As of August 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,460,000 shares, a growth of 5.1% from the July 31st total of 2,340,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,300,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.9 days. Approximately 1.4% of the companys stock are short sold.
Insiders Place Their Bets
In other Keysight Technologies news, VP Lisa M. Poole sold 440 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $136.45, for a total transaction of $60,038.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 3,913 shares in the company, valued at approximately $533,928.85. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, Director Richard P. Hamada sold 1,632 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $156.00, for a total value of $254,592.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 42,160 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,576,960. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP Lisa M. Poole sold 440 shares of Keysight Technologies stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $136.45, for a total value of $60,038.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 3,913 shares in the company, valued at approximately $533,928.85. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.60% of the companys stock.
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Institutional Trading of Keysight Technologies
Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Hershey Financial Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in Keysight Technologies in the 2nd quarter worth $86,000. EP Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Keysight Technologies by 4.6% in the second quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 355,708 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $48,643,000 after acquiring an additional 15,693 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Wealth Strategies LLC. purchased a new stake in shares of Keysight Technologies during the second quarter worth approximately $204,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. raised its stake in Keysight Technologies by 31.5% in the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 2,287 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $313,000 after purchasing an additional 548 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Keysight Technologies by 16.9% in the second quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 8,882 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $1,215,000 after buying an additional 1,284 shares during the last quarter. 84.58% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Keysight Technologies Trading Up 0.7 %
Keysight Technologies stock opened at $149.08 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 2.05, a quick ratio of 1.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. The firm has a market cap of $26.02 billion, a PE ratio of 32.48, a P/E/G ratio of 5.23 and a beta of 0.95. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $138.97 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $145.16. Keysight Technologies has a 12 month low of $118.57 and a 12 month high of $162.51.
Keysight Technologies (NYSE:KEYS Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 20th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.35 by $0.22. Keysight Technologies had a net margin of 18.24% and a return on equity of 21.01%. The firm had revenue of $1.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.19 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.04 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was down 11.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Keysight Technologies will post 5.35 earnings per share for the current year.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on shares of Keysight Technologies from $167.00 to $160.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, August 19th. Susquehanna lowered their price objective on Keysight Technologies from $195.00 to $185.00 and set a positive rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, August 21st. Barclays upped their target price on Keysight Technologies from $141.00 to $151.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on Keysight Technologies from $163.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, August 26th. Finally, Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of Keysight Technologies from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $167.40.
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Keysight Technologies Company Profile
(Get Free Report)
Keysight Technologies, Inc provides electronic design and test solutions to commercial communications, networking, aerospace, defense and government, automotive, energy, semiconductor, electronic, and education industries in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates in two segments, Communications Solutions Group and Electronic Industrial Solutions Group.
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Stablepoint Partners LLC lessened its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 3,486 shares of the companys stock after selling 51 shares during the period. Stablepoint Partners LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $3,156,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of LLY. PACK Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the second quarter valued at approximately $203,000. Belpointe Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 9.1% during the second quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 5,730 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,188,000 after acquiring an additional 480 shares during the last quarter. Consolidated Planning Corp lifted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 174.2% during the second quarter. Consolidated Planning Corp now owns 3,197 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,894,000 after acquiring an additional 2,031 shares during the last quarter. Index Fund Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 9.1% during the second quarter. Index Fund Advisors Inc. now owns 717 shares of the companys stock valued at $649,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 61.4% during the second quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 15,144 shares of the companys stock valued at $13,711,000 after acquiring an additional 5,761 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.53% of the companys stock.
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Insider Transactions at Eli Lilly and Company
In other news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 210,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 10th. The shares were 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 of the companys stock, valued at $91,109,731,514.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 876,900 shares of company stock valued at $788,605,032. Corporate insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
A number of research firms recently commented on LLY. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $900.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, July 11th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $994.00 to $1,015.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, June 24th. Argus upped their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $770.00 to $840.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 14th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,001.00 to $1,101.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $1,106.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Tuesday, August 27th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $961.76.
Check Out Our Latest Research Report on LLY
Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance
NYSE:LLY opened at $946.31 on Thursday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $895.96 and its 200-day moving average price is $826.05. The company has a current ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.74. The company has a market cap of $899.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 139.37, a P/E/G ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 0.41. Eli Lilly and Company has a twelve month low of $516.57 and a twelve month high of $972.53.
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 8th. The company reported $3.92 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.64 by $1.28. The firm had revenue of $11.30 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.83 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 18.86% and a return on equity of 67.52%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 16.51 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Eli Lilly and Company Announces Dividend
The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 15th will be paid a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.55%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 15th. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio is currently 76.58%.
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.
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Strategy Asset Managers LLC trimmed its stake in Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL Free Report) by 68.5% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,328 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 2,885 shares during the period. Strategy Asset Managers LLCs holdings in Ecolab were worth $316,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund increased its position in Ecolab by 0.7% in the 2nd quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 21,833 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $5,196,000 after buying an additional 160 shares during the period. Northstar Advisory Group LLC bought a new position in Ecolab in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $243,000. Fiera Capital Corp increased its position in Ecolab by 24.8% in the 2nd quarter. Fiera Capital Corp now owns 6,079 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,447,000 after buying an additional 1,208 shares during the period. TIAA Trust National Association increased its position in Ecolab by 0.8% in the 2nd quarter. TIAA Trust National Association now owns 6,122 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,457,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the period. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers increased its position in Ecolab by 1.5% in the 2nd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 523,650 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $124,629,000 after buying an additional 7,539 shares during the period. 74.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
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Analyst Ratings Changes
Several brokerages have commented on ECL. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on Ecolab from $243.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. Citigroup raised Ecolab from a neutral rating to a buy rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $267.00 to $265.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $260.00 price objective on shares of Ecolab in a research report on Wednesday, August 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Ecolab from $225.00 to $228.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price objective on Ecolab from $288.00 to $276.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Ecolab presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $254.67.
Insiders Place Their Bets
In other Ecolab news, EVP Gregory B. Cook sold 3,811 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $249.33, for a total value of $950,196.63. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 8,080 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,014,586.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Ecolab news, EVP Gregory B. Cook sold 3,811 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $249.33, for a total value of $950,196.63. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 8,080 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,014,586.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director David Maclennan acquired 650 shares of Ecolab stock in a transaction on Friday, August 2nd. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $240.41 per share, for a total transaction of $156,266.50. Following the purchase, the director now owns 17,967 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,319,446.47. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders own 0.04% of the companys stock.
Ecolab Price Performance
Shares of ECL stock opened at $246.88 on Thursday. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $241.94 and its 200 day simple moving average is $233.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 1.50 and a quick ratio of 1.10. The firm has a market cap of $70.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.72, a P/E/G ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 1.11. Ecolab Inc. has a one year low of $156.72 and a one year high of $253.54.
Ecolab (NYSE:ECL Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 30th. The basic materials company reported $1.68 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.67 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $3.99 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.03 billion. Ecolab had a return on equity of 21.65% and a net margin of 10.95%. Ecolabs quarterly revenue was up 3.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.24 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Ecolab Inc. will post 6.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Ecolab Announces Dividend
The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 17th will be paid a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.92%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 17th. Ecolabs dividend payout ratio is currently 42.22%.
Ecolab Company Profile
(Free Report)
Ecolab Inc provides water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Global Industrial; Global Institutional & Specialty; and Global Healthcare & Life Sciences. The Global Industrial segment offers water treatment and process applications, and cleaning and sanitizing solutions to manufacturing, food and beverage processing, transportation, chemical, metals and mining, power generation, pulp and paper, commercial laundry, petroleum, refining, and petrochemical industries.
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First Dallas Securities Inc. decreased its holdings in Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER Free Report) by 6.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 80,850 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock after selling 5,800 shares during the quarter. Uber Technologies accounts for about 2.6% of First Dallas Securities Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 6th biggest holding. First Dallas Securities Inc.s holdings in Uber Technologies were worth $5,875,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Covenant Asset Management LLC raised its position in Uber Technologies by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Covenant Asset Management LLC now owns 52,971 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock valued at $4,078,000 after purchasing an additional 157 shares in the last quarter. Hilltop Holdings Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Uber Technologies by 2.9% in the 4th quarter. Hilltop Holdings Inc. now owns 5,634 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock valued at $347,000 after purchasing an additional 157 shares in the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC increased its holdings in Uber Technologies by 3.3% in the first quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 4,882 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock valued at $376,000 after buying an additional 157 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Shields Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Uber Technologies by 6.1% in the first quarter. Wellington Shields Capital Management LLC now owns 2,756 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock valued at $212,000 after buying an additional 159 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Industrial Alliance Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Uber Technologies by 3.2% during the 1st quarter. Industrial Alliance Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,170 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock worth $398,000 after buying an additional 160 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.24% of the companys stock.
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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
Several brokerages have recently weighed in on UBER. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on Uber Technologies from $103.00 to $100.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 9th. Roth Mkm boosted their price objective on shares of Uber Technologies from $89.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Wedbush reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $85.00 target price on shares of Uber Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, May 8th. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on Uber Technologies in a report on Tuesday, July 16th. They set an outperform rating and a $90.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Truist Financial upped their target price on Uber Technologies from $86.00 to $88.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirty-one have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $87.60.
Insider Buying and Selling
In other news, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi sold 500,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 owns 1,266,114 shares in the company, valued at $91,046,257.74. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In related news, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi sold 500,000 shares of the firms 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 completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,266,114 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $91,046,257.74. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Tony West sold 28,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.67, for a total transaction of $1,978,760.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 96,945 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,851,103.15. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 3.84% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
Uber Technologies Trading Up 0.5 %
NYSE:UBER traded up $0.37 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $71.93. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,041,219 shares, compared to its average volume of 18,375,203. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 1.21 and a quick ratio of 1.21. The stock has a market cap of $151.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 116.65, a P/E/G ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.33. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $69.56 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $71.32. Uber Technologies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $40.09 and a twelve month high of $82.14.
Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 6th. The ride-sharing company reported $0.47 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.31 by $0.16. Uber Technologies had a return on equity of 17.06% and a net margin of 5.02%. The company had revenue of $10.70 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.57 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.18 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 15.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict that Uber Technologies, Inc. will post 1.05 EPS for the current year.
Uber Technologies Profile
(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.
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Vishay Precision Group (NYSE:VPG Get Free Report) was upgraded by investment analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a buy rating in a note issued to investors on Tuesday.
Separately, B. Riley cut their target price on shares of Vishay Precision Group from $36.00 to $31.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th.
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Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Vishay Precision Group
Vishay Precision Group Stock Performance
Shares of Vishay Precision Group stock opened at $26.65 on Tuesday. Vishay Precision Group has a fifty-two week low of $26.36 and a fifty-two week high of $36.13. The company has a market capitalization of $353.38 million, a P/E ratio of 14.72 and a beta of 1.17. The company has a fifty day moving average of $29.96 and a 200 day moving average of $32.16.
Vishay Precision Group (NYSE:VPG Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $0.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.32 by ($0.01). Vishay Precision Group had a return on equity of 7.49% and a net margin of 6.30%. The business had revenue of $77.36 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $78.57 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.58 EPS. Analysts forecast that Vishay Precision Group will post 1.11 EPS for the current year.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vishay Precision Group
Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Algert Global LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Vishay Precision Group by 19.6% in the 2nd quarter. Algert Global LLC now owns 15,711 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $478,000 after acquiring an additional 2,571 shares during the last quarter. Divisar Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Vishay Precision Group by 2.2% in the 2nd quarter. Divisar Capital Management LLC now owns 176,001 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $5,357,000 after purchasing an additional 3,726 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. increased its position in shares of Vishay Precision Group by 47.7% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 192,661 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $5,865,000 after purchasing an additional 62,186 shares during the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Vishay Precision Group by 6.1% during the 2nd quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 199,094 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $6,059,000 after buying an additional 11,438 shares during the period. Finally, Foundry Partners LLC lifted its position in Vishay Precision Group by 11.6% in the second quarter. Foundry Partners LLC now owns 139,785 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $4,255,000 after buying an additional 14,585 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.61% of the companys stock.
About Vishay Precision Group
(Get Free Report)
Vishay Precision Group, Inc designs, manufactures, and markets specialized sensors, weighing solutions, and measurement systems in the United States, Israel, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, Asia, and Canada. It operates through three segments: Sensors, Weighing Solutions, and Measurement Systems.
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Yacktman Asset Management LP cut its position in shares of The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK Free Report) by 6.3% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,483,191 shares of the banks stock after selling 234,020 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon makes up 2.0% of Yacktman Asset Management LPs portfolio, making the stock its 18th largest holding. Yacktman Asset Management LP owned about 0.47% of Bank of New York Mellon worth $208,608,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Hudock Inc. purchased a new stake in Bank of New York Mellon in the 2nd quarter valued at about $263,000. National Bank of Canada FI raised its stake in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 17.5% during the 2nd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 246,544 shares of the banks stock worth $14,817,000 after acquiring an additional 36,729 shares in the last quarter. Chase Investment Counsel Corp bought a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $3,339,000. Journey Advisory Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 69.5% during the 2nd quarter. Journey Advisory Group LLC now owns 10,649 shares of the banks stock worth $638,000 after acquiring an additional 4,366 shares in the last quarter. Finally, TD Asset Management Inc raised its stake in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 3.4% during the 2nd quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 270,168 shares of the banks stock worth $16,180,000 after acquiring an additional 8,996 shares in the last quarter. 85.31% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
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Insider Activity
In related news, VP Hanneke Smits sold 15,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.11, for a total transaction of $961,650.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 173,930 shares in the company, valued at $11,150,652.30. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.14% of the companys stock.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
BK has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $65.00 to $72.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target 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. Evercore ISI upped their price target on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $61.00 to $66.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a research note on Monday, July 15th. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $68.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, July 15th. Finally, Citigroup lowered shares of Bank of New York Mellon from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $65.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Monday, July 15th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $66.14.
Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Bank of New York Mellon
Bank of New York Mellon Stock Performance
NYSE BK traded down $0.29 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $67.45. 1,273,793 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,785,311. The businesss 50 day moving average is $63.90 and its 200-day moving average is $59.52. The Bank of New York Mellon Co. has a 1 year low of $39.66 and a 1 year high of $68.54. The company has a market capitalization of $50.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.68, a P/E/G ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a current ratio of 0.70.
Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 12th. The bank reported $1.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.43 by $0.08. Bank of New York Mellon had a net margin of 9.40% and a return on equity of 11.87%. The firm had revenue of $4.60 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.53 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.38 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 2.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts forecast that The Bank of New York Mellon Co. will post 5.63 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Bank of New York Mellon Increases Dividend
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 22nd were given a $0.47 dividend. This represents a $1.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.79%. This is a boost from Bank of New York Mellons previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. The ex-dividend date was Monday, July 22nd. Bank of New York Mellons dividend payout ratio is 43.52%.
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.
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By Yi Whan-woo
Financial authorities are urged to implement measures to curb excessive competition and safeguard investors in the rapidly expanding exchange-traded fund (ETF) market.
An ETF is a collection of securities that can be bought and sold like individual stocks. According to the Korea Exchange (KRX), the ETF market reached a milestone in June this year, with total net assets surpassing 150 trillion won ($112.14 billion) for the first time. This follows the market exceeding the 100 trillion won mark in June 2023.
Data from Korea Securities Depository (KSD) showed that the number of listed ETFs on the stock market in Seoul has been on the rise up from 533 in 2022 to 883 as of late August this year. The KSD believes it is "only a matter of time" before the number exceeds 900.
Under these circumstances, separate data from the KSD revealed that, as of late August, a total of 72 ETFs had net assets of less than 5 billion won. This represents a 46.9 percent increase compared to the end of December last year.
The KRX monitors ETFs every three months and puts those with net assets lower than 5 billion won on the watch list.
If an ETF remains on the list for 12 consecutive months, it may be subject to removal from the stock market.
The data suggests nearly 1 out of 10 listed ETFs faces a possible risk of removal, Citizens Coalition for Economic Justice (CCEJ), a Seoul-based civic advocacy, said.
The case is getting serious as the number of ETFs on the watch list is increasing, but we dont see any action taken by the financial regulators to keep the number down and protect investors, it added.
These so-called zombie ETFs can adversely affect investors, too, the CCEJ noted.
Zombie ETFs are those with net assets below 5 billion won and a daily average trading volume of fewer than 1,000 shares over a three-month period.
The number of such ETFs totaled 32 as of late August.
"Keeping such ETFs on the stock market only harms investors," said Jung Eui-jung, head of the Korean Stockholders Alliance.
He attributed the intense competition among asset management companies to the presence of "zombie ETFs."
Jung pointed out that leading asset management firms tend to focus on ETFs to reap profits, which in turn, prompt smaller peers to feature similar products hastily.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a public relations representative at an asset management company noted that it will be challenging to "simply delist underperforming ETFs due to potential backlash from investors in these products."
He added, "In other words, it will be tricky for the financial authorities to overhaul regulations on ETFs."
By Lee Kyung-min
Woori Financial Groups acquisition of Tongyang Life and ABL Life could be in jeopardy, as indicated by Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) Governor Lee Bok-hyuns thinly veiled disapproval, market watchers said Thursday.
Further clouding the acquisition are precedents whereby the FSS delayed the approval of corporate expansion plans until after the head of the financial entities in question had been dismissed. Cases in point include Shinhan Financial Groups takeover of Orange Life in 2019 and DGB Financial Group's acquisition of Hi Investment & Securities in 2018.
The acquisition could fail if the firm receives a grade of three or lower on a scale of five in evaluations of business plan feasibility, financial condition and overall management.
Market watchers say Wooris healthy capital and financial condition will be insufficient to mitigate the legal risks that will linger throughout the sale process.
The stock purchase agreement between Woori and Dajia was news I learned of from the newspaper, Lee said during a meeting of lenders, market experts and borrowers at a branch of KB Kookmin Bank in Yeouido, Seoul.
My knowledge was limited to Wooris efforts to acquire life insurers, which in and of itself amplifies the risk far greater compared to adding a brokerage to the corporate portfolio, for example. Whether the bout of risks were fully reflected in the overall risk management of Woori Financial and its subsidiaries draws concern.
The rare comments were part of responses to a question on the FSS inspection next month that has been advanced by a whole year. Many view this as a rushed move to intensify scrutiny of the groups questionable lending and business practices surrounding its former Chairman Son Tae-seung.
The prosecution searched the banks headquarters last week over suspicions that relatives of the former group chairman were granted a total of 35 billion won ($26 million) in poorly evaluated loans between April 2022 and Jan. 16.
The FSS said the remaining outstanding balance of the loans came to 30.4 billion won, as of July 19. Over 88 percent, or 26.9 billion won, is backed by collateral but is non-performing. Up to 15.8 billion won will be unrecoverable, according to Woori Bank.
Shinhan Financial Group was able to acquire Orange Life and merge it into Shinhan Life in January 2019, but only after the groups board dismissed then Shinhan Bank CEO Wi Sung-ho over perjury allegations in a bribery trial in 2008.
In the so-called 300 million won Mount Nam scandal, former Shinhan Bank Lee Baek-soon handed over the amount to former lawmaker Lee Sang-deuk, the older brother of then President Lee Myung-bak. The money was handed over in a parking lot of Mount Nam, under the instruction of former Shinhan Group Chairman Ra Eung-chan to congratulate Lee Myung-bak on his election victory.
Similarly, DGB Financial Groups acquisition of Hi Investment & Securities was approved in September 2018, after Park In-gyu had stepped down as group head amid a prosecution probe over allegations of creating a slush fund and irregularities in hiring.
Wooris acquisition of the two Chinese life insurers is a long-harbored ambition, since the selloff of Woori Aviva Life to NH NongHyup Group in 2014.
Excluding Woori, the remaining four of the country's top five financial groups have their own insurance subsidiaries.
By Lee Kyung-min
Hana Financial Group opened an office in Monterrey, Mexico, marking the latest expansion of its marketing channels in North America. The new office aims to offer customized financial services to both Korean firms and local customers, the group said Thursday.
Located near the U.S.-Mexico border, Monterrey is a major industrial hub, one of the top beneficiaries of global supply chain reorientation and nearshoring.
The office is the extension of Hana's operation there since 2019 when the group first entered Mexico.
The group also donated 200 scientific calculators to students at the Villa de las Ninas, an education charity in Mexico.
This was the latest corporate responsibility initiative, following the previous donation of 300 English dictionaries and 20 desktop computers last year.
The group plans to continue its tailored global environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) activities in Mexico.
Hana Financial Group Vice Chairman Lee Eun-hyung said Hana's committed efforts toward the economic and financial development of Mexico have continued since 2019.
"We will strive to bolster the growth of both the local community and Hana customers," he said. "Hana hopes the Monterrey office will provide financial services unmatched by other market players and provide new growth opportunities."
Hana, among Korean financial groups, has the largest global network covering 26 regions. The group plans to expand its offshore network to include Poland and India.
The head of the financial regulator stressed the need to improve private pension programs Thursday, a day after the government unveiled details of a reform plan for the national pension system.
Kim Byoung-hwan, chief of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), also called on asset management companies to develop and introduce various new products that can help better prepare people for retirement.
"The country's asset management industry has grown rapidly over the past few years, but the amount of its indirect investment remains far lower than that of advanced countries, meaning local asset management firms may be failing to meet their customers' expectations," Kim said in a meeting with officials from asset management firms.
"There is a need for serious discussions on how the asset management industry can continue to develop and boost its competitiveness to meet the needs of the people and help prepare for the future in an aged society," he added.
To this end, Kim urged the asset management companies to develop various pension products, insisting, "Pensions are the most reliable means for one's later years that have been proven over an extended period of time.
"As the government unveiled its plan to reform the (national) pension program yesterday, it will seek to reform not only the national pension program but also retirement and private pension plans as well," Kim said.
He added the financial regulator will continue to seek ways to support the development of various, new innovative products in the private pension market through close cooperation with other related government officials. (Yonhap)
An appeals court on Thursday upheld a lower court's ruling that ordered the Korean government and the Seoul city government to return a combined 168.2 billion won ($125.8 million) in tax levied on the U.S. private equity firm Lone Star Funds.
The Seoul High Court said the state and the Seoul city government should return 153 billion won in corporate tax and 15.2 billion won in local income tax, respectively.
Lone Star and affiliate firms purchased large shares of Korea Exchange Bank and mid-sized builder Kukdong Engineering Construction between 2002 and 2005, when the country faced economic difficulties in the wake of the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s.
The companies made huge profits by selling some of the shares at higher prices two years later, but paid smaller taxes than local companies pay, citing the tax treaty that Korea has with Belgium where the company that made the investment was based.
The National Tax Service (NTS) later launched a probe into Lone Star and its entities and levied taxes amounting to some 800 billion won in 2007, claiming the Texas-based firm had a fixed business footing in Korea.
However, Lone Star filed a suit seeking cancellation of 173.3 billion won in corporate taxes and the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Lone Star, rejecting the NTS' argument that the company had a fixed footing in Korea.
In line with the highest court's ruling, Lone Star later filed a lawsuit seeking the return of taxes paid to the Korean government in December 2017 and additional suits against the Seoul metropolitan government in January 2018. (Yonhap)
Russia has secured more than 16,500 containers of munitions and related materiel from North Korea since September last year, a U.S. official said Wednesday, in yet another sign of deepening military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.
During a security forum in Washington, Robert Koepcke, deputy assistant secretary of state for Korea, Japan and Mongolia, also revealed that since late December, Russia has launched upward of 65 North Korean missiles into Ukraine.
The official's remarks came as Washington has been working with allies to disrupt and prevent arms transactions between the North and Russia amid growing concerns about their security implications for the Korean Peninsula and Europe.
"Since September of last year, Russia has procured over 16,500 shipping containers of munitions and munitions-related materiel from DPRK," he said, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
"These arms transfers constitute clear violations of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions," he added.
Koepcke also said that Washington is "deepening concerned" about what North Korea is getting in return for its arms support for Russia.
"In return for its missiles going to Ukraine, we believe Pyongyang is seeking military assistance from Russia, including fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles, ballistic missile production equipment and other materials," he said.
The official underscored the ramifications from Russia's use of North Korean weapons on a war-torn Ukraine.
"Russia is using DPRK bullets and missiles to kill Ukrainian civilians, destroy Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, and prolong Russia's unlawful war," he said.
He also reiterated that the door for dialogue with North Korea remains open.
"The United States remains committed to diplomacy. We are willing to engage in dialogue without preconditions," he said.
"Advancing regional and global peace and security means we are open to discussing security issues, as well as human rights and humanitarian issues, including on family reunifications or inclusion and accessibility for persons with disabilities."
But as long as the North refuses to engage in dialogue and continues to carry out provocations, the U.S. will be compelled to take steps to protect itself and its allies, he said. (Yonhap)
North Korea on Thursday denounced a major military exercise between South Korea and the United States last month, warning the allies will have to pay a "dear price" for what it called "provocative war" drills.
An unnamed chief of the public information office at the North's defense ministry issued the statement a week after the annual summertime Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise ended its 11-day run last Thursday.
"The Korean People's Army will never tolerate the U.S. and ROK's military moves threatening the security environment on the Korean peninsula," the official said, using the acronym of South Korea's official name the Republic of Korea.
"The hostile forces can never evade the heavy responsibility for escalating tension and will have to pay a dear price."
Pyongyang has long condemned the allies' joint military drills, accusing them of being rehearsals for an invasion against it. Seoul and Washington have rejected the claims, saying their drills are defense in nature.
The official also took aim at the allies' other military drills, including the Ssang Yong exercise set to conclude Friday. Ssang Yong is focused on training the allies' Marines in amphibious landing operations.
"(The exercise) is an extremely reckless and dangerous military racket presupposing an open invasion upon the sacred territory of the DPRK," the official said.
DPRK stands for the North's official name the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Pyongyang had relatively remained silent during the UFS this year, without launching any ballistic missiles or staging other major provocations.
Observers say the North appears to be focused on recovery efforts after heavy downpours in late July flooded large areas in the northern provinces of Jagang and North Pyongan, displacing thousands of people. (Yonhap)
More patients turned away or asked to wait as hospitals curtail ER operations
By Jung Min-ho, Jung Da-hyun
At around 8:10 p.m. on Wednesday, an ambulance was parked just outside the emergency room of Gangbuk Samsung Hospital in Seoul. A woman inside the ambulance was waiting for other patients to be discharged so she could secure a bed for treatment.
It has been more than an hour since we started waiting, an emergency medical technician who transported her from Cheongju, about 120 km south of the capital, told The Korea Times. When I received the call, I knew that hospitals near Cheongju wouldnt accept my patient due to her condition and the current limitations on daylight operations. So I came straight here, as this hospital seemed to offer the best chance for emergency services.
The general hospital had only one doctor available in the emergency room that evening.
At Hanyang University Medical Center, another general hospital in eastern Seoul, a patient surnamed Cho was advised by emergency medical workers to return in the morning when she visited to seek treatment for burns on her left hand and arm.
They said there was nothing they could do now, offering to just cover the area with a piece of gauze over the risk of tetanus, she said.
Since more than 10,000 trainee doctors across the country went on strike in February to protest the governments decision to increase medical school enrollment quotas, hospitals nationwide have reduced their emergency services due to a shortage of physicians.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare has repeatedly stated that disruptions from the collective protest would be manageable. However, observations by The Korea Times indicate that hospitals are experiencing significant pressure.
Hospitals designated by authorities to handle emergency cases during night hours, such as Gangbuk Samsung Hospital and Hanyang University Medical Center, continue to accept patients. However, compared to the situation before the protest, patients are now more likely to be advised to visit other hospitals or wait for a bed. This is due to factors such as less severe injuries or the inability of understaffed hospitals to provide prompt care, according to patients.
So far, four hospitals Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital in Seoul, Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, Chungnam National University Hospital in Sejong, and Kangwon National University Hospital in Chuncheon have decided to shorten their emergency room hours due to staff shortages. Approximately 20 other hospitals are also facing mounting pressure to do the same.
With no signs of the trainee doctors returning anytime soon, concerns are growing about a potential crisis leading up to the weeklong Chuseok holiday, when hospitals will operate with even fewer staff than usual.
Recognizing the public's concerns, President Yoon Suk Yeol visited an emergency room at a hospital in Gyeonggi Province on Wednesday night to support and encourage the medical staff.
That same night, Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the opposition Democratic Party of Korea, also visited Korea University Anam Hospital in Seoul, where he criticized the government's decision to increase medical school enrollment quotas, calling it too rushed and unilateral.
To support hospitals struggling with emergency care, the government has decided to deploy approximately 250 doctors from the military and public health facilities.
In response to concerns about hospital operations during the upcoming holiday, beginning on Sept. 14, the government will work with local officials to establish monitoring centers. These centers will oversee the situation and appoint an official-in-charge for each emergency facility.
Health ministry officials noted that staff shortages in emergency services have been a problem long before the junior doctors' protest. Addressing these issues is a key component of the medical reform efforts they have been promoting over the past seven months.
"Fundamentally improving this system is one of the reasons for the government to push for medical reforms, Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo said during Thursdays meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters. The government will make every effort to address the difficulties related to emergency care, working closely with local governments and medical institutions to ensure that the public does not face undue anxiety.
A senior Korean diplomat has called for joint efforts among the countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and in the Indo-Pacific to act against growing cyberthreats, the foreign ministry said Thursday.
Rhee Dong-yeol, ambassador for international cybersecurity affairs, made the call during the Cyber Champions Summit (CCS) held in Australia on Wednesday, as he particularly noted the need to address the spread of misinformation as a key focus for international cooperation against cyberthreats.
Rhee stressed the need for concerted efforts to cement the "digital solidarity" among NATO and its Indo-Pacific partners, according to the ministry.
The CCS was first launched in Lithuania last year as a multilateral conference on cybersecurity and cyberdefense, attended by NATO member states and its major partners.
Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand were among those that took part in this year's gathering. Korea will host the conference next year. (Yonhap)
By Enrique A. Manalo
The Philippines and the Republic of Korea share a time-tested friendship anchored in a common desire for lasting peace and prosperity and a long tradition of productive partnerships. The Philippines answered the call to support the United Nations Command in the Korean War the first Asian country to do so. Over 7,000 Filipino soldiers served with the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea. Even in the nascence of our formal diplomatic ties, the Philippines and the Republic of Korea stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the name of freedom. We are immensely proud of this legacy.
After 75 years, our countries remain staunch partners for peace and champions of a rules-based international order. As democratic societies, we believe this rules-based order is the linchpin for peace, stability and prosperity in our region and beyond. History has shown time and again that the disregard for international law has only resulted in tensions and conflict among nations. It is, therefore, incumbent upon like-minded nations, such as the Philippines and the Republic of Korea, to continue advocating for the primacy of the rule of law and the strengthening of the multilateral architecture that it underpins.
As seafaring nations, the Philippines and the Republic of Korea are acutely aware of the intrinsic link between peace in the oceans and the full realization of a stable and prosperous future for our peoples. As such, our countries have a considerable stake in ensuring the primacy of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in managing our maritime space, especially in the challenging waters of the South China Sea. As a waterway critical to both the livelihood of Filipinos as well as to international navigation and commerce, ocean governance in the South China Sea should be firmly anchored on UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
As close neighbors, the Philippines closely monitors the situation on the Korean Peninsula. We believe that the path toward peace requires the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and Pyongyang's full compliance with relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions and its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards Agreement.
Amid these geopolitical challenges, it is heartening that the Philippines and the Republic of Korea have often moved in lockstep in efforts to strengthen the rules-based order a matter well-articulated in the Republic of Korea's own Indo-Pacific Strategy. This convergence of positions is also reflected in our countries' respective statements reaffirming the importance of adherence to the rule of law, in particular, the U.N. Charter and UNCLOS and our firm belief in the power of diplomacy and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Our bilateral cooperation has also grown by leaps and bounds over the last 75 years. The Republic of Korea was the Philippines' fifth-top trading partner and sixth-largest source of approved investments in 2023. Both our countries are determined to further deepen these economic ties through such arrangements as the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Once it enters into force, the Philippines-Korea Free Trade Agreement will significantly boost the open and free movement of goods and services, as well as knowledge and technology exchange.
We also recognize the unwavering support of the Republic of Korea as our sixth-top source of official development assistance. We look forward to working together on development cooperation projects in priority growth areas, including infrastructure, transportation, water management, climate change and environment, food security and ICT. The Republic of Korea has also played a key role in the modernization of the Philippine armed forces and in efforts to improve its capability to respond to the challenges of our dynamic security environment.
Our strong people-to-people exchanges have sustained our ties for the past seven and a half decades. Bilateral tourism is rapidly recovering, with the number of Korean tourists traveling to the Philippines in 2023 closely reaching pre-pandemic figures. More Filipino tourists are also exploring the sights, sounds and culinary delights of the Land of the Morning Calm, thanks to the Republic of Korea's efforts to simplify the visa process for Filipinos.
Even more than this, Filipino and Korean expatriate communities have enhanced the social, economic and cultural fabric of our respective countries and contribute to fostering greater understanding between our peoples. Korean cultural exports whether music, film or food have been enthusiastically embraced by Filipinos and permeate our modern popular culture. Korea's phenomenal success in harnessing its creative industries is something that the Philippines seeks to emulate as a means to unlock new drivers of economic growth while promoting Philippine culture and the arts overseas.
As we chart our course for the next 75 years and beyond, I am confident that the ties that bind the Philippines and the Republic of Korea will grow from strength to strength anchored on our shared history, guided by our common aspirations and powered by our firm belief in the importance of maintaining a rules-based international order. I am also confident that the strong partnership between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea will continue to serve as our ballast, ensuring our steady and safe passage through the challenges of our regional and global environments as we strive to build the peaceful and prosperous future we want for our peoples.
Enrique A. Manalo is the Philippine minister of foreign affairs.
South Korea's industry and science ministers met with a senior Czech official Thursday to discuss bilateral cooperation, building on a recent nuclear power plant deal between the two countries.
Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun met with Czech National Security Adviser Tomas Pojar who was visiting Seoul as a special envoy of the prime minister, expressing hope for closer ties in areas including the nuclear energy industry, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
In July, the Czech Republic named a South Korean consortium, led by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, as the preferred bidder for a nuclear power plant project, which is estimated to be worth around 24 trillion won ($18 billion).
During the meeting, Ahn noted that South Korea wishes to establish a unified ecosystem for the nuclear industry under the joint project, which includes not only construction but also the education of experts and the development of technologies.
Ahn and Pojar also discussed other areas of cooperation, including trade, investment, industry and energy, the industry ministry added.
Pojar held a separate meeting with Science Minister Yoo Sang-im to discuss bilateral cooperation in the ICT sector.
The Czech envoy is visiting Seoul to discuss details with South Korean officials ahead of President Yoon Suk Yeol's upcoming visit to the European nation later this month. (Yonhap)
South Korea will hold a defense ministerial meeting with member states of the U.S.-led U.N. Command in Seoul next week to discuss ways to bolster security cooperation, the defense ministry said Thursday.
South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik and his Canadian counterpart, Bill Blair, will co-host the meeting Tuesday, with representatives from 17 other UNC member states present, the ministry said.
South Korea, which is not a member of the UNC but serves as its host country, has sought to deepen ties with the UNC to bolster deterrence against growing military threats posed by North Korea.
The upcoming meeting marks the second of its kind following last year's inaugural gathering.
The UNC was established in July 1950 under a U.N. mandate to support South Korea against North Korea's aggression during the 1950-53 Korean War and has been overseeing the armistice that halted the conflict.
Participants will discuss the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and beyond, as well as measures to strengthen cooperation between South Korea and the UNC members, the ministry said.
During last year's meeting, UNC member states vowed to be united upon any armed attack against South Korea.
The current 18 UNC members are Australia, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and the United States.
Some 1.98 million personnel from 22 countries were dispatched to support South Korea during and right after the Korean War, which ended with the armistice, not a peace treaty.
North Korea has long called for dissolving the command and recently accused Washington of trying to make an Asian version of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) when Germany newly joined the UNC last month.
Meanwhile, the defense ministry will also hold an annual international security conference in Seoul next week to discuss threats to the global security environment and measures to respond to them.
The two-day Seoul Defense Dialogue will kick off Wednesday, bringing together some 900 security officials and experts, including Rob Bauer, chair of the NATO Military committee, and defense chiefs from the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and others.
The conference will feature sessions on the possibility of armed conflict in Asia and other regions, security threats in the Indo-Pacific region, and challenges to the global nonproliferation regime, the ministry said. (Yonhap)
By Anna J. Park
Mutual defense cooperation between Korea and Poland is deepening further as Korean companies establish a significant presence at this years MSPO, an annual international military industry exhibition held in Kielce, Poland, from Tuesday to Friday.
According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), Thursday, approximately 30 Korean arms manufacturers participating in the 32nd edition of the Polish defense exhibition have set up a Korean Pavilion.
This marks the largest participation by the Korean defense industry at a single overseas defense exhibition.
DAPA Minister Seok Jong-gun also attended the defense expo, where he met key Polish defense officials, including Deputy Minister of National Defense Pawel Bejda and Deputy Minister of State Assets Marcin Kulasek.
During their meetings, Seok urged the European country to promptly finalize the contract for the additional purchase of Korean-made K2 Black Panther tanks.
Seok also addressed related issues, including the production of the purchased tanks in Poland, technology transfer, and cooperation in maintenance, repair, and operations.
Some of the purchased tanks will be manufactured in Poland.
"We agreed that the prompt conclusion of the execution contract (for additional purchases of K2 tanks) is necessary to meet the Polish military's desired timeline for force buildup," Seok said, stressing that the Korean arms procurement authority will support additional defense cooperation in the future, including submarine projects.
Early this year, Poland signed a $1.6 billion deal with Korea to purchase 72 Chunmoo rocket artillery systems and several thousand tactical guided missiles.
In 2022, the European country also ordered 1,000 K2 tanks, 288 rocket artillery launchers and 212 K9 self-propelled howitzers from Korea.
The first 180 K2 tanks, made by Hyundai Rotem and equipped with auto-loading 120mm guns, were delivered that year, with the production of 800 upgraded tanks starting in Poland in 2026.
In addition to the previously agreed-upon import of 1,000 K2 tanks, Poland is expected to finalize the additional purchase of 180 K2 tanks when the execution contract is concluded in the second half of this year.
The Korean military also plans to acquire about 200 drones from Poland over the course of this year and the next.
DAPA, which received a proposal for a contract involving Polish drones last month, is currently preparing to announce a bid. Military authorities note that the Polish drones have demonstrated their performance through extensive use in the war in Ukraine.
By KTimes
Two Korean tourists have been arrested in Turkey for stealing a bag containing cash worth around 22 million won ($16,500) from another tourist in the country's popular travel destination, Cappadocia, known for its hot air balloon rides.
According to the Turkish news agency DHA, on Aug. 27, an Albanian tourist visited a cafe in the village of Goreme in Nevsehir Province.
The tourist left his bag hanging on a chair while he and his companions enjoyed drinks. Realizing later that he had forgotten his bag, he returned to the cafe, only to find it missing.
The bag contained a large amount of cash, including 1,500 Australian dollars and 12,100 British pounds, along with passports and other identification documents.
Upon receiving the report, the police analyzed the cafe's security camera footage and identified two Asian women who had sat at the table where the Albanian tourist group had been seated. The footage showed them looking around cautiously before taking the bag from the chair and leaving the cafe.
Through additional footage from the cafe's counter, the police identified the suspects' faces and subsequently tracked them down near their accommodation.
The suspects, later confirmed to be Korean nationals, reportedly claimed they "took the bag by mistake while drunk."
Footage of the crime was also shared on a YouTube channel, leading to outrage among Koreans.
Comments expressed embarrassment, with some saying, "They are bringing shame to Korea in a brotherly country," while others added, "I want to apologize to the Turkish people on their behalf."
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
A Seoul court of appeals again reversed a district court ruling on compensation for Korean victims of Japan's wartime forced labor Thursday, ordering Japan's Nishimatsu Construction to compensate five victims.
The Seoul High Court ruled that the Japanese company has to pay 20 million won ($15,000) to one of the five, surnamed Bae, and 13 million won each to the four others. The five launched the lawsuit, claiming they were forcibly mobilized to work for the Japanese company during the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule.
Earlier, a district court ruled against the plaintiffs, saying their rights to claim compensation had expired. The right to claim civil damages expires 10 years after the date of an illegal act.
But the appellate court seems to have decided that the victims were unable to exercise their claim against the Japanese company before the Supreme Court upheld two relevant compensation rulings in 2018.
Only two weeks ago, another appellate court in Seoul overturned a district court ruling against forced labor victims for similar reasons. (Yonhap)
By KTimes
A construction worker in his 70s, who fell from a building site in Busan and sustained severe injuries, died while being transported between hospitals in search of emergency surgery.
According to the Busan Fire and Disaster Headquarters and the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, 119 emergency services received a report at around 8:11 a.m. Monday, stating that a man in his 70s fell from the second floor to the first floor of a building under construction in Gijang County, Busan, while carrying construction materials.
The 119 paramedics arrived at the scene within 10 minutes of receiving the report and provided emergency care by stabilizing the man's back, which appeared to be fractured.
The paramedics then contacted eight regional emergency centers in Gijang County, Haeundae District, Busanjin District and Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, to find a hospital that could admit the patient.
However, all eight centers declined, citing a lack of capacity to take in new patients. It was only on their ninth attempt, with Kosin University Gospel Hospital in Seo District, Busan, that they found a facility that could provide treatment, although not surgery.
The hospital was about 50 kilometers from the accident site. The paramedics drove for about 30 minutes and arrived at the hospital around 9:23 a.m., roughly an hour and 10 minutes after the accident.
The emergency medical team at the hospital diagnosed a spinal fracture that could damage the lungs, indicating an urgent need for surgery.
However, due to a shortage of medical staff, particularly in the thoracic surgery department, the hospital was unable to perform the operation.
While providing basic life support, including intravenous fluids, the hospital continued searching for another facility capable of performing the surgery.
He eventually died at 12:24 p.m., about four hours after the accident.
Since over 10,000 trainee doctors nationwide went on strike in February to protest the government's decision to increase medical school enrollment quotas, hospitals across the country have been forced to scale back their emergency services due to a shortage of available physicians.
The walkout has strained healthcare facilities, leading to reduced emergency room capacity and delays in patient care, leaving people taking the brunt of ongoing dispute on the country's medical system.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
By Kwak Yeon-soo
The Democratic Party of Koreas (DPK) assertion that the government is allegedly planning to declare martial law is undermining the partys position, as it has failed to provide substantial evidence to support the claim.
It has only provided an opportunity for the ruling bloc to launch a political offensive, putting pressure on the DPK to account for stoking unfounded fears. This has led some DPK members to concede, admitting that there are "circumstances" that could suggest preparations for martial law.
Ruling People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon slammed the DPK for spreading false rumors and causing chaos.
If you listen to the things the DPK says, you can guess that their words come out of nowhere. Is state affairs a joke to them? Han said during a Supreme Council meeting, Thursday. If there is even a shred of evidence, please share it with me. Im dying to know.
The claim of martial law began to gain traction after Rep. Kim Min-seok of the DPK raised suspicions that the Yoon Suk Yeol administration might be preparing to declare martial law to neutralize the opposition party, which holds 170 seats in the 300-member National Assembly.
I have well-founded reasons to believe that the conservative Yoon administration is drawing up a contingency plan to declare martial law, Kim said during a Supreme Council meeting, Aug. 21.
DPK Chairman Rep. Lee Jae-myung fueled the speculation by mentioning it during a meeting with the PPP leader, Sunday. He even suggested that the Yoon administration might be planning to arrest opposition lawmakers, noting that martial law can only be lifted if a majority of Assembly members vote for its repeal, according to the Constitution.
The primary argument for the martial law claim is that several key military positions related to national defense, counterintelligence, and information on North Korea have been filled by individuals who graduated from the same high school as the president. This includes Defense Minister nominee Kim Yong-hyun and Defense Counterintelligence Commander Lt. Gen. Yeo In-hyung. The opposition has suggested that these figures could play a critical role in enforcing martial law in a contingency.
The DPK also noted that the conservative Park Geun-hye administration drafted a contingency plan that included the possibility of martial law in 2017 during her impeachment crisis. However, the subsequent months-long investigation under the Moon Jae-in administration found no evidence of such a plan. Additionally, the DPK accused the president of referring to the opposition bloc as "anti-state forces."
Kim Jae-won, a Supreme Council member of the PPP, proposed a one-on-one debate with Rep. Kim of the DPK, warning that the rumormonger should keep his mouth shut if he cannot provide evidence to support his claims. The presidential office dismissed the allegations as groundless and politically motivated.
Defense Minister Shin Won-sik condemned the DPKs accusations, questioning its motives.
The previous administration caused controversy with the martial law document in 2017, but at that time, not a single person was indicted. It only hampered counterintelligence activities by cutting the number of agents (who were accused of being involved in the martial law drafting). I wonder what the DPKs intention is when counterintelligence activities need to be strengthened again, Shin said at the Assembly, Thursday.
Even some members of the DPK are now criticizing Rep. Kim and others who raised the accusations.
Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, a DPK heavyweight, said the martial law claim came out of nowhere and has no likelihood of occurring.
"I don't know what prompted these claims, but it is unlikely that absolute power can be wielded today as it was in the past. Moreover, martial law must be lifted immediately if requested by the Assembly," Kim told Yonhap News Agency.
In response to severe criticism, Rep. Kim toned down his remarks, stating that while there was circumstantial evidence to support his allegations, he was primarily issuing a warning to the government.
This summer characterized by high temperatures, frequent tropical nights, intense rainfall
By KTimes
This summer, Korea experienced its highest average temperature since nationwide weather observations began in 1973, with the average temperature reaching 25.6 degrees Celsius, according to the weather agency, Thursday.
The number of tropical nights also surged to more than three times the normal level, setting a new record.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration's "2024 Summer (June to August) Climate Characteristics" report, this summer was characterized by high temperatures, frequent tropical nights, intense rainfall during the monsoon season, and sparse precipitation after late July.
The national average temperature this summer was 25.6 degrees Celsius, 1.9 degrees higher than the normal average of 23.7 degrees.
This surpassed the previous record of 25.3 degrees Celsius set in 2018, which was known for its "extreme heatwave."
Contributing factors included the persistent influx of hot and humid southwesterly winds and the overlapping effects of the Tibetan High and North Pacific High over the Korean Peninsula from late July to late August. This combination led to clear skies and intense solar radiation. Notably, the average temperature in August was 2.8 degrees Celsius higher than usual.
Severe tropical nights
This summer was characterized not only by intense heat waves with daily high temperatures exceeding 33 degrees Celsius but also by severe tropical nights, where the minimum temperature remained above 25 degrees Celsius.
The nationwide average for heatwave occurrences this summer was 24 days, the third highest on record and 2.3 times greater than the usual average of 10.6 days.
The highest number of heatwave days on record was 31 in 2018, followed by 28.5 days in 1994. This year, the number of tropical nights reached a record-breaking 20.2 days, which is 3.1 times the average of 6.5 days. This figure far exceeds the 16.5 days recorded in both 2018 and 1994.
Regionally, 36 out of 66 major weather observation sites across the country set new records for the number of tropical nights this year.
Notably, Jeju recorded 56 tropical nights, Yeosu 42, Seoul 39, and Incheon 36, with all experiencing over a month of such nights. Additionally, the number of sweltering days set new records at 10 out of 66 locations.
The summer sea surface temperature around the Korean Peninsula reached 23.9 degrees Celsius, 1.1 degrees higher than the recent 10-year average (22.8 degrees from 2015 to 2024), marking the highest level in the past decade.
Rainfall below average
This summer's rainfall was below average, with most of it concentrated during the monsoon season. The national average rainfall was 602.7 millimeters, which is 82.5 percent of the normal average of 727.3 millimeters.
Typically, about half of the summer rain falls during the monsoon period. But this year, 78.8 percent (474.8 millimeters) of the summer rainfall was concentrated during the monsoon season the highest proportion since 1973. Outside the monsoon period, there were many clear days, resulting in less rainfall.
The monsoon season this year was particularly characterized by intense downpours concentrated in narrow areas.
There were nine instances where the maximum hourly rainfall exceeded 100 millimeters. Typically, an hourly rainfall of over 20 millimeters is classified as "heavy rain." Therefore, experiencing a single day's rainfall equivalent to the entire month's average for spring (118.4 millimeters in May this year) highlights the extreme intensity of the downpours.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
By Hu Young-sup
The Taiwan Strait remains silent, if relatively, although more than 100 days have passed since Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te took office in May. Due to his repeated denial of One China, not a few observers have warned that a violent storm would blow from the mainland.
Right after Lai started his four-year term, in fact, China showed a strong will to retaliate against the Taipei government. When China staged an armed demonstration to blockade the Taiwan Strait, it seemed as if furious wind and waves would sweep the whole strait. China also announced imposing significant sanctions against a few American companies that sold arms to Taiwan. However, it appears to have ended up as posturing at least for now.
Moreover, despite Chinas continuous malign influence, the Lai administration is expanding diplomatic and economic activities, especially with EU countries, including Lithuania, Poland and the Czech Republic, to name only a few. It is also a puzzle why China recently lifted a ban on the import of Taiwanese pomelos imposed two years ago in retaliation against then U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan. In summary, the Taiwan Strait maintains stability contrary to concerns about strained cross-strait relations. It comes as a stark contrast to the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars.
President Lai also tries to be discreet instead of seeking Taiwans independence, seemingly to not irritate Beijing. For example, in a recent interview with Taiwanese media outlets commemorating his 100th day in office, Lai said he would choose a Hawaiian route instead of passing through the U.S. continent. His two predecessors, Tsai Ing-wen and Ma Ying-jeou, not only took continental aerial routes but also openly met American political figures during stays there, when visiting South American allies. That made Chinese leaders more outraged, so Lai wants to evade the situation if possible.
There are many practical barriers to declaring Taiwan independence. Although a stubborn advocate for that aim, President Lais initial choice could be limited. That also shows why he emphasizes the importance of preserving the status quo of cross-strait relations. He only denies the One country, two systems principle that China asserts. The United States, Taiwans most important ally, also wants safety and stability by maintaining the status quo. In other words, the U.S. asks the Taiwan government not go too far.
In that sense, the future condition of the Taiwan Strait will change according to Chinas intention. Chinas top leaders occasionally manifested the need to merge Taiwan along with Hong Kong and Macao, even by using military force. However, Taiwans democratic allies will not just watch China attack the island country.
For the rest of the world, preserving the status quo is the best and only way to maintain safety and stability in the Taiwan Strait. If a serious situation occurs there, the result would be more crucial than the wars now going in Europe and the Middle East. Allies should monitor how President Lai implements his cross-strait policy during his term to make the current temporary peace permanent.
Hu Young-sup (gracias1234@naver.com) is a columnist.
By Michael Breen
When the leader of the main opposition party in a stable, advanced democracy hints that the government is planning to introduce martial law, as Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung did this weekend, you would expect Koreans and the world to sit up and take notice.
But they didnt. Not a squeak. Nobody ran out to buy extra toilet paper and ramyeon. No foreign head of state called President Yoon Suk Yeol. No foreign ministry issued a travel advisory. Foreign investors didnt panic sell. Foreign schools in Korea didnt check their emergency response manuals.
That is quite startling. A major political leader raises the specter of soldiers on our streets pointing guns at us, and nobody cares. We are indifferent.
Except, that is, for those fellows who spend too much time online when they should be working, and journalists who cover politics and are grateful for something more interesting than usual to write about.
What are we to make of this? Its important, of course, that Generalissimo Yoon doesnt misinterpret the silence and get ideas that he may not have had to put us all under military control. He should also know that the indifference is not because we all think the opposition leader is an idiot. The truth is worse.
For a major economy that is struggling with the worlds lowest birth rate and one of the highest suicide rates and wants to unify with a North Korea that is no longer interested, youd think thered be some real philosophical oratory and deeply thought-through policy debates in Korea.
But no. The interactions between the ruling and opposition sides in Korea are of such an embarrassingly low quality that it is not worth paying attention to.
But truth be told, we should pay attention. We should be very nervous because it seems to me that the politicians talk in such a way that displays contempt for the institutions of democracy.
Both main parties are guilty, but this time it is coming from the DPK.
When Yoon named Kim Yong-hyun, the head of presidential security, as his choice for minister of national defense, Kim Min-seok, a senior opposition figure, characterized him as a Cha Ji-cheol-style suppressor of the opposition and said it was reasonable to believe the government thinks there might be a war and that its necessary to have martial law.
Cha was the security chief of the dictator Park Chung-hee.
Other lawmakers picked up this theme, questioning Kim Yong-hyun during his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly about alleged preparations for martial law.
It is, in theory, possible that someone somewhere in the government is drafting a martial law scenario paper. The thing is, though, that these politicians dont believe their own allegations. If martial law is introduced, they will be as surprised as you and me. The proof of this claim lies in the way they have thrown the idea out.
Consider for a moment the seriousness of what they are saying compared to the frivolity of the way the accusation was delivered.
The last time there was martial law in this country was 44 years ago when a new dictator, Chun Doo-hwan, decided to suppress the parliamentary opposition. Chun made the fatal error of sending special forces to do the police work of controlling campus protests at Seoul National University, where they succeeded, and in Gwangju, where they were driven out by citizens who had erupted in reaction to their thuggish violence.
That rebellion cost over 200 lives and made the military, which until then was seen as less corrupt and more efficient than the civilian establishment, a hated institution. It turned a generation of student activists from being pro-democracy into being pro-communist and even pro-North Korean at a time when the rest of the world was chucking Marxism onto the ash heap of history.
Because of this, Army officers hung their heads in shame for a generation and swore never again to allow themselves to be used in such a way to suppress their own people.
It is likely that the opposition is planning a major effort to bring people out to demand the impeachment of the president. Such is their impatience for power and contempt for elections and the office of the presidency.
But even a million people on the street would not result in martial law. If the political leadership tried it, I would not be surprised if the Army refused.
There is not going to be martial law in this country. Everyone knows that. The people and the politicians know it. If opposition politicians want to be taken seriously, they should address real problems and stop conjuring up fantasy villains.
Michael Breen (mike.breen@insightcomms.com) is the author of "The New Koreans."
By Eugene Lee
This week stood out in many ways. As President Yoon Suk Yeol has been talking about new policies, and I was getting ready to dive into the pros and cons, another streak of news immediately distracted me. The piece was asking whether the current administration was about to enact a martial law in South Korea. On one end, the idea sounded grotesque and hard to believe, but on the other, it brought a chill to my back what if it was actually the case? So, I began to dig into counterfactuals. The likelihood of it being rather low, but not impossible I would suggest: just dont do it. Here are the reasons for it to be a bad idea if anyone is thinking of doing that.
First, the Constitution itself guards the situation; it is explicit about terms; the enactment has to be a very large threat to the countrys stability. Well, lets assume the North is the one but so far, the most dangerous provocations have been rocket tests, a few drones and balloons with excrement. To justify enactment of the martial law due to the rockets would be hard because, I say, maybe a great leaders hobby is to shoot them. The drones those were so primitive that they made of South Korean military a laughing stock, and the balloons were just pranks to tease the president. So, these lack weight for them to be the reasons. Plus, the Constitution stipulates only two cases: a national emergency or to guard the public from the threat outside. Neither of the threats is viable, and if anyone mentions nukes, the counterargument to that would be, Well, China and Russia already have them; why haven't we enacted the law already? So, dont just do it.
Martial law restricts freedom of speech, press, assembly and association. We dont need to look far to see what it is like. At least five states have declared martial law in Asia since 2000. Myanmar has experienced martial law several times, including the so-called Saffron Revolution and in 2021 after the military coup. It still struggles with military rule and is still in crisis.
Thailand declared martial law in 2014. After months of unrest, the military rule has not resolved its governance issues. Just last month, their Supreme Court ruled against the winning opposition party, throwing the country back into turmoil.
In 2017, it was the Philippines that experienced martial law as a response to Islamist attacks. It sounded very legitimate then; today, however, then-President Rodrigo Duterte is under investigation by the International Criminal Court for crimes during his bloody war on drugs.
Pakistan imposed martial law in 2007 under the leadership of Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who later was tried and convicted of high treason. Surviving four assassination attempts, he was sentenced to death but died just last year because of illness in Dubai.
Notoriously famous Bangladesh had some martial law provisions in 2007, and the ensuing political turmoil for the following decade degraded the countrys economy significantly. It all ended just recently with Prime Minister Hasina fleeing to exile in India after her rule turned more authoritarian, ordering security forces to use weapons against its population. She was toppled by young people who could not tolerate corruption and repression and could not be stopped by curfews, blocked internet or even the military. Ultimately, the military announced it would not use force against its people.
That brings us back to South Korea. In 2018, after the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye, the military command indeed had plans for martial law. That plan involved deploying tanks, armored vehicles and thousands of armed personnel with special forces. Only now do we realize how close the country was to enacting it under the excuse of public unrest, which began from a sunken ferry. No wonder, seeing the political strife in Seoul today, there are worries about a declaration of martial law in South Korea if the strife grows similar to one against the Park administration.
And then there is the United States, or its military, here on the peninsula. I doubt another martial law will go smoothly because, as in the words of one U.S. official, the period surrounding the 1980 Gwangju Uprising served as a "crucible" for U.S. policy toward the South. So, being dogged by the past, the U.S. will not be complicit in any use of power against the people. Plus, just a year ago, in March 2023, President Yoon was celebrating democracy with U.S. President Joe Biden; they both pledged commitments to reform laws and policies, bolster transparent and accountable institutions, and contribute additional support to democratic reformers, journalists and activists. Those words werent empty. My hunch is that in any case of political repression, the U.S. will seek heavy retribution, as it will muddy the water for a more extensive regional policy for the U.S.
So, the point is that any military-led government would struggle to hold onto power. As history shows, people who have experienced freedom are rebellious. Those restrictions never worked in Korea, especially in the last four decades. If put in place, the law will mean bloodshed, the price for which eventually will be dear, not only to any hypothetical leader or anyone around him but also to all their relatives. Their deeds will go against the future of their descendants. No one wants to be on the wrong side of history. So, to anyone possibly thinking of martial law, my suggestion is simple: dont go against your people just dont do it.
Eugene Lee (mreulee@gmail.com) is a lecturing professor at the Graduate School of Governance at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul. Specializing in international relations and governance, his research and teaching focus on national and regional security, international development, government policies and Northeast and Central Asia.
Tech giants seek to captivate audiences with AI-home solutions
By Nam Hyun-woo
BERLIN Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are set to unveil advanced appliances and services powered by artificial intelligence (AI) during the IFA 2024.
Alongside the tech giants, more than 2,200 companies, including 127 Korean businesses, will participate in the consumer electronics exhibition, which marks its 100th anniversary this year. The show will run from Friday to Tuesday at Messe Berlin under the theme Innovation for All.
Reflecting on the megatrend of AI, both Samsung and LG styled their respective booths with AI-powered home appliances and services.
AI for all
Occupying 6,017 square meters at City Cube Berlin, Samsung will set up its booth under the theme AI for All to present a wide range of AI-powered products and services, demonstrating how AI can enhance everyday life through smarter, more integrated technology.
At the exhibition, Samsung showcases how AI will enhance the companys connected appliance platform SmartThings in terms of security, privacy, sustainability, seamless connectivity and B2B scalability. Samsung acquired SmartThings in 2014 to use it as the internet-of-things (IoT) platform for the companys home appliances, and it now boasts over 350 million users globally.
One of the interesting features introduced at the booth is Flex Connect, which helps reduce energy consumption during peak hours. Samsung has also collaborated with Tesla to showcase SmartThings Energy, a service that monitors solar power generation and optimizes power usage of electric vehicle batteries.
Samsungs B2B solutions are also on display, with SmartThings Pro extending the platforms capabilities into commercial spaces such as hotels, stores and offices. This expansion allows for efficient management of not only appliances but also IoT devices like lighting, climate control and security cameras.
Samsung also presents a SmartThings variation for B2B use, named SmartThings Pro. It extended the platforms capabilities into commercial spaces such as hotels, stores and offices, allowing for efficient management of not only appliances but also IoT devices like lighting, climate control and security cameras.
During the exhibition, Samsung introduces major upgrades to its AI-powered Bespoke home appliance family, allowing each appliance to understand multiple commands in a single sentence, remember previous conversations to execute subsequent commands and give immediate answers to users questions about the devices.
Other new features are also unveiled. Voice ID recognizes different users different voices to execute respective commands and Ambient Sensing pinpoints users location to activate the screens of appliances that are close to the user. The two features are set to roll out in 2025.
Along with the new technologies, Samsung will display Bespoke AI series during the show, including the Bespoke AI Combo washer and dryer and the Bespoke AI Steam robot vacuum cleaner.
To consolidate its leadership in the global TV market, Samsung showcases a series of transparent micro LED displays featuring a combination of high transparency and a bezel-less design. These screens are intended to play a central role in the AI-powered home setup that Samsung presented at its booth.
Intelligent home
LG Electronics sets up its booth under the theme Experience, Affectionate Intelligence Home and first unveils ThingQ ON, a generative AI-embedded home hub that connects home IoT devices.
Users can interact with ThinQ ON through voice communication like they would with family or friends. The generative AI understands the context of conversations and the surrounding environment, allowing it to manage home appliances and IoT devices to provide optimal care for the user.
LG highlights how its AI-based appliances, such as smart TVs, washers, dryers and air conditioners, help people maintain their different lifestyles.
At the exhibition, LG also showcases the integration of AI into its hardware technologies, demonstrating how AI optimizes product performance and energy efficiency by analyzing the environment.
The AI Direct Drive motor, featured in LG washing machines and dryers, analyzes the weight, fabric type and level of soiling in the laundry to select the optimal washing motion that best protects the clothes.
In addition to enhancing everyday convenience, LG is focused on contributing to a sustainable future by improving energy efficiency. The companys high-efficiency heat pump air conditioning systems use AI to analyze energy consumption and optimize heating and cooling modes based on environmental factors such as time of day and weather conditions.
LG Electronics will lead the era of AI home by introducing our AI home solutions that understand and empathize with customers to enhance their daily lives, Lyu Jae-cheol, president of LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution division, said.
Collaboration with partners
Among Korean telecom companies, KT will participate in the IFA 2024. KT is attending the event with its 10 domestic partner companies to support promising small and medium-sized enterprises in entering the global market.
All of the partner companies are AI-related service providers including Qanda, Superb AI and Lablup, and they will be using the exhibition as a stage for drawing investments.
KT will present its generative AI content services, including Travel View and Objet Book. Objet Book automatically extracts key keywords from a book and creates images and videos based on those keywords. This is combined with AI-generated background music and voice dubbing to produce video content.
By Nam Hyun-woo
BERLIN Samsung Electronics portrayed a future where artificial intelligence (AI) technologies enhance and simplify everyday life during a press conference at the IFA 2004, Thursday.
Samsung stressed that AI will improve each individuals quality of life, transform their lifestyle and expand what they can accomplish. Additionally, the company introduced new appliances and devices that will help people achieve these goals.
"At Samsung, we belive that we want to democratize AI," Samsung Europe Chief Marketing Officer Benjamin Braun told The Korea Times. "Therefore, we are rolling out our newest AI today, called One UI 6.1.1, not only to the people having the current version (of the Galaxy smartphones), but also to last year's model and before that. (This is) because we want as many people as possible to use AI to their benefit."
One UI is Samsung Electronics' multi-platform user interface, and the latest version, 6.1.1, brings new features. This upgrade will extend AI capabilities from the latest Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 such as live translation to the Galaxy S24, Z Fold 5, and Z Flip 5.
Since our presentation at IFA last year, discussions around AI and its role in our lives have grown significantly, Braun said during his keynote speech.
At Samsung, we are proud to make AI more accessible and understandable, showing how it can simplify life rather than complicate it. We believe AI should act like multiple pairs of helping hands, meeting the needs of its consumers and the world beyond them. Our AI-enabled products allow people more time to focus on the things they care about.
Samsung expects there will be 200 million users using its AI-enabled devices by the end of this year, but at the same time, it acknowledges that there are barriers between users and AI technologies.
According to Samsungs own survey, only 15 percent of consumers said they had full understanding of how AI can be used in their daily lives, though 66 percent said they are looking for ways to create more time with AI. The poll surveyed 11,000 adults from ten European countries between July 11 and 19.
During the press conference, Chris Brauer, director of innovation at the Institute of Management Studies at Goldsmiths, University of London, highlighted a significant finding from a joint study with Samsung Electronics. He said there is "a very strong relationship between frequent AI use and quality of life indicators," noting that "frequent mobile AI users are about 1.4 times more likely to report a high quality of life compared to those who rarely use it."
"In fact, across almost every quality of life indicator, from social relationships to physical health, frequent AI users came out ahead," Brauer said. "So as the tools become more advanced, people are looking for more ways to use AI."
Under this belief, Samsung introduced a number of AI technologies that can power its appliances to provide a greater accessibility to users. The company presented voice command technologies, which allows users to open the doors of its Bespoke AI refrigerators and washers and control other home appliances with voice. Additionally, Samsung revealed an AI-powered outlining technology for its TVs, to enhance visibility for those with low vision by clearly outlining objects on the screen.
During the press conference, Samsung first unveiled its new laptops the Galaxy Book 5 Pro 360 and the 15-inch Galaxy Book 4 Edge, with senior executives from Intel and Qualcomm introducing the new rollouts.
Intel and Samsung Electronics have been partners for more than 20 years, unlocking new PC experiences for our users all around the globe, said David Feng, vice president of Client Computing Group at Intel. Powered by Intels latest processor and Samsungs Galaxy AI, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro 360 will deliver a breakthrough to a new level of productivity and connectivity.
Also presented during the press conference was Samsung Food+, which is an AI-upgraded premium version of the companys health care service program, Samsung Food.
Samsung Food enables a more advanced and comprehensive approach to health management, by using personal information such as body metrics, age and exercise habits. It provides features including setting intake goals, planning weekly meals, offering personalized recipes, tracking nutritional progress and analyzing trends in the consumption of the five essential nutrients.
As part of the companys expansion in the health care business, Samsung also introduced its latest Galaxy Ring, which monitors the users sleep pattern, activities, heartbeat and other health indicators around the clock, and the new Galaxy Watch Ultra, which enables more accurate and precise monitoring of body signals and workout data.
For televisions, Samsung presented its Generative Wallpaper function, in which AI can create TV wallpapers in upscale quality, and AI-powered Bixby, which understands the users intentions to enable smart search of content.
GS Inima sale to enhance cash security
By Ko Dong-hwan
GS Engineering & Construction (E&C) is willing to sell its financially strong subsidiaries like GS Inima Environment and GS Elevator to secure additional cash for new business ventures, according to the firm's chief financial officer (CFO), Thursday.
In an interview with The Korea Times, Chae Hun-geun explained that the strategy is part of his companys latest overarching directive to enhance its management efficiency by focusing on stronger segments. He noted that streamlining the organization will bolster the company's ability to pursue new growth opportunities.
Rumors currently circulating about GS E&C potentially selling GS Inima have sparked speculation that the construction company may be facing a liquidity crisis. Acquired in 2012, the Spain-based water treatment subsidiary has been a major revenue source for GS E&C. In the first half of this year, Inima reported sales of 243 billion won ($182 million) and an operating profit of 21.7 billion won. In comparison, the companys figures for the previous year were 493 billion won in sales and 52.2 billion won in operating profit.
Chae admits that selling GS Inima would be a difficult decision.
"GS Inima has been contributing an average of 15 percent to GS E&Cs overall earnings each year. That company has been our golden boy," Chae said.
"But strategically speaking, selling the company for a good price would be wise. It would allow us to prepare for potential financial risks in the future. Additionally, we might use the proceeds to acquire another company that could become our new cash cow."
Regarding speculation about selling GS Elevator, Chae neither confirmed nor entirely dismissed the rumor, but he did not fully endorse its pessimistic implications. GS E&C established Xi Mechanics in 2020, which was renamed GS Elevator the following year.
There could be companies that prove less profitable than we had hoped. We then should take a bold step and sell them. To further secure our financial soundness, we could also sell stronger subsidiaries when their values peak and secure enough cash. This two-track strategy will allow us to invest in future growth engines," Chae said.
GS E&C has rapidly restored its financial strength after grappling with a decline in its stock market value. In the first half of the year, the company reported earnings of 164 billion won and began to generate profits. Additionally, its stock value surged by over 40 percent. These gains come just one year after the company introduced a new vision emphasizing internal fortification over external expansion.
Were also trying to bolster our image by focusing more on redevelopment and reconstruction projects in the countrys apartment market. Those projects promise higher profitability, Chae said.
The company has recently won bids for redevelopment projects over aging apartment complexes in Busan and Seoul, with a total value of 711.9 billion won.
"Redevelopment projects are as important as new apartment projects because we need to demonstrate that we care about maintaining and improving what we have already built."
Hanwha Aerospace, a defense and aerospace unit under Hanwha Group, said Thursday it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Polish defense firm WB Group as part of its plans to produce guided rockets for homegrown Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) in Europe.
Under the MOU, Hanwha Aerospace and WB Group will explore the possibility of establishing a joint venture to produce the 80-kilometer-range guided missile (CGR-80) for the Homar-K, the Polish variant of the Chunmoo, in Poland.
WB Group currently supplies automatic fire control systems and communication equipment for the Homar-K.
The MLRS, designed to counter North Korean artillery threats, is one of the Korean weapons systems Poland has bought to bolster its defenses following the Russia-Ukraine war.
Hanwha Aerospace said the collaboration with WB Group will help expand its arms exports to Europe by strengthening localization efforts.
Poland is a key strategic region for the Korean company as it aims to penetrate the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) defense market, it added.
So far, Hanwha Aerospace has signed contracts with Poland to export 290 units of Chunmoo launchers and CGR-80 and 290-km-class (CTM-290) guided missiles.
"Through localization, we will strengthen our position as a global defense company by actively responding to growing security needs in Europe and contributing to the alliance between Korea and Poland," CEO Son Jae-il said. (Yonhap)
Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday pledged over $50 billion in financing for Africa over the next three years, promising to deepen cooperation in infrastructure and trade with the continent as he addressed Beijing's biggest summit since the pandemic.
More than 50 African leaders and U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres are attending this week's China-Africa forum, according to state media.
African leaders already secured a plethora of deals this week for greater cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture, mining, trade and energy.
Addressing the leaders at the forum's opening ceremony in Beijing's ornate Great Hall of the People on Thursday morning, Xi hailed ties with the continent as in their "best period in history."
"China is ready to deepen cooperation with African countries in industry, agriculture, infrastructure, trade and investment," he said.
"Over the next three years, the Chinese government is willing to provide financial support amounting to 360 billion yuan ($50.7 billion)," Xi said.
Over half of that will be in credit, he said, with $11 billion "in various types of assistance" as well as $10 billion through encouraging Chinese firms to invest.
He also promised to help "create at least one million jobs for Africa."
Also addressing the meeting, U.N. chief Guterres told African leaders that growing ties between China and the continent could "drive the renewable energy revolution."
"China's remarkable record of development including on eradicating poverty provides a wealth of experience and expertise," he said.
Deals and pledges
China, the world's number two economy, is Africa's largest trading partner and has sought to tap the continent's vast troves of natural resources including copper, gold, lithium and rare earth minerals.
It has also furnished African countries with billions in loans that have helped build much-needed infrastructure but sometimes stoked controversy by saddling governments with huge debts.
Analysts say that Beijing's largesse towards Africa is being recalibrated in the face of economic trouble at home and that geopolitical concerns over a growing tussle with the United States may increasingly be driving policy.
But bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the summit delivered a slew of pledges on greater cooperation in projects from railway to solar panels to avocados.
Following meetings on Wednesday, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema said he had overseen a deal between the country's state-owned power company ZESCO and Beijing's PowerChina to expand the use of rooftop solar panels in his country.
Nigeria one of Beijing's biggest debtors on the continent and China inked a joint statement agreeing to "deepen cooperation" in infrastructure, including "transportation, ports and free trade zones."
Expanding transport links
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, in turn, obtained a commitment from Xi to push for new progress on a long-stalled railway connecting his country to neighboring Zambia.
That project which Zambian media has said Beijing has pledged $1 billion towards is aimed at expanding transport links in the resource-rich eastern part of the continent.
Zimbabwe also won promises from Beijing for deeper cooperation in "agriculture, mining, environmentally friendly traditional and new energy (and) transportation infrastructure," according to a joint statement by the two countries.
The southern African nation and Beijing also agreed to sign a deal that would allow the export of fresh Zimbabwean avocados to China, the joint statement said.
And Kenyan leader William Ruto said Xi had promised to open up China's markets to agricultural products from his country.
The two sides agreed to work together on the expansion of the country's Standard Gauge Railway built with finance from Exim Bank of China which connects the capital Nairobi with the port city of Mombasa.
And Ruto also secured a pledge for greater cooperation with China on the Rironi-Mau Summit-Malaba motorway, which Kenyan media has said is expected to cost $1.2 billion.
Ruto last year asked China for a $1 billion loan and the restructuring of existing debt to complete other stalled construction projects. The country now owes China more than $8 billion. (AFP)
German luxury carmaker BMW said Thursday it aimed to mass produce its first hydrogen-powered car in 2028, using fuel cell technology jointly developed with Japan's Toyota.
Hydrogen has long been touted as an alternative to the combustion engine as countries tighten their climate targets, but it remains a niche technology plagued by high costs and a lack of infrastructure.
BMW said it would deepen its collaboration with Toyota to jointly develop the powertrain system for hydrogen passenger vehicles, using synergies to "drive down the costs" and bring the "next generation of fuel cell technology" to the roads.
The models developed by BMW and Toyota using the technology will retain "their distinct brand identities," the statement said.
Toyota launched the Mirai, the world's first mass-market hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, in 2014 but sales have stagnated at several thousand units per year.
"BMW and Toyota share the same passion for cars and belief in 'technology openness' and a 'multi-pathway' approach to carbon neutrality," said Toyota president Koji Sato.
BMW said it planned to roll out its first hydrogen-powered model in 2028, after already testing the BMW iX5 hydrogen concept car.
The mass-produced model would have a "customer-attractive price", Michael Rath, vice president of hydrogen vehicles at BMW, told reporters in a call without giving further details.
BMW is one of the few European carmakers working on hydrogen projects, with most manufacturers betting that battery-powered electric vehicles will replace fossil fuel engines in passenger cars.
Demand for electric cars however has stalled in Europe recently, as governments in some countries have dropped purchase incentives and prices remain high.
Hydrogen cars work thanks to the cleanest form of the gas combining with oxygen in a fuel cell to generate electricity. The only waste emitted is water vapour.
But the technology faces major hurdles to go mainstream.
There were only 921 hydrogen refuelling stations worldwide by the end of 2023, according to consultancy LBST. China led the way with around 200 stations, twice as many as Germany, the European leader.
The European Commission, which aims to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035, has set ambitious goals to create a network of hydrogen charging stations. (AFP)
French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday named the European Union's former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as new prime minister, following almost two months of political deadlock after snap polls, the presidency said.
Barnier, 73, the oldest premier in the history of modern France, has been tasked with forming "a unifying government in the service of the country", the presidency added. (AFP)
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The group LOOSSEMBLE is showcasing the title track from their third mini-album "TTYL" at a release showcase held at Ilchi Art Hall in Gangnam, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 2nd.
On 4 September a judge in Mexicos Morelos state ordered the definitive suspension of the process to debate and vote on Presidents judicial reform, which passed the lower chamber of congress the same day.
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On 4 September Brazils Presidentmet with federal deputy, who is affiliated with the conservative Republicanos party and is considered a strong contender to assume the presidency of the lower house in February.
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Franco Colapinto is not just making waves on the racetrack; he's also capturing attention on social media.
The 21-year-old F1 driver from Argentina is trending once again, but this time it's not because of his impressive performance on the Monza Grand Prix. Colapinto is going viral on X, for his social media publications, with his humorous publications that show even top athletes can be like the rest of us in this part of the world..
It all began on Sunday, shortly after Colapinto's debut race in Monza. The Williams driver expressed his excitement about his first Formula 1 race, sayin: "What an unforgettable day! I can't explain how much I enjoyed my first F1 race. We had great pace and worked well with the team. We need to keep pushing... but you have no idea how much my body hurts. On to the next one!"
Later, when fans expected his next tweet to be a standard thank-you or expression of euphoria, Colapinto surprised everyone by sharing a video from the pits with the caption "fa re cheto se ve de afuera" (which roughly translates to "looks so posh from the outside"). This playful post made it clear that Colapinto himself is behind his X account, unlike many celebrities who rely on community managers.
fa re cheto se ve de afuera https://t.co/9MF4YusboC Franco Colapinto (@FranColapinto) September 2, 2024
The standout publication came on Tuesday, September 3, when Colapinto thanked Elon Musk for restoring his verified status and the iconic "blue check." However, thousands of users noticed a curious detail in Colapinto's screenshot: a user he didn't even know existed, sparking a humorous exchange between the driver and his followers.
Noooo tengo el tic azul ese de vuelta !! gracias elon pic.twitter.com/EfkKkxDscp September 3, 2024
Through these interactions, Colapinto has shown that he's not just a top driver in the world but also relatable and down-to-earth on social media.
Merlins Grave and other lost stories embedded in the landscape
On the banks of the Tweed in the Scottish Borders is the reputed site of Merlins Grave, the embedded remnant of a legend long associated with the nearby village of Drumelzier. Dr Ronan Toolis explains how a community archaeology project revealed why this tale became rooted to this part of Tweeddale.
The morning commute up to Tinnis Castle, taken by members of Drumelziers Hiddenn Heritage during this community archaeology project in the Scottish Borders.
Merlins Grave at Drumelzier (pronounced druh MEL-yur) is formally documented in Scotlands National Record of the Historic Environment, but despite its evocative name this site is little more than a nondescript corner of a field, etched on to the map by local tradition. In 1689, Alexander Pennecuik noted in the draft of his Geographical Historical Description of the Shire of Tweeddale that: a little below the church yeard, the famous prophet Merlin is said to be buried. The particular place of his grave was shewn me many years ago, by the Old and Reverend Minister of the place. The origins of this tradition, the RCAHMS Peeblesshire Inventory speculates, could lie in the discovery of a Bronze Age grave but, if so, no record of this find survives. While Merlins Grave has been marked on maps since the 18th century, no archaeological remains have ever been documented there.
How, then, did Drumelzier come to be associated with Merlin? Our story begins with an old medieval tale, the Vita Merlini Silvestris (The Life of Merlin of the Forest), which tells of a wild man of the woods who was banished to the wilderness because of the terrible slaughter he had provoked at a great battle in northern Cumbria: qui Lailoken vocabatur quem quidam dicunt fuisse Merlynum qui erat Britonibus quasi propheta singularis sed nescitur (his name was Lailoken. Certain people say that he was Merlin who was regarded amongst the Britons as unique in his powers of prophecy).
Merlins Grave at Drumelzier has been marked on maps since the 18th century: here we see it on Mostyn Armstrongs map of 1775.
The Vita actually contains two stories about Lailoken. In the first, he presses St Kentigern for absolution for his misdeeds. Three times Lailoken asks for forgiveness, and each time he prophesises a different way he will die crushed by stones and cudgels; pierced by a sharp wooden stake; and drowned. On receiving St Kentigerns blessing, Lailoken offers a further prophecy that the greatest of the kings of Britain, the holiest of the bishops, and the noblest of the lords will follow him in death that same year.
The second story finds Lailoken as a prisoner of an under-king or sub-king called Meldred, held beside his lofty throne at Dunmeller. After three days, Lailoken offers Meldred a trio of nonsensical riddles, and the perplexed ruler promises him his freedom in return for an explanation. Lailoken first foretells his imminent threefold death and asks that he be buried on the east side of the Tweed near where it meets the Powsail Burn. The king agrees, but flies into a rage when the riddles are revealed to tell of the queens adultery. Lailoken makes a hasty escape, but the queen exacts her revenge years later when her shepherds attack Lailoken while on his way past Dunmeller, stoning and beating him. In his death throes, Lailoken falls into the Tweed, landing on the sharp stake of a fish trap where, impaled face down, he drowns. Thus, his prophecy became true, and Meldred had him buried at his chosen spot.
Where did this curious tale come from? The Vita Merlini Silvestris survives in only one 15th-century manuscript (held in the British Library). A truncated version of the same legend was also included in the Scotichronicon, written in the 1440s by Walter Bower, Abbot of Inchcolm Abbey, but the story was probably composed centuries earlier, most likel in the 12th century, when the Life of St Kentigern was being written. The Drumelzier tale appears to have much in common with early medieval Welsh poetry about Myrddin Wyllt, who was renowned for his gift of prophecy and, interestingly, this same Myrddin was also called Llallawc and Llallogan in one of these poems, Cyfoesi Myrddin a Gwenddydd ei Chwaer (Conversation of Myrddin and his Sister Gwenddydd). In turn, Myrddin became the wizard Merlin in the 12th century, when Geoffrey of Monmouth drew various Welsh stories together into his Historia Regum Britanniae (History of the Kings of Britain), from which stemmed the Arthurian legends easily recognised today and Geoffrey included yet another variant of the Drumelzier story in his own Vita Merlini.
Place-names in Peeblesshire derived from the Cumbric language formerly spoken across southern Scotland.
There are no doubts, then, as to the medieval credentials of the Drumelzier legend but could it have had even earlier origins? The name Lailoken derives from Cumbric, a now extinct Celtic language that was spoken in southern Scotland during the early medieval period. His gift of prophecy recalls the divination skills attributed to druids by ancient Classical writers such as Dio Chrysostom, Cicero, and Hippolytus, and his triple death reflects the overkill observed among Iron Age sacrificial bog bodies such as Lindow Man (see CA 233 and 375). But was the story simply brought to Drumelzier by a wandering medieval minstrel, or did the Merlin legend actually originate here in Tweeddale? These were the questions that a community project, Drumelziers Hidden Heritage, sought to answer. By investigating sites in the landscape associated with the tale, the project (led by GUARD Archaeology) sought to examine the Drumelzier tales archaeological roots.
On a very soggy, dreich day in November 2022, a team of 11 volunteers and three archaeologists undertook a geophysical survey of a field to the north of Drumelzier. Led by Magnitude Surveys, the investigation aimed to see what lay beneath the surface on the spot marked as Merlins Grave but unfortunately the answer proved to be nothing. What the survey did detect, though, was a large pit in the same field, a short distance to the south-east. Was it this that gave rise to the association of this location with Merlins Grave? There did appear to be some form of buried archaeological remains there, but only excavation would determine if the pit was indeed a grave, if it contained human remains and what period it belonged to and unfortunately we were not given permission to dig. It would have been a very short and inconclusive project if this was all the team had to go on but luckily there were a couple of other sites that we had investigated over the preceding months, which had yielded rather more tangible evidence.
Project volunteers, led by Magnitude Surveys, carried out a geophysical survey of the Merlins Grave site.
The Vita Merlini Silvestris contained several clues to guide our search. Much of the action takes place in and around Dunmeller, from which the place name Drumelzier derives, and the Powsail Burn and the Tweed do indeed converge at this location. The modern village is also still overlooked by the prominent ruins of Tinnis Castle, which are commonly thought to represent the remains of Meldreds lofty throne where Lailoken was held captive. Meldred himself is mentioned nowhere outside the Vita Merlini Silvestris, but his description as a sub king suggests that he was considered to rule a small area under the dominance of another ruler. This high-king may have been considered to be Rhydderch, a known contemporary of St Kentigern in the years around AD 600, who was the king of Alt Clud, the Rock of the Clyde.
St Kentigern, too, is a historically attested person: a 6th-century bishop of Glasgow, whose death was recorded in the Annales Cambriae (Welsh Annals) around AD 614. Meanwhile, the terrible bloodshed for which Lailoken sought forgiveness in the Vitas first story appears to have been the Battle of Arthuret, which the Annales Cambriae place in AD 573. It is thought to have been fought on the plain between Liddel and Carwannok (Liddel and Carwhinley in northern Cumbria).
The geophysics results revealed no buried archaeological remains on the spot marked as Merlins Grave (indicated here by the red circle) but was a large pit identified just to the south east the real location of the eponymous burial?
What the Lailoken story therefore offered us was: a period (AD 573-614), a place (Drumelzier), and a context (an early medieval kingdom in Peeblesshire) to investigate and a key part of this research saw a team of GUARD Archaeologists and 35 volunteers excavating at Tinnis Castle in August 2022, hoping to recover archaeological evidence that might shed light on the origins of the Drumelzier legend.
This is an extract of an article that appeared in CA 415. Read on in the magazine, or click here to read it online at The Past, where you can read all of the Current Archaeology articles in full as well as the content of our other magazines, Current World Archaeology, Ancient Egypt, and Military History Matters.
UPDATE: Motorcyclist who died in Route 22 crash with tractor-trailer identified as 29-year-old
A motorcyclist was pronounced dead following a crash that closed Route 22 West on Tuesday afternoon in Bethlehem, authorities said.
Pennsylvania State Police investigated the crash reported about 1:40 p.m. between miles 325.1 and 324.8, which is between the Schoenersville Road and Airport Road (Route 987) exits.
Investigators determined the motorcyclist was involved in a crash with a semi-trailer, according to Trooper Nathan Branosky, spokesman for Bethlehem-based state police.
Bethlehem EMS took the rider to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg in the city, where the rider was pronounced dead, Branosky told lehighvalleylive.com.
The crash initially closed all westbound lanes, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reported at 511pa.com.
All Route 22 West lanes were reopened by 4 p.m., Branosky said.
Authorities did not immediately identify the rider or release further information.
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Reporter Pamela Sroka-Holzmann contributed to this report.
Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
UPDATE: Pennsylvania State Police in an update Thursday night stated results were negative in a K-9 sweep of Pleasant Valley School District facilities in relation to a threat at the high school: The threat investigation remains active and any new updates will be provided as the investigation continues.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Pennsylvania State Police said they were investigating a threat Thursday at a high school in Monroe County.
Pleasant Valley School District in Brodheadsville announced Thursday on its website schools would be operating on a remote instruction day Thursday.
State police at Fern Ridge in Monroe said they were contacted by district officials regarding an entry on Pennsylvanias Safe2Say Something website involving a threat at the High School Building.
Fern Ridge detectives were investigating, according to a state police news release. Troopers also brought in their Bureau of Emergency and Special Operations K-9 Division to conduct a building sweep of the High School to ensure safety for students and school employees, the release states.
Investigators were not immediately releasing further details but encouraged anyone with information on the incident to contact state police at Fern Ridge at 570-646-2271.
The reported threat comes one day after a 14-year-old student opened fire at a Georgia high school and killed four people on Wednesday. At least nine other people were taken to hospitals with injuries in the shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, about an hours drive from Atlanta.
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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
Anyone who wishes to report a crime relating to historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders in Ireland has been encouraged to come forward by Garda.
It was announced on Tuesday that a commission of investigation is to be established to examine historical sexual abuse claims.
Almost 2,400 allegations of historical sexual abuse were recorded by 308 schools run by religious orders across Ireland, a Government-ordered scoping inquiry revealed.
A Garda spokesperson said anyone coming forward to the force will receive personal contact as soon as is practicable.
The spokesperson added: An Garda Siochana is inviting anyone who believes they were the victim of a criminal act relating to historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders, to please come forward and report this.
An Garda Siochana is fully aware of the profound impact on the lives of those who were subject to such abuse, many of whom who may only be disclosing this information for the first time.
An Garda Siochana will deal with any matters reported by complainants in a sensitive manner and will, where possible, progress matters through investigation.
While it is our responsibility to effectively deal with all complaints and information received, there be limitations as to the action we can take in some cases due to matters such as the unavailability of evidence over time or suspects and/or witnesses being deceased.
Where these factors are present, An Garda Siochana will diligently explain such limitations to complainants.
The Garda National Protective Service Bureau will maintain oversight of the investigations carried out by specially-trained garda.
The spokesperson added: An Garda Siochana is also appealing to anyone who may have information, including as a witness, relating to crimes of historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders, to make contact with them so that such crimes can be investigated.
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A plan to improve water quality in Ireland and restore freshwater habitats has been launched by the Government.
Malcolm Noonan, Minister of State with responsibility for nature, heritage and electoral reform, said the water action plan 2024 is a key step in delivering on obligations under the EU water framework directive.
Mr Noonan said the plan sets out a roadmap to restore Irelands water bodies to good status or better, and protect against further deterioration in the period from 2023 to 2027 through an integrated catchment management approach.
Key actions include tighter controls on the use of fertilisers that impact water quality, a greater focus on compliance and enforcement with more than 60 new staff at local level, and a target of 4,500 farm inspections per year.
In addition, continued investment in wastewater infrastructure will see Uisce Eireann spending a multi-billion euro budget over the period 2025-2029 to reduce impacts on water quality.
A new national river barriers mitigation programme will ramp up efforts to remove river blocks that impact on species like salmon and lamprey swimming upstream to spawn, and a review of arterial drainage requirements and the underpinning Arterial Drainage Act will be undertaken in the context of land use.
Mr Noonan said: Its well past time to clean up our rivers, lakes and coasts, and thats what were doing with this new water action plan.
There are three core aims: to prevent and reduce water pollution, to let more rivers run free and restore their natural ecosystem functions, and to continue the positive trajectory of investment in water infrastructure.
This new plan will deliver on this through an approach that embeds better governance, co-ordination and accountability, putting tighter controls, more inspections and a focus on enforcement alongside a stronger evidence base for actions that tackle the right problems in the right places.
He added: Crucially, communities are at the heart of the effort and will be empowered to understand the challenges in their area and get involved in solving them through new participation structures.
As our population grows and our climate changes, its vital that everyone puts their shoulder to the wheel to protect the vulnerable water resources that we all depend on.
Housing Minister Darragh OBrien said the plan was a crucial part of the programme for government.
He said: It strategically builds on what we learned from previous plans and its combination of short and long-term goals, targets and actions will work in unison to protect the quality of our water bodies.
This plan puts us on a strong course to protecting our ecosystems and meeting our EU and international obligations.
With kids heading back to school this month and students heading off to college, September can cost families across Ireland a bomb.
Luckily, there are several social welfare and cost of living changes for parents to avail of with up to 700 worth of financial assistance available to cover back-to-school costs, fuel costs, and a new government support scheme that will also see the reduction of childcare costs.
What's available
Fuel Allowance -
This handy, and much needed allowance, is paid from September to April every year. This can be paid in two lump sums of 462 or 28 weekly instalments of 33.
Childcare -
From this month, the National Childcare Scheme hourly subsidy is increasing by 74c, from 1.40 to 2.14. These new rates will see costs for families reduced by up to 96.30 per week per child and over 5000 anually.
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance-
This one-off payment to eligible families remains open for applications until September 30.
The rate is 160 for children aged four to 11 and 285 for children aged 12 years and over in secondary education.
If you already receive this allowance, there is no need to apply again, you will receive a notification through your MyWelfare account or by post if you will receive the payment.
Free Schoolbook Scheme -
The Free Education Scheme provides free schoolbooks to Junior Cycle post-primary students from the 2024/2025 academic year. These books can cost around 300 on average
College Student Contribution -
From this month, the income threshold to qualify for the 100 per cent Student Contribution will increase to 55,924
Student Grants -
Also from this month, the non-adjacent rates for student grants are increasing by 615 per academic year and the adjacent maintenance rates will increase by 10 per cent per academic year
Photographed L-R: Allison Beggs of Daisy Desserts, Paul Lennihan of Firecastle, Dan OBrien of The Brown Bread Guy, Celine Hayes of Coverture Desserts, Jacqui McNabb Head of Enterprise, Tourism and Economic Development in Kildare County Council, Ronan Kinsella of Dew Drop Brewery, Marcela Padurte and David Coughlan of Coughlans Bakery, Mary OSullivan of Beara Bitters, Vanessa Donovan of Killadoon Milk,
Photographer Aisling Conway
The finalists for Blas na hEireann, The Irish Food Awards, 2024 have been announced, including 11 from County Kildare. The countdown is now on for another exciting awards weekend in the pretty seaside town of Dingle. The three-day event will take place from Thursday 3rd to Saturday 5th October. Now in its 17th year, Blas na hEireann saw another record-breaking year across all categories along with many new producers entering the awards for the first time this year. Over 3,000 entries were judged, a testament to the number of brilliant producers across the country.
Jacqui Mc Nabb, Head of Enterprise, Economic Development & Tourism, Kildare County Council commented: "We are delighted to see 11 finalists in this year's Blas na hEireann, The Irish Food Awards, and are proud to be sponsoring, for the very first time, best in Kildare, to celebrate the food provenance, taste and above all the passion and talent of our Kildare food & drink producers."
The finalists shortlisted from Co. Kildare across a range of different categories are Bird's Eye Frozen Foods, Coghlans Artisan Bakery, Couverture Handmade Desserts & Cakes, Daisy Desserts (dessert trailer), Firecastle (artisan grocers, delicatessen, bakery and cafe), Killadoon Milk, (pasteurised, non-homogenised whole milk from their single source jersey-cross herd, using reusable glass bottles), O'Brien Fine Foods (premium cooked meats), Pro-Bars Ltd, (Hartes of Kildare Restaurant), Rye River Craft Brewing, The Brown Bread Guy, and Beara Bitters, handmade cocktail bitters.
Speaking as the finalists were announced, Artie Clifford, Chairperson, Blas na hEireann said, I started the awards after 30 years in the food industry, and I knew there was a need to celebrate the amazing food and drink being produced on the island of Ireland. 17 years later, it continues to delight me the number of new producers entering each year along with so many familiar faces returning year on year. We are an island of phenomenal producers and should be very proud of that, being able to showcase the very best of the best in Dingle each year is a real privilege for the whole Blas team.
This years Blas na hEireann awards will see the return of Eat Ireland in a Day market and the Blas Village, where the 2024 finalists will get the opportunity to showcase their products, engage with customers and meet key industry buyers.
This year's focus will be on sustainability with a commitment to encourage zero-waste throughout the three days of the awards in line with the Dingle Food Festival ethos. A new element at Blas will be the removal of any single use cups and the introduction of the first electric van delivering food and drink to the awards from across the country. These new initiatives are supported by Bank of Ireland in partnership with Blas.
For finalist producers it is not just their exceptional food and drink which will be celebrated in Dingle but the people themselves, the passionate producers who make the very best of Irish will be recognised and rewarded making Blas na hEireann 2024 a food event not to be missed!
Irish Rail are "seeking ambitious applicants" in a new recruitment campaign for train drivers and electricians.
The rail operator has launched the recruitment drive seeking up to 100 new drivers in locations across Ireland.
According to the Irish Rail website, candidates must be willing to work various shift patterns including weekend work, and successful candidates will develop "full operational knowledge prior to qualification as part of the Train Driver Training programme".
They are offering a salary scale that "can reach a maximum of 65k per annum".
Applicants must meet European Train Driver Licensing requirements with a minimum of 9 years full time education and must be over the age of 20.
Irish Rail are seeking applications for the greater Dublin area (including Connolly, Heuston and DART locations, Fairview and Bray), Athlone, Ballina, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Mallow, Sligo, Waterford and Westport.
They are also hiring for 30 electrician roles in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford and Kerry, and are encouraging women in particular to consider applying for these roles.
With the planned expansion of services as part of the National Development Plan, and the long term outlook set out in the All-Island Strategic Rail Review, it is an exciting time to become part of a growing organisation," Chief Executive Jim Meade said in a statement.
We are also seeing great interest in careers in Iarnrod Eireann from a range of backgrounds we are a diverse and inclusive employer, and in particular we urge more women to apply for driver and electrician roles, and are encouraged by the increasing interest from women in recent recruitment drives, he said.
Early applications are recommended to avoid disappointment, as the online applicant system will close when the required applicant number has been reached.
For more information on the roles, see Irish Rail Career Opportunities.
Fresh Del Monte Appoints Dr. Imad Farhat as SVP to Lead Specialty Ingredients Team, Focusing on Natural Ingredient Innovation
Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. (NYSE: FDP), one of the world's leading vertically integrated producers, marketers, and distributors of high-quality fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, announces today the appointment of Dr. Imad Farhat as Senior Vice President, Specialty Ingredients. Dr. Farhat will spearhead the company's vision to develop groundbreaking ingredients, derived from both Fresh Del Monte's portfolio and other agricultural products.
Dr. Farhat will focus on harnessing the power of nature to drive Fresh Del Monte's long-term strategy in the ingredients industry. His focus will be on developing innovative, nature-derived ingredients that align with the company's core mission of providing healthful products to consumers worldwide. By sourcing these products directly from nature, Fresh Del Monte continues its commitment to fostering a harmonious relationship between people, the products they consume, and the environment.
Leveraging his deep industry expertise and track record, Dr. Farhat will champion the development of a product portfolio rooted in the principles of a circular economy. By utilizing residuals generated from Fresh Del Monte's operations, he will help the company achieve its broader goal of sustainable operations, ensuring that nothing goes to waste and every part of natural resources is maximized. In response to the growing consumer desire to return to nature for their well-being, Dr. Farhat's efforts will focus on creating products that align with this shift, offering wholesome, nature-derived options that resonate with today's health-conscious consumers.
"We are pleased to welcome Dr. Farhat to Fresh Del Monte. His expertise is a critical addition as we deepen our commitment to sustainable practices that harness the full power of nature," said Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman and CEO of Fresh Del Monte. "We believe nature holds the blueprint for a harmonious and sustainable future, and Dr. Farhat's innovative approach will be key in unlocking its boundless potential while also driving the development of value-added, higher-margin products that enhance consumer offerings."
Dr. Farhat comes to Fresh Del Monte after nearly 20 years at dsm-firmenich, where he served as Senior Vice President, Taste for South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, playing a defining role in key platforms for the company such as Sugar Reduction and Encapsulation. Prior to dsm-firmenich, he was an Associate Professor of Food Physical Chemistry at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom. Dr Farhat has authored more than 70 scientific publications and has an extensive patent portfolio in areas of food science.
ABOUT FRESH DEL MONTE
Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is one of the world's leading vertically integrated producers, marketers, and distributors of high-quality fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, as well as a leading producer and distributor of prepared food in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. markets its products worldwide under the DEL MONTE brand (under license from Del Monte Foods, Inc.), a symbol of product innovation, quality, freshness, and reliability for over 135 years. The company also markets its products under the MANNtm brand and other related trademarks. Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is not affiliated with certain other Del Monte companies around the world, including Del Monte Foods, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Del Monte Pacific Limited, Del Monte Canada, or Del Monte Asia Pte. Ltd. Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is the first global marketer of fruits and vegetables to commit to the "Science Based Targets" initiative. In 2022, 2023 and 2024, Fresh Del Monte Produce was ranked as one of "America's Most Trusted Companies" by Newsweek based on an independent survey rating companies on three different touchpoints, including customer trust, investor trust, and employee trust. The company was also named a Humankind 100 Company for two consecutive years by Humankind Investments, which recognizes companies that substantially impact areas such as access to food and clean water, healthcare, and digital services. Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is traded on the NYSE under the symbol FDP.
5 september 2024 at 08:05
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Since CA 360 (March 2020) I have criss-crossed the United Kingdom, examining its history through the eyes of Current Archaeology. I have now visited every county in every country, but I have just a few geographical loose ends to tie off in this and the next column, first in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, and then in London, providing a stunning set of sites and finds on which to finish.
A Magdalenian hunter gatherer campsite in Jersey made the cover of CA 333.
JERSEY
Jersey has provided the bulk of Current Archaeologys Channel Islands coverage. It is the most visited of the archipelagos eight inhabited islands, and has in the Societe Jersiaise an active archaeological presence (see Odd Socs in CA 339). CA 9 (July 1968) first visited in a mini-special on the island, including arguably the most important site in all the Channel Islands: La Cotte de St Brelade, to which I will return later.
However, it was a site also named after St Brelade that next drew Current Archaeologys attention, when CA 107 (December 1987) visited the medieval chapel in the bay of the same name on the islands south-west coast (prehistoric La Cotte de St Brelade is on the opposite headland to the east). This medieval theme continued in CA 137 (February 1994), with a visit to the priory on the islands of Les Ecrehous, 10km (6.2 miles) north-east of Jersey, and again in CA 280 (July 2013), exploring St Clements priory in the islands south-eastern corner.
Diving back into the deep past, CA 286 (January 2014) and CA 333 (December 2017) revisited La Cotte de St Brelade, known for its time span of occupation between around 250,000 years ago and after 48,000 years ago, and for its rich array of Palaeolithic materials. Today a coastal cave, the site would have once been a prominent landmark on the plains that linked Jersey to the French mainland.
It represents the earliest-known occupation of the Channel Islands, one of the most important prehistoric sites in the UK, and one of the last known Neanderthal sites in north western Europe.
The archaeological features of La Hougue Bie, Jersey, provided the Context for CA 361.
Meanwhile, CA 310 (January 2016), CA 333 (December 2017), and CA 372 (March 2021) visited nearby Les Varines in St Saviour, beyond the eastern edge of the islands capital St Helier. There has been found art from the Magdalenian era, dating to 15,000 BC the time of Homo sapiens hunter gatherers, who reoccupied Europe between 130,000 and 16,000 years ago, as the glaciers retreated at the end of the last Ice Age. However, it is not just extensive prehistory at which Jersey excels. CA 325 (April 2017) and CA 373 (April 2021) reported on the Le Catillon II hoard, found just south of La Hougue Bie (of which, more in a moment), in the east of the island. It contained some 70,000 Celtic coins, making it the largest hoard yet found in the British Isles. Nearby is the remarkable site of La Hougue Bie, a stunningly well preserved Neolithic passage grave within a prominent mound surmounted by a medieval chapel (see CA 183, December 2002, and CA 361, April 2020). All these sites are short distances from one another, making for a tour around the islands archaeology that is as navigable as it is spectacular.
GUERNSEY
Heather Sebire discussed the archaeology of Guernsey in CA 189.
Guernsey has had less coverage in Current Archaeology than Jersey down the years. Its main mention comes in CA 189 (December 2003), which featured a multi-period review by Heather Sebire, the islands archaeological officer at that time. I was lucky enough to work on one of the sites mentioned there: the series of medieval shipwrecks discovered in the mouth of the harbour capital of St Peter Port. During my stay, we were lodged on nearby Castle Cornet, which also features in Heathers review a personal highlight of my fieldwork career. CA 189 also reported from nearby Lihou, a small island just off the west coast of Guernsey with a well-preserved medieval priory as well as some fine Mesolithic remains. Further evidence of the islands maritime connections then came in CA 333 (December 2017), with a most unusual find that of a medieval porpoise found in a grave that looked like it had been dug for a human being, uncovered during excavations at the site of a medieval monastic retreat at Chapelle Dom Hue in the islands south-west. The other big find that has been reported in depth in Current Archaeology is that of a Neolithic galley grave within Delancey Park in the north east of the island. CA 249 (December 2010) reported on fieldwork there to re-examine a site first explored in the 1920s and 1930s that was subjected to the rigours of a modern-day archaeological survey at this time.
SARK
Chris Catling reported on the work of Sir Barry Cunliffe in Sark in CA 361.
A short sail due east of Guernsey (and forming part of its historic bailiwick) lies the island of Sark, famous for its distinctive system of government based on Norman law, and for its absence of cars only tractors, bicycles, and horse-drawn vehicles are allowed. In archaeological terms, it is notable for being the first of the Channel Islands ever visited by Current Archaeology, back in CA 8 (May 1968), when a hoard of 1st-century BC metal horse-trappings, together with a cache of later Gaulish coins, was examined. Alas, it then took until CA 361 (April 2020) for the next and most recent visit of note, this time by no lesser person than Sir Barry Cunliffe. His explorations are typically insightful and erudite, studying both the islands connectivity and isolation across millennia, and I highly recommend this review to you.
ALDERNEY
Discussion of Alderneys Roman fort featured in CA 261.
My final stop on this tour of the Channel Islandsis Alderney (also part of the bailiwick of Guernsey),the northernmost island of the archipelago. Current Archaeologys coverage there is modest, and can be split into two distinctive sections separated by 2,000 years: its Iron Age and Roman occupants examined in CA 9 (July1968), CA 261 (December 2011), and CA 401 (August 2023),especially the Roman fort on the north-east coast and its literal occupation during the Second World War by German forces, including the presence of forced labour workers as well as prisoners at two work camps and two concentration camps. Examined in CA 363 (June 2020), these are now the subject of a formal review by the government, as well as renewed research see https://occupiedalderney.org. On this sombre note, I sail north-west for the final leg of this archaeological tour of islands: to the Isle of Man.
THE ISLE OF MAN
Manx megaliths were the cover image for CA 27.
There have been periodic visits by Current Archaeology to the Isle of Man down the years. The first of these came in CA 27 (July 1971) and is the closest to an island special: a report on the Easter 1971 Prehistoric Society field-trip. Further reports on the islands prehistory then came in CA 150 (November 1996), concerning a Mesolithic and Neolithic site at Billown in the south of the island; and in CA 235 (October 2009), about a Mesolithic site at nearby Ronaldsway airport. From later prehistory, there are then reports on Bronze Age burial sites in CA 355 (October 2019) and CA 371 (February 2021).
Surprisingly, the islands later (especially Viking Age) archaeology is rarely covered an exception is CA 384 (March 2022) on brooches from this era. The only sustained coverage of any site later than this date comes from Peel Castle on the west coast, a multi-period site with 11th-century origins reported on in CA 99 (February 1996) and CA 110 (July 1998). This is one of the most important historical and religious sites in the British Isles (and it is the biggest and most complex heritage site on the Isle of Man); as such, it is under the care of Manx National Heritage. Featuring on the reverse side of the Manx 10 note, Peel Castle is a fitting place to end this report. In the next issue, I will conclude my tour of the British Isles in the heart both of central government and of finance: London.
About the author
Joe Flatman completed a PhD in medieval archaeology at the University of Southampton in 2003, and since then has held positions in universities, and local and most recently central government. Since March 2019, he has been a Consultancy Manager in the National Trusts London and South-East Region, leading a team working on Trust sites across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. You can follow him on X: @joeflatman.
Sequentify and Dexter Collaborate to Introduce Genomic Sequencing Solutions to the Romanian Market
REHOVOT, Israel, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sequentify has partnered with Dexter, a Romanian distributor, to bring Sequentify's InfiniSeqtm library preparation solutions to Romania. This collaboration offers a cost-effective alternative for next-generation sequencing (NGS).
Dexter is actively deploying genomic solutions in various laboratories across Romania, expanding access to advanced genomic diagnostics.
Sequentify's InfiniSeq reduces sample preparation time to 3.5 hours, from DNA extraction to sequencing, using a single-tube reaction, making it a practical choice for laboratories looking to improve or establish new workflows. It is also compatible with most sequencing machines and integrates easily into existing lab setups.
In addition to the InfiniSeq Expanded BRCA Panel, Sequentify offers a wide range of other genomic solutions tailored to various clinical needs, which can be explored on their products page. Building on this foundation, Dexter plans to introduce other innovative products from Sequentify's portfolio, including tools for infectious disease diagnostics and comprehensive oncology panels, enhancing the scope and impact of genomic diagnostics in Romania.
The InfiniSeq Expanded BRCA Panel is a valuable tool for assessing hereditary cancer risks and tracking cancer progression, particularly for breast and ovarian cancers. It analyzes genes like BRCA1, BRCA2, and others associated with DNA repair mechanisms and cell cycle regulation, which are crucial in cancer development. This comprehensive analysis aids in identifying high-risk individuals, guiding personalized treatment decisions, and advancing research into cancer genetics. The panel is especially beneficial for patients with a family history of cancer, those requiring broader genetic testing beyond BRCA1/2, and for tailoring targeted therapies.
Sequentify is also working with other distributors across Europe and in various geographies to bring their products to markets worldwide. Given the cost-effectiveness and simplicity of the InfiniSeq protocol, Sequentify's products are well-suited for emerging NGS markets like Romania. Dexter and Sequentify plan to introduce additional InfiniSeq products to the Romanian market, supporting the development of genomic diagnostics in the region.
About Dexter:
Dexter is a leading distributor of medical and laboratory products in Romania, specializing in advanced healthcare solutions for clinical diagnostics and life sciences. With a strong focus on oncology, genomics, and molecular diagnostics, Dexter provides cutting-edge technologies and personalized support to healthcare providers across the region. Dexter's experienced team collaborates closely with global manufacturers and local healthcare professionals to ensure the availability of the latest advancements in medical technology.
About Sequentify:
Founded in 2021 as a Weizmann Institute spinoff, Sequentify enables decentralized, population-wide genomic sequencing by providing laboratories with the easiest and quickest solutions available. Their technology facilitates the scaling-up of genomic testing by directly addressing the current pain points in the industry, through sample-prep and software solutions. The company offers panels for oncology and screening applications, and infectious diseases, with a focus on the clinical market. Sequentify is based in Rehovot, Israel. For more information, visit https://www.sequentify.com/.
Media Contact:
Avigayil Simpson
[email protected]
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SOURCE Sequentify; Dexter
5 september 2024 at 09:00
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Saudia Ranks First Globally in On-Time Performance for the Second Consecutive Time
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, continues to top the global list for on-time performance (OTP), achieving this milestone for the second time consecutively, according to a report by the independent aviation tracking site, Cirium, for July 2024.
The report indicates that Saudia has achieved an on-time arrival rate of 88.12% and an on-time departure rate of 88.15%, operating 16,503 flights across its network of over 100 destinations in four continents.
His Excellency Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, said: "At Saudia Group, achieving a high OTP has been a shared objective, as it directly impacts guest satisfaction. We've successfully maintained it during this year's peak seasons, a testament to the collaborative efforts of the entire Saudia Group and relevant stakeholders in the aviation industry. Sustaining our leadership in this area requires continuous dedication and resilience in overcoming the numerous challenges within the aviation sector globally."
In the coming years, Saudia will take delivery of 103 new aircraft, aligning with the airline's strategy to double seating capacity, expand to new global destinations, as well as its commitment to bring the world to the Kingdom in line with Vision 2030.
About Saudia:
Saudia (Saudia Airlines) is the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Established in 1945, the company has grown to become one of the Middle East's largest airlines.
Saudia has invested significantly in upgrading its aircraft and currently operates one of the youngest fleets. The airline serves an extensive global route network covering around 100 destinations across four continents, including all 28 domestic airports in Saudi Arabia.
A member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO), Saudia has also been a member airline in SkyTeam, the second largest alliance, since 2012.
Saudia was recently awarded the "World Class Airline 2024" for the third consecutive year at The APEX Official Airline Ratingstm awards. Saudia has also advanced 11 places in the Skytrax airlines ranking of the World Best Airlines 2023. The Airline also ranked top among global airlines for best on-time performance (OTP) according to a report by Cirium.
For more information on Saudia, please visit www.saudia.com.
Media Center
Saudi Arabian Airlines Headquarters
Jeddah 21231, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Email: [email protected]
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/157e62b4-d719-467c-8ef9-00ea514a7e39
5 september 2024 at 11:00
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VTEX Vision: Unifying Logistics, Customer Experience and Omnichannel Capabilities for B2B and B2C Brands
VTEX (NYSE: VTEX), the composable and complete commerce platform for premier B2C and B2B brands and retailers, announces the second edition of ?VTEX Vision', its semi-annual product showcase to empower enterprise businesses striving to improve customer experience, fuel their growth, increase efficiency, and future-proof their operations.
For its Fall edition, VTEX's global enterprise customer base?2,600 B2C and B2B customers with 3,500 online stores across 43 countries?can expect cutting-edge innovations and powerful advancements to unify commerce operations and maximize investments, ensuring B2B and B2C brands sell more, operate efficiently, and deliver exceptional customer experiences now and in the future.
"Enterprises are constantly looking for differentiators that allow them to surpass their competitors and earn an advantage in the hard-fought ecommerce landscape. VTEX is leading the way, giving B2C and B2B brands and retailers seamless access to innovations that boost customer experience, conversion, and loyalty," said Santiago Naranjo, CRO at VTEX. "VTEX Vision's Fall Edition innovations not only improve sales directly but also keep costs lower than other platforms, which makes us the most attractive option. This is what it means for us to be a commerce platform tailored for today's enterprises and the challenges of tomorrow."
Below is a round-up of the biggest product news that VTEX will announce for the Fall '24 edition of VTEX Vision:
Google Merchant Connector
Building on our continued partnership with Google to help enterprise brands boost discoverability and sales, Google's Merchant Connector with VTEX is now more powerful than ever. It allows sellers to feature their products in organic Google search listings and utilize price comparison and tracking tools.
Brands can now effortlessly map their entire catalog with Google Shopping ads, activate offers for specific payment methods, and implement Google Pay with a single click. Soon, Google Pay will also be integrated into VTEX Fast Checkout.
VTEX Ad Network
Since its launch in Spring of 2024, VTEX Ad Network has delivered impressive results: advertisers are seeing a 5.0x average return on ad spend, and 90% of them continue to invest, generating sustainable revenue for retailers. Today, VTEX Ad Network is empowering brands to create a compelling product discovery experience while monetizing advertising space across all sales channels. The Ad Network leverages AI-driven optimization for higher conversions, precision targeting, and comprehensive ad campaign monitoring.
With the latest update, VTEX Ad Network now enhances visibility by displaying sponsored products in search auto-complete suggestions and product galleries. Advertisers can also effortlessly export campaign data, search terms, and product insights, enabling quick access to comprehensive reports.
VTEX Sales App
Since its launch, the VTEX Sales App has empowered enterprises to seamlessly integrate sales associates into the digital commerce journey, boosting sales and enhancing customer experiences by bridging offline and online commerce.
The Sales App enables associates to access real-time inventory from physical stores, warehouses, distribution centers, and third-party sellers, all within a unified commerce interface. Recent updates allow sales associates to sell both in-store and online products through a single checkout process. They can also manage multiple carts, offer complementary products, and provide value-added services like warranties and customizations.
VTEX also introduced a new payment provider protocol, making it seamless for brands to integrate their preferred payment providers and use Sales App in any region. This includes tailored integrations with MercadoPago in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, and Cielo in Brazil.
B2B FastStore
Since its inception, VTEX has prioritized developer experience, reflecting its roots as a developer-founded platform. Building on this foundation, B2B FastStore is our solution for fast, composable, high-conversion B2B experiences. It offers personalized purchasing with unique catalogs, custom pricing, and an efficient ordering process. This front-end solution provides a comprehensive B2B experience, featuring quick orders, advanced buyer management, and multi-hierarchy support to scale operations and streamline procurement. It also allows seamless switching between business units to ensure accurate purchase alignment.
VTEX Pick and Pack
VTEX's advanced fulfillment solution transforms logistics into a competitive advantage that boosts customer retention. Our streamlined interface improves item location searches, optimizes picking routes, and accelerates order dispatch, allowing pickers to handle multiple orders simultaneously. The new ?Approvals and Transfers' feature simplifies product replacements and enables other stores to fulfill missing items, enhancing flexibility in managing complex orders.
The updated Admin interface provides a detailed worksheet view for real-time order tracking, with instant notifications for pickers, time alerts, item audits, and transfers. The AI-powered ?Returns Module' expedites returns and exchanges, reducing fraud and enhancing shopper experiences. Imagine receiving return feedback within 60 seconds instead of waiting weeks?VTEX now makes this possible.
Explore the latest innovations and enhancements from VTEX Vision Fall Edition 2024 to create a truly unified commerce experience here.
About VTEX
VTEX (NYSE: VTEX) is the composable and complete commerce platform that delivers more efficiency and less maintenance to organizations seeking to make smarter IT investments and modernize their tech stack. Through our pragmatic composability approach, we empower brands, distributors, and retailers with unparalleled flexibility and comprehensive solutions, enabling them to invest solely in what provides a clear business advantage and boosts profitability. VTEX is trusted by 2,600 global B2C and B2B customers, including Carrefour, Colgate, Motorola, Sony, Stanley Black & Decker, and Whirlpool, having 3,500 active online stores across 43 countries (as of FY ended on December 31, 2023). For more information, visit www.vtex.com.
5 september 2024 at 16:05
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Awaysis Capital Completes Re-Audit of its Consolidated Financial Statements and Files Form 10-K/A
MIRAMAR, Fla., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Awaysis Capital, Inc. (OTCMARKETS: AWCA), is pleased to report it has filed its amended Form 10-K/A which incorporates a re-audit of the Company's consolidated financial statements for the years ended June 30, 2022. The 10-K/A amendment also removed the going concern qualifications as of the Report Date.
The re-auditing of its consolidated financial statements for the June 30, 2022, fiscal year was required due to the Company's prior audit firm, BF Borgers, being sanctioned by the SEC. The re-audit was completed by the Company's independent auditor, Moore Belize LLP in accordance with Public Company Accounting Oversight Board standards. These re-audited financial statements highlight the Company's commitment to maintaining transparency, accuracy, and compliance in its financial reporting.
Dr. Andrew Trumbach, The Company's Co-CEO and CFO said, "Our accounting firm Moore Belize LLP has worked diligently to complete the re-audits of our financial statements, and their thorough and swift completion reinforces the accuracy and reliability of our financial disclosures. We remain committed to upholding the highest standards of financial governance and to ensure that our financial reports accurately reflect the Company's performance and position us for continued success."
Awaysis Capital will continue to provide updates on the reauditing process and any related developments as they become available.
About Awaysis Capital, Inc.
Increased global trends towards "work from home" opportunities have impacted both residency and travel. We believe that more people are seeking comfortable and convenient places to travel, visit, and live for extended durations. We seek to capitalize on these trends by transforming residential/resort properties in desirable locations into convenient enclaves that facilitate this type of travel or residency. We define an enclave as a gated community that has all the amenities that will allow a person to live, work and play without having to leave the community.
To learn more, visit www.awaysiscapital.com
Forward-Looking Statements
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a press conference at the Government Press office in Jerusalem on September 4, 2024. ABIT SULTAN / AP
Hamas on Thursday, September 4, accused Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to "thwart" a Gaza truce deal after the Israeli prime minister said the Palestinian militant group has "rejected everything" in negotiations.
The blame trading comes as the Israeli prime minister faces pressure to seal a deal that would free remaining hostages after Israeli authorities announced on Sunday the deaths of six whose bodies were recovered from a Gaza tunnel.
"We're trying to find some area to begin the negotiations," Netanyahu said Wednesday. "They [Hamas] refuse to do that (...) [They said] there's nothing to talk about."
Netanyahu maintains that Israel must retain control over the Philadelphi Corridor along the Egypt-Gaza border to prevent weapons smuggling to Hamas, whose October 7 attack on Israel started the war.
"Gaza must be demilitarized, and this can only happen if the Philadelphi corridor remains under firm control," he said, claiming Israeli troops had discovered dozens of tunnels under the border. He said Israel would only consider withdrawing from the corridor when presented with an alternative force to police it.
"Bring me anyone who will actually show us (...) that they can actually prevent the recurrence of smuggling," he said. "I don't see that happening right now. And until that happens, we're there."
Hamas is demanding a complete Israeli withdrawal from the area and on Thursday said Netanyahu's insistence on the border zone "aims to thwart reaching an agreement."
The Palestinian militant group says a new deal is unnecessary because they agreed months ago to a truce outlined by US President Joe Biden. "We do not need new proposals," the group said on Telegram. "We warn against falling into the trap of Netanyahu and his tricks, who uses negotiations to prolong the aggression against our people," the Hamas statement added.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters that Washington thinks "there are ways to address" the impasse.
Read more Biden says Netanyahu not doing enough to secure hostage deal
'Not in coffins'
At Israeli protests in several cities this week, Netanyahu's critics have blamed him for hostages' deaths, saying he has refused to make necessary concessions for striking a ceasefire deal. "We are just waiting for them to come back to us, to come back alive and not in coffins," said Anet Kidron, whose community of Kibbutz Beeri was attacked on October 7. Netanyahu said questions remain in truce talks over the Palestinian prisoners who Israel would exchange for hostages.
Key mediator Qatar said on Tuesday that Israel's approach was "based on an attempt to falsify facts and mislead world public opinion by repeating lies." Such moves "will ultimately lead to the demise of peace efforts," Qatar's foreign ministry said.
The October 7 attack by Hamas resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly civilians including some hostages killed in captivity, according to official Israeli figures. Of 251 hostages seized by Palestinian militants during the attack, 97 remain in Gaza including 33 the Israeli military says are dead.
Scores were released during a one-week truce in November. Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza has so far killed at least 40,861 people, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. Most of the dead are women and children, according to the UN rights office.
'Blowing everything up'
While Israel presses on with its Gaza offensive, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said the military should use its "full strength" against Palestinian militants in the occupied West Bank. "These terrorist organizations that have various names, whether in Nur al-Shams, Tulkarem, Faraa or Jenin, must be wiped out," he said, referring to cities and refugee camps where an Israeli military operation is currently underway.
The Israeli military said Thursday its aircraft "conducted three targeted strikes on armed terrorists" in the Tubas area, which includes Faraa refugee camp. A strike on a car left "five killed and [one] seriously wounded" in Tubas, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said.
Eyewitnesses told French news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) that they saw a large number of Israeli troops storming Faraa camp, where explosions were heard. Israel has killed more than 30 Palestinians across the northern West Bank since its assault started there on August 28, the territory's health ministry says, including children and militants. One Israeli soldier was killed in Jenin, where the majority of the Palestinian fatalities have been.
'Humanitarian pauses' amid polio vaccinations
Israel's bombardment of Gaza has left the territory in ruins, with the destruction of water and sanitation infrastructure blamed for the spread of disease. As part of its campaign, the military has razed neighborhoods and farms to expand a so-called buffer zone between Israel and Gaza. The humanitarian crisis has led to Gaza's first polio case in 25 years, prompting a massive vaccination effort launched Sunday with localized "humanitarian pauses" in fighting.
Nearly 200,000 children in central Gaza have received a first dose, the World Health Organization said, with a second stage set to get underway Thursday in the south before medics move north. The campaign aims to fully vaccinate more than 640,000 children, with second doses due in about four weeks.
Read more WHO hails success of polio 1st phase vaccination campaign in Gaza
Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, arrives at court for his trail on tax evasion in Los Angeles, California, on September 5, 2024. RINGO CHIU / AFP
Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to federal tax charges on Thursday, September 5 to avoid facing another criminal trial months after he was convicted in a separate gun case.
His stunning decision to plead guilty to misdemeanor and felony charges without the benefits of a deal with prosecutors came hours after jury selection was supposed to begin.
"I will not subject my family to more pain, more invasions of privacy and needless embarrassment," Hunter Biden said in an emailed statement after he entered his plea. "For all I have put them through over the years, I can spare them this, and so I have decided to plead guilty."
The 54-year-old is accused of having failed to pay $1.4 million in taxes over the past decade, splurging the money instead on luxury living, sex workers and a drug habit. A trial had been expected to re-hash sordid details of a life that the defendant and his family including the president have long acknowledged had gone off the rails.
On Thursday morning as US District Judge Mark Scarsi was readying to oversee the selection of a jury, Biden's lawyers said their client was prepared to plead guilty. Attorney Abbe Lowell said Biden was willing to enter a guilty plea, although he would continue to maintain his innocence.
But defense attorney Abbe Lowell told the judge that the evidence against Hunter Biden is overwhelming and that the presidents son wants to resolve the case with what's referred to as an Alford plea, under which a defendant maintains their innocence but acknowledges prosecutors have enough evidence to secure a conviction.
A prosecutor urged U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi to reject the proposed plea, saying that Hunter Biden "is not entitled to plead guilty on special terms that apply only to him."
"Hunter Biden is not innocent. Hunter Biden is guilty," prosecutor Leo Wise said of three felonies and six misdemeanors of failing to pay taxes. Scarsi declared a recess, which will allow prosecutors to discuss the move, and the court is expected to reconvene later Thursday.
Biden has already spent a chunk of 2024 in court, having been convicted in Delaware of lying about his drug use when he bought a gun a felony.
Read more Subscribers only Biden camp shows respect for justice after his son's conviction for illegally acquiring a firearm
Political battle
Lawyers for Biden say he is only before the court now because of who he is. "They want to slime him because that is the whole purpose," Biden's attorney Mark Geragos reportedly said during an August hearing in which he accused prosecutors of attempted character assassination.
Biden's defense team argues that the non-payment of taxes was an oversight in a life wrought chaos by a spiraling drug addiction and the trauma of losing his older brother, Beau, to a brain tumor in 2015.
Biden has paid the back taxes, as well as penalties levied by authorities, and had previously reached a plea deal that would have kept him out of jail. That agreement fell apart at the last minute, and Biden is understood to have been trying to reach another ever since.
Yet that has been difficult for prosecutors whose every move in this election year is being scrutinized by Republicans who charge the defendant is being treated leniently because he is the president's son.
Hunter Biden has for years been a foil for his father's political opponents, who have sought without producing evidence to smear the family as a group of criminals who have gained wealth and power because of Joe Biden's career.
The elder Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race in favor of Kamala Harris has taken much of the zeal out of the Republican drive to make an example out of his son.
Read more Subscribers only US Republicans determined to track down Hunter Biden scandal
Guilty verdicts could result in up to 17 years in prison for Biden. The gun felony, which he is yet to be sentenced on, carries a maximum 25-year term.
Hunter Biden, a Yale-trained lawyer and lobbyist-turned-artist who lives in Malibu, has said that he has been drug-free since 2019.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks at the beginning of a meeting of the Justice Departments Election Threats Task Force at the Justice Department in Washington, DC on September 4, 2024. ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP
The United States indicted two employees of Russia's RT and imposed sanctions on top editors of the state-funded news outlet on Wednesday, September 4, accusing them of seeking to influence the 2024 US presidential election.
The 10 individuals and two entities sanctioned by the Treasury Department include RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonovna Simonyan and deputy Elizaveta Yuryevna Brodskaia. "Today's action underscores the US government's ongoing efforts to hold state-sponsored actors accountable for activities that aim to deteriorate public trust in our institutions," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said, adding, "Treasury will not waver in our commitment to safeguarding our democratic principles and the integrity of our election systems."
Attorney General Merrick Garland, chairing a meeting of the Election Threats Task Force, said two Russia-based RT employees have been indicted in New York for money laundering and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
They are accused of funding a Tennessee-based company "to disseminate content deemed favorable to the Russian government," Garland said, and contracting US-based social media influencers to share content "consistent with Russia's interest in amplifying US domestic divisions."
Russia said Thursday that the sanctions were part of an "information campaign" and added it was working on a response.
"It is an obvious operation, an information campaign (...) that was long prepared and that is needed ahead of the last stage of the electoral cycle," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told state news agency RIA Novosti.
RT, in a reaction on its Telegram channel, dismissed the US allegations calling them "hackneyed cliches." "Three things in life are inevitable: death, taxes and 'RT's interference in American elections,'" RT said.
Read more Subscribers only Panic mounts on pro-war Russian Telegram channels after Pavel Durov's arrest
The Justice Departments message is clear: We will have no tolerance for attempts by authoritarian regimes to exploit our democratic systems of government, Garland said on Wednesday.
Putin's 'inner circle'
Garland said the Justice Department has separately seized 32 internet domains that the Russian government used "to engage in a covert campaign to interfere and influence the outcome of our country's elections."
He said members of President Vladimir Putin's "inner circle" had directed Russian public relations companies "to promote disinformation and state-sponsored narratives as part of a program to influence the 2024 US presidential election."
The US has accused Russia of seeking to influence US elections dating back to the 2016 contest between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton. The Treasury Department said Simonyan, RT's editor-in-chief, was a "central figure in Russian government malign influence efforts." Brodskaia, RT's deputy editor-in-chief, "reported to Russian President Putin and other government officials," it said.
Following the 2020 vote, US intelligence officials accused Putin of authorizing "influence operations" aimed at impacting the vote in favor of Trump. US officials have repeatedly warned of efforts by foreign powers, including Russia, to meddle in the American presidential election in November.
Read more Subscribers only Iran is accused of being behind Trump campaign hack and assassination plot
Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, in an appearance before a Senate committee in May, singled out Russia, China and Iran as the worst offenders but said the government was well prepared to protect American democracy from foreign influence.
"Specifically, Russia remains the most active foreign threat to our elections," Haines said. The nearly 2,000 videos posted by RT have gotten more than 16 million views on YouTube alone, prosecutors said on Wednesday.
The Aussie men say it's the 'biggest they've ever seen' after accidentally reeling in the hammerhead shark.
Two fishermen scored themselves the catch of a lifetime while chasing Spanish mackerel in Queensland, when accidentally reeling in a mega 4.2-metre hammerhead shark.
Bribie Island man Kurt Donald was fishing with some mates on K'gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, when they unexpectedly hooked the shark, describing it as "the biggest one we've ever seen". However, images shared on social media divided Aussies with the topic of shark fishing proving contentious once again.
Although Donald noted the "magnificent" catch was "accidentally caught and quickly released", adding the hooks were removed" and the shark was "released while in the water," some condemned the images highlighting the dark reality of the catch, with one person even saying, "this is animal cruelty in its most horrific form".
While the fishermen did nothing wrong, the photos didn't sit well with some Aussies. Source: Facebook
Australia's hammerhead shark population declining
It's understood the Australian hammerhead shark population is declining, likely due to overfishing. Shark scientist Dr Leonardo Guida previously told Yahoo News Australia "hammerheads are known by scientists to suffer extreme amounts of stress when they are caught on line" and they often don't survive when released back into the water unlike other sharks.
Reacting to the photos posted online this morning, conservationist Lisa Jane Hills suggested the shark's chance of survival after release was slim.
It was a sad reality many in the comments also pointed out.
"Did you know hammerheads have a 95 per cent fatality rate after catch and release?" claimed one person in response to the fisherman's post. "They are also listed as critically endangered everywhere else in the world. I don't find this cool at all."
According to the Australian Marine Conservation Society, two hammerhead species the great hammerhead and the scalloped hammerhead are listed as endangered in Australia. Meanwhile, the smooth hammerhead is "near threatened" while the winghead is considered "vulnerable".
Despite some backlash, others didn't see a problem with the accidental catch and release.
One person hit back saying she hates it when "people start being negative when people catch hammerheads". "Its not like you can pick and choose what fish takes the bait," she added.
Shark wrangler defends catch, but understands the criticism
NT-based shark wrangler Alexander Mulligan, known for "chasing monster sharks in the Top End", spoke to Yahoo News Australia about the incident. He agreed it looked like the fishermen "did the right thing" by releasing it straight back into the water but said he could understand the criticism.
With Hammerheads, there's often only a "90 second to two minute" window before "it's going to have real difficulties returning to the water," he said. After that their "muscles seize", preventing them from swimming which often results in them sinking to the bottom and drowning.
"I do get where people come from. I absolutely do," he said of the backlash noting the importance of "doing it right". As an experienced shark fisherman using the correct equipment, he says you can often tell if you've hooked a hammerhead because "the line will just be absolutely screaming off the reel".
"Hammerheads take the bait and they run as fast as they can with it. Whereas tiger sharks, it's more of a slow take," he said. For those less experienced, "they'd know they'd hooked something very large," he explained, but often the species might not be known until it's reeled in.
Despite it being controversial, Mulligan insists he and his fishing buddies do what they can to help the sharks when fishing for them in the northern waters.
"When we bring them in, nine out of 10 sharks that we bring in will actually have other people's hooks and lines and all sorts of stuff caught on them," he said.
"When we bring them in, not only do we take out our hook, but we will also remove all the tangled lines, all the snagged hooks that are on these sharks. Sometimes they even come in, and they've got ropes or nets caught on them. We'll remove all that.
"We always try to send them back better than they were."
What does the law say in Australia?
The laws around catching hammerheads differ from state to state in Australia and it can get a little complicated, Dr Guida explained when speaking with Yahoo previously.
"If you're fishing recreationally in Australia, at least in Queensland and New South Wales, it's illegal to take hammerhead sharks. However, in Australian waters, our commercial fisheries are still allowed to take endangered hammerhead sharks for consumption," he said.
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NEXT year marks the 150th anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. A new book, by a local author Des Ryan, tells the tale of a Limerick man, from Adare, who fought and died on that fateful day in June 1876.
The Ballad of Thomas Patrick Downing is a true story. Thomas was born to Ellen Harrigan and Thomas Downing in Adare village in 1856. His father, a member of the Irish Constabulary, had an unfortunate brush with ODonovan Rossa and the Fenian movement, after which he was forced to move to America to find work.
Growing up in Savannah, Georgia against the backdrop of the American Civil War, Downing experienced the cruelty of slavery and then watched as the slaves were emancipated around him.
After the war, Downing left Savannah and made his way to Lebanon, Kentucky where he enlisted in the army and fate placed him with the Seventh Cavalry, whose regimental song was none other than Garryowen.
He spent two years in Kentucky suppressing the emergence of the Ku Klux Klan before being assigned to the remote US Canadian border to protect the US Boundary Commission's survey.
READ MORE: Bus Eireann celebrates 1,000th assist in the TFI Travel Assistance Scheme
Finally, at the age of just 20, Thomas Patrick Downing marched out of Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory with General George Armstrong Custer in search of Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. A month later they found them at the Little Bighorn.
There, Thomas Patrick Downing took his place in the history books. He was one of almost 300 cavalry troops killed in one of the worst military defeats in US military history.
Downing was buried where he fell and his story buried with him. For 150 years he has just been a name on a memorial.
Now his life has been uncovered and he becomes the only one of General Custer's anonymous Irish troops to have his story told from start to finish. What a life. What a death.
Meticulously researched and featuring a foreword written by Limerick historian Sharon Slater, the book is written as a memoir, expressing first-hand what Downing's experiences would have been.
The Ballad of Thomas Patrick Downing will be released on October 28 and will be available online and in most bookstores.
WHAT an impact the Dunraven family has had on Limerick city and county over the past two centuries.
My husband Ger and I spent an insightful and unforgettable evening delving into the history of Earls of Dunraven at the Dunraven 200 Exhibition in St Marys Cathedral.
The Limerick Museum exhibition celebrates the major contribution made by the Earls of Dunraven to the heritage and culture of the whole west Limerick area, over the last 200 years.
To be in the presence of Lady Dunraven and her beautiful children, including Countess of Dunraven and Mount-Earl her daughter Lady Ana, was a highlight of the evening.
READ MORE: My week with Celia Holman Lee: Farming and fashion on show
She made an eloquent speech, detailing the rich history of the family.
It was an honour to experience an exploration of the familys past and it was truly fascinating.
Many famous faces attended the launch and Ger and I were delighted to have been invited.
I would encourage everybody to drop by the exhibition as it is there for a limited time only, until November 30.
The exhibition begins with an account of the rise of the family with the gradual accumulation of the estate between the late 17th and early 19th centuries.
The familys creation of Adare Manor and the village of Adare in the 19th century is a major theme throughout.
The Dunraven family continue to play a very active role in the social and cultural life of Limerick to the present day, and learning about our local history and the foundations of our wonderful city and county is an opportunity that shouldnt be missed.
Our rich cultural heritage sitting on our doorstep is too often forgotten, but when we open our eyes to the past, it broadens our minds beyond belief.
XxCelia
CLIONA'S Foundation are encouraging all incoming Transition Year students and teachers all over Ireland to join them on Camino for Clionas 2025 after students from 20 secondary schools around Ireland walk an incredible 114kms along the Camino De Santiago during an extraordinary week in Northern Spain.
Transition Year students took part this year from 21 schools in Munster and Leinster including Mungret Community College, Gaelcholaiste Luimnigh, Laurel Hill, Laurel Hill Colaiste, John The Baptist Hospital, Colaiste Iosaef Kilmallock, Scoil Pol Kilfinane, and from Cork, Colaiste Mhuire Buttevant, Scoil Mhuire Kanturk, and Colaiste Mhuire Crosshaven from Dublin Malahide Community College and Colaiste Pobail Fola in Saggart. The trip was so rewarding and special that Clionas Foundation are calling on schools all over Ireland to join them on the journey in 2025.
Joining the group John Keyes St Munchins in Limerick said: I had a great experience on The Camino walk in May of this year. It was an experience of a lifetime and I made new friends along the way with whom I'm still in contact. It gave me time to think and enjoy the company of people and new places.
Also joining the group was transition year student Sinead Murphy from Hazelwood College in Dromcollogher.
She commented: My 2024 Camino journey was one I will never forget. This was such an amazing opportunity as I made so many new wonderful friends from several counties in Ireland and made lifelong memories like trying Galician food along with the camaraderie and fun in the hostels at night, while raising money for a wonderful cause helping families of children who are ill.
READ MORE: BREAKING: Submachine gun, cocaine and cash seized by Limerick gardai
"Over an amazing 5 days we walked 120km, uphill, downhill, over rivers and through quaint villages, our terrain varied as we walked in warm high 20 degree heat. Along our route we encountered many historical sites, local musicians and craftspeople. It was an unforgettable cultural experience. During the week we met people from various nations who, like us, were undertaking the Camino. On completing the Camino there was a great sense of personal achievement and a great sense of fulfilment that we were all able to assist Clionas Foundation.
The second annual Camino for Clionas trips took place this summer when 101 students, teachers and group leaders flew to Santiago in Northern Spain to undertake a huge personal challenge, the 114kms Sarria to Santiago leg of the Camino. These special trips took place after the group collectively raised over 124,000 for families caring for seriously sick children in Ireland.
They then walked along the infamous Camino in solidarity with these families over five days.
Clionas Foundation provide financial assistance to families caring for a seriously sick child all over Ireland to help specifically with the non-medical costs associated with the diagnosis. The foundation was set up by Brendan and Terry Ring following the death of their daughter Cliona from an inoperable brain tumour in 2006.
Clionas have supported over 1,400 families and in 2023 distributed their largest amount ever to families in need, 502,000, across 27 counties. Many parents must give up their jobs to care for their sick child leaving them struggling to cope. Studies have highlighted that a family will need between 10,000 and 15,000 a year to cover various bills while their child is ill.
The Camino De Santiago is a pilgrimage rooted in medieval origins, also known as The Way of Saint James, and has grown in popularity in Ireland and internationally. It leads to the tomb believed to be that of the Apostle Saint James the Greater, in the crypt of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral.
Clionas Foundation expects up to 200 families will apply for financial assistance this year and will need to raise a minimum of 500,000 to meet these applications.
The new cashless system has sparked concern among residents who are now being forced to provide personal information just to pay for street parking.
The new parking system in North Sydney offers a PayStay app to make payment, which requires people to enter personal information to sign up. Source: Facebook/AL Markarian and 9News/2GB
As the shift to a cashless society continues to rile Aussies across the country, one prominent council area has implemented new technology for local parking. But while it's designed to be quicker and easier, residents say it's "confusing" and "invasive" with payment apps now requesting a plethora of personal information.
North Sydney Council, on the city's Lower North Shore, last month unveiled new cashless parking meters across the council area, which infuriated those who preferred more traditional payment options.
In addition to a Touch n Go system, which allows locals to tap their cards and phones to pay, there's also a "PayStay app" option available which is proving problematic for users.
In the app, users are reportedly prompted to provide personal information including full name, email and phone number as well as their car rego, postcode and of course their credit card details.
When contacted by Yahoo News Australia, a council spokesperson said it "understands no single method would suit all" and hoped the new parking system would "provide the public with flexibility in how they would like to manage their parking".
However, it also "acknowledges the frustrations experienced by the community with the new parking meters and is actively working to resolve them".
Residents express concerns over 'poor' paid parking decision
According to some, the apps are extremely "invasive" with many wondering why such a system is required. People also have the option of calling a phone number provided on a sign to pay for parking but this option is no more convenient, say locals.
"The new PayStay parking system in North Sydney is inconvenient, time-wasting and discriminates against people who are not tech-savvy. What if you don't have your phone on you? It is a poor decision [by council]," one hit out on social media recently.
"Instead of being able to simply tap and go, you have to download an app, provide personal details, store credit card details in a third-party system, and then navigate the app. I was just popping to the shops for a coffee, not applying for a bank loan".
A cashless Touch N Go option (right) was also introduced last month, eliminating the need for traditional parking metres (left). Source: Facebook/Mosman Collective and Kelly Osbourne.
Hackers, surcharges and 'challenging' system among complaints
Others feared handing over their information in case of hackers ultimately distributing their personal details. "I won't be downloading yet another app to get the privilege of providing personal information to an unknown third party just because I want to park my car," another said.
It's been labelled a "total nightmare" by some and "terrible" by others who say "they already had perfectly serviceable machines doing the job," noting it's likely extremely challenging for older people but others have struggled too.
"I tried to pay using one of the new meters yesterday but it wasnt working properly. The man who tried to use it before me had been trying for ages also with no success," said one.
"The barcode scan and pay didnt work the other day, while I was looking for help with the new app, and figuring out how to pay with the new system, I got a $135 fine! It is insane," said another.
Some also noted paying via the app incurs an extra surcharge, "an extortionate 8.25 per cent" one pointed out. Plus it's believed there's an additional "34c per notification on the app" which reminds users when their parking runs out.
One resident noted the app automatically adds an 8.25 per cent surcharge on all payments making a $6.90 stay cost a total of $7.47 instead. Source: Facebook/Simon Berry
Council told Yahoo, the "parking surcharges are based upon user preferences" but did not elaborate further.
"The new parking system aims to ensure a combination of both the best value and most flexibility for the community as we recognise the increasing differences in technology preferences for individuals," they said.
"For customers to gain the best understanding of this new parking system, Council will be providing additional instructions and information," they continued. "Council will continue to monitor and improve the parking system to mitigate community concerns which include installing an additional 30 parking meters across the LGA for those not wishing to use the PayStay app."
Paid parking change leads to multiple fines
To make matters worse, the original parking meters remained in place during the transition, but each had a black plastic bag covering them. According to some locals, within the first couple of weeks, they'd been mistaken as "not working" by many not realising there was another way to pay, and therefore some hadn't paid for parking. Some people reported receiving a $135 fine as a result.
At the time, in early August, a council spokesperson told the Mosman Collective "old meters have had bags placed over them in preparation for removal, redirecting vehicle owners to new meters for payment".
"We understand this has caused some confusion as some of the new meters and Touch N Gos are located further away from the old meters," they said. It's understood the old parking meters have now been removed.
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The Hosteller, a chain of hostels, has raised $4 million, or about 32 crore, in a Series A funding round led by V3 Ventures. Six other existing investment companies, individuals and family offices also participated in the funding round.
The company plans to more than double its network as it competes with 10-year-old Zostel, which is one of the largest chains of branded hostels in the country, as well as ArtBuzz and goSTOPS.
Also Read | Yatra Online acquires corporate travel agency Globe Travels for 128 crore
The Hosteller will deploy the funds to expand its network to over 150 locations across India by 2026, the company said in a statement. At present, it operates in 60 locations in metro cities and tourist destinations.
It intends to increase its presence in urban centres and emerging travel spots. The company will also strengthen existing operations while venturing into new regions.
Sustainable growth Arjun Vaidya, co-founder of V3 Ventures, said the funding will allow the company to scale up quickly and continue capturing a larger share of the travel and backpacker market across India. Participants in this funding round included LV Angel Fund, venture capital company FAO Ventures, private equity firm Synergy Capital Partners, Unit-e Consulting, Ice.VC and Thrive Ventures.
Founder and CEO Pranav Dangi said the company will focus on sustainable growth. The funding round will support its broader strategy of providing travel experiences.
He added that the company will add about five hostels to its portfolio every month. Since its launch in 2014, the company has expanded primarily in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Karnataka. It operates its own properties.
Bookings for alternative accommodation on MakeMyTrip increased 24% in 2023. According to research by the online travel company, rooms under 2,500 per night were preferred the most by travellers looking for hostels and apartments.
A lot of this demand came from the north of the country. But this was not the case in the east, where travellers preferred hotels. Alternative accommodation like homestays were favoured more by those in the south.
The sector has attracted other funding in the past. In 2021, goSTOPS raised $2 million in its Pre-Series A and bridge rounds from Mumbai Angels Network, The Chennai Angels and others.
Last week, The Hive Hostels, a student hostel company that does not directly compete with The Hosteller, raised 11.5 crore. Zostel has raised $14.8 million across three rounds since 2014.
Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Thursday granted temporary relief to FMCG major Hindustan Unilever in a plea seeking an injunction against Abbott Laboratories for allegedly denigrating its product, Horlicks Diabetes Plus.
A bench led by justice R.I. Chagla said HUL had made out a strong prima facie case for the grant of ad-interim reliefs. "The balance of convenience is in favour of the plaintiff (HUL). Unless reliefs as prayed for are granted, the plaintiff will suffer irreparable harm/injury which cannot be compensated in terms of money, the bench added.
The court will hear the final matter on 7 October.
According to HUL, the Horlicks Diabetes Plus has been designed for blood sugar management and is one of Indias highest fibre- nutritional drink. The FMCG company claimed that it has a valid trademark for the product.
HUL said it came across an advertisement for Abbotts product, Ensure Diabetes Care, in August 2024. A pharmacist informed HULs representative that the advertisement was being widely circulated in various WhatsApp groups across the country, comprising pharmacists, chemists, sales agents, medical representatives, healthcare professionals, and family groups.
The advertisement shows HUL's product (a blurred image) being shrugged and replaced with Abbotts product, making Horlicks Diabetes Plus seem like an inferior or useless product, HUL alleged.
Though HULs legal representative immediately reached out to Abbott and sought a clarity on the issue, it failed to get any substantial response.
Consequently, HUL wrote an email to Abbott on 26 August 2024. We understand that the said advertisement is being used in your medicine /expert/chemist channel (recipients) and has been widely shared within the said channel on WhatsApp. We would like to bring to your notice that such an act is illegal and unfitting of an organization like Abbott, it said.
Amazon Inc intends to help Indian exporters sell $5 billion worth of small-ticket items through its platform this year in the United States and Britain, compared to almost $3 billion in 2023, Reuters reported on Thursday, quoting a company official.
Under Amazon's Global Selling programme, launched in 2015, nearly 1.5 lakh small Indian exporters are expected to sell their products directly to foreign buyers on the Amazon e-commerce platform, as per the report.
Also Read | Amazon India to cut down its selling fees by 12% ahead of festive season
We are investing significantly in tools and technologies to help sellers optimise their reach, enhance product discovery, and increase sales, Bhupen Wakankar, director of global trade at Amazon, told the news agency.
Amazon is in line to help tens of thousands of Indian businesses achieve a cumulative $13 billion in e-commerce exports by the end of 2024, according to a company statement cited in the report.
Amazon's move highlights India's role in the global supply chain and reflects the larger trend among multinational corporations to diversify sourcing away from China, according to the report.
In 2020, Walmart Inc also said the brand plans to increase its supplies from India to $10 billion a year by 2027, compared to nearly $3 billion at that time, as per the report.
Amazon has partnered with the Ministry of Commerce in India and trade associations to connect with small manufacturers across the country, offering products like textiles and jewellery to household items and Ayurveda products, said the report quoting Wakankar.
Products like these are easy to send to customers abroad and they attract less import taxes than other costlier items.
E-commerce in India: According to the report, Amazon and Walmart have reshaped India's retail landscape in recent years, investing billions of dollars to source supplies from small businesses and attract consumers with bigger discounts, even though they are facing criticism from trading and political groups.
Minister of Commerce Piyush Goyal accused Amazon and other e-commerce companies of predatory pricing strategies and also said that the sector's rapid growth should not disrupt millions of brick-and-mortar stores in India, as per the report.
The Delhi High Court on Thursday permitted Bina Modi, managing director of tobacco maker Godfrey Phillips India, to exercise her voting rights at the company's annual general meeting (AGM) scheduled for 2.30 pm on 6 September.
The court dismissed pleas by Ruchir Modi and Samir Modi, who sought to prevent her from voting at the AGM. The meeting is likely to go ahead as planned, with significant decisions looming, including the reappointment of Bina Modi as managing director.
The court also clarified that if, at any point during the case, it determines that Bina Modi's appointment as managing director was improper, she will have to resign immediately and wont be able to claim any equity. This directive should also be communicated at the AGM, the court added. It also directed Bina Modi to file a half-yearly affidavit detailing the remuneration and other benefits she receives as managing director of the company.
According to media reports, proxy advisory firms Institutional Investor Advisory Services (IiAS) and ISS have advised shareholders to vote against her reappointment, citing concerns about her ability to dedicate enough time to the role owing to her position as chairman and managing director of Indofil Industries Ltd. ISS has also raised concerns about her remuneration, saying it may not be appropriate for a company of this size.
At a crossroads Godfrey Phillips India is at a crucial juncture as it grapples with leadership and governance issues amid a prolonged family dispute. In June the Delhi High Court issued a notice to Bina Modi on a petition by her grandson, Ruchir Modi, who sought her removal as managing trustee of the KK Modi Family Trust and the appointment of an administrator to oversee the trust.
In his plea, Ruchir Modi had asked the court to direct the administrator to sell the trusts assets and distribute the proceeds among the four branches of the family. He alleged that Bina Modi and her daughter Charu excluded his family from the trusts benefits and breached their fiduciary duties as trustees.Ruchir Modi also claimed that Bina Modi had been selling assets without proper oversight, even though the trust deed requires the unanimous consent of the trustees for such decisions.
In response, Bina Modi argued that Ruchir Modi's claims mirrored those of his father, Lalit Modi, and that he must first withdraw his application from the Supreme Court before pursuing the case in the high court.
The family dispute dates back to 2014, when KK Modi, his wife Bina and their children executed a restated trust deed, consolidating the family's assets to ensure equal distribution among all branches. Since KK Modi's passing, Ruchir and Lalit Modi have been embroiled in legal battles over their exclusion from key roles in family companies, including Godfrey Phillips India and Modicare Ltd.
The outcome of the AGM on 6 September will be pivotal in shaping the future leadership of Godfrey Phillips India, with shareholders now facing a critical decision on Bina Modi's reappointment amid the family feud.
(Bloomberg) -- The rewards programs of the four largest US air carriers Delta Air Lines Inc., American Airlines Group Inc., United Airlines Holdings Inc. and Southwest Airlines Co. are being probed by the US Department of Transportation, the agency announced Thursday.
The department has asked the airlines to submit reports and turn over detailed information on their programs to learn how consumers are impacted by the devaluation of earned rewards, hidden or dynamic pricing, extra fees, and reduced competition and choice, it said in a statement.
Many Americans view their rewards points balances as part of their savings, Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in the statement. But unlike a traditional savings account, these rewards are controlled by a company that can unilaterally change their value.
The loyalty programs have come under fire in recent months, with the Biden administration and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle raising concerns that carriers lure customers with promises of rewards only to strip flyers of those perks with little notice by making sudden changes to how points and miles accrue. Theyve also raised concerns about whether the programs give larger airlines an unfair advantage over smaller competitors.
The Transportation Department has taken a hard line with airlines on practices or policies that its determined could be harming consumers. The loyalty program probe is the latest in a slew of government actions on that front.
The probe targets a substantial source of revenue for carriers that are currently raking in billions of dollars from their loyalty programs and co-branded credit cards.
Delta reported that it made $6.8 billion in 2023 from its credit card partnership with American Express Co., a number that it expects to grow by 10% this year and to reach $10 billion over the long term. American Airlines disclosed it received $5.2 billion in cash payments in 2023 from its co-branded credit card and other partners.
The public also got a glimpse at how lucrative these programs are when major US carriers raised at least $20 billion in financing during the Covid-19 pandemic using their loyalty programs as collateral.
Buttigieg previewed his concerns with the loyalty programs and co-branded cards, which help passengers boost rewards through spending, at a joint hearing with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in May. At the time, he raised two primary worries: that airlines were changing their programs to make it more difficult for customers to earn perks a decision that recently backfired on Delta, which was forced to rethink a 2023 overhaul following a deluge of complaints and that the programs were potentially being operated in a way to block the entry or growth of smaller airline competitors.
Airline loyalty programs arent a new concept. American was the first major carrier to create such a program with AAdvantage in 1981, followed shortly thereafter by United and Delta. They initially started as a way for the airlines to differentiate themselves after the industry was deregulated in 1978 but have since morphed into the massive money-makers they are today.
Carriers generate revenue by selling points or miles to the companies theyve partnered with on their co-branded credit cards, which in turn offer them as rewards to customers when they make purchases on the card. They can also sell points or miles directly to consumers on their websites or to other businesses theyve teamed up with, such as hotels, retailers or car rental companies.
Proponents say the programs and the co-branded credit cards, give travelers access to a range of popular benefits, from priority boarding to airport lounge access. And according to Airlines for America, a trade group that represents the large airlines, nearly one out of every four US households has an airline credit card.
But consumer advocacy groups and lawmakers like Senators Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, and Roger Marshall, a Republican from Kansas, have leaned on the Transportation Department to take action to prohibit potentially unfair practices. The senators raised many of the concerns that Buttigieg echoed in the May hearing in a letter sent to the department and the CFPB last year.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
(Bloomberg) -- Guinea plans to build the countrys first solar power plants to increase its electricity production by 15% and cut its reliance on West African neighbors.
The construction of two 35-megawatt power plants and a 30-megawatt plant are underway in the gold-rich regions of Kankan and Siguiri, the energy ministry said in statement Friday.
Two additional 40-megawatt solar power plants are still being discussed, it said.
The solar projects would bring 180 megawatts of new capacity online in a country with a total installed generating capacity of just 1,200 megawatts in 2022, according to BloombergNEF data. Guinea imports about 130 megawatts of power from neighboring Senegal and Ivory Coast, but thats insufficient to meet demand.
The solar power plants will support sustainable development and strengthen our energy autonomy, the ministry said, without specifying the projects cost or source of funding.
Guinea vies with Australia as Chinas largest supplier of bauxite, a reddish ore used to make aluminum. It also has the worlds largest untapped reserves of iron ore. Still, most of the nation lives in poverty, lacking access to electricity and other basic services.
Miners from Rio Tinto Plc to Aluminum Corp of China Ltd run operations on their own power sources.
Fridays announcement comes at a time when China has been stepping up renewable energy investments across Africa, pledging more than $1 billion toward wind and solar projects between 2015 and 2018 alone, according to a database by the Boston University Global Development Policy Center.
Listen on Zero: How to Make Renewables Profitable Everywhere
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(Bloomberg) -- An International Monetary Fund program for Uganda expired, denying the East African nation a final disbursement after it failed to meet key program objectives.
The $1 billion, three-year extended credit facility, which was secured in 2021, lapsed before a review that had been scheduled for June. Uganda had tapped $870 million from the program by the time the lenders most recent appraisal was concluded in March.
We have not concluded the sixth and last review, so there will be no disbursement, Izabela Karpowicz, the IMFs outgoing resident representative to Uganda, said in an emailed response to questions. In the past we could give them more time, but since the program was expiring we could not do it this time.
The IMFs executive board is gathering Sept. 6 for so-called Article IV consultation, an assessment of a countrys economic and financial developments following staff meetings with lawmakers and public officials. Ugandas deal was agreed in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic to support the nations post-crisis recovery.
Under the financing package, Uganda agreed to lower its debt and budget deficit by cutting non-priority spending and increasing government revenue. Other targets included greater transparency in public accounts, instituting stronger anti-corruption measures and cultivating a resilient financial sector.
Rather than narrowing, Ugandas budget financing gap will widen to 5.7% of gross domestic product this fiscal year, from 4.5% previously.
Karpowicz didnt elaborate on what targets Uganda had missed.
Ugandas Treasury has needed to diversify its funding sources since the World Bank said it wouldnt grant new loans after the nation passed harsh anti-LGBTQ laws. The legislation is currently under review by the nations Supreme Court and the authorities say they are in talks with the lender about resuming financing.
Karpowicz said the IMF has yet to receive a request for a new program, negating assertions made by Secretary to the Treasury Ramathan Ggoobi in July that the two parties were already in talks about a package. Uganda has secured 12 rounds of financing since joining the IMF six decades ago.
Uganda will have a clear picture of what it needs from the lender before it holds its annual meetings next month, Bank of Ugandas Deputy Governor Michael Atingi-Ego said in an interview in Mauritius on Thursday.
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--With assistance from Kamlesh Bhuckory.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
(Bloomberg) -- A proposal to get Incora out of bankruptcy will be rejected by a federal court unless the aerospace parts maker changes the plan, the judge overseeing the companys insolvency case said during a court hearing Thursday.
When I read the plan I think it is a heads I win, tails you lose plan, US Bankruptcy Judge Marvin Isgur told lawyers for Incora during a court hearing held by video. If the company cannot negotiate changes with creditors and comes back to court with the current plan, Ill just reject it, Isgur said.
The warning comes as creditors continue talking about how to divide the company among some of the biggest firms in the distressed debt market. Those investors include Silver Point Capital and bond giant Pacific Investment Management Co. who have been fighting disgruntled bondholders including JPMorgan Chase & Co., BlackRock Inc. and hedge fund King Street Capital Management.
Under the original plan, Incora would cut about $2 billion in debt and may be worth about worth about $1.65 billion, according to court records.
I understand youre negotiating, Isgur told dozens of lawyers and other advisers who gathered for the hearing. Im happy youre negotiating.
In July, Isgur ruled that Silver Point and Pimco wrongly stripped collateral rights from other investors as part of a $250 million rescue plan for Incora, which is backed by private equity firm Platinum Equity LLC. The ruling was a partial victory for JPMorgan, BlackRock and King Street.
Since then, Incora and its creditors have been trying to rewrite a plan.
Isgur gave Incora permission to send the current plan to a vote of creditors so that the company can return to court for a final decision in early October. The company is reviewing proposals to change the plan, Incora attorney Dennis Dunne said in court.
Your position is both helpful and welcome, as always, Dunne told the judge.
The case is Wesco Aircraft Holdings Inc., 23-90611, US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (Houston).
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
(Bloomberg) -- JPMorgan Chase & Co. has named co-heads of mid-cap mergers and acquisitions in a push to more thoroughly cover smaller companies.
Andrew Castaldo, who has been with the biggest US bank for a decade, will run the business alongside Andrew Martin, who will join later this year from Bank of America Corp., according to a memo reviewed by Bloomberg News.
The two bankers will be based in New York and will be under the leadership of Anu Aiyengar, JPMorgans global head of M&A. A spokeswoman for JPMorgan confirmed the contents of the memo but declined to comment further.
One of JPMorgans top priorities is to provide exceptional investment banking advice to our more than 30,000 middle market clients, Aiyengar wrote in the memo. The bank advised on more than 200 middle market M&A transactions below $2 billion in 2023.
Castaldo most recently led JPMorgans energy M&A group. Martin, who has spent more than 27 years at Bank of America, most recently led its equivalent to JPMorgans mid-cap investment banking team.
Under Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan has been known to move top-performing executives into new roles to broaden their leadership experience. The bank earlier this year combined its global investment bank, corporate bank and commercial bank and appointed Jenn Piepszak and Troy Rohrbaugh to lead it.
Many of JPMorgans mid-sized clients are family-owned firms that are expected to grow in the coming years and decades. The view is that prioritizing M&A coverage of such clients could position JPMorgan to advise them on deals down the line.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Nykaa, a fashion and beauty e-commerce platform, has sued Gopal Asthana, its former chief business officer, for breaching confidentiality and misusing the brands data, which may harm the company. Asthana is currently heading Tata Cliq, Tatas fashion e-commerce platform.
Asthana had allegedly reached out to many Nykaa employees who worked under him during his tenure to join Tata Cliq, according to a report by The Economic Times. Reportedly, some of these employees joined Tata Cliq last year.
Nykaa petitions Bombay High Court Nykaa, in its petition to the Bombay High Court, said that it has enough remuneration for its former chief business officer, which includes long-term incentives and stock options. The company asked for a refund of 19 crore of employee stock options and 5 crore for loss of goodwill and other business measures, the report said.
It added that the beauty brand has requested the court to stop Asthana from using Nykaas data for Tata Cliqs business. On Wednesday, the high court presented an interim order, asking him not to hire employees from Nykaa to Tata Cliq. Nykaa has, however, not made Tata Cliq a part of the case.
Asthana served as chief business officer at Nykaa for four years and was on the companys board. Nykaa has alleged that, due to his position, Asthana had private and confidential company data.
The Falguni Nayar-led brand also made an exception for its former chief business officer to join a rival company regardless of having a non-compete agreement. The allegations are incorrect, and they will get established in the arbitration, the report said, quoting Asthana.
However, since the matter is sub-judice, I cant comment on the same. The matter is between my former employer and me, and my current employer is not a party in the matter and, therefore, best left out of the discussion, he added.
Owen Willis says Australia is a 'very racist' country among a number of other gripes.
A British expat is 'de-influencing' people to move to Australia after his bad experience. Source: TikTok/Owenwillis
An Englishman is attempting to turn people away from moving to Australia by sharing a list of his gripes with the country and went as far as to categorise the "entire" country as "very racist".
Owen Willis took to social media to share his hot take on Australia, telling followers he was 'de-influencing' fellow Brits by sharing his experience of living away from home.
"Australia isn't going to solve all your problems," he said in a video. "I'm not saying the UK is perfect but my idea of Australia in my head was this utopian paradise."
Willis, who says he lived in Australia in 2022, and has since returned to the UK goes on to share how the country didn't live up to his expectations. He lists the weather, cost of living, the wildlife and even "casual racism" as his major issues.
"I lived in so many places in Australia I feel like I have a round enough view to categorise the whole country as a racist country," he proclaimed.
While he points out it's less the case in major cities like Sydney and Melbourne, he claims in Queensland he was left "shocked by what people would say to me".
Owen Willis lived in a number of cities across the country, so he reckons his view is qualified. Source: Instagram/Owen Willis
Scary wildlife 'ruined' nights out
Willis said another major issue he had was the varying wildlife that Australia has to offer but not the usual ones foreigners are afraid of like snakes and spiders.
Among the scariest animals to Willis were jellyfish which "are either gigantic or deadly" and bats which he describes as "like eagles" due to their size.
"It genuinely ruined my night so many times by not being able walk down certain streets because I knew bats would hang from the trees," he said. "It actually used to scare me so much."
Ironically, he also says that the "short days" were a major turn off for him, despite coming from the UK where in winter the sun sets before 4pm on the shortest day of the year.
Aussies divided by Englishman's take on country
While some were quick to agree with Willis's view of Australia, others were more critical.
"Arent you a little ray of sunshine, hopefully youre happier now at home," said one viewer.
"Ive always wanted to go to Australia, maybe not anymore," said another.
Another branded him "such a knob" adding "I moved here 24 years ago, it's the best place to live on this earth, we really don't need any more whinging Poms."
He's not the first Brit to share a controversial view of Australia. After being kicked out of a pub, another British man has declared he's officially "done with pubs" in one major Aussie city, claiming drinking rules there are "too strict", and bouncers relish the opportunity to exert their authoritative power.
Another said moving to the country is a "scam" after her six-month stay had left much to be desired.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
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Indias second richest man, Gautam Adani, was rejected by Mumbais Jai Hind College in the late 1970s. But decades later, he was invited by the same college to deliver a lecture on Teachers Day.
Adani applied for admission to Jai Hind College, but his application was rejected, Vikram Nankani, President of the Jai Hind College Alumni Association, informed the gathering.
During his lecture, Adani opened up on his early days in Mumbai and how he could not finish his education.
I was just 16 years old when I decided to break my first boundary. I had to do with my education and move to an unknown future in Mumbai, Adani said while addressing the gathering. People still ask me why I moved to Mumbai and why I didnt complete my education. The answer lies in the heart of every young dreamer who sees boundaries not as barriers but as challenges that test their courage..." he added.
Also Read | How Ambani and Adani are attracting retail investors into financial markets?
Adani worked as a diamond sorter for nearly two years before returning to his home state of Gujarat to run a packaging factory managed by his brother.
In the 1980s, he started a trading organisation for importing polymers to supply to the struggling small-scale industries, and after the 1991 reforms, he launched his global trading house for polymers, metals, textiles and agri-products at the age of 29. He acknowledged the fact that his business was a beneficiary of the economic reforms.
In 1994, the company went public and Adani Exports, now known as Adani Enterprises, launched its IPO. "The IPO was a strong success and underscored for me the importance of public markets, he said.
Hindenburg issue He addressed the Hindenburg issue, saying that it was a short-selling attack initiated from abroad. It was a dual attack targeting financial stability and pulling the company into a political discord. He said that it was a calculated move just before the closing of the follow-on public offer and designed to cause maximum damage.
PM Modi's leadership Additionally, he also appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership.
"...In 2014, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the essence of freedom was further accelerated as reforms and good governance took a central stage. All these years stand as a turning point, each building on the other in India's remarkable journey..."
Also Read | Inside Adani Groups first bond issue for retail investors
Dharavi Redevelopment Project He also spoke about his current projects, especially the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, which according to him, aims to restore the dignity of more than one million people.
" For me, Dharavi is not just about urban renewal. It is about restoring dignity to over one million residents of our country. It is about the possibilities when you dare to dream big and act with purpose," he added.
Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal believes that Indians need to work harder. In a post on X, he stated that people in the technology industry, especially, should work hard and Indians should not be happy with where they are right now.
We in India, especially in tech industry, need to work harder too. Cant be happy with where we are rn, he wrote on X.
Aggarwals comments come in response to a post by Bloomberg Asia, which mentioned a comment from Deutsche Bank Chief Executive Christian Sewing, who asked Germans to work harder for better performance of the economy.
Deutsche Bank Chief Executive Christian Sewing called on Germans to work harder if they want to get the countrys economy back on track, the Bloomberg Asia post said.
Aggarwals response to the post received mixed reactions from social media users.
Mixed response from social media users Mr. Aggarwal, I truly admire your resilience in building @OlaElectric. But if you want Indians to work more, why not start by matching the offers Deutche Bank gives its engineers? And than you can ask to put in REAL HARD-WORK, a social media user said.
How is hapiness related to working harder? Absolutely right sir, your hard work and efforts are clearly visible in ola's new technology (sic), stated another user.
Another X user commented, "absolutely agree! The tech industry in India has tremendous potential, but we must push the boundaries, innovate continuously, and strive for excellence. Complacency isn't an optionlets keep working harder, embracing new challenges, and driving forward to make a global impact!
Earlier, the Ola CEO supported Narayana Murthys stance on the 70-hour workweek. He said that he is fully in sync with Murthys advice. Aggarwal revealed that he works 20 hours daily all throughout the week. He has also extended his support for extending average working hours, through his social media posts.
At 05 Sep 11:19 today, Suzlon shares are trading at price 75.11, 1.25% up from the previous closing price. Sensex is trading at 82297.22, down by -0.07%. The stock has hit a high of 76.49 and a low of 74.67 during the day.
On the technical front, the stock is trading above the 50,100,300 days SMA & lower than the 5,10,20 day SMA. The stock will have support at 50,100,300 days SMA & face resistance at 5,10,20 days SMA.
The SMA values for the stock are given below :
Days Simple Moving Average 5 76.35 10 77.29 20 76.24 50 64.97 100 54.32 300 47.97
The classic pivot level analysis shows that on a daily time frame, the stock has key resistances at 75.03, 75.77, & 76.63, whereas it has key support levels at 73.43, 72.57, & 71.83.
Till 11 AM today, the volume traded on NSE & BSE for Suzlon Energy was -72.89% lower than the previous trading session. Volume traded is an important indicator along with price to study trends. Positive price movement with higher volume suggests a sustainable upmove, and negative price movement with higher volume might be an indication of further decline in prices.
Overall, as per Mint technical analysis, Following a strong uptrend, the stock is indicating signs of a reversal.
From a fundamental analysis perspective, the company has a ROE of 26.31% .The current P/E of the stock is at 116.34 .
The median 1-year forecasted upside in this share is at 7.5% with a target price of 69.48.
The company has a 13.27% promoter holding, 2.12% MF holding, & 20.63% FII holding as per filings in the june quarter.
The MF holding has increased from 1.14% in march to 2.12% in june.
The FII holding has increased from 18.67% in march to 20.63% in june quarter.
The Karnataka government has revoked a controversial directive asking various departments to cease operations with two of India's largest public sector banks, Moneycontrol reported.
This decision comes after the State Bank of India (SBI) and Punjab National Bank (PNB) returned a total of 22.67 crore, which had been the subject of alleged embezzlement, along with interest for one year, as per the report.
Livemint could not independently verify this news development.
On August 12, the state's finance department issued a circular calling for all government entities, including departments, boards, corporations, universities, local bodies, and public sector undertakings, to cut ties with SBI and PNB. The government cited the banks' perceived lack of cooperation in recovering misappropriated funds as the reason for this drastic measure. However, the circular was suspended just four days later, as per the report by Moneycontrol.
A government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, SBI returned 9.67 crore, and PNB returned 13 crore, both with one year's interest, pending the outcome of court cases, as quoted by Moneycontrol.
Also Read | PNB share price Today Live Updates : PNB Shares Dip Amid Market Volatility
The original circular was prompted by two separate incidents of alleged financial misconduct. The first case involved a 25 crore fixed deposit made by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board with PNB's Rajajinagar branch in September 2011. Upon maturity, PNB reportedly released only 13 crore, with the remaining amount unresolved for over a decade.
Also Read | Sbi share price Today Live Updates : SBI Shares Surge in Positive Trading Session
The second case centred around a 10 crore fixed deposit by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board with the former State Bank of Mysore, now part of SBI. Using forged documents, this deposit was allegedly misused to settle a private company's loans.
Mumbai: Deposit growth has been lagging advances lately, sparking a vigorous debate among bankers, including the RBI, over the reasons for this divergence and how to boost savings.
On Thursday, the country's top bankers differed sharply over what was causing the deposit-credit mismatch. Some of them blamed mutual funds, which fetched superior returns, and sought government and regulatory support to allow higher return on bank deposits to be able to compete with fund houses. Others called this diagnosis simplistic.
Lower bank deposits Speaking at the banking conference FIBAC (Financial Institution Benchmarking and Calibration), MV Rao, chairman of Indian Banks' Association (IBA) and CEO of Central Bank of India, pointed out that returns from bank deposits are lower as end-use of the savings is tightly regulated, curbing the lenders' ability to deploy them more profitably.
Also Read | Weak bank deposit growth: Beware faulty explanations "The returns which are given by the mutual funds are higher because our deployment of our resources is regulated so tightly by the regulator and you cannot get higher returns from the deployment. If you see the mutual funds, the end-use verifications and their deployment has no restriction," said Rao." But going forward, we have to evolve ourselves and ensure that higher returns be given to the depositors. There, the involvement and also active participation of the government and regulators are required," he added.
Notwithstanding the current mismatch, bankers present at the conference jointly organized by industry body Ficci and IBA (FIBAC) said that the lag in deposit growth is a transient issue and not a structural one.
Bank of Baroda CEO Debadatta Chand said that banks need to innovate on deposits.
"f you look at the deposit side, deposit is not going to be a generic product, it has to be a bundled product now. So, if I expect that a customer would open a new savings account at this point of time, possibly I need to bundle it to offer many other products along with the savings account so as to mobilize more deposits," Chand said.
He said that deposit mobilization, which is a constraint at this point of time, would improve. "I believe the current deposit-advance growth is a transient one, not a structural one," Chand added.
Aslo Read | Unmasking loopholes: How bank employees sell mutual funds without certification Is it due to mutual funds? HSBC CEO Hitendra Dave said that putting the blame on mutual funds for the current slowdown in deposits will not help. He attributed the sluggish deposit growth to the huge cash balances maintained by the government owing to the election season.
"I think it's an oversimplified argument that because, let's say, people are putting money into mutual funds, that's why there is less money for banks to tap. You know, because even the mutual fund buys something, that is sold by somebody, so that liquidity comes back into the system," Dave argued. "So, I think it would be a good idea to actually do a study as to what typically causes deposit creation. And I think unless, because if we keep blaming SIPs or mutual funds, we might be solving the wrong problem, in my sense," he said.
Bank credit riging Latest data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) showed that while deposits grew at 11.7% in the quarter ended June, bank credit rose at 15%. According to a Business Standard report in August, banks have urged the finance ministry that government cash balances be held by them, rather than the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to help improve liquidity. Under a new cash management framework SNA-SPARSH introduced in 2021, government cash balances were directed to the RBI rather than to commercial banks.
According to the state of the economy article in June bulletin, RBI officials said that banks will have to soon align their credit and deposit growth and normalise credit-deposit ratios. For the last one year, credit growth has outpaced deposit growth. Banks have been raising funds through short-term certificates of deposit and high-value savings accounts and fixed deposits.
New Delhi: As the covid pandemic swept across the country, Dolo-650 became India's most prescribed drug, selling over 350 crore pills since the outbreak in early 2020. Just as the pandemic was receding in the middle of 2022, Dolo's manufacturer Micro Labs Ltd found itself in the crosshairs of the tax department for allegedly extending freebies worth 1,000 crore to doctors to prescribe the pain and fever reliever.
Two years later, the government has decided to sharpen its glare on the marketing practices of pharmaceutical firms amid reports of these companies offering a range of freebies to doctors to promote their medicines.
The department of pharmaceuticals, under the ministry of chemicals and fertilizers, has sought expenditure details from these companies on distribution of free samples, and expenses incurred on organising conferences, workshops, training and seminars, as part of a broader initiative to curb unethical marketing practices by drugmakers.
The department of pharmaceuticals has written to drugmakers seeking expenditure details on distribution of free samples, and expenses incurred on organizing conferences and workshops, as part of a broader initiative to curb unethical marketing practices. The particulars must be filed on ongoing basis and mandatorily within two months of every financial year, the department said, in a communication seen by Mint.
In the case of distributing free samples, the department has sought details of month, year, monetary value of the samples, details of recipient and domestic sales revenue of the particular drug. In the case of events, the authorities have asked for details including month, year, total number of events and expenditure incurred.
Queries sent to the department of pharmaceuticals remained unanswered till press time.
A senior executive at Micro Labs, maker of Dolo, said the 2022 matter remains under investigation. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided the company and they found out that some amount of money was spent on marketing practices by Micro Labs in the last eight years... We have given all the data to ED and we are supporting them," the executive said on the condition of anonymity.
The move comes after several pharmaceutical companies were found to be offering freebies like luxury holiday packages, travel and monetary benefits, among others, to doctors to promote their medicines, prompting the government to notify the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices 2024 in March to ensure that these companies dont resort to unethical means to promote their medicines.
The code bars drugmakers from offering freebies such as gifts, travel, hospitality and monetary benefits to the doctors for prescribing a particular medicine.
What experts say..
Industry stakeholders have broadly welcomed the government's move.
IDMA is in favour of adopting ethical practices in all aspects of business. Ethical marketing practices are important and we stand by them. We already have necessary committees in place for the compliance. Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices was there since 2014 and got amended in 2024," said Viranchi Shah, president of Mumbai-based Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA).
Dr. R.V. Ashokan, national president of the Indian Medical Association, said that the private body of physicians is in the process of updating the ethics guidelines for doctors.
We are upgrading the issue of ethics for doctors and guidelines are under preparation. We are also drafting ethical guidelines for hospitals for the first time in India. We will release our ethics document on 2 October this year," he added.
Any industry where patient care is involved, they should follow medical ethics and no business should be followed, Dr. Ashokan said.
Dr. Raman Kumar, national president of the Academy of Family Physicians of India, a grouping of 2,500 physicians, said that UCPMP's intent is good, and that promotion of a drug through unethical practices is wrong. However, "There should be a system where professionals and industry can work together in a transparent way, for example- for research purpose... This regulation is absolutely fine, however, we should learn from the developed economies of the world where they have stringent laws but still they are able to work with the industry," Dr. Kumar added.
India's pharmaceutical industry is projected to more than double to $130 billion by 2030, from $50 billion currently. It is expected to reach $65 billion by the end of 2024.
In July, Mint reported that the government had extended the deadline till the end of that month for pharma company bosses to file their legal self-declarations assuring the government that they will not indulge in unethical marketing practices to promote their drugs.
Bengaluru/New Delhi: After chipping away at corner shops and forcing a pivot by established online grocers, India's quick commerce startups are now muscling into the annual festival season, posing a stiff challenge to stalwarts such as Amazon and Flipkart that have kept physical retailers on their toes for years.
Zomatos Blinkit, Lightspeed-backed Zepto and Swiggy Instamart are adding costlier items and expanding stores, multiple industry executives said, posing a direct challenge to established online marketplaces such as Amazon and Flipkart.
Zepto is launching dozens of new dark stores in cities like Ahmedabad, Kanpur, and Chandigarh, said co-founder and chief executive Aadit Palicha, days after his four-year-old company raised $340 million at a valuation of $5 billion. "Our recent success in Nashik, with over 1,000 orders daily in just six weeks, shows the potential in these markets. We are also expanding into new categories like consumer electronics, general merchandise, high-utility apparel and beauty products," Palicha said.
Larger appliances
Tata group owned BigBasket, which has made a full tilt to quick commerce, is set to offer large appliances, smartphones and other high-value items in 30-60 minutes through tie-ups with other Tata ventures such as Croma and Tata Cliq, The Arc reported last week.
To be sure, most quick commerce platforms already offer a limited number of items such as earphones, toasters and induction cooktops. The companies are expected to expand stocks and add new categories for the festive season.
We have recently launched in Kochi, Vijayawada, Bathinda and Haridwar. We plan on increasing coverage to more cities in the next few weeks and are looking to expand our service to cover more neighbourhoods in these markets," a Blinkit spokesperson said in response to Mints queries.
Also read: Despair in kiranas as quick commerce roars ahead
A spokesperson for Instamart did not respond to an emailed query.
Season of sales
India's festival season kicks off with Raksha Bandhan in August and lasts until the New Year, featuring Onam, Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, Durga Puja, Navratri and Christmas in between. Known for high spending, the period is critical for manufacturers and retailers of electronics, consumer durables and apparel, who unwrap new models, offer discounts and roll out easy payment schemes to attract customers.
The first week of last years festive season sale saw online platforms clocking a gross merchandise value (GMV) of about 47,000 crore, up nearly 20% from the previous year, according to estimates by Redseer Strategy Consultants. Redseer had projected that e-commerce firms will touch GMV of 90,000 crore by the end of the festive season.
Overall, e-commerce companies expect sales to jump 35% this festive season, according to a report by recruitment and hiring services platform TeamLease, aided by the rise of quick commerce and consumer spending capacity.
If logistics partners are willing to onboard large appliances, brands may consider partnering with quick-commerce platforms, executives of several brands said.
Samsung India follows a "very democratic, omni-channel strategy," said Saurabh Baishakhia, senior director of digital appliances. "If there is a promise a (retail) partner wants to give to their consumer in terms of delivering fast, we will support their endeavour by making sure they have the right stock of inventory, they have the right product mix etc. We will look into that kind of precision to be built into that consumer expectation. But for us, we would probably let people who want to do that for us; we will support them as a brand and enable them to do it," he added. Baishakhia, however, did not specify on whether the company will partner quick commerce platforms this festive season.
Bigger rivals
Meanwhile, larger e-commerce marketplaces like Amazon, Flipkart and Meesho are gearing up to add more products, speed up deliveries and provide easy payment options. Last week, Amazon India cut its listing fees by up to 12% across categories to help sellers widen their product portfolio on the platform as well as pocket higher earnings.
Mint reported last month that e-commerce and quick commerce are set to lead festive season hiring for gig workers this year. While no festive season forecast is available yet for quick commerce, global brokerage firm CLSA said in a note on Tuesday that it expects the top three playersBlinkit, Swiggy and Zeptoto reach $10 billion in gross order value by FY26 and surpass $78 billion within a decade.
Consumers will benefit greatly in terms of product options and convenience this year, especially with quick commerce picking up well," said Satish Meena, an analyst at Datum Intelligence.
A Unicommerce report said that in 2023, e-commerce order volumes grew 37% during the festival period from a year earlier, driven by attractive discounts and effective marketing campaigns.
Quick commerce the winner?
Quick commerce is witnessing a period of hypergrowth. Flush with private capital and customer demand, the sector is giving tough competition to established e-commerce platforms by delivering goods to consumers doorsteps within minutes. However, convenience is just one factor; according to Datum Intelligences Meena, consumers may continue to be drawn towards e-commerce much like in the previous years, given their ability to offer a strong selection of products as well as customer experience.
Platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart have an extensive portfolio of products as well as the benefits of competitive pricing from a range of sellers, unlike quick commerce platforms where options are limited.
Categories like staples, gifting items, and pet care will be popular purchases from quick commerce platforms, helping build order volumes. Big-ticket items like smartphones, apparel and large appliances like refrigerators and washing machines will continue to be strong segments for larger e-commerce marketplaces, Meena added.
The disparity in order values will determine the rate of growth for both sets of platforms. While both platforms will benefit from high order frequencies, e-commerce will see larger average order values as well," Meena said.
For context, the average order value on quick commerce platforms is about 600, while that on e-commerce platforms starts from 1,000.
Our focus is on small, frequently purchased items, ensuring we maintain high product quality and safety," Zeptos Palicha said.
Also read: Staffing firms see a spike in demand for quick commerce workers
Moreover, the availability of easy payment options including equated monthly instalments (EMI) and attractive credit and debit card offers are a major plus point, according to Meena.
Mapping consumer preferences
Every platform has its own unique proposition, said Shankar Prasad, founder of Plum, a Unilever Ventures-backed skincare firm.
E-commerce offers wider selection, is discovery-driven and has more innovative offer structures (such as freebies on cart), among other advantages. Q-commerce, of course, serves the need for speed and convenience, besides the opportunity to discover/replenish the category several times a month. D2C (direct-to-consumer) is all about trust, loyalty, and post-sales support," Prasad noted.
A brands product portfolio, marketing approach, promotions and supply chains are also mapped to each of these verticals differently. For example, the marketing funnel in quick commerce tends to have a shorter life cycle than in e-commerce or D2C. Similarly, pack sizes and product combos are mapped differently to different channels, he added.
Others said quick commerce partners have been prepping for the festive season since the June quarter. We were already seeing platforms approaching us well ahead of the festive season to on-board our brands," said Pratik Mukherjee, business head, beauty, Lovechild by Masaba. Mukherjee said consumers are keen to buy beauty products via quick commerce platforms.
However, for many quick commerce companies, restrictions could set in with the number of stock-keeping units they can manage. Meaning, companies may prefer to list only top-selling products, as compared to a wider assortment on larger e-commerce platforms.
Political turmoil in Thailand is unrelenting. Over the past two decades, 11 different prime ministers have led the country. In the coming weeks that number could increase, as the constitutional court considers dismissing the current leader, Srettha Thavisin, over an allegedly illegal cabinet appointment. Yet amid such instability, one aspect of Thailands governance flourishes: its public-health system.
Thai health care is among the most effective in the world. The average Thai can expect to live to 80, much longer than their regional counterpart (the South-East Asian figure is 73) and even slightly longer than the average American and European (each roughly 79), according to the latest data from the United Nations. Last year a whopping 99.5% of the population of 72m was covered by health insurance. Remarkably, Thailand has achieved this as a developing country: its income per person was roughly $7,000 in 2023, more than 11 times smaller than Americas. Even in the middle of the pandemic in 2021, its public-health bill was 6% of GDP, compared with 17% in America and 11% in the European Union.
Graphic: The Economist
What explains such outperformance? Amid fears that the countrys hinterlands would succumb to communist ideas that were spreading fast in the region in the 1970s, Thai policymakers focused on rural development. Public health became a priority, so a wave of spending was unleashed on infrastructure. By 1990 all 928 districts had a hospital.
Investment in people also helped. In 1972 the government launched a programme that required medical graduates to spend the first three years of their careers in villages. This led to a golden generation of doctors, says Eduardo Banzon of the Asian Development Bank.
Subsequent Thai governments made health care more affordable. The first big initiative was an insurance scheme targeting the poor. This was followed by state-sponsored schemes for those working in the informal and private sectors. But the big boost came in 2002 when the government rolled out a universal health-coverage programme, which offered free health care to the poor and a nominal 30-baht ($1) fee for others. One study found that just between 2000 and 2002 there was a significant decrease in infant mortality.
Unsurprisingly the scheme was a huge hit, boosting the popularity of Thaksin Shinawatra, the prime minister at the time. Few governments since then have dared to tinker with it. Instead its coverage has expanded. Today it covers treatments for conditions ranging from HIV to kidney diseases. But an equally important feature of the programme is the focus on preventive health care, says Piya Hanvoravongchai of the National Health Foundation, a non-profit. A network of grassroots workers helps provide health advice.
Particularly striking is the fact that universal health coverage is not only affordable for beneficiaries, but also for the government. The programme is funded through tax revenues, but spending is controlled. Every year district hospitals are provided with a fixed amount of money per patient in their catchment area, regardless of the treatment they get. This capitation model ensures efficiency and predictability in funding. Thailands spending on health had remained largely steady at around 3-4% of GDP until the pandemic, even as its programmes expanded.
Many countries are eager to emulate Thailand. Earlier this year Saudi Arabia signed an agreement with the government to co-operate on public-health matters. Thai delegations have travelled around Asia, Africa and the Middle East, too.
However, challenges loom. More than a fifth of Thais are over 60. Within the next decade that share could be a third. That puts strain on the public-health system and government finances. Many doctors already complain of overwork. Efforts are under way to expand the cadre of public doctors, while several specific policies have been rolled out for the elderly. Here, too, Thai health care may continue to be a model for the world.
A cryptocurrency platform run by Robinhood Markets will pay $3.9 million to settle claims it failed to let customers withdraw cryptocurrency from their accounts from 2018 to 2022, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said on Wednesday.
The civil settlement with Robinhood Crypto is the first public action by Bonta's office against a cryptocurrency company.
Also Read | Robinhood sets sights on new bounty: The rising rich
Bonta said Robinhood violated California law by failing to deliver cryptocurrencies that its customers had bought, leaving customers unable to withdraw their assets and forcing them to sell the assets to exit the platform.
Also Read | Crypto holders more likely to have personality traits of narcissism, psychopathy
The attorney general said Robinhood also misled customers about where their crypto assets were held, and by advertising it would connect customers to multiple trading venues to ensure they got competitive prices.
Robinhood did not admit or deny wrongdoing. The settlement also requires the platform to let customers withdraw crypto assets to their own wallets, and honor its representations about its trading and order handling practices.
Lucas Moskowitz, Robinhood's general counsel, in a statement said the Menlo Park, California-based company was pleased to settle, and looked forward to making cryptocurrency "more accessible and affordable to everyone."
In a separate statement, Bonta said the settlement "should send a strong message: whether you're a brick-and-mortar store or a cryptocurrency company, you must adhere to California's consumer and investor protection laws."
The chase for market share gains among cement makers continues to hamper prices. The repercussions of heightened competition are being felt on cement prices in both the trade and non-trade channels. In the trade segment, manufacturers sell cement to dealers who in turn sell it to consumers. A non-trade sale is when a manufacturer sells cement directly to the end consumer. These are bulk sales to large buyers such as the government, or big infrastructure and real estate companies.
Given the relatively higher quantity, average cement prices in the non-trade segment are usually lower than those in the trade segment. However, the disparity between the two has increased of late. A Bank of Baroda Capital Markets Ltd report dated 30 August said the gap between trade and non-trade prices widened past 50 a bag in August from the normal 30-40 a bag. In fact, it was around 80 a bag in some parts of India, indicating weak demand from the infrastructure segment, the report added. The individual home building segment is the biggest driver of cement demand in India, estimated to contribute over 50%, followed by the infrastructure segment.
Also read: Hunky-dory equities? Look before you leap
Due to relatively better margins and consistency in demand, large companies generally prefer to focus on trade sales. In a non-trade sale, companies tend to save on several costs such as packaging and freight, which gives them room to offer discounts and consequently boost volumes. Clearly, in the current scenario, where volumes are being prioritised over realisations, the non-trade segment is in focus.
Industry-wide shift
According to a Nirmal Bang Institutional Equities report dated 31 August, there has been a 3-4% industry-wide shift from trade to non-trade segment. This change is more pronounced for companies that are rapidly expanding or commissioning capacities. After all, gaining market share via the trade sales typically takes longer. This shift has led to a decrease in overall weighted average realisations for the cement industry," the report added.
Also read: Aadhar Housing Finance may continue to outpace industry growth
The realisations of Shree Cement Ltd took a beating in Q1FY25, falling more than analysts expected. One of the reasons for this was an increased proportion of non-trade sales during the quarter. Another example was Birla Corporation Ltd, which saw a marginal decline in trade sales. In its Q1FY25 earnings call, the companys management said the industry is focusing on non-trade and institutional sales to tackle lower capacity.
As things stand, the subdued trend in trade prices over the past few quarters has affected the sectors FY25 realisations outlook. The latest dealer channel checks by some brokers suggests that companies may hike prices in the trade segment in September. But after some recent failed attempts, it remains to be seen whether these potential price hikes are absorbed by the market.
Festive season brings challenges
The upcoming festive season from September to November is likely to make the demand scenario more challenging as it usually leads to labour shortages and a slowdown in construction. On the bright side, its widely expected that non-trade cement demand will rise going forward as budgetary allocations have been announced for various government infrastructure and housing projects. Even if prices are hiked in the non-trade segment, and they sustain, its unlikely to bring huge respite on earnings growth.
Also read: Navratna status powers NHPC, but project delays cast a shadow
Unless there is a sharp price hike backed by a sustained improvement in cement demand, raising prices by 15-20 a bag price doesnt make sense, said a Yes Securities Ltd report dated 31 August. We dont see any big jump in Ebitda/tonne level for FY25E/ FY26E for the industry if this despair continues," it added.
Meanwhile, the performance of large cement stocks has been mixed. So far in 2024, shares of UltraTech, ACC Ltd and Ambuja Cements Ltd have risen by 8-18%. Shree Cement is a laggard, having fallen 8%. The volume-realisation tussle makes the sectors valuation unattractive amid looming risks of further earnings downgrades.
Anna McEvoy, 32, admits she had no idea how common and deadly the condition was until she developed it.
McEvoy admits she had no idea what sepsis was until she developed it last year. Source: Instagram
Love Island Australia winner Anna McEvoy is urging Aussies to keep an eye out for signs of a fatal disease that can develop from "any infection" after she was left fighting for her life following a urinary tract infection (UTI).
McEvoy, 32, was plagued with persistent UTIs last year and was prescribed the wrong antibiotics. However, the Melbourne woman who was the winner of the second season of Love Island Australia knew something was wrong when her stomach pain started to feel like she was being stabbed.
"I was starting to get really bad side pain in the left side of my stomach and I was trying to push it off," she told Yahoo News. "I went to the hospital, was put on an IV drip and antibiotics... but then I went home... that was a mistake."
After trying to get some sleep, McEvoy was woken up by her body "uncontrollably shaking". "I felt so cold, my teeth were chattering so loud, I felt so deeply unwell, and I went to the toilet because I thought I was going to vomit. I looked at my face and I looked blue," she said. She was then rushed to hospital.
Love Island Australia winner Anna McEvoy was fighting for her life in a Melbourne hospital after developing sepsis last year. Source: Supplied
McEvoy clung to life after developing preventable condition
What was first thought to be a severe kidney infection was later confirmed as sepsis a condition that occurs when the body's immune system has an extreme response to an infection, damaging its own organs and tissues.
"I knew of the word, I'd heard people kind of talk about sepsis, but I had no idea what it was. And I thought it wasn't common... I think, being 31 at the time, I really thought that I would be immune to that," she said.
Each year over 55,000 Aussies get sepsis and despite it being a preventable disease, the condition has a one-in-three three-death rate. This is largely down to the rapid rate of decline that the body goes through without treatment, with the risk of death increasing by eight per cent every hour.
Sepsis survivor urges Aussies to keep an eye out for symptoms
After McEvoy was transferred to another hospital where she remained for weeks, before being discharged and then readmitted. She finally recovered without the need of amputation or other long-term impacts, however, many aren't as lucky.
Anna McEvoy recovered fully after being in discharged and readmitted to hospital. Source: Supplied
"My story is a reminder that any infection in the body needs to be taken very seriously and you can be any age [when you develop it]," she explained. "Be hyperaware and to check in with your body because if you feel in your heart that something isn't right, it's better to be safe rather than sorry."
World Sepsis Day is next Friday on September 13 and McEvoy is urging Aussies to keep an eye out for sepsis symptoms, which include uncontrollable shaking, chills, fever and low temperature and chills.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
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Social media is abuzz with criticism over the recent oversubscription of SME IPOs, particularly Boss Packaging Solutions. Despite underwhelming financials and a less-than-stellar office appearance, Boss Packaging's IPO was oversubscribed 135 times. This trend, also seen in Resourceful Automobile's IPO, has raised concerns about market manipulation and unrealistic valuations. Markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued a warning about companies resorting to "unrealistic pictures of their operations".
With a modest issue size of 8.41 crore, Boss Packing Solutions, a company involved in packaging machine manufacturing, saw bids totalling an incredible 1,073 crore. However, the financials paint a less impressive picture. According to its Red Herring Prospectus (RHP), the company's profits remained stagnant over the last two years.
This echoes the scenario with Resourceful Automobile, another SME IPO that had raised eyebrows when it received bids worth nearly 5,000 crore, despite operating with just eight employees. The much-hyped issue saw a 418.82x subscription, driven by retail investors, but ultimately listed flat at its issue price of 117 per share, disappointing many who had anticipated a significant premium.
Also Read | Resourceful Automobile shares list flat at 117 apiece on BSE SME
SEBI has been vocal in warning investors about the dangers of overly optimistic portrayals of small company operations. "It has come to the notice of SEBI that, post-listing, some SME companies and/or their promoters have been resorting to certain means that project an unrealistic picture of their operations," the markets regulator said in an advisory issued just before Resourceful Automobile's listing. The regulator cautioned investors not to fall for social media-driven hype or unverified information.
Social Media trolls Boss Packaging for shabby office While Boss Packaging Solutions IPO numbers looked impressive on paper, the company found itself at the centre of social media ridicule for the condition of its office. Photos of its dilapidated building, taken from Google Street View, circulated widely on X (formerly Twitter), fuelling criticism from users.
Many questioned the wisdom of subscribing to an IPO for a company operating from such a modest space, with peeling paint and piles of garbage outside. "64 employees, one old office, and 135x subscription for Boss Packaging SME IPO! This mad rush has to stop!" one user posted on X, expressing disbelief at the frenzy.
Boss packaging solutions oversubscribed by 54X.Inka office dekh kar toh shock lag gaya! Kam se kam Resourceful Yamaha company ke paas showroom toh tha, a X user posted.
Office of boss packaging Pvt Ltd, at Ramol, Ahmedabad. IPO of the company subscribed by 165 times in retail category. Yes we are in a bull market frenzy, another reacted.
Indian CDMO stocks are likely to be in focus next week as the US House plans to vote on the Biosecure Act during the week of September 9. Analysts believe that as the Biosecure Act aims to limit global pharmaceutical companies from outsourcing their work to China, India's Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO) companies are bound to have an advantage.
In its study, brokerage InCred Equities said that low manufacturing prices, foreign direct investments, and government incentives such as the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) plan have turned India into an appealing CDMO destination for businesses looking for alternatives that are cheaper than China.
We anticipate that the US Biosecure Act will significantly benefit Indian CDMOs and are very optimistic about this development. Although the Act allows US companies until 2032 to phase out their collaborations with the five Chinese CDMOs listed, it is likely that clients will increasingly turn to non-Chinese CDMOs for newer projects. This shift is expected to positively impact CDMOs in the US, EU, as well as Korea (where major facilities like Samsung and Celltrion are located), said Praful Bohra, Director - Research, InCred Capital to livemint.
Also Read | Suven Pharmaceuticals share price rises 5% on CDMO Sapala Organics acquisition
Here's all you need to know about the Biosecure Act In the US Senate and the House of Representatives, a bipartisan group has introduced the Biosecurity Act. The Bill seeks to lessen technological transfer to China and the reliance of the US biopharmaceutical sector on that country. The Act mentions five Chinese businesses in particular: Complete Genomics, BGI, MGI, WuXi Apptec, and Wuxi Biologics. A company that works together with any of the aforementioned businesses will not be eligible for any grants, loans, or contracts from executive agencies. A grandfather provision has been included, allowing the corporations to keep their current contracts with Chinese players in place for an additional eight years, explained InCred Equities in its study.
How would it impact Indian CDMO companies? The Indian CDMO market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 14.67%, reaching a value of US$44.69 billion in 2029F from US$19.63 billion in 2023. Opportunities for contract research and API are anticipated to drive the expansion. China's declining market share is one of the main drivers of India's CDMO industry expansion, highlighted the brokerage report.
China became the world's top CDMO player by providing generous government support and labor that is 2530% less expensive. But after trade restrictions were imposed by the former US President Donald Trump and the Covid-19 pandemic caused supply chain disruptions, China began to lose market share. For India's CDMO businesses, this was a huge benefit and a game-changer as big businesses began to derisk by awarding contracts to Indian firms.
Further Bohra explained that Indian companies have traditionally excelled in the small molecule sector, with less emphasis on large molecules. We expect a strong initial inflow of orders for small molecules to India. Companies like Piramal Pharma and Suven Pharma have advanced in the antibody-drug conjugate space, likely leading to increased opportunities.
Recent investments by major playerssuch as Aurobindo's in biologics facility, Alkems in an US CDMO facility, and Gland Pharma's acquisition of Cenexihighlight the growing importance of the CDMO sector. Proximity to key markets, such as the US and EU, enhances client coordination and will be an added advantage.
Also Read | House Plans Votes on Biosecure Act, Other Measures Hitting China
Which Indian CDMO companies are likely to benefit? Divi's Laboratories, Suven Pharma, Neuland Labs, Piramal Pharma, One source (to be demerged from Strides Pharma sciences) have the largest exposure to CDMO business, though other companies like Glenmark Life sciences, Laurus Labs, Gland Pharma, Jubilant Pharma etc also have some exposure here. All these companies are likely to benefit depending on their capacities and capabilities, added Praful Bohra.
Also Read | Strides Pharma shares fall over 3% on plans to spin off CDMO business
Shares of PTC Industries, a manufacturer specializing in high-quality, high-precision metal components for critical and supercritical applications, jumped 3% during the final hour of trading today, reaching 14,500 apiece.
This surge followed the company's announcement that its wholly owned subsidiary, Aerolloy Technologies, has secured an order from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for the supply of titanium cast components for aerospace applications. This marks the first time IAI is procuring such cast components from India, the company said in today's exchange filing.
Speaking on this development, Mr Sachin Agarwal, Chairman and Managing Director, PTC Industries said, "Aerolloy Technologies is proud to share that it has received its first order from Israel Aerospace Industries for supply of Titanium castings. This is yet another milestone for ATL and demonstrates the technological capabilities that the company has been building.
"This is a significant achievement for the company, and we will now be working with one of Israel's leading organisations and a global leader. This new order has opened new opportunities for the company for exports to Israel in the defence and aerospace sectors," Sachin Agarwal added.
Zeev Mivtzari, Country Head India & CMD, Israel Aerospace Industries said, "IAI sees itself as part of the Defence Ecosystem of India. We have more than 50 local companies that we are working with, and I am very happy to expand the local activity with PTC Industries for the manufacturing of strategic materials. This is the way for IAI to expand its business and for India to actualize its self reliance policy."
Breakout above 15,500 could spark rally "PTC Industries' share price looks positive on the technical chart. It has a strong base at 13,900, whereas it faces resistance at 15,500. Shareholders of the defence company are advised to maintain a stop loss at 13,900 apiece," said said Sumeet Bagadia, Executive Director at Choice Broking.
"Fresh entry can also be made at current levels, maintaining a buy-on-dips strategy until the stock is above the 13,900 mark. The scrip may become bullish on breaching above 15,500," he added.
Congress party politician Pawan Khera has alleged that the chairperson of Indias equity and commodities market regulator, Madhabi Puri Buch, received 16.8 crore in benefits from her ex-employer ICICI Group. ICICI Bank Ltd and Buch have denied the allegations. But Khera has intensified his charges, alleging that Buchs post-retiral benefits from ICICI Group were higher than the salary she drew from the private lender.
While Khera has not disclosed his source, his information probably comes from Buchs finances filed with the Income Tax department. Mint explains the post-retiral benefits Kheras dredged up, how taxation works on such benefits, and other aspects related to the latest allegations against Buch, the chair of the Securities and Exchange Board of India.
Also read | Why Sebi and Indian real estate investment trusts are in Hindenburgs crossfire
What retiral benefits did Buch allegedly receive?
Khera has alleged that Buch, who joined Sebi as a wholetime director in 2017, received over 12 crore from ICICI Bank between 2017-18 and 2023-24. In that period, Buch earned an additional 22 lakh from ICICI Prudential and 2.8 crore from exercising employee stock ownership plans for 2021-22 and 2022-23, according to Khera. Tax amounting to over 1 crore was deducted at source on those Esops.
However, no salary was directly paid by ICICI Group to Buch in that period. The 16.8 crore mentioned in Kheras allegations is classified as perquisite income, which refers to benefits received beyond a monthly salary, including income from Esops.
Esops are employee benefit plans where workers gain ownership interests in a company through shares. These shares are typically granted overtime to ensure employee loyalty and retention.
Sumit Agrawal, founder of Regstreet Law Advisors and a former Sebi officer, explained that the Esop policy adheres to the Companies Act of 2013 and Sebi regulations on share-based employee benefits. ESOPs are taxed in two stages.
The first, when an employee exercises their stock options, which is taxed as part of the employees salary under income from salaries. (The employer must also withhold tax on this amount). And subsequently, when the employee sells the shares the resulting gain is taxed as capital gains, with the rate depending on the holding period of the shares.
Also read | Sebis Madhabi Buch worked at ICICI and a PE firm between 2011 and 2013
To illustrate, consider company A. An employee hired in 2010 is offered 100 shares at 100 each. The employee receives 30 shares in 2011, 30 in 2012, and the remaining 40 in 2013. If the employee earns over 50 lakh annually, they incur a tax of about 42%, meaning they pay 142 per share to acquire them. Tax of 142 is deducted from the employees salary when the shares are acquired. If the shares are sold in May 2012 at 150 per share, the profit is 8 will be subject to capital gains tax. If the vesting and sale of the shares happen within a year, short-term capital gains tax will apply.
Khera also claimed that Buchs average annual salary at ICICI Bank was 1.30 crore, while her average pension and other retirement benefits totaled 2.77 crore.
How many stocks and stock options does Buch own?
There is no clarity on this aspect since ICICI Bank is not required to disclose the outstanding Esops of former employees. However, according to exchange filings dated 5 September 2008, Buch had 405,000 ICICI Bank stock options outstanding and owned 98,861 shares.
This filing was made before Buch left ICICI Bank in January 2009 to become the chief executive of ICICI Securities. According to the banks policy, each ICICI Bank stock option is equivalent to one share upon exercise, and these stock options are granted to its executives at no cost.
As per ICICI Groups policy at the time the Esops were granted to Buch, employees who had left the group had a choice to exercise their Esops anytime up to a period of 10 years from the date of vesting. Employees who retire from the group have no cap on when to sell the shares.
Also read | Offshore fund used by Buch nestled in Bermuda, not Mauritius
Should disclosures of Esops be required?
Ritika Nayyar, partner at law firm Singhania & Co., said disclosures of benefits are a generally accepted practice to avoid any conflict of interest. It is not just holdings in listed companies, but even unlisted companies which is asked for nowadays," she said.
Agrawal of Regstreet also said Sebi regulations on an employees service, which apply to officers up to the grade of executive directors, does not include provisions requiring the disclosure of Esops received from previous employment. Similarly, the Sebi (Terms and Conditions of Service of Chairman and Members) Rules lack such disclosure requirements.
Also read | Full disclosure for Sebi chief: Key to preventing next Hindenburg-like scandal
A group of disappointed employees of capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Thursday, September 5, held a protest outside the Mumbai headquarters demanding the removal of the watchdog's Wednesday statement and the resignation of their boss Madhabi Puri Buch. According to a report by The Economic Times, SEBI's assertion that its staff are being misguided by external forces angered the resentful employees further, causing them to stage a silent protest outside the office under the media glare.
On Wednesday, SEBI refuted claims of toxic and unprofessional work culture at its offices, citing high employee standards and condemning few external elements behind employee protests. The market watchdog said in its statement that complaints of public humiliation at its offices were misplaced and undermined the institution's and its leadership's credibility.
In a letter to the finance ministry last month, SEBI employees said "immense work pressure" at the market regulator resulted in a "stressful and toxic work environment." According to the letter dated August 6, accessed by some media houses, SEBI officials were quoted saying, Shouting, scolding and public humiliation have become a norm in meetings.
According to The Economic Times, there are fears that if SEBI's management takes disciplinary action against the protesting employees, it could affect the regulator's ability to function efficiently to fulfil regulatory responsibilities.
The protests come as SEBI chairperson Buch is mired in several allegations. Zee Media's Subhash Chandra has called her corrupt, while the opposition Congress has questioned her integrity over drawing hefty salary benefits at her previous stints in ICICI Bank and ICICI Securities. Buch has denied all allegations.
SEBI's stance on employee protests SEBI has said that employees demanding a 55 per cent hike in house rent allowance (HRA), reportedly twisted the narrative to make it a "work culture" issue after their earlier protest yielded no result. Pointing out that entry-level officers at Grade A are paid an annual salary of 36 lakh, SEBI said the grievances of junior officers have been misguided, perhaps by external elements.
"Sebi apprehends that the junior officers have been receiving messages from external elements outside their group, effectively instigating them to 'go to media, go to the Ministry, go to Board', perhaps to serve their own purpose. In fact, the letter of August 06, 2024, was not sent by the SEBI employee associations to the Government (and a section of the media)," said SEBI.
SEBI employees seek justice SEBI has around 1,000 officers of Grade A and above (assistant manager and above), and half of them have signed a letter sent to the finance ministry in August. The employees have reportedly said Buch's leadership uses "harsh and unprofessional language" toward team members, monitors their "minute-by-minute movement," and has imposed "unrealistic work targets with changing goalposts."
According to The Economic Times, the letter read, In the name of increasing the efficiency of an organization already working as a well-oiled machinery, the management started to overhaul all the systems and replaced them with regressive policies and frameworks. Sometimes, it is the point-wise KRA systems with unrealistic targets and changing goalposts; the other time, it's the monitoring of minute-by-minute movement of SEBI employees.
Employees said they were called names and shouted at by the leadership with no defence from top management. "Unprofessional language is casually used by people at the highest level. The situation is such that, let alone grade A-C officers, even officers in higher grades are afraid to attend meetings, fearing the unquestionably bad behaviour of people at the highest level," the letter said.
SEBI chief mired in multiple allegations Earlier this week, the opposition Congress had questioned Buch's compensation from ICICI Bank, where she had worked before joining SEBI in 2017. The Congress alleged that the SEBI chief held an office of profit at the private lender and received 16.8 crore in substantial benefits from the bank and its subsidiaries. On Tuesday, Congress leader Pawan Khera urged the SEBI chief to come out clean, give a clarification and respond to the party's charges.
F&O ban list: The National Stock Exchange (NSE) banned trading in four stocks on Thursday, September5, in the futures and options (F&O) segment as they exceeded 95% of the market-wide position limit (MWPL).
However, these stocks will be available for trading in the cash market. The NSE updates the list of securities in the F&O ban for trade every day.
F&O ban list today Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail, Balrampur Chini Mills, Hindustan Copper and RBL Bank are the four stocks on the NSE's F&O ban list on September 5.
The NSE said the derivative contracts in these securities crossed 95% of the market-wide position limit and have been placed in the stock exchange's ban period.
All clients/members shall trade in the derivative contracts of said security only to decrease their positions through offsetting positions. Any increase in open positions shall attract appropriate penal and disciplinary action, the NSE statement said.
No new positions are allowed when the stock exchanges place F&O contracts in a particular stock in the ban period.
Also Read | Breakout stocks to buy or sell: Sumeet Bagadia recommends five shares to buy
On September 4, benchmark Nifty took a breather after a 14-day winning run while Sensex closed lower by 202 points due to profit-taking in IT, banking and metal shares amid weak global trends.
Recovering from the day's lows, the 30-share BSE Sensex settled at 82,352.64, down by 202.80 points or 0.25 per cent. The index opened lower and tumbled further 721.75 points or 0.87 per cent to hit a low of 81,833.69 amid losses in Asian markets.
Snapping its 14-day rally, the NSE Nifty declined 81.15 points or 0.32 per cent to 25,198.70. Intra-day, it tanked 196.05 points or 0.77 per cent to 25,083.80.
Nifty had surged nearly 1,141 points or 4.59 per cent in 14 straight days to Tuesday.
Imagine youre able to generate a growing source of monthly income . Month after month, steady payouts roll into your bank account. The best part? You dont need to do anything. Thats the power of dividend paying stocks .
A good dividend payer will:
Generate regular income
Grow the income over time
Run for a long time without needing a lot of maintenance
I always advise my friends that each company they invest in should pay regular dividends, which they should consider part of their monthly income. Ultimately, all these companies will work together to keep their passive income running with consistent payouts. All they have to do then is watch their wealth grow as the power of compounding plays out.
If you keep reinvesting what you earn, your machine will eventually produce a lot more income for you, even while you sleep.
So, which would be your go-to dividend stock in the current market? I'm pretty sure that just like any wise investor, you too would choose to invest your hard-earned money in a large-cap stock with a track record of paying enormous dividends consistently.
Dividend giant
One such stock that has rewarded investors handsomely over the years while also offering decent growth is Vedanta. The company recently announced a hefty payout of 20 a share as its third interim dividend for FY25.
Its track record on dividends shows the company has never disappointed investors for the past three decades. Thats right. Vedanta has been paying ever-increasing dividends since 1994.
The company shattered all records in FY23 when it paid a 10,150% dividend on its face value, amounting to 101.5 a share.
But can it repeat this feat in FY25? It has already declared or paid three dividends amounting to 1,100%, 400% and 2,000% ( 11, 4 and 20 a share in rupee terms) for the current financial year.
Vedanta is the sole producer of nickel in India, having acquired a nickel and cobalt plant in Goa. Over the past two decades it has rewarded its investors with more than 97,000 crore in dividends. Take a moment to process this.
Heres take a look at Vedantas dividends over the past 20 years.
View Full Image Source: Ace Equity
Starting with a modest dividend of 20% in FY05, the company increased its payout exponentially to 357% in FY23 and 259% in FY24.
In FY23, the company made history by making the largest aggregate dividend payout 37,570 crore by an Indian company in a single financial year.
Recently, it announced another massive dividend of 20 a share 2,000% on a face value of 1 per share for FY25, amounting to 7,820 crore.At the current stock price of 463, the dividend yield works out to 6.3%.The record date for the payment of this interim dividend is 10 September.
With this, Vedanta has now paid 35 a share as dividends to shareholders so far this financial year. These dividends may have come at a cost, though, as according to reports, Vedanta has raised close to 20,000 crore through various methods in recent months, including dividends from its subsidiary Hindustan Zinc, selling shares of Hindustan Zinc, and selling its own shares to institutional shareholders.
Over the years, the company has rewarded shareholders with more than just dividends. In the 10 years since September 2014 Vedantas stock price has increased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3%. For an investor looking for stable returns from large companies, 8% to 10% a year is considered a reasonably good return over the long term.
Growth prospects from demerger
Vedantas stock has been a hot topic among stock investors ever since it announced restructuring plans and the demerger of its businesses.
The companys lenders recently approved the proposed demerger of the business into six independently listed companies. Shareholders are expected to receive one share each of the newly listed entities for every Vedanta share they own. The split is aimed at streamlining its operations and unlocking greater value for shareholders.
After the demerger, Vedanta will continue to hold the 64.92% stake it has in Hindustan Zinc and the stainless-steel manufacturing business. It will also own the upcoming semiconductor and display businesses.
This restructuring is expected to simplify the group's complex structure, making it easier for investors to directly access pure-play opportunities and potentially drive multiple expansion over the long term.
The new structure could also play a crucial role in addressing Vedanta's substantial debt burden. According to media reports, Vedantas gross debt, excluding leases, stood at 78,000 crore as of the first quarter of FY25. By creating separate entities, Vedanta could be better positioned to manage and reduce its debt.
As Indiaslargest aluminium company, Vedanta is investing heavily in expanding its aluminium capacity to take advantage of the growing demand for these products. Competitor Hindalco's managing director recently said demand for aluminium and copper remains strong.
Vedanta is looking to increase its profitability by acquiring coal mines for backward integration. It has plans for 42,000 crore of capital expenditure (capex) over the next year to increase backward integration and ramp-up aluminium capacity. Vedanta is looking to diversify its product portfolio and revenue streams by expanding its operations in iron, oil and gas, and power.
Given the growing demand for aluminium across various industries such as automobile, infrastructure, railways and construction, Vendatas capex couldn't have come at a better time.
According to media reports, the company may be looking to enter lithium mining as well. It reportedly plans to explore lithium mining opportunities in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It has also expressed interest in surveying and excavating the lithium mine discovered in Chhattisgarh's Korba district, alongside other companies such as Adani Enterprises.
As far as future dividends are concerned, Vedanta's policy mandates passing on all dividends from Hindustan Zinc to its shareholders. This approach has rewarded shareholders over the years and also helped Vedanta Resources service its debt.
So far this fiscal year, Hindustan Zinc has paid two dividends amounting to 10 a share and 19 a share. It made a record dividend payout in FY23 and followed it up with a 5,490 crore payout in FY24. The company is expected to pay more interim dividends for the remainder of the year, and Vedanta will receive a huge chunk of these.
How has the stock performed in 2024?
Vedantas stock hit a 52-week high of 507 on 22 May 2024 and a 52-week low of 208 on 28 September 2023. It is up 93% over the past year, and 81% so far this year.
Heres how it stacks up against its peers:
View Full Image Source: Ace Equity, Equitymaster
Conclusion
Investing in the most consistent dividend-paying stocks can be a great investment strategy as these stocks provide two sources of returns: regular income from dividend payments and capital appreciation from the stock price. This can help create substantial wealth over time.
The next time you have any doubts about compounding or are concerned about how dividends grow over time, just look at this chart.
View Full Image Source: Morningstar and Hartford Funds
Just as we saw with Vedanta, if you stick around over the long term, a tiny 1% yield in 2004 can gradually increase to the current yield of 6% or more.
Thats it for today.
Happy dividend investing!
Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It is not a stock recommendation and should not be treated as such.
This article is syndicated from Equitymaster.com
Stock market Today- Tata Steel, JSW Steel, Jindal Steel & Power, Steel Authority of India Ltd share prices while have remained in focus looking at strong domestic demand, it is the Steel price movement in the country that remains watched for.
Rangebound prices The steel prices have seen impact of weak China demand, the largest consumer of commodities in the world. The weak China demand puts pressure on international stele prices, keeping check on domestic prices too.
The steel price in the country had remained range bound. During April- June quarter In 1QFY25, average domestic HRC (Hot Rolled Coil) prices remained flat sequentially at 53,630 a tonne (down 7% YoY), as per analysts data. Primary rebar prices increased 10% sequentially but were also flat YoY, at 56,957 a tonne.
During second half of August'2024, by 22nd August, 2024, as per Haitong Securities data, the domestic HRC price stood at Rs50,300 a ton. Rebar prices (Mumbai) was at Rs49,900 a ton.
China led pricing trends- key monitorable As per Haitong Securities Domestic steel demand remains robust with positive underlying demand trends across key steel consuming sectors like real estate, infrastructure and automobile. With positives demand drivers, China led pricing trends remain a key monitorable for the Indian steel industry, they added'
Also Read | Osho Krishan of Angel One recommends two stocks to buy today
Subdued Steel prices are likely to compress spreads in Q2FY25 for Steel companies, said analysts at Axis Securities. Tata Steel had guided that the NSR in India will be 1,500 a tonne lower sequentially, in the UK it will be flat and in the Netherlands, it will be down by 60 a tonne sequentially, highlighted Axis.
Declining Raw Material prices provide respite While steel prices remain under pressure, the declining iron-ore prices bode well for the manufacturers that are dependent on external iron-ore. The international iron-ore prices have dipped from more than $115 a tonne seen May 2024 t less than $95 a tonne now. NMDC too has been reducing prices for its iron-ore produce which will benefit manufacturers providing support to their margins.
Tolins Tyres IPO: From financials to GMP, here are 10 things to know before subscribing to the issue that opens soon
Tolins Tyres IPO- 10 key things 1.Tolins Tyres IPO key details The subscription period for Tolins Tyres IPO begins on September 9, 2024, and ends on September 11, 2024.
The IPO price band for Tolins Tyres had been set at 215 to 226 per share.
Also Read | Investing in Shree Tirupati Balajee Agro IPO? Here are 10 key risks to know
2. Tolins Tyres IPO subscription details Tolins Tyres 66 Shares is the minimum lot size required for an application. Retail investors are needed to invest a minimum of 14,916.
The total issue size is10,176,992 shares of face value of 5, out pf which 8,849,558 shares are being issued fresh and may garner 200 crore. Another 1,327,434 shares of 5 face value being offered for sale and aggregate up to 30.00 Crore.
Also Read | Shree Tirupati Balajee Agro Trading IPO: 10 things to know before subscribing
3. Tolins Tyres IPO lising details On Thursday, September 12, 2024, the allotment for the Tolins Tyres IPO is anticipated to be completed. The BSE and NSE will list Tolins Tyres IPO, with a tentative listing date of Monday.
4. Tolins Tyres IPO- Objectives of the issue The Tolins Tyres IPO, which is a 230.00 crore book constructed issue. The issue consists of an offer to sell 0.13 crore shares, valued at 30.00 crores, and a new issuance of 0.88 crore shares, valued at 200.00 crores.
The following objectives are to be funded from the Net Proceeds of the New Issue, according to the Company:
Repayment of the company's current debt, which it obtained from scheduled commercial banks.
Investment in Tolin Rubbers Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary, for general corporate objectives and to repay and/or redeem, in full, some of its short- and long-term borrowings and for meeting its working capital requirements.
Financing and supporting the company's general corporate objectives as well as its working capital needs.
5. About Tolins Tyres Limited Tolins Tyres Limited is a tyre manufacturer that was incorporated in 2003. The company sells to 40 countries, including the Middle East, East Africa, Jordan, Kenya, and Egypt, and offers tire retreading services in India.
Two verticals can be used to categorize the company's operations:
Tyre production is one while the other is tread rubber production
6. Tolins Tyres Limited Financials Tolins Tyres revenues stood at 228.69 crore during FY25 while its net profit stood at 100.53 crore
The Return on Equity (RoE) stood at 25.87% while debt equity ratio was at 0.78 times at the end of FY24.
7. Tolins Tyres Limited peers Indag Rubber Ltd. Vamshi Rubber Ltd, Tvs Srichakra Ltd, GRP Ltd. Elgi Rubber Company Limited are some of the listed peers of Tolins Tyres
8.Tolins Tyres IPO: Registars of the issue The registrant of the Tolins Tyres IPO is Cameo Corporate Services Limited, and the book running lead manager is Saffron Capital Advisors Private Limited.
9. Tolins Tyres IPO promoters Jerin Tolin and Kalamparambil Varkey Tolin are the promoters of the Tolins Tyres limited
10 Tolins Tyres IPO -GMP or Grey Market premium Tolins Tires' portion of the grey market premium was +25. Put differently, according to investorgain.com, the Tolins Tyres share was trading for 25 higher than the issue price.
The market therefore expects Tolins Tyres to list at 251, 11.06% or 25 more than the issue price's upper band of 226.
Are you prompt in paying rents to your landlord? If you are consistent with rent payments and live in Mumbai, you would be able to avail loans on that basis alone soon. Regular payments would also earn rewards, a rent credit score and a Residence Card (R-Card) that would store all the information about your rentals.
In a bid to reshape Indias rental market, Mumbai-based RentenPe is launching what it claims is the countrys first Rent Credit Score and R-Card. Despite the regularity and significance of rent payments, they remain unacknowledged in traditional financial metrics. Unlike credit card payments or loan EMIs (equated monthly instalments), which contribute to building a positive credit score, rent payments have historically been overlooked, leaving renters without the financial recognition they deserve, says Sarika Shetty, founder of RentenPe.
Also Read | Can rent payments influence your credit score? An explainer
How will it work? If you have rented a property in Mumbai, all you have to do is log on to the RentenPe app to avail its services, which during the launch is free of cost for tenants. You have to provide all the basic information including your Aadhaar ID, PAN card and details of property rented. You have to upload your rental agreement along with a recent photograph. RentenPe will then check the rental agreement with assistance from its legal partner. Since about 90% of the rent agreements in Mumbai are registered, RentenPe will not face much problems in validating rent agreements, Sarika says.
Once the customers credentials are verified, RentenPe will provide the R-Card, a 12-digit card that will store information about rent payments. Individuals paying a rent of 10000 to 2 lakh per month can use the RentenPe app. But rewards for prompt payments will be available only for those who spend in excess of 20000 per month on rent.
To start with, R-Card holders will have a rent credit score of 650, which can go up to 790 if rents are paid promptly. Once a tenant gets a rent credit score of 790, she/he would even be able to qualify for a housing loan. RentenPe has tied up with NBFCs (Non-banking finance companies), which would offer loans to tenants. RentenPe has also tied-up with about 300 brokers in Mumbai for the app.
What are the benefits? Apart from the R-Card and the rent credit score, tenants will be able to pay their monthly rents through RentenPe. The app has tied up with prominent payment gateways that will allow tenants to pay rents through their debit cards, credit cards and UPI (Unified Payments Interface). If you are prompt with your payments, you will be able to earn rewards that can be up to 1% of your monthly rent.
For example, if a person spending 50000 per month on rent makes payments promptly on a consistent basis, she/he will be able to earn rewards of up to 500 every month. In some cases, RentenPe will pay up to one months rent as a reward. It will also provide rental receipts for all the payments. Regular rent payments will also make you eligible for a rental loan. You can also avail loans based on the security deposit for the rent on the app.
Also Read | 6 credit score myths you should stop believing today
How does the model work and will it be viable? RentenPe says that there is an untapped potential for providing finance based on rent, which accounts for about 30% of a persons regular income in tier-1 cities. We believe that rent, a significant monthly financial commitment, should be recognized in the same way that EMIs and credit card payments are. Our Rent Credit Score and R-Card are designed to empower tenants, giving them the financial recognition they deserve and helping them achieve their long-term goals, including home ownership, Sarika says.
Indias residential rental market, pegged at 1.85 lakh crore during 2021 across the top-7 cities, is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8%-10% in the next five years, according to EY Parthenon, the strategy consulting arm of global consultancy firm Ernst & Young.
About 4.05 crore persons stayed in rented accommodation in the top-7 cities as of 2021, which accounted for nearly 35% of the total population in these cities, according to EY Parthenon. In Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), nearly 76 lakh people out of a total population of about 2.8 crore were living on rent as of 2021. RentenPe, which is launching in Mumbai and later plans to expand to other cities, will get a fee or commission from NBFCs and payment gateways.
Rhys Dwyer, 34, was touring regional Western Australia when he collided with cattle on his four-wheel drive.
The mum of a man killed during a dream holiday touring around Western Australia in his four-wheel drive (4WD) hopes her son's death serves as a reminder of the dangers of regional roads.
Rhys Dwyer, 34, collided with cattle on the Great Northern Highland between Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing on July 3, dying at the scene from his injuries. His mum Allison Walker believes he was an experienced driver who died doing what he loved, and his untimely death should be upheld as a reminder that "freak accidents" can happen to anyone as the state's road death toll surges.
"People can become complacent, especially when you see a sign for cattle or kangaroos but then dont see them [immediately]," she told 7News. "Some of the roads are horrific with cows and kangaroos... the signs are there for a reason. Please be vigilant."
WA on track to record highest road death toll in decade
The state is set to record one of its worst years for road deaths in the last decade following a surge in the first six months of the year. So far there have been 126 deaths on WA roads, 75 of which occurred on regional roads.
Dwyer's mum Allison Walker wants her son's death to be a reminder about the dangers of regional roads. Source: GoFundMe
Walker said nothing should be left off the table while authorities try to tackle the issue.
"[These fatal crashes] are happening far too often. You're scared anytime your loved ones go out because you don't know if they're going to come home, or even if you're going to come home, she said. "If we don't keep promoting the need for change, nothing will change."
Aussies five times more likely to die on regional roads
There is a greater risk of death on regional roads compared to roads in major cities, with Aussies five times more likely to die in crashes, according to the Australian Automobile Association.
The key reason for this is the higher speeds on regional roads, with a high proportion of crashes occurring in high-speed zones. Poor road surface area, increased road hazards, such as wildlife, fatigue and longer journey time also contribute.
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For non-residents, two sets of legal frameworks apply to them. The first legal framework is provided under the Income Tax Act of 1961, which deals with taxing Non-Residents' income. The other legal framework is provided under the FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act) 1999, which deals with investment avenues available to non-residents and banking transactions which a non-resident can carry out. We have already discussed the when one becomes a non-resident under income tax laws and its implications.
In this article, I will explain how a person becomes a non-resident of FEMA.
When a person becomes a non-resident under the FEMA, unlike under the income tax law, which determines the status of a person based on his physical stay in India, the foreign exchange regulations generally go by the intention of an individual in addition to his physical stay in India. So, under FEMA, a person is treated as a resident if he has been in India for more than 182 days in the preceding year. However, even under the following circumstances, when an individual leaves India, he will still not be treated as a resident under FEMA. He will become a non-resident immediately, despite being in India for more than 182 days during the financial year immediately before that year.
When will you become a non-resident? 1)As soon as you leave India to take up employment outside India or
2) You leave India to start any business or profession outside India or
3)You leave India with the intention to stay outside for an indefinite period.
Also Read | Income tax benefits for resident vs non-resident taxpayers explained
Under the circumstances above, you will become a nonresident when your flight takes off or your ship sails on water. If you leave the country for medical treatment outside India, on a business trip, or on holiday, and because your stay outside India is for a definite period, you are treated as a resident of India under FEMA.
However, the FEMA law treats students who go outside India to take up study as non-residents as soon as they leave India, even if their stay outside India is for a definite period.
Likewise, if you come back to India to take up employment, carry on any business or profession, or stay here for an indefinite period, like spending your retirement years here in India, you will become a resident for FEMA purposes immediately upon your arrival.
Under the Income Tax Law, the residential status of a person is generally determined after the end of the financial year based on your physical stay in India. Still, the status under FEMA changes instantly when a person either leaves India with the intention to stay out of India for an uncertain period or comes to India to stay here indefinitely.
So, you would become a non-resident immediately if you left India to spend your retired life with your children. However, you would still be a resident if you left the country to care for your daughter-in-law during her pregnancy in the US, irrespective of your stay outside India.
It may be noted that a foreign citizen can become a resident of India under FEMA provisions while retaining his foreign citizenship, and an Indian Citizen can become a non-resident without having to surrender his citizenship. A person's citizenship does not have any bearing on your residential status under the FEMA provisions.
Please note that a person can be a resident under FEMA, a non-resident under income tax laws, and vice versa at the same time.
Read all our personal finance stories here
Balwant Jain is a tax and investment expert and can be reached at jainbalwant@gmail.com and on @jainbalwant on social media platform X (formerly Twitter)
You are a non-resident Indian finally ready to invest your money back home in India. Youve done the research and picked out the stocks, but are now faced with a choice: should you open a portfolio investment scheme demat account or a non-PIS one? Mint breaks down which option would be the best fit for your needs and how this choice can shape your investments.
But first, whats a portfolio investment scheme? Its an arrangement introduced by the Reserve Bank of India to enable NRIs to invest in the stocks of Indian companies, and allows for both repatriation and non-repatriation of profits. But there are differences in PIS and non-PIS accounts that you need to consider before deciding on one.
PIS vs non-PIS
A PIS account linked to non-resident external (NRE) accounts might be the right choice if your priority is to repatriate your profits and funds back to your home country. However, the process of opening a PIS account is complex. As Amit Lalan, director at online trading platform Upstox, explains, PIS accounts require permission from both a bank and RBI, which can make the onboarding process time-consuming, typically about two weeks.
Additionally, PIS accounts come with higher operational and compliance costs due to the regulatory oversight involved. PIS accounts are also subject to RBIs restrictions on the maximum foreign or NRI shareholding allowed in a company. For example, if HDFC Bank has hit the cap of maximum foreign shareholding, no new NRI PIS purchases will be allowed in the stock. Restrictions also apply to trading in futures and options.
Also read | Why this Luxembourg-based couple invests in Indian stocks only
A non-PIS account, on the other hand, offers a simpler and more flexible approach to investing in Indian securities. Unlike PIS accounts, non-PIS accounts can be opened directly with a broker without needing RBI permission, making the onboarding process faster and more straightforward, said Lalan.
(Note that both PIS and non-PIS demat accounts dont allow intraday trades.)
Non-PIS accounts are linked to NRO (non-resident ordinary) accounts, which have restrictions on repatriation. This means that while you have more freedom in managing your investmentssuch as engaging in intraday trading and other active market participationthe ability to transfer funds back to your home country is limited.
View Full Image (Mint Graphics)
Dipen Shah, a certified financial planner and co-founder of NRI FinOne, suggests that NRIs prioritising repatriating their money could opt for PIS accounts while non-PIS accounts are better suited for those prioritising flexibility in their investment strategy over ease of repatriation.
As per RBIs rules, NRIs can transfer up to $1 million annually from their NRO savings bank account to their NRE savings bank account. To facilitate this transfer, you need a signed cheque or letter requesting the transfer, a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) declaration, and proof of the source of funds.
Additionally, you will have to obtain Form 15CB from a chartered accountant and generate Form 15CA via the income tax website to ensure regulatory compliance and verify the transfers legitimacy.
Also read | Budget 2024: How tax-free retail funds will benefit NRIs
How to get started
Opening a PIS account
To open a PIS account, NRIs must follow several detailed steps. First, they need to obtain permission from a bank to invest in Indian securities. The bank will assist in acquiring the necessary PIS permission from RBI. This process generally takes about two weeks.
Once the permission is secured, you must provide specific documentation to open the PIS account with the broker. This includes a foreign national ID proof, legal address proof from your home country, and attestation from a local attorney. These documents must be physically submitted to the bank with the necessary attestations.
The next step is to link the PIS account to the NRE account, which facilitates repatriation of profits and funds back to your home country. With both the PIS and NRE accounts set up, you can now begin your investing journey.
Opening a non-PIS account
An NRI can directly open a non-PIS account with a broker without having to go through a bank or RBI for permissions. This makes the onboarding process simpler and more straightforward. But a non-PIS account is typically linked to an NRO account, which has restrictions on repatriation of funds.
For F&O trading via a non-PIS account, an NRI needs to register with a custodian participant with a brokers help. The custodian participant will handle the clearing and settlement of trades.
So which one should you pick?
If youre transitioning from being a resident to an NRI, heres how you might approach managing your investments. For example, if youve worked in India for several years and are now moving abroad, converting your resident demat account to a non-PIS account could help you manage your existing investments more efficiently.
On the other hand, for your new earnings abroad, opening a PIS account would provide you with the flexibility to repatriate funds back to your home country seamlessly.
Also read | Moving abroad? Here's a checklist for managing investments as an NRI
By using a non-PIS account for managing past investments and a PIS account for future earnings, you can align your investment strategy with your financial needs and repatriation goals. This method ensures you optimise both investment management and fund transfers as your situation evolves.
That said, the onboarding process for both PIS and non-PIS accounts poses challenges for NRIs, according to Lalan of Upstox. The process is generally more cumbersome than for resident accounts, involving several complex and tedious steps. Although non-PIS accounts can be opened directly with a broker, the onboarding process is still not as user-friendly as it could be for resident accounts.
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Starting October 1, 2024, significant changes will be implemented in the taxation of share buybacks, shifting the tax burden from companies to shareholders. Companies are taxed at 23.296 per cent on buyback transactions, covering surcharges and cess, while shareholders face no tax on the buyback proceeds. Under the new rules, buyback proceeds will be treated as dividends and taxed according to shareholders' income tax slabs. Companies must deduct tax at source (TDS) at 10 per cent for resident individuals and 20 per cent for non-resident individuals.
Starting October 1, the new share buyback rules will transfer the tax burden from companies to shareholders. Instead of the current 23.296 per cent tax on buyback proceeds paid by companies, shareholders will be taxed according to their individual income tax slabs. Companies will need to withhold tax at source (TDS) at a rate of 10 per cent for resident individuals and 20 per cent for non-residents, Abhishek Soni, CEO and Co-founder of Tax2win, explained.
Siddharth Maurya, Founder and Managing Director of Vibhavangal Anukulakara Private Limited, noted that buyback proceeds will be treated as dividends and taxed accordingly under these new rules. This shift in tax liability from companies to shareholders will fundamentally change how buybacks are taxed. While companies previously enjoyed tax-free buybacks, shareholders now face tax based on their income brackets. This could make buybacks less attractive and potentially increase the preference for dividend distributions or other methods of capital return.
Also Read | Why hike in share buyback tax announced in the Budget hurts investors
Also Read | Stock market investors alert! FM changes this income tax rule in Budget 2024
What the present rule says Under Section 10(34A), the shareholder's money received from a share buyback is exempt. However, the company faces a tax of 20 per cent plus a 12 per cent surcharge and 4 per cent cess on the buyback amount, adjusted for any premiums received. This results in an effective tax rate of 23.296 per cent, explained Mumbai-based tax and investment expert Balwant Jain.
Currently, companies are taxed at a rate of 23.296 per cent on buybacks, which includes surcharge and cess, while shareholders face no tax obligation on the buyback proceeds. This setup makes buybacks tax-efficient in returning capital to investors, Abhishek Soni said.
Changes in taxation of buyback of shares "The new legislation offers some benefits for specific groups. For example, non-resident shareholders could see reduced dividend tax rates due to double taxation treaties, which could encourage more market participation. Additionally, funds investing in shares may benefit from a smaller tax gap between dividends and buybacks. However, for high-net-worth individuals and resident shareholders in higher tax brackets, buyback schemes may become less appealing due to increased tax liabilities. These changes will require companies and investors to reevaluate their strategies," Siddharth Maurya, Founder and Managing Director of Vibhavangal Anukulakara Private Limited, said.
Budget 2024 In the 2024 Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed a significant change: eliminating the tax on companies for share buybacks. Instead, the buyback proceeds would be classified as dividends and taxed according to the individual shareholder's income tax slab.
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There are a number of learnings which we happen to imbibe from our mentors and they stay with us for many years to come. Even legends like Warren Buffett owe a major chunk of their success to their mentors and gurus. Buffett often says that his mentor and professor at Columbia University Benjamin Graham -- taught him countless and timeless lessons of investing.
In a short remembrance to Mr Graham that was published in the Financial Analyst Journal after his death in 1976, the Oracle of Omaha recounted three lessons which he learnt from his teacher.
Those who are not aware, Benjamin Graham wrote the famous bestseller The Intelligent Investor and he also taught at Columbia University where Buffett studied for a masters degree.
Also Read | Retail investors remain impulsive sellers: 5 lessons to achieve financial goals
Three key lessons Warren Buffett learnt from Graham I. Remain foolish: In a letter to shareholders in 2018, Buffett said that the markets will remain volatile, and what one needs is willingness to look unimaginative for a long period of time or perhaps to look foolish.
It was Grahams teaching which convinced Buffett to say that one does not need too much of excellence to make wealth in stock markets. It is, in fact, the ability of investors to ignore buyers euphoria and sellers pessimism.
Buffett even once asserted that he never listens to economists. There is not a single economist who became super wealthy by investing in securities, he had once remarked.
II. Be generous: Warren has spoken at length in praise of Ben Graham who was not only a good teacher, investor and mentor but also a generous person at the same time.
At the time of conceiving The Giving Pledge along with Bill Gates, Buffett apparently took a leaf out of Grahams book and has even donated a large part of his wealth to Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Walter Lippmann spoke of men who plant trees that other men will sit under. Ben Graham was such a man, Buffett has written about Graham.
III. Be creative: Graham was one of the rare breeds who achieved great success without the narrowness of mental activity that concentrates all efforts on a single end. His success was in fact a byproduct of intellect whose breadth was quite wide.
In fact, Buffett has imbibed this learning in his life too by becoming a voracious reader and pursuing knowledge and wisdom instead of money and profits.
He recalled one of the famous quotes of Graham wherein he reportedly tells Buffett to not worry about money too much.
Arvind Kejriwal Bail Plea in Supreme Court: The Supreme Court bench is today hearing two separate pleas filed by Arvind Kejriwal challenging the legality of his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and seeking bail in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan is hearing the pleas. The Aam Aadmi Party chief is the only key political leader who is behind bars in the case. As many as three accused in the case have been released on bail in the past month.
Also Read | Delhi excise scam case: SC grants bail to former AAP media incharge Vijay Nair
Those granted bail by Supreme Court of India include former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) legislator K Kavitha and Vijay Nair, the former communication in-charge of Aam Aadmi Party. Sanjay Singh, another AAP leader who is also a Rajya Sabha member, was released on bail in April 2024.
There are about 40 accused in the case on charges of money laundering by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the corruption filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Of these five, including Kejriwal, still remain in judicial custody.
1- Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Chief Minister The investigation agencies have alleged that Arvind Kejriwal received the bribe from what they call South Group in exchange for granting favours to them when the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy was being drafted. The Delhi Chief Minister is also accused by CBI of ensuring 90 lakh from the bribe for 40 AAP candidates in the Goa assembly polls, 2022.
The ED had arrested Kejriwal on March 21. On May 10, Kejriwal was released on interim bail until June 1 for campaigning during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
He was formally arrested by CBI on June 26 from inside the court. Kejriwal was granted bail in the ED case on July 12 but remains in custody in CBI case.
2- Vinod Chauhan, hawala operator In June, 2024, the ED in its In its ninth chargesheet in the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case named Vinod Chauhan as an accused. Chauhan was allegedly involved in the transfer of 25.5 crore to fund the AAPs 2022 Goa Assembly poll campaign, as per the investigating agency.
Chauhan is accused of transferring money through the hawala route for AAPs Goa elections and was allegedly in regular touch with members of the South Group. The agency has also alleged that it seized 1.06 unaccounted money from his house. Chauhan was arrested by ED in May. His bail plea is being heard at the Rouse Avenue Court, Delhi.
3- Arun Ramachandra Pillai, Hyderabad businessman In August 2022, Arun Ramachandra Pillai's name surfaced in the CBI's list of 15 accused, including the Manish Sisodia, in its FIR on the alleged Delhi excise scam.
Pillai, a Hyderabad-based businessman, was arrested by ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case in March 2023. Pillai allegedly part of the South Group that sent kickbacks worth 100 crore to AAP leaders.
Pillai is accused of money laundering and providing illegal gratification to public servants to secure liquor licenses in Delhi. He had 32.5 per cent shares in Indospirit, a liquor manufacturing group, according to ED. In June, the Delhi High Court denied interim bail to Pillai.
4- Amandeep Dhall, Delhi businessman In August last year, the CBI arrested an Assistant Director of ED and six other officials for accepting bribes 5 crore to save Delhi businessman Aman Dhall in the Delhi liquor scam case.
Dhall, who allegedly conspired with co-accused Vijay Nair and played an instrumental role in facilitating and arranging meetings with members of the South Group, was arrested by CBI in April last year. In June this year, the Delhi High Court denied him bail.
Nair was granted bail by SC in the case on September 2.
5- Sameer Mahendru, MD Indospirit Group The ED arrested liquor businessman Sameer Mahendru in connection with the Delhi excise policy-related scam in September 2022. Mahendru is the managing director of a company called Indospirits, in which he allegedly had a 35 per cent partnership stake.
The company got a wholesale L1 licence. Mahendru is also accused of obtaining two retail zone licences under the name of Khao Gali restaurants which are under the name of his father-in-law.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party benefited from the illicit funds generated through the criminal conspiracy in the Excise Policy case. The probe agency claims that as the national convenor of AAP and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is responsible for this.
The CBI in its supplementary charge sheet, stated that the investigation has revealed that Arvind Kejriwal was involved in the criminal conspiracy related to the formulation and implementation of Delhi's Excise Policy from the outset.
Also Read | Supreme Court to hear Kejriwals bail plea against CBI arrest today
The Supreme Court will today hear pleas filed by Kejriwal seeking bail against his arrest by the CBI in the now-scrapped excise policy case. The AAP chief has challenged the Delhi High Court's decision that upheld his arrest in the excise policy case.
The Aam Aadmi Party chief was by CBI on June 26, while he was in custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the money laundering case related to the alleged liquor policy scam.
In its supplementary charge sheet, the CBI has alleged that Kejriwal had a pre-conceived plan to privatize the Excise Policy and sought monetary support for the AAP in March 2021, during the policy's formulation by the Group of Ministers (GoM) led by co-accused Manish Sisodia. Additionally, Kejriwal's close associate, Vijay Nair, who is in charge of Media and Communication for AAP, allegedly approached various stakeholders in the Delhi Excise Business, demanding illegal gratification in exchange for favourable adjustments to the Excise Policy.
Both Sisodia and Nair are out on bail.
The- Aam Aadmi Party chief is the only key political leader who is behind bars in the case. As many as three accused in the case have been released on bail in the past month.
The CBI has further alleged that the statement submitted by the AAP regarding election expenditure for the Goa Assembly Elections 2022 is misleading. It is claimed that the statement only accounts for payments made through bank transactions, while substantial cash payments to various vendors, Assembly Managers, Booth In-Charges, and Volunteers engaged by AAP during the Goa Assembly Elections 2021-22 were not reported.
The investigation stated that the illicit funds generated from the criminal conspiracy related to the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 were used to cover the election expenses of AAP for the Goa Assembly Elections.
The Supreme Court heard two separate pleas filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursdayone challenging the legality of his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and a second seeking bail in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case.
During the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Arvind Kejriwal, told the bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan that Kejriwal was a constitutional functionary and not a flight risk. Singhvi also called the arrest by the CBI an insurance arrest.
Also Read | Arvind Kejriwal issued summons as court takes cognizance of CBIs chargesheet
Advocate Singhvi resorted to wordplay to conclude his argument. Bar and Bench quoted him as saying, Article 21 of the Constitution will trump... Nowadays, Trump is a dangerous word. He was seemingly referring to former US President Donald Trump.
The Election Commission of India has issued notification prohibiting exit polls for assembly elections in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. The poll panel has banned exit polls from 7 am on September 18 to 6.30 pm on October 5, the last day of polling.
The assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir is being held in three phases on September 18, September 25 and October 1. The Haryana assembly polls will be held on one phase on October 5. The results of both the elections will be declared on October 8.
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers under sub-Section (1) of Section 126A of the RP Act, 1951, the Election Commission, having regard to the provisions of Sub-Section (2) of the said Section, hereby notifies the period between 7.00 AM on 18.09.2024 (Wednesday) and 6.30 PM on 05.10.2024 (Saturday), as the period during which conducting and publishing or publicising exit poll by means of the print or electronic media or dissemination in any other manner whatsoever, the result of any exit poll in connection with the aforesaid general election, shall be prohibited, reads the notification dated September 3.
Predictions based on voter feedback Exit polls are predictions by pollsters based on voter feedback collected by after the polling. While the idea behind the exit polls is to reflect public sentiment well before the actual results are announced, their accuracy has faced scrutiny in the past.
The ECI prohibits conducting exit polls during the voting process but allows the predictions to be published 30 minutes after the last vote is cast.
It is further clarified that under Section 126(1)(b) of the RP Act, 1951, displaying any election matter including results of any opinion poll or any other poll survey, in any electronic media, would be prohibited during the period of 48 hours ending with the hours fixed for the conclusion of the poll in connection with the aforesaid general elections, it said.
The Rules and Punishment The rules of exit polls are governed by Section 126A of the Representation of the People's Act, 1951. No person shall conduct any exit poll and publish or publicise by means of the print or electronic media or disseminate in any other manner, whatsoever, the result of an exit poll during such period as may be notified by the Election Commission in this regard, reads the Section 126A of the RP Act, 1951.
The Indian National Congress (INC) demanded an independent investigation into the row of allegations against Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch on Thursday, September 5, reported the news agency PTI.
The opposition party said that it is in the national interest to have an investigation into the matter as foreign investors were becoming concerned and there were doubts related to the integrity of the Indian stock market, as per the report.
Congress said only an objective, independent inquiry with Buch stepping aside was needed until then to restore trust and confidence in Indias stock markets and the country's economy, as per the report.
Chairman of Professionals' Congress and Data Analytics Praveen Chakravarty alleged that SEBI has a lot of skeletons which are tumbling out of the cupboard, cited the report.
On 10 August, a foreign research firm issued a report with allegations against the SEBI chairperson and her family regarding offshore funds, for which they claimed to have documentary evidence. This allegation was made by a research firm, not by any political party. In response, a cabinet minister of the Modi government addressed the issue, said Chakravarty at a press conference, reported the news agency.
Chakravarty questioned why they responded to an allegation made by a foreign research firm about an employee, and why Buc is not responding but her previous employer ICICI is, as per the report.
Chakravarty pointed out that 500 SEBI officers have written a letter to the Government of India alleging that the work environment under Buch's leadership is toxic, abusive and fearful, as per the report.
Today, a news report says that Ms. Madhabi Puri Buch did have two employments when she was at ICICI. She was also employed in a private equity fund called Greater Specific Capital... Ms. Buch may have been recruited as a finance professional, but this raises a long list of allegations and questions. Doesn't it raise more concern? he said, according to the report.
The Congress leader questioned about the hesitation in conducting an impartial and objective inquiry, said the report.
As a former financial professional myself, I have received several calls from foreign investors asking, 'What is the status of the market regulator? Can we trust India's securities market? What is happening with the integrity of the market regulator? he said, quoted the report.
Chakravarty stated that the opposition party wants a strong and robust stock market in India.
We want foreign capital in our stock market. This is too important for the country; it is a national issue. The real question is: Who is being protected here? Why is the ED silent on Madhabi Puri Buch? he said, quoted in the report.
This is a national issue. If foreign investors are getting concerned and there are doubts about the integrity of India's stock markets because of a series of allegations against the chairperson of the market regulator, is it not in the national interest to conduct an inquiry to get to the root of this matter and resolve it, said Chakravarty.
Chakravarty also highlighted the whistleblower portal indiawhistleblower.com on which information can be posted anonymously. Congress also shared this information in its platform X handle, as per the report.
Also Read | Sebis Madhabi Buch worked at ICICI and a PE firm between 2011 and 2013
According to the report, the Congress on Monday levelled fresh conflict of interest allegations against SEBI Chairperson Buch and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come clean as the head of the cabinet appointments committee on Buch's appointment.
The opposition party had said the Supreme Court should recognise the fresh revelations and demanded that the SEBI chairperson should be dismissed immediately, as per the report.
Congress alleged that since the current SEBI chairperson took office in 2017, she has not only been drawing a salary from SEBI but has also been holding an office of profit at the ICICI Bank, continuing to receive income from them to this very day, they said at a press conference.
ICICI Bank also stated that they did not pay any salary or grant any employee stock options (ESOPs) to Buch after her retirement, as alleged by Congress, as per the exchange filing.
The Congress, in turn, had questioned ICICI Bank's assertion that it had not paid any salary or granted ESOPs to the SEBI Chairperson after her retirement and asked that if the amount paid to her was her "retiral benefit," why was it non-uniform in terms of its frequency and amount, as per the report.
A Maharashtra couple was recently forced to travel for 15 kilometers while carrying their dead sons with videos of the incident now going viral on social media. The case was highlighted in the state Assembly by Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Thursday.
Two siblings who came today got fever. No treatment was received in time. Within two hours, the condition of both of them deteriorated and within an hour and a half, both of them breathed their last. There was no ambulance to take the body home from the hospital. The parents carried the bodies of both the siblings on their shoulders. Finding a path through the mud, they reached Pattigaon in Aheri taluka, 15 km away, on foot, he recounted.
Wadettiwar also lashed out at Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis the guardian minister of the district and NCP leader Dharma Rao Baba Atram who is part of the Eknath Shinde-led government.
Health officials said a medico-legal case had since been registered in connection with the deaths. According to an official, the children aged six years and three-and-a-half years fell ill in their house in Pattigaon in Aheri taluka on September 4. Their parents had taken them to the Jamilgatta primary health centre by foot for treatment. However they were declared dead on arrival by doctors at the PHC.
Officials said the parents had then taken their bodies back to the village without heeding requests for post mortem.
After a medico-legal case was registered, the bodies of the two children have been sent for post mortem. We are awaiting the reports. The bodies will be handed back to the parents after the procedure, a health official said.
The incident comes mere days after Wadettiwar highlighted another incident from the Vidarbha region that saw a pregnant tribal woman deliver a stillborn child and then succumb to her own wounds. The woman a resident of Dahendri village in Melghat tribal region of Amravati could not be shifted to a hospital as local health authorities said an ambulance would take at least four hours to reach.
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A deadly strain of avian influenza that's swept the globe could reach Australia this month, prompting concerns thousands of birds could die.
When avian influenza spread to the Farne Islands in the UK, in 2022 there were mass casualties of nesting birds, including puffins. Source: Owen Humphreys / PA
Australias wildlife is facing what could be an unprecedented mass extinction event this spring, and conservationists have described the funding allocated by the federal government to fight the threat as pretty pathetic. High pathogenic avian influenza has spread to every other continent including Antarctica, killing tens of millions of birds and mammals but its expected to make its way here when migratory birds arrive.
While the Invasive Species Council believes the government has been slow to tackle the issue, it's impressed that it appears to be now taking it seriously, but it has calculated just $580,000 has been directed specifically to protecting wildlife. The advocacy group claims a chance to secure funding in the May budget was missed and now the money required to protect Aussie wildlife from the virus isn't available.
The problem is theyve been caught with their pants down, and now theyre scrambling to respond. And were pleased that they are, but if it turns up this spring we are not prepared, spokesperson Jack Gough told Yahoo News.
Related: New Zealand prepares for threat of avian influenza as virus spreads to Antarctica
Waterbirds like swans are expected to be at significant threat from HPAI. Source: Getty
How bad will avian flu be for Australia's wildlife?
At a national forum facilitated by the Biodiversity Council in August, University of Melbourne microbiology expert Dr Michelle Wille warned that other than Oceania the virus is everywhere and moving fast.
When the deadly HPAI H5N1 strain gets to Australia she expects the impact will be catastrophic just like overseas. Its going to rock up, and its going to cause massive widespread deaths with very large outbreaks, and lots of dead animals on the landscape.
Her 2023 study found the 356 species had been impacted by the virus, but the number is likely higher now. Mass mortalities within populations have been high for instance, in Peru around 40 per cent of pelicans died in two months.
The virus is also spreading among mammals with over 50 species impacted. In June, experts were alarmed after it infected field mice in the United States, with one warning its unheard of for them to catch influenza virus. More than 30,000 South American sea lions and 18,000 elephant seals have been killed by HPAI, and Australias own sea lion population is believed to be at risk.
All birds associated with water in Australia including penguins, swans and ducks are expected to be highly threatened by the disease. But if the virus becomes established it could spread to other native birds and mammals.
Related: Meat linked to avian influenza
Why isn't there more money to protect wildlife?
To Gough there appears to be a persistent fatalism within government that birds are going to die. The focus seems to be on managing how people will respond to seeing dead birds, managing the potential human health risks, but not on what is needed to reduce deaths and make sure species dont go extinct, he said.
In May 2023, the Invasive Species Council warned Australia was not prepared to defend its native species against avian influenza. And two months later a government commissioned report warned the risk to wild birds had increased and was now "high".
While Gough thinks the government has been slow to respond, he's relieved there is now progress.
The problem we have is that theres no significant money dedicated to this and thats a huge barrier to proper preparedness they seem to be scrambling and everything is done on the fly, and birds could be turning up this month and thats a problem.
He wants the government to urgently develop plans to safeguard iconic sites like Kakadu National Park, Ramsar wetlands like the Coorong in South Australia, as well as Lord Howe Island, Christmas Island and Kangaroo Island.
There are concerns Australia's pelicans could face the same fate of their overseas cousins. Source: Getty
Taskforce set up to fight avian influenza
The government is well prepared to safeguard poultry from the virus, its done so eight times in the past, and this year authorities contained the highly contagious H7N3 strain. But the concern this time around is the impact the more deadly H5N1 strain could have on native birds. Gough argues the issue must be a priority for environment ministers, and leaving the problem to the Departments of Agriculture and Biosecurity is not good enough.
One thing that we need is for Tanya Plibersek to step up and do is call an emergency meeting of all state and territory environment ministers to discuss this and to emphasise the importance of the preparation, he said.
Yahoo News sent questions to Environment Minister Tanya Pliberseks office about the Invasive Species Councils concerns, and the query was redirected to her department.
The Environment Department confirmed the likelihood that the HPAI H5N1 variant would reach Australia had increased and there is extensive activity occurring across all levels of government to prepare and this includes protecting wildlife. It said Australia was in the fortunate position to have learned from how other countries responded.
We have seen this disease spread rapidly globally and cause major mortality events in wildlife. The impact on our susceptible wildlife could be significant. Our greatest risk of disease entry is via migratory birds which we cannot control, it said in a written statement.
It confirmed an HPAI Preparedness Taskforce has been set up and its members include the Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment, Department of Health and Aged Care and the National Emergency Management Agency. The government is also working with the states and territories on its response.
The taskforce is working closely with state and territory agencies, Wildlife Health Australia, Animal Health Australia, wildlife experts, industry, NGOs and community groups, to coordinate national preparedness efforts and investments. This is to ensure a whole-of-government and one health approach to this cross-sectoral disease threat, it said.
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In the wake of the Justice Hema Committee report that has taken the Malayalam film industry by storm, several female actors and junior artists have come forward to name the alleged preparators of sexual assaults.
Yet another actress Sowmya has made allegations of sexual harassment and rape against a Tamil director.
She has accused the director of mental, physical, and sexual assault - including the insertion of a rod into her genitals, NDTV reported. However, Sowmya refused to reveal the directors name, and the report said she would disclose the man's identity to the special police team.
According to the NDTV report, the director, along with his wife, approached Sowmya when she was 18 years old and inflicted mental torture by claiming her as his daughter.
The Kerala government had formed a special police team to probe multiple cases of alleged sexual assault in Mollywood.
I was 18 and in my first year of college... I came from a very sheltered background and my parents knew nothing about movies. This opportunity (to act in a Tamil film) came through my college theatre contact. As a child I was enamoured by the actor Revathy, who lived near my house at that time...I was in a fantasy world. So I went for a screen test with this couple..., Sowmya told NDTV in an interview.
I was a child; I didn't know much, she added.
The actor also told her family, ... I said I wasn't comfortable with the man. I said this at my first meeting.
But her family had been arm-twisted into allowing her to act, she claimed, adding the director told her father they had spent large amounts of money on her screen test.
Further, she said: During the first outdoor shoots he didn't speak to me. The agreement was that his wife would be the director but that was on paper... in reality he was directing the whole movie.
And so I was under his control... and he gave me the 'angry silent treatment like many men are used to doing, she added.
One fine day, when his wife wasn't around, this man, while calling me his daughter, kissed me. I completely froze. I was so desperate to tell my friends but couldn't... I was ashamed, thinking I had done something wrong and that I was obligated to be nice to this man..., Sowmya said. So I continued going for practice, for dance rehearsals... every day I went back and gradually, step by step, this man completely used my body to his advantage. At some point he forced himself on me... so he raped me. This went on for close to a year while I was in college.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 5 hailed Singapore and said that it is not just a country but an inspiration for every developing country. The Prime Minister arrived in the Southeast Asian country on Wednesday.
His two-day visit is poised to bolster bilateral ties between the two countries. The second day of his trip in Singapore began with a ceremonial welcome for PM Modi at Singapore's Parliament House, followed by a meeting with Singapore's Prime Minister, Lawrence Wong.
Also Read | PM Modi set to explore semiconductor innovations in Singapore today
According to ANI report, PM Modi is slated to tour a cutting-edge semiconductor facility today and sign several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). The Singapore leg comes after Modi visited Brunei, in the first bilateral visit by an Indian premier to the country.
Here are top quotes from his speech in Singapore today:
Expressing gratitude PM Modi said, I thank you for your warm welcome."
In the opening remarks on the second day of his visit to the island nation, he said, "This is our first meeting after you assumed the post of Prime Minister. Many congratulations to you from my side.
Praising Lawrence Wong, PM Modi added, "I am confident that under the leadership of 4G, Singapore will progress even faster. Singapore is not just a country, Singapore is an inspiration for every developing country.
Labelling the ministerial roundtable as a a path-breaking mechanism PM Modi stated, "We also want to create many Singapores in India and I am happy that we are working together in this direction. The ministerial roundtable that has been formed between us is a path-breaking mechanism."
At the meeting with his Singaporean counterpart, the Prime Minister pointed out that cooperation between the two nations in various sectors, including digitalisation, advanced manufacturing and cyber security, has become an identity of India-Singapore ministerial roundtable.
Cooperation in the fields of skilling, digitalisation, mobility, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, AI, healthcare, sustainability and cybersecurity has become an identity of this initiative, ANI quoted PM Modi as saying.
Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) PM Modi wrote, "Happy to have met my friend, PM Lawrence Wong. Had an excellent discussion on a wide range of issues. India cherishes the friendship with Singapore."
Also Read | Paralympics 2024: PM Modi congratulates archer Harvinder Singh for winning Gold
The bilateral meeting comes months after PM Modi began his third term as Prime Minister and Lawrence Wong took over as premier. Later in the day, PM Modi will meet President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. This will be followed by a business meeting with Prime Minister Modi will depart for New Delhi later in the day.
New photos of Renukaswamy taken mere minutes before his murder emerged on Thursday amid continued furore over the case. The development came a day after the police filed a chargesheet against Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and others.
Photos of the victim pleading for life have since gone viral on social media platforms. Another image showed Renukaswamy lying on the ground near a parked truck. Officials said the Darshan fan had been beaten up with clubs, given electric shock in his private parts, and thrown against the wall leading to multiple fractures. Injury marks could reportedly be seen all over his body.
Also Read | Darshan Thoogudeepa admits borrowing money to destroy evidence in murder case
"Fear writ large on a shirtless Renukaswamys face as he stared at the camera, the image is a tell-tale about the trauma he endured as he was given a torturous death," a police official told PTI.
According to police sources citing a forensic report enclosed within the chargesheet, Renukaswamys blood stains were found on Darshans clothes. According to the post-mortem report, he died due to shock and haemorrhage as a result of multiple blunt injuries.
The Bengaluru Police filed a "watertight" chargesheet against the actor and 16 other accused individuals on Wednesday following extensive investigation. The 3,991-page document (with seven volumes and 10 files) comprises 231 witness statements and technical and electronic evidence.
33-year-old Renukaswamy a fan of the actor was found dead next to a stormwater drain in early June. He had allegedly sent obscene messages to the actor's friend Pavithra Gowda which infuriated Darshan. Raghavendra, one of the accused who is part of Darshan's fan club in Chitradurga, had brought Renukaswamy to a shed in R R Nagar, on the pretext that the actor wanted to meet him. It was in this shed that he was allegedly tortured and murdered.
Police sources said Pavithra, who is accused number one, was the "major cause" for Renukaswamys murder, claiming that it has been proved from the probe that she instigated other accused, conspired with them, and took part in the crime.
Family members of a doctor, who was allegedly raped and murdered last month, joined the protesting medical staff at RG Kar Hospital on Wednesday.
As reported by PTI, they accused the Kolkata Police of trying to cover up the case by quickly cremating the doctors body.
During the protests at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where the body was found on August 9, the family demanded justice and alleged that a senior police officer had attempted to bribe them following the acknowledgement of the incident.
The police, from the very beginning, tried to hush up the case. We were not allowed to see the body and had to wait at the police station while the body was taken for post-mortem examinations. Later, when the body was handed over to us, a senior police official offered us money, which we immediately declined, the father of the deceased doctor said, as reported by PTI.
In the second week of August, the Calcutta High Court directed that the case be transferred to the CBI. The parents of the postgraduate trainee have joined the protests to support the junior doctors advocating for justice for their daughter.
Since August 10, statewide protests have emerged, with individuals from various sectors calling for justice for the victim. On Monday, the CBI arrested Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in connection with alleged financial misconduct at the institution.
Earlier, the West Bengal Assembly unanimously passed a state anti-rape bill seeking capital punishment for rape convicts if their actions result in the victim's death or leave her in a vegetative state, and a life sentence without parole for other perpetrators.
The Bill mandates that investigations into rape cases must be concluded within 24 days of the initial report.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee extended her support for the West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment Bill 2024 and stated that the bill is being introduced to safeguard the dignity of women, and that if Bengal is mistreated, it will have a ripple effect.
CM Mamata Banerjee said, I had written two letters to the Prime Minister, but I did not receive any reply from him; instead, I received a response from the Minister of Women and Child Development. I also replied to her response and informed the Prime Minister. When the Code of Justice Bill was passed hastily before the elections, I had said that it should not be passed in a hurry; the states were not consulted. I had opposed it many times as no advice was taken from the states in this regard; it should have been passed after discussions with the Rajya Sabha, the opposition, and all the parties, but this was not done. That is why today we are bringing this bill to ensure the protection of women. If Bengal is mistreated, then it will have a spillover effect.
Top Events of the Day: Investors can participate in the IPOs of Shree Tirupati Balajee Agro Trading and My Mudra Fincorp. Raymond Lifestyle, a demerged entity of Raymond Ltd, starts trading today. Reliance Industries' board meets to consider a possible bonus share issuance. Additionally, the Kolkata Metro expands its Blue Line services and the MCC opens Round 2 registration for NEET UG Counselling 2024.
Happy Teachers Day 2024 celebrated today India is celebrating Teachers' Day today, September 5, 2024, marking the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, India's first vice president and second president. Dr. Radhakrishnan, a distinguished scholar and teacher, was honoured with the Bharat Ratna in 1954 and honorary membership in the British Royal Order of Merit in 1963. Schools and educational institutions across the country will honour teachers with special programs and ceremonies on Thursday.
Shree Tirupati Balajee IPO subscription opens The Shree Tirupati Balajee Agro Trading IPO opens for subscription today, September 5, 2024, and will remain open until September 9, 2024. The IPO allocates a minimum of 50% of its issuance for Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs), retail investors, and non-institutional investors (NIIs), with 35% set aside for retail investors.
My Mudra Fincorp IPO to open for subscription My Mudra Fincorp's IPO launches today with a book-built issue worth 33.26 crore. The IPO, comprising a fresh issue of 30.24 lakh shares, will remain open for subscription until September 9, 2024. The allotment is expected on September 10, with refunds and credit of shares to Demat accounts scheduled for September 11. The company is set to list on NSE SME on September 12, 2024.
Raymond Lifestyle shares to list today Raymond Lifestyle Ltd, the demerged retail and lifestyle business of Raymond Ltd, is set to debut on the stock market today, September 5, 2024. Raymond Lifestyle aims to scale its branded apparel segment, with expectations of opening 250-300 stores over the next three years.
Reliance Industries to consider 1:1 bonus issue Reliance Industries' board is scheduled to meet today, September 5, to discuss and potentially approve the issuance of bonus shares on a 1:1 ratio. If approved, shareholders will receive one free share for every share held as of the record date, enhancing shareholder value.
Kolkata Metro announces two new services Kolkata Metro is expanding its Blue Line services with two additional trains starting today, September 5, 2024. This increase brings the total number of weekday services to 290, up from 288. The move aims to improve commuter convenience and enhance the citys metro connectivity.
Excise scam: SC to hear Kejriwal's pleas The Supreme Court will hear Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals pleas today regarding his bail and challenge against his arrest by the CBI in the alleged excise policy scam. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan will hear the case.
Amid protests over the rising number of sexual harassment cases and the insecurity of women in the country, a recent case of molestation inside an ambulance in Uttar Pradesh's Siddharthnagar on August 30 came to light.
According to a report by NTDV, a woman was allegedly molested inside an ambulance by its driver and his aide when she was accompanying her ailing husband to a nearby hospital. She, along with her husband, was thrown out of the ambulance, resulting in injuries. Before throwing them out of the vehicle, the accused also took off the sick husband's oxygen support.
Also Read | Sandip Ghosh ordered renovation near crime scene at Kolkata hospital: Report
The woman's husband later died during treatment at the Gorakhpur Medical College hospital.
The victim had taken her ailing husband, Harish, to Basti Medical College. However, after his condition deteriorated, the doctors there referred him to a different hospital. The woman decided to take her husband back home because she could not pay the private hospital's fee and hired an ambulance.
During the journey, she was forced by the driver to sit in the front with him and his aide. Following this, both of them sexually harassed her.
When the woman tried to protest and shout, the accused stopped her husband's oxygen supply and threw him out of the ambulance along with her, as per the report.
The accused also allegedly stole her jewellery. The husband sustained injuries, and his condition deteriorated further.
Later, the victim narrated her ordeal to her brother on the phone, who informed the police. The cops took the injured man to the Gorakhpur Medical College hospital, where he died.
The victim alleged that the police didn't attempt to arrest the accused immediately and asked her to file a written complaint at Lucknow's Ghazipur police station.
Kolkata doctor murder case: Family members of the junior doctor at RG Kar hospital, who was raped and murdered, have accused a senior police official of attempting to cover up the ghastly incident and levelled allegations of bribery and negligence against cops.
The incident took place at RG Kar College and Hospital on August 9. The postgraduate trainee doctor was found semi-naked with injuries in the seminar hall of the hospital. The tragic incident prompted nationwide outrage and resulted in a prolonged doctors' strike until the Supreme Court assured the medical practitioners that their safety concerns would be addressed.
The recent remark of the victim's aunt adds to the controversy. She said, What would the family do, how would they go home, police took no responsibility. Police were active till the last rites were performed and after that, they became completely inactive, reported ANI.
When the body of the daughter was lying in front of the parents in the house and we were shedding tears, the police were offering money, is this the humanity of police? ANI quoted the aunt as saying.
The doctor's aunt charged that around 300-400 cops surrounded the family till the last rites were performed, but after that not a single policeman was seen there.
Alleging the police of being irresponsible in the matter and leaving the bereaved family without ensuring justice is served, the aunt stated, The police were saying that they have fulfilled all their responsibilities, is this what is called fulfilling the responsibility?
Also Read | Why did the CBI arrest Sandip Ghosh and 3 others in RG Kar Hospital rape probe?
Demanding justice for their daughter, the parents joined the protest led by junior doctors on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, the father of the victim accused the police of attempting to hush up the case. He further noted that the family members were not permitted to see the body and had to wait at the police station. A senior police official offered money when the body was ultimately handed over to the family after the post-mortem examination, the father alleged.
On the second day of his visit to Singapore on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to tour a cutting-edge semiconductor facility in the city-state alongside his Singaporean counterpart.
PM Modi, who reached Singapore on Wednesday, is slated to hold numerous engagements in the city-state on Thursday as well. This visit is poised to further bolster the bilateral ties between India and Singapore.
This visit has underscored the growing significance of the semiconductor sector, which holds promise for expanding India's technological capabilities and fostering deeper economic ties between the two nations.
Also Read | Paralympics 2024: PM Modi congratulates archer Harvinder Singh for winning Gold
The day will begin with a ceremonial welcome for PM Modi at Singapore's Parliament House, followed by a meeting with Singapore's Prime Minister, Lawrence Wong, and the signing of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).
Subsequently, PM Modi will visit AEM Holdings Ltd's semiconductor facility with Singapore's Prime Minister, after a lunch hosted by Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong. He will also meet with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. Following a business meeting with CEOs, PM Modi will return to New Delhi.
PM Modi's visit to the semiconductor industry is significant in terms of enhanced trade opportunities between the two friendly countries, as Singapore, despite being a small city-state, has a well-developed semiconductor industry.
Also Read | PM Modi dials Paralympics 2024 medalists, asks them to celebrate their victories
The semiconductor industry opens opportunities for India in many aspects, including collaboration in talent development as Singapore universities have developed customised courses for the semiconductor sector, and knowledge sharing about best practices of managing semiconductor industrial parks (called Wafer Fab Parks in Singapore).
In terms of factors of production, Singapore has limitations for land and labour. India, with abundant land and skilled labour, can be part of Singapore's semiconductor value chain. Semiconductor companies in Singapore can be encouraged to consider India for their expansion plans.
Singapore also has semiconductor equipment and material manufacturers. For the development of the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem in India, engagement and collaboration with such companies may also be helpful.
As per data collated here by the government, Singapore, the city-state in Maritim Southeast Asia, contributes to around 10 per cent of global semiconductor output, 5 per cent of global wafer fabrication capacity and 20 per cent of semiconductor equipment production. The semiconductor sector contributes to 8 per cent of Singapore's economic growth.
The data mentions that nine out of the 15 top semiconductor firms have set up shops in Singapore.
Singapore has players in all three segments of the semiconductor value chain--i) IC Design: MediaTek, Realtek, Qualcomm, Broadcom, Maxlinear, AMD; ii) Assembly, packaging and testing: ASE Group, Utac, STATS ChipPack, Silicin Box. iii) Wafer fabrication: GlobalFoundries, UMC, Siltronic and Micron, and iv) Equipment/ raw material producers: Soitec, Applied Materials.
In the 1960s, US chip makers, looking for lower labour costs with a sufficiently skilled workforce, started to offshore parts of their production process to Southeast Asia, including Singapore.
Singapore actively facilitates such investments as it creates well-paying jobs in the manufacturing sector, in its otherwise service-dependent economy.
Factors that contributed to the development of Singapore's semiconductor industry are infrastructure and connectivity, stable business conditions, a critical mass of leading companies based in Singapore covering the value chain (from design to wafer fabrication to assembly and testing), and human capital.
Semiconductor plants in Singapore are currently clustered in four wafer fabrication parks that span 374 hectares, where the Singapore government offers customised infrastructure solutions to investors.
To develop talent, Singapore universities are offering majors in microelectronics, and IC design and are collaborating with semiconductor companies by having their employees do PhD research.
Singapore is now getting the benefits of a global focus on de-risking and improving supply chain resilience, as it appears to be a safe bet in the era of US-China rivalry.
In 2022, Taiwan's United Microelectronics Corporation announced an investment of USD 5 billion to set up a semiconductor fab. It is expected to begin operations in 2024. In September 2023, GlobalFoundries inaugurated its new USD 4 billion fabrication plant in Singapore. This plant is capable of manufacturing speciality chips at 28 nm node technology (most advanced in Singapore).
In June 2024, NXP Semiconductors and TSMC-backed Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp announced a USD 7.8 billion joint venture for a Singapore plant (named VisionPower Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) that will make 40 to 130 nm chips for the automotive, industrial, consumer, and mobile market segments. Construction will commence in the second half of 2024, with production starting in 2027.
Singapore's semiconductor industry is limited to "mature-node chips" (process node technology of 28 nm or more), which are used in appliances, cars, and industrial equipment. It is not equipped to make high-end logic chips like the one used in the AI sector (AI chips have process nodes of 7 nm and smaller, and thus require specialized production methods).
Singapore's semiconductor industry is not expected to drive into AI chips. One thought is that the market for mature-node chips is much larger with stable growth prospects, so Singapore need not focus on AI chips. Another angle is that manufacturing AI chips needs huge investments, existing companies in Singapore are not capable of committing to such investments and big players like TSMC, Samsung and Intel have already committed their investments elsewhere.
The cost of production is increasing in Singapore, forcing semiconductor companies to move up in the value chain and diversify low-cost and labour-intensive operations out of Singapore.
Several countries are offering massive incentives to attract semiconductor investments. Singapore has not announced any matching scheme. Singapore appears to be relying on its inherent strengths. It is possible that such competition from other countries will drive down Singapore's share in global semiconductor production in the long run.
(Bloomberg) -- Germanys Christian Democratic opposition leader said hes building momentum for a change of government in Berlin next year portraying Chancellor Olaf Scholzs ruling coalition as a weakened administration.
We are practically no longer concerned at all, or only very little, with what comes from this coalition, Friedrich Merz told reporters Thursday as conservative lawmakers of the Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian affiliate met outside Berlin to discuss strategy for Germanys federal election in just over a year.
Approval of Scholzs government fell to the lowest yet 16% in a poll published Thursday, which put support for the conservative bloc at 33%, more than the combined total for Scholzs three-party coalition. That approval rating is the lowest for any German government in 14 years, according to the Infratest Dimap poll for broadcaster ARD.
Scholzs standing was hammered by defeats in regional elections on Sunday that saw populist parties of the right and left surge in two eastern regions. Possible plant closings by Volkswagen AG and the IG Metall unions threat of strikes against VW this fall are adding to political risk in Europes biggest economy.
While Scholzs coalition is beleaguered, Merzs bloc needs to avoid a damaging fight over who should lead the conservative ticket in the Sept. 28, 2025 election.
Merz, heir to the party once led by former Chancellor Angela Merkel, is seeking a decision within weeks.
The decision will be made in late summer, which has just started, but has not ended yet, Merz said at the conservatives meeting in Neuhardenberg, east of Berlin. Summer in Germany officially ends on Sept. 21, the day before a state legislative election in Brandenburg, a region surrounding Berlin.
His most likely challenger is Bavarian state premier Markus Soeder, head of the Bavaria-based Christian Social Union, which teams up with the Christian Democrats in the federal parliament in Berlin.
I wouldnt shy away from taking responsibility for the whole country, Soeder told an event in Bavaria this week.
ARDs poll suggested Soeder, 57, is more popular among CDU-CSU supporters than Merz, 68, by a margin of 57% to 48%. The Sept. 3-4 poll of 1,309 people has a margin of error of as much 3 percentage points.
Soeders comment shocked many conservatives who remember his challenge to then CDU party head Armin Laschet before the last election in 2021. Laschet led the CDU-CSU to defeat, ending 16 years of CDU rule under Merkel and opening the door to Scholzs Social Democrat-led coalition.
Merz said Thursday hes in constant talks with Soeder.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Chief advisor to interim Bangladesh government Muhammad Yunus said Thursday, September 5, that Sheikh Hasina, who he said was making comments on the country while sitting in India, has to keep quiet. No one likes that she's speaking while sitting in India, Muhammad Yunus said.
Sheikh Hasina resigned as the prime minister after violent students'-led protests over reservation peaked in the country. She fled to India after thousands of protesters stormed into her residence in a dramatic turn of events.
Speaking with news agency PTI, Muhammad Yunus said, If India wants to keep her until the time Bangladesh [the government] wants her back, the condition would be that she has to keep quiet."
"She is there in India, and at times, she is talking, which is problematic. Had she been quiet, we would have forgotten it; people would have also forgotten it as she would have been in her own world. But sitting in India, she is speaking and giving instructions. No one likes it, Yunus said.
Sheikh Hasina has remained in India, her former government's biggest patron and benefactor, since her August 5 overthrow, inflaming tensions between the two South Asian neighbours.
She gave a public statement the week after her arrival calling for Bangladeshis to gather in Dhaka to mark the 1975 assassination of her father, independence hero Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Sheikh Hasina's comments were seen as a provocative effort to galvanise members of her Awami League party and undermine law and order in the fragile first days after Yunus took office.
Muhammad Yunus did not say whether a formal extradition request had been made to India. His government has avoided committing itself to demanding her return.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- On September 4, Changan Automobile revealed during an investor briefing that construction of its new energy vehicle production base in Thailand is progressing as planned, with production expected to commence in the first quarter of next year.
DEEPAL L07; photo credit: DEEPAL
The Thailand facility marks the Chinese automaker's first overseas base, with an initial production capacity of 100,000 vehicles, which will gradually increase to 200,000 vehicles annually.
Changan is also exploring the establishment of new bases in Central and South America, as well as Europe, aiming to leverage globalization for the rapid and sustainable growth of its new energy vehicles (NEVs).
Changan Automobile's overseas expansion has gained significant momentum this year. From January to July, the company's wholly-owned brands recorded overseas sales of 228,000 vehicles, surging 67.6% year on year. To support this growth, the automaker has restructured its organization, creating a "1+5+2" global development framework with five regional business divisions, enhancing its market operations abroad.
The companys several vehicle models are already available in key overseas markets. In Southeast Asia, the DEEPAL S07, L07, and the Changan Lumin are currently on sale, with plans to introduce the AVATR brand later this year. In Central and South America, the DEEPAL S07 has officially hit the market in Mexico, with additional NEV models to follow. In the Middle East and Africa, the DEEPAL S7 and NEVO A05 recently debuted at the UAE exhibition.
Additionally, Changan Automobile is accelerating its European market entry with a focus on NEVs. Recently, the automaker established a German subsidiary in Munich, which will not only handle sales, marketing, and services but also focus on customer insights, market research, technical standards, regulatory certifications, and product localization.
A number of Hindu right bodies in Shimla on Thursday held a massive protest in Chaura maidan in the vicinity of the Vidhan Sabha, demanding demolition of allegedly an illegal mosque. The area teemed with hundreds of demonstrators, several of whom carried Hindu religion insignia, such as saffron flags and banners bearing Lord Ram's image.
Dev Bhumi Shatriya Sangathan President Rumit Singh Thakur, who gave a call to "sanatanis" to assemble in Shimla, said people from across the state responded to his call and demonstrated "Sanatan unity".
WHAT DO WE KNOW SO FAR? The groups have sought the demolition of the under-construction mosque, which stands in Sanjauli locality of Shimla, after an attack on a businessman in the Malyana area. The attack was allegedly carried out by some members of the Muslim community.
Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh said the mosque is built on government land and the matter has been sub judice for the past 14 years.
On Sunday, September 1, dozens of people gathered in Sanjauli area and demanded the demolition of a mosque that they say is illegal.
The demonstrators also demanded action against the guilty in the Malyana attack under the charge of attempted murder.
Meanwhile, Rumit Singh Thakur alleged on Thursday, September 5, that many outsiders are coming to Himachal Pradesh, demanding the state government to verify their identities and register their businesses. Thakur also claimed that he received a call from Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu who assured him of action. Also Read | Hindus wont look at other mosques if Gyanvapi, Kashi, Mathura, Ram Mandir official
The chief minister told reporters on Thursday that all residents of the state have the same rights and he has respect for all religions. Peaceful protests are permitted but nobody will be allowed to take law into his hands, he said.
Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh said, For a long time, the issue of building a mosque in Sanjauli is gaining momentum. The govt is taking action as far as structural illegality is concerned. Since this matter is under Shimla Municipal Corporation Commissioner, it is under consideration and has been pending there for a long time. If it is illegal, then action will be taken against it and immigrants are a matter of concern for the people of Himachal Pradesh.
Delhi Excise Policy Case: The Supreme Court will on Thursday hear pleas filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seeking bail against his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the now-scrapped excise policy case. The Aam Aadmi Party chief has challenged the Delhi High Court's decision that upheld his arrest in the excise policy case.
The Supreme Court had on August 23 adjourned the hearing into Kejriwal's petition challenging his arrest by CBI. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan posted the case for next hearing on September 5. The court had granted the CBI one week to respond to one of the pleas.
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju sought time to file a counter-affidavit in one of Kejriwal's petitions, according to legal news website LiveLaw. Raju submitted that CBI's counter-affidavit has been filed in the other petition.
Kejriwal's latest petition before the Supreme Court, filed through Advocate-on-Record Vivek Jain, challenges the Delhi High Court order of August 5, whereby his plea against CBI arrest was dismissed by a Single Judge bench with liberty to approach the trial Court for bail.
On September 3, the Delhi Rouse Avenue Court took cognizance of the fourth supplementary chargesheet filed by the CBI naming Kejriwal as an accused in the case regarding the alleged irregularities in the formation and implementation of the now scrapped Delhi liquor excise policy 2021-22.
The Aam Aadmi Party chief was by CBI on June 26, while he was in custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the money laundering case related to the alleged liquor policy scam.
Also Read | Delhi excise policy case: Supreme Court grants bail to BRS MLC K Kavitha
On July 12, however, the Supreme Court granted Kejriwal interim bail in the money laundering case, while referring his petition challenging ED arrest to a larger bench. However, he continued to remain in judicial custody due to his arrest by the CBI.
The Aam Aadmi Party chief is the only key political leader who is behind bars in the case. As many as three accused in the case have been released on bail in the past month.
Those granted bail by Supreme Court of India include former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) legislator K Kavitha and Vijay Nair, the former communication in-charge of Aam Aadmi Party. Sanjay Singh, another AAP leader who is also a Rajya Sabha member, was released on bail in April 2024.
Prince Harry and Prince William attended their uncle Sir Robert Fellowes' memorial service last week. But, as per reports, they didn't interact at all. In fact, some reports claim that they did not even look at each other.
An insider told the Express that the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex were present during the service but avoided speaking to each other.
News has emerged that Prince Harry stayed with his uncle, Charles Spencer, at Althorp House in Northampton. This historic estate, where Princess Diana grew up, served as Harry's accommodation during his recent trip to the UK.
However, that may not indicate the final shutdown. According to a source, both brothers are now interested in mending their strained relationship.
The only thing that might mend their broken relationship is help from the Spencer family. There's hope that Jane or Charles Spencer might step in to reconcile the brothers although it could take some time for this to happen.
"Harry is open to reconciling with his brother. He knows it won't be an easy task, but it is something that can be brought to the table," the source told the Express.
"William is not opposed to a reconciliation with his brother at some point, but things would need to start from scratch, a fresh start type scenario, where things from the past are not to be mentioned," they added.
Harry's home in UK Harry does not have an official home in the UK. Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, received Frogmore Cottage from Queen Elizabeth as a wedding gift.
After their marriage, Harry and Meghan had hoped to move into Windsor Castle and asked about securing a place there. At the time, the only people with private residences inside the castle were the late Queen and Prince Philip.
Also Read | Reunion of William and Harry? Estranged brothers to visit New York
Harry and Meghan were keen on living close to the Queen and Prince Philip, thinking they could stay in the castle. However, the Queen proposed a different plan, suggesting that the couple live in Frogmore Cottage, which was nearby but not on the castle grounds.
At least four people, including two students, were killed and nine others injured when a fellow student opened fire at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Wednesday, CNN reported.
The suspected gunman, 14-year-old Colt Cray, who is also a student at the school, has been taken into custody. According to Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey, Cray surrendered to law enforcement immediately after the shooting and is cooperating with authorities. He will be charged with murder and treated as an adult, as confirmed by Hosey and Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith.
The victims include two students and two teachers. Law enforcement agencies are continuing their investigation into the incident and its motive.
Lyela Sayarath, a junior at Apalachee High School, revealed to CNN that she was seated next to the suspected gunman just before the shooting occurred.
White House Calls for Stricter Gun Laws In response to the tragedy, the White House has called on Congress to enact stricter gun control measures. White House Press Secretary Jean-Pierre emphasized the need for universal background checks, a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, safe storage requirements, investment in prevention programs, and a national red flag law.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris both condemned the shooting. Biden described it as a "horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to tear our communities apart" and reaffirmed his commitment to combating gun violence, citing his support for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Harris, calling the incident "outrageous," expressed frustration over the constant worry parents face about their childrens safety at school.
Former President Donald Trump also addressed the tragedy, condemning it as an act of violence by a "sick and deranged monster."
A Growing Crisis This school shooting is the latest in a series of devastating incidents across the U.S., following tragedies in Newtown, Connecticut; Parkland, Florida; and Uvalde, Texas. The Gun Violence Archive reports that there have been at least 385 mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year, defining a mass shooting as an incident where four or more people are shot. This equates to more than 1.5 mass shootings every day.
Days after Venezuelas Nicolas Maduro declared electoral victory and began cracking down on dissenters, Chevron offered U.S. officials its stance: It is critical Chevron be allowed to continue pumping oil there.
Two years ago, the Biden administration scaled down Trump-era sanctions to let Chevron resume operations in Venezuela as part of an effort to persuade Maduros authoritarian government to hold free and fair elections. As chaos erupted on the streets of Caracas following this years election, the State Department said all evidence showed Maduros opponent, Edmundo Gonzalez, had won by a landslide.
In meetings with White House and State Department officials days after the election, Chevron executives said its presence in Venezuela bolsters global oil supplies and U.S. energy security, according to people familiar with the talks. The executives said Chevron also serves U.S. interests as a bulwark there against geopolitical adversaries gaining additional footholds in the country.
Maduro has since rounded up hundreds of dissidents, testing whether the Biden administration will reimpose stricter sanctions, including on the oil sector, the countrys most important industry.
Chevron was careful not to advocate specific policies, according to a person familiar with the talks. But its messagethat its oil production should continue in Venezuelahas carried weight with the administration, say people familiar with the matter.
The U.S. has condemned the electoral crackdown but is so far eschewing severe reprisals. Behind the scenes, it is maintaining communications with the regime and encouraging Venezuelas neighbors Brazil and Colombia to help negotiate a resolution, while also considering targeted sanctions on individuals in Maduros regime. Over the weekend, U.S. officials said they seized a jet used to fly Maduro and his lieutenants to Iran, Russia, Cuba and other countries.
Chevron regularly engages on energy-policy issues with stakeholders in Washington, D.C., and all over the globe," Chevron spokesman Bill Turenne said. We have been a constructive presence in Venezuela for over a century, where we have dedicated investments and a large workforce."
A big presence
Chevrons position in Venezuela is important to the company. It is the last remaining U.S. oil giant in a country that says it has the worlds largest oil reserves. The company has recently tried to show investors it has enough oil reserves to keep growing in coming years.
Pumping oil in Venezuela, where Chevron has around 250 employees, with another 3,000 working across its joint-venture operations, is also helping the company recoup billions in debt owed by Venezuela. European oil companies that have Venezuelan operations and are owed money, such as Spains Repsol and Italys ENI, have pushed U.S. officials for continued engagement as well.
Democrats are trying to keep a lid on gasoline prices in an election year, and so far representatives for the oil industry have succeeded in persuading the administration to keep Venezuelan oil flowing. Spiraling tension in the Middle East is bolstering their case, though Venezuelan supply is too small to have more than a psychological effect on the market. It exports as many as 600,000 barrels a day.
Chevron said it has remained apolitical in Venezuela. On a recent call with investors, Chief Executive Mike Wirth said his company has found it is generally best to work with an incumbent government without taking positions that would make it difficult to continue with another, subsequent government.
Were a commercial player, not a political player," Wirth said.
But Chevron plays an outsize role in Venezuelas sanctions-hit economy. The companys business in Venezuela generates about 20% of national crude exports and 31% of the governments total oil income, said Asdrubal Oliveros, head of the Venezuelan financial consulting firm Ecoanalitica. It is one of the few avenues for Caracas to reap full market price for its crude, much of which is sold on the black market at steep discounts, he said.
Chevron has told U.S. officials that its presence in Venezuela has helped the impoverished country avoid total collapse, people familiar with the matter said.
Stringent sanctions under former President Donald Trump failed to dislodge Maduro. The Biden administration shifted away from Trumps maximum pressure" policy as it became clear Maduros regime was adapting to the impact on Venezuelas economy.
Critics of the Biden administrations decision to allow Chevron to return to its jointly operated oil fields in Venezuela say it has provided an economic lifeline to Maduro, which has ultimately weakened the hand of Venezuelas opposition.
Chevron ended up front-running all other interests the U.S. said it had with regard to Venezuelademocracy, the fight for human rights, migration and the fight against corruption," said Pedro Burelli, a former board member for Venezuelas state-owned oil giant Petroleos de Venezuela.
Meanwhile, pressure from Congress to adopt a more forceful stance on Maduro is brewing ahead of November elections. Proposed bipartisan legislation, called the Valor Act, would codify sanctions in a way that would make them difficult for the White House to calibrate.
The long view
The loosening of sanctions marked a breakthrough for Chevrons fortunes in Venezuela.
Chevrons entreaties to top officials failed to deter the Trump administration from imposing sanctions on Venezuelas oil sector in early 2019. After sanctions were imposed, Wirth paid visits to top officials, including Elliott Abrams, who served as a special envoy overseeing Venezuela policy under Trump.
Abrams said Wirth visited him three times, and told Abrams that if the sanctions policy persisted, Chevron could leave Venezuela, which would be a devastating blow to the countrys economy and oil industry.
Our response was, You will go back if you can make money," Abrams said.
In the months leading up to the July 28 election, Maduro banned key rivals from participating, relocated voting stations, concocted a deliberately confusing ballot and disenfranchised nearly all Venezuelan voters overseas.
In response, the Biden administration in April withdrew a blanket license for oil companies to operate in Venezuela, but privately encouraged them to file for individual licenses that allowed the activity to continue almost seamlessly.
Since the election, Biden administration officials have signaled they wont force oil companies permitted to do business with Venezuela to pull out.
Vote tallies showed Gonzalez won by a giant margin despite Maduros efforts to rig the election. Maduro warned that if his victory wasnt recognized by the West, Venezuela could replace Western oil companies with allies in the Brics group of countries, which includes Russia and China.
Ali Moshiri, a former Chevron executive who led its operations in Latin America, said Chevron has typically taken the long view when conflict erupts in countries where it operates. The outcome of the election, he said, will be decided in the streets of Venezuela and by the international community.
It is too early for anybody to react," Moshiri said.
Alan Cullison and Kejal Vyas contributed to this article.
Write to Collin Eaton at collin.eaton@wsj.com and Jenny Strasburg at jenny.strasburg@wsj.com
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau-led government suffered an unexpected blow on Wednesday after alliance partnerNew Democratic Party (NDP)withdrew its support.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has alleged that the Liberals are too weak, too selfish and too beholden to corporate interests.
The alliance betweenTrudeaus Liberal party and NDP was formed in March 2022 and was scheduled to run until June 2025, but the NDPs decision has put Trudeaus party in the minority.
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In a video posted on his social media handles, NDP leader also said that Trudeau has proven again and again he will always cave to corporate greed.
The deal is done. The Liberals are too weak, too selfish and too beholden to corporate interests to stop the Conservatives and their plans to cut. But the NDP can. Big corporations and CEOs have had their governments. It's the people's time, Singh said in a post on X (formerly twitter) on Wednesday.
Justin Trudeau has proven again and again he will always cave to corporate greed. The Liberals have let people down. They don't deserve another chance from Canadians, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC News) said quoting Singh as saying in the video.
According to CBC News, the confidence-and-supply agreement signed between the two parties committed the NDP to supporting the Liberal government on confidence votes in exchange for legislative commitments on NDP priorities.
Reacting to NDPs withdrawal of support, Trudeau said that his government is more focused on tackling the affordability crisis and climate change. These are the things that we're focused on. I'll let others focus on politics.
I really hope the NDP stays focused on how we can deliver for Canadians, as we have over the past years, rather than focusing on politics, the CBC News quoted Trudeau as saying.
In a media release, Jagmeet Singh said: The NDP is ready for an election, and voting non-confidence will be on the table with each and every confidence measure.
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In many parts of the world, the cool blast of an air-conditioner on a hot day is nowadays seen as a luxury rather than a necessity. Climate change is tipping the balance. Average global temperatures are now roughly 1.2C higher than they were before the Industrial Revolution: by mid-century they are projected to be about 2C higher. Air-conditioning (AC) use, correspondingly, is set to soar. By one estimate, the number of room-cooling ACs could nearly triple between now and 2050.
These additional units will save lives, make cities liveable and stave off losses in economic productivity. The Lancet, a medical journal, estimates that access to air-conditioning averted nearly 200,000 deaths worldwide among people aged 65 or older in 2019, for instance, cutting the groups heat-related mortality by 37%. But expanding those benefits more widely will come at a cost. The electricity needed for air-conditioning is already responsible for more carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions than the entire aviation industry. And as the laws of physics unhelpfully dictate that a single degree of cooling becomes more energy-intensive as the outside temperature rises, additional cooling will require more power per unit, risking a great deal more planetary heating.
To provide this cooling while doing minimal harm, decarbonising electricity is crucial. But making air conditioning more efficient is important too. Because commercial ACs tend to be used for up to two decades, those installed in the next few years will influence how many emissions are produced by 2050. Fortunately, a flurry of new technologies are emerging to make them less polluting and wasteful.
Making these improvements means struggling against one of natures most rigid constraints: the second law of thermodynamics. You just cant get round it," says Russ Wilcox, the chief executive of Trellis Air, an air-conditioning startup. In simple terms, the law decrees that heat cannot move spontaneously from a colder object to a hotter one. This has two sobering implications for air-conditioning engineers: first, all machines generate inefficient waste heat; and second, deliberately cooling a room requires power. (Though deliberately warming a room also takes power, heating engineers are not as bothered by the incidental production of waste heat.)
Cool running
Air-conditioners currently use this power to draw in warm air and pass it over a cold refrigerant, which evaporates as it absorbs the airs heat . The cooled air is returned to the room, and the refrigerant is condensed back into a liquid, with its trapped heat released outside.
Conventional machines also dehumidify air as they chill it. This is partly out of necessity: the water that naturally condenses on the metal around the refrigerant must be removed before it can do any damage. But this incidental dehumidification also helps make a space feel cooler, as it is easier for human sweat to evaporateand thereby keep skin coolin low humidity.
Doing both jobs at the same time, though, is wildly inefficient. Research published in Joule, an energy journal, by American scientists in 2022 concluded that almost a third of the electricity used for air-conditioning goes toward removing moisture. That fraction could become larger over time. Air-conditioning is growing fastest in developing countries like India and Indonesia, which tend to be more humid than richer places. And as hot air can also hold more moisture, average humidity is expected to rise worldwide.
One way of minimising the dehumidification work an AC needs to do is to expose the incoming air to a water-absorbing substance known as a desiccant. Though desiccants have been tried in the past, most are either limited in the amount of water they can absorb or require substantial amounts of energy to be made reusable. Transaera, a startup based in Massachusetts, has, instead, looked to crystalline structures called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). These are molecular cages that can be finely tuned to catch specific guest" particles and subsequently release them when exposed to heat.
The company spreads a MOF-based coating on a wheel inside the unit through which incoming air passes. As the wheel rotates, the water captured by the MOF is carried away and emptied by the low-level waste heat generated by the machine. Field tests conducted over the summer suggest that an air-conditioner built with this system uses 40% less energy than one without. Transaera is working with existing air-conditioning manufacturers to incorporate its technology into their designs.
Trellis is exploring alternative means of dehumidification, too. It is working on a system that filters air through a selectively permeable membrane. This, the company hopes, should help a room feel cool with little need for active cooling.
Cold-blooded calculation
Another priority is cutting down on the refrigerants that conventional ACs need to function. The most popular optionsalso used by fridges and heat pumpsare hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), potent greenhouse gases which are between hundreds and thousands of times more effective at warming the atmosphere than CO2. These gases sometimes leak out during a units life, but much more can be released when it is thrown away. By one estimate, the yearly warming AC gases generate is equivalent to that produced by 720m extra tonnes of CO2, a figure higher than that of the emissions produced by Canadas whole economy in 2022.
International agreements aim to reduce HFC use by 85% by 2050, but their implementation is still piecemeal and patchy. That is why some companies are trying to build units that do away with refrigerants entirely. That means coming up with a totally different method of absorbing heat.
Blue Frontier, a company based in Florida, is attempting to harness the cooling effects of evaporating water. Its approach uses a liquid desiccant, similar to ultra-salty brine, to remove moisture. The dried air is then split into two streams, one of which is passed over a thin layer of water to induce evaporation. This lowers the temperature of the surrounding metal, which in turn cools the other airstream before it is directed back into the room.
Blue Frontier currently has three units installed in commercial buildings; Daniel Betts, the companys chief executive, thinks three more will be operational by the end of 2024. Users, the company says, get to control humidity and temperature independently of one another, while reducing energy use by between 50% and 90% and the environmental impact of refrigerants by 85%. The remaining energy goes toward powering the heat pump that regenerates the desiccant.
Dr Betts points to benefits beyond efficiency. Because evaporative cooling takes advantage of heats propensity to flow from hot to cold, it becomes more efficient as outside temperatures rise. The system can therefore recharge the desiccant by connecting to the grid at night, when demand is lowest, and use minimal electricity to cool during the heat of the day.
Such flexibility in energy demand can help air-conditioners minimise the strain they put on power gridsanother crucial problem. At present, widespread synchronised demand for cooling in hot weather leads to sharp spikes in electricity consumption. These can lead to deadly outages, especially in hotter, poorer countries with weak grids. Even rich countries frequently resort to whatever energy is available to cope with the demand in the summer: in June 2023 Britains National Grid turned a coal plant back on to cope with a hot spell. A few months later a severe heatwave meant California only narrowly avoided rolling blackouts.
As a result, some Californian businesses are actively experimenting with more grid-friendly approaches. The Beverly Hilton and the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, two swanky hotels in suburban Los Angeles, have begun using IceBricks" designed by Nostromo, an Israeli company. These contain hundreds of capsules of water that can be frozen when electricity demand is low, then used when it is high. Doing so, Nostromo claims, will reduce the hotels cooling-electricity costs by 50% and lessen their carbon emissions.
Much more is needed to make air-conditioning cheaper, cleaner and more reliable. But clever engineering of this kind is a good start. Done right, keeping humankind cool may not have to come at the planets expense.
2024, The Economist Newspaper Ltd. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
China's spy agency has issued a warning to students with access to sensitive information, cautioning them against being enticed by "handsome men" or "beautiful women" who might try to recruit them for espionage or to compromise national security.
In a statement shared on WeChat, the Ministry of State Security detailed various methods that could be used to manipulate students into revealing confidential information.
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The ministry said that foreign spies are working to lure loyal Chinese to betray their country -- often in lurid and unusual ways -- since opening a WeChat account last year.
State security departments have found that workers of foreign espionage and intelligence organisations have carried out targeted wooing and infiltration of young students, it added.
However, the agency did not reveal specific details of any countries that have targeted Chinese students.
Workers for foreign intelligence agencies specifically target college students with access to classified and sensitive scientific research data, disguising themselves as university scholars, and employees of scientific research institutions and consulting companies, the agency said.
"They take advantage of the characteristics of young students' strong curiosity and willingness to try new things," a statement said.
The foreign spies lure young Chinese students with high-paying part-time opportunities in the name of market research or academic exchanges, it also said.
Additionally, the Chinese spy agency revealed that after students express interest, foreign intelligence agencies offer free training and guidance via social media, phone calls, or video conferencing. They often use the pretense of handsome men and beautiful women who appear intimate and considerate, luring young students into their traps with false affection.
French spirits maker Pernod Ricard has reportedly put up its Imperial Blue whisky brand for sale in India. Given the companys liquor portfolio strategy, this decision would seem driven by a desire to focus on its premium brands, such as Glenlivet, Jameson and Chivas Regal, and it comes on the heels of a similar call by its rival Diageo, which sold some low-margin brands, including Haywards and Romanov, two years ago.
In common with other global marketers that are keen to tap Indias growing market for upper-end spirits, never mind our low GDP-per-head, Ricards move to drop a popular labelImperial Blue sells about 20 million cases a yearcan be seen to reflect a preference for aspirational brands that sell less but earn more. Is that all there is to it, though?
Ricard has been facing regulatory challenges in India. Its licence in Delhi was rejected on the grounds of alleged violations of liquor policies. The company also faces a couple of antitrust cases in the country and is contesting a tax demand of nearly $250 million for allegedly having undervalued imports.
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But an unstated reason could well be its need to distance itself from Imperial Blues identification with a decidedly sexist advertising tagline: Men will be Men." First unveiled in the early 2000s, when the brand was owned by Seagram, this campaign took the country by storm.
In later years, it played a surrogate role, purportedly selling music collections, with many of its ad-clips enjoying strong recall. Two decades ago, when it began, much advertising was openly misogynistic and gender stereotypes were the norm.
Even women took it without batting an eyelid. Despite the brands sexist tone that seemed to suggest men could somehow live by different rules, it was a big success.
Today, there is a sea change in attitudes that few companies can ignore. Not only because there are virtually no products or brands that can afford to be gender insensitive if they wish to succeed, but because women are no longer willing to turn a blind eye to campaigns that objectify them.
And, by extension, to businesses that give such ads the go-ahead. With greater empowerment of women has come greater economic power, and as women become a force to reckon with in the marketplace, companies that ignore their views do so at their own peril. Gone are the days when car-makers, for instance, could advertise a new model with a woman draped across its bonnet.
This is not to say that sexism has vanished from advertising. But it is no longer overtly misogynistic. Yes, there are brands that still promote outmoded feminine ideals, especially in a country like India, where women, despite the huge strides taken over the years, are yet to be seen as truly equal to their male counterparts.
Yet, womens voices matter in a way nobody should underestimate, as shown by the Me-too movement some years ago and the current furore over the tragic rape in Kolkatas RG Kar Hospital and findings of the Hema Committee report on sexual abuse in the Malayalam movie industry.
Companies that seal themselves off from todays spirit of protest will come to regret it. They need to be sensitive to womens concerns and must stay clear of gender stereotypes, both overt and covert.
Sure, it will be a while before sneaky sexism disappears entirely, since the market response may not always be negative in every product category, but each time a company tries to shed its association with sexism, its a victory. Not just for women, but for all humankind.
The monsoon has predictably brought with it swollen rivers flooding the countryside and urban flooding on account of blocked stormwater drains. But the crushing landslides in Wayanad at the end of July were out of the ordinary.
An extreme burst of rainfall attributable to globally-induced climate change was the cause, but the impact in terms of lives lost and villages erased was a result of weakening of the topography by predatory construction, mining and quarrying.
Way back in August 2011, a Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) chaired by Professor Madhav Gadgil submitted its comprehensive report on the vulnerability of the Western Ghats to encroachment.
The WGEEP classified the Western Ghats into three zones by degree of ecological sensitivity, based on criteria set out in a refereed academic paper in the journal Current Science.
The severest strictures on permissible economic activity were imposed on ecologically sensitive zone one (ESZ1). The assignment of area under each zone was by taluk, the next level below the district in the administrative hierarchy. All three taluks of Wayanad district were in ESZ1.
It follows from this taluk-wise geographical assignment that the six Western Ghat states (Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu) were each treated separately, as the report explicitly says (page 88). That being the case, there was no need for all states to agree unanimously to the restrictive measures proposed.
States could have been left free to opt in fully, or with modifications subject to negotiation with the Union ministry of environment. A final set of notifications could have set out the agreed parameters specific to each state, along with the monitoring mechanism.
Following the WGEEP, another high-level working group (HLWG) was appointed, chaired by space scientist Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan. Its report in April 2013 had a single Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) zone covering an area of about 60,000sq-km (half that of the WGEEP), by demarcating areas within taluks rather than taluks as a whole.
Half of Wayanad falls in their single ESA category. The HLWG recommendations are not notified either, although several draft notifications have been in circulation.
Cascading committees are a common practice in the Indian policy space. The subject of petroleum pricing holds the record, with several committees having been appointed over the years.
Each committee might have had different membership, but the secretariat serving them was often the same. In one such case, the official charged with drafting the report comically bemoaned to me that he found it difficult to differ from the previous report since he was the one who had written it.
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Is it really necessary for the government of the day to appoint another committee to modify the recommendations of a prior committee? Not at all. Parliament has 16 Lok Sabha departmental standing committees and eight in the Rajya Sabha, with membership drawn from all parties.
One of the Rajya Sabha committees covers science, technology, environment, forests and climate change (too wide a remit; it should be split into two).
These committees are well positioned to assess the report of an external panel in a non-partisan way. They have seriously declined in importance over the years because all governments, irrespective of party affiliation, find it easier to outsource the task of modifying a politically difficult set of recommendations, thereby shifting responsibility to another set of professionals.
In the WGEEP report, the activity restrictions in ESZ1 as listed in Table 6 of the report include construction, mining and quarrying. Since these activities are not presently restricted, it is possible today to obtain legal permits to engage in them in ESZ1 taluks.
Despite that, these activities are still carried out illegally to evade royalty and other payments. The final outcome in terms of the extent of illegal activity is a function of a number of forces, of which key elements are the probability of detection and the penalty imposed.
The mystery is why, neither in the Western Ghats nor in the Himalayan states, there is no peoples movement against this kind of predatory activity, legal or not, which risks their lives.
Short-term job opportunities, in the absence of other alternatives, seem to prevail over the (still low but rising) risk of extinction. This is where the panchayat level of governance could have mapped out alternative medium-term avenues to jobs and livelihoods, and, at the very least, acted as watchdogs over illegal activity.
In Kerala, panchayats are well funded by the state government, but the influx of funding from above has made them cut back on their own tax efforts (my joint paper, EPW, 12 August 2000), and essentially led to a surrender of autonomy to the state government. The state push to develop tourism in Kerala (Gods own country) has handed over scenic districts like Wayanad to the devil.
That is why a commitment between the Union government and the state, on the protection and monitoring of ecologically sensitive areas within their respective jurisdictions, is so vital.
Just as climate change mitigation can only be tackled internationally between countries in a spirit of mutual cooperation, states in India have to be persuaded to subordinate short-term interests to the longer-run imperative of sustainability.
With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.
DreamSmart Groups STARAUTO automotive BU official Weibo account goes online
On September 5, DreamSmart Group launched the official Weibo account of the STARAUTO automotive business unit, posting its first message and announcing a new chapter in intelligent cockpits under the theme "Defining Cars with Passion."
Changan NEVO delivers 12,823 vehicles in August
Changan Automobiles new energy vehicle range NEVO announced that it delivered 12,823 vehicles in August 2024.
NEVO A07; photo credit: NEVO
Radar chip maker AIRTOUCH completes Series D funding
On September 4, radar chip developer AIRTOUCH announced the completion of its Series D funding round. The funds will be used to expand the market presence of its current radar chips, accelerate the development of next-generation millimeter-wave radar chips, and broaden the companys product line to maintain its market competitiveness and innovation.
Changan Automobiles Thai production base to start operation in Q1 2025
On September 4, Changan Automobile revealed during an investor briefing that construction of its new energy vehicle production base in Thailand is progressing as planned, with production expected to commence in the first quarter of next year.
Continental Tires' Hefei plant hits production milestone of 100 million passenger vehicle tires
On September 2, 2024, Continental Tires' Hefei plant in China reached a significant milestone, producing its 100 millionth passenger car tire, according to a post on Continental AG's WeChat account. This achievement highlights the company's robust growth in the Hefei region, where it has been operating for more than a decade.
Dongfeng Motor's MHERO, NIO Power forge partnership in EV charging field
On September 5, MHERO Technology, the new energy off-roader manufacturer under Dongfeng Motor, announced a strategic charging partnership with NIO Power, allowing MHERO vehicles to access NIO's electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
BYD introduces Yuan UP model in Ecuadorian market
BYD made a major presence at the Automundo Auto Show in Quito, Ecuador, unveiling the Yuan UP (locally named BYD Yuan Pro in Ecuador), marking the automaker's seventh model introduced to the Ecuadorian market.
Qianxun SI, Hi-Target to co-facilitate BeiDou-based positioning solution deployment
On September 4, spatiotemporal intelligent infrastructure company Qianxun SI and Guangzhou Hi-Target Satellite Navigation Tech Co., Ltd. (Hi-Target) officially formed a comprehensive strategic partnership. According to the agreement, the two companies will collaborate in areas including product services, application cooperation, technical support, and joint innovation.
SERES allies with SAE-China for intelligent connected new energy vehicle development
On September 4, 2024, Seres Group Co., Ltd. (SERES) signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the China Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE-China) in Chongqing. The partnership aims to align closely with the national strategy for intelligent connected new energy vehicles (NEVs), leveraging SERES' comprehensive presence across the NEV industry chain and SAE-China's expertise in the automotive sector.
IDV chassis technology developer Ecar Tech secures 200 million yuan in strategic funding
On September 4, IDV chassis and vehicle technology developer Shanghai Ecar Technology Co., Ltd. (Ecar Tech) announced that it has secured 200 million yuan in strategic investment.
Mercedes-Benz to invest over 14 billion yuan in China for expanded local production
Mercedes-Benz Group announced plans to invest over 14 billion yuan in China, in partnership with local collaborators, to expand its lineup of localized passenger vehicles and vans, according to the companys official WeChat post on September 4.
RAMAT GAN, IsraelYechiel Wais was so excited to join the Israeli military that he couldnt sleep the night before he went to a military enlistment site this week. The 19-year-old from an ultra-Orthodox family hoped to join an Air Force unit that loads munitions onto planes.
At a military recruitment center a few miles away, Shlomo Roth, also 19 and ultra-Orthodox, said he burned the last draft letter he received as he stood with a group protesting against the militarys enlistment of men from this self-secluding corner of Israeli society.
For us, being in the army is worse than death," Roth said.
Israels ultra-Orthodox Jews, or Haredim as they prefer to be called, are at a critical juncture. So is the Israeli military, which, after a June Supreme Court ruling, is now aiming to draft some 3,000 Haredi men who had previously been exempted if they studied Jewish holy texts in religious seminaries full-time.
Despite the interest shown by young men like Wais, most Haredi leaders fear the military is a melting pot that will pull ultra-Orthodox men into mainstream Israeli culture. The military might soon have to decide how to handle large-scale draft dodging at a time when its struggle for additional manpower has been exacerbated by the nearly yearlong war in Gaza.
About 300 men from Haredi and religious backgrounds enlisted alongside Wais on Monday, a special day the military arranged for religious recruits. But most Haredim are still resisting draft, even with the deadline for their conscription expected by years end.
In mid-August, Israels military said only 48 of the first 900 ultra-Orthodox youths who received the court-mandated draft orders appeared at an induction center to complete their initial evaluations. In the past, most Haredi men would appear and receive an exemption, said Israel Cohen, a political commentator for a Haredi radio station. But the community is now hardening its position. Before the June court ruling only extremist fringes of Haredi society pushed men to avoid contact with the military, he said.
Today all of the Haredi mainstream says this," he said, referring to rabbinical leadership that leads Israels various Haredi communities. It is a de facto extreme step."
The debate around Haredi enlistment comes as the military struggles to boost its ranks, stretched by fighting in Gaza, on Israels northern border with Lebanon and in an expanding front in the West Bank. Last month the military said it was recalling thousands of discharged reservists back into service, and the Defense Ministry is pushing legislation to increase mandatory-service minimums and reserve-duty commitments.
The push is also igniting long-simmering tensions between ultra-Orthodox society and the largely secular Israeli state. Haredi communities argue they contribute to Israels Jewish soul and provide protection through prayer. Mainstream Israelis feel resentful that they leave the burden for building Israels economy and security to others.
There is a huge chunk of society for which nothings changed, Oct. 7 never happened," said Uri Keidar, who served as a reservist for five months in Gaza after the Hamas-led attack on Israel that day. He heads an Israeli civil-society organization that seeks to reduce religious sway over the state. The contrast is so stark at the moment," he said.
Haredi participation in broader Israeli society is an increasingly urgent matter. The group is one of the populations fastest-growing. Out of the 1.3 million ultra-Orthodox Jews living in Israel today, about 80,000 are men of draft age. By 2050, experts say ultra-Orthodox men will represent 41% of Israels potential draft base, putting further pressure on the issue for a solution.
Moti Kaminshtein, 27 and Haredi himself, is working to persuade his coreligionists to join the military.
I dont say that every Haredi has to enlist," he said. I say that enlisting in the army doesnt hurt being Haredi."
To avoid running afoul of rabbinical leadership, Kaminshtein and the program he works with dont push men still engaged in religious study. But he said he believes it is possible to remain Haredi while serving. We show them that there is a good way to do something good for Israel," he said.
Kaminshtein said he escorted about 150 men from ultra-Orthodox Jewish backgrounds to their enlistment on Monday with a group he runs called Tahles, which translates to bottom line.
Shortly before midnight on Sunday, the military told the conscripts to report the next morning to a park ground outside Tel Aviv to begin their enlistment procedures to head off harassment. The few who did walk through the bases gates were greeted by groups of Haredi protesters screaming traitor" and demanding they remove their kipotor skull capsmarkers for observant Jews.
The military has made some efforts over the years to attract ultra-Orthodox recruits, from creating special units for religious soldiers with support infrastructure to launching campaigns to entice men in under the premise it would help them build a career. But experts say that fewer than 2,000 soldiers today are from an ultra-Orthodox background, many of whom have subsequently become less religious.
They didnt really come," said Yossi Klar, who formerly served as a member of the militarys Haredi recruitment unit.
The war changed the militarys approach toward ultra-Orthodox recruits, which werent previously seen as a priority. Directives from the top pushed the Israel Defense Forces to redouble efforts to bring in Haredim, and made it more willing to put in the investment to accommodate their lifestyle. We got to the point that the IDF needs them and wants them," said a defense official involved with Haredi enlistment.
The official said that the military just opened two new programs for Haredi recruits, including the Air Force unit that Wais is joining. She said efforts to personally call Haredi youth and explain their options have boosted interest, but protests and social pressure remain obstacles. There is a will, but there is doubt," the official said.
It is still unclear how both Haredi youth and the military will handle widespread draft dodging. The militarys general process is to send about three appearance orders before beginning a legal procedure, and if someone is declared a deserter, they can be blocked from leaving Israel or arrested.
The tension, among Haredim and in the country at large, is unmistakable.
We are a state in war, in an existential war," said Wais, moments before boarding a bus to join the military.
Carrying placards decrying attempts to draw Haredi society into Israels mainstream, Roth and his fellow protesters said the same.
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, said Thursday that PM Narendra Modi should apologise to everyone in Maharashtra for the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue in Sindhudurg district. A 35-foot statue of the iconic Maratha warrior king, Shivaji Maharaj, collapsed at the Rajkot fort in Malvan tehsil of the district on August 26, nearly nine months after PM Narendra Modi unveiled it.
Speaking at a public meeting in Sangli, Rahul Gandhi asked what is PM Modi apologising for?" "is it because the contract to make the Shivaji statue was given to an RSS person who had no merit, or for the corruption in the process, or for disrespecting Shivaji Maharaj," Rahul Gandhi said. He said PM Modi should also apologise to the country for demonetisation, anti-farmer bills and GST.
The BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP coalition government in Maharashtra has come under fire over the collapse of the statue last month; the prime minister during his subsequent visit to the state said he apologised to the iconic king, his "deity", and also the people whose sentiments were hurt.
Leveraging this incident, Congress leaders launched a scathing attack on the NDA-ruled government in Maharashtra, sparking a political row.
Whatever the reason, the prime minister and the BJP are criminals of entire Maharashtra along with Shivaji Maharaj - they should apologise to every resident of the state for their behavior and corruption, he said.
The Sangli event was attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leaders Sushilkumar Shinde and Prithviraj Chavan, and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar. But ally Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray was conspicuous by his absence.
PM Modi should answer why all contracts are given only to Adani and Ambani and why he was running the government only for two people, Rahul Gandhi further said.
"Forgiveness is asked for when you make a mistake," the Congress leader added.
Hvaldimir, a celebrity white beluga whale, was recently found dead in southern Norway, leading to speculations and theories. Some animal rights groups are suggesting that the whale might have been intentionally killed.
OneWhale and NOAH have requested a criminal investigation, claiming there is strong proof that the whale had died from gunshot wounds.
Also Read | Thousands of whales swim with man in the Atlantic ocean | Watch
According to OneWhale, a nonprofit focused on safeguarding Hvaldimir and moving him to a wild beluga group, multiple expertsincluding vets, biologists, and ballistics specialistshave examined the evidence and concluded that a deliberate act caused the whale's death.
The injuries on the whale are alarming it is shocking it is crucial that the police are involved quickly. All facts must be brought to light regarding his death, said Siri Martinsen, veterinarian and leader of NOAH.
Also Read | Whale breach seen during Paris Olympics surfing semifinal competition in Tahiti
OneWhale founder Regina Haug spoke about her close relationship with the whale over the past five years.
When I saw his body, I immediately knew he had been killed by gunshots. I even saw a bullet lodged in his body. This kind, gentle animal was senselessly murdered. We will pursue justice for Hvaldimir and hope that someone comes forward with information about his killing, Haug said.
Hvaldimir became famous in 2019 after being seen with a custom harness, which led to rumours of his possible training by the Russian military, according to CNN. Now, with his sudden death, there are claims that he was potentially shot, adding a layer of mystery and concern about the true cause of his demise.
Kind of a celebrity The superintendent of the Southwestern Police District, Victor Fenne-Jensen, refused to comment about whether his department looked into the claims that the whale might be a spy from Russia.
I dont think weve had a case like this before, he told CNN while calling Hvaldimir kind of a celebrity.
Also Read | Viral video: Giant humpback whale jumps out of water in air
Royal Sundaram, a leading General Insurer in India, has announced a comprehensive rebrand that not only aligns the company's visual identity more closely with the Sundaram Group but also deeply reflects the Groups core values. With a heritage spanning over 70 years, the Sundaram Group has established itself as a trusted industry leader, anchored by an unwavering commitment to its core values across its family of brands. This evolution of the Royal Sundaram brand marks an exciting new chapter in the company's ongoing commitment to these core values within the Sundaram Group.
The rebrand includes an updated logo and colour palette that better reflects Royal Sundaram's commitment to Honesty and Openness. The streamlined design pays homage to the Sundaram Groups legacy, while the bolder colour palette reflects the vibrancy and prudence of Royal Sundarams approach.
The refreshed brand identity of Royal Sundaram goes beyond aesthetics, emphasising its cohesive relationship to the Group and a promise of transparency and fair play in all its endeavours, while at the same time ensuring that the core of the Royal Sundaram brand remains unchanged, viz., their dedication to service, reliability, and customer satisfaction. Through this evolution, Royal Sundaram wants to reemphasize its pursuit of building strong relationships with its customers, partners, and the broader industry, underpinned by a dedication to discipline and humility.
In addition to the visual updates, Royal Sundarams rebrand includes a complete refresh of the company's digital presence. These changes are designed to enhance the customer experience and ensure integrity in all interactions.
Royal Sundaram is confident that this evolution will help them better serve their customers and position the company to aim for even greater success and growth in the years to come.
Philo of Byzantium, an inventor of the third century BC, described how crushed gallnuts, dissolved in water, could make invisible ink. Technology has shaped spycraft for millennia, but today it is having an unprecedented effect. The internet enables covert action on a grand scale. Biometric border controls impede spies operating abroad. Smartphones haemorrhage secrets.
Some conclude that intelligence services in their current form are obsolete. Why steal secrets when open and commercial sources such as satellite imagery and phone-location data can expose mischief? Who needs human spooks when it is so hard to protect their identities and so easy to snoop digitally?
In truth, intelligence needs both the old and new ways. Human intelligence is getting harder, costlier and riskier. Yet, for all that, it remains essential. That is not just because there are still some things that only an agent can do, such as read the mood in the corridors of the Kremlin. It is also because human and technical operations are intertwined. When an unknown operator, presumably a state, recently attempted to insert a surreptitious backdoor into a vital piece of software called XZ Utils, they did so by spending years pretending to be a well-meaning volunteer on the project.
Public and commercial sources are increasingly valuable. Around 90% of NATOs intelligence on cyber threats now comes from private firms, for instance. But the real value is derived by blending open and secret sources. That is harder than it sounds. For good reason, spy agencies have long maintained a gap between the classified and unclassified worlds. Now it has to be bridged.
Intelligence services will need top-secret cloud servers. Currently these are built largely by American or Chinese firms, which spy agencies from most other countries do not trust. Within and between countries, those agencies will often want to share data that are now siloed. And they will need to experiment with artificial intelligence to exploit it all, balancing the hallucinatory habits of todays large language models against the huge promise of future ones.
Whereas the secret world once far outstripped the private sector, it is now often the reverse. Spy agencies will have to work with companies at the cutting-edge and recruit talent that may balk at the prospect of working in a windowless room without access to phones or the internet.
More broadly, a world in which digital technology has seeped into everythinginto everyones pockets, power plants and the cameras that watch over government buildingsis one in which access to data becomes central to the intelligence contest between America, China and other big powers. At the moment, that is a lopsided fight.
Chinese hackers hoover up data from around the world, giving them potential leverage over their adversaries. American and European intelligence services also collect a lot. But they are far more constrained by law. It is easier for a private firm to collect bulk data, such as phone-location logs, than for a state agency to do so.
Data brokers who buy and sell private data, often to law-enforcement and intelligence agencies, need tighter rules and a brighter light shone on their often murky business. States which bar their agencies from collecting and fusing data about rivals will blind themselves. But those that allow such activities without proper legal authority and robust oversight do not just stomp on individual rights, they also risk provoking a backlash, as after Edward Snowdens revelations in 2013.
It is tempting to dismiss the technologies of spycraft as just an entertaining diversion from real geopolitics. In fact, the two are intertwined. Americas interception of Russian war plans in 2021 allowed allies to prepare for the invasion of Ukraine that followed. Israels failure to foresee Hamass assault on October 7th was a national calamity. If China chooses to invade Taiwan, intelligence will be crucial to denying it the element of surprise. Forewarned is forearmed.
2024, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
This article has been changed to reflect that the Nez Perce County has $100,000 for the Lewiston-Nez Perce Regional Airport as a placeholder for any potential grants.
The Nez Perce County Commissioners passed its budget for 2025 for a total of $62.8 million.
Nez Perce County Auditor Patty Weeks said the budget was passed Tuesday night by county commissioners Don Beck, Doug Havens and Doug Zenner. While some of the changes to the budget were typical expenditures, some additions were made in response to situations that arose in 2024.
One was the result of the Gwen Fire, which burned areas in Nez Perce County in July.
We have found its a priority to improve communications with first responders, Weeks said.
The mountainous terrain of the area makes it difficult for cellphone service to connect firefighting efforts. The county is looking into purchasing a microwave simulcast repeater, a device that would transmit a signal using a GPS to avoid interference between radio sites. The cost for that device would be $640,000 but Nez Perce County has $440,000 so far and is looking at grants to fund the rest. That brings the cost of emergency communication to $3.04 million.
Do like Jesus did
Welcome to Idaho, now go home. Oh, youre one of those people. If it aint broke, dont fix it. Dont californicate Idaho.
We heard it all when we moved here 30 years ago.
We toughed it out and became contributing members of the community and raised our daughters here. And as people got to know us, we were accepted.
Im writing this letter because I believe in diversity, equity and inclusion. I believe that once you get to know someone, its easier to accept them.
A community culture is not static. Change happens. You have a choice in it.
I choose to give other people a chance, to get to know them, to walk a mile in their shoes. Were stronger together.
To label and judge and fear others is to live a sad life. We need new ideas to face the real challenges of this changing community and world. Everyone has something to offer.
Please consider that all of us came from another place and culture. Think about how you want to be treated. Remember the golden rule. If you want to call yourself a Christian, you need to advocate for others, like Jesus did.
This editorial was published in The Columbian of Vancouver, Wash.
Depending upon the survey, somewhere between one-third and one-half of American voters identify themselves as independents or members of a third political party. But in many states, those who have registered as independents are locked out of the primary election process.
Five states including Washington have truly open primaries in which candidates from all parties appear on the primary ballot, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election. Several other states have primary systems that allow for cross-party voting with some caveats.
A bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Rep. Marie Gluesen-kamp Perez, D-Skamania, would expand that system. The Let America Vote Act of 2024 would require states to adopt open primaries for federal and state elections.
Good ideas come from both sides of the aisle, so Americans shouldnt be denied the right to vote for the candidate of their choosing because they arent affiliated with a political party, Perez said in introducing the legislation in July.
Nick Troiano, executive director of Unite America, which supports election reform, said, By abolishing closed primaries nationwide, the Let America Vote Act represents the single greatest expansion of voting rights in a half-century, since the 26th Amendment lowered the voting age in 1971.
To Washington voters, all of this might sound like a solution in search of a problem. For more than a decade, we have not registered by party affiliation and have been allowed to vote for the best candidates regardless of party in primary elections. But common sense and academic studies suggest that partisan primaries contribute to political polarization. The system encourages extremism on both sides, often leaving centrist candidates without a political home in primary elections.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On September 5, MHERO Technology, the new energy off-roader manufacturer under Dongfeng Motor, announced a strategic charging partnership with NIO Power, allowing MHERO vehicles to access NIO's electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
MHERO 917; photo credit: Dongfeng Motor
Effective immediately, MHERO users can locate and utilize NIOs charging stations through the MHERO app and in-car systems, significantly improving convenience and charging efficiency. NIO Power offers a seamless, intelligent charging experience, allowing users to easily find stations, check prices, availability, and reviews in real-time through the NIO app, NIO Power app, and NIO's vehicle interface.
Designed for user convenience, NIO's lightweight charging cables can be operated with one hand and support plug-and-charge, password-free, and automatic payment features, providing an efficient and streamlined charging process for all users.
NIO has been rapidly expanding its energy replenishment network in 2024. Currently, over 80% of the energy provided by NIO's services is used by non-NIO brands' vehicles. The company has established charging interoperability with numerous car brands, including Huawei's Harmony lntelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA), Hongqi, DEEPAL, AION, IM Motors, ZEEKR, Lotus Cars, Cadillac, Buick, and XPENG.
On September 2, NIO announced the launch of its 2,500th battery swap station in China, located in Tongliao, Inner Mongolia. This marks the first such facility in the eastern part of Inner Mongolia, further expanding NIO's extensive battery swap network.
At the Chengdu Motor Show 2024, NIO's co-founder and president, Mr. Qin Lihong, unveiled plans to enhance the battery swap infrastructure along the 318 Sichuan-Xizang Highway. The company aims to add nine more stations to the existing five, ensuring complete coverage from Chengdu to Xizang.
On August 20, NIO announced the Power Up Counties plan to expand the charging and swapping network to counties across China, with the aim of providing convenient, efficient and extensive services.
According to this plan, NIO intends to achieve full battery swap coverage in 1,200 county-level regions across 14 provincial-level administrative divisions by June 30, 2025. The first phase will include Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Macao, Guangdong, Hubei, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, Henan, Sichuan, Anhui, and Fujian. By December 31, 2025, NIO plans to expand the coverage to 27 provincial-level regions, reaching over 2,300 counties.
Starting in 2026, NIO aims to complete the coverage in more than 2,800 counties nationwide, ensuring that its battery swap stations are accessible in virtually every county across China.
As of September 2, NIO has deployed 2,500 battery swap stations (838 stations located along expressways), 3,968 EV charging stations with 23,202 charging piles across China. Additionally, NIO has had access to over 1,038,000 third-party charging stalls.
A very serious situation: Volkswagen could close plants in Germany for the first time in history
School & Education, Crime
By Long Island Published: September 05 2024
A 911 caller reported a 15-year-old male student at Brennan High School threatened to shoot people at the school.
Suffolk County Police have arrested a Lindenhurst teenager after he made a threat of mass harm online on Wednesday afternoon.
A 911 caller reported a 15-year-old male student at Brennan High School, located at 550 Mount Ave., threatened during an online chat involving other students from the school, to shoot people at the school.
The threat was not made during school hours.
Following an investigation by Second Precinct Crime Section officers and Second Squad detectives, as well as First Precinct patrol officers, the 15-year-old, whose name is not being released due his age, was charged with Making a Threat of Mass Harm, a misdemeanor.
He was released into the custody of family and will be arraigned at Suffolk County Family Court on a later date.
A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Local News
By Chris Boyle Published: September 05 2024
It has been my tremendous privilege and a pleasure to give local student opportunities to serve the public and get an up-close view of local government in action, Drucker said.
Nassau County Legislature Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker (D Plainview) recently thanked his team of summer interns for their hard work on behalf of the residents of the 16th Legislative District.
During the program, students learned about the relationship between politics and government and the difference between the two; worked with legislative staff to address constituent issues; aided in the creation of content for Deputy Minority Leader Druckers social media platforms and assisted with the staging of community events, and more. Special emphasis was placed on developing planning, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Each of the four interns George Sekavec, Cory Wright, Chelsea Joseph and Rebecca Hernandez are current college students and returning participants in Deputy Minority Leader Druckers internship program, which is supervised by LD 16 Chief of Staff Sereine Cave-Leon.
Local News
By Chris Boyle Published: September 05 2024
The Salvation Army sends 200+ local children back to school with brand new backpacks, supplies, and confidence.
The new school year is here, but that doesnt mean summer fun needs to end. The Salvation Army Hempstead Corps is making sure that more than 200 local children return to school with high quality backpacks and school supplies. Along with the back-to-school donation, the Hempstead Corps is hosting a carnival with games, a giant inflatable obstacle course, a bouncy house, carnival foods, and more.
This program enables children to get the supplies they need, as well as the confidence to focus on learning. The donation and carnival event is an extension of the work the nonprofit does to support kids literacy and development throughout the school year. Students, parents, and Salvation Army representatives will be available for interviews.
WHERE: The Salvation Army Hempstead Corps Community Center, 65 Atlantic Ave, Hempstead, NY
WHEN: Saturday, September 7 from 1:00 to 3:30pm
ABOUT THE SALVATION ARMY GREATER NEW YORK DIVISION
An integral part of the community for 140+ years, The Salvation Army (TSA) Greater New York Division operates more than 100 community and social-service programs, consistently serving more than one million people annually regardless of race, religion, nationality, or sexual orientation. In 2023, TSA Greater NY Division served more than nine million meals. For more information, please visit www.salvationarmyny.org.
Local News
By Chris Boyle Published: September 05 2024
The initiative aims to transform post-summer perceptions & support efforts to boost year-round tourism business.
Discover Long Island, the regions only accredited tourism marketing organization announced the official rebranding of 'Tumbleweed Tuesday,' historically known as the quiet day after Labor Day, to 'Tourism Tuesday,' signaling a bold new chapter in the regions burgeoning year-round tourism industry. This announcement was made during a press conference on Tuesday at the historic Southampton Inn, where local officials, business leaders, and community members gathered to celebrate Long Islands record-shattering tourism achievements and to spotlight Discover Long Island's data-driven marketing efforts that are fostering industry growth during critical off-peak periods.
Based on recently released data from New York State's annual Tourism Economics report, travelers spent an unprecedented $7.5 billion across diverse sectors in the Long Island region in 2023, surpassing 2022s record-breaking spending of $6.6 billion by 12.7%. This level of growth places Long Island among top-tier metropolitan tourism destinations across the United States, right alongside cities like Anaheim, Dallas, Scottsdale, and Tampa Bay. Tourism-related employment also saw remarkable growth, with 76,227 jobs now attributed to the tourism sector, up from 72,606 jobs in the 2022 report.
"Today, we are not just closing the chapter on another summer season; we are celebrating a historic moment for Long Island's tourism industry," said Kristen Reynolds, President & CEO of Discover Long Island. "The rebranding of 'Tumbleweed Tuesday' to 'Tourism Tuesday' represents a strategic shift, reflecting our ongoing efforts to transform Long Island into a dynamic, year-round destination through innovative, data-driven marketing campaigns designed to boost visitation during traditionally slower seasons."
"This initiative recognizes that Long Island has so much to offer beyond the summer season, said Dede Gotthelf, Owner of the Southampton Inn. For local businesses out on the East End, this type of strategic effort is essential not just for attracting visitors but for sustaining operations and keeping staff employed year-round. Its about showcasing that the charm, beauty, and experiences of Long Island are available in every season, making it a must-visit destination all year long."
With the new North Fork Arts Center, events like the holiday tree lighting, music, film, parades, and more, the historic village of Greenport is the perfect winter destination for fun and festivities for all, said Greenport Mayor Kevin Stuessi.
Record-Breaking Tourism Growth
The press conference highlighted new data from New York State's Tourism Economics report, which showcases Long Island's unprecedented growth in the tourism sector. Highlights include:
Visitor Spending: $7.5 billion in 2023, a 12.7% increase over the previous year.
Tourism Jobs: Long Island now supports over 76,000 tourism-related jobs, the strongest recovery in the state.
Economic Impact: Suffolk County saw a 15.6% increase in overall tourism spending.
Tax Revenue: Tourism generated $900 million in state and local taxes, equating to a savings of $932 per household.
According to a separate report highlighting 2023 Travel USA Visitor Profiles by Longwoods International, Long Island received 41.8 million visitors in 2023. Of that 41.8 million visitors, 18.7 million, or 45%, are overnight trip visitors, and 23.1 million, or 55%, are day trip visitors.
Discover Long Island will continue to build on this momentum by implementing innovative and data-driven marketing strategies geared towards targeted audiences that position Long Island as a year-round destination. Utilizing cutting edge technology and tapping into consumer trends to build on the success of its award-winning campaigns, Discover Long Island aims to keep Long Island at the forefront of travelers' minds, ensuring sustainable and equitable growth for the destination.
Strategic Off-Season Marketing Initiatives
The tourism organization has implemented a series of sophisticated marketing strategies to boost off-season visitation. Last years winter campaign generated 25.8 million impressions, with a new investment of over $300,000 expected to drive even greater engagement this year. Highlights of their winter season strategies include:
Holiday Season Marketing: High-impact campaigns in New York City during peak holiday times, when the city receives over 6 million global visors between Thanksgiving and New Years, including digital billboards in Times Square and ads in taxis and Broadway playbills, position Long Island as a premier winter destination for an extended stay in town or a quick getaway.
Geo-Fencing: Targeted digital and social media ads around holiday hotspots like Bryant Park to attract New York City residents and international visitors to explore Long Islands winter landscapes.
Short Flight Long Island Campaign: Capitalizing on new direct flight routes to Long Island MacArthur Airport, encouraging those visiting friends and relatives for the holidays to explore Long Island during the off-season while supporting the new flights.
Corporate Bookings: Discover Long Islands sales team secured corporate bookings that generated over $26 million in economic impact during critical off-season periods in 2022 and remains dedicated to this effort.
Sustained Growth: The rebranding of Tumbleweed Tuesday supports a broader strategy to ensure Long Island remains a vibrant destination throughout the year, benefiting local businesses and communities.
Turning on the Off Season
The event concluded with the symbolic 'flipping of the switch' to "turn on the off-season," illuminating a newly unveiled neon sign. This gesture represents the exciting future of Long Island's tourism, where every season is filled with opportunity, excitement, and growth.
"Shoulder seasons, particularly fall, have now become a peak season for a significant portion of East End businesses. Were seeing a shift where the colder months, long considered quiet, are now vibrant with activity and new economic growth, Reynolds continued. This renaming initiative isnt just a change in terminology were reflecting a new reality. By changing the narrative around 'Tumbleweed Tuesday,' we are not only changing perceptions but actively supporting our local communities and businesses, ensuring they thrive throughout the year."
Read the full story on The Auto Wire
Atlanta Street Takeover Guy Cries While Getting Arrested
The street takeover crowd loves talking tough and acting like big men constantly we know this from experience but theyre really all just big soft marshmallows on the inside. Recently the City of Atlanta Police Department shared video proof of this when an officer busted a street takeover participant as he was gassing up his BMW M4. Its a thing of true beauty.
Watch a trooper in Arkansas bust a left lane camper.
At first, 22-year-old Nathaniel Adike was the cool guy sliding his Bimmer around a city intersection, all his friends whooping and hollering while taking photos and video they can post on social media. That right there fuels these street takeovers as the kids want online clout chasing some dream career as an influencer or whatever.
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Police had been noting the rather distinct M4 for a while, thanks in part to those social media posts. Were constantly amazed how many people document their illegal activity online, handing evidence over to authorities. Its cute how they do half the work for cops and prosecutors.
A Sergeant Epps whos part of the departments Auto Crimes Enforcement Unit caught wind of a takeover event on August 25. While waiting for backup to come and break up the illegal gathering, he spotted the BMW driving away and decided to follow.
And wouldnt you know it, Adike pulled into a gas station to refuel his baby. But as Sergeant Epps pulled up with his lights on, the street takeover star suddenly was struck with a case of stage fright, acting like he isnt a social media icon who goes through tires on the regular.
Cops are wise to the playing dumb routine, trust us. That didnt throw off Sergeant Epps at all, who proceeded to order Adike out of the car, cuffed him, and placed the guy under arrest.
Sitting in the back of the cruiser, likely realizing his BMW was being seized and he was going to face other consequences, the waterworks started to flow. Maybe the guy didnt realized theres a camera pointed at the backseat of all cruisers and/or that the police department likes mocking criminals on its Facebook page.
Story continues
Weve shared the video, which also details out how Adike has been charged with Participation in Street Racing and Alteration of a License Plate. We wonder if hell cry in court, too.
Image via City of Atlanta Police Department/Facebook
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Read the full article on Motorious
It resulted in them reporting the dealership to the state.
A senior couple from Acworth, Georgia, is sounding the alarm over what they describe as a deceptive transaction with Dream Auto Collection, a South Florida car dealership. Jeanne Clark and Steve Hawes paid $15,000 for a rare, low-mileage 2003 Lexus LS, only to find themselves without a car and without responses to their refund requests.
Read more from Motorious here.
Clark and Hawes discovered the vehicle on Dream Auto Collections website and saw it as a perfect match for Clark's existing 2001 Lexus LS. According to Hawes, they interacted with a man named Sebastian Merfea, who promised that the car would be delivered to them once their check cleared. Not only did they not receive the car, but they later found out it had been registered to another buyer in Kennesaw, Georgia, just days after their check had been cashed.
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In a twist to the tale, Merfea texted the couple claiming that the car had power steering issues needing a $5,000 repair, promising a different car in exchange. However, the person who actually received the Lexus confirmed to Local 10 News that the car had no such issues.
When Local 10 News visited Dream Auto Collection in Hollywood, Florida, co-owner Alex denied the couple's allegations, calling them "impossible." Interestingly, when confronted on the phone, Merfea was unable to explain the whereabouts of the vehicle. Alex promised to resolve the situation but failed to provide any further details.
The couple has since filed a police report and is considering additional steps, including contacting the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, which licenses and investigates dealerships.
Their unfortunate experience serves as a warning to prospective car buyers to thoroughly research dealerships and exercise due diligence before making any large financial commitments. In the meantime, Clark and Hawes are insisting on an immediate refund via cashier's check, hoping to close a chapter they describe as a 'nightmare.'
Source: Local 10
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Brian May, lead guitarist for legendary rock band Queen, revealed that a minor stroke left him unable to play for about a week.
May, 77, detailed the recent health scare in a video posted to his website and social media on Wednesday, Sept. 4.
The musician started the video by saying that he can play guitar after the events of the last few days.
I say this because it was in some doubt because that little health hiccup that I mentioned happened about a week ago, May recounted.
The musician said the stroke caused him to lose control of his left arm all of a sudden, adding that it was a little scary. But May reassured fans that he is OK and is following doctors orders.
[Im] just doing what Im told, which is basically nothing, he said. Im grounded. Im not allowed to go out well Im not allowed to drive, not allowed to get on a plane, not allowed to raise the heart rate too high, not allowed to have planes flying over, which will stress me. But Im good.
May originally didnt want to tell people about the incident because he didnt want sympathy.
"Please dont do that [because] itll clutter up my inbox and I hate that, the musician said.
However, that didnt stop fans from filling the comments section of Mays Instagram post with supportive messages.
Love you so much, dear Brian. I write you from my hospital room where Ive had a week long hiccup, one person wrote. At our age we really never know what might happen suddenly. You, my love, have kept yourself in admirable condition. That helps your body survive these hiccups. Im so proud of you. Get better, as will I, and well compare battle scars later.
Youre going to live to 150 at least, so take this in your stride, another comment reads. We love you, Brian.
May also thanked the staff at Frimley Hospital, located in Camberley, United Kingdom, for their fantastic care and attention.
May, a founding member of Queen, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 alongside bandmates John Deacon, Roger Taylor and the late Freddie Mercury. May and Taylor have continued to perform as Queen since Mercury died in 1991.
A 13-year-old girl who was hit by a car in Worcester in July woke up from her coma on Sunday, according to a GoFundMe.
Ayuen Leet was hit crossing the street at 164 Shrewsbury St. at around 3:51 p.m. Monday, July 29, according to the Worcester Police Department. Worcester Police believe she was hit by a Buick.
By the time police arrived, paramedics, firefighters and an off-duty police officer had begun providing medical aid to the girl, according to a statement from Worcester Police. The girl was taken to a hospital.
The driver involved in the crash remained on scene and was cited for speeding, police told WCVB.
On Sunday, the GoFundMe was updated to say Ayuen had woken up from her coma and was headed to rehab on Tuesday.
She still has a long road ahead of her and her family is so grateful for the love and support from the community, the GoFundMe read.
The teen attended Sherwood Middle School and had recently moved to Worcester from South Sudan, according to a GoFundMe.
The teens family has taken time off work to support their daughter and now must pay for her medical expenses, according to the post. A GoFundMe was set up to help them financially while meals could be donated through Meal Train.
A 20-year-old man was identified by Boston Police as the person who died in a shooting at a Dorchester barbershop on Monday.
Elijah Ricardo Clunie, of Dorchester, died Monday after a shooting at 184 Washington St.
Around 12:55 p.m. Monday, Deputy Superintendent Paul McLaughlin said there was a shooting where two people had been shot near the intersection of Washington and Erie streets.
Paramedics treated the men at the scene before they were taken to a hospital, McLaughlin said. One of the men was declared dead at a hospital, and the other was found to have non-fatal injuries.
Officials said Wednesday the second man is expected to survive.
Investigators do not believe the shooting was random, McLaughlin said. Officers canvassed the area for witnesses and security footage that might have captured the shooting Monday afternoon.
The two men were inside Exclusive Barber Shop which is located near the intersection when they were shot, WCVB reported. Police believe they were customers at the barbershop.
Homicide detectives are asking the public for help in investigating the shooting. Anyone with information about the shooting, who witnessed it or might have video of the scene is asked to call them at 617-343-4470. Anonymous tips can be submitted to police by calling 1-800-494-TIPS.
Additionally, officials said anyone who needs support can call Boston Neighborhood Trauma Team (NTT) for free at 617-431-0125.
Summer is officially ending and heating season is upon us.
The final day for landlords to keep the air conditioning on in Massachusetts is Sunday, Sept. 15. That means for many apartments without window units, landlords will switch over from air conditioning to heat for the cold winter months.
The change isnt based on yearly temperatures. Instead, it changes based on a set day.
If youre living in a large building or even a semi-large building with an HVAC system, its not always easy to switch between cooling and heat, Ethan Masscoop, a clinical instructor in environmental health at Boston University, told GBH.
The local boards of health can decide to change the date of heating season, instead starting on Sept. 30. Temperatures also should not exceed 78 degrees, the state clarified.
Air conditioning will then turn back on starting May 31.
That means officially we have three months of spring, summer, and fall in Massachusetts, Mass Landlords, a non-profit for owners and managers of Massachusetts residential real estate, states on its website. The rest is legally considered the dead of winter!
Prior to April 2023, heating season lasted until June 15, meaning landlords couldnt turn on air conditioning until then.
Mass Landlords said they worked to change the date in response to climate change.
Representative Bud Williams told Western Mass. News he hopes one day every tenant will have their own A/C unit.
I understand the frustration, Williams told the news outlet. When youre in those apartments and it gets to 90 and youre there, doesnt matter if its for one day or two days and you have to live through it and bear through, its almost unbearable.
RALEIGH, N.C.Earlier this year, North Carolina lawmakers adopted House Bill (HB) 971 with the support of Gov. Roy Cooper, a moderate Democrat.
Adopted with broad support in both chambers of the Republican-controlled North Carolina General Assembly, HB 971 is a sweeping measure that overhauls human trafficking prevention measures statewide. This includes amending existing criminal statutes to make soliciting a sex worker for their services a felony charge.
Sex workers who are legally defined by North Carolina criminal statutes as prostitutes and engaging in the act of prostitution are shielded from charges. This type of regulatory and criminal regime over consensual sex work emulates the so-called Nordic model, also known as the Equality model, that only punishes sex buyers.
These portions of HB 971 enter force on December 1, 2024, while the remainder of the overhauled human trafficking laws enter force next summer.
AVN has previously reported on how HB 971 bans the viewing of pornography on government-owned devices and broadband networks. However, the Nordic model provisions were buried in the engrossed law. Yes Weekly, an alternative weekly newspaper based in Greensboro, N.C., recently highlighted these provisions.
The weekly's journalist for the report, Ian McDowell, obtained comments from an anonymous sex worker operating in the Greensboro area.
"These laws conflate coercion with agency and in doing so, remove the acknowledgment of agency for all sex workers who choose their profession," the unnamed sex worker told McDowell. "Presuming victimhood for all sex workers is inaccurate and inhumane.
Blair Hopkins, the executive director of SWOP Behind Bars, told AVN something similar when asked about her organization's reaction to the increased penalties.
"Legislation that affects sex workers should be informed by those with lived experience, and by experts in agencies who do direct-client service provision, not by people whose livelihoods depend on trading moral panic for cheap political gains," said Hopkins, explaining that there is no human rights or civil liberties basis.
Non-governmental organizations from all over the world have criticized Nordic model laws, including criminalizing and overcriminalizing consensual sex work transactions. For example, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) supports total decriminalization.
"Sex workers deserve the same legal protections as anybody else," the ACLU wrote in an issue brief published in July 2023. "Decriminalization would help bring sex workers out of the dangerous margins and into the light where people are protectednot targetedby the law."
There is also a bevy of academic and practical evidence to suggest Nordic model regulation makes sex work much more dangerous.
For example, a study of European laws published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Law and Economics in 2023 concluded that decriminalization and total legalization led to lower incidence rates of sexual assault in legal environments where Nordic and criminalization models are in place.
viewpoint article published in 2017 in the American Medical Association's peer-reviewed AMA Journal of Ethics also characterized decriminalization as a key public policy factor to effectively combat human and sex trafficking in the United States.
"When demand is constrained by criminal liability, the basic laws of supply-and-demand dictate that the supply side is the one having to make concessions," Hopkins added. "Which is to say, those trading sex are put at a 'market' disadvantage and are more likely to be coerced into riskier terms and lower prices."
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International all support decriminalization
Other groups backing decriminalization include some agencies of the United Nations and the World Health Organization.
A Malden man was sentenced on Tuesday in Boston federal court after he and others robbed two spas and beat and duct-taped the victims, federal authorities said.
Li Wen Tang, 33, was sentenced to 78 months, or 6.5 years, in prison with three years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery affecting commerce in April, acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy said in a statement.
The guilty plea came after a jury convicted Alfeu Barbosa a co-defendant in March for the same crime, the statement said. Barbosa was arrested and charged in June 2022.
Tang and Jonas Nunez another co-defendant were arrested and charged in August and September 2022 respectively. A federal grand jury later indicted all three people.
Tang went into the Balance Reflexology Spa in Brookline on June 12, 2022, around 8:51 p.m. pretending to be a customer looking for a massage, federal prosecutors said.
The victim was the only employee in the spa that night, so she locked the door before taking Tang into the back room for a massage, federal prosecutors added. Tang asked if other people were in the spa, and if so, he wanted to meet them.
Right after the massage started, Tang said he didnt want one anymore because his stomach hurt and asked for a refund, prosecutors said. The victim said she had to call her boss to approve a refund. But while she was on the phone, Tang unlocked the front door and two men wearing masks later identified as Barbosa and Nunez walked inside carrying guns.
One of the men hit the victim in the face, knocking her down and putting a gun to her head, the prosecutors said. Barbosa and Nunez pulled her by her hair into the back hallway and told her to be quiet. They then tied her hands and ankles with duct tape and gagged her while asking her Where is the money?
The men trashed the spa for about three minutes before they found and stole about $500 along with the victims work phone and then left the spa, prosecutors said. Surveillance footage showed all three men came to the spa in the same vehicle that was parked nearby and they drove away together after the robbery.
Later that same day, around 10:19 p.m., Barbosa, Nunez and someone close to Barbosa robbed Mays Spa Massage in Stoneham, prosecutors said. Like the spa in Brookline, the men also walked in wearing masks, carrying guns and duct-taped the spas victims. They stole about $600 in cash from the spa and the victims and took three phones that belonged to the three female victims, their licenses, gift cards and credit and debit cards before leaving in the same vehicle.
Nunez pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 23 months, or 1.9 years, in prison in April and three years of supervised release, Levys office said. Barbosa was convicted by a federal jury and sentenced to 121 months, or 10 years, in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.
A Haitian national will soon have to face a federal judge after he was accused of abusing a child in Mansfield in late August, according to federal authorities.
Akim Marc Desire, 18, was arrested and charged with assault and battery on a child under 14 on Aug. 28 by Mansfield police officers, immigration authorities said.
Desire came to the U.S. legally on June 4, 2023, but he violated the terms of his stay, authorities said.
Akim Marc Desire allegedly victimized a minor member of our Massachusetts community, [Enforcement and Removal Operations] Boston Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons said in a statement. We cannot tolerate such potentially dire threat to the welfare of children in our community. ERO Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing egregious noncitizen offenders from our New England neighborhoods.
Desire was arraigned in the Attleboro District Court on Aug. 29, ICE said. Officers from the Boston chapter of Enforcement and Removal Operations arrested Desire at the court on Aug. 30 and handed him papers to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge.
According to authorities, Desire remains in federal custody.
A Massachusetts corrections officer has been suspended without pay after he was accused of raping a woman in the prison and buying underwear for inmates, according to the Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryans office.
Joao Gomes, 49, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, was indicted in Woburn Superior Court and arrested Wednesday. He is charged with four counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault and battery. He is also charged with three counts of delivering articles to prisoners in a corrections institution.
He was working as a correctional officer at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution in Framingham.
Gomes was placed on paid leave starting May 13. He was then suspended without pay after he was arrested on Sept. 4.
In 2020, the police reform law included that law enforcement officers who have sex with or indecently assault a person in custody can be charged with rape or indecent assault and battery.
The Massachusetts Department of Correction harshly condemns these deeply disturbing allegations, an egregious violation of a correction officers duty to ensure the safety and security of those entrusted to DOCs care. The Department does not tolerate any form of sexual abuse or harassment, a Department of Corrections spokesperson said in a statement. We remain committed to preventing, detecting, and responding to any such conduct and will aggressively pursue justice for victims of abuse. Immediately upon becoming aware of the allegations, the Department promptly placed the employee on leave, launched an internal investigation, and referred the matter to the Middlesex County District Attorneys Office for review.
This is the first case in Middlesex County charged under the updated statute.
According to the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) dashboard (click here if you cant see the dashboard above), there was one substantiated staff-inmate sexual harassment case, five unsubstantiated and 19 unfounded claims in 2023. The same year, there were eight unsubstantiated sexual abuse claims of an inmate by a staff member, contractor or volunteer and 51 unfounded claims. There are still five sexual abuse claims involving a staff member, contractor or volunteer under investigation.
The year before, there were no substantiated staff-inmate sexual harassment cases or sexual abuse claims. However, there were 10 unsubstantiated and 22 unfounded sexual harassment claims and 10 unsubstantiated and 38 unfounded sexual abuse claims.
In 2021, there was one substantiated staff-inmate sexual harassment case and two substantiated staff-inmate sexual abuse cases. And in 2020, there were three substantiated staff-inmate sexual abuse cases.
While a recount still seems possible, votes in the 25th Middlesex District race now favor incumbent Democrat state Rep. Marjorie Decker despite challenger Evan MacKay already proclaiming victory.
The race between the 12-year incumbent and the labor organizer has Decker ahead with 3,472 votes (50.3%) while MacKay has 41 fewer votes, at 3,431 (49.7%), according to unofficial Associated Press results.
Recounts can be requested if the margin of victory is not more than half of 1% of the votes cast for the office, according to Massachusetts state law.
Were either campaign to demand a recount, it would need to submit enough signatures by Friday, Secretary of State William Galvins office told the Boston Globe.
Decker has not conceded the race, and told supporters on Tuesday that shes not going away, trust me, according to the Globe.
But MacKay declared victory early Tuesday night and told supporters Our movement has won this election, while at a bar in Cambridge.
Democratic consultant Jay Cincotti said MacKays declaration was irresponsible, the Globe reported.
Were certainly encouraged by what the elections commission announced today but we want to give the process time to work itself out, Cincotti told the newspaper on Wednesday. ... Were not going to declare victory until this entire process is over.
Decker served 14 years on the Cambridge City Council before she was elected to the Legislature .
She worked as a teacher and then was executive director of the Equal Justice Coalition before joining the City Council in 1999. Gun safety, tackling climate change, labor and worker rights and maternal health and reproductive rights are among her areas of focus, according to her website .
A Cambridge resident, MacKay is also a pro-democracy organizer and a Harvard teaching fellow, according to their profile on Ballotpedia .
They also are a Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commissioner and the former president of the Harvard Graduate Students Union, according to their campaign website.
(*This story was updated at 2:20 p.m., on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, to include comments from Babson College President Stephen Spinelli.)
Babson College, a private institution in Wellesley, beat out the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University to earn second place in The Wall Street Journals new ranking of the 2025 best colleges in the United States.
Babson placed 10th in the 2024 ranking from the publication.
I will tell you, I got the ranking at 9:30 last night didnt sleep a lot, Babson College President Stephen Spinelli told MassLive with a smile.
Spinelli told MassLive that while he was excited about last years ranking, he knew the college could improve.
The natural, I think, response to that is, how do we get better? It is also part of the Babson ethos of aspiration good, better, best, never, ever, rest, Spinelli said.
The improved ranking is expected to help Babson increase the number of applicants and partners who might be interested in working with Babson through alternative educational models such as asynchronous learning or part-time programs, Spinelli said.
Theres so many ways to serve the learning needs of society, Spinelli said.
While Spinelli said it will be more difficult to improve from the second spot, he said the college will continue to strive to do better and stay in the top 10.
But it isnt all about the rankings, Spinelli said. He said Babson believes continually improving is the right thing to do.
Thats what higher education should be doing for learners and with learners, Spinelli said.
Princeton University earned first place in the rankings. Babson is followed by Stanford University, which took third. Yale University took fourth, Claremont McKenna College took fifth followed by Massachusetts institutions MIT and Harvard University.
Spinelli said Boston is an epicenter of higher education. He said he has almost boundless respect for other Massachusetts institutions.
However, what set Babson apart from them might have been the institutions competitive advantage in having a focused value proposition, he said.
Where some other colleges or universities have broad programs and sometimes theres competing Interests, we can stay super laser-focused, Spinelli said.
The Wall Street Journal praised Babson College for its emphasis on hands-on experiences with opportunities for experiential learning.
One example the publication referenced was a mandatory class in which students create startups in groups during their first two semesters of college and use a loan of up to $3,000 from the college.
The publication also pointed to the colleges ability to prepare students for unexpected challenges and create entrepreneurial leaders.
Ninety-eight point six percent of undergraduate students from the Class of 2023 were employed, continued their education or were involved in volunteer, military or service programs six months after graduation, according to the college.
Starting salaries for the class averaged $75,579 a year.
The Wall Street Journal evaluates colleges based on:
Student outcomes (70%). This includes how the college has boosted its graduates salaries (33%), the years it takes to pay off the net price of the institution (17%), and the graduation rate impact (20%).
Learning environments (20%). This includes the opportunity for learning opportunities (4%), the preparation for a career (4%), student satisfaction with the colleges learning facilities (4%), whether students would recommend their college (4%) and whether students feel the college has developed character strengths (4%).
Diversity (10%). This includes student satisfaction with and frequency of interacting with students from different backgrounds (10%), the ethnic diversity of the institution (1.7%), the inclusion of lower-income students (1.7%) and the inclusion of students with disabilities (1.7%).
Spinelli said that while he was a bit surprised by earning a second place spot in the rankings, he said he had a feeling they would climb in the rankings due to improving in job placement, students post-graduation salaries, career advancement and graduation rates.
Were being very intentional about your career. Were here to prepare you to go be a leader in business. I believe very clearly that entrepreneurship is an important pathway to that leadership and that success, Spinelli said.
AMHERST Spurred by mass arrests after an anti-war protest in May, a task force created by the University of Massachusetts Amherst chancellor has released a report with recommendations for policies and procedures and guidelines for campus demonstrations.
The Campus Demonstration Policy Taskforce began its work in June, following the arrest of over 130 people during pro-Palestinian protests last spring. Chancellor Javier Reyes made the decision to call in police forces from a number of agencies to put down the unsanctioned protest over the war in Gaza.
Within the report are a series of recommendations guided by complicated questions ..., Reyes said in his email addressed to the UMass community Wednesday. ... such as how do we ensure that in exercising rights protected by the First Amendment, we do not infringe the rights of others? How do we address civil disobedience in our governance? And how do we respond in a way that is aligned with our values when policies or laws are violated?
With President Joe Biden out of the race, and Vice President Kamala Harris leading the Democratic ticket, young voters in the states that will decide the election are making their voices heard.
And theyre making them heard for Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, according to a U.S. News/Generation Lab poll out Thursday.
Two-thirds (65%) of respondents to the poll of voters aged 18-34 in seven, key battleground states said theyd support Harris over former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee.
Trump took 35% support among that same cohort, according to the poll.
Thats a gap thats 12 points greater than the respective gap between Biden and Trump when Biden was the presumptive Democratic nominee, according to the poll.
These younger voters, who played a central role in Bidens win in 2020 , and the Democrats strong showing in the pivotal 2022 midterms , are once again expected to play a central role in 2024 .
Eighty-two percent of the polls respondents said they strongly agree or agree that Biden made the right call when he exited the race and handed the baton to Harris.
And they say theyre more likely to vote in the Nov. 5 election now that Harris is the partys nominee.
Our poll shows that younger Americans are with Vice President Harris and Gov. Walz in several of the swing states that will tip the balance of power and many intend to voice their support at the voting booth in November, Dafna Linzer, U.S. News editorial director and executive vice president, said in a statement.
While the national polls show a tight race that either candidate could win, support is clearly growing for the Democratic ticket among this key voting bloc, Linzer said.
Harris also got a bump by adding Walz, who went viral for calling Trump and running mate J.D. Vance weird for her No. 2.
Thirty-nine percent of respondents said they were much more or somewhat more likely to vote for Harris since her decision last month to pick Walz, compared to 13% who said they were much less or somewhat less likely to support her.
There was no such bump for Vance, who has polarized voters with his comments about women who choose not to have children.
Just 15% said they were more likely to vote for Trump since he tapped Vance as his veep pick, compared to 30% who said they were much less or somewhat less likely to vote for him.
Among that cohort who said they were less inclined to vote for Trump because of Vance, 18% said they felt he didnt understand or represent them, according to the poll.
From Aug. 25 to Sept. 3, pollsters sampled the opinions of 2,003 young voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Ohio. The poll had a margin of error of 2.2%.
Massachusetts two United States senators have called for Steward Health Cares controversial CEO to be held in contempt if he fails to appear on Capitol Hill for a hearing next week.
Stewards boss, Dr. Ralph de la Torre, has said hes going to ignore a subpoena ordering him to appear before the U.S. Senates Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, which is probing the Dallas-based companys financial collapse.
The panel is scheduled to meet in Washington on Sept. 12. Lawmakers plan to hold a seat open for de la Torre, just as they did when he skipped a hearing on Beacon Hill earlier this year.
During a press conference in Boston on Thursday, Democratic U.S. Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren vowed that de la Torre would be held accountable for the chains bankruptcy, even as they said he and other executives enriched themselves and lived a high-flying lifestyle.
Steward owns hospitals in Massachusetts and other states. Three of its Bay State facilities since have closed, and others are in the process of being sold to new owners.
Ralph de la Torre has shown contempt for our health care system, now the U.S. Senate must bring contempt charges, Markey, who sits on the Senate panel, and chairs one of its subcommittees, said.
Warren, who has been a vocal critic of Stewards private equity owners, and has joined Markey in calling for reform and increased oversight, noted that subpoenas from congressional committees are exceedingly rare.
But it is not an invitation. It is an order, the Cambridge Democrat said.
Markey and Warren were joined at Wednesdays news conference by U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, D-3rd District, who represents communities with Steward hospitals, including Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer, which shut down over the weekend.
Carney Hospital in Dorchester also closed.
Labor leaders representing nurses and other workers across the Steward system also were in attendance.
Through his attorney, de la Torre shot down the Senate committees request on Wednesday, denouncing it as a pseudo-criminal proceeding, that would be used not to gather facts, but to convict [him] in the eyes of public opinion.
Through that same attorney, de la Torre asked for the hearing to be delayed until the companys bankruptcy proceedings, which started in May, and continue to wend their way through the courts, are finished.
In July, Markeys committee voted to authorize an investigation into the companys bankruptcy and to subpoena de la Torre.
On Thursday, Markey could not offer a concrete timeline for a vote on a possible contempt resolution, which would have to clear his committee and get a vote from the full U.S. Senate.
Nor could Markey say whether it would be a criminal or civil resolution.
He did say, however, that Democrats were working across the aisle with the committees Republicans on the issue.
Were working with Republicans to send the strongest possible message, Markey said, adding that lawmakers will determine the best pathway over the course of the next week.
The Senate panels ranking GOP member, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., has Steward facilities in his state, Markey noted.
The Senate should enforce its subpoena with a contempt resolution, Warren said. If he continues to resist, federal marshals can arrest him, and bring him before the committee.
U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, D-3rd District., speaks during a news conference at the John F. Kennedy Federal Building in Boston, on Thursday. Trahan and other lawmakers were addressing the financial collapse of Steward Health Care (John L. Micek/MassLive).John L. Micek
While her Senate colleagues have been working on Capitol Hill to pursue regulatory fixes to prevent future Steward-style meltdowns, Trahan said shes been working on the local level with those directly impacted by the bankruptcy.
Trahans district also includes Holy Family Hospital, which has campuses in Methuen and Haverhill.
Those facilities, along with Nashoba Valley, are pillars of our communities that hardworking families depend on for health care.
When that access is threatened, its not just an inconvenience, its a matter of life and death, she said. Steward knew this, but decided to prioritize profit over care.
In a statement, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey tore into de la Torre, saying the hospital executive lived a life of luxury at the expense of workers and patients at his Steward hospitals.
His refusal to testify before the Senate is shameful, but it follows his pattern of complete disregard for his responsibilities, Healey continued. The people of Massachusetts deserve answers. Im grateful to [Sens.] Markey and Warren for their continued efforts to hold Ralph de la Torre accountable.
Thursdays news conference came as a federal bankruptcy court in Texas gave Steward the green light to sell six of its Massachusetts-based facilities.
Judge Christopher Lopez ruled Wednesday that Boston Medical Center can buy St. Elizabeths Medical Center and Good Samaritan Medical Center, The Boston Globe reported.
The judge also authorized Lifespan Health Systems acquisition of St. Annes Hospital and Morton Hospital, and Lawrence General Hospitals purchase of Holy Family Hospital, the newspaper reported.
Steward announced last week that it had reached purchase agreements for Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton and St. Elizabeths Medical Center in Brighton, MassLive previously reported.
The Healey administration also announced the takeover deals for Rhode Island-based Lifespan Corporation and Lawrence General Hospital for its respective Steward properties.
Healeys office has said that UMass Memorial Health could convert Nashobas shuttered emergency room into an urgent care facility.
When it comes to the fall U.S. Senate campaign pitting Democratic incumbent Sen. Elizabeth Warren against Republican cryptocurrency lawyer John Deaton, two things can be true at the same time.
First, its true that Deaton, of Swansea, who coasted to a win in Tuesdays GOP primary election, will face an uphill battle against Warren of Cambridge, a deeply entrenched and well-funded pol, whos running for a third term in heavily Democratic Massachusetts.
Read More: Results from the 2024 Massachusetts primary election Tuesday
But it also is the case that the race might not be a romp for Warren.
Its already shaping up to be an expensive, competitive, and aggressive one, as the rhetorical barbs fired between the two camps in the hours after the polls closed Tuesday made clear.
Democrats have attacked Deatons residency and his ties to the cryptocurrency industry. Deaton has painted Warren as out-of-touch with Bay State voters.
And, in a time-honored rite of campaign season, theres already a debate over, well, debates.
More on the latter in a minute. First up, the crypto-question.
Deaton entered Tuesdays three-way primary contest against conservative activist Robert Antonellis and Quincy City Council President Ian Cain buoyed by a wave of cash from the cryptocurrency industry.
Deaton defended tech firm Ripple Inc. in a high-profile court fight with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. The SEC accused Ripple of selling XRP in an unregistered security offering, according to Investopedia.
In his memoir, Food Stamp Warrior, Deaton explained his support for, and interest in, cryptocurrency, saying the industrys story is one much like my own: it is a story of survival and evolution, not just for the few but for the many.
The more I learned about it, the more I realized that our entire financial world sat on a precipice. This was something important, he wrote. A whole new world was about to be born, and the powers that be did not want us to know about it.
The industry took note, pumping serious cash, in the form of direct contributions and super PAC support, into Deatons campaign.
Warren, meanwhile, is an avowed critic. So the industry is looking to replace what it sees as a hostile regulatory voice with a far friendlier one.
... The SEC, under its current chair, Gary Gensler, has asserted that most cryptocurrencies are securities that need to be registered as such. And the industry has not done this, Lee Reiners, a lecturing fellow at the Duke Financial Economics Center and Duke University School of Law, told MassLive.
In a fundraising email on Wednesday, Warren aimed at the industry, charging that it bought the GOP nomination, and now [its] trying to buy this U.S. Senate seat.
But Ive got news for them: Massachusetts is not for sale, Warren continued.
State Democratic Party officials similarly went on the attack on Wednesday, describing Deaton, a Rhode Island transplant, as a carpetbagger with shadowy ties to Big Tech.
Deaton, who moved to the Bay State earlier this year, has argued that he has Masshole cred to match any pol.
Hes also sought to portray himself as the pragmatic alternative to what he said is Warrens Ivy League elitism.
Voters are turning their back on divisive partisan politics and are ready to support a message of optimism, unity, and solving problems, Deaton wrote in a post to X on Tuesday night.
That might be true, but its still going to be a tough sell, according to one veteran observer.
Massachusetts is a challenge for any Republican to win, Boston-based Democratic analyst Mary Anne Marsh said. In a presidential election, it is impossible. That is what John Deaton faces. The fact that Kamala Harris and abortion rights are on the ballot too is the accelerant that no one can stop.
Still, Warrens campaign is taking Deaton seriously.
On Tuesday night, the Democrat announced that shed agreed to two debates in October in Boston and Springfield.
Usually, its the challenger clamoring for those kinds of confrontations, which provide both free airtime and the opportunity to catch the incumbent in a flub.
In a statement, Warrens campaign manager, Janice Rottenberg, sticking with the cryptocurrency line of attack, said voters deserve a substantive policy conversation about abortion rights, the Supreme Court, funding for Medicare and Social Security, and other issues critical to our countrys future.
Deaton, who went through an extensive round of debates on his way to the GOP nomination, parried, proposing five, single-issue face-offs with Warren before Election Day on Nov 5.
Two debates or five, Deaton needs the exposure if he hopes to stay competitive and build critical name recognition for a general election audience.
A June UMass/WCVB-TV poll highlighted the problem. A third (36%) of its Republican and unaffiliated respondents said they didnt know which of the three GOP hopefuls to support. None of the GOP hopefuls polled above 19%.
Warren also led Deaton 47%-24% in a hypothetical head-to-head match-up in the same poll.
He needs to run all-out, everywhere in the state, including Western Mass., where we have not seen much of him, political consultant Tony Cignoli said. He needed to be running a year ago like the election is tomorrow.
On Election Night, Deaton told his supporters in an email that the fall campaign marked the start of an effort that will hold Elizabeth Warren accountable for her failures on the border, the unaffordable cost of supporting a family, a broken healthcare system, abandoning our ally Israel, and restoring faith in our politics.
And there are just 60 days left to seal the deal.
Xenophon Beake as a devoted Greek has for years been attending Glendi, which begins on Friday and runs through Sunday at the Greek Cultural Center in Springfield.
He has now served for seven years as chair of the celebration of everything Greek that centers around friendship, good times, music and dancing, as well as the Greek Orthodox faith and culture.
NEW YORKNicotine replacement therapy brand Blip and DIRTY Magazine have announced an NYFW pop-up from Sept. 6 to 8, at Cafe Forgot located at 29 Ludlow Street in the Dimes Square area of New York City. The event features a custom-designed newsstand that blends fashion, culture, and a commitment to health and harm reduction.
The "Stand" emphasizes a modern approach to health and moderation, offering Blips nicotine lozenges, gum, and non-nicotine toothpicks as solutions for managing cravings. The Stand at Cafe Forgot also will showcase a diverse array of 18-plus magazines, including DIRTY, which is known for its levity and provocative content. This installation highlights how managing personal habits can be both effective and fashionable, setting a new standard for lifestyle choices.
The activation underscores DIRTY Magazines ongoing commitment to advancing public health awareness. Since its founding, DIRTY has supported harm reduction models with initiatives like Narcan and fentanyl test strips distribution, aimed at addressing the overdose crisis. This pop-up continues DIRTYs mission to integrate health consciousness into contemporary culture, making safe consumption and harm reduction a key part of the lifestyle conversation.
Hours for the pop-up cafe include Sept. 6, between 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. EST, and Sept. 7 to 8, from 12:00 to 7:00 p.m. EST. On Friday, Sept. 6, an opening ceremony will include a two-hour open bar at Cafe Forgot, with drinks sponsored by Misguided Spirits.
The weekends programming will feature:
9/6: DJs Princess Gollum, FTP Rip, Hu Dat, Donatella LeRoc, and Nebula, with an open bar.
9/7: Performances and readings by a lineup of New York literary personalities including poet Riley Mac, actor Bobbi Salvor Menuez, musician and artist NYCL Kai, adult industry veteran and journalist Veronica Vera, The Whitey Review founder Whitney Mallett, and Cherry author Nico Walker.
9/8: An overdose prevention demonstration where audiences will learn how to test substances for fentanyl and how to administer Narcan nasal spray. DJs will showcase their talents in an Open Deck Challenge, offering a dynamic soundtrack and a platform for emerging artists in 15-minute sets.
For more information, visit the Blip and DIRTY Magazine websites.
A proposal from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) to buy two hotels and turn them into student housing has drawn the ire of city officials who worry the move will result in a loss of annual tax revenue.
WPI is looking to purchase the Hampton Inn & Suites at 65 Prescott St. and the Courtyard by Marriott at 72 Grove St., according to a letter sent to the schools president, Grace Wang, and chair of the Board of Trustees, William Fitzgerald, from the Worcester Economic Development Coordinating Council (EDCC).
The two hotels are located within the Gateway Park redevelopment district, a 55-acre development that features numerous businesses and offices, according to WPIs website.
The letter signed by EDCC members Mayor Joseph Petty, Worcester City Manager Eric D. Batista, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce President Tim Murray, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Worcester Business Development Corporation Craig Blais and President and CEO of the Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives Jon Weaver read that the purchase of the hotels could result in a loss of $758,000 annually in local property taxes and $850,606 in annual hotel and motel tax revenue. Additionally, the letter reads that WPIs purchase could result in 25% of the citys hotel room capacity and the loss of 100 jobs.
The Gateway Park Project was never at any point about utilizing public resources to solely facilitate WPIs campus expansion or student housing needs, taking property off of the citys tax rolls, and further burdening Worcesters residential and commercial industrial taxpayers, the letter reads.
The letter went on to read that the council was stunned to learn that WPI has been considering purchasing the two hotels for months and that the plans were not mentioned in previous meetings and asked why the school did not acquire space from the adjacent Becker College, which closed in 2021.
During a City Council meeting on Aug. 27, Batista said the city spoke with WPI representatives about the purchase and said he hopes a solution can be found.
A spokesman for Worcester City Manager Eric Batista told MassLive they had no further comment on the matter at this time.
District 2 Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson criticized WPIs proposal during the meeting arguing the hotels were never supposed to be used as dormitories.
This certainly was not partnership, Mero-Carlson said. I just dont get it. I just dont understand how you think you can do something this big that has such an impact on our city.
WPI confirmed in a letter written by Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Michael Horan and Senior Vice President for Enrollment Phillip Clay to the WPI community dated Aug. 26. that the university was looking to purchase the hotels for student housing.
The letter reads that the proposed purchase of the hotels is to address a projected student housing shortage. While WPI guarantees on-campus housing for all first-year and transfer students, there is not enough space for upper-level students, according to the letter.
Many of you live in the city and therefore know that the Worcester housing market is extremely tight, with ever-increasing apartment rents and a vacancy rate of 1.7%, one of the lowest in the country, the letter reads. This situation puts considerable strain on our students ability to find affordable housing and adds pressure to the citys housing crunch. Our plans to increase our on-campus housing will not only help our students, it will also create space in the market for families and other renters impacted by the housing shortage.
After the purchase of the hotels, both will remain on the citys property tax rolls and generate hotel tax revenues for the city while they continue to operate as hotels, the letter reads. Additionally, the letter states that WPI does not foresee a loss of any jobs for those currently employed at the hotels and plans to maintain the current management company.
The Hampton Inn will transition into student housing in 2026, while the Courtyard Marriott will continue operations as a hotel until 2030, according to the letter.
A specific date of when the hotels will be purchased was not stated in the letter and a spokesperson from WPI declined to offer any additional comment to MassLive.
A MAYO writer was among the winners of a Zebbie Award at the 17th Writers Guild of Ireland (WGI) for his script in the RTE television series, Obituary.
Ray Lawlor, from Castlebar won a Zebbie Award for Best TV Drama Script for his RTE television series, Obituary. Lawlor received the award for the opening episode of the first series of Obituary.
The six-part series was conceived and penned by Lawlor, who has described it as a fun, darkly twisted drama. Set in the fictional Mayo town of Kilraven, Obituary is a dark comedy crime drama in which the newspaper that 24-year-old Elvira Clancy works for falls into hard times, meaning she is now being paid per obituary.
When work dries up, Elvira soon discovers that by murdering the unpleasant residents in her small town, she will not only earn more money but discovers she has an untapped bloodlust. The only problem for her lies with the papers new hire, Emerson Stafford, a suspicious crime correspondent who she begins to develop feelings for.
The awards ceremony was hosted by writer and actor Tara Flynn at The Sugar Club in Dublin on Tuesday night with writers from all over Ireland in attendance to celebrate the best of Irish writing for stage, screen and radio.
Actor Patrick Bergin presented Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor with the Best Feature Film Script Zebbie for Baltimore, their film of the true story of English Heiress Rose Dugdale who became an IRA member and carried out an art heist and a failed bomb attack on an RUC barracks, and Janet Moran won a Zebbie for Best Theatre Script for Quake.
Nell Hensey and Brigid Leahy won Best Short Film Script for Good Chips; Hugh OConor won Best Animation Script for Worry World; Best Radio/Audio Drama Script went to Dorothy Cotter and Cillian O'Donnachadha for Carthanacht Chliodhna [Eagran 2]; and Caitriona Daly won Best Continuing Drama Script for Doctors.
Former Senator David Norris, who hosted the Zebbie Awards for many years, was presented with the WGIs Special Services to Writers Award last night in honour of his support for the WGI and Irish writers.
The awards are named in honour of OZ Zebby Whitehead, a Broadway and Hollywood actor who was a great supporter of theatre and writing in Ireland after he moved to Dublin in 1963.
Only WGI members could vote for the winners from the nominated scripts.
The WGI, which campaigns for rights, remuneration, more control of work and better recognition for its members, represents over 400 Irish writers for film, television, theatre, radio, animation and games. The Guild is celebrating its Emerald Anniversary this year 55 years since it was originally established as the Society of Playwrights in Ireland.
In October, the WGI will be hosting the World Conference of Screenwriters 2024 in Galway with over two hundred screenwriters from across the world expected to attend to discuss their craft and their industry.
The WGI gratefully acknowledges the support of Zebbie Awards sponsors Comisiun na Mean and the Irish Copyright Licensing Agency (ICLA).
Jennifer Davidson, Chair of the Writers Guild of Ireland, said: As always it is a privilege to get to celebrate the phenomenal talents of Irish writers, and our WGI members, through our Zebbie Awards. In a year when theres so much talk of cutbacks and global contraction, its a really important reminder of how bright the future actually is, and how irreplaceable the craft of human writers remains, despite all the posited advancements of Generative AI. My warmest congratulations, not just to the winners of the 2024 Zebbie Awards, but to all the nominees who can be rightly proud of the work that they have achieved.
As we celebrate our Emerald Anniversary and 55 years since the Society of Irish Playwrights was founded, its a very special year for us in the Writers Guild. Those 55 years are 55 years of Irish writers being truly excellent at their craft, and of standing together in power and in solidarity. The landscape in which we all write may be changing, but the talent, and passion of Irish writers remains unchanged.
THE sinking of a ship to create Irelands first artificial reef in north Mayo is expected to take place within the next week, weather permitting.
The infamous smuggling ship, the MV Shingle, which is currently the property of the Revenue Commissioners, is expected to arrive in Killala Bay next week.
Killala Bay Ships 2 Reef Ltd, which is made up of a group of diving enthusiasts, was granted permission to sink the ship in July. However, before this can be done, an Underwater Archaeological Impact Assessment must be submitted.
The assessment is due to be completed this week, and it is expected the green light to sink the ship will be given within 24 hours of the assessment being submitted.
Once this final hurdle has been cleared, the MV Shingle, which is currently in dry dock in New Ross Harbour, will be towed to Killala Bay where it will be sunk.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Mayo News (@themayonews)
Big investment
CROSSMOLINA-based councillor Michael Loftus who is involved in Killala Bay Ships 2 Reef Ltd told The Mayo News that he does not foresee any further delays. If the weather conditions are favourable, he expects the ship to be at the bottom of Killala Bay within the next week.
The ship is literally in New Ross boxed up and ready for shipping. Once the archaeological assessment is completed and the council rubber stamps it, Revenue will bring the ship up from New Ross once they get a good weather window to do so.
It will take three days to bring it up, and we are hoping that the Revenue will be able to bring it up from September 9. It is very exciting for us the most frustrating part is we cannot specifically a date, but once we get permission we expect the Revenue to get the ship up as soon as possible, he said.
Those behind Killala Bay Ships 2 Reef Ltd have invested up to 35,000 of their own money into the project, and they have also received 50,000 in funding from Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) towards it.
Cllr Loftus, who is a member of the Grainne Uaile Sub Aqua Club, first raised the possibility of creating an artificial reef for diving at a tourism SPC meeting in 2018.
The MV Shingle, which was seized in 2014 after customs officers discovered 32 million packets of cigarettes worth 13 million on board the 60-metre-long vessel, was identified as a possible ship.
World attraction
REVENUE was due to scrap the ship, but it agreed to make it available to Killala Bay Ships 2 Reef. It also carried out all the work to clean up the ship, make it environmentally safe to sink and render it diver friendly.
We were fortunate with the Revenue Commissioners, who were so good to us. They did so much of the heavy lifting, commented Cllr Loftus who thanked all the State agencies for their cooperation throughout the process.
It has been a challenge to get it done. This was something which was never done before and we had to do so many reports to get a MAC [Maritime Area Consent] licence and planning permission. We have a great relationship with the Department of Marine they have been really good to help us.
We have a great committee who have done fantastic work on the project and who all see the benefits of it to the community. Both Mayo and Sligo County Councils have been behind us all the way,and the Revenue Commissioners really saw the benefits of it.
I know it may have been a slow process, but when you do something right and do it well it is well worth it, he said.
As Irelands first artificial reef, Cllr Loftus expects the ship wreck to attract divers from around the world, bringing economic benefits to the region.
Going away to places around the world to dive you see the benefits of the artificial reefs to the communities and how well they do. It has always been our dream to get a wreck in Killala Bay, as it would do the same for our communities here in north Mayo and west Sligo. We had 100 divers down last week for a dive rally and all they were talking about was the wreck which was going to come to Killala Bay, he said.
It will be the first marine artificial reef off Ireland, and with the connection with Knock Airport, the amount of people who will potentially come to dive will be enormous.
The Heritage Council has announced details of this years National Heritage Week Awards, inviting nominations from all event organisers in Mayo.
Every year, the Heritage Council seeks nominations for individuals or groups of people who showcased successful heritage projects and hosted engaging events during the festival.
Among the nominees last year were Mayos Climate Action Louisburgh Locality Group, who were runners-up in the Water Heritage Award for their Explore Louisbughs River Life event.
The event brought biologists to the banks of the Bunabhann River to identify fish and insects, and to explain how these creatures live.
Event organisers must put themselves forward for consideration for an award before the deadline on Tuesday, September 24.
Included in the award categories is a county award, which recognises the best heritage project in each county.
In 2023, the Irishtown Heritage Group won the Mayo award for their Irishtown Piper event which celebrated the memory of the Brooklyn-based uilleann piper Michael Carney, a native of the Mayo village.
Mayos Irishtown Heritage Group won the Mayo award for their Irishtown Piper event (Photo: Breda Raftery)
This years National Heritage Week Awards will comprise the county awards, as well as a number of special categories, including:
Connections, Routes and Networks Award
The Connections, Routes and Networks Award is awarded to an event that made a special effort to incorporate the 2024 theme of National Heritage Week - Connections, Routes and Networks.
Wild Child Event Award
The Wild Child Event Award Is awarded to an event that happened on Wild Child Day, 24th August 2024, that successfully encouraged children and families to get outdoors and explore the natural heritage and biodiversity in their locality.
Water Heritage Day Award (In conjunction with the Local Authority Waters Programme)
The Water Heritage Award is awarded to a Water Heritage Day event, held on 25th August 2024. Events considered include those that explored how a canal, river, lake or sea shaped the heritage of a locality or celebrated water as an integral part of our natural heritage.
Inclusive Heritage Award
The Inclusive Heritage Award is awarded to an event or project that made a special effort to share heritage with everyone in the community, including those who are:
new to heritage,
those who do not have local roots,
those who have additional accessibility needs,
those of varying age categories.
Irish Language Award
The Irish Language Award is awarded to an event that took place through the Irish Language and/or encouraged participation or activity in the Irish language.
Sustainability and Climate Award
The Sustainability and Climate Heritage Award is awarded to an event or project that made efforts to incorporate environmentally friendly practices to reduce our carbon footprint and impact on the natural world, or an event that provided education on the impact of climate change and good sustainability practices.
Intangible Cultural Heritage Award The Micheal O Muircheartaigh Award
The Intangible Cultural Heritage Award is awarded to an event or project that encouraged a greater appreciation of an element of our intangible cultural heritage - crafts, skills, customs and practices.
Heritage Hero Award
Every year, the Heritage Council awards the Heritage Hero Award to an individual or organisation that has demonstrated over a substantial period of time an outstanding contribution to the protection and promotion of heritage. This award is based on nominations from the public.
County Award
In addition to the National Awards (above), the Heritage Council also gives a "County Award" to the best event or project in each local authority area as nominated. This award is based on how well the event or project raised awareness about an element of heritage and how they promoted the event and involved the community.
All participants who successfully upload a heritage project on the National Heritage Week website by September 24 will be considered for the awards.
Projects will be assessed on the basis of their local reach and community engagement, educational value and the level to which they involve different age groups.
The awards ceremony will take place on November 15 at the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin.
You can submit for nomination on the Heritage Week website.
Enable Irelands Life With No Limits campaign takes place in September each year.
It provides a platform for children and adults with disabilities who use Enable Ireland services to share their life experiences. The campaign also aims to raise much-needed funds to support the charitys work.
Castlebar residents can support the campaign by making a purchase in the Enable Ireland shop on Main Street, Castlebar.
Alternatively, they can drop a bag of quality pre-loved items into the shop, an Enable Ireland Clothes bank or the TK Maxx store in Lannagh Road Retail Park.
Jer OConnor is one of Enable Irelands 2024 Life With No Limits Champions.
Jer attends Enable Ireland Adult Services. At the age of 18, he was diagnosed with Friedrichs ataxia (FRIDA), a genetic, progressive movement disorder.
Since then he has embarked on some incredible physical adventures. Adventures which have taken him soaring through the sky (hes jumped out of a plane twice) Jer has also been diving to great depths in the ocean, despite having had a life-long fear of water.
When I was young, I was terrified of the water. I remember going to the beach with my family. Even trying to dip my toes in the water gave me motion sickness.
After I was diagnosed, I spent a long time putting off certain things. However, I realised that my condition was getting worse and that my time was becoming limited to do the things I wanted to do in life.
I wanted to try and conquer my fears and not let anything hold me back. I told Conagh, my key worker at Enable Ireland services, about my phobia of water. She introduced me to Passion of Diving by taking me to one of their open days. They are a voluntary organisation that specialises in making scuba diving accessible to everyone.
Thats when I decided I wanted to overcome my fear and achieve a diving certification.
My first day of training with Passion of Diving, I was so afraid. But the team there are amazing. They didnt force me to do anything I didnt want to. I was slowly introduced to the water and got familiar with the equipment.
Passion of Diving were very methodical and good at slowly building your confidence. Now I trust them with my life. However, back then, my fear was getting the better of me.
But on the third day, something clicked in me. I realised that I was in no danger. I was surrounded by scuba diving instructors who would quickly pull me up if anything went wrong. I found that the fears which were limiting me were all in my head.
It was so freeing to have conquered my fears and be able to dive. I dont feel disabled when I am under the water. Its like my disability fades away.
To achieve the practical part of my qualification, I was fortunate to take a trip to Egypt and go diving in the Red Sea. We went for a week and spent four days diving. 20 people of mixed abilities went from Passion of Diving and they are the some of the best people Ive met in my life.
It was a scary transition going from a still pool to the open sea where you can be thrown around by the waves. However, having my friends from Passion of Diving around me boosted my confidence. I reminded myself of my training and I was able to push those fears aside. The diving was stunning. Being among the corals, the fish and the different sea life was beautiful.
I would love to get more people with a disability interested in scuba diving, simply for the freeing feeling it gives you. Ive learnt its important to be open to new opportunities in life and to not let fears or self-doubts restrict you.
As well as scuba diving, I try to go skydiving at least once a year. Theres a great sense of exhilaration and freedom to do something where your disability is not a factor. When the parachute opens you get to see the world from a different perspective. Its made me realise how small my problems are.
Im very proud of myself for taking on these challenges.
Read Jers full story here www.enableireland.ie/ JersStory
Enable Ireland provides vital therapy and support services for over 13,000 children and adults with disabilities. Their services for children with disabilities and their families cover all aspects of a child's physical, educational, and social development from early infancy through adolescence.
For adults, they offer a range of services which include daycare, training, personal development, supported and independent living, and social and leisure activities.
Donal Kitt, Enable Ireland National Fundraising Manager comments on the campaign:
"Life With No Limits is a pivotal campaign in the Enable Ireland calendar. It helps to provide a platform for children and adults who use our services to share their stories.
By spotlighting the lived experiences of people with disabilities the campaign raises awareness and helps support inclusion. It is also crucial in raising funds for Enable Ireland's services. You can show your support by donating to one of our charity shops or online at www.enableireland.ie.
Now more than ever we need your help to raise funds. Please support our vital services for children and adults with disabilities.
Every year, Enable Ireland needs over 2 million in additional funding to meet the costs of delivering their services. The additional income generated from Enable Ireland's shops and fundraising is crucial.
Without it, the charity would not be able to meet the needs of the children and their families relying on Enable Ireland services.
Support the Enable Ireland Life With No Limits campaign this September by making a purchase in one of their charity shops or donating online at www.enableireland.ie.
The public can also support Enable Ireland by giving to volunteers collecting for the charity throughout the month. Or drop a bag of quality pre-loved items into their local Enable Ireland shop or clothing bank or into any TK Maxx store nationwide as part of their Give Up Clothes For Good campaign.
Screen grab: AEW
Nearly three months after promising to, Kevin Kelly is taking legal action against All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
As first reported by The Wrestling News, the former AEW announcer is suing the pro wrestling promotion for his firing. Joining Kelly in his lawsuit are Brandon and Brendan Tate the tag team known as The Boys who were also fired by AEW earlier this year.
Per The Wrestling News, the trio of ex-AEW talents are seeking to void the arbitration clause of their talent contracts, as well as requesting the court certify a class-action suit against AEW over claims the company is misclassifying its wrestling talent as independent contractors, rather than employees. Taking to X, Stephen P. New, one of the attorneys who filed the lawsuit on the trios behalf, commented on the matter.
How fitting and appropriate that on Labor Day weekend a lawsuit is filed seeking to correct, among other things, the abhorrent practice of misclassification of pro wrestlers as independent contractors and not employees, New wrote. All AEW wrestlers are now members of this putative class.
How fitting and appropriate that on Labor Day weekend a lawsuit is filed seeking to correct, among other things, the abhorrent practice of misclassification of pro wrestlers as independent contractors and not employees. All AEW wrestlers are now members of this putative class https://t.co/lEARTPAhBt Steve New (@StephenPNew) September 4, 2024
An AEW spokesperson said in a statement to The Takedowns Steven Muelhausen, AEW does not comment on pending litigation.
While Kelly and The Boys firings werent connected, both were controversial in their nature.
First hired as the lead announcer of AEWs weekly Saturday show, AEW Collision, in 2023, Kelly seemingly quickly fell out of favor in the company while engaging in a personal feud with fellow AEW announcer Ian Riccaboni. According to Kelly, Riccaboni criticized him on a pro wrestling Discord server, portraying him as a QAnon supporter due to his public support of the controversial film Sound of Freedom.
Appearing on Eric Bischoffs Wise Choices podcast in June, Kelly detailed the impact his personal issues with Riccaboni had on his relationship with AEW, who fired him shortly after he went on a social media tirade in March. In addition to suing AEW for breach of contract, Kelly also seeks monetary damages from Riccaboni, accusing his former colleague of defamation.
Real name Kevin Foote, Kelly is seeking monetary damages claiming, among other things, that AEW breached his contract, and has interfered with ability to find work elsewhere. Also named in the lawsuit is AEW announcer Ian Riccaboni, whom Kelly also seeks monetary damages from and The Wrestling News (@WrestlingNewsAV) September 4, 2024
As for The Boys, the tag team was released from AEW in April, with the companys owner and president, Tony Khan, initially claiming that the duo had shown multiple dates they had been booked for. The Tate Twins, however, claimed that they had only missed dates due to miscommunications with the company regarding their travel plans.
The brothers are accusing Khan of defamation as a part of their lawsuit.
In April, it was reported that the Tate Brothers, known professionally as the Boys, were released from their Ring Of Honor contracts due to budget cuts. ROH owner Tony Khan claimed during media events that their release was due to no-showing several events, a claim the brothers The Wrestling News (@WrestlingNewsAV) September 4, 2024
Like most lawsuits in pro wrestling, its hard to imagine this one makes it to a trial, whether its thrown out or settled beforehand. Breach of contract and defamation accusations aside, the question of whether pro wrestling talents should be classified as independent contractors or employees has been a highly debated topic dating back to the 1980s, and AEW presumably wouldnt want to leave that answer in the hands of a judge or jury.
Its also worth noting that New, one of the attorneys representing the group, is also the lawyer for former pro wrestling manager-turned-podcaster Jim Cornette, who has established a reputation for being critical of AEW and Khan. Ultimately, such a lawsuit possesses the potential to create a pro-wrestling-like spectacle, but it remains to be seen how much buzz it will build past the initial reporting of its existence.
[The Wrestling News]
by Barbara Lippert , Columnist, September 4, 2024
This super-charming, 90-second Lavazza commercial is so packed with joyful content that it could be the start of three different campaigns.
Post-viewing, you get the feeling that Lavazza could be producing and packaging some magic, performance-enhancing beans.
First comes the robot named Luigi.
When I heard about this new ad mascot, I admit I was a bit wary.
Visions of Nintendos stereotypical Super Mario character danced in my head, with his mustache, cap, and propensity to talk with extra vowels about pizza-making.
But the Mario Bros. were filtered through a Japanese cliched sense of a Mediterranean macho man from the 1980s.
Whereas Lavazza is a hallowed Italian coffee company from the 1890s.
Im happy to report that there was no need to fret.
It turns out that this Luigi fella is a delightful, joyful soul, about the size of a penguin. Hes got enormous, expressive saucer eyes, the sleek body of an espresso machine, and the intestinal fortitude to brew coffee in his belly all day long while zipping around an industrial-looking office, serving it sweetly to the employees.
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Hes like a sentient and sensitive cross between Wall-e and E.T., the opposite of cold and threatening. He moves his neck, blinks his eyes, and makes little techno-cooing noises.
The poetic tag line is Pleasure Makes Us Human. And oh, the humanity! Throughout the spot, the coffee is served in small ceramic espresso cups and saucers, which returns us to a pre-Starbucks, more refined time of social caffeination.
Theres a timeless quality to the spot, which brings us to the second concept: the music. Que Sera, Sera, the philosophical Doris Day hit song of 1956, which broke in the Alfred HItchcock movie, The Man Who Knew Too Much is perfect, funny and stirring. (Will I be pretty? Will I be rich? Heres what she said to me....") The songs cheerful fatalism underscores the transition that Luigi makes after he unfortunately blows a fuse after trying to sip his own delicious brew.
His loss of consciousness leads us to an adorable dream sequence in Italy, with Luigi indulging in La Dolce Vita on the beach, the piazzas, and the road with his office colleagues, packed into a tiny red Fiat 500.
Then comes the third concept, when our favorite guys from The Office show up at the very end to put Luigi back together.
Yes, Michael and Jim, aka Steve Carell and John Krasinski, the hugely popular, top-of-the-heap Office characters, kindly come out of nowhere to tend to the guy who blew his own circuits.
The spot was great even without this icing on the icing, but the two Office stars performance together is so natural and fresh that it seems unscripted. They crack each other up, and we delight in their genuine delight.
Therell be two more ads with our friends Steve and John launching in October.
The Luigi introductory spot will air across national linear and cable TV, CTV, and paid online video ads, beginning Sept. 30.
Kudos to the creators of this hero video, developed in-house and with the help of RDL Worldwide, for figuring out how to create a robot character who is warm and amenable, but never saccharine.
Id grab a coffee with him anytime.
by Fern Siegel , September 5, 2024
Tequila Don Julio has taken an artistic approach to its latest campaign.
The new work, produced by Anomaly, celebrates the Tequila Don Julio 70 Anejo Cristalino Artist Edition bottle.
The new bottle was created by Mexican-American fashion designer Willy Chavarria. The two 15-second campaign spots were shot in his Brooklyn studio by Diego Bendezu and pay homage to one of Mexicos most important holidays, Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead).
In the two ads, a diverse cast of Hispanic talent wears pieces from Chavarrias past collections.
The campaign runs across OOH, paid media, social and digital.
The bottles distinct design features iconography of traditional and modern Mexico, fusing cultural influences. It will also be part of an exclusive Willy Chavarria capsule collectioninspired by Tequila Don Julio, debuting at the designer's spring/summer 2025 runway show in New York. The promotion continues this fall with Mexican Independence Day in Chicago and Dia de Muertos in Los Angeles.
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Willys creative genius is truly inspiring and having his direct input into each element of the work from the thoughtful and diverse casting to the styling and music, captures the vibrancy of modern Mexico in a way that makes us collectively feel deeply proud, Karen Harris, vice president of Tequila Don Julio, Diageo NA, told Agency Daily.
Aged for 18 months in ex-bourbon American white oak barrels, the Tequla Don Julio 70 has a medium finish, with notes of vanilla, white chocolate and caramel.
Tequila/mezcal reported $6.5 billion in revenue in 2023, according to the Distilled Spirits Council. The spirit may overtake vodka as the bestseller within a few years the fastest growth coming from premium brands.
Tequila Don Julio 70 Anejo Cristalino is celebrated for its smoothness and rich complexity, making it the ideal canvas for creative expression. We are in deep adoration of Chavarrias dedication to his craft that truly embodies the essence of por amor, Harris added.
Diageo NA's has a large portfolio of brands, including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan's whiskies; Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas; Captain Morgan; Baileys; Tanqueray; and Guinness.
A federal appellate court has blocked enforcement of a California law that requires large social media platforms to disclose their editorial policies -- including how they treat hate speech and other objectionable material.
In a decision issued Wednesday, a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the law (AB 587) likely violates the First Amendment by compelling companies to speak about controversial matters.
AB 587, signed last year, requires large social media platforms to post information about their content moderation policies, and provide semiannual reports to the state attorney general about enforcement. Those reports are supposed to include information about whether and how the companies define and handle certain categories of objectionable material -- including hate speech, extremism and disinformation.
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The law also allows the attorney general to seek penalties of up to $15,000 a day from a platform that materially omits or misrepresents its policies.
X (formerly Twitter) sued to block the law last year, arguing that the statute interferes with editorial judgments about how to treat users' speech. The company contended that even though the state touts the law as a transparency measure, the legislature intended to pressure platforms to suppress constitutionally protected speech.
In general, the First Amendment protects all lawful speech -- including material considered hate speech and disinformation.
Late last year, U.S. District Court Judge William Shubb in Sacramento rejected X's request to block enforcement. He wrote that even though the law appears to place a substantial burden on social media companies, it wasn't unjustified or unduly burdensome within the context of First Amendment law.
X then appealed to the 9th Circuit, arguing that the law forces it to engage in controversial speech against its will.
Attorney General Rob Bonta countered that the statute is merely a transparency measure, and that the matters that companies must disclose are purely factual and uncontroversial.
The appellate panel sided with X, writing that the law's requirements are not narrowly tailored to the goal of transparency.
Consumers would still be meaningfully informed if, for example, a company disclosed whether it was moderating certain categories of speech without having to define those categories in a public report, Circuit Judge Milan Smith, Jr. wrote in an opinion joined by Mark Bennett and Anthony Johnstone. Or, perhaps, a company could be compelled to disclose a sample of posts that have been removed without requiring the company to explain why or on what grounds, Smith added.
Xem them
...
Tin bai cuoi cung
Khong con du lieu e load
by Barbara Lippert , Columnist, September 5, 2024
You might have heard that this week Judge Thomas Thrash (now theres a name) ordered Donald Trump's Presidential campaign to stop using the song Hold On, Im Comin at his rallies. This was in response to a lawsuit from the family of the co-writer of the song, Isaac Hayes, and his son, Isaac Hayes III.
Hayes died in 2008. But for much of the 1970s, he was considered the heart of soul and funk. Hold On, Im Comin was made famous by the soul duo Sam and Dave in 1966. Then Hayes went on to compose and record the Theme from Shaft in 1971, which included such memorable lyrics as They say this cat Shaft is a bad mother/shut your mouth.
Hayes cool persona given to wearing beaded tunics and shades earned him the nickname Black Moses.
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It turns out that in one courtroom in Atlanta this week, the drama played out between Black Moses and White Jesus (as some Trump followers have referred to him).
In a preliminary ruling, Black Moses won.
"We have to take a stand that we want to separate ourselves from someone with Donald Trump's character," Isaac Hayes III said outside the courthouse, adding that they had repeatedly asked the campaign to desist before suing.
Music licensing and publishing rights are a complicated and murky legal area, and the Trump camps M.O. seems to be to ask permission later.
Ronald Coleman, a lawyer for Trump, said that the campaign had already agreed to "cease further use" of Hold On, I'm Comin.
As a result, the Trump campaign has returned to using Village People's 1978 hit song Y.M.C.A. as exit music since the lawsuit was filed last month.
But even the Village People sent the Republican candidates legal team a cease and desist letter in 2023.
In so doing, they are among a seemingly endless list of top musicians and groups whove objected to the former Presidents appropriation of their work for his campaign. Among them are Foo Fighters, Celine Dion, R.E.M, Rihanna, Rolling Stones, Phil Collins, Neil Young, Abba, Beyonce, and Bruce Springsteen, to name a few.
Aside from copyright and licensing complications, these artists dont want their music to be heard as an endorsement of a candidate they abhor.
And heres the big disconnect: Trump is liberal, and democratic, if you will, in his musical picks, which are completely detached and disconnected from his politics. Hes attracted to hip hop culture, and likes to be seen with rappers, while his political rhetoric has the unalloyed racism baked in.
In the case of the Village People, his magnetic attraction to Y.M.C.A. is quite head-scratching, too, since his politics are not LGBTQ-friendly to put it kindly. JD Vance, his VP pick, also enrages the gay community with his inflammatory statements and his extreme issues with trans-people, childless cat ladies and those who dont hew to Biblical White Christian heterosexual baby-making standards.
Trump on the stump is often seen dancing, in his own way, to Y.M.C.A. While crowds traditionally dance to the song spelling out the four letters with arm movements, Trumps signature move is to extend his arms, slowly, one by one, and pump his fists in time to the music. Hes like a reverse River Dance, moving only the top of his body.
But before the real estate heir got into politics, he was a semi-regular at places like Studio 54 and the downtown clubs playing disco and catering to gay culture.
As a hit song, Y.M.C.A. immediately became a cultural milestone and gay anthem, with its lyrics implicitly understood as an invitation to hang with the boys; in the early 1970s, the Y facility was known as a hookup place for gay men.
And famously, the Village People bandmembers wore costumes that embodied various gay archetypes. But the almost 50-years-old songs jubilant, high energy chorus and ultra-danceability has since kept it as a global go-to dance floor number including for Mar-a-Lagos event guests.
Of course, theres always been a disconnect between the use of music in campaigning and the intention of the artist. Nowhere was this clearer than during Ronald Reagans second Presidential campaign in 1984, when Reagan started saluting that New Jersey patriot, Bruce Springsteen, and used his Born in the U.S.A. song, released that same year.
Reagans campaign wanted to co-opt the song to symbolize the greatness of America and the gift it is to be one of its citizens. The song is actually a bitter and disenchanted ballad about how America failed its Vietnam vets.
Any cursory look at the lyrics proves Bruces anti-war views: So they put a rifle in my hand / Sent me off to a foreign land / To go and kill the yellow man, Springsteen sings. I had a brother at Khe Sanh fighting off the Viet Cong / Theyre still there, hes all gone. That was 40 years ago.
As with most Trump issues, the backlash to him from musicians is more extreme, and so is the disconnect. Theres always Kid Rock and Lara Trumps tracks to safely fall back on, but from his time on the Mar-a-Lago dance floor, the former President knows better.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, September 5, 2024
Google has been hit with a second privacy lawsuit over its Google Cloud Contact Center AI -- an artificial intelligence service used at call centers operated by some outside companies.
In a complaint filed this week in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, California resident Christopher Barulich alleges that Google secretly wiretapped phone calls he placed to Home Depot.
Google, through its Cloud Contact Center AI, surreptitiously listened in and monitored plaintiffs communications with Home Depot, he alleges in a class-action complaint claiming that Google violated California's wiretap law, which prohibits the interception of electronic communications without all parties' consent.
He adds that Google used its technology to transcribe and analyze the conversation, and suggest potential replies to the Home Depot agent who was on the phone.
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In a completely unauthorized manner and without consent from callers, Google eavesdrops, taps, or connects to, calls between plaintiff and class members on one end, and Home Depot on the other end, and reads, attempts to read, or learns the contents of communications between the parties to each call, the complaint alleges.
Google already faces a similar lawsuit over the generative artificial intelligence tool. That case was initially filed last year by Misael Ambriz, who alleged that Google eavesdropped on his conversation with a Verizon employee.
A Google session manager monitored the conversation between Plaintiff and Verizon, and Google ... transcribed plaintiffs conversation in real time, analyzed the context of plaintiffs conversation with Verizon, and suggested 'smart replies' and news articles to the Verizon agent plaintiff was communicating with, Ambriz alleged in that matter.
Google countered that the allegations against it, even if proven true, would only show that it provided a software program, which it described as the modern equivalent of a tape recorder, to Verizon.
Among other arguments, Google specifically contended that providing software to outside companies doesn't violate California's wiretap law.
The law is clear that parties to communications (like Verizon) can use tools (like software provided by other entities) to record or analyze their own conversations with others (like plaintiff), the company argued in papers filed earier this year with U.S. District Court Judge Rita Lin in San Francisco.
Lin dismissed that matter in June. She said in the ruling that the California wiretap law exempts phone companies like Verizon, and that Google was also exempt in these circumstances because it was acting as Verizon's agent.
Lin's ruling allowed Ambriz to revise his complaint and bring it again, which he did in July. The amended complaint includes allegations by six other plaintiffs who alleged that Google eavesdropped on conversations between themselves and Hulu, GoDaddy and Home Depot.
That matter is still pending in front of Lin.
Highlights: The National Medical Register provides detailed records of MBBS doctors, including qualifications and contact information
Ensures the authenticity of the registered data
The portal will be regularly updated to maintain accurate information
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Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
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Did You Know?
The National Medical Register Portal will link all registered MBBS doctors' data with Aadhaar IDs to ensure authenticity and secure verification. #medindia #digitalhealth
The National Medical Register Portal will link all registered MBBS doctors' data with Aadhaar IDs to ensure authenticity and secure verification. #medindia #digitalhealth
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Key Features of National Medical Register (NMR)
The NMR will include detailed records of all registered MBBS doctors, including their qualifications and contact information.
Linking to Aadhaar IDs ensures the authenticity of the registered data.
The NMR will be continuously updated to reflect accurate and current information.
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Statements from the Officials Regarding the Inauguration of the National Medical Register
Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda
Smt. Anupriya Patel
Shri Prataprao Jadhav
Shri Apurva Chandra
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Registration Process of the National Medical Register (NMR)
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare - (https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2048222)
Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, inaugurated the National Medical Register (NMR) Portal of the National Medical Commission (NMC). This significant event was attended by Union Minister of State (MoS) for Health & Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel, and virtually by Union MoS Shri Prataprao Jadhav ().The National Medical Register (NMR) is established under Section 31 of the NMC Act, 2019. It aims to be a comprehensive and dynamic database for all allopathic (MBBS) doctors in India. The register is linked to the Aadhaar ID of doctors, ensuring authenticity and secure verification.State Medical Councils (SMCs) play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of the NMR. They are responsible for the verification of applications and ensuring the accuracy of the data entered into the register.Shri Nadda highlighted the NMR as a crucial step towards enhancing the digital healthcare ecosystem in India. He emphasized that this initiative aligns with the Prime Minister's vision of a digitally robust health sector. He also noted that the NMR will be upgraded with continuous improvements.Smt. Patel stressed the long-standing need for a centralized medical register. She noted that the NMR will rectify the existing scattered data and facilitate easy registration, forming a cornerstone of India's digital health ecosystem.Shri Jadhav underscored the importance of the NMR for maintaining transparent and consolidated data about doctors. He linked the launch of the NMR to the governments commitment to quality healthcare under the vision of "Reform, Perform, and Transform."Union Health Secretary Shri Chandra pointed out that the NMR will address the lack of comprehensive data regarding the medical workforce in India. He highlighted that the portal will be part of the Healthcare Professional Registry under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.The NMR registration process involves several steps:Doctors need to upload their MBBS Degree Certificate, State Medical Council Registration Certificate, and Aadhaar number.Applications are forwarded to the respective State Medical Council for verification, then to the National Medical Commission.After successful verification, a unique NMR ID is issued.The National Medical Register (NMR) portal will evolve to include additional features such as linking doctors to the broader digital health ecosystem. Future updates will include direct integration with new software, continuing medical education, and credit points.The launch of the National Medical Register Portal marks a significant advancement in the digitization of healthcare in India. It aims to provide a comprehensive, authentic, and easily accessible database of MBBS doctors, supporting the broader goal of enhancing the quality and transparency of healthcare services.Source-Medindia
Highlights: 82% rise in medical colleges from 2014 to 2023
112% increase in MBBS seats and 127% in PG seats
Improved doctor-patient ratio to 1:834 and nurse-patient ratio to 1:476
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Update on Ratio Of Patients And Doctors Nurses
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India now has over 1.3 million registered doctors and 36.14 lakh nursing personnel! #healthcare #doctors #medindia
India now has over 1.3 million registered doctors and 36.14 lakh nursing personnel! #healthcare #doctors #medindia
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Growth in Medical Education
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Government Initiatives to Improve Healthcare Access
Click here to view the detailed statistical tabular columns on the state/UT-wise list of registered doctors and trained nurses as of December 2022.
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Relaxation of Norms to Boost Medical Education
Increasing the Number of Nurses
Current Doctor and Nurse Population
Update on Ratio Of Patients And Doctors Nurses - (https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1985423#)
Over the years, the Indian government has implemented significant reforms to enhance the healthcare infrastructure , focusing on increasing the availability of medical professionals. This highlights the progress made in expanding medical education and the subsequent improvements in the doctor and nurse populations in India ().Between 2014 and 2023, the number of medical colleges in India rose by 82%, from 387 to 706. This expansion has been a key strategy in addressing the shortage of medical professionals across the country.The number of MBBS seats saw a remarkable 112% increase, from 51,348 in 2014 to 1,08,940 in 2023. Similarly, postgraduate (PG) medical seats increased by 127%, from 31,185 in 2014 to 70,674 in 2023. This substantial growth reflects the government's commitment to producing more qualified doctors to meet the growing healthcare demands.The government has launched several centrally sponsored schemes to establish new medical colleges, particularly by upgrading district and referral hospitals. Of the 157 new medical colleges approved under this initiative, 108 are already functional.Efforts to upgrade existing State and Central Government medical colleges have also been undertaken to increase the number of available MBBS and PG seats. Furthermore, under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), 75 projects to construct Super Specialty Blocks have been approved, with 64 projects already completed.The government has approved the establishment of 22 new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Undergraduate courses have commenced in 19 of these institutions, further enhancing the availability of specialized healthcare services.The government has relaxed several norms to facilitate the establishment of new medical colleges and increase the number of medical professionals. These include adjustments to the requirements for faculty, staff, bed strength, and other infrastructure. Additionally, the Diplomate of National Board (DNB) qualification is now recognized for faculty appointments, addressing the shortage of teaching staff in medical colleges.In line with the expansion of medical colleges, the government announced the establishment of 157 new nursing colleges in the 2023-24 budget. These colleges are expected to complement the existing healthcare infrastructure and address the shortage of nursing personnel.To encourage more institutions to offer nursing programs, the government relaxed the student-patient ratio from 1:5 to 1:3. Additionally, the land requirement for establishing Nursing Educational Institutes has been reduced, allowing the construction of nursing colleges on smaller plots of land.The government has also relaxed the norms for starting General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) and B.Sc. Nursing programs. For instance, a 100-bedded parent hospital is required for these programs, but this requirement has been eased in hilly and tribal areas.As of June 2022, there are 13,08,009 allopathic doctors registered with the State Medical Councils and the National Medical Commission (NMC). Assuming 80% availability, the doctor-population ratio in India stands at 1:834, indicating significant progress in improving healthcare access.By December 2022, India had 36.14 lakh nursing personnel. With 80% assumed availability, the nurse-population ratio is 1:476. This marks a notable improvement in the availability of nursing care across the country.The Indian government's strategic initiatives and reforms in medical education have significantly improved the availability of doctors and nurses. With continued efforts, the country is on a promising path to achieving better healthcare access and outcomes for its population.Source-Medindia
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Generation of footprint-free, high-quality feline induced pluripotent stem cells using Sendai virus vector
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A major breakthrough! Feeder-free iPSCs could revolutionize treatments for feline chronic #kidneydisease. #cats #stemcells #vetmed
A Breakthrough in Regenerative Medicine
Generation of footprint-free, high-quality feline induced pluripotent stem cells using Sendai virus vector - (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352320424001494?via%3Dihub)
While cats are often seen as adorable internet memes, they frequently suffer from kidney disease . In a significant breakthrough, researchers have successfully created the world's first high-quality feline induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). This groundbreaking achievement holds promise for improving the lives of both companion animals and humans ().Human iPSCs have been generated using just four genes known as transcription factors, but feline iPSCs have been difficult to generate. Graduate School of Veterinary Science Professor Shingo Hatoya led the team in introducing six transcription factors via the Sendai virus vector to generate feline iPSCs from the cells of cats, including those derived from the uterus that were donated when cats were sterilized.The team reports in Regenerative Therapy that these are the first high-quality feline iPSCs. They exhibit the properties that many iPS cells do, such as the formation of teratomas, which proves that they can differentiate into a variety of cells.The stem cells generated also do not have a genetic footprint, meaning there is lower risk that they form tumors when implanted in another cat. Furthermore, they can be maintained without feeder, such as fibroblast from mice, making them safer as they do not mix cells from different species.Especially in cats, chronic kidney disease and diabetes are serious problems, Professor Hatoya declared. Establishing a method to have cells form a kidney or pancreas from feline iPSCs will be a challenge for future research.Professor Hatoya, who previously reported on advancements in feeder-free canine iPSCs, added, High-quality feline iPSCs made possible by this research are expected to be provided to researchers around the world for use in veterinary regenerative medicine research, understanding of the pathophysiology of genetic diseases, and development of new therapeutic agents.Source-Eurekalert
A lawsuit filed by two mothers of minor children sexually assaulted by a now dishonorably discharged soldier who served at Fort Cavazos, Texas, claims that the Army did not act quickly enough to stop him or prevent him from harming more young victims.
Rashad Parkinson, 29, a former Bradley Fighting Vehicle maintenance technician, pleaded guilty to three sexual assaults in a Texas court in 2023 and is serving a 35-year jail sentence. The lawsuit filed Aug. 21 in the U.S. district court for western Texas alleges Parkinson assaulted at least eight children between the ages of 12 and 16 between 2018 and 2021.
The mothers say some of the assaults occurred just days after Parkinson was interviewed by police or released from custody. Prosecutors said the former soldier contacted children and offered to sell them vapes as a way to meet and sexually assault them, according to media reports.
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"Parkinson's actions were foreseeable," the lawsuit claims. "Had the Army appropriately and timely investigated Rashad Parkinson upon receipt of information of his initial crimes, he would have been subject to pretrial restraint."
The lawsuit notes that Parkinson's assaults took place in the same time frame as the murder of Spc. Vanessa Guillen in 2020. An Army investigation found that, at the time, there were numerous issues with leadership at the installation, including poor management of soldier welfare. At least a dozen officials were subsequently fired.
Col. Kamil Sztalkoper, a spokesman for III Armored Corps, told Military.com in an email that, while he could not comment on pending litigation, "the crimes committed by Mr. Parkinson were heinous and he is currently incarcerated for those crimes."
Sztalkoper said the Army is "committed to preventing sexual assaults and sexual harassment."
According to Army records, Parkinson finished his basic training in March 2017 and arrived at Fort Cavazos, then known as Fort Hood, in September 2017, but he left a month later for a tour in Korea, returning in February 2018.
His highest held rank appears to be specialist.
According to the suit, Parkinson's first assault occurred around Christmas 2018 -- a 13-year-old girl. The complaint argues that the Army became aware of those allegations "as early as 2019."
Several outlets reported that investigators would later testify that Parkinson contacted underage girls on social media with the promise of selling them vapes. He would meet them claiming to be a high-schooler and then assault them in his car or in a home off post.
At the time, Parkinson was married and shared a home with his wife. The lawsuit says that, despite being a junior enlisted soldier, he kept a second home off base where some of the assaults took place.
The lawsuit says it wasn't until April 21, 2021, after he had assaulted three more victims, that law enforcement -- the Lampasas Police Department, working in conjunction with Fort Hood military police -- interviewed Parkinson.
"Just nine days after this interview at Fort Hood, on April 30, 2021, and after an arrest warrant had been issued for him, Parkinson assaulted S.K. (Victim #5), another 12-year old girl," the lawsuit alleges.
Both the lawsuit and local media reports say that Parkinson was arrested by Lampasas police on May 10, 2021, for charges of sexually assaulting a child, but he was released the same day.
"Parkinson's arrest was known or should have been known to the Army," the lawsuit argues, and just days later, it says, Parkinson assaulted a sixth victim.
"It was not until early November 2021 that the Army took action to confine Parkinson to Fort Hood, despite the Army's knowledge of Parkinson's assaults of children dating back to 2019," the lawsuit alleges. By that point, it says, he had assaulted two more victims.
On Nov. 11, 2021, Parkinson was arrested for the last time on another sexual assault charge.
In August 2023, several months after his sentencing in Texas court, Army records show the service court-martialed Parkinson on three charges of sexually assaulting a child, which it said occurred in November 2018 and June 2019, as well as possessing and distributing child pornography.
By January 2024, though already in a Texas jail, Parkinson was dishonorably discharged from the Army and reduced in rank to private, records show.
-- Steve Beynon contributed to this story.
Related: Army Disciplines 13 Leaders, Confirms Murdered Soldier Vanessa Guillen Was Sexually Harassed
Workers at the construction site of the Redstone Concentrated Solar Thermal Power Project near Postmasburg, Northern Cape province in South Africa, on April 4, 2024. Wu Xiaohui/China Daily
Global Times-Agricultural cooperation between China and Africa has greatly enhanced the agricultural production capacity of African countries, fostered innovation and sustainable development in local agricultural technology, and transformed the production methods and concepts of African farmers, bringing revolutionary changes to the local agricultural industry.
The introduction of China's hybrid rice technology is a prime example. China's hybrid rice is now growing in more than 20 African countries, Xu Jianping, an official of the National Development and Reform Commission, said during a press conference on Monday.
As one of the important achievements of China-Africa agricultural cooperation, the application of China's hybrid rice technology has greatly improved the grain self-sufficiency of African countries. If anything, this serves as a microcosm of how the introduction and adoption of Chinese agricultural technology, which increases crop yields and introduces innovative planting techniques and management principles, plays a positive role in advancing the modernization of African agriculture.
Africa has long grappled with the severe challenge of food shortages. African agriculture has been continuously affected by various disruptions caused by historical issues like colonialism during the long process of globalization, which has made agricultural development in Africa even more complex and challenging.
However, the introduction of Chinese hybrid rice technology has brought changes to this landscape. Take Madagascar as an example. The planting area of hybrid rice in the country has exceeded 75,000 hectares, with an average yield of 7.5 tons per hectare, more than three times the output of local crop varieties, according to media reports. This advancement boosts food production across Africa.
The rise in food output is a significant shift in agricultural production, encompassing a transformation in farmers' methods, production philosophies and even the broader social and economic framework.
Among the main reasons for the stagnation of agricultural production in Africa are outdated production technology and traditional agricultural practices. In this context, Chinese hybrid rice technology, known for its high efficiency and impressive yields, has brought revolutionary changes in the perception of agriculture across the continent.
Deepening agricultural cooperation between China and Africa is evident in their joint efforts in agricultural technology innovation and transfer. In addition to providing technology, China also emphasizes training local agricultural technicians in Africa to ensure that these innovations can take root and thrive, fostering sustainable development.
China has established 24 agricultural technology demonstration centers across the continent, promoting more than 300 advanced and practical technologies, including maize planting, vegetable cultivation and cassava propagation. This development has led to an impressive increase in local crop yields, ranging from 30 to 60 percent compared with previous levels.
It is through these projects that Chinese modernization has entered the lives and work of African people, bringing new ideas and methods. The presence of Chinese agricultural experts extends beyond merely transferring technology; it also involves refreshing agricultural concepts.
Through field research, technical training and demonstration activities, these experts incorporate advanced planting techniques into local agricultural practices, enhancing food production and combating hunger in Africa. This enables African farmers to directly experience the transformative impact of new agricultural technologies, fostering their acceptance and adoption of modern production methods and ideas.
Overall, China-Africa agricultural cooperation has yielded significant achievements both technically and economically. More importantly, it has fostered a transformative shift in social perspectives across Africa, thereby advancing the modernization of the continent's agricultural sector. As this cooperation continues to deepen, there is every reason to believe that agricultural development in Africa is poised to enter a promising new stage.
WASHINGTON Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro broke the law by publicly endorsing the reelection of President Joe Biden and criticizing former President Donald Trump in several statements he made while on official duty overseas, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel said Thursday.
In a report to the White House, the watchdog agency said Del Toro's comments about the presidential election came in a BBC interview and when he was responding to questions after a speech in London. While he later reported the remarks, his unwillingness to take responsibility for them is troubling, the special counsel said.
The agency said Del Toros comments, which were made before Biden dropped out of the presidential race, violate the Hatch Act, which prohibits U.S. officials from engaging in political activity while they are on duty and from using their official authority or influence to interfere with or affect the result of an election.
The United States and the world need the mature leadership of President Biden," Del Toro said in response to a question after giving a speech at the Royal United Services Institute in late January. He added, We cannot afford to have a president who aligns himself with autocratic dictators and rulers whose interpretation of democratic principles is suspicious (at) best.
Later, during an interview on BBC News Sunday, Del Toro was asked about his comments on Trump's democratic principles. Del Toro responded that in the past, Republican and Democratic presidents abided by core American values and protected democracy.
When you have someone who doesnt align to those core principles, it makes you wonder, you know, should you be supporting that individual? he said.
Del Toro was asked, You said he had a suspicious attitude to democracy? And the Navy secretary responded, Absolutely so.
Several days later, Del Toro self-reported the blunder to the special counsel, saying his intention was to focus on the importance of strong international alliances. But, he added, In retrospect, I believe my response should have been delivered more broadly without reference to specific candidates.
In a separate written response to the watchdog's findings, the secretary's lawyer, Michael Bromwich, said Del Toro's remarks were spontaneous and unpremeditated and did not constitute a violation of the Hatch Act. Bromwich said Del Toro was responding to questions and did not directly speak Trump's name.
Special counsel Hampton Dellinger said in his report that Del Toro crossed a legal line. And he said the secretary's "unwillingness to acknowledge a mistake is striking and troubling.
Dellinger said he appreciates that Del Toro reported the comments, but this fact alone should not absolve him. Del Toro has also issued his own directive for his Navy force, Dellinger said, noting that "it is more important than ever for us to remember that the DON (Department of the Navy) is an apolitical body. . Public trust and confidence depend on this.
The findings come after two Democratic members of Congress sent a letter to the Pentagons top two leaders in August, pressing them to ensure the military is not swept up in politics during the presidential election.
Career government officials found to have violated the Hatch Act can be fired, suspended or demoted and fined up to $1,000, though few penalties are ever levied against federal employees.
The Navy and White House did not immediately respond to requests for a comment.
LONDON A member of the UK Royal Navy personnel has died after a helicopter ditched in the Channel during a night-flying exercise.
There were three crew members on board at the time of the incident and two of them were rescued and taken to hospital, the Ministry of Defence said.
The Merlin helicopter crashed off the coast of Dorset on Wednesday night during the training exercise with the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier, according to the Royal Navy.
An investigation into the cause of the incident is taking place.
The family of the deceased, who has not been named, have been informed.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, posting a message on X, said: Deeply saddened to hear of the tragic death of a member of the Royal Navy.
My thoughts are with the family and loved ones during this painful time.
Starmer paid tribute to the ships company particularly those involved in the search-and-rescue operation.
Defence Secretary John Healey has described the news as dreadful.
He told the PA news agency while on a visit to HMS Diamond in Portsmouth: Dreadful news. Truly dreadful news.
I use dreadful because this is what everyone connected to the armed forces (dreads), news of personnel in service dying.
All my thoughts and the thoughts of those in the wider Navy Ive been with today are with the family, the friends and the close colleagues of the one weve lost today.
In a statement, the Royal Navy said: It is with great sadness that we must report a member of the Royal Navy has died following a training incident last night.
Our thoughts are with the family who have been informed and all those affected at this sad time. A full investigation will take place.
The incident involved a Merlin Mk4 helicopter in the English Channel near Dorset that ditched while conducting night-flying exercises with HMS Queen Elizabeth. There were no other fatalities or serious injuries.
The Merlin Mk4 helicopter is used by the Royal Marines and has been deployed globally to provide disaster relief.
It is considered the worlds most advanced amphibious battlefield helicopter and can carry up to 24 troops, according to the Royal Navy.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is described on the Navys website as the largest and most powerful vessel ever constructed for the Royal Navy, which is capable of carrying up to 40 aircraft.
The vessel is the Navys Fleet Flagship and can carry senior naval staff, receive foreign dignitaries and act as a command and control centre for the Royal Navy.
It is understood the carrier is still working at sea.
2024 dpa GmbH. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
LOS ANGELES About 75 miles northwest of San Diego, beyond the view of much of the mainland, the rugged and remote Navy outpost of San Clemente Island remains a mystery to most Californians.
For nine decades, San Clemente Island, the southernmost of the eight Channel Islands, has been owned by the Navy and is largely inaccessible to civilians. Throughout this time the volcanic isles sprawling shoreline and rolling hills have served as a crucial military training ground where U.S. troops detonate grenades and fire heavy artillery. Its also the Navys last live-firing range for ship-to-shore bombardments.
So, in late July, few noticed when a catastrophic wildfire swept over more than 13,000 acres of the island outpost. Between July 24 and July 30, the blaze scorched more than a third of the island, damaging more than nine miles of high-voltage power lines, including more than 160 utility lines and a transformer, according to Navy documents.
The fire also swept through parts of the island that have rare habitats for sensitive plant and animal species found nowhere else, such as the endangered San Clemente loggerhead shrike, a carnivorous songbird.
The conflagration left the southern end of the island charred, and numerous Navy buildings without power.
It is expected to take at least a year to restore electricity to those facilities. In the meantime, the Navy will rely on diesel-powered backup generators to maintain communications for its operations, as well as for Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control functions and Coast Guard search-and-rescue missions.
Navy spokesman Kevin Dixon said the fire may have been caused by live-fire military exercises in the so-called shore bombardment area, although it remains unclear what type of training might have sparked the blaze. After two years of above-normal rainfall, Dixon said, there was much more grass to catch fire. No one was injured or evacuated.
We did have training going on there where there was bombardment, Dixon said. So I cant definitively say that it is, but, just looking at it logically, it may be related to this.
Just before the fire, several units of the California National Guard had been on the island for military training exercises that included the firing of howitzer shells and mortar rounds. The military units posted photos and videos of the exercises on social media.
California National Guard spokesperson Lt. Col. Brandon Hill said guard members did not spark the fire.
If a fire would have started because of those training rounds impacting it would have been immediately reported to range control, Hill said. We completed all training on July 23rd and cleared the training areas with no issues.
NASAs Worldview tool, which publishes daily satellite imagery and wildfire data, detected a possible wildfire on San Clemente Island around 5:30 a.m. July 24.
Previous reports commissioned by the Navy have found that weapons testing on San Clemente Island increases the likelihood of devastating wildfire and imperils some of the islands species. In a 2009 environmental assessment, a Navy contractor concluded that most fires were the result of military training, and about half occurred on the southern end of the island in the ship-to-shore bombardment zone.
In the past, the Navy has restricted the use of live ammunition during the wildfire season to curtail the risk of these disasters. No restrictions were apparently in place around the time of the July wildfire.
If there was some type of fire danger then the units would not have been allowed to train, but that did not occur, Hill said.
Despite decades of military bombardment, the island remains home to a variety of native plant and animal species. The islands mosaic of shrubs and grasslands provides habitat for mice, lizards, foxes and numerous birds. Bald eagles have also been spotted.
In recent decades, the Navy bolstered funding for environmental conservation.
Its forces eradicated herds of voracious feral goats that had been brought to the island years ago, and they restored some of the native flora. The Navy also launched captive breeding programs for threatened and endangered species, which significantly boosted their numbers.
The Navy has also reduced the amount of pollution generated by its diesel power plant by installing wind turbines in the late 1990s.
The turbines, which are located on the northern part of the island, were not affected in Julys fire. However, the Navy will be seeking contractors to repair damage to islands transmission system and power grid.
Last year, the Navy and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service celebrated delisting the San Clemente Bells sparrow and four plant species the largest group delisting from population recovery in the 50-year history of the Endangered Species Act.
However, several species, such as the San Clemente loggerhead shrike a robin-sized predator known as the butcher bird remain on the brink of extinction, with just 14 known to be alive.
During Julys fire, Navy personnel moved captive breeding cages as a precaution, although these facilities were not ultimately damaged, according to Dixon, the Navy spokesman.
The Navy has also found hundreds of ancient relics from the islands original inhabitants.
An outcropping of volcanic rock, San Clemente Island was formed by eruptions millions of years ago. It had once been inhabited by a prehistoric Native American tribe, believed to be related to the Tongva who occupied present-day Los Angeles.
In the 1500s, Spanish explorers landed on the island and conducted trade with the tribe. By the early 1800s, however, the Indigenous population could no longer be found on the island. Some say they departed their ancestral home with Spanish missionaries.
Under President Franklin Roosevelt, the Navy acquired San Clemente Island in 1934. Workers built barracks, roads and piers, setting the stage for the island to become the Navys premier weapons testing ground. The naval island is where the Navy developed the Higgins boat the pivotal landing craft that ferried troops to the beaches of Normandy during the D-Day invasion.
___
2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
TODAY: The move is official, with Miami announcing it.
YESTERDAY, 5:05pm: The Marlins will also receive pitching prospects Zac Gallen and Daniel Castano, per Spencer (Twitter link). Gallen, a 22-year-old righty, ranks as the Cardinals 13th-best prospect at MLB.com. The outlet did not rank Castano among the Cardinals top 30 prospects, on the other hand. The 23-year-old left-hander, a 19th-round pick in 2016, spent last season at the low-A level and posted a 2.57 ERA, 8.01 K/9 against 1.29 BB/9 and a 51.9 percent groundball rate over 14 starts (91 innings).
4:35pm: Sierra is in the deal, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports on Twitter.
1:54pm: There are three other prospects in the deal, Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets. But those are lesser assets and Alcantara is considered the centerpiece of the swap.
1:12: Young righty Sandy Alcantara is going to Miami in the deal, Jon Heyman of Fan Rag tweets. Goold had mentioned his possible inclusion; Alcantara was slated to join the Fish in the scuttled Stanton deal.
Alcantara, 22, reached the majors briefly in 2017 as a reliever, but hes seen as a high-ceiling starting prospect. Over 125 1/3 Double-A innings in his first attempt at the upper minors, Alcantara posted a 4.31 ERA with 7.6 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9. We did not learn much from his first eight appearances in the majors, but Alcantara did show a 98+ mph fastball and generated swings and misses at a robust 17.4% rate.
12:49pm: It sounds as if young arms will make up a significant part of the return, with Bob Nightengale of USA Today tweeting the package will include multiple pitchers and a position player. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch adds some more detail, saying the Cards offered a pitching prospect as the centerpiece of a deal and that an outfielder will be among the players changing hands.
12:06pm: The Cardinals have struck a deal to acquire outfielder Marcell Ozuna from the Marlins, according to Craig Mish of MLB Network Radio (via Twitter). MLB.coms Jesse Sanchez confirms the move on Twitter but notes it is pending a physical. Indications earlier today were that the deal was moving closer, and it has evidently now been completed.
Ozuna, who turned 27 earlier in the offseason, is projected by MLBTR to earn $10.9MM in his second-to-last season of arbitration eligibility. At his age and with his track record of productivity, thats a bargain rate of pay which, no doubt, will be reflected in the still-unknown trade return for Miami.
While the teams had attempted to line up on a deal for slugger Giancarlo Stanton, those efforts were nixed when Stanton declined to waive his no-trade clause to go to St. Louis. But the talks werent for naught: they also paved the way to todays reported agreement on Ozuna, who has no trade protections.
The Cardinals have looked far and wide for bats this winter as they seek to consolidate a broad group of talent into a few more premium lineup pieces. Ozuna certainly represents the top-end bat they were in search of at least, that is, so long as he can replicate something like his 2017 output.
In the just-finished campaign, Ozuna drove the ball out of the yard 37 times, carried a personal-high 9.4% walk rate, and ended with an appealing .312/.376/.548 slash line over 679 plate appearances. Thats a big step forward for a player who had hewed closer to league-average production over his prior two seasons.
Beyond the fact that Ozuna has not yet repeated that level of output, there are a few other slight red flags. He carried a .355 BABIP thats unlikely to be replicated and was perhaps a bit fortunate to send 23.4% of the fly balls he hit out of the park. On the whole, though, Ozuna has always been considered a player with the talent for this sort of dominance, and his healthy 39.1% hard-hit rate shows he was rewarded for making good contact.
Itll be interesting to see how the Cards plan to utilize Ozuna, who has previously spent time in center field but shifted to the corner in 2017. He graded quite well upon the move and has at times done the same up the middle. That leaves the team with a variety of players who could be described similarly in regard to their glovework.
Odds are, the Cardinals will plan to give primary time to Ozuna, Tommy Pham, and Dexter Fowler. Perhaps which player plays center is less important than the fact that the club will feel it has three useful defenders on the grass. Regardless, that would leave Stephen Piscotty and Randal Grichuk among those looking at possible reserve duty.
More likely, one or both will be traded. Piscotty and Grichuk, after all, both hit from the right side as do the three top outfielders (with Fowler representing switch-hitting option who fares better traditionally from the right side). Indeed, the Cards could move yet more pieces from a 40-man roster that is full of right-handed-hitting outfielders, some of whom could be included in this trade. The only southpaw-swinging outfield bat currently on hand is youngster Magneuris Sierra. He might be destined for some added seasoning, so perhaps its not inconceivable that St. Louis could end up seeking another reserve piece that hits from the left side or perhaps look for creative ways to boost the functionality of the teams infielders.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
DETROIT, MI - As Michigan regulators mull DTE Energys pending request to raise electric rates some $456 million, theyre offering an in-person opportunity for the utilitys customers to have their say.
A public hearing is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at Mumford High School, located at 17525 Wyoming Ave. on Detroits northwest side.
The three members of the Michigan Public Service Commission, the state panel that oversees major utilities, will be on hand to take input from ratepayers and other members of the public, officials said.
The gathering comes as DTE seeks to hike residential electric rates by nearly 10% in whats become an annual process of seeking permission to require residents, businesses and industrial power users to pony up for the costs of running the grid as climate change-fueled storms batter the state and regularly leave large swaths in the dark.
Read more: Michigans utilities struggle to keep the power on as climate change intensifies
DTE filed the request in late March, less than four months after winning a $368-million rate increase in a previous case before state regulators.
In legal filings, the company claims the new ask to raise electric bills is driven by continued investments to improve power reliability and bring cleaner energy faster to Michigan.
DTE Electric is focused on improving reliability for the companys customers reducing power outages by 30% and cutting outage time in half in the next five years, company officials wrote. Were using technology to create a smarter, stronger, more resilient grid that will deliver the energy our customers demand and deserve.
But the process of increasing rates involves a head-spinning amount of legal jockeying between the utility and a slew of organizations attempting to pick apart portions of DTEs rate hike request.
In thousands of pages of testimony filed with the Public Service Commission, environmental groups, major commercial power users like Walmart and consumer watchdogs have pushed for regulators to take some of DTEs asks off the table.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is among them.
A deep dive into DTEs latest electric rate case reveals a disturbing pattern of exaggerated projections and unsubstantiated projects that clearly prioritize corporate interests over customer benefits, the top Democrat said in a July news release detailing her offices analysis of the rate hike.
The utility should receive no more than a $139.5 million rate hike, a residential increase of around 2.5%, she has argued, urging ratepayer dollars be reprioritized to proven outage-reducing strategies like tree-trimming and away from more expensive capital and technological investments DTE has proposed.
In legal testimony, the Attorney Generals Office has also taken issue with spending on corporate jet travel for high-level company executives included in the rate hike ask a practice the utility has said covers only limited air travel for business-appropriate needs, like industry association meetings and meetings necessary to attract capital investment in the state.
The rate case process must be settled within 10 months of its initial filing, which could allow new rates to go into effect as early as late January 2025.
If the past is any guide, its unlikely DTE receives its full ask. The Public Service Commission frequently only grants a portion of a utilitys rate increase request, disallowing some proposed expenses.
The mid-September hearing in Detroit comes as regulators work to implement 2023 legislation setting clean energy standards for the state.
Theyre also seeking to expand public engagement amid public concern about power costs and reliability, officials said. The rate case has already garnered more than 150 written comments, many from residents worried about the impact of rising electric bills.
Comments made at the Detroit public hearing will be filed in the rate case and become part of the public record, according to state regulators.
The commission looks forward to hearing from DTE Electric customers about their thoughts and concerns about the rate application, said Public Service Commission Chair Dan Scripps in a statement. As the MPSC examines ways to broaden public participation in regulatory matters, this hearing is a chance for ratepayers to speak directly to commissioners and MPSC Staff.
Michigans iconic travel campaign announced new leadership, after saying goodbye to its longtime vice president, David Lorenz, at the end of the last year.
Pure Michigan, the states beloved travel brand, will now be headed up by Kelly Wolgamott.
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation named Wolgamott Vice President of Pure Michigan after she served as interim Vice President since January.
Additionally, Carrie Jones Grace will join the MEDC as the Senior Vice President of Travel, Media and Industry Relations, coming to the MEDC from her position as Deputy Chief of Staff for Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.
These leadership changes fulfill the role left open by Lorenz, who acted as Vice President of Travel Michigan and led the Pure Michigan campaign for two decades.
RELATED: After two decades promoting Pure Michigan, its David Lorenzs turn to enjoy it.
Wolgamott joined MEDC and Travel Michigan in 2011 and served as Director of Travel Marketing for more than 12 years. Prior to joining MEDC, Wolgamott served in marketing and public relations roles with General Motors and advertising agency Leo Burnett Worldwide, according to the MEDC press release.
As Vice President of Pure Michigan, Wolgamott will lead the states tourism marketing, branding and public relations efforts, including overseeing the award-winning Pure Michigan campaign and management of the Travel Michigan team at MEDC.
Kellys talents, personal commitment, wealth of industry knowledge and marketing expertise position her to advance Michigans efforts to promote our state as the top four-season destination for travelers across the country and around the world, said MEDC CEO, Quentin L. Messer, Jr.
RELATED: The state needs Pure Michigan magic to revive its shrinking talent pool
The Pure Michigan brand turns 20 in 2026 and has become an economic engine as more travelers become full-time Michigan residents.
The leadership additions are part of MEDCs larger goal to intertwine tourism and economic development, Messer said.
Related: Michigan is a climate haven in a warming world. Will everyone move here?
As Senior Vice President of Travel, Media and Industry Relations, Jones Grace will oversee the Travel Michigan team, along with the Michigan Film Office and MEDC Communications team.
The Make It In Michigan economic development strategy emphasizes attracting and developing people, revitalizing and cultivating places and competing for and winning projects, Messer said in a statement.
The tourism and hospitality industry is important across all three pillars, he said. Carries new role will enable MEDC to deliver even greater stakeholder engagement and position our state for continuing success over the next twenty years.
For more than five years, Jones Grace has worked for the city of Detroit where she oversaw citywide initiatives such as Project Clean Slate and the Detroit Promise Scholarship Program.
Prior to joining the city, Jones Grace was the Executive Director of the Michigan Venture Capital Association, focused on marketing Michigans growing role as a center of innovation and entrepreneurship.
She also previously served as the Michigan Film Commissioner and Director, ensuring Michigans creative industry supported the state economy by encouraging high wages, high-tech jobs and talent retention.
PONTIAC, MI A substitute teacher is accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with minor students.
Allen Daugherty, 61, of White Lake, was charged with with six counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald announced on Wednesday.
ANN ARBOR, MI -- While educators are celebrating broad increases in proficiency rates on the states standardized test scores announced a week ago, some Ann Arbor parents may be taking a more critical eye to the performance at their childrens school.
The Michigan Department of Education on Aug. 28 released results on the M-STEP, the SAT and its pretest, the PSAT that students took during the 2023-24 school year.
Related: See how your Michigan school fared in the 2024 M-STEP, SAT/PSAT tests
Ann Arbor Public Schools students continued to outperform the state as a whole, spokesman Andrew Cluley said, as did the Washtenaw Intermediate School District, with a higher percentage of students at proficient or advanced levels among the 20 tests given to students in third through eighth grades, and high school juniors.
However, when compared to its districtwide numbers for the 2022-23 school year, Ann Arbor saw the proficiency and advanced rate improve in just 11 out of 20 tests overall.
For parents like Kristen Ochomogo, a mother of three, those results are a source of worry school by school.
The testing data is important to me because the recent scoes display a quantitative picture of the inequity across AAPS. Myself and several other parents at Mitchell Elementary School have raised concerns that our children are not receiving an equitable educational experience as students in other elementary schools across the district, she said in a message.
We have felt very unheard and overlooked. Mitchell was hit harder than any other elementary building with the recent cuts due to the budget, and we continue to lose amazing teachers by choice because the situation is untenable.
According to the state scores, Mitchell students in grades 3, 4, and 5 saw rates of advanced or proficient test levels of 22.9%, 31%, and 18.8% in English Language Arts and 28.2%, 22.4%, and 15.6% for math, respectively.
Each of the three grades districtwide for both subjects had results close to the 60% range.
By the start of this school year, Ochomogo said one of her children went on to Scarlett Middle School, while two others were moved to Pittsfield Elementary School for many various reasons.
But having children at Mitchell the last six years, she was careful to clarify that her concerns arent about the quality of teachers -- instead challenging the district to share a plan to reduce the extreme gap despite other factors, such as the schools number of English learners, that may impact test scores.
Of the 12 elementary schools supporting students from preschool, young 5 or kindergarten through grade 5, Mitchell had the fourth highest number of English learners in 2023-2024 with 64.
King, Lakewood, and Carpenter elementary schools had the most with 107, 82, and 65, according to the state.
While it may be easy to dismiss the anecdotes of parents and families, I would hope that Mitchells low scores in comparison to other AAPS buildings and the scores downward trend over time would be a wake-up call to administration, Ochomogo said.
How did Ann Arbor schools perform versus other districts?
For the M-STEP, students in grades 3, 4, 6, and 7 are tested in ELA and math, while fifth-graders are also assessed for science and social studies. Eighth-graders and 11th-graders are tested for all four subjects, but for reading and writing and math through the PSAT and SAT.
The change in proficiency rates for Ann Arbor schools by grade were largely marginal in both directions.
All test scores but one showed proficient or advanced rates at or well above 50%. The one that didnt was fifth-grade social studies, where students tested at 36.5%. AAPS highest rate of 81.1% was in eighth-grade English language arts.
As in most districts statewide, Ann Arbor students in 11th grade saw a decrease in proficient and advanced levels in every subject, with AAPS biggest decline from 56.1% to 50.7% between 2022-2023 and 2023-24 coming in math.
For all schools in the WISD, there were nine improvements and declines in proficient or advanced students among the 20 assessments. Two of those tests -- fourth-grade math and 11th-grade social studies -- remained the same.
Elsewhere, Dexter Community Schools students also performed at proficient or advanced levels on 11 of the 20 tests. Its lowest proficient and advanced rate was 24.2% for fifth-grade social studies, while the highest was at 85.5% for English Language Arts in eighth grade.
The district continues to use assessments and test data to monitor teaching and students learning, Ryan Bruder, Dexters executive director of instruction, said
Assessments, such as the M-STEP, can help us measure the impact of our instruction, Bruder said in a statement. The growth we are seeing in our M-STEP data, which is also present in our other data sources, reaffirms the work we are doing as a district. Like many districts, we are seeing incremental growth from this past year; however, the return to pre-COVID proficiency levels, in most grades and content areas, is a testament to our staff and students.
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ANN ARBOR, MI Ann Arbor leaders have spoken out against hate and antisemitism after flyers were found outside 40 homes in the past week.
These flyers aggress Jews specifically, but we must recognize they also attack the whole of Ann Arbor by working to degrade community cohesion and undercut the foundational value of pluralism, Mayor Christopher Taylor said in a message posted to social media.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A judge hammered the mastermind of an internet fraud scheme that cost Meijer more than $1 million, ordering a prison sentence that far exceeded the recommended penalty.
Nicholas Hunter Mui, 22, of Grand Haven, was sentenced Thursday, Sept. 5 to 5-20 years in prison for a high-tech scheme that stole customer mPerks log in credentials.
The credentials were then sold on the dark web.
mPerks is the retail giants customer loyalty program. Customers earn points with each purchase that can be redeemed later.
Because Mui had no prior record, as well as other factors, his recommended minimum penalty based on sentencing guidelines was 12-20 months.
Kent County Circuit Judge Mark Trusock reasoned that the guidelines did not account for the sheer value of the theft and also that the fact that there are thousands of people this affects.
When Trusock issued the sentence, some of Muis friends and family in the courtroom could be heard sobbing.
Trusock said Mui knew he was committing a crime.
You sold these on the internet to people who were buying those for criminal reasons, he said. People werent buying peoples names and passwords because they wanted to write a poem about it, they were going to use if for criminal activity and you knew that.
Related: Michigan man charged with widescale fraud of Meijer mPerks accounts
Trusock also said that police interviews shows Mui admitted to committing similar crimes involving other corporations, not only Meijer, since 2019.
That behavior is outrageous, he said.
As part of a plea agreement, Mui agreed to forfeit cryptocurrency valued at $611,000.
Michigan Attorney General Senior Attorney Eric Sterbis, during Thursdays sentencing, said Mui has cooperated with state police and Meijer investigators to give them insight about how he committed the crime.
His input has been valuable and we thank him for that, Sterbis said.
Because of the cooperation, prosecutors agreed to drop several counts of identity theft against Mui.
Defense attorney Andrew LaPres said Mui is a high school graduate, with some college education as well.
Obviously he is a very intelligent young man, LaPres said. He has people in the community and his family who were just shocked and saddened upon learning this was happening and has taking part in it.
LaPres said Muis parents are first-generation Chinese immigrants who operated a restaurant. They worked long hours.
As a child, Mui didnt have many friends, the attorney said.
His friend was his computer, LaPres said.
During the COVID quarantine, when he didnt have much direction in life, he takes an interest in computers and cyber security and, one thing led to another and here is, trying to make money, and he made a horrible judgment.
Hes very remorseful. The whole thing got out of control very fast, LaPres said.
As part of the sentencing, Mui was ordered to pay restitution of $1,087,168 to Meijer.
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KENT COUNTY, MI - Police had a large presence in a Wyoming neighborhood on Thursday, Sept. 5, while tracking down a suspect in an assault, Wyoming police said.
The incident began around 11:30 a.m. when the suspect fled police on foot near Clyde Park Avenue SW and Oakcrest Street.
MARQUETTE, MI Two Nigerian brothers were sentenced Thursday, Sept. 5, to 17 years in federal prison in a deadly sextortion scheme.
Samuel Ogoshi, 24, and Samson Ogoshi, 21, both of Lagos, Nigeria, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker for conspiracy to sexually exploit minors.
A third Nigerian is fighting extradition.
Jordan DeMay, 17, a high school student in Marquette, died by suicide after he was sexually exploited by the brothers, who had targeted over 100 others including at least 11 minors, federal prosecutors said.
Parents Jennifer Buta and John DeMay provided emotional statements about the devastation brought by the Ogoshis and others tied to the scheme.
Related: Victims mom gives emotional statement at deadly sextortion plot sentencing
Federal prosecutors announced in August that five U.S. citizens were indicted for money laundering in the Nigerian-based sextortion scheme.
The defendants posed as women online and convinced targets teen boys and young men to send nude photographs. The photos were then used to blackmail the targets.
The targets were told to pay ransom or have the photos shared with family and friends. Jordan DeMay said he only had $300 of the $1,000 ransom and was told: Enjoy your miserable life.
Todays sentencing of Samuel and Samson Ogoshi sends a thundering message, U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said in a statement.
Related: Nigerian men plead guilty in sextortion case that led to Michigan teens suicide
To criminals who commit these schemes: you are not immune from justice. We will track you down and hold you accountable, even if we have to go half-way around the world to do so. The day when you could commit these crimes, rake in easy cash, destroy lives, and escape justice is gone.
He said everyone with a cellphone could be targeted by criminals.
These devices can connect you to criminal networks around the world. Dont assume people are who they say they are. Dont share compromising images. And if youre a victim, please reach out. Theres help, and law enforcement stands ready.
Related: 5 men in U.S. allegedly tied to Nigerian sextortion that led to Michigan teens death by suicide
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in the statement:
These defendants sexually exploited and extorted more than 100 victims, including at least eleven minors, resulting in the tragic death of a 17-year-old high school student.
These sentences should serve as a warning that the perpetrators of online sexual exploitation and extortion cannot escape accountability for their heinous crimes by hiding behind their phones and computers. The Justice Department will find them, no matter where they are, and we will bring them to justice in the United States.
The government said the Ogoshis bought hacked social-media accounts and made fake profiles of young women. They sent messages from the accounts after conducting online research about the targets: where they lived, went to school and worked and the identities of family and friends.
They made collages of sexually explicit photos, along with other images of the target, family and friends, and school.
The U.S. Attorneys Office provided the following safety information:
The FBI provides the following tips on how people can protect themselves from sextortion schemes:
Be selective about what you share online. If your social media accounts are open to everyone, a predator may be able to figure out a lot of information about you.
Be wary of anyone you encounter for the first time online. Block or ignore messages from strangers.
Be aware that people can pretend to be anything or anyone online. Videos and photos are not proof that people are who they claim to be. Images can be altered or stolen. In some cases, predators have even taken over the social media accounts of their victims.
Be suspicious if you meet someone on one game or app and that person asks you to start talking on a different platform.
Be in the know. Any content you create onlinewhether it is a text message, photo, or videocan be made public. And nothing actually disappears online. Once you send something, you dont have any control over where it goes next.
Be willing to ask for help. If you are getting messages or requests online that dont seem right, block the sender, report the behavior to the site administrator, or go to an adult. If you have been victimized online, tell someone. Being a victim of sextortion is not your fault. You can get through this challenge, even if it seems scary and overwhelming. There are people who want to help.
If you have information about or believe you are a victim of sextortion, contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at http://tips.fbi.gov. This FBI PSA and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children PSA share survivor stories and resources for individuals to get help. More FBI sextortion resources are available here.
KALAMAZOO, MI A 32-year-old man has been arrested for arson in Kalamazoo in connection with several recent city fires.
This marks a significant development in the investigation into recent fires, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety said in a news release on Thursday, Sept. 5.
GRAND HAVEN TOWNSHIP, MI -- A southeast Michigan internet services provider plans to deliver high-speed internet to rural parts of Grand Haven Township.
Southfield-based 123NET recently finalized an agreement with Grand Haven Township to construct 5.5 miles of high-capacity fiber in rural parts of the township that are currently unserved.
The Grand Haven Township build is an extension of a projected $25 million project Ottawa County finalized with 123NET in December to deliver 380 miles of additional fiber and bring high-speed internet to approximately 4,000 unserved residents countrywide.
Ottawa County is actively working with 123NET to improve connectivity across the region with an open-access, high-performance network, said Township Manager William Cargo. Were strategically adding fiber in Grand Haven Township to benefit residents today and stimulate future development. This project will realize significant cost and operational efficiencies by aligning with the broader county-wide grant project.
Ottawa County has a total population of 296,200, just over 18,000 of whom live in Grand Haven Charter Township, as of the 2020 Census.
The cost of the countywide project is offset in part by $7.5 million from Ottawa Countys American Rescue Plan Act funds, $14 million in state grant funds and $3.5 million from 123NET.
For Grand Haven Township, the future network will service about 120 commercial and residential addresses, but 123NET said the network will have the capacity to also serve future residential and commercial developments.
Chuck Irvin, executive vice president at 123NET, said in a statement that Grand Haven Township has taken a great step forward by considering how the area will evolve over time and deploying the necessary infrastructure today to support future development opportunities.
Were excited to be part of this innovative, forward-looking program, and are always ready to discuss how communities can maximize these opportunities for connectivity.
Construction is just beginning on the broader Ottawa County project, and the Grand Haven Township portion will be completed in sections over the next few years. 123NET said it would use a combination of West Michigan contractors and its own in-house construction crews to complete the buildout.
Surf Internet of Elkhart, Indiana, also has begun construction of its own fiber optic build for the city of Grand Haven and parts of Grand Haven Township. The network, expected to be finished in early 2026, will service about 4,900 homes.
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GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Never underestimate the power of a teacher.
Gwen Walz, wife of Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, made a stop in the battleground state of Michigan to address educators with the Michigan Education Association.
Vehicle thefts are on the rise in Michigan and around the country, prompting state leaders to update laws to reflect evolving technology.
In 2023, auto insurers reported 25,272 stolen vehicles, which was a 45% increase, or 7,854 more thefts than the state reported in 2018.
Thefts had generally been on the decline before 2018 thanks to improved high-tech, anti-theft devices.
Since then, however, Michigan had four year-over-year increases, followed by last years 2% dip. Nationally, last year represented the highest total in more than a decade.
Related: Theft of more than 400 vehicles in Michigan leads to the arrest of 6 men
David Glawe, president and CEO of the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), said criminals are employing increasingly sophisticated methods to steal vehicles, including the use of advanced technology to bypass security systems.
From keyless entry hacks to relay attacks on key fobs, perpetrators are exploiting vulnerabilities in modern vehicle security measures with alarming success rates, Glawe said in a prepared statement.
It is critical that industry and law enforcement work together to develop more effective strategies for combating auto theft and safeguarding public safety.
This summer, Michigan strengthened its existing law prohibiting possession of technology designed to unlock or start a motor vehicle, with the intent to steal the vehicle. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a pair of bills after they cleared the House and Senate with bipartisan support.
A violation of the updated law is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison, or 10 years if found to be part of a criminal enterprise.
Previous laws already prohibit traditional burglary tools with the intent to break into a structure and/or to steal money or property. The updated legislation addresses evolving technology.
Legislators specifically referenced devices like AutoProPADs which are used by mechanics to reprogram a vehicles remote key fob. Such devices have been used criminally to steal vehicles in less than a minute, according to state officials.
Related: Dude, wheres my car? The 10 most stolen vehicles in 2023
Attorney General Dana Nessel said her department plans to aggressively enforce the new law in ongoing and future cases.
By cracking down on the possession and illegal use of tools like pro pads, these bills represent a step toward enhancing our ability to prosecute and dismantle criminal organizations involved in these crimes, Nessel said.
Vehicles are most commonly stolen from a residence (36.5%), on a street, alley or highway (28%), or in a parking lot/garage (22.4%), according to state police data from 2022. Michigans data from 2023 isnt expected to be available until October.
Of the vehicles reported stolen in 2022, about 54% were recovered.
To reduce the risk of your vehicle being stolen, officials recommend parking in well-lit areas, shutting off and locking your doors before leaving your vehicle, rolling up all windows, and taking your keys with you.
If a vehicle is stolen, report it as soon as possible to local law enforcement and your insurance provider. Often times, insurers need a police report before honoring a claim.
MISSOULA An Anaheim, California, man, Juan Felipe Vidrio Fuentes, 36, convicted by a federal jury of trafficking pounds of methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills in the Butte and Helena communities as part of a large conspiracy was sentenced Tuesday in Missoulas U.S. District Court to 30 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release.
After a four-day trial in April, a jury found Fuentes guilty of conspiracy to possess and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Fuentes thought he could use his California connections to set up a drug trafficking ring to profit at the expense and misery of Montanans to whom he peddled meth and fentanyl pills. He was wrong, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
In court documents, the government alleged that from June 2022 until about January 2023 in the Butte and Helena areas, Fuentes, along with seven other co-defendants, conspired to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. In June 2022, the Utah Highway Patrol stopped an individual traveling in a vehicle carrying 3.5 pounds of meth and 6,000 pills containing fentanyl and learned that the individual was transporting the drugs to Butte for distribution by Esco, who was Fuentes. Law enforcement further learned that Fuentes was staying at a house in Whitehall along with at least one co-defendant, James Andrew Stringari of Whitehall, and that Fuentes was supplying both fentanyl and meth throughout the Butte area from the Whitehall residence.
In addition, law enforcement inspected a sources cell phone and corroborated information about meth and fentanyl trafficking that implicated Fuentes, Stringari, co-defendant Janet Dean White of Butte, and another co-defendant. Stringari and White were convicted at trial with Fuentes and are pending sentencing.
Law enforcement conducted coordinated stops and raids of addresses in Helena and Butte. In the Butte residence, law enforcement located about six pounds of meth, 208 grams of fentanyl, $15,000 cash and seven firearms. In the Helena residence, law enforcement located about seven pounds of meth and 68 grams of fentanyl.
The government further alleged that Fuentes was one of the main organizers and suppliers of the criminal conspiracy, which trafficked pounds of meth and tens of thousands of fentanyl pills over approximately six months.
The U.S. Attorneys Office prosecuted the case. The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Southwest Montana Drug Task Force, Montana Highway Patrol, Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, Missouri River Drug Task Force, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Utah Highway Patrol and Utah State Bureau of Investigations conducted the investigation.
Garza was previously convicted for assault with a weapon, in 2002, for driving up to a car and shooting someone in the face. He was incarcerated again in 2009 for illegal possession of a firearm. He has also been convicted of six misdemeanors.
Due to his criminal history and the results of his psychological evaluation, which suggest that he has a personality disorder in the group of psychopath or sociopath, his assessment found him to be at a high risk of committing another violent offense.
Hodges Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of 3M (NYSE:MMM Free Report) by 37.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 10,704 shares of the conglomerates stock after acquiring an additional 2,931 shares during the period. Hodges Capital Management Inc.s holdings in 3M were worth $1,094,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in MMM. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC boosted its position in 3M by 2.9% in the 2nd quarter. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,001 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $307,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares in the last quarter. Founders Financial Securities LLC acquired a new stake in 3M during the second quarter valued at $325,000. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund increased its holdings in 3M by 0.6% in the second quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 47,546 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $4,859,000 after buying an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Northstar Advisory Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of 3M by 237.5% during the 2nd quarter. Northstar Advisory Group LLC now owns 13,296 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $1,359,000 after acquiring an additional 9,357 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wolverine Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of 3M by 293.8% during the 2nd quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC now owns 31,500 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $3,219,000 after acquiring an additional 23,500 shares in the last quarter. 65.25% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
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3M Stock Performance
NYSE MMM opened at $132.11 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.95, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a current ratio of 1.36. The stocks fifty day moving average is $117.39 and its two-hundred day moving average is $104.55. The firm has a market capitalization of $73.10 billion, a P/E ratio of -10.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.95. 3M has a fifty-two week low of $71.12 and a fifty-two week high of $134.99.
3M Dividend Announcement
3M ( NYSE:MMM Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 26th. The conglomerate reported $1.93 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.68 by $0.25. 3M had a net margin of 3.08% and a return on equity of 112.92%. The firm had revenue of $6.26 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.85 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.17 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that 3M will post 7.2 earnings per share for the current year.
The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 12th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 26th will be paid a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 26th. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.12%. 3Ms dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -22.01%.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
A number of research firms recently weighed in on MMM. Bank of America upped their price target on 3M from $120.00 to $143.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, July 29th. HSBC raised shares of 3M from a hold rating to a buy rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $91.13 to $115.00 in a report on Friday, May 10th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of 3M from $120.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, July 29th. Vertical Research raised shares of 3M from a hold rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $92.00 to $140.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 16th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of 3M from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, July 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $124.38.
Check Out Our Latest Report on 3M
Insider Activity
In related news, CFO Theresa E. Reinseth sold 2,100 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.12, for a total value of $260,652.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 4,364 shares in the company, valued at $541,659.68. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, Chairman Michael F. Roman sold 5,675 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.46, for a total value of $700,635.50. Following the sale, the chairman now directly owns 174,036 shares in the company, valued at approximately $21,486,484.56. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CFO Theresa E. Reinseth sold 2,100 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.12, for a total transaction of $260,652.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 4,364 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $541,659.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.34% of the companys stock.
3M Profile
(Free Report)
3M Company provides diversified technology services in the United States and internationally. The company's Safety and Industrial segment offers industrial abrasives and finishing for metalworking applications; autobody repair solutions; closure systems for personal hygiene products, masking, and packaging materials; electrical products and materials for construction and maintenance, power distribution, and electrical original equipment manufacturers; structural adhesives and tapes; respiratory, hearing, eye, and fall protection solutions; and natural and color-coated mineral granules for shingles.
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AltaGas Ltd. (TSE:ALA Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high on Thursday after BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on the stock from C$37.00 to C$40.00. The company traded as high as C$34.83 and last traded at C$34.79, with a volume of 66200 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$34.27.
Several other equities analysts also recently commented on ALA. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on AltaGas from C$34.00 to C$37.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, July 29th. National Bankshares boosted their target price on shares of AltaGas from C$36.00 to C$39.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, August 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on shares of AltaGas from C$34.00 to C$37.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. ATB Capital boosted their price target on shares of AltaGas from C$35.00 to C$36.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, May 30th. Finally, Scotiabank raised their price objective on shares of AltaGas from C$36.00 to C$38.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, August 20th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, AltaGas currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of C$37.40.
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Insider Activity
AltaGas Trading Down 0.1 %
In other AltaGas news, Senior Officer Randy Warren Toone sold 3,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$33.82, for a total transaction of C$101,460.00. In related news, Senior Officer Vernon Dai-Chung Yu acquired 16,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 11th. The stock was acquired at an average price of C$30.71 per share, for a total transaction of C$506,715.00. Also, Senior Officer Randy Warren Toone sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$33.82, for a total value of C$101,460.00. In the last ninety days, insiders bought 20,500 shares of company stock valued at $627,795 and sold 66,970 shares valued at $2,125,503. Insiders own 0.58% of the companys stock.
The company has a market capitalization of C$10.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.56, a PEG ratio of -4.97 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 115.50, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.44. The businesss 50-day moving average price is C$32.38 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$30.67.
AltaGas (TSE:ALA Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The company reported C$0.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of C$0.12 by C$0.02. The firm had revenue of C$2.78 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$2.54 billion. AltaGas had a return on equity of 5.78% and a net margin of 3.58%. As a group, analysts forecast that AltaGas Ltd. will post 2.1087355 EPS for the current fiscal year.
AltaGas Dividend Announcement
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 27th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 16th will be given a dividend of $0.298 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 16th. This represents a $1.19 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.48%. AltaGass dividend payout ratio is currently 82.07%.
About AltaGas
(Get Free Report)
AltaGas Ltd. operates as an energy infrastructure company in North America. The company operates through Utilities and Midstream segments. The Utilities segment owns and operates franchised, cost-of-service, rate-regulated natural gas distribution and storage utilities in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and the District of Columbia serving approximately 1.6 million customers.
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ASOS (LON:ASC Get Free Report)s stock had its buy rating reissued by analysts at Berenberg Bank in a report issued on Thursday, Digital Look reports. They presently have a GBX 490 ($6.44) price target on the stock. Berenberg Banks target price indicates a potential upside of 11.77% from the companys current price.
ASOS Stock Performance
Shares of LON:ASC opened at GBX 438.40 ($5.76) on Thursday. The business has a fifty day moving average of GBX 361.36 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 359.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 158.84, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a current ratio of 1.51. ASOS has a twelve month low of GBX 328.84 ($4.32) and a twelve month high of GBX 450 ($5.92). The firm has a market cap of 522.18 million, a PE ratio of -220.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -1.26 and a beta of 2.86.
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ASOS Company Profile
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See Also
ASOS Plc operates as an online fashion retailer in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, and internationally. It offers womenswear and menswear products. The company sells its products under the ASOS Design, ASOS Edition, ASOS Luxe, ASOS 4505, Collusion, Reclaimed Vintage, Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge, HIIT, AsYou, Dark Future, UNRVLLD/SPPLY, Crooked Tongues, Daysocial, Actual, and Weekend Collective brands, as well as through third-party brands.
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Aveo Capital Partners LLC lowered its stake in shares of Carrier Global Co. (NYSE:CARR Free Report) by 5.4% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 4,507 shares of the companys stock after selling 255 shares during the period. Aveo Capital Partners LLCs holdings in Carrier Global were worth $284,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Founders Financial Securities LLC boosted its position in shares of Carrier Global by 5.0% during the 2nd quarter. Founders Financial Securities LLC now owns 5,834 shares of the companys stock worth $368,000 after purchasing an additional 279 shares during the period. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund boosted its position in shares of Carrier Global by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 71,998 shares of the companys stock worth $4,542,000 after purchasing an additional 610 shares during the period. Little House Capital LLC boosted its position in Carrier Global by 4.5% in the 2nd quarter. Little House Capital LLC now owns 9,358 shares of the companys stock valued at $590,000 after buying an additional 407 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Carrier Global by 13.2% in the second quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 223,104 shares of the companys stock worth $14,073,000 after acquiring an additional 25,972 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Telos Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Carrier Global by 3.0% in the second quarter. Telos Capital Management Inc. now owns 114,418 shares of the companys stock worth $7,217,000 after acquiring an additional 3,300 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.00% of the companys stock.
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Insider Activity at Carrier Global
In related news, VP Ajay Agrawal sold 62,382 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.55, for a total value of $4,026,758.10. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 103,066 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,652,910.30. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 6.95% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
Carrier Global Price Performance
Carrier Global stock opened at $69.09 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $62.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 48.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 1.32. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $66.74 and a 200-day simple moving average of $62.33. Carrier Global Co. has a 12-month low of $45.68 and a 12-month high of $73.06. The company has a current ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80.
Carrier Global (NYSE:CARR Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The company reported $0.87 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.85 by $0.02. Carrier Global had a net margin of 14.27% and a return on equity of 23.68%. The firm had revenue of $6.70 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.05 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.79 earnings per share. Carrier Globals quarterly revenue was up 11.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that Carrier Global Co. will post 2.84 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
CARR has been the subject of several research reports. Citigroup upgraded shares of Carrier Global from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $65.00 to $74.00 in a research note on Monday, June 24th. Robert W. Baird dropped their price target on shares of Carrier Global from $75.00 to $74.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Baird R W upgraded shares of Carrier Global from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 15th. Bank of America upgraded shares of Carrier Global from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $55.00 to $72.00 in a research note on Monday, July 29th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $72.00 price target on shares of Carrier Global in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $67.08.
View Our Latest Stock Report on CARR
Carrier Global Company Profile
(Free Report)
Carrier Global Corporation provides heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, fire, security, and building automation technologies in the United States, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. It operates through three segments: HVAC, Refrigeration, and Fire & Security.
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Core & Main (NYSE:CNM Get Free Report) had its price target reduced by investment analysts at Bank of America from $38.00 to $34.00 in a report released on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an underperform rating on the stock. Bank of Americas price target suggests a potential downside of 12.80% from the stocks previous close.
CNM has been the subject of several other research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of Core & Main from $54.00 to $52.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $60.00 price objective on shares of Core & Main in a research report on Wednesday, June 5th. Truist Financial cut their price target on shares of Core & Main from $50.00 to $38.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday. Robert W. Baird dropped their price objective on shares of Core & Main from $62.00 to $53.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. Finally, Barclays dropped their price target on Core & Main from $65.00 to $57.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $50.55.
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Core & Main Trading Down 1.0 %
Shares of NYSE:CNM traded down $0.41 during trading on Thursday, reaching $38.99. 3,811,559 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,519,233. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $50.10 and its 200-day simple moving average is $52.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.46, a current ratio of 2.14 and a quick ratio of 1.23. Core & Main has a 12-month low of $27.75 and a 12-month high of $62.15. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.85 billion, a PE ratio of 18.22, a P/E/G ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 1.06.
Core & Main (NYSE:CNM Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, September 4th. The company reported $0.61 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.74 by ($0.13). Core & Main had a net margin of 5.53% and a return on equity of 20.01%. The business had revenue of $1.96 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.05 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.66 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts anticipate that Core & Main will post 2.32 EPS for the current year.
Insider Buying and Selling
In related news, Director James G. Castellano sold 12,500 shares of Core & Main stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.22, for a total transaction of $652,750.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 11,769 shares in the company, valued at $614,577.18. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 3.49% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Core & Main
Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CNM. Rise Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Core & Main during the first quarter worth $27,000. ORG Partners LLC purchased a new position in Core & Main during the 1st quarter valued at about $38,000. Quadrant Capital Group LLC grew its position in Core & Main by 74.5% in the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 855 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 365 shares in the last quarter. Principal Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in Core & Main during the 4th quarter worth approximately $43,000. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. purchased a new position in Core & Main in the second quarter valued at $76,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.19% of the companys stock.
Core & Main Company Profile
(Get Free Report)
Core & Main, Inc distributes water, wastewater, storm drainage, and fire protection products and related services to municipalities, private water companies, and professional contractors in the municipal, non-residential, and residential end markets in the United States. Its products portfolio include pipes, valves, hydrants, fittings, and other products and services; storm drainage products, such as corrugated piping systems, retention basins, inline drains, manholes, grates, geosynthetics, erosion control, and other related products; fire protection products, including fire protection pipes, and sprinkler heads and devices, as well as fabrication services; and meter products, such as smart meter products, meter sets, meter accessories, installation, software, and other services.
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Birchcreek Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG Free Report) by 4,997.2% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 5,403 shares of the restaurant operators stock after purchasing an additional 5,297 shares during the quarter. Birchcreek Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill were worth $339,000 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 stock. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill during the second quarter worth $25,000. Riverview Trust Co raised its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 4,900.0% in the 2nd quarter. Riverview Trust Co now owns 400 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 392 shares in the last quarter. RiverPark Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 4,900.0% during the 2nd quarter. RiverPark Advisors LLC now owns 400 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 392 shares in the last quarter. Archer Investment Corp bought a new position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill during the second quarter worth approximately $25,000. Finally, Chilton Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in the second quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.31% of the companys stock.
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Insider Activity at Chipotle Mexican Grill
In other Chipotle Mexican Grill news, insider Curtis E. Garner sold 17,394 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.68, for a total value of $951,103.92. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 358,300 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,591,844. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. 1.02% of the stock is owned by insiders.
Analyst Ratings Changes
CMG has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $57.00 to $55.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. Oppenheimer cut their price objective on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $70.00 to $65.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. Robert W. Baird dropped their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $74.00 to $62.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. Loop Capital reduced their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $58.00 to $53.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $55.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, June 3rd. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $62.36.
Read Our Latest Report on CMG
Chipotle Mexican Grill Stock Down 0.4 %
Shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill stock opened at $53.32 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $73.23 billion, a PE ratio of 56.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 1.24. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a 52 week low of $35.37 and a 52 week high of $69.26. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $55.32 and a 200-day moving average price of $80.78.
Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 24th. The restaurant operator reported $0.34 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.32 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $2.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.94 billion. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a return on equity of 44.01% and a net margin of 13.23%. The businesss revenue was up 18.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $12.65 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 1.08 EPS for the current year.
About Chipotle Mexican Grill
(Free Report)
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. It sells food and beverages through offering burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads. The company also provides delivery and related services its app and website. It has operations in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
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Birchcreek Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Trane Technologies plc (NYSE:TT Free Report) by 12.3% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,709 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 187 shares during the period. Birchcreek Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Trane Technologies were worth $562,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Empowered Funds LLC grew its stake in shares of Trane Technologies by 138.0% in the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 6,667 shares of the companys stock worth $2,001,000 after buying an additional 3,866 shares in the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB increased its stake in Trane Technologies by 3.0% during the first quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 453,212 shares of the companys stock worth $135,796,000 after acquiring an additional 13,078 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. raised its position in Trane Technologies by 379.2% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 306,165 shares of the companys stock valued at $91,909,000 after purchasing an additional 242,271 shares during the period. GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new stake in shares of Trane Technologies in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $3,086,000. Finally, Capital World Investors boosted its holdings in shares of Trane Technologies by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 2,176,595 shares of the companys stock worth $530,870,000 after purchasing an additional 11,930 shares during the period. 82.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
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Trane Technologies Trading Up 0.1 %
Shares of NYSE TT opened at $346.53 on Thursday. Trane Technologies plc has a twelve month low of $184.02 and a twelve month high of $363.15. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $338.02 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $319.06. The firm has a market cap of $78.44 billion, a PE ratio of 37.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 1.01.
Trane Technologies Announces Dividend
Trane Technologies ( NYSE:TT Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 31st. The company reported $3.30 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.08 by $0.22. The company had revenue of $5.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.13 billion. Trane Technologies had a net margin of 12.33% and a return on equity of 33.97%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 12.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.68 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Trane Technologies plc will post 10.82 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, September 6th will be issued a dividend of $0.84 per share. This represents a $3.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.97%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 6th. Trane Technologiess payout ratio is 35.90%.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
TT has been the topic of several recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Trane Technologies from $310.00 to $315.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Thursday, August 1st. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on shares of Trane Technologies from $360.00 to $365.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, August 1st. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Trane Technologies from $385.00 to $394.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, August 1st. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Trane Technologies from $334.00 to $350.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. Finally, Stephens reaffirmed an equal weight rating and set a $350.00 target price on shares of Trane Technologies in a research note on Monday, August 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $323.29.
View Our Latest Report on Trane Technologies
Insiders Place Their Bets
In other news, EVP Raymond D. Pittard sold 1,805 shares of Trane Technologies stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $328.65, for a total value of $593,213.25. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 83,517 shares in the company, valued at approximately $27,447,862.05. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, CEO David S. Regnery sold 29,450 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $321.25, for a total transaction of $9,460,812.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 132,946 shares of the companys stock, valued at $42,708,902.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Raymond D. Pittard sold 1,805 shares of Trane Technologies stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 7th. The stock was 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 disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.38% of the stock is owned by company insiders.
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.
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BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MUJ Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $12.05 and last traded at $12.05, with a volume of 1 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $12.02.
BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund Stock Performance
The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $11.65 and a 200 day simple moving average of $11.46.
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BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund Dividend Announcement
The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 16th will be issued a $0.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 16th.
Hedge Funds Weigh In On BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund
BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund Company Profile
A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund by 6.2% in the second quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 37,472 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $429,000 after purchasing an additional 2,197 shares in the last quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund by 8.6% in the 2nd quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 202,369 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,305,000 after acquiring an additional 15,996 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Effects LLC lifted its position in BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund by 22.6% during the 2nd quarter. Wealth Effects LLC now owns 24,294 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $277,000 after acquiring an additional 4,474 shares during the period. Wolverine Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund during the second quarter worth about $141,000. Finally, TIAA Trust National Association purchased a new stake in BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund in the second quarter worth about $439,000. 15.13% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
(Get Free Report)
BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund, Inc is a close ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc The fund is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. It invests in the fixed income markets of United States. The fund invests primarily in long-term, investment grade municipal obligations exempt from federal income taxes and New Jersey personal income taxes.
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BMO REX MicroSectors FANG Index 3X Leveraged ETN (NYSEARCA:FNGU Get Free Report) shares saw strong trading volume on Thursday . 666,871 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 38% from the previous sessions volume of 1,081,053 shares.The stock last traded at $370.84 and had previously closed at $349.50.
BMO REX MicroSectors FANG Index 3X Leveraged ETN Stock Performance
The company has a 50 day moving average of $419.54 and a two-hundred day moving average of $368.97. The stock has a market cap of $265.99 billion, a PE ratio of 123.65 and a beta of 4.82.
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Institutional Inflows and Outflows
Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. DRW Securities LLC acquired a new position in shares of BMO REX MicroSectors FANG Index 3X Leveraged ETN during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $226,000. VitalStone Financial LLC boosted its holdings in shares of BMO REX MicroSectors FANG Index 3X Leveraged ETN by 245.9% during the 2nd quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC now owns 505 shares of the companys stock worth $225,000 after purchasing an additional 359 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. acquired a new position in BMO REX MicroSectors FANG Index 3X Leveraged ETN in the first quarter valued at approximately $37,000.
BMO REX MicroSectors FANG Index 3X Leveraged ETN Company Profile
The MicroSectors FANG+ Index 3X Leveraged ETN (FNGU) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the NYSE FANG+ index. The fund tracks 3x the daily price movements of an equal-weighted index of US-listed technology and consumer discretionary companies. FNGU was launched on Jan 22, 2018 and is issued by REX Microsectors.
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CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:CX Get Free Report) announced a Variable dividend on Tuesday, September 3rd, Zacks reports. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 13th will be paid a dividend of 0.021 per share by the construction company on Tuesday, September 24th. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 13th.
CEMEX Stock Up 1.7 %
Shares of NYSE CX traded up $0.10 during trading on Thursday, reaching $5.87. 1,711,999 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,961,764. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $6.34 and its 200 day moving average price is $7.32. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. The company has a market capitalization of $8.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.21 and a beta of 1.47. CEMEX has a twelve month low of $5.66 and a twelve month high of $9.27.
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CEMEX (NYSE:CX Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 25th. The construction company reported $0.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. CEMEX had a return on equity of 1.66% and a net margin of 1.05%. The firm had revenue of $4.49 billion for the quarter. As a group, equities analysts forecast that CEMEX will post 0.84 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
A number of research firms have recently issued reports on CX. Barclays upgraded shares of CEMEX from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $9.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. Royal Bank of Canada started coverage on CEMEX in a research note on Tuesday, May 14th. They issued an underperform rating and a $9.00 target price for the company. StockNews.com upgraded CEMEX from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, July 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on CEMEX in a research report on Wednesday, July 10th. They set a buy rating and a $9.00 price objective for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $8.00 target price on shares of CEMEX in a research note on Wednesday, August 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, CEMEX presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $8.70.
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CEMEX Company Profile
(Get Free Report)
CEMEX, SAB. de C.V., together with its subsidiaries, produces, markets, distributes, and sells cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates, urbanization solutions, and other construction materials and services worldwide. The company offers gray ordinary portland, white portland, oil-well, and blended cement products; mortar; and standard ready-mix, architectural and decorative, rapid-setting, fiber-reinforced, fluid-fill, roller-compacted, self-consolidating, pervious, and antibacterial, and other concrete products.
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Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (OTCMKTS:CJEWY Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week low during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $7.76 and last traded at $7.76, with a volume of 1070 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $8.19.
Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Stock Down 5.3 %
The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $9.34 and a 200 day moving average price of $12.33. The company has a current ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 0.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12.
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Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Increases Dividend
The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 4th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 1st were issued a dividend of $0.3341 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 1st. This is a positive change from Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Groups previous dividend of $0.27.
Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Company Profile
Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited, an investment holding company, manufactures and sells jewelry products in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Cambodia, Canada, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam. The company offers gem-set, platinum and k-gold jewelry, and gold jewelry and products under the CHOW TAI FOOK, HEARTS ON FIRE, ENZO, MONOLOGUE, and SOINLOVE brands.
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Simon Quick Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C Free Report) by 4.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,543 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 254 shares during the period. Simon Quick Advisors LLCs holdings in Citigroup were worth $352,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Citigroup by 12.2% in the 2nd quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 229,255 shares of the companys stock valued at $14,549,000 after buying an additional 24,915 shares in the last quarter. First National Trust Co grew its position in Citigroup by 5.4% in the second quarter. First National Trust Co now owns 19,596 shares of the companys stock worth $1,244,000 after acquiring an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund grew its position in Citigroup by 0.6% in the second quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 163,741 shares of the companys stock worth $10,391,000 after acquiring an additional 1,026 shares in the last quarter. Naviter Wealth LLC increased its stake in shares of Citigroup by 3.8% during the 2nd quarter. Naviter Wealth LLC now owns 31,658 shares of the companys stock worth $2,009,000 after purchasing an additional 1,156 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Adell Harriman & Carpenter Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Citigroup by 51.5% during the 2nd quarter. Adell Harriman & Carpenter Inc. now owns 15,287 shares of the companys stock valued at $970,000 after purchasing an additional 5,195 shares in the last quarter. 71.72% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
C has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on shares of Citigroup from $63.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, July 11th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price objective on Citigroup from $66.00 to $69.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, June 20th. Evercore ISI raised their price objective on Citigroup from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 3rd. Piper Sandler upped their target price on Citigroup from $70.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, July 15th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Citigroup from $66.00 to $79.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Citigroup has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $68.06.
Citigroup Stock Performance
NYSE C opened at $60.96 on Thursday. The companys fifty day moving average is $62.54 and its two-hundred day moving average is $61.18. Citigroup Inc. has a 52-week low of $38.17 and a 52-week high of $67.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.94. The firm has a market capitalization of $116.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.08, a P/E/G ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 1.46.
Citigroup (NYSE:C Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, July 12th. The company reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.39 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $20.14 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.07 billion. Citigroup had a return on equity of 6.26% and a net margin of 4.95%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 3.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.37 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Citigroup Inc. will post 5.82 EPS for the current year.
Citigroup Increases Dividend
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 23rd. Investors of record on Monday, August 5th were paid a $0.56 dividend. This represents a $2.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.67%. This is a positive change from Citigroups previous quarterly dividend of $0.53. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 5th. Citigroups dividend payout ratio is presently 62.75%.
Citigroup Company Profile
(Free Report)
Citigroup Inc, a diversified financial service holding company, provides various financial product and services to consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions worldwide. It operates through five segments: Services, Markets, Banking, U.S. Personal Banking, and Wealth. The Services segment includes Treasury and Trade Solutions, which provides cash management, trade, and working capital solutions to multinational corporations, financial institutions, and public sector organizations; and Securities Services, such as cross-border support for clients, local market expertise, post-trade technologies, data solutions, and various securities services solutions.
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CMS Energy Co. (NYSE:CMS Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $68.22 and last traded at $68.21, with a volume of 158887 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $67.86.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
A number of research firms have commented on CMS. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of CMS Energy from $68.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 14th. Evercore ISI raised CMS Energy to a hold rating in a report on Friday, July 26th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on CMS Energy from $60.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, August 23rd. StockNews.com raised shares of CMS Energy from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, July 29th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of CMS Energy from $66.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, July 26th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, CMS Energy has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $67.33.
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Check Out Our Latest Analysis on CMS Energy
CMS Energy Price Performance
The firm has a market cap of $20.65 billion, a PE ratio of 21.09, a P/E/G ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.38. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $63.83 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $61.28. The company has a quick ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.80.
CMS Energy (NYSE:CMS Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The utilities provider reported $0.66 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.63 by $0.03. CMS Energy had a net margin of 13.10% and a return on equity of 12.25%. The company had revenue of $1.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.73 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.75 EPS. CMS Energys revenue for the quarter was up 3.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that CMS Energy Co. will post 3.33 EPS for the current year.
CMS Energy Cuts Dividend
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 2nd were given a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.95%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 2nd. CMS Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 62.80%.
Insider Activity at CMS Energy
In other news, Director Jon E. Barfield sold 2,360 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, June 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.79, for a total value of $143,464.40. Following the transaction, the director now owns 14,556 shares of the companys stock, valued at $884,859.24. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other news, SVP Brandon J. Hofmeister sold 1,667 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.98, for a total transaction of $99,986.66. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 68,330 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,098,433.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Jon E. Barfield sold 2,360 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, June 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.79, for a total transaction of $143,464.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 14,556 shares of the companys stock, valued at $884,859.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.40% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
Hedge Funds Weigh In On CMS Energy
Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its stake in shares of CMS Energy by 6.2% in the 2nd quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 27,850 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,658,000 after purchasing an additional 1,631 shares during the last quarter. Advisory Alpha LLC raised its holdings in CMS Energy by 15.3% during the 2nd quarter. Advisory Alpha LLC now owns 6,619 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $394,000 after buying an additional 878 shares during the period. Truist Financial Corp lifted its position in CMS Energy by 29.9% in the second quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 735,233 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $43,768,000 after buying an additional 169,160 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP boosted its stake in CMS Energy by 118.0% during the second quarter. Quarry LP now owns 3,325 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $198,000 after buying an additional 1,800 shares during the period. Finally, Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC increased its position in CMS Energy by 6.6% during the second quarter. Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC now owns 313,493 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $18,662,000 after acquiring an additional 19,349 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.57% of the companys stock.
CMS Energy Company Profile
(Get Free Report)
CMS Energy Corporation operates as an energy company primarily in Michigan. The company operates through three segments: Electric Utility; Gas Utility; and Enterprises. The Electric Utility segment is involved in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity. This segment generates electricity through coal, wind, gas, renewable energy, oil, and nuclear sources.
Further Reading
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Consolidated Planning Corp lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA Free Report) by 41.4% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 4,233 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 1,240 shares during the period. Consolidated Planning Corps holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF were worth $332,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in EFA. Triad Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF in the second quarter valued at $25,000. Arjuna Capital purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Fortis Group Advisors LLC raised its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 100.0% during the 4th quarter. Fortis Group Advisors LLC now owns 346 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 173 shares during the last quarter. CarsonAllaria Wealth Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF during the 1st quarter worth approximately $27,000. Finally, Joseph Group Capital Management grew its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 198.6% in the 4th quarter. Joseph Group Capital Management now owns 418 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 278 shares during the last quarter. 79.80% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
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iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Stock Performance
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF stock opened at $81.30 on Thursday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $79.85 and a 200-day simple moving average of $79.30. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF has a 12 month low of $65.68 and a 12 month high of $83.28.
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Company Profile
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Funds investment objective is to seek investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of its underlying index, MSCI EAFE Index (the Index). The Index has been developed by MSCI Inc as an equity benchmark for its international stock performance.
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Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators boosted its holdings in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report) by 7.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 35,575 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,379 shares during the period. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators holdings in Pfizer were worth $995,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its position in shares of Pfizer by 4.9% during the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 239,209,768 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $6,886,849,000 after buying an additional 11,099,024 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Pfizer in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $2,129,927,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 13.8% during the 4th quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 68,506,441 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,972,300,000 after purchasing an additional 8,298,920 shares during the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp increased its position in Pfizer by 1.8% during the 2nd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 16,104,088 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $450,593,000 after purchasing an additional 290,760 shares in the last quarter. Finally, California State Teachers Retirement System lifted its stake in Pfizer by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 9,250,303 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $256,696,000 after purchasing an additional 83,556 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.36% of the companys stock.
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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Daiwa America upgraded shares of Pfizer from a moderate buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, August 7th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Pfizer from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. Barclays boosted their price target on Pfizer from $30.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $30.00 to $31.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Pfizer from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, August 1st. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Pfizer presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $34.54.
Pfizer Stock Up 0.9 %
Shares of PFE traded up $0.25 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $28.64. The stock had a trading volume of 3,683,615 shares, compared to its average volume of 38,240,422. Pfizer Inc. has a 1-year low of $25.20 and a 1-year high of $35.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $162.29 billion, a P/E ratio of -472.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 0.68. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $29.03 and a 200-day simple moving average of $28.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.60.
Pfizer (NYSE:PFE Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 30th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.60 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.46 by $0.14. Pfizer had a positive return on equity of 8.42% and a negative net margin of 4.66%. The firm had revenue of $13.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $12.96 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.67 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 2.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.66 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Pfizer Announces Dividend
The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 26th were issued a dividend of $0.42 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 26th. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.87%. Pfizers payout ratio is -2,799.53%.
Pfizer Profile
(Free Report)
Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Abrysvo, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.
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Edison International (NYSE:EIX Free Report) Analysts at Zacks Research cut their FY2024 earnings per share estimates for Edison International in a research note issued on Monday, September 2nd. Zacks Research analyst A. Dutta now expects that the utilities provider will post earnings per share of $4.96 for the year, down from their prior estimate of $5.03. The consensus estimate for Edison Internationals current full-year earnings is $4.94 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Edison Internationals Q2 2025 earnings at $1.20 EPS.
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Several other research analysts also recently commented on the company. Barclays boosted their target price on Edison International from $80.00 to $91.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday. Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on shares of Edison International from $82.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Edison International from $62.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, August 23rd. Guggenheim boosted their price objective on shares of Edison International from $80.00 to $83.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Finally, UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Edison International from $86.00 to $89.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $82.36.
Edison International Stock Up 0.4 %
EIX stock opened at $87.72 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.04. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $79.13 and its 200 day simple moving average is $73.99. The company has a market cap of $33.88 billion, a PE ratio of 38.47 and a beta of 0.91. Edison International has a twelve month low of $58.82 and a twelve month high of $88.77.
Edison International (NYSE:EIX Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 25th. The utilities provider reported $1.23 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.05 by $0.18. The business had revenue of $4.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.12 billion. Edison International had a return on equity of 13.01% and a net margin of 6.60%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 9.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.01 earnings per share.
Edison International Announces Dividend
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 8th were issued a dividend of $0.78 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, July 8th. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.56%. Edison Internationals dividend payout ratio is presently 136.84%.
Insider Transactions at Edison International
In related news, CEO J Andrew Murphy sold 28,995 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $78.43, for a total transaction of $2,274,077.85. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 19,660 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,541,933.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Edison International news, VP Natalie K. Schilling sold 2,341 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.00, for a total value of $187,280.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 6,338 shares in the company, valued at $507,040. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO J Andrew Murphy sold 28,995 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $78.43, for a total transaction of $2,274,077.85. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 19,660 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,541,933.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 89,099 shares of company stock valued at $7,223,342. 1.03% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Hedge Funds Weigh In On Edison International
Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its holdings in Edison International by 1.7% in the first quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 20,344,752 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,438,984,000 after buying an additional 345,189 shares during the period. Pzena Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Edison International by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 13,605,080 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $962,287,000 after acquiring an additional 305,459 shares during the last quarter. Capital International Investors raised its holdings in shares of Edison International by 6.4% in the 1st quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 13,297,917 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $940,562,000 after acquiring an additional 795,950 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its holdings in shares of Edison International by 4.4% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 10,276,016 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $734,632,000 after acquiring an additional 433,845 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its holdings in shares of Edison International by 4.0% in the 4th quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 5,261,803 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $376,166,000 after acquiring an additional 202,541 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.95% of the companys stock.
About Edison International
(Get 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.
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FineMark National Bank & Trust boosted its holdings in shares of BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK Free Report) by 0.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 23,445 shares of the asset managers stock after acquiring an additional 19 shares during the period. FineMark National Bank & Trusts holdings in BlackRock were worth $18,459,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Stablepoint Partners LLC lifted its holdings in BlackRock by 8.5% during the second quarter. Stablepoint Partners LLC now owns 1,321 shares of the asset managers stock worth $1,139,000 after acquiring an additional 104 shares in the last quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of BlackRock by 3.2% in the 2nd quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 1,921 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $1,513,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares during the period. Community Bank & Trust Waco Texas raised its stake in shares of BlackRock by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter. Community Bank & Trust Waco Texas now owns 2,149 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $1,692,000 after purchasing an additional 19 shares during the period. Larson Financial Group LLC raised its stake in shares of BlackRock by 13.4% in the 2nd quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 432 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $340,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares during the period. Finally, Foundations Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of BlackRock by 6.3% in the 2nd quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 907 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $714,000 after purchasing an additional 54 shares during the period. 80.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
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BlackRock Trading Down 0.0 %
BlackRock stock opened at $886.41 on Thursday. BlackRock, Inc. has a 52 week low of $596.18 and a 52 week high of $903.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 5.06 and a current ratio of 5.06. The stock has a market capitalization of $131.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.53, a PEG ratio of 1.97 and a beta of 1.32. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $845.08 and a 200 day simple moving average of $810.81.
BlackRock Announces Dividend
BlackRock ( NYSE:BLK Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, July 15th. The asset manager reported $10.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $9.96 by $0.40. BlackRock had a return on equity of 15.44% and a net margin of 32.36%. The company had revenue of $4.81 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.85 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $9.28 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 7.7% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that BlackRock, Inc. will post 41.34 earnings per share for the current year.
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 23rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 9th will be issued a dividend of $5.10 per share. This represents a $20.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.30%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 9th. BlackRocks dividend payout ratio is presently 51.84%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
Several analysts have issued reports on BLK shares. Argus lifted their price target on BlackRock from $880.00 to $910.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 16th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on BlackRock from $1,025.00 to $1,013.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 11th. Barclays assumed coverage on BlackRock in a research report on Tuesday, August 27th. They issued an overweight rating and a $985.00 target price on the stock. UBS Group lowered their target price on BlackRock from $842.00 to $837.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 10th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on BlackRock from $912.00 to $937.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $883.13.
Check Out Our Latest Research Report on BlackRock
Insider Transactions at BlackRock
In other news, Director Pamela Daley sold 1,531 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $842.08, for a total transaction of $1,289,224.48. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 5,732 shares in the company, valued at $4,826,802.56. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, Director Mark Wiedman sold 27,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $834.42, for a total value of $22,529,340.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 6,480 shares in the company, valued at $5,407,041.60. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Pamela Daley sold 1,531 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $842.08, for a total value of $1,289,224.48. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 5,732 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,826,802.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 93,042 shares of company stock worth $79,387,117 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.90% of the companys stock.
BlackRock Profile
(Free Report)
BlackRock, Inc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks.
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Laurentian Bank of Canada (TSE:LB Free Report) Research analysts at Cormark dropped their FY2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, September 3rd. Cormark analyst L. Persaud now expects that the company will post earnings of $3.90 per share for the year, down from their prior forecast of $3.97. The consensus estimate for Laurentian Bank of Canadas current full-year earnings is $3.94 per share.
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LB has been the subject of a number of other reports. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$28.00 to C$26.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, June 6th. Raymond James increased their price objective on Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$26.00 to C$27.00 in a report on Wednesday. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$26.00 to C$25.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a report on Monday, June 3rd. Desjardins increased their price target 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. Finally, CIBC reduced their price objective on shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$30.00 to C$28.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, August 20th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and nine have given a hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of C$27.42.
Laurentian Bank of Canada Trading Down 0.1 %
Shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada stock opened at C$26.39 on Thursday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of C$26.28 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$26.59. Laurentian Bank of Canada has a 12-month low of C$24.45 and a 12-month high of C$38.25. The company has a market capitalization of C$1.16 billion, a P/E ratio of -94.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.25.
Laurentian Bank of Canada Dividend Announcement
The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 1st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, October 1st will be issued a $0.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, October 1st. This represents a $1.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.12%. Laurentian Bank of Canadas dividend payout ratio is currently -671.43%.
About Laurentian Bank of Canada
(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.
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Hodges Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 10,350 shares of the restaurant operators stock, valued at approximately $648,000.
Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 4,816.1% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 8,356,173 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $523,514,000 after buying an additional 8,186,198 shares during the period. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. lifted its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 4,260.5% in the 2nd quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. now owns 3,132,332 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $196,241,000 after acquiring an additional 3,060,498 shares in the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 3,988.6% in the 2nd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 2,996,492 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $187,730,000 after purchasing an additional 2,923,203 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers increased its holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 4,947.9% during the 2nd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 2,633,801 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $165,008,000 after purchasing an additional 2,581,625 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 4,537.6% in the 2nd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,677,738 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $105,110,000 after purchasing an additional 1,641,561 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 91.31% of the companys stock.
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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
CMG has been the subject of several recent research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $67.00 price objective on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. Piper Sandler lowered their price target on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $61.00 to $56.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. Wedbush reissued an outperform rating and issued a $58.00 price objective on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a research report on Thursday, August 29th. KeyCorp reduced their price objective on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $68.00 to $66.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 25th. Finally, Barclays lowered their target price on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $58.00 to $55.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $62.36.
Insider Buying and Selling
In other Chipotle Mexican Grill news, insider Curtis E. Garner sold 17,394 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.68, for a total value of $951,103.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 358,300 shares in the company, valued at $19,591,844. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 1.02% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.
Chipotle Mexican Grill Trading Down 0.4 %
CMG stock opened at $53.32 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $73.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 56.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 1.24. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $55.32 and a 200-day moving average price of $80.78. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a 12 month low of $35.37 and a 12 month high of $69.26.
Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The restaurant operator reported $0.34 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.32 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $2.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.94 billion. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a net margin of 13.23% and a return on equity of 44.01%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 18.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $12.65 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 1.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Chipotle Mexican Grill Profile
(Free Report)
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. It sells food and beverages through offering burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads. The company also provides delivery and related services its app and website. It has operations in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Further Reading
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In the new gym, I easily converse with people and behave with dignity and
respect and according to my rank and age. Everyone reciprocates as an equal and
the sense of freedom felt intoxicating for me, an immigrant struggling for so
many years to adapt to America.
1. Compete?
Rarely in the first three years did I feel so obsessed as the past few weeks
with jiu-jitsu. (By the time I received the first stripe on my blue belt(month
33), I even felt I hit a technical plateau.) My health and recovery kept
improving as I showed up reguarly. Darren said I should compete, which reminded
me of Jon who encouraged me to step in the ring in 2023.
In tournaments, it'll be rare to find blue belts about my age and size, I am
sure from experience. I feel confident that I could do well in competition.
But what's the point of overpowering people my age, size, and belt level when on
the street I could face bigger, stronger, and younger ones? At this point in my
life, what do I really gain by competing? The improvement from preparing for
fights I can get by training regularly as I have been. Besides there is a whole
body of knowledge of rules that I don't need but have to learn. More ain't
better and moreover, it takes the time away from the things I do want.
2. Counter the Single-leg Takedown
The first time I rolled with V, a two-striped blue belt, was on Aug 10's
competition class. I got him by the single-leg but he grabbed my head in a
guillotine and sat back down, flipping me over. I drilled this move years ago,
with Gene or Pablo, I think, but this was the first time I was on the receiving
end of it. I should try to master the move as it's so intuitive. Besides I
learned again that, as the attacker, I need to keep the head to his chest to
avoid the guillotine. The fact was that I couldn't think of the possibility
before he did it to me.
3. Potluck
Aug 10 was a Saturday. After the morning class, we had a potluck, occasioned by
a brownbelt leaving for the east coast. I used to feel like an outsider in any
group and shun events like this. But my skin had thickened. I made rice the
previous night and gimbap in the morning and brought it over. They loved it!
Tim, a 40-ish dad and my training partner asked if I was Korean as he was.
"No, I'm Chinese" I said.
"I love your gimbap."
"Thanks. I learned from Maangchi. That's the good thing about America. You
can learn from anyone."
"Right. BJJ is Japanese and Brazilian."
"You've got it!"
We connected right away and started talking about kids, American culture, and
food. Sarah, a judo girl and three-striped white belt, whom I just rolled with,
was also Korean and liked my dish.
I saw James, the four-striped blue belt I met and fought at one open-mat. In a
tee and backpack, he looked a bit down, and told me he hadn't been training
because of life. It was hard for him to commute from south San Jose. I liked him
instantly as I knew what it takes for a small person to achieve his level in
BJJ. That guy was a fighter.
I entered the lockeroom where Ronaldo, a Filipino about my age and former
Australian Taekwondo national team member and now BJJ blackbelt, was gushing
about what a blessing jiu-jitsu was. As they turned to me, I told them the last
blessing the guy shared with me was an armbar. Everyone laughed. Ronaldo did not
practice Catholicism, as I learned later, but liked the Tao and Buddhism. We
talked about Kali, a Filipino martial art, Covid, food, exercises, etc., and saw
eye to eye on all of them. It was amazing.
4. Mr. Lee's back, Michael returned to school, and a Spaniard joined us.
Aug 16, Mr. Lee came back to the noon class! It had been a month and he told me
he had not fully recovered. I apologized again and he insisted it was not my
fault. Aug 28, I attended his class. He said he didn't go through any therapy
for his neck, although some pain would stay the rest of his life.
Michael the young Chinese whitebelt left for school as summer ended. He was light
but very strong and he made good progress in jiu-jitsu. I often asked him to
drill moves with me before the class started. We all liked him and wished him
well.
At the same time, Jorkey joined us from Spain. I learned later he was a dancer
visiting the Bay Area for six-month's work. He was small, strong, and intensive
as hell. He became my trusted training partner.
5. The Right Gym
It might be in the genes. Darren's family came from Japan where people have the
reputation of devoting a whole life to an art or a craft: tea ceremony, ikebana,
judo, etc. Darren had been taking our mugshots and putting them on the wall with
belt-and-stripe levels and the promotion dates. It was a lot of work and he
seemed to enjoy it, just as he painted gym logos and city skylines over the
wall. It was a labor of love.
6. The Sit-out and more on the Turtle
Brian was a knowledgeable purple belt and came during noon class. One day, when
I asked for feedback, he pointed out that a few times during sparring, I was
ready for a sit-out but never went through.
The fact was that I wasn't going to. I knew the move for a long time but was not
even aware I could do it. The following days, I did the sit-out whenever I
could!
The other day, he trapped my arm twice from the back and I asked why and he said
it was something from Danaher straight-jacket. He then kindly explained and let
me try the move.
Next, grapplingeric on Facebook posted sensei Vito's turtle lecture and I was
hooked! It's a wealth of knowledge and so far, I tried the turtleplata and leg
attacks.
7. Hip Pain
I feel a slight pain in my left hip when sitting half-lotus after jiu-jitsu, a
warning sign. It goes away the next morning and comes back with training. My
former instructor, Brenda, is a life-long martial artist and competed till 65.
She had her hips replaced over the past year and it was not pleasant.
8. To Be Trusted
Wed Aug 28, Mr. Lee taught half-guard bottom. The key was to scoot directly
under the opponent to start to sweep or get up. Don't get cross-faced. [Henry
didn't teach this. If his guard is passed, he would stretch away to create
distance and retract and bring his leg again to the front. He was big on the
far-side underhook.] He showed a hook retention drill which was new to me and I
didn't do well.
By Wed, half of the gym had gone to Las Vegas for tournaments. Darren sent me a
message asking me to open the door Thu noon and maybe teach something if I'd
like. I didn't plan to train as I would fly to Beijing that night but said yes
nonetheless. I felt so honored that my self-conciousness with my missing front
tooth was gone!
Hodges Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI Japan ETF (NYSEARCA:EWJ Free Report) by 11.1% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 6,012 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 601 shares during the period. Hodges Capital Management Inc.s holdings in iShares MSCI Japan ETF were worth $410,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in EWJ. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Japan ETF by 4.7% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 34,382,317 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,453,178,000 after purchasing an additional 1,529,202 shares in the last quarter. Granite Bay Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of iShares MSCI Japan ETF by 8,308.4% in the 2nd quarter. Granite Bay Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,864,311 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $536,562,000 after acquiring an additional 7,770,782 shares during the period. First Command Advisory Services Inc. grew its position in shares of iShares MSCI Japan ETF by 0.8% in the 2nd quarter. First Command Advisory Services Inc. now owns 5,671,347 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $387,108,000 after acquiring an additional 42,690 shares during the period. TD Asset Management Inc increased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Japan ETF by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 2,345,578 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $167,357,000 after purchasing an additional 15,148 shares during the last quarter. Finally, 1607 Capital Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Japan ETF by 15.6% in the 4th quarter. 1607 Capital Partners LLC now owns 2,209,600 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $141,724,000 after purchasing an additional 298,100 shares during the period.
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iShares MSCI Japan ETF Stock Down 1.0 %
NYSEARCA:EWJ opened at $70.16 on Thursday. iShares MSCI Japan ETF has a 12-month low of $57.20 and a 12-month high of $72.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.63 and a beta of 0.73. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $69.23 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $68.98.
About iShares MSCI Japan ETF
iShares MSCI Japan ETF (the fund), formerly Ishares Msci Japan Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in the Japanese market, as measured by the MSCI Japan Index (the Index).
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iShares ESG Aware U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:EAGG Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $48.47 and last traded at $48.47, with a volume of 135 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $48.37.
iShares ESG Aware U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Stock Performance
The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $47.51 and a 200-day simple moving average of $46.87.
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Institutional Investors Weigh In On iShares ESG Aware U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF
Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of EAGG. Private Ocean LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares ESG Aware U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 2.1% in the 2nd quarter. Private Ocean LLC now owns 561,002 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,148,000 after acquiring an additional 11,687 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its stake in iShares ESG Aware U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 3.0% in the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 512,965 shares of the companys stock worth $23,909,000 after purchasing an additional 15,080 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its position in shares of iShares ESG Aware U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 13.6% during the first quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 210,212 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,893,000 after buying an additional 25,212 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of iShares ESG Aware U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 10.0% in the second quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 172,620 shares of the companys stock worth $8,046,000 after buying an additional 15,624 shares during the period. Finally, Mascoma Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares ESG Aware U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 17.0% during the 2nd quarter. Mascoma Wealth Management LLC now owns 142,833 shares of the companys stock worth $6,657,000 after acquiring an additional 20,770 shares during the last quarter.
About iShares ESG Aware U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF
The iShares ESG U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (EAGG) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund tracks a market-value-weighted index of US dollar-denominated bonds from issuers evaluated for favorable ESG practices. EAGG was launched on Oct 18, 2018 and is managed by BlackRock.
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Cozad Asset Management Inc. trimmed its position in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IWS Free Report) by 2.0% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,473 shares of the companys stock after selling 129 shares during the period. Cozad Asset Management Inc.s holdings in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF were worth $781,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in IWS. BCGM Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $308,000. STAR Financial Bank increased its holdings in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF by 3.9% in the 4th quarter. STAR Financial Bank now owns 19,059 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,216,000 after purchasing an additional 723 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. increased its holdings in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF by 29.5% in the 4th quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 3,127,508 shares of the companys stock valued at $363,698,000 after purchasing an additional 712,662 shares in the last quarter. Ieq Capital LLC increased its holdings in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF by 13.5% in the 4th quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 5,962 shares of the companys stock valued at $693,000 after purchasing an additional 707 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF by 16.5% in the 4th quarter. Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC now owns 743 shares of the companys stock valued at $86,000 after purchasing an additional 105 shares in the last quarter.
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iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF Trading Down 0.2 %
Shares of NYSEARCA IWS opened at $128.06 on Thursday. iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF has a 12-month low of $97.40 and a 12-month high of $130.50. The company has a market cap of $13.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.15 and a beta of 0.97. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $124.90 and a 200 day moving average price of $122.61.
iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF Profile
iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell Midcap Value Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell Midcap Value Index (the Value Index). The Value Index measures the performance of the mid-capitalization value sector of the United States equity market.
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Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY Get Free Report) issued an update on its second quarter 2025 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 1.140-1.260 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 1.200. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Korn Ferry also updated its Q2 guidance to $1.14-1.26 EPS.
Korn Ferry Trading Up 0.1 %
NYSE KFY opened at $71.29 on Thursday. Korn Ferry has a one year low of $44.45 and a one year high of $75.30. The firm has a market cap of $3.76 billion, a PE ratio of 22.14 and a beta of 1.54. The firms fifty day moving average is $69.43 and its two-hundred day moving average is $65.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a quick ratio of 1.83 and a current ratio of 1.79.
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Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, June 13th. The business services provider reported $1.26 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.13 by $0.13. Korn Ferry had a return on equity of 13.18% and a net margin of 6.05%. The firm had revenue of $690.80 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $687.36 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.01 EPS. The firms revenue was down 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that Korn Ferry will post 4.81 earnings per share for the current year.
Korn Ferry Dividend Announcement
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, September 19th will be paid a $0.37 dividend. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.08%. Korn Ferrys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 45.96%.
KFY has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on shares of Korn Ferry from $72.00 to $79.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, June 14th. Truist Financial reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $78.00 price objective (up previously from $74.00) on shares of Korn Ferry in a report on Friday, June 14th. StockNews.com raised Korn Ferry from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, June 20th. Finally, UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Korn Ferry from $66.00 to $68.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, June 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Korn Ferry presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $75.00.
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Insider Buying and Selling
In related news, CEO Mark Arian sold 5,000 shares of Korn Ferry stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.01, for a total transaction of $330,050.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 91,484 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,038,858.84. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 1.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.
About Korn Ferry
(Get Free Report)
Korn Ferry, together with its subsidiaries, provides organizational consulting services worldwide. It operates through four segments: Consulting, Digital, Executive Search, and Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) & Professional Search. The company provides executive search services to recruit board level, chief executive, other senior executive, and general management talent of organizations.
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Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS boosted its position in Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE:CAG Free Report) by 1.9% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 754,254 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 14,155 shares during the quarter. Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KSs holdings in Conagra Brands were worth $21,436,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Crumly & Associates Inc. raised its holdings in Conagra Brands by 11.9% in the second quarter. Crumly & Associates Inc. now owns 12,931 shares of the companys stock worth $367,000 after purchasing an additional 1,373 shares in the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI raised its holdings in Conagra Brands by 21.3% in the second quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 145,750 shares of the companys stock worth $4,124,000 after purchasing an additional 25,559 shares in the last quarter. Hohimer Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Conagra Brands in the second quarter worth $3,792,000. TD Asset Management Inc raised its holdings in Conagra Brands by 16.4% in the second quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 212,734 shares of the companys stock worth $6,046,000 after purchasing an additional 29,999 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Weaver Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Conagra Brands by 2.9% in the second quarter. Weaver Capital Management LLC now owns 15,956 shares of the companys stock worth $453,000 after purchasing an additional 450 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 83.75% of the companys stock.
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Insider Activity
In other news, COO Thomas M. Mcgough sold 40,000 shares of Conagra Brands stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.29, for a total transaction of $1,211,600.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 161,443 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,890,108.47. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.88% of the companys stock.
Conagra Brands Stock Performance
NYSE:CAG traded up $0.12 on Thursday, hitting $32.53. The stock had a trading volume of 1,008,112 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,641,138. The stock has a market cap of $15.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 44.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.32. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $29.91 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $29.67. Conagra Brands, Inc. has a 52-week low of $25.16 and a 52-week high of $32.81.
Conagra Brands (NYSE:CAG Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 11th. The company reported $0.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.57 by $0.04. Conagra Brands had a return on equity of 14.31% and a net margin of 2.88%. The business had revenue of $2.91 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.93 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.62 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 2.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Conagra Brands, Inc. will post 2.61 earnings per share for the current year.
Conagra Brands Announces Dividend
The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 1st were given a dividend of $0.35 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 1st. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.30%. Conagra Brandss payout ratio is currently 191.78%.
Analyst Ratings Changes
Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Evercore ISI reduced their price target on Conagra Brands from $32.00 to $31.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, July 12th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on Conagra Brands from $32.00 to $31.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 10th. Barclays reduced their price target on Conagra Brands from $34.00 to $33.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, July 12th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on Conagra Brands from $30.00 to $29.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Friday, July 12th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price objective on Conagra Brands from $32.00 to $30.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, June 28th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Conagra Brands presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $30.90.
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Conagra Brands Company Profile
(Free Report)
Conagra Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a consumer packaged goods food company primarily in the United States. The company operates through Grocery & Snacks, Refrigerated & Frozen, International, and Foodservice segments. The Grocery & Snacks segment primarily offers shelf stable food products through various retail channels.
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Lowery Thomas LLC boosted its position in Invesco S&P SmallCap Momentum ETF (NYSEARCA:XSMO Free Report) by 7.8% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 15,697 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,142 shares during the quarter. Invesco S&P SmallCap Momentum ETF comprises 0.7% of Lowery Thomas LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 29th biggest holding. Lowery Thomas LLCs holdings in Invesco S&P SmallCap Momentum ETF were worth $943,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of XSMO. Wells Fargo & Company MN increased its holdings in Invesco S&P SmallCap Momentum ETF by 86.0% in the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 278,586 shares of the companys stock worth $15,784,000 after purchasing an additional 128,780 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in Invesco S&P SmallCap Momentum ETF by 284.3% in the 4th quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 96,256 shares of the companys stock worth $5,453,000 after purchasing an additional 71,208 shares in the last quarter. Theory Financial LLC acquired a new position in Invesco S&P SmallCap Momentum ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $4,017,000. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC increased its holdings in Invesco S&P SmallCap Momentum ETF by 1,070.8% in the 4th quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 75,293 shares of the companys stock worth $4,266,000 after purchasing an additional 68,862 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in Invesco S&P SmallCap Momentum ETF by 14.9% in the 2nd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 196,737 shares of the companys stock worth $11,814,000 after purchasing an additional 25,515 shares in the last quarter.
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Invesco S&P SmallCap Momentum ETF Trading Down 0.0 %
XSMO traded down $0.02 on Thursday, reaching $63.20. The stock had a trading volume of 203,392 shares, compared to its average volume of 213,493. The company has a market capitalization of $443.66 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.91 and a beta of 1.19. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $63.24 and a 200-day moving average of $60.65. Invesco S&P SmallCap Momentum ETF has a fifty-two week low of $45.10 and a fifty-two week high of $68.32.
Invesco S&P SmallCap Momentum ETF Profile
The Invesco S&P SmallCap Momentum ETF (XSMO) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P Small Cap 600 Momentum index. The fund tracks an index of US small-caps stocks selected by momentum. Holdings are weighted by a combination of market cap and momentum. XSMO was launched on Mar 3, 2005 and is managed by Invesco.
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Mattern Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Parker-Hannifin Co. (NYSE:PH Free Report) by 8.3% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 11,975 shares of the industrial products companys stock after buying an additional 921 shares during the quarter. Mattern Capital Management LLCs holdings in Parker-Hannifin were worth $6,057,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of PH. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC increased its stake in Parker-Hannifin by 2.3% in the first quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC now owns 851 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $473,000 after purchasing an additional 19 shares in the last quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC grew its holdings in shares of Parker-Hannifin by 60.6% in the 1st quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC now owns 53 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 20 shares during the period. GoalVest Advisory LLC increased its position in shares of Parker-Hannifin by 40.0% in the 1st quarter. GoalVest Advisory LLC now owns 70 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. American Trust raised its stake in Parker-Hannifin by 3.2% during the 1st quarter. American Trust now owns 649 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $361,000 after buying an additional 20 shares during the period. Finally, TFG Advisers LLC lifted its holdings in Parker-Hannifin by 0.9% during the second quarter. TFG Advisers LLC now owns 2,171 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,098,000 after acquiring an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. 82.44% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
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Parker-Hannifin Trading Up 0.3 %
Shares of Parker-Hannifin stock opened at $577.12 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $74.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.20, a P/E/G ratio of 2.44 and a beta of 1.43. The company has a quick ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. Parker-Hannifin Co. has a 12-month low of $362.49 and a 12-month high of $601.30. The businesss 50 day moving average is $551.75 and its 200-day moving average is $542.33.
Parker-Hannifin Announces Dividend
Parker-Hannifin ( NYSE:PH Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 8th. The industrial products company reported $6.77 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.22 by $0.55. Parker-Hannifin had a net margin of 14.27% and a return on equity of 29.08%. The firm had revenue of $5.19 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.08 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $6.08 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 1.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Parker-Hannifin Co. will post 26.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 13th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 28th will be issued a dividend of $1.63 per share. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.13%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 28th. Parker-Hannifins payout ratio is currently 30.73%.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
PH has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on Parker-Hannifin from $622.00 to $654.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, August 9th. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Parker-Hannifin from $618.00 to $610.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, June 4th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on shares of Parker-Hannifin from $629.00 to $613.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 18th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on Parker-Hannifin from $595.00 to $645.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, August 9th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Parker-Hannifin from $600.00 to $640.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, August 9th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Parker-Hannifin presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $623.00.
View Our Latest Report on PH
Insiders Place Their Bets
In other Parker-Hannifin news, Director Joseph Scaminace sold 1,751 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $589.73, for a total transaction of $1,032,617.23. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 3,900 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,299,947. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, VP Berend Bracht sold 850 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $592.92, for a total value of $503,982.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 3,350 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,986,282. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Joseph Scaminace sold 1,751 shares of Parker-Hannifin stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $589.73, for a total value of $1,032,617.23. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 3,900 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,299,947. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.03% of the companys stock.
Parker-Hannifin Company Profile
(Free Report)
Parker-Hannifin Corporation manufactures and sells motion and control technologies and systems for various mobile, industrial, and aerospace markets worldwide. The company operates through two segments: Diversified Industrial and Aerospace Systems. The Diversified Industrial segment offers sealing, shielding, thermal products and systems, adhesives, coatings, and noise vibration and harshness solutions; filters, systems, and diagnostics solutions to ensure purity and remove contaminants from fuel, air, oil, water, and other liquids and gases; connectors used in fluid and gas handling; and hydraulic, pneumatic, and electromechanical components and systems for builders and users of mobile and industrial machinery and equipment.
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MFS Government Markets Income Trust (NYSE:MGF Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Tuesday, September 3rd, Wall Street Journal reports. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 17th will be given a dividend of 0.0202 per share on Monday, September 30th. This represents a $0.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.49%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 17th. This is an increase from MFS Government Markets Income Trusts previous monthly dividend of $0.02.
MFS Government Markets Income Trust has raised its dividend payment by an average of 4.3% per year over the last three years.
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MFS Government Markets Income Trust Stock Up 0.3 %
MGF opened at $3.24 on Thursday. MFS Government Markets Income Trust has a 12 month low of $2.91 and a 12 month high of $3.26. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $3.15 and its 200 day simple moving average is $3.12.
MFS Government Markets Income Trust Company Profile
MFS Government Markets Income Trust is a close ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Massachusetts Financial Services Company. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of United States. It primarily invests in investment grade debt instruments. The fund also invests in mortgage backed, U.S.
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Parex Resources Inc. (TSE:PXT Get Free Report) Director Sigmund Cornelius bought 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 4th. The stock was purchased at an average price of C$13.16 per share, for a total transaction of C$98,718.75.
Parex Resources Price Performance
Shares of TSE PXT opened at C$13.37 on Thursday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is C$18.98 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$21.17. Parex Resources Inc. has a twelve month low of C$11.33 and a twelve month high of C$28.23. The firm has a market capitalization of C$1.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 3.25, a P/E/G ratio of 0.21 and a beta of 1.47. The company has a quick ratio of 1.45, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.90.
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Parex Resources (TSE:PXT Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 31st. The company reported C$0.05 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of C$499.23 million for the quarter. Parex Resources had a net margin of 26.15% and a return on equity of 17.02%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Parex Resources Inc. will post 4.0255814 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Parex Resources Announces Dividend
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 16th will be given a dividend of $0.385 per share. This represents a $1.54 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 11.52%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 9th. Parex Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 37.38%.
Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Scotiabank dropped their price objective on shares of Parex Resources from C$23.00 to C$19.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 30th. Royal Bank of Canada downgraded shares of Parex Resources from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and cut their price objective for the stock from C$23.00 to C$17.00 in a report on Thursday, August 29th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on shares of Parex Resources from C$23.80 to C$19.50 in a report on Thursday, August 29th. Eight Capital lowered Parex Resources from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price target for the stock from C$32.50 to C$16.00 in a report on Friday, August 30th. Finally, Haywood Securities dropped their price objective on Parex Resources from C$33.00 to C$25.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 30th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of C$25.27.
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About Parex Resources
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Parex Resources Inc engages in the exploration, development, production, and marketing of oil and natural gas in Colombia. The company's principal land holdings and exploration blocks are in Colombia Llanos and Magdalena Basin. It has 55% working interest in Block LLA-34; 100% working interest in Cabrestero Block; and 50% working interest in Capachos Block and Block VIM-1.
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Pilbara Minerals Limited (ASX:PLS Get Free Report) insider Kathleen Conlon purchased 30,000 shares of Pilbara Minerals stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 2nd. The stock was acquired at an average price of A$2.86 ($1.95) per share, for a total transaction of A$85,800.00 ($58,367.35).
Pilbara Minerals Price Performance
The company has a current ratio of 4.52, a quick ratio of 2.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 17.13.
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Pilbara Minerals Company Profile
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Pilbara Minerals Limited engages in the exploration, development, and operation of mineral resources in Australia. The company primarily explores for lithium. It primarily holds a 100% interest in the Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum project located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The company was incorporated in 2005 and is based in West Perth, Australia.
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The South China Sea issue has always been the focu...
Pzena Investment Management LLC reduced its position in Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE:AYI Free Report) by 93.2% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 1,460 shares of the electronics makers stock after selling 20,107 shares during the quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLCs holdings in Acuity Brands were worth $353,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Jackson Creek Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in Acuity Brands in the second quarter worth $238,000. Versor Investments LP bought a new position in Acuity Brands in the second quarter worth $1,473,000. Ritholtz Wealth Management lifted its position in Acuity Brands by 32.1% in the second quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 4,218 shares of the electronics makers stock worth $1,018,000 after purchasing an additional 1,026 shares during the period. Picton Mahoney Asset Management bought a new position in Acuity Brands in the second quarter worth $154,000. Finally, Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its position in Acuity Brands by 17.4% in the second quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 13,937 shares of the electronics makers stock worth $3,365,000 after purchasing an additional 2,068 shares during the period. 98.21% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
AYI has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com lowered Acuity Brands from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 27th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered Acuity Brands from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $295.00 to $260.00 in a research note on Friday, June 28th. Finally, Robert W. Baird dropped their price objective on Acuity Brands from $286.00 to $280.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, June 18th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $279.00.
Acuity Brands Stock Performance
Shares of NYSE:AYI opened at $247.00 on Thursday. Acuity Brands, Inc. has a twelve month low of $156.49 and a twelve month high of $272.74. The firm has a market cap of $7.60 billion, a PE ratio of 20.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a quick ratio of 2.15 and a current ratio of 2.77. The business has a fifty day moving average of $243.53 and a 200-day moving average of $251.78.
Acuity Brands (NYSE:AYI Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, June 27th. The electronics maker reported $4.15 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.82 by $0.33. Acuity Brands had a return on equity of 20.97% and a net margin of 10.12%. The company had revenue of $968.10 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $996.52 million. During the same period last year, the company posted $3.50 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was down 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that Acuity Brands, Inc. will post 14.26 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Acuity Brands Announces Dividend
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 18th were paid a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 18th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.24%. Acuity Brandss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 4.88%.
About Acuity Brands
(Free Report)
Acuity Brands, Inc provides lighting, lighting controls, building management system, location-aware applications in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Acuity Brands Lighting and Lighting Controls (ABL); and the Intelligent Spaces Group (ISG). The ABL segment provides commercial, architectural, and specialty lighting solutions, as well as lighting controls and components for various indoor and outdoor applications under the A-Light, Aculux, American Electric Lighting, Cyclone, Dark to Light, eldoLED, Eureka, Gotham, Healthcare Lighting, Holophane, Hydrel, Indy, IOTA, Juno, Lithonia Lighting, Luminaire LED, Luminis, Mark Architectural Lighting, nLight, OPTOTRONIC, Peerless, RELOCWiring Solutions, and Sensor Switch.
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Barclays began coverage on shares of RenaissanceRe (NYSE:RNR Free Report) in a research note published on Wednesday morning, Benzinga reports. The brokerage issued an equal weight rating and a $287.00 target price on the insurance providers stock.
RNR has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of RenaissanceRe from $257.00 to $240.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 10th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of RenaissanceRe from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 28th. Bank of America upped their target price on RenaissanceRe from $334.00 to $347.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, July 11th. UBS Group reduced their price target on RenaissanceRe from $251.00 to $248.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, July 9th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of RenaissanceRe from $265.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $265.55.
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Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on RenaissanceRe
RenaissanceRe Trading Up 0.8 %
Shares of RNR opened at $259.04 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $13.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 1.38 and a quick ratio of 1.38. RenaissanceRe has a 1 year low of $186.45 and a 1 year high of $260.97. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $232.73 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $228.38.
RenaissanceRe (NYSE:RNR Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The insurance provider reported $12.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $10.88 by $1.53. The firm had revenue of $2.95 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.93 billion. RenaissanceRe had a net margin of 25.38% and a return on equity of 27.74%. On average, equities analysts expect that RenaissanceRe will post 39.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
RenaissanceRe Dividend Announcement
The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 13th will be given a $0.39 dividend. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.60%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 13th. RenaissanceRes payout ratio is 3.45%.
Insider Activity at RenaissanceRe
In related news, EVP David E. Marra sold 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $230.00, for a total transaction of $230,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 85,544 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,675,120. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, CFO Robert Qutub sold 2,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $224.56, for a total value of $561,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 73,915 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,598,352.40. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP David E. Marra sold 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $230.00, for a total value of $230,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 85,544 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,675,120. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.30% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
Hedge Funds Weigh In On RenaissanceRe
Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in RenaissanceRe by 19.8% in the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 272 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $63,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC lifted its stake in RenaissanceRe by 8.7% in the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 610 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $143,000 after buying an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue increased its stake in RenaissanceRe by 0.9% during the 1st quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 5,714 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,342,000 after buying an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Hilltop National Bank raised its holdings in shares of RenaissanceRe by 14.9% during the second quarter. Hilltop National Bank now owns 400 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $89,000 after acquiring an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. lifted its position in shares of RenaissanceRe by 23.0% in the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 342 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $76,000 after acquiring an additional 64 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.97% of the companys stock.
About RenaissanceRe
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RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance and insurance products in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Property, and Casualty and Specialty segments. The Property segment writes property catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance and excess of loss reinsurance to insure insurance and reinsurance companies against natural and man-made catastrophes, including hurricanes, earthquakes, typhoons, and tsunamis, as well as winter storms, freezes, floods, fires, windstorms, tornadoes, explosions, and acts of terrorism; and other property class of products, such as proportional reinsurance, property per risk, property reinsurance, binding facilities, and regional U.S.
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Revolution Bars Group plc (LON:RBG Get Free Report)s share price reached a new 52-week low during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as GBX 0.85 ($0.01) and last traded at GBX 0.87 ($0.01), with a volume of 3658894 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 0.88 ($0.01).
Revolution Bars Group Stock Performance
The companys 50-day simple moving average is GBX 1.16 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 1.59. The stock has a market capitalization of 2.17 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -10.86 and a beta of 2.69. The company has a current ratio of 0.40, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 81.70.
About Revolution Bars Group
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Revolution Bars Group plc operates premium bars located in towns or city center high streets in the United Kingdom. Its bars provides food and drink products. The company operates bars and pubs under the Revolution, Revolucion de Cuba, Peach, Playhouse, and Founders & Co brand names. Revolution Bars Group plc was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Ashton-Under-Lyne, the United Kingdom.
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DaVita Inc. (NYSE:DVA Get Free Report) was the target of a large decline in short interest during the month of August. As of August 15th, there was short interest totalling 5,010,000 shares, a decline of 5.1% from the July 31st total of 5,280,000 shares. Approximately 6.2% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 823,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 6.1 days.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
DVA has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. StockNews.com cut DaVita from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, June 8th. Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of DaVita from $139.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. Truist Financial increased their target price on shares of DaVita from $150.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 20th. TD Cowen upped their price objective on DaVita from $139.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 24th. Finally, UBS Group increased their price objective on DaVita from $169.00 to $175.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, August 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $157.00.
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DaVita Price Performance
DVA stock opened at $151.37 on Thursday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $143.01 and a 200-day moving average of $138.44. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 0.86. DaVita has a 12 month low of $71.51 and a 12 month high of $156.44. The company has a current ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.94.
DaVita (NYSE:DVA Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 6th. The company reported $2.59 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.47 by $0.12. DaVita had a net margin of 6.86% and a return on equity of 77.00%. The firm had revenue of $3.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.15 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.08 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that DaVita will post 9.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Insider Buying and Selling at DaVita
In other news, CFO Joel Ackerman sold 64,029 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.06, for a total value of $9,928,336.74. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 111,481 shares in the company, valued at $17,286,243.86. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other DaVita news, CEO Javier Rodriguez sold 32,176 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $155.93, for a total value of $5,017,203.68. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 905,659 shares in the company, valued at approximately $141,219,407.87. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Joel Ackerman sold 64,029 shares of DaVita stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.06, for a total transaction of $9,928,336.74. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 111,481 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,286,243.86. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 113,601 shares of company stock worth $17,525,449. Insiders own 2.00% of the companys stock.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Point72 Asset Management L.P. bought a new stake in DaVita during the second quarter valued at approximately $9,615,000. Chase Investment Counsel Corp purchased a new stake in shares of DaVita during the 2nd quarter valued at $2,933,000. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of DaVita by 78.9% during the 2nd quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 4,130 shares of the companys stock worth $572,000 after acquiring an additional 1,822 shares during the last quarter. Creative Planning grew its position in DaVita by 5.0% in the second quarter. Creative Planning now owns 8,297 shares of the companys stock worth $1,150,000 after acquiring an additional 394 shares in the last quarter. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its stake in DaVita by 0.3% in the second quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 45,244 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,269,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.12% of the companys stock.
About DaVita
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DaVita Inc provides kidney dialysis services for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure in the United States. The company operates kidney dialysis centers and provides related lab services in outpatient dialysis centers. It also offers outpatient, hospital inpatient, and home-based hemodialysis services; operates clinical laboratories that provide routine laboratory tests for dialysis and other physician-prescribed laboratory tests for ESRD patients; and management and administrative services to outpatient dialysis centers.
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Haemonetics Co. (NYSE:HAE Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest in the month of August. As of August 15th, there was short interest totalling 5,050,000 shares, an increase of 5.2% from the July 31st total of 4,800,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 652,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 7.7 days. Currently, 10.0% of the companys shares are sold short.
Insider Buying and Selling at Haemonetics
In other Haemonetics news, insider Stewart W. Strong sold 4,312 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.15, for a total transaction of $393,038.80. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 18,196 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,658,565.40. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, insider Stewart W. Strong sold 4,312 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.15, for a total value of $393,038.80. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 18,196 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,658,565.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Anila Lingamneni sold 2,136 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.00, for a total transaction of $192,240.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 21,410 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,926,900. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.80% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
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Institutional Inflows and Outflows
A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in HAE. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC raised its position in Haemonetics by 3.3% during the 2nd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 3,673 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $304,000 after buying an additional 117 shares during the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Haemonetics by 6.9% during the second quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 4,031 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $333,000 after purchasing an additional 260 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its position in Haemonetics by 2.0% during the second quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 14,217 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $1,176,000 after purchasing an additional 272 shares during the period. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System boosted its holdings in Haemonetics by 2.1% in the first quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 14,600 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $1,246,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State of Michigan Retirement System grew its position in Haemonetics by 2.5% during the 1st quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 12,474 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $1,065,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.67% of the companys stock.
Haemonetics Trading Down 0.1 %
Shares of NYSE:HAE opened at $75.00 on Thursday. The businesss 50-day moving average is $82.75 and its 200 day moving average is $83.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 3.76 and a quick ratio of 2.33. Haemonetics has a 1 year low of $70.74 and a 1 year high of $97.97. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.75, a P/E/G ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 0.29.
Haemonetics (NYSE:HAE Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 8th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.03 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $336.17 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $335.08 million. Haemonetics had a net margin of 8.61% and a return on equity of 21.86%. The businesss revenue was up 8.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.05 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Haemonetics will post 4.58 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on HAE shares. JMP Securities reiterated a market outperform rating and issued a $125.00 price target on shares of Haemonetics in a report on Tuesday, August 13th. Needham & Company LLC upgraded Haemonetics from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $112.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, June 12th. Citigroup reduced their target price on shares of Haemonetics from $94.00 to $85.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Thursday, August 22nd. Finally, Barrington Research raised their price target on shares of Haemonetics from $107.00 to $108.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, August 9th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Haemonetics has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $107.50.
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About Haemonetics
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Haemonetics Corporation, a healthcare company, provides suite of medical products and solutions in the United States and internationally. The company offers automated plasma collection systems, donor management software, and supporting software solutions including NexSys PCS and PCS2 plasmapheresis equipment and related disposables and solutions, as well as integrated information technology platforms for plasma customers to manage their donors, operations, and supply chain; and NexLynk DMS donor management system and Donor360 app.
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STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Thursday, September 5th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 17th will be given a dividend of 0.09 per share by the semiconductor producer on Friday, December 27th. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.22%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 17th.
STMicroelectronics has raised its dividend by an average of 8.9% annually over the last three years. STMicroelectronics has a payout ratio of 15.7% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Analysts expect STMicroelectronics to earn $2.14 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.36 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 16.8%.
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STMicroelectronics Stock Down 0.9 %
NYSE STM traded down $0.28 during trading on Thursday, reaching $29.50. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,042,263 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,677,180. The company has a current ratio of 3.35, a quick ratio of 2.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. The stock has a market capitalization of $26.65 billion, a PE ratio of 7.63, a PEG ratio of 3.84 and a beta of 1.58. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $35.03 and a 200-day moving average price of $40.10. STMicroelectronics has a 1-year low of $28.19 and a 1-year high of $51.27.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
STMicroelectronics ( NYSE:STM Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The semiconductor producer reported $0.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.34 by $0.04. STMicroelectronics had a return on equity of 18.18% and a net margin of 19.68%. The firm had revenue of $3.23 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.55 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.06 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 25.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that STMicroelectronics will post 1.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
STM has been the topic of several analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of STMicroelectronics from a sell rating to a neutral rating and boosted their price target for the company from $35.50 to $45.80 in a report on Tuesday, June 18th. Morgan Stanley cut STMicroelectronics from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Sanford C. Bernstein reduced their target price on STMicroelectronics from $54.00 to $41.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, July 30th. StockNews.com raised shares of STMicroelectronics from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday. Finally, Craig Hallum cut their target price on STMicroelectronics from $48.00 to $42.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $43.13.
View Our Latest Stock Analysis on STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics Company Profile
(Get Free Report)
STMicroelectronics N.V., together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells semiconductor products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates through Automotive and Discrete Group; Analog, MEMS and Sensors Group; and Microcontrollers and Digital ICs Group segments.
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StockNews.com upgraded shares of STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report published on Monday.
Several other analysts also recently commented on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein decreased their price objective on shares of STMicroelectronics from $54.00 to $41.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, July 30th. TD Cowen cut their target price on STMicroelectronics from $50.00 to $40.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Morgan Stanley cut shares of STMicroelectronics from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Craig Hallum decreased their price target on shares of STMicroelectronics from $48.00 to $42.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded STMicroelectronics from a sell rating to a neutral rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $35.50 to $45.80 in a research report on Tuesday, June 18th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $43.13.
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STMicroelectronics Stock Up 0.6 %
Shares of NYSE STM opened at $29.76 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $35.03 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $40.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.89 billion, a PE ratio of 7.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.84 and a beta of 1.58. The company has a current ratio of 3.35, a quick ratio of 2.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. STMicroelectronics has a 12 month low of $28.19 and a 12 month high of $51.27.
STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The semiconductor producer reported $0.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.34 by $0.04. STMicroelectronics had a net margin of 19.68% and a return on equity of 18.18%. The company had revenue of $3.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.55 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.06 EPS. STMicroelectronicss quarterly revenue was down 25.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that STMicroelectronics will post 1.66 earnings per share for the current year.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Creative Planning increased its position in shares of STMicroelectronics by 36.6% during the second quarter. Creative Planning now owns 59,604 shares of the semiconductor producers stock valued at $2,341,000 after acquiring an additional 15,985 shares during the last quarter. Scientech Research LLC purchased a new stake in STMicroelectronics during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $381,000. Lighthouse Investment Partners LLC boosted its position in STMicroelectronics by 25.0% in the 2nd quarter. Lighthouse Investment Partners LLC now owns 50,000 shares of the semiconductor producers stock valued at $1,975,000 after buying an additional 10,000 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can increased its position in shares of STMicroelectronics by 50.3% during the second quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 47,425 shares of the semiconductor producers stock worth $1,903,000 after acquiring an additional 15,870 shares during the period. Finally, Lombard Odier Asset Management Europe Ltd boosted its holdings in STMicroelectronics by 581.9% in the second quarter. Lombard Odier Asset Management Europe Ltd now owns 225,428 shares of the semiconductor producers stock valued at $8,855,000 after purchasing an additional 192,369 shares during the period. 5.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
STMicroelectronics Company Profile
(Get Free Report)
STMicroelectronics N.V., together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells semiconductor products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates through Automotive and Discrete Group; Analog, MEMS and Sensors Group; and Microcontrollers and Digital ICs Group segments.
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Strategy Asset Managers LLC increased its position in shares of Dakota Gold Corp. (NYSE:DC Free Report) by 141.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 45,900 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 26,900 shares during the quarter. Strategy Asset Managers LLC owned about 0.05% of Dakota Gold worth $117,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Corundum Trust Company INC bought a new position in shares of Dakota Gold during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $38,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its stake in shares of Dakota Gold by 28.3% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 15,562 shares of the companys stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 3,437 shares in the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Dakota Gold during the 1st quarter worth approximately $42,000. Rhumbline Advisers raised its stake in shares of Dakota Gold by 17.3% during the 2nd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 80,867 shares of the companys stock worth $206,000 after acquiring an additional 11,926 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its stake in shares of Dakota Gold by 32.1% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 194,347 shares of the companys stock worth $496,000 after acquiring an additional 47,172 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 37.41% of the companys stock.
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Insiders Place Their Bets
In other Dakota Gold news, CAO Patrick Shay Malone sold 27,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2.45, for a total transaction of $66,150.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 228,846 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $560,672.70. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Dakota Gold news, insider James Mccoy Berry acquired 20,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 21st. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $2.48 per share, with a total value of $49,600.00. Following the acquisition, the insider now directly owns 273,752 shares of the companys stock, valued at $678,904.96. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CAO Patrick Shay Malone sold 27,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2.45, for a total transaction of $66,150.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 228,846 shares in the company, valued at $560,672.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 26.02% of the stock is owned by insiders.
Dakota Gold Trading Down 1.8 %
NYSE:DC opened at $2.14 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $188.31 million, a PE ratio of -4.86 and a beta of 1.11. Dakota Gold Corp. has a twelve month low of $1.84 and a twelve month high of $3.25. The companys 50 day moving average is $2.29 and its two-hundred day moving average is $2.42.
Dakota Gold (NYSE:DC Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 13th. The company reported ($0.10) earnings per share for the quarter.
About Dakota Gold
(Free Report)
Dakota Gold Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in the United States. It primarily explores for gold deposits. The company holds 100% interest in the Blind Gold, City Creek, Tinton, West Corridor, Ragged Top, Poorman Anticline, Maitland, South Lead/ Whistler Gulch, the Barrick Option, Richmond Hill and Homestake Paleoplacer Properties located in Homestake Mining District, South Dakota.
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Strategy Asset Managers LLC bought a new position in KBR, Inc. (NYSE:KBR Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 4,255 shares of the construction companys stock, valued at approximately $277,000.
A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Fifth Third Bancorp increased its stake in KBR by 17.5% in the second quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 1,204 shares of the construction companys stock worth $77,000 after purchasing an additional 179 shares during the period. CWM LLC grew its position in shares of KBR by 39.4% during the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 817 shares of the construction companys stock worth $52,000 after buying an additional 231 shares in the last quarter. Harbour Capital Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of KBR by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. Harbour Capital Advisors LLC now owns 54,135 shares of the construction companys stock worth $3,412,000 after buying an additional 265 shares in the last quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. grew its position in shares of KBR by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 37,473 shares of the construction companys stock worth $2,076,000 after buying an additional 293 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. grew its position in shares of KBR by 27.7% during the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,457 shares of the construction companys stock worth $93,000 after buying an additional 316 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.02% of the companys stock.
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KBR Trading Down 0.7 %
KBR stock opened at $66.73 on Thursday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $65.83 and a two-hundred day moving average of $64.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.35, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.10. KBR, Inc. has a one year low of $49.37 and a one year high of $69.50. The stock has a market cap of $8.96 billion, a PE ratio of -34.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 0.90.
KBR Announces Dividend
KBR ( NYSE:KBR Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The construction company reported $0.83 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.79 by $0.04. KBR had a return on equity of 27.92% and a net margin of 2.77%. The company had revenue of $1.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.88 billion. On average, research analysts anticipate that KBR, Inc. will post 3.24 EPS for the current fiscal year.
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 16th will be paid a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.90%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 16th. KBRs payout ratio is -31.25%.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
KBR has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. DA Davidson reissued a buy rating and set a $78.00 price target on shares of KBR in a research report on Tuesday, June 25th. StockNews.com downgraded KBR from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, August 12th. UBS Group raised their price objective on KBR from $68.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 14th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on KBR from $83.00 to $84.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, May 9th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, KBR currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $76.00.
View Our Latest Research Report on KBR
Insider Transactions at KBR
In other news, insider Jalal Ibrahim sold 35,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.56, for a total value of $2,329,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 106,550 shares in the company, valued at $7,091,968. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.08% of the companys stock.
KBR Company Profile
(Free Report)
KBR, Inc provides scientific, technology, and engineering solutions to governments and commercial customers worldwide. It operates through Government Solutions and Sustainable Technology Solutions segments. The Government Solutions segment offers life-cycle support solutions to defense, intelligence, space, aviation, and other programs and missions for military and other government agencies in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
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First Dallas Securities Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM Free Report) by 46.4% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 11,678 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after purchasing an additional 3,701 shares during the quarter. First Dallas Securities Inc.s holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $2,030,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in TSM. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC boosted its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 226.9% in the 2nd quarter. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC now owns 1,180 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $205,000 after buying an additional 819 shares during the last quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 4.2% in the second quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,304 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $574,000 after purchasing an additional 134 shares during the period. TD Asset Management Inc grew its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 5.6% in the second quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 722,608 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $125,596,000 after purchasing an additional 38,381 shares during the period. Birchcreek Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 26.7% during the second quarter. Birchcreek Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,051 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $356,000 after purchasing an additional 432 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mattern Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 24.2% during the second quarter. Mattern Capital Management LLC now owns 4,295 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $747,000 after purchasing an additional 837 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.51% of the companys stock.
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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Stock Up 1.5 %
NYSE:TSM traded up $2.43 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $163.30. The stock had a trading volume of 3,191,029 shares, compared to its average volume of 15,803,685. The company has a market cap of $846.94 billion, a PE ratio of 31.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 1.14. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $170.29 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $154.82. 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 current ratio of 2.47, a quick ratio of 2.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Increases Dividend
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ( NYSE:TSM Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 18th. The semiconductor company reported $1.48 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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 25.54%. The business had revenue of $20.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.33 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.14 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 34.6% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited will post 6.45 EPS for the current year.
The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 9th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 12th will be issued a $0.4871 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 12th. This represents a $1.95 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.19%. This is an increase from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings previous quarterly dividend of $0.49. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio is currently 37.52%.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
TSM has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Barclays upped their price objective on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $150.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, June 5th. Needham & Company LLC lifted their price objective on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $168.00 to $210.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 15th. 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. Susquehanna restated a positive rating and issued a $250.00 price target on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Wednesday, August 14th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein increased their price objective 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. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $200.00.
Read Our Latest Analysis on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing 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.
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The move puts Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus minority at risk of falling at any time in the coming weeks or months if it loses any confidence votes, which could trigger a snap election as soon as this fall.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said in a video released by the NDP on Wednesday that the Liberals have let people down and failed to take on corporate greed.
He also pitched the NDP as the only party that can stop a surging Conservative Party from winning the next election, arguing the Liberals are too weak, too selfish and too beholden to corporate interests to fight for people.
Today, I have notified the prime minister that I have ripped up the supply-and-confidence agreement, Singh said.
Big corporations and wealthy CEOs have had their government. Its the peoples time.
The House of Commons is set to reconvene from the summer break on Sept. 16, after which the NDP will be voting on government bills on a case-by-case basis, a party official told Global News.
The NDP official told Global News on background that the video was shot some time ago, and that the decision to pull out of the deal has been in the works for months.
The official added a key reason for pulling the trigger now was a fundamental difference in values on corporate greed between the two parties.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations about the decision. No one from the NDP was made available to speak to media Wednesday.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who has urged Singh to pull out of the deal, called Wednesdays announcement a media stunt and criticized the NDP leader for not committing to a non-confidence vote.
My message to Sellout Singh is this: if youre serious about ending your costly carbon tax coalition with Trudeau, then commit today to voting for a carbon tax election at the earliest confidence vote in the House of Commons, Poilievre told reporters in Nanaimo, B.C.
Multiple bills are still outstanding in the House that would need support from the NDP or another party to pass. They include the Online Harms Act and legislation addressing rail and port safety, airport standards, advance voting expansions and changes to the military justice system and how it handles sexual misconduct cases.
A likely candidate for a potential confidence vote would be the fall economic statement thats typically delivered in October or November. Confidence votes can also be put forward by the opposition by declaring a lack of confidence in the government or at the prerogative of the government, which can designate any matter it chooses as a matter of confidence.
Poilievre indicated Wednesday the Conservatives are prepared to introduce a confidence motion at the earliest opportunity.
Trudeau: 'I am not focused on politics'
At an announcement in Newfoundland and Labrador Wednesday, Trudeau wouldnt say if an election was imminent, telling reporters a vote will come in the coming year, hopefully not until next fall.
I am not focused on politics, he said, highlighting actions the government has taken to try and bring costs down for Canadians.
I really hope the NDP stays focused on how we can deliver for Canadians, as we have over the past years, rather than focusing on politics.
Trudeau wouldnt say what conversations he had with Singh leading up to Wednesdays announcement, but said he hopes to continue working with the NDP on legislation.
4:35 Not focused on politics: Trudeau reacts to NDP pulling out of supply-and-confidence deal with Liberals
The NDP entered into the supply-and-confidence deal with the Liberals in 2022, months after voters returned the Liberals to government with another minority in late 2021.
Supply and confidence deals are different than coalition governments, which are when members from more than one party serve in cabinet together, governing jointly.
Under the terms of the agreement, the NDP would ensure the Liberals stay in power until the next mandated election in 2025, in exchange for the government backing key NDP priorities.
The deal has allowed the NDP to achieve legislative wins on pharmacare and dental care, two of the partys biggest platform pillars.
But Singh and his caucus have railed against the Liberals for not doing more to tackle rising profits among corporations and executives amid the cost-of-living crisis. Calls to tax those excess profits and raise corporate taxes higher have not yielded action from the government.
The NDP sharply criticized the governments intervention in the labour dispute that caused last months rail shutdown, accusing the Liberals of undermining union bargaining.
Singh criticizes Trudeaus imposition of binding arbitration on rail workers: Shameful
At the time, Singh declined to answer if he would pull out of the supply-and-confidence agreement over the labour dispute, but accused Trudeau of standing on the side of corporations against working Canadians.
The NDP has also criticized the governments approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict, though the Liberals supported a motion that froze additional arms sales to Israel earlier this year.
NDP support stagnant as Liberals slide
Singh has been under increasing pressure to pull out of the deal particularly from the opposition Conservatives, who have been itching for a snap election as they lead Trudeaus Liberals in the polls by double digits.
An Angus Reid survey released Wednesday found the Conservatives leading the Liberals 43 to 21 per cent, a gap that is three times what it was in 2022. Support for the NDP, meanwhile, has remained relatively stagnant during that same period, standing at 19 per cent in Wednesdays poll.
In June, close to 70 per cent of Canadians polled by Ipsos for Global News said Trudeau should resign as prime minister.
1:52 Liberals stand by Trudeau after byelection loss
Ipsos also found 70 per cent of Canadians believe that Canada is broken, a charge regularly made by Poilievre. The sentiment was felt most strongly by younger Canadians who have gravitated toward the Conservatives in opinion polls.
The Conservatives have sought to tie the NDP to the unpopular Liberals by referring to the supply-and-confidence agreement as the Liberal-NDP coalition.
Poilievre last week held a press conference and sent a letter to Singh demanding he pull out of the deal and trigger a carbon tax election. He reiterated accusations that Singh was only staying in the deal to qualify for a government pension which require six years in office.
Poilievre and Trudeau have both already qualified. Singh became an MP on Feb. 25, 2019, meaning he would hit that six-year benchmark in early 2025.
With additional files from Globals Touria Izri
Teck Resources Ltd (TSE:TECK.B Get Free Report) has received a consensus recommendation of Buy from the eleven analysts that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating. The average 12 month price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is C$76.60.
A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Canaccord Genuity Group decreased their target price on Teck Resources from C$80.00 to C$76.00 in a research report on Monday, July 22nd. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on shares of Teck Resources from C$80.00 to C$77.00 in a report on Thursday, July 25th. Eight Capital boosted their target price on shares of Teck Resources from C$72.00 to C$75.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 11th. Scotiabank decreased their price target on shares of Teck Resources from C$84.00 to C$78.00 in a research note on Monday, August 19th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Teck Resources from C$76.00 to C$74.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 25th.
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Teck Resources Stock Performance
Teck Resources Company Profile
Shares of TECK.B stock opened at C$60.91 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.48, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 37.46. Teck Resources has a 12-month low of C$47.47 and a 12-month high of C$74.37. The businesss 50 day moving average is C$65.11 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$64.23. The company has a market capitalization of C$31.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.83, a P/E/G ratio of -0.38 and a beta of 1.36.
(Get Free Report
Teck Resources Limited researches, explores for, develops, and produces natural resources in the Asia Pacific, the Americas, and Europe. It operates through five segments: Steelmaking, Coal, Copper, Zinc, Energy, and Corporate. The company's principal products include steelmaking coal; copper concentrates and refined copper cathodes; refined zinc and zinc concentrates; energy products, such as bitumen; and lead concentrates.
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NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG Get Free Report) had its price objective boosted by research analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $110.00 to $120.00 in a report released on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an overweight rating on the utilities providers stock. Wells Fargo & Companys price target would suggest a potential upside of 53.30% from the stocks previous close.
Other analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. StockNews.com downgraded shares of NRG Energy from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of NRG Energy from $73.00 to $82.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 8th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of NRG Energy from $70.00 to $83.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 28th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $72.57.
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NRG Energy Stock Down 1.1 %
NRG stock traded down $0.85 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $78.28. The companys stock had a trading volume of 374,835 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,442,024. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.51. The company has a market capitalization of $16.32 billion, a PE ratio of 11.09 and a beta of 1.10. NRG Energy has a 12 month low of $36.61 and a 12 month high of $87.58. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $78.20 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $74.23.
NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 8th. The utilities provider reported $3.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.55 by $1.82. The business had revenue of $6.66 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.32 billion. NRG Energy had a net margin of 7.19% and a return on equity of 43.69%. NRG Energys quarterly revenue was up 4.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.10 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that NRG Energy will post 4.45 earnings per share for the current year.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On NRG Energy
A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Banco Santander S.A. acquired a new stake in shares of NRG Energy during the 2nd quarter worth about $217,671,000. Capitolis Liquid Global Markets LLC increased its position in shares of NRG Energy by 253.2% during the 1st quarter. Capitolis Liquid Global Markets LLC now owns 1,766,000 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $119,541,000 after purchasing an additional 1,266,000 shares in the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. increased its position in shares of NRG Energy by 11.1% during the 1st quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 1,610,562 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $109,007,000 after purchasing an additional 160,415 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its position in shares of NRG Energy by 65.8% during the 2nd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 1,596,684 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $124,318,000 after purchasing an additional 633,765 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Zimmer Partners LP acquired a new stake in shares of NRG Energy during the 1st quarter worth about $64,306,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.72% of the companys stock.
NRG Energy Company Profile
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NRG Energy, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy and home services company in the United States and Canada. It operates through Texas; East; West/Services/Other; Vivint Smart Home; and Corporate Activities segments. The company produces and sells electricity generated using coal, oil, solar, and battery storage; natural gas; and a cloud-based home platform, including hardware, software, sales, installation, customer service, technical support, and professional monitoring solutions.
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Zuora, Inc. (NYSE:ZUO Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the seven analysts that are covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $11.86.
A number of equities analysts have issued reports on ZUO shares. Craig Hallum cut shares of Zuora from a buy rating to a hold rating and cut their target price for the stock from $12.00 to $10.00 in a research report on Monday, July 8th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on shares of Zuora from $9.00 to $10.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, May 23rd. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on shares of Zuora from $8.00 to $10.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 28th. Canaccord Genuity Group reissued a buy rating and issued a $13.00 price objective on shares of Zuora in a research report on Thursday, August 22nd. Finally, Lake Street Capital upped their price target on shares of Zuora from $12.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, May 23rd.
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Insider Activity
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
In other news, insider Andrew M. Cohen sold 3,861 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $8.71, for a total value of $33,629.31. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 148,640 shares in the company, valued at $1,294,654.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . In other news, insider Andrew M. Cohen sold 3,861 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $8.71, for a total value of $33,629.31. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 148,640 shares in the company, valued at $1,294,654.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . Also, CFO Todd Mcelhatton sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $8.72, for a total transaction of $87,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 310,622 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,708,623.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last three months, insiders sold 372,666 shares of company stock worth $3,408,961. 8.62% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ZUO. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. bought a new position in Zuora during the 2nd quarter valued at $44,000. CWM LLC boosted its stake in Zuora by 25.0% during the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 7,945 shares of the companys stock valued at $79,000 after acquiring an additional 1,590 shares during the last quarter. Quent Capital LLC bought a new position in Zuora during the 1st quarter valued at $83,000. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board bought a new position in Zuora during the 2nd quarter valued at $85,000. Finally, Williams Financial LLC bought a new position in Zuora during the 2nd quarter valued at $119,000. 83.02% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Zuora Stock Performance
Shares of ZUO opened at $8.58 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 2.77, a quick ratio of 2.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.90. The stock has a market cap of $1.25 billion, a P/E ratio of -19.94 and a beta of 1.72. The company has a 50-day moving average of $8.98 and a two-hundred day moving average of $9.21. Zuora has a 12-month low of $7.05 and a 12-month high of $10.85.
Zuora (NYSE:ZUO Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 21st. The company reported $0.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.10 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $115.40 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $112.63 million. Zuora had a negative net margin of 10.60% and a negative return on equity of 12.54%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted ($0.12) earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Zuora will post -0.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.
About Zuora
(Get Free Report
Zuora, Inc provides a monetization suite for modern businesses to help companies launch and scale new services and operate dynamic customer-centric business models. The company offers Zuora Billing that allows customers to deploy various pricing and packaging strategies to monetize their recurring revenue streams, bill customers, calculate prorations when subscriptions change, and automate billing and payment operations; Zuora Revenue, a revenue recognition and automation solution that accounting teams use to manage their complex revenue streams; Zuora Payments to provide payment orchestration services for companies looking to operate globally; and Zephr, a digital subscriber experience platform that helps companies orchestrate dynamic experiences that increase conversion, reduce churn, and nurture ongoing subscriber relationships.
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Darshan and men used megger device to damage Renukaswamys private parts, says police chargesheet
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Abhishek Sahu covers HR and Education (Careers) at Moneycontrol. He can be reached at Abhishek.Sahu@nw18.com and @Abhishek44sahu.
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A Pennsylvania man who pleaded guilty to the statutory sexual assault of a 13-year-old Grand Island girl has been sentenced in a Pennsylvania court to nine to 18 years in prison, the Erie County District Attorney's Office said Thursday.
Dale R. Kumler, 26, of Glen Rock, Pa., was sentenced Wednesday in York County Court to the prison term plus three years of probation, the District Attorney's Office here said in a news release.
Under an agreement with Pennsylvania prosecutors that was consented to by the victim and her mother, a second-degree kidnapping charge Kumler faced here has been dropped as a condition of his plea, prosecutors said.
Kumler also pleaded guilty in York County in May to corruption of minors and unlawful contact of minors.
The teenage girl was reported missing May 25, 2023, and investigators determined she had been in contact through Xbox video games with someone going by the name "Dale," authorities previously said.
Kumler was arrested less than 24 hours later after a frantic manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies. The victim was found safe in Kumler's residence.
Sacramento, CA The Democratic leader of the California Senate from 2005-08 made an announcement outside of the state capitol on Wednesday.
Gloria Romero stated that she has officially changed her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican.
She added, The Democratic Party that I once championed, I do not recognize it anymore, and I cannot continue. I changed my voting registration, as the sun was rising, to Republican, which has under Donald Trump has become the champion of working people.
Romero was surrounded by Republican leaders like Chairwoman of the GOP, Jessica Millan Patterson, Congressman Kevin Kiley, Assembly GOP Leader James Gallagher, and former Fox News contributor Steve Hilton.
Hilton added, There really is a California revolution brewing. I hear people all of the time, people who you may not expect, saying that we need something different, and this isnt working.
Romero highlighted issues like crime, school choice, and Covid lockdowns as some of the reasons for switching to a new party.
Mother Lode Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil also made headlines last month for leaving the Democratic Party and becoming a Republican.
"It is my hope that he will commit to cleaning up the culture of corruption that has defined our local OTB for many years now," Ryan stated. "He can start by calling for the board to rescind the illegal golden parachutes approved earlier this year."
In a statement, Wallace said: While the leadership at Western Regional Off-Track Betting may have changed, the issue with the $500,000 severance packages has not. These golden parachutes are still illegal and a flagrant waste of public dollars, and the board should vote immediately to rescind them."
Sacramento, CA After hitting a wall with Democratic Senate Leader Mike McGuire, Governor Gavin Newsom says he and Assembly Leader Robert Rivas are continuing forward with a special legislative session focused on curbing gas prices.
The Senates involvement remains unclear after leader McGuire stated last week that he would instead like to continue conversations outside of a formal special session, and would not be convening his chamber.
Newsom is pushing lawmakers to pass legislation requiring refiners to maintain a minimum amount of oil reserves to offset spikes in prices when supplies are low. At a press conference, Newsom was asked if he would also consider lowering, or repealing, gas taxes.
Newsom responded, No. First of all, the impacts of that in the districts of those (lawmakers) who are proposing a gas tax repeal, I hope are considered. Meaning, the investments that are going to roads, bridges and culverts, and the investments to infrastructure, would be lost.
Most of Californias funding for roads and infrastructure comes from gas taxes and vehicle licensing fees.
Speaking on behalf of the Assembly, leader Rivas stated, During this important special session, the Assembly will convene public hearings that thoroughly vet proposals. Well hear from experts and ensure that the public has a voice in the process.
Newsom argued that gas price spikes on consumers are profit spikes for refiners.
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Yves here. This is one of the few proposals I have seen regarding how to advance the BRICS aim to reduce its members use of dollars in trade transactions. Note the crypto-blockchain whiz bangery is not a part of this, although it could be grafted on for sex appeal. This is still effectively a bilateral trade scheme, but the use of an intermediate accounting currency is expected to lower transaction costs, as it did with the ECU. As this article indicates, the ECU came to be traded and even used as central bank reserves. The private sector trading not on a large scale but apparently sufficient to provide for pricing seen as reliable, but that did not happen quickly. I spent the summer of 1984 (the ECU had been launched in 1979) consulting to Citibanks London treasury operation, which including its foreign exchange trading, then the largest in the world. ECU trading was so de minimus as to not even be worth thinking about then.
Mind you, theres a fundamental conflict here seldom acknowledged. A big rallying cry of BRICS is increasing national sovereignity. This article points out that the ECU is now seen as a stepping stone toward a common currency, which any MMT advocate or observer of EU fiscal rules or watcher of the ECB will tell you would represent a substantial loss of national sovereignity were BRICS to go there. Even though Micheal Hudson has highlighted a bancor-type scheme as an alternative, that too entails a loss of national soverignity. A big aim of a bancor system is to force balanced trade by imposing penalties on both trade surplus and trade deficit nations. But the trade surplus country faces more severe sanctions. Mercantilism has long been a very popular economic strategy since it amounts to taking demand from trade partners. Countries like China that see their surpluses as the result of technical prowess and investment will almost certainly reject this sort of curb.
By Nicholas Shubitz, an independent BRICS analyst. Originally published at BusinessLive; cross posted from InfoBRICS
The deputy foreign minister of the Russian Federation, Sergei Ryabkov, has stated that under Russias chairmanship of Brics in 2024, the bloc should consider creating a form of mutual settlements similar to the European currency unit (ecu) that served as the precursor to the euro.
He clarified that he was not proposing a common currency but rather a unit of account for clearing trade that would lower the costs associated with converting foreign exchange.
The ecu was a basket of currencies used as the unit of account for the European Community before it was eventually replaced by the euro in 1999. Apart from its official role in the European Monetary Union, a private market for the ecu developed, allowing its use in monetary transactions and for denominating financial instruments, including bonds.
Unlike the euro, the ecu was simply an electronic unit of account without any official coins or notes that could be used for cash transactions (though some commemorative tokens that could be used as legal tender were produced in Gibraltar). The value of the ecu was based on a weighted basket of European currencies, the weighting of which was determined by the relative size of each member states economy.
The ecu attracted bond investors because bonds denominated in the currency were better diversified than other European sovereign debt, which came with individual currency risk. The adoption of a similar system within Brics could similarly increase demand for Brics securities.
Another benefit of the ecu was that it helped reduce currency risk for European businesses. By using a single currency for financial transactions businesses could avoid some of the costs and risks associated with currency exchange. This could benefit Brics as forex transaction costs can account for as much as 3%-5% of global trade.
Cost reductions associated with currency volatility (including the need to purchase derivative contracts to hedge against currency fluctuations) could help boost inter-Brics trade. Combined with the ability to denominate bonds in a diversified joint unit of account, these benefits make a Brics currency based on the ecu an intriguing suggestion.
Trade Balance
At the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944, British economist John Maynard Keynes proposed the adoption of a new currency he hoped would address imbalances in global trade relations. Though his suggestion was ultimately rejected, the idea is of particular relevance today, with trade imbalances emerging as a source of geopolitical tension.
Keynes suggested a supranational unit of account (the bancor) be used within a multilateral clearing system for settling international trade. While individuals would not hold or trade the currency, all international trade would be valued and cleared in bancor, with surpluses and deficits accruing penalties so as to encourage balanced trade.
The economists scheme may have been somewhat extreme, favouring balanced trade over all other considerations. Nevertheless, if a portion of trade between Brics states were conducted under such a system it could encourage states such as China to purchase more goods from nations with which it runs a trade surplus, with obvious benefits for the other Brics members.
This would certainly resolve one issue with SAs Brics membership in that the country has trade deficits with most of the Brics states while running a surplus with the West. Under a bancor style system, if SA runs a trade deficit with Saudi Arabia because we import Saudi oil, Saudi Arabia would have an incentive to spend those earnings purchasing goods from SA to avoid the penalties charged by the clearing house.
Alternatively, adjusting the weighting of the Brics currency basket offers another way in which trade imbalances can be addressed within the grouping. Basing the weighting of the basket on export volumes within inter-Brics trade could strengthen the currencies of Brics states that run trade surpluses, improving the balance of trade between the respective member states.
On the other hand, an equal weighting, which ignores economic output or trade volumes, would allow a Brics unit of account to be used without influencing trade dynamics. This may appeal to countries such as China and Russia, as their inter-Brics trade surpluses would be unaffected by the use of the new currency, while still offering obvious benefits for smaller countries in the Brics by increasing demand for their currencies.
Suggestions that the Brics could adopt a system similar to the ecu become particularly interesting when one considers that before the introduction of the euro, the ecu already had international status as a global reserve currency, with central banks holding ecus within their forex reserves.
The adoption of a similar mechanism within Brics would give central banks the opportunity to diversify their reserve holdings with the Brics reserve currency (BRC). Based on a basket of Brics currencies, the BRC would be more stable than any individual Brics currency, making it attractive to central banks, while the New Development Bank could issue BRC-denominated bonds to raise development capital for infrastructure projects within the member states.
With a balance between food and energy importers and exporters within Brics and modest trade relations between many of the members, there is a relatively low degree of correlation between the Brics currencies. This would potentially make a Brics unit of account (based on a weighted basket of Brics currencies) even more stable than the ecu, which still came with geographic risk concentrations due to its exposure to Europe and inter-European trade. The Brics units stability would be further supported by Chinas exchange rate controls and Saudi Arabias dollar peg.
Increased trade efficiencies, reduced currency risk and greater access to development finance offer benefits to the Brics that make the adoption of a joint unit of account similar to the ecu an exciting prospect. That such a currency may be used as an alternative global reserve currency is another advantage.
While trade imbalances between members make a joint unit more attractive than a switch to trade in domestic currencies, it is unlikely this important issue will be resolved, and it remains to be seen whether the bloc will be able to implement its ambitious proposals.
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Antidote du jour (Mdf):
See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
By Matt Stoller, author of Goliath: The 100-Year War Between Monopoly Power and Democracy and the research director of the American Economic Liberties Project who writes regularly at Substack
Im a former writer for Naked Capitalism, and someone who has learned a lot over the years from Yves Smith and the crew here. I spend a lot of time focused on laws against monopolization, which is to say, antitrust. And despite the fact antitrust is what I do, I still learn about the broader impact of policy from this site.
Take the piece from a few days ago by Conor Gallagher on how the suit against landlords and RealPage has caused a spike in homelessness. Gallagher connected investment in RealPage to dozens of public pension funds, showing the truth today of what Louis Brandeis once noted, that The fetters which bind the people are forged from the peoples own gold.
But Brandeis had another phrase, which I really love, and which bears upon why Naked Capitalism matters. Despotism, be it financial or political, is vulnerable, unless it is believed to rest upon a moral sanction. The longing for freedom is ineradicable. It will express itself in protest against servitude and inaction unless the striving for freedom be made to seem immoral.
The truth of oppression is that it is done with the assent of the public, not because we accept it willingly, but because we come to believe that we cannot resist. And yet, we can. And it is voices like those you read on this site who remind us of that, a lighthouse for our morality. In these dark times, times when most seem confused and frustrated, it is the donations that you provide that helps keep that light on.
So if you can, give. Give generously. Please go to the donation page to support this community.
And if you cannot, that is ok. Just read and learn, because we must all keep that light on, for ourselves.
Over the years, Naked Capitalism has, like our world, changed substantially. New writers have floated in, old ones have left, and the topics have shifted.
I started reading this site in 2006, when the financial crisis was starting its earth-shaking rumbles, and no one knew anything about what was going on. Yves Smith actually delved into the details, as a lone voice describing the machinations of the mortgage market. Yves actually figured out that the establishment narrative was bullshit, figuring out that a few predatory hedge funds were rigging the credit markets. But she followed this as a financial and a political story, ignoring the artificial divisions the press likes to carve out by separating their government and banking coverage.
(Also, she knew the Michael Lewis narrative was bullshit years before he came out with his absurd book on Sam Bankman-Fried. I know thats not relevant to this piece, but you can never say enough about Lewiss self-promotional nonsense.)
And it mattered. And not because of one lone dissident writer, but because Naked Capitalism was a community where the genuinely curious could gather and learn from one another, a place where we could all realize that no, were not crazy, the men in suits are actually doing things beyond belief.
Today the topics and writers have changed, but the detail-oriented writing and sense of outrage hasnt. Its as likely Ill see something on Nigerias disastrous experiment with digital currencies, Honduras leaving the neoliberal international investor tribunal system, or rental collusion and homelessness.
And something else hasnt changed. The courage. Naked Capitalism, like a lot of independent sites, is under threat by Google, told to shape up or get de-listed from the internet. Most publishers just fold up shop under threat, but not this community. You guys fight back, win or lose. This site, this community, agree or not, is one that must be reckoned with.
And thats worth preserving. So give, if you can. Please go to the Tip Jar to keep Naked Capitalism fit and fierce.
I dont always agree with what you write. In fact, I often dont. But I read Naked Capitalism, and the commenters (love you guys!) because theres a heterodox style of thinking based on details and substance. Thats critical. I often dont know who to trust, and I know in my area that a lot of the writing and coverage is nonsense. But I have worked with Yves, written for Yves, and read Yves for years. And I know I can trust you to operate free from fear. And thats worth something. In fact, its worth a lot.
I say this every, but Ill say it again because its still true. If you believe, as I do, that a community of truth matters, then give what you can. If you have a lot, give a lot at the donation page. If you have nothing, then give words of encouragement. It all matters.
If you cant afford anything, you can still help by spreading the word about Naked Capitalism by telling friends and family, circulating important stories, posting links on Facebook (or Meta), Twitter (or X) and other horrible social media sites that keep changing their names because everyone hates them.
And now lets talk politics for a second. My grandfather had a joke that I think applies to the world today, and to the upcoming Presidential election. One day, I was feeling down, and my friend said, cheer up, things could be worse. So, I cheered up, and sure enough, things got worse.
But on the other hand, its not all bleak. At least one of them is going to lose. And either way, well still have this site where we can come together and stare in disbelief at our elites and how stupid they are.
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Yves here. The post below has an extremely important finding: that the damage done by deindustrialization is lasting, extending across generations and even afflicting those able to relocate. This shows that the societal cost of outsourcing and offshoring to health and earning potential. This finding is particularly jarring, since as yours truly has described over many years, at many companies, the financial case for offshoring was often weak and rarely allowed for costs like loss of know-how and increased business risk. A couple of public company executives have told me that even in the face of not-compelling forecasts, they still went ahead with offshoring plans because they knew the announcement would give the stock a pop.
And remember, this study looked at the coal mining industry, with its famously backbreaking and often health-harming labor. But in the UK, these were union jobs, or at least had been union jobs. I was in London on an extended assignment when the Thatcher government was prosecuting its ultimately successful campaign to break the coal miners union. It was front page news most days.
The authors find the shock of a pit closure had a huge, negative lifetime impact on children. Yet our putative betters have handwave answers of the Let them eat training sort.
By Bjorn Brey, Assistant Professor Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) and Valeria Rueda, Associate Professor of Economics University Of Nottingham. Originally published at VoxEU
Industrial decline has been directly linked to a worsening of various social and economic indicators. This column examines how the impacts of deindustrialisation in the UK reverberate across generations, finding significant effects on the health, wealth, and living standards of those who grew up under industrial decline. The ability to migrate to wealthier parts of the country is not sufficient to offset these negative effects.
The recent decline in industrial jobs in developed and emerging countries has been linked to worsened health (Case and Deaton 2020, Case 2020), the disintegration of family ties (Autor et al. 2018), and the formation of a geography of political discontent (Autor et al. 2020, Rodriguez-Pose 2018, Rodriguez-Pose et al. 2024). Previously prosperous places are now left behind, with worse relative living standards, education, and productivity (Moretti 2022, Overman and Xu 2022). Few countries in the developed world have seen such stark increases in regional inequality as the UK, the country with the fastest deindustrialisation in the developed world (Mcann 2019, Stansbury et al. 2023).
In this column, we show that deindustrialisation has persistently affected living standards in the UK. Our recent research documents effects on the health, wealth, and living standards of those who grow up under industrial decline. These effects persist even if people migrate out of affected regions, and they carry over generations (Brey and Rueda 2024). Industrial decline thus not only affects those who work in endangered industries; their children and their grandchildren are also durably worse off. Moreover, the availability of better economic conditions elsewhere does not fully mitigate this impact. Deindustrialisation thus directly threatens equality of opportunities for future generations.
We focus on the collapse of the British coal industry, one of the starkest cases of industrial decline in the 20th century. Economic historians have extensively written about the importance of Britains coal in the Industrial Revolution (e.g. Pomeranz 2000, Allen 2009, Wrigley 2010, Fernihough and ORourke 2021). Coal mining employed more than 700,000 people by the end of the 1950s. That number halved within a decade, following the industrys most dramatic shrinkage post WW2 (see Figure 1). Waves of pit closures continued washing over British coal production until its virtual disappearance in the 1990s. Today, the former coalfields consistently rank among areas with the highest levels of deprivation in the country, a matter of sufficient public concern to grant the formation of an all-party parliamentary research group working on policy proposals for these regions (All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coalfield Communities 2023).
Figure 1 Employment in mining in the UK in the twentieth century
Note: See Brey and Rueda (2024) for details.
Our paper estimates the impact of mine closures on those who experienced this economic shock as children. We leverage longitudinal data that follows all children born during a week of 1958 and of 1970 (UK Longitudinal Studies). These data allow us to track people throughout their life and gather information on their parents and their children. We combine them with data produced and shared by the Northern Mine Research Society giving information on all coal mines that have operated in the UK. We can thus compare outcomes, at each life stage, between counties and cohorts, depending on their exposure to mine closures and conditional on a rich set of controls. We ensure that our findings are not driven by unobserved confounders of pit closures and living standards in a variety of ways. In particular, we verify that before the shock, children are comparable: at birth, there is no relation between health outcomes and socioeconomic conditions depending on later exposure to the shock. Moreover, using fixed effects, we account for determinants of living standards that are specific to each county and to each cohort. Finally, we use an instrumental variable that exploits the fact that older pits were closed first.
Finding 1: Individuals Exposed to Pit Closures During Childhood Have Worse Health Throughout Life
Individuals who grow up in counties with a higher ratio of pit closures to population are significantly shorter. Height, a well-established indicator of overall health and living conditions, correlates with economic outcomes in adulthood (e.g. Hatton 2014). Height gaps are strongest in early childhood; despite some catching-up, a significant difference persists into adulthood (see Figure 2). This adult gap 4% of a z-score, or 0.3 cm is substantial, comparable to the lower-bound estimated impact of the Irish famine on survivors height (Blum et al. 2022).
Figure 2 Effect of pit closures relative to the population on height over life
Note: Coefficients are standardised.
Furthermore, those exposed to pit closures in childhood have BMIs that lean more towards extreme categories, with the effect on overweight categories starting in adolescence to mid-30s and the one on underweight categories starting later in life (see Figure 3). Further analysis reveals that the impact on underweight is stronger for women, while that of overweight is slightly more pronounced for men.
Finally, we also observe worse indicators of general physical health in childhood and higher incidences of a variety of health conditions in adulthood such as diabetes, back pain, and cancer. We also observe worse self-reported mental health in adulthood, including a markedly higher likelihood of states of depression (see Figure 4).
Figure 3 Effect of exposure to pit closure relative to the population on extreme BMI categories over life
Note: Coefficients are standardised.
Figure 4 Effect of exposure to pit closure relative to the population on reporting states of depression over life
Note: Coefficients are standardised.
Finding 2: Pit Closures Are Associated with Worse Living Conditions in Childhood
What can explain the durable impact of pit closure on health? Figure 5 illustrates that mine closures correlate with more deprived living conditions in in mid-childhood (age 10): parents are more likely to have worse employment outcomes, to have taken weeks off work due to illness and to receive benefits; children receive fewer resources from the family, as proxied by leisure expenses and a higher propensity to receive free school meals; finally, their housing conditions are worse following a variety of indicators. In sum, affected children experience economic hardship in childhood, potentially explaining worse health outcomes over life.
Figure 5 Effect of exposure to pit closure relative to the population on living environment of children
Finding 3: Individuals Exposed to Pit closures During Childhood Accumulate Less Wealth as Adults and Their Children Are Less Healthy
How persistent is this effect? Does it affect economic conditions in adulthood? Does it carry through to the next generation? Figure 6 shows that the economic impact carries through adulthood, with respondents less likely to be homeowners and more likely to receive benefits, women also tend to earn less (left-hand panel). Moreover, when they have children, their sons and daughters have a more difficult start in life: the parents have them much earlier (teenage years), and the babies are more likely to be born late and to have had some health condition at birth (right-hand side panel, outcome Disorder).
Interestingly, exposure to pit closures in childhood is associated with better education, significantly so for men. This result aligns with previous findings showing that manufacturing and mining industries increase the opportunity cost of education, especially for men (Black et al. 2005, Esposito and Abramson 2021, Franck and Galor 2021). Further research is needed to understand why despite higher male education, exposure to the shock still shapes wealth. Potential explanatory channels are the direct impact of health, inheritance, and assortative matching on the marriage market.
Figure 6 Effect of exposure to pit closure relative to the population of economic conditions in adulthood and children of respondents
Finding 4: Migration is an Imperfect Mitigation Strategy
In the aftermath of local economic shocks, migrating to opportunity is a natural coping strategy. In our case, this was the option favoured by the government and the reason invoked to dismiss any additional targeted support. Longitudinal studies permit tracking movers. We observe three main facts about migration (see Section 5.4 in Brey and Rueda 2024). First, pit closures did not trigger mobility later in life. If anything, the probability of migrating decreases. Although incentives to out-migrate were heightened, the resources to do so decreased, an effect appears to dominate. Second, migration was not accessible to all. Those who migrated were born in families with more educated mothers and fathers or with fewer local ties (younger parents of single-parent households). Finally, the impact of the shock is diminished but not fully reverted after migration. Taken together, our findings suggest that migration was not a perfect solution. Access to it was unequally distributed and those who migrated still see some negative impact.
Lessons
Our research shows that deindustrialisation can durably affect living standards, and the effects are carried across multiple generations. These findings are salient to current policy debates about increasing levels of inequality and poverty in developed countries (e.g. Institute for Fiscal Studies 2024). They highlight that in the absence of any additional support, people born in places that industries have left behind carry health and economic scars that are transmitted to the next generation. These long-lasting consequences are not resolved by access to better opportunities. Few people move, and those who do keep a scar.
See the original post for references
American universities rolling out BANS on anti-Israel protests; any criticism of Zionism to be considered hate speech
Following the lead of New York University (NYU), American colleges and universities are imposing new rules to ban all criticism of Israel as "hate speech" and "antisemitism."
At least 17 schools, including NYU, have already altered their policies to punish students and faculty for disagreeing with Israel's war on Gaza. Some are prohibiting all Israel-related protests while others are going so far as to ban entire student organizations on campus.
In more extreme cases, schools are prohibiting students and faculty from protesting even online while others are expanding their conduct codes to basically keep quiet about Zionism or else face a school tribunal, of sorts, for punishment.
Indiana University, for instance, changed its "expressive activity" policy to ban all protests within 25 feet of university buildings and demonstrations that block "any building, facility, driveway, parking lot or parking ramp."
The University of South Florida is banning all protests after 5 p.m., as well as during the entire final two weeks of every semester. If USF students want to set up a tent or canopy on campus, they will now be required to first get approval and under no circumstances can anything be left out overnight without prior authorization.
(Related: Some teachers and preachers of prophecy, including Amir Tsarfati, want to justify genocide by claiming that the mass killing of Palestinians is God's will for Israel.)
Zuckerberg, a true Zionist lapdog
At Vanderbilt University, all demonstrations that "require individuals to sleep or gather overnight" are now strictly prohibited. All on-campus displays from now on must also be during daylight hours only, and for no longer than three consecutive days at a time.
The University of California (UC) system says that encampments are no longer allowed on any of its 10 campuses. Protesters are also strictly prohibited from wearing masks or otherwise disguising their identity now that the people doing it are protesting Israel rather than destroying property in solidary with George Floyd.
The California State University (CSU) has implemented the same new rules as the UC system at its 23 statewide campuses.
At Rutgers University in New Jersey, the entire chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) is prohibited from the campus until July 2025, which is the same thing George Washington University did except that GWU also kicked out Jewish Voices for Peace, an anti-Zionist Jewish organization.
At Columbia University, SJP is permanently banned from having an Instagram account. The school is so involved in making this new rule stick that it convinced Meta to send a notice to its SJP chapter informing members that their group's account "doesn't follow our Community Guidelines."
The list goes on and on as the Zionist contingent in America makes its moves trying to silence all of their critics. They are really playing their hand now and showing just how many schools, government agencies, corporations and other institutions are under their thumb, hence the systematic abolition of free speech we are witnessing.
It turns out that one of the first entities to start doing all this was Facebook (Meta), which has been working on trying to silence anti-Zionist speech on its platform since at least 2020 when Mark Zuckerberg issued new speech codes banning all Holocaust denial and other content that depicts "Jewish people running the world or controlling major institutions such as media networks, the economy or the government."
"The idea of banning content that promotes stereotypes of Jewish global control came up a year ago, in a meeting with several Jewish groups convened by Facebook, and was pushed primarily by the World Jewish Congress," The Jewish Daily Forward reported at the time.
Is killing in the name of God a valid excuse to persecute the world for speaking against Israel? Find out more at Prophecy.news.
Sources for this article include:
InformationLiberation.com
NaturalNews.com
News / National
by Staff reporter
Senator Sengezo Tshabangu from Matabeleland North has accused contractors of misappropriating funds meant for the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road project, which has remained incomplete for 31 years. Tshabangu, who is the leader of the opposition in Parliament, voiced his concerns during a virtual discussion organized by the Bubi Community Parliament (BCP).The Bulawayo-Nkayi Road project, which began in 1993, covers a 158km stretch, but only 65km from Bulawayo to Queens Mine have been completed. Tshabangu criticized the slow progress, noting that at the current rate of 2km per year, it could take up to 90 years to finish. He attributed the delays to corruption among the contractors, claiming that funds have been diverted from the project.Tshabangu also highlighted that the companies involved in the road construction are not from Matabeleland and lack a history of meeting international road standards. He suggested that local companies should be given the opportunity to complete the project and urged Matabeleland residents to form consortiums to bid for the tender.Nkayi South legislator Jabulani Hadebe echoed Tshabangu's sentiments, expressing shock and disappointment over the prolonged delays. He noted that other roads in Zimbabwe, particularly in the eastern regions, have been completed much faster. Hadebe promised to collaborate with other MPs and chiefs to advocate for quicker road construction in the region.The road, intended to connect Bulawayo with Nkayi Centre, was supposed to be completed by 1999. Despite some recent efforts under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme 2, significant progress remains elusive.
Arkansas Supreme Court confirms radical pro-abortion amendment WONT APPEAR on November ballot
A proposed amendment to add a "right" to abortion to the Arkansas Constitution will not appear on the November ballot after the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that its supporters failed to meet the necessary documentation requirements.
Currently, abortion is illegal in Arkansas except in cases where it is necessary to save a mother's life. However, the proposed "Arkansas Abortion Amendment of 2024" would have prevented the state from restricting abortion services within 18 weeks of fertilization for elective abortions and at any point in cases of rape, incest, fatal fetal anomalies, or when a physician determines an abortion is necessary to protect the life or health of a woman. The amendment also sought to nullify any state law conflicting with these provisions.
The proposal sought to modify Amendment 68, which states that Arkansas aims to protect the life of every unborn child "to the extent permitted by the Federal Constitution," by adding the words "and the Constitution of the State of Arkansas." This change was intended to support pro-abortion rights within the state.
In January, Republican Attorney General Tim Griffin approved the final version of the amendment. This, in turn, allowed the pro-abortion group Arkansans for Limited Government (ALG) to proceed with gathering signatures. (Related: Abortions drop to ALMOST ZERO in Texas after states near-total ban on infanticide.)
However, in July, Republican Secretary of State John Thurston announced that ALG was 3,322 signatures short of the required 90,704 and had failed to properly identify paid canvassers and confirm they were adequately informed of the requirements for collecting signatures.
The ALG vowed to challenge the decision, but the Arkansas Supreme Court dashed their hopes on Aug. 29.
"We find that the Secretary correctly refused to count the signatures collected by paid canvassers because the sponsor failed to file the paid canvasser training certification," Justice Rhonda Wood wrote in the 4-3 majority opinion.
10 other states still have abortion-related ballot initiatives slated for the November elections
The setback of Arkansas' "right" to abortion ensures that the existing pro-life protections of the state remain intact, but then there are other 10 abortion-related measures set to appear on state ballots in November. States such as Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York and South Dakota are among those with certified abortion-related measures on their ballots.
Arizona : Voters will decide on a Right to Abortion Initiative to establish the fundamental right to abortion before fetal viability.
: Voters will decide on a Right to Abortion Initiative to establish the fundamental right to abortion before fetal viability. Colorado : A measure seeks to constitutionally guarantee abortion rights and allow public funding for abortion.
: A measure seeks to constitutionally guarantee abortion rights and allow public funding for abortion. Florida : Amendment 4 aims to establish a constitutional right to abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient's health.
: Amendment 4 aims to establish a constitutional right to abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient's health. Maryland : The Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment seeks to add a constitutional right to reproductive freedom, including decisions about abortion.
: The Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment seeks to add a constitutional right to reproductive freedom, including decisions about abortion. Missouri : A proposed amendment would guarantee reproductive freedom, covering various aspects of reproductive health care, including abortion.
: A proposed amendment would guarantee reproductive freedom, covering various aspects of reproductive health care, including abortion. Montana : CI-128 seeks to provide a constitutional right to make decisions about ones pregnancy, including the right to abortion.
: CI-128 seeks to provide a constitutional right to make decisions about ones pregnancy, including the right to abortion. Nebraska : Voters will see two measures: one that prohibits abortions after the first trimester and another that protects the right to abortion until fetal viability.
: Voters will see two measures: one that prohibits abortions after the first trimester and another that protects the right to abortion until fetal viability. Nevada : A proposed initiative would establish a constitutional right to abortion, with regulations applicable only after fetal viability.
: A proposed initiative would establish a constitutional right to abortion, with regulations applicable only after fetal viability. New York : The Equal Protection of Law Amendment would expand protections against discrimination based on sex, pregnancy, reproductive healthcare and related outcomes.
: The Equal Protection of Law Amendment would expand protections against discrimination based on sex, pregnancy, reproductive healthcare and related outcomes. South Dakota: Constitutional Amendment G proposes a trimester framework for regulating abortion.
Meanwhile, states with traditionally conservative legislatures, such as Nebraska and South Dakota, will vote on measures that seek to restrict abortion access, while states like New York and Maryland propose constitutional protections for reproductive freedom.
Since 2010, ballot measures with pro-life campaigns have been defeated in 10 states and passed in six, with all successful measures occurring in states that voted Republican in the previous three presidential elections. However, since 2022, there has been a clear trend: voters have rejected all measures described as pro-life while approving all those championed by pro-choice campaigns.
Meaning, the fight against abortion still has a long way to go.
Watch the video below that shows the anti-life organization Planned Parenthood's mobile abortion truck at the recent Democratic National Convention 2024.
This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
Iowa Supreme Court UPHOLDS states heartbeat law, says theres no right to abortion in state constitution.
Unmistakable presence of EVIL causes some doctor to stop performing ABORTIONS.
Post-Roe infanticide numbers continue to rise, thanks to TELEHEALTH ABORTIONS.
British Labour government to ban silent prayer near abortion clinics.
Woman arrested TWICE for SILENTLY PRAYING outside abortion clinic in Birmingham receives apology and settlement from police.
Sources include:
LifeSiteNews.com
BallotPedia.org
Lame duck Biden flooding government departments with unvetted hires before high-tailing it out the door
It appears that the regime of Joe Biden is trying to destroy the United States as much as possible before's White House time is up.
We have learned that rather than do things the established way, the Biden regime is using a hiring authority called Schedule A to pack the Department of Justice (DOJ), and particularly its Environmental, Antitrust, and Immigration divisions, with unvetted people who are likely to remain in their positions long after whoever ends up winning the election this fall gets installed.
What seems to be happening is that the Biden regime, knowing that these appointees will probably remain in their positions well into the next administration's term and even beyond, wants to maintain long-term control over Washington for many years to come.
By packing the DOJ with unvetted people who will surely end up beholden to the hidden powers that put them there, whoever controls Biden will still be able to pull the strings of government from behind the curtain no matter which figurehead gains access to the Oval Office.
(Related: Speaking of "China Joe," as some people refer to Biden, Chinese e-commerce giants Shein, Temu and AliExpress are in hot water after it was determined that many of the Chinese-made consumer products they sell are loaded with toxic chemicals.)
Biden regime appointed 100 immigration judges through Schedule A
Many critics who can see what is happening feel that Biden's people know Donald Trump is slated to win, probably by a landslide, unless massive cheating endeavors are a success. As such, Biden's controllers are planning to make it as difficult as possible for Trump to reverse any of their policies.
Michael Chamberlain, director of Protect the Public's Trust (PPT), is the guy responsible for uncovering the Biden regime's Schedule A hiring spree. He warns that "exploiting non-competitive hiring authorities to fill career civil service positions" will only further erode the public's trust in the U.S. government as a legitimate entity.
PPT was able to get its hands on proof-positive documents showing that the Biden regime, including Kamala Harris who has now been selected by the powers that be and not We the People to be the Democrat candidate this fall, has already hired 100 immigration judges through Schedule A.
"The backlog in immigration courts has skyrocketed from 1.3 million cases in 2020 to over 3 million under Biden-Harris, and these judges will play a crucial role in deciding whether noncitizens can remain in the U.S.," writes Jack Montgomery for The National Pulse.
The overall staff size within the DOJ's Environmental and Natural Resources Division has also ballooned under the Biden regime's Schedule A hiring spree. This particular DOJ division is tasked with enforcing progressive environmental regulations that erode Americans' constitutional rights in the name of being "green."
Research shows that more than half of all American voters fully believe that Biden is ushering in all the migrants to become a massive Democrat voting bloc. If left unchecked, this mass importing of voters will eventually, if it has not already, create a permanent Democrat majority to control the nation forever.
A full 54 percent of voters, as of last April, believe that the Biden regime is "encouraging" illegal aliens to enter the U.S. unlawfully to "create a permanent majority" for Democrats to rule the nation with an iron fist. That percentage has likely increased, by the way, due to all the latest revelations about Biden regime corruption that have come out publicly in the months since.
Will Biden and his cronies succeed at burning down the country on their way out the door? Find out more at Tyranny.news.
Sources for this article include:
TheNationalPulse.com (1)
NaturalNews.com
TheNationalPulse (2)
Boatloads of illegal migrants making their way into Europe via Spain
As illegal migration picks up speed across the Mediterranean region, Spain is suffering a massive increase in migrant arrivals throughout its Canary Islands, a popular vacation destination.
Before the migrants arrive to Spain's mainland shores, many of them are appearing in places like Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands. The video below shows hundreds of illegal migrants waiting at Tenerife's airport to be flown to Spain's mainland:
? This is happening in my country, #Spain! It happened today, at #Tenerife airport (Canary Islands). The government is sending hundreds of illegal immigrants by plane from the Spanish islands to the country's capital. From there they will be distributed by region and soon they pic.twitter.com/CfE2sl1Psh Ruben Pulido (@rubnpulido) August 25, 2024
The Spanish government is reportedly footing the bill using taxpayer dollars, of course to escort illegal migrants from the Spanish islands to the country's capital city of Madrid.
Since last October, the Spanish government has sent a whopping 300,000 illegal migrants who showed up in the Canaries to cities throughout Europe. The migrants are coming from places like Senegal, Mauritania, Gambia, Mali and Morocco, with most of them ending up in France the vast majority of migrants are sent to France Germany, Holland, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
(Related: Germany has been leading the way in punishing and excluding native citizens from their normal freedoms while sending migrants to the front of the line for everything, including during the Wuhan coronavirus [COVID-19] "pandemic" when German officials treated migrants better than citizens.)
Canary Islands expecting 70,000 illegal migrants
The few hundred illegal migrants seen in the video above is a mere drop in the bucket. The Canary Islands are expected to receive more than 70,000 illegal migrants in the coming days now that the world knows Spain has become "the biggest gateway for illegal immigration in Europe," to quote Ruben Pulido, a Spanish political analyst.
Pulido says he is routinely threatened for trying to bring these truths to light because there are some very powerful people who are on a mission, it seems, to destroy native Europe and turn it into a massive holding zone for illegal migrants from places like Africa and the Middle East.
Spain's government right now is far-left, so it makes sense what is happening. Ever since Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, a socialist, took office, illegal migration has increased dramatically. Between January 1 and August 15 of this year, 22,304 migrants arrived to the Canary Islands this compared to just 9,864 during the same time period last year.
"That is a 126 percent increase," noted Remix.news.
During the first six months of 2024, Spain as a whole saw 31,115 migrants arrive to its shores, this compared to 18,745 migrants arriving during the same time period in 2023. This represents a more than 60 percent increase.
????? @Vox_es leader @Santi_ABASCAL slams Spanish PM Sanchez on illegal immigration. ?? 'Spain's demographic crisis should be solved by encouraging a higher birth rate, not by "transplanting people from one place to another as if they are vegetables."' pic.twitter.com/GezRSPtZwd Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) April 24, 2024
Fernando Clavijo, president of the Canary Islands regional government, took aim at the European Union (EU) in a recent statement that blames the European globalist bloc for all that is happening.
According to Clavijo, the EU has to do more to stop this "so that the Canaries do not have to bear all the migratory pressure on Europe alone. Clavijo added that the migrants "are arriving in Europe, in Spain, and not only in the Canaries."
"We need massive deportations now!" someone wrote on X about the crisis. "Enough is enough! We must stand together as a whole against the Islamification of Europe in order to preserve our democracies, cultures, and values!"
Illegal migration is destroying the West. Find out more about how it is affecting the United States at InvasionUSA.news.
Sources for this article include:
RMX.news
NaturalNews.com
Elections Canada UNABLE TO REFUTE allegations that CCP agents infiltrated the 2021 federal election
Elections Canada, the main government agency responsible for administering Canadian federal elections and referendums, has essentially admitted that agents of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) likely infiltrated the 2021 federal election
The agency said it could not conclusively refute the allegations by former Conservative Party of Canada Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Alleslev.
On Aug. 26, Alleslev revealed in an affidavit that the Chinese Canadian Community informed her that CCP agents worked as poll workers during the 2021 federal campaign. Alleslev claimed that approximately "half the Chinese Canadian constituents she canvassed" expressed fear of voting due to potential repercussions against themselves or their families, both in Canada and China. (Related: Canada to begin inquiry into allegations that CCP agents meddled in Canadian elections.)
Alleslev also revealed that some constituents think there were CCP agents present in local Elections Canada offices and polling stations.
"Around half the Chinese Canadian constituents she canvassed would tell Ms. Alleslev they were afraid to vote for her because they feared repercussions against themselves or their family members both in Canada and in China," read the affidavit filed by Alleslev and her lawyers. "Some claimed they took the threat seriously because there were agents of the Chinese Communist Party working in the local Elections Canada office and in the polling stations or monitoring outside of the significantly reduced number of polling stations to watch who voted."
In line with this, Elections Canada admitted that no background checks were conducted on volunteers even though all poll workers were required to sign a declaration promising nonpartisanship and the protection of voter secrecy.
"It would be impossible for us to make any kind of determination with certainty," Elections Canada stated. "All poll workers sign a solemn declaration that they will be non-partisan while working at an election and protect the secrecy of the vote."
However, Elections Canada argued that "safeguards are present at every stage of the electoral process" and that transparency is a core principle of electoral democracy.
Foreign Interference Commission to investigate potential foreign infiltration in Canadian elections
This raised questions about the possibility of foreign operatives infiltrating the polls, particularly in Aurora-Oak Ridges, where Alleslev lost her seat to Liberal MP Leah Taylor Roy by 1,460 votes in one of the closest races of the 2021 federal election.
In line with this, the Foreign Interference Commission, headed by Justice Marie-Josee Hogue, was established to investigate potential interference by China, Russia and other foreign or non-state actors in Canada's 43rd and 44th general elections in 2019 and 2021, respectively. The Commission seeks to uncover the truth about any impacts on the integrity of these elections.
Earlier this year, Hogue pledged to remain impartial and committed to uncovering the truth.
"Commission lawyers and I are neutral and impartial," said Hogue. "We represent the public interest. Our goal is to uncover the truth whatever it may be Foreign interference in our democratic institutions is a very serious issue."
To date, the commission already identified 13 electoral districts with suspicious activities and will continue hearings in September.
CommunistChina.news has more stories related to China and the Chinese Communist Party.
Watch Chinese affairs analyst Gordon Chang expounding on the CCP's infiltration of the United States.
This video is from the Free4eva Media channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
Canada's government virologists exposed for "clandestine relationship" with Chinese agents.
Canada expresses intent to join the anti-China AUKUS military bloc.
MP Han Dong resigns from Trudeau's Liberal Party following allegations questioning his loyalty to Canada.
China established "remote" police stations in CANADA to retrieve its own citizens for deportation.
Leaked documents show Justin Trudeau welcomed Chinese troops to train at Canadian military bases.
Sources include:
LifeSiteNews.com 1
LifeSiteNews.com 2
LifeSiteNews.com 3
Brighteon.com
Syrian migrant taken into custody for deadly stabbing at German festival
A 26-year-old Syrian asylum-seeker turned himself in to the police , saying he was responsible for the Aug. 23 Solingen knife attack in Germany that left three dead and eight wounded.
Duesseldorf police said in a joint statement with the prosecutors office that the man "stated that he was responsible for the attack" at the Festival of Diversity. The three-day festival was a celebration of the city's 650th anniversary, but was marred by tragedy after the stabbing.
The suspect, identified as Issa al H., was taken into custody, more than 24 hours after the attack. According to German tabloid Bild, Issa approached a police patrol car and confessed, saying, I am the one you are looking for. During the day-long manhunt, Issa reportedly evaded capture by hiding in a backyard.
The attack, which took place in the heart of Solingen, targeted attendees of the Festival of Diversity. Witnesses described the attacker as aiming for the necks of his victims, leading to speculation that the incident was terror-related. Police have since confirmed that Issa al H., originally from Deir al-Zor in Syria, arrived in Germany in 2022 as an asylum seeker. He was granted protection due to the ongoing civil war in his homeland.
While Issa was not previously known to security authorities as an Islamic extremist, he is said to be a Sunni Muslim. According to witness statements gathered by police, Issa allegedly shouted Allahu Akbar during the attack, a phrase commonly associated with jihadist motivations.
The suspect is a Syrian citizen who had applied for asylum in Germany, police confirmed to the Associated Press.
The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the attack, without providing evidence. The extremist group said on its news site that the attacker targeted Christians and that he carried out the assaults to avenge Muslims in Palestine and everywhere. The claim couldnt be independently verified.
The attack comes amid debate over immigration ahead of regional elections in Germany's Saxony and Thueringia regions where anti-immigration parties such as the populist Alternative for Germany are expected to do well.
Solingen stabbing fuels rise of AfD in polls
In Thuringia, which has a population of 2.1 million and where the famous Buchenwald concentration camp memorial is located, the fiercely anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) is leading with 30 percent in the polls for the upcoming September state elections.
The eastern German states of Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg are set to elect new parliaments next month, and in all three states the AfD is ahead in surveys.
The attack also raised fears that Europe could face another wave of terror attacks. Solingen, a city of about 160,000 residents near the bigger cities of Cologne and Duesseldorf, was holding a Festival of Diversity to celebrate its anniversary.
The horrific incident has raised concerns about the security situation in Germany, particularly concerning the countrys asylum policies. As the investigation continues, the focus will be on uncovering any potential connections between Issa al H. and extremist networks, as well as addressing the broader implications of the attack on public safety in Germany.
Today, the threat of terrorism in Germany comes from Islamic radicals, which is viewed as the country's primary national security concern. In 2005, German authorities began recording the number of potential Islamic militants in the country. (Related: Top German politicians demand "maximum" penalty for young people expressing their discontent with unrestricted migration.)
The arrest of Issa al H. marks a significant development in the case, but questions remain about how he was able to carry out an attack at a public event and what measures can be taken to prevent similar incidents.
Visit Terrorism.news for similar stories.
Watch this video about German police raiding all Islamic centers of Iran in the country, including the Hamburg Islamic Center.
This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
Germany: Nigerian migrant grabs 9-year-old boy and stabs 2 police officers, immediately released by the courts.
Germany: Murder victims in the Solingen massacre were activists in favor of 'tolerance' and 'integration.'
Germanys AfD party just lost a major court case that makes it legally vulnerable to mass surveillance by spy agencies.
Sources include:
YourNews.com
NPR.org
Brighteon.com
Trump reveals Zuckerberg plotted against him during last election, threatens META CEO with jail time if he interferes again
In a new book to be released on Sept. 3, former President Donald Trump, 78, revealed that META CEO Mark Zuckerberg, 40, plotted against him during the 2020 election . He further warned that if the technocrat does this again in November, he would "spend the rest of his life in prison."
The Trump-authored coffee table book titled "Save America" seen by Politico includes an undated photograph of the Republican presidential nominee meeting with Zuckerberg in the White House.
Trump captioned the photo with "Zuckerberg would come to the Oval Office to see me. He would bring his very nice wife to dinners, be as nice as anyone could be, while always plotting to install shameful 'Lock Boxes' in a true plot against the president."
He added that Zuckerberg told him that "there was nobody like Trump on Facebook. But at the same time, and for whatever reason, steered it against me. We are watching him closely, and if he does anything illegal this time, he will spend the rest of his life in prison as will others who cheat in the 2024 Presidential Election."
The book also cited Trump's statements about the Big Tech mogul in the past. Back in July, the 45th U.S. president wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that once he regains the White House seat, he would pursue election fraudsters and that he would make sure to make them serve long jail periods.
"We already know who you are. Don't do it! Zuckerbucks, be careful!" he said.
"Zuckerbucks" refers to the $420 million contribution Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, made during the 2020 election to fund election infrastructure.
A Meta spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment, Politico wrote.
Meanwhile, on Aug. 26, Zuckerberg wrote to the House Judiciary Committee that the Biden administration had tried to "pressure" his tech company to downplay certain content about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) back in 2021. According to the Facebook founder, "government pressure was wrong" and expressed regret for not speaking out about it at the time.
Mark Zuckerberg just admitted three things: 1. Biden-Harris Admin "pressured" Facebook to censor Americans. 2. Facebook censored Americans. 3. Facebook throttled the Hunter Biden laptop story. Big win for free speech. pic.twitter.com/ALlbZd9l6K House Judiciary GOP ?????? (@JudiciaryGOP) August 26, 2024
Zuckerberg also said he would not make similar contributions to fund election infrastructure ahead of this year's election, promising that he would no longer compromise Facebook's content standards due to pressure "from any administration in either direction." (Related: Zuckerberg claims he 'regrets' censoring Americans under 'pressure' from Biden-Harris admin.)
He also pledged to "push back if something like this happens again" and will remain politically "neutral" ahead of the November election.
Republicans have long scrutinized Zuckerberg and his platforms for initially suppressing stories about the then-future first son Hunter Biden's "laptop from hell" issue and its alleged coordination with the administration to throttle certain COVID-19 content.
Zuckerberg apologized for META's AI "misinformation" related to Trump's assassination
According to the former president, Zuckerberg apologized to him regarding META's artificial intelligence (AI) tools' claim that Trump wasn't shot.
"He actually apologized; he said they'd made a mistake," Trump said on "Mornings with Maria" on Fox Business. "He actually announced he's not going to support a Democrat because he can't because he respected me for what I did that day."
As per Business Insider, the tech giant's spokesperson declined to comment but didn't dispute that the two had talked. The spokesperson also referred the news outlet to Zuckerberg's previous statement, saying he wouldn't be endorsing any presidential candidate in 2024.
Meanwhile, Zuckerberg talked about Trump in an interview with Bloomberg, lauding his reaction when he experienced a liquidation attempt, even calling Trump a "badass."
"Seeing Donald Trump get up after getting shot in the face and pump his fist in the air with the American flag is one of the most badass things I've ever seen in my life," Zuckerberg said of Trump's assassination attempt. "On some level as an American, it's like hard to not get kind of emotional about that spirit and that fight, and I think that that's why a lot of people like the guy."
In 2021, Meta "indefinitely" suspended Trump's accounts following the January 6 Capitol riots, citing "use of our platform to incite violent insurrection against a democratically elected government."
"His decision to use his platform to condone rather than condemn the actions of his supporters at the Capitol building has rightly disturbed people in the US and around the world," Zuckerberg said at that time. "We removed these statements yesterday because we judged that their effect, and likely their intent, would be to provoke further violence."
But in July, Meta removed the additional guardrails that remained in place on Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts following their reinstatement.
"In assessing our responsibility to allow political expression, we believe that the American people should be able to hear from the nominees for President on the same basis," Meta said. As a result, former President Trump, as the nominee of the Republican Party, will no longer be subject to the heightened suspension penalties."
Head over to Technocrats.news for stories similar to this.
Sources for this article include:
Politico.com
Amazon.com
BusinessInsider.com
Trumps Israel advisor: Were gonna annex the West Bank and make America pay for it
David Friedman, the former US Ambassador to Israel under the Trump administration, is out with a new book pushing a plan to have Israel annex the West Bank and American taxpayers foot the bill.
(Article by Chris Menahan republished from InformationLiberation.com)
From The Jewish Daily Forward:
Trump's Israel adviser suggests diverting $1 billion from Palestinian aid to fund West Bank annexation Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman writes in new book that U.S. support for Israeli sovereignty is 'based first and foremost on biblical prophecies and values' By Jacob Kornbluh | September 2, 2024 Former President Donald Trump has largely remained silent on what he might do in a potential second term regarding issues of particular interest to Jewish Americans. However, if his close adviser's perspective offers any insight, it could involve the U.S. actively funding a previously shelved Israeli plan to annex the occupied West Bank. Israel will need financial assistance "to assert and maintain its sovereignty over Judea and Samaria," former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman writes in a new book, One Jewish State: The Last, Best Hope to Resolve the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, scheduled for release on Tuesday. Friedman suggests that the next Republican administration and Congress could redirect $1 billion from existing aid to the Palestinians, including funds meant for the Palestinian security force, to finance the annexation plan, which he said will help improve the lives of Palestinians under Israeli control. "The easiest bucket to tap into and reposition is that of the United States."
We've gone from Trump in 2016 saying "We're gonna build a wall and make Mexico pay for it!" to Trump's Israel advisor in 2024 saying "We're gonna annex the West Bank and make Americans pay for it!"
The actual easiest "bucket to tap" is for Israel to spend the billions we already gave them (they're holding $46.1 billion in US treasuries that we paid for which they lend back to us with interest) but instead our "ambassador" is demanding we give Israel yet another billion dollars!
In the book, Friedman dedicates an entire chapter to comparing the fate of the Palestinians living under Israeli sovereignty to citizens of Puerto Rico, which was designated a U.S. territory. "Palestinians, like Puerto Ricans, will not vote in national elections," he writes. "Palestinians will be free to enact their own governing documents as long as they are not inconsistent with those of Israel." While Puerto Ricans are considered U.S. citizens and have the right to vote if they move to another state, Friedman does not advocate applying that to Palestinians in the West Bank. Trump's 2020 Middle East peace plan included potential U.S. recognition of some Israeli West Bank settlements. But such moves were postponed as the administration prioritized normalization agreements between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and three other Arab nations. Friedman, who also served as campaign advisor to Trump in 2016 and is still closely connected with the former president, told the Forward he has yet to discuss his annexation plan with Trump. "I hope to share it with him at an appropriate time," he said.
Earlier this year, it was reported that Miriam Adelson, the wife of the late Israel First GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson, wanted Trump's support for Israel annexing the West Bank in return for her $100 million donation to his campaign.
She denied that was the case but now we have Friedman (who Sheldon Adelson likely told Trump to hire) putting it in writing.
As I reported in June, Friedman threw a fit on X over anti-Israel protests at college campuses and demanded that Americans be imprisoned en masse for "antisemitism."
Last month, Trump held an event on "fighting antisemitism" with Adelson where he pledged to restore the power of the Israel Lobby over Congress.
WATCH: Trump pledges to restore the power of the Israel Lobby over Congress during "fighting antisemitism" event with pro-Israel megadonor Miriam Adelson. "You're gonna end up winning because you're going to have the president, okay?" pic.twitter.com/QKtV4tDxEl Chris Menahan ?? (@infolibnews) August 16, 2024
He reiterated the same sentiment in an interview with Fox News host Mark Levin on Sunday.
Trump once again laments that the pro-Israel lobby is no longer sufficiently powerful, and Congress has been infiltrated by "Hamas agents" like... Chuck Schumer. He also brags about his Executive Order punishing "anti-Semitism," and alleges some surge of new-wave Holocaust denial pic.twitter.com/KQQfpEMtAe Michael Tracey (@mtracey) September 2, 2024
The fact this Israel First lunacy is somehow being pitched as "America First" is beyond parody!
Read more at: InformationLiberation.com
Ukraine closing in on deal with U.S. for new advanced long-range missiles that could strike deep into Russia
The U.S. and Ukraine are close to finalizing an agreement to provide Kyiv with long-range cruise missiles that could strike targets deep into Russia . The next military aid package to make its way to Ukraine could include AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSMs)
However, Ukraine would have to wait several months before the missiles begin making their way to Eastern Europe, as the Department of Defense works out technical issues ahead of any shipment. (Related: Russia launches over 200 drones and missiles targeting critical energy infrastructure in Ukraine.)
Officials said sending JASSMs to Ukraine could significantly alter the strategic landscape of the conflict by putting more Russian targets in range of Kyiv's powerful, Western-supplied precision-guided munitions. White House officials noted that the appearance of JASSMs could even complicate Russia's ability to sustain its offensive operations in the contested Donbas region of southeastern Ukraine.
Retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, former commander of U.S. Army Europe, applauded the sending of JASSMs. Hodges has been vocal about how Washington needs to provide Ukraine with more strategic long-range weaponry, but he laments the significant delays in their arrival to Eastern Europe.
"I'm glad that they're considering it, but it highlights the utter failure to deliver these capabilities more than two years ago," he said.
"What have we been waiting on? Why is the administration moving in slow motion, when it moves at all, to deliver the various capabilities to help Ukraine win the war, in time to have real effect?" added Hodges. "Our immovable self-deterrence due to excessive fear of Russian escalation is going to be a stain on U.S. credibility in Europe."
JASSMs could hit targets hundreds of miles within Russia
Developed by Lockheed Martin, JASSMs are 2,400-pound, air-launched, stealthy long-range cruise missiles. They carry 1,000-pound warheads that, depending on the version of the JASSM, could travel between 330 to 575 miles.
As an air-launched missile that has only been integrated into U.S.-designed aircraft, Ukraine must fit JASSMs into one of the several dozen Western-supplied F-16s it operates. Each F-16 can carry up to two of these cruise missiles per sortie.
A U.S. official who spoke with Reuters noted that there were previous efforts to make the missile operable with non-U.S. fighter jets in the inventory of the Ukrainian Air Force, but there is no word on whether any of these efforts have progressed or were abandoned.
Launching JASSMs anywhere within Ukraine would put Kyiv in the range of striking up to 30 Russian airbases, some of which have been regularly used to launch attacks on Ukraine and some of which are located in Crimea, which Ukraine claims Russia has illegally occupied since 2015. A JASSM launched from northwestern Ukraine could even reach a Russian Air Force base in the exclave of Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea.
Military analysts further note that JASSMs represent more technologically advanced versions of cruise missiles already in Ukraine's armory, notably the British Storm Shadows and the French SCALP-EGs.
JASSMs are believed to be more survivable and are more capable of reducing their signature to the point that they can wind their way through the most advanced and dense air defense networks they come up against. An AGM-158B version of the JASSM, one of the newest versions, costs about $1 million each.
Visit MilitaryTech.news for more similar stories.
Watch this episode of "Alex in Cyprus" as host Alex Christoforou comments on the imminent transportation of JASSMs to Ukraine.
This video is from the Oldyoti's Home Page channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
Russian official warns U.S. will face WORSE CONSEQUENCES for backing Ukraine's strikes on Kursk.
Ukrainian military shoots down its own F-16 fighter jet provided by U.S. earlier this year.
South Africa halts delivery of artillery shells to Poland over concerns they could be sent to Ukraine.
Germany halts new military aid to Ukraine amid budget shortfall.
Downing Street BANS Ukraine from using Storm Shadow missiles to strike Kursk.
Sources include:
Reuters.com
Newsweek.com
TWZ.com
Brighteon.com
Former British diplomat: Benjamin Netanyahu is the enemy of peace in Israel
In his latest interviews with Judge Antony Napolitano, former British diplomat and highly influential MI6 operative Alastair Crooke brings to his audience a view of the crisis in world events notably absent from the mainstream headlines.
(Article by Frank Wright republished from LifeSiteNews.com)
In one of two videos below, Crooke argues that it is the Netanyahu regime rather than Hamas which is making any peace or hostage deal impossible to prolong and escalate war in the region.
His work offers a comprehensive appraisal of the system of mind management pursued by the liberal-globalist West, whose partnership with Israel sees it focused on narrative control through media propaganda, while it loses wars in reality. Crooke is strongly committed to trying to bring about peace between warring factions.
Crooke writes frequently on the crises in the world, arguing that Europe (and the U.S.) are in a period of alternate revolution and civil war.
Crookes reading of the past informs his view of the present:
History warns us that such conflicts tend to be extended, with peak episodes which are revolutionary (as the prevailing paradigm first cracks); yet which, in reality, are but alternate modes of the same a toggling between revolutionary peaks and the slow slog of intense cultural war.
He says this is the state of the West today: We are, I believe, in such an era.
You may not have heard of Alastair Crooke, as it is impossible to post links to his writings on social media. If you attempt to link his piece on, say, The Western way of war Owning the narrative trumps reality, the owners of the narrative will not publish it.
X (formerly Twitter) automatically censors any links to Strategic Culture, on which Crookes essays often feature. If you try to post a link to his analysis, X says no:
We cant complete this request because this link has been identified by X or our partners as being potentially harmful. Visit our Help Center to learn more.
The partners of X include CHEQ, a content moderation service run by former members of Israeli intelligence, as I reported for LifeSiteNews in June 2023
Netanyahu The enemy of peace
Another recent video with Napolitano is full of shocking revelations to those whose worldview is shaped by the stated aim of the Netanyahu regime to police the planet.
So severe is the threat, and so obvious is Netanyahus opposition to any move toward peace, that U.S. support of Israel may be ended as a result, Crooke says.
The motives behind this madness include an armageddonist Divine Plan, urged by Zionist extremists in the Netanyahu-led coalition, to force a conflict so devastating as to usher in the appearance of the Messiah.
Crooke states this strategy is being pursued by the deliberate elimination of the Palestinians, by extermination or population transfer out of Israel.
Finally, he notes the existence of 700,000 armed settlers proclaiming the independent State of Judea in territories nominally reserved for a Palestinian state in the West Bank.
Backed by extremist government ministers such as Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, these militant Zionists are involved in the armed attempt to free the soldiers filmed raping Palestinian prisoners with metal instruments in Sde Temain.
Ben-Gvir repeatedly seeks to enrage Muslims, threatening to destroy their third holiest site the Al-Aqsa mosque, and in recent days vowing build a synagogue on the grounds of Al-Aqsa. This is obviously a provocation, and a move toward the building of the Third Temple that Gvir and other extreme Zionists have been planning to do in the near future.
Many have long warned that this would lead to an explosion in the entire Muslim world against Israel, which the Zionists welcome as the necessary Armageddon that would pave the way for the supposed coming of their messiah.
The picture Crooke offers of Israel is not one permitted on most mainstream media outlets. Under Netanyahu, Israel aims to police the planet, silencing reporting of its actions through intimidation, defunding, and online censorship carried out by former members of its intelligence agencies.
Crooke explains mass media censorship
In an August 26 article, also impossible to share on X, Crooke explained why this sort of censorship is now routinely exercised across the West:
The West has come to view owning the winning narrative and presenting the Others as clunky, dissonant, and extremist as being more important than facing facts-on-the ground. Owning the winning narrative is to win, in this view. Virtual victory thus trumps real reality.
His commentary on Ukraine and on Israel expand on the basic premise that the mass media is used to mislead the Western public and conceal from them the truth of the wars and their true cost in financial, moral, and diplomatic terms. As his article above concluded:
So, war becomes rather the setting for imposing ideological alignment across a wide global alliance and enforcing it via compliant media.
Crooke clearly believes that the liberal-global order projects and secures its ambitions toward worldwide domination partnered with a captive media.
The West completely dominates and completely manages the international media, Crooke " target="_blank" rel="noopener">tells Judge Antony Napolitano in his most recent video interview.
This, he says, is one reason that the Russians, and what is called the resistance to Israel, do not attempt to fight back with their own propaganda.
Another is that they are, according to Crooke, not only fighting the real war instead of a media campaign, but they are also winning.
Warfare has changed. It is a revolutionary change in warfare and we [in the West] are still going on as if its just the post Second World War era.
Crooke is referring to the use of cheap drone swarms, missile attacks, and advanced electronic countermeasures which have seen the US Navy fail to secure the Suez against Ansurallah (the Houthis), and Israel fail to prevent missile strikes on its critical military infrastructure. The U.S., together with its allies, announced Operation Prosperity Guardian in December 2023, to secure safe passage for international shipping through the Red Sea. It has failed
Report from the U.K.s Daily Telegraph, a typically pro-war publication, from August 24, 2024.
Crooke also notes that the Israeli media blackout on reporting damage resulting from Hezbollahs missile strikes has not prevented the destruction of a Mossad intelligence center roughly 1 kilometer from Tel Aviv.
It was also the headquarters of Lavender, says Crooke, reminding Napolitano of Israels artificial intelligence-powered targeting system, responsible for marking tens of thousands of Gazans as suspects for assassination by facial recognition and tracking.
Effectively an automated kill list with little human oversight, Lavender was investigated by +972 magazines Yuval Abraham in April 2024.
Crooke is arguing that the Russians, Iranians, Hezbollah, and the rest of the anti-Zionist resistance in the Middle East have all developed paradigm-shifting innovative forms of next generation warfare, while the U.S.-led West remains focused on manufacturing headlines in the media.
Crooke says that the Israeli media blackout is in place to obscure the fact that Israel has lost its military superiority in the region. As a wave of Hezbollah missiles and drones were launched at Israel early on Sunday, Immediately at 5:00 in the morning the Israeli government issued an absolute ban on any reporting of any damage or any attacks on either major infrastructure or military objectives in Israel.
A complete censorship was imposed on what happened in Tel Aviv, at the airbase which they also attacked absolute ban, no reporting, no photographs, no visuals and so they put a complete blackout on any news of any damage to any infrastructure any defense sites or to the intelligence bases in Tel Aviv.
Ukraine has developed a similar policy after it began experiencing major damages from Russian attacks in Kiev and elsewhere.
Crooke has visited one site which his sources tell him was struck by the Hezbollah attack.
So, of course, we cant see and we cant prove it; but, as I say, I do know independently what I said about that.
Hezbollah stated, according to the Times of Israel, their target was indeed the Glilot intelligence base outside Tel Aviv, home to Mossad, Lavender, and the Israeli 8200 signals intelligence unit, some of whose former employees now police content on X.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah claimed that one missile had struck the Israeli intelligence headquarters.
Crooke also says that Israeli claims of having destroyed thousands of Hezbollah launch sites is completely untrue.
Where they say they knocked out thousands of rocket launchers is complete phooey its nothing. Its completely untrue.
Crooke points out that Hezbollah are happy with the outcome because they have achieved their aims, which were to respond to Israeli attacks in kind, and demonstrate a military capacity which the Israelis cannot counter.
In doing so, Crooke says, Hezbollah have reestablished the equation with Israel and clearly Israel for the moment doesnt wish to go to all-out war against Hezbollah.
Alastair Crookes reports on video and in writing provide a perspective absent from the mainstream coverage of two of the worlds most urgent crises, each of which has a dangerously low nuclear threshold.
His view of the factors informing these dangerous times includes a routine examination of what he called on August 15, this Western mind-management in which appearance and reality are cut from the same cloth of hostile extremism.
One example of the identification of arguments for peace with extremism and even treason is cited by Crooke in the same article. He mentions a meeting of Christians United For Israel (CUFI) in the U.S. state of Maryland, reported by the Times of Israel on August 8. The Israeli news outlets headline said Pro-Israel U.S. conservatives concerned over isolationism, and antisemitism, on far right, in a piece which said talk of curbing aid to the Jewish state was antisemitic.
Boris Zilberman, the director of policy and strategy for the CUFI Action Fund, described an intricate fabric of bad actors working hand-in-hand with U.S. isolationists who seek to end the forever wars backed by Israel and its lobby in the U.S.
Sandra Parker, chairwoman of the CUFI Action Fund, told the meeting that quoting scripture on the death of Christ was anti-Christian.
Its not Christian, it is anti-Christian. Anybody who says that the Jews killed Jesus has a fundamental misunderstanding of the Christian faith.
Crooke argues that the use of the mass media creates a false narrative of world events, which is itself in a moment of crisis. He cites the work of American cultural critic Douglas Kirn, who noted in 2022:
For years now, the answer, in every situation Russiagate, COVID, Ukraine has been more censorship, more silencing, more division, more scapegoating. Its almost as if these are goals in themselves and the cascade of emergencies mere excuses for them. Hate is always the way.
Crookes insight extends beyond his diplomatic experience to a full-scale review of the nature of political reality in the West. Quoting Kirn, he asserts that the liberal-global system is a behavioural-engineering enterprise, which is in conflict with the wishes of its own populations:
The corporate and state interests dont believe you are wanting the right things.
Crookes work is one attempt to show not what is said to be right or wrong, but simply what is there.
You can access Alastair Crookes writings here, and here, and view his weekly appearances with Judge Napolitano here.
Wikipedia provides a fascinating biography of Crooke here.
Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com
Catholic archbishops lament Western LGBT indoctrination making its way into Africa
Catholic archbishops in Africa have come together to denounce the creeping Western-style LGBT indoctrination in the continent , as more and more young men are recruited into making homosexual pornography for the money.
In exclusive interviews with the newspaper National Catholic Register, clerics from all across sub-Saharan Africa decried the subversive attempts by Western NGOs, aid workers and even tourists to promote LGBT ideology and attract Africans into homosexual activity for money.
"It's just like the missionaries who went all over to evangelize," said Archbishop Renatus Leonard Nkwande of the Archdiocese of Mwanza in Tanzania. Except now, he lamented, the West is "sending us missionaries of evil."
Archbishop Charles Palmer-Buckle of the Catholic Archdiocese of Cape Coast in Ghana told the newspaper how tourists would entice boys with money to pull them into homosexual activity.
"They've come to enjoy themselves and they are messing with our little boys on the beach, sexually abusing them for a little money," Palmer-Buckle said. "They are already warped. And they are warping these young people. It's like, sorry to say, the devil trying to get more disciples."
Palmer-Buckle added that foreign aid workers have also often promoted LGBT ideology in classrooms and other venues despite prohibitions in their charters on such activism. "As a teacher, it is not your right to expose the child to that which is harmful to them in the long run, as if you are proselytizing," he said.
Kenya's encounters with activists for homosexuality are the same as what happened in Ghana where the Western NGO staff promote LGBT ideology in schools and pay youth to engage in gay sex, according to clergy.
Meanwhile, in Tanzania, gay pornography propositions have become so common that the Archdiocese of Mwanza launched a task force geared toward teaching youth how to deal with invitations to engage in immoral sexual activity.
"We have decided to do it because we have seen a number of people coming, gathering young people, and entertaining them," Archbishop Leonard Nkwande said. "At the end, they are like that."
The moves are consistent with the declaration of United States Department of State spokesman John Kirby last year that so-called "LGBTQ+ rights" are a "core part" of U.S. foreign policy and the December 2023 report that the U.S. had spent more than $4.1 billion in taxpayer money on LGBT-promoting initiatives around the world.
The widespread reports indicate that this homosexual indoctrination is part of a large, coordinated plan, according to African archbishops.
"We don't speak about it openly, but it's intentional," Nkwande told the Register. Related: Transgender ideology comes "from the depths of hell," warns Christian journalist.)
Bishops warn Western secularization and hedonism are promoted by social media
Social media has a great impact on the Western's promotion of LGBTQ+ ideologies. More than 60 percent of residents have a smartphone, a much higher rate than the average sub-Saharan country, especially in places like Kenya.
Makumba draws a sharp distinction between the message brought by outside evangelizers decades ago and the Western messages of secularization and hedonism promoted in Kenya by the social media platforms of today.
"When the missionaries came, they came with the Good News," he said. "Now, the culture coming through social media is not good news. It is bad news."
In Obala, Cameroon, Bishop Sosthene Leopold Bayemi Matjei said that social media content from countries like France, the central African country's former colonizer, is leading to a dramatic remaking of values among Cameroonian youth. Matjei added he is aware of reports that young boys are organizing sex groups after being exposed to the idea through online videos.
"These are things that I've never dreamt of," he said. "But now we see that they are arriving."
Ideological proselytization in Africa at the personal and cultural level is moving in tandem with ideological colonization at the level of public policy, which Pope Francis has said "destroys the human personality."
Abortion is illegal in Cameroon, but the bishop said the French embassy actively promoted it in March after France enshrined abortion as a "guaranteed freedom" in its constitution. NGOs also reportedly give grants to facilities in Cameroon to perform free abortions, which are tolerated by the local government.
Meanwhile, several African nations have responded to the West's ideological push on homosexuality by drafting stringent measures meant to curb the spread of LGBTQ ideology. Some of these bills make it illegal to publicly identify as gay, while others carry with them harsh sentences for gay sex.
In return, the U.S. sanctioned Uganda for passing a bill that makes homosexual activity a possible capital offense. There is speculation that Ghana's legislation restricting the spread of LGBTQ activism could lose the African country $3.8 billion from the International Monetary Fund.
Head over to GayMafia.news for similar stories.
Watch the video below that talks about Pope Francis promoting an LGBT event.
This video is from the Rick Langley channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
Kamala Harris loves transgender child mutilation and other degenerate LGBT perversion.
California pushing radical "LGBTQ+" propaganda on state employees, reveals mental health professional.
Nickelodeon features drag queen in latest LGBT Pride grooming video for kids.
Children's book giant Scholastic releases LGBT guide for K-12 teachers.
CDC, Pfizer affiliate sponsor pro-LGBT public school event for fifth-graders.
Sources include:
LifeSiteNews.com
KATV.com
NCRegister.com
Brighteon.com
News / National
by Staff reporter
President Mnangagwa today led a pivotal meeting in Beijing between ZESA Holdings and China's TBEA Corporation, resulting in the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). These agreements aim to boost power generation and distribution in Zimbabwe, tackling the nation's ongoing energy challenges.This partnership supports Zimbabwe's Vision 2030, which seeks to elevate the country to an upper-middle-income economy. The MoUs are expected to drive investments in infrastructure and technology, enhancing the reliability of electricity supply for both households and industries.Zimbabwe has experienced persistent power shortages in recent years, hindering economic growth. The collaboration with TBEA Corporation, a leading Chinese energy company, is viewed as a key step in strengthening the national grid and promoting sustainable energy production.Aligned with the Framework for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) 2024, this initiative highlights the growing Chinese investment in African energy projects and further strengthens the ties between Zimbabwe and China.
REPORT: Nearly 1.7 million economically inactive migrants in the U.K. are costing taxpayers an additional $11.2 billion annually
A new report from the United Kingdom found that nearly 1.7 million foreigners living in the country are costing taxpayers an estimated 8.5 billion British pounds ($11.2 billion).
This report comes from the watchdog group the Center for Migration Control. The figures, which represent non-U.K. nationals aged 16 to 64 living in Great Britain, represent an all-time high in the number of migrants currently in the country, surpassing the previous record of 1.63 million foreigners in the U.K. in 2012 and 1.67 million at the beginning of the year.
The said amount does not account for the costs associated with asylum seekers who are often housed in four-star hotels, nor does it include the expenses related to foreign students. (Related: United Kingdom only has 83 JAILS OPEN after arresting protesters who oppose the INVASION of their own country.)
Meaning, when additional public spending on health, education, transport, housing and welfare for workless migrants were added, the total cost could rise to as much as 20.3 billion pounds ($26.7 billion) annually.
Furthermore, another report from the London-based research organization the Institute for Fiscal Studies found that the Home Office overspent its budget for asylum, border and visa management by as much as 7.6 billion pounds ($9.9 billion) over the past three years.
These findings suggest that the actual financial burden on British taxpayers could be significantly higher in the coming years.
U.K. government remains in denial over the financial burden associated with migration
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Robert Bates, the research director of the Center for Migration Control, criticized the current approach of the U.K. government to migration.
"For all the talk of a fiscal 'black hole', the Labour Government seems to be missing the glaringly obvious fact that mass migration is causing economic pandemonium," he said.
"There is no reason for us to continue handing out so many long-term visas when we are currently having to bail out over a million migrants who are already in Britain but not working," he continued. "This is the very definition of a Ponzi scheme and we will only compound the problem if we do not change course soon. Our elderly are facing a potentially deadly winter as Keir Starmer cancels the lifeline of the winter fuel allowance, but at the same time he is doing nothing to clamp down on workless migrants."
Conservative Party Member of Parliament Neil O'Brien, who has researched the impact of migration on the British workforce, echoed these sentiments in a statement reacting to the reports.
"This report shows migration policy is literally not working. We need a system where the numbers coming are capped at a much lower level and the system is much more selective," he said. "No one has a problem with a small number of highly skilled workers coming here but that is not what our current migration rules are delivering and sadly there is no sign of that changing under Keir Starmer."
However, the U.K. government remains in denial of its lapses despite the data presented to them.
"It is incorrect to apply an average cost to migrants out of work as estimates need to take into account individual circumstances. Most education and welfare costs are not applicable to working-age migrants who are not students," a U.K. government spokesperson said.
Check out Migrants.news for more stories about illegal immigration.
Watch the video below that talks about U.K. protesters being jailed for "inciting violence" on social media posts.
This video is from the TKWK T.V channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
Re-reconquista now! Spains airports overrun by migrants.
"Keyboard warrior" in the U.K. slapped with 3-YEAR JAIL SENTENCE for urging online followers to support anti-migration protests.
U.K. authorities have arrested more anti-mass migration protesters than human traffickers.
Met Police (UK) threaten TERRORISM charges against "keyboard warriors" who comment on immigration protests.
Violent criminals getting released from U.K. prisons to make room for peaceful protesters who oppose illegal immigration.
Sources include:
Modernity.news
DailyMail.co.uk
Brighteon.com
GENDER WARS: Irish teacher ARRESTED for refusing to address male student as she/her
Another educator's career was ruined after a male student in Ireland suffering from gender dysphoria complained that teacher Enoch Burke refused to refer to the student using "she" and "her" pronouns, resulting in Burke being arrested and imprisoned.
Burke, a Christian man, has been jailed three times over his refusal to play gender pronoun games with his students and coworkers. Burke's faith requires him to reject the mental delusions of LGBTs who often respond by bullying him as retribution.
The High Court in Dublin has ordered Burke to be committed for contempt after he appeared at Wilson's Hospital School in County Westmeath after being told via an injunction that he is prohibited from entering the premises.
Back in August 2022, the evangelical Christian was suspended from his job for refusing to use a transgender student's preferred gender pronouns. That suspension was later dismissed following appeal, and Burke will remain on the school's payroll until a ruling is issued.
(Related: Did you know that Joe Biden's 2024 Title IV revisions threaten to criminalize students who are caught "misgendering" their LGBTQ classmates?)
LGBTs persecuting normal people
On September 2, Justice Michael Quinn ruled that Burke remains in "ongoing contempt" of previous court orders demanding that he stay behind bars at Mountjoy Prison until he agrees to obey the Cult of LGBTQ and its demands.
Burke continues to argue that the school and the courts are trampling his religious rights by trying to force him to play the transgender pronoun game, which he refuses to do out of obedience to God.
"This is a mockery of justice," Burke told Justice Quinn, arguing that he is being punished by the state for his Christian beliefs.
Amazingly, Burke has thus far spent more than 400 days in prison with multiple previous incarcerations, all of which were predicated upon his refusal to refer to boys as "girls," and vice versa.
Burke's most recent release was back in June when the school where he teaches was closed for summer break. At the time, he released a video statement watch below explaining the toll his legal battle is taking on him and his family.
"I've been here for 400 days consecutively and two years of my life have been taken from me," Burke explains in the video.
"It's a sad place, Mountjoy Prison. A lot of very genuine people who have been let down, I would say, by the state, by the government, and in some cases by the courts."
Wilson Hospital School, a boarding school located about 55 miles (88 kilometers) west of Dublin is historically part of the Church of Ireland. The school still claims to honor its Church of Ireland heritage by "fostering Christian practice and teaching."
How can this be true, though, when Burke, a Christian himself, is being persecuted by the Wilson Hospital School and some of its students?
When the summer break ended and Burke returned to class on August 22, the Wilson Hospital School board tried to get him arrested again so much for "fostering Christian practice and teaching," eh?
Burke is continuing to fight the false allegations against him and continues to try to battle his way out of persecution with an appeal. The school's leadership, meanwhile, is arguing that Burke's mere presence on campus is disruptive to both staff and students and that he must be removed immediately.
The world economy is currently in the throes of what appears to be an impending total collapse but LGBT extremists are much more concerned about policing the pronouns that other people choose to use in reference to them can you say misplaced priorities and hypocrisy? Learn more at Transhumanism.news.
Sources for this article include:
X.com
CatholicNewsAgency.com
NaturalNews.com
YouTube.com
3 Israeli police officers KILLED by former Palestinian presidential guard
A former Palestinian presidential guard has killed three Israeli police officers in a shooting attack near the Palestinian city of Tarqumiyah in the southern West Bank.
The incident, which took place near the Idhna-Tarqumiyah junction of Route 35 on Sept. 1, involved a 31-year-old Palestinian gunman named Muhannad al-Aswad from Idhna. Al-Aswad, a former member of the Palestinian Authority's (PA) Presidential Guard and affiliated with the Fatah political party, opened fire at a police vehicle from a passing car and fled the scene on foot.
Al-Aswad, a resident of Idhna in Hebron, was born in Jordan and returned to the West Bank in 1998 with his family. He served in the Palestinian Presidential Guard until he resigned in 2015. He has been working with Fatah, the main political party in power in the West Bank, since then. (Related: IDF recovers 6 bodies of Israeli hostages from Gaza tunnels.)
As of now, it remains unclear if other accomplices were involved in the attack.
Al-Aswad's victims were identified as Ch. Insp. Arik Ben Eliyahu, 37; Command Sgt. Maj. Hadas Branch, 53; and First Sgt. Roni Shakuri, 61.
Ben Eliyahu, from Kiryat Gat, was survived by his wife and three children. Branch, from Sde Moshe, left behind her husband, three children and a granddaughter. Shakuri, from Sderot, was survived by his wife, daughter and granddaughter. Tragically, Shakuri's daughter, also a police officer, was killed during Hamas' attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
The Magen David Adom, Israel's main national emergency service, treated the three victims immediately after the shooting. Ben Eliyahu and Branch were declared dead at the scene, while Shakuri died en route to a hospital.
Al-Aswad killed by Israeli soldiers the same day he killed the police officers
In response to the shooting, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a manhunt later that same day.
The operation, conducted by the Duvdevan Commando Unit, involved a tactic known as "pressure cooker," in which the soldiers escalated the intensity of fire to force a suspect out of hiding. Israeli soldiers located and cornered al-Aswad in a house in Hebron. The soldiers repeatedly opened fire and threw a grenade into the building.
After a brief exchange of fire, soldiers removed the body of a man from inside the house and confirmed that it was Al-Aswad. Soldiers stated that Al-Aswad was killed during the exchange of fire and an M16 rifle was found on his body.
This attack happened amid heightened tensions in the West Bank, where the IDF and other Israeli security forces illegally occupying the West Bank are engaged in a military operation called "Summer Camps." The operation has seen the Israeli military advancing into cities and refugee camps in the northern West Bank, including Jenin and Tulkarm, while facing significant resistance from Palestinian factions.
The operation has led to severe restrictions on Palestinian movement in these areas, with the Israeli forces enforcing a strict siege on Jenin, where many families have been forcibly displaced.
Learn more about the conflict in Israel at IsraelCollapse.com.
Watch this report from Al Jazeera discussing Hezbollah's recent missile barrage involving over 200 rockets aimed at military installations in Israel.
This video is from the channel Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
Armed Israeli settlers attack West Bank village, burning down properties and killing a young Palestinian man.
MORE WAR CRIMES: Israeli soldiers dressed up as fake MEDICS to kill Palestinian patients at hospital in West Bank.
Canada revokes Jewish National Funds charitable status after audit found group used donations to fortify Israeli military infrastructure.
Hezbollah unveils vast tunnel network capable of launching missiles.
More and more Israeli soldiers becoming DISABLED as Gaza conflict drags on.
Sources include:
MiddleEastEye.net
TimesOfIsrael.com
APNews.com
Brighteon.com
New data from New Zealand confirms COVID-19 vaccines significantly increase all-cause mortality
New data from New Zealand shows that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine significantly increases a vaccinated individual's risk of dying
Data from Health New Zealand, the main public health government body in the country, indicates that 85.5 percent of New Zealanders over the age of 12 are fully vaccinated, and significant portions of New Zealand society have also received first and second rounds of booster vaccinations.
The data presented by Health New Zealand does not warn of the increased risk of all-cause mortality. Instead, the government webpage that provides data on COVID-19 vaccinations only has a one-paragraph reminder that the COVID-19 vaccine may cause "usually mild" side effects. (Related: New Zealand legalizes FORCED VACCINATIONS refuses to be tied to beds and forcibly injected.)
"Like all medicines, the COVID-19 vaccine may cause side effects in some people," Health New Zealand warned. "These are common, are usually mild, don't last long, and won't stop people from having the second dose or going about daily life. Serious allergic reactions do occur but are extremely rare."
Researcher Steve Kirsch and his team analyzed the data using methodology used by governments around the world. Through this investigation, he notes that it has become very clear that the COVID-19 vaccines are causing all-cause mortality to increase.
"When seasonal mortality is strongly declining, the mortality of the vaccinated is increasing. When seasonal mortality is strongly increasing, the mortality of the vaccinated is increasing even more," wrote Kirsch on his Substack blog. "In short, if you chose to get vaccinated, your mortality increased. The mortality increase happened every time you got a shot. It's crystal clear."
COVID-19 vaccines reason for spike in all-cause mortality in New Zealand
According to the data, when the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines began in New Zealand, all-cause mortality in New Zealand increased from its baseline by 11.8 percent.
Kirsch noted that the New Zealand government told the public that deaths were up at the time because the population grew, which is technically accurate.
"But they deliberately misled the public because the deaths per capita (which is what matters) increased," wrote Kirsch. "So even though the population increased, deaths increased even more."
In 2020, the number of deaths per 100,000 was 639. In 2021, that number rose to 682.7 deaths per 100,000 people, and by 2022 it surged even more to 748 deaths per 100,000 a per-capita death rate not seen in over two decades.
"When they deliberately deceive the people like this and the press lets them get away with it, it is an indicator of a very high level of corruption," warned Kirsch, who lamented the lack of transparency regarding the COVID-19 vaccines in New Zealand.
"The entire system is corrupt and bought off there isn't any transparency of public health data," he continued. "This should make everyone furious. Every mainstream media outlet should be calling for transparency so that the public learns the truth about the vaccines. But they are all silent. There is absolutely no excuse for public health authorities not providing this."
Watch this video reacting to how the New Zealand government has legalized the use of physical force against people who refuse to be vaccinated.
This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
Korean scientists claim Pfizer, Moderna mRNA vaccine vials contain self-assembling nanoparticles that can form into clots.
Explosive hearings: Philippine government briefed on the declining birth rate and skyrocketing excess deaths related to COVID vaccines.
Japanese study: Third dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine linked to significant increase in cancer mortality rates.
America records over 1 million excess deaths among the over 65 years old since beginning of COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
DATA: England's vaccination population had close to one million deaths in 23 months; unvaccinated population had less than 61,000 deaths over the same period.
Sources include:
KirschSubstack.com
TeWhatuOra.govt.nz
Brighteon.com
Putin blames the Wests DESTRUCTIVE STRATEGY for the Ukraine conflict
According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the West's "destructive strategy" is to blame for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
He made the remark during a Sept. 2 interview with the Mongolian newspaper Onoodor, ahead of his visit to the landlocked nation on the same day. Putin explained that the conflict in Ukraine is the natural consequence of "the destructive strategy of the West toward Ukraine," adding that the war stems from the West's long-standing ambitions to control it.
"For decades, [the West has] sought total control over Ukraine," the Russian president told the news outlet. "They funded nationalist and anti-Russian organizations there. They persistently worked to convince Ukraine that Russia was its eternal enemy and the main threat to its existence."
"The hatred for everything Russian has become Ukraine's official ideology. The use of the Russian language has been increasingly restricted, and the canonical Orthodoxy has been subjected to persecution which now has come to the point of a direct ban."
Putin's statements to Onoodor referred to the 2014 Maidan coup in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, which he claimed was orchestrated by the U.S. and its "satellites" and driven by "radical neo-Nazi groups" in the country. These entities, he said, continue to determine the country's policies. Thus, the Kremlin has reiterated the "denazification" of Ukraine as one of the key objectives of Russia's special military operation there.
He also referred to the law banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which has historical ties to the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). The aforementioned legislation gives the UOC nine months to sever ties with the ROC. (Related: Ukrainian parliament approves law BANNING the country's biggest Orthodox church.)
"The West has continually interfered in this conflict siding wholly with Ukraine and supplying a massive amount of funding, military equipment and weapons in what is becoming well-known as its proxy war against Russia," remarked Mac Slavo of SHTF Plan.
Inconvenient facts are deemed as "Kremlin propaganda"
Putin also mentioned how the West hides the truth by dismissing inconvenient facts as "propaganda" from Moscow during the Sept. 2 interview. This contrasts with Russian media that seeks to convey the Kremlin's position on global issues, he added.
"The West, which claims to be a model of freedom, has opted to hide from inconvenient facts and the truth by launching a blatant bullying campaign against Russian journalists and indiscriminately labeling them as 'Kremlin propagandists,'" the Russian leader said.
"Almost all the Western countries where our journalists try to work are creating obstacles for them, banning Russian television channels and directly censoring our media and online resources. [This censorship] runs counter to the democratic principles of freedom of speech and the free flow of information."
He continued that pluralism and openness in the information space are vital for society. In this light, media outlets in Russia have freedom guaranteed by the country's constitution.
"Our authorities cooperate constructively with television channels, news agencies, newspapers, online media and other media outlets regardless of their editorial policy," Putin told Onoodor. He argued that through those means, Moscow has managed to strike a balance between press freedom and national security.
Watch Russian President Vladimir Putin stressing that Moscow "has nothing to talk about with Kyiv" in the aftermath of Ukraine's incursion into Kursk.
This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
Matrixxx Grooove: Putin, Russia want denazification, demilitarization of Ukraine.
Putin lambasts Ukraine, West for "distorting WWII history" to further stoke regional conflicts.
Putin: Russian elections are far more HONEST and TRANSPARENT than rigged U.S. elections.
Putin exposes the truth about evil, SATANIC western leaders who PILLAGE the world and destroy human freedom.
Putin says he has evidence that CNN colluded with Ukrainian Nazis to conduct false flag operation by filming staged killing of civilians.
Sources include:
SHTFPlan.com
Brighteon.com
Be careful what you wish for: Victims of Solingen knife attack were pro-migrant activists supporting integration and tolerance
The three casualties of the Aug. 23 knife attacks in the German city of Solingen were reportedly pro-migrant activists supporting "integration" and "tolerance," according to a report.
According to the Associated Press (AP), the attack happened during the first day of the three-day Festival of Diversity that celebrated Solingen's 650th anniversary. The festival, which was supposed to end on Aug. 25, was canceled following the aftermath of the stabbing that killed three persons and wounded eight.
The AP initially reported that police believe a lone attacker carried out the stabbings. Remix News confirmed in a separate piece that this was the case, identifying the perpetrator as Issa Al H., who hails from Syria. The 26-year-old migrant was supposed to have been deported in 2022, but Germany's leftist government even gave him protected status after he went into hiding for six months. (Related: Germany: Nigerian migrant grabs 9-year-old boy and stabs 2 police officers, immediately released by the courts.)
According to Remix News, the casualties were reportedly "liberal-minded" and at least one of the three belonged to a pro-migrant organization. "Given that the murders happened at the Festival of Diversity, it is no surprise that many of the victims belong to left-leaning organizations dedicated to progressive topics, such as an openness to refugees," the outlet continued.
Stabbing victims got a taste of the policies they fought for
Pharmacist Ines W. was one of the three victims in the stabbing. According to the German newspaper Rheinische Post, she attended the Festival of Diversity because it was "very important to her." Ines W. was a member of the OTV canoeists, who had campaigned for integration with foreigners and whose members have reportedly met to mourn together.
Florian H., the second victim, was a resident of Dusseldorf whose workplace was located in Solingen. While details about him have been scant, neighbors have described him as a "rock and roll" guy who sported a ponytail and liked to play guitar.
Stefan S., the third victim, worked in Wuppertal. The Rheinische Post described the 67-year-old as "a liberal, educated person, someone who wanted to understand all sides." The broadsheet continued: "For a cosmopolitan person like him, it was only logical to visit the 'Festival of Diversity' in Solingen."
Stefan S.'s colleagues at Oetelshofen said they were "deeply affected by the loss of their long-time colleague." Till Iseke, managing director for the lime works, described the victim as "a person who thought outside the box and lived by values ??such as openness and tolerance."
Aside from the three, members of the Solingen cultural association Cobra including its board members were injured in the attack. The association is not political but organizes live events and concerts in the city, Remix News noted.
"We are still shocked by the events of [Aug. 23]. We feel deep sadness for the dead and great sympathy for their relatives," the association wrote on Facebook.
Berlin announces ban on knives, but not migrants
During an Aug. 29 press conference, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said the Solingen attack has "shocked us" deeply. She then proceeded to announce "tough measures" to ostensibly prevent similar incidents, alongside German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann.
According to the interior minister, knives will be prohibited at festivals, "sports events and other similar public events," as well as on long-distance trains. Faeser also mentioned that police officers will be given more powers to search members of the public for knives. However, there will be reasonable exceptions to the ban such as for performers and those working in hospitality.
But even though Berlin puts prohibitions on knives in place, such stabbings won't stop as long as migrants who don't obey German laws are admitted in the name of openness, inclusion and diversity.
Head over to LeftCult.com for similar stories.
Watch Manuel Ostermann, chairman of the German Federal Police Union, lamenting that Germany is no longer a safe country following the Solingen stabbing.
This video is from the VoluntaristDK channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
Group of young migrants attack German children and teens with sticks.
Teenage son of Rwandan migrants responsible for recent U.K. STABBING SPREE that killed 3 children.
South African transgender refugee charged with manslaughter for stabbing Syrian security guard to death in Germany.
Top German politicians demand "maximum" penalty for young people expressing their discontent with unrestricted migration.
German train system turning into life-threatening "battlefield" as violent migrants unleash chaos across European powerhouse.
Sources include:
RMX.news
APNews.com
TheLocal.de
Brighteon.com
The persecution of Dr. Reiner Fuellmich
Well-known attorney Reiner Fuellmich is being detained under terrible conditions for reasons that have nothing to do with what he is accused of.
(Article republished from Malone.news)
He had the courage to speak out on the truth and he is now paying for that courage.
He is, without any doubts, a political prisoner!
We need to spread the word regarding this scandal in order to put pressure on the orchestrators of these events in Germany.
I will give you an overview of the situation, but to start with, let me briefly summarize who Dr. Reiner Fuellmich is.
Reiner Fuellmich, 66, has been a trial lawyer in Germany and California for about 30 years and has always defended consumers and small and medium-sized enterprises against large corporations.
He has won major cases against Volkswagen (the diesel issue), Kuhne und Nagel, and Deutsche Bank, for which Fuellmich himself worked, and which he defines as one of the largest criminal organizations.
During the lockdowns in 2020, Fuellmich and his wife were in their ranch in California, but as the situation appeared to them to be quite strange, they decided to return to Germany to find out what was really going on.
He soon recognized the COVID crimes against humanity and on July 10, together with three other lawyers, Viviane Fischer, Antonia Fischer (no relation) and Justus Hoffmann, he created the CORONA INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE in Berlin, whose aim was to shed light on the actions of governments, institutions, the medical community, etc. in the context of the C-19 pandemic.
The main questions Fuellmich sought answers to were:
how dangerous is this virus?
how reliable is the PCR test recycled by Drosden?
what damage is being caused to the worlds economy by the lockdowns?
Fuellmich conducted a vast series of interviews (approx. 400) and consulted nearly 150 scientists and experts from around the world in all fields, such as:
Nobel Prize winner Dr. Luc Montagnier,
Famed American cardiologist and epidemiologist Dr. Peter McCullough
Dr. Mike Yeadon (ex vice-president of Pfizer)
Dr. Judy Mikovits (scientist)
Dr. Robert Malone (American biochemist and pioneer of the mRNA technology)
Forensic pathologist Dr. Roger Hodkinson
German forensic pathologist Dr. Arne Burkhardt (who, together with a group of pathologists, performed autopsies on vaccinated persons)
Dr. Astrid Stuckelberger (scientist and researcher)
Dr. Simone Gold (founder, America's Frontline Doctors)
Dr. Antonietta Gatti (scientist)
Dr. Mattias Desmet (psychologist)
and many others.
He also consulted financial experts, historians, investigative journalists and writers, such as:
Ernst Wolff (writer, journalist and finance expert)
James Corbett (writer and investigative journalist)
Matthew Ehret (writer and journalist)
David Icke (writer and journalist)
Naomi Wolf (journalist, writer and US political consultant)
Fuellmich also interviewed other very influential persons, such as:
Vera Sharav (Holocaust survivor and human rights activist)
Catherine Austin Fitts (Former US Assistant Secretary for Housing and Urban Development and financial expert)
Calin Georgesco (former high ranking member of the United Nations)
Monsignor Carlo Maria Vigano (Archbishop)
Pascal Najadi (former Swiss banker and current film producer who denounced the president of the Helvetic confederation, Alain Berset)
and many, many others.
His investigations led to the conclusions that the COVID emergency was never about public health, as there was no pandemic. If anything, one can speak of a PCR test pandemic.
It was precisely thanks to these tests, which generated more than 95% false positives, that it was possible to inflate the number of COVID cases.
According to Fuellmich, this was the fundamental point on which allegations of intentional wrongdoing by the governments of most nations worldwide could be based.
Furthermore, all governments have acted and are acting against the interests of their citizens and are evidently under the control of the large, multinational corporations and NGOs that Fuellmich henceforth referred to as Mr. Global.
Mr. Global has committed and is still committing, without a shadow of a doubt, the greatest crime against humanity.
It is important to mention that most of the interviews conducted by Reiner Fuellmich and Viviane Fischer were taped in Berlin via Zoom.
Justus Hoffmann and Antonia Fischer however, only participated at the very beginning.
In the summer of 2022, Fuellmich left Berlin and spent several weeks in the USA where he embarked upon the Crimes against Humanity speaking tour, together with Dr. Judy Mikovits, Dr. Richard Fleming and Patrick Wood.
His absence from Berlin led to some dissension among the members of the Corona Investigative Committee. In autumn 2022, Viviane Fischer who, together with Fuellmich was the most active member of the committee, ousted Fuellmich from the committee without forewarning. This action was done by way of a Zoom meeting, and was done in a deceptive manner. She told Fuellmich that the Zoom meeting, which had already been planned, would no longer take place.
Instead, the scheduled Zoom meeting was held, and in that meeting she informed the participants that there were some irregularities which needed to be clarified, and that the Corona Investigative Committee would continue without Reiner Fuellmich.
Fuellmich only learned of this afterwards.
After some time, he then started his own new project: the ICIC (International Crimes Investigative Committee).
BACKGROUND
Before being ousted from the Corona Committee, aware of the imminent threat of seizure of the Corona Investigative Committees bank accounts by the German government, and the fear of no longer being able to use the funds raised by private donations to continue the Committees very important work, Reiner Fuellmich and Viviane Fischer decided to protect the donations by purchasing gold for the value one million Euros.
They also each took a personal loan in order to secure the funds: 700,000 (Fuellmich) and 100,000 (Viviane Fischer). These loan agreements were made in writing by way of signed contracts.
Viviane Fischer repaid the loan in installment, starting in mid-August 2022 and ending in October 2022.
In that same period, Reiner Fuellmich was negotiating the sale of his home in Gottingen, which was expected to sell for 1.350.000. Part of this sum was to be used to repay the loan.
REINER FUELLMICH MADE IT CLEAR FROM THE OUTSET THAT REPAYMENT OF THE LOAN WOULD TAKE PLACE IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMPLETION OF THE SALE OF HIS PROPERTY!
In the meantime, however, since Reiner Fuellmichs bank accounts had been frozen, he delegated Marcel Templin (attorney-at-law, partner of Justus Hoffmann and Antonia Fischer) to manage and supervise, amongst other things, (1) a class action project which Fuellmich had been working on; and (2) the sale of Fuellmichs home.
Reiner Fuellmich's home was indeed sold, and the money from the sale ended up in Marcel Templin's bank account, thus preventing Reiner Fuellmich from repaying the 700,000 loan. This gave Antonia Fischer, Justus Hoffman and Marcel Templin the opportunity to accuse him of having embezzled funds from the Corona Investigative Committee.
FUELLMICHs DEPORTATION FROM MEXICO
Reiner Fuellmich had traveled to England to interview a former British Secret service agent.
Upon his return to the United States, he was denied entry, no doubt due to his activities exposing the true nature of the COVID emergency measures.
Denied entry into the U.S., Fuellmich and his wife went to Mexico where they remained for a few months while attempting to resolve the many problems which had arisen.
As they had lost their passports, they applied for new ones and were instructed by the German embassy to go to Tijuana to pick up the new passports.
Seeing as how the embassy was closed for remodeling, Fuellmich and his wife were told to go to directly to the airport to pick up their new passports.
Once at the airport, the Mexican police took Reiner Fuellmich into custody with the excuse that he did not have a valid passport/visa. He was then put on a flight (paid for by the German government!) to Frankfurt, where he was arrested and told that a European arrest warrant was pending on him.
Strangely, his wife who allegedly had the same problem with her travel documents-- after having spent the night in jail, was released and allowed to remain in Mexico, where she is to this day.
As it ends up, there was NO international arrest warrant, NOR any formal extradition process in place. This means that Fuellmich was abducted under false pretenses.
A week after his arrest in Frankfurt, Fuellmich was transported to the maximum-security prison in Rosdorf, where he remains even today in custody.
All motions to have him released on bail were rejected.
In the past 11 months or so, there have already been 28 hearings, and in each one of these some startling and baffling facts have come out about what is going on.
Of the initial 18 charges made against Fuellmich, only one remains: that regarding the personal loans. The judge, Carsten Schindler, decided that he DOES NOT CONSIDER them to be personal loans, despite the written and signed contracts.
In fact, judge Schindler considers these loans to be fictitious loans and, on May 3 he announced that for him the facts were already clear; that Reiner Fuellmich had acted in bad faith and had embezzled those funds.
He also stated that he intended to convict Fuellmich at all costs, and that there was no need to hear the testimony of any other witnesses for the defense.
His conclusions are based almost exclusively on the inconsistent testimony of Viviane Fischer.
It is important to note that, up to that point, the witnesses allowed to testify were almost exclusively those of the prosecution.
However, the key witness, namely Marcel Templin --one of Fuellmich's accusers!-- into whose bank account the money from the sale of Fuellmichs home ended upWAS NOT CALLED TO TESTIFY!
The defense, stunned by these statements made by Judge Schlinder, requested a stay of proceedings and was given time until June 10 to bring forth further evidence and witnesses.
Read more at: Malone.news
The thought police want Elon Musk ARRESTED for not forcing speech on X to conform to government propaganda and globalist narratives
A former labor secretary of President Clinton named Robert Reich is going after Elon Musk for his "out of control" refusal to censor more content on X (formerly Twitter).
Reich, who also once called for President Trump to be banned from state ballots for being a "traitor," wrote a piece for The Guardian the other day in which he called for Musk to be arrested on "hate speech" charges all because Musk has been turning X from a far-left echo chamber into a place where other ideas can also be shared.
After X started stripping away some of the censorship tools that were in place at X while it was still known as Twitter, Reich and other 'protectors' of "democracy" began taking aim at him for threatening the status quo.
Musk's promise to reduce censorship on X is just "dangerous nonsense," according to Reich. This sounds a whole lot like what Hillary Clinton, Reich's friend, said after Musk first announced that he was purchasing Twitter.
Since Americans are still protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution, Hillary and other Democrat politicians turned to Europe, calling on regulators there to use the Digital Services Act as a workaround to censor Americans from abroad.
(Related: A 2023 study found that X censorship has actually increased, not decreased, under Elon Musk's leadership.)
Cutting off Musk from government contracts
Reich has taken Hillary's baton with his own quest to promote the public interest through censorship. He believes that some views are dangerous and inappropriate, and that the First Amendment does not cover those like all the others.
The way Musk is allowing free speech on X makes him a threat, especially since he "may be the richest man in the world," according to Reich.
"He may own one of the world's most influential social media platforms, but that doesn't mean we're powerless to stop him," Reich said.
Reich is doing the same thing Hillary once did by trying to exploit Europe as a weapon against Americans. Reich wants foreign regulators to threaten Musk with jailtime in the hopes that he will start obeying the powers that be in censoring X users.
If that does not work, Reich wants the U.S. government to stop forging lucrative contracts with Musk and his various companies.
"Why is the U.S. government allowing Musk's satellites and rocket launchers to become crucial to the nation's security when he's shown utter disregard for the public interest?" Reich wants to know.
"Why give Musk more economic power when he repeatedly abuses it and demonstrates contempt for the public good?"
The right to free speech is one of the bedrocks of the American way of life, and Reich recognizes that. At the same time, he would like to see it take more of a back seat to the more pressing issues of the day that he feels require more speech restrictions in order to solve.
Reich wants there to be less of a focus on free speech and more emphasis on "how the times have changed." He would prefer that everyone agree with him that "moving towards how we recommend content and ... how we direct people's attention is leading to a healthy public conversation that is most participatory."
"Just further confirmation of my thesis (observation, actually) that within every Leftist is a totalitarian screaming to get out," one commenter wrote about Reich's words.
"Where there is no freedom of speech, there is no freedom," added another.
"Had this tiny terrorist been in Germany circa 1440, he'd have used those very words to justify smashing Gutenberg's printing press," wrote another.
What do you think about the direction X is taking under Elon Musk? Learn more about the fight for online free speech at FirstAmendment.news.
Sources for this article include:
JonathanTurley.org
NaturalNews.com
US 2024 may be our last
This years election is shaping up to be decided in court rather than the ballot box. Both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are preparing for what will become a very heated and nasty legal battle that is certain to tear the country further apart. The mainstream media will naturally betray the country and everything the American Constitution once stood for. They will support all the illegal aliens and Kamala no matter what. When Communism fell, they tore down statues of Lenin everywhere. He was the champion of the mainstream press, and ushering in equality and fairness was the dream. The problem is that it necessitates authoritarian control to make everyone equal materially rather than by human rights and freedom to be what you want to be.
(Article republished from ArmstrongEconomics.com)
The mainstream press has become the enemy of the people just as they did in Communist Russia. They seem to be married to their dogma, and we should not expect them to repent. Warner Brothers will lament the day they championed CNN. Those in the media will probably fear for their lives, just as the communist politicians. As the New York Times reported on the Russian press when Communism fell:
Can you believe that this has happened? asked Pravdas editor, Aleksandr A. Ilyin, who was preceded in his job by Stalin and Nikolai Bukharin, among others. If they no longer want us, we will have to find people who do.
Nobody ever sees a change of this nature coming. However, this change heading into 2032 will also destroy Western society insofar as it is the dominant financial capital. Our Neocons are destroying Western society all for their hatred of Russians and Chinese, which will result in the financial capital of the world that the United States took from London in 1918 because of World War I; we will lose 112 years later because of World War III and the press is cheering them on. (half the 224 years cycle of political change)
The Democrats have sent this out to their fold:
were strengthening our largest-ever voter protection program to protect against Trump and his allies attacks on our voting rights. Its why weve made a six-figure investment in the Democrats Abroad program to register and earn the votes of the nearly 9 million Americans living and serving overseas. And its why were expanding our successful virtual organizing efforts to engage and mobilize as many volunteers as we can, so you can get involved no matter where you are.
Georgia has adopted new rules for the states election board, allowing members to potentially delay certification of the election over inquiries into ballot discrepancies. In Arizona, Michigan, and Nevada, the GOP has been pushing for voter rolls to be purged of non-citizens. Republicans in Nevada filed a suit to prevent mail-in ballots from being counted if theyre received after Election Day, which seems reasonable. Still, the Democrats are fighting that as well.
In the swing states of Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, and Pennsylvania, we are looking at contested voting that may end up in the Supreme Court as the LEFT is so desperate to force their Marxist agenda upon all of the nation. The flooding of Europe and the United States with illegal aliens where the majority offer nothing to society raises the goal of a specter of Dictatorship to establish their control over the people, scheming to get them to vote Democrat. They intend to use aliens against the American people to usher in their Utopian Dream of Karl Marx.
This is no longer about equal justice for all. Class, philosophical, and religious discrimination was Karl Marxs goal, turning churches into museums. This has become the cornerstone of the Democratic Party, championing transgender rights over parents and forcing abortion rights on every part of the country, even where it offends their religion. The Supreme Court was correct in giving such issues back to the states. But no, the Bible Belt must surrender their religion to the new Democratic dogma there is no God.
Religious and cultural rights offend the Democratic view of forced equality, just as the Bolsheviks in Russia our way to death. California has adopted the same position as Joseph Stalin, that the state is the parent not the biological parents of children. At 17, you are a child incapable of deciding to have sex, but at 18 years old, you suddenly know what sex is to consent. However, at 12 years old, you can decide to change your sex. Nothing makes sense anymore. This is the Democratic way change the rules to win at all costs.
Religion is incompatible with Marxism.
This election will be so bitterly contested that it will probably end up in the courts. Then, if a Democrat or a Republican appointed the judge rules, the loser would argue that the decision was political. There is no escaping this crisis because the LEFT knows it has been losing, and instead of questioning its philosophies, it intends to win by any means possible.
At the Democratic Convention, Biden poured gasoline on the fire that if Trump wonsomehow, that is not Democratic. He said, This will be the first presidential election since January 6th. Biden told the crowd in his speech that on January 6th, we almost lost everything about who we are as a country. And that threatthis is not hyperbolethat threat is still very much alive.
This report is $10
All the evidence shows that January 6th was a Deep State coup to shut down the challenge to any states count. The Deep State, with their Neocons, had to get rid of Trump just like JFK because both were anti-war. Pelosi refused to call in the National Guard because they feared that they were Trump supporters. That is why there was a 3-hour delay in asking for the National Guard the Deep States (FBI/NSA/CIA) were in control. Pelosi used the event to impose emergency rules to block any challenge to the count involving seven states. The Constitution required any challenge to be debated on the full floor. Pelosi imposed a COVID rules restricting the number of people on the floor to just 53. They then imprison anyone who was there except FBI and their operatives while trying to use the 14th Amendment against Trump for what they very cleverly pulled off. Not a single mainstream media outlet would dare report the truth.
Never in my entire life have I witnessed such hatred and derogatory comments dividing the country. We are reaching that point where it will be impossible to mend. Our computer that has forecast the end of the United States does not seem so far-fetched anymore. It has become impossible for a nation to stand this divided.
Read more at: ArmstrongEconomics.com
STUDY: Voice analysis tech can accurately detect Type 2 diabetes through speech patterns
A groundbreaking new study from Canada suggests that doctors could diagnose diabetes by simply analyzing the voice of a patient from the initial conversation.
Voice analysis technology is emerging as a powerful tool in medical diagnostics, offering a non-invasive method to detect various health conditions. It uses artificial intelligence to detect subtle changes in speech that are imperceptible to human listeners. The software can analyze recordings from regular phone conversations focusing on aspects like melody, pauses, pitch and speech rhythm. By examining these elements, AI can identify specific vocal patterns associated with different health conditions.
The recent Canadian study uncovered a novel link between blood sugar levels and voice pitch, suggesting new ways to monitor health without invasive procedures. Published in Scientific Reports in 2024, the study found that as blood sugar level rises, so does the pitch of a person's voice. This pattern was observed not only in people with diabetes but also in those with normal blood glucose levels indicating a broader application for this discovery. The relationship was slightly less pronounced in individuals already diagnosed with diabetes.
The human voice has up to 200,000 unique characteristics and AI algorithms can filter through these to find patterns linked to specific diseases. For detecting Type 2 diabetes, the AI evaluated brief voice recordings only six to 10 seconds long by analyzing variations in loudness and pitch. When combined with basic health information, such as age, gender, height and weight, this method can accurately indicate the presence of Type 2 diabetes.
The results of this technology are impressive, with the AI achieving an accuracy rate of 90 percent for women and 86 percent for men. Researchers like Jaycee Kaufman from Ontario Tech University gathered over 18,000 voice samples from 267 participants both with or without diabetes to train the AI system. This research identified 14 specific acoustic features that vary between those with and without the condition, paving the way for more accessible diagnostic methods.
Kaufman noted that current detection methods can be costly and require significant time and travel. In contrast, voice analysis could eliminate these barriers making early diagnosis more accessible. Moving forward, Klick Labs plans to explore the potential of voice analysis to detect other conditions, such as hypertension and prediabetes expanding its use in preventive healthcare.
By studying speech patterns, researchers can identify early signs of diseases and conditions like heart problems, mental health disorders, neurodegenerative diseases and even post-traumatic stress disorder. This enables health care professionals to diagnose conditions sooner.
In earlier research by Klick Labs in Toronto, AI was used to analyze short voice recordings to detect Type 2 diabetes. A study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Digital Health demonstrated that just a few seconds of recorded speech could determine the likelihood of Type 2 diabetes with a high degree of accuracy.
This technology is particularly valuable in identifying undiagnosed diabetes, which affects an estimated 240 million people worldwide, according to the International Diabetes Federation. Most of these cases are Type 2 diabetes, a condition that increases the risk of severe health issues like heart attacks, poor circulation and strokes.
Traditional diabetes tests, such as fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin and oral glucose tolerance test, typically require visits to health care facilities and can be expensive and time-consuming.
In contrast, voice analysis offers a faster, more convenient screening method potentially increasing early detection rates and reducing health care burdens,
Risks associated with voice analysis technology
Voice analysis technology is being hailed as a fast and efficient way to detect various diseases using just a person's speech. However, there are significant concerns about its limitations and potential misuse.
While AI-based tools can provide detailed insights from voice patterns, relying solely on a few voice samples is not enough to make a reliable medical diagnosis. There is a considerable risk of false positives or overdiagnoses, where conditions might be flagged incorrectly. Ultimately, a human professional should always review the results and make the final judgment.
This is especially true for diagnosing mental health issues. For example, certain voice tones might suggest someone is experiencing depression, but a thorough evaluation by a trained professional is essential to confirm this.
AI might detect changes in speech patterns that suggest disorganization or impulsiveness potentially pointing to conditions, like attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, only a medical expert can accurately diagnose such conditions, ensuring that any findings are not misinterpreted.
There are also serious concerns about how voice analysis could be misused. Privacy advocates warn that this technology could be exploited by employers or insurance companies without proper consent. This could lead to individuals being unfairly treated based on sensitive health data gleaned from their voice. Additionally, there is a risk that protected and personal health information could be hacked, shared or sold without the person's knowledge. (Related: Health apps are BAD for your privacy: 80% or more share your data, research reveals.)
Given these risks, it is crucial to have clear guidelines and strict regulations to prevent misuse. While scientists can highlight these issues, setting boundaries and ensuring the ethical use of voice analysis technology is ultimately the responsibility of policymakers.
New AI tool uses voice to screen for Type 2 diabetes. Watch this video.
This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
Its not your imagination your phone really is spying on you: Hundreds of Android apps use the microphone to secretly monitor and record your TV habits.
AI chatbot admits artificial intelligence can cause the downfall of humanity.
iPhone, Android devices totally defeated by CIA zero day exploits massive collection of CIA spyware revealed in secret document dump.
Sources include:
StudyFinds.org
DW.com
Nature.com
MCPDigitalHealth.org
IDF.org
Brighteon.com
News / National
by Staff reporter
Five women appeared before the Karoi Magistrates' Court facing charges of attempted murder after allegedly assaulting a man during a bar brawl.The accused, Shelta Svori (21), Charity Daison (26), Susan Maloyo (21), Natasha Mukota (24), and Monalisa Yona (25), are accused of attacking Tichawirirana Manyoni with sticks following a dispute at a local bar. The State alleges that Manyoni sustained head injuries and collapsed during the assault. He was taken to the hospital, treated, and later discharged.The women have been remanded in custody until September 10, 2024.In response to the incident, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe urged the public to avoid resolving conflicts through violence, encouraging peaceful resolution or third-party mediation instead.
Zelensky: Ukraine plans to hold Kursk region INDEFINITELY
Ukraine is planning to hold Russia's western Kursk region, which it seized from Moscow's control in August, for an indefinite period
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed this during a Sept. 3 interview with NBC News. According to the comedian-turned-chief executive, Kyiv will hold the territory as it is integral to his "victory plan" to end the Russia-Ukraine war that began in February 2022. Zelensky said he plans to present this proposal to the U.S. and other international partners.
"For now, we need it," he said of the Kursk region. "[Ultimately], we don't need their land. We don't want to bring our Ukrainian way of life there."
Zelensky noted during the interview his first one-on-one since the Aug. 6 incursion into Kursk that the operation was a "preemptive strike" to stop the Russians from creating a buffer zone along the Ukrainian border.
"Kyiv now claims it controls nearly 500 square miles of Russian territory and has taken hundreds of Russian prisoners of war," NBC News wrote. "With Kyiv intensifying its attacks on border regions, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has vowed to take Ukrainian border territory to stop the assaults."
When asked whether Kyiv planned to try seizing more Russian territory beyond Kursk, Zelensky declined to expound. "I will not tell, I'm sorry. With all (due) respect, I can't speak about it," the Ukrainian leader said. "I think the success is very close to surprise."
While talk of peace negotiations has become louder, Kyiv has insisted that it would only sit down with Moscow from a position of power with its control of Kursk giving it the edge. A second peace summit is scheduled for November and, according to Zelensky, Russia ought to attend.
"We understand that without the Russian side, ending this war diplomatically is very difficult," he remarked. But given the Aug. 6 incursion of the Kursk region, Russian officials have remarked that peace negotiations were impossible.
Zelensky claims U.S. had no idea about the Kursk incursion
During his interview with NBC News, Zelensky also pointed out that the Biden administration had no idea about the Aug. 6 incursion. Even the U.S. government has repeatedly stressed that it was not in on Kyiv's plans for the Russian territory.
According to the Ukrainian president, it was a closely guarded secret that even Ukrainian intelligence services did not know about. "Yes, we did not inform anyone and it's not the question of lack of trust," he said.
Zelensky explained that Kyiv's counteroffensive last summer failed in many ways because of how much it was talked about in the media. This publicity, he continued, gave the Russians a chance to prepare.
"I shrunk to the maximum the circle of people who knew about this operation. I think it was one of the reasons why it was successful"
Retired Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski, a former analyst for the U.S. Department of Defense, said Washington was definitely aware of the plan for Kursk despite its denials. She voiced out her skepticism during an interview with Sputnik News. (Related: Analyst: Ukraine's attack on Kursk IMPOSSIBLE without U.S. support.)
"All Ukrainian military activities especially long-planned ones utilize U.S. surveillance, intelligence and reconnaissance assistance. The Kursk invasion qualifies here. The weapons systems themselves included U.S. and NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] systems, and some of those are operated by U.S. and NATO personnel," she told the outlet.
"I don't believe Western government officials were surprised. While bold, it was destined to be repelled. And it risked and made vulnerable the rest of the [Ukrainian] military and the remainder of Ukraine."
Head over to UkraineWitness.com for similar stories.
Watch this news report about Russia's claim that Ukraine is planning a "provocation" at Kursk Nuclear Power Plant.
This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
Ukraine fails to force ultimatum on Russia following August 11 attack on Kursk nuclear plant: "Most of the equipment has already been destroyed."
Russian official warns U.S. will face WORSE CONSEQUENCES for backing Ukraine's strikes on Kursk.
Ukraine wants to start talks using Kursk nuclear plant seizure as ultimatum Akhmat head.
Zelensky now willing to negotiate peace deal to end conflict with Russia.
Zelensky: Russia SHOULD ATTEND the next Ukraine peace summit.
Sources include:
NBCNews.com
SputnikGlobe.com
Brighteon.com
Namibia, known for its vast wildlife reserves and rich biodiversity, has faced one of its worst droughts in decades. In response, the government has initiated a controversial wildlife cull, allowing hunting over 850 animals, including elephants, zebras, buffaloes, and antelopes.
This 'cruel' measure addresses the extreme drought conditions that have left animals and humans in rural areas struggling for survival.
The Namibian government has emphasized that the cull aims to provide meat for its rural population, where food and water shortages are acute due to the severe drought conditions.
Namibia's Extreme Drought
The drought has gripped Namibia and parts of southern Africa, causing water and food shortages for wildlife and local communities. The Namibian Ministry of Environment has justified the mass cull by stating that it will prevent animals from dying of thirst and reduce the risk of human-wildlife conflict, as animals are increasingly encroaching on settlements in search of water.
By culling the animals, the government believes they are alleviating pressure on dwindling resources, and the meat from these animals is being distributed to rural communities in dire need. Over 150 animals have been culled, resulting in about 57 tons of meat distributed across affected regions.
Read Also: 20,000 Botswana Elephants Threatened to Be Sent to Germany Over 'Hunting Trophy' Bans
Backlash from Environmentalists
However, animal rights organizations and environmentalists are outraged by the decision. Groups like the Elephant-Human Relations Aid (EHRA) and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) argue that this is the largest mass cull in Namibia's history, criticizing the lack of proper environmental assessment of its long-term impact on wildlife tourism and ecosystems.
EHRA has accused the government of allowing trophy hunters to profit from the situation, raising concerns that some animals are being killed not solely for survival but for sport.
These groups have called for alternative solutions, such as improved water management or enhanced coexistence strategies between humans and wildlife. They also believe that the cull is politically motivated during an election year when Namibia's ruling party is under pressure to maintain its rural voter base.
As Namibia battles this severe drought, the debate over the ethical and environmental impact of the cull continues, highlighting the broader challenge of balancing human needs and wildlife conservation in the face of extreme climate events.
Related Article: Pigeon Culling Underway in German Town as Locals Vote for Eradication of the 'Sky Rats'
IBMs managed security services teams and its security operations center (SOC) consulting groups can use Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSIAM suite to help customers build next-generation SOC solutions, reduce security risks, improve visibility, and achieve faster response times, IBM stated.
IBM also said it intends to expand its use of Palo Altos AI-powered security platforms internally, adopting Cortex for next-gen security operations and Prisma SASE 3.0 for zero-trust network security to safeguard more than 250,000 of its global workforce. In addition, IBM plans to build industry-vertical capabilities on top of Cortex XSIAM using its watsonx technology.
IBM and Palo Alto Networks have already moved swiftly to expand their partnership, commencing work to train over 1,000 IBM consultants on Palo Alto Networks security solutions and delivering joint offerings to help organizations build cyber resiliency into every part of the business, IBM stated.
Additionally, the partnership combines Palo Alto Networks Prisma Cloud platform with IBM Consultings global system integration and managed security services to provide customized solutions across the DevSecOps lifecycle, improving cyber resiliency across cloud and enterprise applications, IBM stated.
When the sale of QRadar was first announced in May, Steven Dickens, chief technology advisor at Futurum Group, wrote that the move represented consolidation in a vast market of security players.
Specifically, it marks the exit of a major security information and event management (SIEM) software provider from the security operations space (at least at the product level) and is a nod to the newer XDR offerings that are gaining ground at the expense of SIEM tools, Dickens stated.
Opinion / Columnist
In recent years, Zimbabwe has seen significant political and administrative shifts, one of which is the introduction of devolution. Devolution refers to the decentralization of power from a central government to regional and local authorities. For Matabeleland, a region with a distinct cultural and historical identity, devolution presents a multitude of benefits that promise to enhance local governance, economic development, and social cohesion.Enhanced local governance and representationOne of the foremost advantages of devolution is the improvement in local governance. In Matabeleland, devolution allows for greater autonomy and decision-making power at the regional and local levels. This means that local authorities can tailor policies and programs to better address the unique needs and priorities of their communities. By having more control over local affairs, Matabeleland's leadership can ensure that resources are allocated more effectively and that local issues receive the attention they deserve.Economic development and resource managementDevolution empowers local governments to manage and utilize regional resources more efficiently. In Matabeleland, this can lead to a more targeted approach to economic development. Local authorities can identify and develop key economic sectors, such as agriculture, tourism, and mining, that are specific to the region's strengths and needs. By fostering a favorable environment for investment and business growth, devolution can stimulate economic activity, create jobs, and improve livelihoods in Matabeleland.Improved infrastructure and service deliveryWith increased autonomy, local governments in Matabeleland can focus on improving infrastructure and service delivery. Devolution allows for more responsive and effective management of essential services such as healthcare, education, and transportation. For instance, local authorities can prioritize the construction and maintenance of roads, schools, and health facilities based on community needs and feedback. This localized approach ensures that infrastructure projects are more closely aligned with the needs of residents.Strengthened cultural identity and social cohesionMatabeleland has a rich cultural heritage that is distinct from other regions of Zimbabwe. Devolution provides an opportunity to celebrate and preserve this cultural identity. Local governments can promote cultural programs, heritage sites, and traditional practices that are important to the people of Matabeleland. By supporting cultural initiatives and fostering a sense of local pride, devolution can contribute to social cohesion and unity within the region.Increased accountability and transparencyDevolution enhances accountability by bringing governance closer to the people. Local authorities are more accessible to residents and are directly answerable for their actions and decisions. This proximity fosters greater transparency and encourages active citizen participation in governance processes. In Matabeleland, this means that residents have more opportunities to engage with their leaders, voice their concerns, and contribute to the decision-making process.Resilience and local solutionsDevolution can also enhance resilience by enabling local governments to respond more effectively to crises and challenges. In times of disaster or economic downturn, Matabeleland's local authorities are better positioned to implement immediate solutions and support their communities. The ability to develop localized responses ensures that interventions are more relevant and impactful.ConclusionDevolution offers a range of benefits for Matabeleland, from improved local governance and economic development to enhanced cultural preservation and community engagement. By empowering regional and local authorities, devolution can drive positive change and create a more dynamic and responsive governance structure. As Matabeleland embraces this shift, the region stands to gain significantly in terms of development, representation, and overall well-being.
Clearly, the technical pace is quickening. But why has it taken so long to address BGPs failings, and will the latest initiative do the trick?
Back of a napkin
In 1989 the same year British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee wrote himself into posterity by inventing HTML, hyperlinking and the web two IBM engineers devised BGP in their lunch break on the back of napkins (hence its later two napkin protocol nickname).
Unfortunately, nobody back then thought that security was a big deal, which explains why engineers have been trying to retrofit it onto the web and BGP ever since.
In that time, BGP security has gone from oversight to one of the biggest problems that barely anyone who uses the Internet knows exists.
BGP is the protocol without which the Internet would not be possible. It allows packets to find a path through a large mesh of other interconnected networks and reach the correct destination.
Doing this is complex and requires both multi-path routing (i.e. different ways to reach a destination to account for problems such as congestion) and the use of algorithms that let routers choose the best path at a given moment in time.
Super Typhoon Yagi is making landfall on Chinas Hainan island, bringing heavy rain and powerful winds to much of the southern Chinese coastline as well as Hong Kong and Macau.
Chinese state media said 400,000 had been evacuated in Hainan as schools were closed for a second day and flights were cancelled across the region.
The storms windspeeds reached 245kmph this morning, making Yagi the second-most powerful tropical cyclone anywhere in the world for 2024.
The eye of storm reached the northern tip of Hainan island on Friday afternoon, weather maps showed. It is expected to impact a large swathe of China before moving off towards Vietnam and Laos over the weekend.
Hainan had relocated 419,367 residents, transport links and businesses have been shut across the region, including the Hong Kong-Macau-Zhuhai bridge, the worlds longest sea crossing. The storm also closed the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Four airports in northern Vietnam, including Hanois Noi Bai International Airport, have been shut.
Yagi doubled in strength after striking northern Philippines where it killed 16 people.
Scientists warn that typhoons are becoming stronger due to warmer oceans, fueled by climate crisis.
Key Points
Yagi makes landfall on Chinas Hainan
Yagi to make second landfall in Guangdong
China evacuates over 400,000 people ahead of Typhoon Yagi landfall
Mapped: Super Typhoon Yagi path and arrival time
Vietnam cancels hundreds of flights and shuts down airports ahead of Typhoon Yagi arrival
Why super typhoons like Yagi are becoming more common
This blog has been paused
Friday 6 September 2024 18:09 , Tom Watling
We are pausing our blog for now.
Please check in later for more coverage.
Photos: Rescue operations in Philippines following landslide triggered by Storm Yagi
Thursday 5 September 2024 06:30 , Stuti Mishra
Search and rescue operations continue in Antipolo, Rizal, at the site where people may be buried following a landslide triggered by Tropical Storm Yagi (Anadolu via Getty Images)
Search and rescue operations continue in Antipolo, Rizal, at the site where people may be buried following a landslide triggered by Tropical Storm Yagi (Anadolu via Getty Images)
Search and rescue operations continue in Antipolo, Rizal, at the site where people may be buried following a landslide triggered by Tropical Storm Yagi (Anadolu via Getty Images)
Super Typhoon Yagi is strongest tropical cyclone of 2024 so far
Thursday 5 September 2024 06:58 , Stuti Mishra
Super Typhoon Yagi, also known as Enteng in the Philippines, is the strongest tropical cyclone of 2024 worldwide, Matthew Cuyugan, a disaster management office in the Philippines, wrote on X.
It achieved this status with a minimum central pressure of 915 millibars and winds likely exceeding 160 mph, making it a Category 5 equivalent typhoon by various classifications, including the Japan Meteorological Agencys (JMA) highest storm classification as a violent typhoon.
BREAKING: #Yagi (formerly #EntengPH) becomes the strongest tropical cyclone WORLDWIDE this 2024.
It is now a VIOLENT typhoon by Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) - the highest storm classification by the RSMC Tokyo in the Western Pacific (WPAC) basin, and becoming the first pic.twitter.com/MV16vU6k0p Matthew Cuyugan (@mscuyugan) September 5, 2024
How Hong Kong's typhoon alert system works
Thursday 5 September 2024 07:10 , Stuti Mishra
As Super Typhoon Yagi approaches Hong Kong, the city is set to raise the No 8 typhoon signal, prompting widespread closures and disruptions.
The Hong Kong Observatory uses a numbered typhoon warning system to alert residents to the severity of approaching storms and guide them in taking appropriate action. Heres how the system works:
No 1 Signal: The first level, No 1, is issued when a tropical cyclone is within 800 kilometres of Hong Kong. At this stage, the storm does not pose an immediate threat, but the signal serves as an early alert for the public to stay informed and monitor updates on the storms development.
No 3 Signal: As the storm draws closer and winds intensify to between 41 and 62 kmph, the No 3 signal is raised. This warning typically results in the closure of kindergartens and special schools, as seen earlier when Typhoon Yagi approached. Residents in exposed or vulnerable areas are advised to secure loose objects and take precautions against potential wind damage.
No 8 Signal: When winds reach 63 to 117 kmph, the No 8 signal is issued, as will be the case with Super Typhoon Yagi at 6.20pm local time (10.20am GMT) on Thursday. This is a critical alert, leading to the closure of businesses and a halt to most public transport services. Residents are urged to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.
No 9 and No 10 Signals: For the most severe conditions, No 9 and No 10 signals are issued, indicating winds above 118 kmph. These warnings signal extreme danger, advising residents to stay away from windows, avoid coastal areas, and remain indoors until the storm passes.
As Yagi is expected to pass 300 kilometres southwest of Hong Kong, the observatory has warned of deteriorating weather and stronger winds, with further alerts possible if the storm intensifies. Residents were asked to prepare for the impact expected from Thursday night through Friday morning.
Which countries will be affected by Super Typhoon Yagi?
Thursday 5 September 2024 07:30 , Stuti Mishra
Super Typhoon Yagi is expected to bring heavy wind gusts and rainfall to several countries in Southeast Asia. Starting with Chinas southeastern coast, particularly Guangdong and Hainan Island, Yagi will also affect northern Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand as it moves westward.
In China, Yagis landfall on Hainan will bring dangerous winds and torrential rain, with the strongest impact from Friday through Sunday. Major cities like Hong Kong, Macau, and Guangzhou are bracing for possible flooding and disruptions.
As the storm moves inland, northern Vietnam will experience heavy rains and strong winds, with the risk of flooding and landslides in mountainous areas.
Northern Laos and Thailand are also expected to face similar conditions, with intense rainfall potentially causing flash floods and landslides. Although the storm will weaken by the time it reaches these areas.
Photos: Residents in Philippines clean flooded homes after Tropical Storm Yagi
Thursday 5 September 2024 08:10 , Stuti Mishra
Residents sweep mud off the street, in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Yagi, locally known as Enteng, in Pilila, Rizal province, Philippines (REUTERS)
Jefernell Cervantes, 28, takes a break from cleaning the mud off their home after it was flooded due to Tropical Storm Yagi, locally known as Enteng, in Pilila, Rizal province, Philippines (REUTERS)
Workers collect garbage after floods caused by Tropical Storm Yagi, locally called Enteng, subside in Antipolo city, Rizal province, Philippines (AP)
Rainfall from Typhoon Yagi could exceed 30 inches as storm strengthens, forecaster warns
Thursday 5 September 2024 08:43 , Stuti Mishra
Typhoon Yagi, known as Enteng in the Philippines, is expected to intensify further as it tracks westward across the northern South China Sea in the coming days, according to warnings from AccuWeather meteorologists.
The storm, which is already generating substantial rainfall, is forecasted to bring between 16 and 30 inches (400 to 760 mm) of rain to regions including southern China, Hainan Island, northern Vietnam, northern Laos, and northern Thailand from Friday through Sunday. Such heavy rainfall could lead to severe flooding, mudslides, and significant transportation disruptions.
Wind speeds associated with Yagi are also projected to be extreme. Gusts could reach up to 160 mph (260 kmph), with AccuWeather forecast showing it potentially peaking at 180 mph (290 kmph). These powerful winds pose risks of substantial structural damage, widespread power outages, and major logistical delays. The most intense winds are expected near the storm's landfall, potentially impacting the Leizhou Peninsula or Hainan Island.
Photo: Funerals held for victims of landslide triggered by Storm Yagi
Thursday 5 September 2024 09:00 , Stuti Mishra
A funeral wake of Arlene Patangan Calano, 44 years old died due to the onslaught of Tropical Storm Yagi are seen with their family in Antipolo, Rizal. Arlene died by saving her siblings and grandchild against the flash flood. (Anadolu via Getty Images)
Dozens of flights cancelled in Hong Kong amid Super Typhoon Yagi
Thursday 5 September 2024 09:30 , Stuti Mishra
Thirty-eight flights were cancelled in Hong Kong today as the city prepared for Super Typhoon Yagi. The Airport Authority announced that transport arrangements will be made for affected passengers.
Chapman Fong Shui-man, deputy director for airport operations, said that all cancelled flights will be rescheduled on Friday, according to SCMP.
The most impacted airlines were Cathay Pacific Airways, budget carrier HK Express, Greater Bay Airlines, and Hong Kong Airlines.
Some bus services to the airport will also be suspended, with MTR trains adjusting services to fill the gaps left by the buses, Mr Fong said.
Hong Kong is set to issue its third-highest typhoon signal, No 8, at 6.40pm local time, which will shut many businesses and reduce transport in the region.
The city's weather observatory warns of intense rain bands affecting the territory, with heavy showers expected to continue today and tomorrow.
Macau under alert ahead of Super Typhoon Yagi
Thursday 5 September 2024 09:55 , Stuti Mishra
Macau has raised its alert level as Super Typhoon Yagi, currently in the northern South China Sea, moves west-northwest toward the region between Guangdong and Hainan Island.
Yagi is expected to pass within 300 kilometres south of Macau tomorrow bringing strengthening winds and frequent thunderstorms.
Due to the storm's extensive circulation, the Tropical Cyclone Signal No 8 may be issued on tonight, a government statement said.
Hong Kong is also expected to raise No 8 alert this evening.
In addition to the typhoon warning, low-lying areas in Macau's inner harbour could experience minor flooding of up to 0.5 meters, it said, raising the possibility of a Blue or Yellow Storm Surge Warning, depending on Yagi's exact path and intensity.
Photos: Waves thrash Chinese shore and dark clouds cover the sky ahead of Typhoon Yagi
Thursday 5 September 2024 10:15 , Stuti Mishra
A ship passes by as storm clouds gather over Victoria harbour in Hong Kong on September 5, 2024, as super typhoon Yagi tracked across the South China Sea towards the southern China coast (AFP via Getty Images)
Tourists take photos on the promenade at Victoria harbour in Hong Kong on Thursday as super typhoon Yagi tracked across the South China Sea towards the southern China coast (AFP via Getty Images)
A man looks up on a promenade at Victoria harbour in Hong Kong on Thursday as super typhoon Yagi tracked across the South China Sea towards the southern China coast (AFP via Getty Images)
Urgent action ordered as Vietnam prepares for Super Typhoon Yagi
Thursday 5 September 2024 10:30 , Stuti Mishra
Vietnam's prime minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued a call for urgent action as Super Typhoon Yagi approaches, with the storm expected to impact northern the and central regions of the country.
The typhoon, which intensified on Thursday while churning towards China's Hainan province, is expected to bring dangerous winds and heavy rains to coastal and inland areas of Laos, Vietnam and Thailand over the next few days.
A directive was sent by the Vietnamese PM to leaders of provinces and cities, including major regions such as Hanoi, Haiphong, and Quang Ninh, urging them to prioritise storm preparedness and public safety, according to Vietnam Plus.
The storm is forecast to impact the Gulf of Tonkin in Vietnam on Friday as it makes landfall in China, bringing strong winds, heavy rainfall, and the risk of floods and landslides.
Local authorities are instructed to postpone non-essential meetings, focus on securing vulnerable communities, and protect critical infrastructure like dykes, dams, and transportation networks, the news outlet reported.
Coastal areas and offshore vessels are also being secured, and all efforts are being made to prevent urban flooding and damage to agricultural production.
Deputy prime minister Tran Hong Ha has been tasked with overseeing response efforts, ensuring swift action to minimise the storm's impact on lives and property.
Photos: People wade through knee-deep water in Philippines after flooding from Typhoon Yagi
Thursday 5 September 2024 10:50 , Stuti Mishra
Roshien Bantog, 33, cooks a stew in the flood, during Tropical Storm Yagi, locally known as Enteng in Apalit, Pampanga, Philippines (REUTERS)
A resident cycles through a flooded street following heavy rains brought about by Tropical Storm Yagi at a village in Cainta town, Rizal province, East of Manila (AFP via Getty Images)
Residents push their motorcycle through a flooded street following heavy rains brought about by Tropical Storm Yagi at a village in Cainta town, Rizal province, East of Manila (AFP via Getty Images)
Hong Kong schools to stay closed on Friday as Super Typhoon Yagi approaches
Thursday 5 September 2024 11:10 , Stuti Mishra
Hong Kong will halt all school classes tomorrow as Super Typhoon Yagi approaches, bringing heavy rain and strong winds.
The suspension affects all day schools, including kindergartens, primary, secondary, and special schools, the Education Bureau announced on Thursday.
The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) will issue its No 8 typhoon signal the third level in a five-tiered system at 6pm (local time) on Thursday, and it is set to remain in effect until at least noon on Friday.
Thursday evening classes have also been cancelled as a precaution.
Super Typhoon Yagi is expected to pass 300km southwest of Hong Kong on Friday morning. The current No 3 warning has been in place since yesterday night.
Dozens of flights have also been cancelled.
Mapped: Super Typhoon Yagi path and forecast
Thursday 5 September 2024 11:30 , Stuti Mishra
Storm Yagi has intensified into a super typhoon as it churns towards China, making it possibly the strongest storm to hit the country in nearly a decade.
Packing maximum sustained winds of 209kmph (130mph) near its eye, Yagi registers as the world's second-most powerful tropical cyclone in 2024 so far, after the Category 5 Atlantic Hurricane Beryl.
Its epicentre was located around 400km southeast of Zhanjiang City in Guangdong province on Thursday evening, moving westward at 10-15kmph.
The storm will have the biggest impact on Guangdong and Hainan, with landfall expected between Qionghai and Dianbai on Friday but Vietnam, Laos and Thailand can also expect heavy rainfall.
Major cities like Hong Kong, Macau, and Guangzhou are bracing for possible flooding and disruptions.
Here's the path for Super Typhoon Yagi and forecast for next few days.
Mapped: Yagi becomes a super typhoon as it heads for Chinese coast
Super Typhoon Yagi rainfall forecast: Up to 30 inches of rain expected
Thursday 5 September 2024 11:50 , Stuti Mishra
The latest rainfall forecast from AccuWeather shows Yagi is expected to bring up to 16 inches (400 mm) of rain, with some areas possibly receiving as much as 30 inches (760 mm), across southern China, Hainan Island, northern Vietnam, northern Laos, and northern Thailand between Friday and Sunday.
Map shows rainfall forecast from AccuWeather across southern China, Hainan Island, northern Vietnam, northern Laos, and northern Thailand between Friday and Sunday (AccuWeather)
Super Typhoon Yagi to lash east and west coasts of Thailand
Thursday 5 September 2024 12:10 , Stuti Mishra
Thailand's Meteorological Department has warned of heavy rain and windstorms this weekend as Super Typhoon Yagi approaches.
The storm, moving slowly westward from the South China Sea, is expected to pass over Hainan Island in China and reach northern Vietnam by Friday or Saturday, bringing significant weather impacts.
Thanasit Iam-ananchai, acting director-general of the Meteorological Department, said northern and northeastern Thailand will see heavy downpours and strong winds on Saturday and Sunday as a result of Yagis outer bands.
Coastal areas along the Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf of Thailand will also experience monsoon-driven rains on Thursday and Friday, with warnings of potential flash floods and runoffs.
Small boats are advised to remain ashore along both coasts until Sunday due to rough seas.
While Yagis main impact is centred on southern China, it is also expected to affect Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand, bringing significant rainfall to the region over the weekend.
Hong Kong Stock Exchange to close on Friday amid Typhoon Yagi disruptions
Thursday 5 September 2024 12:30 , Stuti Mishra
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) will be closed on Friday morning due to Typhoon Yagi and could remain shuttered for the whole day.
The storm has prompted a No 8 alert from the Hong Kong Observatory, the third level in a five-tier warning system.Issued at 6.20pm local time, this alert indicates gale or storm-force winds near sea level and is expected to remain in effect at least until noon on Friday.
Under the current rules of the HKEX, a Typhoon Signal No 8 leads to the cancellation of the morning trading session.The status of the afternoon session will depend on whether the alert is lowered by noon.
If the signal is still in place, trading for the day will be entirely suspended.In addition to financial market impacts, Typhoon Yagi has also led to dozens of flight cancellations in Hong Kong and Hainan.
In photos: Rescue operations in Philippines after landslides
Thursday 5 September 2024 12:50 , Stuti Mishra
Rescuers carry the body of a resident who was found dead following a flooding that crushed a house, after Typhoon Yagi (Enteng) bringing heavy rains and strong winds hit the country, in the mountainous area of Antipolo, Rizal, The Philippines, on Tuesday (Anadolu via Getty Images)
Shoes are seen near a site that has seen three people missing following a flood, as Typhoon Yagi (Enteng) bringing heavy rains and strong winds hit the country, in the mountainous area of Antipolo, Rizal, The Philippines (Anadolu via Getty Images)
How typhoons like Yagi are getting stronger and more dangerous
Thursday 5 September 2024 13:10 , Stuti Mishra
Typhoons have been growing more intense in recent years, a phenomenon closely linked to the effects of the climate crisis.
Warmer ocean temperatures are providing the fuel that intensifies these storms, increasing their wind speeds and the amount of rain they produce.
Scientists warn that as the planet continues to warm, typhoons and hurricanes will become more frequent and destructive.In 2024 alone, weve seen several powerful storms, including Super Typhoon Yagi, which devastated the Philippines and is now heading towards China, and Hurricane Beryl that tore through the Caribbean, Mexico and the US.
Yagis winds have exceeded 200kmph, placing it among the strongest storms on record. Similarly, Typhoon Shanshan, which hit Japan last week, was the countrys most powerful storm in decades.
These supercharged storms pose significant threats to coastal regions, as they bring not only strong winds but also the risk of extreme flooding and landslides.
Rising sea levels exacerbate this risk, making coastal areas even more vulnerable to storm surges.
Read how tropical storms are intensifying:
Climate crisis driving increasingly damaging hurricanes on US East Coast
Video: Flooded streets in Philippines after Typhoon Yagi
Thursday 5 September 2024 13:30 , Stuti Mishra
What does 'Yagi' mean?
Thursday 5 September 2024 14:00 , Stuti Mishra
Yagi is the Japanese word for goat and for the constellation of Capricornus, a mythical creature that is half goat, half fish.
Tropical storms in the Western Pacific are named by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC) Tokyo. They use a pre-determined list of names contributed by countries in the region, such as Japan, China, and the Philippines. Each list cycles every four years.
Fishing trips, rail services and flights cancelled
Thursday 5 September 2024 14:20 , Jane Dalton
Chinas official news agency, Xinhua, said tens of thousands of fishing boats returned to ports in Hainan and elsewhere to seek shelter, along with nearly 70,000 fishermen.
State broadcaster CCTV said some railway services were suspended, starting Thursday evening.
Hainan Meteorological Service forecast that the typhoon would make landfall tomorrow along the region from Qionghai in Hainan to Dianbai in neighboring Guangdong province.
Meteorological authorities said it could be the strongest typhoon to hit Hainan in the past 10 years, Xinhua reported. The tropical island is a popular tourist destination known for its holiday resorts and duty-free shopping allowance.
In Guangdong, all coastal tourist attractions and beaches were ordered to close from Wednesday evening, with dozens of flights cancelled at the airport in Zhuhai city, state media China Daily reported.
Check emergency kits, embassy in Vietnam suggests
Thursday 5 September 2024 14:50 , Jane Dalton
The US embassy in Vietnam has advised people to check emergency kits to ensure they have medicines and other supplies in case they have to flee their homes in an emergency.
It also advises residents to reinforce roofs and secure loose objects.
An urgent directive issued by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, states that Yagi is highly likely to affect the sea and mainland of the northern and north-central regions. Coastal provinces from Thanh Hoa to Quang Ninh are advised to prepare for the storm, it says.
(US embassy in Vietnam)
Vietnam predicted to be hit on Saturday
Thursday 5 September 2024 15:15 , Jane Dalton
After causing havoc on Chinas Leizhou Peninsula, Typhoon Yagi is forecast to hit northern Vietnam on Saturday, according to hurricane tracker Zoom Earth.
After pummeling Chinas Leizhou Peninsula, Typhoon #Yagi is forecast to pass straight into the Gulf of Tonkin and strike northern Vietnam on Saturday pic.twitter.com/LnzMa7diQF Zoom Earth (@zoom_earth) September 5, 2024
Yagi may be strongest in nearly a decade
Thursday 5 September 2024 15:45 , Jane Dalton
Super-Typhoon Yagi could turn out to be the strongest storm to hit the country in nearly a decade. Heres how it developed:
Mapped: Yagi becomes a super typhoon as it heads for Chinese coast
Storm chasers ignore warnings
Thursday 5 September 2024 16:15 , Jane Dalton
Storm chasers have ignored warnings to stay safe and have been seen travelling to areas to view the typhoon, according to the South China Morning Post.
Some were seen at spots such as Heng Fa Chuen and the East Coast Park Precinct, it reported.
In may the government pledged to step up enforcement and prosecution against such dangerous behaviour, which could put rescuers in danger.
People who enter public beaches or country parks that are closed during a typhoon face a HK$2,000 fine or 14 days in jail.
Yagi second only to devastating Beryl
Thursday 5 September 2024 16:45 , Jane Dalton
Yagi registers as the worlds second-most powerful tropical cyclone in 2024 so far, after the Category 5 Atlantic hurricane Beryl.
In early July, Beryl tore through the southeastern Caribbean, killing seven people and leaving two islands of Grenada in almost complete destruction.
Seven people killed and islands flattened as hurricane Beryl devastates Carribean
Selfie time in Hong Kong
Thursday 5 September 2024 17:15 , Jane Dalton
(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)
Typhoon strongest yet in South China Sea area
Thursday 5 September 2024 17:45 , Jane Dalton
Yagi is the strongest typhoon on record in that part of the South China Sea, one meteorologist says.
The eye of Typhoon Yagi is now within radar range of the southern coast of China
With 10-minute sustained wind speeds of 195 km/hr, Yagi is the strongest typhoon on record in this part of the South China Sea.#11 | #Yagi | # pic.twitter.com/wnFiCthUjC James Cosgrove (@MrJamesCosgrove) September 5, 2024
Philippines clearing up
Thursday 5 September 2024 18:15 , Jane Dalton
Householders in the Philippines are still clearing up after the super-typhoon struck on Wednesday, killing 14 people.
Jasper Miranda, 26, wades through floodwaters with his pet ducks (REUTERS)
Storm Yagi heads for Chinese coast after leaving 14 dead in the Philippines
Surfers flout beach closure order
Thursday 5 September 2024 18:45 , Jane Dalton
Police in Hong Kong searched a popular beach for a group of surfers who flouted a closure order, just an hour before the city issued a severe No 8 warning over Super-Typhoon Yagi on Thursday, the South China Morning Post reported.
Typhoon equivalent to category 4 hurricane
Thursday 5 September 2024 19:15 , Jane Dalton
The typhoon has wind speeds equivalent to a category 4 hurricane, according to the US Navys Joint Typhoon Warning Center, with maximum sustained winds of about 150 mph.
The storm is forecast to hit Guangdong and Hainan provinces after moving west over the South China Sea on Friday evening.
A window is taped in anticipation of typhoon Yagi at a clothing store in Hong Kong (REUTERS)
Yagi intensifies slightly
Thursday 5 September 2024 20:00 , Jane Dalton
Gale-force winds are hitting Hong Kong and the Pearl River Estuary, with occasional storm winds offshore and on high ground, the Hong Kong Observatory said.
Yagi, which is skirting the southwest of the territory, has intensified slightly.
Intense rainbands associated with Yagi will continue to bring heavy squally showers, the observatory said, adding: Members of the public should remain on the alert.
Typhoons fuelled by climate crisis
Thursday 5 September 2024 21:00 , Jane Dalton
Yagi strengthened into a super-typhoon on Wednesday night as it barreled towards China.
Typhoons are becoming stronger, fuelled by warmer oceans, amid climate change, scientists say. Read more here about typhoons around the world since 2017.
Airport footage shows gale-force winds
Thursday 5 September 2024 22:00 , Jane Dalton
Footage from Hong Kong International Airport illustrates how strong the winds already are in the region.
#HCHInternacionales | En imagenes desde la zona de la plataforma del Aeropuerto Internacional de Hong Kong mientras avanza el super tifon Yagi, que podria convertirse en el ciclon tropical mas poderoso de 2024.
Un total de 38 vuelos fueron cancelados en el Aeropuerto pic.twitter.com/7zsFrArzak HCH Television Digital (@HCHTelevDigital) September 5, 2024
Three people injured in high winds and rain
Thursday 5 September 2024 23:00 , Jane Dalton
Two men and a woman in Hong Kong were injured during the storm and needed hospital treatment, the South China Morning Post reports.
And 32 reports of fallen trees have been received, it said.
A second amber warning of heavy rain was issued.
Six people killed by Japan storm last week
Friday 6 September 2024 00:01 , Jane Dalton
Its only a week since Typhoon Shanshan lashed Japan, killing six people and injuring at least 130.
It also caused flight cancellations, train suspensions and factory shutdowns:
Typhoon Shanshan wreaks havoc across Japan despite weakening to tropical storm
Residents of Haikou city in great danger'
Friday 6 September 2024 01:20 , Jane Dalton
Residents of the city of Haikou on the island of Hainan are in the direct line of super-typhoon Yagi, its claimed.
This is a very dangerous situation for the city of Haikou, #Hainan, a city that has 2 million people who are in great danger as it looks like Typhoon #Yagi is making a direct aim on it, said @StormHQwx, a social media account that gives storm forecasts and analysis.
This is a very dangerous situation for the city of Haikou, #Hainan, a city that has 2 million people who are in great danger as it looks like Typhoon #Yagi is making a direct aim on it.
With the recent trends of the storm with it at least maintaining strength/strengthening a pic.twitter.com/ftAqvONtxD StormHQ (@StormHQwx) September 5, 2024
How storm threatening Hainan and Vietnam
Friday 6 September 2024 02:45 , Jane Dalton
A map from Accuweather shows the worst of the storm sitting east, west and south of the island of Hainan, and just off Vietnam.
(Accuweather)
Yagi left 14 dead in Philippines
Friday 6 September 2024 04:00 , Jane Dalton
Storm Yagi heads for Chinese coast after leaving 14 dead in the Philippines
Super Typhoon Yagi drenches southern China as it inches closer
Friday 6 September 2024 05:02 , Stuti Mishra
Powerful gales and heavy rain from Super Typhoon Yagi drenched southern China on Friday, with schools shut for the second day and flights cancelled.
China's government sent task forces to Guangdong and Hainan to guide flood and typhoon prevention, official news agency Xinhua said as authorities issued high risk warnings for geological disasters in northern Shanxi, southern Guangdong and most areas of Hainan island.
In Hainan's capital Haikou, streets were deserted as people stayed indoors, photographs on social media showed.
Typhoon Yagi to make landfall as it inches closer to Hainan
Friday 6 September 2024 05:53 , Stuti Mishra
Super Typhoon Yagi is inching closer to Chinas southern coast as it is set to make landfall today.
Packing winds of 152mph, the storm is one of the strongest in Asia this year and equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane.
The storm is moving at a speed of 20km and is about to make landfall somewhere between Hainans Wenchang city and Xuwen county in neighbouring Guangdong province this afternoon.
Yagi has maintained its intensity as a super typhoon and is likely to weaken slightly as it interacts with land, but it will still hit the region with significant force.
After China, Yagi will move towards Laos and Vietnam.
Heres the storms path:
Typhoon Yagi inches closer to Hainan (Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA))
Hong Kong Stock Exchange shut today
Friday 6 September 2024 06:14 , Stuti Mishra
Trading on the stock market, bank services and schools were halted in Hong Kong after the citys weather authority raised a No. 8 typhoon signal for Typhoon Yagi, the third-highest warning under the citys weather system.
The warning will stay in place until noon before potentially getting downgraded as the storm moves away from Hong Kong.
Tourists walk on the promenade under stormy skies over Victoria harbour in Hong Kong (AFP via Getty Images)
Hainan residents brace for Typhoon Yagi
Friday 6 September 2024 06:51 , Stuti Mishra
In Hainan, a tropical holiday island in southern China, residents were bracing for the powerful storm.
Schools were shut for the second day and flights were halted as the storm inched closer.
The province's meteorological service expected Yagi to make landfall somewhere between the province's Wenchang city and Xuwen county in neighboring Guangdong province later Friday.
People built sandbag barriers outside buildings to guard against possible floods and reinforced their windows with tape on Thursday, China's official Xinhua news agency reported.
The official China Daily said classes, work, transportation and businesses were suspended in parts of the province as early as Wednesday evening.
Some tourist attractions were closed and all flights at its international airport in Haikou city were grounded on Friday.
Why Super Typhoon Yagi's landfall is rare
Friday 6 September 2024 07:10 , Stuti Mishra
Super Typhoon Yagi is expected to make landfall in Hainan in a few hours, marking the most severe storm to hit the island since 2014.
Before Yagi, the last super typhoon to hit Hainan was Rammasun, which killed 88 people and caused over 44 billion yuan ($6.25 billion) in damages.
Following a similar path as Rammasun, Yagi formed over the warm waters east of the Philippines and was projected to arrive as a Category 4 storm, bringing winds strong enough to overturn vehicles, uproot trees, and damage infrastructure.
Landfalls of this magnitude are rare for Hainan, where only nine out of 106 typhoons between 1949 and 2023 were classified as super typhoons.
Vietnam cancels hundreds of flights and shuts down airports ahead of Typhoon Yagi arrival
Friday 6 September 2024 07:31 , Stuti Mishra
Four airports in northern Vietnam, including Hanois Noi Bai International Airport, will be closed on Saturday, Vietnam's civil aviation authority said.
Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport will remain closed from 10am to 7pm local time (3am to noon GMT).
Airports in the coastal cities of Quang Ninh and Haiphong will be shut from early Saturday until 4pm the same day, and the airport in Thanh Hoa will suspend services from midday until late Saturday, CAAV said.
Airports are also shut in the port city of Haiphong and the province of Quang Ninh, home to the UNESCO heritage site Ha Long Bay and many large factories.
About 240 domestic and 70 international flights would be suspended to "ensure absolute safety" and "prevent the impact of the storm on the technical infrastructure."
Photo: Workers cut redundant branches off of trees in Hainan
Friday 6 September 2024 07:50 , Stuti Mishra
Workers cut redundant branches off of trees along a street ahead of the landfall of typhoon Yagi in Haikou, south Chinas Hainan Province (AP)
Super Typhoon Yagi making landfall in Hainan
Friday 6 September 2024 08:15 , Stuti Mishra
The eye of Super Typhoon Yagi has reached the northeastern tip of Hainan Island in southern China.
The typhoon's bands have been lashing the island province since yesterday with the wider region, especially the Guangdong province, also feeling the impact.
Over the next few hours, the storm will slowly move westwards, eventually coming out into the waters again as it takes aim at northern Vietnam next.
Powerful Typhoon #Yagi is making landfall over the northeastern tip of #Hainan Island in southern #China. It is the strongest typhoon to hit the island since Typhoon Rammasun in 2014. pic.twitter.com/DUo0HizB4d Met Office Storms (@metofficestorms) September 6, 2024
China evacuates over 400,000 people ahead of Typhoon Yagi landfall
Friday 6 September 2024 08:24 , Stuti Mishra
China's southern island of Hainan has evacuated more than 400,000 people ahead of Yagi's arrival, state media said.
"The southern Chinese province of Hainan had relocated 419,367 residents as of 11.30am on Friday with super typhoon Yagi approaching," state news agency Xinhua said, citing local authorities.
Photo: Businesses tape glass windows as Typhoon Yagi brings strong winds to Hainan
Friday 6 September 2024 08:48 , Stuti Mishra
A worker reinforces a glass window with tape at a cafe after the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention for Typhoon Yagi (AP)
Satellite image shows Typhoon Yagis eye at the tip of Hainan island
Friday 6 September 2024 08:55 , Stuti Mishra
Infrared image from Japans Himawari-9 satelite shows the eye of Super Typhoon Yagi over the northern tip of Hainan island as it continues to churn westward (Himawari-9)
Tracing Super Typhoon Yagi path as storm makes landfall in China
Friday 6 September 2024 09:28 , Stuti Mishra
Yagis eye has reached the northwest tip of Hainan. The storms outer bands have been generating heavy rainfall and wind gusts in southeast China, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, and Laos.
The storm is expected to weaken over the next few hours as it moves over land, but it will continue on its path to northern and western Vietnam, intensifying rain in Laos and impacting Thailand over the weekend.
Heres the path of the storm:
Map from Japan Meterological Agency (JMA) shows path of Typhoon Yagi as it enters Hainan province of China (JMA)
Typhoon Yagi downgraded from 'violent' to 'very strong'
Friday 6 September 2024 09:45 , Stuti Mishra
Yagi is now graded as a "very strong" typhoon instead of a "violent typhoon" by the Japan Meteorological Agency after it made landfall in Hainan, China.
The storm has a central pressure of 925 hPa and is packing winds of up to 180 kmph near the centre. But wind gusts can reach as high as 252 kmph.
Very strong typhoons, equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane, have maximum sustained wind speeds of 157-193 kmph, while violent typhoons have maximum sustained wind speeds of 194 kmph or greater, according to the JMA classification.
Hurricane vs typhoon: What is the difference?
Friday 6 September 2024 10:04 , Stuti Mishra
Hurricanes and typhoons are essentially the same weather phenomenon, but they are distinguished by their geographic location.Hurricanes are tropical storms that form in the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico.
Typhoons form in the western Pacific Ocean, including the seas around Asia.Essentially, the same storm would be called a hurricane if it formed in the Atlantic and a typhoon if it formed in the Pacific. They are known as cyclones in the Indian Ocean and Australia.
All tropical storms are characterised by low pressure centres and a warm core in which the minimum sustained surface wind is 119 kmph (74 mph).
They cause strong thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and high winds.
In photos: Inactive cranes and containers stand idle as Dinh Vu port in Vietnam shut
Friday 6 September 2024 10:20 , Stuti Mishra
Inactive cranes and containers at the closed Dinh Vu port ahead of the approaching Typhoon Yagi in Hai Phong (AFP via Getty Images)
Containers at the closed Dinh Vu port ahead of approaching Typhoon Yagi in Hai Phong (AFP via Getty Images)
Yagi to lash east and west coasts of Thailand
Friday 6 September 2024 11:00 , Stuti Mishra
Thailand's Meteorological Department has warned of heavy rain and windstorms this weekend as Yagi approaches the country.
The storm, which is nearing the southeastern Chinese coast, is expected to pass over the Hainan Island in China and reach northern Vietnam by Friday or Saturday, bringing significant weather impacts.
Thanasit Iam-ananchai, acting director general of the Meteorological Department, said northern and northeastern Thailand will see heavy downpours and strong winds on Saturday and Sunday as a result of Yagis outer bands.
Coastal areas along the Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf of Thailand will also experience monsoon-driven rains today, with warnings of potential flash floods and runoffs.
Small boats were advised to remain ashore along both coasts until Sunday due to rough seas.
While Yagis main impact is centred on southern China, it is also expected to affect Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand, bringing significant rainfall to the region over the weekend.
Why super typhoons like Yagi are becoming more common
Friday 6 September 2024 11:20 , Stuti Mishra
Super Typhoon Yagi, one of the most powerful storms of 2024, is part of a growing trend of increasingly intense typhoons and hurricanes in recent years.
Yagi was a "violent storm" this morning, according to Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) classification, equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane. Storms of this magnitude are rare for Hainan, where only nine out of 106 typhoons between 1949 and 2023 were classified as super typhoons.
But these storms are more common now both in the Atlantic and Pacific, a phenomenon closely linked to the effects of the climate crisis, scientists say.
Warmer ocean temperatures are providing the fuel that intensifies these storms, increasing their wind speeds and the amount of rain they produce.
Scientists warn that as the planet continues to warm, typhoons and hurricanes will become more frequent and destructive.
In 2024 alone weve seen several powerful storms, including Super Typhoon Yagi, which devastated the Philippines and is now heading towards China, and Hurricane Beryl that tore through the Caribbean, Mexico and the US.
Similarly, Typhoon Shanshan, which hit Japan last week, was the countrys most powerful storm in decades.
These supercharged storms pose significant threats to coastal regions, as they bring not only strong winds but also the risk of extreme flooding and landslides.
Rising sea levels exacerbate this risk, making coastal areas even more vulnerable to storm surges.
Yagi to make second landfall in Guangdong
Friday 6 September 2024 11:40 , Stuti Mishra
Typhoon Yagi, which made landfall in Hainan this afternoon, will make another landfall in Xuwen County in neighbouring Guangdong province, Chinas national meteorological authorities said.
Yagi was the strongest autumn typhoon to have landed in China. It made landfall in Hainan provinces Wenchang city at around 4.20pm (8.20am GMT).
It is expected to sweep toward other parts of the island before moving to the Beibu Gulf, it said.
Hong Kong downgrades warning after Typhoon Yagi halts stock market trade
Friday 6 September 2024 12:00 , Stuti Mishra
The Hong Kong Observatory today downgraded its warning signal for Typhoon Yagi from No 8, the third highest alert, to No 3, a level down, as the storm moved away from its 400km radius.
Heavy rains and wind lashed the financial capital for hours starting yesterday evening.
With the warning in force, schools and business activities shut down, roads were emptied as people were asked to stay home, and trading was halted on its $4.9trillion stock market.
However this will likely be the last time a typhoon automatically halts trading in Hong Kong, as the financial hub is ending its decades-long practice of shutting markets during severe storms from 23 September, according to Bloomberg.
In photos: Hong Kong's skyline covered in dark clouds
Friday 6 September 2024 12:20 , Stuti Mishra
Storm clouds gather over buildings in Hong Kong on Thursday as super typhoon Yagi tracked across the South China Sea towards the southern China coast (AFP via Getty Images)
Storm clouds gather over buildings in Hong Kong on Thursday as super typhoon Yagi tracked across the South China Sea towards the southern China coast (AFP via Getty Images)
Super Typhoon Yagi to hit Vietnam's northern coast tomorrow, agency says
Friday 6 September 2024 12:45 , Stuti Mishra
Super Typhoon Yagi is expected to make landfall in Vietnam tomorrow, according to the country's National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.
The storm is currently located about 230 km southeast of Quang Ninh, a coastal province in northern Vietnam, as it hovers over China's Hainan province.
The storm is the third to enter the East Sea this year and is packing winds of 184-201 kmph near its centre, with even stronger gusts, the agency said in its forecast.
Yagi is moving west at around 20 kmh and is forecast to enter the Gulf of Tonkin by early Saturday.
By morning, Yagi is expected to be about 160 km from Quang Ninh, with winds ranging from 133-166 kmph.
The storm will weaken as it approaches the coast later in the day, with wind speeds dropping significantly as it reaches the mainland.
Several airports in northern Vietnam will close temporarily on Saturday due to the storm.
Flights resume as Typhoon Yagi causes little damage in Hong Kong
Friday 6 September 2024 13:15 , Stuti Mishra
Flights and businesses resumed in Hong Kong as Super Typhoon Yagi moved away, causing minimal damage in the city.
The Hong Kong Observatory downgraded its typhoon warning to T3 at 12.40pm (4.40am GMT), allowing daily life to return to normal after the storms passage.
The citys stock exchange and schools were closed as a precaution, but the airport authority said that operations had mostly returned to normal after 50 flights were cancelled the previous day, according to the Hong Kong Free Press.
A total of 918 flights were rescheduled during the typhoon, but by this morning the Hong Kong international airport was running smoothly.
The world's longest sea bridge, connecting Hong Kong, Macau, and Zhuhai, also reopened in the afternoon after being shut during the storm.
While winds weakened, intense rain bands from Yagi continued to bring squally showers to the region. At least five people were hospitalised with injuries during the typhoon period, and authorities reported 79 fallen trees across the city.
Temporary shelters set up by the Home Affairs Department provided refuge to 269 people, while beaches remained closed as a safety measure.
By afternoon, public transportation, including MTR, ferries, and buses, had fully resumed, with the MTR increasing service frequency to meet demand as people returned to work.
A window is taped in anticipation of typhoon Yagi at a clothing store in Hong Kong (REUTERS)
In photos: Rainfall from Typhoon Yagi continues as people wade through flooded streets in Philippines
Friday 6 September 2024 13:45 , Stuti Mishra
Pedestrians wade through a flooded street in Manila caused by heavy rains due to the southwest monsoon influenced by Tropical Storm Yagi which hit the main island of Luzon (AFP via Getty Images)
Jasper Miranda, 26, wades through floodwaters with his pet ducks that he saved from their flooded house during Typhoon Yagi, locally known as Enteng in Apalit, Pampanga, Philippines (REUTERS)
Which countries are affected by Typhoon Yagi?
Friday 6 September 2024 14:15 , Stuti Mishra
Typhoon Yagi has impacted several countries in East and Southeast Asia, bringing strong winds, heavy rainfall, and widespread disruption as it moves through the region. Heres a breakdown of the countries affected by Yagi:
China: Typhoon Yagi has made landfall on Hainan Island and will make another landfall in the southern coast of Guangdong Province, bringing powerful winds and torrential rains.
Cities like Hong Kong and Macau also experienced storm signals, business closures, and flight cancellations as the typhoon passed by, though it left minimal damage in Hong Kong. The storm also disrupted transportation and forced the closure of major infrastructure, like the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge.
Vietnam: Next in Yagi's path is Vietnam, where the northern regions, particularly along the Gulf of Tonkin, are expected to experience heavy rains and strong winds. Vietnams Quang Ninh Province and coastal areas may face flooding and storm surges.
Laos and Thailand: As Yagi moves inland, it will weaken but still bring significant rainfall to Northern Laos and Northern Thailand, raising concerns about flash floods and landslides in these areas. While Thailand may not be in Yagi's direct path, the storms outer bands affect the country.
Hurricane vs typhoon: What is the difference?
Friday 6 September 2024 14:45 , Stuti Mishra
Hurricanes and typhoons are essentially the same weather phenomenon, but they are distinguished by their geographic location.Hurricanes are tropical storms that form in the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico.
Typhoons form in the western Pacific Ocean, including the seas around Asia.Essentially, the same storm would be called a hurricane if it formed in the Atlantic and a typhoon if it formed in the Pacific. They are known as cyclones in the Indian Ocean and Australia.
All tropical storms are characterised by low pressure centres and a warm core in which the minimum sustained surface wind is 119 kmph (74 mph).
They cause strong thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and high winds.
Heres a quick guide to all atmospheric terms:
What a super typhoon is as Category 5 storm barrels towards Philippines
Vietnam's Noi Bai airport to delay opening on Saturday due to typhoon Yagi
Friday 6 September 2024 15:32 , Tom Watling
Vietnams civil aviation authority said Hanois international airport would open two hours later than planned on Saturday due to the impact of Typhoon Yagi, which is expected to make landfall in Vietnam late on Friday.
Hanois Noi Bai airport will be shut from 1000 to 2100 (0300 to 1400 GMT), it said in a statement, adding typhoon Yagi had caused damage when moving through Chinas Hainan Island and was gaining in intensity.
Yagi registers as 2nd most powerful cyclone in 2024
Friday 6 September 2024 16:01 , Tom Watling
Packing maximum sustained winds of 245 km per hour (152 mph) near its eye, Yagi registers as the worlds second-most powerful tropical cyclone in 2024 so far, after the Category 5 Atlantic hurricane Beryl.
Mapped: Super Typhoon Yagi lashes China and takes aim at Vietnam next
Friday 6 September 2024 16:43 , Tom Watling
Mapped: Super Typhoon Yagi lashes China and takes aim at Vietnam next
Yagi hits second part of China
Friday 6 September 2024 17:21 , Tom Watling
Super typhoon Yagi has made a second landfall in Chinas southeast province of Guangdong, the countrys meteorological centre has reported.
Nostalgia alert: Tara Sutaria revisits her school, drops pictures from visit
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ctor Tara Sutaria, on Wednesday, dropped pictures from her visit to her school.
Tara took to Instagram and shared pictures where she can be seen meeting and giving autographs to students in the school.
In one of the images, Tara can be seen sitting on a desk and posing for the cameras.
She also shared a glimpse of her school which was surrounded by greenery.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C_f7WmDMoyT/?img_index=8
Tara wrote a heartwarming note in the caption which read, "BACK TO SCHOOL! In my opinion, the most beautiful acres on Pali Hill...How fortunate we were to grow and learn among trees, flowers, endless cottages, open skies and the sweetest cats and dogs (my truest friends then, other than my twin @piasutaria and my sister @missmehtaaa who've had my back since day one)."
She concluded, "Going back to school today was a (much needed) warm embrace. We hugged our teachers, met so many lovely students and reminisced about the past, as one must in such circumstances. In such a fleeting, fancy, new world, how wonderful it is to look back on simple, sweet days... When we had not a care in the world and life was just... slower."
As soon as she shared the post, netizens bombarded the comment section.
A user wrote, "Nostalgia at its peak"
Another fan commented, "Your golden memories Tara"
Meanwhile, on the work front, Tara was last seen in the film titled 'Apurva' which was released on Disney+ Hotstar.
Nostalgia alert: Tara Sutaria revisits her school, drops pictures from visit
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PM Modi's Singapore visit aims at fortifying ties of friendship
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rime Minister Narendra Modi reached Singapore on Wednesday, marking the beginning of a significant second leg of his two-day nation visit. He is slated to hold numerous engagements in the city-state on Thursday as well.
This visit is poised to further bolster the bilateral ties between India and Singapore.
Sharing a post on his X handle, PM Modi expressed his happiness at meeting his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong. "Happy to have met my friend, PM Lawrence Wong. Had an excellent discussion on a wide range of issues. India cherishes the friendship with Singapore," the post read.
Wong also shared a picture of their meeting on X and welcomed PM Modi for dinner at Istana, the official residence and office of the president of Singapore. He said, "Welcome PM Narendra Modi to Singapore! Delighted to have the chance to catch up over a meal at the Istana, before the official meetings tomorrow."
On Prime Minister Modi's Singapore visit, MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, sharing a post on X, wrote that the visit will further fortify ties between the two nations.
"Fortifying India-Singapore bonds of friendship. PM Narendra Modi warmly hosted by PM Lawrence Wong at the iconic Sri Temasek in Singapore. An evening cherishing the deep and long-standing India-Singapore ties awaits," he said.
Prime Minister Modi, who concluded a historic visit to Brunei, was received by the Singaporean Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugham at the Changi airport on Wednesday and received a warm welcome from the Indian community. PM Modi was seen giving autographs to diaspora members outside the hotel.
He also tried his hand at playing the dhol there. Sharing from pictures, PM Modi later posted on X and said, "Thank you, Singapore! The welcome was truly vibrant."
Before his arrival in Singapore, PM Modi was on an official visit to Brunei. Earlier in the day, he held "wide ranging" talks with Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah at Istana Nurul Iman in Bandar Seri Begawan. During their talks, both the leaders discussed ways to further cement bilateral ties. On Tuesday, PM Modi inaugurated the new Chancery of the High Commission of India in Brunei's capital city, Bandar Seri Begawan. The Prime Minister also visited the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan on Tuesday as a part of his historic visit to Brunei.
Regarding PM Modi's visit to Singapore, Randhir Jaiswal highlighted the significance of the trip, and said that it will provide a major boost to India's Act East policy, aligning with India's vision for the Indo-Pacific region and further strengthening economic and technological ties between the two countries.
Jaiswal, taking to X, said, "This visit is important as it gives a major push to India's Act East policy to India's vision of the Indo-Pacific to India-Singapore economic ties and to India-Singapore technological ties. All these are very important for both countries."
PM Modi is set for a busy day in Singapore on Thursday, with a packed schedule of meetings, and engagements.
"He has meetings with the Prime Minister of Singapore in the morning, where he will also receive a ceremonial welcome and thereafter, he will have meetings with the President of Singapore and with the Emeritus Senior Minister and several other dignitaries.
He will also visit AEM, which is a semiconductor facility, along with the Prime Minister of Singapore. PM also has business engagement; he will be meeting CEOs of Singaporean companies," Jaiswal said, while sharing a post on X. Many MoUs are expected to be signed during the visit. He will also meet with leaders of Singapore's vibrant business community.
Notably, India-Singapore relations were elevated to Strategic Partnership during the visit of PM Modi to Singapore in 2015. With shared history, a long tradition of friendship based on trust and mutual respect, and extensive cooperation across a wide range of areas, India-Singapore cooperation has deepened and diversified over the years.
The close ties between India and Singapore have a history rooted in strong commercial, cultural and people-to-people links across a millennium. The more modern relationship is attributed to Sir Stamford Raffles, who, in 1819, established a trading station in Singapore on the route of the Straits of Malacca, which later became a crown colony and was governed from Kolkata till 1867.
In 2018, India and Singapore added new momentum and direction in the Strategic Partnership, anchored in the official visit of Prime Minister Modi to Singapore from May 31 to June 2, 2018 and his second visit on November 14-15 for attending the ASEAN-India and RCEP and 13th East Asia Summit. PM Modi became the first Indian PM to deliver a keynote address at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue on June 1, 2018. In the November 2018 visit, he also became the first Head of Government to deliver the keynote address at the Singapore Fintech Festival, the world's largest Fintech event.
PM Modi's Singapore visit aims at fortifying ties of friendship
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We cannot continue to accept this as normal...: Biden condemns shooting incident in Georgia school
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xpressing condolences for the victims of a shooting incident at a school in Georgia, President Joe Biden has called on Republicans to work with Democrats in the US Congress to pass gun safety legislation to help prevent future gun violence in the United States.
At least four people, including two students, have been killed and nine others were injured when a fellow student opened fire in a high school in the US state of Georgia on Wednesday, CNN reported.
Biden described the shooting incident as "another horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to tear our communities apart."
"Jill (Biden) and I are mourning the deaths of those whose lives were cut short due to more senseless gun violence and thinking of all of the survivors whose lives are forever changed. What should have been a joyous back-to-school season in Winder, Georgia, has now turned into another horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to tear our communities apart," Biden said in a statement released by the White House.
The US president lamented that students across the country are "learning how to duck and cover instead of how to read and write."
"We cannot continue to accept this as normal. We are closely coordinating with officials at the federal, state and local levels and are grateful for the first responders who brought the suspect into custody and prevented further loss of life," Biden said.
Further, Biden reaffirmed his commitment to tackling the gun violence epidemic in the US and highlighted his efforts to address the issue, including the signing of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
"Ending this gun violence epidemic is personal to me. It's why I signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act--the most meaningful gun safety bill in decades--and have announced dozens of gun safety executive actions. I also established the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, overseen by Vice President Harris. We've made significant progress, but this crisis requires even more," the US president said.
Biden called on Republicans to work with Democrats in Congress to pass gun safety legislation to help prevent future gun violence and stated that 'enough is enough.'
"After decades of inaction, Republicans in Congress must finally say 'enough is enough' and work with Democrats to pass common-sense gun safety legislation. We must ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines once again, require safe storage of firearms, enact universal background checks, and end immunity for gun manufacturers. These measures will not bring those who were tragically killed today back, but they will help prevent more tragic gun violence from ripping more families apart," Biden said.
US vice president Kamala Harris also took to X and expressed condolences for the people who are impacted by this shooting and describe it as a "senseless tragedy."
"Today, Doug and I are mourning the deaths of those whose lives were cut short by gun violence at Apalachee High School in Georgia. Our hearts are with the students, teachers, and families impacted by this shooting, and we are grateful to the first responders and law enforcement on the scene. This is a senseless tragedy -- and it does not have to be this way. We must end the epidemic of gun violence in our country once and for," said Kamala Harris.
Georgia Governor Brian P Kemp also posted on X and stated that "I have directed all available state resources to respond to the incident at Apalachee High School and urge all Georgians to join my family in praying for the safety of those in our classrooms, both in Barrow County and across the state."
"We will continue to work with local, state, and federal partners as we gather information and further respond to this situation." he added.
Meanwhile, the suspected gunman is in custody and was identified as 14-year-old Colt Cray, a student of Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, about an hour outside of Atlanta. Two of those killed were students and two were teachers. Law enforcement agencies are still investigating the shooting and the motive behind it.
The high school had received an earlier phone threat, multiple law enforcement officials told CNN.
The phone call Wednesday morning warned there would be shootings at five schools, and that Apalachee would be the first. It is not known who placed the call. Officials tell CNN they are investigating the call and where it originated.
The US has suffered at least 385 mass shootings so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which, like CNN, defines mass shootings as those in which four or more victims are shot. That's an average of more than 1.5 mass shootings every day.
We cannot continue to accept this as normal...: Biden condemns shooting incident in Georgia school
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Paris Paralympics: Archer Harvinder clinches gold in Men's Individual Recurve Open
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okyo 2020 bronze medallist Harvinder Singh made further history for India by winning the gold medal in the Men's Individual Recurve Open, becoming the first Indian archer to win a gold medal in the Paralympic Games. With a consistent and rock-solid performance, Harvinder Singh, a bronze medallist in the second event in the Tokyo Paralympic Games three years back, bagged the gold medal by blanking Lukasz Ciszek of Poland 6-0 in the final on Wednesday.
With this achievement, Harvinder became the first and only Indian archer to win a gold medal in the Paralympics and Olympics. He is also the first and only archer to secure medals in consecutive editions of the Paralympics.
Harvinder's gold medal took India's tally to 22 medals in Paris with four gold, eight silver and 10 bronze. India have thus moved to the 15th spot in the standings. Harvinder's gold comes after Sachin Khilari claimed a silver medal earlier in the day.
In the Gold Medal Match on Wednesday, Harvinder came up with a dominant display.
A 10 in the first set besides two 9s secured Harvinder Singh the first set as the Pole shot a seven in between nine and eight for a 28-24 win. Up 2-0, Harvinder started the second set with two successive nines and then topped it with a 10 for 28 while Ciszek had three 9s for another narrow defeat. Harvinder, from a farmer's family from Kaithal in Haryana, sealed the gold medal with two 10s followed by a nine (29) while Ciszek started with a seven and then scored two 9s for a 29-25 win.
Earlier, Harvinder had assured himself a second successive medal in the Paralympic Games as he stormed into the final with a come-from-behind win over Iran's Arab Ameri Mohammad Reza in the semifinal here on Wednesday.
The 33-year-old Harvinder came up with a brilliant performance, coming back after losing the first set to stun the Iranian 7-3, sealing a place in the maiden final at the Paralympic Games.
In the semifinal, Harvinder lost the first set 26-25 because of a seven on his second arrow. The second set ended in a tie at 27-27. he then levelled scores at 3-3 by winning the third set 27-25 and surged ahead to a 5-3 set points lead by winning the fourth set 26-24.
Harvinder Singh then sealed a place in the final with another steady performance, shooting two 9s and an eight for a 26-25 win after the Iranian started with a 10 but faltered for an eight and seven on his next two arrows.
Earlier, Harvinder, who had bagged a bronze medal in the Tokyo Paralympic Games after losing in the semifinals, got the better of Colombia's Julio Ramirez Hector 6-2 in a quarterfinal clash.
The Indian had started the day with a 7-3 win over Tseng Lung-Hui of Chinese Taipei and continued to march ahead with a fine 6-2 win over Indonesia's Setiawan Setiawan in the prequarters.
Paris Paralympics: Archer Harvinder clinches gold in Men's Individual Recurve Open
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PM Modi visits chip manufacturing unit in Singapore, discusses collaborations
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rime Minister Narendra Modi, accompanied by his counterpart Lawrence Wong, on Thursday visited AEM Holdings, a leading company in semiconductor and electronics sector, here and discussed opportunities for collaboration.
PM Modi also invited the Singaporean semiconductor companies to participate in the 'SEMICON INDIA' exhibition, to be held in Greater Noida from September 11-13.
According to an MEA statement, the Prime Minister also interacted with Indian interns from Odisha's 'World Skill Center', undergoing training in Singapore, as well as Singaporean interns who had visited India under the 'CII-Enterprise Singapore India Ready Talent Programme' and Indian engineers working at the AEM facility.
Both the leaders were briefed about AEM's role in the global semiconductor value chain, its operations and plans for India.
Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association gave a briefing on the development of the semiconductor ecosystem in Singapore and opportunities for collaboration with India. Representatives of several other Singaporean companies from this sector were also present.
"Given our efforts to develop the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem in India and Singapore's strengths in this sector, both sides have decided to expand bilateral cooperation," according to the MEA.
During the second meeting of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable, both sides agreed to add advanced manufacturing, with a focus on semiconductors, as a pillar for enhancing bilateral cooperation.
According to the MEA, both sides have also concluded the MoU on India-Singapore semiconductor ecosystem partnership.
"This visit by both the Prime Ministers underscores the commitment of both sides to develop cooperation in this area. Prime Minister Modi conveyed his appreciation to Prime Minister Wong for joining him in this visit," the MEA statement read.
Earlier this week, the Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, approved the proposal of Kaynes Semicon Pvt Ltd to set up a semiconductor unit in Sanand, Gujarat, with an investment of Rs 3,300 crore. The proposed unit, under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), will produce nearly 60 lakh chips per day.
In March, PM Modi laid the foundation stone of three semiconductor projects worth Rs 1.25 lakh crore. As per reports, India's semiconductor-related market will reach $64 billion in 2026, nearly triple the size in 2019.
PM Modi visits chip manufacturing unit in Singapore, discusses collaborations
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US Open: Muchova battles past health issues, Haddad Maia to reach second straight semis
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arolina Muchova of the Czech Republic endured a break for medical treatment on her way to booking a place in her second consecutive US Open semifinal with a 6-1, 6-4 defeat of No.22 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia in 1 hour and 25 minutes in the women's singles. The Czech star also left the court on multiple occasions in the second set but kept her focus to close out a victory that marks a remarkable comeback from injury.
"A little weird match, I have to say," Muchova said in the on-court interview as quoted by the WTA tour in a report. "I had a lot of problems, I wouldn't like to comment on it. I'm happy I managed, to run to the bathroom and back. Sorry if it disturbed anyone, but I had no other choice!"
Muchova will play either No.1 seed Iga Swiatek or No.6 seed Jessica Pegula as she bids to make her second Grand Slam final following Roland Garros 2023. Swiatek has a 2-1 record against Muchova, while Pegula leads her 1-0; all of those matches went to three sets.
Muchova's run to the 2023 semifinals turned out to be the last tournament she would play for another nine months as she underwent wrist surgery. But in just her sixth event since returning to action in June and now ranked No.52, Muchova has roared into the fourth major semifinal of her career without dropping a set. She is the fourth unseeded major semifinalist of 2024, following Dayana Yastremska (Australian Open), Mirra Andreeva (Roland Garros), and Donna Vekic (Wimbledon).
The result is Muchova's fourth win in as many meetings with Haddad Maia. The pair first met in the qualifying of the 2016 Cagnes-sur-Mer ITF W100 event, which Muchova won 7-5, 6-1. She went on to triumph in both their tour-level encounters as well, in the first rounds of Ostrava 2022 and Cincinnati 2023.
The US Open is the first tour-level event at which Muchova has reached multiple semifinals. She is the first Czech woman to reach consecutive US Open semifinals since Helena Sukova in 1986-87.
The match opened with two multi-deuce tussles -- and Muchova set the tone by winning them both. Three consecutive service winners extricated her from an opening game in which she saved two break points, then she sealed her fifth break point on Haddad Maia's delivery with a powerful off forehand.
That start didn't help Haddad Maia settle. The Brazilian fell away in the first set, committing 10 unforced errors to only six winners. Though she raised her level in the second, it was Muchova who struck first, nailing a backhand winner down the line to break for 3-2.
US Open: Muchova battles past health issues, Haddad Maia to reach second straight semis
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Western actions will influence Russia's renewed nuclear doctrine: Kremlin
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ussia will consider the actions of the US and its allies such as their refusal to engage in dialogue, when revising its nuclear doctrine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok on Wedn esday, Peskov noted that Russia is revising its current nuclear doctrine and developing new approaches in response to the current state of affairs and Western actions, Xinhua news agency reported.
He said that these actions include the refusal of Western countries to engage in dialogue with Russia, their attack on Russian interests and security, and their role in provoking a continuation of the war in Ukraine.
"This cannot but have consequences. All of this is being taken into account in Moscow and will form the basis for proposals that will be formulated," Peskov said.
Russia has said recently it was set to make changes to the policy setting out the circumstances for its use of nuclear weapons, but has not yet detailed the changes.
The existing nuclear doctrine, set out in a decree by President Vladimir Putin in 2020, says Russia may use nuclear weapons in case of a nuclear attack by an enemy or a conventional attack that threatens the existence of the state.
The revisions come "against the backdrop of the challenges and threats provoked by the countries of the so-called collective West", Peskov told the media.
Moscow is taking into account the possibility of Ukraine using US-supplied long-range weapons in its attacks deep into the Russian territory, he added.
Ukraine has long urged its allies to let it fire Western weapons at targets far into enemy territory, and those calls have grown louder as Russian steps up airstrikes on Ukrainian energy and other infrastructure as well as apartment blocks.
"It is obvious that the Ukrainians will do this," RIA cited Peskov as saying. "We are taking all this into account."
At least 50 people were killed and 271 wounded when Russia hit a military institute in Ukraine's central town of Poltava with two ballistic missiles on Tuesday, in the year's single deadliest attack of the war.
Western actions will influence Russia's renewed nuclear doctrine: Kremlin
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Want to create many Singapores in Bharat, says PM Modi
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rime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday, said that India wants to make many Singapores in the country.
He said this during a meeting with his Singapore counterpart Lawrence Wong and also discussed ways to boost bilateral ties.
PM Modi is on a two-day visit to the country at the invitation of Wong.
"Singapore is not just a partner country but an inspiration for every developing country. We also want to create many Singapores in Bharat. I am happy that we are working in that direction together. Ministerial roundtables formed between us are a path-breaking mechanism .. Skilling, digitisation, mobility, semiconductor, advance manufacturing, AI, healthcare, sustainability cybersecurity.. areas of cooperation have become symbols of the initiatives...." said PM Modi in his remarks while leading delegation-level talks with his Singapore counterpart.
Several MoUs were signed between India and Singapore in the fields of Digital Technologies, Health and Medicine, Educational Cooperation & Skills Development and India-Singapore Semiconductor Ecosystem Partnership in the presence of PM Modi and Singapore PM Wong.
Ahead of the talks, PM Modi received a ceremonial welcome at the Singapore Parliament House. PM Modi and Singapore PM Wong meet ministers and delegates from each other's countries at the Parliament House.
PM Modi also signed the visitor's book there.
The meeting between the two leaders comes days after Singapore PM Wong took over as premier and PM Modi began his third term as the prime minister.
PM Modi greeted him on becoming the Prime Minister and said, "I thank you for your warm welcome. This is our first meeting after you assumed the post of Prime Minister. Many congratulations to you from my side. I am confident that under the leadership of 4G, Singapore will progress even faster."
PM Modi arrived in Singapore on Wednesday as part of the final leg of his two-nation tour from Brunei.
Want to create many Singapores in Bharat, says PM Modi
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My wife thinks most politicians are 'scumbags', needs prayers for strength, says JD Vance
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epublican vice presidential candidate J. D.Vance has said that his wife Usha Chilikuri Vance has a low opinion of politicians, most of whom she thinks are "scumbags" and needs prayers for strength. "She's not a political person, she doesn't like politics," J. D. Vance said on Wednesday.
"Before I got involved, she said, "Well, I think [in] politics, pretty much everybody's a scumbag".
J. D. Vance said that he responded, "And well, honey, you're right, all but, like five people".
Speaking at a campaign event inside a church in Mesa, Arizona, he said, "Please pray for strength and courage for my wife".
Despite her reservations about politics, now that he is running for office, he said, "She's been such a trooper about this. She's been going out and doing her interviews."
He repeated his constant praise of her and her oratory while deprecating himself.
"She's an unbelievable person. I don't know if you saw her at the Republican National Committee (RNC). She did a great job," Vance said.
"I told my team never make me follow my wife again, because, you know, you want to follow somebody worse than you, not better than you," he said.
"She just did such a good job, and I was so proud of her, but she needs strength," he added.
He brought his campaign to Arizona, one of the swing states with inordinate electoral power, because of the system where states' votes in the Electoral College can undo a majority of the national vote.
According to polls aggregation by RealClear Politics. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has a razor-thin lead of 1 per cent in the state, where he lost by under 10,500 votes in 2020.
The town hall-style event was held as a chat with a conservative political organiser, Charlie Kirk, under a banner over the stage, "Chase the Vote".
Fitting for a church venue, the conversation was peppered with quotations from the Bible.
On foreign policy, Vance tied the deindustrialisation of the US - for which he blamed the Republicans too - to the national security threat from China.
The US imports most of the medicines like the anti-inflammatory drug Ibuprofen and anti-biotics and even weapons the military uses from China, and Trump made it a national security issue, he said.
While Trump was tough and was feared, he believed that it was more advantageous to use diplomacy, Vance said.
He cited the Abraham Accords, agreements Israel reached with the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, and Sudan with the help of the Trump administration to bring peace to the Middle East, now shattered by violence.
There were no major wars during Trump's four years in office and "let us bring peace back to the world" - and Trump is the person for it, he asserted.
He said that Israel should be allowed to "finish" Iran and its financing of Hamas so that US can focus on the threat from China.
Vance, who took questions from the public through Kirk, joined him in lampooning Vice President Kamala Harris for not holding news conferences or town halls and using teleprompters for her speeches.
That is because she is running away from her past "radical" positions, he said and joked that she might come to a meeting with a red tie and the Trumpian 'Make America Great Again' insignia.
He and Kirk rehashed her statements from her failed bid for the Democratic Party presidential nomination by appealing to the party's left and said she now claims the opposite.
They listed her turn away from a mining method for gas known as fracking, offshore drilling for oil, "open borders" and cutting police budgets.
Vance repeatedly nailed Harris to the policies of President Joe Biden stressing that she was the vice president and could have done three and a half years ago everything she promises now.
He blamed her for the flow of drugs through the borders, especially the deadly narcotic Fentanyl.
Striking a personal note, he recalled that his mother, a drug addict abandoned him to her mother, who raised him.
Ten years ago his mother overdosed on drugs, but could be saved and has been sober for a decade, he said.
But if Fentanyl - which drug smugglers had now flooded the US with - was available then, his mother would have died, he said.
(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis)
My wife thinks most politicians are 'scumbags', needs prayers for strength, says JD Vance
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Spain, Palestine will hold first summit this year: PM Sanchez
S
panish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that Spain and Palestine will hold their first bilateral summit this year to strengthen ties.
"Before the end of this year we are going to hold the first bilateral summit between Spain and Palestine in which we hope to sign several collaboration agreements between the two states," Sanchez announced during the opening ceremony of the political year in Madrid, Xinhua news agency reported.
He also said that Spain will continue supporting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
In a coordinated move, Norway, Ireland, and Spain recognised Palestine as a state in May amid international outrage over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza following Israel's military operation.
The Spanish Prime Minister on July 11 urged the West to reject "double standards" regarding the conflict in Gaza as he joined NATO leaders in supporting Ukraine.
Spain under Sanchez has infuriated Israel's right-wing government by recognising a Palestinian state and criticising Israel's conduct of its war against Hamas.
Spain, Palestine will hold first summit this year: PM Sanchez
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Vivek Agnihotri rejects Oxford Union debate invite on Kashmir, terms topic 'anti-India'
F
ilmmaker and author Vivek Agnihotri on Thursday said he had declined the Oxford Union invite to participate in a debate on Kashmir as the topic was "anti-India".
He shared a post on his social media account, X informing about the invite and his decline. He also posted the letters on his wall.
In his post, Vivek Agnihotri wrote: "I was invited by the prestigious Oxford Union to debate on Kashmir. I found the theme offensive, anti-India, and anti-Kashmir. On principle, I have declined the offer."
In his letter, the filmmaker further explained: "Thank you for your invitation to grace the Oxford Union with my presence for a debate. Though it is every opinion-maker's dream to speak at the Oxford Debating Society, I find myself reflecting on the irony of your invitation, and after due consideration, I have decided to respectfully decline. Your invitation to debate 'This House Believes in the Independent State of Kashmir' is a direct challenge to India's sovereignty, and it is unacceptable to me. I find it not just obnoxious but offensive--not just to 1.4 billion Indians, but also as a humiliation of the hundreds of thousands of displaced indigenous Hindu victims of the Kashmir genocide of 1990. Framing it as a debate feels like turning a tragedy into a parlour game, where the stakes are human lives, and the cost is in blood, not just ink."
"Kashmir's story is not a debate topic; it is a narrative of suffering, resilience, and a quest for peace. To reduce it to a 'yes' or 'no' on independence is to ignore the complex tapestry of human emotions and history involved. The genocide of Kashmiri Hindus is a story where the cost has been paid in blood, not in witty retorts or applause from an audience," Agnihotri further said in the post.
Vivek Agnihotri wrote this letter to the Oxford Union on September 2, which he shared on his social media on Thursday.
In 2022, Vivek Agnihotri was widely discussed for his film 'The Kashmir Files'. While many people appreciated the film, it also faced criticism from others. The film depicts the violence that the minority communities, especially the Kashmir Pandits, faced in the 1990s which forced them to flee their homes. Over seven lakh Kashmiri Pandits fled to escape the violence unleashed by Pakistan-backed various terror outfits.
Vivek Agnihotri rejects Oxford Union debate invite on Kashmir, terms topic 'anti-India'
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BJP chief Nadda goes to L. K. Advani's house to renew his BJP membership
B
JP President J. P.Nadda on Thursday visited the residence of party founder L. K. Advani to renew his BJP membership under the 'Sangathan Parva, Sadasyata Abhiyan 2024' campaign. The BJP chief will also visit the residence of senior leader Murli Manohar Joshi in the evening to renew his membership.
The BJP on September 2 launched its membership drive with the aim of expanding its base and reinforcing its organisational structure ahead of forthcoming elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged BJP members to make special efforts among women, youth, and in areas where they have been traditionally weak, to expand its base.
On Thursday morning, BJP National General Secretary Radha Mohan Das Agarwal visited the home of senior leader and former Union Minister Vijay Kumar Malhotra to renew his party membership. Northwest Delhi MP Yogendra Chandolia was also present at the occasion.
Malhotra, reflecting on his long association with the Janata Party and BJP, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to rejoin the party.
As per Article 9 of the BJP Constitution, the membership has to be renewed every six years. Existing memberships are renewed and new members are enrolled into its fold.
The BJP membership campaign is being overseen by General Secretary Vinod Tawde, and the party aims to achieve the target of 10 crore members this time.
The membership drive will happen in two phases: September 2-25 and October 1-15. Registration will be available through missed calls (8800002024), the NaMo app, QR codes, and traditional application forms to ensure accessibility for people in areas with limited mobile coverage or without mobile phones.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Wednesday said that over 27,000 individuals had signed up for BJP membership online, saying that this reflects the strong public trust in the party, surpassing that of any other political organisation in India. The BJP said that it aims to be a ubiquitous, all-encompassing, and inclusive organisation, working to connect with every individual through its membership campaign.
BJP chief Nadda goes to L. K. Advani's house to renew his BJP membership
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Paris Paralympics: Harvinder, Pooja move to mixed team recurve open QFs
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ara-archers Harvinder Singh and Pooja Jatyan moved into the Mixed Team Recurve Open quarterfinals with a close 5-4 win over Australian duo of Taymon Kenton-Smith and Amanda Jennings in a shoot-off at the Paris Paralympics, here on Thursday.
Harvinder and Pooja will next take on Poland's Lukasz Ciszek and Milena Olszewska for a place in the semifinals.
The Indian duo started off well, taking the first two sets comfortably but a one from Pooja gave the Australian pair an opportunity to bounce back as they took the next two sets to level the scores at 4-4 after the end of the fourth set.
In the shoot-off, Harvinder started off with nine, followed by seven from Pooja. The Australians had no match to the Indians' shot as Kenton-Smith shot five while Amanda missed the target, giving India a win and a place in the quarterfinals.
On Wednesday night, Harvinder made history, becoming India's first-ever Olympic or Paralympic champion in archery. The 33-year-old showed a stellar performance en route to gold medal in the recurve men's competition at the Paris 2024.
Three years ago in the Tokyo Para Games, he reached the first milestone. His bronze was India's premiere medal at either the Olympics or Paralympics achieved in archery.
On the other hand, in the mixed 50m rifle prone SH1 shooting competition, India faced disappointment as Mona Agarwal and Sidhartha Babu failed to secure a spot in the final.
Mona, who won the bronze medal in the women's 10m air rifle SH-1 event, finished 30th with a score of 610.5 while Sidhartha finished 22nd with a score of 615.8 in the 60-shot qualification round.
Paris Paralympics: Harvinder, Pooja move to mixed team recurve open QFs
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1st consignment of Indian pomegranates reaches Melbourne from Mumbai
T
he first consignment of Indian pomegranates from Mumbai to Melbourne in Australia has been successfully facilitated, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) informed on Thursday.
The export (on August 31) not only underscores India's capabilities in meeting global quality standards but also provides a significant boost to Indian farmers by opening up new revenue streams, said APEDA in a statement.
The consignment was successfully cleared in Melbourne and was showcased at 'Fine Food Australia 2024' at the APEDA India pavilion, further highlighting the global appeal of Indian pomegranates. The consignment weighing 1.1 metric tonnes (MT) consisted of 336 boxes (each weighing 3.5 kg).
In the financial year 2023-24, India exported 72,011 metric tonnes of pomegranates worth $69.08 million to markets including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bangladesh, Nepal, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bahrain and Oman.
Australia granted market access to Indian pomegranates in 2020, paving the way for Indian farmers to tap into a new and lucrative market.
India, being the second-largest producer of horticulture crops, sees major pomegranate production in states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh.
APEDA, which comes under Ministry of Commerce and Industry, said it has established Export Promotion Forums (EPF) specifically for pomegranates, aimed at boosting exports and removing supply chain bottlenecks.
The authority's commitment to promoting the export of fresh fruits and vegetables, despite their perishable nature, is evident in their development of sea protocols to retain product attributes when exporting to long-distance destinations.
"This initiative not only reinforces India's position in global markets but also directly supports Indian farmers by creating sustainable export opportunities," said APEDA.
These pomegranates were meticulously packed at their Australia-approved packhouse in Ahmednagar, guaranteeing that they meet the stringent quality standards required for international markets.
1st consignment of Indian pomegranates reaches Melbourne from Mumbai
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Ganesh Chaturthi: A rallying point for Hindu solidarity and strength
I
n an era marked by attempts to fragment Hindu society along the lines of caste, class, language, and culture, the need to embrace the unifying cultural roots of Sanatan Dharma has never been more critical.
The Sarvajanik Ganesh Chaturthi exemplifies how collective cultural practices can foster unity in a community, irrespective of their differences.
The festival, initiated by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, is not only a significant cultural event, but also a symbol of resistance against colonial and contemporary adversities.
The importance of this festival is underscored in the research document 'Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav Initiated by Lokmanya B.G. Tilak and its Role in Freedom Movement' by Dr. Geetali Tilak.
Historical context and origins
The Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav finds its origin in the late 19th century, a period when British rule in India sought to deepen existing social divisions and create new ones to undermine Indian unity. In response to this 'divide and rule' strategy, Lokmanya Tilak, a prominent leader advocating India's Independence, perceived a unique opportunity to unite Hindus across diverse caste and regional lines.
Traditionally, Ganesh Chaturthi was observed as a private family celebration. Recognising the potential of this festival to serve as a unifying force, Tilak transformed it into a public event.
His vision was to harness the festival's spirit to foster a collective identity and resistance against colonial oppression. Thus, in 1893, Tilak launched the first Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav in Pune, setting the stage for a tradition that would become a powerful emblem of unity.
Fostering unity through public celebrations
The introduction of Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav marked a significant shift in the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi. For the first time, Hindus from various castes, regions, and social backgrounds congregated in the public domain to celebrate a shared cultural event. This collective celebration effectively dismantled barriers, fostering a sense of common identity and purpose among the participants.
Tilak's approach was multifaceted. He leveraged religious gatherings to galvanise mass mobilisation, using the public celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi as a platform to promote cultural pride and political dissent. The festival rapidly gained traction, extending beyond Pune to other parts of Maharashtra as well as the country.
The public nature of the festival also facilitated the spread of nationalist ideas. Tilak utilised the occasion to deliver speeches advocating for self-rule (Swaraj) and unity among Indians in their struggle against British colonialism.
Ganesh pandals, or temporary structures for housing Ganesh idols, became hubs of cultural and intellectual activities, blending religious devotion with nationalist fervour and strengthening the communal fabric.
The freedom movement
Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav transcended its religious origins to become a strategic instrument in the fight against colonial rule. The British authorities, recognising the subversive potential of these public gatherings, attempted to disrupt them through various means, including bans on Tilak's photographs and processions. Despite these efforts, the festival's significance and scale continued to grow.
The festival played a pivotal role in promoting the Swadeshi movement, which emphasised the use of indigenous goods as a means to challenge British economic dominance.
Moreover, Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav helped bridge gaps between different castes and regions, fostering a cohesive Hindu identity.
The collective celebrations allowed Hindus from diverse backgrounds to connect over their shared cultural heritage, reinforcing a collective consciousness crucial for the nationalist movement. The festival became a rallying point, providing a sense of belonging and purpose that transcended individual identities.
Symbolism of Ganesh Chaturthi in the struggle against oppression
Ganesh, the elephant-headed deity, is venerated as the remover of obstacles and the bringer of good fortune. Tilak's innovative use of Ganesh Chaturthi for political mobilisation was a strategic masterstroke. By associating the festival with the nationalist cause, he harnessed the deep reservoir of religious devotion among Hindus and directed it towards the goal of Independence. The festival became a form of defiance against British rule and a testament to the cultural and spiritual resilience of the Hindu community.
Relevance of Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav
In contemporary times, as forces continue to seek division within the Hindu society, the spirit of Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav remains profoundly relevant. The festival serves as a poignant reminder of the strength found in unity amid adversity. Celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi publicly not only honours our traditions, but also reinforces the bonds of communal harmony that unite us.
The enduring significance of Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav lies in its capacity to inspire unity and collective pride. As we face modern challenges, the festival encourages us to celebrate all Hindu festivals with the same spirit of communal harmony and pride. By doing so, we can fortify the bonds that connect us and build a more cohesive and resilient Hindu society.
Reflecting on the historical significance of Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav underscores the importance of cultural unity in preserving the strength of the Hindu society. Amid ongoing divisive forces, the festival stands as a beacon of Sanatan Dharma's enduring power to unite and inspire.
Embracing the spirit of Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav enables us to ensure that our cultural traditions continue to serve as sources of strength and solidarity for future generations.
As highlighted by Dr. Geetali Tilak in her research document, the festival not only represents a significant cultural heritage, but also offers a powerful model for fostering unity in the face of contemporary challenges.
(The writer is an author and columnist. Her latest book is titled 'Blood in the Sea: The Dark History of Hindu Oppression in Goa'. The views expressed are personal)
Ganesh Chaturthi: A rallying point for Hindu solidarity and strength
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PM Modi invites top Singaporean business leaders to join India growth story
P
rime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met leading CEOs from diverse sectors, including investment funds, infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, sustainability and logistics, in Singapore and invited them to look at immense investment opportunities in India.
PM Modi also announced the setting up of an 'INVEST INDIA' office in the Southeast Asian city-state to boost bilateral trade.
Top business leaders who met PM Modi included Lim Ming Yan, Chairman, Singapore Business Federation; Kok Ping Soon, CEO, Singapore Business Federation and Gautam Banerjee, Chairman, India and South Asia Business Group and Senior MD and Chairman, Blackstone Singapore, among others.
PM Modi told the delegation that "the elevation of India-Singapore ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership would give a major thrust to bilateral economic relations".
Appreciating their investment footprint in India, the Prime Minister acknowledged the role played by the Singaporean industry leaders in strengthening bilateral relations and promoting economic cooperation between the two nations.
"India had made transformative progress in the last 10 years and would continue on the same path given its strengths of political stability, policy predictability, ease of doing business, and its reform-oriented economic agenda. It is set to become the third largest economy in the world over the next few years," he said.
Highlighting that India is contributing 17 per cent to global economic growth, PM Modi spoke about various initiatives to enhance India's participation in global value chains through programmes such as production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, India Semiconductor Mission and establishment of 12 new industrial smart cities. For businesses looking for resilient supply chains, the Prime Minister noted that India is the best alternative given its strengths.
Other top business leaders who met PM Modi were Lim Boon Heng, Chairman, Temasek Holdings; Lim Chow Kiat, CEO, of GIC Private Limited; Piyush Gupta, CEO and Director, DBS Group; Yam Kum Weng, CEO, Changi Airport Group, and Yuen Kuan Moon, CEO, SingTel.
Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and Minister for Home Affairs and Law, K Shanmugam, also participated in the event.
Meanwhile, the countries have announced a partnership to cooperate in the field of semiconductors. Under an MoU, Singapore and India will leverage complementary strengths in their semiconductor ecosystems and tap into opportunities to build resilience in their semiconductor supply chains. This will include government-led policy exchanges on ecosystem development, supply chain resilience, and workforce development.
PM Modi invites top Singaporean business leaders to join India growth story
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Genuine rational single window key for ease of doing business: Piyush Goyal to states
U
nion Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday emphasised that a genuine rational single window is key for ease of doing business in the country.
Addressing a conference of industries and commerce ministers of states in the national capital, the minister said if all states and union territories (UTs) come to one platform for approvals and facilities, it would attract global investment in each state.
"The government is making sincere efforts to promote India as the investment destination for the world and attract foreign direct investment (FDI) across different states and UTs," the minister emphasised.
The government has created a level-playing field for states and UTs to attract FDI.
"The investments coming from abroad is going to different states and each of them are beneficiary of our efforts to attract FDI," said Minister Goyal, adding that Centre and states can work together in all sectors and push towards greater employment opportunities.
"The approvals to industries in states should be time-bound and should be easy. We are experimenting with a system whereby people should not need to come to government offices for approvals and compliances," the minister informed.
Minister Goyal also recognised the outstanding work of states and UTs in enhancing the ease of doing business, highlighting States like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat for their remarkable reforms in streamlining processes and providing efficient services to businesses and citizens alike.
"Orissa has reformed its mines sector, UP has started promoting investment, Maharashtra is attracting FDI by improving infrastructure, Sikkim is adding value to the organic farming," said the minister, adding that each state should study the industry policies of other states and try to improve themselves.
"Rajasthan can teach other states on ways to improve their policies to make themselves more attractive to tourism," said the minister.
Industries and commerce ministers from 16 states and senior officials attended the conference.
Genuine rational single window key for ease of doing business: Piyush Goyal to states
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Putin says Ukrainian leaders like 'aliens'; praises India, others for conflict resolution efforts
R
ussian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said that Ukraine's leaders seem to be like "aliens", who make ruthless decisions without regard for the people's suffering, while praising friends and partners like India who seek to resolve the conflict.
"I sometimes get the impression that those who rule Ukraine are like aliens or foreigners... They don't think... you see, their losses are colossal. I can't even fathom what they will do next," he said at the plenary of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), RT reported.
The Russian President recalled that his country and Ukraine had essentially reached a peace deal - based on a Ukrainian commitment to neutrality - during the Istanbul talks soon after at the beginning of the conflict, but accused Western powers of derailing these efforts as they sought Russia's "strategic defeat".
Ukraine's behaviour under these circumstances raised questions, he noted.
He said that Kiev's only option is to lower the maximum age of conscription once again and this would allow them "to recruit children, as the German Nazis did with the Hitler Youth", in a reference to how Adolf Hitler's regime forced teenagers into makeshift militias in the closing stages of the Second War as the Allies advanced into German territory.
"But this will not solve the problem... The next step is to call up students, to bleed the country dry. Once again, it seems that Ukrainians are not their people," Putin said.
"They don't really think about the country. But they disguise it with nationalist slogans, deceiving people."
Ukraine announced general mobilisation shortly after the start of the conflict with Russia, but widespread draft-dodging and graft were reported. This spring, in a bid to recover military losses, the Ukrainian government passed two bills, one lowering the draft age from 27 to 25, and the other significantly tightening mobilisation rules.
The Russian leader also opined that the high casualties incurred by the Ukrainian military since its incursion in Russia's Kursk Region could render its armed forces useless.
He said the Ukrainian attempt to disrupt the Russian advance with the massive attack across the border last month had backfired.
"Our military has stabilised the situation and is now gradually pushing the opponent from the border territories. More importantly, there is no resistance to our advancement (in Donbass) The opponent has weakened itself on the key axis by moving those relatively strong and well-trained units to the border areas," he said, as per RT.
Ukraine expected Moscow to redeploy some of its forces from the east to repel the incursion in the north, but the gamble failed, as top Ukrainian general Aleksandr Syrsky recently admitted.
Putin said Russian troops had been securing more land in Donbass, which is a priority for Moscow, at a pace unseen in a long time. Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops are "suffering very high losses in manpower and hardware".
"Because of that, (Ukraine) risks a collapse of the front line on the most important axis. The casualties may result in a loss of fighting capability of the entire armed forces, which is what we are looking to achieve," he added.
With the Russian Defense Ministry estimating that Ukrainian casualties in the Kursk operation had surpassed 9,700 men, as well as 81 tanks, dozens of other armoured vehicles, and multiple heavy weapons, Putin told the audience that the intelligence had been confirmed by multiple sources.
He praised nations that were "sincerely interested" in resolving the conflict and its issues.
"We respect our friends and partners who I think are sincerely interested in addressing and resolving all the issues associated with the conflict (with Ukraine). China, Brazil, India... I am in contact with my partners and I have no doubt that the leaders of these countries, and we have the relations of trust and confidence with one another, will be really interested in providing a helping hand," he said.
Putin says Ukrainian leaders like 'aliens'; praises India, others for conflict resolution efforts
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Gautam Adani delivers lecture at Mumbai college which once rejected him
G
autam Adani applied for admission at Mumbai's Jai Hind College in the late 1970s but was rejected. On Thursday, the Chairman of the Adani Group delivered an inspiring lecture to students on Teachers' Day at the same college.
Sharing this information, Vikram Nankani, President of the Jai Hind College Alumni Association, introduced Gautam Adani to deliver the lecture.
"Fortunately or unfortunately, the college did not accept him and he went on to work full time and pursued an alternative career," Nankani told the gathering, declaring Gautam Adani as a "deemed alumni" since he had applied to join.
Gautam Adani had moved to Mumbai at age 16 and started working as a diamond sorter. And the rest is history. He turned to business and went on to build a more than $220 billion empire.
During his lecture at the college, Gautam Adani said this institution, born from the ashes of India's partition, is a great example of the resilience of the human spirit.
"I find it fascinating that, 75 years ago, two visionary professors from the D.J. Sind College in Karachi laid the foundation for this institution in two tiny rooms. Despite the immense challenges and human displacement happening during the partition of our country, they dreamed of a future where the force of education could heal and unite," said Gautam Adani.
Sharing his life story, the Chairman of the Adani Group said it was Mumbai that taught him that "To think big, you must first dare to dream beyond your boundaries".
"Just as I was turning 19, I was called back by my elder brother to assist in running our small-scale PVC film factory situated near Ahmedabad. The business was faced with many challenges primarily due to extreme government control and restrictive import policies, leading to severe shortages of raw materials. This was my first real encounter with the limitations of the business environment in India," shared Gautam Adani.
By the time he turned 23, the trading venture was doing well.
"And my third major break was about to come - one that would propel us into a new orbit. In 1995, the Gujarat government announced its port-led industrial development plan through public-private partnerships," said Gautam Adani.
Around that time, he was approached by the global commodities trader Cargill. It was a proposal to partner for manufacturing and sourcing salt from the Kutch region. While the partnership did not materialise, "we were left with about 40,000 acres of marshy land and approval to build a captive jetty at Mundra for the export of salt. What others saw as marshy barren land, we saw as a canvas waiting to be transformed. That canvas is now by far our nation's largest port", Gautam Adani said.
Gautam Adani delivers lecture at Mumbai college which once rejected him
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Land Warfare Weekly Defense-Update
Netherlands to Acquire Leopard 2A8 Tanks and Spike LR 2 Anti-Tank Missiles
The Netherlands has announced plans to procure Spike LR 2 anti-tank missiles from Israeli defense company Rafael. The Spike LR 2 is an advanced multi-purpose missile system known for its precision and versatility in various combat scenarios. The new missiles will replace earlier generation Spike missiles that have been in service for 20 years.
The Dutch army will reinstate part of its heavy armored force with the induction of 50 Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks. The move could be part of the Netherlands increasing contribution to NATO following the withdrawal of its heavy armored force, including relatively advanced Leopard 2A7 tanks, in 2011. The Dutch army leased some German tanks and stationed them in Germany but did not deploy their units.
Pre-Production Challenger 3 is Here
The first pre-production variant of the Challenger 3 main battle tank in the United Kingdom was unveiled at Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land, RBSL, the manufacturers site in Telford, UK. The tanks prototypes undergo field trials under operational conditions to validate and refine their performance before another 140 are built and delivered to the British Army.
Maiden Flight of the Model 437 Vanguard
Greece Declines U.S. Offer of Bradley Fighting Vehicles
In a surprising decision, the Greek Army has declined an offer from the United States to receive decommissioned Bradley Fighting Vehicles. This decision comes amid Greeces ongoing efforts to modernize its military forces. The Bradleys, a staple of U.S. armored forces, were offered as part of a broader military aid package. However, Greece cited logistical and operational concerns, including the cost of maintenance and integration into their existing systems, as reasons for the refusal. Greece currently operates several versions of the Leopard 2 and tanks with the Leonidas, a locally produced armored vehicle.
Croatias Acquisition of HIMARS Artillery Systems
Croatia is poised to enhance its military capabilities by acquiring eight M142 HIMARS artillery systems from the United States, valued at approximately $300 million. This move is part of Croatias broader strategy of modernizing its defense forces and strengthening its alignment with NATO allies.
Korean MBT for Poland on Display at MSPO 2024
The Korean Hyundai Rotem company displayed the K2EX main battle tank at MSPO. This is a more advanced variant, equipped with the Trophy active protection system. Another tank version also appeared at MSPO, equipped with a soft kill countermeasure system utilizing warning sensors and directional smoke dispensers. Rak mortar with new M69 turret system mounted on the Borsuk chassis
Latvia Establishes NATO Multinational Brigade Center
Latvia has taken a significant step in bolstering regional security by establishing a NATO Multinational Brigade Center. This initiative aims to enhance the coordination and interoperability of NATO forces in the Baltic region. The center will serve as a hub for multinational military cooperation, facilitating joint training exercises and improving rapid response capabilities. This development is significant given the heightened security concerns in Eastern Europe.
Effectiveness and Drawbacks of Thermal Camouflage Surface in Ukraine
Recent footage from Ukraine has showcased thermal camouflage technologys real-world effectiveness and limitations in modern warfare. The video demonstrates how thermal camouflage can significantly reduce the heat signature of military vehicles, making them harder for thermal imaging systems to detect. This technology is crucial in the ongoing conflict, where thermal imaging is vital in target acquisition and reconnaissance.
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The Bailey Buzz this week has questions from an excited Danville High School girls' flag football fan who's really looking forward to today's inaugural game at Ned Whitesell Field. This week's column also looks to some of the end-of-summer annual Labor Day weekend festivities in Vermilion County.
The Alliance for Pediatric Device Innovation (APDI), a nonprofit consortium led by Children's National Hospital and funded through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), announces today the recipients of grants totaling $200,000 to advance pediatric medical devices that improve the monitoring, diagnosis or treatment of youth suffering from substance use disorder and addiction. Selected by a panel of expert judges, each awardee receives $50,000 and opportunities for APDI support services across all phases of the medical device product lifecycle, including facilitating access to technical assistance from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
The four pediatric innovations selected for their potential impact on the issue of adolescent substance misuse are:
AltruMed, Philadelphia, Pa. Creators of DOVE, an innovative, shoulder-mounted device designed as a safety tool for those most at risk from overdose toxicity. Smaller than a matchbox, DOVE employs multi-modal sensing to detect severe respiratory depression and alerts bystanders and first responders.
Levl, Brooklyn, N.Y. Developing a remote therapeutic monitoring platform designed to address the critical challenges associated with stimulant medication treatment for adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, a group at greater risk for substance abuse. Based on collected patient data, Levl's proprietary, early risk detection mechanism is designed to enhance the safety and effectiveness of stimulant medication treatments in response to the rise in misuse and diversion among youth.
Sibel Health, Chicago, Ill. Providers of the FDA-cleared ANNE platform that includes advanced wearable sensors, artificial intelligence-enabled data analytics and an integrated mobile software and cloud platform for adolescents ages 12 and up. Grant funds will be used to modify the existing monitoring solution for use by patients and healthcare providers to detect opiate-induced respiratory depression in high-risk adolescents.
Toivoa, Washington, D.C. Developer of an evidence-based digital therapeutic platform that aims to increase access to care, reduce wait times, provide caregiver tools and offer personalized mental health support. Grant funds will be used for platform modifications that address mental health challenges for adolescents with dual diagnoses, including mental health and substance use disorder, and to address the support needs of caregivers.
ADPI developed this funding initiative in response to the alarming rate of illicit drug use by U.S. youth - about 3.6 million among ages 12 to 17 in 2022, as reported by the National Institutes of Health. That year, fatalities from drug overdose averaged 22 per week among youth ages 12 to 18, with most having no history of treatment for a substance use problem or prior nonfatal overdose.
Recognizing that drug overdose is now the third leading cause of death among adolescents, we see an urgent need to support new technologies that can help families and providers address this problem. We look forward to working with these grantees and see great potential in the lifesaving and life-changing impact that their technologies could make possible." Kolaleh Eskandanian, Ph.D., M.B.A., vice president and chief innovation officer at Children's National and APDI principal investigator and program director
APDI's grant awards follow the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse (NACDA) approval in May 2024 of the concept "Promoting Medical Device Development for Youth Affected by Drug Addiction and Substance Misuse," which describes potential funding opportunities. APDI aims to provide early support to promising innovations, recognizing that additional funding may be available from NIDA in the future.
APDI is one of five nonprofit consortia in the FDA's Pediatric Device Consortia grant program that receives funding to provide a platform of services, expertise and grants to support pediatric innovators in bringing medical devices to the market that specifically address the unmet needs of children. Along with Children's National, APDI members include Johns Hopkins University, CIMIT at Mass General Brigham, Tufts Medical Center, MedStar Health Research Institute, MedTech Color and OrthoPediatrics Corp.
A new study by investigators from Mass General Brigham has found that obesity may be an important risk factor for infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. Researchers analyzed electronic health record data from Mass General Brigham and found that individuals with obesity were 34% more likely to become COVID positive after reported exposure than individuals without obesity. Their findings, published in PNAS Nexus, indicate that obesity, a well-known risk factor for more severe symptoms and complications from the virus, may also increase risk of infection.
We knew that obesity raises risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes, but we were surprised to find that it also increases the likelihood of catching the virus in the first place. This suggests that obesity may play a more significant role in COVID-19 transmission than previously thought. Our results add to the growing body of evidence that maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for overall health." Masanori Aikawa, MD, PhD, corresponding author, director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences (CICS) at Brigham and Women's Hospital
Led by first author Joan T. Matamalas, PhD, a research scientist in the CICS, the researchers conducted a case-control study evaluating data in the Mass General Brigham COVID-19 Data Mart, which included COVID-19 results for 687,813 subjects tested for COVID-19 from March 2020 to March 2022 -; a period of rampant infection before vaccines were widely available. The team examined data from more than 72,000 participants who had reported contact with or suspected exposure to COVID-19.
The authors note that the study relied on self-reported information about potential exposure to the virus, which may not accurately reflect actual exposure, and was conducted in a single health system in Massachusetts, so the results may not be generalizable to other populations. Future studies could examine the biological mechanisms that may explain why individuals with obesity may be more susceptible and could help to identify new drug targets or more personalized vaccination approaches to help protect against infection and complications.
The researchers add that their hope is the study serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining good health and reducing risk as COVID-19 rates increase.
"Although our study was conducted on pre-vaccine data, numerous studies have shown that vaccines are the most effective and safe way to prevent COVID-19 infection and severe outcomes, regardless of weight or other risk factors," said Aikawa.
About half of adults can identify cigarettes and e-cigarettes, but just one in four would recognize oral nicotine pouches, and these easily available products are growing increasingly popular among teens and young adults, according to a recent study commissioned by The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center Arthur G. James Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC James).
Oral nicotine pouches are small packets filled with a flavored powder containing nicotine and other chemicals that are tucked between the lip and gums. Researchers at the OSUCCC James Center for Tobacco Research are concerned that these oral nicotine pouches are so appealing and easy to use that they could be a gateway to future tobacco product addiction for Gen Z.
Epidemiologist Brittney Keller-Hamilton, PhD, says these products are available in low- and high-nicotine concentrations, making them appealing to both new users and people who are already addicted to nicotine.
"We're starting to hear from college students that they find it easier to use nicotine pouches at work or in class because they are easier to conceal. They also do not require you to spit excess saliva like older tobacco oral products (dip, snuff)," said Keller-Hamilton, who studies nicotine pouch use and regulation at the Center for Tobacco Research. "One of my biggest concerns with nicotine pouches is that as youth experiment with these products, they might not find them to be satisfying enough to continue to meet a growing nicotine craving and then might transition to more harmful products."
She notes that regulation of these products is minimal, and that removing flavorings, prohibiting online sales, and increasing the price could discourage youth experimentation and, therefore, reduce their risk of becoming addicted to nicotine.
As students go back to school, Keller-Hamilton cautions parents to pay attention to what is in their teenagers' backpacks.
Many products are cleverly packaged to conceal the real content vapes as highlighters or pens, oral nicotine pouches as mints. Unfortunately, due to loose industry regulation, they are very easy to obtain for underage youth, and they are far from harmless. We know that when people start using any nicotine product, including nicotine pouches, before their brain is finished developing, it primes their brain for a stronger nicotine addiction and also primes their brain for addiction to other substances. It's really important for parents to talk with their kids about the dangers of these products and seek help from their pediatrician if they're concerned about nicotine addiction." Brittney Keller-Hamilton, PhD, Epidemiologist
Study results and methods
For this survey, 1,000 adults aged 18 or older were asked about their ability to recognize nicotine products with and without the visual aid of packaging, as well as their perceptions about the health effects of these products.
Ohio State's recent survey showed that 70% of adults believe nicotine pouches are harmful to health and lead to addiction, but just 25% say they could identify a nicotine pouch out of its container or packaging. The survey also found that those between the ages of 18-29 are more likely to know someone who uses nicotine pouches, as opposed to older adults.
This study was conducted on behalf of the OSUCCC James by SSRS on its Opinion Panel Omnibus platform. The SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus is a national, twice-per-month, probability-based survey. Data collection was conducted from July 19-22, 2024, among a sample of 1,008 respondents. The survey was conducted via web (n=976) and telephone (n=32) and administered in English. The margin of error for total respondents is +/- 3.5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus data are weighted to represent the target population of U.S. adults ages 18 or older.
An innovative study for the treatment of post-COVID syndrome (PCS) is starting under the direction of Frankfurt University Hospitals Department of Infectious Diseases. The research project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), will investigate new ways of alleviating the long-term effects of COVID-19, including fatigue and cognitive impairment. The first patient has been enrolled in the study this week.
There is still an urgent need for the treatment of post-COVID and associated symptoms, says Prof. Dr. Maria Vehreschild, who heads the study and oversees Frankfurt University Hospitals Infectious Diseases Department. That is why we are pleased to conduct RAPID_REVIVE, the first adaptive clinical study within the Network of University Medicine. The German Network of University Medicine (NUM) was set up in 2020 as part of the countrys COVID-19 pandemic crisis management to coordinate clinical COVID-19 research at German university hospitals.
RAPID_REVIVE (Randomized Adaptive Assessment of Post COVID Syndrome Treatments_Reducing Inflammatory Activity in Patients with Post COVID Syndrome) is a phase 2, adaptive, randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blind clinical trial sponsored by Goethe University Frankfurt and funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of NUM. The structural conditions required to commence the study were created as part of the NUM project NAPKON Therapeutic Intervention Platform (NAPKON-TIP). A total of 376 patients at eleven different NAPKON locations will be included in the study.
Post-COVID syndrome
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that most people who have had COVID-19 recover fully. However, after overcoming the infection, a subset of those affected suffer long-term effects, known as post-COVID syndrome (PCS). PCS is defined by symptoms that remain even three months after the onset of COVID-19, that continue for at least two months thereafter and that cannot be explained by another diagnosis. While the symptoms are diverse, those affected by PCS often suffer from pronounced fatigue, shortness of breath as well as cognitive impairments.
The RAPID_REVIVE study examines changes in the physical functions of participants, which are recorded at different points in time using questionnaires and tests. Beyond that, the study also looks at general mental and physical health, fatigue, cognitive functions, the severity of mental health impairments, shortness of breath and physical resilience. The study also seeks to identify prognostic biomarkers that provide information about the individual progression of PCS, which should pave the way for the selection of a treatment strategy tailored to the individual patient.
Vidofludimus calcium: Testing a promising drug candidate
Study participants will receive either the drug vidofludimus calcium (IMU-838) or a placebo. The decision as to who receives which preparation is randomly made (blinded 1:1 randomization). Once 150 patients have been included in the study, the allocation will be adjusted in accordance with the studys interim evaluations. Vidofludimus calcium is a novel drug candidate that activates the neuroprotective transcription factor Nurr1, a novel target for neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, the drug inhibits the enzyme DHODH, thereby blocking the production of pyrimidines, which cells rely on primarily for RNA synthesis. It is particularly effective in highly activated immune cells as well as virus-infected cells, which have a high demand for pyrimidines. Administering vidofludimus calcium could also help in treating chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, since the drug reduces excessive inflammation and prevents viral infection and reactivation.
Vidofludimus calcium showed promising results in an earlier clinical trial involving COVID-19 patients: Those who received the drug recovered faster and suffered less long-term fatigue compared to those who received a placebo. The treatment was well tolerated with few side effects. Vidofludimus calcium could thus not only help with the acute treatment of COVID-19, but also alleviate long-term symptoms.
The heavy metal cadmium, which is found in the air, water, food and soil, is known to cause health problems. A new study published in the September 4, 2024, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, examined if thinking and memory skills were associated with cadmium exposure. They found no association when they looked at the group as a whole. However, when looking at Black and white people separately, it found cadmium may be tied to problems with thinking and memory skills in white people. The study found no such association in Black people. The study does not prove that cadmium causes memory problems in white people; it only shows an association.
Cadmium is a highly toxic heavy metal that enters the body mainly through cigarette smoking, breathing polluted air and food. It is released into the environment through industrial and agricultural activities.
With the high occurrence and high cost of dementia to families and to society, it's important to identify risk factors for early cognitive problems that could be affected by changes in people's behavior or in society." Liping Lu, MD, PhD, study author of Columbia University, New York City
The study involved 2,172 people with an average age of 64 and no problems with thinking or memory skills. Black people made up 39% of the participants and white people made up 61%. Levels of cadmium in the urine were tested at the beginning of the study. Participants took tests of thinking and memory skills every year and were followed for an average of 10 years.
During that time, 195 people developed cognitive impairment. When researchers looked at the overall group, they found no association between cadmium levels and cognitive impairment. However, when they looked at Black and white participants separately, they found that white people with high levels of cadmium were more likely to develop cognitive impairment. They found no association in Black people.
With participants divided into two groups based on cadmium levels, white people with high levels were twice as likely to develop cognitive impairment as those with low levels, even after adjusting for other factors that could affect cognitive impairment, such as physical activity, alcohol use and education. A total of 9.2% of those with high levels developed thinking and memory problems, compared to 6.7% of those with low levels.
Lu said one explanation for the difference between white and Black people could be cigarette smoking. After dividing the participants into three groups based on cadmium levels, researchers found that white people in the highest level smoked an average of 23 pack-years compared to nine pack-years for Black people in the highest level. Pack-years are a way to measure smoking over time. It is determined by multiplying the number of packs smoked per day by the number of years smoked. So, 23 pack-years is equal to one pack a day for 23 years, or two packs a day for 11.5 years, for example.
"These results need to be confirmed with studies that measure cadmium levels over time, include more people and follow people over a longer time, but there are many reasons to reduce exposure to cadmium, whether it's through implementing policies and regulations for air pollution and drinking water or people changing their behaviors by stopping smoking or being around cigarette smoke," Lu said.
A limitation of the study was that cadmium levels in the urine were tested only at the beginning of the study and exposure may have changed over time.
The study was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National Institute on Aging.
With the support of the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO), the World Health Organization (WHO) has published a global framework to help Member States comprehensively investigate the origins of new and re-emerging pathogens. While there are a number of tools available for investigating infectious disease outbreaks, this is the first unified, structured approach to investigating the origins of a novel pathogen. This framework aims to fill that gap by providing a comprehensive set of scientific investigations and studies. It is the first version of a "how-to" guide that will be updated as and when needed, based on feedback from users.
As each outbreak and pandemic demonstrates, human and animal health is threatened by the increasing risk of the emergence of known (such as Ebola, Nipah, avian influenza, Lassa and Monkeypox viruses) and novel pathogens with epidemic and pandemic potential (novel influenza, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2), the ability to prevent, and when we cannot prevent, to swiftly contain outbreaks and identify their origins is scientifically, morally, and financially more critical than ever.
The WHO global framework outlines scientific investigations and studies for six technical elements:
Early investigations of the first identified cases/ clusters / outbreaks to identify potential sources of exposure, collection of samples at the source, define the characteristics of the novel pathogen involved for establishment of diagnostic assays.
of the first identified cases/ clusters / outbreaks to identify potential sources of exposure, collection of samples at the source, define the characteristics of the novel pathogen involved for establishment of diagnostic assays. Human studies : to understand the epidemiology including clinical presentation, modes of transmission, pathology and earliest presence in syndromic surveillance samples.
: to understand the epidemiology including clinical presentation, modes of transmission, pathology and earliest presence in syndromic surveillance samples. Human/Animal interface studies to identify potential animal reservoirs, intermediate hosts and reverse zoonoses.
studies to identify potential animal reservoirs, intermediate hosts and reverse zoonoses. studies to identify insect vectors or other sources of infection as well as earliest presence in the environment.
Genomics and Phylogenetics studies to identify precursor strains, genomic characteristics, evolution in intermediate hosts and humans and spatial distribution over time.
studies to identify precursor strains, genomic characteristics, evolution in intermediate hosts and humans and spatial distribution over time. Biosafety/Biosecurity studies to determine if a breach in laboratory or research activities may have been associated with the first cases.
The WHO Global framework has been designed as a resource for scientists, researchers, public health authorities, and investigators in Member States. It provides guidance when and how to initiate such multi-disciplinary investigations and offers recommendations to countries on the capacities and tools needed to successfully implement them. This includes the capacities needed such as human resources, human, animal, and environmental surveillance systems; biosafety and biosecurity regulations; and laboratories with testing and sequencing expertise and the importance of sharing the findings of such investigations as soon as possible to guide next steps. These recommendations were developed to align with the International Health Regulations (IHR) and using a One Health approach.
Timely and comprehensive investigations into pathogens' origins are critical for preventing and containing global health crises. The findings from such investigations provide the basis for stopping outbreaks before they begin, halting transmission chains and reducing the risk of pathogen spillover from animals to humans. They also can confirm or exclude the possibility of an unintentional breach in laboratory biosafety and biosecurity.
To achieve this, is it critical for countries to conduct these are sharing initial findings in a rapid, complete and transparent manner as soon as results are available to ensure the implementation of measures to mitigate further transmission and prevent new spillover events and, eventually, future pandemics.
Understanding when, where, how and why epidemics and pandemics begin is both a scientific imperative, to prevent future outbreaks, and a moral imperative for the sake of those who lose their lives to them. This framework provides for the first time comprehensive guidance on the studies that are needed to investigate the origins of emerging and reemerging pathogens. If it had been in place when COVID-19 struck, the quest to understand its origins may have been less contentious and more successful. WHO continues to call on China to share all information it has on the origins of COVID-19, so that all hypotheses can be investigated." Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General
Established in November 2021 and made up of independent experts from around the world, the SAGO was tasked with identifying the best technical and scientific approaches to understanding the origins of emerging and re-emerging pathogens and developing this global framework. The SAGO forms part of a strengthened health emergency preparedness and prevention system developed by WHO, its Member States and many health and scientific partners.
A team of researchers has developed a radical new technique for analyzing evidence in sexual assault cases. The new approach could streamline the forensics pipeline and reduce delays in the processing of DNA evidence.
The research is described in a paper published today in the journal Advanced Science.
There are almost half a million sexual assaults in Canada every year with many more going unreported. The new approach could mitigate one of the reasons victims are reluctant to report assaults: the perception that analysis of forensic evidence is too slow.
For this research, we read reports and surveys that asked victims why they weren't reporting assaults. And the most common answer was that they didn't have confidence in the justice system -; and that lack of confidence was partly because of how long the process takes." Mohamed Elsayed, lead author
The lead author is Elsayed, who worked on this project as part of his PhD in Biomedical Engineering and who is now a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Toronto (U of T). His U of T co-authors include Professor Aaron Wheeler from the Department of Chemistry, the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at U of T, and the Centre for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies, and Leticia Bodo, a member of Innis College and a master's student in the Department of Chemistry. All three are also affiliated with the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research.
Additional co-authors of the study include researchers from the Department of Forensic Science, University of Toronto Mississauga; Ontario's Centre of Forensic Sciences (CFS); and the ANDE Corporation. Funding was provided by NSERC Alliance Society and ANDE.
"CFS and ANDE were critical contributors at every step of the project," says Wheeler. "I'm also grateful to NSERC for having the foresight to establish the 'Alliance Society' program which has a mission to 'address a societal challenge that will result in new natural sciences and engineering knowledge and societal impact.'"
Processing forensic evidence in sexual assault cases is a highly technical, multi-step process. Typically, DNA evidence is first collected from the victim, then sent to a well-equipped forensic laboratory for analysis by a skilled technician. Once there, the sample is first processed to isolate the assailant's DNA from the victim's; analysis of the assailant's DNA can then be conducted and used to identify a suspect.
The entire process can take days, weeks or longer. Most of that time is taken up with transporting the evidence to the lab; also, once at the lab, the speed with which the sample is analyzed depends on the number of other cases requiring analysis.
The researchers focused on the first step -; that of separating the DNA of two individuals from a single sample. Currently, this can only be done manually by trained and experienced experts in a lab; i.e. there is no automated solution.
What Elsayed and his collaborators have developed is a process for separating two individual's DNA employing a process called differential digestion technique using digital microfluidics. The new approach mitigates the current logistical and technical challenges.
The researchers simplified the process by reducing the number of manual steps needed to isolate the assailant's DNA from 13 to five. "Also, because micro-fluidic processes tend to be faster, we expect that one of the eventual benefits will be shortening the overall time needed," says Elsayed.
What's more, the new approach could lead to a mobile solution that doesn't require a lab. For example, testing could be done at a hospital where a victim would typically be taken in a sexual assault case -; thereby eliminating the time necessary for the sample to reach the lab and circumventing the lab's queue.
The new technique is compatible with the technology known as Rapid DNA Analysis, already in use for the second step of identifying an individual from their DNA. According to the authors, the long term goal would be to integrate the two technologies to make the process even more streamlined.
There are many challenges to overcome before the new technique is operational and deployed. But Elsayed is confident those challenges will be solved and has turned his efforts toward making it commercially viable and widely accessible.
"Our plan is to develop an instrument that will do in five minutes what currently takes 45," says Elsayed. "And to run many more samples than previously. Once we do that, the next step would be to introduce the technology to forensic labs and hospitals. It will take years but the potential is very exciting."
A group of Brazilian researchers has found a potential target for novel therapeutic strategies to combat fungal infections more specifically, those caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. An article reporting the discovery is published in the journal Communications Biology.
This species and other Aspergillus fungi are responsible for complications such as invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), a potentially fatal infection that can only occur in patients with weakened immune systems, such as those hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs). Depending on the patient's condition, the mortality rate from IPA ranges from 20% to 72%.
We found that silencing a specific gene attenuated virulence. When it was deleted, the fungus remained viable, but important biological processes were affected, making the fungus less virulent and increasing the likelihood of its being eliminated by existing medications or even by the human immune system," Natalia Sayuri Wassano, Study First Author and PhD Student, University of Campinas
The study was conducted while she was a PhD candidate at the State University of Campinas's Biology Institute (IB-UNICAMP) with a scholarship from FAPESP, and was part of a project supported by FAPESP.
Resistance to existing antifungals is frequent, and chronic IAP patients may spend years undergoing treatment. The available therapies can also have adverse side-effects, such as vomiting and headache.
"Very few new antifungal drugs have been approved for use in recent years. Molecules that can have complementary action with others already in use, however, have shown significant potential and are highly likely to be approved," said Andre Damasio, co-corresponding author of the article and a professor at IB-UNICAMP.
The other corresponding author is Nilmar Moretti, a professor at the Federal University of Sao Paulo's Medical School (EPM-UNIFESP). He and Damasio belong to the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) in Human Pathogenic Fungi, one of several such institutes in Sao Paulo State funded by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) in partnership with FAPESP.
Another research group supported by FAPESP recently patented a novel compound that combats drug-resistant fungi when combined with commercially available antifungals. Two of the researchers involved in that study are co-authors of this article (more at: https://agencia.fapesp.br/41848).
Novel target
Next steps for the research group include finding a molecule that inactivates sirtuin E, the protein that produced the best results among six tested. If they find one, it could serve as a basis for a drug that would make the fungus more sensitive to existing medications.
Sirtuins, the class of proteins analyzed in the study, are also present in humans, playing a part in several cellular and physiological processes. The researchers found that 25% of the sirtuins studied were identical in the fungus and in humans; the low percentage means sirtuin could be a safe drug target.
"It isn't necessarily bad for a future drug with this target to inhibit human sirtuin as well as fungal sirtuin, but it's something we should look out for. Marginal side-effects can be acceptable in novel drugs, provided the benefits are substantial," Damasio said.
One of the difficulties of finding new antifungals is precisely the similarity between some of the proteins found in fungi and humans. The reason is that we are closer to fungi in evolutionary terms than we are to bacteria, for example. Genes from some common ancestor have been conserved in both humans and fungi. This partly explains why it has been possible to produce so many drugs to combat bacteria.
Aspergillus spp is prioritized by WHO
To arrive at their results, the researchers bred seven mutant strains of A. fumigatus, in one of which six sirtuins were deleted, while a different sirtuin was inactivated in each of the others by means of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technique.
Cultured on plates in the laboratory, the mutant that did not produce any of the six sirtuins and the mutant without the gene sirE (which produces the protein sirtuin E), grew less than the wild strain at 37 C, the average normal temperature of the human body.
The researchers then infected mice with the wild strain and the mutant without sirE. The mice infected with the mutant fungus did not develop the disease, whereas the mice infected with the wild strain died after six days.
"We were unable to determine exactly what made this strain more virulent, but the analyses showed several possibilities. The gene in question appears to regulate key functions such as cell wall integrity and production of secondary metabolites that help defend it from the human immune system, among other things," said Wassano, who conducted part of the experiments during a research internship at the University of Wisconsin Madison in the United States.
Wassano and Damasio are co-authors of another article about the mutant that does not produce SirE, reporting a study led by the group at UW Madison.
The new antifungal options on the market and the emergence of drug-resistant strains led the World Health Organization (WHO) to list A. fumigatus as a fungal priority pathogen to guide research, development, and public health action.
"In vitro and in vivo synergy studies would allow optimization of treatment regimes", according to the 2022 document.
Study reveals how semaglutide not only aids in weight loss but also offers a surprising defense against severe infections, including COVID-19, in at-risk populations.
Study: The Effect of Semaglutide on Mortality and COVID-19Related Deaths: An Analysis From the SELECT Trial. Image Credit: MillaF / Shutterstock
In a recent study published in The Journal of The American College of Cardiology, researchers assessed the effects of semaglutide on mortality.
The obesity epidemic has led to a global increase in obesity-related complications. Besides, obesity is associated with a heightened risk of all-cause mortality across populations. It aggravates various cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and is, per se, an independent risk factor for CV mortality. Improving obesity-related mortality is challenging as fewer interventions yield clinically meaningful, safe, and sustained weight loss.
While observational studies report associations between bariatric surgery or intentional weight loss and reduced mortality, no randomized clinical trials show that weight loss therapies augment CV outcomes. The Semaglutide Effects on CV Outcomes in Patients with Obesity or Overweight (SELECT) trial found a statistically significant reduction in the rate of all-cause mortality among patients receiving semaglutide compared to placebo recipients.
Besides, semaglutide also reduced the primary composite endpoint (CV death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal stroke). However, it is important to note that the reduction in CV deaths did not reach the prespecified threshold for statistical significance, meaning subsequent analyses should be viewed as hypothesis-generating rather than confirmatory.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic ensued after the SELECT trial commenced. The most severe COVID-19 periods were concurrent with the trial, thus allowing for studying the effects of COVID-19 in patients at risk of COVID-19 complications and mortality and whether semaglutide could modify the risk.
About the study
In the present study, researchers evaluated the effects of semaglutide on CV, non-CV, and all-cause mortality. The SELECT trial investigated semaglutide in decreasing the risk of the primary composite endpoint in 17,604 patients with overweight/obesity and CV disease but without diabetes. Eligible participants were aged 45 and had a body mass index (BMI) 27 kg/m2 and CV disease (symptomatic peripheral artery disease, prior myocardial infarction, or prior stroke).
Patients were randomized to receive 2.4 mg semaglutide or placebo once weekly for 16 weeks. Randomization occurred between October 2018 and March 2021, thus overlapping with COVID-19 periods. The present study assessed the effects of semaglutide on all-cause death, non-CV and CV death, and COVID-19 death.
Despite the overall positive results, the study found that semaglutide did not reduce the incidence of COVID-19 itself but did lower the severity of COVID-19-related adverse events.
A clinical events committee independently reviewed deaths to determine the cause. The SELECT trial prospectively collected clinical information on COVID-19 treatment, outcomes, and death shortly after the pandemic began. Time-to-event outcomes were examined using hazard ratios estimated from a Cox proportional hazards model. However, it is essential to acknowledge that competing risks, such as non-CV death during the pandemic, could have influenced the observed effects on CV death rates, as non-CV deaths might have 'competed' with CV deaths as causes of mortality. The study employed the Aalen-Johansen estimator to account for these competing risks, which is more accurate than traditional methods in such scenarios.
Findings
In the SELECT trial, 833 deaths occurred over a median of 3.3 years of follow-up. Of these, 58% were CV deaths, and 42% were non-CV deaths. Lower rates of all-cause death, non-CV death, and CV mortality were noted among semaglutide recipients than in the placebo group. However, it is crucial to note that the lower rate of non-CV death with semaglutide was largely due to fewer infection-related deaths, especially those due to COVID-19, rather than a broad reduction across all non-CV death causes.
In general, consistently lower mortality rates were observed in the semaglutide group across subgroups (age, race, sex, heart failure, renal function) compared to placebo subjects.
Notably, there was a trend toward a higher treatment effect with semaglutide in patients with glycated hemoglobin levels 6% for non-CV and all-cause death compared to placebo. The most common cause of CV death was sudden cardiac death. Infections and malignancy were the most common causes of non-CV death. Overall, 24.2% of patients reported COVID-19 diagnosis.
Semaglutide did not decrease the number of patients with COVID-19 compared to placebo. However, among patients with COVID-19, fewer semaglutide recipients had serious adverse events related to COVID-19. Patients with COVID-19 were more likely to have a non-CV cause of death. However, an inverse relationship was observed in those without COVID-19. The study highlighted that this unexpected pattern might be due to the unique circumstances of the pandemic, which increased the prominence of non-CV deaths as competing risks.
Throughout the trial, 137 non-CV deaths were reported among those with COVID-19. Fewer deaths were adjudicated as COVID-19-related in the semaglutide arm. Numerically, fewer deaths occurred in the semaglutide arm in COVID-19 subgroups. Most non-CV deaths occurred after COVID-19 onset. Rates of CV death were lower before and after the pandemic in both arms and did not increase during the pandemic.
Conclusions
Together, once-weekly 2.4 mg semaglutide reduced all-cause mortality by 19%, CV deaths by 15%, and non-CV deaths by 23% among non-diabetic obese or overweight patients with CV disease. However, it is important to recognize that the reduction in non-CV deaths was primarily due to fewer deaths from infections, particularly COVID-19, and not necessarily from a broader reduction across all causes of non-CV death. Further, non-CV death may have been a competing risk for CV death during the pandemic.
Subjects with COVID-19 were more likely to have a non-CV death, while those without COVID-19 were more likely to die from CV causes. The study's findings are significant, but they should be interpreted cautiously, considering the limitations, including the potential for misclassification of causes of death and the unique circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the findings underscore the mortality benefit of semaglutide and reinforce that obesity and overweight elevate mortality risks through several etiologies, which can be modified with potent therapies like semaglutide.
In an effort to please commuters during Ganeshotsav, the Maharashtra government has decided to waive toll tax for all Ganesha devotees from Thursday, September 5 to September 19.
Ganesh devotees from across the state travel to their villages for Ganeshotsav, often paying tolls along the way. However, during Ganeshotsav, tolls will be discounted, providing relief and benefits to the devotees.
Ganesh devotees will be exempted from tolls on the Mumbai-Goa Highway, Mumbai-Bangalore Highway, and all toll booths under the Public Works Department and Maharashtra Road Development Corporation. The state government has issued a circular directing the toll administration to implement this order.
Ganesha devotees traveling to villages for Ganesh Utsav, along with State Road Transport Corporation buses, will be exempted from tolls. The state government has advised contacting the transport department to obtain a free pass.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has spearheaded efforts for an eco-friendly Ganeshotsav. He has urged devotees to use Shadu clay idols instead of Plaster of Paris ones.
Additionally, authorities have been directed to immediately repair all potholes on arrival and immersion routes, before the festival. The Chief Minister has also instructed to increase the number of artificial lakes in all cities, including Mumbai.
The government has been taking measures to ensure that potholes do not hinder travel for those heading to Konkan for Ganeshotsav. Chief Minister Shinde has pledged to make the Mumbai-Goa highway pothole-free before the festival.
Mumbai is all set to get its first pod taxi service for the bustling business hub of Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC).
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has approved the project, which was first proposed in March by the state government.
According to TOI, the new route will connect Bandra and Kurla railway stations through BKC, aiming to cut down travel time from 45 minutes to a swift, congestion-free ride.
The contract has been awarded to Sai Green Mobility, teaming up with Ultra PRT, the same company that brought pod taxis to Londons Heathrow Airport. With upcoming projects like the bullet train and new commercial developments, MMRDA sees the pod taxis as the perfect solution for last-mile connectivity in this high-traffic area.
A detailed study by Tata Consulting Engineers found that pod taxis are the best option for BKC, considering the areas layout and expected growth. MMRDA Chairman and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the system will set the standard for urban transport across India, boosting sustainable and efficient mobility.
The project, approved in MMRDAs 156th authority meeting, will cost an estimated Rs 1,016 crore and will be completed in three years. It will operate under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, with a 30-year concession period including revenue-sharing with MMRDA.
Stocks To Watch On September 5: Equity markets took a breather after a 14-day winning run and closed on Wednesday amid weak global trends. In todays trade, shares of GIC Re, RIL, Vedanta, Sona BLW, PNB Housing Finance, Suzlon Energy among others will be in focus due to various news developments.
Vedanta: Vedanta said its display glass business is expected to grow 10-fold, following the consolidation of its holding in AvanStrate Inc.
Sona BLW Precision: Auto component maker Sona BLW Precision Forgings is likely to raise up to Rs 2,400 crore through a qualified institutions placement. It has set a floor price of Rs 699 per share.
Reliance Industries: The company has secured the full 10 GWh capacity of the Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) under the second phase of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. RIL is constructing a 30 GWh battery manufacturing facility in Jamnagar, with production expected to start in the latter half of 2025. Additionally, Reliances board will meet on September 5 to discuss a 1:1 bonus share issue.
Suzlon Energy: Suzlon Energy has signed a conveyance deed with OE Business Park for sale of One Earth property for Rs 440 crore.
Adani Enterprises: The companys first retail bond issue, aiming to raise up to Rs 800 crore, has been fully subscribed. The company has also set up a subsidiary in Kenya to pursue a potential acquisition of Nairobis Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, with an estimated investment of up to $810 million.
General Insurance Corporation of India: The first day of GIC Res offer for sale (OFS) saw bids worth nearly Rs 2,300 crore. The OFS, which aims to divest up to 6.78 per cent of the governments stake, has received bids for 58 million shares. The final divestment may be less than 3.4 per cent, with further divestments required to meet the 25 per cent public shareholding mandate.
Prestige Estates Projects: The company has raised Rs 5,000 crore via a Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) by issuing 2,98,68,578 equity shares at Rs 1,674 each, a discount of 4.62 per cent on the floor price.
Suzlon Energy: The company has sold its Pune headquarters, One Earth, for Rs 440 crore in a sale-and-leaseback deal with OE Business Park Private Limited. The transaction will help Suzlon focus on core manufacturing and improve liquidity, with the option to repurchase the property in the future.
Star Health and Allied Insurance: The company is exploring collaborations with insurers in Africa and West Asia for inward reinsurance opportunities via GIFT City. The company has also launched its first Braille insurance policy, Special Care Gold, aimed at individuals with disabilities.
HDFC Bank: Quant Mutual Fund has likely liquidated its entire position in HDFC Bank, which was previously one of its top holdings.
Mastek: Capital Group sold a 5.6 per cent stake in Mastek for over Rs 475 crore. Concurrently, ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund acquired shares in Mastek, indicating its active interest in the IT services company.
Allied Blenders and Distillers: ABDL has received board approval to acquire an 80 per cent stake in a new venture with film star Ranveer Singh. The new entity will focus on luxury and premium spirits, with an investment of up to Rs 70 crore.
Canara Bank: The bank has successfully mobilized $300 million through its IFSC Banking Unit in Gandhinagar. The bonds, which carry a 4.896 per cent coupon rate, were well-received by investors from Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
Linde India, Tata Steel: The company has entered into an agreement to acquire two 1800 tpd air separation units from Tata Steels Kalinganagar expansion project.
St. Stephens College on Wednesday contended before the Delhi High Court that admitting a student under single girl child quota, fixed by the Delhi University (DU), is violative of the right to equality before law.
The counsel for the college argued that the quota for girl child is ultra vires Article 14, 15(3) and 15(5) and 30 of the Constitution and allocation of seats under this quota goes against these four articles.
The high court asked if the college raised this objection anywhere before.
Did you raise this objection anywhere earlier at any stage? Did you challenge this policy ever or write to them or filed any case ever? asked Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma.
To this, senior advocate Romy Chacko said, This year they agreed that they will only allocate 5 per cent excess of the seats and will allocate one candidate for each program. But today we are actually forced to challenge it on the ground that instead of one candidate they are actually allocating 13 candidates. We would have no problem if we were asked to admit one girl child. However, today DU argued that if BA (prog) has 13 combinations, 13 girl child students would have to be admitted, he said, adding the state cannot deny to any person equality before law.
The submission was opposed by the counsel for petitioner students and the Delhi University who said this objection was never raised before.
Why did the college not challenge the varsitys bulletin of information for admission if they are aggrieved by this provision? said the counsel for DU.
The judge orally observed, for this I think you (college) will have to challenge it separately.
As per the universitys bulletin for information on admission, one seat in each program of every college is reserved under the supernumerary quota for a single girl child.
The parent/ guardian (in case parents are deceased) will have to declare that the girl child is the only child of the parents and they have no other male/ female child other than the girl child for which the application is being submitted for admissions in the academic session 2024-25, it said.
The colleges counsel contended that there is no law on this and it is a decision taken by the university only.
Fundamental rights cannot be taken away by an executive order. This has no statutory backing. All these quotas imposed on us have no statutory backing. Therefore, this particular quota is ultra vires Article 14, 15(3), 15 (5) and 30, he argued.
He added that the college had agreed for the quota but now the DU is trying to impose something which is contrary to the university bulletin.
The college contended that the varsity was trying to impose quotas against minority institutions.
All these quotas imposed on us have no statutory backing. Today you are trying to impose something which is beyond the universitys bulletin, the counsel said.
Advocate Mohinder Rupal, appearing for the Delhi University, said there are about 7-8 minority colleges under it and only one college is having an issue and others have no problem with respect to allocation of seats.
He said the varsitys bulletin was not challenged by the college at any point of time.
He said the college ought not have played with the career of the petitioner students by refusing them admission when their names were already released by the university in the selected candidates for admission to the college.
At the fag end of the days hearing, the court took exception to a submission made by the colleges lawyers that it would be unfair to them in case they are not granted an opportunity to file reply to a counter affidavit filed by the varsity.
The court noted that it heard the arguments in the case from 11:30 AM to 1 PM and from 2:30 PM to 4 PM and during this period, the counsel for the college also addressed arguments.
The court listed the matter for Thursday for hearing arguments on some limited points.
It was the case of petitioners that despite being allocated seats by the university with the college for the courses of BA Economics (Hons) and BA Programme, yet their admissions were not completed within the stipulated time frame.
The single judge had earlier granted the relief of provisional admission to the six students while noting that there was no fault of these students who had successfully cleared the CUET exam and other formalities and despite being meritorious they were being kept under suspense regarding the fate of their admission.
However, the college challenged the order before the division bench which barred the six students, who were granted provisional admission in St. Stephens College on the basis of the DUs allotment of seats, from attending classes till pendency of the main petition.
The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has revised the Karnataka National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) Round 1 seat allotment 2024 and the Karnataka Undergraduate Common Entrance Test (UG CET) Round 1 choice entry date. As per the updated schedule, the deadline to confirm admission, choose to upgrade, or withdraw from Karnataka NEET UG counselling has been extended to September 5.
The official notification reads, Date Extended for selection of Choice, payment of fees, submission of original documents and reporting to the college by the candidates who have been allotted engineering, architecture, agriculture, veterinary, B- Pharm, B.Sc. (Nursing), Yoga & Naturopathy etc seats in the first round. (Public holidays on September 7 and 8 may be noted on account of Ganesha Chaturthi and Sunday).
KEA NEET UG 2024: Revised Counselling Schedule
Exercising Choices by the seat allotted candidates in consultation with the parents: September 5 up to 11.00 am.
Payment of fees only by Choice-1 selected candidates: September 5 up to 4.00 pm Working Hours.
Downloading of Admission Orders only by fee paid Choice-1 Candidates: Up to 2.00 pm on September 6.
The last date for reporting to the allotted colleges by Choice 1, the fee paid and admission order downloaded candidates only: September 6 before 5.30 pm.
Applicants must select one of the four alternatives offered to them. Choice 1 is for applicants who want to be admitted into the first available seats, Choice 2 is for applicants who are satisfied with their seat allotment but would like to be considered for a higher preference, Choice 3 is for applicants who are unhappy with their seat assignment and would like to request an upgrade, and Choice 4 is for applicants who would like to withdraw from the counselling process.
The official notice also states that all participating institutes colleges have been directed to treat all Saturdays and Sundays and Gazetted Holidays as working days to ensure faithful obedience of schedule and also keeping in view the limited time available for conducting counselling.
A third-year LLB student at National Law University, Delhi, reportedly died by suicide on Monday. Her body was discovered in her hostel room on Tuesday afternoon, alongside a suicide note, according to a report by The Indian Express.
The suicide note left by the student mentioned that she did not blame anyone for her decision and expressed apologies to her parents for taking this extreme step, reported the police.
Additional DCP (Dwarka), Nishant Gupta was quoted by Indian Express as saying that the student, a Chennai native, had been struggling with academic pressure and had previously expressed suicidal thoughts to her roommates in April this year. He further added that the student was taken to Chennai by her family for a week after her roommates informed them.
Her parents are anticipated to arrive today, and the body is already in the mortuary with a post-mortem examination planned for today.
In a separate incident, a 24-year-old MBBS student was found hanging in his residence in Assams Cachar district, police reported. Two handwritten notes, confirmed by the family as written by the student, were recovered from the scene.
The student, who was in his final year at Silchar Medical College and Hospital, was discovered hanging in his room late on September 3. The police were notified immediately after the discovery. According to a senior officer, the notes left behind by the student sought forgiveness from his mother and stated that no one was to be blamed for his death.
If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata)
Teachers have a huge influence on the lives of students. They not only make students receive education or knowledge but also instill principles that make them better individuals. September 5, celebrated as Teachers Day in India commemorates the birth of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He was Indias second President and its first Vice President. He was also a scholar, philosopher, exemplary teacher, politician and holder of the Bharat Ratna award who committed his life to education and influencing the countrys youth. Radhakrishnans contributions to education in India are remarkable.
ALSO READ: Happy Teachers Day 2024: Best Wishes, Messages, Images, Quotes and WhatsApp Greetings to Share!
In 1962, some of his students visited Dr Radhakrishna to wish him a happy birthday. It was then he advised the students to mark the day (September 5) in remembrance of all of Indias teachers. The day is a reminder of the important role that teachers play in nation-building by leading and teaching our countrys brightest minds.
ALSO READ: Teachers Day 2024: History, Quotes, Wishes, and Global Celebrations!
Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan received the Bharat Ratna, Indias highest civilian distinction, in 1954. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize 27 times, including 16 times for the Nobel Prize in Literature and 11 times for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Motivational Messages from Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan to Celebrate Teachers Day
As we celebrate Teachers Day on September 5, our focus often centres on classroom teachers who spend their days within the walls of their classrooms. However, today, we shine a spotlight on another vital group of educators: dance teachers. Unlike their classroom counterparts, dance teachers are constantly on the move, dedicating themselves to nurturing talent and instilling a love for dance in their students. Despite their relentless efforts, dance teachers often dont receive the recognition they truly deserve.
Honouring Dance Educators: A Milestone Achievement
In a significant milestone for dance education, Priyanka Shinde, a dance teacher from CP Goenka School, Ulwe, Navi Mumbai, received the Best Teacher Award at Vidhyaiva Sarvadhanam. In its 10th year, this was the first time a school had nominated an activity teacher for the award, underscoring the growing appreciation for the vital role dance teachers play in education.
The Holistic Impact of Dance Education
According to Dr. Smita Gandhi, Principal of CP Goenka International School, Ulwe: As an educationist, I believe in the holistic development of learners. Even if we only think of academic performance, dance plays a crucial role. The amount of stress children are going through these days to prove themselves in school makes dance or any performing art imperative. It heals their mind and soul, relaxes every muscle of their body, rejuvenating them and preparing them for upcoming challenges.
Dance as Emotional Expression and Inclusive Practice
Dr. Gandhi continues: Dance is an expression of emotionsa window for children to express themselves. With so many emotions pent up, embedding dance and other art forms in the curriculum is essential for providing this healing outlet. Also, if we talk about inclusive practices, embedding performing arts in the curriculum and promoting it supports inclusion in a big way. Not everyone is going to excel in STEM, and performing arts give students the platform to showcase their talents, boosting their confidence and enhancing academic performance.
INCENTIVES FOR DANCE AND ARTS EDUCATION
In Maharashtra, students who have studied classical dance, drama, and singing for at least five years from a government-approved institution and passed five exams in these arts are awarded 15 marks by the state education board. Those who pass three exams receive 10 marks, and winners of national and state-level tournaments or scholarships in these arts are given a total of 25 marks. This policy underscores the value of these disciplines and encourages students to excel in the arts.
THE IMPACT OF DANCE EDUCATION
Sunil Kumar Prabhakaran, Programme Director of Major City and organizer of Vidhyaiva Sarvadhanam which honours teachers from Navi Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad across around 80 schools every year emphasises the crucial role of dance teachers in fostering a balanced education.
Schools should promote the arts, including dance, to create a balanced learning environment. This approach helps students who may struggle academically feel valued and engaged, providing additional reasons to attend school. A well-rounded education that includes both academic and extracurricular pursuits can significantly enrich students learning experiences.
INTEGRATING DANCE INTO THE CURRICULUM
Jennifer Browne, IB Diploma Coordinator & Drama Teacher at Stonehill International School, Bangalore, underscores the importance of integrating dance into the curriculum: The International Baccalaureate (IB) views the Arts as equally important as other subjects. During the Middle Years Programme, students explore Drama, Music, and Art, choosing one as their focus from grade 9 onwards. At Stonehill, we incorporate movement as part of the Drama course and encourage students to explore physical theatre and movement. We also celebrate our host culture with performances of Indian dances, from classical to Bollywood, during special events.
THE INSPIRING PATH OF DANCE TEACHERS
Browne, who studied Theatre at Guildford School of Acting in the UK, adds: Dance teachers, often perceived as strict, push their students because they believe in their potential and take joy in their progress. Witnessing a student master a dance routine and perform with passion is deeply rewarding. Recently, I saw a poignant IB Diploma performance that conveyed a romantic journey through movement alone, highlighting how dance uniquely captures and communicates profound human experiences.
ENSURING RECOGNITION AND RESOURCES
Ensuring that dance education receives recognition and resources alongside other subjects involves several strategic steps.
Dr. Swati Mukherjee, Vice Chairperson of Saviors Foundation and Founder of Unskooler Education, Mumbai, explains, Dance education should be supported through advocacy and awareness, inclusion in the curriculum, professional development for teachers, and resource allocation. Performance opportunities and community engagement also play crucial roles in positioning dance as an essential component of a well-rounded education.
ADDRESSING UNIQUE CHALLENGES
Addressing the unique challenges faced by dance teachers is crucial. Dr Mukherjee suggests, Schools can support dance teachers by aligning their roles with academic teachers, providing a supportive work environment, and offering professional development. Recognition through awards and incorporating dance into broader school culture are also important. Ensuring physical and mental health support, involving dance teachers in decision-making, and engaging the community can help create an environment where dance teachers feel valued.
DANCE CLASSES BOOST EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING
According to Khusbu Gupta, parent of a Class 5 student, since their child started learning dance at school, they have observed a remarkable change in behaviour. The dance classes have provided a positive outlet for their childs emotions and significantly helped in managing anger more effectively. Khusbu is truly grateful for how this has improved both their childs well-being and the familys harmony.
A DAY IN A DANCE TEACHERS LIFE
Priyanka Shindes recognition as Best Teacher at Vidhyaiva Sarvadhanam highlights the growing appreciation for the role of dance teachers.
Priyanka shares insights into her demanding role: A typical day for me involves preparing for school, teaching several periods, and managing additional responsibilities such as taking proxy classes. The physical demands of teaching dance are significant, and while we dont handle notebook corrections like academic teachers, our workload is equally challenging.
Despite these challenges, Priyanka remains motivated by her passion for dance: My background in BEIT might seem unrelated, but teaching dance is my true passion. It gives me the strength to face each day, especially when supported by a great team.
HONOURING ALL EDUCATORS
As we honour our teachers today, let us also recognise and support the dance teachers who contribute so profoundly to students holistic development. Their dedication and passion deserve the same level of acknowledgment and respect as their classroom counterparts.
The BJP will be making the abrogation of Article 370, promise of jobs, and empowerment of women as the mainstay of its campaign in Jammu and Kashmir, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to kick-start his rallies next week. Home Minister Amit Shah will unveil the manifesto on Friday (September 6) and then hold a rally in Jammu on Saturday.
Rahul Gandhi was in J&K on Wednesday for his first rally and skipped any mention of Article 370. Congress has maintained silence on the issue. On the same stage was Farooq Abdullah of National Conference whose party has promised in its manifesto that Article 370 will be brought back. Both allies have divergent stands, a senior BJP leader told News18, saying top party leaders will attack the alliance on this issue.
The BJPs manifesto may project the big changes brought in J&K due to abrogation of Article 370 five years ago, including reservation benefits and high tourism numbers. Rahul Gandhi has promised that statehood will be restored to J&K after electionsbut Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have already promised the same earlier, saying statehood will be restored once the law and order situation improves and elections are held, the leader said.
The BJPs manifesto could also have promises for Kashmiri Pandits, job opportunities for youth and empowerment of women. New avenues for tourism could also form a part of the manifesto. The concept of Naya Kashmir has often featured in speeches of BJP leaders and the party would promise prosperity, peace and stability in J&K unlike the agenda of NC and PDP which is to take J&K back to dark days of violence and terrorism and turn the clock back, the BJP leader said.
BJPs J&K in-charge Ram Madhav on Wednesday said it will be a BJP-led government in J&K and claimed that BJP will emerge as the single-largest party.
As the political mercury in Jammu and Kashmir is rising with each passing day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will launch the BJPs poll campaign and release the partys manifesto during his two-day visit to the Union Territory on Friday.
Shahs visit comes at a critical time for the saffron party in J&K as the party faces growing challenges ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections with several leaders and workers protesting and some of them leaving the saffron party after they were denied tickets.
Amit Shah ji is arriving in Jammu for a two-day visit starting tomorrow. He will be arriving in the late afternoon from Delhi, a senior leader was quoted as saying.
It was informed that Shah is set to release the party manifesto at around 4 pm on Friday. Later in the evening, he will chair a meeting with party leaders and meet delegations of party workers.
J&K is witnessing a new era of peace and development under the Modi government. The region has transformed from a terrorist hotspot into a tourist hotspot, with an increase in educational and economic activities.Leaving for Jammu on my two day visit, where I will launch the Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 6, 2024
Shah will officially launch the BJPs campaign from Jammu, where he is scheduled to address a rally in the city on Saturday, he said.
His visit to Jammu is seen as crucial, given the resentment within the BJP over its ticket distribution in the Union Territory. This has prompted the party to launch a damage control exercise, deploying several top leaders, including Union ministers, to calm the situation over the past week.
Jammu district, which has 11 assembly constituencies, holds significant importance for the BJP. The party secured nine of these seats in the 2014 elections, contributing to its total tally of 25.
Shahs launch of the campaign from Jammu is aimed at reassuring the people of the region about the BJPs commitment to their welfare and development. Security has been tightened in and around Jammu ahead of Shahs visit. Multi-tier security arrangements have been made at two venues, including the media centre set up by the BJP at a hotel in the Channi area.
Preparations, including security measures, are underway for Shahs rally at Palora Top. Sanitisation operations have been conducted and area domination protocols are in place.
(With inputs from PTI)
Two cow-related murders one a 25-kilometre chase before a student was shot dead and another a lynching in two different parts of Haryana have warmed up the assembly election in the state. While Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has targeted the BJP, the latters state leadership has been careful to avoid the subject. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini has condemned the incidents but addressed the issue more from the prism of peoples sentiments toward cows.
THE LYNCHING
A mob lynching of a migrant labourer from West Bengal Sabir Malik who was picked up from near the Badhra bus stand on suspicion of consuming cow meat rocked the state last month. Malik and his friend Asserudin were lured to a scrap shop near the bus stand where they were attacked. While Asserudin fled, Malik could not. He was carried away on a two-wheeler, further tortured and eventually killed.
The incident triggered fear in the Hansawas Khurd village of Charkhi Dadri district in Haryana, which is mostly occupied by migrant labourers from Bengal and Assam, many of whom have started to flee.
While five cow vigilantes have been arrested, what is shocking is that two minors have also been apprehended in the matter. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Suspecting that the victim had eaten beef, the accused Abhishek, Mohit, Ravinder, Kamaljit, and Sahil called him to a shop on the pretext of selling empty plastic bottles. There, they beat him, PTI quoted a police officer as saying.
THE 25-KM CHASE & MURDER
The end of August also witnessed another cow-related murder, this time around 174 kilometres away from Charkhi Dadri. A 19-year-old in Faridabad, Haryana, was shot dead on August 23 by a group of individuals suspected to be cow vigilantes. They pursued him under the assumption that he was surveying the area for cattle smuggling.
The police identified the victim as Aryan Mishra, a Class 12 student. Mishra had left his home at night to join five friends in an SUV. The accused chased the vehicle in which Mishra and his friends were travelling and opened fire, hitting Mishra with two bullets. According to the police, Anil Kaushik the main suspect is associated with an organisation called Live for Nation, which promotes cow protection. Five men were later apprehended and placed in judicial custody.
COW SENTIMENTS & HARYANA
These are not the first such murders by cow vigilantes in Haryana. The state falls in the quintessential cow belt where the animal is held in high regard and products from milk, buttermilk to butter are consumed by the entire family.
Gau Raksha Dals (cow protection groups) play a pivotal role here. They have a presence down to the tehsil level where they are regularly informed about peoples meal practices and given tip-offs about suspicious behaviour. Acharya Yogendra formed a group of Gai rakshaks at a temple in Haryanas Bhadra. Ravinder Sheoran, who was appointed the group president, is one of the eight accused in the Charkhi Dadri mob lynching case.
Mohit alias Monu Manesar a self-styled cow vigilante is a hero of sorts among cow vigilantes and was arrested by the Nuh Police last September for an alleged provocative post on social media. The Rajasthan Police also arrested him in connection with the infamous Nasir-Junaid murder case where the charred bodies of Nasir and Junaid were found in a vehicle on the Rajasthan-Haryana border on February 16 after they were allegedly abducted by some vigilantes who accused them of cow smuggling.
COW POLITICS
If such is the penetration of cow sentiments in Haryana, could the politics of the state stay detached from it, particularly in the face of an assembly election? The chief ministers carefully chosen words illustrate a great deal. It is not right to say things like mob lynching, because a strict law has been made in the assembly for cow protection and there is no compromise on it, Saini told reporters when asked about the migrant workers murder.
The strong law he is referring to is a legislation brought by his predecessor who he also politically looks up to. In 2015, Manohar Lal Khattar enacted the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan (HGSG) Act, which banned cow trafficking, slaughter, beef possession and consumption in the state.
While the BJP would not want the spotlight on these two cases, the ongoing discussion in vernacular press helps the party, which is batting the twin demons of anti-incumbency and Jat anger. Congresss Jat face and former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda too has been exploiting that.
But if such incidents particularly in the Nuh area which is largely inhabited by minorities blur the caste lines and make people vote on religious considerations, BJP could gain from it. Even in Faridabad, the Lok Sabha constituency has 2.5 lakh Jats the highest followed by Gujjars and other castes.
No wonder, Rahul Gandhis strong words like reign of fear are shunned by the Hoodas or Kumari Selja Congresss state leadership which knows the nuanced political situation they are dealing with. In 2017, Bhupinder Singh Hooda went to visit Khandawli, days after local boy Junaid Khan was stabbed to death by a mob on a Mathura-bound train. But, this time, he has shunned visiting Charkhi Dadri.
The collapse of statue of iconic Maratha emperor Shivaji at Rajkot Fort in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra last week has become a hot topic in state politics. Where the Opposition parties have blamed the ruling BJP-led coalition (Mahayuti) of insulting the emperor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had apologised at an event in Palghar.
The PM inaugurated the 34-foot statue on December 4 last year as part of Navy Day celebrations at the fort. It fell on August 26 amid heavy rain and gusty winds in the area.
Sculptor-contractor Jaydeep Apte wanted in the statue collapse case was arrested on Wednesday, the police said. Sindhudurg Police have been searching for Apte ever since the statue collapsed.
Confrontation Between Mahayuti and MVA Over The Collapse
With the Maharashtra assembly elections around the corner, the issue has snowballed into a major political confrontation between the Opposition coalition (Maha Vikas Aghadi) comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP) and the Congress have accused the Mahayuti government.
While Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has dismissed strong winds as the reason behind the statues collapse, NCP-SP patriarch Sharad Pawar has accused the state government of attempting to shift the blame to the Navy, reminding them that permissions had been sought from the state, as per a report by The Hindu.
The MVA held a protest rally, where Uddhav Thackeray said Maharashtras soul has been insulted and the people will never forget those who insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji.
The BJP held a counter-protest in Mumbais Dadar area against the MVA. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavais said the MVAs agitation is completely political. MVA or Congress never honoured Chhatrapati Shivaji. Remember the speeches made by Pandit Nehru and Indira Gandhi from Red Fort. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharajs name was not mentioned When Kamal Nath was Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji was removed by bulldozers, said Fadnavis.
How Political Leaders Cashed In On Shivajis Legacy
During Independence
Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Jyotirao Phule and Babasaheb Ambedkar invoked the Maratha emperor to instill national pride among citizens, unite them towards the freedom cause and emulate his actions in fighting for Independence.
In 1869, Jyotirao Phule wrote and published Shiv Charitra, a collection of poems in Marathi, praising Shivaji. He also discovered Shivajis Samadhi made by his son Sambhaji while walking from Pune to Raigad Fort.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who started public celebrations of Ganesh Utsav, made Shiv Jayanti a public celebrations in 1895. Apart from Shiv Jayanti, Tilak also invoked Shivaji in his magazines, Kesari and Mahratta, to criticise the British government.
Dr BR Ambedkar, the Father of Indian Constitution, who often referred to Shivaji in his speeches, mentioned in his 1946 book Who Are The Shudras that the emperor was perceived as Shudra (untouchable) by the Brahmins and Marathas in his court.
Dr Ambedkar in his speech at the Constituent Assembly in 1949 bemoaned how Shivajis fight for liberation of Hindus from the Mughal rule faced hurdles because of his own fellow kings Rajputs and Marathas.
Bal Thackeray
Bal Keshav Thackeray founded the Shiv Sena on June 5, 1966. His father Keshav (Prabodhankar) Thackeray named Shiv Sena, which literally meant army of Shivaji Maharaj and was created to fight for the Marathi manoos (common Marathi man).
The Shiv Senas growing influence across Maharashtra often turned into vandalism and attacks on non-Marathi migrants, media houses and Opposition parties. Thackeray, who never held an elected position, used the Shiv Senas shakhas (branches) for Marathi people to address grievances.
Bal Thackeray also launched the party mouthpiece, Saamana, in 1989, which propagated Hindu views and often quoted Shivajis ideals of Hindavi Swaraj and Marathi pride.
In 1992, Thackeray declared that his Shiv Sena workers were involved in bringing down the domes of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, publishing the same in Saamana.
Renaming Cities and Building Projects
In 1995, with Thackerays close aide Manohar Joshi becoming the CM, the city of Bombay was renamed as Mumbai after Mumbadevi the local deity to protect fishermen.
The domestic and international airports in Mumbais Santacruz and Sahar area were renamed as Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport in 1999.
In 2000, the Prince of Wales Museum, which houses one of the largest collections of historic artefacts in India, was renamed Chatrapati Shivaji Vastu Sanghrahalya by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government.
Aurangabad was renamed as Sambhaji Nagar a long-standing demand of the Shiv Sena since 1988 by chief minister Eknath Shinde in 2022.
In 2004, the Congress-NCP government announced its intention to build Shiv Smarak, a monument depicting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj off Mumbais Girgaum Chowpatty beach on a man-made island. PM Modi in 2016 performed its stone-laying ceremony but the project is yet to take off.
The Statue of Unity dedicated to Sardar Vallabhai Patel is the tallest in India, made at an estimated cost of Rs 2,500 crore. Shiv Sena, which then ruled the BMC, vowed that it would lengthen the Maratha emperors sword to surpass the Statue of Unity in height, thereby making it the tallest, as mentioned by a report in The Hindu.
Applying for Canadas visitor visa? Chances are that it might be rejected. Recent government data showed a surge in the rejection of visitor visas and those who reached Canadian borders with official documents were turned away.
The data obtained by news agency Reuters showed that a surge in the entry denied of foreign travellers at Canadian borders, marking the highest rejection rates since January 2019.
In July alone, Canada turned away 5,853 foreign travellers, including students, workers, and tourists. On average, 3,727 foreign travellers were denied entry per month in the first seven months of 2024, reflecting a 20% increase from the previous year.
The move coincides with the stricter immigration enforcement trend under Justin Trudeaus Liberal government, which is trailing behind in polls ahead of the federal election expected next year.
This shift is seen by some as a response to growing public concern over immigrations impact on housing shortages and high prices, issues that have become politically charged.
Although Canadians have welcomed newcomers but polls show a large section of people think the country is admitting too many immigrants.
What is Behind This New Development?
Although the Canadian government has not publicly acknowledged any specific policy changes driving this increase in visa rejections, but a spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) stated that the CBSAs role, policy, and practice has always been to assess the admissibility of persons coming to Canada. This has not changed.
At the same time, Canadas immigration department is approving fewer visas. The ratio of refused visitor visa applications to approved ones was higher in June than at any point since the height of the pandemic. In January, February, May and June 2024, more applications were refused than approved, according to immigration department data, according to a Reuters report.
On the student visa front, the immigration department has attributed the decline in study-permit approvals to a cap announced in January, although the decline began as early as last year.
How has the Move Impacted Foreign Workers?
The number of approved study and work permits has dropped from multi-year highs in 2023 and 2022, respectively. The decline is part of a broader effort by the government to reassess the number of people applying for permanent residency, a move that Immigration Minister Marc Miller described as a necessary step to address public concerns.
The government is also working on to scale back its Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) programme, which was criticized by a UN special rapporteur for being a breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery.
Trudeau had announced that employers in sectors with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher will no longer be able to hire low-wage TFWs, except in certain food security sectors like agriculture and food processing.
Eight lawyers told Reuters they have heard from clients of greater scrutiny of visa-holders at airports and land border crossings.
How Many Indians Applied for Canadian Visa?
Between 2013 and 2023, Indians immigrating to Canada rose from 32,828 to 139,715, an increase of 326%, according to the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) analysis.
Highly skilled foreign nationals, including international students, have been choosing Canada over America because it is difficult to gain H-1B status or permanent residence in the United States, and easy to work in temporary status and acquire permanent residence in Canada, according to a NFAP, as quoted by Forbes.
Indian enrollment at Canadian universities rose more than 5,800% in the last two decades, from 2,181 in 2000 to 128,928 in 2021, an increase of 126,747 students.
Between 2016 and 2019, Indian international students enrolled in US universities dropped by 13% but increased by 182% at Canadian universities. Diplomatic issues between India and Canada have reduced Indian student visa approvals in the short term.
International student enrollment at Canadian universities rose from 62,223 in 2000 to 400,521 in 2021, increasing by 544%, according to the NFAP analysis. International student enrollment in America increased by 45% between 2000 and 2021.
Whats Next?
Opposition parties in Canada have accused the Liberal government of mismanaging the system. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, whose party currently leads in the polls, criticised the Trudeau government for growing the population at a rate far faster than the construction of new housing. Poilievre pledged to tie Canadas population growth rate to a level below the number of houses built if his party wins the election.
In response, Trudeau defended his governments immigration policies, stating, Canada remains a place that is positive in its support for immigration, but also responsible in the way we integrate and make sure theres pathways to success for everyone who comes to Canada. However, he has hinted at reducing the number of permanent residents accepted each year.
Six cadres of the banned CPI (Maoist) including two women were killed after an exchange of fire between the ultras and police in Bhadradri Kothagudem district of Telangana on Thursday, police said.
Two commandos of the Greyhounds, the elite anti-naxal force of Telangana Police, were also injured in the exchange of fire and were shifted to a hospital, they said.
The incident happened in a forest area under Karakagudem police station limits of the district, a senior police official told PTI.
6 Maoists were killed and two security personnel were injured in an encounter with police in Telanganas Bhadradri Kothagudem district. Police also recovered arms and ammunition from them.(Source: Police PRO, Bhadradri Kothagudem district) https://t.co/YKcwcLJV47 pic.twitter.com/BUepugG2Hl ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2024
Based on inputs that a Maoists team crossed over to Telangana from neighbouring Chhattisgarh, special police parties took up combing in the area when the incident happened, he said.
Bodies of the six Maoists including two women cadres were recovered from the spot and their identification was being done, police said.
The dead included a senior cadre of the Maoists, he said based on preliminary investigation. Police seized six weapons including 2 AK47s, SLRs and others from the spot. Further investigation was on. police added.
The district administration has intensified its scrutiny of private schools operating in Madhya Pradeshs Jabalpur, targeting eight prominent institutions for alleged financial misconduct. These schools have been ordered to return a total of Rs 54 crore to parents after being fined Rs 2 lakh each for unauthorised fee hikes.
The action follows a thorough investigation under the Madhya Pradesh Private School Fee and Other Subjects Regulation Act of 2017. The administrations probe uncovered that these schools had raised their fees without proper authorisation or notification to the district administration or the district education committee. The increased fee structures, applied in previous academic sessions, were deemed illegal, prompting the latest enforcement measures.
Following an investigation, the administration instructed all private schools to revert to charging the previously agreed fees instead of the increased rates. In a decisive move, the administration also ordered the owners of the eight implicated private schools to deposit a fine of Rs 2 lakh each into the bank account of the Directorate of Public Instruction within 30 days.
The investigation revealed that these eight schools had collected over Rs 54 crore in fees from more than 74,000 students. The administration has mandated that this amount be refunded to the parents.
The administrations latest actions have caused significant disruption among private school owners. Earlier in May, Collector Deepak Saxena led a swift response against schools engaging in arbitrary fee increases.
During that period, FIRs were filed against the principals and owners of over a dozen schools, leading to their arrests. These schools are alleged to have formed an organised network in Jabalpur, extracting billions of rupees from parents over recent years. The ongoing investigation revealed that the total amount involved exceeds Rs 200 crore.
After disastrous floods in Gujarat, the southwest monsoon has turned vigorous over the south causing floods in parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. As the intensity of the current rain spell decreases after Thursday, the MeT has alerted regarding another weather system brewing over the Bay of Bengal.
The low-pressure system major rain-bearing system of the monsoon is likely to form over west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal around September 5. The entire region from coastal Andhra Pradesh to Telangana, Karnataka and Kerala is forecasted to receive isolated spells of heavy rains till September 10.
The monsoon has continued to bring rains over India without a break since its arrival over Kerala on May 30. While June ended with a deficit of nearly -11 per cent, July (+9 per cent) and August (+15.7 per cent) saw above-normal rains higher than the MeTs forecast. IMD chief Dr M Mohapatra attributed this to multiple low pressure systems which kept the monsoon active.
As monsoon approaches its fag-end, the department has predicted successive systems forming almost every week in September too, bringing above-normal rains. The southern peninsular region has by far received surplus rains from June to August closing September 4 with nearly 26 per cent excess rains.
So far, all sub-divisions in southern India have recorded excess rains filling up the reservoirs Tamil Nadu (58%), Andhra Pradesh (42%), Telangana (38%), and Rayalaseema (44%) among the top. As of August 30, the storage in as many as 43 reservoirs in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (2 combined projects in both states), Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as monitored by the Central Water Commission (CWC) remain higher than last year.
The monsoon trough remains active. A large part of India is under an active monsoon spell this week with widespread rains from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh to Madhya Maharashtra, as well as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar. A cyclonic circulation also persists over Assam as well as Haryana bringing rains.
As of September 5, the monsoon is nearly 8 per cent above-normal over India, with normal rains over 17 sub-divisions, and excess in 13 others. The deficit only persists in four meteorological subdivisions Arunachal Pradesh (-20%), Punjab (-22%) and Himachal Pradesh (-20%) and Bihar (-27%).
The four-month season ends in September, as the southwest monsoon normally begins to withdraw from the western end Bikaner, Rajasthan by September 17, and completely exits by October 15. However, this time, its retreat is likely to be delayed considering the heavy rains forecast over the region over the next two weeks. The IMD has forecasted above-normal monsoon over India this September with more than 109 per cent of the long-period average (LPA).
The Rajasthan High Court delivered a significant verdict holding that the fathers superior financial condition alone cannot be the decisive factor in determining custody and prioritised the welfare of the child, affirming that custody should remain with the mother.
The court, presided over by the Division bench comprising the Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice Shubha Mehta, dismissed a petition filed by the father seeking custody of his minor son. The court observed: Weighing pros and cons on the basis of the pleadings on affidavit made by the respective parties, except the father having better financial condition, all other factors are almost at par but the edge is provided in favour of the mother because it is the mother who is closest to the child of tender age because of the childs dependency on his mother for everything.
The court was hearing a habeas corpus petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, filed by the the father (petitioner), alleging that his minor son was being illegally detained by his mother and the maternal grandfather in India. The petitioner, who works in Dubai, married the childs mother in 2015, and their son was born in Dubai in 2017. The family lived in Dubai until March 2022 when the mother, along with the child, traveled to India. Following this, the mother refused to return to Dubai with the child, accusing the father of domestic violence and dowry harassment.
The father argued that the childs welfare would be better served under his custody, emphasising his financial ability to provide a superior standard of living, education, and healthcare for the child in Dubai. He claimed that the mother had no means to support the child and was financially dependent on him. Furthermore, the father pointed to a Dubai courts order directing the mother to return the childs passport, arguing that her refusal amounted to illegal custody.
The mother, on the other hand, contested the fathers claims, alleging that he was a drug addict and unsuitable to have custody of the child. She asserted that the childs best interests would be served by staying in India, where he had already been enrolled in a prestigious school in Jaipur. The mother also emphasised her own capacity to care for the child, highlighting that despite her financial struggles, she had secured employment and was capable of providing a stable and nurturing environment for the child. The mother further argued that the allegations made against her by the petitioner were unsubstantiated and that keeping the child in her custody was more conducive to his mental and emotional well-being.
The High Court, after considering the arguments and the welfare of the child, ruled in favour of the mother. The court stated that while the fathers financial standing was better, it could not be the sole criterion for awarding custody. The court observed that the child, aged seven to eight, had been living with his mother for most of his life and had established roots in Jaipur.
The court also considered the fathers allegations of illegal detention and the order from the Dubai court regarding the childs passport. However, it noted that the passport order was a technical ruling and did not address the question of custody based on the welfare of the child. The court emphasised that the childs welfare must be the paramount consideration, and in this case, the childs well-being was best served by remaining with the mother.
The court further observed that there was no compelling evidence to suggest that either parent was unfit to have custody. Both parents had made allegations against each other, but without any conclusive proof, the court was reluctant to disturb the existing arrangement. The court noted Father being financially effluent, it would be easier for him to frequently travel to India and visit the child rather than the mother going to Dubai to meet her minor son. Therefore, the arrangements of child being in the custody of the mother would be more beneficent and in the best interest of the child
The court emphasised that no straitjacket conclusion could be drawn merely because the father has a better financial condition as compared to the mother, ruling that the child should remain in the mothers custody, considering her ability to provide for his emotional, physical, and educational needs.
However, the court granted the father visitation rights, advising the parents that it is of utmost importance that irrespective of the differences and disputes between the parents, the child grows with the care, love, affection, bonding and attachment equally with the father as well as the mother.
The court, thus, allowed the father to meet the child on weekends and during school holidays when he visits India. The court also directed that the father be allowed to interact with the child via video conferencing from Dubai.
Police have arrested a man who has only completed his eighth grade for duping around a dozen women constables into marriage by posing as a fake cop. The accused also extorted over Rs 2 crores from his victims and had even married one of the women constables.
Bareilly Superintendent of Police (City) Rahul Bhati said that they arrested the suspect at the Satellite Bus Stand. The accused, who has only completed his 8th grade, used to claim that he was posted at the Lucknow ADG office, Bhati said.
Explaining the modus operandi of the accused, Bhati stated that the suspect used to extract information about the postings of women police personnel from the official police website to identify his potential targets. He would then deceive them by introducing himself as a police officer, sending photos of himself in a police uniform, and luring them into marriage.
According to his statement, the accused, identified as Rajan Verma, a resident of Lakhimpur Kheri, has confessed to around eight to ten incidents so far. Five cases have been registered against him.
In one case registered at a Bareilly police station, Verma was accused of duping a woman police officer of Rs 30 lakh. Moreover, Verma would arrange loans for his targets by taking their Aadhaar and PAN cards and contacting a known associate in Lucknow.
According to the police investigation, a constable in the Special Operations Group from Lakhimpur had earlier cheated Verma by taken money in exchange for getting him a job in the police force.
When he failed to get into the force, Verma began living among police personnel and learning their lifestyle, leading to increased interactions with the police. Verma learned how to wear the police uniform, salute, and handle weapons. He then lied to a woman police officer about being enrolled in the police force and married her. After his wife discovered the truth, they parted ways. Following this, he began deceiving other women police officers in the same manner.
When one of his victims, a woman constable from Bareilly, lodged an FIR against him at a police station, the police launched an investigation and search operation.
The woman constable stated that after Verma took her documents to apply for a loan for a plot of land, he fraudulently bought a car on loan. When the amount was deducted from the victims account, the fake constables secret was exposed.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has shared a purported letter signed by former principal of RG Kar Medical College Sandip Ghosh ordering renovation near the institutions seminar hall where the body of a 31-year-old trainee doctor, who was allegedly, raped and murdered was found on August 9. The viral letter ordering repair work was dated August 10, just a day later.
Several news reports have already been making claims Ghosh had ordered renovation near the seminar hall, fanning speculations of evidence tampering.
West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Mazumdar took to social media platform X to share the letter that ordered renovation citing a lack of proper and separate doctors rooms and washrooms.
The order, signed by Sandip Ghosh, former director of RG Kar Medical College, is dated August 10, just one day after the victims death. Despite allegations from colleagues and protesters about tampering with the crime scene, the Police Commissioner denied it. @CBIHeadquarters pic.twitter.com/FEOirTn0ho Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaBJP) September 5, 2024
The order, signed by Sandip Ghosh, former director of RG Kar Medical College, is dated August 10, just one day after the victims death. Despite allegations from colleagues and protesters about tampering with the crime scene, the Police Commissioner denied it, Mazumdar wrote in his post.
#BreakingNews | #CNNNews18 accesses renovation order copy signed by former principal Sandip Ghosh- Proof that he ordered renovation one day after trainee doctor was found dead@KamalikaSengupt and @_anshuls with latest on this report | @poonam_burde pic.twitter.com/uyo91sQw9U News18 (@CNNnews18) September 5, 2024
The memo written to the executive engineers of several departments of the public works department, Kolkata, by Sandip Ghosh said the hospital authorities wanted to repair the attached toilets.
The purported letter was titled, Repair/Renovation/Reconstruction of on duty Doctors Rooms along with separate attached toilets in all departments of RGKMC&H, Kolkata on urgent basis.
It read, I would like to inform you that there are deficiency of on duty Doctors Rooms and separate attached toilets in various departments of RGKMC&H, Kolkata. You are hereby requested to do the needful immediately as per demand of Residents Doctors of RGKMC&H.
The issue is already discussed and resolved in the meeting with Principal Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare Government of West Bengal & and Director of Medical Education, Department of Health & Family Welfare Government of West Bengal today in the Board Room of PIE of RGKMC&H. Please do the needful immediately, it further mentioned.
Sandip Ghoshs Arrest & SC Plea
The anti-corruption branch of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), on Monday, Ghosh, in connection with alleged financial irregularities in the medical establishment during his tenure.
Ghosh was questioned for the 15th day at the agencys Salt Lake office over the alleged rape and murder of the RG Kar hospital post-graduate trainee on August 9. After a day-long questioning by the special crime branch, the anti-corruption unit picked Ghosh up in the evening and left for the Nizam Palace office.
The ex-RG Kar head, on Wednesday, challenged the Calcutta High Court order transferring the corruption case against him to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the Supreme Court. On August 23, the Calcutta High Court ordered the transfer of the probe into the alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar Hospital from a state-constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the CBI.
The Bombay High Court on Thursday allowed a 17-year-old sexual abuse survivor to continue her pregnancy, noting that it was conscious of her reproductive freedom and right to choice.
A division bench of Justices A S Gadkari and Neela Gokhale said that while the teen initially sought to terminate the pregnancy, she later chose to deliver her baby as she intended to marry the man who had allegedly abused her.
We are conscious of the right of the petitioner (teenager) to reproductive freedom, her autonomy over the body and her right to choice, HC said.
The court said it permits the teenager to medically terminate her 26-week pregnancy if she so desires. However, since she has also expressed her willingness and desire to continue with the pregnancy, she is fully entitled to do so, the bench said.
The girl and her mother learnt about the pregnancy when she was taken for a check-up for fever. A case was later registered against a 22-year-old man for sexually abusing her. The survivor then moved the HC seeking to terminate the pregnancy.
However, the teen later claimed that she was in a consensual relationship with the man and that they intended to get married and raise the baby.
The minor was examined by a medical board at the state-run JJ hospital which submitted a report to the HC, saying that there were no abnormalities with the foetus but being a minor, she was not in a proper mental state to deliver the baby.
The high court noted that both the teen and her mother have shown their inclination to continue the pregnancy and take it to its full term.
Human urine-soaked dolls, used by the UP forest department as bait to lure man-eating wolves in Mahsi tehsil of Uttar Pradeshs Bahraich seem to have failed in the mission as the elusive predators remained at large. The UP government, however, has escalated Operation Bhediya, deploying over 300 foresters, sharpshooters, and a fleet of drones to catch the wolves dead or alive.
Over 50,000 people of 25 villages in Bahraichs Mahsi tehsil are enduring sleepless nights as man-eating wolves continue to terrorise the region, killing 10 people so far, including nine children. In an effort to lure the animals, the foresters had placed dolls soaked in human urine as bait but it failed to bring any positive results.
We placed the dolls strategically near the riverbanks, close to the wolves resting places and dens, said Ajit Pratap Singh, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Bahraich, who is part of Operation Bhediya.
The dolls were soaked in childrens urine to simulate a natural human scent. Our strategy was to create a false sense of human presence near the traps and lure them away from residential areas towards traps or cages placed near their dens, he explained.
As the wolves never approached the bait, some foresters criticised the move, calling it futile. Wolves are highly intelligent animals with advanced cognitive abilities, particularly in social contexts, said a senior forester. Compared to dogs and humans, wolves are caring, playful, and devoted to their families. They educate their young, care for the injured, and live in tight-knit groups. In intelligence tests, wolves have even outperformed dogs, making it easy for them to sense a trap, even when dolls are soaked in human urine, he added.
Experts also say shooing away the wolves wont work as they strictly move within their territory. Come what may, a wolf wont leave its territory as it may face aggression from a different pack. So, shooing away the pack wont help (locals), said Dhananjay Mohan, senior IFS and head of the Uttarakhand Forest Department.
Bilal Habib, a scientist with Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India, added that the member of the dog family stays close to grasslands and agriculture fields to get food and water easily for new members of the pack.
Wolves in United States or Canada stay in the wild since the forests are huge. Hence, fewer or no territorial issues arise with other carnivores. Indian Wolves move to the wild only for breeding. For the rest of the time, they choose grasslands in a bid to get easy prey and water, Habib told News18.
WHY THE DELAY IN CATCHING WOLVES?
The constant shift in attacking sites is the main reason behind the delay in catching the wolves. On the night of August 21, a wolf attacked Barah Bigha village in Mahsi tehsil. It first attempted to lift a child but failed. Later, it attacked a woman, leaving her badly injured. A few hours later, the wolf successfully lifted a girl from another part of the village. Similar incidents were reported in Makka Purva, Nakwa, Kulela, Pura Hind Singh, and Basti Gadaria villages, where children became its prey. The wolf moved from one village to another, evading capture with every attack.
Locals have raised concerns about the ineffective combing hours in the ongoing campaign. The wolves are being hunted mostly during the day, but they attack at night, said a villager. Wolves are spotted daily, with residents capturing videos on their mobile phones and sending them to the forest department and police. Many from our village have done the same, he added. The villager said on August 3, a wolf was seen sitting in Asmanpur and two were spotted in Hindu Purva village during night.
The government has intensified the search operation, with UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directing the foresters to shoot the wolves on sight. So far, the forest department has trapped four man-eater wolves in the last six months. However, the delay in catching all the wolves is adding to the anxiety and fear of the villagers who are forced to live under a constant threat. In many villages, mothers sleep with sticks while villagers spend nights guarding homes in groups in order to keep the killer wolves at bay.
(With inputs from Sunil Navprabhat)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday invited business leaders from around the world to invest in Kashi (Varanasi), the constituency he represents in the Lok Sabha, with a mention of paan, a traditional Indian treat made from a betel leaf which is famous in the historic city.
Addressing the Business Leaders Summit in Singapore, PM Modi said, Whenever there is discussion of paan in India, it remains incomplete without Varanasi. I am an MP from Varanasi.
If you want to enjoy eating paan, then you must invest in Kashi, he added in a lighter tone at the meeting with top executives, reaching out to the business community in a unique message calling for global investment in India.
Banarasi paan, which gets its name from the Hindu holy city of Varanasi, is a famous delicacy that often finds itself on wedding menus. It has also made its way into Indias popular culture, including Bollywood films, with references in superhit songs.
Interacted with top business leaders and CEOs in Singapore. We talked about ways to deepen economic linkages. I highlighted the reforms underway in India, which will encourage investment and innovation. pic.twitter.com/3xkFllIJyw Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 5, 2024
The Prime Minister met with business leaders and CEOs of Singapore and underlined the reforms underway in India that will encourage investment and innovation.
Invest India Office in Singapore
In a bid to boost investment opportunities in India, PM Modi, during his last day of a 2-day visit to Singapore, announced the setting up of an Invest India Office in the foreign country. It will be a hand-holding office for Singaporean investors in diverse areas, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi also met with H.E. Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of Singapore and thanked the latter for his countrys consistent support of the India Singapore partnership.
Taking to X, the Prime Minister remarked, Had a very good meeting with Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the President of Singapore. Our talks focused on the full range of bilateral ties between our nations. We discussed the key focus sectors like skill development, sustainability, technology, innovation and connectivity.
India and Singapore on Thursday elevated their bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and signed four MoUs, including on cooperation in semiconductors, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with his counterpart Lawrence Wong.
During his opening remarks, Modi said Singapore is not only a partner nation but it is an inspiration for every developing country.
A new chapter in ties: Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established. PM @narendramodi and PM @LawrenceWongST held a productive meeting in Singapore today, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X after the meeting.
The leaders agreed to elevate the ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They extensively reviewed various facets of the bilateral relationship covering areas of Advanced Manufacturing, Connectivity, Digitalisation, Healthcare & Medicine, Skills Development and Sustainability, he said.
The MEA in a statement said both leaders reviewed the progress of India Singapore bilateral relations.
Given the breadth and depth of bilateral ties and immense potential, they decided to elevate the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This would also give a major boost to Indias Act East Policy, it said.
Taking stock of the robust progress in economic ties, the leaders called for further expanding trade and investment flows between the two countries. Prime Minister highlighted that Singapore with an investment of around USD 160 billion in the Indian economy, is a leading economic partner for India. He further noted that rapid and sustained growth in India has opened up immense investment opportunities for Singaporean entities, it added.
They also reviewed existing cooperation in the fields of defence and security, maritime domain awareness, education, AI, Fintech, new technology domains, science and technology and knowledge partnership. The two leaders called for strengthening connectivity between the countries to enhance economic and people-to-people ties. They also called for acceleration in green corridor projects.
The two leaders discussed the outcome of the 2nd India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable held in Singapore in August 2024.
Noting that the Ministerial Roundtable is a unique mechanism, the leaders appreciated the work done by senior ministers from both sides in deliberating and identifying a new agenda for bilateral cooperation. The leaders called for accelerated action under the pillars of cooperation identified during the Ministerial Roundtables advanced manufacturing, connectivity, digitalisation, healthcare & medicine, skills development and sustainability, the statement said.
The leaders underscored that the cooperation under these pillars, particularly in the areas of semiconductors and critical and emerging technologies, opens a new chapter in bilateral relations making our ties future-oriented, the statement said.
Their discussion also covered the celebration of the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations in 2025. Highlighting that the cultural connect between the two countries is an important component of these ties, the Prime Minister announced that Indias first Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre would be opened in Singapore.
The leaders also exchanged views on important regional and global issues of mutual interest, including India-ASEAN relations and Indias vision for the Indo-Pacific.
Both leaders witnessed the exchange of MoUs for cooperation in semiconductors, digital technologies, skill development and healthcare. These are the outcomes of the deliberations during the two rounds of India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtables held so far.
Prime Minister invited Wong to visit India, which he accepted.
Modi in his opening remarks thanked Wong for the warm welcome.
This is our first meeting after you assumed the post of premier. Many congratulations to you from my side. I am confident that under the leadership of 4G (the fourth-generation leaders), Singapore will progress even faster, Modi said.
We also want to create many Singapores in India and I am happy that we are working together in this direction. The ministerial roundtable that has been formed between us is a path-breaking mechanism. He said the partnership between the two nations in skilling, digitalisation, mobility, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, Artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare, sustainability and cyber security has become an identity of this mechanism.
The discussions with my friend, PM Lawrence Wong continued today. Our talks focused on boosting cooperation in areas like skilling, technology, healthcare, AI and more. We both agreed on the need to boost trade relations, Modi said in a post on X after the talks.
Modi is here on a two-day visit at the invitation of Wong.
Ahead of the talks with Wong, Modi received a red carpet-welcome at the Singapore Parliament House. He also signed the visitors book there.
The meeting between the two leaders comes months after Wong took over as premier and Modi began his third term as prime minister.
Later in the day, Prime Minister Modi will also call on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
He would call on Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. Lee will host a lunch for Modi.
Modi will also meet with Singaporean business leaders and interact with those in the countrys semiconductor ecosystem.
Modi and Wong will also visited a semiconductor manufacturing facility.
Modi flew to Singapore on Wednesday after wrapping his visit to Brunei, the first bilateral visit there by an Indian prime minister.
He was accorded a warm welcome by the Indian community on his arrival here.
Indias Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) may have contributed to averting 60,00070,000 infant deaths annually, as per a study published in the prestigious international science journal Nature. Five researchers have conducted the study and the article in Nature is titled Toilet construction under the Swachh Bharat Mission and infant mortality in India.
SBM was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 2, 2014, as the worlds largest sanitation programme aimed at turning India open-defecation free by 2020. The government built over 100 million household toilets in these six years and over six lakh villages were declared open-defecation free.
Five researchers, Suman Chakrabarti, Soyra Gune, Tim A Bruckner, Julie Strominger, and Parvati Singh, have authored the article which says a quasi-experimental study was done to investigate the association between SBM and infant mortality rate and under five mortality rates (U5MR) in India. Data from 35 Indian states and 640 districts was analysed spanning 10 years (20112020).
2014 marked a tectonic shift in Indias approach to public hygiene & sanitation. #SwachhBharatMission will be remembered as one of the biggest achievements of Modi administration. Its far-reaching impacts include generational improvements in health indicators and safety of women pic.twitter.com/HUshPpcC20 Prof. Shamika Ravi (@ShamikaRavi) September 5, 2024
What the Study Found
The post-SBM period in India exhibited accelerated reductions in infant and child mortality compared to the pre-SBM years. Based on our regression estimates, the provision of toilets at-scale may have contributed to averting approximately 60,00070,000 infant deaths annually, the article has mentioned. Results from the study suggest every 10-percentage point increase in district-level toilet access following SBM corresponds with a reduction in district-level IMR by 0.9 points and U5MR by 1.1 points, on average.
Improvement of water and sanitation conditions may reduce infant mortality, particularly in countries like India where open defecation is highly prevalent, the article says.
Our study provides evidence of the benefits of Indias national sanitation campaign, the Swachh Bharat Mission or Clean India Mission, for infant and child mortality reduction. Our findings add to the growing body of evidence linking national sanitation campaigns to improved child health outcomes and emphasises the need for similar interventions in other low- and middle-income countries, the article mentions.
The study found evidence of a threshold effect wherein the district-level toilet coverage of 30 per cent (and above) corresponds with substantial reductions in infant and child mortality. Our study provides novel evidence of reductions in infant and child mortality following a comprehensive national sanitation program in India, potentially indicating the transformative role of SBM, the article says.
Why Deaths Happened Earlier
The article says that Infant and child mortality due to faecal pathogen-based infections (diarrhoea, in particular) and malabsorption of nutrients may decline following improved access to toilets and elimination of open defecation.
It adds that it is essential to interpret these findings in light of Indias existing primary health care infrastructure, which provides a considerable portion of the population with preventive and curative health services that address various diseases stemming from inadequate sanitation and resulting in child mortality.
Consequently, the effectiveness of the SBM may have been influenced by the availability of universal health services. We contend that that the benefits of improved sanitation measures may vary based on availability of comprehensive healthcare access and synergistic programming aspects of the SBM campaign, above and beyond toilet construction, in relation to behaviour change and oral-faecal exposure to contaminants, the article says.
A 24-year-old MBBS student was found hanging at his residence in Assams Cachar district. Two hand-written notes, which his family members verified as that of the student, were recovered from the spot, police said.
The final-year student of Silchar Medical College and Hospital was found hanging in his room late on September 3 following which the police were informed. A senior officer said in the notes, the student sought forgiveness from his mother and claimed that no one was responsible for his death.
Mother, forgive me. I am leaving you today. I am unable to handle the depression and I feel a pain near my chest NDTV quoted from one of the notes recovered by the police. I am willingly committing suicide, nobody is responsible for my suicide, the second note is quoted.
Police said the student claimed that he was suffering from acute depression. The hand-written notes will be examined by a handwriting expert and the body has been sent for post-mortem examination and further investigation is on, they said.
Prima facie, it appears to be a case of death by suicide, a police official told NDTV. Reports said fellow students described the 24-year-old as someone who was reserved and academically bright.
In a worrying development, fragments of an aircraft that apparently took off from Delhis Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport were found in the capitals Vasant Kunj locality.
As soon as the South-West District Police informed the airport authorities about this incident, it led to panic. The Air Traffic Control (ATC) alerted the pilots of all the planes that were to take off during that time period about this incident. After a long exercise, the plane was identified and the Air India Express aircraft was instructed to return to the airport.
According to airport sources, the incident took place on the night of September 2 at around 9:30 pm. When the plane was passing through the Vasant Kunj area, some pieces of metal from the aircrafts body fell onto the roof of a house located in the area. The owner of the house immediately shared this information with the Delhi Police Control Room.
The Delhi Police Control Room shared this with other agencies including the IGI Airport. The process of identification of those planes which had flown towards the Vasant Kunj area kicked off immediately. The ATC informed all the pilots of the planes taking off and landing from the IGI Airport during that period about this incident. After a long exercise, the aircraft was identified as Air India Express flight number IX-145.
The ATC contacted the pilot of the plane and informed him about the metal pieces found from the house in Vasant Kunj. The pilot was instructed to return immediately and make a precautionary landing.
Following all arrangements, the plane landed at the IGI airport. According to sources, all the passengers and crew members on board the plane were safe.
Officials from Air India Express said that flight IX 145 took off from Delhi on September 2. After takeoff, a problem in the engine was detected. The pilot followed the prescribed procedures and made a precautionary landing at the Delhi airport. The regulator and other related agencies have been informed. The investigation is ongoing.
Speaking about the metal pieces of the aircraft found at the Shankar Vihar area of Vasant Kunj, the airline said that they received the information about metal pieces of their aircraft at Shankar Vihar. They were not in a position to confirm whether these pieces fell off from their plane and the pieces are being investigated.
The South West District Police said that the investigation report of the plane is yet to come. It can only be ascertained whether the pieces that fell off, belonged to the Air India Express aircraft after the report, they said.
Virtually kickstarting the campaign for the Maharashtra assembly polls, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologise to each and every person in Maharashtra for the collapse of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj recently in Sindhudurg.
Slamming the ruling MahaYuti alliance comprising Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rahul Gandhi wondered why the PM should say sorry only to the Chhatrapati and he should tender an apology to all Maharashtrians for the tragedy at Rajkot Fort in Malvan, arising out of a corruption-ridden project.
Only a person who has committed a mistake will apologise. Why did the PM say sorry? There are several reasons. Firstly, the project was given to RSS-linked persons, secondly, there was corruption in its construction and the people who built it had robbed the state, and thirdly though a statue of Chhatrapati was built, they did not take care whether it would stand or not. Thats why the figurine of a great icon like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj crashed in such a short period, said Rahul Gandhi in a no-holds-barred attack.
The Congress leader was addressing a public rally after inaugurating a statue of the local strongman, the late Patangrao Kadam, who passed away in March 2018, in the presence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge who is also Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) President Sharad Pawar and other top Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders.
Rahul Gandhi pointed out that Maharashtra is a progressive state and soaked in the ideologies and teachings of legends like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, B.R. Ambedkar, and today, the country is witnessing not politics but an ideological war.
The Congress ideology is also very similar to theirs but the BJPs ideals are opposite to these great legends. The BJP has been spreading hatred, fomenting violence and dividing the people all over India for decades. Earlier, the great icons fought that tendency, now the Congress is fighting against the BJP, asserted Rahul Gandhi.
He reiterated how the BJP wants to give the fruits of development to a select few while keeping all others backwards through hatred, fomenting violence, pitting communities, language and individuals against each other.
The Leader of the Opposition pointed out that the BJP is assaulting the Constitution every day, placing their people in all democratic and constitutional institutions to subvert them. Merit is discarded if they belong to the RSS-BJP.
We have been demanding a Caste Census since long, as we want to find out whos really benefiting from the nations resources and the fruits of progress. But the BJP has been consistently against it. It was only after we built up pressure that they have now admitted that Caste Census is needed. The Congress and our allies are committed to conduct a Caste Census and shall do it at any cost, declared Rahul Gandhi.
Referring to the two editions of his Bharat Jodo Yatra and Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, the Congress stalwart said that it secured huge response because it propagated mohabbat (love) against the BJPs nafrat (hatred).
Manipur has been facing a civil war-like situation since over one-and-half years. But the PM has not visited the state He cannot even go, as its the BJP which has ignited the situation there, he said.
Rahul Gandhi also pulled up the government for giving loan waivers to his handful of rich industrialist friends but not extending the same benefit to crores of poor farmers across the country.
In his speech, Kharge paid tributes to Kadam, who hailed from a poor farmers family, worked as a teacher and then rose onto become an educational baron through his Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University and other prestigious academic institutions.
Karnataka Police has accessed photos of Renukaswamy begging for mercy during his assault by Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and his gang, moments before his death. One photo of a shirtless Renukaswamy, 33, sporting an injury mark and appearing scared was accessed by News18. Another photo showed Renukaswamy on the floor after being assaulted.
The photos emerged after the Karnataka Police submitted the chargesheet in the kidnap and murder case of Renukaswamy, detailing the role of jailed Kannada superstar Darshan and others involved. The chargesheet also contains the details of the brutal and inhumane torture incurred upon Renukaswamy up until his death.
After being assaulted by Darshan and his gang, Renukaswamys chest bones were broken. There are a total of 39 injury marks all over his body. There is also a deep cut on the victims head, the chargesheet read.
It added that a megger machine, an electrical device used to measure insulation resistance, was used to deliver electric shocks to Renukaswamys private parts.
Darshan and his gang used the megger device to damage Renukaswamys testicle, the chargesheet said.
On June 9, Renukaswamys body was found near a flyover in Bengaluru.
According to the police, Renukaswamy, a fan of actor Darshan, was kidnapped and murdered by a gang at the actors behest after he allegedly sent offensive messages on social media to actor Pavithra Gowda, who is rumoured to be Darshans partner.
Darshan is named as the second accused in the Renukaswamy murder case, and his legal team is preparing to submit a bail plea. Quoting police sources, an India Today report said that since he is booked in three new cases related to luxury treatment inside the prison, obtaining bail will not be easy.
Parents of Renukaswamy, a 33-year-old who was brutally murdered allegedly by actor Darshan and his aides in June, broke down after photos of their sons torture surfaced. While Renukaswamys mother could not muster the courage to look at the visuals, his father said they were washing their hands with their tears and wanted the murderers to experience the pain that their son had to go through.
Karnataka Police accessed photos of Renukaswamy begging for mercy during his assault allegedly by Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and his gang, moments before his death. One photo of a shirtless Renukaswamy sporting an injury mark and appearing scared was accessed by News18. Another photo showed Renukaswamy on the floor after being assaulted.
The photos emerged after the Karnataka Police submitted the chargesheet in the kidnap and murder case of Renukaswamy, detailing the role of jailed Kannada superstar Darshan and others involved. The chargesheet also contains the details of the brutal and inhumane torture incurred upon Renukaswamy up until his death.
Despite my sons constant pleas and agreeing that he did wrong, they have tortured him so badly with no mercy. It causes me immense pain. Did they have no mercy whatsoever? They gave him shocks and tortured him, sparing no body part. Imagine how much pain he must have experienced. Thinking about this causes us a lot of pain, Renukaswamys father Kashinath Shivanagoudar told NDTV.
We are washing our hands with our tears, and seeing these images has caused intolerable pain. I hope the court awards maximum punishment to the perpetrators and they face the same thing that my son went through, he added.
She Will Experience Same Fate: Victims Mother On Pavitra Gowda
Grappling with sorrow and anger, the victims mother said her daughter tried to show her the photos, but she didnt have the courage to look at them. She also cursed Pavitra Gowda and said she should meet the same fate as her son if she was behind his murder.
I didnt see the viral photos, my daughter tried to show them to me, but I dont have the patience or the strength to see it. Despite his constant pleas, they beat him up so badly. Are they even human? she asked.
On Gowda directing Darshan and the others to kill Renukaswamy, she said, If thats the case, she should be punished. She will experience the same fate for doing this to my son.
The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its order on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals pleas seeking bail and challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with his alleged involvement in the excise policy scam.
The case was heard by a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi represented Kejriwal, while Additional Solicitor General SV Raju represented the CBI.
During the proceedings, Singhvi noted that this is the only case in which bail has been granted twice to Kejriwal under the stringent Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) provisions, in addition to regular bail.
The senior counsel further emphasised that Kejriwal poses no threat in the PMLA case.
He is not a threat in the PMLA case. Currently, there is only the triple test remaining; the next step is to obtain regular bail from the trial court under Section 45 of the PMLA. This order was stayed by the High Court through an oral mention. Effectively, there are three orders in play, Singhvi said.
Singhvi also noted that the central agency made an insurance arrest after Kejriwal was granted bail in the ED case. Arguing for bail for the jailed Delhi CM, he stated that Kejriwal is a constitutional functionary and is not a flight risk.
Singhvi also argued that all the co-accused in the Delhi excise case have been released. The trial court noted that the timing of the arrest is unusual. The triple test has been fully met. It is ironic that nearly all co-accused have been released, with perhaps only one exception, he said.
The Supreme Court have so far granted bail to senior AAP leader and former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, BRS leader K. Kavitha, and AAPs former communication-in-charge Vijay Nair in the now-scrapped excise policy case.
Kejriwal files two separate petitions
Kejriwal filed two separate petitions, challenging the denial of bail and his arrest by the CBI on June 26 in the case. He also contested the August 5 order of the Delhi High Court, which upheld his arrest.
The top court had, on August 23, permitted the CBI to file its counter affidavit and granted Kejriwal two days to submit a rejoinder.
On June 20, a trial court granted bail to Kejriwal after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in the money laundering case. However, this bail order was subsequently stayed by the Delhi High Court.
Additionally, the Supreme Court, on July 12, had ordered, that Kejriwal be released on interim bail in connection with the case filed by the ED. However, he remained in custody due to his arrest by the CBI.
On August 5, the Delhi High Court upheld the arrest of the Chief Minister as legal, stating that there was no malice in the CBIs actions. The court noted that the CBI had demonstrated how the AAP supremo could potentially influence witnesses, who only found the courage to testify after his arrest.
The high court had directed him to apply for regular bail in the CBI case before the trial court.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, a court took cognisance of the charge sheet filed by the CBI against Kejriwal and other accused in the liquor policy scam. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja issued a production warrant for Kejriwal on September 11 and extended his custody until the same date.
(With inputs from agencies)
After being absent from the limelight for several years, Preity Zinta has made a stunning comeback this year. She has been attending some of the most prestigious events and is expected to grace the silver screen with Rajkumar Santoshis Lahore 1947 slated for 2025. Be it her noteworthy looks at Cannes 2024 or her appearance at the Paris Couture Week, the actress has proved that she is the OG fashion icon, and no doubt everyone loves her style. Recently, in an interview with Vogue, the actress opened up about her iconic fashion choices. She also shared the vision behind pulling off some exquisite looks this year.
Speaking about her fashion choices, Preity Zinta stated, On or off screen, I never wear anything that makes me feel uncomfortable or I dont like. Clothes are meant to enhance you and make you feel good about yourself. So if you are not feeling like that in an outfit, dont wear it.
Preity Zintas unique and comfortable sense in her films has always been admired be it in Dil Chahta Hai or Soldier. On this, she said that she does not prefer clothes that are revealing or too bold. Sharing more details, she stated, During any film shoot, if I felt the outfit was too revealing or a bit too crazy for me, I would always pull out clothes from my own wardrobe and wear them. For me, sex appeal is in the eyes and in some mystery.
Moreover, while talking about her international presence at events this year, Preity mentioned how its high time we promote the wonderful work of Indian designers rather than choosing foreign labels. She mentioned, Its about time we are proud of our home-grown talent and showcase their creativity at global events with pride.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Preity G Zinta (@realpz)
Taking note of some of the latest styles, her Cannes 2024 red carpet look in a pink Seema Gujral saree was certainly breathtaking. It was indeed a look that is going to be remembered for years to come. Preity told Vogue that this look was her attempt to give an Indian touch on the international stage. She expressed, For my red-carpet appearance, I wanted to wear something simple and Indian, as I was representing India on a global stage. The idea was to wear something elegant and classic with less drama.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by VOGUE India (@vogueindia)
Among other stunning red carpet looks, Preity Zintas ombre Rahul Mishra sequined gown in Paris back in June surely stole the show. She told the publication, that she wanted to try something old school and therefore added a veil for a little bit of drama and mystery. The look was curated by Sonika Grover and is another statement piece from her wardrobe.
Most of our day starts with social media these days, whether its Instagram, Facebook, or WhatsApp. Everything comes to us through social media, be it office messaging, birthday wishes, photos from an event, or schoolwork from the kids. Social media has become so ingrained in our lives that it sometimes feels as though life would be incomplete without it. Because of this, its getting harder to live modern life without social media. When social media begins to encroach on childrens lives in addition to adults, something is seriously wrong. Social media is currently a topic of conversation, regarding how to protect kids from its dangers and whether or not to start warning them off early. Dr Vivek Murthy, the US Surgeon General, said in an interview that preventing kids from using social media would preserve their youth. He claimed that childrens mental health is suffering as a result. Social media apps must come with warnings, much like cigarettes and alcohol do.
Children who use social media for more than three hours a day are more likely to experience depression, according to 2019 American Medical Association research. Kids are using social media for five hours a day, according to a Gallup poll. Adults are utilising social media to such a degree that they are visible online around the clock, in addition to youngsters. A Pew Research Centre survey estimates that 378 crore people worldwide used social media in 2021. 84% of these users were in the age range of 18 to 29.
Psychiatrist Priyanka Srivastava thinks that similar to alcohol and tobacco, social media addiction is becoming more common. When they use it, they feel good. This is because using social media causes their bodies to emit the pleasurable hormone dopamine, which keeps people glued to this platform.
Psychiatrist Dr Rajiv Mehta of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi claims that social media use has turned into peoples me time. For them, it has a feel good factor, yet this sensation itself is removing them from reality. They are moving away from their friends and family and have begun to view the virtual world as their own. They are unintentionally falling prey to loneliness. Because social media has such a strong hold on them, they struggle to interact with others, dont communicate their ideas to others, lack confidence, and are more susceptible to anxiety and despair.
Warning and alerting is needed, according to Dr Rajiv Mehta. People will be more aware of how much to use social media and how to maintain good mental health if businesses issue cautions before users launch the applications. It is safe to use social media for 2.5 to 3 hours, according to numerous research. Because people frequently are unaware of how much time they have spent on social media, they will also begin to avoid it if the alert begins to flash on their phone after three hours.
Every household should establish a rule prohibiting the use of mobile phones for three hours in the morning, as well as during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Mobile phones should be kept out of the bedroom on Sundays, when the whole family is present. It should not be permitted to enter the bedroom at all. Refrain from sharing images of your joyful private moments on social media. Through self-improvement, one can avoid the negative consequences of social media.
Johnny Depp recently made waves with his noticeably brighter smile. The 61-year-old actor was featured in a social media clip showcasing his new look, which quickly garnered attention from fans. The video, posted by a bartender known as Rap Rap Zoilo on Instagram, captures a playful moment at Lorraine Cafe in the Bahamas, where Depp humorously embodied his iconic Captain Jack Sparrow character from Pirates of the Caribbean.
In the clip, Depp and Zoilo share jokes over rum, reminiscent of Sparrows affinity for the drink. The caption accompanying the video reads, Jack Sparrow meets the killer bartender of Exuma, Bahamas. Once in a lifetime moments with Mr. Johnny Depp.
Watch the video here:
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rap Rap Zoilo (@killerbartender)
Depp had been vacationing on the island for a week and visited the cafe to try their signature drink. However, it was his strikingly bright smile that captured widespread attention. Speculation soon swirled, with some reports suggesting that the actor might have undergone a dental transformation. Fans took to social media to express their surprise and admiration, with many noting his noticeably whiter teeth.
One user commented, Def got his teeth done! Looks so good, while another added, Hello new teeth! He looks great.
Someone else questioned, Am I right too see that his teeth are locking brighter than ever before???
Depps latest smile makeover is a stark contrast to his appearance at last years Cannes Film Festival, where his teeth sparked a widespread discussion. When Depp hit the red carpet for the premiere of his film Jeanne du Barry, fans and critics seemed to focus on his dental condition rather than his acting. Images of his discoloured and even teeth quickly circulated online, leading to a flurry of comments and speculation about his health.
Johnny Depps teeth are literally ROTTING pic.twitter.com/H5FSg5JabJ Sanji Kun (@syahrilaken) May 18, 2023
Social media users didnt hold back then and posted reactions that ranged from concern to humour. Comments like Johnny Depps teeth are crying out for help and Johnny Depps teeth are literally ROTTING, highlighted the general reaction. Someone went too far and commented, Very very very inspired to brush my teeth, floss and use a tongue scraper every time I see a pic of Johnny Depp at Cannes.
Depp has long been known for his reluctance to get dental work done. In a 1995 interview with Premier magazine, the Oscar winner expressed his dislike for perfectly polished teeth. When I see people with perfect teeth, it drives me up the wall. Id rather swallow a tick than have that.
Ive got loads of cavitiesI had a root canal done eight years ago thats unfinished. Its like a rotten little stubBut I like it. Im proud of these, he further added.
Thalapathy Vijays film The Greatest of All Time has already created a massive buzz among the fans as the film starts its journey today. Fans have been waiting for the films release. The teaser that was shared earlier by the makers also attracted massive audience attention. The first show of GOAT in the state of Tamil Nadu started at 9 AM while in Kerala and Karnataka, the first show was held at 4 AM.
The songs and trailer from the film, which have already been released, have garnered a lot of attention and excitement from fans. Over the past few days, the film crew has been actively engaged in promotional events. According to media reports, after listening to the songs and watching the final cut before the release Vijay said to director Venkat Prabhu that music composer Yuvan Shankar Raja has done a great job. He said, Yuvan has nailed it!. The reports further stated that a special screening was held for prominent personalities. Everyone reportedly loved the film and also expressed their satisfaction.
In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Venkat Prabhu spoke about his experience of working with Vijay. He mentioned that it was a very wonderful experience to work with such a wonderful actor. It was a truly wonderful experience. At first, I was a bit scared, but he made me extremely comfortable. The director added that he is a very professional person and always takes proper preparation before coming to the set. Vijay is very observant and sits silently checking all the arrangements. But when he comes in front of the camera and it starts rolling he becomes so energetic and delivers a perfect shot every time.
Alongside Thalapathy Vijay, the film features popular actors like Prabhu Deva, Prashanth, Sneha, Jayaram, Yogi Babu, Mohan, Kaniha, Laila, Ajmal Ameer, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Vaibhav Reddy, VTV Ganesh, Premgi Amaren, Aravind Akash, Durai. K and Ajay Raj. It was produced by Kalpathi S. Agoram, Kalpathi S. Ganesh and Kalpathi S. Suresh. The cinematography was handled by Siddhartha Nuni.
When Kashmera Shah marked her 18 years of togetherness with Krushna Abhishek earlier this year, she penned down an emotional note on social media and revealed how a lot of people initially thought that their relationship would not last long. Now, in an interview, Krushna has jokingly revealed that their relationship started only as a one night stand.
Krushna Abhishek was speaking to ETimes when he recalled how happy he was when he started to date Kashmera. Kash was a hot, sexy and popular actress working with Shah Rukh Khan and Jackie Shroff. I was a newcomer then. The age difference was not important. I connected with her and enjoyed flaunting her as my girlfriend, saying, Dekho main Kashmera Shah ko date kar raha hoon, he said.
The actor, known for his appearances on Kapil Sharmas comedy shows, revealed that they first met on a film set in Jaipur. He admitted that they were not serious about each other initially and thought that their dating would not last long. However, things changed with time and they became each others best friends.
I first met her on a film set in Jaipur, where we were casually introduced and eventually became friends. One day, she called me to her room for dinner, and thats how our relationship startedwith a one-night stand (laughs). Funnily, the joke we share is how, after that one dinner, I just stayed back with her! he said.
Initially, we were not serious about each other, we travelled and had a good time for many years. When we started dating, we were not thinking of marriage and felt it would end in a few months. But I was always happy around Kashmera. We are each others best friends. People often joke about how Krushna likes two things: Kash and cash! the actor added.
Krushna was also joined by Kashmera during the interview when she revealed that the former was hardly 22 years old when they started to date. She also admitted that many people thought she would leave Krushna for a rich man because he was 10 years younger than her.
I was always an independent woman and did not need anyone to pay my bills. Secondly, I was never looked at as the girl next door, I was perceived as hot and sexy, and society often considers women like me as someone you can date, but not marry. People assumed we were just having fun together and it would not last long, she shared.
Krushna and Kashmera are married for 11 years now. They are currently seen in the show, Laughter Chefs.
Malayalam actor Sowmya has accused a Tamil director of sexually assaulting her. In a recent interview, the actress alleged that the filmmaker groomed her as a sex slave and kissed once her while his wife was not at home. Sowmya revealed that she decided to act in one of his films because she felt obligated but admitted that she wasnt comfortable with the man even after their first meeting.
Even though she did not name the director, the actress said that she would reveal the mans identity to the special police team formed by the Kerala government, which is currently probing sexual harassment allegations in the film industry.
One fine day, when his wife wasnt around, this man, while calling me his daughter, kissed me. I completely froze. I was so desperate to tell my friends but couldnt I was ashamed, thinking I had done something wrong and that I was obligated to be nice to this man, she told NDTV.
So I continued going for practice, for dance rehearsals every day I went back and gradually, step by step, this man completely used my body to his advantage. At some point he forced himself on me so he raped me. This went on for close to a year while I was in college, she claimed.
Sowmya claimed that even though the director used to call her his daughter, he messed up with her and assaulted her. She further accused that he groomed as a sex slave. It took 30 years for me to heal and recover from this sense of shame I encourage survivors to report all such abuse, she said.
The allegations come at a time when several cases of sexual assault in the Malayalam film industry have left the entire nation shocked. It all started after the findings of the Justice Hema Committee Report were made public earlier this month. As of now, FIRs have been registered against nine film personalities, which include Mukesh, Siddique, Jayasurya, Edavela Babu, Nivin Pauly, Maniyan Pillai Raju, directors Ranjith, V. K. Prakash, production executives Vichu and Noble after women actresses registered complaints.
Disclaimer: As per legal and ethical guidelines, we generally refrain from naming victims in cases of sexual harassment or assault. The inclusion of the name in this article is based on the fact that the individual has publicly identified themselves in connection with the case. We respect the privacy and dignity of all individuals involved and urge readers to approach the matter sensitively.
Malayalam directors Vineeth Sreenivasan and Arun have come out in support of actor Nivin Pauly amid sexual assault allegations against him. On Thursday, the two filmmakers issued a joint statement and claimed that contrary to the claims, Nivin was shooting in Kerala on the dates when the complainant alleged sexual assault.
Nivin was shooting for Vineeths movie in Kochi on December 14 till the 15th morning in Cochin and later he moved on to join the sets of Pharma, a web series shoot that happened in Cochin itself. As per the case filed by the 40-year-old lady, the actor along with a gang raped her in Dubai during the said dates. Now it has been evident that Nivin was in Kerala on those days for shooting his film and an upcoming web series, the statement read.
On September 3, a case was filed against Nivin Pauly for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman under the pretext of offering her a role in a movie. The complainant claimed that the incident happened in Dubai in last November.
Later, Nivin also publicly responded to sexual harassment allegations and called them baseless. I have come across a false news report accusing me of abusing a girl. Please know that this is entirely untrue. Im determined to go to any extent to prove these allegations are baseless and will take all necessary steps to bring those responsible to light. Thank you for your concern. The rest will be handled legally, Nivin wrote on his social media handle.
Nivin Paulys sexual assault allegation comes at a time when several revelations regarding such cases in the Malayalam film industry have left the entire nation shocked. It all started after the findings of the Justice Hema Committee Report were made public earlier this month. As of now, FIRs have been registered against nine film personalities, which include Mukesh, Siddique, Jayasurya, Edavela Babu, Maniyan Pillai Raju, directors Ranjith, V. K. Prakash, production executives Vichu and Noble after women actresses registered complaints.
Namashi Chakraborty, the younger son of legendary actor Mithun Chakraborty, is stepping into the world of direction with his debut project. On his birthday, Namashi took to social media to share the exciting news, saying, On my birthday today, I announce my first venture as a director, to be made under my home production MYRND MOVIES. I will also essay the lead role in the film.
The yet-untitled film, described as an experimental romantic-drama, features a star-studded cast, including Mahaakshay Chakraborty, Dishani Chakraborty, Kaushik Dasgupta, Vishnu Warrier, Shrikant Watts, Raahul Kanodia, and Samrat Rattan. Fans can look forward to its release in February 2025.
Namashi, known for his roles in films like Bad Boy and Indian Fashion Factory, is taking his career to the next level with this ambitious project.
In an interview with Etimes last year, the young actor had revealed that he was a born actor. He went on to add that when he was born, his mother (Yogita Bali) was not informed that a baby boy was born; instead, it was conveyed to her that an actor had been born. The nurse didnt tell my mother (Yogita Bali) ladka hua hai; she told her actor paida hua hai. I have had an obsession with becoming an actor. There was no Plan B for me. When Dad (Mithun Chakraborty) used to get ready and do his make-up, I also would start applying make-up on myself. Unke dialogues recite karta tha. And, I watched every film of Shah Rukh Khan and Govinda, he said.
Meanwhile, Mithun Chakraborty, an iconic figure in Indian cinema, continues to be a towering presence. Born into a Bengali Hindu family in Kolkata, he made his debut in Mrigayaa (1976), a performance that earned him the National Film Award for Best Actor. Over the years, Mithun has added two more National Film Awards to his name for Tahader Katha (1992) and Swami Vivekananda (1998). His contributions to films like Disco Dancer, Agneepath, and The Kashmir Files have cemented his status as a cinematic legend. This year, he was honored with the prestigious Padma Bhushan, Indias third-highest civilian award.
Earlier this year, Mithun faced a health scare when he was hospitalized in Kolkata following an ischemic stroke. Fortunately, he is recovering, and his legacy in Indian cinema remains as strong as ever.
Disney+ Hotstar is ready with the second season of its popular drama, Taaza Khabar. Featuring Bhuvan Bam as Vasya, the one with a gift of foreseeing news, the drama will take an intense turn with Jaaved Jaaferi joining as the dark and fierce Yusuf Akhtar. A trailer has been released, giving a glimpse into Vasyas struggles after he loses his gift and ends up dealing with the aftermath of his actions, even putting his and his familys lives at stake.
The trailer shows Bhuvans character crossing with the wrong man, who happened to lose a lot of money due to Vasyas prediction. With no intention to show any mercy, Jaaferis Yusuf Akhtar grants two weeks to Vasya to return Rs 500 crore, leaving him in a tough spot.
Desperate to save his life, Vasya goes on another risky path with his group, leading to more chaos, drama and life-threatening situations. Will the magic work once again or will things take a turn for the worse? The second season will have all the questions answered. Along with the trailer, Disney+ also confirmed the shows release date on social media. Karza aur gunah chukaane padhte hain! Kabhi kabhi marr ke bhi. #HotstarSpecials #TaazaKhabar Season 2 streaming from September 27, it wrote.
Besides Buvan, returning is Shriya Pilgaonkar as Madhu, Prathamesh Parab, Deven Bhojani and Shilpa Shukla. Made under the banner of Bhuvan Bams BB Ki Vines Productions, the show is directed by Himank Gaur, who also helmed the previous season. The comedian-turned-actor spoke about the emotionally challenging second season, adding that the character of Vasya reflects his own life journey.
While Jaaved Jaaferi is also ready to take on a different role as an antagonist, he shares his thoughts about the character. When I was offered Taaza Khabar S2, I was excited about playing the antagonist. Yusuf is layered, powerful, and has a fierce demeanour, which is unlike any role I have played in the past. Taaza Khabar has been a creatively satisfying experience for me, and audiences are in for a treat with Vasya and Yusufs ultimate showdown, he said, as quoted by India Today.
Taaza Khabar Season 2 will premiere on Disney+ Hotstar on September 27, 2024.
When Vijay said GOAT, he meant the internet slang The Greatest of All Time. However, actor Cool Suresh decided to bring a real-life goat along to celebrate the release. In videos gone viral, Cool Suresh was seen making his way to a theatre with a goat by his side. He also spoke to the media and confirmed that he did bring a goat with him to celebrate the films release and also sang songs with fans on camera.
The actor admitted hes a fan of Vijay and expressed his excitement over watching GOAT in theatres with fans. GOAT is said to be Vijays last film before he shifts his complete focus to politics. Check out videos of Cool Suresh with a goat below:
GOAT was released with much fan-fare in Tamil Nadu. In several parts of the state, fans were seen bursting crackers and pouring milk on lifesize posters of Vijay.
While fans have enjoyed GOAT, News18 Showshas review said that while Vijay is great in the film, the script fails his performance. Superstar films in India suffer from the same problem as Hollywoods superhero films. It has come down to getting the dopamine hit seeing the cameos, the easter eggs, the bigger universe, and the post-credit scene. It leaves one wondering how these hollow fan services will age making up to titles like The Greatest of All Time, the review read.
Directed by Venkat Prabhu, the Vijay headlined film also stars Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Ajmal Ameer, Mohan, Jayaram, Sneha, Laila, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Vaibhav, Yogi Babu, and Premgi Amaren.
Malayalam cinema star Tovino Thomas says every industry has its own set of skilled actors and he has no desire to foray into Bollywood for the sake of it. The actor was offered the Aamir Khan-starrer Laal Singh Chaddha but he couldnt do the 2022 comedy-drama due to prior work commitments.
Every industry is blessed with a lot of great actors so I dont want to come here as an outsider and steal roles from them. I would love to work in any industry as long as the character is Malayali, and is living in Mumbai or Hyderabad. Otherwise, I dont find any point, Thomas told PTI.
I watch all language films like Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, English, Spanish or Japanese, said the actor, who currently stars in ARM. The film will have a pan-India release in theatres on September 12 in Malayalam, Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.
The 2018 star, whose other noteworthy performances in the Malayalam industry are 7th Day, Ennu Ninte Moideen, Charlie, Guppy, Minnal Murali, and Anweshippin Kandethum, said every film, regardless of whether it was a hit or flop, has been a turning point and a learning experience for him.
I started with small and supporting roles, comedic and villain roles, and then played lead, and again did supporting roles, I love switching between roles. I wanted to be an actor and when I completed my first movie, I achieved my dream and since then Ive been living my dream. So, whatever Ive achieved after that, I consider it as a bonus, said the actor, who made his debut in 2012 with Praabhuvinte Makkal.
His ARM co-star, Harish Uthaman, said Thomas has gradually made a mark. When you say its a Tovino film, they will know that theres a good story and content in it, Uthaman, who has worked with Thomas on films Maayanadhi, and Kalki, said.
Set in northern Kerala across three timelines of 1900, 1950 and 1990, ARM will see Thomas play the characters of Maniyan, Kunjikkelu, and Ajayan, each trying to protect a treasure of land through different generations.
The actor said he collaborated with an acting trainer to meticulously design each characters nuances, from mannerisms to voice. Im a worrisome kid in general, Ill be worried about the smallest problem on the sets. This was one of the biggest challenges as Im playing three distinct characters. I wanted each character to be distinct, it shouldnt have any similarities. Theres already one similarity, in which one actor is playing three characters.
I wanted to complete one character and then move to another and my director and writer were also on the same page. We had many setups and it was not easy to switch between these timelines.
Billed as a visual spectacle with a compelling story, ARM is directed by debutant Jithin Lal and written by Sujith Nambiar.
Uthaman, known for his villainous roles in films like Gouravam, Pandiya Naadu, Meagamann, and Srimanthudu, shared his struggle with being typecast and said he consciously avoided accepting roles in 2018 that seemed similar. He said he isnt playing a negative part in ARM but his character of Sudev Verma has an agenda.
As an actor, who wants to perform and do different roles, live different journeys, they dont want to do the same thing, because it kills the fire and interest in you. One day, I realised about being boxed and since then Ive been careful. Getting into the box is very easy, and getting out of the box is very tough, it might take double or triple the time, but its not impossible.
Thomas heaped praise on the actor and said his potential is yet to be explored.
Asked about ARM being turned into a potential franchise, the actor said it all depends on how the viewers respond to the movie.
Thomas is equally excited about his other film, L2 Empuraan. Helmed by Prithviraj, the movie, starring Mohanlal, is a sequel to the 2019 blockbuster Lucifer. Ive shot for a few days and Ill shoot for the remaining part, he said, adding that a sequel to Minnal Murali has not happened yet because the director Basil Joseph is caught up with other commitments.
Todd Phillips Joker: Folie a Deux has finally made its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, earning an impressive 11-minute standing ovation. Starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, the highly anticipated sequel is slated for theatrical release in October. The villainous musical sequel captivated the audience on Wednesday night, with the entire team, including Phillips and the lead stars, deeply moved by the enthusiastic reception.
Videos circulating online show the audience erupting in applause, with chants of Brava and enthusiastic whistles for Gaga and Joaquin filling the theatre. During the extended standing ovation, the actors were seen engaged in a deep conversation, likely discussing the film and their initial reactions to the audiences response.
joker 2 starring lady gaga and joaquin phoenix received an 11-minute standing ovation at the venice film festival pic.twitter.com/ZUQU6rMcSJ pop culture gal (@allurequinn) September 4, 2024
While Lady Gaga waved at the audience after receiving a warm applause by staying for an extra minute or so, Phoenix exited the stage first. Prior to the premiere, Phoenix spent a lot of time on the red carpet with his fans by taking selfies and signing autographs. Gaga also created a frenzy as soon as she arrived at the venue, making photographers trip over each other to take a shot of the pop superstar.
The first reviews for Joker: Folie a Deux have started rolling in. Venice Film Festival chief Alberto Barbera has praised the film as the most daring, brave, and creative recent entry in American cinema, according to Deadline. Meanwhile, David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter lauded the performances by Phoenix and Gaga but criticised the films narrative, calling it thin and dull. The Independents Geoffrey Macnab shared how Phillips brings a sense of fun to his direction with the use of musical numbers and Hollywood references to add flair.
More About The Joker Sequel
A follow-up to Phillipss 2019 film Joker, Folie a Deux picks after the events of the first film. Phoenixs Arthur Fleck aka The Joker, is now in the asylum waiting for his trial. As the story unfolds, he ends up meeting his true love and breaks free. The first Joker film was also premiered at the Venice Film Festival, and it even won the prestigious Golden Lion.
Besides, the film also won the Academy Award for Best Actor for Phoenixs performance.
Bollywoods popular couple, Pulkit Samrat and Kriti Kharbanda, recently headed out for a romantic dinner date in Mumbai. The duo, who recently got married in March this year, were all smiling as they posed for the camera outside the restaurant. During this time, the Fukrey actors hilarious banter with his paps was unmissable; he was seen joking with the media personnel. In the video, Pulkit and Kriti could be seen coming out of the restaurant after their dinner.
Both looked amazing in casual attire. While Pulkit chose a checked shirt with black cargo jeans and a black cap, Kriti chose a black outfit with a denim jacket.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bolly Lens (@bollylens)
As they headed for the car, Pulkit was seen joking with the paps, asking if he should close the door or if they would sit inside with them. After dating for quite some time, Kriti Kharbanda and Pulkit Samrat got married on March 15 at the ITC Grand Manesar in a lavish ceremony with family and friends. From the deep blue sky, To the morning dew. Through the low and the high, Its only you. From the start to the end, In every now and every then, When my heart beats different, Its got to be you. Constantly, Consistently, Continually, You! the couple wrote in a joint post on Instagram.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kriti Kharbanda (@kriti.kharbanda)
Pictures and videos from the wedding have been shared across social media platforms, showing the couple enjoying their special day to the fullest. Later, they also dropped pictures from their reception party. Setting perfect husband goals, Pulkit also took part in a post-wedding ritual and prepared his pehli rasoi for Kriti. The actress shared a picture of her husband, showing him making halwa in their kitchen.
Notably, the couple has worked together in 2018s Veerey Ki Wedding.
Upcoming Projects For Pulkit And Kriti
Pulkit Samrat was last seen in the third installment of his superhit Fukrey franchise. The film came out last year, receiving a warm response from the audience.
The film recently premiered on &Pictures. The actor is yet to announce his next project. On the other hand, Kritis last project, titled 14 Phere, came out in July this year. Reportedly, she has now teamed up with Rana Daggubati for an upcoming project. According to Pinkvilla, the film is currently in production, with 50 per cent of the shoot being complete.
The Raaz Reboot actress also has Abir Senguptas Risky Romeo alongside Sunny Singh.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee introduced a stringent anti-rape law Aparajita on Tuesday. While addressing the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, she also held Prime Minister Narendra Modi responsible for such crimes, even demanding his resignation. This aggressive stance from Bengals Didi has come at a time when her government is facing relentless protests over the RG Kar doctor rape and murder case, despite the police arresting the accused within 12 hours.
The past three weeks have seen a series of hits and misses on the part of West Bengal police, state government and the ruling Trinamool Congress in the aftermath of the doctors rape and murder. With the new anti-rape law, several questions have come to the fore Where did her government falter and where did she score? Why is the tough anti-rape law bill, brought on Tuesday, not resonating with the protesters? And, why did the chief ministers fiery speech at Bengal assembly did not change anything?
While the swift arrest by Kolkata Police was a commendable move, it failed to quell public outrage. People got fixated over an idea that there was a systemic cover up. The theory of a cover-up has taken such deep root and is now so well-entrenched in the public psyche, that the call for justice driven by this very notion has been steadily gathering steam, cutting across all sections, professions, and age groups in society.
One Triumph, Many Traps
Several lapses by the Kolkata Police may have fuelled this perception. However, these missteps are more about systemic flaws in the criminal justice system than some deliberate wrongdoing. But, these common lapses, which have now become glaring and are spread across social media platforms, have almost eroded public trust, leaving the police in the state battling widespread scepticism.
Take, for instance, the handling of the General Diary Entry (GDE) and the initiation of an Unnatural Death (UD) case. The first GDE was registered at Tala Police Station around 10:10 am when the initial call was received. The officer, who left for the scene of crime then, returned late at night at the police station after all the procedures, and wrote the days report, but made it the part of the GDE. The report, when picked up by the counsels, was shown as a GDE entry, only recorded after 13 hours of the incident. The Supreme Court was also shocked by such a lapse. However, in reality, it was lack of professionalism in that specific officer and it is nothing unique for such thana level officers. While this might seem routine, its emblematic of the procedural gaps that have amplified the belief in a cover-up, causing public confidence in the police to crumble.
Second and one of the crucial lapses include the alleged alteration of the crime scene. Even the pictures, available on social media, show over a dozen persons at the crime scene, while the crime scene didnt look secured with tape or other demarcations. Even though the Kolkata Police identified the persons as people related to investigations, the protesting doctors came up with names of those who were not related to any investigation. Even if it was not directly affecting the investigation process, it added fodder to the theory of crime scene manipulation and hence, the cover up.
Third, and another pivotal point about an alleged cover up stemmed from the recorded time of lodging an FIR. The hospital authority gave an intimation note to the police station stating discovery of a half naked body, but the authorities did not lodge an FIR. In this case, the police, instead of lodging a suo moto FIR immediately, waited for the post mortem to be concluded as demanded by the parents of the victim.
According to a hand written note, signed by the parents and four colleagues of the victim, there were some demands made out before conducting the autopsy. They had listed the demands including videography, photography, presence of magistrate and presence of two experts from the hospital. By that time, it was late and the protests outside had already begun. After completion of the autopsy, the FIR was lodged. However, the officer on duty committed faux pas there too. He wrote in the content willful rape and murder while it should have been written rape and wilful murder.
Fourt, with Kolkata Police initially tight-lipped and non-reactive to some fake narratives , the theory of gangrape and 150 mg semen found on body spread. People, who are generally not so conversant of PM reports, crime scenes, and investigation of rapes, started saying that this (the crime) was not one persons work. Some doctors contributed to such misconceptions.
Among all such major deviations, and disturbing narratives, the Kolkata Police did investigate the case properly, arrested the accused in 12 hours. As of now, while the CBI is now on the job, no fact otherwise has officially come out. In fact, the CBI has been seemingly following the same line of investigation, taken by the Kolkata Police. The probe and the arrest have actually been a triumph for Kolkata Police. However, the traps overshadowed the triumph.
Where did the CM stumble?
The protests persist, fuelled by perceived lapses in governance, allegations of lack of safety for women, and a growing distrust in the administration. Mamatas aggressive posturing against the Centre, instead of addressing local grievances and talking in an emphatic way, has only intensified the unrest, leaving the fire of protest far from extinguished. The governments missteps began with the ill-judged decision to transfer ex-principal Sandip Ghosh to a higher-ranked college instead of placing him on leave or suspending him.
As the incident occurred within the hospital premises, Ghosh should have been subject to scrutiny, but this move only raised suspicions. The action by the Chief Minister emboldened the cover up narrative.
Next, the governments failure to immediately order an inquiry into the recruitment and role of the civic police volunteer accused of the crime was a glaring oversight. The civic police volunteer force should have been thoroughly vetted and reformed, yet no such action was taken. There was no formal probe ordered.
The final blow to the police administrations credibility came on August 14, when they failed to secure the hospital during the night march. The police couldnt protect the protesting doctors or the hostel residents, leading to the hospital being vandalised. While some arrests were made, the authorities failed to clarify the motives behind the ransacking, deepening public mistrust.
To make matters worse, statements from senior Trinamool leaders, including the Chief Minister, only fuelled public outrage. Artists who supported the doctors and joined the protests were targeted and humiliated, further souring public perception.
Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, supported by officials from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, has recently undertaken several strategic bilateral visits. These visits are designed to increase Indias profile in Chinas backyard. This comes as China has been attempting to dominate and bully the ASEAN region, the countries bordering the East and South China Sea, and beyond. Additionally, these visits hold great potential for increasing bilateral trade and cooperation.
PM Modi is the first Indian head of government to visit Brunei, a strategically located and oil-rich country on the island of Borneo, to strengthen bilateral ties and economic activity. The Indian expatriate and ethnic community was greatly enthused by the brief visit, and Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, the 29th ruler in his line, extended a red-carpet welcome that was second to none. This, despite Bruneis location in the Malay Archipelago, southeast of the Malay Peninsula, and southwest of the Philippines. It is therefore not at all far from China and the South China Sea, risking a possible menace from China for warming up towards India.
Brunei is, however, very close to the Western powers and has nothing to fear in waters regularly patrolled by the US Navy. India, as a member of QUAD and under its Act East Policy, is upgrading its previously neglected relationship with the island nation.
A new chancery was inaugurated at the Indian High Commission, located near the US Embassy, to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Brunei. News reports state that the moderate Islamic nation of Brunei and India have agreed to engage in the areas of defence, space, and the long-term supply of LNG to India. India currently imports a significant portion of its long-term LNG supplies from Qatar. A regular flight between the Brunei capital of Bandar Seri Begawan and Chennai was also announced.
Prime Minister Modi is currently in Singapore for a two-day visit. Singapore, a tiny Asian country with first-world standards, is a familiar destination for our prime minister, with steady bilateral visits from both sides over the years. Singapore has participated in the Malabar military exercises with India, alongside Japan and Australia. Additionally, Singapore and India conduct another naval exercise bilaterally, called SIMBEX, held on a yearly basis. All this, even though Singapore also enjoys a good relationship with China. It is a major transhipment port for China, serving as a key hub for trade and logistics.
Similar to Brunei, Singapore has a large, historically established Indian community, as well as modern residencies and ongoing exchanges. Indians invest in Singapore real estate, and students travel there for secondary and higher education, drawn by its high academic standards, discipline, safety, and strong law and order. Singapore is also a preferred regional headquarters for numerous US and European companies.
Prime Minister Modi met with his counterpart, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, as well as President Tharman Shanmugaratnam (of ethnic Indian or Sri Lankan origin from the days of British indentured labour in then Malaya, following the abolition of slavery), Senior Minister Hsien Loong, and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. He also met with leading members of the business community and the Indian diaspora.
Singaporean citizens trace their ancestry primarily to Malaysia, China, and India, with roots going back to the Malayan rubber plantation days of the British Empire.
Singapore is already Indias largest trading partner in Asia, with a trade value of $36.6 billion, and is a key partner in its Act East Policy. In 2023, Singapore was the largest FDI investor in India, with investments totalling $11.77 billion.
The two prime ministers, Modi and Wong, visited AEM Holdings Ltd., a leading Singaporean company in the semiconductors and electronics sector, and discussed collaboration in this high-technology area. During the visit, the two countries elevated their bilateral cooperation to a comprehensive strategic partnership. This is an upgrade of the existing Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), established in June 2005, which had eliminated tariffs on 81 per cent of Singapore exports to India.
The two countries signed four MoUs, including one on collaboration in the semiconductor industry. The other three pertained to educational cooperation and skill development, health and medicine, and the rapidly growing field of digital technologies.
Singapore had previously agreed to play a key role in promoting Indias involvement in ASEAN countries, where China is the dominant player. Singapore is part of the global semiconductor value chain and is keen to invest in India to develop semiconductor clusters and enhance Indian talent in design and manufacturing. India, for its part, is equally enthusiastic about growing this trillion-dollar opportunity alongside its emerging electronic chip industry.
Life, both personal and societal, presents moments that call for a pause, a chance to reflect on our actions, traditions, and beliefs. These are opportunities for reassessment, for re-evaluating our past and envisioning a new path forward. This period of natality, or fresh beginnings, requires a visionary approach that is both inclusive and forward-thinking, fostering the well-being of society and the nation.
Unlike the Western notion of modernity, the Indian tradition of newness embraces renewal and rejuvenation. This tradition values continuity rather than rupture, advocating for the reinvention of civilisational ethos and cultural practices. The ongoing re-visioning of values, laws, philosophies, and other aspects of life is essential to ensure that societal structures align with the material development and progress of the times. Such alignment paves the way for the seamless progress of individuals and communities, minimising friction and attrition.
In this context, the role of philosophers becomes particularly significant. The etymological root of the word philosophy means love of wisdom. Wisdom, rather than mere knowledge, has been the cornerstone of our great Indian civilisation. Where knowledge may falter, wisdom prevails. This article explores one such philosopher of our times, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who connected education with the cultivation of wisdom. For Dr Radhakrishnan, the purpose of education was to teach that life has meaning and to awaken the innate ability to live a soulful life through the development of wisdom.
Born on September 5, 1888, in Tiruttani (now Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh), then part of the Madras Presidency under British colonial rule, Dr Radhakrishnan passed away on April 17, 1975, in Madras (now Chennai), leaving behind a rich legacy. His profound wisdom left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of countless Indians. It is no surprise that Dr Radhakrishnans academic rise was closely tied to his philosophical roots. He was deeply influenced by the teachings of ancient Indian philosophers and drew inspiration from great thinkers like Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna Paramahansa. His extensive knowledge of Western traditions and ideas also enabled him to bridge the gap between these seemingly opposing schools of thought.
Dr Radhakrishnans philosophical beliefs complemented his administrative skills, allowing him to expand the reach of Indian culture abroad. As Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University and later as Ambassador to the Soviet Union, he showed deep commitment to Indias cultural ethos, using these roles to promote its values and civilisational frameworks.
During the height of the Cold War, Dr Radhakrishnan served as Indias Ambassador to the Soviet Union, yet maintained friendships with American statesmen. Widely respected in the West, Dr Radhakrishnan was seen as an authority on Indian philosophy and a persuasive interpreter of the role of Eastern institutions in contemporary society. He was arguably the first to bring India closer to both the Soviets and Americans simultaneously.
In terms of religion, Dr Radhakrishnan emphasised how Hinduism reformed itself in response to the religions introduced by foreign rulers. He advocated that Hinduism should abandon imperfect conceptions and democratise its institutions to eliminate prejudice and inequality. Dr Radhakrishnan played a key role in transforming Indian education, with subsequent education models and policies built on the foundation he laid.
Dr Radhakrishnan believed that education should be both man-making and society-making. He argued that education should not be limited to the acquisition of facts and knowledge but should aim to achieve wisdom and truth. Critics who label him a traditionalist must recognise that Dr Radhakrishnan was ahead of his time.
In his report to the University Education Commission (1948-1949), Dr Radhakrishnan recommended teaching through discussion and learning by doing as complements to textbook education. He also noted in the same report, No society can progress satisfactorily with the backwardness of women. If women are uneducated, society will remain uneducated.
For Dr Radhakrishnan, education was a tool to strengthen the cultural foundations of society and to introduce new ideas and pathways for the material and spiritual progress of all its members. His writings, when revisited today, align closely with the current National Education Policy (2020).
In 1962, when Dr Radhakrishnan was elected President of India, a group of students requested to celebrate his birthday. He suggested they observe it as Teachers Day instead. Thus, September 5 came to be recognised as Teachers Day, honouring the invaluable contributions of teachers to society.
Moreover, Dr Radhakrishnans idea of blending Western and Eastern methods, particularly his advocacy of the Socratic method in education, stemmed from his belief that such an approach would foster a vast pool of critical thinkers. He emphasised the importance of strengthening national philosophy by empowering students to grasp the essence of the country, thereby enabling them to uplift society.
Dr Radhakrishnans ideas on education are arguably what the country needs today, and the fact that they resonate with key aspects of the National Education Policy highlights the enduring relevance of his philosophical thought. It is fitting that he was awarded the Bharat Ratna for his invaluable and immeasurable contributions to Indian culture and education.
While there has been criticism against Dr Radhakrishnanregarding his views on social institutions, his educational philosophy, and his interpretations of Indias spiritual canonsno one can deny that he was a unifier, not a divider. His writings championed unity, peace, democracy, and learning for all. It is heartening to see that India continues to commemorate his birthday as Teachers Day every year.
K. Sreenivasarao is Secretary of Sahitya Akademi, National Academy of Letters, India. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
The rebellion of February this year, in which six MLAs defected to the BJP in Himachal Pradesh and led to the loss of its candidate for Rajya Sabha Abhishek Manu Singhvi still irks and stings the Congress as well as chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
So, in a first, the government introduced and passed a Bill to deprive pension to those who defect as per the 10th Schedule of the Constitution. According to the Bill, any member disqualified under the 10th Schedule will forfeit their pension entitlement. Legislation also enables recovery of pension.
This is a first and Sukhu, while speaking to News18, called it a landmark legislation. No one will defect or think of it. I think all governments and states should think of this as it will ensure political stability, he said.
In fact, sources say all Congress-ruled states are mulling a similar law. The Grand Old Party has burnt its fingers with the fall of its government in Madhya Pradesh under Kamal Nath earlier and under Uddhav Thackeray in Maharashtra. While numbers are not a problem in Telangana or Karnataka, the Congress wants to send a message that loyalty has no price.
The pension in Himachal is Rs 36,000 a substantial amount for a retired or former MLA. The BJP, meanwhile, called it a diversionary tactic by the state government in the face of a financial crisis.
On Wednesday, News18 had reported that as per data available, the debt liabilities in the state increased to Rs 76,651 crore in 2023. According to the state administration, Himachal is staring at a Rs 520 crore revenue deficit. Sukhu says this is because of the BJP government before him that depleted the economy and emptied coffers.
Our expense annually on pension and salaries is Rs 25,000 crore. Monthly, it is Rs 1,200 crore on salaries and Rs 80 crore on pension. The BJP has been liberal with sops and freebies leading to this situation. Those who should pay income tax are exempted. Almost everybody has got water and electricity free and this is something I wont allow. We have tried to improve the finances. For example, we began auction of liquor tenders and earned Rs 485 crore in one year, while BJP government earned Rs 635 crore in five years, Sukhu said.
A massive protest erupted outside the Sanjauli Masjid in Himachal Pradeshs Shimla with members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), various Hindu organisations, and local residents demanding the demolition of what they allege to be an illegal mosque.
Ankush Chauhan, a BJP worker at the protest, called the mosques construction as illegal, stating, This mosque has been built illegally. The four floors of the mosque are illegal. If we construct anything illegally, it is immediately demolished. It has been 10 years, but no action has been taken on the mosque. This illegal mosque should be demolished.
#WATCH | Himachal Pradesh: A protestor says This mosque has been built illegally. The four floors of the mosque are illegal. If we construct anything illegally, it is immediately demolished. It has been 10 years, but no action has been taken on the mosque. This illegal mosque pic.twitter.com/WpNbicJCSF ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2024
The controversy over the mosque intensified on Wednesday after a heated debate in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, where Congress leaders Anirudh Singh and Harish Janartha clashed over the mosques legality.
Janartha had argued that there was no tension in the area and claimed that the mosque, built before 1960, had three additional stories constructed illegally in 2010 on Waqf Board land.
He added that not only outsiders but local Muslims were living in the mosque, and that illegally constructed toilets had been demolished. Janartha accused certain elements of exacerbating the issue.
Action Not Against Community, But Illegal Construction
In response, Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh stated that the number of Muslim Tehbazaris was not 190 but 1,900, asserting that Tehbazari (licence to hawk) permission should be granted only to bona fide Himachalis, with permissions given to outsiders being cancelled.
In an interview with CNN-News18, Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh addressed the issue, stating that the councillors will soon pass a bill for the verification of all vendors operating in the state. He also noted that any illegal construction will be demolished according to the law.
He questioned why the issue was overlooked for so long, asserting, Illegal is illegal, whether its a temple or a mosque.
Weve urged the Chief Minister to maintain records of illegal immigrants and to verify their police backgrounds, whether theyre coming from Pakistan, Bangladesh, or even within India. If these individuals are arriving from outside, we must understand what criminal activities they might be involved in, the minister stated.
Singh also said that the action was not being taken against any particular community. This action is not being taken against any one community. It is against illegal construction, he said.
Singh, however, said that all communities are welcome in the state. He further added that there is an illegal Bangladeshi migrant issue in Himachal Pradesh and the government is looking into it.
Sukhu Reacts
Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the government does not intend to disturb any community. We will not let any incident happen in the state. Political protests keep happening but no political worker has any right to disturb law and order in the state, Sukhu said, while speaking to news agency ANI.
He said local MLAs and ministers have been dispatched to the site and are holding talks there.
Family members of a trainee doctor, who was raped and murdered at Kolkatas RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, have made startling accusations against the city police. Joining the protesting junior doctors at the medical institution on Wednesday (September 4), the victims parents alleged that the Kolkata Police attempted to hush up the case through bribery and by hurriedly cremating their daughters body.
This has led to another political meltdown with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) countering the allegations by posting a video of the parents on social media in which their version is different.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), meanwhile, pressed on for the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal.
What are the parents saying?
The doctors parents made strong allegations and said, that on August 9, a senior police officer offered them money and asked them to give their signatures on a white sheet of paper. They further alleged that there was a lot of pressure on them to cremate the body of their daughter against their wishes.
The police, from the very beginning, tried to hush up the case. We were not allowed to see the body and had to wait at the police station while the body was taken for post-mortem examinations. Later, when the body was handed over to us, a senior police official offered us money, which we immediately declined, the victims father said.
At the same time, countering the parents claims, Trinamool Congress IT cell head, Debangshu Bhattacharya Dev, posted a video on a social media platform, where the parents can purportedly be heard saying money was not offered to them.
Posting the purported video of the parents, Dev said, Hear what the parents have to say.
In the video, which could not be independently verified by News18, two persons can be heard saying, We want justice, police did not offer us money
Here are a few questions posed by the parents:
Why did the authorities tell us our daughter had died by suicide without checking?
Why did it take three hours for us to see our daughter even after we begged the police to let us see her body?
Why did the authorities delay the post-mortem and registration of a First Information Report (FIR) in the case?
Why did the police file the case as an unnatural death in the beginning?
Why did the hospital not talk to us for at least seven hours?
WHAT TMC SAID
Amid the row over the parents allegations, state minister Shashi Panja said, A video has gone viral and it suggests that the parents were offered money by the police to hush up the case. In another video, the parents have said this allegation is false. They said they only want justice for their daughter. They are heart-broken. There should have been no politics here. Political parties should not bother them.
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh told news agency ANI, Now, the investigation is under CBI and the case is being monitored by the Supreme Court When someone writes a letter to the President or Union Home Minister then all India perspectives must come into the picture A minimum of 90 brutal crimes against women are happening on average, daily. The union HM and the president must look into it.
The investigation is on, but only one arrest has been made and that by Kolkata police, the CBI has not given any breakthrough update to us An allegation is being raised that a police officer on duty offered money to the victims family. A video has also surfaced in which the family is saying that nothing like this has happened, these are baseless. I dont want to comment on that, I am with the family. I have just one point, there are two videos when CBI has taken their statement, was this gross allegation there in their statement or not? he added.
What is the BJP saying?
Posting purported videos of the doctors family members speaking at the RG Kar protest, the BJP launched an attack against the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress on social media.
If Mamata Banerjee and the commissioner of Kolkata Police have any shame, they must resign immediately. If not, the people of West Bengal will anyway bring them down. Listen to the family of the victim as they narrate their ordeal, tweeted BJP IT cell head, Amit Malviya.
IF MAMATA BANERJEE AND THE COMMISSIONER OF KOLKATA POLICE HAVE ANY SHAME, THEY MUST RESIGN IMMEDIATELY. IF NOT, THE PEOPLE OF WEST BENGAL WILL ANYWAY BRING THEM DOWN. LISTEN TO THE FAMILY OF THE VICTIM AS THEY NARRATE THEIR ORDEAL.Video 1 (1 min 33 sec long) A relative of the pic.twitter.com/Ny79ZIqSya Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 4, 2024
Malviya also narrated the familys ordeal after the doctors body was found inside a seminar hall at the RG Kar Hospital. There are numerous accounts of how the parents were not allowed to see their daughters body for at least three hours after they reached the medical institution. Besides, the authorities tried to mislead them about their daughters death by calling it a suicide, he said.
A relative of the young lady doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital says that the West Bengal administration was in a hurry to cremate the body. The family didnt want the cremation to take place but the Mamata Banerjee administration didnt listen and went ahead without the permission of the family, Malviya alleged.
He accused senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who is the counsel for the West Bengal government in the Supreme Court, of lying about the delay in the registration of the FIR. Malviya further alleged that the deputy commissioner of police (north) offered money to the victims father to withdraw the case.
Saying unless the Chief Minister and the Kolkata Police Commissioner step down, a free and fair probe is not possible. He said Banerjee and Goyal should be subjected to a lie-detection test and their call records must be examined.
Unless Mamata Banerjee and Vineet Goyal, Commissioner of Kolkata Police step down, free and fair probe is not possible. Much of the evidence has already been destroyed. Call records of the CM and Kolkata CP, for 72 hours after the crime, should be put in the public domain. Their conversations investigated. Mamata Banerjee and Vineet Goyal must be subjected to polygraph test, to unearth the truth. The movement for justice will continue, he added.
A dangerous new trend called chroming is becoming popular among young people, but it comes with deadly risks. Recently in the UK, a 12-year-old boy named Cesar Watson-King tried this trend after an older boy introduced him on social media. His mother, Nichola King, found Cesar having a seizure on the kitchen floor after she heard a loud noise. She immediately provided CPR while her eldest son called for help. Medical team arrived quickly and rushed Cesar to the hospital, where he suffered multiple seizures and went into cardiac arrest several times. Police later discovered a can of deodorant and other items linked to chroming, leading them to believe that Cesar had inhaled the toxic fumes before collapsing.
Speaking with Daily Mail, the mother of four explained, I had just finished breastfeeding my baby and was drifting off to sleep when I heard this really loud bang. I thought one of the kids had done something. I had heard Cesar creeping downstairs and thought hed gone downstairs for something to eat. The bang sounded like someone had fallen over. I heard a moaning sound from downstairs and thought Cesar had broken a bone or something.
I started going downstairs and saw Cesar lying on the floor and his eyes were rolling back into his head. It was terrifying. He was having a seizure. I ran upstairs to get my phone. I couldnt even unlock my phone to ring an ambulance because my hands were shaking so much so my eldest rang 999. I thought hed fallen over and hit his head. I had no idea what had happened. He went blue and stopped breathing. I thought hed died. I was in complete shock. Id watched my son die and watched the light go out of his eyes, Nichola King added.
Cesar Watson-Kings mother admitted that she had never heard of chroming before and was shocked to learn that an older boy had introduced him to this dangerous practice. After being taken to Sheffield Childrens Hospital, the boy was put into a medically induced coma for two days. He was discharged within 8 days, after he showed improvements like he was able to breathe, walk and talk on his own. Nichola was thrilled and relieved to see her son recovering, but he still feels tired and has trouble remembering things. She is worried about the long-term effects.
Nichola King is now urging other kids to stay away from the dangerous challenge, as according to her its not worth the risk. She explains that while it might seem fun at first, the reality is very painful, as it could land them in hospital. The mother also highlights that its crucial for parents to know first aid, as it can make a big difference in emergencies and could even save lives.
According to the portal, 11-year-old Tommie-lee Gracie Billington died in March after trying the chroming trend at a friends house. Similarly, in September 2023, 14-year-old Sarah Mescall also lost her life due to participating in this dangerous online trend.
A journalist has accused Amethi SDM Priti Tiwari of lashing out at her, telling her to leave the office, saying mood kharab ho gaya [Im in a bad mood]. The journalist, whose mother has been visiting the SDMs office for over two months regarding a house dispute, claims that instead of addressing the issue, the SDM rudely asked her to leave. In response, the journalist staged a unique protest outside the SDMs office, using her microphone to inform the public about the situation and the SDMs behaviour. A video of the incident has since gone viral online.
In the now-viral video, the journalist claims that the SDM threatened to have her jailed. She further alleges that Priti Tiwari said, Mood kharab ho gaya [Im in a bad mood], when she approached her regarding a house dispute complaint.
She goes on to describe her ordeal, saying, Priti Tiwari ji, aapne hamari zameen par kabza karwaya hai, aur aap hi us kabze ko mukt karwaengi [Priti Tiwari, you enabled the illegal occupation of our land, and now you will be the one to free it from that occupation].
Mai yahan partkaar ki haisiyat se nahi aai thi, mai ek pidit ladki ki hasiyat se Lucknow se daur daur ke aa rahi hun. Mujhe nyay chahiye. Aapke galat aadesh ki wajah se mere ghar par kabja kia gaya. Aapne galat kabza kar lia, prashasan ne aapko gumrah kia. Mai bata rahi hun, meri baat sunne ko tayyar nahi hai [I didnt come here as a journalist; I came here as a victim, running back and forth from Lucknow. I want justice. Because of your wrong order, my house was taken over. You allowed the illegal occupation, and the administration has misled you. But youre not even ready to listen to me], she claimed.
She further alleges, Mujhe karyalay se bahar nikala gaya, mujhe dhakka dia gaya, mere sath durvyavahar kia gaya [I was thrown out of the office, I was pushed, and I was mistreated].
Watch the video here:
SDM , pic.twitter.com/M1PggCbmcb Vineet kumar (@vineetspeaks) September 3, 2024
According to a report by Navbharat Times, the female journalist has accused SDM Priti Tiwari of facilitating illegal encroachment on her familys land in Musafirkhana. She claims that Tiwari, in coordination with the Bhale Sultan Shaheed Smarak police station, carried out the encroachment based on verbal orders. Despite repeatedly submitting applications, the journalist alleges that no action has been taken to address the issue.
News18.com tried reaching out to Amethi SDM Priti Tiwari but she is unavailable for a comment. This copy will be updated if she provides a quote.
Heres how people reacted to this video:
All the officers in UP are ignoring the orders of Yogi Adityanath ji, journalists are not a part of the crowd, misbehavior with journalists will not be tolerated, is this order just a rumour or a reality? wrote an individual.
Another added, If you have to fight for your rights then you will have to come in this form.
The public cannot meet any official easily, and even if they do, their mood gets spoilt, expressed a third.
In a horrific incident, the 53-year-old father led his daughter to the garage where he had brutally murdered his wife. Joe Lo Bianco attacked and murdered Kaliopi Roumeliotis. When her daughter asked about her mothers whereabouts after returning from school, he suggested that her mother might be in the garage. This incident took place on November 30, 2022. Initially, Lo Bianco made an effort to paint the murder as an accident. However, he later confessed and submitted a guilty plea in court.
As reported by the Guardian, on November 30, 2022, Roumeliotis was stepping out of her vehicle when Lo Bianco struck her, hitting her head and neck with a metal car ramp.
He staged an accidental death by leaving her dead on the garage floor with the murder weapon underneath her head. He then proceeded to take off and conceal his clothing, which was stained with blood.
To pass the time, Lo Bianco walked next door and spoke with his in-laws for over an hour, the report said.
When the daughter arrived, she reportedly asked about her mother and stipulated she be in the garage. After that, Lo Bianco instructed his daughter to check if she was still there.
The child screamed for help as soon as he saw the horrific scene. When the rescue personnel arrived, Roumeliotis sister-in-law started CPR on her while her family hurried over from next door. Paramedics verified that she had already passed away.
Initially, Lo Bianco told authorities that his wife must have stumbled and fallen and that he was in the backyard cleaning a rabbit enclosure.
According to The Guardian, on September 4, 2024, he entered a guilty plea to murder before the Victorian Supreme Court, acknowledging what had transpired.
The report states that because Roumeliotis did not receive the COVID-19 vaccination, he lost his job, which led to a dispute over money.
On November 30, they had a when Roumeliotis informed Lo Bianco that he must bring in additional income.
Then, after 7 PM, Lo Bianco killed his wife.
His defence attorney, Moya OBrien, claimed that he did so in the heat of the moment following months of marital discord rather than carrying out a planned attack, The Guardian cited him saying.
It is common for people to forget about knowing when it is appropriate to drink and when it is not. Many people dont even have the common sense to know how to exercise self-control, when it comes to alcohol. It makes sense if you lose track of your stop or nod off while riding a train. Still, very few people make a mistake while purchasing a plane ticket. One woman purchased a plane ticket for herself while drunk and experienced a similar situation. The woman was shocked by what came to light following this.
In the video, we can see that a woman is seated on an aeroplane. She appears a little perplexed. The woman gets even more agitated when she hears the captains statement in Hindi inside the aircraft. In the video it was written POV: You drunkenly booked a flight to Georgia and now you are sitting on a plane, realising you are actually headed to India. The video got more than 3,000 likes and more than 310 thousand people have watched it. Four days after it was shared, hundreds of people have watched and loved this video. People have remarked, Are intoxicated people allowed to board planes? in response to this. Many others began informing the woman about places to visit in India at the same time.
But through this video, it seems this announcement is also included in the Crew movie music, which caused the girl to make an odd expression. The video also reveals that the woman had made an inebriated flight reservation to India rather than Georgia. Upon sharing the video, the woman received questions from lots of the public. How can someone be so careless that she reaches somewhere else? Others have also claimed that the girl rather than the person who checks the boarding pass was intoxicated.
As Vistara prepares to merge with Air India on November 11, a wave of nostalgia has swept through the Indian aviation industry. The airline, known for its exceptional brand identity and customer experience, has left an indelible mark on the hearts of many. As the bookings will be redirected to the Air India website from November 12, an individual took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to bid farewell to the countrys favourite airline.
Devaiah Bopanna, a Mumbai resident, expressed, Vistara is one of those rare products where brand identity and brand experience overlap in perfect harmony."
Bopanna praised the airlines distinctive purple hue, the in-flight rock album playlist, and the overall sense of calm that helps create a truly memorable journey. He went on to say that Vistara can create a premium experience, even in its regular economy class: From its headrest to the cushioning to its nomenclature, everything was thought through, making one feel at ease in the skies."
They created a foolproof, uncancellable, and beloved brand in a category that is the toughest in which to achieve any sort of love or loyalty. I know of friends who didnt mind paying a thousand more because its Vistara. They created a foolproof, uncancellable, and beloved brand in a category that is the toughest in which to achieve any sort of love or loyalty. I know of friends who didnt mind paying a thousand more because its Vistara," he further added.
The former Bangalore boy concluded, Its sad that this brand is now sailing into the sunset, but it will be remembered as one of the few brilliant brands built by India in a short span of time."
Take a look at the entire post below:
Vistara is one of those rare products where brand identity and brand experience overlapped in perfect harmony. The purple looked different from the sea of reds being plastered on every airline. The in-flight rock album playlist before take-off, played at lobby music volume, pic.twitter.com/fExjZnErpH Devaiah Bopanna (@devaiahPB) September 4, 2024
Vistara shared a response to this fitting farewell, saying, Were truly humbled by the love, Devaiah! Its been a pleasure to create an experience that resonated in the way we always hoped it would with subtlety, care, and comfort. The memories made will hold a special place in our heart. Were grateful to have been part of yours."
Heres how others reacted to Air India-Vistara merger:
Im not ready for a post-Vistara world," expressed an individual.
Another added, One of those fine airline which I was an absolute fan of. Even at economy prices they gave you feel of biz travel with their smacking food & internet with bunch load of movies to watch, also the option to fix your phone on the seat & charge it while watching. Thank you Vistara."
I second this purple theory. And I subconsciously related to it when I flew with Batik airlines. Felt really nice for some reason. Also, their seats/cushions being better quality like Vistara might have added a bit to that feeling," wrote a third.
Volcanic eruption is no doubt one of the most beautiful natural phenomena. You need to be lucky enough to witness this majestic beauty through naked eyes. Recently, a Belgian photographer was able to capture a hypnotic glimpse of a volcano during his visit to Iceland. The Nordic island country, located between the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, is home to more than 100 volcanic mountains and thus, such a phenomenon is not quite rare there.
Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove, who shared the footage on Instagram, claimed that the latest eruption at the volcanic craters named Sundhnuksgigar has been going on for over a week. It is showing no real signs of slowing down at this time but that can, of course, rapidly change. I managed to squeeze in an evening of capturing some clips in my busy summer schedule, Van Nieuwenhove shared in the caption.
According to the photographer, the area is restricted and as a member of the press, he had special permission to go there and capture the drone video. In the mesmerising clip, thick rivers of molten lava can be seen gliding into the crater, forming different artistic patterns and offering a breathtaking view.
The various patterns and movement directions are really mind-boggling to watch. From top to bottom, I estimate the distance to be about 30 metres based on altitude and the lens I used, Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove wrote in his post. According to Fox Weather, the volcano has erupted six times since the end of last year.
Marco Di Marco, a visual journalist, was recently in Iceland where he managed to capture a surreal video of the Northern Lights. What made the footage more fascinating was an active volcanic crater adding a fiery red hue to the night sky. Di Marco shared the video on Instagram with the title Lights and Fountains.
The aurora season just started again and its always special to see it dancing above the active craters, Di Marco noted in the caption. According to him, as many as three vents opened up on the site on August 22 and one of them was producing 70-80-meter high sustained lava fountains.
The lava flows are enlarging the lava field mainly towards the northwest and fortunately, no infrastructure is in danger at the moment, Di Marco added. Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove reacted to the post and commented, This is what happens when the golden duo comes together.
Although the Alaska Triangle is less popular than the Bermuda Triangle, it has been linked with strange disappearances. At least 20,000 people have reportedly disappeared in the rural region near Juneau, Alaska, since the 1970s, says a report.
Geographically, the Alaska Triangle connects Anchorage and Juneau in the south to Utqiagvik (previously Barrow) on the north shore. With an annual average disappearance rate of roughly 2,250 persons, this sparsely populated area has earned its mysterious reputation.
According to IFL Science, this area came to public attention in October 1972, when a plane carrying two US senators went missing en route from Anchorage to Juneau. US House Majority Leader Thomas Hale Boggs Sr. and Alaska Congressman Nick Begich vanished while flying in a light aircraft from Anchorage to Juneau with Begichs staffer, Russell Brown, and the pilot, Don Jonz. A search operation was initiated to find them, but neither the bodies nor the plane was ever discovered.
This led to conspiracy theories about what couldve happened, especially since Boggs was a Warren Commission member (the official body formed to investigate John F. Kennedys assassination) and supposedly disagreed with the groups findings, according to Indy100.
IFL Science states that the area has untouched wilderness, ragged mountain ranges, horribly cold weather, and bears.
Another notable case was Gary Frank Sotherden, a 25-year-old New Yorker who went hunting in the Alaskan wilderness in the mid-1970s but never returned. In 1997, a human skull was discovered along the Porcupine River in northeastern Alaska, and DNA was received in 2022. It was determined that the skull belonged to Southern, who died due to bear mauling.
Meanwhile, many suggested various causes for the disappearances. While some claim extraordinary magnetic activity in the Alaska Triangle, some believe that extraterrestrial visitors have been visiting the area.
However, simpler interpretations are that it is a vast area full of wildness and natural perils, which may explain why many have gone missing and never been found again. However, much like the Bermuda Triangle, this mystery has been solved.
A Bengaluru couple sought a better quality of life and relocated to a tiny European nation. In 2020, Prateek Gupta and Neha Maheshwari moved to Luxembourg and began living the kind of life that many people only dream about. However, the couple is still dedicated to making all of their investments in Indian stocks. This dream lifestyle, complete with expensive vehicles and frequent trips to Europe, is the result of careful financial preparation.
Prateek is employed as a senior analyst at Amazon, while Neha manages finances for a German real estate firm. Although they might have made more money by relocating to the US or Dubai, the NRI couple admits that residing in India would have led to larger increases.
So why did they move to Luxembourg?
Continuing in India or moving to the US would have given us more career and earning opportunities. But we wanted to taste the superior quality of life, which Europe offers, Prateek stated to Live Mint.
According to Prateek, working-class Indian immigrants to Europe do not come to Europe for financial gain. Nevertheless, they could potentially effortlessly earn 1.52 times as much money if they migrate to the US or Dubai. Of course, there would also be more net savings, he said.
The news outlet reports that Prateek and Neha spend approximately 28% of their income on tax, which means they pay slightly less than what they would have paid in India, 2-3% to be precise. Still, even the average of 28% seems reasonable as they are compensated with a range of services in return.
In the interview with the business news portal, Neha disclosed that they are legally required to fund government-sponsored health insurance by 3% of their personal earnings. For as little as 3% cost, healthcare is absolutely free to them with the exception of dental services. One more aspect of Luxembourg taxation that they like is the unemployment fund to which they are both obliged to pay 2% of their earnings.
According to Neha, if one is fired under this scheme, the government will award the fired individual up to 80% of the previously drawn wage for two years while the individual looks for another job. Neha figures that at a mere 5% of her overall annual salary, she is sufficiently covered for two significant emergencies: health and unemployment, negating the need for her to establish a separate emergency fund.
Moreover, for Neha and Prateek, another benefit of living in Luxembourg is cheap travelling within Europe and the use of luxury cars. They own a Mercedes Benz A-class which they bought for about 43,000 euros. At the purchasing power parity rate, 43,000 euros is roughly equivalent to Rs 10.3 lakh. But a similar car from the same manufacturing company in Bengaluru costs Rs 55 lakh.
During the conversation, Prateek said that they would not freely purchase a luxury car costing more than Rs 50 lakh in India but German luxury cars were considerably cheaper in Luxembourg and relatively affordable relative to the income from euros.
Why do they invest in Indian stocks?
The couple invests 2025% of their monthly income, with India being their only investment focus. Approximately, 70% goes towards direct stock, 20% goes towards mutual funds and the other 10% is distributed among gold bonds, digital gold, provident funds and the National Pension Scheme.
Prateek told the publication that since they are more knowledgeable about the Indian stock market, they specialise in it. He continued by saying that in the US they only know about blue chips and are unable to select value-oriented businesses since they dont pay close attention to the stock market or the economy. Prateek thinks there are currently better investment prospects in the Indian stock market.
Whether youre enjoying a meal at a restaurant, on a train, or opting for online delivery, food safety remains a pressing concern in India. There are numerous instances of contaminated or spoiled food, from train passengers complaining about substandard meals to social media posts showcasing contaminated items. In a recent incident, a customer who ordered a burger and fries from Burger King via Zomato was shocked to discover mould on the burger. The customer expressed his disappointment on social media, tagging Burger King and Zomato in his post to bring attention to the issue and seek a resolution.
Read| Mumbai Man Finds Cockroaches in Dal on Vanda Bharat Express: They Were Crawling in the Pantry
Ordered from Burger King via Zomato. After finishing the fries, opened the burger (Veg Whooper), and today I came to know that they have launched a new flavour. Where mould is coming free with the burger bread, reads the caption to the video shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) by journalist Yaman Dev Sharma.
The picture shared by Sharma shows mould on one of the sides of the half-eaten burger.
Take a look at the spoilt burger here:
After the post gained significant traction online, Zomato shared a response to the post. The company wrote, This is very shocking. We are sorry you had to go through this. We will investigate it. In the meantime, a member of our team will definitely call you. For this, please DM us your registered contact number.
Also Read| Shocking Video: Man Shows Fungus In Patties Sold At Varanasi Restaurant
Burger King, too, responded to the post. They wrote, Hi Yaman, we never intend to provide such an experience. Can you please DM us your Contact Number, Store Location, Order ID and Email ID so that we can get in touch with you. Rest assured we will investigate this thoroughly.
Check out how others reacted to this post here:
Hari chutney hogi [It must be green chutney, joked an individual.
Another added, This is nasty. Ugh so terrible!
Oh! Looks like the company ran out of preservatives, expressed a third.
As both Republicans and Democrats are gearing up for 2024 US elections on November 5, professor Dr. Allan Lichtman, renowned for his ability to predict presidential polls, has predicted a winner of the highly-anticipated contest between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
In a recent video shared by the New York Times, Lichtman predicted that Democrats will retain power in the White House with Vice President Kamala Harris winning against former President Donald Trump.
Lichtman, who has gained prominence for his Keys to the White House systema set of 13 criteria used to evaluate major party candidateshas predicted Harris to hold an edge in eight of these categories, while Trump is favored in three, the NewYork Post reported.
Lichtman, known as the Nostradamus of US presidential polls, asserts he has accurately predicted the outcome of every presidential election since 1984, though this claim is contested by some. For instance, in the 2000 election, he forecasted a win for Al Gore, who, despite securing the popular vote, lost the Electoral College to George W. Bush. Conversely, in 2016, Lichtman correctly anticipated Donald Trumps victory over Hillary Clinton, even though Trump lost the popular vote.
Critics, including Lars Emerson and Michael Lovito of the Postrider, argue that Lichtmans record might not be as flawless as claimed, suggesting his streak might have faltered in either 2000 or 2016, depending on whether his Keys are interpreted to predict the popular vote or the Electoral College results.
Meanwhile, both candidates are preparing for the presidential debate in Philadelphia next week, marking their face-to-face meeting as the former president did attend President Bidens inauguration.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has also thrown his weight behind Kamala Harris in US election, an apparent wry remark a day after the United States issued indictments accusing Moscow of vote interference.
(Former US President Donald) Trump has imposed as many sanctions on Russia as any president has ever imposed before, and if Harris is doing well, perhaps she will refrain from such actions, he said.
In February, Putin backed Biden over Trump, calling the current president more predictable. The White House called on Putin to stay out of US elections in response.
(With inputs from agencies)
Hamas called on the United States Thursday to exert real pressure on Israel to reach a Gaza ceasefire agreement as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there is no deal in the making.
The two sides have traded blame over stalling talks for a ceasefire and hostage exchange as Netanyahu faces pressure to seal a deal that would free remaining captives, after Israeli authorities announced on Sunday the deaths of six whose bodies were recovered from a Gaza tunnel.
If the US administration and its President (Joe) Biden really want to reach a ceasefire and complete a prisoner exchange deal, they must abandon their blind bias towards the Zionist occupation, Hamass Qatar-based lead negotiator Khalil al-Hayya said, calling on the US to exert real pressure on Netanyahu and his government.
But Netanyahu told US talk show Fox & Friends: There is not a deal in the making Unfortunately, its not close but we will do everything we can to get them to the point where they do make a deal and at the same time we prevent Iran from resupplying Gaza as this great terror enclave.
Netanyahu insists that Israel must retain control over the Philadelphi Corridor along the Egypt-Gaza border to prevent weapons smuggling to Hamas, whose October 7 attack on Israel started the war.
Hamas is demanding complete Israeli withdrawal from the area and on Thursday said Netanyahus position aims to thwart reaching an agreement.
The Palestinian militant group says a new deal is unnecessary because they agreed months ago to a truce outlined by Biden.
We do not need new proposals, Hamas said in a statement.
We warn against falling into the trap of Netanyahu.. who uses negotiations to prolong the aggression against our people, the group said.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby nonetheless said that Washington believes a ceasefire deal is 90 percent agreed.
But he added that nothing is negotiated until everything is negotiated, and the things that are still in play right now are very, very detailed issues, and thats when things get difficult.
Not in coffins
At Israeli protests in several cities this week, Netanyahus critics have blamed him for hostages deaths, saying he has refused to make necessary concessions for striking a ceasefire deal.
We are just waiting for them to come back to us, to come back alive and not in coffins, said Anet Kidron, whose Beeri kibbutz was one of the worst affected on October 7.
Key mediator Qatar has said that Israels approach was based on an attempt to falsify facts and mislead world public opinion by repeating lies.
Such moves will ultimately lead to the demise of peace efforts, Qatars foreign ministry warned.
The October 7 attack by Hamas resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly civilians including some hostages killed in captivity, according to official Israeli figures.
Of 251 hostages seized by Palestinian militants during the attack, 97 remain in Gaza including 33 the Israeli military says are dead. Scores were released during a one-week truce in November.
Israels retaliatory offensive in Gaza has so far killed at least 40,878 people, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
Most of the dead are women and children, according to the UN rights office.
Strikes continued across Gaza on Thursday, with medics and rescuers reporting a total of 12 dead in separate attacks in the north and south of the territory.
Full strength
While Israel presses its Gaza offensive, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said the military should use its full strength against Palestinian militants in the occupied West Bank.
These terrorist organisations that have various names, whether in Nur al-Shams, Tulkarem, Faraa or Jenin, must be wiped out, he said, referring to cities and refugee camps where an Israeli military operation is underway.
The Israeli military said Thursday its aircraft conducted three targeted strikes on armed terrorists in the Tubas area, which includes Faraa refugee camp.
A strike on a car killed five men aged 21 to 30 and wounded two others, the territorys health ministry said.
Eyewitnesses told AFP they saw a large number of Israeli troops storming Faraa camp, where explosions were heard.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said the Israeli military handed over the dead body of a 17-year-old, after medics were prevented from reaching him when he was wounded.
Israel has killed at least 35 Palestinians across the northern West Bank since its assault there started on August 28, according to figures released by the health ministry, including children and militants.
One Israeli soldier was killed in Jenin, where the majority of the Palestinian fatalities have been.
Polio vaccination drive
Israels bombardment of Gaza has left the territory in ruins, with the destruction of water and sanitation infrastructure blamed for the spread of disease.
The humanitarian crisis has led to Gazas first polio case in 25 years, prompting a massive vaccination effort launched Sunday with localised humanitarian pauses in fighting.
Nearly 200,000 children in central Gaza have received a first dose, the World Health Organization said, and a second stage got underway Thursday in the south, before medics move north.
The campaign aims to fully vaccinate more than 640,000 children, with second doses due in about four weeks.
Louise Wateridge, spokeswoman for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), warned, however, that in the southern area its going to be more difficult to reach a lot of the population, because not all children are in the designated humanitarian zones where Israel has agreed not to strike.
Russias primary aim is to take full control of the Donbas region of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin told the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on Thursday.
The enemys goal was to make us nervous and worry and to transfer troops from one sector to another and to stop our offensive in key areas, primarily in the Donbas. Did it work? No, Putin said.
He also said that Ukraines incursion into the Russian region of Kursk had failed to slow Russias own advance in eastern Ukraine and had weakened Kyivs defences along the frontline in a boost to Moscow.
He added that Russian forces were now gradually pushing Ukrainian soldiers out of Kursk, where on August 6 Ukraine launched the biggest foreign attack on Russia since World War Two.
Ukraine had weakened its defences elsewhere and allowed Russia to accelerate its push into the eastern Donbas area, he said.
Putin, who ordered tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022 in what he called a special military operation, said it was now the sacred duty of the armed forces to expel Ukrainian forces from Kursk and to defend Russian citizens.
Ukraines top commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, has said that one of the objectives of the Kursk operation was to divert Russian forces from other areas, primarily in eastern Ukraine near the cities of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove.
Though the Kursk incursion was an embarrassment for Putin and the top military brass, Russian officials are now portraying it as one of Kyivs biggest tactical mistakes of the war, saying it ties down thousands of troops for little real gain.
By transferring rather large and well-trained units to these border areas with us, the enemy weakened itself in key areas, and our troops accelerated offensive operations, Putin said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Kyiv plans to hold territory in Kursk and that the operation, which he says is part of a not fully disclosed victory plan, has brought the war home to Russians.
Putin said Russian forces were taking chunks of territory in eastern Ukraine more swiftly than ever and that recruitment rates were increasing in Russia.
No action is taking place to contain our offensive, Putin said. He said Russias advance on the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk was successful.
Russian forces, which control 18% of Ukraine, have been advancing in eastern Ukraine since the failure of Kyivs 2023 counter-offensive to achieve a major breakthrough.
Although the Kremlin says the conditions for peace talks with Ukraine do not currently exist, Putin named China, India and Brazil as potential mediators and repeated his view that an initial agreement reached in the first weeks of the war at talks in Istanbul, which was never implemented, could serve as a basis for talks.
Officers fired shots at a suspicious person in Germanys Munich on Thursday in an area near the Israeli Consulate and a museum on the citys Nazi-era history. The Israeli consulate was closed on Thursday due to the commemoration ceremony for the massacre of Munich athletes in 1972.
A shooting incident took place near the Consulate General of Israel in Munich. The consulate is closed today due to the commemoration ceremony for the massacre of Munich athletes in 1972. September 5th is the anniversary of the 1972 Olympic terrorist attack when 11 Israeli athletes were attacked, taken hostage and killed. The shooter in todays incident was neutralized by the German security forces and the incident is under their care, Israels Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
There was no immediate information on why the person was considered suspicious, an AP report said.
According to a Jerusalem Post report, Munich police said that officers were operating at the Munich Documentation Center for the History of National Socialism in the Karolinenlatz area, next to the Israeli consulate, when they opened fire on a suspicious person.
Indian officers handed the body of a 14-year-old girl back to Bangladesh on Thursday after she was found shot dead near the border, with a top Indian official vowing to stop infiltration.
A report by Times of India said that the girl was allegedly killed by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) while trying to cross the border with her parents.
Bangladeshi police have accused Indian officers of killing the girl, who was shot in the chest, according to Binoy Bhushon Roy, a police officer in the Moulvibazar border district, who spoke to news agency AFP.
The report said Indias Border Security Forces (BSF) discovered the body near the zero point of the India-Bangladesh border in Kailashahar, a town in Unakoti district on Monday. She was identified as 16-year-old Swarna Das.
It also said that Swarna, along with her parents Rebati Das and Rani Das, attempted to cross over to Tripura thrice but failed. Swarna and her parents had been facing problems in Bangladesh since regime change, the report by the Times of India said.
When they attempted to cross the border near Pillar No. 57, taking advantage of the BSFs absence at night, the BGB opened fire, the report further added citing officials.
Swarna was killed by BGB and after all the formalities, we have handed over her body to the family through BGB in Manu check post on Tuesday, a BSF official told the newspaper.
Neighbourly relations have been strained by the student-led uprising that toppled Bangladeshs leader Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India on August 5.
Since Hasinas ousting, Indian security forces have detained or sent back dozens of Bangladeshis accused of trying to sneak across the border.
Bangladesh is almost entirely encircled by India, and their shared border stretches more than 4,000 kilometres (2,485 miles).
Last month, security forces from India and Bangladesh had a tense confrontation over the construction of a fence supposedly meant to keep cattle from straying over the border.
US President Joe Biden expressed his concerns about the safety of people in Bangladesh and the future of democratic institutions in the country during his call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, the White House said.
White House national security communications adviser John Kirby told a press conference on Wednesday that during the call, Biden and Modi shared concerns about the recent developments in Bangladesh.
I mean, the president made clear his continued concerns about the safety and security of the people in Bangladesh and the future of their democratic institutions, Kirby said.
The White Houses statement comes after the US readout of the August 26 call did not mention Bangladesh and focused only on the Ukraine-Russia war. However, PM Modis post on X and a statement issued by his office mentioned that Bangladesh was discussed during the telephone conversation.
The two leaders expressed their shared concern over the situation in Bangladesh. They emphasized restoration of law and order and ensuring safety and security of the minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh, the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) had said.
The External Affairs Ministry also noted last week that US President Biden and PM Modi Modi very much discussed substantially the situation in Bangladesh when both leaders spoke over a phone call earlier this week.
The subject of Bangladesh, which has been highlighted by certain quarters, was very much discussed substantially by both leaders, ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said.
We also discussed the situation in Bangladesh and stressed the need for early restoration of normalcy, and ensuring the safety and security of minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh, PM Modi had said in an X post.
On the other hand, the White House readout of the conversation between the two leaders had no reference to Bangladesh, saying the two leaders discussed PM Modis recent trip to Poland and Ukraine.
The President commended the Prime Minister for his historic visits to Poland and Ukraine, the first by an Indian prime minister in decades, and for his message of peace and ongoing humanitarian support for Ukraine, including its energy sector, it said.
(With agency inputs)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met his Singapore counterpart, Lawrence Wong, and the two countries signed four Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)s.
Ahead of the talks with Wong, PM Modi received a ceremonial welcome at the Singapore Parliament House. He also signed the visitors book there.
Singapore Is An Inspiration For Every Developing Country: PM Modi
Upon his arrival in the country, PM Modi expressed gratitude to the Singapore Prime Minister for his warm welcome and stated that the ministerial roundtable that has been formed between us is a path-breaking mechanism.
I thank you for your warm welcome. This is our first meeting after you assumed the post of Prime Minister. Many congratulations to you from my side. I am confident that under the leadership of 4G, Singapore will progress even faster. Singapore is not just a country, Singapore is an inspiration for every developing country. We also want to create many Singapores in India and I am happy that we are working together in this direction. The ministerial roundtable that has been formed between us is a path-breaking mechanism, the Prime Minister said.
#WATCH | Singapore: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says I thank you for your warm welcome. This is our first meeting after you assumed the post of Prime Minister. Many congratulations to you from my side. I am confident that under the leadership of 4G, Singapore will progress even pic.twitter.com/m4S6BfDWwa ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2024
The meeting between the two leaders comes days after Wong took over and Modi began his third term as the Prime Minister of India.
Taking to microblogging site X, PM Modi noted that the discussions with his Singapore counterpart, Wong focused on boosting cooperation in areas like skilling, technology, healthcare, AI and more.
The discussions with my friend, PM Lawrence Wong continued today. Our talks focused on boosting cooperation in areas like skilling, technology, healthcare, AI and more. We both agreed on the need to boost trade relations. @LawrenceWongST pic.twitter.com/FOSxXQOI3u Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 5, 2024
Four MOUs Signed
During the meeting, the two leaders oversaw the exchange of four MoUs after the talks.
The four MOUs signed between India and Singapore are
Cooperation in the field of Digital Technology
India, Singapore Semiconductor Ecosystem Partnership
Cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine
Educational Cooperation and Skill Development
#WATCH | Several MoUs signed between India and Singapore in the fields of Digital Technologies, Health and Medicine, Educational Cooperation & Skills Development and India-Singapore Semiconductor Ecosystem Partnership in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapore pic.twitter.com/mowXSLxzaB ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2024
Top Singapore CEOs Meet PM Modi And Pledge Commitment to Invest in India
Top Business leaders include CEOs of Blackstone Singapore, Temasek Holdings, Sembcorp Industries Limited, CapitaLand Investment, ST Telemedia Global Data Centers, and Singapore Airways among others met PM Modi and reiterated their commitment to invest in India.
Prime Minister Modi also met former Prime Minister of Singapore and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. The two leaders had earlier met in 2018, during which, Tong had said PM Modi has a personality and charm to strike up personal relationships with leaders.
It is very important to be a very charming diplomatic leader. You go to China, Japan, Russia, US, Indonesia. Still, you do not go there with an attitude like a leader; you instead speak about common vision. It helps, Tong had said.
PM Modi further attended the lunch hosted by senior minister Lee Hsien Loong.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the lunch hosted by Lee Hsien Loong, Senior Minister of Singapore.(Source: DD News) pic.twitter.com/PYerd3zzhR ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2024
PM Modi also met with Singaporean business leaders and interacted with those in the countrys semiconductor ecosystem. The Prime Minister, along with his Singapore counterpart, Wong, also visited a semiconductor manufacturing facility in the country.
Semiconductors and technology are important facets of India-Singapore cooperation. This is also a sector where India is increasing its presence. Today, PM Wong and I visited AEM Holdings Ltd. We look forward to working together in this sector and giving our youth more opportunities, PM Modi wrote in an X post.
Semiconductors and technology are important facets of India-Singapore cooperation. This is also a sector where India is increasing its presence. Today, PM Wong and I visited AEM Holdings Ltd. We look forward to working together in this sector and giving our youth more pic.twitter.com/Bdh8nU1w6Y Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 5, 2024
The prime minister also met and interacted with interns from Odishas World Skill Center who are visiting Singapore and interns from Singapore who have been to India as a part of the CII-Enterprise Singapore India Ready Talent Programme.
I also met a team of Indian engineers working at AEM Holdings. Such cooperation is indeed special and celebrates human talent as well as innovation, Modi wrote in an X post.
It was wonderful to interact with interns from Odishas World Skill Center who are visiting Singapore and interns from Singapore who have been to India as a part of the CII-Enterprise Singapore India Ready Talent Programme. I also met a team of Indian engineers working at AEM pic.twitter.com/orXSLE1GEk Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 5, 2024
Modi flew to Singapore on Wednesday after wrapping his visit to Brunei, the first bilateral visit there by an Indian prime minister.
He was accorded a warm welcome by the Indian community on his arrival there.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that China, India and Brazil could act as mediators in potential peace talks over Ukraine on Thursday. According to a Reuters report, Putin said a preliminary agreement reached between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in the first weeks of the war at talks in Istanbul, which was never implemented, could serve as the basis for talks.
Putin said that he was ready for talks with Ukraine, after having previously rebuffed the idea of negotiations while Kyivs offensive into the Kursk region was ongoing.
Putins statement comes months after Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Moscow and recent Visit to Ukraine where he reiterated Indias stance on the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and stated that India has always been on the side of peace.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on several occasions, since the onset of the 2022 Russo-Ukrainian conflict, has urged both parties to use diplomacy to resolve the conflict instead of continuing the war on the battlefield.
In Kyiv, PM Modi told Ukraines Zelensky that India is ready to contribute to resolving the conflict. In Poland, the PM had said that issues cannot be resolved on the battlefield.
He also told Vladimir Putin during the SCO Summit in Uzbekistan that it is not an era of war.
He is one of the few leaders in the world who has urged both sides to stop the conflict and choose a path of dialogue and diplomacy.
Ukraine launched an unprecedented cross-border incursion into Russias Kursk region in August, sending thousands of troops across the border and seizing several villages. Putin said shortly after there could be no talk of negotiations.
According to an AFP report, Putin was speaking at a question and answer session at Russias Eastern Economic Forum in the city of Vladivostok where he said Russia was ready for talks but on the basis of an aborted deal between Moscows and Kyivs negotiators reached in Istanbul in 2022, the terms of which were never made public.
Are we ready to negotiate with them? We have never refused to do so, but not on the basis of some ephemeral demands, but on the basis of those documents that were agreed and actually initialled in Istanbul, Putin said.
The Kremlin has repeatedly claimed Russia and Ukraine were on the verge of a deal in the spring of 2022, shortly after Moscow launched its offensive in Ukraine.
We managed to reach an agreement, that is the whole point. The signature of the head of the Ukrainian delegation who initialled this document testifies to this, which means that the Ukrainian side was generally satisfied with the agreements reached, Putin said.
It did not come into force only because they were given a command not to do so, because the elites of the United States, Europe some European countries wanted to achieve a strategic defeat of Russia, Putin added.
Vice President Kamala Harris has accepted the rules set forth for next weeks debate with former President Donald Trump, although she said the decision not to keep both their microphones live throughout the matchup will be to her disadvantage.
The development, which came on Wednesday (September 4) by way of a letter from Harris campaign to host network ABC News, seemed to mark a conclusion to the debate over microphone muting that had for a time threatened to derail the September 10 presidential debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
Her acceptance of the debate rules came as Trump using a night he had proposed as a debate with Harris on Fox News Channel instead took part in a solo town hall with host Sean Hannity in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, a version of debate preparation with a longtime ally who queried him about his plans to take on the Democratic presidential candidate.
President Joe Bidens campaign had made the muting of microphones, except for the candidate whose turn it is to speak, a condition of his decision to accept any debates this year. Some aides have said they now regret that decision, saying voters were shielded from hearing Trumps outbursts during the June debate. A disastrous performance for the incumbent Democrat fuelled his exit from the campaign.
Once Harris rose in Bidens stead and became their partys pick for president, her campaign had advocated for live microphones for the whole debate, saying previously that the practice would fully allow for substantive exchanges between the candidates.
But on Wednesday, in a letter obtained by The Associated Press, Harris advisers wrote that the former prosecutor will be fundamentally disadvantaged by this format, which will serve to shield Donald Trump from direct exchanges with the Vice President. We suspect this is the primary reason for his campaigns insistence on muted microphones, her campaign added.
Despite those concerns, Harris campaign wrote we understand that Donald Trump is a risk to skip the debate altogether, as he has threatened to do previously, if we do not accede to his preferred format. So as not to jeopardize the debate, Harris campaign wrote we accepted the full set of rules proposed by ABC, including muted microphones.
According to an official with Harris campaign, a pool of journalists will be on hand to hear what the muted candidate may be trying to say when his or her microphone is turned off. That detail was not in the full debate rules, also released Wednesday by ABC, which are essentially the same as they were for the June debate between Trump and Biden.
The network laid out parameters from the basic format 90 minutes, with two commercial breaks to specifications that moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis will be the only people asking questions, perhaps hoping to avert a free-for-all between the candidates.
Moderators will seek to enforce timing agreements and ensure a civilized discussion, the network noted.
The Harris campaign official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss planning around the debate, said a candidate who repeatedly interrupts will receive a warning from a moderator, and both candidates microphones may be unmuted if there is significant crosstalk so the audience can understand whats happening.
After a virtual coin flip held on September 3 and won by Trump, the GOP nominee opted to offer the final closing statement, while Harris chose the podium on the right side of viewers screens. There will be no audience, written notes or any topics or questions shared with campaigns or candidates in advance, the network said.
In the town hall on Wednesday, Hannity steered Trump through many of the topics typical of the GOP nominees campaign events, with a heavy focus on immigration, and posed questions after showing video clips of Harris in media interviews and other appearances.
Trump also repeatedly returned his focus from Harris to Biden, calling Democrats substitution of their top candidate a coup and saying he would have preferred a debate with Harris, rather than the town hall.
Asked about next weeks debate, Trump repeated his former criticism of ABC as a dishonest and unfair network, also reiterating his previous claims that Harris campaign is going to get the questions in advance.
The location of Trumps town hall, coupled with next weeks debate in Philadelphia, highlights the importance of battleground Pennsylvania, where 19 Electoral College votes are up for grabs in the November election.
Meteorologist/Multimedia Journalist
Per grew up in Sioux Falls and graduated from South Dakota Mines. He found his passion for weather reporting by the impact it has on the community, both in how people work and how it brings people together through severe weather preparation. He also has a passion for preventing health issues with Air Quality Index awareness. Per can be found enjoying outdoor activities in the Black Hills when the weather allows.
CCC spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi yesterday welcomed the release of party members and other pro-democracy activists.
Something needs to be done to transform and restore confidence and credibility in Zimbabwes judicial system and other key institutions of government that are captured and being abused and exploited by the regime, he said.
We condemn the needless prolongation of Timba and others detention on flimsy and frivolous grounds.
We cannot continue to have court judgments that are churned out and dictated from the Shake Shake [Zanu PF] building.
The release of the activists comes barely a month after Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa said there was no reason to continue detaining the activists after the summit, which saw President Emmerson Mnangagwa assuming chairmanship of the regional bloc.
It was essential to ensure that nothing detracted from the summits importance. Zimbabwe needed to present itself as a stable and secure nation to our Sadc partners, he said.
So if you are a deviate, you are going to be dealt with in the right way, which is to put you in jail so that you dont create a sideshow which takes the attention away from the event.
Information minister Jenfan Muswere later issued a statement distancing government and Zanu PF from the arrest of the activists, but observers said Mutsvangwa had already let the cat out of the bag.
Observers, pro-democracy groups and the opposition said Mutsvangwas statement betrayed the abuse of State power and weaponisation of the law against critics by the ruling party.
Jay Klein and Bill Sanders founded a startup last year to meld artificial intelligence with Washington lobbying, quickly attracting big-name clients including Toyota. Along the way, several employees became suspicious of their bosses and discovered they're actually Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, a couple of convicted felons and far-right conspiracy theorists. Those LobbyMatic employees quit, Politico reports, after realizing whom they were working for. One discovered Klein was Wohl by taking a photo of him on the sly, then doing a Google image search.
Wohl and Burkman were convicted in 2022 of telecom fraud over a robocall campaign they ran in Black neighborhoods in several states telling people not to vote by mail. They were sentenced by a judge in Ohio to spend 500 hours registering voters, and the Federal Communications Commission fined the pair $5 million. They have a history of spreading conspiracy theories and trying to set up public figures involving:
False sexual assaults : Wohl and Burkman tried to frame multiple officials for sexual assault, including former Special Counsel Robert Mueller and current Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. They hired a woman to claim Dr. Anthony Fauci had assaulted her.
: Wohl and Burkman tried to frame multiple officials for sexual assault, including former Special Counsel Robert Mueller and current Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. They hired a woman to claim Dr. Anthony Fauci had assaulted her. Conspiracy theories: Wohl has pushed false claims including that President Biden would die of COVID in 30 days, that Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren had a relationship with a Marine veteran, and that Vice President Kamala Harris was ineligible to run for president in 2020.
Toyota and other companies no longer have deals with LobbyMatic. One was interested in the service to track legislation and summarize congressional hearings. "We quickly determined the tool did not work," the cofounder said. LobbyMatic missed payroll and appeared to lack an occupancy permit for its offices, per Politico. One employee who quit said if he'd known the background of Wohl and Burkman, he wouldn't have gone near the job. (More fraud stories.)
Former President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has embarked on his freshman year at New York University's Stern School of Business, his father revealed on Wednesday. The 18-year-old, who graduated in May from Oxbridge Academy, will be attending one of the nation's top business schools, confirmed Trump in a video interview with the Daily Mail. "He's a very high aptitude child, but he's no longer a child," Trump said. "He's doing great."
Barron's enrollment at NYU places him a few miles from Trump Tower, where his family maintains a residence. Details about his living arrangements remain unclear as NYU's spokesperson did not respond to inquiries on Barron's enrollment specifics. Located in downtown Manhattan, the Stern campus has heightened security measures amid concerns of renewed protests, following last spring's pro-Palestinian demonstrations that briefly occupied the business school's plaza.
Interestingly, while three of Trump's childrenIvanka, Tiffany, and Donald Trump Jr.graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, Barron opted for NYU over his father's alma mater. "I went to Wharton, and that was certainly one that we were considering. We didn't do that. We went to Stern," Trump said. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
Pope Francis and Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar have vowed to promote peace and environmental protection during Francis' visit to Indonesia. This interfaith pledge occurred at Jakarta's Istiqlal Mosque, symbolizing their commitment to mutual understanding. The meeting included representatives from Indonesia's six officially recognized religions: Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Catholicism, and Protestantism.
The two religious leaders stood at the "Tunnel of Friendship" entrance, a passage linking the mosque to the nearby Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral. This tunnel represents Indonesia's dedication to religious freedom despite frequent challenges to minority rights. Francis emphasized the importance of different religions in guiding humanity through life's challenges, stating, "we respond with the sign of fraternity."
Francis' visit marks the beginning of an 11-day tour across Asia and Oceania, focusing on combating extremism and reinforcing Catholic-Muslim relations. Enhancing ties with Muslim nations has been central to Francis' papacy. Additionally, addressing climate change remains a high priority, reinforcing his call for moral responsibility in safeguarding the planet.
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Word count: 161 (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
In May, federal prosecutors announced fraud charges against several people who'd allegedly helped individuals with ties to North Korea secure jobs with over 300 US companies, generating $7 million for Kim Jong Un's regime. But that's just one small part of an ongoing fraud scheme that's seen North Korea pull in hundreds of millions of dollars a year to fund its weapons program despite international sanctions. According to the Wall Street Journal , North Koreans "capitalizing on a post-Covid boom in remote work and advances in generative artificial intelligence" have been hired for "potentially thousands ... of low-level information-technology jobs and other roles in recent years, using stolen identities of foreigners."
KnowBe4, an IT company in Clearwater, Florida, ended up hiring a North Korean man who gave his name as Kyle to fill a remote IT job in July. Kyle, who'd supplied what turned out to be an AI-generated photo of himself, nailed the video interview. KnowBe4 then sent a computer to the address he provided in Washington state. The address was actually home to a middleman who was assisting with the fraud, the Journal reports, adding that Kyle "attempted to deploy malware on his first day," but was caught. "For a cybersecurity company like us to get caught with egg on our face was a big wake-up call," Anna Collard of KnowBe4 Africa tells CIO Africa, which offers tips on how to spot fraudsters.
Cyber operatives like Kyle use laptop farms run by middlemen in the US to log into internal company servers from overseas. They might try to launch cyberattacks or steal intellectual property. Some even provide actual IT support, resulting in a paycheck "at least partially claimed by Pyongyang," per the Journal. "Once we peeled back these onion layers, we realized these IT workers are everywhere," Michael Barnhart, an analyst with Google Cloud's Mandiant cyber-threat division, tells the outlet. Mandiant compiled a list of nearly 800 email addresses believed to be tied to North Korean IT workers and found 10% had been used to apply for jobs, including at a critical infrastructure organization in the US, between February and August, resulting in hundreds of conversations with recruiters. (More North Korea stories.)
Two men in northern Ontario picked up a highly unusual passenger and took it on a road trip, complete with Taco Bell to scarf down. The problem? That passenger was a black bear cub. According to Myriam Armstrong of the Pet and Wildlife Rescue center in Chatham-Kent, her group took in the juvenile bear over the weekend after it was discovered in the back of a van in Windsor, per the Canadian Press . "There are some pretty strict rules on keeping wildlife. You are not able to keep wildlife captive for so many reasons," Armstrong tells CTV News . "Just common sense to start, you know, they're wild animals, so leave them in the wild, and a bear, obviously, there is some risk associated with housing a bear."
Armstrong says the two men had found the bear in Cochrane, about 10 hours north, and pulled it into their vehicle. She notes the pair fed the bear tacos from Taco Bell during their ride, and that when they arrived in Windsor, local police got wind of their furry passenger. "I'm sure his innards weren't feeling so great," she says. Armstrong adds that the 4-month-old bear cub didn't have any visible injuries, but it was lethargic and stressed from the van ride, and frightened.
"He was just a little bit off," she tells the Canadian Press. "So we just made sure to give him lots of space and a dark place to decompress." A bear rescue group in Huntsville came to take the bear into its custody. Apparently, ursine eaters enjoy making their runs to the border: In November, a black bear swiped a nearly $50 Taco Bell order from a Florida family's front porch after it was delivered by Uber Eats. "He came, and he grabbed the foodthen he came again for the soda," a niece of the homeowners told FOX 35 at the time. (More strange stuff stories.)
Tennessee police are investigating after they say gunfire rained down Tuesday evening upon the home of controversial Christian pastor Greg Locke. Dozens of rounds were fired at the Global Vision Bible Church leader's residence, garage, and vehicle, though Wilson County Sheriff's Office Capt. Scott Moore says there were no injuries, reports the Tennessean.
More on the shooting: When deputies arrived at the scene around 10:30pm local time, they retrieved between 30 and 40 casings from the property, says Moore. The shooting is being investigated, with no arrests reported as of Thursday morning.
UPDATE
Sep 13, 2024 10:05 AM CDT
An inmate serving a 20-year sentence in a federal prison in New York can remain on the ballot for Alaska's sole US House seat, Alaska's Supreme Court ruled on Thursday. The court affirmed the Tuesday ruling of an Anchorage Superior Court judge who dismissed a lawsuit from the Alaska Democratic party, which argued that Eric Hafner is ineligible. The judge said redesigning the ballot could cause the Division of Elections to miss deadlines, the Alaska Beacon reports. Hafner, who has never lived in Alaska, is running as a Democrat. The race is considered a toss-up between Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola and GOP rival Nick Begich, and it could determine control of the House, reports NPR.
Sep 5, 2024 1:18 PM CDT
Eric Hafner has never been an Alaska residentand since he's serving a 20-year sentence in a federal prison thousands of miles away, he's unlikely to become one anytime soon. But he's still set to appear on the ballot for the state's only US House seat in November, the Anchorage Daily News reports. The Alaska Democratic Party filed a lawsuit Wednesday, saying he "has no business being placed on the ballot."
Police say that Gisele Pelicot had no idea she was being sexually abused and raped by her own husband , as well as by dozens of strangers he invited to do the same, until officers showed her photo and video evidence in 2020. On Thursday, the Frenchwoman took the stand in Avignon at the trial for her now-former spouse and 50 of those other men to reveal what went through her mind when she first saw that evidence that stretched back over a decade. "My world fell apart, everything I had built up with [husband Dominique Pelicot] collapsed," she said, per Al Jazeera . "Three children, seven grandchildren ... Even our friends told us we were the perfect couple."
The 72-year-old said she didn't even recognize herself initially in the photos and videos the police showed her, thousands of which they'd pulled from Dominique Pelicot's electronic devices after an unrelated 2020 arrest for taking upskirt photos. Gisele Pelicot noted she couldn't even look past a few photos, telling the cop showing them to her, "These are rape scenes. I'm inert, asleep, and they're raping me." Though "rape is not the right word," she added. "It is barbarism." Pelicot testified that she was "sacrificed on the altar of vice," per the AP. "They regarded me like a rag doll, like a garbage bag."
Pelicot, a mother of three, said the situation was "unbearable," and that she left her family home after the revelation, leaving with just two suitcases"all that was left for me of 50 years of life together." Al Jazeera notes that 18 of the 51 accused, including Dominique Pelicot, are in custody, while 32 are attending the trial of their own volition. One suspect is still at large and will be judged in absentia. Meanwhile, Gisele Pelicot's daughter left the courtroom in tears earlier this week when it was revealed that her father had kept a folder on his computer featuring naked photos of her, per the Guardian. More on that here. (More rape stories.)
A day after two Russian media executives were charged with trying to influence the upcoming US election, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered up his choice of election victor: Kamala Harris. In what Reuters views as an "ironic remark," Putin said Russia preferred Harris over Donald Trump, partly due to her "infectious" laugh. In February, before President Biden withdrew from the race, Putin had also backed the Democrat, whom he said would be more "predictable" than Trump. But that was "another comment widely seen as not to be taken at face value," per Reuters.
Asked about the US election at an economic forum in Russia's far east on Thursday, Putin noted Biden had asked his supporters to back Harris. "We will do the same, we will support her," Putin said with what the South China Morning Post describes as a "wry smile." Politico describes him as "smirking." "She laughs so expressively and infectiously. That means that she is doing well," the smiling Putin continued of Harris, per Politico. "Trump has imposed more sanctions on Russia than any president has imposed before, and if Harris is doing well, then perhaps she will refrain from doing this kind of thing."
In fact, US intelligence agencies believe Russia favors Trump because he is less committed to supporting Ukraine following its invasion by Russia, per Reuters. Furthermore, Putin previously admitted he wanted Trump to win in 2016 because he believed he would be more friendly to the Kremlin. "He talked about bringing the US-Russia relationship back to normal," Putin said in 2018. US intelligence agencies determined Russia ran a disinformation campaign to boost Trump's campaign against Democrat Hillary Clinton. (More Vladimir Putin stories.)
After an isolated Amazonian tribe attacked loggers who got too close to their Peruvian territory this summer, Indigenous rights group FENAMAD warned that, without government intervention, more violent clashes could come. Now, two loggers have been shot dead with arrows, another has been injured, and two others have disappeared from the Mashco Piro tribe's ancestral territory, the Guardian reports. "There are people wounded, dead, missing. We don't know what's happening or what has happened," says Eusebio Rios, an exec with FENAMAD, which represents 39 Indigenous groups in Peru's Madre de Dios and Cusco regions.
The loggers were attacked Aug. 29 while opening a trail in the forest near the Madre de Dios region's Pariamanu River, FENAMAD says, per Reuters. "This is a tragedy that was entirely avoidable," says Caroline Pearce, executive director of Indigenous rights group Survival International, per the Guardian. "The Peruvian authorities have known for years that this area that they chose to sell off for logging was actually the Mashco Piro's territory." She says authorities are "not only endangering the very survival of the Mashco Piro people, who are incredibly vulnerable to epidemics of disease brought in by outsiders, but they've knowingly put the lives of the logging workers in danger."
A day after the attack, the Forest Stewardship Council suspended the sustainability certification of Canales Tahuamanu, the logging company accusing of encroaching, for eight months. "How terrible that people have to keep dying ... for action to be taken," Julia Urrunaga, director of the Peru program at the Environmental Investigation Agency, tells the AP. FENAMAD has called for all loggers to be evacuated from the area. Peru's Ministry of Culture acknowledged on Monday a clash that "may have caused deaths, injuries, and disappearances," saying an investigation was underway, per Reuters. But FENAMAD said that, as of Tuesday, authorities hadn't responded to the area. (More Indigenous peoples stories.)
The Democratic Republic of Congo has received the first 100,000 doses of the mpox vaccine, donated by the European Union and manufactured by Bavarian Nordic. The vaccine arrived three weeks after the World Health Organization categorized the mpox outbreaks in 12 African nations as a global emergency. An additional 100,000 doses are anticipated on Saturday, with UNICEF designated to oversee the vaccination effort in the most impacted provinces.
Congo's Health Minister, Roger Kamba, spoke about the delivery but did not specify when vaccinations would commence. Dr. Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stated that about 380,000 doses have been pledged by Western partners, far below the 3 million doses needed to halt the outbreak in Congo. The disease continues to spread, with over 22,800 cases and 622 deaths reported on the continent last week.
The vaccine is currently approved for adults, and the European Medicines Agency is evaluating its use in children aged 12 to 17; approval may come by month's end. Last week, the US donated 10,000 doses to Nigeria, marking its first known donation to Africa since the current outbreak. Efforts are underway to develop a unified response strategy that can be considered at a meeting of African leaders later this month. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
Harvey Weinstein will not face charges of indecent assault in Britain, prosecutors announced Thursday. The Crown Prosecution Service greenlit two charges against Weinstein in 2022 but has decided to discontinue proceedings due to "no longer a realistic prospect of conviction." The CPS emphasized, "We would always encourage any potential victims of sexual assault to come forward and report to police."
Weinstein has been a central figure in the #MeToo movement since 2017 when numerous women disclosed accounts of his misconduct. The British police had been investigating multiple allegations stretching from the 1980s to 2015. In June 2022, the CPS authorized London's Metropolitan Police to file the now-dropped charges, which were tied to an alleged incident in 1996.
Despite the halted charges in the UK, Weinstein remains in custody in New York while awaiting retrial in Manhattan. After his retrial, he will begin serving a 16-year sentence in California for a separate rape conviction. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
A North Carolina judge has turned down Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s request to yank his name from the state's presidential ballot. Wake County Superior Court Judge Rebecca Holt ruled against the temporary restraining order Kennedy sought, in a move made the day before the first chunk of absentee ballots start to make their way to voters. Kennedy's team announced plans to appeal, and Holt gave him 24 hours to do so; as such, absentee ballots likely won't be distributed first thing Friday morning.
Kennedy, who endorsed Donald Trump after suspending his campaign, originally appeared on the ballot as the nominee for the We The People party, which was formed by his supporters. Kennedy asked that his name be withdrawn, but in a divided decision on Aug. 29, the state elections board chose to retain his name citing logistical constraints posed by the already printed ballots. State officials emphasized reprinting ballots would require two additional weeks, potentially breaching federal mandates to mail ballots to military and overseas voters by September 21.
Attorney Phil Strach, representing Kennedy, argued the refusal to remove Kennedy's name violates state law and free speech rights and said it could lead to confusion for voters who knew he had dropped out. Special Deputy Attorney General Carla Babb contended that delaying the ballot issuance would create greater confusion, and reprinting costs would burden taxpayers. Judge Holt concluded the harm to Kennedy from remaining on the ballot was minimal compared to the substantial impact on the state. Kennedy is fighting a similar legal battle in Wisconsin. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
A woman who was severely injured when a gunman killed five girls and wounded her and four other girls during an attack on their one-room Amish schoolhouse in Pennsylvania has died 18 years later, per the AP . Rosanna S. King, 23, died at her home on Tuesday, and a funeral is planned at her home in the farming community of Paradise on Friday, according to an obituary from Furman Home for Funerals in Leola. King was among those shot at the West Nickel Mines Amish School in October 2006.
Charles Carl Roberts IV, a 32-year-old milk truck driver, barricaded himself inside the schoolhouse and let boys and several adults go as he tied up 10 girls and shot them before taking his own life as police closed in. King, who belonged to an Old Order Amish Church community, was 6 years old at the time and had been considered the most severely injured survivor. She had been shot in the head and the attack left her unable to talk and in need of a feeding tube. She was dependent on others for personal care and mobility.
A year after the shooting, her family said she was able to recognize family members, smiled a lot, and had limited physical movement. They said in 2007 that "the hardest part has been to see her suffer." Roberts' mother, Terri Roberts, regularly visited Rosanna King, inspired by the forgiveness the Amish community expressed to her and her family after the attack. The schoolhouse was torn down 10 days after the killings and a new one was constructed nearby.
(More Amish stories.)
After months of dozens of restaurant closings and headlines about "endless shrimp" woes, Red Lobster is poised to soon exit from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. A US bankruptcy judge on Thursday approved the casual seafood chain's reorganization plan and sale to a lender group led by asset manager Fortress. The green light arrives about four months after Red Lobster filed for bankruptcy protection as it pursued a sale, the AP reports, following years of mounting losses and dwindling customers while it struggled to keep up with competitors.
At the time of filing in May, Red Lobster's leadership shared plans to "simplify the business" through a reduction of locations. The Orlando, Florida, chain shuttered dozens of its North American restaurants in recent monthsboth leading up to and during the bankruptcy process. That includes more than 50 locations whose equipment was put up for auction just days before the Chapter 11 petition, followed by dozens of additional closures throughout the bankruptcy process. Red Lobster said Thursday that it expects to operate about 544 locations across the US and Canada upon emerging from bankruptcy. That's down from 578 disclosed as of May's filing.
The chain will also get a new CEODamola Adamolekun, former chief executive of PF Chang's. Adamolekun was appointed to head RL Investor Holdings, the newly formed entity acquiring Red Lobster, by Fortress last week. In a statement Thursday, Adamolekun said Red Lobster "has a tremendous future." For the first nine months of 2023, a $19 million loss had been reported for Red Lobster. While not the sole reason, among sources of loss indeed were those endless shrimp, per the AP. Last year, Red Lobster significantly expanded the iconic all-you-can-eat special. Customer demand overwhelmed what the chain could afford.
(More Red Lobster stories.)
Most US stocks fell on Thursday following a mixed round of data on the economy, keeping them on track for their worst week since April, per the AP .
One report released Thursday suggested US companies slowed their hiring last month, falling well short of economists' forecasts for an acceleration. Another report, though, said fewer US workers filed for unemployment benefits last week than expected, an indication layoffs remain low. A report released later in the morning suggested growth for businesses in the mining, finance, health care, and other services industries was stronger last month than economists expected.
Old Dominion Freight Line fell to one of the sharpest losses in the S&P 500 Thursday after reporting discouraging revenue trends for August. The freight company's stock fell 5.5%. Verizon's stock slipped 0.5% after it announced it's buying Frontier Communications in a $20 billion deal to strengthen its fiber network. Frontier Communications, which soared nearly 38% the day before, gave back 9.1%. On the winning end of Wall Street was Tesla, which rose 5.2% after its AI division laid out a roadmap for upcoming developments, including the possibility of full self-driving in Europe and China. JetBlue Airways flew 9.2% higher after raising its forecast for revenue in the summer.
(More stock market stories.)
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com
Email: editor@newsofbahrain.com
A 21-year-old Asian man was arrested at Bahrain International Airport after attempting to smuggle over 1,000 pills of the psychoactive substance Lyrica into the country.
The suspect, who arrived from his home country, concealed the pills in his luggage, hoping to sell them for profit. However, a vigilant customs officer at the airport thwarted his plan.
The incident occurred when the customs officer, while on duty, noticed suspicious items in the suspect's luggage during an X-ray scan. Upon questioning the suspect, he denied having any illegal substances. However, a thorough inspection of the luggage revealed 1,260 pills hidden within two black nylon bags, cleverly concealed beneath the fabric lining of the bag.
Upon examination, the pills were confirmed to contain Lyrica, a psychoactive substance. The customs officer immediately alerted the Drug Enforcement Administration at Bahrain International Airport.
Further investigations, including the use of confidential sources, revealed that the suspect was involved in trafficking Lyrica from his home country with the intention of selling it in Bahrain. He had previously purchased 44 boxes of Lyrica for 50 Bahraini dinars and sold them in the country for 750 Bahraini dinars.
The suspect confessed to purchasing 90 boxes of Lyrica in his home country and concealing them in a black nylon bag beneath the fabric lining of his luggage to avoid detection by airport security.
The Public Prosecution charged the suspect with importing psychoactive substances without legal authorisation. The High Appeals Court has scheduled a hearing for September 23rd to consider the suspect's appeal against his five-year prison sentence and a 3,000 Bahraini dinars fine.
Dr. Frances Gertrude McGill played a leading role in the advancement of public health and forensic science in Saskatchewan and contributed to the development of both fields.
GATINEAU, QC , Sept. 5, 2024 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced the designation of Dr. Frances Gertrude McGill (18821959) as a person of national historic significance under Parks Canada's National Program of Historical Commemoration.
Dr. McGill was born to a farming family in the Fairmount district of Manitoba in 1882. In 1915, she graduated with a medical degree from the University of Manitoba as one of only three women in her class, receiving several awards for academic achievement. In 1918, Dr. McGill became provincial bacteriologist for Saskatchewan, contributing to vaccine development. In 1922, she was promoted to director of the Provincial Laboratories.
As there were no dedicated forensic laboratory services in Saskatchewan at the time, police often turned to Dr. McGill for guidance. She began to build a reputation for herself after determining that a gunshot wound was self-inflicted and not evidence of murder, as the local doctor had concluded. Following this case, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) began to regularly consult her in cases of sudden, unnatural, and suspicious deaths. She became widely known for her expert testimony, travelling great distances to provide skilful analysis which proved critical to many cases.
In 1943, Dr. McGill came out of retirement to lead the RCMP forensic laboratory in Regina. She was the first woman to hold this position and to serve as honorary surgeon and consultant to the force after 1946. Dr. McGill raised the profile of forensic pathology in Canada through the press coverage she attracted and served as an important example of female leadership in the decades before women gained entry into the RCMP as police officers.
The Government of Canada, through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and Parks Canada, recognizes significant persons, places, and events that have shaped our country as one way of helping Canadians connect with their past. By sharing these stories with Canadians, we hope to foster understanding and reflection on the diverse histories, cultures, legacies, and realities of Canada's past and present.
The designation process under Parks Canada's National Program of Historical Commemoration is largely driven by public nominations. To date, more than 2,240 designations have been made nationwide. To nominate a person, place or historic event in your community, please visit the Parks Canada website for more information: https://parks.canada.ca/culture/designation/proposer-nominate.
Quotes
"Today, I am honoured to announce the national significance of Dr. Frances Gertrude McGill and her leading role in the advancement of forensic and health science in Canada. Her achievements and legacy exemplify the many professional contributions made by women in the fields of forensic pathology and public health. By commemorating the national historic significance of individuals like Dr. McGill, we illustrate the defining moments in the story of Canada and hope to foster better understanding of the various lived experiences of people in Canada throughout time."
The Honourable Steven Guilbeault
Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada
"The Government of Canada's recognition of Dr. Frances McGill's legacy as a national historic person is of significance for one who modelled the way for women to rise to the top in non-traditional roles. When Dr. Frances McGill put down her roots in Regina, Saskatchewan, no one suspected that from this out-of-the way great plains region would emerge Canada's first female pathologist and a pioneer in forensic medicine. Often referred to as 'the first woman Mountie,' she was named the first 'Honorary Surgeon to the RCMP' in 1946, a rare distinction as the only other woman to receive that title is her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II."
Myrna Petersen,
Author of The Pathological Casebook of Dr. Frances McGill
Quick Facts
Dr. McGill became widely known for her expert testimony in court proceedings, bringing forensic pathology into the courtrooms of Saskatchewan to testify as an expert witness for the prosecution on many occasions, including on several criminal cases that became media sensations.
to testify as an expert witness for the prosecution on many occasions, including on several criminal cases that became media sensations. Throughout her career, Dr. McGill held several lead roles in the fields of both public health and forensic science, serving as provincial bacteriologist (19181920), provincial pathologist (19201922), and then director of the Saskatchewan Provincial Laboratories (19221942). After retiring from the Provincial Laboratories in 1942, she continued to help build capacity for forensic science within the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as the first female director of its forensic laboratory in Regina (19431945), and the first female honorary surgeon and consultant to the force (19461959).
(19431945), and the first female honorary surgeon and consultant to the force (19461959). Created in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Minister of Environment and Climate Change regarding the national significance of persons, places, and events that have marked Canada's history. Together with Parks Canada, the Board ensures that subjects of national historic significance are recognized under Parks Canada's National Program of Historical Commemoration and these important stories are shared with Canadians.
advises the Minister of Environment and Climate Change regarding the national significance of persons, places, and events that have marked history. Together with Parks Canada, the Board ensures that subjects of national historic significance are recognized under Parks Canada's National Program of Historical Commemoration and these important stories are shared with Canadians. Parks Canada is committed to working with Canadians in our efforts to tell broader, more inclusive stories in the places that it manages. In support of this goal, the Framework for History and Commemoration outlines a new, comprehensive, and engaging approach to sharing Canada's history through diverse perspectives, including shedding light on tragic and difficult periods of Canada's past.
Related document
Related links
SOURCE Parks Canada (HQ)
Contacts: Kaitlin Power, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 819-230-1557, [email protected]; Media Relations, Parks Canada, 855-862-1812, [email protected]
OTTAWA, ON, Sept. 5, 2024 /CNW/ - Tax literacy is an important life skill, and we want to make sure that students have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make the right decisions about taxes. This back-to-school season, we've got you covered! Whether you are an educator, a parent, or an organization that supports educational growth, there are many resources that you can take advantage of this academic year.
Be a tax literacy influencer
Calling all teachers! Participate in the Learn about your taxes competition and your school could win a share of the $5,000 prize pot. This competition runs from September 3rd to October 15th.
If you are eager to teach your students or child about finances and taxes, check out our Learn about your taxes online learning tool. There are free lesson plans and quick videos that help explain the basics like how to understand your pay stub, how to file a tax return, and what's in a notice of assessment.
We also have free webinars for students, international students, and more! Check out Upcoming events to see what we have planned.
Bookmark our Get ready to do your taxes page. When tax time comes around, it provides eight steps that can help your students or child get started. Find out about what's new, key dates, what to report and claim, and more.
Save for your child's post-secondary education
Post-secondary education can be expensive. Save for your child's future by contributing to a registered education savings plan (RESP). RESP is a tax-deferred investment designed to help people save for a child's education after high school. The government also contributes to your plan with Canada Education Savings Grant payments, the Canada Learning Bond, and provincial incentives if the beneficiary is eligible.
Educational assistance payment limits from an RESP have been increased from $5,000 to $8,000 in the first 13 weeks of enrollment in a qualifying educational program for full-time studies, and from $2,500 to $4,000 for part-time studies.
Teachers' corner: Make your claim
Your role as an educator extends beyond the classroom. Take advantage of these education-related credits and deductions so you can invest in your professional development:
Claim up to $1,000 of supply purchases As a teacher or early childhood educator, you are eligible to a 25% refundable tax credit on up to $1,000 of supply purchases each year. Make sure you keep your receipts and obtain a written certificate from your employer, as we may ask to see these later.
As a teacher or early childhood educator, you are eligible to a 25% refundable tax credit on up to of supply purchases each year. Make sure you keep your receipts and obtain a written certificate from your employer, as we may ask to see these later. Claim moving expenses Claim costs for transportation, storage etc., if you moved at least 40 kilometers closer to your new work location. Make sure you keep supporting documents from your move, like receipts from travelling or hiring movers. Once you've moved, do not forget to update your address with the CRA.
Contacts
Media Relations
Canada Revenue Agency
613-948-8366
[email protected]
Stay connected
Follow the CRA on Facebook
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Follow the CRA on LinkedIn
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Subscribe to a CRA electronic mailing list
Add our RSS feeds to your feed reader
You can also watch our tax-related videos on YouTube
Listen to our Taxology podcast
SOURCE Canada Revenue Agency
Nextbigfuture at substack has all of the big AI news for the week.
There was big news this week in AI, AI startups, AI research and AI funding.
1. OpenAIs Japan CEO reveals GPT-Next will be released this year, and its effective computational load is 100x greater than GPT-4
2. Two $125 Billion AI Training Centers, Starting at 0.5-1 GW and Scaling to 5-10GW
3. XAI 100k H100 AI data Center
4. AI Research
5. Major recent AI funding announcements including Safe Superintelligence
1. OpenAI GPT Next and Orion in 2025
GPT-Next will be released this year, and its effective computational load is 100x greater than GPT-4.
GPT-4 NEXT, which will be released this year, is expected to be trained using a miniature version of Strawberry (for better reasoning) with roughly the same computational resources as GPT-4, with an effective computational load 100 times greater.
The AI model called GPT Next that will be released in the future will evolve nearly 100 times based on past performance. Unlike traditional software, AI technology grows exponentially.
This 100 times increase does not refer to the scaling of computing resources, but rather to the effective computational volume + 2 OOMs, including improvements to the architecture and learning efficiency.
Orion, which has been in the spotlight recently, was trained for several months on the equivalent of 10k H100 compared to GPT-4, adding 10 times the computational resource scale, making it +3 OOMs, and is expected to be released sometime next year.
Two $125 billion AI Training Data Centers
Two companies are looking to develop artificial intelligence (AI) data centers in North Dakota. Commissioner of Commerce Josh Teigen revealed during a Public Service Commission meeting in August that two companies had approached him and state Governor Doug Burgum about developing AI data centers.
The data center projects would start between 500MW and 1GW projects, but could scale up to 5-10GW facilities eventually. The projects would cost up to $125 billion each. This should enable the 10,000 greater compute compared to what was used for GPT 4. This should enable GPT 6 class LLM (Large language models).
See the substack article for more.
Charlottesvilles city attorney will not be returning to the job after he was placed on administrative leave amid an investigation into an undisclosed complaint lodged earlier this year.
The city announced Wednesday that although that investigation cleared Jacob Stroman of wrongdoing, he had nevertheless decided to retire.
The announcement makes no mention of Ryan Franklin, an assistant city attorney who was placed on leave at the same time as Stroman and was fired before the investigation into Stroman concluded.
Richmond-based law firm Sands Anderson, which was brought on when Stroman was first put on leave in April, will continue to serve as the citys counsel for the time being.
Stroman came to Charlottesville in July of 2023 after he was forced to resign from his position as the city attorney in Chesapeake.
It is unclear what exactly prompted that departure, though multiple rationales have been floated.
Earlier reporting on the matter highlighted a stern warning Stroman issued Chesapeake city councilors in November of 2022 after he determined that the city had wrongfully denied a public records request. Multiple City Hall sources told the Virginian-Pilot at the time that Stromans legal interpretations were frustrating Mayor Rick West, and it was decided Stroman would be fired.
Stroman resigned the following January. Chesapeake was later sued and forced to hand over the public records requested.
That wasnt the only time during his tenure in Chesapeake that Stromans relationship with the council there was strained.
The Virginian-Pilot reported just last month that while he was still employed in Chesapeake Stroman was tasked with assisting the mayors step-brother with a personal legal matter. The brother, emails from August of 2022 show, needed help getting a septic tank permit in Georgia and Stroman agreed to assist.
While the latter incident did not break any Chesapeake laws, it was flagged by ethics experts.
None of that history is noted in Charlottesvilles official announcement of Stromans retirement. In fact, city councilors have been mute on the matter since Stroman was put on leave, referring to the investigation only as a personnel matter, declining to provide any additional details to the press and holding all discussions regarding Stroman in closed-door meetings.
Instead, Stromans retirement announcement includes only praise.
The Council appreciates his service as City Attorney, Charlottesville Mayor Juandiego Wade is quoted in the statement, including his work on the Citys Development Code; his leadership in defending the City in litigation, including the ongoing lawsuit defending the Development Code; his work on real estate matters including the Avon-Levy acquisition earlier this year; his efforts assisting the Council with the formation of its successful General Assembly legislative program, and his commitment to insuring the Citys compliance with the Virginia Public Procurement Act and the Citys procurement ordinance. We wish him the best in his retirement.
Stroman thanked the city for the opportunity, however brief, to serve as its counsel.
I am grateful for the opportunity to have served the City of Charlottesville as City Attorney, he is quoted. The array of legal issues on which I was privileged to work were challenging, important to the continued prosperity of the City and, in many cases, cutting edge. While I look forward to retirement, I will miss the practice of local government law to which I have devoted most of my career. I wish Council, City Administration, and the residents of Charlottesville well.
Sands Andersons contract with the city is a sore subject for some. The law firm also serves as counsel for Charlottesvilles Police Civilian Oversight Board. Critics of the deal have said the firm cannot work for both the city and an independent board meant to hold the city accountable, not without creating a conflict of interest. The city has denied any such conflict of interest exists.
If a conflict arises, well deal with it then, city spokeswoman Afton Schneider told The Daily Progress in July.
DEAR ERIC: When I was in my very early 20s, some 27 years ago, I dabbled in drugs. My car was stolen one night, and with it my drugs. I didnt know what to do, fearing I would be arrested myself for the drugs.
I had to come clean to my dad, the owner of the car. He called his attorney and then the cops. The attorney told us to keep quiet about the drugs, dont answer any questions other than the car theft, and if directly asked about the drugs, to refer the questions to him.
The thief was apprehended by the police. They searched my car and found the drugs. The thief was adamant they werent his. When they questioned me, I panicked and lied, denying all knowledge of them. The thief ended up getting charged for my drugs and received an additional two years.
He went to jail; I went on vacation to a very private drug rehab clinic. Ive been clean ever since. I try not to think of it anymore but occasionally I do and have a great deal of remorse about it. Coming clean all these years later to the cops doesnt make sense, not that I could even be charged all these years later. An apology to this car thief (who had a significant arrest history, including for drugs) doesnt sound like a good idea either. Any advice on how to put this behind me?
Reformed Remorse
DEAR REMORSE: Im a little curious about why the apology is a no-go for you. Yes, his actions and your actions put him in jail, so hes not a blameless victim. But you played a crucial role. If you want to make amends, an apology is how you start. You may not want to get involved in this persons life again, but the fact is you have been for the last 27 years.
Look, it doesnt come without its risks. He could be angry; he could lash out. But he could also be understanding or forgiving or phlegmatic.
One way to put this behind you is to just forgive yourself and move on. Thats also an option. You made a mistake and took the advice you were given. But I think this other person is going to keep riding around in the passenger seat of your guilt until you address it.
(Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.)
2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Two people have been arrested and charged in an armed robbery and shooting incident from July, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced Wednesday.
Jaquil M. Brown, 29, of Paterson and Shaheem A. Clark, 19, of Elmwood Park are accused of participating in an armed robbery and shooting that began on Route 17 in Lodi and ended on Route 80 in Paterson.
On July 21 at 11:24 p.m., local and state police responded to a report of an armed robbery and shooting in Lodi that started when a group of friends exited a business on Route 17, authorities said.
Once the friends entered their vehicle in an adjacent parking lot, authorities said someone on foot opened the passenger door, reached across the passenger area and pointed a gun at an occupants head.
Investigators said the person demanded an expensive wristwatch the victim was wearing and hit the victim in the head with the gun.
The suspect removed the wristwatch and escaped to a waiting getaway car where a second suspect had parked next to the vehicle and then fled the scene, authorities said.
The victims followed the suspects onto Route 17 and eventually onto Route 80 when the passenger in the getaway vehicle leaned out the window and fired two shots at the victims car following behind them, officials said.
One bullet hit the windshield of the car, causing glass to injure the driver, according to authorities. The victims pulled over on Route 80 in Paterson and called police, officials said.
Detectives with the Bergen County Prosecutors Office eventually identified the vehicle used by the suspects in the incident and located it on July 24 in Paterson, officials said.
After an investigation, authorities linked Brown to the vehicle and alleged he was the getaway driver while Clark was the passenger in the car the evening of the robbery and shooting, officials said.
Brown was arrested on July 25 in Paterson and charged with first-degree armed robbery, second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, weapons offenses and receiving stolen property.
Authorities learned on Aug. 28 that Clark was already in custody at the Hudson County Jail for an unrelated matter and was charged with first-degree attempted murder and armed robbery, second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery and weapons offenses.
Brown was taken to the Bergen County Jail and detained after a detention hearing on Aug. 7 pending further court proceedings, according to authorities.
Clark remains in custody at the Hudson County Jail pending the resolution of an unrelated criminal case. Details on that incident were not immediately available.
Attorneys for Brown and Clark were not able to reached for comment Wednesday.
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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X.
Its been nearly five years since Dulce Maria Alavez and her family went to a Cumberland County park for a fun afternoon outing.
She didnt come home that day and her disappearance remains a mystery.
Dulce was 5 years old and had just started kindergarten when she asked to play at Bridgeton City Park on Sept. 16, 2019.
Dulces mom, Noema Alavez Perez, remained in her car at the park with her sister while the Dulce and her younger brother, Manny, ran off to the playground nearby.
A short time later, Alavez Perez said she realized Dulce was missing and, after a search of the area, called 911 for help.
Investigators believe Dulce was taken from the park, but clues to her fate remain elusive.
Family and friends marked her 10th birthday last April with a gathering at a tree dedicated to Dulce near the spot at the park where she was last seen.
The family and supporters will return to Dulces Tree on Sept. 16 this year to mark the five-year anniversary of her disappearance and offer prayers for her return.
Organizers are calling it an awareness day for Dulce and urge anyone with information about the missing girl to come forward.
Attendees are asked to wear yellow for the occasion, which will begin at 4 p.m. More information about the event is on the Facebook page for the group Justice for Dulce Maria Alavez.
Supporters of Dulce's family hold awareness events several times a year to remind the public that the child remains missing.Joe Warner | For NJ Advance Media
Officials say the investigation of Dulces case remains a top priority.
Soon after the girls disappearance, police released witness descriptions and a sketch of a person of interest, but those have yielded no apparent leads.
An unclaimed reward for information about the case stands at $75,000.
On the fourth anniversary of her disappearance, officials released a new age-progression image of how Dulce may appear today.
Anyone with information about Dulces disappearance is asked to contact authorities via one of these options:
Bridgeton Police: 856-451-0033
Cumberland County Prosecutors Office: 856-453-0486
New Jersey State Police: 609-882-2000, ext. 2554
Anonymous tips may be sent to Bridgeton Police at bpdops.com/tips or to the prosecutors office at njccpo.gov/tips
Information may also be submitted to the Anti-Predator Project, by calling 305-796-4859 or emailing info@antipredatorproject.org
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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
George R.R. Martin said in a blog post last week that he would be sharing everything thats gone wrong with House of the Dragon, the HBO series based on his book Fire & Blood.
And Martin recently delivered, detailing a divergence of character and story from A Son for a Son, the first episode of the shows second season, which concluded in August.
In a since-deleted blog post titled Beware the Butterflies, Martin, the Game of Thrones author who lives in Santa Fe and hails from Bayonne, wrote about key differences from Fire & Blood, his 2018 history of House Targaryen, and what ended up onscreen in the series.
Martin, 75, co-created the show with Ryan Condal, 45, a fellow Jersey guy who grew up on Hasbrouck Heights and now resides in the United Kingdom, where the series films.
House of the Dragon, which takes place 200 years before the events in Game of Thrones, premiered in 2022 as the first spinoff series from the enormously popular fantasy drama.
The author zeroed in on the decision of showrunner Condal and his team to omit a character named Maelor, which he said would have ramifications for the rest of the story, and their decision to change some details about the ages of Targaryen children in a particularly disturbing and violent part of the saga.
(Spoiler alert) When the characters Blood and Cheese plot to kill one of the Targaryen children, Prince Jaehaerys, son of married siblings Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban) and King Aegon Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), they ask Helaena to pick which child will die. The death of the child a son for a son, they say will be payback for the death of Prince Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault), the son of Aegon and Helaenas half-sister, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma DArcy). Rhaenyra, the named heir to the Iron Throne, is locked in a blood feud with Aegon and his camp, who occupy Kings Landing.
In Martins book, which tells the story of the Targaryen civil war, aka the Dance of the Dragons, Helaena has three children. In the episode, she has two, and they are significantly younger than in the book. Omitted in the show is her son Maelor Targaryen, who Martin labeled Maelor the Missing in his blog post.
Ryan Condal and George R.R. Martin, who both hail from New Jersey, co-created "House of the Dragon." Condal, who is showrunner, has diverged from characters in Martin's "Fire & Blood" book in telling the story.Jeff Kravitz | FilmMagic
In delivering his criticism, preserved in excerpts shared by Variety and Deadline, Martin both praised the show and noted different reactions based on whether or not people had read his book.
I promised you some further thoughts about Blood and Cheese and Maelor the Missing after my commentary on the first two episodes of HotD season 2, A Son for a Son and Rhaenyra the Cruel, Martin wrote. Those were terrific episodes: well written, well directed, powerfully acted. A great way to kick off the new season. Fans and critics alike seemed to agree. There was only one aspect of the episodes that drew significant criticism: the handling of Blood and Cheese, and the death of Prince Jaehaerys. From the commentary I saw on line, opinion was split there. The readers of Fire & Blood found the sequence underwhelming, a disappointment, watered down from what they were expecting. Viewers who had not read the book had no such problems. Most of them found the sequence a real gut-punch, tragic, horrifying, nightmarish, etc. Some reported being reduced to tears. I found myself agreeing with both sides.
READ MORE: Inside House of the Dragon with George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal, N.J. creators of Game of Thrones prequel (creator interviews)
Then, addressing the differences, Martin continued:
In my book, Aegon and Helaena have three children, not two, he wrote. The twins, Jaehaerys and Jaehaera, are six years old. They have a younger brother, Maelor, who is two. When Blood and Cheese break in on Helaena and the kids, they tell her they are debt collectors come to exact revenge for the death of Prince Lucerys: a son for a son. As Helaena has two sons, however, they demand that she choose which one should die. She resists and offers her own life instead, but the killers insist it has to be a son. If she does not name one, they will kill all three of the children. To save the life of the twins, Helaena names Maelor. But Blood kills the older boy, Jaehaerys, instead, while Cheese tells little Maelor that his mother wanted him dead. Whether the boy is old enough to understand that is not at all certain.
Martin, noting that the show leaves out Maelor, also notes the twins look younger than six, but I am no sure judge of childrens ages, so I cant be sure how old they are supposed to be.
Blood cant seem to tell the twins apart, so Helaena is asked to reveal which one is the boy, he said. You would think a glance up his PJs would reveal that, without involving the mother. Instead of offering her own life to save the kids, Helaena offers them a necklace. Blood and Cheese are not tempted. Blood saws Prince Jaehaeryss head off. We are spared the sight of that; a sound effect suffices.
Helaena Targaryen has two children in season two of "House of the Dragon" and three in George R.R. Martin's book "Fire & Blood." Ollie Upton | HBO
Martin wrote that he prefers his original version of events.
I still believe the scene in the book is stronger, he said. The readers have the right of that. The two killers are crueler in the book. I thought the actors who played the killers on the show were excellent but the characters are crueler, harder, and more frightening in Fire & Blood.
Martin also explained how the lack of Maelor at this juncture in the show affects the course of the story.
When Ryan Condal first told me what he meant to do, ages ago (back in 2022, might be) I argued against it, for all these reasons, he said. I did not argue long, or with much heat, however. The change weakened the sequence, I felt, but only a bit. And Ryan had what seemed to be practical reasons for it; they did not want to deal with casting another child, especially a two-year old toddler. Kids that young will inevitably slow down production, and there would be budget implications. Budget was already an issue on HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, it made sense to save money wherever we could.
Moreover, Ryan assured me that we were not losing Prince Maelor, simply postponing him, Martin said. Queen Helaena could still give birth to him in season three, presumably after getting with child late in season two. That made sense to me, so I withdrew my objections and acquiesced to the change. I still love the episode, and the Blood and Cheese sequence overall. Losing the Helaenas Choice beat did weaken the scene, but not to any great degree. Only the book readers would even notice its absence; viewers who had never read FIRE & BLOOD would still find the scenes heart-rending. Maelor did not actually DO anything in the scene, after all. How could he? He was only two years old. There is another aspect to the removal of the young princeling, however.
Condal addressed missing Maelor and the change in childrens ages in an episode of HBOs House of the Dragon podcast.
Tom Glynn-Carney plays King Aegon Targaryen in "House of the Dragon."Ollie Upton | HBO
The casualty in that was that our young children in this show are very young, he said. Very, very young. Because we compress that timeline. So those people could only have children of a certain age and have it be believable where it didnt feel like we werent hewing to the realities of the passage of time and the growth of children in any real way. And people, people look at that stuff. And particularly with a show like this, they look at it very closely. So it was a choice made. It did have a ripple effect, and we decided that we were going to lean into it and try to make it a strength, instead of playing it as a weakness.
While Maelor hy himself means little, Martin said, the where and when and how of his death in Fire & Blood matters (spoilers for further parts of the unfolding series story ahead).
Losing Maelor weakened the end of the Blood and Cheese sequence, but it also cost us the Bitterbridge scene with all its horror and heroism, it undercut the motivation for Helaenas suicide, and that in turn sent thousands into the streets and alleys, screaming for justice for their murdered queen. None of that is essential, I suppose but all of it does serve a purpose, it all helps to tie the story lines together, so one thing follows another in a logical and convincing manner.
HBO responded to Martins airing of grievances, per Variety.
There are few greater fans of George R.R. Martin and his book Fire & Blood than the creative team on House of the Dragon, both in production and at HBO, the network said in a statement. Commonly, when adapting a book for the screen, with its own format and limitations, the showrunner ultimately is required to make difficult choices about the characters and stories the audience will follow. We believe that Ryan Condal and his team have done an extraordinary job and the millions of fans the series has amassed over the first two seasons will continue to enjoy it.
But Martin indicated that his criticisms of the series would not end with those mentioned in the blog post.
And there are larger and more toxic butterflies to come, if HOUSE OF THE DRAGON goes ahead with some of the changes being contemplated for seasons 3 and 4, Martin said in the deleted post.
House of the Dragon, which airs on HBO and streams on Max, is set to end after its fourth season.
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Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup.
A legal dispute over a popular rock bands name usage has been resolved after months of negotiations between former bandmates.
Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings, co-founders of the Guess Who, filed a lawsuit against former bandmates Garry Peterson and Jim Kale over false advertisement back in October of 2023. The lawsuit claimed Peterson and Kale led fans to believe Bachman and Cummings, who had left the group years ago, were still part of their band that was recording and touring under the Guess Who name even though they were not.
Bachman, 80, and Cummings, 76, told Rolling Stone that shared trademarks have been worked out with the former bandmates although details of the settlement have not been announced.
We are pleased to have reached a resolution that honors our shared history and allows us to move forward with a new sense of purpose and camaraderie, Bachman told Rolling Stone.
The 60s and 70s Canadian rock staple, originally named Chad Allan and the Reflections, was formed in Winnipeg by Bachman, Kale, Peterson, Bob Ashley and Chad Allan. The name change came in 1965.
While the lawsuit was filed in 2023, the situation has been an issue for the Guess Who for years. A version of the Guess Who played in Ocean Grove back in 2013, but Kale was the only original member performing.
Cummings and Bachman said it was an arduous process, but they are relieved they resolved the situation.
It was painful, but wed have done it indefinitely just to stop that fake band from taking over our history, Cummings told Rolling Stone. They took over streaming sites; they were using old photos of me and Randy. It gets me going thinking about it, but thats over. Its a painful success. It cost a lot of money with lawyers and I gave up a lot of publishing money, but we finally won this terrible battle.
The Guess Who is famous for hits like No Sugar Tonight (New Mother Nature), American Woman, These Eyes and more.
More entertainment coverage:
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Christopher Burch can be reached at cburch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SwishBurch. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips/.
Two ballot questions this fall will measure support for a proposed $2 billion South Jersey regional light rail line. Citizen-led petitions garnered enough signatures to put the questions on ballots in Brooklawn and Glassboro.
Four other towns on the the 18-mile, 14-stop Glassboro-Camden light rail line have already passed referendums opposing it. A resolution passed in Wenonah in 2022, after voters voiced opposition to the proposed rail line, said the project will negatively impact the peace and quiet enjoyment of residents.
People of the Borough of Wenonah overwhelmingly voted against both the GCL and a proposed stop, with 73% voting NO against the construction of the rail and 65% voting NO against the location of the stop within the Borough of Wenonah, the resolution stated.
If a representative from New Jersey has his way, there will be more safety regulations for school buses across the country come the start of next school year.
U.S. Rep Josh Gottheimer, D-5th Dist., is reintroducing legislation to require three point lap and shoulder seat belts on school buses nationwide, and adding a new bill requiring real time background driving record checks for bus drivers.
The legislation, announced in Midland Park Wednesday morning, is in response to the May 17, 2018 school bus crash on Interstate 80 that killed Paramus fifth grader Miranda Vargas and teacher Jennifer Williamson, and injured another 43 students and staffers who were on a class trip.
The seat belt bill is reintroduced 2022 legislation that would require the same three point seat belts that are already required in cars and trucks to be installed in school buses.
New Jersey already has such a law, which Gov.Phil Murphy signed in August 2018. But only 8 states, including New Jersey require any type of school bus seat belts.
In addition to seat belts, Gottheimer said he wants to require technology be installed on buses to alert the school bus driver if any passengers arent buckled up
Mirandas father, Joevanny Vargas, went to Washington to lobby for the 2022 bill.
Joevanny will be back on Capitol Hill with me soon to go door to door to members of Congress, Gottheimer said. Every child in every state should have those same protections on their way to school or a field trip.
The new legislation, called Mirandas law in honor of Miranda Vargas, requires notification of school districts and bus companies within 24 hours after a driver is convicted of a serious motor vehicle violation across the nation and includes setting up a national database.
The legislation was proposed after the bus driver in the I-80 crash, Hudy Muldrow Sr., 79, was found have received eight speeding tickets and had his license suspended 14 times between 1975 and 2017, according to state motor vehicle records.
Can you believe he was allowed to drive a school bus?, Gottheimer said. We must strengthen background checks.
The 2018 crash occurred when Muldrow was driving a bus filled with students and teachers from Paramus to Waterloo Village in Stanhope when he got on I-80 going the wrong way. Instead of going to the next exit, Muldrow cut across several lanes of highway in an attempt to reach a turn around in the median to make an illegal U-turn.
A dump truck hit the bus from behind, knocking the bus body off its frame and injuring every person on board.
Current laws only require an annual background check of school bus drivers driving record, meaning a driver convicted of a motor vehicle offense could drive for almost a year before their school district or bus company learned about it, Gottheimer said.
The bus safety legislative package has bipartisan support from U.S. Reps. Mike Lawler, R-NY-17th Dist., Jared Moskowitz, D- Florida 23rd Dist., Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii 2nd Dist., and Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-District of Columbia.
Gottheimer cited a statistic that only 50 to 80% of commercial drivers license holders, which includes school bus drivers, self-report violations to their employer.
Its a crucial bill that requires real time notification so districts can take immediate action, he said.
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Fred Daibes, the wealthy Gold Coast developer who was a key figure in the corruption and bribery trial of former U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, pleaded guilty Thursday to separate bank fraud charges that became a focal point of the criminal case against the New Jersey Democrat.
Daibes, 67, of Edgewater, the former CEO and chairman of the board of directors at Mariners Bank, admitted making false entries in connection with a loan memorandum relating to a $1.8 million loan which falsely stated the identity of the borrower which in fact was a line of credit for his own benefit.
Good morning New Jersey. Heres your audio update highlighting a national school bus safety proposal in the memory of a tragic New Jersey crash, the standoff between a nonprofit and the state over an historic lighthouse and the hunt for a wedding dress missing since 1994.
Plus, well tell you about a parade of planets visible in the night sky during the next two weeks.
Listen by clicking the player above and read more about those stories at the accompanying links.
This audio presentation is an editorially-curated selection of stories, selected by an editor, and then summarized and read aloud by artificial intelligence. Some variations in pronunciation, tone or diction may result.
We want to know what you think! All feedback is valuable. After youve listened, take our 3-question survey here to let us know what you think.
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Labor Day weekend is the unofficial kick off of the presidential election season because its around the time many voters begin to tune into presidential politics.
And for good reason.
The election between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump isnt until Nov. 5. But ballots around the country will be cast well before then and early voting for many in key states is around the corner.
(More than 100 million people a majority of the electorate voted early in-person or by mail in 2020 when the world was amid a pandemic, so expect that number to be lower this election cycle)
The first batch of ballots typically sent out are ones to military and overseas voters. Under federal law, that must happen at least 45 days before an election which this year is Sept. 21.
Election offices in North Carolina are scheduled to begin sending mail ballots to all voters who request them on Friday, though that could be delayed because Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has sued to have his name removed from the states ballot after he suspended his campaign.
In Pennsylvania, counties are allowed to begin processing mail ballot applications up to 50 days before the election, or Sept. 16 this year, unless a county decides to do it earlier. But counties do not yet have a certified ballot from the state because there are three third-party ballot-access challenges pending in the state Supreme Court. After certification, counties will need time to print and test the ballot, leading some county officials to caution that they might not go out until late September or early October.
In other key states, early voting begins:
Arizona : Oct. 9
Nevada : Oct. 12
Georgia : Oct. 15
Wisconsin : Oct. 22
Michigan: Oct. 26
Voter registration deadlines vary by state, with most falling between eight and 30 days before the election, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The deadline is Oct. 7 in Georgia, one of this years most prominent presidential battlegrounds.
Nearly all states offer some version of in-person voting, though the rules and dates vary considerably.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco.
A lawyer for Donald Trump clashed on Thursday with the judge in the federal election interference prosecution of the former president after suggesting the government was rushing forward with an illegitimate indictment at the height of the White House campaign.
Prosecutors and defense lawyers are bitterly at odds over the next steps in the case after the Supreme Court narrowed the scope of the prosecution by ruling that former presidents are entitled to broad immunity from criminal charges.
While Trumps attorneys argued in the cases first court hearing in nearly a year that it should be tossed out altogether, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan made clear she did not accept the argument.
CBS News Scott MacFarlane posted excerpts of the hearing to X where Trumps lawyers sparred with Chutkan:
Defense: What is the rush to judgment the special counsel is suggesting? Chutkan: This case has been pending for a year. Were hardly sprinting to the finish line.
Chutkan: When the Supreme Court had this case... they had the indictment in front of them.. yet they sent the case back to me to decide issues I cant just dismiss the superseding indictment based on the Supreme Courts decision.
Defense: Were being put in an incredibly unfair position. For no reason at all. Were talking about the Presidency of the United States. Chutkan intervenes: Im not talking about the Presidency of the United States.. Im talking about a four-count indictment.
As defense approached podium again, Judge Chutkan warned: I dont need anymore rhetoric about how grave and serious this moment is. Defense attorney John Lauro counters: Its not rhetoric, its a legal argument.
!!! Judge Chutkan says she does not find the decision/ruling against Special Counsel by Judge Aileen Cannon in Florida "very persuasive" Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) September 5, 2024
The dueling proposals and testy courtroom exchanges reflected the extent to which the justices July opinion had upended the path of the case that charges Trump with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the run-up to the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.
Special counsel Jack Smiths team filed a revised indictment last week to strip out certain allegations against Trump for which the Supreme Court said Trump, the Republican nominee for president, enjoyed immunity. Defense lawyers, however, believe that that indictment did not fully comply with the justices ruling.
The case is one of two federal prosecutions against Trump. The other, charging him with illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, was dismissed in July by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon. She said Smiths appointment as special counsel was unlawful.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco.
Polarization in politics has been at a fever pitch, so theres no wonder why voters view presidential hopefuls as too extreme or a threat to the country.
But when it comes to Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, who do voters fret more over?
According to a recent CNN/SSRS poll of six battleground states, the all-important voters in swing states view Trump as the more significant threat over Harris.
An average of 54% of voters said Trump was too extreme and 46% said he was a threat to the country, compared to 44% who said Harris is too extreme and 39% said she was a threat to the country. Thats among voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The Washington Posts Aaron Blake writes:
The gaps are similar among independent voters, with nearly half (an average of 47 percent) saying Trump was a threat to the country, compared to just 38 percent for Harris.
And Republicans were significantly more likely to regard their own partys candidate as both too extreme and a threat to the country. Fully 14 percent of Trumps own party said he was too extreme, and 7 percent said he was a threat (compared to 6 percent and 2 percent, respectively, for Harris).
Across 6 key swing states, an average of 48% label Trump a "threat to the country."
For Harris, it's 39%.https://t.co/1DtudoYbgY pic.twitter.com/EKcHte2fQa Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) September 5, 2024
The poll showed Harris ahead of Trump in Wisconsin and Michigan and leading by a percentage point in Georgia and Nevada. But Trump is ahead in Arizona and both are tied in Pennsylvania.
According to the poll:
Wisconsin : Harris 50% Trump 44%
Michigan : Harris 48% Trump 43%
Georgia : Harris 48% Trump 47%
Nevada : Harris 48% Trump 47%
Pennsylvania : Harris 47% Trump 47%
Arizona: Trump 49% Harris 44%
The two presidential nominees are using the week before their debate to sharpen their economic messages about who could do more for the middle class. Harris discussed her policy plans on Wednesday in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, while Trump will address the Economic Club of New York on Thursday.
Harris used the New Hampshire campaign stop to propose an expansion of tax incentives for small businesses, a pro-entrepreneur plan that may soften her previous calls for wealthy Americans and large corporations to pay higher taxes. Trump, meanwhile, is betting that Americans crave trillions of dollars in tax cuts and that growth will be so fantastic that its not worth worrying about budget deficits.
The candidates will debate next week in what will be their first meeting ever. The nations premier swing state, Pennsylvania, begins in-person absentee voting the week after. By the end of the month, early voting will be underway in at least four states with a dozen more to follow by mid-October.
In just 61 days, the final votes will be cast to decide which one of them will lead the worlds most powerful nation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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A worker cuts a piece of pipe as crews repair the corner where a car struck a fire hydrant Sunday morning and flipped over after being fired upon by an unknown shooter. One woman was killed and four others were shot, the NOPD said.
Guest column: First day of school brings new challenges. And new opportunities. Here's how we see them.
An injured backpacker was rescued at Duffy Lake thanks to a joint effort by local search and rescue and the National Guard.
The teenage backpackers mother sent a nearby good Samaritan to call in the emergency from Maxwell Sno-Park on Sunday, Sept. 1, according to a news release from the Linn County Sheriff's Office.
The backpacker, a 16-year-old Portland boy, reportedly suffered a broken leg.
Linn County Sheriffs Office Search and Rescue, primarily composed of volunteers, mobilized a ground team that worked with the Oregon Office of Emergency Management to coordinate support from the Oregon Army National Guard for a helicopter.
However, thunderstorms near Duffy Lake delayed the helicopter mission for an hour as the crew waited for the weather to clear up, according to the release.
Meanwhile, the Sheriffs Office hastily sent out a Search and Rescue team with medically trained members, arriving at the trail to Duffy Lake around two hours after the 4 p.m. call for help came in, with more rescuers arriving shortly after.
Search and Rescue team members reached the injured and prepared him for transport by the National Guard, who conducted a hoist rescue just before 8 p.m. and took the teen to St. Charles Hospital in Bend, the release states.
The rescuers made it back to the Duffy Lake Trailhead around midnight Monday.
MICHIGAN CITY A motorcyclist is accused of leading police on a high speed chase while impaired by alcohol, and with cocaine and an illegal handgun in his possession.
Tyrone Morris, 45, is charged in LaPorte Superior Court 1 with Class A misdemeanor operating while intoxicated, possession of cocaine and possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, both Level 4 felonies, and Level 6 felony resisting law enforcement.
According to court documents, a Michigan City police officer tried pulling Morris over for not having a license plate on the 2001 Kawasaki he was driving early on Aug. 29 near Bolka Avenue.
However, police said Morris fled westbound to Earl Road, then County Line Road, reaching speeds of about 100 miles per hour before turning eastbound on U.S. 12.
The chase reached the north side of the city when Morris drove toward a police vehicle blocking the street, abandoned the motorcycle and fled on foot.
He allegedly tried outrunning officers between several houses and along a fence and sidewalk before being captured by a police K-9 dog in an alley in the 800 block of West 7th Street.
Police said a bag of cocaine weighing nearly 10 grams along with a loaded .40 caliber handgun with an extended 22-round magazine were recovered from the path Morris took during the foot pursuit.
A much smaller amount of cocaine was allegedly found in his possession.
Morris, who had an odor of alcohol on his breath, police said, refused to have his blood-alcohol level tested, which resulted in his arrest for OWI.
A 2002 conviction for dealing in cocaine made his possession of the gun a felony, police said.
According to court documents, the motorcycle was last registered in Michigan in 2021.
Morris could face a prison sentence ranging from two to 12 years on each of the most serious felony counts.
He was being held in the LaPorte County Jail Thursday on a $20,000 bond set during his initial court hearing on Tuesday.
A 14-year-old student opened fire today in the hallway of a Georgia high school, killing two students and two teachers and injuring at least nine others, the authorities said. The shooting the deadliest episode of school violence in Georgias history took place at Apalachee High School in Winder, roughly 50 miles from the center of Atlanta. Heres the latest on what we know.
Students inside the school described a chaotic atmosphere after they realized that a lockdown was not a drill. They barricaded themselves inside classrooms as gunshots rang out, and some students called their parents in fear. They prepare you for these things, one student said. But in the moment, I started crying. I got nervous.
The suspect surrendered when he was confronted by law enforcement and is in custody, officials said. He will be charged with murder as an adult. President Biden called the shooting another horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to tear our communities apart.
Months after a low-level aide in the administration of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo returned from a visit to China in 2019, she got a curious inquiry from federal investigators.
The F.B.I. wanted to know about the nature of the trip that the aide, Linda Sun, had taken.
The interaction in 2020 was one of the first known instances of governmental interest in Ms. Suns activities, according to a federal indictment unsealed on Tuesday. But it was not the last.
In February 2023, Ms. Sun was interviewed by the states Office of the Inspector General about her unauthorized procurement of official proclamations from the governors office, according to the indictment.
And when Ms. Sun was fired by Gov. Kathy Hochuls administration weeks later, state officials suspicions surrounding Ms. Sun were reported immediately to law enforcement, the governor said on Wednesday.
On Sunday, Dustin Grage, a columnist for the conservative website Townhall and a Republican strategist who describes himself as a Minnesota G.O.P. hype man, posted on X a clip from a 2012 speech by Tim Walz to the American Legion. In the clip, Walz says: When I was in Afghanistan, you know what our troops were worried about? They were worried about their familys health care, and they were worried about their pensions.
Grages post said Walz claiming he was in Afghanistan was another example of Stolen Valor.
But Walz did, in fact, visit Afghanistan and speak with troops as part of a congressional delegation in 2008. Grage concedes as much in a note that was later appended to the post, complaining that Walz didnt specify that he was referring to the trip four years prior.
But Grage didnt remove the stolen valor post, which has been viewed more than 340,000 times. The note, on the other hand, has been viewed only about 4,000 times. This differential is how misinformation spreads.
Some legitimate questions have arisen about statements that Walz made about his service, but four veterans who specialize in investigating cases of deception about service told The New York Times last month that they do not believe Mr. Walz engaged in stolen valor, but that he did misrepresent his record at times or, at the very least, has not always been precise.
Luca Guadagnino has added creative director to his list of jobs.
As a filmmaker, his credits include Challengers, the Oscar-nominated movie Call Me by Your Name and the upcoming Queer, an adaptation of William S. Burroughss semi-autobiographical novella starring Daniel Craig, which recently premiered at the Venice Film Festival. He is also the founder of Studio Luca Guadagnino, an award-winning interiors firm in Milan that has designed several homes, boutiques and, most recently, the Palazzo Talia hotel in Rome.
Now, Mr. Guadagnino has marshaled the staging and curation of Homo Faber, a monthlong, biennial craftsmanship exhibition that opened on Sunday at the Giorgio Cini Foundation, a cultural center on San Giorgio Maggiore island in Venice. Homo Faber, which means man the maker in Latin, is put on by the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship, a Geneva-based non-profit established by Italian author Franco Cologni and luxury industry billionaire Johann Rupert, chairman of Richemont, which owns the brands Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Alaia. Mr. Guadagnino partnered with his design studio project manager, Nicolo Rosmarini, to conceive this third edition as a holistic experience like a narrative, he said.
To achieve this, Mr. Guadagnino and Mr. Rosmarini created an immersive journey throughout the islands 16th-century Palladio-designed monastery and assorted buildings that carries visitors through 10 multisensory set pieces, each dedicated to an aspect of the human experience like Childhood, Courtship and Dreams. They designed everything (the lighting system, the uniforms, the tote bag, the tables, the cover of the cable on the floor, Mr. Guadagnino said) then filled the rooms with 800 objects by 400 artisans from 70 countries.
More than three decades after Carmen Van Huss was found dead in her Indianapolis apartment, a homicide victim at 19, the police said on Tuesday that they had arrested a suspect, a break in a cold case that had long consumed the Van Huss family.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the Boone County Sheriffs Office in Missouri arrested Dana Shepherd, 52, in Columbia, Mo., on Friday in connection with Ms. Van Husss death. The authorities charged Mr. Shepherd with murder, felony murder and rape, according to Ryan Mears, the Marion County prosecutor.
Thirty-one years ago she was tragically killed, and today we finally have some answers, Kendale Adams, the deputy chief of the Indianapolis police criminal investigations division, said at a news conference on Tuesday.
Jimmy Van Huss Jr., Ms. Van Husss younger brother, thanked law enforcement officials for their efforts to bring the case to a close.
Anetra Pattman, 43, was teaching social sciences at the alternative school in Barrow County, Ga., when she received a text on Wednesday at 10:24 a.m.
It was from her 14-year-old daughter, Macey Wright, at Apalachee High. It said, Mom, I heard gunshots. Im scared. Please come get me.
Dr. Pattman knew that she could not hurry to her daughter. She had to stay with her own students, and keep calm.
At that moment, the primary thing was continuing this communication with my daughter, but now Im also responsible for keeping my other children safe, she said of her students.
Then her own school went into hard lockdown mode. Her students hid in the corner. Lights out. Quiet. They stayed that way from 11 a.m. to about 1:30 p.m.
The reunion of mother and daughter finally came about an hour later. A friend had picked Macey up from Apalachee and taken her to a convenience store, where her mother was waiting. They hugged each other and cried.
Two students and two teachers were killed at Apalachee, the authorities said, and at least nine other people were injured.
Maceys friend, a fellow freshman, had been shot in the shoulder, and Macey was worried about her. She told her mother she did not want to go back to school and get shot.
It was difficult for Dr. Pattman, an educator for 22 years, to accept that so many students have to live with such a possibility every day that they set foot on an American high school campus. But she said that she and her daughter would find a way to soldier on. She spoke on Wednesday afternoon with a resolve that seemed laced with resignation.
I think most of it just comes from not living in fear, knowing that things like this happen, she said. Not just in schools, but in grocery stores, in churches. Im almost to the point where I feel that no place is exempt.
Bryan Garcia heard what sounded like gunfire boom, boom, boom, he said coming from outside his math class at Apalachee High School. A lockdown alert flashed on a screen inside the room.
Following protocol, the students and teacher ran to the back of the class and huddled in the corner furthest from the door.
Bryan looked toward the door. It was open.
Almost immediately, Bryan said, a classmate ran across the room and slammed the door shut.
He saved us, Bryan said.
Another student, Nahomi Licona, described a similar scene in her math class. As students hustled to the back of the room, she said, one of them ran up to close the door. They heard gunshots, then footsteps, then lots of shouting, she said.
Nahomi, 15, a sophomore, said her family moved to the United States nine years ago from Guatemala. Walking beside Nahomi on Wednesday afternoon, her mother, Jackeline, said shootings in their native country tended to happen in the streets, not in schools. Nahomi said she recognized the sound of gunfire at once.
Its normal over there, but its still scary, Nahomi said. She added: I never expected to hear that in a school.
Within a few minutes, Bryan said, school resource officers responded. Bryan said he heard a confrontation involving the shooter, whom the authorities identified as a 14-year-old student at the school. The officers were engaging the suspect, Bryan said, telling him to raise his hands and surrender.
Nahomi said she knew people were at least injured while she was evacuating the school. In a hallway, she said, she saw white powder used to absorb blood.
Federal investigators said on Wednesday that the suspect in the shooting at a Georgia high school had been interviewed more than a year ago by local law enforcement officials in connection to threats made online of a school shooting.
The authorities were led to the suspect, Colt Gray, who was 13 at the time, after the F.B.I.s National Threat Operations Center received several anonymous tips in May 2023 reporting threats that had been posted on an online gaming site warning of a school shooting at an unidentified location and time, according to statements from the F.B.I. field office in Atlanta and local law enforcement officials. The threats included photographs of guns.
Investigators from the sheriffs office in Jackson County, Ga., interviewed the suspect and his father, the F.B.I. said. His father told investigators that he had hunting guns in the house, but said that his son did not have unsupervised access to the weapons. The suspect denied making the threats.
The F.B.I. said that the Jackson County authorities alerted local schools for continued monitoring of the subject. But it was unclear if officials at Apalachee High School, where the shooting took place and the suspect was a student this year, had been among those informed; the school is in Winder, Ga., in neighboring Barrow County.
The F.B.I., in its statement, said that investigators lacked probable cause to arrest the teenager or take any additional law enforcement action on the local, state or federal levels.
In a separate statement, Janis G. Mangum, the sheriff in Jackson County, said that a thorough investigation was conducted, but that the gaming site threats could not be substantiated.
Ms. Mangum cautioned residents to be careful of posts containing misinformation circulating online. My phone is blowing up with messages from people about social media postings about other possible incidents, she said in a note on Facebook. To my knowledge, there is not a list indicating any of this.
The families of some of the 16 patients who died after contracting bacterial infections at a southern Oregon hospital have sued the facility, accusing it of failing to prevent a nurse from replacing fentanyl in intravenous drips with tap water that caused the infections.
The former nurse, Dani Marie Schofield, was arrested in June and charged with 44 counts of second-degree assault.
Investigators said Ms. Schofield had swapped tap water for liquid fentanyl meant for dozens of patients in the intensive care unit. Instead, they said, the nurse used the powerful painkiller herself. Ms. Schofield, who was 36 at the time of her arrest, has pleaded not guilty.
The lawsuit, which was filed in Jackson County Circuit Court on Tuesday on behalf of the families of nine of the patients who died and nine others who were infected, claims that the hospital, Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center, in Medford, Ore., failed to detect the theft. (Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, is commonly considered a street drug, but it can be legally prescribed and used as an anaesthetic and painkiller in medical settings.)
The great debate microphone muting drama of 2024 has come to a quiet end.
Vice President Kamala Harriss campaign has begrudgingly agreed to have her and former President Donald J. Trumps microphones muted when they are not speaking, a position top Harris officials tried to change last week to give themselves an advantage when the candidates meet onstage next Tuesday.
Brian Fallon, a top Harris aide, wrote on Wednesday to officials at ABC News, which is broadcasting the debate from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, that Ms. Harris will be fundamentally disadvantaged by this format, which will serve to shield Donald Trump from direct exchanges with Ms. Harris.
President Bidens campaign, when he was still running, had insisted on having the microphones muted when the candidates were not speaking as a condition of participating in debates with Mr. Trump. But once Ms. Harris became the Democratic nominee, her aides wanted the microphones unmuted, in an effort to goad Mr. Trump into interrupting Ms. Harris and creating an organic moment for her like when she told Vice President Mike Pence, Im speaking, during a 2020 vice-presidential debate.
Mr. Trump said last week that it doesnt matter to me whether the microphones are muted. Id rather have it probably on, he said. But the agreement was that it would be the same as it was last time.
A top House Republican on Wednesday issued a subpoena to Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, for details about a years-old fraud scheme in his state in which a nonprofit organization used a pandemic-era program aimed at feeding hungry children to steal $250 million.
In a letter demanding documents about the scheme, Representative Virginia Foxx, Republican of North Carolina and the chair of the Education and the Workforce Committee, sought to tie Mr. Walz to the wrongdoing. Mr. Walz was selected just last month as Vice President Kamala Harriss running mate, and the subpoena was the latest sign that House Republicans, who have spent most of the Congress using their majority to investigate and attack President Biden, were pivoting to take aim at the new Democratic ticket.
Ms. Foxx said that Mr. Walz must produce records to show the extent of your responsibilities and actions addressing the massive fraud that resulted in the abuse of taxpayer dollars intended for hungry children.
Minnesotas Education Department, which oversaw the child nutrition program, has already been providing documents for and cooperating with the committee, according to a state official familiar with the case who did not have authorization to comment on it and spoke on condition of anonymity. The official also noted that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which funded the pandemic-era program, refused during the Trump administration to act on the states repeated warnings about the fraud scheme.
Attorney General Ken Paxton of Texas went to court on Wednesday to try to stop county leaders in San Antonio from sending out more than 200,000 voter registration applications to unregistered residents of Bexar County.
The lawsuit by Mr. Paxton followed a letter he sent days earlier warning Bexar County officials, most of whom are Democrats, against proceeding with the mailing. The countys governing commissioners voted 3 to 1 on Tuesday to approve the proposal anyway.
Mr. Paxton has also threated to sue Harris County, which includes the Democratic stronghold of Houston, where officials have been weighing a similar effort to expand the number of registered voters ahead of the registration deadline early next month for the November election.
The suit is the latest chapter in a yearslong conflict over voting and elections in Texas between Republicans, who dominate state government, and Democrats, who control most of the states largest urban areas.
The shooting at Apalachee High School on Wednesday took place in a rural, unincorporated area between the cities of Atlanta and Athens in Georgia.
The school where a 14-year-old student fatally shot four people and injured nine others, according to the authorities is on the edge of Winder, which is home to about 20,000 people. The city is roughly 50 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta and about 25 miles west of Athens.
The area around the school, once largely farmland nestled in the Georgia pines, has been developing rapidly in the last 15 years, as new buildings have cropped up along its winding, two-lane roads, according to Winders mayor, Jimmy Terrell.
Winder is the seat of Barrow County, which has nearly doubled in population to 83,500 since 2000, according to census data.
Winder is a family-oriented, middle-income community with an aging population, Mr. Terrell said. The area has not had a crime of this magnitude since a series of murders in the 1960s and 70s, Mr. Terrell said in a phone interview.
In Winder, about 60 percent of the population is white, about 20 percent is Black and about 15 percent is Latino, according to census figures.The area has grown more diverse in recent years, Mr. Terrell said. The citys median household income is about $57,000, according to the census, and about one in five people in the city have attained a bachelors degree. Barrow County as a whole has a larger share of families with children than other places in Georgia and the United States, according to the data.
The city leans Republican, Mr. Terrell said. In the 2020 presidential election, Donald J. Trump won Barrow County, which surrounds the city, with about 71 percent of the vote.
Apalachee High School opened in 2000, and has about 1,800 students in grades nine through 12.
Robert Gebeloff and Emmett Lindner contributed reporting.
African flags have been flown over Tiananmen Square. Leaders of African nations have been greeted by dancers, honor guards and children waving flags. They have been escorted in extensive motorcades past banners celebrating A Shared Future for China and Africa and giant, elaborate flower arrangements.
China has pulled out all the stops for a gathering of leaders and top officials from more than 50 African nations this week in Beijing, welcoming them with pomp and pageantry. Xi Jinping, Chinas leader, has cast his country as a defender of the developing world, one that can push the West to listen to the voices of poorer nations.
Modernization is an inalienable right of all countries, he told the gathering on Thursday. But the Western approach to it has inflicted immense sufferings on developing countries.
Mr. Xi had hosted a banquet for the visiting officials at the start of the event on Wednesday, after three straight days of back-to-back bilateral talks with nearly two dozen leaders of nations ranging from impoverished Chad to the continental economic powerhouse of Nigeria.
Adam Brodys bar mitzvah was held six months late. It was barely held at all. This was in San Diego, Calif., in the early 1990s, and Brody, who spent most of his free time surfing, attended Hebrew school only under duress. He knew few other Jews.
I wanted long, straight blond hair, he said. All my idols were named Shane.
A decade later, after a cursory stint at community college, an impulsive move to Los Angeles, a handful of television one-offs and a brief arc on Gilmore Girls, Brody became the most famous Jewish (well, half Jewish) high schooler in America. (He was actually 23, which made the fandom a little tricky.) Starring as Seth Cohen on the sun-kissed teen romantic dramedy The O.C., he played a curly-haired heartthrob, responsible for introducing the holiday portmanteau Chrismukkah into the lexicon.
In The Circle, a reality competition show on Netflix, a group of strangers are sequestered for days inside a multistory apartment complex, angling to survive rounds of eliminations to win a cash prize, much like Big Brother. The twist is that the players cant see or hear one another, and must communicate via text people might not be what they seem, and anyone, at any time, could be catfishing.
As it turns out, The Circle has been doing some impersonation of its own, with one sleek setting standing in for a local building across several international versions of the show.
The neon-lit compound which was initially a housing block in Salford, England, before moving, in 2023, to a complex in Atlanta, Georgia has not only been the set for the series flagship American edition, which returns to Netflix for a seventh season on Sept. 11. It has also been used for The Circle Brazil, Frances The Circle Game, the British version of The Circle and its 2020 spinoff The Celebrity Circle. With minimal adjustments, the show can look like its located virtually anywhere in the world.
We need a building with 10 rooms, without noise bleed, that looks great, is in a cool location, and that can house a team of 200 people in the basement, Jack Burgess, an executive producer on The Circle, said in a recent interview. Thats a hard thing to find, so of course you want to make the most of it.
Hunter Biden, the presidents son, pleaded guilty today to nine federal tax charges in Los Angeles. He told his lawyers that he did not want to subject his family to another round of humiliation after his wrenching gun trial in Delaware nearly three months ago.
The dramatic development signaled the final stages of a five-plus-year investigation into the period in which Biden was bankrolling his uncontrollable drug and alcohol addiction through lucrative overseas consulting contracts while not paying his taxes.
The plea exposes Biden, 54, to an outcome that seemed unthinkable last year, when his lawyers were on the cusp of no-prison plea agreement: significant time behind bars. He now faces a maximum prison sentence of up to 17 years or a fine of up to $1.3 million, on top of the possible sentence of 25 years for federal gun charges on which a jury convicted him in June.
President Biden has the power to pardon people convicted of federal crimes. But as his son appeared in court today, the White House press secretary said that the president did not plan to pardon him.
Harriss big business move
After weeks of largely sticking to President Bidens economic agenda, Vice President Kamala Harris has made her first break in policy: scaling back a proposed increase of the capital gains tax.
The moves actual economic effect may be minimal, experts say, but it shows how Harris is seeking to keep a wave of corporate backers on board without alienating her more progressive supporters.
Harris made an explicit pitch to the business community. At a speech in New Hampshire on Wednesday, she proposed raising the capital gains rate for Americans who make more than $1 million a year to 28 percent, far lower than the 39.6 percent that Biden has proposed. We know when the government encourages investment, it leads to broad-based economic growth and it creates jobs, Harris said.
She also introduced a plan to allow new companies to deduct up to $50,000 in start-up expenses, a tenfold increase over an existing tax break.
A fresh jobs report set for release on Friday could mark a turning point for the American economy, making it one of the most important and closely watched pieces of data in years.
The employment numbers will shed crucial light on whether a recent jump in the unemployment rate, which tracks the share of people who are looking for work but have not yet found it, was a blip or the start of a problematic trend.
The jobless rate rose notably in July after a year of creeping higher. If that continued in August, economists are likely to increasingly worry that the United States may be in or nearing the early stages of a recession. But if the rate stabilized or ticked down, as economists forecast, Julys weak numbers are likely to be viewed as a false alarm.
The answer is coming at a pivotal moment, as the Federal Reserve moves toward its first rate cut since the 2020 pandemic.
Saudi Arabia and seven other members of the oil-producing group known as OPEC Plus said on Thursday that they would extend production cuts until at least December, amid recent pressure on oil prices.
The move, which surprised some analysts, is a retreat from plans announced in June to begin unwinding more than two million barrels a day in production cuts, which were intended to help sustain oil prices.
The price of Brent crude, the international benchmark, has fallen roughly 15 percent since July, to around $72 a barrel.
Analysts have attributed the drop in prices to weak demand, especially in China, and anticipation of a continued increase in supplies from countries outside the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries cartel, including Brazil, Canada, Guyana and the United States.
Is it at all like improv? she asks brightly, encouraging us to view the readings through a different lens. Throughout, the films gaze is tender and its tone respectful as Wilson who experienced her first psychic reading the morning after Donald Trump became president interjects rarely and never during a session. Like Orna Guralniks troubled clients in Showtimes Couples Therapy, these brave supplicants willingly expose the demons they struggle to exorcise.
Their stories are often poignant and sometimes traumatic, like the E.R. nurse whos haunted by the memory of a childs violent death. Yet whether its the Chinese adoptee wondering if her birth parents ever think of her, or the young man voicing a similar concern about his re-homed bearded dragon, most appear comforted by their psychics responses, be they intuitive or occult. Though it cant be much fun to learn that your grandmother is still complaining about your husband from beyond the grave.
I was especially moved by the woman who expressed deep distress over her Boston terriers refusal to walk on a leash.
She loves me, right? she asks her psychic, wistfully. Maybe thats the only thing any of us needs to know.
Look Into My Eyes
Rated R for heartbreaking stories and heartwarming connections. Running time: 1 hour 44 minutes. In theaters.
A veteran arrives in a rural town to find his friend. He comes in peace but the police demand submission. Rebel Ridge, written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier, wears its First Blood inspirations as boldly as John Rambo sported a patch of the American flag. That franchise distended into Afghanistan, where Sylvester Stallone machine-gunned the Red Army during the long Soviet war there. But Saulnier (Blue Ruin, Green Room), a specialist in thrillers set in the margins of society, keeps this efficient tale of ethical outrage as simple as a punch to the throat or rather, given its stark cinematography, like a shot of someone patiently walking up to a bully and then punching them in the throat.
The law remains more or less the same as it was 40 years ago, when it didnt strain the audiences credulity to imagine conservative cops loathing a hippie drifter. These Southern officers are nearly all indistinguishable, fatuous men with cropped goatees and dull stares, headed up by a swaggering police chief (Don Johnson) who drawls that he wouldnt cut a guy a break for eee-ternal life and a catfish sandwich.
But today, and with pointed reason, Saulnier has cast Aaron Pierre, a Black actor, as Terry, a former Marine who is simply pedaling a bicycle when he gets stopped and frisked. The officers, played by Emory Cohen and David Denman, confiscate the cash Terrys carrying to bail out his cousin (C.J. LeBlanc) whos been arrested on a weed possession charge, plus a few extra dollars Terry intended to use to buy a new truck. Here, as in the real world, civil forfeiture, the seizure of money or property from people who have not been charged with or convicted of a crime, is extra income for police departments. (Terrys situation, not an uncommon one, mirrors an incident reported in The New York Times in 2021.)
As the school year opens for an American education system facing multiple crises, one education leader is staking out a curious stance. He is sublimely optimistic.
Public schools in the United States lost more than one million students between 2019 and 2022. The deluge of cash relief distributed during the coronavirus pandemic is drying up. And in a politically polarized era, fresh fights over what students learn in class are continuing to emerge.
But David C. Banks, the New York City schools chancellor, whose national profile rose this spring after his unyielding testimony at a House hearing on antisemitism in schools, argues in a recent interview that the state of urban education is not so bad.
A North Carolina man used artificial intelligence to create hundreds of thousands of fake songs by fake bands, then put them on streaming services where they were enjoyed by an audience of fake listeners, prosecutors said.
Penny by penny, he collected a very real $10 million, they said when they charged him with fraud.
The man, Michael Smith, 52, was accused in a federal indictment unsealed on Wednesday of stealing royalty payments from digital streaming platforms for seven years. Mr. Smith, a flesh-and-blood musician, produced A.I.-generated music and played it billions of times using bots he had programmed, according to the indictment.
The supposed artists had names like Callous Post, Calorie Screams and Calvinistic Dust and produced tunes like Zygotic Washstands, Zymotechnical and Zygophyllum that were top performers on Amazon Music, Apple Music and Spotify, according to the charges.
Smith stole millions in royalties that should have been paid to musicians, songwriters, and other rights holders whose songs were legitimately streamed, Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement on Wednesday.
A new school year often means new notebooks, pencils and folders. For some New York City students this year, it means a new school or building, too.
Administrators in the city opened nine new schools and 24 new buildings, some replacing older structures, as public school students returned to class this week.
The changes come as the number of New Yorkers younger than 20 fell by more than 186,000 over three years, according to recent census data analysis, and enrollment in the school system, the nations largest, declined from a decade ago.
But David C. Banks, the citys schools chancellor, has highlighted an influx of migrant children as a bright spot. A spokesman for the Education Department also pointed to the pent-up demand for special programming that the new buildings could provide and new state requirements to gradually shrink class sizes by 2028.
The first test on the first day of the fall semester for public school students in New York City today will not involve reading comprehension or math skills.
It will be the test of getting there: Public school students will be carrying OMNY transit cards for the first time.
Rarely will you read about a case with more heartbreaking facts. In 2021, a 10-year-old girl named Nylah Anderson was viewing videos on TikTok, as millions of people do every day, when the apps algorithm served up a video of the so-called blackout challenge on its For You page. The page suggests videos for users to watch. The blackout challenge encourages people to record themselves as they engage in self-asphyxiation, sometimes to the point of unconsciousness. Nylah saw the challenge, tried it herself and died. She accidentally hanged herself.
The case is horrific and beyond devastating for her family, but it might also lead to meaningful legal reform. Thanks to a key court of appeals ruling, we may be on the verge of imposing some constitutional common sense on Americas social media giants. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, in Philadelphia, held that TikTok could be potentially liable for its own actions if it contributed to Nylahs death, specifically the act of suggesting the video to her, even though she did not ask to see it.
At the heart of the legal dispute is a single question: Who is responsible for Nylahs death? Blaming a 10-year-old is absurd. She was hardly able to understand the risk. Should we blame the person who created the video that she watched? Certainly. An offline analogy might be useful. Imagine that a person walked up to Nylah at school and suggested that she asphyxiate herself. Wed immediately recognize the persons culpability.
But does TikTok have any responsibility? After all, it not only hosted the video. According to the claims in the legal complaint Nylahs mother filed, TikToks algorithm repeatedly put dangerous challenges on Nylahs For You page. To continue with the offline analogy, imagine if an adult walked up to Nylah after school and said, I know you, and I know youll like this video, and then showed her a blackout challenge performed by somebody else.
A bloody shooting spree in California this week left at least 80 animals dead and sent neighbors fleeing to safety in the middle of the night, the authorities said.
A man, Vicente Joseph Arroyo of Salinas, was taken into custody after he fired multiple weapons in a vineyard in Prunedale over a three-hour period on Tuesday, the Monterey County Sheriffs Office said in a news release. Prunedale is an unincorporated community in Monterey County, about 100 miles south of San Francisco.
Just before 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday, the sheriffs office responded to calls of multiple shots being fired, and soon issued a shelter-in-place order for residents within a five-mile radius.
Various calibers of weapons could be heard being fired in an area that was extremely dark and covered in thick vegetation, the news release said. This made it difficult for deputies to immediately locate the person or persons responsible for firing the weapons.
When Gov. Brian Kemp signed a law in 2022 that allowed most Georgia residents to carry a firearm without a concealed carry permit, he celebrated the expansion of gun rights in the state.
The law makes sure that law abiding Georgians including our daughters and your family, too can protect themselves without having to ask permission from state government, he said at the time.
Republicans in control of state government have steadily loosened restrictions on firearm ownership in recent years. The state does not have universal background checks for gun purchases, safe storage laws or a so-called red-flag law measures that have been instituted elsewhere in the nation in response to gun violence.
It remains unclear how the 14-year-old suspect in the Apalachee High School shooting obtained the weapon, which the police have described as an AR-15-style rifle.
The anonymous tips were sent to the F.B.I. last May from as far away as Australia, warning that a user on Discord, a social media platform, had threatened in a chat group to possibly shoot up a middle school. The authorities were led to a 13-year-old living in Jackson County, Ga.
A report from the Jackson County sheriffs office, obtained by The New York Times, detailed how investigators looked into but were unable to definitively link those threats to the teen, who is now in custody after a shooting on Wednesday morning at his high school in Winder, Ga. He is accused of killing two students and two teachers.
Hours after the shooting, the F.B.I. disclosed that law enforcement had investigated the online threat, which was made in May 2023. But the report from the sheriffs office reveals more about how the authorities were able to trace the post to the teenager, and why after interviewing the boy and his father they did not take further action, other than a warning to his middle school.
According to the report, the F.B.I. received several tips from users with internet addresses in Palmdale, Calif., Los Angeles and Cockburn, a city in Western Australia, which included the posts made in a group chat on Discord. The email associated with the account belonged to Colt Gray, the teen accused of the shooting at his school.
The investigators found that the username on the Discord account had been written in Russian. Translation of the Russian letters spells out the name Lanza, the investigator wrote in his report, noting that it was the surname of the perpetrator of the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in which 20 students and six teachers were killed.
In interviews with investigators, both Mr. Gray and his father, Colin Gray, said that they did not speak Russian, and the boy denied that he had been the author of the threats. He said that he had previously had a Discord account, but had deleted it, claiming he had been repeatedly hacked and was afraid someone would use his information for nefarious purposes, an investigator wrote.
The deadliest episode of school violence in Georgias history could have ended with even more bloodshed, if not for the schools newly installed security systems, according to law enforcement officials.
The Wednesday shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga., killed two teachers and two students, and injured at least nine others. But the gunman may have been stopped from taking more lives after a staff member appeared to activate an alarm that triggered a police response, officials said.
All teachers at the school were equipped with an ID badge on a lanyard that had a panic button, which alerts the police to an active threat, according to the authorities. The badges can also initiate a schoolwide lockdown when activated, according to Centegix, the company that makes them.
The alert system can send both administrators and responders details on the floor and classroom where the staff member sends up the alarm, and it operates outside of a school Wi-Fi network, according to Centegix.
British prosecutors have dropped a case against Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced movie mogul, just two years after authorizing indecent assault charges against him.
In a statement on Thursday, the Crown Prosecution Service said that, following a review of the evidence, it had decided to halt the proceedings against Mr. Weinstein.
Frank Ferguson, head of the services special crime and counterterrorism division, said in the statement that there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.
We have explained our decision to all parties, he added.
On Thursday, a spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service said in an email that the service would not be giving any further details of the reasoning behind the decision.
Hector Reyes parked his truck in the Mexican border town of Ciudad Juarez, his phone lighting up with photos and videos of his son Daniel receiving his high school diploma.
The ceremony was happening only a mile away in El Paso. But Mr. Reyes had been deported in 2017 and barred for 20 years from entering the United States for having twice illegally crossed the border.
His wife and two children, all American citizens, have made a life in El Paso, while Mr. Reyes lives eight blocks from the border. He recalled looking up at the sky on the night of the graduation in May, waiting to see the fireworks that would mark the end of his sons high school years.
This life, he said, I dont wish it to nobody.
Families like Mr. Reyess have been closely watching a new Biden administration policy that aims to provide a pathway to citizenship for the undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens. Though the initial program was not open to people living outside the country, the families said it was a first sign that there was an openness to reconsidering their plight. The deported spouses understood it to be a long shot, but perhaps their only chance of overcoming lifetime or decades-long bans from coming to the United States.
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken visited Haiti on Thursday in a display of American support for international efforts to wrest the nation from the grip of tyrannical violent gangs.
After reviewing a fleet of U.S.-provided military armored vehicles and a line of Kenyan police officers who are leading an international security mission in the country, Mr. Blinken expressed hope about Haitis future. But he also said there remained an enormous amount of work to be done.
The Kenyan officers, clad in green-and-black fatigues, arrived in Haiti this summer as part of a United Nations-authorized mission. Its mandate is to support the Haitian police as they combat the gangs, which have subjected large areas of the Caribbean nation to brutal rule enforced by torture, rape and murder.
Overshadowed by crises in the Middle East and Europe, Haitis collapse into criminal anarchy is among the most intractable problems faced by the Biden administration and the international community.
As Debbie Mucarsel-Powell revved up the Democratic faithful in a restaurant named for Thomas Edison, she was looking for a little electricity in her campaign to unseat Senator Rick Scott of Florida.
So she turned the attention of the crowd at Edisons Lab Restaurant and Bar in Fort Myers, where the inventor had a winter estate and laboratory, to the abortion referendum in Florida that could decide the fate of her bid.
The man has never run in a presidential election when our voters turn out, she said of Mr. Scott. Perhaps more important, she added to the boisterous crowd, he has never run against the millions of women and men that are ready to come out to the ballot box to protect reproductive freedom.
Ms. Mucarsel-Powell, a former medical school dean who was swept into the U.S. House by the 2018 blue wave, and then swept right back out two years later, is an underdog. Mr. Scott, a wealthy fixture of Florida politics who served for eight years as governor, has the high ground in the red-tinted state as he seeks his second term in the Senate.
Vice President Kamala Harris is turning to tax policy as a way to differentiate herself from both her Republican rival and her Democratic boss, an attempt to simultaneously project a more moderate image and stand by the soak-the-rich populism that animates much of her party.
During a campaign stop in New Hampshire on Wednesday, Ms. Harris for the first time explicitly said she would scale back one of President Bidens policy proposals. Instead of taxing the investment earnings of Americans making more than $1 million a year at a 39.6 percent rate, as Mr. Biden has suggested, she called for 28 percent, though a surtax would apply on top of that.
Raising taxes on the rich has long been a central talking point for Mr. Biden and other Democrats, and while Ms. Harris has said she would increase taxes on the wealthy, the capital-gains adjustment was a message to investors and corporate executives: Ms. Harris is a different type of Democratic nominee.
Mr. Biden, who defeated progressives like Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont in the 2020 primary, still embraced some of their ideas for taxing the wealthy. The plans largely targeted the investment earnings of the very rich, including a so-called billionaire minimum tax that would require Americans worth at least $100 million to pay taxes on unrealized gains of their stocks, bonds and other assets.
The United States expanded its hunt on Thursday for Russias most elite cyberwarriors, indicting five members of the countrys military intelligence agency for attacks on Ukraine and American companies in the run-up to the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The State Department and American allies also offered a reward of up to $60 million for their arrests; the reward for Osama bin Laden and other leaders of Al Qaeda after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks was $25 million.
The attacks, known as Whisper Gate, on Ukraines government agencies, NATO countries and American firms were essentially the opening salvos in the invasion of Ukraine. They were intended to cripple the government, bring down a major satellite communications network and scare off NATO nations from coming to Kyivs aid. But the attacks were countered by U.S. Cyber Command and firms like Microsoft, Google and Amazon, who moved the operations of the Ukrainian government to the cloud and kept the country running in a remarkable digital defense operation.
The Whisper Gate attack in January of 2022 could be considered the first shot of the war, said William J. DelBagno, the F.B.I.s special agent in charge of the Baltimore field office. The cybercriminals sent a message with their malware to, quote, be afraid and expect the worst. A month later, Russia physically invaded the country.
A federal judge placed a temporary hold on another component of President Bidens student debt relief plan on Thursday, siding with a coalition of seven Republican states that filed a lawsuit to halt the program on Tuesday.
The ruling comes as yet another blow to the presidents student debt relief agenda after the Supreme Court upheld a similar hold on the SAVE program, the centerpiece of his strategy to cancel tens of millions of dollars in student debt.
The plan at issue in Thursdays ruling is meant to cancel debt for as many as 27 million borrowers who saw interest on their loans balloon over time, or who were still paying off loans after at least 20 years.
Even though the policy was not scheduled to go into effect until the fall, the states bringing the lawsuit argued that they had obtained evidence that the Education Department had notified federal contractors to immediately begin canceling some balances.
A federal judge declared at a court hearing on Thursday that she would not let former President Donald J. Trumps campaign for the White House affect the schedule of the criminal case in which he stands accused of plotting to overturn the 2020 election.
Hours later, the judge, Tanya S. Chutkan, fulfilled that vow by setting a schedule for the matter that moved speedily ahead and opened the possibility that prosecutors could make public more of the evidence they hope to use against Mr. Trump at trial in a court filing before Election Day.
Judge Chutkan established a series of deadlines for filings from both sides to assess the impact of several legal issues on the case, including the Supreme Courts recent ruling granting Mr. Trump some immunity from criminal prosecution for official actions he took as president.
After an occasionally tense proceeding in Federal District Court in Washington, Judge Chutkan set a date of Sept. 26 for prosecutors in the office of the special counsel, Jack Smith, to submit an opening brief to her on the question of immunity. In that brief, prosecutors intend to set out the evidence they plan to use at trial and arguments for why none of that material or any of the allegations in their newly revised indictment of Mr. Trump is subject to the standards set for presidential immunity by the Supreme Court.
The Biden administration has spent the past three years promoting a policy of friend-shoring, which aims to contain China and Russia by forging closer ties with U.S. allies like Europe and Japan.
That policy appears to stop at the state lines of Pennsylvania.
As the administration nears a decision to block the proposed acquisition of the Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel by Japans Nippon Steel, the traditional debate over national security and economic security is being dwarfed by a more powerful force: presidential politics.
Legal experts, Wall Street analysts and economists expressed concern about the precedent that would be set if President Biden uses executive power to block a company from an allied nation from buying an American business. They warn that scuttling the $15 billion transaction would be an extraordinary departure from the nations culture of open investment one that could lead international corporations to reconsider their U.S. investments.
This was a purely political decision, and one that stomps on the Biden administrations stated focus on building alliances among like-minded countries to advance the economic competition with China, said Christopher B. Johnstone, a senior adviser and the Japan chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. At the end of the day, it represents pure protectionism that draws no apparent distinction between our friends and our adversaries.
After Boko Haram fighters threatened them, they could not risk staying. Over a decade, the extremist group had killed tens of thousands of people in the cross-border scrubland around them. So the residents of Mafa, a village in northeast Nigerias Yobe State, fled in terror.
About two weeks after that evacuation in late July, according to a village leader, a local official told them it was safe to go back.
The government assured us that everything is OK and nothing is going to happen, said Mai-Bano Kanembu, the community head of Mafa.
The official named by Mr. Kanembu denies encouraging villagers to return. But return they did.
It was a catastrophic decision that ended last Sunday in fighters killing dozens of villagers, mostly men and boys, and burning Mafa to the ground. At least 170 people were killed, according to Mr. Kanembu and Ibrahim Hassan, a local farmer who helped recover the bodies, and more are missing. A statement listing purported grievances against the village was left at the scene in the name of Islamic State West Africa Province, known as ISWAP, a Boko Haram splinter group.
The Maori of New Zealand named a new monarch on Thursday, selecting a 27-year-old queen in a symbolic but weighty role as some of the Indigenous groups hard-fought rights have been rolled back.
Nga Wai Hono i te Po succeeds her father, Kiingi Tuheitia, who died last week after 18 years as king and was laid to rest in funeral rites that ended Thursday. The new queen, his youngest daughter, is the eighth Maori monarch since the role was created in 1858 to unite the tribes as European settlers encroached.
She was chosen by Maori leaders and introduced on Thursday in a ceremony before thousands gathered for Kiingi Tuheitias last rites, the Kiingitanga, the Maori King Movement, said in a statement.
Live footage of the ceremony carried on Radio New Zealand, the public broadcaster, showed her taking her place on a wooden throne with intricate carvings, next to her fathers coffin, amid cheers from the crowd and with some in attendance wiping away tears.
The case of a former mayor of a small town in the Philippines who is accused of working with organized crime and has been questioned about whether she was born in China has gripped the country for months. This week, she was arrested in Indonesia after fleeing, the Philippine authorities said, and faced extradition.
In March, the police searched an online gambling operation at an office in the town of Bamban where the accused former mayor, Alice Guo, was still in office and said in statements that the gambling company was a front for online scams and human trafficking.
Philippine senators questioned Ms. Guo in May at a hearing about accusations that she had ties to organized crime. They also asked whether she had misled the authorities about being a natural born citizen, a requirement for holding public office in the Philippines.
Ms. Guo and her lawyer could not immediately be reached for comment on Thursday. She has previously rejected all accusations of wrongdoing and said that she is a natural born citizen of the Philippines.
Yagi formed as a tropical cyclone on Sunday in the Philippine Sea. In the Philippines, it dumped about 10 inches of rain this week, killing at least 13 people, displacing tens of thousands and damaging hundreds of homes, according to the Philippine government.
The China Meteorological Administration warned residents of a risk of floods and storm surges and raised the emergency response to the second-highest level. Guangdong Province issued the highest-level emergency warning.
Some towns in Hainan were expected to receive more than four inches of rain in the next 24 hours, the provincial meteorological bureau said on Thursday. The province suspended all trains and boats on Thursday, and canceled all flights that had been scheduled at Haikou Meilan International Airport from Thursday evening to Friday night.
Haikou, the capital of the island province of Hainan, ordered all nonessential services, businesses, public transportation, markets, schools and construction sites closed on Thursday. The authorities in Zhanjiang, a city in Guangdong, ordered similar closures ahead of the storms arrival.
Swedish public health authorities recommended this week that children under the age of 2 should not use any digital media, as parents, pediatricians and governments struggle to respond to the challenges of todays tech-soaked world.
We have to take back control, said Jakob Forssmed, the minister of social affairs and public health, and give children the ability to have a different kind of childhood.
The intention of Swedens policy and others like it is to cut down on distractions, promote healthy development and help preserve the innocence of childhood. But some experts wonder if the guidance however well-intentioned may be too unrealistic and too judgmental to stick.
Heres an overview of the debate.
What are Swedens recommendations?
There are four main categories to Swedens new screen-time recommendations:
Duration. No screens for children under 2, an hour maximum for children aged 2 to 5, two hours for children aged 6 to 12 and three hours for teens.
Hours before families in Gaza lined up on Thursday to start the second phase of an emergency polio vaccination campaign, a deadly Israeli airstrike hit near a hospital in an area where a previous round of inoculations had just concluded.
Health officials have heralded the vaccination program, which began on Sunday and is built around a deal by Israel and Hamas for brief pauses in hostilities, as an unexpected success in the early going. The World Health Organization said the first phase, in the central Gaza Strip, finished on Wednesday and the second, in southern Gaza, began Thursday.
But the limited nature of those pauses was highlighted by the strike overnight, which killed four people and wounded a number of others, including women and children, according to Wafa, the Palestinian Authoritys official news agency. Witnesses said it landed in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah, where displaced civilians had taken shelter.
Five Palestinians were killed by an Israeli airstrike on their vehicles early Thursday, Palestinian news media said, as one of the longest and most destructive recent Israeli military raids in the occupied West Bank stretched into a ninth day across several cities.
Wafa, the Palestinian Authoritys official news agency, reported the deaths, in the town of Fara. They added to the toll of an already devastating military offensive, with at least 39 people killed in the raids and 145 others injured, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
The Israeli military said the strike in Fara targeted armed fighters who hurled explosives and shot at security forces. It has described the raids as an effort to crack down on Palestinian armed groups and combat rising attacks against Israelis.
Such raids have become a near-daily reality for the nearly three million Palestinians who live under Israeli occupation in the West Bank. More than 600 Palestinians have been killed there since the Hamas-led attack on Israel last October, both in military strikes and at the hands of extremist Jewish settlers, according to the United Nations.
No state is more coveted by Donald Trump and Kamala Harris than Pennsylvania, since their best strategies for an Electoral College victory hinge on winning it. With polls showing a tied race there, we spoke with 12 Pennsylvanians for our new Times Opinion focus group: voters who supported Joe Biden or Mr. Trump in 2020 and are not hard-core partisans.
While the group leaned toward Ms. Harris, her support was pretty soft. Few of the participants could articulate a strong argument to vote for her on her merits. They are eager for a candidate to rally behind, given their worries about the country, especially the economy, but they havent heard enough specifics from her about how she would lower costs.
It feels like break my arm or break my leg, George, a 63-year-old 2020 Biden voter, said of his choices. He was open to considering Mr. Trump but added, I just cant fathom voting for a felon who says on Day 1 that hes going to be a dictator and has a list of 5,000 people who are going to be replaced in the government. At the same time, I see how liberal she was and how she has flip-flopped. You want to talk about fracking in Pennsylvania? Were all from fracking.
Those who liked Mr. Trump saw him as a businessman, while those who leaned against him thought of him as a child. That suggests that the Harris team may be onto something by making him seem small rather than a big threat. Ms. Harris is viewed as fairly unknown and untested. I dont feel like Ive seen Harris throughout Bidens presidency. So shes just OK, said Lania, a 34-year-old 2020 Biden voter. Kay, a 61-year-old Biden voter, said Ms. Harris was almost nonexistent in the last four years.
The risk to Ms. Harris is that voters like Lania and Kay wont be committed voters by Election Day, while the risk to Mr. Trump is that his history puts him beyond the pale, as George indicated. The economy and, to some degree, abortion look like the driving issues in Pennsylvania, and Mr. Trump had the edge in our group on economic issues, while Ms. Harris was way ahead on reproductive rights.
4 p.m. Climb to a high perch
Look at the grand shoreline, tiny islands and rugged rocky ledge known as the Niagara Escarpment from the best spot possible: the top of the Eagle Tower, a wooden structure that offers panoramic views 250 feet above the waters of Green Bay, an inlet of Lake Michigan. The tower, in Peninsula State Park, has stood in some form for more than a century; it was originally a spot to watch for wildfires, but was later opened up to visitors. Rebuilt in 2021, it now offers an invigorating 100-step climb to the summit and it is newly accessible to visitors with disabilities, who can ascend to the top on an 850-foot-long zigzagging ramp. The name of the tower is no accident: Keep an eye out for bald eagles.
The world is full of stinky cheeses, but according to a team of researchers from Cranfield University, Frances Vieux Boulogne is the stinkiest of them all.
Limburger, Munster, Epoisses de Bourgogne, or Brie de Meaux are only some of the cheeses famous as much for their pungent aroma as for their taste, but the unofficial title of worlds stinkiest cheese goes to a French delicacy called Vieux Boulogne. Two decades ago, scientists at Cranfield University north of London tested 15 of the worlds stinkiest cheeses to determine which of them had the worst smell. They used human sniffers as well as a computer-linked electronic nose to rank the odor of the cheeses and determined that Vieux Boulogne was by far the stinkiest.
Photo: Les Produits Laitiers
Vieux Boulogne is an unpasteurized, unpressed artisanal cheese made from cows milk. Developed in 1982 by Antoine Bernard and Philippe Olivier, the square-shaped-cheese quickly became famous for its pungent aroma described by Cranfield University academics as a mix of body odor and cow dung. It stinks so bad that it is banned from being eaten on public transport in France.
Surprisingly, Vieux Boulogne cheese has a smooth, mellow taste that doesnt match its smell at all. Thats because its not the cheese itself that causes people to turn up their noses, but the orange rind around it. During the two months it spends maturing in cellars around the town of Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France, Vieux Boulogne cheeses are washed with beer, which gives them their signature orange look and aroma. Apparently, the interaction between bacteria in the beer and the cows milk enzymes creates this pungent smell that Vieux Boulogne is famous for.
After their 2004 cheese smell test, scientists at Cranfield University performed a second test in 2007, using a more advanced electronic nose. Vieux Boulogne retained its title and hasnt given it up since.
For more interesting cheeses, check out the worlds hardest cheese, and Milbenkase, a cheese infested with live mites.
Chinese authorities are investigating the case of an elderly man who died 13 days after having 23 teeth extracted and 12 implants inserted on the same day at a dental clinic.
Ms. Shu, a resident of Yongkang City, in Chinas Zhejiang Province, recently filed a complaint with the Municipal Health Bureau against a local dental clinic after her fathers death. The woman presented evidence that her parent had had 23 teeth extracted and 12 new teeth implanted in a single session, which she claims caused his untimely demise 13 days later. Ms. Shu told authorities that her father suffered agonizing pain throughout the last 13 days of his life, before suffering a fatal heart attack on August 28. Now the woman wants those responsible to be brought to justice.
According to the patient consent form, Ms Shus father did in fact get 23 of his natural teeth extracted before having 12 holes drilled into his skull and mandible to have new teeth implanted. All of this was done in a single day, which meant he had to endure unimaginable pain after the anesthesia wore off. Although the number of extractions seems a bit excessive for a single session, a spokesperson for the clinic where the procedure was carried out said that the number of teeth that can be removed at one time needs to be determined by the doctor in a face-to-face consultation based on the patients physical condition.
According to Dewei Dental Hospital records, the 23 extractions were carried out by a doctor named Yuan, whose specialties include root canal treatment, removal of impacted wisdom teeth, and full dentures. Although there is currently no specific regulation on the number of teeth to be extracted in a single session, the clinic and the doctor must take into consideration the patients pain tolerance and the risk of infection.
The more teeth you extract, the greater the patients pain response and the greater the probability of postoperative infection, Xiang Guolin, director of the Oral Medicine Center of Wuhan Fourth Hospital, told The Paper.
An investigation in this case is currently underway, but a representative of the Municipal Health Bureau told journalists that proving causality could prove difficult, considering that the mans death occurred 13 days after the controversial procedure.
MI State Wants to Tout Economic Impact Thu., Oct. 3, 2024 Michigan State University wants bids from PR and communications firms to promote its University Research Corridor alliance with the University of Michigan and Wayne State University.
I am shocked that the former Russia Today is not a legit media outlet but rather a shady Kremlin propaganda tool that is spreading dis/misinformation in the US.
According to the Justice Dept., two RT staffers funneled cash to US-based right-wing pro-Trump influencers to whip up fear about an invasion of immigrants from the southern border, promote American isolationism, undermine support for Ukraine and boost the image of the Mango Mussolini.
Those influencers on the Russian take are the same phonies who chant USA, USA at the drop of a dime.
The Justice Dept. indictment alleges that the Kremlin funneled $10M to Tennessee-based Tenet Media, home of YouTube and social media commentators who reach millions of Americans, to do its dirty work.
Tenet is unnamed in the document but is described as a network of heterodox commentators that focus on Western political and cultural issues. Thats what the firm calls itself on its website.
Moscow denies the Justice Dept.s charges. Russian leader Vladimir Putin wants to know why in the world he would want to float pro-Trump stories in the US.
Putin said he supports Kamala Harris for US president. Boy, that guy is good at the propaganda game.
Best future for US Steel is with Nippon Steel... As a proud former member of the Service Employees International Union, Im a strong advocate for organized labor. Unions are part of the family's heritage. My dad was a long-time member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Despite that background, I believe the United Steelworkers Union opposition to Nippon Steels $14B takeover of US Steel is a reflexive and short-sighted decision.
Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are making political points by opposing the deal. They apparently have bought the USUs line that the transaction is nothing but bad news for its membership.
Thats too bad because the opposite is true.
USS has been in long decline, posting years of losses up until 2020. Clocking in at No. 24, It barely cracks the world's Top 25 steelmaker roster.
Nippon Steel is the globes No. 4 steelmaker. Nucor Corp, a minimill operation, is Americas biggest steelmaker, ranking No. 16 on the global list
Nippon Steel has promised to invest $2.7B to keep US Steels older mills in operation. Thats money that USS simply doesnt have.
USS CEO David Burritt has threatened to close those mills in the event the Nippon Steel deal falls apart.
Instead of dealing with that reality, the USU took a shot at Burritt.
His reckless statements and mismanagement are the only true obstacles to U.S. Steel remaining a sustainable steel company, the union said in a statement.
Burritt isnt bluffing.
USS, which chalked up a strong of losses prior to 2020, has a history of shutting plants. It recently shuttered portions of its mills near Detroit and St. Louis, moves that threw 4K unionized workers off the payroll.
Nippons investment plan includes a $1B upgrade to USS Mon Valley Works so it remains open for business for future Pennsylvania steelworkers. USS had cancelled its Mon Valley investment.
President Biden has deemed USS an asset that is vital to the security of the US.
But Japan is not China. It the worlds No. 3 economy and Americas top ally in Asia.
How can the US ask Japan to step up its defense spending to counter the military threat to China, and then turn around and deny it the right to to serve as a custodian for USS? That's being two-faced. Rejection of the Nippon Steel would be bad news for the USU, and Americas foreign policy.
Unfortunately, the Nippon/USS situation has been caught up in presidential politics. Pennsylvania is a must-win state for both Harris and Trump. Let the pandering begin.
The best way out of the political mess is for Nippon Steel to put a pause on its effort to take over USS until the next president actually makes it to the White House and the loser concedes the election.
Cooler heads would then prevail.
ODwyers Free Speech Champion Award Goes to Michael Roth, Wesleyan University president, for welcoming nonviolent protests that do not disrupt normal university operations on his campus.
He believes the civic mission of universities is to help students develop character traits that would make them better citizens. The last thing any university should want is an apolitical campus, he wrote in a guest essay in the New York Times on September 2.
Roth believes protests should be more than just rhyming chants. They should encourage a person to inquire about how different people feel about issues.
The classic liberal approach to freedom of expression underscores that discussions are valuable only when people are able to disagree, listen to opposing views, change their minds, he wrote.
Protests can help people break out of their silos of like-mindedness that is the root for much of the hyper-partisanship and polarization that infects American society.
Roth is right.
Dept. of Sweet Irony A memo from Donald Trumps campaign braintrust that banned chatting with the press gets leaked to NBC News.
Campaign chairs Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita informed underlings that they shouldnt speak or communicate with the press, on or off the record, unless they received authorization from the top.
The duo's memo praised Team Trump for doing a great job at preventing leaks because everyone knows what the policy is and what we expect from everyone. Oh well, maybe not everybody, Susie and Chris.
You can bet the great mole hunt is on at Trumps campaign HQ for the rat that leaked the memo to the parent of 24/7 Trump-bashing MSNBC.
A double dose of sweet irony.
A new Deputy Principal has been appointed to a secondary school in Offaly
Colaiste Naomh Cormac has announced the appointment of their new Deputy Principal, Mr. Mark Lyons.
An Offaly native, Mark hails from Belmont in the west of the county. Mark holds an Arts degree from Maynooth University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from the University of Limerick.
He has also earned a Postgraduate Diploma and a Master's degree in Education Leadership and Management from Maynooth University.
Additionally, he has experience working with Oide, a support service which provides professional development and support to teachers and schools.
Most recently Mark has been a teacher of Maths and Business in Ard Scoil Chiarain Naofa, Clara, where he had been actively involved in various extra-curricular activities.
His experience in school leadership and management is extensive, having been appointed as Assistant Principal and Acting Deputy Principal in Clara.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, Mark said, I am delighted to have been appointed Deputy Principal of CNC Kilcormac and look forward to working closely with the Principal , the dedicated staff, enthusiastic students, and the entire school community. I recognise the vital role CNC Kilcormac plays in the local community and aim to strengthen and build upon the strong relationships between the school and its surroundings.
I am also eager to advance the educational pathways and opportunities for CNC Kilcormac students and am excited about contributing to the school's future.
The Principal, Victoria Guinan, the staff and the whole school community are delighted to welcome Mark to Colaiste Naomh Cormac and look forward to Marks contribution to the continued success of the school.
The community of Borrisokane this morning are rejoicing after it was confirmed that a government decision to transfer six asylum seeker families, who have been living in the town since 2019, to alternative accommodation in Birr will not go ahead.
A protest march of several hundred people was held in the town yesterday evening and was attended by a Tipperary TD and local Councillors supporting the campaign against the decision.
Labour TD Alan Kelly was scathing in his criticism of the decision, adding that Borrisokane should be held up as a blueprint for other towns about how integration can be successful.
The decision to proceed with their eviction from the Riverside accommodation complex in Borrisokane to emergency accommodation at a former nursing home in Birr has been paused.
19 asylum seeker families have been living in the town since 2019 after they were granted asylum status, but face losing their residence in International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation.
Six of the families were due to be moved today and the 13 remaining families over the coming weeks and months - depending on when their asylum status had been granted. 30 of the residents are children who attend local schools and are members of local sporting teams.
Local Parish Priest, Father Tom O'Halloran addressed the crowd at last night's demonstration and a letter from local GP, Dr. Ruari Glynn, described the government's decision as "unethical and morally wrong" and said many of the people living in Borrisokane suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after fleeing life threatening situations in their homelands.
Councillor Joe Hannigan addresses the large crowd outside the Rviverside Apartments in Borrisokane. Photo: D. Keegan
Local Independent Councillor, Joe Hannigan, told the crowd at last night's demonstration that Minister for Integration, Roderic O'Gorman, needs to sit down with the owners of the building and find a solution.
This morning Deputy Alan Kelly told RTE that Mr OGorman had been in touch with him to confirm that the proposed transfer of six families from Borrisokane to Birr would not go ahead and the department would "redouble its efforts" to find alternative accommodation for them in the Borrisokane area with the assistance of the local authority.
"Im glad the Minister and the Government saw sense on this matter and that any evictions of these residents will not now go ahead and they will work on soluctions to allow them to stay", he told RTE.
"The heavy-handed tactics treating these families and children in this way was never on and Borrisokane should be embraced as one of the best examples of integration in the country."
In a statement released to all Tipperary TDs, Mr OGorman said that his department understands the challenges that exist for people moving on from the International Protection system in accessing alternative accommodation in the community.
Tthe department will work with the remaining families at Riverside IPAS centre, Tipperary County Council and local community groups and representatives, to find suitable alternative accommodation for these families, the Minister said.
When the accommodation is found it is important the Riverside IPAS centre continues to be used to provide much needed accommodation for people seeking International Protection, he added.
THERE was a touch of stardust in Kinnitty when former Oasis Drummer Tony McCarroll visited on Saturday evening.
There was a very warm welcome for Tony where a blue plaque was unveiled in his honour at the Parish Hall beside the Catholic Church, and the Hall was afterwards packed out for a Q & A between Tony and his lifelong friend John McFadden.
The elegant and beautiful plaque featured crossed drumsticks at its top and stated, Tony McCarroll Founding member of Oasis - First pre-Oasis public performance, at Kinnitty Parish Hall, circa 1980 - Anthony (Tony) McCarroll (born 4 June 1971) drummer with Oasis from 1991 to April 1995. Tony played on their debut album, 'Definitely Maybe', selling over 8,000,000 albums worldwide, and on 'Some Might Say', Oasis' first number one single.
Cllr John Clendennen, who organised Saturday evening's event, along with John McFadden, said this was a great occasion when the village honoured one of its own. We first mooted the idea of erecting a plaque in Tony's honour back in 2019. He said it was only coincidental that the event was coinciding with the selling of tickets for the Oasis concerts in Croke Park next year.
Cllr Clendennen said he would like to see more blue plaques in the village and parish commemorating famous people from the area. For example, the famous Hollywood Director Rex Ingram was from the village. Nine years ago we held a big event commemorating Rex Ingram. There are also a number of GAA and sporting people who should be commemorated.
The Councillor said Tony couldn't have been nicer throughout this project. You couldn't meet a more relaxed fella than Tony.
He also praised John McFadden. This evening was John's brainchild, he remarked.
The plaque was then unveiled in front of a crush of photographers, a number of them national media.
The Oasis drummer attended the local primary school and has family members living in the village.
He told the gathering that he was very proud to have a plaque unveiled in his honour.
He said he gave his first public performance in the school nativity in Kinnitty parish hall during which he played the drums, with another young boy playing the tin whistle. They performed Silent Night.
"It must have sounded ridiculous but the village have never forgotten that, nor my connection with the village, he remarked. They saw the success with the band, but now theyve recognised me and the band, theyve brought me back and unveiled this Blue Plaque and it's an absolute honour."
John McFadden said they invited the drummer to the village because his roots are in Kinnitty.
"Tonys aunt and my mother went to Manchester, then Tonys mother Bridie followed them over and met his dad Anthony, and their first born child was Tony McCarroll."
The family moved to Kinnitty for a few years and it was during that period that he performed for the first time ever (in the Parish Hall).
Despite the difficult period he went through when his drumming was criticised and he was asked to leave the band, Tony looks back on his time with Oasis with affection and nostalgia, pointing out that they were five lads from Manchester who grew up on council estates within a two mile radius of each other.
We had a dream of becoming successful, we worked hard, did lots of rehearsals and managed to achieve the dream.
Asked about the frustration with Oasis ticket prices, as 800,000 people scrambled to buy tickets for next year's two Croke Park concerts, and the associated accusations of price gouging, Tony defended the band, pointing out that he had been wondering if the rising ticket prices over the weekend (going from 86 to over 400) had even been down to the band.
I dont think it is, Ive never seen prices like that. It isnt any of my business I suppose, but between promoters, this, that and the other, who knows whats going on behind the scenes.
"We havent seen the line up yet, Ive got a feeling theres going to be some amazing bands on that line up. They [the tickets] are a little bit expensive, considering, back in my day, to be in Oasis and selling the tickets for a pittance we really did think about the fans. After seeing the statement issued by Oasis last night in relation to reselling tickets, I believe the band is on the fans' side.
"When tickets roll onto certain websites for triple, six times or more, I dont think thats fair. There really should be some control over that."
After leaving Oasis in April 1995, Tony continued with music by opening a little studio for "latchkey kids" in Manchester teaching them drums, keyboards, guitar, singing and dj-ing. "There was one guy who came out of there and he joined up with Shaun Ryder of the Happy Mondays. He actually plays with his other band called Black Grape. So there was a success story that did come from there."
John McFadden pointed out that the former Oasis drummer is the first person who has had a plaque or any kind of similar acknowledgement in Kinnitty. He's really, really proud, and we're really proud that he's been attached to this village. We're talking about somebody who made an album that sold over eight million copies worldwide. So, for Kinnitty to be attached to an artist of that calibre and proud of it, we're just really, really proud.
Two recent deals in Sierra Leone and Malawi underline the continuing role of Chinese telecommunications in general, and tech giant Huawei in particular, in the ongoing digital development of the African market.
The Government of Sierra Leone has signed a US$50 million agreement with Chinese state-owned global trading company and engineering firm China National Technical Import & Export Corporation to establish a SMART Sierra Leone Project.
As news service the Sierra Leone Telegraph explains, the three main objectives of the SMART Sierra Leone Project are: to expand internet connectivity to over 400,000 previously unconnected citizens; to establish national data centres to manage and protect sovereign data; and to enhance security measures around critical state infrastructure in the capital, Freetown.
There has also been an agreement with Huawei Group for a Digital Village Project, which will be based in Tormabum, in the south of the country.
The aim of this project is to provide farmers and community members with access to vital online information that will improve agricultural yield and expand market opportunities.
A similar project is to be undertaken by Malawi, which has announced plans to launch a Smart Village Initiative, again working with Huawei. This effort, according to the government, seeks to bring digital transformation to rural areas across the country, improving connectivity and access to digital services.
An aim of the plan is to establish technical training centres in rural areas to provide young people with necessary digital skills such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and smart agriculture solutions.
The Smart Village Blueprint, which serves as the project's foundation, is intended to be a tool for improving access to the internet in rural and isolated communities.
Service provider Ooredoo Qatar has announced the successful completion of its trial of Wi-Fi 7 technology. The trial was completed on fibre-to-the-room (FTTR) devices for the first time in the region. The company plans to launch the technology in 2024.
Ooredoo explains that Wi-Fi 7 is set to redefine the internet landscape by enhancing Wi-Fi speed by four times, offering wider coverage and more reliability and reducing latency.
Describing the key features of Wi-Fi 7 on its website, technology company Qualcomm explains that is built upon the IEEE 802.11be Extremely High Throughput (EHT) standard and incorporates ultra-wide 320MHz channels, allowing for massive capacity gains and accommodating the ever-growing demands of modern connectivity.
Additionally, Qualcomm says, the implementation of 4K QAM modulation enables peak speeds to surge for lightning-fast data transfer. Wi-Fi 7 also introduces multi-link operation (MLO), a groundbreaking feature which significantly boosts throughput and maintains consistent low latency even in highly congested environments.
In the case of Ooredoos FTTR offering, these improvements are critical for supporting next-generation home applications such as 8K video streaming, immersive augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences, and high-definition interactive gaming.
Beyond home use, says Ooredoo, Wi-Fi 7 will drive substantial innovation across various industrial sectors, including telemedicine, cloud computing and industrial IoT, catalysing Qatars ongoing digital transformation.
The initial commercial launch of Wi-Fi 7 will be with Ooredoos FTTR solution, designed to enhance connectivity across larger homes, thereby, it says, providing a consistently superior internet experience for its customers across all corners of their premises.
47 injured in collision between two buses in Bibile
Posted by Editor on September 5, 2024 - 9:45 pm
47 people have been hospitalized following an accident involving two buses in the Nagala area of Bibile around 7:30 PM today (September 05).
According to the police, the accident occurred on the Bibile-Ampara road within the Bibile Police Division when a Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) bus collided with a private bus traveling from Bibile to Ampara.
The private bus was carrying workers from a garment factory.
As a result of the collision, 47 passengers from both buses were injured and admitted to Bibile Hospital for treatment.
The police revealed that the accident happened when the private bus, which was carrying employees of a private company, stopped to allow workers to disembark, and the SLTB bus following behind collided with it.
The Bibile Police are conducting further investigations into the incident.
The global subscription business landscape is undergoing significant transformations as companies strive to expand internationally and adapt to evolving customer demands. However, these ambitions are increasingly being met with challenges, particularly concerning billing systems.
According to a recent report, the subscription economy is experiencing robust growth. In Australia, nearly half (46%) of businesses are planning to invest in global expansion over the next year to tap into new markets. Despite this optimistic outlook, a staggering 73% of business leaders express doubts about whether their current billing systems can effectively support their international expansion strategies. This has prompted many businesses to consider reevaluating and upgrading their billing software to ensure it can handle global scalability.
Beyond international growth, many subscription businesses are also looking to innovate their pricing models. A significant majority (78%) of local companies plan to experiment with more flexible subscription plans, such as usage-based billing. However, the rigidity of existing billing systems often poses a barrier to implementing these creative pricing strategies, limiting the ability of businesses to offer the flexibility that modern consumers expect.
The report also highlights a persistent challenge in the subscription industry: involuntary churn. Involuntary churn occurs when customers subscriptions are terminated due to issues such as failed payments, often because of expired credit cards. Alarmingly, 47% of Australian businesses have seen an increase in involuntary churn over the past year. Despite this, many companies lack the necessary data to quantify the financial impact, with 42% unable to measure the revenue loss resulting from churn or payment failures.
Reducing customer churn should be on every business leaders agenda: its cheaper than acquiring new customers and an effective way to maximise revenue and increase customer lifetime value. We hope businesses find this report and Stripes revenue recovery features a useful foundation, said Karl Durrance, managing director ANZ at Stripe.
To address these challenges and support businesses in their growth endeavors, Stripe introduced Stripe Billing in 2018. This software product is designed to help companies manage complex billing relationships with their customers. Stripe Billing enables businesses to easily set up various billing plans, customize pricing logic, calculate amounts owed, preview upcoming invoices, apply discounts, send payment reminders, and track payments. It supports a wide range of pricing models, including one-off transactions, sales-based contracts, tiered pricing, and usage-based pricing, making it a versatile tool for companies of all sizes.
Notable companies like Atlassian and OpenAI are among the over 300,000 businesses that use Stripe Billing to manage their billing operations. Stripes leadership in the recurring billing space was recently recognized in Gartners Magic Quadrant for Recurring Billing Applications, underscoring its effectiveness in helping businesses navigate the complexities of the subscription economy.
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"Either this nation shall kill racism, or racism shall kill this nation." (S. Jonas, August, 2018)
"A Vote for 'ABBH' (Any Body But Harris) is a Vote for Trump and Republo-Fascism" (S. Jonas, March, 2024)
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I am very pleased to announce in this space (with our Editor/Publisher Rob Kall's permission) the publication of the 3edition of my book "The 15% Solution: A Political History of American Fascism, 2001-2022, as projected from 1996. Purportedly published in 2048 By Jonathan Westminster." The Kindle version is on-line now. The print version will be following shortly. In this column, I am presenting a brief (well, knowing me, a relatively brief), introduction to it.
I wrote this book in 1994-95 and published the first edition in 1996. In the 1990's the Republicans were telling us what they would do if they ever got significant control of the Federal and State governments. The reader can decide whether or not they have achieved at least part of their then-stated goals, and to what greater extent they would achieve them were Donald J. Trump to be re-elected in 2024.
A second edition, virtually unchanged from the first was published in 2013. In advance of the 2024 election, I am publishing this third edition, again virtually unchanged from the 1996 first edition, to reinforce the warning that I set forth in the first edition. That is because under a second Trump term many of the developments that I predicted back then, might/would/surely could, happen under Trump.
The time-line between fiction and reality is of course different. In the book I predicted that a Republican/Christian-Nationalist takeover of the nation would happen in the early 21st century, that it would eventually lead to partition of the old United States into a racially segregated "New American Republics," which would then lead to a 2nd civil war (2019-23). The Movement for the Restoration of Constitutional Democracy would win that war (yes, of course I had to have the good guys win), and then would undertake that Restoration, to (fictionally) be completed by 2023. The text of the book itself, written by "Jonathan Westminster," is purported to having been published on the 25th Anniversary of that restoration, in 2048. The name "Jonathan Westminster" is a play on the name of Jack London, who, as it happened, in 1908 published a book called "The Iron Heel." It predicted a future United States, the nature of which would in modern terms, be called "fascist."
From the perspective of 1994-95, the book indeed describes a fictional religious/authoritarian future that for the nation that was predictable back then. Under the Trumpites and their current Republican iteration, a version of it could still well become a reality. "The 15% Solution" itself refers to an electoral strategy to ensure victory for the Republican Christian Right which was actually developed in real-time in the late 1980's (see the current GOP voter suppression campaign). Written as "fictional non-fiction," the book is focused on the threat of developing fascism "American style," that was indeed posed by the Right-wing Christian fundamentalist movement operating in close alliance with the Republican Party in the mid-90's.
The book's primary purpose was, and still is, to show how a theocratic authoritarianism can be gradually introduced into any country, even the "world's greatest democracy," behind a facade of Constitutional legality no less. That is, if there is no awareness in some significant sectors of the population, and opposition elected and party officials nationally, of what might happen and is happening. In that sense, it follows the tradition established by both The Iron Heel and Sinclair Lewis' It Can't Happen Here (1936).
When originally published in 1996, the book was a warning about what might happen in the U.S. as a result of the alliance between the Christian Right and the Republican Party. With its first re-publication, virtually unchanged, in 2013, the book warned about the consequences of what was by then actually happening. By now it has become an ever more threatening reality (see The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025). Projected in the book in 1996 was that the Republican Party would transmogrify into a then-fictional "Republican-Christian Alliance." As early as 2012, the late Howard Fineman of The Huffington Post and MSNBC had determined that the Republican Party had really become what he termed the "American Faith Party." The book takes it from there.
The Origins of the Book
I began thinking about what would eventually become the book you see before you in the mid-1980's, after the re-election of Ronald Reagan. The thinking process went on for quite a while, and both the story-line and the format (novel, non-fiction, some combination of both?) underwent numerous changes. Whatever form the book would eventually take, I was concerned that during the Presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush (1980's to the early 1990's), what I called the Republican Religious Right (RRR) was becoming ever more powerful. I began to think about what might happen were they to take over effectively full governmental power at the Federal and widely at the state levels.
Being an academic, to support whatever form I might come up with, I began collecting material on positions that both governmental and non-governmental representatives of the RRR were then taking about the matter of what they would indeed do, were they to gain that effective control. I gathered it from a variety of sources: published articles, books, fund-raising letters, position papers, newspaper, and magazine articles about them. Finally, in 1994, I came up with the outlines of a scenario that they might follow, and began writing this book.
I am a writer of non-fiction, not fiction. (Believe me, there are major differences in skills between the two. I regard the latter as much more difficult than the former. Non-fiction writers simply need to be able to undertake description and analysis, sometimes simply reporting. We need to use references. However, we do not need to be able to write dialogue, describe scenes and settings in appropriate prose, or engage in character development.) Thus, for this book, even though I decided that I would be writing primarily in the non-fiction style, at the same time I would of course be writing fiction, in the sense that after a certain point, I would be making up the plot-line and introducing fictional characters.
At the same time, while the story-line would be set in the then-future, it would be based on real policies and politics that real people on the Right were promoting in the 1980s and '90s. And so, I came up with what I describe as a "cross-over" book: fictional non-fiction, purportedly written by "Jonathan Westminster," a future professor of political science. The book is a supposed retrospective on the (supposed) U.S. fascist period, published in 2048 on the 25th anniversary of the re-establishment of U.S. Constitutional Democracy, July 4, 2023, following the triumph of the Movement for the Restoration of Constitutional Democracy in the Second Civil War (2022).
To my mind the most important feature of this book is that what was projected to happen was to the extent possible based on what the Republican Religious Right had been telling us, prior to the time I wrote the book in 1994-1996, they would do if they were ever able to gain full control of the government. Indeed, they were telling us that as far back as the 1980s, but back then nobody wanted to listen. They are telling us what they would do much more loudly now (2024).
More people are listening and more people are getting very afraid of a future governed by the (Trumpist) Republican Religious Right. Fortunately, the Democratic Party is beginning to openly respond to the threat. One of the main points that I made in the book is that the fictional transformation of the Republican Party into what I call the "Republican-Christian Alliance," then on to the "American Christian Nation Party," takes place out in the open and nobody in a position of political power and political authority says boo to a goose. Hopefully, that is beginning to change.
One nice coincidence in the book is that I named the Fascist President "J.D. Hague." His (fictional) parents, roaring racists of their time, were descendants of the notorious mid-20th century Mayor of Jersey City, N.J. Frank Hague. "Jefferson Davis" Hague was their second son. They had named their first after Nathan Bedford Forrest, the ex-Confederate general who was one of the founders of the Ku Klux Klan. Obviously, since I made J.D. Hague's name up in the mid-1990's, the coincidence with modern times is entirely coincidental.
The Structure of the Book
This book has three sections. Section I sets the stage. Chapter one, "Prelude to Fascism," is an essay written in 1995 by "Dino Louis," a fictional political analyst of the time. Several late 20th-century analytical and prescriptive essays or notes for essays by "Mr. Louis," concerning major sociopolitical issues of the Transition Era, are included in the book in Appendices II-VI. Chapter two, Section I, presents an overview of the book and its historical scenario in outline.
Section II, the book's longest, features for the most part selected (fictional, to-be-sure) historical documents which marked major events of the Fascist Period. Annotating, highlighting, and punctuating each of the documents are writings by four (fictional) selected observer/participants of the time (as noted, for descriptions, see just below). They provide comments/perspectives/reflections from several different points of view. The bulk of the text, however, is provided by "Westminster" in his "Author's Commentaries" and "Author's Notes."
Section III presents a retrospective chapter (20) by "Westminster" considering "What Could Have Been Done" (in the 1990's) to prevent the national nightmare from ever occurring.
In Conclusion, as "Jonathan Westminster" himself puts it (in the year 2048)
"Many books have been written about the Fascist Period. In fact, it has been estimated that if not for the chronic paper shortage, in the 25 years since the Restoration more books would have been written about both the Period and the Second Civil War than had been written about slavery and the First Civil War in the 100 years following the latter's conclusion. Many of these books have been devoted to detailed historical descriptions of the events, monumental and not so monumental, that took place during the time. Some of the more important ones are cited in the reference lists for this book.
"However, as noted, this book has a rather different perspective from that of a conventional history book. I want people living now to know, not in detail about the depredations wreaked on our economy, polity, and society by the Fascists (although those are covered in outline), not about the defeats the Constitutionalist forces endured at first and the detailed story of their eventual victory, not about the widespread environmental degradation at all levels that took place and from which we are still struggling to recover, but rather about how easily the forces of the Republican Religious Right took over, how step by step they created Fascism by apparently legal means, how precious and at the time unappreciated our Constitutional Democracy was, and what must be done, even now, to defend it and eventually transcend it toward a far more real form of egalitarian power."
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Takes 4 minutes to read. Please do not turn away from injustice.
An entrenching apartheid regime gets more genocidal. Not only besieging us the indigenous Palestinians in ever shrinking concentration camps but actually committing a genocide supported by Western Governments. It is now spreading to cities and towns in the West Bank. Israeli colonization forces intentionally destroyed infrastructure (roads, water, sewage) in Jenin for example. The weapons are primarily from the US and Germany but the political and media cover come from many western countries (thanks to the Zionist lobby). The Palestinian people for 76 years have faced the most brutal regime almost alone relying on trying different tactics of resistance (see my book on this). But genocide continues and almost 10% of the population of the Gaza strip were murdered, injured, or "disappeared." Israeli policy of erasing the indigenous people was like the British policy with aboriginal people in Australia or the USA except that relative to land size and population, things are different in scale. Palestine is a tiny country and now 8 million are refugees/displaced and 250,000 Palestinians were murdered. As noted in my last message, it also has far more global ramifications.
Most people avoid taking on challenges to make things better for the people. The 1-2% who face the challenges of oppression and dual occupations here in Palestine are truly heroic. I cannot begin to tell you how blessed I am to have met people like the late Nizar Banat (killed by Palestinian security forces) or Basil AlAraj, or Shireen AbuAqleh or Rachel Corrie (killed by the Zionist apartheid forces). Dozens of my friends and colleagues murdered in the past few years. Their faces and words haunt my nights. I check on other friends in Gaza regularly to see if they are still alive. I am blessed to know many people who protested the ongoing genocide globally and some of them were then arrested and mistreated.
But what does not kill you makes you stronger and I find it humbling to see how Palestinians beaten and oppressed grow to resist in stronger ways. Oppression does not create silence or pacification. Further, Palestinians resist oppression in many ways and light candles of hope via positive work every day. Just as an example, the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (palestinenature.org) has been serving people and nature for seven years. Children are now here for summer camps and the environment created to them by staff and volunteers ensures transformative experiences that change lives. We also have women's activities almost weekly. Words cannot describe how important work is in areas like agriculture, environment, early education, health, and justice!
All people understand that it takes both resistance to evil in this world and also building a better future for our children. But most of those same people spend far more of their time consuming: consuming news, consuming food, consuming products. Retweeting and liking on facebook may be useful but I think most people understand this is not an answer to existential questions. Many who respond to my weekly newsletter ask what can they do. I point them to this list of 76 things that can be done The young people, being idealistic are in the streets trying to actually change things. But there is very little protection for them or organizing and long term planning (Palestinian aging political parties seem unable or unwilling to provide that). Progressive groups abroad do great work but are hardly networked and all overstretched. Below are questions many of us are asking and you can either: a) visit us today after 2:30 PM for us to chat and to act together, or b) write to us of your thoughts and actions and additional questions/answers, or c) bring a circle of trusted friends together to answer these or similar questions:
What are the best methods for helping those in most need (e.g. hundreds of thousands of families made homeless by Israeli bombings)? How do we respect ourselves (empowerment), respect others (joint struggle), and respect nature? How do we stop the mad dash to armaments particularly weapons of mass destruction (Israel has hundreds of those including on German supplied nuclear-powered submarines)? How do we protect idealistic youth from the relentless attack and pressures they encounter (arrests, beatings, etc.?) How do we ensure maximum impact for the utilized resources? How do we network the thousands of local and global organizations working for Palestinian human rights and sustainability and increase their effectiveness? How do we both oppose evil deeds such as the killing of innocents (17 children so far in last 3 days) while also building an alternative positive future for all children? How do we reach out to churches and mosques around the world? How do we grow our own food instead of consuming products that fund wars and harm our health? What are best practices to counter the destructive power of special interests like AIPAC and other lobbies on western governments? How do we counter media spin that distorts reality and blames the victims? How do we support each other emotionally? How to be transparent, express emotions, yet be guarded from being exploited? What is the best way to work on changing the destructive direction of many Arab states (normalizing and colluding with colonial oppressors and damaging the interests of teir own people)? How do we organize to make (civil) resistance sustainable and that it achieves discrete short term and long term goals?
Please gather in small groups and address these and/or other questions. Your public communication needs to be guarded and your private communications limited to trustworthy people. Doing so, we not only can help come up with some answers to these questions but to ask many more questions and answer them together towards a better future.
Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton and others did not let daily news/challenges prevent them from literally changing the world. They had a passion. We must use injustices to motivate (not frustrate us) and positive liberating action must follow. What we find most interesting is that people who worry too much end-up losing the opportunity to build a better future. This is precisely why many years ago we decided that, while it is important to stay abreast of "current events" (and even use them to motivate us), we must devote the vast majority of our time and effort and money to build a better future. We envision a future of caring and respect: for ourselves, for fellow human beings, and for all other living beings that share this beautiful but fragile planet. This is the vision of the pioneering "Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability" at Bethlehem University (palestinenature.org). The questions are raised in line with our vision to seek sustainable human and natural communities
Changing others? Changing ourselves!
You can't be neutral on a moving train. Stay Human/e and keep Palestine alive
Mazin Qumsiyeh
A bedouin in cyberspace, a villager at home
Professor, Founder, and (volunteer) Director Palestine Museum of Natural History
Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability Bethlehem University Occupied Palestine
facebook pages Personal Institute
French
This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.
I've recently begun reading Caroline Alexander's new book, Skies of Thunder, The Deadly World War II Mission Over the Roof of the World. Its focus is the theater of operations in which my father served as operations officer for the 1st Air Commandos, an all-volunteer unit, in World War II. And no, he isn't mentioned, though his commander Phil Cochran ("Flip Corkin" in the comic strip of that time, Terry and the Pirates) is. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the U.S. was instantly at war in both Asia and Europe and my father, then too old to be drafted, soon volunteered. Though, as a Jew, he undoubtedly wanted to fight the Nazis, he was sent to India as part of that unit's operations against the Japanese in Burma.
By May 1945, the Nazi regime had gone down in flames, and that August, after Hiroshima and Nagasaki were A-bombed more or less to smithereens, the Japanese surrendered, ending "his" war, but, as it turned out -- from Korea to Vietnam, Afghanistan to Iraq -- anything but ending Washington's disastrous urge to be a global war state. Like so many former soldiers of that war, he never really talked to his son about his experiences. Fortunately, he at least got to see (and help) the genuine good guys win.
However, by the time American-style war hit my world -- in Vietnam -- the United States looked like anything but the good guy (at least to me and so many young people like me) and I found myself volunteering (so to speak) to turn in my draft card and protest that war in the streets. By then, of course, the American national (in)security state was already succeeding in a striking fashion at only one thing (other than turning itself into a remarkable growth industry): it was largely freeing itself of us and of Congress. And of course, as retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, historian, and TomDispatch regular Bill Astore, whose Bracing Views Substack is a must-read, makes all too clear today, this country, the globe's (once) dominant power, has only gone from bad to worse when it comes to both preparations for and making war in a big time and, in both cases, remarkably disastrous fashion. Tom
From the Arsenal of Democracy to an Arsenal of Genocide
The Pernicious Price of Global Reach, Global Power, and Global Dominance
By William J. Astore
During World War II, American leaders proudly proclaimed this country the "arsenal of democracy," supplying weapons and related materiel to allies like Great Britain and the Soviet Union. To cite just one example, I recall reading about Soviet armored units equipped with U.S. Sherman tanks, though the Soviets had an even better tank of their own in the T-34 and its many variants. However, recent news that the United States is providing yet more massive arms deliveries to Israel (worth $20 billion) for 2026 and thereafter caught me off guard. Israel quite plainly is engaged in the near-total destruction of Gaza and the massacre of Palestinians there. So, tell me, how over all these years did the self-styled arsenal of democracy become an arsenal of genocide?
Israel, after all, couldn't demolish Gaza, killing at least 40,000 Palestinians in a population of only 2.1 million, including thousands of babies and infants, without massive infusions of U.S. weaponry. Often, the U.S. doesn't even sell the weaponry to Israel, a rich country that can pay its own bills. Congress just freely gifts body- and baby-shredding bombs in the name of defending Israel from Hamas. Obviously, by hook or crook, or rather by shells, bombs, and missiles, Israel is intent on rendering Gaza Palestinian-free and granting Israelis more living space there (and on the West Bank). That's not "defense" -- it's the 2024 equivalent of Old Testament-style vengeance by annihilation.
As Tacitus said of the rampaging Romans two millennia ago, so it can now be said of Israel: they create a desert -- a black hole of death in Gaza -- and call it "peace." And the U.S. government enables it or, in the case of Congress, cheers on its ringleader, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.
Of course, anyone who knows a little American history should have some knowledge of genocide. In the seventeenth century, Native Americans were often "satanized" by early colonial settlers. (In 1994, a friend of mine, the historian David Lovejoy, wrote a superb and all-too-aptly titled article on exactly that topic: "Satanizing the American Indian.") Associating Indians with the devil made it all the easier for the white man to mistreat them, push them off their lands, and subjugate or eradicate them. When you satanize an enemy, turning them into something irredeemably evil, all crimes become defensible, rational, even justifiable. For how can you even consider negotiating or compromising with the minions of Satan?
Growing up, I was a strong supporter of Israel, seeing that state as an embattled David fighting against a Goliath, most notably during the Yom Kippur War of 1973. Forty years later, I wrote an article suggesting that Israel was now the Goliath in the region with Palestinians in Gaza playing the role of a very much outgunned and persecuted David. An American-Jewish friend told me I just didn't get it. The Palestinians in Gaza were all terrorists, latent or incipient ones in the case of the infants and babies there. At the time, I found this attitude uncommon and extreme, but events have proven it to be far too common (though it certainly remains extreme). Obviously, on some level, the U.S. government agrees that extremism in the pursuit of Israeli hegemony is no vice and so has provided Israel with the weaponry and military cover it needs to "exterminate all the brutes." Thus, in 2024, the U.S. "cradle of democracy" reveals its very own heart of darkness.
Looking Again at the World Wars That Made America "Great"
When considering World Wars I and II, we tend to see them as discrete events rather than intimately connected. One was fought from 1914 to 1918, the other from 1939 to 1945. Americans are far more familiar with the Second World War than the First. From both wars this country emerged remarkably unscathed compared to places like France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, China, and Japan. Add to that the comforting myth that America's "greatest generation" pretty much won World War II, thereby saving democracy (and "Saving Private Ryan" as well).
Perhaps, however, we should imagine those years of conflict, 1914-1945, as a European civil war (with an Asian wing thrown in the second time around), a new Thirty Years' War played out on a world stage that led to the demise of Europe's imperial powers and their Asian equivalent and the rise of the American empire as their replacement. Germanic militarism and nationalism were defeated but at an enormous cost, especially to Russia in World War I and the Soviet Union in World War II. Meanwhile, the American empire, unlike Germany's Second and Third Reichs or Japan's imperial power, truly became for a time an untrammeled world militarist hegemon with the inevitable corruption inherent in the urge for near-absolute power.
Vast levels of destruction visited upon this planet by two world wars left an opening for Washington to attempt to dominate everywhere. Hence, the roughly 750 overseas bases its military set up to ensure its ultimate global reach, not to speak of the powerful navy it created, centered on aircraft carriers for power projection and nuclear submarines for possible global Armageddon, and an air force that saw open skies as an excuse for its own exercises in naked power projection. To this you could add, for a time, U.S. global economic and financial power, enhanced by a cultural dominance achieved through Hollywood, sports, music, and the like.
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An Albertsons executive said Thursday the selloff is a completely different equation from the disastrous sale of stores to the tiny Northwest grocery chain Haggen in the last decade.
The specter of that failed deal has loomed over the proposed Kroger and Albertsons merger and is a key point in the antitrust case now being heard by a federal judge in Portland. Regulators want to block the deal and have pointed to Haggens collapse as a cautionary tale.
Haggen acquired nearly 150 stores in 2014, when Albertsons bought Safeway and sold off redundant locations. Washington state-based Haggen, which had only 18 stores prior to the sale, soon collapsed under the weight of its massive expansion, filing for bankruptcy and closing or selling most of the stores. Haggen eventually sold itself to Albertsons.
To preserve competition and win approval from antitrust regulators, the grocery giants have proposed to sell 579 stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers, a supplier of independent grocery stores nationwide that only runs 25 stores of its own.
The plan hasnt satisfied regulators, who are asking a federal judge to block the deal. Both sides are making their case in a federal courtroom an ongoing hearing set to run three weeks.
If the merger moves ahead, Albertsons Chief Operating Officer Susan Morris would leave the company and join C&S to run the new nationwide grocery chain.
Morris testified Thursday the plan to divest, or sell off, hundreds of stores is fundamentally different from the Haggen debacle.
Its a different scenario in a different time, she said. Im confident in my ability to run these stores.
Morris said she was not personally involved the 2014 Haggen deal. In court, she attributed the failure of Haggen in part to its overnight rebannering of Albertsons and Safeway stores under its own brand. She said that was a requirement set in place by the Federal Trade Commission, the regulatory body that approved that merger and which is now fighting Kroger and Albertsons combination.
In the ongoing proceedings, attorneys for the FTC have also questioned the assortment of store and private-label brands that C&S would acquire, saying that to replace established brands with unfamiliar ones would undermine the fledgling C&S chain in new markets.
Morris said C&S would license Safeway and Albertsons most popular private labels, the Signature Select and O Organics brands developed by Safeway, for four years after it acquired the stores.
She added that C&S, a grocery supplier, has access to hundreds of private label brands stocked by its other customers.
Morris also said she wasnt concerned about rebannering stores that C&S would acquire from the deal. She argued that while store banners are important for performance, other factors play a role.
I think what matters most is how youre running the stores, she said.
The viability of C&S as a competitor to an enlarged Kroger has been a key point of contention, with federal regulators arguing the divestiture plan is not sufficient to maintain competition in key markets like Portland, where Albertsons competes directly with Krogers Fred Meyer chain.
The agency says the merger would likely result in higher prices for customers and lower wages for workers. The grocery chains have tried to make the opposite case.
-- Kristine de Leon covers the retail industry, small business and data enterprise stories. Reach her at kdeleon@oregonian.com.
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A bail hearing was held for Robert Horning, who is accused of killing his brother Carl, in Washington County Circuit Court in Hillsboro, OR on Wed., Sept. 4, 2024.Dave Killen / The Oregonian
A Portland police sergeant who pleaded guilty to touching a woman inappropriately at a bar has resigned from the Police Bureau, records show.
Darke Hull, 47, resigned on Aug. 26 after 25 years of service. He was assigned to the Traffic Division and earned $176,053 in 2022-23, including overtime. He declined to comment.
For those who only know James Ivory as the director of such critically acclaimed films as A Room With a View, Howards End, The Remains of the Day, and other adaptations of literary classics, it might be surprising to learn that the filmmaker grew up in Klamath Falls, and attended the University of Oregon, where his papers are held in the University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives.
In a recent Zoom interview, when told that his admirers include Oregonians who are proud to claim him as as one of our own, Ivory wryly noted, They know Im not English, so thats good.
The 96-year-old writer and director, who has been nominated for four Oscars and won in the best adapted screenplay category for the 2017 drama, Call Me by Your Name, also sounded pleased to be speaking with The Oregonian.
That was my Sunday newspaper growing up, Ivory said. He had, he added, just left his familys cabin in southern Oregons Lake of the Woods after two weeks, to do press for Merchant Ivory, a documentary feature film that explores the remarkable history of Merchant Ivory Productions which, as the film observes, is one of the longest partnerships in the history of cinema.
Id still be there, otherwise, Ivory said.
Ivory was joined in the interview by Stephen Soucy, the director of Merchant Ivory.
Merchant Ivory tells the story of the principal contributors to the Merchant Ivory world, including director Ivory; his professional and personal partner, producer Ismail Merchant; screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala; and composer Richard Robbins.
Featuring a wealth of clips representing the 43 Merchant Ivory films made from 1961 to 2007, as well as interviews with Ivory himself, actors such as Helena Bonham Carter, Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Vanessa Redgrave, Rupert Graves, and other creative collaborators, Merchant Ivory is a celebration of the people who made so many memorable, award-winning movies.
Beyond that, the documentary also highlights how many of the Merchant Ivory films, which often looked luxurious and plush, were actually made for little money, thanks to the ingenuity of the India-born Merchant.
When asked why he wanted to make the documentary, Soucy said, Merchant Ivory films were very important films that I first encountered when I was a teenager in upstate New York many years ago. He and Ivory have a mutual friend, the novelist Peter Cameron, who wrote The City of Your Final Destination, which was Merchant Ivory Productions final film, and Soucy had interviewed Ivory for a short film about the music in Merchant Ivory films.
The personal and professional partnership of James Ivory, left, and Ismail Merchant, is explored in the documentary, "Merchant Ivory."Courtesy of Cohen Media Group
Soucy wanted to make a feature documentary about Merchant Ivory, and it was shocking to me that it had never been done before. He asked Ivory, who said yes, and basically, he kind of gave me his stamp of approval.
Though it took about three years to make the film, Soucy said, I really felt it had to be made, and I felt that my love for Merchant Ivory films made me the right person to do it, and luckily, Jim gave me his blessing to do so.
As for Ivory, he said, I didnt see any reason not to participate in the documentary. It wasnt going to be a lot of work for me. Im generally optimistic about things like this. Weve been written about a lot over the years, and its never bothered me, or been troublesome. I had no secrets, particularly. Any secrets I had are all published in my book, Solid Ivory, a memoir Ivory wrote that was published in late 2021.
Soucy said that the final interview he conducted with Ivory for the documentary happened after Solid Ivory was published. He was grateful, he said, that in the book Ivory discussed some of the more personal details of his life, which made Soucy feel more comfortable asking Ivory about his relationship with Merchant, and their life as a couple at a time when being gay wasnt discussed as openly as it is today.
Ivory said that in the case of Merchant, who died in 2005, he came from a very conservative Muslim family in Bombay, and so his private life, and his most personal feelings, were not something that would have been discussed, or known. But once he was gone, it was easier.
The documentary underscores how influential Merchant Ivory films were, and also how they were ahead of their time in telling stories about LGBTQ+ characters, most notably in 1987s Maurice, adapted from a novel by E.M. Forster, about romantic relationships among gay men living in the repressive Edwardian era.
Well, you dont feel that youre being ahead of your time, Ivory said. You dont know that. All you know is that youre doing something that you want to do, because youre interested in certain subjects and certain people.
Those are perhaps things, subjects, and people that generally have been avoided, Ivory said. But I havent avoided them. Theyre normal and natural to me. What is normal and natural to me is what has gone into the films.
The documentary includes several of the actors recalling how different Merchant and Ivory seemed, in terms of their personalities. Jim was calm and gentle behind the camera, and Ismail was a firecracker, as actress Felicity Kendal recalls. Merchant would just turn up on set, and say, Right, action! and nobody had even rehearsed the scene.
Merchants scrappiness in finding money, and ways to economize he had a habit of cooking meals for people working on the films is remembered with affection by actors and members of the creative team.
Asked if independent filmmakers today might benefit from seeing just how much behind-the-scenes effort went into Merchant Ivory movies, Ivory said, It needs an Ismail Merchant to make them happen. He was fanatical, and clever beyond anything. In your film, Ivory said looking at Soucy, hes called a con man, which he was. Any film producer, and any independent filmmaker, is a con man. They cant help but be. They have to juggle everything.
One of the things that stuck with me, that Jim said to me early on, is that Ismail Merchant gets the lions share of the credit for Merchant Ivory Productions, Soucy said.
Absolutely, Ivory said.
Because he made those films happen, Soucy said. Jim directed it, Ruth wrote the screenplays, Richard Robbins wrote the music, and everybody showed up. But they all showed up because Ismail was running around, raising the money.
Among the highlights of Merchant Ivory are the interviews, rich with droll and perceptive comments from the likes of Hugh Grant (who recalls Merchant Ivory film sets as crackling with subliminal lust), and Emma Thompson praising Ivorys straightforward feedback (That was boring), along with vintage clips from such stars as Daniel Day-Lewis, who says of 1985s A Room With a View -- which provided him with one of his earliest noteworthy roles -- Its been directed very sensitively.
Asked if there were veterans of Merchant Ivory films they werent able to interview, Ivory said, I just wish that Maggie Smith had agreed to an on-camera interview. Shes one of the worlds wittiest women.
I did talk to Maggie Smith on the phone when I was in London, kind of gathering interviews, Soucy said. Smith said she didnt have a lot of contribute, Soucy recalled, but then she added, The thing I remember about Merchant Ivory Productions was the chaos, and the curry.
Merchant Ivory will release on Video On Demand (VOD) platforms in early November.
Want to stream some Merchant Ivory films? A Room With a View is available on Max; Howards End is available on Amazon Prime Video; The Remains of the Day is also streaming on Amazon Prime Video, as is Maurice.
Kristi Turnquist covers features and entertainment. Reach her at 503-221-8227, kturnquist@oregonian.com or @Kristiturnquist
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U.S. Bank will not renew its lease in Portlands Big Pink skyscraper, the latest sign of turbulence in downtowns commercial real estate market.
The bank communicated the decision to bank employees on Wednesday.
U.S. Bank leases approximately 222,000 square feet inside the tower, formally called U.S. Bancorp Tower, according to the latest available data from real estate analytics firm CoStar.
Its important to note that were not exiting downtown Portland we will continue to support our downtown clients through our branch presence as well as our client center at 900 S.W. Fifth Ave., the bank said in an email sent to employees and viewed by The Oregonian/OregonLive.
The email does not give a reason for the decision.
In a statement, the bank said it doesnt expect any job cuts or changes in service at local branches. U.S. Bank will continue to operate its four branches in the downtown area.
The Portland area is a significant part of our company history and were committed to maintaining our presence and involvement there, which is why we chose it as one of our hub markets, the bank said in a statement.
Portlands central city had the highest office vacancy rate of the 50 largest downtown office markets in the country at the end of last year, according to a report by real estate firm Colliers. Brokerage CBRE most recently reported that nearly a third of central Portlands offices were empty.
The loss of a marquee tenant marks the latest setback for Unico Properties, a powerful landlord that has seen its portfolio diminished in the wake of COVID-19s reshaping of office culture in favor of hybrid schedules.
The area around 111 S.W. Fifth Ave. has experienced open drug use, crime and graffiti, though public-private initiatives have aimed to address the issues in the so-called Ankeny Triangle. As part of its security measures, Unico set a 420-pound robot to patrol its property, feeding information to security personnel indoors. The recently opened Midtown Beer Garden food cart pod nearby is regularly busy on weekdays.
All of us at Unico are incredibly disheartened to hear this news today, Brian Pearce, a Unico executive vice president, said in an emailed statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Our teams have been working very closely with U.S. Bank over the past four years to address their concerns and encourage their employees to return to downtown.
Big Pink is a jewel in Seattle-based Unicos local holdings. But more than half nearly 583,000 square feet of Big Pinks approximately 1 million square feet was available for lease as of the second quarter, according to data from Colliers.
Two large tenants pollster SurveyMonkey and law firm Miller Nash declined to renew their leases at Big Pink last year, together accounting for roughly 100,000 square feet for Unico to fill in Oregons second tallest building.
Most of the U.S. Bank employees at Big Pink will move to Columbia Center in Gresham, a 365,000-square-foot building which the bank has owned for decades. The banks sales staff will mostly move to locations in downtown Portland and Vancouver. The bank expects most of the moves to happen before the end of the year.
It is a severe blow to the downtown community and the City of Portland to lose such a significant, urban-oriented business to its suburban neighbors, Unicos Pearce noted. This is a dramatic statement and decision by the Banks leadership on their view of the state of Portland.
U.S. Bank holds more than 22% of bank deposits in the Portland metropolitan area, more than any other bank, according to FDIC data. It has 67 offices here, also the most of any bank.
The bank is based in Minnesota, but it takes its name from the U.S. National Bank of Portland, which opened in 1891, and which later merged with a Minneapolis bank.
It remains a major regional employer, with 3,144 employees here, according to the Portland Business Journals most recent Book of Lists.
Matthew Kish covers business, including the sportswear and banking industries. Reach him at 503-221-4386, mkish@oregonian.com or @matthewkish.
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Bloodworks Northwest is urging healthy people 16 and over to donate blood to help Oregon and Washington recover from high demand during the summer months, when car crashes and other calamities stress the regions supply.
The need for blood is constant, said Dr. Kirsten Alcorn, the co-chief medical officer for the nonprofit, and the donation rate needs to keep ahead of that.
To meet demand, Alcorn said the group needs 1,000 people per day to give blood. About half the population is eligible, but only 3% donate, she said.
The group also needs donors who can give platelets that help stop bleeding and are used with cancer patients as well as people with traumatic injuries.
Bloodworks Northwest lists donor centers and mobile drives on its website and offers a handy guide to various blood types and their uses, too.
Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration revised its blood donation rules to screen all donors for risk factors in the spread of HIV, fully reversing a blanket policy against accepting donations from men who have sex with men and their female partners.
Beth Slovic is a deputy editor on the public safety and breaking news team. Reach her at 503-221-8551 or bslovic@oregonian.com.
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Its not everyones cup of tea: youre running many miles, operating on minimal sleep and youre in a packed van filled with sweaty runners. Just the thought of Hood to Coast relay baffled co-host, Vickie Connor, two years ago. Now, she owns a finishers medal.
On this weeks episode of Peak Northwest, Vickie talks with The Oregonian/OregonLives audience engagement editor, Julie Evensen, about what its like to run Hood to Coast for the first time.
Here are some highlights from this weeks show:
What makes the Mother of All Relays an appealing Oregon running tradition.
How to choose the segments that work best for you.
What it physically feels like to run 16 miles over the course of 36 hours.
Why you might get your best sleep in the middle of a field.
How to participate in 2025.
Heres the full episode:
Subscribe to Peak Northwest on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.
-- Vickie Connor
90% of Australian SMEs have declared they are open to partnering with a non-bank lender, a remarkable turnaround from 2018 when 44% of SMEs said they would not consider non-bank lending.
In the near-term, more than half of those SMEs planning to invest in their business in 2024 will partner with a non-bank lender. This is a dramatic shift from 2014 when just 7% of SMEs said they would find a lending solution from outside the banks.
The headline findings are contained in the 10th anniversary edition of ScotPacs SME Growth Index Report, Australias longest-running SME sentiment check.
Key related findings include:
A record 52% of SMEs planned to use non-bank lending to fund new business investment, exceeding the total planned bank lending figure of 42%.
59% of SMEs plan to invest in their business in the next six months, mirroring 2023 levels, but down from the high of 65% in September 2019.
Just 15% of SMEs in a declining growth phase planned new investment in the next six months.
The high level of investment intention across the SME spectrum is consistent with capital expenditure (capex) data released last week from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It reported the final estimate of capex for 2023-24 saw an increase of 10.2% compared to last year, with planned capex for 2024-25 to rise by a further 10.3%.
ScotPac CEO, Jon Sutton said the strong trend towards non-bank business lending for new investment could be traced to a greater awareness of the range of specialist business lending products available in the market, and the speed and flexibility on offer.
Most owners who are planning to invest in their business want quick and easy access to working capital, preferably without having to put up their home as collateral, Mr Sutton said.
At ScotPac, we understand that time is a business owners greatest asset, and sometimes 24 hours can be the difference between seizing or losing a new opportunity.
That is why, over 35 years in business, ScotPac has developed a comprehensive suite of fast and flexible lending products to support SMEs in just about every investment scenario.
Whether it is buying new assets, hiring more staff or helping to pay down a tax bill, ScotPac has the right product to help.
According to the SME Growth Index Report, the top three reasons SMEs sought to partner with a non-bank lender were easier onboarding processes, faster availability of funds, and the peace of mind of not having to borrow against the family home.
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The stage is set for a hot late summer day in Portland on Thursday with morning temps already in the 60s and 70s across the metro area as of 5:30 a.m.
The National Weather Service says Portland will see widespread haze Thursday with some areas of smoke visible by the late afternoon that could moderate temperatures a few degrees, but the amount smoke coverage is uncertain.
Portlands air quality was mostly in the moderate range as of 5:30 a.m. The bulk of Oregon was moderate with one pocket of hazardous air in central Oregon near the Prineville Reservoir, according to Airnow.gov.
Thursday should be Portlands hottest day of the week, and likely the last triple digit temperature day, other than maybe Friday, of 2024. Current historical records dont show any 100+ temp days after the 5th of September. The official high temperature forecast is 101 degrees. This would tie a record on this date set in 1944. Current probabilities show a 90% chance of temps from 100-107 degrees across the Willamette Valley.
On top of the high heat, much of the region is under a red flag warning for high fire danger due to low humidity, high winds, and high heat. Fire danger is high across the Cascades, where high temps today may be in the low 90s, in the Columbia River Gorge, and in the mountain foothills. Burn bans have been in place for months now. Residents should use extreme caution with allowed heat sources including outdoor cooking devices, and gas or diesel farm and yard equipment.
Overnight temperatures wont provide much cooling. The weather service says temps may cool to around 68 degrees as measured at the Portland International Airport. Urban areas may not cool below the low 70s overnight and into Friday morning.
Friday is set to be another hot day with sunny, and sometimes hazy, skies and a high of about 99 degrees.
The high pressure system currently over the Pacific Northwest shifts east beginning later Friday allowing for a few degrees of cooling.
Portland will see a mostly sunny Saturday with highs dropping to about 91 degrees.
Sundays temps will take another drop under mostly sunny skies. The high will reach about 85.
Long range forecasts are looking at a system moving south out of the Gulf of Alaska that should make its way to the Pacific Northwest by early next week. Much depends on where the trough sets up, but it should bring cooler temperatures and clouds to the region. Will it rain? Its possible, but models are not in agreement.
Sixteen Vietnamese students recently participated in a two-week program at National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan, where they studied both the theoretical and practical aspects of semiconductor chip production.
This marks the first time Vietnamese students have attended this course, with participants coming from Vietnam National University in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Vo Thien Nhan, a student from the Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the University of Technology, Vietnam National University in HCMC, shared that the program, which took place from July 17 to early August, focused on two main topics: chip design and digital/analog integrated circuit design.
International students attend a class on semiconductor at the National Cheng Kung University, August 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Thien Nhan
Like many of his peers, Nhan joined the course with the desire to witness modern chip production processes firsthand and to observe how Taiwan trains its students. He was surprised to find that many engineers, master's, and PhD students from countries such as South Korea, Japan, India, the U.S., and the Netherlands were also participants.
National Cheng Kung University is one of Taiwan's top five universities, and the course Nhan attended is the third of its kind organized by the university.
Duc Minh, a student from the Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications at the University of Science, Vietnam National University, HCMC, noted that the course provided extensive knowledge about the steps involved in chip production, including design, manufacturing, testing, and packaging. He found the course innovative, as domestic programs mainly focus on design.
"I got to enter the room where chips are manufactured and see for myself technologies and machinery that I had previously only seen online," he said.
Both students mentioned that the program covered their airfare, visa costs, and a portion of their tuition fees. The remaining amount they had to pay was around $1,000 per person.
International students in a room where chips are manufactured at the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute. Photo by VnExpress/Thien Nhan
During the course, Nhan and Minh practiced chip design using Electronic Design Automation tools, which are crucial for modern integrated circuit design. This allowed them to familiarize themselves with the process from circuit design to simulation.
According to Nhan, the chip design knowledge taught in Taiwan is not significantly different from what is taught by their professors in Vietnam. However, students in Taiwan have easier access to advanced design software. The course was divided into two classes: digital and analog chip design. Additionally, students had the opportunity to enter fabrication and testing labs at various research institutes and companies to observe and learn directly.
"What impressed me the most was seeing my design go into production, resulting in a circuit board, and then carrying out post-production steps to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the design," Nhan shared.
Many nights, Nhan stayed late in the lab to complete his assignments and learn how to use new design software. He is now considering pursuing further studies in semiconductor technology.
International students visit a semiconductor laboratory at the National Cheng Kung University. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Minh
Taiwan currently supplies more than half of the world's semiconductor chips. In March, the Taiwan Education Bureau announced the International Talent Education Program (INTENSE) for students from Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines. With support from businesses and universities in Taiwan, international students receive sponsorship for airfare, tuition, and a monthly living allowance of TWD10,000 ($310) to study engineering and semiconductors.
Students who have graduated from vocational schools or colleges, participants in joint programs between Vietnamese and Taiwanese universities, or master's and PhD candidates are eligible to apply. Upon graduation, they will be awarded bachelor's, master's, or PhD degrees corresponding to their program of study.
In its first year, the program aims to recruit 2,000-2,500 Vietnamese students, with enrollment starting in February or September.
Professor Tran Hoa Hien, Education Counselor at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in HCMC, believes that with a complete ecosystem and abundant human resources, Taiwan can support Vietnam in training professionals in semiconductor chip design.
Toddlers under the age of two should not be allowed screen time or access to digital media to prevent mental health issues and other problems, according to Swedish health officials.
As of 2014, children aged 2 and under in the United States averaged at least three hours a day of screen time, according to a study published on JAMA Network. Among children ages three to five, the study found that they had an average daily screen time of two hours and 28 minutes.
However, health officials for Sweden's Public Health Agency now say toddlers under the age of two should be banned from using any digital media and TV to avoid poor sleep, depression, and body dissatisfaction. The warning was first reported by Fortune magazine.
How Much Screen Time Should Children Have?
Swedish health officials said screen time limits vary depending on a child's age. While toddlers under the age of two should not have any screen time, health officials recommend a limit of one hour of daily screen time among children between the ages of two and five.
Among older children, those aged six to 12 should not spend longer than two hours on a device while teens aged 13 to 18 should have a daily screen time limit of three hours. This would allow children to have time for communal or physical activities.
In addition to limiting screen time, Swedish health officials recommend against letting teens use smartphones and other gadgets before bed. They added that devices should be kept out of the bedroom at night.
Sweden said their country's teens---specifically those aged between 13 and 16, spent 6.5 hours daily on their devices. Meanwhile, in the US, teens of the same age averaged eight hours and 39 minutes of screen time per day, per to a study by Common Sense Media.
How Does Screen Time Affect Toddlers?
Numerous studies have shown that too much screen time can lead to adverse health effects. For instance, Drexel University researchers found that babies and toddlers who had screen time were more likely to display behaviors associated with autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
A separate study found that toddlers are also more prone to emotional outbursts when they are allowed to use tablets at 3.5 years old.
A 14-year-old male student identified as the suspect in a mass shooting at a Georgia high school Wednesday morning was previously investigated by authorities over online school shooting threats.
On Wednesday, 14-year-old Colt Gray shot at students and teachers at the Apalachee High School in Georgia. Following the shooting, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Atlanta released a joint statement with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office where they revealed that Gray had been investigated by bureau officials in 2023 in connection to "online threats to commit a school shooting."
That online threat did not specify a location or time. However, it did include photographs of guns, the statement noted.
What Happened to the FBI Investigation?
Following the online threats, the FBI said they interviewed Gray and his father---the latter of whom confirmed that he had hunting guns in the house but said his son did not have unsupervised access to the weapons. The FBI also said Gray had denied making the online threats.
The FBI said they did not find probable cause to arrest Gray or to take additional action at the time. However, officials noted that they alerted local schools to continue monitoring then-13-year-old Gray.
Apalachee High School Mass Shooting
Wednesday's shooting incident led to the deaths of two students and two teachers whose identities authorities have not disclosed. Nine other people at the school were also hospitalized with gunshot wounds, including two victims who were airlifted to the hospital, per New York Post.
Speaking at a news conference Wednesday night, Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said all hospitalized victims are expected to survive.
A law enforcement official said Gray used an AR-15-style rifle in the mass shooting, as first reported by CNN. It was not immediately clear how the 14-year-old obtained the weapon. It was also unclear what motive was behind the shooting and whether Gray had specific targets.
After the shooting, officials said the 14-year-old immediately surrendered. Gray is currently in police custody and will be charged with four counts of murder. He will be tried as an adult.
As the release date for Six Days in August approaches, I find myself thinking about the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum, the Patriarch.
Thomas Sharp and his conspirators down in Warsaw to the south, and the mob that did the deed in Carthage to the east, thought that, by murdering Joseph and Hyrum, they had put an end to Mormonism.
Now, though, Thomas Sharp and his cronies are completely forgotten except as evil footnotes in the history of the Church. Virtually nobody visits Warsaw unless (as I did some years ago) its to visit the wreckage of the place where they hatched their plot.
And the only thing of interest in the dusty, sleepy, nondescript little town of Carthage the town that time forgot, as Im tempted to call it is the jail in which Joseph and Hyrum were murdered. Beautifully landscaped, meticulously maintained, adorned with statues of the martyred Prophet and Patriarch, its become something of a place of pilgrimage. Every year, thousands and thousands people come from across the United States and beyond to pay their respects to the two men whose lives were unjustly taken here, to contemplate one more time the appalling and solemn events that occurred on 27 June 1844.
To their enormous discredit, some detractors of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have vainly sought to defend the perpetrators of that quasi-official frontier assassination or, at least, to minimize the guilt that they bear and to try to blame the victims.
I quote from an item that I wrote quite a few years ago in response to some materials produced by the Southern Baptist Convention:
In the view of Rev. Wright, who is an ordained minister in the Southern Baptist Convention, not even the murder of Joseph Smith was undeserved. He goes further, in this regard, than did the experts at the SBCs Denominational Summit on Mormonism, which was held in North Carolina on the one hundred and fifty-third anniversary of the Prophets death. Smith was killed while escaping jail, they said, untruthfully. Responding to some remarks made by President Gordon B. Hinckley, Pastor Wright notes that the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum on June 27, 1844, didnt occur until after Joseph had fired upon the so-called mob with a pistol that had been secreted to him while in jail and had killed one man and injured several others. Rage and persecution may have followed the Mormons to Illinois, but the Saints of that day brought most of it upon themselves! Rev. Wright is wrong about Hyrums death, which occurred immediately prior to Josephs drawing the pistol. But he is almost certainly correct in his claim that Josephs firing of the pistol took place while Joseph was still alive. His description of the events at Carthage represents an important and novel historical reconstruction, and it is vital that we understand it with precision. Apparently, Rev. Wright feels that Joseph Smith was obligedthough he was unjustly imprisoned and had not yet been tried, let alone convicted of anything, much less convicted of a capital offense, to allow the so-called mob' to butcher not only himself and his brother Hyrum but his two friends, Willard Richards and John Taylor, whose only crime was that they had come to visit the prisoners. (John Taylor was, in fact, severely wounded by the so-called mob.') Rev. Wrights revised version of the events in Carthage seems to run along the following lines: The wily criminal lunatic Joseph Smith, who had remained quiet throughout his captivity, deliberately chose the very time when the peace-loving Carthage Greysfully armed and with traditional blackened faceswere innocently gathered about the jail for their annual June 27th Militia Picnic. Frolicking with their weapons and calling out the death threats that customarily accompanied that grand holiday in frontier Illinoisit was a simpler time, and June 27th had not yet been commercializedthe proto-Gandhian Greys had merely been playing the venerable party game known among these gentle rustics as Eat Hot Lead, Mormon Scum! Then, wholly without provocation, Joseph Smith opened fire on the revelers, using the pepperbox pistol that Cyrus Wheelock had smuggled into his cell. Naive historians, both Latter-day Saints and others, have always assumed that Josephs action had something to do with the fact that his brother Hyrum had just been shot to death. (Presumably, Hyrum was killed by a stray bullet from a local hunter, or perhaps from an evil Mormon assassin.) Rev. Wright, however, cannot be taken in by such sophistries. When Joseph continued to shoot at them as they mounted the jails interior staircase bearing a peace offering of cookies and punch, they had no choice. They killed him and his (already dead) brother in self-defense. It is true that they also shot John Taylor at least four times. But then, he had been very naughty to them with his cane, and needed to be taught a lesson.
I received a note yesterday or the day before from Deseret Book, calling my attention to this duet of It Is Well With My Soul, performed by Clotile Bonner and Casey Elliott. I thought that you might enjoy it. But I also want to mention that Casey Elliott, a member of mens trio Gentri, will be recording a special musical number tomorrow (Thursday) that we intend to run behind the credits and the acknowledgements for Six Days in August. (The rest of the score for the film is being composed by Sam Cardon.) I invite you, when you see the film, to stick around for the credits; I think that youll enjoy the music.
And, speaking of Six Days in August, weve released a second trailer for the film. Interestingly, thus far at least, our demographic data indicate that this second trailer seems to be heavily favored by women. This contrasts dramatically with the first trailer, which apparently resonates better with men (though not to the same decisive extent that women apparently prefer trailer number two). Go figure. Im not sure that I get it, but there it is.
Three new items have appeared on the website of the Interpreter Foundation from our Africa-focused video project, Not by Bread Alone: Not by Bread Alone Blog Post #7: Just in Time: Three Converts Return Home (Episode 3). These include the title video and two others:
James Refutes Faith Alone / Faith Without Love is Dead, Too / Love & Justification / Jesus Denies Faith Alone (Rich Young Ruler)
Philip Melanchthon (1497-1560) was the founder of Protestantism: Martin Luthers best friend, co-reformer, and successor as the leader of Lutheranism. Encyclopaedia Britannica (Philipp Melanchthon) states that Melanchthon . . . in 1521 published the Loci communes rerum theologicarum (Theological Commonplaces), the first systematic treatment of Reformation thought. Its considered the initiatory work in the Lutheran scholastic tradition. Modified editions appeared in 1535, 1543 and 1559.
Martin Luther wrote, No better book has been written after the Holy Scriptures than Philips. He expresses himself more concisely than I do when he argues and instructs. Im garrulous and more rhetorical (Table-Talk, 1543; in Luthers Works, Vol. 54, 439-440). Many think that this volume was the reason why Luther never wrote his own work of systematic theology. Melanchthon at length departed from Luther in some ways; most notably, in his denial of the Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist, by the time of the 1543 edition, and on the question of free will.
Luther, who had some violent disagreements with him, never criticized him publicly and never really broke with him. In fact, the verdict of history is that Luther was kinder to Melanchthon than Melanchthon was to Luther. . . . Most Lutherans in America up to the present time have been critical of him, including Schmauck, Neve, Bente, Pelikan, and many others, although that attitude is changing somewhat. (p. 7) * Melanchthon was a prodigy. He entered Heidelberg University at twelve and received his bachelors degree at 14. He moved on to Tubingen, where he earned the masters degree at 17, . . . He never received the doctorate and was never ordained into the ministry. He never preached from the pulpit, although he had much to do with the development of the study of oratory and homiletics. He received an appointment to teach at the newly established University of Wittenberg in 1518. . . . He remained at Wittenberg the rest of his life . . . differences [with Luther] appear as early as 1530, . . . and become more evident as the years roll on. (p. 8)
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See also my introductory post for this series on Facebook, which highlights his historically brand-new position of imputed justification ( sola fide ). For other installments of this series, see my Lutheranism web page , second section: Replies to Philip Melanchthons Loci Communes . Melanchthons words will be in blue . I use RSV for biblical citations. sola fideLoci Communes
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Nor does this refutation conflict with Paul, when James adds, A man is justified by works, for he is speaking of the righteousness or works which Paul also proclaims with great emphasis as being necessary; but he denies that remission of sins is given on account of this righteousness. Therefore the word to justify should not be understood as being the equivalent of reconciliation, but as we have often said elsewhere, it means to be approved. A man is justified by his works, that is, he has a righteousness of works which is approved and which pleases God. That obedience is necessary in the reconciled and how it is pleasing to God has been said above. The person is not righteous or pleasing or accepted if he lacks this obedience and if sins against conscience remain. Therefore the statement that a man is obliged to have the righteousness of works must be confessed by us. But in the meantime the hearer must also learn some other things, namely that he does not receive the remission of sins because of his works, or that they are pleasing to God, for they do not satisfy His law, but they are pleasing only for the sake of the Mediator. It is clear that he must add these points. (p. 111)
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Melanchthon tries very hard as all Protestants must, to retain faith alone to explain James 2 in a way harmonious with his novel soteriology, but he fails, for some of the reasons besides others that I have explained elsewhere
James 2:20-26 refers back to Genesis 15:6 (as well as Genesis 22), and gives an explicit interpretation of the Old Testament passage, by stating, and the scripture was fulfilled which says, . . . (2:23, RSV, as throughout). The previous three verses were all about justification, faith, and works, all tied in together, and this is what James says fulfilled Genesis 15:6. The next verse then condemns Protestant soteriology by disagreeing the notion of faith alone in the clearest way imaginable. Moreover, Nehemiah 9:8 states, thou didst find his heart faithful before thee, and didst make with him the covenant to give to his descendants the land of the Canaanite . . . * James 2 is usually applied by Protestants to sanctification, but that is not what the passage says. It mentions justified (dikaioo: Strongs word #1344) three times (2:21, 24-25): the same Greek word used in Romans 4:2, as well as 2:13; 3:20, 24, 28; 5:1, 9; 8:30; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Galatians 2:16-17; 3:11, 24; 5:4; and Titus 3:7. If James actually meant sanctification, on the other hand, he could have used one of two Greek words (hagiazo / hagiasmos: Strongs #37-38) that appear (together) 38 times in the New Testament (the majority of times by Paul himself). * James take note doesnt deny that Abraham also had faith, which was part of his justification as well (2:18, 20, 22-24, 26). We already knew Abraham was justified by a work in Genesis 22 because God rewarded him for something he had done and because he obeyed him.
Melanchthon has no basis in the actual text for asserting that justification has an essentially different meaning in James. He simply reads that into the passage (eisegesis), because James (writing like a good Catholic) ties works too closely to faith and justification, and in order to shore up his false theology. In a debate on justification , I observed:
James, just like Paul, ties both faith and works into salvation, not just flattering and God-honoring appearances before men. They are connected to salvation itself (1:12, 21-22; 2:14) as well as to justification (2:21, 24-25); both things directed Godward and not merely towards other persons. . . . * Kittels Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (one-volume edition, pp. 172-173) . . . [on] the meaning of James 2:24: * How we can be righteous before God is dealt with in 2:23-24. The concern here is to combat a dead orthodoxy that divides faith and works. The works that justify are not legalistic observances but the works of loving obedience that Paul calls the fruit of the Spirit. Abraham was justified by a faith which found fulfillment in works. . . . the practical concern, namely, that the only valid faith is one that produces works, is very much in line with the total proclamation of the NT, including that of Paul himself. * . . . Catholics say that Paul and James are talking about exactly the same thing, . . .
I again cite my article, Salvation Via Sanctification & Merit: Bible Proofs (Compendium of 78 Biblical Passages On Catholic Justification, Sanctification, Faith & Works, & Merit: Contrary to Protestant Faith Alone Soteriology) [8-26-24], which includes 32 passages from the Bible in which sanctification and works are directly tied to salvation in terms of contributing causes. All of that cant be ignored or rationalized away. God plainly intended to convey the message of an organic, intrinsic connection of faith and works, seeing that it is repeated so many times. The exegete and theologian is tasked with consistently incorporating these portions of the Bible into a coherent overall framework. I submit that Catholics and Orthodox do just that, while Protestants do not.
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Thus it is very apparent that James is not disputing about the entire matter but has spoken about only one aspect; he is demanding the righteousness of works and refuting those who imagine that they are righteous merely on the basis of their profession. (p. 111)
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This is inaccurate, since he repeatedly mentions faith in context (2:5, 14, 17-18, 20, 22-24, 26). Faith in the sense of justification appears twelve times in James 2, and works are also mentioned twelve times. Thus, we see that James view is precisely the same as Pauls: an organic relationship of faith and works (neither faith alone nor works alone). James isnt simply discussing works in some separate sense. Thats a force-fit interpretation, and it doesnt fly. The text is too clear.
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But with regard to reconciliation and how our imperfect obedience is pleasing to Godof this he does not speak at this point, but above in ch. 1:18 he alludes to this matter a little when he says, Of His own will God begot us with the Word of truth, that we should be the first fruits of his creatures. (p. 111)
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Indeed, but in the same chapter, he also merges faith and works, and expressly refutes faith alone: just as he does in chapter 2:
James 1:22-25 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. [23] For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; [24] for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. [25] But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing.
Compare that to Paul:
Romans 2:13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.
1 Cor. 13:2, If I have all faith, but do not have love, I am nothing. The reply to this is straightforward, easy, and clear: I grant the entire point. For we clearly affirm that love must be present, but it does not follow from this that we receive reconciliation on account of our love, and that our love is pleasing to God on the grounds that it satisfies the Law. (p. 111)
*
Love, like works, is part of the overall equation of justification and salvation. Melanchthon has again futilely attempted to separate what Holy Scripture does not separate:
Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. * 1 Timothy 2:15 Yet woman will be saved through bearing children, if she continues in faith and love and holiness, with modesty. * Hebrews 6:9-12 Though we speak thus, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things that belong to salvation. [10] For God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love which you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do. [11] And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness in realizing the full assurance of hope until the end, [12] so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Note that we inherit the promises not through faith alone but rather, through faith and patience. Despite these three passages, Melanchthon falsely asserts that it does not follow from this that we receive reconciliation on account of our love. Hes right if were talking about initial justification, but not subsequent maintenance of justification. Faith, works, and love are all together and cannot and must not be separated. Paul combined faith and love in 1 Corinthians 13:2 (above), which could then be paraphrased as faith without love is dead. He combines faith and love thirteen other times as well:
1 Corinthians 13:13 So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. * Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, * Ephesians 1:15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, * Ephesians 3:17-19 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] may have power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, [19] and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fulness of God. * Colossians 1:4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which you have for all the saints, * 1 Thessalonians 3:6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love . . . * 1 Thessalonians 5:8 But, since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. * 2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, as is fitting, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. * 1 Timothy 1:5 whereas the aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith. * 1 Timothy 4:12 . . . set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. * 2 Timothy 1:13 Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; * Titus 2:2 Bid the older men be temperate, serious, sensible, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. * Philemon 1:5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and all the saints,
Paul even combines faith, works, and love in one verse, six times:
2 Corinthians 8:7 Now as you excel in everything in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in your love for us see that you excel in this gracious work also. * Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love. * 1 Thessalonians 1:3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. * 1 Timothy 6:11 But as for you, man of God, shun all this; aim at righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. * 2 Timothy 2:22 So shun youthful passions and aim at righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart. * 2 Timothy 3:10 Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,
Jesus does the same:
Revelation 2:19 I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.
Moreover, the writer of Hebrews mentions love and works together: and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works (10:24). He had mentioned the full assurance of faith in 10:22, so in the space of three verses, he also mentions all three. So readers may notice that Melanchthon provides one prooftext in the effort to try to separate love from justification and remission of sins. I provide 24 passages to refute him. Who is being more biblical?
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Indeed, love cannot exist unless faith precedes it, . . . (p. 111)
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Im not at all sure that that is true (and he provides no proof that it is). I do know that divine grace must precede both things. I dont see that it would be any more implausible for God to produce love in us without faith (at first) than it would be for Him to produce faith without love.
*
Matt. 19:17, If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments. Therefore it is possible to satisfy the Law and our obedience merits eternal life. I reply: Our adversaries have established their errors by the use of this passage that man can satisfy the law of God and that the wickedness which is born with us is not an evil which is in conflict with the law of God, and that because of our fulfillment of the law the price of our eternal life has been paid. These errors have arisen because they did not distinguish the Law from the Gospel. (p. 112)
*
The they Melanchthon refers to here is Jesus Himself. Hes the one Who made errors according to the logical end result of Melanchthons theology. The rich young ruler had asked Him, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?(Mt 19:16). If Jesus had been a good Lutheran, or just about any kind of Protestant, He obviously would have had to respond, you cant do any work to attain eternal life! Youre dead wrong, even in your question. You must have faith alone! But of course He didnt say that. Rather, He said, If you would enter life, keep the commandments (19:17); that is, works, without mentioning faith.
*
Then the ruler answered, All these I have observed; what do I still lack? (19:20). And again, if Protestantism is right, Jesus had a second chance to affirm, you must believe in Me with faith alone to attain eternal life. But He again chose to answer like a Catholic and recommended another meritorious work: If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven . . . (19:21). So was Jesus wrong (because He didnt distinguish the Law from the Gospel ); or is Melanchthon wrong? The answer is a no-brainer.
*
The young man went away and Jesus observed, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. . . . it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle . . . (19:23-24). Why is it so hard? It sure isnt hard because he didnt exercise the faith that Jesus never recommended. Its hard because the work that was required to attain salvation (giving away all his possessions) is hard. And this is supposed to prove faith alone and disprove Catholic teaching? In what universe?
*
The Law requires complete obedience, and it promises life on the condition of complete obedience, as it has been said, This do and you shall live, Gal. 3:12. But it is evident that no one satisfies the law of God, as Paul clearly testifies in Romans 7 and 8. (p. 112)
*
But Jesus wasnt talking about the Law in His second reply. Nothing in the Law that Im aware of requires a person to give up all their possessions in order to be saved. This was a thing that the rich young ruler had to do because he had made money his idol (i.e., He had raised it above God in his affections). All he had to do was give it up to have eternal life. But easier said than done . . . In any event, that wasnt keeping the whole Law to be saved. Rather, it was obediently doing one meritorious work that would accomplish it. Thats according to the express word of Our Lord and Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ. Who are we to disagree with Him?
*
Therefore we must compare the passages under discussion here with other statements which properly apply to the Gospel. Rom. 6:23, The gift of God is eternal life through Christ. And John 6:40, This is the will of Him who sent Me that everyone who believes in the Son shall have eternal life. (p. 112)
*
Then why didnt Jesus tell him, for heavens sake (pun half-intended), that very thing, instead of talking about commandments and meritorious works for salvation? Why? Obviously, faith alone cant be the truth faith in Jesus is fine , because if it were in fact the only way to obtain salvation and heaven, Jesus would have absolutely had to say so when directly asked about that very thing. But He didnt; therefore, faith alone collapses in a heap and is a false, unbiblical doctrine, foreign and unknown to Jesus Himself.
*
God wills for the sake of His Son to receive us and to make us heirs of eternal life, and this takes place through faith. (p. 112)
*
It was through (implied existing) faith and definitely also works in the case of the rich young ruler: confirmed by Jesus. Faith alone is deader than a doornail after reading and pondering this passage for about 30 seconds.
*
And when we are received, then the new light and the new obedience do begin which are in agreement with the law of God. (p. 112)
*
But the order was the other way around in this story. The ruler had to be obedient to Jesus direct command first, and then he would be received : all the way to heaven.
*
Therefore to all the words of the Law add the Gospel. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments, that is, according to the voice of the Gospel or according to the spirit which the Gospel adds. You cannot begin to love without a knowledge of Christ and without the Holy Spirit. (p. 112)
*
But thats not what the text says, and is purely wrongheaded eisegesis: rather pathetically and desperately imposed on the text from the outside.
*
Nor does our obedience please God because it satisfies the Law, but on account of the Mediator, . . . (p. 112)
*
Yes, in this case, Jesus told him what to do to attain eternal life: keep commandments and sell all that he owned. That would have saved him; not a word about faith or belief in Jesus. That doesnt mean those things are denied, but it does mean that works cant be excluded from the overall equation of salvation. Jesus seemed to think that they were supremely, crucially important, just as He did in Matthew 25 (the sheep and goats passage), where He mentioned works as being the direct cause of eternal life.
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Photo credit: Portrait of Philipp Melanchthon (1537), by Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553) [public domain / [public domain / Wikimedia Commons
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Summary: Replies to Philip Melanchthon, including James refutation of faith alone, faith without love is dead, too, love and justification, Jesus denies faith alone (the rich young ruler).
Old-fashioned address books and rolodexes are becoming an increasingly rare sight as the world goes digital. Whats more, digital address books are not something you need to buy separately.
If you have an email address with Google (Gmail), Microsoft (Outlook), or Apple (iCloud), for example, an address book, or contact list as its usually called, is also included.
Today is Amazon Prime Big Deal Days! Our editorial team lists the best tech deals here. ]
Google Contacts is the service that Gmail uses when you send emails. If a person is entered here, you dont have to type the full email address manually, it will appear when you start typing their name in the To field.
But Google Contacts doesnt just keep track of email addresses. You can also add things like phone numbers, postal addresses, postcodes, dates of birth, and places of work. The point is that you can keep everything in one place, and you only have to do it once.
The data contained in the contact list is used not only by Gmail but also by other services. In other words, you can look up a persons home in Google Maps and get a reminder of their birthday in Google Calendar. You can also send meeting invitations in Google Meet and share documents in Google Sheets.
If you have an Android phone, it will also use the phone numbers in Google Contacts to make calls and you can see who is calling you in plain text.
Because Google Contacts is so widely used, its a good idea to make sure its always up to date and complete.
What are the risks?
Your contact list is valuable, and its important to be careful about sharing it. This is especially true for mobile apps that often ask for access to your contacts.
Of course, you also need to decide whether you want to give Google access to your contacts. Many people see this as a problem from a privacy perspective. As always, there is a trade-off between simplicity and security, and here each user has to choose how to make it.
What are the options?
In this article, Im focusing on Googles contact list, but competitors services work in much the same way.
For example, if you prefer to use Microsofts option, there is an address book called Outlook People. To use it, surf to www.outlook.com and log in. Click on the icon with small squares in the top-left corner. Click on the More apps and select People. You can also browse to outlook.live.com/people.
The setup is similar to what we describe here for Google services.
Getting started
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To open your contact list, surf to contacts.google.com and log in. To add new contacts, tap Create contact > Create a contact. Fill in the details shown or select Show more.
View and edit
Click on the Contacts to view your entire contact list and clicking on a person will display their contact details. You can change these via Edit at the top right and you can also mark someone as a favorite or delete the contact. You can also add a photo of your contact here.
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Check interactions
By opening a contact, you can also see your interactions in the right-hand column. This shows, for example, your latest emails and files that you have shared with each other. Of course, you can click on these to open them in Gmail or Google Drive, for example.
Star your favorites
People you contact often can be starred. This means that they appear at the top of various listings. This feature is also called Favorites.
To star a person, open their contact card and click on the star at the top right. You can also hover your mouse over a persons name to display the same star. Click again to remove the star.
Group work with labels
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For those who work together with others, it is smart to create groups in the contact list. A group, or Label as its called in the Google world, is a collection of contacts, and the point is that you can interact with all of them in one go. For example, you can create a group for the association board and another for your colleagues.
When you want to send emails, you dont have to type in the addresses one by one. Similarly, you can invite everyone to a video meeting or share files.
You can add labels via a persons contact card. Press the Label > Create a label or use an existing one already displayed in the list.
Editing the labels
All your labels are displayed under the Labels heading in the left-hand menu. Click on a label to see which contacts are included here. You can also rest your mouse on the label name to bring up icons to rename the label and to delete it.
Merge
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If you have accidentally entered the same person twice, it is easy to merge them. Select the duplicates in the contact list and press Merge-icon in the top-right corner. You can also select Merge and fix in the left-hand menu to do this automatically for the whole contact list.
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If you have an address list from another application, you can press Import > Select the file and locate the list. Follow the instructions to import. You can also select Create contact > Create multiple contacts to add many at once.
It can be tempting to delete people you rarely contact, but this is unnecessarily drastic. Instead, choose to hide them. They will no longer be visible in the regular contact list, but you can bring them up at any time.
To do this, tap the three dots to the right of a contact and select Hide from contacts. To find hidden contacts, tap Other contacts in the menu on the left.
Use Android
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Youll get the best overview on your computer, but Google Contacts is also available as an Android app. The layout is much the same, although it is adapted for a smaller screen. If the app is missing, you can search for Google Contacts via the Google Play Store.
or iPhone
The Google Contacts app is only available for Android, but if you have an iPhone or iPad, you can link your Google contacts list to the Apple Contacts app. You do this by opening Settings on your iPhone/iPad. Here you tap on Passwords and accounts > Add account > Google. Enter your email address and password, press Next button and follow the instructions.
Use the right phonebook
Some mobiles have their own phone book where contacts are stored locally. This means it doesnt end up in your Google contacts list and cant be accessed anywhere else. In other words, when youre asked how to save, make sure you do it in your Google Account.
Increase security
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The more you work with different Google services, the more important it becomes to think about security. You can increase it by switching on so-called Two-step verification. You will need a code delivered to your mobile phone to log in.
Switch on the feature by browsing to myaccount.google.com, log in, and select Security, yo log in to Google. Press the button Two-step verification and a wizard will start showing you how to do it.
Take control of the automation
Does your contact list include people you didnt add yourself? The explanation is that Google automatically adds people youve had contact with. If you want to avoid this, heres how:
Google account. Surf to myaccount.google.com, log in, and select People & sharing in the left menu. Under the heading Contacts you can switch off Contact info from interactions and Contact info from your devices.
Gmail. Surf to www.gmail.com and log in. Press the settings icon at the top right and select See all settings > General settings. Go to Create contacts for auto-complete and select Ill add contacts myself.
Print your address book
Do you feel insecure just having your contact list in the cloud? You can choose to print it on paper (or as a pdf file).
Open the Contacts in the left menu to view your contact list and press Print-button in the top right corner. Now you get to choose what to print and how to do it.
At a glance Expert's Rating Pros Remarkable battery life
A great array of ports
Sturdy, lightweight design
High-visibility display Cons Variable performance trails competitiors
A bit pricier than competition Our Verdict You can get faster and flashier systems, but the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 efficiency on levels we havent seen elsewhere. Its an all-around strong machine for general productivity on the go, and may prove a tough one to beat on that front.
Price When Reviewed
1849 Euro
Best Prices Today: Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6
Retailer Price Lenovo 1.849,00 View Deal Product Price
Lenovo has joined the bandwagon, introducing a new version of its ThinkPad T14s built around Qualcomms Snapdragon chips for PC. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 features the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100, which is a lower-spec variant, but the laptop itself is one of the more expensive options at $1,745 as tested (and that price is with Lenovos ever-shifting discounts that obscure the real price of products), and the price comes above competitive Intel- and AMD-powered laptops like the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7440 (2024) and Asus Zenbook 14 OLED.
While the performance and reliability of the Snapdragon chip inside the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 still has to prove itself in the long run, what were seeing from the system so far is respectable in everyday operation and downright brilliant in efficiency when combined with the rest of the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6s hardware. This is a very well rounded machine for productivity and well worth digging further into.
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Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Specs and features
At the time of testing, Lenovo was not offering multiple configurations of the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6. Since then, it has introduced a custom configuration option that is still built around the same Snapdragon chip and display but features Windows 11 Home and configurable storage that starts at 256GB alongside a starting price of $1,279. As it still comes with 32GB of memory, wed expect performance in most situations to remain largely unchanged.
Lenovo offers some upgrades with the custom configuration, including 64GB of memory for $193 extra. The bump to 1TB of storage costs $490 extra, though theres also a $180 option for 512GB, both of which seem too expensive.
You can get a touch display for $125, but it will feature a different panel with lower color gamut and may not have the same energy savings that this model gets. A 28801800 OLED display is also available with a wider color gamut, 120Hz refresh rate, and anti-glare finish, but it costs $315 more and is also likely to impact battery life.
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100
Memory: 32GB LPDDR5X
Graphics/GPU: Qualcomm Adreno integrated graphics
Display: 14-inch FHD+ IPS
Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD
Webcam: 1080p
Connectivity: 2x USB4, 2x USB-A 5Gbps, 1x HDMI 2.1 (4K60Hz), 1x 3.5mm combo audio
Networking: WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.3
Biometrics: Windows Hello fingerprint, facial recognition
Battery capacity: 58 watt-hours
Dimensions: 12.37 x 8.64 x 0.67 inches
Weight: 2.66 pounds
MSRP: $1,754 as-tested ($1,279 base)
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Design and build quality
IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 comes out looking much like just about any other ThinkPad. Its rocking the signature black and red design that makes it a little sleeper with subtle style. Lenovo has kept embellishments to a minimum, with only a small Lenovo badge on one corner of the lid and ThinkPad engraved into the opposite corner with a small illuminated dot in the i of the name.
The chassis doesnt make a statement. Its not obscenely thin or made out of obviously luxury materials, as Lenovo has hidden the recycled aluminum, magnesium, and CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced polymer) in a soft-touch-like black coating. But the whole system still ends up fairly svelte at just 0.67 inches. The frame feels just a little cheap because of how lightweight it is at just 2.66 pounds, but thats further offset by the smoothness and sturdiness of it. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 just feels built well. Theres some keyboard deck flex, but I have to really press hard to see much. If ever there was a delightfully utilitarian laptop, this feels like it, and its done well.
The frame sits on three rubber feet, with two small feet out front and one long foot spanning the width of the laptop at the back. These arent the grippiest, but they hold the laptop steady enough while typing and navigating.
The lid moves smoothly, but it has enough friction that it requires holding the base down while opening no one-handed opening despite the lid having a small lip that ought to have facilitated easier one-handed operation. It also wiggles a bit after its been moved, but thankfully it doesnt shake around while Im typing.
Theres a small gap between the base of the laptop and the display hinge, and the exhaust vents live in that gap. This lets vented air go both up toward the display and get directed down by the edge of the display. Air intake is handled by a single fan visible right behind a grate on the underside of the laptop.
All put together, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is a nice little laptop that doesnt get caught up in efforts to exude style but still has elegance and impressive robustness for such a lightweight system.
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Keyboard, trackpad
IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp
The keyboard on the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is good, but not quite as rock-solid as Id have hoped. The keys have a good bit of travel to them, but they dont offer much resistance and are therefore not incredibly well stabilized or poppy to type on. This leads to more errors drifting off the edge of one key and hitting its neighbor because of their tendency to tilt, and it results in plenty of missed presses if I dont slow down.
Rushing, I end up with low accuracy. At the best, I was able to hit 117 words per minute with 96 percent accuracy in Monkeytype, which is decent but still a ways away from my best performance. Still, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6s keyboard has its pluses.
For one thing, it has offset arrow keys that are easy to feel out. They also include small Page Up and Page Down keys. For writing or editing, the top-right of the keyboard also squeezes in Home, End, Insert, and Delete to provide some easier navigation, selection, and editing.
The keyboard features white backlighting, and Lenovo claims it is spill-resistant. Like other ThinkPads, the keyboard features the classic TrackPoint nib, which provides an extra way to mouse around the computer. Its effective and plays well with the physical left-, right-, and middle-mouse buttons above the trackpad, letting me keep my hands on the keyboard at all times.
There is also a small trackpad below the keyboard, which is wonderfully smooth with its mylar surface. Navigating with it is responsive and accurate, though it can get a little cramped for multi-finger gestures.
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Display, audio
IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp
Utility is at the forefront of the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6s display. Its a simple 19201200 option with no high refresh rate or snazzy OLED panel, but its great for work all the same. The resolution is reasonably sharp on a 14-inch panel, and even if its not dazzlingly colorful, it still covers 100 percent of the sRGB color space.
Perhaps best of all of productivity is that the matte finish is incredibly effective, knocking out glare left and right. That combines with the panel that hit 473 nits in testing, making indoor and outdoor use possible. Even contrast is strong, reaching 1670:1 to put most other IPS panels out there to shame. Its not exceptional, but its a good looking display that will stay out of your way when youre trying to get work done.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 has a pair of two-watt speakers that sit at either side of the keyboard. Despite low power, they actually pump out some impressive volume. In a quiet room, they readily get too loud for comfortable listening at arms length. For boisterous music, they can be a bit grating at high volume levels, but they play nice with more mellow tracks, like Mariya Takeuchis Plastic Love and offer a surprising amount of bass depth. For video calls, the speakers are plenty to be able to hear fellow attendees.
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Webcam, microphone, biometrics
IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp
The webcam on the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is a small 1080p unit that offers mixed performance. Without great lighting, it winds up turning visuals into an incredibly blurry mess. But turn on a nice light to fall directly on your face, and it produces a nice, sharp picture. Go too bright, as with sunshine coming through a window, and the contrast cant keep up and will dim too much of the rest of the picture, casting many details into shadow.
The camera offers a wide enough field of view to crop into or fit a couple people if you enjoy group calls. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 includes a convenient privacy cover for the camera that slides over the lens and shows an easy-to-see red dot so you can plainly tell when its covered.
In addition to serving for calls, the webcam supports Windows Hello facial recognition. This makes for quick sign-ins, and since the webcam has a wide field of view, it doesnt take much fussing around to get centered for recognition. Theres also a small fingerprint scanner at the top-right corner of the keyboard for yet another quick and easy way to securely sign into the laptop.
The microphones paired with the camera can also do a good job. Even with a small bit of background noise, they pick up my voice loud and clear. My voice is fairly full and doesnt sound far away.
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Connectivity
IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 shows that being a thin-and-light laptop doesnt have to entail a sacrifice of ports. The right edge of the laptop includes two USB-A 5Gbps ports and a Kensington Nano lock slot. The left side offers a full-size HDMI 2.1 port, a headphone/mic combo jack and two USB4 ports. Id love to see SD or microSD card support, but Im not mad at the combo of Type-A and Type-C ports with the display output to boot.
Wireless connectivity is also ready for the future with Wi-Fi 7 that proved fast and stable when tested on my Wi-Fi 6 network. Bluetooth 5.3 is also onboard, though Bluetooth 5.4 would have been a welcome upgrade.
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Performance
Like quite a few of the thin-and-light laptops weve tested here at PCWorld in the last two months, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 runs on a Qualcomm chip instead of something from AMD or Intel. In this case, its the lower-end Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 that was also in the HP Omnibook X 14.
This is a couple steps down from the Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 we saw in the Asus Vivobook S 15 (S5507), and that model comes in at $1,299, which is quite a bit more affordable than the $1,754 of the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6. There are even more affordable threats with more tried-and-true Intel and AMD chips, like the $999 Dell Inspiron 14 Plus with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H or the $849 Asus Zenbook 14 OLED with an AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS.
As Ive seen on the other systems tested with Snapdragon chips, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 struggles to prove competitive when it needs to run x86 programs through emulation and doesnt get to use ARM-native programs. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 puts up only a modest 6,824 multi-core score in Cinebench R23, which is an x86 program, and 1,119 points for single-core performance.
This lags behind both the Omnibook X and Vivobook S 15 by a considerable margin. Its worth noting that single-core performance on the ThinkPad actually beats the other Snapdragon systems, helping to explain why the ThinkPad still felt incredibly responsive in practice even while falling short of its competitors in overall might.
If youre after a dependable machine that will keep up with light workloads wherever you go, this might just be the one.
Lenovos performance starts to seem like a conscious choice as well. While this test was performed with the system set to its default Balanced mode and plugged into AC power, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 actually was able to reach a 7,700 multi-core score in Performance mode. Making matters even weirder, performance on battery power was better still. Balanced mode reached a 7,623 multi-core score and Performance mode went as high as 9,099, really closing the gap.
Running Cinebench R20 on battery power, with the Balancer power plan and Chrome and Slack both running, occupying system resources, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 managed to hit a 3,676 multi-core score, which is more than a 30 percent improvement over its results on AC power with no other applications running.
For Cinebench R24, the jump was similarly dramatic, going from a 567-point average to 792 points when switching from Balanced settings on AC power to Performance settings on battery power. I saw some similar funkiness on the HP Omnibook X and have heard other reviews make similar observations. Still, none of this is enough to let the Snapdragon chip catch up with the stalwart Intel or AMD chips, which beat the best results by a wide margin. The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus hits 13,363 in Cinebench R23s multi-core test and the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED reaches 13,777 and both also manage substantially higher single-core performance.
Weve seen some staggering differences in performance when the Snapdragon chips get to run native apps instead of emulating x86, as shown in our Surface Laptop 7 review. Sure enough, running the ARM version of Cinebench R24, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is able to put forward a 106-point single core score and 567-point multi-core score.
This is close to the results of the Framework Laptop 13 with an Intel core Ultra 7 155H with a 595 multi-core score or the Lenovo ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4 with an Intel Core Ultra 5 125U and 456 multi-core score. But the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 still seems to be holding back, as it falls well short next to Snapdragon-powered competitors like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x, which hit 1,043 points on the same chip.
The combined CPU and GPU performance for the system isnt proving any better as we see the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 again come up short in 3DMarks Time Spy benchmark. With a score of just 1,702 it lags ever so slightly behind its Snapdragon compatriots, which in turn fall very short of the performance available in AMDs Radeon 780M found in the Zenbook 14 OLED or the Intel Arc Graphics inside the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus.
The Night Raid benchmark tells a somewhat different story, as the benchmark has native ARM support. Here, all of the Snapdragon-powered systems regain some ground, though the overall hierarchy still remains with the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 narrowly trailing the pack and the AMD and Intel systems out front and practically tied.
While the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6s performance is clearly best in ARM-native applications, in general use, where the system isnt trying to put the pedal to the metal, the performance hit that comes from emulation isnt as likely to feel like a big problem. Its still a responsive laptop, and since thin-and-light laptops arent really intended to serve as workstations, it may be fitting its role well. For what its worth, I also noticed far fewer graphical hang-ups in everyday use compared to the HP Omnibook X and Dell XPS 13, which both run Snapdragon chips but have only 16GB of memory and may be seeing the GPU stumble when that memory fills up.
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Battery life
Every blow the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 took in our performance benchmarks seems to have been with one goal in mind: longevity. Its clear the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 can run faster, as some benchmarks showed when using different settings, but by default its not geared to.
Instead, its set up to leave all the competition in the dust when it comes to runtime. In our 4K video playback test, it put even the great-performing slate of recent laptops to shame. With an average runtime of 1,412 minutes (about half an hour shy of 24 hours), it led the next closest system in this pack by almost six hours. It also obliterates the Asus Vivobook S 15, which sat at what now seems an anemic 15 hours.
While the tempered performance is surely playing a part in the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6s longevity, the choice of display likely has a role as well. Lenovo has opted for a low-power display with a not-so-demanding 19201200 resolution and 60Hz refresh rate. The 28801620 OLED of the Vivobook is probably hurting it. Its all the more impressive when considering that the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 has the smallest battery as well. Its 58Wh battery sits 1Wh below the Omnibook, 6Wh below the Inspiron, 12Wh below the Vivobook, and 17Wh below the Zenbook.
Its not just in video playback that the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 impressed. In regular office-related use, it generally put itself on track for around a 10-hour runtime.
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Conclusion
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 could be a brilliant laptop in the right hands. Its not a high-performance workhorse and the variable performance it sees in different conditions makes it a little hard to rely on for speed. Some of that volatility may get ironed out as Snapdragon laptop chips spend a little more time in the real world. In spite of this, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 still remains a consistent machine in lighter tasks, likely thanks to the extra memory Lenovo is essentially insisting on.
Beyond that, this is a high-utility laptop. The keyboard is OK. The display isnt the sharpest or most gorgeous, but ensures visibility in most conditions. The battery can chug along for ages, putting pretty much anything weve tested to shame. And all this is coming from a little laptop that weighs under three pounds and feels quite well built.
While our test configuration is a little pricey to have somewhat underwhelming performance, those who can do without the extra storage can save a ton with the $1,279 base configuration. If youre after a dependable machine that will keep up with light workloads wherever you go, this might just be the one.
In a remarkable achievement, Samuel Naamgwinaa, a first-year student pursuing a Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Mines and Technology (UMAT), has emerged as the overall winner of the 2024 Presidential Pitch.
Samuels innovative creation, the "Smart Switch," captured the attention of Ghanas president, the judges and audiences alike, earning him top honors in a 3-day competition, which took place between 20th 23rd August 2024.
The Smart Switch is an automated system that allows users to remotely control their light consumption, significantly reducing energy wastage and contributing to Ghana's energy conservation efforts. Samuels pitch stood out for its ingenuity, ease of use, and seamless integration into existing systems, leaving a lasting impression on the panel.
This years Presidential Pitch attracted over 300 applicants, with only 10 finalists making it to the final round. Samuel not only claimed the ultimate prize of GHS 200,000 but also received an additional GHS 50,000 pledge from the President, on 23rd, the final day of the pitch, who was notably impressed by Samuel's presentation and the depth of his innovative thinking.
Samuels journey to this victory began with his participation in the 2024 KIC Agritech Challenge Classic, representing Takoradi Technical University. In an interview with KIC Program Officer Anthony Agee-kum, Samuel credited the Challenge for playing a pivotal role in his success.
The KIC Market Research Tours, Capacity Building Trainings, particularly on Business Concepts, and the Pitch Decks shared by Ato Ultzen-Appiah and other resource persons were crucial in my preparation for the final pitch, he explained.
Although I had participated in similar pitches before, I rarely won prizes. However, since joining the KIC Agritech Challenge, I have been empowered through its structured capacity-building programs, inspiring me to aim for and achieve success this time around. I extend my sincere appreciation to KIC, the Takoradi Technical University team, and the Mastercard Foundation for their unwavering support.
Looking ahead, Samuel expressed enthusiasm and optimism about the future of his KIC Agritech journey. He and his team are now focused on developing a new concept that applies the same automation principles to the agricultural sector, with the goal of benefiting smallholder farmers in the Western Region and across Ghana.
The 25-year-old young mans story is a testament to the transformative impact of the KIC Agritech Challenge Classic, which continues to nurture young innovators and equip them with the tools and knowledge needed to excel, even beyond the borders of the Challenge. His success not only highlights the importance of such initiatives but also serves as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators across the country.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
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The Sekyere South District Health Promotion Officer, Mr Joseph Asore, says exposure to smoke poses significant health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups like pregnant women.
He enumerated the health risks from prolonged exposure to smoke from charcoal and firewood as low birth weight, infant mortality, asthma, respiratory tract infections, reduced lung function, and heart failure.
Speaking at the National LPG awareness and sensitisation campaign in Jamasi, Mr Asore said Particularly pregnant women are at high risk, putting their lives and their unborn children at risk.
In most cases, it affects babies to the extent that it becomes visible in their weight. The normal weight of a newborn starts from 2.5kg, but due to these risks, some children are born weighing less, which has lasting implications for them from an early stage.
The national campaign, being executed in collaboration with the Oil Sustainability Program (OSP), an initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Energy, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), and Digicraft Advertising/Brand Management, includes market sensitisation, community durbar and town-hall meetings.
The four-day campaign in the Ashanti Region kicked off with market sensitisation in Ahwia Nkwanta and Agona, educating vendors and residents about the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM). A community durbar was held at the Jamasi Community Centre, where participants were urged to support the initiative.
Speaking at the event, the Assistant Headmaster of Administration at Adu Gyamfi Senior High School, Mr Emmanuel Eshun, praised the NPAs CRM, calling it a valuable opportunity and added this initiative allows you to easily exchange your old cylinder for a new, filled cylinder at an exchange point, making it a hassle-free process that benefits everyone.
The Twafohene of Jamasi, Nana Kofi, expressed his appreciation to the NPA and partners for bringing the awareness to Jamasi and its environs, saying our forests have been severely damaged by fires, and we welcome the introduction of gas as a safer alternative for cooking, which I believe will help protect our forests and environment.
In a presentation on CRM, a Supervisor from the Gas Directorate of the NPA, Johnson Gbagbo Jnr. gave comprehensive insights into CRM and shed more light on the policy.
Addressing the challenge of accessing gas refilling stations in Jamasi and why CRM was a necessary, Mr Gbagbo made parallel explanations to the cost of spending about GH6 on transportation from Jamasi to Agona to refill a cylinder, and the associated risks involved.
Since Jamasi doesnt have a gas refilling station, and people travel to Agona to refill their cylinders incurring transportation cost. The NPA and, by extension, the government has introduced this scheme to bring gas closer to you all. Under this scheme, the exchange points will be at various strategic centres for you to have easy access to gas without spending much or no money at all on transport, he stressed.
Addressing consumers at a Town Hall Meeting in Bekwai, Mrs Eunice Budu Nyarko, Head of Consumer Services at the NPA, urged the public to regularly check the cylinder rubber seals (washers) around the valves and the connecting hoses to see if they are worn out or damaged.
She encouraged consumers not to repair damaged hoses and rubber seals (washers) by themselves, but rather take the cylinders to nearest LPG dealers for a safety check and replacement of the worn-out hoses and seals. Additionally, hoses should be secured with proper hose clips.
Mrs Nyarko urged the public to keep LPG cylinders outside the kitchen to prevent explosion and resultant injury, death and property damage.
Source: Ghanaian Times
Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
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The aftermath of a traffic accident in Ha Giang Province in northern Vietnam, Sept. 3, 2024. Photo courtesy of HBHG
Approximately 1,200 drivers had alcohol-related traffic violations during this year's National Day holiday, with a decrease in the number of fatalities and injuries from traffic accidents compared to the previous year.
The traffic police department under the Ministry of Public Security said 20 traffic accidents occurred on National Highway 1 during the four-day holiday between Aug. 31 and Sept. 3, resulting in seven deaths and 18 injuries, a drop of eight deaths and three injured cases compared to the same period last year.
During the holiday period, traffic police handled 7,500 cases of traffic violations, involving over 650 buses, 920 trucks, 1,350 cars and 4,200 motorbikes. Authorities imposed fines totaling more than VND14.6 billion ($587,241), an increase of VND5.6 billion compared to last year. Over 1,500 driving licenses and 1,500 vehicles were confiscated.
Speeding violations were the most common, accounting for over 2,800 cases, while 1,200 cases involved violations related to alcohol consumption.
The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), former President John Dramani Mahama asserted that the recent footage of the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and the owner of DKM, Martin Delle, has vindicated him in the DKM scandal.
Speaking at a campaign event in the Bono Region, Mahama said that after members of the NPP accused him of being behind DKM, it has now turned out that the owner of the defunct microfinance institution is a bona fide member of the NPP.
You remember back in 2016 when I was president, the NPP party and MPs held a press conference and falsely accused me of being the owner of DKM. Recently, the vice president Bawumia visited Nandom and was seen in the company of the real owner of DKM.
His (the owner of DKM) uncle, former interior minister Ambrose Derry, admitted that the owner of DKM is a member of the NPP and one of the financiers of the vice president. The lies they spread about me have now been exposed, he said in Twi.
He added, The owner of DKM is actually affiliated with the NPP. The money that was embezzled is what he is now giving to Bawumia for his campaign. Lies take the lead, but in the end, the truth will always prevail.
About the DKM scam:
The DKM scandal was about a scam allegedly orchestrated by some microfinance institutions in the Brong Ahafo Region, including DKM, which led to residents losing their investments running into several millions of Ghana cedis.
The scandal led to the arrest of of managing director of DKM microfinance, Dr. Martin Delle, and three others were arrested for fraudulent breach of trust. Delle was released on a GHC80 million bail while the others, including the Chief Executive Officer of God Is Love Fan Club, Nortey Noel, and Managing Director of Jastar Motors, Charles Asum, had their bond set at GHC50 million and GHC20 million respectively.
The victims stated that the financial institutions convinced them of a 50 per cent interest offer on investments in three months. Based on the information, a number of people were said to have deposited various sums of money in the suspects companies.
However, on the maturity dates, the clients found the offices of the suspects locked when they went to collect their money.
Former President John Dramani Mahama and his wife, Lordina Mahama, were accused of being behind DKM.
Source: ghanaweb.com
Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
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Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has blamed the lack of rainfall across the country on the poor governance of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Even though the government has announced measures to mitigate the effects of the dry spell, the former president expressed sympathy for farmers dealing with losses noting that the situation has also led to an increase in food prices.
Former President John Mahama made these comments at the Babatokuma Market in Kintampo North during his four-day campaign tour of the Bono East Region where he engaged with traders.
We know that when youre running a country, the most important thing is that the people can afford food. Today, food is very expensive. The rains have not been coming this year because of the NPP government which has damaged many of our crops.
This is why the next NDC government will introduce the Farmers Service Sector in each district and give them ten tractors each, Mr. Mahama pledged.
The government has been taking steps to mitigate the effects of a looming food crisis. Last week, the Ministry of Agriculture announced an export ban on some food products including maize, soybean, and other grains.
Source: starrfm
Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
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The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and OccupyGhana have expressed disappointment over Cabinet's reluctance to approve the 2022 Conduct of Public Officers Bill (CoPO) for enactment.
In a joint statement, the coalition said its reaction followed repeated assurances by the President and the Attorney-General that the Bill would be passed into law.
It, therefore, challenged Cabinet's assertion that existing laws were sufficient to address the conduct of public officers, urging for the swift approval and enactment of the CoPO Bill by Parliament.
Context
Since 1993, successive governments in Ghana have unconstitutionally extended the period for public officials to declare their assets. Rather than fulfilling the constitutional requirement to declare assets before assuming office, officials have been allowed up to three months after their appointment to do so.
This extension has led to a troubling trend where many public officials either never declare their assets or make presumptive declarations of assets they anticipate acquiring during their tenure. Such practices undermine transparency and accountability, contributing to the erosion of public trust in government institutions, the groups stated.
CoPO Bill
The statement argued that recent issues surrounding unexplained acquisition of wealth by public officials could have been mitigated or even resolved if the 2022 CoPO Bill had been enacted.
We are convinced that the recent issues arising and concerning public officials and apparently unexplained wealth would have been resolved if the 2022 CoPO Bill had been enacted.
Possibly, that is why the Bill is facing strong resistance in Cabinet against its approval, it sated.
Show commitment to tax payment just like tithing - GRA tells faith based organisations told
The statement said, This is inexplicably shocking, considering that the 2018 CoPO Bill was previously recommended for Parliaments adoption with minimum suggestions by the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs (Parliamentary Committee) in July 2020.
The non-passage of any CoPO Bill since 2013 suggests governments and parliaments lack of commitment to fight the rising cases of alleged corruption, bordering on procurement and conflict of interest breaches in the Fourth Republic.
The bill represents a critical tool in the fight against rising corruption, particularly in areas related to procurement and conflicts of interest. The reluctance of successive governments and parliaments to pass the CoPO Bill raises serious concerns about their commitment to combating corruption in the Fourth Republic, it stressed.
It is noteworthy that although citizens elect presidents or executives and give them the authority to make policy decisions on their behalf, due to personal interests the elected officials actions do not usually align with the interest of the citizens, it observed.
Good governance
It stressed that transparency and accountability were cornerstones of good governance.
Many jurisdictions around the world have implemented legislation to ensure that public officers adhere to high ethical standards. For instance, the United States implemented the Ethics in Government Act of 1978; Kenya enacted the Public Officers Ethics Act in 2003; and the United Kingdom passed the Constitutional and Governance Act in 2010.
These laws have been instrumental in ensuring that public officials serve the needs of their citizens, and that public funds are managed effectively to minimise corruption, the statement added..
It said, a recent Afrobarometer survey shows majority (77 per cent) of Ghanaians say the level of corruption in the country has increased and the government is doing a poor job of fighting corruption and many citizens (69 per cent) see widespread corruption in key public institutions, but fear retaliations should they report cases of corruption to the authorities (CDD, News Release, 28th July, 2022).
As widely reported, public institutions are undermined by corruption, leading to low public confidence in government and economic systems, and a low level of trust required for the operation of a market economy.
Moral imperative
Consequently, the coalition said the enactment of the Conduct of Public Officers Bill was not just a legal necessity but a moral imperative to ensure the efficient and transparent functioning of Ghanas public sector.
It is essential for achieving the broader goals of economic development and ensuring the welfare, freedom and happiness of every Ghanaian, as enshrined in Article 36(1) of the Constitution, it said.
Source: graphiconline.com
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Business mogul and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Veros Petroleum, Yahya Tarek Diab has been honoured for his outstanding contributions towards building the Oil and Gas sector at the just-ended 8th edition of the Corporate Ghana Hall of Fame held on Friday, 30th August, 2024.
The esteemed recognition underscores his exceptional leadership and Veros Petroleum's rapid ascent in Ghana's Petroleum landscape.
Held at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, the Corporate Ghana Hall of Fame awards ceremony celebrated Ghana's top Businesses and individuals driving positive change in the country.
The event was attended by high-profile dignitaries, including; Emeritus Prof. Kwesi Yankah ( Former Minister of State for Tertiary Education), Immediate Past Chairman of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Ing. Dr. Kwasi Abeasi, representatives from the Ghana government, diplomatic corps, and traditional institutions.
The honours automatically induct him as a member of the "Corporate Ghana Hall of Fame", which is the topmost connective Corporate network platform in Ghana.
The Hall of Fame initiative is an executive association that embodies top CEOs and Group Chairmen placed on a platform on which members can more easily reach out for assistance in a required field without incurring cost.
Yahya Tarek Diab's direction has redefined tremendous professionalism with customer-centric approach and innovative service delivery at all times.
The companys commitment is to create and enhance a redefined service " through warm, open communication, and world-class care has resonated with clients and industry peers alike.
Yahya Tarek Diab in a post-media interview, expressed gratitude to his colleague board members, staff of the Veros Petroleum and his clients for their unflinching contributions always.
He emphasised the need for improved working conditions and stronger client trust to elevate Ghana's Oil and gas sector.
"I am extremely excited for such a wonderful recognition at this highest magnitude. We at Veros Petroleum are committed to give customers the best of experience in every aspect of our operations. This is a big win for us all" he noted with smiles.
Veros Petroleum has positioned itself as a leader in the industry with credibility and reputation in the market and also setting benchmarks for others to follow.
PROFILE OF YAHYA TAREK DIAB
Yahya Tarek Diab is an Entrepreneur, Technologist, Pilot and Philanthropist committed to the highest professional standard's in each of the industries he specializes in.
His qualities and values cultivate Consistency, commitment, Accountability, Reliability, Performance, Responsiveness, Teamwork and Creativity in any sector that he serves.
Yahya Tarek Diab has a degree in Business Management, Microsoft Engineering and Piloting.
In 2014, he established an Oil and Gas downstream company which grew to be Veros Petroleum Today which engaged in the supplies and distribution of petroleum spirits and products which helped him gain a vast field experience in the Oil and Gas sector.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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Burkina Faso has launched new biometric passports without the logo of West Africa's main political and economic bloc on their cover, further signalling its determination to withdraw from the regional alliance after military leaders took power in a coup.
Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, three neighbouring states now led by military juntas, jointly announced in January they would leave the 15-member Economic Community of West African States, which has since sought to persuade the three to reconsider their decision.
"On this passport, there's no ECOWAS logo, and no mention of ECOWAS either. Since January, Burkina Faso has decided to withdraw from this body, and this is just a realisation of the action already taken by Burkina Faso," security minister Mahamadou Sana told reporters at the launch on Tuesday.
ECOWAS has warned that the three countries' withdrawal would undermine the freedom of movement and common market of the 400 million people living in the 50-year-old bloc.
Their departure comes as their armies battle groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State, whose insurgencies have destabilised West Africa's central Sahel region over the past decade and threaten to spill over into coastal states.
Since their militaries seized power in a series of coups in 2020-2023, the three countries have formed a three-way defence and cooperation pact known as the Alliance of Sahel States and severed long-standing military and diplomatic ties with Western powers, seeking instead closer relations with Russia.
Source: Reuters
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The Deputy Director of Protocol for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwabena Frimpong was honoured by the Floodlights Excellence Media Awards for his remarkable contributions to society.
The recognition came in the form of a citation, celebrating his dedication to supporting the underprivileged and highlighting the plight of the downtrodden in various communities.
The citation acknowledged Frimpongs commitment to serving those often overlooked by society, bringing attention to their struggles, and providing much-needed assistance.
His efforts have not only brought visibility to the issues facing marginalized groups but have also inspired positive change within these communities.
The Floodlights Excellence Media Awards team commended Frimpong for his exceptional service, noting that his humanitarian efforts have made a significant impact on the lives of many.
His work, they said, exemplifies the kind of leadership and compassion that is needed to uplift those who are most vulnerable in society.
In their presentation, the awards team emphasized that Frimpongs dedication to helping the helpless has not gone unnoticed. His contributions have been a beacon of hope for many, and this recognition serves as a testament to the positive influence he has had on countless lives.
Frimpong, who has long been an advocate for social justice and community development, expressed his gratitude for the award.
He reiterated his commitment to continue working tirelessly to support those in need and to use his platform within the NPP to promote initiatives that benefit societys most vulnerable.
The Floodlights Excellence Media Awards is known for honouring individuals and organizations in the media space for their dedication to society.
This years event held over the weekend in Kumasi celebrated media houses, journalists, media personalities, politicians, among others.
SOURCE: DAILY MAIL GH
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Parliament, on September 3, 2024, was turned upside down as the minority and the majority engaged in a blame game as they seek to settle scores on who destroyed more water bodies with the increase in galamsey activities.
During the extra ordinary meeting of Parliament, the Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh Dompreh blamed the erstwhile Mahama government for championing the course of galamsey activities in the country.
The debate and blame game stemmed from a recent announcement from the Ghana Water Company Limited that water supply to Cape Coast and its environs could be reduced drastically due to the imminent negative impact of the illegal mining on the major rivers that supply water to their pump stations.
In the wake of the worrying situation, Majority Chief Whip stated that, it is out of place for the minority in parliament to apportion the blame to the incumbent government for allowing the menace to continue.
If we are to look and investigate both sides of the House (NPP and NDC), I can tell you that the NDC polluted the water more than us. So, lets get matters straight, he said.
However, Majority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and Member of Parliament for Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam in the Central region, indicated that under this government even though security personnel have been deployed to help fight galamsey, the practice is still taking place.
Other MPs raised concerns about the scarcity of water in most parts of the country. The MP for Bodi, Samson Ahi said there is water shortage in places such as Kumasi, Western Region and parts of Greater Accra region due to the ripple effect of galamsey activities.
If care is not taken, we may not get water to bath before coming to Parliament tomorrow, he warned.
It is feared that, if the canker is not curbed and sanctity brought into the fight against galamsey, Ghana stands the risk of importing potable drinking water, which could only be afforded by a select few.
In a panel discussion on Peace FMs 'Kokrokoo' morning show on Wednesday, September 3, Atik Mohammed, a policy analyst joined in the call for the dismissal of the Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor for failing to combat the galamsey activities.
Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com
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In a bold display of political strength, Alan Kyerematen, the presidential candidate and leader of the Movement for Change/Alliance for RevolutionaryChange, has once again electrified Accra with his dynamic meet-and-greet campaign. The event, which swept through key areas like Maamobi, Nima, New Town, and Circle, showcased the soaring popularity of the Afrafranto Movement, as traders and residents alike rallied behind Mr. Kyerematens vision for a transformed Ghana.
The overwhelming enthusiasm, love and support witnessed during the campaign underline Alan Kyerematens emergence as a formidable alternative to the entrenched NDC-NPP duopoly. As Mr. Kyerematen traversed the vibrant markets and diverse communities, the energy on the streets was unbelievable, with large crowds eagerly gathering to support the leader they believe can usher in a new era of economic transformation and governance reform.
A woman known as Auntie Maggie, residing in New Town, became emotional and shed tears upon seeing Mr. Alan Kyerematen. She remarked that Mr. Kyerematen had endured significant challenges within the NPP, noting that Nana Addo had not treated him well, but she believes that God will reward his efforts.
This growing wave of support highlights a deep-seated discontent with the traditional political establishment. Citizens from all walks of life - traders, artisans, and ordinary Ghanaians expressed their desire for genuine change, a change that Alan Kyerematen is determined to deliver. His innovative plans, including the creation of a Traders Bank and the development of modern markets equipped with essential facilities like clinics and creches, have resonated powerfully with the public.
These initiatives are central to Mr. Kyerematens strategy to economically empower traders by providing them with access to tailored financial services and secure, modern business environments. By fostering a robust middle class anchored by empowered traders, he envisions a future where these individuals play a pivotal role in driving national growth and prosperity.
During an interview with the media, Alan Kyerematen reinforced his commitment to implementing key economic reforms, including the removal of import duties on spare parts. This policy is aimed at reducing transportation costs and, by extension, lowering food prices across the nation, further solidifying his appeal among the electorate. He also appealed to Ghanaians to look beyond the two main political parties and embrace his proposed government of national unity which is superior to the current winner-takes-all syndrome.
The Afrafranto Movement presidential candidate was accompanied by senior figures from the Alliance for Revolutionary Change, including Dr. Abu Sakara, Mr. Akeasi Odike, Nana Ohene Ntow, Lawyer Boaben Asamoa, and Miss Tina Mensah. Their presence underscores the broad-based support within the movement, which is rapidly gaining traction as a credible political force.
As the Afrafranto Movement continues to build momentum ahead of the upcoming elections, it is clear that a significant shift in the political landscape may be underway. The scenes in Accra suggest that Ghanaians are ready to break away from the traditional political cycle and embrace a new leader who offers a transformative vision for the future. With Alan Kyerematen at the helm, the Afrafranto Movement is poised to lead Ghana into a new chapter of economic empowerment and national transformation.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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Flagbearer of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has urged vice President and flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, to urge his parliamentary candidates to remove their political posters imprinted on the equipment for the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP).
At a mini rally in the Yeji, in the Pru East District, the former President, John Mahama stated that, imprinting NPP paraphernalia on the equipment meant to carry out national assignments should be stopped immediately, noting that the funds used in the procurement of the equipment were from taxes paid by all Ghanaians.
He emphasised that the equipment, distributed across the country, belongs to all Ghanaians, not just the NPP.
John Mahama urged President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia to recognise their duty to serve the entire nation, rather than just their party.
He called for the immediate removal of the posters and cautioned that the NDC would take further action if necessary should the NPP fail to do the needful.
Its the governments money, funded by the taxes we all paywhether youre NPP, CPP, Christian, or Muslimeveryone contributes. Theyve used those taxes to import earth-moving equipment for road construction, and each district has been allocated some. But now, were seeing posters of NPP parliamentary candidates on the DRIP equipment.
I want to remind Akufo-Addo and Bawumia that they serve the entire country, not just the NPP. The equipment doesnt belong to the party; it belongs to all Ghanaians.
No one has the right to place their posters on the DRIP equipment. They must order the immediate removal of these posters, or well be forced to take action ourselves, he stated.
DRIP is a nationwide initiative aimed at improving road conditions across all 275 constituencies
Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com
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Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has intensified his street-to-street campaign in Accra with surprise visits to lorry stations and markets.
The NPP flagbearer, who has adopted an energetic meet and greet campaign in markets, lorry stations, on the streets and house to house in communities, stormed the popular Neoplan Station at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra.
Drivers, traders and the public were excited to see him; they shook hands with him with some also hugging him in an unrestrained expression of excitement.
Dr. Bawumia, whose style has been to exchange pleasantries with people at random, also greeted as many of those who trooped to catch a glimpse of him and interacted with them.
The Vice President also paid a surpsrise visit to the office of Telecel, formally Vodafone, and interacted with the staff.
He further moved to Kaneshie market where he was mobbed by the traders and shoppers who embraced him and chanted his name and his It Is Possible mantra in support of his candidacy.
Dr. Bawumia also had similar reception when he visited the Abeka market and Nii Boi Town where he also interacted with the community members from house to house.
Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
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On July 28, Venezuelans went to the polls to decide who will lead the country for the next six years. The election was highly anticipated both by Venezuelans and outside observers, as Nicolas Maduro, who has held the office for the past eleven years, is highly unpopular. His opponent, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, is a 75-year-old former diplomat.
On July 28, both candidates claimed victory. The electoral authorities, loyal to the current President, declared Maduro the victor soon after the polls closed. However, they failed to publish results broken down by voting machine, as they had done in previous presidential elections.
Each of the 30,000 voting machines prints several copies of tally sheets that are considered to be the ultimate proof of election results in Venezuela. Adherents of Edmundo Gonzalez obtained copies of tallies from 83.5 percent of the voting machines and declared that their candidate garnered 67 percent of the vote.
Utilizing the tried and effective tactics used by unpopular dictators for decades, Maduro and his government decided that since they could not defeat Edmundo Gonzales, they would arrest him instead. Having declared on August 22 that the vote tallies published by the opposition were fake, the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice, every member a Maduro loyalist, certified Maduros victory. And on September 3, a Venezuelan judge issued an arrest warrant for Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, accusing him of usurpation of functions, forgery of public documents, instigation to disobey laws, conspiracy, and sabotage to damage systems.
The United States strongly condemns this unjustified arrest warrant, said State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller.
Its not just the United States thats condemning this arrest warrant. Its countries in the region Argentina, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay who have all condemned this unjustified arrest warrant.
Gonzalez Urrutia won the most votes in Venezuelas July 28 presidential election, said Spokesperson Miller. Maduro and his representatives cannot indefinitely suppress the legitimate aspirations of the Venezuelan people and maintain power by force.
The arbitrary and politically motivated action demonstrates the extraordinary lengths to which Nicolas Maduro will go to try and maintain power following his attempt to steal the July 28th presidential election, he said.
The will of the people and their rights must be respected, said Spokesperson Miller. We reiterate our call for the immediate and unconditional release of those who have been unjustly detained.
The National Chief of Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu has prayed for the Vice President and flagbearer of the NPP, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, for Allah's favour and victory in December presidential election.
Dr. Bawumia was in the Okaikoi Central Constituency on Wednesday and together with the Member of Parliament for the area, Patrick Boamah, paid a courtesy call on Sheikh Sharubutu.
Sheikh Sharubutu invoked the 110th chapter of the Holy Quran while praying Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
The National Chief Imam asked those present to recite the 110th chapter of the Quran titled "The Victory" which speaks about victory.
The National Chief Imam also prayed for the peace of Ghana before, during and after the elections.
Accompanying Dr. Bawumia were the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Titus Glover, National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Stephen Ntim, former General Secretary and presidential aspirant, Kwabena Agyepong.
Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
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A 26-year-old woman beaten in a downtown Harrisburg apartment last week pleaded for a bystander to help her right before she died, according to court documents filed against a husband and wife charged with killing her.
Kyle and Chanise Burton, 42 and 36, have each been charged with homicide in connection to the Thursday night killing of Allie McFadden, 26, inside the Burtons apartment at 117 Pine St., police said. Police initially released very few details about the killing.
The final moments of the July 26 plane crash that claimed the lives of members of the gospel group The Nelons have been revealed in a new preliminary report.
The National Transportation Safety Board released the report on Aug. 28, which is a month after six plane passengers and the pilot were killed in the devastating crash. The horrific incident took the lives of three members of the Grammy-nominated gospel group.
The report revealed that the plane took off in Nebraska on July 26 and was enroute to Montana. During the last part of the flight, the pilot declared an emergency to the Salt Lake City Air Route Traffic Control Center and reported the loss of autopilot.
When the controller went on to ask the pilot where hed like to land, there was no initial response, according to the report. The pilot later resumed communication and told the controller he was attempting to gain control of the plane. When the controller told the pilot to let them know if he needed any more assistance, there was no further reply.
After the loss of radio and radar contact, the Federal Aviation Administration issued an alert notice and local law enforcement discovered that the plane crashed around 12 miles northeast of Recluse, Wyoming.
Witnesses were able to describe the moments before and after the crash.
One witness located near the accident site heard a loud whining noise that diminished and then increased followed shortly thereafter by smoke emanating from the area of the accident site, the report read. Another witness observed the airplane overhead in a barrel roll maneuver and heard the airplanes engine roaring loud until they heard the airplane impact terrain. The witness stated that they saw the smoke in the area shortly after.
As a result, The Nelons co-founder Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Clark, and their daughter Amber Nelson Kistler died in the crash, according to a previous statement shared by daughter and fourth band member Autumn Nelon Streetman.
Thank you for the prayers that have been extended already to me, my husband, Jamie, and our soon-to-be-born baby boy, as well as Jasons parents, Dan and Linda Clark, she said at the time. We appreciate your continued prayers, love and support as we navigate the coming days.
Also killed in the crash were Ambers husband Nathan Kistler, their assistant Melodi Hodges, the pilot Larry Haynie and his wife Melissa.
As previously reported, The Nelons were traveling to join Gaither Homecoming Cruise in Alaska. Nelon Streetman was not traveling on the plane with her parents and sister and had already made it to Seattle at the time.
The preliminary report regarding the crash also added that the information was subject to change and a final report on the probable cause of the crash could take up to two years to complete, National Transportation Safety Board spokesperson Keith Holloway previously said.
The award-winning gospel group were inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2016 and hold 10 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards.
The question of who gets to be a medical marijuana doctor in Pennsylvania is facing new scrutiny from lawmakers following a Spotlight PA investigation.Daniel Fishel / For Spotlight PA
By AMY TAXIN, DEEPA BHARATH, ALEX VEIGA and CLAUDIA LAUER, the Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) Hunter Biden is changing his not guilty plea in his federal tax case, his defense attorney said Thursday just as jury selection was set to begin for the trial.
Defense attorney Abbe Lowell told the judge about Hunter Bidens plans to change his previous plea.
Mark Geragos, another Biden lawyer, said in a text message that the presidents son intends to enter whats referred to as an Alford plea, an unusual plea under which a defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges prosecutors have enough evidence to gain a conviction.
There is overwhelming evidence of the defendants guilt, Lowell told the judge. This can be resolved today. Its not a complicated issue.
FILE Hunter Biden arrives at federal court with his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, June 11, 2024, in Wilmington, Del. He plans to enter a plea today in his federal tax case. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)AP
Biden is facing misdemeanor and felony charges over what prosecutors say was a four-year scheme to avoid paying at least $1.4 million in taxes while pulling in millions of dollars from foreign business entities. He is already confronting potential prison time after a Delaware jury convicted him in June of lying on a 2018 federal form to purchase a gun that he possessed for 11 days.
The defenses announcement appeared to take the prosecution and the judge by surprise. U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi quickly ordered a break so the two sides could talk about the next steps. More than 100 potential jurors had been brought to the courthouse Thursday to begin the process of jury selection, with opening statements expected in the case Monday.
A last-minute plea would allow Hunter Biden to avoid a trial that was expected to put a spotlight on his foreign business dealings, which Republicans have spent years scrutinizing to accuse his father, President Joe Biden without evidence of corruption in connection with his sons work overseas.
The potential political ramifications of the trial just weeks before the presidential election may have faded somewhat since President Bidens July decision to drop out of the 2024 race. But the president is deeply concerned with the well-being of his son, so the trial is likely to weigh heavily on him in the final months of his five-decade political career.
The remains of 11 children, all former students at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School more than a century ago, may soon be returned to their families.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Army, the Office of Army Cemeteries and archaeologists and anthropologists from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started the seventh disinterment of Native American childrens remains at the cemetery on the grounds of the Carlisle Barracks.
The children died while attending the school, operated by the U.S. Department of the Interior from 1879 to 1918, and were buried at the cemetery.
Fencing has been erected around the cemetery, which is closed to the public until about Oct. 14.
The return of these eleven children to their Native American families is one of the Armys highest priorities, and we hope it will bring them the long-awaited peace and closure they deserve, said Karen Durham-Aguilera, executive director of Army National Military Cemeteries and the Office of Army Cemeteries earlier this year. We will continue to work with families and tribes in their courageous undertaking to return these children home.
The Army has conducted exhumations at the cemetery since 2017 to help bring closure to Native American families and tribes by reuniting them with the remains of the children, who were buried far from home. It has repatriated 32 children over the last six years and will continue with the next group in 2025.
This years disinterment is the largest since the program started. The 11 children represent six tribes and are being disinterred at the request of family members or tribes.
The decedents names are: William Norkok from the Eastern Shoshone Tribe; Almeda Heavy Hair, Bishop L. Shield, and John Bull from the Gros Ventre Tribe of the Fort Belknap Indian Community; Fanny Chargingshield, James Cornman, and Samuel Flying Horse from the Oglala Sioux Tribe; Albert Mekko from the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and Alfred Charko and Kati Rosskidwits from the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes. One tribe wishes to remain anonymous.
About 200 students died at the school and were buried in the governments care at the cemetery. Many of the children died from diseases including tuberculosis, according to Carlisle Indian School Digital Resource Center at Dickinson College.
Alfred Charko died at age 15 just five months after arriving from Kansas and was sick before he came, so he was in the hospital ever since he came [to Carlisle], according to a student newspaper.
Another student, Fanny Chargingshield, died 13 months after arriving from South Dakota at the age of 16. Records indicate her father Chief Chargingshield visited her while she was sick, but its not clear if he reached her before she died, or why he didnt bring home her remains at that time for reburial.
In 1879, the Carlisle Barracks became the site of the school, which enrolled more than 10,000 Native American children representing about 50 tribes from across the nation.
Some children thrived, while others were traumatized as they were forced to become Anglicized. Some were captured and sent to the school, while others were sent by tribes following negotiations between the chiefs and the U.S. government. Still, others, whose parents attended the school, went voluntarily to learn to read, write and speak English.
The transition from tribal life to the military-style regime of the school was often difficult and traumatic. Their clothing was replaced with uniforms, their hair was cut and they were forbidden to speak their language or practice their customs and they took on new names.
The Army has worked closely with many of the tribes who travel to Carlisle.
Its special, but its hard, Emma Filestell, Fort Belknap Tribes deputy tribal historic preservation officer, told Native News Online earlier this year.
Families and tribes will choose the final resting place for these children and the Army covers the cost of family traveling to witness the disinterment, transport of the remains and reinterment.
The Office of Army Cemeteries recognizes that this has been an extremely difficult journey for families and tribes, said Renea Yates, project director and director of the Office of Army Cemeteries. We sincerely appreciate the trust they have given us to assist in returning their children. The Army team will continue to treat every gravesite, family, tribe and child with dignity and respect.
Last September, Filestel traveled from Montana to Carlisle to initiate the return of her tribes ancestors, according to Native News Online. Filestell noted the Office of Army Cemeteries has been cooperative about negotiating the return of her ancestors, saying, Its going to be good to have them home.
Editors note: This article has been updated to reflect that Sen. Bob Casey and Dave McCormick have only agreed on one debate so far.
There will be at least one debate between Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and Republican challenger Dave McCormick in October.
Police in Cumberland County were called to a middle school Wednesday morning after a student brought an airsoft gun to the schools entrance, according to a press release.
Camp Hill Police responded to the Camp Hill Middle School at 7:35 a.m. and searched the student, who had an unloaded airsoft gun, according to a police report.
Officers are investigating the incident in collaboration with the school district.
Airsoft guns are typically made out of plastic but can be made of metal and shoot lightweight spherical pellets. Unmodified airsoft guns also have neon orange tips to differentiate them from real firearms.
ALIQUIPPA, Pa. (AP) A 13-year-old Pittsburgh-area girl who was reported missing early last month spent time with adult inmates at a Pennsylvania jail after she lied to authorities about her age and identity following a shoplifting arrest, a prosecutor said.
Someone at the Beaver County jail eventually recognized the girl as a missing person, leading officials to separate her from the jails adult population, Beaver County District Attorney Nate Bible said Tuesday. The teens parents were then notified and they picked her up, and the charges against her were moved to juvenile court, he said.
Pittsburgh police posted information about the missing teenager on Aug. 6, and subsequent reports said she had been seen in the city and riding on public transportation.
The girl was charged with retail theft after she was caught stealing items from a store in Beaver Falls on Aug. 17, Bible said. At the time, she gave police a false name and birthdate that led authorities to believe she was 18.
The teen eventually told officers on several occasions that she was a juvenile from the Pittsburgh area, and they told her they would release her to her parents. However, the girl falsely told them she was homeless, Bible said.
During this time, Beaver Falls police contacted child services agencies in Beaver County and Allegheny County where Pittsburgh is located to try to find information about her, but since she had given authorities a fake name no records were found, said Bible, who didnt note how many days she spent with the jails adult population.
WILLIAMSPORT A Lycoming County businessman believes the affidavit submitted to ensure District Attorney Thomas A. Marino is not involved in his homicide prosecution is grossly deficient.
Kenneth R. Michaels, 66, in a motion filed Tuesday, asks county Judge Ryan M. Tira to clarify and enforce compliance of his Aug. 19 order requiring the affidavit.
Michaels, who is accused of fatally shooting his brother-in-law John Roskowski inside family-owned Cable Service Co. on Aug. 17, 2023, sought to have the entire district attorneys office disqualified.
However, Tira on Aug. 19 formalized Marinos decision to voluntarily recuse himself by ordering the prosecutor not to have any involvement in or influence over any aspect of the case.
The judge also ordered first Assistant District Attorney Martin L. Wade to file an affidavit swearing everyone in the district attorneys office had been made aware of the following screening requirements:
The paper file and all copies of documents related to the case shall be kept locked in Wades office.
Marino shall not discuss this case either verbally or in written communications with any member of his office including support staff.
Marino shall not attend any court proceedings in his matter including as an observer.
Marino shall refrain from speaking about the case to Michaels lawyers, potential witnesses, the media and the general public.
On Aug. 23 Wade filed a one-sentence affidavit swearing all members of the district attorneys office had been made aware of the screening requirements.
One of Michaels attorneys, E.J. Rymsza, claims the truncated affidavit denies the judge any meaningful ability to evaluate compliance of his order.
There are no details on how the office employees were advised of the screening requirements, the document states.
The affidavits just trust me approach is woefully inadequate, Rymsza claims.
Michaels tried to have the prosecution transferred to the state attorney generals office given Marinos past friendship with Roskowski and his involvement in the case last year before he was elected district attorney.
Michaels admits he shot Roskowski inside the lobby of the Cable Services just north of Williamsport on Aug. 17, 2023.
The issue is whether it was intentional as the prosecution claims or self-defense as argued by the defense.
Michaels maintains he shot when an irate Roskowski lunged at him after he opened the front door of the Williamsport area business.
Investigators dispute that, citing police body camera video that showed the fatally wounded man lying just inside the door.
Michaels, who is married to Roskowskis sister, worked at Cable Services, a telecommunications company, for 40 years, the last 20 as CEO.
He was a former long-time business partner of Roskowski until he bought his shares in the business.
Although Roskowski no longer was employed, he would visit often because his son worked there and he was friends with the mechanics in the fleet building.
He was told the day before he was killed he no longer was allowed on the property.
Last week, the state Superior Court affirmed Tiras decision that Michaels, due to the homicide charge, is not entitled to bail. He also is charged with possession of an instrument of crime.
Tensions in Syria have reached a new, dangerous level as violent incidents are on the rise. The United Nations reports a significant escalation of hostilities in Syrias northeast, while at the same time, ISIL is ratcheting up its rate of attacks, particularly in the central desert area. Meanwhile, the suffering of the Syrian people keeps increasing.
One bright spot is the Syrian regimes reauthorization of three border crossings for delivery of humanitarian aid. This includes Bab al-Hawa, which has for many years served as the only point of entry for aid heading to Syrias northwestern regions, where it is needed the most.
Nonetheless, the Syrian regime is still playing games with peoples lives.
[I]t continues to grant consent only in short-term increments, said Robert Wood, U.S. Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs at the U.N.
On August 12, the regime extended permission for the UN to use the Bab al-Salam and al-Rai border crossings just one day before their authorization expired. And it once again granted consent for only three months, he said.
While this extension was welcome news by the people who depend on and deliver humanitarian assistance, the United States continues to urge the Council to call on the regime to allow for more predictable and longer-term access. This would enable humanitarian actors to plan, deploy staff, and use resources more effectively.
Syria is struggling with a slew of problems that cannot be addressed without a political process in place, but the Syrian Constitutional Committee has not met since June 2022. Ambassador Wood called on the regime not only to agree to a meeting of the Constitutional Committee, but also to commit to meaningful participation.
We reiterate that we will not fund regime-led reconstruction and that U.S. sanctions will remain in place until, at a minimum, there is concrete, measurable progress toward a political solution in line with Resolution 2254, he said.
Resolution 2254 calls for a political settlement in Syria.
We continue to support the Syrian peoples calls for peace, dignity, security, and justice, and we support the exercise by Syrians of their rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, said Ambassador Wood.
Syrians have suffered for far too long, and their increasingly dire plight demands a robust response from the international community.
We must recommit ourselves, said Ambassador Wood, to providing the political will and collective action to help Syrians who are in desperate need.
By NICHOLAS RICCARDI, The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) Former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney on Wednesday said she would support Kamala Harris for president, ending weeks of speculation about how fully the member of a GOP dynasty-turned-Trump critic would embrace the Democratic ticket.
Cheney, who co-chaired the House investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack, became a fierce Trump critic and was ousted in her 2022 Republican primary in Wyoming as a result, made her announcement at an event at Duke University. In a video posted on the social media network X, she finished by talking about the danger she believed Trump still poses to the country.
I dont believe that we have the luxury of writing in candidates names, particularly in swing states, she said. As a conservative, as someone who believes in and cares about the Constitution, I have thought deeply about this.
Because of the danger that Donald Trump poses, not only am I not voting for Donald Trump, but I will be voting for Kamala Harris.
Harris campaign chair Jen OMalley Dillon said in a statement Wednesday night: The vice president is proud to have earned Congresswoman Cheneys vote. She is a patriot who loves this country and puts our democracy and our Constitution first.
The daughter of former vice president Dick Cheney, Liz Cheney has been perhaps Trumps highest-profile Republican critic. She joins other Republicans like her former Jan. 6 committee member, former Rep. Adam Kinzinger and former Rep. Denver Riggleman, as backers of Harris.
More than 200 alumni of the Bush administration and former Republican presidential campaigns of the late Sen. John McCain and Sen. Mitt Romney also announced their endorsement of Harris last week.
Asked for comment, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung responded: Who is Liz Cheney and what does she do?
Cheney was in House Republican leadership at the time of the Jan. 6 attack but broke with most of her caucus over Trumps responsibility. She lost her leadership post and was one of the few Republicans willing to serve on the Jan. 6 committee, which was appointed by Democrats who controlled the House at the time.
PITTSBURGH -- Beanie Bishop is the type of player who can easily get fired up just by someone planting some doubt into his mind. Coming from a background where he had to claw his way to relevance at the NCAA level at Western Kentucky before transferring to West Virginia, Bishop vowed that he would make the Steelers 53-man roster after going undrafted.
Yet, just because Bishop is listed on the depth chart as the starting slot cornerback does not mean he has that spot locked up. The Steelers did re-sign their other slot cornerback, Thomas Graham, to the practice squad. He could be elevated against the Falcons to give Bishop some competition at that slot cornerback spot.
At his weekly press conference, Tomlin said that he is not giving Bishop any guarantees. He has not proven himself just yet as the starting slot cornerback, and so the Steelers will look at what they have at slot cornerback throughout the week and decide what to do from there.
I dont know that hes done it yet, Tomlin said when asked if Bishop has proven himself. We have player elevation opportunities and things of that nature in the course of a work week that determines how we divide the labor up. Beanie is an exciting, youngguy. Well watch him during the week, along with some others, and well make decisions at the end of the week thats best suited for winning this game.
Bishop missed over a week with a soft-tissue injury. That set him back in the competition, but it was enough to hold off Graham despite Graham playing well throughout the last two preseason games. Bishop, on the other hand, seems like someone the Steelers will use heavily on run-downs. They can use their big nickel set with three safeties if Bishop comes off the field on passing downs.
If Graham is elevated, he is the more pure coverage cornerback, and he might play in those situations. However, the likely projection would be the Steelers mixing in DeShon Elliott into the mix in the slot as someone they like rather than mixing and matching Bishop and Graham.
It may seem a little early to get into the Christmas spirit, but a holiday film thats being shot in downtown Summerland needs the quaint little town to look the part.
Threats to international peace and stability continue to emanate from the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. Indeed, as Russia deploys chemical weapons on the battlefield and continues to kill civilians and destroy Ukrainian critical infrastructure, Iran, North Korea, and China are providing Russia with the material support it needs to wage its war.
Iran, the worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism, is fueling Russias aggression with direct military support, providing lethal weapons, which the Kremlin is using against Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure, said U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood, Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs at the United Nations:
On the anniversary of Ukraines independence from the Soviet Union, Russia reportedly used approximately one hundred Shahed UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles] and glide bombs in a major attack targeting critical infrastructure throughout Ukraine, including the electricity grid, power plants, and natural gas facilities. Russia procures or produces these UAVs thanks to its partnership with Iran.
If Iran were to move forward with the transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia, it would represent a dramatic escalation and a serious risk to international peace and security, warned Ambassador Wood.
The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, or DPRKs, arms transfers of ballistic missiles to Russia are also inflicting massive damage on Ukraine, said Ambassador Wood:
The DPRK has unlawfully transferred dozens of ballistic missiles and more than 16,500 containers of munitions and munitions-related materiel to Russia, prolonging the suffering of the Ukrainian people. Russias procurement of DPRK ballistic missiles violates the UN arms embargo on the DPRK that Russia itself supported in this Council.
Russia also receives significant support from China, said Ambassador Wood:
China is exporting to Russia nitro-cellulose, machine tools, microelectronics, optics, and UAV and cruise missile technology that Russia deploys in its attacks against civilians and Ukraines infrastructure. We have seen a massive buildup of Russias weaponry over the last year and a half including tanks, missiles, and munitions all fueled by Chinas dual-use imports.
The United States will continue to call for justice for the victims of the Kremlins war of aggression and accountability for those responsible, said Ambassador Wood. And we will continue to call out those who enable Russia and its brutal war of aggression against the people of Ukraine.
After four hours of explosive action, Event #40: 10,200 Pot-Limit Omaha has concluded here at the 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) at Casino Barcelona. Gergo Nagy started the day with the second-shortest stack out of fifteen players. At the start of the final table, he was easily the shortest stack with just four big blinds. By the end of the day he held every chip in the tournament, defeating Patrick Kennedy after a back-and-forth heads-up duel to take home his first PokerStars spade and the top prize of 268,600.
Final Table Results
Place Player Country Prize 1 Gergo Nagy Hungary 268,600 2 Patrick Kennedy United Kingdom 173,300 3 Henri Puustinen Finland 123,500 4 Youness Barakat Italy 95,200 5 Slade Fisher New Zealand 73,250 6 Mike Watson Canada 56,350 7 Mark Buckley Ireland 45,050 8 Jorryt van Hoof Netherlands 36,050 9 Christopher Philippou Cyprus 30,050
Final Day Action
Only 15 players from a field of 106 entrants managed to find a bag on Day 1 and make it to the second and final day, where all players were guaranteed a min-cash worth 17,800. Theo Jorgensen was the first player to fall after getting it in with a wrap against Triple Crown winner Mike Watson's two pair and failing to improve. Jorgensen was quickly followed out the door by fellow short stacks Alexander Petersen, Yuriy Boyko and Tor Ivarsson in a rapid flurry of early eliminations.
Ka Kwan Lau
Omaha crusher Ka Kwan Lau came into the day with the second-largest stack while eventual runner up Kennedy had the chip lead coming into the day. The two players had opposite trajectories from the start; Kennedy seemingly could not lose a pot while Lau found no momentum, sliding further and further down the chip counts as the day progressed. Lau finally bowed out in eleventh place in a four-bet pot against Kennedy after which Kennedy had more than double the chips of any opponent with just ten players remaining. Samuel Albeck then fell in tenth place soon after Lau's elimination to set up the nine-handed final table.
There was a massive disparity in chip stacks at the start of the final table. Kennedy had more than one-third of the total chips in play with nine players remaining while five players had 15 big blinds or less. Kennedy seemed poised to score a double elimination in one of the first hands after the final table began after flopping a flush draw and turning a straight draw to go with it against two short-stacked opponents. A miracle nine on the river gave Youness Barakat the same straight as Kennedy to keep himself in contention while Christopher Philippou became the first final table casualty.
Gergo Nagy
Nagy, who had been quietly surviving on his short stack for the entire day up to this point, began his comeback with eight players remaining. First, he doubled up through Jorryt van Hoof in a preflop confrontation that saw his pocket queens hold against Van Hoof's pocket jacks. Van Hoof was left with crumbs after that and bowed out in eighth soon after. A few hands later, he took a sizable chunk out of Mark Buckley's stack without having to go to showdown. Not long after, he cracked Kennedy's aces with a set of nines to double up once more. Roughly one hour after Nagy entered the final table as the bottom stack with four big blinds, he was in pole position with the chip lead.
Mike Watson
Watson started the day with the third-largest stack and was also third in chips going into the final table. Shortly after Buckley was eliminated in seventh place, Watson's momentum came to a screeching halt after a brutal runout against Nagy that saw the Canadian poker legend make his exit in sixth. Just two hands after Watson's elimination, perpetual final table short stacks Slade Fisher and Barakat were eliminated in fifth and fourth places, respectively.
Online poker wizard Henri Puustinen, also known by his screen name "buttonclickr," was among the shorter stacks throughout the day but did an excellent job navigating the field, doubling up several times en route to making it to the final three. Puustinen's momentum finally ran out when he fell in third place in a hand against Kennedy, who flopped the nut flush leaving Puustinen drawing dead on the turn.
Patrick Kennedy
Following Puustinen's elimination, Kennedy entered heads-up play with roughly a 2:1 chip lead over Nagy. Things were going Kennedy's way at first, and after a few hands he quickly found himself with a 3:1 chip lead over his opponent. The ever-resilient Nagy was not going down without a fight, and he managed to take down a few hands without showdown to start closing the gap. The turning point saw Kennedy flop a set of fives only for Nagy to turn a straight and get paid with a big river bet. Nagy took a slight lead over Kennedy after that hand and Kennedy never recovered, losing several pots that did not go to showdown before Nagy won a preflop race to win the final pot of the night, his first PokerStars spade, and the top prize of 268,600.
That concludes thePokerNews coverage for this event but be sure to stay tuned to our ongoing coverage of the 5,300 Main Event.
The 20th anniversary of the PokerStars European Poker Tour was always going to be a special occasion as the tour returned to where it all began in 2004, here in Barcelona. Simon Wiciak and Rania Nasreddine are doing their best to make it a historic one as well.
Wiciak (1,300,000) and Nasreddine (2,005,000) ended Day 4 among the 40 remaining players and on the verge of doing something nearly unprecedented, going back-to-back. For Wiciak, it would make him the first ever to win the same EPT Main Event in consecutive years. Nasreddine, who finished third in EPT Monte Carlo, is looking to join the short list of players to make it to the final table of consecutive tournaments.
Theyre both looking up at Stephen Song, who ended the night as chip leader with 4,130,000. The American tournament crusher, with more than $6.5 million in live tournament earnings on his resume, was on the right side of a number of big pots over the course of the day that made him the man to beat. He coolered Matthew Gillingham with aces against ace-king, spiked a set of jacks on the river to crack Sindre Hansens kings, then took out Eero Rantala with a better kicker after both players flopped a pair of aces. Song has already eclipsed his previous best EPT result, a 47th-place finish in this event last year.
Day 4 Top Ten Chip Counts
Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Stephen Song United States 4,130,000 165 2 David Coleman United States 3,900,000 156 3 Harry Lodge United Kingdom 3,450,000 138 4 Jianwei Lin China 2,835,000 113 5 Sriharsha Doddapaneni India 2,730,000 109 6 Pablo Beltran Spain 2,640,000 106 7 Yurii Zabrodotsky Ukraine 2,635,000 105 8 Timothy Chung Hong Kong 2,525,000 101 9 Jack Kiriakus Sweden 2,005,000 80 10 Rania Nasreddine United States 2,005,000 80
Fellow American and high stakes regular David Coleman earned a massive double up when he hit a set of treys against Jonathan Sanvicens queens in a 3,000,000-chip pot to end up in second place with 3,900,000. Harry Lodge (3,450,000), Jianwei Lin (2,835,000), and Sriharsha Doddapaneni (2,730,000) round out the top five.
Other players still in the hunt for the title include start-of-day chip leader Timothy Chung (2,525,000), EPT veteran Govert Metaal (1,705,000), 2022 EPT London runner-up Jack Sinclair (1,575,000), 2022 EPT Barcelona finalist Fabiano Kovalski (1,460,000), Nick Palma (1,265,000), PSPC champion Aliaksandr Shylko (935,000), and Andrew Hulme (780,000).
The day began with 113 players, and along the way Alexander Wolfgang Poker Seibt (99th), PokerStars Team Pro Ramon Colillas (98th), EPT Monte Carlo champion Derk van Luijk (97th), Byron Kaverman (92nd), Enrico Camosci (90th), Brock Wilson (89th), and Asher Conniff (76th) were sent to the payout desk. EPT champion Mark Teltscher had his run end on the last hand of the night, when his aces were cracked by Chungs quad eights.
Wiciak, Nasreddine Chasing History
Simon Wiciak
The attention Friday, however, will mostly be on Wiciak and Nasreddine. Wiciak was a massive chip leader at this point in last years tournament on his way to conquering a field of 2,120. He ended Day 4 in 17th place on the leaderboard today and recognizes that, while this feels so similar to last year, it will be a much different experience.
It feels amazing because, at the same time, Im the last French. So thats a bit special. Unfortunately, its not in the same position as last year. Im in the middle of the pack so I have to fight back. Last year I had heaps at this time. So its really interesting to recreate the same deep run but under different conditions, he said upon bagging up his chips for the night.
Wiciak would join a short list of players with multiple EPT titles, but none have ever done it in the same event, let alone in back-to-back years over such massive fields. It would be an accomplishment fitting for the 20th-anniversary edition, but Wiciak isnt looking too far ahead.
Its a bit too soon to say. Two or three days to battle is pretty big. It feels like a lot, but at the same time there is still a lot to accomplish. So Ill take it step by step. Well see where it goes, he said. Right now Im really tired so I have to recompose myself. When we start fresh tomorrow, I will be angry as always.
Rania Nasreddine
Nasreddine almost didnt make it through the day. She was left with just over 200,000 after running queens into Lin's aces in a massive pot. She then flopped a set of nines to double off Pablo Beltran, then hero-called Chung with second pair to double up again near the end of the night. In 2011, the late Max Heinzelmann finished runner-up in two consecutive EPT Main Events, but both of those fields had fewer than 1,000 players. What Nasreddine is trying to accomplish, like Wiciak, stands apart.
They and 38 others have made it this far out of a starting field of 1,975. Everyone remaining is guaranteed 23,350, with the eventual champion earning 1,512,000. The action Friday picks up at 12 p.m. local time with 48 minutes in Level 23 with blinds of 10,000/25,000 and a 25,000 big blind ante.
It's already been a special week here at the Casino Barcelona, but there is still so much to come as PokerNews returns tomorrow to provide live updates as play continues toward the final table.
Former Rep. Liz Cheney said that voters, especially in swing states, cant afford to write in a different name, which is she is voting for Kamala Harris.
Cheney said while speaking at Duke University:
Because we are here in North Carolina, I think it is, it is crucially important for, for people to recognize not only is what I just said about the danger that Trump poses, something that should prevent people from voting for him, but I dont believe that we have the luxury of writing in candidates names, particularly in swing states.
And as a conservative, as someone who believes in and cares about the Constitution, I have thought deeply about this. And because of the danger that Donald Trump is, not only am I not voting for Donald Trump, but I will be voting for Kamala Harris .
Video:
Liz Cheney endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris at Duke University@newsobserver pic.twitter.com/taoMYNQ6d1 Emma Cline (@emmacline_) September 4, 2024
What makes Liz Cheneys endorsement so impactful is that Cheney didnt vote for Trump, but she also didnt endorse Joe Biden . In 2024, Liz Cheney has taken the step of not just making the case against Trump, but she is also driving the point home that the best way to stop Trump is non-MAGA America to unify and vote for Vice President Harris.
It was just 20 years ago when Liz Cheneys dad, then vice president Dick Cheney, was thought of my many on the left as war criminal for lying the nation into the invasion of Iraq.
Those days quaint compared to the domestic threat posed to the country by Donald Trump and his ambition to end democracy.
There will be plenty of time for Liz Cheney to go back to being a Republican and trying to rebuild what is left of her party, but for right now, it is an all hands on deck moment for America to come together to stop Donald Trump.
Chubamenla Jamir Principal
The education sector in India is a thriving domain with a diverse range of institutions working towards creating a bright future for the country and the world. With a keen focus on providing quality education to the future of tomorrow, these institutions play a pivotal role in the lives of students. Going one step ahead are boarding schools that house students throughout the academic term, instilling not just knowledge, but also key life skills and discipline in them.Within this segment,a pioneering educational day cum boarding institution based in Dimapur, Nagaland, stands out for making quality education accessible and nurturing individuals in innovative and inspiring ways, enabling students to achieve their full potential. Established in 2006, Hollotoli is renowned for its holistic approach towards learning aimed at transforming young minds into global learners driven to bring positive change.Since its inception, Hollotoli has brought several changes in the schooling options in the region, being one of the initial schools in the state to shift to the CBSE curriculum at a time when NBSE was the norm. Dedicated to providing a truly well-rounded and holistic educational experience that focuses on academics while also equally focusing on sports, and arts, Hollotoli strives to develop the well-rounded personality of all its students. The school takes pride in knowing every pupil, and offering a personalized education to each across activities, lessons, as well as performances on a daily basis.The schools well-structured curriculum is mapped to align with NEP 2020 and NCF guidelines. In extension of adhering to these curriculums and guidelines, the school supports a wide range of enrichment activities ensuring that its selection of co-curriculars cater to the interests of all students. In order to achieve educational excellence, the school also fosters creativity for the critical and holistic development of students by encouraging innovative teaching methods. The school pays close attention to academics which have enabled Hollotoli School to register outstanding exam results (100 percent pass), setting it apart from otherAt Hollotoli School, we are committed to provide accessible quality education that nurtures individuals in innovative and inspiring ways to achieve their potential. It is our earnest endeavour to create an environment that is underpinned by the well being and learning principles to make our students global learners with the ability to lead positive changes, impacting the world through their skills, talents and purpose for
With director Matt Reeves' release of blood-red test footage, showing Robert Pattinson in costume for The Batman, one question comes to mind: Is it even possible to care?
It seems like just yesterday people were freaking out at the prospect of Ben Affleck playing Batman. After Christian Bale's virtuosic performance as a gravelly mumble personified, people scoffed at the notion of this iconic character being taken up by the star of 2003's smash hit Gigli. And they were kind of right. Not that Ben Affleck's performance was particularly bad, but the casting choice may have reflected a general lack of respect for the Batman legacy that would manifest in Batman shooting a bunch of people and the infamous "Martha" revelation.
www.youtube.com
And now Affleck has departed from the DCEU, Robert Pattinson has been brought on, and people who can best be described as terminally online are picking apart the minute details of the costumecomparing it to Affleck's Daredevil (from 2003's Daredevil), speculating about the out-of-frame ears, and doing some CSI photo enhancement to show that the bat symbol is made of guns. But does anyone really care? Is it even possible?
The outrage that would have erupted over this casting in 2015 would have set fire to server towers across the globe"The fuc*ing guy from Twilight?! OMFGN%E^%$"but Zach Snyder and DC have already done so much to erase the fan sentiments that Christopher Nolan's films built up. Even the shocking critical acclaim for Birds of Prey isn't enough to get people excited for the DCEU. The only thing that is still capable of working the fandom into a lather these days is imagining an alternate reality in which Zach Snyder is actually a secret genius who made a better version of 2017's Justice League that's hidden away in a vault somewherebecause, yes #ReleaseTheSnyderCut is trending again.
Honestly this might be the best scenario for Pattinson. He's had a chance to prove his chops as an actor with movies like The Lighthouse sowhile he still seems a little improbable as an action heroat least he's not just an emo heartthrob anymore. And as of last week, he's also riding high with his laughable ascension to the title of "most handsome man in the world." Couple all this with the fact that expectations for The Batman are so low, and Pattinson and Reeves have the chance to duck the fan pressure and really surprise us. It wouldn't be the first time that Batman has bounced back from an embarrassing eraeven George Clooney's bat-nips and Schwarzenegger's Mr. Freeze couldn't kill the bat brand. But all of this is assuming that any of us will have the capacity to care, since caring takes hope.
The Batman is scheduled for release in June of 2021, so they still have a year and change to work up some enthusiasm for Pattinson's turn in the batsuit. Failing that, they could just say "fu*k it," and bring back Michael Keaton.
ELKO Elko County commissioners plan to send a letter to Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar asking for a change in hand-counting procedures for paper ballots that could be more efficient than the failed ballot test the county conducted earlier this year.
Commissioners agreed after the test count that converting to hand counting wouldnt be feasible for this Novembers general election, but they agreed to keep the door open.
Commissioner Rex Steninger told commissioners on Wednesday we had more than 100 people come to us and ask us ask commissioners to investigate the feasibility of this, and I think that when 100 people come ask us to do something, we should try to accommodate them.
Proponents talked about the Missouri plan as a more efficient way to count paper ballots, and the original letter cited that plan, but the letter Aguilar will receive wont specify the Missouri plan.
Commissioner Delmo Andreozzi said the state has granted counties the right to do hand counting, so the letter could say you allow us by state statute to do this, but the methodology doesnt work.
Steninger said he could easily modify the letter to ask Aguilar to allow another method that would be more efficient.
Commissioner Jon Karr was the lone vote against sending the letter, stating, I dont know anyone in this room who has tried the Missouri plan, so he is 100% adamantly voting against sending the letter until the plan can be proven, and not just on YouTube.
How many plans are there and whats out there? asked Commissioner Travis Gerber.
Elko County Clerk Rebecca Becky Plunkett told commissioners the Missouri plan is a 292-page document that was written by Cause for America, not the state, while Nevada actually came up with its own plan.
She said she contacted Missouris secretary of states office and learned the Missouri plan is only used as an audit tool or for recounts, rather than as the primary way of counting votes. Missouri uses voting machines, according to the state website.
Plunkett also said the countys agenda was wrong and she didnt request or support the letter but, rather, the agendas item on the proposed letter came from the Coalition of Nevada Voters and commissioners.
Missouri is an official paper ballot state but the ballots are fed into a tabulator that is not connected to the internet, and the Missouri plan is not from the Secretary of States Office, JoDonn Chaney, director of communications for the Missouri Secretary of States Office, said on Thursday.
He said by phone Missouri law allows hand counting, but one of the smaller counties in the state that tried hand counting said they would never do that again.
Mary Ellen Burkhardt of the Coalition of Nevada Voters submitted a lengthy hand-count proposal earlier this summer and Steninger said then her proposal was too long. He agreed to help, and the letter is the result.
The letter is simply to ask the secretary to allow another method of counting, he said.
The letter states, We have a large group of citizens interested in hand counting here in Elko and our commissioners voted earlier this year to study the feasibility of that idea, and describes how the test using sample ballots and four counters proved to be unworkable.
They used the instructions from a Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau file that left two of the four in a vote-count team idle while two others recorded votes on separate tally sheets, according to the letter.
Elko County Commission believes allowing our citizens to hand count paper ballots is a good way to involve our citizens in the election process and eliminate the distrust of voting machines. The commission is also discouraged by the low voter turnouts in our elections and thinks this may help stimulate higher participation, the letter says.
Stephanie Licht of Spring Creek said in public comment she supported the letter and thanked Steninger for requesting the secretary of state to consider something else.
Brian Gale, a candidate for county commissioner, said, This is a pretty big issue. I dont believe all the kinks are ironed out, but the secretary of state needs to know we are interested, and his method was an utter disaster.
Lee Hoffman, chairman of the Elko County Republican Party, had a warning. He said supporters of hand counting need to vote against Proposition 3 on the ballot that calls for rank choice voting because hand counting wouldnt work with rank choice balloting.
One of the biggest challenges in the Charleston region is the difficulty so many have finding an affordable place to buy or rent near their job or anywhere safe in some cases so we welcome two experimental approaches to addressing this important problem. Read moreEditorial: Two new and welcome approaches to Charleston region's housing problem
PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-05 19:00:24
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Animal Surgical Center's Youth Day Inspires Kids With Veterinary Education and Rescue Dog Interactions, Fostering Compassion and Responsible Pet Ownership on Sept. 21, 2024OCEANSIDE, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 /Animal Surgical Center (ASC), an accredited American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) located in Oceanside, New York, is excited to announce the launch of its first-ever Youth Day Experience, taking place on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in celebration of National Responsible Pet Owner Day. This event offers a unique and educational experience for children ages 8-12+ to learn about the world of veterinary medicine, responsible pet ownership, and animal rescue.Animal Surgical Center Youth DayEvent OverviewYouth Day at ASC is designed to inspire and educate young animal lovers, providing them with an inside look at veterinary medicine, the operations of a veterinary hospital, and the importance of responsible pet ownership. The event will include interactive activities, a hospital tour, and the opportunity to meet adoptable pets from local rescues."We believe it's crucial to instill a sense of responsibility and compassion for animals in the younger generation," said Dr. Tomas Infernuso, founder and CEO of Animal Surgical Center. "Youth Day will be an educational experience and a fun and engaging way for children to connect with animals and learn about the veterinary profession." Event HighlightsInteractive Hospital Tour: Participants will get a behind-the-scenes tour of ASC, meet the hospital team, and learn about various roles within the veterinary field.Meet the Pets: Kids will have the opportunity to interact with adoptable pets from local rescues and some of the pets owned by ASC staff.Educational Games and Activities: Engaging games like "What Would You Do as a Vet?" and animal trivia, alongside arts and crafts sessions, will make learning fun.Photo Opportunities: Children can dress up in hospital gowns, pose with toy stethoscopes, and take photos in the surgery area with stuffed toy animals.The event will be hosted by dedicated ASC team members, with participation from Dr. Tomas Infernuso, who are generously volunteering their time for this cause. The goal is to foster a love for animals and provide insight into the veterinary world, potentially inspiring future careers in animal care.Collaboration With Local RescuesTo enhance the experience, ASC is partnering with Hurley's Heart Bulldog Rescue, founded by Summer Somer, to bring adoptable pets to the event. This collaboration offers a hands-on learning opportunity for the children while supporting the rescue organization by encouraging donations, volunteerism, and future adoptions. The interaction between the children and the dogs benefits both; it allows the dogs to engage with families in a positive environment, creating a meaningful learning experience for everyone involved.Admission and DonationsWhile there is no admission fee for Youth Day, we encourage parents to donate to the participating rescue organization. The event is open to all children and local community members interested in the veterinary field.Contact InformationKarla HojasMarketing Directorkhojas@ asc.vet (516) 776-7127Alyssa RodriguezSocial Media Managerarodriguez@ asc.vet (516) 749-7436SOURCE: Animal Surgical CenterView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-05 06:15:36
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AXIROS NORTH AMERICA, INC. ADDS CUSTOMER BASE IN NORTH DAKOTATAMPA, FL / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / Telecommunications software leader Axiros North America, Inc. is pleased to announce that SRT Communications, Inc. has selected Axiros Advanced RDM & Performance Test Services for its industry respected critical Internet and telephone services in North Dakota.Axiros logo Axiros logo"SRT's fiber network supports complex critical infrastructure, including two legs of the United States defense triad, that requires robust Internet service,"stated Shawn Grosz, Chief Technology Officer of SRT."We selected Axiros to upgrade our current capabilities to manage any type of customer premise equipment (CPE) needed for delivering high-speed, highly dependable Internet in our service area. The Axiros services are highly customizable, and their roadmap allows for continuous evolution, automated provisioning, and management and monitoring of critical network infrastructure. These attributes support SRT's mission to provide high quality communications services that are responsive to the needs of our customers." Delivered via managed services including Axiros software, together with the AX BBT Broadband Test Service for performance testing as required by regulatory agencies involved with Connect America Fund (CAF), Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) and similar Universal Service (USF) funding programs, the solution selected by SRT is considered by many to be the most robust, reliable and customizable for provisioning, management, testing and monitoring of multivendor network CPE devices via TR-069 and TR-369 (USP)."Broadband Service Providers such as SRT who have been recognized by the industry for their innovation and reliability exemplify the best examples of continuous improvement - in technology, service and reliability,"stated Michael Shaw, Chief Executive Officer of Axiros North America, Inc. "We could not be more proud of their selection of the Axiros software-based Advanced RDM and FCC Performance Test Services." Axiros solutions are known for their technical reliability and value. The companyis dedicated to certified industry standards, user portal customization, incorporating the needs of its users into its ongoing software features roadmap and bespoke service delivery options.ABOUT AXIROSAxiros North America, Inc., an Axiros GmbH company, provides software and managed services to a diverse customer base. Axiros specializes in powerful device management software that leverages industry standards such as TR-069 and TR-369. With a global presence, Axiros is committed to delivering innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of businesses in today's digital landscape. To learn more about Axiros, visit https://www.axiros.com ABOUT SRT COMMUNICATIONSSRT Communications, headquartered in Minot, North Dakota, is the state's largest telecommunications cooperative. Established in 1951, SRT serves customers across north central North Dakota. SRT earned the distinction as a Certified Gig-Capable Provider in 2017, and in 2024 CTO Shawn Grosz earned the NTCA Innovation Award for SRT's role in deploying North Dakota's first end-to-end Internet Protocol 911 service. SRT services include high-speed internet, phone, and security/surveillance systems for home and business. To learn more about SRT, visit https://www.srt.com Contact InformationTeam AxirosMedia Contactms@ axiros.com (202) 641-2001Michael ShawPresident and Chief Executive Officershaw@ axiros.com (202) 641-2001Related ImagesAxiros logo Axiros logo SRT Logo SRT Logo SOURCE: Axiros North America, Inc. and SRT CommunicationsView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-05 04:38:11
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In the Face of DEI Backlash, Belonging Emerges as the Key to Long-Term SuccessAuthored by: Andrea Carter, Adjunct Faculty in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Adler UniversityContributor: James D. Halbert, Professor of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Adler UniversityTORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / September 4, 2024 / As diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives face increasing scrutiny and rollback in workplaces across the United States, a new perspective is emerging that could reshape the future of these efforts. In a recently published article, Andrea Carter, an expert in belonging and workplace culture, argues that the concept of "belonging" holds the key to revitalizing and sustaining DEI initiatives.Carter, who serves as an Adjunct Professor at Adler University and is the CEO and Founder of Belonging First, highlights the growing disillusionment with traditional DEI approaches. While DEI has become a prevalent focus in American workplaces, recent trends reveal a significant decline in the commitment to these initiatives, with some companies scaling back or abandoning their DEI efforts altogether. This shift, Carter suggests, is partly due to misunderstandings and oversimplifications in how DEI is implemented."Belonging is the heartbeat of a thriving organization," asserts Carter. "To truly experience belonging, it's not enough to be included; my research shows five critical indicators must also be present. This distinction underscores that belonging is a unique and essential experience, distinct from inclusion, and critical for fostering a truly cohesive and supportive environment." Carter's research, supported by James D. Halbert, a Professor of Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Adler University, introduces five critical indicators of belonging: comfort, connection, contribution, psychological safety, and wellbeing. These indicators, she argues, are essential for fostering a truly cohesive and supportive workplace environment."Belonging is the bedrock of a thriving, innovative workplace," explains Carter. "When organizations prioritize these five indicators, they not only enhance individual wellbeing but also unlock the full potential of their teams, driving innovation and long-term success." Carter and Halbert emphasize that belonging goes beyond inclusion by addressing the need for genuine connection and shared responsibility within the workplace. By focusing on creating environments where these indicators of belonging are prioritized, leaders can cultivate passion, loyalty, and excellence in their organizations. Click To Read ArticleAs businesses grapple with the challenges of sustaining DEI initiatives in an increasingly complex and polarized environment, Carter's research provides a roadmap for leaders seeking to build more resilient and inclusive workplaces. By integrating belonging into the fabric of their organizations, companies can navigate the current backlash against DEI and emerge stronger and more united.About The Conversation:The Conversation exists to unlock knowledge for the public by helping academic experts share their insights. Our mission is rooted in the belief that informed discussions on topics ranging from culture to politics to science can lead to a better world. In today's media landscape, where extreme positions often dominate, we stand out by elevating voices of true expertise-university-affiliated researchers who deeply understand their subjects.We invite our readers to engage with our content, ask questions, and contribute to our mission of fostering informed public discourse.About the Authors:Andrea Carter is an Adjunct Faculty member at Adler University and the CEO and Founder of Belonging First, a consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations refine their DEI strategies through the lens of belonging.James D. Halbert is a Professor of Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Adler University. He has no relevant affiliations beyond his academic appointment.For Media Inquiries:Contact: Andrea CarterEmail: ancarter@ adler.edu Phone: (312) 555-1234SOURCE: Belonging First
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Calgary residents and businesses can now benefit from fast, affordable, and guaranteed painting services by PerfectPRO Painters, supported by a Price-Matching Guarantee and award-winning expertise.CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / PerfectPRO Painters, a leading family-owned painting company, is thrilled to announce the opening of its new location in Calgary, Alberta. Specializing in residential and commercial painting, PerfectPRO Painters provides flawless, efficient, and cost-effective painting services to Calgary's rapidly growing population of 1.3 million residents and over 60,000 businesses.Calgary Painters Calgary PaintersCalgary is experiencing a period of robust economic activity driven by record population growth, strong commodity prices, and healthy consumer spending. According to Calgary Economic Development (CED), these factors have solidified Calgary and Alberta's positive outlook for the year ahead. ATB Financial projects Alberta's GDP to grow an additional 2% in 2024. With provincial real GDP expected to expand by 2.5% in 2024-more than double the national average-there is considerable optimism in Calgary's future.This economic buoyancy is reflected in the business community, with 78% of Calgary businesses anticipating stable or increasing profits in the coming months.In the residential sector, the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB) reports that home prices have risen by 10% this year, with row properties seeing the highest gain at 19%. Despite an increase in new listings, the market continues to favor sellers, with a Q2 sales-to-new-listings ratio of 75% and a months-of-supply of just one month.As new home sector developments contribute to a better-supplied market, PerfectPRO Painters is well-positioned to meet the needs of homeowners and businesses looking to capitalize on Calgary's dynamic real estate landscape."Our new Calgary location allows us to extend our award-winning services to more homeowners and businesses across the city," said Justin Assaly, Co-Owner of PerfectPRO Painters. "We take pride in delivering outstanding painting results, whether a small residential project or a large commercial undertaking. Our mission is to ensure your property looks its absolute best, all while offering unbeatable value." Why Choose PerfectPRO Painters?With 24 years of combined experience in the painting and trades industry, the Assaly brothers and their team at PerfectPRO Painters are committed to delivering flawless results that exceed client expectations. As proud recipients of the HomeStars Best of Awards, the company consistently demonstrates its dedication to integrity, customer satisfaction, and superior results.PerfectPRO Painters offers competitive rates with a Price-Matching Guarantee, ensuring top-quality services at the best value for Calgary clients. Their comprehensive painting services include:Residential Painting: Whether refreshing your walls or undertaking a complete home makeover, PerfectPRO Painters helps clients choose the perfect colors and delivers impeccable finishes.Commercial Painting: Maintain a professional and inviting appearance for your business with expert interior and exterior painting services tailored to your brand's image.Large Project Painting: No project is too large or complex for the team. PerfectPRO Painters handles niche-specific and specialty paint jobs with excellent precision.Industrial Painting: PerfectPRO Painters is fully equipped to handle industrial painting projects, ranging from storage units and parking garages to warehouses and beyond, all while possessing the required certifications and specialized expertise.As a third-generation family business, PerfectPRO Painters embodies a tradition of excellence beyond mere painting services. Owners Justin and Fedi Assaly infuse a personal touch into every project, approaching each home or business as if it were their own. Their dedication to painting and unwavering focus on customer satisfaction has established a new standard for Calgary painters."We launched PerfectPRO Painters to raise the bar for painting services in Calgary. Our goal is to make the entire process stress-free and revitalizing for our clients," said Fedi Assaly, Co-Owner of PerfectPRO Painters. "We're thrilled to serve the Calgary community with the same dedication and care that has earned us loyal customers and top accolades." PerfectPRO Painters, renowned Calgary painters, welcomes residents and businesses in the area to discover their outstanding painting services for themselves. Visit https://perfectpropainters.ca/locations/calgary or contact them at (403) 560 1001 for a free estimate.About PerfectPRO PaintersPerfectPRO Painters is a trusted family-owned painting company serving homeowners and businesses across Canada. With over 40 years of combined experience, they specialize in delivering high-quality, fast, and affordable painting services, backed by a "Price-Matching Guarantee" and a one-year warranty.Contact InformationJP RichardsDirector of Communicationsreleases@ drakedigital.com (613) 801-2385SOURCE: PerfectPRO Painters OttawaView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-05 15:02:08
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September 14 Event to Support American Military Family FoundationCOLORADO SPRINGS, CO / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / Pikes Peak Indian Motorcycle, Colorado's leading Indian Motorcycle dealer, and the only standalone dealer in the state, is set to celebrate their fifth-year anniversary with a community fundraising event Saturday, September 14, 11 am - 5 pm at 6650 Corporate Drive, Colorado Springs.Photo from Grand Opening in 2019 Photo from Grand Opening in 2019Pikes Peak Indian Motorcycle opened its doors in 2019 and has since experienced exponential growth, despite the effects of the pandemic. Since opening, the proud Hispanic, family-owned Colorado Springs-based business has gone from zero to number two in sales in the country in just five years. They currently employ 20 team members and continue to grow. Indian Motorcycle's market share has grown year after year in the Colorado area since the location has been open, and they are on track to have a 50% increase in bike sales by 2025, according to Ceballos.Free to attend and open to all, the event will feature live classic rock music from a local band, and include activities like Axe throwing, bike games, kids bounce house, Drinks 4 Charity, tricycle pedal races, an Indian Motorcycle demo truck, food trucks, giveaways, cornhole, interactive vendors, and a performance of the National Anthem with a flag raising ceremony to kick-off the festivities. There will also be a bikini bike wash station available for any guests wishing to ride to the event."As a family-owned business, this milestone is instrumental and we are thrilled to invite our incredibly supportive community out to celebrate right alongside us," said Tito Ceballos, owner and general manager of Pikes Peak Indian Motorcycles. "All bikers are welcome to attend and encouraged to bring their bikes. Parking is available onsite and showroom tours will also be available. We're welcoming everyone, regardless of what you ride or if you ride at all. Our passion for community is what drives us, and we wanted to create an experience that is welcoming to everyone," said Ceballos.To learn more about the fifth-year anniversary celebration event, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pikes-peak-indian-motorcycle-5th-anniversary-party-tickets-982109083707 # # #ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE Indian Motorcycle is America's First Motorcycle Company. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists worldwide and earned distinction as one of America's most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess, and countless innovations and industry-firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com Contact InformationCortney QuinteroPR Directorcortney@ redenergypr.com 719-465-3565SOURCE: Pikes Peak Indian MotorcycleView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-05 01:24:03
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Tickets on Sale NOW for October Event at Irving Convention CenterDALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / September 4, 2024 / Grant Gustin, best known for his roles as Barry Allen/The Flash in the CW series The Flash, is the first celebrity guest announced for Dallas FAN FESTIVAL 2024."We are thrilled to welcome Grant Gustin, a multitalented performer and pop culture favorite, to Irving in October. As part of the Arrowverse for nearly ten years, Gustin developed a loyal fan following. Now, fresh from his critically acclaimed turn as Jacob Jankowski in the original Broadway production of Water for Elephants, Gustin will be on hand to share his experiences in front of the camera and on the stage, with guests at our annual pop culture celebration in Irving," says Andrew Moyes, Vice President of FAN EXPO.Dallas FAN FESTIVAL is this Fall's premier pop culture celebration, offering the ultimate playground for comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming fans. Highlights include celebrity photo ops and meet-and-greets, opportunities to interact with legendary comic book creators, a one-of-a-kind shopping experience, family-friendly fandom, and cosplay fun! Dallas FAN FESTIVAL features programming that celebrates the vibrant pop culture community thriving in North Texas and beyond.Tickets ON SALE NOW:Weekend Passes: $50Adult Single Day Passes (13+): Saturday $40 and Sunday $30Child Passes (6-12): $10Family Passes: Saturday $90 and Sunday $70Gold Package: $129DETAILS: Dallas FAN FESTIVAL runs Saturday, October 19, and Sunday, October 20, 2024Saturday, October 19, from 10:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.Sunday, October 20, from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.The Irving Convention Center is located at 500 W Las Colinas Blvd., Irving, TX 75039ABOUT FAN EXPO HQ:With over a million fans and counting, FAN EXPO HQ attracts pop culture enthusiasts, locally and internationally, to come together to celebrate all things fandom. Collectively, it hosts nearly one million fans annually at FAN EXPO Dallas, FAN EXPO Canada, MEGACON Orlando, FAN EXPO Boston, FAN EXPO Denver, FAN EXPO San Francisco, CALGARY EXPO, FAN EXPO Chicago, FAN EXPO Philadelphia, FAN EXPO Portland, FAN EXPO New Orleans, FAN EXPO Cleveland, FAN EXPO Vancouver, Toronto Comicon, Dallas FAN FESTIVAL and EDMONTON EXPO. The latest schedule of events is available on the Website, along with up-to-date ticket information. Discover. Celebrate. Belong.Contact: Dana CobbFAN EXPO Dallas/The Vokol Group dana@ thevokolgroup.com 972.955.9747MEDIA ACCREDITATIONHERESOURCE: FAN EXPO Dallas
PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-05 17:57:48
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DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 /Newtopia Now, the inaugural health and wellness event for the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) industry, organized by New Hope Network and held at the Colorado Convention Center, received over 7,000 registered attendees, 4,000 of which were registered buyers, creating a vibrant environment where connection and community were at the heart of the experience. With 560 exhibiting companies, including 180 companies exhibiting at a tradeshow for the first time, Newtopia Now successfully reimagined the traditional tradeshow by focusing on authentic interactions and purposeful discovery.Newtopia Now is the immersive experience designed to foster deep connections and provide a platform for emerging brands and product innovation within the conscious products industry through four intentionally curated neighborhoods: Thrive, exploring the future of human health; Represent, celebrating diverse founders and multicultural products; Regenerate, championing sustainability and environmental impact and Glow, featuring conscious beauty and holistic wellness.Attendees were introduced to a range of innovative activations, including the Thrive Cafe, Tasting Bar, Represent Kitchen and Glow Salon, all opportunities crafted to help buyers experience products in real-life applications and encourage engagement with sponsors and exhibitors. Beacon's product discovery platform and the Newtopia Now show mobile app further informed connections before, during and after the show with product information and buyer criteria being incorporated throughout the event. A standout feature of the show format was also The Market, a unique experience where attendees could explore products through self-discovery in a natural, grocery store-like environment. Instead of traditional price tags, QR codes linked to Beacon Discovery profiles, enabling a seamless and educational experience.Receptions throughout the Thrive and Regenerate neighborhoods offered attendees an occasion to mingle and sample functional beverages, zero-proof mocktails and tasty bites as consumer demand grows for mindful alternatives for snacks and refreshments.The event also hosted speed networking sessions and curated one-on-one meetings through the event's matchmaking program, Conscious Connections, designed to pair investors and retailers with emerging brands and products, offering a rapid and effective way to build valuable relationships. Additionally, to cultivate organic connections and further deepen the sense of community, attendees participated in offsite experiences such as yoga at Red Rocks Amphitheater, neighborhood-themed dine-arounds throughout Denver and a brunch for women in CPG at Ophelia's."Conscious Connections made it easier to meet with the buyers that wanted to meet with us, which made our meetings that much more intentional," noted Jessica Harvey, sales operations manager, Dr. Bronner's."Newtopia Now was everything we hoped for and more. The opportunity to sample our pizza with this audience and the connections we made were invaluable. The show was a game changer for our brand," remarked Kristin Caman, founder and chief executive officer, Etalia.Newtopia Now's four stages, found throughout each of the neighborhoods, hosted an impressive lineup of content focused on inspiring and educating buyers, brands and other members of the CPG ecosystem looking to differentiate their businesses. Keynote speakers included culinary icon Carla Hall, Blue Zones founder Dan Buettner and Vitamin Shoppe Chief Executive Officer Lee Wright. Additionally, the content lineup brought to the stage leaders from top retailers including Whole Foods Market, Target, Bristol Farms, Ulta Beauty, PCC and Thrive Market, sharing insights that would help brands not only get into those retail stores but also more effectively move their products off shelves."It has been an eye-opening experience to meet so many diverse and innovative brands that I had never seen before here at Newtopia Now. Although this is still a large conference, it felt more intimate, and I have been able to connect deeper with brands as a result," shared Rick Burian, senior manager of supplier diversity, Ulta Beauty."Newtopia Now feels different, this feels like the conscious connections we are looking for with brands," added Le'Spencer Walker, director of merchandising vendor development, Target.Casey Gaston, executive leader of local and emerging brands for Whole Foods Market, noted on LinkedIn, "The energy at the show was incredible and I hope to see this kind of format, focused on new and emerging conscious brands and trends, continue. It was approachable, with excellent programming, and offered a lot of quality time and conversations for me and my team." Broadcast celebrity chef and entrepreneur Carla Hall expressed, "I am looking for products to move forward in the well-being space and this is a very captive audience to come and check out some of these things as I am looking for future partners." Veena Krishnan, co-founder and chief operating officer of Daybird, winner of the first-ever Conscious Beauty Pitch Event Presented by Giannuzzi Lewendon, exclaimed, "Newtopia Now is electric and interactive. A lot of the people who are passing through the neighborhood are going through with intention; they are the buyers we want to talk to, and they are looking for brands like us." "Newtopia Now has proven the demand for authenticity and purpose in the natural products industry. From curating the space so likeminded brands and attendees would organically encounter each other, to the on and off-site mindful moments that brought us closer together, our community needs these intimate and intentional touchpoints. We are more than a place to do business, we are a platform for learning, growing, expanding and uniting, as we strive to create a positive market that supports more health for our environment and our people," explains Danica Cullins, Executive Vice President of Health and Nutrition, Informa Markets North America.True to New Hope Network's ethos, Newtopia Now demonstrated its commitment to sustainability throughout the event, from replanting all trees featured on the show floor across the Denver area in partnership with The Park People Association, to donating unused samples and merchandise featured at the show via the program We Don't Waste, allowing brands to give back to the local communities. The implementation of reusable serve ware system r.Cup, provided reusable plastic cups for large networking sessions, reducing trash and single-use plastic waste.Newtopia Now is setting a new standard for industry events by blending innovation with intention. The event underscor
PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-05 20:46:14
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BEN Investors with Losses Encouraged to Contact the FirmSAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / 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 844-916-0895Investigation Into Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN):The investigation focuses on Franklin's 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. Leech's 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 firm's Western Asset Management unit's 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 firm's investigation, submit your losses now If you'd 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 Berman's 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.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-05 15:01:35
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / 1933 Industries Inc. (the "Company" or "1933 Industries") (CSE:TGIF)(OTCQB:TGIFF), a Nevada-focused cannabis cultivator and producer, announces that Mr. Rick Skeith has tendered his resignation from the Board of Directors effective immediately. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Skeith for his valuable contributions over his tenure as director of the Company since 2015 and wishes him success in his future endeavours.About 1933 Industries Inc.1933 Industries is a Nevada-based licensed producer, focused on the cultivation and extraction of a large portfolio of cannabis consumer products in a variety of formats under its flagship brands, Alternative Medicine Association (AMA) and Level X. Its product offerings are cultivated at the Company's 68,000 sq. ft. indoor facility and marketed directly to retail dispensaries. AMA branded flower, infused pre-rolls, and in-house boutique concentrates consistently rank as the top products sold in Nevada. For more information, please visit www.1933industries.com For further information please contact:Alexia Helgason, VP, Investor Relations 604-728-4407 alexia@1933 industries.com Paul Rosen, CEO paul@1933 industries.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Notice regarding Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Company's disclosure documents, which can be found under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com . 1933 Industries undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.SOURCE: 1933 Industries Inc.
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The CDC reports that healthcare workers in the U.S. face an estimated 385,000 needlestick and sharps-related injuries every year.SAN ANTONIO, TX / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / Facing an increase in needlestick injuries, BioMedical Waste Solutions, a prominent medical waste disposal company, with locations in San Antonio, TX, is actively working to let the public know about the hazards of improper medical waste disposal, particularly needles.San Antonio Biomedical Waste Solutions San Antonio Biomedical Waste SolutionsThe CDC approximates that about 385,000 needlestick and sharps-related injuries happen each year among U.S. healthcare workers. This figure is likely an underestimation due to underreporting, especially in private homes where the elderly and the 38.4 million Americans with diabetes depend on needle usage daily.The World Health Organization (WHO) has underlined the threat of sharps injuries in the transmission of severe diseases, reporting annual global infection rates among healthcare workers as:Nearly 2,005,000 cases of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)66,000 cases of hepatitis B virus (HBV)16,000 cases of hepatitis C virus (HCV)Various outcomes could arise from these infections, such as long-term health problems, disabilities, and even death.The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states that a third of sharps injuries occur at the point of disposal, citing the importance of stringent medical waste disposal practices to protect both healthcare workers and the general public.To address this critical issue, the San Antonio medical waste disposal company, BioMedical Waste Solutions, releasedThe Definitive Guide to Medical Waste Disposal in 2024 . This guide is the best resource on the safe disposal of needles, syringes, and other sharp objects, showcasing the company's commitment to boosting safety and preventing the spread of infections through proper waste management.The guide offers five crucial tips for preventing needlestick injuries:Employing FDA-endorsed containers for sharps disposalRefraining from exceeding the capacity of disposal binsRefraining from reaching inside waste containersRefraining from putting caps back on needlesKeeping hazardous sharp objects and waste containers away from young onesJP Richards, Director of Communications at BioMedical Waste Solutions, said, "The increasing rate of needlestick injuries and their serious repercussions on healthcare workers and the community are of great concern. Our guide is vital for preventing these injuries and ensuring the safety of healthcare providers and individuals handling needles at home. We are committed to providing reliable San Antonio medical waste disposal solutions. Together, we can reduce the risks associated with needlestick injuries." BioMedical Waste Solutions, a leading medical waste disposal company in San Antonio, encourages healthcare establishments, professionals, and individuals who utilize needles to refer to their comprehensive guide for the proper disposal of sharps and medical waste. Their vast expertise and advanced technological solutions guarantee the secure handling, transportation, and disposal of medical waste, following the strictest national, state, and local standards.For further details on safe medical waste disposal or to view the guide from BioMedical Waste Solutions, please visit their website at https://www.biomedicalwastesolutions.com/medical-waste-disposal/ or reach out directly at 346-660-4994 or JPRichards@ BioMedicalWasteSolutions.com . For more info about this San Antonio medical waste disposal company, visit: https://www.biomedicalwastesolutions.com/locations/texas/san-antonio-medical-waste-disposal/ About BioMedical Waste Solutions:BioMedical Waste Solutions is a leading medical waste disposal company dedicated to providing safe and reliable solutions for the management and disposal of medical waste. With a commitment to environmental responsibility and public health, the company serves healthcare facilities, private practices, dental offices, veterinarians and laboratories across America. BioMedical Waste Solutions offers comprehensive services to ensure the proper collection, transportation, and disposal of medical waste, including sharps, in compliance with all regulatory requirements.Contact InformationJP RichardsDirector of Communicationsreleases@ drakedigital.com (346) 660-4994SOURCE: Biomedical Waste SolutionsView the original press release on newswire.com
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In Long Beach, Accountant Partners offers a unique pricing guarantee for premier small business accounting services, including tax planning and cloud accounting.LONG BEACH, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / Accountant Partners, a leading provider of small business accounting and tax services, aims to aid business growth and development as it announces the opening of its newest office in Long Beach, California. This expansion marks an exciting milestone in the firm's commitment to offering personalized and effective financial solutions to small businesses in the vibrant Long Beach area.Long Beach Small Business Accountant Long Beach Small Business AccountantLong Beach has historically battled a shrinking workforce and lack of affordability in housing. These factors directly impact local and small businesses holding out hope there will be better economic stability for them to improve financially, especially in the post-pandemic era. As per the Downtown Long Beach Alliance Business Survey in 2022, 58% of local business owners agree that the Long Beach economy will expand in the next two years. Consequently, 53% believe their business will expand with the local economy.With this new location, Accountant Partners is set to serve the local market with a wide array of services designed to optimize tax savings, streamline business operations, and support sustainable growth. Their expertise includes advanced tax planning, strategic business growth consultations, and seamless cloud accounting integration to reduce tax liabilities. Their approach is designed to significantly minimize tax burdens, potentially saving local businesses from $10,000 to $1 million, thus helping them grow and compete."As a Long Beach small business accountant, we are deeply familiar with the unique challenges and opportunities faced by local businesses," said Allan Bayer, Managing Partner at Accountant Partners. "Our mission is to empower business owners with the financial insights and tools they need to succeed. We are excited to bring our tailored services to the Long Beach community." As Accountant Partners opens its doors in Long Beach, the firm invites local small business owners to experience the benefits of expert, personalized accounting services. Committed to integrity, efficiency, and the success of their clients, Accountant Partners is eager to help Long Beach businesses thrive.For more information on working with a Long Beach small business accountant, visit https://accountantpartners.com/small-business-accountant-long-beach/ or contact Accountant Partners at (657) 300-6966.About Accountant Partners:Accountant Partners is a leading small business accounting firm helping business owners in Long Beach, CA, save up to $1M per year in taxes through partner-level accounting, reporting, and strategic advisory. With 27 years of experience, Accountant Partners specializes in best-in-class tax minimization strategies, personalized advisory, and technology-driven efficiency.Contact InformationJP RichardsDirector of Communicationsreleases@ drakedigital.com 844-703-0880SOURCE: Accountant PartnersView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-05 20:46:03
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FNA Investors with Losses Encouraged to Contact the FirmSAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / Hagens Berman urges Paragon 28, Inc. (NYSE:FNA) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now. The firm also encourages persons with knowledge who may be able to assist in the investigation to contact its attorneys.Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/FNA Contact the Firm Now: FNA@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895Paragon 28, Inc. (FNA) Investigation:Paragon 28 Inc. suffered a sharp decline in its share price on August 9 after lowering its revenue forecast, announcing layoffs, and replacing its finance chief. The stock plunged 22%, erasing hundreds of millions of dollars of shareholder value.The medical device company said it now expects full-year revenue between $249 million and $255 million, down from a previous range of $249 million to $259 million. In an effort to cut costs and preserve cash, Paragon 28 is implementing an operational efficiency strategy that includes laying off approximately 7% of its workforce. The company is also reducing inventory and adjusting executive compensation.Kristina Wright, who had been serving as interim CFO since April, has been replaced by Chadi Chanine, formerly of Zimmer Biomet Holdings.The latest developments come as Paragon 28 has revealed accounting irregularities. CFO Stephen Deitsch's abrupt resignation on April 4, 2023 portended problems with the company's financial reporting.On July 30, concerns came to fruition when Paragon 28 announced that its previously reported financial results for 2023 and the first quarter of 2024 were unreliable. The company admitted to material weaknesses in its internal controls and disclosed significant accounting errors. Specifically, Paragon 28 understated its cost of goods sold by 19%, resulting in an overstated operating loss by 22% and net loss by 20%.The company's stock has fallen over 56% over the past year, raising concerns about its financial health and prompting prominent shareholder rights firm Hagens Berman to commence an investigation into potential violations of U.S. securities laws."We're looking into any potential connection between Paragon 28's dismal outlook and past improper accounting," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the firm's investigation.If you invested in Paragon 28 and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, submit your losses now If you'd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Paragon 28 investigation, read more Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Paragon 28 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 FNA@ 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 Berman's 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.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-05 22:11:15
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Downing & Co. brings comprehensive family office services to Portland, OR, offering expert wealth management solutions typically reserved for the ultra-wealthy.PORTLAND, OR / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / Downing & Co., a leading name in wealth management and financial advisory services, is proud to announce the expansion of its comprehensive family office services in Portland, OR. Traditionally available only to billionaires, these services are now accessible to the Greater Portland and Southwest Washington area's 2.2 million residents. From West Linn and Lake Oswego to the Pearl District and beyond, Downing & Co. is redefining what it means to be a Portland Wealth Management firm.Portland Wealth Management Portland Wealth ManagementA McKinsey report published in January 2024 shows a 60% increase among clients looking for holistic financial advice, a trend that has increased since 2018. Statista data supports this, forecasting that the assets under management (AUM) will reach $128 trillion in 2024. Financial advisory is the strongest player in this market, showing a positive overall performance for the wealth management market.Unlike most wealth management companies that focus solely on brokerage services, Downing & Co. addresses over 29 additional critical areas of financial planning. Their holistic approach provides clients convenient access to a team of 70+ professionals, including attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, and risk mitigation specialists. This level of service, often associated with billionaire family offices, is now available to Portland residents looking to protect, grow, and preserve their wealth for generations."A recent Spectrum study revealed that while 78% of high-net-worth clients expect wealth transfer advice and trust services, only 2% receive it. We aim to close that gap and make billionaire-level wealth management attainable for everyone in Portland," said Tim Downing, Managing Principal at Downing & Co.Downing & Co.'s services are designed for those who want to protect their wealth with a proactive and comprehensive approach. Whether it's minimizing tax liabilities, ensuring estate planning, or providing legal and business advisory services, the firm's family office model delivers unparalleled value. Portland Wealth Management is no longer exclusive to billionaires; Downing & Co. makes it accessible to anyone looking to secure their financial future.For more details on Downing & Co. and its wealth management services, visit https://downingpdx.com/services/portland-wealth-management/ . For a free consultation, call (503) 445-3578.About Downing & Co:Downing & Co. is a leading estate planning CPA firm dedicated to helping high net worth individuals and small businesses in Portland, OR to save up to 40% in taxes now and for the legacy they leave behind. Established in 1964, Downing & Co. offers comprehensive services, including tax planning, accounting and bookkeeping services, estate planning, and wealth management.Contact InformationJP RichardsDirector of Communicationsreleases@ drakedigital.com (346) 660-4994SOURCE: Downing & Co.View the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-05 15:02:15
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FORT MILL, SC / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / Catheter Precision, Inc. (NYSE American:VTAK) today announced that at the recently held European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Symposium, interim results demonstrating the use of VIVO in localizing the site of origin of ventricular tachycardia (VT) for patients with scar related re-entrant VT were presented. Additionally, the presentation showed the relationship to the relevant myocardial scar on cross-sectional imaging from the CT scan. The study, ongoing at the Warwick Medical School at the University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire is ongoing with lead investigator Professor Tarv Dhanjal. The presentation was entitled "Accuracy of a non-invasive mapping system for the localization of re-entrant VT site of origin and its relationship to myocardial scar on cross-sectional imaging".The interim results were presented on twenty patients with structural heart disease and a mean ejection fraction of 35.5 and included patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The results showed a VIVO accuracy of 90% as compared to invasive mapping, performed with the Abbott Advisor HD Grid multipolar catheter. VIVO non-invasive mapping showed a significant match especially in the area of myocardial scar in these patients. At a mean follow up of seven months, procedural success has been noted in 90% of the patients.David Jenkins, CEO of Catheter Precision, commented, "These are significant results shown in very sick post heart attack patients with scarred heart muscle and structural heart disease. We look forward to the enrollment of additional patients and the conclusion of the study. We are hopeful that the results and continued research will bring about additional indications for use here in the US. As well, we are hopeful that the VIVO technology will be seen as a very useful tool in treating this expanded group of patients in need of state-of-the-art medical care." About VIVOCatheter Precision's VIVO (View Into Ventricular Onset), is a non-invasive 3D imaging system that enables physicians to identify the origin of ventricular arrhythmias pre-procedure, thereby streamlining workflow and reducing procedure time. VIVO has received marketing clearance from the U.S. FDA and has the CE Mark.VIVO is intended for acquisition, analysis, display and storage of cardiac electrophysiological data and maps for analysis by a physician.VIVO is intended to be used as a pre-procedure planning tool for patients with structurally normal hearts undergoing ablation treatment for idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias.About Catheter PrecisionCatheter Precision is an innovative U.S.-based medical device company bringing new solutions to market to improve the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. It is focused on developing groundbreaking technology for electrophysiology procedures by collaborating with physicians and continuously advancing its products.Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsStatements in this press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to substantial risk and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "anticipate," "may," "might," "can," "could," "continue," "depends," "expect," "expand," "forecast," "intend," "predict," "plan," "rely," "should," "will," "may," "seek," or the negative of these terms and other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding product evaluations at the hospital, and that the purchase order indicates that the hospital and its staff see the value and benefits that LockeT can bring and expectations regarding LockeT evaluations in the coming weeks. The Company's expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements as a result of uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances, including but not limited to risks and uncertainties included under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-K filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov . These risks and uncertainties include, but aren't limited to, that we do not have sufficient liquidity to fund our operations through May 2024 unless we are able to obtain additional financing or enter into a strategic transaction that would provide additional liquidity, we will not be able to reach profitability unless we are able to achieve our product expansion and growth goals, our research and development and commercialization efforts may depend on entering into agreements with corporate collaborators, we have entered into joint marketing agreements with respect to our products, and may enter into additional joint marketing agreements, that will reduce our revenues from product sales, royalty agreements with respect to our LockeT device will reduce any future profits from this product, if we experience significant disruptions in our information technology systems, our business may be adversely affected, litigation and other legal proceedings may adversely affect our business, if we make acquisitions or divestitures, we could encounter difficulties that harm our business, failure to attract and retain sufficient qualified personnel could also impede our growth, failure to maintain effective internal controls could cause our investors to lose confidence in us and adversely affect the market price of our common stock, we have determined that our internal controls and disclosure controls were not effective as of December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2024, and as a result, without effective remediation of the material weaknesses that we have identified, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud, our revenues may depend on our customers' receipt of adequate reimbursement from private insurers and government sponsored healthcare programs, we may be unable to compete successfully with companies in our highly competitive industry, many of whom have substantially greater resources than we do, our future operating results depend upon our ability to obtain components in sufficient quantities on commercially reasonable terms or according to schedules, prices, quality and volumes that are acceptable to us, and suppliers may fail to deliver components, or we may be unable to manage these components effectively or obtain these components on such terms, if hospitals, physicians and patients do not accept o
PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-05 16:01:19
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~A Partnership to Transform the Future of GenAI for Global Enterprises~MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / SOUTHWORKS, a globally recognized leader in technology consulting with over two decades of experience in delivering high-impact solutions, is excited to announce a strategic partnership with Kmeleon, an industry frontrunner in Generative AI (GenAI) solutions. This alliance is set to redefine the landscape of enterprise AI, bringing together the unparalleled expertise of both companies to drive innovation and deliver exceptional value."Helping our clients navigate the ever-changing world of technology has always been our top priority. As the landscape evolves, we understand the importance of providing cutting-edge solutions to stay ahead," said Alejandro Jack, CEO of SOUTHWORKS. "For more than two decades, SOUTHWORKS has been at the forefront of emerging technologies. Through our partnership with Kmeleon, we will support various industries in their AI acceleration, leveraging our combined AI expertise to help businesses thrive." SOUTHWORKS has earned its reputation through a long-standing commitment to excellence, working with some of the world's largest companies to deliver cutting-edge technology solutions. In recent years, SOUTHWORKS has made significant inroads into the GenAI space, collaborating with industry titans like Microsoft and SAP. Their contributions to SAP's AI assistant, Joule, underscore their growing influence in this rapidly evolving field.The decision to partner with Kmeleon underscores SOUTHWORKS' dedication to deepening its focus on Gen AI. Kmeleon, based in Miami and founded by former Microsoft experts, is at the forefront of AI innovation. Specializing exclusively in the design, development, and implementation of Gen AI solutions, Kmeleon's teams are heavily invested in research and development, partnering with leading technology companies such as Microsoft, Google, OpenAI and Databricks to push the boundaries of what's possible.Through this strategic alliance, Kmeleon will leverage SOUTHWORKS' extensive experience and global scale to expand its project capabilities, enabling a broader range of enterprises to benefit from their specialized Gen AI expertise. In turn, SOUTHWORKS will tap into Kmeleon's deep well of knowledge and innovative prowess in Gen AI to enhance its offerings, ensuring their projects deliver even greater value and transformative impact."We are thrilled to join forces with Kmeleon," said Johnny Halife, CTO of SOUTHWORKS. "Their singular focus on Gen AI and their impressive track record of delivering groundbreaking solutions perfectly align with our vision. Together, we are poised to deliver more specialized, scalable, and impactful AI solutions to our customers." "This partnership is a major milestone in our journey to revolutionize enterprise AI," added Dustin Gallegos, CEO of Kmeleon. "With SOUTHWORKS' vast industry experience and our deep expertise in Gen AI, we are confident that this alliance will set new standards in the industry, delivering exceptional value to our clients across the globe." This alliance marks the beginning of a powerful collaboration, combining the strengths of both companies to push the frontiers of enterprise AI. Together, SOUTHWORKS and Kmeleon are set to lead the charge in transforming the future of AI solutions, delivering innovations that are both pioneering and impactful on a global scale.--About SOUTHWORKSSOUTHWORKS is the global premium technology partner, known for its passionate and proactive approach to software engineering that gives companies the confidence to take on what's needed now. With over 20 years of experience delivering exceptional solutions to global enterprises, SOUTHWORKS specializes in developing cutting-edge technology. Recently, the company has expanded into the GenAI space, partnering with industry giants such as Microsoft and SAP to deliver transformative AI solutions. When businesses need to innovate at speed and scale, they turn to SOUTHWORKS to get it done right.About KmeleonBased in Miami, Kmeleon is a GenAI consulting firm dedicated to the design, development, and implementation of enterprise GenAI solutions, as well as the foundation of an AI enterprise framework to easily scale and control AI solutions. Founded by former Microsoft experts, Kmeleon is committed to advancing the field of AI through extensive research and collaboration with top tech companies.For media inquiries, please contact:Nicole Revers Global Marketing Lead, SOUTHWORKS nicole.revers@southworks.com +44 7783 517 780 www.southworks.com Dustin GallegosCEO, Kmeleon dustin@ kmeleon.tech +1 703 835 5657 www.kmeleon.tech SOURCE: SOUTHWORKS
PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-05 02:32:16
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 4, 2024 / Hagens Berman urges Spire Global, Inc. (NYSE:SPIR) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Class Period: Mar. 6, 2024 - Aug. 14, 2024Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Oct. 21, 2024Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/SPIR Contact the Firm Now: SPIR@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895Class Action Lawsuit Against Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR):Spire Global, the beleaguered space data provider, has managed to stave off financial distress by securing a waiver and amendment to its debt obligations with Blue Torch Capital. The agreement, reached on Aug. 27, 2024, provides immediate relief from leverage ratios in exchange for a hefty price tag.The company will now be required to pay an amendment fee of 3.5% of the outstanding term loan principal and it had to make a $10 million principal payment by August 31. This comes at a time when Spire's cash reserves are already stretched thin, with only $46 million in cash and equivalents as of June 30.The debt relief comes amidst a growing accounting scandal that has rocked the company. Spire recently admitted that virtually all of its previously reported financial statements for 2022 and 2023 would need to be restated due to improperly recognized revenues for pre-space mission activity. This revelation marks a significant escalation from the company's initial announcement in early August, when it announced that it would not timely file its Q2 2024 quarterly report. The company said then it was in the process of reviewing its accounting practices and procedures with respect to revenue recognition related to certain contracts in its "Space as a Service" business. The company further explained that "[t]he re-evaluation relates to the potential existence of embedded leases of identifiable assets in the Contracts and the related recognition of revenue for pre-space mission activities." The accounting irregularities have not only led to financial covenant violations but have also triggered a class-action lawsuit against the company. Investors are alleging that Spire misrepresented and failed to disclose the true nature of certain contracts and the related revenue recognition.Shareholder rights firm Hagens Berman is now investigating whether the company and its executives violated U.S. securities laws."Spire Global's recent admissions of accounting irregularities raise serious concerns about the company's corporate governance and financial practices," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation. "We are looking into whether Spire's recent disclosures and stock performance warrant lengthening the alleged class period." If you invested in Spire Global and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, submit your losses now If you'd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Spire Global case and our investigation, read more Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Spire Global 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 SPIR@ 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 Berman's 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.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-05 18:32:06
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DALTON, GA / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 /SYNLawn, a leading global manufacturer and innovator of sustainable synthetic turf, is proud to support Victory Junction, a year-round camp in North Carolina for children with complex medical conditions, with the donation of an artificial grass lawn to improve accessibility for camp attendees at the newly debuted Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America Water Park.Charity Ride Across America Water Park SYNLawn Installation at the Charity Ride Across America Water Park."We are honored to create a safer and more inclusive play space for children of all abilities," said George Neagle, president of SYNLawn Global. "Philanthropy is important to our company and our culture is built on serving people around the globe through charitable endeavors that align with our mission to improve the planet through synthetic turf." SYNSport was used to create the green space. It's the ideal turf for this type of high-traffic space since it provides superior durability and support. It's also a more environmentally friendly option due to being made with SYNLawn's exclusive plant-based EnviroLoc+ backing system created from renewable resources such as soybean oil. The sustainable grass offers a smoother and more stable outdoor space than natural grass for camp attendees who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices. Synthetic surfacing is proven to reduce injury and lessen the impact of falls by absorbing the shock better than real grass, which creates a safer play environment for all."We're all very appreciative of this generous and beautiful gift from SYNLawn - especially the children who will benefit from the donated lawn," said Chad Coltrane, president and CEO of Victory Junction. "The addition of the artificial turf allows us to extend our water park activities and programming from the pool to the poolside. It also adds the perfect landscape appeal and symbolizes a generous spirit of giving back. Our charitable partnerships are valuable and enable us to provide more exciting experiences for the kids." Photos of the installation are available upon request. Learn more about SYNLawn and its sustainable turf solutions at www.synlawn.com ABOUT SYNLAWNFor more than 20 years, SYNLawn has led the industry as the largest manufacturer and unrivaled innovator of artificial grass and synthetic surfacing in North America. As part of the Sport Group Holding family of companies, SYNLawn delivers the best products available on the market. SYNLawn's turnkey network of over 120 distributors seamlessly combines environmental stewardship with industry-leading innovations. SYNLawn uses bio-based ingredients and consumer-conscious additives to meet customers' wide range of needs. With more than 300,000 residential and commercial installations, the company is raising the bar for global synthetic turf standards and transforming the idea of grass. We have a proprietary system with a large percentage of renewable content. From rooftops to road medians and rocket-launch viewing sites, SYNLawn has installed over 150 million square feet of U.S. soy-backed grass across 300,000 installations in the United States of America and over 20 other countries since 2008. SYNLawn added more soy than ever to its products in 2021, which increased its use of U.S. soy by 10%. For more information visit www.SYNLawn.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest and YouTube.ABOUT VICTORY JUNCTIONVictory Junction is a year-round camp facility for children with serious illnesses and chronic medical conditions. Founded by Kyle Petty and his family in honor of his son Adam, Victory Junction provides life-changing camp experiences that are exciting, fun, and empowering, in a medically-safe environment, always free of charge. In addition to traditional camp sessions, Victory Junction's REACH program takes camp experiences to children and their families at hospitals, clinics, and other community partner sites throughout the Carolinas and Virginia. Since opening in 2004, Victory Junction has delivered more than 126,000 camp experiences and has served children from all fifty states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico, as well as four countries. Victory Junction is a member of the SeriousFun Children's Network of camps founded by Paul Newman, and is accredited by the American Camp Association. To learn more, please visit victoryjunction.org # # #Contact InformationMackenzie Smith mackenzie@ labearcommunications.com 574-524-5916SOURCE: SYNLawnView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-05 18:07:45
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Combining Tanvex's biosimilar development expertise and U.S. FDA-licensed commercial-scale facility in San Diego, California, with Bora's extensive global CDMO capabilities, the alliance aims to provide comprehensive solutions to biologics CDMO customers around the world.SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / Tanvex BioPharma ("Tanvex" or the "Company"), a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) for biologics and a biosimilars products company, recently announced that the Board of Directors approved the acquisition of Bora Biologics Co., Ltd. ("Bora Biologics"), a CDMO subsidiary of Bora Pharmaceuticals ("Bora"). This strategic alliance will bring together Bora's extensive CDMO capabilities and client-centric culture with Tanvex's development expertise, scalable operations, and U.S. FDA-licensed commercial capacity facility in San Diego, California. Upon completion, Bobby Sheng, Chairman and CEO of the Bora Group, will be appointed Chairman of the merged organization. The transaction is expected to conclude in Q1 of 2025.Tanvex CDMO and Bora Pharmaceuticals Logo Partnership LogosBora Pharmaceuticals is a leading global CDMO with 10 state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities around the world. Bora will closely collaborate with Tanvex to leverage its global CDMO operations and capabilities to provide comprehensive solutions to biologics customers, including Bora's new fill-and-finish capabilities in Camden, Maryland. Tanvex has created strong biologics development and manufacturing operations and brings over 100,000 square feet of biomanufacturing space and 1,000-liter bioreactors, which complement Bora's 500-liter bioreactors to provide a highly scalable service offering. Combined, these capabilities offer a more robust development and manufacturing platform to global biologics customers.Henry Chen, Chairman and CEO of Tanvex, stated, "Tanvex has been dedicated to the development and manufacturing of biologics since its inception and now offers an integrated suite of services from early-stage non-GMP pre-clinical development to commercial-stage CGMP manufacturing. This strategic investment by Bora presents an optimal opportunity to combine our strengths with Bora's proven success in building a global CDMO platform characterized by exceptional quality, excellent manufacturing track record and strong customer relationships." "This strategic investment focuses on both parties' shared vision for the biologics CDMO business," added Bobby Sheng, Chairman and CEO of the Bora Group. "It combines Bora's strong reputation, industry-leading quality and global operational resources with Tanvex's established USFDA-approved commercial-scale biologics facility and biosimilar expertise in San Diego. This partnership will enable the combined entity to rapidly respond to evolving industry demands and policy developments, such as the U.S. BIOSECURE Act, and capitalize on new opportunities in onshoring, friendshoring, and the growing CDMO demands driven by these policy changes." About TanvexTanvex BioPharma USA, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Tanvex BioPharma, Inc. (TWSE: 6541), was founded in 2011 with a mission to revolutionize the healthcare industry by making biologics more affordable and accessible to patients. Over the years, Tanvex has honed its expertise in biologics development and manufacturing, culminating in the successful commercialization of our first product. With another Biological License Application (BLA) pending U.S. FDA approval, Tanvex's journey is characterized by an unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and a passion for improving patient care.Tanvex's dedication to advancing healthcare has led to extending its capabilities, including its technical and operational expertise, to a broader audience as a CDMO - Tanvex CDMO. Biopharma companies leverage Tanvex CDMO's state-of-the-art, U.S.-based and FDA-licensed facility, and deep knowledge in biologics development and manufacturing, to bring their products to market efficiently and effectively.Relevant Links https://www.tanvex.com/https://tanvexcdmo.com/ About BoraFounded in 2007, Bora Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a leading global pharmaceutical manufacturer with well-connected global distribution to supply more than 100 countries around the world. Bora is dedicated to becoming a global leader in pharmaceutical manufacturing by offering its clients the best quality, efficiency, and reliability.Contact InformationMedia ContactMarketingmedia@ tanvex.com CDMO Inquiriescdmosales@ tanvex.com SOURCE: Tanvex BioPharma USA, Inc.View the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-05 13:26:17
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / Levi & Korsinsky notifies investors that it has commenced an investigation of The Chemours Company ("The Chemours Company") (NYSE:CC) concerning possible violations of federal securities laws.Chemours issued a press release on August 1, 2024, reporting its financial results for the second quarter of 2024. Among other items, Chemours reported non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.38, missing consensus estimates by $0.20. The Company advised that it "anticipates a low to mid-single digit sequential decline in Net Sales for the third quarter," citing "[r]esidual impacts from Q2 unplanned downtime at our Altamira, Mexico manufacturing site" in its Titanium Technologies segment; "[r]efrigerant seasonality paired with weaker Freon Refrigerants pricing in its Thermal & Specialized Solutions segment; and "[a] continued modest recovery in" its Advanced Performance Materials segment. Following this news, Chemours's stock price dropped over 11% on August 2, 2024. To obtain additional information, go to:or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com or by telephone at (212)363-7500.WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212)363-7500 Fax: (212)363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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BOLTON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / R&D can occur in almost any sector. It can arise when a business develops a new product or creates a unique solution to a real-world problem. Additionally, investing in R&D can offer significant tax benefits. The UK government provides R&D tax relief, which allows businesses to claim tax credits or deductions on qualifying R&D expenditure for up to 27%. For small and medium-sized enterprises, this can mean a cash payment or a reduction in the company's Corporation Tax bill. Larger companies can benefit from the Research and Development Expenditure Credit (RDEC) scheme, which provides a tax credit for qualifying R&D costs. These incentives are designed to encourage innovation and technological advancement, helping businesses to offset the costs associated with research and development.Planning Your R&D ProjectFor those considering an R&D tax claim, it's important to understand that R&D tax relief is designed to incentivise planned research and development. To be eligible, your discovery must result from a structured project aimed at scientific or technological advancement. This doesn't mean you must have a plan to claim R&D tax relief from the start. Many businesses find they are eligible for R&D tax rebates after they have started their projects, especially when they retroactively realise the innovative nature of their work.Scope of Eligible R&D ProjectsAn R&D project will qualify for R&D tax relief if it specifically aims to resolve uncertainties in the fields of science or technology. This includes sectors ranging from architecture to more tech-focused fields such as artificial intelligence and biological engineering. R&D tax specialists at Growth Hive UK can help determine if your project falls within these eligible categories.Advancing Science or TechnologyThe goal of an R&D project is to achieve a significant 'advance' in science or technology. This could be developing new materials, processes, products, or services, or significantly improving existing ones. Research and development tax credits are awarded to projects that contribute to the overall knowledge in a field, not just to the company's internal processes. These advancements should be non-obvious to someone with expertise in the field and represent more than just incremental improvements.Establishing the Scientific or Technological BaselineBefore embarking on an R&D project, establishing a solid understanding of the current scientific or technological landscape in your area is crucial. This serves as a foundation for identifying the specific uncertainties your project aims to address. R&D tax specialists can assist in documenting how your project extends beyond existing knowledge, helping to justify your claim for research and development tax relief.Documenting Your R&D EffortsFor a successful R&D tax claim, maintaining detailed records of your R&D activities is essential. Documentation should cover the scope of the project, who participated, materials used, and financial expenditures. These records are crucial for meeting R&D tax compliance requirements and responding to any R&D tax enquiries. Even if a project does not fully resolve the identified uncertainties, it can still qualify for R&D tax funding if there was a genuine attempt to advance scientific or technological knowledge.Navigating the complexities of R&D tax projects and ensuring compliance can be challenging. At Growth Hive UK, we specialise in providing R&D tax assistance and ensuring that businesses like yours can maximise their claims and continue to innovate. If you're considering an R&D project or want to ensure your current projects qualify for research and development tax credits, contact us today. We are your dedicated R&D tax partners, here to support every step of your innovation journey.Contact InformationMark HoctorHead of Business Developmentmark@ growthhiveuk.co.uk 0161 850 4558SOURCE: Growth Hive UKView the original press release on newswire.com
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 /Zeus North America Mining Corp. (formerly Umdoni Exploration Inc.) (CSE:ZEUS)(OTCQB:ZUUZF)(FRANKFURT:O92) (the "Company" or "Zeus") is pleased to announce that it has increased the size of its non-brokered private placement announced on July 30, 2024 (the "Placement") and now intends to issue up to 5,664,400 units ("Units") at a price of $0.25 per Unit to raise gross proceeds of up to $1,416,100.Each Unit will comprise one common share and one full share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire an additional common share at a price of $0.35 per share for a period of two years following closing of the Placement.Finder's fees may be payable on all or any portion of the Placement, which is subject to regulatory and exchange approval.The proceeds of the Placement will be utilized for exploration programs on the Company's Idaho copper projects, including its flagship Cuddy Mountain project, and for general working capital purposes.Completion of the Placement is subject to certain conditions including the receipt of all necessary approvals and the acceptance by the Canadian Securities Exchange.This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or under any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act, as amended, and applicable state securities laws.On behalf of the board of directors."Dean Besserer" President and CEOFor more information, please contact the Company at info@ zeusminingcorp.com FOR INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT: Kin Communications Inc.Ph: 604-684-6730 ZEUS@ kincommunications.com About Zeus North America Mining Corp.The Company is in the business of mineral exploration. The Company is focused on its exploration properties in the state of Idaho known as the: Cuddy Mountain; Selway; and Great Western properties, respectively. The Idaho properties consist of 82 (Cuddy Mountain), 57 (Selway) and 38 (Great Western) lode mining claims respectively and cover a cumulative area of approximately 3822.1 acres. The Company's flagship Cuddy Mountain Property is adjacent to Hercules Metal Corp's Leviathan Copper Porphyry discovery.Forward Looking StatementsWhen used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of their respective officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the parties can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements and information in this news release include, amongst others, the Company's exploration plans. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.By their nature, forward-looking statements involve 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 or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: currency fluctuations; limited business history of the parties; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities and development of projects; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general development, market and industry conditions.The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of its securities or its financial or operating results (as applicable). The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors.The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. The Company does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.SOURCE: Zeus North America Mining Corp.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has emphasised that the approval-in-principle granted to two crypto exchanges recently is in line with the commissions desire to ensure that youths in Nigeria are given the opportunity to participate in the capital market.
The Director General of the SEC, Emomotimi Agama, who stated this during a meeting in Abuja Wednesday, said that in line with the desire of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to engage with the youthful population in the country, it became important to create a structure that will enhance that participation of the youths and other Nigerians in the market.
The commission had last week granted approvals to Busha Digital Limited and Quidax Technologies Limited.
According to the SEC DG, It is important that we act accordingly, we are a country but we cannot be left out of the global phenomenon that is beginning to take shape. The SEC as a future looking institution is poised to making sure that we are in the league of countries that do what is needed.
As much as possible, we are building talents to be able to deal with the challenges that these asset classes could bring to our shores. A lot of young Nigerians are fully involved in it and we cannot shut the door against them, rather the intention of Mr. President is to have them inclusive in the capital market and that is why we are ensuring that there is regulation and no one is hurt at the end of the day. Thats our responsibility at the SEC by protecting investors and developing the market.
Mr Agama said the SEC is doing all of these cautiously to ensure these institutions do not pose risks to the national economy and to citizens who are investors too.
He disclosed that the SECs programme on the digital assets exchanges comes from its virtual Assets Service Providers Regulation adding that in view of the nature of crypto exchanges and the entire industry, it was important to outline a regulation that allows the Commission to fully understand crypto exchanges and virtual financial assets services providers.
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The SEC boss said the idea was borne out of the initial Regulatory Incubation Programme of the SEC in its desire to understudy fintech platforms and products that are new to the market in order to be able to dimension the risks that are associated with these institutions and their products as clearly, the SECs primary responsibility is investor production and market development.
In our bid not to stifle innovation we decided to set up a Sound Box to be able to understand exactly what these companies are getting into, how it affects the customers, how it affects the Nigerian public and how it affects the Nigerian economy.
That was the idea, soon after that with the emergence of the VAPS regulation, we thought it wise to move forward by setting up the Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Programme. The first stage is the Regulatory Incubation Programme, the next stage is the Accelerated Incubation Programme which takes care of the desires of a lot of institutions to be regulated by the SEC. As you are aware, non-regulation of these entities poses a serious risk to our economy and so it was important in building trust and in building confidence and more so, he explained.
He emphasised that the commission has not yet outrightly licenced any exchange, but has provided an approval in principle adding that it is a controlled experiment wherein companies that have applied, meet the fit and proper persons test and other regulatory guidelines are invited into a regulatory incubation wherein they are understudied.
It gives us an opportunity to know exactly what they are doing, we know the risks that they pose to our economy, we know the risks they pose to investors and the risks they pose to themselves as operators.
The idea is you need to do that to be able to study them and provide all the guidance and regulations required by them to operate in the system seamlessly while also not defrauding Nigerians, not causing chaos to Nigerians, our economy and the entire system at large. We are making sure that they operate within regulations similar to what is obtainable also in other jurisdictions, Mr Agama added.
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Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State (Oil) Petroleum Resources, on Thursday, said the Federal Government was not responsible for the recent increase in the price of petrol across the country.
The minister said this while briefing State House correspondents after a meeting with Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
Mr Lokpobiri said the industry has been deregulated, and that the government was not fixing prices of petrol and other petroleum products.
This sector is deregulated. And we believe that with the availability of products, the price will find its level.
What is important is that the product is available in the country; between now and the weekend, there will be availability of the product (petrol) across the length and breadth of the country, he said.
He said it was important to convey to Nigerians that the President was empathetic about what was going on in the country.
He is concerned about the hardship of Nigerians, and that was why he directed the Vice President to call this meeting, for us to reflect on what is going on in the country.
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But, we believe that by the time there is availability of the product (petrol) across the country, the price itself will stabilise, said the minister.
Lokpobiri said Shettima had summoned him along with Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, over the recent hike in the price of petrol.
Also, Ogbugo Ukoha, executive director, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), said regulatory efforts were geared toward stabilising supply of petrol in the country, which he said would impact positively on stability of price.
The objective of the regulator is to ensure that theres increased operating hours from all loading depots; vessels are being cleared promptly and extended hours where safety can permit truck outs as well.
More importantly also is the reinforcement of the support being given to local refinancing, because with increased production there will be higher supply, which will stabilise the price, said Okuoha.
it would be recalled that the price of petrol was increased from N855 to N897 per litre, depending on the location, from the previous N568-N617.
(NAN)
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The Nigerian government has cautioned Nigerians not to engage in panic buying of petrol, saying it has sufficient product in the country.
Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) disclosed this in a statement posted on his X handle on Thursday.
Mr Lokpobiri explained that President Bola Tinubu is deeply concerned about the hardship Nigerians are facing, noting that a meeting was held with Vice President Kashim Shettima, reflecting on the current fuel situation across the country.
We want to reassure the public that there is sufficient fuel supply in the country, and by the weekend, we expect products to be available nationwide.
While prices may vary in different regions, we believe that once distribution stabilises, prices will regulate naturally. Its important to emphasise that the government is not fixing prices, as the sector is deregulated, Mr Lokpobiri said.
He said there is no need for panic buying, as supply is adequate.
Our primary message to Nigerians is that we are working hard to ensure that the situation normalises quickly, and prices will stabilise as product availability improves, he added.
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In recent months, fuel scarcity has hit major cities across Nigeria, with attendant effects on businesses and households.
This has also prompted commercial bus drivers to increase their fares in major towns and cities, including the nations capital. As a result, black marketers have made brisk business selling to willing buyers at higher prices ranging from N1,000 to N1,200.
On Tuesday, NNPC Ltd adjusted the pump price of petrol to N897 from N617 as motorists and commuters grumbled amid the uncertainty. Other independent stations have also adjusted their pump prices, in some instances above N900 per litre.
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The 2024 MTV Video Music Award (VMA) Nominees Party held at the US Consulate in Lagos over the weekend, was an electrifying night of Afrobeats excellence.
Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Pheelz, Cohbams, Director Pink, E-Money, Leo Dasilva, Fiokee, Dorathy Bachor, Uti Nwachukwu, Saskay, VJ Adams, and Candy Bleakz were some of the events guests.
The event, themed Afrobeats Royalty, brought together music lovers and industry elites who perfectly embodied the theme to celebrate the global impact of Afrobeats, a music genre that has transcended borders and united cultures.
Hosted by MTV Base and sponsored by Budweiser, the evening began with a live performance from Coloz Band, setting the stage for an unforgettable night.
William Stevens, the US Consular, officially opened the event with a heartfelt remark, highlighting the global strides Afrobeats has made and the pivotal role of the US Consulate in strengthening the cultural bond between Nigeria and the United States through music.
The performances were the highlight of the eveningAyo Maff, known for his hit song Dealer, set the bar high for the rest of the exciting performances. Dotty the Deity charmed the audience with his rendition of Forever Sweet Valentine.
At the same time, Zadok wowed everyone with a medley of significant hits from each Afrobeats category nominee for this years VMAs.
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Other highlights
Event host and MTV Base Culture Squad Member Ilo celebrated the stars nominated in the Best Afrobeats category, a category that was introduced this year to recognize the growing influence and popularity of Afrobeats in the global music scene. Ilo reflected on the genres remarkable journey, which led to a dedicated category in its honour at the VMAs.
This years nominees include Ayra Starr (Last Heartbreak Song ft. Giveon), Burna Boy (City Boys), Davido & Lojay (Sensational with Chris Brown), Tems (Love Me JeJe), Tyla (Water), and Pheelz (Ruin with Usher).
The energy reached new heights with a series of surprise performances. Pheelz, one of the nominees, delighted the crowd with his hit song Finesse, featuring BNXN (formerly known as Buju).
DJ TTB then kept the party going with a seamless mix of Afrobeats, ensuring the dance floor stayed packed. Eltee Skhillz closed out the performances for the night, and it was nothing short of amazing.
Adding a layer of excitement to the vibrant night, MTV Base and BET Africas Culture Squad Members Oluchi and Daala, respectively, interviewed some of these personalities.
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Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has reported the efforts of some African researchers to develop new drugs from the continents vast natural biodiversity using Artificial Intelligence.
Gavi, referring to an interview with SciDev.Net, an organisation that publishes news, views and analysis about science and technology for global development, confirmed the efforts of the group as narrated by the lead researcher, Fidele Ntie-Kang, an associate professor at the University of Buea in Cameroon.
Mr Ntie-Kang said his team is deploying AI to screen hundreds of natural compounds to find effective remedies for globally neglected diseases.
He said AI is key to unlocking Africas potential for homegrown healthcare solutions.
By tapping into our own natural and human resources and applying new technologies like AI, we can develop homegrown solutions to our healthcare challenges, Mr Ntie-Kang said.
He added that with over 40,000 unique plant species in Africa, the team aims to tap into the continents natural resources to develop homegrown solutions to healthcare challenges, adding that this innovative approach has the potential of unlocking new, less toxic treatments and reducing reliance on external solutions.
Unlocking potential of African medicinal plants
According to the researcher, traditional medicines play a crucial role in Africa, with over 80 per cent of the population relying on them.
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He said Africa is home to over 40,000 unique plant species, representing 25 per cent of the worlds plant genetic resources, adding that more than 5,000 plants are used in traditional African medicine, containing unique molecules that have been used effectively in modern medicine, such as quinine for malaria and salicylic acid for aspirin.
He, however, said despite their effectiveness, African medicinal plants have seen limited systematic exploration by pharmaceutical researchers, with most of their medicinal properties remaining unstudied and few molecules being developed into drugs.
Also, the researcher said drug discovery from African natural products faces numerous challenges.
He said: Drug discovery has traditionally been a complex, expensive, and time-consuming process, which has led to limited investment in exploring natural products from Africa. Additionally, there are infrastructural challenges, like frequent power shortages, which weve had to overcome by installing solar panels to ensure research continuity.
Because the scientific study of African natural compounds remains largely untapped, knowledge-sharing and capacity development are crucial for rapid advancement in the field. Yet, visa rules and requirements in the West make it difficult for African scientists and students to access training overseas and build collaboration with international partners. These challenges have underscored the necessity of building our online natural compound database and ensuring it remains accessible to researchers across the continent.
He revealed that the availability of basic research resources poses a significant challenge. Sourcing reagents from Europe can take weeks or months, whereas online orders in Europe are fulfilled within days at a lower cost. Additionally, there is a prevailing bias against integrating African natural compounds into pharmaceutical drug development.
However, Mr Ntie-Kang said they are making progress by showcasing capabilities and publishing research in reputable journals, gradually dispelling doubts about Africas potential for innovative drug discovery.
Accelerating drug discovery in Africa with AI
The team said AI is revolutionising drug discovery in Africa by dramatically shortening the process of identifying molecules that can bind with or interact with proteins in desirable ways adding that machine learning and AI enable the screening of millions of molecules in less than a day, a process that previously took weeks or months.
Mr Ntie-Kang said his research team is establishing a state-of-the-art drug discovery regional centre.
He said: My research team at the University of Buea in Cameroon is establishing a state-of-the-art drug discovery regional centre, which will screen and utilise 400 natural compounds from the continent in order to identify new antiviral drugs. Using AI-supported techniques and working with an international, interdisciplinary team of biologists, chemists, geneticists, and computer scientists, we are adopting innovative screening techniques to identify natural compounds that may hold treatments for viral diseases such as COVID-19 and HIV.
To support drug discovery efforts across Africa, the team is creating a freely accessible online database of African natural product compounds, including those from fungi, plants, corals, and bacteria.
According to him, the platform requires no login and provides researchers with a valuable resource to identify potential treatments for diseases such as TB and malaria, and neglected diseases like Chikungunya and Schistosomiasis.
He said their work has broader implications for Africa, as it leverages local natural and human resources, combined with technologies like AI, to develop innovative solutions for healthcare challenges.
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The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched a global framework to investigate the origin of new and re-emerging pathogens.
Developed with the support of the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of novel pathogens (SAGO), the comprehensive guide aims to help member states conduct thorough scientific investigations into the sources of novel pathogens, WHO said, in a statement on Wednesday.
According to the global health body, the pioneering framework fills a critical gap in the existing toolkit for outbreak investigations, providing a structured approach to understanding the origins of new pathogens.
It stated that as the world continues to grapple with the threat of emerging diseases like Ebola, Nipah, and SARS-CoV-2, this framework is a timely and vital resource.
Re-emergence of Ebola, other diseases
The re-emergence of Ebola, Nipah, and SARS-CoV-2 has significant public health implications.
Ebola re-emerged in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2018, causing the second-largest outbreak in history, and has continued to cause sporadic cases and outbreaks in Africa.
Nipah virus, a deadly zoonotic virus spread through animal-human contact, contaminated food, or human-to-human transmission, causing respiratory and brain diseases with high mortality, re-emerged periodically, primarily in Southeast Asia, with recent outbreaks in India and Bangladesh resulting in significant morbidity and mortality.
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The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has ravaged the world since 2020, with ongoing transmission and new variants emerging.
These re-emerging diseases highlighted the importance of the WHOs global framework for investigating the origins of emerging and re-emerging pathogens, enabling swift action to prevent and contain future outbreaks.
The WHO emphasises that the ability to swiftly contain outbreaks and identify their origins is more critical than ever, with significant scientific, moral, and financial implications. This framework serves as a how-to guide, which will be updated regularly based on user feedback
By providing a unified approach to investigating pathogen origins, the WHO aims to enhance global preparedness and response to infectious disease outbreaks, ultimately protecting human and animal health worldwide.
Framework
The organisation stated that global framework for investigating new pathogen origins consists of six key elements: early investigations to identify exposure sources and pathogen characteristics, human studies to understand epidemiology and transmission, human-animal interface studies to identify animal reservoirs, environmental studies to investigate insect vectors and environmental presence, genomics and phylogenetics to analyse pathogen evolution, and biosafety/biosecurity studies to determine if laboratory breaches contributed to the outbreak, adding that this structured approach helps in understanding the origins of new pathogens.
It also revealed that the framework guides investigators in tracing new pathogen origins, promoting swift info sharing, and One Health approach to prevent global health crises.
Rapid and transparent sharing of findings
WHO explained that to achieve the goals of the framework, countries need to conduct investigations into the origins of new pathogens and share their initial findings in a rapid, complete, and transparent manner as soon as results are available, stating that this timely sharing of information is crucial to ensure the swift implementation of measures to mitigate further transmission, prevent new spillover events, and ultimately, prevent future pandemics.
By sharing findings promptly and transparently, countries can facilitate a coordinated global response, accelerate the development of effective countermeasures, and protect public health worldwide, WHO noted.
WHOs Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, said understanding epidemic origins is a scientific and moral imperative.
He said: Understanding when, where, how and why epidemics and pandemics begin is both a scientific imperative to prevent future outbreaks, and a moral imperative for the sake of those who lose their lives to them.
This framework provides for the first time comprehensive guidance on the studies that are needed to investigate the origins of emerging and reemerging pathogens. If it had been in place when COVID-19 struck, the quest to understand its origins may have been less contentious and more successful. WHO continues to call on China to share all information it has on the origins of COVID-19, so that all hypotheses can be investigated.
About SAGO
SAGO was established in November 2021, comprising independent global experts, with a mission to develop a global framework for understanding emerging and re-emerging pathogens origins, identifying the best technical and scientific approaches.
As part of WHOs enhanced health emergency preparedness and prevention system, SAGO collaborates with WHO, member states, and health and scientific partners to strengthen global health security.
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The police have confirmed the arrest of the operatives who allegedly extorted N3 million from a Nigerian man in Bayelsa State, South-south Nigeria.
The Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a post on his X handle on Thursday.
The extortion
PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how some police operatives allegedly extorted money from the man, Kelechi Isaac, on 26 August at Odi Axis of Bayelsa State.
Mr Isaac, who is based in Ghana, hails from Nguru Nworie, a community in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo state, Nigerias South-east.
The victim narrated that five police operatives flagged down his vehicle while he was driving back from a marriage ceremony with two of his friends.
He said the operatives subsequently forced him at gunpoint to transfer the N3 million to two separate bank accounts.
Officers arrested
On Monday, the police authorities announced that the operatives involved in the extortion of the man had been identified.
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The police said the operatives are from Zone 16 Police Headquarters, the zonal police headquarters for Bayelsa and Rivers States in South-south Nigeria.
It was unclear, before now, if the operatives were arrested or not.
But the force spokesperson, Mr Adejobi, an assistant commissioner of police, confirmed in the X post on Thursday that the operatives have been arrested.
The policemen involved in this case of extortion of N3 million have been arrested, he said.
The spokesperson said authorities of Zone 16 Police Headquarters have been asked to produce the operatives at the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The Force Headquarters will continue to sanitise the system and ensure justice is done in all cases brought to its notice, he wrote on the microblogging platform.
Money recovered, but hasnt been returned to me Victim
When contacted on Thursday morning, Mr Isaac, the victim, told PREMIUM TIMES that the N3 million has been recovered from the operatives, but has not yet been returned to him.
The victim said the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in-charge of Zone 16 Headquarters, Paul Omata, informed him of the development.
They havent returned the money. I was in Bayelsa yesterday (Wednesday). They (AIG) said the money is there (in Bayelsa). But they will not return the money to me because there is no order from IGP to release the money to me, he said.
They said the policemen are being moved to Abuja, but they have not gotten to Abuja for the IGP to see them and give orders. So they said they are waiting for directives from the IGP (to return the money to me).
The spokesperson of the Zone 16 Police Headquarters, Gunn Ewhoborwo, did not respond to calls and a text message seeking his comments.
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A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Benedict Akika, aka Benee, has been abducted by unknown gunmen in Ibadan.
Mr Akika was picked up at his home on Wednesday, the state spokesperson of the party in the state, Michael Ogunsina, said on the phone to PREMIUM TIMES.
We do not live on the same axis. However, I heard that he was kidnapped at his home in Akobo Ojurin-Olohunda, Mr Ogunsina said.
He said nobody was killed during the incident, debunking earlier reports to the contrary as false.
The Police Spokesperson in the state, Adewale Osifeso, also confirmed the incident via WhatsApp.
Investigation has commenced into the matter. Updates will be provided accordingly, he said.
Mr Akika is an ally of the state governor, Seyi Makinde, and a leader of the PDP in Lagelu local government Area of the state.
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A 31-year-old pastor of a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ondo State, Victor Oluwasegun, has been remanded at a correctional centre for impregnating a minor.
Mr Oluwasegun also allegedly put five other young girls in the family way before his latest escapade, for which he was arraigned before a magistrate in Akure.
The prosecution alleged that the pastor had unlawful sexual intercourse with the minor on 24 July in the Oba-Ile area of the state.
Mr Oluwasegun was arraigned before the magistrate by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on a one-count charge of unlawful sexual intercourse.
The prosecutor, David Ebriku, said the offence contravened Section 31(1) of the Child Rights Laws of Ondo State 2007 and is punishable under Section 31(2) of the same laws.
He urged the court to remand the suspect to a correctional centre.
The magistrate, Taiwo Lebi, remanded the suspect and adjourned the hearing of the bail application to 19 September.
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Cases of rape of minors have been on the increase in Ondo as legal actions appear to have failed to deter offenders.
In July, a state Family Court ordered the remand of a pastor, Adetunji Obatayo, in the Olokuta Correctional Centre for sexually assaulting his foster daughter and illegally procuring an abortion for her three times.
The victim had been living with the accused person since 2020 when her parents handed her over to the pastor.
Mr Obatayo, a pastor of the Deeper Christian Life Church, is also the principal of the school where his 14-year-old victim attends.
The 55-year-old defendant was arrested by the police after the victim informed her parents about the sexual relationship with him.
He was arraigned on three counts of rape, unlawful prescription of drugs to procure an abortion and killing an unborn child.
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Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has directed the immediate deployment of buses to different parts of the Ilorin metropolis to ease the movement of commuters.
The governors spokesperson, Rafiu Ajakaye, announced this in a statement on Thursday.
The buses are to take people to the most central destinations free of charge. We hope that persons attending the SUBEB job placement interviews would find this helpful, particularly in the metropolis, the statement said.
The governor also appealed to transporters and members of the public to exercise patience over the new fuel price hike, saying different government stakeholders were reviewing the situation.
The inconveniences are regretted, and we are confident that things will ease as soon as possible, the governor added.
READ ALSO: Ilorin emir backs Governor AbdulRazaq on development projects
The high cost of transportation rose further after the latest hike in petrol price from about N617 to N955, worsening Nigerias worst economic crisis in a generation.
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Armed robbers Thursday morning attacked a passenger bus and a private car near Osu in Atakumosa Local Government Area of Osun State, shooting the bus driver and raping a passenger.
The two vehicles were coming from Lagos when they were attacked by the robbers.
One of the victims narrated the incident to PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday.
We were between Ile-Ife and Osu when the robbers stopped us. They were eight in number and armed, he said.
Our nus driver was shot and injured. One of the passengers in the car, a woman, was raped. They collected all our money and ATM cards and made us transfer various amounts into their account.
Some of the passengers escaped into the bush and alerted security men. Not long after, policemen, vigilantes, and members of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service arrived and began to comb the area.
They arrested one of the robbers, and the driver of our bus was rushed to a hospital in Ile-Ife.
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READ ALSO: Police confirm arrest of officers who extorted N3 million from Nigerian man at gunpoint
The acting police spokesperson in Osun State, Emmanuel Giwa-Alade, confirmed the incident.
One person was arrested, and the investigation is ongoing, he said.
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The National Working Committee (NWC) of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has dissolved the executive committees in Taraba, Benue, Oyo, Bauchi and Gombe states.
The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, in Abuja on Thursday, said that the dissolution was for the entire executive structure of the party from state to ward level in the affected states.
Mr Johnson said that the action was part of the resolutions reached at the end of the partys NWC emergency meeting held on Thursday in Abuja.
He said the decision was taken as part of measures to reposition and revitalise NNPP in the affected states.
He said the dissolved state excos would be replaced with caretaker committees in line with the constitution of the party.
Mr Johnson further explained that the decision was pursuant to articles 14.2.1 (iv, v) and 15.2.1 (xvi) of the partys constitution as amended on 6 April.
The dissolved executive committees shall in accordance with the partys constitution be replaced by caretaker committees, which will be announced in a few days, for the stipulated period of time, he said..
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Mr Johnson appreciated members of the dissolved state executives for their service to the party and urged them to be ready to serve in other capacities in the future.
Similarly, he said that after an extensive evaluation of all the other state executives nationwide, the NWC was satisfied that they were legally and morally ready to conduct the local government elections in their states.
He added that the NNPP noted that the Kano State executive, in particular, was well constituted to undertake the crucial local council election with a very high standard of leadership and effectiveness as backed by law.
(NAN)
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The National Economic Council (NEC) has urged all states that are yet to make submissions on the proposed State Police to submit their report on or before 9 September.
The acting governor of Oyo state, Adebayo Lawal, made this known while briefing journalists at the end of 144 NEC meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday.
All the states have submitted their reports except Adamawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Sokoto and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
At todays NEC meeting an update for the establishment of State Police was considered and this was as a result of security challenges that we have across the nation North-east, North-west, North-central, South-west, South-east and South-south so that we will have a robust security in our nation.
And for that purpose sometime in the past, NEC considered the establishment of a Sate Police and asked states to make submissions for consideration.
Today all states were supposed to submit for consideration of the NEC. Incidentally four states couldnt submit.
And for that purpose NEC decided that all states must make their submission on or before Monday next week otherwise whatever decision NEC takes on the establishment of State Police will be binding on those states that refuse to make submissions, Mr Lawal said.
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(NAN)
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A lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has written to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, to terminate the ongoing prosecution of accused #EndBadGovernance protesters. He also urged Mr Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, to ensure the release of all detained protesters.
Mr Olajengbesi made the call following Mondays arraignment of 10 protesters for treason and treasonable felony, among other charges.
The lawyer argued that criminalising protesters demand for good governance in Nigeria last August is an affront on rule of law.
In the letter received by the AGF office on Tuesday, the lawyer maintained that Nigerian authorities, the lawyer said the Nigerian government must recognise the citizens right to express their grievances.
The right to peaceful assembly and protest is the bedrock of any democratic society, enshrined in the 1999 Constitution and safeguarded by international human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a party.
To criminalise citizens for exercising their legitimate right to dissent through peaceful protest not only constitutes a breach of these legal protections but also tarnishes Nigerias standing on the global stage, he said.
He also said that the approach of the government is counterproductive and inimical to the ideals of democracy and free expression.
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It is incumbent upon us to prevent the normalisation of criminalising lawful dissent, which undermines the democratic fabric of our society.
Historically, governments that have resorted to such heavy-handed tactics have invariably eroded their legitimacy in the eyes of both the citizenry and the international community, he wrote.
The lawyer added, Therefore, I earnestly appeal to you to ensure that all charges against the arrested protesters are immediately rescinded and that they are released without further delay.
It is vital that we uphold the rule of law and refrain from punitive actions against those who merely seek to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights.
Section 174(1) of the Nigerian constitution and section 107 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 empower the AGF to take over or discontinue (by entering nolle prosequi) any criminal proceeding in the overriding public interest.
Trail of protesters
The President Bola Tinubu-led administration has targeted many of the #EndBadGovernance protesters in a sweeping crackdown that saw it declaring a Briton, Andrew Wynne, wanted.
On Monday, the government arraigned 10 Nigerians who participated in the #EndBadGovernance protest in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna and other states. Part of the charges against them was that they collaborated with 70-year-old Mr Wynne with intent to destabilise Nigeria and that they called on the military to take over the government from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. They were also accused of conspiring with Mr Wynee to plot a war against the Nigerian state.
The judge, Emeka Nwite, ordered the 10 defendants remanded in prison until 11 September to rule on their bail application.
Also, the police declared Mr Wynne wanted on Monday and obtained a warrant for his arrest from the same judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday.
Earlier on 22 August, the judge ordered the remand of 75 protesters, including at least 28 minors, in prison for two months to await police investigations into alleged terrorism-related offences.
Many Nigerians participated in the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations in major cities around the country from 1 to 10 August to protest against the economic hardship attributable to the economic policies of President Tinubu.
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Staff members of the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) have decried the non-payment of their salaries and overhead of the establishment from January till date.
Some of the workers who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja described their living conditions as pathetic.
They urged the federal government to rescind its decision to stop funding the councils activities, both salaries and operations.
A management staff member who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed that the government had stopped funding the organisation.
The officer said the Budget Office of the Federation in June 2023 sent a memo to the council, which stated that from January 2024, the federal government would no longer fund the organisation.
One of the workers, Kolo Ibrahim, said following the circular from the Budget Office, they have not received salaries since January.
Narrating his ordeal, Mr Kolo said he has been begging friends and relatives in order to feed his immediate family members and pay his childrens school fees.
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I have become an object of ridicule and stigmatisation; people have stopped borrowing me money because there is no hope of paying back.
I am appealing to President Bola Tinubu to hear our cry and rescind his decision on this so that we can deliver our mandate, he said.
Another worker of the council, Dan Gomna, said his children had dropped out of school because he could no longer pay their school fees
Feeding my family is a heavy burden. I have to beg to feed my wife and four children.
I am owing my landlord, and he has given me up to December 31 to pay my rent or pack out of his property.
I am sure that all workers in NPC are facing difficulties.
I beg President Tinubu, in the name of God, to help us. We are suffering due to lack of salaries for eight months and still counting, Mr Gomna said.
Established under the Nigerian Press Council Act No 85 of 1992, the parastatal under the Ministry of Information and National Orientation is statutorily empowered to ensure ethical press standards and maintain high professional standards for the Nigerian press.
Reacting to the development, a lawyer, Yemi Oyebamiji,, faulted the governments decision to halt funding of an institution without amending the Act establishing it.
I know this administration has promised to implement the Stephen Oronsaye-led Committee Report on federal civil service reform on learner government.
However, the exercise should be done with the due process of the law. I am not aware of any amendment to the statute establishing the council to the effect that government will no longer fund it.
Assuming without conceding that it has been amended, implementing it should be with a human face.
Where do you expect an organisation like the Nigerian Press Council, that has been bedevilled with many challenges, to source funding for workers salaries and its operations from? he queried.
READ ALSO: FG speaks on reported directive to NNPC to increase petrol price
Mr Oyebamiji appealed to the federal government to reconsider its decision, for the sake of the councils workers.
Alternatively, he said if the government found no usefulness in the council, it should be scrapped legally and its workers redeployed or paid off.
(NAN)
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Following the discovery of the Vaccine Derived Poliovirus (VDPV) in some states in the country, the Nigerian government on Wednesday set up an intervention committee to urgently address the crisis.
This was one of the resolutions reached on Wednesday at the 144th edition of National Economic Council Meeting (NEC) chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
This is contained in a statement shared at the end of the meeting and signed by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communcations to President in the office of Mr Shettima, Stanley Nkwocha.
NEC, which comprises the 36 state governors, the governor of the, among other relevant government officials, sits once in a month with the responsibility to advise the President concerning the economic affairs of the Federation, and in particular on measures necessary for the coordination of the economic planning efforts or economic programmes of the various governments of the federation.
The Wednesdays meeting had in attendance the Co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, and the Chairman of National Economic Council
Tagged: Committee on Eradication of Vaccine Derived Poliovirus, the committee is expected to be chaired by the Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Yahaya, and will have as members, the governors of five states in Nigerias North-west where the strain has been discovered.
Backstory
The council made this resolution in response to the presentation by Mr Gates indicating an urgent need to address the challenge.
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Nigeria was declared free of wild polio in 2020, but the spread of a different strain, known as circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2), is still a concern.
In 2021, the country reported 1,028 cases, followed by 170 cases in 2022. So far this year, 51 cases have been reported, mostly in Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
To address this, the Nigerian government intensified routine immunisation using two vaccines; the fIPV vaccine and the new oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2).
The government is focusing on 13 high-risk and conflict-affected states and has so far carried out campaigns in nine states, in phases.
NECs resolution
To accelerate the governments efforts, NEC said it resolved to create a poliovirus eradication committee which will report back to it monthly.
NEC said members of the committee will also include The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, the Director-General of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and representatives from the NEC Secretariat and UNICEF.
Additionally, the Special Adviser to the President on NEC & Climate Change, the Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, a representative of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, and the Director-General of the Nigeria Governors Forum will also serve on the committee.
Vice president speaks
At the meeting, the Vice President emphasised the need to expand the health sector alongside other sectors in the pursuit of national development.
He said the future of this nation hinges on the health and well-being of the children.
According to him, the success of the country and the current administration relies on recognising the socio-economic threats that have continued to pull down the countrys development index.
He said; More importantly, on our resolve to walk the talk. We are gathered here because none of us can fulfil the goal of guaranteeing the survival of our people in isolation.
Whether by expanding access to quality education, improving healthcare, or offering skills training and job opportunities, it is clear that each one of us has the power to influence policy and decisions at various levels.
He also commended the efforts of Mesrs Gates and Dangote as development partners to Nigeria, noting that they have companies have invested enormous resources into the welfare of Nigerians, spanning critical areas such as health, nutrition, agriculture, and education.
READ ALSO: Nigerian govt discloses petrol quantity expected monthly from Dangote refinery
Mr Shettima added: Their philanthropy is not seasonal but a steadfast commitment that continues to shape our nations future.
We did not survive the lowest points of our journey as a nation by the proactivity of the government alone; we did so because we remained partners in rain and sunshine.
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The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Nnaghe Obono, has ordered the detention of some officers for the alleged murder of an unidentified civilian in the state.
The police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday night.
Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, did not give the identities of the officers.
He said the officers allegedly murdered the civilian along Owerri Road in Onitsha, Onitsha North Local Government Area of the state.
The spokesperson said the officers were attached to a police patrol team in the state.
He said a preliminary investigation showed that a police corporal is a prime suspect in the alleged murder.
Mr Ikenga did not mention when the alleged murder occurred and the number of officers in the patrol team.
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However, PREMIUM gathered that the officers allegedly murdered the victim earlier on Wednesday.
Investigation
The commissioner of police directs the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, Mr Ikenga said in the statement.
He said the police chief has assured the state police command will carry out thorough investigation into the case to ensure justice prevailed.
Not the first time
Cases of extra judicial killings by the police have continued in Nigeria despite punishment such as dismissal from service by police authorities.
In October 2020, Nigerian youths protested against police brutality across the country and called for the disbandment of the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Unit (SARS) of the police.
Despite the disbandment of SARS, such cases have persisted across the country.
On 17 April for instance, a police operative shot dead an entrepreneur in Abia State over refusal to give a bribe.
The police authorities in the state, after investigation, found the operative guilty and subsequently dismissed him.
Also, six officers were caught in a viral video, in April 2023 using a machete to smack two unidentified people in Imo State.
The police in the state would later begin an orderly room trial of the officers.
Within the same period, a police officer who was filmed slapping a motorist in Emohua, Rivers State, was demoted.
The Emohua incident occurred a few days after Ubi Ebri, another officer, allegedly shot dead a young man in the neighbouring Delta State for reportedly refusing to give N100 bribe
PREMIUM TIMES reported how youths in Delta State protested with the victims corpse along major roads in Asaba.
Mr Ebri, the officer, was immediately arrested, dismissed from service and later arraigned.
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The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed 9 October for ruling on a fresh bail application filed by the detained Binance Holdings Limiteds executive, Tigran Gambaryan, who is standing trial over the companys activities in Nigeria.
The trial judge, Emeka Nwite, set the date for ruling after a hearing on Wednesday on Mr Gambaryans bail application, which the prosecution the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) vehemently opposed.
Mr Gambaryan, previously denied bail by the trial court a few months ago, is standing trial alongside Binance, a cryptocurrency company, on five counts of money laundering and currency speculation involving as much as $34.4 million.
Binance is facing tax evasion charges in a separate case before another judge.
The United States citizen has been held at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja since his arraignment in April.
In May, the court denied the Binance executives bail application, judging him a flight risk.
The courts decision came about two months after Mr Gambaryans colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, reportedly escaped from a pre-trial custody in Abuja in March.
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Mr Gambaryan anchored his fresh bail application on health grounds.
EFCC opposes fresh bail application
Opposing his fresh bail application on Wednesday, the EFCC told the trial judge, Emeka Nwite, that Mr Gambaryan rejected the medical treatment at the State House Clinic.
Counsel for the EFCC, Ekele Iheanacho, told trial judge Emeka Nwite while opposing Mr Gambaryans second bail application moved by his lawyer, Mark Mordi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Mr Iheanacho, who drew the courts attention to the State House Clinics medical report, said Mr Gambaryans ill health was not as bad as it was being painted.
He said the report showed that the defendant was dissatisfied with the medical attention offered and rejected it.
The lawyer objected to the bail plea and urged the court to dismiss the fresh application.
He explained that the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, wrote to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) management requesting Mr Gambaryans medical records.
He said that the NSA received a response from the NCoS on 28 August, with the attached report of Nizamiye Hospital, among others.
According to him, the report indicated that Mr Gambaryan had been receiving adequate medical care from the NCoS and had been taken to several hospitals, including the State House Clinic.
Mr Iheanacho insisted that NCoS could take Mr Gambaryan to any hospital in Nigeria, adding that surgeons could not force surgery on the defendant without his consent.
He said Mr Gambaryan cannot suddenly become sick, as is allegedly commonplace with some suspects facing trial.
The fresh bail application
Earlier, Mr Mordi urged the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms or, alternatively, to admit him to limited bail for six weeks on the basis of ill health.
He argued that though the EFCC denied Gambaryan had a severe health issue, the exhibits, including the medical reports, showed that he needed medical care.
The lawyer argued that Mr Gambaryans health challenge could not be adequately managed in Nigeria.
What medical reports say
The medical report referenced by the EFCC prosecutor and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) showed that the NCoS took Mr Gambaryan to the State House Clinic in Asokoro, Abuja.
According to the State House Annex Clinics medical report dated 29 August, the clinic received a directive on 17 July 2024 to conduct a preliminary medical evaluation on Mr Gambaryan and possibly retrieve him from the Kuje Correctional Centre in Kuje for a more detailed medical examination.
The report stated that a medical team comprising a doctor, a nurse and a support staff was dispatched for the assignment.
It said the team immediately proceeded to the Kuje Correctional Centre, where they met the patient, who volunteered a medical history of recurrent low back pain for 12 years and an anxiety disorder for which he was receiving treatment.
The report added that, given the patients medical history and worsening symptoms, a neurosurgeon was called to review the patient on 18 July.
The neurosurgeons findings were consistent with the MRI report of early multilevel disc disease with exit nerve root impingement at L4/L5.
To relieve symptoms and avoid further potential complications, the neurosurgeon placed Gambaryan on medication, advised physiotherapy, and strongly recommended lumbar discectomy surgery as soon as possible.
These findings and recommendations were consistent with those of a second neurosurgeon whose opinion was sought, the medical report read in part.
However, the report added that the patient was dissatisfied with the medical interventions being offered, insisting that a court had ordered that he should be treated at Nizamiye Hospital.
Consequently, he intermittently refused prescribed medications and food to force a transfer out of the facility.
He was subsequently discharged and returned to the Nigerian Correctional Service at around 1300 hours on 21 July 2024, with no obvious deterioration in his health during the five-day admission period, the report said.
Another medical report from Nizamiye Hospital Limited was also orally cited by counsel in open court.
The report, dated 29 August, partly reads that The above-named patient (Gambaryan) was brought to the emergency room on 3 June 2024, on account of left-sided chest pain.
He had a history of sinusitis and lung infection prior to his presentation. He had frequent urination but no pain during urination.
In June, Mr Gambaryans wife raised concerns over his health conditions. She called on the United States government to pressure the Nigerian government to withdraw the charges against him and release him.
NAN reports that, on many occasions, EFCC had countered the health claims made by the family and legal team of the detained Binance executive.
(NAN)
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Nigerias National Economic Council (NEC) has endorsed the N-774 programme as a primary platform for combating malnutrition in the country.
NEC endorsed the programme Wednesday at its 144th meeting chaired by Nigerias Vice President, Kashim Shettima, a decision that followed a presentation on the state of nutrition in Nigeria by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate.
The council approved the programme and other critical resolutions aimed at enhancing the countrys nutritional outcomes, according to a state house press release issued after the meeting.
The statement signed by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, noted that the council encouraged development partners to provide financial and technical assistance, particularly in the areas of annual results monitoring and scaling successful interventions.
Other NECs resolution
The council also agreed to prioritise nutrition interventions in the 2025 budget across federal, state, and local levels, ensuring that sufficient funding is allocated to meet the nations nutrition goals.
It also resolved to reinforce the functionality and financing of State and Local Government Committees on Food and Nutrition.
The NEC said: The establishment and operation of Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) task forces at subnational levels will also be supported to ensure effective coordination, monitoring, and reporting.
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Malnutrition in Nigeria
Malnutrition is a direct or underlying cause of 45 per cent of all deaths of under-five children, according to the United Nations Childrens Education Fund (UNICEF)
Nigeria faces a severe malnutrition crisis, with 32 per cent of children under five suffering from stunted growth. This ranks the country second globally in the number of stunted children.
In 2023, the UN agency said its findings showed that federal and state governments were not budgeting enough funds to address malnutrition among children in Nigeria.
It said four states: Kano, Borno, Katsina and Lagos were presently ranked highest in the food insecurity ladder.
It emphasised the need for increased funding to carry out sensitisation and advocacy campaigns in remote areas and provide succour for children facing severe malnutrition in the country.
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The police in Lagos State say they are not officially aware of the kidnap and murder of a 300-level student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Benjamin Hindeyin, the pilices spokesperson in the state, told PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday that the case has not been reported to us.
Abduction, murder
Christiana Idowu was abducted along the Ikorodu-Yaba Road, Lagos in August.
Ayomide Adeleye, a 200-Level Philosophy student of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ogun State is the prime suspect in the murder case.
According to the Punch newspaper, the deceased was kidnapped when she left her Ikorodu home to the University of Lagos where she was undergoing industrial training.
The newspaper reported that the kidnappers made contact with the victims family and demanded N3 million as a ransom for her release.
They are communicating with the family through her WhatsApp, demanding N3 million. We appealed to them and it was reduced to N1 million, then N500,000 and later they asked us to pay N350,000, a family disclosed.
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After we paid the N350,000 ransom, they refused to release her and they were demanding that we send the bank statement of the account we made the transfer from before they would release her to us.
Suspect
Mr Hundeyin said that he had contacted the military who has been handling the case from the onset.
The military confirms that the suspect is with them and they will hand over very soon, the spokesperson told PREMIUM TIMES.
The Foundation of Investigative Journalism also provided insight into how the suspect was located and arrested by the military on Sunday.
The online newspaper said that the 174 Batallion tracked the deceaseds phone to the suspects residence where they picked him up.
He confessed to killing and burying her in a shallow grave in his compound.
The medium reported that the suspect made an attempt to rape her but she resisted.
#JusticeForChristianah
Her murder is generating a buzz across social media platforms in the country, especially on X.
Using the #JusticeForChristianah, many users including the Nigerian hip pop star, Ayra Starr, demand justice.
Stop killing us! Stop raping us! Women deserve better, the Grammy nominee posted. Her post alone has been seen by over one million people.
Also, Chinonso Egemba, a medical expert popularly called Aproko doctor, urged the enforcement authorities to ensure that members of his (suspect) family who also covered up the previous murders should face the law.
There are insinuations that the suspect had previously killed his sister and girlfriend before this recent development. However, PREMIUM TIMES has not been able to verify the claim.
In light of the trending issue, Rita @FGirlrita advised women to be security conscious and go out with safe tools.
She also mentioned the tools to include, a big size taser, a combo knife, pepper spray and lipstick taser not expensive.
Gender-based violence
Nigeria has continued to record an increase in sexual and gender-based violence.
Lagos, for instance, recorded 24,009 cases of gender-based violence in the last five years between January 2019 and December 2023.
Also, in the northern part of the country, the Salma Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Kafanchan, Kaduna State recorded 3,977 cases of sexual and gender-based violence since its inception in 2019.
A civil society, DOHS Cares recently marched to the Lagos State House of Assembly to demand legislation against femicide the intentional killing of a woman because of her gender.
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In June 2023, Abubakar Giza, a Nigerian politician planning to relocate to the United States with his family, sued the US government following a prolonged wait for a final decision on the temporary denial of his visa application. However, court records obtained by PREMIUM TIMES reveal that on 27 August, a US District Court in Washington DC, dismissed the suit.
Mr Giza, a notable member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State, North-central Nigeria, had his EB-5 visa application temporarily refused and further subjected to an administrative process.
The EB-5 visa programme allows non-citizens to migrate to the US by investing substantial capital in a new commercial enterprise that creates at least 10 full-time jobs.
Angered by the US governments action, Mr Giza filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Consul General to Nigeria Will Stevens in their official capacities. The suit challenged the decision of the US Consulate General in Lagos to refuse his application and place his familys applications on administrative processing for months.
However, District Judge Christopher Cooper dismissed Mr Gizas case, citing failure to prove that the administrative processing was delayed unreasonably.
According to the district court, administrative processing generally means that additional information is needed before a consular officer can determine whether an applicant is qualified for the visa for which he or she has applied.
Background
Open-source details show that Mr Giza, who holds the traditional title, Chiroman Giza in Giza, Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, ventured into politics after retiring as a federal civil servant.
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Recently, various interest groups have started promoting him to run for governor of Nasarawa State, in 2027.
In 2015, Mr GIza filed a Form I-526 petition with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to be classified as an approved investor eligible for an EB-5 visa.
This visa category is available to individuals who make a significant capital investment in a new commercial enterprise that will benefit the United States economy by creating full-time employment for not fewer than 10 US citizens, nationals or certain other residents.
In June 2022, the USCIS approved the Gizas Form I-526 petition and forwarded the familys visa applications covering Mr Giza, his wife, Kande, and their children Abba, Zainab, and S.A.G to the State Departments National Visa Centre for processing. The documents were subsequently sent to the United States Consulate General in Lagos for further processing.
In February 2023, the entire family appeared before the consulate in Lagos for an interview. The two eldest children of the family, Abba and Zainab, both studied and worked in the United States at Texas Southern University, where the youngest child, S.A.G., was admitted. Abba and Zainab flew to Nigeria from the US for an interview on 15 February 2023 in Lagos.
The interviewing officer collected the Gizas passports and reportedly said their applications would be approved and their visas issued within four weeks.
However, in the judgement, the court cited a record saying Mr Giza was informed of the refusal of his application on 15 February 2023the day of the interview. It noted further that on 20 March 2023, the visa officer placed Mr Gizas visa application in administrative processing.
The family stated in court that their visa requests are predicated on Mr Gizas investments in the United States, and their applications also cannot proceed until he is judged eligible for a visa.
Angered by his visa refusal and the protracted administrative process for his familys visas, Mr Giza approached the US court in June, stating that the State Department had unlawfully delayed final adjudication of the applications and asking the court to order the government to act more swiftly.
The Gizas said they had not received any requests for further documentation since their interview and had been informed by the consulate in Lagos that it did not know the exact time frame as to when any visa would be issued.
They also said the government had unreasonably delayed processing their applications in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.
US government calls for dismissal
However, the US governments defendants requested that the court dismiss the matter for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and failure to state a claim. The government added that Mr Giza was informed of the refusal status on the day of the interview and the subsequent decision to place him on administrative processing on 20 March 2023.
Regarding the long delay of the administrative processing, the government argued that the process was not unreasonably delayed and that if the court were to grant the request, the family would be placed ahead of others waiting on the administrative processing list.
A court need not accept inferences drawn by the plaintiff that are unsupported by facts alleged in the complaint, nor must the court accept a plaintiffs legal conclusions as true, the government said, adding that courts are barred from reviewing consular decisions because of non-reviewability.
Judges decision on non-reviewability claim
However, Judge Christopher Cooper dismissed the governments argument, stating that since the Gizas applications had been placed on administrative processing, the court could still decide if there were unreasonable delays.
When the government simply declines to provide a decision in the manner provided by Congress, it is not exercising its prerogative to grant or deny applications but failing to act at all. Because the government has not yet decided on the Gizas application, the doctrine of consular non-reviewability poses no bar to the courts power, Mr Cooper said.
Plaintiffs in administrative processing have not received final word on their visa applicationsas evidenced, here, by the fact that the consulate is holding onto the Gizas passports as it continues to assess their eligibility. The Gizas, like others stuck in administrative processing, are therefore not asking for a reevaluation of any determination. They are merely requesting that the government comply with its duties under the INA by rendering a final decision on their applications in a timely manner, the judge added.
Judges decision on unreasonable delay claim
However, Mr Cooper dismissed the plaintiffs argument that the US government had unreasonably delayed the application process, thus affecting the Gizas educational progression and job prospects.
The courts decision on the issue of unreasonable delay was the pivotal finding that led to the suits overall failure.
Mr Cooper ruled that the 17-month delay was within the acceptable threshold, adding that the US Congress has not prescribed a statutory deadline for addressing administrative processing.
Courts have generally found that immigration delays in excess of five, six, [or] seven years are unreasonable, while those between three to five years are often not unreasonable. The seventeen-month delay in processing the Gizas petitions since their interview in February 2023 falls comfortably within the range that courts in this district have held not to be unreasonable, he said.
Mr Cooper also said that granting the Gizas request would necessarily mean additional delays for other applicantsmany of whom undoubtedly face similar circumstances.
While understanding of the Gizas frustration as they wait for final word on their visas, the court is also mindful that many others face similarly difficult circumstances as they await adjudication of their visa applications, Mr Cooper said.
The judge, therefore, dismissed Mr Gizas case.
Affluent people, older generations join japa rush
The term Japa, derived from the Yoruba expression meaning run away, has evolved into a popular Nigerian slang representing the pursuit of economic migration or the search for greener pastures.
This phenomenon has become particularly prevalent among young people, who view Western countries like the U.S., Canada, and the UK as lands of opportunity. Many explore various pathways to achieve this aspiration.
However, the migration trend is no longer limited to the youth, as older generations also consider this option.
The allure of Western countries like the US, Canada, the UK, and others as greener pastures remains popular among mostly young people, with many exploring varied routes to actualise the aspiration. Older generations are also increasingly embracing migration options in Nigeria.
Despite the significant financial costs and risks involved, the desire to leave Nigeria persists, contributing to a substantial brain drain in critical sectors such as healthcare and education.
For many Nigerians, asylum, academic pursuits, and professional pathways are the most common routes to migration. Meanwhile, individuals like Mr Giza and other politically exposed persons can access more expensive, exclusive options.
As Nigerias public schools and hospitals struggle with inadequate funding and the pervasive state of insecurity, many politically connected and affluent individuals seek refuge in developed nations. Whether through permanent migration by joining the Japa movement or through temporary stays as circumstances dictate, they find solace in the stability and opportunities offered abroad.
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The Federal High Court in Abuja has reserved judgment in a suit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the conduct of local government elections in Rivers State.
The judge, Peter Lifu, said at the final hearing on Thursday that parties to the suit would be notified of the judgment date in due time.
The APC filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024 to stop the elections, scheduled for 15 October.
During the session, Joseph Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), lead counsel for the APC, pushed for the court to grant the prayers sought by his client, arguing that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) had not met the necessary conditions to conduct the local government elections.
Taiwo Taiwo, a SAN representing the Attorney General of Rivers State, and Femi Falana, also a SAN representing the RSIEC, both opposed the suit and challenged the courts jurisdiction to hear the case.
They contended that the proper venue for the case should be the Federal High Courts division in Rivers State, not Abuja.
They also argued that the suit was statute-barred and should not be entertained by the court.
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They also challenged the courts authority as a vacation court to hear the matter without the consent of all parties.
However, the plaintiff maintained that RSIEC had failed to meet the legal prerequisites for conducting the local government elections.
The suit
In its suit, the APC contended that RSIEC breached the provisions of the Electoral Act and the Nigerian constitution requiring state election bodies to give a 360-day notice to INEC before any election.
The party said the notice would have enabled INEC to stop the continuous voter registration and update the register at least 90 days before the election.
The APC also argued that the law permits political parties to conduct primaries and submit the list of their nominated candidates no later than 180 days before the election. Since RSIEC breached the law by failing to give adequate notice, it has become impossible for INEC and political parties to meet other legal requirements concerning them.
The party argued that RSIEC failed to adhere to the law when it applied to INEC to release a copy of the Register of Voters for Rivers State.
It said INEC was still conducting continuous registration and updating the National Register of Voters, including for Rivers State. The party said that the continuous registration exercise had not stopped, nor did INEC receive the 360-day notice.
The APC prayed the court to, among others, declare that INEC is not authorised to compile, certify, and release the voter register to RSIEC unless it had received notice of the election 360 days before the proposed date and ceased continuous registration and updating of the register at least 90 days before the election date.
Background
On 18 July, the court issued an interim order at the APCs instance barring INEC from releasing the voter register to RSIEC for use in the upcoming election.
The order also barred the police and the State Security Service (SSS) from providing security during the elections.
In the ruling, Mr Lifu ordered all the parties to maintain the status quo until the substantive suit could be heard.
The case is connected with the broader political crisis in Rivers State, where Governor Siminalayi Fubara of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is battling with his predecessor and current Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, for political control.
The administration of local governments has been stalled in the state, an offshoot of the political tension between the two leaders.
Mr Fubara dissolved the elected local government chairpersons after their terms expired on 17 June.
He appointed administrative heads to oversee the councils.
However, 27 state lawmakers, loyal to Mr Wike, amended the local government administration law to extend the chairpersons tenure by six months and stripped Governor Fubara of the power to appoint a caretaker committee.
A police officer was killed in June in Eberi-Omuma in Omuma Local Government Area of Rivers State during a clash between rival groups beholden to Governor Fubara and Mr Wike in the aftermath of the appointment of local government caretaker committees.
Due to the violent development, the police have since taken over the secretariats of the 23 local government areas in the state, preventing the newly appointed caretaker committees from assuming office.
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Amnesty International has expressed worry over the poor handling of femicide cases, the killing of a woman or girl, in particular by a man and on account of her gender, in Nigeria.
The global rights group expressed its displeasure over the trend in a series of tweets on its verified X handle in reaction to the killing of Christianah Idowu, a 300-level student of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, South-west Nigeria.
The group also said that the incident mirrors a crucial need for authorities in Nigeria to direct attention towards femicide prevention and the need to establish investigative units to track and prosecute cases.
The brutal killing of Christianah Idowu, a 300 Level student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), by her friend highlights the urgent need for the Nigerian authorities to effectively address femicide.
Slow pace of investigation and prosecution of recent femicide cases across Nigeria is worrying. We urge the security agencies to develop and establish femicide investigation expertise and units, parts of the post read.
According to the organisation, Nigerian authorities have, over the years, failed to facilitate justice for the victims of femicide.
It said the inaction leads to increased violations of the rights of women.
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In almost all recent cases of femicide in #Nigeria, the authorities do not rigorously pursue all lines of inquiry, and their failure further endangers womens human rights to life and physical safety, it said.
Abduction, murder
Ms Idowu was reportedly abducted along the Ikorodu-Yaba Road, Lagos in August.
The police have identified Ayomide Adeleye, a 200-level philosophy student at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in Ogun State, as the prime suspect.
According to the Punch newspaper, the deceased was kidnapped sometime last week when she left her Ikorodu home to the University of Lagos, where she was undergoing industrial training.
The kidnappers were said to have made contact with the victims family and demanded N3 million as a ransom for her release.
A family source told the newspaper that the abductors communicated their demand for N3 million ransom through the victims Whatsapp number. We appealed to them, and it was reduced to N1 million, then N500,000, and later they asked us to pay N350,000, the family source said.
After we paid the N350,000 ransom, they refused to release her, and they were demanding that we send the bank statement of the account we made the transfer from before they would release her to us.
Police speak
In a later development, Benjamin Hundeyin, the police spokesperson in Lagos State, confirmed the incident. The news of the incident has gone viral on social media, prompting an online campaign for justice using different hashtags, including #JusticeForChristianah.
23-year-old Ayomide Adeleye has been handed over to @LagosPoliceNG by 9 Brigade @HQNigerianArmy. The handover took place today, September 5, 2024, at about 1400hrs. Investigation is ongoing, Mr Hundeyin wrote on X.
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The Jigawa State House of Assembly has passed a bill for the creation of a Tsangaya Education Board to address the menace of out-of-school children in the state.
The bill, which is now awaiting the governors assent to become law, aims to integrate Tsangaya (Almajiri) schools into the mainstream educational system.
The bills passage followed deliberations in the Committee of the Whole House during the plenary session,
presided over by the Speaker, Haruna Aliyu, on Thursday.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that the states 2024 budget, presented to the house by Governor Umar Namadi, provided for the creation of a Tsangaya Education Board.
The chairperson of the House Committee on Basic Education, Ado Zandam, told reporters that the Almajiri are the pupils categorised as out-of-school children in the state even though they were undertaking Quranic education.
He said the proposed Board would address the out-of-school children menace in the state by allowing the Almajiri to enrol in both Islamic and Western education systems.
The bill also promotes the integration of the Almajiri school system into the mainstream educational system.
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The bill, if passed into law, will strengthen the educational system to enable the pupils to get both Western and Islamic education.
The Almajiri system is an old system which has been in existence in the country even before the coming of the Whiteman.
We want to integrate the system in a proper way that would take the children out of the streets begging for food, Mr Zandam said.
The state government, in July, agreed to collaborate with Alfurqan Quranic Foundation, a Saudi Arabia-based Islamic organisation, to enhance the Tsangaya (Almajiri) Quranic education system in Jigawa.
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The Economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) to conduct their dealings in line with provisions of the Money Laundering Prohibition and Prevention Act 2022.
Dele Oyewale, the spokesperson for the EFCC, said this in a press statement on Thursday.
Mr Oyewale explained that the Acting Director, Lagos Directorate of the EFCC, Michael Wetkas, gave the charge at a sensitisation programme organised by the EFCC Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) for DNFBPs.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that DNFBPs include casinos, real estate agents, dealers in precious metals, dealers in precious stones, lawyers, notaries and others.
Speaking at the event on Wednesday in Lagos, Mr Wetkas noted the global efforts to keep terrorism at bay.
Mr Wetkas, therefore, urged the participants not to create any room in their respective businesses for criminally minded people to thrive.
The financial institutions, to a large extent, have been regulated; and the issues of terrorism have been of great concern, globally.
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As a result, nations have tightened measures to ensure that the bad people have very limited space or even no space to operate, thereby helping to improve safety and security.
But if you allow these criminal activities to pass through your businesses, it will worsen the insecurity situation in the country, he warned.
He urged them to do their part and report activities that they were obligated to report.
We are doing our part to sensitise you. We do this, so you know what you are supposed to do and you are not caught on the wrong side of the law.
We should all work together to make it difficult for the bad actors.
You have come today so that we can work together to make this country a better place for us all to live in, he said.
Also speaking, Aminu Ahmed, an Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE 11, urged DNFBP operators to comply with the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act.
He urged them to report currency transactions of N5 million and above from individuals and N10 million and above from corporate body.
He advised them to also appoint a compliance officer and comply with the AML/CFT regulations.
In her remarks, Folasade Oluwasanya, an Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE 11, spoke extensively on financial sanctions as well as Politically Exposed Persons( PEPS) reporting.
The training focused on creating more awareness for the DNFBPs on issues such as beneficial ownership and targeted financial sanctions.
(NAN)
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The Nigerian government is set to establish another agency to be responsible for the regulation of healthcare facilities in the country.
This is in defiance of the recent directive by President Bola Tinubu on the implementation of Stephen Oronsaye Presidential Committee on Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, on Wednesday inaugurated a committee tasked with the role of establishing the National Health Facility Regulatory Agency (NHFRA), described as part of the efforts to improve healthcare services across the country.
The agency, according to the minister, will serve as a regulatory body for health facilities, ensuring that citizens get the highest standard of care.
The new development may have called to question the commitment of Mr Tinubu-led administration to carry out the much touted harmonisation of the MDAs as announced earlier in the year.
As part of the efforts to implement the report, the President set up an eight-member committee and gave it a 12-week deadline to ensure necessary legislative amendments and administrative restructuring needed for effective implementation.
The members of the committee include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; the immediate past Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu; and Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Lateef Fagbemi, among others.
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However, while it is not clear if the committee already submitted its report, the new action of the health ministry indicates poor commitment of the government to the calls for cutting costs of governance by many Nigerians.
New committee
At the inauguration of the committee in Abuja on Wednesday, Mr Alausa said it will be chaired by Richard Ajayi, an expert whose profile details could not be obtained as of the time of filing this report.
Also on the list is the incumbent Commissioner for Health in Ogun State, Tomi Coker, and others including Ajibike Oyewumi, Manason Garkuwa, Aminat El-Imam, Abubakar Kullima, Damilola Matti, Njide Ndili and Tosin Runsewe.
Others are: Omede Idris, Iseko Iseko, I. Anukwu, Adebimpe Adebajo, Ndagi Aljassan, Jimoh Saludeen, Kamil Shoretire, Mariya Saleh, and Benson Cole.
The minister explained that based on the need for a robust regulatory framework, the mandate of the committee is multifaceted and crucial.
Mandate
Mr Alausa said the agency being planned is of utmost importance given that healthcare facilities are the frontline in the battle against diseases, as well as the sanctuary where life begins and is often saved.
The minister said a thematic area for the committee was the creation of a governance model and structure, describing it as the first step in designing the organisational structure of the NHFRA.
The creation of a legislative framework, operational guidelines, stakeholder engagement, and resource mobilisation are some of the core mandates of the committee, according to the minister.
He urged committee members to make a lasting impact on the nations healthcare system through the establishment of NHFRA.
He said the agency will be a cornerstone in the governments effort to ensure that every health facility in the country operates at the highest standards of safety and quality.
The minister said: It is the governments duty to ensure that these institutions operate at the highest possible standards, providing care that is not just adequate, but exemplary and ethical.
Formation of this committee stands as a testament to President Bola Ahmed Tinubus administrations dedication to this cause. We know that effective regulation is the foundation of a healthcare system that is safe, efficient, and equitable.
Model
Mr Alausa said the country is drawing inspiration from global best practices as obtainable in the United Kingdoms Care Quality Commission (CQC).
He said this commission has set a gold standard for healthcare regulation by improving transparency and accountability through comprehensive inspections and ratings of health and social care services.
Nigeria, he said, is on the path to replicating such high standards for its health system.
Substandard healthcare facilities
Nigerias health system is faced with a series of challenges, part of which is poor service delivery at many healthcare facilities.
In many cases, medical facilities, particularly primary healthcare centres (PHC), service delivery is weak resulting in the provision of sub-standard medical care.
This, in part, is responsible for the countrys poor health indices.
According to the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the provision of sub-standard care contributes to the prevalence of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) which the country currently grapples with.
The agency said treating the burden of HAIs gulped 3.8 per cent of the total healthcare expenditure for the health sector in 2023.
HAIs are infections that patients acquire while receiving treatment for medical or surgical conditions within a healthcare setting.
The agency noted that healthcare seekers are also highly prone to HAIs in hospitals and primary health centres due to low levels of prevention and control in hospitals.
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After nearly three hours of driving, we finally arrived in Yenagoa, turning off at the Yenagoa-Mbiama part of the East-West Road at Igbogini Junction onto Glory Drive. The driver said the new road was constructed last year. The one-road state capital had a new access road, which I later learnt was the third.
When I was invited to Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, in June, I didnt know what to expect. I had not visited the place since 2005. Even though I had been to nearby Rivers and Delta States several times, Bayelsa didnt cross my mind.
To make matters worse, the state was often in the news for the wrong reasons. Not that it was an exception, but press headlines seemed to suggest that if you wanted the most depressing news about intra-party wrangling, post-election disputes, or the scariest stuff about kidnapping and youth militancy, Bayelsa was the place to go.
Bayelsa, the home of Nigerias first president from the South-South and one of the jewels of Nigerias oil reserve, also appeared to be one of its most volatile spots.
I didnt plan to go there. And as if to validate my lethargy, days before this visit, there was something in the news that Bayelsa was the leading state in the prevalence of monkeypox. I kept the news to myself to save my family from panic. It was now looking like a suicide mission.
To Go or Not?
Yet, if Yenagoa was Nigerias chaos capital, it didnt show in the voice of Esueme Dan-Kikile, the general manager, Corporate Affairs of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), who never once wavered in his commitment to me to read my book there.
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When anxiety and prejudice nearly prevailed, I yielded to Dan-Kikiles reassuring calmness and my nagging curiosity for adventure.
After 19 years of mental pictures, mostly from unflattering news reports, I decided to face the demon. By a quirk of fate, I used the longer route Warri to Yenagoa. What a trip this second missionary journey turned out to be!
If a picture is worth a thousand words, one travel mile is worth two thousand. Words sometimes fail to describe the joys and excitement of new faces, places, sounds, and smells of travel.
The book reading was electrifying. It was attended by a fine collection of students from four universities in the state with their teachers. Accomplished writers and professionals from other walks of life were present, too. The audiences enthusiasm and determination to seize the moment for their own good were remarkable.
Jonathan Was King
The last time I visited, former President Goodluck Jonathan was governor. The state was nine years old, and there was only one road in and out of the capital.
Bayelsa, located in southern Nigeria, edges the Atlantic Ocean. It was the hotbed of militancy by youths who, sometimes at the behest of politicians, took hostages for ransom and blew up oil and gas pipelines as bargaining chips. Its people are mostly fishermen and farmers whose environment and toils have been ruined for decades by oil spills and the ravages of gas flaring.
This visit felt different from when I landed at the airport in Warri, Delta State, for the three-and-a-half-hour drive to Yenagoa.
The East-West Road
After over N350 billion and 18 years, the construction of the East-West Road, highway to the six states in the Niger Delta region and gateway to the East, is still on. They say it would take nearly three times that amount, and God knows how long to finish.
This was what Senate President Godswill Akpabio said four years ago when he was Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs that the road, which NDDC was handling under his supervision, would cost about N1 trillion to complete.
Large portions of it were still impassable as of last week. Where you could drive freely for a mile or two, you had to look out for barricades and sand-filled drums at makeshift checkpoints, where the security men and local youths appear to have agreed on a joint approach and a standard extortion formula.
Tollgate Ahead, Off the Mic!
If this sounds confusing, you havent heard the more confusing part. Extortion doesnt only happen on the highway. Four years ago, just before Akpabio said the East-West Road might cost N1 trillion to finish, a tollgate was mounted for him inside Nigerias parliament in Abuja.
A joint session of Nigerias Senate and House of Representatives was conducting an audit of the NDDC, and the Commission had not completed the East-West Road after many years and billions of naira spent. As Akpabio proceeded to open the can of worms, after hinting that the contracts for the road were awarded to companies belonging to his interlocutors, the committee chairman and current Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo interjected: Off your mic! Honourable Minister, its OK, off the mic!
That interjection became the national joke for killing any potentially embarrassing thing that would be said. Talking too much is against the convention at any tollgate whether in Abuja or on the East-West Road. Off the mic, pay the toll, and move.
Akpabio, an accomplished toll collector, should have known the tradition. According to a NEITI report in 2013, the NDDC received about N400 billion between 2007 and 2011, which is almost one-quarter of its 20-year existence. If the Commission were a state with a revenue of N168 billion in 2011, for example, it would be the sixth highest earning in the country, displaced only by Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers.
In Yenagoa, the makeshift food shops on wooden stilts at the waterfront at the end of Alamieyeseigha Road, just a stones throw from the imposing Content Board Tower, were great. The food, smell, neon lights, music, and the energy of the solicitous food vendors courting mostly young customers were hard to resist.
Yet, as the car taking me to Yenagoa drove by, the most prevalent evidence that the Commission is working on the East-West Road is the enormous square slabs, each engraved with its name erected shamelessly within every two kilometres or so. It would be a surprise if this work is finished in another 18 years, even if Nigeria robbed a Chinese bank of N1 trillion.
Waterfront and Petrol Queues
After nearly three hours of driving, we finally arrived in Yenagoa, turning off at the Yenagoa-Mbiama part of the East-West Road at Igbogini Junction onto Glory Drive. The driver said the new road was constructed last year. The one-road state capital had a new access road, which I later learnt was the third.
In Yenagoa, the makeshift food shops on wooden stilts at the waterfront at the end of Alamieyeseigha Road, just a stones throw from the imposing Content Board Tower, were great. The food, smell, neon lights, music, and the energy of the solicitous food vendors courting mostly young customers were hard to resist.
The place reminded me of Tampa Bay in Florida if, for a moment, from behind any of the wooden shacks, you looked far beyond the large water weeds and abandoned wooden canoes at the shore to the Ocean just at the horizon.
On our way to the venue of the book reading at Golden Tulip the next day, we saw long queues of vehicles snaking for miles from a nearby NNPC filling station where drivers were waiting to buy petrol.
Its heartbreaking that residents in this state, home of Oloibiri, where crude oil was first discovered in Nigeria and home to the countrys fourth highest concentration of oil wells, must go through this to buy petrol. My driver said drivers unable to buy petrol the same day would leave their vehicles at the station and return the next day. They are used to it. I shook my head.
Read the Book!
The book reading was electrifying. It was attended by a fine collection of students from four universities in the state with their teachers. Accomplished writers and professionals from other walks of life were present, too. The audiences enthusiasm and determination to seize the moment for their own good were remarkable.
Dan-Kikile spoke from the heart about NCDMBs passion for upskilling capacity at institutional and individual levels; the moderator, Dr Doubra Timi-Wood of Channels TV, made the reading a shared moment of intimacy, and the audience loved it.
The cure for my lethargy was facing my fears. Im glad I did.
Azu Ishiekwene is the Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP and author of the new book, Writing for Media and Monetising It.
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Over time, there have been some universities that will not admit students who are less than 16 years. If we are not going to pretend that the immaturity of some of our newly-churned out graduates is of grave concern, then the policy may be regarded as long overdue. Nevertheless, the timeline for the transition is too short and sudden, and that may compromise its effective implementation. What yardstick will be used to authenticate the true age of the students, given our porous national environment where any document can be obtained?
Since the new policy on the new age for writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations was announced by the Federal Government, a lot of reactions have continued to trail its probity or otherwise.
While some of the reasons adduced speak to the need for good scholarship, which may require further interrogation, quite a few are borne out of pure emotions. While the latter is usual in our clime, it however makes all policies to be viewed with much disdain.
However, beyond the two foregoing groups of comments that are almost-parallel, let us endeavour to consider, dispassionately, the crux of the matters that the policy may affect.
The intention of the policy, in my opinion, may be to address some issues that have become of great concern, with dire consequences, over a long period of time.
One of the critical issues the policy may be aiming to address might be the rate at which children are being denied their childhood in an indifferent manner. In the past few decades, children have been bundled into schools shortly after coming out of their mothers wombs. No time to be children again. They are often not even allowed to develop cognitively before they are burdened with school works to keep them busy, so that they may not disturb their busy parents. As a matter of fact, these youngsters are raised on autopilot by absentee parents in search of economic fortunes in the marketplace.
The consequence of the above is that an average child is already in the school environment from age one or at most two years old. With this situation, the entire syllabus for elementary school is completed by these children by the ages of eight or nine, at the most. With that, they proceed to junior and senior high schools, which take another five or six years in most cases. Therefore, by the ages of 14 to 15, these young folks are done with secondary education.
Of course, with that, the struggle to pursue higher education begins. With insufficient placements, despite the plethora of private institutions, there is always a backlog of many students hanging in there for possible placements. Those whose parents can afford the huge financial requirements for backdoor placements bribe their ways through to get the placement of their wards. This anomaly automatically means denying children of the proper admissions processes.
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However, to address this imbalance, we need much more than a mere pronouncement, with almost immediate dispatch (still a military hangover!), as there are many possible unintended consequences of this situation.
Therefore, a years notice for this transition is grossly inadequate. Possible reactions may be the unwholesome falsification of the ages of children by desperate parents in order to circumvent the system, as usual.
It is a truism that the issue of children finishing school before the age of 18 did not just start today. Even in our time, when we started school averagely at the age of six years, some still managed to beat the system. For instance, I wrote my West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE), as it was known then, at about sixteen years plus, despite schooling in a fairly remote area. Even at that, I happened not to be the youngest in my class.
As such, it stands to reason that there has been a spill-over of a pool of unemployed youths over time. Again, we have affirmed, time and again, that many of such youths are not even employable. One of the reasons may be due to the lack of proper cognitive development and the falling standards across board.
The foundations of many of these children who are thrust into the care of accidental teachers (apologies to El-Rufai, the self-acclaimed accidental civil servant), with little or no interest in knowledge impartation and the capacity development of the youngsters fostered on them, is a factor we dare not neglect at all.
The situation is worsened by many unscrupulous private school owners, who despite charging exorbitant fees, pay their teachers peanuts, and these tutors, in turn, offer below-par services to the students in their care.
At the other end of the spectrum are senior public servants, with their unwholesome practices of age reduction or falsification to remain much longer in service. These unscrupulous workers are inadvertently blocking the chances of youths, including those within the age bracket of their grandchildren, from climbing the ladder to public service.
The resultant effect is the shrinking opportunities for many graduates. The situation is further exacerbated by the private sector that is skewed towards the informal sector, and is also groping under the yoke of policy inconsistencies and an unfriendly business environment. When there is employment in this sector at all, the conditions are mostly unpleasant.
At the minimum, a policy as fundamental as this should be given at least three years to take effect, from the date of announcement to full commencement. The reasons for this are not far-fetched.
First, the public school system needs to be rebuilt to address the issues of quality and standardisation. Second, the public service requires some thorough auditing to remove deceitful workers who through age falsification, and which has shrunk opportunities for the incoming generation. Third, there should be a better way of addressing the age of commencement of schooling for children. The current system is not helping the situation at all.
It is a truism that the issue of children finishing school before the age of 18 did not just start today. Even in our time, when we started school averagely at the age of six years, some still managed to beat the system. For instance, I wrote my West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE), as it was known then, at about sixteen years plus, despite schooling in a fairly remote area. Even at that, I happened not to be the youngest in my class. A few of my classmates finished a little above 15 years old.
Over time, there have been some universities that will not admit students who are less than 16 years. If we are not going to pretend that the immaturity of some of our newly-churned out graduates is of grave concern, then the policy may be regarded as long overdue. Nevertheless, the timeline for the transition is too short and sudden, and that may compromise its effective implementation. What yardstick will be used to authenticate the true age of the students, given our porous national environment where any document can be obtained?
how does the government intend to enforce the minimum age of a child before he/she can be admitted into the elementary school? Can the curriculum of creches and nursery schools be modified to restore the childhood of the newly born? Can those concerned be asked to stop over-flogging the budding brains of these lads? Can we collectively appeal to them to let children remain as children and play as children, even if they are dumped in the supposed school environment?
While I am not in doubt about the appropriateness of this policy, again there seems to be an unnecessary hastiness in its implementation. If the aim of the policy drafters and approving authority is to address the imbalance in our educational quality and the shrinking placements in higher institutions, there is the need to make it in a way in which it can achieve its desired objective.
What will happen to students of the ages of 14 to 15 years who will be resuming in the final class in the coming session? Will they be withdrawn to a lower class? If yes, is the Federal Government ready and willing to bankroll their school fees for the additional year?
It will be humbling for the government to take another look at the timeline and possibly re-engage stakeholders (assuming they had been previously engaged before the policy rollout) to find a common ground for the transition and full implementation.
In addition, the government should, as a matter of urgency find means of restoring the public schools at the primary and secondary levels to their past and lost glory. After all, most of the topmost technocrats and politicians are products of the public educational system.
If these few suggestions and many others by those directly involved in our educational system can be looked into again by the government, then the policy may be a success.
Lastly, how does the government intend to enforce the minimum age of a child before he/she can be admitted into the elementary school? Can the curriculum of creches and nursery schools be modified to restore the childhood of the newly born? Can those concerned be asked to stop over-flogging the budding brains of these lads? Can we collectively appeal to them to let children remain as children and play as children, even if they are dumped in the supposed school environment?
The government should address these issues from the roots and not focus on the upper end and undesirable outcomes.
Will the government have the courage to revise itself, once again, for the altruistic benefit of the larger society?
I hope so.
Bolutife Oluwadele is a chartered accountant, author, and public policy scholar based in Canada. He is the author of Thoughts of A Village Boy. Email: bolutife.oluwadele@gmail.com
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Stakeholders unanimously called for concerted efforts towards adding value to non-oil export products by processing them into semi-finished and finished goods in order to unlock significant economic benefits for the nation. This clarion call was made at the 9th Edition of the Annual Zenith Bank International Trade Seminar themed Nigerian Non-Oil Export Industry: Awakening the Giant, which was held on Wednesday, 4 September, 2024, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos and virtually.
In her welcome address, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, Adaora Umeoji, highlighted the importance of non-oil export as a catalyst for job creation. According to her, Our theme Awakening the Giant, speaks directly to the untapped potentials within the non-oil segment of the economy and how to optimize them. This involves an increase in the number and volume of exportable non-oil items and value addition to exportable items into finished products. Increasing the number and volume of exportable non-oil products implies more business for you, our esteemed exporters, and increased foreign exchange earnings for our country. In addition, this sector will drive employment generation for Nigerian youths who constitute 60% of the estimated 233 million population, and Zenith Bank is committed to being at the forefront of these efforts.
Delivering his keynote address, the Secretary, National Action Committee, AfCFTA, Segun Awolowo, commended Zenith Bank and its leadership led by the Founder and Chairman of the Board, Jim Ovia, for its laudable initiative in organising an annual export seminar targeted towards exploring opportunities for growth in Nigerias non-oil export industry and for its consistent exploits in supporting the implementation of the AfCFTA. Commenting on the theme of this years export seminar, he added that In awakening the giant, we must focus on scaling production, productivity and value addition for some specific export products with high potential across three main sectors solid minerals, agriculture and petro-chemicals. We should also aim to capture at least 5% of the global trade and export volumes for these products. Additionally, in the genie bottle is the services sector, which is not only a major contributor to Nigerias GDP but also a key driver of economic diversification, job creation, and innovation.
Also in his keynote address, the Managing Director of Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM), Abba Bello, emphasised the need to amplify the export of services in order to facilitate economic growth. In his words, A key area that needs mentioning is the need to intensify efforts to support the promotion of export of services to leverage on the sectors economic strength in which the services sector annually contributes over 50% to the GDP. Specifically, strategic frameworks need to be developed to complement current Governments US$620 million programme under the Digital and Creative Enterprise (IDiCE), which is designed to empower youths to create IT and skilled / technical jobs that could promote and expand export of ICT and creative industries products and services.
In his goodwill message, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, highlighted the efforts of the Lagos State Government in facilitating non-oil export for the growth of the Nigerian Economy. He said, This seminars theme resonates deeply with the strategic objectives of the Lagos State Development Plan 2052. Nigerias creative economy is a powerful engine of growth and a key pillar of our export diversification strategy. Our focus is on value additiontransforming raw agricultural products into finished goods that command higher prices in international markets.
For instance, Lagos State is rapidly becoming a hub for the processing of cocoa, cashew nuts, palm oil, and sesame seeds. These products, when processed and packaged to international standards, can significantly boost our export revenues and create thousands of jobs for our citizens. The manufacturing sector offers another promising avenue for export diversification. Our vision is to transform Lagos into a global manufacturing hub, where high-quality, made-in-Lagos products are exported to every corner of the globe, she stressed.
Also in his goodwill message, the Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir, represented by his Special Adviser, State Affairs, Usman Bala Muhammad, emphasised strategic advantages in economic diversification in non-oil exports. In his words, Our strength begins with agriculture, which has been the cornerstone of our economy for decades. Kanos agricultural sector has a strong base that we are leveraging for diversification. However, diversification is not just about increasing crop yields; it is about adding value.
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Through strategic investments in agro-processing, we are converting raw agricultural products into finished goods, creating jobs, and enhancing local consumption.
By aligning our export diversification strategies with global market trends and standards, and leveraging opportunities such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), we can significantly expand Nigerias non-oil exports to African markets and beyond, he added.
Speaking on diversification, the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, represented by the Commissioner of Finance, Abdullahi Bello Auta, urged stakeholders to explore other untapped areas for export. According to him, One major important sector which contributes to non-oil export which is not harnessed and which is giving us a lot of trouble simply because it is not organised is the mining sector. I can tell you with all sincerity and courage that once we are talking of mineral resources in Nigeria, Zamfara state is the hub. There is no single solid mineral that you can talk of that you cannot find here in abundance and in good quality.
Zenith Bank launched the Non-Oil Export Seminar in 2015 as an initiative to deepen the discourse on promoting the non-oil export business in Nigeria, and remains committed to promoting the non-oil export sector in Nigeria by identifying emerging opportunities which help stimulate non-oil exports and develop robust financial products as well as incentives for operators in the sector.
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The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday led a team to Jigawa State and assessed some primary healthcare facilities in the state for the implementation of the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) meant to improve healthcare for Nigerians from the sub-national level.
The team led by UNICEFs Chief of Health, Abuja, Eduardo Celades Blanco, includes representatives from the Nigeria Governors Forum, Federal Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation, among others. The team visited some healthcare facilities in rural areas of the state for the implementation of the programme.
One of the team members, the Permanent Secretary of Jigawa State Ministry of Health, Kabiru Ibrahim, told reporters that the visit aimed to optimise the delivery of healthcare services in the state for the implementation of the swaps programme, which is a unit in the federal ministry of health.
Mr Ibrahim said the SWAp programme was designed to provide a platform where resources would be put together alongside the burden of illnesses and diseases within the country to apportion resources according to the magnitude of health challenges across the country.
The SWAp is a new paradigm in the delivery of resources in Nigerias health programming; it entails the collection of contributions from donors organisations from the governments into one common basket to address challenges across the different programmes without duplicating efforts and ignoring the underserved populations, Mr Ibrahim said.
He said with the SWAp you can access a portion of resources so that there wont be heavy disparity within the states and at the local government levels.
Its a planning approach to allocate resources according to needs; the more the problem, the more the resources. The team is here to look at how the operationalisation of the SWAp as a programme can function at the subnational level.
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The team decided to pick Jigawa because its a state that is working, the government is dealing with problems head-on, partners are always behind the government, and the government is taking the leadership in the provision of healthcare and places where there are results-based on intervention put together by the government and partners.
Jigawa has a very good rate in terms of immunised people, delivery at healthcare facilities, provision of antenatal care, and people who have access to bednets. These are all the parameters that count progress in the healthcare sector, which Jigawa is doing well, Mr Ibrahim said.
The team picked Jigawa to learn lessons on how can the coordination platform in terms of planning, pulling resources, looking at the burdens and allocation of resources according to burdens and what kind of strategy is going to work to provide that kind of dimension that other states can copy from Jigawa state, that is the mission of coming to Jigawa, Mr Ibrahim added.
The team has visited about three healthcare facilities in rural areas and is satisfied with what they see on the ground. Mr Ibrahim added that they use Jigawa states coordinating resource model as a yardstick for implementing SWAp nationwide.
The SWAp is an aid delivery mechanism whereby national governments lead the partnership, and all funding is directed toward supporting a set of national policies through common management systems guided by agreed policy, expenditure and institutional frameworks, as well as strong accountability mechanisms.
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Olam Agri, a leading agribusiness in Nigeria focused on food, feed, and fibre, has expanded its initiatives to improve food security and support the countrys rural Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) policy.
Recently, the company commissioned and handed over its Safe Water Project in Kano and Jigawa.
The project involves constructing three new hand pump boreholes, rehabilitating seven existing ones, and adding one solar-powered borehole. This initiative aims to provide clean, drinkable water to farming communities, thereby enhancing food security, boosting agricultural productivity, and reducing health issues like waterborne diseases.
The project is delivered in partnership with the Tulsi Chanrai Foundation, a partner to UNICEF, under Olam Agris Seeds for the Future program. It will provide safe water to 15 communities, benefiting approximately 34,150 residents and 1,684 farmers across Jigawa, Kano, Nasarawa, Benue, and Plateau states, which are key regions for wheat, sesame, and rice production.
Key local officials who attended the handover events in Kano and Jigawa, included, Mustapha Hamidan Toranke, Secretary Ajingi LGA, representing Ajingi LG Chairman; Muhammad Shuaibu Gaya, Head of Department, WASH Ajingi LGA, Hamza Lamido, representing the Managing Director Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA), Abdullahi Maiangwa Iyamiyu, Head of Chiefs, Biyamisu Ajingi LGA.
Attendees at the Jigawa event comprise Ali Hamina, representative of the Chairman, Mallam Madori LGA, Abdullahi Saleh, representative of the Chairman Sule Tankarka LGA, Engr Usman Usman, representative of the General Manager of RUWASA, and Danlandi Gumel Wakili Sani, the District Head, Danladi Gumel.
They expressed their gratitude for Olam Agris intervention and acknowledged the project would mitigate the adverse effects of water scarcity on livelihoods, food production, and health in their communities.
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Anil Nair, Managing Director of Olam Agri in Nigeria, emphasised that the Safe Water Project is part of their broader Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CR&S) strategy, with a budget of approximately 6.5 billion.
He highlighted Olam Agris long-standing commitment to socio-economic development in Nigeria, where the company has operated for over 34 years. To ensure the projects sustainability, local community members have been trained as Local Area Mechanics (LAMs) to maintain the water facilities, providing them with a source of income and promoting economic growth.
In 2023, Olam Agris Global CR&S conducted a food security baseline survey in Nigerias sourcing regions, which revealed a severe lack of access to clean drinking water, particularly in the north. Only 30% of the population in this region has access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.
This shortage contributes to high rates of waterborne diseases, threatens the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, and hinders school enrollment, especially among girls. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by inadequate WASH services. The Safe Water Project aims to address these challenges and improve the well-being of farmers and their communities.
Olam Agri is a market leading, differentiated food, feed and fibre agri-business with a global origination footprint, processing capabilities and deep understanding of market needs built over 33 years.
With a strong presence in high-growth emerging markets and products across grains & oil seeds, integrated feed & protein, rice, edible oils, specialty grains & seeds, cotton, wood products, rubber and commodity financial services, Olam Agri is at the heart of global food and agri-trade flows with 38.3 million MT in volume traded in 2022.
Focused on transforming food, feed, and fibre for a more sustainable future, it aims at creating value for customers, enable farming communities to prosper sustainably and strive for a food-secure future.
Olam Agri is a fully owned subsidiary of Olam Group. For more information and to subscribe to our news alerts, please visit https://www.olamagri.com/.
Olam Group is a leading food and agri-business supplying food, ingredients, feed, and fibre to 20,200customers worldwide. Our value chain spans over 60 countries and includes farming, processing, anddistribution operations, as well as a global network of farmers.
Since June 2020, Olam Group has been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series, a global sustainable investment index series developed by FTSE Russell, following a rigorous assessment of Olams supply chain activities, impact on the environment and governance transparency.
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The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, says the Dadin-Kowa Dam in Gombe State is stable and fully operational.
Mr Utsev spoke in Dadin-Kowa, a village in Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of Gombe, on Wednesday during an official assessment of the dam.
He dismissed recent reports that the dam was on the verge of collapse due to flooding.
What some observers interpreted as flooding was actually the natural flow of water from the dams spillway, a routine process that poses no danger to the structure.
The water flow observed from the spillway is a natural and expected phenomenon, not indicative of any structural failure or flooding.
The water flowing from the spillway is what some people mistook for flooding. This is not flooding, it is a natural phenomenon, Mr Utsev said.
He assured Nigerians that the dam was functioning normally with all components, including the spillway and penstock for hydropower generation, in proper working condition.
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There is no cause for alarm, the Ministry is committed to safeguarding the lives and property of Nigerians, and all necessary measures are in place to ensure the safety and stability of this dam, he assured.
The minister also noted the dams inclusion in the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria Project (TRIMING), which ensures that the dams safety and irrigation facilities are well-managed.
The federal government is preparing to implement further sustainable power and irrigation programs nationwide, in line with President Bola Tinubus Renewed Hope Agenda.
These efforts are in line with the federal governments broader agenda to enhance water supply, irrigation, and food security across the nation, he explained.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Water Resources, Bello Goronyo, called on individuals without expertise in dam hydrology to avoid making statements that could incite unnecessary panic.
The recent misinformation spread via social media and some news outlets has caused undue concern.
We urge all inhabitants and stakeholders to remain calm as the situation at Dadin-Kowa is under control, Mr Goronyo said.
The minister reiterated the federal governments commitment to maintain and monitor all water infrastructures across the country.
The Dadin-Kowa dam is a critical national asset.
The dam is not only secure but also being managed to the highest standards.
The government remains focused on delivering essential services to Nigerians, in line with President Tinubus Renewed Hope Agenda.
Also speaking, Ibrahim Bello, the Area Manager of the Dadin-Kowa dam, said the dam was functioning perfectly.
The inflow and outflow are operating as expected, and Dadin-Kowa Dam is safe, he said. (NAN)
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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, said Nigerias main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will experience a tsunami if he leaves the party.
If today I say I will move to another party, it will be a tsunami but we have said we are going to remain where we are, Mr Wike said on Saturday, suggesting an exodus of party members from PDP if he dumped the party.
Mr Wike stated this at the PDP secretariat in Port Harcourt, during the partys state congress, where he threatened to put fire in PDP governed states if their governors do not stay clear of the partys affairs in Rivers.
The PDP governors, at a meeting in Jalingo, Taraba State, on 23 August, threw their weight behind Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers over the crisis rocking the state.
They urged the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) to accord Mr Fubara his rightful position as the leader of the party.
The governors also urged the partys NWC to revisit the outcome of the partys ward and local government congresses in Rivers State, which Mr Wikes loyalists had absolute control. Mr Fubaras supporters boycotted the exercise because of a court order barring its conduct.
Speaking on Saturday, Mr Wike vowed that nobody can take over the PDP structure in Rivers from him and his allies who currently controlled the party.
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Let me assure all of you, not when we live will anybody take away the structure of the PDP from us. But let me tell people, I hear some governors say they will take over the structure and give it back to somebody, Mr Wike said, apparently referring to Governor Fubara as the somebody.
I pity those governors because I will put fire in their states. When God has given you peace, you say you dont want peace anything you see, you take (it), he added.
The political feud between Mr Fubara and his predecessor, Mr Wike has torn Rivers PDP apart, splitting it into two factions.
Mr Wikes total control of the party structure in the state and the failure of the partys national leadership to address the perceived anomaly triggered speculations that Mr Fubara was planning to dump the party whose platform he was elected into office.
The speculations came after Mr Fubara told some senators who visited him in Port Harcourt that he and his supporters were not doing party.
The party has failed us here, Mr Fubara told members of the Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation.
Again, Mr Fubara, while receiving members of the PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) who visited him in Port Harcourt last month said he had at some point doubted his membership of the party.
Honestly, if I was having any doubt about my membership first of this great party, I think today, I have gotten a reconfirmation that I am still, not minding the drama around, a member of the party, Mr Fubara told the BOT members.
The governor dismissed speculations of his exit from the party as a mere rumour and propaganda.
So, for those people outside who are carrying all sorts of rumours and propaganda, at least, this visit will put those propaganda to rest, and to tell the people that we are and we will remain members of the PDP, he said.
They are joining APP Wike
Addressing delegates on Saturday at the party secretariat in Port Harcourt, Mr Wike, without mentioning the governors name, said he was aware that some unstable characters in the PDP in the state would join the Action Peoples Party (APP).
They thought we would come to them and start begging. Are we begging? he queried in a remark that was intermittently disrupted by cheers and applause.
Let them go and see what is happening in Abuja. So they know if youre talking about politics in Nigeria, we are more relevant than them.
Mr Fubara has not reacted to his speculated move to the APP. However, recent events in Rivers APP suggest the party may be Mr Fubaras destination if he dumps the PDP.
For instance, the Rivers APP secretariat has been attacked twice in less than a month. Channels Television on Wednesday reported how gunmen shot a security guard at the APP secretariat in the state.
The attack came less than a month after the party secretariat in the New GRA of Port Harcourt, the state capital, was bombed.
The APP Chairperson in Rivers, Sunny Wokekoro, while taking reporters around the party secretariat, insisted that the attacks will not dissuade the party from participating in next months local government election in the state.
Punch newspaper last month reported that Mr Wokekoro has denied that Mr Fubara was a member of the APP but urged the governor to seek re-election under the APP platform in 2027.
Barely a week after the report, another newspaper, The Guardian, reported that Mr Wokekoro had dismissed speculations that Governor Fubara was funding the party.
According to the newspaper, the governors rumoured defection to the APP led to the bombing of the party secretariat in the state. The office complex had since been repaired.
The governor is not in any way funding the APP, Mr Wokekoro said, describing the PDP as a dying party.
Fubara has PDP DNA in his blood Rivers Govt
When contacted, the Rivers State Commissioner of Information, Joseph Johnson, dismissed rumours that the governor was joining the APP.
Mr Johnson wondered why the people keep speculating Mr Fubaras defection to APP when the governor reenacted to members of the PDP BOT that he remains a member of the PDP.
He is a member of the PDP. He preaches PDP. It is in his DNA. He is the vice chairperson of the PDP Governors Forum. You cannot be a vice chairperson of the forum without being a member of the PDP.
When reminded that Mr Wike while addressing the PDP delegates on Saturday, said he was aware that some unstable characters in the party were joining the APP, Mr Johnson declined comments, saying the minister did not mention Governor Fubaras name.
But to put the record straight, Mr Fubara is a bona fide member of the PDP and vice chairperson, Nigerian Governors Forum: PDP caucus, Mr Johnson said.
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The Ministry of Health in Edo State on Thursday declared a cholera outbreak in the state, confirming six cases of the disease so far.
Stephenson Ojeifo, director, public health in the ministry, announced this during a news conference in Benin.
Mr Ojeifo, a medical doctor, said that the six confirmed cases were identified among the 40 suspected cholera cases recorded to date in the state.
We sent 23 suspected samples that tested positive to the Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) to the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja for confirmatory test.
We also have three suspected samples that tested negative to RDT but with obvious clinical signs and symptoms.
The total number of samples sent to the national reference laboratory for confirmatory testing are 26.
As of Tuesday this week, we received 15 results out of which six were confirmed positive to cholera and we are still expecting some outstanding results, he said.
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He noted that while the results were expected, the patients were managed in line with the cholera protocol management procedure.
The patients are well and have been discharged and luckily we have not had any person in the community that have come down with symptoms of cholera, he said.
He also said that three of the confirmed cases of the disease were from Egor, two from Uhunmwonde while one was from Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area.
He noted that more actions had been taken to ensure that the outbreak was adequately addressed.
We are activating all pillars to swing into actions to help in addressing the outbreak we have in our hands.
The state, in collaboration with the Edo Primary Health Care Development Agency, have selected some Primary Health Centres (PHCs) at the grassroots to manage suspected cholera cases.
The University of Benin Teaching Hospital; Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua; Edo State University Teaching Hospital, Auchi; and the Central Hospital, Benin City, have been mapped as the referral centre point for management of severe suspected cholera cases.
But we now have selected PHCs at the different local government areas with doctors and nurses to adequately manage these cases, Mr Ojeifo said.
He advised against self-medication, urging persons suffering from watery stool and diarrhoea to visit the hospital for treatment.
He also urged the public to stay calm, practise good hygiene and sanitation as well as promptly report suspected cases to relevant authorities.
(NAN)
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The Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development in Ebonyi State, Francis Ori, has warned contractors yet to complete housing projects awarded to them not to take his gentle appearance for weakness.
Mr Ori issued the warning Thursday in Abakaliki while speaking with reporters about the state governments decision to prosecute contractors who failed to complete projects before 25 September.
The commissioner, who made special reference to the resettlement housing projects at Izzo and Amaeze communities of Ishielu Local Government Area of the state, said the 25 September deadline was sacrosanct.
This issue of my gentle and calm nature has nothing to do with implementing this order by 25 September. I am a determined person, and if I appear gentle, I have Tigers around me.
I dont have problems with the timing of the deadline because even if it is tomorrow, we have marshalled plans on how to execute the order, he said.
He said that on 23 September 2023, contracts were awarded for the construction of 140 units of three-bedroom bungalows at Izzo and Amaeze autonomous communities.
These bungalows were shared evenly per autonomous community, and the contractors signed agreements with the ministry for a three-month completion period.
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The contractors were mobilised 50 per cent, but during the construction, they made variation requests from the ministry, which was considered.
We held a meeting with them on 22 January 2024, reminded them that they have stayed up to the required time on site as the governor graciously granted that we extend their time to April, he said.
Mr Ori said the contractors were mobilised back to the site, and those with outstanding certificates applied and were paid.
We did not know that some of them did not complete their projects and when we had another meeting in June, they started giving excuses.
We told the contractors to go back to the site and complete their jobs, but some of them are still waiting to see what the government will do.
Governor Francis Nwifuru, on 31 August, directed that any contractor who fails to finish his job on or before 25 September should be arrested and prosecuted according to the contract agreement, he said.
The commissioner, however, said that 24 out of the 87 contractors had completed their jobs while many were working assiduously to meet the deadline.
The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Jude Okpor, who participated in the media briefing, urged the public to disregard the notion that the erring contractors were related to the governor.
The governor believes in promoting the local content, which is fundamental to developing the Ebonyi economy.
Every Ebonyi citizen is the governors brother, as the most important thing is that the law guiding contract execution in the state respects no one, he said.
(NAN)
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Nigerias former finance minister, Nenadi Usman, has emerged as the chairperson of the Labour Party Caretaker Committee.
Ms Usman was appointed to the position at the partys National Executive Council (NEC)/ extended Stakeholders meeting, held on Wednesday at Government House, Umuahia, Abia State.
However, the controversial chairman of the party, Julius Abure, has dissociated himself and his executives from the Wednesday meeting and said he would not recognise the caretaker committee.
A former Senate minority leader, Darlington Nwokocha, was appointed the caretaker committee secretary.
Other members of the caretaker committee were selected to represent various interest groups, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Senate, House of Representatives, House of Assembly, and governorship candidates in the last election.
Channels Television reported that the 29-member caretaker committee will facilitate the election of a new party leadership within 90 days.
The committees terms of reference include ensuring the conduct of Ward, Local Government, and State Congresses and the National Convention as soon as possible, in line with the partys constitution.
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According to the report, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State convened the meeting to address the partys challenges and chart a way forward.
Governor Otti, at the meeting, said that the tenure of the National Working Committee of the Party headed by Julius Abure had elapsed since 10 June. He urged the party leaders to work together to resolve the internal problems of the party.
Save LP from collapse Obi
In his remark at the event, Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, said that the caretaker committee must adhere to the established guidelines to save the party from total collapse.
Mr Obi said the party has the potential to be the brightest if things are put in their proper perspective. He solicited members support for the caretaker committees success in the assignments given to them.
Its illegal Abure
Meanwhile, Mr Abure has dissociated himself from the meeting, Channels Television reported. The station quoted Obiora Ifoh, the spokesperson of the Abure-led executives, declaring the outcome of the Umuahia meeting as illegal and urging the public to disregard it.
As clearly stated in our previous statement, Governor Otti and all others who converged in Umuahia have no power within the party constitution, the Electoral Act, and even the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to convene any meeting of the party, Mr Ifoh said.
He challenged Governor Otti to produce a letter addressed to him from INEC on the subject matter, arguing that there was no vacuum in the party leadership.
Consequently, the so-called caretaker committee set up by Governor Otti is not known to any constitution of the party and can best be described as a department in Abia State Government House.
LP crisis
The Labour Party, which has been in existence for several years, became a major opposition party last year after its presidential candidate, Mr Obi, led the party to third position in the general election.
The party has witnessed a leadership crisis following the fallout between Mr Abure and the NLC, which led to the NLC picketing the partys national headquartersh.
The NLC led by the chairperson of its Political Commission, Theophilus Ndubuaku, had demanded the resignation of Mr Abure, whom it said was not properly elected.
It accused Mr Abure of proposing a secret national convention in Umuahia where he would be reelected as the national chairperson of the party to continue running the party as a sole administrator.
The national convention was later held in Nnewi, Anambra State, where Mr Abure was reelected as the partys national chairperson. However, the NLC rejected his election, describing the exercise as illegal.
Both NLC and TUC boycotted the convention, leaving their slots in the executive vacant.
It is illegality, a nullity. The whole exercise was a charade. Nothing can legitimise such brazen impunity, NLC spokesperson Benson Upah had said, according to Punch newspaper.
The two labour unions, however, attended the meeting convened by Governor Otti on Wednesday and nominated representatives to the new caretaker committee.
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The Enugu State Government said it asked private schools to pay between N100,000 and N300,000 as education tax, not N5 million.
The State Commissioner for Education, Ndubueze Mbah made the clarification in a statement in Enugu.
New and existing private schools in the state are required to either register for provisional approval or have their licences renewed.
This is between N100,000 and N300,000, depending on the category the schools fall in. The approved schedule of fees was released to the public earlier in June, he said.
He urged the public to disregard the publication that the Governor Peter Mbah-led administration has imposed N1 million to N5 million mandatory payments on private schools in the state as educational taxes.
Extant laws empower the Ministry of Education of Enugu State to maintain minimum standards of education for both public and private schools.
The ministry is also empowered to streamline and enhance the effective administration, monitoring, and supervision of private schools, the commissioner said.
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The commissioner said that the defaulters resorted to a smear campaign against the government because they feared the consequences of operating unlicensed private schools, which can result in imprisonment of up to 10 years and the possible closure of the schools.
The government is undeterred, as Governor Mbah will not fold his arms and watch the future of Enugu children destroyed by illegal and unscrupulous schools and proprietors.
He added that the ministry held engagements with stakeholders in the education sector across the state during the revision of the 2024 Enugu State Schools Licensing Fees Regulation.
He vowed not to back down on the reforms.
(NAN)
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GLENDALE, Calif., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 11th Annual NoHo CineFest is thrilled to announce its return, showcasing a diverse array of independent films from around the globe. From September 12th through the 15th, cinephiles and film enthusiasts will gather at the LOOK Dine-In Cinemas Glendale for a captivating four-day celebration of creativity and storytelling.
11th Annual NoHo CineFest Film Festival Set to Light Up Glendale Next Week
This year's festival promises to deliver an eclectic mix of films, including Tapawingo with Jon Heder, In My Sleep with Lacey Chabert, and Glowzies, along with innovative shorts, such as the celebrity-filled Once More, Like Rain Man starring Bella Zoe Martinez, Matt Jones, Joe Mantegna, James Paxton, Sosie Bacon, and Sue Ann Pien. With a reputation for highlighting emerging talent and bold new voices, NoHo CineFest continues to be a vital platform for independent filmmakers.
Festival-goers will have the opportunity to enjoy screenings of more than 90 carefully curated films that push the boundaries of conventional cinema. In addition to the diverse film slate, the festival will feature Q&A sessions with directors, panel discussions with industry professionals, and networking events, offering valuable insights into the art and business of filmmaking.
"We're incredibly excited to bring NoHo CineFest back to Glendale for our 11th year," said Festival Director Gustavo Sampaio. "This year's lineup exemplifies the vibrant spirit of independent cinema. We can't wait to share these remarkable stories and connect our audience with the talented filmmakers behind them."
The LOOK Dine-In Cinemas Glendale will serve as the festival's hub, providing an exceptional viewing experience with its state-of-the-art facilities and gourmet dining options. Whether you're a local resident or visiting from afar, NoHo CineFest offers an immersive and engaging experience that celebrates the power of storytelling.
Tickets for the festival are now available and can be purchased online through the NoHo CineFest website. For more information on the film schedule, ticketing, and special events, please visit http://www.nohocinefest.com.
Join us for an unforgettable celebration of independent cinema and discover the next generation of filmmakers at the 11th Annual NoHo CineFest!
SOURCE North Hollywood CineFest
Fastest-Growing Physical Therapy Franchise Celebrates Five Years of Enhancing Houston Patients' Quality of Life, Announces Two More Houston Locations
HOUSTON, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers, the nation's fastest-growing physical therapy franchise, is celebrating five years of successful operation within the Houston market. With 18 locations currently serving the community and two more slated to open before the end of 2024, FYZICAL continues to expand its reach and impact in Texas's largest city.
Throughout the past five years, FYZICAL has rapidly expanded its footprint in Houston and beyond. Driven by its innovative approach to physical therapy, strong commitment to fall prevention, and proven franchise model, the brand plans to expand to 40 Houston-based locations within the next five years.
"We're thrilled with the success of our Houston locations and the positive impact our physical therapists have made on the community over the past five years," said Olga Torbello. "Our goal is to expand our reach, improve the quality of life for Houston residents, and raise awareness of the incredible benefits of physical therapy. We want to empower individuals to understand their pain, overcome challenges, and live pain-free lives."
The differentiator for FYZICAL is their balance and vestibular therapy programs which include an overhead harness system called the Safety Overhead System (SOS). This is designed to provide patients the freedom to safely perform functional types of activities without the patient having the fear of falling. FYZICAL is dedicated to enhancing patients' quality of life through a comprehensive, personalized approach. By combining advanced techniques, state-of-the-art technology, and open communication, their physical therapists create tailored treatment plans to address the root causes of pain and dysfunction. The goal is not only to treat symptoms, but also to empower patients with the knowledge and tools to prevent future issues.
Underpinning its growth, FYZICAL has earned multiple recognitions and prestigious awards this year. Franchise Business Review named FYZICAL as one of their Top 100 Best Franchise Culture as well as a Top Recession-Proof Franchise for the fourth year. For these awards, FYZICAL franchisees were surveyed and shared high franchisee satisfaction ratings. Additionally, FYZICAL secured a spot on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 list, ranking #1 in Physical Therapy in 2024 as well as #58 on the Fastest-Growing Franchises list.
Please visit https://www.fyzical.com/greater-houston-tx to see FYZICAL's full list of clinics in the Houston area, or explore franchising opportunities at https://www.fyzicalfranchise.com/
About FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers:
FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers stands at the forefront of the health and wellness industry as the nation's fastest-growing physical therapy franchise, boasting an extensive network of over 575 locations that span across 46 states. Committed to a holistic approach, FYZICAL provides top-notch, personalized care plans to treat patients of all ages experiencing muscle, joint, and neurological conditions including balance and vestibular issues. As an advocate for patient choice and direct access, FYZICAL empowers individuals to take control of their well-being to achieve optimal physical health and balance. For more information about FYZICAL or to find the nearest location, visit fyzical.com.
Media Contact: Logan Ruby, Fishman Public Relations, [email protected] or 847-945-1300
SOURCE FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers
The American Center for Mobility (ACM) has signed an agreement with Michigan Technological University to partner on engineering services at its 500-acre proving ground for advancing safe, sustainable, and secure technologies in Ypsilanti, MI.
YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, Mich., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Michigan Technological University has been selected as the new engineering services provider for the American Center for Mobility (ACM), reinforcing its pivotal role in the automotive field. Through renowned facilities like the Advanced Power Systems Laboratories (APS LABS), the Keweenaw Research Center (KRC) and the Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI), the university has built a record of excellence in sustainable vehicle technologies and advanced mobility solutions. Leveraging its cutting-edge research and development, testing programs, and industry expertise, Michigan Tech will offer comprehensive engineering services to ACM's customers.
Michigan Tech and ACM have worked together for years to advance safe, sustainable, and secure technologies utilizing the technical expertise of the combined teams and the extensive capabilities available at ACM's 500-acre proving grounds facility in Ypsilanti. Together Michigan Tech and ACM have collaborated to secure $20M in joint federal funding to date. We are confident in Michigan Tech's ability to enhance our capabilities and drive forward our mission of advancing mobility technologies. We look forward to the continued success and groundbreaking support services this partnership will bring.
"We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Michigan Technological University to the American Center for Mobility," said Reuben Sarkar, President & CEO of ACM. "Their exceptional support and engineering expertise will undoubtedly enhance our capabilities and industry knowledge. This partnership affirms ACM as the leader of mobility innovation and leader in the ecosystem."
Through the multi-year agreement, Michigan Tech will provide an extensive range of engineering services to ACM customers utilizing the university's expertise and depth of industry knowledge. Michigan Tech's impact in the mobility sector, which is well known within technical circles, will now be available to an even wider client base through the ACM partnership. ACM's customers include some of the largest mobility companies, manufacturers, and suppliers in the world.
"The American Center for Mobility and Michigan Tech are recognized leaders in advanced mobility research and technology," said Rick Koubek, President of Michigan Tech. "Joining forces will not only accelerate our efforts, but also provide opportunities previously unrealized for pushing the boundaries of advanced mobility."
Michigan Tech's APS LABS, a multidisciplinary collaborative at Michigan Tech that develops clean, efficient, sustainable mobility and power systems technologies, will lead the university's partnership with ACM. From propulsion systems research and development to complete vehicle builds, APS LABS blends university resources and expertise with industry familiarity in the mobility, propulsion, and energy sectors. APS LABS' energy expertise includes standing up a DOE Solar Regional Test site in 2020, as well as developing Level 4 connected and autonomous vehicles, or L4 CAVs, for research and testing. Recent mobility efforts have focused on several projects sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, working jointly with ACM. These projects include the Energy Efficient Mobility Systems Model Validation project of the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy and the NEXTCAR project of the DOE's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy program. The NEXTCAR project's goal is to reduce energy consumption by 30% utilizing forward-looking optimization and automated vehicle technologies. ACM, General Motors, and Stellantis are partners on this project.
"Over the past seven years, ACM and Michigan Tech have collaborated with great success, securing research projects through partnerships with federal agencies," said APS LABS Director Jeffrey D. Naber. "This collaboration unites our synergistic teams, dedicated to advancing the development of the next generation of mobility technologies."
Michigan Tech's presence at ACM's historic Willow Run site in Ypsilanti will complement and extend the university's influence in Michigan's lower peninsula, which includes the Translational Health and Engineering Research Center in Grand Rapids and the Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI) in Ann Arbor. MTRI researchers conduct cutting-edge automotive and transportation research involving infrastructure assessment, safety, mobility, and sensing, often in collaboration with APS LABS and KRC.
About American Center for Mobility
ACM offers a one-of-a-kind global development center to transform the way industries advance safe, sustainable, and secure mobility technologies. Located in Southeast Michigan on over 500-acres at the historic Willow Run site in Ypsilanti. ACM offers: an Advanced Mobility Proving Ground with test environments featuring specialized infrastructure, equipment, facilities and resources; An innovation and technology campus with an industrial tech park for the co-location of mobility companies; Event and demonstration areas for showcasing mobility technologies and convening industry activities. ACM is open to private industry, start-ups, government, standards bodies, and academia.
For more information about ACM, visit acmwillowrun.org.
About Michigan Technological University
Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and home to over 7,000 students from 55 countries. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan's flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
For more information about Michigan Technological University visit: https://www.mtu.edu/
American Center for Mobility Media Contact: Madison Baughey, Marketing Coordinator [email protected]
Michigan Technological University Media Contact: Hailey Hart, PR Manager, [email protected]
SOURCE American Center for Mobility
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Anastasia Beverly Hills, leading global beauty brand, proudly introduces its latest breakthrough in brow innovation: Volumizing Tinted Brow Gel. Designed to provide effortless, salon-quality brows at home, this new product offers instant color, volume, and definition for a flawless finish.
Volumizing Tinted Brow Gel delivers a lightweight, buildable formula that transforms brows with ease. The gel's mousse-like texture blends seamlessly, adding natural fullness and definition while maintaining a soft, matte finish.
"Our new Volumizing Tinted Brow Gel is the ultimate solution for achieving perfectly groomed brows in seconds," said Anastasia Soare, CEO and Founder of Anastasia Beverly Hills. "The custom-designed, precision brush, with long and short bristles, ensures every hair is coated and instantly enhances your brows with natural-looking color and volume."
Key Features of the Volumizing Tinted Brow Gel:
Lightweight, Buildable Formula: Delivers a soft, natural finish that enhances brow definition without feeling heavy.
Water-Resistant & Long-Wearing: Stays put for up to 24 hours, making it perfect for all-day wear.
Instant Color & Volume: Adds immediate color and fullness for a natural, well-defined look.
Custom-Designed, Dual-Action Precision Brush: Features short bristles for detailing and defining, and long bristles for tinting and volumizing.
Seamless Application: The brush fits perfectly in the brow for a precise, mess-free application, allowing time to blend before setting.
Versatile Shade Range: Available in 9 shades, including Blonde, Taupe, Soft Brown, Auburn , Chocolate, Medium Brown, Dark Brown, Ebony, and Granite. Suitable for covering grey hairs and color-correcting.
Volumizing Tinted Brow Gel is ideal for beginners and on-the-go beauty lovers, providing a quick and easy solution to achieve perfectly defined brows. Its unique formula and brush design make it a must-have in your beauty routine.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Volumizing Tinted Brow Gel will be available on 9/4 on anastasiabeverlyhills.com and in all retailers on 9/12. It will be available in full size ($25) as well as mini size ($13).
For more information about the Volumizing Tinted Brow Gel and other Anastasia Beverly Hills products, please visit anastasiabeverlyhills.com.
**About Anastasia Beverly Hills:**
Romanian-born beauty entrepreneur Anastasia Soare launched her namesake brand with a Beverly Hills flagship salon in 1997 and the company's first product line in 2000. Rooted in the sacred geometry of the Golden Ratio, ABH creates prestige cosmetics for a passionate prosumer audience. Soare was first to introduce brow shaping followed by a product line based on her patented Golden Ratio Eyebrow Shaping Method and is widely credited for fueling the multi-million dollar business that surrounds the category.
Anastasia Beverly Hills products are available at anastasiabeverlyhills.com, Dillard's, Macy's, Nordstrom, Sephora, ULTA, and select retailers in over 30 countries.
SOURCE Anastasia Beverly Hills
Anytime AI's Vision
Co-founded in 2023 by Dr. Lingfei (Teddy) Wu, Henry Hu, and Dr. Yu (Hugo) Chen, Anytime AI is revolutionizing the legal industry through the application of cutting-edge generative AI technology. The company's flagship product, AnytimeAI, serves as a premier AI Legal Assistant, offering a suite of AI-powered tools designed to boost revenue, enhance efficiency, and unlock more client opportunities for plaintiff law firms.
"The future of law is here, and it is powered by AI. Our mission at Anytime AI is to build a trustworthy and powerful AI legal assistant dedicated to various legal professionals, starting with plaintiff lawyers. We are thrilled to have reached this critical funding milestone," said Dr. Teddy Wu, Co-founder of Anytime AI. "This investment will enable us to further develop our technology and expand our capacity to serve more law firms, helping them achieve greater efficiency and results for their clients."
Investor and Legal Industry Support
Anytime AI's innovative approach to legal technology has attracted attention from both investors and legal industry professionals. The seed round was led by Gopher Asset Management U.S. and Kao Family Office, with additional support from various law firms and angel investors, all of whom bring invaluable expertise and strategic insight to support Anytime AI's growth and innovation in the legal sector.
A Unique Solution for Plaintiff Lawyers
Distinguishing itself from competitors, Anytime AI is building a trustworthy and powerful AI legal assistant along with various AI agents specifically designed for plaintiff lawyers. Our unique solution leverages Large Language Models (LLMs) as a Legal Reasoning Engine and integrates them with Legal Workflow Customization and other advanced technologies such as Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), Information Extraction (IE), and Optical Character Recognition (OCR). We address AI risks, including ''AI hallucinations'' and inaccurate results, guiding lawyers to validate AI outputs easily and thoroughly while maintaining client confidentiality and data security. AnytimeAI empowers lawyers to perform their daily core legal work activities much more efficiently and effectively, ranging from legal research to document review, and from medical record analysis to demand letter generation, all in minutes instead of hours or days.
Anytime AI's legal assistant has proven to reduce manual efforts by up to 90% and quadruple the capacity of legal professionals, allowing them to focus on high-value tasks and clients. Notably, AnytimeAI streamlines workflows in personal injury cases by auto-extracting key data from medical records and police reports and drafting demand letters and interrogatory responses. With hundreds of professionals already using or trial-testing its innovative solutions, Anytime AI is continually expanding its capabilities.
A Milestone Achievement
The milestone $4 million in seed funding is a testament to Anytime AI 's class-of-its-own innovation, marking a significant achievement for the company and further propelling the adoption of AI as a force for good in the legal industry, thereby accelerating justice in society.
Experience firsthand how Anytime AI can help you better serve your clients. For more information about Anytime AI and exclusive access to a free trial, please visit www.anytimeai.ai . Legal professionals can request a demo at: https://www.anytimeai.ai/book-a-free-demo .
About Anytime AI:
Anytime AI, the innovative developer of the premier AI legal assistant for plaintiff lawyers, was co-founded in 2023 by Dr. Lingfei (Teddy) Wu, Henry Hu, and Dr. Yu (Hugo) Chen. The company focuses on revolutionizing the legal industry with cutting-edge generative AI technology. Its flagship product, the AnytimeAI, offers a suite of AI-powered tools designed to boost revenue, amplify efficiency, and unlock more client opportunities for law firms. Learn more at [ www.anytimeai.ai ].
CONTACT: Catherine Lee, Phone# +1 646 764 4872, Email: [email protected]
SOURCE Anytime AI Inc.
TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V): LITFrankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE): OAY3OTCQX Venture Market: LILIF
VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp. (TSXV: LIT) (FSE: OAY3) (OTCQX: LILIF), ("Argentina Lithium" or the "Company") announces that over the past ten months it has fully exercised three option agreements for 100% interest in, subject to production royalties, 22 optioned properties totalling 25,391 hectares at the Company's Rincon West, Pocitos and Antofalla North Projects.
Following the receipt of the investment from Stellantis, we deployed the funds to secure a large portion of our most prospective optioned properties, where we have advanced drilling and geophysics throughout 2024.These acquisitions secure large land packages where our reconnaissance work has validated initial exploration hypotheses." stated Nikolaos Cacos, President and CEO.
Details of Exercised Property Options
The Argentina Lithium news release on August 4, 2021 announced the option to acquire 100% ownership of three mining concessions totaling 5,380.5 hectares at the Antofalla Salar in Salta Province from a group of local vendors (refer to Map 1). The agreed terms stipulated US$ 4,000,000 in payments spaced over 42 months, plus an exploration investment commitment.
In November 2023, the Company exercised the option by advancing US$ 3,200,000 to complete the remaining payments. At the time of the final exercise payment, the parties agreed that outstanding exploration investment commitments would be waived. A 2% net smelter royalty remains payable to the local vendors from the time the property enters production.
The Argentina Lithium news releases dated September 28, October 14, 2021 and March 16, 2022 announced the option agreement with a local vendor to acquire 100% ownership of multiple mining concessions in Salta Province including: eleven contiguous properties at Pocitos Salar (Pocitos 200-209 & 211, totalling 15,857.5 ha), and at Rincon Salar, the Villanoveno II property (2370.5 ha) and other properties advancing through the mining claim process including Demasia Villanoveno II (20.5 ha) (refer to Map 2 and Map 3). The total contracted value of the option was US$ 4,200,000 and CA$ 700,000 in Argentina Lithium shares, payable to the vendors over 36 months.
This option was exercised by the Company in November 2023, by advancing the remaining payment of US$ 2,900,000 to complete the terms of the option agreement, thereby earning 100% title and with no royalties pending to the vendors.
The Argentina Lithium news release on January 10, 2022 announced the option of five mining concession totalling 1,762 hectares at the Pocitos Salar in Salta province (the "Ramos Properties") (refer to Map 3). The option terms stipulated US$ 700,000 in payments to the vendors, spaced over two years.
The Company completed the final US$ 550,000 payment per schedule in January, 2024, thereby satisfying the agreement terms to earn 100% title to the properties. A 1% net smelter royalty remains payable to the local vendors from the time the property enters production
Qualified Person
Frits Reidel, CPG is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, is the Principal of Atacama Water Consultants, and is independent of Argentina Lithium. Mr. Reidel has reviewed the work carried out by the Company's exploration team at the exploration-stage Rincon West property. The disclosure in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Reidel.
About Argentina Lithium
Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp is focused on acquiring high quality lithium projects in Argentina and advancing them towards production in order to meet the growing global demand from the battery sector. The Company's recent strategic investment by Peugeot Citroen Argentina S.A., a subsidiary of Stellantis N.V., one of the world's leading automakers, places Argentina Lithium in a unique position to explore, develop and advance its four key projects covering over 67,000 hectares in the Lithium Triangle of Argentina. Management has a long history of success in the resource sector of Argentina and has assembled some of the most prospective lithium properties in the world renowned "Lithium Triangle". The Company is a member of the Grosso Group, a resource management group that has pioneered exploration in Argentina since 1993.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
"Nikolaos Cacos"
_______________________________
Nikolaos Cacos, President, CEO and Director
www.argentinalithium.com
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.
This news release contains forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "anticipate", "will", "expect", "may", "continue", "could", "estimate", "forecast", "plan", "potential" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments management of the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, statements about the Company's plans for its mineral properties; the Company's business strategy, plans and outlooks; the future financial or operating performance of the Company; and future exploration and operating plans are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements and, even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: risks and uncertainties related to the ability to obtain, amend, or maintain licenses, permits, or surface rights; risks associated with technical difficulties in connection with mining activities; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; the state of financial markets in Canada and other jurisdictions; the Company's ability to meet its working capital needs; fluctuations in metal prices; operations in foreign countries and the compliance with foreign laws; environmental regulations or hazards and compliance with regulations associated with mining activities; climate change and climate change regulations; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; failure to obtain or delays in obtaining necessary governmental and regulatory approvals; labour disputes and other risks generally in the mining industry. There may be other factors that cause results or events to not be as anticipated. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Readers are encouraged to refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for a more detailed discussion of factors that may impact expected future results. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof or the dates specifically referenced in this press release, where applicable. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, unless required pursuant to applicable laws. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
We advise U.S. investors that the SEC's mining guidelines strictly prohibit information of this type in documents filed with the SEC. U.S. investors are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on our properties.
SOURCE Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp.
MIRAMAR, Fla., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Awaysis Capital, Inc. (OTCMARKETS: AWCA), is pleased to report it has filed its amended Form 10-K/A which incorporates a re-audit of the Company's consolidated financial statements for the years ended June 30, 2022. The 10-K/A amendment also removed the going concern qualifications as of the Report Date.
The re-auditing of its consolidated financial statements for the June 30, 2022, fiscal year was required due to the Company's prior audit firm, BF Borgers, being sanctioned by the SEC. The re-audit was completed by the Company's independent auditor, Moore Belize LLP in accordance with Public Company Accounting Oversight Board standards. These re-audited financial statements highlight the Company's commitment to maintaining transparency, accuracy, and compliance in its financial reporting.
Dr. Andrew Trumbach, The Company's Co-CEO and CFO said, "Our accounting firm Moore Belize LLP has worked diligently to complete the re-audits of our financial statements, and their thorough and swift completion reinforces the accuracy and reliability of our financial disclosures. We remain committed to upholding the highest standards of financial governance and to ensure that our financial reports accurately reflect the Company's performance and position us for continued success."
Awaysis Capital will continue to provide updates on the reauditing process and any related developments as they become available.
About Awaysis Capital, Inc.
Increased global trends towards "work from home" opportunities have impacted both residency and travel. We believe that more people are seeking comfortable and convenient places to travel, visit, and live for extended durations. We seek to capitalize on these trends by transforming residential/resort properties in desirable locations into convenient enclaves that facilitate this type of travel or residency. We define an enclave as a gated community that has all the amenities that will allow a person to live, work and play without having to leave the community.
To learn more, visit www.awaysiscapital.com
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "could," "intend," "target," "project," "contemplate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "would" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Although Awaysis believes the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, they involve numerous risks and uncertainties and Awaysis is unable to give any assurance that its expectations will be attained. Factors or events that could cause actual results to differ may emerge, and it is not possible to predict all of them. Awaysis' assumptions used for the purposes of the forward-looking statements represent estimates of future events and are subject to uncertainty as to possible changes in economic, legislative, industry, and other circumstances. Such forward-looking statements involve assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other important factors that could cause the actual results, performance or our achievements, or industry results, to differ materially from historical results, any future results, or performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause Awaysis' actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, which are set forth in certain of our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward looking statement, except as may be required by law.
SOURCE Awaysis Capital, Inc.
ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Waterways Operators, the trade association of the American tugboat, towboat and barge industry, is commending the California legislature's recent passage of Assembly Bill 1122 as a major milestone in protecting mariner safety and port operations stability on California's waterways.
Led by Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains (D-Bakersfield), AB 1122 protects mariner lives by ensuring that the California Air Resources Board cannot require the use of equipment such as Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) onboard commercial vessels unless it contains a bypass-safety system and is certified as safe by third-party experts; and ensures safety and stability in California port operations by giving vessel operators increased flexibility to install CARB-mandated equipment during already-scheduled vessel inspection periods, so that vessels performing essential port functions are not excessively pulled out of service. The bill was voted on favorably in several Senate and Assembly committees, and then passed by the entire Senate and Assembly, by overwhelming margins.
The need for this bill was prompted by CARB's efforts to lower emissions through application of its Commercial Harbor Craft rule. As written, the rule requires installation of DPFs onboard tugboats, dredges and other vessels critical to California's supply chain. DPFs, however, are not commercially available for maritime engines and have been linked to fires when used in the trucking industry. The U.S. Coast Guard had previously informed CARB of its own safety concerns surrounding the CHC rule's DPF requirement, noting that it would not enforce the CHC rule with that requirement in place.
The CHC rule currently also requires vessels be pulled out of service for the mandated engine upgrades separately from their already-scheduled "dry dock" vessel inspections. By aligning the engine upgrade requirements with dry dock inspection periods, AB 1122 prevents shortages of vessels to provide ship-assist, escort, and other vital services needed to keep port operations running safely and efficiently.
Jennifer Carpenter, AWO's President and CEO, commented:
"The passage of AB 1122 is a critical development for mariner safety, sustainability, and the California and global supply chain. As the most sustainable mode of freight transportation in the United States, we share CARB's goal of lowering emissions. But the CHC rule as written will create fire hazards that put mariners in harm's way, and will reduce the availability of vessels essential to safe and efficient port operations operations that are the backbone of California's status as a global trade and renewable energy leader. We urge Governor Newsom to protect California mariners, and keep California ports running safely and efficiently, by signing AB 1122 into law."
The following individuals are available for interviews:
Jennifer Carpenter , President & CEO, American Waterways Operators
, President & CEO, American Waterways Operators Peter Schrappen , Vice President Pacific Region, American Waterways Operators
, Vice President Pacific Region, American Waterways Operators Capt. Sly Hunter, Northern California Regional Representative, International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots
SOURCE American Waterways Operators
Black Directors Health Equity Agenda Aims to Mitigate Health Disparities With New Grant From Kaiser Permanente
CHICAGO, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Directors Health Equity Agenda (BDHEA) has secured a transformative $1.5 million grant to address health disparities through public hospitals and community health centers. The organization will develop a health equity playbook geared towards board directors and executive leaders in healthcare.
This grant, provided by Kaiser Permanente's fund at the East Bay Community Foundation , will propel BDHEA's mission forward by fostering the education and engagement of board directors and executive leadership.
Kaiser Permanente is the largest integrated, nonprofit health care organization in the U.S., providing high-quality health care and coverage for 12.5 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia.
The grant will also support the BDHEA's Board Diversification and Inclusion Project, which seeks to increase the diversity and inclusion of healthcare boards.
"Our duty as healthcare board members extends beyond oversight; it's a commitment to the heart of care," says BDHEA Board Chair Caretha Coleman. "This grant empowers our shepherds of health equity to forge a path toward justice, ensuring that those facing the harshest conditions and barriers find high-quality, equitable care."
Empowering Change Through Board Governance
An unprecedented 31.5 million people rely on community health centers for affordable care. The grant will significantly advance the BDHEA's goal of eliminating health disparities in Black communities and beyond. Spanning three years, this funding underscores the imperative to champion Black health through healthcare board governance structures.
The award enables BDHEA to expand upon its foundational health equity toolkit. This toolkit includes the Prioritizing Health Equity in the Boardroom Playbook and Health Equity's Essential Role in ESG Conversations, two guides for board directors developed through collaboration between BDHEA and Deloitte Consulting LLP with support from the Deloitte Health Equity Institute.
Supporting boards for public hospitals and Community Health Centers (CHCs) presents a unique opportunity to empower leaders of community-based organizations instrumental in providing access to care nationally, bridging urban and rural areas alike. The grant will facilitate community assessments, strategic framework development, and evidence-based action plans creation culminating in a new health equity playbook for CHCs and public hospitals.
This playbook will be disseminated via collaborative engagements with critical leaders at conferences, webinars, roundtable discussions and other education forums. Through these engagements of Board directors and executive leaders, BDHEA will unify and challenge leaders to listen to community voices and to respond to their critical health needs with forceful and effective action. Deloitte Consulting LLP will also support the creation of this new playbook.
"To achieve health equity, we must commit to working together to make sure everyone has access to high-quality care," says Dr. Ronald L. Copeland, senior vice president and chief equity, inclusion, and diversity officer for Kaiser Permanente. "Through BDHEA's efforts, we hope to strengthen and empower community health centers and nonprofit hospitals to reduce, if not eliminate, all preventable and unjust health disparities, with trustees who are steadfast advocates for their communities."
Addressing the Need for Black Voices in Healthcare Boardrooms
This grant also underscores a commitment to increase, enlist, and engage Black corporate directors through the launch of the BDHEA's Board Diversification & Inclusion Project. This initiative seeks to champion and support increased recruitment and participation of Black board directors who often represent the heart of their communities.
The project reflects the stark scarcity of Black voices in boardrooms, revealed by an Ernst & Young (EY) study for BDHEA, that few healthcare boards have more than one Black corporate director. "Representation matters, and it is crucial to ensure diverse voices are heard in boardrooms across the healthcare sector," notes BDHEA Executive Director Deborah Phillips. "Our work extends beyond representation and invites diverse perspectives and ideas to identify critical health equity solutions." EY will provide support to the Board Diversification & Inclusion Project.
The grant is crucial in building the BDHEA's growth and impact. To realize its ambitious goals, BDHEA is seeking additional corporate and philanthropic support.
Strategic alliances with organizations like Deloitte, EY and U.S. News & World Report help enhance and propagate the BDHEA model for health equity action with educational offerings for its members to refine board governance and to establish health equity programs.
Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of their legal structure.
About BDHEA
The Black Directors Health Equity Agenda (BDHEA), founded in 2020, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that unites board directors, senior executives, and educators in healthcare from across the country with a common mission: to transform the healthcare industry by closing the gap in care, talent, research and policies for the Black community and, in turn, improve treatment outcomes, innovation and care for the entire nation. By developing a common agenda, continuous communication and shared outcomesand by centralizing shared resources, data and innovationsthe BDHEA will be the first and only national organization led by board directors and executives to address health disparities and outcomes among the Black community. The BDHEA envisions continuous, effective effort and action on eliminating disparities among Black people, where inequities have been the most persistent despite significant efforts by an array of interested parties over many years. As a trusted convener, educator and translator of data that represents and impacts Black communities, BDHEA is pursuing a holistic, comprehensive, national solution to mitigate health disparities and outcomes. The BDHEA's health equity toolkit offers extensive resources for board directors and C-suite executives to facilitate and track productive boardroom discussions and innovative responses to health disparities. Learn more at bdhea.org .
CONTACT:
Jane Sharma
[email protected]
Purpose Brand
purposebrand.com
SOURCE Black Directors Health Equity Agenda
Backed by US$30M from the Bezos Earth Fund, the Centre aims to revolutionise sustainable protein research and commercialisation in Asia
SINGAPORE, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at the National University of Singapore (NUS) was launched today, marking a major milestone as the first of its kind in Asia to advance research in alternative proteins. With a US$30 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund, the Centre is poised to lead groundbreaking research and commercialisation efforts to develop "ultimate proteins" advanced hybrid foods that match traditional meatbased products in both taste and price.
By focusing on regional preferences and addressing the urgent challenge of feeding a growing global population, the Centre aims to drive global food security and accelerate innovation across the region. A priority area will be biomass fermentation, which, for example, utilises tofu waste to feed algae, creating high-quality protein.
The NUS Centre joins similar Bezos Centres at Imperial College London in the United Kingdom and North Carolina State University in the United States, forming a global network dedicated to advancing sustainable protein research. The Centre's primary focus areas include microalgae and biomass fermentation, supported by complementary research into cultivated meat and plant-based technologies. These efforts are strategically aligned to produce next-generation hybrid proteins that are affordable, nutritious, and widely accepted.
"NUS and the Bezos Earth Fund are united by a shared commitment to actively combat climate change. The world's growing appetite for meat has put a huge strain on our global food system, and we need to develop sustainable food solutions with researchers, government and industry," said Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS President. "With the generous support of the Bezos Earth Fund, we look forward to leveraging our unique position in Asia to drive innovation and collaboration across the region, ensuring sustainable protein solutions that benefit consumers and industry, and protect the environment."
"Asia is pivotal to the future of sustainable proteins, and Singapore is leading the way," said Sir Andrew Steer, President and CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund. "Just five months ago, we announced our commitment to establish these Bezos Centers for Sustainable Protein and today, US$100 million has been granted to make that vision a reality. The new Centre at NUS harnesses the region's influence and expertise to drive solutions that can reshape food systems globally, with significant potential impact for East and South-East Asia's 2.3 billion consumers."
Research at the Centre will be led by 23 expert Principal Investigators from institutions in the ecosystem including NUS, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Institute of Technology, and ETH Zurich. These leaders will also focus on developing talent through various education initiatives, and venture-building programmes at NUS Enterprise, the University's innovation arm, which aim to translate research into impactful solutions.
By nurturing the next generation of innovators and fostering discussions among scientific, industry, community and policy stakeholders, the Centre is well-positioned to expedite the adoption of sustainable proteins across the region. Professor Zhou Weibiao, Head of the NUS Department of Food Science and Technology (NUS FST) and Acting Director of the new Centre, emphasised the importance of research that addresses both consumer needs and industry demands.
"NUS is well-positioned to host the new Centre given our extensive research expertise and strong partnerships in developing alternative proteins, demonstrated through many joint projects at NUS FST with internal and external partners, as well as our deep understanding of important areas such as nutrition, safety, and consumer perceptions," said Prof Zhou. "We look forward to making tangible impact by translating cutting-edge research into affordable, attractive, and nutritious alternative proteins for consumers, supporting the industry, and nurturing young talents for a resilient food system."
The NUS Centre will work closely with partners across industry, government, and academia to translate its research into market-ready products. Key focus areas include microalgae research, biomass fermentation, and cell-cultured and plant-based research. These focus areas will also integrate cross-cutting platforms such as nutrition science, safety, and consumer acceptance into its research.
Please refer to the Annexe for more information on these research areas.
"The NUS Centre is pioneering breakthrough innovations, such as transforming tofu waste into high-quality protein a practical example of zero-waste, circular economy principles in action," said Dr Andy Jarvis, Director of Future of Food at the Bezos Earth Fund. "As part of our US$1 billion commitment to reshaping food systems globally, this Centre alongside our network of sustainable protein hubs will drive lasting change that meets both environmental sustainability goals and consumer needs."
The Good Food Institute (GFI) played a key role in partnering with the Bezos Earth Fund to develop its alternative protein strategy. Through its work as a scoping partner, GFI has helped craft the vision for the Bezos Centres for Sustainable Protein.
"With meat demand skyrocketing across the world's most populous continent, the opportunity for large-scale transformation in Asia's food supply has never been greater," said Mirte Gosker, Managing Director of the GFI APAC. "By connecting Singapore's brightest scientific minds with their counterparts in other global innovation hubs, the Bezos Centre at NUS has the capacity to fully unlock the enormous economic and ecological potential of sustainable proteins."
Read more at: https://news.nus.edu.sg/bezos-centre-for-sustainable-protein-opens-at-the-national-university-of-singapore/
SOURCE National University of Singapore
The September editions of FinTech Magazine and InsurTech Digital include an exclusive interview with Saphyre Co-Founders Gabino Roche Jr and Stephen Roche plus exclusive insights from Temenos, Old Mutual and Tealbook
LONDON, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BizClik, the UK's fastest-growing publishing company, has published the latest editions of FinTech Magazine and InsurTech Digital. These publications are highly regarded voices within the Financial Sector for their in-depth reports and interviews with prominent figures in the industry.
FinTech Magazine
This month's edition features an extensive lead report with Saphyre Co-Founders Gabino Roche Jr and Stephen Roche on the importance of real-trading solutions post T+1.
"With Saphyre, traders can digitally authenticate and authorise a resolution to a trade exception issue in post-trade with real-time automation"
The edition also contains extensive interviews with key thought leaders from Temenos, GCash and Tealbook. Plus the Top 10 Fintech Founders.
You can visit FinTech Magazine for daily news and analysis of the ever-changing financial industry.
InsurTech Digital
This month's edition features an exclusive report with May Govender, CIO of Old Mutual on the 179 year old institution's migration to the Cloud.
"As an Insurance organisation, it's imperative for us to stay abreast of these customer trends and meet their evolving expectations"
The edition also contains extensive interviews with key thought leaders from Woodruff Sawyer, Fadata and more. Plus the Top 10 Insurtech Platforms.
You can visit InsurTech Digital for daily news and analysis of the ever-changing insurance industry.
About BizClik
BizClik is one of the fastest-growing digital media companies in the UK, host to a growing portfolio of industry-leading global brands and communities.
BizClik's expanding portfolio includes Technology, AI, FinTech, InsurTech, Supply Chain, Procurement, Energy, Mining, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Mobile, Data Centre, Cyber, and Sustainability.
For more information, please visit our website.
SOURCE BizClik Media
100,000 daily riders get uninterrupted wireless connectivity throughout the underground route.
NEW YORK, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Boldyn Networks (Boldyn), the world's leading neutral host provider in wireless infrastructure solutions, announced the launch of a 5G wireless network throughout the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) 42nd Street Shuttle line. This groundbreaking move ensures that Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and T-Mobile customers will now have full cell service in one of the system's most traveled tunnels.
MTA Chair Janno Lieber and MTA C&D President Jamie Torres-Springer announce 5G activation in the 42nd Street Shuttle tunnel and a new connectivity expansion project with Boldyn Networks on September 4, 2024.
The Shuttle is the first line in Manhattan to have full mobile communication service underground. It marks a key milestone in the expanded project for Boldyn Networks, which is dedicated to delivering a neutral host network throughout the system. The 42nd Street Shuttle line is a vital link for more than 36 million riders annually. It connects Times Square to Grand Central for approximately 100,000 daily users.
"Our partnerships with the MTA, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile underscore Boldyn's long-term commitment to implementing technology in New York City for the better," said Christos Karmis, CEO of Boldyn Networks, US. "This is just the beginning because we are modernizing the vital systems necessary for how a city moves and communicates in today's modern world."
Boldyn Networks has deployed a high-capacity, low-latency network for all tier-1 mobile carriers to offer fully connected services to their customers. Even during peak commutes, when up to 12,000 passengers per hour are traveling on the Shuttle line, riders will experience an enhanced connection on their mobile devices.
"This is an exciting moment for Verizon as we make seamless wireless connectivity possible along one of the busiest subway lines in New York City," said John Gallup, Verizon Executive Director of Wireless Network Engineering and Operations for NY. "Our goal is to keep New Yorkers connected wherever they are, and this expansion is another testament to that commitment."
"AT&T is proud to collaborate with Boldyn Networks and the MTA on this transformative project for New York's subway riders," said John Emra, President, AT&T Atlantic Region. "Offering wireless connectivity on the Shuttle line tunnel is a significant step towards our goal of seamless, city-wide connectivity. This initiative not only improves the daily commute for millions but also marks a key achievement in our ongoing efforts to connect communities and empower New Yorkers with reliable, high-speed connectivity."
"T-Mobile is dedicated to connecting people in the places they live, work and play with the best possible wireless experience," said Luis Reyes, Vice President, Field Engineering for T-Mobile Northeast Region. "Working with Boldyn and MTA has enabled us to do exactly that, forever enhancing the commutes for millions of riders every year."
The major carriers are taking significant leadership roles in modernizing the city's communications systems by testing, deploying, and integrating their equipment into Boldyn Networks' infrastructure so riders can begin seeing service immediately on the Shuttle.
The network is also designed to provide seamless connectivity for first responders, with bandwidth prioritization for the public safety community. Many New Yorkers welcome this early phase of connectivity enhancement and applaud the efforts of so many to make the subway safer, more accessible, and tech-forward.
"Having our phones connected through the Shuttle significantly improves the daily commute," said Betsy Plum, Executive Director of Riders Alliance. "It's a testament to the mobile carriers that understand the importance of offering service in the subway for their customers and to New York for improving public transportation in the city."
The project is part of an ongoing initiative to equip the entire New York City Subway system with robust wireless coverage using a neutral host network, improving the transit experience for millions of New Yorkers and visitors.
As a neutral host, all wireless carriers can utilize the same infrastructure to serve their consumers on the network deployed by Boldyn.
Under the agreement, 418 track miles of subway tunnel will receive the infrastructure for mobile carriers to offer cell coverage. Free Wi-Fi service will also be expanded to all 191 above-ground subway stations and 21 Staten Island Railway stations.
The installation of 5G infrastructure to receive connectivity is aligned with MTA's capital projects and includes:
G-Line: The deployment will be available for all carriers to expand coverage this year. The infrastructure will also enhance operational efficiencies in service to the line's 160,000 daily riders.
Joralemon Street Tunnel: The oldest and longest underwater tunnel in the system, the Joralemon Tunnel, will have 5G connectivity, allowing mobile operators to deliver full service throughout the 1.1-mile tube.
4-5-6 Grand Central to 161st Street: As this phase of the project develops, five track miles of the 4-5-6 will be upgraded with 5G mobile infrastructure.
About Boldyn Networks
Boldyn Networks is one of the world's largest neutral host providers, delivering the advanced shared network infrastructure needed for a smart, inclusive, and sustainable future. It combines the combined scale and expertise of industry-leading companies with a single purpose: to unlock the power of an interconnected future. From interconnected transit, venues and enterprises, smart cities, next-generation and bespoke private networks to smart campusesthrough Apogee Telecom, a Boldyn Networks companyBoldyn enables new possibilities in the way people live, work and play. Bringing connectivity to the most complex environments. Our portfolio is harnessing fiber, advancing 4G/LTE, accelerating 5G, preparing for 6Gand looking beyond to the next breakthroughs. Our global operations span North America, Europe, and Asia. Boldyn Networks. Reimagine tomorrow. Transform today. www.boldyn.com
For more information, contact
Scott Christiansen
Vice President, Marketing Communications
Boldyn Networks
E [email protected]
SOURCE Boldyn Networks
WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- When the former Fayette County Memorial Hospital was welcomed into the Adena Health family in 2021, Adena President and CEO Jeff Graham expressed a desire to make a significant investment in the future of health care in Fayette County. The future, he promised at the time, included plans for construction of a new critical access hospital.
That future is now.
New Adena Fayette Medical Center opening in 2027
Design work that has been ongoing for a new 65,000-square-foot hospital to be located on the site of the present Adena Fayette Medical Center in Washington Court House is nearly complete and the health system plans to break ground and begin construction on the two-year building project around mid-year of 2025.
"This is us seeing our commitment through," said Josh McCoy, vice president of Adena's west region. "We know the community is set to grow significantly and it is our responsibility to be a partner in that growth, making sure residents have the quality health care this community deserves well into the future."
Once completed, the new, modern facility will provide several opportunities to further build upon the quality care already provided at Adena Fayette Medical Center.
"We will have the ability to enhance our service offerings," McCoy said. "What this will do is improve patient access to those services, create better efficiencies in providing those services, and provide an environment that makes care for our patients and their families more convenient. It also will give us the opportunity to provide more advanced treatment options within those services."
For example, the technology and additional operating room space being integrated into the new hospital will enhance the ability to perform precision robotic-assisted surgical procedures. Addition of a progressive care unit will provide flexibility in responding to fluctuating patient volumes and care needs, integrating telemetry units into the infrastructure will advance the scope of care, while having a dedicated trauma room will provide immediate, specialized care for critical cases.
Several departments will see enhanced services as the result of the new hospital construction, including OB/GYN, surgical services, endoscopy, orthopedics, gastroenterology, and more.
Other benefits will accompany the new hospital, including enhanced patient privacy, convenient parking, additional patient care technology, and availability of an on-site retail pharmacy.
The construction of a new hospital will be an asset contributing to the economic growth of the community, as having high-quality health care available for employees is considered one of the key selling points for businesses and industries as they decide where to locate new facilities. In addition, the new hospital will help Adena's ongoing recruitment work to bring even more highly skilled physicians and advanced practice providers to Fayette County and the health system as a whole.
While the facilities will be new, quality patient care has always been about people and the relationships that are built. Those who have been patients of Adena Fayette Medical Center will find the same skilled, compassionate caregivers they have come to rely upon over the years.
"It takes more than bricks and mortar to make a hospital," McCoy said. "What makes Adena Fayette Medical Center special now and what will continue to make it special in the new facility are the dedicated physicians, advanced practice providers, and the entire caregiving team who put the well-being of their patients first."
The new hospital construction will take place directly behind the current 74-year-old hospital on Columbus Avenue, thus ensuring that construction will not impact patients' access to care throughout the project.
About 14 months went into the design of the new hospital, utilizing feedback from not only leadership at Adena Fayette Medical Center and within the health system but from those who work every day within the walls of the current facility in determining such things as the most efficient space configurations and upgrades that will further enhance patient care. As a special nod to Fayette County, the design also incorporates subtle elements that pay tribute to the agricultural heritage of the community, its location within Washington Court House, and the resilience of the hospital's staff.
Most importantly, the design puts patient care and the ability to continue developing options for advancing that care above all else.
"This project aligns with our mission to be our region's most trusted partner in health care, so we're very excited about the opportunity this new hospital presents for Washington Court House and all of Fayette County," Graham said. "We are thrilled to be able to live up to our commitment to area residents and look forward to being an active partner in the exciting growth coming to this community."
For more about the new Adena Fayette Medical Center, its current health care providers and full range of services, visit Adena.org/Fayette.
Adena Health
Adena Health is an independent, not-for-profit and locally governed health care organization delivering on its mission, "called to serve our communities," for more than 125 years. A regional economic catalyst, Adena Health is composed of more than 4,200 employees including more than 200 physicians and 150 advanced practice providers. With hospitals containing a total of 341 beds, regional health centers, emergency and urgent care services, and primary and specialty care practices, Adena Health serves more than 400,000 residents across nine counties in south central and southern Ohio through its network of more than 40 locations. Its hospitals include the 266-bed Adena Regional Medical Center in Chillicothe and three 25-bed critical access hospitalsAdena Fayette Medical Center in Washington Court House; Adena Greenfield Medical Center in Greenfield; and Adena Pike Medical Center in Waverly. Adena Health specialty services include orthopedics and sports medicine, heart and vascular care, pediatric and women's health, and oncology services.
SOURCE Adena Health
ASHEVILLE, N.C., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In the wake of President Trump's new focus on North Carolina and recent visit to Asheville, NC, Democratic congressional candidate Caleb Rudow is redefining political engagement by combining compassionate action with effective politics. Over the past weeks, Rudow's campaign has seen increased donations and attention, which he has swiftly turned into community initiatives. These include distributing school supplies and personal hygiene products, welcoming students on their first day, and contributing $10,000 to MANNA FoodBank's hunger relief efforts across the district. This donation translates to 40,000 meals, directly combating food insecurity exacerbated by recent economic challenges.
Congressional Candidate, Caleb Rudow, Donates 40,000 Meals and Distributes School Supplies. Post this Photo Credit, Paul King Photo Credit, Rudow for Congress Photo Credit, Paul King
"Politicians must deliver on their promises through meaningful action," said Rudow. "Our campaign prioritizes people over politics, demonstrating that political resources can create immediate good in our communities."
Western North Carolina has seen a 19% increase in food insecurity this year, affecting over 23,000 children. Rudow's donation provides crucial support as pandemic-related food bank benefits expire nationwide.
"I aim to invest in our communities and use paid media to amplify these efforts," Rudow emphasized. "We show that effective politics can directly support our communities."
In August, Rudow's campaign engaged extensively with the community through four festivals celebrating local culture, five community events addressing local concerns, five house parties connecting intimately with voters, three 5Ks supporting local causes, and nine canvassing events to hear directly from constituents.
"August was a month of meaningful engagement and action," reflected Rudow. "We've listened to concerns, celebrated community spirit, and supported our neighbors. Our campaign exemplifies leadership through action, not just promises."
As the campaign progresses, Caleb Rudow continues to lead by example, challenging conventional norms by focusing on community impact and effective representation.
For more information on Caleb Rudow and his campaign, visit rudowforcongress.com.
About Caleb Rudow
Caleb Rudow is a Buncombe County native and Asheville High graduate. Caleb is proud to represent WNC in the NC General Assembly as a Democratic State House Representative for District 116 in Buncombe County. Caleb has a master's degree in Global Policy Studies from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. Caleb has dedicated his life to public service, and at the heart of it all is his love for people and cultures and his desire to work towards a common goal.
CONTACT
Jefferson Ellison, Rudow for Congress
[email protected]
O: (828) 222-0456 / C: 828-505-6415
SOURCE Rudow for Congress
MIAMI, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- From August 16 to 30, 2024, select Walgreens locations in Miami-Dade County continued their tradition of community support through their annual "Community Cares" campaign. During this period, Walgreens shoppers were given the opportunity to donate $1, $3, or $5 at checkout to support Care Resource, raising a total of $31,667.
Care Resource receives $31,667 from Walgreens during annual Community Cares campaign.
Keri Kratofil, PharmD, Chief Executive Officer of Care Resource, expressed gratitude for the support: "Thank you, Walgreens, for your commitment to supporting Care Resource's educational and medical programs, combating the effects of HIV/AIDS, and expanding access to affordable, quality healthcare for South Florida's communities. We are grateful for your continued support and partnership."
"The Community Cares Campaign showcases the power of corporate and community collaboration to enhance the health, well-being, and vitality of the communities we serve," said Georgia Lehoczky, RPH, Regional Healthcare Director at Walgreens. "Championing healthier communities is critical to both current and future generations."
Since its founding in 1901, Walgreens has demonstrated a strong commitment to giving back to the community and supporting health and well-being initiatives.
About Care Resource:
Care Resource is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with locations in Midtown Miami, Little Havana, Miami Beach, and Fort Lauderdale. The health center provides comprehensive health and support services to meet the needs of South Florida's pediatric, adolescent, and adult populations.
About Walgreens:
Walgreens (walgreens.com) is part of the United States segment of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., a leading integrated pharmacy, healthcare, and retail organization serving millions of customers and patients daily. With a 170-year legacy of community care, Walgreens operates nearly 9,000 retail locations across America, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Walgreens pharmacists play a critical role in the U.S. healthcare system, providing a wide range of pharmacy and healthcare services. Walgreens is dedicated to creating healthier communities by offering an omnichannel experience that integrates physical and digital platforms, supported by the latest technology.
SOURCE Care Resource
The Bluffs at Whiskey Ridge features beautiful location with two-story floor plans from the high $700s
SEATTLE, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Century Communities, Inc. (NYSE: CCS)one of the nation's largest homebuilders, an industry leader in online home sales, and the highest-ranked homebuilder on Newsweek's list of America's Most Trustworthy Companies 2024announced it will host a Grand Opening event on Saturday, September 7 for its anticipated new community in Marysville: The Bluffs at Whiskey Ridge. The community is currently offering pre-Grand Opening opportunities on select new homes, available from the high $700s.
Hadley Floor Plan Rendering | The Bluffs at Whiskey Ridge by Century Communities | New Homes in Marysville, WA Shelby Floor Plan Rendering | The Bluffs at Whiskey Ridge by Century Communities | New Homes For Sale in Marysville, WA
Join community interest list and view pre-Grand Opening homes at www.CenturyCommunities.com/TheBluffsWA.
"Our second community in Marysville, The Bluffs at Whiskey Ridge offers homebuyers an exceptional lineup of two-story floor plans in a beautiful location north of Seattle," said Mick Cermak, Washington Division President. "We're excited to have buyers and their agents out to our Grand Opening event to learn about available homes, as well as savings opportunities that make it easier for them to achieve their dream home."
GRAND OPENING EVENT
Saturday, September 7 | 10 AM to 12 PM
Grand Opening event will feature model home tours and complimentary refreshments, along with information about available homes and savings opportunities.
Tours and refreshments will begin at The Diamonds at Whiskey Ridge (located across the street from The Bluffs at Whiskey Ridge).
8623 52nd Place Northeast
Marysville, WA 98270
425.599.2202
More About The Bluffs at Whiskey Ridge
Now pre-selling from the high $700s
Limited homesites available
Two-story floor plans
3 to 5 bedrooms, 2.25 to 2.5 bathrooms, up to 2,577 square feet
2-bay garages
Convenient setting north of Seattle along I-5
along I-5 Gourmet kitchens, maple wood cabinetry, quartz countertops and more included
DISCOVER THE FREEDOM OF ONLINE HOMEBUYING:
Century Communities is proud to feature its industry-first online homebuying experience on all available homes in Washington.
How it works:
Shop homes at CenturyCommunities.com
Click "Buy Now" on any available home
Fill out a quick Buy Online form
Electronically submit an initial earnest money deposit
Electronically sign a purchase contract via DocuSign
Learn more about the Buy Online experience at www.CenturyCommunities.com/online-homebuying.
About Century Communities
Century Communities, Inc. (NYSE: CCS) is one of the nation's largest homebuilders, an industry leader in online home sales, and the highest-ranked homebuilder on Newsweek's list of America's Most Trustworthy Companies 2024, consecutively awarded for a second year. Through its Century Communities and Century Complete brands, Century's mission is to build attractive, high-quality homes at affordable prices to provide its valued customers with A HOME FOR EVERY DREAM. Century is engaged in all aspects of homebuilding including the acquisition, entitlement and development of land, along with the construction, innovative marketing and sale of quality homes designed to appeal to a wide range of homebuyers. The Company operates in 18 states and over 45 markets across the U.S., and also offers title, insurance and lending services in select markets through its Parkway Title, IHL Home Insurance Agency, and Inspire Home Loans subsidiaries. To learn more about Century Communities, please visit www.centurycommunities.com.
SOURCE Century Communities, Inc.
Leslie to be honored for his book, Chicago Skyscrapers 1934-1986: How Technology, Politics, Finance, & Race Reshaped the City
CHICAGO, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Newberry Library and The Pattis Family Foundation will present the third annual $25,000 Pattis Family Foundation Chicago Book Award during an event at the library on September 14. Thomas Leslie, author of Chicago Skyscrapers 1934-1986: How Technology, Politics, Finance, & Race Reshaped the City, will receive the award, which celebrates works that transform public understanding of Chicago, its history, and its people.
"Thomas Leslie's book is a wonderful example of a work that helps readers better understand Chicago," said Astrida Orle Tantillo, President and Librarian of the Newberry. "At first glance it is a book about architecturea topic of great interest to many Chicagoans. Chicago Skyscrapers is much more than that, however. It tells a compelling story about the politics, technology, and personalities behind the construction of some of Chicago's most iconic buildings and helps us better appreciate the history of how our city grew."
The award is open to writers working in a variety of genresall relating to Chicago. Post this
In addition to awarding Thomas Leslie, the juried panel also recognizes John William Nelson as the shortlist award recipient for authoring Muddy Ground: Native Peoples, Chicago's Portage, and the Transformation of the Continent. Nelson will receive an award of $2,500.
The presentation of the 2024 Pattis Family Foundation Chicago Book Award takes place at a free, public event at the Newberry Library on Saturday, September 14. Both recipients will be recognized, and Thomas Leslie will discuss his work with newly appointed Chicago Tribune architecture columnist Ed Keegan. Emceed by journalist Rick Kogan, the event also serves as a celebration of the power of storytelling, featuring a lineup of speakers sharing their Chicago stories, a performance by the Joel Hall Dancers, and a presentation of items from the Newberry's collections. Visitors will also have the chance to view two Newberrry exhibitionsIndigenous Chicago and Chicago Style: Mike Royko and Windy City Journalism. The program gets under way at 1:30pm with the award presentation taking place at 3pm.
The Pattis Family Foundation Chicago Book Award is open to writers working in a variety of genres, including history, biography, social sciences, poetry, drama, graphic novels, and fictionall relating to Chicago. Toya Wolfe received the 2023 Pattis Award for Last Summer on State Street, and Dawn Turner received the inaugural award in 2022 for Three Girls from Bronzeville.
"I'm incredibly honored and grateful to have Chicago Skyscrapers 1934-1986 receive The Pattis Family Foundation Chicago Book Award," Leslie said. "The books that have received this award previously have helped me understand our city better, in all of its richness and complexity. I've always thought that architecture is one of the ways that people and cities tell their stories. I'm thrilled to have the book recognized for bringing these to light."
Leslie spent seven years as an architect with Norman Foster and Partners in London. He is now a professor of architecture at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Leslie is the author of Louis I. Kahn: Building Art, Building Science; Chicago Skyscrapers, 1871-1934; and Beauty's Rigor: Patterns of Production in the Work of Pier Luigi Nervi.
Mark Pattis of The Pattis Family Foundation commented: "With the selection of Chicago Skyscrapers 1934-1986 as this year's award recipient, the Newberry Library continues the tradition of selecting a book that broadens the understanding of our city, its history, and its people. Our congratulations to Mr. Leslie and the other authors recognized by the selection committee. We are delighted to see so many different works about Chicago recognized and are grateful to the Newberry and the members of the selection committee for their dedication to the selection process."
SOURCE Newberry Library
NEW YORK, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report on how AI is driving market transformation- The global cognac market size is estimated to grow by USD 897.31 million from 2023-2027, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of about 3.64% during the forecast period. Rising awareness of health benefits of cognac is driving market growth, with a trend towards consumption of cognac with food or as cocktail mix. However, growing competition from other alcoholic beverages poses a challenge. Key market players include Bacardi Ltd., Branded Spirits Ltd., CAMUS LA GRANDE MARQUE SAS, Cognac Meukow, Delord Freres SA, KELT International SARL, Louis Royer SA, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, Maison Delamain, MAISON FERRAND, Pernod Ricard SA, Remy Cointreau SA, Suntory Holdings Ltd., Thomas HINE and Co., and Zino Davidoff SA.
Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Cognac Market 2023-2027
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Forecast period 2023-2027 Base Year 2022 Historic Data 2017 - 2021 Segment Covered Distribution Channel (Off trade and On trade ), Product (VS, VSOP, and XO ), and Geography (North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa) Region Covered North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa Key companies profiled Bacardi Ltd., Branded Spirits Ltd., CAMUS LA GRANDE MARQUE SAS, Cognac Meukow, Delord Freres SA, KELT International SARL, Louis Royer SA, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, Maison Delamain, MAISON FERRAND, Pernod Ricard SA, Remy Cointreau SA, Suntory Holdings Ltd., Thomas HINE and Co., and Zino Davidoff SA
Key Market Trends Fueling Growth
Cognac is a versatile drink with a wide range of applications. It can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or diluted with water. Additionally, cognac is commonly used as a mixer in various cocktails such as Sidecar, B and B, Horses Neck, and Brandy Alexander. Brands like Hennessy and Meukow are popular choices due to their distinct flavors and high quality. Hennessy Black, in particular, is marketed as a mixable brandy with a delicate taste and high alcohol content, making it ideal for dilution and cocktail creation. Cognac's growing popularity is driven by consumers seeking unique experiences and moving away from traditional beverages. This trend is particularly noticeable in the US, where cognac is often associated with status and sophistication. As a result, the global cognac market is expected to grow due to the increasing number of restaurants and bars offering cognac-based cocktails.
The alcohol market, including cognac and other alcoholic brands, is experiencing trends such as increased online sales and alcohol-oriented communities. Brands like Hennessy and Torres continue to dominate the scene. Health-conscious consumers seek non-alcoholic beverages and RTD cocktail mixers. The Future Drinks Expo showcases innovative products like the Distell brand's non-alcoholic spirits. Renewable energy sources, such as wind farms from Dulacca, Karara, Flender, Moventas, Wind Prime, Dobele Wind Farm, Innergex Renewable Energy, Boswel Spring Wind, and Planetary gearboxes from Dana Motion Systems and Stork Gears, are powering the production of premium alcoholic liquors like very special cognac, distilled spirits, and craft beverages. Millennials prefer higher alcohol by volume and unique offerings, driving the demand for craft beverages and cocktail culture. Socialization remains a key factor in the consumption of premium alcoholic liquors in restaurants and bars. Copper pot stills continue to be used in the production of very special cognacs like Under Larsen's Double Toasted cognac. Fruit juice bases and white grapes are popular in the production of premium alcoholic liquors. The spirits volume consumption is expected to grow, driven by the cocktail culture and socialization trends.
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Market Challenges
The cognac market faces challenges from increasing competition with other alcoholic beverages, such as vodka, rum, and whiskey. This competition is expected to negatively impact sales and revenues in certain regions like Germany , France , Italy , Russia , Belgium , and Sweden . In APAC, China is the largest market for alcoholic beverages, but the market is dominated by Baijiu, and consumers prefer beer over spirits, which will negatively impact cognac sales. To sustain and grow in the competitive market, cognac manufacturers must focus on innovative marketing strategies and product development.
, , , , , and . In APAC, is the largest market for alcoholic beverages, but the market is dominated by Baijiu, and consumers prefer beer over spirits, which will negatively impact cognac sales. To sustain and grow in the competitive market, cognac manufacturers must focus on innovative marketing strategies and product development. The Cognac market faces unique challenges in the current business landscape. Millennials prefer lower alcohol by volume (ABV) drinks and are moving towards craft beverages, affecting the sales of traditional distilled spirits like Cognac. Copper pot stills are used to produce very special Cognacs under the Larsen brand, but the market for premium alcoholic liquors is increasingly competitive. The brewing industries and retail sectors, including restaurants and bars, are embracing premiumization, leading to a rise in sales of premium spirits. However, the pandemic phase has disrupted the profit outcome for the spirits industry, with online shopping platforms like Bacardi India gaining popularity. Gen Z and young adolescents are turning to health-imparting properties of alcohol, such as anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and anti-aging potential, which could open new opportunities for high-end cognacs. Brands like Bardinet, Barista cocktails, Quintessence, Revelation, and Grand Marnier are innovating with fruit juice bases and super-premium spirits. The ProWine trade fair is a key platform for showcasing these offerings to the global market. The spirits industry must adapt to these trends to maintain its share in the premium alcohol market.
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Segment Overview
This cognac market report extensively covers market segmentation by
Distribution Channel
1.1 Off trade
1.2 On trade
Product
2.1 VS
2.2 VSOP
2.3 XO
Geography
3.1 North America
3.2 APAC
3.3 Europe
3.4 South America
3.5 Middle East and Africa
1.1 Off trade- The Cognac market is a significant sector in the global spirits industry. Producers in the Cognac region of France create this distinctive brandy using specific grape varieties and following traditional methods. The market value has been growing steadily due to increasing demand, particularly in Asia. Exports to China and the US are major contributors to this growth. Consumers value Cognac for its unique taste and prestige, making it a premium spirit choice. Producers invest in research and development to maintain quality and innovation. The market is competitive, with key players like Hennessy, Remy Martin, and Martell dominating. Overall, the Cognac market is a thriving business with a rich heritage and promising future.
Download complimentary Sample Report to gain insights into AI's impact on market dynamics, emerging trends, and future opportunities- including forecast (2023-2027) and historic data (2017 - 2021)
Research Analysis
The Cognac market is experiencing a resurgence, particularly among Millennials who are rediscovering this very special distilled spirit. Cognac is known for its high alcohol by volume (ABV) and is traditionally produced using Copper pot stills. The Under Larsen brand, for instance, offers a Double Toasted cognac, adding an extra layer of complexity to the spirit. Cognac is a premium alcoholic liquor, often enjoyed neat or as a base for cocktails in the growing cocktail culture. Its consumption is not just limited to home settings but is also popular in restaurants and bars. The trend towards premiumization in the spirits industry is driving the growth of the Cognac market. Flender, Moventas, Wind Prime, Innergex Renewable Energy, Boswel Spring Wind, Dobele Wind Farm, and Karaara Wind Farm are some of the companies leading the charge in the renewable energy sector, powering the production of this craft beverage. White grapes, primarily Ugni Blanc and Colombard, are used to produce Cognac. The fruit juice base is fermented and distilled, resulting in a unique and delicious spirit. Despite the increasing popularity of craft beverages, Cognac remains a standout in the world of premium alcoholic liquors.
Market Research Overview
The Cognac market is experiencing a surge in demand, particularly among millennials and Gen Z, who are driving the trend towards craft beverages and premium alcoholic liquors. With an alcohol by volume range of 40-60%, cognac is a distilled spirit made primarily from white grapes, aged in copper pot stills. Its very special character and high-end status make it a popular choice for cocktail culture and socialization in restaurants and bars. The spirits industry, including cognac, has seen a shift towards premiumization and super-premium spirits, with sales of liquor reaching record highs despite the pandemic phase. The brewing industries and retail sectors are also capitalizing on this trend, with online shopping platforms and alcohol-oriented communities becoming increasingly popular. Cognac production involves distillation and aging in oak barrels, with brands like Bardinet, Barista cocktails, Campari Group, Quintessence, Revelation, and Grand Marnier leading the way. The health-imparting properties of cognac, including its anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and anti-aging potential, add to its allure. The spirits industry is also embracing renewable energy, with companies like Dana Motion Systems, Moventas, Wind Prime, Innergex Renewable Energy, Boswel Spring Wind, and Planetary gearboxes investing in wind energy to power their production processes. Despite the focus on premium spirits, non-alcoholic beverages and RTD cocktail mixers are also gaining popularity among health-conscious consumers. The Future Drinks Expo and ProWine trade fair are platforms for showcasing the latest innovations in the spirits industry. Overall, the market for cognac and other premium spirits is expected to continue growing, driven by changing consumer preferences and a focus on sustainability.
Table of Contents:
1 Executive Summary
2 Market Landscape
3 Market Sizing
4 Historic Market Size
5 Five Forces Analysis
6 Market Segmentation
Distribution Channel
Off Trade
On Trade
Product
VS
VSOP
XO
Geography
North America
APAC
Europe
South America
Middle East And Africa
7 Customer Landscape
8 Geographic Landscape
9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends
10 Company Landscape
11 Company Analysis
12 Appendix
About Technavio
Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.
With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.
Contacts
Technavio Research
Jesse Maida
Media & Marketing Executive
US: +1 844 364 1100
UK: +44 203 893 3200
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.technavio.com/
SOURCE Technavio
Report highlights Deloitte's significant investments made into building its own IP and industry-specific solutions.
NEW YORK, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Deloitte has been positioned as a Leader in Everest Group's Life & Annuity (L&A) Insurance IT Services PEAK Matrix Assessment 2024. Deloitte was one of only three service providers that have established strong credentials in assisting insurance carriers with comprehensive transformation needs and was positioned highest for Market Impact. Many leading organizations around the globe trust these comparative assessments because of their unbiased evaluation of factors such as vision, capabilities/functionality, talent availability, market success/impact, and cost.
"Life & Annuity carriers are navigating a complex business environment which requires multi-disciplinary IT capabilities. Deloitte's positioning as a Leader with the highest market impact in the Life and Annuity IT services provider market by Everest Group reaffirms Deloitte's excellence in delivering tailored IT capabilities to address a carrier's unique business expectations," says Santosh Kutty, Life and Annuity/Group Technology leader, Deloitte Consulting LLP. "We're proud of our L&A IT capabilities and curated technology ecosystem which enable our client's business transformation goals, and we are grateful for this acknowledgement."
As a Leader, Deloitte is part of a leading class cohort providing L&A insurance IT services as the industry grapples with "aging legacy systems, changes in regulatory compliance, and evolving market dynamics," according to Everest Group. Deloitte's well-rounded portfolio of work is focused on delivering custom and third-party platform-based solutions that guide clients to excel in areas like pension risk transfer (PRT), retirement and pension omnichannel experience management, L&A distribution channel digitization, and life or group benefits modernization.
"We appreciate that Everest Group provides a specific Life & Annuity Insurance focus and Deloitte's highest Market Impact rating is also a credit to our clients and technology platform collaborators," says Doug Welch, Life Annuity Market lead, Deloitte Consulting LLP. "We plan to continue combining deep technology skills with the deep domain knowledge, differentiated talent model, significant investments in industry-specific solutions which has been proven to best assist our clients."
Everest Group's report also recognized Deloitte as the only Leader that ranked high overall in both market impact and vision capability, which accounts for influence over market adoption, portfolio mix, value delivered, vision and strategy, scope of services offered, innovation and investments, and delivery footprint.
The report evaluated 24 leading services providers, providing a comprehensive profile of service focus, key IP or solutions, domain investments, and case studies. The assessment itself is based on Everest Group's annual Request for Information (RFI) process for calendar year 2024, interactions with Life & Annuity Insurance IT service providers, client reference checks, and an ongoing analysis of the L&A Insurance IT services market.
About Deloitte
Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (DTTL), its global network of member firms, and their related entities (collectively, the "Deloitte organization"). DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") and each of its member firms and related entities are legally separate and independent entities, which cannot obligate or bind each other in respect of third parties. DTTL and each DTTL member firm and related entity is liable only for its own acts and omissions, and not those of each other. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more.
Deloitte provides industry-leading audit and assurance, tax and legal, consulting, financial advisory, and risk advisory services to nearly 90% of the Fortune Global 500 and thousands of private companies. Our people deliver measurable and lasting results that help reinforce public trust in capital markets, enable clients to transform and thrive, and lead the way toward a stronger economy, a more equitable society, and a sustainable world. Building on its 175-plus year history, Deloitte spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte's approximately 457,000 people worldwide make an impact that matters at www.deloitte.com.
For more about Deloitte Analyst Relations, please visit our Analyst Recognitions page.
SOURCE Deloitte Global
JACKSON, Miss., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- EastGroup Properties, Inc. (NYSE: EGP) (the "Company", "we", "us" or "EastGroup") announced today its recent business activity.
Commenting on the Company's activity, Marshall Loeb, CEO, stated, "We continue to be pleased by the resiliency of the Sunbelt, shallow bay industrial market. Our year to date results remain in line to slightly ahead of our forecast. Looking ahead, we are excited to see the market opportunities that will be created given the rapid decline in the industrial construction pipeline along with slowly improving tenant demand. To take advantage of the potential opportunities, we continue to improve the strength and flexibility of our balance sheet."
In August, EastGroup acquired Hays Commerce Center 3 & 4, which contains two industrial buildings totaling 179,000 square feet in Austin, for approximately $36,000,000. This property, which was developed in 2022, is 100% leased to five tenants, increasing the Company's ownership in Austin to approximately 1,756,000 square feet.
As of September 4, 2024, EastGroup's portfolio was 97.0% leased and 96.8% occupied. During the third quarter of 2024 to date, 1,355,000 square feet of new and renewal leases were signed with rental rate increases averaging 51.2% on a straight-line basis and 35.8% on a cash basis.
During the third quarter of 2024 to date, EastGroup began construction of two development projects located in Houston and Austin which will contain approximately 310,000 square feet and have projected total costs of approximately $40,000,000.
Also, during the third quarter of 2024 to date, the Company executed five leases on development properties totaling approximately 250,000 square feet.
During the third quarter of 2024 to date, EastGroup sold 162,100 shares of common stock directly through its sales agents under its continuous common equity offering program at a weighted average price of $185.07 per share, providing aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $30,000,000.
In addition, during the third quarter of 2024 to date, EastGroup entered into forward equity sale agreements with respect to 502,958 shares of common stock with an initial weighted average forward price of $186.56 per share and approximate gross sales proceeds of $94,000,000, based on the initial forward price. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the sale of common shares by the forward purchasers at the time it entered into forward equity sale agreements. Also, during the third quarter of 2024 to date, the Company settled outstanding forward equity sale agreements that were previously entered into under its continuous common equity offering program by issuing 300,502 shares of common stock in exchange for net proceeds of approximately $49,000,000. As of September 4, 2024, EastGroup had 802,509 shares of common stock available for settlement prior to the expiration of the applicable settlement periods ranging from June 2025 to September 2025, for approximate net proceeds of $143,000,000, based on a weighted average forward price of $178.25 per share.
Management is scheduled to participate in two upcoming conferences:
The 16th Annual Evercore ISI Real Estate Conference on Friday, September 6, 2024
Bank of America Securities 2024 Global Real Estate Conference scheduled for Tuesday, September 10, 2024 through Wednesday, September 11, 2024
During the conferences, EastGroup executives may discuss the Company's transaction activity, leasing environment, market trends and conditions, financial matters and other business that may be affecting the Company. Presentation materials that may be referenced during the EastGroup presentations are available on the "Investor Relations" page of the Company's website.
About EastGroup Properties, Inc.
EastGroup, a member of the S&P Mid-Cap 400 and Russell 1000 Indexes, is a self-administered equity real estate investment trust focused on the development, acquisition and operation of industrial properties in major Sunbelt markets throughout the United States with an emphasis in the states of Florida, Texas, Arizona, California and North Carolina. The Company's goal is to maximize shareholder value by being a leading provider in its markets of functional, flexible and quality business distribution space for location sensitive customers (primarily in the 20,000 to 100,000 square foot range). The Company's strategy for growth is based on ownership of premier distribution facilities generally clustered near major transportation features in supply-constrained submarkets. EastGroup's portfolio, including development projects and value-add acquisitions in lease-up and under construction, currently includes approximately 60.3 million square feet. EastGroup Properties, Inc. press releases are available at www.eastgroup.net.
Forward-Looking Information
The statements and certain other information contained herein, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "seek," "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "targets," "intends," "should," "estimates," "could," "continue," "assume," "projects," "goals," "plans" and variations of such words and similar expressions or the negative of such words, constitute "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, and are subject to the safe harbors created thereby. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current views about its plans, intentions, expectations, strategies and prospects, which are based on the information currently available to the Company and on assumptions it has made. Although the Company believes that its plans, intentions, expectations, strategies and prospects as reflected in or suggested by those forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company can give no assurance that such plans, intentions, expectations, strategies or prospects will be attained or achieved. Furthermore, these forward-looking statements should be considered as subject to the many risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company's operations and business environment. Such risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These uncertainties include, but are not limited to: international, national, regional and local economic conditions; the competitive environment in which the Company operates; fluctuations of occupancy or rental rates; potential defaults (including bankruptcies or insolvency) on or non-renewal of leases by tenants, or our ability to lease space at current or anticipated rents, particularly in light of the impacts of inflation; disruption in supply and delivery chains; construction costs could increase as a result of inflation impacting the costs to develop properties; acquisition and development risks, including failure of such acquisitions and development projects to perform in accordance with projections or to materialize at all; potential changes in the law or governmental regulations and interpretations of those laws and regulations, including changes in real estate laws or real estate investment trust ("REIT") or corporate income tax laws, potential changes in zoning laws, or increases in real property tax rates, and any related increased cost of compliance; our ability to maintain our qualification as a REIT; natural disasters such as fires, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and earthquakes; pandemics, epidemics or other public health emergencies, such as the coronavirus pandemic; availability of financing and capital, increase in interest rates, and ability to raise equity capital on attractive terms; financing risks, including the risks that our cash flows from operations may be insufficient to meet required payments of principal and interest, and we may be unable to refinance our existing debt upon maturity or obtain new financing on attractive terms or at all; our ability to retain our credit agency ratings; our ability to comply with applicable financial covenants; credit risk in the event of non-performance by the counterparties to our interest rate swaps; how and when pending forward equity sales may settle; lack of or insufficient amounts of insurance; litigation, including costs associated with prosecuting or defending claims and any adverse outcomes; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; risks related to the failure, inadequacy or interruption of our data security systems and processes, including security breaches through cyber attacks; potentially catastrophic events such as acts of war, civil unrest and terrorism; and environmental liabilities, including costs, fines or penalties that may be incurred due to necessary remediation of contamination of properties presently owned or previously owned by us. All forward-looking statements should be read in light of the risks identified in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors within the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as such factors may be updated from time to time in the Company's periodic filings and current reports filed with the SEC. The Company assumes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
SOURCE EastGroup Properties
Acquisition expected to transform Energy Fuels into a world leading rare earth element, titanium and zirconium producer, while maintaining its position as a U.S.-leading uranium producer
DENVER, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR) ("Energy Fuels" or the "Company"), an industry leader in uranium and rare earth elements ("REE") production for the energy transition, is pleased to announce that it has achieved a major milestone toward its planned acquisition of Base Resources ("Base") with the approval of the acquisition by Base shareholders at a special meeting of shareholders held in Perth, Australia on September 5, 2024. Further, as previously announced by Base, all required regulatory approvals for the acquisition have been obtained.
Mark S. Chalmers, President and CEO of Energy Fuels stated:
"We are pleased that the Base shareholders voted overwhelmingly to approve Energy Fuels' combination with Base Resources. We believe that the combined company will clearly emerge as a world-leader in producing several of the critical minerals and materials needed for the clean energy transition. The Toliara, Bahia and Donald projects are expected to become large-scale, world-class, and low-cost heavy mineral sand projects in the coming years, producing titanium, zirconium and rare earth minerals. Energy Fuels is uniquely placed in the world to unlock the value of the rare earth minerals (monazite and xenotime) at our White Mesa Mill, and we have proven our ability to recover and produce advanced separated rare earth materials in the USA. I am also very pleased to see recent improvements in REE prices, with the price of NdPr recently increasing to $60.21 per kilogram.
We look forward to completing the next steps in our acquisition of Base Resources and closing the Transaction on October 2, 2024."
Base Shareholders Overwhelming Vote in Favor of Combination with Energy Fuels:
As previously announced on April 21, 2024, Energy Fuels entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the issued shares of Base in consideration of the issuance by the Company of 0.026 Energy Fuels Common Shares for every Base share held and the payment by Base of a special dividend of AUD $0.065 per Base share (the "Transaction"). The Transaction is to be effected by way of a scheme of arrangement under Australia's Corporations Act (the "Scheme").
At their September 5, 2024 meeting, the shareholders of Base overwhelmingly voted in favor of the Scheme, with 99.88% of the votes cast by Base shareholders in favor of the transaction, and 93.18% of the Base shareholders present and voting (in person or by proxy) in favor of the transaction. Both voting results significantly exceed the requirements for shareholder approval, being more than 75% of the votes cast and more than 50% of the shareholders present.
As a next step, Base will apply to the Federal Court of Australia (the "Court") for approval of the Scheme, which is scheduled to occur on September 12, 2024. If the Court approves the Scheme, a copy of the Court order will be lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission ("ASIC") and the Scheme will become effective, which is expected to occur on September 13, 2024. As a result, September 13, 2024 is expected to be Base's last day of trading on the Australian Stock Exchange ("ASX"). The Special Dividend (AUD$0.065 per share) is expected to be paid to Base shareholders on October 1, 2024, and Closing of the Transaction is expected to occur on October 2, 2024. The closing remains subject to this Court approval and other routine conditions.
All Required Regulatory Approvals have been Obtained:
On July 1, 2024, Base received notice from the Competition Authority of Kenya that it had approved the proposed combination pursuant to the Competition Act of Kenya. On August 21 2024, Base announced that Energy Fuels had received written confirmation from the Foreign Investment Review Board that the Australian government has no objections to the proposed combination, and on August 27, 2024, Base received confirmation from the Malagasy Competition Council that it does not object to the proposed combination of Energy Fuels and Base and that the Transaction may proceed. As a result, all the regulatory conditions precedent to the Scheme are considered satisfied, and there are no remaining regulatory approval conditions precedent to implementation of the Scheme and closing of the Transaction.
The acquisition of Base Resources and its 100%-owned Toliara Mineral Sand Project in Madagascar ("Toliara"), together with the Company's 100%-owned Bahia Mineral Sand Project in Brazil ("Bahia") and the Company's recently announced joint venture with Astron Corporation to develop the Donald Mineral Sand Project in Australia ("Donald"), is expected to transform Energy Fuels into a world-leader in REE's, titanium, and zirconium production, while maintaining it's position as a leading U.S. uranium mining producer. The Toliara, Bahia, and Donald projects are heavy mineral sand ("HMS") projects that, upon development, will primarily produce titanium and zirconium minerals, including ilmenite, rutile, and zircon. Subject to receipt of further permitting and development, these HMS projects are also expected to produce a valuable monazite sand byproduct, which is one of the best sources of the "magnet" REE's used in electric vehicles ("EVs"), plug-in hybrid vehicles, direct-drive wind energy, and other technologies. The Toliara Project is expected to be Energy Fuels' cornerstone source of monazite supply, providing a long-term and large-scale supply of monazite to the Company's White Mesa Mill in Utah (the "Mill") for processing into REE oxides and other advanced REE materials, along with the recovery of contained uranium. As the monazite is expected to be a very low-cost byproduct of Toliara's primary ilmenite and zircon production, the production of REE oxides at the Mill is expected to be low-cost and globally competitive. The Toliara Project is subject to negotiation of fiscal terms with the Madagascar government and the receipt of certain Madagascar government approvals and actions before a current suspension on activities at the Toliara Project will be lifted and development may occur.
Energy Fuels Successfully Commissions REE Separation Circuit; Turns Focus to Uranium Production for the Remainder of 2024:
During Q2- and Q3-2024, the Company successfully commissioned an REE separation circuit at its 100%-owned White Mesa Mill. This "Phase 1" circuit has the capacity to produce up to 1,000 metric tons ("tonnes") of separated NdPr per year. During commissioning, the Company recovered, dried, and packaged approximately 40 tonnes of high-purity, on-spec separated NdPr. The Company estimates that it recovered an additional 10 to 20 tonnes of separated NdPr, which remains in circuit and will be packaged at a later date. This 50 60 tonnes of NdPr production exceeds the Company's original guidance of 25 35 tonnes by over 40%.
The Company is currently in the process of shifting its production focus at the Mill from REE's to uranium. During 2024, the Company expects to produce 150,000 to 500,000 pounds of U 3 O 8 from stockpiled alternate feed materials and conventional ore. In addition, ore production and underground development at its Pinyon Plain and La Sal mines continues on schedule and on budget.
ABOUT ENERGY FUELS
Energy Fuels is a leading US-based critical minerals company. The Company, as a leading producer of uranium in the United States, mines uranium and produces natural uranium concentrates that are sold to major nuclear utilities for the production of carbon-free nuclear energy. Energy Fuels recently began production of advanced rare earth element ("REE") materials, including mixed REE carbonate in 2021, and commenced production of commercial quantities of separated REEs in 2024. Energy Fuels also produces vanadium from certain of its projects, as market conditions warrant, and is evaluating the recovery of radionuclides needed for emerging cancer treatments. Its corporate offices are in Lakewood, Colorado, near Denver, and substantially all its assets and employees are in the United States. Energy Fuels holds two of America's key uranium production centers: the White Mesa Mill in Utah and the Nichols Ranch in-situ recovery ("ISR") Project in Wyoming. The White Mesa Mill is the only conventional uranium mill operating in the US today, has a licensed capacity of over 8 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year, and has the ability to produce vanadium when market conditions warrant, as well as REE products, from various uranium-bearing ores. The Nichols Ranch ISR Project is on standby and has a licensed capacity of 2 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year. The Company recently acquired the Bahia Project in Brazil and entered into a joint venture agreement to develop the Donald Project in Australia, each of which is believed to have significant quantities of titanium (ilmenite and rutile), zirconium (zircon) and REE (monazite) minerals. In addition to the above production facilities, Energy Fuels also has one of the largest NI 43-101 compliant uranium resource portfolios in the US and several uranium and uranium/vanadium mining projects on standby and in various stages of permitting and development. The primary trading market for Energy Fuels' common shares is the NYSE American under the trading symbol "UUUU," and the Company's common shares are also listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "EFR." Energy Fuels' website is www.energyfuels.com .
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains certain "Forward Looking Information" and "Forward Looking Statements" within the meaning of applicable United States and Canadian securities legislation, which may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: any expectation that the Company will maintain its position as a leading U.S.-based critical minerals company or as a leading producer of uranium in the U.S.; any expectation with respect to timelines to production; any expectation as to rates or quantities of production; any expectation as to costs of production; any expectation that the Bahia Project, Donald Project and/or Toliara Project, if acquired, will be fully permitted and developed; any expectation that, upon development, the Bahia Project, Donald Project and/or Toliara Project will be low-cost sources of monazite feed for the Mill; any expectation that the acquisition of Base Resources will be completed or if completed, completed on the terms and time proposed; any expectation that any production at the Bahia Project, Donald Project and/or Toliara Project, if acquired, or Mill will be world or globally competitive; any expectation that Energy Fuels will be successful in agreeing on fiscal terms with the Government of Madagascar or in achieving sufficient fiscal and legal stability for the Toliara Project, if acquired; any expectation that the current suspension relating to the Toliara Project will be lifted in the near future or at all; any expectation that the additional permits for the recovery of Monazite at the Bahia, Donald and Toliara Projects will be acquired on a timely basis or at all; any expectation that the Toliara Project will become a world-class HMS project; and any expectation that the Company's evaluation of radioisotope recovery at the Mill will be successful. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans," "expects," "does not expect," "is expected," "is likely," "budgets," "scheduled," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "anticipates," "does not anticipate," or "believes," or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might" or "will be taken," "occur," "be achieved" or "have the potential to." All statements, other than statements of historical fact, herein are considered to 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 the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements express or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with: commodity prices and price fluctuations; engineering, construction, processing and mining difficulties, upsets and delays; permitting and licensing requirements and delays; changes to regulatory requirements; legal challenges; the availability of feed sources for the Mill; competition from other producers; public opinion; government and political actions; the failure of the Company to complete the acquisition of Base Resources; the failure of the Government of Madagascar to agree on fiscal terms for the Toliara Project or provide the approvals necessary to achieve sufficient fiscal and legal stability on acceptable terms and conditions or at all; the failure of the current suspension affecting the Toliara Project to be lifted on a timely basis or at all; the failure of the Company to obtain the required permits for the recovery of Monazite from the Bahia, Donald and/or Toliara Projects; the failure of the Company to provide or obtain the necessary financing required to develop the Bahia, Donald and/or Toliara Projects; available supplies of monazite; the ability of the Mill to produce REE carbonate, REE oxides or other REE products to meet commercial specifications on a commercial scale at acceptable costs or at all; market factors, including future demand for HMS and/or REEs; actual results may differ from all such estimates and projections; the ability of the Mill to recover radium or other radioisotopes at reasonable costs or at all; market prices and demand for medical isotopes; and the other factors described under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is available for review on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar , on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca , and on the Company's website at www.energyfuels.com . Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company 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. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information in this communication, except as otherwise required by law.
SOURCE Energy Fuels Inc.
Franchisor Achieves New Milestones, Issues Highest Number of Sales Achievement Awards
CARROLLTON, Texas, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FASTSIGNS International, Inc., the world's leading custom sign and visual solutions franchisor with more than 770 FASTSIGNS centers worldwide, hosted its 14th annual Outside Sales Summit August 22-24 in Schaumburg, Ill. The event achieved record attendance with over 600 participants, including franchisees, sales professionals, corporate staff and exhibitors.
FASTSIGNS Outside Sales Summit 2024
"Our 14th Outside Sales Summit in Schaumburg was an exhilarating experience for FASTSIGNS attendees. This year's event was the highest attended for the network, and I am proud to say we issued the most sales awards given to date for individual sales excellence," said FASTSIGNS President Andrea Hohermuth. "We also unveiled our new Value Selling System emphasizing the value we bring to our customers and the ongoing relationships we have with them."
With the theme "Lead With Value", the FASTSIGNS 2024 Outside Sales Summit celebrated the network's sales achievements between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, and added two new awards: The Diamond Award for Outside Sales Professionals who achieved over $2 million in sales, and The Rising Star Award, recognizing an outstanding Outside Sales Professional, promoted from within the center in 2022 or 2023, who achieved the highest total sales in their first full 12 months as an Outside Sales Professional.
At the awards event, 307 Outside Sales Professionals were recognized, including nine individuals who received the new Diamond Sales Award for achieving over $2 million in individual sales during the 12-month period, 46 Platinum Sales Award winners for sales between $1 million to $1.9 million, 64 Gold Sales Award winners for sales between $700,000 to $999,999, 63 Silver Sales Award winners for sales between $500,000 to $699,999 and 125 Bronze Sales Award winners for sales between $300,000 to $499,999.
Shelly Wells from FASTSIGNS of Tigard, Ore., was recognized as this year's recipient of the Catherine Monson Salesperson of the Year Award, marking the sixth year for this honor. With this award, FASTSIGNS recognizes one Outside Sales Professional who best represents the concept and the spirit of the brand, both in the business community and within the FASTSIGNS network.
Additional awards included The National Sales Achievement Award for the highest total sales, The CRM Ambassador Award for outstanding proficiency, dedication and innovative use of the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software. Ten center employees received the Circle of Excellence Award recognizing their daily commitment to the success and growth of their FASTSIGNS center. The Rookie of the Year Award was issued to an individual with the highest total sales in their first full 12 months of employment. An additional 63 individuals became Certified FASTSIGNS Sales Executives after completing an extensive certification program.
Featured speakers included FASTSIGNS President Andrea Hohermuth and Damon Dunn, a Dunkin' brand operator and the founder and CEO of Lagunita Franchise Operations. Jay Baer, bestselling author and sales growth catalyst, also spoke at the event. Speakers also covered a variety of topics, including AI, creating proactive inside sales cultures, managing personalities for sales growth and more, along with informative roundtable discussions.
FASTSIGNS franchisees and their employees, vendors and FASTSIGNS International, Inc. corporate staff participated in the FASTSIGNS Community Giveback "Breakfast with a Purpose" event to assemble 200 care packages for teachers and single-parent families in the Chicago area with the nonprofit Brightpoint. This giveback event was also made possible by the generous support of the FASTSIGNS Community Giveback sponsors, including Colex Finishing, Epson, Graphic Image Flooring, Grimco, iZone imaging, Kapco, Retreva, Specialty Tapes Manufacturing (STM), Plasticade and WS Display.
Some 90 vendors participated in this year's Outside Sales Summit, including Diamond sponsors Epson, Fellers, Grimco and Signs365 as well as Gold sponsor 3M and Silver sponsors 4Over and Avery Dennison. The Opening Night Networking Party was sponsored by Retreva.
"Leading With Value is not just our theme, but our commitment to our customers, our community and our network," said Hohermuth. "By focusing on delivering exceptional value, we ensure that our growth is sustainable and that our impact is meaningful. This summit has reinforced our dedication to these principles and has inspired us to continue pushing the boundaries of excellence."
About FASTSIGNS:
FASTSIGNS is the leader in the custom signs and visual solutions industry. With nearly 40 years of experience, FASTSIGNS helps customers bring their vision to life and achieve more than they ever thought possible. As the largest service-oriented business within the Propelled Brands family, FASTSIGNS spans over 770 independently owned and operated centers across the United States, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Canada, Chile, Grand Cayman, Malta, the Dominican Republic and Australia (where centers operate as SIGNWAVE).
FASTSIGNS is frequently recognized for franchisee satisfaction and with awards that include being ranked #1 in its category on Entrepreneur's highly competitive Franchise 500 List in 2024 for the eighth consecutive year, and being named a 2024 Best-in-Category Franchise by Franchise Business Review for the sixth consecutive year.
For more information or to learn about opportunities, visit fastsigns.com .
SOURCE FASTSIGNS International, Inc.
CINCINNATI, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Scripps Howard Fund will honor the best in American journalism during the 71st Scripps Howard Journalism Awards on Oct. 20. From excellence in breaking news and investigative reporting to visual storytelling and opinion writing, this year's finalists produced journalism that not only informed but transformed.
The Scripps Howard Journalism Awards, one of the nation's most prestigious journalism competitions, honor work from television stations and networks, radio and podcasts, visual media, online media outlets, independent producers, newspapers and print publications.
"The journalism produced by this year's finalists exposed wrongdoing, held the powerful accountable, shaped policies and helped correct historical records," said Meredith Delaney, president and CEO of the Scripps Howard Fund. "The 71st Scripps Howard Journalism Awards will shine a light on the responsibility these journalists have to tell their community's stories and serve as democracy's watchdog."
The Scripps Howard Journalism Awards judges a panel of veteran journalists and media leaders selected this year's finalists from 775 entries across 14 categories. The Fund will present $170,000 in prize money to the winning news organizations and journalists.
The winners will be announced during a special program airing at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 20, on Scripps News. The awards show, hosted by Christian Bryant, also will reveal the winner of the coveted Impact Award, which is chosen from the finalists of the other 14 categories. The award honors the journalism that produced the greatest impact.
The 71st Scripps Howard Journalism Awards finalists are:
View the gallery of finalists here.
Excellence in Audio Storytelling, honoring Jack R. Howard
Rococo Punch and iHeart Podcasts "The Turning: Room of Mirrors"
Serial Productions and The New York Times "The Retrievals"
The Boston Globe in association with HBO Documentary Films "Murder in Boston"
Excellence in Breaking News
The Associated Press "Deadly Maui Wildfires"fall
Lookout Santa Cruz "Santa Cruz County Storms"
Los Angeles Times "A Massacre in Monterey Park"
Excellence in Business/Financial Reporting
KFF Health News "Payback: Tracking the Opioid Settlement Cash"
ProPublica and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in collaboration with the Medill Investigative Lab "With Every Breath: Millions of Breathing Machines. One Dangerous Defect"
The New York Times "Alone and Exploited"
Excellence in Environmental Reporting, honoring Edward W. "Ted" Scripps II
San Francisco Chronicle "Firefighters are Being Poisoned by Wildfire Smoke. We're Doing Little to Protect Their Health"
The New York Times "Uncharted Waters"
The Washington Post "The Human Limit"
Distinguished Service to the First Amendment, honoring Edward Willis Scripps
Hearst Connecticut Media Group "Transparency Failures Sow Distrust in City Marred by Corruption"
Open Vallejo "'No Responsive Records': How Vallejo Hid Killings by Police"
The Kansas City Star and The Wichita Eagle "Marion Record Raid"
Excellence in Innovation, honoring Roy W. Howard
ProPublica "Roots of an Outbreak"
ProPublica and The Desert Sun "Thirsty Valley"
The Washington Post "3D Analyses of Violence in the West Bank"
Excellence in Local/Regional Investigative Reporting
City Bureau and Invisible Institute "Missing in Chicago"
Miami Herald "The Foreclosure Franchise"
The Cincinnati Enquirer, The Columbus Dispatch, Akron Beacon Journal, Canton Repository "Chaos in Ohio's Youth Lockups"
Excellence in Local Video Storytelling, honoring Jack R. Howard
KARE-TV Minneapolis "KARE 11 Investigates: Broken Promises"
KUSA-TV Denver and WTSP-TV "UNDETERMINED"
New York Amsterdam News "Be-Loved"
Excellence in Multimedia Journalism
The Associated Press "Adrift"
Reuters "The Bat Lands"
The Boston Globe "Nightmare in Mission Hill"
Excellence in Narrative Human-Interest Storytelling, honoring Ernie Pyle
NPR "Ukraine Kindergarten"
The Boston Globe "Nightmare in Mission Hill"
The Texas Tribune "She Was Told Her Twin Sons Wouldn't Survive. Texas Law Made Her Give Birth Anyway."
Excellence in National/International Investigative Reporting, the Ursula and Gilbert Farfel Prize
ProPublica "Friends of the Court"
Reuters "The Musk Industrial Complex"
The New York Times "Alone and Exploited"
Excellence in National/International Video Storytelling, honoring Jack R. Howard
FRONTLINE (PBS) "Clarence and Ginni Thomas: Politics, Power and the Supreme Court"
FRONTLINE (PBS) and The Associated Press "20 Days in Mariupol"
Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting "Victim/Suspect"
Excellence in Opinion Writing
Coda Story and Ukrainska Pravda "Fallout: Tracking the Global Impacts of Russia's War in Ukraine"
Los Angeles Times "Inside Out: Normalizing Incarceration to Increase Public Safety"
The Washington Post "Men are lost. Here's a map out of the wilderness"
Excellence in Visual Human-Interest Storytelling
El Paso Times "Dreams, despair & death A migrant's journey. A year of covering the Immigration crisis"
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution "The South Got Something To Say"
NBC News "On Assignment with Richard Engel: Ukraine's Secret Resistance"
The Scripps Howard Fund, in partnership with the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication also announced the winners and finalists for its two journalism education awards:
Teacher of the Year
Winner: Nicole Kraft, The Ohio State University
Finalist: Leon Alligood, Middle Tennessee State University
Administrator of the Year
Winner: Ann Brill, University of Kansas
Finalist: Laura Lindenfeld, Stony Brook University
These national awards recognize excellence in teaching and administration within journalism and communication programs. Both awards were presented at the 2024 AEJMC Conference in August.
Learn more about past Scripps Howard Journalism Award winners at SHJAwards.org.
Media contact: Molly Miossi, The E.W. Scripps Company, 513-977-3713, [email protected]
About the Scripps Howard Fund
The Scripps Howard Fund, a public charity established by The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP), is dedicated to creating informed and engaged communities through journalism education, childhood literacy and local causes. At the crossroads of the classroom and the newsroom, the Fund is a leader in supporting journalism through scholarships, internships, minority recruitment and development and First Amendment causes. The Scripps Howard Awards stand as one of the industry's top honors for outstanding journalism. The Fund's annual "If You Give a Child a Book " childhood literacy campaign has distributed thousands of new books to children in need across the nation. The Fund partners with Scripps brands to create awareness of local issues and support organizations that build thriving communities. The Scripps Howard Fund administers funding for the Scripps Howard Foundation, a private foundation established in 1962 to advance charitable causes important to The E.W. Scripps Company and the Scripps and Howard families.
SOURCE The E.W. Scripps Company
Leveraging the power of the cloud and AI to improve clinical outcomes
CENTER VALLEY, Pa., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Odin Medical Ltd., an Olympus Corporation company, has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for the first cloud-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology designed to assist gastroenterologists in detecting suspected colorectal polyps during colonoscopy procedures, the CADDIE computer-aided detection (CADe) device.
In the constantly evolving, fast-paced world of AI, this innovative cloud-based technology supports doctors to improve the detection of the early signs of colorectal cancer using AI software that can be remotely updated. The flexibility, speed-to-innovation, and potential cost-savings of a cloud-based system are designed to help endoscopists provide a high level of care to patients.
"Together with Olympus, we are proud to bring this groundbreaking technology to the U.S. The cloud gives us the ability to keep hospitals up-to-date with advances in AI and gives peace of mind to doctors that they can easily access current technology for their patients," said Peter Mountney, Ph.D., CEO of Odin Vision.
CADDIE device improves adenomas detected per colonoscopy
A prospective, multi-center randomized controlled trial successfully demonstrated the efficacy and safety of the CADDIE device, underscoring its potential to enhance detection capabilities and patient care without increasing procedural risks or duration. The trial was conducted across eight medical centers in Europe.
"The trial shows that use of the CADDIE device improved the adenomas detected per colonoscopy, which is linked to cancer prevention.i The potential for this system to support more endoscopists in helping more patients is truly exciting," said Professor Alessandro Repici, Chairman, Department of Gastroenterology at Humanitas University & Humanitas Research Hospital, Italy, and principal investigator of the trial.
The CADDIE device works by analyzing colonoscopy video in real-time and using visual markers to alert the endoscopist to the potential presence of polyps. The endoscopist is responsible for reviewing the CADDIE device's suspected polyp areas and confirming the presence or absence of a polyp based on their own medical judgment.
Olympus aims to reduce the societal burden of colorectal cancer
Supporting advancements in colorectal cancer screening and detection, Olympus aims to reduce the societal burden of lives lost to colorectal cancer, which is expected to claim more than 53,000 lives in the U.S. in 2024ii and is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women in the U.S.iii Of concern is the rising incidence of colorectal cancer in people under 50, with forecasting models predicting that colorectal cancer will be the leading cause of cancer deaths in people under 50 by 2030.iv Early detection has never been more important. More than 90% of patients survive five years or more when the cancer is found at an early stage.v
Improving the effectiveness of colonoscopy, considered the gold standard for colorectal screening,vi by strengthening clinical decision-making is one of the primary goals of the Olympus Intelligent Endoscopy Ecosystem, which will leverage the CADDIE device's cloud connectivity and AI capabilities.
"As a global leader in endoscopy, it is our vision to make AI a key component of our digital transformation," said Miquel Angel Garcia, Global Head of Endoscopy Solutions Ecosystem at Olympus Corporation. "Odin's success with this FDA clearance is an important step forward. A digitally transformed endoscopy ecosystem has the potential to support doctors and hospitals as they navigate global industry mega trends like cost pressures and staff shortages, in the context of an aging population. We are very excited about the huge opportunities for patients and healthcare systems that these advancements make possible."
The CADDIE device is not intended to replace a full patient evaluation, nor is it intended to be relied upon to make a primary interpretation of endoscopic procedures, medical diagnosis, or recommendations of treatment/course of action for patients. The CADDIE device is limited to use with standard white-light endoscopy imaging only.
About Olympus
At Olympus, we are committed to Our Purpose of making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling. As a global medical technology company, we partner with healthcare professionals to provide best-in-class solutions and services for early detection, diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment, aiming to improve patient outcomes by elevating the standard of care in targeted disease states. For more than 100 years, Olympus has pursued a goal of contributing to society by producing products designed with the purpose of delivering optimal outcomes for its customers around the world. For more information, visit olympus-global.com and follow our global X account: @Olympus_Corp.
About Odin Vision
Odin Vision, an Olympus company, is a pioneering Cloud AI endoscopy company. Our mission is to revolutionize endoscopy with the next generation of cloud AI-enabled applications. Odin Vision is a trading name of Odin Medical Ltd. For more information, visit odin-vision.com and follow our updates on the X account: @Odin_Vision.
i Schottinger JE, Jensen CD, Ghai NR, et al. Association of Physician Adenoma Detection Rates With Postcolonoscopy Colorectal Cancer. JAMA. 2022;327(21):21142122. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.6644
ii Key Statistics for Colorectal Cancer. Cancer.org. Revised Jan. 29, 2024. Accessed Aug. 2, 2024. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/colon-rectal-cancer/about/key-statistics.html.
iii Cancer Statistics. Cancer.gov. Updated May 9, 2024. Accessed Aug. 15, 2024. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/statistics.
iv Chun-Wei Pan C, Villaroman A, Cuartas MC, Gupta S. Rising trend of early-onset colorectal cancer in the US: Incidence and projections to 2030 [Abstract]. J. Clin. Oncol. 2024;42(16). doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2024.42.16_suppl.e15523
v Survival Rates for Colorectal Cancer. Cancer.org. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/colon-rectal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html. Revised Jan. 17, 2024.
vi Colorectal Cancer: What You Should Know About Screening. FDA.gov. Revised March 28, 2024. Accessed Aug. 2, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/colorectal-cancer-what-you-should-know-about-screening.
SOURCE Olympus Corporation
Multiple attorneys named to the Best Lawyers in America and Ones to Watch lists.
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dominguez Firm proudly announces that five of its distinguished attorneys have been included in the highly respected 2025 editions of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch lists. This achievement underscores the firm's commitment to legal excellence and the outstanding contributions of its legal team.
Best Lawyers - One's To Watch Dominguezfirm.com
Partner and Supervising Attorney Larry J. Litzky has been named to the 2025 Best Lawyers in America list in the category of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Larry's inclusion marks his second appearance on this prestigious list. He was previously honored in 2021. As a Partner and Supervising Attorney at The Dominguez Firm, he oversees the firm's complex serious accident cases, employing his extensive legal expertise and strategic decision-making to secure justice and significant compensation for injured clients.
In addition, four Dominguez Firm attorneys were included in the 2025 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch list. This list highlights promising legal talents who have demonstrated excellence in their respective practice areas with 5-9 years of private practice experience.
Partner Patricia Alabise was honored for her exemplary work in Personal Injury Law Plaintiffs. She earns her third consecutive placement on the Ones to Watch list. Patricia has consistently demonstrated her ability to navigate the complexities of personal injury cases, delivering outstanding results for her clients. Her leadership within the firm and the legal community sets a high standard for her peers.
Joining Patricia on the Ones to Watch list are, Attorneys Analicia Avila, Angella Farokhzad, and Pamela Rodriguez. Analicia, who has earned this accolade for the second consecutive year, continues to excel in representing clients in personal injury cases with tenacity and compassion. Angella and Pamela are also making their second appearance on this list. They have also established themselves as formidable litigators in personal injury law, bringing dedication and innovation to every case they handle.
Having multiple attorneys from The Dominguez Firm on these esteemed lists highlights the firm's exceptional legal team and commitment to the highest standards of practice. Founder and CEO, Attorney J.J. Dominguez, remarked, "We are extremely proud of Larry, Patricia, Analicia, Angella, and Pamela for this well-deserved honor. Their work on behalf of our clients and profession is a cornerstone of our firm's success."
This year's edition of Best Lawyers marked a significant milestone, with an unprecedented level of participation from the legal community. Over 250,000 attorneys contributed to the rigorous peer-review process, underscoring the value of peer recognition within the profession. These evaluations ensure the honored attorneys are truly among the best in their fields.
The Dominguez Firm is a powerhouse personal injury law firm that has been helping clients for over 30 years. For a free consultation, call (800) 818-1818. Available 24/7.
Media contact:
Rosalia Tredwell
[email protected]
(213)388-7788
SOURCE The Dominguez Firm, LLP
AS GROCERY PRICES SKYROCKET THE AMOUNT OF EXTRA MONEY FAMILIES NEED PER WEEK TO THRIVE REACHES ITS HIGHEST POINT IN OVER 20 YEARS
NEW YORK, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This September, Food Bank For New York City joins forces with major hunger-relief organizations across the country for Hunger Action Month, a time to raise awareness about and take action against food insecurity, which continues to impact hundreds of thousands of families right here in New York City.
Currently, even with two workers in the household, 1 in 3 NYC families are struggling to make ends meet with 50% of New York City families unable to afford the rising costs of food and rent. As families make sacrifices to keep food on the table and lights on overhead, they turn to organizations such as Food Bank, for the protein, fresh produce, and culturally relevant food items they need to thrive. Food Bank For New York City continues to see an increase in the number of visits families across New York City are having to make, which is why we need all New Yorkers to join Food Bank in the fight against hunger NOW.
"Times have never been tougher for the families we serve across New York City," said Leslie Gordon, Food Bank For New York City President & CEO. "Many of the moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, and uncles who come to our doors are working multiple jobs to make ends meet... and still struggling to put food on the table. That's why we need all our neighbors to join us in the fight against hunger now... not just for one family, but for all the families making unbelievable sacrifices to feed the people they love most."
Families help each other survive in New York City, whether it's a family of origin or a chosen family of neighbors and friends. At a time when more than 1.2 million New Yorkers are facing food insecurity, these families have never been more important. Join Food Bank For New York City this Hunger Action Month in celebrating these vital communities as we work to ensure that no parent or caregiver ever has to make the impossible choice between food, rent, utilities, or medical care as they fight to feed the people they love most.
To join our efforts this Hunger Action Month, supporters can:
Donate : Financial contributions directly support our mission to empower every New Yorker to achieve food security for good.
Financial contributions directly support our mission to empower New Yorker to achieve food security for good. Volunteer : Help prepare meals and distribute bags of shelf-stable pantry goods at our Community Kitchen & Food Pantry in Harlem.
Help prepare meals and distribute bags of shelf-stable pantry goods at our Community Kitchen & Food Pantry in Harlem. Advocate: Join our action team to advocate for policies that prioritize food security for all New Yorkers.
For more information, please visit www.foodbanknyc.org.
About Food Bank For New York City
Driven by our mission to empower every New Yorker to achieve food security for good, we harness the collective power of our network of food providers, partners, and volunteers to activate the right resources, supports, and expertise across the five boroughs. Our work with more than 800 soup kitchens, food pantries, and campus partners provides immediate and reliable access to food and nutrition education, while our economic empowerment programs give people the tools and know-how to improve their financial wellness. Community by community, we work together to make progress on a more hopeful, dignified, and equitable future for all. To learn more about our impact or get involved, visit foodbanknyc.org.
SOURCE Food Bank For New York City
Offer Results in a CAD$0.48 Per Share Distribution or 6.6% Yield (to Frontera's Share Price Prior the Offer's Announcement) Assuming Full and Pro-Rata Shareholder Participation
Over US$52 Million Returned to Stakeholders in 2024, Including Successful Completion of the Offer
Additional Dividends, Share Buybacks, Distributions, Bond Buybacks or Other Investor Initiatives May Be Considered in the Future
CALGARY, AB, Sept. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Frontera Energy Corporation (TSX: FEC) ("Frontera" or the "Company") announces that its board of directors (the "Board") has approved the commencement of a substantial issuer bid (the "Offer") pursuant to which the Company will offer to purchase from holders ("Shareholders") of common shares of the Company (the "Shares") up to 3,375,000 Shares for cancellation at a purchase price of CAD$12.00 per Share (the "Purchase Price"), for an aggregate purchase price not exceeding CAD$40,500,000 (equivalent to US$30,000,000).
The Offer is expected to commence on September 11, 2024, and remain open for acceptance until 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on October 17, 2024, unless extended, varied, or withdrawn by the Company (the "Expiration Date"). Pursuant to the Offer, tendering Shareholders will have the right to elect to tender a specified number of Shares.
The Company plans to fund the Share repurchases through available cash on hand. The Offer is denominated in Canadian dollars, and Shareholders will have the option to elect to receive payment in either Canadian or United States dollars.
Purpose of the Offer
As part of its efforts to maximize value for Shareholders, the Company has identified the Offer as an attractive and efficient means to return capital to Shareholders. Upon successful completion of the Offer, the Company will have returned over US$52 million of capital to its stakeholders this year, including US$11.7 million in declared dividends, US$7.7 million of share repurchases and US$3.5 million in buybacks of its 2028 unsecured notes.
On August 6, 2024, the last full trading day prior to the date of announcement of the Company's intention to make the Offer, the closing price of the Shares on the TSX was CAD$7.25 per Share.
Assuming full and pro-rata shareholder participation, the Offer represents a CAD$0.48 per Share distribution equivalent to a 6.6% yield on the Company's stock price prior to the announcement of the Offer during the Company's second quarter 2024 results. Including all dividends declared this year, the year-to-date distribution total to shareholders would be CAD$0.67 per Share (equivalent to a 9.2% yield). The Board shall continue to consider future investor initiatives in 2024 and beyond, including potential additional dividends, share buybacks, distributions, bond buybacks or other initiatives, based on the overall results of the businesses, cash flow generation and the Company's strategic goals.
Purchase Price
Frontera will pay the Purchase Price of CAD$12.00 per Share for each validly deposited Share taken up by the Company up to a maximum of 3,375,000 Shares, for an aggregate purchase price not exceeding CAD$40,500,000 (equivalent to US$30,000,000).
Each Shareholder who has properly deposited Shares and who has not withdrawn such Shares will receive the Purchase Price, payable in cash (subject to applicable withholding taxes, if any), for all Shares taken up by the Company upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer.
If more than 3,375,000 Shares are tendered for purchase, the Company will purchase the Shares on a pro rata basis after giving effect to "odd lot" tenders (Shares tendered by Shareholders beneficially owning fewer than 100 Shares), which will not be subject to proration. In that case, Shares that are tendered but not purchased, will be returned to Shareholders.
Manner of Tender
Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, Shareholders wishing to tender to the Offer may do so by making an election to tender a specified number of Shares (representing, in the Shareholders' discretion, all or a portion of the Shareholders' Shares) at the Purchase Price.
Additional Information
As of September 3, 2024, the Company had 84,188,756 issued and outstanding Shares. The Offer will be for up to approximately 4.0% of the total number of issued and outstanding Shares on a non-diluted basis.
The Offer is optional for all Shareholders, who are free to choose whether to participate, and if they participate how many Shares to tender. Any Shareholders who do not deposit their Shares (or whose Shares are not purchased under the Offer) will realize a proportionate increase in their equity interest in the Company, to the extent that Shares are purchased under the Offer.
In connection with the Offer, Frontera has suspended Share repurchases under its normal course issuer bid ("NCIB") effective September 4, 2024, and therefore the Company shall not repurchase any of its Shares under its NCIB during the term of the Offer.
The terms and conditions of the Offer, including instructions for tendering Shares, will be included in the formal offer to purchase and issuer bid circular, letter of transmittal, notice of guaranteed delivery and other related documents (the "Offer Documents"). On or about September 11, 2024, the Offer Documents will be mailed to Shareholders, filed with applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities, and made available without charge on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
The Offer is not conditional upon any minimum number of Shares being tendered. However, the Offer will be subject to other conditions described in the Offer Documents. Frontera reserves the right, subject to applicable laws, to withdraw, extend or amend the Offer, if certain events occur at any time prior to the payment for the tendered Shares.
The Catalyst Capital Group Inc. ("Catalyst") and Gramercy Funds Management LLC ("Gramercy" and, collectively with Catalyst, the "Principal Shareholders") are the beneficial owners of, or exercise control or direction over, 34,775,609 and 11,300,032 Shares, respectively, which in the aggregate represent approximately 54.73% of all issued and outstanding Shares. Each of Catalyst and Gramercy has advised the Company that their current intention is to deposit Shares pursuant to the Offer, however, their decision to participate in the Offer is subject to market conditions and other factors. Each of Catalyst and Gramercy reserves the right without notice and for any or no reason, to change its investment decision at any time prior to the Expiration Date. In addition, officers of the Company have expressed an intention to tender 247,569 Shares to the Offer.
The Company has engaged Computershare Investor Services Inc. to act as depositary for the Offer and BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. to act as financial advisor and dealer manager. Shareholders who have questions regarding the Offer or require any assistance tendering Shares may contact Computershare Investor Services Inc. by telephone at 1-800-564-6253 (North America) or 514-982-7555 (International), or by e-mail at [email protected], or BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. by email at [email protected].
The Offer referred to in this news release has not yet commenced. This news release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell Shares. The solicitation and the offer to buy Shares will only be made pursuant to the Offer Documents to be filed with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities. The Offer will not be made to, nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of, holders of Shares in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance of offers to sell Shares would not be in compliance with the laws of that jurisdiction. None of Frontera, its Board or the depositary makes any recommendation to Shareholders as to whether to tender or refrain from tendering any or all of their Shares pursuant to the Offer. Shareholders are strongly urged to read the Offer Documents carefully and to consult with their financial, tax and legal advisors prior to making any decision with respect to the Offer.
Estimated Paid-Up Capital Determination
The Company also announces that it has re-determined the estimated "paid-up capital" for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) of its Shares to be CAD$14.98 per Share as of the date hereof.
The Company entered into Minutes of Settlement dated July 12, 2024, with the Minister of National Revenue (Canada) to resolve a dispute in connection with the Company's 2016 restructuring process and relating to, among other things, the fair market value of the Shares as at November 2, 2016, the computation of the net capital losses and the computation of non-capital losses of the Company in respect of its taxation year ending December 31, 2016 (the "Settlement").
The Company has assessed the impact of the Settlement on the computation of the historical paid-up capital in respect of the Shares. This assessment has resulted in a decrease in the net capital losses of the Company, as last reported in the 2023 Annual Consolidated Financial Statements, and an increase in the computed amount of the historical paid-up capital in respect of the Shares. This adjustment may impact the quantum of dividends deemed to have been received by certain shareholders of Frontera in respect of the repurchase of Shares pursuant to the Company's substantial issuer bid that was completed on August 11, 2022.
About Frontera
Frontera Energy Corporation is a Canadian public company involved in the exploration, development, production, transportation, storage and sale of oil and natural gas in South America, including related investments in both upstream and midstream facilities. The Company has a diversified portfolio of assets with interests in 22 exploration and production blocks in Colombia, Ecuador and Guyana, and pipeline and port facilities in Colombia. Frontera is committed to conducting business safely and in a socially, environmentally and ethically responsible manner.
If you would like to receive News Releases via e-mail as soon as they are published, please subscribe here: http://fronteraenergy.mediaroom.com/subscribe.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements as to the Company's current intentions regarding commencement of the Offer, the timing, terms and conditions of the Offer, the participation of the Principal Shareholders and certain officers, the number of Shares to be purchased and the amount of capital returned to Shareholders under the Offer and the consideration of future investor initiatives in 2024 and beyond. Any such forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to us and are based on assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends and current market and other conditions. Readers should also refer to the risk factors set forth in the Company's annual information form and management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023, each dated March 7, 2024, available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. There can be no assurance that the plans, intentions, or expectations upon which forward-looking statements are based will be realized. Actual results may differ, and the difference may be material and adverse to the Company and its Shareholders.
Social Media
Follow Frontera's social media channels at the following links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/fronteraenergy?lang=en
Facebook: https://es-la.facebook.com/FronteraEnergy/
LinkedIn: https://co.linkedin.com/company/frontera-energy-corp
SOURCE Frontera Energy Corporation
BEIJING, Sept. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, hosted a banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday evening, welcoming African and international guests attending the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and posed for a group photo with the guests. In his toast at the welcoming banquet, President Xi frequently mentioned the China-Africa community with a shared future, emphasizing that it is built on a strong foundation, has been blessed with a good start, and enjoys broad prospects. He noted that it sets a stellar example for building a community with a shared future for mankind. There is no doubt that this summit will be another historic event witnessing and developing the China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.
Over the past few days, heads of state, government leaders and representatives from over 50 FOCAC members, along with the chairperson of the African Union Commission, the secretary-general of the UN and several heads of international organizations, have gathered in Beijing. This has not only set a new record for the scale of diplomatic events that China has hosted in recent years and the number of attending leaders, but it has also become a significant milestone in the history of China-Africa relations and interactions among "Global South" countries. Meanwhile, enthusiasm for the 2024 Beijing Summit of FOCAC continues to rise on multiple levels. According to statistics, the summit has attracted over 3,000 registered journalists from China and abroad, setting a new record for FOCAC. An important supporting event, the Eighth Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs, is also expected to reach a scale of 1,000 participants this year. Enthusiastic registration far exceeded expectations, with 408 representatives from 48 African countries signing up to participate.
Matching the rising momentum, the content of China-Africa cooperation is also continuously being updated and elevated. This summit is expected to achieve three "new" outcomes: embarking on a new journey toward building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, gathering new momentum for deepening cooperation across various sectors between China and Africa, and writing a new chapter in the friendship between the people of China and Africa. China-Africa cooperation, while is being strengthened in traditional industries such as agriculture, infrastructure, and manufacturing, is also expanding to include more emerging sectors and new elements like green development, healthcare, finance, and digital innovation.
For example, at the Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs, corporate representatives will mainly discuss about and share experiences on the two topics of "promoting the integration of industrial and supply chains" and "driving the development of emerging industries." Cooperation in the field of new energy vehicles has also become a highlight of the summit. The strong complementarity between China and Africa, along with China's massive production capacity and Africa's high expectations for cooperation with China, provides powerful support for the joint pursuit of modernization between China and Africa.
The deepening of China-Africa cooperation and the enduring spirit of China-Africa friendship are rooted in the shared destiny that has been evident at every stage of the development of China-Africa relations. Following the establishment of the People's Republic of China, China's first-generation leaders, together with the older generation of African politicians, pioneered a new era of China-Africa relations. Since the 21st century, especially in the new era, China and Africa have continuously strengthened their comprehensive, multi-dimensional cooperation across various fields, including trade, agriculture, education, science and technology, and healthcare, yielding fruitful results. In 2023, China-Africa trade reached $282.1 billion, with China maintaining its position as Africa's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years.
"We have been fighting shoulder to shoulder imperialism, colonialism, and hegemonism, and advancing hand in hand along the path of development, revitalization, and modernization." This is the most direct, accurate and vivid summary of China-Africa relations.
In recent years, driven by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation, Africa's industrialization and various infrastructure capabilities have seen significant improvements. The previous sessions of the FOCAC have consistently emphasized "industrial integration" and "industrialization" in their action plans. To date, 52 African countries and the African Union Commission have signed BRI Cooperation Documents with China. China will also sign new cooperation plans with some African countries to promote the continued deepening of the China-Africa cooperation in building the "Belt and Road." In recent years, China and Africa have collaborated to build and upgrade nearly 100,000 kilometers of roads, over 10,000 kilometers of railways, nearly a thousand bridges, and close to a hundred ports. This has greatly improved Africa's transportation network, significantly enhancing logistics efficiency and market access, and playing a significant role in promoting the economic development of African countries.
In fact, at a time when economic globalization is facing a severe "trust crisis," the collaboration between China and Africa to expand the economic development "cake" provides insights and direction for global economic development. China and Africa have also been actively practicing their commitment to the pursuit of universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization through concrete actions.
There is a proverb in Africa: "You can never tie a knot with one hand." Similarly, there is a Chinese proverb: "A single strand does not make a thread. nor can one hand clap." In the journey of development and revitalization, China and Africa have achieved fruitful results through mutually beneficial cooperation and exchanges. In the future, the 2.8 billion people of China and Africa will strengthen their unity and cooperation, which will surely inject new momentum into cooperation among the "Global South" and open up new horizons for building a community with a shared future for mankind.
SOURCE Global Times
SHANGHAI, Sept. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 28, 2024, Sanyou Biopharmaceuticals (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. announced the launch of 65 kinds of monkeypox antibodies, antigens and cell lines, which has won wide praise from the public.
Monkeypox human antibody, as the core product launched by Sanyou Bio has excellent affinity activity and complete data verification, which can be used not only for the development of therapeutics, but also for structure analysis and bispecific antibody research, as well as diagnostic reagents and scientific research.
Except for monkeypox human antibody, the product line Sanyou Bio launched this time features 65 items across three main categories: 26 natural epitope antigens, 28 high-affinity, high-specificity monoclonal antibodies and 11 overexpression cell lines. These products target multiple key sites on the surface of monkeypox virus, including A29L, M1R, H3L, E8L, A35R, B6R, and critical sites such as A28L, A30L, B21R, L1R and I1L, which are vital for viral infection and assembly. All monkeypox products are subject to rigorous data verification.
Developed using Sanyou Bio's proprietary "over-trillion innovative antibody discovery" platform, the monoclonal antibodies span multiple species, including fully human, nano, and mouse antibodies. These antibodies are essential for therapeutic drug development, with high-affinity nano antibodies being particularly valuable for structural analysis and bispecific research. Additionally, the entire range of antibodies, natural epitope antigens, and overexpression cell lines can be utilized in diagnostic reagents and scientific research.
Through activities such as free application of monkeypox virus full range of antigens and antibodies trial kits, Sanyou Bio has successfully helped global customers to facilitate research in different directions such as vaccines, drugs and diagnostic reagents, and accelerate the exploration of the unknown world of monkeypox virus.
Dr. Lang Guojun, CEO of Sanyou Biology, emphasized the great breakthrough in monkeypox antibodies, especially monkeypox human antibodies, Sanyou Bio aims to strengthen the development of vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostic tools and research initiatives, furthering its commitment to global public health.
About Sanyou Bio
Sanyou Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. is a world-leading high-tech biotechnology enterprise focusing on R&D and services of innovative biologic drugs. Sanyou has built the 4C business patterns that integrate "differentiated CRO, integrated CDO, innovative CPO and characteristic CRS", to accomplish the mission "to make the R&D easy for innovative biologics".
Sanyou has established an integrated innovative biologic drug R&D laboratory with advanced facilities, and has a professional team with the majority holding a Ph.D. or master degree. Sanyou has built three industry-leading innovative technology platforms featured by "super-trillion, integration, and intelligence" , which are comprised of more than 50 sub-platforms with the core innovative super-trillion phage display platform, and supported by platforms of material preparation, biologics discovery, molecule optimization, in vitro and in vivo efficacy, production cell line construction, upstream and downstream process development, preclinical R&D, industrialization development, etc.
Sanyou's business network has expanded to all parts of the world, including Asia, US and Europe, and established branches in Boston, Philadelphia, San Diego and London. Sanyou has established friendly business relationships with more than 1000 pharmaceutical companies, drug R&D institutions and diagnostics companies worldwide. Sanyou received National-level certification as a high-tech enterprise and a Specialized and Sophisticated enterprise, and passed the ISO9001 quality assurance certification and GB/T intellectual property management system certification.
SOURCE Sanyou Bio
This acquisition represents a pivotal milestone in Harbor Capital's Texas industrial strategy. It provides significant exposure to Texas's largest industrial market at the top of the Texas Triangle and reinforces the company's position as a prominent player in the industrial sector.
Constructed in two phases, the first in 2005 and the second in 2014, this classic metal industrial park offers an average building size of 30,346 square feet, clear heights of up to 24 feet, industrial outdoor storage space, grade-level and dock-high loading facilities, and over 700 parking spaces. With this acquisition, Harbor Capital now controls 15% of Denton's sub-75,000-square-foot industrial market.
Harbor Capital's investment strategy for this portfolio includes individual and bulk sales of leased and vacant properties over a 5-8-year hold period.
The location offers access to robust markets with a concentrated pool of skilled blue-collar workers, supporting over 150 employees solely within the park. The park is also situated near major manufacturers and distribution hubs such as Target, Peterbilt, Aldi, Winco Foods, Fastenal, and ESAB, all within easy access to I-35W.
Harbor Capital's investment thesis focuses on acquiring value-added, income-generating commercial real estate in Texas's Class A/B industrial space. This transaction underscores the firm's unwavering commitment to this investment strategy.
Harbor Capital is pleased to work with Michael Lohan and Luke Burns of Nineteen Blocks as equity placement partners, Chris McColpin with Newmark Capital Markets as the debt sourcer, and an entity managed by Argentic Investment Management LLC ("Argentic") as the lender. Harbor Capital appreciates Steven Pollan, Joseph Kassin, and Joseph Ash from KSR for adeptly sourcing this opportunity. It recognizes Don and Cole Frazier of Frazier Commercial Real Estate in Denton for skillfully facilitating this transaction. Frazier Commercial Real Estate will continue representing Harbor Capital and overseeing park leasing and individual building sales. Harbor Capital is also excited to partner with TIG Real Estate Services, which will lead the park's property management effort.
For media inquiries, contact Morgan Allen from Harbor Capital at [email protected] or (717) 209-0121.
For all leasing or purchase inquiries, please contact Frazier Commercial Real Estate at [email protected] , [email protected] , or (940) 566-0404.
About Harbor Capital
Harbor Capital is a real estate private equity firm with more than $250 in AUM that operates with a targeted focus on Texas industrial real estate. Based in Austin, Texas, the firm operates exclusively in its backyard markets of Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio. Harbor Capital seeks to acquire well-situated, quality industrial assets, demonstrating a clear path to profitability for its investors. For more information, visit www.harborcap.com .
About Argentic
Argentic is an investment manager of commercial real estate lending and investment vehicles focused on providing fixed-rate and floating-rate debt financing solutions to property owners throughout the United States. www.argentic.com .
SOURCE Harbor Capital
HHRD South California Office In-Kind Gifts reached to the Gaza Strip 2024
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On International Charity Day, Helping Hand for Relief and Development (HHRD) pays tribute to the enduring legacy of Mother Teresa through its In-Kind Gifts program. This initiative underscores the organization's commitment to providing tangible support to orphans, refugees, and internally displaced persons IDPs around the globe.
HHRD South California Office In -Kind Gifts reached to the Gaza Strip 2024
Unlike traditional monetary donations, The In-Kind Gifts Program delivers essential goods and services to those in need. The program's efforts include distributing clothing, food, bedding, hygiene products, school supplies, and medical equipment. By addressing immediate needs, the program aims to alleviate the hardships faced by vulnerable populations in various crisis situations.
Since its inception, the In-Kind Gifts program has facilitated the shipment of thousands of containers worldwide. Notable interventions include support for the Palestinian Refugees, Syrian Refugees, African refugees, Rohingya Refugees, and the COVID-19 Pandemic and IDP's around the globe.
"Smiles Across Miles" is the slogan for the In-Kind Gifts program, which was developed by the In-Kind Gifts team. "We developed this initiative to support underprivileged communities around the world," said Sister Nadia Zeeshan, Director of the In-Kind Gifts program.
You can donate to the In-Kind Gifts Program by contacting any of HHRD'S 12 regional offices, in MI, AZ, South CA, North CA, NJ, GA, IL, MO, MA, MD, Dallas TX, and Houston TX. For additional information or to contact a regional office, visit the Contact Us page on HHRD's website.
Ranked among the top 3% of 9,000+ NGOs, HHRD has received a perfect 4-star rating from Charity Navigator over the past nine years. HHRD is a member of Inter-Action as well as an accredited charity by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating. With an overall score of 100%, HHRD has earned the trust of US donors.
HHRD is a global humanitarian organization responding to human suffering in emergency and disastrous situations all over the world regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, class, and religion. They also have partners ranging from small community support groups to national alliances along with their international networks. To donate please visit www.hhrd.org or call 1-888-808-4357 (HELP). HHRD is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organization. Tax ID# 31-1628040
CONTACT:
iLyas Choudry
HHRD USA
Development Director
313-279-5378
[email protected]
SOURCE Helping Hand for Relief and Development
SINGAPORE, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- HTX delivers an impressive Performance Report for August. In celebration of its upcoming 11th anniversary, HTX has rolled out a series of exciting events that have elevated the anniversary festivities to new heights. During this month, the highly anticipated HTX 11th Anniversary event series kicked off, generating excitement throughout the month and culminating in a Futures Trading Contest that showcased intense competition among veteran traders. All these highlight moments demonstrated HTX's industry-leading prowess and marked remarkable milestones of HTX over the past eleven years, while paving the way for an exciting new chapter.
HTX's 11th Anniversary Celebration Commenced with Thrilling Events
HTX launched its 11th Anniversary Celebration in August, featuring events that excited users. On August 7, HTX held the launch ceremony for its 11th-anniversary event series themed 'Turning Trials to Triumph', with attendance from Justin Sun, Global Advisor of HTX, and several renowned crypto influencers. At the ceremony, Justin Sun highlighted that HTX, as a crypto pioneer, will remain committed to delivering the best user experience.
On August 21, HTX unveiled the battle report for its 11th-anniversary Futures Trading Contest, with rewards totaling $200,000 in $HTX distributed. Additionally, the champion of the Individual Challenge won a free trip to TOKEN2049 and a grand reward of $30,000 in $HTX. HTX also offered multiple perks to both new and existing users, making sure everyone can benefit from the platform.
HTX Partners with SunPump to Lead the Meme Coin Charge
In August, HTX supported the listing of seven popular SunPump meme coins, including SUNDOG (Sundog), SUNCAT (Suncat), and IVFUN (Invest Zone).
Currently, the first governance collaboration between SunPump and HTX is now live, establishing a bridge between the TRON ecosystem and HTX users. This allows users to vote for meme token projects to get listed on the HTX exchange by locking their $SUN tokens. The collaboration not only streamlines the listing process but also enables seamless integration between CEX and DEX, injecting new life into market liquidity.
HTX Gains Major Ground in Russian Market, Traffic Share Surpasses 21.2%
In August, HTX saw its traffic share in Russia rise to 21.2%, demonstrating its strong market presence in the region. This milestone is a testament to the platform's success in delivering a superior user experience, driving innovation, and fostering local market engagement. Furthermore, it also reflects the high recognition of HTX's security, liquidity, and innovation among Russian users.
HTX has notably increased brand awareness and user loyalty by consistently enhancing the trading experience, introducing new financial products and services, and engaging with local communities. The convenience of local payment options has further improved the experience for Russian users. Besides, HTX's innovative features like Restaking and Trade to Earn have broadened investment opportunities and effectively boosted user retention and trading volume, strengthening its presence in the Russian market.
Exploring Investment Opportunities by Attending Major International Events
In August, HTX Ventures released two major research reports on the investment opportunities in the first half of 2024 , and the potential impacts of Ethereum's Pectra upgrade , providing forward-looking guidance for investors. Meanwhile, HTX Ventures announced strategic investments in Corn and Nexio, two innovative projects, to drive the advancement of blockchain technology. Through these initiatives, HTX Ventures continues to solidify its investment layout in the industry, highlighting its keen eye for emerging tech and market opportunities.
On August 13, HTX participated as a sponsor and partner in the Istanbul Blockchain Week (IBW) 2024. During the event, Serdar Serdengecti, Listing Director of HTX, delivered a speech at a roundtable discussion on the theme "Ushering in the New Wave of Trading". He emphasized the significance of user experience, innovation, security, and high-quality assets for the future development of cryptocurrency trading. He also demonstrated HTX's ongoing efforts in innovation and investment in these areas, further consolidating its leadership position in the global market.
On August 30, HTX DAO hosted a successful offline gathering in Chengdu. The event offered community members the chance to engage in face-to-face discussions, exploring trends in blockchain technology and potential collaborations.
Ensure Protection for User Assets by Strengthening Security and Compliance
HTX updated its Merkle tree-based proof of reserves data in August, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding the security and transparency of user assets. The latest details are as follows: 100% for USDT, 100% for BTC, 100% for ETH, 105% for $HTX, and 105% for TRX. The data includes a range of asset types, ensuring robust protection for user assets.
Compared to July, HTX has seen a continued increase in asset reserves in August. Specifically, BTC assets grew by 0.5%, while ETH assets rose by 3%. The growth reflects users' sustained confidence and enthusiasm for popular cryptocurrencies, as well as HTX's ongoing efforts to enhance user experience, bolster security, and introduce innovative offerings.
In addition, HTX continued to enhance its security measures by sending 309,212 security alerts to users, successfully combating and shutting down 6 phishing websites and fake app download sites, and intercepting transactions to scam addresses. The platform also addressed 4 incidents involving stolen assets from external sources and assisted users in freezing over $80,290 in stolen funds. HTX also blacklisted 2,739 new addresses and intercepted 34 deposits to the blacklisted addresses, totaling $75,827.
User safety is always HTX's top priority. The platform is committed to providing a safe trading environment through optimized security measures. In the future, HTX will continue to strengthen technological innovation and security measures to ensure the security of user assets.
Start a New Chapter This September
Adhering to its user-first philosophy, HTX is set to introduce a range of new events and product upgrades this September, offering users richer investment opportunities and more attractive rewards. HTX is eager to tackle challenges head-on and work alongside users to forge a promising future together.
Contact: [email protected]
SOURCE HTX
BEIJING, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is being held in Beijing from September 4 to 6. It takes place at a critical juncture when the world is grappling with various regional and global crises and there is a pressing need for countries from the Global South to join hands. How will this year's FOCAC elevate ties between China and Africa? What is the significance of building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future? The Global Times (GT) interviewed a number of former officials and pundits from various African countries to share their insights and stories.
In the fifth article of this series, GT reporter Su Yaxuan interviewed Busani Ngcaweni (Ngcaweni), director-general of the National School of Government in South Africa and research associate in world economics at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
GT: The theme of the 2024 Summit of the FOCAC is "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future." What's your perspective on this theme?
Ngcaweni: FOCAC is a significant platform for engagement between China and Africa. "Joining hands to advance modernization" indicates that this forum aims to focus on mutual development in a context of mutual respect, recognizing the need for cooperation.
"A shared future" reflects how China views its relationships with other parts of the world and how it engages with other countries and regions, emphasizing that establishing common goals is essential. In practice, it means that shared aspirations are combined with the sharing of resources. It also entails deepening collaborative efforts and treating others with respect and as equals.
GT: In what ways can China assist Africa in its energy transition?
Ngcaweni: There is an incredible opportunity for mutually beneficial cooperation between Africa and China on the green energy transition. Africa has many opportunities to do things differently and to utilize our natural endowments more effectively. The continent has many of the minerals needed for new green energy equipment. China increasingly recognizes that Africa, as an industrial hub for production, makes much more sense than merely serving as a source for raw material exports. This approach emphasizes mutual benefit and win-win strategies. Naturally, we must continually restate the importance of industrialization and manufacturing in Africa so that China continues to benefit from infrastructure investments. A much more aggressive approach to investments in industrialization would be the next step in demonstrating to the world that this relationship is about mutual development and it's not as one-sided as many would like to propose.
GT: You mentioned that "it is crucial to tell the real China-Africa story." Could you share some examples of such stories?
Ngcaweni: Let me give you an example about South Africa. In South Africa, we are one of the fastest-growing markets for Chinese vehicles.
In my interpretation, ordinary South Africans use their money, go to a bank, and obtain loans to buy cars made in China, such as those from Great Wall Motor or Haval. It means that people are embracing products from China, which are increasingly perceived as being of good quality.
This is not a government activity. These are individuals and households making their own spending choices. That's the real story of how South Africans connect with China on a personal level. This mutual appreciation highlights the people-to-people connections between the two countries.
To measure the relationship between the two countries, you must go deeper into it. Then you will find that South Africans want to study in China because they feel safe, see opportunities, and believe they will receive higher-quality education.
GT: What are your prospects for the future of China-Africa cooperation?
Ngcaweni: The opportunities for the future are great. If we sustain the current momentum, we will likely tell a very different story of development moving forward.
The prospects for China and Africa are very positive. China is focused on developing and navigating realities that are mutually beneficial. Our people welcome relationships where they can experience the tangible benefits of modernization and mutual development. This FOCAC summit has substantial and real value for China and Africa.
We need to communicate better and more effectively to convey the real story. It is the people who will defend the relationship between our countries for a long time to come.
SOURCE Global Times
"We are currently seeing price reductions across most aircraft categories," says Controller Manager Brant Washburn. "Aircraft are continuing to sell, but we're noticing sellers are repricing to accommodate the current market structure." The reports cover pre-owned jets, piston single airplanes, turboprop airplanes, and Robinson piston helicopters in Sandhills marketplaces.
Sandhills' aviation products include Controller, Controller EMEA, Executive Controller, Charter Hub, Aviation Trader, Aircraft Cost Calculator, and AircraftEvaluator. AircraftEvaluator is Sandhills' proprietary asset valuation tool for all types of aircraft, built using the same technology behind FleetEvaluator. Widely used and trusted across equipment, truck, and trailer industries, FleetEvaluator identifies asset values with unparalleled accuracy.
The key metric used in all of Sandhills' market reports is the Sandhills Equipment Value Index (EVI). Buyers and sellers can use the information in the Sandhills EVI to monitor equipment markets and maximize returns on acquisition, liquidation, and related business decisions. The Sandhills EVI data include equipment available in auction and retail markets, as well as model-year equipment actively in use.
Additional Market Report Takeaways
This report includes detailed analyses of asking value and inventory trends in used aircraft markets along with charts that help readers visualize the data. It describes and quantifies important trends in the buying and selling of used jet, piston single, turboprop, and Robinson piston helicopter aircraft.
Global Used Jets
Inventory levels of used jet aircraft worldwide decreased by 1.7% month over month in August but are trending upward. Inventory was up 7.85% year over year.
Sandhills observed a slight M/M change in asking values, down 0.05%, and a more significant YOY drop of 6.09%.
U.S. and Canada Used Piston Single Aircraft
In the U.S. and Canadian piston single aircraft markets, inventory levels inched downward 1.08% M/M in August and are trending sideways. Inventory was 11.09% lower than year-ago levels.
Asking values decreased by 0.45% M/M and 1.24% YOY and are trending downward.
U.S. and Canada Used Turboprop Aircraft
Inventory levels of U.S. and Canadian turboprop aircraft rose 1.52% M/M and 6.07% YOY in August, continuing several months of growth.
Asking values were up 1.97% M/M and 1.55% YOY and are trending sideways.
Global Used Robinson Piston Helicopters
Inventory levels are trending upward in the worldwide used piston helicopter market. Sandhills observed increases of 2.56% M/M and 5.26% YOY in August.
Meanwhile, asking prices fell by 8.06% M/M and remain lower than last year, down 1.03% YOY, but are trending upward.
Obtain the Full Report
For more information or to receive detailed analysis from Sandhills Global, contact us at [email protected].
About Sandhills Global
Sandhills Global is an information processing company headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. Our products and services gather, process, and distribute information through trade publications, websites, and online services that connect buyers and sellers across the aviation, construction, agriculture, and commercial trucking industries. Our integrated, industry-specific approach to hosted technologies and services offers solutions that help businesses large and small operate efficiently and grow securely, cost-effectively, and successfully. Sandhills Globalwe are the cloud.
About the Sandhills Equipment Value Index
The Sandhills Equipment Value Index (EVI) is a principal gauge of the estimated market values of used assetsboth currently and over timeacross the construction, agricultural, commercial trucking, and aviation industries represented by Sandhills Global marketplaces, including Controller.com, AuctionTime.com, TractorHouse.com, MachineryTrader.com, TruckPaper.com, and other industry-specific equipment platforms. Powered by FleetEvaluator and AircraftEvaluator, Sandhills' proprietary asset valuation tools, Sandhills EVI provides useful insights into the ever-changing supply-and-demand conditions for each industry.
Contact Sandhills
www.sandhills.com/contact-us
402-479-2181
SOURCE Sandhills Global
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SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kinetic Seas Incorporated (OTC: ECGR) is pleased to announce the signing of its initial customer, as well as 2nd Quarter revenue of $61,771 and 6-Month revenue of $72,325, with a gross margin of 24.9% and 25.0% respectively.
Revenue commencement comes at an already exciting time for the Company as we have recently announced:
Completing Offerings totaling $850,000 to fund Phase 1 of our business plan and working capital
to fund Phase 1 of our business plan and working capital Finishing Phase 1 of constructing a new Data Center with NVIDIA GPUs
Launching a new HIPAA compliant AI Toolkit for the Healthcare Industry.
Establishing a partnership with Oasis AI Learning (Oasis) to expand educational outreach and development program.
Partnering with Reed Medical Group and Concierge Medical Management to integrate data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence into concierge medicine.
CEO Edward Honour spoke on the developments saying, "under our leadership the Company has raised the capital necessary to complete Phase 1 of Our AI Data Center proving high-speed GPU and CPU resources to Our clients. The Company has also introduced a HIPPA-compliant AI toolkit designed to help medical professionals with management, administrative, and clinical processes and most recently we partnered with Oasis AI Learning to provide training for the next generation of AI professionals. These developments serve as essential steps in Kinetic Seas' commitment to growth, innovation, and education in the AI sector. The Company also continues to develop new services while working to provide innovative solutions to businesses' AI needs."
Complete Company News Releases can be found at https://www.kineticseas.com/pr-news
About Kinetic Seas Incorporated:
Kinetic Seas, previously Bellatora Inc, appointed Edward Honour as Chairman and CEO to lead the new company on December 14, 2023. Kinetic Seas is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) consulting, research and development, infrastructure, and software company with a primary focus on GPU Cloud Hosting, consulting, and education. Kinetic Seas' primary focus is helping clients navigate the rapidly changing environment of AI. Under the new leadership team, the Company will work to provide practical solutions on how to implement the modern technology into existing businesses successfully.
For more information about the Company, visit https://kineticseas.com .
Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." The statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. Actual future performance outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the company's control, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on April 10, 2024, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 14, 2024, and any other SEC filings, as amended or updated from time to time. Copies of the Company's filings with the SEC are available on the Kinetic Seas website at https://www.kineticseas.com/sec-filings and the SEC's website.at www.SEC.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.
SOURCE Kinetic Seas Incorporated
Local and lightning-fast garage door control with Control4 GDO blaQ will be on Display at CEDIA 2024, Booth 3252
DENVER and ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This week, Konnected will showcase GDO blaQ smart garage door opener accessory, compatible with Chamberlain, LiftMaster and Merlin brand Security+ and Security+2.0 garage openers, at CEDIA 2024 in Denver, CO. The interactive demo will highlight the product's new Control4* integration developed in partnership with Chowmain Software, with SmartThings, Home Assistant, and Alexa integrations enabling unrestricted garage door control and automation with 3rd-party smart home apps.
Konnected Introduces GDO blaQ at CEDIA 2024: Unlocking Local Integration and Control for Leading Garage Openers With 3rd-party Platforms That myQ Says You Can't Have
"We created the GDO blaQ in response to myQ's failure to support a diverse ecosystem of integrations for professional integrators and smart home consumers alike," says Nate Clark, CEO and Founder of Konnected. "The open-source software community figured out how to tap into the Security+ protocol, and we improved upon it to create a standards-compliant plug-and-play alternative to myQ that's 100% local, open source, providing unprecedented access beyond opening and closing the garage".
In 2023, Chamberlain Group, maker of myQ, officially closed access to most independently developed software integrations using its cloud service. This left many integrators scrambling to find viable solutions for garage door monitoring and control.
Alan Chow, Managing Director of Chowmain Software, a leading developer of home automation drivers and apps said "With Konnected's GDO blaQ there are no additional reed switches or cables neededeverything is conveniently located at the garage door opener, with built-in audio and visual pre-close warnings that adhere to UL325 standards. Konnected blaQ is the premier solution for integrating Chamberlain and LiftMaster garage door openers with Control4 including garage door openers with myQ, making it the top choice for professional integrators."
GDO blaQ directly communicates with the majority of residential garage openers on the market. Simply by connecting two wires to the garage opener motor or wall button. GDO blaQ instantly emulates a digital wall button, enabling it to know the state of the garage door and control it without additional sensors or hacks. It also enables control of the garage light and remote lock-out, and monitoring of the wall-button motion sensor and safety beam sensor.
Featuring built-in audible and visual pre-closing warning, the GDO blaQ is a professional solution that meets the safety standards specified by U.S. 16 CFR Part 1211 and UL 325 for unattended garage control accessories* without any additional effort by the integrator.
Use the GDO blaQ to keep your customers' garage safe and secure. Automate closing and alerts if the garage is left open, automatically lock-out the remote controls at night, and integrate the garage's motion sensor with smart home security. GDO blaQ is a purpose-built device designed and assembled in North America.
Konnected will be featuring the GDO blaQ and its suite of Smart Home solutions at CEDIA 2024, September 5-7, 2024 in Denver, CO. Stop by booth 3252 for more details or visit the website at https://konnected.io/
* The product has not been evaluated by UL.
Chamberlain, LiftMaster, Merlin, Security+, Security+ 2.0 and myQ are registered trademarks of Chamberlain Group.
About Konnected
Established in 2017, Konnected (konnected.io), is an Orlando-based startup and maker of open-source smart home technology boasting flagship products like the Alarm Panel Pro and Smart Garage Door Openers; compatible with over nine smart home platforms. The company is focused on releasing next-gen versions of its flagship products, cultivating new partnerships, expanding its global reach, and making home automation and security open, easy, and accessible to all.
MEDIA CONTACT
Ronjini Joshua
[email protected]
(949) 295-9779
SOURCE Konnected
Premier pre-settlement funding firm expanding personal injury and sexual harassment underwriting departments in response to the surge in violent encounters on Los Angeles Metro
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Legal-Bay Pre Settlement Funding reports an expansion of not one but two of their underwriting departmentspersonal injury and sexual harassmentin response to the alarming surge of lawsuit funding applications they have been receiving under these headings. In recent months, California's public transportation systems, particularly the Los Angeles Metro, have seen a disturbing increase in violent incidents. These acts of violence, ranging from physical and verbal assaults to sexual harassment, have raised significant concerns about the safety of both passengers and transportation workers alike.
A 53-year-old woman says she was harassed and physically attacked while on a Metro train in Long Beach this past May. While riding with a friend, she claims a random man shouted racist slurs at her. Two women also joined in, but their verbal attacks soon became physical, as a camera caught them throwing punches until witnesses interceded. She has filed a lawsuit seeking $2 million, citing Metro authorities' failure to keep passengers safe.
A homeless man hijacked a Los Angeles Metro bus and crashed into multiple cars before slamming into the Ritz Carlton last March. A week later, Metro's top security officer was fired and she promptly filed a $7 million wrongful termination lawsuit. Whether the case is found to have merit or not isn't necessarily the biggest issue at hand. One has to imagine hers is only the first of numerous lawsuits yet to be filed in this case.
The surge in violent crime has forced city officials and transit authorities to rethink security strategies. Efforts to curb these incidents include increasing the presence of law enforcement officers on buses and trains and deploying social workers to assist vulnerable individuals. Despite these measures, however, the violence persists, leaving both passengers and staff feeling unsafe.
Chris Janish, CEO of Legal Bay, had this to say, "The issue of violence on California's public transportation requires urgent attention from both the authorities and the community. Plaintiffs in public transportation injury cases can send a message to those in charge that comprehensive solutions are needed to ensure safe and viable travel for all residents. Legal Bay stands at the ready to assist these plaintiffs with non-recourse funding for those that need it."
If you're a plaintiff involved in an active public transportation lawsuit and need an immediate cash advance lawsuit loan against an impending settlement, please visit Legal-Bay here: Lawsuit Settlement Funding California
Legal-Bay offers cash settlement funding and lawsuit loans for all types of cases including personal injury, physical assault, slip and fall, construction accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful termination or imprisonment, police brutality, dog bites, and more.
Their loan for settlement funding programs are designed to provide immediate cash in advance of a plaintiff's anticipated monetary award. While it's common to refer to these legal funding requests as settlement loans, loans for settlements, law suit loans, loans for lawsuits, etc., the "lawsuit loan" funds are, in fact, non-recourse. That means there's no risk when it comes to loans in lawsuit settlements because there is no obligation to repay the money if the recipient loses their case. Therefore, terms like settlement loan, loans for lawsuit, loans on settlement, or lawsuit loan funds don't necessarily apply, as the "loan on lawsuit" isn't really a loan at all, but rather a stress-free cash advance.
Legal-Bay is known to many as the best lawsuit funding provider in the industry for their helpful and knowledgeable staff, and one of the best lawsuit loan companies overall for their low rates and quick turnaround, sometimes within 24-48 hours once all documents have been received.
To apply right now for a loan settlement program, please visit the company's website here: Lawsuit Settlement Funding California or call toll-free at: 877.571.0405 where agents are standing by to answer any questions.
SOURCE Legal-Bay, LLC
MIAMI, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Amplify is pleased to announce a significant addition to our team of digital legal marketing experts. Scott Santese , a nationally-renowned senior business development officer, joins the team, bringing over 25 years of experience in law firm marketing. Scott is set to provide invaluable knowledge and strategic insight to Amplify's clients as VP of Sales.
Amplify brings on Scott Santese, nationally-renowned senior business development officer. Post this Scott Santese, Business Development, Amplify
"I'm excited to join the Amplify team in their mission to deliver excellence in digital media marketing and strategy for law firm clients," said Santese. "My background in Mass Communications has helped me guide some of the best law firms in the nation in local, regional, and national marketing efforts through targeted Media Buying, award-winning Creative Services, Multi-Media campaign tracking, analysis, and implementation."
Throughout his career, Santese, a Texas Tech graduate, has consistently driven exceptional results for catastrophic injury and mass tort law firms. He has maximized their marketing investments in website and landing page development, SEO, SEM, PPC management, Social Media Marketing, and video content syndication.
Amplify CEO Matt Salvato remarks, "Welcoming Scott to the Amplify team sends a powerful message to the industry about our commitment to scaling and solidifying our position as the nation's premier boutique legal marketing agency. Scott's expertise and perspective will be instrumental in achieving our ambitious goals."
Amplify is not just a legal marketing agency; it promises a dynamic approach to shaping the narrative of law firms across the nation . Amplify is a catalyst for transforming how legal brands connect with their audience.
Amplify is deeply committed to the people our law firm clients serve and is always an engaged and empathetic partner on their journey to justice. We are equally committed to being fully present for the advocacy organizations - such as the Florida Justice Association , American Association for Justice, Pennsylvania Association for Justice and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association - that help lawyers make a difference in the lives of their clients.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Matthew Hughes
Chief Brand Ambassador
Amplify
[email protected]
www.amplifyforlawyers.com
(561) 717-6499
About Amplify:
Amplify is a revolutionary/evolutionary legal marketing and content agency based in Miami, New York/New Jersey, San Antonio and Montreal. Committed to reshaping the narrative of legal brands, Amplify focuses on strategic storytelling, brand building, and targeted reach to ensure clients connect with the right audience, in the right places, at the right time.
SOURCE Amplify for Lawyers
MIAMI, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lennar Corporation (NYSE: LEN and LEN.B), one of the nation's largest homebuilders, announced today that the Company will release earnings for the third quarter ended August 31, 2024 after the market closes on September 19, 2024. Additionally, the Company will hold a conference call on September 20, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
The call will be broadcast live on the Internet and can be accessed through Lennar's website at investors.lennar.com. If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the call will be archived at investors.lennar.com for 90 days.
Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation's leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar's Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title and closing services primarily for buyers of Lennar's homes and, through LMF Commercial, originates mortgage loans secured primarily by commercial real estate properties throughout the United States. Lennar's Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. LENX drives Lennar's technology, innovation and strategic investments. For more information about Lennar, please visit www.lennar.com.
Contact:
Ian Frazer
Investor Relations
Lennar Corporation
(305) 485-4129
SOURCE Lennar Corporation
Volkswagen is Biggest Mover, Rising Four Spots to #8; New Vehicle Inventory Stays Under 3 Million at 2.95 Million Units
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lexus moved into the top spot in Cloud Theory's Inventory Efficiency Index (IEI), moving past its sister company, Toyota, which had held the top spot for eight consecutive months. Lexus jumped 63 points to 246.2, while Toyota fell 14.9 points to 220.8. The findings were part of Cloud Theory's September report, "On the Horizon," a comprehensive review of inventory, pricing and vehicle movement in the auto industry.
Inventory Efficiency Index Scores
Lexus has been rising in the Inventory Efficiency Rankings for several months, and benefited from the beginning stages of its model year changeover, which is leading to 2024 sell-downs as 2025 vehicles begin to arrive on dealer lots.
"While Lexus' most recent performance on Inventory Efficiency may be boosted by its MYCO, that brand and its parent company have a long history of selling inventory efficiently," said Ron Boe, Chief Revenue Officer for Cloud Theory. "Whether it is Lexus-Toyota or Toyota-Lexus, there is no denying that Toyota Motor Corporation knows how to move metal in a highly proficient manner."
Lexus and Toyota topped the field by a wide margin. Third-place finisher Honda had an IEI score of 160.9. General Motors continued its overall strong IEI performance, as Chevrolet, Buick and GMC finished 7th, 9th and 10th, respectively. Volkswagen was the biggest mover, jumping four spots to 8th.
Cloud Theory's patent-pending Inventory Efficiency Index (IEI) provides a real-time view of market-relevant automotive supply and demand of all makes and models and across all geographies. Key decision-makers can use the IEI to confidently allocate valuable marketing and incentive dollars to models or geographies requiring a boost in demand, or to redistribute vehicles to locations that are moving inventory more efficiently. Cloud Theory's Inventory Efficiency Index assigns scores to vehicle makes and models based on current active inventory and sales data relative to competitors.
A score of 100 means that an OEM's demand is balanced with its relative supply in the marketplace.
A score above 100 indicates that a make or model is selling its inventory more efficiently than average.
A score below 100 means that there are opportunities to bring demand into better alignment with supply (or vice versa).
In other findings, vehicle inventory has jumped by nearly 50 percent year-over-year (1.96 million units in August 2023 to 2.95 million units in August 2024), but has plateaued at just under 3 million units after hitting 2.95 million units in August, 2.93 million units in July, and 2.94 million units in June.
Click here to download a copy of Cloud Theory's On The Horizon Report.
About Cloud Theory
Cloud Theory is more than a concept. It is the eye of the storm, where cutting-edge data, software, and artificial intelligence meet deep industry knowledge and experience. Built for automotive manufacturers, agencies, and affiliates, Cloud Theory enables our customers to understand in real time the complex competitive world in which they do business and to make bold decisions that drive them forward. The combination of billions of data points, interactive tools, and expert consulting gives our clients the ability to weather any storm and find their way to clear blue skies. Learn more at cloudtheory.ai. To learn more about our entire portfolio of automotive brands, visit www.advancelocalautomotive.com.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Mike DeVilling
[email protected]
Jenn Haun
[email protected]
SOURCE Cloud Theory
EL ALAMEIN, Egypt, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Egyptian Armed Forces announced today at the Egypt International Air Show that Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) will deliver two C-130J-30 Super Hercules tactical airlifters to the Egyptian Air Force (EAF) through a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) with the U.S. Air Force. Egypt is the 23rd nation to join the worldwide Super Hercules operating community.
Egypt is the 23rd nation to join the Super Hercules fleet with the acquisition of two C-130J-30 tactical airlifters. Post this Egypt is the 23rd nation to join the global C-130J Super Hercules fleet with the acquisition of two C-130J-30 tactical airlifters.
As the most advanced and proven tactical airlifter in the world, the C-130J-30 delivers enhanced capability, additional versatility and increased power to EAF crews. Egypt operates one of the world's largest C-130H fleets, which has a significant presence in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region, supporting military, peacekeeping, humanitarian and natural disaster response mission requirements. Egypt joins seven MENA operators that have chosen the C-130J as a preferred medium-sized tactical airlifter and tanker.
"Egypt is a distinguished C-130 operator, flying its Hercules fleet to support some of the most challenging mission requirements," said Rod McLean, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's Air Mobility & Maritime Missions line of business. "Welcoming Egypt to the C-130J Super Hercules global fleet is an honor that truly represents the longstanding partnership between our two nations and with Lockheed Martin. With these new C-130J-30s, the Egyptian Air Force's tactical airlift presence will deliver unmatched capabilities and aligned force amplification to serve Egypt, North Africa and the world."
Always evolving, continually innovating and ready for what's next, the Super Hercules leads the charge by setting standards and shaping the future of tactical airlift missions, offering many advantages found in no other medium-sized tactical airlifter in production or operation today. To date, Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 545 C-130Js and the Super Hercules global fleet has surpassed more than 3 million flight hours.
Super Hercules discriminators include proven operational readiness with the greatest ease of transition, increased reliability, superior tactical airlift and combat airdrop capabilities, certification by more than 20 airworthiness authorities, and enhanced survivability. The C-130J also delivers unmatched interoperability with NATO and partner nations, robust industrial partnerships and verified low life-cycle costs with significant fuel savings, resulting in a reduced carbon footprint compared to other medium-sized jet airlifters.
See how and why the C-130J continues to be the worldwide choice in tactical airlift through the newest episode of "Into the Cockpit" on Lockheed Martin's YouTube channel, which offers exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the Super Hercules.
For more information, visit www.lockheedmartin.com/c130.
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.
SOURCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
ROSEVILLE, Calif., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent news report in Roseville, CA highlighted a terrifying trend that two elder abuse attorneys are speaking out on.
According to recent reports, a 90-year-old woman died after she was assaulted at a Roseville care facility, and a 77-year-old suspect was being investigated. Mark Peacock and Paul Goyette currently represent the family of a 98-year-old woman who they allege was attacked and killed by a 76-year-old fellow resident of a senior care facility.
KCRA reported the woman died on September 3 because of her injuries suffered at a residential senior care facility.
"This keeps happening, and it's completely unacceptable," said Roseville nursing home abuse attorney Mark Peacock. "These care facilities providing anything but care, and instead are putting potentially dangerous residents in close proximity to completely vulnerable ones. It must stop, these precious loved ones are our most vulnerable family members."
The attorneys filed a similar lawsuit on behalf of a 98-year-old woman who the complaint claimed was killed by a fellow resident in Santa Clara, CA. The younger resident had a history of being violent at the care facility and had a history of prior 5150 holds (a mental illness designation that someone poses a danger to themselves or others.) According to the complaint, the 98-year-old began her residency in April of 2023, but by July there were already issues. She was transferred to the hospice wing due to a bed sore on her sacrum that wasn't healing properly. While she was in the hospice care wing, she was never prescribed end of life care, rather the goal was to facilitate her bed sore to heal.
But her path to healing was cut short when at approximately 6:00 pm on the night of December 13, 2023, Vera was brutally attacked by the younger resident causing severe injuries. She had excruciating bruises on her arms, hands, neck, face and mouth. She also suffered a chipped tooth and was bleeding from her mouth when she was finally discovered. The family was not immediately notified by the facility, and eventually the 98-year-old woman died of her injuries.
The case is Adam Plares Sr. v. Covenant Care California, Mission Skilled Nursing & Subacute Center, Covenant Care Mission, Suncrest Hospice San Jose, Santa Clara Superior Court, Case No. 24CV440133.
"Every time we read about this type of horrific treatment, we're sickened and saddened," added Roseville elder abuse attorney Paul Goyette. "These facilities aren't just dropping the ball, their negligence puts the lives of seniors at risk."
Anyone interested in learning more about their legal rights can reach out to the firms at:
Paul Goyette and Victoria Gutierrez of Goyette, Ruano + Thompson - 916 851 1900
of Goyette, Ruano + Thompson - 916 851 1900 Mark Peacock of Peacock & Bartlett A.P.C. - 949 660-7762
About Goyette, Ruano + Thompson
Goyette, Ruano + Thompson (GRT Law) has provided world-class legal services across the state of California. Our law firm has a proven track record of success representing 5,000+ clients on both the defendant and plaintiff sides of a wide range of issues.
About Peacock & Bartlett A.P.C.
We partner with our clients to pursue legal remedies and thorough representation for cases involving civil rights, personal injury, and other general civil matters. Our primary goal is to provide relief through experienced legal support that helps make the road to recovery for our clients easier.
SOURCE Peacock & Bartlett, a.p.c.
NEWARK, N.J., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Medscape Education, the leader in continuing medical education for healthcare professionals, is expanding its commitment to closing gaps in women's health through the creation of the Innovations in Women's Health Coalition (IWHC). The Coalition will focus its efforts on the key areas of women's health through the provision of holistic, patient-centered, and comprehensive healthcare across the phases of a woman's life. Founding members of the Coalition include women's health leaders from the American Medical Association (AMA), the March of Dimes (MoD), the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH), and the Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR).
Innovations in Women's Health Coalition logo
According to a report from McKinsey Health Institute,1 women live longer on average, although they spend 25 percent more time in poor health compared to men. "Despite significant progress made in medicine in recent years, there are still disparities in health care for women throughout the United States. Bringing together such esteemed, dedicated leaders in women's health will allow us to make an impact through education and centralizing resources that are sorely needed," said Haleh Kadkhoda, MS, Founding Member and Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Division of Public Health for Medscape Education. "This Coalition supports our common goals and dedication to women's health and brings together our combined capabilities to enact change."
"The creation of the Innovations in Women's Health Coalition marks a pivotal moment in advancing healthcare for women and individuals across the nation. By uniting leaders from diverse healthcare organizations such as the Society for Women's Health Research, the American Medical Association, and the March of Dimes, NPWH joins them in a commitment to addressing the critical gaps in women's health across an individual's lifespan. At NPWH, we believe that comprehensive, patient-centered care throughout a woman's life is essential. This Coalition will enhance education and resources and drive meaningful change in women's health outcomes. We are proud to be a part of this transformative initiative," said Heather L. Maurer, MA, CAE, Chief Executive Officer, NPWH.
The Coalition has launched a dedicated women's health learning center on the Medscape Education platform. The learning center offers free accredited education and resources for the entire healthcare team practicing across women's health specialties. Stay informed and empowered in providing quality care for women's health by accessing these valuable resources today.
1. McKinsey Health Institute. Closing the women's health gap: A $1 trillion opportunity to improve lives and economies. January 17, 2024. Accessed August 29, 2024. https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/closing-the-womens-health-gap-a-1-trillion-dollar-opportunity-to-improve-lives-and-economies
About Medscape Education
Medscape Education (medscape.org) is the leading destination for continuous professional development, consisting of more than 30 specialty-focused destinations offering thousands of free accredited CME and CE courses for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Medscape Education is a part of WebMD Health Corp., an Internet Brands company.
About WebMD Health Corp.
WebMD Health Corp., an Internet Brands company, is at the heart of the digital health revolution that is transforming the healthcare experience for consumers, patients, healthcare professionals, employers, health plans and health systems. Through public and private online portals, mobile platforms, and health-focused publications, WebMD delivers leading-edge content and digital services that enable and improve decision-making, support and motivate health actions, streamline and simplify the healthcare journey, and improve patient care.
The WebMD Health Network includes WebMD Health, Medscape, WebMD Ignite (encompassing Krames, The Wellness Network and Mercury Healthcare), Jobson Healthcare Information, MediQuality, Frontline, Vitals Consumer Services, Aptus Health, PulsePoint, The Wellness Network, SanovaWorks, MNG Health, MedicineNet, eMedicineHealth, RxList, OnHealth, Medscape Education, and other owned WebMD sites. WebMD, Medscape, CME Circle, Medpulse, eMedicine, MedicineNet, theheart.org, and RxList are among the trademarks of WebMD Health Corp. or its subsidiaries.
SOURCE Medscape Education
Immediate past Director of BARDA's Division of Research, Innovation and Ventures (DRIVe) and health innovation entrepreneur accepts first Board position with a stated mission to make vaccines and treatments more accessible
ATLANTA, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Micron Biomedical , a life science company developing the world's first dissolvable, needle-free microarray-based products that could replace injectable pharmaceuticals and vaccines, today announced the appointment of former BARDA DRIVe Director, Dr. Sandeep Patel, to its Board of Advisors. In this capacity, Dr. Patel will bring his expertise in public health innovation to advance the commercialization of Micron Biomedical's unique technology. Recently, the company announced a grant to fund mass manufacturing of the technology following positive phase 1/2 data.
Micron Biomedical can be a game-changer in bringing vaccines and therapies to more people," said Dr. Sandeep Patel. Post this Medtech Innovation Leader, Sandeep Patel, PhD, has been appointed to Micron Biomedical's advisory team, to accelerate commercialization of the worlds first dissolvable, needle-free microarray-based products that could replace injectable pharmaceuticals and vaccines.
"Dr. Patel is well-known globally both for championing efficient, impactful and disruptive innovations that transform lives and for his creative, energetic and smart approach to advancing technologies he believes can make a significant and positive impact," said Steven Damon, CEO of Micron Biomedical. "We're thrilled he has decided to join Micron Biomedical as an advisor. As we demonstrate the ability to deliver medications and vaccines in a significantly more convenient, affordable and accessible way, our focus is on continued growth of our product portfolio and Dr. Patel's expertise is critical to our approach to getting needle-free technology into the hands of more people."
Dr. Sandeep Patel was the first Director of BARDA's DRIVe, where he oversaw a diverse portfolio of high-risk, high-reward R&D programs to address existing and emerging health security threats. He also oversaw the development of the US government's first public-private venture capital partnership. Previously, Dr. Patel served in the Secretary's Office of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) where he led multiple initiatives to advance innovative policies and funding solutions to complex, long-standing health problems.
"Globally, we must prioritize the development and commercialization of technologies and business models that can reduce barriers and improve access to vaccines and therapies," said Dr. Sandeep Patel. "There are a few players emerging but I believe Micron Biomedical can be a game-changer in bringing vaccines and therapies to more people around the world."
Dr. Patel joins a Board of Advisors that includes global health pioneer, Dr. Seth Berkley, who was announced as Scientific Advisor to the CEO earlier this year.
About Dr. Sandeep Patel
In addition to his leadership role at BARDA, Dr. Patel co-founded and led a public-private partnership, KidneyX, that catalyzed the development of breakthrough therapies for kidney disease, including renal replacement technologies. He spearheaded the Advancing American Kidney Health Initiative, aimed at reforming the nation's organ transplant system, getting more patients off dialysis, and increasing focus to prevent kidney failure. He led HHS' program to use novel methods, including incentive prizes and crowdsourcing, to solve complex health problems across the family of HHS agencies. He is the recipient of the American Society of Nephrology's President's Medal, and a Secretary's Distinguished Service award. Prior to that he was a Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the National Academy of Sciences.
Dr. Patel holds a PhD in physical chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a BA in chemistry from Washington University in St. Louis.
About Micron Biomedical
Micron Biomedical is the leader in dissolvable microarray-based, drug and vaccine administration technology. Micron Biomedical is a clinical-stage life science company on a rapid path to commercializing its proprietary dissolvable, microarray technology. Micron's technology is designed to improve access and achieve better health outcomes globally through injection-free, painless, and simple and/or self-administration of drugs and vaccines, and by eliminating or reducing the need for cold chain transport and storage, enhancing safety and efficacy, and improving patient compliance. Micron partners with and/or receives funding from private and public pharmaceutical and biotech companies, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), PATH and the Georgia Research Alliance. For more information visit www.micronbiomedical.com
Media Inquiries:
Chrystal Loyer
Cuttlefish Communications
+1 917 280 2498
[email protected]
SOURCE Micron Biomedical, Inc.
Workplace violence, high RN turnover, and dangerous nurse staffing conditions plague hospital
MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The registered nurses working at Marlborough Hospital, and who are unionized with the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), will hold an informational picket in front of the hospital on Tuesday, Sept. 10. The purpose of the picket is to draw public attention to the serious ongoing problems inside of the Marlborough UMass facility, including workplace violence, high RN turnover, and dangerous nurse staffing conditions.
For more than ten months, the nurses have been negotiating with hospital management to secure contract language that will address the problems plaguing the hospital. Hospital management, however, has refused to make the necessary headway to improve staffing and safety at Marlborough.
What: An informational picket in support of the Marlborough Hospital RNs, their patients, and the community
When: September 10, 2 to 4 p.m.
Where: In front of Marlborough Hospital; 157 Union Street, Marlborough
Who: MNA RNs, their families, friends, neighbors; other local unions; and elected leaders
The informational picket follows 14 negotiation sessions between the MNA RNs and management, with little movement on management's part to address the nurses' key concerns:
Nurses are being injured on the job regularly due to violence, but hospital management wants to continue with its failed policies and refuses to explore new solutions.
RN turnover in all hospital units is above average because of the significant pay discrepancies between Marlborough and other local UMass hospitals. On average, senior Marlborough Hospital RNs earn $10 per hour less than their counterparts at other area hospitals, including all UMass-affiliated hospitals
and other local UMass hospitals. On average, senior Marlborough Hospital RNs earn per hour less than their counterparts at other area hospitals, including all UMass-affiliated hospitals Nurse staffing levels are unpredictable and dangerous, with as many short-term travel nurses working as permanent RNs.
And new grads, who the hospital invests significant time and resources in, repeatedly leave for jobs at other UMass facilities because the staffing levels and pay are better.
"Marlborough Hospital is essential to the health and welfare of this community," said Julie Lyver, RN and chairperson of the nurses' MNA bargaining unit at Marlborough. "But at this point with wages so low, nurse turnover so high, and in-hospital violence such a threat if management does not agree to appropriate remedies the health and safety of this very community, and all other communities the hospital serves, is in jeopardy."
MassNurses.org Facebook.com/MassNurses Twitter.com/MassNurses Instagram.com/MassNurses
Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its 25,000 members advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Legislature and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.
SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association
PHOENIX, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Moatable, Inc. (OTC: MTBLY) ("Moatable" or the "Company"), a leading US-based SaaS company, today announces that Lofty Inc., a subsidiary of the Company, entered into a definitive stock purchase agreement (the "Stock Purchase Agreement") with Jennifer Susan Gledhill (the "Seller"), the founder and 100% shareholder of The Letting Partnership Ltd ("TLP"), on August 30, 2024 to acquire the entire issued share capital of TLP. TLP is a company incorporated and registered in England and Wales that provides client accounting outsourcing for the lettings industry. Currently, TLP handles over 30 million of rent every month, allocating deposits, managing payments, and processing invoices to provide a complete accounting service.
Pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company will purchase from the Seller all of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of TLP for a total purchase price of 3.5 million (approximately US$4.6 million) in cash, subject to certain purchase price adjustments relating to TLP's surplus cash as of the date of the consummation of the transaction (the "Closing"). The Closing is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain customary closing conditions. The Company expects the Closing to take place by the end of 2024. Upon the Closing, TLP will be a majority-owned subsidiary of the Company, and the Seller will continue to engage with TLP as a consultant.
About Moatable Inc.
Moatable, Inc. (OTC Pink: MTBLY) operates two US-based SaaS businesses including Lofty and Trucker Path. Moatable's American depositary shares, each of which currently represents forty-five Class A ordinary shares, trade on OTC Pink open market under the symbol "MTBLY". For more news and information on Moatable, please visit Moatable.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Moatable's beliefs and expectations, including statements on making investments and operating businesses that generate long-term returns for investors, and expectations for future growth and innovation are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Moatable's goals and strategies; Moatable's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Moatable's expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its services; Moatable's plans to enhance user experience, infrastructure and service offerings. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in our recent annual and quarterly reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and other documents filed with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Moatable does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.
For more information, please contact:
Investor Relations Department
Moatable, Inc.
Email: [email protected]
SOURCE Moatable, Inc.
ANKENY, Iowa, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As Mom's Meals celebrates its 25th anniversary, increasing support to reduce food insecurity through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts became even more important as a way to give back to the communities it serves. In the second quarter of 2024, Mom's Meals donated more than 20,000 shelf stable-meals to 19 community-based organizations across the United States; $10,000 to Three Square Food Bank in Southern Nevada; and $5,000 to the Red Cross for disaster relief efforts.
"We are fortunate to have partners like Mom's Meals who share our passion for nourishing our community with healthy, wholesome food," said Beth Martino, president and CEO of Three Square Food Bank. "Their generous gift will allow us to provide an additional 30,000 meals for neighbors facing hunger in Southern Nevada. On behalf of the one in seven individuals we are privileged to serve, we are grateful for Mom's Meals and their commitment to ending hunger in our community."
These donations are in addition to the Mom's Meals announcement of providing 30,000 medically tailored meals this year through the Mom's Meals Hunger Challenge initiative. Meals go to people who are food insecure and not otherwise eligible for programs to help them get the nutrition they need.
"Food insecurity is an issue that directly aligns with our mission of improving life through better nutrition at home," said Chris Choi, Mom's Meals chief executive officer. "With 44 million food insecure individuals in the United States, reducing this number will take all of us public and private sectors working together. We are proud to do our part and will continue to look for additional ways we can make a difference."
Mom's Meals' corporate social responsibility efforts are focused on food insecurity by:
Ensuring equitable food access While Mom's Meals delivers millions of medically tailored meals to individuals nationwide every year, team members also work closely with health plans, health care providers, state and local governments and community-based organizations to ensure access is continually expanded to vulnerable Americans. Over the past four years, nearly 57,000 meals have been donated through our Hunger Challenge initiative.
While Mom's Meals delivers millions of medically tailored meals to individuals nationwide every year, team members also work closely with health plans, health care providers, state and local governments and community-based organizations to ensure access is continually expanded to vulnerable Americans. Over the past four years, nearly 57,000 meals have been donated through our Hunger Challenge initiative. Supporting our communities Mom's Meals supports other like-minded organizations who are working to reduce food insecurity. This includes the 19 organizations who received shelf-stable meals in April: Ampla Health (Calif.) Ascencia (Calif.) Bird Seed Collective (Colo.) Bridgeport Police Department (Pa.) Food for Others (Va.) Harvest Hope Food Bank (S.C.) Healthcare in Action (Calif.) Helping Hands Bentonville Arkansas (Ark.) Indigenous Pact Foundation (Wash.) Kings View PATH Program (Calif.) La Soupe ( Ohio ) Loudoun Hunger Relief (Va.) Pine Street Inn (Mass.) PneumaCare Health and Wellness (Calif.) Second Harvest Food Bank (Calif.) Shepherds House (Del.) Sigma Betz XI Inc (Calif.) The Breakfast Mission of Covington (Ky.) Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (Va.)
Mom's Meals supports other like-minded organizations who are working to reduce food insecurity. This includes the 19 organizations who received shelf-stable meals in April:
These shelf-stable meal donations bring the total number donated to over 58,000 since 2021.
Engaging employees Employees showcase Mom's Meals' core values in the communities where they live, work and play. In the second quarter of 2024, more than 20,000 meals were packed for Meals from the Heartland and $5,800 donated to help feed those in need.
To learn more about Mom's Meals, visit our website.
About Mom's Meals
Mom's Meals provides fully prepared, refrigerated, home-delivered meals through Medicaid or Medicare Advantage health plan benefits or for direct purchase. Mom's Meals delivers nationwide and offers many medically tailored options for different health conditions. Its long-term care, chronic care and post-discharge care programs allow clients to lead healthier lives while remaining independent at home. For more information, visit www.momsmeals.com
SOURCE Mom's Meals
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NetDiligence, a leading provider of cyber risk management solutions, is proud to announce the launch of its inaugural Career Pathways Program for Students and Young Insurance Professionals at the upcoming Cyber Risk Summit Philadelphia.
This special programming will take place on September 30, 2024, kicking off the three-day conference with a full day of sessions and networking opportunities designed specifically for the next generation of cyber insurance professionals.
NetDiligence
In response to growing demand from the cyber risk community for more training opportunities aimed at its newest members, NetDiligence has curated two distinct tracks within the Career Pathways Programone for students and one for young professionals. The goal is to equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and connections they need to thrive in the fast-paced world of cyber insurance.
This program was developed in collaboration with the Spencer Educational Foundation and is supported by sponsoring firms Berkely Cyber Risk Solutions, ESET, and TransUnion.
Career Pathways Program for Students
The student track is designed to bridge the gap between academia and industry. Participating students will gain insights into the cyber insurance field, engage in skills development sessions, and network with top employers actively seeking new talent. This program is ideal for students majoring in relevant fields who are eager to start their careers in cyber risk management.
Career Pathways Program for Young Insurance Professionals
Targeting individuals with one to four years of experience in the cyber insurance industry, this track offers targeted education on core security practices, incident response strategies, and the latest legal and regulatory developments. Attendees will also have the opportunity to connect with industry leaders and peers, expanding their professional networks in a meaningful way.
Free Access for Eligible Participants
NetDiligence is offering complimentary passes to this program for students enrolled in select majors and for young professionals with one to four years of experience in the insurance industry, working for either a carrier or brokerage.
This initiative underscores NetDiligence's commitment to fostering the next generation of cyber insurance leaders by providing them with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed.
Get Involved
Students and Young Professionals: To learn more about the agendas and secure your spot in the program, please visit: https://netdiligence.com/conferences/cyber-risk-summit-philadelphia-2024/special-program
Media Contact:
Heather Osborne
Director of Global Events & Programming
610.896.9715
[email protected]
SOURCE NetDiligence
As the landscape around laws, technology, and substances found in drugs is rapidly changing, Inova Health System urges the community to Act on Addiction
FAIRFAX, Va., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Inova kicked off its sixth year of the Act on Addiction campaign, aimed at bringing awareness of the local landscape around addiction and substance use disorder in Northern Virginia. Timed to National Addiction Awareness Month, the campaign stresses the importance for the community to work together to tackle this issue and act on addiction.
The campaign comes during a critical time when fatal overdoses have claimed more lives in Virginia than motor vehicle and gun violence deaths combined (Operation Free Virginia) and can be primarily attributed to fentanyl. In 2022, these substances resulted in the majority (nearly 80%) of drug overdose deaths in Fairfax County, according to the Virginia Department of Health. Since 2016, the percentage of opioid overdose fatalities involving fentanyl has increased each year to 95% as of 2023 (Fairfax County). Inova and Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE) are teaming up this year to tackle these unprecedented challenges our local community faces.
"The landscape surrounding addiction and substance use disorder will always be an area that evolves and changes over time," said Dr. Marquitta Duvernay, Senior Director CATS and Recovery Services, Inova Health System. "That's why campaigns like Act on Addiction and partnerships between organizations such as Inova and VOICE are key to reaching communities to educate, inform, and share available resources around the challenges our community members face every day."
Another growing concern is the changing perceptions around cannabis due to shifts in its legal status in Virginia and nearby jurisdictions. A recent Gallup study found that individuals are more likely to try cannabis because they think there are fewer potential consequences. According to the 2022 Virginia Young Adult Survey and Virginia Department of Health, nearly 45% of 18-20-year-olds in Virginia have used cannabis, many of them starting between ages 12 and 17. The knowledge gap around cannabis leaves many at risk, as substances containing THC that are purchased on the street may still contain harmful substances, including fentanyl, and even legally procured cannabis can have adverse impacts that lead to poor outcomes.
In addition to the direct impacts of substances on the community, Inova Behavioral Health leaders also report that technology and social media use have the potential to create negative indirect impacts. A recent study found teens who spent more than three hours a day on social media faced double the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes, including symptoms of depression and anxiety. In addition to the direct impact of devices on mental health, devices may also indirectly impact a young person's likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors.
Inova will host two virtual community education webinars in English and Spanish, open to the public, where local experts will discuss addiction and anti-stigma. On Tuesday, September 17th at 7 pm ET, join Dr. Marquitta DuVernay to discuss the topic of addiction and anti-stigma. Additional details on the event can be found here Webinar link: English & Enlace del seminario web: Espanol. On Thursday, September 19th at 7 pm ET, join Dr. Dan Avstreih, Associate Operational Medical Director, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, to discuss the topic of overdose: fatal and non-fatal. Additional details on the event can be found here Webinar link: English & Enlace del seminario web: Espanol.
VOICE hosts an in-person assembly focused on youth and family behavior, bringing together those directly impacted and over 1,000 individuals including youth, families, workers, faith leaders, foundations, healthcare, law enforcement, and educators, to aim at educating and addressing pressing issues in our community. VOICE will hold an assembly focused on addiction and substance use on Sunday, September 29th at 3:15 pm ET at Fairfax High School. Additional details on the event can be found here https://voice-va.org/2024-sponsorship/.
Whether for yourself, a loved one, a friend, or a neighbor, you have the power to Act on Addiction Now. For more information about Act on Addiction, visit www.ActOnAddictionNow.org .
About Inova
Inova is Northern Virginia's leading nonprofit healthcare provider. Our mission is to provide world-class healthcare every time, every touch to each person in every community we have the privilege to serve. Inova's 22,000 team members provide more than 2 million patient visits each year through an integrated network of hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, emergency and urgent care centers, outpatient services, and destination institutes.
Inova's five hospitals are consistently recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. News & World Report, and The Leapfrog Group for excellence in healthcare. Inova is home to Northern Virginia's only Level 1 Trauma Center and Level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Its hospitals have a total of 1,926 licensed beds. More information about Inova can be found at inova.org.
About the Act on Addiction Campaign
First launched in 2019, the Act on Addiction campaign was created as part of a $16 million gift from the Hitt family to the Inova Health Foundation to provide more resources for those dealing with addiction and to drive a community dialogue around the issue within the Northern Virginia area. This year, the campaign is focused on addressing the new challenges our community faces due to the dangerous rise of fentanyl, more relaxed attitudes about cannabis use, and the mental health impact of technology and social media. The campaign remains dedicated to continuing the community conversation about addiction.
"Our community must continue having conversations around the current state of addiction and substance use disorder as the risk continues to be present, specifically among our local youth," said Tracy Hitt Millar, daughter of Joan and Russell Hitt. "That's why we're proud to support the Act on Addiction campaign to help raise awareness and provide resources to our community."
Media Contacts:
Tracy Connell
Inova
703-289-2087
[email protected]
Michael Atkinson
BRG Communications
703-739-8350
[email protected]
SOURCE Inova
CINCINNATI, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Directions Group agri-food team, formerly known as Aimpoint Research, released The Future of Agriculture Checkoffs research report today highlighting the crucial and unique role checkoffs play in bolstering national security, enhancing social betterment, and promoting environmental sustainability.
"The strategic importance of checkoffs cannot be overstated. U.S. checkoff programs are distinctly American, and uniquely address the broad needs of all U.S. producers while safeguarding national security," said Mark Purdy, The Directions Group Executive Vice President of Agri-Food. "The research uncovered specific areas where checkoff organizations can focus to be prepared for future complexities in agriculture and the food system. This will allow them to continue their role in supporting the economic stability of the agricultural sector."
Over the past four decades, U.S. agriculture checkoff programs have been instrumental in driving domestic demand, expanding export markets, fostering innovation, and promoting sustainability. Recently, these programs have experienced a surge in political and legal scrutiny, prompting questions about their ongoing value.
Analysts leveraged multiple research methods to develop the report, including producer research, expert interviews, market intelligence, and a strategic wargame. Future state projections on geopolitics and the agri-food system, along with insights from the 'Farmer of the Future' report, are also incorporated. The research findings point to specific areas of checkoff impact and areas of opportunity to ensure checkoff organizations continue to serve a broad cross-section of U.S. producers.
Key findings include:
Checkoffs are foundational to national security with their U.S.-centric, producer-focused mission.
The commodity and research advancements driven by the checkoffs are essential to social betterment through nutrition-based human health.
Checkoffs are important for environmental sustainability through their ability to invest, pilot and scale innovation, bridging the gap from producer to consumer.
The research uncovered specific areas where checkoff organizations can evolve to optimally serve U.S. producers in the future, such as the need for agility, tiered innovation strategies and a segmented approach to producer programming.
"Considering the geopolitical environment and the importance that our competitors and adversaries place on agriculture, the United States must comprehensively promote commodities and support access to research and innovation for all farmers. To maintain and strengthen America's agricultural leadership, checkoffs must continue to fulfill these roles," said Purdy. "It's worth noting that checkoffs must continue to improve and evolve to position U.S. producers for future success, and the report provides a starting point for checkoff organizations to continue on that path."
An executive summary of the report is available for download at AimpointResearch.com.
About Aimpoint Research
Now known as The Directions Group, Aimpoint Research has worked extensively with agri-food clients for decades to provide a competitive advantage through a unique blend of military intelligence techniques and innovative research methodologies. Led by former military intelligence officers, agricultural experts, and research professionals, The Directions Group agri-food team is driven by the core belief that food security is essential to national security.
About The Directions Group
The Directions Group is a strategic insights firm helping businesses grow, innovate, and differentiate themselves in the marketplace through integrated intelligence. Their team of expert advisors partner with clients to design custom solutions that uncover the dynamic, human-centric insights that drive business outcomes and offers expertise across a range of industries, including restaurant, agriculture, health and wellness, technology, financial services, and consumer-packaged goods. The Directions Group is a privately held firm based in Cincinnati, Ohio conducting work globally.
SOURCE Aimpoint Research
NEW YORK, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The New South Institute (NSI), a leading South African think tank committed to strengthening democracy and fostering peace, announced the African Global Dialogues , a landmark event set to take place in Johannesburg from September 18-20, 2024. This three-day event will gather prominent global experts to explore sustainable solutions for the Israel/Palestine conflict, drawing on South Africa's own experiences in conflict resolution and reconciliation.
Learning from South Africa's History:
The African Global Dialogues is inspired by South Africa's journey from apartheid to democracy, a transition marked by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) process that sought to heal the nation through truth-telling, acknowledgment of past atrocities and a commitment to restorative justice. The African Global Dialogues event aims to apply similar principles of open dialogue, empathy and understanding to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, focusing on building a sustainable future for both communities.
"Just as South Africa faced deep divisions and overcame them through a commitment to dialogue and reconciliation, we believe that a nuanced, empathetic approach is crucial to address the complexities of the Israel/Palestine conflict," said Ivor Chipkin, Director of the New South Institute. "The African Global Dialogues seeks to create a platform where historical grievances are acknowledged and constructive paths forward are explored."
The African Global Dialogues will bring together a diverse group of speakers, including:
Ivor Chipkin ** - Director of the New South Institute
** - Director of the New South Institute Chile Eboe-Osuji** - Former President of the International Criminal Court
Salam Fayyad** - Former Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority
Marco Sassoli** - Professor of International Law
Fania Oz-Salzberger ** - Historian and Writer
These experts, among others, will engage in moderated discussions aimed at understanding the roots of the conflict, the impact of historical narratives and the potential for international law to serve as a framework for peace. The event is designed to move beyond binary narratives to foster a more inclusive and humane understanding of the underlying issues and how to move forward without conflict.
"We believe that political narratives matterabout history, identity, friends and enemies. Without speaking truth, active listening and an honest commitment to openness, change cannot happen," Chipkin continued. "Informed by the idea that understanding the past is essential to building a better future, we hope to create a safe environment that promotes positive engagement and mutual recognition."
Event Details and Registration
The African Global Dialogues will take place from September 18-20, 2024, in Johannesburg, South Africa, and will be broadcast online to ensure global participation. To register for the event and receive a virtual invitation, please visit https://africanglobaldialogue.org .
About New South Institute
The New South Institute is dedicated to the practical work of institution-building as a foundation for democracy. With a focus on regions recovering from the legacies of colonialism, military dictatorship, and authoritarian rule, NSI operates across Africa, South America, and Eastern Europe.
SOURCE New South Institute
Harris' VP pick has helped excite Gen-Z, while Trump's VP selection is hurting more than helping, the poll also shows.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Now that Vice President Kamala Harris has taken President Joe Biden's place in the presidential race, younger people in critical swing states are more likely to support the Democratic frontrunner, according to an exclusive U.S. News-Generation Lab poll.
The poll, conducted on the heels of the Democratic National Convention, is the second from U.S. News and Generation Lab that examines attitudes and opinions of the nation's youngest voting bloc in key battleground states. The poll was last run in the wake of the first presidential debate in June.
Among the key findings of the survey of adults ages 18-34 in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Ohio:
Young adults affirm Biden's decision to step aside. Eighty-two percent say they strongly agree or agree that Biden made the right choice.
Eighty-two percent say they strongly agree or agree that Biden made the right choice. Support for Harris is larger than it was for Biden. If the election were held today, 65% say they would support Harris compared to 35% who say they would support Trump a gap 12 points greater than the respective gap between Biden and Trump when Biden was still the presumed nominee.
If the election were held today, 65% say they would support Harris compared to 35% who say they would support Trump a gap 12 points greater than the respective gap between Biden and Trump when Biden was still the presumed nominee. Harris' VP pick of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has helped her energize young adults, while Trump's selection of Sen. JD Vance of Ohio appears to be hurting more than helping. Thirty-nine percent say they are much more likely or somewhat more likely to vote for Harris since her selection of Walz, compared to 13% who say they are much less or somewhat less likely to support her. Meanwhile, only 15% say they are more likely or somewhat more likely to vote for Trump since his selection of Vance, compared to 30% who say his pick means they are much less or somewhat less likely to vote for him. Among those who say they are much less or somewhat less likely to vote for Trump because of Vance, 18% say it's because they feel like he doesn't understand or represent them.
Thirty-nine percent say they are much more likely or somewhat more likely to vote for Harris since her selection of Walz, compared to 13% who say they are much less or somewhat less likely to support her. Meanwhile, only 15% say they are more likely or somewhat more likely to vote for Trump since his selection of Vance, compared to 30% who say his pick means they are much less or somewhat less likely to vote for him. Young adults are more likely to vote now that Harris is the Democratic candidate. Forty-three percent of young people "strongly agree" or "agree" that they are more likely to vote in the election now that Harris is the Democratic candidate. Meanwhile, 48% of registered Democrats say they are more likely to vote because she has a better shot at beating Trump than Biden did.
Forty-three percent of young people "strongly agree" or "agree" that they are more likely to vote in the election now that Harris is the Democratic candidate. Most young adults are committed to their chosen candidate a commitment that has increased in recent months. Seventy percent say they're either "very committed" to their candidate and "nothing could change my mind," or "pretty committed," and "it would take something major to change my mind" a 19 percentage-point swing from how they answered the question in June and July.
"Our poll shows that younger Americans are with Vice President Harris and Governor Walz in several of the swing states that will tip the balance of power and many intend to voice their support at the voting booth in November," said Dafna Linzer, U.S. News' editorial director and executive vice president. "While the national polls show a tight race that either candidate could win, support is clearly growing for the Democratic ticket among this key voting bloc."
The survey was conducted online by Generation Lab on August 25-September 3, 2024, among a nationally representative sample of 2,003 U.S. adults, ages 18-34 living in the battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, yielding an overall margin error of +/- 2.2 percentage points.
For additional survey findings, U.S. News has published related content including an overview as well as an analysis on the top issues impacting young americans.
About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News, Real Estate and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
SOURCE U.S. News & World Report, L.P.
IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- OCMBC, Inc, a leading mortgage lender and servicer, as reported by Scotsman Guide, a top 5 wholesale lender, active in all loan products, and the nation's #2 NonQM originator today announced the successful acquisition of HomeStar Financial Corporation. HomeStar is a respected Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and GNMA-approved corporation. The acquisition was formally closed on August 29, 2024, marking a significant expansion in OCMBC's nationwide operations.
Founded in April 2002, HomeStar Financial Corporation started as a small local mortgage banking company in Gainesville, Georgia. Under the leadership of Founder and CEO Wes Hunt, HomeStar is licensed to conduct business from coast to coast. The company has been recognized in the state of Georgia as a Top Place to Work, #1 FHA Purchase Lender, and Top Mortgage Originator.
Serene Vernon, President of OCMBC, Inc., expressed her excitement about the acquisition: "We are thrilled to welcome Wes Hunt and the entire HomeStar Financial team to the OCMBC family. Their extensive experience in servicing and their commitment to providing outstanding customer service align perfectly with our values at OCMBC. We look forward to achieving remarkable things together."
Rabi Aziz, CEO of OCMBC, Inc., also commented on the acquisition: "HomeStar is a great fit for the OCMBC Family of Companies. Their dedication to creating strong community relationships and the strength of their team enhances our ability to serve our clients."
OCMBC, Inc. (NMLS #2125) is a leading mortgage lender and servicer, proudly recognized as a Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Seller/Servicer. Approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and USDA, OCMBC boasts one of the nation's largest NonQM origination channels. OCMBC, Inc is reported by Scotsman Guide as a top 5 wholesale lender, active in all loan products, and the nation's #2 NonQM originator. Licensed and approved in 48 states and the District of Columbia, OCMBC offers a wide range of mortgage products and services to meet the diverse needs of its clients. For more information, visit www.OCMBC.com.
SOURCE OCMBC, Inc.
Postsecondary support organization will increase effectiveness and service offerings with the addition of a free online college fit comparison tool
CHICAGO, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- OneGoal , a leading postsecondary access and success organization working with students, schools and districts to transform postsecondary advising and support, announces its acquisition of DecidED , an online college cost comparison tool developed and brought to market by the national nonprofit Moneythink .
"DecidED is an easy-to-use online financial literacy tool that provides students, families, advisors and partner organizations with an efficient way to understand and compare college costs, financial aid benefits and other fit factors," said OneGoal CEO Melissa Connelly. "Our research tells us that 71% of OneGoal students who stop out of their postsecondary path list 'financial reasons' for not continuing their postsecondary plans. We're excited to see OneGoal students, their families and the public take advantage of this free tool to help prevent these stopouts."
"Despite the incredible early traction we've seen among students, advisors and partnering organizations using DecidED for the last several years, it became evident to me and our leadership that our product deserved a larger, more established mission-aligned organization to truly bring our vision to life. OneGoal emerged as the ideal partner, offering a strong, reputable brand and extensive direct provider networks across schools, districts and states, as well as having an increasing hand in systems change work," said Moneythink CEO Joshua Lachs. "I'm so thrilled to see this game-changing partnership come together, fueled by Melissa's forward-thinking leadership and OneGoal's commitment to leverage accessible, practical and equity-focused college affordability tools and data to help create an informed education marketplace of consumers."
With DecidED, students can search schools and compare them for fit factors such as cost, location, graduation rates, campus diversity and more. Once students begin to receive financial aid award letters from schools to which they've been accepted, these letters can be uploaded to DecidED. The tool will then provide a breakdown of free financial aid alongside individual college costs so students can easily compare how much money would be needed to attend each school of interest, quickly and accurately helping them understand the affordability of their college options.
By suggesting ways to pay for college, such as scholarships, work-study and loans, to offering assistance with planning and budgeting for comprehensive college expenses, DecidED can help students and families explore, compare and choose the best college option that aligns with their goals. Additionally, advisors and administrators can use DecidED to track and support multiple students' progress on their college journeys. The tool shows a real-time snapshot of schools students are interested in, what types of awards they've received and how affordable their options are. Advisors can also download reports complete with college costs and fit factor data, financial aid results and student preferences.
"DecidED makes understanding true college costs simple so that students can easily gauge what their out-of-pocket costs will be," Connelly said. "Adding DecidED to OneGoal's suite of supports helps us provide clear and factual information that empowers students to enroll at affordable schools where they have the greatest chance of graduating with the least amount of debt."
To access DecidED, visit https://decided.org/
B-roll and images can be found here .
About OneGoal:
OneGoal transforms postsecondary advising and support so that every student can define their own future. Striving to build a movement to close the opportunity gap, OneGoal works side by side with partner schools and districts to build their knowledge and capacity. The result is more equitable and effective support for all students. OneGoal's unique approach, honed over 15 years, prioritizes strong human relationshipsand it has proven to deliver real student impact. Of OneGoal high school graduates, 81% enroll in a postsecondary institution, and 73% of those who enroll persist one year after high school. An independent study by the University of Chicago found that OneGoal students are about 40% more likely to earn postsecondary degrees than students from similar backgrounds.
Media Contact:
Amie Hornbaker, Senior Publicist
myWHY Agency
[email protected]
312-291-1099
SOURCE OneGoal
Expanding their footprint across the Northwest PCRK has secured locations Texas and in New Mexico
PHOENIX, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- PCRK Group, a leading provider of high-quality skincare and body care services, is thrilled to announce the acquisition of 36 Massage Envy locations, with 35 in Texas and one in New Mexico. This strategic acquisition solidifies PCRK Group as the largest franchisee in the Massage Envy system, now boasting an impressive 131 locations across the United States, operating in 13 states.
Expanding their footprint across the Northwest PCRK has secured locations Texas and in New Mexico Post this Kristi Mallioux & Todd Recknagel
"We are so happy to welcome our new clinics and team members to the PCRK family," said Todd Recknagel, Co-CEO of PCRK Group. "The Texas and New Mexico group's passion for creating satisfied customers aligns perfectly with our mission."
As a company committed to enhancing the well-being of its members, PCRK Group aims to grow its member base and help more individuals feel better, look better, and lead happier lives.
PCRK group recently hit a milestone of its 20 millionth massage and facial service, and now with this recent acquisition, are tracking to do over 1.5 million services this year alone.
This acquisition marks a significant milestone in PCRK Group's journey as they strive to become the world-class model for health, wellness, and beauty businesses.
"We are blessed with our continued growth and are passionate about making PCRK Group a truly great place for people to work," said Kristi Mailloux Co-CEO of PCRK Group. "Together, we will continue to create exceptional customer experiences and foster a supportive and dynamic work environment."
The acquisition of these Massage Envy locations is a testament to PCRK Group, a portfolio company of Trivest Partners and Three20 Group, and their dedication to delivering superior services and creating a positive impact on the communities it serves. The company remains committed to its vision of providing unparalleled health and wellness experiences to its members.
About Trivest Partners
Trivest Partners LP, with offices in Miami, Charlotte, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Toronto, is a private investment firm that focuses exclusively on the support and growth of founder-led and family-owned businesses in the United States and Canada in both control and non-control transactions. Since its founding in 1981, Trivest has completed more than 400 investments, totaling over $7 billion in value. To learn more, visit www.trivest.com
About Three20 Capital Group
Three20 Capital Group is a private equity firm led by franchise veterans Todd Recknagel and Kristi Mailloux. Three20 has a depth of experience in franchising, distribution, energy efficiency, and multi-unit businesses. To learn more, visit www.three20group.com
About PCRK Group
PCRK Group, headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, owns and operates 131 Massage Envy locations across 13 states and is Massage Envy's largest franchisee. PCRK is committed to connecting with each member and guest to assist them throughout their well-being journey. To learn more, visit www.pcrkgroup.com
MEDIA CONTACT: Todd Recknagel, PCRK Group, [email protected]
SOURCE PCRK Group
NEW YORK, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report with market evolution powered by AI- The global prosthetic robot arm market size is estimated to grow by USD 640 million from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 14.84% during the forecast period. Increase in amputation cases is driving market growth, with a trend towards 3D-printed prosthetic robot arm. However, high cost of equipment poses a challenge. Key market players include Advanced Arm Dynamics Inc., Aether Biomedical sp. Z o.o., Bionic Hope Pvt. Ltd., BrainCo Inc., Cardinal Health Inc., COVVI, exiii Inc., HDT Global, Makers Hive Innovations Pvt. Ltd., Mobius Bionics LLC, Open Bionics Ltd., Ossur hf, Ottobock SE and Co. KGaA, Shadow Robot Co., Steeper Inc., TASKA Prosthetics, Unlimited Tomorrow, and Vincent Medical Holdings Ltd..
Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global prosthetic robot arm market 2024-2028
AI-Powered Market Evolution Insights. Our comprehensive market report ready with the latest trends, growth opportunities, and strategic analysis- View your snapshot now
Forecast period 2024-2028 Base Year 2023 Historic Data 2018 - 2022 Segment Covered Application (Hospitals, Household, and Clinics and ambulatory surgical centers), Technology (Microprocessor-based and Myoelectric), and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa) Region Covered North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Key companies profiled Advanced Arm Dynamics Inc., Aether Biomedical sp. Z o.o., Bionic Hope Pvt. Ltd., BrainCo Inc., Cardinal Health Inc., COVVI, exiii Inc., HDT Global, Makers Hive Innovations Pvt. Ltd., Mobius Bionics LLC, Open Bionics Ltd., Ossur hf, Ottobock SE and Co. KGaA, Shadow Robot Co., Steeper Inc., TASKA Prosthetics, Unlimited Tomorrow, and Vincent Medical Holdings Ltd.
Key Market Trends Fueling Growth
The Prosthetic Robot Arm market is experiencing significant growth, with a major challenge being the high cost of traditional prosthetic arms. However, the forecast period is expected to witness increased adoption of 3D-printed prosthetic robot arms due to their advantages, such as cost-effective manufacturing. Companies like Open Bionics and exiii Inc. Are leading this trend, offering custom-fitted prosthetic arms using 3D scanning and 3D printing technology. Open Bionics' project allows for a custom-fitted socket and hand to be made in less than two days, while exiii Inc.'s HACKberry arm can be assembled at home with affordable parts and a USD1,000 consumer 3D printer. Easton LaChappelle's Unlimited Tomorrow is also making waves with a USD4,000 prosthetic arm, focusing on battery technology, miniaturization, and wireless connectivity, while offering free designs for 3D printing. With growing consumer awareness of 3D printing, more vendors are expected to enter the market, increasing competition and driving down costs.
The Prosthetic Robot Arm market is experiencing significant growth due to the rising number of amputations caused by injuries, chronic diseases, and congenital conditions. Robotics and artificial intelligence are driving innovation in this field, with advancements in 3D printing, biosensor technology, and bionic prosthetics. Companies like LUKE arm system and Mobius Bionics are leading the way in creating high-quality, customized prosthetic arms using advanced materials and biomimetic design. Better materials and technology, such as microprocessor prosthetics, myoelectric prosthetics, and mind-controlled prostheses, are improving the quality of life for amputees. The market volume is increasing due to the growing need for prosthetic arms among healthcare providers and individuals affected by limb loss from diabetes, vascular diseases, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, trauma, and other conditions. The use of raw materials and transportation costs are key considerations for manufacturers, while financial aid and insurance coverage help make these advanced technologies more accessible to those in need. Companies like Ace Matrix, Fillauer Companies, and Steeper are also contributing to the market with their innovative solutions. Quantitative units of prosthetic arms are expected to grow steadily in the coming years as technology continues to advance and improve the lives of those with limb loss.
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Market Challenges
The Prosthetic Robot Arm market is experiencing gradual adoption in developed countries due to advanced robotic medical systems in healthcare. However, affordability remains a challenge for patients in developing and emerging economies. High costs, attributed to the advanced technology, restrict access to prosthetic robot arms for most patients. The ASP is expected to decrease due to emerging technologies like 3D printing. Functional limitations and a short replacement cycle are additional hindrances to market growth. Prosthetic robot arms range from USD15,000 to USD100,000 for advanced models. Despite advancements, the high capital and recurring costs limit market penetration in emerging markets.
to for advanced models. Despite advancements, the high capital and recurring costs limit market penetration in emerging markets. The Prosthetic Robot Arm market is experiencing significant growth due to advancements in technology, particularly in the areas of biosensor technology, bionic prosthetics, and AI. However, challenges persist, such as the need for better materials, affordability, and customization. Raw material procurement and transportation costs remain a concern for manufacturers. Microprocessor and myoelectric prosthetics, including the LUKE arm system and Mind-controlled prosthesis, are popular choices, but the steep prices limit their accessibility. Companies like Ace Matrix, Mobius Bionics, Fillauer Companies, exiii, Ossur, Vincent Medical Holdings, and Ottobock are leading the way in innovation, offering advanced materials and biomimetic designs. Healthcare providers and insurers must navigate financial aid and coverage options to make these technologies more accessible to those in need. Quantitative units and volumes in the Global Robotic Prosthetics market continue to rise, transforming the lives of amputees and pushing the boundaries of technology in the extremity devices sector.
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Segment Overview
This prosthetic robot arm market report extensively covers market segmentation by
Application
1.1 Hospitals
1.2 Household
1.3 Clinics and ambulatory surgical centers
Technology
2.1 Microprocessor-based
2.2 Myoelectric
Geography
3.1 North America
3.2 Europe
3.3 APAC
3.4 South America
3.5 Middle East and Africa
1.1 Hospitals- The Prosthetic Robot Arm Market is experiencing significant growth due to advancements in technology. These arms offer improved functionality and mobility for amputees, enhancing their quality of life. Key players in the market include DEKA Research & Development, Mobius Bionics, and Hocoma. Collaborations and partnerships between these companies and healthcare institutions drive innovation and expansion. The market's future looks promising, with increasing demand for advanced prosthetic solutions.
Download complimentary Sample Report to gain insights into AI's impact on market dynamics, emerging trends, and future opportunities- including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022)
Research Analysis
The Prosthetic Robot Arm market is a rapidly growing segment of the Robotics industry, driven by advancements in Artificial Intelligence, 3D printing, and Biomimetic Design. Amputation due to injuries, chronic diseases, and congenital conditions continues to fuel demand for these advanced devices. The Amputee Coalition estimates that over 2 million Americans live with limb loss, creating a significant need for prosthetic solutions. Global Robotic Prosthetics market volumes are measured in quantitative units, with Extremity Prosthetics being the largest segment. Prosthetic Robot arms offer advanced features such as customization, improved functionality, and increased user comfort. Advanced materials and Brain-Computer Interfaces are key technologies driving innovation in this field. Healthcare providers play a crucial role in the adoption of Prosthetic Robot arms, with financial aid and insurance coverage being major factors influencing accessibility. Companies like Ace Matrix, Mobius Bionics, Fillauer Companies, exiii, Ossur, and others are leading the way in this market, offering solutions tailored to individual user needs. 3D printing and AI are revolutionizing Prosthetic Robot arm production, allowing for more affordable and customized solutions. The future of Prosthetic Robot arms lies in continued innovation, with potential applications in rehabilitation, industrial settings, and beyond.
Market Research Overview
The Prosthetic Robot Arm market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing prevalence of amputations, injuries, chronic diseases, and congenital conditions. Robotics and artificial intelligence are revolutionizing the field with advanced bionic prosthetics, microprocessor prosthetics, myoelectric prosthetics, and mind-controlled prostheses. Better materials, such as 3D printed components, and biosensor technology are improving the quality of life for amputees. The Amputee Coalition reports that over 2 million Americans are living with limb loss, with diabetes, vascular diseases, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, and trauma being common causes. The market includes voluminous units of prosthetic arms, with key drivers being technological advancements, healthcare providers' adoption, and financial aid and insurance coverage. Companies are focusing on advanced materials, prosthetic arm customization, biomimetic design, and brain-computer interfaces to meet the evolving needs of the market. Global Robotic Prosthetics, Steeper, Myo Kinisi hand, Ace Matrix, Mobius Bionics, Fillauer Companies, exiii, Ossur, Vincent Medical Holdings, and Ottobock are some of the leading players in the industry.
Table of Contents:
1 Executive Summary
2 Market Landscape
3 Market Sizing
4 Historic Market Size
5 Five Forces Analysis
6 Market Segmentation
Application
Hospitals
Household
Clinics And Ambulatory Surgical Centers
Technology
Microprocessor-based
Myoelectric
Geography
North America
Europe
APAC
South America
Middle East And Africa
7 Customer Landscape
8 Geographic Landscape
9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends
10 Company Landscape
11 Company Analysis
12 Appendix
About Technavio
Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.
With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.
Contacts
Technavio Research
Jesse Maida
Media & Marketing Executive
US: +1 844 364 1100
UK: +44 203 893 3200
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.technavio.com/
SOURCE Technavio
Animal Advocates Demand Immediate End to Resumed Rabbit Sales at Petco
PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Petco has resumed selling rabbits in southern U.S. stores, shattering its commitments made in 1994 and 2008 to cease all rabbit sales.
Selling rabbits in pet stores often leads to impulse buys by customers unaware of the extensive care and significant veterinary costs involved. These hasty purchases often lead to "summer dump season," when many pet rabbits are abandoned outdoors, becoming roadkill or prey for predators.
"Petco's decision to sell rabbits is hypocritical and shows blatant disregard for their past commitments," said Paige K Parsons, President of the Rabbit.org Foundation. (rabbit.org)
"It is a huge disappointment that Petco has decided to sell rabbits again, especially designer rabbits. It will negatively impact rabbit rescues nationwide," says Beth Woolbright, Executive Director of the House Rabbit Society. (houserabbit.org)
"It's egregious that any pet store plans to exploit ignorance by selling purebred 'boutique' rabbits. When you hear 'purebred,' think inbred. So many 'imperfect' animals are 'culled' to create breeds with short faces (brachycephaly) and lop ears," said Dana Krempels, PhD, evolutionary biologist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Miami. "These in-bred animals are genetic disasters, veterinary time bombs predisposed to chronic dental disease, ear infections, and other maladies. The process is cruel, and the result is expensive. Veterinary bills can quickly run into thousands."
1994: Petco vowed to stop selling rabbits under pressure from rabbit advocates.
2000: Petco resumed rabbit sales.
2008: Petco promised to end rabbit sales and support in-store adoptions, after lengthy negotiations with House Rabbit Society.
2024: Petco resumed selling rabbits in Southern U.S. stores.
"Rabbits are among the most surrendered companion animals in the U.S.," says Mary Cotter, former President of House Rabbit Society.
"It doesn't have to be this way," said Marinell Harriman, founder of the House Rabbit Society. "In 2008, Petco committed to partnering with local rabbit rescues and promoting adoptions, which we saw as a positive step for animal welfare."
"We are deeply disappointed by Petco's decision to sell rabbits in 25 stores nationwide, including three here in North Carolina," said Jeanette Lyerly, co-founder of Triangle Rabbits. "As a rabbit rescue, we advocate for adopting homeless rabbits from shelters and rescue groups, not selling them in retail stores. So far in 2024, our small rescue was asked to take in over 175 rabbits. Shelters and rescue groups are overwhelmed."
Rabbit.org Foundation demands Petco honor its commitments and end rabbit sales. "Everyone who cares about animals should speak out against Petco," said Parsons. "Exploiting rabbits for profit is unacceptable."
Rabbit.org Foundation improves the lives of rabbits through education and advocacy.
More at https://rabbit.org/activism/petco/
Images https://bit.ly/rdo-petco-pix
Media Contact: Paige K. Parsons, President, Rabbit.org Foundation, 650-520-4290, [email protected]
SOURCE Rabbit.org Foundation
Under Chapter 11 plan, Red Lobster will be acquired by RL Investor Holdings LLC, an entity backed by Fortress Investment Group
ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Lobster Management LLC, along with its direct and indirect operating subsidiaries ("Red Lobster" or "the Company"), owner and operator of the Red Lobster restaurant chain, today announced that the Company has received court approval of its Chapter 11 plan.
As part of the Chapter 11 plan, RL Investor Holdings LLC will acquire the Red Lobster restaurant chain from the Company. RL Investor Holdings LLC is an entity created by funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group LLC ("Fortress"), alongside co-investors TCW Private Credit and Blue Torch. The acquisition is anticipated to close before the end of September.
On completion of the acquisition, Damola Adamolekun will become the CEO of the Red Lobster restaurant chain, and Jonathan Tibus, who has served as the Company's CEO during the reorganization, will step down from the role and leave the Company.
"This is a great day for Red Lobster," said Mr. Adamolekun. "With our new backers, we have a comprehensive and long-term investment plan including a commitment of more than $60 million in new funding that will help to reinvigorate the iconic brand while keeping the best of its history. Red Lobster has a tremendous future, and I cannot wait to get started on our plan with the Company's more than 30,000 team members across the USA and Canada. I want to thank Jonathan Tibus and his team for their stewardship, and look forward to welcoming them as frequent Red Lobster guests."
Red Lobster will continue to operate as an independent company, with 544 locations across 44 U.S. states and four Canadian Provinces.
Jonathan Tibus added, "I'm proud of what Red Lobster has achieved during this restructuring the Company will emerge from Chapter 11 stronger financially and operationally, and with new backers who are resolutely focused on investment and growth. I'm incredibly grateful for the support we've received from our team members and diners, and from so many of our landlords and vendors throughout this process. I'm looking forward to cheering on Red Lobster as an ardent fan in the years ahead."
About Red Lobster restaurant chain
Red Lobster is the world's largest and most-loved seafood restaurant company, headquartered in Orlando, Fla. With a proud heritage, Red Lobster is focused on serving the highest quality, freshly prepared seafood that is traceable, sustainable, and responsibly sourced. To learn more about Red Lobster, including locations and menu options, please visit http://www.redlobster.com or find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, or TikTok.
Contact: [email protected]
SOURCE Red Lobster Seafood Co.
ROCHESTER, N.Y., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rochester Midland Corporation ("Rochester Midland" or the "Company") a leading provider of route-based, technical services and specialty chemical products across water treatment, food safety and other verticals, today announced that it has acquired Industrial Water Technologies ("IWT"), a water treatment services provider and technical consulting firm based in Tinton Falls, New Jersey.
Founded in 1988, IWT offers a wide range of services across water treatment applications, including cooling tower & boiler water treatment, laboratory services and program monitoring. IWT services plant utilities across a variety of end markets including healthcare, critical systems engineering (data centers), government, manufacturing, higher education and co-generation, amongst others.
Jim White, CEO of Rochester Midland, commented, "Rochester Midland's acquisition of IWT strategically expands our technical expertise, service capabilities and customer base in the New York Metropolitan Area. We look forward to working with IWT to achieve its growth aspirations as a combined platform."
Richard DeMartino, Founder & CEO of IWT, commented, "The decision to partner with Rochester Midland was based on its values and customer-oriented approach. This combination creates an organization even better equipped to service the industrial water treatment community, as our customers will have access to a wider array of high-quality products and services."
ABOUT ROCHESTER MIDLAND
Founded in 1888, Rochester Midland is a leading provider of route-based, technical services and specialty chemical products across water treatment, food safety and other verticals. Rochester Midland is headquartered in Rochester, NY with additional facilities in the U.S., Canada and U.K. For more information on Rochester Midland, visit us online at www.rochestermidland.com.
Media Contact:
Daniel Yunger
Kekst CNC
(212) 521-4800
[email protected]
SOURCE Rochester Midland Corporation
NORTH BETHESDA, Md., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rock Creek Foundation , a staple of support for individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental illness in Montgomery County, MD and the Greater Washington DC region, is proud to announce continued growth and expansion initiatives on the heels of its successful gala event in April. The Foundation continues to enhance its service capacity and expand its reach, furthering its mission and commitment to the community.
Since the gala, Rock Creek Foundation has made considerable strides in expanding its residential services. The organization was awarded a 15-bed expansion of our Residential Rehabilitation Program (nine in Montgomery County and six in Prince George's County). This is specifically the first bed expansion in Montgomery County in over 30 years. Additionally, these properties are uniquely single occupancy per room and gender neutral.
In line with its mission to promote independence and meaningful lives, Rock Creek Foundation plans to expand its supported employment program this fiscal year. The organization will be expanding to youth-based services under the developmental disabilities administration.
Najla Wortham, MA LCPC , President of Rock Creek Foundation has been accepted into the 2025 Connecting Our Region's Execs (CORE) program of Leadership Montgomery , a program dedicated to fostering cross-sector collaboration to tackle complex issues in Montgomery County and build thriving, inclusive communities. "Since our inception in 1973, Rock Creek Foundation has been dedicated to offering comprehensive care and striving for the independence of the individuals we support. Our recent gala was not just a celebration of our past achievements but a launch pad for our future endeavors. We are excited about our expansion efforts and the positive impact we will continue to make in our community," said Najla Wortham.
The Foundation's Residential Rehabilitation Program (RRP) continues to demonstrate success in providing supportive counseling and rehabilitative treatment to individuals previously hospitalized due to mental health diagnoses. A notable success story includes Mr. A, who was admitted to RCF's RRP in November 2022. Mr. A has achieved psychiatric stability, learned independent living skills, and secured part-time employment at a local Giant Foods. He has successfully maintained this employment for six months while remaining stable in the community.
Rock Creek Foundation has also increased its engagement in community events, reflecting its commitment to education and collaboration. The organization participated in the Prince George's County LBHA Expo on May 11, 2024, and joined Family Fun Day on June 15, 2024, with Tree of Hope Association and Positive Recovery. These events provided opportunities for the Foundation to educate the community about its history and services while building ties with other health providers. The Foundation's Day Program has initiated a new volunteer-based partnership with GROWN@Pope Farm in Gaithersburg. Participants engage in farming, planting and agriculture education. This ongoing partnership ensures bi-monthly participation from Rock Creek's Day Program, fostering community engagement and skill-building.
If you are interested in supporting Rock Creek Foundation please visit this link .
About Us
Rock Creek Foundation is an innovative nonprofit established in 1973 specializing in providing exceptional care for individuals with intellectual disabilities and/or severe and persistent mental illness. Rock Creek stands out for its dual-licensed capabilities, addressing both intellectual disabilities and mental health needs. Operating in the Maryland/DC area, Rock Creek emphasizes creating meaningful lives and independence for its clients, offering a range of services through group homes and day programs. https://www.rockcreek.org/
Media Contact:
Olivia Ludington
551-795-5950
[email protected]
SOURCE Rock Creek Foundation
JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In compliance with paragraph 3.59 of the Listings Requirements of the JSE Limited (JSE), shareholders are advised that the Board of Directors (the Board) of the Company has appointed Ms Elizna Viljoen as Sasol's Group Company Secretary with effect from 1 January 2025.
Elizna will be joining Sasol from Anglo American where she has been leading the company secretarial teams of Anglo American South Africa and Anglo American Platinum. With over 23 years of expertise in the company secretarial field, both in consulting and in-house roles, Elizna has been involved in a wide range of corporate transactions across the industrial, mining, information technology and telecommunications sectors.
Elizna holds a B.Com in Marketing Management degree and is a Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute of South Africa (FCIS). She also is a member of the Advisory Committee of the JSE.
The Board is of the view that Elizna has the necessary expertise and experience to carry out the responsibilities of this role, in accordance with the JSE Listing Requirements.
On behalf of the Board and the Company, Ms Muriel Dube, the Lead Independent Director said: "We are pleased to welcome Ms Elizna Viljoen to Sasol. Elizna's extensive experience in the company secretarial field gives us confidence that she will add great value to the work of the Board".
Ms Helaine Joubert, the Deputy Group Company Secretary will continue to act as Group Company Secretary of the Company until 31 December 2024.
Ms Dube added: "We are most grateful to Helaine for the contribution she has been making to the Board".
For further information, please contact:
Sasol Investor Relations,
Tiffany Sydow, VP Investor Relations
Telephone: +27 (0) 71 673 1929
[email protected]
SOURCE Sasol Limited
#EyesForEmily Communication Campaign Grows
WEST GLACIER, Mont., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The family of Emily Rea has launched a full-scale communications campaign, #EyesForEmily, and a dedicated website as a source of information to help locate the missing young woman, a resident of West Glacier, Montana. Ms. Rea has been missing since Tuesday, July 16, 2024, and was last known to have gone to the Hungry Horse Reservoir in the Flathead National Forest to go paddleboarding.
Emily Rea, a 33-year-old woman, is an active outdoors enthusiast, and a beloved staff member of the Skola School, an independent nature-based school for pre-k through 3rd-grade students in the Whitefish community, and the manager of Half Moon VRBO.
Widespread communication including radio, billboards, fuel pump announcements, and flyers are being distributed to build broader awareness of the #EyesForEmily campaign. In response to generous public assistance, a volunteer form and a downloadable missing person flyer are available on the campaign website. A donation link has been provided to aid in the ongoing search efforts and #EyesForEmily community. Official Facebook and Instagram accounts have also been set up to streamline information and offer regular updates.
In addition, the family has offered a $25,000 reward for the first valid tip leading to the return of Emily Rea by November 30, 2024. The reward applies to non-water recovery information, due to the intensive search and rescue work actively underway at the Hungry Horse Reservoir by trained personnel. The Flathead County Sheriff's Office has been conducting an ongoing search for Ms. Rea for over a month actively searching land and water. Most recently, specialized side-scan sonar has been brought in to navigate challenging deep-water terrain.
"Emily is still missing, and we are broadening and intensifying our search for her," said Emily's mother, Nina Rea. "We are now offering a $25,000 reward in the hope of more information that will help us locate and bring our daughter home. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has helped in the search effort so far, and I pray we find answers soon."
The authorities urge anyone who might have seen, heard, or know anything about Emily Rea's disappearance to please contact the tip line including photos, videos, and sightings, at 406-758-5610 or [email protected] .
SOURCE The Rea Family
The round was led by Foundation Capital with Amex Ventures joining as an investor
NEW YORK, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sedric AI, ("Sedric"), the pioneering compliance-dedicated AI platform for financial institutions, today announced it has closed a $18.5 million Series A funding round to further its efforts to transform compliance operations across the industry. The latest funding round, led by Foundation Capital with participation from Amex Ventures, brings the total amount raised by the company to date to $22 million. The funds will be used to grow Sedric's AI lab in Tel Aviv and expand its global go-to-market teams.
Financial institutions are embracing technologies like Gen AI to expand their product offerings, understanding that emerging technology comes with increased potential compliance risk. Regulators are applying more focus and expectations on financial institutions to ensure that those leveraging Gen AI are safeguarding their customers across all customer touchpoints, including communications and marketing.
The current regulatory environment, coupled with the growing scope of financial services, is driving demand for innovative solutions to help compliance officers execute their organization's policies, guidelines, and standards. Studies show that the current cost of compliance for financial services worldwide is US$206 billion, equivalent to 12% of global research and development expenditures.
Sedric empowers compliance officers with a holistic view of their customer touchpoints across multiple channels to flag deviations from their established compliance policies and guidelines. Sedric's technology enables companies to quickly take corrective actions without the cost and burden of manual review.
This technology is powered by the financial services industry's first compliance-dedicated large language model (LLM), providing organizations with a mature, enterprise-ready platform to oversee and manage compliance risks. While starting with vertical-specific battle-tested models, Sedric is a learning system. Its models are customized to an organization's unique requirements, automating policy enforcement, mitigating deviations, and streamlining audits.
"For financial institutions, compliance and growth can be seen as two competing priorities," said Nir Laznik, co-founder and CEO of Sedric. "With our compliance LLM, we turn risk into a growth opportunity. Enterprises now have an opportunity to implement a proven, bank-ready solution that is successfully operational and already widely adopted across the financial services industry."
Sedric's revenue has increased fivefold over the last 12 months. The company has a growing base of customers in the U.S. and Europe, including global lenders, banks, trading platforms, and insurers.
"Sedric's AI compliance platform fills a critical industry need as regulatory requirements become more stringent and complex," said Charles Moldow, General Partner at Foundation Capital. "Nir, Eyal, and the Sedric team have developed a forward-looking solution that is 100 times more effective, faster, and efficient compared to traditional methods. This is a rare 'better-faster-cheaper' compliance solution for financial institutions."
Sedric's existing investors include StageOne Ventures, The Garage, Gefen Capital, Skywell Capital, Secret Chord, and K20 Fund.
"I believe that GenAI is going to dominate all aspects of the financial sector, yet in my experience, it's a challenge to ensure it's being used responsibly," said Eyal Peleg, co-founder and CTO of Sedric. "Sedric enables financial institutions to unlock the potential of these powerful tools safely and within regulatory boundaries. Our platform puts guardrails and protections in place to help financial institutions adopt AI in a private, observable, and reliable way."
About Sedric AI
Sedric developed the first dedicated compliance large language model (LLM) for financial services. Its AI-driven compliance platform transforms compliance operations and empowers compliance officers with a holistic view of risk across every integrated customer touchpoint. With offices in New York and Tel Aviv, the company provides financial services firms with a proven, enterprise-ready solution that is customized to an organization's unique requirements, enabling organizations to turn risk into a growth opportunity. The company was established by Nir Laznik and Eyal Peleg in 2020 and has a growing base of customers in the U.S. and Europe. For more, please visit: https://www.sedric.ai/
About Foundation Capital
Foundation Capital is an early-stage venture firm founded in 1995. Our enterprise, fintech, consumer, and crypto investmentsincluding Netflix, Lending Club, Sunrun, TubiTV, Chegg, Solana, Stripe, and Uber have reinvented industries and defined new markets. For a quarter of a century, the firm has endured, evolved, and thrived, with over $5B assets under management, 33 IPOs and ICOs, and 80+ acquisitions to our name. Building companies is in our bones. For more info, visit: foundationcap.com.
Media contact:
Sivan Ron
[email protected]
SOURCE Sedric AI
MILWAUKEE, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ademi LLP is investigating Gatos (NYSE:GATO) (TSX:GATO) for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law in its transaction with First Majestic.
Click here to learn how to join our investigation https://www.ademilaw.com/case/gatos-silver-inc or call Guri Ademi toll-free at 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you.
In the transaction, Gatos stockholders will receive 2.550 common shares of First Majestic for each common share of Gatos held. The consideration implies a total offer value of $13.49 per common share of Gatos based on the closing price of First Majestic's common shares. The proposed Transaction implies a total equity value for Gatos of approximately $970 million. Following completion of the Transaction, existing Gatos shareholders will own approximately 38% of First Majestic shares on a fully-diluted basis.
The transaction agreement unreasonably limits competing transactions for Gatos by imposing a significant penalty if Gatos accepts a competing bid. Gatos insiders will receive substantial benefits as part of change of control arrangements.
We are investigating the conduct of Gatos's board of directors, and whether they are fulfilling their fiduciary duties to all shareholders.
If you own Gatos common stock and wish to obtain additional information, please contact Guri Ademi either at [email protected] or toll-free: 866-264-3995, or https://www.ademilaw.com/case/gatos-silver-inc.
We specialize in shareholder litigation involving buyouts, mergers, and individual shareholder rights throughout the country. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Contacts
Ademi LLP
Guri Ademi
Toll Free: (866) 264-3995
Fax: (414) 482-8001
SOURCE Ademi LLP
Statement from Kathy Crosby, Truth Initiative CEO and President
WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) shows significant progress in reducing youth e-cigarette use, with half a million fewer middle and high school students currently vaping. However, despite this encouraging decline from 2.1 million in 2023 to 1.63 million in 2024, the survey reveals a troubling reality: youth nicotine addiction remains a serious public health concern. Among middle and high school students who currently vape, nearly 40% over 620,000 teens report using e-cigarettes frequently (38.7%), signaling signs of persistent nicotine addiction.
Nicotine pouch use remains low at 1.8% (480,000 middle and high school students), but 29.3% of current users report frequent use, and 22.4% use pouches daily, a disturbing trend given the high nicotine levels. Zyn, the most popular brand (chosen by 68.7% of youth pouch users), is aggressively marketed through "Zynfluencers" and youth-appealing rewards programs. These products have exploded in popularity nationwide, with soaring sales and increasing nicotine levels, and should be continuously monitored to protect youth and prevent addiction.
This is particularly concerning given nicotine is harmful to developing brains, and dependence has been shown to negatively impact mental health by amplifying feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress. There is no safe level of use for youth, and the vast majority of these products do not have FDA authorization, making their presence on the market illegal. Truth Initiative research shows that between 2017 and 2022, disposable e-cigarettes nearly tripled in nicotine strength, quintupled in e-liquid capacity, and dropped in price by nearly 70% all at the expense of young people's physical and mental health.
The rise of nicotine addiction underscores the critical importance of Truth Initiative's market-leading quit programs. This is Quitting, our free text-based program now part of the EX Program, has enrolled over 780,000 young people nationwide. A recent first-of-its-kind study among teens, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), showed that participants in the interactive program were 35% more likely to report not using nicotine at the 7-month study endpoint. Additionally, our free digital curriculum, Vaping: Know the truth, has reached more than one million middle and high school students, providing them with essential facts about e-cigarette use.
The NYTS data further demonstrates the allure of flavors, with 87.6% of youth stating their preference for flavored e-cigarettes. Fruit (62.8%), candy (33.3%), and mint (25.1%) were the flavor types most frequently reported. Disposable products remain the most popular among youth, with Elf Bar (36.1%), Breeze (19.9%), Mr. Fog (15.8%), Vuse (13.7%), and JUUL (12.6%) topping the list. Four out of the top five brands have not received pre-market authorization from the FDA and are on the market illegally. Despite many warning letters from the agency to both retailers and manufacturers, these brands persist in popularity among youth.
While this drop in youth e-cigarette use is an encouraging public health win, we cannot ignore the persistent nicotine dependence among youth. We must continue supporting evidence-based programs to help young people quit, while holding the tobacco industry accountable for relentlessly pursuing a new generation. We also urge retailers to stop selling illegal, youth-appealing flavored nicotine products that continue to flood the market. So far, the FDA has authorized only 34 e-cigarette products, primarily tobacco and menthol flavored. Our work is far from over, but together, we can work toward a future free from nicotine addiction.
About Truth Initiative
Truth Initiative is a national nonprofit public health organization committed to a future free from lifelong addiction, fostering healthier lives and a more resilient nation. Our mission is to prevent youth and young adult nicotine addiction and empower quitting for all. Through our evidence-based, market-leading cessation EX Program and the nationally recognized truth public education campaign, we are leading the fight against youth and young adult tobacco use, which threatens to put a new generation at risk of nicotine addiction. Our rigorous scientific research and policy studies, community and youth engagement programs supporting populations at high risk of using tobacco, and innovation in tobacco dependence treatment continue to contribute to ending one of the most critical public health battles of our time. Based in Washington, D.C., our organization was established and funded through the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement between attorneys general from 46 states, five U.S. territories, and the tobacco industry. To learn more, visit truthinitiative.org.
SOURCE Truth Initiative
Company donates 30,000 backpacks of school supplies to students and awards 20 teachers with $500 gifts to commemorate 20th anniversary
CARROLLTON, Ga., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwire, North America's leading wire and cable company, celebrated the 20th anniversary of its Back to School giving efforts by expanding its impact in the communities where team members live and work. This year, the company donated 30,000 backpacks full of school supplies to students across more than 25 communities. In addition to the school supplies, the company also expanded its My Favorite Teacher competition to award 20 teachers with $500 gifts for the upcoming school year.
Southwire recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its Back to School giving efforts. Post this As part of its Back to School efforts, Southwire also hosts a My Favorite Teacher Competition where students and parents are invited to nominate an educator who has made a positive impact on their family. Each year, the company provides Southwire facilities across its footprint with the necessary supplies to donate backpacks full of materials for students in need in their communities.
"Our commitment to Giving Back comes from our desire to create shared value for our communities and our team members. We all depend on each other," said Kristian Whittington, director of Giving Back at Southwire. "We're incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to support local students and teachers during the past 20 years, and we are excited for the future of our Giving Back initiatives."
Each year, the company provides Southwire facilities across its footprint in North America with the necessary supplies to donate backpacks full of materials for students in need in their communities. This year, in July and August, team members at 27 sites packed and distributed 30,000 backpacks in their local communities. Over the last 20 years, Southwire has donated more than 380,693 backpacks to students in need.
As part of its Back to School efforts, Southwire also hosts a My Favorite Teacher Competition where students and parents are invited to nominate an educator who has made a positive impact on their family. In honor of the event's 20th anniversary, Southwire expanded this year's contest by teaming up with long-standing educational partner West Georgia Technical College to award 20 teachers with $500 gifts. The 20 winning teachers represent school districts across five states: Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan and Texas.
Southwire's Back to School initiatives are one signature piece of the company's larger philanthropic efforts around Giving Back. Southwire focuses resources on environmental sustainability and supporting educational endeavours aimed at science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics programming, as well as innovation and workforce development. In addition to Back-to-School efforts, Southwire also fosters a culture of service through several signature Project GIFT events each year:
Disaster Relief Collection and Distribution
Walk for Water benefiting Water Mission
Hope for the Holidays and Annual Toy Drive benefitting Toys for Toys
In 2023, Southwire team members gave close to 17,000 volunteer hours to their communities through Project GIFT opportunities, and the company made nearly $3 million in charitable contributions with $750,000 focused on inclusion initiatives. View Southwire's 2023 Sustainability Report here.
For more information about Giving Back at Southwire, visit southwire.com/sustainability.
About Southwire
Southwire Company, LLC is North America's leading wire and cable company. The $8B organization is made up of more than 9,000 team members across the globe who unite as ONE Southwire each and every day to serve each other, their customers and their communities. Southwire and its subsidiaries provide solutions including building wire and cable, metal-clad cable, utility products, portable and electronic cord products and OEM wire products. In addition, Southwire offers electrical products, engineered solutions and a variety of field support services. For more on Southwire's products and solutions, its community involvement and its vision of sustainability, visit www.southwire.com.
Media Contact:
Ashley Bush
Director, Communications
[email protected]
SOURCE Southwire
Hypergalactic: Monkey Quest set to become the central player hub for Hypergalactic IP on Roblox
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Spaceport Technologies, a leader in intellectual property (IP) licensing, is excited to announce that Toei Animation has chosen Twin Atlas, 2023 Roblox Studio of the Year, to build the core Roblox experience for their highly anticipated film, Hypergalactic. The core experience created by Twin Atlas will serve as the central player hub for the IP on Roblox, connecting users to a broader universe of Hypergalactic games created by other developers and licensed through the Spaceport platform, creating ongoing, high quality engagement with the film's universe, characters, and storyline.
Hypergalactic: Monkey Quest
The strategic partnership underscores Spaceport's commitment to collaborating with the largest global IP portfolios to create licensing opportunities for top-tier developers and UGC creators. By selecting Twin Atlas for core development in conjunction with Spaceport's licensing technology, Toei Animation demonstrates its dedication to delivering high-quality, engaging content from the studio on Roblox while also creating opportunities for fan-developers to contribute to their favorite IP and be enriched by their creations. Twin Atlas has accumulated an impressive 3.6B+ game plays and 8.2M+ community members and currently offers more than 17 titles.
The Hypergalactic: Monkey Quest game, set to launch in November 2024, will act as a hub for all related games, tying together various experiences and keeping players immersed in the Hypergalactic universe. This interconnected approach is designed to enhance user engagement and provide a seamless experience across multiple games.
Le Zhang, Founder and CEO of Spaceport, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration: "We are thrilled to work with Toei Animation and Twin Atlas to bring Hypergalactic to life on Roblox. This project exemplifies our mission to empower developers and brands by providing innovative licensing solutions that drive revenue and engagement."
Spaceport's technology enables Toei Animation to collaborate with multiple developers, a significant departure from traditional single-developer licensing models. This multi-party approach leverages the full potential of the UGC economy, encouraging creativity and innovation while maximizing revenue opportunities for brands.
With UGC platforms like Roblox experiencing unprecedented growth, brands are still exploring how to simultaneously optimize for fan and brand aligned engagement with native Gen Z and Alpha players on the platforms. Spaceport addresses this challenge by facilitating broad licensing agreements that connect brands with a wide range of creators and developers to build fan-first content.
Toei Animation, known for its globally beloved anime titles, is enthusiastic about the partnership. Yoshi Ikezawa, the lead producer at Toei Animation commented:
"We are thrilled to see our cherished new IP come to life in Roblox, where fans can engage with our characters in innovative and interactive ways. At Toei Animation, we deeply value the support of our fans, and this partnership is a great opportunity to collaborate with UGC creators, fans, and the broader community. Their creativity and passion are what make both Roblox and Toei Animation's IPs so special, and we're excited to see the incredible content that will emerge from this collaboration. Spaceport allows us to explore these new dimensions of fan engagement and content creation."
Twin Atlas CEO Samuel Garcia expressed his excitement about collaborating directly with Toei Animation on this project. "Twin Atlas is excited to collaborate with Toei Animation and Spaceport on bringing Hypergalactic to Roblox. As a studio that respects and admires Toei's creative legacy, we are proud to contribute our expertise to help connect players to the Hypergalactic universe. We look forward to seeing the incredible creations that the Roblox community will bring to life as part of this experience."
About Spaceport
Spaceport is building the Internet of IP (Intellectual Property) by seamlessly connecting brands and agencies with the world's largest network of creators and developers. The company's mission is to democratize access to the world's best IPs, empowering owners to unlock new revenue streams and enhance fan engagement. As the leading solution for creators on top platforms like Roblox, Fortnite and Threadless, Spaceport is shaping a future where all IP, both online and offline, is efficiently managed and monetized through their innovative web3-based infrastructure. Founded in 2022 with offices in Boston and Los Angeles, Spaceport is pioneering the future of IP. For more information on Spaceport's preferred developer program or to set up a meeting at the Roblox Developer Conference September 6-7 visit: https://www.spaceport.xyz/devs
About Toei Animation Inc.
Toei Animation Co., Ltd. ranks amongst the world's most prolific animation production studios. The company's operations include animation development and production, and worldwide marketing and program licensing. The company is expanding its business worldwide under its corporation principle of "becoming a leader in initiating creations which deliver 'dreams' and 'hope' to children and people all over the world". Since its founding in 1956, Toei Animation Co., Ltd. has produced more than 13,316 episodes of TV series (more than 230 titles) and more than 258 long feature films (as of March 2022), such as "Mazinger Z", "Dragon Ball" series, "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" series, "One Piece", and more. Many works transcend generations and are enjoyed by parents and children alike.
About Twin Atlas
Twin Atlas is a leader in Roblox development and the metaverse. With notable award-winning games and activations with top brands, Twin Atlas has accumulated over 3.6 billion total plays, alongside a dedicated team of over 60 full-time developers internationally. Committed to creating breakthrough experiences and original content, Twin Atlas strives to achieve high quality entertainment, as well as creating innovative and engaging metaverse experiences that captivate players of all ages.
SOURCE Spaceport.xyz
DENVER, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SSA Holdings, the parent entity to SSA Group, announces that it has hired Sean Coughlin as its chief revenue officer. He is an experienced growth catalyst and will implement a strategy that allows our partners to focus on their core mission and vision.
"Sean brings a wealth of experience and valuable insight to our growing SSA Holdings team. His experience across multiple industries and his focus on innovation brings a broad perspective to our company. Sean will help our organization mature as we improve the guest experience in concert with our partners," said Sean McNicholas, president and CEO of SSA.
Prior to joining SSA Holdings, Coughlin served in various executive capacities at global consulting firms. There, he honed his skills as an exceptional client advocate, always putting the client's greater goals and purposes at the forefront of every interaction. Through his client-centric approach, he has helped some of the world's largest companies meet and exceed their objectives.
Coughlin's tenured career includes leadership positions at PwC and Slalom, Inc. He has also served on various non-profit boards.
"I am excited to join the SSA family and a company that truly cares about its partners, clients, and employees," says Coughlin. "At the core of SSA is the unwavering desire to bring the best guest experience through strong execution and innovation. I look forward to working with this team and our partners."
In his new role at SSA Holdings, Coughlin will serve as a catalyst for advancing SSA's strategy of helping their partners and clients deliver an exceptional guest experience. This focus will allow SSA's partners to forward their mission and vision.
For more information about SSA Ventures and its innovative initiatives, please visit https://thessagroup.com/ventures.
About SSA Group
SSA Group partners with cultural attractions across the United States to maximize their mission and streamline the guest experience across integrated food and beverage, retail, and admissions services. SSA makes visits to cultural attractions unique and memorable for more than 58 million guests annually. With focuses on sustainability, technology and people, SSA Group brings products you can feel good about, smart technology to create efficiencies and friendly staff to each guest's visit. Built by families, for families, SSA Group is a family-owned business headquartered in Denver, CO. To learn more, visit: https://thessagroup.com/
SOURCE SSA Ventures
25 Inspiring Education Leaders Join the Surge Chicago Fellowship
CHICAGO, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Surge Institute 's Chicago Fellowship is thrilled to announce a powerful new collective of 25 brilliant education leaders beginning their Surge journey this month as they set out to accelerate their leadership and personal growth to become influential change agents in their communities. During their time in the Surge Fellowship program, the collective will hone their executive skills, problem-solving abilities and team-building techniques as they navigate complex topics surrounding the historical inequity in education and politics.
Surge Institute
"I am incredibly honored to welcome this exceptional group of leaders into the 2025 Chicago Surge Fellowship," said Ulric Shannon, Chicago Executive Director, Chicago Fellowship. "Each of these individuals brings a unique perspective and an unwavering commitment to transforming the educational landscape for our communities. As they embark on this journey, I am confident that they will grow as leaders and advocates for justice and equity in education."
Meet the 2025 Chicago Surge Fellows!
Aaron Talley English Teacher, Lindblom Math and Science Academy
English Teacher, Lindblom Math and Science Academy Brian J. Riddick Principal, Noble Schools | Butler College Prep
Principal, | Butler College Prep Camielle Taylor Managing Director, Scholar Support, LINK Unlimited Scholars
Managing Director, Scholar Support, LINK Unlimited Scholars Carina Kearley Associate Director, Academy for Urban School Leadership Chicago Teacher Residency
Associate Director, Academy for Urban School Leadership Chicago Teacher Residency Carletha Becton International Baccalaureate English Teacher, National Honor Society Advisor, Chicago Public Schools
International Baccalaureate English Teacher, National Honor Society Advisor, Public Schools Christina Weathersby Instructional Support Leader, Chicago Public Schools
Instructional Support Leader, Public Schools David Brown Senior Director of Communications, Noble Schools
Senior Director of Communications, Dr. Alyssa Hamler Dean of Students, Noble Schools (UIC College Prep)
Dean of Students, (UIC College Prep) Fantasia N. McGee-Jackson Literacy Specialist, Chicago Public Schools
Literacy Specialist, Public Schools Imani Strong Director of Enrollment and Recruitment, Chicago Tech Academy High School
Director of Enrollment and Recruitment, Chicago Tech Academy High School Jackie Ovalle English Learner (EL) Specialist, Chicago Public Schools - Office of Multilingual and Multicultural Education (OMME)
English Learner (EL) Specialist, Public Schools - Office of Multilingual and Multicultural Education (OMME) JaKendra Williams School Counselor, Chicago Public Schools
School Counselor, Public Schools Justin Walker Director of Culture and Engagement, Namaste Charter School
Director of Culture and Engagement, Kenneth Varner Senior Community Engagement Manager, Healthy Schools Campaign
Senior Community Engagement Manager, Healthy Schools Campaign Kyla Mathews EdDPrincipal, Epic Academy
EdDPrincipal, Epic Academy LaJenne Alcantar Director of Scholar Experience & Engagement, Chicago Scholars
Director of Scholar Experience & Engagement, Chicago Scholars Laurel Baker Senior Assistant General Counsel, Chicago Board of Education - Law Department
Senior Assistant General Counsel, Board of Education - Law Department Lauren Norwood Principal, Chicago Public Schools
Principal, Public Schools Makinde A. Adedapo Development Associate, It Takes A Village Family of Schools
Development Associate, It Takes A Village Family of Schools Philicia Wheatley Kindergarten Teacher/MTSS Lead, Poe Classical Elementary School
Kindergarten Teacher/MTSS Lead, Poe Classical Elementary School Rashad Davis Teacher, Gary Comer College Prep
Teacher, Gary Comer College Prep Rene Rodriguez Director of Pre-K, LEARN Charter Network
Director of Pre-K, LEARN Charter Network Tamara Littlejohn Principal, Chicago Public Schools
Principal, Public Schools Tyler Portis Senior Data Analyst, Noble Schools
Senior Data Analyst, Violeta Xochitl Cerna-Prado Assistant Principal, Chicago Public Schools
A signature program of Surge Institute , the Surge Fellowship serves as a best-in-class cohort experience that unites, accelerates and unleashes emerging leaders of color in education. The recruitment and selection of the 2025 class of Surge Chicago Fellows began earlier this year.
The Surge Fellowship experience is a 10-month journey of individual leadership development and racial healing, kinship building and collective transformation and movement-building. A key milestone in the experience is the Freedom Dreams Project (formerly known as the Capstone presentation ). Each fellow designs a major project that is reflective of their hopes and aspirations of love, justice and equityfor the community and for themselves as education and youth-serving leaders.
Initially created with the goal of expanding diversity in the education leadership pipeline, the Surge Institute Chicago Fellowship has now expanded in reach, activating, elevating and connecting mission-driven minds and thought leaders across the nation.
The Chicago Fellowship is made possible through collaboration with and support from a host of Chicago funders, investors and community partners who deeply believe in the genius within the Surge community.
About Surge Institute:
Surge Institute is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was established with a simple but important mission: to develop and elevate leaders of color who create transformative change for children, families and communities. Founded by Carmita Semaan in 2014, the organization was designed to empower emerging diverse leaders to change the landscape of education by providing them with a unique, authentic leadership development experience. To learn more about Surge Institute, please visit www.surgeinstitute.org .
PR Contact:
Kara Prior
myWHY Agency, Inc. for Surge Institute
[email protected]
(210) 846-4486
SOURCE Surge Institute
Meet the Local Entrepreneurs: David and Amanda Swedler
The couple is poised to contribute a new way for the community to experience the Bluegrass State's booming craft beer scene, new distilleries, wine culture, vibrant nightlife, and deep-rooted love of bourbon. David, an Akron, Ohio native, is a bariatric surgeon at CHI St. Joseph's Health in Lexington, while Amanda, who hails from Seattle, has a background working in the emergency room and as a bartender. Now proud Lexington residents, their combined expertise and passion for hospitality promise to make Tapster a standout community hub.
"For years, we have been looking for a great opportunity to open this type of business, and we believe this is it. We think Tapster will have an immediate impact on our new hometown," said David. "Lexington is a really fun 'going out' town, but we've noticed that every bar is packed to the point where it can be a long wait just to get a drink. We're hoping to fill that gap. With Tapster's self-pour concept, guests serve themselves as they please, eliminating long lines and wait times. People will have more time to spend with their friends, and to make new ones."
The Swedlers' decision to bring Tapster to Lexington was fueled by their professional ambition and personal connection to their new hometown. Their immersion in Lexington's vibrant social scene, characterized by a dynamic nightlife and a community thirsting for new experiences, highlighted a significant business opportunity. They recognized the city's blend of Southern charm and contagious energy, coupled with crowded bars and a strong demand for unique social venues, would make Lexington an ideal market for Tapster.
Realizing this potential, the Swedlers reached out to Tapster Founder & CEO, Roman Maliszewski, to turn their vision into reality. They knew the combination of Tapster's innovative self-pour beverages and community-first atmosphere would be the perfect solution for Lexington's diverse population, offering guests the freedom to explore and enjoy a wide range of drinks at their own pace without the usual wait.
Tapster and Lexington, the Perfect Match
"David and Amanda epitomize the true spirit of camaraderie that defines Tapster," said Maliszewski. "Previous industry experience isn't required to become a Tapster franchisee. Rather, we're focused on growing with entrepreneurs like David and Amanda who are all in. They need to be passionate about their community and lifting others up."
Lexington's growing population of young professionals, increasing tourism, proximity to the University of Kentucky and the new convention center, and strong nightlife scene, make it a prime location for Tapster's self-serve bar concept and curated beverage selection. Embracing Kentucky's status as the Bourbon Capital of the World, Tapster Lexington will feature several taps dedicated to self-pour bourbon tasting, allowing guests to enjoy 1- or 2-ounce servings, alongside a mostly locally curated selection of craft beers, wines, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages.
The new Tapster location aims to become a cornerstone of the Lexington community. The Swedlers plan to host a variety of engaging activities throughout the week including paint nights, game nights, trivia, karaoke, and more establishing Tapster as more than just a bar, but a vibrant social destination for locals and tourists alike.
Maliszewski added, "Everything lines up for Lexington to be a fantastic opportunity for our expansion. We're confident the Swedlers will be successful in making Tapster an inviting experience for all."
This Lexington development is a testament to Tapster's national franchise expansion strategy, targeting prime markets across the country. The self-pour concept offers franchisees a simplified bar franchise model with a proven track record of success. Tapster's innovative approach streamlines operations and eliminates the burden of complex staffing, food service requirements, and inventory frustrations. The hot, emerging franchise brand also caters to the growing consumer desire for customization and control.
To learn more about the Tapster franchise opportunity, visit https://tapsterfranchise.com.
About Tapster:
Tapster is a pioneering force, revolutionizing the social drinking experience. The innovative, self-pour bar concept offers 40-plus taps with a wide variety of beer, craft cocktails, wine, cider, hard seltzer, kombucha, cold brew coffee, and craft sodas. Guests sample a wide variety, at their own pace, and enjoy the welcoming atmosphere. Founded on core values surrounding environment, empowerment, and education, Tapster opened its first tasting room in 2017 and has five locations across the United States. With a proven business model focused on simplicity, profitability, and community engagement, Tapster offers owner-operator franchisees the opportunity to be part of a dynamic brand that is poised to reshape the way people experience and enjoy their favorite brews and cocktails. For more information, visit https://tapstertastingroom.com/ or https://tapsterfranchise.com.
Contact: Betty Anne Richardson | Franchise Elevator PR | [email protected] | (847) 945-1300 ext. 245
SOURCE Tapster
BERLIN, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TCL, a pioneer in display across feature-rich smartphones, tablets, and connected devices, proudly announces a strategic partnership with Microsoft to introduce cutting-edge AI capabilities to the TCL 50 NXTPAPER smartphones, the first in the innovative NXTPAPER series. Focused on improving readability, efficiency and accessibility, this partnership is dedicated to democratizing advanced technology delivering exceptional value and elevating the standards of TCLs NXTPAPER portfolio with the integration of AI.
TCL 50 PRO NXTPAPER 5G
This collaboration leverages Microsoft's cloud-based AI technologies including Azure's Open AI's Large Language Models (LLM) and Azure's Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR), to enhance productivity and efficiency in TCL devices. These technologies provide sophisticated text processing and voice memo, tailored to users' dynamic needs. These innovations highlight the potential for broader integration across the NXTPAPER series, ensuring a continuous evolution of intelligent, user-focused features.
"Today's mobile users demand more than just connectivity; they seek smart, seamless assistance that integrates into their daily lives," said Jefferson Li, General Manager of TCL Mobile Phone BU. "Our partnership with Microsoft enables us to address these needs by embedding advanced AI directly into their devices, transforming technological innovation into practical solutions that are both accessible and genuinely beneficial for our users."
Simultaneously, TCL underscores its commitment to robust data security practices, aligning with partners like Microsoft who are equally dedicated to maintaining user trust. Adherence to GDPR and other rigorous regulations ensures that every aspect of user data handling from collection to processing, storage and disposal is transparent and secure. Notably, upon first interaction, TCL AI devices present users with a comprehensive privacy policy and security measures through an initial notice and consent pop-up window. All user data is encrypted and stored on local European servers. Supported by the secure framework of Microsoft Azure, TCL AI can generate valuable responses while ensuring data safety. Furthermore, cloud-stored data is systematically purged after 7 days, and users retain the option to remove their data from the servers at any time, demonstrating TCL's proactive approach to data security in every user interaction.
"At Microsoft, we see AI not just as a tool for automation, but as a means to forge deeper, more meaningful connections between technology and everyday life," said Jeannette Baasner, Microsoft AI Technology Lead. "Partnering with TCL allows us to bring this vision to life, empowering users worldwide with our sophisticated AI technologies in ways that are intuitive and enriching. This initiative goes beyond productivity; it's about creating a more secure and understanding digital ecosystem that respects user needs and privacy."
The launch of AI capabilities on the TCL 50 NXTPAPER series smartphones is strategically designed to enhance the unique features of NXTPAPER technology, renowned for its eye comfort and superior readability. By incorporating AI, these devices offer a more personalized and responsive user experience, making reading and viewing simpler and more tailored. This integration of AI with NXTPAPER's core strengths sets a new standard for technology that intuitively meets and anticipates user needs.
TCL's Text Assistant introduces a seamless way for users to interact with text. It enables users to effortlessly manipulate text through simple drag and drop actions for translation, summarization, or content rewrite and style adjustments, enhancing productivity and convenience. Additionally, users can activate the writing assistant for composing emails, work summaries, invitations, and more, further simplifying access to these intelligent capabilities.
The Voice Memo feature employs AI to revolutionize meeting management for professionals. It allows users to record, transcribe and summarize both online and offline conversations, meetings and discussions. This functionality captures vital details and provides excerpts, allowing professionals to concentrate on discussions without the fear of missing important points substantially increasing efficiency and streamlining meeting management.
TCL's AI partnership with Microsoft begins with the TCL 50 NXTPAPER smartphones and will expand to encompass the future NXTPAPER series. This strategic expansion is designed to continuously refine the user experience, leveraging AI to develop new functionalities that capitalize on the distinct advantages of NXTPAPER technology. The future roadmap includes a broader spectrum of AI-driven enhancements aimed at enriching user interactions and system efficiency. Beyond the realm of smartphones, TCL is actively extending the application of AI technology to other device categories, enhancing not just connectivity, but also the overall functionality across its diverse product lines to 'Inspire Greatness' in everyday life.
About TCL Mobile
TCL Mobile specializes in the research, development and manufacturing of smartphones, tablets and connected devices. On a mission to deliver 5G for all, TCL Mobile helps its customers 'Inspire Greatness' in their lives through industry leading technology and solutions.
For more information on TCL mobile devices, please visit: https://www.tcl.com/global/en/mobile
About TCL
TCL Electronics specializes in the research, development and manufacturing of consumer electronics including TVs, mobile phones, audio devices, smart home products and appliances. Combining thoughtful design and innovative technology to inspire greatness, our lineup delivers must-have features and meaningful experiences. As one of the world's largest consumer electronics brands, our vertically integrated supply chain, and state-of-the-art display panel factory help TCL deliver innovation for all. For more information, please visit: https://www.tcl.com
TCL is a registered trademark of TCL Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE TCL Communication Technology Holdings Ltd.
QINGDAO, China, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news release from qingdaonews.com:
With the theme of "Multinationals and China", the 5th Qingdao Multinationals Summit officially kicked off at Qingdao International Conference Center on August 27th. Let's get close to the opening ceremony to experience this grand event.
Summit
This year's summit continues to focus on the theme of "Multinationals and China", taking stock of the results of Shandong and multinational companies in the past five years, looking forward to the future at the same time, and designing four "firsts". This year is the first time that the summit has launched the multinationals investment exchanges and cooperation conference and organised the SCODA and other functional areas for thematic promotion. The summit also arranges a thematic forum on new quality productive forces-empowered high-quality development and carries out the special promotion of innovative talents in the marine field.
In addition, the summit sets up a "Remarkable Shandong" interactive experience link to provide a better participation experience for multinational companies. This link lets the guests experience the unique charm of Shandong's high-quality products.
SOURCE qingdaonews.com
WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Higher education and policy leaders should act now to make civic learning and democracy engagement (CLDE) part of all students' degree requirements. And they should broaden the meanings of "student success" to include students' gains in civic purpose, bridge-building across differences, and career-related work on public good issues and problem-solving.
That's the action agenda outlined in Every Student, Every Degree: College Civic Learning for Today's Students and Tomorrow's Democracy. The report, written with support from Endeavor Foundation, was released September 4, 2024, in a national webinar.
The report comes from the Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement (CLDE) Coalition, which is led by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), Campus Compact, College Promise, Complete College America (CCA), and the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO).
"Civic purpose should always have been included in the meanings of student success. And going forward, it will be," said Yolanda Watson Spiva, President of CCA, who spoke in a national webinar publicizing the new report.
Research presented in Every Student, Every Degree shows both students' waning confidence in democracy and an acute shortfall in college students' opportunities to talk with people whose experiences are very different from their own.
The needed course correction, says Every Student, Every Degree, should be each college student's exploration of their own roles in a democratic society, and each student's developmentthrough their college studiesof "small-d democratic skills," including the ability to talk and work productively with partners who disagree.
Civic inquiry and projects should be woven into students' major fields, including the career-related and STEM fields that most students select.
The report highlights research showing that employers are significantly more likely to hire graduates with the skills and experiences that college civic learning provides.
The report features a new CLDE Framework for college civic learning that coalition leaders developed in dialogue with educators throughout the United States. The CLDE Framework includes:
Democracy Knowledge and Levers for Change
Bridge-Building and Problem-Solving Skills
Practical Experience and Projects, and
Career-Related Civic and Ethical Learning.
Moving civic learning from neglected to expected may seem like a big lift. But as Every Student, Every Degree shows, many trail-blazing leaders have already begun this work. The report features numerous "Full Participation" (FPI) examples across all sectors in US higher educationthat already are tailoring required civic inquiry and democracy studies to decidedly different institutional missions and student interests.
Actively encouraging this college civic learning momentum, two of the seven institutional accrediting commissions have recently changed their standards to make civic engagement requiredpotentially influencing over a thousand two-and four-year institutions and millions of students. All seven are actively partnering with the CLDE Coalition.
The report also highlights the Multi-State Collaborative (MSC), which works in partnership with the CLDE Coalition and now includes 14 state systems. The MSC's stated goal is to make civic learning part of what it means to earn a degree or credentialand to help their member institutions achieve that goal.
"Too often, in higher education," said Timothy Eatman, Chair of the AAC&U Board of Directors, "we fetishize things that are novel. Bringing Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement (CLDE) into the curriculum is important work that builds on long-term efforts to reward and expand publicly engaged scholarship and teaching. Our democracy clearly needs us to speed it up."
About the CLDE Coalition:
The Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement (CLDE) Coalition brings together education and policy organizations committed to making college CLDE a priority across higher education and in public policy. The coalition was formed in 2021, in response to the serious challenges facing democracy, at home and abroad
For more information, please visit www.collegeciviclearning.org or contact [email protected]
For press inquiries:
Siah Annand (she/her)
Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement Coalition | collegeciviclearning.org
[email protected] | 202.494.9329
SOURCE The Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement Coalition (CLDE)
Scholarships Made Possible By Airbnb Community Fund Grant, Enable Selected Primary Care Providers from Underserved Communities to Attend Intensive CBT Training for Treating Anxiety in Children and Teens
NEW YORK, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the CDC, nearly one in five children in the United States has a diagnosable mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder, yet only 20% receive the treatment they need. This gap in care is largely due to a lack of mental health training among clinicians, including primary care providers (nurse practitioners, family physicians, physician assistants, and pediatricians). To address this critical shortfall, The REACH Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to effective, evidence-based mental health care for children and families, has awarded 50 REACH Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) Scholarships to primary care clinicians nationwide. Recipients will use the scholarships to attend REACH's CBT for Anxiety in Pediatric Primary Care program, which begins today.
Funding for these CBT Scholarships was made possible by a grant from the Airbnb Community Fund that supports organizations working to strengthen communities Airbnb hosts call home. REACH CBT Scholarships are awarded to primary care providers working in underserved communities throughout the United States. The 50 clinicians receiving this round of CBT Scholarships represent medical doctors, doctors of osteopathic medicine, nurse practitioners, and certified physician assistants, from 19 states. Several recipients work in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), which provide healthcare services to patients regardless of their ability to pay.
The REACH Institute provides gold standard training developed with renowned experts in the field of youth mental health. Post this
A doctor in California said the CBT Scholarship will "significantly impact my professional development as an African American pediatrician," and continued, "integrating cognitive behavioral techniques into my practice will help bridge the gap in mental health services and reduce the stigma associated with seeking therapy in minority communities."
REACH provides gold standard training developed with renowned experts in the field of youth mental health, grounded in the science of behavior change, and supported by rigorous program evaluation. Participants consistently score REACH training programs in the top 10% of continuing education courses, citing presentation quality, content, and relevance to their practice.
Another CBT Scholarship recipient, a nurse practitioner in Georgia, shared, "I work in a rural community, and the patients we serve have very limited resources. Our pediatric psychiatry population is multiplying greatly, and even those with resources cannot receive quality care in a timely fashion. Even those with resources have difficulty finding CBT. My goal is to learn ways to 'mind the gap' while waiting for therapy and equipping families who are struggling."
CBT for Anxiety in Pediatric Primary Care program includes a full-day training session followed by four group learning and mentoring sessions, during which participants learn to effectively use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to support children and teens with anxiety. The course aims to help primary care clinicians identify and understand the core components of youth anxiety, screen and assess for anxiety in the primary care setting, and use evidence-based CBT techniques to support anxious children.
A nurse practitioner and CBT Scholarship recipient in Texas said, "Since noticing the significant increase in anxiety concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic and completing my DNP project on anxiety screening, I have gained an appreciation for the mental health crisis and the need to promptly treat children and adolescents experiencing anxiety and other mental health concerns to decrease their long-term risks and increase their quality of life."
Registration is now open for the next CBT for Anxiety in Pediatric Primary Care program, which begins Oct. 18, 2024.
About The REACH Institute
The REACH Institute is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that the most effective, scientifically proven mental health care reaches all children and families. Since 2006, REACH has trained more than 8,000 primary care providers in evidence-based mental health care. The organization addresses the critical shortage of pediatric mental health services, especially in underserved areas, by providing intensive training programs for healthcare professionals to better diagnose, treat, and manage mental health issues in children and adults. For more information, visit https://thereachinstitute.org .
SOURCE The REACH Institute
NEW YORK, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report with the AI impact on market trends- The global threat intelligence security market size is estimated to grow by USD 17.00 billion from 2023-2027, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of almost 23.7% during the forecast period. Rising number of cyberattacks on connected devices or systems is driving market growth, with a trend towards threat intelligence sharing. However, increasing complexity of it infrastructure poses a challenge. Key market players include Anomali Inc., BlueVoyant, Check Point Software Technologies Ltd., Cisco Systems Inc., Datto Holdings Corp., F Secure Corp., Farsight Security Inc., Fortinet Inc., Intel 471 Inc., International Business Machines Corp., Juniper Networks Inc., KKR and Co. Inc., LogRhythm Inc., Musarubra US LLC, NortonLifeLock Inc., Open Text Corp., Splunk Inc., Trend Micro Inc., ZeroFox Inc., and Palo Alto Networks Inc.
Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Threat Intelligence Security Market 2023-2027
Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View the snapshot of this report
Threat Intelligence Security Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017 - 2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 23.7% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 17000.22 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 22.01 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 35% Key countries US, China, India, UK, and Germany Key companies profiled Anomali Inc., BlueVoyant, Check Point Software Technologies Ltd., Cisco Systems Inc., Datto Holdings Corp., F Secure Corp., Farsight Security Inc., Fortinet Inc., Intel 471 Inc., International Business Machines Corp., Juniper Networks Inc., KKR and Co. Inc., LogRhythm Inc., Musarubra US LLC, NortonLifeLock Inc., Open Text Corp., Splunk Inc., Trend Micro Inc., ZeroFox Inc., and Palo Alto Networks Inc
Market Driver
Threat intelligence, gathered from various sources, is essential for enterprises to protect their networks from cyber attacks. However, accessing a vast amount of threat information can be costly, making it a challenge for smaller organizations. The Cyber Threat Alliance, comprised of leading security companies like Symantec, McAfee, Palo Alto Networks, and Fortinet, aims to address this issue by sharing and validating real-time threat data. This collaboration reduces detection and remediation time for members, enabling them to understand their network's threat status in comparison to their peer group companies. Crowdsourcing platforms for threat intelligence further enhance this effort by involving a large group of skilled individuals and organizations to combat newly emerging threats, such as ransomware, increasing overall efficiency in the fight against cyber attacks.
The cybersecurity threat intelligence market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing volumes of new threats and cyberattacks. Adversaries are using innovative tactics, such as deepfake technology and distorted multimedia material, to bypass detection procedures. Threat analysis and detection are crucial for cybersecurity operations, as data breaches can lead to customer trust issues and damage to brand reputation. Silobreaker and enterprise geopolitical intelligence are key players in this market, providing valuable insights into adversarial behavior and potential geopolitical hazards. Advanced algorithms and quantum computing are being used to enhance threat intelligence systems and improve threat hunting skills. Specific industries, such as healthcare, finance, energy, and IoT security, are particularly vulnerable to cyber threats. Ransomware and advanced persistent threats are common attacks, and mobile security is becoming increasingly important with the continuous digitization process and the widespread use of cloud computing and mobile technologies. Strict regulations, such as those in the BFSI industry regarding sensitive financial data, require organizations to invest in cutting-edge cybersecurity measures, including Zero Trust Architecture, behavioral biometrics, and insider threat detection. Mobile threat management and instructional materials are also essential for staying ahead of the curve in this ever-evolving threat landscape.
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Market Challenges
The Threat Intelligence Security Market faces a significant challenge due to the increasing complexity of IT network infrastructure. With the introduction of new security solutions from vendors, integration issues and system slowdowns can occur. These problems may lead to customer dissatisfaction and potential loss of business. To address this, vendors must ensure their threat intelligence security products seamlessly integrate with both third-party solutions and previous information systems. However, this increased complexity could potentially introduce operational or interface issues for end-users. Thus, managing the intricacy of network infrastructure remains a critical concern for vendors in the Threat Intelligence Security Market.
In today's digital world, businesses face increasing threats to their IT assets from various sources. Digital transformation, connected devices, and industrial systems bring new risks, such as Point-of-Sale (POS) systems, handheld devices, and M2M communication vulnerabilities. Threat intelligence is crucial to stay ahead of these risks, including deceptions from hackers using phishing, zero-day attacks, and insider assaults. Industries like banking and finance, energy, and mining face significant financial losses from cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Next-generation security services are essential to combat these risks, especially in the cloud segment where the attack surface is vast and unknown threats abound. SMEs and large enterprises alike require risk intelligence products to manage their security architecture and comply with mandates and regulatory pressure. Cyber risks come from various sources, including cybercriminals, nation-states, and insiders. Security operations need to be intelligence-driven to make informed decisions and prevent delivery, exploitation, command-and-control, and control ability threats. Risk analytics provide supporting data for effective risk management and compliance. The global community must work together to mitigate cyber risks and protect critical accesses from cyberattacks.
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Segment Overview
This threat intelligence security market report extensively covers market segmentation by
Deployment
1.1 Cloud
1.2 On-premises
End-user
2.1 BFSI
2.2 IT and telecom
2.3 Healthcare
2.4 Transportation and logistics
2.5 Others
Geography
3.1 North America
3.2 Europe
3.3 APAC
3.4 South America
3.5 Middle East and Africa
1.1 Cloud- The cloud-based threat intelligence security segment is currently leading the global threat intelligence security market. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly adopting cloud-based solutions due to their cost-effectiveness and ease of use. These services do not require any software installation and can be accessed on a subscription basis, with monthly fees covering maintenance and system upgrades. During the forecast period, cloud-based threat intelligence security is expected to experience significant revenue growth compared to on-premises solutions. This trend is driven by the increasing shift of enterprises towards cloud-based security, which requires threat intelligence products and services to offer comprehensive security solutions such as email and web security, hosted DDoS mitigation, and advanced persistent threat (APT) protection. Threat intelligence products and services provide 24/7 monitoring capabilities to prevent advanced malware activities and a scalable, secure cloud environment to protect against distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. However, concerns around data confidentiality and lack of control over security may hinder the adoption of cloud-based threat intelligence security among large enterprises, resulting in a moderate decline in the market growth rate during the forecast period.
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Research Analysis
The Threat Intelligence Security market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing volumes of cybersecurity threats and the emergence of new threats that require constant analysis and detection. With cybercriminals employing innovative adversarial behavior and cutting-edge cyber tactics, organizations are turning to threat intelligence systems to stay ahead of potential hazards. Data breaches, cyber attacks on sensitive data, and deceptions such as zero-day attacks pose a significant risk to businesses in various sectors, including defense contractors, retailers, e-commerce, and international trade unions. The digital transformation and the proliferation of connected devices, from handheld devices to Point-of-Sale (POS) systems, have expanded the attack surface and heightened the need for robust threat intelligence. Silobreaker and other threat intelligence providers offer valuable insights into adversarial behavior and potential geopolitical hazards, helping organizations to fortify their cybersecurity operations and protect their assets.
Market Research Overview
The Threat Intelligence Security market is experiencing exponential growth due to the increasing volumes of new threats in the cybersecurity landscape. With innovative adversaries employing cutting-edge cyber tactics, threat analysis and detection procedures are becoming essential for businesses to protect against data breaches and potential geopolitical hazards. Threat intelligence systems are being utilized to identify and respond to adversarial behavior, including deepfake technology and distorted multimedia material. As the digital revolution continues, industries such as healthcare, finance, energy, and IoT security face unique challenges. Advanced algorithms and quantum computing are being used to enhance encryption techniques and Zero Trust Architecture, while behavioral biometrics and mobile threat management help mitigate insider threats. Sensitive data in specific industries, such as BFSI, is under constant threat from cyberattacks, ransomware, advanced persistent threats, and insider assaults. Strict regulations and the continuous digitization process require holistic cybersecurity partners to provide advanced threat identification, incident handling, and vulnerability management. Cybersecurity architecture must adapt to provide flawless customer experiences while maintaining a high level of security. Next-generation security services, including threat hunting skills and mobile threat management, are crucial in this ever-evolving landscape. The digital transformation has led to an increase in connected devices, point-of-sale systems, handheld devices, and M2M communication. Secure control systems for industrial systems, subsea oil wells, and mines are vital to prevent financial losses and protect against cyber-attacks, phishing, and zero-day attacks. Threat intelligence plays a critical role in staying ahead of the curve and ensuring customer trust and brand reputation. Deceptions, such as Silobreaker and enterprise geopolitical intelligence, provide valuable insights into potential threats and help businesses make informed decisions. Overall, the Threat Intelligence Security market is a crucial component of any organization's cybersecurity strategy.
Table of Contents:
1 Executive Summary
2 Market Landscape
3 Market Sizing
4 Historic Market Size
5 Five Forces Analysis
6 Market Segmentation
Deployment
Cloud
On-premises
End-user
BFSI
IT And Telecom
Healthcare
Transportation And Logistics
Others
Geography
North America
Europe
APAC
South America
Middle East And Africa
7 Customer Landscape
8 Geographic Landscape
9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends
10 Company Landscape
11 Company Analysis
12 Appendix
About Technavio
Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.
With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.
Contacts
Technavio Research
Jesse Maida
Media & Marketing Executive
US: +1 844 364 1100
UK: +44 203 893 3200
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.technavio.com/
SOURCE Technavio
ATLANTA and BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Marketing solutions agency Luckie today announced that Tina Chadwick has joined the agency as head of accounts.
Tina Chadwick joins Luckie as Head of Accounts
In this new role, Chadwick is responsible for oversight of Luckie's client solutions and account management functions, ensuring client engagements are met with innovative, high-impact solutions and providing leadership for Luckie's cross-office team of account and project managers. Chadwick will collaborate closely with Luckie's creative, strategy, and business intelligence teams to align client goals with agency expertise, ultimately driving long-term partnerships and business outcomes.
Throughout her career, Chadwick has held director and creative leadership roles with multi-national and independent advertising agencies including Moxie, 22squared, and J. Walter Thompson, leading programs for national brands such as Verizon Wireless, Shoney's, Oshkosh, Georgia-Pacific, SunTrust Bank and Florida's Natural. She is joining Luckie from Miller Zell, where she most recently was senior vice president of strategy, creative and digital. She previously served as managing director of creative strategy for the American Cancer Society.
"Tina brings to Luckie a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of our industry that will be invaluable to both our client partners and our team," said John Gardner, president and CEO of Luckie. "I know her leadership will elevate our relationships and have a big impact on the success and growth of the agency."
Chadwick holds a bachelor's degree in communications/advertising from Florida State University. She also earned a Strategic Marketing program certificate and is an alumnus of Harvard Business School Executive Education, where she was voted to give the commencement speech for her program's graduating class.
Chadwick lives with her family in Atlanta and is based out of Luckie's Atlanta office.
ABOUT LUCKIE: One of the top privately held marketing firms in the Southeast, Luckie is a creative, data-driven agency that builds brands and brand experiences to solve real business problems and achieve results luck can't explain. Luckie works with companies in healthcare, travel & tourism, CPG, and financial services including Regions Bank, RaceTrac, BCBSAL, and Panama City Beach.
SOURCE Luckie and Company
5 data center shell site will offer 2.5M SF of space and 300 MW of secured critical power (with potential for more), providing an excellent opportunity for CSP's and Hyperscale users
NEW YORK and WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Town Lane, a real estate investment management firm, and PowerHouse Data Centers ("PowerHouse"), a leading real estate developer and owner of next-generation hyperscale data centers, and fully owned division of American Real Estate Partners (AREP), today announced the completed purchase of 122 acres in Charlotte, North Carolina via a joint venture partnership between both companies. The land site is the future home to PowerHouse Charlotte, a five-building, 2.5 million square feet data center campus that will have 300 MW, with the potential to increase to 500MW, of secured power by April 2027.
Tyler Henritze, Founder & Managing Partner, Town Lane, commented, "We recognize the ongoing demand for digital infrastructure and that Charlotte has emerged as a compelling data center market given its access to renewable power and connectivity; which is why we are excited to partner with an experienced developer like PowerHouse, who has strong proven technical and power procurement capabilities, to develop this site."
We are proud to bring PowerHouse Charlotte to market with Town Lane as our partner and in lockstep with Duke Energy. Post this
Brian Katz, PowerHouse President & Co-founder, commented, "Our deep real estate relationships are foundational to PowerHouse's success and instrumental in our ability to rewrite the data center development playbook. We have a tremendous amount of respect for Town Lane and are thrilled to collaborate on our first project together."
The site is conveniently located less than 10 miles from downtown Charlotte and has great access points due to immediate proximity to the nearby intersection of I-485 and Highway 49. The site will have access to 15 MW of bridging power in Q4 2026, given an existing adjacent substation, and has partnered with Duke Energy to build an additional substation on the site to deliver the incremental 500MW of power utilizing Duke's ability to deliver >50% renewable power given nuclear power generation.
Doug Fleit, PowerHouse CEO & Co-founder, added, "We are proud to bring PowerHouse Charlotte to market with Town Lane as our partner and in lockstep with Duke Energy. The site is ideally located with near-term power already secured, offering unparalleled opportunity, connectivity, and access to carbon-free power".
Advisors: Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is serving as legal counsel to Town Lane, and Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP is serving as legal counsel to PowerHouse. Eastdil Secured, LLC advised on the land sale.
ABOUT TOWN LANE
Town Lane is a boutique, relationship-driven real estate investment manager. The Firm, based in New York City, invests thematically and nimbly across commercial real estate sectors and through the capital stack. Town Lane was founded in 2024 after raising $1.25 billion of institutional investor capital targeting opportunistic returns for its inaugural fund. Town Lane's investment strategy seeks to identify emerging trends, evaluate misunderstood opportunities, and capitalize on episodic market dislocations. For more information on Town Lane, please visit www.townlane.com .
ABOUT POWERHOUSE DATA CENTERS
PowerHouse Data Centers, a wholly owned division of American Real Estate Partners (AREP), is a developer and owner of next-generation data centers and provides technical real estate solutions for hyperscalers across the country. Starting in Northern Virginia's Data Center Alley, the world's largest data center market, before strategically expanding to key markets across the United States, PowerHouse owns its land sites, offering unparalleled fast-track approvals and zoning approvals in its full suite of development services. As an industry disruptor, PowerHouse provides flexible next-generation data center models with the quickest speed to market of any data center while meeting hyperscalers' growing market, data, utility, and space demands. The company has 30 buildings currently in planning or underway, representing over 2.3 GW of power in six major US markets. Operating as the data center division of AREP, PowerHouse is uniquely positioned as a leader in world-class data center development. With some of the industry's deepest real estate relationships, PowerHouse leverages its strategic joint venture partnerships, proven leadership, and best-in-class technical expertise to deliver innovative real estate solutions nationwide. Visit our newsroom for more information, and follow us on LinkedIn , YouTube, and X .
SOURCE PowerHouse Data Centers
Valmet Oyj press release September 5, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. EEST
ESPOO, Finland, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Valmet starts change negotiations on September 5, 2024, that affect its Paper business line's Board and Paper Mills business unit. The business unit develops and delivers board and paper making lines and technologies globally.
The negotiations include a plan to consider measures aimed at improving the profitability and competitiveness of the business operations. The business unit has already earlier this year initiated actions to adapt to the changed market situation, but those actions have not been sufficient. The scope of the negotiations starting now covers all employees in Board and Paper Mills business unit in Finland, in total, approximately 1,300 people. Other organizations or employees in Paper business line are not included in the scope.
The plan includes restructuring organizational structures, development of ways of working and adjustment of personnel to the work situation. According to company's preliminary view, the potential measures include temporary and permanent layoffs, retirements, and internal work arrangements within Valmet. The estimated number of permanent employee reductions is approximately 200 positions. The exact details regarding the extent and targeting of the potential temporary and permanent layoffs will be clarified during the negotiation process.
Valmet has in total more than 19,000 employees globally, and in Finland it employs around 6,600 people.
VALMET
Corporate Communications
For further information, please contact:
Mikko Sillanpaa, Vice President, Paper business line, Board and Paper Mills business unit, Valmet, tel. +358 40 766 4971
Petri Rasinmaki, Business Line President, Paper, Valmet, tel. +358 40 042 8422
Valmet has a global customer base across various process industries. We are a leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries, and with our automation and flow control solutions we serve an even wider base of process industries. Our more than 19,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward every day.
The company has over 220 years of industrial history and a strong track record in continuous improvement and renewal. Valmet's net sales in 2023 were approximately EUR 5.5 billion.
Valmet's shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki and the head office is in Espoo, Finland.
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Harris to Meet with Teamsters, Leadership on Sept. 16 in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters will host a rank-and-file Presidential roundtable with Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday, Sept. 16, at the union's headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Harris has committed to meet with union members, the Teamsters General Executive Board, General President Sean M. O'Brien, and General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman.
"We appreciate Vice President Harris taking the time to meet in person with rank-and file Teamsters. Our members are the backbone of this nation, working in all 50 states and representing every political background. We look forward to having a conversation on the direction of the country and the issues that matter to working people," O'Brien said.
Harris will have the opportunity to discuss how she and the Teamsters can work together to empower and protect workers, promote high labor standards, and strengthen the American economy while expanding the middle class.
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump attended Teamsters rank-and-file roundtables earlier this year. In December, the Teamsters invited all declared candidates for U.S. President to participate in individual roundtables to discuss issues that are important to rank-and-file Teamsters and their families.
Rank-and-file members participating in the roundtables represent the diverse Teamsters membership, including UPS drivers, American Red Cross workers, film and television professionals, freight operators, law enforcement, and public employees.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has not issued an endorsement in the 2024 race.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters .
Contact:
Kara Deniz, (202) 497-6610
[email protected]
SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters
NORTH VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Western Group, a leading logistics provider connecting global trade to Canada's marine, rail, and road transportation corridors, today announced that it has rebranded under the SSA Marine name, reflecting the company's important role as part of the global SSA Marine network of marine terminals.
Since 2006, Western Group has been part of the Carrix family of companies and has worked closely with SSA Marine to leverage their collective strengths, best practices, and extensive industry experience for the benefit of their container, breakbulk, bulk, auto, and cruise customers in North America.
As part of this transition, Western Group and its marine terminal and stevedoring entities, Western Stevedoring and Squamish Terminals, will rebrand under the SSA Marine brand name. Western IntermodeX will become IntermodeX, an SSA Marine Enterprise. Intermodal brands Coast 2000, Interhold, and Quickload Logistics will unify under the IntermodeX brand.
"Western Group and SSA Marine have worked very closely together for many years, and bringing our teams and operations together under one brand name is a fantastic opportunity to further unify our North American operations in service to our customers," said Lauren Offenbecher, President of SSA Marine's conventional division. "While our brand names may be changing, our day-to-day operations and commitment to our customers remains exactly the same."
Dave Lucas, President of Western Group, added, "Integrating Western Group's Canadian operations with SSA Marine's extensive global reach will provide a wealth of new opportunities for our employees, customers, and partners. I couldn't be more thrilled for the future of our combined maritime and intermodal operations."
About Carrix and SSA Marine
Carrix and its subsidiary SSA Marine are among the world's leading independent, privately held marine terminal operators, with activities at more than 250 terminal facilities and rail yards in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, and Asia. Its subsidiary, Tideworks Technology, offers innovative technology solutions for the transportation industry. Founded in 1949, Carrix has continuously expanded its global footprint while always prioritizing customer interests, and now employs more than 19,000 people worldwide.
SOURCE Western Group
WICHITA, Kan., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the total cost of insurance fraud is estimated to be more than $40 billion per year. Insurance fraud affects not only the insurance industry but also policyholders, who end up paying higher premiums (between $400 and $700 annually per U.S. household) as a result. Don't get caught up in an insurance schemeour white collar crime lawyers in Wichita, Kansas, at the McConnell Law Firm are detailing everything you need to know about insurance fraud. Keep reading to learn more!
What Is Insurance Fraud?
Insurance fraud is considered a form of white collar crime in which a claimant seeks insurance compensation for a falsified claim (something that hasn't occurred or has occurred under false pretense). When it comes to such activities, insurance fraud generally falls into two broader categorieshard fraud and soft fraud.
Hard Fraud occurs when someone deliberately plans or invents a loss, such as faking an accident or injury, to collect money from an insurance company.
Let's See an Example: A claimant stages a car crash and then submits a false claim to collect on the policy.
Soft Fraud is more subtle and often involves inflating or exaggerating an otherwise legitimate claim.
Let's See an Example: A homeowner who experienced a minor flood might add a few extra items to the list of damaged goods in hopes of receiving a larger payout from the insurance company.
How Can I Be Charged?
While misrepresentation of claims remains one of the most common forms of insurance fraud, you could be charged as a result of various different activities. Some other activities that may cause individuals and businesses to face charges include:
Filing False or Exaggerated Claims
Filing false or exaggerated claims could involve anything from reporting a nonexistent theft and exaggerating the extent of an injury to submitting claims for damage that was intentionally inflicted. Insurance companies often conduct their own investigations into claims, and if discrepancies are found, they may be reported to law enforcement, leading to fraud charges.
Intentionally Providing False Information
Falsifying information on an insurance application is a serious offense that can result in insurance fraud charges. Providing incorrect details about your health, lifestyle, or the value of property or assets in an attempt to secure lower premiums or higher payouts can quickly lead to criminal charges.
Working With Co-Conspirators
In some cases, insurance fraud involves more than one party. For example, an individual might work with a doctor to submit fraudulent medical claims or with a mechanic to inflate the cost of auto repairs. Make no mistakethese co-conspirators can also face criminal charges.
Engaging in Fraudulent Billing Practices
Individual claimants aren't the only ones who may face criminal charges due to insurance fraud; businesses can also be charged for fraudulent billing practices. This might involve charging insurance companies for services that were never rendered or inflating the cost of services that were performed. Because insurance companies often audit providers' billing practices, extensive discrepancies can lead to criminal investigations.
Understanding Legal Penalties
In the state of Kansas, insurance fraud is typically classified as a felony unless the amount involved is less than $1,000, in which the act is considered a class C nonperson misdemeanor. Depending on the severity of the fraud and the amount involved, consequences will vary; however, typical penalties include:
Prison TimeConvictions for insurance fraud may result in significant prison sentences, especially for large-scale or repeated fraud.
FinesFines can be substantial, sometimes amounting to thousands of dollars, depending on the case.
RestitutionCourts may order those convicted of insurance fraud to repay the money they illegally obtained, plus interest.
Loss of Professional LicensesHealthcare providers, attorneys, and other professionals who commit insurance fraud may lose their licenses, barring them from continuing their work.
Have You Been Accused?
If you are facing fraud charges, we encourage you to contact the McConnell Law Firm as soon as possible. While every case is different, and no conclusions should be drawn without first consulting one of our white collar crime lawyers in Wichita about the specifics of your case, it is always in your best interest to have a skilled attorney by your side from the beginning.
Request a Free Consultation
Do you or a loved one need the assistance of an experienced white collar crime lawyer in Wichita? We encourage you to contact the McConnell Law Firm at (316) 243-5903 for a free consultation.
jonathanwmcconnell.com
SOURCE McConnell Law Firm
Vertafore introduces AI automation in industry's leading benefits solution, reducing medical plan data entry by up to 45 minutes
DENVER, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vertafore, the leader in modern insurance technology, announced its latest innovation to empower benefits brokers: automated importing for SBC data into BenefitPoint. The feature leverages artificial intelligence technology to identify and map data from benefits and coverage documents and populate the data directly into BenefitPoint. With this simplified and automated process, brokers save up to 45 minutes per plan and increase overall data quality.
Summary of Benefits and Coverages (SBC) documents are essential components of the benefits process, laying out a health plan's costs, covered services and other information important to end-insureds. Traditionally, benefits brokers must manually enter SBC data into their system or outsource data entry at a significant cost.
The AI capabilities in BenefitPoint address those challenges by converting the information from SBC documents into the correct fields in the system in approximately a minute. Brokers benefit from improved data accuracy, faster data entry, enhanced benchmarking and overall analytics.
BenefitPoint is the industry's first benefits solution to offer this time-saving technology, just as brokers gear up for the busy benefits season. Users will see immediate value with faster data mapping and will experience even greater speed and accuracy as the technology learns.
"The BenefitPoint OCR SBC auto upload is an extremely helpful enhancement," said Melissa Wade, senior training associate consultant at Connor Strong & Buckelew. "This feature saves our employee benefits account team time and it's a great solution to a previous pain point."
Vertafore rolled out medical plan upload automation during its most recent BenefitPoint release. Other new features include streamlined NAICS code entry; an Applies to Rates section, enabling users to select, move and track rates seamlessly; and a View Audit Log, allowing comprehensive tracking of attachment-related actions.
"Tens of thousands of independent agents and benefits brokers rely on BenefitPoint to connect their clients with the coverage options they need to be an employer of choice," said James Thom, chief product officer at Vertafore. "As our benefits customers prepare for their busiest time of the year, this latest release delivers even better product performance and efficiency to streamline their operations."
BenefitPoint is the only agency management system built for benefits brokers. Learn more at www.vertafore.com/products/benefitpoint.
About Vertafore
As North America's InsurTech leader for 55 years, Vertafore is modernizing and simplifying the insurance life cycle so that our customers can focus on what matters most. Vertafore's solutions provide end-to-end connectivity across the distribution channel, improve the client and agent experience, unlock the power of data, and streamline essential workflows to drive efficiency, productivity, and profitability for independent agencies, MGAs and carriers. For more information about Vertafore, visit www.vertafore.com.
2024 Vertafore and the Vertafore logo are registered trademarks of Vertafore. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
MEDIA CONTACT:
INK Communications
[email protected]
SOURCE Vertafore, Inc.
New Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Growth Officer Join Better-For-You Restaurant Platform
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- WOWorks, the parent company of good-for-you restaurant brands Saladworks, Frutta Bowls, Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, The Simple Greek, Barberitos and Z!Eats, has tapped two restaurant industry veterans to join the leadership team and help propel the brand's marketing and growth initiatives.
Joel Bulger has been named the company's Chief Marketing Officer. Bulger brings with him a 25-year career in marketing and brand development in the restaurant space, including with brands On The Border, Zaxby's, Johnny Rockets and Focus Brands/GoTo Foods where he earned a reputation for his ability to drive guest traffic and enhance menu profitability.
Steve Corp will step into the role of Chief Growth Officer. With a robust background in franchise development and sales, Corp's proficiency in steering brands through rapid expansion and cultivating strong relationships with franchisees will be instrumental to WOWorks' portfolio of brands. Corp previously held leadership roles at Dinebrands and Focus Brands/GoTo Foods.
Bulger and Corp both started their new roles Sept. 4.
"We are looking forward to expanding our leadership team as we continue to build a strong foundation that drives our mission to become one of the leading plant-forward and good-for-you restaurant companies in the space," said Kelly Roddy, CEO of WOWorks. "With Joel and Steve's extensive experience within this industry, our brands are well-positioned for sustained growth and success."
WOWorks, which has close to 400 restaurants operating nationwide, continues to lead the industry in innovation and growth opportunities for its franchisees, while ensuring that customers enjoy delicious and wholesome meals. For more information about franchise opportunities with WOWorks brands, visit woworksusa.com/a-place-to-invest/.
About WOWorks
WOWorks was formed in 2020 with a mission to help guests pursue their passions and live their best lives by serving healthier for you and flavorful meals along with its Vow to "WOW!" guest hospitality. Fully owned by Centre Lane Partners, LLC, WOWorks' portfolio, in addition to its newest brands, Barberitos Southwestern Grille and Cantina and Z!Eats, consists of: Saladworks, the nation's leading fast-casual salad brand; Frutta Bowls, a unique restaurant franchise serving a variety of superfood bowls, fresh fruit smoothies, protein bites and more; Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, a popular Mediterranean restaurant concept; The Simple Greek, which offers a fresh and healthy take on traditional Greek recipes in a fast-casual setting. WOWorks seeks to drive explosive growth across all of its brands through a variety of channels, both traditional and non-traditional, including ghost kitchens, food trucks, grocery retail and more.
Media Contact: Sara Faiwell, Fishman Public Relations, [email protected] or (847) 945-1300
SOURCE WOWorks / Fishman PR
New learning modules will help students make informed choices with the goal of achieving their post-high school financial aspirations.
AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Zogo, a Gen Z-powered financial literacy company, and BigFuture, a free platform for college and career planning in high school, announced their new partnership that will provide free financial education to high school students and families.
Zogo offers a suite of tools with bite-sized content and rewards that make learning about various financial topics, from loans to insurance, fun and engaging. BigFuture is a free online resource powered by College Board that assists millions of students in taking the first step after high school by helping them explore careers, plan for college, and pay for college. The partnership brings together College Board's trusted expertise through BigFuture and Zogo's sought-after, interactive tools to power easy skill-learning about paying for college and applying for financial aid.
Planning for your future after high school can be overwhelming when everyone's path is different. For many, how to afford those future choices is a large and persistent concern, especially for families unaware of the many ways they can receive assistance for college and career pathways. Zogo and BigFuture's partnership is addressing this barrier for the next generation with accessible, engaging financial education that enhances students' and families' knowledge and understanding of the diverse financial aid options available.
"Zogo is excited to partner with BigFuture to bring engaging financial wellness learning modules to high school and college students through fun, easily accessible tools. Each interactive financial program will empower them to make better, more educated decisions about their money," said Chuck Long, senior manager at Zogo.
The first skill to launch as a part of this new partnership, "Apply for Scholarships and Grants," is now available in the Zogo app. This comprehensive program gives students a better understanding of different types of financial aid, resources on how to find scholarships and grants, and best practices when applying for college. The co-developed skill will launch Zogo's newest financial literacy module and advance Zogo's ever-evolving curriculum of skills.
"Every year, financial aid goes unclaimed, often because students lack access to quality information and easy-to-understand platforms. That's especially true for those navigating the college process for the first time," said Amy Reitz, senior vice president at BigFuture. "Every student deserves the opportunity to succeed after high school and when students can consider the affordability of their choices earlier, they can better plan and prepare. Our partnership with Zogo aims to improve awareness of financial aid options and is an impactful, important step in that direction."
"The financial world is a complicated one and many students are thrown into it without the right tools or knowledge. We aim to debunk money myths and support students with proper education about applying for loans, financial aid, and more long-term financial topics like learning about credit scores and how credit cards work," said Long. The partnership's new "Apply for Scholarships and Grants," module can be found in the Zogo app.
About Zogo
Zogo is a technology company that works with financial institutions to promote financial education and well-being through short-form content. Its award-winning platform offers bite-sized modules and tangible incentives to make financial literacy and education accessible, fun, and rewarding. The company partners with over 250 institutional partners in all 50 U.S. states to help educate, engage, and empower the next generation of financial decision-makers regardless of their background and experience. The platform has garnered nearly one million users since its creation in 2018.
To learn more, visit zogo.com.
About BigFuture
BigFuture is a free, online resource that helps students take the right first step after high school. We help you plan for college, pay for college, and explore careers. Whether you're interested in a four-year university, community college, or career training, BigFuture has what you need to start planning your future, your way.
To learn more, visit bigfuture.org.
SOURCE Zogo
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this
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Singapore, Sep 5 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Singapore on Wednesday as part of the final leg of his two-nation tour from Brunei, will receive an official welcome at the Parliament House on Thursday, followed by meetings with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
Prime Minister Modi will also meet senior Emeritus Minister Goh Chok Tong on Thursday to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Following the bilaterals, the Prime Minister is scheduled to participate in a business roundtable with Singaporean business leaders organised by the Singapore Business Federation, interact with semiconductor ecosystem players, and engage with students from the country who did internships in India in the 'India Ready Talent Programme'.
He will also interact with the Odisha World Skills Center interns in Singapore companies.
PM Modi arrived in Singapore on Wednesday afternoon after wrapping up a historic two-day trip to Brunei, the first bilateral visit by an Indian PM to the Southeast Asian nation.
Upon his arrival in Singapore, PM Modi was received by the country's Minister of Home Affairs and Law, K. Shanmugam.
At the hotel, members of the Indian diaspora gave a rousing welcome to the Prime Minister with traditional Maharashtrian dance and drums. Adding to the excitement of those present at the venue, including several children, PM Modi also tried his hand at the 'dhol'.
The bilateral discussions on Thursday are expected to focus on deepening cultural connections and fostering stronger people-to-people ties between the two nations.
The key areas of enhanced cooperation under consideration include digital innovation, skill development, sustainability, healthcare, connectivity, and advanced manufacturing.
Last week, a high-level Indian delegation, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had participated in the second India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) held in Singapore.
PM Modi's visit is expected to further enhance the relationship between the two countries, emphasising both economic and cultural collaborations.
Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), had said before PM Modi left for his two-nation visit, "Singapore is India's largest trade partner in ASEAN and it is a leading source of foreign direct investment.
"Singapore is India's sixth largest trade partner worldwide and the largest source of FDI during the last financial year. Investments have also been very large since 2000 and till now we have had cumulative FDI of about $160 billion. There will be an interaction with the business leaders during Prime Minister's visit where CEOs will be listening to India's growth story first hand from the Prime Minister."
Los Angeles, Sep 5 : Unite Here, the union representing hotel workers, has said that "the labour dispute is ongoing" as more than 9,500 of its members who struck Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott hotels in multiple US cities over the Labour Day weekend are back on the job.
More than 10,000 hotel workers in nine cities, including Baltimore, Boston, Greenwich, Honolulu, Kauai, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle, walked off the job over the weekend, Xinhua news agency reported.
The striking workers' primary demands include higher wages, more staffing to ease their workload, and the reversal of service cuts implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic.
After months of unresolved negotiations, the limited duration strikes lasted one to three days in each city, said the union in a news statement, adding that strikes have also been authorised and could begin at any time in Baltimore, New Haven, Oakland, and Providence.
"Continued picketing and other disruptions are possible," the union noted.
Around 700 hotel workers at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront have decided to remain on an open-ended strike, and workers will be on the picket line until they win their contract, according to the news statement.
Unite Here said on its website that the labour union represents 300,000 working people across Canada and the US.
The union added that its members work in the hotel, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, distribution, laundry, transportation, and airport industries.
"During Covid, everyone suffered, but now the hotel industry is making record profits while workers and guests are left behind. Workers aren't making enough to support their families, and many can no longer afford to live in the cities that they welcome guests to," said Gwen Mills, International President of Unite Here, in the news statement, adding that "Too many hotels still haven't restored staffing or the services that guests deserve, like automatic daily housekeeping and room service, and painful workloads are breaking workers' bodies".
"We won't accept a 'new normal' where hotel companies profit by cutting their offerings to guests and abandoning their commitments to workers," Mills noted.
Room rates are at record highs, and the US hotel industry made more than $100 billion in gross operating profit in 2022. But hotel staffing per occupied room was down 13 per cent from 2019 to 2022 as many hotels maintained Covid-era cuts, including understaffing, ending automatic daily housekeeping, and removing food and beverage options, according to the union.
Rome, Sep 5 : Italy has been battered by storms in the last few hours, with risk warnings issued for several regions, according to the country's Civic Protection Agency.
The agency issued a storm alert for nine regions on Wednesday, including northern Piedmont, Lombardy, central Marche and Umbria, and southern Campania, Xinhua news agency reported.
Northwest Piedmont and southern Calabria were also put under an additional high risk alert for flooding.
The warning came after streets flooded in several cities on Tuesday, causing disruption to local transport.
In Rome, the landmark Constantine Arch was damaged by lightning during a thunderstorm.
However, the damage was limited, and the fragments were retrieved and secured as soon as the storm ended on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, maintenance work began on Wednesday morning, according to the agency managing the site.
Heavy rains are expected to continue throughout the week.
Local authorities have issued an orange warning (second most severe level) for hydrogeological risk in some areas of central Tuscany and the Emilia Romagna region on Thursday, while the municipality of Venice put the lagoon city under red alert (the highest level).
In August, the European Commission approved a 447-million-euro allocation from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to help Italy offset costs associated with severe storms and flooding in Italy last year.
The funds, on Tuesday, come as Italy swelters through the third extended heatwave in three years. Each year, the country has struggled with droughts, floods, wildfires, and landslides.
This year, water shortages have spread across the southern part of the country; repeated fires have occurred in central and southern Italy, as well as urban areas including Rome; and farmer's union Coldiretti has recorded a negative impact on agricultural production nationwide.
Last week, a waterspout that climatologists said was likely caused by warming ocean temperatures sank a 56-metre luxury yacht, killing seven.
Earlier in the month, an Indian flower picker died in the fields of Latina, near Rome, during an intense hot spell, hitting international headlines.
In some parts of the country, especially in the island regions, high temperatures could again top 40 degrees Celsius. In central Italy, temperatures will peak at around 37 degrees Celsius.
Weather monitoring site Il Meteo said that in the coming days, hail may accompany hot weather in the northern part of the country, with storm and flood alerts being posted for the central regions.
Nevertheless, the severe weather so far this year has not been as bad as the flooding experienced by the central Italian regions of Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany last year. Flash floods there in May 2023 killed 17 and caused an estimated 10 billion euros ($11.2 billion) in damages. Another round of flooding in November 2023 caused eight more deaths and another 1.9 billion euros in damages.
On the same day, the EU also announced it would back the use of EUSF for Slovenia, Austria, Greece, and France, though Italy will receive the lion's share of the aid, amounting to nearly 46 per cent of the total amount approved for the five countries.
The money still needs to be approved by the European Parliament before it will be distributed to the affected areas.
New Delhi, Sep 5 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday, said that India wants to make many Singapores in the country.
He said this during a meeting with his Singapore counterpart Lawrence Wong and also discussed ways to boost bilateral ties.
PM Modi is on a two-day visit to the country at the invitation of Wong.
"Singapore is not just a partner country but an inspiration for every developing country. We also want to create many Singapores in Bharat. I am happy that we are working in that direction together. Ministerial roundtables formed between us are a path-breaking mechanism .. Skilling, digitisation, mobility, semiconductor, advance manufacturing, AI, healthcare, sustainability cybersecurity.. areas of cooperation have become symbols of the initiatives...." said PM Modi in his remarks while leading delegation-level talks with his Singapore counterpart.
Several MoUs were signed between India and Singapore in the fields of Digital Technologies, Health and Medicine, Educational Cooperation & Skills Development and India-Singapore Semiconductor Ecosystem Partnership in the presence of PM Modi and Singapore PM Wong.
Ahead of the talks, PM Modi received a ceremonial welcome at the Singapore Parliament House. PM Modi and Singapore PM Wong meet ministers and delegates from each other's countries at the Parliament House.
PM Modi also signed the visitor's book there.
The meeting between the two leaders comes days after Singapore PM Wong took over as premier and PM Modi began his third term as the prime minister.
PM Modi greeted him on becoming the Prime Minister and said, "I thank you for your warm welcome. This is our first meeting after you assumed the post of Prime Minister. Many congratulations to you from my side. I am confident that under the leadership of 4G, Singapore will progress even faster."
PM Modi arrived in Singapore on Wednesday as part of the final leg of his two-nation tour from Brunei.
Kolkata, Sep 5 : The parents of the woman doctor of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, who became a victim of the ghastly rape and murder last month, have now directly accused the Kolkata Police of deliberate 'laxity and ill-intention' in handling the preliminary probe into the case before it was handed over to the CBI by the Calcutta High Court.
Besides accusing the city police of deliberately delaying in registering their complaint as an FIR, the parents have also accused an officer of the city police of trying to convince them to settle the matter against money.
Speaking to a section of the media late Wednesday night while joining the protesting junior doctors at the same hospital premises, the victim's parents questioned the gap between the time of their filing the complaint and that of getting it registered as an FIR by the cops of local Tala Police Station.
"We filed our complaints between 6.30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on August 9 and the same was registered as an FIR at 11.45 p.m. Why? When the body of our daughter was brought home, a senior officer of Kolkata Police requested us to settle the matter against money, which we refused immediately," said the father of the victim.
He also alleged that there was an attempt to convince him to sign a blank paper which he denied immediately.
At the same time, the victim's parents have also questioned the abysmal hurry on the part of the city police in completing their daughter's cremation process at Panihati crematorium.
"We wanted our daughter's body to be preserved for some time. But we were not allowed and were virtually forced to cremate the body in a hurry. Even the crematorium authorities did not accept any cremation fee from us," said the victim's father.
He also accused an officer of Kolkata Police of deliberately trying to mislead people through incorrect media statements even after CBI had taken over the investigation in the matter.
Mumbai, Sep 5 : Amid strong protests from farmers, opposition parties and also ruling party members, the MahaYuti government has taken a crucial decision to scrap the land acquisition process for the ambitious 802 km Shaktipeeth Highway connecting Nagpur-Goa, sources have said.
The project entails an investment of a whopping Rs 86,300 crore which will pass through 12 districts and is expected to reduce the travel time to 8 hours from the present 13 hours. It aims to increase connectivity, tourism, especially religious tourism, and the general development of the region.
The expressway will cover Hindu pilgrimage places such as two jyotirlingas -- one in Parli Vaijnath and the second in Aundh Naganath (Nageshwar) in Hingoli district. The Mahur Renu Devi temple, Tuljabhavani in Tuljapur, Vitthal Rakhumai temple of Pandharpur, Mahalaxmi temple of Kolhapur, and Goaas Patradevi temple are other popular temples in both these states that the expressway will cover.
In the wake of the raging protest, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde intervened and directed to cancellation of the land acquisition process.
State government sources said, "The government will soon cancel the notification released for the land acquisition for the project. The government had appointed 27 land acquisition officers in 12 districts and it hoped to complete the land acquisition by December this year so that the state-run Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) could begin the bidding process. MSRDC is a nodal agency for the project implementation and it started the land acquisition in June. MSRDC has already forwarded its proposal to the state government for cancelling the land acquisition process."
Protests from farmers, especially from Kolhapur, were the trigger for the state government to put the project on the back burner ahead of the Assembly election. Farmers had argued that nearly 27,000 acres of land would be lost due to the highway. This will make thousands of farmers landless.
The farmers were joined by members from ruling and opposition parties arguing that the Shaktipeeth Highway would severely hit agriculture and it should be scrapped. They also demanded the realignment of the existing route.
The Chief Minister has assured the farmers and the members from ruling and opposition that the government will not go ahead in project implementation in haste but pursue it only after considering their views and sentiments.
The governmentas move comes a day after NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday strongly opposed the development of Shaktipeeth Highway saying that he would soon meet the Chief Minister in this regard.
(Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in)
New Delhi, Sep 5 : Home Minister Amit Shah, on Thursday, extended warm wishes to all teachers on the occasion of Teachers' Day, lauding their invaluable contributions to nation-building.
Amit Shah took to social media platform X to share his message, emphasising the critical role that teachers play in shaping the future of their students and the country.
"On Teachers' Day, I bow to all the teachers who not only build the lives of their students but also make invaluable contributions to building a great nation."
Amit Shah also paid homage to Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the second President of India, whose birth anniversary marks the occasion of Teachers' Day. "On the Jayanti of Bharat Ratna Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, I bow to the former President of India and extend my heartfelt greetings to all our hard-working teachers," Shah added.
Teachers' Day is also marked by a national-level event organised by the Department of School Education and Literacy, under the Ministry of Education. This function is held to honour the countryas most dedicated and exemplary teachers by conferring upon them the prestigious National Teachersa Awards.
President Draupadi Murmu will present the National Teachersa Awards 2024 to 82 outstanding educators on Thursday during a special ceremony at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. These awards honour teachers who have significantly contributed in the education sector.
Among the 82 recipients, two awardees are differently-abled, and one specialises in working with children with special needs (CWSN). The recipients comprise educators from other departments as well, including 16 teachers from the Department of Higher Education and 16 from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
In a unique gesture to honour teachers, the Amrit Udyan at Rashtrapati Bhavan will be exclusively opened to educators on Teachers' Day. To facilitate access, a free shuttle bus service will operate between the Central Secretariat Metro Station and Gate No. 35 of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Mumbai, Sep 5 : Actress Sharvari said that she was a very "filmy kid" and that she would imagine herself wearing a chiffon saree and dancing to songs from Hindi films.
Mumbai, Sep 5 (IANS) Actress Sharvari said that she was a very "filmy kid" and that she would imagine herself wearing a chiffon saree and dancing to songs from Hindi films.
Sharvari, who is currently basking in the success of "Munjya", said: "I can immediately start to dance if music comes on. This has always been me since I was a child. Growing up, I became a super filmy kid and I used to imagine myself as a Bollywood heroine, wearing a chiffon saree and running through mustard fields and dancing to the beautiful songs from our Hindi films."
The actress revealed that she is inspired by names such as late star Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit Nene and Katrina Kaif to name a few.
"I am hugely inspired by the leading ladies of Bollywood who have danced their way into the hearts of people. Madhuri Dixit, Raveena Tandon, Sridevi, Karisma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, have left a legacy for actors like me to be inspired constantly," she said.
The actress, who sweeped the audiences by their feet with her impeccable performance on the song "Taras", feels she manifested this profession for herself.
"I think I manifested this profession for myself and I definitely manifested landing a big dance song like Taras. I was thrilled when my producer Dinesh Vijan sir trusted me with a dance song. I gave it my everything while filming 'Taras'."
The actress said that the song "Taras" was an opportunity to show the industry that she can dance well.
"And there was no way in hell that I would be doing this half-heartedly."
Sharvari said that she practiced the steps everyday.
"I'm grateful that people loved what they saw. To witness such an amazing response from people, to see them dance on my song in theatres was a huge deal. I hope I keep entertaining people with my acting, my dancing, my hard work and dedication to my profession," said the actress, who will next be seen in "Alpha" starring Alia Bhatt.
Singapore, Sep 5 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accompanied by his counterpart Lawrence Wong, on Thursday visited AEM Holdings, a leading company in semiconductor and electronics sector, here and discussed opportunities for collaboration.
PM Modi also invited the Singaporean semiconductor companies to participate in the 'SEMICON INDIA' exhibition, to be held in Greater Noida from September 11-13.
According to an MEA statement, the Prime Minister also interacted with Indian interns from Odisha's 'World Skill Center', undergoing training in Singapore, as well as Singaporean interns who had visited India under the 'CII-Enterprise Singapore India Ready Talent Programme' and Indian engineers working at the AEM facility.
Both the leaders were briefed about AEM's role in the global semiconductor value chain, its operations and plans for India.
Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association gave a briefing on the development of the semiconductor ecosystem in Singapore and opportunities for collaboration with India. Representatives of several other Singaporean companies from this sector were also present.
"Given our efforts to develop the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem in India and Singapore's strengths in this sector, both sides have decided to expand bilateral cooperation," according to the MEA.
During the second meeting of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable, both sides agreed to add advanced manufacturing, with a focus on semiconductors, as a pillar for enhancing bilateral cooperation.
According to the MEA, both sides have also concluded the MoU on India-Singapore semiconductor ecosystem partnership.
"This visit by both the Prime Ministers underscores the commitment of both sides to develop cooperation in this area. Prime Minister Modi conveyed his appreciation to Prime Minister Wong for joining him in this visit," the MEA statement read.
Earlier this week, the Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, approved the proposal of Kaynes Semicon Pvt Ltd to set up a semiconductor unit in Sanand, Gujarat, with an investment of Rs 3,300 crore. The proposed unit, under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), will produce nearly 60 lakh chips per day.
In March, PM Modi laid the foundation stone of three semiconductor projects worth Rs 1.25 lakh crore. As per reports, India's semiconductor-related market will reach $64 billion in 2026, nearly triple the size in 2019.
Hyderabad, Sep 5 : Andhra Pradesh Police on Thursday arrested former MP and YSR Congress Party leader Nandigam Suresh in connection with the attack on the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) office in Andhra Pradesh in 2021.
A police team from Andhra Pradesh arrested Suresh in Hyderabad and shifted him to Mangalagiri in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, where a case was registered against him for the attack on the TDP office.
The YSRCP leader was arrested a day after the Andhra Pradesh High Court dismissed the anticipatory bail petitions filed by him and other leaders.
After the High Court order, police had launched a search for Suresh. Police had gone to his house at Uddandarayunipalem village in Guntur district but he was not found there.
On receiving information about Suresh's presence in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh Police reached here and arrested him.
The High Court had Wednesday dismissed anticipatory bail petitions of Suresh and other YSRCP leaders in the case related to the attack on TDP headquarters at Mangalagiri. The court also dismissed their petitions, seeking suspension of the orders to enable them to approach the Supreme Court for relief.
YSRC MLCs Lella Appireddy and Talasila Raghuram, and party leader Devineni Avinash are among those named in the TDP office attack case. With the High Court denying them anticipatory bail, police have formed special teams to arrest them.
The High Court also dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of former minister Jogi Ramesh and his followers involved in the case related to the attack on the residence of TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu when he was the Opposition leader.
After TDP along with its allies Jana Sena and BJP came to power in June, police launched fresh probe in both cases.
A large number of supporters of YSRCP attacked the TDP office on October 19, 2021, after TDP spokesperson Kommareddy Pattabhi Ram had made some objectionable comments against the then Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
The YSRCP supporters had barged into the TDP office and ransacked the premises damaging furniture and breaking window panes. The TDP leaders had alleged that the attackers seen armed with sticks and even hammers damaged the cars parked outside the office.
The police also launched a fresh probe into the attack on TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu's residence in Amaravati in September 2021 in which then MLA Jogi Ramesh allegedly took part.
Mumbai, Sep 5 : The makers of "Jhimma 2" have announced their next Marathi film christened "Fussclass Dabhade" directed by Hemant Dhome, which is set to release on November 15.
Mumbai, Sep 5 (IANS) The makers of "Jhimma 2" have announced their next Marathi film christened "Fussclass Dabhade" directed by Hemant Dhome, which is set to release on November 15.
The title and release date were recently unveiled on social media and mentioned that the film is "a quirky story of crazy siblings."
Colour Yellow Productions took to Instagram, where they made the announcement and wrote: "From the team of Jhimma, A quirky story of crazy siblings Sonu, Pappu, Taidi and their equally crazy yet heartwarming family. From 15th November, in cinemas near you! #FussclassDabhade #FD #FDInCinemas15November Written & Directed by: @hemantdhome21"
Dhome said: "It's a story that's extremely close to my heart. It has pieces of what I have experienced and witnessed in life. Someone has rightly said that when the story of a film is close to the writer and director's heart, it becomes equally close to the audience as well."
"Before making the film, I had decided that this would be shot at my farm and in the heart of my village. Thankfully, I got the chance to do that and share an experience of a lifetime with my team. We are all excited for the audience to watch the film from November 15 onwards."
Presented by T-Series Films and Aanand L Rai, 'Fussclass Dabhade' is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Aanand L Rai, Kshitee Jog and Krishan Kumar. The poster features Kshitee Jog, Siddharth Chandekar and Amey Wagh sitting on a tractor, with Amey dressed as a groom.
Producer Aanand L Rai said: "'Fussclass Dabhade' is a story that beautifully delves into the quirks and complexities of sibling relationships. It's a celebration of the bond where love, rivalry, and humor coexist in the most delightful way."
"Hemant Dhome has brought this unique sibling story to life with such charm and relatability, and I'm proud to be a part of bringing it to the audience through Colour Yellow Productions. I'm confident that this film will resonate deeply with anyone who has ever shared that special bond with a sibling."
Producer Bhushan Kumar shared that "Fussclass Dabhade" portrays raw human emotions in relationships with a beautiful simplicity.
"The film connects deeply through its humane storytelling. It authentically reflects family life in India, especially Maharashtra, and brings its vibrant culture and heartfelt stories to the audience with both grace and sincerity."
New Delhi, Sep 5 : In a bid to empower the farmers' community, the government is targeting to create digital identities for 11 crore farmers over the three fiscals which will be similar to Aadhaar card.
The goal is part of 'AgriStack' initiative which has been designed as a farmer-centric Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to streamline services and scheme delivery to farmers.
A crucial feature of AgriStack is the introduction of a 'Farmer ID', similar to Aadhaar card, serving as a trusted digital identity for farmers.
The government said it will aim to create 6 crore such digital IDs for farmers in FY 2024-25, 3 crore in FY 2025-26 and 2 crore in FY 2026-27.
"These IDs, created and maintained by the state governments/union territories, will be linked to various farmer-related data, including land records, livestock ownership, crops sown, and benefits availed," said the government.
The government also plans to launch the 'Digital Crop Survey' nationwide within two years, covering 400 districts in FY 2024-25 and all districts in FY 2025-26.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, digital revolution has significantly transformed governance and service delivery in recent years by creating digital identities, secured payments and transactions.
This paved the way for a thriving digital ecosystem across various sectors, including finance, healthcare, education, and retail, positioning India as a leader in citizen-centric digital solutions.
For a similar transformation of the agriculture sector, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the 'Digital Agriculture Mission' with a substantial financial outlay of Rs 2,817 crore, including a central government share of Rs 1,940 crore.
The mission is built on two foundational pillars: Agri Stack and Krishi Decision Support System.
Additionally, the mission includes 'Soil Profile Mapping' and aims to enable farmer-centric digital services to provide timely and reliable information for the agriculture sector.
The implementation of AgriStack is progressing through partnerships between the central and state governments, with 19 states having signed MoUs with the Ministry of Agriculture.
New Delhi, Sep 5 : Filmmaker and author Vivek Agnihotri on Thursday said he had declined the Oxford Union invite to participate in a debate on Kashmir as the topic was "anti-India".
He shared a post on his social media account, X informing about the invite and his decline. He also posted the letters on his wall.
In his post, Vivek Agnihotri wrote: "I was invited by the prestigious Oxford Union to debate on Kashmir. I found the theme offensive, anti-India, and anti-Kashmir. On principle, I have declined the offer."
In his letter, the filmmaker further explained: "Thank you for your invitation to grace the Oxford Union with my presence for a debate. Though it is every opinion-maker's dream to speak at the Oxford Debating Society, I find myself reflecting on the irony of your invitation, and after due consideration, I have decided to respectfully decline. Your invitation to debate 'This House Believes in the Independent State of Kashmir' is a direct challenge to India's sovereignty, and it is unacceptable to me. I find it not just obnoxious but offensivea"not just to 1.4 billion Indians, but also as a humiliation of the hundreds of thousands of displaced indigenous Hindu victims of the Kashmir genocide of 1990. Framing it as a debate feels like turning a tragedy into a parlour game, where the stakes are human lives, and the cost is in blood, not just ink."
"Kashmir's story is not a debate topic; it is a narrative of suffering, resilience, and a quest for peace. To reduce it to a 'yes' or 'no' on independence is to ignore the complex tapestry of human emotions and history involved. The genocide of Kashmiri Hindus is a story where the cost has been paid in blood, not in witty retorts or applause from an audience," Agnihotri further said in the post.
Vivek Agnihotri wrote this letter to the Oxford Union on September 2, which he shared on his social media on Thursday.
In 2022, Vivek Agnihotri was widely discussed for his film 'The Kashmir Files'. While many people appreciated the film, it also faced criticism from others. The film depicts the violence that the minority communities, especially the Kashmir Pandits, faced in the 1990s which forced them to flee their homes. Over seven lakh Kashmiri Pandits fled to escape the violence unleashed by Pakistan-backed various terror outfits.
-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Mumbai, Sep 5 : Ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi, TV actors Lakshay Khurana, Brinda Dahal and Sahil Uppal have shared their love and devotion to Lord Ganesha, revealing personal stories and spiritual connections.
From offering heartfelt prayers to recalling cherished childhood memories, they highlighted how the festival fills them with peace and positivity.
Lakshay, who is playing the role of Aditya in the show aIshq Jabariyaa said: "Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most celebrated and cherished festivals for me. There's a unique magic in the air during these days that makes Mumbai look even more beautiful."
"The city comes alive with vibrant colors, the sound of dhols and aartis, and the sight of people coming together in devotion. The streets are adorned with lights and decorations, and every corner feels like it's filled with Bappa's blessings. It's a time when the spirit of Mumbai shines the brightest, and being part of such grand celebrations fills my heart with immense joy and gratitude," added Lakshay.
Brinda, essaying the character of Vaishanavi in the show aChhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiyaa said: "Ganesh Chaturthi is special to me because I was born on Tuesday the 4th, a day for worshiping Ganesh Ji. Since childhood, I've felt a deep connection with Ganesh Ji."
"When I was about seven, something upsetting happened at school. I went to the temple, prayed while crying, and suddenly, a flower fell into my hands. It felt like a scene from a movie. In Nepal, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated more simply, with regular prayers using the Ganesh statue at home, unlike the elaborate celebrations elsewhere. This year in Mumbai, I've received many invitations and am excited to see how the celebrations unfold. I am so excited to enjoy some delicious modak and experience the Ganesh Utsav in Mumbai," added Brinda.
Sahil, who portrays the role of Gagan in the show aSaajha Sindoora said: "Even though I grew up in Delhi, where Ganesh Chaturthi isnat widely celebrated, I have some really fond memories from Mumbai, where Iave spent most of my time. Every year, our society would bring in Ganpati Ji, and we were always right there at the mandal, helping with decorations and collecting contributions."
"We were so wrapped up in the celebrations from morning till night that wead often forget to eat or sleep. What really sticks with me is the vibrant festive spirit and the endless supply of sweets. It was like the entire community came together to welcome Lord Ganesh as our special guest. Ganesh Chaturthi is more than just a festival; itas a celebration of unity," he added.
'Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya' follows Vaishnavi (Brinda), an orphan who sees Chhathi Maiyya (Devoleena) as her mother.
'Ishq Jabariya' tells the story of Gulki (Siddhi Sharma) and her struggles to become an air hostess.
'Saajha Sindoor' depicts Phooli (Stuti Vinkle), who is labeled an unmarried widow after her groom dies on their wedding day.
The show airs on Sun Neo.
Srinagar, Sep 5 : In yet another setback to the pre-poll alliance between the Congress and National Conference, Irfan Shah, a prominent NC leader, on Thursday announced his decision to contest against JKPCC president, Tariq Hameed Karra in J&K's Srinagar district.
Shah is the son of the former Minister and NC general secretary, the late Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah.
Irfan Shah told reporters that he has decided to fight against JKPCC president, Tariq Hameed Karra in the Shalteng Assembly constituency of Srinagar district.
The Congress-NC pre-poll alliance had decided to leave this Assembly constituency for the grand old party and on this understanding, JKPCC president, Tariq Hameed Karra had announced his decision to stand from this constituency.
Irfan Shah told reporters that he is on his way to the office of the district election office to file his nomination papers for the Shalteng Assembly seat.
"I am contesting because the National Conference has consistently demoralised its workers. My people have compelled me to take this step and now I am moving forward with this decision," Irfan Shah said.
Once Irfan Shah joins the electoral battle against Karra, the alliance between the NC and Congress will be jolted seriously.
Irfan Shah and his late father had significant influence in the Batmaloo area of the Shalteng constituency and the Shahs lived within this locality.
Before delimitation, this constituency was called the Batmaloo Assembly constituency.
Irfan Shah undoubtedly would chip into Tariq Hameed Karra's vote bank making victory uncertain for the J&K president of the Congress party.
Shah's decision comes a day after the Congress district president of Ganderbal, Sahil Farooq defied the party and filed nomination papers against the former chief minister and NC vice president, Omar Abdullah in the Ganderbal Assembly constituency.
After long deliberations, Congress and the NC have managed a pre-poll alliance in J&K.
As per the seat-sharing arrangement of the alliance, NC would field candidates in 52 constituencies and the Congress in 31.
Two Assembly constituencies, one for the CPI(M) in the Valley and the other for the Panthers Party in the Jammu division have been left by the alliance.
On five Assembly seats of Nagrota, Banihal, Doda and Bhaderwah in the Jammu division and Sopore in the Valley, NC and Congress could not reach any consensus.
Both parties have decided to field candidates from these five constituencies and engage in a 'friendly contest'.
J&K goes to vote for the first phase on September 18, the second phase on September 25 and the third and last phase on October 1.
The counting of votes would be taken up on October 8.
Mumbai, Sep 5 : In order to achieve a $30 trillion GDP by 2047, India will require a 20 times growth in the financial services sector, with banks playing a pivotal role, a report showed on Thursday.
Future growth will require $4 trillion of capital base in banks, one-third of which will have to be fresh capital deployment, according to the report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in association with FICCI and Indian Banks' Association.
India's banking system is in a strong position today acting as an ideal launchpad for the 'Viksit Bharat' mission.
"It will have to build for the next 2 decades through structural shifts growing deposits, enhancing asset quality, and improving productivity, while advancing digital capabilities and future competencies," explained Ruchin Goyal, managing director and senior partner at BCG.
"To fuel inclusion and credit growth, we must continue to innovate and reimagine our deposit strategies, aligning them more closely with the evolving needs and preferences of our customers," according to MV Rao, Chairman at Indian Banks' Association.
The report highlighted key structural themes that banks need to work on for continued success of Indian banking sector.
These are the future of household savings, addressing challenges with asset quality and pockets of leverage, take a bold vision on productivity, continue investing to drive digital funnel growth, along with focus on building future capabilities.
India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) has laid the foundation for a strong and resilient financial infrastructure and accelerated the pace of digitisation.
"It is now about taking capabilities to the next level and building for the next two decades - resilience, climate and cyber security needs to be strengthened, with centralised, real-time network and specialized talent," said Jyoti Vij, Director General at FICCI.
The Indian banking system has made significant strides in building future-ready competencies but must embrace the next wave of opportunities.
Resilience must extend beyond technology to encompass entire business processes. Banks face a "GenAI paradox," struggling to scale initiatives beyond pilots.
"Climate risk presents both threats and a $2.5 trillion financing opportunity, demanding a shift in operating models. Additionally, India's banks must tackle increasing cyber risks, necessitating a centralised, real-time network and specialised talent to mitigate threats," the report mentioned.
New Delhi, Sep 5 : The Joint Parliamentary Committee, constituted to deliberate the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, began its third meeting on Thursday in the Parliament premises, with presentations from various Union Ministries on the agenda.
Interacting with the media before the meeting, JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal said: "Representatives from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Ministry of Railways, and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways have been called to present their respective presentations on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 in today's meeting."
"These representatives will provide oral evidence on the provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024," he added.
The Chairman further stated that JPC has been formed to consult all stakeholders regarding the bill, and many stakeholders have already been consulted in previous meetings. The JPC aims to engage in discussions with all those involved in the bill. Additionally, the committee plans to visit various states outside Delhi to engage with stakeholders.
Since the government has referred this bill to the JPC, the objective is to draft a bill that fulfils the purposes of the waqf while benefiting the poor, women, and children in the areas of health and education, he said.
The fourth JPC meeting is scheduled for Friday, and will be officials from the Archaeological Survey of India, under the Ministry of Culture, present their views on the Waqf Bill. Muslim organisations like the Zakat Foundation of India and the Telangana Waqf Board have also been invited to attend the meeting.
The first JPC meeting on the Waqf Bill was held on August 22, and the second on August 30, and both reportedly witnessed confrontations as BJP and opposition party MPs engaged in heated arguments. According to sources, the BJP parliamentarians were frequently interrupted by Opposition MPs during the discussions.
Srinagar, Sep 5 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address three election rallies in J&K, said BJP's J&K general secretary Ashok Koul on Thursday.
Koul told local reporters here that PM Modi will address two rallies in the Jammu division and one in Kashmir. He added that Union Home Minister Amit Shah will release the BJP poll manifesto in Jammu on September 6 and would be here on a two-day visit.
The BJP UT general secretary said Amit Shah could also visit the Valley during his Friday visit to J&K.
He said BJP candidates filed their nomination papers in Srinagar on Wednesday and many people turned out in their support.
"People of Kashmir have faith in Narendra Modi-led government and they will support the BJP during the ongoing Assembly elections," Koul said.
BJP sources said PM Modi's rally is likely to be held in the Doda district which has been witness to terrorist attacks in the recent past.
"To highlight infrastructure, security and tourism development that took place during the last ten years in J&K, the party needs a great charismatic leader and crowd puller like the PM," sources said.
BJP is fighting the J&K Assembly elections without any alliance. The party's J&K president, Ravinder Raina has said the BJP might support some independents depending upon the situation on the ground in some constituencies of the Valley.
Congress and the National Conference (NC) have forged a pre-poll alliance to give the BJP a united fight. The NC is fielding candidates on 52 seats and the Congress on 31 seats while both parties have left two seats, one for the CPI(M) in the Valley and the other for the Panthers Party in the Jammu division.
On five seats of Nagrota, Banihal, Doda and Bhaderwah in the Jammu division and Sopore in the Valley, both NC and Congress will field candidates to engage in what the alliance calls a 'friendly contest'.
J&K has 90 Assembly seats, 47 in the Valley and 43 in the Jammu division. Out of these, nine are ST seats and seven are SC reserved seats.
New Delhi, Sep 5 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday told the Supreme Court that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) made an "insurance arrest in hurry" to prevent his release on bail in the alleged excise policy scam case.
Appearing for Kejriwal, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that his client was released on three different occasions in the money laundering case registered under the stringent Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), where rigours for grant of bail are much higher.
He referred to the 21-day interim release of the AAP supremo in May this year to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections, the interim bail granted subsequently by the top court on July 12, and the trial court order granting him regular bail, which was stayed later by the Delhi High Court on an "oral mention" made by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Singhvi contended that the CBI did not arrest Kejriwal for two years since August 2022 but made an "insurance arrest in hurry" in anticipation of his release on bail in the money laundering case.
The CBI arrested Kejriwal for "his non-cooperation and evasive replies" but there were several apex court judgments that held that cooperation with the probe should not mean that the accused should incriminate himself and confess to the offences alleged, he said.
He said that Kejriwal, a constitutional functionary holding the position of Delhi Chief Minister, satisfied the triple test for grant of bail.
"He is not a flight risk, he will turn up to answer the questions of the investigative agency, and cannot tamper with documents, running into lakhs of pages, and digital evidence after two years," Singhvi submitted.
Opposing the arguments, Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, representing the CBI, said that Kejriwal should first approach the trial court for bail.
He argued that arrest is a part of investigation and ordinarily, an investigative officer will not require any permission from a court to make an arrest. "But, in the present case, there was an order of the court granting the power (to arrest)," he said.
The bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan will assemble post lunch to resume hearing Kejriwal's pleas assailing CBI arrest and seeking bail.
Meanwhile, a Delhi court on Tuesday took cognisance of the charge sheet filed by the CBI against CM Kejriwal and other accused in the alleged liquor policy scam. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja issued a production warrant for Kejriwal on September 11, apart from extending his custody till the same date.
New Delhi, Sep 5 : Buoyed by overall infrastructure growth and expanding commercial market, the hospitality investment sector in the country showed robust growth in the first half this year, according to a new report.
Hotel investment transactions reached $93 million and are expected to reach $413 million by year-end a 22 per cent increase compared to last year, according to latest data from JLL Hotels and Hospitality Group
Top hotel companies led by contributing 44 per cent of the total transaction volume. It was followed by owner-operators at 30 per cent and high-net-worth individual (HNIs), family offices, and private hotel owners at 26 per cent.
According to the report, the positive momentum is set to continue throughout the second half of the year.
Key markets, including Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune and Chennai, remain dominant, accounting for 78 per cent of the projected transaction volumes.
Tier 2 and 3 markets are likely to contribute the remaining 22 per cent.
Notably, JLL has already facilitated two significant transactions at the onset of the second half of 2024, comprising an operational hotel in Mumbai and a premium hotel land sale in Goa.
"The surge in investor interest for both - operating assets and land sales illustrate the attractiveness of the investment landscape, bolstered by favourable macroeconomic factors, an expanding commercial market, and improved air connectivity," said Jaideep Dang, Managing Director, Hotels and Hospitality Group, India, JLL.
This positive outlook is further reinforced by the substantial hotel development activity witnessed across various tiers, with over 19,440 keys signed in the first half of 2024 alone, the report mentioned.
Another report earlier this month said that 2,706 new rooms were added in the upscale and premium segment in the first half of this year, amid a notable growth in infrastructure development. Out of these, 994 rooms (37 per cent) were upscale while the remaining (63 per cent) consisted of premium inventories.
Indian hospitality industry is on a strong footing marked by a rise in occupancy, new projects opening and a bullish pipeline for the future, according to Skye Hospitality.
Ahmedabad, Sep 5 : A tragic accident struck the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) when an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) MK-III, bearing frame number CG 863, crashed into the sea during a medical evacuation mission.
On the night of September 2, the helicopter was responding to an emergency call to airlift a seriously injured crew member from the Motor Tanker Hari Leela at 11.15 p.m.
The search efforts, spearheaded by the ICG, have been intensified with the involvement of the Indian Navy and other marine stakeholders. The fuselage of the downed helicopter is also sought to facilitate an investigation into the incident.
"We are deploying two aircraft and four ships for an intensive search operation. We have requested the Indian Navy's assistance, with a vessel equipped with side-scan sonar technology expected to join the mission soon," officials shared.
When it went down, the helicopter had four personnel on boardtwo pilots and two aircrew divers. The ICG launched a large-scale search and rescue operation in the aftermath of the crash. One crew member has been found and rescued, while two others did not survive. Their remains have been recovered from the sea, and a cremation with military honours is to be conducted as per service traditions.
The dead have been identified as Commandant (Junior Grade) Vipin Babu and Pradhan Navik Karan Singh. A formal board of inquiry has been established to investigate the cause of the crash. The mortal remains of Commandant Babu, from Alappuzha, Kerala, and Pradhan Navik Karan Singh, from Jhajjar, Haryana, have been returned to their families for last rites.
Search operations are still ongoing to locate Commandant Rakesh Kumar Rana, TM, who was the helicopter's pilot at the time of the crash.
Side-scan sonar systems help create images of large seafloor areas, enabling the detection of submerged objects. The Coast Guard has also sought support from the Gujarat Fisheries Department and local fishermen to aid the search.
Oslo, Sep 5 : Norway is poised to cooperate with Qatar on peace talks and reconciliation efforts in the Middle East, said Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store.
Store made the remarks after meeting with visiting Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who is on a tour of the Nordic region, Xinhua news agency reported
"Qatar is playing an increasingly significant role in peace and reconciliation work, and we have a strong partnership in this area," said Store.
"Norway fully supports ongoing efforts to establish a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and we share Qatar's deep concerns over the instability in the region," he said.
Store also underscored the robust partnership between Norway and Qatar, not least their cooperation in diverse areas, including peace diplomacy, energy, green transition, and business.
New Delhi, Sep 5 : The IT Ministry on Thursday announced the second cohort of its startup accelerator where 125 early-age startups, selected and supported through potential accelerators, will be provided funding support and mentorship.
The last date to submit application under the Startup Accelerators of MeitY for Product Innovation, Development and Growth (SAMRIDH) is October 2.
In the first cohort, 22 accelerators from 12 states were selected through open calls for proposals. These accelerators then selected 5-10 startups each in the focused areas of health-tech, ed-tech, agri-tech, consumer-tech, fin-tech, software as a service (SaaS) and sustainability through a multi-level screening process.
As second cohort is part of the 100-day agenda of the government to select and support 125 startups through potential accelerators so as to achieve the target of nurturing 300 startups.
MeitY said it is working for the growth of India's software product industry under the National Policy on Software Products (NPSP)-2019.
Launched in August 2021, the SAMRIDH programme aims to support 300 software product startups with outlay of Rs 99 crore over a period of 4 years.
The scheme is being implemented by MeitY Start-up Hub (MSH), Digital India Corporation (DIC).
"SAMRIDH is being implemented through potential and established accelerators across India which provide services like making products market fit, business plan, investor connect and international expansion to startups plus matching funding up to Rs 40 lakh by MeitY," said the government.
According to the ministry, the domestic software product industry including startups are being supported through various programmes such as Centre of Excellences, Technological Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs (TIDE) programme, Next Generation Incubation Scheme (NGIS), ICT Grand Challenges, Gen-Next Support for Innovative Startups (GENESIS) etc.
New Delhi, Sep 5 : Tauqeer Raza, an Islamic cleric and politician stuck to his guns on Thursday, regarding his provocative statement on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and said that he only stated the truth and the onus was now on the Right-wing outfit to clear the air.
In an exclusive interview with IANS, Tauqeer Raza spoke on a range of issues including the stiff opposition to the Waqf Amendment Bill and also explained why he thinks that the hatred against the Muslim community is worrisome for the nation.
A day ago, the UP-based cleric dubbed the RSS and other Right-wing groups VHP and Bajrang Dal as aterror outfitsa and demanded a ban on their operations.
The remarks earned him a huge backlash and demands were also raised for his arrest.
Below is the full interview.
IANS: You have demanded a ban on the RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal? Why did you label them as terror outfits, isnat it a ploy to instigate religious sentiments?
Tauqeer Raza: Today, the state of affairs in the country is worrisome. Peace has given way to violence and bad blood between people. After every few days, some flare-ups happen. There is a force behind all this and they are the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Whether it be any incident, pertaining from assault to lynching of minorities or cow vigilantism, a certain section of people are behind all this. Today, the hatred against the Muslim community is rising because of their polarising tactics.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, being the oldest body, serves as the nodal centre. It has allocated roles to various Right-wing outfits for furthering its communal agenda. It keeps itself aloof from direct involvement but remains the real brain behind all incidents of flare-ups and violence. I stand by my statement.
If I have spoken something wrong, the RSS must come forward and explain why it shouldnat be blamed for stirring communal divide.
India has had a rich tradition of diversity, for ages. But, today the social and religious fabric of the country has been shredded because of the Sanghas contentious and divisive agenda.
Unlike Muslim leaders and clerics, the RSS is sowing seeds of hatred in the minds of the youth and this will prove suicidal for the country. No one should be encouraged or persuaded to rise above the law and vitiate the countryas atmosphere.
The government deserves equal blame for letting loose these groups. However, the onus remains on the RSS to clear the air. It must come forward and inform people whether it has the backing of the government for promoting hatred, it must tell people that Bajrang Dal and VHP are not its offshoots.
The RSS talks about the country's development and empowerment of all sections but its approach belies all its claims. It has a responsibility towards all sections. Itas time that it rises above its parochial agenda and doesn't foment a Hindu-Muslim divide.
IANS: Your remarks on Right-wing outfits have created a furore in political circles, particularly the BJP. What would you say on this?
Tauqeer Raza: I only stated the truth. I just want to apprise the people as well as the government about growing intolerance and hatred against Muslims and how this is being fanned by some Right-wing outfits, who also enjoy patronage from those in power.
The government has turned a blind eye on the atrocities against minorities. It is not paying heed to incidents of violence against them. It is the duty of PM Modi to treat all citizens at par and not discriminate against any section as he is the Prime Minister of the whole nation and not just a particular community.
What does the government want to achieve by amending the Waqf Act? The Waqf Board is already operational across the country. The Centre could have sent instructions and directions to the Waqf Boards to streamline their operations, if it found them defunct and not up to the mark.
However, the introduction of the Waqf Amendment Bill shows the government's clear intent to infringe upon the right of minorities. We wonat allow such intrusion in our rights, we will oppose it tooth and nail.
IANS: BJP leaders see your remarks on the RSS as inflammatory and provocative. Demands are being made for your arrest, for maintaining peace in the country. Your views?
Tauqeer Raza: Itas okay to arrest me if I have made any provocative statement. We have kept our youth under check and restraint. If they get out of control, the administration will struggle to contain them. Bajrang Dal and VHP are terrorist organisations, they are ruining the nation. They think that they are doing the right thing by hurting the interests of the Muslim community but in reality, they are harming the country's future.
We are nation-loving citizens. Whoever works against the country or tries to derail its growth journey must be stopped. It pains us to see the country getting a bad name because of some fringe elements.
IANS: It is being said that those opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill are worried about control over land and losing their fiefdom and hence trying to stall it. What is your view?
Tauqeer Raza: Who says that the Waqf properties are under control of a few? It is the government which wants to usurp Muslim properties by enacting an amended Bill. They want to take control of Madrasas, mosques, dargahs and other Muslim properties and there is a motive behind it. We wonat allow this to happen.
IANS: You said that Muslim Ulemas will meet in Delhi to chart the next move on opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill. What will be your strategy?
Tauqeer Raza: We donat want the situation to escalate and snowball into something serious. But, there is a limit to our patience and tolerance. The government has mistaken our protest as weakness but it is not the case. There is a pent-up anger among the Muslim society, particularly the youngsters as they believe that it amounts to impinging on their religious beliefs. We have kept them under check but that is not the case on the other side. There is no one on the other side to guide their youth.
The minds of Hindu youth are being fed with dislike and hate for the minorities. If corrective steps are not taken, this would make a recipe for disaster.
IANS: The Yogi Adityanath administration is vacating the Nuzul land in UP? What is your view?
Tauqeer Raza: There is nothing wrong in vacating the illegal constructions at Nuzul land. Whoever has illegally captured the government-owned land, this must be freed up. I support the drive but the government must also be considerate about hapless and poor people and their resettlement. Also, there must not be any discrimination towards any community.
New Delhi, Sep 5 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is following the "Raj Dharma" and setting new standards in governance, said UP-based Islamic cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan on Thursday.
Tauqeer Raza's showering praise for CM Yogi comes amid a huge uproar over his provocative remarks on the right-wing outfits RSS, Bajrang Dal and VHP.
The Islamic cleric has found himself in the crosshairs of the BJP over demanding an umbrella ban on Hindu outfits.
Speaking exclusively to IANS, Tauqeer Raza referred to an old Ayodhya incident and explained how Chief Minister Adityanath's upright governance ensured that the matter was not given a communal colour.
Raza, also the founder of Ittehad-e-Millat Council, a political party, made gushing praise for CM Yogi, saying that if the latter wanted, the Muslim community could have been shown in bad light as the circumstances favoured such an outcome.
"Some people wearing skull caps were headed towards a temple with beef. As they were caught, the state administration could have portrayed them as those belonging to a minority community but it probed and exposed the diabolical plot to foment trouble. The accused were given stern punishment for hiding their real identity and posing as belonging to the minority community," Raza stated while adding that "CM Yogi is following the Raj Dharma."
He further said that the Muslim clerics and Ulemas have no problem with the BJP dispensation at the Centre, however, added their patience was wearing thin over the government's "forced" amendment of the Waqf Act.
"The government is trying to meddle in our religious beliefs by amending the Waqf Act. We will never accept such interference and oppose it with all our might," he added.
Speaking on Kolkata horror, he said that the Mamata government was being unfairly targeted and the BJP was being vociferous in its protest because it wanted to draw political mileage from the issue.
Mumbai, Sep 5 : The makers of the thriller "Sector 36" dropped its trailer on Thursday, the film's actor Vikrant Massey spoke about his character and said that to convincingly play a layered and terrifying killer who could pass off as any other person has been difficult.
Mumbai, Sep 5 (IANS) The makers of the thriller "Sector 36" dropped its trailer on Thursday, the film's actor Vikrant Massey spoke about his character and said that to convincingly play a layered and terrifying killer who could pass off as any other person has been difficult.
Vikrant said: "Stepping into the character of Prem for this film was unlike anything I've done before. To convincingly play a layered and terrifying killer who could pass off as any other person has been difficult."
"Aditya (Nimbalkar) has done a great job in creating this gritty world meticulously. This is an incredibly important film, and as storytellers, alongside Netflix and Maddock Films, we hope the audience will be able to see the need to tell stories like these."
The trailer shows inspector Ram Charan Pandey played by Deepak Dobriyal chases after a serial killer despite warnings to desist. With the lives of missing children in the balance, he hunts the enigmatic yet beguiling Prem Singh essayed by Vikrant Massey, hiding in plain sight.
The film is inspired by true events, "Sector 36" is directed by debutante Aditya Nimbalkar.
Deepak Dobriyal added: "I was captivated by the Sector 36 script from the very beginning. It's a powerful thriller that brings to light class disparity, and how crime thrives when left unchecked."
"Inspired by true events, my character brings an investigative urgency to an exciting film that focuses on the hunter and the hunted."
"Sector 36" is set to stream on Netflix from September 13.
Talking about Vikrant, the actor started his career with television and made his acting debut "Dhoom Machaao Dhoom". He made his debut in films with the Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha-starrer "Lootere" in 2013.
Deepak is known for films such as "Omkara," "Shaurya," "Tanu Weds Manu," "Dabangg 2," "Prem Ratan Dhan Payo," and "Hindi Medium".
-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Bhubaneswar, Sep 5 : A war of words ensued between the members of the ruling BJP and Opposition BJD in the Odisha Assembly on Thursday over the Ravenshaw University name change issue.
The row erupted following the statement of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in this regard, a couple of days ago.
BJD leader Byomakesh Ray raised the issue in the House during the Zero Hour and demanded a statement by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi confirming the Odisha government's stand on the issue in the wake of the rising student discontent over it.
Ray asserted that Ravenshaw University, named after the then Commissioner of Odisha, TE Ravenshaw, has remained a milestone in the development of modern education in the state for 156 years.
He further stated that the then Odisha Commissioner TE Ravenshaw, after whom the university has been named, joined just a few months before the devastating famine in 1866.
The BJD MLA asserted that Ravenshaw had laid special emphasis on the use of Odia language in schools instead of Bengali.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Sofia Firdous also said that Ravenshaw University was a notable educational institution of the state which boasts of having a galaxy of great intellectual alumni.
She also urged the government to make its stand clear on the name change row.
"Old students as well as the students currently studying in the institution and intellectuals are demanding a statement from CM Majhi on the matter. We also today sought a clarification from the CM in this regard. Those who want to change the name of Ravenshaw University are trying to turn a non-issue into an issue.
"We oppose this move to turn a non-issue into an issue instead of addressing more important matters concerning the institution," Ray told media persons outside the House on Thursday.
He warned that the student agitation would be intensified if any steps were taken to change the name of Ravenshaw University.
Countering the BJD's allegations, BJP MLA Irasis Acharya said, "They (BJD) were ruled by an IAS officer from another state and the party is yet to get rid of its habit. When Rome was burning, Nero was playing music. Similarly, when lakhs of Odia people were dying in the famine, Ravenshaw went on 70-days' leave."
Referring to the statement of the Union Education Minister, Acharya said that it was not right to raise someone's personal statement in the Assembly.
Notably, Education Minister Pradhan had recently told media persons that the people of Odisha as well as intellectuals should ponder whether we need an institute named after Ravenshaw during whose tenure the devastating famine in 1866 occurred in Odisha.
Yangon, Sep 5 : A total of 30 people were killed and 89 others injured in bus accidents in Yangon, Myanmar, during the first eight months of this year.
The report, citing the Yangon Region Public Transport Committee (YRTC), said the fatalities included four each in January, February, March, and May, two in April, three in June, seven in July, and two in August, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the state-run daily The Global New Light of Myanmar on Thursday.
The types of accidents involving Yangon Bus Service (YBS) buses included falling from buses and collisions with motorcycles, private cars, taxis, and trucks, the report said.
The YBS is a bus transport network that operates in Yangon, Myanmar's commercial city. With approximately 3,800 buses across 131 routes, the network transports about 1.4 million passengers daily.
To educate undisciplined bus drivers, the YRTC organised monthly road safety awareness seminars for them during the eight months, and over 1,200 drivers attended the seminars, the report added.
Jaipur, Sep 5 : A NEET aspirant from Mathura district in Uttar Pradesh committed suicide in Rajasthan's Kota district, confirmed officials on Thursday.
Jawahar Nagar SHO Harinarayan Sharma said: "The deceased student has been identified as Parshuram (21), who was a resident of Manpur in Barsana, district Mathura, UP. His landlord saw him hanging from the noose and informed the control room on Wednesday. Around 11.30 pm, a police team rushed to the spot and saw the student hanging by the ceiling fan and took him down. Then his body was taken to MBS Hospital. Meanwhile, his family reached Kota on Thursday," when the process of postmortem began.
Sharma said that the student lived in a rented house in Old Jawahar Nagar area. He came to Kota from his home on August 30.
Parshuram's father said that he had been preparing for NEET in Kota for three years. He scored 490 marks in his first attempt. Recently, he scored 647 marks in the exam. However, he was stressed after the recent NEET controversy. He was, however, good in his studies.
His uncle, Chatar Singh, said that it was his nephew's third year in Kota. "Recently, he had come to Kota from home. He used to talk to his father and brother daily. He had told his father that he was coming. Information about his death was received at 12 o'clock on Wednesday night," he said.
He had last spoken to his brother and father. He told his father: "I am not feeling well, I want to come," and he hung up.
His father tried calling him but he did not receive the call and hanged himself in his room on Wednesday night, said police.
Further investigation is in progress.
Seoul, Sep 5 : North Korea on Thursday denounced a major military exercise between South Korea and the United States last month, warning the allies will have to pay a "dear price" for what it called "provocative war" drills.
Seoul, Sep 5 (IANS) A North Korea on Thursday denounced a major military exercise between South Korea and the United States last month, warning the allies will have to pay a "dear price" for what it called "provocative war" drills.
An unnamed chief of the public information office at North Korea's Defence Ministry issued the statement a week after the annual summertime Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise ended its 11-day run on Thursday.
"The Korean People's Army will never tolerate the US and ROK's military moves threatening the security environment on the Korean peninsula," the official said, using the acronym of South Korea's official name -- the Republic of Korea, Yonhap news agency reported.
"The hostile forces can never evade the heavy responsibility for escalating tension and will have to pay a dear price."
Pyongyang has long condemned the allies' joint military drills, accusing them of being rehearsals for an invasion against it. Seoul and Washington have rejected the claims, saying their drills are defensive in nature.
The official also took aim at the allies' other military drills, including the Ssang Yong exercise set to conclude Friday. Ssang Yong is focused on training the Allies' marines in amphibious landing operations.
"(The exercise) is an extremely reckless and dangerous military racket presupposing an open invasion upon the sacred territory of North Korea," the official said.
Pyongyang had relatively remained silent during the UFS this year, without launching any ballistic missiles or staging other major provocations.
Observers say the North appears to be focused on recovery efforts after heavy downpours in late July flooded large areas in the northern provinces of Jagang and North Phyongan, displacing thousands of people.
New Delhi, Sep 5 : Senior JD-U leader Neeraj Kumar on Thursday hit out at Islamic scholar Maulana Tauqeer Raza who had termed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) "a terrorist organisation", saying he only makes such statements to draw attention.
Speaking to IANS, Neeraj Kumar said that Raza makes such statements just to stay in the media spotlight and claimed that even Raza's own community doesn't take his words seriously.
The JD-U leader further stated that the cleric lacks knowledge of the Constitution. "This country operates under a Constitution. We have the Bible, the Quran, the Ramayana here."
"Can any terrorist organisation function in this country? Don't we have laws and a judiciary here? These statements are made only to gain media attention. Even his own community does not take him seriously. Such people are not role models in society. They want to enter politics and are known for their foul language," he said.
Raza, the President of Ittehad-e-Millat Council, had on Wednesday called the RSS a terrorist organisation, and demanded a ban on it as well as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and Bajrang Dal.
"If the government truly wants to work honestly, these terrorist organisations should be shut down. We live for India, we can die for India, but we are not ready to compromise on our dignity," he said.
Addressing the media after a meeting called to discuss the Waqf Amendment Bill, Raza said: "I am saying this openly. If we want to maintain peace and harmony in the country, these organisations must be banned."
He also opposed the Waqf Amendment Bill, stating that the Waqf properties should be freed from government control, and threatened protests if this was not done.
He said they are ready to make any sacrifice within the legal framework, and if necessary, protests will be held in Delhi as well.
The Maulana also questioned the judiciary's functioning, claiming that courts in the country operate under government pressure.
Damascus, Sep 5 : Three Syrian soldiers were killed in an armed attack on a military vehicle near the Naima Bridge, east of the southern province of Daraa on Thursday, local Sham FM radio reported.
The attack occurred in the early morning hours as unidentified gunmen opened fire on the vehicle, killing three soldiers at the scene, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the popular radio station.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes amid ongoing instability in southern Syria, a region that has seen a resurgence of violence in recent months despite reconciliation agreements.
The assault came just one day after a government convoy, including the Daraa governor and the head of the Baath Party branch in Daraa, was targeted in eastern Daraa.
Daraa, often referred to as the birthplace of Syria's 2011 uprising, continues to experience sporadic clashes between government forces and various armed factions.
Bhopal, Sep 5 : The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) claimed to have come across a "gross violation" of government's rules pertaining to the operation of a Madrasa in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar.
The NCPCR alleged that one particular Madrasa is being operated on a license obtained for running a private school, adding this was learned during an inspection carried out by its team on August 9.
The inspection was carried out with prior permission from the Madhya Pradesh government. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav-led BJP government in Madhya Pradesh has initiated an inspection drive in Madrasas operating across the state.
Omkar Singh, a member of NCPCR, who headed the inspection drive, told IANS on Thursday that the Madrasa was operating on the license of a private school.
"The permission was granted to enroll students up to Class 8 but students of 9th and 10th standards were found enrolled in Madrasa. It wasn't an educational institution but a religious institution where children are being imparted Islam religious learnings," Singh said.
He further said that many children enrolled in Madrasa were from other states, whereas the government's guidelines do not allow children from other states.
"The classes for students are being conducted only for three hours, while the government rules say classes would be run for 6 hours a day. An ibaadat-gah (place of worship for Muslims) was also found in the campus. That is also against the rules," Singh added.
He further stated that the Commission has submitted its report to the state government and has recommended immediate action against the Madrasa.
Responding to NCPCR's claims, School Education Minister in Madhya Pradesh government, Uday Pratap Singh, said that action would be initiated against Madrasa.
"Inspections are being carried out in Madrasas operating across Madhya Pradesh. The registration of 56 Madrasas has been cancelled," the minister told IANS.
Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 5 : Youth Congress vice president Abin Varkey was brutally thrashed by the police in front of the Kerala secretariat on Thursday during a protest seeking Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's resignation.
Youth Congress workers were protesting across Kerala and in the state capital to press for CM Vijayan's resignation over allegations of phone tapping and gold smuggling against an Additional Director General of Police (ADGP).
It was during this protest that Abin Varkey was beaten by a Sub Inspector (SI) and a few other policemen.
"This particular SI, Jiju is a fellow traveler of the youth wing of the CPI(M). It was he who singled me out and hit me. You can check social media posts where he can be spotted in the company of leading youth wing leaders of the CPI(M). If the police think they can end our protests by using force, they are mistaken. I will not go to hospital unless he is removed from here," said Varkey.
The Youth Congress is demanding the resignation of CM Vijayan after a Left-supported independent legislator PV Anvar alleged that ADGP incharge of Law and Order, Ajith Kumar was indulging in shady deals which include tapping of phones of politicians and gold smuggling.
PV Anvar equated the ADGP to a notorious "criminal" who has "modeled" himself like fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim.
Anvar also slammed the political secretary to Vijayan, P Sasi for giving all support to Ajith Kumar.
Incidentally the Youth Congress' protests across the state went off peacefully, but in the state capital things went out of hand.
For an hour it was a free-for-all between the protesters and the police, and the cops used water cannons seven times.
After that Varkey was badly mauled by the police and despite suffering serious injuries with blood streaming down his face, the youth leader was adamant that he would not seek medical treatment unless the erring official was removed.
Hearing about the brutal attack on Youth Congress workers and leaders, Kerala Congress President K Sudhakaran arrived at the state secretariat.
"It was Varkey who gave the first complaint and he has been targeted. The Congress party will now take over this protest and wish to remind all that we will take on those erring police officials on a personal level," said an angry Sudhakaran.
Later Sudhakaran ensured Varkey was moved to the hospital and left the venue.
On Friday the Congress party will stage a secretariat march demanding the resignation of Vijayan, who they accuse of shielding Ajith Kumar as the cop allegedly has a storehouse of secrets pertaining to the CM.
Senior Congress leader and UDF Convenor MM Hassan said if Anvar needs any support, the Congress party will be there with him.
Amaravati, Sep 5 : The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Thursday suspended its MLA Koneti Adimoolam after a woman leader of the party accused him of sexual assault.
Adimoolam is the MLA from the Satyavedu constituency.
The party suspended him hours after a video surfaced on social media in which he was seen misbehaving with a woman in a hotel. She alleged that the MLA was sending her vulgar messages on the phone during night hours.
Taking serious note of the allegation, TDP state President Palla Srinivasa Rao issued a statement, announcing the suspension of the MLA.
Earlier, addressing a press conference in Tirupati, the woman leader of the TDP revealed the video evidence of the MLA's alleged misbehaviour with her. She claimed that the video was shot through a pen camera. She said that she also wrote to TDP President and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and TDP General Secretary and state Minister Nara Lokesh to expel Adimoolam from the party.
The woman leader said she had earlier opposed giving him a ticket in the recent Assembly elections after he defected from the YSR Congress Party to the TDP. However, when the party decided to field him, she accepted the decision and campaigned for him.
She alleged that after taking her contact details during party events, Adimoolam began making inappropriate advances toward her by sending messages. She alleged that last month, he called her to a hotel room in Tirupati, where he sexually assaulted her. She claimed that the MLA threatened to kill her and her family if she disclosed the abuse. She also alleged that he raped her on three separate occasions in the same hotel.
The TDP leader said she wanted to expose Adimoolam and when he called her to the hotel, she carried a pen camera and recorded the abuse. She also alleged that Adimoolam raped multiple women and targeted those who refused to comply with his demands.
Adimoolam has denied the allegations and claimed that it was a morphed video. He said it was the conspiracy of his rivals within the party to defame him.
New Delhi, Sep 5 : The first consignment of Indian pomegranates from Mumbai to Melbourne in Australia has been successfully facilitated, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) informed on Thursday.
The export (on August 31) not only underscores India's capabilities in meeting global quality standards but also provides a significant boost to Indian farmers by opening up new revenue streams, said APEDA in a statement.
The consignment was successfully cleared in Melbourne and was showcased at 'Fine Food Australia 2024' at the APEDA India pavilion, further highlighting the global appeal of Indian pomegranates. The consignment weighing 1.1 metric tonnes (MT) consisted of 336 boxes (each weighing 3.5 kg).
In the financial year 2023-24, India exported 72,011 metric tonnes of pomegranates worth $69.08 million to markets including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bangladesh, Nepal, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bahrain and Oman.
Australia granted market access to Indian pomegranates in 2020, paving the way for Indian farmers to tap into a new and lucrative market.
India, being the second-largest producer of horticulture crops, sees major pomegranate production in states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh.
APEDA, which comes under Ministry of Commerce and Industry, said it has established Export Promotion Forums (EPF) specifically for pomegranates, aimed at boosting exports and removing supply chain bottlenecks.
The authority's commitment to promoting the export of fresh fruits and vegetables, despite their perishable nature, is evident in their development of sea protocols to retain product attributes when exporting to long-distance destinations.
"This initiative not only reinforces India's position in global markets but also directly supports Indian farmers by creating sustainable export opportunities," said APEDA.
These pomegranates were meticulously packed at their Australia-approved packhouse in Ahmednagar, guaranteeing that they meet the stringent quality standards required for international markets.
Ranchi, Sep 5 : The Centre on Thursday told the Jharkhand High Court that the growing presence of illegal Bangladeshi migrants in Santhal Pargana area of the tribal state is alarming.
Appearing for the Centre as the High Court took up a PIL on the issue, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who joined the court proceedings virtually, said that the demography of the area is changing due to infiltration from Bangladesh. The decline in the percentage of tribal population is a serious issue, he said.
He said, Infiltrators can enter other states also through Jharkhand and affect the population there. The central government will soon file a comprehensive reply in the court after consultation with all stakeholders -- IB and the BSF.
Accepting his request, the division bench of Acting Chief Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice A.K. Rai has fixed the next hearing on September 12.
The Solicitor General of India urged the court to remove the IB from the list of respondents in this case, as it has many confidential information which cannot be made public. Then the court asked the central government to file an application.
In its earlier hearing on August 22, the court expressed displeasure over the non-filing of reply by the Centre, Intelligence Bureau, UIDAI and the BSF. The state government was ordered to identify the infiltrators with the help of Special Branch. The Deputy Commissioners of all the six districts of Santhal Pargana division were also asked not to issue Aadhaar cards, ration cards, voter cards, BPL cards without matching them with the land records. The court had also observed that it cannot be said that the documents procured on the basis of ration cards, voter cards or Aadhaar cards were legitimate. Owing to this, people are also being deprived of their rights in the public welfare schemes of the state government.
This PIL, filed by Jamshedpur resident Daniel Danish, says that Bangladeshi intruders are infiltrating in Jharkhand from border areas like Jamtara, Pakur, Godda, Sahibganj etc. This is having an egregious effect on the population of these districts. A large number of madrasas have also been established there. Bangladeshi migrants are even marrying local tribals.
According to the data presented before the High Court citing the National Census, the tribal population in Santhal Pargana region has decreased from 44.67 per cent in 1951 to 28.11 per cent in 2011. A major reason behind this is Bangladeshi infiltration. If this trend continues, the situation will further aggravate, the Centre said.
Sangli : , Sep 5 (IANS) Virtually kickstarting the campaign for the Maharashtra assembly polls, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologise to each and every person in Maharashtra for the collapse of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj recently in Sindhudurg.
Slamming the ruling MahaYuti alliance comprising Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rahul Gandhi wondered why the PM should say sorry only to the Chhatrapati and he should tender an apology to all Maharashtrians for the tragedy at Rajkot Fort in Malvan, arising out of a corruption-ridden project.
"Only a person who has committed a mistake will apologise. Why did the PM say sorry? There are several reasons. Firstly, the project was given to RSS-linked persons, secondly, there was corruption in its construction and the people who built it had robbed the state, and thirdly though a statue of Chhatrapati was built, they did not take care whether it would stand or not. That's why the figurine of a great icon like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj crashed in such a short period," said Rahul Gandhi in a no-holds-barred attack.
The Congress leader was addressing a public rally after inaugurating a statue of the local strongman, the late Patangrao Kadam, who passed away in March 2018, in the presence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge who is also Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) President Sharad Pawar and other top Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders.
Rahul Gandhi pointed out that Maharashtra is a progressive state and soaked in the ideologies and teachings of legends like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, B.R. Ambedkar, and today, the country is witnessing "not politics but an ideological war".
"The Congress ideology is also very similar to theirsa but the BJP's ideals are opposite to these great legends. The BJP has been spreading hatred, fomenting violence and dividing the people all over India for decades. Earlier, the great icons fought that tendency, now the Congress is fighting against the BJP," asserted Rahul Gandhi.
He reiterated how the BJP wants to give the fruits of development to a select few while keeping all others backwards through hatred, fomenting violence, pitting communities, language and individuals against each other.
The Leader of the Opposition pointed out that the BJP is assaulting the Constitution every day, placing their people in all democratic and constitutional institutions to subvert them. Merit is discarded if they belong to the RSS-BJP.
"We have been demanding a Caste Census since long, as we want to find out who's really benefiting from the nation's resources and the fruits of progress. But the BJP has been consistently against it. It was only after we built up pressure that they have now admitted that Caste Census is needed. The Congress and our allies are committed to conduct a Caste Census and shall do it at any cost," declared Rahul Gandhi.
Referring to the two editions of his Bharat Jodo Yatra and Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, the Congress stalwart said that it secured huge response because it propagated 'mohabbat' (love) against the BJP's 'nafrat' (hatred).
"Manipur has been facing a civil war-like situation since over one-and-half years. But the PM has not visited the statea He cannot even go, as it's the BJP which has ignited the situation there," he said.
Rahul Gandhi also pulled up the government for giving loan waivers to his handful of rich industrialist friends but not extending the same benefit to crores of poor farmers across the country.
In his speech, Kharge paid tributes to Kadam, who hailed from a poor farmer's family, worked as a teacher and then rose onto become an educational baron through his Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University and other prestigious academic institutions.
(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)
Paris, Sep 5 : In a bid to break the deadlock over the new French government after the elections to the National Assembly threw up a fractured mandate, President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday named right-wing leader Michel Barnier as Prime Minister.
Republicans (LR) party leader Barnier, 73, will be the oldest to take over as the Prime Minister of France, since the Fifth Republic commenced in 1958. He succeeds Gabriel Attal, the youngest-ever to hold the post after his appointment in early 2024 and who has been serving as caretaker in the post since the July elections, the BBC reported.
The EU's former chief Brexit negotiator, who led talks with the UK government between 2016 and 2019, Barnier has held various senior posts, both in France and within the EU, during his long political career.
However, he now faces the challenge of a government that will need to survive a National Assembly divided into three big political blocs - the largest being the left-wing New Popular Front coalition, followed by Macron's centrist Ensemble, and the far-right National Rally. The three hold nearly 500 seats in the 577-member Assembly and remains to be seen how Barnier will secure a majority - given all three are distant from majorities and a coalition between any two is difficult given their divergent ideologies.
Interestingly, Barnier had announced his plans to contest against Macron in the 2022 Presidential polls on a campaign plank of limiting immigration. However, he failed to be nominated by his party for the polls.
The Republicans are divided into two factions - with one allied to the Marine Le Pen-led National Rally.
Macron had earlier rejected the NFP's Prime Ministerial candidate Lucie Castets, saying he was not sure that the leftist coalition could ensure a majority in the Assembly.
Bengaluru, Sep 5 : The Karnataka BJP on Thursday accused the Congress in the state of misleading Muslims.
Speaking at a state-level workshop on the occasion of the BJP Minority Morcha membership drive held at the party's office in Bengaluru on Thursday, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, stated that the BJP prioritises protection of the nation's interests and gaining power was not the main objective.
"If this is understood, everything will be fine," he said and accused the Congress of misleading minorities, particularly Muslims.
"How many Muslim Chief Ministers the Congress party, which claims to support Muslims, has appointed?" Narayanaswamy questioned.
"Has the Congress party made a single Muslim their president? Have they paid attention to their condition? Have they visited their colonies?" he asked.
"They put two people in front like jokers. They give them power, and they rule over the entire community as if they have taken it on contract. The situation is similar for Dalits," Narayanaswamy opined.
"The BJP is not against anyone. The country must remain secure. The safety of the people is our priority," he said.
"To prevent others from interfering, Article 370 was abrogated in Jammu and Kashmir," he maintained.
"There is less trust among Muslims in the BJP. It is not their fault, nor is it the BJP's fault. If we understand who is poisoning us and why, there will be no conflict among us. If this is not understood, conflict is inevitable," he said.
"People say the BJP is anti-minority; that if the BJP comes to power, they will send Muslims to Pakistan or Afghanistan. Is any of this possible?" he asked.
"The BJP has been in power at the Centre for 11 years now. Why hasn't the BJP sent you to Pakistan yet?" he questioned.
"It is impossible to send anyone anywhere. It's not even possible to throw you into the Arabian Sea," Narayanaswamy said.
"Where there is less education, there is also less awareness. The poisonous ideas they have instilled in our minds are working. In this country, Dr. Ambedkar drafted the Constitution, providing opportunities to everyone beyond caste and religion. His vision was to build India by including everyone," Narayanaswamy underlined.
"On Wednesday, we launched the Karnataka membership drive under the leadership of state President, BY Vijayendra. Before that, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, National President JP Nadda, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched it in New Delhi. Already, in just one day, more than one crore memberships have been registered," he said.
"In the state, 5 lakh people have already become members," he added.
"Last time, there were 1.05 crore members in the state. This time, even if it is less, our target is 1.50 crore members," he noted.
"Previously, in many states, districts, and constituencies, our party was not strong. Our party is now stable. Adding 1.50 crore members will not be difficult," he analysed.
"Let's register 300 to 400 members at each booth. With 55,000 booths, there will be 2 crore members. Minorities do not mean just Muslims; it is not just Christians, Jains, or Buddhists. Minorities include everyone," he stressed.
State coordinator Alla Baksh Timmapur said, "There are 18 crore members in the country today. The BJP was born in 1980. Before that, there was the Jan Sangh. The party was not formed for comfort but for the glory of Bharat Mata."
"Membership registration is a democratic process. Ours is a living party. In other parties, there is no process for membership registration," he stated.
"Our Morcha has been given a target of 5 lakh members," he added.
Former Chairman of the Minority Commission, Abdul Azeem, said, "Other party leaders have anger and hatred towards the BJP. They objected to saying 'Bharat Mata ki Jai.' I responded by saying that for me, the nation is like a mother."
"Congress leaders do not understand all this," he said.
"The BJP has treated me with respect," he noted and appealed to make 50 lakh people from minority communities members of the party.
On this occasion, BJP Minority Morcha National President Jamal Siddiqui, National Coordinator Jojo Joseph, Rajya Sabha MP Lahar Singh Siroya, former President of the Morcha Syed Salam, state General Secretary Indrakumar Jain, and other state and district office bearers of the Minority Morcha were present. State Secretary of the Morcha, Jesel D'Souza, was present.
The state president of the BJP Minority Morcha, Anil Thomas, presided over the event.
New Delhi: In an era marked by attempts to fragment Hindu society along the lines of caste, class, language, and culture, the need to embrace the unifying cultural roots of Sanatan Dharma has never been more critical.
The Sarvajanik Ganesh Chaturthi exemplifies how collective cultural practices can foster unity in a community, irrespective of their differences.
The festival, initiated by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, is not only a significant cultural event, but also a symbol of resistance against colonial and contemporary adversities.
The importance of this festival is underscored in the research document 'Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav Initiated by Lokmanya B.G. Tilak and its Role in Freedom Movement' by Dr. Geetali Tilak.
Historical context and origins
The Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav finds its origin in the late 19th century, a period when British rule in India sought to deepen existing social divisions and create new ones to undermine Indian unity. In response to this 'divide and rule' strategy, Lokmanya Tilak, a prominent leader advocating India's Independence, perceived a unique opportunity to unite Hindus across diverse caste and regional lines.
Traditionally, Ganesh Chaturthi was observed as a private family celebration. Recognising the potential of this festival to serve as a unifying force, Tilak transformed it into a public event.
His vision was to harness the festival's spirit to foster a collective identity and resistance against colonial oppression. Thus, in 1893, Tilak launched the first Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav in Pune, setting the stage for a tradition that would become a powerful emblem of unity.
Fostering unity through public celebrations
The introduction of Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav marked a significant shift in the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi. For the first time, Hindus from various castes, regions, and social backgrounds congregated in the public domain to celebrate a shared cultural event. This collective celebration effectively dismantled barriers, fostering a sense of common identity and purpose among the participants.
Tilak's approach was multifaceted. He leveraged religious gatherings to galvanise mass mobilisation, using the public celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi as a platform to promote cultural pride and political dissent. The festival rapidly gained traction, extending beyond Pune to other parts of Maharashtra as well as the country.
The public nature of the festival also facilitated the spread of nationalist ideas. Tilak utilised the occasion to deliver speeches advocating for self-rule (Swaraj) and unity among Indians in their struggle against British colonialism.
Ganesh pandals, or temporary structures for housing Ganesh idols, became hubs of cultural and intellectual activities, blending religious devotion with nationalist fervour and strengthening the communal fabric.
The freedom movement
Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav transcended its religious origins to become a strategic instrument in the fight against colonial rule. The British authorities, recognising the subversive potential of these public gatherings, attempted to disrupt them through various means, including bans on Tilak's photographs and processions. Despite these efforts, the festival's significance and scale continued to grow.
The festival played a pivotal role in promoting the Swadeshi movement, which emphasised the use of indigenous goods as a means to challenge British economic dominance.
Moreover, Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav helped bridge gaps between different castes and regions, fostering a cohesive Hindu identity.
The collective celebrations allowed Hindus from diverse backgrounds to connect over their shared cultural heritage, reinforcing a collective consciousness crucial for the nationalist movement. The festival became a rallying point, providing a sense of belonging and purpose that transcended individual identities.
Symbolism of Ganesh Chaturthi in the struggle against oppression
Ganesh, the elephant-headed deity, is venerated as the remover of obstacles and the bringer of good fortune. Tilak's innovative use of Ganesh Chaturthi for political mobilisation was a strategic masterstroke. By associating the festival with the nationalist cause, he harnessed the deep reservoir of religious devotion among Hindus and directed it towards the goal of Independence. The festival became a form of defiance against British rule and a testament to the cultural and spiritual resilience of the Hindu community.
Relevance of Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav
In contemporary times, as forces continue to seek division within the Hindu society, the spirit of Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav remains profoundly relevant. The festival serves as a poignant reminder of the strength found in unity amid adversity. Celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi publicly not only honours our traditions, but also reinforces the bonds of communal harmony that unite us.
The enduring significance of Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav lies in its capacity to inspire unity and collective pride. As we face modern challenges, the festival encourages us to celebrate all Hindu festivals with the same spirit of communal harmony and pride. By doing so, we can fortify the bonds that connect us and build a more cohesive and resilient Hindu society.
Reflecting on the historical significance of Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav underscores the importance of cultural unity in preserving the strength of the Hindu society. Amid ongoing divisive forces, the festival stands as a beacon of Sanatan Dharma's enduring power to unite and inspire.
Embracing the spirit of Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav enables us to ensure that our cultural traditions continue to serve as sources of strength and solidarity for future generations.
As highlighted by Dr. Geetali Tilak in her research document, the festival not only represents a significant cultural heritage, but also offers a powerful model for fostering unity in the face of contemporary challenges.
(The writer is an author and columnist. Her latest book is titled 'Blood in the Sea: The Dark History of Hindu Oppression in Goa'. The views expressed are personal)
Singapore, Sep 5 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met leading CEOs from diverse sectors, including investment funds, infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, sustainability and logistics, in Singapore and invited them to look at immense investment opportunities in India.
PM Modi also announced the setting up of an aINVEST INDIAa office in the Southeast Asian city-state to boost bilateral trade.
Top business leaders who met PM Modi included Lim Ming Yan, Chairman, Singapore Business Federation; Kok Ping Soon, CEO, Singapore Business Federation and Gautam Banerjee, Chairman, India and South Asia Business Group and Senior MD and Chairman, Blackstone Singapore, among others.
PM Modi told the delegation that "the elevation of India-Singapore ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership would give a major thrust to bilateral economic relations".
Appreciating their investment footprint in India, the Prime Minister acknowledged the role played by the Singaporean industry leaders in strengthening bilateral relations and promoting economic cooperation between the two nations.
"India had made transformative progress in the last 10 years and would continue on the same path given its strengths of political stability, policy predictability, ease of doing business, and its reform-oriented economic agenda. It is set to become the third largest economy in the world over the next few years," he said.
Highlighting that India is contributing 17 per cent to global economic growth, PM Modi spoke about various initiatives to enhance Indiaas participation in global value chains through programmes such as production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, India Semiconductor Mission and establishment of 12 new industrial smart cities. For businesses looking for resilient supply chains, the Prime Minister noted that India is the best alternative given its strengths.
Other top business leaders who met PM Modi were Lim Boon Heng, Chairman, Temasek Holdings; Lim Chow Kiat, CEO, of GIC Private Limited; Piyush Gupta, CEO and Director, DBS Group; Yam Kum Weng, CEO, Changi Airport Group, and Yuen Kuan Moon, CEO, SingTel.
Singaporeas Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and Minister for Home Affairs and Law, K Shanmugam, also participated in the event.
Meanwhile, the countries have announced a partnership to cooperate in the field of semiconductors. Under an MoU, Singapore and India will leverage complementary strengths in their semiconductor ecosystems and tap into opportunities to build resilience in their semiconductor supply chains. This will include government-led policy exchanges on ecosystem development, supply chain resilience, and workforce development.
Raichur : , Sep 5 (IANS) Two students were killed and 32 others injured after a school van collided with a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus here on Thursday.
The deceased were identified as seven-year-old Samarth and 12-year-old Srikanth.
Of the 32 injured, 18 children were admitted to the Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and 14 to a private hospital.
When parents rushed to the hospital to see their children and were denied entry to the ICU, they entered into an argument with the police.
The situation has been brought under control and injured children are being shifted from the ICU to the general ward, police said.
Few children were still in the ICU.
Expressing grief over the incident, Union Heavy Industries and Steel Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy said: "I am deeply shocked to hear the news of two students losing their lives in a horrific accident between a state transport bus and a school bus near Kapagal in Manvi, Raichur district."
"It is extremely saddening to know that several more children have been severely injured, and some have lost their limbs. The visuals of the accident have disturbed my mind," Kumaraswamy said.
"My heartfelt condolences to the deceased children. The Karnataka government must provide all necessary medical treatment to the injured children for free and immediately announce the required compensation. Negligence in following road safety rules and the recklessness of drivers are causing such tragedies. I earnestly appeal to everyone to strictly follow transportation rules," Kumaraswamy said.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said: "I am deeply saddened to hear about the tragic accident involving a school van and a government bus near Kapagal in Manvi taluk of Raichur district, in which two children lost their lives and several others were seriously injured."
"I pray that the departed souls may rest in peace," he stated.
"Arrangements will be made for free treatment of the injured, and the state government will provide compensation to the families of the deceased," CM Siddaramaiah stated.
Raichur Deputy Commissioner K. Nitish, talking to media persons, said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has given directions to provide Rs 5 lakh compensation to the families of the deceased and Rs 3 lakh compensation for the injured.
Gurugram, Spe 5 : BJP state Vice President G.L. Sharma and party's Business Cell's State Convenor Naveen Goyal along with their supporters quit the BJP after the party released its first list of 67 candidates for the Haryana Assembly elections and their names were not on the list.
"Only one person in the party is distributing the ticket. I have met Congress MP from Rohtak Deepender Hooda and will soon join Congress without any promise," Sharma said.
BJP fielded Mukesh Sharma from the Gurgaon seat while dropping G.L. Shamra
Naveen Goyal, along with his support, also resigned from all the party posts with immediate effect.
Mukesh Sharma was declared as the candidate from the Gurgaon Assembly, after which Naveen Goyal announced to contest the election as an independent.
He said that this was not his own decision but the voice of the people of Gurgaon.
"I have engaged in the service of the party since the beginning. For seven years, I have engaged day and night to serve the people of Gurgaon and propagate the party's policies but the party ignored my services. The voters of the Gurgaon constituency love me. On October 5 poll day, the people will cast their vote in my favour," Naveen Goyal said while addressing a press conference.
The BJP released its first list of candidates for the October 05 Haryana Assembly elections on Wednesday evening.
The party has fielded Mukesh Sharma from the Gurgaon constituency, replacing sitting MLA Sudhir Singla.
The party declared tickets for 67 of the 90 seats, including three constituencies in the Gurugram district, denying nominations to two sitting MLAs -- Kunwar Sanjay Singh from Sohna and Sudhir Singla from Gurgaon.
The BJP has nominated former minister Rao Narbir Singh from Badshahpur seat, Mukesh Sharma from Gurgaon, and former MLA Tejpal Tanwar from Sohna, Pataudi (SC reserve), is yet to be decided. Satya Prakash Jrawata is a sitting MLA from Patudi's seat.
Meanwhile, the Congress is yet to release its list for the upcoming Haryana Assembly election.
New Delhi, Sep 5 : The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel have seized diamonds weighing about 163 gm in various sizes concealed in the waist belt of two passengers at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi.
CISF personnel detected the illegal smuggling of diamond at Terminal-3 of IGI Airport on Wednesday. One of the arrested persons, who was carrying about 80 gm diamond, was later identified as Jitendra Farsio who was bound for Istanbul by a Turkish Airlines flight. He was nabbed during the pre-embarkation process.
The matter was informed to senior officials of the CISF and Customs.
The CISF said that on thorough scanning of his mobile phone and following tactful questioning, it was revealed that his accomplice, M. Anuj Patil Bhagwan, who was travelling by the same flight, was also carrying loose diamonds.
With the help of CCTV footage, the passenger was located and intercepted, the CISF said.
On thorough checking of Bhagwanas hand bag, diamond in various sizes weighing about 83 gm was detected.
Later, both the passengers along with seized diamonds weighing about 163 gm and worth approximately Rs 60 lakh were handed over to the Customs officials for further action in the matter.
Earlier in April, a US woman was apprehended at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport after she allegedly attempted to 'bribe' a CISF officer with smuggled gold.
The woman was identified as Farah Deeko Mohamed, who arrived from Nairobi, Kenya, aboard an Air India flight.
The passenger was intercepted by the CISF personnel while she was being frisked before taking a connecting Air India flight to Hyderabad.
She was found carrying five gold bars weighing 50 gm each and some jewellery worth about Rs 35 lakh by concealing them in her undergarments.
Singapore, Sep 5 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed the progress made in bilateral cooperation in a multitude of forward-looking areas as he wrapped up his two-day visit to Singapore.
"My visit to Singapore has been a very fruitful one. It will certainly add vigour to bilateral ties and benefit the people of our nations. I thank the government and people of Singapore for their warmth," PM Modi posted on X before leaving for India.
Prime Minister Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Parliament House on Thursday, held meetings with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong besides engaging separately with Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.
He also visited AEM, a leading Singaporean company in semiconductor and electronics sector, addressed the India-Singapore business roundtable meeting and interacted with interns from Odisha's World Skill Center who are visiting Singapore and interns from Singapore who have been to India as a part of the CII-Enterprise Singapore India Ready Talent Programme.
"Singapore and India share a deep and enduring friendship, built on strong economic and people-to-people ties. Had a productive meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Parliament House. We've set out a forward-looking agenda for the next phase of our bilateral relations. This includes closer cooperation in areas like sustainability, advanced manufacturing, digital technologies and connectivity. We're also upgrading the Singapore-India Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," said Singapore PM Lawrence Wong.
During their meeting, Singapore President Tharman and Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed the longstanding friendship between both countries as they discussed India's potential as a leading centre of growth over the next decade, driven by both social and digital investments across the wide span of its population, as well as its new economic linkages.
"They also discussed the potential for India and ASEAN to complement each other's growth and build stronger supply chain linkages. They looked forward to celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and India in 2025, which is a significant milestone," stated Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Together, PM Modi and his Singaporean counterpart witnessed the exchange of four government-to-government Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in the areas of digital cooperation, education and skills development, health and medicine, and semiconductor ecosystem cooperation.
"The Prime Ministers discussed potential collaboration in new and innovative areas, including cross border electricity trade and green ammonia supply chains, a joint flagship programme for skills training, enhancing cross-border data flows via the Gujarat International Finance and Tec-City (GIFT City), and cooperation in developing industrial parks in India," said the country's Foreign Ministry.
The statement added that Emeritus Senior Minister Goh and Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed the close friendship and historical ties between Singapore and India at their meeting.
"They discussed ways to build on this strong foundation to strengthen people-to-people ties and exchanges. They also discussed how India could power the next wave of Asian growth," it mentioned.
During his visit to the AEM, PM Modi interacted with Singapore's semiconductor ecosystem players.
He was briefed about AEM's role in the global semiconductor value chain, its operations and plans for India. Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association also gave a briefing on the development of the semiconductor ecosystem in Singapore and opportunities for collaboration with India. Representatives of several other Singaporean companies from this sector were also present.
"The Prime Minister invited the Singaporean semiconductor companies to participate in the SEMICON India exhibition to be held in Greater Noida on 11-13 September 2024. Given our efforts to develop the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem in India and Singaporeas strengths in this sector, both sides have decided to expand bilateral cooperation," mentioned the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Prime Minister Modi had arrived in Singapore from Brunei on Wednesday and met PM Lawrence Wong at the historic Sri Temasek bungalow - the official residence of the Singaporean Prime Minister.
Mumbai, Sep 5 : At least three labourers were killed and another three hurt when a slab on the 20th floor of an under construction building crashed here on Thursday, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation's Disaster Control said.
The incident -- second of its kind in two days -- happened around noon when the workers were going about their normal duties on the 20th floor of the upcoming 23-storey Slum Rehabilitation Authority's building intended for market sale.
The tragedy occurred in the Navjeevan Building in Malad east suburb of north-west Mumbai, trapping the labourers.
Shortly after the crash, the Mumbai Police, Mumbai Fire Brigade and other agencies rushed to the site to carry out a rescue operation, and the civic agencies have initiated a probe to determine the causes.
They managed to retrieve three bodies from the rubble, and three more who were seriously injured in the crash, and rushed to the nearby M.W. Desai Municipal Hospital in nearby Govind Nagar.
The three who were brought dead have been identified as Gopal B. Modi, 32; Sohan J. Rotha, 26, and Vinod K. Sadar, 26, said the BMC Disaster Control.
The injured include Jalil R. Shaikh, 45, admitted to the orthopaedic ward with multiple bone injuries, Rupsan B. Mamin, 30, currently in the ICU and his condition is stable, while another critical worker, Mohammad S. Shaikh, 30, was later shifted to the RN Cooper Hospital in Juhu for further treatment.
In a similar incident on Wednesday, a minor child was killed, and a woman seriously injured when a two-storey residential building crashed in Chembur suburb of north-east Mumbai.
Both the tragedies in the country's commercial capital occurred when the monsoon rains had taken a respite but has revived vigorously in most parts of the city since Wednesday night.
Shimla, Sep 5 : Hindu outfits in Shimla staged a massive protest on Thursday after days of simmering dissent against the 'illegal' construction of a mosque in the Sanjauli area of the state capital.
Holding the Tricolour, the protesters comprising BJP activists and others demanded demolition of the structure, claiming that the Waqf Board illegally occupied the land and built a mosque on it.
"The masjid has been constructed illegally for 10 years but no action has been taken so far. It should be demolished by the government," a protester demanded.
Local authorities said the protest intensified after some Muslim 'miscreants' attacked a man who was against the construction of the mosque.
"The agitation intensified after the assault incident. Even people from the nearby villages joined the protest today," said a police officer requesting anonymity owing to the sensitivity of the issue.
The protesters are demanding that the antecedents of the local Muslims should be verified by the police to know their origin as they suspect some of them to be Rohingyas or Bangladeshis.
Responding to the row over the construction of the mosque, Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh told the media, "For a long time the issue of building a mosque in Sanjauli has been gaining momentum. The government is taking action as far as the structural illegality is concerned."
Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh said, "Illegal constructions should not be tolerated anywhere in the state. The mosque issue was raised before the Municipal Corporation in 2010, and there have been around 44 hearings in courts. Despite this, the construction was carried out illegally."
"When ordinary citizens violate rules, they face immediate action. So why has this issue been overlooked for so long? What is illegal is illegal, whether it's a temple or a mosque," he added.
Anirudh Singh also urged Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to maintain records of illegal immigrants and to verify their police backgrounds to find out whether they're coming from Pakistan, Bangladesh, or even from within India.
On Wednesday, the issue of unauthorised construction of the mosque was raised in the Vidhan Sabha.
Responding to the issue raised under Rule 62 by Balbir Verma and Harish Janartha, Vikramaditya Singh urged all concerned to tread cautiously on a sensitive issue like this.
"Himachal is known for maintaining communal harmony and all communities have been living here peacefully. I assure that action will be taken as per the law. The case is also being pursued by the Municipal Corporation," he said.
Patna, Sep 5 : Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, strongly criticised the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government for its failure to apply pressure on the central government to include 65 per cent reservation in the Ninth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
While addressing party workers at the RJD's office in Patna on the martyrdom day of Jagdev Prasad, Yadav expressed his frustration over the government's inaction on this crucial issue.
Tejashwi highlighted that despite Nitish Kumar leading the NDA government in Bihar for the past eight months, he had not pushed the Centre to include quotas in the Ninth Schedule that was required to protect it from legal challenges.
"When the Grand Alliance government was initially formed, I had urged Nitish Kumar to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to advocate for a nationwide caste-based census. While an all-party delegation led by Nitish Kumar met the Prime Minister, the central government ultimately rejected the proposal for a caste census just two days later, and even failed to conduct the general census in the country," Tejashwi said.
This criticism underscores ongoing tensions between Tejashwi Yadav's RJD and Nitish Kumar's NDA government, particularly around issues of social justice and reservations, which are key political concerns in Bihar.
The Grand Alliance government had conducted the caste-based survey in Bihar followed by reservations, expanding it up to 65 per cent for OBCs (Other Backward Classes), EBCs (Extremely Backward Classes), Dalits, and tribal people.
However, he noted that BJP leaders had challenged the reservation policy in court, leading to its cancellation by the Patna High Court two months ago.
Tejashwi Yadav explained that the Grand Alliance had anticipated such legal challenges and had been demanding from the beginning that the reservation policy be placed in the Ninth Schedule to shield it from court intervention.
He accused Nitish Kumar of failing to use his position as head of the NDA government in Bihar to pressure the Union government.
"The BJP and RSS leaders have been conspiring against OBCs, EBCs, Dalits, and tribal communities. On the other hand, Lalu Prasad Yadav's inclusive approach has always promoted leaders from various castes, including Kushwaha leaders. Abhay Kushwaha, an MP representing Aurangabad, is an example of it," he said.
Tejashwi Yadav underscored that Kushwaha and Yadav communities would unite in their fight against the BJP to protect reservation and ensure a caste census across the country.
Tejashwi Yadav, during his address, highlighted that he had promised 10 lakh government jobs during the 2020 Bihar Assembly election campaign and claimed to have fulfilled half of that promise by providing 5 lakh jobs as the Deputy Chief Minister.
"CM Nitish Kumar had previously mocked the feasibility of such a promise, questioning how Tejashwi would secure the necessary funds for 10 lakh jobs but I did that," Tejashwi said.
He also spoke about his forthcoming Yatra starting on September 10, which will focus on mobilising support among his party workers around key issues like the caste-based census and the demand for 65 per cent reservation for marginalised communities in Bihar.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 5. Azerbaijan has become the essential link between Europe and Asia, says an article by the Italian daily online newspaper Formiche, Trend reports.
"With one foot in both Asia and Europe, Azerbaijan embraces diversity and absorbs the values of different cultures and civilizations, enabling it to assume the role of a true bridge. There is a subtle but significant geopolitical thread linking Italy to Central Asia, represented by relations with a key country like Azerbaijan, located in a very strategic geographic axis: Georgia, Turkiye, Bulgaria, Greece, and Albania. These countries straddle two highly strategic quadrants - the Euro-Mediterranean and the Caucasus - and over the past few years, Italy has become increasingly aware of how crucial this segment of Asia has become in light of so-called horizontal development," the article reads.
The authors highlighted the growing trade turnover between Baku and Rome, noting that Italy is now Azerbaijans largest trading partner, while Azerbaijan is Italys top partner in the South Caucasus region.
"Last year, an agreement was signed between Ansaldo Energia and Azerenerji, the largest electricity producer in the Republic of Azerbaijan, marking the beginning of the development and modernization of a plant to which the Italian company will supply four AE94.3A gas turbines, worth over 160 million euros," the authors added.
It is further noted that today, the impact of the war in Ukraine on Italys energy supply is no longer an immediate emergency, thanks in part to the farsighted decision to build the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).
"The role of TAP cannot be overlooked. It is a central component of the Southern Gas Corridor, which transports natural gas from the Shah Deniz II field in Azerbaijan to Europe. To date, approximately 26 billion cubic meters of gas have been delivered to Europe. Connecting at the Turkish-Greek border with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP), TAP enters northern Greece, crosses Albania, and then passes through the Adriatic to the coast of Puglia, bringing together a series of countries that form a bridge between Europe and the Caucasus," the article added.
At the same time, as the authors rightly pointed out, Azerbaijans role extends beyond energy and covers two key areas: the organization of COP29 in November and intercultural dialogues.
"Azerbaijan has initiated the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, now in its sixth edition. This initiative was born from the Baku Process, launched in 2008 by the Republic of Azerbaijan in close collaboration with important international partners. It aims to promote intercultural dialogue, understanding, and harmony within and between different cultures. The forum serves as a platform for governments, international organizations, experts, scholars, politicians, and professionals to engage in meaningful discussions about the evolving dynamics of intercultural communication and global security in an interconnected world. For this reason, the forum is promoted in close cooperation with UNESCO, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), the Council of Europe, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)," the article concludes.
New Delhi, Sep 5 : Former Union Minister and senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Thursday slammed Rahul Gandhi for his remark that INDIA bloc will "restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir" after coming to power, saying the Congress leader is still trapped in his feudal mindset and arrogance.
Addressing a rally in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, asserted that the next INDIA bloc government will restore statehood to J&K if the current BJP-led government fails to do so during its tenure.
"In J&K, his party and family members have ruthlessly and shamelessly shattered happiness, development, and trust of the people. Even after all these, if he claims that they will bring prosperity to J&K, that prosperity will not be for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, but for the separatists there," Naqvi told IANS.
Naqvi also called the elections which took place in J&K earlier as jokes.
"Five per cent to 8 per cent votes were cast. We all know how the voting was done, and how the government was formed, and how it was run remotely," he claimed.
"But elections today are held with transparency in J&K. In the last 10 years, people in large numbers have used their voting rights, be it local body elections or state polls," the BJP leader added.
The 90-member J&K Assembly will go to the polls -- the first since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 -- in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1. The results will be declared on October 8.
The National Conference and Congress have entered into a pre-poll seat-sharing arrangement in J&K with the NC contesting 51 seats and the Congress fielding its candidates on 32 seats. While there will be a friendly contest on five seats, two seats have been reserved for the CPI(M) and Panthers Party.
New Delhi, Sep 5 : Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that the top military leadership must develop a broader understanding of the northern border given the security situation in the region.
"There must be broader and deeper analysis by the top military leadership of the situation along the northern border. Happenings in neighbouring countries are posing a challenge to peace and stability in the region," said the Defence Minister while presiding over the maiden Joint Commanders' Conference.
He said that India is a peace-loving nation and the armed forces need to be prepared for war in order to preserve peace in the country.
On the ongoing Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts and Bangladesh situation, the Defence Minister said that the military leadership needs to analyse these episodes, predict the problems that the country may face in the future and stay prepared to deal with the "unexpected".
"Despite global volatility, India is enjoying a rare peace and is developing peacefully. However, due to the increasing number of challenges, we need to remain alert. We must keep our peace intact during Amrit Kaal," the Defence Minister said.
He said that the country needs to on present, keep an eye on the activities happening around us at present, and focus on being future-oriented.
"To achieve this vision, we should have a strong and robust national security component and must develop full-proof deterrence," the Defence Minister said.
He also stressed the significance of evolving joint military vision and preparing for the type of challenges the country may face in future.
"We should also have the capability development in space and electronic warfare. They are integral to tackling modern-day challenges. Military leadership should focus on increasing the use of the latest technological advancements in the fields of data and artificial intelligence," the Defence Minister said.
He said that these components do not participate in any conflict or war directly, adding, that their indirect participation is deciding the course of warfare to a great extent.
Tehran, Sep 5 : Iran on Thursday slammed the United States for seizing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's airplane in the Dominican Republic, earlier this week terming it as a breach of international law.
"Iran, while stressing the necessity to respect international laws and regulations, considers the recent move by the US government in confiscating the plane used by the Venezuelan president contrary to the rules and norms of international law, especially the immunity of property belonging to governments and the international civil aviation law regulations, including the Chicago Convention, and deems it unacceptable," said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani.
"The move, which is in line with the unilateral hostile measures by the US against other nations and international law, is fomenting chaos and promoting skyjacking and poses a threat to the peace and security of the airspace," the spokesperson noted.
Kanaani voiced solidarity and support for the Venezuelan government in protecting and reclaiming public property belonging to the people of the country, and stressed that cooperation between countries should be promoted in order to confront the US unilateral sanctions and hostile moves.
According to the US Justice Department, the Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft was seized in the Dominican Republic and transferred to the Southern District of Florida at the request of Washington "based on violations of US export control and sanctions laws".
"This morning, the Justice Department seized an aircraft we allege was illegally purchased for $13 million through a shell company and smuggled out of the United States for use by NicolAs Maduro and his cronies," said US Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on Monday.
"The Department will continue to pursue those who violate our sanctions and export controls to prevent them from using American resources to undermine the national security of the United States," the attorney general mentioned.
Denouncing Washington's move, Venezuela said that it was part of a "repeated criminal practice".
"Venezuela denounces to the international community that once again, the authorities of the United States of America, in a repeated criminal practice that cannot be classified as anything other than piracy, have illegally confiscated an aircraft that has been used by the President of the Republic, justifying themselves on the coercive measures (sanctions) that they unilaterally and illegally impose around the world," Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Yvan Gil said on Telegram on Monday.
Venezuela made it clear that "it reserves the right to take any legal action to repair this damage to the nation, as well as all other damage caused by the criminal policy of unilateral coercive measures," Gil added.
In February, the United States seized a plane belonging to Venezuelan airline Emtrasur Cargo that landed in Argentina in June 2022 and was then detained for an alleged investigation.
Hyderabad, Sep 5 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS has condemned the arrest of the former director of Telangana Digital Media Dileep Konatham and demanded his immediate release.
BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao termed the arrest of Dileep as "illegal".
Dileep had been reportedly arrested for certain objectionable posts on his social media accounts.
Rama Rao said in a statement that in a brazen display of "autocratic" governance, Dileep Konatham was "illegally" arrested without any formal information or clarity on the charges against him.
He stated that this arrest comes after a series of incidents where Dileep questioned the inefficiency of Revanth Reddy's government, which seems to be using revenge politics to silence critics.
BRS Working President KTR added that despite a previous reprimand from the High Court for such actions, the state government continues to target those who speak out, showcasing a complete disregard for democratic principles.
Demanding Dileep's immediate release, KTR asserted that no number of false cases or arrests will stop the voices that question this administration.
The BRS leader further added that the blatant suppression of freedom of speech in Telangana has been going on for the last nine months, reflecting a shift towards autocracy under Congress rule.
Meanwhile, on learning about Dileep's arrest several BRS leaders rushed to Hyderabad Police Commissioner's office and demanded his immediate release.
Former minister Jagadish Reddy, R S Praveen Kumar, Dasoju Sravan and others reached the Police Commissioner's office.
Former minister and BRS leader T. Harish Rao has condemned Dileep's arrest and termed it a clear sign of growing authoritarianism in the state.
Vladivostok, Sep 5 : Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said that Ukraine's leaders seem to be like "aliens", who make ruthless decisions without regard for the people's suffering, while praising friends and partners like India who seek to resolve the conflict.
"I sometimes get the impression that those who rule Ukraine are like aliens or foreignersa They donat thinka you see, their losses are colossal. I canat even fathom what they will do next," he said at the plenary of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), RT reported.
The Russian President recalled that his country and Ukraine had essentially reached a peace deal a" based on a Ukrainian commitment to neutrality a" during the Istanbul talks soon after at the beginning of the conflict, but accused Western powers of derailing these efforts as they sought Russiaas "strategic defeat".
Ukraine's behaviour under these circumstances raised questions, he noted.
He said that Kiev's only option is to lower the maximum age of conscription once again and this would allow them "to recruit children, as the German Nazis did with the Hitler Youth", in a reference to how Adolf Hitler's regime forced teenagers into makeshift militias in the closing stages of the Second War as the Allies advanced into German territory.
"But this will not solve the problema The next step is to call up students, to bleed the country dry. Once again, it seems that Ukrainians are not their people," Putin said.
"They donat really think about the country. But they disguise it with nationalist slogans, deceiving people."
Ukraine announced general mobilisation shortly after the start of the conflict with Russia, but widespread draft-dodging and graft were reported. This spring, in a bid to recover military losses, the Ukrainian government passed two bills, one lowering the draft age from 27 to 25, and the other significantly tightening mobilisation rules.
The Russian leader also opined that the high casualties incurred by the Ukrainian military since its incursion in Russiaas Kursk Region could render its armed forces useless.
He said the Ukrainian attempt to disrupt the Russian advance with the massive attack across the border last month had backfired.
"Our military has stabilised the situation and is now gradually pushing the opponent from the border territories. More importantly, there is no resistance to our advancement (in Donbass) The opponent has weakened itself on the key axis by moving those relatively strong and well-trained units to the border areas," he said, as per RT.
Ukraine expected Moscow to redeploy some of its forces from the east to repel the incursion in the north, but the gamble failed, as top Ukrainian general Aleksandr Syrsky recently admitted.
Putin said Russian troops had been securing more land in Donbass, which is a priority for Moscow, at a pace unseen in a long time. Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops are "suffering very high losses in manpower and hardware".
aBecause of that, (Ukraine) risks a collapse of the front line on the most important axis. The casualties may result in a loss of fighting capability of the entire armed forces, which is what we are looking to achieve," he added.
With the Russian Defense Ministry estimating that Ukrainian casualties in the Kursk operation had surpassed 9,700 men, as well as 81 tanks, dozens of other armoured vehicles, and multiple heavy weapons, Putin told the audience that the intelligence had been confirmed by multiple sources.
He praised nations that were "sincerely interested" in resolving the conflict and its issues.
"We respect our friends and partners who I think are sincerely interested in addressing and resolving all the issues associated with the conflict (with Ukraine). China, Brazil, India... I am in contact with my partners and I have no doubt that the leaders of these countries, and we have the relations of trust and confidence with one another, will be really interested in providing a helping hand," he said.
Chandigarh, Sep 5 : After being denied tickets for the October 5 Assembly elections in Haryana, scores of BJP functionaries, including a sitting minister, a legislator, former ministers, and party leaders, announced their resignation on Thursday, a day after the state's ruling party announced its first list of 67 candidates.
Power Minister Ranjit Chautala, who contested the 2019 Assembly elections as an Independent but was later inducted into the Cabinet, announced his decision to resign as Minister as well as from the primary membership of the BJP after meeting his supporters in Rania on Thursday.
Addressing his supporters, Ranjit Chautala said that being the son of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal, he cannot compromise in any situation.
"I will contest the elections as an Independent nominee from Rania. The BJP offered me a ticket from Dabwali, but I turned down the proposal. I am resigning from the Cabinet and the primary membership of the party," he said.
In the 2019 elections, Ranjit Chautala contested as an Independent candidate after the Congress denied him a ticket.
In the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections held earlier this year, he joined the BJP after resigning as an MLA. He contested the Lok Sabha polls from Hisar but lost to Congress' Jai Parkash.
In Ratia, the party has given ticket to former Sirsa MP Sunita Duggal. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Duggal was denied re-nomination from Sirsa where former Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tanwar was fielded by the BJP. Tanwar, however, lost to Congress veteran Kumari Selja.
Joining a league of rebels, sitting BJP legislator from Ratia (SC) Lakshman Dass Napa quit from all positions in the party after being denied a ticket. Speculation is rife that he will join the Congress after meeting former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
The BJP on Wednesday released its first list of 67 candidates, fielding Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini from Ladwa in Kurukshetra district. Saini, who replaced Manohar Lal Khattar as the Chief Minister in March this year, is currently the MLA from Karnal.
BJP's key OBC leader Karan Dev Kamboj, who was denied a ticket from Indri, also resigned from all party posts on Thursday.
"Me and my family have been part of the BJP since the time of Jan Sangh. I have worked with a lot of dedication, but now the party has adopted Congress' culture," Kamboj told the media.
Without mincing words, he said the Congress would form the next government while "BJP's dream will just remain a dream".
Upset over denial of nomination from Sonipat, former minister Kavita Jain was in tears at a meeting with her supporters, giving the party high command an ultimatum to change its candidate Nikhil Madan within three days.
Jain also claimed that she was cheated after senior party leaders assured her of a ticket.
In Safidon in Jind district, former MLA Bachan Singh Arya resigned after JJP rebel Ram Kumar Gautam was fielded from the seat. Arya will now contest as an Independent. Gautam had joined the BJP earlier this week.
Interestingly, Sunil Sangwan, the prison officer who granted parole to rape convict Ram Rahim six times before resigning from his position, has been given a BJP ticket, raising questions about the party's stance on women's safety.
Meanwhile, supporters of former minister Savitri Jindal, mother of Kurukshetra BJP MP Naveen Jindal, met her at her residence in Hisar on Thursday and urged her to contest as an Independent after the BJP retained Health Minister Kamal Gupta as its candidate.
Savitri Jindal and her son Naveen Jindal had joined the BJP in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections. She was seeking a BJP ticket from Hisar.
New Delhi, Sep 5 : Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) President Alok Kumar on Thursday rejected Maulana Tauqeer Raza's controversial statement terming the RSS a "terror organisation" and calling for a ban on it, as well as the VHP and the Bajrang Dal, saying the comments displayed his "distorted mentality".
New Delhi, Sep 5 (IANS) Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) President Alok Kumar on Thursday rejected Maulana Tauqeer Raza's controversial statement terming the RSS a "terror organisation" and calling for a ban on it, as well as the VHP and the Bajrang Dal, saying the comments displayed his "distorted mentality".
In an interview with IANS, Alok Kumar said that everyone is aware of what happens in the name of Jihad in this country. He asked if it was "right to attack those who are not Muslims, to loot, to kill, to kidnap women, and to claim that all of this is sanctioned by Allah? Hinduism teaches peace. After every mantra, we say 'Om Shanti Shanti Shanti' three times". How can we be considered a terrorist organisation, he said.
IANS: Maulana Tauqeer Raza said that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal are behind lynchings and that RSS shakhas are working to divide the country between Hindus and Muslims. What is your response to this?
Alok Kumar: I'm not surprised by these comments. Maulana Tauqeer Raza represents the Barelvi branch of Sunni Muslims. In this country, people know what happens in the name of Jihad - attacking non-Muslims, looting, killing, kidnapping women, and claiming that Jihad is approved by Allah.
People with such distorted mentalities say this. Hinduism teaches peace, after every mantra, we say 'Om Shanti Shanti Shanti' three times. We respect the Constitution and the law. In the history of the world, no one has ever been forcibly converted to Hinduism.
These accusations are baseless. VHP and Bajrang Dal do not support lynching or violence. We believe that anyone who takes the law into their own hands and commits violence is misguided.
Maulana Tauqeer Raza is trying to insult and call for a ban on Hindu nationalist forces. We are not afraid of such statements, nor do they deter us from our path.
IANS: On one hand, Maulana Tauqeer Raza praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, but on the other hand, he criticised the law and order situation, saying that criminals are given a free hand to harm Muslims. What is your opinion on this?
Alok Kumar: I disagree with this. The government had the courage and ability to prosecute terrorists in court. They were brought to justice, and proper arrangements were made to maintain law and order in Uttar Pradesh. As for his claim, I challenge him to name any Muslim who has been wronged illegally. I believe he wonat find any.
IANS: Maulana Tauqeer Raza also said that what happened in Bengal is happening everywhere and that the Uttarakhand government is trying to cover up the incident involving a nurse, blaming the BJP and Hindu nationalist organisations. How true is this?
Alok Kumar: This claim is not true. I believe that every woman, whether a mother or a sister, deserves protection. Our response to crimes against women should not be influenced by which party is in power. Any government that fails to protect women should be criticised. I am confident that the Uttarakhand government will thoroughly investigate these matters, gather evidence, and bring the guilty to justice.
IANS: Maulana Tauqeer Raza also warned that if even one per cent of Muslims rise, it will be difficult to respond. He said they have been holding back, but the government is mistaking their silence for weakness. What do you say to this?
Alok Kumar: Why is he issuing threats? If they dare to act on these threats, they will be met with a response. Hindus are capable of defending themselves, but such threats are meaningless. In India, the rule of law prevails, and the law will take its course. If anyone acts recklessly, they will be punished.
Jaipur, Sep 5 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Thursday got emotional after seeing his teacher Shankarlal Sharma who was sitting among the audience during the teachers' felicitation programme in Jaipur on the occasion of Teachers Day.
The Chief Minister recognised the teacher who taught him in his school and stepped down from the dias touched his feet and took him along to the dias while holding his hands.
"Teachers are like potters who knead the clay with experience and make a beautiful statue. Their dedication has no price," the Chief Minister said while addressing a teachers' felicitation programme in Jaipur's Birla Auditorium where his school teacher was also present.
He added that teachers work tirelessly for the success of the students.
The Chief Minister also shared his childhood education experiences and recalled his old school days, saying that school admissions were considered an auspicious ritual in the old days.
"Jaggery was distributed once the kid was admitted to the school. When I went to school, Shankar Lalji was the only school teacher. He taught me till 5th class," the Chief Minister said.
In the ceremony, the Chief Minister distributed free tablets to 11 meritorious students and also released the Teacher Samman booklet and Shivira.
Tablets were distributed to 55,800 students across the state while a short film related to school health check-ups was also screened by the Education Department.
Sharma said that the state government is continuously working on ambitious schemes and programmes to strengthen the infrastructure of education from village to city.
"The state government has made a provision of Rs 350 crore for the construction of classrooms, labs, libraries, and toilets in government schools while a Rs 100 crore provision has been made for the repair of buildings of 750 schools," the Chief Minister said.
He added that the government is also benefiting one lakh students through business innovation programmes in schools and colleges.
"In the next two years, the state government will also open 20 ITI and 10 polytechnic colleges," the Chief Minister said.
Sindhudurg : , Sep 5 (IANS) A Sindhudurg Court has sent sculptor Jaydeep Apte -- the prime accused who constructed the ill-fated statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj that crashed on August 26 at Rajkot Fort -- to police custody till September 10, an official said here on Thursday.
Simultaneously, his aide and the project's structural consultant Chetan Patil, who was nabbed from Kolhapur on August 30, was given extended police custody till September 10, after his five-day police remand ended on Thursday.
Apte had surrendered to the police late on Wednesday night and was subsequently placed under arrest by the Bazargate Police Station in Kalyan town of Thane district.
Early on Thursday, he was whisked off to Malvan town, which has registered a case against the duo for the Chhatrapati figurine crash that erupted into a massive political crisis and sparked a public furore.
The Apte-Patil duo were produced before Judicial Magistrate First Class Malvan Court, Mahesh K. Devkate amid tight police security.
At the hearing, the police prosecutor Tushar Bhange strongly argued and sought police custody for the accused, saying that the investigators wanted to find out where Apte was hiding for nearly nine days since the statue crash, and related aspects to the case.
However, the accused's lawyer Ganesh Sovani argued against the police remand, pointing out that Apte had already surrendered before the police.
After hearing both sides, Mahesh K. Devkate granted police custody to Apte, and extended Patil's police remand by another five days, both ending on September 10.
Shortly after the incident, the Malvan Police lodged a case in the matter, invoking Bharatiya Nayaya Sanhita Sections 109, 110, 125, 318 and 3(5) pertaining to attempt to murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, conspiracy, cheating, etc.
On August 26, the 28-feet tall hollow bronze statue mounted on a 10-feet high pedestal suddenly crashed below and broke into multiple pieces, ostensibly due to inclement weather conditions, and later erupted into a massive row.
The figurine was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 4, 2023, coinciding with Navy Day celebrations, and it tumbled down in barely eight months.
Later, as the controversy snowballed with potential implications in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, PM Modi, CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar tendered individual apologies for the monumental tragedy.
Meanwhile, in Sangli on Thursday, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi demanded that PM Modi must tender an apology to all the people of Maharashtra.
Unimpressed by the apologies, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance of Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (SP)-Shiv Sena (UBT) is carrying out a serial agitation in different parts of the state alleging massive corruption in the statue project and attempts by the MahaYuti government to shield the accused sculptor.
Kolkata, Sep 5 : Noted visual artist Sanatan Dinda on Thursday resigned from the Rajya Charukala Parishad, an autonomous body under the West Bengal government's Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, as a mark of protest against the rape and murder of a junior doctor of Kolkata's R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital last month.
The Rajya Charukala Parishad was set up to promote visual arts in West Bengal.
Making the announcement on social media, Dinda also expressed his anguish over the 'silence' of his fellow artists associated with the autonomous body on the R.G. Kar issue.
Claiming that although being autonomous in nature, the body is not free of political influence, Dinda said, "Several other reputed artists are attached to this organisation. But I could not see any reaction from them on the gruesome murder of the victim. Their silence in such a moment of crisis has hurt my sentiments. I am an ordinary citizen. But as a conscious artist, I feel it is better not to remain associated with them."
Explaining his claim that the Rajya Charukala Parishad is not free from political influence, the artist said taht any advertisement related to any programme of the body carries the picture of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
"So how can it be described as an autonomous body? Any decision of the executive committee of the Parishad needs the sanction of the state government. I do not want to get into further details since I do not want to divert the focus of the mass movement demanding justice for the R.G. Kar victim," Dinha said.
The Rajya Charukala Parishad was established in 1987 during the previous Left Front regime led by late Chief Minister Jyoti Basu.
On Tuesday, noted playwright Chandan Sen announced his decision to return the Dinabandhu Mitra Award, the highest state award in the field of theatre conferred on him in 2017 by the state government. Sen also offered to return the award money as a mark of protest against the R.G. Kar incident.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 5. The Armenian government approved the regulations for the joint work of the commissions on the delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and submitted them to the country's Constitutional Court on September 2, Trend reports via Armenian media.
The Armenian government published a draft for the ratification of provisions on the joint work of the border delimitation commissions with Azerbaijan.
According to the draft law, the commissions will use all available maps and documents with legal justification during the delimitation process.
After being reviewed by the Constitutional Court, the paper will be discussed by the Armenian parliament.
The provisions are written in three languages (Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Russian) and must also be ratified by the Azerbaijani side.
To note, following the Protocol of the eighth meeting of the State Commission on State Border Delimitation between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the Commission on State Border Delimitation and Border Security between Armenia and Azerbaijan signed on April 19, 2024, the commissions completed the work on agreement of the Regulations on Joint Activities. The Regulation on Joint Activity of the Commissions was signed on August 30, 2024.
Presently, Azerbaijan and Armenia have initiated domestic procedures.
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Dakshina Kannada, Sep 5 : Reacting to the withholding of the 'Best Principal Award' to the Kundapura principal, former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that Hijab and anti-national forces are still active in the state.
"Hijab forces are still at work while anti-national forces are still active in the state. Not awarding the principal is an insult to the entire teaching community. Forces and favouritism politics are at play. The Chief Minister should intervene and ensure the award is given to the principal otherwise the public will revolt," the former Chief Minister said while talking to media persons after a party meeting at the BJP office in Mangaluru.
He said that the principal was doing his duty at the time while the high court also supported his actions, adding, that the case is still pending in the Supreme Court and it will not be right to withdraw the award.
Karnataka government, on Thursday, withheld the award to B.G. Ramakrishna, Principal of Government Pre-University College in Udupi district. Ramakrishna had courted controversy by asking Muslim female students wearing hijab to stand in the sun outside the classroom for months in 2021, at the height of the hijab row in the state.
Responding to a question about the BJP Mahila Morcha State President's call for an investigation into sexual harassment in politics, he said: "Wherever there is harassment, it should be investigated. How the investigation is conducted is up to the government."
On the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case, Bommai said that the government has suspended an officer involved in the MUDA scam, thereby admitting to legal violations.
When asked about the state government's move to investigate cases during the BJP government's tenure, he said, "Let them investigate cases from our tenure. We are ready to face an investigation. There is law and there are courts."
On the Dakshina Kannada-Udupi Legislative Council by-election, the former Chief Minister said that a meeting has been held today regarding the selection of candidates for the upcoming local administrative council constituency.
"The selection process will be conducted based on fundamental guidelines. We will discuss with leaders and seniors about how to proceed with the election process. The core committee had decided to send me to Mangaluru to submit a report on this. We will gather opinions from everyone," the former Chief Minister said.
Tehran, Sep 5 : Western countries' accusations of Iran's alleged involvement in the Ukraine crisis are "baseless and misleading," Iran's UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said Wednesday.
In a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Samuel Zbogar, who holds the UN Security Council's rotating presidency for September, Iravani said any claim about Iran's involvement in the sale, export or transfer of arms to Russia and so-called violation of its international commitments is "categorically rejected."
He reaffirmed Iran's commitment to observing international humanitarian law, Xinhua news agency reported.
On Friday, the United States, Britain and France accused Iran at an open briefing of the UN Security Council of being involved in the "sale, export or transfer of arms to Russia for use against Ukraine, violating its international obligations and supporting terrorism."
Iravani called such accusations "ironic and hypocritical" as the three countries are those directly involved in the Ukraine crisis and have prolonged the war, harmed civilians and destroyed infrastructure by offering advanced weaponry to Kiev.
The accusations showed their "narrow and short-sighted political agendas" aimed at "advancing their own political interests," he said.
"It is actually the United States, not Iran, which is the main supporter and promoter of terrorism in the region and the world," he added.
Seoul, Sep 5 : The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday denounced recent military exercises between the United States and South Korea, saying the joint drills "maximized" military tensions on the Korean Peninsula and vowed the country would build up its defense capabilities to guarantee national security and regional peace, state media said.
In a press statement issued Thursday by the chief of the Public Information Office of the Ministry of National Defence, the DPRK lashed out at last month's Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise. It was the largest-ever military drill between South Korea and the United States, involving more than 200 warplanes and a US Army unit equipped to cope with chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear attacks, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
The statement also condemned the "extremely reckless and dangerous" joint landing drill Ssangyong, which started on August 26, for "presupposing an open invasion upon the DPRK territory," KCNA said.
"The accumulation of such threatening actions on the Korean Peninsula will only spark off tensions and drive the security environment in the region into an irreversibly catastrophic situation," the statement warned.
The DPRK will build up its defense capabilities to "guarantee the security of the state and the peace in the region by dint of strength and action," it added, Xinhua news agency reported.
Guwahati, Sep 5 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday reiterated that the persons who are involved in Rs 2,200 crore online trading scam will be properly punished and nobody will be spared by the police and administration.
"A bunch of fraudsters has duped peopleas money by illegal means. This is totally unacceptable. Those who have collected public money without any authorization from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will face the wrath of law. The investigation has been going on properly. Police have arrested at least 38 people in connection with their involvement in the multi-crore online trading scam," the Assam CM told reporters here.
The Chief Minister had earlier warned citizens not to fall into the hands of fraudsters who promise to give exceptionally higher returns by investing money in online trading.
"I want to appeal to citizens that they should not fall into the hands of fraudsters. Nobody on this earth can give anybody 25 or 30 per cent through trading," he said.
Sarma also mentioned that the fraudsters who duped the public of their money were living a grand lifestyle.
He stated: "I hope that the people have seen in TV that the fraudsters lived a king-size life with public money. I urge every citizen of the state... your hard-earned money should not be wasted on those fraudsters."
To recall, the Assam Police uncovered a large financial scam involving brokers who made false online stock market investments by promising to double people's money, totaling Rs 2,200 crore.
In connection with the crime, the police arrested two prime accused -- Guwahati resident Swapnil Das, and Vishal Phukan, who hails from Dibrugarh.
In connection with the state-wide scam, several more arrests have occurred, and some more people are expected to be arrested soon.
According to the police, Phukan used his lavish lifestyle to entice people and assured his investors of a 30 per cent return on their money within 60 days.
In addition to investing in Assamese cinema, he had established four fictitious businesses and bought other houses.
The police conducted a raid at his residence in Dibrugarh and seized documents linked to the multi-crore scam.
Meanwhile, the police have been looking for Assamese choreographer and actress Sumi Borah, who is also reportedly connected to Phukan's network.
It has been alleged that Phukan spent crores of rupees on Sumi Borah's wedding in Rajasthan's Udaipur.
Damascus, Sep 5 : Syrian business representatives and industry insiders view the country's first international trade expo as a significant opportunity for local businesses to enter global markets.
Expo Syria 2024, which opened Wednesday at Exhibition City near Damascus, has drawn over 600 companies from various sectors and attracted more than 3,000 foreign traders and business figures.
Raed Al-Nouri of Syria's Al-Nouri Food Company told Xinhua news agency that the five-day expo is "a great opportunity for Syria's recovery, especially in expanding exports to neighbouring countries."
Ridwan Debs Wlaban, media director at Columbus Company, expressed confidence in the competitiveness of Syrian goods in international markets, citing their "quality, variety, and competitive pricing."
"This expo is a gateway to new markets, with Aleppo alone representing more than 50 percent of textile industry participants, along with significant involvement in the chemical, engineering, and food sectors," Mustafa Kawaya, vice president of the Aleppo Chamber of Industry, told Xinhua.
However, some participants expressed concerns about the impact of Western sanctions on Syrian businesses. Eyad Mohammed, head of the Export Committee at the Syrian Federation of Agricultural Chambers, noted that Syria's annual export revenue has plummeted from eight billion US dollars to one billion dollars due to sanctions.
"Sanctions affect transportation, banking transfers, and the cost of production components, making it harder for Syrian products to compete in global markets," he said.
Sangli, Sep 5 : Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said that the collapse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Sindhudurg is not only an 'insult' to the legendary Maratha warrior-king but also to India and Maharashtra.
Addressing a rally in Sangli, Kharge held the RSS-linked persons for the poor quality construction which eventually led to the statue's crash on August 26, at the Rajkot Fort in the coastal Sindhudurg district.
The Congress chief said that after the statue crash, the whole country realised what kind of construction the BJP and RSS have done and how they hastily built the figurine that collapsed and brought disgrace to the state and the nation.
"Somewhere in Gujarat, a bridge collapsed, elsewhere a tunnel crashed, at another place the roof of an airport crumbled down After the inauguration of Lord Ram Temple in Ayodhya, water started leaking from the roof, and a similar leakage scenario was witnessed in the new Parliament building," said Kharge, citing examples.
"The RSS is intruding into the education system of the country by changing the study syllabus. Their academic policies are contrary to the progressive ideology of the country. They are also attempting to tamper with the Constitution written by B. R. Ambedkar. The Congress will not allow this," warned Kharge.
He accused the BJP-RSS of pursuing the sole task of "damaging the ideology of a progressive Maharashtra" propounded by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Jyotirao Phule and Dr BR Ambedkar.
Kharge said that the RSS is recruiting people of its ideology into the education sector through the backdoors, curriculums are being changed arbitrarily, and now it is up to the people of Maharashtra to stop this.
Along with Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) President Sharad Pawar, Ramesh Chennithala, Nana Patole and other bigwigs, Kharge joined a function to inaugurate a statue of the late Congress stalwart, Patangrao Kadam and paid glowing tributes to his contributions to the party, the people of the state and the education sector.
Kolkata, Sep 5 : The Health Department of West Bengal government on Thursday suspended two doctors known to be close confidants of controversial former principal of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, Sandip Ghosh, who is presently in the custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for his alleged involvement in financial irregularities at the state-run hospital when he in charge of its affairs.
The two suspended doctors are Avik De, the resident medical officer (RMO) in the radiodiagnosis department of Burdwan Medical College, and Birupaksha Biswas, the senior resident doctor attached to the pathology department of the same hospital who was transferred on Wednesday.
The suspension order of Avik De states that a department inquiry has also been initiated against him. Copies of both the suspension orders are available with IANS.
On Wednesday, Biswas was transferred from Burdwan Medical College in East Burdwan district to the Kakdwip Sub-divisional Hospital in South 24 Parganas district.
Ever since the ghastly rape and murder of a junior doctor at the R.G Kar Medical College and Hospital last month, several junior doctors have accused De and Biswas, both close to Ghosh, of introducing a "threat culture" where junior doctors and interns were threatened unless they acted as directed by the duo.
On Tuesday evening, the day after Ghosh was taken into custody by the CBI, the Health Department issued a notification suspending him from state medical services because of the ongoing probe against him.
On Wednesday, Ghosh moved the Supreme Court challenging the CBI probe into the alleged financial irregularities.
There had been several complaints of financial irregularities at R.G. Kar Medical College when Ghosh was at the helm of affairs as its principal.
The charges include tendering of different contracts to private and outsourced parties of his confidence without getting the necessary approval from the Health Department and the college council; getting infrastructure-related tasks of the hospital done by private outsourced entities or individuals, instead of following the standard practice of getting them done by the Public Works Department (PWD); and selling biomedical wastes of the hospital, including organs of the unidentified bodies coming to the mortuary for post-mortem purposes, outside.
Guwahati, Sep 5 : The faculties of Assam University in Silchar protested on Teacher's Day against the prolonged election duties entrusted to professors impacting the education and research at the varsity.
Guwahati, Sep 5 (IANS) The faculties of Assam University in Silchar protested on Teacheras Day against the prolonged election duties entrusted to professors impacting the education and research at the varsity.
The Assam University Teachersa Association (AUTA) raised concerns about the extended election duties assigned to university professors and they have to remain absent from their classrooms and research projects for a long period of time due to these responsibilities, especially in their roles as District Level Monitoring Teams (DLMT) and Assistant Local Management Teams (ALMT) in the election.
As a result, thousands of students at Assam Universitya"many of them are international studentsa"have seen their futures directly threatened, according to AUTA.
The discrepancy between the university professorsa titles, pay scales and their allocated election duties was one of the main points of contention brought to light.
The faculties objected to being assigned to dangerous positions like Static Surveillance Teams (SST) and Flying Squad Teams (FST) during the most recent elections.
Somaditya Dutta, general secretary of AUTA, underlined once more how unfair it is to entrust elderly teachers over 60 and divyaang (differently-abled) educators with election-related responsibilities. Additionally, he demanded that female faculty members who are single parents or have small children be excused from voting duties.
During the one-and-a-half-hour demonstration, teachers congregated close to the university entrance in the September heat, engaging in some light sloganeering.
The universityas registrar, Pradosh Kiran Nath, met the protesters and listened to their demands.
AUTA President Debashish Sengupta spoke to the protesters via video conference while he was in Delhi taking part in a countrywide demonstration against the proposed Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) organised by the Federation of Central University Teachers' Associations (FEDCUTA).
Mumbai, Sep 5 : Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday said that the government's various schemes will not be stopped because of the implementation of the much ambitious Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana for which the budgetary allocation of Rs 46,000 crore has been made.
He denied media reports that due to the Ladki Bahin scheme other welfare and development schemes would be discontinued.
His clarification came after media reports quoting the circular issued by the relief and rehabilitation department that the government would stop the financial aid to heirs of the farmers who had committed suicides due to the implementation of the Ladki Bahin scheme.
"The media reports are wrong. The government has made adequate provision for funds for providing aid to heirs of farmers. The Relief and Rehabilitation Department has clarified in the Cabinet meeting today in this regard," said Shinde.
Citing the relief and rehabilitation department's circular, the NCP SP state president Jayant Patil slammed the state government saying that the MahaYuti government is responsible for Maharashtra heading for bankruptcy.
According to state government sources, nearly 1,267 farmers' suicides were reported in the state during the last six months. Amravati and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar are the worst hit.
A senior minister expressed concern over the spate of farmers' suicides and admitted that these cases are taking place despite the state government's repeated appeal to farmers not to resort to extreme steps.
Besides, farmer suicides are also taking place despite the implementation of a slew of schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Shetkari Samman Yojana, State Namo Shetkari Yojana, One Rupee Crop Insurance Scheme and loans at subsidised rate of interest.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister's Office said that the state government has deposited Rs 4,787 crore for July and August in the bank accounts directly to 1.59 crore eligible women beneficiaries under the Mukyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana. The government hopes to enrol 2.5 crore women beneficiaries and it has extended the registration till September 30.
Seoul, Sep 5 : Japan has provided South Korea with a part of the list of passengers in a controversial 1945 deadly explosion and sinking of a Japanese vessel known to have killed thousands of Koreans aboard, Seoul officials said Thursday.
The Ukishima Maru sank in waters off the Aomori Prefecture in August 1945 following an explosion in the hull. The ship was transporting Koreans, many of whom were forcibly mobilised for wartime labour, back to their homeland then, as Korea was liberated from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule, Yonhap news agency reported.
For the first time, Japan gave some 19 cases of materials relating to the Korean passenger list and promised it would provide South Korea with further details once it concludes its internal review process, according to the South Korean Foreign Ministry.
The move came as South Korea requested Japan provide the relevant materials related to the Ukishima Maru explosion.
The ship, which belonged to the Japanese Navy, had departed from a port in the Aomori Prefecture on August 22, 1945, and was to make a port call in Kyoto two days later, but it sank in the water after an explosion in the lower part of the hull.
Japan had announced that the ship hit an underwater mine and 524 out of 3,700 passengers were killed in what it called an accident.
But the bereaved family members of the Korean victims claim more than 3,000 lost their lives, out of as many as 8,000 people aboard, and have charged that Japan intentionally blew up the ship.
Japan, for many years, did not acknowledge the existence of the passenger list, insisting that it was lost in the sinking. But in May, it was revealed during a lower house session that there are approximately 70 documents tagged as "passenger lists and related records".
The controversy has grown as Tokyo has done little to salvage the ship or recover the remains of the victims.
Survivors and bereaved family members filed a lawsuit in Japan in 1992, accusing the Japanese government of neglecting safety management obligations, but they ultimately lost the case in 2004.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
ROME, Italy, September 5. On September 5, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with Claudio Descalzi, the CEO of the Italian company Eni S.p.A, in Rome, Trend reports.
The meeting addressed the importance of documents to be signed between SOCAR and Eni S.p.A. They discussed expanding and diversifying cooperation in the application of new technologies in the oil and gas sector, renewable energy, and various fields of the economy.
They noted that following the signing of these documents, Eni S.p.A will develop a working plan and strategy to achieve tangible results within a shorter timeframe.
Mumbai, Sep 5 : Hollywood Actress Sharvari, whose 'Munjya' emerged as a breakout hit of the year, is preparing to welcome Lord Ganesha ahead of the Ganpati celebrations in the city.
Mumbai, Sep 5 (IANS) Hollywood Actress Sharvari, whose aMunjyaa emerged as a breakout hit of the year, is preparing to welcome Lord Ganesha ahead of the Ganpati celebrations in the city.
The actress recently took to the Stories section of her Instagram and shared a Boomerang of herself preparing gujiyas, a traditional sweet delicacy that it offered to Lord Ganesha.
Gujiya is a sweet, deep-fried pastry, and is a popular dessert in the Indian subcontinent. This delicacy is made using either semolina or all-purpose flour. It is stuffed with a mixture of milk solids and dried fruits. The dumpling is then fried in ghee to give it a crispy texture.
The maximum city of Mumbai is bracing itself for its biggest celebrations for Ganesh Chaturthi on September 7. The city is known for hosting iconic Ganpati celebrations similar to Durga Pujo in Kolkata. Many members of the film fraternity flock to Ganpati pandals, particularly Lalbaugcha Raja and Andheri Cha Raja to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha during the holy period.
Meanwhile, Sharvari recently returned to her home for the Ganpati celebration after shooting for her upcoming movie aAlphaa in Kashmir. She took to the Stories section of her Instagram on Wednesday and shared a picture in which she gave a glimpse of her home.
aAlphaa is the first female-led film in the spy universe, and also stars Alia Bhatt. In the film, both Alia and Sharvari play super-agents, and it looks like Aditya Chopra is presenting them as the Alpha girls of the pack in the spy universe. aAlphaa is directed by Shiv Rawail of aThe Railway Mena fame, and created by producer Aditya Chopra.
Sharvari made her Bollywood debut with aBunty Aur Babli 2a, which was a sequel to the 2005 film aBunty Aur Bablia, the film also starred Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukerji, and Siddhant Chaturvedi. She then essayed the role of Bela in the horror comedy aMunjyaa, directed by Aditya Sarpotdar, and was also recently seen in aVedaaa.
Amaravati, Sep 5 : The Department of Financial Services of the Union Finance Ministry on Thursday asked insurance companies to ensure swift claim settlements in flood-affected Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
In view of the heavy rains and floods in the Telugu states, the Department of Financial Services issued directions to the public sector insurance companies to extend and provide full support to the people affected by floods. The insurance companies have been instructed to ensure swift claim settlements by organising special camps and easing claim processes and thereby, providing relief to those affected, reads a post on the Department of Financial Services' X handle.
The insurance companies have been also instructed to widely advertise the names and contact numbers of nodal officers to whom the policyholders can contact. It added that the Central government and the Ministry of Finance are committed to supporting those affected by this calamity and ensuring they receive the necessary assistance at the earliest.
Heavy rains and floods early this week caused havoc in parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. More than 40 people were killed in both the states and more than five lakh people were affected.
The rains and floods caused extensive damage to public infrastructure and private property, especially in Vijayawada city of Andhra Pradesh and Khammam of Telangana.
The direction by the Department of Financial Services came a day after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had urged the insurance companies to settle the claims of flood victims within 10 days. During a meeting with representatives of banks and insurance companies on Wednesday, he noted that thousands of houses were submerged and vehicles and electronic equipment lost due to the Budameru floods in Vijayawada. He discussed with insurance company representatives the issue of damage to the vehicles in the floods. He told them that vehicles were damaged in every house. Two-wheelers and cars were submerged in water and household appliances like fridges, TVs, and ACs were damaged. All the equipment of the cottage industries also got flooded.
Mumbai, Sep 5 : Gautam Adani applied for admission at Mumbai's Jai Hind College in the late 1970s but was rejected. On Thursday, the Chairman of the Adani Group delivered an inspiring lecture to students on Teachers' Day at the same college.
Sharing this information, Vikram Nankani, President of the Jai Hind College Alumni Association, introduced Gautam Adani to deliver the lecture.
"Fortunately or unfortunately, the college did not accept him and he went on to work full time and pursued an alternative career," Nankani told the gathering, declaring Gautam Adani as a "deemed alumni" since he had applied to join.
Gautam Adani had moved to Mumbai at age 16 and started working as a diamond sorter. And the rest is history. He turned to business and went on to build a more than $220 billion empire.
During his lecture at the college, Gautam Adani said this institution, born from the ashes of India's partition, is a great example of the resilience of the human spirit.
"I find it fascinating that, 75 years ago, two visionary professors from the D.J. Sind College in Karachi laid the foundation for this institution in two tiny rooms. Despite the immense challenges and human displacement happening during the partition of our country, they dreamed of a future where the force of education could heal and unite," said Gautam Adani.
Sharing his life story, the Chairman of the Adani Group said it was Mumbai that taught him that "To think big, you must first dare to dream beyond your boundaries".
aJust as I was turning 19, I was called back by my elder brother to assist in running our small-scale PVC film factory situated near Ahmedabad. The business was faced with many challenges primarily due to extreme government control and restrictive import policies, leading to severe shortages of raw materials. This was my first real encounter with the limitations of the business environment in India," shared Gautam Adani.
By the time he turned 23, the trading venture was doing well.
"And my third major break was about to come a" one that would propel us into a new orbit. In 1995, the Gujarat government announced its port-led industrial development plan through public-private partnerships," said Gautam Adani.
Around that time, he was approached by the global commodities trader Cargill. It was a proposal to partner for manufacturing and sourcing salt from the Kutch region. While the partnership did not materialise, "we were left with about 40,000 acres of marshy land and approval to build a captive jetty at Mundra for the export of salt. What others saw as marshy barren land, we saw as a canvas waiting to be transformed. That canvas is now by far our nationas largest port", Gautam Adani said.
Kochi, Sep 5 : In relief for actor and two-time CPI-M legislator and actor Mukesh and the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes' former General Secretary Edavela Babu, who have been booked by police on complaints of sexual assault by a former actress, a court in Kerala's Kochi on Thursday night granted them anticipatory bail.
The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court, while granting Mukesh interim relief from arrest last week till its final orders, granted him anticipatory bail. Likewise, Babu also got bail.
Trouble has been brewing in the Malayalam film industry ever since the August 19 release of the damning report of the Justice K. Hema Committee, which probed the conditions of the women working in the Malayalam film industries, and made explosive revelations, triggering a storm of complaints against top film personalities.
Kerala Police have so far registered FIRs against 11 people, ten of which are from the film industry based on the complaints from actresses. Those who are in the dock after the police registered FIRs, include actors Mukesh, Nivin Pauly, Siddique, Jayasurya, Edavela Babu, and Maniyanpilla Raju, directors Ranjith and V.K. Prakash, and production executives Vichu and Noble. Actor Baburaj and director Tulasidas have been named in complaints too, but no FIRs have been registered against them so far.
Meanwhile, the special investigation team of 7 police officials, of which four are woman IPS officers, are currently taking statements from those victims who have come forward with their complaints but are yet to question the accused.
In a related development on Thursday, the Kerala High Court's acting Chief Justice A.Muhamed Mustaque ordered the formation of a special two-member bench of Justices A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and C.S. Sudha to look into all cases which will be registered based on Hema Committee report.
Meanwhile, the powerful Producers Association, in its first reaction to the explosive report, on Thursday expressed its concern about the manner in which "fake allegations are coming".
"The stage is such that with the Hema Committee report coming out, anyone can make any allegations and that will not augur well for the civil society and hence, the state government should take note of this. The whole purpose of the Hema Committee also could take a beating," the Association said.
Singapore, Sep 5 : Top Singaporean business leaders on Thursday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his vision that is transforming India's presence on the world stage.
During his visit to Singapore on Thursday, PM Modi met top CEOs from various sectors, including investment funds, infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, sustainability and logistics, and invited them to look at the immense investment opportunities in India.
Gautam Banerjee, Senior MD and Chairman of Blackstone Singapore, said he was impressed by PM Modi's commitment to 'reform, perform and transform'.
Banerjee highlighted that under PM Modi's third term, "India is set to achieve even greater milestones".
While Bruno Lopez, Group CEO of ST Telemedia GDC, highlighted the transformative impact of PM Modi's digitalisation efforts which are driving economic growth, Lee Chee Koon, CEO of CapitaLand Investments Limited, said the Prime Minister's reforms have boosted economic growth, showcasing the nation's promising future.
According to Kok Ping Soon, Chief Executive of the Government Technology Agency of Singapore, PM Modi's proactive engagement with Singapore businesses is transforming India's investment landscape.
"With increased investments and focus on skills development, India is opening doors to new opportunities," Soon said.
During his meeting with the business leaders, the Prime Minister acknowledged the role played by the Singaporean industry leaders in strengthening bilateral relations and promoting economic cooperation between the two nations.
Sean Chiao, CEO of Surbana Jurong, said from economic strides to global leadership, PM Modi's vision is transforming India's presence on the world stage.
PM Modi also announced the setting up of an 'INVEST INDIA' office in the Southeast Asian city-state to boost bilateral trade.
Other top business leaders who met PM Modi included Lim Boon Heng, Chairman, Temasek Holdings; Lim Chow Kiat, CEO, GIC Private Limited; Piyush Gupta, CEO and Director, DBS Group; Yam Kum Weng, CEO, Changi Airport Group; and Yuen Kuan Moon, CEO, SingTel.
Mumbai, Sep 5 : Shiv Sena ministers at the Maharashtra Cabinet meeting held on Thursday took strong objection against NCP and the Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar for not mentioning the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in the advertisements and video clips and also during their rallies for the promotion of much ambitious Muhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.
Shiv Sena minister Sanbhuraj Desai after the presentation on the presentation of Ladki Bahin scheme took a strong objection.
Desai objected to the omission of reference of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and claimed Finance Minister Ajit Pawar was giving the money to women under the ambitious Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.
He was joined by other Shiv Sena ministers as they were not happy for not mentioning the Chief Minister in the Ladki Bahin scheme and thereby Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar took the credit for the same.
Desai questioned how the Chief Minister's name could be removed from the advertisements.
Shiv Sena ministers were unhappy that the name of the scheme changed to Majhi Ladki Bahin instead of Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was absent as he was unwell.
In the absence of Pawar, the veteran NCP minister Chhagan Bhujbal intervened to argue the NCP's case saying that the Chief Minister's name will not be removed from anywhere.
The Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis too tried to ease the situation. Shinde said that all three parties need to stick together and work together and avoid any differences.
Earlier this week, Pawar-led NCP released a promotional advertisement on social media where it was claimed that Ajit Pawar was giving money to women and the scheme was called 'Majhi Ladki Bahin' removing the reference of the Chief Minister.
However, NCP spokesperson Umesh Patil said that there was no need for the Shiv Sena to get agitated. "After the budget, Shiv Sena raised banners giving credit to Eknath Shinde. Did we raise any objection? On another occasion, Sena minister Tanaji Sawant attacked our minister for which the Chief Minister did not say anything. What does it indicate?" asked Patil.
Meanwhile, the government informed that 1.59 crore women have been the beneficiaries of this scheme and Rs 4787 crore have been distributed. Under this scheme, each eligible woman below the poverty line gets Rs 1,500 per month.
Agartala, Sep 5 : Border Security Force (BSF) officials on Thursday strongly refuted Bangladesh government's accusation on the killing of a 13-year-old girl, Shwarna Das, saying its troopers during a routine patrolling found the girl's body on September 1 from near the Laitapura Border Outpost (BOP) in Tripura's Unakoti district.
Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday, "The MoFA has lodged a formal protest with the Government of India on the killing of a 13-year-old Bangladeshi girl named Shwarna Das from Juri upazila in Moulvibazar district, who was shot by the BSF on September 1."
Strongly denying Bangladesh's claims, a BSF spokesman said that immediately after the recovery of the body, they talked with their counterpart Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and apprised them in what condition it was found.
"On September 3, a Deputy Inspector General-level meeting between the BSF and BGB was held where BGB officials were again explained in detail in what condition the body of the girl was found," the spokesperson told the media.
He added that as per routine procedure, the BSF is internally investigating the case and the probe is expected to be completed soon.
Tripura Police and the BSF on September 3 formally handed over the body of the minor girl found with bullet wounds to the BGB and Bangladesh Police authorities.
A police officer said that after the recovery of the body, a post-mortem was conducted at a hospital in Kailashahar, the headquarters of Unakoti district.
"After the autopsy, the girl's father from Bangladesh identified her body. We have handed over the body to BGB and Bangladesh Police," the officer told the media.
Sources said the girl was part of a group of people which was trying to flee from Bangladesh and enter the Indian territory illegally on September 1.
The girl's body was found lying around 50-odd metres outside the border fence, close to the zero point near border pillar No. 57.
The teenager reportedly died from a bullet wound.
Some local media reports claimed that the girl was shot by BGB troopers when she was illegally entering the Indian territory.
In recent months, over 300 Bangladesh nationals who had illegally crossed the border have been arrested by various security agencies, including the BSF in Tripura.
Patna, Sep 5 : BJP President and Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda will begin a two-day tour of Bihar starting August 6.
He will hold meetings with the BJP leaders and party workers in Patna in preparation for the upcoming 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.
Nadda is expected to arrive at Patna Airport via a Vistara Airlines flight at 9:30 AM, where senior BJP leaders and workers have been instructed to welcome him.
Following his arrival, he will head to the government guest house before meeting with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at his residence - 1 Anne Marg.
Later in the day, as part of his official engagements, Nadda will visit the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) to inaugurate a new facility. His visit underscores the BJP's efforts to strengthen its strategy in Bihar ahead of the elections.
His two-day tour will include several key events focused on healthcare infrastructure and party strategy.
Nadda will travel to Bhagalpur to inaugurate a hostel at Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College and Hospital. He will then proceed to Gaya for the inauguration of another hostel and a multispecialty hospital.
Returning to Patna in the evening, Nadda will hold a crucial meeting with BJP leaders and workers, where the focus will be on countering the upcoming Yatra of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, set to begin on September 10. This meeting is expected to shape the BJP's strategy as it prepares for the 2025 Assembly elections.
After staying overnight in Patna, Nadda will head to Darbhanga the next day to inspect the proposed site for the construction of AIIMS Darbhanga, a highly anticipated project approved by the Narendra Modi government.
The new AIIMS in Darbhanga will be a major boost to healthcare in North Bihar, complementing the existing AIIMS in Patna. Nadda will also attend a program in Darbhanga before concluding his tour and returning to New Delhi on Saturday evening.
Paris, Sep 5 : India suffered a setback in the Paralympic Games archery competitions with the Mixed Team Recurve Open category with two-time medallist Harvinder Singh and Pooja Jatyan losing in the shoot-off in the bronze medal match.
Harvinder, who won the gold medal in the Men's Individual Recurve Open in Paris, and Pooja missed out on a medal as they went down to Ziva Lavrinc and Dejan Fabcic of Slovenia in a tie-break shoot-out after the two pairs had finished 4-4 at the end of the four-set semifinal clash.
Harvinder and Pooja had started with a bang as they won the first set 33-30, as Fabcic started with two sevens. The Indians however lost the next set as they could manage only 29 points with Harvinder scoring a 6 and Pooja 5 on their first arrows. Though Harvinder shot a 10 in his second arrow, they still lost as the Slovenians scored two eights and two 9s.
The Indian pair surged ahead 4-2 by winning the third set with both Harvinder and Pooja landing a 10 each besides two 9s. The Slovenians had a 10 and two 8s but a seven by Dejan Fabcic meant they lost the third set 34-38.
The Indians failed to capitalise on the opportunity as a seven and a five by Pooja meant they could manage only 29 points while their opponents tallied 34 thanks to a 10,9 and 8 besides a 7.
In the shoot-off, Harvinder scored eight and Pooja nine for a score of 17 while Ziva Lavrinc scored a 10 while her partner struck nine to seal bronze, their maiden Paralympic Games medal.
Earlier, Harvinder and Pooja had lost to eventual gold medallist Elkisabetta Mijno and Stefano Travisani of Italy in the semifinal. The Indian duo went down 2-6 in the last-four clash as the Italians shot brilliantly including a perfect 40 in the second set. The Indians had done well to win the third set with three 9s and a 10 while Travisani scored a seven as India won 37-35.
But the Italians won the next set 38-37 to eventually seal a place in the final.
Harvinder and Pooja had moved into the quarterfinals with a close 5-4 win over the Australian duo of Taymon Kenton-Smith and Amanda Jennings in a shoot-off.
On Wednesday night, Harvinder made history by becoming India's first-ever Olympic or Paralympic champion in archery. The 33-year-old showed a stellar performance en route to a gold medal in the recurve men's competition at the Paris 2024.
Three years ago in the Tokyo Para Games, he reached the first milestone. His bronze was India's premiere medal at either the Olympics or Paralympics achieved in archery.
Chandigarh, Sep 5 : After being denied tickets for the October 5 Assembly elections in Haryana, scores of BJP functionaries, including two ministers, one legislator, former ministers, and party leaders, announced their resignation on Thursday, a day after the state's ruling party announced its first list of 67 candidates.
The ministers in the Nayab Singh Saini-led government who quit include Energy Minister Ranjit Singh Chautala, and Minister of State for Social Justice Bishamber Singh Balmiki.
Chautala, who contested the 2019 Assembly elections as an Independent but was later inducted into the Cabinet, announced his decision to resign as Minister as well as from the primary membership of the BJP after meeting his supporters in Rania.
Addressing his supporters, Chautala said that being the son of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal, he cannot compromise in any situation.
"I will contest the elections as an Independent nominee from Rania. The BJP offered me a ticket from Dabwali, but I turned down the proposal. I am resigning from the Cabinet and the primary membership of the party," he said.
In the 2019 elections, Chautala contested as an Independent candidate after the Congress denied him a ticket. In the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections held earlier this year, he joined the BJP after resigning as an MLA. He contested the Lok Sabha polls from Hisar but lost to Congress' Jai Parkash.
In Ratia, the party has given ticket to former Sirsa MP Sunita Duggal. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Duggal was denied re-nomination from Sirsa where former Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tanwar was fielded by the BJP. Tanwar, however, lost to Congress veteran Kumari Selja.
Joining a league of rebels, sitting BJP legislator from Ratia (SC), Lakshman Dass Napa, quit from all positions in the party after being denied a ticket. He later joined the Congress after meeting former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
The BJP on Wednesday released its first list of 67 candidates, fielding Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini from Ladwa in Kurukshetra district. Saini, who replaced Manohar Lal Khattar as the Chief Minister in March this year, is currently the MLA from Karnal.
Meanwhile, BJP's key OBC leader Karan Dev Kamboj, who was denied a ticket from Indri, also resigned from all party posts on Thursday.
"Me and my family have been part of the BJP since the time of Jan Sangh. I have worked with a lot of dedication, but now the party has adopted Congress' culture," Kamboj told the media.
Without mincing words, he said the Congress would form the next government while "BJP's dream will just remain a dream".
Upset over denial of nomination from Sonipat, former minister Kavita Jain was in tears at a meeting with her supporters, giving the party high command an ultimatum to change its candidate Nikhil Madan within three days.
Jain also claimed that she was cheated after senior party leaders assured her of a ticket.
In Safidon in Jind district, former MLA Bachan Singh Arya resigned after JJP rebel Ram Kumar Gautam was fielded from the seat. Arya will now contest as an Independent. Gautam had joined the BJP earlier this week.
Interestingly, Sunil Sangwan, the prison officer who granted parole to rape convict Ram Rahim six times before resigning from his position, has been given a BJP ticket, raising questions about the party's stance on women's safety.
Meanwhile, supporters of former minister Savitri Jindal, mother of Kurukshetra BJP MP Naveen Jindal, met her at her residence in Hisar on Thursday and urged her to contest as an Independent after the BJP retained Health Minister Kamal Gupta as its candidate in Hisar.
Savitri Jindal and her son Naveen Jindal had joined the BJP in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections. She was seeking a BJP ticket from Hisar.
Former minister Krishan Murti Hooda also called a meeting of his supporters after the BJP fielded Zilla Parishad Chairman Manju Hooda from Garhi-Sampla-Kiloi against former Chief Minister Bhupinder SIngh Hooda.
Murti will soon take a call on whether to stay with the BJP.
The 90-member Haryana Assembly will go to the polls on October 5. The results will declared on October 8.
(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 5. The delegation headed by Azerbaijani Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev is on a working visit to Vladivostok, Russia, Trend reports.
The delegation took part in the Eastern Economic Forum on September 5.
In his opening remarks, Russian President Vladimir Putin hoped that the forum will serve as a model for productive discourse and help bring about solutions to the world's economic crises.
The Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan also gave an interview to Russia 24 TV channel.
Addressing the session devoted to the protection of the rights of business entities organized by the General Prosecutor's Office of Russia, Kamran Aliyev noted that under the political course of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, development of entrepreneurship is one of the major priorities of state policy. Recent reforms have strengthened the legal framework and infrastructure for entrepreneurship. The Prosecutor General explained that large-scale rehabilitation is underway in territories liberated from the 30-year Armenian occupation, establishing a favorable business environment for investments in Karabakh and East Zangezur.
Aliyev also touched upon large-scale reforms carried out in Azerbaijan in the prosecutor's office, the activity of relevant structures of the prosecutor's office in the sphere of protection of interests of legal entities and individuals engaged in entrepreneurship.
The Azerbaijani prosecutor general also informed that COP29, the world's most prestigious international event, will be held in November this year in Azerbaijan.
There were other speakers during the event, and everyone had a chance to voice their thoughts and ideas.
Within the framework of the visit, the Azerbaijani prosecutor general held bilateral meetings with colleagues from Thailand and Laos, and prospects for cooperation were discussed.
The working visit of the delegation to Russia has concluded.
Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Bengaluru, Sep 5 : Bengaluru Police arrested the accused auto driver on Thursday in connection with abusing and assaulting a woman over the ride cancellation issue.
The accused driver has been identified as Mutturaj.
"The auto driver assaulted the victim for boarding another auto after cancelling his trip. He quarrelled with her even after the trip was cancelled. The assault footage is not available in the video captured by the lady. The locals have informed the police that the lady was assaulted. We will get a complaint from the victim and initiate action," said DCP (West) S. Girish.
Earlier, a young woman was abused, slapped and harassed by a middle-aged auto driver associated with Ola for cancelling a ride in Bengaluru.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Vijayanagar sub-division, Chandan Kumar, has assured the victim that the police would register a case, conduct an enquiry, and take legal action.
Meanwhile, Ola Support has sent a request to the victim's registered email ID to investigate the matter further.
The young woman, Niti, said that she faced severe embarrassment and was physically assaulted by an Ola driver after a simple ride cancellation.
On September 3, the victim and her friend booked two autos on Ola during peak hours. The victim cancelled her trip as her friend's vehicle arrived first and boarded that vehicle.
The auto driver followed them and after stopping the vehicle she was traveling in, he furiously started shouting and hurling abuses.
"The auto driver verbally assaulted us, told us whether the auto belonged to my father and made derogatory comments. I began recording, which enraged him further. When I mentioned reporting him, he challenged me, showing no fear of consequences," the victim said.
The victim also shared videos showing the Ola auto driver hurling vulgar abuses at her, claiming that he was made to wait for five minutes after arriving at the spot and questioning whether "her father would pay for the gas" since she decided to cancel the ride.
The victim asked the driver not to shout and abuse her, to which the driver asked her what else he should do.
When the young woman told him that she would approach the police, the auto driver challenged her to go to the police right away. The auto driver told her to lodge a police complaint.
The video shows the auto driver grabbing her phone. The victim alleged that he slapped her.
The young woman is seen in another video questioning the auto driver about why he slapped her.
The young woman is also heard saying that she was still addressing him respectfully and questioning how he could talk to her in that manner.
The young woman asked the auto driver in Hindi whether cancelling a ride was a crime.
Using vulgar language, he told her to speak in Kannada. He could also be heard saying, "Whatever happens today, I am not going to be quiet."
The victim wrote to Ola stating, "Despite reporting, your customer support has been unresponsive. Immediate action is needed."
Meanwhile, the rival cab aggregator 'Namma Yatri' company apologised for the incident involving the victim on Thursday.
On social media platform X, Namma Yatri stated to the victim, "We hope you are doing well. We are really sorry to hear about the unfortunate incident. We wanted to get in touch with you to know the auto driver's details so that we can take precautionary steps on our platform."
Gurugram, Sep 5 : Gurugram Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer, Nishant Kumar Yadav, said on Thursday that all preparations by the district administration for voting in the four Assembly constituencies -- Pataudi, Badshahpur, Sohna, and Gurugram -- of Haryana Assembly polls are completed.
"The district administration is fully committed to ensuring the 2024 Assembly elections are conducted in a peaceful, impartial and harmonious environment," he added, while addressing a press conference here regarding the preparations for the upcoming state Assembly elections.
Yadav said that 14,97,000 voters in the district will cast their votes at 1,504 booths on October 5, the day of polling for the Haryana Assembly polls.
Among these, 126 booths have been set up in high-rise buildings, expected to directly benefit around 150,000 voters, which should increase the voter turnout in the district.
He added that 12,000 polling staff have been deployed for voting in the Gurugram district, and they will soon receive three levels of election process-related training.
Additionally, 12 Static Surveillance Teams and 20 Flying Squads Teams have been stationed here to ensure peaceful voting. As many as 101 sector officers will receive special training as well.
The Election Commission has also appointed one general observer, one expenditure observer for every two Assembly constituencies, and one police observer for all four Assembly constituencies.
Similar to the Lok Sabha elections, the district administration will once again engage NCC and NSS volunteers to assist at every polling centre in the four Assembly constituencies for smooth voting.
The Gurugram Deputy Commissioner said that at 200 sensitive polling booths, sufficient police, paramilitary forces, and administrative officers will be deployed to ensure no disturbances occur.
He also added that on the day of voting, all polling centres would be equipped with basic facilities, including paramedical staff.
To maintain peace during the elections, the district administration has issued orders under Section 163 of the Indian Civil Security Code, 2023, directing all licensed weapon holders to deposit their weapons at the nearest police stations or registered weapon dealers.
"Exemptions are provided to authorised security guards posted at various banks, ATMs, and cash transport vans. This order does not apply to police and other public servants on duty. Those seeking exemptions can apply to the screening committee at the Police Commissioner's office. Additionally, all liquor shops will remain closed 48 hours before voting and on the day of polling, with the prohibition also applying to restaurants and bars," Yadav said.
He also urged the people not to link religious events with political activities during the state Assembly elections.
The Gurugram Deputy Commissioner clarified that if anyone engages in such behaviour, it will be considered a violation of the Model Code of Conduct, and appropriate action will be taken according to the rules.
Responding to a query about a religious event in Gurugram's Sector-70, he said that due to the unexpected rainfall in the city on Wednesday, the event site was flooded, posing a risk to public safety. Therefore, the district administration cancelled all administrative approvals for the event and instructed the organisers to postpone it.
He asserted that complaints received on the C-Vigil app are being addressed within the stipulated 100-minute timeframe as part of the adherence to the Model Code of Conduct.
"Around 160 nodal officers have been appointed across the district's municipal and village panchayat areas to address these issues. So far, 214 complaints have been received in the district, of which 211 have been resolved," he added.
Yadav shared that all efforts are being made to increase the voter turnout in the district.
Meetings are being held with Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), and letters have been written to them, urging to cooperate in voting.
"The RWA with the highest voter participation will be felicitated after the elections. Also, 41,000 new voters aged 18 and above have been registered in the district. Awareness programmes are being organised in all colleges and universities to encourage them to vote. Additionally, facilities are being provided to differently-abled voters to cast their votes from home. Similarly, a pick-and-drop service is available for those who register on the '1950' toll-free number," Yadav said.
Bengaluru, Sep 5 : Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who is on a four-day visit to Mauritius, on Thursday, shared a vision of achieving a drug-free Mauritius.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar discussed a range of topics with the Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth including the preservation of Mauritian culture and the shared vision of achieving a drug-free Mauritius.
Earlier, he was received by the President of the Republic of Mauritius Prithvirajsing Roopun and the Prime Minister.
During his four-day visit, the spiritual leader is slated to address several public gatherings, filled with wisdom, music, chanting and celebration at various locations including Pailles, Goodlands, and Wooton.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar also met with the President, where he emphasised the importance of youth empowerment, the promotion of harmony through stress elimination programmes, the introduction of Ayurveda to Mauritius, and the various ongoing Art of Living programs including the Prison Program which have made a huge impact.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed to continue the Art of Living's Prison Programs in Mauritius, owing to their proven effectiveness.
These rehabilitative programs aim to break the cycle of violence by relieving emotional stress and helping inmates reintegrate into society.
"Their worst brings them to prison, but spirituality brings out the best in them. They become good citizens and contribute positively to society," Sri Sri Ravishankar stated.
Thousands of Mauritians attended the event, alongside the President, members of the opposition, and key government officials. Adrien Duval, Speaker of the National Assembly; Her Excellency Nandini Singla, High Commissioner of India; Lady Sarojini Jugnauth, wife of the former President of Mauritius; Arvind Boolell, Leader of the Opposition were present.
Bengaluru, Sep 6 : Three persons were arrested on Thursday for their alleged involvement in the rape and murder of a 19-year-old girl belonging to the Scheduled Caste community in Karnataka's Bidar district, an official said.
Bidar Superintendent of Police Pradeep Gunti, said that a case under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act has been filed along with rape and murder charges.
"Of the three accused, one hails from the same village (as that of the girl). The other two are from a neighbouring village. All the three are arrested, and legal action is initiated against them," the police officer said, adding the incident happened in the Basavakalyan taluk.
According to police, the girl was missing since August 29.
The girl's parents tried to trace her for two days. On August 31, they filed a complaint with the police.
The body was eventually found in a bush on September 1.
A deep head injury mark was spotted on her head.
Following the recovery of the body, the police registered a murder case.
Rape charges were added to the case after the postmortem and forensic tests.
The police had then launched a hunt for the accused and managed to apprehend them.
On Thursday, several groups, organisations and the opposition BJP in Karnataka condemned the incident and staged a protest demanding justice for the victim and her family.
The police learned during the probe that the victim knew the prime accused, and both were friends.
The investigation revealed that the main accused had come in a car to pick up the victim along with two other accused individuals.
Since then, she never returned home, following which her parents got worried and began looking for her. After they failed to learn about her whereabouts, they approached the police.
Further investigation into the case is underway, a police officer said.
Bharuch : , Sep 5 (IANS) A young woman, who runs a beauty parlour in Gujarat's Bharuch district, was held hostage at knife point by a man she had befriended on social media app Instagram.
The suspect, Prakash Dashrath, hailing from Patan, entered the woman's beauty parlour and threatened her with a knife after she refused further communication with him.
According to sources, "the victim had developed a friendship with Prakash through Instagram messages. However, when the woman decided to cut off contact, Prakash grew enraged. He then visited her beauty parlour, located in the Vagra market area, and held her at knife point. Fearing for her life, the woman managed to message the parlour owner, alerting him to the situation."
"Upon receiving the distress message, the beauty parlour owner immediately informed the Vagra police. Police officers arrived quickly, broke through the parlour's glass door, and rescued the woman. The suspect, Prakash Dashrath, was arrested at the scene. The woman was safely evacuated, and police have lodged a formal complaint against the accused."
Following the incident, Police Sub-Inspector A.K. Jadeja of the Vagra police station issued a public advisory, urging people to be cautious when interacting with strangers on social media.
The officer said that "such interactions can lead to dangerous situations, as seen in this case. Authorities have also advised the responsible use of social media platforms to avoid similar incidents in the future".
In another incident reported from Bharuch on Thursday, a physical education teacher at an international school on National Highway No. 48 has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting a first-grade student in 2017.
The POCSO court delivered the judgment after hearing the compelling evidence and arguments from the chief public prosecutor and reviewing medical reports. In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a fine of Rs 1.5 lakh on the teacher and ordered a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to be paid to the victim.
The incident occurred on December 12, 2017, when the victim attended her regular school session from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Her mother sent her to school in a private van around 6:15 a.m. Later that afternoon, the child returned home and confided in her family about the assault. Upon learning about the incident, the victim's mother complained to the local police.
Following the complaint, the police arrested the accused, Prithvisinh Dilipsinh Ambaliya, and filed a charge sheet in the POCSO court.
The investigation revealed that the teacher had been involved in multiple instances of misconduct with children.
Bhopal, Sep 6 : A disturbing video has surfaced in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain which shows a woman being raped on a road, raising questions about the safety of women in the state.
Bhopal, Sep 6 (IANS) A disturbing video has surfaced in Madhya Pradeshas Ujjain which shows a woman being raped on a road, raising questions about the safety of women in the state.
An official said that the police rushed to the spot and brought the victim to the police station where a complaint was registered based on her statement.
Subsequently, the police carried out a search and claimed to have arrested the accused.
According to police, the victim met the accused near a liquor shop and they consumed alcohol together. After she came under the influence of alcohol, the accused overpowered and raped her.
Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Omprakash Mishra said that the incident occurred on Wednesday.
"Police team swung into action soon after video surfaced on social media. An FIR was registered and the accused was arrested," Mishra said.
This incident has raised questions about the safety of women in Ujjain city. Ujjain is also the home district of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who was in the city for the past two days following the death of his father.
Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari shared the video on X and questioned about the law and order situation of the state.
"Women are not safe even on busy streets and they are being raped in broad daylight in MP. This is possible only when law and order end completely," Patwari said.
He added that if this is the condition in the Chief Ministeras home town, then the condition of the rest of the state can be easily understood.
At a time when candor in publishing is being championed even as book banning is burgeoning, PW queried publishers about their recent or upcoming books navigating the challenges kids face during adolescence and puberty. The wide-ranging responses encompassed nonfiction and novels and ranged from picture books for youngest readers to guides for teens. What surfaced repeatedly were editors and authors passionate beliefs that todays readers deserve books on these topics that are honest, inclusive, and accurate. Their commitment to publishing such titles is unflinching, despite the possibility of backlash or censorship.
I have seen a large number of books being published about puberty and sex education in the past couple of years and I love itthe more information thats out there, the better, said Joy Bean, editorial director at Arctis Books USA, adding, And the more candid the books are, the better. All the changes going on in a growing body can be confusing and overwhelming and kids need their questions answered. If were not candid, it leads to more questions and confusion.
This conviction led to Beans acquisition of two books by Barbara Pietruszczak, due from Arctis on November 5: Understanding Adolescence for Girls: A Body-Positive Guide to Puberty and Understanding Adolescence for Boys: A Body-Positive Guide to Puberty, which are translated from the Polish by Agnes Monod-Gayraud and illustrated in full-color by Anna Rudak.
Bean explained that Pietruszczak, a sex and menstruation educator and journalist in Poland, has been trying to break taboos and popularize knowledge about puberty for years. Her frank discussions about puberty and growing up focus on creating a positive relationship with your body, dealing with new emotions that might be overwhelming, and knowing what to say if you get unwanted remarks or questions.
Filling Market Gaps
Multiple authors commented that they wrote their books to satisfy a need in the marketplace, exposed by either their own or other parents inability to find pertinent books for their kids. This was the motivating inspiration for the explicitly titled All About Penises: A Learning About Bodies Book and All About Vulvas and Vaginas: A Learning About Bodies Book by Dorian Solot and Marshall Miller, who have presented programs on sexuality topics nationally for two decades.
Published by Holt in April and illustrated by Tyler Feder, these picture books for ages three to seven were sparked by a request from Solots sister, who asked her to recommend a book to help answer her four-year-olds questions about his penis. I told her there wasnt any such thing and she was shocked, Solot recalled. So, I asked her what would be in such a book if it existed, and she listed off a bunch of topics. I immediately sat down and wrote the first draft of All About Penises. From there it was easy to follow the same structure to write All About Vulvas and Vaginas.
Solot emphasized the importance of raising children to be body-positive by talking to them about their bodies at an early age. Reading a book together gives parents the words, she said. If you think its awkward to talk about penises and vulvas with a preschooler, its way more awkward to have those conversations for the first time when your kid is in middle or high school. Normalizing these topics when children are little lays the foundation for later, so theyll continue to turn to you, not the internet or a peer on the schoolyard, as they grow up.
Miller, who shares two daughters with Solot, underscored another pertinent aspect of their picture books. It was important to us that they be inclusive, he noted. Theyre about body parts, not genders. Either book can be read by a kid of any gender, including trans and non-binary kids.
Opening Doors to Conversation
Helping adolescents find honest answers to their questions about their changing bodies is at the heart of two recent nonfiction books. Published in July by Union Square & Co., The Birds, and the Bees, and the Elephant in the Room: Talking to Your Kids About Sex and Other Sensitive Topics is written by Rachel Coler Mulholland, a nationally certified counselor and university professor whose TikTok videos for kids address such topics as bodies, puberty, consent, and sex.
The guide, Mulholland explained, grew out of her social media followers requests for a book consolidating information from her videos, which inspired her to blend information she had gathered from her research as a clinician and a parent and amalgamate it into something both informative and entertaining for readers.
Covering anatomy, consent, dating, gender, sexual orientation, and pornography, Mulhollands book provides age-appropriate sample scripts for parent-child conversations, suggests how and when to initiate them, and offers guidance in using gender-neutral and inclusive language.
I am so grateful to see more books on puberty and comprehensive sex education coming out, Mulholland noted. The research is clearcomprehensive sex education is protective for kids and teens in a myriad of ways. With a wide variety of books available, parents can jump in where theyre comfortable and find information before their kids ever ask a question.
Published last month by Nosy Crow, Rachel Greeners Growing Up: An Inclusive Guide to Puberty and Your Changing Body was spawned by the authors determination to create a book that she needed for her own preteenbut could not find. Illustrated by Clare Owen, Greeners overview of puberty covers biological sex and gender identity, emotional development, creating and respecting boundaries. and online safety and cyberbullying.
My goal is for readers to finish this book feeling mentally equipped for the biological, psychological, and emotional changes they may encounter as they grow up, Greener said, adding that she also hoped her book helps kids build empathy for others and the confidence to keep asking questions.
On the Fiction Front
The years robust crop of middle grade and YA novels encompassing themes of puberty and first love features some innovative approaches and voices.
In January, Atheneum released a new edition of Judy Blumes trailblazing novel, Forever, featuring an updated cover. Originally published in 1975, this was one of the earliest YA novels to deal frankly with a teenagers first sexual experience. The book has sold 100,000 copies in North America since its last repackaging in 2014, with 2024 being the strongest sales year in a decade. Like many of Blumes titles, Forever has appeared repeatedly on lists of most challenged and banned books.
References to another of Blumes classics, 1970s Are You There God? Its Me, Margaret, appeared in reviews of two March middle-grade novels. School Library Journals review of Ali Tereses debut book, Free Period (Scholastic Press) drew a comparison to Blumes book, as did a review in the Bulletin of the Center for Childrens Books of The World Divided by Piper by Caela Carter (HarperCollins/Quill Tree).
In Free Period, when two best friends are nailed for yet another prank, they make amends by joining their schools community action club and spearhead the groups campaign to ensure free maxi pads in the restrooms for menstruating students.
As Terese contemplated how to approach the subject of menstruation and period equity in a novel, her adolescent memories helped her out. I remembered the physical pain and shame around my period as a kid, but I also kept coming back to the friendship and laughterit was my friends who got me through it, she said.
I hope the novel lets people know that periods are not a gender issue, but a human issue, Terese added. We all have to talk candidly and accurately and bring periods out of the shadows. She emphasized that she wrote her novel as a comedy, in hopes of letting readers see themselves in the pages and letting them know that its okay if they dont have everything figured out about whats happening with their bodiesthey are not alone.
The title character of Carters The World Divided by Piper was diagnosed with early-onset puberty at the age of six and has been taking blockers to keep it at bay. But when her doctor suggests its time for her treatment to end, Piper worries that going through puberty will thwart her ambitious plans, including winning the academic decathlon with her best friend.
Carter, an educator and author of three previous middle-grade novels, was inspired to write this story after reading an article about a girl with a similar medical quandary. I began to think about what might happen when a girl has agency over when she gets her periodand I wanted to explore that story, she said. My challenge was to create a character who could carry off the role of an average 11-year-old whos also a very sophisticated thinker.
Candor and humor are pointedly balanced in The New Girl, a debut middle-grade graphic novel by Cassandra Calin, published by Scholastic Graphix in June; the book was selected as a Flying Start by PW. The plotprotagonist Lias first period arrives as she and her family are waiting to board a plane to emigrate to Canada from Romaniawas inspired by Calins own experience as a young Romanian immigrant to Canada.
Addressing themes of puberty directly and honestly is a great way to destigmatize it and allow readers to have a clearer understanding of what to expect and how to manage it, Calin said, noting the value of adding humor to the mix. Discussing challenges and uncomfortable topics in a lighter tone helps provide a different perspective. Lias clearly dealing with changes and struggles, but thats okay. Shes humanwe all areand humor is a great way to remind us that were all collectively trying our best.
Fittingly, Blume provided a blurb endorsing Jason Reynoldss frank and funny Twenty-Four Seconds from Now, a YA novel due October 8 from Atheneums Caitlyn Dlouhy Books. Told from the perspective of Neon, a Black teenager about to experience a monumental first with his girlfriend, this stream-of-consciousness story is built from a series of snapshots presented in reverse chronologyfrom 24 seconds to 24 months before the pivotal eventas the couples relationship unfolds and their intimacy grows.
The novel stands out for its absolute honesty and Neons unfiltered viewpoint, said Dlouhy, Reynoldss editor. Jason is a skilled writer who knows innately when to bring in a new level of insight or humor. Everyone deserves their Neonhe is thoughtful and cautious, kind and compassionate, silly and embarrassedand willing to be vulnerable. And Blumes advice to readers?: Girls (and everyone) wait for your Neon!
Dlouhy was hopeful that the apparent movement toward increased candor in literature and nonfiction for young adults will continue. I have the sense that kids are becoming more open about their own sexuality at a younger age, and that the world is becoming more receptive to books for teens that explore intimacy honestly rather than skirt around it, she said. It seems to me that this is a natural progression. Ultimately, the best result is that books like Twenty-Four Seconds from Now, with language that is deliberately and carefully chosen and nothing lewd or salacious, will help open up conversations among kids and adults rather than close them down.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 5. A footage dedicated to the first day of President Ilham Aliyev's visit to Italy was posted on his official page on X, Trend reports.
The post reads: "First day of President Ilham Aliyevs working visit to Italy".
Shelf Awareness cofounder Jenn Risko will step down as publisher of the bookselling trade newsletter on September 6, with her fellow cofounder, editor-in-chief John Mutter, assuming full ownership of the company. Risko and Mutter launched Shelf Awareness in 2005.
"For almost 20 years, I have carried the Shelf in my head and my heart, a constant and welcomed companion," Risko said in a statement. "As much as I look forward to my next chapter, the Shelf is part of my DNA, and no amount of remapping will change that. I will always be its biggest fan, and now I will be the crazy one with a giant hat and flags and a foam finger on the sidelines cheering you on to continued success."
As a result of the move, Matt Baldacci is being promoted to publisher, overseeing sales and marketing as well as ideas for new products and services. He joined the company as director of business development following several decades in publishing, working as such companies as DK, Simon & Schuster, and St. Martin's Press.
In addition, Neil Strandberg is being promoted to CEO, overseeing administration, HR, tech, and execution of new products and services. He joined Shelf Awareness as director of technology and operations from the American Booksellers Association, where he was director of technology, and previously worked at the Tattered Cover in Denver, Colo., ultimately as manager of operations, and at A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books in San Francisco. He has served on the boards of the Book Industry Study Group and the Mountains and Plains Independent Booksellers Association, and won MPIBA's Gordon Saull Bookseller of the Year award in 2007.
Both Baldacci and Strandberg joined Shelf Awareness in 2015.
I can't thank Jenn enough for all she's done for Shelf Awareness, Mutter said in a statement. I've always been so in awe of her drive and creativity. Together, starting in 2005, we took what was an idea for an e-newsletter and made it into a thriving company with a range of products and services that have done so much to help booksellers and the book world. He added: Both Matt and Neil have already helped immensely in the transition. They're both amazingly talented and experienced in the book world, and I am so looking forward to working with them on a daily basis.
In a significant development, a federal judge has ruled that a wrongful termination suit filed by a Llano County librarianallegedly fired for refusing to remove books from library shelves as ordered by county officialscan go forward.
In a 23-page decision dated August 27, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitmanthe same judge who, in March 2023, ordered several books banned by Llano County officials returned to library shelvesdenied most of the Texas countys motion to dismiss librarian Suzette Bakers wrongful termination suit, trimming only a small part of the suit as duplicative. Despite claims from Llano County that Baker, the former head librarian at Llano Countys Kingsland library, was dismissed for insubordination, Pitman found that Baker had plausibly asserted that she was fired for opposing orders to improperly pull books that overwhelmingly represented the LGBTQ and BIPOC communities.
Baker alleges that she was associated with patrons who were racial minorities or members of the LGBTQ community because she protested the removal of books that advocated for CRT and LGBTQ rights. Baker also alleges she was punished and terminated for advocating against the removal of pro-CRT and LGBTQ books. Based on these factual allegations, it is plausible that Baker was terminated in part because she advocated for minority groups against the wishes of Defendants or was associated with these groups, Pitman found. It is plausible that the stated reasons for Bakers terminationinsubordination, creating a disturbance, and failing to follow directionswere pretextual. It is also plausible that Defendants policies themselves were unconstitutional, and that those actions preceded any alleged insubordination by Baker.
First filed in March of 2024, Baker is seeking economic damages including back pay, compensatory damages including for emotional pain and suffering, and punitive damages to the maximum amount permitted. In June, Baker was honored at the Authors Guilds 32nd Annual Gala in New York with the inaugural Champion of Writers Awardpresented in New York by George M. Johnson, author of such frequently banned titles as All Boys Arent Bluefor her courage in fighting book bans in Texas.
Bakers 2022 firing was one of several factors that motivated a group of concerned citizens to file a federal lawsuit against Llano County officials in April 2022. In March 2023, Pitman issued a preliminary injunction ordering several books returned to library shelves and blocking further removals, holding that the evidence showed that they were likely removed because of their viewpoint or content.
In June, after a year of waiting, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld Pitmans order. But in a twist, the court vacated the three-judge panel's decision on July 3, with the case now set to be reheard en banc by the court on September 23.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 5. In accordance with the directive from President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the return of former internally displaced persons (IDPs) to the reconstructed city of Shusha continues, Trend reports.
Another group of former internally displaced persons, dispatched on September 5 from the Garadagh district of Baku, has arrived in Shusha.
Today, 30 families, totaling 102 residents, have returned to their hometown. This group consisted of families who had temporarily settled in dormitories, sanatoriums, pioneer camps, unfinished buildings, and administrative buildings in various regions of the country.
A permanent residence has now been established for 177 families (672 people) in Shusha.
06:36
On September 5, another group of former internally displaced persons, consisting of families temporarily settled in dormitories, sanatoriums, pioneer camps, and administrative buildings in various territories of Azerbaijan, was sent to the city of Shusha from the Garadagh district of Baku, Trend reports.
At this stage, another 30 families (102 people) moved to the city of Shusha.
Shusha residents thanked President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care and expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation.
Until today, a permanent settlement in the city of Shusha has been provided for 177 families672 people.
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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 09/04/2024
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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 5. According to the order of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan, a meeting was held at the Ministry of Health with the participation of authorized representatives of the Ministry of Digital Development and Transportation, State Border Service, State Customs Committee, State Agency for Compulsory Medical Insurance, Territorial Medical Units Management Association (TABIB), Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC, and Baku International Sea Trade Port, Trend reports, referring to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Health.
The meeting covered the action plan that was prepared to coordinate the efforts of relevant structures for the upcoming international event, COP29, scheduled to take place in Azerbaijan this November.
Furthermore, considering the rapid spread of monkeypox in many nations, preventive measures on the country's territory were prioritized
In the Global War on Terror, theres one vehicle marque that stands out, used by both the Islamic extremists and the Western forces who were fighting them: Toyota.
In 2010 and 2013, I had the honor to serve alongside the Third Infantry Division in Iraq and Afghanistan. I was a law enforcement professional, a contractor assigned to advise on identifying, targeting, and actioning the improvised explosive device (IED) bomb makers. I also served as a rule of law advisor, a battlefield investigator, and advised the host country police and intelligence services.
200 series at an entry control point
During these tours, I was overwhelmed by the number of Toyota Land Cruisers used by coalition forces, non-governmental organizations, and just all over. There were 100 series, 70 series, 200 series, and Hilux trucks.
Virtually all of these trucks were up-armored, meaning that they were armored to withstand 7.62 munitions, as well as to offer protection against IEDs. The armoring consisted of ballistic panels in the doors, roof, floor, and engine compartment.
79 series next to a G-wagon
The tires were fitted with run-flat inserts, and the glass was replaced with ballistic glass and polycarbonate windows a couple of inches thick.
105 series with comms and electronic countermeasures (ECM) antennas
Some of the trucks were also fitted with gun ports in the doors and/or windows, and some with a roof hatch for a gunner. Many trucks also had a Trunk Monkey option. This variant fitted a rear facing seat in the cargo area for a gunner to cover the rear of the vehicle.
UN 79 series with a winch bumper and HF antenna
Most of the vehicles were fitted with ARB bumpers and roof racks. The roof racks held the spare tire, while the bumpers were fitted with communications antennae and a winch. Fixed to the front and rear recovery points were tow straps coiled up and zip tied to the ARBs and tucked inside the rear door, ready for immediate deployment. Many were also equipped with red/blue strobe lights and sirens.
Depending on the trucks role, the interiors might be stock or heavily modified for mission-essential use. Like the Trunk Monkey option, rear seats were sometimes replaced with side-facing seats for better access to the doors.
79 series outfitted with ECM and comms antennas
In defensive situations in vehicles without gun ports, the doors would be cracked open, and defensive fire directed from the vehicle. Front seat backs would have pouches containing extra weapons, magazines, and trauma kits. Most trucks carried large floor jacks for the fastest possible tire changes.
The dashboard would typically have a video camera and navigation aids. U.S./NATO vehicles would navigate using a Blue Force Tracker (BFT), allowing the truck commander to see other friendly forces as well as known enemy locations. The BFT were also used in navigation and allowed tracking of all friendly vehicles by the local tactical operations center. The console area would be filled with radio equipment.
79 series troopy
Bristling from these trucks were a myriad of aerials. Some were for radio communications (COMMS), BFT, satellite communications, and electronic countermeasures (ECM) to defeat IEDs.
ECMs are devices that block or jam radio frequencies that certain IEDs use to detonate. One of the drawbacks of the 200 series Land Cruisers with all its electronics was that ECM gear would often interfere with the operation of the electronic remote and keyless start.
200 series used for VIP transport. Note the size of the cable from the ECM antennas.
Except for the Hiluxes, the Land Cruisers were usually used for VIP movements. Seeing a civilian Afghan or Iraqi in a Land Cruiser usually meant that person was some sort of big shot.
The Hiluxes, along with some Tacomas, were often used by Special Forces. These double-cab trucks were armored, lifted, and fitted with mounts for a M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, M240 general-purpose machinegun, or a 40mm grenade launcher.
105 series fitted with an ARB bumper and attached tow strap
COMMS antennas were also fitted infrared light for night vision goggle use.
While at Kandahar Airfield, I spotted an Arctic Trucks-built Land Cruiser that belonged to the Lithuanian special forces. This Arctic Truck was armored with gun ports in the doors, a truly remarkable vehicle.
In talking with many different people and having driven an armored Land Cruiser while stationed in Peru, the consensus was that Land Cruisers were the best platform for an armored vehicle. They were rugged enough to handle the extra weight and were reliable. There were also a couple of Suburbans, Expeditions, Land Rovers, Nissan Patrols, and a couple of G-wagons, but Toyota Land Cruisers were in the majority.
200 series with comms and ECM antennas
Toyotas played a significant role in civilian and insurgent life. When outside the confines of my base, the streets were filled with Toyota Hiluxes, minivans used as buses and sedans. We also saw the Toyota trucks being used by the various terrorist groups.
79 series; note the hood pins and emblem.
If theres one common thread running throughout low level conflicts in various sh*thole countries, its the presence of vehicles produced by Kiichiro Toyodas company.
Colt Gray, a 14-year-old student at Apalachee High School, was charged with the murder of two students and two teachers, according to Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey. He will be tried as an adult. This story is ongoing, with more reporting and updates to follow.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 5. The Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation will support a mosque restoration in Azerbaijan's liberated Gochahmadli village of the Fuzuli district, Trend reports.
The issue is envisioned in the memorandum of understanding on the protection and restoration of historical and cultural monuments located in the territory of Azerbaijan signed between the foundation's President Aktoty Raimkulova and Head of the Azerbaijani State Service for the Protection, Development, and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture Sabina Hajiyeva.
The memorandum signing is intended to preserve, restore, and conserve historical and cultural monuments in Azerbaijan that are under state protection.
It also includes organizing training in this area and further expanding cooperation in the field of cultural heritage.
During the signing ceremony, the development of relations with fraternal Turkic nations in all areas, particularly the strengthening of cultural ties, was highly praised.
It was noted that the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation plays an active role in this regard, contributing to the preservation, promotion, and popularization of Turkic peoples' culture and heritage.
Azerbaijan's strong support for this field was also emphasized, and there was confidence expressed that cooperation will deepen in the coming years.
At the event, participants exchanged views on issues of mutual interest.
Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Gautam Adani had in the late 1970s applied to join a Mumbai college for education, but the college rejected his application.
Photograph: Amir Cohen/Reuters
He did not pursue education but turned to business and went on to build a $220 billion empire. About four-and-a-half decades later, he gets called to the same college to deliver a lecture to students on Teachers Day.
Adani had moved to Mumbai at the age of 16 and started working as a diamond sorter.
Around the same time in 1977 or 1978, he applied for admission to Mumbai's Jai Hind College.
"But they rejected him," said Vikram Nankani, President of the Jai Hind College Alumni Association, as he introduced India's second richest person before his lecture.
He had applied to Jai Hind College because his elder brother Vinod had earlier studied in the same college.
"Fortunately or unfortunately, the college did not accept him and he went on to work full time and pursued an alternative career," Nankani said, declaring Gautam Adani as a "deemed alumni" since he had applied to join.
After working as a diamond sorter for almost two years, he returned to his home state of Gujarat to run a packaging factory managed by a brother.
He never really looked back after he launched his firm in 1998, trading in commodities.
Over the next two-and-half-decade, his debt-fuelled companies diversified into ports, mines, infrastructure, power, city gas, renewable energy, cement, real estate, data centres and media.
The infrastructure tycoon, who runs 13 seaports in India, operates seven airports, is the largest private player in power, is the biggest renewable energy producer, runs the country's second-largest cement company, is building expressways and re-developing Asia's largest slums, is described by some as the most aggressive of India's new generation of entrepreneur.
Delivering the lecture 'Breaking Boundaries: The Power of Passion and Unconventional Paths to Success', Adani, 62, was just 16 years old when he chose to break his first boundary.
"It had to do with giving up my education and choosing to move to an unknown future in Mumbai.
"People still ask me, 'Why did you move to Mumbai? Why did you not complete your education?' The answer lies in the heart of every young dreamer who sees boundaries not as barriers but as challenges that test his courage.
"I was driven by a need to see if I had the courage to make a life for myself in the most happening city of our country," he said.
Mumbai was his training ground for business as he learned to sort and trade in diamonds.
"The field of trading makes a good teacher. I learnt very early that an entrepreneur can never be frozen by over-evaluating the choices in front of him," he said.
"It is Mumbai that taught me 'To think big, you must first dare to dream beyond your boundaries'."
In the 1980s, he established a trading organisation for importing polymers to supply to the struggling small-scale industries.
"By the time I turned 23, my trading venture was doing well," he said.
After the 1991 economic liberalisation, he established a global trading house dealing in polymers, metals, textiles, and agri-products. He was just 29 then.
"Within two years, we had become the largest global trading house in the country.
"This is when I understood the combined value of both speed and scale," he said.
"Thereafter, in 1994, we decided that it was time to go public, and Adani Exports, now known as Adani Enterprises, launched its IPO.
"The IPO was a strong success and underscored for me the importance of public markets."
Adani realised that to break the next set of boundaries, he would have to first start by challenging his own status quo and investing in assets to provide a solid foundation.
In the mid-1990s, he was approached by the global commodities trader Cargill for a partnership to manufacture and source salt from the Kutch region in Gujarat.
"While the partnership did not materialise, we were left with about 40,000 acres of marshy land and approval to build a captive jetty at Mundra (in Gujarat) for the export of salt," he said.
What others saw as marshy barren land, he saw as a canvas waiting to be transformed.
That canvas is now by far India's largest port.
"Mundra today hosts India's largest port, the largest industrial Special Economic Zone, the largest container terminals, the largest thermal power plant, the largest solar manufacturing facility, the largest copper plant, and the largest edible oil refinery.
"And yet, we're only about 10 per cent of what Mundra will eventually become," he said.
He is now building the world's biggest renewable energy park in the inhospitable deserts of Kutch and redeveloping Dharavi slums in Mumbai.
"While we have helped redefine India's infrastructure across airports, ports, logistics, industrial parks and energy it is not the victories that define us.
"It is the mindset to take on and overcome challenges that have shaped the Adani Group's journey," he added.
Indigo has zero competition on 61.2 per cent of its 838 domestic routes.
The number of domestic routes in India with no competition surged from 55.2 per cent in April 2019 to 69.2 per cent in April 2024.
This means by April this year, only 30.8 per cent of the 1,083 domestic routes had more than one airline operating, according to a report by aviation analytics firm Cirium reviewed by Business Standard.
With reduced competition, airlines have become more aggressive in raising airfares, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic.
For instance, on the Delhi-Mumbai route, average fares dropped by 20.5 per cent between April 2019 and April 2023 but soared by 34.6 per cent in the past year alone.
Similarly, on the Delhi-Bengaluru route, average economy fares increased 53.1 per cent in just the last year alone.
This shift in pricing strategy has primarily been driven by the bankruptcies of Jet Airways in 2019 and Go First in 2023, along with SpiceJet's substantial network reductions due to financial difficulties.
By July 2024, IndiGo and the Air India Group controlled over 90 per cent of the domestic air passenger market, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
As competition has waned, airlines have shifted their focus to achieving higher yields (average revenue per passenger per kilometre) rather than filling planes by lowering fares.
Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Reuters
The new tactic was evident during the long weekend between August 15 and 19, when air travel surged amid Independence Day, the weekend, and Rakshabandhan.
On certain routes, the load factors were low, but airlines barely dropped the spot fares, a revenue management executive of a major airline told Business Standard.
"Before the pandemic, on such routes, one or two airlines would drastically cut fares if planes weren't full close to departure. Other airlines would then follow the suit. Now, sudden fare drops are rare. The focus across our industry is on better yields," the executive said.
IndiGo, India's largest carrier, had no competition on 33.4 per cent of its 491 domestic routes in April 2019.
Five years later, by April 2024, the airline faced zero competition on 61.2 per cent of its 838 domestic routes, according to Cirium.
"India has seen a rapid rise in connectivity over the past few years. One way of looking at the monopoly routes is that had it not been for the airline operating, there would not have been connectivity between the two city pairs. Overall, the count of monopoly routes has gone up more or less in line with the count of total routes in operation in India," said Ameya Joshi, an aviation researcher and founder of the aviation blog Network Thoughts.
"With the Air India group growing rapidly, a lot of IndiGo monopolies are becoming duopolies," Joshi added.
The duopoly, Joshi said. would influence pricing strategies, and the days of airlines dropping fares to fill seats may be over.
"The duopoly will play its part in pricing strategy, and the earlier days of one airline dropping fares to fill seats may well be history, with a maturing market. The pricing strategy in the next two-three years will be dependent on supply chain constraints easing out, availability of planes, and expansion of airports," Joshi said.
"Currently, with grounded planes and slower deliveries, the growth is not as rapid as it was expected to be," he added.
The grounding of around 70 of IndiGo's 380 planes due to Pratt & Whitney engine issues, along with delays in aircraft deliveries to Indian carriers by Airbus because of supply chain problems and by Boeing for regulatory hurdles, has also played a role in the rise of airfares at a time when demand is surging.
On August 5, IndiGo promoter Rahul Bhatia said India deserves more than just two major airlines, and that IndiGo's market dominance is not entirely of its own volition, as certain airlines have fallen by the wayside.
'We welcome the competition. Clearly, a country like India deserves more than just two airlines. Just look at China; they have five or six major airlines and some smaller ones. So, this country (India) clearly has room for others to come out,' Bhatia had told reporters at an event where IndiGo launched its frequent flyer loyalty programme called Blue Chip and revealed details about business class on its planes.
Bhatia, who along with his family currently own about 36 per cent of IndiGo, had said that the airline's growth had been partly due to other airlines exiting the market and that the company is not guilty of creating a duopoly.
'Our business is to keep costs low, provide affordable fares, fill up planes, buy more planes, and keep that cycle going,' Bhatia said.
Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 4,787 crore for 2023-24 (FY24) more than three times the earnings recorded the previous year.
This growth can be attributed to robust demand for its vehicles, particularly hybrid models and cross-badged cars from the Toyota-Suzuki alliance.
TKMs country head and executive vice-president, Vikram Gulati, attributed the profit surge to a strong product portfolio, financial partnerships, value proposition, and customer-centric strategies that have expanded the companys customer base and market understanding.
As a next phase of alliance, the company is preparing for hybrid system supply... (and) other new technology models, TKM stated in its documents submitted to the Registrar of Companies (RoC) and reviewed by Business Standard.
The companys last financial years performance marks a significant turnaround from FY21, when TKM reported a net loss of Rs 55 crore.
Since then, TKM has consistently improved its financial health, recording net profits of Rs 519 crore in FY22 and Rs 1,404 crore in FY23.
In FY24, TKMs sales volume surged by 48 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to 263,512 units, while sales revenue rose by 65.6 per cent Y-o-Y to Rs 55,866 crore, according to RoC.
Meanwhile, total expenditure increased by approximately 57 per cent Y-o-Y to Rs 49,026 crore.
TKMs portfolio includes four rebadged models from Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) the Glanza (Baleno), Urban Cruiser Taisor (Fronx), Rumion (Ertiga), and Urban Cruiser Hyryder (Grand Vitara) which account for nearly half of its total sales in India, according to sources.
The first cross-badged model from TKM to MSIL was introduced as the Invicto (from Innova Hycross) in FY24.
The global partnership between Toyota and Suzuki, announced in FY19, involves the mutual supply of products and components, including model swaps between their Indian subsidiaries TKM and Maruti Suzuki India.
On the success of the Toyota-Maruti Suzuki alliance in India, Puneet Gupta, director-mobility, S&P Global, stated that it rapidly amplified the two companies product portfolio across mass-market segments.
The vehicles from Toyota present an impeccable synergy of pricing, product excellence, and premium positioning, compelling consumers to choose Toyota, thereby bolstering the brands market share, he said.
Toyota holds an 89 per cent stake in TKM, with the remaining 11 per cent owned by Kirloskar Systems Private Limited.
Commenting on TKMs recent success, Gulati said: "We have always remained ahead in assessing and understanding the diverse needs of our varied customers and market trends.
He highlighted that the company's sport utility vehicle (SUV) and multi-utility vehicle (MUV) segments, with models like the Innova Crysta, Fortuner, and Urban Cruiser Hyryder, have been the biggest contributors to its growth.
Gulati noted that TKM's manufacturing facilities in Bidadi, Karnataka, have been operating at 100 per cent capacity for quite some time due to strong demand.
This allowed us to not only increase production but also tap into the booming demand in both domestic and export markets.
"In the current calendar year, over 14,000 units of the Urban Cruiser Hyryder were exported, he noted.
In response to rising demand, TKM introduced a third shift at its manufacturing facilities in 2023, expanding its annual production capacity by about 32,000 units.
Total annual production capacity at its two Bidadi facilities now stands at 342,000 units.
Last November, TKM announced plans to establish a third facility near the existing ones at a cost of Rs 3,300 crore, which will increase the companys total installed capacity to 432,000 units per annum.
TKM is further expanding its production capacity.
Last month, the company signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra government to explore the establishment of a greenfield manufacturing facility in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar.
The proposed new facility will focus on advanced green technologies and is aimed at serving wider markets within the country and abroad, Gulati added.
The government is set to examine concerns over quick commerce companies potentially undermining businesses of local kirana stores, particularly in the context of the draft Digital Competition Bill, according to official sources.
Photograph: Rupak De Chowdhury/Reuters
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs recently raised the issue with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs during discussions around the proposed legislation.
We need to assess if and how the Bill can address these concerns and explore further steps to include provisions to keep a check, a senior official stated.
Email queries sent to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and the Ministry of Consumer Affairs did not elicit any response at the time of going to press.
The Bill proposes ex-ante (preventive) regulations, which would require digital companies to notify the Competition Commission of India (CCI) if they meet the criteria to be classified as systemically significant digital enterprises (SSDEs) based on a set of qualitative and quantitative parameters.
The government, according to reports, may refine the SSDE criteria to broaden its scope, potentially encompassing a wider variety of digital companies, including social networking platforms and online marketplaces.
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal last week had said that while the government is not opposed to e-commerce, it is committed to ensuring a level playing field between online and offline businesses.
Goyal previously expressed concern that the rapid expansion of the e-commerce sector could be a cause for concern rather than a matter of pride, warning that it might result in job losses within traditional retail.
Industry experts note that companies operating in this space are well aware of the growing regulatory scrutiny.
Many are already working to incorporate kirana stores into their business models.
Sources familiar with the matter indicate that Flipkart a recent entrant in the quick commerce market is running its service, Minutes, on a kirana store model.
Rather than relying heavily on dark stores, Flipkart has partnered with several kirana stores, equipping them with the necessary supply chain technology to facilitate quick deliveries.
However, players in the quick commerce sector argue that the regulatory pushback is premature.
The sector is too nascent for this level of regulatory scrutiny.
"While there may be some initial impact on kirana stores, quick commerce companies are actively working to integrate these stores into their business models.
"It will take time to resolve these challenges, said an executive from a quick commerce firm.
Recently, the industry body All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation sent an email to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, highlighting that the rapid growth of quick commerce platforms posed significant challenges to traditional retail and the FMCG distribution network across the country.
In his call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, United States President Joe Biden expressed his concerns about the safety of people in Bangladesh and the future of democratic institutions there, the White House has said.
IMAGE: US President Joe Biden speaks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Savelletri, Italy on June 14, 2024. Photograph: Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
During the call, Biden and Modi 'shared concerns' on the recent developments in Bangladesh, White House national security communications adviser John Kirby told a press conference on Wednesday.
"I mean, the President made clear his continued concerns about the safety and security of the people in Bangladesh and the future of their democratic institutions," he said in response to a question.
The statement issued by the White House after the August 26 call did not mention Bangladesh. However, a post on X by Modi and a statement issued by his office mentioned that Bangladesh was discussed during the telephonic conversation.
'The two leaders expressed their shared concern over the situation in Bangladesh. They emphasised restoration of law and order and ensuring safety and security of the minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh,' the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) had said.
In his post on X, Modi had said, 'We also discussed the situation in Bangladesh and stressed on the need for early restoration of normalcy, and ensuring the safety and security of minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh.'
Family members of a doctor, who was allegedly raped and murdered in Kolkata last month, joined the protesting medics at RG Kar hospital on Wednesday and accused the Kolkata Police of attempting to suppress the case by hurriedly cremating the body of the doctor.
IMAGE: Junior doctors and PG students take part in a torch rally as they join people in a candlelight tribute to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder victim, in Kolkata on Wednesday. Photograph: ANI Photo
Participating in the protests at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where the body of their daughter was recovered on August 9, the parents demanded justice and accused a senior police officer of trying to bribe them after the incident came to light.
"The police, from the very beginning, tried to hush up the case. We were not allowed to see the body and had to wait at the police station while the body was taken for post-mortem examinations. Later, when the body was handed over to us, a senior police official offered us money, which we immediately declined," the father of the deceased doctor said.
The Calcutta high court ordered the handover of the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation in the second week of August.
The parents of the postgraduate trainee stated that they joined the protest to support the junior doctors fighting for justice for their daughter.
Since August 10, protests have erupted across the state, with people from various sectors demanding justice for the victim.
On Monday, the CBI arrested the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Dr Sandip Ghosh, in connection with alleged financial misconduct at the establishment.
On Tuesday, the West Bengal Assembly unanimously passed a state anti-rape bill seeking capital punishment for rape convicts if their actions result in the victim's death or leave her in a vegetative state, and a life sentence without parole for other perpetrators.
Expressing anguish over the latest picture of Renukaswamy which has emerged on social media, the victim's parents called the jailed Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and his accomplices 'demons' for allegedly torturing their son to death.
IMAGE: Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa being sent to police custody after a medical checkup following his alleged role in murder over obscene texts, in Bengaluru, June 11, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo
The photograph shows a shirtless Renukaswamy pleading for mercy before he was allegedly murdered. There were also several injury marks all over his body.
Renukaswamy's father Kashinath S Shivanagoudru claimed that the developments have had adverse effect on their pregnant daughter-in-law these days.
"After seeing the photograph which has gone viral, we are confused. We don't know what to say and how to react. We can now imagine how much he would have suffered and screamed and pleaded to them. He was tortured beyond tolerance," Shivanagoudru said.
He said he is unable to console his daughter-in-law.
Shivanagoudru said, "My son requested Darshan and his gang members that he has a mother and a pregnant wife but they did not pardon him. They were all demons. They did not have even a trace of humanity in them."
The victim's father lamented that Darshan and his gang members could have complained to the police.
According to police sources, 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor, had sent obscene messages to actress Pavithra Gowda, which enraged Darshan, allegedly leading to his murder.
His body was found near a stormwater drain next to an apartment in Sumanahalli in Chitradurga on June 9.
Raghavendra, one of the accused who is part of Darshan's fan club in Chitradurga, had brought Renukaswamy to a shed in RR Nagar in Chitradurga, on the pretext that the actor wanted to meet him.
It was in this shed that he was allegedly tortured and murdered.
As per the post-mortem report, Renukaswamy, a native of Chitradurga, died due to shock and haemorrhage as a result of multiple blunt injuries.
Police sources said Pavithra, who is accused number one, was the 'major cause' for Renukaswamy's murder, claiming that it has been proved from the probe that she instigated other accused, conspired with them, and took part in the crime.
Chief Adviser to Bangladesh's interim government, Muhammad Yunus, has said the issue of attacks on minority Hindus in his country is 'exaggerated' and questioned the manner in which India projected it.
IMAGE: Hindus protest in Dhaka against against the brutal atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh. Photograph: Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters
In an interview with PTI at his official residence in Dhaka, Yunus said the attacks on minorities in Bangladesh are more political than communal.
He suggested that the attacks were not communal, but a fallout of a political upheaval as there is a perception that most Hindus supported the now-deposed Awami League regime.
"I have said this to (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi also that this is exaggerated. This issue has several dimensions. When the country went through an upheaval following the atrocities by (Sheikh) Hasina and the Awami League, those who were with them also faced attacks," the Nobel laureate told PTI.
The minority Hindu population faced vandalism of their businesses and properties, as well as the destruction of Hindu temples, during the student-led violence that erupted following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
After unprecedented anti-government protests that peaked on August 5, Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled to India.
"Now, while beating up Awami League cadres, they had beaten up Hindus as there is a perception that Hindus in Bangladesh mean Awami League supporters. I am not saying that what has happened is right, but some people are using it as an excuse to seize property. So, there is no clear distinction between Awami League supporters and Hindus," he said.
In his first direct contact with New Delhi last month, shortly after becoming the head of Bangladesh's interim government, Yunus conveyed to Prime Minister Modi that Dhaka would prioritise the protection and safety of Hindus and all other minority groups.
During the conversation, Modi reaffirmed India's support for a democratic, stable, peaceful, and progressive Bangladesh and emphasised the importance of ensuring the safety of Hindus and other minority communities in the violence-hit country.
Hindus, who made up 22 per cent of Bangladesh's population at the time of the 1971 Liberation War, now constitute about 8 per cent of 170 million and have predominantly supported the Awami League, known for its secular stance.
Describing the attacks as more political than communal, Yunus questioned the manner in which India is 'propagating' them.
"These attacks are political in nature and not communal. And India is propagating these incidents in a big way. We have not said that we can't do anything; we have said that we are doing everything," the Chief Adviser said.
Prime Minister Modi, in his Independence Day address from the Red Fort on August 15, expressed hope that the situation in violence-hit Bangladesh would return to normal soon and said 1.4 billion Indians are concerned about the safety of Hindus and minorities in the neighbouring country.
Discussing the future of India-Bangladesh relations, Yunus expressed a desire for good ties with India but insisted that New Delhi must abandon the narrative that Bangladesh will turn into another Afghanistan without Sheikh Hasina at the helm.
"The way forward is for India to come out of the narrative. The narrative is that everybody is Islamist, BNP is Islamist, and everyone else is Islamist and will make this country into Afghanistan. And Bangladesh is in safe hands with Sheikh Hasina at the helm only.
"India is captivated by this narrative. India needs to come out of this narrative. Bangladesh, like any other nation, is just another neighbour," he said.
The noted economist added, "The issue of trying to portray the conditions of minorities in such a big way is just an excuse."
Yunus said that when he met leaders of the minority community, he urged them to protest as citizens of the country with equal rights and not merely as Hindus.
"Even when I met members of the Hindu community, I had requested them: please don't identify yourselves as Hindus; rather, you should say you are citizens of this country and you have equal rights. If someone tries to snatch your legal rights as citizens, then there are remedies," he said.
The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC), a prominent Hindu minority group in Bangladesh, had also reported attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, following the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government on August 5.
Thousands of Hindus staged protest rallies in Bangladesh's capital and the northeastern port city of Chattogram on August 10-11, demanding protection amid nationwide vandalism that saw attacks on temples and their homes and businesses.
Earlier in August, the Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance said that the minority Hindu community faced attacks and threats in 278 locations across 48 districts since the fall of the Hasina-led government and termed it as an 'assault on the Hindu religion'.
Kolkata experienced a unique and powerful display of civic solidarity when residents turned off their lights for an hour from 9 pm on Wednesday and came down to the streets with burning candles to protest the murder of the doctor at RG Kar hospital and to express support for the deceased doctor's family.
IMAGE: People light candles at RG Kar hospital to pay tribute to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder victim, in Kolkata on Wednesday. Photograph: ANI Photo
Significant pockets across districts of West Bengal also witnessed spontaneous protests from citizens hitting roads late in the evening with burning torches, candles and even backlit mobile phones demanding justice for the RG Kar hospital victim.
The West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front, which had called for the protest, titled the event 'Let There Be Light, Let There Be Justice' had planned it to coincide with the Supreme Court's scheduled hearing in the rape-murder case on September 5.
The protesters demanded that the case, which is currently being heard by an apex court bench, be resolved expeditiously so that justice doesn't get delayed any further.
At 9 pm sharp, prominent landmarks such as the Victoria Memorial and Raj Bhavan, along with many homes across the city, its suburbs and districts, plunged into darkness as part of the protest.
Governor C V Ananda Bose also lit a candle at the Raj Bhavan and said, "When light is fear, darkness is dear."
Large crowds gathered across the city, Howrah, and Salt Lake, taking to the streets with candles and mobile phone torches, chanting 'We want justice' and demanding accountability for the alleged gruesome rape-murder of the trainee doctor.
In Kolkata, protests were held in prominent landmarks including Shyambazar five-point crossing, Moulali, New Town Biswa Bangla Gate, Rashbehari crossing, Behala, Garia, Ballygunge, Hazra crossing and Jadavpur 8B bus stand.
Doctors, both junior and seniors, held a protest at the epicentre -- RG Kar Medical College and Hospital -- where the victim's parents and her extended family members were also present.
Addressing the media from the hospital premises, the victim's relatives levelled serious charges of the Kolkata Police's 'hyper-activity in cremation of the victim's body and insensitive treatment towards family members' post the discovery of the crime on August 9.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday called upon the top military brass to analyse the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza as well as the current situation in Bangladesh to "predict" any future problems and stay prepared to deal with the "unexpected".
IMAGE: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth and Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari attend the second day of the Joint Commanders Conference 2024, Lucknow, September 5, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo
In an address at the maiden joint commanders conference in Lucknow, he also said that the armed forces need to be prepared for war in order to preserve peace and emphasised on "synergised, swift and proportionate response to provocations", in comments that came amid the lingering border row with China in eastern Ladakh.
The defence minister pitched for deeper analysis of the situation along India's border with China and developments in the neighbouring countries, which are posing a challenge to peace and stability in the region.
The conference with the theme 'Sashakt aur Surakshit Bharat: Transforming the Armed Forces' held extensive discussions on the contours of the government's ambitious plans to roll out 'Integrated Theatre Commands'.
In his remarks, Singh, in presence of the chiefs of the three services, stressed on evolving a joint military vision as part of preparation to confront future security challenges and urged the commanders to identify and include the right mix of traditional and modern military hardware in the arsenal.
On the evolving regional security matrix in the region, Singh said India is a peace-loving nation and the armed forces need to be prepared for war in order to preserve peace, according to the defence ministry.
It said he stressed upon the significance of evolving joint military vision and preparing for challenges that the country may face in future wars, while emphasising on "synergised, swift and proportionate response to provocations."
"Referring to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts and the current situation in Bangladesh, the Raksha Mantri exhorted the commanders to analyse these episodes, predict the problems that the country may face in the future, and stay prepared to deal with the 'unexpected'," the ministry said in a statement.
Singh emphasised on the need of a broader and deeper analysis by the top military leadership in view of the situation along the Northern border and the happenings in neighbouring countries, it said.
"Despite global volatility, India is enjoying a rare peace dividend and it is developing peacefully. However, due to the increasing number of challenges, we need to remain alert," Singh said.
"It is important that we keep our peace intact during Amrit Kaal. We need to focus on our present, keep an eye on the activities happening around us at present, and focus on being future-oriented," he said.
"For this, we should have a strong and robust national security component. We should have fail-proof deterrence," Singh added.
The two-day joint conference began on Wednesday.
Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari and Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane were among those who attended the deliberations.
In his remarks, Singh commended the armed forces for their "invaluable contribution" in safeguarding national interests and advancing the vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India).
The defence minister also appreciated the efforts being undertaken for furthering jointness and integration among the three services.
The defence minister stressed on capability development in space and electronic warfare domains, describing them as integral to tackle modern-day challenges.
He also urged the military leadership to focus on increasing the use of latest technological advancements in the fields of data and artificial intelligence.
"These components do not participate in any conflict or war directly. Their indirect participation is deciding the course of warfare to a great extent," he added.
Singh listed the steps being taken to achieve 'Aatmanirbharta' in defence and reiterated the government's commitment to equip the armed forces with state-of-the-art indigenous weapons and platforms.
Singh also voiced the government's resolve towards the welfare and well-being of the soldiers, both serving and retired, and their families.
The conference brought together the combined apex-level military leadership of the country, who deliberated upon the current and future security challenges facing the nation.
The focus of the conference was on future capability building including organisation structures for joint and integrated response and ushering in efficiency, transparency and accountability in the work process during peace and war.
The deliberations spanned across a broad spectrum of contemporary issues such as theaterisation, indigenisation and technological developments including those in the field of robotics and Artificial Intelligence-enabled autonomous weapon systems, the ministry said.
It said special attention was given to the strategic importance of cyber and space-based capabilities in modern warfare, underlining the necessity of preparing for future conflicts that will increasingly span multiple domains.
The conference provided an opportunity for the commanders to review national and international developments that impact India, while discussing measures to further improve the country's defence capabilities, the ministry said.
Singh also launched eight innovative applications including e-Museum and e-Granthalaya along with one publication on Colonial Practices and the Armed Forces -- A Review marking a significant step towards greater cohesion and synergy among the three Services.
Seers of Haridwar on Thursday pitched for the removal of Urdu words like 'shahi' used in Hindu religious contexts and suggested replacing them with their Hindi or Sanskrit substitutes.
Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: AN Photo
The development comes after Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, while referring to the Lord Mahakal procession in Ujjain recently, used rajasi sawari instead of shahi sawari.
The seers said that a meeting of the various Akharas will soon be convened in Haridwar to pass a resolution seeking the replacement of words like shahi or peshwai with their Sanskrit substitutes.
According to them, these words are symbolic of India's slavery to the Mughals.
Shahi is often used in the context of Kumbh congregation in which royal bath is referred to as shahi snan.
Supporting the Madhya Pradesh CM, the Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad -- the highest body of seers -- said that the word 'shahi' is not in the tradition of Indian culture.
"Words like shahi and peshwai are symbols of slavery and were used by the Mughal rulers to show their pride. These words are from the Urdu language, whereas the language of ancient Indian Sanatan culture is Sanskrit from which Hindi has originated," Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad president Mahant Ravindra Puri (Niranjani) said.
Words like rajsi were used in ancient times for shahi or royal, he said.
A meeting of the Akharas will soon be called to discuss the matter and pass a resolution for the replacement of the Urdu words used in Hindu religious contexts with Sanskrit-origin words.
The resolution will be sent to the administration of all cities where the Kumbh fair or similar religious congregations are held, Puri said.
Leader of Canada's New Democratic Party (NDP) Jagmeet Singh has announced that he is withdrawing support to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government.
IMAGE: Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greets community members in Holland park, in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada on August 4, 2024. Photograph: Jennifer Gauthier/Reuters
The NDP leader on Wednesday in a video posted on social media stated that he 'ripped up' the supply-and-confidence agreement his party made with Trudeau's Liberal government, the Canadian news outlet CBC News reported.
The deal struck between the two leaders in 2022 and scheduled to run until June 2025 ensured the survival of the minority Liberal government and was the 'first such formal agreement between two parties at the federal level'.
Trudeau first took office in November 2015.
Singh accused Trudeau of not being able to take on the opposition Conservatives, who polls indicate are set to easily win an election that must be held by end-October 2025.
"Justin Trudeau has proven again and again he will always cave to corporate greed. The Liberals have let people down. They don't deserve another chance from Canadians," Singh said in the video as cited by CBC.
The NDP leader spoke of an 'even bigger battle ahead'.
"The threat of Pierre Poilievre and Conservative cuts. From workers, from retirees, from young people, from patients, from families -- he will cut in order to give more to big corporations and wealthy CEOs," said Singh.
Speaking after Singh's announcement, Trudeau said his government is more focused on tackling the affordability crisis and climate change.
The Canadian PM said he hopes the next election will not happen 'until next fall' so that his government has time to move forward on pharmacare, dental care and school food programs.
In a media statement accompanying his announcement, Singh said 'the NDP is ready for an election, and voting non-confidence will be on the table with each and every confidence measure'.
Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called Singh's announcement a 'stunt' and criticised him for not saying whether he would vote non-confidence in the government.
Through the deal with Trudeau's party, the NDP according to CBS News kept the minority Liberal government in power in exchange for movement on key priorities such as dental care benefits, one-time rental supplements for low-income tenants and a temporary doubling of the GST rebate.
National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah Thursday said contesting from two assembly seats is not a sign of weakness, but proves the strength of his party.
Photograph: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com IMAGE: National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah after filing nomination papers for Budgam assembly constituency for the assembly elections, in Jammu and Kashmir, September 5, 2024.
Abdullah has filed nomination for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls from two seats -- Ganderbal and Budgam.
"My colleagues wanted to show that the NC is not fighting this election from a weak position, but a strong one. My contesting from two seats is not a sign of weakness, but strength, it is the proof of the NC's strength," Abdullah told reporters here after filing nomination papers.
The former chief minister said if there was any danger of his losing from Budgam, then his party colleagues would not have allowed him to contest from Budgam.
"Whether it is Baramulla, Srinagar or Anantnag, there is a wave in favour of the NC and we hope that the party will be successful and the alliance candidates will also win," he added.
The NC has an alliance with the Congress for the three-phase assembly polls.
Abdullah said the ground situation is in favour of his party and expressed hope the results of the election would prove that.
"We are not like those fools who talked about 400 plus (seats) and then stopped at 240. I hope when the counting takes place, we will be successful," he said.
To a question about Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Ram Madhav's allegations that ex-militants are campaigning for NC and People's Democratic Party, Abdullah said the BJP leader should prove his charges.
"Even that we know who the independents are that are being fielded in this election, and who will benefit from their fighting, I think it is a bit rich of Ram Madhav to say that NC is taking benefit from ex-militants. Show us where?"
"The campaign has just only started. I am sure he has access to all the intelligence reports. There is not a single function of ours that is not monitored by the IB, CID or others, all the videos are there, please show us where we are taking support from militants or surrendered militants," he said.
The NC vice-president said he was under the impression that as a result of what New Delhi did in August 2019, "these people were rendered neutral, that they had no more say".
"But, clearly Madhav is suggesting these people actually hold power over what the voters will decide. Which then would suggest that everything they have done after August 5, 2019 has been for nothing," he said.
Abdullah said if his party is elected to power, investigations will be launched into the allegations of corruption and "mis-governance" during the last few years of lieutenant governor's rule.
"We have already said it in our manifesto that the world will be let known through the assembly that people of J-K are not in favour of the decisions taken here. There will be an investigation into the era of mis-governance in the last five-six years, allegations of corruption, and allegations made by senior IAS officers. If any discrepancy is found, then they will be held accountable," he added.
Asked about Congress' district president in Ganderbal announcing to contest against him, Abdullah said such things were expected when the alliance between the two parties took place.
"We knew such things will happen. You cannot make 100 percent people happy in a party during elections. I am satisfied that the dissentions in our party are less than what we expected.
"My colleagues have left their expectations on one side to work for the party and the alliance. I do not have words for them and my regards for them has increased. But, there are some people who have kept their self-interest on top. The voters will decide on them," he said.
Expressing hope that the people will follow the example set in the Parliamentary polls of participating in the elections in large numbers and not boycotting the process, the NC leader said the maps of certain constituencies were redrawn in the delimitation exercise to benefit the BJP and the voters will have to see to that.
"Most of its (delimitation) impact is seen in Jammu. Attempts have been made to change Muslim-dominated constituencies so as to help the BJP, but it remains to be seen how much it would benefit the BJP. We are hopeful that people will participate in the elections in large numbers.
"It used to be said that the NC benefits from boycott. But, we did not see any boycott in the parliamentary polls and we won two out of three. God willing, there will be no boycott this time also and NC will succeed," he added.
To a question about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's remarks on contracts in J-K going into the hands of non-locals, Abdullah said the people of J-K have a right on their resources.
"Outsiders should not get any contracts. They do not do it in other states. Let them do it in Ladakh. There are different sets of laws for Ladakh and for J-K despite the fact that we were created from a single state, by a same order. A non-local cannot buy land or work there or take contracts, but that rule is not applicable for J-K," he said.
Earlier, addressing his party workers here, Abdullah said the assembly election is a fight for "our identity and if we don't fight for it, all the development has no meaning".
"New Delhi will try its best to muzzle our voices. Those who stayed away from elections throughout their lives have suddenly started believing in democracy," he said, referring to the participation of some former members of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami.
Asking people to stop the BJP from forming the government in J-K, Abdullah said his party needs to get at least 60 to 70 seats in the elections.
"The assembly that is going to be formed won't be the same assembly, it won't have the same powers. But we will put our best show to revive back that strong assembly of ours," he added.
He also expressed gratitude to the people of Budgam for showering love on him.
Indian Americans are likely to vote in the United States presidential elections based on what the candidates have done for them and not on the basis of their heritage or race, a newly formed body representing Asian communities has said, claiming that Republican candidate Donald Trump has a better track record than his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris.
IMAGE: Democratic presidential nominee and US Vice President Kamala Harris campaigns in North Hampton, New Hampshire, on September 4, 2024. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters
Harris, 59, is the first ever presidential candidate of Indian heritage on the top of a Democratic presidential ticket which has generated a lot of excitement among members of the Indian-American community in the US. They number about five million.
Co-founder of Asians Make America Great Again (MAGA) Holly Ham told PTI, "I think Indian Americans really look, and not just heritage because someone is on the ticket, but what has that person done? Do they espouse the same values?"
"What has Kamala Harris done for Indians and Asian Indians? What about education rights? She supported, I believe, Proposition 47 in California, and that was to support racial quotas for universities in California. That's a big issue," she said.
While Indian Americans live primarily in Democratic bastions like New York, California and Illinois, and Texas, a Republican stronghold, but in some of the key battleground states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina, they can be the margin of victory in a closely contested race.
AsiansMAGA, formed some grassroots Asian American leaders, is a national alliance -- independent expenditure political action committee -- that aims at mobilising Asian American conservatives and moderates across multiple ethnic groups -- Chinese, Indian, Korean, Vietnamese and Filipinos -- to help President Trump win the 2024 election.
It is co-founded by Asian community leaders who have proven records fighting for equal education rights and other conservative causes. Many of them escaped communist regimes and are scared by the ongoing Marxist take-over of America, the group said.
"President Trump has always been about meritocracy. I know he's worked hard, his administration has worked hard. He believes in the hard work and the dedication and commitment of Americans. What gets us ahead is hard work and meritocracy. Not because we can check a box and it is our heritage and not because of the color of our skin, the shape of our eyes or that heritage that becomes a racial quota," Holly said.
Holly, who served in the Trump administration, said under President Trump, America had great relationships, especially with India.
"These are the alliances that need to be strengthened. But under (President Joe) Biden and (Vice President) Harris, we seem weak. There are three wars now that would not have happened under President Trump. The relationships that were one strong with President Trump seemed fractured. Definitely not strength. We want to continue by building that," she said.
"Trump is at the end of the day, a people person, right? When you shake hands, he's going to look you in the eye. He is a people lover and he's a people person. When the stakes are at his highest, I know that he will be that people person. But he also knows that protecting our priorities and our safety and our security and our prosperity is going to be top of mind," Holly said.
AsiansMAGA, Holly said, is targeting swing states such as Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Nevada, and Arizona.
"We are targeting Asian-American voters in those states. Our website actually is being translated in multiple languages," she said.
According to Asians MAGA, with 39 per cent of new immigrant Asians supporting the Republican Party and 29 per cent of Asian voters as independent, Asian votes in swing states could become a decisive factor in the 2024 Presidential Election.
AsiansMAGA has started multiple Asian language campaigns to effectively address the key concerns of Asian American communities.
"A Harris-Walz Administration will expand their failing policies from California and Minnesota to the entire nation, further harming Americans. We call upon all Asian Americans to elect President Trump on and before November 6. This is the only way to make America great again, and to restore the American Dream for all Americans!" said AsiansMAGA President Mike Zhao in a statement.
'A campaign that goes beyond caste, creed and religion.'
'This is a campaign that aims to end hunger in society.'
All photographs: Shobha Warrier/ Rediff.com IMAGE: Pothichoru has boiled matta rice, a couple of sides such as thoran and mezhukkupuratti (a vegetable stir-fried with spices), a plain or vegetable-laced moru curry, pickle and chammanthi which is packet in a banana leaf. Omelette and fish fry sometimes makes a special appearance.
A 45 minute drive from Thiruvananthapuram on the Kochi-Kanyakumari highway and you reach Neruvamoodu, a tiny green village.
It is a day of intense activity for DYFI (Democratic Youth Federation of India, the youth wing of the CPI-M) workers of this area. Inside the kitchens of many households also.
It is the turn of the DYFI unit to supply pothichoru (rice and curries wrapped in a plantain leaf) to thousands of patients and bystanders at the Trivandrum Medical College.
IMAGE: Food ready to be packed at Suchitra's home.
Sreejith, the area president of the DYFI, tells me that all the 164 units in Thiruvananthapuram have been taking turns in supplying pothichoru ever since the Hrudayapoorvam Pothichoru (loosely translated as Pothichoru, with love or from the heart) project started in 2017.
"We visit each house in our unit two days before the D-day and tell them to prepare pothichoru. The number of pothichoru depends on the capacity of each household. Our volunteers collect the packets from each house in the morning and pack them in cartons in our party office. By noon, our vehicle will be there at Medical College," Sreejith says.
IMAGE: President DYFI A A Rahim.
The beginning of Project Hrudayapoorvam Pothichoru
On the first floor of the DYFI office in Thiruvananthapuram A A Rahim, the Rajya Sabha MP and the DYFI's current all India president, remembers the early days of Hrudayapoorvam Pothichoru.
"It was in this office that we first discussed and gave shape to the project. Two small initiatives that happened at two different places prompted us to start something of this nature. One initiative was by a retired person in a place called Valappil where he was rehabilitating homeless people," says Rahim.
"When he was unable to feed all of them, local DYFI workers took turns in collecting food packets. Almost at the same time DYFI workers of Mannanthala started collecting food packets for the patients at the palliative care centre."
IMAGE: Volunteers at the DYFI's Neruvamoodu office.
Both initiatives came to the notice of the DYFI's state unit and its officials felt it was a good idea to start a project on similar lines at the Trivandrum Medical College.
"We have seen thousands of patients visiting the medical college every day. A majority of them are poor and daily wage labourers. Though the treatment is free, they have to bear other expenses which include food during their stay at the hospital," says Rahim.
"We can imagine how difficult it is if they have to buy food from outside every day for say 7 to 10 days when they don't have any earnings. We thought if we could at least provide food, it would be a big help for those poor people," adds Rahim.
But the DYFI team was anxious on two counts. "One, whether we would get enough packets, that too on a regular basis. Two, whether there would be a demand for food packets daily. Not even in our wildest dreams did we visualise thousands of people standing in queue to collect the food packets."
IMAGE: A Long queue for pothichoru.
The plan they had was to designate one day to one village level DYFI committee to collect lunch packets -- there are 164 such village units in Thiruvananthapuram.
So, on the 1st of January 2017, the DFYI's Mannanthala village committee launched the project in a small way.
Though the plan was to collect 300 packets of pothichoru, there was an overwhelming response from the residents, and they got 500 packets.
"When our target was 300, and we got 500 packets, we knew there were enough kind-hearted families who are willing to contribute. But what shocked us was the number of people who had gathered at the medical college. There were thousands of people queued up and we didn't have enough pothichoru for everyone the first day," Rahim remembers.
"So, from the very next day, we increased the number to 1,000 but we found that was also not enough. 1,000 became 2,000 and then 3,000. On an average we give around 3,000 to 4,000 pothichoru every day."
From the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, they expanded to other medical colleges in Kerala.
IMAGE: Pothichoru packets ready for distribution.
They make pothichoru for strangers
Vidya got up very early in the morning, earlier than usual.
Yes, she has to go to the hospital where she works as a nurse, she has to get her elder daughter ready for school.
In the morning madness, she has to take care of the needs of her 2-year-old daughter too.
But today is a special day. It is her turn to pack a few packets of pothichoru for needy people.
She doesn't know who those people are; she only knows the pothichoru she cooks will help a few hungry people.
Her packed lunch has rice, sambar, a vegetable, egg, fish and pickles in it. She had made 10 packets earlier but with a small child to look after, she could make only 3 pothichoru that day.
"Mornings are crazy at my place. Luckily, my duty today is in the afternoon. Even if I have morning duty, I don't miss an opportunity like this. I have been making pothichoru ever since the project started and I have not missed a single time when my turn came," says Vidya.
"Since I work as a nurse, I have seen many bystanders and patients struggling to get a meal in the afternoon. I know that so many people depend on this pothichoru. The treatment may be free, but it is a big burden for many poor families to even buy one meal a day.
"Sometimes, they have to be in the hospital for many days. So, a free packet of lunch is God sent for the poor. A gift from God. So, it gives me immense happiness and satisfaction that I am also part of this extraordinary effort, and I am able to give food to a hungry and needy person, a stranger," Vidya says with a smile.
IMAGE: Najima and Subraida.
Najima's husband is a daily wage labourer, but he insists that even if there is no food at home, they should not miss giving pothichoru for the unknown patients at the medical college when their turn comes.
Today Najima has made 10 pothichoru packets with rice, sambar, avial and pickles.
Najima's mother-in-law Subaida is "so happy that we are able to help a poor person who is hungry. When I was hospitalised also, I got pothichoru prepared by some unknown person. I know how much a lunch packet like this helps when you are in the hospital."
"It is a very difficult time for us, but we thought even if we can give only rice and chammanthi (a chutney native to Kerala), we should give. My husband told me not to say 'no' when our turn comes. I am happy that I am able to make sambar and avial also with rice," Najima says with pride.
IMAGE: Sherina.
Sherina has been working as a volunteer for this project even when she was in college.
"I collect pothichoru from all the houses in this area and pack them in a carton. I volunteer to distribute the packets at the medical college. My family have also pothichoru and we know how much this helps. My grandmother was at the Regional Cancer Centre for cancer treatment and the pothichoru prepared by an unknown family helped us immensely. We are not doing anything special; just preparing something extra for the needy."
IMAGE: Suchitra and her mother.
Unlike the other households, the spread Suchitra, a temporary employee at the Examination Board and a DYFI worker has cooked, is quite sumptuous: Rice, sambar, vegetables, fish, and chammanthi.
"It gives me so much happiness that I am able to cook with my own hands for some stranger who is in the hospital, and hungry. I am proud of the fact that I am part of such a remarkable effort. We have been making pothichoru from the time the project started."
"We used to make up to 30 packets. Because we are passing through some financial difficulties now, we have made only 8 packets today. We want those who get our packets to feel satisfied after they have their lunch."
IMAGE: Sherina distributes pothichoru.
Endless queue to receive pothichoru
12:30 in the afternoon, and I am at the Trivandrum Medical College.
There is a long queue of thousands of men, women and children, of all age groups.
By the time the van with several cartons of food arrives, it is 1 pm.
Sreejith and Sherina have come from Neruvamoodu to oversee the distribution.
"We have more than 3,500 packets today," says Sreejith.
While the auto drivers who stop work to be volunteers load the food packets on the table, Sherina started distributing the pothichoru, one packet per person.
Many pleading for one more pothichoru but they are politely asked to stand in the queue again for the "priority is to give at least one packet to one person..."
IMAGE: Yasoda and Babu with his children.
The first in the queue is Yasoda, an elderly ailing woman who has been coming to get pothichoru almost every day.
"When you are alone, sick and with no money, none of your relatives are interested in keeping in touch. I have no house and no income. I am sick, but I don't have anyone to take care of me. I am living today only because of the pothichoru I get here... I thank and pray for that unknown woman who took pains to cook pothichoru for sick people like me..."
IMAGE: A mother and child with pothichoru.
Babu is second in line with his two small boys. They have come all the way from Varkala for his wife's third delivery.
The child was born premature and is in the incubator. "My wife is ill. We don't have anybody else. So, I have to be here with my boys to look after her. I have no work and my children can't go to school. I have no money to buy food from outside. Four of us sustain on the two packets we get here. I have no words to say how thankful we are," he says.
This the reason why Rahim calls Hrudayapoorvam Pothichoru an "apolitical movement".
"Our aim is to nurture a generation of young people who can think beyond themselves, think of other people and society as a whole. This is a campaign that goes beyond caste, creed and religion. This is a campaign that aims to end hunger in society."
Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
BRATTLEBORO The Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC)'s annual gala will take place at the museum on Sept. 21, from 6 to 10 p.m., and will honor Sara Coffey and Dave Snyder of Guilford for their extraordinary contributions to art and culture in Brattleboro and beyond.
"For over two decades, Sara and Dave have enriched the artistic and cultural life of our entire state, not just Brattleboro," said BMAC Director Danny Lichtenfeld. "They are true Vermont art champions, and we are grateful for the opportunity to honor them."
The gala raises vital funds for the museum's contemporary art exhibitions, transformative education initiatives and dynamic public events serving thousands of local residents and visitors to Brattleboro.
The museum is offering two ticketing options for the gala: For $125, guests may attend the entire event, starting at 6 p.m. For $30, guests may attend the dance party beginning at 8:30 p.m., which includes complimentary desserts and a cash bar by Saxtons Distillery. The dance party will take place outside the museum, under a tent, with music provided by DJ Wooly Mar.
BMAC invites those unable to attend to contribute to the cause by making a donation in honor of Coffey and Snyder or in support of one of four special initiatives: museum exhibitions featuring the work of emerging, overlooked or historically underrepresented artists; a BMAC program called Head Start with Art, which serves local infants, toddlers and preschoolers; K-6 field trips to the museum; and Glasstastic, a popular bi-annual event in which children's drawings of imaginary creatures are transformed into glass sculptures and exhibited at BMAC.
The BMAC gala is sponsored by Brattleboro Savings & Loan and The Richards Group. Tickets and more information are available at brattleboromuseum.org. Donations may be made online, in person at the museum, or by calling 802-257-0124 x101.
Graduates of Marlboro College, Sara Coffey and Dave Snyder returned to southern Vermont 20 years ago to raise their two children after working in the arts in New York City, Coffey as an administrator for a dance nonprofit and Snyder as a musician and music producer. They launched Vermont Performance Lab (VPL), an artist residency and performance incubator, and Guilford Sound, a recording studio. Together, they have brought noted artists to the area to create work, perform, and collaborate with community members, and they have created opportunities for local artists to broaden and deepen their practices.
Coffey founded VPL in 2006 as a place where dancers, choreographers, musicians, and theater artists could conduct research, partner with regional cultural organizations, and engage with local performing artists and audiences throughout Windham County. VPL's innovations have been recognized by the Andrew Mellon Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the New England Foundation for the Arts, and the Vermont Community Foundation. Coffey went on to serve as a representative in the Vermont legislature from 2019 to 2024.
Snyder built Guilford Sound over six years, creating an environment with perfect acoustics and cutting-edge equipment but with a notably smaller environmental footprint than traditional recording studios. This established Guilford Sound as an industry leader in energy-efficient, eco-friendly construction. In the studio, Snyder has worked with internationally known performers such as The Pixies and Noah Kahan and local artists such as Eugene Uman of the Vermont Jazz Center, as well as numerous young emerging performers.
Both Coffey and Snyder have served as leaders and volunteers for dozens of of organizations in Guilford, Brattleboro, and throughout the region, including the Brattleboro Music Center, the Boys and Girls Club of Brattleboro, the Vermont Arts Council, the New England Foundation for the Arts' Advisory Council, and Guilford's Broad Brook Grange and Community Center.
"Sara and Dave know that a healthy community requires a vibrant cultural life, with opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to express themselves, broaden their individual perspectives, and make meaningful connections with one another," said Lichtenfeld. "They turn that knowledge into action every day; the funds we raise on September 21 will enable BMAC to do the same in the coming year and beyond."
Founded in 1972, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center presents rotating exhibits of contemporary art, complemented by lectures, artist talks, film screenings, and other public programs. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is on a "pay-as-you-wish" basis. The museum, in historic Union Station in downtown Brattleboro at the intersection of Main Street and routes 119 and 142, is wheelchair accessible. For more information, call 802-257-0124 or visit brattleboromuseum.org.
The museum is supported in part by the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support is provided by Brattleboro Savings & Loan, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Sam's Outdoor Outfitters, and Whetstone Beer Co.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 5. The keys to new apartments were handed over to another group of former displaced persons who arrived in Azerbaijan's liberated Shusha city, Trend reports.
The ceremony preceded with 30 families, including 102 inhabitants of Shusha city, making their way back to their homeland today.
As part of the ceremonial handover, representatives from the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs, the State Reserve Department of Shusha city, and the Special Representative Office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Shusha district took part in the event.
The families eagerly accepted the keys to their apartments and settled into their new homes.
PUTNEY Gordon Clark and his Vermont Comedy All-Stars return for a night of stand-up comedy at Next Stage Arts! Featured performers will include several contest-winning and touring comedians most often seen in the Burlington area.
"We've got to keep laughing to handle the news, these days," says Keith Marks, executive director of Next Stage Arts. "The Vermont Comedy All Stars bring the best and brightest from around the state and beyond. We've had a number of Vermont comedians go into New York and start careers. We're proud to give them a space in Southern Vermont to be seen."
Ang Buxton is a wild comedian and tiny handed DJ. Born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, Ang is high-energy and smart in a stupid way. Theyve done Denvers Rise Festival and were featured as P3 Comedy Festivals Queer of the Year. Ang has headlined at Radio Bean, Cinema Salem, Dont Tell Burlington, and Nate Jacksons Comedy Club in Tacoma, Washington to name a few. They also produce a bunch of stuff like the Far Out Comedy Festival. Follow them on all social media platforms @bux_wild.
Tracy Dolan has been a staple of Vermonts comedy scene for the past 12 years and has been featured in Bostons Women in Comedy Festival and New York Citys She Devil Comedy Festival. She teaches stand up comedy at the Vermont Comedy Club and regularly features there for national headliners.
Tim Lovett launched his comedy career in Massachusetts, and has now been entertaining audiences across New England for the past 10 years with his unique blend of wit and energy, an engaging style and sharp observational comedy. Along the way Tim has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in comedy, including Donnell Rawlings, Talent Harris, Damon Williams, the late AJ Johnson, Jessica Kirson, and Robin Montague. Tim is also the founder of Comedy as a Weapon, a comedy production brand that showcases diverse comedic voices and brings laughter to a wide variety of venues.
Danny Pee hails from the White Mountains of New Hampshire and now calls the city of Manchester his home. He got his start in the Manchester comedy scene and soon earned write ups in the local press. Danny serves as the host of The Laugh Attic at Strange Brew Tavern and has been featured in Laugh Boston's Roast Battle series. He has enjoyed performing throughout New England and is very excited to return to Vermont.
Gordon Clark (host): Gordon Clark is proof that you can teach an old dog new tricks. A lifelong organizer and activist, he took up comedy when he was nearing 60 and never looked back. Mostly because it hurts his neck when he turns that way.
Gordon is the director of the nonprofit Vermont Comedy All Stars, through which he produces and hosts monthly stand up comedy showcase specials in Burlington (at the iconic Nectars) and Montpelier (Bent Nails Bistro), as well as the quarterly showcase here at the Next Stage Arts Theater in Putney. He lives in Burlington with his wife, dog and cat.
Next Stage is at 15 Kimball Hill in downtown Putney.
Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Tickets are available at nextstagearts.org. For more information, call 802-387-0102 or visit the website.
U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., looks at some poems written by students from Green Street School during a tour of the floodplain restoration project along the Whetstone Brook in Brattleboro on Friday, June 14, 2024.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)
Today
Areas of patchy fog early. Sunshine and a few clouds. High around 65F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..
Tonight
A few clouds. Low 39F. Winds light and variable.
Plans are underway for converting 12-14 Elliot Street into a 10-unit apartment building with a preference for refugee tenants and a commercial space on the ground level.
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WEST DOVER The Vermont Wildlife Festival is promised to be a day full of fascination and fun for all ages.
"The whole point is people who are interested in the outdoors of Vermont have a whole lot more in common than not and this is a great opportunity to experience that, whether you're hunting or you're bird watching," said Michael Clough, managing director of the Vermont Museum of Natural History, formerly known as Southern Vermont Natural History Museum.
Hosted at Mount Snow from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22, the festival includes live programs, demonstrations and exhibits from more than 25 participating organizations.
"We'll bring all of our critters," Clough said, including snakes, turtles, bugs, hawks and an opossum.
Participating organizations include the Vermont Institute of Natural Science, Orienne Society, Turtle Rescue League, The Caterpillar Lab, Squam Lake, Wildlife Encounters, Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, Audubon and Vermont State Parks.
"This year, we're going to do a little bit of a diversion from the past," Clough said. "We've been very only native animals but Wildlife Encounters is going to bring a variety of wild animals to meet."
Food trucks will be onsite. BSA Scout Troop 461 will be offering hotdogs, popcorn, fresh cider and an archery range using foam-tipped arrows. Strengthen Your Mind will be conducting a fly fishing demonstration. VINS is bringing birds.
Admission is by donation. Contributions will fund community outreach programs and caring for the museum's educational animals.
"It's something we always wanted to offer to people for free," Clough said of the festival. "We never charged people admission for it, the idea being anybody could go."
Clough said the Deerfield Valley tends to host events that can be expensive to attend.
"We wanted to make sure it was something everyone could access," he said of the festival. "We've had, over the years, a lot of different groups participate."
He noted that having the event at Mount Snow also allows attendees the chance to ride the chairlift, hike or bike.
Clough said the first festival was held in 2010 on Hogback Mountain next to what is now Beer Naked Brewery. Mount Snow began hosting the event in 2016.
"We were invited to piggyback on to the Wine & Harvest Festival," Clough said of the event put on by the Southern Vermont Deerfield Valley Chamber of Commerce. "They do Saturday and we do Sunday."
Clough said he sees "some overlap" in the attendees from both festivals, especially last year when he had a booth at the Wine & Harvest Festival. People asked what was going on with the wildlife festival, leading him to the conclusion that it draws locals, tourists and second homeowners alike.
A hiatus occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic and again last year when the museum was getting its footing.
Southern Vermont Natural History Museum's home in flux MARLBORO The Southern Vermont Natural History Museum is closed for an indefinite period of
Last fall, the museum closed its location on Hogback Mountain in Marlboro due to building issues. A capital campaign is being planned to construct a new museum.
"It hasn't affected our educational programming at all," Clough said. "We're rocking and rolling."
Clough said the Pool Nature Center in Wilmington is working out well for his group. The building and adjacent grounds at the former Pool Learning Center on 117 Adams Cross Road were gifted to the museum in late 2021 after the learning center closed.
Gift to Southern Vermont Natural History Museum provides 'endless opportunities' MARLBORO In search of more space for a while now, the Southern Vermont Natural History Mus
For the festival, the museum is looking for volunteers. Contact info@vermontmuseum.org for more information.
Sponsors include the town of Dover, Mount Snow, Deerfield Valley Chamber of Commerce, Green Mountain Tents, Vermont Distillers, Greenes Service Center, Berkley & Veller Greenwood Country Realtors, WW Building Supply and Food Connects.
Robert Beck of Peterborough, N.H. served for 30 years overseas with the United States government in embassies in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. He now teaches foreign policy classes at Keene State Colleges Cheshire Academy for Lifelong Learning. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
BRATTLEBORO If you're coming by the Royal Diner on a Friday evening for ice cream or a smash burger and fries, you might find yourself walki
On 4 September, Bakcell, the country's fastest mobile operator, together with Baku City Circuit Operations Company, organised a breakfast for journalists.
At the meeting, representatives of Bakcell and Baku City Circuit Operations Company spoke in detail about the importance of holding motor racing competitions in Azerbaijan and answered journalists' questions.
Speaking at the event, Bakcell's PR and Corporate Communications Director Aysel Suleymanova stressed that the partnership between Bakcell and the FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX 2024 was no coincidence: "Both parties are characterized by speed and innovation. After launching a new brand strategy in April, Bakcell has delivered a series of innovative and high-speed products to users in recent months. For example, the company launched the fastest internet in Azerbaijan, known as Fiber 1. In addition, Bakcell's new products such as the VoWiFi (Wi-Fi calling) service, the Bakcell Card with the widest partner network, and the AI-enabled Tariff Advisor have been of particular interest to our customers.
It should be noted that Bakcell is the official Event Sponsor of the FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX 2024. In this context, Bakcell and Baku City Circuit Operations Company have signed an agreement.
About Bakcell
Bakcell is Azerbaijans first and largest private telecommunications company. Currently, Bakcell serves over three million customers, providing them with high-quality and fast telecommunication services. The company strives to contribute to Azerbaijan's sustainable development through AI-based innovations and solutions and is one of the largest investors in the country's non-oil sector.
Bakcell is part of NEQSOL Holding, an international group of companies operating in various countries across the energy, telecommunications, high technology, and construction industries.
One New Zealand is promoting Kieran Byrne to the role of chief technology officer as Tony Baird steps down after 14 years with the business.
Byrne, who joined the telco in 2021, will now lead the companys mobile and fixed networks, cybersecurity, IT operations and wholesale division.
One NZ CEO Jason Paris said Byrne was an engineer at heart and brings to the role expertise in setting and executing strategy, driving customer and commercial outcomes and strengthening key partner relationships.
He has deep industry knowledge and will be supported by an incredibly strong technical leadership team, Paris said.
While we are sad to see Tony depart the business, we know we are in great hands with Kieran at the helm.
Byrne has spent three years leading technology commercial operations and most recently as general manager, strategy and transformation. He was also appointed a director of the Rural Connectivity Group in October 2023.
Israel on October 7 marked the somber anniversary of the Hamas attack on the Jewish state that killed more than 1,200 people and took some 250 hostages as the Israeli military continued its massive air strikes on Beirut and its incursion in southern Lebanon that aims to destroy the Iran-allied Hezbollah militant group.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog led a national moment of silence at 6:29 a.m., the time the attack started, at Kibbutz Reim, the site of the Nova music festival where hundreds of mostly young revelers were killed by gunmen from Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist organization by both the United States and the European Union.
In Washington, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris condemned Hamas on the anniversary, while also stating again the U.S. administration's commitment to reaching cease-fire agreements to end fighting in both Gaza and Lebanon.
"On this solemn anniversary, let us bear witness to the unspeakable brutality of the October 7 attacks but also to the beauty of the lives that were stolen that day," Biden said in a statement.
The Israeli military said that during the ceremony led by Herzog, four projectiles were launched from Gaza toward the same Israeli communities targeted at the start of last year's attack. The military said the ceremony was not disrupted.
In Jerusalem, relatives of the some 100 hostages still in Hamas captivity, many of whom are believed dead, gathered outside the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and stood in silence as a siren wailed in a gesture of protest against what relatives say is the failure of the government to secure their loved ones' release.
Following the October 7 attack, Israel launched a military assault on Gaza that has killed nearly 42,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas.
The Israeli military said on October 7 that over the past year, it has bombed more than 40,000 targets in Gaza, found 4,700 tunnel shafts and destroyed 1,000 rocket launcher sites.
The conflict in Gaza is still raging while Israel is now fighting on a second front in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah.
Early on October 7, Hezbollah, designated a terrorist organization by the United States, fired rockets into the north Israeli cities of Haifa and Tiberias, causing damage and some minor injuries, Israeli police said.
The European Union has blacklisted Hezbollah's armed wing but not its political unit, which holds seats in the Lebanese parliament.
Amid the military activity at the individual level, the private lives of civilians throughout the region have been disrupted.
In the ancient city of Beersheba in southern Israel, Irena Stein, who left Albania in 1991 to resettle in the country, told RFE/RL's Kosovo Service that life in recent times had been filled with "sadness and pain."
"We had several months of rockets. Then, the number of rockets decreased, and we continued with daily life, like someone who goes on with their life after the seven days of mourning with a great pain in the heart," said Stein, who is in her late 60s.
"There's this feeling like something might happen, that we should be cautious. But I believe you can't live with fear, so we've continued our lives, always praying to God that nothing happens to us."
She said that in Beersheba -- where human activity can be traced to the fourth millennium BC -- things have been calm since rockets were last heard on September 29. But she lamented that throughout Israel, "We suffer from this situation, and the Palestinian people suffer from it, too."
"The Lebanese people also suffer...everyone suffers. But as they say, peace must be decided at the highest level."
Meanwhile, in a Lebanese mountain village southeast of Beirut, local resident Hadi Zahwe told reporters an Israeli strike on October 6 was "terrifying."
"There were children killed, there were children's body parts. This enemy is targeting civilian women and children," he said.
Netanyahu has insisted that Israeli forces are targeting terrorist strongholds and that civilian fatalities have been extremely low in the recent military actions.
Israel in recent weeks has been bombing Beirut's southern suburbs and has staged a ground incursion into south Lebanon in its drive to wipe out Hezbollah's capabilities and leadership.
The Israeli campaign on Hezbollah prompted the group's patron, Iran, to respond by attacking the Jewish state with a large wave of rockets that were largely shot down by Israeli air defenses without causing substantial damage, but the attack renewed fears of a a larger regional conflict.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on October 6 threatened Iran that it might eventually find itself looking like Beirut or Gaza -- which has also been battered over the past year -- if Tehran attempts to further harm Israel.
"The Iranians did not touch the air force's capabilities. No aircraft were damaged, no squadron was taken out of order," Gallant said in reference to the Iranian missile strike, which caused few injuries and slight damage to two air force bases.
"Whoever thinks that a mere attempt to harm us will deter us from taking action should take a look at [Israels operations] in Gaza and Beirut."
Israel earlier said it conducted a series of "targeted strikes" on "weapons storage facilities" and infrastructure sites that belong to Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Lebanon's official National News Agency said Hezbollah's stronghold in the area was hit by more than 30 strikes. A petrol station and a medical supplies warehouse were hit by the air raids.
Video footage showed huge flames and plumes of smoke billowing into the night sky as residents fled their homes in panic with explosions echoing in the background.
Many observers said the attacks were the strongest yet of Israel's recent air strikes.
Beiruts Skyline Lit Up Amid New Israeli Airstrikes No media source currently available 0:00 0:00:59 0:00
Israel has bombed Beirut's suburbs for days, killing Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and possibly his potential successor, Hashem Safieddine.
Security sources have said Safieddine had been out of contact since October 4 after an Israeli air strike near Beirut's international airport that was reported to have targeted him. Hezbollah has not commented on Safieddine.
Israel says Nasrallah was killed in a strike on the group's central command headquarters in Beirut on September 27.
Two senior Iranian security officials told Reuters on October 6 that Ismail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force -- the overseas arm of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) -- also had not been heard from in recent days since traveling to Lebanon.
Statements on October 6 out of the United States -- Tel Aviv's most important ally -- indicated some frustrations with the scope of Israel's military action.
"Military pressure can at times enable diplomacy. Of course, military pressure can also lead to miscalculation. It can lead to unintended consequences," a U.S. State Department spokesperson said in a statement.
The spokesperson said Washington supported Israeli actions in going after extremist elements but added that U.S. leaders but did not approve of the targeting of civilian infrastructure.
Israel says the attacks on Hezbollah are aimed at enabling the safe return of tens of thousands of citizens to homes in northern Israel, bombarded by the group since last October.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Kosovo Service and AP
ROME, Italy, September 5. Italian companies are eager to participate in the reconstruction of Karabakh, Manuela Traldi, President of the Italian-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce, told journalists, Trend reports.
"The Italian government is making every effort to secure more contracts for Italian companies to implement projects in Azerbaijan. There are increasing opportunities for Italian businesses, including in the liberated territories," Traldi said.
She mentioned that shortly after the 44-day war ended, Italy sent its mission to Karabakh.
"Italy has always supported Azerbaijan on the Karabakh issue, and we are happy to be able to contribute to the reconstruction of Karabakh in various ways. This is one of the fundamental aspects of our relationship," Traldi added.
Italy is one of Azerbaijan's major trading partners, with bilateral trade amounting to billions of dollars.
Mongolian officials rolled out the red carpet on September 2 for a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin. While visiting the vast East Asian country, which borders Russia to the north and China to the south, east, and west, Putin reportedly inked agreements on the supply of aviation fuel to Mongolia's capital, Ulan Bator, and presented proposals to improve rail connections between the two countries.
But Putin's visit made the headlines for different reasons: It was the Russian president's first visit to a member state of the International Criminal Court (ICC) since it issued an arrest warrant for him in March 2023.
The warrant is related to the illegal repatriation and relocation of children from areas of Ukraine seized by Russia following Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Member countries of the ICC are treaty bound to detain suspects if an arrest warrant has been issued, but Putin left the country on September 3 a free man.
What Is The ICC And Why Does It Matter?
The Rome Statute -- which was signed in 1998 and went into force in 2002 -- established the International Criminal Court. The permanent international court is responsible for prosecuting individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and crimes of aggression.
Campaigners for global justice see it as a significant milestone, as it set up a legal mechanism to hold individuals to account for crimes that transcend national borders.
The ICC is seen as a court of last resort. That means that, under "the principle of complementarity," the ICC may exercise its jurisdiction only if a national court is either unwilling or unable to prosecute grave crimes.
Since 2002, the ICC has indicted more than 50 individuals, mostly from African countries. Twenty-one people have been detained in The Hague, where the court is based; 10 have been convicted, and four have been acquitted.
Who Are Its Members?
There are some notable absences among the court's 124 signatories, including the United States, China, Russia, India, and Israel. Those countries have cited various concerns about the court, including national sovereignty, politicization, and the targeting of their militaries.
In 2016, Russia pulled its signature from the Rome Statute after the court branded its 2014 annexation of Crimea an occupation.
Why Didn't The Mongolian Authorities Arrest Putin?
Mongolia became a member of the ICC in 2003, and, in 2023, a Mongolian judge, Erdenebalsuren Damdin, joined the ICC's panel of sitting judges.
In an August 30 statement, ICC spokesperson Fadi El Abdallah underscored that Mongolia, as "a state party to the ICC Rome Statute," must cooperate with the court, including with regard to arrest warrants.
Following calls from, among others, Ukraine, the European Union, and the ICC to either deny entry to Putin or to arrest him, a Mongolian government spokesperson told Politico that the country was dependent on Russian energy and thus wasn't prepared to arrest the Russian president.
"Mongolia imports 95 percent of its petroleum products and over 20 percent of electricity from our immediate neighborhood.... This supply is critical to ensure our existence and that of our people," the spokesperson said.
The ICC does not possess an enforcement mechanism.
What Consequences Could Mongolia Face?
Several international human rights watchdogs warned Mongolia about the consequences of failing to arrest Putin. "If Mongolia provides even a temporary safe haven for President Putin," said Altantuya Batdorj, executive director of Amnesty International Mongolia, "it will effectively become an accomplice in ensuring impunity for some of the most serious crimes under international law."
For Marian Elena Vignoli, senior international justice counsel at the New York-based Human Rights Watch, "welcoming Putin, an ICC fugitive, would not only be an affront to the many victims of Russian forces' crimes, but would also undermine the crucial principle that no one, no matter how powerful, is above the law."
"In case of noncooperation, ICC judges may make a finding to that effect and inform the Assembly of States Parties [governing body]," El Abdallah said in the ICC statement before Putin's visit. "It is then for the assembly to take any measure it deems appropriate."
It isn't clear, however, how exactly Mongolia might be sanctioned for failing to arrest the Russian president.
One possibility would be removing both Mongolia's judge from the ICC and removing the country from the list of signatories and ratifiers of the Rome Statute.
What Was Russia Hoping To Get Out Of Putin's Visit?
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, "all aspects of the president's visit have been carefully prepared." And Bloomberg reported before Putin's visit that Russia had secured guarantees that he wouldn't be arrested during the visit.
Russia was using the trip to "mock the ICC," wrote Elena Davlikanova, a fellow with the Washington-based Center for European Policy Analysis.
For Russia, the trip provided not only a distraction from Ukraine's recent incursion into the Russian border region of Kursk but was also a way to "help maintain Putin's image as a strong leader at home and abroad," Davlikanova wrote.
She also said that that Putin's trip helped to undermine the ICC and any prospect of future prosecution of suspected war crimes. There is an ongoing discussion among various countries and international bodies about establishing a special tribunal to prosecute so-called crimes of aggression committed by Russian forces against Ukraine.
However, Kenneth Roth, the former director of Human Rights Watch, said that Putin's trip to Mongolia was "a sign of weakness." In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Roth said that was because Putin "could manage a trip only to a country with a tiny population of 3.4 million that lives in Russia's shadow."
Has Something Like This Happened Before?
In 2023, Putin had to skip a BRICS summit in South Africa, following pressure on South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's government to detain the Russian leader if he arrived in the country.
South Africa had been criticized before, after it failed, in 2015, to arrest then-Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, an ICC indictee, during a visit to the country.
And Mongolia itself was among 94 countries that signed a joint statement in June expressing "unwavering support" for the ICC following criticism of the court's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan. The prosecutor had tried to obtain arrest warrants for two Israeli officials, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and three leaders of the U.S.- and EU-designated terrorist organization Hamas.
In February, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered the keynote address at a posh conference titled Modern Medical Technologies: Tomorrow's Challenges Ahead Of Time.
"We have created this forum for the discussion of promising solutions that are only now appearing and being tested, but that will very soon fundamentally changepeople's lives," the 71-year-old Putin said, pausing several times to clear his throat.
The centerpiece of Putin's speech was the announcement of Russia's 14th "national project," an undertaking called New Health-Saving Technologies. The national projects are multilateral government-led initiatives aimed at improving key areas such as demography, education, agriculture, and health care that were introduced by Putin in 2005 and regularly feature in his campaigns for noncompetitive elections.
On May 16, little more than a week after Putin's fifth presidential inauguration, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova officially presented the new project and announced it would begin in 2025. Golikova stressed that Russia's "demographic trends" have created new "challenges for health care" that, in turn, can help develop "advanced avenues of medical technology."
She specifically mentioned technologies aimed at slowing the aging of cells, neurotechnologies, and "other avenues for increasing lifespans." A key aspect of the new initiative will be working on "biomedical technologies of the future for active and healthy aging," the state news agency RIA Novosti reported.
The focus on slowing aging and increasing longevity attracted the attention of many in medical circles.
The new national project reflects "the whims of an aging Politburo," a specialist at one Moscow hospital said.*
"Everyone ages, including politicians," he said. "Anti-aging therapies are very popular, and the conditions for introducing new technologies are favorable."
A new investigation by Systema, RFE/RL's Russian investigative unit, and the exiled Russian-language media outlet Meduza examines Putin's new national priority project and takes a look at some of the ideas and key players.
'They Wanted The Answers Yesterday'
The budget for the new national project has not been announced. According to the RIA Novosti summary, the project aims to "save 175,000 lives" by 2030. Another target established for the project is that "the share of cases of medical treatment using new medical technologies and innovative medical products" should reach 10 percent within five years.
In early June, the Health Ministry's Department of Science and Health-Care Innovation sent a letter to leading Russian research institutes asking for quick grant proposals in the following areas: developing medical products aimed at reducing the burden of cellular aging, developing new neurotechnologies and related medical products aimed at detecting and treating cognitive and sensory impairments, developing methods of directing the immune system based on its role in the aging process, and developing new medical technologies based on bioprinting.
Bioprinting uses living cells, proteins, and other raw materials to produce human tissues to treat injuries and disease.
The letter, a copy of which was obtained by Systema and Meduza, was confirmed by two doctors working at medical research centers and an employee of an academic institute. They expressed surprise at the urgency of the request.
"We were asked to immediately send all our ideas," one of the doctors said. "The letter arrived today, say, and they wanted the answers yesterday."
"To be honest, it is the first time in my life that I've seen something like this," he continued. "Usually for a national project or any federal program there are a series of meetings with various specialists, and everything is discussed publicly."
The other doctor said he was "blown away" by the letter.
"Looks like no we have no one to treat but our 'old stumps,'" he said, referring to the aging leadership circle who have ruled during Putin's 25 years as president or prime minister. "Right now [with the war in Ukraine going on], we are supposed to stop everything else. The cynicism is incomprehensible."
The sources Systema and Meduza spoke with said they had not yet responded to the Health Ministry's call for proposals.
"Modern research like what they mention in this national project is pretty expensive," a source connected to the Kremlin said. "They demand a lot of money and resources. Developing new therapies costs billions, which no national project can afford these days."
"I don't think they are going to get anything well considered so quickly," a source in the pharmaceuticals industry said.
'A Servant Person'
One Kremlin-connected source told Systema and Meduza that the genesis of the new national project was "an obsession magnified by lobbying."
"This is Mikhail Kovalchuk, who raves about eternal life and the 'Russian genome,'" the source said. "He ran to the president."
Kovalchuk, 77, is a physicist and the older brother of billionaire businessman Yury Kovalchuk, who has been described as "Putin's personal banker" and who has been closely tied to Putin since the latter was deputy mayor of St. Petersburg in the early 1990s. Mikhail Kovalchuk is the president of the Kurchatov Institute, a nuclear research facility in Moscow, and has been a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences since 2000. Last year he was named president of Moscow's Polytechnical Museum.
Three sources familiar with the evolution of the new national project also named Kovalchuk as the possible initiator of the idea. Kovalchuk is already in charge of the federal genetics program, in which Putin's unacknowledged elder daughter, endocrinologist Maria Vorontsova, plays a prominent role.
In an outlandish speech in 2015, Kovalchuk accused "foreign elites" of attempting to hijack "the evolutionary process" to create "a servant person."
Those people, he said, would have "limited consciousness," their reproduction would be "managed," and they would be fed on "cheap feedfrom genetically modified organisms." He provided no evidence to support the bizarre claims.
Russian media have reported often that Putin believes such ideas. "You can already imagine, and not just theoretically, that man can create people with a given set of characteristics," Putin said in 2017. "It could be a mathematical genius or a brilliant musician. Or it could be a soldier, a person who can fight without fear or a sense of compassion, regret, or pain."
'By Any And All Means'
In October of the same year, Putin claimed that foreigners were "systematically and professionally" gathering Russian citizens' "biomaterial."
"Why are they doing this?" he asked.
In 2009, Kovalchuk's institute carried out a project to "decipher the Russian genome."
He has repeatedly spoken out about the desirability of living a long and productive life. His thinking on the topic has been influenced by Konstantin Skryabin, who worked under Kovalchuk at the Kurchatov Institute on the Russian genome project.
"We [scientists] love to discuss the problem of human immortality," Skryabin told RFE/RL's Russian Service in 2019.
Putin's latest national project on New Health-Saving Technologies would appear to be a result of such discussions, several experts questioned by Systema and Meduza agreed after reading the Health Ministry's letter.
"The big boss has set the task," a researcher at a Moscow research center said. "And the bureaucrats have undertaken to achieve it by any and all means."
Robert Coalson contributed to this report.
*EDITOR'S NOTE: Because the Russian government has designated RFE/RL an "undesirable organization," RFE/RL conceals the identities of its sources in Russia to protect them from prosecution.
Russia was planning to attack Ukraine from the Kursk region before Ukraine launched its cross-border incursion last month, Ukraines top military commander, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskiy, said in an interview broadcast on September 5, after Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that the incursion has not affected Moscows special military operation.
Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.
Syrsky said in an interview with CNN that he considers the operation in Kursk a success because it reduced the threat of an enemy attack.
"We prevented them from acting. We moved the fighting to the enemy's territory so that he could feel what we feel every day," he said.
According to Syrskiy, Moscow has transferred tens of thousands of troops to the Kursk region, including some of its best airborne assault units.
Syrskiy also admitted that Ukraine is under significant pressure in the Pokrovsk area, but he said that Ukrainian forces have so far succeeded in stopping the Russian advance there.
"Over the past six days, the enemy has not advanced a single meter in the Pokrovsk area. In other words, our strategy is working," he said.
Syrskiy said that the ability of Russian forces to maneuver and deploy reinforcements from other directions has been limited and "this weakening is undoubtedly felt in other areas."
In recent weeks, the front line in the Donetsk region has moved closer to the strategically significant city of Pokrovsk, which in the first two years of the full-scale war was deep behind the front line.
Since its surprise incursion into Kursk, Kyiv claims to have seized control of more than 1,200 square kilometers of Russian territory, while Russian forces have pushed ahead with their effort to capture Pokrovsk.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in an interview with U.S. broadcaster NBC this week that the aim of the incursion was to accrue Russian territory and troops for future exchanges, emphasizing that Ukraine does not need Russian territory.
"Our operation is aimed at restoring our territorial integrity. We capture Russian troops to replace them with Ukrainian [ones]," he said. "We tell them, you know, we need our military soldiers in exchange for Russian ones. The same attitude is to the territories. We don't need their land."
Putin, speaking on September 5 at the Eastern Eurasian Forum in Russia's Far Eastern city of Vladivostok, claimed that by sending troops into the Kursk region Ukraine had weakened its forces in its eastern Donbas region.
"The enemy's goal was to make us get nervous, mess around, move our troops from one site to another, and stop our offensive in key directions, first of all in the Donbas," Putin said. "Did the enemy manage to do so? No, it managed nothing."
Putin claimed that Russia's forces "stabilized the situation and started gradually pushing the enemy from the territories along the border." The move left Ukraine without the means to "contain our offensive" in eastern Ukraine, Putin said.
"To the contrary, by sending its sufficiently big and well-trained units to the border districts, the enemy weakened itself on key fronts, while our troops have expedited their offensive operations," he said.
Putin has previously called the Ukrainian incursion "a provocation" and publicly said it left Russia with no reason to negotiate with Kyiv. He backtracked from that position on September 5, saying that "we never refused to hold negotiations." However, he said in Vladivostok that any peace talks must take into account Moscow's long-standing conditions -- that parts of Ukraine occupied by Russian troops must remain under Moscow's control. Kyiv has rejected these conditions.
Putin also hinted in Vladivostok that when talking about possible talks, Kyiv must take into consideration the future losses it faces.
"It sometimes seems to me that those who now lead Ukraine are aliens or some sort of foreigners. As a matter of fact, they simply do not think, and I am serious about this. You know, [they have] such colossal losses. What can they do further, I do not understand," Putin said.
Putin's statements came as Russian forces targeted the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv, with more overnight drone strikes. The Ukrainian military said that several other regions, including the northern Chernihiv and northeastern Sumy regions, were targeted by Russian drones.
In the Sumy region, the government expanded the mandatory evacuation from five towns in two districts.
Sumy Governor Volodymyr Artyukh discussed evacuation measures during a meeting in Glukhiv, one of the areas where shelling has intensified.
In view of the destruction of infrastructure and housing, the regional authorities decided to expand the list of settlements for mandatory evacuation, he said. The order now includes Glukhiv, Esman, and Svesa in the Shostkinsky district, and Manukhivka and Ivanivka in the Konotopsky district.
With reporting by Current Time and RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service
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ROME, Italy, September 5. Azerbaijan and Italy plan to establish joint ventures across various sectors soon, Manuela Traldi, President of the Italian-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce, told journalists, Trend reports.
"We had many productive and fruitful meetings with our Azerbaijani colleagues, involving private sector representatives. A high-level roundtable is also planned, with the participation of Italys minister for enterprise and Azerbaijans minister of economy," she said.
Speaking about the work of the chamber, Traldi emphasized that the organization is focused on attracting investments to Azerbaijan.
"We are doing this in various ways, promoting Azerbaijan in Italy, highlighting all opportunities and government support available, and leveraging every element that could help attract Italian company investments. We established the Italian-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce back in 2012, with a focus on the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project. I was personally convinced that TAP would eventually be realized, bringing our countries closer together," said the chamber president.
Traldi added that several projects are currently under development.
"In this context, we are closely working with Azerbaijani investment companies, the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO), and the Ministry of Economy. I believe the outlook is very positive. We will create joint ventures that will introduce the most advanced Italian technologies into Azerbaijan's business and manufacturing environments. This will further enhance the development and diversification of the economy," she said.
The chamber president noted that the priority sectors for joint ventures include the industrial sector, particularly petrochemicals, as well as metallurgy and agriculture in Azerbaijan.
"In particular, we have several projects in the pipeline that will support the further development of agriculture in Azerbaijan. Additionally, we are developing new projects in healthcare, the industrial sector, and other areas where Italy has significant expertise. These include sectors such as agro-food processing, food production, leather processing, footwear manufacturing, and textiles," she concluded.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland is to make a two-day visit to County Roscommon later this month to meet local businesses.
Governor Gabriel Makhlouf is scheduled to visit Roscommon on September 19th and 20th where he will meet local businesses to hear their experiences and views on the current economy.
During his visit, the Governor will gain an understanding of what is happening on the ground in the county, and the biggest challenges businesses are facing.
He is also due to meeting students from TUS Athlone as well.
Governor Makhlouf took up his position as Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland in September 2019.
Before joining the Central Bank, he was secretary to the New Zealand Treasury and the Government's chief economic and financial adviser there from 2011 to 2019.
He also served for a time as principal private secretary to the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, during the Tony Blair led Government.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 5. COP29 electronic visa portal has been launched, Trend reports.
The State Agency for Public Services and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in collaboration with "ASAN Visa," has launched a special visa application module for COP29 at www.evisa.gov.az/cop29. Given that tens of thousands of representatives from nearly 200 countries will be attending COP29, the portal is available in English, German, French, Spanish, Hebrew, Italian, Russian, Arabic, Persian, Chinese, and Korean. It offers 24/7 support and a fully electronic, paperless visa process.
Officials, delegations, and other guests seeking a special COP29 visa via the portal must first register through the UNFCCC online registration system. The special COP29 visa is free and can be issued within three business days after submitting the application.
You can find more details about the visa process, including an electronic guide and an informational video, on the portal.
This November, Azerbaijan will host COP29. This decision was made at the COP28 plenary meeting held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Baku will become the center of the world and will receive about 7080,000 foreign guests.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. COPthe Conference of the Partiesis the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. There are 198 countries that are parties to the Convention. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the COP is held annually. The first COP event took place in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin with its secretariat in Bonn.
County Roscommon is set to enjoy one of the warmest days of the year this weekend, but for one day only.
Met Eireann is forecasting that parts of the county could see temperatures in excess of 25c on Friday as a rare blast of heat hits Ireland.
"Warm and humid with spells of sunshine occurring widely. However, by evening time, thundery rain may affect southern counties, especially coastal areas.
"Highs of 21 to 25 degrees in moderate northeasterly winds," said Met Eireann.
However, while the weather will be mostly dry over the coming days, temperatures are expected to recede gradually and could be as much as 10 degrees lower by the middle of next week as winds change to a northerly direction.
Earlier this week, Met Eireann confirmed that 2024 was the coldest summer across Ireland since 2015.
Wikipedia to shut down in India? Shocking news coming in
Delhi High Court issued contempt of court notice to Wikipedia.
Wikipedia Shut Down in India Latest News? The Delhi High Court issued a contempt notice to Wikipedia on Thursday after news agency ANI alleged that the platform failed to comply with a court order to provide subscriber information about individuals responsible for making allegedly defamatory edits to ANI's Wikipedia page.
Justice Navin Chawla expressed strong disapproval of Wikipedia's actions, warning that failure to comply could result in serious consequences, including potential contempt of court and even a government-imposed ban on the platform in India.
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"I will impose contempt. It is not about whether Defendant No. 1 [Wikipedia] is an entity in India or not. We will shut down your business transactions here. We will ask the government to block Wikipedia," Justice Chawla remarked, stressing that similar arguments had been rejected in previous cases. He added, "If you don't like India, please don't operate in India."
The court has directed an authorized representative of Wikipedia to appear in person on October 25 for the next hearing.
ANI has filed a defamation lawsuit against Wikipedia, accusing the platform of allowing edits that labeled the news agency as a "propaganda tool" for the current government.
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Previously, the High Court had summoned Wikipedia and ordered the disclosure of information regarding three individuals who made these edits. ANI's recent contempt application was filed due to non-compliance with this order.
Wikipedia's legal counsel responded, explaining that the platform needed time to address the court's order, citing the fact that Wikipedia is not based in India. However, Justice Chawla rejected this reasoning, reiterating that it had been dismissed in earlier cases and signaling that the court is prepared to take further action if necessary.
(For more news apart from Wikipedia Shut Down in India Latest News, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Setback For Canada PM Justin Trudeau As Key Ally Jagmeet Singh Withdraws Support
Singh emphasized that the real battle now is to defeat the Conservatives.
Canada General Elections 2024 Latest News: In a significant blow to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Jagmeet Singhs New Democratic Party (NDP) has withdrawn its support for his minority Liberal government, just a year before the upcoming general elections.
In a video shared on social media, Jagmeet Singh, leader of the NDP, criticized Trudeau's ability to effectively counter the opposition Conservatives. Recent polls suggest the Conservatives are likely to win easily in the next elections.
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Justin Trudeau has shown time and again that he caves to corporate greed. The Liberals have let Canadians down and do not deserve another chance, Singh said in his message.
The deal is done.
The Liberals are too weak, too selfish and too beholden to corporate interests to stop the Conservatives and their plans to cut. But the NDP can.
Big corporations and CEOs have had their governments. It's the people's time. pic.twitter.com/BsE9zT0CwF Advertisement September 4, 2024
Singh emphasized that the real battle now is to defeat the Conservatives, accusing their leader, Pierre Poilievre, of favoring big corporations over ordinary Canadians. Singh warned that Poilievres policies would result in cuts to essential services like healthcare and pensions while benefiting large corporations and wealthy CEOs.
The withdrawal of support comes after an agreement made in 2022 between Singhs NDP and Trudeaus Liberals to support the minority government until October 2025. However, an NDP spokesperson revealed that discussions to end this agreement had been in progress for the past two weeks. Trudeaus Liberal Party was reportedly caught off-guard by Singhs sudden social media post announcing the split, which followed minutes after informing the party.
Singh made it clear that the NDP is prepared for an election and will consider voting against the government on every confidence measure moving forward.
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In response, Trudeau said his government remains focused on addressing the affordability crisis and delivering vital services to Canadians. "These are the things we're focused on. I'll let others focus on politics," he said, expressing hope that elections wouldnt take place until next fall so the government could continue working on programs like pharmacare, dental care, and school meal initiatives.
The sudden withdrawal of support signals a turbulent political landscape in Canada, with both parties now gearing up for the next elections.
(For more news apart from Canada General Elections 2024 Latest News, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
New budgetary and fiscal measures
The Romanian government has approved fiscal measures aimed at recovering as much as possible from the debts of natural persons and legal entities to the state budget. The goal is to reduce the budget deficit, one of the highest in the European Union.
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Sorin Iordan, 05.09.2024, 14:00
The Romanian Government approved, by emergency ordinance, a series of measures aimed, mainly, at improving budget revenue collection and at recovering a significant part of the debts of natural persons and legal entities to the state budget. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu rejected the accusations leveled by the opposition politicians that this move was, in fact, an ordinance of austerity, and showed that the document introduces, for the first time, bonuses for taxpayers who paid their taxes in due time. In turn, the Finance Minister, Marcel Bolos, declared that the debts of companies and individuals to the state budget exceeded, at the end of last month, 70 billion lei (about 14 billion Euros). He showed that there are 330,000 legal entities and more than 840,000 natural persons who are in this situation, and, according to the ordinance, they could benefit from exemptions and even cancellations if they comply with payment obligations by November 25.
Marcel Bolos: For legal entity taxpayers, the cancellation of accessories has been approved as a percentage of 100% of their value, accessories meaning interest, late payment penalties and non-declaration penalties, and for natural person taxpayers we have, depending on the value of the debts, fiscal facilities; so, if these debts are up to 5,000 lei, the cancellation of the accessories is 100%. Also, we have the cancellation of 50% of the main budgetary obligations, and if the debt is over 5,000 lei, then the cancellation of the main obligations is 25%.
Another provision of the document approved by the Romanian executive aims at a better use of the funds allocated for expenses in public services. The finance minister explained that the investments carried out by town halls and county councils are exempt from this provision and that, moreover, the treasury loan ceiling for these projects has been increased.
Marcel Bolos is back with explanations: To support the local public authorities and the investment projects they implement, the ceiling for contracting loans from the State Treasury for the implementation of investment projects was increased to the amount of 2 billion lei. Also the government approved the increase in the withdrawal ceiling by the amount of 700 million lei and, at the same time, a category of special loans was increased by the amount of 1.5 billion lei.
The tax authority estimates that the measures approved by the government on Wednesday will reduce Romanias budget deficit by approximately 9 billion lei (about 1.8 billion Euros) and this in the context in which the country has one of the largest budget deficits in the European Union. Economists anticipate that it will exceed 7% of the Gross Domestic Product at the end of the year. (LS)
President Joe Biden has called on Republicans in Congress to finally say 'enough is enough' and work with Democrats to pass gun safety legislation.
"We must ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines once again, require safe storage of firearms, enact universal background checks, and end immunity for gun manufacturers," Biden said in a statement issued in the wake of the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia.
"These measures will not bring those who were tragically killed today back, but it will help prevent more tragic gun violence from ripping more families apart," he added.
Two teachers and two students of Apalachee High School in the city of Winder were killed in a shooting spree by a 14 year-old boy on Wednesday.
Eight students and one teacher were wounded.
Police arrested the suspect, Colt Gray, from the campus.
Gray, who is a student of the school, will be prosecuted as an adult, reports say.
Nearly two dozen incidents of shooting have been recorded in U.S. schools this year, according to data by magazine Education Week. This resulted in 11 deaths.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
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The United States has warned that any nuclear attack by North Korea against it or its allies will result in the end of the authoritarian Communist regime.
The warning comes in a readout of the U.S.-South Korea Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group meeting, issued by the Pentagon.
The United States reiterated its ironclad commitment to utilize the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear, to support extended deterrence for South Korea.
In the meeting, the two sides shared assessments on Pyongyang's "dangerous and irresponsible behavior" including its ongoing missile launches and continued pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in violation of the UN Security Council resolutions. Both sides also shared concerns over North Korea's recent reckless and dangerous behaviors along the DMZ that raise the risk of inadvertent escalation on the Peninsula.
"Both sides reaffirmed that any nuclear attack by the DPRK against the ROK will be met with a swift, overwhelming, and decisive response, and the United States reiterated that any nuclear attack by the DPRK against the United States or its allies is unacceptable and will result in the end of that regime," the statement says.
The United States reiterated its strong support for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's aim to open a path for serious and sustained diplomacy with the North.
South Korea and the United States identified measures to address the challenge posed by increased security cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Both sides resolved to closely monitor what Russia provides to Pyongyang.
The foreign affairs and defense agencies of the United States and South Korea convened the fifth meeting of the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group in Washington Wednesday. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie Jenkins and Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Cara Abercrombie led the U.S. delegation. First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Hong Kyun and Deputy Minister for National Defense Policy Dr.Cho Chang Lae led the South Korean delegation.
The EDSCG serves as a key annual forum for the Alliance to discuss and coordinate on security strategy and policy issues affecting the Korean Peninsula and broader Indo-Pacific.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
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Political trouble is brewing in Canada as the New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh withdrew support for Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party of Canada and its minority government. In a video message, Singh alleged that Trudeau will "always cave to corporate greed. The Liberals have let people down. They don't deserve another chance from Canadians."
Though Trudeau plans to avoid an early election, however, it would be a difficult time for his government.
Investors might be reacting to the political crisis and the early signs show that Canadian shares might open in negative territory.
On Wednesday, the S&P/TSX Composite Index closed at 23,040.76, down 1.60 points.
European shares are trading broadly down. CAC 40 of France is sliding 37.54 points or 0.50 percent. DAX of Germany is adding 16.35 points or 0.09 percent. FTSE 100 is declining 1.32 points or 0.02 percent.
The Swiss Market Index is falling 115.33 or 0.95 percent.
Asian stocks ended mixed on Thursday. China's Shanghai Composite edged up 0.14 percent to 2,788.31.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index finished marginally lower at 17,444.30.
Japanese fell sharply. The Nikkei average fell 1.05 percent to 36,657.09. The broader Topix index settled 0.48 percent lower at 2,620.76.
Australian stocks eked out modest gains. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.40 percent to 7,982.40. The broader All Ordinaries index inched up 0.38 percent to 8,187.70.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
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Safe Superintelligence Inc. or SSI, the new safety-focused AI startup founded by OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever, has raised around $1 billion in the latest round. With the latest investment, the company is reportedly valued at around $5 billion.
As per an update on the SSI site, investors for the new firm, which was launched in June, include NFDG, a16z, Sequoia, DST Global, and SV Angel.
The American firm with offices in Palo Alto, California, and Tel Aviv, Israel notes that building safe superintelligence is the most important technical problem of the present time.
Reuters quoted SSI chief executive Daniel Gross, "It's important for us to be surrounded by investors who understand, respect, and support our mission, which is to make a straight shot to safe superintelligence and in particular to spend a couple of years doing R&D on our product before bringing it to market."
SSI was founded by Sutskever along with Gross, who earlier was with Apple's AI and search, and former OpenAI employee Daniel Levy.
SSI, which currently has 10 employees, reportedly plans to use the funds to acquire computing power and to hire highly talented executives.
On the SSI website, the founders noted that they have started the world's first straight-shot SSI lab, with one goal and one product: a safe superintelligence. According to them, technical problems need to be solved through revolutionary engineering and scientific breakthroughs, and they plan to advance capabilities as fast as possible, while making sure safety always remains ahead.
The company said it is assembling a lean, cracked team of the world's best engineers and researchers dedicated to focusing on SSI.
Sutskever was the chief scientist of OpenAI, the developer of the generative chatbot ChatGPT, and co-led the company's Superalignment team.
Sutskever was one of the OpenAI board members involved in the ousting and rehiring of co-founder and CEO Sam Altman. After Altman's return, Sutskever was immediately removed from the board. Following this, he stayed away from the company's day-to-day operations for months.
In May this year, he left the artificial intelligence startup, indicating about an upcoming project, and in June, SSI was launched.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Business News
The Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicenter of mpox outbreak, has received its first delivery of 99,000 doses for the virus, which was previously known as monkey pox virus.
A second delivery of 101,000 doses of JYNNEOS vaccine, manufactured by the Danish company Bavarian Nordic (BVNKF.PK), is expected to arrive on Saturday.
Congo's minister, Samuel Roger Kamba Mulamba, told Reuters, "We know which provinces are heavily affected, notably Equateur and South Kivu... The idea is to contain the virus as quickly as possible."
The vaccines were donated by the European Union through the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority.
The Congolese health officials plan to quickly distribute the vaccines to front-line health workers and close contacts of confirmed cases, although logistics challenges might slow down the process.
Another major concern with the vaccines is the cold chain storage issue, as the vaccines must be stored at minus 130 degree Fahrenheit until administered.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, addressed the issue by stating that the WHO had "supported the government to get the necessary cold chain in place for the vaccine delivery," according to CBS News.
Last week, Nigeria received its first shipment of 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine, which has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prevent smallpox and mpox in adults aged 18 and older who are at risk of infection.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Business News
With a stylish coupe SUV design, Tata Curvv intends to captivate buyers of C-Segment SUVs and offer tech-savvy and in-trend features
Foraying into the highly competitive and overcrowded compact SUV space, Tata Motors has just launched the Curvv coupe SUV. This is the second coupe SUV launched in compact SUV segment, after Citroen Basalt. Tata Motors has revealed full variant pricing filling in the blanks. This includes automatic variant prices too. Lets take a look.
Tata Curvv DCA Prices Revealed
Considering the massive appeal and profitability associated with compact SUV genre, car manufacturers like to test these waters. Tata Motors, on the other hand, has had significant success in sub 4m segment and relatively decent success in mid-size SUV segment.
The company just launched their first compact SUV in the form of Curvv. Styled as a Coupe SUV, Tata Curvv has an emotional quotient and is pitted as the most stylish offering in its segment. Price-wise, Tata Curvv has an advantage, if you dont bring Citroen Basalt in the picture.
Tata Motors had partially revealed Curvvs pricing at launch. Now, the mystery is over and all the variants now have a definitive price tag on them. Tata has now revealed the prices of all automatic gearbox variants, completing the puzzle. As seen in the table below, prices of just-announced DCA gearbox variants are denoted by * suffix.
Revotron Turbo Petrol engine, Hyperion Turbo GDi engine and Kryojet Diesel engines get a 7-speed DCA (Dual Clutch) automatic gearbox. Prices go till Rs 18.99 lakh (Introductory, Ex-sh) for top-spec Accomplished+ A Turbo GDi DCA and Turbo Diesel DCA variants. These are introductory prices and are subject to change.
What does Curvv offer?
We have driven the Curvv EV at the media drive event held by Tata Motors in Udaipur, Rajasthan. Curvv ICE will offer a similar ethos, but equipped with ICE powertrains. While Curvv is short on occupant space, there is abundant boot space. In fact, Curvv has the biggest boot in its segment at 500L.
There is a very tempting style quotient associated with Curvv owing to its coupe SUV design, which has just arrived in the mainstream Indian car segment. Curvv can easily be the most stylish compact SUV on sale and offers a lot of technology expected in this segment. First-in-segment features like flush door handles, electric tail gate and other elements are notable too.
Coupe SUV genre was not really a thing in the mainstream Indian car market. However, the race between Citroen and Tata Motors began with coupe SUVs being the goal. Citroen Basalt not only broke covers first, but it also strikes extremely aggressive pricing, undercutting Curvv by Rs 2 lakh (Ex-sh).
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 5. Azerbaijan and Italy have signed agreements on the establishment of joint ventures, Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov wrote on X, Trend reports.
During the Italy-Azerbaijan Round Table, we signed agreements aimed at establishing new joint production and service ventures, advancing research and development initiatives, and facilitating knowledge exchange. These agreements will not only drive innovation and economic growth but also further solidify the bilateral relationship between our countries, the publication reads.
To note, President of the Italian-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce Manuela Traldi earlier stated that Azerbaijan and Italy will soon establish joint ventures in various spheres.
In this context, we are working closely with Azerbaijani investment companies, the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO), and the Ministry of Economy. I believe that there's a great deal of potential. In order to improve Azerbaijan's commercial and industrial climate, we plan to form joint ventures that will import cutting-edge Italian technology. Because of this, the economy will be able to grow and diversify even more, she said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 5. A joint work within COP29 has been discussed during a meeting of the country's Prime Minister Ali Asadov with a delegation led by Ines Rocha, Regional Director for Europe of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Trend reports.
The meeting emphasized a long-term efficient partnership between Azerbaijan and the World Bank (WB), and structures of the WB Group have been discussed.
The importance of the World Bank Country Partnership Framework with Azerbaijan was noted, and views were exchanged on the preparation of a new partnership document to run from 2025 through 2029.
Satisfaction was expressed with the current level of cooperation between the country and the International Finance Corporation and the results of joint projects implemented in various fields.
The meeting also discussed opportunities for cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including public-private partnerships, attracting foreign investment, and other relevant areas.
This November, Azerbaijan will host COP29. This decision was made at the COP28 plenary meeting held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Baku will become the center of the world and will receive about 7080,000 foreign guests.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. COPthe Conference of the Partiesis the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. There are 198 countries that are parties to the Convention. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the COP is held annually. The first COP event took place in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin with its secretariat in Bonn.
Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Researchers at Stanford University have found that an aqueous solution of a common food color approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, tartrazine, has the effect of reversibly making the skin, muscle, and connective tissues transparent in live rodents.
We combined the yellow dye, which is a molecule that absorbs most light, especially blue and ultraviolet light, with skin, which is a scattering medium. Individually, these two things block most light from getting through them, said study first author Dr. Zihao Ou, who, with colleagues, conducted the study while he was a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University before joining the University of Texas at Dallas in August 2024.
But when we put them together, we were able to achieve transparency of the mouse skin.
To master the new technique, Dr. Ou and colleagues developed a way to predict how light interacts with dyed biological tissues.
Those predictions required a deep understanding of light scattering, as well as the process of refraction, where light changes speed and bends as it travels from one material into another.
Scattering is the reason we cannot see through our body: fats, fluids within cells, proteins, and other materials each have a different refractive index, a property that dictates how significantly an incoming light wave will bend.
In most tissues, those materials are closely compacted together, so the varied refractive indices cause light to scatter as it passes through. It is the scattering effect that our eyes interpret as opaque, colored, biological materials.
The researchers realized if they wanted to make biological material transparent, they had to find a way to match the different refractive indices so light could travel through unimpeded.
Building upon fundamental insights from the field of optics, the researchers realized dyes that are the most effective at absorbing light can also be highly effective at directing light uniformly through a wide range of refractive indices.
One dye the scientists predicted would be particularly effective was tartrazine, the food dye more commonly known as FD & C Yellow 5.
It turns out, they were correct: when dissolved into water and absorbed into tissues, tartrazine molecules are perfectly structured to match refractive indices and prevent light from scattering, resulting in transparency.
The authors first tested their predictions with thin slices of chicken breast.
As tartrazine concentrations increased, the refractive index of the fluid within the muscle cells rose until it matched the refractive index of the muscle proteins the slice became transparent.
Then, they gently rubbed a temporary tartrazine solution on mice.
First, they applied the solution to the scalp, rendering the skin transparent to reveal blood vessels crisscrossing the brain.
Next, they applied the solution to the abdomen, which faded within minutes to show contractions of the intestine and movements caused by heartbeats and breathing.
The technique resolved features at the scale of microns, and even enhanced microscope observations.
When the dye was rinsed off, the tissues quickly returned to normal opacity.
The tartrazine did not appear to have long-term effects, and any excess was excreted in waste within 48 hours.
Its important that the dye is biocompatible its safe for living organisms, Dr. Ou said.
In addition, its very inexpensive and efficient; we dont need very much of it to work.
The team has not yet tested the process on humans, whose skin is about 10 times thicker than a mouses.
At this time it is not clear what dosage of the dye or delivery method would be necessary to penetrate the entire thickness, Dr. Ou said.
In human medicine, we currently have ultrasound to look deeper inside the living body.
Many medical diagnosis platforms are very expensive and inaccessible to a broad audience, but platforms based on our tech should not be.
The study was published this week in the journal Science.
_____
Zihao Ou et al. 2024. Achieving optical transparency in live animals with absorbing molecules. Science 385 (6713); doi: 10.1126/science.adm6869
This article was adapted from original releases by U.S. National Science Foundation and the University of Texas at Dallas.
Doug Coombe Legacy Land Conservancy Land Protection Director Susan LaCroix.
Doug Coombe Legacy Land Conservancy Development Director Krista Gjestland.
Doug Coombe Iron Creek Preserve in Manchester Township.
Doug Coombe Krista Gjestland and Susan LaCroix at Iron Creek Preserve.
Macomb Countys first-ever small business pitch contest was held on Thursday, Aug. 22, at Velocity in Sterling Heights. The inaugural Best of the Zest Food Pitch Competition awarded more than $30,000 in grants and technical assistance to a total of nine packaged food and beverage producers based in Macomb County.The Best of the Zest Food Pitch Competition hosted finalists as they made pitched their businesses to a panel of judges, a la Shark Tank. Each contestant had five minutes to convince judges why they were the Best of the Zest for a chance at a share of the more than $30,000 in grants and small business support services offered by program partners.The contest was launched by Macomb County Planning and Economic Development (MCPED) and hosted at Velocity. Winning contestants selected from a bevy of small business and technical support services offered by contest partners, a group that included Macomb Community College, MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, MSU Product Center, Pure Michigan Business Connect, Taste the Local Difference, and Velocity.The winning small businesses shared in more than $30,000 in grants and business support services. They include Belledines BBQ Sauce and Seasonings Keto Katz Bakery ; Pronko Enterprises, LLC, for Maria's House Made Salsa Teta Foods ; and Thai Feast This was a great contest between a variety of phenomenal new businesses that are really working to establish and grow their footprint in Macomb County, says MCPED Director Vicky Rowinski. It was exciting to learn more about their future plans, and Macomb County and our partners are ready to provide support in helping them achieve their goals. Velocity is located at 6633 18 Mile Rd. in Sterling Heights.Got a development news story to share? Email MJ Galbraith here or send him a tweet @mikegalbraith
I was always the kid that wanted to know how things worked," says Jesse Hopkins.
The Straightener is based on the classic solid body, single cutaway (electric guitar) that we all know and love from the 1950s," Hopkins says.
Jesse Hopkins in front of his Hazel Park workshop.
Usually with guitar makers, if they do repairs and if theyre good at it, they end up getting bogged down with that kind of work, Jesse Hopkins says.
Clay Avenue Guitar Co. moved to Hazel Park in 2023.
A string of businesses have operated out of the corner building at 24211 John R Rd. throughout the last several years here in Hazel Park, including everything from taxi companies to tax preparers. Its latest tenant, however, doesnt fill the space with the hum of ringing telephones and tapping keyboards. Instead, its a faint radio in the background punctuated by the occasional buzz and blast of power tools. But Jesse Hopkins finds music in the clang and clatter of his workshop and, as owner of the Clay Avenue Guitar Company , he makes it here, too.For this kind of work, you make a lot of noise. That was a concern for a lot of the people I talked to (before finding this place), Jesse says. Some of the more industrial spaces that we looked at were actually anything but. They had grown into something substantially less industrial and more like call centers and dental labs where they didnt want to listen to saws and Shop-Vacs running.Its not a constant racket that Jesse is making here. Although making guitars requires turning on the occasional saw or CNC machine, its an otherwise quiet workshop. And Clay Avenue Guitar Co. is, at least for now, pretty much a one-man show. Jesse recently brought on an apprentice to help fix the guitars that clients bring to the shop; fixing guitars is what helps pay the bills but making them is Jesse's passion. Bringing on an apprentice affords Jesse more time to focus on that which really motivates him, building out his boutique guitar company to the point of not even needing to fix guitars to pay the bills anymore.Easier said than done, of course.Usually with guitar makers, if they do repairs and if theyre good at it, they end up getting bogged down with that kind of work, Jesse says.Making guitars is a luxury. In the time it takes Jesse to build one electric guitar, currently anywhere from 150 to 200 hours, he could be filling repair orders and paying the bills. And over the decade-plus run of his company, its often been the case that hes had to do just that: fill repair orders and pay the bills. Bootstrapping a boutique guitar company is no easy endeavor. But opening his Hazel Park workshop represents a new chapter for Clay Avenue Guitar, he says. With a plan and a product, Jesse now has the space to bring it all together.The idea is to build these guitars as best we can, approach players that we think are a match and build from there, Jesse says. Were trying to build a Ferrari here, and Im confident at this point that we really are.While Clay Avenue Guitar Co. is primarily run by Jesse Hopkins, his father Larry plays a prominent role. Larry is often at the shop himself, running the machines and bouncing back Jesses ideas with a few of his own. The company itself actually started in 2010 as J & L Guitars, named for the father-and-son team but eventually changed because of an already-established and similar-sounding guitar company.It was Larry who first encouraged his son to entertain the idea of becoming a luthier, the term for someone who fixes or builds stringed instruments. Jesse wasnt enjoying traditional college as a young man, he says. It was his dad who saw Jesses desire and ability to make things with his hands, as well as his love for guitars and music. Larry recommended his son check out Galloup Guitars in Big Rapids, a world-renowned lutherie school that offers apprenticeship programs, professional certifications, and more. Jesse would leave after a short stint at Central Michigan University to attend Galloup, setting him on the path to becoming a full-time luthier.I was always the kid that wanted to know how things worked, and this is the case with people that I've worked for, as well. They say the exact same things, Jesse says. I had Tinkertoys. I had Erector Sets. I had Legos. Anything that I could get my hands on and build things with, I was always doing that. Always spread that stuff out all over the floor on Saturday morning in front of the cartoons, building spaceships and God knows what.After school he left home and worked out of state for well-established guitar companies like Reverend Guitars and First Act. Hed move back to Michigan and purchase a home in Hazel Park in 2006, eventually launching his guitar company from a small workshop in the basement there. By 2010, he approached his dad and they started J & L Guitars. They rented a space at the Russell Industrial Center in Detroit, renaming the company after that locations Clay Avenue frontage. Theyd leave the Russell after that companys building code violations forced an intervention from city officials just one year later.So back to Jesses Hazel Park basement it was. The fits and starts of Clay Avenue Guitar Co. can be traced to any number of reasons, from the difficulties of bootstrapping your way into the boutique guitar business to never finding a proper space to build the intricate instruments. Jesse credits his wife with the companys latest iteration; the couple agreed to sell their home and use some of the money to fund a proper space for Jesse to do business.Hazel Park is conveniently located. The pricing down here is more affordable than four miles north of here, and more accommodating. But youve got to put a little sweat equity into it, Jesse says, which is something he has no problem doing.Jesses flagship guitar is called The Straightener, so named after one of Jesses mentors referred to the riff from Black Sabbaths Wheels of Confusion as the straight. The companys first model, The Boxer, rounds out the current product line and remains integral to their future. But its The Straightener where Jesse sees a path forward.Its based on the classic solid body, single cutaway (electric guitar) that we all know and love from the 1950s that are worth, in some cases, $100,000 today. And thats absolutely prohibitive to most players, Jesse says. So my idea was to take everything that I've learned about guitar making and take that iconic platform that has remained largely unchanged for decades, and carry it lovingly and thoughtfully into the modern age while incorporating some sensible design. What improvements would better fit the modern player? That's this guitar.Where before Jesse would build custom guitars as theyre ordered, maybe making and selling three to four guitars per year, hes now working toward building an inventory of guitars before bringing them to market. It currently takes him anywhere from 150 to 200 hours to build one guitar, but with the new workshop, equipment, and an apprentice that can help with guitar repairs, Jesse is working toward completing each new guitar in about 80 hours. Thats a big difference, and one of the reasons he thinks Clay Avenue Guitar Companys future is brighter than its ever been.The Straightener is kind of the sum of it all. Heres everything that Ive learned manifested into an electric guitar, Jesse says. We call it The Straightener because if you have something that needed to be done and you needed a tool in order to do it, you would want to pick the right tool.
Dela Rosa: Hold Alice Guo accountable to clip possible risk against PH national security
Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo should be held accountable to prevent possible risks against the Philippine national security, Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa said.
The former national police chief-turned-lawmaker made the statement in light of the arrest of the former mayor in Indonesia.
"Managot ang dapat managot. Kung merong government people na involved kung bakit nagkakaroon tayo ng ganito. At pangalawa, kailangan talagang masiguro natin 'yung ating national security dahil 'yung problema nga natin sa POGO from mere public order issue, it has elevated to a national security issue," Dela Rosa said.
He raised the possibility that Guo's case might be a "state-sponsored migration" which could be a part of a bigger plan against the Philippines.
"May mga tao na pala na nabigyan ng birth certificate. Hindi sila Pilipino, hindi tama na proseso, sa maling paraan. Kaya at stake ang ating national security dito. Baka hindi natin alam, 'di ba, 'yun ang ating kinakatakutan na baka mamaya 'yan ay state-sponsored migration into our territory para advanced party for whatever plans they have against us," Dela Rosa said.
"Kaya dapat talagang ma-establish natin nang husto kung anong dapat na gawin dito sa mga problemang ito," he stressed.
The Senate is conducting an investigation into the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators in the country.
The investigation into the raided POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac centered on the alleged involvement of Guo to its operations and it was later on discovered that the former mayor of the town is not a true Filipino.
Following these exposs, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has ordered a total ban against POGOs in the country.
Prior to this, Dela Rosa was among the senators who called for the total ban on POGO as several criminal activities are linked to its operations.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 5. Azerbaijan and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have discussed strategic priorities for the transition to a green economy, the chairperson of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) Taleh Kazimov wrote on X, Trend reports.
The publication notes that a meeting was held with a delegation led by Ines Rocha, IFC's regional director for Europe.
During the meeting, we discussed strategic priorities for the transition to a green economy in our country, initiatives aimed at developing the necessary infrastructure, and key issues of the Central Bank's sustainable finance agenda. We also exchanged views on issues of mutual interest and explored potential areas for cooperation between our institutions, the publication reads.
To note, the IFC has made significant investments in Azerbaijan, totaling over $850 million as of July 1 of this year. These investments have supported a wide range of projects in financial services, infrastructure, and production. Additionally, it has provided valuable consulting services to improve the business environment, develop the financial sector, enhance corporate governance, and support small and medium-sized businesses and agribusiness.
All eyes at the end of the week will be on the US non-farm payrolls report for August, which may decide whether the Federal Reserve opts for a 25 or 50 basis point cut when its meets in two weeks' time.
Consensus is for a moderate improvement in the pace of hiring in comparison to the previous month.
Economists are anticipating 160,000 job gains after the 114,000 increase initially reported for July.
In parallel, the rate of unemployment is seen ticking down to 4.2% and growth in average hourly earnings picking up to 0.3% month-on-month.
Worth noting, in a research note sent to clients, Oxford Economics said that the Fed could not be complacent as up until now people laid off in a given sector had been quickly reabsorbed by rival companies.
But should that change then a sudden rise in unemployment was possible which could snowball.
Nonetheless, Oxford Economics believed that Friday's payrolls number would print at 170,000 such that the Fed would cut by 25bp.
A larger reduction would necessitate a "significantly weaker" August jobs report, they added.
The consultancy was anticipating two 25bp Fed rate cuts before the end of 2024, against Fed funds futures currently on three cuts.
On the company side of things, luxury homebuilder Berkeley Group will provide investors with a trading update.
In particular, investors will want to hear from the builder about the outlook and the operating environment in the first four months of its 2025 fiscal year, said Gregor Kuglitsch at UBS.
The analyst thought that there might have been some improvement over the summer.
At the time of its full-year results, on 19 June, management had guided towards profit before tax of 525m and reiterated its forecast for profit of to 450m in FY26.
Kuglitsch was anticipating profit of 500m in FY26.
For FY25, completions excluding joint ventures were seen at 4,050, versus 3,521 one year before.
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More than a quarter of advertisers are planning to cut spending on Elon Musks X over concerns about the social media platforms content and trust in the information disseminated, according to new global research. Advertising revenue flowing to X has been in freefall since Musk bought the site, then known as Twitter, for $44bn (38bn) in October 2022, claiming it had not lived up to its potential as a platform for free speech. Guardian
Marks & Spencer is using artificial intelligence to advise shoppers on their outfit choices based on their body shape and style preferences, as part of efforts to increase online sales. The 130-year-old retailer is using the technology to personalise consumers online experience, and suggest items to buy. Guardian
The BBC has confirmed plans to cut dozens more jobs in its local operations even as bosses pledged to spend 80m on diversity programmes. The BBC will cut around 115 editorial and production roles as it battles to plug a black hole in its finances, equivalent to 3pc of the divisions workforce. Further cuts are planned in operations departments. Telegraph
Volvo, the Swedish car marque renowned for its environmental commitment, has scrapped plans to sell only fully electric cars by 2030 in the latest sign of a global slowdown in growth for battery-powered vehicles. Another of Europes leading car makers, Germanys Volkswagen, has indicated it could shed thousands of jobs because of expected lower demand in a market disrupted by political and regulatory diktats on zero-emission vehicles. The Times
The proportion of former rental properties for sale is the highest on record, an increase that may be driven by landlords fears of an increase in capital gains tax in the budget, according to Rightmove. Eighteen per cent of properties for sale were previously on the rental market, compared with 8 per cent in 2010. The property website said that landlords fears that the budget on October 30 would result in an increase in capital gains tax a tax on the profit made when an asset is sold could be behind the surge. The Times
R.L. Stine Mackenzi Lee
R.L. Stine is one of the bestselling children's authors in history--his Goosebumps and Fear Street series have sold more than 400 million copies around the world and have been translated into 32 languages. Several TV series have been based on his work, as well as two feature films, Goosebumps (2015) and Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018), starring Jack Black. Stine lives in New York City with his wife, Jane, an editor and publisher.
Mackenzi Lee holds a BA in history and an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Simmons College. She is the author of the bestselling historical fantasy novels This Monstrous Thing, The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (which won a 2018 Stonewall Honor Award and was a Shelf Awareness Best Book) and its sequel, The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy. When not writing, Lee works as an independent bookseller, drinks too much Diet Coke and romps with her Saint Bernard, Queenie.
Here, Lee, whose YA novelization of Marvel's Loki in Loki: Where Mischief Lies was just published by Disney, chats with Stine about the Just Beyond series, his first original graphic novels, now available from Boom! Studios.
Mackenzi Lee: I'm so happy to be talking to you. Your books are legendary--as I'm sure you know.
R.L. Stine: Well, thank you.
Lee: So, my first question is, did you always want to be a writer?
Stine: I was this weird kid. I dragged a typewriter into my room and started typing all kinds of stories, joke books and little magazines. I would stay in my room for hours. My mother would stand outside my door and say, "What's wrong with you? Go outside and play!" and I'd say, "It's boring out there."
Lee: We were all weird kids. I think that's why we're writers now.
Stine: Well, to be serious, I was a very fearful kid. I was afraid of a lot of things and very shy. So I think it was comforting. It was a great escape to be in my room creating all this stuff.
Lee: If you were a fearful kid, were you into horror? Or did the interest in writing horror come later?
Stine: Everything I wrote was funny. But when I was a kid there were these horror comics, Tales from the Crypt and The Vault of Horror. I loved them partly because the art was so amazing! I was a big comic book freak. They were gruesome, horrible, bloody stories and they all had a funny twist. I just loved that. They were very influential on me back then.
Lee: And now you're writing this original graphic novel series, Just Beyond. How is the process different than writing prose?
Stine: I'm having fun doing something different. It's a lot like script writing, which I've done. I'm not good at description. I don't have the writer's eye for describing things. When you write a comic book, you don't have to describe much. It's all dialogue. You can give art direction and say, "You flew across the room," then the artist has to figure out what the room looks like. It's kind of a pleasure for me to mostly write dialogue.
Lee: That sounds kind of like a dream.
Stine: Well, it is. It's not anything I ever really thought I would do. Everything that ever happened to me wasn't my idea. It wasn't my idea to be scary.
Lee: So how did that come about? Being scary?
Stine: I was writing a humor magazine with Scholastic called Bananas. One day I was having lunch with the editorial director at Scholastic. She had had a fight with a guy who wrote teen horror novels. She said, "Hey! You can write a good horror novel for teenagers! Go write a book called Blind Date." I didn't know what she was talking about. But I was at that point in my career where you don't say no. So, I said, "Sure, no problem." And I ran to the bookstore to find out what other people were doing. I wrote Blind Date and it became a bestseller. A year later I wrote Twisted. That was a number-one bestseller, and I thought, forget the funny stuff! Kids want scary! I'm going to be scary. I've been scary ever since, but it's kind of embarrassing because it wasn't my idea.
Lee: What is it about horror that attracts kids so much?
Stine: It was quite a discovery. I went to schools saying, "Why do you like these books?" Every time, they said, "I like to be scared." They like to be scared if they know they're safe at the same time.
Lee: What can readers expect from this new graphic novel series?
Stine: The stories go just beyond. The very first one, called the Scare School, is a about very normal-looking school but you have to go just beyond to find the horror that lies there. All the stories start out with something nice.
Lee: I've got one more question. As the most prolific horror author for young people, what scares you?
Lee: I can tell you the scariest moment of my life. When my son, Matt, was four, I took him to the New York Automobile Show. Thousands of people and hundreds of cars. And I lost him. I can still feel that moment of incredible fear, looking around in total panic. Then I spot him over by a car. I went running over to him and said, "Matt! Matt, are you okay?" He said, "Where were you, dad? I was about to call the manager." That 30 seconds was the scariest moment of my life.
Lee: Thank you so much for talking to me, Bob. Congratulations on the new series.
Stine: This was fun. Thank you, Mackenzi.
Jamil Zaki
(photo: Vern Evans)
A professor of psychology at Stanford University and director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Laboratory, Jamil Zaki is the author of The War for Kindness. His second book, Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness (Grand Central, $30) is a striking blend of science and storytelling on the harmful effects of cynicism that explores strategies for rebuilding trust on a global scale.
In Hope for Cynics, you share a powerful personal narrative of struggling with a tendency toward cynicism. Today, where are you on the journey toward what you call hopeful skepticism?
It remains a journey. As I write in the book, I've studied the science of empathy, kindness, and human connection for 20 years. Much of my research points to a simple conclusion: there is good in us, and it does good for us. But knowing something is different than feeling it, and, personally, I've long struggled with cynicism--the belief that people are selfish, greedy, and dishonest. I'm not alone; over recent decades, people around the world have lost faith in each other and in all sorts of institutions, from government to science to education.
Cynicism is an understandable response to injustice and inequality, but it hurts our health, relationships, communities, and social movements. It's also surprisingly wrong. Decades of data demonstrate that people are more trustworthy, generous, and open-minded than cynics realize. That's why I suggest hopeful skepticism: a view of the world in which we stop making assumptions and observe people more openly, with an eye toward their great potential.
I work on my hopeful skepticism each day. For instance, I practice "social savoring"--taking note of everyday kindness around me, and seeking out media sources that balance bad news with stories of people making positive change. This is not the same as burying my head in the sand or wearing rose-colored glasses--it's acknowledging and fighting a bias to see the worst: taking off the mud-colored glasses we usually wear.
At this time of national division, how do we convince those who are on the extreme end of the cynicism spectrum to engage with the ideas in this book?
The comedian George Carlin once said, "Scratch a cynic and you will find a disappointed idealist." Oftentimes, people trapped by cynicism have been betrayed or hurt; they don't want to lose faith in others but feel they must in order to be safe and smart. But none of us have to feel this way. It absolutely makes sense to suspect or reject people who have done us harm, and to take care of our interests. But cynics become "pre-disappointed," assuming the worst about strangers without evidence. Hopeful skepticism instead suggests we fact-check our feelings. What evidence do we have for our dim theories about others? What evidence would we need? By exploring the world like a scientist, we often find pleasant surprises everywhere.
That also applies to this divided moment in the U.S. and beyond. We disagree more than in decades past and also dislike the people we disagree with more than before. Our differences are real, but in our minds, they expand in unhelpful and dangerous ways. In the U.S., for instance, both Republicans and Democrats believe the other side is much more extreme, hateful, and even violent than they really are. There are, of course, actually extreme and dangerous people all across American culture, but the average person--even the average "other"--is much more moderate and open-minded. When we forget this, we end up escalating conflict that few people want. But inside the data, there's hope! Americans, for instance, agree much more than we realize. Common ground is abundant when we look for it.
Should schools include civics as part of their curriculum from an early age? Over time, could that reduce voters' cynicism toward the political establishment and toward each other?
That's a really powerful idea. I also think such education could separate children's views of the political establishment--which is unfortunately quite cynical much of the time--and each other. One approach is to remember that no matter what elites do, most people share many common goals. For instance, the majority of both Republicans and Democrats believe in expanding support for young children in poverty and other vulnerable groups in America. A supermajority in both parties also wants greater compromise and connection across difference. Educating kids on these themes might empower them to focus on these common goals instead of focusing only on our most intense divisions.
The parenting strategy you refer to as "underbearing attentiveness" is intriguing. Is it difficult to commit to in practice?
For me, yes! Even as I try to expand my own trust and hope, the instinct to protect my daughters from any harm is overwhelming. That is, of course, an ancient and positive desire. But sometimes it can go overboard, for instance through "helicopter parenting," in which kids are prevented from exploring the world in order to avoid any risk whatsoever. This keeps kids safe, but can also deprive them of opportunities and--over time--make them fearful and cynical. Younger generations in the U.S. are the least trusting on record, in part because that's what we've taught them.
For me, practicing underbearing attentiveness means hitting the pause button on my instincts and becoming more intentional. If my kid is struggling with reading, or piano, or a tiff with a friend, do they need me to come in and fix it? Or can I just listen, observe, and show my presence while allowing them to work through it?
Do you have strategies for conserving social energy in between engagements that you could share with readers?
I use two strategies here. The first is to internally commit to both being with people and being alone: enjoying each for its unique pleasures. The second is to remember that my (frequent!) nervousness about social interactions is probably misplaced.
For me, hanging out is like working out: thinking about it ahead of time can be intimidating and even unpleasant, but during and after, I'm glad to be doing it. That's a common experience. Research from around the world shows that people underestimate how good it is to spend time with others. In the hours before a dinner party or school event, I try to remind myself of those studies, and remember that my future self will probably thank me for spending time with people.
What are your aspirations for Hope for Cynics once it is released into the world?
Back in 2021, when my cynicism was at its peak, I needed this book. Diving into the decades of data on human goodness was not just a scientific exercise, but a deeply personal journey that changed how I think, feel, and decide. Cynicism is like quicksand for our minds--it traps us in a version of the world and our lives few people want. My hope is that this book can spring people from that trap, the same way it did for me, and empower them to connect more, pay closer attention to humanity, and work together to build the future most of us want. --Shahina Piyarali
At an event hosted by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, S. Krishnan, Secretary of MeitY, introduced the Vishvasya Blockchain Technology Stack. This new service provides Blockchain-as-a-Service with a geographically distributed infrastructure, designed to support a range of permissioned blockchain applications.
In addition, the Secretary of MeitY also launched the NBFLite-Lightweight Blockchain Platform and Praamaanik, a cutting-edge blockchain solution for verifying the origin of mobile apps, along with the National Blockchain Portal. With the aim of establishing trusted digital platforms, MeitY introduced the National Blockchain Framework (NBF) to promote research and application development, thereby ensuring state-of-the-art, transparent, secure, and reliable digital services for citizens.
National Blockchain Framework technology stack is architected with Distributed Infrastructure, Core Framework functionality, Smart Contracts & API Gateway, Security, Privacy & Interoperability and Applications development offering Blockchain as a Service (BaaS). NBF currently supports two permissioned Blockchain platforms and is extensible. The Technology Stack is hosted on geographically distributed infrastructure at NIC Data centers i.e. Bhubaneswar, Pune, Hyderabad.
NBFLite, a Blockchain sandbox platform, is developed especially for startups/academia for rapid prototyping of applications, carrying out research and capacity building. These technologies have been developed by collaborating efforts of C-DAC, NIC, IDRBT Hyderabad, IIT Hyderabad, IIIT Hyderabad and SETS Chennai under the MeitY support.
At the launch, S. Krishnan, Secretary of MeitY, emphasized that the National Blockchain Framework would be crucial in enhancing security, trust, and transparency for various citizen-centric applications, as part of the Government of India's efforts to deliver reliable digital services. He also urged stakeholders to work towards establishing India as a global leader in blockchain technology, promoting the adoption of developed solutions worldwide, and using blockchain to drive economic growth, social development, and digital empowerment.
Bhuvnesh Kumar, Additional Secretary, MeitY, highlighted that the Blockchain technology holds immense potential for transforming governance in India by making public services more transparent, efficient, and accountable. He stressed the need for scaling the applications on NBF across various states & departments and also suggested to explore onboarding new applications/ platforms/ innovative components on the NBF stack.
Smt. Sunita Verma, Scientist G and Group Coordinator for R&D in Electronics & IT at MeitY, explained that the goal of the National Blockchain Framework (NBF) is to create a scalable framework using a Blockchain technology stack on a distributed infrastructure. This initiative aims to tackle challenges such as the shortage of skilled professionals for developing blockchain applications, vendor lock-in issues, and research challenges related to security, interoperability, performance, and other factors.
India and Singapore have signed four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in the areas of digital technologies, semiconductors, healthcare cooperation, and skill development, enhancing the partnership between the two countries. During his visit to Singapore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was welcomed with a ceremonial reception upon his arrival at Parliament House.
Prime Minister Modi met with his Singaporean counterpart, Lawrence Wong, and the two delegations engaged in bilateral discussions, culminating in the signing of the MoUs. The first MoU was signed between India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Singapore's Ministry of Digital Development and Information, aimed at fostering collaboration in the area of digital technologies.
It will facilitate closer cooperation between India and Singapore in the areas of digital technologies, such as DPI, cyber-security, 5G and emerging technologies such as Super-computing, Quantum Computing and Artificial Intelligence. The MoU will further enable cooperation for upskilling and reskilling of workers relating to the digital domain under the ambit of this MoU.
Another MoU was signed between India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry, focusing on the India-Singapore Semiconductor Ecosystem Partnership. This agreement will promote collaboration between the two countries in the development of semiconductor clusters, as well as the nurturing of talent in semiconductor design and manufacturing.
Notably, Singaporean companies, which are part of global semiconductor value chains are keen to invest in India. Dialogue mechanisms set under this MoU will facilitate their investments in India. The third MoU was signed between India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Singapore's Ministry of Health on cooperation in the field of health and medicine.
This agreement will facilitate joint efforts on research and innovation in areas of mutual interest. The MoU also aims to promote closer cooperation in the areas of human resource development in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. It will complement New Delhi's efforts to promote Indian healthcare professionals in Singapore.
India's Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Singapore's Ministry of Education also signed an MoU focused on educational cooperation and skills development. The agreement seeks to enhance collaboration in technical and vocational education and training. With both nations already actively working together in the field of skill development, this MoU will further support and strengthen ongoing initiatives.
To help professionals develop their skills and expand their career opportunities, LinkedIn, the worlds largest professional network, has launched a list of Top 20 MBA Programs to help professionals identify the top business schools to grow their careers.
The Indian School of Business (#6) and the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (#19) have been ranked among the Top 20. Stanford University, leads the global list, followed by Institut Europeen d'Administration des Affaires (INSEAD), France and Harvard University, USA, at second and third rank, respectively. The list evaluates each program on five key pillars including Job Placement, Ability to Advance, Network Strength, Leadership Potential and Gender Diversity to determine the ones that best set their alumni up for long-term career success.
Nirajita Banerjee, Senior Managing Editor and Career Expert, LinkedIn News India, said An MBA can be a powerful tool for professionals looking to accelerate their careers, whether they're aiming for leadership roles, exploring new industries, or even starting their own business. Beyond earning a degree, its a chance to hone key in-demand soft skills like strategic thinking, leadership, and problem-solving all while building connections that can open doors to new opportunities long after graduation. LinkedIn's Top MBA list aims to help aspiring professionals find the right fit, making their investment truly impactful by connecting them to the programs that can best help them achieve their career goals."
Here are the Top 20 institutions who are featured in the LinkedIn 2024 Top MBA global list:
1. Stanford University
2. INSEAD
3. Harvard University
4. University of Pennsylvania
5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
6. Indian School of Business (ISB)
7. Northwestern University
8. Dartmouth College
9. Columbia University
10. University of Chicago
11. University of London
12. University of Virginia
13. Duke University
14. WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management
15. University of Oxford
16. Yale University
17. Cornell University
18. University of California, Berkeley
19. Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A)
20. University of Navarra
LinkedIn has also announced the top 10 MBA programs for network-building capabilities, with a significant presence of Indian institutions. Eight out of the top 10 globally recognized for their networking prowess are based in India. The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade leads the list at #1, followed by the Indian Institute of Management, Indore at #2, and the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow at #3), highlighting the significant role Indian institutions play in fostering valuable professional connections.
Here are the Top 10 institutions for professionals to grow their network:
1. Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT)
2. Indian Institute of Management, Indore (IIM-I)
3. Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIM-L)
4. Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (IIM-C)
5. Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A)
6. Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIM-B)
7. Symbiosis Institute of International Business
8. Indian School of Business (ISB)
9. ESSEC Business School
10. ESCP Business School
Here are tips from Nirajita on how professionals pursuing an MBA can boost their career prospects:
Network, network, network . Meet everyone you can, attend school events, build your LinkedIn network as you go (add people as you meet them).
. Meet everyone you can, attend school events, build your LinkedIn network as you go (add people as you meet them). Hone your key human skills - teamwork, collaboration, communication. Business school is all about the team projects, giving you a great chance to build your leadership and collaboration skills.
Business school is all about the team projects, giving you a great chance to build your leadership and collaboration skills. Start posting on LinkedIn sharing your learnings during your course and case study exercises on any business topic you are passionate about. This can help you grow your network and build your brand.
Think about what you might want to do post-MBA. If theres a role you have in mind, look at the skills needed for that role and make sure youre building those skills during the program addressing them in your studies.
If theres a role you have in mind, look at the skills needed for that role and make sure youre building those skills during the program addressing them in your studies. Participate in club events, pitch events and case competitions. There are great opportunities to build your presentation and persuasion skills, and performing well in these events can be a feather in your cap when applying for jobs or starting a new company.
There are great opportunities to build your presentation and persuasion skills, and performing well in these events can be a feather in your cap when applying for jobs or starting a new company. Look for internships, jobs, or campus leadership roles you can take on while youre going through your program, which can help set you up for having stronger job prospects as you near graduation.
Methodology:
The ranking, published by LinkedIn News, is determined by a carefully weighted methodology analysing the career outcomes of millions of MBA alumni, globally. The Top MBA Programs methodology is based exclusively on LinkedIn data and five key pillars:
Job placement tracks hiring rates and labour market demand, measuring the percentage of recent graduate cohorts from 2019-2023 who landed a full-time job within the same year of graduation, in addition to recruiter outreach across recent cohorts at each program.
tracks hiring rates and labour market demand, measuring the percentage of recent graduate cohorts from 2019-2023 who landed a full-time job within the same year of graduation, in addition to recruiter outreach across recent cohorts at each program. Ability to advance measures promotion rates among recent graduate cohorts, in addition to how quickly alumni have reached director or VP-level leadership roles.
measures promotion rates among recent graduate cohorts, in addition to how quickly alumni have reached director or VP-level leadership roles. Network strength measures network depth, or how connected alumni of the same program are to each other; network quality of recent graduate cohorts, measured by connections to director-level professionals or higher; and the network growth rate of recent cohorts since starting the program.
measures network depth, or how connected alumni of the same program are to each other; network quality of recent graduate cohorts, measured by connections to director-level professionals or higher; and the network growth rate of recent cohorts since starting the program. Leadership potential measures the percentage of alumni with post-MBA C-Suite or entrepreneurship experiences.
measures the percentage of alumni with post-MBA C-Suite or entrepreneurship experiences. Gender Diversity measures gender parity within recent graduate cohorts.
To be eligible, MBA programs must be full-time programs and accredited by AACSB or Equis. Programs must have at least 1,500 total alumni, with at least 400 of them graduating within the recent cohort (2019-2023).
To mark this years Teachers Day, Minmini App has announced the launch of its G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time) contest, inviting users to post one-minute videos highlighting the impact of a teacher from their academic life. Participants have the opportunity to win exciting prizes by sharing stories about a teacher they believe has profoundly influenced their career or personal growth.
S. Shriram, Executive Vice President of Minmini App, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative. I owe my professional success to two teachers one from high school and another from my B-School. Their guidance has been instrumental in shaping my career. I believe many of us have similar stories of teachers who have greatly impacted our lives, said Shriram. He further emphasized that Teachers Day provides a fitting occasion for users to publicly express their gratitude on a platform like Minmini.
Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, and post their video tributes to their G.O.A.T. teacher using the hashtag #GOAT. The contest remains open until 11 p.m. on Sunday, September 8, after which five winners will be chosen and receive prizes. Users can join in and download the Minmini App from either the, and post their video tributes to their G.O.A.T. teacher using the hashtag #GOAT. The contest remains open until 11 p.m. on Sunday, September 8, after which five winners will be chosen and receive prizes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended an invitation to top Singaporean business leaders, urging them to explore substantial investment opportunities in India. Meeting influential CEOs from various sectors including investment funds, infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, sustainability, and logistics PM Modi emphasized Indias vast potential for investment and economic collaboration.
In a significant move to bolster bilateral trade, PM Modi announced the establishment of an INVEST INDIA office in Singapore. This initiative aims to further strengthen economic ties between the two nations and facilitate greater investment flows.
Among the distinguished business leaders present were Lim Ming Yan, Chairman of the Singapore Business Federation; Kok Ping Soon, CEO of the Singapore Business Federation; and Gautam Banerjee, Chairman of the India and South Asia Business Group and Senior MD and Chairman of Blackstone Singapore. These leaders play a crucial role in bridging economic relations between Singapore and India.
During the meeting, PM Modi highlighted the elevation of India-Singapore relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, which he believes will significantly boost bilateral economic interactions. He praised the contribution of Singaporean industry leaders in fortifying the economic and strategic ties between the two countries.
Acknowledging Indias remarkable progress over the past decade, PM Modi underscored the country's strengths in political stability, policy predictability, and ease of doing business. He projected that India is poised to become the worlds third-largest economy in the near future.
PM Modi also discussed Indias substantial role in global economic growth, contributing 17 percent to the global economy. He outlined several initiatives designed to enhance Indias role in global value chains, including the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, the India Semiconductor Mission, and the development of 12 new industrial smart cities. The Prime Minister positioned India as a robust alternative for businesses seeking resilient supply chains, citing the countrys strategic advantages.
The delegation included other prominent figures such as Lim Boon Heng, Chairman of Temasek Holdings; Lim Chow Kiat, CEO of GIC Private Limited; Piyush Gupta, CEO and Director of DBS Group; Yam Kum Weng, CEO of Changi Airport Group; and Yuen Kuan Moon, CEO of SingTel. Singapores Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam also participated in the event.
memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate in the semiconductor sector. The partnership will leverage the complementary strengths of both countries semiconductor ecosystems, focusing on policy exchanges, supply chain resilience, and workforce development to enhance the semiconductor supply chains. In a related development, India and Singapore have signed ato collaborate in the semiconductor sector. The partnership will leverage the complementary strengths of both countries semiconductor ecosystems, focusing on policy exchanges, supply chain resilience, and workforce development to enhance the semiconductor supply chains.
This move signifies a deepening of the economic relationship between India and Singapore, paving the way for expanded collaboration and investment opportunities in the future.
Stocks to Watch, Thursday, September 5, 2024: Indian markets are expected to open with a slight positive bias, as GIFT Nifty futures were trading around 25,364 levels at 6:35 AM. However, global market sentiment may dampen investor enthusiasm domestically. While most Asia-Pacific markets rebounded from Wednesday's sell-off, Japan's indices declined. The Nikkei 225 and Topix fell by 0.92% and 0.49%, respectively, while South Koreas Kospi gained 1.15%, and the Kosdaq increased by 0.75%.
Reliance Industries: Reliance Industries Ltd has achieved a major milestone by securing a contract to develop a 10 GWh battery storage project under the government's Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. This project marks a significant advancement in India's efforts to become self-sufficient in battery manufacturing. On September 4, the Ministry of Heavy Industries revealed that the 10 GWh Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) manufacturing scheme, with a budget of Rs 3,620 crore, received bids from seven companies. These bidders included ACME Cleantech Solutions Pvt Ltd, Amara Raja Advanced Cell Technologies Pvt Ltd, Anvi Power Industries Pvt Ltd, JSW Neo Energy Ltd, Lucas TVS Ltd, Reliance Industries, and Waaree Energies Ltd.
Adani Enterprises: Adani Enterprises Ltd. made a notable debut with its first bond issuance targeted at individual investors, signaling a resurgence in investor confidence after last year's difficulties. The issuance, spearheaded by billionaire Gautam Adani's conglomerate, garnered subscriptions amounting to nearly Rs 720 crore on its first day, surpassing the initial target of Rs 800 crore, according to lead manager Nuvama Wealth Management. Significantly, the retail portion of the issuance was fully subscribed on the opening day, with applications totaling Rs 250 crore compared to the Rs 240 crore allocated for retail investors.
Canara Bank: Canara Bank recently secured $300 million through its first five-year bond issuance in over five years. The bonds, issued via the bank's GIFT International Financial Services Centre, experienced robust demand, with the offer being oversubscribed by over 2.5 times. Priced at 125 basis points above the five-year US Treasury, the bonds attracted significant interest from investors in Asia and feature a semi-annual coupon rate of 4.89%.
Sona BLW Precision Forgings: Sona BLW Precision Forgings, also known as Sona Comstar, has set the floor price for its qualified institutional placement (QIP) at Rs 699.01 per share, marking a 3% discount from the previous day's closing price of Rs 721.50. The QIP was launched on Wednesday, according to an exchange filing. The company also mentioned that it might offer an additional discount of up to 5% on the floor price at its discretion.
Axis Bank: Axis Bank successfully raised Rs 3,925 crore by issuing 10-year infrastructure bonds, securing long-term capital to meet strong loan demand despite slower deposit growth in the banking sector. The private lender offered the bonds at a coupon rate of 7.45%, with an initial base size of Rs 2,000 crore and an additional greenshoe option of Rs 2,000 crore, reflecting significant investor interest.
Vedanta: Vedanta, a prominent metal company, has received an upgrade in its long-term credit rating from ICRA Ratings, reflecting improved expectations for its credit metrics. This upgrade follows Vedanta's successful $1 billion fundraising through a qualified institutional placement (QIP) in July 2024 and an additional $400 million raised from an offer for sale (OFS) of Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL) in August 2024. The rating for its 'Long-term/S term Unallocated limits' instrument has been raised to [ICRA]AA from [ICRA]AA-/[ICRA]A1+, and the 'Long-term Fund based Term loan' instrument has also been upgraded to [ICRA]AA. Both ratings remain on watch with developing implications.
General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re): On the first day of General Insurance Corporation of Indias (GIC Re) offer for sale (OFS), bids reached nearly Rs 2,300 crore. The OFS is designed to reduce the government's stake in the company by up to 6.78 percent. With 58 million shares bid on, the final divestment could be under 3.4 percent. Additional divestments will be required to fulfill the regulatory mandate of 25 percent public shareholding.
Prestige Estates Projects: Prestige Estates raised Rs 5,000 crore through a Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP). The company issued 29,868,578 equity shares at Rs 1,674 per share, representing a discount of 4.62 percent to the floor price.
Allied Blenders and Distillers (ABDL): Allied Blenders and Distillers (ABDL) has secured board approval to acquire an 80 percent share in a new venture alongside actor Ranveer Singh. This collaboration will center on luxury and premium spirits, with an investment of up to Rs 70 crore in the new entity.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A woman who taught children with special needs on Staten Island was convicted of scamming over $6,000 from the city Department of Education, District Attorney Michael E. McMahon announced.
Yelena Maur, 37, of Whitman Avenue in Great Kills, pleaded guilty this week to falsifying business records in the second degree and paid back all of the money owed as restitution, with court records indicating the amount was over $6,600.
When Maur perpetrated the con in 2021, she was an employee of Smart Choice Therapy at 1250 Hylan Blvd. in Grasmere, according to the criminal complaint.
Maur stole the money from her employer and the DOE from January to November of 2021 by filling out forms claiming that she was assisting clients during hours when she was not actually working, according to the complaint.
The agency that Maur worked for serves preschool children with disabilities on Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens, according to its website.
A special education itinerant teacher entrusted to care for young Staten Islanders with special needs, Yelena Maur falsified business records for almost an entire calendar year in 2021, personally enriching herself to the tune of nearly $7,000, McMahon said in a statement.
McMahon praised the citys independent Office of the Special Commissioner of Investigations (SCI) for the New York City School District, the District Attorney Offices Economic Crimes Bureau and other partners involved in pursuing the case against Maur.
This defendants gross actions pilfering funds that were meant for children with special needs is a crime that demands accountability, and I commend Assistant District Attorney Mark DAmato, Deputy Bureau Chief Gregg Brown, and our partners in SCI, the New York State Department of Education, and NYPD for their shared commitment to securing justice in this case, he said.
Anastasia Coleman, special commissioner of investigation for the New York City School District, said in a statement that Maur forged signatures, falsified business records, and fraudulently billed the New York City DOE for mandated services.
Rather than providing these required services to our youngest students, she chose to line her own pockets at the expense of city families, Coleman said.
The staff at SCI are dedicated to rooting out corruption and wrongdoing by school district employees, vendors, and anyone else who attempts to steal or misuse funds designated for the school children of New York.
Coleman thanked the district attorneys office for their continued hard work and support in our efforts to make the New York City public school system a safe and corruption free environment for all New Yorkers.
Maur initially was charged with grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, falsifying business records and petit larceny, according to the complaint.
Smart Choice Therapy Inc is a special education program for preschool children who have or are suspected of having a disability, pursuant to Section 4410 of article 89 of the Education Law, according to the organizations website. Any services provided to the preschool child with a disability are based upon individual needs, as determined by the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) of the local school district that will determine the location where the needed special education services will be provided. Special education services are at no direct cost to the parent; funding is provided through county taxes and state funds earmarked for special education services.
Smart Choice Therapy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Attorney Victor Shulov, the defendants attorney, declined to comment at this time.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 5. The Azerbaijan Energy Regulatory Agency (AERA) hosted a meeting with a delegation from the World Banks Global Flaring and Methane Reduction Partnership (GFMR) program, which was visiting Azerbaijan, Trend reports, citing AERA's press service.
The meeting was attended by Chairman of AERAs Board of Directors Samir Akhundov, World Bank senior gas specialist and delegation leader Robert van der Geest, as well as other delegation members and AERA employees.
Discussions at the meeting focused on the current and forthcoming legislation relating to gas losses and methane emissions during gas transportation and within gas distribution networks.
Additionally, the parties exchanged views on topics of mutual interest.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. New York City students across the five boroughs, including Staten Island, headed back to school on Thursday for the 2024-2025 academic year, as parents snapped pictures and kids ran to hug their friends and teachers.
There were no tears to be seen outside of PS 56 in Rossville. Just shouts of greetings as kids recognized their classmates arriving hand-in-hand with their parents. Crossing guards welcomed back parents and students as they crossed the adjacent school streets as crowds gathered outside the schoolyards gate, which was decorated with balloons, welcome-back signs, and a faint sound of Kidz Bop playing the summers top hits.
Students pose for a photo at PS 56 in Rossville on the first day of the 2024-2025 academic year. (Staten Island Advance/Annalise Knudson)Annalise Knudson
Many kids were prepared for the first day, with new backpacks, school-themed attire and first-day-of-school signs.
Im excited to learn new things and kick some academic butt, said fifth-grader Ryan Mannion.
Ayman Youssef was snapping photos of his second-grader Rona Youssef, who said she was looking forward to having the same teacher this year as last school year. She added she was excited to be meeting my friends and seeing them at lunch.
A crossing guard halts turning vehicles at an intersection near PS 56. (Staten Island Advance/Annalise Knudson)Annalise Knudson
Kyle Saryian and Wesley Brennan were attached at the hip upon arriving to school early for the first day, and the third-graders couldnt be more excited as more friends appeared.
Im excited to make new friends, said Kyle.
Parents at PS 56 also shared they feel safer with the front doors locked to their kids elementary school.
All New York City elementary public schools will have the Safer Access door locking and security camera system installed by the end of fall. The system will eventually expand to middle and high schools though a timeline hasnt been set yet.
Rona Youssef and her dad, Ayman Youseff, on the first day of school at PS 56. (Staten Island Advance/Annalise Knudson)Annalise Knudson
Thursday also marked the first day of classes for Catholic schools across the city though their calendars differ throughout the year.
Public schools have about two dozen days off between the first day and last day of classes, which is Thursday, June 26. Catholic schools can end as early as Friday, June 13.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Wednesday marked 57 years since Father Vincent Capodanno died in action while ministering to wounded Marines on the battlefield during the Vietnam War.
Born on Feb. 13, 1929, and ordained a priest on June 14, 1958, the Elm Park native participated in seven combat operations before dying at the age of 38 on Sept. 4, 1967.
Also known as the grunt padre, Father Capodanno was shot 27 times in the back, neck and head on the battlefield in Que Son Valley when he refused to seek cover during the battle known as Operation Swift. Despite his own injuries, the chaplain prayed with a young Marine he saw lying mortally wounded in an open field and fell by his side as he was ministering last rites.
Staten Island Advance front page from Sept. 9, 1967, first reporting news of Father Capodanno's death on Sept. 4.Archival Page
Father Capodanno, who was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Navy Bronze Star Medal, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, and three Purple Hearts for his bravery and sacrifice, was officially proclaimed a Servant of God, the initial step to sainthood by the Catholic Church, in May of 2006.
However, in 2022, the Advance/SILive.com reported that an advisory panel of theological consultants tasked with judging possible saints recommended suspending the cause for Father Capodannos sainthood.
With ongoing military actions in the world today, raising someone from the military for veneration may not be appropriate for our Church, one consultant wrote to Dr. Nicola Gori, the postulator of Father Capodannos cause.
Staten Island Advance front page from Sept. 9, 1967, first reporting news of Father Capodanno's death on Sept. 4.Archival Page
That concern was one of several reasons given for the suspension of Father Capodannos sainthood efforts, including his care in maintaining his own appearance something his supporters have chalked up to the cultural expectations of his Italian-American family.
Mary Preece, of the Father Vincent Capodanno Guild, a private Catholic Church association established to promote the cause for canonization, told the Advance/SILive.com that it was about two and a half years ago that the guild originally presented its findings to the theological consultants, nine priests in Rome, and that the presentation was returned to them because of the concerns about Father Capodannos candidacy for beatification.
It was a little bit upsetting because they didnt seem as if they had done a good enough job of reading the Positio, which was our position paper about why he deserves this recognition, Preece said. And so, Archbishop Brolio, who is the archbishop for the military services, created a new historic commission.
Preece went on to say that the new commission, composed of three historians, was able to address the concerns of the panel with the discovery of even more material about Capodanno than was previously submitted in the original Positio, and that those findings were re-submitted in June.
This was sent over two months ago to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, Preece said. So, were at a point right now where our postulator in Rome, Dr. Gori, has accepted our newest material and will represent it to the nine priests, and they wont be the same people who reviewed it the first time. If they approve and say yes, then Father Capodanno will be declared venerable.
Should Capodanno be declared venerable, Preece explained that his body would be exhumed from St. Peters Cemetery and brought to Washington D.C. to be handled by the Military Archdiocese. She added that Rome will also ask for irrevocable proof that two miracles can be attributed through Father Capodannos intercession in heaven for him to be canonized.
Its a fascinating process, Preece said. And it has to be methodical, because otherwise, we are saying definitively that this man, this good and holy priest, missionary and chaplain, is indeed in heaven well, thats a pretty big deal.
Asked how optimistic she is that things will turn out differently this time, Preece said: Its in Gods hands; Let me put it that way.
As his cause for canonization proceeds, Servant of God Vincent Capodannos life is remembered every Sept. 4 with a memorial Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
The 57th annual Memorial Mass for Father Capodanno was held on Sunday at the Father Capodanno Memorial Chapel at Fort Wadsworth.
For more information about the Father Capodanno Guild and to receive quarterly updates about the cause for canonization, visit: www.capodannoguild.org.
Minetto, N.Y. A 10-year-old boy was suspended for threatening to shoot up an Oswego County elementary school, according to court documents.
The boy, who Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard is not identifying due to his age, is a sixth grader at Minetto Elementary School, according to a statement provided to troopers by Principal Jennifer Sullivan. The incident happened on Wednesday, the second day of school for the year.
The boy threatened to stab other students with a pencil and shoot up the school, Sullivan said in the statement.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. New Yorkers should consider getting updated coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines as school starts back up and respiratory illness season is right around the corner, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday.
Updated COVID vaccines for the 2024-2025 season are now available throughout the state and can be received at any pharmacy without a prescription.
As you (shopped) for back-to-school supplies for your kids or food for a Labor Day cookout, (I hope you considered) this: The clerks, shelf stockers, truck drivers, and factory workers who make that possible may be working under a threat: Pay union dues or else be fired.
Why? Because New York is one of the 24 forced-unionism states in the country. In your state, union officials enjoy a special privilege that allows them to legally threaten a worker to pay up or be terminated. By imposing a monopoly bargaining contract, all New York employees in a unionized workplace, even those who reject union membership, can be subjected to mandatory dues.
If you think this sounds unjust, youre hardly alone. Poll after poll consistently demonstrates that 8 in 10 Americans agree that its wrong to subject workers to this kind of union coercion.
Fortunately, all public employees have enjoyed First Amendment protection against being compelled to make union payments as a job condition since the 2018 landmark US Supreme Court Janus v AFSCME decision, argued and won by National Right to Work Foundation attorneys. However, private sector workforces in forced-unionism states like New York can still be forced to give money to union officials to keep their jobs.
While thats just plain wrong, coercing workers into subsidizing union officials also holds back a states economy.
A National Institute for Labor Relations Research (NILRR) report, drawing on data from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, shows that the number of individuals employed from 2013 to 2023 grew nearly twice as fast in Right to Work states as in forced-unionism states: 16% in Right to Work states versus only 8.3% in states that allow workers to be fired for refusing to pay union bosses.
The NILRR analysis also found that the cost of living-adjusted disposable per capita income advantage for Right to Work states is equivalent to more than $11,000 a year for a family of four.
The economic data speaks for itself.
Right to Work laws do not outlaw labor unions, and they do not prevent any workers from joining a labor union if they choose. Right to Work laws simply codify one commonsense principle: Every worker should have the choice to join a labor union, but no worker should be forced to pay fees to a union as a condition of employment.
On Labor Day, (I hope we took) a moment to reflect on the benefits that Right to Work brings to workers across the nation, and the difference it could make for New York. Right to Work could mean more individual freedom and economic opportunity for you and your family. Its working in Right to Work states across the country.
Help make New York a Right to Work state. Demand your elected officials embrace the economic opportunity and worker freedom that Right to Work would bring.
(Mark Mix is president of the National Right to Work Committee and National Right to Work Foundation.)
In what feels like the opening scene of James Camerons Titanic, a rediscovered bronze statue emerged from the dark depths of the ocean floor in a recent expedition to the ships resting place.
The two-foot-tall statue of the Roman goddess Diana nicknamed Diana of Versailles once watched over the first-class lounge according to RMS Titanic, Inc., the company that helmed the July voyage.
It is the first time in nearly 40 years that Diana has been pictured, and it is the first time that the public can see the statue perhaps admired by passengers on the doomed ship.
She was photographed once in 1986 but a tradition of secrecy around the Titanic wreck ensured her location would remain unknown, the company explained.
Her location was rediscovered on the last day of the expedition.
The trip to the Titanic also revealed that a portion of the ships recognizable bow railing collapsed a distressing sign that the Titanics decay is very much underway.
This image released on Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, shows the bow of the Titanic with a large section of the deck railing now missing photographed this summer by a company with salvage rights to the wreck site on its first expedition there in many years. (RMS Titanic Inc. via AP)AP
The once miraculously intact railing surrounding the bows forecastle deck was missing a 15-foot-long section on the port side, the company said. The expedition team and partners at 3D a Depth immediately reviewed the multibeam imagery from two days prior to confirm that the section of railing had fallen as one piece and was lying on the seafloor directly below.
The company released images of the bow in the sand, which can be seen on their website.
The railing was a key feature in Camerons 1997 movie: Its where Jack claimed his position as king of the world, and where he and Rose shared their first kiss.
More about the RMS Titanic
In this file photo, the Titanic leaves Southampton, England, on April 10, 1912, on her maiden voyage. (AP Photo, File)AP
One of three sister ships, the Titanic was often referred to as unsinkable in its day by those who built it and those who voyaged on it. According to History, the construction of the Titanic began in 1909 and was the second of the White Star Lines Olympic line of ships, known for its luxury and size.
From the start, the Titanics title of unsinkable was flawed. Though the watertight bulkheads could be individually controlled from the bridge of the Titanic and were hailed as state of the art,the walls separating the bulkheads extended only a few feet above the water line, so water could pour from one compartment into another, especially if the ship began to list or pitch forward.
But that wasnt the only fatal error on the behalf of the Titanic: Even the movie Titanic brought up the lack of lifeboats, which couldnt hold half of the ships population of over 2,000.
Four days into the maiden voyage of the Titanic ended in tragedy when the ship hit a large iceberg on the night of April 14, 1912. The ship split in two by the force of the water cleaving it apart. By 2:20 a.m., April 15, 1912, both pieces of the ship had disappeared into the depths of the Atlantic. Only 705 people survived. They were heading to New York City.
The ship would remain undiscovered 700 nautical miles off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, for decades. However, on Sept. 1, 1985, Robert Ballards expedition found the two pieces of the famous ship with a submersible over 13,000 feet down in the Atlantic Ocean, as per Britannica.
CBS News reported that the Titanic is disappearing due to underwater conditions, and estimates it will only be a matter of decades until it is unrecognizable.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Its the first day of classes for tens of thousands of students across New York City on Thursday, as both public and Catholic schools welcome kids back to campus for the 2024-2025 school year.
Parents can prepare for both tears and cheers as students say farewell and greet their classmates and teachers for another year of school.
The last day of classes for public school is June 26, 2025. For Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New York, schools can end as early as June 13, 2025.
Heres a closer look at some important information for the 2024-2025 school year.
NEW PHONICS-FOCUSED LITERACY CURRICULUM
Staten Island is part of the second phase of the NYC Reads initiative, which aims to get all students reading on grade level by focusing on phonics and the science of reading, according to the city Department of Education (DOE).
All Staten Island elementary schools will adopt the Into Reading curriculum. A product of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, it offers the same Into Reading program in Spanish, which will be used for schools with dual-language programs.
Students and parents on Staten Island especially at the elementary school level will receive the detailed information they need about the new curriculum at the beginning of the academic year.
BLACK STUDIES CURRICULUM
A new Black studies curriculum for students in pre-K through 12th grade will launch in New York City public schools in the fall.
The Black Education Research Center (BERC) at Teachers College at Columbia University recently launched Black Studies as the Study of the World: A PK-12 Black Studies Curriculum for New York City Public Schools. It was created in collaboration with the DOE, the City Council and the Education Equity Action Plan initiative, a group comprising educators, non-profits and government leaders.
It aims to deepen students knowledge of early African civilizations and contemporary Africa, African-American history, and the global contributions and achievements of peoples of the African diaspora, as well as to explore the enduring impact of racial inequality on society.
FRONT DOORS LOCKED
Families can prepare to ring a doorbell to enter their childs elementary school once the school day has begun.
Every public elementary school in New York City will soon have fully locked front doors and a two-way video doorbell system as part of the Safer Access system. It is a door-locking camera system, in which front doors of schools will be locked once students arrive. Anyone who comes to visit the school thereafter will have to present themselves to a school safety agent before entry is made.
All elementary schools will have the Safer Access system installed locking the front doors by early fall, according to the DOE.
AMENDMENTS TO LOCKDOWN DRILLS
Parents in New York state will soon be notified at least a week in advance of evacuation, lockdown and other safety drills under new education amendments.
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) made several amendments related to school safety plans, according to a recent meeting of the states Board of Regents. Members of the states Safe Schools Task Force and the School Safety Improvement Team recommended certain changes, including a requirement to notify parents or guardians about school drills at least one week before they occur.
Other amendments were made to safety plans in schools, which would require schools to conduct drills and training in a trauma-informed, developmentally and age-appropriate manner.
Schools would also not be able to include props, actors, or simulations that would mimic a school shooting, incident of violence, or other emergency. Schools that use those elements, like props or simulations, must not conduct them during the regular school day and would require parental consent.
UNIVERSAL DRESS CODE
New York City public schools could soon have a universal dress code policy, thanks to new legislation approved by the City Council.
The new bill would require the DOE to post dress code policies on its website and report on dress code policies in public schools. This would include information about whether each school has a dress code policy and data on dress code violations and penalties.
Under current DOE policy, schools can form their own dress code policies using city guidelines.
If the mayor signs the bill, it would take effect immediately.
POSSIBLE CELL PHONE BAN
New York City could place a ban on cell phones in public schools by early next year, according to Chalkbeat.
Several public school principals were briefed on the possible policy that could go into effect starting in February. Schools would have to come up with their own mandates, such as if students hand over phones at the start of the school day or if they carry their phones in Yondr pouches from morning to dismissal, according to Chalkbeat.
The mayor said in August that the city wants to remove any distractions from children, but that there are reviews that need to be done to determine the extent of a full ban.
Theres a lot of things that will kick into play, including UFTs, who pays for the pouches, what mechanisms are being used. So weve been doing a lot of reviews. What are the best practices? How could it be done? There will be some action in the upcoming school year. But the extent of a full ban were not there yet, said Adams.
Back in May, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced she was considering a ban on smartphones in schools as several state officials aim to keep children safe online from social media platforms and their impact on youth mental health, according to a report.
Hochul said she plans to introduce a bill later this year that would ban smartphones in schools. If passed, it means kids would be allowed to carry cell phones not smartphones that cant access the internet but can send text messages.
Im saying, leave our kids alone, said Hochul during an MSNBC interview. Let them socialize.They can talk to their friends, but stop doing this. Stop selling our kids personal data for your financial gain. And also, parents should be able to turn it off at midnight, let the kids get some rest till 6 a.m. because otherwise, theyre going to this place all night long and theyre exhausted.
An iHeartRadio host is in the hot seat as the latest conservative to bash Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz son, Gus, crying at the Democratic National Convention.
In a since deleted tweet on X, Jay Weber a former teacher had this to say of the moment Gus cried, Thats my dad! as Walz accepted the Democratic vice-presidential nomination.
Sorry, but this is embarrassing for both father and son. If the Walzs represent todays American man, this country is screwed: Meet my son, Gus. Hes a blubbering b****h boy. His mother and I are very proud.
Walz has two children, both of whom were conceived by IVF treatments: Gus, and his older sister, Hope.
As reported by Deadline, The younger Walz has ADHD, an anxiety disorder and a non-verbal learning disorder, according to his parents in an interview published before the convention.
In case he deletes his post, this is what it said. pic.twitter.com/Jdot8OVfvg Shawn Rolland (@shawnrolland) August 22, 2024
The internet flew into a rage over the radio show hosts comments, sparking an apology on X.
This is a fuller apology for something stupid and hurtful I said yesterday. I said it without thinking or having the facts. No excuses. Having been a teacher, Ive had a standard of never involving children, I broke that and Im disappointed with myself. I apologize to the Walz family and anyone who was offended. I feel horrible, I am so sorry, Weber said, according to Deadline.
This is a fuller apology for something stupid and hurtful I said yesterday. I said it without thinking or having the facts. No excuses.
Having been a teacher, Ive had a standard of never involving children, I broke that and Im disappointed with myself. I apologize to.... Jay Weber (@JayWeber3) August 23, 2024
Since the incident, Weber has not been hosting his show, The Jay Weber Show. According to the iHeartRadio website, Ben Yount has been filling in for his absence.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 5. inDrive is interested in cooperation with Kazakhstan in the field of intellectual industry development, Trend reports.
This was stated during a meeting between the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Olzhas Bektenov, and the founder and CEO of inDrive, the global platform for transport and urban services, Arsen Tomsky.
In particular, inDrive proposed opening in Kazakhstan a university, inVision U, with 400 places for training qualified specialists in the areas of IT, education, science, art, etc.
In addition, the company plans to implement a number of environmental initiatives to improve air quality in large cities. The first project will be implemented in Almaty. Bektenov instructed the relevant government agencies to assist the public project.
In turn, Bektenov noted that Kazakhstan aims to increase the share of digital technologies in the structure of the economy and further increase the export of IT services.
"We welcome the presence of large IT companies in our market," he noted.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of ensuring legality and transparency of labor processes and road safety.
The inDrive service is represented in 750 cities in 46 countries. In 2021, the company achieved the status of a unicorn (a startup company valued at over $1 billion). In 2022, the company's office was relocated to Almaty. Currently, about 800 people work in the Kazakhstan office of inDrive.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 5. The Embassy of Kazakhstan has recommended its citizens to leave Ukraine, Trend reports via the embassy's statement.
"Due to rising tensions and for safety reasons, the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Ukraine recommends Kazakh citizens to consider leaving the territory of Ukraine. To exit Ukraine and return to Kazakhstan, the citizens can use land routes: through Poland or Moldova, followed by commercial flights," the statement said.
Besides, the statement noted that for travel through Poland, Kazakh citizens must have a Schengen visa, and no visa is required for entry into Moldova.
"At the same time, the embassy urges all citizens not to ignore air raid warnings and to immediately take shelter, observe personal safety measures, and follow the recommendations of official authorities," the statement added.
Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
In the CBDs west end, near Queen Victoria Market, the former Communications Workers Union headquarters on level nine of 365 Queen Street has sold to an owner-occupier for $3.85 million. Its the first deal in 12 years in the building which is majority-owned by the Australian Council of Trade Unions. The ACTU bought into the property after selling its Swanston Street digs in 2006. 365 Queen Street, Melbourne. The sale of the 579 sq m office was negotiated by JLLs Tim Carr and Nick Peden at a rate of $6650 a sq m. The union paid $2 million in 2012. The CBRE team also recently sold a boutique suite on level three of the McPhersons building at 546 Collins Street for just over $8000 a sq m.
Other notable strata offices for sale include level 8 at 420 Collins Street, one the few offices in the building not previously owned by bankrupt Victory Offices founder Dan Baxter. Its for sale through JLL for $2.72 million. Meanwhile, a 196 sq m office on level eight of 140 Bourke Street is also up for grabs. Its 124 sq m neighbour sold last year for $1.23 million. Savills agents Tom OHalloran and Tim Grant are handling that one. On the edge of the legal district, part of level one at Normanby Chambers at 430 Little Collins Street is going to auction on October 3. The CBRE agents are selling the 92 sq m office on behalf of Callum Fraser who jointly developed the building with former wife Zahava Elenberg and father-in-law Morry Schwartz in 2005. Normanby Chambers, 430 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Its just upstairs from the Chancery Lane restaurant which chef Scott Pickett and his co-owner David Anderson are selling for $10 million. Timber tower US office landlord Hines has scored a fresh tenant for its recently completed timber tower, T3 in Collingwood. Melbourne IVF is understood to have signed up for three levels of 36 Wellington Street, joining the head office of US coffee chain Starbucks. The fertility specialist will be moving out of the Freemasons Fertility Clinic at 344 Victoria Parade into 4800 sq m of the 15-storey Collingwood building.
Hines completed the spec-built timber tower late last year, boasting its design had resulted in a 37 per cent reduction in carbon. It is targeting a 5.5-star NABERS rating and aGreen Star rating of 6. T3 Collingwood by Jackson Clements Burrows Architects. Credit: Tom Blachford In June, Jackson Clements Burrows Architects won the Australian Institute of Architects award for Commercial Architecture for its work on T3 Collingwood. Colliers agent Travis Myerscough, who negotiated the lease with colleague Damien Adkins, confirmed a deal had been done. Its understood about another 5000 sq m of space is under offer. Around the corner, Domain Hill Property Groups Peter Cahill is selling 71 Langridge Street. About half the 5357 sq m building is leased to tenants Broadsheet Media and Akcelo.
CBRE agents Scott Orchard and Will Heffernan, along with Lemon Baxters Paul OSullivan and Hans Fan, have the listing but are keeping mum on the quoted price. Records show German fund manager DWS paid $70.7 million for 88 Langridge Street (also designed by JCB) in 2022, a value of $11,780 a sq m. The part-empty No.71 isnt likely to repeat that bumper price. 71 Langridge Street, Collingwood is for sale. Going to pot Listed medical cannabis grower, the Cann Group, has put its giant glasshouse and warehouse operations up for sale but finding out the price is harder than youd expect.
Nevertheless, the Mildura-based property, which cost around $50 million to build, is being sold with a 10-year leaseback paying $4.2 million a year with 2.5 per cent fixed increases per year. Last week Cann posted its financial results for the year 2023-24 which revealed a sobering write-down of the value of its property, plant and equipment to $76.44 million from $107.39 million. Canns straightened bottom line showed a net loss of $51.24 million after revenues fell 12 per cent to $19.07 million. But looking at the numbers from another angle, revenue from operations improved 11.6 per cent to $15.37 million and if you take out that downer of a write-down, earnings improved 24.1 per cent to a mere $13.2 million loss. Despite its financial woes, the company suggested it wont be reduced to a bargain price: Any offers will be assessed not only against each other but also against other potential funding options that might be available at the time.
Lincoln Minerals has launched a uranium exploration campaign at its Yallunda project on SAs Eyre Peninsula, as it focuses on a 7km-long anomaly identified from a mix of geophysical and geochemical datasets.
Management says it has kicked off an exploration program for environmental protection and rehabilitation (EPEPR) and the lodgement of landowner notifications as it undertakes field reconnaissance and a sampling program across the uranium tenements at its 100 per cent-owned Yallunda project. It is initially focusing its energies on the 7km anomaly, with plans for soil, calcrete and rock-chip sampling in tow.
Lincoln Minerals is aiming to move its SA uranium projects into top gear after planning near-term exploration activities.
Results from the program will assist with site selection for a follow-up geophysical gravity survey and will be integrated with the historical data information to provide Lincoln with the opportunity to unveil the true uranium potential of its underexplored region.
The company recently reviewed all of the targets generated from its exploration programs between 2007 and 2011 and completed an assessment of available historical exploration datasets using modern technical processing. Historic airborne radiometric data highlighted an anomaly returning more than 150 parts per million uranium equivalent across the prospective site.
New airborne radiometric data released by the SA Department of Energy and Mines confirms the anomalous zone, with readings exceeding 150ppm. The data shows that the anomalous zone sits on the eastern margin of the Eyre Peninsula, with the local geology hosting significant magnetite deposits and Lincolns own promising Kookaburra Gully graphite deposit.
The company also referred to a 2011 airborne radiometric survey that was completed by its then-joint venture (JV) partner, Eyre Iron. The survey was responsible for identifying the 7km-long uranium surface anomaly.
Lincoln also has in its kit-bag the Jungle Dam uranium project that sits within the same Eyre Peninsula region. A gravity survey from 2008 has been integrated with modern ground gravity imaging to refine the companys drill targets that surround historic intercepts of uranium mineralisation.
Management says the latest gravity and geological information sourced from SA Government data has been pivotal to improving its knowledge of the morphology of the basement ground in its project area. It has also noted that an upcoming preliminary feasibility study (PFS) for Kookaburra Gully is ahead of schedule and due for completion next month.
According to Geoscience Australia, SA is considered the nations most uranium-friendly State as it actively supports exploration for the controversial metal. In fact, the project approvals process in SA has even been streamlined.
With several projects in SA that show great promise for yellowcake, Lincolns uranium vehicle may be about to move into top gear.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au
But the man christened Gucci Scaramucci by former president George W. Bush was never going to slum it in Newcastle for long, and returned to the Harbour City for dinner and drinks that evening, after a quick pit-stop on A Current Affair.
But having rebranded as an outspoken Trump-hater, crypto evangelist and political podcaster, the Mooch is in high demand and travelled to these shores to address the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia Investment Summit in Newcastle on Thursday.
Former finance bro Anthony Scaramucci is best known for his tempestuous 11-day stint as Donald Trumps White House communications director which ended soon after he delivered a profanity-laden tirade to a New Yorker journalist trash-talking various other members of the then-presidents staff.
Unsurprisingly, a Merivale joint was on the agenda, with the ASFA hosting an exclusive dinner in the private dining room of Good Luck, the latest bauble in Justin Hemmes hospitality empire.
While CBD didnt score an invitation, we did get our hands on what seemed an intriguing guest list. From the political world, Labors all-powerful national secretary Paul Erickson and Liberal senator for NSW Maria Kovacic were invited. Union types on the invite list included former Australian Workers Union boss Daniel Walton, who now chairs Labor-aligned think tank the McKell Institute, and Tony Maher, president of the Mining and Energy Union, who might not have gotten an invitation had his mob not split from the CFMEU last year.
The superannuation sector was ably represented by ASFAs chair Gary Dransfield, CEO Mary Delahunty and former Australian Super boss Ian Silk, on the boards of Hawthorn footy club and Crown Melbourne and proud owner of corporate Australias most extravagant moustache. Former ABC News Breakfast finance presenter Madeleine Morris, now a consultant with AFSA, was the closest any journos got to the power room.
Also on the invite list were American Chamber of Commerce April Palmerlee, Mills Oakley partner Mark Bland and AMPs director government Alastair Kinloch.
Whatever pearls of wisdom the Mooch delivered about the Trump White House, or the state of play in Novembers presidential race, were sure it beat talking about super.
Bureau of Meteorology head Andrew Johnson giving evidence at Senate estimates in 2022. Credit: Rhett Wyman This should have been settled promptly, Pantechis said. Instead, it took five years of threatened and actual litigation, and that takes a toll on people who stand up for their workplace rights. That cant be underestimated. Chambers said she was pleased the case had finally concluded, and she hoped it would encourage public institutions such as the BoM to put appropriate governance in place. I will take some time to gather my thoughts and have more to say in future, she said. A BoM spokesperson said the settlement was consistent with its obligations as a model litigant to settle claims where possible and appropriate. However, the Humphreys judgment found: The matter was very hard fought both at [the] hearing and in the written submissions. The respondent [BoM] has contested the matter on both fact and law, arguing every available factual and legal point.
The judge also noted that many of the witnesses who gave evidence on behalf of the bureau had since left the organisation but made no finding on this. One of the former employees critical of the BoM worked in the communications team and wound up hospitalised for three months in 2022 after the conditions at work aggravated his pre-existing mental illnesses. In documents seen by this masthead, Comcare accepted liability in 2022 and rejected an appeal by the BoM a few months later. The worst place hed worked
In comments to this masthead, the former employee claimed there was a culture of unrealistic expectations, bullying and gaslighting. The veteran public servant, who asked for his name to be withheld to protect his current job, said it was the worst place [hed] ever worked. Id wake up in the morning and feel like vomiting because I knew Id be hammered from the minute I walked in to 6.30 that evening, he said. The employee claimed he knew of colleagues who took extended stress leave, and a large number of people quit in a single year. His managers at the time have also subsequently left. The BoM spokesperson said a Comcare inspection in December 2022 did not identify any non-compliance with work health and safety legislation. The spokesperson said workplace culture was positive and improving, and staff turnover had declined since 202122. Johnson told estimates earlier this year that the bureaus culture and morale were really strong, referring to the results of the 2023 APS employee survey.
While the survey had some positive results, only about 40 per cent agreed that the senior executive level worked as a team and communicated effectively with the rest of the agency. Twenty-eight per cent said that change was managed well, 17 percentage points lower than other large public service organisations. A BoM spokesperson said this was not unusual, given the organisation had undergone significant change. Another former BoM communications employee claimed she had left because she found it distressing to work for the organisation as she believed it deliberately hampered media reporting of climate change. She claimed that whenever a journalist contacted the BoM with a simple request that mentioned climate change or severe weather, communications officers were instructed to prepare a briefing about the reporter and the questions along with a proposed response, which then had to be cleared by four layers of management and sometimes the chief executive, who often did not approve the prepared statement. No interviews with the BoMs experts were to be granted, and statements could only be written, resulting in thin responses that were often too late for journalists deadlines. She believed this approach was because the chief executive was sympathetic to the former government and then-prime minister Scott Morrison, and climate change policy was known to be a contentious political issue.
Culture of silence In 2022, this masthead quoted Professor Scott Power, a senior principal research scientist who quit the bureau in 2020, who described a culture of silence over climate change at the time. The BoM spokesperson said neither the current nor former government had given any formal or informal directive about how the organisation should communicate about climate change. The spokesperson denied that approvals for media commentary on climate change went as high as the chief executives office, saying it followed the standardised process for all media approvals in place for many years. The spokesperson pointed to the chief executives many statements to budget estimates affirming that the increase in both atmospheric land and ocean temperatures was because of human activity. However, the spokesperson said the bureaus role was to provide data, not to analyse or determine how to respond to the threat. The spokesperson said the BoM employed 297 meteorologists and 28 climatologists, and these experts regularly and publicly communicate the results of peer-reviewed climate change status and trends, consistent with the bureaus role and capability.
Loading The judgment in the unfair dismissal case established that Chambers took a pay cut from her former university role to accept the role at the BoM and was promised she would be entitled to business class flights for work travel. The attempts to fire Chambers started five years ago, after she took two days of approved personal leave after a work conference in Paris. When she returned, she was told she would be audited because she had flown business class, taken leave, and claimed expenses only available to more senior staff. In August 2019, her boss, chief scientist Dr Gilbert Brunet, who had approved the trip including all leave, told her she had not passed probation and would be dismissed, despite having earlier given positive feedback. Chambers said she would seek an injunction, and the BoM made undertakings not to sack her. In November 2019, Chambers performance was again rated by Brunet as unsatisfactory. Chambers complained to the merit protection commissioner, who found the assessment to be wrong and unsupported by evidence.
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Eating outFood Fast-paced, affordable Italian arrives on the James Street of the CBD Doughcraft is cooking Roman-style pinsa (like pizza, but not), house-made pasta and mains, accompanied by cocktails and Italian wines, in a beautiful dining room. Matt Shea September 5, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share
When did all the Italian restaurants clear out of the CBD? Coppa Spuntino used to be a post-work go-to on Creek Street. But that venue went the way of the pandemic, and, despite a hugely successful, group-reviving extended pop-up in the former digs of Il Centro (also a COVID casualty), owners Tom Sanceau and Bonnie Shearston currently have the concept on ice while they focus on other projects. Doughcraft on Mary Street is now opening at nights, serving a fast-paced menu of Italian food. Markus Ravik There was Otto at 480 Queen, but it too shifted out of the city during the pandemic to its current waterside digs at South Bank. Which leaves not much. Theres Guy Grossis Settimo at The Westin on Mary Street, but its an upmarket spot suited for occasion dining. Simone Presta wanted to create something more casual and approachable.
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Exclusive One of citys best young chefs to open restaurant in heritage church I absolutely noticed that lack of Italian restaurants in the city, Presta says. We have Scugnizzi, of course [a hole-in-the-wall on Adelaide Street opened in 2023 by Presta and chef Carmine Guarino] and now Doughcraft, but theres not too much else. City slickers might know Doughcraft as a French-Italian bakery that expanded from its original Albion home in February into the former Mary Street digs of Leonards Bar & Bistro. But now Presta and co-owners Steven Chevalier and Salvatore Compagnone are opening the venue at night as a casual, fast-paced Italian restaurant with a menu thats loosely anchored in Rome but takes inspiration from around the peninsula and beyond. Doughcrafts menu is designed to be affordable, with none of the pastas priced over $34 and the mains $48. Markus Ravik You look at this place and it gives you that dining vibe, Presta says. Its meant to be utilised from sunrise to sunset.
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Im Italian, and one of my business partners [Chevalier] is French. Hes doing his thing with the bakery with imported butter from France and a team of French bakers and I want to do my thing: Italian dining pasta and pinsa. Squid ink baccala mantecato and potato ravioli with a puttanesca sauce and stracciatella. Markus Ravik Dont know pinsa? Its a Roman flatbread similar to pizza but with a base made from soy, rice and wholegrain flours that (at Doughcraft) is fermented for 48 hours. Presta reckons its lighter to eat, easier to digest and it comes with a crunchier base than, say, a Napoli pizza, despite being cooked at a lower temperature in Doughcrafts bread oven. Here, its almost like a gourmet pizza, because we apply the condiments to each slice rather than put it all over the top, Presta says. Market fish with salsa verde, orange fennel and balck olive salad, and grilled lemon. Markus Ravik
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There are eight pinsas on Doughtcrafts menu including a margherita (tomato, buffalo mozzarella and crystallised basil), a tartufo (mushrooms, Italian sausage, provola and black truffle), a mortazza (mortadella with sun-dried cherry tomatoes, pistachio and stracciatella) and the Sfizio (cured salmon with rocket, whipped buffalo mozzarella, beetroot and lemon zest). Away from pinsa, Rome-born head chef Edoardo Bianchini is cooking house-made pasta such as a crab meat spaghetti with a white-wine reduction, chilli, breadcrumbs, garlic and lemon zest; gnocchi in pumpkin sauce with feta cheese, fried kale and toasted almonds; and a beef brisket fettuccine ragu with porcini mushrooms, a red wine reduction, tomato sauce and parmesan. Brisbanes most exciting restaurant openings of 2024 (so far) A short selection of main plates includes grilled free-range spatchcock with rosemary potatoes and grilled lemon, grilled tiger prawns with lardo, a cannelini bean cream, sweet paprika and lemon zest, and a 300-gram roasted sirloin with rocket, cherry tomatoes, parmesan and vincotto. Its all as approachable as promised, with none of the pastas priced over $34 and the mains $48.
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Arancini with speck, fontina and peas. Markus Ravik There are so many Italian restaurants in Brisbane, so we wanted to create something different with a little twist, Presta says. For drinks, the cocktail list has been expanded from Doughcrafts previously tight aperitivo hour selection and includes a bunch of twists on the classics, and the venue now serves a 40-bottle wine list that focuses mainly on Italian and French drops. We have the Kangaroo Point Bridge being built right here and the casino just up the road. So this little corner is going to be the James Street of the city. Simone Presta The premises themselves remain mostly unchanged from their days as Leonards, with its fetching exposed brick walls, mosaic tiled floors, and curtains and timber of the dining room.
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But Presta, Chevalier and Compagnone have added new table lamps. Along with the new (as of February) art on the walls, it gives the restaurant a livelier feel, and its difficult to argue with Prestas thought that its a space meant to be seen at night. Doughcrafts bar is serving a cocktail menu that twists the classics and a 40-bottle wine list. Markus Ravik He also thinks of Doughcraft as part of a new CBD food precinct, with Settimo located just up Mary Street, Naldham House reopening across Felix Street and the old Buffalo Bar now being refurbished. We have the Kangaroo Point Bridge being built right here and the casino just up the road, Presta says. So this little corner is going to be the James Street of the city. Open Mon 7am-2pm; Tue-Fri 7am-2pm, 5pm-10pm; Sat 5pm-10pm
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181 Mary Street, Brisbane, 0431 553 833 doughcraftbne.com
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Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size This story is part of the September 7 edition of Good Weekend. See all 12 stories . The letters arrive at the rate of a dozen a week, addressed to the headquarters of the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) in Canberra but omitting the official title of the intended recipient, the Australian Electoral Commissioner, Tom Rogers. When they write to me, theyll write something like, To the man Tom Rogers doing business as the fake election commissioner or Tom of the family Rogers, the living man, he says. Theyre always signed with red thumbprints and use archaic language directly out of the US. Most are penned and thumbed by SovCits, as they are sometimes called. Activists aligned with the sovereign citizen movement, a loose group of extreme libertarians who disavow the very concept of the Australian state and who distance themselves from societal institutions. Many refuse to pay taxes or obtain driving licences. The idea of compulsory voting is repellent to them. Some are quite mad, says Rogers. If weve tried to enrol them, quite often they include an invoice for $20,000 for opening the letter from the fake government. Its completely bonkers. Over the 11 years hes been in charge of overseeing Australias elections, Rogers has witnessed a worrying uptick in what he calls tinfoil hat-wearing conspiratorialism. On one level you think its only a dozen letters a week, frankly who cares? he says. But its a bit of a worry that Im getting that much stuff. The world over, democracy is under attack. On January 6, 2021, a sitting American president, who hopes to become the next US president, incited an insurrection aimed at violently overturning the result of a clear-cut presidential election. In Brazil on January 8, 2023, supporters of the far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro carried out a copycat attack in the countrys capital, Brasilia, after this Trump of the Tropics had also been defeated at the polls. The war in Ukraine is an emblematic struggle between freedom and autocracy. The new cold war pitting the US against China is framed in the same epochal terms. Foreign interference, from bad actors like Russia and China, is where threats to democracy become threats to national security. The worlds richest man, Elon Musk, has become a super-spewer of misinformation through his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), a billionaire who has not only disrupted the economy but been accused of destabilising democracy. The rise of generative artificial intelligence will propagate the mind poison. The body politic here is hardly immune. Adopting a Fortress Australia mentality, moreover, offers little protection from the contagion. Just consider what unfolded during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Melbourne, anti-lockdown protests paraded a gallows through the streets, seemingly mimicking the January 6 insurrectionists. Some pissed on the Shrine of Remembrance, the citys holiest shrine. Right-wing politics in Australia has also become more Trumpian. Scott Morrisons secretive multi-ministerial power grab flouted the Westminster tradition of open government. After meeting Donald Trump at Trump Tower in May, he posted on social media that the former president had been subject to a pile on, seemingly dismissing the rap sheet against him, including criminal charges relating to the storming of the US Capitol, the attempt to overturn the election. Ahead of the Voice referendum, the present Liberal leader questioned the integrity of the poll. Peter Dutton complained the vote was being rigged because the AEC ruled that a tick would likely count as a yes but a cross would not be counted as a no. Yet the decision adhered both to precedent and the strict letter of electoral law.
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Some conspiracy theorists claimed voting machines were heading for Australia. You will know that we dont use any voting machines, says Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers. Never have, never will. Credit: Getty Images So at a time when the electoral process is coming under assault on so many fronts, both foreign and domestic, maybe we should be grateful that the ramparts of Australian democracy are manned by a former soldier. Rogers, who grew up on Sydneys lower north shore, is a graduate of the Royal Military College, Duntroon, and served for 20 years as an officer in the Australian Army. For a time he commanded a UN peacekeeping mission in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Both a strategist, peering at the horizon for long-term threats, and a tactician, responding to day-to-day attacks, Rogers draws inspiration from Australias most revered military commander, General John Monash. He tells the story of how, during the Great Depression, a group of disgruntled veterans urged Monash to lead a military coup. He shot them down straight away, says Rogers. He said the future of Australia relies on the ballot box and an educated electorate. Ive always thought of that, and the two components of that. Not just the vote, but providing citizens with the information they need to vote. Loading Combating misinformation and disinformation now consumes much of the Commissions bandwidth. Ahead of the 2022 federal election, the AEC had to rebut claims that Dominion Voting Systems voting machines would be used to rig the vote. THE ELECTION STEAL FIX IS IN, read a post on Facebook in October 2021, from an account called Seaman John, which got dozens of shares and more than 100 reactions. AEC to accommodate the utterly corrupt and discredited Dominion Voting Systems in our next National Election. It was a local iteration of the Trump conspiracy theory that had been libellously amplified by Rupert Murdochs Fox News, which had to pay the Colorado-based company a staggering $US787 million to settle the defamation lawsuit before it went to trial. Yet as Rogers wearily points out: If you have ever been into an Australian polling booth, you will know that we dont use any voting machines. Never have, never will. It would be unlawful and illegal. Another canard put out by conspiracy-mongers was that the AEC was using outsourced vote-counting software vulnerable to manipulation. Yet every vote is counted by AEC staff at designated AEC venues. Also, there were allegations of voter fraud, after rumours spread that ballot papers had been found near rubbish bins in Port Macquarie. The concocted image, sent to a radio station in Sydney, featured some bona fide AEC ballot papers, which might have been discarded by people who chose not to vote. Others, however, were clearly fake photocopied on the wrong shade of green paper.
Of all the conspiracy theories, perhaps Rogers favourite was the furphy that voters should not use pencils because the AEC would erase their votes. It came on social media with the hashtag #usepen. I had some gigantic rubber that I was going round after hours erasing 17 million votes, laughs Rogers. These are nutty mad conspiracy theories that people pick up overseas and smear across what you are doing. Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers says some of the letters he receives are quite mad. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen It was around 2013 that Rogers first noticed an escalation in conspiratorialism, which he ascribes to the rise of social media platforms such as Twitter, as X was then known. In 2016, the year of Donald Trumps shock victory, his concerns grew about the threat from misinformation. Not only was it a question of safeguarding Australia against foreign interference from countries such as China, Iran and even India, but foreign infection from its closest ally, the United States. Protecting the reputation of the AEC became paramount. What they were seeing overseas was not a failure of electoral administration, it was a failure of reputation. People were deliberately sowing doubt about the validity of electoral results. Ive got this very strong view that elections are part of national security. Trusting election results is what democratic legitimacy rests upon, so we really went to town.
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Going to town meant establishing the electoral equivalent of a special forces detachment, the Defending Democracy Unit, which was tasked with protecting the AECs reputation. Around the world, the AEC is seen as the gold standard in electoral administration, and within Australia it is widely regarded as unimpeachable. Nine out of 10 citizens say they trust how it carries out its work. At the heart of its reputation management strategy is pre-bunking, as opposed to debunking countering conspiracy theories before they take flight. The AEC set up a disinformation register, rebutting every fallacious claim that appeared on its radar. It raised its game on social media, that cesspit of disinformation. In 2019, it also set up its own YouTube channel, AEC TV. It sounds very grand, says Tom Rogers. Its effectively a series of videos filmed in a cupboard with a backdrop. Where we see one of these conspiracy theories online, we will immediately cut one of these videos with one of our experts talking about the actual facts, bang it online straight away and promote it on social. Youve got to do it quickly. Thats the thing. Australias way of voting including mandatory participation has been praised worldwide. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone By responding rapidly counter-attacking, in effect during the Voice referendum campaign, Rogers was able to quickly refute Duttons dangerous comments about vote-rigging. In robust terms, the AEC completely and utterly rejected the claim it was acting unfairly, and complained the criticism was based on emotion rather than the reality of the law. When I raise Duttons comments, Rogers treads gingerly. I think were all responsible for our own statements is all he will now say. Yet another countermeasure is the Stop and Consider campaign, introduced ahead of the 2019 federal election, which Rogers says was shamelessly stolen from Sweden. They ran a campaign, If it makes you angry, it is probably fake. I really liked that as a tag line, and we did some testing and it didnt quite fly. So we came up with Stop and Consider. This public education campaign, promoted on all the AECs social media platforms, urges voters to be wary of what they are seeing, reading and hearing. Is it from a reliable source? When was it published? Could it be a scam? Its about getting citizens to consider how they consume information, especially at election time, says Rogers. We need to raise the level of digital competence among our citizens to give them the skills they need to work through this. Voters need to understand what is going on in the information ecosystem. Wed be foolish to think in Australia we are immune to these global trends that we have seen in other countries. Thats being turbocharged by the rise of artificial intelligence. We dont have huge computers here in the basement where we are able to detect AI. The AECs Tom Rogers
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The rise of AI unquestionably elevates the threat level. A recent report from NewsGuard, a US-based organisation which counters misinformation, found that between May and December 2023, online sites misleadingly hosting mostly AI-generated articles increased from 49 to more than 600. Deepfakes AI-generated video, images and audio purporting to be real have already been deployed in the US presidential election. Ahead of the New Hampshire primary in January, voters received phone calls fabricating the voice of President Biden. Fake Joe told them to stay at home rather than vote. I think were operating at the cutting edge of where our legislation is, says Rogers, but Ive also gone public and said that new developments, such as AI, are complex, and that the Election Act is not set up to deal with that. And technically, internally, we dont have huge computers here in the basement where we are able to detect AI. It speaks of the asymmetrical nature of the battle. AEC TV up against AI feels like a David versus Goliath mismatch. In his scorching 1964 polemic, The Lucky Country, Donald Horne not only complained that Australian politicians were second-rate but that the countrys democratic system was second-hand. Australia is a lucky country run mainly by second-rate people who share its luck, is the quote that has echoed down the decades. But it was the beginning of his largely neglected next line that got to the nub of Hornes thesis: It lives on other peoples ideas. Horne bemoaned how Australia was lazily imitative, inheriting and mimicking Britains system of governance. As he later explained: I had in my mind the idea of Australia as a derived society. Loading Canberra appeared to prove his critique. Though the nomenclature of the House of Representatives and Senate was imported from Washington, much of the furniture looked like it had been shipped in from Britain. The green-and-red leather benches in Parliament House were modelled on those of the Palace of Westminster. As in Britain, Hansard provided a verbatim record of parliamentary proceedings. Old Parliament House could boast a near-replica of Augustus Pugins Speakers Chair in the Commons, replete with arm rests incorporating timber from Horatio Nelsons HMS Victory and a royal coat of arms hewn out of oak from Westminster Hall. To this day, a golden mace, gifted by King George VI, is carried in procession ahead of every sitting day by the Serjeant-at-Arms, who used to don on ceremonial occasions a pair of white gloves, a shirt with a butterfly collar, silver-buckled shoes, stockings and knee-breeches. The full Bridgerton. For all the ceremonial and procedural similarities, however, Hornes thesis was too self-belittling. Rather than being imitators, Australians have been the inventors of an emphatically homegrown version of democracy. In 1902, with the passage of the Commonwealth Franchise Act, Australia became the first country where women could stand for parliament. Secret voting, through ballot papers and closeted voting booths, was taken up in America in the late 19th century, where it was called the Australian ballot. Though it initially copied the first-past-the-post system used in UK parliamentary elections, in 1918 preferential voting was adopted for the House of Representatives. On October 10, 1924, compulsory voting was signed into law. As the historian Judith Brett has written in From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage: How Australia Got Compulsory Voting: In the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries, Australia led the world in electoral reform.
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An election-day tradition. Australia has succeeded in creating a culture of celebration around elections as full-community affairs, writes one international observer. Weekend polling also sets it apart from the US and UK. From the sausage sizzles to voters turning up in budgie smugglers and bikinis, the electoral experience is quintessentially Aussie. The writer David Malouf, during his 1998 Boyer Lectures, neatly distilled the essence of Saturday elections. Voting for us is a family occasion, he observed, a duty fulfilled, as often as not, on the way to the beach, so that children early get a sense of it as an obligation, but a light one, a duty casually undertaken. Small wonder that Australias way of doing things has won international acclaim. Australia has succeeded in creating a culture of celebration around elections as full-community affairs, wrote the influential Washington Post columnist E. J. Dionne jnr and Miles Rapoport, a Harvard academic, in their 2022 book, 100% Democracy. As well as emulating the spirit of Australian democracy, they hoped that America would ape its model of compulsory participation. The United States adopted the secret ballot after Australia tried it first, they wrote. We should do the same with universal voting. Another American admirer is the Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz. There are many institutional aspects of your model which I think other countries should emulate, among them mandatory voting, he told me during a recent visit to Sydney. We spend so much money getting out the vote, that sort of spending gives power to those who contribute, creating a system of one dollar per vote as much as one person one vote. Preferential voting he also finds attractive. If the United States had had that, Trump would not even have been on the ballot. And our system gives undue influence to the extremes. Compulsory voting is a safeguard against polarisation. Elections become less of a base-mobilising exercise and more an appeal to the middle, with all the moderation that implies. Loading Weve been world leaders with the secret ballot compulsory enrolment and compulsory voting, says Tom Rogers, who is also rightly proud of the statutory independence of the AEC. America, where states set their own electoral rules, has no equivalent body. But each wacky letter that arrives in his in-tray, and each new conspiracy theory that percolates online, reminds Rogers that he cannot let down his guard. According to the Washington-based watchdog, Freedom House, Australia has slipped down the global democratic rankings. In the bodys 2024 Freedom in the World report, Australia ranked 17th on democratic health. Between 2017 and 2019, it had ranked sixth. Some of the slippage is explained by Australias tough pandemic lockdowns, which were seen to have infringed on personal liberties. But, at a bare minimum, Australia should strive to remain a top-10 democracy. Ideally, it should become the paragon nation. The democracy sausage needs to remain as succulent and nourishing as possible.
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Happy days for Kooyongs teal independent MP Monique Ryan, who has finally joined the EV club, purchasing a Volvo XC40 EV in May, according to a parliamentary filing this week.
In a Good Weekend profile published shortly after shed vanquished Josh Frydenberg at the 2022 federal election, Ryan said she couldnt afford an EV, noting that Grumpy Obnoxious Old Men often asked why she got around her electorate in a distinctly environmentally unfriendly 10-year-old VW Golf.
Teal independent MP Monique Ryan has a new car. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
A spokesman told us: EVs have come way down in price since Monique gave that quote, which is why it is more affordable and this in no small part due to the fuel efficiency standards Monique and other independents have fought hard for.
We wondered if Ryan bought the $76,990 RRP (plus on road costs) XC40 Recharge Single Motor or the $85,990 RRP (plus on road costs) XC40 Recharge Twin Motor, which offers considerably more EV grunt. Alas, we didnt hear back.
North Shore Rapist Graham James Kay will be kept on the strictest of monitoring conditions for up to three years, a judge has ordered, after an expert diagnosed him as having sexual sadism disorder.
Survivors, who showed up to court to face their attacker, have called for longer sentences and for irredeemable criminals to be permanently removed from society.
Graham Kay, the North Shore Rapist, has been diagnosed as a sexual sadist and must wear an ankle monitor for up to three years.
Kay, 73, was recently unmasked as the North Shore Rapist who terrorised the city in the 1990s, after a court protected his identity four years ago. He attacked eight women and girls before being caught prowling for another.
Kay had complained about media attention following his release from prison in 2015, so a judge suppressed his identity in 2020 to assist his rehabilitation.
The Bridge to Brisbane race is expected to dominate the CBD on Sunday, with 30,000 runners and walkers slated to take part in the five-kilometre and 10-kilometre races, and road closures in place around the city from early morning.
The first closures will be in effect from 2am Sunday and the last will be lifted at 4pm.
The Bridge to Brisbane road closure map and list. Credit: The Bridge to Brisbane
Organisers have arranged detour routes for motorists, lifting tolls on the Clem 7 southbound and Airport Link M7 from 5am to 9.30am.
The five-kilometre and 10-kilometre races will start from Hamilton and the Gateway Bridges southern end in Murarrie, respectively, ending at the Brisbane Showgrounds where a Finish Village including food and entertainment will be erected.
More information can be found at the Bridge to Brisbane website.
Private schools are pocketing thousands of dollars more per student in taxpayer funding than similar public campuses just down the road, according to a new education union report.
Using Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) data, the union compared the income per student of Werribee Secondary College and MacKillop Catholic Regional College, located 1.6 kilometres apart in Melbournes south-west.
Despite having fewer students with high needs, MacKillop received $1689 more per student in government funding in 2022. Factoring in all income sources, which includes fees, the Catholic school received almost 50 per cent more per student than its neighbour, according to the union.
Two comparable independent schools in the same federal electorate Al-Taqwa College and the Islamic College of Melbourne also received significantly more government funding.
A record 245 patients have died or suffered serious harm due to errors that unfolded at Victorian hospitals within a year.
Three patients died or suffered serious harm after surgery on the wrong part of their body, while four patients had foreign objects such as surgical sponges and dressings left inside them following surgery and other invasive procedures.
There were 245 sentinel events in Victorian hospitals in 2022-23, which are unexpected events that lead to death or serious harm of a patient due to deficiencies in system and process. Credit: iStock
In one case, a woman who was admitted to hospital with a sore leg after falling off a step, developed blood clots in her lungs after being prescribed an inappropriate medication which left her on life-support.
The incidents are detailed in a Safer Care Victoria report published online last week, which revealed that approximately 167 patients died as a result of errors in Victorian hospitals in 2022-23.
Up to 300 jobs could be affected as US-based lithium producer Arcadium Lithium announced it would place its Mt Cattlin mine near Ravensthorpe in the Great Southern into care and maintenance next year.
Arcadium president and chief executive Paul Graves said:
Unfortunately, production at Mt Cattlin beyond the current stage of the open pit cannot be justified in the current price environment for spodumene. We will maintain open and transparent dialogue with all of our stakeholders while supporting our employees and communities in Western Australia during this transition period.
The mine will shut down after the current stage of mining and spodumene processing is complete by next June.
The decision is another blow to WAs critical minerals sector after over supply of both lithium and nickel has closed several mines in the state.
The nearby First Quantum nickel mine shut down earlier this year.
Member for Roe Peter Rundle said the shutdown was a devastating blow to the community and could affect up to 300 jobs.
He said the state government needed to step in and help communities like Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun:
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, September 5. Kyrgyzstan exported 50,173 tons of oil products to Turkiye from January through June 2024, a 60 percent increase compared to 31,358 tons during the same period in 2023, Trend reports.
According to the country's State Statistical Committee, the exports were valued at $34.295 million, up 51.9 percent from $22.584 million in January-June of the previous year. Turkiye received the largest share of Kyrgyzstan's oil product exports, with Uzbekistan as the second-largest recipient, importing 30,410 tons valued at $8.846 million.
Overall, Kyrgyzstan exported 99,133 tons of oil products worth $64.477 million in the first half of 2024. The volume increased by 45.9 percent compared to 67,961 tons in the same period of 2023 and by 40.2 percent in value from $45.980 million in JanuaryJune 2023.
Kyrgyzstan's foreign trade turnover reached $7.6 billion from January through June 2024. The figure increased by 9.4 percent compared to the same period in 2023. Within this turnover, exports accounted for 16.9 percent, while imports made up 83.1 percent.
Exports from Kyrgyzstan in JanuaryJune 2024 decreased by 3.2 percent year-on-year, totaling $1.3 billion. The value of imported goods into Kyrgyzstan was $6.3 billion, which is a 12.4 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023.
If you went to an Australian university any time since about the 90s, chances are international students were paying for your education.
That doesnt mean you werent paying anything. Indeed, theres every chance you railed against university fees or the size of your student debt. But those international students were paying much more than you were maybe even three or four times as much and without them, your debt would have been much larger.
Illustration: Simon Letch
So it is a matter of serious consequence when the federal government decides, as the Albanese government announced last week, to reduce the number of international students universities can accept by 16 per cent.
This is not some minor tweak to university coffers. If the government reduced its funding to universities by that much, we would instinctively understand how savage that might be. But a place like the University of Sydney gets more money from international students than it does from government funding. This goes straight to the heart of its business model.
Politics is a cruel business. Defeat can be shattering. Mark Latham not only lost an election as Labor leader in 2004 but went on to lose friends and the respect of his peers. What is most remarkable about Shorten is that he was able to recover from two election defeats, as well as the loss of the Labor leadership, and emerge as one of the best members of a Labor cabinet in a subsequent government. Loading Who else can claim a recovery like that? John Howard lost the 1987 election, won in 1996 and governed as prime minister for 11 years. His example shows just how rare it is for political leaders to climb their way back from brutal rejection. Shorten was no stranger to bitterness at times, but his career proved his stamina and his character. And the twist is that Shorten became one of the best cabinet ministers because of that recovery. To borrow from a popular book title, he learnt the subtle art of not giving a f---. His interview on the ABCs Insiders program on the Sunday before last, when he spared viewers the usual anodyne claptrap and spoke directly about the cost of disability support, was an example of this straight talk. Critics may gag at the praise for Shorten they are likely to see in the media. The truth is that Shorten was central to defending the National Disability Insurance Scheme despite attacks from the Greens and others about his controls on spending. He was an advocate for the NDIS almost as soon as he became a parliamentary secretary after the 2007 election. It is fair to wonder whether anyone else could have balanced the competing pressures to curb spending growth, but deliver essential services in that portfolio.
That makes it all the stranger that factional enemies in Victoria were so determined to bring him down. Shorten knew that the key powerbrokers who run Victorian Labor wanted him out of parliament. He fell out with Richard Marles, the deputy prime minister, and Stephen Conroy, the former cabinet minister. An unhealthy dynamic emerged: some were more motivated by internal jealousies than the fact Shorten delivered results as a minister. In the usual pattern of politics, young MPs complained that it was time for him to go: the only way for them to move up was for him to move out. Anthony Albanese made a key point on Thursday: in a rare move for anyone in politics, Shorten chose his departure on his own terms. It is fair to assume he was offered diplomatic posts. The prime minister is obviously a winner from this move: his one-time leadership rival leaves the caucus and is removed from any future chess moves on the leadership. Bill Shorten, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard in 2019. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer Regrets, he had a few. Shorten recited the Frank Sinatra classic My Way for good reason on Thursday. A shift in the Labor tax strategy in 2019 might have taken him to The Lodge. Who will ever be sure? His critics will always blame him for helping to bring down Kevin Rudd in 2010 and then doing the same to Julia Gillard in 2013. For some, he will always be the calculating numbers man with a mobile phone in each hand at the height of a leadership spill. As Gough Whitlam put it, only the impotent are pure. This is an incredibly unusual departure. Shorten is not taking a government job. He applied for a competitive interview for his next post, as vice-chancellor at the University of Canberra, and secured the position. He is not joining a lobbying outfit, a consultancy or a corporate titan. Yes, he will have a generous salary, but he chooses to work in education, where it is possible to do some good in the world.
As voters go to the polls on Saturday, we explore whats at stake in the NSW local government elections.
Sydneys highest-earning residents receive greater representation at a local level than their less affluent neighbours in a disparity that is leading to entrenched disadvantage and increased insularity between council areas, critics say.
Of the 10 highest-earning LGAs in metropolitan Sydney, eight Woollahra, Hunters Hill, Mosman, Waverley, Lane Cove, Willoughby, North Sydney and Randwick have the most favourable ratios of councillors to residents, while the lowest earning LGAs Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, and Liverpool have some of the worst ratios.
The situation is so pronounced that one local councillor in Hunters Hill represents 2106 people but someone in the same position in Canterbury-Bankstown represents 24,536 residents.
Eamon Waterford, the CEO of the Committee for Sydney, says this dynamic is entrenching Sydneys economic divide and lets wealthy residents protect their quality of life while shunning neighbouring communities in need of support.
A $5 billion private-sector plan to build a giant rail terminal west of Werribee a project that promised to remove thousands of trucks a year from Melbournes roads has been abandoned.
The Little River project, which was opposed by community groups and the local Wyndham Council, was planned by Pacific National, Australias largest private rail freight company.
Pacific Nationals proposed Little River rail freight terminal would have claimed 595 hectares of farmland and native grassland west of Melbourne. Credit: Jason South
But on Wednesday night it informed stakeholders, including the state government, that it would withdraw planning and environmental applications and approvals for the site known as the Little River Logistics Precinct Project.
Pacific National has made the decision given the changed timeline for associated freight and infrastructure projects and broader economic factors at this time, which have impacted on the project business case, a spokesperson said on Thursday.
The first-ever Samoan MP is set to be sworn into Victorian parliament following a hotly contested ballot of Greens party members in Melbournes inner north.
Pacific health campaigner Anasina Gray-Barberio beat seven other candidates to replace former Greens leader Samantha Ratnam in Victorias upper house, the party confirmed on Thursday.
Incoming Greens MP Anasina Gray-Barberio.
Ratnam announced in April her intention to quit state politics and run for the federal lower house seat of Wills, which the Greens hope to win from Labor with momentum from the pro-Palestine protest movement.
Eight candidates had nominated for Ratnams Northern Metropolitan Region seat, which takes in lower house districts already held by the Greens such as Melbourne, Richmond and Brunswick as well as divisions the party came close to winning at the 2022 election, like Northcote.
Europes renewed affair with long-distance train routes continues apace, and this time the destinations being linked are popular big cities: Paris and Berlin. It was in December last year that the French and German capitals were connected, with great acclaim, by sleeper train for the first time in nine years. The next step will be the start of direct high-speed daytime services between the two cities. Commencing in December with one service a day via Frankfurt, the journey will take about eight hours. A second service is planned for late 2025, heading via Strasbourg. See sncf-connect.com, int.bahn.de Austrias new Railjet trains Sleek, stylish Austrian Federal Railways new Railjet trains. Austrian Federal Railways (OBB) never likes to let the grass grow under its tracks; having revived the European sleeper train from near-death, its now improving daytime rail experiences. Its streamlined new-generation Railjet trains have recently entered service, replacing tired EuroCity carriages on journeys between Munich, Germany, and Verona, Italy. Decorated in burgundy and grey, the interiors of these new trains are sleek and stylish, with low-floor access and charging options by all seats. There are also mini-lockers for luggage, LED lighting throughout, and air-conditioning regulated via a heat pump system. All trains from Munich to Italy via the Brenner Pass will be new Railjets by 2025. See oebb.at Railjet trains will replace EuroCity carriages on journeys between Munich, Germany, and Verona, Italy.
Amtraks Cascades trains, US An unsung hero of the USs long-distance train services is Amtrak Cascades. Running from Eugene, Oregon, via Portland and Seattle to Vancouver, British Columbia, the Cascades trains link great cities via beautiful landscapes. In 2026 that scenery will be complemented by the evergreen and mocha livery of eight new train sets and two new locomotives, funded by the Biden administrations infrastructure funding boost. The new carriages are decked out with comfortable new seats and plenty of passenger amenities (including charging points and Wi-Fi), and theres a cafe car serving food favourites from the Pacific Northwest, including beer, wine and spirits. See amtrakcascades.com Chinas new sleepers New high-speed sleeper trains, from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station to Beijing/Shanghai. If youre catching a long-distance train, the choice often boils down to a high-speed daytime service or a slower night train. But why not combine both? Two high-speed sleeper trains have recently launched, heading from Hong Kong to either Beijing or Shanghai. Both depart the shiny new Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and take 12.5 hours and 11 hours respectively to reach each city, arriving just before 7am. Thats roughly half the duration of the previous sleeper services over those routes. Running four nights a week, these new sleepers are a great environmentally friendly way to cross China. See highspeed.mtr.com.hk
Cabin in the new high-speed sleeper trains, from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station to Beijing. Overnight to Barcelona European Sleepers Good Night Train from Brussels-Berlin to Prague. The sleeper train renaissance in Europe has been so profound that its drawn new operators into the fray. European Sleeper, a Belgian-Dutch company founded in 2021, recently made a splash by extending its initial Brussels-Berlin Good Night Train to Prague. It now intends to run an even more ambitious sleeper service from Amsterdam all the way south to Barcelona, Spain. The company hopes to have that train running by 2025, but it could be 2026 pending tricky negotiations for rail access across France. Watch this space. See europeansleeper.eu East Station, Chongqing, China
Artist impression of Chongqing East Station. Credit: Chongqing Municipal Housing and Urban-Rural Development Commission Chinese railways are known for their colossal new station buildings, and the new Chongqing East Station in western China fits that description. Its roof will cover 120,000 square metres, punctuated by vast skylights and supported by columns; respectively referencing the mountains and trees of the region. Expected to open in 2025, its platforms will serve high-speed services to such far-flung destinations as Hunan, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Kunming. As the station will also be linked to Chongqings local metro system, it should be a highly useful as well as a decorative facility. See china-railway.com.cn Canadas new long-distance trains VIA Rails new state-of-the-art fleet with redesigned carriages. Credit: VIA Rail The railway which runs from Windsor, Ontario, to Quebec City has long been the backbone of Canadas passenger train service, including as it does the metropolises of Toronto and Montreal. Over the next year, by the northern summer of 2025, VIA Rails entire fleet on this route will be replaced by new trains. The new carriages include ergonomically redesigned seating, big windows for scenic viewing, and a host of accessibility features. Business class is also worth a look, as it comes with a range of perks including wider seats, station lounges, and priority boarding. See viarail.ca
Climate-resilient tourism Given the growing unpredictability of weather patterns, climate-resilient tourism is emerging as another significant trend. Destinations including the Maldives, Vanuatu and Miami are incorporating climate resilience into their tourism planning, by building flood defences and other infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events, and promoting eco-tourism to reduce future environmental impacts. Travellers are also now travelling to learn climate-resilient skills such as natural building and permaculture farming, while becoming more literate in how to safely travel in extreme and prolonged heat waves and rain periods. Coolcationing is another growing trend as travellers seek out cooler climes, which will completely shift the map of where we will travel in the future. Economic equity Community-based tourism is continuing to gain momentum, with travellers seeking authentic experiences that support local communities. A good thing, since one of the best ways to give back while travelling is by putting our powerful travel dollars directly into the pockets of locals who have full ownership and management of the tourism experience. In an increasingly homogenised world, what could be more satisfying than booking a tour with a locally owned operator, buying one-of-a-kind souvenirs made by locals, or signing up for a cooking class or ceramics course that contributes directly to a local family? Biodiversity conservation
Much Better Adventures offers a chance to give back Ban Gioc waterfall in Vietnam. Trips focused on conservation and learning to steward nature will continue to grow, as we become more aware of the importance of maintaining ecosystem balance and protecting vital natural resources for future generations. Much Better Adventures, for example, is offering more trips based around supporting critical rewilding projects, including tracking wild bison in the Southern Carpathians in Romania and wolf-tracking in the Swedish wilderness. Meanwhile, Earthwatch Australia, which pairs researchers with volunteers to address environmental challenges, is adding more expeditions, such as rainforest revival in Costa Rica and restoring habitats in Kenyas Greater Maasai Mara. Water conservation will also be a significant issue as water scarcity intensifies globally, so well be seeing more stringent water-saving measures in hotels, resorts and tourist areas. See muchbetteradventures.com; earthwatch.org
Cultural heritage preservation Indigenous people make up five per cent of the worlds population, but protect 80 per cent of the planets biodiversity. It makes sense, then, that at a time of great biodiversity loss were seeing more travel experiences that highlight Indigenous wisdom, ancestral knowledge and artisan skills. This includes group trips featuring Indigenous guides, the rise of organisations that promote Indigenous tourism such as the World Indigenous Tourism Alliance, and more experiences that elevate Indigenous knowledge, such as the Culture Camp gatherings run by the First Nations-led foundation The Returning, which include workshops on weaving, earth-based mindfulness and dance and more. See thereturning.com.au Community resilience
Local Igorot women in The Philippines. With the rising number of natural disasters annually, were seeing more travel initiatives that help build and support the resilience of local communities. Organisations like the Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council, bring together leaders from the travel industry to support destinations in preparing for and recovering from natural disasters and economic downturns. Climate-related voluntourism, where travellers help with relief efforts including distributing supplies or providing medical aid, is also increasing. Initiatives like the Global Volunteer Network are expanding their programs to include climate-focused initiatives in destinations such as the Philippines and Zimbabwe. See resiliencecouncil.com Sustainable agriculture and agri-tourism Learn about traditional farming techniques Sacred Valley in Peru. Consumers are paying much more attention to the ethics of what they eat, so expect to see more experiences that allow travellers to engage with sustainable farming practices, and learn about how the food they buy and eat supports environmental health. This includes staying on permaculture farms that mimic natural ecosystems, visiting organic farms or vineyards, or eating at farm-to-table restaurants. Group trips that focus on food production and security are also on the rise, with the likes of G Adventures taking travellers to the Sacred Valley in Peru to learn about traditional Andean farming techniques from local Quechua communities. See gadventures.com
Clear air turbulence (CAT) has hit the headlines in a big way this year. When it encounters CAT, an aircraft can plunge rapidly, causing some passengers to shoot into the overhead bins, fracturing skulls, necks and spines in extreme cases. CAT is becoming more frequent and severe due to disruptions to the jet streams caused by climate change. Although forecasting of CAT has advanced over recent decades, the phenomenon is virtually impossible to detect with onboard instruments. More than 95 per cent of those who suffered injuries were not wearing seatbelts. Airlines have taken note, advising passengers to keep their seatbelts fastened even when the fasten seatbelt signs have been switched off. Separate seats for women flyers Indian airline IndiGo allows female travellers to see the gender of other passengers when choosing their seats. Credit: Getty Images Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo has become the first airline to allow women travellers to choose a seat next to another woman. Starting in August 2024, and initially on a trial basis, female travellers checking in online for their flights will be able to see which adjacent seats have been booked by other female passengers. Males will be able to see which seats are vacant, but not the gender of the occupant. Theres no sign of any other airlines following IndiGos example, but it may catch on. India is hardly the only country where women often feel threatened, eyeballed and the objects of unwelcome attention. No wonder some would prefer to sit among other women. See goindigo.in Pets on board
Prefers the window seat Virgin to allow furry passengers. Credit: iStock Virgin Australia plans to allow pets to travel with their owners in the airlines cabins. Subject to regulatory approval, the proposal could see pets travelling in cabins by early in 2025. The service will be limited to small cats and dogs on specific domestic routes with pets travelling in pet-specific rows. Sitting on laps or roaming around the cabin is strictly forbidden. Pets must be carried in an approved airline carrier that fits under the seat in front and stays there. There will be a fee for this service, but no fee applies to approved assistance animals, which are allowed to travel in Virgin Australia aircraft. See virginaustralia.com Flight costs to Europe Affordable Europe fares may soon be within reach. Credit: Getty Images Airfares to Europe are finally easing. Return flights to European hubs including Paris, London, Rome and Frankfurt, departing in mid-May 2025 and returning a month later, are sitting at about $1500 in economy, and from $2500 in premium economy. In business class, return fares to Europe for those same months are starting from about $6000 with premier-league carriers on Skyscanner. The reason for the price drop is the supply of seats has finally caught up with demand. Airlines have returned most of their fleets to service and there are now more international carriers with more aircraft back in Australias skies. See skyscanner.com.au
Overhead bins Loading Packing everything needed for a two-week holiday into carry-ons has become a matter of pride for some travellers. That means bending the carry-on weight limit rules, but many airlines are reluctant to enforce those rules. Apart from budget carriers, carry-ons are seldom weighed at the check-in desk, and some resort to underhand strategies, packing clothes into pillow cases or coats with jumbo size pockets. Others with multiple bags rush on board to be sure of securing space in the overhead bins near their seat, or stash them in the first available space at the front of the cabin. Until airlines enforce their own rules, expect the madness to continue. Blended wing aircraft An artists rendering of JetZeros BWB aircraft prototype design.
Rising fuel costs and the need to reduce the aviation industrys carbon emission are a growing headache for the worlds airlines but the Blended Wing Body (BWB) aircraft could be the solution. Shaped like a manta ray, the BWB aircrafts wings merge seamlessly with the fuselage, engines are mounted on top of the fuselage and theres no tail or rudder. Instead of just the wings providing lift, the entire aircraft generates lift, and that means a significant reduction in fuel consumption. Airbus, Bombardier and Boeing have all flight tested experimental unmanned scale-model versions of BWB aircraft and California-based aerospace company JetZero hopes to get a BWB aircraft with passengers into the air in the next decade, good news for our planet as well as our pockets. See airbus.com; bombardier.com; boeing.com; jetzero.aero The Maya business class seat The Maya seat, with its giant screen for business class. This seat from the US-based Collins Aerospace stole the limelight at the 2024 Aircraft Interiors Expo held in Hamburg. Developed in collaboration with Panasonic Avionics, Maya adds a 114-centimetre wrap-around OLED video screen with stereo speakers embedded in the headrest to a business class seat to create an immersive experience. Packed with tech, the seat responds in sync with the feed from the cinema screen, so a POV motorbike ride gives a different impression from a skier racing an avalanche to a Taylor Swift. The lie-flat, temperature regulated seat is a stunner in its own right. Expect to see it soon in a leading airline. See collinsaerospace.com Qantas Wellbeing Zone
Qantas award-winning Wellbeing Zone on board its non-stop flights from Australias east coast to London and New York. At the same 2024 aircraft interiors event, Qantas took the award for Passenger Comfort with its Wellbeing Zone. Created by Diehl Aviation, the zone will feature on the Airbus A350 aircraft Qantas will use for its 20-hour Project Sunrise flights between east coast Australia and New York and London, now rescheduled to 2026. Located at the front of the economy cabin, the central corridor of the zone is a glass-fronted cabinet with self-serve refreshments. According to Qantas, the Wellbeing Zone is a space where you can follow specially curated guided movements on large monitors and enjoy a selection of healthy refreshments. Unlike the bars that some airlines provide for their premium-class passengers, the Wellness Zone is designed for a quick break rather than lingering. See qantas.com In-flight Wi-Fi Live sport and low-bandwidth Wi-Fi on board Air New Zealands Boeing 787-9. Chances are your next flight will have in-flight Wi-Fi. Some carriers such as Air New Zealand and Malaysia Airlines offer it free of charge on most flights, many carriers typically charge a fee except for their business class travellers and frequent flyers. Free Wi-Fi is available on all Qantas domestic flights and selected international flights aboard some aircraft to Asian destinations. Wi-Fi usually becomes available when the aircraft crosses the 10,000-foot threshold. The Wi-Fi quality depends on the number of passengers using the system, where the aircraft is in relation to the satellite or ground station providing the feed, atmospheric conditions and the system used. See airnewzealand.com.au; malaysiaairlines.com
Pay-for-use airport lounges Pay-per-use The House lounge at Melbourne Airport. Many of the pay-for-use airport lounges that were shuttered during the pandemic slowdown are returning to life, and theyre a gift from the travel gods for anyone on a long layover. The best have showers, food and beverages as good as a decent business class lounge, comfy chairs and in some cases, quiet zones where you can snooze in comfort. You can simply show up and pay at the door, join a pre-paid scheme such as LoungeBuddy or Priority Pass or use the membership benefit that comes with some credit cards. Check reviews before you book. See loungebuddy.com; prioritypass.com Business light Singapore Airlines offers Business Lite fares out of Australia.
An increasing number of international airlines are offering business light fares, shaving several hundred dollars off the cost of flying at the pointy end. In exchange for making do without lounge access, a lower checked baggage allowance and higher fees for flight changes or cancellations, the frugal flyer gets a cheaper business class seat, and for many travellers, that lie-flat seat is the prime reason for travelling in business class. Singapore Airlines is one carrier that offers Business Lite fares out of Australia while a Qatar Airways Lite return ticket to Europe can save more than $1000 over the cost of a Classic business fare. See singaporeair.com; qatarairways.com Terminal boost The design of the new international terminal at Newcastle Airport. Newcastles new international terminal is expected to be completed in 2025. Designed by Cox Architecture, the new facility will provide a major boost for regional tourism and generate thousands of jobs across the Hunter, the sixth-largest regional economy in the country. In tandem with border processing facilities, the upgrade will include work to allow the runway to handle wide-body aircraft such as Boeings 787. It is expected that airlines will take advantage of the expanded airport operations to offer daily flights to New Zealand and major Asian ports including Bali and Singapore. See newcastleairport.com.au Dramatic weather events
Singapore: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has praised President Vladimir Putin for steering Russias development and pledged to deepen ties, saying there was enormous potential to enhance regional trade relations.
Anwar, who is on two-day visit to Moscow, said it would be to Malaysias benefit if Russia shared its achievements and agreed to collaborate in all fields of endeavour. Both countries are discussing tie-ups ranging from aerospace and advanced technologies to agriculture and food security.
You have shown your determination to be able to undertake difficulties and survive, and we would certainly benefit from this experience, Anwar said in a meeting with Putin on the sidelines of Russias Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.
Malaysias Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (left) meets Russias Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday. Credit: AP
Anwar has followed in the footsteps of other Asian leaders in meeting Putin since the start of Russias invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago, unmoved by the Wests condemnation of the Russian leader and his charges for alleged war crimes. The decision to visit Russia, Anwar said, was not an easy feat but it was the right decision.
A campaign had begun in the tabloid newspapers the previous year following the deaths of seven people, including three children: 17-month-old Bella Rae Birch, four-year-old Alice Stones, and 10-year-old Jack Lis. The latter was mauled so badly by a 43-kilogram dog, Beast, that his mother had to identify him by his shoes. XL bullies originated in the United States in the 1990s as a result of the fashion for weapon dogs and gangsta rap. The largest of the American bully breed a mix of American pit bull terrier and American, English and French bulldog they are thought to have been brought to the UK around 2014. Many say they are genetically engineered with just one purpose in mind, to go into a pit and kill another dog. Yet somehow they have emerged as one of Britains most popular and beloved pets. Although not recognised by kennel clubs as a specific breed, they are described as large dogs with a muscular body and blocky head, suggesting great strength and power for [their] size.
Ownership of XL bully dogs increased dramatically during the pandemic, quickly followed by an increase in abandonment. Irresponsible breeding, in turn contributed to the rise in attacks. The dogs are often used as a status symbol by people involved in crime and gang culture. BullyWatch, the community campaign to ban them, suggested that 97 per cent of breeders were unlicensed. XL bully dogs were bred as weapon dogs. Credit: UK Government But since the ban came in just seven months ago, there have been at least seven more fatal dog attacks. In several cases, XL bullies killed their owners, including David Daintree, 53, in August, and Angeline Mahal, also in her 50s, in May. More than 50,000 dogs were granted exemption applications before the February ban which makes it a criminal offence to own an XL bully without a certificate. It meant owners could keep their pets under the requirement they be muzzled and on a lead in public.
Data obtained by The Independent this week found the number of recorded incidents of out-of-control dogs injuring people or guide dogs has risen by nine per cent since the ban came in. Despite the obvious horror at the many incidents and deaths involved, the ban has been met with huge opposition from animal welfare groups, such as the RSPCA and Dogs Trust, who have called for the new Labour government to review the legislation, arguing breed-specific bans are harmful to dogs welfare, and also do not protect the public. Loading They say the ban had been devastating for owners, some of whom will have felt they had no choice but to have their pets put to sleep. More than 400 were euthanised before the February deadline. This current approach is not working, as is evident by these figures, and needs a complete overhaul, not only to better protect public safety but also to ensure good dog welfare, the RSPCA says.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, September 5. Kyrgyzstan and the World Bank (WB) discussed the choice of dam type for the construction of Kambarata HPP-1 at a roundtable in Bishkek, Trend reports.
The information notes that, the event was attended by representatives of Kyrgyzstan, the working group of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the World Bank, as well as a group of international experts.
Today's round table is a key stage in the development of the Kambarata HPP-1 project. As part of the construction, trilateral agreements have been signed between the Ministries of Energy of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. This is a unique case when the three countries of the region come to a common understanding and support of the project. We are confident that joint work will lead to the creation of a quality project that will provide Central Asia with clean and renewable energy, improve the water and energy regime, and contribute to strengthening regional cooperation, the Deputy Chairperson of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry Bakyt Torobaev stated.
Kyrgyz Energy Minister Taalaibek Ibrayev said the 1,388-meter TT-2 transport tunnel was finished on August 30. About 15 kilometers of concrete roads are being built, with one lane finished. Power supply work is underway, with 80 percent overhead line installed.
According to the plan, the completion of work on the 110 kV transmission line and construction of the 110/6 kV substation is scheduled for the end of 2024. The construction of a bridge over the Naryn River is underway. In parallel, the construction of a work camp is underway. All works are going according to plan, and we are confident that all preparatory stages will be completed by May next year, Ibrayev said.
In turn, World Bank Senior Energy Specialist Maksudjon Safarov recalled that the WB is financing the comprehensive preparation of the Kambarata HPP-1 construction project. Swiss company AFRY is developing the feasibility study.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina has today formally announced the Council of Ministers' position concerning the potential sale of WINAIR shares, following an in-depth discussion during the Third-Party meeting on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.
The Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the insights while assessing the potential impact of selling WINAIR shares. He clarified that the previous Council of Ministers had made the initial decision regarding the sale without adequate communication with WINAIR, and the current government has thoroughly reviewed this situation.
We must acknowledge the tremendous resilience and operational success of WINAIR in the face of significant challenges, said Dr. Mercelina. The airline has made a remarkable recovery after the devastation of Hurricanes Irma and Maria and has successfully navigated the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The leadership and staff of WINAIR have shown extraordinary dedication, and their efforts have resulted in an impressive financial turnaround for the company.
After careful deliberation, the Council of Ministers has unanimously decided that the sale of WINAIR shares will not proceed. The Prime Minister emphasized the rationale behind this decision, highlighting both WINAIR's strategic importance to the country's infrastructure and economy and the airlines current robust financial position.
We firmly believe that the proposed sale price does not reflect the true value of WINAIR, and to sell under these circumstances would not be in the best interest of either the country or the company, Dr. Mercelina stated. We are committed to ensuring that WINAIR continues to thrive and expand, in line with its promising outlook for the future. The decision to retain our stake is based on careful analysis of what is best for the long-term prosperity of Sint Maarten.
Prime Minister Mercelina reiterated the Councils commitment to fostering continued collaboration between WINAIR and the government, underlining the importance of ongoing communication to ensure the airlines sustainable growth and contribution to the country.
We deeply value WINAIR as a strategic partner in our development, added Dr. Mercelina. We look forward to continued proactive communication and collaboration between WINAIR and the Government, seeing WINAIR achieve even greater heights in the coming years.
The Council of Ministers expresses its full confidence in the Management and Staff of WINAIR and anticipates continued success for the airline as it moves forward.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Positive and Elektralyets Foundations, in collaboration with St. Maarten Laboratory Services, St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC), and NAPA Auto Parts, are pleased to invite all men 40 years and older to participate in a crucial prostate cancer screening event.
Screening Details:
Dates: September 7 and 14, 2024
Time: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Locations: NAPA Auto Parts in Philipsburg and Colebay
Participants will receive a Prostate Antigen Specific (PSA) test, a blood test used to screen for prostate cancer. Men 40 year and older are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. Please bring your ID card. For uninsured men, the Foundations and St. Maarten Laboratory Services will cover the cost of the PSA test.
Follow-Up Event:
Date: Saturday, September 21, 2024
Time: From 9:00 AM
Location: St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) in Cayhill
Join us for the annual Mens Health Open House, where we will review the PSA test results from the screenings on September 7 and 14. The event will also feature a variety of other health screenings and informative sessions.
We are committed to improving mens health in our community, said Shelly Alphonso, President of the Positive Foundation. Early detection of prostate cancer can save lives, and we encourage all eligible men to participate in these screenings.
For more information, please contact Shelly Alphonso or Mercedes Van Der Waals Wyatt at +1-721-580-9658 or +1-721-523-7418 or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
~ APS pulls out of loan negotiations while bank overdrafts are canceled. ~
PHILIPSBURG: --- The financial situation of the countrys telephone company, TELEM, has worsened in recent months. TELEM is finding it difficult to pay its creditors due to the lack of proper cash flow.
The situation worsened since the Supervisory Board of Directors (SBOD) opted to publish the Chief Executive Officers position (CEO) as the recruitment for a candidate began.
Banks on the island have since canceled their overdrafts with TELEM since it is clear that the current CEO, Kendall Dupersoy, will not be in that position come January 2025. Therefore, committing the company to long-term financial commitments is not feasible for any institution.
APS pulled out of the loan negotiations, citing the company's lack of long-term leadership.
Currently, Dupersoy is the only person in management with the longest service record; TELEM's Chief Financial Officer was appointed just over a year ago, and there was no CTO or COO in place. BDO also published these positions, but to date, they have not been filled.
Last week, the Minister of TEATT, Grisha Heylioger Marten, announced that the government of St. Maarten was considering purchasing the TELEM main building on Pond Island to house the Parliament of St. Maarten. Still, no concrete decision has been made regarding that plan. In the meantime, Prime Minister Luc Mercelina said last week, when asked if the government was going to bail out TELEM from its financial woes or if the government was thinking of selling the company, that as a shareholder, the government would have to do everything possible to assist the company since it is a government-owned entity.
Some research conducted by SMN News showed that TELEM's management tried to salvage the company by making several proposals to the Supervisory Board of Directors, one of which was the sale of the main building, which the SBOD rejected.
The Governors office had offered to purchase the two top floors of the SMITCOMS building, which was also rejected by the SBOD. Information showed that those two floors remained empty, and TELEM has not earned any income from them.
TELEM management also proposed that the company sell the Cable TV Building and the ITELSA Building in Cole Bay, all of which was rejected by the SBOD, which believed that the company should hold on to its assets. Had these buildings been sold, TELEM would have accumulated at least $10M, which would have served as their own bailout.
It is only a matter of months, if not weeks, that the financial situation at TELEM will get to the boiling point and the company would have to think about filing bankruptcy if the shareholder does not find a salvageable solution almost immediately.
US disinformation researcher laments 'incredible witch hunt'
Washington, Sept 5 (AFP) Sep 05, 2024
Understanding disinformation has emerged as a lightning rod in the United States ahead of the November election, with academics and think-tanks facing lawsuits by right-wing groups and subpoenas from a Republican-led congressional committee.
The researchers are accused of colluding with the government to censor conservative speech online under the guise of fighting disinformation. They deny the claims and denounce the sweeping offensive as an intimidation campaign.
AFP spoke with Renee DiResta, author of "Invisible Rulers: The people who turn lies into reality."
She was formerly with the Stanford Internet Observatory (SIO), a non-partisan disinformation research project.
Following the Republican-led investigation, her contract, along with those of many other staffers, was not renewed, leading to reports that the group was being dismantled under political pressure.
The interview was edited for length and clarity.
QUESTION:
What pressure did the Stanford Observatory face?
ANSWER:
We received a letter and then a subpoena from Jim Jordan, who heads a (Republican-led) committee that asked us for our emails with the executive branch of the United States and with tech platforms.
It was a very broad request ostensibly to investigate whether there had been some sort of cabal by which the government was telling us to tell tech platforms to take information or content down. That never happened.
We turned over copious amounts of material, several colleagues who had worked on this project sat for multi hour private interviews with the committee.
There was nothing found to bolster their theory, but it created extensive costs in terms of time and lawyer costs. Students were targeted, doxxed and harassed.
Ultimately, Stanford made the determination to not continue to pursue rapid response election research and many of our contracts weren't renewed for funding reasons.
QUESTION:
What impact has this had on election disinformation research?
ANSWER:
There has been a chilling effect. This idea that inquiries from congressional committees are shutting down research or making students afraid to pursue them because they're afraid of being harassed is remarkable.
We are one institution among many. I saw a statistic that something like 91 subpoenas had gone out from this committee. It's just an incredible witch hunt and the cost of that is that less resourced institutions may choose to not fight, to just comply as quickly as possible.
There has been a sense that doing work on certain topics is going to attract unwanted attention, and so you shouldn't do work on those topics. That's terrible. Academia is supposed to be about asking hard questions, doing complicated research, doing things that perhaps industry might not want to take on, or that government is not positioned to take.
QUESTION:
How do you deal with personal attacks? You have been branded "CIA Renee" by trolls insinuating that you have secret ties with the US intelligence agency.
ANSWER:
I've dealt with idiots on the internet for a decade now. People have their opinions.
I am not troubled by the harassment of the trolls online. I'm troubled by the fact that the United States government (through the congressional committee) is facilitating it at this point with misleading investigations, misleading reports, cherry picked sentences, leaked documents and badly framed stories that bear no relation to the truth.
That I think is the problem that we need to be focusing on. That is an affront to free speech.
QUESTION:
Many tech platforms have scaled back content moderation. Are they equipped to tackle the flood of election disinformation?
ANSWER:
There's this belief that if you just label something or take it down, you solve the problem. You don't.
We can debate the areas where the platforms are not doing enough, because there certainly are some. But you also can't solve a human problem with technology. People are going to share rumors.
To address disinformation, platforms have traditionally appended a label, a fact check perhaps (but) it's not clear how well the labels work.
One of the things that we've seen is that we need more proactive content participation from the institutions. We need election officials out there proactively countering rumors.
Like Brazil, the European Union also has an X problem
Brussels, Belgium, Sept 5 (AFP) Sep 05, 2024
Elon Musk's woes are hardly limited to Brazil as he now risks possible EU sanctions in the coming months for allegedly breaking new content rules.
Access to X has been suspended in South America's largest country since Saturday after a long-running legal battle over disinformation ended with a judge ordering a shutdown.
But Brazil is not alone in its concerns about X.
Politicians worldwide and digital rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns about Musk's actions since taking over what was then Twitter in late 2022, including sacking many employees tasked with content moderation and maintaining ties with EU regulators.
Musk's "free speech absolutist" attitude has led to clashes with Brussels.
The European Union could decide within months to take action against X, including possible fines, as part of an ongoing probe into whether the platform is breaching a landmark content moderation law, the Digital Services Act (DSA).
Nothing has yet been decided but any fines could be as high as six percent of X's annual worldwide turnover unless the company makes changes in line with EU demands.
But if Musk's reactions are anything to go by, another showdown is on the cards.
When the EU in July accused X of deceptive practices in violation of the DSA, Musk warned: "We look forward to a very public battle in court."
The temperature was raised even further a month later with another war of words on social media between Musk and the EU's top tech enforcer, Thierry Breton.
Breton reminded Musk in a letter of his legal duty to stop "harmful content" from spreading on X hours before an interview with US presidential challenger Donald Trump live on the platform.
Musk responded by mocking Breton and sharing a meme that carried an obscene message.
- EU ban 'very unlikely' -
Despite the bitter barbs, the European Commission, the EU's digital watchdog, insists that dialogue with X is ongoing.
"X continues to cooperate with the commission and respond to questions," the commission's digital spokesman, Thomas Regnier, told AFP.
Experts also agree that a Brazil-like shutdown in the 27-country EU is unlikely, although it has the legal right.
The DSA would allow the bloc to demand a judge in Ireland, where X has its EU headquarters, order a temporary suspension until the infringements cease.
Breton has repeatedly insisted that "Europe will not hesitate to do what is necessary".
But since X has around 106 million EU users, significantly higher than the 22 million in Brazil, the belief is that Musk would not want to risk a similar move in Europe.
"Obviously, we can never exclude it, but it is very unlikely," said Alexandre de Streel of the think tank Centre on Regulation in Europe.
Regardless of what happens next, de Streel said the case would likely end up in the EU courts, calling X "the least cooperative company" with the bloc.
Jan Penfrat of the European Digital Rights advocacy group said a ban was "a very last resort measure" and that X would "probably" not close shop in the EU.
"I would hope that the commission thinks about this very, very hard before going there because this (a ban) would have a tremendously negative effect on the right to freedom of expression and access to information," Penfrat said.
- EU's X-File -
The commission in July accused X of misleading users with its blue checkmarks for certified accounts, insufficient advertising transparency and failing to give researchers access to the platform's data.
That allegation is part of a wider probe into X, launched in December, and regulators are still probing how it tackles the spread of illegal content and information manipulation.
X now has access to the EU's file and can defend itself including by replying to the commission's findings.
The list of governments angry with Musk is growing. He also raised hackles over the summer in the UK during days of rioting sparked by online misinformation that the suspect behind a mass stabbing that killed three girls was a Muslim asylum seeker.
The billionaire, whose personal X account has 196 million users, engaged in disputes with British politicians after sharing inflammatory posts and claiming a "civil war is inevitable" in the country.
Non-EU member Britain will soon be able to implement a similar law to the DSA with enforcement expected to start next year.
aro-raz/del/gv
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, September 5. Citizens of Kyrgyzstan are strongly discouraged from traveling to Russia unless absolutely necessary, Trend reports.
"The Embassy of Kyrgyzstan in Russia advises Kyrgyz citizens who lack valid reasons to enter Russia to temporarily abstain from traveling to its territory until these measures are lifted, as a result of the ongoing implementation of additional security measures and the more stringent control over the entry of foreign citizens at the State Border of Russia," the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry said.
Russia is implementing stricter measures regarding its migration policy. On July 31, a bill was introduced to the Russian State Duma suggesting a prohibition on migrant workers in the medical and pharmaceutical fields, as well as in school and preschool education. State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin proposed the development of laws to discourage low-skilled migrant workers from bringing their families to Russia.
Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Iraq agrees deal to buy 12 Airbus military helicopters: AFP
Baghdad, Sept 5 (AFP) Sep 05, 2024
Iraq reached an agreement on Thursday to purchase a dozen Caracal H225M multi-role combat helicopters from European aviation giant Airbus, said an AFP journalist who witnessed the signing ceremony.
Defence Minister Thabet al-Abbassi attended the signing ceremony for the deal in Baghdad alongside the French ambassador to Iraq, Patrick Durel, and a representative of Airbus Helicopters, the AFP journalist said.
Arnaud Montalvo, head of Airbus Helicopters for the Middle East, said the agreement was for 12 H225M helicopters to be delivered starting in early 2025. The value of the deal was not disclosed.
Durel said the agreement stemmed from "exchanges and discussions" between French President Emmanuel Macron and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.
"We can only be pleased that today we have achieved this result, which will allow Iraq to strengthen its capacities and which will allow Iraq to strengthen its sovereignty," he added.
Baghdad and Paris have been working to strengthen bilateral defence ties.
France has deployed troops in Iraq as part of the US-led international coalition set up to fight the Islamic State jihadist group.
Iraq declared victory over IS in late 2017, but jihadist cells remain active, carrying out sporadic attacks, particularly in rural areas.
Baghdad is now seeking to end the coalition's mission and replace it with bilateral military partnerships with other countries, saying its forces can lead the fight against the weakened IS group.
tgg/dv/dcp
Cambodia says China to hand over two warships
Phnom Penh, Sept 5 (AFP) Sep 05, 2024
Cambodia said Thursday that China will soon hand over two warships to improve its defence capabilities, despite US fears about Beijing boosting its military influence in the strategic Gulf of Thailand.
Cambodia is a close ally of Beijing and Washington has long harboured concerns about the Chinese-funded renovation of the kingdom's Ream naval base.
Maly Socheata, a spokeswoman for the Cambodian defence ministry, told AFP that China would send the two new so-called Type 056C corvettes next year, at the earliest.
She said the vessels are being built specially for Cambodia, and "are expected to be completed and given to Cambodia in 2025 or later."
"The only goal is to strengthen the capacity and ability of Cambodia to protect and maintain peace, stability, security as well as for supporting search and rescue operations and other humanitarian activities at sea," Socheata added.
China has been funding the renovation of the Ream naval base, originally built partly using US funds.
But Washington says the base could give Beijing a key strategic position on the Gulf of Thailand near the disputed South China Sea, which China largely claims.
Last year, Cambodian officials denied a new 363-metre (1,190-foot) pier at Ream was intended to berth Chinese aircraft carriers.
Socheata said the "first phase" of expansion of the Ream base had been completed and the second phase of work was underway and would be finished soon.
She denied that the Ream Naval Base would be used by a foreign military, saying Cambodia would not allow any foreign military set its base in the country.
Iraq agrees deal to buy 14 Airbus military helicopters
Baghdad, Sept 5 (AFP) Sep 05, 2024
Iraq reached an agreement on Thursday to purchase 14 military helicopters, including a dozen H225M multi-role combat aircraft, from European aviation giant Airbus.
Defence Minister Thabet al-Abbassi attended the signing ceremony for the deal in Baghdad alongside the French ambassador to Iraq, Patrick Durel, and a representative of Airbus Helicopters, an AFP journalist reported.
Arnaud Montalvo, head of Airbus Helicopters for the Middle East, said the agreement was for 12 H225M helicopters to be delivered starting in early 2025. The value of the deal was not disclosed.
The French embassy in Baghdad told AFP the deal was for 14 helicopters in total, including the 12 H225Ms.
Durel said the agreement stemmed from "exchanges and discussions" between French President Emmanuel Macron and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.
"We can only be pleased that today we have achieved this result, which will allow Iraq to strengthen its capacities and which will allow Iraq to strengthen its sovereignty," he added.
The H225M, known as the "Caracal" in French military service, is the latest evolution of the Puma helicopter family and can be used for search and rescue operations, transport, assault missions and special forces insertion.
Baghdad and Paris have been working to strengthen bilateral defence ties.
"Our forces have fought together against terrorism, against IS," Durel said, referring to the Islamic State group.
"You can count on France to contribute to strengthening the country's sovereignty and security and I am sure that you can count on both our armed forces, on our various industrialists... to strengthen this relationship in all areas", Durel added.
France has deployed troops in Iraq as part of the US-led international coalition set up to fight IS and last year announced plans to train Iraqi units.
Iraq declared victory over IS in late 2017, but jihadist cells remain active, carrying out sporadic attacks, particularly in rural areas.
Baghdad is now seeking to end the coalition's mission and replace it with bilateral military partnerships with other countries, saying its forces can lead the fight against the weakened IS group.
In a January 2023 trip to Paris, Sudani held talks with representatives of various French defence manufacturers as well as Airbus on the potential acquisition of helicopters, radars and the Dassault Rafale fighter jet.
Montalvo told AFP that Airbus was aiming to deliver the helicopters "as quickly as possible because there is a pressing operation need".
tgg/dcp/dv
Airbus Group
Dutch boost arms spending to face 'ruthless Russian aggression'
The Hague, Sept 5 (AFP) Sep 05, 2024
The Dutch government announced a multi-billion-euro boost in its defence spending Thursday, investing in tanks, jet fighters, and frigates to bolster the NATO alliance against "ruthless Russian aggression."
The Netherlands will increase its defence budget by 2.4 billion euros ($2.7 billion) to 24 billion euros, the government announced in its annual defence memorandum.
"The army will get tanks again, the air force will receive extra F-35s and the navy can count on extra frigates for anti-submarine warfare," the defence ministry said.
The extra cash will mainly go into boosting combat power, but the ministry said it would also spend an additional 260 million euros on recruiting and training personnel.
"The ruthless Russian aggression in Ukraine shows that an attack on the NATO alliance is no longer unthinkable," said Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans.
The Netherlands was taking "a major step" towards preventing such an attack by increasing its arms spending, said the minister.
"The best way to prevent war is to keep potential opponents at bay," he added.
The NATO alliance commits members to spending two percent of gross domestic product on defence.
According to the latest estimates from the alliance, the Netherlands was projected to spend 2.05 percent of GDP on defence in 2024.
"With this budget, the cabinet is ensuring that the Netherlands meets the NATO standard," according to the memorandum.
The 32-member NATO alliance will soon have a Dutch leader, as former prime minister Mark Rutte takes over on October 1.
Palestinian medics say 5 killed as Israel raids West Bank's Tubas
Tubas, Palestinian Territories, Sept 5 (AFP) Sep 05, 2024
Palestinian medics said an air strike targeting a car in the occupied West Bank killed five people on Thursday, while the Israeli military reported it hit "an armed terrorist cell".
"Five killed and (one) seriously wounded in a strike (on) a car in Tubas," the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said in a statement, referring to an area that has been a focus of Israeli operations for more than a week.
The Israeli military said its aircraft "conducted three targeted strikes on armed terrorists" in the Tubas area.
It did not provide a toll but said the dead included Muhammad Zakaria Zubeidi, "a significant terrorist from the Jenin area", also in the northern West Bank.
It said Muhammad was son of Zakaria Zubeidi, a chief of the armed wing of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah party and the alleged mastermind of a daring prison break from northern Israel in 2021.
"Several other terrorists who were involved in terrorist activity and shooting attacks against security forces were eliminated in the strike," an Israeli military statement said.
A large number of Israeli troops stormed the Al-Faraa refugee camp in Tubas governorate, where explosions were heard, eyewitnesses told AFP.
"One martyr was shot by the occupation (Israeli) forces in Al-Faraa camp," the Palestinian health ministry said.
Driver Iyad Dagharmeh, 34, said there was "intense Israeli warplane activity over Tubas city for the first time".
Hamas, whose October 7 attack on southern Israel triggered the ongoing war in Gaza, said the operation amounted to a "re-invasion", adding: "We mourn our martyrs who fell as a result of this brutal aggression."
Israel launched a large-scale offensive across the northern West Bank on August 28, fighting Palestinian militants and leaving widespread destruction.
Israeli forces have killed at least 36 Palestinians in the assault, the Palestinian health ministry says, including children and militants.
One Israeli soldier was killed in Jenin, where most of the Palestinian fatalities have taken place.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967 and the military has ramped up its deadly raids in the territory since its war in Gaza against Hamas militants erupted on October 7.
At least 661 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli military and settlers since October 7, according to the health ministry.
At least 23 Israelis, including security forces, have been killed in Palestinian attacks in the territory during the same period, according to Israeli officials.
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Actually, the Vikings play an interesting role on the Silk Road, surfacing anywhere from Ireland to the Islamic world, from the Baltic along the river routes through Russia and Ukraine. It isnt the usual historical revisionism about them being traders rather than specialists in rape and pillage. This is about how the rapine translates into trade. They paid for their wonderful silver hoards using the currency of slaves whom they captured in the normal Viking way and traded in the Islamic world for silver coins, dirhams, which they mostly melted down and repurposed back home. There was, however, one that got away: a ninth century Irish nobleman, Findan, who was captured by the Vikings not once, but twice, and finally escaped by jumping ship during a stopover in Orkney.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, September 5. The Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Tajikistan and Russia's Tatarstan Republic signed a cooperation agreement during a business forum in Dushanbe, Trend reports.
Over sixty Tajikistani businesses participated in the forum's business-to-business (B2B) sessions, as reported by the Tatarstan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
It is encouraging that companies from Tatarstan are eager to continue collaboration with partners from Tajikistan, and our business mission is proof of that. I know that Tajikistan is actively working on establishing technology parks. Tatarstan is ready to offer all its accumulated positive experience, Deputy Prime Minister of Tatarstan and Minister of Industry and Trade Oleg Korobchenko, said.
According to Head of the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of Tajikistan Sherali Kabir, the main goal of the forum is to increase industrial cooperation between Tajikistan and Tatarstan, boost investments, and prepare new professionals.
The business mission orchestrated by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tatarstan will be in full swing until September 6. During the visit, there will be chances to delve into Tajikistan's economic prowess and pay a visit to diverse enterprises.
At the time of the shooting, Mr Gordon had been taking a shower while his sister emerged from her room to find her mother slumped on the floor and was with her when she died, Mr Fenhalls said.
The error was that it stated that Melissa walked between two buses, but this was not correct. The wording was erroneous and based on preliminary information that had been obtained at the time of the incident, and prior to any investigation. It did not fully reflect the circumstances and it should not have been used.
To be clear, we are not calling for tuition fees to rise to this level. In fact, more and more of the burden is falling on graduates, and the UK is increasingly an outlier within the OECD on this.
The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs has confirmed the administrative arrest of Irakli Edzgveradze, a member of the Tbilisi City Council representing the National Movement party. According to the ministry, Edzgveradze was obstructing an investigation related to drug offences, despite not being directly involved in the investigation itself.Video footage from the scene shows a confrontation outside Edzgveradze's home in the Gldani district. He has been detained under Articles 166 and 173 of the Administrative Offences Code, which relate to disorderly conduct and disobeying law enforcement.Prior to the arrest, Levan Khabeishvili, chairman of the National Movement's political council, claimed on social media that Edzgveradze had been "taken hostage" by the authorities. Additionally, another council member, Irakli Nadiradze, was also reported to have been arrested.The European Union has strongly condemned the hasty approval of a controversial homophobic bill during its second reading in Georgia's parliament. According to a statement from the spokesperson of the EU High Representative, the bill undermines fundamental rights and increases the risk of stigmatisation and discrimination against certain segments of Georgia's population.The statement highlights concerns that the legislation, which was passed without proper public consultation or alignment with European and international standards, threatens Georgia's democratic development. The EU emphasised that protecting human rights is a cornerstone of its enlargement process, which is evaluated annually in the European Commission's reports.The EU has urged the Georgian government to reconsider the bill entirely, warning that such legislation, along with other restrictions like the "Foreign influence transparency" law, could further strain relations between Georgia and the EU. The EU also reminded that Georgia's accession process has effectively stalled and called on the government to return to the path of European integration.The Georgian parliament passed the bill with 81 votes in favour during the second reading, without opposition members present. The ruling Georgian Dream party claims the bill is meant to protect "family values", but critics argue it restricts LGBT+ rights and imposes censorship. The opinion has been issued by the Venice Commission.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, September 5. Russia's Tatarstan is keen on advancing bilateral projects with Tajikistan, particularly in the light and mining industries, Deputy Prime Minister of Tatarstan and Minister of Industry and Trade Oleg Korobchenko, said, Trend reports.
According to the Russian Embassy to Tajikistan, he expressed these interests during a meeting with Semyon Grigoryev the Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan, and Tatarstan's Khimgrad company Director General Airat Gizzatullin.
Korobchenko stressed Tatarstan's commitment to interregional relations, cooperative ventures, and bilateral light and mining projects. They identified active chambers of business and industrial linkages.
The discussions also shed light on the development of humanitarian cooperation, with a focus on stepping up collaboration in primary, secondary, and vocational education.
The business mission organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tatarstan will be going full steam ahead until September 6. During the visit, there will be chances to delve into Tajikistan's economic prowess and pay a visit to different enterprises.
Young Romanian musicians between the ages of 16 and 26 can register, until September 30, for the annual selection for the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO), informs Agerpres.
The auditions will take place on October 23 in Bucharest and October 24 in Timisoara, informed a press release of the Romanian Cultural Institute, sent to AGERPRES.
Registration is done online at https://euyo.eu/auditions/.
Starting from 2010, the participation of Romanian musicians at EUYO is supported by the Romanian Cultural Institute. Until now, more than 20 instrumentalists from Romania have taken part in the EUYO training courses, in partnership with ICR.AGERPRES.
Romania's Justice Minister Alina Gorghiu told a recent informal conference of justice ministers from the Council of Europe member and observer states in Vilnius, Lithuania, that the rules for the use of artificial intelligence should be clearly defined by the world community.
According to a press statement released by the Romanian Justice Ministry on Thursday, Gorghiu on Wednesday and Thursday attended the informal conference called "Towards Accountability for International Crimes Committed in Ukraine."
The conference began with the European Commission signing the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law.
"The convention establishes common general principles and rules for the responsible use of artificial intelligence. Human health and the environment are taken into account, as well as socio-economic aspects such as employment and labour. The convention aims to protect human rights, democracy and the rule of law and to promote reliable artificial intelligence systems," according to the Justice Ministry.
"It is a necessary step in a world dominated by propaganda and hybrid attacks. The rules for the use of artificial intelligence should be clearly defined by the world community. It is the only way to make sure that technology is used responsibly. Not to do harm. Not to undermine human rights," Gorghiu is quoted as saying in the statement.
The Romanian official also addressed a second session of the event on a special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine and the role of the Council of Europe.
Gorghiu said that the tribunal has to pierce the personal immunities of the head of the Russian state, the head of the Russian government and the foreign minister.
"Romania hosted the tenth meeting of the core group. I am glad that progress has been made with the technical details for the establishment of the tribunal. It is the only way to restore logic in Europe. Fast action sends the most powerful message. A multilateral agreement among all states can take years. But a bilateral agreement between the Council of Europe and Ukraine is faster. Moreover, the Council of Europe gives more legitimacy to our approach. The initiative must not remain a regional approach. Countries outside Europe have to get involved. This tribunal must pierce the personal immunities of the Russian head of state, the head of the government and the minister of foreign affairs. Prosecutors must be independent. And nations must be cautious with the idea of introducing trials in absentia. The risk of procedural errors is high in the case of specialised and temporary courts."
She added that, at the moment, the preservation of evidence is a top priority, and this summer 14 countries presented evidence for the crime of aggression in over 2,000 cases, with Romania being one of the largest contributors.
"What the Russian Federation has done is, after all, a crime against peace. And it is continuing to threaten peace in many other countries through hybrid attacks. The establishment of this tribunal as soon a
The National Veterinary Sanitary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) ordered the establishment of additional measures to prevent the outbreak of sheep and goat pox in our country, after Bulgaria notified, through the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS), the first outbreak of sheep pox.
"Following the confirmation on September 4, 2024 of the sheep and goat pox outbreak in Straldzha, Yambol region, Bulgaria, the National Veterinary Sanitary and Food Safety Authority took actions to prevent the introduction of the virus of this disease into Romania. Today [Thursday] a videoconference was organized with the County Veterinary and Food Safety Directorates (DSVSAs), during which the situation of the smallpox outbreak in Bulgaria was presented, including the restricted areas, the territorial structures were trained and the legislation regarding sheep and goat pox", the representatives of the institution say.
ANSVSA representatives ordered the establishment of additional preventive measures, such as informing the representatives of the main associations of sheep and goat breeders in the county about the symptoms and evolution of the disease in Bulgaria and about the obligation to notify the veterinarian about animals that show changes in behavior, illnesses or cases of mortality.
At the same time, the need and obligation of animal owners to notify the veterinarian whenever they observe animals with behavioral changes, illnesses or any case of mortality will be publicized.
Also, information was sent regarding the obligation of animal owners to notify the veterinarian whenever they observe animals with changes in behavior, illnesses m cases of mortality, through printed materials (posters) to be posted at town halls, churches, etc.
On the list of additional measures taken by ANSVSA representatives, there is the increased monitoring of sheep and goat animal transports within the intra-community trade with Bulgaria, including the analysis of their temporary suspension.
At the same time, traffic controls will be intensified to identify any unauthorized transport of animals, especially on the border with Bulgaria.
"For each transport of sheep and goats, the veterinarian will assist the unloading of the animals from the means of transport and will perform a clinical examination of all the animals. The newly introduced animals will be kept in isolation for a period of 21 days until they are introduced into the indigenous herd", the press release states.
According to the cited source, this information will be provided during the meetings organized by the County Veterinary and Food Safety Directorates with the representatives of the main associations of sheep and goat breeders and with those of the economic operators involved in the ruminant trade activity, from the county.
ANSVSA has sent instructions to the territory through memos regarding the evolution of sheep and goat pox, both in Bulgaria and in Greece, which will be implemented by organizing meetings with the involved and interested parties.
At the same time, ANSVSA requests economic operators in Romania involved in ruminant trade activity to pay maximum attention to the instructions sent by ANSVSA through the county DSVSAs, in order to protect their herds of small ruminants from this disease.
"Any suspicion of illness must be notified as soon as possible to the county DSVSAs", the press release informs.
The REPER party will run for elections with the clear objective of coagulating a liberal, democratic, reformist platform open to all those who want to end "the era of PSD and feudalism in Romania", according to a party's press release sent on Thursday.
"Amid the various public statements and speculations of the last few days, I remind you that REPER did not knock on anyone's door, but was invited by both the PNL and the USR to a dialogue about a possible alliance of liberal forces for these elections, a project that we have supported and continue to consider a solution. We are not more concerned with our own mandates than with a political project that will gather good people around certain values and some objectives. We have seen firm concerns for mandates around us, rather than in our organization. I think these concerns will have a serious political cost, but it is not our priority to make assessments for other parties. we said where and how we can best contribute, based on demonstrated results, not what "claims" we have", said Ramona Strugariu, co-president of REPER, according to the press release.
She emphasizes that there is a liberal, progressive, open Romania, of rights and freedoms, of active pro-Europeanism, of inclusion, of equal opportunities, of social justice and respect for the rule of law, to whom no one and no presidential candidate speaks to and no party takes it seriously with a tailor-made political offer.
"There is a Romania that does not understand why conservatism and populism should be the golden electoral rules that fascinate the masses. There is a Romania that says a resolute "no, thank you" to opportunistic alliances of any kind. There is a Romania for which the family also means single parents or life partners, it means a community of values, affection, trust, security. There is a Romania for which freedom of choice, without brutal constraints and medieval practices that endanger lives, is fundamental," Strugariu states.
He draws attention, at the same time, that "there is a Romania where poverty and lack of education make victims every day and those people, regardless of which party they vote with, must be helped to get out of vulnerability and humiliation".
"There is a Romania where entrepreneurs feel that they pay taxes just to be left alone, not that they have any added value for the economy and society. We are here and we will fight with all our resources and all our energy in the electoral competition, until in the end, because all these sides of Romania matter. They are worth fighting for. They are a goal that should never be abandoned, in all the background noise surrounding it," says Ramona Strugariu.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 4. The total volume of commercial banks assets in Uzbekistan reached 711.1 trillion soums ($56.2 billion) from January through July 2024, Trend reports.
According to the data from the Central Bank of Uzbekistan, the assets of state-owned banks amounted to 475.2 trillion soums ($37.5 billion), while the assets of other banks amounted to 235.8 trillion soums ($18.6 billion) during this period.
Among Uzbekistans state-owned banks, the National Bank of Uzbekistan accounted for the largest volume of assets, totaling 133.1 trillion soums ($10.5 billion). The smallest amount of assets was registered at the countrys Poytaxt bank with 256 billion soums ($20.2 million) during this period.
Meanwhile, the capital of Uzbekistans commercial banks amounted to 105.1 trillion soums ($8.3 billion) from January through July 2024.
The capital of state-owned banks reached 65.5 trillion soums ($5.17 billion), and the capital of other banks totaled 39.6 trillion soums ($3.1 billion) during this period.
President of the Senate Nicolae Ciuca, leader of the National Liberal Party (PNL), announces that a code of practices for reporting acts of violence and sexual harassment will be presented at the parliamentary level and at the same time a set of legislative measures will be initiated "to combat this scourge", informs Agerpres.
He was asked, on Wednesday evening, on TVR Info, how he comments on the accusations brought by the prosecutors against the former teacher from SNSPA Alfred Bulai.
"It is absolutely unacceptable. We discussed with the Minister of Justice, with the Minister of Education and very soon we are preparing an event at the level of the Senate in which to present a code of practices for reporting acts of violence and sexual harassment. In Romania, from the data we have, on a scale from 1 to 10, there is great fear and concern about this inhuman behavior, this scourge. I am convinced that, as happened in the case of Bulai, the state institutions, the state antibodies, must react and do their duty. From a legislative point of view (...) we discussed with [Justice] minister Gorghiu to come up with that set of legislative measures, for which I have no limit, to be introduced in the legal provisions to combat this scourge," the PNL leader declared.
Sociologist Alfred Bulai, former professor at SNSPA, was detained, on Wednesday, after being questioned at the 2nd Police Station in the Capital in the case of abuse of office for sexual purposes and sexual assault. According to some judicial sources, he has the status of a suspect and did not want to give statements to the police, availing himself of the right to remain silent.
On Wednesday, the prosecutors of the Prosecutor's Office next to the 1st District Court searched Alfred Bulai's home and car.
Also on Wednesday, raids took place at the residences of two other people.
The investigators carry out investigations in rem regarding suspicions regarding the commission of the crimes of abuse of office for sexual purposes and sexual aggression.
According to a journalistic investigation carried out by the Snoop website, Alfred Bulai allegedly sexually harassed several female students.
For artist Sherelle Speed, aka the Art Doll, dreams come true every day. Her surrealistic paintings often originate in the haze of her dreams. Its also a dream that this successful artist and entrepreneur makes her living doing what she loves, making art every day.
She doesnt sit like a princess in an ivory tower applying paint to canvas, though. In just 10 years shes actively built a successful art business now headquartered at the House of Art Doll, her tattoo shop on Delmar.
Her savvy business side contrasts with the ethereal, sometimes otherworldly paintings she produces. She doesnt limit her creativity; she celebrates its many facets. Not everyone can afford to buy original paintings, so you capitalize off of things that reward you as well as give you income, she says. Thats how I came up with tattooing, teaching private paint and sip classes, and mural making its all under the same umbrella of art. You have to have an entrepreneurial mindset and think how many streams of income can you get off of your passion?
She didnt plan to become an artist and entrepreneur. My dream was to become a psychiatrist, she says. She enrolled in classes at Florissant Valley Community College with the intent of transferring to a university after shed completed her general studies. She took one art class as an elective, a choice that would later change her life. It set the stage for her life, and for healing from a traumatic life event.
Ten years ago she lost her home and all her possessions. She turned to art to heal, expressing the trauma in her art. She reached back to her childhood love of stories and invested the paintings with personal meaning.
I often have vivid dreams about the Disney princesses. If you look at their backstories, they were all were treated poorly. Theyve all been broken. Thats where the pins, the stitches, and the needles appear, she says. The dolls once broken become whole, the visible signs of their trauma are also a source of strength.
In her doll series she uses a bright palette of colors. She uses different colors for each of her explorations. Her works always explore representation, a conscious choice. As a woman of color, right now times are changing for us. I have a 5-year-old daughter. Representation matters to me for her.
In addition, Speed wants people to self-identify in her work as well. She leaves room for personal projection. I know Im not going buy a painting of a random person, so I leave my paintings faceless. I want you to be able to put yourself into the painting. You can use your imagination and put any faces you want in the painting, she says.
Although her style is uniquely her own, her influences include Jean-Michel Basquiat, renaissance art and Tim Burton. Im a huge Tim Burton fan so my tattoo shop is a girl horror thing, she says. My whole aesthetic is a little creepy and Goth. Fans call it pastel Goth, which is dark, but its still pretty and still bubbly.
Her art influences in St. Louis include Brock Seals and Cbabi Bayoc. I met Brock in my only art class at Flo Valley 10 years ago and weve stayed connected ever since, she says. I look up to Cbabi because of his lifes journey.
Shes carved out her own path in idiosyncratic, dream-driven paintings that speak of hardship, strength, courage and the importance of representation. She plays not only with race, but with gender roles, social class, sexuality, and female strength and power. Its a potent cocktail, meant to be savored.
Art Doll LLC Artist: Sherelle Speed aka as the Art Doll Family: Sherelle has one daughter, Yuri Marz, 5, who named their pet baby yellow belly turtle Minja Turtle. Age: 36 Home: St. Charles County What she makes: Speed makes original paintings and offers limited reproductions in varying sizes of some images. She also works as a tattoo artist in her own shop and gallery, the House of Art Doll. She is an accomplished muralist and teacher as well. She will be teaching a murals class at Soldan High School in September, and she also holds private art class events at her shop. Where to buy: Purchase her artworks at her website, theartdoll.net, and from her shop, the House of Art Doll at 6277 Delmar Boulevard How much: Her original paintings range from $500 to $5,000; murals start at $2,500, and private painting classes are $40 per person. See her website for available original art and reproductions.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 5. The Uzbekistan Atomic Energy Agency (UzAtom) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) discussed the implementation of national projects aimed at developing nuclear infrastructure and the peaceful use of atomic energy, Trend reports.
UzAtom held a meeting with Director of the IAEAs Technical Cooperation Division for Europe Eve-Kulli Kala.
During the meeting, the parties had a fruitful discussion on important matters regarding their collaboration, where special attention was given to the current status and future prospects of national projects being implemented with the support of the IAEA.
The participants also agreed to continue active collaboration, including holding expert meetings and working sessions to address issues related to the implementation of national projects and strengthening Uzbekistan's nuclear infrastructure.
Cooperation between UzAtom and the IAEA has been actively developing since Uzbekistan joined the organization in 1994. In recent years, more than 20 Uzbek specialists annually undergo training and advanced training within the framework of IAEA programs aimed at developing nuclear energy and radiation safety.
By 2030, it's planned to commission two VVER-1200 reactors, built jointly with the Russian Rosatom Corporation.
Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
U.S. Steel is threatening a shift away from integrated steelmaking, which it's done in Northwest Indiana for nearly 120 years, if the $14.9 billion Nippon Steel acquisition falls through.
The steelmaker, one of Northwest Indiana's largest employers and the founder of the City of Gary as a company town, said it could move away from making steel with blast furnaces like it does at its flagship Gary Works mill in favor of less capital-intensive mini-mill operations in the south.
U.S. Steel President and CEO David Burritt warned at a rally Wednesday that it could move its headquarters from Pittsburgh as well.
Burritt and other U.S. Steel employees rallied at the U.S. Steel Tower in Pittsburgh for a buyout and plan to call elected officials to make the case for Nippon Steel buying the company.
Todays rally is about displaying support for the transaction with Nippon Steel. We want elected leaders and other key decision makers to recognize the benefits of the deal as well as the unavoidable consequences if the deal fails, Burritt said.
Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris said on Labor Day that she wanted U.S. Steel to remain American-owned and operated. President Joe Biden and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump also have voiced opposition to a sale.
U.S. Steel warned there could be dire consequences if no merger takes place.
"Without the Nippon Steel transaction, U.S. Steel will largely pivot away from its blast furnace facilities, putting thousands of good-paying union jobs at risk, negatively impacting numerous communities across the locations where its facilities exist, and depriving the American steel industry of an opportunity to better compete on the global stage," the company said in a news release.
"In addition to moving away from integrated steelmaking, the lack of a deal with Nippon Steel raises serious questions about U.S. Steel remaining headquartered in Pittsburgh. The departure of U.S. Steel, a company that has been making steel in the Mon Valley since 1901, would deprive the Pittsburgh area of jobs, tax revenue, and community-based contributions.
"A 2023 economic impact study shows that U.S. Steels operations in (Pennsylvania) generated $3.6 billion in total economic impact, supported and sustained 11,417 jobs through its operations and purchases from the local supply chain, and generated $138.2 million in state and local taxes as a result of operations and capital spending."
U.S. Steel has lost money in six of the last 13 years, including $1.6 billion losses in 2013 and 2015 and a $1.16 billion loss in 2020. It's brought in $7.5 billion in profit over the last three years but its profit has started to slide as a result of a cooling steel market. Cleveland-Cliffs tried to buy U.S. Steel to consolidate all of the remaining integrated steelmaking under one banner, but U.S. Steel rejected that offer, put itself on the open market and got a $55 per share offer from Nippon Steel, which said it will run U.S. Steel as a U.S. subsidiary serving the North American market.
Nippon has promised $2.7 billion in investments at Mon Valley Works in Pennsylvania and Gary Works and said it would retain all the hourly employees and recognize the United Steelworkers union as its bargaining partner. U.S. Steel said it would not make those financial commitments on its own.
USW District 7 Director Mike Millsap and International President David McCall described the company's threats as "baseless" and "reckless."
"While U.S. Steel continues pressing forward with its ill-conceived merger with Nippon, its executives clearly are getting increasingly rattled. The future of U.S. Steel has never been the sole domain of executives and shareholders, but with his $70 million change-in-control bonus on the line, CEO David Burritt has reached new lows," they said in a prepared statement. "Up until now, Burritt has described USS as a world-class steel company, but now he is making baseless and unlawful threats, saying if the transaction with Nippon is rejected, the future of U.S. Steel as a viable steel company is at risk. His reckless statements and mismanagement are the only true obstacle to U.S. Steel remaining a sustainable steel company."
The union faulted U.S. Steel for canceling billions of dollars of investments planned into Mon Valley Works in Pittsburgh just before buying the Big River Steel mini-mill in Arkansas, saying it would continue down the same path.
"Nippon stated on the day that the transaction was sprung on the public in December that it will continue to follow Burritts plan, which to date means running away from USW employees and the communities that have for decades made the company profitable," Millsap and McCall said. "Weve seen Burritts work in action as hes sought to increase the short-term stock price but shrink stockholder value to restructure U.S. Steel as a mini-mill. The 'plan' has been to shut down steel making in Great Lakes and Granite City and expand Big River, to kill four tin lines, opening the market to Nippons imports."
They questioned whether Nippon would go through with the promised investments, saying that a news release is not a contract and that Nippon has insisted on many conditions.
"With the latest announcement, we have every reason to believe that Nippon will simply make our finishing mills a destination for Japanese overcapacity of imported slabs. Todays pathetic attempt to orchestrate a rally in downtown Pittsburgh shows that U.S. Steel is becoming increasingly desperate to save the deal," Millsap and McCall said. "Nippons $55 per share offer is a significant premium to stockholders, and it will no doubt enrich Burritt and his top executives. But the merger sells out the future for workers, the retirees, the communities and jeopardizes our nations ability to produce the melted, poured and finished steel products that we need for our national defense and critical supply chain. Burritts harassment, threats and bullying of loyal employees wont work and they must stop."
The union questioned whether the deal had any path forward when the administration could block it on national security concerns regardless of the results of the November election.
"Dave Burritt wasted the past year pursuing this merger, and he has failed. Its time for the board of directors to hold Burritt accountable for his reckless leadership, which risks turning an iconic American steelmaker into a foreign-controlled subsidiary of a Houston-based shell company with serious adverse consequences for our economic and national security," Millsap and McCall said. "The fact remains: U.S. Steel would hold no value, would not be world class, without the hard work and tireless dedication of generations of USW-represented Steelworkers. As long as we remain united in solidarity, we will keep U.S. Steel U.S.-owned."
The culture-war piffle that so often passes for policy among Missouris radical right-wing political leaders today is more than just an offensive failure of public service. It can also get expensive for the very taxpayers who are being ill-served by those policies.
The price of Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcrofts silly crusade against socially responsible investing, for example, is currently edging past $2 million in legal fees for litigation that has failed once and will certainly fail again if it continues. Talk about an irresponsible investment.
Ashcroft, whose duties include regulating securities, created a rule last year that required investment brokers to obtain written permission from clients before using socially responsible criteria in their investment strategies.
The rule had no particular impetus except Ashcrofts gubernatorial aspirations, which necessitated convincing GOP primary voters of his right-wing reactionary cred.
A trendy bogeyman on the right these days is the concept of environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment strategies that is, investments that take into account environmental impact, social justice and other liberal-leaning priorities savaged as unacceptably woke by much of todays MAGA-fied Republican Party.
Ashcrofts argument relies on the false notion that investors might be duped by having their money invested in ESG-focused funds without their knowledge. That notion misunderstands the entire point of ESG, which is showcased by its advocates to attract socially conscientious investors.
As with Ashcrofts earlier library censorship stunt, his anti-ESG investment rules are an ideologically loaded solution in search of a problem.
More than that, they reveal that when it comes to pandering to extremism, Ashcroft is willing to cast aside genuine conservative principles like the one about keeping governments nose out of free-market business decisions. The fact that the policy put him crosswise with the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and other mainstream business groups speaks volumes about the wayward path of todays GOP.
Another of those mainstream business groups, the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, sued Ashcroft last year over the policy, saying the new rules were burdensome state regulation that stepped on the overriding authority of the federal Securities and Exchange Commission to regulate investment activity.
A federal judge last month agreed, and struck down Ashcrofts rules as both an improper preemption of federal law and an unconstitutional infringement on the free-speech rights of investment professionals.
Ashcrofts office has said it is considering an appeal. If so, it should be prepared to explain to Missouris taxpayers why Ashcroft would throw good tax money after bad on a clearly losing case in defense of a politically malicious policy.
The bad money burned so far is significant.
As the Post-Dispatchs Kurt Erickson reported this week, Missouris defense of the litigation against Ashcrofts rule, combined with attorneys fees being sought by the other side, currently total about $2.1 million. Even if Ashcroft does the responsible thing and drops the matter rather than appealing, the final figure will certainly be larger. Should he appeal, it will be much larger.
It is not, by a long stretch, the only waste of Missouris public money for ideological antics by Republican politicians.
The states Second Amendment Preservation Act a deranged statute that presumes to give Missourians the power to ignore federal gun laws and sue any police department that tries to enforce them is losing one court challenge after another on its way to an inevitable overturn. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has made a virtual cottage industry out of filing legally ludicrous lawsuits with no apparent purpose other than providing campaign fodder as he seeks election to his seat in November.
Why should Missouris residents more than a million of whom vote for the Democratic presidential candidate in every modern-day election have to fund what amount to Republican campaign bumper stickers in the form of brazenly partisan policies that are doomed the second they encounter the bright light of a courtroom?
Ashcroft lost his gubernatorial bid, placing third in the GOP primary last month; his political career will end (for now, at least) in January. So if he keeps this dumb case going, it will presumably be for nothing but pride. Its certainly not a matter of legitimate principle, there being none of that in this policy.
Ashcroft is among the most disappointing of Missouris radical Republicans today because he wasnt always like that. Pre-MAGA, he was one of the more serious and responsible Republicans in the states leadership. Alas, the Trump era has had that effect on too many once-responsible conservatives.
Mr. Secretary, as a final act in office, please regain some of that seriousness by dropping the legal defense of this nonsense policy before it costs your constituents another dime.
EQS-Ad-hoc: Raiffeisen Bank International AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous/Miscellaneous
Raiffeisen Bank International AG: AO Raiffeisenbank (Russia) shares are subject to a transfer ban imposed by a Russian court decision
05-Sep-2024 / 20:13 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.
AO Raiffeisenbank (Russia) shares are subject to a transfer ban imposed by a Russian court decision
Vienna, 5 September 2024. A Russian court has today issued a preliminary injunction, by which shares of AO Raiffeisenbank are subject to a transfer ban with immediate effect. Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) is the 100% shareholder of AO Raiffeisenbank.
The decision is related to the legal proceedings recently initiated by Rasperia Trading Limited in Russia against STRABAG SE, its Austrian core shareholders and AO Raiffeisenbank. AO Raiffeisenbank is mentioned in the claim as related to the other defendants, although not accused of any wrongdoing. RBI is not a party to these proceedings.
As a result of todays decision RBI cannot transfer its shares in AO Raiffeisenbank. This complicates the sales process in which RBI seeks to sell a controlling stake in AO Raiffeisenbank and will inevitably lead to further delays. RBI will attempt to reverse todays court decision by all legal means.
For further information please contact:
John P. Carlson, CFA
Head of Group Investor Relations
Raiffeisen Bank International AG
Am Stadtpark 9
1030 Vienna, Austria
ir@rbinternational.com
phone +43 1 71 707 2089
www.rbinternational.com
September 5, 2024: As of August 2024, Ukraine has received several dozen F-16 fighters but has not yet used them in combat. Ukrainian personnel are still learning how to operate and maintain the aircraft. The United States government currently forbids Ukraine from using them because it is unhappy over Ukraine forces recently invading Russian territory in the Kursk area.
Before Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, Ukraine wanted F-16s because it had done what it could with its Russian-built MiG-29s, but heavy combat losses meant replacements were needed and Ukraine preferred F-16s over other Western fighters. So would Russia but Ukraine had a better chance of getting them. Both Russian and Ukrainian fighter pilots were familiar with the superiority of the F-16 over the MiG-29 and even its major upgrade, the MiG-35. For a few years after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Russian and Ukrainian pilots had an opportunity to fly in an F-16. Western pilots had already done this with MiG-29s because some MiG-29 pilots defected to the West while flying their Mig-29s.
The Russian situation in Ukraine has become increasingly perilous and the Ukrainian F-16s may not become operational before the war ends or degenerates into Russian defeat Russia refuses to acknowledge. Such a situation would likely result in NATO nations supplying F-16s to suggest that Ukraine not use its F-16s inside Russia or too close to the Russian border because the Russians would make an extraordinary effort to down one or more F-16s. Russia is embarrassed by the inability of their answer to the F-16, the MiG-29, to match the F-16s in aerial combat. Instead Russia is concentrating lots of anti-aircraft systems in border areas where the F-16s might operate. This is an effort to shoot one of the F-16s down. This would deflect criticism of the poor performance of the MiG-29.
Since 1981 over 1,600 MiG29s have been produced and the aircraft is still produced in small quantities each year. Upgrades were added haphazardly and many of these did not work as intended. There was inadequate quality control and Russian manufacturers were not able to fix these problems. There was no uniformity in adding or maintaining upgrades. This resulted in a lot of MiG-29s with different capabilities. It was difficult just to keep track of which MiG-29 could do what and with what degree of consistency. There was also a problem with ergonomics, or ease of use. Ukrainian pilots who trained to use F-16s found the layout of the F-16 cockpit more efficiently organized and much easier to use.
MiG-29s were expensive to maintain and, without adequate maintenance, became dangerous to fly. Russian warplanes were never as durable and long-lasting as western models. Western aircraft were designed to spend much more time in the air because western pilots received a lot more training.
Both the Ukrainian and Russian Air Forces had a difficult time recovering and rebuilding after the end of the Cold War. The Russian Air Force had over 10,000 military aircraft in 1991. The mighty Soviet Red Air Force instantly lost nearly half its strength because the 14 new states formed from the Soviet Union took possession of whatever warplanes were stationed within their borders. For both Russia and Ukraine, 1991 was followed by two decades of sharply lower defense budgets that cut maintenance and eliminated all but a few purchases of new aircraft.
There were efforts to refurbish older aircraft. After 2000 Russia steadily increased defense spending, but it was not enough. By 2015 Russia could only put into action about ten percent of the warplanes the Red Air Force could at its 1991 peak. To make matters worse, growing development problems with its new Su-57 stealth fighter meant that Russia had to depend even more on late Cold War designs which included the Su-27/30, MiG-29, and Su-25, plus some older heavy bomber and recon aircraft. Upgrades made to those aircraft since 1991 were mainly for export customers. Russian defense firms needed the cash, not another IOU from the Russian government.
Ukraine inherited 200 MiG-29s in 1991 but only kept about three dozen in service because of the high cost of maintenance. Despite that, after the Russian 2014 attack Ukraine began an upgrade program for its operational MiG-29s. The first of Ukraines MiG-29MU1 aircraft entered service in 2018 and, by the second time Russia invaded in February 2022, there were 18 MiG-29MU1s and one MiG-29MU2 with further enhancements available.
The air war over Ukraine was initially a tactical win for Ukraine, but that was costly, with 47 fighters or attack aircraft lost. Twenty of these were MiG-29s, four were Su-27 fighters and the rest were twelve Su-24 and Su-25 ground attack aircraft. Russia lost four Su-24s, 13 Su-25s, ten Su-34s, successor to the older Su-24 and one Su-35 (an upgraded Su-27). The Ukrainians prevented Russia from achieving air superiority and forced them to launch their airstrikes from inside Russia using air-to-ground missiles. Four of the new Su-57 stealth aircraft were also used for this and the Su-57s never entered Ukrainian air space.
Ukraine has been offered several dozen MiG-29s that were still in use, or in active storage, by NATO nations that were phasing out their MiG-29s for Western jets. Those transfers were initially stalled by disagreements within NATO about sending these MiGs or F-16s and A-10s to the Ukrainians. That hasnt prevented less visible assistance, like supplying Ukraine with MiG-29 spare parts as well as pilot transition training programs operated by American volunteers, some of them former F-16 and A-10 pilots, who know how to obtain unclassified manuals and equipment to create flight simulators adequate for pilot transition training. Programs like this have already succeeded for other types of Western weapons Ukraine wanted and anticipated getting them by selecting and training operators in advance.
Meanwhile Russia had given up on its Mig-29s, which it had been unable to upgrade successfully. There were many upgrades available and some of them did not work.
In 2019 Russia made a desperate effort to keep the venerable MIG company, founded in 1939 as MiG or Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Bureau, in business. This was done out of a combination of nostalgia, national pride, and practicality. That last item is all about maintaining competition, in the form of having at least two firms designing and producing fighter aircraft.
Nostalgia and national pride are also important because during the Cold War the MiG organization was the primary developer of fighter aircraft. During World War II MiG was one of three, Yakovlev, Lavochkin and MiG, developers of successful fighter aircraft. One of the earliest successes was the MiG-3 fighter. After the war, Yakovlev and Lavochkin moved on to other aerospace endeavors while the Sukhoi Design Bureau, which had worked on ground attack aircraft during the war, began developing jet fighters which were competition for MiG and eventually surpassed MiG by the 1990s.
After World War II MiG was famous for developing the first two generations of Russian jet fighters. This included the first successful Russian jet fighter, the MiG-15 and several subsequent improved versions like the MiG 17 and 1919. Then came the MiG-21, the most widely used jet fighter of the Cold War. In the 1960s the MiG-23/27 showed up, along with a lot of MiG design problems. Despite that MiG manufactured most Russian jet fighters during the Cold War. For over three decades, MiG has been losing its edge and by the end of the century was in danger of disappearing. This decline continued despite efforts to turn the quality problems around.
For example, in 2019 the Russian Air Force received the first two production models of the new MiG-35 fighter. Four more followed by the end of 2019. Air force tests under operational conditions were encouraging but there were no more orders. That was largely because no export customers for the MiG-35 could be found. Bad experiences with older MiG aircraft, even after 1991, had ruined MiGs reputation. For many potential export customers, the fact that the Russian Air Force did not order a lot of MiG-35s confirmed their fears.
The MiG-35 was designed to replace hundreds of Cold War era MiG-29s and Su-27s but the lack of export orders proved fatal to the independence of the MiG firm, which was now known as MAC, or Mikoyan Aircraft Corporation. Soon MiG became part of the UAC or United Aircraft Corporation, a state-owned firm that now controls nearly all Russian combat aircraft development and production. In June 2022 UAC dissolved its MAC division and the Mig-29/35 became just another product line, and one with no future.
The MiG-35 has been in development for nearly three decades because MiG was no longer the outstanding combat aircraft developer and manufacturer it was during the Cold War. Russia was trying to change that so that there would still be two organizations, MiG and Sukhoi developing and building fighters. The long gestation time for the MiG-35 is an example of the problems MiG has been having. The MiG-35 is basically a much-improved Cold War era MiG-29. The MiG-35 is a 29-ton, twin-engine fighter with a combat radius of 1,000 kilometers and can refuel in the air. It has an internal 30mm autocannon and nine hardpoints that can carry 6.5 tons of bombs and missiles. It has an AESA radar and a fire control system that can handle smart bombs and missiles. Max altitude is 19,000 meters and the MiG-35 can reach that altitude in about a minute. Max speed is 2,400 kilometers an hour at high altitude and 1,400 at sea level. It is a very maneuverable aircraft meant to provide superior performance in combat. Air force tests of these new capabilities against the latest Su-30 models revealed that the new MiG was not worth the expense.
The Russian air force was not optimistic about the MiG-35 because its experiences with new MiG aircraft in the previous decade were disappointing. For example, in January 2016 the air force received the last of 16 MiG-29SMT jet fighters it ordered in early 2014. The Russian Air Force paid $30 million for each of these MiGs but really didnt want them. The government insisted in order to keep the MAC from going bankrupt. That became a possibility in 2013 when it was revealed that Russia would not order 37 of MACs new, and still in development MiG-35 fighters. Because of development problems the MiG-35 was delayed from 2016 to 2018 and finally showed up in 2019. You could see where this was going. Cancellation of the billion-dollar MiG-35 order put MAC in a financial bind and the best solution seemed to be purchasing more of the existing MiG-29SMTs. The 22-ton MiG-29SMT is an upgrade of the original MiG-29 with improved avionics, a more powerful engine, and the ability to use smart bombs and missiles against ground targets. It could carry 4.5 tons of bombs and missiles. All that was not enough.
Meanwhile, MAC was running out of time, cash, and options. It had orders for some MiG-29Ks, for use on aircraft carriers and upgrades to Indian MiG-29s. Serbia was close to placing an order. MAC could not expect much more help from the government which was dealing with a major cash shortage as a result of record low oil prices and trade sanctions because of Russian aggression in Ukraine that began in 2014.
This was not the first time Russia purchased MiGs mainly for financial, not military reasons. In 2006 Russia agreed to buy 28 MiG-29 fighters to prevent the MAC from going bankrupt. That crisis was triggered when Algeria told Russia that it was canceling their 2007 $1.3 billion order for 28 MiG-29 fighters and returning the ones already delivered. Algeria insisted that there were quality issues and that some of the aircraft were assembled from old parts. The accusation turned out to be true and Russian prosecutors tried and convicted several MAC executives for passing off defective, or used, aircraft parts as new. Many of these parts made their way into MiG-29 jet fighters that were sold to Algeria.
The MiG-29 has been in service since the 1980s, but stocks of Cold War era spare parts were still around, and it was suspected in the Russian aviation community that some of these older parts were used to build the Algerian aircraft. These were supposed to be new aircraft but some of their components were definitely not. Some MiG employees were very unhappy with the corrupt practices involving aircraft parts. This sort of crime often extends to parts for airliners. The MiG employees felt personally responsible for any defective aircraft leaving their plant and didn't want to be flying in an airliner containing fraudulent parts either. Russian prosecutors, already involved in an anti-corruption program underway for several years, jumped on these allegations and quickly convicted senior executives who presided over widespread fraud in the aircraft components industry.
MiG hoped that the new MiG-35 would save the company. Described as the equivalent of the American F-35, the MiG-35 would be the low-end to the high-end Su-57, seen as the Russian F-22 stealth fighter. The Su-57 was no F-22, and the MiG-35 was no F-35. The MiG-35 is a considerably redesigned MiG-29. The MiG-35 was originally designed to carry a 30mm autocannon and up to five tons of bombs. The big selling point for the MiG-35 was its offensive and defensive electronics, as well as sensors for finding targets on land or sea. All this looked very impressive on paper, but the Russians have long had problems getting the performance to match promises. This is particularly the case with the advanced electronics of the MiG-35, which was running into problems because the competing F-35 electronics set a very high bar. The MiG-35 has little stealth capability and first flew in 2007. Russia had hoped to buy a hundred or so MiG-35s after 2016 but the reality of MiG-35s poor performance halted any purchase plans.
The MiG-29 entered Russian service in 1983. Some 1,600 MiG-29s were produced, with about 900 of them exported. The original MiG-29 was a 22-ton aircraft roughly comparable to the F-16, but it depends a lot on which version of either aircraft you are talking about. Russia is making a lot of money upgrading MiG-29s. Not just adding new electronics but also making the airframe more robust. The MiG-29 was originally rated at 2,500 total flight hours. At that time, the early 80s, Russia expected MiG-29s to fly about a hundred or so hours a year. Reality was different. India, for example, flew them at nearly twice that rate, as did Malaysia. Russia offered to upgrade the airframe so that the aircraft could fly up to 4,000 hours, with more life extension upgrades promised. This was not easy to do, as the MiG-29 had a history of unreliability and premature mechanical and electronic breakdowns. It was also more expensive to maintain than comparable Su-27/30 and foreign fighter jets.
Ukraine made the most it could out of its MiG-29s with its own upgrades. But early in the 2022 war Russian missiles damaged the Lviv facility, the only place equipped to carry out upgrades. Ukraine needed more fighters and, like most long-time MiG customers, wanted anything but more MiGs.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 5. Uzbekistan and Qatar discussed the establishment of a center for distribution of Uzbek products in the Persian Gulf countries through the port of Hamad (Qatar), Trend reports.
The matter was reviewed during a meeting between Chairman of Uzbekistan's Chamber of Commerce and Industry Davron Vakhabov with the board member of Qatar's Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ali Bin Abdullatif Al Misned, and First Secretary of Qatar's Embassy in Uzbekistan Fahad Ali Al-Hammadi.
During the meeting, the parties noted that Qatar Airways will actively participate in the above mentioned project to organize cargo transportation.
In addition, the sides agreed to hold an Uzbek-Qatar business forum in October this year in the Namangan region (Uzbekistan) and the first meeting of the joint business council in Doha (Qatar) on November 11-12. The meeting will form the composition of the council and identify further steps to expand bilateral cooperation.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to strengthen economic connections, which should pave the way for further commerce and investment prospects between Qatar and Uzbekistan.
Meanwhile, in June 2023, as a result of the visit of the Emir of Qatar to Samarkand, the countries reached an agreement on the participation of leading Qatari companies in the implementation of investment projects in Uzbekistan with a total value of $12 billion.
September 5, 2024: As of this year, Russia has increased its efforts to influence operations in Africa that cause political and economic problems for NATO countries. Russian troops have been increasingly active in Africa since 2018. Even with the problems Russia is having in Ukraine, their operations in Africa continue to succeed. This actually helps them in Ukraine because NATO nations depend on raw materials from Africa, while Russian military operations in Africa are disrupting shipments to Western Europe. Currently Russia is believed to have about a thousand mercenaries operating throughout Africa.
For example, in early August 2024, Russian and Malian soldiers in northern Mali suffered heavy casualties fighting CSP rebels. CSP stands for the Strategic Framework for the Defense of the People of Azawad, or CSP-DPA. Malian soldiers backed by the Wagner Group Russian mercenaries have been cooperating for over five year and their joint operations are successful most of the time.
CSP was formed in 2021 and mainly consists of Tuaregs, a North African Berber group that dominated the region for over two thousand years until European colonial forces showed up in the early 19th century. The Tuaregs put up a fierce resistance to the French and were not defeated in Mali until 1905. The Tuaregs continued to feud with their North African and sub-Saharan African neighbors. The colonial powers left most of Africa in the 1960s. This was bad for the Tuaregs, who are outnumbered by the people of Niger, Mali, Algeria, Libya, and Burkina Faso, countries the Tuaregs used to dominate. The French colonial governments used the Tuaregs as their enforcers and this backfired on them when the French left and the newly independent governments of Niger, Mali, Algeria, Libya, and Burkina Faso sought to suppress Tuareg power in the region. This effort is still underway as Tuareg power and influence continues to decline. An example of this continued resistance was the recent clashes with Tuareg militias in northern Mali that left over a hundred Malian troops and Russian mercenaries dead.
In July 2024, the opposition political parties in the landlocked African nation of Mali finally received some cooperation from their transitional military government. On July 10, 2024, Assimi Goita, the interim president of Mali told opposition political parties they could resume operations after a three-month suspension imposed in April. The opposition parties were angry that Goita reneged on his promise to retire from government by March 2024.
By allowing a revival of planning for national elections, Mali could finally look forward to the return of democratic government that would be elected and effective.
Mali is in northwest Africa just south of the Sahara desert. Its northeastern neighbor Algeria is where drug smugglers move their cargoes from ports in Guinea or Ivory Coast north via Mali and Algeria, and then to markets in Europe and the Middle East. Islamic terrorist groups handle the smuggling that passes through Mali.
In 2023 and 2024 the economic and political situation in Mali worsened, with more Islamic terrorist violence and growing areas of northern and central Mali coming under the control of Islamic terrorist groups. The Mali army and a small number of Russian Wagner Group military contractors have been unable or unwilling to carry on with that effort or prevent the Islamic terror groups from crossing the Niger border and advancing into Mali. The terrorists include groups affiliated with al Qaeda, an alliance called JNIM (Jamaah Nusrah al Islam wal Muslimin, or Group for the support of Islam and Moslems), and the more violent groups like ISGS (Islamic States in Greater Sahara), which is one of the two ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) groups in the region. When they showed up in 2018, ISGS operated mainly in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, especially the area where the three borders met. Until recently those Islamic terrorists were only a problem, but now they are a real threat to the normally well defended capitals of all three countries. Islamic terrorist violence in northern Mali has left over a hundred dead each month the fighting continues as does the advance of the Islamic terrorists into Mali and its capital Bamako
In central Malis Mopti region, thousands of civilians have been blockaded by Islamic terrorist groups angry over the way locals have cooperated with the army against Islamic terrorists.
Back in September 2023 representatives from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso met in the Mali capital Bamako to work out details for forming AES (Alliance of Sahel States). The alliance is meant to improve security for all these nations. Currently Islamic terror groups are attacking all AES members. Burkina Faso is the worst hit, with about 40 percent of its territory controlled by Islamic terrorists. Mali and Niger fear the same fate will befall them. Recently, AES was formally established July 6th, 2024, as an anti-French and anti-ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States).
The Mali government forced the French and African G5 peacekeepers out by the end of 2021. In 2017 the prior Mali government, Chad, Niger, the Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso agreed to form a new G5 counter-terrorism force that would work in cooperation with the similar but larger and better equipped French force that had been operating in the Sahel since 2014. The Sahel is the semi-desert area south of the Sahara Desert that covers much of northern Africa.
Back then the French concluded that the Sahel was still troubled by thousands of Islamic terrorists and that this situation could not be taken care of quickly. In order to maintain pressure on the Islamic terrorists, France established a special force of 3,000 troops to fight Islamic terrorists throughout the Sahel. In practice this meant just part of the Sahel and included Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso. This French force grew to some 4,000 troops equipped with 200 armored vehicles, 20 transport and attack helicopters, six jet fighters and three large UAVs. There were also two twin-engine C-160 air transports available for use within the Sahel. Supplies and reinforcements were regularly flown in using long-range transports like the C-17 belonging to NATO allies, especially the U.S. and Britain.
From the beginning the French force included a thousand French troops in Mali and the rest dispersed to other Sahel bases and ready to quickly move anywhere in the region where Islamic terrorist activity had been detected. The G5 nations already cooperated by sharing intelligence and providing quick access to their territory by the French force. In addition, the Americans provided satellite and UAV surveillance and other intel services, especially analysis and access to nearly all American data on Islamic terrorist activities in the region. Each of the G5 member countries contributed 500 to 2,000 personnel consisting largely of special operations troops. Many of these troops had already worked with their French counterparts or been trained by French or American special operations advisors.
All this was meant to keep the Islamic terrorists in the Sahel weak and disorganized. That worked until the current Mali military regime ordered the French/G5 force out. AQIM (Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb), which has been around since 2007, was still in business as gangsters smuggling drugs and illegal migrants north and getting support from Islamic terrorists in Europe and the Persian Gulf. Islamic terrorists continued to carry out attacks in Mali, mainly the north and the G5 states to let the world know that Islamic terrorists are still present in the area.
The Mali population is now about 23 million and the economy is one of the worst in the world, with millions of Malians barely surviving on foreign aid. There is less foreign aid because Mali has not been able to prevent gangsters or Islamic terrorists from stealing the aid to sell on the market for cash to finance their operations. There are other armed groups like, like tribal militias and rebellions soldiers that interfere with foreign aid distribution. This chaotic situation has been going on since 2012, when a separatist rebellion in the north was defeated. Continued high levels of corruption, ethnic rivalries and Islamic terrorism kept Mali from achieving a lasting peace and much prosperity.
In 2021 the situation got worse when there was another military coup. The Mali military has staged three government takeovers since 2012. One, in May 2021, was an internal dispute within the military. Since the May coup foreign donors have warned that most of the foreign aid will stop coming if Mali does not carry out a significant reduction in corruption, government ineffectiveness and overall instability. None of these three military takeovers were about corruption, but rather anger at the corrupt politicians stealing money meant to finance operations against Islamic terrorist and separatist minorities in the north. The colonels running the military government are unwilling to step down and are trying to make it on their own, despite the large number of UN peacekeepers and French troops dealing with the Islamic terrorist problem up north.
As of early 2024 the chaos remains the same even though some military training detachments from the European Union and Russia operate. Russia is also involved in several economic development projects, like a solar power plant The 15,000 UN peacekeepers were gone by the end of 2023. The Mali government, run by rebellious army officers, doesn't want any UN personnel in the country to witness and record the crimes the military government continues to commit. The only thing keeping the Mali military government operating is taxes from the gold mines. These were developed and continue to be operated by foreign firms and recruit their own security personnel to guard the mines and the convoys taking the gold out of the country.
Russian mercenaries are also active in the CAR (the Central African Republic) and eastern Congo, where many essential raw materials are mined for foreign customers. Eastern Congo provinces like North and South Kivu are the center of all this mining and fighting, and the Russians are now involved unofficially but very effectively. Russia is also active in Libya, which has a North African coastline and enables Russia to supply its mercenaries in Libya as well as ship out local raw materials.
Soldiers with the 173rd Airborne Brigade march through a town after parachuting into into a village field outside of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, for Exercise Saber Junction on Sept. 4, 2024. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
HOHENFELS, Germany Farms in Bavaria served as the drop zone this week for a practice run showing what allied forces might experience if ever faced with a Russian incursion.
On Wednesday, scores of paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade jumped from Air Force C-130s and C-17s into the tiny hamlet of Eglsee as part of exercise Saber Junction.
After landing in freshly fertilized fields, the Vicenza, Italy-based Sky Soldiers marched about 2 miles to the 7th Army Training Commands Joint Multinational Readiness Center, where the realities of the Russia-Ukraine war had been readied: dragons teeth, trenches, drones, electronic jamming devices and a seasoned opposition.
Whats awaiting them is probably the hardest fight theyve ever been in, training unit commander Brig. Gen. Steven Carpenter said. But we want it to be hardest here so when they get to combat, it seems just a little bit easier.
Soldiers with the 173rd Airborne Brigade parachute out of C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules aircraft to a field outside of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, for Exercise Saber Junction on Sept. 4, 2024. The annual exercise in Bavaria tested U.S. and NATO troops in joint operations, with a focus on airborne tactics and lessons learned from Russia's war with Ukraine. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes) A soldier with the 173rd Airborne Brigade links up with his team after parachuting into a field outside of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center Hohenfels Training Area for Exercise Saber Junction on Sept. 4, 2024. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes) Paratroopers with the 173rd Airborne Brigade parachute near the Joint Multinational Readiness Center Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, for Exercise Saber Junction on Sept. 4, 2024. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes) Two soldiers with the 173rd Airborne Brigade provide security after parachuting into a field outside of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, for Exercise Saber Junction on Sept. 4, 2024. The multinational land warfare exercise incorporated battlefield lessons from the Ukraine war. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes) Soldiers with the 173rd Airborne Brigade march through a German town after a parachute landing outside of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center Hohenfels Training Area on Sept. 4, 2024. Saber Junction 24 brought together over 4,000 troops from the U.S. and 10 partner nations. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)
The annual Saber Junction land warfare exercise, which runs through Sept. 19, features approximately 4,300 troops, mostly from the U.S. and 10 other partner nations under an Italian high command.
It is being held at the training areas in Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels. The exercise includes simulated artillery, armor, medical, communications and even psychological operations.
Brigade commander Col. Joshua Gaspard said the Army had monitored battle labs like Ukraine in preparation for the exercise. The force had already flown drones to survey its surroundings and had its signals jammed.
The paratroopers face stiff resistance from the Army training centers resident opposition force, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, which comes equipped with faux Russian vehicles.
Spectators watch soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade parachute outside of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, for Exercise Saber Junction on Sept. 4, 2024. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes) A soldier with the 173rd Airborne Brigade inspects his weapon after parachuting into a field outside of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, for Exercise Saber Junction on Sept. 4, 2024. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes) Army soldiers with the 173rd Airborne Brigade parachute into a field outside of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center Hohenfels Training Area for Exercise Saber Junction on Sept. 4, 2024. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes) A soldier with the 173rd Airborne Brigade awaits his next task after parachuting near Joint Multinational Readiness Center Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, for Exercise Saber Junction on Sept. 4, 2024. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)
Carpenter said Ukraines ability to attack from the rear using a tactic known as vertical envelopment has frustrated Russian advances and showed the continued need for airborne operations.
Our ability to get vertical envelopment, to get soldiers deep, not just to do reconnaissance operations, but disrupt the rear lines would be incredibly valuable, he said.
He stressed the importance of rotating all NATO allies and partners through the commands suite of yearly exercises. This years participants include Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Italy, Lithuania, Montenegro, Moldova, North Macedonia and the United Kingdom, an Army statement said.
Georgias continued participation is notable. Russia occupies about 20% of the once solidly pro-Western countrys internationally recognized borders. But over the past year, Georgias ruling party has moved closer to Russia politically amid fierce domestic opposition.
After their landing, the paratroopers marched through villages toward the 40,000-acre training facility, known as the Box. German spectators set up patio chairs and gathered in groups to watch the spectacle.
Sgt. 1st Class Austin Pounds, a platoon sergeant from Galveston, Texas, said they had parachuted down a bit more quickly than expected. His troops had eight days of fighting ahead of them, he said.
As soon as we get in, were going to get our teeth kicked in, he said. But were scrappy, so well kick right back.
The Navy received the New Jersey, its 23rd Virginia-class, fast-attack submarine in April 2024. The first fully integrated sub for mixed-gender crews, the New Jersey will join the fleet on Sept. 14, 2024, during a commissioning ceremony. (Ashley Cowan/Newport News Shipbuilding)
WASHINGTON The first submarine fully integrated for mixed gender crews will join the Navy fleet next week during a commissioning ceremony in its namesake state of New Jersey.
The future USS New Jersey, a fast-attack submarine, will become a deployable part of the Navys force during the ceremony at Naval Weapons Station Earle in New Jersey on Sept. 14, culminating five years of construction that represents a historic shift in how Navy submarines are designed.
The New Jersey is the 23rd Virginia-class submarine, but it is the first of its kind designed from the keel up with specific modifications for gender integration.
The submarine community is a fully gender-integrated warfighting force, said Vice Adm. Robert Gaucher, commander of Submarine Forces Atlantic.
Modifications included obvious ones more doors and washrooms to create separate sleeping and bathing areas and some that are more subtle lowering some overhead valves and making them easier to turn and installing steps in front of the triple-high bunk beds and stacked laundry machines.
The design changes were made to accommodate the growing female force of submariners. In the past five years, the Navy has seen the number of officers and enlisted sailors in the submarine force who are women double and triple, respectively, Gaucher said.
As of August 2024, 730 women were assigned to operational submarines serving as officers and sailors on 19 nuclear-powered, ballistic-missile and guided-missile submarines, and 19 nuclear-powered attack boats, according to Submarine Forces Atlantic.
The increase follows the 2010 lift of the ban that barred women from serving aboard submarines. A decade later, in 2021, the Navy announced a long-term plan to integrate female officers on 33 submarine crews and female enlisted sailors on 14 submarine crews by 2030.
To support women serving onboard submarines, the submarine force, starting with [the Pre-Commissioning Unit] New Jersey, is building all future [nuclear-powered attack submarines] and the new Columbia-class, [ballistic-missile submarines] gender-neutral from the keel up, Gaucher said.
Construction on the New Jersey began in 2019 at HIIs Newport News Shipbuilding division in Virginia. The warship was christened in 2021 and delivered in April to the Navy at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia.
Before construction of the New Jersey, the Navy retrofitted existing Ohio-class submarines with extra doors and designated washrooms.
The Henkerhaus Museum, located along the Pegnitz River in Nuremberg, Germany, was once home to the city's municipal executioners and offers a glimpse into medieval crime and punishment. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)
Meister Franz Schmidt beheaded, hanged, burned or drowned 361 people deemed criminals while he held the role of municipal executioner in Nuremberg between 1577 and 1617.
Schmidt used torture to extract confessions and maimed lesser offenders with corporal punishment an additional 345 times. His position was thought to be fairly prestigious, though still viewed with derision.
Schmidt documented his gory tenure in the book A Hangmans Diary, which provided insight into crime and punishment in the Middle Ages and beyond.
Present-day Nuremberg also has a more immersive legacy of Schmidt and his fellow executioners: a residence built for them on the Pegnitz River in 1320.
The Henkerhaus, or hangmans house, offers visitors glimpses into one of medieval and Renaissance Europes darkest professions. It was home to the municipal executioner until 1806.
A pen-and-ink drawing from the judicial record of 1591 depicts executioner Franz Schmidt beheading Hans Froeschel for stealing. A photo of the drawing is among the exhibits on display at the Henkerhaus in Nuremberg, Germany. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes) A display at the Henkerhaus Museum, home to centuries of municipal executioners in Nuremberg, Germany, depicts the gallows, also called the ravenstone, because bodies would often be left for the birds. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes) A visitor enters the Henkerhaus in Nuremberg, Germany, on July 7, 2024. The building once served as the house of the city's executioners. It was later turned into a museum. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)
The information and imagery at the house, including some lifted from official documents and Schmidts journal, are spellbinding. There are no axes or tools on display, which made the visit seem more academic than shocking.
The office of executioner developed as the ruling class consolidated power, according to literature at the Henkerhaus. Ancient Roman law influenced the decision to separate sentencing from punishment.
The imperial city of Nuremberg may have had an executioner as far back as 1378, records indicate.
Cells and a torture chamber underneath City Hall were where executioners would extract confessions, a requirement for conviction at the time. Sentences of imprisonment were rare.
Punishments ranged from public humiliation to death. Corporal punishment included branding and mutilation.
The resulting physical handicap meant a lifelong loss of honor and esteem, the exhibit said.
Murder, rape, robbery, theft and even blasphemy were often punishable by death. Decapitation was considered the most humane capital punishment, while death on the breaking wheel and being burned alive were far worse.
Hanging was the second-most-used form of public execution. Women were usually drowned, until that practice was abandoned in favor of beheading.
The standout of the experience for me, besides the callous indifference to the loss of life, was seeing the bay window where the executioners toilet had been, above the swiftly flowing Pegnitz.
The outline of a hole marks the former location of the executioner's toilet above the Pegnitz River in the Henkerhaus in Nuremberg, Germany. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes) The Henkerhaus Museum in Nuremberg, Germany, seen here on July 7, 2024, features historical displays housed in the building where the city's executioners lived in centuries past. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes) The Henkerhaus in Nuremberg, Germany, once home to the city's municipal executioners, offers a glimpse into medieval crime and punishment. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)
In Schmidts time, the bottom half was left open, allowing excrement to fall into the river. Apparently, merchants werent the only ones doing business on the Pegnitz.
Its unknown where he cooked and slept, so those mundane aspects of his life are left to the visitors imagination.
After being damaged during World War II, the Henkerhaus was restored in 1954. It has been a museum since 2007.
On the QT
Address: Trodelmarkt 58, Nuremberg, Germany
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
Cost: Admission is free for children under 14, 3 euros for most adults, and 2 euros for ages 14 to 18, students and the severely disabled.
Information: Online: henkerhaus-nuernberg.de
The first round of all-you-can-eat snow crabs at the Kanimatsuri restaurant in Tokyo. (Claire Jenq/Stars and Stripes)
Festival season may be ending, but Kanimatsuri restaurant keeps the party going with all-you-can-eat crab in Tokyos vibrant Tsukiji Outer Market.
There are fans of crabs, and then there are fans of crabs. My partner falls into the latter category. A romantic stroll on the beach usually ends with him chasing crabs along rocky outcrops, holding them up triumphantly for the family once hes caught them.
When I heard of an all-you-can-eat crab restaurant in Tokyo, I knew we had to visit.
Making a reservation online was easy with Google Translate. The restaurant is only a four-minute walk from Tsukiji Station and right above a Lawson.
Red and white lanterns mark the entrance stairs to the left of the convenience store. Festive lanterns strung across the interior of the restaurant and its bright fishing flags give the space an Instagram-friendly look.
A poster inside the Kanimatsuri restaurant in Tokyo displays various crab species. (Claire Jenq/Stars and Stripes)
Once seated, a worker arrived to explain the rules. She gave us the choice of either an hour of all-you-can-eat snow crab for 6,000 yen about $42 or an upgraded deal featuring Hokkaido crab for 15,000 yen per hour. We went for the more economical snow crab.
A waitress arrived with our first platter, which included two whole crabs, plus extra crab legs. Then she demonstrated with pliers how to extract meat from each part of the crab, cracking the leg segments above each joint and deftly exposing an entire portion.
After showing us how to open the crab legs, she set a crab-shaped timer at the table and left us to it. With her helpful instruction, we were able to make the most of our meal within the time limit.
The snow crab was better than I expected, though I suspect even if it was poorly cooked, it would still be pretty good. The meat was sweet and juicy, and we made good use of the complimentary sauces. My favorite was the classic garlic butter dipping sauce, but there was also regular butter, Cajun sauce and sweet vinegar.
We used a QR code to order more crab, and the orders arrived quickly at the table.
Skip the miso soup and rice; there isnt anything unique about them and the crab is filling. The menu also contains a la carte items such as a single order of crab and sashimi if youd rather not attempt the all-you-can-eat deals.
Either way, with so many options and such a fun atmosphere, you can be certain that no one will leave crabby.
Kanimatsuri restaurant in Tokyo is decorated with red and white lanterns, giving the space a festive feel. (Claire Jenq/Stars and Stripes)
Kanimatsuri crab restaurant
Location: 2F, 4-8-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Open daily, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Prices: All-you-can-eat snow crab for one hour is 6,000 yen. The next-level course, which includes Sandai crab, is 15,000 yen.
Dress: Casual
Directions: A four-minute walk from Tsukiji Station.
Information: An online reservation is recommended at hotpepper.jp/strJ003410694
President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro speaks to the press after appearing before the electoral chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice during a press conference on Aug. 9, 2024, in Caracas, Venezuela. (Jesus Vargas, Getty Images/TNS)
With flags and voting receipts in hand, thousands of Venezuelans have taken to the streets in Caracas and worldwide to protest Nicolas Maduros refusal to recognize his overwhelming defeat in the presidential election a month ago. The United States can do more to back them up.
The opposition partys leader, Maria Corina Machado, recently came out of hiding to ride through the streets among throngs of demonstrators. Emerging from an armored truck, she urged her supporters to maintain their courage, defend the truth and ramp up defiance against Maduros fraudulent regime. Calling the protests the greatest civic feat in the history of the country, Machado warned that the movement would not relent.
After Maduro ordered his military leaders to respond to the protesters with an iron fist, at least 24 were found dead and 2,200 were imprisoned. Undaunted, opposition leaders plan to keep a critical mass on the streets, lure military leaders to their side and drain the dictators resources and power. But to achieve all that, they will need all the help they can get from Washington.
The Biden administration has expressed openness to negotiations with Caracas, but Maduro has shown he cant be trusted to abide by his agreements. After talks with the United States in Qatar last year, Maduros government promised to allow free and fair elections. It turned out to be another bluff: Not only was the election stunningly unfair, but Maduro responded to the result by cracking down on opposition leaders and their supporters.
Waiting for intervention by Maduros fellow leftists in Colombia, Brazil and Mexico, meanwhile, will only buy the dictator more time for deception and repression.
The Biden administration has alluded to the possibility of offering Maduro amnesty from prosecution on drug trafficking charges if he agrees to a peaceful transfer of power. But given his past failures to comply with international agreements, and with four long months left in his term, that carrot probably wont be enough to dislodge the strongman. The United States and other foreign powers will have to threaten him with sticks, imposing economic and diplomatic consequences to push him out of power.
The harshest possible sanctions must be leveled against Maduro and all state-owned industries to make an exit plan his best option. Hector Briceno, a Venezuelan postdoctoral researcher at Germanys University of Rostock, told me that although sanctions on private business could hurt ordinary Venezuelans, targeting state-owned enterprises such as the countrys petroleum industry can be effective when the regime is as cash-starved as it is now.
Profits from the petroleum industry dont reach the people, Briceno said. Maduro spreads them between his allies among the military and other top officials.
Maduros regime, like that of his predecessor, Hugo Chavez, operates on a top-down system of bribes and threats. The threats alone work for only so long; at some point, Maduros minions will expect to be paid.
In April, responding to Maduros interference with and intimidation of the opposition ahead of the election, President Joe Biden reinstated some of the Trump-era sanctions that had been eased following the Qatar deal. But the administration indicated that it would allow certain foreign oil operations to continue in the country.
The Maduro governments objections to the reimposition of sanctions showed that they have an impact, but his continued intransigence also reveals that they havent gone far enough to affect his behavior. And this is the worst moment to be generous with the regime. Why not hold up authorizations of the remaining low-yield, risky and environmentally hazardous foreign oil ventures, at least until a democratic government is in place?
Washington should also officially recognize Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the countrys rightful incoming leader. The Biden administration has joined a few other countries in acknowledging that Gonzalez won the election, but it stopped short of calling him the president-elect.
The administration cant necessarily ensure that Venezuelas valiant struggle for liberty prevails. But doing less than it can will only help Maduro and his cronies get richer and bolder in prolonging their hold on political power.
The stakes couldnt be higher. Nearly 8 million Venezuelans have migrated to the United States and other countries in search of a better future, and 40% of those remaining say they plan to leave if Maduro doesnt. A once-thriving economy has been devastated by years of inept and corrupt rule, and the country has become a haven for institutionalized crime and terrorism and a security threat to the entire hemisphere.
The brave Venezuelan resistance isnt giving up, and the United States shouldnt either. This is a golden opportunity to end 25 years of misery under Chavez and Maduro. Kristina Foltz is a researcher and writer based in California and Colombia.
Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission Force Commander Godfrey Otunge EBS, OGW on their job in Haiti: We come here for a reason. We come here with a purpose. We come here to do something, and we must do it. (Jose Iglesias)
(Tribune News Service) The Kenya-led police force mission in Haiti remains well below its envisioned 2,500 personnel, seriously underfunded and has yet to make a major impact against armed gangs.
The United States, which has provided more than $300 million for the mission, remains its largest financial backer, along with Canada, which recently provided $59 million Canadian dollars to a United Nations controlled trust fund.
Approved for only a year in October 2023, the Multinational Security Support missions re-authorization is scheduled to be discussed by the U.N. Security Council on Sept. 30. Supporters face questions about the forces long-term sustainability and its effectiveness in helping Haitis beleaguered police take down gangs, who earlier this year united to lead a broad assault on key government infrastructure.
The Biden administration, aware of the challenges, now wants to transform the force into a more formal U.N. peacekeeping operation or some hybrid that would allow for funding and staffing to be stabilized. In the meantime, the Kenyan cops and the Haiti National Police have been training together.
In an exclusive interview with the Miami Herald, Godfrey Otunge, the commander on the ground of the Kenyan force, recently reflected on the missions challenges and needs, and his focus. He insists that the mission, which currently has 400 Kenyan police officers in Haiti, is well poised to restore the lost glory of security to Haiti. Godfrey says once additional police and military personnel from Jamaica and five other nations join them in Haiti and we have the equipment, we have the funding, gang leaders days will be numbered.
The following is a question-and-answer session with Otunge during an hour-long sit down interview in Port-au-Prince. It has been edited for brevity and clarity:
Q: Many people have questioned why Kenya is interested in helping Haiti.
A: We value service to humanity, and thats very key. Number two, the historical background between Kenya and Haiti dates back so many years because Haiti, historically, is the first African country to get independence. And after getting independence, that is what made other countries in Africa to become bold enough and to say, Oh, we can also become independent. And Haiti didnt stop after getting its own independence. They sent some of their people back to African countries and they supported the Africans and thats why as a country, we saw that at least we have a debt, and we have to come to Haiti, being that Haiti is part of us, to support them, to ensure that at least the lost glory of security is restored.
What makes this different from United Nations peacekeeping missions?
The only issues that ties this mission so much to the U.N. is about the trust fund, the human-rights due diligence and compliance and accountability in terms of international human-rights law. The mandate says we have to support the Haiti National Police. We cannot work alone. We complement and support them fully.
It was designed in a way that after this mission, the international community, other countries, expect the Haitian police to be professional as the way we are working with them, because part of our mandate is to build up the Haitian police in terms of giving them some subject-matter expertise that we have in various areas.
The 400 Kenyan officers have faced some challenges. Is that surprising?
The way the [mission] is structured, the expectation was that there were going to be some problems, some challenges... in a new thing, in a new environment.
Just two contingents of the mission have deployed so far, raising questions about the slow process.
The mission had four phased deployment timelines. The first phase that we are currently in is the deployment phase. The deployment phase is supposed to run for a certain duration, and the focus is supposed to be on mobilization of resources, personnel coming in, induction, training.
But we have seen some engagement with gangs.
Security is perception. The Haitians had hope and had confidence in us, and thats why we said we could not sit down and wait for the next phase and we immediately engaged with the Haiti National Police.
What are some of the results of this engagement?
I can report confidently that when we came here, the [State University of Haiti] hospital was taken over by the gangs. It was a no-go zone. Together with the HNP, we recaptured the hospital, and the hospital is currently under our patrols together with the Haiti National Police. Number two, the seaport was a no-go zone. Nobody dared to go to the seaport because it was totally barricaded. We worked together with the Haiti National Police and people are now moving and theres movement of vehicles.
You previously said that Kenyan police had nowhere to set up a base after joining Haitian police on an operation to stop a gang takeover of Ganthier, just east of Port-au-Prince, and the Kenyan forces left. What is the latest on setting up forward operating bases?
We are in the process of developing forward operating bases in the areas that weve mapped out to be key to us.... Weve identified a place next to the seaport. I can tell you the international community has supported us fully, and they are establishing it to become the first forward operating base for us.
Haitians complain that they do not see Kenyan police officers on patrol.
Every day and night, I send patrols together with the Haiti National Police to ensure security within downtown, within the perimeter, the airport and other areas within Port-au-Prince.
Youve insisted that the mission is in the deployment phase. What should gang leader like Lanmo Sanjou, who continues to threaten a takeover of Fond Parisien, near the border, expect after the deployment phase?
I can tell you that Lanmo Sanjou, his days are numbered. Take it to the bank, because we came here for a reason. We came here with a purpose. We came here to do something, and we must do it.
Before you left Kenya, President William Ruto prayed for the officers. Did he give you any advice?
He told us, Go there and dont let me down. So at any given point the way we are as a mission, with Kenya taking the lead, we cannot let our president down at whatever cost. And thats something the Haitian people must be sure of: We will not leave Haiti until we achieve our mission.
The mission recently received an additional 24 armored vehicles with gunner turrets and gun mounts.
We are getting equipment because when the Hait National Police gets equipment, I have equipment. We are still expecting more, and thats why Im telling you, the days of the gangs are numbered.
Recently some foreign diplomats have approached you personally to ask how their governments can assist.
Countries have now come up, and theyve now said they want to support the mission to its fullest. Others have even come directly and asked me, What kind of equipment do you want locally that can be found here so that we can fund you?
The missions lack of helicopters has been criticized. Were they ever considered?
From our initial logistical plan, helicopters were considered and they are still.... Everybody, even my country, is still negotiating on getting air support. Im very clear about what we wanted for air support in terms of operations. For example, when the gangs have barricaded the roads, how do you get officers in to save lives, to protect the communities, and now, to tell the gangs, If you barricade the roads, we still have an option. Number two is about surveillance. We want aircraft fitted with cameras to be able to move around and see whatever the gangs are planning and what they are doing.
How else would air support be useful?
Rescue. If you look at the roads here, so many are narrow and there are so many high buildings, so the gangs have devised a way that they can barricade and... sandwich the security vehicles in between.... You can insert, very quickly, specialized teams and rescue assets, rescue the public and any officers.
There is a perception that the MSS is purely a Kenyan force.
The MSS is a multinational force, its not a Kenyan force. The perception, even in social media, people are referring to MSS as Kenyan. Kenya is just taking the lead. But we are expecting Belize, Jamaica, The Bahamas.
The word war is often used to describe whats happening in Haiti. You disagree?
It is not war. This is a gang issue. We are coming from Kenya, where we are neighboring Somalia. We know what terrorism is all about. We know the capabilities of terrorists. These people here are gangs, they want to fight and go home alive.
How do you view the Haiti National Police in this fight?
Its not that the HNP cannot deal with the gangs here. The HNP lacked some of the equipment. Thats the reality. They are brave people. They are courageous people.
Some critics have suggested the Kenyan forces appear to be afraid to be in Haiti.
The team that has been sent here are elites, elites trained in anti-gang actions... . Kenya trained their best skilled and competent officers to bring to Haiti. We were not gambling, and we cannot gamble, coming 15,000 kilometers and bring people who are amateurs to Haiti. Kenya is the country that developed the pre-deployment training curriculum that was approved and has been approved by the U.N., and this curriculum was customized as per the mandate that was provided for under the United Nations Security Council.
Will your officers be charged only with protecting key government installations?
We are expecting some countries will bring the military, like the Jamaicans, they will have elements of military and police. In policing, its very clear you cannot use the military in some policing aspects. So what are we going to use the military for? They are going to provide static security, like, for example, if we take the port, we are going to deploy the military at that particular port so they ensure that the gangs dont come again and occupy the port.
What is your focus?
Our focus is about ensuring we clear all the roads, the major roads, so that theres access for all the humanitarian organizations that ought to support the population. Number two, we ensure all critical infrastructure, the airport, the seaport, the hospital and the schools are well protected. Number three, all intersections, we must ensure that all intersections are accessible to everybody without limitation.
2024 Miami Herald.
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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 5. Uzbekistan Airways will increase the number of flights to Makhachkala (Russia), Trend reports.
According to the airline, the flights will be up and running twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays from September 15.
On May 9, 2024, Uzbekistan launched regular flights from Tashkent to Makhachkala and back. The flights were operated once a week on Thursdays.
In general, Uzbekistan Airways increased the number of flights to Russia with the beginning of the spring-summer season in 2024. The number of flights from Tashkent to Russia's Irkutsk, Nizhny Novgorod, and Khabarovsk increased.
Thus, the airline added a regular flight on Sundays to the Tashkent - Irkutsk - Tashkent route. Also, a regular flight on Thursdays to the Tashkent - Nizhny Novgorod - Tashkent route and a flight on Saturdays to the Tashkent - Khabarovsk - Tashkent route are added.
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado gestures to supporters next to opposition figure Delsa Solorzano during a rally in Caracas on Aug, 28, 2024. (Juan Barreto, AFP, Getty Images via TNS)
(Tribune News Service) Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said Thursday she has no plan of leaving her country even as the Nicolas Maduro regime moves to imprison the leadership of her democratic movement.
Machado, who shared her outlook for the countrys democratic struggle in two public events on Thursday, said Caracas socialist regime is growing desperate and isolated amid claims that Maduro stole Julys presidential election, and that this makes him increasingly more dangerous.
Every day that goes by is harder and riskier. We face a ruthless regime that is willing to do anything in terms of forcing people, blackmailing people, threatening people and their families, and that has no limits to its cruelty, Machado said in a video press conference with foreign media.
Nonetheless, I believe my duty is to stay in Venezuela, to assist our teens and our people that are in prison or in hiding, and we are doing as much as we can to take care of ourselves, she added.
Her comments came a few days after the regimes Attorney General ordered the arrest of presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, who alongside Machado currently heads the Venezuelan opposition, accusing him of forging public documents, conspiring against the government and promoting public disobedience.
The Venezuelan judiciary, which has often been described by the United Nations and other international organizations as a persecution tool subservient to Maduro, claims that Gonzalez and Machado have been conspiring against the government by forging the election tallies backing their claim that Maduro lost the election to Gonzalez.
Machado and Gonzalez have been in hiding in Venezuela for some time, suspecting that the regime would eventually move to arrest them alongside the close to 2,000 people Maduro has already detained as part of the latest wave of repression.
Claiming that Gonzalez defeated Maduro by margin of more than 2-1, the opposition published the official vote tallies, known as actas, gathered in more than 80% of the countrys voting stations.
Doubts about the official electoral councils results have also spread to the international community, leading a number of governments to repeatedly ask Maduro to produce the documentation proving his victory. To date, the regime has failed to do so.
Describing Maduros wave of repression as the worst seen by Venezuelans in recent years, Machado said that the Venezuelan people have courageously confronted what the world now understands to be a bloodthirsty dictatorship, and find themselves in the midst of an existential struggle that will define the nation.
That is why our movement is so strong and it is why it does not have a way back, she said.
The July 28 election demonstrated that Venezuela is no longer a polarized nation and that the vast majority of people want an end to Maduros dictatorship to regain their freedoms and hope for the future, she added, and that while the official tallies gathered by the opposition had Gonzalez wining by nearly 70% of the vote, that margin would had been closer to 90% had the Venezuelan voters who were forced to leave the nation in recent years been allowed to participate.
Machado said Venezuelas democratic movement is currently following a plan to confront Maduro and erode his internal support within the military and his security apparatus, but that protests against the regime have been carefully orchestrated in an attempt to minimize the risk of imprisonment for the oppositions supporters.
The fight for countrys freedom was never going to be easy, she said, emphasizing that Venezuelans are facing a regime that is essentially a criminal structure, but added that this time Venezuelans understand that this is a fight to the end.
Nevertheless, Venezuelans could use a more decisive reaction from the international community to hold accountable the regime leaders people responsible for crimes against humanity.
I certainly think that the United States should do much more. And Ive been very clear with them and with other countries, she said. I think that perpetrators of human rights violations and crimes against humanity should... be held accountable, because it sends a message to the rest of them that it is in their best interest not to commit those crimes.
2024 Miami Herald.
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Recent Chinese incursions into Japan's airspace and territorial waters represent a larger strategy, according to defense experts. (Pixabay)
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan Recent incursions by China into Japans territorial waters and airspace showcase a deliberate effort by Beijing to normalize its increasingly assertive actions against its regional neighbors, according to two defense experts.
A Chinese survey vessel on Saturday briefly entered territorial waters off Kagoshima prefecture on Kyushu, the southernmost of Japans four main islands. Five days earlier, on Aug. 26, a Chinese Y-9 surveillance aircraft breached Japanese airspace over a small island off Kyushu, an unprecedented action by a Chinese military aircraft.
The incidents add to an already tense relationship between China and Japan, whose claims in the Senkaku Islands are repeatedly tested by the Chinese coast guard. Chinas coast guard is even more aggressive against the Philippine coast guard, bumping hulls and employing water cannons and other measures in territorial disputes in the Philippine exclusive economic zone of the South China Sea.
The two incursions of Japanese territory were provocative and risked flaming tensions in the region, according to Brian Hart, a fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies China Power Project.
The greater long-term implication is that Beijing is employing its military forces in increasingly provocative ways, which heightens the risks of misperceptions, miscalculations, and dangerous accidents, Hart told Stars and Stripes by email Wednesday.
The actions also underscored Beijings strategy of expansively asserting its power in the region and highlight its goal to be a dominant power in the Indo-Pacific, according to Jeff Kingston, a professor of Asian studies and history at Temple Universitys Japan campus.
[China] is keen to demonstrate that it is not deterred by the heightened security cooperation between the U.S. and its allies in the region, he told Stars and Stripes by email Thursday.
Beijing will continue to probe and assert in an effort to normalize such actions, something its been doing since 2010, Kingston said.
Chinas Foreign Ministry denied the military aircraft intended to enter Japans airspace, and later defended the survey vessels actions as a fully lawful and legitimate exercise of its right to transit the area, according to transcripts of press conferences on Aug. 28 and Sept. 2.
There is no need to arbitrarily link or interpret them, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Sept. 2, according to the transcript. China remains firmly committed to the peace and stability in this region.
However, Hart said connecting the two is not difficult given they occurred just five days apart.
Neither Kingston nor Hart could pinpoint Beijings motivations for the two incursions.
Kingston suggested that the ongoing U.S. presidential election and the upcoming election for Japans Liberal Democratic Party leadership on Sept. 27 could play a part.
The U.S. campaign particularly has featured negative rhetoric about China, but Chinese President Xi Jinping should not be so thin skinned, Kingston added.
Hart pointed to a variety of possible causes, including the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces own incursion into Chinese territorial waters on July 4 and a joint search and rescue drill by Japan and Taiwans coast guards on July 18.
Chinese state media has also blasted Japans new proposed defense budget, accusing Tokyo of militarism, he said. Of course, Chinas own defense budget has grown continuously for decades, and Japans growing defense spending is largely in response to Chinas military buildup and aggression.
The incursions also drew criticism from U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel.
China says its still investigating and verifying the recent violation of Japans airspace by one of its surveillance planes, he wrote Tuesday on social platform X. But with a Chinese survey ship sailing into Japanese waters only the other day, two territorial incursions in less than a week looks more intentional than accidental.
Emanuel doesnt pull his punches, which is unusual for a diplomat, Kingston said. Rather than trying grab the limelight, his rhetoric may signal Washingtons support for allied interests in the region, he added.
Some regional leaders may welcome his calling out Beijings unrelenting efforts to modify the regional status quo in its favor, Kingston said.
The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly building in Naha, Okinawa, Japan, on July 12, 2024. (Keishi Koja/Stars and Stripes)
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa A U.S. Marine is suspected of sexually assaulting and injuring a woman in Okinawa in June, according to Okinawa Prefectural Police, the third case of its type to surface on the island this year.
Police forwarded a case on Thursday against a 20-year-old man to the Naha District Public Prosecutors Office, a spokesman for the prosecutors office said by phone that day.
The Marine is suspected of non-consensual sexual intercourse resulting in injury, a spokesman for the police investigative team said by phone Thursday. He declined to identify the Marine, saying doing so may affect the investigation.
He said the incident occurred on Okinawa, and that medical personnel who treated the woman reported it to police.
He said the Marine and the woman were acquaintances but declined to say how they knew each other.
Some government officials in Japan are required to speak to the media only on condition of anonymity. In Japan, police forward cases of alleged criminal conduct to area prosecutors for a charging decision.
The Marine is not in Japanese custody, but is confined to military installations in Japan, according to spokesman for the III Marine Expeditionary Force.
The Marine Corps is aware of an allegation of criminal misconduct by an Okinawa-based Marine, and we are fully cooperating with all appropriate authorities during the ongoing investigation, said 1st Lt. Owen Hitchcock, spokesman for III Marine Expeditionary Force, in an email Thursday to Stars and Stripes.
Hitchcock declined to identify the Marine, his unit or duty station.
The alleged behavior does not reflect the core values of the U.S. Marine Corps, nor does it represent the conduct of the overwhelming majority of Okinawa-based Marines. The Marine Corps goes to great lengths to instill these values in every Marine through regular education and training throughout their service and we take these allegations seriously, his email states.
This case follows indictments of two U.S. service members on separate charges of sexual assault and attempted sexual assault that came to light over the summer and roiled Okinawa.
Senior Airman Brennon R.E. Washington pleaded not guilty July 12 in Naha District Court to charges of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a minor in December. Marine Lance Cpl. Jamel Clayton was charged in May with attempting to sexually assault a woman in Yomitan.
Those cases led to formal complaints from the prefecture to the U.S. Embassy, U.S. military and the Japanese government and calls for changes to the status of forces agreement governing the U.S. military population in Japan.
The prefectural government, led by Gov. Denny Tamaki, also complained that it was kept in the dark about the two indictments and other reports against service members who were not charged.
Japans investigative authorities announced in July that they would begin sharing more information about criminal cases involving U.S. service members with local governments as much as possible.
This case is the first under that agreement.
We believe that the notification was made in accordance (with the agreement), the Military Affairs Division spokeswoman said.
U.S. Forces Japan commander Lt. Gen. Ricky Rupp announced in July a new forum of cooperation with the Japanese and Okinawan governments and community members.
The Marine Corps has increased courtesy patrols in Okinawas popular nightlife spots and instituted near-100% outbound sobriety checks at all its Japan installations on weekends in response to the incidents.
Rupp, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and III MEF commander Lt. Gen. Roger Turner have called for consistent liberty policies for all U.S. troops in Japan. But so far, no changes have been announced.
Europe has tried to wean itself off Russian gas since Moscows invasion, but some nations continue to receive it through those pipelines. However, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said he doesnt want to extend the transit contract with Russia. (Wikimedia Commons)
Russia is ready to continue sending gas to Europe via pipelines across Ukraine beyond 2024, according to President Vladimir Putin.
Europe has tried to wean itself off Russian gas since Moscows invasion, but some nations continue to receive it through those pipelines. However, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said he doesnt want to extend the transit contract with Russia.
We dont want them making money here, he said in July.
Speaking in the keynote session of the Eastern Economic Forum on Russias Pacific coast, Putin said Moscow cant force Kyiv to extend the agreement, but could re-direct those volumes to alternative export routes such as Turkey. While some of that gas could also be switched to the domestic market, Putin acknowledged that state-controlled Gazprom PJSC would lose revenues.
Gazprom, which all but stopped supplies to Europe in 2022 in retaliation for Western support for Ukraine following Russias invasion, posted its first annual net loss this century in 2023.
Now the US and its allies have toughened restrictions on Russian gas, an industry that was for long spared due to the significant role it played in firing Europes economy. The European Union will ban transshipments of Russian liquefied natural gas at its ports from March, while the US has focused on sanctioning future projects for the super-chilled fuel that could eventually boost Moscows energy revenues.
We will resolve our issues, potentially with some losses, but we will do it anyway, Putin said. Even if sanctions are imposed on all gas supplies from the nation, prices will jump to the skies and yet our sales will still happen, he added.
Putin also said that one string of the controversial underwater Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Germany remains intact after explosions destroyed the other conduit in September 2022. It would take just one push of the button from Germany to start Russian gas flows on that route, which can deliver 27.5 billion cubic meters a year, he said.
If Europe doesnt want Russian pipeline gas, Gazprom will increase exports to other markets, according to Putin. Gas flows via the Power of Siberia link to China are set to reach annual export capacity of 38 billion cubic meters next year. Russias gas giant also plans to boost supplies to the Asian nation by another 10 billion cubic meters per year via the so-called Far Eastern route.
LNG Supplies
In addition, we will develop gas liquefaction business, Putin said. They are trying to create problems for us here too, and Mr. Mikhelson knows this better than anyone else, he said referring to Leonid Mikhelson, the billionaire chief executive officer of Novatek PJSC.
Its the first time that Putin has publicly acknowledged the challenges that US sanctions present for Russias newest LNG plant, the Novatek-led Arctic LNG 2.
The US restrictions stopped the delivery of ice-ready carriers, delaying exports from Arctic LNG 2 for several months. Still, by amassing a small dark fleet of regular LNG tankers, Russia started exports in August.
Russia will continue expanding its share of the global LNG market, according to the president. We will do this despite any difficulties that they are trying to create for us, Putin said.
Staff Sgt. Alex Jimenez, left, and Spc. Byron Fouty, soldiers assigned to the 10th Mountain Division who were captured and killed by terrorists in Iraq in 2007. A federal judge has ordered Syria to pay $364 million in compensation to their families, holding the Syrian government responsible for sponsoring the terrorist group involved. (U.S. Army)
Syria owes hundreds of millions of dollars to the families of two U.S. soldiers who were tortured and killed by Damascus-sponsored terrorists in Iraq more than 15 years ago, a federal court in Washington, D.C., ruled recently.
The decision by U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton on Aug. 30 awarded compensation and punitive damages of $364 million to the families of Spc. Byron Fouty and Staff Sgt. Alex Jimenez.
It followed Waltons judgment in July that the Syrian government was liable for the deaths of Fouty and Jimenez, who were beheaded after their capture with a third soldier.
Fouty, 19, of Oxford, Mich.; Jimenez, 25, of Lawrence, Mass.; and Pfc. Joseph Anzack Jr., 20, of Torrance, Calif., were captured May 12, 2007, during an assault of a military observation post in the village of al-Taqa, near Yusufiyah, south of Baghdad. They served in the 10th Mountain Division, based in Fort Drum, N.Y.
Four other U.S. soldiers and an Iraqi interpreter died in the attack. Anzacks body was found about 10 days later in the Euphrates River. The remains of Fouty and Jimenez werent found until July 2008 and were identified through dental records.
The damage award is vindication for the soldiers families, their attorney, Ron Jenkins, said Wednesday.
I think they do feel a sense of justice, he said, adding that no amount of money can undo that type of loss.
Gordon Dibler, Foutys stepfather, said Thursday that he never looked at it as, Oh, this will make me feel better.
But its a relief for the court to acknowledge the people responsible, he said.
Jenkins filed a complaint in 2018 against Syria on behalf of the soldiers families. It alleged that Syrian assistance enabled the former Islamic State of Iraq to abduct, torture and execute Fouty and Jimenez.
Anzacks family was not a party in the lawsuit. The plaintiffs consisted of four family members of Fouty and eight of Jimenez, as well as the soldiers estates.
The case was tried under the Foreign Sovereignty Immunities Act, which gives U.S. courts jurisdiction over a foreign country that has engaged in terrorism or provided material support to a terrorist group that injures or kills American citizens.
In his July ruling, Walton found that the Zarqawi Terrorist Organization, the renamed Islamic State of Iraq, had acted with the training, funding, material support, protection, and direction of Syria, as part of a coordinated scheme by Syria to target U.S. service members in Iraq, according to court documents.
The case had aggravating factors, Jenkins said, which enabled the judge to make a very sizable award.
Jimenezs widow, Yaderlin Jimenez, testified to the emotional pain she suffered while waiting to learn of her husbands fate.
It was very hard for the family not knowing what had happened, what (was) being done to him. It was a very desperate (14) months for everybody, she said, according to court records.
Dibler said hes always had trouble sleeping but sometimes will wake up kind of suddenly, thinking about what they were going through, he said of Fouty and Jimenez. I still live this every day.
The plaintiffs were awarded varying amounts, the court ruling shows. The Syrian government did not appear in court or otherwise respond to the complaint, according to court documents.
However, the Syrians will be notified of the courts decision, said Jenkins, who has been involved in similar cases.
In this case, the U.S. could freeze Syrian assets in the United States, for example, and make those available, or lawyers could try to seize Syrian assets abroad, Jenkins said.
Its not easy to do, he said. But it is a project we will undertake. If it takes years, we will work on it for years.
Dibler said that the last time he spoke to his stepson was on his 19th birthday on April 17, a month before the attack. Fouty had been in the Army less than five months, not including boot camp, he said.
Things happened so fast, he said. We miss him every day.
Owned by the Navy, San Clemente Island is used for live-fire military exercises. On July 24, 2024, a wildfire burned more than 13,000 acres and severely damaged the islands electric system. (William Franco Espinosa/U.S. Army National Guard/TNS)
LOS ANGELES (Tribune News Service) About 75 miles northwest of San Diego, beyond the view of much of the mainland, the rugged and remote Navy outpost of Island remains a mystery to most Californians.
For nine decades, San Clemente Island, the southernmost of the eight Channel Islands, has been owned by the Navy and is largely inaccessible to civilians. Throughout this time the volcanic isles sprawling shoreline and rolling hills have served as a crucial military training ground where U.S. troops detonate grenades and fire heavy artillery. Its also the Navys last live-firing range for ship-to-shore bombardments.
So, in late July, few noticed when a catastrophic wildfire swept over more than 13,000 acres of the island outpost. Between July 24 and July 30, the blaze scorched more than a third of the island, damaging more than nine miles of high-voltage power lines, including more than 160 utility lines and a transformer, according to Navy documents.
The fire also swept through parts of the island that have rare habitats for sensitive plant and animal species found nowhere else, such as the endangered San Clemente loggerhead shrike, a carnivorous songbird.
The conflagration left the southern end of the island charred and numerous Navy buildings without power.
It is expected to take at least a year to restore electricity to those facilities. In the meantime, the Navy will rely on diesel-powered backup generators to maintain communications for its operations, as well as for Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control functions and Coast Guard search-and-rescue missions.
Navy spokesman Kevin Dixon said the fire may have been caused by live-fire military exercises in the so-called shore bombardment area, although it remains unclear what type of training might have sparked the blaze. After two years of above-normal rainfall, Dixon said, there was much more grass to catch fire. No one was injured or evacuated.
We did have training going on there where there was bombardment, Dixon said. So I cant definitively say that it is, but, just looking at it logically, it may be related to this.
Just before the fire, several units of the California National Guard had been on the island for military training exercises that included the firing of howitzer shells and mortar rounds. The military units posted photos and videos of the exercises on social media.
California National Guard spokesperson Lt. Col. Brandon Hill said guard members did not spark the fire.
If a fire would have started because of those training rounds impacting it would have been immediately reported to range control, Hill said. We completed all training on July 23rd and cleared the training areas with no issues.
NASAs Worldview tool, which publishes daily satellite imagery and wildfire data, detected a possible wildfire on San Clemente Island around 5:30 a.m. July 24.
Previous reports commissioned by the Navy have found that weapons testing on San Clemente Island increases the likelihood of devastating wildfire and imperils some of the islands species. In a 2009 environmental assessment, a Navy contractor concluded that most fires were the result of military training, and about half occurred on the southern end of the island in the ship-to-shore bombardment zone.
In the past, the Navy has restricted the use of live ammunition during the wildfire season to curtail the risk of these disasters. No restrictions were apparently in place around the time of the July wildfire.
If there was some type of fire danger then the units would not have been allowed to train, but that did not occur, Hill said.
Despite decades of military bombardment, the island remains home to a variety of native plant and animal species. The islands mosaic of shrubs and grasslands provides habitat for mice, lizards, foxes and numerous birds. Bald eagles have also been spotted.
In recent decades, the Navy bolstered funding for environmental conservation.
Its forces eradicated herds of voracious feral goats that had been brought to the island years ago, and they restored some of the native flora. The Navy also launched captive breeding programs for threatened and endangered species, which significantly boosted their numbers.
The Navy has also reduced the amount of pollution generated by its diesel power plant by installing wind turbines in the late 1990s.
The turbines, which are located on the northern part of the island, were not affected in Julys fire. However, the Navy will be seeking contractors to repair damage to islands transmission system and power grid.
Last year, the Navy and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service celebrated delisting the San Clemente Bells sparrow and four plant species the largest group delisting from population recovery in the 50-year history of the Endangered Species Act.
However, several species, such as the San Clemente loggerhead shrike a robin-sized predator known as the butcher bird remain on the brink of extinction, with just 14 known to be alive.
During Julys fire, Navy personnel moved captive breeding cages as a precaution, although these facilities were not ultimately damaged, according to Dixon, the Navy spokesman.
The Navy has also found hundreds of ancient relics from the islands original inhabitants.
An outcropping of volcanic rock, San Clemente Island was formed by eruptions millions of years ago. It had once been inhabited by a prehistoric Native American tribe, believed to be related to the Tongva who occupied present-day Los Angeles.
In the 1500s, Spanish explorers landed on the island and conducted trade with the tribe. By the early 1800s, however, the Indigenous population could no longer be found on the island. Some say they departed their ancestral home with Spanish missionaries.
Under President Franklin Roosevelt, the Navy acquired San Clemente Island in 1934. Workers built barracks, roads and piers, setting the stage for the island to become the Navys premier weapons testing ground. The naval island is where the Navy developed the Higgins boat the pivotal landing craft that ferried troops to the beaches of Normandy during the D-Day invasion.
2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Kent Davis said he wants to build collaboration and communication for what he said is a strong group of grassroots organizations serving veterans across the state. (Mike Cason)
(Tribune News Service) Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is calling for the resignation of Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Kent Davis after she alleged that the agency mishandled a grant program through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Iveys request that Davis resign was provided in a one-page letter the governors office sent out to the media on Thursday. The letter also states that she removed John Kilpatrick from his position as a member on the State Board of Veterans Affairs.
Ample cause exists for your removal as Commissioner, Ivey wrote. For example, your agency mishandled an ARPA grant program by, among other things, proposing on a substantially delayed basis uses of grant funds that would be ineligible under U.S. Treasury rules and regulations and/or state law or policy.
Ivey said the handling of the grant money put in jeopardy Alabamas ability to fulfill its obligations under ARPA and your agencys ability to most effectively serve veterans. It thus seriously calls into question your ability to secure additional services for Alabama veterans and to cooperate with all other heads of the state departments as are your duties under state law.
The governors office did not provide specific examples to the grant programs.
Ivey also accuses Kent of failing to consult with the Office of Governor as required by Executive Order No. 726. The governor is giving Kent until 5 p.m. to resign, which would make the resignation effective by Sept. 30.
No one was available to provide immediate comment at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The governors request for the resignation of Davis was not discussed during the Joint ARPA Oversight committee meeting Thursday in Montgomery.
State Sen. Greg Albritton, R- Atmore, chair of the Senate General Fund committee and a member of the ARPA oversight committee, said had heard there were plans to spend ARPA funds for purposes not allowed by the ARPA regulations and that those plans were stopped before the money was spent.
What Im aware of is that there were concerns about how are the means and the methodologies that the ARPA monies were not being distributed or being granted according to the federal regulations, Albritton said. Those were seen, as I understand it, by the finance director and those given the oversight authority. And those questions were raised and thats the result of where we went.
Albritton said he did not think any money was spent improperly because the problems were caught by the Finance Department. He said he thought Examiners of Public Accounts was also involved.
No monies went out the door, Albritton said. No monies were mishandled in that regard. Its my understanding that if the Finance Department had not caught it and had not taken the appropriate steps, money would have gone out the door, and then it would have been a significant problem. So, I think the system worked in this regard.
Davis became the commissioner of the agency on Feb. 19, 2019, upon selectin by the State Board of Veterans Affairs. The commissioner is charged with managing the agencys operations and coordinating the work of approximately 1,200 state and contractor employees in 70 facilities throughout Alabama. The agencys budget is around $190 million.
Davis, an attorney, is a retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral and is the seventh commissioner to head up the Department of Veterans Affairs. Before heading up the agency, he spent 14 years with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and served as a staff attorney for former Secretary Tom Ridge.
Davis retired from military service in 2016. He served for two years as the Director of Economic Development and as City Manager in Anniston. In late 2017, he served as the civilian director of communication and outreach at Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base, moving back to his hometown of Montgomery.
This story was updated at 12:06 p.m. on Sept. 5, 2024, to include remarks from Sen. Greg Albritton.
Reporter Mike Cason contributed to this report.
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Keith Martin (41) was found hiding in a bedroom at his mothers home
A father of three allegedly caught with almost 58,000 worth of sedative tablets in his attic has been denied bail after gardai said he absconded to the UK.
Keith Martin (41) was found hiding in a bedroom at his mothers home after gardai discovered through intelligence that he had come back to Ireland, a court was told.
Judge Monika Leech said she accepted garda evidence that he was a flight risk and remanded him in custody.
Mr Martin is charged with possession of zopiclone worth more than 13,000 with intent to sell or supply at his home at Shangan Avenue, Ballymun, Dublin, on March 1 last year.
He had already been accused of simple possession and sale or supply before the more serious charge was brought.
Objecting to bail, a garda told the court in a search, tablets worth 57,960 were found concealed behind a locked attic door and it was alleged the accused was caught red-handed storing them. He was charged last year on the initial counts and admitted to bail.
It was alleged the accused then absconded to the UK late last year, and failed to keep contact with the gardai.
Mr Martin returned to Ireland and managed to get through the airport but gardai found out about his return through intelligence.
He was later discovered staying in a bedroom at his mothers home, the garda said.
Its my strong belief that he will leave the jurisdiction if granted bail, the garda said.
Mr Martin had left his wife and three children to go to the UK, and travelled there without a passport.
So even handing me his passport would not alleviate my fears, the garda said.
Applying for bail, defence barrister Luke OHiggins said the alleged offences were 18 months ago and Mr Martin could have absconded further instead of going to the UK.
He had been there for a particular purpose that meant he could only contact his family at weekends and it was not like he was gallivanting. However, he accepted he could have kept in contact with the gardai through his family.
He did return to this jurisdiction in circumstances where he could have sought to go on the run, Mr OHiggins said.
He could have gone to the other side of the world, but he returned. Its quite likely he knew what was going to happen when he returned to this jurisdiction.
The barrister said Mr Martin could be in custody for over a year awaiting trial if he was denied bail. He would abide by bail conditions including signing on twice daily at a garda station to build up trust.
Nga Wai Hono-i-Te Po Paki, the only daughter and youngest child of former Maori king Tuheitia Puatau To Wesero VII was given the crown by her father. She became the second female ruler during the eight dynasties of the Kinggitanga (king) movement in New Zealand. The Queen's proclamation was celebrated with an emotional ceremony attended by thousands of people.
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Nga Wai Hono-i-Te Po Paki came to the throne on the final morning of her father's six-day funeral. Tuheitea died peacefully in his sleep on Aug. 31, at the age of 69 after heart surgery. As per tradition, warriors escorted the boat carrying the monarch's body down the river. The Guardian reports that.
At a Te Vakawahinga (elevation) ceremony in the small town of Ngaruawahia, 27-year-old Nga Wai Hono was elevated to the throne by an advisory council of 12 elders from different tribes who elected her as their queen. The role is not automatically inherited, as the newly crowned royal also has two brothers.
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Tekau-Maa-Rua chief Che Wilson said the elevation is an important ceremony that eight generations have gone through: "We emulate the tikanga of our ancestors who created the office to unite and uplift our people, and we have elected Nga Wai Hono as our new monarch." She was anointed with sacred oils and blessed with the sacred book used to crown the first Maori king in 1858.
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Nga Wai Hono has an MA in Maori Cultural Studies from the University of Waikato, and she got her chin tattoo (moko Kauae) at the age of 19 as a gift to her father to commemorate the years he spent on the throne. She has been by her dad's side at many events over the past few years, and greeted the news of her coronation in Ngaruawahia with tears and joy.
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The title "Maori king" was founded in 1858 as a force opposing colonization and attempting to preserve Maori culture and land. It has no legal mandate, and while the monarch's role is largely ceremonial, he is also considered the paramount chief of several tribes.
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He also faces a second charge of possession of a firearm at the same location on the same date, contrary to Section 25 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006.
A young man has been remanded in custody after being charged in connection with a shooting in the capital.
Bobby Griffin (21), of Eugene Street in Dublin 8, was brought before a sitting of Dublin District Court this morning.
He was arrested following an investigation into the alleged discharge of a firearm in the south-inner city last year.
Garda Colm Carroll, of Pearse Street Garda station, gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.
He told the presiding judge that he met Mr Griffin at the Criminal Courts of Justice on Parkgate Street this morning and charged him with two offences.
Garda Carroll said the accused made no reply when the charges were put to him.
Mr Griffin is accused of recklessly discharging a firearm at the Mercer House flat complex in Dublin 2 on November 23, 2023.
The offence is contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990.
He also faces a second charge of possession of a firearm at the same location on the same date, contrary to Section 25 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006.
The court was told that the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that the matter should be sent forward for trial on indictment at the Circuit Criminal Court.
The prosecuting garda also informed Judge Paula Murphy that he would be objecting to bail.
However, defence solicitor Niall OConnor said that they would not be making an application for bail at this stage.
An application for legal aid was also granted.
Judge Murphy remanded the accused in custody to appear before Cloverhill district court next week.
The judge said that the book of evidence could be served on that date but acknowledged that it may not be finalised yet.
Mr Griffin will appear in court again via video link on September 12.
According to the 2023 annual report of the DPP, fees paid to senior counsel and junior counsel to prosecute cases in the criminal courts across the country last year increased by 4m or 20pc from 20.07m to 24.11m
Fees paid to the barristers who successfully secured convictions in 2023 against the killers of school-teacher, Ashling Murphy, and Garda Colm Horkan contributed to DPP fees to counsel increasing by 20pc to 24.1m last year.
According to the 2023 annual report of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), fees paid to senior counsel and junior counsel to prosecute cases in the criminal courts across the country last year increased by 4m or 20pc from 20.07m to 24.11m.
The report states that overall, fees to counsel by the DPP have increased by 41pc or 6.9m from 17.14m in 2021 to 24.11m in 2023.
The report states that despite the increase to the DPP annual gross budget for 2023, the office had to seek an additional 4.5m from Government in November 2023 to fund the offices activities for last year.
The report states that there were a number of factors which gave rise to this, but primarily it was due to demand led pressures on expenditure on counsel fees which is to a large extent dependent on the level of activity in the courts at any time.
The report states that there was a general increase in the number of indictable prosecutions directed across all courts in 2023, and a significant increase in activity in the Central Criminal Court where the number of judges assigned increased from five to twelve in recent years. This resulted in a significant increase in court sittings, trials and lists to be supported by our Office.
The overall spend by the Office of the DPP, Catherine Pierse, last year increased by 8.49m or 17pc from 50.04m to 58.54m - fees paid to counsel accounted for 41pc of the DPP's overall spend with salaries for staff totalling 19.6m or 34pc of the overall outlay.
One of the DPPs most high profile murder cases last year resulted in the successful conviction of Jozef Puska (33) for the January 2022 murder of 23-year-old school teacher Ashling Murphy on day 18 of his trial at the Central Criminal Court last November.
In another case, DPP barristers secured the conviction of Stephen Silver (47) in March 2023 for the capital murder of Garda Colm Horkan (49) in June 2020 at the end of a second trial.
The first trial ended in November 2022 when the jury could not agree on a verdict.
In response to a Freedom of Information request, the DPP has confirmed that the DPPs legal fees for the two trials across 2022 and 2023 total 502,082 (incl VAT).
The office of the DPP confirmed that senior counsel received a brief fee of 18,450 and received a daily fee of 2,460 for the capital murder trial with junior counsel receiving a brief fee of 12,300 and a daily fee of 1,639.
In April of last year, Gerry Hutch was found not guilty at the Special Criminal Court for the murder of David Byrne at Dublins Regency Hotel in February 2016.
The trial of Mr Hutch ran for 52 days before the court reserved judgment on January 26th 2023.
In a separate FOI response, the DPP confirmed that its legal fees concerning the Gerry Hutch trial totalled 433,264 (incl VAT).
Three counsel were employed by DPP for the trial and the DPP has confirmed that the brief fee for two senior counsel was 24,600 each and a daily fee of 2,460 each. A junior counsel received a brief fee of 16,399 and a daily fee of 1,639.
The DPP annual report states that fees paid to counsel in the Circuit, Central and Special Criminal Courts cover advising on proofs, drafting indictments, holding consultations, arraignments, presentation of the case and other necessary appearances, for example, for sentence.
The largest proportion of counsel fees arose from work in the circuit court at 10.69m or 44pc last year with Central Criminal Court work accounting for 8.7m in fees to counsel.
DPP counsel received fees of 1.29m for work in the Court of Appeal and fees of 981,572 in the Special Criminal Court.
The report shows that fees paid to counsel in Dublin Circuit Court accounted for 50pc or 5.32m of fees to DPP barristers in the circuit courts last year.
Sean Farrell, 24, avoided jail and walked free from court on a six-month suspended sentence
A SECURITY engineer was caught spying on a vulnerable female student using the toilet at a Dublin university campus after she spotted him on her phone in "selfie-mode", a court has heard.
Sean Farrell, 24, avoided jail and walked free from court on a six-month suspended sentence after being convicted of indecent conduct of a sexual nature in women's toilets at Dublin City University (DCU) on September 20, 2023.
Farrell, of Corduff Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin, claimed he went in by "mistake" but denied the allegation that he was peering over the cubicle at the young woman.
However, Judge John Hughes found him guilty of what he described as a "Peeping Tom" offence.
The verdict followed a contested hearing, which concluded at Dublin District Court yesterday evening.
The judge said the victim was in a vulnerable situation while the accused was in a position of trust in the university, and she had to give evidence and face cross-examination in court.
He noted, however, that Farrell had no prior convictions and imposed a six-month sentence suspended on the condition he did not offend again for two years.
The college security engineer, who was suspended from work, was also fined 500 and ordered to pay 1,000 compensation and to obey conditions, or the sentence would be activated. He must remain under Probation Service supervision and prove he attended therapy for the offence, and psychological counselling.
The judge also warned him to have no contact with the complainant and told him he must stay out of DCU and all public toilets "save for those assigned to those of male gender".
The student told the court she had gone into a cubicle in the ladies bathroom, pulled down her pants and was sitting on the toilet.
There was a person in the cubicle beside her.
Sean Farrell
She received a Snapchat text message and went on her phone; the screen opened up straight into the camera, and "it was in selfie mode".
Because of that, the witness said, "I saw a male peering into the stall on top of me".
She could see him on the top corner of the screen before he ducked.
The student said she was scared and it was an invasion of her privacy, and "I wanted to get out as soon as possible".
Since then, "I have my phone out constantly, just in case", she said before thanking the court, gardai and college officials for listening to her account.
The court heard that the student met her friend in the toilet afterwards, and they left but waited outside until the accused came out when she pointed to him and recognised his eyes, hair and eyebrows.
Cross-examined by defence solicitor Roy O'Neill, she explained she did not have time to take a picture to get a clear photo of him, "even if I had straight away, his head went straight down." She thought he ducked after seeing her screen was on the selfie setting.
The complainant agreed with the solicitor that it was her word against his.
Her friend came in and was told about the accused peering over the stall. She alleged that when Farrell emerged from the bathroom, he kept saying "Hi" as she stared at him, and then he began working on an electrical box.
A faculty head told the court the two students were frazzled when they reported the incident and he alerted campus security.
The court heard Farrell had been working on an access door in the lobby outside the men's and ladies' toilets.
Farrell told investigating Garda Paul Higgins two weeks later that he needed to run wiring through the female toilet. However, in evidence, he claimed he was there because he was "bursting" and needed to go to the toilet.
He claimed he made a mistake and realised when he heard female voices.
Farrell told the court he had a lot on his mind because his girlfriend was unwell, and he had not been concentrating.
Cross-examined by prosecutor Ruth Walsh, he agreed he had used the male toilet next door earlier that day.
Ms Walsh also put it to him that it was "no accident" that he selected the centre cubicle of three so he could look down into the stalls on either side, which he did not accept.
Garda Higgins told the court that a person would have had to stand on a ladder or the toilet bowl to be able to see over the partition.
Farrell testified and tried to convince the judge that the complainant must have seen his work trousers and tools around his ankles and that she "jumped the gun" and exaggerated.
He gave an affirmative reply when the judge asked if he thought she was lying when she previously gave the same account to her friend, the college lecturer, the campus security team, and the garda and then again in court yesterday/today (Wed).
The court heard he appeared shocked when he first learned about the allegation.
Farrell claimed to have been embarrassed by mistakenly going to the wrong toilet, so he smirked at the complainant and her friend when he exited the bathroom.
Hazel Templeton pleaded guilty to one charge committed against a male child but denied a further seven historical sexual offences
A pensioner from Co Down was placed on the sex offenders register yesterday after she admitted indecently assaulting a male child four decades ago.
Hazel Templeton, from Ballyrainey Road in Comber, pleaded guilty to one charge committed against a male child but denied a further seven historical sexual offences.
The 79-year-old, who will stand trial later this year, appeared at Belfast Crown Court where, after confirming her identity, she was charged that on a date unknown between July 1 and August 31, 1984, she indecently assaulted the child.
When asked how she pleaded, Templeton replied: Not guilty.
She was then charged with a further three indecent assault offences against the same complainant on dates spanning the same time period and entered not guilty pleas to each.
Templeton also had three separate counts of inciting the same male child to commit an act of gross indecency with her on a date unknown between July 1 and August 31, 1984, put to her, all of which she denied.
A court clerk then put an additional charge of indecently assaulting the male child on a date between July 1 and August 31, 1984, to her. When asked how she pleaded to this offence, Templeton replied: Guilty.
Following the arraignment, prosecuting barrister James Johnston told Judge Patricia Smyth the plea to the single count was not accepted by the Crown and that a trial would be required.
Judge Smyth set the date for the trial as December 9, 2024, and said she would review the case the week before the hearing is due to commence.
The Belfast Recorder said that, in light of the guilty plea, Templeton was now required to sign the sex offenders register, on which the length of time she will spend will be determined at the conclusion of the trial.
Defence barrister Luke Curran asked Judge Smyth if his client could be released on continuing bail, which was granted.
Its suspected he was told to stop at the home of a violent criminal who had the package waiting for him to smuggle or there would be reprisals against him.
A PRISONER, who went to the High Court to secure bail to attend a drug treatment assessment, was caught with a stash of drugs on his return to prison.
The remand prisoner, who cannot be named as he is currently before the courts on serious charges, was granted bail allowing him to be taken from Cork Prison to the Cuan Mhuire drug treatment facility on Thursday of last week.
Sources said on the morning of the assessment he was picked up by a female associate who had undertaken to transport him to and from the assessment.
However, on his subsequent return to the facility, he was discovered in possession of a large stash of drugs.
Sources said authorities at the facility, where a prisoner died from a drug overdose earlier this year, believe he may have been put under pressure to bring the contraband back to the facility.
Its suspected he was told to stop at the home of a violent criminal who had the package waiting for him to smuggle or there would be reprisals against him.
The prisoner is well known to gardai in Cork.
He previously served a two-year-sentence for ramming two garda cars.
During one incident of joyriding, he drove at high speeds through eleven red traffic lights and four stop signs.
He also drove down pedestrian steps in the city to avoid arrest.
His has more than 60 previous convictions including three for endangerment and 20 for dangerous driving.
The prisoner is currently in custody on remand awaiting trial on further motoring charges.
The discovery of the drugs last week comes as the prison service is grappling with the issue of lethal drugs making their way inside the prison system.
Several drugs alerts have been issued in the last 12 months following both fatal and non-fatal overdoses in prisons across the county.
Last month, eleven inmates were hospitalised when they ingested a substance on Portlaoise prisons C Wing.
The drug that they ingested has since been identified as Clobromazolam.
It was the first time the potent sedative and hypnotic drug has been identified in Ireland.
The overdoses came three weeks after the Irish Prison Service issued an urgent drug alert across prisons following the detection of the synthetic opioid Nitazene, which can cause fatal overdose.
The commonly used antidote to opioid overdose, naloxone, did not work on the inmates affected in Portlaoise.
Clobromazolam was first synthesized in the 1980s but was never developed for medical use.
In recent years it has been sold as a designer drug.
It was first detected in Sweden in March 2016 following a police seizure of capsules there.
Professor Eamon Keenan, HSE addiction services' clinical lead, told RTE that it is an extremely potent sedative type of drug.
He said: "The situation at Portlaoise Prison recently is an example of how volatile the drug market is. New substances are appearing on the market and causing harm quickly."
Gangland killer Peter Kenny was one of the prisoners most affected in the mass overdose in Portlaoise.
Kenny, who is serving life for the murder of drug dealer John Carroll in 2009, was admitted to intensive care and at one stage there were fears for his life.
Another high-profile prisoner among those treated was drug dealer Tony McInerney who is serving a total of 27-years for attempted murder and running a cocaine factory.
According to Prison Officer Association (POA) figures released in April, there was a 160pc increase in drug seizures in Irish jails from 2015 to the end of last year.
During that time in Dublins Cloverhill Prison, drug seizures increased by 294pc from 104 to 410 per year.
Bernard McDonagh absconded from the low-security jail, HMP Springhill, in Buckinghamshire, England at around 4pm on Friday.
UK police have launched a manhunt for an Irish prisoner who absconded from prison six days ago.
Bernard McDonagh (59) is believed to have walked out of the open prison, HMP Springhill, in Buckinghamshire, England at around 4pm on Friday.
The majority of the prisoners held at Springhill are long-term inmates, transferred from other prisons for the last few years of their sentence.
A spokesman for Thames Valley Police has appealed for help from members of the public but asked them not to approach McDonagh if sighted.
McDonagh is described as a white man, around 5 ft 10 in tall and of medium build with brown hair.
He is reportedly clean-shaven, has blue eyes and speaks with an Irish accent.
McDonagh, who is known to frequent the Brighton area, also has a tattoo of a swallow on his left hand, a tattoo of three dots on his right hand and a scar above his left eye.
Detective Constable Melanie Cannon said: We are appealing to the public for any information around McDonaghs whereabouts, or anyone who may see him to get in touch.
We would advise members of the public not to approach him if they see him but call 999 instead.
If you have any information as to where he may be, you can call 101 or make a report online, quoting (0044) 43240418179.
Alternatively, if you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact the independent charity, Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.
Jennifer Thomas (46) appeared before Judge Mary Dorgan at Cork District Court
A WOMAN has been charged with dangerous driving causing the death of a mother-of-two and special needs assistant.
Jennifer Thomas (46) appeared before Judge Mary Dorgan at Cork District Court yesterday.
Thomas of Oakfield View, Glanmire, Co Cork is charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Sheila Dunne (54) on February 11, 2024.
The charge, which is brought contrary to Section 53 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 alleges that Jennifer Thomas did, on February 11 last on the L2973 road at Sarsfield Court in Glanmire, drive in such a manner that was dangerous to the public thereby causing the death of an individual, namely Sheila Dunne.
The defendant appeared in court wearing a black trouser suit.
She did not speak during the brief hearing.
Thomas also faces a number of summary charges.
These include being under the influence of an intoxicant to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of a vehicle at Sarsfield Court, dangerous driving at Hazelwood Road, Sallybrook, not having a driving license and failure to produce a driving license.
Detective Mark Durcan of Mayfield Garda Station gave the court evidence of arrest, caution and charge.
He said that, in response to all of the charges put to her, Thomas made no reply.
Judge Dorgan was told that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has instructed that the dangerous driving causing death charge be dealt with on indictment before a judge and jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
The State applied for the matter to be returned to the next sessions of Cork Circuit Criminal Court after the service of the book of evidence in the matter.
The book of evidence was served and defence solicitor, Eddie Burke, told the court there were no matters arising at this stage.
Gardai applied for the defendant to be remanded to the next sessions of Cork Circuit Criminal Court on October 29 next.
An application for free legal aid was made and Judge Dorgan noted that the defendant was working with a copy of her pay slip now required by the court.
Mr Burke said the application for free legal aid could be renewed before the Circuit Criminal Court when all the relevant documentation would be available.
Gardai confirmed that there was no objection to Thomas being remanded on continuing station bail.
Judge Dorgan remanded the defendant on bail to appear before Cork Circuit Criminal Court on October 29 for trial.
The court was also asked to set a date for the summary matters after that.
Judge Dorgan adjourned all other matters until a hearing before Cork District Court on November 27.
Sheila Dunne died in Cork University Hospital (CUH) on February 13, two days after she was rushed to hospital having suffered injuries in a traffic incident as she travelled home.
The special needs assistant was originally from Limerick and was predeceased by her husband, Ted.
She was the mother of two children, Lilley and TJ.
Her Requiem Mass heard that she was a highly valued member of staff at Watergrasshill national school.
Locals hailed her work at the school and said she was "priceless" and "one-in-a-million" whose total devotion to the education and happiness of her special needs pupils was legendary.
Heart-breaking tributes were paid at her Requiem Mass in the Sacred Heart Church in Glounthaune.
Fr Patrick Fogarty said family was everything to Sheila and she held a great sense of pride for her two children Lilley and TJ who she adored.
Im told Sheila met the love of her life 30 years ago on Valentines Day. Sadly, Ted was taken from us three short years ago. They had a wonderful loving relationship and today they are reunited, he said.
Sheila's daughter Lilley said her mother had a beautiful, amazing life and did amazing things.
She sounds too good to be true but she really was, the word no wasnt in my moms vocabulary, she said
It was her lifes mission to make sure TJ was happy, if I can be half the mom to him that you were, I can be happy. You were his world and he was unbelievably happy to have your love. Im going to mind TJ, hes going to mind me and together we will mind Esther (Sheila's mother).
You will always be the best mother I could have wished for and I know you and dad are both up in the sky looking down on us every step of the way, she said.
A family friend told the Requiem Mass that if there was an Academy Award for Special Needs Assistants then Sheila Dunne would have easily won it.
Aggravated burglary at home of murdered gang boss Fat Andy Connors may be linked to feud
Two gangland criminals suspected of committing a violent burglary in Dublin last weekend were stabbed during the incident and fled to a nearby house to beg for help.
Gardai in Tallaght are investigating events in Saggart in the early hours of last Saturday, starting with a break-in at a site known as The Ranch.
This was once the home of burglary gang boss Fat Andy Connors, who was shot dead in an unsolved murder 10 years ago.
It is now managed by some of Connors close associates, with parts of it rented out.
The stabbed criminals are believed to have broken in to the home of two male tenants who are understood to be related to each other.
Individual is considered a serious player in terms of organised and disorganised crime in Tallaght and Clondalkin
The tenants were attacked with iron bars, and one of them suffered a broken arm.
However, it is believed the burglars suffered stab wounds during the break-in.
Less than 90 minutes later, they woke up the occupants of a house in nearby Crooksling by banging on the door and pleading for help, saying they had been injured.
Emergency services were called, and the pair were taken to Tallaght University Hospital for treatment.
They were later arrested there for public order offences after becoming abusive to staff.
The pair are considered to be among the main players in the west Dublin drugs scene.
Burglary happened at property formerly owned by murdered gang boss 'Fat' Andy Connors
One of them, aged in his late 20s, works for a Clondalkin-based trafficker and was heavily involved in the Tallaght feud that threatened to spiral out of control last year.
He was previously arrested in relation to an attempted murder last year., during which his alleged target was rammed off a bike.
A file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
A source said: This individual is considered a serious player in terms of organised and disorganised crime in the Tallaght and Clondalkin areas.
They have taken a side with another family-based gang who were involved in extreme violence in Tallaght last year
He has been known to gardai for involvement in violent crime since he was a teenager, and many of his closest associates are involved in the drugs trade.
They have taken a side with another family-based gang who were involved in extreme violence in Tallaght last year.
The other aggravated burglary suspect (28) is also well-known to gardai. Originally from Tallaght, he now lives in Co Kildare.
It eased off recently after gardai secured charges against some of the main players.
The Tallaght feud has resulted in numerous shooting incidents, arson attacks and attempted murders.
The Boy That Never Was is the story of an Irish couple, Harry and Robin, and their three-year-old boy who disappears during an earthquake in Morocco
Harry spots a boy who he thinks could be his and the drama unfolds
Scenes from the new RTE drama The Boy That Never Was
Hannah with the crew of The Boy That Never Was on location in Morocco
When Dubliner Hannah Quinn read through the first pages of a script for new RTE drama The Boy That Never Was, she was fascinated but after 25 years in movies she knew the end mattered even more.
The director of the big-budget RTE offering, a four-part series which aired on Sunday and is now available on the RTE Player, says: Its a fabulous ending. I mean, a tragedy is only so good if there is catharsis and will I feel good at the end of this?
Theres a fabulous twist. It has such a good ending that it hooked me.
Read more RTEs Dermot Bannon reveals he suffered a pulmonary embolism on holiday
The gripping fictional story of a little boy who goes missing in Morocco is beautifully shot and acted, with a strong performance from Colin Morgan, who plays the boys daddy.
Hannah says: When I heard Colins accent I was like, oh wow, that really changes things .
He is so comfortable with his Armagh accent and I just loved that scene in the police station, its powerful.
The two leads, Colin and Toni ORourke, came in all guns blazing and they just bring that magic to it. They did a lot of research and it paid off.
The Boy That Never Was is the story of an Irish couple, Harry and Robin, and their three-year-old boy who disappears during an earthquake in Morocco.
Three years later, father Harry becomes obsessed that a boy he has spotted in Dublin is his son.
Director of photography Tim Fleming on set
The subsequent events threaten to tear apart his marriage to Robin and expose secrets about the night their child went missing.
A fictional earthquake in Morocco is a storyline that is bound to cost movie makers lots of money though and it works perfectly.
Hannah says: I never thought theyd give me the budget to go to Morocco, but they did. Ive been there before on location and we went on a family holiday to Morocco too. Ive great affection for it.
I was thrilled when I read the script and I was like, there is no way they are going to give me the resources to have an earthquake.
The script is written in a lovely, simple way but there was no way of doing it without an earthquake either.
She adds: It was weird because we were due to begin filming there with the whole crew on October 9, but on September 8, there was actually an earthquake there.
Scenes from the new RTE drama The Boy That Never Was
I went to a wedding in London and I woke up to all these texts. One of the stunt guys was up the mountains and his village was really badly damaged, and he helped with the rescue.
Everywhere had a tremor. Some of the Irish crew were in Casablanca in a bar and the swimming pool was kind of shaking. Imagine! And we were very worried could we go ahead but the Moroccans were like, we are used to it, its fine.
I just love Morocco and I love the heat and the nature of the people, she adds.
Hannah worked on the Ridley Scott movies Gladiator and Black Hawk Down in Morocco.
She says: They still live in centuries-old ways of living and its very relaxing, and really peaceful.
Everyone is connected to nature. They are just beautiful people. I am a real homebody, but Id be happy to go back there tomorrow.
Harry spots a boy who he thinks could be his and the drama unfolds
The Boy That Never Was begins with the dead heat and the exotic sounds of Morocco, with viewers knowing that the peaceful family scene is about to be shattered.
Hannah says: My friends were watching it the other day and they were on the edge of the seat. I was worried that it is too unbearable.
The topic of missing children brings up a deep fear in every adults belly and a child missing in a foreign country reminds most people of Madeleine McCann.
Hannah says: When I went to work in Morocco for the first time, my son was only five months old and my mother was like, you are not to let him out of your sight because he was this little blondie baby.
But my husband actually came to look after him as it happened, and the women were lovely. They would hold him in the restaurant and show him off to other diners they were lovely.
Hannah with the crew of The Boy That Never Was on location in Morocco
Hannah comes from a creative family and began her career as a runner before moving on to become an assistant director and then turning her hand to becoming a director.
She says: I just realised that I could direct after taking a career break because I already had the skills.
I shadow directed with Lisa Mulcahy on Red Rock who Id known for years and my career has moved on from there.
The Boy That Never Was airs on RTE One and the RTE Player.
On the 70th anniversary of Gregory Peck and Orson Welles making of the movie Moby Dick in Youghal, Pub Spy decided to visit the 144-year-old pub to see if business was still booming.
NOTHING creates a thirst quite like a three-hour trek to the peoples republic of Cork, and our most recent journey to Youghal resulted in an enormous amount of porter being sunk in Moby Dicks pub along the seafront.
On the 70th anniversary of Gregory Peck and Orson Welles making of the movie Moby Dick in Youghal, Pub Spy decided to visit the 144-year-old pub to see if business was still booming.
Legend has it the whole town earned a living off the making of this film back in the 50s, the Old Commando told us.
Our designated driver parked in Market Place just across the road from the pub, and the Old Commando led the way inside where we were greeted by a grey haired barman who was very welcoming.
The counter is cleverly shaped like a boat on one end. Pints of Carling, Murphys, Birra Moretti, Coors and Orchard Thieves are all available on draught.
The Old Commando didnt delay in quizzing the locals about the filming of Moby Dick and many a yarn was told by what was a predominately older, mixed clientele.
The creamy pints of Guinness cost 5.50 which is considerably more than what the cast and crew of John Hustons film would have paid in 1954 around approximately six pence.
Six pence for a pint, no wonder everyone was an alcoholic back in those days, the naive Young Commando joked.
There are three sections in the pub and we stayed in the bar overlooking the sea view from the front window while enjoying our pints and soaking in the atmosphere and stories from yesteryear.
It did surprise us, however, that most, but not all, of the customers appeared to be local rather than the tourists we were expecting.
One local told us we were almost three months late visiting this pub and that on the June bank holiday there was a Moby Dick 70th anniversary festival.
That would have suited the Old Boy down to the ground.
The purple coloured bench seating was old and torn in parts but the tiled floor was clean and the brown leather barstools were in better condition. The blue wall panelling helps brighten up the place and they had live music advertised for Saturday and Sunday nights.
In the section furthest from where we were seated there is an old video recorder behind the counter and a collection of videos and we were very curious as to whether or not it still worked.
One of our Commandos confessed that hed never used a video recorder, highlighting his youth and our old age.
The Old Commando in particular was having a whale of a time on our trip to Youghal and he had the two barmen kept busy for the duration of our stay while also probing them for more yarns. He loved the old school style of the pub and the nostalgia he felt from the furniture as it really took him back in time.
We need to preserve pubs like this. Make sure they never close. All the great Irish stories involve the local boozer somehow or another, he laughed.
Having spent our allowance for the week, it was time to stumble back to the pub-mobile where our designated driver was finishing a decade of the rosary in the hope wed all drift off and he could have a peaceful drive up the M9 and back to headquarters.
Wed hardly crossed the River Blackwater and the drunken snores had well and truly started.
Rating: Three pints out of Five
One for the road:
The Quays Youghal
FOR an area heavily reliant on tourists and having seen that this bar won a customer service award in 2019, we were very surprised at the manner in which we and some other customers were treated by one of the more experienced waitresses on duty.
The younger waitresses and bar staff, however, were very friendly and welcoming and we decided to put the other situation down to someone having a bad day.
It was very busy during our visit with a mixed clientele of all ages and the pints of plain set us back 5.50 each. Carling, Murphys and Orchard Thieves are also available on draught.
There was a brilliant atmosphere in this beautiful and very upmarket boozer and they were very busy serving food as well as porter. The toilets are upstairs, checked half hourly and contained four urinals, two cubicles and two sinks.
Theres also a lovely view overlooking the water and it must be nice to sit outdoors on a warm summers evening if we ever got one!
Rating: Four pints out of Five
Every September, students around the world return to school. The young members of the British royal family are no exception. The children of Kate Middleton and Prince William: George, 11, Charlotte, 9, and Louis, 6, will soon resume their studies at Lambrook School.
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The editors of Hello magazine have collected touching footage of the young royals on their first day of school. Parents sincerely supported their children at an exciting moment.
Prince Louis
The youngest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales began his studies in 2022. At that time, the young monarch appeared in the reception class, holding his mother's hand.
Princess Charlotte
In September 2019, Princess Charlotte became a schoolgirl for the first time. The young royal was welcomed by the school's principal, Helen Haslem, to make the four-year-old feel comfortable.
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Prince George
The eldest son of Kate Middleton and Prince William began his education in 2017. At the time, George's mother was unable to support her son at an exciting moment in his life because she was feeling unwell due to pregnancy. However, his father held the young monarch's hand tightly to make him more confident.
Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UATelegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
He has been named today as Valerri Strunhar
A man who perished when he fell from rocks off the coast of Donegal this week was a Ukrainian man who had fled the war-torn country.
He has been named today as Valerri Strunhar.
Mr Strunhar was in his 60s and had settled in the Gaoth Dobhair area of West Donegal.
He was a well-known figure in the area and was often seen on his bicycle traveling to fish in the area.
It was while fishing on Monday evening last that Mr Strunhar fell from rocks and entered the water around 8pm at Marameelan near Dungloe.
His body was later recovered by the emergency services and taken to Letterkenny University Hospital for a post mortem.
People from across the West Donegal community have extended their heartfelt condolences to Mr Strunhar's family and friends following their sudden loss.
A service will take place in memory of Mr Strunhar tomorrow.
His remains will repose at Mc Glynns Funeral Home Dungloe (F94ND68) on Friday 6th September from 3pm with service at 5pm. Cremation will take place at Lakelands Crematorium Cavan at a later date.
It is the latest serious dog attack in the country in recent months which includes a fatal incident in Limerick in June
A woman has been hospitalised with serious injuries after being mauled by two dogs in south Dublin.
The dog attack happened at a residential property in the Dun Laoghaire area this afternoon.
It is the latest serious dog attack in the country in recent months which includes a fatal incident in Limerick in June.
At around 1pm today, emergency services received reports of a dog attack and gardai, including members of the Armed Support Unit, rushed to the scene.
A woman was discovered at the property and was initially treated at the scene before being rushed to hospital to be treated for what have been described as serious injuries.
Gardai have begun an investigation into the incident and the circumstances of the dog attack.
Inquiries are also being made to identify the registered owner of the dogs, and its understood the animals were in the care of a person known to the victim.
The dogs involved have since been taken into the custody of the local dog warden.
In a statement a garda spokesperson told sundayworld.com: Gardai were alerted by emergency services to an incident at a residence in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin this afternoon, Thursday 5th September 2024.
A woman was attacked by a number of dogs. She has been taken to St. Vincent's Hospital for treatment of her injuries, which are understood to be serious.
The dogs are currently in the custody of the Dog Warden. Investigations are ongoing.
Concerns have been raised about the number of serious dog attacks around the country in recent months including one fatal incident.
On the night of June 3, Nicole Morey was killed after two dogs attacked her at her home in Ballyneety, Limerick.
The young woman had earlier been celebrating her 23rd birthday and had just returned home when the incident occurred.
One of the dogs involved, an XL Bully, was shot dead at the scene by armed gardai while three other dogs that were at the property were later destroyed.
A day earlier on June 2, gardai received reports of a care worker being attacked by a number of dogs in the Maryland area of the south-inner city.
Weeks later a man was taken to hospital after being attacked by a Rottweiler in Co Donegal.
The man was jogging on the greenway between the villages of Muff and Quigley's Point on the Inishowen peninsula, when he was set upon by the dog after 12pm.
The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, recently announced a ban on XL Bully Dogs.
From October 1, 2024, new regulations will prohibit the importing, breeding, selling and re-homing of XL Bullies.
Master carver Dean Flavell is kaumatua for the project and, as Makahae Marae chairman, was able to make the marae available.
The programme Nga Niao o te Kaituna is a combined initiative of Tapuika iwi and Makahae Marae, Nga Kakano Foundation and NZ Landcare Trust.
A hugely significant event, the waka launch is the culmination of a pilot project aimed at fostering kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and reconnecting whanau, hapu, iwi and the wider community to the Kaituna catchment through matauranga Maori practices.
The waka Te Tauihu o te rangi was built at Makahae Marae over five months under the watchful eye of tarai waka (waka builder) Haimona Brown. He has been guiding Josh Roberts, Israel Hapi, Kahukura Williams, Elisha Ryan, Manahi McNeill, Horouta Corbett, Tahae Roberts and Tapua Robert through the build that has a wider purpose.
For the first time in 100 years, a new waka was launched on the Kaituna River on Friday.
He says the project is designed to offer the opportunity to teach another generation the skills required to build a waka. With a toi whakairo [carving] background I understand the importance of sharing such traditional knowledge, he says.
Heads bowed for the karakia, blessing the waka, said by kaumatua Dean Flavell before the launch.
I also see and know the benefits of being trained in carving which can deliver additional skills and opportunities that can provide jobs in the future. If this is a skill that these young men can take with them in their lifes journey, then great.
Nga Kakano Foundation initiated a hui to discuss a programme which can deliver traditional skills through waka building with a focus on waiora tangata (personal well-being).
We were asked if we would be able to provide a programme for young people to engage in and teach a traditional skill and we took on that challenge.
A suitable place was already available at the marae.
We happened to have just completed the new carvings for the centenary of the Makahae meeting house the meeting house turned 100 years old in April - so we had all this tarpaulin structure up here and we thought, lets put this to use and start building a waka in there.
That was when Haimona came on board.
Waka building was identified as being an endangered culture and one of huge importance, says Haimona.
But he says the waka is merely a vessel to help people reconnect with the awa (river) and that connecting with culture and improving the wellness of the Kaituna helps people improve their own wellness.
If the Kaituna and its wellness is being improved, then the wellness in ourselves will be improved as well, and thats why connecting with our identity, we pick up the wellness of ourselves.
The waka about to be launched.
Haimona says standing on a voyaging canoe had a profound influence on him.
I was well and truly bitten when I first jumped on the waka and it really opened up my eyes to what was out there and Ive been with the kaupapa for quite a long time now.
He grew up in the area and felt it was important to be part of the programme.
Because of the skills Ive acquired and inherited and been taught, there is almost an obligation to foster it with my community down here.
We are touching back with our culture to have a different outlook on the world and be good people.
A desire to reconnect was also enshrined in the Tapuika Treaty of Waitangi settlement, enacted in 2014
Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority was created as part of the settlement. The authority is a co-governance partnership mandated to restore, protect and enhance the environmental, cultural and spiritual health and wellbeing of the Kaituna River.
It is made up of iwi representatives from Tapuika Iwi Authority Trust, Te Kapu O Waitaha, Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa Trust, Te Tahuhu o Tawakeheimoa Trust and Te Komiti Nui o Ngati Whakaue, and council representatives from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Rotorua Lakes Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Tauranga City Council.
Waka kaihoe (paddlers) Josh Roberts and Horouta Corbett.
When we were talking with central government about the formation of a co-governance group for the river one of the aspirations was to be able to bring our people back onto the river and reconnect them, says Dean.
The issue that we have faced for the last 200 years was when our lands were confiscated in the mid-1800s, we as tangata whenua lost our connection and tribal practices with the many rivers within the catchment, in a sense this has largely contributed to our loss of identity as river people. Our hope is that through this programme we can help to rectify and re-establish this connection through such future activities like tira hoe waka (journeys by waka).
Under Te Maru o Kaituna, we have all the councils involved in that, we were able to talk to local council, Western Bay District Council, which has been really supportive.
One of the roles of the authority is to identify where the historic places are, and how to connect with them.
Our kaumatua elders [at Te Kahika Pa / Makahae Marae] used to tell us that on the Waiari, where the bridge is, thats where all our canoes used to be.
Before the roads were built, visitors to Te Puke would arrive at Maketu by sea, then travel along the Kaituna to Canaans Landing from where they would be brought up the Waiari by waka to go to Te Puke.
So we thought, wouldnt it be a great thing to be able to have a waka again, maybe not to do that, but to reconnect and also tell our stories?
One of the things that we need to do ensure is that the next generations are told these purakau korero tawhito [stories from the old people] and transferring this knowledge to the next generation and thats a role the marae provides.
Tarai waka (waka builder) Haimona Brown (right) watches on as rangatahi from the programme and their supporters perform a haka.
So thats the overall aspiration and our approach is year by year as resources allow. This is the pilot and with the wonderful outcome witnessed on Friday we feel this is the way forward.
The programme is also in partnership with NZ Landcare Trust. It is a legacy project that falls under its Junior Landcare Programme, sponsored by the Bupa Foundation.
The trusts Bay of Plenty Regional co-ordinator Tireni Ratema says her background in waterways and canoe and her relationships with the projects leaders have been quintessential to the partnership.
The project is essentially built on that relationship, trust and genuine passion and aroha for the kaupapa through personal commitments through canoe and waterways.
The initial task was to listen to hapu and iwi and their aspirations to reconnect with their awa, the Kaituna catchment.
Really, its being able to align NZLT values with those of the people at place such as Ngati Tuheke, Makahae Marae, Tapuika and the wider rohe.
Essentially by listening to their aspirations, there was clear synergy in terms of kaitiakitanga and the desire to reconnect people to water which is absolutely the main focus of the team at NZ Landcare Trust.
-Te Puke Times.
Police were notified of a two-vehicle crash on SH2 near the Sandhurst Drive off-ramp at around 12pm.
"One person is believed to have minor injuries," said a police spokesperson.
"The road will be blocked for a period of time while emergency services are at the scene.
"Contractors have been contacted.
"Motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible and expect delays."
At the scene?
Phone 0800SUNLIVE or email newsroom@thesun.co.nz
When I told friends I was taking a winter break from New Zealand to Uzbekistan, there was some scratching of heads, writes Coast & Country News journalist Steve Edwards.
Mainly because very few knew anything about this central Asian nation and even its position on the map.
It probably doesnt help much to say Uzbekistan borders Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
In the bigger global picture, it is a former Soviet state, below Russia, west of Turkey and east of China.
Why go? I saw a television documentary on the historic Silk Road Venice to Beijing and Uzbekistan looked the most interesting.
My 11-day solo tour took in the capital, Tashkent, along with other Silk Road stops including Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand.
I went in August the low season for tourists as most go in spring or autumn to avoid the summer heat.
It was mid-to-late 30s during my stay, so not oppressive, and I avoided jostling with hordes of tourists. It is particularly popular among Russians and an increasing number of western European, American and Asian visitors.
I found Uzbekistan to be very tourist-friendly safe, clean and cheap.
Just three-and-a-half hours from Dubai (direct to Tashkent), travelling from New Zealand is relatively straightforward.
My flights, other transport, accommodation, guides and drivers were all pre-booked. A tour manager kept in constant contact to make sure things were going well.
The Silk Road adventure obviously included all the historic sites such as the fort in Khiva, Old Town in Bukhara, the splendors of Samarkand and the vibrant but relaxed atmosphere of Tashkent.
Yes, there were plenty of museums. mosques and mausoleums, but I was never bored as this was intermingled with bazaars, palaces and excursions into the country.
Apart from the heat, the first thing that hit me on arriving in Tashkent was the cost. or lack of it.
Being reasonably well-travelled over the last 35-plus years, I cant think of another developed country where you can get a top-class dinner for $10 NZ and a beer for $2 (sometimes less).
Restaurants seem to cater for all, offering options obviously including local dishes, plus full Italian, Chinese, American and Russian sections in their respective menus.
With a farming-based economy, you are guaranteed fresh meat, fruit and vegetables. The bread is to die for.
You know you are in a pretty good bit of countryside when every second farmer is selling watermelons at the gate.
I stayed in a good variety of accommodation, all clean and tidy, although English was a bit lacking in some.
This included a boutique hotel down a very salubrious side street off the main road to the airport in Tashkent. My neighbours were private kindergartens, obviously upmarket judging by the new BMWs and Audis that well-dressed mums were driving when dropping off their little cherubs.
The internal passenger railway is superb fast, efficient and very comfy. Mind you I was in the VIP carriage for separate trips from Bukhara to Samarkand and Samarkand to Tashkent.
Highlights of Tashkent were a busy bazaar and a proper shave nearby Independence Square and a ride on a very modern metro (underground railway) system.
A partnership with General Motors America sees vehicles made in Uzbekistan and I travelled in the popular Chevrolet Cobalt.
On my return to Tashkent at the end of the tour I travelled by car out of town to a skifield obviously not up and running in summer complete with a gondola which takes you more than 2km and 2290m up the mountains.
Amirsoy Mountain Resort only opened in 2019 and the facilities appear to be top class. At $30 for a day pass, it could be the next big thing for those wanting an inexpensive ski holiday.
On the way out to the mountains, it was interesting to see construction of New Tashkent on the outskirts of the city.
State-of-the-art stadia, plus an athletes village and associated hotels, are being bult for next years Asian Games.
Closer to home, Tashkents wonderful dining and shopping pedestrian-only boulevard is named Broadway probably not after my hometowns (Matamata) main street.
Uzbekistan is more than 90 per cent Muslim, but there does not seem to be any related restrictions for locals and visitors.
There obviously needs to be a degree of respect regarding standard of dress when visiting mosques, but light garments are usually provided at the respective sites.
The Soviet influence remains in some of the buildings alone, as independence was gained in 1991.
As a solo traveller, albeit outside the high season, I felt safe in Uzbekistan.
In busy months, I understand Tourist Police are on patrol in popular spots, but more in an advisory role than anything else.
FACT BOX
Uzbekistan
History: 1000 BC
Population: 35 million
Capital: Tashkent (2.6 million)
Spoken Language: Uzbek
Currency: Uzbekistani Som ($1 NZ = 7800 UZS)
Waihis Colin Purcell is called the golden boy for a few reasons.
One... he literally makes gold bars at Waihis Oceania Gold.
But his real claim to fame is being the last baby born at the old Katikati Maternity Hospital along Beach Rd before its doors closed.
Colin decided hed return to Burstein House on this 60th birthday on Friday where the Katikati Advertiser caught up with him.
Burstein House has seen better days, but still exists at the back of Katikati Community Centre and a family lives there.
The old maternity hospital opened in 1942 and closed in 1964.
By the time Colin was born, the annexe was being utilised less as the roads to Tauranga and Waihi were improving and expectant mothers travelled there.
In 1964 an old mens home in Te Puke burnt to the ground and its residents were rehoused at the empty Katikati annexe.
Colin can be seen here as a baby, flanked by seniors who made Burstein House their new home after a fire destroyed their home for senior men in Te Puke.
Colin has a photo at the steps of the old building flanked by seniors. He was the last baby there, and the annex became a home for seniors. It was renamed Burstein House.
When Colin was 26, he was asked to recreate being the last Burstein House bouncing baby on a float for the Lions Club of Katikati Christmas parade.
Colin recreates being the last baby at the local Lions Christmas parade on a Burstein House float.
The Bay of Plenty Times captured the hilarious snapshot of Colin in a cot with baby bonnet and dummy. He had agreed to do it as long he could have beer instead of a milk.
Colin attended Katikati Primary School and Katikati College with his siblings. He joined Katikati Volunteer Fire Brigade while still at high school, trained as a plumber with his uncle at Purcell Plumbing and eventually moved to Waihi.
Colin is a dad to two, and grandfather to one. He says hes in Katikati every few weekends.
He celebrated his birthday at Waihi RSA on Saturday and the theme was gold and black.
Katikati Maternity Hospital - By Ellen McCormack/abridged
The opening of the Katikati Maternity Hospital on June 1, 1942 was the culmination of more than 40 years of effort and fundraising by the local community who were determined to obtain medical services for the district.
Health issues had always been a major concern in Katikati due to the long distances that had to be travelled to reach the nearest doctor or hospital and the condition of the roads.
Settlers also lobbied for a permanent doctor.
In early 1942 a house was built and Dr Joseph Burstein from Austria was appointed resident doctor for Katikati.
The long trek for medical attention to either Waihi or Tauranga has ended.
In the early days Dr Burstein ran his surgery without appointments or nurse. Patients would show up at his surgery.
Known as Katikatis man of medicine and music was Doctor Joseph Burstein, honoured here as one of Katikatis murals.
Everyone knew whose turn it was next and if the doctor was called away to deliver a baby or any other emergency, patients went home and returned the next day. It had a room for patients after minor operations and a dentist also extracted teeth at the hospital.
For the next 20 years Dr Burstein served but with the road improvements, some women preferred to have their babies in Tauranga or Waihi.
In 1964 the old mens home in Te Puke was burned to the ground so the residents were moved to Katikati Maternity Hospital and this was the beginning of a resthome service in Katikati.
In 1997 Lexham Park was built and the residents were transferred to their new home.
Source: Tauranga City Libraries / Ellen McCormack https://paekoroki.tauranga.govt.nz/nodes/view/19715
True Colours is a Split Enz classic an anthem of sorts, heralding in the age of Aquarius for us ageing hippies of the late-1970s and early-1980s who can still remember it today, writes Tommy Wilson.
True Colours and Ngaruawahia go hand-in-hand, face-to-face and heart-to-heart, as it was there that the true colours of love peace and happiness some called Ko Tahi Aroha or One Love, was born on the banks of the Waipa River at the very first Sweetwaters Festival of 1980.
For those of us who made the pilgrimage to Ngaruawahia in Tainui territory back in the day, we were there to witness what went down at Sweetwaters 1980, and that was a whole lot of love, laughter and loud music, all enhanced by the permeating sweet smell of electric puha.
Fast-forward almost 50 years and something incredibly special has been born on the banks of the Waikato River at Ngaruawahia again, this time at Turangawaewae Marae, following the sad passing of the late Maori Monarch Kingi Tuheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero V11. Tuheitia died at the age of 69 last Friday morning surrounded by his wife, Makau Ariki, and their children Whatumoana, Korotangi, and Ngawai Hono I Te Po.
Kingi Tuheitia, the seventh Maori monarch, died on Friday at the age of 69. Photo: supplied.
The last week has seen tens of thousands show up to share in the sadness and to also celebrate the legacy hes left behind in a prophetic final message to his people.
The message (sidehead)
The message was one of Kotahitanga and how to conquer an approaching storm that was gonna cause havoc. He shared it only a few short days before his passing at the annual Koroneihana Festival held at Turangawaewae Marae in Ngaruawahia, and just like Sweetwaters Ill be forever grateful to have been there to see and hear his true colours.
Kotahitanga translated is trust and collaboration, sometimes more symbiotic than suited and it is a word we need to keep hearing until it is embroidered into our countrys korowai of conversation for every New Zealander of Aotearoa to understand.
I am, and have always been, a strong believer in Kotahitanga. In my last posting on the frontline of the Ps, Pandemic and Poverty, at Te Tuinga Whanau, it was our anthem of Kotohaitanga that kept us all pono to the kaupapa and going for 11 long years.
Kotahitanga, some say in the context of his message is all about unity and to a degree that is true, but for some of us it is unity of purpose as shared by Che Wilson, the spokesperson of Tekau ma rua, the Kings advisory council.
Kingi Tuheitias has given Maoridom a unity of purpose and direction to work together. We dont need to think the same. We dont need to act the same as long as we know where we are going, said Mr Wilson.
The nation has expressed a flood of love and in times of sorrow and adversity we need to lean into supporting each other. King Tuheitias tangi has been an example of how we should support each other as a nation.
The silver lining (sidehead)
The silver lining in the sadness of our long white cloud was, for me, when Prime Minister Chris Luxon showed his true colours at Turangawaewae Marae by firstly showing up kanohi ki te kanohi face-to-face and then speaking from the heart.
He had parked his political potae (hat) and the people took their hat off to him. It was a turning point for many Maori who listened to raw unscripted and unrehearsed honesty by Prime Minister Luxon and in doing so we got to see a side of our countrys leader that was exactly the Kotahitanga our beloved King was talking about only a week before on the very same stage.
We all need someone to hold on to, somewhere to belong to and a set of values to give us hope in these challenging times of today, and perhaps the prophetic final message of Kotahitanga left as a legacy by the late Kingi Tuheitia, is the same sweet waters message of one love yesterday which we can all live by today?
* Tommy Wilson is Bay of Plenty resident, best-selling author, and columnist for 17 years.
- SunLive
During archaeological excavations near the Spanish city of Guarena, archaeologists found a 20-centimeter tablet. However, they did not immediately realize that they were looking at a unique alphabet with 27 characters and fuzzy outlines of a warrior.
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An expert in Paleo-Spanish languages helped the National Research Council of Spain decipher the riddle, as he accidentally saw more than the rest of the researchers. He recognized a unique writing system that was used on the Iberian Peninsula before the Latin alphabet appeared, Iflscience reports.
Spanish archaeologists have found a valuable tablet near the city of Guarena. This area belonged to the late Tartesse civilization, which emerged in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula about 2500 years ago.
At the presentation of the found 20-centimeter plaque, the National Research Council of Spain explained that it depicts individuals fighting, i.e. warriors.
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While casually reading the news about the shale tablet found in Spain, a sharp-eyed researcher, computer scientist and expert in Paleo-Spanish languages from the University of Barcelona, Joan Ferrer i Janae, noticed that archaeologists had missed a huge discovery. Having once again looked closely at the presented photos, he noticed not only engravings of warriors, but also a mysterious alphabet of the ancient language. The scientist realized that the artifact was more significant than the Spanish archaeologists had described.
"Outside of the figures, when I looked at the tablet, I saw that there seemed to be a Paleo-Spanish sign on one side. This sign cannot be confused with any other," Joan said.
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He immediately contacted the Merida Institute of Archaeology to get better images of the slab. "After a careful study of the images, everything pointed to it being a southern alphabet with the initial sequence ABeKaTuIKeLBaNS?STaUE, which is almost the same as documented in the Spanish alphabet, except for the eleventh character, which has a special shape," Ferrer explained.
The researcher realized that he was looking at a very rare example of southern Paleo-Spanish writing.
Paleo-Spanish scripts are the writing systems used on the Iberian Peninsula before the advent of the Latin alphabet. They are divided into at least two families: northeastern and southern. All of these scripts are believed to be descended from the Phoenician writing system developed by the Phoenician civilization that flourished about 3000 years ago along the eastern Mediterranean coast in what is now Lebanon, Syria, and Israel.
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The new discovery is very important. Because there are only two other artifacts that show the alphabets of southern Paleo-Spanish scripts. So scientists know very little about this writing system.
According to Ferrer, there could have been more letters or symbols on the found tablet, because its lower part is broken off.
"This alphabet has 27 characters and is the only complete one we know of today. Another athefact was found during the excavations of Villazviejas del Tamuha (Caceres), but it is very fragmented. It has only some central characters. Therefore, the found alphabet will be the third example and will provide a lot of information," Ferrer explained.
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Speaking from China to Andalucia's Canal Sur Radio on Tuesday 4 September, the president of the Junta de Andalucia, Juanma Moreno, estimated that investment that China has committed to "so far" in Andalucia, specifically in six of the eight provinces, amount to more than 2.5 billion euros.
Moreno, who has been on an official visit to China since 27 August, explained that he is very "enthusiastic about the welcome" that the Chinese authorities are giving the Andalusian delegation.
The regional president is heading a trade mission, along with business leaders from Andalucia "to intensify, basically, the economic relations that exist between China, which has 1.5 billion inhabitants, and Andalucia".
"And in this objective, so far, the investments that have already been committed in Andalucia exceed 2.5 billion euros spread over six provinces," said the president, who is confident that the figure will increase in the remaining days of meetings in China.
Direct flights to China
"This shows that when you work, when you invest and when you sow, in the end you reap something," said Moreno, who pointed out that the Junta has been working for more than a year on this official visit to China, both with companies and with the Chinese Embassy.
The president said that the agenda in China has been "intense, long and complex", but that he is confident that it will generate not only investment, but also "highly qualified" jobs "throughout Andalucia". He went on to say, "It is very important to generate trust and complicity with the world's second largest economy."
The president also referred to the possibility of a direct flight between China and Andalucia, a region that receives many Chinese tourists, who "spend more and stay longer".
As such, Moreno has indicated that there is a real possibility that there could be a weekly flight to Seville or Malaga, either from Shanghai or from Beijing. The destination airport is still to be decided and it would be a decision of the Chinese airline, according to the president.
A video showing an alien walking on a mountain slope is actively circulating online. Tourist Sara Dalete noticed two strange figures 3 meters high while walking on the island of Ilha do Mel in Brazil, saying that they were aliens. Internet users began their own research and speculation about the presence of aliens in that place, because, according to Sara, it is impossible to reach the top of the mountain from the bottom.
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The woman posted a video of the "unknown creatures" on Instagram. Both of them were moving their arms quickly, and then one of the "three-meter" figures began to descend the slope. "And one more thing, if you compare, he is more or less the size of that tree. Yes, he's big," the tourists said in the video, which was transcribed by X users.
Naturally, this news was checked for disinformation. One of them was UFO expert Nick Pope. "There is no credible evidence that anything related to UFOs or aliens happened, or that it was anything else," the expert told Metro.
Active discussions also began on social network X: one of the users created a thread explaining why it was actually ordinary people who were photographed on top of the mountain.
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"Her husband shared the location of the shooting on his Instagram. Using Google Maps, we can determine the location and compare it with the footage. For the roof of the tent to be framed by a hill, it is concluded that they were 1 km away. When we approach the hill using Google Maps, we realize that it is not as high as it looks in the video," explained Diogo Milagres.
He continued: "The verdict: You can clearly see that it was a person of normal height, that the hill is small, and that's why the person was able to go down without difficulty."
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After declassifying the fact that there were in fact normal people on the mountain, Sarah edited her Instagram post and wrote that one of the people present "really looks like a normal person, but taller than most."
In the comments to the post, people also responded to the woman's misinformation: "Looking at the video, you can see that he is taking pictures, and I am filming with my cell phone, then he puts his hand on his waist and looks at his cell phone. It must be a person because if you look at the vegetation near him, it's low bushes, not trees." "It's clearly visible that this is a person who walked the trail to the top. His shirt is tied on his head, and he is taking it off."
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Two people from Upstate New York are competing for a $1 million prize on reality TV.
Andy Rueda, a Buffalo native, and Sue Smey, whose hometown is the Broome County town of Kirkwood, are among the 18 castaways on season 47 of Survivor. Theyll face unexpected obstacles in a twist-packed season from the moment they step on the beach in Fiji, according to the CBS show.
I have the ability to charm and disarm, said Rueda, a 31-year-old AI research assistant who currently lives in Brooklyn. I can... play like a snake.
In a preview video, Rueda appeared with two children, including one wearing Buffalo Bills gear.
I was really, really close with my cousin Ashley, Rueda said. She named me the godfather to her firstborn. A year later, we lost Ashley to domestic violence and they dont have parental figures. I can be someone that they can look up to. What better way of showing that than following my dream?
Andy Rueda, a Buffalo native, competes on "Survivor" season 47. (CBS video still)CBS
Smey, 59, is a flight school owner who currently lives in Putnam Valley, N.Y. She said she received pushback from men when she first got into the aviation industry, but is now extremely successful and wants to empower more women to get involved.
As this seasons oldest contestant, she expects to be similarly underestimated while proving everyone wrong.
I want to be remembered as the oldest woman to ever win Survivor, Smey said. These people look at the old person, they think theyre the weak person here. Between my work ethic and my level of competition theyre going to soon realize that theyre gonna want me here and my grandson will always remember his grandma kicking butt on Survivor.
Sue Smey, from the Southern Tier town of Kirkwood, N.Y., is a contestant on "Survivor" season 47. (CBS video still)CBS
The competition also includes Pod Save America co-host and former Obama speechwriter Jon Lovett, a Baltimore radio host, an ER doctor from San Francisco, a construction worker from Michigan, and an E-sports commentator from Phoenix, Arizona. The cast and contestant details were announced Wednesday.
Jeff Probst returns as host and showrunner.
Survivor season 47 premieres Sept. 18 with a two-hour episode starting at 8 p.m. on CBS. Fans can also watch episodes with DirecTV Stream.
Manlius, N.Y. -- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday called for a national assault rifle ban and red flag laws in the wake of a deadly school shooting in Georgia that killed four people.
Weve had enough, Hochul said during a visit to East Syracuse Minoa Central High School. This nation has seen enough.
Police said a 14-year-old student opened fire with an AR-platform-style weapon at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Wednesday, killing two teachers and two students and wounding nine other people.
Such military-style weapons are banned in New York. They were also banned nationwide under a federal law enacted in 1994, but the ban expired in 2004 under a sunset provision. Since then, AR-15-style rifles have been used in some of the nations deadliest mass shootings, including the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, that killed 20 children and six staff members.
You turn on the news and youre stunned to see yet another school shooting in the United States, Hochul said.
It hurts on so many levels. As a parent who for many years who sent my children off to school, I know the inherent anxiety as soon as your children are out of your sight. And then to see these stories where a 14-year-old has access to an assault-style weapon, military-style assault weapon.
She called out Republicans in Congress for opposing a new assault weapons ban.
I know the Biden-Harris administration wants to do more, she said. I know that the Senate led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wants to do more, and Im calling on the Republican-led House of Representatives to stop putting up roadblocks to saving childrens lives.
Hochul also called for a national red flag law like the one in New York. The states law, also known as the Extreme Risk Protection Order law, prevents individuals who show signs of being a threat to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing any kind of firearm.
That should be a national policy, she said.
Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Rick Moriarty anytime:Email|X|Facebook| 315-470-3148.
New York A secret Chinese police station hiding in plain sight in New York City. Clandestine efforts by Communist Party operatives to spy on and bully Chinese expatriates. And now, charges that a former aide to two New York governors was secretly acting as an agent of the Chinese government.
The U.S. Department of Justice has initiated a wave of prosecutions in recent years aimed at rooting out covert agents advancing Beijings interests on American soil.
In Brooklyn alone, federal prosecutors in the last four years have brought at least a dozen such criminal cases against more than 90 people the latest being Tuesdays arrest of Linda Sun, who once served as deputy chief of staff to Gov. Kathy Hochul and was earlier an aide to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
The charges against Sun are the most startling example yet of a threat U.S. officials have warned about for years: Chinas determination to influence American policy and cultivate relationships with political figures seen as having access to the levers of power, even if only at a local level.
While the public might think of foreign agents as people who eavesdrop on military officials or steal state secrets, China has demonstrated an eagerness to exert influence in less splashy areas, like currying favor with American officials with control over things like local land use regulations or labor issues.
There is definitely an effort to develop relationships and friendships and connections in state and local governments, said Adam Hickey, a former senior Justice Department national security official who led the departments enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which Sun is charged with violating.
Prosecutors say Sun a midlevel aide in two Democratic administrations developed a close relationship with officials in the Chinese consulate in New York and did their bidding in ways that were important, albeit unlikely to make the plot of a spy novel.
Among other things, she is accused of quietly spoiling efforts by representatives of Taiwans government to meet with top New York state officials. The Chinese government considers Taiwan to be part of China. She also allegedly encouraged Cuomo and Hochul to make supportive remarks about China such as thanking Chinese companies for donating medical equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
An indictment says she solicited talking points from a Chinese official for a video Hochul recorded as lieutenant governor wishing people a happy Lunar New Year. Prosecutors said Sun took credit for keeping Hochul from mentioning human rights issues in that video. And the indictment said Sun provided unauthorized invitation letters from the governors office that helped Chinese officials enter the U.S.
In return, prosecutors say Sun got tickets to performances by Chinese arts groups and multiple Nanjing-style salted ducks that were sent to her parents home. More lucratively, the indictment said, Suns husband got help for his business dealings in China, which brought in millions of dollars for the couple, who had a $4 million mansion on Long Island and a condominium in Hawaii.
Sun and her husband, Chris Hu, pleaded not guilty Tuesday.
Suns lawyer, Jarrod Schaeffer, said she was understandably upset that these charges have been brought, but didnt discuss the charges in detail.
Hochul on Wednesday called Suns alleged actions an absolute betrayal of the trust of two administrations in state government.
The alleged foreign influence efforts are part of what FBI and Justice Department officials have described as a broader attempt to manipulate public opinion in Chinas favor.
The Chinese government understands that politicians in smaller roles today may rise to become more influential over time, FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a January 2022 speech. So they look to cultivate talent early to ensure that politicians at all levels of government will be ready to take a call and advocate on behalf of Beijings agenda.
Justice Department officials have charged dozens of Chinese nationals in the last five years, though many have remained out of reach of American law enforcement.
Among those who have faced charges are 40 officers with the Ministry of Public Security accused of harassing and threatening dissidents, as well as a cluster of operatives alleged to have stalked Chinese individuals living in the U.S. as part of an effort to coerce them into returning to China, where they wanted for prosecution.
A Chinese American scholar known as a pro-democracy activist was convicted in New York earlier this month of gathering information on dissidents and feeding it to his homelands government.
In 2022, a Chinese government operative was charged with plotting to undermine the candidacy of a little-known congressional candidate in New York by planning to locate, or even manufacture, derogatory information that could prevent him from being elected. The allegation was part of a broader plot resulting in charges against five people, including for spying on a Chinese national living in Los Angeles and plotting to destroy his artwork.
Two U.S. citizens were charged last year with establishing a secret police station in Manhattan under the direction and control of the Chinese government.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy, Liu Pengyu, dismissed the concerns as overblown, blaming the U.S. government and media for having frequently hyped up the so-called Chinese agents narratives, many of which have later been proven untrue.
China has long maintained that U.S. authorities are simply discrediting its international crime-fighting work, such as Operation Fox Hunt, a nearly decade-old effort ostensibly focused on pursuing Chinese fugitives, including corrupt officials.
It also claims that police stations, which have been reported across North America and Europe, arent law enforcement offices at all, but provide routine services for Chinese citizens, including renewing Chinese drivers licenses.
Yaqiu Wang, research director for China, Hong Kong and Taiwan at Freedom House, which tracks transnational repression, applauded efforts to counter Chinese activities that she says undermine human rights and democracy.
Last year, a congressional committee warned that Beijing runs an extensive network of organizations that seeks to influence U.S. universities, think tanks, civic groups, other prominent individuals and institutions and public opinion broadly.
But Wang warned that federal efforts must be targeted and proportionate, given civil rights concerns raised by the Chinese American community and others.
In 2018, the Trump-era Justice Department launched a nationwide effort known as the China Initiative targeting Chinese espionage at American universities.
But the initiative was rebranded early in the Biden administration following multiple unsuccessful prosecutions of researchers and concerns from some of the nations top colleges that the program had a chilling effort on academic research and amounted to racial profiling.
No Americans should have to live in fear that their entire lives may be turned upside down due to wrongful accusations, unwarranted racial profiling, or ugly xenophobia, U.S. Rep. Judy Chu, a California Democrat, said in July as she stood with Feng Franklin Tao, a Chinese-American professor who had an espionage case thrown out by a Colorado judge earlier this year. There is no room for this prejudice in our federal government or in our country.
The Syracuse Fire Department will hire up to 20 new firefighters after winning a competitive federal grant for almost $7.6 million, New Yorks two U.S. senators said today.
The grant is the largest in the departments history, said U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. and Syracuse Fire Chief Michael Monds.
Liverpool, NY - Liverpools school board tonight severed ties with its superintendent in a unanimous vote, drawing cheers and applause from the nearly 100 people who attended the meeting one day before school starts.
In a 9-0 vote, the board approved a separation agreement between the district and Daniel Henner, who in his two-year tenure has drawn criticism from some district residents and lost support of the majority of current school board members.
The board also appointed Douglas Lawrence, who is deputy superintendent, as interim superintendent. That move also drew cheers from the crowd.
READ MORE: Liverpool superintendent gets hefty buyout after two years on the job
Henner became superintendent over Liverpool, the countys third-largest school district, in May 2022.
The three-paragraph resolution posted this afternoon on the boards meeting agenda -- just hours before tonights meeting -- does not specify any amount negotiated as part of the settlement.
Even with the short notice, about 100 people showed up at the meeting this evening for the vote.
No specific reason was given in the resolution for Henners proposed departure.
Shortly after the vote, board President Nicholas Blaney read from a prepared statement that said the separation was in the best interest of the school district. He said Henners exit was a mutual agreement between the former superintendent and the board.
Blaney called the change a brand new day, but he did not give any specific reasons for Henners departure.
Douglas Lawrence, a Liverpool deputy superintendent, takes an oath to become interim superintendent on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. The same night, the board unanimously decided to sever ties with Daniel Henner, who had served as district leader for two years.Elizabeth Doran | syracuse.com
The proposed resolution to sever ties with Henner states, in part:
the Board authorizes the President of the Board to sign the Separation Agreement between the District and Daniel Henner on its behalf, and to take any and all further actions necessary or deemed advisable by the President of the Board to implement the terms of the Separation Agreement.
Henner has been controversial and unpopular with some in the Liverpool community since his appointment as superintendent.
At that time, the school board - which had some different members - were divided over his appointment. Six voted to hire him and three voted against.
Dozens of people showed up to a Liverpool School Board meeting Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. The board was scheduled to vote on parting ways with Superintendent Daniel Henner, who lost support from the board toward the end of his two years as the district's leader.Elizabeth Doran | syracuse.com
The following year - in June 2023 - the school board voted to extend Henners contract by a 5-4 vote. That extended his contract through June 2026 and gave him a raise, despite a petition from some in the district that asked the board to reject the contract extension.
When the contract extension was approved last year, some people at the meeting yelled disgusting and another said you should be ashamed of yourselves.
The bulk of the support for that extension came from board members with just three weeks left in their terms. Today, none of those board members remain on the school board.
This year, district voters put three new people on the board in May. That meant the makeup of the board has shifted away from supporting some of Henners proposals, including items such as salary raises for several administrative staff members.
Since then, Henner has faced weakening support from the school board.
Henner also came under fire from parents after Onondaga County Sheriffs deputies began investigating reports that an Elmcrest Elementary teacher had physically abused kids at the school. The district suspended the teacher but refused to comment on the incident for several days.
Parents on social media called for more transparency from Henner.
The teacher, Melissa Harrington, was subsequently arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, according to deputies. Those charges are still pending, according to the Onondaga County District Attorneys office.
After the arrest, Henner said in an email to parents that the arrest was profoundly disappointing.
Elizabeth Doran covers education, suburban government and development, breaking news and more. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact her anytime 315-470-3012 or email edoran@syracuse.com
Defense-Update from the Russo-Ukraine War. Following are some of this weeks military technology news highlights from the Russo-Ukraine conflict
Ukrainian Forces and Russian Laser Threats
Ukrainian sources have reported sightings of green light rays on the battlefield, which were identified as a new threat from Russian forces. These rays, visible only at night, are thought to be emitted by an EO/IR payload developed by Russian drone maker ZALA. The Z-16IRQ-V/L uses an HD thermal imager and a video camera with an integrated laser rangefinder and designator. The laser is effective at distances up to 1,500 m. Laser designation is used to guide guided ammunition with semi-active laser homing. The visibility of these laser beams, which typically operate in the infrared range, is considered a drawback as it unmasks the user platform. The green light is probably the laser used as a spotter beam.
Ukraine and Russia Use Drones with Incendiary Payloads
Russian and Ukrainian drones now use incendiary payloads. Ukraines Dragons Breath FPV drones employ thermite incendiary munitions that can reach temperatures exceeding 2,400 degrees when ignited. Thermite consists of a mixture of iron oxide and aluminum powders.
Maiden Flight of the Model 437 Vanguard
Drone Interceptors Appear on the Russo-Ukraine War
Both Russia and Ukraine have recently displayed First-Person View (FPV) drone video footage showing intercepts of reconnaissance drones by FPV drones. One of these events shows an intercept of a Russian reconnaissance UAV, Zala Z-20, in the lens of Ukrainian FPV kamikaze drones. This UAV has a longer range and can guide the Lancet to a target at a distance of 70+ km.
Russia Extends Range of UMPC Bomb Glide and Guidance Kit
Russia has reportedly upgraded its UMPC (Universal Planning and Correction Module), bomb guidance, and range extension kit with larger wings and tail area, enabling the weapon to glide over longer distances. The current glide bombs used by Russia, namely the FAB500, 15000, and 3000, can glide up to 65 km, enabling Russian fighter bombers such as the Su-34 to strike targets within Ukraine when flying deep over occupied lands in Eastern Ukraine Luhansk or Donetsk. The new winged kit will bring more targets deeper inland within the Russian aviation strike range. The UMPC is considered a more affordable and powerful attack weapon than ballistic missiles (like Iskander) or Cruise missiles.
Ukrainian Air Forces Use of JDAM-ER Bombs
The Ukrainian Air Force has publicly detailed its use of American JDAM-ER glide bombs, revealing their operational range and integration onto Soviet-era MiG-29s. A recent video showcased the destruction of a bridge in Russias Kursk region, demonstrating the JDAM-ERs effective range of approximately 40 km when dropped from a pull-up maneuver. The video also highlighted the programming process for JDAM-ER bombs, which involves uploading the flight mission via a laptop on the ground. Previously, during the war, GPS-guided weapons like Excalibur, HIMARS, and JDAM initially demonstrated very effective results but failed to cope with Russian electronic countermeasures and have lost their effectiveness over time, driving Western manufacturers to implement more advanced jam-resistant techniques into their weapons.
Romania Plans to Transfer Patriot Missiles to Ukraine
Romanias government approved a bill to donate a Patriot air defense missile system to Ukraine. Romania also seeks a replacement system from allies, particularly the US, to sustain its air defense capabilities.
For weekly more news by topic, refer to the following reports:
CCTV: The Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation opened today. President Xi Jinping attended the Opening Ceremony and delivered a keynote address. Could you share more details with us?
Mao Ning: This morning, the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) opened with the theme of Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future. President Xi Jinping attended the Opening Ceremony and delivered a keynote address.
President Xi Jinping noted that the friendship between China and Africa transcends time and space, surmounts mountains and oceans, and passes down through generations. Over the past 24 years since the inception of the FOCAC, especially in the new era, China and Africa have firmly defended our legitimate rights and interests in the spirit of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith as once-in-a-century changes sweep across the world. We get stronger and more resilient together by riding the tide of economic globalization, delivering tangible benefits to billions of ordinary Chinese and Africans. We have created touching stories of China-Africa friendship, and set a stellar example of a new type of international relations. Thanks to nearly 70 years of tireless efforts from both sides, the China-Africa relationship is now at its best in history.
President Xi Jinping stressed that China is going all out to build a great modern socialist country in all respects and pursue national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernization. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee lays out systematic plans for further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization. This will profoundly further transform China. It will also provide new opportunities and new driving forces for African countries and for our joint pursuit of modernization. China and Africa should jointly advance modernization that is just and equitable, open and win-win and eco-friendly, puts the people first, features diversity and inclusiveness, and is underpinned by peace and security. In the next three years, China will work with Africa to take the ten partnership actions for modernization to deepen China-Africa cooperation and spearhead the Global South modernization.
President Xi Jinping announced that bilateral relations between China and all African countries having diplomatic ties with China are now elevated to the level of strategic relations, and that the overall characterization of China-Africa relations is now elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era. The Summit adopted the Beijing Declaration on Jointly Building an All-Weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era, and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027).
AFP: The Japanese and Australian foreign and defense ministers met in Australia today and agreed to enhance defense cooperation and support the work of the Philippine Coast Guard. In the context of the ongoing maritime tension between China and the Philippines, whats Chinas comment on that latest development?
Mao Ning: China believes that defense and security cooperation between countries should be conducive to keeping the region peaceful and stable and nurturing mutual trust between regional countries, and should not target any third party.
Trouw: According to the US Department of State, the PRC Ministry of Civil Affairs has notified the American government that since August 28, civil affairs departments across China will no longer carry out foreign adoption work. Could you confirm the stop? And if so, could you elaborate on it?
Mao Ning: The Chinese government has adjusted its cross-border adoption policy. Henceafter, apart from the adoption of a child or stepchild from ones collateral relatives by blood of the same generation and up to the third degree of kinship by foreigners coming to China, China will not send children abroad for adoption. This is also in line with the spirit of relevant international covenants. We express our appreciation to those foreign governments and families, who wish to adopt Chinese children, for their good intention and the love and kindness they have shown. For more specifics, Id refer you to competent authorities.
AFP: According to a research paper published in Nature journal this week, 125 virus species were identified in animals from Chinese fur farms, including 36 new pathogens. According to a world famous virologist, the fur industry worldwide is likely to produce virus that can spill over to humans. Has China noticed this research and does China intend to raise the health standard of the fur industry?
Mao Ning: Id refer you to competent authorities on that.
Trouw: We have seen a surge of adoptees coming back to China hoping to find their birth families. Will the stop of the adoption program in any way influence their attempts to visit China to view their files
Mao Ning: I would refer you to competent authorities for answers to those specific questions. There are sound communication channels on this issue.
The all-new Dacia Duster will go on sale this fall. The model will offer an efficient range of powertrains and many more advantages for quite affordable money.
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The British edition of Top Gear told more about the updated car. For example, fans of electric vehicles will be pleased with the fact that a hybrid version will be available in the lineup. Prices will start at 18,745 for the basic Essential equipment and reach 26,745 for the fully equipped Extreme version.
The Dacia Duster Hybrid 140 will be powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and a pair of two electric motors that produce a total of 141 hp. Yes, it is not the fastest in the world, but the advantage of such an engine is that it is efficient. The model can run on electricity up to 80% of the time. This is also the only powertrain option that comes with an automatic transmission, while the rest are equipped with six-speed manuals.
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An alternative in the mid-range segment is called the TCe 130, which is a turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine complemented by a 48-volt mild hybrid motor that delivers 131 hp to a choice of two or four wheels. Or, if you want to go off the beaten path, you can opt for the 100 hp four-cylinder Bi-Fuel engine, which is claimed to deliver up to 1300 km on a single tank. For comparison, this is the distance from London to Milan. All-wheel drive models will offer up to five driving modes to adapt the vehicle to different conditions.
Duster also received a fresher and more impressive appearance. For example, it has thicker underbody and wheel arch protection, and the bumpers are made of a new material called Starkle. It is a partially recycled composite. Since it retains its natural color, traces of encounters with lampposts should be less noticeable.
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Inside, the new Dacia Duster will use the new CMF-B platform, which will open up more space for various Fruit Shoot small items. Body roll has also been reduced and cornering stability improved. The ride in the updated car feels softer.
Standard features on the model include a 10.1-inch multimedia center and a seven-inch digital driver display with Apple CarPlay and Android equivalent installed as part of the basic tech package. Dacia has also gone a step further with its YouClip accessory mounting system, which has several additional places for GoPro and other gadgets.
The new Duster will go on sale in November. Due to its reasonable prices and good equipment, it is expected to be in great demand.
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Partisans are working in the Leningrad region to help Ukraine fight against the aggressor country. A reconnaissance was conducted at the Levashovo military airfield on the outskirts of St. Petersburg, where the 33rd Separate Transport Mixed Air Regiment of the Russian Aerospace Forces is based.
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The operation was conducted by an Atesh agent. The relevant photos were published on September 5 by the resistance movement's Telegram channel.
This military facility of the Russian Federation is an important base, providing support for aviation operations. Training flights are also actively conducted at the airfield.
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"During the reconnaissance, it was found that transport and combat aircraft, as well as helicopters used for various military tasks, including the transfer of personnel and cargo, are deployed at the airfield," the Atesh members found out.
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The guerrillas paid special attention to studying enhanced security measures and enemy aviation activity.
As reported by OBOZ.UA:
Earlier, the Atesh agent conducted reconnaissance of the port in Taganrog (Russia) and the surrounding area. The patriots provided the Ukrainian Defense Forces with data on the location of important facilities and nodes.
The guerrillas also found out where the enemy has deployed one of the air defense systems covering the skies on the approaches to Moscow. The invaders' equipment was found in the Kaluga region, 100 kilometers from the capital of the aggressor state.
Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
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tbppjpr BHPian
Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: India Posts: 889 Thanked: 1,935 Times
Re: VW considers closing down its German plants for the 1st time as part of its cost-cutting measure Quote: AMG Power Originally Posted by - most probably a suggestion based on an informal arrangement with Mahindra to protect the tenure of the Indian management yet again.
VAG isn't investing in diesel due to uncertainties all over the world. Indian govt policies are getting way too much confusing for the manufacturers as well for the buyers. Anyone having their brain in the right place will hold their new investment plans in such uncertain and confusing scenario.
For the time being VAG wants to join hands with someone who has some govt lobbying power, has strong presence in diesel and also has some electric tech so that they do not have to risk their investments to start from the zero in the EV segment in India. Its nothing new, Maruti had technological partnership with Fiat for very long, Tata still has.
This VAG-Mahindra JV is similar like Maruti-Toyota where neither of them want to risk heavy investments in diesel and petrol segments respectively until the govt policies are clear, but since they want to keep their dealerships running in profits, they need some cars available on sell hence co-sharing the cars models with each other.
Even car users like me have postponed car upgrade plans for atleast 5-7 years and have been advising same in the family and friend circle until there is clarity that my car will remain my car as long as I want to keep it, not like the current scenario when govt can snatch it from me anytime they want.
I also want to make sure that I get pure fuel, not the adulterated garbage in the name of E10, E20, biodiesel and all which are reducing the FE and resulting into increased crude import. Such fuel is also adversely affecting the engine life but no one will ever be able to know about this huge scam because the cars are being scrapped prematurely in India, thanks to the unlawful govt laws.
No one can have interest of doing business in such scenarios. VAG-Mahindra venture is more important for Mahindra than VAG. Mahindra has presence only in the diesel segment but with the recent pressure from the govt, they need some backup plan in the petrol and alternative fuel.VAG isn't investing in diesel due to uncertainties all over the world. Indian govt policies are getting way too much confusing for the manufacturers as well for the buyers. Anyone having their brain in the right place will hold their new investment plans in such uncertain and confusing scenario.For the time being VAG wants to join hands with someone who has some govt lobbying power, has strong presence in diesel and also has some electric tech so that they do not have to risk their investments to start from the zero in the EV segment in India. Its nothing new, Maruti had technological partnership with Fiat for very long, Tata still has.This VAG-Mahindra JV is similar like Maruti-Toyota where neither of them want to risk heavy investments in diesel and petrol segments respectively until the govt policies are clear, but since they want to keep their dealerships running in profits, they need some cars available on sell hence co-sharing the cars models with each other.Even car users like me have postponed car upgrade plans for atleast 5-7 years and have been advising same in the family and friend circle until there is clarity that my car will remain my car as long as I want to keep it, not like the current scenario when govt can snatch it from me anytime they want.I also want to make sure that I get pure fuel, not the adulterated garbage in the name of E10, E20, biodiesel and all which are reducing the FE and resulting into increased crude import. Such fuel is also adversely affecting the engine life but no one will ever be able to know about this huge scam because the cars are being scrapped prematurely in India, thanks to the unlawful govt laws.No one can have interest of doing business in such scenarios. Last edited by tbppjpr : 4th September 2024 at 23:31 .
narayans80 Senior - BHPian
Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Madras Posts: 3,290 Thanked: 4,948 Times
Re: Emigrating to a Foreign Land! Quote: download2live Originally Posted by "Most debates are not really debates; They are two people with different life experiences talking over each other."
I am afraid you will not find a single answer here. People have different backgrounds.
I remember a post from Samurai a long time back. You will not be able to move unless you 'hate' your current place.
The motivation for immigration (whichever direction) only lasts on a short-medium term, not on a long term. Statements like "I'll move to India in 5 years if this and this happens" make no sense. I have a close friend from university, who has been saying he'll settle in India for the last 20 years, only on his recent trip did he admit he isn't moving back in the near term.
Quote: Foxbat Originally Posted by This is absolutely true, my sister and I moved to India from the US in the mid 1990s when we were in our early teens. Quote: ajmat Originally Posted by Same thing happened to be in the mid 1970's..
Fortunately by 2010s there is internet and loads of information documenting the struggles of moving back with kids. There are also IGCSE and IB board schools that soften the transition.
We moved in 2017 when my elder was getting into 3rd grade. It still took 2 academic years to adjust even in an IB school.
Quote: Mystic Originally Posted by Now is the million dollar question of me shuttling between India and USA and how long I can do it with out any disruption?
Quote: How are different generations handling kids when sent abroad
My mother wouldn't even consider moving to another location in the same city. An old friend's father said he wouldn't come and visit his son in Hyderabad from Karaikudi, when he was in his 50s.
Quote: I see a huge problem still in my generation and finally this issue is resolved at my next generation wrt calling a home abroad as permanent place for whatever reasons.
Quote: Streetracer_372 Originally Posted by I was wondering if moving out makes sense if your parents do not have a problem in living abroad even for extended periods of time as is the case with mine. Correct. And you shouldn't be looking for answers here either. Leaving aside work background, the personal situation of each one is different and so is the individual (and his/her spouse) mindset. Lot of which cannot be written in a public forum.I remember a post from Samurai a long time back. You will not be able to move unless you 'hate' your current place.The motivation for immigration (whichever direction) only lasts on a short-medium term, not on a long term. Statements like "I'll move to India in 5 years if this and this happens" make no sense. I have a close friend from university, who has been saying he'll settle in India for the last 20 years, only on his recent trip did he admit he isn't moving back in the near term.Feel sorry for you guys, all this happened at a time your parents didn't know the struggles of moving late.Fortunately by 2010s there is internet and loads of information documenting the struggles of moving back with kids. There are also IGCSE and IB board schools that soften the transition.We moved in 2017 when my elder was getting into 3rd grade. It still took 2 academic years to adjust even in an IB school.A couple I know in close quarters are shuttling in their 80s The mileage would vary depending on their physical fitness to handle the weather transitions and mental strength to do so.Isn't this a direct result of their own exposure and mindset?My mother wouldn't even consider moving to another location in the same city. An old friend's father said he wouldn't come and visit his son in Hyderabad from Karaikudi, when he was in his 50s.Haven't we seen kids and parents argue this at a city level? This keeps moving from generation to generation where they find their true calling.Assuming your parents are game. It would still depend on the policies of the adopted country, whether and how they allow you to sponsor your parents as dependents.
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Weekend in Australia with a Toyota Land Cruiser 300
Let me share some pictures from the trip.
Taking off from the new Bangalore Terminal in a direct service to Sydney with Qantas
Landing in Sydney
Picking up the rental LC300 with Toyota branded off road bumpers
Drove out along M1 all the way to Polkobin and reached the lovely AirBnB in Lambs Valley
The 100 acre property had some lovely horses and was frequented by wallabies and tons of birds
Lorakeets
Horses
Mesmerising sunset
Kookabura sculpture en route
The real thing
The imposing LC
I travelled to Sydney for work and a had a couple of days holiday over the weekend, so decided to rent an LC300 and explore some areas around Barrington Tops National Park and Lambs Valley. Drove the car around 800kms and it was extremely capable as expected. Having said that, it is not worth the price for what it is sold in India, just like most Toyotas.Let me share some pictures from the trip.Taking off from the new Bangalore Terminal in a direct service to Sydney with QantasLanding in SydneyPicking up the rental LC300 with Toyota branded off road bumpersDrove out along M1 all the way to Polkobin and reached the lovely AirBnB in Lambs ValleyThe 100 acre property had some lovely horses and was frequented by wallabies and tons of birdsLorakeetsHorsesMesmerising sunsetKookabura sculpture en routeThe real thingThe imposing LC Attached Thumbnails
Last edited by vb-saan : 5th September 2024 at 07:20 . Reason: Cleared a error link
Indoor air quality monitors arent the only smart home products SwitchBot has to show off at IFA 2024 in Berlin. The smart home device manufacturer also unveiled a 3-in-1 vacuum system, smart roller shades, and a pair of air purifiersincluding one that doubles as a nightstand.
SwitchBot K10+ Pro Combo vacuum system
The SwitchBot K10 Pro Combo combines the companys ultra-small robot vacuum with a cordless stick vac. Both tools empty their dustbins into the same base. The SwitchBot K10 Pro Combo combines the companys ultra-small robot vacuum with a cordless stick vac. Both tools empty their dustbins into the same base. SwitchBot The SwitchBot K10 Pro Combo combines the companys ultra-small robot vacuum with a cordless stick vac. Both tools empty their dustbins into the same base. SwitchBot SwitchBot
SwitchBot has taken the K10+ Pro Mini robot vacuum and added a cordless stick vac that uses a modified version of that bots auto-emptying base station to come up with the SwitchBot K10+ Pro Combo vacuum system.
The manufacturer describes the K10+ Pro as the worlds smallest robot vacuum. Since robot vacs cant be used on furniture or to suck down cobwebs on the ceiling, adding a cordless stick vac to the package renders it a more complete cleaning system. The all-new FusionBase charging station that can empty the dustbins from both appliances provides the third element in SwitchBots 3-in-1 home vacuuming solution. Unfortunately for those whove already purchased a K10+ Pro, its base station does not work with the new stick vac.
SwitchBot says the base stations 3-liter dust bag should require emptying just once every 70 days. The ultra-compact, dual-purpose base should be a boon for smaller domiciles, since it has a footprint smaller than an A4 sheet of paper. Measuring 8.27 x 11.69 inches (210 x 297mm), its slightly larger than an 8.5 x 11-inch U.S. letter.
The SwitchBot K10+ Pro Combo is available for pre-order now, with an asking pricing of $799.99.
Dont miss TechHives in-depth coverage of the best robot vacuums.
SwitchBot Air Purifier and Air Purifier Table
This multi-purpose air purifier can double as an end table or nightstand, complete with a Qi charger. The non-table version looks virtually identical, less that tabletop. This multi-purpose air purifier can double as an end table or nightstand, complete with a Qi charger. The non-table version looks virtually identical, less that tabletop. SwitchBot This multi-purpose air purifier can double as an end table or nightstand, complete with a Qi charger. The non-table version looks virtually identical, less that tabletop. SwitchBot SwitchBot
Speaking of multi-function appliances, SwitchBot is showing two new air purifiers at IFA this year, and one of them can also function as a side table or nightstand. The aptly named SwitchBot Air Purifier Table has a columnar form factor, with an integrated LED nightlight and table on top of thatwith an embedded Qi charger for Android and iOS devices no less.
Both this model and the more conventional air purifier feature three-layer filters with a washable pre-filter, an activated carbon filter, and a HEPA filter to remove up to 99.97 percent of airborne particles, according to the manufacturer. Both devices have clean air delivery (CADR) rate of 236 cubic feet per minute (400 cubic meters per hour), making the air purifier suitable for cleaning the air in larger rooms.
Buyers who also own one of SwitchBots Matter-certified hubs will be able to integrate the air purifiers into their smart homes. You can pre-order the SwitchBot Air Purifier Table now for $269.99. The more conventional SwitchBot Air Purifier, $219.99, is also available for pre-order.
SwitchBot adjustable roller shade
SwitchBot says the width of its smart roller shades can be adjusted from 22.8 to 72.8 inches. SwitchBot says the width of its smart roller shades can be adjusted from 22.8 to 72.8 inches. SwitchBot SwitchBot says the width of its smart roller shades can be adjusted from 22.8 to 72.8 inches. SwitchBot SwitchBot
Now this is a product Ill need to experience before I can fully understand it: SwitchBot says it has the worlds first adjustable and fabric replaceable smart roller shade. The company says the shades width can be adjusted from 22.8 to 72.8 inches to ensure a precise fit. Not only that, but you can replace its fabric to match your rooms decor.
I can mostly wrap my head around the concept of a width-adjustable roller shade, although Im curious ifand if so, howthe motor will adjust its torque to compensate for narrower widths, but how will you go about cutting the fabric when you change the size of the roller?
In any event, SwitchBot says the roller shade will be available with options such as 100-percent blackout fabric for privacy protection, UV protection, and thermal insulation. The shade is operable via the SwitchBot app, voice commands, or remote control. It can also be integrated into the major smart home platforms through Matter, although that will require you also have one of SwitchBots smart home hubs.
SwitchBot expects to fetch $199.99 for the SwitchBot adjustable roller shade, which is available for pre-order now.
As mentioned above, SwitchBot also announced a pair of indoor air quality monitors ahead of the show.
At first glance, the tiny town of Baarle looks quite familiar to Europe. Narrow streets where tourists walk to find a place to drink coffee and buy a fresh bun, long rows of cute houses, old cathedrals, and new buildings. But the town has one secret: it is located in two countries at once: The Netherlands and Belgium!
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A border passing through the town is not uncommon. But the uniqueness of Baarle is that it is chaotic and looks more like a mosaic. So walking down one street you can make one of the fastest trips between countries. This feature attracts tourists.
The border can go not only through streets but also through houses or even apartments. It happens to residents that the living room is located in the Netherlands, and the bathroom is in Belgium. How do you know which country owns the house in this case? It's simple: the one on whose side the front door is located. For convenience, the signs on the houses are designed in the form of the flag of a particular country.
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But this is not the only curiosity associated with this bizarre division of borders. There was a time when Dutch law required street cafes to close earlier than Belgian ones. Back then, restaurateurs who wanted to make more money would place their establishments right on the border, and after the Dutch part closed, they would transfer customers to the Belgian part.
Crosses on the sidewalk and signs "B" and "NL" Belgium and the Netherlands, respectively will help you understand which part of the city you are in. The city has two mayors, two postal services, police departments, and transportation companies. And they all work under the laws of their respective countries. But fortunately, there are no border guards here, and the markings are more tourist than legal.
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How did it happen?
As is often the case in Europe, the roots of this strange division go back to the Middle Ages. Back then, it was possible to freely buy and sell land here, which is what Duke Brabant and Lord Brad did. The former's family preferred farming and cattle breeding, so he tried to buy more pastures and fields that were located randomly. When the Peace of Westphalia was signed, these territories became part of the Northlands, i.e. the Netherlands, and the Spanish colony that became Belgium. After the signing of the Treaty of Maastricht in 1843, this unusual arrangement of borders was consolidated.
This agreement was considered indisputable, and no one even thought of simplifying the division between the countries. But when the independent Belgium and the Netherlands wanted to arrange the border, it turned out to be such a complicated matter that a bilateral commission had to be assembled to analyze every island and piece.
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We've seen the border now let's see the countries
Barle is a very unusual and interesting town, but still tiny, with a population of only 9,000 people. So one day will be enough for you to explore it up and down. What else to see in these two countries? Let's take a closer look.
Belgium
Brussels.
The Pissing Boy fountain.
The Royal Palace.
Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula.
The red light district.
Rene Magritte Museum.
Museum of Victor Horta.
Museum of trucks.
Museum of comics.
Antwerp.
The building of the railway station.
Astrid Square.
The zoo is one of the oldest in Europe.
Dominique Person's chocolate workshop.
Museum complex MAS.
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Bruges.
Basilica of the Holy Blood of Christ.
City Hall
The Church of Our Lady of the Cross.
Museum of Brewing.
Museum of chocolate.
Museum of French fries.
Ghent
The medieval castle of Gravensteen.
Town Hall, Belfort bell tower, and its observation deck.
Houses of the Guilds.
Cathedral of St. Bavon.
The bridge of St. Michael.
Netherlands
Amsterdam.
The Rijksmuseum is a museum spanning several blocks.
The House of Anne Frank.
Dam Square and the Royal Palace.
IJ-Hallen flea market.
Electric Ladyland Museum of Fluorescent Art.
Cat boat Poezenboot.
Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum.
Rotterdam.
Maritime Museum.
Cubic houses.
Utrecht
Dome Cathedral.
Sonnenborg Observatory Museum of Astronomy.
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The Hague
Binnenhof the former residence of the kings.
Ridderzaal is a castle with the throne room of the royal dynasty on the territory of Binnenhof.
There is a lot to see in both Belgium and the Netherlands. One article is not enough to tell you about all their attractions. But we hope that we have inspired you to travel.
Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
In a nutshell: The recent IFA event in Berlin featured new product launches and announcements from various companies. Acer seized the opportunity to unveil several new PCs across multiple hardware tiers, including a behemoth desktop powered by Intel's upcoming Arrow Lake CPU architecture and Acer's first entry into the rapidly growing handheld gaming PC market.
Acer's showcase featured an upcoming gaming desktop, two mainstream laptops, and the company's first handheld gaming PC. Although Acer's branding attempts to align these new products with the emerging AI PC trend, they primarily feature relatively mature processors.
The new Predator Orion 7000 desktop, equipped with unspecified "next-gen Arrow Lake" chips, is the flagship of the lineup and the only model to include CPUs that meet Microsoft's "AI PC" specifications. Intel has not yet fully unveiled Arrow Lake, but this series, which succeeds the 14th-generation Raptor Lake Refresh, will be the company's first desktop CPU lineup to incorporate powerful neural processing units (NPUs). Intel's laptop Meteor Lake and Lunar Lake series also use NPUs to enhance onboard generative AI workloads.
Pricing for the Orion 7000 isn't available yet, but its remaining system specs suggest a high-end rig. It includes an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090, up to 32 GB of DDR5 memory, up to 6 TB of NVMe SSD storage, a Thunderbolt 4 port, Wi-Fi 7 support, and a 1200W power supply.
Acer also announced new 14-inch and 16-inch Nitro V laptops, starting at $1,100 and $1,300, respectively. The two variants are broadly similar, offering options for high-refresh-rate 1200p or 1600p displays, up to 32 GB of DDR5 RAM, and up to 2 TB of SSD storage.
However, the Nitro V 16 features an Intel i5 or i7 Raptor Lake Refresh CPU, while the V 14 includes an AMD Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 8040HS processor. Both laptops offer entry-level RTX 3050 and 4050 graphics options, but customers can upgrade the 16-inch variant to an RTX 4060, whereas the cheapest 14-inch model uses the aging RTX 2050.
Acer is marketing these GPUs as part of its "AI PC" branding, echoing Nvidia's claim that RTX cards can easily outperform Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm APUs in onboard generative AI tasks.
Finally, Acer is entering the handheld gaming PC market with the Nitro Blaze 7. It features AMD's Ryzen 7 8840HS processor paired with a Radeon 780M GPU, likely offering performance similar to competitors from Asus, Antec, Zotac, and Ayaneo. The Nitro 7's display supports 1080p resolution at 144Hz with 500 nits of brightness and AMD FreeSync. Internal SSD storage is available up to 2 TB.
Looking further into the future, Acer also revealed a concept for a gaming laptop with a detachable wireless controller. By pressing two fingers on the release button at the top of the keyboard, users can remove the touchpad, which transforms into an oddly shaped gamepad.
Why it matters: International tax issues are invariably complex, and that is exponentially true in the digital age, when taxes are now being applied to intangible assets such as intellectual property, data, and user participation. These new concepts have led to trade disputes worldwide, including, now, with one of the US' closest allies. The outcome of this dispute could have far-reaching implications for both the tech industry and US-Canada trade relations.
A controversial tax enacted by Canada has sparked a significant trade dispute with the United States. For US tech companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, which operate in Canada, the stakes are enormous, as it has the potential to cost them billions of dollars and no small amount of red tape.
The Canadian government enacted the Digital Services Tax (DST) on June 28, 2024, retroactively applied to revenue from January 1, 2022. However, even though the law has been passed, the first payments under the DST are not due until June 30, 2025.
The DST aims to levy a 3% tax on revenue generated by large foreign tech companies from Canadian users. To qualify, companies must have global annual earnings exceeding $1.1 billion, with at least $20 million in revenue from Canadian users. This tax is expected to generate over $7 billion in revenue for Canada over five years.
The US government strongly opposes this tax, arguing that it discriminates against American tech companies and violates international trade agreements. US Trade Representative Katherine Tai has initiated trade dispute settlement consultations with Canada, stating that the US "opposes unilateral digital service taxes that discriminate against US companies."
If an agreement isn't reached within 75 days, the US may request a dispute settlement panel under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This could lead to retaliatory US tariffs on Canadian imports.
Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland maintains that the tax, or at least the revenue it will generate, is necessary to modernize the tax system and ensure fair contributions from large corporations. Freeland points out that other G7 countries, like the UK and France, have implemented similar taxes without facing US retaliation.
Freeland has admittedly made overtures to the US, although they have not led to a practical resolution. She noted that Canada has engaged in bilateral conversations with the US and remains confident that a "win-win" outcome can be reached. However, she did not specify what such a deal would entail. Freeland has also previously said that Canada would not enact the tax if a global tax treaty through the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development is implemented. But this treaty has yet to be ratified by the US.
Meanwhile, critics, including the US Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, warn that the tax could increase prices for digital services in Canada and harm trade relationships. In the bigger picture, the outcome of this dispute could influence how other countries approach digital taxation, potentially leading to a proliferation of similar taxes worldwide if Canada's DST is upheld.
In brief: A South African man who pulled off one of the biggest qualification-fraud cases in recent memory has finally been sentenced to 15 years behind bars. Daniel Mthimkhulu's con job allowed him to climb the ranks at the state-owned Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), eventually becoming their chief engineer while earning a cool $156,000 per year salary - not bad at all for a person whose highest educational attainment was high school.
Mthimkhulu's CV claimed he had multiple mechanical engineering degrees, including a prestigious one from Johannesburg's University of the Witwatersrand and even a doctorate from a university in Germany. As it turned out, those qualifications were found to be completely fabricated.
The 49-year-old's lies first started unraveling in 2015 when he was arrested not long after he resigned from his head of engineering position at Prasa, kicking off a legal saga that recently reached its conclusion this month.
Not only did he fake his way into the role he was wildly unqualified for, but Mthimkhulu continued exploiting his qualifications to take the fraud to the next level while on the job.
The court heard how he forged a job offer from a German company, using it to con Prasa into raising his salary so they wouldn't lose their "talented" engineer to the competition. He was even involved in a $100 million+ deal for dozens of new trains from Spain that ended up being too tall for South African railways.
Now, for his misdeeds, he's been ordered to pay back $323,000 to Prasa, which police said were the proceeds of crime.
In a 2019 interview, Mthimkhulu simply said "I failed to correct the perception that I have it. I just became comfortable with the title." Of course, it's easy to get comfortable hauling in six figures without exactly grinding for it.
Officials have praised the sentence, with the head of the Hawks unit that investigated the case saying it "should serve as a lesson to would be fraudsters that crime doesn't pay."
Phindi Mjonondwane, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, said that the case sends "a strong message that the perpetrators of white-collar crime will not go unpunished."
While Mthimkhulu plans to appeal, the social media crowd largely celebrated a small win against grifters gaming the system. However, they also called out the administration for allowing something like this to happen in the first place.
Inline image credit: Power FM
What just happened? Nvidia has denied a report that it received a subpoena from the Department of Justice (DOJ) as part of an antitrust probe. The initial claim, which came from Bloomberg, sent Nvidia's share price crashing a further 2.4% in post-market trading after it had already dipped more than 9% during regular hours, wiping $279 billion off the company's value a US record for a one-day loss.
According to Bloomberg's report from earlier this week, DOJ officials subpoenaed Nvidia and companies including AMD and Intel as part of its antitrust investigation into whether Team Green is abusing its dominating position in the AI market.
Bloomberg wrote that there were concerns Nvidia could be giving preferential supply and pricing to customers who use its technology exclusively or buy its complete systems. It also reported that the DOJ was investigating Nvidia's acquisition of Israeli AI startup Run:ai, suspecting that the deal could lock Run:ai customers into using Nvidia chips. There have also been claims that it threatened to cut off or delay orders for customers buying AI chips from rivals such as AMD, Intel, or smaller startups.
Now, Nvidia has denied Bloomberg's report. Company representatives said that it enquired with the DoJ to confirm it has not been subpoenaed, adding, "Nonetheless, we are happy to answer any questions regulators may have about our business."
Nvidia's share price over the last five days
The DOJ has not said which companies are part of its investigation, and while some firms have received subpoenas, it appears that Nvidia is not one of them at least not yet.
The DOJ launched a probe into whether Nvidia used anti-competitive tactics to maintain its grip on the AI market last month. Regulators are also investigating whether Nvidia pushed cloud providers into making bundled purchases, such as buying Mellanox networking gear alongside Nvidia's A100 or H100 AI chips.
Nvidia is estimated to have more than 80% of the AI chip market, a share that has helped it become the third most valuable firm in the world. However, its market cap fell a record $279 billion this week on the back of weak data on the state of the manufacturing sector and Bloomberg's report. The decline has also led to fears that the generative AI bubble may soon burst.
In a nutshell: When Panasonic ended production of its vaunted plasma televisions in 2013 and pulled out of the US market a few years later, some assumed we'd never see Panasonic-branded TVs in the states again. But you know what they say about making assumptions
Panasonic has announced its return to the US TV market after nearly a decade away, and they're bringing some heavy hitters.
Leading the charge is the Z95A, a 4K flagship OLED TV with a 65-inch, 144Hz panel and a $3,199 price tag. It's powered by an HCX Pro AI Processor MK II and packs several noteworthy features including a 360-degree Soundscape Pro integrated audio system tuned by Technics and a micro lens array with multi-layer heat management for "unprecedented brightness."
The Z85A OLED TV, meanwhile, is offered in 55-inch and 65-inch variants and is essentially a lesser version of the Z95A that excludes some bells and whistles to reduce costs. The Z85 doesn't come with the flagship's fancy integrated speaker system with Technics tuning, nor does it have the micro lens array to elevate brightness. Furthermore, the set's refresh rate only goes up to 120Hz instead of 144Hz. The omissions are reflected in the price as the 55-incher retails for $1,599 while the 65-inch model will set you back $1,799 a full $1,400 less than the same-size flagship.
Panasonic has also brought its W95A mini-LED series to the US. Available in four sizes ranging from 55 inches up to 85 inches, the W95A series affords a refresh rate up to 144Hz, multiple HDR picture modes, and Local Dimming Ultra tech to boost the set's contrast ratio. Panasonic has also baked in a Quantum Dot Sheet to further enhance color reproduction, we're told.
Pricing starts at $1,299 for the 55-inch W95 and scales up to $2,999 if you want the 85-inch variant. All of Panasonic's sets in the US also come with Amazon's Fire TV platform baked in, complete with an Alexa-enabled voice remote. They're available now directly from Panasonic or through Amazon.
South Korea's National Police Agency has launched an investigation into the popular messaging app Telegram, following accusations that the platform has been "abetting" the distribution of deepfake pornographic material. Among the alarming claims are that images of teenagers have been doctored and shared in large messaging channels, exacerbating the country's struggle with a growing epidemic of digital sex crimes.
Human Rights Watch describes the situation in South Korea as an "epidemic," with "hundreds of women and girls" having their likenesses manipulated and shared in deepfake form. These altered images are being distributed in Telegram channels that reportedly host up to 220,000 members, creating a pervasive culture of digital exploitation.
Deepfake Related Offenses in South Korea
Deepfakes are images created using artificial intelligence (AI) to superimpose a person's face onto another body, often for explicit, non-consensual content. Offenders typically use social media platforms like Instagram to obtain photos of victims, which are then manipulated into pornographic material. This practice has proliferated globally, with South Korea particularly impacted.
In one case, a university student shared how she was sent a message on Telegram, warning that her personal information had been leaked. She was then shown a doctored image of herself in a sexually explicit scenario. Unfortunately, such cases are common.
South Korea's National Police Agency reported 297 deepfake-related offenses in the first seven months of 2024, nearly double the 2021 figures, according to BBC. Authorities are under pressure to take stronger action as chatrooms continue to share these images.
In response to public outrage, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has launched a seven-month crackdown on digital sex crimes, focusing on those targeting women, children, and teenagers. However, women's rights groups argue that the root issue-misogyny in online culture-is being ignored.
Activists point to deepfake abuse as part of a broader pattern of crimes against women, including the "spy cam" epidemic. They demand action against structural sexism, which President Yoon has denied, while cutting funding for victim support and dismantling the gender equality ministry.
Telegram Under Scrutiny
Telegram's minimal moderation policies are under fire for allowing criminal behavior to thrive. In 2019, the platform was used by a sex trafficking ring in South Korea, and despite police requests, Telegram ignored appeals for assistance. Now, in the wake of the current investigation, Telegram has removed 25 videos at the request of South Korea's Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) but faces ongoing criticism for its role in the spread of deepfakes.
The widely believed claim which said that mobile phones could cause users brain cancer because of their radio waves is not as legitimate as people thought based on a recently published review backed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The study found "no link" between mobile phones and brain cancers, saying that either has no association with the other.
It has been a common belief that talking for a long time or frequent use of mobile devices through handset calling can cause a type of brain cancer, but apparently, it was misleading.
Mobile Phones Cannot Give You Brain Cancer According to Latest Review
The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) conducted a systematic review backed by the World Health Organization regarding how mobile phones cause users to develop brain cancer in the future. In their extensive review, ARPANSA concluded that there are mobile phones have no links to developing a type of brain cancer.
It also noted that other forms of head and neck cancers have no links to mobile phones.
The review highlighted the International Agency for Research on Cancer's (IARC) classification of mobile phones, placing it under the "possibly carcinogenic" list in 2013. According to the review's lead author, Professor Ken Karipidis, the IARC's 11-year-old study was based on limited evidence only.
Read Also: Blue Light Radiation Emitted from Mobile Phones Can Damage Your Skin
WHO-Backed Review Explored Large Datasets to Make Its Case
With this systematic review, ARPANSA scrubbed through over 5,000 studies about this ordeal, with these researches done between 1994 and 2022, making it an extensive dive into brain cancer's link to mobile phones.
Professor Karipidis claimed in a recent statement that exposure to radio waves via wireless devices like mobile or smartphones "is not a human health hazard."
Radio Waves, Mobile Phones, and Cancers
The question of cellular or mobile phones causing cancer has been around for decades now, and since the emergence of these portable devices, users have been torn about their use. There have been many massive claims that cell phones are among the top reasons behind brain cancer because of their electronic radiation and use of radio waves according to previous studies.
France's National Frequency Agency also highlighted this only last year, and it has since asked Apple to pull the iPhone 12 series from its stores because of its high radiation levels.
It is also important to note that an Italian court also believed that mobile phones can cause brain tumors to its users, and has sided with the plaintiff who fought against telcos after manifesting the tumors.
However, the tech industry has since pushed back against these claims, with Apple claiming this information is fake, especially about its iPhone 12.
ARPANSA's latest study took a deep dive into this issue and found that there are no links between mobile phones and brain cancers, proving this previous belief wrong.
The British Army is training soldiers to fly unmanned aircraft systems of explosives, which they use in one-way missions. These "kamikaze drones" look like those that the Ukrainian' Armed Forces employed successfully.
Instruction of Unmanned Aerial System from First Person View
Footage of soldiers knot-wearing VR headsets or using gaming joysticks to train how to fly these FPV UAS is emerging. The MoD understands the efficiency in use of these drones more so exhibiting unparalleled features such as their ability for aerial maneuverability and the ability to annihilate armored trained vehicles.
According to the UK-based newspaper The Sun, the local Non-Governmental Organization is known as Project Lewes and the jHub Drone Academy.
Under Project Lewes also known as the Army's technology insertion program that's been seeing troops trained at the jHub Drone Academy. The Strategic Command's directorate called the jHub was to help in the growth of the implementation of technology in the military force.
Training and Equipment
Parrot and Black Hornet UAS are still actively employed by soldiers for reconnaissance purposes. Nevertheless, FPV drones or the "kamikaze drones" are a little more difficult to control because of the lack of such features as GPS and stabilization. This makes them less susceptible to jamming and more effective in engagements.
Benefits of FPV UAS
Former operations sergeant major in the Parachute Regiment of the British Army, Adam Barnes said that FPV UAS had its merits.
Barnes said that they had comparative advantages over conventional drones due to their simplicity and flexibility, and the costs of manufacturing them are considerably low.
FPV UAS is effective in reconnaissance, and for strike missions as well it shortens the kill chain and offers more choices to commanders.
"An infantry unit equipped with FPV UAS can fly them to attack targets that it would otherwise have to call in mortars, artillery, or an air strike to hit," he added.
Drone Racing and Tactical Skills
The training program from Point Zenith includes FPV drone flying through different objects and a racing simulator. 2 PARA has indicated that they have a drone racing club that aims at ensuring that the soldiers develop a spirit of practicing the talent that they have in this field.
What the Soldiers Experienced So Far
More testimonies came from Lance Corporal Morgan McConnell of the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment on the usage of FPV drones. He said that he had fewer problems with maneuvering them compared to ordinary drones yet he was excited about the technology and how it can be useful on the battlefield.
Speaking of kamikaze drones, the Russian "Shahed" drones were reportedly shot down outside Belarus, according to Kyiv Post. The reports said that two blasts took place between 1:34 AM and 1:36 AM.
Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" or FSD as it is called is due to arrive in other markets next year according to the company.
The automaker's CEO Elon Musk has stated that the paid service will be launched in China and the EU region in the first quarter of 2025.
Specifically, in the latest conference held over X, the tech billionaire argued that there is a market for such products. But before it is released in both regions, it has to undergo the approval of the authorities governing the sector.
Tesla's FSD to Expand in Two More Markets
Tesla's FSD was announced to be coming out in its glory in China and Europe within a few months. Well, this will not be very possible given the standards set down by the two regions on policies. Because of this, Musk requires permission from them that is regulatory, per CNBC.
Due to popular demand, Tesla AI team release roadmap:
September 2024
- v12.5.2 with ~3x improved miles between necessary interventions
- v12.5.2 on AI3 computer (unified models for AI3 and AI4)
- Actually Smart Summon
- Cybertruck Autopark
- Eye-tracking with sunglasses
- Tesla AI (@Tesla_AI) September 5, 2024
Speaking of which, the tycoon said he is optimistic that this will work, claiming that the company might receive approval by late 2024.
FSD is a premium feature available to Tesla customers. It aims to enhance vehicle autonomy, but it's important to note that it doesn't make cars fully self-driving. Drivers must remain attentive and ready to take control at any time.
FSD: Tesla's Key to AI-Centric Strategy
Full Self-Driving has been a cornerstone of Elon Musk's long-term strategy to transform Tesla into an AI-driven company.
With AI technology on the pedestal right now, Tesla is doing everything possible to push the self-driving functionalities to its limit. Regarding FSD upgrade, we always see the word Autopilot system, which only gets better each time FSD receives an update.
The Full Self-Driving system in China has been available for years, but a catch-it is only launched as a limited version. It's important to note that many local customers are growing interested in the product.
The company's goal is to move beyond driver assistance toward fully autonomous vehicles, but there are still technical and regulatory hurdles to overcome before this vision can be realized.
Regulatory Challenges and Delayed Promises
Regarding fully autonomous cars, Musk previously claimed that Tesla's ability would revolutionize how we drive EVs.
The richest man in the world repeatedly told investors that Tesla would soon provide technology that allows cars to drive themselves without any human involvement. However, despite several advancements, car makers have faced numerous setbacks. It's still plagued with tech limitations which further delay the deployment of the autonomous technology.
In its current form, Full Self-Driving is an advanced version of Tesla's Autopilot, which aids drivers in navigating highways, changing lanes, and parking. However, it still has not achieved the full autonomy Musk initially promised.
The Road Ahead for Tesla's Self-Driving Technology
Tesla is keenly aware of the need to secure regulatory approval. Different regions have varying regulatory scrutiny regarding autonomous driving technology, so Tesla must meet stringent safety standards before the FSD system can be widely available.
The ambitious expansion of FSD could go a long way if Tesla immediately receives the clearance it badly needs. 2025 is only a few months from now, and this could be the best year for the EV maker if it succeeds in bringing the technology to Europe and China.
A few weeks ago, Tesla deleted its blog post claiming that all Tesla cars have FSD hardware, according to Electrek. The now-removed post can still be found on archive.org if you want to view it.
Google has identified and patched a critical zero-day vulnerability in its Android operating system that is being exploited actively in the wild.
The high-severity vulnerability tracked as CVE-2024-32896 (CVSS score: 7.8) is classified as a high-severity elevation of privilege (EoP) flaw in Pixel firmware.
An elevation of privilege vulnerability occurs when a user or app with lower privileges gains access to functions or content usually reserved for users or apps with higher privileges. If exploited, an attacker can perform actions such as stealing data or installing malware.
CVE-2024-32896 is related to a logic error in the Android framework component, which could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed, reads the description of the bug in the NIST National Vulnerability Database (NVD).
However, user interaction is needed to exploit this vulnerability.
This vulnerability was first reported in the June Pixel security update when a patch was released only for the Google-owned Pixel line-up. However, the impact of the CVE-2024-32896 flaw is not limited to Pixel devices and includes the entire Android ecosystem.
There are indications that CVE-2024-32896 may be under limited, targeted exploitation, Google wrote in its September 2024 Android Security Bulletin.
As usual, Google has not provided any technical information on how the vulnerability is being exploited in the wild.
To protect against potential exploits, it is strongly recommended that all Android users install security updates immediately on their devices.
To install the latest security updates, go to Settings > System > Software updates > System update.
Alternatively, you can go to Settings > Security & privacy > System & updates > Security update and click on the Check for update button.
Besides the CVE-2024-32896 vulnerability, Google has also patched another nine high-severity flaws affecting the Android framework and system in the September 2024 security update.
Archaeologists from the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo have discovered an unknown burial site in a quarry near Fredrikstad, in southeastern Norway. The find was found to contain the remains of mostly children, all of whom died more than 2,000 years ago.
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The partially burned bones of the children, whose ages ranged from birth to six years old at the time of death, were buried directly beneath stone circles, in exquisitely crafted ceramic pots, long since broken into fragments. The burial field is unique in the European context, writes Arkeo News.
After dating the skeletal remains, it was discovered that almost all of the children were buried in the Bronze and Iron Ages of Norway, between 800 and 400 BC.
"The dating shows that the burial site was used for a long period, so they could not have all perished during a single natural disaster, disease outbreak or epidemic," says Guro Fossum.
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The stone circles were found in 2023 while excavating a rural field near the southern Norwegian town of Fredrikstad. The stone formations were all one to two meters in diameter and had a perfectly round or oval shape. Some had large stones placed inside or around the edges, signaling some variety or creativity in design.
The tombs show variations in the arrangement of cremated remains, some arranged in urns, others simply under stone circles. In many cases, the amount of bone found was minimal, ranging from 0.1 to 240 grams per tomb, presenting a significant challenge to the archaeologists and osteologists involved in the study.
In addition to the children's tombs, everyday objects such as bonfires and cooking pits were found near the site. This means that the site may have functioned as a community gathering place in addition to a cemetery, possibly for funerals.
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"There was something special about this place. The tombs are very close together. They were apparently in an open landscape, there were transportation routes nearby, so everyone knew about them. Also, all the tombs were very beautiful and elaborately decorated. Each stone came from a different place and was precisely placed in the formation.
The burial site, unique in the European context, generated interest not only for its rarity but also for its emotional consequence.
Associate Professor of Archaeology at the University of Stavanger, Hakon Rijersen, emphasizes that this find connects us deeply to the universal human emotions associated with losing children and mourning them, showing that people in the past were not very different from us in terms of how they honored their dead.
"The social structure seems to have been more egalitarian because there wasn't much difference between graves. The same types of graves, implements and burial methods were used. This suggests a society where community was important" - she said.
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For years, scientists have been trying to unravel the mysteries of a large ancient salt mine in northwestern Iran, in the province of Zanjan, which buried many miners in its wilds. A new study of the found mummies of the "Salt Men of Iran" shows the exact moment of their death more than 2500 years ago.
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Archaeologists believe that they are closer than ever to understanding the peculiarities of the remains of the salt mine miners. After all, some of the dead look like zombies, petrified with an expression of death cry, writes DailyMail.
Exploring an ancient mine
Based on settlements unearthed nearby, a new study shows that the first people to extract salt from the mines died here more than 2,500 years ago.
Of the eight mummified Iranian remains found recently, most date from the Achaemenid Empire, which ruled as far as Egypt in the west and the Indus Valley in the southeast. These areas are now part of Pakistan and India.
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According to a new study, scholars claim that at the height of the dynasty's rule, "the Achaemenid mine was abandoned after a mining disaster that cost the lives of three miners." Salt production did not resume at this site for almost two centuries.
However, it is thanks to the salt that the mummies of the miners, who died between 405 and 380 BC, are so well preserved to this day. According to scientist Lena Erstrom and her colleagues from the Mummy Research Group at the University of Zurich, the "hygroscopic" or moisture-absorbing effect of the large salt deposits in the mine caused the diggers to dehydrate until they were "naturally" mummified.
"The resulting dehydration inhibits bacterial growth and stops decomposition," the researcher explained.
But turning back the clock even further to the ancient days of the mine, now officially called the Chehrabad Salt Mine in Duzlak, proved more difficult. For centuries, local residents have been engaged in unauthorized salt mining here.
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To understand when salt mining began at the site, a new study has collected data from 18 nearby archaeological sites.
Experts are convinced that the salt mountain, especially one as easily accessible and suitable for surface mining as the Duzlak salt dome, played a central role in the economic life of the local rural population.
The earliest settlements found at the site date back to the Eneolithic or Copper Age, approximately 5000-4000 BC.
An international team of researchers, including expert Lena Erstrom and her colleagues from the Mummy Study Group, as well as Iranian archaeologist Hamed Zifar from the Zolfaghari Archaeological Museum, have suggested that Stone Age communities may have mined salt using methods lost to time.
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An old man with a beard and a teenage miner
Fortunately, the researchers were lucky enough to unearth evidence from the mine's later history, during the great empires of Persia. The first Iranian Saltman (salt man in English) was discovered in the winter of 1993. It was an extremely well-preserved severed head with long white hair and a beard, as well as a gold earring in the left ear.
Carbon-14 dating of the head showed that Saltman 1 lived in the early years of the Sassanian dynasty in 220-390 AD. This so-called Sassanian period was the last of the Persian empires to rule before the Muslim conquests in the seventh century.
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Also well preserved is Saltman 1's left shin, which was discovered nearby during previous excavations.
The researchers were able to determine that a complex system of salt production, possibly export-oriented and managed by the empire, was in operation during this period. Over the past several decades of excavations, experts have documented salt mine rock incisions that correspond to wedges and tessellations of Sassanian-era tools.
"Moreover, there is a lot of evidence that donkeys were kept in the mining areas of the Sassanian period. After all, the donkey stalls found indicate that salt in small pieces was transported from the pit in bags and baskets on the animals' backs," the researchers noted.
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The scientists also emphasize that "no further activity in the region has been documented after the end of later Sassanian salt production, sometime in the sixth century AD."
Another mummy found Saltman 4, suggests that he was a teenage miner who was almost completely preserved. His remains date back to an early version of the Achaemenid salt mine. The young man was buried alive in a disaster around 400 BC that closed the mine for centuries.
Mummy Saltman 4 is called "the icon of excavations in Chehrabad". "This is primarily due to its excellent preservation. The mummy is fully clothed in woolen pants, a tunic, leather shoes, and a fur cape. Silver earrings were found on the right and left ears. Two clay pots with doughy contents and a knife were found on the boy's body," said the mine researchers.
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According to scholars, there are few written sources about salt production in northwestern Iran during the early period and none about the Achaemenid and Sassanian periods. Therefore, research on the mummies found makes a great contribution to the history of this region.
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Chinese cities suspend schools, cancel flights ahead of Super Typhoon Yagi
Hong Kong, Sept 5 (AFP) Sep 05, 2024
Cities in southern China suspended schools and cancelled some flights on Thursday as Super Typhoon Yagi headed towards the holiday island province of Hainan after strengthening from a tropical storm.
Yagi triggered floods and landslides on the main Philippine island of Luzon this week, killing 13 people, according to official figures.
It intensified into a super typhoon as it tracked west across the South China Sea, China's Xinhua news agency said, carrying winds of up to 209 kilometres (130 miles) per hour as it headed for Hainan.
"Hainan upgraded its emergency response to Yagi to the highest level at 11:30 am Thursday, according to the provincial disaster management authority," Xinhua said.
The typhoon is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon in either Hainan or neighbouring Guangdong.
Work, school and local transport services were suspended from noon on Thursday (0400 GMT) in Haikou, Hainan's capital.
Hong Kong's weather observatory issued the third-highest typhoon warning at 6:20 pm (1020 GMT), limiting public transport across the finance hub.
The city's stock exchange halted after-hours trading because of the typhoon warning, while 38 flights were cancelled at Hong Kong's airport Thursday.
Classes at primary and secondary schools will remain suspended on Friday, the Education Bureau said.
"Yagi will remain at super typhoon intensity and skirt around 300 kilometres (186 miles) to the southwest of Hong Kong tomorrow morning," the observatory said.
"Gale winds associated with Yagi are expected to affect the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary tonight and tomorrow morning," it said.
After southern China, Yagi will move towards Vietnam, on course to hit the northern and north-central regions around the famed UNESCO heritage site Halong Bay.
Vietnamese authorities urged around 2,200 tourists on coastal islands to return to the mainland ahead of the storm's arrival.
They warned heavy rains may cause widespread flooding in mountainous and urban areas, including the capital Hanoi.
Vietnam's meteorological agency issued a storm warning earlier on Thursday and the government mobilised more than 2,700 military personnel in readiness.
Coastal provinces are planning a sailing ban on Friday, while Vietnam's mountainous provinces have also been ordered to prepare rescue vehicles.
burs-hol/dhc/pbt
More than 560,000 affected by 'unprecedented' Yemen floods: UN
Dubai, Sept 5 (AFP) Sep 05, 2024
Severe flooding and violent windstorms have affected 562,000 people across Yemen in recent weeks, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Thursday, appealing for $13.3 million in donations amid a funding shortfall.
The "unprecedented weather events" have compounded suffering in the Arabian Peninsula's poorest country, which is already grappling with one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, said the IOM.
"The scale of the destruction is staggering, and we urgently need additional funding to ensure that the most vulnerable are not left behind," said Matt Huber, the IOM's acting Yemen mission chief.
Since late July, torrential rains and flooding have destroyed homes, displaced thousands of families and severely damaged critical infrastructure, including health centres, schools and roads, according to the UN agency.
Late last month, torrential rains caused flash floods in Yemen's Mahawit governorate, leaving around 40 people either missing or dead, according to the UN's humanitarian agency OCHA.
Dozens of houses were damaged or destroyed, forcing 215 families into displacement, it said.
Another 60 people were killed and hundreds more were injured in earlier flash floods across Yemen since late July, according to UN figures.
"These rains have not only led to tragic loss of life but have also wiped out entire communities' belongings and means of survival," the IOM said.
"Immediate funding is necessary to address the most pressing needs on the ground," the IOM said, warning that severe weather conditions are expected to continue in the coming weeks.
Mozambique okays Africa's largest mangrove restoration project
Johannesburg, Sept 5 (AFP) Sep 05, 2024
Mozambique has approved Africa's largest mangrove restoration project with 200 million trees to be planted over 60 years, the developer which bagged the licence said on Thursday.
Gulf-based Blue Forest said it would start work in November, adding it had obtained the licence after around two-and-a-half years of feasibility studies.
"We will start planting the first of the 200 million mangroves in Quelimane, Zambezia, this November, in line with the start of the rainy season in Mozambique," Blue Forest founder and CEO Vahid Fotuhi told AFP.
The project aims to cover an area spanning 155,000 hectares (over 38,000 acres), or twice the size of Singapore, he said.
The trees will restore Mozambique's degraded coastline and create around 5,000 forestry jobs, Fotuhi added.
Mangroves are one of the world's most efficient plants at capturing carbon dioxide and their tangled roots stabilise coastlines and reduce erosion, also providing shelter for fish and other creatures.
Mozambique has an extensive mangrove ecosystem which has been damaged by cyclones and flooding as well as logging and clearing.
Over its 60-year lifespan, the MozBlue project is expected to remove about 20.4 million tons of CO2, contributing to efforts to mitigate climate change, Fotuhi said.
Five-year-old child killed by hyena in Kenya
Nairobi, Sept 5 (AFP) Sep 05, 2024
A five-year-old child has been mauled to death by a hyena in Kenya, the East African country's wildlife service said Thursday, promising that it was tackling the "rising hyena attacks".
"Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) deeply regret to the tragic loss of a 5-year-old child caused by a hyena attack," it said.
The KWS said the attack occurred on Wednesday evening in Juja, Kiambu County, around 35 kilometres (21 miles) from the capital Nairobi.
The service said it was "intensifying efforts to mitigate human-wildlife conflict in the area" and had launched an operation to "address the hyena threat".
Since August 8, "following a similar incident in Juja", the KWS said it had captured and relocated around 38 hyenas.
Local media said a 10-year-old child was also killed by a hyena in the area earlier in the year.
Reports of wildlife straying into human habitats in Kenya have increased in recent years as the animals come under growing pressure from cities expanding into ancient migration and hunting grounds.
In December 2021, hyenas killed two people in 24 hours in a village just 50 kilometres (31 miles) east of Nairobi.
The travel expert, who has already visited 107 countries, shared his sincere impressions of the destinations that are often underestimated. He noted that the famous resorts of France, Italy, Spain, and others are a great choice, but those who prefer atmospheric and less noisy vacations may find less popular regions more appealing.
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The tips of an experienced traveler were published on the Insider website. The list includes countries from all over the world.
Estonia
The travel guru called the Baltic country a "European dream" and the capital Tallinn "fabulous".
"Walking along the cobblestone streets inside the fortress walls of the old city took me back to the Middle Ages," the author of the article said.
The cozy atmosphere and picturesque architecture of Estonia will not leave indifferent tourists who are used to spending time exploring historical monuments and museums.
Oman
The expert advised travelers looking for a good vacation spot in the Middle East to visit Oman, which borders Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Yemen.
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"Walking through the beautiful Corniche, you will pass along the water and the lively Grand Bazaar. Even better, the amazing Wadi Shab is less than a two-hour drive from the capital. The trail takes you through narrow gorges across streams and ends with a surreal swim through incredible caves," said the extern.
Namibia
The country, located in Southern Africa, is perfect for a safari vacation, as it is famous for its impressive landscapes and diversity of wild animals. An experienced traveler advised renting a van and enjoying nature.
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Sri Lanka
Asia beckons with its fantastic beaches, dense forests, and unique culture. Sri Lanka is one of the best destinations that the tourist discovered.
"The locals I talked to were incredibly friendly, and the island is small enough to explore in depth in a relatively short time," he said.
Costa Rica
Although this country is quite popular among those looking for new experiences, the expert believes that it is suitable for a quiet family vacation or honeymoon. Many places in Costa Rica are fascinating: clear waters, volcanoes, tropical forests, etc.
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Scientists have announced that they have discovered the first case of Down syndrome in Neanderthals, suggesting that archaic humans were compassionate caregivers. The team analyzed a small fragment of the skull of a six-year-old child named Tina, who lived more than 1450,000 years ago, finding that the fossil has features typical of children with the genetic disorder.
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The analysis showed that Tina suffered from a congenital inner ear disorder that is associated with a genetic disorder and likely caused severe hearing loss and vertigo, leading to disability, MailOnline reports.
The discovery suggests that Neanderthals were able to provide altruistic care and support for a vulnerable member of their social group, as the child survived years after birth.
"Until now, it has only been possible to diagnose Down syndrome in fossil samples by analyzing ancient DNA. In our work, we were able to diagnose it through an anatomical examination of the inner ear. This opens up the possibility of studying the potential presence of Down syndrome in fossil specimens and thus being able to document its prevalence in past populations," commented Dr. Mercedes Conde-Valverde, professor at the University of Alcala.
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The fossils were found in the Cova Negra cave in Valencia, which was excavated from 1929 to 2017. Researchers recently analyzed the remains found during the 1989 excavation, discovering three new fossils that had not been previously seen. Among the three was an "immature temporal bone (CN-46700)," according to a study published in Science Advances.
It was a fragment of one of the two temporal bones that form the sides and base of the skull, protecting the brain and surrounding the ear canal. The researchers used micro-CT on the fossil, a 3D imaging technique that uses X-rays to see the inside of an object, slice by slice.
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A digital scan of the specimen showed a combination of inner ear abnormalities consistent with Down syndrome.
"The pathology suffered by this child has resulted in disabilities, including at least total deafness, severe attacks of dizziness, and an inability to maintain balance. Given these symptoms, it is highly unlikely that the mother herself could provide all the necessary care while also taking care of her own needs. Therefore, for Tina to live at least six years, the group would have to continuously assist the mother by replacing her in caring for the child or helping her with her daily tasks, or both," explained Dr. Conde-Valverde.
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Previous evidence that Neanderthals cared for their sick and injured has sparked debate about whether this was motivated by mere expectation of reciprocal behavior or genuine compassion.
"It has been known for decades that Neanderthals cared for their vulnerable companions. However, all known cases of care concerned adults, which led some scientists to believe that such behavior was not true altruism, but simply an exchange of help between equals: today I am for you, and tomorrow you are for me," the expert says.
However, this discovery confirms the existence of true altruism among Neanderthals, as the child could not provide help in return, but only received it from her mother and other residents.
Tina's age at death, based on the maturation of certain structures of the inner ear, showed unusual longevity for a child in such circumstances with a condition known as intellectual disability and developmental delay.
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"Tina's discovery is the earliest known case of Down syndrome and demonstrates that the diversity seen in modern humans existed in prehistoric times. This discovery ensures that the history of human evolution includes us all," the scientist says.
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Measures demanded under a law for festivals deemed risky are adding $30 to the ticket prices of a popular Cockatoo Island event, its organisers claim.
Sydneys Mode Festival, a celebration of electronic music and digital art, has been required to pay for three police boats, dozens of supervising police officers, and put on private ferries as a result of a law the industry says is throttling the sector.
The co-founders of Sydneys Mode Festival, Joe Ireland and Robin Sen. Credit: Nick Moir
Their claim adds pressure on NSW Labor to axe the Music Festivals Act, which promoters say is adding tens of thousands of dollars to their bottom-line costs, and turbocharging ticket prices during a cost-of-living crisis.
Australian Festivals Association launched a social media campaign on Monday calling on festival goers to write to the NSW police and arts ministers to revoke the act, which is now under review.
Vanessa Ash at home in Kew. Credit: Wayne Taylor The victim did not read the documents she was asked to sign and her husband, who previously managed her finances, was too ill to do so. The second victim was about to turn 60 and concerned she did not have a retirement plan in place. She had no assets but $100,000 in funds and $55,000 in super available. She reported previous financial setbacks, this was her life savings. You told her the money would triple in five years no matter which way the market went, OConnell said. You did not tell her you had a personal interest in the company.
In both cases, the court heard the victims money was transferred into self-managed super funds and used to purchase shares in companies Grimm was the sole director of and which had no real market value. You knew how wrong that was, the judge said. The court heard the third victim had undergone major surgery and wanted to ensure she could access support payments during her recovery. Grimm transferred $72,000 out of her super with some of the funds later moved into a hedge fund he wholly controlled. In mid-2015, ASIC had begun winding up Grimms companies, and he was later restrained from providing financial services by the Federal Court in October. But the court heard he continued to provide financial advice and services to the third victim. None of that was disclosed, OConnell said.
The third victim, the court heard, was subsequently forced to sell her home and live in impoverished conditions at the back of a friends house and then in a unit without proper heating during the pandemic. As an Australian financial service licensee you were well aware of obligations to act honestly and in the best interest of your clients, and to disclose relevant information about financial products in advice. You abused that position of trust, OConnell said. Grimm, a married father of two, attended a private Catholic school in Sydney before obtaining a commerce degree and diploma in financial services. He then went on to work as a stockbroker at Macquarie before starting his own company in 2004, which operated out of Collins Street. He now runs a successful car rental business and had made full restitution to two victims, with the third being compensated by a Commonwealth scheme. After OConnell revealed Grimm would be jailed immediately for at least nine months, the 56-year-old appeared surprised, unclipping his watch and throwing it to his wife who was sitting sobbing in court.
Grimm first came to public notoriety in 2005 when Luke Donnellan, then a Labor MP, referred to him as the Grimm Reaper of Melbournes stockbroking world, under parliamentary privilege. Those comments related to the now disgraced financial services gurus involvement at public company Equity Partnerships and private business Campton. Loading Mr Grimm is indeed the Grim Reaper in the Melbourne stockbroking world, Donnellan said in a statement to parliament. Donnellan alleged Mr Grimm raised $1 million from mum and dad investors leading up to and during the dot-com boom in the late 1990s and early 2000s through investment company Equity Partnership. I am led to believe that most of the money ended up in his pocket or in the private company of Campton Pty Ltd, Donnellan alleged. The corporate watchdog first took civil court action in 2015 against Grimm and his companies following a series of investor complaints.
Weather patterns
One feature of the climate crisis that we see every night on TV is the weather report. And for years we have been told that its been the hottest, driest, most windy and whatever other description, since records have begun. You dont have to be a statistician to realise that in a non-compromised world, records would be randomly distributed over time and not show such a linear progression.
David Fry, Moonee Ponds
Thanks to Bill Shorten
As a grandparent of two young children with disabilities (one quite severe), I thank Bill Shorten for his work in making sure the NDIS funding goes to those in most need (who are not the administrators, of which there seem to be many layers).
Thank you, too, to the Julia Gillard Labor government for getting the NDIS off the ground.
Hopefully, the next person in charge of the NDIS will continue to ensure that those young children with special needs are given all the equipment and aids as well as support from the allied health professionals they need. My grandsons will become useful members of society, but they do need that NDIS support to continue for years to come. Any ways that can be found to make the application process for the next level of technical aids and people support more efficient each year would be gratefully received by those families who need it.
Gaell Hildebrand, Cohuna
ALP in search of focus
I hope the Anthony Albanese read Ross Gittins article (Albos lack of courage makes headlines, but doesnt tell the full story of his government, 4/9) and highlighted the quote provided for his media minders and spin doctors to contemplate that to compete successfully, focus on your customers, not your competitors. Perhaps to put it another way, focus on why your supporters voted you in, not on why your opponents didnt.
Currently, the LNP are not on the path to winning the next election, but Labor are certainly stumbling their way to a potential loss.
Stephen Farrelly, Donvale
Misguided bipartisanship
Two correspondents (Letters, 5/9) pinpoint the Albanese governments lack of courage, failure to communicate effectively, and its apparent obsession with denying Peter Dutton opportunities for criticism as if Dutton, operating from a policy vacuum, wont find fault everywhere, regardless of our national interest and reputation, and get support from the Murdoch press.
This is bad enough on issues like negative gearing and capital gains tax, but foreign policy and national security are really crucial matters. The government waved through the AUKUS deal, secretly negotiated by Scott Morrison, with little, if any obvious debate. We apparently support the US preoccupation with maintaining global hegemony, while increasing the risk of war with our major trading partner. This rare show of bipartisanship, and refusal to critically review any aspects of our US alliance, is alarming.
Norman Huon, Port Melbourne
Unions doing damage
As a long-retired, lifetime activist, and full-time official of the AMWU and the ACTU, I am outraged at the support by several unions, including the AMWU Victorian branch, given to the criminally associated CFMEU.
The whole union movement must condemn any union which either acts criminally, or consorts with criminals. The AMWU Victorian branch in supporting the CFMEUs previous leadership has trashed the wonderful history of the AMWU, particularly the Victorian branch, which was the heartbeat of our union nationally. It was well led by an excellent collective of my contemporaries, not one of whom would have considered supporting any union consorting with criminals.
I doubt those unions consulted their members, as I am confident that they would not support their leaderships actions.
Unfortunately, these ALP-affiliated unions damage the party, through their undemocratic and powerful factions, and often unlawfully interfere in other unions elections, to get new leaderships, not for the members best interests, but to change a unions factional alliance.
Unions should be independent of all political parties, while encouraging their members to join the ALP, as currently, most ALP-affiliated unions have few ALP members within their ranks.
This latest experience reinforces that view, as the damage to the ALP would be far less, if these unions were not affiliated, and so influential.
Max Ogden, Fitzroy North
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Erick Erickson was furious. The American conservative talk show host had just watched Donald Trump give an interview to NBC suggesting he was about to soften his stance on abortion. Asked about the Florida ballot measure, which could overturn a ban preventing women from terminating a pregnancy after six weeks and establish a right to abortion in that state, Trump acknowledged the six-week restriction was too short. We need more than six weeks, the Republican candidate said when pressed on how he would be voting as a local Floridian when the Right to Abortion Initiative is on the ballot later this year. The backlash from Trumps conservative base was swift and blunt. I have never and I will never vote for a candidate who supports abortion rights, and Donald Trump came very close to sounding like he does yesterday, Erickson lamented on his popular program the day after seeing the former presidents remarks. And if he loses [the election] in November, yesterday August 29 in the year of our Lord 2024 will be the day he lost if he doesnt do some damage control pretty quickly. Trump did indeed do some damage control, walking back his comments and declaring within 24 hours that he would not vote to overturn the six-week ban after all and would instead stick to the status quo.
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However, the dramatic U-turn was not only emblematic of the balancing act he faces when it comes to reproductive rights but also of a much deeper challenge confronting Trump as he seeks another term in the White House: his growing unpopularity among women. A Reproductive Freedom Bus leaves after the kick-off of the Harris-Walz campaigns reproductive rights bus tour in Boynton Beach, Florida, on Tuesday. Credit: Bloomberg Women have registered and voted at higher rates than men at every US presidential election since 1980. Now, theyre leaning heavily towards Kamala Harris, the 59-year-old prosecutor-turned-politician who could end up being the first woman to occupy the Oval Office. There are 94 million mom voters in America alone, and they want the freedom to be able to go to work and have kids in safe, enriching places; the freedom to be able to make ends meet by receiving fair pay; the freedom to be able to decide if were having children and if so, when and how many, says Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, who runs the grassroots group MomsRising, which has worked to mobilise families in key battlegrounds. Were on the precipice of a big decision on November 5, and I suspect we will vote with an eye to the future. While the overall race remains too close to call, polls suggest that Trumps support among women is deteriorating. An ABC/Ipsos poll released this week, for example, found that Harris now leads her Republican rival by 13 points among this key demographic a seven-point jump since she accepted the nomination at the Democratic National Convention with 54 per cent of women supporting her compared with 41 per cent backing Trump. Trump is also losing his edge among white women the very group that helped propel him to office in 2016, particularly in the Midwest battlegrounds of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan.
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According to the poll, Trump who still rates better than Harris among men had a 13-point advantage among white women before the convention last month; now, that advantage has dropped to a mere two points. So whats behind the shift, and could this crucial demographic hold the key to the 2024 election? Veteran political analyst Larry Sabato says polls are only ever a snapshot in time. As a cautionary tale, he cites Hillary Clinton who led Trump by an 18-point margin among women at this stage of the cycle in 2016 and still went on to lose the election that year. But he adds that theres no doubt that Harris support is higher overall than President Joe Bidens, driven partly by the fact the vice president offers voters a fresh choice and has been able to define herself as a capable candidate who will champion their freedoms and fight for the middle class. While many Americans are still getting to know her, some clearly like what they see. Trump, on the other hand, has long symbolised a kind of machismo that many women find off-putting. He has bragged about grabbing womens genitals; he was found liable for sexual assault; he covered up an affair with a porn star that could have derailed his chances of becoming president. But while his history and character were not as much of a liability against Biden, an 81-year-old president who most Americans viewed as too old for another term, its less palatable against Harris.
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Hes the political Hugh Hefner, Sabato says, referencing the founder of the Playboy magazine empire that became synonymous with scantily clad models, parties and mansions. The cover of the March 1990 magazine featured Donald Trump, who some have branded a political version of the magazines founder Hugh Hefner. That image may have sold in the 70s, 80s, and even the 90s with [then-Democrat president] Bill Clinton, but its as old as the hills now. So Trump often looks out of touch, and its hurting him because he cant adapt. Theres no doubt Trump has struggled to recalibrate ever since Biden announced on July 21 that he would withdraw his campaign for re-election and immediately endorsed his vice president as his preferred nominee. After attacking Harris on everything from the way she laughs to her racial identity, the 78-year-old Republican has tried in recent days to focus more on policy. Hes accused her of flip-flopping on issues such as immigration and fracking; hes claimed her economic policies will push up the national debt even further; and he has sought to tie her to the failings of the Biden administration. Some voters wholeheartedly agree. If she wins the election, we are doomed, says Kim Clark, who lives in the swing state of Georgia, where she works both as an Uber driver and a house cleaner so she can afford to have food. Trump is a businessman he knows what hes doing. Our economy was better than it had been in a long time with him, our border was secure, and we didnt have all these wars. Harris has no idea.
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The problem for Trump is that many of his attacks dont appear to be sticking at least not enough to dent the momentum Harris has garnered among the Democratic base and some independent voters who were not enthused by the prospect of a Trump-Biden rematch. Now, the enthusiasm among left-leaning voters is palpable. It was evident in Pennsylvania last month when Harris conducted her first joint rally with running mate Tim Walz. Thousands of jubilant people lined up hours before the event was due to begin. We are going to elect our first woman president! declared Philadelphia resident Gail Vladimir, who attended the event with her husband, Lary. Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton addresses the Democratic National Convention last month. Credit: AP It was evident, too, at last months Democratic National Convention, where thousands of women wore white the universal colour of female empowerment to watch Harris formally accept her nomination. We are so close to breaking through once and for all, Hillary Clinton said during her speech on the first night of the event, conjuring up the image of Harris raising her hand on the other side of that glass ceiling to take the presidential oath of office. And it was evident in Georgia last week, where Harris and Walz embarked on a two-day bus tour targeting traditionally conservative areas in a bid to boost their votes outside left-leaning metropolitan areas such as Atlanta.
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DENVER, Sept. 4, 2024 -- Bye Aerospace has officially launched the construction of its first all-electric aircraft, the eFlyer 2. This significant project aims to fabricate and assemble an all-composite structure, validate approved design plans, and establish innovative production processes. The outcome will be a full-scale aircraft that will undergo extensive aerodynamic testing derisking the remaining certification compliance tasks. This milestone aircraft, Serial Number 00001, is being assembled at Bye Aerospace's facilities at Centennial Airport, located in Denver, Colorado.
The eFlyer 2 is specifically engineered to meet the unique demands of the aviation training market. With a clean-sheet design that maximizes aerodynamic efficiency and incorporates lightweight composites, the eFlyer 2 is set to disrupt aviation flight training. The aircraft is expected to reduce operating costs by up to 80 percent and cut maintenance requirements by up to 75%, all while offering quieter, sustainable aviationmaking it an ideal choice for flight schools and surrounding communities.
"The commencement of the eFlyer 2 build marks a historic moment for our company and the aviation industry as a whole," said Rod Zastrow, CEO of Bye Aerospace. "This clean-sheet design allows us to deliver an aircraft that not only meets but exceeds the performance and efficiency expectations of our aviation clients."
About Bye Aerospace
Bye Aerospace, headquartered in Denver, Colorado, stands at the forefront in electric aviation innovation and certification. The eFlyer series of fixed-wing aircraft is meticulously designed to disrupt general aviation, starting with the crucial Aviation Training sector, with an FAA-certified, zero-emission, highly cost-effective, low-drag, low-noise, intelligent, and safety-enhanced aircraft.
SOURCE Bye Aerospace, Inc.
DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Strategic Analysis of the 2024 China Auto Show, Beijing" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
At Beijing's AutoChina 2024, local businesses such as BYD and NIO demonstrated the major technological and commercial strides made in China's electric car industry. These businesses have grown both internationally and domestically to acquire significant market share. Strategic alliances between Western and Chinese OEMs, a combination of resources and expertise, further enrich the environment.
Prominent partnerships such as Volkswagen's joint venture with SAIC and Honda's association with GAC signify a movement toward increased mutual growth and integration. For foreign OEMs hoping to successfully enter the Chinese market, localization will be key. For instance, Volkswagen and Honda are progressively customizing their products to satisfy regional consumer demands and legal constraints. This strategy gives them an advantage over their competitors and demonstrates their dedication to supporting China's EV transition.
While the Chinese Media conveys optimism, market potential, government assistance, and innovation when reporting on EV technology, the Western media takes a more cautious stance, emphasizing challenges related to market saturation, regulatory barriers, and geopolitical concerns. This thorough analysis of the changing electric vehicle (EV) scene in China and its global ramifications captures the dynamic interaction of innovation, strategic alliances, and market perceptions.
Key Topics Covered:
Key Summaries
Summary of the Event
Overview of Auto China 2024 - Key OEM Brands
Takeaways from Auto China 2024
Key OEM Spotlight
OEM Spotlight - BYD
OEM Spotlight - Honda
OEM Spotlight - VW
Key Tier 1 Spotlight
Tier 1 Spotlight - Bosch
Tier 1 Spotlight - Valeo
Conclusion and Takeaway
For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/s2vv3l
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.
Citizens of Belarus threw a tantrum online because of the attack by Russian Shahed kamikaze drones. In particular, residents of Gomel complained about the powerful explosions and thought that a war had "begun."
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At the same time, Belarusians were outraged that officials did not comment on the nighttime explosions. This was reported by the Telegram channel "Belarus of the Brain."
At around 01:30 am, the explosions were heard by residents of Gomel. At the same time, residents managed to record on video the work of air defense, which resulted in a flash in the sky.
Several powerful explosions were heard in the southwestern part of Gomel, particularly in the Soviet and Novobelitsky districts. Belarusians complained that the Emergencies Ministry did not provide any details about the consequences of the explosions.
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In turn, the Belarusian Gayun monitoring channel wrote that at least 8 Russian kamikaze drones flew into Belarus during the night, two of which were destroyed.
The first group of two UAVs was heading for Gomel. The wreckage of the drone fell on a warehouse in Gomel, causing the building to catch fire. It is noteworthy that no air raid alarms were activated during the air defense and UAV flight over the city of Gomel.
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As a reminder, on September 5, the Russians launched another drone attack on Ukraine, with some of the UAVs again flying into Belarus. The "Shaheds" launched by the Russian Federation were shot down in the sky over Gomel.
As OBOZ.UA previously reported, on the night of August 29, during another Russian attack on Ukraine, one of the Shaheds flew into the territory of Belarus in the Yel district. It was the first time the country used aviation to destroy an attack drone.
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Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Our planet Earth has only one satellite, the Moon, but there are planets that have hundreds of satellites, or like Venus, none. There is a logical physical explanation for this.
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Physicist from the American University of Quinnipiac Nicole Granucci explains that with the help of gravitational force, objects attract other objects. And the larger the object, the greater the force of attraction it has, writes The Conversation.
"I am a physics teacher who subscribes to current theories that explain why some planets have satellites and some do not. There are currently two main theories that explain this phenomenon. Moons are either entrained by gravity if they are within the so-called Hill sphere radius of a planet, or they form with the solar system," Nicole Granucci explained.
What is gravity and the Hill sphere radius, and does it all work?
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Gravity or gravitation, attraction is the property of bodies with mass to be attracted to each other. Therefore, some objects are able to attract other objects nearby. And the larger the object, the greater the force of attraction it has. It is the Earth's gravitational force that attracts people and keeps us from flying off into space.
The solar system is dominated by the large gravitational force of the Sun, which holds all the planets in orbit. The Sun is the most massive object in our solar system, so it has the greatest gravitational influence on objects such as planets.
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For a satellite to orbit a planet, it must be close enough to the planet. Instead, the planet must exert enough force to keep it in orbit. The minimum distance that a planet can hold a satellite in orbit is called the radius of Hill's sphere.
The Moon orbiting the Earth is a good example of how Hill's sphere radius works. The Earth revolves around the Sun, but the Moon is close enough to the Earth that the Earth's gravitational pull grabs it. The Moon revolves around the Earth, not the Sun, because it is within the Hill sphere radius of the Earth.
Small planets, such as Mercury and Venus, have tiny Hill sphere radii because they cannot exhibit a large gravitational force. So any potential satellites, near small planets, will be attracted by the Sun.
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Mars has two satellites, Phobos and Deimos. Scientists are still debating whether they come from asteroids that passed close to the radius of the Mars Hill sphere and were captured by the planet, or formed at the same time as the solar system. More evidence supports the first theory, since Mars is close to the asteroid belt.
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune have large Hill sphere radii because they are much larger than Earth, Mars, Mercury, and Venus, and are farther from the Sun. Their gravitational pull can attract and keep more natural satellites in orbit. For example, Jupiter has 95 satellites and Saturn has 146.
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Moons form along with the solar system
According to physicist Nicole Granucci, another theory suggests that some satellites formed at the same time as their solar system.
Solar systems begin as a large disk of gas orbiting around the sun. As the gas revolves around the sun, it condenses into planets and satellites that revolve around them. Then all the planets and satellites orbit in the same direction.
The presented video shows how the planets of our solar system were formed. The dark rings on the disk symbolize the formation of planets and satellites. Gas later condenses into planets, natural satellites and asteroids.
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But only a few satellites in our solar system were probably created this way. Scientists hypothesize that the inner satellites of Jupiter and Saturn were formed at the origin of our solar system because they are very old. The other satellites in our solar system, including the outer satellites of Jupiter and Saturn, were probably entrained by the gravity of their planets.
The special origin of Earth's moon
However, Earth's moon is special, according to scientists, because it probably formed in a different way. Scientists believe that once upon a time, a large object the size of Mars collided with Earth. And during that collision, a large piece flew away from the Earth into its orbit and became the Moon.
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Scientists are considering a special origin for Earth's moon because they have discovered a type of rock called basalt in the soil on the moon's surface. Lunar basalt looks similar to basalt found inside Earth.
Only verified information from us in Telegram-channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
The U.S. Department of State has responded to Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov's latest nonsense about "red lines" in the context of a possible transfer of JASSM missiles to Ukraine. The department advised the aggressor country to withdraw its occupiers from Ukraine if they were afraid of American weapons.
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This statement was made by US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller at a briefing in Washington on Wednesday, September 4. He emphasized that Washington's support for Kyiv is due to the illegal war that Russia has unleashed against Ukraine.
"Therefore, if Russia wants to end the actions against Russian soldiers, the best way to do that is to end the war and withdraw from Ukraine," Miller said.
The day before, Lavrov, commenting on the possible supply of long-range US missiles to Ukraine, said that the US was playing with "red lines." The representative of the terrorist country said that Washington is "losing the sense of mutual deterrence" that has underpinned the security balance between Moscow and Washington since the Cold War.
"They should realize that they are joking about our 'red lines'. They should not joke about our 'red lines'," Lavrov told Russian propagandists.
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As reported by OBOZ.UA, earlier Reuters, citing sources, wrote that the United States had come close to an agreement to provide Ukraine with long-range JASSM cruise missiles that can strike deep into Russia. However, Kyiv will have to wait a few months, as the US side is still working out the technical details.
Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has said that the occupiers' primary goal in the war is the "liberation" of Donbas. According to him, Ukraine is trying to distract Russia's attention from this goal by launching an offensive in the Kursk region, but it will fail.
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The war criminal made these statements during a speech at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. He dreamed that Kyiv had weakened itself in other areas by attacking the Kursk region, and the Russian Armed Forces' offensive had allegedly accelerated.
"The Russian Armed Forces have stabilized the situation and began to squeeze the enemy out of the border areas," the chief Russian terrorist said.
As a reminder, military expert Mykola Sunhurovskyi expressed the opinion that if the occupiers reach the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the pace of the enemy's offensive may significantly decrease. However, we should not expect that the aggressor country Russia will stop if the goals of the "SMO" are achieved.
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The following narrative will be the pretext for continuing the war of aggression against Ukraine: "We continue to kill Ukrainians because they are our enemies," Sungurovsky suggested.
As reported by OBOZ.UA:
Sunhurovskyi believes that the Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin is not going to retreat from Pokrovsk. At the same time, the withdrawal of our forces from Kursk region would be politically wrong.
The expert also believes that the new wave of massive missile attacks by the aggressor country Russia on major cities of Ukraine pursues two main goals. The first is the destruction of our country's energy infrastructure, and the second is psychological pressure on Ukrainians.
Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
4 Indian nationals burnt alive in road accident in Texas
HOUSTON/HYDERABAD :
FOUR Indian nationals, including a woman, lost their lives and several others were injured in a tragic multi-vehicle road accident in the US state of Texas during the Labour Day weekend. According to the Collin County Sheriffs Office, the accident involving five vehicles occurred on the northbound US 75 just past White Street at Anna near Dallas. Consul General of India in Houston D C Manjunath confirmed the identities and shared that the Consulate General of India (CGI) is in touch with the families and community organisations, providing full support during this tragic moment. According to preliminary reports, traffic was at a standstill on the highway and an SUV was among those vehicles that were halted when the accident took place on Friday afternoon. A truck travelling at a high speed failed to slow down and struck the rear of the SUV. The force of the collision was such that the SUV caught fire and the four occupants were trapped inside which resulted in their deaths. It took days to officially identify the victims as the bodies were charred beyond recognition. Several others sustained non-life-threatening injuries though the exact number remains unclear.
The victims were identified as Aryan Raghunath Orampatti from Kukatpally suburb of Hyderabad, his friend Farooq Sheikh, Lokesh Palacharla, another Telugu student, and Darshini Vasudev from Tamil Nadu. Orampatti and Sheikh were returning after visiting a cousin in Dallas while Palacharla was heading to Bentonville to reunite with his wife. Darshini Vasudev, a postgraduate from the University of Texas, was on her way to visit her uncle in Arkansas. The identification of the victims was delayed due to the long weekend and the need for DNA fingerprinting, using bone remnants to confirm their identities. Darshinis uncle Ramanujam lives in Bentonville, Arkansas. She was going to visit him. Darshini had just completed her Masters and had started her job in Frisco, Dallas, Manjunath said.
The other two, Umar Farooq Sheikh and Aryan Raghunath Orampatti, were recent graduates from the University of Texas at Dallas, with Sheikh completing his MS in Business Analytics in Spring 2023, and Orampatti pursuing his MS in Finance, set to graduate in Spring 2024. Lokesh, who was driving the vehicle, was also a working professional, Manjunath added. Meanwhile, a friend of Aryans father in Hyderabad said Wednesday that four people, including Aryan and his friend Farooq, had joined in the vehicle using a carpooling app. After getting to know about the accident from a relative staying in the US on Saturday, Aryans parents already left for the US, he told PTI. Aryan after completing his engineering degree had left for the US to pursue MS and his parents had attended his convocation in May, he said, adding that Aryan wanted to work in the US for two years and then return to India.
Farooqs father Mastan Vali, who stays in Hyderabad told PTI that he was informed on Saturday that an over speeding truck hit the vehicle in which his son and three other Indians including Aryan were travelling, from the rear side. Some friends of Farooq had informed my daughter, who lives in the US about the accident. She informed me about it on Saturday. My daughter is following up with authorities there, Mastan Vali said, adding they were planning to bring Farooqs mortal remains to Hyderabad. Farooq had left for the US in August 2021 from here and after completing his MS there he was now working, his father said.
Anti-Rape Bill
THE unanimous passage of the Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024 by the West Bengal Legislative Assembly certainly has its own importance in the current, highly politicised scenario. That it symbolises certain constitutional approach to the terrible barbarism that rape -- of any kind -- stands for, is only one aspect of the story. The other aspect refers to the political compulsion under which West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee felt cornered to undertake the legislation. In time to come, this legislation may get value-added by different extra provisions etc not just in West Bengal but also in other States. In other words, the country will have a legal provision to treat rape in a more specific manner -- in addition to the existing legal provisions under the law. To that extent, this change needs to be looked at positively. Of course, much societal emotion had to explode before which Ms. Mamata Banerjee took up the cause of the anti-rape legislation. The whole country not just suspected but also believed that she was protecting the wrong-doers in the West Bengal rape-and-murder case for whatever compulsions.
The whole country believed that the West Bengal Government was doing everything within its power to allow the wrong-doers enough time and space to fudge the dirty details of the terrible act of rape and murder of a medical doctor woman. This impression gave rise to nationwide protests not just by the medical fraternity but also other segments of the larger Indian society seeking stern, no-nonsense action. Unfortunately, political elements entered the arena and usurped the issue and tried to foist different narratives upon the discourse. Because politics entered the arena, Ms. Mamata Banerjee first adopted a hard and hostile stand, but later softened so much so that she decided to adopt a legislation -- and take the winds out of the Opposition sails. But before she arrived at that point, Ms. Mamata Banerjee took her own time in assessing the situation and formulate her political and official response. During that interlude, she indulged in all sorts of arrangements and adjustments that would suit her ultimate political objectives in short and long terms. And that dilly-dallying gave rise to many a doubt in the peoples minds about her intentions.
This collective experience and emotion of the nation has to be considered before the new Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024 is welcomed whole-heartedly. Finally, the legislation has arrived, in whatever form and with whatever content. In time, it may go through certain metamorphosis and may become an altogether different legal provision in the ultimate analysis. But the fact that the society took a major step in certain direction -- may be out of a political compulsion -- will have its own importance. Of course, the most reprehensible crime of rape -- and murder (!) -- was being dealt with by the society under an existing legal provision. The West Bengal Government under Ms. Banerjee thought that another arrangement may resurrect her political career. Therefore came the new legal arrangement -- which the West Bengal Legislature felt compelled to pass unanimously. Whether Ms. Banerjee would achieve the unstated political objective or not only time will decide. But suffice it is to say at this point that she tried to assuage the hurt feelings of the larger Indian society by bringing in the legislation and tried to validate herself, is a fact that nobody can refute. It may be said that that way, she saved her political career in the nick of time !
Before Its Too Late
By Rahul Dixit :
The RG Kar Hospital case should be the proverbial last straw for Mamata Banerjee. She has miserably failed to save the life of an innocent girl and the later whataboutery has more or less confirmed that the rot has run deeper in many other spheres in West Bengal. The culture of violence and oppression prevailing in the State needs to be dealt with an iron hand and it can happen only if the Centre follows the evidence seriously and acts accordingly.
A TIGHT corner is a sure inventor of whataboutery. It is the final indicator of reversal in fortunes which usually ends up in braggartism and is invariably followed by hubris. Whatever is happening in West Bengal in wake of the barbaric killing of a young, innocent medical practitioner at the RG Kar Hospital reflects the last stage of arrogance that the ruling dispensation is brazenly employing to muzzle a just fight. After attempts of dirty cover-up, threats are being doled out from the office of the Chief Minister to the neighbouring States about unrest and violence if valid and legal questions are asked to Bengal administration. The State, under CM Mamata Banerjee, has failed and how! And yet, there is inexplicable hesitation from the Centre to intervene in the affairs for the sake of human lives which are constantly under threat in West Bengal.
The CMs speech warning of violence and anarchy in other parts of India if Bengal burns over the heinous crime definitely demands strong and absolute action. Ever since the young doctor Abhaya has been brutally killed at the hospital followed by subsequent incidents of vandalism, protests and violence, the Trinamool Congress governments conduct has remained suspicious with an apparent intention of a cover-up. Even the Calcutta High Court has come down heavily on the massive lapses by the State machinery in the investigation forcing a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Such things happen when the powers-that-be are complicit with the perpetrators of bigger crimes and rackets. The series of incidents leading to the lady doctors killing and ensuing events are proof enough that there is more to the story than meets the eye.
The burning question is, when will the higher authorities, including the Centre, step in to stem this dirty rot? The RG Kar Hospital case should be the proverbial last straw for Mamata Banerjee. She has miserably failed to save the life of an innocent girl and the later whataboutery has more or less confirmed that the rot has run deeper in many other spheres in West Bengal. The culture of violence and oppression prevailing in the State needs to be dealt with an iron hand and it can happen only if the Centre follows the evidence in hand seriously and acts accordingly. The grouse of the common Bhadralok is why is the Government taking so long to put an end to this misery? The rape and murder of the junior doctor is still drawing response around the country. It is primarily because of the insensitivity shown by the TMC government which has failed in dealing with the issue of womens safety.
The case has instigated a serious anger opening a door into the past failures of Mamata Banerjee in maintaining law and order in West Bengal. When the TMC pushed out the Left in 2011, the State had hoped for a peaceful tomorrow. Instead, what the people are witnessing is a repeat of the Lefts playbook by TMC-backed goons with even greater ferocity. There is simply no check on violence. Ground report from political and social activists establishes that the TMC has been able to overpower all institutions with a culture of insensitivity pervading through swathes of land, especially the rural areas and border regions. There is a growing disappointment and grievance against the TMC and the Chief Minister for her tacit support to the motivated violence unleashed by local strongmen. Illegal residents, mostly from Bangladesh, have contributed to the reign of terror in these regions. First-hand accounts of Hindu organisations engaged in religious activities are appalling and disturbing. That there is no heed to their complaints with the law-enforcing agencies is more frightening. Problems have clearly been allowed a free run when the ruling party could have easily nipped them in the bud. Regular incidence of these problems underlines the gravity of the issue which calls for a compelling action from the Centre. Looking at the situation in West Bengal through a political prism will not bring any results.
The stronghold maintained by parties in various pockets cannot be easily broken through political measures. The problems in the eastern State must now be viewed from humanitarian angles. The prevailing situation calls for a decisive action with thorough analysis of the history of violence plaguing the State for years together. Bengal has a long and ignominious history of political violence. The partition of 1905, the massacres that followed, the Great Calcutta Killings of 1946, political murders in Birbhum district, sexual exploitation of tribal women in Sandeshkhali and the latest rape and murder of a young girl in the State capital, West Bengal has provided some chilling accounts to Indias history. At present, there is all-pervasive domination of a single party in West Bengal with no check on violence. The culture of bloodshed and brutality is continuing with far greater intensity. Politics of retribution is at its peak. History cannot be allowed to repeat itself again and again while waiting for a political coup. The Centre must act, before it is too late.
CGs KCG Police in Golden Book of World Records
Chhattisgarh Head of the Golden Book of World Records, Sonal Rajesh Sharma officially presented the world record certificate and medal to SP Trilok Bansal in presence of Durg Divisional Commissioner S N Rathore, Rajnandgaon IGP Deepak Jha and others
The Hitavada State Bureau Raipur/KCG,
Reach over 35,000 citizens in a single day under cyber awareness campaign
In a ground-breaking achievement, Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai (KCG) Police have made history by conducting a record-setting cyber awareness campaign that reached 35,130 citizens across 218 locations in a single day. This remarkable initiative, spearheaded by the visionary leadership of Superintendent of Police Trilok Bansal, has earned the KCG Police a coveted place in the prestigious Golden Book of World Records, solidifying their contribution to advancing cyber security education in India. Recognised officially by Sonal Rajesh Sharma, the Chhattisgarh Head of the Golden Book of World Records, KCG Polices efforts were celebrated as a monumental step in combating the growing threat of cyber crimes such as phishing, digital fraud, job scams, and sextortion, using accessible language and innovative methods like theatrical performances.
The KCG Polices far-reaching campaign was designed to protect citizens from the increasing dangers of cyber fraud. Under SP Trilok Bansals leadership and the strategic guidance of Rajnandgaon Inspector General of Police Deepak Jha, 75 specially trained teams of police officers were deployed to both urban centres and remote rural areas.
This unprecedented mobilisation ensured that vital information on cyber crimes and preventive measures reached not just urban citizens but also vulnerable rural populations, empowering them to safeguard themselves from online fraud. Citizens were educated on how to report cyber fraud through helplines like 1930 and the national cyber crime portal. The grand event to celebrate this world record took place at Dr Narendra Dev Auditorium, Khairagarh Music University, where dignitaries, including Durg Divisional Commissioner S N Rathore, IGP Deepak Jha, District Magistrate Chandrakant Verma, District Judge Chandrakumar Kashyap, and Divisional Forest Officer Alok Tiwari, gathered to witness this proud moment. During the ceremony, Sonal Rajesh Sharma officially presented the world record certificate and medal to SP Trilok Bansal, recognising his innovative and tireless efforts in making this campaign a groundbreaking success.
Ex-Atlas Cycles President Salil Kapoor found dead, suicide note recovered
NEW DELHI :
FORMER President of Atlas Cycles, Salil Kapoor, allegedly committed suicide on Tuesday by shooting himself at his house in Delhis A P J Abdul Kalam Marg. After receiving the information about Kapoors death, a police team reached his residence and found a suicide note from the spot. According to a police officer, Kapoor shot himself on the head with a licensed revolver. In the suicide note recovered from the spot, Kapoor purportedly mentioned a financial burden on him, the officer said. Four persons have been named in the suicide note recovered from Kapoors house, who have been accused of physically and mentally torturing the businessman. The Delhi Police has filed an FIR of abetment of suicide and said, the case is being investigated from all possible angles. According to an officer, a case under section 108 (abetment of suicide) of the BNS has been filed at Tughlak Road Police Station against the four named in the suicide note.
The officer said all four people, who are stated to be from Haryana, will be summoned to join the probe soon. Tthe police formed a board of three doctors and conducted the post mortemof his body before handing it over to his family members.His wife and three children were staying separately, the officer added.Kapoors manager and his family were staying with him in the three-storey building, the officer said, adding that Kapoor was immediately rushed to a hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead.In 2015, Kapoor was arrested from Uttarakhand by the Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police in 2 cases related to cheating. amounting to Rs 9 crore.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has threatened to strike Ukrainian nuclear power plants. The war criminal claimed that this would be a "mirror response" to the alleged shelling of the Kursk and occupied Zaporizhzhia NPPs.
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It is noteworthy that the nuclear rhetoric of the Kremlin leader did not impress Russian citizens, and they recalled the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk region. Putin voiced his next threats at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.
The dictator cynically accused Ukraine of "striking at the Kursk and Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plants." At the same time, the Kremlin killer did not provide any evidence of this.
At the same time, the Russian dictator actually threatened a "mirror response," hinting at Russia's desire to attack Ukrainian nuclear power plants.
"One can only imagine what will happen in this part of Europe if we start responding in a mirror image," the criminal said.
Russians on social media complained that even such loud statements by Putin no longer impress them and demanded an end to the war. They also called on the dictator to come to the Kursk region and learn the truth from the people.
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In particular, Russian citizens complained that Putin talks about the "consolidation" of society, while people in the Kursk region are "suffering." In addition, Putin was reminded of his false statements that the Russian border was "under lock and key," while the Ukrainian Armed Forces continued to advance in Kursk.
Earlier it was reported that dictator Vladimir Putin is trying to achieve Ukraine's surrender. Therefore, the Kremlin leader's statements about Russia's alleged readiness for peace talks are just a screen. Putin still claims the territories of Ukraine and dreams of "incorporating" them into Russia.
As a reminder, Putin said that Moscow is supposedly ready to negotiate with Kyiv. The war criminal wants the agreement reached in Istanbul in 2022 to be the basis.
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Financial irregularities at RG Kar hospital Sandip Ghosh moves SC challenging High Court order
NEW DELHI :
FORMER principal of Kolkatas RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Sandip Ghosh has moved the Supreme Court, challenging the Calcutta High Court order dismissing his plea to be added as a party to a petition alleging financial irregularities at the institute during his tenure. On August 23, the High Court ordered the transfer of the probe into the alleged financial irregularities from a state-constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the CBI. The murder and alleged rape of a junior doctor at the state-run hospital has sparked nationwide protests. The medics body with severe injury marks was found in the seminar hall of the hospitals chest department on August 9. A civic volunteer was arrested by the Kolkata Police in connection with the case the following day.
The High Courts August 23 order had come on a petition by a former deputy superintendent of the facility, Akhtar Ali, who had requested a probe by the Enforcement Directorate into alleged financial misconduct at the hospital during Ghoshs tenure. The High Court had also dismissed Ghoshs plea to be added as a party in the petition, holding that he was not a necessary party in the matter. It had noted in its order, In light of the apparent nexus between the aforementioned allegations and the locus of the incident, and considering that the investigation in the case (of murder and rape) has already been entrusted to the CBI, in the interest of ensuring a comprehensive and unbiased inquiry, the investigation into the present matter ought to be similarly transferred to the CBI.
On September 2, the CBI arrested Ghosh and three others in connection with the alleged financial misconduct at the establishment. Ghosh, through his advocate Siddhartha Chowdhury, has approached the apex court against the High Courts August 23 order. As per the cause list of September 6 uploaded on the apex court website, his plea is slated to come up for hearing before a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud. Before the High Court, the ex-principals lawyer had prayed for being given an opportunity to defend his client since serious allegations had been levelled against him by the former deputy superintendent. On August 20, the apex court termed the rape and murder case of the medic at the hospital horrific and issued a slew of directions, including the setting up of a 10-member National Task Force to formulate a protocol for ensuring the safety and security of doctors and other healthcare professionals.
RG Kar: Crucial SC hearing on Thursday to determine Trinamools next strategy
KOLKATA,
THE Supreme Courts hearing on the R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital rape-murder case on Thursday will to a great extent determine the next strategy for the Trinamool Congress, which is already on the back foot due to the continued mass protests in the state over the issue. Party insiders said on condition of anonymity that the next strategy will depend on the findings that will surface in the progress report on the investigation to be submitted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to the apex court on Thursday. If the progress report has something really very damaging for the state government, then the strategy will be adopted accordingly, and if it is not then the strategy will be different, said a senior party leader who did not wish to be named.
For N-Es Peace Centre, Tripura sign pact with 2 insurgent groups
NEW DELHI :
A PEACE agreement was signed between the Central and Tripura Governments and two insurgent groups of the State here on Wednesday in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to end violence and bring peace in the North-eastern State. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha and senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the State Government were also present during the signing of the Memorandum of Settlement with the representatives of National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF).
Addressing those present on the occasion, Home Minister Shah said, the Modi Government has given highest priority to peace and development in the North-eastern region. All peace agreements signed in the North-East has been implemented by the Government, he said. The Home Minister said a Rs 2,500 crore development package announced by the Central Government has been implemented in the North-East.
Indias policy is of development, not expansionism: PM in Brunei
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN,
PRIME Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday said that India supports a policy of development, and not expansionism, a remark that appeared directed at China as he wrapped up a bilateral visit to Brunei, where the two countries also reiterated their commitment to freedom of navigation in the region. India and Brunei elevated their ties to enhanced partnership as Prime Minister Modi held wide-ranging talks with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah covering defence, trade and investment. We support the policy of development, and not expansionism, Prime Minister Modi said at a banquet hosted by Sultan Bolkiah, without naming any country. China is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in the South China Sea (SCS) and the East China Sea (ECS). China claims most of the South China Sea, while the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan have counterclaims. We agree that a Code of Conduct should be finalised in this region, Modi said, adding that India has always given priority to ASEAN Centrality and will continue to do so.
We support freedom of navigation and overflight under international laws like UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), said Modi, the first Indian PM to travel to Brunei on a bilateral visit.A joint statement issued after their talks said both leaders reiterated their commitment to maintaining and promoting peace, stability, maritime safety and security, as well as respecting freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpeded lawful commerce, consistent with international law, notably the UNConvention on the Law of the Sea 1982.It added that the two leaders urged all parties to resolve disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law. Narendra Modi described Brunei as an important partner in Indias Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific Vision, and said his talks with the Sultan included ways to further cement bilateral ties and the two sides are going to further expand trade relations, and people-to-people exchanges.
The Prime Minister expressed deep appreciation to Brunei for continuing to host the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)s Telemetry Tracking and Telecommand Station, which has contributed towards Indias ongoing efforts in the field of space. India and Brunei have deep historical and cultural ties. This year, we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of our diplomatic ties. On this occasion, we have decided to commemorate our relations as Enhanced Partnership, Modi said. Their talks covered a range of topics including defence, trade & investment, food security, education, energy, space technology, health, capacity building, culture as well as people-to-people exchanges. They agreed to explore and pursue collaboration in areas such as ICT, fintech, cyber security, new and emerging technologies and renewable energy.
Now, polling booths to come up in societies, multi-storey colonies
State Chief Electoral Officer Sukhveer Singh chairing the meeting through video conferencing.
Staff Reporter :
Youths completing 18 years of age on 1 October can apply in advance to get their names added in voter list
The newly-arrived State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sukhveer Singh chaired a meeting with all the Collectors and District Election Officers (DEOs) through video conferencing on Wednesday. During the meeting, he discussed the pre-revision activities going on in the districts under the special summary revision of Voter List-2025 and gave necessary instructions in this regard. CEO Singh said that all officers should take the work of photo electoral roll seriously. Booth Level Officer (BLO) must compulsorily survey the voters door-to-door and report the progress daily. Ensure that the name of any dead person is not in the voter list. Singh said that the youth who are completing 18 years of age as on 1 January, 2025 can apply in advance to get their names added in the youth voters list.
Along with this, the youth who are completing 18 years of age as on 1 October, 2024 can also apply in advance to get their names added in the voters list. Singh said that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to set up polling stations in societies and multi-storey colonies as well. He said that the community hall of the colonies or the society office can be made a polling station. Chief Election Officer Singh said that special campaigns should be run to add names of women voters in the districts where the gender ratio is low. Take the help of Anganwadi workers, assistants, Asha, Usha, Gram Panchayat secretaries and women teachers posted in Government schools, he added. Name of any individual who passed away should not be there in the voters list. Along with this, take action to remove such voters whose name is registered at more than one place through Form 7. Voters can also get the errors in the voter ID card rectified by filling Form 8, he said. Notably, under the Special Summary Revision of Voters List-2025, preliminary activities have started from August 20.
During this, BLO (Booth Level Officer) should go to every house and do physical verification of voters. He instructed all the officers and employees to be cautious and not to be negligent in this work. Upload the photo of the polling station on the app after physical verification of polling stations. Send a proposal to build new polling stations in place of dilapidated polling stations. The names of members of a family should be registered at one polling station and one part. Also ensure that the distance of the polling station should not be more than 2 km and the number of voters at one polling station should not be more than 1500, mentioned CEO Singh while addressing the meeting. Additional Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Kumar Kaul, Joint Chief Electoral Officer Basant Kurre, Vivek Shrotiya and other officers were present in the meeting.
Why target only hospitals?
Vijay Phanshikar :
THIS is a very valid issue -- as anybody would agree -- Why target only hospitals?. This issue came up as regards the urban mess in Nagpurs Dhantoli area -- which was once upon a time known for its serenity and civic orderliness. Today, however, Dhantoli is becoming infamous for exactly the opposite reasons. And the general impression is that the sudden rise in the number of hospitals and nursing homes in Dhantoli area is the main reason for the urban mess -- resulting in traffic congestion or parking woes or over-crowding of roads and lanes etc etc ...! But is that really so? -- asked an esteemed reader, Dr. Shubhangi Deshmane (who is also a regular contributor to The Hitavada). This question does merit a serious and wholesome attention, so to say. The loosefooter -- or The Hitavada -- harbours no grudge or bias for or against hospitals. He agrees that other entities -- including high-rising housing complexes -- also contribute to the mess urban mess in Dhantoli.
And that was the reason why he wrote in the last edition of Footloose in Nagpur that many other areas of the city were becoming victims of civic mess, thanks to bad urban planning and worse administration. There is no doubt that the plots that held only bungalows housing just a family or two previously now host dozens of families and hundreds of persons as regular residents. Even the fulfillment of their basic needs also puts a great pressure on the plots and the lanes and the roads and the areas. Add to the housing complexes and hospitals the countless numbers of commercial establishments that line the streets in truly bewildering numbers. Each of these establishments are hosts to countless numbers of visitors who also use the space for transit parking. Let us, therefore, imagine a scenario of just 30 minutes in peak time of evening -- say between 6:30 pm and 7:00 pm. If Dhantoli has, say, 1,000 commercial establishments (which are besides hospitals) and each of those has average five visitors or customers at a time, then there are 5,000 additional people on roads mostly with their vehicles in transit parking -- during peak time.
This is just the tip of the iceberg of the density of road-usage in an already congested place like Dhantoli -- or any other area, for that matter. This general comprehension of the situation leads us to serious questions about the method and manner of our urban planning and management. In this scenario, the hospitals alone need not be made targets, all right. But the issue is not just about hospitals; it is about the process and thinking of urban planning and management. The trouble in Dhantoli -- or in many other areas in similar conditions -- is that of absence of sensible urban leadership. There are residential areas that now suddenly boast of countless numbers of restaurants etc within 100 meters of one another. Similar is situation with hospitals, so to say. For, there are many areas where dozens of hospitals have sprung up from the ground in the past some time.
Those who has studied classic approach to town planning know that there are regulatory arrangements to restrict numbers of establishments of the same nature in an area or a locality, so to say. That basic principles appears to have been given a go-by in Nagpur. Hence the urban mess. Hence the chaos which does not appear to have a credible solution -- unless, of course, the urban authorities take a hard stand and ensure a logical and sensible dispersal of establishments. And this is applicable to all establishments -- which do not exclude hospitals in the least. The target, thus, is not just the hospitals; it is the faulty approach to urban planning and management -- which the loosefooter often insists upon.
Romania has made the final procedural decision to transfer the Patriot system to Ukraine. On Thursday, September 5, President Klaus Iohannis signed a decree to that effect.
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This is reported on the official website of the Romanian president. It is a supplement to Article 1 of Law No. 222/2017 "Ground-based air defense capabilities".
The Patriot air and missile defense system will be donated to our country. This step is envisaged in the bilateral agreement on security cooperation signed by Iohannis and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in July this year.
The decision was first approved by the Romanian government on September 2. The very next day, the lower house of parliament also voted in favor of a law authorizing the free transfer of the Patriot air defense system to the Armed Forces,
"As soon as President Klaus Johannis signs the law, the government will issue an order for the donation," the authorities stated.
As reported by OBOZ.UA:
In early September, Norway allocated 570 million Norwegian kroner (more than $53 million) for Ukraine for drones and strengthening air defense. Oslo noted that Kyiv needs more military equipment to protect itself from Russian aggression.
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According to Reuters, Germany will transfer 12 IRIS-T SLM systems to Ukraine, and the first half will be deployed to our territory by the end of this year.
Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The Russian occupiers in the Kharkiv region have not changed their intentions they will continue to advance if given the chance. The enemy is probing Ukrainian positions, but the Defense Forces are trying to be proactive.
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Volodymyr Degtyarev, a representative of the public relations service of the 13th Operational Brigade of the National Guard "Charter", told Kyiv24 TV channel. According to him, the concept of defense at the front is rather conditional.
"This is a constant probing of our positions, our constant proactive actions to see earlier, as far as possible into the enemy's positions, their movements, logistics routes, to cut them off, not to allow them to accumulate and to take countermeasures somewhere," noted Degtyarev.
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As a reminder, in August 2024, soldiers of the 71st separate hunting brigade of the Airborne Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine neutralized almost 1200 Russian occupiers in their area of responsibility, killing and wounding them. The invaders are returning home in the 200th and 300th after short excursions to Vovchansk, Kharkiv region. All the replenishment that the enemy throws at this direction is quickly running out.
As reported by OBOZ.UA:
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine fired mortars at the fortifications that the occupiers are trying to equip in the Vovchansk direction. The SBGSU soldiers also hit trench lines and places of concentration of enemy manpower.
The State Border Guard Service soldiers, who are fighting at the front along with other units of the Defense Forces, have demonstrated new attacks on the enemy Russian troops. The soldiers managed to hit enemy manpower and equipment in the Vovchansk direction in the north of Kharkiv region.
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ABM Industries Incorporated (NYSE:ABM Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $57.25 and last traded at $56.78, with a volume of 11326 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $57.15.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
ABM has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. StockNews.com downgraded ABM Industries from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. UBS Group boosted their price objective on ABM Industries from $45.00 to $51.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, June 7th. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised their target price on ABM Industries from $48.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, June 10th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $48.80.
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ABM Industries Stock Performance
The stock has a market cap of $3.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.65 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a current ratio of 1.44, a quick ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $53.39 and a 200-day simple moving average of $48.05.
ABM Industries (NYSE:ABM Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, June 6th. The business services provider reported $0.87 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.79 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $2.02 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2 billion. ABM Industries had a net margin of 3.04% and a return on equity of 12.52%. ABM Industriess revenue for the quarter was up 1.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.90 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that ABM Industries Incorporated will post 3.46 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Insider Activity at ABM Industries
In related news, CAO Dean A. Chin sold 2,042 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.70, for a total transaction of $103,529.40. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 18,493 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $937,595.10. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other ABM Industries news, CAO Dean A. Chin sold 2,042 shares of ABM Industries stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.70, for a total value of $103,529.40. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 18,493 shares of the companys stock, valued at $937,595.10. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, COO Rene Jacobsen sold 40,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, July 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.67, for a total transaction of $2,066,800.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 72,062 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,723,443.54. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 78,778 shares of company stock worth $4,039,248 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 1.04% of the companys stock.
Institutional Trading of ABM Industries
A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in ABM. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in ABM Industries by 37.5% during the second quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,001 shares of the business services providers stock worth $51,000 after buying an additional 273 shares during the last quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in ABM Industries by 1.9% in the 2nd quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC now owns 17,623 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $891,000 after purchasing an additional 324 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System increased its position in ABM Industries by 2.6% during the second quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 17,718 shares of the business services providers stock worth $896,000 after buying an additional 442 shares during the last quarter. Adirondack Trust Co. raised its stake in ABM Industries by 250.0% in the second quarter. Adirondack Trust Co. now owns 700 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 500 shares during the period. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company lifted its position in shares of ABM Industries by 1.6% in the second quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 35,036 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,772,000 after buying an additional 539 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 91.62% of the companys stock.
ABM Industries Company Profile
(Get Free Report)
ABM Industries Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of integrated facility, infrastructure, and mobility solutions in the United States and internationally. It operates through Business & Industry, Manufacturing & Distribution, Education, Aviation, and Technical Solutions segments.
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Belpointe Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF (BATS:SMIN Free Report) by 87.0% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 21,044 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 9,790 shares during the quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC owned approximately 0.18% of iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF worth $1,702,000 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 SMIN. Simplex Trading LLC bought a new position in iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $43,000. National Bank of Canada FI grew its position in shares of iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF by 88.7% in the 4th quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 566 shares of the companys stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 266 shares during the last quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF in the 4th quarter worth approximately $822,000. Parallel Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF by 22.6% in the 4th quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 950 shares of the companys stock worth $66,000 after buying an additional 175 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Adams Wealth Management bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF in the 4th quarter worth approximately $6,024,000.
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iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF Stock Performance
Shares of SMIN stock opened at $84.78 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $1.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.28 and a beta of 0.46. iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF has a fifty-two week low of $40.25 and a fifty-two week high of $55.12. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $82.50 and its 200-day moving average price is $76.99.
About iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF
The iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF (SMIN) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI India Small Cap index, a market-cap-weighted index of the bottom 14% of companies traded on Indian stock markets. SMIN was launched on Feb 8, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock.
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Shares of Berry Global Group, Inc. (NYSE:BERY Get Free Report) have received a consensus rating of Hold from the twelve research firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $71.82.
Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on BERY shares. UBS Group lowered their price target on shares of Berry Global Group from $89.00 to $77.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 17th. Bank of America increased their target price on Berry Global Group from $74.00 to $81.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, May 10th. StockNews.com lowered Berry Global Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 21st. Finally, Morgan Stanley began coverage on Berry Global Group in a research note on Wednesday. They set an equal weight rating and a $76.00 price objective for the company.
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Institutional Inflows and Outflows
Berry Global Group Trading Down 0.4 %
A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of BERY. M&T Bank Corp raised its stake in Berry Global Group by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 8,854 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $597,000 after acquiring an additional 173 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Berry Global Group by 1.9% in the second quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 9,424 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $555,000 after purchasing an additional 176 shares during the last quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System lifted its holdings in shares of Berry Global Group by 0.6% during the first quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 33,400 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,020,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the period. State of Michigan Retirement System boosted its position in Berry Global Group by 0.7% in the first quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 28,500 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,724,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Guardian Wealth Management Inc. increased its holdings in Berry Global Group by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter. Guardian Wealth Management Inc. now owns 29,623 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,743,000 after buying an additional 287 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.36% of the companys stock.
BERY opened at $67.98 on Friday. Berry Global Group has a 52 week low of $53.92 and a 52 week high of $69.93. The company has a market capitalization of $7.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.15, a PEG ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 1.17. The stocks fifty day moving average is $63.53 and its two-hundred day moving average is $60.73. The company has a quick ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.57.
Berry Global Group (NYSE:BERY Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, August 2nd. The industrial products company reported $2.18 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.02 by $0.16. Berry Global Group had a return on equity of 27.32% and a net margin of 4.55%. The firm had revenue of $3.16 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.26 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.90 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 2.1% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that Berry Global Group will post 7.6 earnings per share for the current year.
Berry Global Group Dividend Announcement
The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 3rd will be paid a $0.275 dividend. This represents a $1.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.62%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 3rd. Berry Global Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.13%.
Berry Global Group Company Profile
(Get Free Report
Berry Global Group, Inc manufactures and supplies non-woven, flexible, and rigid products in consumer and industrial end markets in the United States, Canada, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through Consumer Packaging International; Consumer Packaging North America; Engineered Materials; and Health, Hygiene & Specialties segments.
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Shares of Black Hills Co. (NYSE:BKH Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $60.36 and last traded at $60.28, with a volume of 20065 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $59.75.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Black Hills from $61.00 to $64.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Mizuho raised their price target on shares of Black Hills from $53.00 to $57.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 4th. Scotiabank raised their price target on shares of Black Hills from $54.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 20th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Black Hills from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, May 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have assigned a hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $58.00.
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View Our Latest Analysis on Black Hills
Black Hills Stock Performance
The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 1.06. The firm has a market cap of $4.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.82 and a beta of 0.68. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $57.26 and its 200 day simple moving average is $55.06.
Black Hills (NYSE:BKH Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 31st. The utilities provider reported $0.33 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.29 by $0.04. Black Hills had a net margin of 12.96% and a return on equity of 8.21%. The business had revenue of $402.60 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $498.00 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.35 EPS. The firms revenue was down 2.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that Black Hills Co. will post 3.92 earnings per share for the current year.
Black Hills Announces Dividend
The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, September 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 19th were paid a dividend of $0.65 per share. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.32%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 19th. Black Hillss dividend payout ratio is presently 64.04%.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of BKH. BNP Paribas Financial Markets lifted its stake in shares of Black Hills by 108.0% during the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 101,774 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $5,557,000 after buying an additional 52,837 shares in the last quarter. Nebula Research & Development LLC purchased a new stake in Black Hills in the 4th quarter worth $1,564,000. Leeward Investments LLC MA lifted its stake in Black Hills by 5.6% in the 2nd quarter. Leeward Investments LLC MA now owns 170,148 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $9,253,000 after purchasing an additional 9,048 shares in the last quarter. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. lifted its stake in Black Hills by 39.7% in the 1st quarter. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. now owns 483,120 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $26,378,000 after purchasing an additional 137,356 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Versor Investments LP lifted its stake in Black Hills by 227.3% in the 4th quarter. Versor Investments LP now owns 31,425 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,695,000 after purchasing an additional 21,825 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.71% of the companys stock.
Black Hills Company Profile
(Get Free Report)
Black Hills Corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates as an electric and natural gas utility company in the United States. The company operates in two segments: Electric Utilities and Gas Utilities. The Electric Utilities segment generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 222,000 electric utility customers in Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming; and owns and operates 1,394 megawatts of generation capacity and 9,106 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines.
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Due to serious delays in Western military assistance, the aggressor country Russia had a 12-to-1 advantage over Ukraine in the use of artillery shells at one point in the war. The situation is better now, but the Ukrainian Armed Forces have not yet received all the weapons promised by our partners.
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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on this issue in a new interview with NBC News. According to him, due to the significant shortage of shells, the Ukrainian Defense Forces had to look for other solutions.
"Just imagine, at some point in this supply gap, our use of weapons was 1 to 12 artillery. One of our shells to 12 of Russia's shells. What do you have to do? It doesn't matter how many people you have standing here if they have 12 shells and you have 1, you will simply have more people standing and more people dying," Zelenskyy said.
He said that Ukraine had to look for smart solutions and ideas. In this context, the president recalled the Kursk operation, which helped to pull back enemy forces.
ADVERTISIMENT
Currently, the ratio of artillery strikes between Russia and Ukraine is 3 to 1, not 12 to 1.
"Do you realize the difference? Have we increased the number of weapons? No. Or have they decreased? Yes! Because certain forces and certain means have been redeployed," the head of state said.
As reported by OBOZ.UA, Volodymyr Zelenskyy answered the question why the United States did not know about the Armed Forces operation in Kursk region. Ukraine was preparing it in secret and did not inform its partners so that the details would not get to the Russians. Even many Ukrainian institutions did not know about the upcoming offensive.
Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and in Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
Canadian Western Bank (TSE:CWB Get Free Report) was upgraded by analysts at Cibc World Mkts to a hold rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday, Zacks.com reports.
Several other analysts have also issued reports on CWB. Raymond James lowered shares of Canadian Western Bank from a moderate buy rating to a hold rating and boosted their target price for the company from C$52.00 to C$54.00 in a research report on Tuesday. Scotiabank lifted their price target on shares of Canadian Western Bank from C$30.00 to C$52.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, June 18th. BMO Capital Markets cut Canadian Western Bank from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and upped their price objective for the stock from C$35.00 to C$52.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 12th. National Bankshares cut their price objective on Canadian Western Bank from C$37.00 to C$30.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, June 3rd. Finally, CIBC raised their price objective on Canadian Western Bank from C$55.80 to C$60.30 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$45.41.
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Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on CWB
Canadian Western Bank Stock Performance
Insider Buying and Selling at Canadian Western Bank
Shares of CWB traded up C$0.01 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching C$51.97. The company had a trading volume of 21,906 shares, compared to its average volume of 370,099. Canadian Western Bank has a 52 week low of C$24.66 and a 52 week high of C$52.80. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of C$47.12 and a 200 day moving average price of C$35.42. The company has a market capitalization of C$5.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 1.39.
In other news, Senior Officer Jenny Siman sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of C$46.05, for a total transaction of C$46,050.00. In other news, Senior Officer Trent Albert Erickson acquired 4,312 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, June 14th. The shares were bought at an average price of C$41.44 per share, for a total transaction of C$178,680.66. Also, Senior Officer Jenny Siman sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of C$46.05, for a total transaction of C$46,050.00. 0.46% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
About Canadian Western Bank
(Get Free Report)
Canadian Western Bank provides personal and business banking products and services in Western Canada. The company offers current, savings, US dollar, chequing, flex notice, organization, business trust, and trust fund investment accounts. It also offers commercial lending and real estate, equipment financing and leasing, aviation financing, and dealership financing products; agriculture lending products and AgriInvest savings account; variable and fixed rate mortgages; line of credit; registered retirement savings plan, consolidation, and vehicle loans; and credit cards.
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Strategy Asset Managers LLC lessened its stake in shares of CMS Energy Co. (NYSE:CMS Free Report) by 5.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,216 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 229 shares during the period. Strategy Asset Managers LLCs holdings in CMS Energy were worth $248,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.
Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main grew its stake in CMS Energy by 320.9% during the 4th quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 4,305,602 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $250,026,000 after acquiring an additional 3,282,697 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in CMS Energy by 14.0% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 22,662,964 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,367,483,000 after acquiring an additional 2,786,071 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in CMS Energy during the 4th quarter valued at about $111,004,000. Capital International Investors grew its stake in CMS Energy by 24.8% during the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 6,208,876 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $360,537,000 after acquiring an additional 1,234,791 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its stake in CMS Energy by 34.3% during the 4th quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 3,456,713 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $200,731,000 after acquiring an additional 883,180 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.57% of the companys stock.
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Insiders Place Their Bets
In other CMS Energy news, SVP Brandon J. Hofmeister sold 1,667 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.98, for a total transaction of $99,986.66. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 68,330 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,098,433.40. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, Director Jon E. Barfield sold 2,360 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, June 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.79, for a total value of $143,464.40. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 14,556 shares in the company, valued at approximately $884,859.24. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Brandon J. Hofmeister sold 1,667 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.98, for a total transaction of $99,986.66. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 68,330 shares in the company, valued at $4,098,433.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.40% of the stock is owned by company insiders.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Evercore ISI raised shares of CMS Energy to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of CMS Energy from $66.00 to $70.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, July 26th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on shares of CMS Energy from $68.00 to $71.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 14th. KeyCorp increased their price target on shares of CMS Energy from $66.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, May 20th. Finally, Scotiabank increased their price target on shares of CMS Energy from $66.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a sector outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 20th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, CMS Energy has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $67.33.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on CMS
CMS Energy Stock Performance
NYSE:CMS opened at $69.16 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.80, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 1.18. The stock has a market capitalization of $20.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.09, a PEG ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $63.83 and a 200 day moving average price of $61.28. CMS Energy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $49.87 and a fifty-two week high of $69.57.
CMS Energy (NYSE:CMS Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 25th. The utilities provider reported $0.66 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.63 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $1.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.73 billion. CMS Energy had a net margin of 13.10% and a return on equity of 12.25%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 3.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.75 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that CMS Energy Co. will post 3.33 EPS for the current year.
CMS Energy Cuts Dividend
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 2nd were issued a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 2nd. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.95%. CMS Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 62.80%.
CMS Energy Profile
(Free Report)
CMS Energy Corporation operates as an energy company primarily in Michigan. The company operates through three segments: Electric Utility; Gas Utility; and Enterprises. The Electric Utility segment is involved in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity. This segment generates electricity through coal, wind, gas, renewable energy, oil, and nuclear sources.
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Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBAPK Get Free Report) announced a interim dividend on Wednesday, September 4th, MarketIndexAU reports. Investors of record on Sunday, September 15th will be given a dividend of 1.256 per share on Sunday, September 15th. This represents a yield of 1.21%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 4th. This is an increase from Commonwealth Bank of Australias previous interim dividend of $1.25.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia Stock Performance
About Commonwealth Bank of Australia
(Get Free Report)
Commonwealth Bank of Australia provides financial services in Australia, New Zealand, and internationally. It operates through Retail Banking Services, Business Banking, Institutional Banking and Markets, and New Zealand segments. The company offers transaction, savings, and foreign currency accounts; term deposits; personal and business loans; overdrafts; equipment finance; credit cards; international payment and trade; and private banking services, as well as home and car loans.
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Consolidated Planning Corp bought a new stake in shares of Edison International (NYSE:EIX Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 3,614 shares of the utilities providers stock, valued at approximately $260,000.
Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Equitable Trust Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Edison International by 0.9% during the second quarter. Equitable Trust Co. now owns 15,424 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,108,000 after buying an additional 132 shares during the last quarter. TIAA Trust National Association boosted its holdings in Edison International by 2.0% in the 2nd quarter. TIAA Trust National Association now owns 6,723 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $483,000 after purchasing an additional 134 shares during the period. Carson Advisory Inc. grew its position in Edison International by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Carson Advisory Inc. now owns 54,625 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,864,000 after purchasing an additional 152 shares during the last quarter. Cohen Capital Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Edison International by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. Cohen Capital Management Inc. now owns 35,744 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $2,528,000 after purchasing an additional 161 shares during the period. Finally, Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC raised its position in shares of Edison International by 1.1% during the first quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC now owns 14,743 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,043,000 after buying an additional 161 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 88.95% of the companys stock.
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Insider Transactions at Edison International
In related news, CEO J Andrew Murphy sold 23,896 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.45, for a total value of $2,041,913.20. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 19,850 shares in the company, valued at $1,696,182.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, VP Natalie K. Schilling sold 2,341 shares of Edison International stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.00, for a total transaction of $187,280.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 6,338 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $507,040. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO J Andrew Murphy sold 23,896 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.45, for a total transaction of $2,041,913.20. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 19,850 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,696,182.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 89,099 shares of company stock worth $7,223,342 in the last three months. Insiders own 1.03% of the companys stock.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Barclays boosted their price target on Edison International from $80.00 to $91.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday. Guggenheim upped their target price on Edison International from $80.00 to $83.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Edison International from $62.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Friday, August 23rd. Mizuho increased their price objective on shares of Edison International from $75.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, May 17th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Edison International from $86.00 to $89.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Edison International currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $82.36.
Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Edison International
Edison International Stock Up 0.4 %
Shares of EIX opened at $87.72 on Thursday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $79.13 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $73.99. The firm has a market capitalization of $33.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.47 and a beta of 0.91. Edison International has a 52 week low of $58.82 and a 52 week high of $88.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.04, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 1.03.
Edison International (NYSE:EIX Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 25th. The utilities provider reported $1.23 EPS for the quarter, topping 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 firm had revenue of $4.34 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.12 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.01 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 9.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts predict that Edison International will post 4.94 earnings per share for the current year.
Edison International Dividend Announcement
The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 8th were paid a $0.78 dividend. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.56%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, July 8th. Edison Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 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.
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Consolidated Planning Corp acquired a new position in Brunswick Co. (NYSE:BC Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 2,891 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $210,000.
Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Inspire Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Brunswick by 7.9% during the 1st quarter. Inspire Advisors LLC now owns 2,268 shares of the companys stock valued at $219,000 after acquiring an additional 166 shares during the period. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. increased its position in Brunswick by 7.3% in the first quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 2,905 shares of the companys stock worth $280,000 after buying an additional 197 shares in the last quarter. Comerica Bank raised its stake in shares of Brunswick by 0.6% in the first quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 35,548 shares of the companys stock worth $3,431,000 after buying an additional 205 shares during the period. Rise Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Brunswick by 249.5% during the 1st quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 325 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 232 shares in the last quarter. Finally, J.Safra Asset Management Corp lifted its position in shares of Brunswick by 77.1% during the 1st quarter. J.Safra Asset Management Corp now owns 602 shares of the companys stock valued at $58,000 after buying an additional 262 shares in the last quarter. 99.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
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Brunswick Trading Up 1.1 %
Shares of BC opened at $78.07 on Thursday. Brunswick Co. has a fifty-two week low of $66.47 and a fifty-two week high of $99.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 1.70. The companys fifty day moving average is $76.42 and its 200 day moving average is $81.56. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.27 billion, a PE ratio of 14.51 and a beta of 1.52.
Brunswick Announces Dividend
Brunswick ( NYSE:BC Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The company reported $1.80 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.90 by ($0.10). The business had revenue of $1.44 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.55 billion. Brunswick had a return on equity of 23.46% and a net margin of 5.92%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 15.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.35 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Brunswick Co. will post 5.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 13th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 21st will be given a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.15%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 21st. Brunswicks dividend payout ratio is currently 31.23%.
Analyst Ratings Changes
BC has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on shares of Brunswick from $97.00 to $95.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 12th. Benchmark restated a buy rating and set a $100.00 target price on shares of Brunswick in a research note on Friday, July 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on Brunswick from $78.00 to $75.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 24th. Truist Financial lowered their price objective on Brunswick from $95.00 to $90.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 8th. Finally, B. Riley cut their target price on Brunswick from $108.00 to $97.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 10th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $88.21.
View Our Latest Analysis on Brunswick
Insider Activity at Brunswick
In other Brunswick news, Director Nancy E. Cooper sold 358 shares of Brunswick stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $81.34, for a total transaction of $29,119.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 23,877 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,942,155.18. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.81% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.
Brunswick Company Profile
(Free Report)
Brunswick Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets recreation products in the United States, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, Canada, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Propulsion, Engine P&A, Navico Group, and Boat. The Propulsion segment provides outboard, sterndrive, inboard engines, propulsion-related controls, rigging, and propellers for boat builders through marine retail dealers under the Mercury, Mercury MerCruiser, Mariner, Mercury Racing, Mercury Diesel, Avator, and Fliteboard brands.
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Cozad Asset Management Inc. increased its position in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report) by 1.1% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 16,637 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after acquiring an additional 174 shares during the period. Cozad Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $1,729,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ABT. Fortem Financial Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 3.6% during the 2nd quarter. Fortem Financial Group LLC now owns 7,754 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $806,000 after buying an additional 266 shares during the last quarter. Absher Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. Absher Wealth Management LLC now owns 183,839 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $19,103,000 after buying an additional 853 shares during the last quarter. Archer Investment Corp raised its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 8.2% during the 2nd quarter. Archer Investment Corp now owns 3,385 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $352,000 after buying an additional 256 shares during the last quarter. Founders Financial Securities LLC raised its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 17.8% during the 2nd quarter. Founders Financial Securities LLC now owns 3,209 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $333,000 after buying an additional 485 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund raised its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 149,420 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $15,526,000 after buying an additional 906 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.18% of the companys stock.
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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
ABT has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $125.00 target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Tuesday, June 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Thursday, May 30th. They set a buy rating and a $121.00 target price on the stock. Citigroup raised their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $119.00 to $127.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, August 22nd. Barclays raised their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $140.00 to $143.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, July 29th. Finally, Edward Jones cut Abbott Laboratories from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 30th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Abbott Laboratories has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $121.80.
Abbott Laboratories Trading Down 0.2 %
ABT stock opened at $114.40 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $199.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.64, a PEG ratio of 2.82 and a beta of 0.72. The businesss 50-day moving average is $107.51 and its 200 day moving average is $108.76. Abbott Laboratories has a 12-month low of $89.67 and a 12-month high of $121.64. The company has a current ratio of 1.68, a quick ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33.
Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 18th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.10 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $10.38 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.37 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 20.18% and a net margin of 13.65%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.08 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.66 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend
The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 15th were given a dividend of $0.55 per share. This represents a $2.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.92%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, July 15th. Abbott Laboratoriess payout ratio is presently 68.54%.
Abbott Laboratories 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.
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Direct Line Insurance Group (LON:DLG Get Free Report)s stock had its buy rating reaffirmed by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft in a report issued on Thursday, Digital Look reports. They currently have a GBX 240 ($3.16) price target on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschafts target price would indicate a potential upside of 25.46% from the stocks current price.
Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Berenberg Bank decreased their price target on shares of Direct Line Insurance Group from GBX 220 ($2.89) to GBX 215 ($2.83) and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and set a GBX 195 ($2.56) target price on shares of Direct Line Insurance Group in a research report on Monday, June 24th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of GBX 206 ($2.71).
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Direct Line Insurance Group Stock Up 1.5 %
Insider Buying and Selling
DLG opened at GBX 191.30 ($2.52) on Thursday. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is GBX 188.30 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 193.78. Direct Line Insurance Group has a 52 week low of GBX 149.50 ($1.97) and a 52 week high of GBX 240.10 ($3.16). The firm has a market cap of 2.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 1,195.63, a PEG ratio of 3.49 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a quick ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 8.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.89.
In related news, insider Carol Hagh acquired 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 4th. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 195 ($2.56) per share, with a total value of 19,500 ($25,641.03). Over the last quarter, insiders purchased 10,152 shares of company stock valued at $1,980,088. Insiders own 1.98% of the companys stock.
Direct Line Insurance Group Company Profile
(Get Free Report)
Direct Line Insurance Group plc engages in the provision of general insurance products and services in the United Kingdom. The company operates through Motor, Home, Rescue and Other Personal Lines, and Commercial segments. It offers motor, home, van, landlord, rescue, pet, tradesperson, business, creditor and select, and travel insurance products, as well as commercial insurance for small and medium-sized enterprises.
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EastGroup Properties (NYSE:EGP Get Free Report) was upgraded by investment analysts at Mizuho from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a report issued on Thursday, Briefing.com reports. The brokerage presently has a $200.00 target price on the real estate investment trusts stock, up from their prior target price of $175.00. Mizuhos price target would suggest a potential upside of 7.72% from the companys current price.
EGP has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on EastGroup Properties from $158.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, August 22nd. BNP Paribas started coverage on EastGroup Properties in a report on Tuesday, June 4th. They issued a neutral rating and a $167.00 target price for the company. Barclays lifted their target price on EastGroup Properties from $175.00 to $198.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, July 30th. Wedbush lifted their target price on EastGroup Properties from $208.00 to $209.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, August 5th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upgraded EastGroup Properties from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $179.00 to $214.00 in a report on Wednesday, August 28th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $191.20.
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EastGroup Properties Stock Performance
NYSE:EGP opened at $185.67 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.21 and a quick ratio of 0.21. EastGroup Properties has a 1 year low of $154.75 and a 1 year high of $192.61. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $182.31 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $174.13. The company has a market cap of $9.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.28, a PEG ratio of 2.96 and a beta of 0.98.
EastGroup Properties (NYSE:EGP Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 23rd. The real estate investment trust reported $1.14 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.05 by ($0.91). The company had revenue of $159.09 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $156.70 million. EastGroup Properties had a return on equity of 8.69% and a net margin of 37.16%. EastGroup Propertiess revenue for the quarter was up 13.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.89 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that EastGroup Properties will post 8.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On EastGroup Properties
Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in EGP. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of EastGroup Properties by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 8,471 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,555,000 after buying an additional 283 shares during the period. Metis Global Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of EastGroup Properties by 15.9% in the 4th quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 3,086 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $566,000 after buying an additional 424 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in shares of EastGroup Properties by 5.4% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 584,851 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $107,344,000 after acquiring an additional 30,136 shares in the last quarter. Principal Securities Inc. bought a new position in shares of EastGroup Properties in the 4th quarter worth $69,000. Finally, Versor Investments LP bought a new position in shares of EastGroup Properties in the 4th quarter worth $447,000. 92.14% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
About EastGroup Properties
(Get Free Report)
EastGroup Properties, Inc (NYSE: EGP), a member of the S&P Mid-Cap 400 and Russell 1000 Indexes, is a self-administered equity real estate investment trust focused on the development, acquisition and operation of industrial properties in major Sunbelt markets throughout the United States with an emphasis in the states of Florida, Texas, Arizona, California and North Carolina.
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TD Asset Management Inc cut its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 2.7% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,439,752 shares of the companys stock after selling 39,845 shares during the period. Eli Lilly and Company comprises approximately 1.2% of TD Asset Management Incs holdings, making the stock its 15th largest position. TD Asset Management Inc owned approximately 0.15% of Eli Lilly and Company worth $1,303,523,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Del Sette Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the second quarter valued at approximately $1,743,000. Commons Capital LLC purchased a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the second quarter valued at approximately $262,000. Birchcreek Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 2.2% during the second quarter. Birchcreek Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,188 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,981,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. Vance Wealth Inc. grew its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 12.8% during the second quarter. Vance Wealth Inc. now owns 450 shares of the companys stock valued at $407,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. Finally, PACK Private Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the second quarter valued at approximately $203,000. 82.53% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
Several analysts have commented on LLY shares. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $913.00 to $1,025.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 10th. Argus boosted their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $770.00 to $840.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 14th. Berenberg Bank boosted their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,000.00 to $1,050.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price 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. Finally, Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,000.00 to $1,125.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, August 9th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $961.76.
Eli Lilly and Company Price Performance
NYSE:LLY opened at $936.55 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $890.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 139.37, a PEG ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 0.41. Eli Lilly and Company has a one year low of $516.57 and a one year high of $972.53. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $895.96 and a 200 day moving average price of $826.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.74, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 0.87.
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 8th. The company reported $3.92 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.64 by $1.28. The firm had revenue of $11.30 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.83 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 18.86% and a return on equity of 67.52%. Analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 16.51 earnings per share for the current year.
Eli Lilly and Company Dividend Announcement
The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 15th will be issued a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.56%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 15th. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 76.58%.
Insider Buying and Selling at Eli Lilly and Company
In other Eli Lilly and Company news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 75,510 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, June 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $860.78, for a total value of $64,997,497.80. Following the sale, the insider now owns 97,793,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $84,178,955,771.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Insiders have sold 876,900 shares of company stock valued at $788,605,032 in the last 90 days. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Eli Lilly and Company 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.
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Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ESS Get Free Report) Director Amal M. Johnson sold 2,453 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, August 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $300.00, for a total transaction of $735,900.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 2,585 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $775,500. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink.
Essex Property Trust Price Performance
ESS stock opened at $301.63 on Thursday. Essex Property Trust, Inc. has a 1 year low of $203.85 and a 1 year high of $307.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.37 billion, a PE ratio of 36.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.32 and a beta of 0.86. The companys 50-day moving average is $283.86 and its 200-day moving average is $262.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.62 and a quick ratio of 1.62.
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Essex Property Trust (NYSE:ESS Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 30th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.85 by ($2.40). Essex Property Trust had a return on equity of 9.14% and a net margin of 30.31%. The firm had revenue of $442.36 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $433.26 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $3.77 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Essex Property Trust, Inc. will post 15.53 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
Several research analysts recently issued reports on ESS shares. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Essex Property Trust from $230.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 14th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on Essex Property Trust from $284.00 to $288.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, August 1st. Mizuho lifted their price objective on Essex Property Trust from $250.00 to $266.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, May 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Essex Property Trust from $244.00 to $265.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, June 17th. Finally, Piper Sandler boosted their price target on shares of Essex Property Trust from $315.00 to $355.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, August 26th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $281.25.
Check Out Our Latest Report on ESS
Institutional Trading of Essex Property Trust
Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Continuum Advisory LLC boosted its stake in Essex Property Trust by 214.3% during the 2nd quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 110 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its position in shares of Essex Property Trust by 600.0% during the second quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 112 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. Family Firm Inc. bought a new stake in Essex Property Trust during the second quarter worth $31,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Essex Property Trust by 112.3% in the 1st quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 138 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vima LLC bought a new position in Essex Property Trust during the 4th quarter valued at $40,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.51% of the companys stock.
Essex Property Trust Company Profile
(Get Free Report)
Essex Property Trust, Inc, an S&P 500 company, is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) that acquires, develops, redevelops, and manages multifamily residential properties in selected West Coast markets. Essex currently has ownership interests in 252 apartment communities comprising approximately 62,000 apartment homes with an additional property in active development.
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The increase in Russia's losses in August 2024 on the frontline in Ukraine is likely due to the Ukrainian invasion of the Kursk region of the Russian Federation and the Russian offensive in the Pokrovsk direction. In September, the occupiers' pressure and high level of losses will continue, but due to the limited capabilities of personnel and equipment, the army of the aggressor country is unlikely to achieve significant operational results.
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This is stated in the UK military intelligence report, which was published on September 5. The agency noted that, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the average daily losses of Russian troops in killed and wounded in August increased to 1187 people per day.
And since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has probably lost more than 610,000 people.
"The increase in the number of losses in August 2024 is apparently due to Ukraine's Kursk operation and the ongoing pressure on the Pokrovsk direction," the report says.
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British intelligence also noted that the Russian Federation continues to "rely on mass" to compensate for the lack of manpower and equipment.
"While Russian pressure across the front line will continue over the next month, their limited capabilities are likely to continue to limit their ability to leverage any tactical successes to achieve wider operational gains, " the agency said.
UK intelligence also predicted that the average Russian casualty rate is likely to continue to exceed 1,000 per day throughout September "as Russia continues operations on a broad front from Kursk in the north to Robotyno in the south."
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As reported by OBOZ.UA, on September 5, Kremlin dictator Putin said that Russia's primary task in the war is to "liberate" Donbas. According to him, Ukraine is allegedly trying to divert the enemy's attention from this goal by attacking the Kursk region, which allegedly weakened itself in other areas and allegedly accelerated the Russian offensive. Putin also claims that the occupiers have allegedly begun to "squeeze the enemy out" of the border areas.
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According to ISW analysts, as of September 4, Ukrainian troops continue to advance deeper into the Kursk region, in particular, they have recently advanced southeast of Durivka and southeast of Korenevo. Russian troops, in turn, withdrew from their positions in Mala Lokna, and fighting continued in the Korenevo and Sudzha areas.
On September 4, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Armed Forces' operation in the Kursk region brought Ukraine not only captured occupants. The soldiers of the Defense Forces have been assigned several tasks, and all of them are being fulfilled, the head of state said.
Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
FDx Advisors Inc. lowered its stake in Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP Free Report) (TSE:CP) by 38.9% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 11,037 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 7,022 shares during the period. FDx Advisors Inc.s holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City were worth $869,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. GPM Growth Investors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City in the second quarter valued at approximately $4,822,000. Legacy Capital Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in Canadian Pacific Kansas City in the second quarter valued at approximately $433,000. Fiera Capital Corp boosted its stake in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 2.0% in the second quarter. Fiera Capital Corp now owns 5,707,094 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $449,640,000 after acquiring an additional 111,613 shares during the last quarter. Financial Counselors Inc. boosted its stake in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 6.3% in the second quarter. Financial Counselors Inc. now owns 155,961 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $12,279,000 after acquiring an additional 9,246 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Summit Financial LLC bought a new position in Canadian Pacific Kansas City in the second quarter valued at approximately $361,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.20% of the companys stock.
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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
A number of equities research analysts recently commented on CP shares. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $105.00 to $100.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a report on Friday, June 7th. They set an overweight rating and a $90.00 price objective on the stock. Susquehanna restated a neutral rating and set a $80.00 price objective on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $96.00 to $95.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 16th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their price target on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $88.50 to $89.06 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Monday, July 8th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $96.56.
Canadian Pacific Kansas City Stock Performance
NYSE CP opened at $84.47 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. The company has a market capitalization of $78.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.07, a P/E/G ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.96. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited has a 12-month low of $68.92 and a 12-month high of $91.58. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $80.86 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $82.55.
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (NYSE:CP Get Free Report) (TSE:CP) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 30th. The transportation company reported $1.05 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.31. Canadian Pacific Kansas City had a net margin of 24.45% and a return on equity of 8.77%. The company had revenue of $3.60 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.58 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.62 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 13.5% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited will post 3.09 earnings per share for the current year.
Canadian Pacific Kansas City Cuts Dividend
The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 28th. Investors of record on Friday, September 27th will be given a dividend of $0.1373 per share. This represents a $0.55 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.65%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 27th. Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys dividend payout ratio is 17.31%.
About Canadian Pacific Kansas City
(Free Report)
Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates a transcontinental freight railway in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The company transports bulk commodities, including grain, coal, potash, fertilizers, and sulphur; merchandise freight, such as forest products, energy, chemicals and plastics, metals, minerals, consumer products, and automotive; and intermodal traffic comprising retail goods in overseas containers.
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Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE:BAH Get Free Report) and Bureau Veritas (OTCMKTS:BVVBY Get Free Report) are both business services companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, earnings, dividends, valuation, institutional ownership, profitability and risk.
Profitability
This table compares Booz Allen Hamilton and Bureau Veritas net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Booz Allen Hamilton 5.57% 65.80% 10.51% Bureau Veritas N/A N/A N/A
Valuation and Earnings
This table compares Booz Allen Hamilton and Bureau Veritas top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Booz Allen Hamilton $10.95 billion 1.85 $605.71 million $4.60 34.09 Bureau Veritas N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Analyst Ratings
Booz Allen Hamilton has higher revenue and earnings than Bureau Veritas.
This is a summary of current ratings for Booz Allen Hamilton and Bureau Veritas, as provided by MarketBeat.com.
Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Booz Allen Hamilton 1 2 7 0 2.60 Bureau Veritas 0 0 1 0 3.00
Booz Allen Hamilton currently has a consensus price target of $156.56, indicating a potential downside of 0.16%. Given Booz Allen Hamiltons higher probable upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Booz Allen Hamilton is more favorable than Bureau Veritas.
Institutional and Insider Ownership
91.8% of Booz Allen Hamilton shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.6% of Booz Allen Hamilton shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.
Summary
Booz Allen Hamilton beats Bureau Veritas on 8 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Booz Allen Hamilton
(Get Free Report)
Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation provides management and technology consulting, analytics, engineering, digital solutions, mission operations, and cyber services to governments, corporations, and not-for-profit organizations in the United States and internationally. It focuses on artificial intelligence services comprising of machine learning, predictive modeling, automation and decision analytics, and quantum computing. The company offers artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer network related operations. In addition, it provides data science, engineering, visualization, and analysis related capabilities. Further, the company engages in user experience, user interface, graphic and web design, design thinking, sketching, and digital product design capabilities. Additionally, it architects and engineers help accelerate, scale, secure, and transform mission and business outcomes using the technologies and partner offering; offers software engineering in agile practices, DevSecOps, automation and Cloud, and Low/No Code Platform engineering; systems and digital engineering; and tech strategy and product management. Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation was founded in 1914 and is headquartered in McLean, Virginia.
About Bureau Veritas
(Get Free Report)
Bureau Veritas SA provides laboratory testing, inspection, and certification services. It operates through six segments: Marine & Offshore; Agri-Food & Commodities; Buildings & Infrastructure; Industry; Certification; and Consumer Products. The company engages in inspecting, analyzing, auditing, and certifying the products, assets, and management systems of its clients in relation to regulatory or self-imposed standards, as well as issues compliance reports. It also provides laboratory and on-site testing services for manufacturing and process industries; inspection services for products, services, assets, and installations, as well as various services designed to control quality, verify quantity, and meet regulatory requirements; and certification services for management systems, products, and people. The company serves automotive and transportation, building and infrastructure, chemicals, commodities and agriculture, consumer products and retail, food, marine and offshore, oil and gas, and power and utilities industries, as well as financial services and public sectors. It operates in approximately 140 countries through a network of offices and laboratories. Bureau Veritas SA was founded in 1828 and is headquartered in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France.
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FineMark National Bank & Trust grew its position in shares of The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX Free Report) by 0.5% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 212,512 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock after purchasing an additional 1,110 shares during the quarter. TJX Companies makes up 0.9% of FineMark National Bank & Trusts holdings, making the stock its 24th biggest holding. FineMark National Bank & Trusts holdings in TJX Companies were worth $23,398,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in TJX. Commons Capital LLC lifted its stake in TJX Companies by 25.3% in the second quarter. Commons Capital LLC now owns 6,173 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $680,000 after buying an additional 1,245 shares during the period. Birchcreek Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in TJX Companies in the second quarter valued at approximately $214,000. Arbor Trust Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in TJX Companies by 0.6% in the second quarter. Arbor Trust Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 22,588 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $2,487,000 after buying an additional 142 shares during the period. Belpointe Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of TJX Companies by 61.5% during the second quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 8,686 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $956,000 after acquiring an additional 3,307 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Consolidated Planning Corp raised its position in shares of TJX Companies by 6.9% during the second quarter. Consolidated Planning Corp now owns 31,848 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $3,506,000 after purchasing an additional 2,054 shares during the period. 91.09% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
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TJX Companies Trading Down 0.0 %
Shares of TJX Companies stock opened at $117.52 on Thursday. The TJX Companies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $86.71 and a 1 year high of $121.13. The firm has a market cap of $132.82 billion, a PE ratio of 29.16, a P/E/G ratio of 2.96 and a beta of 0.89. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $113.32 and a 200-day moving average price of $104.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 1.21 and a quick ratio of 0.60.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
TJX Companies ( NYSE:TJX Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 21st. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $0.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.92 by $0.04. TJX Companies had a return on equity of 63.19% and a net margin of 8.56%. The firm had revenue of $13.47 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.31 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.85 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that The TJX Companies, Inc. will post 4.15 EPS for the current year.
A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on TJX shares. StockNews.com lowered TJX Companies from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, August 29th. Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $128.00 target price on shares of TJX Companies in a research report on Wednesday, August 21st. Barclays upped their target price on TJX Companies from $114.00 to $136.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, August 22nd. TD Cowen upped their target price on TJX Companies from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, August 22nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on TJX Companies from $100.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, August 22nd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $126.76.
View Our Latest Analysis on TJX
TJX Companies Company Profile
(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.
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First Dallas Securities Inc. grew its holdings in Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE:CLF Free Report) by 11.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 161,600 shares of the mining companys stock after acquiring an additional 16,250 shares during the quarter. Cleveland-Cliffs accounts for 1.1% of First Dallas Securities Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest holding. First Dallas Securities Inc.s holdings in Cleveland-Cliffs were worth $2,487,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of CLF. Hodges Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Cleveland-Cliffs by 5.0% in the 2nd quarter. Hodges Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,199,634 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $33,852,000 after purchasing an additional 104,197 shares during the period. CIBC Asset Management Inc grew its position in Cleveland-Cliffs by 34.1% during the second quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 18,711 shares of the mining companys stock worth $288,000 after buying an additional 4,753 shares in the last quarter. Verus Capital Partners LLC increased its stake in Cleveland-Cliffs by 11.2% during the second quarter. Verus Capital Partners LLC now owns 13,375 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $206,000 after acquiring an additional 1,350 shares during the period. Mraz Amerine & Associates Inc. raised its holdings in Cleveland-Cliffs by 3.4% in the 2nd quarter. Mraz Amerine & Associates Inc. now owns 144,665 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $2,226,000 after acquiring an additional 4,816 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ritholtz Wealth Management lifted its position in shares of Cleveland-Cliffs by 144.5% in the 2nd quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 51,857 shares of the mining companys stock worth $798,000 after acquiring an additional 30,651 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.68% of the companys stock.
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Insider Buying and Selling
In other Cleveland-Cliffs news, Director Ben Oren bought 6,700 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 12th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $14.99 per share, for a total transaction of $100,433.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 14,167 shares in the company, valued at approximately $212,363.33. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In related news, CFO Celso L. Goncalves, Jr. bought 7,250 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 12th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $14.98 per share, with a total value of $108,605.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief financial officer now owns 314,362 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,709,142.76. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Ben Oren bought 6,700 shares of Cleveland-Cliffs stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 12th. The shares were bought at an average price of $14.99 per share, for a total transaction of $100,433.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 14,167 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $212,363.33. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.76% of the companys stock.
Cleveland-Cliffs Price Performance
Shares of NYSE CLF traded down $0.18 during trading on Thursday, reaching $11.81. The company had a trading volume of 3,045,977 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,268,146. Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. has a 52 week low of $11.81 and a 52 week high of $22.97. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $14.31 and its 200-day moving average price is $17.25. The stock has a market cap of $5.62 billion, a PE ratio of 16.22, a PEG ratio of 7.70 and a beta of 2.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 1.87.
Cleveland-Cliffs (NYSE:CLF Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, July 22nd. The mining company reported $0.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Cleveland-Cliffs had a return on equity of 4.94% and a net margin of 0.21%. The firm had revenue of $5.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.18 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.69 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 14.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. will post 0.04 earnings per share for the current year.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
CLF has been the topic of a number of research reports. Bank of America lowered their price objective on Cleveland-Cliffs from $20.00 to $18.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, June 26th. Seaport Res Ptn upgraded shares of Cleveland-Cliffs from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 27th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Cleveland-Cliffs in a research note on Monday, May 20th. They issued a buy rating and a $22.00 price objective on the stock. B. Riley restated a buy rating and set a $23.00 target price on shares of Cleveland-Cliffs in a research report on Tuesday, June 25th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Cleveland-Cliffs from $17.50 to $15.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six 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.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $18.94.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on CLF
Cleveland-Cliffs Company Profile
(Free Report)
Cleveland-Cliffs is the largest flat-rolled steel company and the largest iron ore pellet producer in North America. The company is vertically integrated from mining through iron making, steelmaking, rolling, finishing and downstream with hot and cold stamping of steel parts and components. The company was formerly known as Cliffs Natural Resources Inc and changed its name to Cleveland-Cliffs Inc in August 2017.
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First Dallas Securities Inc. grew its position in Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated (NYSE:HR Free Report) by 35.1% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 80,750 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after buying an additional 21,000 shares during the quarter. First Dallas Securities Inc.s holdings in Healthcare Realty Trust were worth $1,331,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its holdings in Healthcare Realty Trust by 38.1% during the second quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 2,276 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 628 shares during the last quarter. Muzinich & Co. Inc. increased its stake in shares of Healthcare Realty Trust by 98.1% during the 4th quarter. Muzinich & Co. Inc. now owns 2,179 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 1,079 shares during the last quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue raised its holdings in shares of Healthcare Realty Trust by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 222,297 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $3,144,000 after purchasing an additional 1,140 shares during the period. Peak Financial Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Healthcare Realty Trust by 4.7% in the 2nd quarter. Peak Financial Advisors LLC now owns 25,867 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $426,000 after purchasing an additional 1,160 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. grew its holdings in Healthcare Realty Trust by 4.8% during the second quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 27,317 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $450,000 after purchasing an additional 1,261 shares during the period.
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Healthcare Realty Trust Stock Up 2.7 %
Shares of HR traded up $0.49 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $18.41. 553,261 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,483,244. Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated has a 52 week low of $12.77 and a 52 week high of $18.47. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $17.50 and its 200-day simple moving average is $15.70. The firm has a market cap of $6.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -13.47 and a beta of 0.89.
Healthcare Realty Trust Announces Dividend
Healthcare Realty Trust ( NYSE:HR Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 2nd. The real estate investment trust reported ($0.39) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.38 by ($0.77). The company had revenue of $316.30 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $317.90 million. Healthcare Realty Trust had a negative net margin of 42.79% and a negative return on equity of 8.50%. Healthcare Realty Trusts revenue was down 6.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.39 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated will post 1.56 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 12th were issued a $0.31 dividend. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.74%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 12th. Healthcare Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio is currently -93.23%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
HR has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company lowered Healthcare Realty Trust from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $17.00 to $16.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. Scotiabank raised their price target on Healthcare Realty Trust from $17.00 to $18.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Wednesday, August 7th. Finally, Wedbush upped their price objective on shares of Healthcare Realty Trust from $15.00 to $18.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, August 5th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $17.00.
Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on HR
Insider Buying and Selling at Healthcare Realty Trust
In other news, Director Thomas N. Bohjalian purchased 9,000 shares of Healthcare Realty Trust stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 12th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $17.39 per share, for a total transaction of $156,510.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 22,252 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $386,962.28. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.56% of the companys stock.
Healthcare Realty Trust Company Profile
(Free Report)
Healthcare Realty (NYSE: HR) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns and operates medical outpatient buildings primarily located around market-leading hospital campuses. The Company selectively grows its portfolio through property acquisition and development. As the first and largest REIT to specialize in medical outpatient buildings, Healthcare Realty's portfolio includes more than 700 properties totaling over 40 million square feet concentrated in 15 growth markets.
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First National Trust Co decreased its stake in Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS Free Report) by 1.4% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 35,346 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 495 shares during the quarter. First National Trust Cos holdings in Morgan Stanley were worth $3,435,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of MS. Atalanta Sosnoff Capital LLC raised its holdings in Morgan Stanley by 8.1% in the 4th quarter. Atalanta Sosnoff Capital LLC now owns 373,686 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $34,846,000 after purchasing an additional 27,845 shares during the period. Evercore Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Morgan Stanley by 4.0% in the 4th quarter. Evercore Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,274,605 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $118,857,000 after purchasing an additional 48,812 shares during the period. California State Teachers Retirement System raised its holdings in Morgan Stanley by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 1,987,524 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $185,337,000 after purchasing an additional 9,260 shares during the period. DRW Securities LLC raised its holdings in Morgan Stanley by 247.2% in the 4th quarter. DRW Securities LLC now owns 22,335 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,083,000 after purchasing an additional 15,903 shares during the period. Finally, Artisan Partners Limited Partnership raised its holdings in Morgan Stanley by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 1,059,376 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $98,787,000 after purchasing an additional 23,991 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.19% of the companys stock.
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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Citigroup upped their price target on Morgan Stanley from $98.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. UBS Group increased their target price on Morgan Stanley from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, July 9th. JMP Securities reissued a market perform rating on shares of Morgan Stanley in a report on Thursday, July 18th. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Morgan Stanley from $116.00 to $118.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, July 18th. Finally, Oppenheimer cut Morgan Stanley from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $101.45.
Insiders Place Their Bets
In other news, insider Daniel A. Simkowitz sold 40,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.54, for a total value of $4,261,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 442,522 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $47,146,293.88. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, insider Mandell Crawley sold 3,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.25, for a total value of $368,375.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 43,224 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,549,326. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Daniel A. Simkowitz sold 40,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $106.54, for a total value of $4,261,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 442,522 shares in the company, valued at approximately $47,146,293.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 252,000 shares of company stock valued at $26,546,370 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.24% of the companys stock.
Morgan Stanley Trading Up 0.9 %
Shares of Morgan Stanley stock opened at $100.15 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $162.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.24, a PEG ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 1.38. Morgan Stanley has a fifty-two week low of $69.42 and a fifty-two week high of $109.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.96, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 0.78. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $100.73 and a 200 day moving average of $95.75.
Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, July 16th. The financial services provider reported $1.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.65 by $0.17. The firm had revenue of $15.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.32 billion. Morgan Stanley had a return on equity of 11.85% and a net margin of 10.17%. Morgan Stanleys revenue was up 11.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.24 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Morgan Stanley will post 7.03 earnings per share for the current year.
Morgan Stanley Increases Dividend
The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 31st were issued a dividend of $0.925 per share. This represents a $3.70 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.69%. This is an increase from Morgan Stanleys previous quarterly dividend of $0.85. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, July 31st. Morgan Stanleys payout ratio is 67.40%.
Morgan Stanley Company Profile
(Free Report)
Morgan Stanley, a financial holding company, provides various financial products and services to corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It operates through Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management segments.
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Foster & Motley Inc. cut its position in shares of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Free Report) by 2.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 21,500 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 605 shares during the quarter. Foster & Motley Inc.s holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $4,372,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.
Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC purchased a new position in Travelers Companies during the 1st quarter valued at about $35,000. Beacon Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Travelers Companies by 74.2% in the 1st quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC now owns 155 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. Northwest Financial Advisors acquired a new stake in Travelers Companies during the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Travelers Companies in the first quarter worth $42,000. Finally, Tributary Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Travelers Companies during the first quarter valued at $45,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.45% of the companys stock.
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Insider Activity
In other Travelers Companies news, EVP Michael Frederick Klein sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $211.44, for a total value of $2,114,400.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 22,798 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,820,409.12. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 1.33% of the companys stock.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
Several research analysts recently weighed in on TRV shares. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of Travelers Companies from $220.00 to $210.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 19th. William Blair reaffirmed a market perform rating on shares of Travelers Companies in a research note on Friday, June 28th. Barclays began coverage on Travelers Companies in a research note on Wednesday. They set an overweight rating and a $286.00 price target on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Travelers Companies from $220.00 to $242.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Thursday, July 11th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and issued a $225.00 price target on shares of Travelers Companies in a research note on Monday, July 22nd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $227.05.
Check Out Our Latest Report on Travelers Companies
Travelers Companies Stock Down 0.4 %
NYSE:TRV traded down $0.90 on Thursday, reaching $230.52. The stock had a trading volume of 150,547 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,324,701. The company has a 50-day moving average of $213.66 and a 200 day moving average of $216.10. The company has a current ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The stock has a market cap of $52.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 0.61. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $157.33 and a 12-month high of $234.18.
Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 19th. The insurance provider reported $2.51 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.23 by ($0.72). Travelers Companies had a net margin of 8.37% and a return on equity of 15.90%. The business had revenue of $11.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.35 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.06 EPS. Travelers Companiess revenue for the quarter was up 11.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 17.19 earnings per share for the current year.
Travelers Companies Dividend Announcement
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 10th will be given a $1.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 10th. This represents a $4.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.82%. Travelers Companiess payout ratio is 31.20%.
Travelers Companies Company Profile
(Free Report)
The Travelers Companies, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance.
Further Reading
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Foster & Motley Inc. decreased its position in Toyota Motor Co. (NYSE:TM Free Report) by 2.1% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 42,667 shares of the companys stock after selling 908 shares during the period. Foster & Motley Inc.s holdings in Toyota Motor were worth $8,746,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in TM. 180 Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Toyota Motor by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. 180 Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,823 shares of the companys stock valued at $459,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Toyota Motor by 3.5% in the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,524 shares of the companys stock worth $312,000 after acquiring an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Capital Advisors Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Toyota Motor by 1.9% in the 2nd quarter. Capital Advisors Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,899 shares of the companys stock worth $594,000 after acquiring an additional 55 shares during the last quarter. Seven Mile Advisory boosted its position in shares of Toyota Motor by 5.3% during the 4th quarter. Seven Mile Advisory now owns 1,275 shares of the companys stock worth $234,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares during the period. Finally, Vista Investment Management increased its holdings in Toyota Motor by 4.3% in the 4th quarter. Vista Investment Management now owns 1,584 shares of the companys stock valued at $290,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 1.48% of the companys stock.
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Analyst Ratings Changes
Separately, Erste Group Bank restated a hold rating on shares of Toyota Motor in a research note on Friday, June 14th.
Toyota Motor Trading Down 1.0 %
NYSE:TM traded down $1.91 on Thursday, reaching $182.80. 29,554 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 305,770. The firm has a market capitalization of $246.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.42 and a beta of 0.68. Toyota Motor Co. has a 52-week low of $159.04 and a 52-week high of $255.23. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. The business has a fifty day moving average of $190.52 and a 200-day moving average of $214.82.
Toyota Motor (NYSE:TM Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The company reported $6.35 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.01 by $2.34. Toyota Motor had a net margin of 10.70% and a return on equity of 14.28%. The firm had revenue of $75.94 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $72.48 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $7.05 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Toyota Motor Co. will post 17 earnings per share for the current year.
About Toyota Motor
(Free Report)
Toyota Motor Corporation designs, manufactures, assembles, and sells passenger vehicles, minivans and commercial vehicles, and related parts and accessories in Japan, North America, Europe, Asia, Central and South America, Oceania, Africa, and the Middle East. It operates in Automotive, Financial Services, and All Other segments.
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GPM Growth Investors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 45,946 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $3,386,000. Charles Schwab accounts for 1.4% of GPM Growth Investors Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 29th largest holding.
A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Markel Group Inc. grew its stake in Charles Schwab by 1.0% in the second quarter. Markel Group Inc. now owns 1,366,766 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $100,717,000 after purchasing an additional 13,000 shares during the period. Hodges Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in Charles Schwab by 3.5% during the 2nd quarter. Hodges Capital Management Inc. now owns 44,543 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $3,282,000 after acquiring an additional 1,501 shares during the period. Weaver Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Charles Schwab during the second quarter worth about $499,000. FSB Premier Wealth Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 63.3% in the 2nd quarter. FSB Premier Wealth Management Inc. now owns 18,595 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,370,000 after purchasing an additional 7,206 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund increased its position in Charles Schwab by 0.7% during the 2nd quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 128,192 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $9,446,000 after buying an additional 880 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 84.38% of the companys stock.
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Insiders Place Their Bets
In other Charles Schwab news, insider Bernard J. Clark sold 8,164 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.00, for a total transaction of $612,300.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 121,666 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,124,950. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, insider Bernard J. Clark sold 8,164 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.00, for a total value of $612,300.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 121,666 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,124,950. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Carolyn Schwab-Pomerantz sold 12,320 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.10, for a total transaction of $802,032.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 562,129 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $36,594,597.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 107,800 shares of company stock worth $7,145,364. 6.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
Charles Schwab Stock Performance
Shares of NYSE SCHW opened at $63.90 on Thursday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $66.86 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $70.11. The stock has a market cap of $113.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.74, a PEG ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a current ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 12 month low of $48.66 and a 12 month high of $79.49.
Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 16th. The financial services provider reported $0.73 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.72 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $4.69 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.68 billion. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 26.30% and a return on equity of 18.14%. The firms revenue was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.75 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.05 earnings per share for the current year.
Charles Schwab Announces Dividend
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 23rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 9th were paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.56%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 9th. Charles Schwabs payout ratio is currently 41.84%.
Analyst Ratings Changes
Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on Charles Schwab from $82.00 to $78.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $85.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, July 8th. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $71.00 to $70.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 16th. Barclays lowered their price objective on Charles Schwab from $77.00 to $68.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 17th. Finally, UBS Group reduced their price objective on Charles Schwab from $91.00 to $90.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 9th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $74.00.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab Company Profile
(Free Report)
The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.
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Gries Financial LLC reduced its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 74.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 17,148 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 50,969 shares during the quarter. Gries Financial LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $712,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Traynor Capital Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 2.8% during the first quarter. Traynor Capital Management Inc. now owns 7,672 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $416,000 after acquiring an additional 207 shares in the last quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 12.8% during the 1st quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 1,910 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $104,000 after purchasing an additional 216 shares during the last quarter. Bfsg LLC increased its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 24.4% in the 1st quarter. Bfsg LLC now owns 1,120 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $61,000 after purchasing an additional 220 shares in the last quarter. Paragon Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.1% in the first quarter. Paragon Capital Management LLC now owns 20,500 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,112,000 after purchasing an additional 222 shares during the last quarter. Finally, OmniStar Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.7% during the second quarter. OmniStar Financial Group Inc. now owns 13,316 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $553,000 after purchasing an additional 224 shares in the last quarter. 76.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
A number of equities analysts have weighed in on BMY shares. StockNews.com raised Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, July 29th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $53.00 to $45.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 23rd. TD Cowen raised their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $45.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Monday, August 12th. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $41.00 to $42.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Thursday, August 22nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $49.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 28th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $54.67.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Trading Down 1.1 %
Bristol-Myers Squibb stock opened at $49.94 on Thursday. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 12-month low of $39.35 and a 12-month high of $62.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $101.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -16.11, a P/E/G ratio of 12.92 and a beta of 0.44. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $45.64 and a 200 day moving average of $46.59. The company has a current ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.86.
Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 26th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.07 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.64 by $0.43. The firm had revenue of $12.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.54 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a negative net margin of 14.06% and a positive return on equity of 12.51%. The companys revenue was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.75 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 0.77 earnings per share for the current year.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Dividend
The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 5th were paid a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.81%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 5th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -77.42%.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Profile
(Free Report)
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for various anti-cancer indications, including bladder, blood, CRC, head and neck, RCC, HCC, lung, melanoma, MPM, stomach and esophageal cancer; Pomalyst/Imnovid for multiple myeloma; Orencia for active rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.
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Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin claims that Moscow is supposedly ready to negotiate with Kyiv. The war criminal wants the agreement reached in Istanbul in 2022 to be the basis.
ADVERTISIMENT
The so-called Russian president made the statement on September 5 from the stage of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. The statement was captured on video.
Putin claims that Russia has "never refused" to negotiate.
"Are we ready to negotiate with them [Ukraine]? We have never refused to do so, but not on the basis of some ephemeral demands, but on the basis of the documents that were agreed upon and actually initialed in Istanbul," the leader of the aggressor state said.
He would like to see China, Brazil, and India as mediators because he has "trusting" relations with representatives of these countries.
ADVERTISIMENT
As OBOZ.UA reported earlier, former Russian President and Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev called Ukraine's operation in the Kursk region an "act of terrorism." He said that the West was allegedly trying to lure Russia into a "negotiation trap with unclear prospects and consequences," but now there can be "no negotiations" for sure.
Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (OTCMKTS:HTZZ Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week low on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $2.90 and last traded at $2.92, with a volume of 4736561 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $2.99.
Hertz Global Stock Down 2.3 %
The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $3.60 and its 200 day simple moving average is $5.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.07, a quick ratio of 2.91 and a current ratio of 2.91.
Hertz Global Company Profile
(Get Free Report)
Hertz Global Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides airport and off airport vehicle rental and leasing services. It operates through three segments: U.S. RAC, International RAC, and All Other Operations. The company provides its vehicle rental services under the Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty, Firefly, and Flexicar brands from approximately 12,000 corporate and franchisee locations in North America, Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and New Zealand.
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Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE Get Free Report) issued an update on its FY 2024 earnings guidance on Wednesday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 1.920-1.970 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 1.920. The company issued revenue guidance of $29.4 billion-$30.0 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $29.8 billion. Hewlett Packard Enterprise also updated its Q4 guidance to $0.52-0.57 EPS.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Price Performance
Shares of NYSE:HPE opened at $17.85 on Thursday. Hewlett Packard Enterprise has a fifty-two week low of $14.47 and a fifty-two week high of $22.82. The companys 50-day moving average is $19.52 and its 200 day moving average is $18.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 0.90. The company has a market capitalization of $23.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 1.20.
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Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, September 4th. The technology company reported $0.50 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.47 by $0.03. Hewlett Packard Enterprise had a net margin of 6.38% and a return on equity of 8.49%. The firm had revenue of $7.71 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.67 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.35 EPS. The companys revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Hewlett Packard Enterprise will post 1.59 earnings per share for the current year.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Announces Dividend
Analyst Ratings Changes
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 18th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 19th will be paid a $0.13 dividend. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.91%. Hewlett Packard Enterprises payout ratio is presently 37.96%.
A number of brokerages recently issued reports on HPE. Susquehanna boosted their price objective on Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $14.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 5th. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their price target on shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $17.00 to $19.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 5th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $18.00 to $22.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, June 5th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $19.00 to $22.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, June 5th. Finally, Bank of America increased their target price on Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $22.00 to $24.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, June 21st. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $21.18.
Read Our Latest Research Report on Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Insiders Place Their Bets
In related news, EVP Neil B. Macdonald sold 36,671 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.51, for a total transaction of $752,122.21. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 111,054 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,277,717.54. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Hewlett Packard Enterprise news, SVP Kirt P. Karros sold 30,686 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.49, for a total value of $628,756.14. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Neil B. Macdonald sold 36,671 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.51, for a total value of $752,122.21. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 111,054 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,277,717.54. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 90,141 shares of company stock valued at $1,874,608 over the last quarter. 0.40% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
About Hewlett Packard Enterprise
(Get Free Report)
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company provides solutions that allow customers to capture, analyze, and act upon data seamlessly in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Japan. It operates in six segments: Compute, HPC & AI, Storage, Intelligent Edge, Financial Services, and Corporate Investments and Other.
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Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc (OTCMKTS:HTKKY Get Free Report)s share price fell 2.2% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $53.89 and last traded at $53.89. 100 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 0% from the average session volume of 100 shares. The stock had previously closed at $55.10.
Hitachi Kokusai Electric Price Performance
The businesss fifty day moving average price is $53.89 and its 200-day moving average price is $53.89.
Hitachi Kokusai Electric Company Profile
(Get Free Report)
Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc provides video and wireless network, and eco-and thin film processing solutions in Japan, the United States, Taiwan, Korea, other Asian countries, Europe, and internationally. The company offers wireless communications and information systems, such as infrastructure for mobile telecommunications, disaster-preventive administration radio systems, radio systems for transportation, land mobile radio communication products, and wireless broadband systems.
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Hodges Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in General Motors (NYSE:GM Free Report) (TSE:GMM.U) by 5.6% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 9,500 shares of the auto manufacturers stock after acquiring an additional 500 shares during the quarter. Hodges Capital Management Inc.s holdings in General Motors were worth $441,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. LifeSteps Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of General Motors during the 1st quarter worth about $25,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC boosted its position in General Motors by 56.1% during the second quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 626 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 225 shares during the last quarter. Cape Investment Advisory Inc. grew its stake in General Motors by 75.9% in the 4th quarter. Cape Investment Advisory Inc. now owns 832 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 359 shares during the period. Montag A & Associates Inc. purchased a new position in shares of General Motors during the 1st quarter worth $30,000. Finally, YHB Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of General Motors during the first quarter worth $32,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.67% of the companys stock.
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Analysts Set New Price Targets
Several equities analysts recently commented on GM shares. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on General Motors from $32.00 to $34.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 24th. Bank of America reiterated a buy rating and set a $75.00 price objective on shares of General Motors in a report on Wednesday, June 12th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price on shares of General Motors from $58.00 to $54.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 9th. Nomura lowered shares of General Motors from a neutral rating to a reduce rating and set a $34.00 price target on the stock. in a report on Monday, August 5th. Finally, UBS Group upped their price objective on General Motors from $61.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 10th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $55.17.
General Motors Trading Up 0.1 %
Shares of GM opened at $48.45 on Thursday. General Motors has a one year low of $26.30 and a one year high of $50.50. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $46.21 and a 200 day moving average price of $44.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.18. The company has a market capitalization of $54.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.92, a P/E/G ratio of 0.50 and a beta of 1.43.
General Motors (NYSE:GM Get Free Report) (TSE:GMM.U) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, July 23rd. The auto manufacturer reported $3.06 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.67 by $0.39. The company had revenue of $47.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $45.13 billion. General Motors had a return on equity of 15.77% and a net margin of 6.22%. The businesss revenue was up 7.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.91 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that General Motors will post 9.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.
General Motors Dividend Announcement
The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 19th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 6th will be paid a $0.12 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 6th. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.99%. General Motorss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 5.87%.
General Motors declared that its board has initiated a share buyback plan on Tuesday, June 11th that authorizes the company to buyback $6.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the auto manufacturer to reacquire up to 10.8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are often a sign that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.
Insider Transactions at General Motors
In other news, President Mark L. Reuss sold 14,858 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $46.01, for a total value of $683,616.58. Following the completion of the sale, the president now directly owns 162,049 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,455,874.49. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, President Mark L. Reuss sold 14,858 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.01, for a total value of $683,616.58. Following the transaction, the president now directly owns 162,049 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,455,874.49. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, President Mark L. Reuss sold 35,142 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.34, for a total transaction of $1,628,480.28. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 126,907 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,880,870.38. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 391,402 shares of company stock valued at $18,818,536. Insiders own 0.72% of the companys stock.
General Motors Company Profile
(Free Report)
General Motors Company designs, builds, and sells trucks, crossovers, cars, and automobile parts; and provide software-enabled services and subscriptions worldwide. The company operates through GM North America, GM International, Cruise, and GM Financial segments. It markets its vehicles primarily under the Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Baojun, and Wuling brand names.
Further Reading
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Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. (NYSE:HPP Get Free Report) Director Jonathan M. Glaser sold 9,287 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $5.20, for a total value of $48,292.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,713 shares of the companys stock, valued at $19,307.60. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link.
Hudson Pacific Properties Stock Performance
Shares of HPP opened at $5.08 on Thursday. Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. has a 12-month low of $4.26 and a 12-month high of $9.85. The company has a current ratio of 1.47, a quick ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41. The company has a market cap of $717.02 million, a PE ratio of -3.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 1.32. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $5.21 and a 200-day moving average price of $5.56.
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Hudson Pacific Properties (NYSE:HPP Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The real estate investment trust reported ($0.33) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.17 by ($0.50). Hudson Pacific Properties had a negative net margin of 25.42% and a negative return on equity of 7.41%. The company had revenue of $218.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $216.08 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.24 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 11.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. will post 0.62 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their target price on shares of Hudson Pacific Properties from $6.50 to $4.70 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 14th. BMO Capital Markets lowered Hudson Pacific Properties from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $8.00 to $6.00 in a research note on Thursday, August 8th. Wolfe Research downgraded Hudson Pacific Properties from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 14th. Scotiabank reduced their target price on Hudson Pacific Properties from $7.00 to $6.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 26th. Finally, Piper Sandler downgraded shares of Hudson Pacific Properties from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $7.00 to $6.00 in a report on Thursday, August 8th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $7.17.
Read Our Latest Analysis on HPP
Institutional Trading of Hudson Pacific Properties
A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Key Client Fiduciary Advisors LLC bought a new position in Hudson Pacific Properties in the second quarter valued at $53,000. Versor Investments LP bought a new position in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties during the 4th quarter valued at about $99,000. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. purchased a new position in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties during the 4th quarter valued at about $102,000. NorthRock Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties during the first quarter valued at about $104,000. Finally, Shell Asset Management Co. bought a new stake in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties in the 1st quarter valued at about $107,000. 97.58% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
About Hudson Pacific Properties
(Get Free Report)
Hudson Pacific Properties (NYSE: HPP) is a real estate investment trust serving dynamic tech and media tenants in global epicenters for these synergistic, converging and secular growth industries. Hudson Pacific's unique and high-barrier tech and media focus leverages a full-service, end-to-end value creation platform forged through deep strategic relationships and niche expertise across identifying, acquiring, transforming and developing properties into world-class amenitized, collaborative and sustainable office and studio space.
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Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR Get Free Report) (TSE:QSR) insider Thomas Benjamin Curtis sold 6,536 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $68.63, for a total transaction of $448,565.68. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 37,179 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,551,594.77. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link.
Restaurant Brands International Stock Up 0.3 %
QSR opened at $68.64 on Thursday. Restaurant Brands International Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $61.77 and a fifty-two week high of $83.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.71, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a current ratio of 0.78. The company has a market capitalization of $21.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.69, a P/E/G ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.92. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $70.51 and a 200-day moving average of $72.64.
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Restaurant Brands International (NYSE:QSR Get Free Report) (TSE:QSR) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 8th. The restaurant operator reported $0.86 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.85 by $0.01. Restaurant Brands International had a return on equity of 30.78% and a net margin of 16.99%. The company had revenue of $2.08 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.05 billion. On average, equities analysts expect that Restaurant Brands International Inc. will post 3.36 EPS for the current year.
Restaurant Brands International Dividend Announcement
Analyst Ratings Changes
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 4th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 20th will be issued a dividend of $0.58 per share. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.38%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 20th. Restaurant Brands Internationals dividend payout ratio is currently 59.79%.
Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on QSR shares. TD Cowen reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $88.00 price target on shares of Restaurant Brands International in a research note on Thursday, August 8th. KeyCorp decreased their target price on shares of Restaurant Brands International from $85.00 to $80.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, June 27th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Restaurant Brands International from $80.00 to $77.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on shares of Restaurant Brands International from $86.00 to $83.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, July 16th. Finally, Bank of America raised their target price on shares of Restaurant Brands International from $72.00 to $79.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and eighteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $83.07.
View Our Latest Research Report on QSR
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Restaurant Brands International
Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Granite Bay Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Restaurant Brands International in the second quarter valued at about $792,000. Fiera Capital Corp raised its stake in Restaurant Brands International by 6.5% in the second quarter. Fiera Capital Corp now owns 3,517,417 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $247,955,000 after purchasing an additional 213,877 shares in the last quarter. Chase Investment Counsel Corp raised its stake in Restaurant Brands International by 7.9% in the second quarter. Chase Investment Counsel Corp now owns 5,439 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $382,000 after purchasing an additional 396 shares in the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. raised its stake in Restaurant Brands International by 37.3% in the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 52,637 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $3,704,000 after purchasing an additional 14,296 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Creative Planning raised its stake in Restaurant Brands International by 1.2% in the second quarter. Creative Planning now owns 62,040 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $4,366,000 after purchasing an additional 759 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.29% of the companys stock.
Restaurant Brands International Company Profile
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Restaurant Brands International Inc operates as a quick-service restaurant company in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Tim Hortons (TH), Burger King (BK), Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (PLK), and Firehouse Subs (FHS). The company owns and franchises TH chain of donut/coffee/tea restaurants that offer blend coffee, tea, and espresso-based hot and cold specialty drinks; and fresh baked goods, including donuts, Timbits, bagels, muffins, cookies and pastries, grilled paninis, classic sandwiches, wraps, soups, and other food products.
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Nicholas Hoffman & Company LLC. grew its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS:EFG Free Report) by 0.5% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 60,545 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 321 shares during the quarter. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF comprises approximately 0.3% of Nicholas Hoffman & Company LLC.s holdings, making the stock its 27th largest position. Nicholas Hoffman & Company LLC. owned approximately 0.05% of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF worth $6,194,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 59.6% in the 2nd quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC now owns 57,248 shares of the companys stock worth $5,856,000 after buying an additional 21,371 shares in the last quarter. FFG Retirement Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 3.4% in the 2nd quarter. FFG Retirement Advisors LLC now owns 26,380 shares of the companys stock worth $2,699,000 after buying an additional 860 shares in the last quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF in the 2nd quarter worth $647,000. Strategy Asset Managers LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 142.1% in the 2nd quarter. Strategy Asset Managers LLC now owns 5,315 shares of the companys stock worth $507,000 after buying an additional 3,120 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Certus Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 23.0% in the 2nd quarter. Certus Wealth Management LLC now owns 68,127 shares of the companys stock worth $6,969,000 after buying an additional 12,733 shares in the last quarter.
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iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Trading Down 0.7 %
Shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF stock traded down $0.73 on Thursday, reaching $104.49. 414,685 shares of the company were exchanged. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $103.31 and a 200-day moving average price of $102.76. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.36 and a beta of 0.97. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF has a fifty-two week low of $67.58 and a fifty-two week high of $85.81.
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Company Profile
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Growth 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 Growth Index (the 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.
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Journey Advisory Group LLC lowered its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Free Report) by 17.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 2,402 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 500 shares during the period. Journey Advisory Group LLCs holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $569,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Foster & Motley Inc. grew its holdings in Illinois Tool Works by 3.8% during the 2nd quarter. Foster & Motley Inc. now owns 3,909 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $926,000 after acquiring an additional 143 shares during the period. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators boosted its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 7.1% during the 2nd quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators now owns 1,356 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $321,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares in the last quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 10.4% during the second quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,104 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $262,000 after purchasing an additional 104 shares during the period. Range Financial Group LLC increased its holdings in Illinois Tool Works by 8.9% in the second quarter. Range Financial Group LLC now owns 3,685 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $873,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Finally, TD Asset Management Inc lifted its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 2.9% in the second quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 104,847 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $24,845,000 after buying an additional 2,985 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.77% of the companys stock.
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Illinois Tool Works Stock Down 0.9 %
ITW traded down $2.22 during trading on Thursday, reaching $242.51. The stock had a trading volume of 121,743 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,118,474. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a one year low of $217.50 and a one year high of $271.15. The company has a market capitalization of $72.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.14, a P/E/G ratio of 4.03 and a beta of 1.10. The stocks 50 day moving average is $242.94 and its two-hundred day moving average is $248.96. The company has a current ratio of 1.30, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.17.
Illinois Tool Works Increases Dividend
Illinois Tool Works ( NYSE:ITW Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 30th. The industrial products company reported $2.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.45 by $0.09. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 19.15% and a return on equity of 99.74%. The firm had revenue of $4.03 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.08 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.41 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 10.18 earnings per share for the current year.
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 11th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 30th will be issued a $1.50 dividend. This represents a $6.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.47%. This is a boost 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 59.17%.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Several equities research analysts have weighed in on ITW shares. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $230.00 to $236.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Truist Financial decreased their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $283.00 to $281.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. Barclays cut their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $217.00 to $215.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. StockNews.com downgraded Illinois Tool Works from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, August 1st. Finally, Argus upgraded Illinois Tool Works to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Illinois Tool Works has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $250.22.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Illinois Tool Works
Insider Buying and Selling at Illinois Tool Works
In related news, Director David Byron Smith, Jr. acquired 775 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 13th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $238.82 per share, with a total value of $185,085.50. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 121,506 shares of the companys stock, valued at $29,018,062.92. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.88% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
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.
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nVent Electric plc (NYSE:NVT Free Report) Equities research analysts at KeyCorp issued their Q3 2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for nVent Electric in a research note issued on Tuesday, September 3rd. KeyCorp analyst J. Hammond anticipates that the company will post earnings of $0.82 per share for the quarter. KeyCorp currently has a Overweight rating and a $80.00 target price on the stock. The consensus estimate for nVent Electrics current full-year earnings is $3.26 per share. KeyCorp also issued estimates for nVent Electrics Q4 2024 earnings at $0.85 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $3.60 EPS.
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NVT has been the topic of several other research reports. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on nVent Electric from $88.00 to $82.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Barclays boosted their price target on nVent Electric from $85.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 4th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, nVent Electric presently has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $86.50.
nVent Electric Stock Down 0.8 %
NVT opened at $62.85 on Thursday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $70.21 and its 200-day simple moving average is $73.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 1.49 and a current ratio of 2.17. nVent Electric has a one year low of $45.60 and a one year high of $86.57. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.27.
nVent Electric (NYSE:NVT Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, August 6th. The company reported $0.82 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.83 by ($0.01). nVent Electric had a return on equity of 17.21% and a net margin of 16.59%. The firm had revenue of $880.30 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $892.89 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.77 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On nVent Electric
Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Nordea Investment Management AB boosted its stake in shares of nVent Electric by 15.5% during the 1st quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 75,323 shares of the companys stock worth $5,684,000 after acquiring an additional 10,135 shares in the last quarter. Jump Financial LLC lifted its stake in nVent Electric by 194.1% in the 4th quarter. Jump Financial LLC now owns 39,432 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,330,000 after buying an additional 26,024 shares in the last quarter. Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers Inc. ID lifted its stake in nVent Electric by 85.1% in the 1st quarter. Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers Inc. ID now owns 116,629 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,794,000 after buying an additional 53,633 shares in the last quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System lifted its stake in nVent Electric by 4.7% in the 1st quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 190,240 shares of the companys stock valued at $14,344,000 after buying an additional 8,489 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Principal Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in nVent Electric in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,221,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.05% of the companys stock.
Insiders Place Their Bets
In other nVent Electric news, Director Herbert K. Parker bought 7,566 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 15th. The shares were bought at an average price of $65.71 per share, for a total transaction of $497,161.86. Following the transaction, the director now owns 34,524 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,268,572.04. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Lynnette R. Heath sold 8,242 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.26, for a total transaction of $496,662.92. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 30,432 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,833,832.32. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Herbert K. Parker purchased 7,566 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 15th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $65.71 per share, for a total transaction of $497,161.86. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 34,524 shares in the company, valued at $2,268,572.04. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 2.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.
About nVent Electric
(Get Free Report)
nVent Electric plc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, markets, installs, and services electrical connection and protection solutions in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Enclosures, Electrical & Fastening Solutions, and Thermal Management.
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Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS increased its stake in shares of VAALCO Energy, Inc. (NYSE:EGY Free Report) by 5.9% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 2,417,950 shares of the energy companys stock after purchasing an additional 134,615 shares during the quarter. Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KSs holdings in VAALCO Energy were worth $15,161,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in EGY. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in VAALCO Energy by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,024,145 shares of the energy companys stock worth $41,988,000 after purchasing an additional 124,853 shares in the last quarter. Jump Financial LLC bought a new stake in VAALCO Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $502,000. Foundry Partners LLC grew its holdings in VAALCO Energy by 12.0% during the 1st quarter. Foundry Partners LLC now owns 982,350 shares of the energy companys stock worth $6,847,000 after acquiring an additional 105,145 shares during the last quarter. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd bought a new stake in VAALCO Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $458,000. Finally, First Sabrepoint Capital Management LP grew its holdings in VAALCO Energy by 5.3% during the 1st quarter. First Sabrepoint Capital Management LP now owns 1,790,000 shares of the energy companys stock worth $12,476,000 after acquiring an additional 90,000 shares during the last quarter. 50.32% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
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VAALCO Energy Trading Down 0.7 %
Shares of NYSE:EGY traded down $0.04 during trading on Thursday, reaching $5.70. The stock had a trading volume of 295,942 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,018,662. The firms fifty day moving average is $6.53 and its 200 day moving average is $6.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.19. VAALCO Energy, Inc. has a 52 week low of $3.85 and a 52 week high of $7.51. The stock has a market cap of $591.32 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.50 and a beta of 1.19.
VAALCO Energy Announces Dividend
VAALCO Energy ( NYSE:EGY Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 6th. The energy company reported $0.22 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.13 by $0.09. VAALCO Energy had a net margin of 17.82% and a return on equity of 16.00%. The company had revenue of $116.78 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $119.30 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.11 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that VAALCO Energy, Inc. will post 0.59 EPS for the current fiscal year.
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 23rd will be paid a $0.063 dividend. This represents a $0.25 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 23rd. VAALCO Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 41.67%.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on EGY shares. Roth Mkm boosted their target price on shares of VAALCO Energy from $7.25 to $8.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, June 11th. StockNews.com lowered shares of VAALCO Energy from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, June 6th.
View Our Latest Stock Report on EGY
About VAALCO Energy
(Free Report)
VAALCO Energy, Inc, an independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in Gabon, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, and Canada. The company holds 58.8% interest in the Etame production sharing contract related to the Etame Marin block covering an area of approximately 46,200 gross acres located offshore in the Republic of Gabon in West Africa.
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Ukraine will prepare a detailed plan to end the war by the second Peace Summit. It must be attended by representatives of the Russian Federation, because it is "very difficult" to end the hostilities diplomatically without the aggressor country, and this was also requested by the participants of the first summit.
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A corresponding statement was made by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with NBC News published on September 5. In particular, he said that a plan to end the war would be prepared together with partners who supported the communique of the first Peace Summit.
"We will work out every point of these crises that Putin has brought. We will work out our option for ending the war," the president said.
Zelenskyy added that Ukraine understands that it is "very difficult" to end the war diplomatically without Russia, so the second summit should include representatives of the aggressor country.
This was also requested by the participants of the first Peace Summit, he said.
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"All countries asked us to have representatives of Russia at the second summit. We said: we don't mind, we understand everything, we will prepare a plan and invite them," the head of state said.
What is the plan to end the war in Ukraine
According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine's victory plan should show whether its allies are ready for Kyiv to win or whether they only want to contain Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin. Ukrainians should know the answer to this question, the president said.
"I wanted to show the victory plan to President (US Ed.) Biden. But I wanted to show it after we had success in the Kursk region. That's why I hadn't done it before. And that's why I will definitely show it to him. Our understanding of how things should be, how Ukraine can win," Zelenskyy said.
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The plan stipulates that it can be implemented thanks to Ukraine's partners, not thanks to Russia's willingness or unwillingness. This "feature" was important so that no one would later ask whether the Kremlin would "go for it," the president said.
"This plan does not depend on them (Russia Ed.). And this is the choice of our partners. Either they agree that Ukraine will win, or they are not ready for our victory but are only ready to contain Putin. And I want to find this answer for our people as well. It is very important for these people," Zelenskyy said.
The President also added that, in his opinion, the victory plan is subjective and does not depend solely on Ukraine.
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In this regard, the head of state cannot be sure that Ukraine will be able to implement it.
"But it seemed to me that this plan was correct. And the first part of it was a response operation, part of which you saw in the Kursk region," he explained.
Points of the 4+1 plan
Zelenskyy explained that the Ukrainian victory plan is "4+1". Four points are what is necessary, and one should be implemented after the war.
"That is, the basic plan is four points. I will not tell you all the details. I will talk about all the details with President Biden," Zelenskyy said.
As OBOZ.UA previously reported, on September 5, Putin said that Russia's primary task is the alleged "liberation" of Donbas, and Ukraine is allegedly trying to distract Russia from this goal by attacking the Kursk region, unsuccessfully and allegedly to its detriment. Putin also declared his readiness to negotiate with Ukraine based on the Istanbul agreements.
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The ISW also stated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are advancing further into Kursk, and have recently been successful southeast of Durivka and Korenevo. The Russians withdrew in Malaya Lokna, and fighting continued in the Korenevo and Sudzha areas.
On September 4, Zelenskyy said that the operation in Kursk region gives Ukraine not only a fund for exchanging prisoners with Russia, but that the Ukrainian military has been assigned several tasks, and they are all being fulfilled.
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Mattern Capital Management LLC trimmed its holdings in Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE Free Report) by 0.5% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 61,313 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 304 shares during the quarter. Mattern Capital Management LLCs holdings in Intercontinental Exchange were worth $8,393,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Scarborough Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Intercontinental Exchange in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Annapolis Financial Services LLC grew its holdings in shares of Intercontinental Exchange by 1,018.8% during the first quarter. Annapolis Financial Services LLC now owns 179 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 163 shares during the last quarter. New Millennium Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Intercontinental Exchange during the second quarter worth about $25,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Intercontinental Exchange in the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. Finally, Redmont Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Intercontinental Exchange in the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. 89.30% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
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Intercontinental Exchange Stock Performance
Shares of ICE stock opened at $162.43 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $151.12 and a 200-day simple moving average of $140.84. The company has a market cap of $93.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 1.06. Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. has a 12-month low of $104.49 and a 12-month high of $162.76.
Insider Buying and Selling
Intercontinental Exchange ( NYSE:ICE Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 1st. The financial services provider reported $1.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.49 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $2.32 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.31 billion. Intercontinental Exchange had a return on equity of 12.70% and a net margin of 21.43%. Intercontinental Exchanges revenue was up 22.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.43 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. will post 6.04 EPS for the current year.
In other news, CEO Jeffrey C. Sprecher sold 58,389 shares of Intercontinental Exchange stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $141.68, for a total transaction of $8,272,553.52. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,179,993 shares in the company, valued at approximately $167,181,408.24. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Jeffrey C. Sprecher sold 58,389 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $141.68, for a total value of $8,272,553.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,179,993 shares in the company, valued at $167,181,408.24. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Judith A. Sprieser sold 1,941 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $160.69, for a total transaction of $311,899.29. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 26,908 shares in the company, valued at $4,323,846.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 66,346 shares of company stock valued at $9,472,911. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
Several research firms have commented on ICE. StockNews.com raised Intercontinental Exchange from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, August 29th. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Intercontinental Exchange from $160.00 to $162.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 9th. Argus reiterated a buy rating and set a $153.00 price target on shares of Intercontinental Exchange in a research note on Tuesday, May 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on shares of Intercontinental Exchange from $152.00 to $154.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, August 15th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reiterated an outperform rating and set a $168.00 target price on shares of Intercontinental Exchange in a research note on Tuesday, August 6th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Intercontinental Exchange currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $154.93.
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Intercontinental Exchange Company Profile
(Free Report)
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of market infrastructure, data services, and technology solutions for financial institutions, corporations, and government entities in the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Singapore, India, Abu Dhabi, Israel, and Canada.
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Mattern Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Visa Inc. (NYSE:V Free Report) by 8.3% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 24,210 shares of the credit-card processors stock after buying an additional 1,855 shares during the quarter. Mattern Capital Management LLCs holdings in Visa were worth $6,354,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Visa during the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,895,015,000. National Bank of Canada FI boosted its holdings in shares of Visa by 787.1% in the first quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 4,619,881 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $1,296,820,000 after acquiring an additional 4,099,122 shares during the period. Swedbank AB purchased a new position in shares of Visa during the first quarter worth approximately $511,321,000. GQG Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Visa by 40.1% in the 1st quarter. GQG Partners LLC now owns 5,990,634 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $1,671,866,000 after acquiring an additional 1,715,686 shares during the period. Finally, Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado raised its position in Visa by 14,306.3% in the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado now owns 1,500,270 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $390,595,000 after purchasing an additional 1,489,856 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.15% of the companys stock.
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Visa Trading Up 0.7 %
Shares of Visa stock opened at $280.46 on Thursday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $265.94 and a 200 day moving average price of $273.10. The company has a market capitalization of $512.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.34, a P/E/G ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 0.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 1.37. Visa Inc. has a 1 year low of $227.78 and a 1 year high of $290.96.
Visa Dividend Announcement
Visa ( NYSE:V Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 23rd. The credit-card processor reported $2.42 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $2.42. The company had revenue of $8.90 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.92 billion. Visa had a return on equity of 51.94% and a net margin of 54.72%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.16 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Visa Inc. will post 9.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 9th were issued a $0.52 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 9th. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.74%. Visas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 23.24%.
Insider Transactions at Visa
In other Visa news, CEO Ryan Mcinerney sold 8,620 shares of Visa stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $276.37, for a total value of $2,382,309.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 538 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $148,687.06. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.19% of the companys stock.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
Several brokerages have recently weighed in on V. TD Cowen decreased their target price on shares of Visa from $320.00 to $318.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 24th. William Blair raised Visa to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on Visa from $315.00 to $311.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 24th. Macquarie reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $300.00 price target on shares of Visa in a report on Wednesday, July 24th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price objective on shares of Visa from $321.00 to $319.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 24th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-three have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $309.54.
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Visa Company Profile
(Free Report)
Visa Inc operates as a payment technology company in the United States and internationally. The company operates VisaNet, a transaction processing network that enables authorization, clearing, and settlement of payment transactions. It also offers credit, debit, and prepaid card products; tap to pay, tokenization, and click to pay services; Visa Direct, a solution that facilitates the delivery of funds to eligible cards, deposit accounts, and digital wallets; Visa B2B Connect, a multilateral business-to-business cross-border payments network; Visa Cross-Border Solution, a cross-border consumer payments solution; and Visa DPS that provides a range of value-added services, including fraud mitigation, dispute management, data analytics, campaign management, a suite of digital solutions, and contact center services.
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Mad River Investors lifted its stake in Mesabi Trust (NYSE:MSB Free Report) by 2.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 291,646 shares of the mining companys stock after purchasing an additional 5,809 shares during the period. Mesabi Trust accounts for about 3.4% of Mad River Investors investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th biggest holding. Mad River Investors holdings in Mesabi Trust were worth $5,025,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of MSB. OFI Invest Asset Management bought a new stake in Mesabi Trust during the 2nd quarter valued at about $576,000. Pecaut & CO. bought a new stake in Mesabi Trust during the 4th quarter valued at about $280,000. NBC Securities Inc. increased its stake in Mesabi Trust by 5.4% during the 1st quarter. NBC Securities Inc. now owns 16,670 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $295,000 after purchasing an additional 860 shares in the last quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC increased its stake in Mesabi Trust by 38.0% during the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 10,760 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $220,000 after purchasing an additional 2,961 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quent Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Mesabi Trust in the first quarter worth approximately $124,000.
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Mesabi Trust Stock Performance
Shares of MSB stock traded up $0.09 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $17.21. The company had a trading volume of 9,090 shares, compared to its average volume of 26,648. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $17.31 and a 200-day moving average price of $17.46. Mesabi Trust has a one year low of $15.93 and a one year high of $22.39. The firm has a market cap of $225.80 million, a PE ratio of 10.44 and a beta of 0.85.
Mesabi Trust Increases Dividend
Mesabi Trust ( NYSE:MSB Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, June 13th. The mining company reported $0.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of $6.25 million for the quarter. Mesabi Trust had a net margin of 78.65% and a return on equity of 101.61%.
The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, August 20th. Investors of record on Tuesday, July 30th were issued a $0.30 dividend. This is an increase from Mesabi Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, July 30th. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.97%. Mesabi Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 73.17%.
Mesabi Trust Company Profile
(Free Report)
Mesabi Trust, a royalty trust, engages in iron ore mining business in the United States. The company was founded in 1961 and is based in New York, New York.
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Nicholas Hoffman & Company LLC. reduced its position in shares of The Southern Company (NYSE:SO Free Report) by 1.2% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 32,907 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 393 shares during the period. Nicholas Hoffman & Company LLC.s holdings in Southern were worth $2,553,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in SO. Gilbert & Cook Inc. raised its stake in Southern by 4.3% during the 4th quarter. Gilbert & Cook Inc. now owns 11,202 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $785,000 after buying an additional 462 shares during the period. Aveo Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in Southern during the 4th quarter worth approximately $233,000. Spire Wealth Management raised its stake in Southern by 316.4% during the 4th quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 13,445 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $927,000 after buying an additional 10,216 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLC raised its stake in Southern by 16.5% during the 4th quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 101,818 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $7,139,000 after buying an additional 14,405 shares during the period. Finally, Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management bought a new stake in Southern during the 4th quarter worth approximately $207,000. 64.10% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
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Southern Stock Performance
NYSE:SO traded up $0.19 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $89.32. The stock had a trading volume of 778,987 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,446,784. The stock has a market cap of $97.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.10 and a beta of 0.52. The Southern Company has a 12-month low of $61.56 and a 12-month high of $90.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a current ratio of 0.91. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $83.54 and a 200 day simple moving average of $77.03.
Southern Announces Dividend
Southern ( NYSE:SO Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The utilities provider reported $1.10 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.91 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $6.46 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.10 billion. Southern had a return on equity of 12.88% and a net margin of 17.67%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 12.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.79 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that The Southern Company will post 4.02 EPS for the current fiscal year.
The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 19th will be given a $0.72 dividend. This represents a $2.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.22%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 19th. Southerns dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 74.42%.
Insider Activity
In related news, EVP Sloane N. Drake sold 12,000 shares of Southern stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.61, for a total transaction of $931,320.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 16,771 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,301,597.31. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, EVP Sloane N. Drake sold 12,000 shares of Southern stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.61, for a total transaction of $931,320.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 16,771 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,301,597.31. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Sterling A. Jr. Spainhour sold 2,380 shares of Southern stock in a transaction on Monday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.99, for a total value of $211,796.20. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 12,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,112,375. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 21,280 shares of company stock worth $1,678,625. 0.18% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
A number of analysts have commented on SO shares. Wolfe Research lowered Southern from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Southern from $77.00 to $89.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on Southern from $87.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Southern from $80.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Monday, August 12th. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Southern from $72.00 to $78.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, August 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Southern has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $83.71.
Read Our Latest Analysis on Southern
Southern Profile
(Free Report)
The Southern Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. The company also develops, constructs, acquires, owns, and manages power generation assets, including renewable energy projects and sells electricity in the wholesale market; and distributes natural gas in Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee, as well as provides gas marketing services, gas distribution operations, and gas pipeline investments operations.
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Nottingham Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 2,396 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $255,000.
A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Founders Financial Securities LLC lifted its stake in shares of Novartis by 3.4% during the 2nd quarter. Founders Financial Securities LLC now owns 2,832 shares of the companys stock worth $301,000 after purchasing an additional 94 shares during the last quarter. NBC Securities Inc. grew its holdings in Novartis by 0.9% during the second quarter. NBC Securities Inc. now owns 10,492 shares of the companys stock worth $1,116,000 after acquiring an additional 97 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Novartis by 5.1% during the first quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,013 shares of the companys stock worth $196,000 after acquiring an additional 98 shares during the period. Portside Wealth Group LLC grew its holdings in Novartis by 3.4% during the second quarter. Portside Wealth Group LLC now owns 3,000 shares of the companys stock worth $319,000 after acquiring an additional 99 shares during the period. Finally, Evermay Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Novartis by 9.3% in the first quarter. Evermay Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,176 shares of the companys stock valued at $114,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 13.12% of the companys stock.
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Novartis Stock Down 2.3 %
NYSE NVS traded down $2.71 during trading on Thursday, reaching $116.67. 314,256 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,403,009. Novartis AG has a 1 year low of $92.19 and a 1 year high of $120.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 0.93. The stock has a market cap of $238.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $112.25 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $104.31.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
Novartis ( NYSE:NVS Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 18th. The company reported $1.97 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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 business had revenue of $12.87 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.24 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.83 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Novartis AG will post 7.48 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Several research firms have recently weighed in on NVS. Barclays upgraded Novartis to a strong sell rating in a research report on Monday, June 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a hold rating on shares of Novartis in a research report on Friday, July 19th. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Novartis from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group restated a neutral rating and issued a $121.00 target price (up previously from $119.00) on shares of Novartis in a research report on Thursday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $118.38.
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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.
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Oxford Industries (NYSE:OXM Get Free Report)s stock had its market perform rating reissued by analysts at Telsey Advisory Group in a research report issued on Thursday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $110.00 target price on the textile makers stock. Telsey Advisory Groups target price points to a potential upside of 30.01% from the companys current price.
OXM has been the subject of several other research reports. Citigroup decreased their price target on Oxford Industries from $94.00 to $92.00 and set a sell rating for the company in a report on Thursday, June 13th. UBS Group dropped their price target on shares of Oxford Industries from $101.00 to $91.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $100.60.
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Oxford Industries Stock Down 1.1 %
Shares of Oxford Industries stock traded down $0.93 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $84.61. The companys stock had a trading volume of 134,071 shares, compared to its average volume of 241,141. The company has a market capitalization of $1.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.18 and a beta of 1.53. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $94.86 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $101.64. Oxford Industries has a one year low of $82.33 and a one year high of $113.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a current ratio of 1.32.
Oxford Industries (NYSE:OXM Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, June 12th. The textile maker reported $2.66 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.70 by ($0.04). The business had revenue of $398.18 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $404.81 million. Oxford Industries had a net margin of 2.62% and a return on equity of 23.78%. Oxford Industriess revenue was down 5.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $3.78 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Oxford Industries will post 8.8 earnings per share for the current year.
Insider Buying and Selling
In related news, EVP Thomas E. Campbell sold 17,540 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $99.91, for a total value of $1,752,421.40. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 24,865 shares in the company, valued at $2,484,262.15. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 5.70% of the stock is owned by insiders.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Oxford Industries
A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System boosted its position in Oxford Industries by 1.4% during the second quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 7,400 shares of the textile makers stock worth $741,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC grew its position in shares of Oxford Industries by 2.0% in the second quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC now owns 7,253 shares of the textile makers stock valued at $726,000 after purchasing an additional 141 shares in the last quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV raised its stake in shares of Oxford Industries by 4.7% during the 2nd quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 3,359 shares of the textile makers stock valued at $336,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the period. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp lifted its holdings in Oxford Industries by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp now owns 12,854 shares of the textile makers stock worth $1,445,000 after purchasing an additional 170 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ProShare Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Oxford Industries by 7.4% in the 1st quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 3,012 shares of the textile makers stock worth $339,000 after purchasing an additional 207 shares during the period. 91.16% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
About Oxford Industries
(Get Free Report)
Oxford Industries, Inc, an apparel company, designs, sources, markets, and distributes products of lifestyle and other brands worldwide. The company offers men's and women's sportswear and related products under the Tommy Bahama brand; and women's and girl's dresses and sportswear, scarves, bags, jewelry, and belts, as well as children's apparel, swim, footwear, and licensed products under the Lilly Pulitzer brand.
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Pan American Silver Corp. (NYSE:PAAS Get Free Report) (TSE:PAAS) has received a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the five ratings firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $24.42.
A number of brokerages recently issued reports on PAAS. CIBC raised their target price on shares of Pan American Silver from $30.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock an outperformer rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 10th. StockNews.com upgraded Pan American Silver from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, May 11th. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on Pan American Silver from $22.00 to $24.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 21st. Scotiabank raised their price target on Pan American Silver from $23.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock a sector outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 16th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on shares of Pan American Silver from $19.00 to $22.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, July 12th.
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Pan American Silver Stock Performance
NYSE PAAS opened at $18.98 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 2.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. Pan American Silver has a fifty-two week low of $12.16 and a fifty-two week high of $24.27. The business has a fifty day moving average of $21.18 and a 200-day moving average of $18.95. The stock has a market cap of $6.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -41.26 and a beta of 1.35.
Pan American Silver (NYSE:PAAS Get Free Report) (TSE:PAAS) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The basic materials company reported $0.11 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.15 by ($0.04). Pan American Silver had a negative net margin of 5.54% and a positive return on equity of 0.66%. The firm had revenue of $686.30 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $696.08 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.04 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 7.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that Pan American Silver will post 0.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Pan American Silver Dividend Announcement
The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 19th were paid a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 19th. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.11%. Pan American Silvers dividend payout ratio is presently -86.96%.
Institutional Trading of Pan American Silver
A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Mark Sheptoff Financial Planning LLC boosted its position in Pan American Silver by 943.4% during the 2nd quarter. Mark Sheptoff Financial Planning LLC now owns 1,659 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 1,500 shares during the period. Perritt Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Pan American Silver by 76.9% in the first quarter. Perritt Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,300 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC boosted its holdings in Pan American Silver by 31.6% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,124 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 510 shares during the last quarter. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd grew its stake in Pan American Silver by 73.3% during the 1st quarter. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd now owns 5,200 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $78,000 after purchasing an additional 2,200 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Stonehage Fleming Financial Services Holdings Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Pan American Silver in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $103,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 55.43% of the companys stock.
About Pan American Silver
(Get Free Report
Pan American Silver Corp. engages in the exploration, mine development, extraction, processing, refining, and reclamation of silver, gold, zinc, lead, and copper mines in Canada, Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, and Brazil. The company was formerly known as Pan American Minerals Corp. and changed its name to Pan American Silver Corp.
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Petrus Resources Ltd. (TSE:PRQ Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Tuesday, September 3rd, Zacks reports. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 17th will be paid a dividend of 0.01 per share on Monday, September 30th. This represents a $0.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 9.09%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 17th.
Petrus Resources Trading Up 1.5 %
TSE PRQ traded up C$0.02 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching C$1.32. The company had a trading volume of 2,465 shares, compared to its average volume of 52,854. Petrus Resources has a 1-year low of C$1.11 and a 1-year high of C$1.65. The stock has a market capitalization of C$164.17 million, a P/E ratio of 6.60 and a beta of 3.03. The stock has a 50-day moving average of C$1.35 and a 200 day moving average of C$1.35. The company has a current ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 19.56.
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Petrus Resources (TSE:PRQ Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 7th. The company reported C$0.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Petrus Resources had a return on equity of 8.65% and a net margin of 28.06%. The business had revenue of C$23.15 million during the quarter. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Petrus Resources will post 0.1967213 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Insider Transactions at Petrus Resources
Petrus Resources Company Profile
In other Petrus Resources news, Director Don Gray purchased 41,200 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 20th. The shares were bought at an average cost of C$1.32 per share, for a total transaction of C$54,384.00. In related news, Director Don Gray purchased 41,200 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 20th. The shares were bought at an average cost of C$1.32 per share, for a total transaction of C$54,384.00. Also, Director Kenneth Graham Gray sold 18,600 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$1.40, for a total transaction of C$26,040.00. In the last three months, insiders bought 71,100 shares of company stock valued at $94,392 and sold 40,468 shares valued at $55,772. Corporate insiders own 75.21% of the companys stock.
(Get Free Report)
Petrus Resources Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and exploitation of assets in Canada. The company primarily explores for crude oil and condensate, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. Its principal property is the Ferrier Area with approximately 94,614 acres of land located in the west Central Alberta near the town of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta.
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Phreesia (NYSE:PHR Get Free Report)s stock had its sector perform rating restated by investment analysts at Royal Bank of Canada in a research report issued on Thursday, Benzinga reports. They presently have a $23.00 target price on the stock. Royal Bank of Canadas price objective would suggest a potential downside of 2.67% from the companys current price.
A number of other research firms have also issued reports on PHR. KeyCorp reduced their target price on Phreesia from $27.00 to $25.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 11th. DA Davidson reiterated a buy rating and set a $32.00 target price on shares of Phreesia in a report on Thursday. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $29.00 target price on shares of Phreesia in a research report on Thursday. Canaccord Genuity Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a $34.00 target price on shares of Phreesia in a research report on Thursday. Finally, JMP Securities restated a market outperform rating and set a $30.00 price objective on shares of Phreesia in a research note on Friday, August 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $30.54.
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Phreesia Stock Performance
Insider Activity at Phreesia
PHR traded down $0.54 during trading on Thursday, hitting $23.63. The stock had a trading volume of 533,488 shares, compared to its average volume of 464,209. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.36 billion, a P/E ratio of -10.65 and a beta of 0.93. Phreesia has a twelve month low of $12.05 and a twelve month high of $30.70. The companys 50-day moving average price is $23.24 and its 200 day moving average price is $22.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a quick ratio of 1.76 and a current ratio of 1.76.
In other news, General Counsel Allison C. Hoffman sold 14,110 shares of Phreesia stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.03, for a total value of $367,283.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel now owns 121,003 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,149,708.09. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, General Counsel Allison C. Hoffman sold 14,110 shares of Phreesia stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.03, for a total transaction of $367,283.30. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now owns 121,003 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,149,708.09. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Chaim Indig sold 2,644 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.74, for a total transaction of $62,768.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,219,361 shares in the company, valued at $28,947,630.14. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 29,337 shares of company stock valued at $736,750. 5.80% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in PHR. nVerses Capital LLC boosted its stake in Phreesia by 76.5% during the second quarter. nVerses Capital LLC now owns 3,000 shares of the companys stock worth $64,000 after acquiring an additional 1,300 shares in the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its position in shares of Phreesia by 5,462.3% during the 4th quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 3,838 shares of the companys stock valued at $89,000 after acquiring an additional 3,769 shares during the period. EntryPoint Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Phreesia in the 1st quarter worth approximately $169,000. Quadrature Capital Ltd purchased a new position in Phreesia in the first quarter valued at approximately $202,000. Finally, Lombard Odier Asset Management USA Corp bought a new position in Phreesia during the second quarter valued at $202,000. Institutional investors own 92.10% of the companys stock.
Phreesia Company Profile
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Phreesia, Inc provides an integrated SaaS-based software and payment platform for the healthcare industry in the United States and Canada. The company offers access solutions that offers appointment scheduling system for online appointments, reminders, and referral tracking management; registration solution to automate patient self-registration; revenue cycle solution, which offer insurance-verification processes, point-of-sale payments applications, post-visit payment collection, and flexible payment options; and network connect solution to deliver clinically relevant content to patients.
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Regions Financial (NYSE:RF Get Free Report) was downgraded by StockNews.com from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report issued on Tuesday.
RF has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Regions Financial from $25.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 30th. Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of Regions Financial from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 23rd. Bank of America lifted their target price on shares of Regions Financial from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, July 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Regions Financial from $22.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 3rd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of Regions Financial from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, July 22nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $21.51.
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Regions Financial Trading Down 0.7 %
NYSE:RF opened at $22.83 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $21.40 and a 200-day simple moving average of $20.07. Regions Financial has a one year low of $13.72 and a one year high of $23.47. The firm has a market cap of $20.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.41, a P/E/G ratio of 3.01 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 0.83.
Regions Financial (NYSE:RF Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, July 19th. The bank reported $0.52 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.49 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $1.73 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.76 billion. Regions Financial had a net margin of 18.91% and a return on equity of 12.64%. The firms revenue was down 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.59 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Regions Financial will post 2 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. EntryPoint Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Regions Financial in the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. Quarry LP lifted its position in shares of Regions Financial by 157.2% during the 2nd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,335 shares of the banks stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 816 shares in the last quarter. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Regions Financial during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. MV Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in Regions Financial by 75.6% in the 1st quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,435 shares of the banks stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 618 shares during the period. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. increased its holdings in Regions Financial by 530.0% in the 2nd quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 1,493 shares of the banks stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 1,256 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.39% of the companys stock.
About Regions Financial
(Get Free Report)
Regions Financial Corporation, a financial holding company, provides banking and bank-related services to individual and corporate customers. It operates through three segments: Corporate Bank, Consumer Bank, and Wealth Management. The Corporate Bank segment offers commercial banking services, such as commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, and investor real estate lending; equipment lease financing; deposit products; and securities underwriting and placement, loan syndication and placement, foreign exchange, derivatives, merger and acquisition, and other advisory services.
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Police patrol after a suspected terrorist was shot dead near the Israeli consulate in Munich on Thursday, September 5.
German police have shot dead a man in an exchange of fire near the Israeli consulate and Nazi history documentation center in the southern city of Munich. This is a male individual and we know he was carrying a long weapon, a police spokesman told state television.
Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann has confirmed the police operation and that the man, who was initially seriously injured, died at the scene. Police said on social media that there is no evidence that he was accompanied by anyone else and that there is therefore no danger to the population.
The incident comes on the anniversary of the 1972 Munich Olympics bombing, in which Palestinian Black September gunmen murdered 11 Israeli athletes.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said the consulate was closed on Thursday to commemorate the Munich Olympics massacre and that no one at the consulate was injured.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser described the incident as serious but did not want to speculate on the circumstances and background of what happened, she said during a press conference to discuss the fight against organized crime. The protection of Israeli facilities is the highest priority.
WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC Free Report) Investment analysts at Zacks Research issued their FY2024 earnings per share estimates for shares of WEC Energy Group in a research report issued on Monday, September 2nd. Zacks Research analyst R. Department forecasts that the utilities provider will post earnings per share of $4.86 for the year. The consensus estimate for WEC Energy Groups current full-year earnings is $4.88 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for WEC Energy Groups Q4 2025 earnings at $1.17 EPS and Q1 2026 earnings at $2.19 EPS.
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Several other equities analysts have also recently weighed in on WEC. KeyCorp dropped their price target on shares of WEC Energy Group from $96.00 to $95.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 22nd. StockNews.com cut shares of WEC Energy Group from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Friday, August 9th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on shares of WEC Energy Group from $91.00 to $93.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, August 23rd. Scotiabank raised their price target on shares of WEC Energy Group from $90.00 to $103.00 and gave the company a sector outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 20th. Finally, Bank of America raised their price target on shares of WEC Energy Group from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research report on Thursday, August 29th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $89.77.
WEC Energy Group Stock Performance
Shares of WEC opened at $94.54 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37, a current ratio of 0.74 and a quick ratio of 0.54. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $85.77 and a 200-day moving average of $82.55. The company has a market cap of $29.86 billion, a PE ratio of 20.64, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.44. WEC Energy Group has a one year low of $75.13 and a one year high of $94.99.
WEC Energy Group (NYSE:WEC Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 31st. The utilities provider reported $0.67 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.63 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $1.77 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.87 billion. WEC Energy Group had a return on equity of 12.26% and a net margin of 15.85%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.92 EPS.
WEC Energy Group Dividend Announcement
The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, September 1st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 14th were paid a dividend of $0.835 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 14th. This represents a $3.34 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.53%. WEC Energy Groups payout ratio is currently 72.93%.
Insider Transactions at WEC Energy Group
In other news, VP Anthony Reese sold 1,362 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.78, for a total transaction of $120,918.36. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 1,462 shares in the company, valued at approximately $129,796.36. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, VP Joshua M. Erickson sold 350 shares of WEC Energy Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.75, for a total value of $31,412.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 2,377 shares in the company, valued at approximately $213,335.75. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, VP Anthony Reese sold 1,362 shares of WEC Energy Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.78, for a total transaction of $120,918.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 1,462 shares of the companys stock, valued at $129,796.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 11,702 shares of company stock worth $1,078,058 in the last quarter. Insiders own 0.34% of the companys stock.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new position in WEC Energy Group in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Clearbridge Investments LLC grew its position in shares of WEC Energy Group by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 1,355,909 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $106,385,000 after purchasing an additional 22,026 shares in the last quarter. New Century Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of WEC Energy Group during the 2nd quarter valued at $231,000. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its position in shares of WEC Energy Group by 4.2% during the 2nd quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 119,951 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $9,411,000 after purchasing an additional 4,835 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Truist Financial Corp grew its position in shares of WEC Energy Group by 10.4% during the 2nd quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 100,240 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $7,865,000 after purchasing an additional 9,480 shares in the last quarter. 77.20% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
WEC Energy Group Company Profile
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WEC Energy Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides regulated natural gas and electricity, and renewable and nonregulated renewable energy services in the United States. It operates through Wisconsin, Illinois, Other States, Electric Transmission, and Non-Utility Energy Infrastructure segments.
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Royal Bank of Canada (TSE:RY Get Free Report) (NYSE:RY)s stock price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as C$163.46 and last traded at C$163.46, with a volume of 77274 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$162.98.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
RY has been the subject of several recent research reports. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price target on shares of Royal Bank of Canada from C$159.50 to C$172.00 in a research report on Thursday, August 29th. Bank of America raised their price objective on shares of Royal Bank of Canada from C$162.00 to C$180.00 in a report on Thursday, August 29th. UBS Group set a C$165.00 price objective on shares of Royal Bank of Canada and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 2nd. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Royal Bank of Canada from C$145.00 to C$150.00 in a report on Tuesday, August 20th. Finally, National Bankshares raised their price objective on shares of Royal Bank of Canada from C$160.00 to C$169.00 in a report on Thursday, August 29th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Royal Bank of Canada presently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of C$161.50.
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Royal Bank of Canada Price Performance
The businesss 50-day moving average price is C$152.55 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$143.39. The company has a market capitalization of C$234.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.61, a PEG ratio of 10.64 and a beta of 0.85.
Royal Bank of Canada (TSE:RY Get Free Report) (NYSE:RY) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 28th. The financial services provider reported C$3.26 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$2.95 by C$0.31. The company had revenue of C$14.63 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$14.27 billion. Royal Bank of Canada had a net margin of 28.37% and a return on equity of 13.38%. Research analysts expect that Royal Bank of Canada will post 12.8601286 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Royal Bank of Canada Announces Dividend
The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 22nd. Investors of record on Thursday, October 24th will be issued a dividend of $1.42 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 24th. This represents a $5.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.44%. Royal Bank of Canadas payout ratio is 50.31%.
Insider Buying and Selling
In related news, Senior Officer Bruce Washington Ross sold 12,170 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, June 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$141.46, for a total transaction of C$1,721,604.71. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 235 shares in the company, valued at C$33,243.81. In other Royal Bank of Canada news, Senior Officer Douglas Antony Guzman sold 54,354 shares of Royal Bank of Canada stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$145.15, for a total value of C$7,889,646.16. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 25 shares in the company, valued at approximately C$3,628.83. Also, Senior Officer Bruce Washington Ross sold 12,170 shares of Royal Bank of Canada stock in a transaction on Monday, June 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$141.46, for a total transaction of C$1,721,604.71. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 235 shares in the company, valued at C$33,243.81. Insiders have sold a total of 86,524 shares of company stock worth $12,431,091 over the last ninety days.
About Royal Bank of Canada
(Get Free Report)
Royal Bank of Canada operates as a diversified financial service company worldwide. The company's Personal & Commercial Banking segment offers checking and savings accounts, home equity financing, personal lending, private banking, indirect lending, including auto financing, mutual funds and self-directed brokerage accounts, guaranteed investment certificates, credit cards, and payment products and solutions; and lending, leasing, deposit, investment, foreign exchange, cash management, auto dealer financing, trade products, and services to small and medium-sized commercial businesses.
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CCL Industries Inc. (TSE:CCL.B Get Free Report) Director Sebastian Rubino sold 18,934 shares of CCL Industries stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of C$76.39, for a total value of C$1,446,320.93.
CCL Industries Stock Up 0.7 %
TSE CCL.B traded up C$0.56 on Thursday, reaching C$79.05. The company had a trading volume of 263,077 shares, compared to its average volume of 263,386. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 48.08, a current ratio of 1.96 and a quick ratio of 1.31. CCL Industries Inc. has a 1 year low of C$52.82 and a 1 year high of C$81.38. The firm has a 50-day moving average of C$73.97 and a 200-day moving average of C$71.62. The firm has a market capitalization of C$13.21 billion, a PE ratio of 21.05, a P/E/G ratio of 0.26 and a beta of 0.56.
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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
A number of research firms recently commented on CCL.B. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on CCL Industries from C$83.00 to C$84.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, August 12th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of CCL Industries from C$81.00 to C$83.00 in a research note on Friday, May 10th. National Bankshares increased their target price on CCL Industries from C$84.00 to C$87.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, August 12th. CIBC boosted their price target on CCL Industries from C$86.00 to C$88.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on CCL Industries from C$79.00 to C$83.00 in a research note on Friday, May 10th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, CCL Industries currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of C$84.78.
CCL Industries Company Profile
(Get Free Report)
CCL Industries Inc manufactures and sells labels, containers, consumer printable media products, technology driven label solutions, polymer bank note substrates, and specialty films. The company operates through four segments: CCL, Avery, Checkpoint, and Innovia. The CCL segment offers pressure sensitive and specialty extruded film materials for decorative, instructional, functional, and security applications in the consumer packaging, healthcare, chemicals, consumer electronic device, and automotive markets.
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StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Envestnet (NYSE:ENV Free Report) in a research report sent to investors on Sunday morning. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the business services providers stock.
ENV has been the topic of several other reports. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Envestnet from an underperform rating to a hold rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $47.00 to $59.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 8th. UBS Group reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $63.15 target price (down previously from $75.00) on shares of Envestnet in a report on Tuesday, July 16th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on Envestnet from $56.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 8th. William Blair restated a market perform rating on shares of Envestnet in a report on Thursday, July 11th. Finally, Raymond James lowered shares of Envestnet from a moderate buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $61.88.
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Envestnet Stock Performance
ENV opened at $62.85 on Friday. Envestnet has a twelve month low of $33.12 and a twelve month high of $73.04. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.46 billion, a PE ratio of -17.65 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.70. The firms 50-day moving average price is $62.28 and its 200 day moving average price is $60.79.
Envestnet (NYSE:ENV Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, August 9th. The business services provider reported $0.55 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.62 by ($0.07). Envestnet had a positive return on equity of 17.02% and a negative net margin of 19.33%. The company had revenue of $348.30 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $342.90 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.22 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Envestnet will post 1.76 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Hedge Funds Weigh In On Envestnet
Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of ENV. Arizona State Retirement System boosted its position in shares of Envestnet by 2.5% during the 2nd quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 11,552 shares of the business services providers stock worth $723,000 after acquiring an additional 286 shares in the last quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in Envestnet by 2.0% in the first quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 28,201 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,633,000 after purchasing an additional 543 shares during the last quarter. Natixis raised its holdings in Envestnet by 12.9% during the first quarter. Natixis now owns 4,767 shares of the business services providers stock worth $276,000 after purchasing an additional 544 shares in the last quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System lifted its position in shares of Envestnet by 2.4% during the 2nd quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 25,200 shares of the business services providers stock worth $1,577,000 after buying an additional 600 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund boosted its holdings in shares of Envestnet by 2.2% in the 1st quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 28,271 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,637,000 after buying an additional 619 shares in the last quarter.
About Envestnet
(Get Free Report)
Envestnet, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides wealth management software and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments: Envestnet Wealth Solutions and Envestnet Data & Analytics. The Envestnet Wealth Solutions segment offers Envestnet | Enterprise, an end-to-end open architecture wealth management platform, as well as offers data aggregation and reporting, data analytics, and digital advice capabilities; Envestnet | Wealth Analytics that transforms data into actionable intelligence; Envestnet | Tamarac which provides trading, rebalancing, portfolio accounting, performance reporting, and client relationship management software; and Envestnet | MoneyGuide that provides goals-based financial planning solutions to the financial services industry.
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Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CNK Free Report) Stock analysts at Wedbush dropped their Q3 2024 earnings per share estimates for shares of Cinemark in a research note issued on Tuesday, September 3rd. Wedbush analyst A. Reese now forecasts that the company will earn $0.46 per share for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $0.54. Wedbush has a Outperform rating and a $31.00 price target on the stock. The consensus estimate for Cinemarks current full-year earnings is $1.35 per share. Wedbush also issued estimates for Cinemarks FY2024 earnings at $1.53 EPS.
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CNK has been the topic of several other reports. Roth Capital raised Cinemark from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, June 24th. Macquarie increased their price target on Cinemark from $21.00 to $24.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, July 9th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Cinemark from $26.00 to $29.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, August 5th. StockNews.com cut Cinemark from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Tuesday, August 13th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Cinemark from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, August 5th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $25.20.
Cinemark Stock Performance
CNK stock opened at $27.73 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.39 billion, a PE ratio of 19.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 2.36. Cinemark has a 12-month low of $13.19 and a 12-month high of $28.43. The company has a current ratio of 1.29, a quick ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.23. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $24.09 and its 200 day simple moving average is $20.04.
Cinemark (NYSE:CNK Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 2nd. The company reported $0.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.07 by $0.25. The business had revenue of $734.20 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $691.74 million. Cinemark had a return on equity of 41.87% and a net margin of 5.05%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 22.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.80 EPS.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Cinemark
A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of CNK. International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Cinemark in the 4th quarter worth $3,000,000. New York State Common Retirement Fund increased its stake in Cinemark by 8.1% in the 4th quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 72,372 shares of the companys stock worth $1,020,000 after buying an additional 5,452 shares in the last quarter. Versor Investments LP increased its stake in Cinemark by 252.4% in the 4th quarter. Versor Investments LP now owns 54,152 shares of the companys stock worth $763,000 after buying an additional 38,786 shares in the last quarter. NBC Securities Inc. increased its stake in Cinemark by 17.2% in the 4th quarter. NBC Securities Inc. now owns 4,764 shares of the companys stock worth $67,000 after buying an additional 700 shares in the last quarter. Finally, QRG Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Cinemark in the 4th quarter worth $254,000.
Insider Transactions at Cinemark
In other news, insider Valmir Fernandes sold 25,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.19, for a total value of $679,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 204,729 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,566,581.51. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 2.30% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Cinemark Company Profile
(Get Free Report)
Cinemark Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the motion picture exhibition business. As of February 16, 2024, it operated 501 theatres with 5,719 screens in 42 states and 13 countries in South and Central America. Cinemark Holdings, Inc was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Plano, Texas.
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Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII Free Report) Investment analysts at Zacks Research dropped their FY2025 earnings estimates for shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries in a report released on Monday, September 2nd. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now anticipates that the aerospace company will earn $18.89 per share for the year, down from their prior forecast of $18.95. The consensus estimate for Huntington Ingalls Industries current full-year earnings is $16.55 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Huntington Ingalls Industries Q4 2025 earnings at $5.47 EPS and Q2 2026 earnings at $5.25 EPS.
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Separately, Citigroup began coverage on shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries in a report on Monday, May 20th. They issued a buy rating and a $310.00 price objective for the company. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Huntington Ingalls Industries currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $278.00.
Huntington Ingalls Industries Stock Down 0.4 %
Shares of NYSE HII opened at $274.27 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. Huntington Ingalls Industries has a 12 month low of $199.11 and a 12 month high of $299.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.82 billion, a PE ratio of 15.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 0.53. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $264.11 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $267.84.
Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The aerospace company reported $4.38 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.61 by $0.77. Huntington Ingalls Industries had a net margin of 6.35% and a return on equity of 18.55%. The company had revenue of $2.98 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.84 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $3.27 EPS. The firms revenue was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Dana Investment Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. Dana Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 37,813 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $9,314,000 after acquiring an additional 653 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its stake in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 34.7% in the 2nd quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 16,687 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $4,111,000 after acquiring an additional 4,295 shares in the last quarter. Truist Financial Corp increased its stake in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 1.7% in the 2nd quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 4,620 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,138,000 after acquiring an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. William B. Walkup & Associates Inc. bought a new position in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries in the 2nd quarter worth about $455,000. Finally, Oliver Lagore Vanvalin Investment Group increased its stake in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 9.1% in the 2nd quarter. Oliver Lagore Vanvalin Investment Group now owns 492 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $121,000 after acquiring an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. 90.46% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Huntington Ingalls Industries Announces Dividend
The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 30th will be issued a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 30th. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.90%. Huntington Ingalls Industriess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.31%.
About Huntington Ingalls Industries
(Get Free Report)
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc designs, builds, overhauls, and repairs military ships in the United States. It operates through three segments: Ingalls, Newport News, and Mission Technologies. The company is involved in the design and construction of non-nuclear ships comprising amphibious assault ships; expeditionary warfare ships; surface combatants; and national security cutters for the U.S.
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Early Thursday morning, the Nicaraguan regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo released 135 political prisoners and put them on a plane to Guatemala, the U.S. government said in a statement by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. The Biden-Harris Administration today secured the release of 135 unjustly detained political prisoners in Nicaragua, on humanitarian grounds. No one should be put in jail for peacefully exercising their fundamental rights of free expression, association, and practicing their religion, the press release stated.
Shortly thereafter, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo confirmed the arrival of the political prisoners in Guatemala City. According to Washington, there was no direct negotiation with Nicaragua to obtain their release. But there was pressure from the U.S. Congress to secure the release of 13 pastors from Puertas de la Montana, an evangelical organization based in Texas. The regime agreed to release them and 122 others. It was a unilateral decision by them to increase the list, Sullivan said.
Our country has shown its firm democratic conviction, which categorically rejects threats of authoritarian regression, Arevalo said on X. Today we reaffirm that commitment and give back the international solidarity that we have received so many times, welcoming 135 Nicaraguan brothers, released political prisoners. Only in freedom and democracy do life and humanity flourish. Welcome, Nicaraguan brothers and sisters!
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken thanked the Guatemalan president and his administration for their efforts and support in welcoming those persecuted by the Sandinista regime and noted through a statement that these freed Nicaraguan citizens will now have the opportunity to apply for lawful pathways to resettle to the United States or elsewhere and begin the process of rebuilding their lives.
The Ortega and Murillo regime has not yet commented on the release. This is not the first time that the United States has mediated for the release of political prisoners. The first major undertaking was Operation Nica Welcome, conducted by a small group from the State Department and the U.S. Embassy in Managua on February 9, 2023. On that occasion, 222 political prisoners among them opposition leaders, presidential pre-candidates, journalists and academics were sent into exile in the United States, where they were beneficiaries of the Humanitarian Parole program.
While they were traveling on the plane to Dulles International Airport in Washington, on the so-called freedom flight, the Sandinista government stripped them all of their Nicaraguan nationality, confiscated their assets, and declared them fugitives from justice. Last January, Managua banished Bishop Rolando Alvarez and the priests and seminarians it had held in prison to Rome after a mediation with the Vatican.
As of Thursday, civil society organizations counted 151 political prisoners in Nicaragua. The identities of the 135 sent to Guatemala are not yet known. The United States only said that the group includes 13 members of the evangelical organization Puerta de la Montana, along with lay Catholics, students, and others that Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo consider a threat to their authoritarian government.
This is the day we have been praying and believing God for, said Jon Britton Hancock, founder and president of Puerta de la Montana, the organization accused by the Ortega-Murillo regime of money laundering as part of their ongoing religious persecution, especially against Catholicism. Members of Congress, the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security worked tirelessly to effect their release from their unjust imprisonment, he said in quotes reported by The New York Times after the pastors release.
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Alveda King: Make It Plain, Keep Looking Up
"Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" -- KJV 16:4 Galatians
NEWS PROVIDED BY
Alveda King Ministries
Sept. 5, 2024
ATLANTA, Sept. 5, 2024 /Standard Newswire/ -- The following is released by Dr. Alveda King:
Today's message is simply for your information/heads up. I wish I could say top of the morning to you, however things are escalating so quickly and seem to be so serious, that I'm choosing to take a somber tone. These two videos have come across my desk so to speak. One from my pastor of over 30 years, Allen McNair. He went to be with the Lord in 2015. This is one of his messages. The other, from Apostle Williams is more recent, although I have known him and his family for many years. Please watch these videos, pray with loving and repenting hearts, and as my grandfather Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Sr. would say if he were here with us today, make it plain and keep looking up. I love you. Alveda.
Pastor McNair: Don't Vote for Sin
African American Pastors Preaching Goes Viral Alton R Williams World Overcomers
On a lighter note, Ginger, Eartha and I are still traveling. Please pray for us, and enjoy this video.
Alveda King Ministries is funded by generous individuals like yourself. We have many ongoing projects that help us to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a world much in need of His message. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Alveda King Ministries.
About Alveda C. King:
Evangelist Alveda C. King, PhD is Chair of the AFPI Center for the American Dream. She is a guardian of The King Family Legacy and is a graduate of Aidan University. She is the founder of Alveda King Ministries (www.alvedaking.com) and co-founder of She Leads Georgia and Speak for Life.
Alveda is also an acclaimed author, television host, blog contributor and co-producer of The Vision TV Show. Alveda was twice elected to the Georgia State House, a presidential appointee, the recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, Senior Advisor at Priests for Life, senior Advisor Coral Ridge Ministries, Founder of King Legacy Farms, a lifetime member of Cooking Club of America and Optimist International and is a film and music veteran.
SOURCE Alveda King Ministries
CONTACT: Allison Schuster, 630-808-0371, aschuster@americafirstpolicy.com
Alarm bells began ringing more than a year ago. An FBI investigation into online threats of a school shooting, accompanied by photos of guns, led law enforcement officers to the home of Colt Gray, a 14-year-old accused of killing two teachers and two students at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia on Wednesday. Nine other victims eight students and one teacher were taken to hospital and are expected to survive their injuries, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The suspect surrendered to school resource officers who confronted him.
During that early investigation last year, officers from the sheriffs office in Jackson County questioned the teen and his father, but found no grounds for arrest. Gray, whom a classmate described on Wednesday as a quiet boy who barely spoke at school, will be charged with murder and prosecuted as an adult, according to the authorities.
In May 2023, the FBIs National Threat Operations Center received several anonymous tips about online threats to commit a school shooting at an unidentified time and location. The threats contained photographs of weapons. Within 24 hours, the FBI determined that the online posts had originated in Georgia. The FBIs Atlanta office forwarded the information to the Jackson County Sheriffs Office, according to a joint statement by the FBIs Atlanta office and the Jackson County Sheriffs Office.
Local officers identified a possible suspect, a 13-year-old male, and interviewed him and his father. The father stated that he had hunting weapons at home, but that his son did not have unsupervised access to them. The boy denied making the online threats. Jackson County alerted local schools to continue monitoring the teen. However, at the time authorities saw no probable cause to take any additional law enforcement action on the local, state or federal levels.
Grays current school is in another county, Barrow County, and apparently the information exchange was deficient. According to local radio station WSB-TV, a neighbor of the family saw the boy take the school bus on Wednesday morning wearing a sweatshirt and a backpack, although his father normally drove him to school.
Eyewitnesses told local media that Gray walked out of the math class and that the door to his classroom locked automatically. When he tried to return, one of the students inside saw that he was carrying a gun and did not open it. Shortly afterward the shooting began, apparently in a hallway of the school and an adjoining classroom. Gray used an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle, according to authorities, who are still investigating how he got hold of it. Police carried out searches at the accuseds home on Wednesday.
He never talked
In an interview on CNN, Lyela Sayarath, a junior at Apalachee High School who said she sat next to the shooter, described him as a quiet kid who had recently transferred to the school and often skipped class. He never really talked. He was pretty quiet. He wasnt there most times, he just didnt come to school or he skipped class. But even when he did talk, it was one-word answers or just short statements, she said. I couldnt tell you what his voice sounded like, or even describe his face. He was just there.
Sayarath said he wasnt surprised that he was the shooter. When you think about shooters and how they act or the things they do, its usually the quiet guy or at least thats the stereotype, and he was the one that fit that description in our class, he said.
Little more has emerged about the suspect. It is not yet known if there was any trigger for him to carry out those threats made almost a year and a half earlier.
There have been 45 school shootings so far this year. The U.S. has experienced at least 385 mass shootings so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines a mass shooting as one in which four or more people are shot.
Delhi searching for a solution ? What has it done so far ?
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On September 5, with the dateline given as Imphal, September 4, The Sangai Express ran two exclusive stories, one dealing with how Delhi may effect a change in leadership and the other on how Chief Minister N Biren was convinced not to visit Koutruk with the said two stories quickly going viral on the social media and drawing sharp comments from the people. September 15 is the date on which the story on leadership change, with a big question mark, revolved around and the significance of this date can be seen in the backdrop of the fact that this date would mark the completion of the first 100 days of the Modi 3.0 Government. The question mark that followed the big story and the crux of the news could be the reason for one of the stories going viral on the social media but this also reflects the toll the ongoing conflict has taken on everyone. How Delhi proceeds to mark its first 100 days in power is anybodys guess, but to Manipur it could mean something significant for remember Delhi had set the 100 days mark as the date to resolve the Manipur crisis. The interesting point is, the Manipur of today, that is September of 2024 is very different from the June of 2024, that was when the Modi 3.0 Government assumed power for the third consecutive term, and one wonders if the parameters that the BJP Government may have set itself on back in June would hold water now in September. This much is true with respect to the ongoing ethnic violence and back in June and before that, the clash between the two communities was one of gun battle and stand offs but September has heralded a totally new dimension in so far as the weapons used in the conflict is concerned. September 1 and September 2 saw the use of high tech weaponised drones with devastating impact, having already claimed the lives of two people and inflicting injuries on over 10 people. The use of weaponised drones also came along with the understanding of turning the life saving ambulance to a vehicle being used to ferry killers and this is a point that should be taken note of. Delhi could be studying the different options before it, including change in leadership, but it should also understand that the conflict has taken so many twists and turns in the last 15 months and it has only to hold itself responsible for turning Manipur into a sort of a killing field. Delhi should also get down to the business of asking itself why and how weaponised drones got to be fired from the hills and this is where one is reminded of the You look after the valley, while I will look after the hills instruction given to Chief Minister N Biren by Union Home Minister Amit Shah sometime in 2023. Something is just not right in how Delhi has been dealing with the great human tragedy here and this is a point which it must acknowledge even as September 15 draws nearer with each passing day.
So what are the feedbacks with which BJP North East coordinator, Sambit Patra would have gone back to Delhi and brief Union Home Minister Amit Shah ? The answer will not come soon, and one has to wait till September 15, that is if one goes by what was assured back in June and one can only hope that whatever is taken up does not go against the interests of Manipur. Something has to give is a line which The Sangai Express has been maintaining after it became clear that Manipur does not figure anywhere on the agenda of the BJP led Government at Delhi, and now after having waited for over 15 months, that something should not mean anything that goes against the interests of Manipur. This observation is being made in the belief that the BJP Government would stick by what it had announced back in June, with Manipur featuring in the list of to do in the first 100 days of being in office but given the way Delhi has been responding to the situation here, nothing will be too surprising if it continues with its indifference. Looking back one wonders what Delhi has in mind, and the important question is what it has done ever since Manipur went up in flames on May 3, 2023 ? Flew in 60,000 troops to help the State Government deal with the fast deteriorating law and order situation, draw buffer zones across the length and breadth of the State, divest the post of Chairman of the Unified Command from the Chief Minister and hand over the same to Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, hand pick the man to head the State police force as the DGP. The question is have these measures helped in any way ? The answer should be clear to all, particularly to New Delhi and hereby hangs a tale.
In 27 days, Alicia Barcena will stop being President Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors foreign secretary to become Claudia Sheinbaums environment minister. But before leaving, the official is trying to outline Mexicos migration strategy for the coming years. The plan, which she has called the Mexican Model of Human Mobility, includes investing $133 million in countries of origin, creating two new care centers in Chiapas, and the safe transfer to the northern border of migrants with an asylum appointment in the United States. The foreign minister said on Wednesday that her model, which has reduced irregular crossings into the neighboring country by 66%, is not going to go away when she leaves her position: I presented it to President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, who was very interested, so I am sure that this strategy will continue.
Mexico is trapped between migration figures. In the north, Joe Bidens administration has agreed to manage 4,000 crossings a day, 1,500 through its CBP One platform. But no more, says Barcena, who remembers December 18, 2023, when the United States announced the closure of seven of its border posts. Why? Because 12,500 people had arrived at the northern border. Meanwhile, in the south, 712,000 migrants have entered Mexico in the first six months of 2024 alone. In this bottleneck are the overcrowded camps from Tapachula to Ciudad Juarez, the violence, corruption and the massacres.
The foreign ministers focus is on creating safe routes for migrants upon entering Mexico. We have managed some very concrete achievements, said Barcena, who took over 15 months ago from Marcelo Ebrard. For those who want to go to the United States, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has negotiated with the Biden administration that an appointment for CBP One can be requested from anywhere in the country. Previously, the platform could only be accessed from the 19th parallel, which runs through Mexico City, or further north. Since August 23, it also operates from Chiapas or Tabasco, where migrant processing is concentrated.
Along those lines, Barcenas latest measure is that once the migrants have a confirmed appointment with CBP One, the Mexican authorities will be the ones to transport them: We will take them to the border so that they do not have to go through the enormous risks of the journey. In some cases it will be Matamoros, in others, Tijuana, we already have clear routes, taking care of them, because we believe that guaranteeing safe mobility is part of our job. This implies an immense change in the destinations of thousands of migrants, who identify the journey through Mexico as the most dangerous part of the entire journey to the north.
Much of the solution to the northern border is on the southern border, investing in the south is the strategy, she said. Behind this objective, in addition to the investment in cooperation of 2.25 billion pesos to create jobs in Belize, Cuba, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti and Honduras, is the construction of two comprehensive aid centers in Chiapas. This morning, the foreign minister signed agreements with the United Nations and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for the management of resources directed to these spaces. UNHCR, through its donors, has provided $3.5 million for the Multi-Service Center in Tapachula while the Government of Mexico is providing an additional $9.3 million. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has secured additional philanthropic funds of $2.6 million.
The first center is being built in Tapachula; it will have the capacity to serve 1,500 asylum seekers a day and will be managed by the Mexican Commission for Refugee Aid (Comar). Most of the people who arrive in Tapachula are seeking international protection. More and more were arriving and Comar was on the verge of collapse, Andres Ramirez, general coordinator of the commission, acknowledged this morning. In 2023, 140,000 migrants requested asylum in Mexico, a historic number in the country. It is impossible to process all of them, said Alicia Barcena: Comar, the government had left you alone, but now the government is with you very strongly and so is the United Nations. The second space will be in Huitxla, in an expanded DIF centre, and will be oriented to the employment of migrants not seeking refuge, as well as migrant families. Foreign Affairs and Interior, along with Comar and UNHCR, will inaugurate the Tapachula center in January 2025, while the IOM will begin operating the center in Huixtla this year.
Mexico is a country of origin, transit, destination and return of migration, said the foreign minister, who believes that the unique migratory characteristics required a new strategy. Migration was seen as a problem between the United States and Mexico in the US it is an electoral issue, no doubt and the new narrative demands that we see it as a regional phenomenon, she noted, We did so with a very clear compass: humanize mobility. The migrant is a person seeking opportunities for a better life.
As part of the Make in India initiative, the government on Wednesday announced it would promote both Indian alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages globally, with a target of $1 billion in export revenue over the next few years, amid a surge in global demand for Indian spirits.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, said it has been targeting to increase exports of Indian spirits to major foreign destinations.
The country currently ranks 40th in the world for alcoholic beverage exports. Indias alcoholic beverages exports stood at over Rs 2,200 crore in 2023-24 to major destinations like the UAE, Singapore, Netherlands, Tanzania, Angola, Kenya, and Rwanda.
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Godawan single malt whisky is all set to launch in the United Kingdom as an artisanal single malt whisky made in Rajasthan. The ministry said that the initiative will support farmers of the Alwar region. The whisky was created as part of corporate conservation efforts for the endangered Great Indian Bustard.
According to the ministry, the first batch of Godawan was flagged off to the UK jointly by Rajesh Agrawal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Debra Crew, Chief Executive of Diageo Plc, Abhisek Dev, Chairman of APEDA, and Hina Nagarajan, MD and CEO, Diageo India, along with other senior representatives. Godawan Single Malt whisky was featured at the International Food and Drinks Event (IFE), London in March this year. This worked as a precursor to launching Godawan in the UK and commencing exports. The six-row barley used in the production of Godawan, has been locally procured which helps in enhancing the agricultural income of the local farmers through its backward linkages.
Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta said on Thursday that he has written to the Chief Vigilance Commissioner demanding an investigation into the alleged financial irregularities in the Delhi Jal Board (DJB).
In his letter to the CVC, the BJP leader accused the Delhi government of deliberate financial mismanagement in the citys water board. He alleged that the intentions of the government are dubious. They have not prepared a balance sheet of the DJB since 2018 to hide the corruption.
He said following the intervention of the high court, the government prepared balance sheets for the first three years, but the balance sheets for 2021-22 and 2022-23 were deliberately left out.
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Gupta said due to this, the DJBs expenses have not yet been audited by the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General), which indicate a deep conspiracy to hide financial irregularities and corruption, he alleged.
The Leader of the Opposition further mentioned in his communication that on March 15 this year, the chief secretary of Delhi had submitted a detailed report to the Water Minister regarding DJBs debt of Rs 73,000 crore.
He added that this report contained numerous reasons and details about alleged financial irregularities; however, to cover up these misdeeds, the minister allegedly stashed the report and did not present the same in the Assembly.
Gupta further claimed that the minister was aware that if the report was presented in the Assembly, copies would have to be given to opposition members, leading to the exposure of their financial misconduct.
The BJP leader also claimed that the report states the DJB was allocated Rs. 28,500 crore from 2015 until now for various projects, but there is no record of where this money was spent, Gupta added.
Without a balance sheet or audit, these expenditures cannot be traced, which seems to be the governments intention as well, hence the delay in preparing the balance sheet, he claimed.
Gupta further alleged that funds allocated in the budget for DJB are not fully utilized, and claimed that in 2021-22, Rs. 210 crore remained unspent, and in the 2022-23 budget, Rs. 3,035 crore could not be utilized by the water agency.
The BJP MLA has also claimed that Delhi Ministers took the power of approving all projects of the board in their hands, which has caused delays in completing small projects as officials are forced to wait for approval from the ministers office.
Whenever there is a mention of either Raj Kapoor or Nargis, the others name is always taken as well. The duo remains one of the most iconic pairings of the Hindi Film Industry. It is said that Raj Kapoor and Nargis had a long-standing affair. Recently the word that Raj Kapoor burned himself with cigarettes and broke down when his beloved Nargis tied the knot with Sunil Dutt in 1958. As per Madhu Jains book, The Kapoors: The First Family of Indian Cinema, the Awara actor felt betrayed by Nargis decision.
The book reveals Raj Kapoors conversation with the journalist Suresh Kohli. In the conversation, the showman talked about their breakup saying, The world tells me I let Nargis down. It was she who betrayed me. Madhu Jains work also states, He broke down and cried in front of his friends and colleagues when he found out that she had married Sunil Dutt. Raj Kapoor took it very badly: he would reportedly burn himself with cigarette butts to check if he was not dreaming, wondering how she could have done this to him.
Also Read: Ranbir Kapoors Viral Rockstar singing clip sparks hilarious reactions
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Moreover, Raj Kapoor also developed a drinking habit and it took a toll on his family. His wife Krishna Raj Kapoor revealed to author Bunny Reuben, Night after night hed come home drunk Hed come and collapse almost unconscious in the bathtub weeping bitterly. Night after night. Do you think I thought he was weeping for me? No. Of course not. I knew he was weeping for her. A friend was quoted as saying, Nargis was his only true love. He never spoke against her publicly. He blamed her brothers for driving a wedge between them. In private, he often babbled on about what he termed a great betrayal.
While Raj Kapoor had turned Nargis into a betrayer in his mind, the duo was together for several years but he never married her. Reportedly, Nargis wanted to be engaged in matrimony, but Kapoor always rebuffed the idea and kept telling her that he would marry her. Madhu Jain even noted, So important was the sanctity of marriage for Nargis that she apparently even cornered Morarji Desai, then Home Minister in Bombay and asked him for his advice on how she could legally marry the actor. Kapoor was a Hindu and already married. However, as the world knows, Nargis then fell in love with Sunil Dutt and they got married.
Raj Kapoor and Nargis starred together in 16 films. Some of the hit titles they did together include Awara, Shree 420, Aah, Chori Chori, and Barsaat among others.
Janhvi Kapoors latest track, Daavudi, from the much-anticipated film *Devara* is making waves, and its not just for her impressive dance moves. The song, which also features the charismatic Jr NTR, showcases Janhvis exceptional talent and dedication. She dazzles with intricate choreography and high-energy performances, capturing the spotlight and ensuring that Daavudi stands out as a must-see for fans of dance and music.
What makes this achievement even more remarkable is Janhvis recent health scare. Just a few months ago, she was in hospital due to food poisoning. Despite this setback, her commitment to her craft was unwavering. Remarkably, she was back on set just three days after the discharge from the hospital, diving straight into the demanding shoot for Daavudi. This swift return highlights not only her resilience but also her deep passion for acting and performing.
Reports have been praising Janhvis impressive recovery and dedication. One source noted, Janhvi Kapoor shot for the song Daavudi just three days after being discharged from the hospital. Her energy and dedication shine throughout the song, earning her accolades as she transforms into a major star for her first big commercial pan-India film.
In Daavudi, Janhvi Kapoor exudes a magnetic charm that is hard to ignore. As she continues to rise in prominence, Janhvi is setting new benchmarks for both her craft and her industry standing.
Fans and critics alike are eagerly watching to see what she will do next, and its clear that she is a star on the ascent.
Mark your calendars! The highly anticipated Tamil film Petta Rap, featuring the dynamic duo of Prabhu Deva and Sunny Leone, is officially slated for release on September 27. The announcement came via the films social media channels, along with an eye-catching new poster showcasing the talented trio of Sunny Leone, Prabhu Deva, and Vedhika.
Fans of the two stars can expect a thrilling cinematic experience, as Petta Rap is being touted as a mass entertainer designed to captivate audiences. The recently unveiled poster highlights Sunnys glamorous return, piquing the interest of her fans who are eager to see her in action alongside the legendary choreographer and actor, Prabhu Deva. The film promises an electrifying dance number featuring the two, a collaboration that has fans buzzing with excitement.
Sunny Leone has been making waves in the Tamil film industry, recently leaving a lasting impression in her role as an assassin in Quotation Gang. This film showcased her versatility and garnered significant attention, setting high expectations for her upcoming projects.
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In addition to Petta Rap, Sunny is also set to star in Badass Ravikumar, directed by Prabhu Deva and featuring music by Himesh Reshammiya. This film further cements her place in the Tamil cinema landscape and showcases her ability to take on diverse roles. Alongside these projects, she has also been involved in Shero and an untitled Malayalam film, indicating a busy schedule ahead.
Beyond her film endeavors, Sunny Leone is carving out a significant niche in the entrepreneurial world with her cosmetic brand, proving that her talents extend far beyond the silver screen. Her venture into beauty products is gaining momentum, reflecting her ambition and drive to succeed in various fields.
In a fresh attack on the ruling BJP, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused the saffron party of spreading hatred in every corner of the country.
Addressing a rally after paying tributes to veteran Congress leader Patangarao Kadam, Gandhi said, BJP is spreading hatred in every corner of the country. This is not a new thing, they have been doing it since long. This battle of ideologies is old. Today this fight is between BJP and Congress.
People from the BJP want to finish the Constitution. They want to keep their own people in every department. Today there is only one type of merit in India. If you belong to RSS then there is merit. If you are not from RSS, there is no place for you, he said.
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Referring to his Bharat Jodo Yatra, Gandhi said, During the Bharat Jodo Yatra, we walked from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, lakhs of people were with us.
Our only goal was to open a nafrat ke bazaar mein mohabbat ki dukaan (shop of love in the market of hatred) because we do not want an India of hatred. We want an India of love.
Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the collapse of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the state recently, he said, A few days back, the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj collapsed here. After this Narendra Modi ji said I apologize to Shivaji Maharaj. There can be different reasons for apologizing The contract for this statue may have been given to someone from RSS.. Perhaps, the PM is saying that I should have given the contract on merit. There may have been corruption in the making of the statue The PM is apologizing for this.
Notably, during his recent visit to Maharashtra, apologised for the collapse of the statue.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lower House lauded the people of Maharashtra and asserted that they had the Congress DNA in them.
Gandhi also reiterated his commitment to carrying out the caste census in the country.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, on Thursday, had a narrow escape when a speeding train went past him as he was walking on the narrow stretch of the Budameru railway bridge to take stock of the damage done by floodwater.
However, Naidus security personnel ensured that he remained safe as the train sped past him. The railway bridge is narrow with the tracks right beside it.
Meanwhile, the Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan made an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas of Andhra Pradesh and another team of officials from the Union Ministry for Home Affairs held meetings with the state officials.
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The Central team led by Sanjeev Kumar Jindal, additional secretary, Union Ministry of Home Affairs arrived at Vijayawada to visit the flood-affected districts of NTR, Guntur and Prakasam. The team will assess the total damage caused by heavy rain and the resultant flood waters. The team reviewed the flood situation with the state officials at AP disaster management authority headquarters. The central team inspected the works of filling the sinkholes.
State HRD Minister Nara Lokesh and BJP MLA Y Sujana Chowdary accompanied the Union agriculture minister while taking stock of the crop damage in the state. Later, Lokesh wrote on X, I inspected Budameru and catchment areas through an aerial survey along with the Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the flood affected areas. After the aerial survey in the flood affected areas such as Jakkampudi Milk factory, Kandrika and Ajitsingh Nagar, I explained the damage to the union minister.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu also visited the flooded parts of Budameru on a barge. He also inquired about the damage to crops from the residents. While, Opposition leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy blamed the current government for failing to monitor the Budamerus flooding which resulted into submergence of Vijayawada city Chandrababu Naidu has blamed the previous YSRCP government for neglecting Budamerus upkeep which led to the floods.
The Congress on Thursday reiterated its demand for resignation of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch, days after the party accused her of conflict of interest.
The Congress has been demanding resignation of Buch following the Hindenburg Research report against her last month. The US-based shortseller alleged that Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch had stakes in obscure offshore entities used in the Adani money siphoning scandal.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, Chairman of Professionals Congress and Data Analytics Praveen Chakravarty said, On 10th August, an American research firm made serious charges against the Chairperson of SEBI Madhabi Puri Buch alleging that SEBIs unwillingness to take meaningful action against suspect shareholders in the Adani Group stemmed from Buchs complicity in using the exact same funds used by Vinod Adani, brother of Gautam Adani.
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Attacking the BJP-led government at the Centre, he said, The Congress along with several other voices including journalists and other professionals, demanded that the SEBI Chairperson step aside while urging an immediate impartial inquiry into the matter. (Union) Cabinet, instead of this, cabinet ministers and BJP MPs came to Buchs rescue when the allegations were against an individual and her family.
Accusing Buch of conflict of interest, Chakravarty said,On 2nd September, 2024, the Congress revealed with documentary evidence that Buch was eligible to receive income from ICICI stock, which was regulated by SEBI, a clear conflict of interest. Again, ICICI Bank, which is indirectly implicated, responded to this charge while Buch, the primary accused, remained silent.
Why did ICICI respond on behalf of Buch, when in a similar case with Chanda Kochar, it did not defend her and instead set up an independent inquiry? he questioned.
The Chairman of Professionals Congress and Data Analytics further said, Today, we learnt through a news article that Buch, during her tenure at ICICI Bank between 2011 and 2013, was also employed at Greater Pacific Capital, a private equity fund where Shaurya Doval (son of NSA Ajit Doval), is a member of the leadership team. Given the long list of previous charges, this news today raises even further concern over Buchs ability to function objectively and independently.
There are several investors, domestic and foreign, who have expressed concern to us over the series of charges against the market regulator. There is an erosion of trust and credibility of Indias stock markets. The Congress party wants a strong and robust stock market with many foreign and domestic investors participation, he said.
Asserting that it is not in the nations interest to have clouds of doubt, fear and uncertainty over the market regulator, Chakravarty said, Only an objective, independent inquiry with the SEBI Chairperson Ms Buch stepping aside was needed, until then can restore trust and confidence in Indias stock markets and hence the economy.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that cultural degradation observed in nations like America, Poland, and countries affected by the Arab Spring has now been witnessed in Bangladesh, stating that such tendencies bring about national catastrophes and nations get ruined.
Speaking at the Vedsevak Sanman Sohala, an event organised by the Sadguru Group, on Wednesday, the RSS Chief felicitated 200 gurujis involved in Vedas recitation during the Ram temple construction in Ayodhya.
Bhagwat criticised those who seek global dominance and cause divisions.
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He also said that evil forces that flourish in the rest of the world meet their end in India due to the countrys knowledge and adherence to law, the constitution, and its rich legacy.
Bhagwat underscored the necessity of vigilance against these forces, emphasising that history shows their eventual decline in India due to the countrys knowledge and adherence to law, the constitution, and its rich legacy.
The RSS Chief also spoke on increasing disbelief among the educated class and the issue of untouchability, raising questions about religious conversions spurred by social discrimination.
Evil forces exist across the globe, and their evil acts continue to play out everywhere. Bangladesh is not the first case. The first case is America. I read a book written by an American author titled Cultural Development of America, in which he discusses the cultural degradation of America over the last 100 years.
This degradation was replicated in Poland, then in Arab countries in the form of Arab Spring, and recently it happened in Bangladesh. Those who want to tighten their grip on the world and assume they are the only ones who are right, while others are wrong, such proud tendencies seek to pit people against each other and benefit from it, Bhagwat said.
We need to keep track of such tendencies without fear. History shows that such forces grow larger, eventually reach India, and face decline here, as we perform their last rites. We are able to do this because we possess knowledge, and by using that knowledge, such tendencies can be tamed following the discipline of law, the constitution and legacy, he said.
Disbelief (anastha and ashraddha) is increasing, especially among the educated classes, because they do not have examples to look up to, the RSS Chief added.
Untouchability has no place in the shastras (Hindu scriptures) but it exists in practise, he noted.
If someone, after being fed up with such adamant behavior of Hindu religion, converts to another religion, who is to be blamed, he asked.
Swami Govind Dev Giriji Maharaj and Champat Rai, treasurer and secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirth Kshetra Trust, respectively; BVG Group Founder Hanmantrao Gaikwad, and Sakal Media Group chairman Abhijit Pawar were also present at the event.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Singapore counterpart Lawrence Wong on Thursday reviewed India-Singapore bilateral relations and decided to elevate relationship between the two countries to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
On the second day of his visit, the prime minister held talks with the Singapore prime minister and took stock of the robust progress in economic ties with Singapore. The two leaders called for further expanding trade and investment flows between the two countries.
Their decision to elevate the relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership is expected to give a major boost to Indias Act East Policy, given the breadth and depth of bilateral ties and immense potential.
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Concluding his visit to Singapore, the prime minister said, My visit to Singapore has been a very fruitful one. It will certainly add vigour to bilateral ties and benefit the people of our nations. I thank the government and people of Singapore for their warmth.
Mr Modi and Mr Wong witnessed exchange of MoUs for cooperation in Semiconductors, Digital Technologies, Skill Development and Healthcare. Mr Modi invited Prime Minister Wong to visit India which he accepted.
At his meeting with Mr Wong, Mr Modi said Singapore is not merely a partner country; it serves as an inspiration for every developing nation. We also aim to create multiple Singapore within India. I am pleased that we are collaborating towards this goal. The ministerial roundtable we have established is a path-breaking mechanism.
The prime minister said collaborative initiatives have been identified in areas such as skilling, digitalisation, mobility, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors and AI, healthcare, sustainability and cybersecurity.
Singapore is also an important facilitator of our Act East policy, Mr Modi said. Our shared belief in democratic values connects us with each other. Mr Modi said our strategic partnership is completing a decade. Over the past 10 years, our trade has more than doubled.
Mr Modi said mutual investment has increased almost threefold to cross $150 billion. Singapore was the first country with which we launched the UPI Person-to-Person payment facility, he said.
The prime minister said, I am delighted to inform you that Indias first Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre will soon be inaugurated in Singapore. The great saint Thiruvalluvar provided guiding thoughts to the world in the most ancient language Tamil. His work, the Thirukkural, was composed nearly 2,000 years ago, yet its ideas remain relevant today.
The Prime Minister met President of Singapore Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam also. Mr Modi appreciated the Presidents passionate support for the India-Singapore partnership.
The two leaders noted the longstanding friendship and cooperation between the two countries, which is based on trust, mutual respect and complementarity. Mr Modi conveyed that he looks forward to welcoming President Tharman to India next year.
Among his high-level engagements, Mr Modi met Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Senior Minister and former Prime Minister of Singapore also. The Senior Minister hosted a lunch in honour of the Prime Minister.
Mr Modi appreciated Senior Minister Lees contributions to the development of India-Singapore Strategic Partnership and expressed his hope that Senior Minister Lee will continue to give attention and guidance to Singapores relations with India in his new role as Senior Minister.
The prime minister also met Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and noted that he had started the India Fever in Singapore and paid special attention to India-Singapore ties when he was the Prime Minister of Singapore.
At his talks with Mr Wong, the prime minister said Singapore with an investment of around USD 160 billion in the Indian economy, is a leading economic partner for India. He noted that rapid and sustained growth in India has opened up immense investment opportunities for Singaporean entities.
The two leaders discussed the outcome of the 2nd India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable held in Singapore in August 2024 and appreciated the work done by senior ministers from both sides in deliberating and identifying a new agenda for bilateral cooperation.
The leaders called for accelerated action under the pillars of cooperation identified during the Ministerial Roundtables Advanced Manufacturing, Connectivity, Digitalization, Healthcare & Medicine, Skills Development and Sustainability.
The leaders underscored that the cooperation in these areas, particularly in the fields of semiconductors and critical and emerging technologies, will open a new chapter in bilateral relations.
KYODO NEWS - Sep 5, 2024 - 11:50 | All, Japan, World
U.S. President Joe Biden is set to block Nippon Steel Corp.'s plan to acquire United States Steel Corp. on national security grounds, media reports said Wednesday.
It would be a rare rejection of a proposed buyout by a company from Japan, a key U.S. ally. With votes from blue-collar workers seen as critical in the U.S. presidential election in November, both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have voiced opposition to the takeover plan, without providing a detailed rationale.
The Washington Post reported Biden is planning to announce that he will formally block the acquisition by Japan's largest steelmaker.
While the timing of the Biden administration's announcement remains unclear, the Financial Times, citing people familiar with the matter, said the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States told Nippon Steel recently that the planned acquisition posed national security concerns that could not be mitigated by the two producers.
Nippon Steel, however, said it has not received any update on the committee's review, while noting that "since the outset of the regulatory review process, we have been clear with the administration that we do not believe this transaction creates any national security concerns."
"Nippon Steel strongly believes that the U.S. government should appropriately handle procedures on this matter in accordance with the law," it said in a statement.
Without confirming the media reports, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said the review is "incredibly independent" and it "hasn't transmitted a recommendation yet to the president and that's the next step in this process."
She also told a press briefing that Biden and Harris are "committed to ensuring steel is made in America."
The committee, chaired by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, is in charge of examining whether foreign investment transactions in U.S. firms pose national security threats.
Nippon Steel, the world's fourth-largest producer, and U.S. Steel, the 24th-largest, announced the $14.1 billion acquisition deal in December. U.S. Steel and its shareholders are in favor of the takeover, which would make it more competitive globally and create the world's third-largest steelmaker by volume.
But the powerful United Steelworkers union -- which has endorsed Harris for president after Biden's withdrawal from the race against Republican nominee Donald Trump -- is strongly opposed to the deal, dragging the two companies into political controversy.
Harris, the Democratic Party's presidential nominee, said at a Labor Day campaign rally in Pittsburgh on Monday that U.S. Steel should remain domestically owned and operated.
Her first reference to the planned acquisition since launching her presidential campaign was in sync with Biden, who has said multiple times this year that the company should remain in American hands.
"It is vital for our nation to maintain strong American steel companies," Harris told the crowd at the rally. "I couldn't agree more with President Biden...and I will always have the back of America's steelworkers and all of America's workers."
U.S. Steel, founded in 1901, and the labor union are both headquartered in Pittsburgh, a city in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state in the Nov. 5 election.
In response to Harris' remarks, Nippon Steel said it is confident that the envisaged acquisition will "revitalize the American steel rust belt" and "benefit American workers, local communities and national security in a way no other alternative can."
On Wednesday, the Japanese company made an additional announcement, saying that U.S. citizens would still make up the majority of board members and core senior management of U.S. Steel if the acquisition goes ahead.
"We want elected leaders and other key decision makers to recognize the benefits of the deal as well as the unavoidable consequences if the deal fails," a U.S. Steel statement released separately quoted its president and CEO, David Burritt, as saying.
Without the tie-up, it said, "U.S. Steel will largely pivot away from its blast furnace facilities, putting thousands of good-paying union jobs at risk, negatively impacting numerous communities across the locations where its facilities exist, and depriving the American steel industry of an opportunity to better compete on the global stage."
It added that losing the deal with the Japanese company would also raise serious doubts about the company remaining headquartered in Pittsburgh.
Related coverage:
Majority of U.S. Steel board to be U.S. citizens: Nippon Steel
Harris opposes sale of U.S. Steel to Japan's Nippon Steel
Nippon Steel to invest additional $1.3 billion in U.S. Steel plants
The Kerala High Court on Thursday dismissed a public interest petition seeking a fair investigation by a Central investigation agency into the allegations levelled by CPI-M-backed independent legislator P V Anvar against M R Ajith Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Law and Order, and former Malappuram District Police Chief Sujith Das.
A Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice A Muhamed Mustaque and Justice S. Manu said it did not understand how a public interest litigation came to be filed even before the government or authorities acted on the allegations. There was absolutely no reason to entertain the petition, the court said.
The counsel for the state government submitted before the court that the petitioner was making an allegation that the investigation was not proper even before the investigation agency conducted its first meeting or started the investigation.
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The court observed that the writ petitioner approached the court even before the investigation agency had a chance to investigate the allegations.
P V Anvar on Sunday came out with serious allegations against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayans political secretary, P Sasi, and Additional Director General of Police(ADGP), Law and Order, M R Ajith Kumar.Anwar accused ADGP Ajith Kumar of being involved in gold smuggling operations that have led to killings.
Anvar also alleged that Pathanamthitta SP Sujith Das(former MalappuramSP) has connections within Customs that are used to smuggle gold through Kozhikode airport.
When gold arrives from Dubai, Sujith Das gets information .through insiders. Das has strong connections in Customs, where he previously worked. Customs officers detect gold during scanning but pretend that it didnt come to their notice. The, they pass the information to the police as the smugglers exit. The police then follow and catch them, seizing 50 to 60 per cent of the gold. This is their modus operandi. Sujith Das is controlled by MR. Ajith Kumar. Anvar further alleged.
At least six persons, including a woman, were killed as landslides damaged many houses besides washing away a large portion of the vital National Highway-29 in Nagalands Chumoukedima district, officials said on Wednesday.
Disaster management officials said that six persons were killed when their houses collapsed due to landslides triggered by heavy rain in Pherima village late on Tuesday night.
According to the officials, the landslides also washed away a large portion of NH-29 at Pherima and Pagala Pahar, snapping road links between the states commercial hub Dimapur and capital Kohima.
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Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said in a post on X, Convened a meeting and took stock of the disaster situation on NH-29, which resulted in six casualties. I urge citizens to heed to official advisories. The government is providing emergency services and ex-gratia. I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased.
In another post, the Chief Minister said, Im deeply concerned by large scale destruction on NH-29 caused by incessant rainfall. Authorities are on the site assessing the situation and helping those affected. The state government will continue to pursue with the Government of India and the NHIDCL (National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited) for immediate measures to restore normalcy at the earliest.
Deputy Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang said, I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families of six precious souls that were lost in the unfortunate natural calamity. May the departed souls rest in eternal peace and may the Almighty give strength and solace to the bereaved families.
An official statement said that a massive mudslide at Pherima, along with landslides in Tseipama, Piphema, Pagala Pahar, and New Chumoukedima resulted in the complete blockage of NH-29.
The affected section of the road has been washed away, making it impassable for all vehicular traffic between Kohima and Dimapur.
In light of the road conditions, the police have also advised against using the alternate Pimla-Mhainamtsi route for travel between Kohima and Dimapur, as it is also affected by mudslides and landslides.
For those willing to travel, the Niuland-Kohima route via Zhadima remains open for light motor vehicles only.
A district court in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday awarded death sentence to a man for raping and killing his minor niece in 2021.
Suresh Kumar Choube, the Additional District Judge (ADJ) of Sohagpur court in Narmadapuram district, found the accused guilty of rape and murder and awarded death sentence.
Before pronouncing the judgement, ADJ Choube read a quatrain from the Ramcharitamanas and said, Raping an innocent, minor girl falls under heinous crime. And, killing a minor after raping her cant be judged as a normal case.
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The investigation by Sohagpur police, the DNA reports, and the testimony of the victims elder brother, who is also a minor, led the court to decide the fate of the accused, who is the maternal uncle of the victim.
The heinous crime was committed on December 25, 2021. The Sohagpur police upon receiving a missing complaint carried out a search and found the victims body on the rooftop of her house.
After committing the crime, the accused misled the victims family and the police by pretending that he too was searching for the missing girl.
The autopsy report revealed that the victim was sexually assaulted before being smothered to death.
The police nabbed the accused on the basis of bite marks on the victims body. The case had triggered widespread anger among the residents of Sohagpur who staged a massive protest, blocking highways and roads besides laying siege to the offices of the district collector and the superintendent of police demanding death penalty for the accused.
The Meghalaya government has informed the Supreme Court that it has officially banned the use of the two-finger test for determining whether survivors of rape or sexual assault were previously habituated to sexual intercourse. The controversial test has long been criticised as invasive and scientifically baseless.
In a circular dated June 27, 2024, issued by the states Health and Family Welfare Department, all medical practitioners were strictly prohibited from conducting the two-finger test. Disciplinary action would be taken against any medical personnel found violating this directive, the directive added.
A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and Sanjay Karol acknowledged this circular while reviewing a case on September 3, 2024. The bench referred to the Supreme Courts strong condemnation of the two-finger test in its earlier ruling on May 7, which decried the practice as an affront to a womans dignity.
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Amit Kumar, the Advocate General for Meghalaya, presented the circular to the court. The circular emphasised that medical professionals in the state must refrain from performing the test, as it not only lacks scientific merit but also revictimises survivors of sexual assault.
The bench, while dismissing an appeal from a convict challenging his conviction under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, welcomed the states prohibition of the practice. It stressed the importance of ensuring survivors receive compassionate and respectful care, including psychological support and counseling services.
The court made it clear that any deviation from this directive would result in strict disciplinary measures as outlined in the Meghalaya Discipline and Appeal Rules, 2019. It also expressed hope that the state of Meghalaya would fully adhere to the circular, avoiding the need for future reprimands.
This decision aligns with a Supreme Court judgment delivered in October 2022, which had condemned the two-finger test for its lack of scientific validity and for causing further trauma to survivor
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday expressed strong confidence that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition will emerge victorious in the Maharashtra assembly elections, anticipated later this year.
When questioned about who would be the Chief Minister if the MVA wins, Raut remained non-committal but hinted that the party securing the most seats would likely claim the top position.
The people will choose the CM who resonates with them Lets see which party wins how many seats. The decision on the CM face will come later. Our primary goal is to oust this corrupt government. After that, we can discuss leadership, Raut stated during a press conference in Mumbai.
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The MVA is a coalition of three major Opposition parties: Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena (UBT), Sharad Pawars Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SCP), and the Congress.
In the previous MVA government, Uddhav Thackeray served as Chief Minister. However, since then, both Thackerays and Pawars parties have faced internal splits, while the Congress has seen a resurgence, strengthening its position after a strong showing in this years general elections.
While both the BJP-led ruling MahaYuti alliance and the Oppositions MVA claim they will triumph in the upcoming elections, the latter is seen as the frontrunner by many.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a programme marking the launch of Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative at Surat in Gujarat through video conferencing on Friday.
In furtherance to the PMs vision of water security, the initiative seeks to conserve water with strong emphasis on community partnership and ownership and is driven by a whole of society and government approach.
Building on the success of the Jal Sanchay initiative led by the Government of Gujarat, the Ministry of Jal Shakti, in collaboration with the state government, is launching the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative in Gujarat.
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The Government of Gujarat has endeavoured to mobilize citizens, local bodies, industries and other stakeholders to ensure a water secure future.
Under this programme, about 24,800 rainwater harvesting structures across the state are being constructed with community partnership. These recharge structures will be instrumental in enhancing rainwater harvesting and ensuring long-term water sustainability
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accompanied by Singapore Prime Minister Mr Lawrence Wong, visited AEM, a leading Singaporean company in the semiconductor and electronics sector, on Thursday.
The Prime Minister also interacted with a group of leading Singaporean CEOs from diverse sectors, including investment funds, infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, sustainability, and logistics.
Deputy Prime Minister Mr Gan Kim Yong and Minister for Home Affairs and Law Mr K Shanmugam of Singapore participated in the event.
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At AEM, the leaders were briefed about the companys role in the global semiconductor value chain, its operations, and its plans for India. The Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association gave a briefing on the development of the semiconductor ecosystem in Singapore and opportunities for collaboration with India.
Representatives of several other Singaporean companies from this sector were also present. The Prime Minister invited the Singaporean semiconductor companies to participate in the SEMICON INDIA exhibition to be held in Greater Noida on 11-13 September.
Given efforts to develop the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem in India and Singapores strengths in this sector, both sides have decided to expand bilateral cooperation.
During the 2nd meeting of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable, both sides agreed to add Advance Manufacturing, with a focus on semiconductors, as a pillar for enhancing bilateral cooperation. Both sides have also concluded the MoU on India-Singapore Semiconductor Ecosystem Partnership.
At the facility, the two Prime Ministers also interacted with Indian interns from Odishas World Skill Centre undergoing training in Singapore as well as Singaporean interns who had visited India under the CII-Enterprise Singapore India Ready Talent Programme and Indian engineers working at AEM.
Appreciating the CEOs investment footprint in India, the Prime Minister acknowledged the role played by the Singaporean industry leaders in strengthening bilateral relations and promoting economic cooperation between India and Singapore.
To further facilitate their collaboration with India, the Prime Minister announced the setting up of an INVEST INDIA office in Singapore. He said the elevation of India-Singapore ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership would give a major thrust to bilateral economic relations.
Mr Modi noted that India had made transformative progress in the last ten years and would continue on the same path, given its strengths of political stability, policy predictability, Ease of Doing Business, and its reform-oriented economic agenda.
India is set to become the third-largest economy in the world over the next few years, he said. Talking of Indias impressive growth story, its skilled talent pool, and expansive market opportunities, he highlighted that India is contributing 17 per cent to global economic growth.
The Prime Minister spoke about various initiatives to enhance Indias participation in global value chains through programmes such as the Production Linked Incentive scheme, the India Semiconductor Mission, and the establishment of 12 new Industrial Smart Cities.
He called upon business leaders to look at opportunities in India in the field of skill development. For businesses looking for resilient supply chains, the Prime Minister noted that India is the best alternative given its strengths.
The PM assured that India would increase the pace and scale of infrastructure development in his third term and apprised the CEOs of new opportunities in the fields of Railways, Roads, Ports, Civil Aviation, Industrial Parks, and Digital Connectivity.
The Prime Minister invited Singaporean business leaders to look at investment opportunities in India and to increase their presence in the country.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday expressed his willingness to negotiate peace with Ukraine, suggesting that India, China and Brazil could serve as potential mediators, according to reports.
The statement was made during the Eastern Economic Forum held in Vladivostok.
Putin, responding to a question regarding which countries he would trust for mediating peace talks with Ukraine, said, First of all, the Peoples Republic of China, Brazil and India. I am in contact with my partners we have trust and confidence in one another.
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If there is a desire on part of Ukraine to carry on with the negotiations, I can do that, he said, according to Reuters.
The Russian president also mentioned that a preliminary agreement reached between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in early weeks of the war in Istanbul could form the basis for future negotiations. Although this agreement was never implemented, it may still offer a path forward, he added.
The suggestion underscores Putins interest in involving key global players in efforts to resolve the conflict amid rising pressure.
The development comes months after his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the latters visit to Russia. Furthermore, it also coincides with Modis recent visit to Ukraine, where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
During this meeting, Modi emphasized that Indias stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict is not neutral, and that New Delhi firmly supports peace efforts.
We should move in that direction without losing any time, he had stated.
Upon his return from Ukraine, Modi spoke with Putin, giving him his insights from the visit and reinforced Indias position on the conflict.
Exchanged perspectives on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and my insights from the recent visit to Ukraine, Modi posted on X, reiterating Indias firm commitment to support an early, abiding, and peaceful resolution of the conflict.
The prime minister also engaged in discussions with US President Joe Biden following his visit to Ukraine.
The leaders are believed to have discussed ways to find an early resolution to the nearly three-year-long conflict.
Spoke to @POTUS @JoeBiden on phone today. We had a detailed exchange of views on various regional and global issues, including the situation in Ukraine. I reiterated Indias full support for the early return of peace and stability, Modi has posted on X.
The suggestion from Putin underscores Russias interest in involving key global players in efforts to resolve the conflict amid rising pressure.
The fact that India maintains friendly relations with both the US and the Russia makes it a key player in resolving the Ukraine conflict.
At least six naxals were killed in an encounter with police in the dense forest area of Bhadradri Kothagudem district in Telangana Thursday morning, officials said.
Two security personnel were injured in the incident, with one of them in a critical condition, Superintendent of Police Rohit Raj said.
According to police sources, a huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the site following the encounter.
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Sources from the police PRO office in Bhadradri Kothagudem district indicated that the operation was part of ongoing efforts to curb naxal activities in the region.
The encounter comes just days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah set a target to eradicate Naxal insurgency in India by March 2026.
Addressing a high profile meeting last month, he emphasised that Naxalism represents a significant challenge to Indias democratic framework and expressed confidence that the battle is nearing its final phase.
Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj, Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh will chair the Stakeholder Consultation on Fisheries Export Promotion with focus on strengthening shrimp farming and value chain on Friday at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is organising the Stakeholder Consultation.
Ministers of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj Prof S P Singh Baghel and George Kurian are also expected to attend the stakeholder consultation along with senior officers of the Ministries and Departments concerned.
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The fisheries sector, a cornerstone of the Indian economy, plays a crucial role in national income, exports, and food security. Known as the Sunrise Sector, it supports around 30 million people, especially from marginalised communities.
As the worlds second largest fish producer, India achieved a record production of 17.5 million tonnes (in 2022-23), contributing 8 per cent to the global fish production.
The sectors significance is highlighted by its 1.09 per cent contribution to the countrys Gross Value Added (GVA) and over 6.724 per cent to agricultural GVA. With immense growth potential, the fisheries sector requires focused policy and financial support for sustainable, responsible, and inclusive development.
The Union government has spearheaded the transformation of the fisheries sector through various schemes and initiatives such as PMMSY, FIDF, Blue Revolution and PMMKSSY, with the highest ever investment of Rs 38,572 crore since 2015.
As a result of these policies and initiatives, India proudly stands second in global fish production. Indias seafood exports touched an all-time high in volume during the financial year 2023-24 despite various challenges in significant export markets.
India shipped 1.78 million tonnes of seafood worth Rs 60,523.89 crore during 2023-24. In the last one decade, there has been a boom in shrimp cultivation and export.
The shrimp exports have more than doubled with an increase of about 107 per cent from Rs 19,368 crore (in 2013-14) to Rs 40,013.54 crore (in 2023-24). This has resulted in tremendous progress in seafood exports, which has increased with an average annual growth rate of 14 per cent in the last 10 years.
The Stakeholder Consultation on Fisheries Export Promotion is being convened to foster dialogue and collaboration among various stakeholders, including fish farmers, fishers, industry leaders, seafood exporters, policymakers, and researchers.
By focusing on innovation, sustainability, and value addition, the meeting aims to enhance Indias position in the global seafood market and drive inclusive growth for fish farmers and coastal communities.
Participants will engage in discussions on best practices, sustainable aquaculture technologies, and infrastructure development to enhance productivity, ensure food safety, and improve traceability in the seafood export and its value chain.
The consultation will also focus on formulating actionable strategies to expand Indias footprint in global seafood markets, thereby maximising export potential of diverse fish/seaweed/seafood products and supporting the livelihoods of millions of fishers, coastal communities and fish farmers of the country.
KYODO NEWS - Sep 5, 2024 - 20:28 | World, All, Japan
Japan and Australia on Thursday reaffirmed defense cooperation and pledged to provide assistance to Pacific island nations to help improve their digital infrastructure, in a bid to counter China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
The two countries' foreign and defense ministers also shared concerns about Chinese military activities in Japan's territory, including the violation of its airspace by a Chinese spy plane last week, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said at a press conference after their meeting at Queenscliff in the southeastern state of Victoria.
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said at the press conference that she and the other ministers recognized their nations are facing strategic challenges, adding that they oppose "unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force" in the region.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, Australia and Japan said they are "determined to further deepen and expand our strategic and security cooperation" to help prevent conflict and maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
As part of the assistance to Pacific island nations, Australia and Japan will work with other like-minded partners to secure undersea telecommunications cable connectivity for the nations, the statement said.
Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles said the ministers had agreed to enhance engagement between the two nations' air forces and further develop trilateral engagements with the United States.
Australia will also join the Orient Shield annual joint exercise held by the U.S. Army and Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force next year for the first time, Marles said.
In an effort to streamline planning for joint exercises and operations, the two countries agreed to embed Australian and Japanese liaison officers in each other's command headquarters, he added.
The security talks held by Marles, Kihara, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Kamikawa were the first "two-plus-two" talks between the two nations since December 2022 in Tokyo.
Responding to the talks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press conference that Beijing believes defense and security cooperation between states should be conducive to maintaining regional peace and stability and "should not target any third party."
Australia and Japan have deepened their security partnership, engaging in more frequent joint exercises and collaboration between defense forces under a bilateral reciprocal access agreement that took effect in August last year.
The agreement enables quicker dispatch of defense personnel between the two nations and eases restrictions on the transport of weapons and supplies for joint drills and disaster relief operations.
The ministers are believed to have talked about Japan's bid to join Australia's planned development of a new warship in the meeting, as Tokyo pushes for cooperation on defense equipment and technology with its allies.
But when asked by a reporter about the bid, Kihara refrained from sharing any details, saying Japan has not made any decision about Australia's plan.
Related coverage:
Japan, Australia look to cooperate on long-range missile capability
With the Tamil Nadu government accepting the apology of Union minister Shobha Karandlaje for linking the Rameswaram Cafe blast in Bengaluru in March this year with Tamils, the Madras High Court on Thursday quashed the FIR registered against her.
The minister, hailing from Karnataka, had filed the affidavit before the Madras High Court, apologising for her comments if they have hurt the Tamil people. She had said that the bombers were trained in Tamil Nadu.
Granting relief to the minister, Justice G Jayachandran quashed the FIR after Advocate General PS Raman submitted that the case can be closed after recording the affidavit of apology filed by her.
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Earlier, the Tamil Nadu government insisted on her making the apology through a press conference, since she had made the hurtful remarks before the media. During the previous hearing, the Judge too observed that it was only appropriate for her to tender the apology in a presser. He also questioned how she could make such a statement even before the NIA, probing the blast, could come out with its findings.
I state that the alleged comments made by me about the people of Tamil Nadu while addressing the media about the Rameshwaram Cafe bomb blast in Bengaluru was made without any intention to hurt the sentiments and feelings of the people of Tamil Nadu.
I have the highest respect and regard to the history, rich culture, tradition and to the people of Tamil Nadu and I had or have no intention whatsoever to hurt the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu by any conduct of mine. I hereby once again tender my apology to the people of Tamil Nadu, reads the affidavit.
Previously, the minister had contended that she had contended that she had expressed her apology through social media and that was enough for the case to be quashed.
The FIR was registered by the Madurai police on a complaint that the ministers remark was intended to foment enmity between Tamils and Kannadigas. And the minister had approached the High Court, seeking to quash it, contending that the case, filed with an ulterior motive, was an abuse of the process of law and against freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution.
In its ongoing efforts to tackle agricultural challenges and drive growth while empowering farmers, the Uttar Pradesh government organized the Ag-Tech Start-up Summit here on Thursday.
The event was held in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and in partnership with the European Unions ACSIIS program, and Google. The summit aimed to modernize agriculture in Uttar Pradesh and explore the future of farming in the state.
This high-profile conference brought together over 25 ag-tech innovators from across the country, alongside policymakers, investors, educators, and international ecosystem builders. The summit provided a platform to showcase customized technologies and solutions aimed at enhancing agricultural income and sustainability.
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During the AgTech Start-up Summit 2024, Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh launched the Vision Document for AgTech, marking a significant step towards revolutionizing agriculture in Uttar Pradesh. Speaking at the event, Singh highlighted Uttar Pradeshs critical role as an agricultural powerhouse, not only for India but also on a global scale.
He emphasized that two major challenges facing agricultureweather and pricingrequire urgent solutions. Singh noted that the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank could play key roles in providing much-needed relief to farmers in these areas.
He stressed the importance of adopting technology, particularly digital advancements, to address these challenges, an initiative the states Agriculture Department has been driving for the past few years.
Mr Singh expressed confidence that AgTech will bring transformative changes to both agriculture and the lives of farmers. He outlined key goals such as ensuring farmers receive full credit at lower costs and securing maximum prices for their produce.
During this, Agriculture Production Commissioner Monica Garg emphasized the Uttar Pradesh governments commitment to doubling farmers income, aligning with CM Yogi Adityanaths vision.
Ms Garg pointed out that the state has made significant strides in digital agriculture through the implementation of Agristack, a key initiative aimed at modernizing agricultural practices. With the Government of India introducing several proposals, such as soil health testing, Uttar Pradesh is focusing on building stronger partnerships with the private sector to further these efforts.
Wendy Werner, IFC Country Manager for India and the Maldives, commended Uttar Pradeshs progress in agriculture, noting the states immense potential. She highlighted the collaborative efforts between the IFC and the UP government to ensure that the private sector plays a vital role in delivering innovative agricultural solutions.
Werner also mentioned that the IFC has invested around $9 billion in India, supporting projects that drive agricultural innovation.
The summit also featured an exhibition showcasing start-up solutions, ranging from sowing technologies to post-harvest innovations and market access strategies.
The police have arrested the attendant of an ambulance in connection with the attempted rape and robbery of a woman in a moving ambulance recently.
The woman was allegedly molested inside the ambulance while accompanying her husband to the hospital. After assaulting her, the ambulance workers reportedly threw her and her husband out of the vehicle after removing his oxygen support.
The womans husband subsequently died during treatment at Gorakhpur Medical College.
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The police have also recovered the ambulance involved in the incident. The driver has been identified, and police are conducting raids at various places to locate him.
Lucknow ACP Anidyra Vikram Singh said that on Thursday, with the help of surveillance, the police arrested the ambulance helper, Rishabh Singh, a resident of Kunharganj in Ayodhya. The ambulance was also recovered at the same location.
He said that during interrogation, the accused identified the ambulance driver as Suraj Tiwari, a resident of Purwa in Unnao. The police raided several places in search of the driver but have not located him. The accused also said that the journey of 200-kilometre journey was covered for Rs 9,000.
The accused claimed that at the time of the incident, driver Suraj Tiwari was drunk and misbehaved with the woman in his drunken state. In the Cantonment area of Basti, Tiwari and the accused snatched Rs 10,000, a mangalsutra, anklets and other documents from the woman, before fleeing the scene with everyone in the ambulance.
The incident occurred on August 30 in Siddharthnagar district.
According to reports, the woman had taken her husband, Harish, to Basti Medical College after he had been unwell for several days. Due to his deteriorating condition, the doctors at the hospital referred him to a different facility. Unable to afford the fees at the private hospital, the woman decided to return home in Siddharthnagar for treatment.
During the journey, the ambulance driver forced the woman to sit in the front with him and, along with his aide, sexually harassed her. When she attempted to protest and shout, they cut off her husbands oxygen supply and threw both of them out from the ambulance.
The ambulance driver also stole her jewellery, the woman alleged. Her husband was severely injured, and his health deteriorated after the oxygen supply was cut off.
After the victim recounted her ordeal to her brother over phone, he informed the police.
A march by Youth Congress workers to the Secretariat here on Thursday, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, turned violent following allegations made by CPI-M-backed Independent MLA P V Anvar against ADGP M R Ajith Kumar and the Chief Ministers office.
Led by Youth Congress state president Rahul Mamkootathil and vice-president Abin Varkey, the protest turned violent as workers attempted to breach barricades. Several activists sustained injuries in the commotion.
The police blocked the activists at the Secretariats main gate, where repeated attempts by the protesters to breach the barricades led to the deployment of water cannons. Despite seven rounds of water cannon use, the protesters remained unyielding. The situation further intensified when demonstrators shattered a police shield, prompting police to resort to lathicharge to regain control.
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According to reports, police beat youth Congress workers who fell to the ground. Many youth Congress workers sustained injuries in the police action. Youth Congress state vice-president Abin Varkey sustained head injuries in the lathicharge, while Thiruvananthapuram district president Nemom Shajeer suffered an eye injury. Many police personnel were also injured in the clash, including the Cantonment Circle inspector, who sustained hand injuries.
The Youth Congress activists said they will continue their protest demanding action against the Cantonment Sub Inspector who allegedly assaulted Abin Varkey. Varkey claimed that the SI, a DYFI activist, was responsible for the incident. We knew there would be physical harm for protesting against the Chief Minister and the ADGP. Let them keep beating. We are prepared to endure more, Abin Varkey said. The Youth Congress activists also alleged that the police acted on instructions from the DYFI and CPI-M leaders.
KPCC president K Sudhakaran, who rushed to the site of the agitation, criticised the police, accusing them of unleashing brutal violence against the Youth Congress workers. Even if the army comes and fires, this protest will not end here. Dont try to suppress us by fighting, threatening with weapons, or beating us until we bleed. We will personally confront each police officer standing before us. We will resist. No doubt. Watch out from tomorrow, Sudhakaran said.
A heartfelt, unfeigned card with a thank you note, a flower, perhaps a few chocolates and maybe a Happy Teachers Day sticker over WhatsApp text is what we are well-attuned with when it comes to celebrating the guiding lights of our lives, the teachers who help us traverse through the complex tapestry of school, college and education. But how do you express gratitude to a teacher who is a luminary in the field of parallel cinema, a virtuoso filmmaker who has ambitiously worked in producing innumerable legendary feature films, TV series and documentaries and has won several National Film Awards as well as Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan?
Shyam Benegal, a name that is revolutionary with alternative cinema, his debut feature film Ankur has turned 50 this year. With an impressive career arc ranging from Nishant, Manthan, Samar, Hari-Bhari, Well Done Abba, Bhumika, Mandi, Sardari Begum, and several more, his career started even before that in the advertising industry, where he met Mohan Bijlani, who was the first to finance in Benegals movies. Therefore, manifestly, a student of Shyam Benegal too would be a peerless actor and filmmaker, just like Satish Sharma, who first associated with Shyam Benegal while he was making Hari-Bhari. He played a role in Benegals film Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose-The Forgotten Hero (2004), garnering the privilege of being a part of Benegals directorial team, where they worked together on films like Welcome to Sajjanpur (2008), Well Done Abba (20009), Samvidhaan (TV series-2014) and Mujib: The Making of a Nation (2023). In 2024, Satish Sharma added another feather to his cap with his written and directed 10-minute short film Yaan which has been globally acclaimed for being a cinematic masterpiece. Taking it one step further, apart from this short film winning the National Award in the Best Sound Design Category and travelling across multiple film festivals, Satish Sharma dedicated this film to his guru, Shyam Benegal.
In a vivacious conversation with The Statesman, Shyam Benegal and Satish Sharma share the memories of their days together and beyond.
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Q. Completing 50 years in cinema and being a path-breaking filmmaker, what kept you going?
Shyam Benegal: Well, this is the only thing I know. I dont know how to do anything else except make movies (laughing).
Your journey with Mr Benegal started when you acted in his movie Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero. Can you help us walk through it?
Satish Sharma: Well, I was extremely fortunate to meet Shyam babu; that is what I call him fondly. We actually met at the Hari-Bhari set, where I had gone to introduce myself, but his team thought that there was no role for me in the film. I had taken my nephew there because they required a kid for a role, and my nephew got the part. That is exactly how I had the privilege of being in close association with Shyam babu for those 30 days in Hyderabad. After that, I came to Bombay, and then later on, when Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero happened, he called me for it. Shyam babu knew what he wanted from me, yet I did not!
Can you share a few memorable moments that you had while working with Mr Benegal from the sets of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero, your first film together and Mujib your last film together?
Satish Sharma: Shyam babu is an institution. When you are around him, you get positivity and knowledge; he is an encyclopaedia, and he knows everything. You know, even when you are a master of your subject, and you sit beside Shyam babu, you will start counting your knowledge because he knows so much. During the phase of shooting for Netaji, Shyam babu knew that I knew Russian, and that was also a reason why I was taken for the movie; he made me realise my capabilities, that I could handle production, direction as well as acting. For Mujib, I was his shadow. We did our shooting during a very troubled time with Covid and everything, and Shyam babu gave me the huge responsibility of handling the production of the film, and I will always be grateful for that. It was one of the biggest projects we had worked on.
Being in the industry for so many years, can you share your journey when it comes to understanding the evolution of cinema.?
Shyam Benegal: My experience in cinema has now crossed the threshold of 60 years, so naturally, its been a long time. The entire medium itself is changing. It is now the world of technology, and technology will always keep on developing, which means you have to keep on learning all the time, and that is what makes it so interesting. If there hadnt been development, lets say it had stopped 20 years ago; it would have been boring then, and I probably wouldnt have done it till now. Technology in cinema is changing so much, it keeps you on your toes all the time.
If you look at cinema from then to now, the change has been so dramatic. It sometimes is difficult to keep track of everything. Fortunately for me, I have always kept my interest in cinema ignited. Equipment, camera, everything has now changed. You know you dont use celluloid anymore. In the world of cinema, you stumble upon something new every day. You know, previously, until you got that one great shot, you continued with that one shot and then moved on to the next, but now it is so much simpler.
I have done everything you could possibly do in the cinema. I have not just directed but operated the cameras, handled new lenses, and been a part of the editing team; you almost tend to become Charlie Chaplin, who used to write, direct, and star in his own movies, except that I never acted.
Satish Sharma: Advancement of new technology and AI; while we do not know really what is going to happen, the change has been humongous and has benefitted us a lot as well.
What have been the biggest lessons you have garnered from this veteran filmmaker?
Satish Sharma: Whatever is there in my film. How to tell a story, how to choose the right frames, locations, and actors and how to write well. How to give your heart and soul to whatever you do, so I guess everything.
Who has been your teacher and guide/inspiration while you made films?
Shyam Benegal: I have learned from so many people and not just one. But Ill say, Satyajit Ray. It was way back in the 1950s when Satyajit Ray had made his first film, Pather Panchali, and it won the Cannes Film Festival Award. I wanted to watch it; however, they hadnt released the film in places where Bengali was not spoken. So I had to travel to Calcutta to see the film. Made on a shoestring budget, and he was a graphic artist; because he was an artist, he had scripted shot by shot to understand how he wanted each shot to look, and the whole story of the film was done as a storybook and that had blown me away.
Can you walk us through your experience of having Satish Sharma as your pupil for so many years?
Shyam Benegal: I dont see him as a student but as a person who works with me. He participated in everything and handled so much. He was there all the time, looking after different aspects of filmmaking. He is an enormous asset; he and I speak the same language- the language of cinema.
Your film Yaan has solidified its position as a landmark film at various film festivals. What influenced you to write and direct this film?
Satish Sharma: One day, I was watching a piece of news of this horrible incident where an individual could not take his loved one to the hospital because of poverty and no ambulance, and I cried that whole night. The next day I woke up, and I decided that I needed to write it and make a short film.
Dedicating Yaan to Shyam Benegal, how has he influenced you and what you are today?
Satish Sharma: You know Manthan was re-released this year in several cities, and I told Shyam babu that its impossible how much I have inherited so much from my teacher, my guru. When I saw Yaan, I realised I had imbibed the qualities that Shyam babu had used while making Manthan, and I had done the same thing with my national award-winning short film. When I saw the film, even the viewers who saw it realised that it was close to Manthan and the qualities you receive from your teacher. I am no equal to him, but if I could do something with the lessons I have received from him, it would be an achievement.
How would you describe Satish Sharmas achievement in directing Yaan and paying this film as a tribute to you?
Shyam Benegal: It only flatters me. He is more of a colleague, and we have been working together for many years.
Satish Sharma: This is the best thing about Shyam babu. Look at where I am and where he is, yet he is there, elevating and supporting you always.
You have often been considered a pioneer of parallel cinema, known for showing the reality of society. Is there any plot in life based on real current challenges that you think should be focused upon and should be made into a film?
Shyam Benegal: You learn from everything. In a film, the subject matter or plot has always been what I have seen in life. I am not saying that I am making a film right now, but the concept of Lakhpati Didi, which focuses on the achievements and economic empowerment of rural women, has caught my attention because I feel it is a great initiative.
Just like how Shyam Benegal has been an integral part of your learning, a teacher in a true sense, how do you plan on passing the baton and your learnings to the future filmmakers
Satish Sharma: When you work together as a team, you always have younger ones coming in and joining. Years ago, I became a part of this team, and, while doing Mujib, we had several interns and students joining us. (Shyam Benegal is receiving a call from an intern.) Perfect timing! Just while answering this question, now we have an intern calling, the perfect example of passing on the baton because, ultimately, its about passing on the characteristics, the zeal, and your learnings to the younger ones.
Teachers Day is a special occasion celebrated across India to honour and appreciate the contributions of educators who play a crucial role in shaping the future of students. Observed annually on 5 September, the day marks the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a teacher, philosopher and former President of India. It is a day for students to express their gratitude, respect and admiration for their teachers, who dedicate their lives to imparting knowledge and guiding them through lifes challenges. The significance of Teachers Day extends beyond formal recognition; it is a celebration of the enduring bond between students and teachers, reflecting the great impact that education has on society.
As part of this celebration, we spoke with students and teachers to understand what Teachers Day means to them.
Arnita Bhattacharjee, student, Class 6, South Point High School
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Teachers Day is a special occasion dedicated to honouring and showing respect to our teachers. I believe this day is crucial because our teachers work tirelessly throughout the year to guide and support us. They not only teach us academics but also help us develop values and skills that shape our future. Having a dedicated day makes them feel appreciated and valued for all their hard work. Last year was my first experience attending a Teachers Day celebration at school when I was in Class 5. Before that, we used to have holidays on Teachers Day, so I didnt really understand the significance of the day. But when I participated in the celebration, I realised how much effort goes into making our teachers feel special. We organised a programme that included dance performances, songs, recitations and speeches. It was an exciting day filled with joy and togetherness. I remember the happiness on our teachers faces as we performed for them; it was a moment of pride for all of us. I look forward to this years celebration, where we can once again show our teachers how much they mean to us.
Seema Chatterjee, teacher, Mongrace Montessori House, Park Street, Kolkata
This is the day when teachers like us are celebrated and appreciated by our students, making it truly special. In my experience, the programmes that students organise are filled with warmth and thoughtfulness. One of my most cherished memories as a student was when we used to organise similar programmes for our teachers. Back then, all the students would pool in money to buy food and gifts for our teachers, and we would arrange a small but heartfelt programme. It was a simple yet meaningful way to express our gratitude. Over the years, Ive noticed that Teachers Day celebrations have evolved. Nowadays, students bring flowers, handmade cards and gifts, showing their appreciation in more visible ways. While these gestures have become more elaborate, I believe that the essence of respect and love for teachers remains unchanged.
Ahana Das, student, Class 8, Narayana Group of Schools, Sonapur
Teachers Day holds special significance because its dedicated to appreciating the crucial role teachers play in our lives. While we might not express our gratitude every day, Teachers Day gives us the perfect opportunity to do so through our celebrations. For me, this day is a reminder of how much our teachers contribute to our growth, not just academically but also personally. I had a recent experience that made this even clearer. My chemistry teacher, who I admired greatly, left the school recently. Chemistry was a subject I struggled with, but thanks to his patient teaching and encouragement, I began to understand and even enjoy it. More than just academic help, he also boosted my confidence, helping me grow as a person. His departure was a big loss for me, but Im grateful for everything he taught me. On Teachers Day, I think of him and all the other teachers who have made a difference in my life.
Piyali Mandal, teacher, B.D.M. International School
One of the most fulfilling aspects of Teachers Day for me is hearing from my former students. Many of them, now grown up with families of their own, send me messages on this day. Each message brings immense happiness and a deep sense of satisfaction, knowing that I have played a part in their journey and that they remember me fondly. Reflecting on my own school days, Teachers Day was celebrated in a unique and memorable way. Students would take on the roles of teachers for a day, and even our principal would hand over her keys to the acting student-principal, who would then oversee the activities. We took pride in conducting classes and were even awarded prizes based on our performances. It was a fun and educational experience that brought us closer to understanding the responsibilities of our teachers. Today, in my school, the celebration has evolved. Due to half-yearly exams, the current students conduct a small programme after their exams, while the main event is organised by the alumni. Ex-students return to the school to arrange programmes for us, which is always a heartwarming experience. It reminds us of the lasting impact we have on our students, and its a day that fills us with joy and pride.
Sarmistha Chakraborty, teacher, Akshar School
Teachers Day serves as a reflection of the trust and respect our students have in us, and its essential for us to uphold and value that trust. Teachers Day is important because it underscores the significance of education beyond just textbooks and exam scores. True education is about the holistic development of a childnurturing their ability to think independently, form their own opinions, and grow as individuals. As teachers, our main goal should be to guide students in this journey, helping them to become thoughtful and informed members of society. Teachers Day is not just a celebration but also a reminder of the essential role we play in shaping the future, and the responsibility we have to fulfill that role with dedication and integrity.
Ambar Maitra, student, Class 8, Akshar School
Teachers Day holds a special place in my heart, especially because my mother is a teacher. For me, this day is not just about the celebration at school, but also about acknowledging the hard work and dedication that she, and all teachers, put in every single day. I see firsthand the effort my mother invests in her students, and Teachers Day feels like a well-deserved moment for all teachers to be celebrated and appreciated for their tireless work. This day is important because it shines a spotlight on those who spend the entire year guiding us, teaching us, and helping us grow both academically and personally. In my school, Ive been fortunate to have teachers who have made a significant impact on me. Theyve not only helped me become more disciplined but also encouraged me to develop better reading habits, which I know will benefit me in the long run. Teachers Day gives us a chance to reflect on how much our teachers do for us. Its more than just a day of giving flowers or cards; its about truly appreciating the role they play in shaping who we are and who we will become. For me, its also a day to make my mother feel proud and to let her know how much I value the work she does as a teacher.
An intelligence officer was killed and three soldiers injured in a bomb explosion in Iraqs northern province of Kirkuk, an Iraqi army source said.
Lieutenant Colonel Laith al-Hayali of the Iraqi Armys 8th Division Intelligence Service was killed and three soldiers injured on Wednesday when an explosive device detonated near their vehicle while moving in a village near the town of Dibis, northwest of the namesake provincial capital, Kirkuk, nearly 250 km north of Baghdad, an army officer told Xinhua news agency on condition of anonymity.
Iraqi security forces rushed to the scene and evacuated the victims to Kirkuk General Hospital, the source said.
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No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far, Xinhua news agency reported.
Sporadic attacks still haunt Iraq despite an improvement in the security situation after the defeat of the extremist militants of the Islamic State (IS) group across the country in 2017.
IS fighters still carry out sporadic attacks in Kirkuk province, even after the extremists were defeated in Iraq in 2017 and two years later in Syria.
IS had swept over the neighbouring countries in 2014 and set up a caliphate in which they brutally imposed their extreme interpretation of Islamic law.
Since losing its last redoubts in Iraq and in Syria, the group has been reduced to small bands of guerillas operating in remote areas but no longer controlling any territory.
Iraqi security forces insist they are now capable of tackling IS remnants unassisted, as the group poses no significant threat.
At the end of August, a joint operation by US and Iraqi forces killed 15 IS group fighters in Iraqs western desert, with seven US troops wounded in the operation, US Central Command said at the time.
A UN report released in July found the groups combined strength in Iraq and Syria had fallen to between 1,500 and 3,000 fighters as a result of battlefield losses, desertions, and recruitment challenges.
In Iraq, its activities remain largely contained but the group remains capable of sporadic, impactful attacks, the UN report found.
KYODO NEWS - Sep 5, 2024 - 20:13 | All, Japan
A U.S. Marine in his 20s in Okinawa Prefecture was referred to prosecutors on Thursday on suspicion of sexually assaulting and injuring a woman in her 20s in late June, investigative sources said.
The case comes after two other alleged sexual assaults involving U.S. servicemen became known in June in the prefecture, which hosts the bulk of U.S. military facilities in Japan.
The latest incident, which occurred in the northern part of the prefecture's main island, was reported to police by a medical institution that the victim visited shortly after the alleged assault.
The suspect, who is in U.S. military custody, has been questioned voluntarily by local police, who have built the case on his social media posts and security camera footage around the suspected crime scene, according to the sources. Other sources said he denied the allegation.
The military base affairs division of the Okinawan government expressed regret over the latest case, saying it will urge the U.S. military to take steps to prevent such an event from recurring.
The earlier two cases led the Japanese government to review its rule of sharing information on crimes involving U.S. military members after a failure to report them to the prefectural government angered local citizens. The cases came to light following local media reports.
A U.S. Air Force serviceman was indicted in March for allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a minor, while a U.S. Marine was arrested in May on suspicion of attempted rape resulting in injury.
The police did not disclose these cases at the time, citing the victim's privacy, and the central government did not report them to the prefectural government.
Related coverage:
Japan government vows best possible info-sharing on U.S. crimes in Okinawa
Okinawa protests central government not sharing U.S. troop sex crime cases
U.S. Marine in Okinawa arrested over female injured in attempted rape
Rain, rain, go away, come again another day. It is ironic that it is one of Indias growth poster boy sectors that is chanting this rhyme. Even more ironic that they were pinning all their hopes during the downturn of the summer on a good monsoon.
As the Federation of Automobile Dealers (FADA) released the auto sales figures for the month of August on Thursday morning, it was clear that the warning trends were correct sales of both cars and two-wheelers have both tumbled.
While passenger vehicles (cars, SUVs etc) dropped 4.53% year-on-year and 3.46% compared to July, the drop was sharper for commercial vehicles, often a bellwether for the state of the nations economy they fell 8.5% compared to even July, also a rain-heavy month, and compared to last year, the drop was more than 6%.
Two-wheelers fell 7.29% compared to July, and that is not good news for the government, because it shows that farmers and the rural economy are not comfortable enough to spend meaning the fear over rural revival still persists.
This has prompted FADA to raise an SOS, calling for easier loans so that sales can be revved up. FADA President, Manish Raj Singhania, said, In August, India witnessed 15.9% excess rainfall across the country, with northwest India seeing a surplus of 31.4%, 7.2% in the east and northeast, 17.2% in central India and a minor deficiency of 1.3% in the peninsular region. This monsoon season brought unpredictable weather, starting with extreme heat waves which delayed monsoon and transitioned into heavy rainfall, leading to flood-like conditions in several areas.
This has obviously had a direct impact on consumer confidence, coming as it does after a scorching summer and a long-drawn out election period.
Making matters worse is the high unsold inventory with dealers across the country, nearly 8 lakh vehicles worth more than 77,000 crore rupees.Dealers (are) under pressure due to aggressive OEM dispatches, with dealers facing cash flow challenges and reduced profitability, said a note released by automobile dealers.
While the festive season starting, first with Ganesh Chaturthi followed by Onam this month, is something to look forward, there are some very real fears. One, is whether the excess rainfall has affected the Kharif crops nearing harvest. Other is the Shraddh period, a nearly two-week inauspicious period as per Hindu beliefs, when people dont indulge in shopping or spending money.
Amid #MeToo wave in Mollywood, actress Sowmya has accused a Tamil director of "grooming her as a sex slave" and even allegedly inserted a rod into her genitals.
Speaking during an interview with NDTV, the actress alleged that the man came to her with his wife when she was aged 18. She claimed that the director "messed with her brain", saying he wanted to have a child with her.
Sowmya said she will disclose the alleged perpetrator's name to the Kerala Special Investigation Team (SIT) which tasked with probing #MeToo allegations against actors and directors in Malayalam film industry following the release of the Hema Committee Report. This report had brought to light the alleged sexual abuse against women in the movie industry.
"I was in a fantasy world. So I went for a screen test with this couple. I was a child, I didn't know much," she told the TV channel. She said her family was forced into letting her act after the director told her father about the expense for the screen test.
Sowmya said that during the shooting, he didn't speak to her and gave her the "angry silent treatment". While his wife the director on paper, he was actually directing the whole film.
She went on to reveal that the the man's daughter had accused him of rape and left him. However, the couple told her the daughter was lying. They then allegedly took her to their home, giving her good food and saying nice things. As a teenager who was rebellious at home, she took a like to this nice couple. "That was the grooming process... he knew fully well what he was doing," she told the channel.
Sowmya said once, when his wife was not around, the man called her his daughter and kissed her. "I completely froze. I was so desperate to tell my friends but couldn't. I was ashamed, thinking I had done something wrong," NDTV quoted her as saying.
She said she continued going for dance rehearsals and came back. "...At some point, he forced himself on me... so he raped me. This went on for close to a year while I was in college," she said.
Sowmya said it took her 30 years to heal and recover from this "sense of shame"
KYODO NEWS - Sep 6, 2024 - 06:59 | World, All
Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged Thursday that his country will deliver about $50 billion of financial support to Africa over the next three years and jointly pursue the modernization of developing and emerging countries collectively dubbed the Global South.
In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of a China-Africa summit at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Xi proposed elevating relations between China and all African nations that have diplomatic ties with the Asian powerhouse to strategic ones and building a "community with a shared future for the new era."
In the previous summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2018, the Chinese leader vowed to extend $60 billion of financing to Africa.
Observers say China is keen to promote unity with African nations and other countries in the Global South as part of its efforts to establish alternative institutions for global governance to those led by the West.
Participants of the three-day forum that runs through Friday and involves China and 53 African member countries adopted the Beijing Declaration and an action plan stipulating concrete measures for closer relations between the two sides.
They agreed on stronger cooperation through Xi's signature Belt and Road global infrastructure program and in the security area, among other issues.
Xi said China is ready to deepen collaboration with Africa in industry, agriculture, infrastructure, trade and investment, and promote high-quality cooperation under the initiative, including 30 projects to enhance connectivity and another 30 to promote clean energy.
He added that China will implement 10 partnership actions with Africa over the next three years, which include projects to boost green development and public health capacity, and create 1 million jobs on the continent.
In the security field, Xi said China will offer some $140 million in grants for military assistance and provide training for 1,000 police officers and 6,000 military personnel from Africa, with the two sides conducting joint exercises and patrols.
As part of people-to-people exchanges, the leader said Beijing will invite 1,000 members of African political parties to China to share governance experience.
The president also said China will unilaterally open its market wider to African economies, giving zero-tariff treatment to the least-developed countries that have diplomatic ties with Beijing.
The declaration said China will support African countries in increasing their influence and role in global governance by requiring a more inclusive framework to address the world's problems.
Beijing would welcome more African countries joining the BRICS framework that brings together Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa as well as several other emerging economies, according to the declaration.
Later in the day, China's top diplomat Wang Yi said at a press conference that the summit has sent out a "powerful message" of China and Africa working together for common development and seeking unity and cooperation among Global South countries.
The China-Africa forum was launched in 2000 to boost trade and investment between the two sides, with meetings every three years hosted alternately between Beijing and an African country. Its less-frequent leaders' summit was first held in 2006 in the Chinese capital.
Japan has hosted a summit with African countries known as the Tokyo International Conference on African Development since 1993. The next TICAD summit is scheduled to take place in Yokohama, near the Japanese capital, in August 2025.
Related coverage:
Japan to back women's peacemaking role at African development confab
Actor Nivin Pauly has approached the Kerala State Police Chief against the woman who levelled sexual abuse allegations against him. He had earlier said he would file a legal complaint against the woman, who he claims to have never met.
The actor said the complaint filed against him was baseless and requested the authorities to consider his complaint while investigating the allegations. Nivin, in his complaint, added that he will file a detailed complaint once he gets access to the FIR filed against him in connection with the case. He has also alleged conspiracy behind the complaint.
The actor has reportedly received legal advice to pursue action only after receiving the details of the complaint filed against him by the woman. There are speculations that the actor might seek dismissal of the case in the court as evidence is in his favour. The actor is the sixth accused in the case.
Nivin had appeared before the media just hours after the allegations were levelled against him, stating that he would cooperate with any investigation. "The allegation against me is part of a conspiracy. I doubt if its an attempt to blackmail me, he said.
Meanwhile, the woman reiterated that she would go forward with the police complaint. The woman has termed Nivin Pauly's statement that he did not know her as false.
The complainant alleges that the actor and six other friends raped her for days after drugging her in Dubai in November 2023. She alleged that Nivin Pauly met her via producer A K Sunil who offered her a role in the movie. She alleged that she was asked to appear for an interview where she was assaulted by the producer. He later introduced her to his associates
The complainant alleged that the accused subjected her to brutal physical and mental abuse and threatened to endanger her family. She added that she got the confidence to file a complaint again following the release of the Hema Committee report. "I am ready to cooperate with the police to gather evidence," she told reporters on Wednesday.
The abrogation of Article 370 not only impacted the politics of Jammu and Kashmir but also affected the people. As a result, individuals from various walks of life are entering the political arena, trying their luck in the elections and pitching themselves as alternatives to legacy politicians, like Sheikh Ashiq, former president of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI). After being associated with the KCCI for 15 years, Ashiq has joined the Awami Itehad Party (AIP), led by Abdul Rashid Sheikh, better known as Engineer Rashid. Rashid had contested the Lok Sabha polls from jail and defeated National Conference (NC) heavyweight Omar Abdullah from the Baramulla parliamentary constituency.
The AIP has now fielded Ashiq from the Ganderbal assembly segment against Omar Abdullah.
Ashiq told THE WEEK that he joined politics because traditional parties have failed to deliver and safeguard the interests of the people post-Article 370.
When Article 370 was removed, the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) claimed they would preserve the honour and dignity of the people, he said. As Kashmiris, we had faith in them, but as the elections approached, PAGD fell apart.
The PAGD, also called the Gupkar Alliance, was formed by regional parties under the leadership of NC patron Farooq Abdullah for the defence and restoration of Article 370 and statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
The former KCCI president said his decision to join politics was motivated by the political crisis in Jammu and Kashmir following the reading down of Article 370 by the BJP government at the Centre.
I thought peoples voices needed to be heard and grievances addressed, he said. I found AIP was the only party that enjoyed the trust of the people and had no baggage.
He likened his decision to join politics to a sudden fire that needed to be doused to prevent its spread.
If there is a fire, you dont need qualifications to put it out, he said. You just step forward and douse the fire. Similarly, he said, when the political situation in Kashmir worsened after the removal of Article 370, he decided to step in for the sake of the people.
I found Engineer Rashid to be the right person to join, he said. He is the voice of the voiceless.
He said the AIP would put the interests of the people ahead of the party if given the mandate. He further added that the elections have generated hope that the situation will improve and the environment of suffocation will end.
People will have the opportunity to elect their representatives, get their issues resolved, and work towards positive change, regardless of winning or losing, he said.
A lot needs to be done in my constituency, Ganderbal, which is just 15 km from Srinagar, he said. It is my dream to serve the people of my district. But how will the elections help the people when power lies with the Lieutenant Governor? Thats why it's crucial to elect the right person and the right party, he said.
In the coming days, the AIP will receive a strong mandate, and Engineer Rashids mission will succeed.
He said people will have no choice but to support AIP. Things will become clear within a month, he said, adding that the AIP will not align with the BJP or any other party.
Our strength and hope is the youth of Kashmir, he said. Wherever we go, we receive support, like in south Kashmir. On the challenge of facing Omar Abdullah in Ganderbal, he said, I am aware of the challenge, but I hope they will elect me.
He hoped that the elections would positively impact business. The elected representatives will address the problems of their supporters and work towards solving them, he said.
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday took note of detestable posts against the victim in Kolkata trainee doctor rape and murder case and asked the Central Bureau of Investigation to file a report within two weeks.
Hearing a PIL, the High Court took note of the defamatory posts against the victim on social media and noted some posts had the victims photograph. The High Court observed the posts were far from being acceptable to any member of the society.
In the PIL, the petitioner appealed to the Court to direct the central agency to probe the cybercrimes connected with the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
A bench comprising Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya directed the CBI to check whether it could find a way to block these posts. The bench directed the central agencys joint director or any other competent officer to file a report in this regard by September 18.
A postgraduate trainee woman doctor was allegedly raped and murdered in the seminar hall of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, following which Sanjay Roy, a Kolkata Police civic volunteer was arrested. The gruesome crime resulted in nationwide protests by doctors and citizens.
The case, initially probed by Kolkata police was transferred to the CBI after the High Court found lapses in the latters probe. The Supreme Court also took suo motu cognisance of the case and formed a National Task Force to formulate an action plan for the safety of doctors.
In a fresh development in the ongoing investigation into the rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkatas RG Kar medical college hospital, it was reportedly found that Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of the college, ordered renovation work near the crime scene, barely a day after the victims body was found on August 9.
According to an NDTV report, the CBI officials probing the case have accessed the permission letter issued by Ghosh to the state public works department to conduct renovation work near the seminar hall where the doctors body was found.
Bharatiya Janata Party state chief Sukanta Mazumdar has shared the purported letter on social media. The letter dated August 10 bears the signature of Ghosh.
The order, signed by Sandip Ghosh, former director of RG Kar Medical College, is dated August 10, just one day after the victims death. Despite allegations from colleagues and protesters about tampering with the crime scene, the Police Commissioner denied it," Mazumdar wrote on X.
The order, signed by Sandip Ghosh, former director of RG Kar Medical College, is dated August 10, just one day after the victim's death. Despite allegations from colleagues and protesters about tampering with the crime scene, the Police Commissioner denied it. @CBIHeadquarters pic.twitter.com/FEOirTn0ho Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaBJP) September 5, 2024
The letter titled Repair/Renovation/Reconstruction of on duty Doctors Rooms along with separate attached toilets in all departments of RGKMC&H, Kolkata on urgent basis claims that there are deficiencies of on-duty doctors rooms and separate attached toilets in various departments of the hospital.
You are hereby requested to do the needful immediately as per demand of Residents Doctors of RGKMC&H," it said.
The NDTV report claims that on August 13, hours after the Calcutta High Court ordered a CBI probe into the rape-murder case, the state PWD staff attempted to carry out renovation work at a room adjacent to the seminar hall.
Ghosh, who is accused of negligence in reporting the rape-murder incident to the police and is also facing charges of corruption in a separate case, was arrested by the CBI on September 2.
Ghosh had resigned from his post days after the incident, taking moral responsibility, but within hours the West Bengal government appointed him as the principal of Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital. The governments move sparked a fresh wave of protests, prompting the High Court to intervene and send him on long leave.
On Tuesday, a Kolkata court sent him to 8-day CBI custody. On the same day, the West Bengal governments health department placed him under suspension, fulfilling a longstanding demand of the protesting junior doctors at RG Kar hospital.
The parents of the trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at Kolkata's R G Kar Medical College Hospital have alleged that the Kolkata police tried to bribe them. The father of the postgraduate doctor, who was found dead inside the seminar hall of the hospital on August 9, made the allegations while attending the protest to support the junior doctors fighting for justice for their daughter.
Pointing fingers at a senior police officer, the victim's father said: "When our daughter's body was brought home, DC Indira Mukherjee took us inside the house and tried to give money. We declined it," he said.
#WATCH | RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case | Kolkata: Parents of the deceased doctor addressed the media as they joined the protest at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last night. pic.twitter.com/D24EZPjaiJ ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2024
He added the police tried to push for hasty cremation of the body in an apparent bid to suppress the case. "The police, from the very beginning, tried to hush up the case. We were not allowed to see the body and had to wait at the police station while the body was taken for post-mortem examinations. Later, when the body was handed over to us, a senior police official offered us money, which we immediately declined," the father of the deceased doctor said.
He also accused the Kolkata Police of lying to the media. "An attempt was made to get a signature on a white paper. I tore up the paper," the father said, questioning the undue haste shown by the police.
The victim's mother, who attended the protests, said she wanted the criminals to be sleepless like me." As long as we don't get justice, let the movement continue," she added.
Also read: RG Kar hospital former principal Sandip Ghosh took 20% cut on every tender: Report
'Reclaim the Night'
#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: Massive protest held in Jadavpur area against the RG Kar Medical College & Hospital rape-murder incident. pic.twitter.com/33k0TRHMtc ANI (@ANI) September 4, 2024
The city also witnessed thousands of women rallying, seeking justice for the doctor who was raped and murdered at a hospital. The "Reclaim the Night" campaign began at 9 pm on the streets of Kolkata and residents joined the protest by turning off their lights for an hour and descending onto the streets with candles in hand.
The "Reclaim the Night" movement, largely driven by social media, gained momentum as protests kicked off at 11:30 pm. Interestingly, no political party flags were seen as the participants chanted, "We want justice."
Women from all walks of life, students, professionals and homemakers, joined the protest not only in Kolkata but in other regions as well. The movement spread to other key locations, including Berhampore, Chinsurah, Santiniketan, Krishnanagar, Bardhaman, Siliguri, Barasat, Barrackpore, Rajarhat-Newtown, Cooch Behar, and Jalpaiguri.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's lawyer argued that the Aam Aadmi Party leader was the most captive interrogatee in the probe into alleged liquor policy scam and said his arrest by the CBI was an 'insurance' to prevent his release from prison.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan is hearing the Aam Aadmi Party leaders bail plea. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Kejriwal, argued that the CBIs was an insurance arrest. He argue Kejriwal was the most captive interrogatee. The only point of arrest was to have insurance if Kejriwal wins in the Enforcement Directorates case. The imminence of Kerjiwal committing further offence was minus, not zero. He was found fit for release by Supreme Court two times, argued Singhvi, Live Law reported.
Singhvi said no notice was served to Kejriwal by the CBI before the arrest and an ex-parte arrest order was passed by the trial court. He added Kejriwal is a constitutional functionary and was not a flight risk.
Singhvi said Kejriwal was not named in the CBI FIR and moreover, he is not a flight risk.
Singhvi added every possible co-accused in the case has been released on bail, including former Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia and Bharat Rashtra Samiti leader K. Kavitha.
The ED arrested Arvind Kejriwal on March 21 in connection with alleged scam in the scrapped Delhi liquor policy. The CBI arrested him from Tihar prison on June 26 in a prevention of corruption case registered in connection with the alleged scam.
The matter relates to alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22, which has now been scrapped.
The apex court granted bail to Kejriwal in EDs case on July 12, observing the AAP leader has been in prison for 90 days. However, he had to remain in prison as he was serving remand in CBIs case. The Supreme Court had also granted interim bail to Kejriwal during the Lok Sabha polls for campaigning.
A Bhopal court sentenced Tarun Jinaraj, a Gujarat-based Malayali man accused of murdering his wife on Valentine's Day in 2003, to 19 years in prison for identity theft. Jinaraj, who absconded two days after his wife was found dead, had been living under a stolen identity in Bengaluru until he was arrested in 2018.
The court sentenced Jinaraj to two years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 5,000 for cheating by personation. He was also jailed for seven years for forgery of valuable documents. Jinaraj got another five years for forgery committed with the intention of cheating and another five years for the use of a forged document or electronic record.
Jinaraj, who lived under the identity of Pravin Bhateley, a college mate, had been working as a senior executive of a multinational company. Police said Jinaraj took the documents from Bhateley under the guise of arranging him a job. Jinaraj had managed to assume a new identity, remarry, and reside in Bengaluru with his second wife and their two children until the law finally caught up with him.
It was in 2003, two days after the body of his wife Sajini was found, that Jinaraj disappeared from Gujarat. Sajini was strangled to death allegedly by Jinaraj, who hoped to live with his girlfriend. Though he staged the incident as a burglary attempt, her family's suspicion fell on him. He vanished two days later.
He managed to evade arrest until police found he had been contacting his mother Annamma Chacko. Gujarat police pursued the link and found him living under the alias of Pravin Bhateley in Bengaluru. He was arrested.
However, Jinaraj managed to escape once again after he jumped bail. The Gujarat High Court granted Jinaraj a two-week temporary bail on the pretext of accessing his provident funds in Bengaluru. Under the terms of his bail, he was required to regularly update local police officials in Karnataka about his whereabouts and make bi-weekly visits to the nearest police station. He exploited these conditions to make his escape.
Also read: High-profile fugitive Tarun Jinaraj arrested in Delhi after second bail escape
He was re-arrested from Delhi within a month. Interestingly, Jinaraj had been living under the identity of 'Justin Joseph' in Delhi. He also had plans to escape to Australia.
The trial for the Sajini murder case is still going on in Gujarat.
The White House said on Wednesday that US President Joe Biden shared his concerns over the safety of people in Bangladesh in a phone call he made with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week. The statement by the White House comes one month after the country witnessed massive protests which led to the downfall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Biden shared his concerns about the safety of people in Bangladesh and the future of democratic institutions there, White House national security communications adviser John Kirby said on Wednesday.
The phone call was made on August 26. Though the US had until now made no mention of the duo having discussed Bangladesh, Modi had mentioned on X that the leaders did share concern over the situation in Bangladesh. "They emphasised the restoration of law and order and ensuring safety and security of the minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh," the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) had said.
After Hasina fell, the US remarked that it was "monitoring the situation" while emphasising that President Joe Biden was "consistent in speaking loud and clear" on human rights issues. The Biden administration also rubbished reported claims that the US was involved in former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation. Principal Deputy Spokesperson of the US Department of State, Vedant Patel termed such reports "laughable". "Any implication that the United States was involved in Sheikh Hasina's resignation is absolutely false," principal deputy spokesperson of the US Department of State Vedant Patel.
However, the new interim government's Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus recently met with US Embassy Charge d'Affaires Helen Lafave in Dhaka and both countries agreed to work together and strengthen ties on a range of issues.
Lafave said the US would work closely with Bangladesh in health, education, labour, governance and Rohingya issues. On the US being the largest contributor to the Rohingya humanitarian responses, Helen said the amount of Rohingya monthly food aid has increased this year after more US funding.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the semiconductor facility of AEM Holdings Ltd in Singapore on Thursday, the second day of his two-day visit. The Prime Minister also signed four MoUs and elevated the bilateral ties with Singapore to a "comprehensive strategic partnership."
On Thursday morning, Modi and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong visited the facility and interacted with the staff. They explored synergies between the two countries in semiconductor manufacturing. Modi is also slated to meet those in the country's semiconductor ecosystem.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapore PM Lawrence Wong at AEM Semiconductor facility, exploring synergies between the 2 countries in semiconductor manufacturing pic.twitter.com/LdFHeK8Ulb ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2024 #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong visits the Semiconductor facility of AEM Holdings Ltd in Singapore.
(Source: DD News/ANI) https://t.co/vfyxa8Yjly pic.twitter.com/65DWQCpKHO ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2024
The Prime Minister's visit to Singapore hold significance since the island nation has a well-developed semiconductor industry and India is looking to develop a vibrant semiconductor ecosystem.
The sector can also enhance the ties between both countries, including in talent development as Singapore universities have customised courses for the semiconductor sector. India could also learn the best practices of managing semiconductor industrial parks.
Singapore contributes to around 10 per cent of global semiconductor output and the sector contributes to 8 per cent of Singapore's economic growth.
Modi said Singapore is not only a partner nation but it is an inspiration for every developing country. "A new chapter in - ties: Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established. PM @narendramodi and PM @LawrenceWongST held a productive meeting in Singapore today," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X after the meeting.
"The leaders agreed to elevate the - ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They extensively reviewed various facets of the bilateral relationship covering areas of Advanced Manufacturing, Connectivity, Digitalisation, Healthcare & Medicine, Skills Development and Sustainability," he said.
The Prime Minister also hopes to create "many Singapores in India." " I am happy that we are working together in this direction. The ministerial roundtable that has been formed between us is a path-breaking mechanism," he said.
Both countries will partner up in skilling digitalisation, mobility, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, Artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare, sustainability and cyber security.
Modi received a ceremonial welcome at the Singapore Parliament House. He also signed the visitor's book there. The Prime Minister will also call on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
Patna, Sep 5 (PTI) The Bihar government is making serious efforts to give a fillip to small-scale and medium enterprises which would play a crucial role in the overall economic development of the state, a top official of the Industries department said.
Around Rs 2,900 crore have been disbursed to nearly 74,540 beneficiaries under two schemes, one of which was launched only last year, for promoting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises ( MSMEs) in the state, the official said.
Bihar has a strong MSME base. To promote innovation ecosystem and unlock the enormous entrepreneurial potential of the state, the Mukhya Mantri Udyami Yojana (MMUY) and Bihar Laghu Udyami Yojana (BLUY) were launched in 2018 and 2023 respectively focusing on promotion of MSMEs in the state.
"A total of Rs 2,697 crore was disbursed to 34,441 beneficiaries from 2018 till now under MMUY. Similarly, till date Rs 200 crore of the first instalment has been disbursed to 40,099 beneficiaries under BLUY", Secretary, Department of Industries, Bandana Preyashi told PTI.
On the one hand, Bihar is getting big ticket investments for major manufacturing units and on the other hand, the state government is also enabling an ecosystem where the MSMEs can thrive on the ground level for the benefit of the rural economy, Preyashi said.
The Bihar Laghu Udyami Yojana aims to provide job opportunities to at least one member of poor families whose monthly income is less than Rs 6,000 a month, she said.
The state government is providing Rs 2 lakh to each beneficiary in three instalments to set up and run micro and small industrial and processing units, Preyashi said.
The government's objective is promotion of MSMEs through awareness, training and handholding support, the Industries secretary said.
The state government is encouraging entrepreneurs and investors through the provision of a safe and sound work environment and basic infrastructural facilities which include land, roads, electricity, and water availability, she said.
The Industries secretary further said, "With new policies of the state government, Bihar is witnessing significant investment promotion activities, reinforcing its position as an emerging business and industrial hub in the country. During the Bihar Business Connect 2023, 278 companies signed MoUs, committing to investments totalling Rs 50,530 crore." the secretary said.
The state government has implemented the Bihar Industrial Investment Promotion Policy (BIPP), Bihar Logistics Policy 2023, Ethanol Production Incentive Policy 2021 and Textile and Leather Policy 2022 to promote industrial growth and investment in the state.
"Under these policies, stage-1 clearance was given to 481 applications, with a proposed investment amount of Rs 4,512.85 crore. A total of 175 units were given clearance for financial incentives with an investment of Rs 2,195.10 crore, an all-time high, since the inception of the state investment promotion policies," she said.
In 2023-24, 255 startups were recognized in the state and a total of Rs 11.92 crore has been disbursed as seed funding to these startups. From April 2023 to January 2024, Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA) allotted plots/sheds to 427 units having a total investment size of Rs 6,145 crore covering 492 acres of land and also creating 35,224 employment in the state, said the secretary.
"Infrastructure development in industrial areas was given top priority. Funds of Rs 409.33 crore were approved under Part I and Rs 212.68 crore for construction of unity mall under special assistance to states in 2023-24. In the current financial year of 2024-25,149 units have been granted stage I clearance for a proposed investment amount in Rs 3,950.48 crore in Bihar State Investment Promotion Board", she said.
At present, Bihar's proposal to establish a multi-sector Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Nawanagar and Kumarbagh has been approved by the Government of India. "Authorities concerned are also working on the establishment of Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) in Bihar that will help Bihari Exporters to expand their businesses to international markets", said the secretary.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on August 3 this year laid the foundation stone for Rs 1,600 crore cement grinding unit of Ambuja Concrete North Private Limited, a subsidiary of Adani group's Ambuja Cements, in Warisaliganj block in Nawada district.
This is considered the largest investment in the state by a cement industry player.
"The project is expected to create 250 direct jobs and 1,000 indirect jobs on the site. The project will meet the growing infrastructure needs of Bihar. Adani Group has decided to invest additional Rs 5,500 crore in Bihar in various sectors, including cement manufacturing (in Muzaffarpur), logistics (near Patna) and projects related to agro-industry in Araria, Kishanganj and Begusarai. A total of 40,000 employment will be generated by these investments", said the statement issued by the CMO after the conclusion of the event on August 4.
KYODO NEWS - Sep 5, 2024 - 19:13 | All, Japan, World
A Japanese fishery product importer, the former representative director of the company and two others have been referred to prosecutors over allegations of importing freshwater clams from North Korea in breach of a ban on all trade with the country, police said Thursday.
The company in Saitama Prefecture and the three individuals allegedly imported 17,960 kilograms of freshwater clams from North Korea on Jan. 23, 2020, violating the foreign exchange and trade law, according to a joint police investigative team.
The Japanese government has imposed economic sanctions to prohibit all trade with North Korea in response to its nuclear tests and repeated ballistic missile launches in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
The former director is a 37-year-old Chinese male citizen. The two other individuals referred to prosecutors are a 64-year-old Japanese male, a former employee of the company, and a 60-year-old Chinese woman who had business dealings with the importer.
Moji Customs in Fukuoka Prefecture separately said it referred the company and the three individuals to prosecutors Thursday for allegedly mislabeling and selling clams from North Korea as Russian.
Bhubaneswar, Sep 5 (PTI) The Odisha government has so far provided subsidy of Rs 154.27 crore to electric vehicle owners since the 2022-23 financial year, a minister said on Thursday.
The sale of EVs has also shown an increasing trend in Odisha, after the government started giving subsidy from September 1, 2021, Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena said.
Jena said this in a written statement in the assembly.
The state government has so far distributed a subsidy of Rs 154.27 crore to EV owners since the 2022-23 financial year, Jena said.
While a subsidy of Rs 8.83 crore was disbursed during 2022-23, it was increased to Rs 57.21 crore during 2023-24.
The Odisha government has provided subsidy for 14,182 EVs registered during the fiscal year 2022-23, which rose to 36,518 during 2023-24, it said.
During 2024-25 till August, the Odisha government has already distributed subsidies for 38,766 EVs registered in the state, the statement said.
The state is providing a maximum subsidy of Rs 20,000 for each two-wheeler (a subsidy of Rs 5,000 per kilowatt hour), while Rs 30,000 subsidy is being provided for electric-operated three-wheelers, Jena said.
Mumbai, 5th September 2024 To mark Teachers Day, JK Paper, a leader in the paper manufacturing industry, is proud to unveil a powerful film that celebrates the profound relationship between teacher and students. This film shines a light on the extraordinary work of Sumeet Sanjay Patil, an art teacher at Snehajyoti Nivasi Blind School in Ratnagiri District, Maharashtra, and his innovative approach to tactile learning. Over the years, Sumeet has taught over 1,000 visually-impaired students the art of painting, using his unique technique of linking colors to fragrancesknown as "Rang-Gandh." This method not only motivates students to paint but also builds their confidence, demonstrating that art can be experienced through senses other than sight. Some of these paintings have been exhibited across the country and has also been used to spread awareness.
Set against the contrasting backdrops of the bustling city of Mumbai and the tranquil Konkan villages, the film narrates Sumeets remarkable journey as he introduces his visually impaired students to the realms of art and creativity. The film begins with a poignant image of a blank canvas, symbolizing the untapped potential within every child. As the story unfolds, viewers witness Sumeets groundbreaking methodssuch as linking colours to fragrances and using 3D outlinersthat enable his blind students to experience and create art in a tangible way.
The narrative is enriched by testimonials from the students, sharing their fears, struggles, and ultimate triumphs. Their words echo the transformative power of Sumeets teaching, showcasing how art can be felt with the heart, not just seen with the eyes. Sumeets commitment extends beyond the classroom in Mumbai, as he travels to the remote villages of Konkan to spread his unique form of art education, ensuring that no child is left behind in their creative journey.
The film concludes with a heartfelt message, highlighting the students vibrant, textured artworks that tell their stories through touch rather than sight. These masterpieces represent the limitless possibilities that arise when imagination is nurtured by a passionate and committed teacher.
Partha Biswas, Chief of Sales & Marketing at JK Paper, commented on the campaign, This Teachers Day, we wanted to shine a light on the incredible impact that teachers like Sumeet have on their students, especially those with special needs. His innovative approach to teaching art is not just a lesson in creativity but a testament to the power of tactile learning. The objective of this campaign is to highlight the crucial role of teachers in shaping the lives of their students, particularly those with special needs. It also emphasizes the importance of creating opportunities for differently abled individuals to express themselves creatively. Just like our teachers are dedicated towards playing a crucial role in shaping the lives of their students, JK Paper is also dedicated towards shaping an eco-friendly world. Our paper is sourced from 9.50 lakh acres of Agro Social Farm Forestry Program, which not only supports sustainable practices but also provides livelihoods for close to 1,30,000 farmer families.
The campaign also highlighted how visually impaired students connected with JK Paper on a tactile level. The texture, weight and feel of the paper became their canvas, allowing them to perceive art through touch, creating a deep emotional bond between the students and the medium. For these students, JK Paper has been more than just a medium, its a source of emotional expression. The feel of the paper in their hands evokes emotions and allows them to create art that resonates with their experiences, making the paper an integral part of their artistic journey. The connection between the students and JK Paper is a testament to the brands commitment to making a difference in the lives of those with special needs. JK Paper honours the unwavering dedication of teachers like Sumeet, who go the extra mile to ensure every student has a chance to shine.
By showcasing this film, JK Paper and Snehajyoti Nivasi Blind School aim to inspire others to support initiatives that foster creativity in education. With 295 million visually impaired individuals worldwide, including over 10 million in India, waiting for their creative potential to be realized, this campaign emphasizes the ongoing, transformative nature of learning and teaching.
This campaign is not just a tribute to Sumeet and all the teachers but a celebration of the human spirits resilience and creativity.
Video Link - https://youtu.be/khYoVibfUEw
About JK Paper
JK Papers legacy dates back to 1938 with the establishment of Straw Products Ltd. In Bhopal. Today, JK Paper is a leading Indian player in Office Papers, Coated Papers, Writing and Printing Papers, and High-end Packaging Boards. The company operates three integrated Pulp and Paper Mills: Unit JKPM in Rayagada, Odisha, near the Eastern coast of India, Unit CPM in Songadh, Gujarat, on the Western coast, and The Sirpur Paper Mills (SPM), a subsidiary in Kagaznagar, Telangana. With a recently completed 170,000 TPA capacity expansion in Packaging Board at Unit CPM, JK Papers present installed capacity stands at 761,000 TPA. The company has also ventured into the Corrugation business through the acquisition of Horizon Packs Pvt. Ltd. And Securipax Packaging Pvt. Ltd. In FY 23-24, JK Paper acquired a 100% stake in Manipal Utilities Packaging Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Moving forward, the company will focus on improving the efficiency of these plants for better cost advantages.
JK Paper has embarked on a digital transformation journey in key manufacturing processes to reduce variations, improve quality, enhance cost efficiency, deliver better and faster service, and create a direct connection with end customers.
RSVP
Yasin Hamidani | 9967836604 | yasin@mediacare.co.in
(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with HT Syndication and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR
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Bengaluru, 05 September 2024: MoEngage, an industry-leading, insights-led customer engagement platform, celebrated a significant milestone in its history. In the dynamic and constantly changing world of technology, it marks ten years in business, empowering customer experience, and pioneering brand growth globally.
MoEngage is committed to helping brands succeed with its comprehensive platform. It provides cutting-edge technology solutions with best-in-class marketing automation features. Its platform empowers brands to create personalized, omnichannel experiences that resonate with their audiences and drive business growth. This approach has propelled enterprises worldwide to unlock remarkable success.
MoEngage is a privately held company that began with the note-worthy entrepreneurial spirit of our two visionary Co-founders, Raviteja Dodda (Chief Executive Officer) and Yashwanth Kumar (Chief Technology Officer), who brought all their experience, knowledge, education, and skills to establish MoEngage.
Ten Years of Milestones and Achievements
This dedication to customer success has translated into impressive growth for MoEngage. The company has experienced a remarkable growth:
1. A 9X Uplift in Revenue over the last five years.
2. 1200+ new customers added, out of which over 150 are enterprise (large-scale) brands, including Dominos, Unilever, PNB, SBI Securities, TATA Digital, Tanishq, BigBasket, IndusInd Bank, The Indian Express, Wynk Music, Nestle, Samsung, 7-Eleven, McAfee and more.
3. Customers present in 56 countries as of April 2024 and expanded into the LATAM region in the last five years
4. Partnered with over 257 partners, including 170 tech integrators, 45 resellers, 30 agencies, and 12 Global System Integrators (GSI). These include big names like EY, Digitas, mParticle, AWS, Meta, and Infosys.
5. Onboarded a team of over 750 talented individuals across various functions
6. Created a robust security infrastructure with 6 data centers globally
7. Garnered security compliance certifications like Philippines NPC Seal of Registration, PIMS ISO 27701: 2019 Certification, BCMS ISO 22301:2019 Certification, ISO 27001:2022 Compliance, SOC 2 Type 2 Attestation, CSA STAR Level 2, CCPA Compliance, GDPR Compliance as well as HIPAA Compliance
8. Operating at a massive scale, processing 1 Trillion+ Data points per month, sending 80 Billion+ Messages per month and 1 Billion+ Emails per month, and engaging 900 Million+ MAUs per month
9. Evolved the product with ground-breaking innovation, and purpose-built offerings like MoEngage for Financial Services, Server-side Personalization, Warehouse Audiences, and Merlin AI (our generative AI engine), among others
10. Expanded to over 12+ channels, including Mobile Push, Web Push, Email, SMS, RCS, Facebook Audience, Google Ads Audience, and Connectors, among others, providing consumer brands with access to the latest tech (and channels) with minimal downtime
MoEngage is also deeply invested in fostering a thriving community. The company has been empowering marketers and product owners through initiatives like:
#GROWTH community with insightful summits, mixers, roundtables, masterclasses, and a dedicated content hub for customer engagement best practices, has brought together over 50,000+ growth and marketing professionals. Additionally, since its inception in 2019, the #GROWTH academy, a peer-to-peer learning community for product, marketing, and growth professionals worldwide, has grown exceptionally well
Customer Engagement Leadership Program (CELP), a cohort-based program to impart customer lifecycle management and strategy knowledge via CRM and Growth leaders
These initiatives have not only provided valuable educational resources and facilitated knowledge exchange but also enabled businesses to connect with industry veterans
Marking a Decade of Superior Enterprise Customer Engagement
As MoEngage celebrates its 10th anniversary, the company looks towards a future of continuous innovation and unwavering dedication to customer success. With a focus on enterprise-centric solutions, MoEngage is well-positioned to empower businesses of all sizes to thrive. The platform is designed for scale, accommodating the growing needs of large enterprises.
"Our commitment at MoEngage transcends mere product offerings; it is our unwavering dedication to our customers' success that distinguishes us. We've consistently received praise for our platform's speed, agility, and the ease with which it integrates with their Martech stacks. This ensures that enterprise businesses can modernize their infrastructure with MoEngage without facing major disruptions. In addition, our purpose-built features and functionalities enable large-scale businesses to swiftly adapt to evolving customer needs and market trends," reflects Raviteja Dodda, Founder of MoEngage.
MoEngage's 10-year journey is a testament to its unwavering commitment to driving exceptional customer experiences. With a focus on scalability, security, and fostering a thriving community, the company is poised to continue its impressive growth trajectory and remain a leader in the enterprise customer engagement landscape.
About MoEngage
MoEngage is an insights-led customer engagement platform trusted by more than 1,200 global consumer brands such as Ally Financial, McAfee, Flipkart, Dominos, Nestle, Deutsche Telekom, OYO, and more.
MoEngage empowers marketers and product owners with insights into customer behavior and the ability to act on those insights to engage customers across the web, mobile, email, social, and messaging channels. Consumer brands across 35 countries use MoEngage to power digital experiences for over 1 billion customers every month. With offices in 13 countries, MoEngage is backed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, B Capital, Steadview Capital, Multiples Private Equity, Eight Roads, F-Prime Capital, Matrix Partners, Ventureast, and Helion Ventures. MoEngage was recognized as a Customers Choice Vendor in the 2022 Gartner Peer Insights Voice of the Customer for the Multichannel Marketing Hubs Report and a Strong Performer in the Forrester Wave: Cross-Channel Marketing Hubs, Q1 2023 Evaluation.
To learn more, visit www.moengage.com
(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with HT Syndication and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR
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MUMBAI, India, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Startek, a digital first global customer experience (CX) solutions provider, announced that Startek India has been conferred with the prestigious 'HR Excellence Award for Excellence in Line of Business Strategy' by BW People and BW Businessworld.
BW People, the HR Community initiative of BW Businessworld publication, has a rich legacy spanning over 30 years. These awards are designed to recognize outstanding HR practices that contribute significantly to organizational success.
On this achievement, SM Gupta, Global Chief People Officer at Startek, said, "We are incredibly honored to receive this recognition from BW People and BW Businessworld. At Startek, our people are our greatest asset, and this award underscores our unflinching commitment to creating a workplace environment where our employees can thrive and drive our business forward. Our focus on innovative HR practices ensures that we not only attract top talent but also foster their growth and development within the organization."
The selection process for this award was highly competitive, involving a three-step rigorous assessment process. This process included a detailed submission of our people practices, thorough editorial screenings, and an exhaustive jury evaluation. Startek was recognized for its exceptional practices in hiring, engagement, career development and growth, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This accolade is a testament to our commitment to building a strong, inclusive culture that defines our workplace.
About Startek
For more than 35 years, Startek has delivered customer experience (CX) excellence for the world's leading brands. Spread across 12 countries, our 38,000 associates create memorable, personalized experiences in both voice and non-voice channels. Our clients span from Fortune 500s to fast-growing startups in a diverse range of industries including cable, media and telecom; travel and hospitality; retail and e-commerce and banking and financial services.
By creating closer connections, Startek delivers value for our clients, opportunity for our people and sustainable growth for our shareholders.
To learn more, visit www.startek.com and follow us on LinkedIn@Startek.
About the BW Awards
The 2024 BW People HR Excellence Summit & Awards is a celebration of exceptional HR professionals who have made major contributions to the human resources industry. In order to share their expertise, insights, and experiences on the most recent trends and best practises in HR, this summit brings together some of the most well-known HR executives, experts, and practitioners.
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2222919/Startek_Logo.jpg
(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR
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Mumbai, Sep 5 (PTI) Benchmark equity indices rebounded in early trade on Thursday amid steady foreign fund inflows along with buying in frontline stocks Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank.
The 30-share BSE Sensex rebounded 264.85 points to 82,617.49 in early trade. The NSE Nifty climbed 76.75 points to 25,275.45.
Among the 30 Sensex firms, UltraTech Cement, Tata Steel, ITC, Titan, ICICI Bank, JSW Steel, Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank were the biggest gainers.
Nestle, Bharti Airtel, Bajaj Finserv, Bajaj Finance and Mahindra & Mahindra were among the laggards.
In Asian markets, Seoul and Shanghai were trading higher while Tokyo and Hong Kong quoted lower.
The US markets ended on a mixed note on Wednesday.
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought equities worth Rs 975.46 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data.
"FIIs turning net buyers of domestic equities in past few sessions has been lending a major support," Prashanth Tapse, Senior VP (Research), Mehta Equities Ltd, said.
India's services sector activity growth touched a five-month high in August on stronger rise in new work orders, while payroll numbers rose solidly as companies remained upbeat regarding the economic outlook, a monthly survey said on Wednesday.
The BSE benchmark dropped 202.80 points or 0.25 per cent to settle at 82,352.64 on Wednesday.
Snapping its 14-day rally, the Nifty declined 81.15 points or 0.32 per cent to 25,198.70. The Nifty had surged nearly 1,141 points or 4.59 per cent in 14 straight days.
Meanwhile, global oil benchmark Brent crude traded 0.19 per cent higher at USD 72.84 a barrel.
New Delhi, Sep 5 (PTI) Gautam Adani had in the late 1970s applied to join a Mumbai college for education, but the college rejected his application. He did not pursue education but turned to business and went on to build a USD 220 billion empire. About four-and-a-half decades later, he gets called to the same college to deliver a lecture to students on Teachers Day.
Adani had moved to Mumbai at the age of 16 and started working as a diamond sorter. Around the same time in 1977 or 1978, he applied for admission to the city's Jai Hind College. "But they rejected him," said Vikram Nankani, President of the Jai Hind College Alumni Association, as he introduced India's second richest person before his lecture.
He had applied to Jai Hind College because his elder brother Vinod had earlier studied in the same college.
"Fortunately or unfortunately, the college did not accept him and he went on to work full time and pursued an alternative career," Nankani said, declaring Gautam Adani as a "deemed alumni" since he had applied to join.
After working as a diamond sorter for almost two years, he returned to his home state of Gujarat to run a packaging factory managed by a brother.
He never really looked back after he launched his firm in 1998, trading in commodities. Over the next two-and-half-decade, his debt-fuelled companies diversified into ports, mines, infrastructure, power, city gas, renewable energy, cement, real estate, data centres and media.
The infrastructure tycoon, who runs 13 seaports in India, operates seven airports, is the largest private player in power, is the biggest renewable energy producer, runs the country's second-largest cement company, is building expressways and re-developing Asia's largest slums, is described by some as the most aggressive of India's new generation of entrepreneur.
Delivering the lecture 'Breaking Boundaries: The Power of Passion and Unconventional Paths to Success', Adani, 62, was just 16 years old when he chose to break his first boundary.
"It had to do with giving up my education and choosing to move to an unknown future in Mumbai. People still ask me, 'Why did you move to Mumbai? Why did you not complete your education?' The answer lies in the heart of every young dreamer who sees boundaries not as barriers but as challenges that test his courage.
"I was driven by a need to see if I had the courage to make a life for myself in the most happening city of our country," he said.
Mumbai was his training ground for business as he learned to sort and trade in diamonds.
"The field of trading makes a good teacher. I learnt very early that an entrepreneur can never be frozen by over-evaluating the choices in front of him," he said. "It is Mumbai that taught me 'To think big, you must first dare to dream beyond your boundaries'."
In the 1980s, he established a trading organisation for importing polymers to supply to the struggling small-scale industries. "By the time I turned 23, my trading venture was doing well," he said.
After the 1991 economic liberalisation, he established a global trading house dealing in polymers, metals, textiles, and agri-products. He was just 29 then.
"Within two years, we had become the largest global trading house in the country. This is when I understood the combined value of both speed and scale," he said. "Thereafter, in 1994, we decided that it was time to go public, and Adani Exports, now known as Adani Enterprises, launched its IPO. The IPO was a strong success and underscored for me the importance of public markets."
Adani realised that to break the next set of boundaries, he would have to first start by challenging his own status quo and investing in assets to provide a solid foundation.
In the mid-1990s, he was approached by the global commodities trader Cargill for a partnership to manufacture and source salt from the Kutch region in Gujarat.
"While the partnership did not materialise, we were left with about 40,000 acres of marshy land and approval to build a captive jetty at Mundra (in Gujarat) for the export of salt," he said.
What others saw as marshy barren land, he saw as a canvas waiting to be transformed. That canvas is now by far India's largest port.
"Mundra today hosts India's largest port, the largest industrial Special Economic Zone, the largest container terminals, the largest thermal power plant, the largest solar manufacturing facility, the largest copper plant, and the largest edible oil refinery. And yet, were only about 10 per cent of what Mundra will eventually become," he said.
He is now building the world's biggest renewable energy park in the inhospitable deserts of Kutch and redeveloping Dharavi slums in Mumbai.
"While we have helped redefine India's infrastructure across airports, ports, logistics, industrial parks and energy it is not the victories that define us. It is the mindset to take on and overcome challenges that have shaped the Adani Group's journey," he added.
New Delhi, Sep 5 (PTI) Floods in Andhra Pradesh damaged crops in 1.8 lakh hectares (ha), and 2 lakh farmers have been impacted as per initial estimate, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Thursday and assured of providing help from the central government.
Chouhan, who is on a two-day visit to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to assess the flood situation, said: "The crops have suffered a lot of damage... Flowers are cultivated here, turmeric is cultivated, all the crops have been damaged".
The assessment process has begun, and NDRF teams and Agriculture Department officials are evaluating the damage, he said, adding that "after completing the damage assessment work, the central government will provide all possible support".
Chouhan mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is closely monitoring the flood situation, an official statement said.
In Andhra, Chouhan conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected areas in Vijayawada, including Budameru, Jakkampudi Milk Factory, and Kandrika, and inspected the Prakasham Barrage Dam and damaged fields along the Krishna River.
The Union Minister interacted with local residents and farmers by getting into the water in Jakkampudi. He also inspected the flood situation with NDRF teams and officials.
Chouhan emphasised the central government's commitment to providing relief.
The state government, led by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, is ensuring the delivery of essential supplies like food, drinking water, and milk to the affected areas.
The central government will assist in restoring normalcy and providing compensation for damaged crops and household goods, he added.
On Friday, Chouhan is scheduled to visit Khammam village in Telangana, which has been severely impacted by floods and will assess the damage and discuss relief efforts with officials.
Chandigarh, Sep 5 (PTI) With farmers protesting against delay in implementation of state's new agriculture policy, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday assured the policy draft will be shared with them by September 30 and their suggestions will be incorporated before its implementation.
Mann stated this after holding an over two-hour meeting with the farmer leaders of the Bharti Kisan Union (Ugrahan) and Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union (PKMU) to discuss their demands.
Farmers under the banner of BKU (Ugrahan) and the PKMU on Sunday began their five-day protest here in support of their various demands including implementation of the agricultural policy.
Asked about their further course of action following the meeting with the chief minister, BKU (Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan said they will take a call on their protest in Chandigarh after holding their meeting on Friday.
During Thursday's meeting, Mann assured farmers that the state government is committed to safeguard their interests and the new agriculture policy will be a step forward in this direction.
Mann said the draft of the agriculture policy is ready but it will be finalised only after due deliberations with food growers.
He said the draft will be shared with the farmers by September 30 and their suggestions will be sought on the policy.
Suggestions of farmers will be duly incorporated in the policy as the state government does not want to impose anything on food growers and rather it is committed to consult them for making agriculture a profitable venture, he said.
Ugrahan said farmers were informed in the meeting that a 1,600-page draft of the agriculture policy will be shared with them by September 30.
The meeting was also attended by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, Power minister Harabhajan Singh, Chief Secretary Anurag Verma, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav and other officials.
Mann, while speaking on another agenda, said the state government is also mulling over introducing a One Time Settlement (OTS) scheme to offer relief to debt-ridden farmers who have been struggling to repay loans to the state cooperative banks.
Every effort will be made to bail out farmers of the state from the ongoing agrarian crisis, he asserted.
On the issue of withdrawal of cases registered against the leaders of farmers' unions, the chief minister asked the officers to explore the feasibility in this regard.
Mann assured farmers that the state government will re-examine the rejected cases pertaining to compensation in suicides committed by farmers and labourers.
Mann also told the delegation of farmers and farm labourers to sympathetically look into issues like compensation in death of dairy livestock, depleting ground water table, water pollution and others.
Later speaking to reporters, Ugrahan said his group also raised the issue of 'buddha nullah' in Ludhiana, asking the state authorities to ensure that treatment plants be set up by industries. The 'buddha nullah', which crosses Ludhiana city, carries industrial effluents, solid waste and domestic sewage.
Farmers also demanded that compensation be given to the families of farmers who committed suicides.
Guwahati, Sep 5 (PTI) The third sequel to Assamese martial arts-comedy trilogy 'Local Kung Fu' was released in over 150 screens across the Northeast on Thursday, actor-director Kenny Deori Basumatary said.
With the release of the movie, Assam's film industry, for the first time, has a trilogy.
Made with a budget of around Rs 75 lakh, 'Local Kung Fu 3' retains most of the actors featured in the earlier two editions, Basumatary told PTI.
"People gave us so much love for the first two LKF films that it was inevitable that we would want to entertain them again with a third film. But we started working on it only when we had a really solid story that would stand on its own," he added.
Basumatary, who has acted in several Bollywood films such as 'Jawan', 'Mary Kom' and 'Yaara', asserted that judging by the audience reaction on the opening day, the team believes it has achieved what it wanted to.
On the film's subject, he said that the movie releasing on Teachers' Day is a wonderful coincidence because the relationship between teachers and students is the most important part of the film.
"We have one epic fight shot with five heroes and 24 villains that goes on for 72 steps without a cut. That's one of our highlights as we wanted to show that a skilled team can put together great fight scenes without a thousand cuts per minute," said Basumatary, who is himself a martial arts expert.
He said that a total of 38 fighters were hired from Guwahati, Morigaon and Kokrajhar. Among them is the National Games Taekwondo Bronze medallist Rishabh Choudhury, who along with his brother Ravi featured in an important sequence in the film.
"The team has put together big fight scenes without using any wires or cables," Basumatary said, adding most of the lead actors are his old friends from the earlier movies who learnt martial arts together during their student days.
Asked if a fourth sequel will be made, the producer-director of Assam's only action-comedy trilogy said, "There might be LKF-4 in future. But again, it has to be a worthy, exciting story."
'Local Kung Fu', which was released in 2013, was made with a meagre budget of only Rs 95,000. It became a sensation after it was released online and the film's characters turned out to be household names.
'Local Kung Fu 2' was released in 2017 and it was also a huge hit commercially.
LKF-3 was released across the state and other parts of Northeast on the occasion of Teacher's Day in over 150 screens in 70 cinema halls, Basumatary said.
Talking about releasing the film in other parts of the country, he said it has hit the screens in Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland along with those in Assam.
"In the coming days, we will try as many cities as possible. But we do not know it yet as it is not completely in our hands. We will definitely try to release it in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad," Basumatary added.
Guwahati, Sep 5 (PTI) The 1st Guwahati Asian Film Festival (GAFF) will take place in February next, showcasing some of the prominent movies from the region, its organisers said on Thursday.
In a press release, the festival organisers said the three-day fest from February 7-9 marks a significant milestone in the celebration of Asian and North-East Indian films.
GAFF director (Hon) Monita Borgohain said, "The festival promises to be a landmark event, bringing together the best of Asian films while shining a spotlight on the unique voices from Northeast India."
She exuded confidence that the festival is set to become an unmissable part of the cultural calendar of Assam and appealed to all to be part of this historic celebration of films.
The festival will include a competitive section specifically for films from Northeast India, offering cash awards across different categories to recognise outstanding achievements in filmmaking from the region.
In addition to the competition section, there will be a non-competition section showcasing select Asian and Indian films, which will celebrate exceptional cinematic brilliance, the statement said.
It said film submissions are officially open from Thursday.
Apart from Borgohain, who was the former festival director of the Assam government-sponsored Guwahati International Film Festival (GIFF), the advisory board boasts several distinguished members from the film fraternity.
Renowned film critic and festival advisor Srinivasa Santhanam, national award winning film critic and filmmaker Utpal Borpujari, and prominent film critic, music journalist and editor Dalton Christopher are also part of the 1st GAFF.
KYODO NEWS - Sep 5, 2024 - 23:31 | All, Japan
Japan's top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi on Thursday dismissed the idea of acquiring nuclear-powered submarines amid the tough regional security environment, which had been suggested by one of the ruling party's candidates to become the next prime minister.
Taro Kono, who currently serves as digital minister under the government of outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, said earlier in the day that nuclear-powered submarines, capable of remaining underwater for long periods of time, will be necessary, apparently in view of aggressive behavior by China.
"We do not have any plans to possess nuclear-powered submarines. Based on the current interpretation of the law (on atomic energy), it's difficult for Japan to acquire one," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi told a press conference.
The law limits the use of nuclear power to peaceful purposes only. Japan, which upholds a pacifist postwar Constitution and is the only country to have suffered a nuclear attack, also officially maintains the principles of not possessing, not producing and not permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons.
In unveiling his policy visions ahead of the Sept. 27 leadership race of the Liberal Democratic Party, Kono stressed the need for a domestic debate on whether the current lineup of weapons is enough amid the severe security environment.
"Do we need to deploy nuclear submarines that can be submerged for long hours by Japan joining AUKUS...and foil (foreign attempts) to pass through the East China Sea into the Pacific Ocean? We've entered an era in which these issues must be discussed," Kono said.
The remarks came as Australia plans to acquire a fleet of such submarines under AUKUS, a three-way partnership involving the United States and Britain that was launched in 2021 to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Japan is considering cooperation with AUKUS on advanced technology projects.
Nuclear propulsion technology is extremely sensitive, with the United States only having shared it with Britain in 1958. Submarines powered by nuclear reactors are also said to be quieter than diesel-powered alternatives.
Japan has detected an increase in Chinese military activity in the East China Sea, particularly around the Senkaku Islands, which are administered by Japan but claimed by China.
Kono, who has served as defense and foreign minister, is one of the leading candidates to become the next LDP chief, who will almost certainly replace Kishida as prime minister.
Related coverage:
Japan, Australia look to cooperate on long-range missile capability
Japan gov't spokesman Hayashi joins ruling party leadership election
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New Delhi, Sep 5 (PTI) The restored version of legendary filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli's 1977 film "Ghatashraddha" had a world premiere at the ongoing 81st Venice International Film Festival, the not-for-profit organisation Film Heritage Foundation said.
The 108-minute Kannada movie, based on a short story of the same name by U.R. Ananthamurthy, was showcased in the Venice Classics section on September 4.
The restoration of "Ghatashraddha" -- titled "The Ritual" in English -- is a collaboration between Hollywood master director Martin Scorsese's The Film Foundation's World Cinema Project and Shivendra Singh Dungarpur of FHF, with funding from "Star Wars" creator George Lucas and Mellody Hobson's Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation.
It was conducted at L'Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna, Italy, considered one of the best restoration labs in the world.
The FHF, based out of Mumbai, said the film was received well at the gala. Kasaravalli and Dungarpur attended the screening.
"A wonderful photograph at the world premiere of the newly restored 'Ghatashraddha' (1977) at the Venice Film Festival yesterday with Alberto Barbera, Artistic Director of the Venice Film Festival, renowned filmmaker and director of the film, Girish Kasaravalli, Davide Pozzi, Director L'Immagine Ritrovata, Elena Tammaccaro and Caterina Palpacelli of L'immagine Ritrovata and Film Heritage Foundation Director Shivendra Singh Dungarpur. We are proud to say that the film was very well received and a discovery for many people," a post on the foundation's official Instagram page read.
Ghatashraddha is a ritual that was practised by the orthodox Brahmins in the old days.
The film revolves around Yamuna, a child widow, who lives with her father Udupa. Yamuna's father runs a residential Vedic school for Brahmin boys where Naani, a new student at the school, develops a deep bond of affection with her.
"Yamuna has a forbidden affair with a school teacher and becomes pregnant. Yamuna attempts suicide but is rescued by Naani. She then tries to abort her child secretly, but the schoolboys spy on her and reveal her secret to her father.
"She is excommunicated from the village by her father, who performs a funeral rite for his living daughter. The heartrending end of the film sees Naani going back home with his father when he spots a forlorn Yamuna sitting alone under a tree on the outskirts of the village with her head shaved," read the film's synopsis on the gala's official website.
In the story of "Ghatashraddha", the subjugation of Yamuna by the Brahmin orthodoxy, and of Naani by his colleagues, are knitted so organically that the personal and the political blend together, said Kasaravalli.
"The fertility cult is central here: Indian society revels in it, but in practice it abhors it. As we were designing the style of the film, me, my brother and other visual artists of Karnataka felt we needed to shed more light on the fertility cult and the Kundalini art," the filmmaker said in a statement.
Produced by Suvarnagiri Films, "Ghatashraddha" features an ensemble cast of Meena Kuttappa, Narayana Bhat, Ajit Kumar, Ramaswamy Iyengar Udupa, Jagannath Suresh, and Shantha H.S. Parvathi Ramakrishna.
It is among the 18 films that were restored over the past year, which will be premiered at the gala.
The Venice Film Festival opened on August 28 and will run through September 7.
Mumbai, Sep 5 (PTI)) Malayalam cinema star Tovino Thomas says every industry has its own set of skilled actors and he has no desire to foray into Bollywood for the sake of it.
The actor was offered the Aamir Khan-starrer Laal Singh Chaddha but he couldnt do the 2022 comedy-drama due to prior work commitments.
"Every industry is blessed with a lot of great actors so I dont want to come here as an outsider and steal roles from them. I would love to work in any industry as long as the character is Malayali, and is living in Mumbai or Hyderabad. Otherwise, I dont find any point," Thomas told PTI.
"I watch all language films like Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, English, Spanish or Japanese, said the actor, who currently stars in "ARM".
The film, which will have a pan-India release in theatres on September 12 in Malayalam, Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.
The "2018" star, whose other noteworthy performances in Malayalam industry are 7th Day, Ennu Ninte Moideen, Charlie, Guppy, Minnal Murali, and Anweshippin Kandethum, said every film, regardless of whether it was a hit or flop, has been a turning point and a "learning experience" for him.
"I started with small and supporting roles, comedic and villain roles, and then played lead, and again did supporting roles, I love switching between roles. I wanted to be an actor and when I completed my first movie, I achieved my dream and since then Ive been living my dream. So, whatever Ive achieved after that, I consider it as a bonus, said the actor, who made his debut in 2012 with Praabhuvinte Makkal.
His ARM co-star, Harish Uthaman, said Thomas has gradually made a mark. "When you say it's a Tovino film, they will know that theres a good story and content in it, Uthaman, who has worked with Thomas on films Maayanadhi, and Kalki, said.
Set in northern Kerala across three timelines of 1900, 1950 and 1990, ARM will see Thomas play the characters of Maniyan, Kunjikkelu, and Ajayan, each trying to protect a treasure of land through different generations.
The actor said he collaborated with an acting trainer to meticulously design each character's nuances, from mannerisms to voice.
Im a worrisome kid in general, Ill be worried about the smallest problem on the sets. This was one of the biggest challenges as Im playing three distinct characters. I wanted each character to be distinct, it shouldnt have any similarities. Theres already one similarity, in which one actor is playing three characters.
"I wanted to complete one character and then move to another and my director and writer were also on the same page. We had many setups and it was not easy to switch between these timelines.
Billed as a visual spectacle with a compelling story, ARM is directed by debutant Jithin Lal and written by Sujith Nambiar.
Uthaman, known for his villainous roles in films like Gouravam, Pandiya Naadu, Meagamann, and Srimanthudu, shared his struggle with being typecast and said he consciously avoided accepting roles in 2018 that seemed similar.
He said he isnt playing a negative part in ARM but his character of Sudev Verma has an agenda.
"As an actor, who wants to perform and do different roles, live different journeys, they dont want to do the same thing, because it kills the fire and interest in you. One day, I realised about being boxed and since then Ive been careful. Getting into the box is very easy, and getting out of the box is very tough, it might take double or triple the time, but its not impossible.
Thomas heaped praise on the actor and said his potential is yet to be explored.
Asked about ARM being turned into a potential franchise, the actor said it all depends on how the viewers respond to the movie.
Thomas is equally excited about his other film, L2 Empuraan. Helmed by Prithviraj, the movie, starring Mohanlal, is a sequel to the 2019 blockbuster Lucifer.
"I've shot for a few days and Ill shoot for the remaining part, he said, adding that a sequel to Minnal Murali has not happened yet because the director Basil Joseph is caught up with other commitments.
New York, Sep 5 (AP) Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will debate for the first and perhaps, last time on Tuesday night as the presidential candidates fight to sway voters on the biggest stage in U.S. politics.
The meeting comes just 75 days after President Joe Biden's disastrous debate performance triggered a political earthquake that ultimately forced him from the race. Few expect such a transformative result this time, but Trump is on a mission to end Harris' honeymoon as polls suggest the Democratic vice president is now even or slightly ahead of the Republican former president in some swing states.
Harris, a former courtroom prosecutor, will enter the night with relatively high expectations against a Republican opponent with 34 felony convictions and a penchant for false statements. The question is whether Harris, who did not particularly stand out during primary debates in her 2020 presidential campaign, can prosecute Trump's glaring liabilities in a face-to-face meeting on live television with the world watching.
The 90-minute meeting begins at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday inside Philadelphia's National Constitutional Center. It will be moderated by ABC News anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis. In accordance with rules negotiated by both campaigns, there will be no live audience.
Here's what we're watching for on a historic night:
Can Harris do what Biden could not?
Biden set an incredibly low bar for Harris in the June 27 debate. The president struggled to offer coherent arguments or even finish his sentences. But the anti-Trump coalition was most disappointed that he failed to take advantage of Trump's obvious political liabilities whether on abortion, the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, character issues or his legal trouble.
Harris is expected to do much better. But even with such fertile terrain, scoring points against Trump on the debate stage is easier said than done. Trump may be the most experienced debater in modern presidential history. As a former reality television star, he knows how to dominate television coverage. And he clearly likes to fight.
Harris recently suggested that she may be looking forward to a political brawl. Donald, she told a cheering audience last month in Atlanta, if you've got something to say, say it to my face.
Can she back up the tough talk? The world is about to find out.
Can Trump focus?
Trump is not known for his discipline or preparation. His debate performances, like his governing style, are typically fueled much more by instinct than thoughtful analysis.
Therefore, few expect Trump to offer a clear and concise line of attack against Harris on Tuesday night. Still, he needs to do better than the kitchen-sink approach he's been testing on the campaign trail for much of the last month.
Trump has questioned Harris' racial identity. He's falsely called her a communist. He's questioned her strength. He's jabbed her as a San Francisco liberal. And he's reminded voters that she has served in the Biden White House for nearly four years and would presumably continue the president's policies for another four years if she wins.
It is the Biden connection that many Republicans, inside and outside of Trump's campaign, believe is most effective. They want him to evoke Ronald Reagan's 1980 debate-stage jab Are you better off? early and often.
The question is whether Trump can deliver that message in a way that isn't immediately overshadowed by a much more controversial statement. Recent history offers reasons to be skeptical.
Body language matters
There will, of course, be an obvious gender dynamic on stage Tuesday night.
Fair or not, body language and tone are viewed differently in a debate between a man and a woman. Just ask Hillary Clinton. She said Trump made her skin crawl when he stood behind her as she was speaking during a town hall-style debate in 2016.
The candidates will be expected to stay behind their podiums on Tuesday night. But Republicans are hopeful that Trump will avoid any other provocations like pointing, yelling or otherwise approaching Harris in a way that might be off-putting to suburban women or other swing voters.
Harris, too, will face unique challenges related to her race and gender as voters consider whether to make her the nation's first female president. Some voters still say they're not comfortable with the idea. If she comes across as angry, she risks playing into racist tropes about Black women.
While the gender dynamic looms, do not underestimate the significance of their age difference, either.
Harris is almost two decades younger than the 78-year-old Trump. Age was viewed as a political advantage for Trump when he was facing the 81-year-old Biden, but the situation is now reversed against the 59-year-old Harris. If he wins, Trump would be the oldest U.S. president ever elected.
The format will be somewhat different as well, in accordance with a set of rules the candidates agreed upon this week.
There will be no live audience, no opening statements and no props allowed. Candidates' microphones will be muted when their opponent is on the clock, a stipulation that created some controversy in recent days.
Trump reluctantly agreed to the mute function when he faced Biden in June, but after that debate, his team determined it was a net positive if voters did not hear from the Republican former president while his opponent was speaking. Harris' team was pushing to return to a normal format without mute buttons.
Abortion vs Immigration
Policy sometimes plays second to personality in presidential debates, but there are dramatic differences between the candidates on key issues that are on the minds of millions of voters.
Republicans hope Trump makes immigration a defining issue of the debate.
The GOP has effectively condemned the Biden administration's handling of illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border for much of the last four years. Once an issue that appealed mostly to the Republican base, illegal immigration and related concerns about drugs, crime and national security is now a top issue for voters across the political spectrum.
Harris will be eager to remind voters that Trump helped kill a bipartisan immigration bill that would have done much to fix the problem. But overall, Harris is likely to be on the defensive when the issue comes up.
Democrats, meanwhile, want to focus on abortion.
Trump, of course, appointed three Supreme Court justices who later overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that protected a woman's right to choose abortion. Trump has repeatedly said he was proud that Roe was defeated. But aware that such a view isn't popular among many women, he has tried to moderate his stance on the divisive issue.
Harris won't make that easy. Stating the obvious, as a woman, she is positioned to be a much more effective messenger on the issue than Biden was. And Trump can't afford to lose many more female voters.
Look out for wild card Trump
If you ask Trump's previous debate opponents what they're watching for on Tuesday night and we did many say the same thing: Look out for the thing he says or does that Harris can't possibly prepare for.
Trump is the ultimate wild card who has found tremendous political success by ignoring the traditional rules of politics. He will say or do whatever he thinks is best in the moment. And Harris, who has dedicated several days to debate prep, can't make a plan for everything.
At this point, it's hard to imagine Trump surprising anyone with new material. He has praised dictators, talked about genitalia size, suggested suspending the U.S. Constitution and said that Harris only recently turned Black.
Trump's own team doesn't know what he'll do or say on any given day. That's incredibly risky for Trump. But it also puts enormous pressure on Harris. (AP)
AMS
Kuala Lumpur, Sep 5 (AP) Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Thursday that Malaysia will not bow to demands by China to stop its oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea as the activities are within the country's waters.
Anwar said Malaysia would continue to explain its stance following China's accusations in a protest note in February to the Malaysian Embassy in Beijing that Kuala Lumpur had infringed on its territory. Malaysia's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday it was investigating the leak of the diplomatic protest note that was published by a Filipino media outlet on Aug. 29.
We have never intended in any way to be intentionally provocative, unnecessarily hostile. China is a great friend, but of course we have to operate in our waters and secure economic advantage, including drilling for oil in our territory, Anwar said in a televised news conference from Russia, where he is on an official visit.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer published the diplomatic note in which Beijing reportedly demanded that Malaysia immediately halt all activities in an oil-rich maritime area off Sarawak state on Borneo island.
The report said China had accused Malaysia of encroaching on areas covered by its 10-dash line, Beijing's controversial map showing its claims to sovereignty in the South China Sea. The diplomatic note also expressed Beijing's displeasure over Malaysia's oil and gas exploration activities near the Luconia Shoals, which is near to Sarawak, it said.
Anwar said it wasn't the first time China had sent a protest note over the South China Sea dispute but stressed it shouldn't mar a strong relationship. Anwar had called China a "true friend during a visit to Malaysia by Chinese President Li Qiang in June to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties.
We have said that we will not transgress other people's borders, Anwar said. They know our position ... They have claimed that we are infringing on their territory. That is not the case. We say no, it is our territory. But if they continue with the dispute, then okay, we will have to listen, and they will have to listen.
Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan all dispute Beijing's claims to almost the entire South China Sea. Unlike the Philippines which has had public clashes with China in the disputed area, Malaysia's government prefers diplomatic channels. It rarely criticizes Beijing publicly, even though Chinese coast guard ships have sailed near Malaysia's waters. This is partly to protect economic ties as China has been Malaysia's top trading partner since 2009. (AP)
AMS
Beijing, Sep 5 (AP) Dozens of African leaders gathered Thursday in Beijing for a summit that signals China's influence in a continent that it hopes will be a key ally in pushing back against a US-led global order.
Chinese President Xi Jinping promised the leaders billions of dollars in loans and private investment over the next three years, and proposed that relations with all African countries that have diplomatic ties with China be elevated to the strategic level.
We stand shoulder to shoulder with each other to firmly defend our legitimate rights and interests," he said at the opening ceremony of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
China has become a major player in Africa since the forum was founded in 2000. Its companies have invested heavily in mining for the resources Chinese industry needs, and its development banks have made loans to build railways, roads and other infrastructure under Xi's Belt and Road program.
African leaders have welcomed China's assistance but are pushing for a closer alignment of aid with the continent's development goals. They are seeking to industrialise their economies and expand agricultural exports to reduce a trade deficit with China, which has become sub-Saharan Africa's largest bilateral trading partner.
In the context of our industrialization effort, the portfolio of private investments in Africa should be sufficiently diversified to extend beyond the traditional field of mining and energy resources, Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chair of the African Union Commission, said, addressing the forum in French.
In a reflection of China's broadening relationship with Africa, Xi outlined 10 partnership actions that included training for African politicians and future leaders, further opening of Chinese markets, agriculture demonstration areas, vocational and technical training, green energy projects and 1 billion yuan ($140 million) in military assistance grants.
Xi said China would eliminate tariffs on products from most of the world's poorest countries, including 33 in Africa, in an expansion of existing exemptions.
While commending the overall progress so far achieved, we also appreciate the announcement of further areas of partnership actions, said Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan, speaking on behalf of eastern Africa. We salute a new characterisation of China-Africa relations.
China is training more military professionals in Africa than anyone else, and its widespread leadership and governance training gives the country an extra layer of influence by putting it in touch with consecutive generations of politicians, said Paul Nantulya, who specialises in relations with China at the African Center for Strategic Studies in Washington.
The relationship has moved beyond trade and investment to take on political overtones.
Modernisation is an inalienable right of all countries, Xi said. But the Western approach to it has inflicted immense sufferings on developing countries. Since the end of World War II, Third World nations, represented by China and African countries, have achieved independence...and have been endeavouring to redress the historical injustices of the modernisation process.
China has tried to position itself as a leader of the Global South, a catchphrase for the developing world. While others don't necessarily see China as the leader, its message of rewriting the international order resonates with African nations that feel frustrated and abandoned by their traditional Western partners.
Many African nations have been openly critical of the US role in the war in Ukraine and refused to condemn Russia's invasion, taking a non-aligned stance that has led to political frictions with the US.
As our history demands, South Africa will continue to pursue progressive internationalism, South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa said during talks with Xi earlier this week. Building on the firm foundation of solidarity, we continue to provide support in promoting our interests, those of the African continent and the Global South.
China's development loans to Africa have fallen sharply from a 2016 peak, though they bounced back from COVID-era lows to $4.6 billion last year, according to the Global Development Policy Centre at Boston University.
The drop-off came partly in response to government budget crises in several recipient countries that are unable to repay their loans from multiple lenders.
Many heavily indebted African countries cannot meet the basic needs of their populations, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told the forum.
This situation is unsustainable and a recipe for social unrest, he said, highlighting the need for deep reform to what he called an outdated, ineffective and unfair international financial system.
Kenya is seeking financing to finish a partially built rail project that was meant to connect the port city of Mombasa to neighbouring Uganda, but it is unclear whether China would agree. (AP) SCY
SCY
Moscow, Sep 5 (PTI) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday named India among the three countries he is constantly in touch over the Ukraine conflict and said they are sincerely making efforts to resolve it, state-owned TASS news agency reported.
Reporting on his remarks at the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok, US media outlet Politico reported him as also saying, "If there is a desire of Ukraine to carry on with the negotiations, I can do that."
Putin's remarks came within two weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic visit to Ukraine where he held talks with President President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"We respect our friends and partners, who, I believe, sincerely seek to resolve all issues surrounding this conflict, primarily China, Brazil and India. I constantly keep in touch with our colleagues on this issue, Putin was quoted as saying by the Russian news agency.
Separately, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Izvestia daily that India could help in establishing a dialogue on Ukraine.
Underlining the existing "highly constructive, even friendly relations" between Modi and Putin, he said the Indian Prime Minister can "lead the line on getting first-hand information from the participants in this conflict," as he freely communicates with Putin, with Zelenskyy, and with the Americans.
"This gives a great opportunity for India to throw its weight in world affairs, to use its influence that would drive the Americans and Ukrainians towards using a greater political will and entering the peaceful settlement track, Peskov said.
He, however, said there are "no specific plans" on Modi mediating on the issue.
"At this time they can hardly exist, as we do not see any preconditions for talks for now, the Kremlin spokesman said.
Modi on August 23 visited Ukraine where he conveyed to President Zelenskyy that both Ukraine and Russia should sit together without wasting time to end the ongoing war and that India was ready to play an "active role" to restore peace in the region.
His nearly nine-hour visit to Ukraine, the first by an Indian prime minister since its independence in 1991, came six weeks after he held summit talks with President Putin that triggered anguish in some Western countries.
In his talks with Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Modi said India was on the side of peace since the beginning of the conflict and he would even like to contribute personally for a peaceful resolution of the crisis.
Ottawa, Sep 5 (PTI) Alleging that the Liberals are too weak, too selfish and too beholden to corporate interests, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has said he is terminating the supply-and-confidence agreement his party made with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government in Canada.
The deal entered into in March 2022 was scheduled to run until June 2025 and the NDPs decision has put Trudeaus party in the minority.
In a video posted on his social media handles, the New Democratic Party (NDP) leader also claimed that Trudeau has proven again and again he will always cave to corporate greed.
The deal is done. The Liberals are too weak, too selfish and too beholden to corporate interests to stop the Conservatives and their plans to cut. But the NDP can. Big corporations and CEOs have had their governments. It's the people's time, Singh said in a post on X on Wednesday.
Justin Trudeau has proven again and again he will always cave to corporate greed. The Liberals have let people down. They don't deserve another chance from Canadians, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC News) said quoting Singh as saying in the video.
Singh said the Liberals will not stand up to corporate interests and he will be running in the next election to stop Conservative cuts, it said.
An NDP spokesperson told CBC News the plan to end the agreement had been in the works for the past two weeks but it informed the Liberal government of the decision barely minutes ahead of the video going live online.
The confidence-and-supply agreement struck between the two parties in March 2022 committed the NDP to supporting the Liberal government on confidence votes in exchange for legislative commitments on NDP priorities, CBC News said, adding, that the deal, which ensured the survival of the minority Liberal government, was the first such formal agreement between two parties at the federal level.
Reacting to Singhs announcement, Trudeau said his government is more focused on tackling the affordability crisis and climate change. These are the things that we're focused on. I'll let others focus on politics, Trudeau said.
I really hope the NDP stays focused on how we can deliver for Canadians, as we have over the past years, rather than focusing on politics, the CBC News quoted Trudeau as saying.
Trudeau said he hoped the next election will not happen until next fall so that his government had time to move forward on pharmacare, dental care and school food programmes.
Singh, in a media release accompanying his video announcement, said: The NDP is ready for an election, and voting non-confidence will be on the table with each and every confidence measure.
Meanwhile, the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) leader Pierre Poilievre termed the NDP leader as Sellout Singh and called his announcement on video as a media stunt.
In a longish post on X, Poilievre said: Two years ago, Sellout Singh sold out workers and signed on to a costly coalition with Justin Trudeau that hiked taxes, ballooned food costs, doubled housing costs and unleashed crime and chaos in our once safe streets.
In today's media stunt, Sellout Singh refuses to state whether the NDP will vote with non-confidence to cause a carbon tax election at the first chance, he added.
Stating that Sellout Singh has voted to quadruple the carbon tax, a plan, he said will hurt the Canadian economy, the post further said, Sellout Singh did all of this after promising he would be an opposition voice.
In an analytical piece, the Canadian media outlet said that Singhs decision injects a lot of uncertainty into Canadian politics and it could lead to a federal election earlier than planned.
Canada's fixed-date election law dictates that a vote will happen in October 2025 but that date is moot if a majority of MPs turn on the Liberals or if Trudeau goes to the Governor General to request an early election, it added.
London, Sep 5 (PTI) A 14-year-old boy arrested following the fatal assault on 80-year-old Bhim Kohli while he was out walking his dog in a park near the eastern England city of Leicester appeared in court on Thursday charged with his murder.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons as he is a minor, appeared at Leicester Youth Court sitting at Leicester Magistrates' Court. He was among five children aged 12-14 years arrested following the death of Kohli in hospital on Monday night by Leicestershire Police, with the other four released earlier with no further action.
Meanwhile, Kohli's family released a statement via the police to say they were heartbroken and struggling to cope with the loss of a loving and caring person.
"Bhim was a loving husband, dad and granddad. He was also a son, brother and uncle. He adored his grandkids with all his heart and loved spending time with them. He really was such a loving, caring person whose life was centred around his family," the statement reads.
"He has always been a very hardworking man and even at the age of 80 he was still very active. One of his great passions was his allotment, he would go everyday to tend to his plots and was so proud of them. He also enjoyed walking the family dog Rocky in the park many times a day, it goes on.
The family shared how Kohli "loved to laugh" and was always very happy and talkative, the "joker of the family" who always loved to outsmart us with a smile.
"Our family have lived in the same house in Braunstone for 40 years, so he was very well known in the community we have been overwhelmed by the messages and support from many who knew him. Our hearts have been completely broken. We are now pulling together as a family to try and support each other through the most difficult time imaginable and would ask for privacy while we do this, the statement concludes.
A post-mortem examination carried out after his death in hospital following the attack at Franklin Park in Braunstone Town on Sunday evening confirmed the cause of death as a neck injury, while further tests were to be carried out.
"The circumstances surrounding Mr Kohlis death are extremely tragic and upsetting not only for his family and friends but also the wider community, Detective Inspector Emma Matts, Senior Investigating Officer at Leicestershire Police, said earlier this week.
We continue to offer support to the family through our family liaison officers and the local policing teams are in the area to provide reassurance and discuss any issues or concerns, she added.
Now that a suspect has been charged in the case, further details will be restricted to prevent any interventions that may prejudice a murder trial.
Earlier, Leicestershire Police had admitted prior police contact with the victim, which initially led to a voluntary referral to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) before being escalated to a mandatory referral after further contact with the watchdog.
Singapore, Sep 5 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced that India's first-ever Thiruvalluvar centre in the world will be set up in Singapore to enhance cultural ties between the two countries and an Invest India office will also be established in the city-state to boost trade and investment.
Modi, who is here on a two-day visit, Thursday held a productive meeting with his Singapore counterpart Lawrence Wong during which they elevated the bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, the Ministry of External Affairs said.
In a special gesture, Premier Wong hosted a private dinner for the Prime Minister on Wednesday, Secretary (East), the Ministry of External Affairs, Jaideep Mazumdar, said at a media briefing here.
"Today, Prime Minister Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Parliament House followed by official talks. And, they (the two leaders) discussed cooperation in a wide range of subjects, including trade and investment, defence and security, fintech and digital economy, green corridors and sustainability, food security, advanced manufacturing including semiconductors, connectivity, health and resilient supply chains," Mazumdar said.
Four MoUs on cooperation in semiconductors, digital technologies, skill development and education and healthcare were exchanged between the two sides.
"It is fair to say that with this India and Singapore relations have been made future-ready. And, accordingly, both PMs decided to elevate the relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership," Mazumdar said.
Modi is visiting Singapore after a "very successful" visit to Brunei. This is his fifth visit as prime minister, all prior visits were made in his first term as prime minister.
In his opening remarks, Modi said Singapore is not only a partner nation but it is an inspiration for every developing country.
"The next stage in our bilateral relation has been set by the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable that met recently and identified six pillars of our futuristic cooperation, and the four MoUs address four of those pillars," Mazumdar added.
At the press interaction, the Secretary (East) said that to boost trade and investment, Prime Minister Modi also announced the setting up of an Invest India office in Singapore, which will be a handholding office for investors in Singapore in various areas identified in the six pillars.
Both leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues including India's Act East policy and the centrality of ASEAN in this policy, he said.
Prime Minister Modi also announced that the first-ever Thiruvalluvur Cultural Centre in the world will be set up in Singapore, the official said.
Thiruvalluvar was a noted Tamil poet and philosopher.
In response to a question on the timeline of this cultural centre, he said, "I don't have a timeline, but I can tell you the government is very keen to do it at the earliest."
Modi earlier said, "I am delighted to inform you that Indias first Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre will soon be inaugurated in Singapore. The great saint Thiruvalluvar provided guiding thoughts to the world in the most ancient language Tamil. His work, the Thirukkural, was composed nearly 2,000 years ago, yet its ideas remain relevant even today."
Quoting Thiruvalluvar's words: "Nayanodu Nanri Purind Payanudaiyar Panbu Paratattum Ulagu (The world admires those who are known for their sense of justice and service to others), the prime minister said he is confident that millions of Indians living in Singapore are also inspired by these ideas and are contributing to strengthening the relations between the two countries.
Modi invited Wong to visit India, which he accepted.
Prime Minister Modi accompanied by Wong on Thursday also visited a leading Singaporean company in the semiconductor and electronics sector and discussed ways for collaboration in this critical industry.
At the facility, a group of interns from both countries had undergone skill training as part of bilateral programmes. The Indian interns were from the World Skill Centre in Odisha, and Singaporean students received skilling in India under the India Ready programme, Mazumdar said.
"In terms of people-to-people contacts, in discussion over the two days, the two sides have discussed increasing flight connectivity between the two countries," he said.
The Prime Minister also invited CEOs here to the SEMICIONB India exhibition and conference which is being held in India from September 11-13.
"Across this entire spectrum of semi-conductor ecosystem, we find great convergences with Singapore. And, you will see rapid growth in our joint efforts in this direction," the Secretary added.
India and Singapore have multi-dimensional relationship, multi-dimensional partnership, very strong relationship in the defence sector and the two sides conduct joint exercises, the MEA said.
"We would like to cooperate further in maritime domain awareness," he said.
The discussion between the leadership in Singapore and the Indian Prime Minister "focussed on how India and ASEAN, with Singapore as one of our most important partners in ASEAN, can play (a role) in making this an Asian century".
When asked whether China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea was discussed during the bilateral talks, he said, "Peace, stability and open commerce are important things for both India and Singapore, so these subjects do come in discussion in between our leaders."
Asked if Andhra Pradesh's Amaravati capital issue was discussed, he said, "I don't believe it was discussed, didn't come up."
Munich, Sep 5 (AP) The man killed in a shootout with police in Munich Thursday was an 18-year-old citizen of neighboring Austria, police said. Authorities believed he may have planned an attack on the Israeli Consulate in the city.
The suspect was fatally wounded in an area near the consulate and a museum on the city's Nazi-era history after officers were alerted to man carrying a long gun.
There was no indication that anyone else was hurt.
According to a police spokesperson, officers were alerted to a person carrying a long gun in the Karolinenplatz area, near downtown Munich, at around 9 am. There was then an exchange of shots in which the suspect sustained fatal injuries, but there no was no indication that anyone else was hurt, spokesperson Andreas Franken told reporters.
There was no immediate information on the suspect's identity or on any motive, Franken said. The man, who was carrying an old make of firearm with a repeating mechanism, died at the scene. Bavaria's top security official, state Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann, said the suspect had opened fire at police and they returned fire.
It was unclear whether the incident was in any way related to the 52nd anniversary Thursday of the attack by Palestinian militants on the Israeli delegation at the 1972 Munich Olympics, which ended with the death of 11 Israeli team members, a West German police officer and five of the assailants.
Police said there was no evidence of any more suspects connected to the incident. They increased their presence in the city, Germany's third-biggest, but said they had no indication of incidents at any other locations or of any other suspects.
Five officers were at the scene at the time the gunfire erupted. Police later deployed to the area in force.
Israel's Foreign Ministry said the consulate in Munich was closed when the shooting occurred and that none of its staff had been hurt.
The nearby Munich Documentation Center for the History of National Socialism, which opened in 2015 and explores the city's past as the birthplace of the Nazi movement, also said all of its employees were unharmed.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he spoke with German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier. He wrote on the social media platform X that together we expressed our shared condemnation and horror at the shooting.
Speaking at an unrelated news conference in Berlin, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser described Thursday's shooting as a serious incident but said she didn't want to speculate on what had happened.
She reiterated that the protection of Jewish and Israeli facilities has the highest priority. (AP) NPK
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KYODO NEWS - Sep 5, 2024 - 23:27 | All, Japan, World
Major Japanese retailer Seven & i Holdings Co. plans to turn down a takeover bid proposed by Canadian convenience store giant Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., as its offer price is not high enough, sources familiar with the matter said Thursday.
The Japanese company's board concluded that the deal does not benefit its shareholders, and it is expected to send a notification letter to the Canadian firm soon, the sources said.
Seven & i said in August that it had received a nonbinding, preliminary buyout proposal from the Canadian retailer, without revealing the offer price.
The Japanese firm set up a special committee of independent outside directors to review the proposal.
If eventually realized, the planned buyout could be one of the biggest acquisitions of a Japanese company by a foreign firm, given the retailer's market capitalization of over 5 trillion yen ($35 billion).
In the letter to be sent, Seven & i will state that the Canadian firm misjudges its business strategy and that the proposal does not take antitrust issues into account properly, the sources said.
Alimentation Couche-Tard, which runs brands including Couche-Tard and Circle K, has about 17,000 stores in over 30 countries and regions, including Canada and the United States.
Seven & i operates more than 80,000 Seven-Eleven convenience stores around the world.
Related coverage:
Seven & i takeover bid by Canadian retailer faces Japan government review
Japan 7-Eleven operator to review takeover bid by Canada retail giant
Beijing, Sep 5 (AP) The Chinese government is no longer allowing foreigners to adopt its children, a spokesperson said Thursday.
The only exception will be for blood relatives adopting a child or a stepchild, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said.
She didn't explain the decision other than to say that it was in line with the spirit of relevant international conventions.
Many foreigners have adopted children from China over the decades, visiting the country to pick them up and then bringing them to a new home overseas.
China suspended international adoptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The government later resumed adoptions for children who had received travel authorisation before the suspension in 2020, the US State Department said in its latest annual report on adoptions.
A US consulate issued 16 visas for adoptions from China in the 12 months from October 2022 through September 2023, the first in more than two years, the State Department report said. It wasn't clear if any more visas had been issued since then. (AP) SCY
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Kyiv, Sep 5 (AP) Ukraine's parliament approved the appointment of a new foreign minister Thursday, two lawmakers said, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought to breathe fresh life into his administration with the war against Russia poised for what could be a pivotal phase.
Andrii Sybiha, a former ambassador to Turkey, is the country's new chief diplomat. He replaced Dmytro Kuleba, who became one of Ukraine's most recognizable faces on the international stage as he petitioned and pleaded with Western countries to support Ukraine's war effort.
Sybiha, 49, has been working as Kuleba's deputy since April.
Zelenskyy wants to replace almost a dozen top officials in his biggest government shake-up since Russia's full-scale invasion started on Feb 24, 2022. Other changes included the heads of strategic industries, justice, natural resources and farming.
Parliament's approval is required for the changes. Ukrainian lawmakers Yaroslav Zhelezniak and Oleksii Honcharenko confirmed the vote to The Associated Press.
Zelenskyy said Wednesday of the reshuffle that Ukraine needs new energy.
The war, more than 900 days long, is on the cusp of what could be a key period.
A likely hard winter lies ahead, testing the country's resolve. Ukraine's power grid is under severe strain after Russian missiles and drones knocked out around 70% of the country's generation capacity. That could mean going without heat and water.
On the battlefield, Ukraine is waiting to see whether the military's gamble with its surprise thrust into Russia's Kursk border region a month ago pays dividends. Meanwhile, outgunned Ukrainian soldiers are gradually being pushed backward by Russia's monthslong drive deeper into eastern Ukraine, and Ukrainian civilians are at the mercy of Russia's deadly long-range aerial strikes.
The casualty list from a Russian missile strike Tuesday on a military training school in the Ukrainian city of Poltava grew to 55 dead and 328 wounded, Ukraine's Interior Ministry said Thursday. A search and rescue operation was continuing.
No major policy changes were expected under the new administration. Zelenskyy's five-year mandate expired in May, but he remains in power under the provisions of martial law, and his leadership is largely unchallenged.
Sybiha, the new foreign minister who also previously worked in the president's office, takes on the role as Ukraine endeavours to prevent war fatigue from eroding the West's commitment.
Kyiv officials will also have to navigate the result of the US election in November, which could produce important policy shifts in Washington.
Top of Ukraine's wish list at the moment are more Western air defence systems and permission from its Western partners to let it use their weapons to hit targets on Russian soil. Some Western leaders are reluctant to grant that request, because they fear an escalation that could drag them into the fighting.
Top US military leaders, including Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Gen C Q Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will meet in Germany on Friday to discuss those issues with European allies.
Zelenskyy hasn't shrunk from major decisions that risk alienating senior officials and perplexing the public.
In February, he replaced his top general in a shake-up aimed at reigniting battlefield momentum, and the then defence minister Oleksii Reznikov quit a year ago, after Zelenskyy said that he would be replaced and named his successor. (AP) SCY
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Colombo, Sep 5 (PTI) Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday sacked four junior ministers from his government in what is being seen as a purge of the Rajapaksa backers in the run-up to the September 21 presidential elections.
A statement from the president's office said that the decision was made under the authority granted to him by Article 47 (3) of the Constitution.
The sacked ministers are State Minister of Ports and Aviation Services Premalal Jayasekara, State Minister of Power and Energy Indika Anuruddha, State Minister of Agriculture Mohan Priyadarshana de Silva, and State Minister of Highways Siripala Gamlath.
The deposed ministers had announced their support for Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna's (SLPP) Presidential Candidate Namal Rajapaksa -the heir to the powerful Rajapaksa dynasty - who is vying to become the president.
The Rajapaksas withdrew support for Wickremesinghe, 75, who is competing as an independent candidate despite being the leader of the grand old party, the United National Party.
The decision to sack the ministers came as a grand coalition -- Peoples United Freedom Alliance -- was formed under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.
It comprises over 25 political parties that gathered to consolidate support for Wickremesinghe in the presidential election.
Several ministers and politicians from the SLPP, who are backing Wickremesinghe, were also present at the party's launch ceremony.
We have formed this alliance to contest the parliamentary election that will be coming after the presidential election, Gunawardena said.
Wickremesinghe, who took over the presidency for the balance term of the ousted president Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022, was installed as the stop-gap president by the majority vote in parliament by the SLPP.
The younger members of the SLPP, who helped Wickremesinghes work in reviving the bankrupt economy, decided to back the president in helping the country overcome the economic crisis.
The SLPP has vowed to take disciplinary action against the members for backing Wickremesinghe over Rajapaksas candidacy.
Thane, Sep 5 (PTI) A man was arrested in Dombivali in Maharashtra's Thane district on Thursday for allegedly outraging the modesty of his minor daughter, a police official said.
The incident took place on March 18 this year but the complaint, by the child's mother, was filed on Wednesday night, the Manpada police station official said.
"The complainant had left her minor daughter in the care of her husband when she had gone to Nagpur to complete a course. However, at 2am on March 18, during a video call, the child, who was crying continuously, showed her mother that her father was sitting naked on bed," he said.
"The child's mother lodged a complaint, based on which the victim's 36-year-old father was arrested under IPC and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for insulting a woman's modesty and other offences," he said.
The official did not specify the age of the victim or why the case was lodged by her mother after so much delay.
Ahmedabad, Sep 5 (PTI) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday said the new National Education Policy (NEP) prepared under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will serve as a catalyst in building a developed India.
He was speaking at an event held here on the occasion of Teachers' Day, which is celebrated every year to mark the birth anniversary of the country's second president Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
During the event, 28 school teachers were given the 'Best Teachers Award', said an official release.
"It is the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make India a developed country when it celebrates 100 years of Independence in 2047. The National Education Policy formulated under the visionary leadership of PM Modi will serve as a catalyst in building a developed India," Patel said.
"It is the responsibility of all teachers to make students capable of writing their own destiny when India will become a developed nation by 2047 as envisioned by PM Narendra Modi," he added.
Hailing Dr Radhakrishnan, the CM said his contribution in the field of education has always inspired people to work for the nation.
"Despite becoming the President of India, Dr Radhakrishnan continued to remain a teacher by heart, because a teacher neither retires nor does he take rest. Since children spend more time with teachers than anyone else, your responsibility is greater than others in shaping the future of students," the CM told the gathering.
Since students of today's generation are full of curiosity and remain updated with the help of Artificial Intelligence and Google, it is necessary for you to be prepared as a teacher, he asserted.
"PM Modi has given us the mantra of 'Virasat Bhi, Vikas Bhi' (both heritage and development are important). We have adopted this approach of combining both to keep the teaching profession vibrant," Patel said.
Mumbai, Sep 5 (PTI) During the British rule, social reformer Lokmanya Tilak initiated public celebration of Ganesh festival to bring people together and foster a sense of unity, but over the years, apart from fulfilling these objectives, Ganesh mandals have also been serving as grooming ground for budding politicians.
Through the "sarvajanik" (public) Ganesh mandals, the future leaders can get to master different key skills like managing finances, human resources management and establishing coordination between various agencies, says Naresh Dahibavkar, president of the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti (BSGSS).
The Ganesh festival is celebrated across Maharashtra on a large scale. This year, this 10-day cultural extravaganza will begin on September 7.
There are several political leaders in Maharashtra who earlier worked as humble "karyakartas" (volunteers) of Ganesh mandals before making a foray into the world of politics.
Talking to PTI, Dahibavkar said that NCP leader and Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal and Union minister Murlidhar Mohol are among some of the leaders, who were earlier associated with Ganesh mandals in Mumbai and Pune, respectively, before making it big in politics.
Bhujbal, who was president of Anjirwadi Sarvajanik Mandal in Byculla in central Mumbai, rose to become a corporator, city mayor and then a cabinet minister. Mohol, a corporator and former Pune mayor, won this year's Lok Sabha election as a BJP candidate and was then appointed as Union Minister of State for Cooperation and Civil Aviation, he said.
Dahibavkar said he wrote to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde two months ago to ensure that election code of conduct does not come into force during the Ganesh festival and the demand was accepted, he added.
Assembly elections in Maharashtra are likely to be held mid-November.
"If a mandal volunteer or its office-bearer becomes a politician and gives donation to the organisation, the latter becomes duty-bound to put up his posters, irrespective of whether it is an election year or not," he said.
"Donations are used during the festivities because expenses have also increased. These days, we have to put up CCTV cameras," he added.
According to Dahibavkar, apart from grooming politicians, the sarvajanik Ganesh mandals also served as platforms for budding actors to showcase their talent through cultural activities.
"But since there are no musical programmes and plays during the festival due to the 10 pm deadline on loudspeakers, the grooming of new actors has also stopped. Several theatre and film personalities have attributed the plays organised by local Ganesh mandals as their debut in the field of art," he said.
There are 3,300 public Ganesh mandals and 8,700 ones from housing societies in the suburbs which are registered with the BSGSS, he said.
The Ganesh mandals are required to obtain licences from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), police, traffic department and fire brigade licences are required and the committee has to coordinate with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and Metro rail authorities to install pandals, he said.
The civic body has issued guidelines regarding the height of the pandals and stage, he said.
"Now, online permissions are valid for a period of five years instead of one year. But the traffic and police departments check if the rules regarding height are being followed or not every year," he said.
Each mandal has "Gan Sevaks", who coordinate with the local police on the safety and security aspect. Women also participate in large numbers as volunteers.
Various competitions are held for local residents by each Ganesh mandal, including cooking competitions for women, educational contests for children.
"The festival might be for 10 days only, but Ganesh mandals are active throughout the year, carrying out various social initiatives. During the pandemic, 730 COVID-19 patients were saved due to efforts of the coordination committee," he said.
Dahibavkar noted that the city never witnessed caste or religious tensions during the festivities.
"We consider this our achievement. At some places, like Dongri, Muslims head Ganesh mandals," he said.
Talking about the business aspect, he said the turnover during the Ganesh festival is worth a few crores as there is requirement for various objects like, bamboo, tarpaulins, decoration material, flowers, fruits, dry fruits, instruments and sweets apart from Ganesh idols.
"The government gets revenue in the form of Goods and Services Tax (GST)," he said.
Bhopal, Sep 4 (PTI) Two girls were swept away when five members of a family tried to cross an overflowing Anaas river through a stop dam near village Dhebar in Jhabua district on Wednesday, an official said.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has directed the administration to provide four lakh assistance besides Rs two lakh from the chief minister relief fund to the kin of each of the victims, the official said.
The body of Kabbu Pargi (16) was recovered by the rescue team while a search is on to trace Maya Makwana (05), Jhabua collector Neha Meena said.
Besides the above assistance, financial aid of Rs 20,000 each was also sanctioned from the Red Cross, Meena said.
The chief minister, after taking part in the funeral of his father in Ujjain, took stock of the situation in rain-affected areas.
He spoke to the collector over phone from Ujjain and directed him to provide financial assistance to the kin of the deceased, the official added.
Yadav also reviewed the situation in Dhar district where an Adivasi ashram was flooded following excessive rains.
The collector informed the chief minister that prompt action had saved the trapped children in the ashram with the active assistance of social workers and other citizens, the official said.
The chief minister while praising the efforts of social workers and locals, said that the state government will honour and reward them for their valiant efforts.
Patna, Sep 5 (PTI) CPI (ML) Liberation MP Sudama Prasad on Thursday alleged that he was shoved around by security personnel accompanying Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who was on a tour of Arrah, his Lok Sabha constituency.
Prasad, who had wrested the seat from BJP heavyweight and former Union Minister R K Singh, also asserted that the shabby treatment was "an insult to 5.30 lakh people who had voted for me in the general elections".
"I do not make a big deal of my prestige or humiliation. But, certainly, the people felt insulted. You can imagine the treatment received by common citizens when even elected representatives were being shoved around," the Left party MP told reporters later.
Notably, Kumar was in Arrah, the town, where Bhojpur district is headquartered, to launch projects worth nearly Rs 100 crore and inspect an under-construction government medical college.
Officials were tight-lipped over the allegations made by the MP though the main opposition party RJD, an alliance partner of the CPI (ML) L, shared the news on X claiming the ageing CM had grown "benumbed" and was oblivious to what was happening around him.
Prasad, who pointed out that his name figured among the invitees, said he stood carrying a bouquet which he tried to present the CM with "but his commandos couldn't care less".
He claimed that the brusque behaviour of the entourage had embarrassed Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha and state health minister Mangal Pandey, both of whom tried to humour him later by "nodding at me and greeting me with Pranam".
Prasad pointed out that many locals had turned up at the function with the hope of drawing the chief minister's attention to the plight of the district, "a large part of which is reeling under floods".
"Of course, the chief minister has too many engagements and is short on time. But then he should not have bothered to come here, all the way from Patna. He could have done all that he did here, virtually, from his residence," Prasad said with a hint of sarcasm.
Mathabhanga (West Bengal) Sept. 4 (PTI) The 'Reclaim The Night' campaign across West Bengal, demanding justice for a doctor who was raped-murdered at a state-run hospital in Kolkata last month, encountered violence in Mathabhanga town when a protester was allegedly assaulted by members of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Pradyut Saha, a branch secretary of the CPI(M) and an employee of the Mathabhanga municipality, was reportedly attacked during a demonstration by the West Bengal Democratic Writers and Artistes Association and the People's Theatre Association to demand justice for the murdered doctor.
The event featured songs, poems, and street art highlighting violence against women, with slogans such as 'We Want Justice', among others.
Moksedul Islam, a CPI(M) district committee member, claimed that TMC activists attempted to disrupt the protest by threatening the participants and pressuring them to erase their artwork. When Saha objected, he was allegedly beaten by ruling party workers, before being rescued by other members of the protest group.
CPI(M) district committee members have filed a complaint with police regarding the incident.
In response, Biswajit Rai, president of Mathabhanga Town Block TMC, denied any assault, stating that the party had organised its own protest at Mathabhanga Chowpathi and that no violence occurred.
Police have been deployed in the area to maintain order and prevent further unrest.
Condemning the alleged violence, BJP state president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar posted on X, "Trinamool is anti-democratic, Trinamool is anti-humanity! The notorious forces of Trinamool Congress suddenly attacked the peaceful citizen's protest in Mathabhanga, North Bengal. The protest program demanding justice for Tilottama was marred by unprovoked violence and threats."
He added, "Pictures were forcibly removed from the street. The police stood silent like a mute spectator! Can you extinguish the fire of protest by stifling democracy using notorious forces, Honorable Chief Minister?"
In Kolkata, actor Rituparna Sengupta faced hostility from a group of protesters at Shyambazar who were demanding justice for the RG Kar victim.
As Sengupta attempted to address the crowd and show solidarity, she was met with shouts of "Go Back."
The situation escalated, leading to Sengupta being escorted away by police and her bodyguard to her vehicle, which then left the area.
In a separate incident during a solidarity rally at Garia in southern Kolkata, a youth was detained by police after allegedly misbehaving with women. The youth, reportedly intoxicated, was beaten by other protesters before being handed over to the authorities.
"No amount of coercion and threats will deter us from our fight for justice for the victim, Ushashi Paul, a woman protestor said.
Kolkata, Sep 5 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hailed the teaching community on the occasion of Teachers Day and described them as "backbone of the society".
Governor CV Ananda Bose also extended his wishes to the teachers on this occasion.
"On this auspicious occasion of Teachers' Day, marking the birth anniversary of the great scholar and the second President of India Dr S Radhakrishnan, I humbly remember his great legacy and simultaneously express my deepest respect for our entire teaching community," she posted on X.
Apart from parents, they are the only ones before whom people bow their heads in respect, she said.
"Our teachers are our guides, pillars of our inspiration and strength. They are the backbones of our society. We will be always grateful to them for guiding us through our formative years, and even later," the chief minister said in the post.
Governor CV Ananda Bose also wished the teachers.
"On the occasion of Teacher's Day, HG conveys his best wishes and high regards to all teachers," the Raj Bhavan said in a statement.
By Akbar Hasanov, Day.az
The Armenian media threw a fit of hysteria over the fact that Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Italian Republic to the country Luca Di Gianfrancesco. This hysteria was clearly of a controlled nature. Indeed, on August 31, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a press conference, during which he said a lot of ridiculous, confusing, mutually exclusive and even false things.
Nikol Vovaevich, trying to justify the supply of weapons to Armenia from France and India, said that Azerbaijan buys weapons from Italy as well. It was a primitive manipulation. Because there is a very obvious difference between the purchase of weapons by the occupying State and by the victim State of the occupation. Moreover, the "revanchists" are reminding themselves more and more loudly in Armenia.
Which, I would like to emphasize, are supported by pro-Armenian politicians of various levels in Russia, France, and the United States. And against this background, we also see the persistent unwillingness of official Yerevan to eliminate the main problem on the way to signing a peace agreement - to amend the Armenian constitution, where there are territorial claims against Azerbaijan.
So, now the Armenian media is implementing an agenda launched "from above". The purpose of this agenda is to "justify" Armenia's purchases of weapons from France and India by the growing military-technical cooperation between Azerbaijan and Italy. And the meeting of the head of the national defense ministry with the Italian ambassador in Baku became a formal "reason" for the launch of this campaign.
The Armenian media and the expert community there retell reports from Azerbaijani publications that some of the 31 planned military events between Azerbaijan and Italy for 2024-2025 have already been implemented between Azerbaijan and Italy. In the neighboring country, they recall that the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry purchased Leonardo C-27J Spartan turboprop military transport aircraft from the Italian company Leonardo last year.
In addition, the Armenian "ishkhans of the pen" indignantly state that in 2021 Baku signed an agreement with Leonardo on the acquisition of a batch of M-346 Master combat training aircraft. After that, the detailing went on. They say that in the United States, this type of aircraft is used by the Coast Guard and Special Operations Command. But, if it has come to this, we will have to remind the Armenian journalists of something else.
For example, the fact that most of our trade relations in the European space are accounted for by Italy, whose trade turnover has exceeded $ 15 billion. Moreover, the Azerbaijani-Italian cooperation in the oil and gas sector is important not only for our countries, but also for the entire European space. Can Armenia boast of something like this? Obviously not.
Meanwhile, on September 1, the Azerbaijani oil company SOCAR began supplying natural gas to Croatia. It is already the tenth country receiving Azerbaijani gas, joining Turkiye, Georgia, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Serbia and Slovenia. All this is highly appreciated in these countries. Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric openly stated that his country has doubled its GDP over the past 10 years and Azerbaijan has provided significant support to Serbia in achieving this result.
Accordingly, trust and respect for our state have grown in each of these countries. In Armenia, the whole process can only be watched with sadness and anger. They calculate how many NATO member countries are already receiving natural gas from Azerbaijan. They shy away from one extreme to the other, from the status of an outpost to the status of an appendage of one center of power or another.
At the same time, Armenia is not interesting to anyone, because there is simply nothing to take from it. Everything she could potentially use to attract attention to herself is already in someone else's hands. Whereas, for example, relations between Baku and Rome are based on strong political ties and the "Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Italian Republic."
The success of FOCAC and a broader partnership emphasizes the important truth that global progress is not a zero-sum game, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (#FOCAC) on Thursday.
Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Guwahati, Sep 5 (PTI) Five Bangladesh nationals were apprehended while trying to enter Assam's Karimganj district illegally and handed over to authorities of the neighbouring country, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Thursday.
"Maintaining alert along the Indo-Bangladesh border, @assampolice managed to identify and push back Bangladeshi nationals at 00:40 hours," the chief minister posted on X.
The people who were pushed back have been identified as Md Sabir Rahman, Md Sakil, Dilwar Hussain, Md Ali and Md Bhaijit.
"We are committed to an infiltration-free Assam," Sarma added.
On Wednesday, five people were nabbed by Assam police while they were trying to enter Karimganj from neighbouring Tripura and were later handed over to Bangladesh authorities at the India-Bangladesh border.
The BSF has intensified its vigil along the 1,885-km Indo- Bangladesh border in the North East following the recent turmoil in Bangladesh.
Assam Police is also maintaining a high alert along the border to ensure that no person can enter the state illegally, Director General of Police G P Singh had said.
New Delhi, Sep 5 (PTI) The CBI has registered a case into the alleged rape and murder of a schoolboy in Gujarat's Morbi district nine years ago, officials said on Thursday.
The case was registered on the directions of the Gujarat High Court, which handed over the investigation to the CBI on August 16 this year and flagged the CID Crime, Rajkot's "inability "to "trace the suspect and offender or properly detect the offence".
The case pertains to a schoolboy in Morbi who did not return from school on December 15, 2015. His father went to the school trustee to seek the whereabouts of his son, where he was told that all the students had already left.
The minor's friends confirmed they had all left the school at about 12:15 PM.
The father informed his relatives and searched again when he found his son's bicycle near a pan shop. When confronted again, the school trustee told the father that students of a particular caste said the boy had left with someone on an Activa or Pledger motorcycle.
When the boy could not be traced, a case of kidnapping was registered at a police station in Morbi. Three days later, the body of the boy was found near the Machchhu Dam.
The postmortem report revealed that the boy had been "brutally murdered after being subjected to unnatural sex", the High Court had noted. The police added sections of murder and unnatural sex in the case after the report came.
Not satisfied by the probe, the victim's father approached the Gujarat High Court.
"The petitioner (father of the victim) raised concerns about the Mahants of the Swaminarayan Temple, where his son used to go for worship. However, the investigating officer did not pursue this line of inquiry, leading to the filing of the present petition," Justice Hasmukh D Suthar noted.
The Director General of Police had constituted a Special Investigation Team on September 27, 2017, to investigate the offence, it said.
"However, till date, no fruitful outcome of the investigation has been reported, and no suspect or offender has been traced," the High Court had pointed out.
The High Court gave three weeks, on July 25 this year, to investigate the offence and submit a report. K.K. Jadeja, Detective Police Inspector, (CID Crime) Rajkot, submitted a report before the High Court on August 16.
"After perusing the report, it appears that the same story has been repeated, which indicates his inability to trace the suspect and offender or properly detect the offence," Justice Suthar said.
"Considering the seriousness of the offence" and "the inability" of the police to detect an offence and the fact that more than nine years have passed without any fruitful outcome of the investigation, he said, it is expedient to direct the police to hand over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
New Delhi, Sep 5 (PTI) The Parliamentary panel examining the Waqf (Amendment) Bill was on Thursday apprised of the Waqf properties in the national capital region and those on the land parcels belonging to the ministries of road transport and railways.
Urban Affairs and Road Transport Secretary Anurag Jain and Anil Kumar Khandelwal, Member Infrastructure, Railway Board, along with the officials from the respective ministries made presentations to the Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.
The officials of the Urban Affairs Ministry briefed the panel on the land acquisition process undertaken by the then British government in 1911 to build the city of Delhi.
Parliamentary sources said there were heated moments during the meeting when the officials of the Urban Affairs Ministry were unable to respond to questions from members on the land acquisition process undertaken by the British administration.
"There were also attempts to suppress certain information," claimed an opposition member of the Committee chaired by BJP member Jagadambika Pal.
Parliamentary sources said DMK member A. Raja pointed out that a Waqf Act was passed in 1913 and there was no mention of it in the presentation by the Urban Affairs Ministry about it.
According to the presentation by the ministry, the Waqf Board made claims between 1970 and 1977 on 138 properties that were acquired for building New Delhi by the British government.
A total of 341 sq km of land was acquired to build the national capital region and due compensation was paid to the affected persons, a claim that was contested by the members.
The members also wanted the government to ascertain whether the claims by the Waqf Board on properties in Delhi were made after following the due process laid down in the Waqf Act of 1954.
New Delhi, Sep 5 (PTI) In a major step in the probe into the 2023 attack at the Indian High Commission in London, the NIA on Thursday charge-sheeted a key accused in the incident, an official statement said.
The charge sheet was filed in a special NIA court in Delhi.
Inderpal Singh Gaba, a UK national residing in Hounslow and originally hailing from New Delhi, was charge-sheeted as one of the agitators who actively participated in the anti-India protest on March 22, 2023, in front of the Indian High Commission in London, as part of the Khalistani secessionist agenda, it said.
The accused was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on April 25 after exhaustive investigations that established his role in the secessionist activity.
He was detained in December 2023 by immigration authorities at the Attari border upon his arrival from London via Pakistan, based on a lookout circular against him.
Investigations were then initiated against Gaba and he was asked not to leave the country while the probe continued, said the NIA statement.
During the months-long investigation, the NIA seized his mobile phone and scrutinised the data, including several incriminating videos/photos of the incident, and eventually established his involvement in the incident, it said.
NIA investigations have so far revealed that the attack in London was conspired and perpetrated in retaliation to the action taken by the Punjab Police against Amritpal Singh, chief of Waris Punjab De, with the objective of influencing the crackdown on the outfit and its leader, the statement said.
The violent attack at the high commission was aimed at furthering and achieving the cause of Khalistan by secession of the state of Punjab from India, the probe agency said.
Gopeshwar (U'khand), Sep 5 (PTI) Pauri Garhwal MP Anil Baluni has requested the Centre to extend air connectivity under the UDAN scheme to Gopeshwar, Jyotirmath, Ramnagar, Lansdowne and Pauri towns of his constituency to boost tourism and reduce migration from the hills of Uttarakhand.
In a letter to Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu, Baluni also sought upgradation of the Gauchar airstrip.
"Ramnagar is the gateway to the world renowned Jim Corbett National Park. Linking Ramnagar with air connectivity will give a much-needed boost to the tourism sector," Baluni said in the letter.
Being the headquarters of Pauri district, Pauri is an important administrative hub. Good air connectivity between Dehradun and Pauri is the need of the hour, he said.
Describing Lansdowne as an important tourist destination nearest to Delhi, besides being the headquarters of the Garhwal Rifles, the BJP MP said it deserved to have good air connectivity.
Pitching for good air connectivity to Gopeshwar and Jyotirmath (Joshimath), he said these were two remote townships with strategic importance, being close to the India-China border in Chamoli district.
Baluni also requested the minister to take up upgradation of the Gauchar airstrip on a priority to enhance connectivity to the remote locations of the Garhwal region.
Linking Uttarakhand's remote towns with good connectivity under the UDAN scheme will help address the problem of migration, besides giving a boost to tourism, Baluni said in his letter.
The Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik -- UDAN -- initiative is a regional airport development programme of the Centre and part of the Regional Connectivity Scheme of upgrading under-serviced air routes.
Rishi Prasad Sati, a former president of the municipal council of Jyotirmath, thanked Baluni for his efforts, saying modernisation of facilities at the Gauchar airstrip would provide convenience to the common people as well as pilgrims.
Srinagar, Sep 5 (PTI) People of Jammu and Kashmir are not slaves of the Centre but the real owners of their land, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said.
"Let me tell you one thing ... we are not their slaves. People of this state are the owners of this place, remember it," Abdullah told reporters at Beerwah in Budgam district.
The former chief minister made the remark when he was asked if he expected the Centre to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir after assembly elections.
Abdullah, who accompanied the party candidate from Beerwah segment for filing of nomination papers, said the supporters of the BJP in Kashmir should come to senses as soon as possible.
"I tell their lapdogs to get back to their senses. There will be a storm and they will have to face it," he said.
On some leaders leaving the National Conference, Abdullah said it is a normal process during the elections.
"People come and go. What can we do about it? This process goes on during the elections," he said.
On separatists contesting elections, the NC president said the question should be asked of those who were raising the pro-Pakistan slogans here.
Asked about his frequent demand for dialogue between India and Pakistan, he said, "These talks can be held by the Prime Minister of India with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, not by Faooq Abdullah."
Shimla, Sep 5 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Thursday conferred state awards upon 27 teachers and felicitated another with a national award at a function held at Raj Bhavan here.
The governor also paid tributes to former president of India Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, whose birthday is celebrated as Teachers' Day in the country.
Congratulating the award-winning teachers, the governor said "Teachers should be sensitive towards their role of imparting education and values as only then, the process of teaching and learning could be effective," he said.
The importance of teachers as nation-builders has been clearly expressed in the National Education Policy 2020, he said.
"Many provisions have been made in this policy about the students and teachers relationship and the role of teachers in shaping the future of the youth" he said,
Shukla said Himachal Pradesh has always performed excellently in the field of education and can improve by implementing the NEP in letter and spirit.
Highlighting the central government scheme Prime Minister's Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI), the governor said, "Under this scheme, provision has been made to strengthen the existing schools under NEP-2020 so as they emerge as exemplary institutions over the span of time and be a role model to be followed by other schools.
"It will nurture students in a way that they become engaged, productive, and contributing citizens for building an equitable, inclusive, and plural society as envisaged by the National Education Policy 2020," he said.
He said that 180 schools of the state would be developed under the scheme.
The governor expressed concern over the drug menace among the youth. "There is a need to start a strong campaign against drugs," he said.
Students should be made aware about the ill effects of drugs and teachers could play an important role in it, Shukla said.
He said that soon a strong anti-drug awareness campaign would be launched at the district level.
Mumbai, Sep 4 (PTI) The Mumbai Police Crime Branch apprehended four members of the gang involved in drug peddling at Juhu Gulli in western suburbs, officials said on Wednesday.
The accused, who were taken to the police station, were seen chanting the reason for the action against them. They said that they used to sell drugs to the youth and now onwards they will not sale drugs ever.
The video of their parade in police security and their chants went viral on social media platforms.
A large number of locals gathered during the parade of the accused and asked why the four persons were taken into custody.
The police officials told them to ask this to the accused persons, for which they replied that they were selling the drugs to the youth.
The police then asked them to repeat it and they started chanting that they will not sell the drugs again.
Based on specific information, the Crime Branch Bandra unit conducted a raid at Dogar area in Juhu Gulli on Tuesday evening, an official said.
The crime branch team, led by Senior PI Daya Nayak, seized 80 grams of Mephedrone from the accused persons in the raid, he said.
The accused persons has been handed over to D N Nager Police Station and a case under the NDPS Act has been registered against them, the official said.
Chennai, Sep 5 (PTI) The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday informed the Madras High Court that the Krishnagiri District Educational Officer has recommended to the Director of Private Schools to appoint a Special Officer to administer a school in Krishnagiri where some girls were allegedly sexually abused at a fake NCC camp recently.
As per the earlier direction of the court to file a report in respect of the action taken against the school, Advocate General P S Raman filed a report from C K Gopalappa, DEO, Krishnagiri to the above effect.
The first bench comprising Acting Chief Justice D Krishnakumar and Justice P B Balaji posted to September 12, further hearing of the Public Interest Litigation filed by advocate A P Suryaprakasam.
In his petition, Suryaprakasam sought to transfer the probe pertaining into the matter from the Krishnagiri police to the CBI for proper investigation and to infuse confidence in the mind of the common man and parents of the school going children that their wards were well protected in the society.
In his report, Gopalappa said the recommendation to appoint a Special Officer to administer the school was under active consideration.
He said soon after the incident, a show cause notice was issued and explanation was sought for from the school and that it submitted its response. But it was not satisfactory.
"The incident that happened in the school is completely unlawful and detrimental to the safety of the students", he added.
Meanwhile, Jayashree Muralidharan, the Chairperson of the Multi-Disciplinary Team formed by the government, filed her status report detailing about the enquiry conducted with students, parents and teachers of four schools, counseling given to the students and other welfare measures provided to them.
In her report, the IAS official said the Special Court (Mahila Fast Track) has awarded interim compensation to 10 survivors, with an amount of Rs 50,000 to two of them and Rs 30,000 to the rest. Additionally, special relief funds were provided, with Rs 5,000 allocated for two survivors and similar recommendations made by the Child Welfare Committee for eight others, she added.
New Delhi, Sep 5 (PTI) An ongoing exhibition by poet-diplomat Abhay K explores the Buddhist philosophy of 'Shunyata' (emptiness) here in the national capital.
The solo exhibition, currently underway at Alliance Francaise, has 26 paintings on display, evoking "diverse moods, rasas, forms, but unified with an underlying theme of emptiness".
"When I stared at the empty canvas, I had no clue what I was going to paint. I started with making a circle and filling it with paint and it started taking a form. Each time a new form took shape on the canvas I felt mesmerized. I started enjoying the process.
So, these paintings are visualizations of emptiness. Forms are visible when one looks at them closely but as one moves away from them, forms disappear and what remains is emptiness, a true validation of the crux of Heart Sutra: form is emptiness, emptiness is form, Abhay K said in a statement.
Shunyata, a Buddhist concept, refers to the interdependent nature of all things, and how everything that one encounters in life is empty of absolute identity, permanence, or 'self'.
The artworks were praised by the likes of eminent artist and Padma Shri awardee professor Biman Das and veteran sculptor Gopal Namjoshi.
This is a wonderful solo painting exhibition by Abhay K. All the exhibits are full of creativity and aesthetical essences, said Das in his praise for the exhibition.
Abhay K, who is also an award winning author, started his artistic journey in 2005 in Moscow. Since then he has exhibited his artworks in Paris, St. Petersburg, New Delhi, Brasilia and Antananarivo, some of which are in private collections across the world.
The exhibition will come to a close on September 10.
SEOUL, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Concerns grew over the vacuum of medical services in South Korea amid a prolonged lack of doctors, triggered by the government's announcement in February of medical reform plans to raise medical school enrollment by 2,000 per year for the next five years.
The medial reform, intended to address the expected shortage of doctors in the rapidly aging country, boosted the understaffed hospitals as intern and resident doctors resigned en masse on the grounds that the sharp increase in enrollment would aggravate medical education and eventually worsen medical services.
Some of the medical staff suffering from excessive work burden quitted hospitals, some of which curtailed surgeries, outpatient treatment and emergency care services, while some patients scrambling for doctors died in emergency rooms.
Earlier this week, a worker in his 70s who fell to the ground while carrying materials at a construction site was taken to a hospital in the country's second largest city of Busan, but he died after failing to get a doctor performing an emergency surgery, local newspaper JoongAng daily reported Thursday.
It was one of the cases that increasingly occurred across the country amid a growing number of patients who died in critical condition after failing to find emergency rooms or doctors.
An emergency patient in his 40s who collapsed at a convenience store in the capital Seoul died inside an ambulance last week after being rejected by 14 hospitals for hospitalization, according to a Korea Economic Daily report.
A pregnant woman on the verge of delivery gave birth inside an ambulance last month while looking for emergency rooms in South Chungcheong province.
The economic daily report noted that the anxiety of 'if you're sick, you'll die' spread from rural areas to big cities, highlighting a rising number of deaths after the refusal of hospitalization.
Politicians were not an exception. Kim Chong-in, former interim leader of both the ruling conservative People Power Party and the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, was rejected by 22 hospitals after falling down at dawn and hurting his forehead.
The father of Kim Han-kyu, a Democratic Party lawmaker, recently died after failing to find emergency rooms.
Worries escalated over the medical vacuum ahead of the five-day Chuseok holiday in the middle of this month, after which the number of emergency patients is expected to increase sharply.
To tackle the possible medical disruption after the holiday, the government raised medical expenses for mild patients to prevent them from going to emergency rooms.
Local broadcaster MBC reported that the higher medical expenses would not solve the emergency room disruption amid the shortage of doctors who can see patients.
The government deployed 15 military doctors to emergency rooms of five big hospitals, but three of them returned to their units as they were deemed unsuitable for emergency room duty, according to local newspaper Chosun Ilbo.
The government has planned to dispatch more than 200 military doctors and public physicians to short-staffed hospitals across the country.
Bengaluru, Sep 5 (PTI) Karnataka Minister H K Patil on Thursday said the Justice John Michael Cunha panel in its report on the COVID-19 management has mentioned irregularities to the tune of crores of rupees during the previous BJP government in the state.
The preliminary inquiry report has been assigned to a team of officers comprising Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Secretary and some other officers to analyse it and file the report in a month, Patil, who holds law and parliamentary affairs portfolio, told reporters after the cabinet meeting.
The minister said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah raised the subject related to Justice Michael DCunha commissions report on irregularities during COVID-19 pandemic.
The report has been submitted comprising five to six volumes, he added.
Justice DCunha has mentioned about the irregularities to the tune of hundreds of crores of rupees. There is also reference to the missing files. The report has taken into account the public accounts committee report and many details. After the details are analysed, the steps to be taken and other information will be revealed.
The Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary to CM, and some other officers have been entrusted with it. Within a month, they will submit the report.
According to Patil, the Chief Minister told the cabinet that the probe panel has made three observations.
Justice DCunha has made serious observations. There are hundreds and hundreds of crores of misappropriation, mishandling and malpractice has taken place. The report has also said that there are many files which are missing, which were not brought before him despite repeatedly asking about it, the Minister said.
He said the report will be examined as also those officers who did not bring the file before the retired High Court judge.
Very soon, maybe in less than a month the report will be examined and submitted to the Chief Minister and cabinet, Patil said.
The Minister further said, The investigation is not completed yet. We have again given six months extension. The preliminary report of Justice DCunha has been given to the Chief Minister. We have given six months more time.
On the quantum of the misappropriation of public money, he said it is worth hundreds of crores of rupees.
Once the officers bring out details of the probe report, they will be shared with public.
The judicial inquiry was ordered in August, 2023 and it was entrusted to probe into the procurement of medicines, equipment and the alleged irregularities in oxygen supply during the COVID-19 pandemic when the BJP was in power.
The government order said it has taken serious note of charges made by the Public Accounts Committee in its report in July-August regarding the procurement of medicines, equipment and oxygen mismanagement that led to the deaths of people.
As per the order the departments concerned will have to provide the documents required for the investigation and all necessary facilities including staff, space, stationery, vehicle and equipment needed to operate an office.
The ruling Congress has been alleging largescale irregularities in the COVID management during the previous BJP rule in the state. It had promised to conduct a fair inquiry into the irregularities if voted to power.
Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 5 (PTI) Kerala will host a conclave of five opposition-ruled states--four from South India and Punjab from the North--to discuss how to ensure their fiscal needs are addressed in the upcoming 16th Finance Commission, state Finance Minister K N Balagopal said on Thursday.
Besides the Left-ruled Kerala and AAP-governed Punjab, the states that will take part in the conclave are Tamil Nadu (DMK) and the Congress-ruled states of Karnataka and Telangana.
The move by the Left government is seen as an effort to bring together the opposition-ruled states to strengthen their bargaining position with the BJP-ruled Centre. Last year, the state had filed a suit in the Supreme Court against the Centre for imposing limits on its borrowing capacity.
Balagopal said that the conclave, which will be inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on September 12, aims to 'protect and strengthen' the cooperative and fiscal federalism of the country.
Besides himself, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu, Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu and Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly V D Satheesan will also take part in the conclave, Balagopal said.
Additionally, officials including finance secretaries of all the five states and several subject matter-related experts, like former Economic Advisor to the Central Government Arvind Subramanian, will also attend, the minister said.
He further said the conclave was being hosted by Kerala at a time fiscal federalism in the country was under challenge to a great extent.
"The main objective of the conference is to conceptualise the developmental and financial issues being faced by the states and present them before the 16th Finance Commission.
"A healthy Centre-State relationship requires fiscal stability of the states," Balagopal said.
The minister contended that the Union government was taking a completely different stand by adopting "unfair methods of distribution of funds" to the states.
He also contended that a huge amount of revenue collected by the Centre from the states as cess and surcharge is not put in the divisive pool and therefore, the states do not get a share of that amount which is to the tune of several lakhs of crores of rupees.
In 2011-12, the share of cess and surcharge in Central government revenue was 9.4 per cent and by 2022-23, it had gone up to 22.8 per cent, he said.
As a result, the states get only 29.6 per cent of the Centre's revenue as against the recommendation of 41 per cent by the 15th Finance Commission, Balagopal contended.
The minister also alleged that the discriminatory approach of the Centre also exists in the matter of borrowing rights of the states.
He further said that the state should get the tax share that it is eligible for and there should be a timely increase in grants to local bodies.
Kerala is also eligible for special additional assistance due to its emphasis on welfare activities, he said.
"Various other states are also facing this kind of financial discrimination. All these things will be part of the discussion in the conclave," he said.
Bengaluru, Sep 5 (PTI) A day after police filed a chargesheet against Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and other accused in the Renukaswamy murder case, a photograph of the victim pleading for life emerged on social media on Thursday.
"Fear writ large on a shirtless Renukaswamys face as he stared at the camera, the image is a tell-tale about the trauma he endured as he was given a torturous death," a police official said, adding, several injury marks are also seen all over his body.
In another picture, the victim is seen lying on the ground near a parked truck.
According to police sources, he was beaten up with clubs, given electric shock in his private parts, and thrown against the wall leading to multiple fractures.
The chargesheet filed on Wednesday has the forensic report which confirms that Renukaswamys blood stains were found on Darshans clothes, the sources said.
Darshan along with his friend Pavithra Gowda and 15 others, who are accused in the case, are currently under judicial custody in different prisons in the state.
According to police sources, 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor, had sent obscene messages to Pavithra, which enraged Darshan, allegedly leading to his murder. His body was found near a stormwater drain next to an apartment in Sumanahalli here on June nine.
Raghavendra, one of the accused who is part of Darshan's fan club in Chitradurga, had brought Renukaswamy to a shed in R R Nagar here, on the pretext that the actor wanted to meet him. It was in this shed that he was allegedly tortured and murdered.
According to the post-mortem report, Renukaswamy, a native of Chitradurga, died due to shock and haemorrhage as a result of multiple blunt injuries.
Police sources said Pavithra, who is accused number one, was the "major cause" for Renukaswamys murder, claiming that it has been proved from the probe that she instigated other accused, conspired with them, and took part in the crime.
New Delhi, Sep 5 (PTI) Two robbers of the Kaliya gang have been arrested from the railway lines near the Shahdara Railway Station here, police on Thursday said.
The two accused were identified as Monu Choudhary (26) from Bihar's Samastipur and Sunny (23) from Delhi's Shahdara who used to target people at isolated places during early morning and late-night hours, using stolen scooters to flee, they said.
"We received a complaint related to robbery on August 30 from Mansarovar Park Metro Station where the complainant, Mahesh Chand Pal, was robbed of his bag containing valuables by two strangers who attacked him with a sharp-pointed weapon," police said.
The complainant told the police that the two accused robbed his bag, containing a tiffin box, diary, ATM card, metro card, purse and mobile phone by threatening him, they said.
An FIR was registered and two police teams conducted a raid by analyzing the CCTV footage and gathered clues, leading to the identification and arrest of the two accused, police said.
During the investigation, the teams also verified the antecedents of more than 75 criminals having such type of criminal attitude and having snatching/robbery modes operandi, they said.
"Monu was a drug addict, involved in 12 theft cases, and had previously been jailed for two years in a robbery case," the officials said.
During the interrogation, the accused Sunny disclosed that he along with his other associate namely Gaurav alias Kalia used to rob people, police said.
Further investigation is in progress to nab the other third absconding criminal of the gang, they said.
Chennai, Sept 5 (PTI) The Madras High Court has directed the Director General of Prisons to issue consolidated instructions to all the subordinate prison authorities to ensure that the leave applications filed by or on behalf of the prisoners were processed scrupulously in accordance with the rules and decisions were taken within a period of 28 days as contemplated under Rule 24(5) of the Tamil Nadu Suspension of Sentence Rules, 1982.
In a recent order, a division bench comprising Justices S M Subramaniam and N Senthil Kumar said failure in complying with the Tamil Nadu Suspension of Sentence Rules, 1982 regarding adherence of time limit contemplated was to be construed as lapse, dereliction of duty or negligence, as the case may be and appropriate disciplinary actions were to be initiated against the officials who all were responsible for such misconduct.
The bench said the writ petitions filed prematurely before expiry of the statutory time limit of 28 days as contemplated under the Tamil Nadu Suspension of Sentence Rules, 1982 were not entertainable for grant of ordinary leave. Applications for emergency leave were to be considered forthwith by the competent authority without causing any delay. An order of rejection of leave application would provide a cause for instituting the writ petition challenging the same, the bench added.
The bench gave the above directives while disposing of a petition filed by Usha, wife of Karthi, a convict prisoner confined in Vellore Prison, seeking a direction to the authorities to grant 28 days ordinary leave to her husband.
The bench said in the present case, the petitioner filed an application seeking leave on June 27, 2024. The writ petition was filed on July 15, 2024, even before the date of expiry of the statutory period as per the rules to dispose of the leave petition by the competent authority under the Tamil Nadu Suspension of Sentence Rules, 1982.
Thus, the present writ petition was premature on the date of filing. "However, we are inclined to take an exception in the present case, since during the pendency of the present writ petition, the statutory period expired and again remanding the matter became unnecessary", the bench added.
Pointing out the submission of the Additional Public Prosecutor that the prisoner was eligible for ordinary leave for 21 days, the bench granted ordinary leave for 21 days commencing from September 6, 2024 with certain conditions to the convict prisoner.
At least 100 villagers were killed in northeastern Nigeria when suspected Boko Haram Islamic extremists opened fire on a market, on worshippers and in peoples homes, residents said Wednesday, the latest killings in Africas longest struggle with militancy.
More than 50 extremists on motorcycles rode into the Tarmuwa council area of Yobe state on Sunday evening and began firing before setting buildings ablaze, according to Yobe police spokesperson Dungus Abdulkarim.
The police blamed the attack on Boko Haram, which since 2009 has launched an insurgency to establish its radical interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia, in the region. Boko Haram has since splintered into different factions, together accounting for the direct deaths of at least 35,000 people and the displacement of more than 2 million, as well as a humanitarian crisis with millions of people in dire need of foreign aid.
At least 1,500 people have so far been killed in the region this year in attacks by armed groups, according to the U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, or ACLED.
Yobe Deputy Gov. Idi Barde Gubana gave a much lower death toll of 34 from Sundays attack. Contradictory statistics are a common trend in the security crisis, with the death toll from survivors count often higher than the official figure.
The 34 dead cited by the deputy governor were the ones buried in a single village, said Zanna Umar, a community leader, who said they have so far confirmed 102 villagers killed in the attack. Most of the others were either buried before officials arrived, or their bodies were taken to other places for burial.
We are still working to search for more because many people are still missing, said Umar.
Sundays attack is one of the deadliest in the last year in Yobe. The state is less frequently attacked than neighboring Borno, the epicenter of the war with Boko Haram.
Local media reported that the extremists claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was in reprisal for villagers informing security operatives about their activities. A number of Boko Haram members were killed as a result of the information passed on by villagers, the militants were quoted as saying.
Reprisals are rampant in the northeast and villagers sometimes pay the price after military operations, said Confidence MacHarry with SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based security firm.
This is the first time our community has faced such a devastating attack, said Buba Adamu, a local chief, his voice mixed with grief and fear. We never imagined something like this could happen here.
There are some places (in the region) totally out of the control of the Nigerian army and villagers often live in fear of reprisals, MacHarry said. In such places, he added, Nigerian security forces only go there for operations but do not have enough manpower to remain on the ground.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was elected last year on a pledge to end the conflict with Boko Haram, condemned the attack in a statement that tried to assure villagers of justice but was silent about security measures.
Security analysts have faulted Tinubus security policies, saying he has not taken any bold steps so far to resolve the killings and that the problems he inherited, such as inadequate resources and manpower, remain.
(AP)
Elon Musk has deleted a tweet in which he praised Tucker Carlsons interview with Darryl Cooper, a self-proclaimed historian who attempted to whitewash the Holocaust. The interview, published on Monday on The Tucker Carlson Show, featured Cooper making controversial claims, including calling Winston Churchill the chief villain of World War II and asserting that the millions of deaths during the Holocaust were an unintended consequence of Germanys inability to handle prisoners of war.
Musk had initially described the interview as very interesting and worth watching, but later removed the tweet from his timeline. It remains unclear why Musk deleted the post, though it may be related to growing criticism of Coopers views, including his tendency to side with Adolf Hitler on various issues.
Following the release of the episode, Cooper defended his position in a Twitter thread, reiterating his belief that Churchill was the chief villain of the war and doubling down on his argument that Churchill was worse than Hitler.
(YWN World Headquarters NYC)
By Rabbi Yair Hoffman
It is well-known that the world of Brisk is one of meticulous observance of Mitzvos. It is also well known that Rav Refoel Soloveitchik was the right-hand man of his saintly father, the Brisker Rav.
A story is told by Rabbi Avrohom Chaim Brim (1922-2002) about Rav Refoel Soloveitchik (1924-1996), the son of the Brisker Rav. One Erev Sukkos, Rabbi Brim was a bit desperate. He had not found a suitable set of Arba Minim (the four kinds a Lulav, an Esrog, Hadassim and Aravos) yet. He asked Rav Refoel Soloveitchik that if he finds a better one than the one that he had obtained, if the Rav could sell him the lesser quality one and that he, Rav Chaim Brim, would purchase it at any price.
Rav Soloveitchik answered, Actually, I do not have a Sukkos set of Arba Minim yet, and I am not as concerned because if I do not find one, I can always use someone elses. I am concerned now and dealing with a different set of Arba Minim. What Arba Minim do I mean? Hashems Arba Minim the Levi, the Ger, the Yasom and the Almanah. It is Erev Sukkos and many of the Yasomim and the Almanos do not have where to eat, where to stay, and what to do with themselves. I need to worry about their accommodations and looking out for them. The Arba Minim that you are seeking I can always borrow.
The story is quite poignant because not only does it emphasize our Torah obligations to yesomim and almanos and Geirim, but it also alludes to the fact that they are not on everyones radar.
It is well-known that Rav Chaim Pinchos Scheinberg ztl did not say any extraneous words on Shabbos. He made one exception. If there was any situation wherein an Almanah needed something, he picked himself up and attended to it, not measuring his words in any form of silence at all. When matters were settled, he went back to his general silence.
Rav Yaakov Chalofsky was very close to Rav Chaim Kanievsky ztl and his saintly wife Rebbitzen Bas Sheva. Once, Rebbitzen Bas Sheva asked Rabbi Chalofsky to deliver some borsht she had made to a poor Almanah in the neighborhood. He did so. After he gave her the borsht she tearfully told him: I wait for this every day. You have no idea, what this means to me it give me chizuk it strengthens me. It shows that people do care.
Rebbitzen Rishel Kotler ah was the wife of Rav Shneur Kotler and the mother of many of Lakewoods Roshei Yeshiva (and mother-in-law). Her practice was to call an almanah daily and speak to her on a regular basis and listen to her, so that she would have someone to talk with.
It is not just Gedolei Torah who can do this Mitzvah we can all do it and we must do it. So lets make a list of who we can invite for a Shabbos or Yom Tov meal. It is important to remember that they have extraordinary yichus they are the daughters of Avrohom Avinue, Yitzchok Avinu, and Yaakov Avinu. We will discover that the experience is very rewarding as well.
Practically This is What Can Be Done:
Show you are thinking of them.
Call them regularly and take an interest in what they are doing.
Invite them.
Yom Tovs are key Help them plan.
The author can be reached at [email protected]
Dear New York Residents,
A few weeks ago, New York State Commissioner of Education Dr. Betty Rosa significantly and unilaterally raised the tax levy upon the predominantly Jewish district of East Ramapo, New York. In her order she blamed many people, but ignored the true culprit, a faulty state funding formula. Instead of appreciating parents who, at great personal sacrifice, self-fund their childrens education, saving the state nearly a half a billion dollars annually in East Ramapo alone, the state enacted punitive tax levies to compensate for a broken formula that doesnt account for these nonpublic school students. Agudath Israel of America expressed outrage and concern with the ramifications of the order and is working with others on pathways to respond to these actions.
For the next few days there is something that every New Yorker, and especially East Ramapo residents, can do about it.
The Rockefeller Institute has been tasked by the state to conduct a study to assess the States Foundation Aid education funding formula and discuss potential modifications to how the formula works. As the form letter describes, the major issues with the formula is that it does not account for nonpublic students at all and uses obsolete data.
Please write your own comment letter or personalize the form letter below to make your voice heard.
Comments to the Rockefeller Institute can be submitted by clicking here and are due this Friday, September 6th.
Rabbi Shragi Greenbaum
Director, Rockland Regional Office
Agudath Israel of America
Rabbi Yeruchim Silber
Director of New York Government Relations
Agudath Israel of America
Mr. Avrohom Weinstock
Director of KnowUs
Agudath Israel of America
WELLINGTON, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand paid tribute to the Maori King as Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII was laid to rest Thursday after 18 years of leadership.
Maori King Tuheitia died in hospital on Aug. 30 at age 69, while recovering from heart surgery. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his family.
Tuheitia's commitment to solidarity will have a lasting impact on New Zealand, according to a government statement.
"Over the last few days, thousands of people have gathered at Turangawaewae from all corners of our country to pay their respects, a testament to the profound impact Kiingi Tuheitia has had on so many lives," said New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
"We reflect on his legacy and look to the future with hope and anticipation," Luxon said.
Maori Development Minister Tama Potaka said Tuheitia was not only a symbol of unity and resilience for Maori, but an advocate of all New Zealanders growing together.
He was dedicated to the advancement of Maori, New Zealanders, Pacific peoples and indigenous peoples worldwide, the minister said, citing Tuheitia's contributions, particularly in bringing Maori and the government together.
Tuheitia's daughter, Kuini Nga Wai Hono i te Po, 27, has been announced as the new Maori monarch.
Tuheitia was the seventh monarch in Kiingitanga, or the Maori King movement, which originated in 1858 in an attempt to unite the indigenous Maori tribes to strengthen their resistance to colonialism, according to local media reports.
Government and public buildings have lowered their flags at half mast in New Zealand.
New York Times columnist Bret Stephens wrote an article entitled A Hostage Deal Is a Poison Pill for Israel, saying that as a critic of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, its important for him to acknowledge when hes right.
Since the days of Abraham who, according to Genesis, rescued his nephew Lot after hed been seized by an invading army Jewish tradition has placed supreme value on the redemption of captives. It is, in a sense, the fulfillment of a primary, implicit commandment: to be ones brothers keeper. It is also a source of Jewish communal cohesion over millenniums to never forsake those who have been taken, even if only to give them a proper burial.
Its also, to mix references from antiquity, a Jewish Achilles heel.
In 2006, an Israeli soldier named Gilad Shalit was captured by Hamas and held in Gaza. He was released five years later in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian security prisoners a euphemism, in many cases, for terrorists. The deal, which was approved by Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, included the release of Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of Oct. 7.
These two reference points are now at the heart of the debate Israelis are having about what comes next in Gaza. Huge demonstrations in Tel Aviv, coinciding with the heartbreaking funerals of six murdered hostages, have demanded that the prime minister agree to a cease-fire deal to obtain the release of additional hostages, at the cost of conceding one of Hamass core demands: an Israeli withdrawal from a strip of land known as the Philadelphi Corridor, which separates Gaza from Egypt. Netanyahu has refused, insisting in a news conference on Monday that Israeli forces will not leave.
Netanyahu is right, and its important for his usual critics, including me, to acknowledge it.
Hes right, first because the highest justification for fighting a war, besides survival, is to prevent its repetition. Israel has lost hundreds of soldiers to defeat Hamas. Thousands of innocent Palestinians have died and hundreds of thousands have suffered, because Hamas has held every Gazan hostage to its fanatical aims. Hamas was able to initiate and fight this war only because of a secure line of logistical supply under its border with Egypt.
Israels control of the Philadelphi Corridor largely stops this. To relinquish it now, for any reason, forsakes what Israel has been fighting for, consigns Palestinians to further misery under Hamas and all but guarantees that a similar war will eventually be fought again. Why do that?
The answer, many of Netanyahus critics (including Yoav Gallant, his defense minister) would rejoin, is that the imperative to save the hostages supersedes every other consideration and that Israel can always retake the corridor if Hamas fails to fulfill its end of the bargain or if Israelis feel their security is again at risk.
That last argument is a fantasy: Once Israel leaves Gaza, international pressure for it not to re-enter for nearly any reason short of another Oct. 7 will be overwhelming. And Hamas will ensure that any Israeli effort to retake the corridor will be as bloody as possible, for both Israelis and Palestinians, whom Sinwar treats as human shields. Those risks, too, should weigh on the moral scales of what Israel does next.
The more powerful case, especially emotionally, concerns the remaining 95 hostages, of whom 60 are believed to still be alive. Their agony is immense, as is that of their families. Any decent human being must feel acutely sympathetic to their plight.
But sympathy cannot be a replacement for judgment. Israelis the hostage families above all have spent the past 11 months suffering the bitter and predictable consequence of the Shalit deal, which also came about on account of intense public pressure to free him.
A good society will be prepared to go to great lengths to rescue or redeem a captive, whether with risky military operations or exorbitant ransoms. Yet there must also be a limit to what any society can afford to pay. The price for one hostages life or freedom cannot be the life or freedom of another even if we know the name of the first life but not yet the second. That ought to be morally elementary.
Also elementary: Whatever one thinks of Netanyahu, the weight of outrage should fall not on him but on Hamas. It released a video of a hostage it later murdered 24-year-old Eden Yerushalmi, telling her family how much she loved them on Monday, the day after her funeral. Its another act of cynical, grotesque and unadulterated sadism by the group that pretends to speak in the name of all Palestinians. It does not deserve a cease-fire so that it can regain its strength. It deserves the same ash heap of history on which, in our better moments, we deposited the Nazis, Al Qaeda and the Islamic State.
There are bright people who say that what Israel ought to do now is cut a deal, recover its hostages, take a breather and start preparing for the next war, probably in Lebanon. Israelis should remember that wars will be worse, and come more often, to those who fail to win them.
(YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem)
IDF spokesperson in Arabic Avichay Adraee on Wednesday revealed a secret document with details of a secret meeting of senior Hamas and Islamic Jihad officials in August 2022.
According to a transcript of the meeting, which took place after Operation Breaking Dawn, a three-day IDF military operation against the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror group in Gaza, a dispute broke out about the failed PIJ rocket launches that killed Gazan civilians, including children.
The PIJ official said that failed rocket launches could lead to 1,000 Gazan deaths. The senior Hamas official responded without hesitation: A thousand dead people is the price of war.
Adraee added: The document confirms Hamas and Islamic Jihads view of Gazan residents and their exploitation of them as a tool, as the two movements are aware of the danger of these rockets to the lives of the residents and consider them a war tax directly or indirectly. This is also evident during the current war as Hamas and Islamic Jihad persist in launching rockets from areas populated by civilians and even from humanitarian areas, which puts the people of the Strip at risk.
More Gazan civilians were killed, including 12 children, during Operation Breaking Dawn by failed PIJ rocket launches than by IDF fire, a fact that even the anti-Israel Associated Press admitted.
(YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem)
In a classified discussion held this week in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee regarding three bills aimed at halting UNRWAs activities, a representative from the Shin Bet warned that the UNRWA poses a security threat to the State of Israel and therefore its important to advance its closure, Yisrael Hayom reported on Thursday morning.
According to the report, following the Shin Bet representatives comments, Foreign Ministry and National Security Council officials warned that pursuing overly aggressive legislation on the UNRWA could lead to arrest warrants against senior political figures.
Currently, the IDFs Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) continues to work with the UNWRA in Gaza despite its employees involvement in terrorism. The organizations activities also continue uninterrupted in east Jerusalem and Yehudah and Shomron.
A representative from the Justice Ministry present at the meeting also expressed support for the UNWRAs closure but warned of the consequences. A debate arose between Likud MK Amit Halevi and representatives of the Justice Ministrys Legal Counsel and Legislative Affairs Department who argued that defining UNRWA as a terror organization is a circumvention of existing lawthe 2016 Anti-Terror Law, which designates the Defense Minister as the sole authority to declare organizations as terrorist entities.
Halevi vehemently disagreed, saying: Theres no such thing as a law circumventing another law; its an expansion of the law and a moral declaration from the legislator that is within its authority.
Committee chair Yuli Edelstein emphasized, The common thread of the proposals is to clarify Israels stance towards the UNRWA. When I hear that polio vaccinations in Gaza will be carried out by the UNRWA, I dont understand Israels positionafter this committee was informed that the intention is to minimize cooperation and usage of the UNRWA in every possible way. Clarity is needed on this matter and legislation is indeed needed.
I personally, and Im sure many others, didnt need October 7 to understand what UNRWA is but I think after October 7 its quite clear to all. In my opinion, the attempt to rationalize that the organization is fine with just a few bad weeds is appalling.
Three bills were presented to the committee. One, by Likud MK Boaz Bismuth, proposes to prohibit UNRWA from operating within Israels sovereign territory, meaning it would not be able to establish any representative office, provide any services, or conduct any activities, either directly or indirectly, in Jerusalem.
The second proposal, by Yisrael Beiteinu MK Yulia Malinovsky, seeks to declare UNRWA a terrorist organization and for the State of Israel to sever its relations with the organization both directly and indirectly. The third proposal, put forward by Yesh Atid MK Ron Katz, which was merged with a similar proposal from Likud MK Dan Illouz, aims to establish that the provisions of the United Nations Immunities and Privileges Act will not apply to UNRWA, its officials, or individuals employed by it.
(YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem)
A terrorist opened fire with an M-16 rife outside the Israeli embassy in Munich on Thursday morning.
Police officers fired at the terrorist, neutralizing him. Baruch Hashem, no one was injured in the incident. The terrorist was killed after engaging the police in a gun battle. The police later identified the suspect as a teenage Austrian national known to the police as an Islamist.
Police searched the area with the help of a police helicopter to rule out accomplices to the attack and residents were advised to avoid the area. No evidence was found of any other suspects.
Ironically, the embassy was closed on Thursday due to a memorial ceremony for the massacre of 11 Israeli athletes in the 1972 Munich Olympics attack.
Police officers standing near the Nazi Documentation Center, a museum next to the consulate that is dedicated to the history and consequences of the Nazi regime and the role of Munich as the capital of the movement, were the ones who responded to the attack. The museum is located at the site of the former Brown House, the Nazi Party headquarters.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated: There was a shooting near the Israeli consulate in Munich. The consulate is closed today due to a memorial service for the Munich massacre victims and no consulate staff were harmed in the incident. The shooter has been neutralized by German security forces, and the situation is being handled by them.
(YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem)
In what seems to be a quite belated realization and perhaps because the Biden administration is losing hope that it will pull off a hostage deal that it can tout as a major accomplishment amid an election period, it is now questioning whether Hamas even wants a deal.
In a change from his usual tactic of blaming Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for the lack of a deal, Axios reporter Barad Ravid, who is viewed as a mouthpiece for the Biden administration, reported on Thursday that Biden and his top advisers were shocked after Hamas murdered six hostages and have started to rethink the way forward in the negotiations over the deal.
We still think the deal is the only way to save the lives of the hostages and stop the war. But the executions not only increased our sense of urgency but also called into question Hamas willingness to do a deal of any kind, a U.S. official said.
According to the report, one of the main arguments made during a meeting of President Biden, Vice President Harris and their national security team on Monday, was that in the wake of the murder of the hostages, including an American, the US should apply more pressure on Hamas instead of advancing a proposal that grants the terror group additional concessions.
Another concern that was raised is that the US could pressure Israel to reduce IDF forces on the Philadelphi Corridor or regarding other issues, and then discover that Hamas refuses to agree to other parts of the deal. But the new proposal with further Israeli concessions to Hamas would then become the new foundation for future negotiations.
A US official said that the issue of control over the Philadelphi Corridor is not the only sticking point. Hamas has backtracked from its previous position regarding the number of Palestinian terrorists to be released, including many serving life sentences for murdering Israelis, and are now demanding a higher number.
We had a very frustrating process around that in Doha last week. Hamas presented demands that were different from what was agreed on in the past, a U.S. official said.
(YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem)
Rescued Bedouin hostage Farhan Al-Qadi was interviewed this week by Channel 12 News and revealed that he was shot in the leg by Hamas terrorists after he refused to help them find Jews.
Farhan, a 52-year-old father of 11, worked for decades as a security guard at a packaging factory near Kibbutz Magen in the Gaza border area. He was at his post on October 7 at 6:30 a.m. when terrorists infiltrated the kibbutz.
I thought it was just another round of rockets, he said. I went into the safe room and then I got a phone call from my brother telling me that there was an infiltration. I went outside and I saw three Hamas terrorists about 100 meters away shooting in my direction and running toward me.
I dropped my phone and raised my hands. One of them hit me with his weapon and a second one kicked me. They knocked me to the ground and tied my hands. A foreign worker passed by and they shot him right next to me.
I spoke to them in Arabic. I told them I was Muslim. They tested me to see if I was telling the truth and then they said, Take us in your car to where the Jews are. I was ready to die rather than point out a Jew, not even a cat. All the people on the kibbutz are good friends of mine.
Thats how we were raised, he said. That how my grandfather was raised, my father was raised, and thats how my children were raised.
The terrorists then shot him in his leg, dragged him to a vehicle and brought him to Gaza through a breach in the security fence. When they reached the other side, the car stopped after about 150 meters. He noticed foreign workers being abducted and taken to a tunnel shaft in the ground. You see them suddenly disappear, he said. I was in a lot of pain from my leg. I fell a few times on the way. There was a guy who decided to take me to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.
When he finally got to the hospital, he couldnt stand on his feet anymore. I couldnt walk from the pain; I had to crawl up the stairs on all fours. They said, Look, our dog is walking. There were a lot of people around and you could see their joy. They felt like they had won.
They took an X-ray of his leg, which was broken and then a doctor carried out surgery without anesthesia, a form of torture that at least one other hostage also endured.
Later, he arrived in Khan Younis. He recounted that residents started evacuating the city in anticipation of Israeli forces entering. The terrorists decided to take advantage of this opportunity. When the residents began to leave, they mixed me in with them, Al-Qadi explained. He walked the streets of Khan Younis, accompanied by his guards, along with thousands evacuating to a refugee tent camp.
Eventually, he was taken into a tunnel 40 meters deep. You tell yourself theres no way out from here. He was given a mattress and a blanket and stayed there under Hamas guard for no less than 8 months.
Farhan said: For them, Im a greater enemy than you. Because Im a traitor. Im Muslim and I betrayed them so they see me as an enemy more than you. They told me, If you had showed us where the Jews were, you would have stayed with your family.'
(YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem)
A video posted by the Australian Jewish Association shows a disturbing scene at Monash University in Melbourne, one of Australias most prestigious universities.
Students were asked to stand to honor the murdered hostages and the remaining hostages in Gaza out of respect for our common humanity.
Only a small group of students, apparently Jewish students, arose and the majority of the students remained sitting. When those who stood began filming them, they screamed: Stop filming! [Do they have a guilty conscience?] Some of them began chanting Free, free Palestine! as seen in the second video below.
Sadly, in the post-October 7 world, it cannot be taken for granted that the non-Jewish world has any common humanity regarding Jews, even those murdered by a sadistic terror group.
Ironically, the university is named after Sir John Monash, a Jewish Australian born to German-born parents who commanded the Australian Corps and fought the Germans during World War I. He was considered one of the wars outstanding commanders and many historians consider him to be the foremost Allied military commander of the First World War. He was also a successful businessman and was one of Australias foremost experts in reinforced concrete for bridges, and railways, and served as the chairman of Victorias State Electricity Commission.
He died of heart disease at age 66 in 1931 and over 250,000 people attended his state funeral.
(YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem)
European intelligence agencies have successfully thwarted a series of Iranian-backed terror plots aimed at Jewish institutions in France and Germany, according to a report by German daily Der Spiegel. The plots, which relied on organized crime groups, were uncovered after a terror cell carried out four arson attacks against Israeli-owned companies in southern France last year.
The cells leader, a drug dealer from Lyon, France, was identified as the mastermind behind the attacks. Further investigation revealed that one of the suspects, currently detained in France, had also conducted surveillance on a lawyer with Israeli clients in Berlin and an Israeli family in Munich.
This is not the first time Iranian involvement in European terror plots has been exposed. Last month, Der Spiegel reported that the head of the now-banned Hamburg Islamic Center (IZH) in Germany received direct instructions from Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, including guidance on how to portray Hamass October 7 massacre.
The report comes on the same day that a terrorist opened fire with an M-16 rife outside the Israeli embassy in Munich on Thursday morning.
(YWN World Headquarters NYC)
My father is 86 and has been pursued by debt collectors working for O2.
In March, he received a call saying that as an O2 customer he was eligible for a 'free gift package'. He recognised this as a scam, so said he didn't want it.
He phoned O2 to report what happened, and customer service told him to cancel his direct debit until the fraud was resolved, which he did.
But shortly after, he got a letter from O2 stating that he had taken out a contract for a new iPhone.
Scam call: K.K's father got a call offering him a 'free gift' from his phone network, O2
Presumably the phone went to the fraudster's address, and dad must have given enough information for them to order it on his account.
The problem is that he has never had it confirmed that the fraud is resolved, so his direct debit has remained cancelled.
Throughout April and May, we called O2 to try and pay directly over the phone, or restart his direct debit. But they said his account wasn't visible on the online system and told us we couldn't pay.
In May, he received a letter threatening to disconnect the phone unless 168.59 was paid. We called O2 but they said we couldn't speak to the fraud department, and they would contact us in 10 to 14 days. The phone was then disconnected.
Shortly after, he received a letter from debt collection firm Moorcroft offering a deal to pay 84.73, including a 15 reconnection fee.
My father told Moorcroft he didn't want the phone reconnecting and paid it 79.73 - the amount less the reconnection fee.
However, in June he received a further letter from O2 requesting payment of the original 168.59, with no mention of the 79.73 payment made. It has now issued a default notice. K.K, Teesside
Helen Crane, This is Money's consumer champion, replies: I'm sorry to hear this happened to your dad.
Crimes involving mobile phones are rife, whether it is tricking someone into ordering a criminal the latest iPhone, or snatching their device as in the story I will relate below.
While he is in his eighties, your father was switched on enough to realise the person who called him pretending to be from O2 was up to no good.
But unfortunately, he had already given enough account information for them to log in to his online account, place an order for a brand new iPhone with a contract and have it sent to the fraudster's address.
CRANE ON THE CASE Our weekly column sees This is Money consumer expert Helen Crane tackle reader problems and shine the light on companies doing both good and bad. Want her to investigate a problem, or do you want to praise a firm for going that extra mile? Get in touch: helen.crane@thisismoney.co.uk
Confusingly you've received bills stating different amounts, so you can't pinpoint the exact cost of this - but a top iPhone with unlimited data can come to 70 a month. You also aren't sure when the contract for that phone was cancelled.
By cancelling his direct debit, your father also stopped paying the bill for his existing phone - which was about 30 per month.
The last bill you had suggested that your father owed 169 for March to July.
When you contacted me, I suspected that the advice your dad had been given to cancel his direct debit was incorrect.
However, I can see why he followed it. It was what the person he spoke to told him to do - and he was frightened that the fraudster still had access to his online O2 account and could potentially order more phones or take out another contract.
Companies will almost never recommend that customers cancel a direct debit for a service they want to continue receiving. Why would they? Doing so makes it much more likely that they will fail to pay, and end up in debt.
But you and your father went to significant lengths to try and pay O2 the money he owed. You made regular 20-mile round trips to his home to call the phone network together, and ask to pay the bill over the phone or restart the direct debit.
But every time you did, they essentially told you the computer said no.
He couldn't make a payment as he wasn't on the system - but warning letters continued to arrive. And then, letters started to arrive from a debt collection agency.
Called out: The father recognised the call was a scam, but too late. He had already given the fraudster some of his O2 account details, enabling them to order a new iPhone in his name
After this, he decided he wanted to pay up, close his O2 account and go elsewhere.
I spoke to O2 to ask it to clarify exactly what your father owed and ask him to pay his bill.
It admitted that the agent your father spoke to gave him incorrect advice when they told him to cancel his direct debit. O2 said it issued regular briefings to its call handlers, and would speak to this person to make sure it does not happen again.
O2 has cleared the debt on his account as a goodwill gesture, as well as refunding his most recent payment of 74.23 and an additional 60. It has also promised to amend any changes to your dad's credit file.
A spokeswoman said: 'We apologise to [the customer] for the issues he's experienced resolving the fraud on his account.
'We've wiped all debt and have provided a goodwill gesture for the poor customer experience, which has been accepted.
'Unfortunately, this fraudulent activity was enabled because [he] was tricked into handing over his security information to the fraudster.
'We urge customers to be vigilant when they receive unexpected calls, we'll never call and ask you to read out your one-time access code over the phone. The best thing to do if you suspect you're speaking to a scammer is hang up and call us back by dialling 202 from your O2 phone.'
O2 claims my Sim 'isn't an O2 number'... even though I bought it in an O2 shop
I had my phone stolen in June, while walking back to my hotel in Bournemouth. The phone had an O2 device and airtime plan costing 75.67 per month. I reported the theft to the police, but haven't had a response.
I bought a new phone, and tried to get a new Sim with the same number. I asked O2 for this three times, but was told it wasn't possible due to 'technical issues'.
I was about to go on holiday abroad and was anxious to have a working phone, so I visited the O2 store in Salisbury and took out a new Sim-only contract, with a new phone number, for 16.99 per month.
Nicked: C.M.G's phone was taken from his hand - and he's struggled to cancel the contract
But I haven't been able to receive any signal on that Sim, so it was useless.
When I called O2 customer support I was told the number associated with the Sim was 'not an O2 number', even though I had proof it was purchased in an O2 store.
I can't cancel the 16.99 per month contract, and am also still paying the 75.67 per month for the stolen phone and the other contract that I couldn't cancel. Can you help? C.M.G, Wiltshire
Helen Crane replies: This is a mobile mess of substantial proportions. I'm sorry that you fell victim to the ruthless gangs of phone snatchers terrorising Britain's streets, which sadly show no sign of going away.
The advice is to keep your phone in your pocket or bag when you are out and about - but that is much easier said than done when we rely on them for everything from getting directions to paying for parking, and storing train tickets to ordering taxis.
Luckily, they didn't manage to get into any of your banking apps or steal any cash.
Your real problem began when you tried to sort out a replacement phone ahead of a trip abroad.
Buying the handset was easy enough - though getting a new phone of the same specification set you back a painful 1,099.
But getting a new Sim card with the same number proved impossible, for reasons you say O2 couldn't explain.
About to head on holiday and desperate, you went to an O2 shop and took out a new Sim-only contract with a different number for 24 months - but even that didn't work, as the Sim never received a signal.
You were baffled to be told that it wasn't an O2 Sim, even after you provided the receipt and the contract given to you in the O2 store. What on earth was going on?
When I contacted the company, it told me that the Sim card you bought - which was indeed from O2 - failed to activate properly due to an error.
It has apologised to you and cancelled the airtime agreements for both the phone that was stolen, and the new Sim-only contract.
Not so Sim-ple: Our reader tried to get his phone number transferred to a new Sim after his handset was stolen, but O2 told him that it wasn't possible
It has also cleared the remaining loan balance on the stolen phone, which is good news. Mobile phone networks aren't obliged to do this when a phone is stolen, and many customers are left paying off a phone they no longer have.
It has also paid you 200 as a gesture of goodwill, and you will be able to get back your old phone number if you want it.
An O2 spokesman said: 'We've spoken with [the customer] directly to apologise for the experience he's had.
'Due to a technical error the Sim card he purchased after his device was stolen failed to activate. We've now closed both accounts, waived any outstanding fees and provided 200 as a gesture of goodwill.'
Shoplifting doubled last year and retailers are introducing new measures
Britain is facing a shoplifting epidemic.
Retailers are losing serious money to theft and the problem only seems to be getting worse.
An annual survey by the British Retail Consortium, which represents over 200 of the UK's biggest retailers, found incidents of theft in 2023/24 had more than doubled to 16.7million.
The Government has promised to crack down on shoplifting, which will include the reversal of legislation that meant thefts worth under 200 were subject to less serious punishment.
Big Brother: Some supermarkets have introduced body cameras for staff to help stop shoplifting
A new centralised police unit, set up earlier this year, is also looking to crackdown on prolific shoplifters.
Despite this, retailers are taking matters into their own hands as they introduce new, wide-ranging measures to crack down on organised criminals targeting their stores.
With this has also come some outrage from shoppers who feel inconvenienced by the introduction of security tags on basic items, and the increased use of CCTV.
We look at what measures the major supermarkets have taken to stop the scourge of shoplifting.
Security tags and plastic boxes
The sight of plastic boxes and security tags on has become commonplace in most major supermarkets since the start of the cost of living crisis.
Social media has been awash with images of security tags on items like baby formula, meats and cheeses.
The Co-op recently put 2 chocolate bars in security boxes, while it has also locked away other items like baby formula, meats and cheeses.
The supermarket also said it had included 'dummy' or empty packages and had limited products on shelves in the stores most affected.
Other retailers have introduced similar measures to curb theft. Tesco has put Grenade protein bars, which cost 2, as well as Monster energy drink cans behind security tags.
Discount retailer Aldi also introduced security tags for its 1.29 chocolate bars earlier this year.
More often than not, these measures are introduced on a store-by-store basis at the discretion of store teams and aren't rolled out across every store.
Tesco is one of many retailers which have introduced security tags for basic items
However, the items that are put into security cases or tags, tend to be higher-value items such as olive oil and alcohol.
Olive oil, which has become increasingly expensive due to tough conditions in the Mediterranean, has become the latest casualty of the shoplifting epidemic.
Tesco introduced netted bags and security tags for olive oil as the price of some bottles neared 20, although cheaper bottles have also been tagged.
Shoplifters also often target the alcohol aisles, with most supermarkets now introducing security tags or netted bags as a deterrent.
Some supermarkets have moved bottles of more expensive alcohol, like spirits and champagne, to behind counters which only staff can access. However, other lower-value bottles displayed on aisles are also security-tagged.
Anti-theft tags and security boxes can only be taken off by staff at the checkout, otherwise they will set alarms off at the exit.
Alcohol cabinets
Tesco recently introduced locked alcohol cabinets to discourage shoplifters in some of its stores.
The idea is that bottles will be locked away before the door is unlocked remotely, without waiting for a Tesco employee to unlock it.
Customers press a button on a screen attached to the cabinet, wait 10 seconds until the doors open and pick out the bottle they want.
Tesco says no camera or facial recognition software is used.
The supermarket has chosen, for now, to only put some sparkling wine, champagne and spirits behind the cabinets.
This is Money visited a store in Perivale, west London, to see the alcohol cabinets in person. One employee told us that the store had been hit by the shoplifting of food, drink and even electric toothbrushes.
Self-checkout cameras
CCTV has long been a feature of shopping on the high street, from major retailers to smaller convenience stores.
Retailers are now ramping up the use of CCTV in stores to help crack down on theft.
Shoplifting is rife
Commentary by This is Money editor Lee Boyce... In the past few months, I have seen so many instances of shoplifting that it's not even a shock anymore. I've seen numerous examples at Liverpool Street station, namely shoplifters strolling into WH Smith and Greggs, helping themselves to whatever they want. One colleague tells me that their local Greggs has resorted to putting cans and Coca-Cola and Red Bull behind the tills, given how much it's pinched. This week, my wife was in a local Peacocks store, and a man simply strolled in, took the clothes he wanted, and walked out. It's clear that without some serious change, the problem isn't going to get better - and unfortunately, for the 99.9 per cent of innoncent shoppers, it'll mean more intrusive use of cameras, unfriendly security staff and an all-round worse experience. Have you noticed the problem getting worse? Get in touch: editor@thisismoney.co.uk
Holland & Barrett recently announced it was adding new remote access CCTV cameras as well as increasing the use of body cameras to another 80 stores.
Supermarkets, including Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsbury's, have also introduced CCTV cameras on self-checkout tills in a bid to bolster the monitoring of their stores.
Big Brother cameras in alcohol aisles
In one Essex branch of a large Sainsbury's, the supermarket has put screens above the alcohol aisle that show they are filming you via CCTV.
It means you can see yourself on the screen - and is being used as a deterrent to those thinking about pinching booze.
Body cameras
Lidl recently announced that its staff would start to wear body cameras in a bid to curb shoplifting, after an uptick in theft and violence towards its employees.
Ryan McDonnell, chief executive, said: 'While our stores are typically safe environments, retail crime is something that is impacting the whole industry.'
While they won't be required for every member of staff, Lidl said staff 'will receive training to ensure the cameras are used safely and in a way that protects an individual's privacy.'
Co-op also introduced body cameras which send real-time audio and visual footage to its security operations centre at the touch of a button.
It also said it had security guards, both undercover and not, who were specially trained to detain criminals.
Other supermarkets have also ramped up the presence of security guards
Scanning receipts
Sainsbury's came under fire for last year for installing security gates that force customers to scan their receipts from self-checkout tills before being allowed to exit.
The barriers block customers from leaving stores until the receipts are scanned, meaning those who leave empty-handed have to ask security to be let out.
At the time, Sainsbury's told Mail Online that the gates were used in a 'small number' of its stores and form part of a 'range of security measures'.
President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua meets with Miguel Angel Oliver, president of Spanish news agency Agencia EFE, in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)
BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua met with Miguel Angel Oliver, president of Spanish news agency Agencia EFE, in Beijing on Thursday.
Fu noted that Xinhua is China's state news agency and a global news agency, while EFE is a news agency of important influence in the international media community and the Spanish-speaking world.
Since the 1970s, the two media organizations have maintained sound cooperation, Fu said, expressing the hope that both sides will strengthen exchanges and cooperation in areas such as news exchange, personnel exchanges and new media development to push bilateral relations to a new level.
Fu added that the World Media Summit, jointly initiated by Xinhua and other renowned international media organizations, has become an important framework for global mainstream media to strengthen exchanges and cooperation. He welcomed EFE to continue to actively participate in activities under the summit mechanism.
Oliver introduced the news operations of EFE, noting that the Spanish news agency attaches importance to increasing the global influence of its news report.
He said EFE looks forward to deepening cooperation with Xinhua and jointly exploring the application of new technologies to improve the performance of media.
Landlords are being warned to ready themselves for increasing numbers of tenants falling into rent arrears.
Rising rental prices continue to outpace growth in people's incomes, according to analysis from tenant referencing company HomeLet, and this is putting strain on household budgets.
The firm, which processes references for more than one million renters every year, says the household income to rental ratio - the share of income households spend on rent - has risen significantly over the past decade.
Across the UK as a whole, tenants spent an average of 32.6 per cent of their gross income on rent, up from 26.8 per cent 10 years ago.
> The best buy-to-let mortgages for landlords: Should they fix or risk a tracker?
Renters under strain: The household income to rental ratio - the share of income households spends on rent - has risen significantly in the past decade
Andy Halstead, chief executive of HomeLet and Let Alliance is concerned that renters will continue to spend ever-increasing proportions of their income on rent.
'The rental market continues to be challenging,' said Halstead. 'The next six months or so will be interesting, and I am not optimistic.
'Tenant affordability will be the challenge for 2025. Every indicator suggests this, and, to quote our new Prime Minister, "things will get worse before they get better."'
Where do rents eat up the most of tenants' income?
Some regions have seen the household income to rent ratio jump even more acutely over the past decade.
London, which is the most expensive region to rent in, has seen one of the biggest jumps over the past 10 years.
In August 2014, renters in London were spending 28.1 per cent of their income on rent. Now they are spending 38.9 per cent on average.
The average salary in London is around 44,000 a year, and a renter earning this amount of money will on average be spending 17,116 on rent a year based on HomeLet's referencing data.
After income tax and national insurance, someone earning 44,000 will be taking home 2,933 a month or 35,200 a year.
After paying the average annual rental cost of 17,116, they will be left with 18,084 to spend on other things including bills, food and travel.
Essentially the average London renter is spending close to half of their net income after tax and national insurance on rent.
That does not take into account other common salary deductions, such as a pension or student loan, which can amount to hundreds of pounds.
A London renter choosing to live alone would have to typically spend even more given the average rental property in the capital is fetching 2,148 a month (25,776 a year). Many renters therefore choose to live in flat shares or as couples.
> The first-time buyer's step-by-step guide
Renters are spending more of their income on rent than they were 10 years ago, HomeLet says
Tenants in the East of England are also spending an ever-larger proportion of their income on rent.
The typical household is spending 34 per cent of its income, up from 26.6 per cent a decade ago.
The North East of England has also seen one of the most significant rises in affordability pressures. Households now spend 31.8 per cent of their income on rent, up from 22.4 per cent in 2014.
The South West has the second highest rent-to-income ratio in the country, at 35.1 per cent, highlighting the rapid increase in costs across that region.
Not all UK regions have seen significant changes over the past decade when it comes to the proportion of income being spent on rent, however.
According to HomeLet's data, Scotland and the North West of England have only seen a slight uptick with renters in both regions still paying under 30 per cent of their gross income on rent on average.
HomeLet's Andy Halstead believes that, as renters are having to use up an increasing proportion of their income on rent, they are more vulnerable to falling into arrears.
He says this is the biggest risk for landlords at the moment - more than the banning of no fault evictions, EPC rule changes, capital gains tax rises, or increased regulation and licencing.
'Our data, from providing rent guarantees for millions of properties over many years, indicates that rent arrears will be the biggest risk to landlords,' said Halstead.
'Increases in taxation, the removal of winter fuel payments, rising fuel duties, essential services, and the overall cost of living are all putting tenants under growing financial strain.'
Big risk: HomeLet's data indicates that rent arrears will be the biggest risk to landlords
Will rents keep rising?
Rents are currently rising at a slower pace than they have been for the past three years, according to HomeLet's data.
The annual rate of growth has halved since this time last year to 5.1 per cent and is now a long way off the double digit increases recorded between 2021 and 2023.
The average rental property across the UK is now 1,325 a month. Excluding London, that average is 1,126 a month.
However, there has been a large jump in August, according to HomeLet, with a monthly increase of 1.3 per cent - higher than the last two months put together.
While the national market remains buoyant, the sharpest increases are now being seen outside London, signalling a major shift in the rental landscape.
In the East of England and the North East, average rents have risen by 9.4 per cent and 9.2 per cent year-on-year, respectively.
The average rent in the East of England now stands at 1,302 per month, up from 1,190 last year, with a 1.4 per cent increase over the past month alone.
Tough times: Rising rental prices are increasingly outpacing income growth, putting further strain on household budgets, according to HomeLet
Letting agents quoted in the latest market survey by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) say that demand for rented homes is outstripping supply.
David Boyden of Boydens estate agents in Colchester said: 'Another positive month, demand remains high, stock dipped a little throughout the month but seems to now be recovering again post election.
Kevin Burt-Gray, of Pocock + Shaw estate agents in Cambridge added: 'A shortage of stock remains with multiple applications being received on most property types.'
Meanwhile, demand in London, which has the most expensive rental prices in the country, has barely changed since last year, though rents did increase by 2.2 per cent in August to reach 2,148 a month on average.
The new Government must entice landlords back into the private rental sector David Shaun Brannen of Brannen & Partners estate agents in Whitley Bay
The latest Rics market survey suggests that London rents have hit a ceiling and that more available rental homes are hitting the market.
Javier Lauret of Hurford Salvi Carr estate agents in London said: 'Landlords have begun to accept rents are slightly softening after last year's boom.'
'Marcus Goodwille, of Savills in London added: 'While prime London rental values are still rising, the annual rate of growth has softened significantly from the highs of the past few years.
'Market conditions have continued to stabilise as more stock enters the market and affordability barriers constrain further significant rental increases.'
Regional rental markets outpace London: East and North East of England are seeing fastest growth in UKs shifting rental landscape
In the North East of England, which is traditionally one of the UK's most affordable regions, according to HomeLet, tenants are still experiencing a sharp rise in rental prices.
Rents in the region have climbed to 715 in August 2024, up from 655 in August last year, with a 1.9 per cent month-on-month increase since July.
HomeLet says this marks a significant shift, as the North East becomes a focal point for renters looking for more affordable yet increasingly competitive housing options.
The fear among letting agents working in the region is that rents will only continue to increase as landlords sell up.
David Shaun Brannen of Brannen & Partners estate agents in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, said in the latest Rics market survey: 'The new Government must entice landlords back into the private rental sector, as the supply must increase significantly to keep pace with the constant high demand.'
State of flux: Rental demand is surging in regions that have traditionally been more affordable
Northern Ireland recorded a slight drop in rental prices, with a 0.3 per cent fall month-on-month.
However, on an annual basis, rents in Northern Ireland have still risen by 6.8 per cent, reflecting ongoing demand in the region, despite the monthly dip. The current average rent stands at 898.
Wales and the South East saw similar year-on-year growth rates, both rising by 7.5 per cent annually.
The West Midlands and North West regions also reported strong annual growth of 8.3 per cent and 8.1 per cent, respectively, while Scotland saw more modest increases of 3.4 per cent.
Landlords appear to be selling up in their droves, according to latest figures from Rightmove.
The proportion of former rental properties being listed for sale is at its highest on record, the property portal revealed today.
It says 18 per cent of homes now for sale were previously available for rent, compared with 8 per cent in 2010.
Had enough: The proportion of former rental properties moving into the sales market is at its highest on record, according to Rightmove, indicating more landlords are selling up
London landlords in particular appear to be heading for the exit. In the capital, nearly a third of homes for sale were previously for rent.
Scotland and the North East of England also are seeing a large number of landlords sell up with 19 per cent of homes on the market previously being a former rental property in both regions.
Is this an exodus or a gradual exit?
Although it looks clear more landlords are selling, it is by no means a full scale exodus - at least, not yet.
On average, over the past five-years, 14 per cent of homes for sale on Rightmove are ex-rental properties, so the 18 per cent proportion being seen today isn't necessarily a massive shift.
Rightmove says the number of homes for sale has risen to a seven-year high, with the average estate agent having 33 homes to sell.
This would mean there are roughly six to seven former rental properties being sold by each estate agent branch on average at the moment.
Losing its calling: Nearly a third of all homes for sale in London were previously available on the rental market
Tim Bannister, a property expert at Rightmove argues that despite the trend of more landlords choosing to sell up, it doesn't appear to be a mass exodus.
'We will need to monitor the longer-term impacts of what happens to the rental supply that is put up for sale,' said Bannister.
'For example, these homes could provide first-time buyers with more choice.
'They might also be purchased by other landlords and put back into the rental market, which would signal a changing of the guard rather than a complete exit from landlords.'
However, while some landlords appear to be selling up, fewer landlords also seem to be buying.
The proportion of homes being bought by landlords has fallen to a 14-year low, according to the estate agent Hamptons.
It reported that only one in ten homes sold during the first half of this year went to a buy-to-let investor - the lowest share since its records began in 2010.
The result of all of this is the rental market appears to be gradually shrinking.
Selling out: Landlords purchased just 10% of all homes sold during the first half of this year, the lowest share seen since 2010 according to the estate agent Hamptons
In fact, the number of properties available to rent across the UK is down by a quarter since 2019, according to consultancy firm TwentyCi.
It says available properties to rent are at the lowest level since it began recording data 15 years ago.
And with fewer homes for tenants to choose from, it means rents continue to rise.
Chris Norris, policy director for the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), argues that Rightmove's findings will be a serious concern for all those renters struggling to find somewhere to call home.
'With demand already massively outstripping supply, Rightmove suggests the situation is set to get worse,' said Norris.
'Every rental home that is sold simply exacerbates the imbalance between supply and demand.
'Whilst some of these properties will inevitably end up on the owner-occupied market, that will be of little comfort to those households struggling to access quality housing.'
Why are landlords selling?
Some landlords may potentially be selling because of the mooted increase in Capital Gains Tax (CGT) in the Autumn Statement on 30 October thanks to the purported 22 billion blackhole in the nation's finances.
It is no secret that the chancellor of the exchequer, Rachel Reeves, is looking for ways to address this issue with many fearing tax hikes are incoming.
One such tax hike on the table could be on CGT. This is the tax paid on the gain made during the time someone owns an asset.
At present, higher-rate taxpayer landlords face a 24 per cent CGT tax rate on any gain they make when selling property.
There are fears that CGT could be equalised with income tax, which could mean CGT rates rise to 40 per cent for higher rate taxpayers or even 45 per cent for additional rate taxpayers.
What CGT changes could mean for property investors Capital gain Current basic If aligned Impact Current higher If aligned Impact Current additional If aligned Impact Gain 18% 20% 24% 40% 24% 45% 10,000 1,260 1,400 140 1,680 2,800 1,120 1,680 3,150 1,470 20,000 3,060 3,400 340 4,080 6,800 2,720 4,080 7,650 3,570 30,000 4,860 5,400 540 6,480 10,800 4,320 6,480 12,150 5,670 Source: Quilter
Neela Chauhan, a partner at accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young thinks a CGT rise could push more landlords into selling up.
'A rise in CGT in the budget is only going to accelerate landlords quitting the buy to let market. Fewer landlords could lead to higher rents.
'The fall in the number of landlords is the result of multiple Governments working to make buy to let investment less attractive. That isn't going to get any better under the new Government.
'Many smaller landlords with just one or two properties are finding that the income simply isn't worth the work any more.'
Marc von Grundherr, director of Benham and Reeves estate agents in London also fears a CGT hike will damage the investment case for bricks and mortar.
Marc Von Grundherr, director at Benhams & Reeves estate agents says a potential CGT rise will be concerning many landlords
'The potential equalising of CGT is, of course, a concern for many landlords,' said Von Grundherr.
'If the Labour government was to follow through with it, it could make for a significant increase in the tax paid by the average landlord when the time did come for them to exit the sector.
'This would be yet another blow to those who provide vital housing stock that is sorely needed within the rental sector, following a string of legislative changes already introduced in recent years to dent profitability.'
On top of the CGT threat, there are other changes that will be worrying landlords.
Not least, the banning of no fault evictions, EPC rule changes, and increased regulation and licencing.
Rightmove suggests that there needs to be incentives for landlords to stay and continue to invest in the private rented sector to provide a healthy market for tenants.
'In recent years it has become more attractive for some landlords to leave the rental sector rather than to continue to invest in it, due to rising costs, taxes, and legislation,' added Rightmove's Tim Bannister.
'A healthy private rented sector needs landlord investment to provide tenants with a good choice of homes.
'We've seen over the last few years how the supply and demand imbalance can contribute to rising rents, so there is a worry that without encouragement for landlords to stay in rather than leave the rental sector, it is tenants who will pay the price.
BMW has laid out its intentions to bring a hydrogen-powered passenger car to the market in 2028 in a major announcement on Thursday.
The German manufacturer confirmed it has partnered with Japanese car giant Toyota - one of the brands at the forefront of hydrogen fuel cell technology - as it looks to extend its green vehicle portfolio away from just battery-powered EVs.
The new Beemer is expected to be able to travel around 20 per cent further than existing hydrogen fuel cell cars on the market today, which means a range close to 500 miles between refuelling.
And, in a significant advantage over battery electric vehicles, it which would take just a matter of minutes to fill up, similar to a petrol car.
BMW has announced it will launch its first hydrogen passenger car in 2028 having signed a deal with Toyota to collaborate on the development of fuel cell technology. Pictured: Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG (left) with Koji Sato, President and Member of the Board of Management at Toyota Motor Corporation
The announcement sets out BMW's intention to launch its first hydrogen production car using Toyota's forthcoming third-generation hydrogen fuel cell technology.
Its Japanese partner is expected to debut its new hydrogen models around 2026 and 2027.
Toyota sold its first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle - the Mirai - in the UK in 2015, with it offering a range of 312 miles. However, its 66,000 price tag meant limited sales.
In 2020, it launched the sequel Mirai - which remains available today - with an improved range of 406 miles.
Again, a price tag of 64,695 restricted appetite, as did the limited hydrogen filling station network in Britain.
As a result, only 99 Mirais are registered in the UK - that's an average of 11 sales per year since it arrived on the market almost a decade ago.
The Hyundai Nexo SUV is the only other hydrogen fuel cell passenger car sold in the UK so far but, like the Mirai, is vastly expensive, starting from a whopping 69,495.
Just 24 Nexos are currently registered in Britain.
The announcement sets out BMW's intention to launch its first hydrogen production car using Toyota's forthcoming third-generation hydrogen fuel cell technology. It should means a passenger vehicle with a range of almost 500 miles that can be refulled in minutes
BMW is by far the strongest proponent of hydrogen technology among German car makers, and has been testing a hydrogen passenger vehicle, the iX5 Hydrogen (pictured), with a range of 310 miles and an ability to refuel in three to four minutes
Despite the underwhelming success of hydrogen vehicles so far, manufacturers continue to develop them.
Toyota is also producing a hydrogen-powered version of the Hilux pick-up truck while Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos Automotive brand has also partnered with Hyundai to test the benefits of a fuel cell Grenadier.
Renault and Jaguar Land Rover have also dabbled with hydrogen fuel cell technology for its passenger models.
Shell's three hydrogen sites were opened between 2017 and 2019, coinciding with the availability of the Mk1 Toyota Mirai (left) - Britain's first hydrogen fuel cell electric car. A Mk2 Mirai arrived in 2020
While the Mirai Mk2 offered an improved 403-mile range, its price tag of over 60,000 has limited its popularity. In fact, only 99 Mirais across both generations are currently in use in the UK
With hints that BMW's 2028 hydrogen car will have a range of around 485 miles, it would far exceed its best EV on the market to date.
The hydrogen vehicle's range will be almost 100 miles longer than that of it's furthest-travelling EV on a single charge, the i7, which costs over 115,000.
The company said the fuel cell technology will be retrofitted into one of its existing models, though failed to give further details if this would be a combustion engine car or an EV.
It also did not give details on price or production volume.
BMW CEO Oliver Zipse called the announcement a 'milestone in automotive history, saying the vehicle would 'highlight how technological progress is shaping the mobility of the future'.
President of Toyota, Koji Sato, added: 'BMW and Toyota share the same passion for cars and belief in technology openness and a multi-pathway approach to carbon neutrality.'
Hyundai is the only other major car maker to have a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle on the market, though the Nexo isn't cheap at a smidge under 70,000. Only 24 examples are registered in the UK
A Hyundai Nexo on display showcasing the hydrogen fuel cell technology under the bonnet
The partnership with Toyota will allow the groups to cut costs while also developing a passenger car drive unit whose technology will have applications for commercial vehicles, the two car giants said.
BMW is by far the strongest proponent of hydrogen technology among German car makers, and has been testing a hydrogen passenger vehicle, the iX5 Hydrogen, with a range of 310 miles and an ability to refuel in three to four minutes.
The group is developing fuel cell vehicle prototypes alongside battery ones to hedge its bets depending on which 'green' technology becomes dominant.
Despite the BMW and Toyota hydrogen cars being sister models underpinned by the same technology, the German outfit says its version will retain the brand's 'distinct identity and characteristics'.
Why haven't hydrogen fuel cell cars taken off in Britain? We explain the two main reasons why
Why haven't hydrogen cars taken off in Britain?
A hydrogen fuel cell vehicle uses an electric motor like an EV, but draws power from a fuel stack where hydrogen is separated by a catalyst to produce electricity.
The biggest benefit of hydrogen-powered vehicles - apart from being extremely green - is that they can have a long range, like a battery electric car, but can fill up quickly, unlike a battery electric car.
However, few car makers have invested in the technology because of the high costs and a limited network of fuelling stations.
BMW said it assumed hydrogen charging infrastructure would have developed significantly by 2028 to accommodate its plans to launch a fuel cell model.
The EU has recently announced it will accelerate its network of hydrogen filling stations, guaranteeing to have one every 200km (124 miles) by 2031.
With battery-electric vehicle sales booming in recent years, hydrogen fuel cell passenger cars simply haven't caught on with the public
Shell in 2022 pulled the plug on hydrogen filling stations for passenger cars. The oil giant confirmed it had closed its three fuelling sites in Cobham, Gatwick and Beaconsfield
Shell and its hydrogen partner in the UK said the hydrogen fuelling station technology had 'reached its end of life'
In a statement released by Shell's hydrogen station partner Motive, which is a subsidiary of the UK electrolyser manufacturer ITM Power, it said: 'The sites are not performing satisfactorily'
At present, the UK has just six hydrogen refuelling stations.
The network has shrunk in recent years, predominantly as a result of Shell closing all three of its UK locations in Cobham, Gatwick and Beaconsfield towards the end of 2022.
The oil giant said its decision was the result of the technology 'reaching its end of life' as it embarked on concentrating on creating hydrogen refuelling sites for larger vehicles rather than passenger cars.
The government has recently provided an 8million grant to Element 2 (a British startup) to build four hydrogen stations available to the public.
In comparison there are 68,273 battery EV charging points across the UK as of August 2024, spread across 35,230 charging locations.
EnQuest has finally returned to profitability after suffering two consecutive years of losses largely as a result of the UK's energy profits levy (EPL).
The North Sea exploration and production firm posted a $30.3million (23million) post-tax profit for the six months to 30 June, after suffering losses of $30.8million and $41.2million in 2023 and 2022, respectively.
London-listed EnQuest owed $34.1million to HM Treasury related to the EPL, down sharply from $73.8million during the same period last year.
Enquest was helped by higher oil prices in the first half, but prices remain well short of 2022 highs
The Government currently plans to extend the EPL on 'extraordinary' earnings from November, taking the tax rate from 35 to 38 per cent and building the headline rate of tax on upstream oil and gas activities to 78 per cent.
EnQuest chief executive, Amjad Bseisu, said: 'We are disappointed with the ongoing application of the Energy Profits Levy despite operating in an environment where no windfall conditions exist.'
EnQuest, which produced 6 per cent fewer barrels of oil year-on-year in the first half, benefited from higher prices over the period.
The group reported realised oil prices of $83.40/barrel for the half, up 10 per cent from $75.80 last year.
However, while Brent crude was up roughly 11 per cent over the first six months of the year to $84.30/bl, but is down more than 30 per cent from its June 2022 high of $112.24 in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
It is currently trading at $72.73/bl.
The EPL was brought in after loosening Covid restrictions and Russia's invasion of Ukraine led to an energy price spiral and bumper profits for oil and gas firms.
Plans to extend the EPL, despite lower wholesale energy prices, have led to industry warnings it would lead to thousands of jobs losses and undermine Britain's progress to net zero emissions.
Bseisu said: 'The current fiscal regime is causing irreversible damage to an indigenous and strategically important UK industry.
'The UK energy industry needs a progressive tax regime that recognises the maturity of the North Sea and re-establishes the UK as a globally competitive investment basin.'
EnQuest shares were down 0.3 per cent to 12.26p in early trading, bringing losses to more than 20 per cent since the start of the year.
Shore Capital analyst James Hosie said Bseisu's commentary 'highlights the impact that the continuation of the EPL is having on the competitiveness of the UK North Sea'.
He added: 'The company does remain committed to the UK, where it is seeking acquisition opportunities that would leverage its operating capabilities and accumulated tax losses to realise additional value.
'However, the release also makes the point that the focus is on deals to acquire UK assets with limited future capital spending requirements.
'At the same time, EnQuest continues to pursue opportunities to expand its operations in SE Asia.'
BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce said Thursday that the United States should rectify its wrongdoings and immediately remove all additional tariffs on Chinese goods.
The remarks were made by spokesperson He Yongqian in response to a media inquiry about the United States recently delaying again an announcement of decisions on increasing tariffs on imports from China under Section 301.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has already ruled that the Section 301 tariffs violate WTO rules, and the spokesperson said the U.S. move to increase the additional tariffs on China would only compound the mistake.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative had previously sought public opinions on the results of the Section 301 tariff review. The majority of the opinions either opposed the imposition of additional tariffs or requested broader tariff exemptions.
"This shows the Section 301 tariffs are unpopular among the U.S. public," said the spokesperson.
A staff member (L) presents the digital car key to a visitor at an exhibition during the 2024 Inclusion Conference on the Bund in Shanghai, east China, Sept. 5, 2024. With the theme Technology for a Sustainable Future, the conference kicked off here on Thursday. (Photo by Cheng Zhibing/Xinhua)
An outdoor displaying area of the 2024 Inclusion Conference on the Bund is seen in Shanghai, east China, Sept. 5, 2024. With the theme Technology for a Sustainable Future, the conference kicked off here on Thursday. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
A staff member (L) presents bags made from recycled materials to a visitor on the sidelines of the 2024 Inclusion Conference on the Bund in Shanghai, east China, Sept. 5, 2024. With the theme Technology for a Sustainable Future, the conference kicked off here on Thursday. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
People watch Xpeng's flying car X2 displayed at an exhibition during the 2024 Inclusion Conference on the Bund in Shanghai, east China, Sept. 5, 2024. With the theme Technology for a Sustainable Future, the conference kicked off here on Thursday. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
A visitor tries a gear driven by smart AI security system at an exhibition during the 2024 Inclusion Conference on the Bund in Shanghai, east China, Sept. 5, 2024. With the theme Technology for a Sustainable Future, the conference kicked off here on Thursday. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
People attend the 2024 Inclusion Conference on the Bund in Shanghai, east China, Sept. 5, 2024. With the theme Technology for a Sustainable Future, the conference kicked off here on Thursday. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
This file photo taken on April 22, 2021 shows Michel Barnier in Paris, France. French President Emmanuel Macron nominated Michel Barnier as France's new prime minister, French presidential office Elysee said on Thursday. (Photo by Julien Mattia/Xinhua)
PARIS, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron has nominated Michel Barnier as France's new prime minister, the Elysee said on Thursday.
Macron has tasked Barnier with forming a unified government to serve the country and the French people, the Elysee said in a press release.
According to Elysee, Barnier's nomination came after an unprecedented cycle of consultations. Macron ensured that the future government led by Barnier would meet the conditions of being "as stable as possible and give themselves the chance to unite as broadly as possible," the press release added.
On July 16, Macron accepted Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's resignation but asked him to remain in charge of a caretaker government until a new cabinet is formed.
In the two rounds of legislative elections held on June 30 and July 7, Macron's centrist coalition finished second with 163 seats, trailing the left-wing parties' alliance, the New Popular Front (NFP). The NFP secured a relative majority with 182 seats in the 577-member National Assembly.
Macron's nomination of Barnier from the right-wing party The Republicans (LR) was criticized by the left-wing parties, who expected an NFP candidate in line with the election results.
Jean-Luc Melenchon, head of the far-left party La France Insoumise (LFI), said that the nomination shows Macron has decided to "officially deny" the results of the snap legislative elections. The prime minister should come from the NFP alliance, he added.
Meanwhile, the First Secretary of the Socialist Party Olivier Faure said that Barnier's nomination brings "democratic denial to its peak," emphasizing that the LR only came fourth in the legislative elections.
As a pro-European politician, Barnier's nomination has not met with opposition from the French far-right party National Rally (RN).
The RN's ex-President Marine Le Pen said on her X account that she and her party members would be "attentive" to the project that the new prime minister would implement.
Along with Le Pen, the current RN President Jordan Bardella said that the new prime minister should "respect" the 11 million voters who chose the RN in the legislative elections.
"We reserve all political means of action," Bardella said on his X account, urging Barnier to address issues such as purchasing power, security, and immigration.
Former French President Francois Hollande, who is now a Socialist Party deputy, said on X platform that the RN has given a form of "approval" for Barnier's nomination.
Born in 1951, Michel Barnier was elected to the French National Assembly in 1978, becoming the youngest deputy at that time in France. Elected as president of the departmental council of Savoie, he led the city of Albertville to win the hosting of the 1992 Winter Olympic Games.
During his political career, he has served as French environment minister, minister delegate for Europe, foreign affairs minister, and agriculture minister. He also served as the European Union's chief Brexit negotiator.
Barnier's first urgent mission is to form a government capable of completing a draft budget for 2025 before Oct. 1 and submit it for voting in a National Assembly that has so far been hostile towards the right-wing prime minister.
The handover ceremony for the Fifth Republic's youngest Prime Minister Attal, to its oldest Prime Minister Barnier, is scheduled for 6 p.m. local time (16h00 GMT).
This file photo taken on April 22, 2021 shows Michel Barnier in Paris, France. French President Emmanuel Macron nominated Michel Barnier as France's new prime minister, French presidential office Elysee said on Thursday. (Photo by Julien Mattia/Xinhua)
Celebrity chef Catherine Fulvio is encouraging Transition Year students in South Tipperary to get brewing and baking in support of South Tipperary Hospice Movement as part of Together for Hospices biggest fundraiser.
Catherine was joined at Ballyknocken House and Cookery School in Co Wicklow by TY students, Grace Christie and James Ryder, as she threw her support behind Bewleys Big Coffee Morning for Hospice.
The event takes place nationally on September 26 and raises funds for hospice and homecare services across Ireland.
And there is a real sweetener for students in South Tipperary to organise one in their school - two free places are up for grabs on Catherines 13-week TY online cookery course plus a cash prize of 250 for the winning school.
"There is a lot of momentum in TY to understand about charities and giving back," said Catherine.
"No matter what happens in life, most of us know someone who has been in a Hospice; it brings great comfort to the family and a patient to have a Hospice to care for them."
She told how her mother Mary received Hospice care before her death in 1998.
"We were very grateful to have them to help us and give us quality time with our mum. It took the pressure off a lot."
To be in with a chance of winning two places on the TY course, plus a 250 cash prize for your class or school, TY classes in South Tipperary need to register their coffee morning on https://www.hospicecoffeemorning.ie/register-today/ or contact their local hospice.
Any TY class that returns the proceeds of their event before November 29 will be entered into the draw.
Terms and conditions of the competition can be found at www.hospicecoffeemorning.ie/competition-2024.
There is an opportunity to create a Polish-Irish synergy on shaping European policy, Polands prime minister has said.
Donald Tusk made the remarks as he hosted Taoiseach Simon Harris for a bilateral meeting in Rzeszow.
Mr Harris was in eastern Poland on his return from engagements with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
In Rzeszow, the Irish and Polish leaders discussed the Russian war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza as well as issues on the agenda of the European Council, including migration and security.
Mr Tusk said Ireland sets an important example for other countries by providing unequivocal support for Ukraine while maintaining its military neutrality.
Neutrality cannot mean indifference towards evil and the tragedy that befalls innocent people, he said.
Therefore I want to emphasise how much we appreciate the personal engagement of the Irish prime minister in providing non-military but humanitarian aid to Ukraine in these difficult times for the country.
Mr Tusk also said the two countries shared views on what European politics should look like.
He said this follows on from a traditional friendship which was founded on the fact that many Polish people emigrated to Ireland in the past.
Praising Irelands economic resilience and creativity, Mr Tusk said the two countries could leverage a Polish-Irish synergy to profile new European policies on security and competitiveness.
He said he counted on Irish support for calls for increasing protection of Europes eastern border in Poland, including an air-defence system.
As Mr Tusk was president of the European Council for almost the entirety of the strenuous negotiations with the UK over post-Brexit arrangements, Mr Harris said he was grateful for the solidarity the prime minister showed to the people of Ireland.
He said: Thank you for your leadership during a most difficult time for my country and indeed for the European Union as we together navigated the unprecedented challenges posed by Brexit.
Your friendship, your solidarity, but also your skill really helped managed that process.
He added: The people of Ireland and the Government of Ireland will always be grateful and consider you a true friend.
Mr Harris said Ireland had benefited from the approximately 100,000 Polish people living in Ireland.
Whilst we are geographically far away, in our hearts and in our minds, we are close.
Workers cut redundant branches of trees ahead of the landfall of typhoon Yagi in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 5, 2024. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention from level III to level II in Guangdong and Hainan provinces at 3 p.m. Thursday, as typhoon Yagi approaches. Yagi is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening somewhere between the city of Qionghai in Hainan and Maoming City in Guangdong. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)
BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention from level III to level II in the Guangdong and Hainan provinces at 3 p.m. Thursday, as Typhoon Yagi approaches.
The eye of Yagi, the 11th typhoon of the year, was located on the sea approximately 540 km southeast of Xuwen County, Guangdong Province, at 2 p.m. Thursday.
Yagi is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening somewhere between the city of Qionghai in Hainan and Maoming City in Guangdong.
Due to the approaching typhoon, the main section of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will be closed temporarily from 9 p.m. Thursday, according to the bridge's emergency rescue headquarters.
Affected by Yagi, parts of Guangdong and Hainan will be pounded by rainstorms from Thursday to Sunday, with daily rainfall likely to reach around 500 mm or more. All childcare institutions, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, and secondary vocational schools in Guangdong's Zhuhai City have been asked to suspend classes, local authorities have said.
China has a four-tier flood-control emergency-response system, with Level I being the most severe response.
A staff member reinforces a glass window in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 5, 2024. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention from level III to level II in Guangdong and Hainan provinces at 3 p.m. Thursday, as typhoon Yagi approaches.
Yagi is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening somewhere between the city of Qionghai in Hainan and Maoming City in Guangdong. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)
Workers cut redundant branches of trees ahead of the landfall of typhoon Yagi in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 5, 2024. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention from level III to level II in Guangdong and Hainan provinces at 3 p.m. Thursday, as typhoon Yagi approaches.
Yagi is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening somewhere between the city of Qionghai in Hainan and Maoming City in Guangdong. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)
The closed Dadonghai scenic area is seen in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 5, 2024. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention from level III to level II in Guangdong and Hainan provinces at 3 p.m. Thursday, as typhoon Yagi approaches.
Yagi is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening somewhere between the city of Qionghai in Hainan and Maoming City in Guangdong. (Xinhua/Zhao Yingquan)
The closed Dadonghai scenic area is seen in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 5, 2024. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention from level III to level II in Guangdong and Hainan provinces at 3 p.m. Thursday, as typhoon Yagi approaches.
Yagi is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening somewhere between the city of Qionghai in Hainan and Maoming City in Guangdong. (Xinhua/Zhao Yingquan)
An employee arranges a sandbag barrier ahead of the landfall of typhoon Yagi in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 5, 2024. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention from level III to level II in Guangdong and Hainan provinces at 3 p.m. Thursday, as typhoon Yagi approaches.
Yagi is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening somewhere between the city of Qionghai in Hainan and Maoming City in Guangdong. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)
A construction site is seen in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 5, 2024. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention from level III to level II in Guangdong and Hainan provinces at 3 p.m. Thursday, as typhoon Yagi approaches.
Yagi is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening somewhere between the city of Qionghai in Hainan and Maoming City in Guangdong. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)
The Qilou old street is seen in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 5, 2024. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention from level III to level II in Guangdong and Hainan provinces at 3 p.m. Thursday, as typhoon Yagi approaches.
Yagi is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening somewhere between the city of Qionghai in Hainan and Maoming City in Guangdong. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)
An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 5, 2024 shows fishing ships docking at Tanmen port in Qionghai, south China's Hainan Province. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention from level III to level II in Guangdong and Hainan provinces at 3 p.m. Thursday, as typhoon Yagi approaches.
Yagi is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening somewhere between the city of Qionghai in Hainan and Maoming City in Guangdong. (Photo by Meng Zhongde/Xinhua)
The closed Xiuying Port is seen in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 5, 2024. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention from level III to level II in Guangdong and Hainan provinces at 3 p.m. Thursday, as typhoon Yagi approaches.
Yagi is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening somewhere between the city of Qionghai in Hainan and Maoming City in Guangdong. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)
A fisherman fastens a fishing boat in Boao township of Qionghai, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 5, 2024. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention from level III to level II in Guangdong and Hainan provinces at 3 p.m. Thursday, as typhoon Yagi approaches.
Yagi is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening somewhere between the city of Qionghai in Hainan and Maoming City in Guangdong. (Photo by Meng Zhongde/Xinhua)
A staff member makes an emergency call to remind the fishermen to make preparations for the typhoon in Tanmen township of Qionghai, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 5, 2024. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention from level III to level II in Guangdong and Hainan provinces at 3 p.m. Thursday, as typhoon Yagi approaches.
Yagi is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening somewhere between the city of Qionghai in Hainan and Maoming City in Guangdong. (Photo by Meng Zhongde/Xinhua)
A staff member of a cafe reinforces a glass window in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 5, 2024. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention from level III to level II in Guangdong and Hainan provinces at 3 p.m. Thursday, as typhoon Yagi approaches.
Yagi is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening somewhere between the city of Qionghai in Hainan and Maoming City in Guangdong. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)
An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 5, 2024 shows fishing boats docking at Bohe port in Dianbai, south China's Guangdong Province. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention from level III to level II in Guangdong and Hainan provinces at 3 p.m. Thursday, as typhoon Yagi approaches.
Yagi is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening somewhere between the city of Qionghai in Hainan and Maoming City in Guangdong. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)
An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 5, 2024 shows fishing boats docking at Bohe port in Dianbai, south China's Guangdong Province. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention from level III to level II in Guangdong and Hainan provinces at 3 p.m. Thursday, as typhoon Yagi approaches.
Yagi is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening somewhere between the city of Qionghai in Hainan and Maoming City in Guangdong. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)
A fishing boat returns to Bohe port in Dianbai, south China's Guangdong Province, Sept. 5, 2024. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention from level III to level II in Guangdong and Hainan provinces at 3 p.m. Thursday, as typhoon Yagi approaches.
Yagi is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening somewhere between the city of Qionghai in Hainan and Maoming City in Guangdong. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)
A person rides a scooter at Bohe port in Dianbai, south China's Guangdong Province, Sept. 5, 2024. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention from level III to level II in Guangdong and Hainan provinces at 3 p.m. Thursday, as typhoon Yagi approaches.
Yagi is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening somewhere between the city of Qionghai in Hainan and Maoming City in Guangdong. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)
Fishermen carry frozen seafood at Bohe port in Dianbai, south China's Guangdong Province, Sept. 5, 2024. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention from level III to level II in Guangdong and Hainan provinces at 3 p.m. Thursday, as typhoon Yagi approaches.
Yagi is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening somewhere between the city of Qionghai in Hainan and Maoming City in Guangdong. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)
An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 5, 2024 shows fishing boats docking at Bohe port in Dianbai, south China's Guangdong Province. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention from level III to level II in Guangdong and Hainan provinces at 3 p.m. Thursday, as typhoon Yagi approaches.
Yagi is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening somewhere between the city of Qionghai in Hainan and Maoming City in Guangdong. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)
A fisherman prepares to go home at Bohe port in Dianbai, south China's Guangdong Province, Sept. 5, 2024. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention from level III to level II in Guangdong and Hainan provinces at 3 p.m. Thursday, as typhoon Yagi approaches.
Yagi is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening somewhere between the city of Qionghai in Hainan and Maoming City in Guangdong. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)
A fisherman observes the weather conditions at Bohe port in Dianbai, south China's Guangdong Province, Sept. 5, 2024. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention from level III to level II in Guangdong and Hainan provinces at 3 p.m. Thursday, as typhoon Yagi approaches.
Yagi is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening somewhere between the city of Qionghai in Hainan and Maoming City in Guangdong. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)
Geng Shuang (C, front), China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), speaks at the UN Security Council briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 4, 2024.
A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called for greater diplomatic effort towards the immediate release of all detainees, be they Israeli or Palestinian, so that they could go home without further delay. (Xinhua/Xie E)
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called for greater diplomatic effort towards the immediate release of all detainees, be they Israeli or Palestinian, so that they could go home without further delay.
"The six hostages who perished in Gaza are distressing. The tragic end that befell them evokes sympathy," Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), said in remarks at the UN Security Council briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.
"China condemns all violence against civilians and denounces all violations of international law and international humanitarian law," said the ambassador.
He stressed that "the stark reality speaks volumes" about the futility of attempts to win a "total victory" by prolonging the war, which was at best "wishful thinking."
The use of force would not pave the way for hostage release, Geng pointed out, adding that it would only aggregate antagonism and make the confrontations more intense and the situation more volatile.
He called on the Israeli leadership to listen to the public's forceful appeals, give top priority to securing the release of hostages and saving lives, and do their utmost to make the ceasefire happen and end the war.
He also called on the countries that held sway over the parties concerned to show good faith and a responsible attitude by taking tangible actions "to put out the flames of war in Gaza."
Commending the World Health Organization and other humanitarian agencies "that are going against all odds" to provide polio vaccination for Gazan children, Geng said "These children have the same right to grow up healthily as their peers elsewhere in the world" and should not continue to face the deadly threat of lethal weapons after receiving vaccination.
"Every life matters, and no one deserves to be deprived of their right to live," he said.
The United Nations (UN) Security Council briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question is held at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 4, 2024.
A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called for greater diplomatic effort towards the immediate release of all detainees, be they Israeli or Palestinian, so that they could go home without further delay. (Xinhua/Xie E)
BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of National Defense announced on Thursday that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy will dispatch a Marine Corps detachment to Brazil to take part in a multilateral joint exercise, following an invitation from the Brazilian military.
The exercise will primarily concentrate on joint landing and anti-landing combat drills.
It aims to strengthen the friendship and collaboration between the Chinese military and its counterparts from the participating nations as well as to bolster their collective capacity to tackle security risks and challenges.
The restoration of the mosque in the liberated village of Gocehmadli in Fuzuli district will begin, Azernews reports.
This is stipulated in the "Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Protection and Restoration of Historical and Cultural Monuments Located in the Territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan," signed between the State Service for the Protection, Development, and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture and the Turkish Culture and Heritage Foundation.
The document was signed by the head of the State Service, Sabina Hajiyeva, and the president of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, Aktot? Raimkulova.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding aims at the preservation, restoration, and conservation of historical and cultural monuments located in Azerbaijan and under state protection, the organization of training in relevant areas, and the further expansion of cooperation in the field of cultural heritage.
According to the memorandum, the Foundation will initially support the restoration of the mosque in the village of Gocehmadli in Fuzuli.
At the signing ceremony, it was emphasized that the development of relations in all fields with the fraternal Turkic republics, especially the strengthening of cultural ties, is a positive development. It was noted that the Turkish Culture and Heritage Foundation plays an active role in this direction, contributing to the preservation, promotion, and recognition of the culture and cultural heritage of the Turkic peoples. It was also highlighted that Azerbaijan provides special support in this field, and confidence was expressed that cooperation would deepen further in the coming years.
PHNOM PENH, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia exported 412,023 tons of milled rice in the first eight months of 2024, earning a total revenue of 305 million U.S. dollars, the Cambodia Rice Federation said in a news release on Thursday.
Fifty-three companies shipped milled rice to 65 countries and regions during the January-August period, the news release said, adding that China was still one of the key buyers.
The kingdom exported 77,792 tons of milled rice to China during the above-mentioned period, making a gross revenue of almost 48.9 million dollars, the news release said.
Rice exports of the Southeast Asian country included fragrant rice, white rice, parboiled rice, and organic rice.
Im Rachna, an undersecretary of state and spokesperson for Cambodia's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, said China is one of the major markets for Cambodian agricultural products.
"The purchase of our agricultural products by China and other friendly countries have significantly contributed to the development of Cambodia's agriculture and brought a lot of benefits to our people, especially farmers," she told Xinhua.
Zimbabwe and China enjoy a time-honored friendship and are now carrying out fruitful cooperation in the political, economic and social sectors, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.
NEW DELHI, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in India's eastern state of Odisha have issued an advisory urging restricted supply of chickens after an outbreak of avian flu near the state capital Bhubaneswar, officials said Thursday.
"We received the information regarding the spread of bird flu near Bhubaneswar. So, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued an advisory, wherein it has been strictly instructed that no poultry or related items will be allowed inside the city limits," Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das told media.
"We have also requested the people in Bhubaneswar to avoid procuring and consuming chicken for a few days."
Das said the move was aimed at containing the spread of the avian flu.
"Health department has also issued an advisory and their officials are carrying out checks," she said. "People need not to worry as such precautionary steps are necessary to prevent the spread of the outbreak."
The epicenter of the outbreak was in Puri district, adjacent to Bhubaneswar.
Authorities have engaged 51 rapid response teams to carry out culling, disposal of birds and sanitation in the infected zones. Reports said over 35,000 birds and 15,000 kg poultry feed have been destroyed so far.
A three-member federal government team has arrived in Puri to review containment and surveillance measures in the affected areas.
Officials said avian influ has been detected in samples collected from Pipili, Satyabadi, Delanga and Nimapara areas in Puri.
Authorities have directed the field officials to intensify clinical surveillance in nearby areas where the outbreak is reported, by preventing the entry of poultry, feed and poultry-related products from the affected areas.
This week Jackson County Exec's office made a bold statement and started a legal battle against Missouri over controversial property tax increases.
The bad news . . .
Insiders already know that very little of the legal complaint will impact Missouri regulatory action against the Courthouse.
And so we question . . .
Will Missouri grant an injunction against enforcement of Missouri Tax Commission rules?!?!
Insiders say that's unlikely and if it DOESN'T happen then things will get politically dire for the Executive very quickly.
Here's the word . . .
"(Jackson County Executive) Frank White is playing with fire. What he doesn't know is that Missouri can EASILY appoint a "Special Master" and take control of the Assessment Department if he doesn't comply.
Moreover, he is likely going to have a hard time making arguments about political influence to Missouri judges.
At some point the legal games will have to end that might be sooner rather than later. What few people in the Exec's office seem to understand is that there is a wide array of tools Missouri holds to sanction any elected official who isn't obeying their oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States AND of the state of Missouri."
Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .
Jackson County files legal challenge against State Tax Commission's order Jackson County filed a legal challenge against the Missouri State Tax Commission's order on Wednesday, arguing the move was highly politicized and unprecedented.
Jackson County sues to undo order to roll back property values, citing political bias The county filed a court challenge seeking to undo last month's State Tax Commission order to roll back property tax assessment increases.
Property assessments: Jackson County files challenge to State Tax Commission's order Jackson County has filed a legal challenge against the State Tax Commission's order regarding property assessments.
Developing . . .
This legal move puts Jackson County at odds with most of Missouri State government in a longstanding battle over property taxes.
Our www.TonysKansasCity.com blog community will have more to talk about regarding this legal power move but for now it's appropriate to simply share the latest word from the Courthouse . . .
Jackson County files legal challenge against STC order
KANSAS CITY, Mo. Jackson County has filed a legal challenge against the State Tax Commission's (STC) unlawful order. The order, which is filled with factual inaccuracies, is both unprecedented and dangerously politicized. It was issued on the same day the Attorney General won his August primary election. Notably, the STC dropped its lawsuit against the County the very next day, just before the Attorney General's scheduled deposition concerning potential ethical violations.
Additionally, if implemented, the order would undermine fair and accurate property assessments and jeopardize the essential services that residents rely on daily.
The County's petition to the court argues that the State Tax Commission's order:
1. Violates Missouris State Constitution (paragraph 109)
2. Goes beyond the agency's legal authority (paragraph 126)
3. Is not backed by actual evidence (paragraph 144)
4. Is illegal and was issued improperly (paragraph 156)
5. Is unjust and unreasonable (paragraph 169)
7. Shows an abuse of authority (paragraph 181)
As a result, Jackson County is asking the court to overturn the STCs order, declare it unconstitutional, illegal and unenforceable, and take any other necessary actions to prevent the order from being enforced.
"We believe the State Tax Commission's order is not only misguided and dangerous, but also violates state law and constitutional standards, said Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. This legal challenge is about ensuring that the assessment process remains fair, transparent and in line with the law. We are committed to defending our procedures and the work that has been done."
Properties in Jackson County have been inaccurately and inconsistently valued for decades, leading the STC to repeatedly direct the County to increase valuations in accordance with state law requirements, including during the 2021 reassessment. In response, the County invested significant effort, time and resources to comply, including bringing in outside experts to help with the 2023 reassessment.
The STC played an active role in this process, overseeing and assisting the County. They approved the assessment departments maintenance plan, held regular meetings with the Assessor and staff, provided guidance on administrative, legal, appraisal, and technical matters, and reviewed and created reports on how the reassessment was being conducted.
This collaborative effort between the STC and the Assessment Department led to the County successfully meeting the STCs compliance standards for the 2023 reassessment.
State law requires properties to be assessed at their true market value, which we've worked hard to achieve, said County Assessor Gail McCann Beatty. While the process has been challenging, it's essential for a fair and just tax system. This effort ensures that everyone in Jackson County is treated equitably, regardless of where they live, who they know or how much their home is worth.
The 37-page filing details how the unlawful and dangerous order is the latest move in a political game, one that threatens to cause significant harm to taxpayers, school districts, cities and essential servicesimpacting them to the tune of approximately $117 million.
"The financial stability of our schools, fire districts and cities is critical to our ability to provide essential services to our residents, said County Administrator Troy Schulte. This filing is not just about the legalitiesits about safeguarding the resources that support our schools, public safety and community programs. We are determined to defend against this order to protect the future of our County.
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Developing . . .
But first here's our pet theory . . .
All that talk from the Internets telling youngsters: "You don't need college" was nothing more than just another online trick.
In fact . . . Even a cursory guide to salaries and career options reveal some kind of higher education requirement for higher paying gigs.
Our TKC conspiracy theory: Middle-class people tell po'folk to skip college because they want to hire better manual labor workers and don't want anybody competing with their youngsters for the cushy jobs.
Discouraging OTHER PEOPLE'S KIDS is probably some kind evolutionary trait that persists in the modern era.
Meanwhile . . .
Here's the local public radio station spreading university gospel given that the broadcast from the city college campus . . . Check-it . . .
The University of Missouri-Kansas City just ushered in its biggest-ever freshman class with more than 1,350 students. Thats the second year in a row the university has broken its enrollment record.
William Jewell College, Rockhurst University, the University of Missouri-Columbia, and Johnson County Community College are also celebrating record-high student numbers.
Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Kansas City area colleges start the school year with some of their biggest classes ever Nearly every college and university in the Kansas City area is seeing record-high enrollment rates. Some schools attribute their success to making college more accessible to lower-income and nontraditional students, while others credit the campus atmosphere.
Related . . .
Heading to college? At some Missouri schools, you won't even have to apply Some public and private colleges in Missouri are sending graduating high school seniors acceptance letters even though the students never applied. The direct admission program is in seven Missouri schools this semester.
Developing . . .
Aftermath report following a tragic drug-related tragedy wherein relatives threw wild allegations in the media and didn't want to acknowledge illicit substances later found in toxicology reports.
Here's the postscript . . .
"Attorney John Picerno said that while he can't yet give details, he doesn't anticipate his client will be charged with felony murder or any type of homicide, maintaining his client had nothing to do with the men's deaths ."
Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Lawyer provides update in case of 3 Chiefs fans found dead in backyard of Northland home An attorney for the man who rented a Northland home where three Kansas City Chiefs fans were found dead provides update in case, noting lack of information being released on autopsies.
Related . . .
Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, meets with President of the Libyan Presidency Council Mohamed al-Menfi, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)
BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Li Xi on Thursday met with President of the Libyan Presidency Council Mohamed al-Menfi, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, expressed China's readiness to work with Libya to firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests, consolidate friendship and mutual trust, expand exchanges and cooperation across various sectors, and continuously open up broader prospects for the China-Libya strategic partnership.
China is willing to strengthen anti-corruption cooperation with Libya under the FOCAC framework, he said.
Menfi said it is encouraging that China and Libya have established a strategic partnership, adding that he looks forward to enhancing mutually beneficial cooperation with China under the frameworks of the FOCAC and Belt and Road cooperation.
Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, meets with President of the Libyan Presidency Council Mohamed al-Menfi, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)
Dubai Chambers has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Tianjin Sub-council (CCPIT Tianjin) aimed at stimulating the growth of trade and bilateral investments.
The MoU aims to support the expansion of Chinese investors into Dubai and assist them to establish and grow their businesses in the emirate, in addition to enhance the ability of companies operating in Dubai to enter the Chinese market and build promising business partnerships in Tianjin.
Under the terms of the MoU, the two parties will cooperate to enhance relationships between the business communities in Dubai and Tianjin. The agreement focuses on diverse sectors and areas of collaboration to contribute to strengthening bilateral economic relations.
The MoU was signed by Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, and Chen Liyu, Vice Chairman of CCPIT Tianjin, as part of a meeting between the parties hosted at Dubai Chambers headquarters.
Global hub for business
Dubai Chambers is dedicated to supporting the international expansion of businesses operating in Dubai into strategically important global markets, attracting foreign investments and international companies to the emirate, and strengthening Dubai's position as a leading global hub for business, trade, and investments.
The organisation is committed to playing a key role in achieving the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which seek to double the size of the emirate's economy over the next ten years and consolidate Dubais position among the top three global cities.--TradeArabia News Service
Go Get A Trip brings Dubai tour packages for international travelers. Choose from the best package options and customize as per your preference. Call us.
(TRAVPR.COM) INDIA - September 5th, 2024 -
Kolkata, India, 3rd Sep 2024: Go Get A Trip is thrilled to announce the launch of its exclusive Dubai tour packages, tailored for global travelers seeking an unforgettable experience in one of the world's most dynamic cities. Whether you're looking for a quick escape or an in-depth exploration, Go Get A Trip's newly unveiled packages promise to cater to every traveler's dream.
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For those seeking an opulent experience, this package is a perfect choice, starting at 54,599 per adult. Travelers will indulge in the finest Dubai has to offer, from staying at luxury hotels to exploring high-end attractions like the Burj Al Arab, Atlantis The Palm, and the Gold Souk. The itinerary includes an exclusive desert safari with VIP experience, a private yacht tour, and a visit to the Dubai Opera, offering a taste of Dubai's luxurious lifestyle.
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Empowering Adventurers with Expert Insights and Practical Tips
(TRAVPR.COM) INDIA - September 4th, 2024 -
BackPackNess, an innovative travel blog, is pleased to announce its official launch, offering a comprehensive resource for travelers seeking affordable and meaningful travel experiences. Designed to support a wide spectrum of travelers, from budget-conscious backpackers to luxury seekers, BackPackNess aims to inspire and equip individuals with the tools they need to explore the world confidently and economically.
Mission and Vision
BackPackNess www.backpackness.com was established with a clear mission: to democratize travel by making it accessible and achievable for all, regardless of financial constraints. We envision a world where travel is not just a luxury but an attainable and enriching experience for everyone. Our platform is dedicated to fostering a community of travelers who share a passion for discovery, cultural immersion, and responsible tourism.
- Mission: To deliver expert advice, practical tips, and inspiring content that enable travelers to experience the world on any budget.
- Vision: To cultivate a global community of informed and empowered travelers, committed to sustainable and responsible travel practices.
BackPackNess provides a wide array of content tailored to various traveler profiles, focusing on affordability, accessibility, and authenticity.
Key offerings include:
BackPackNess is committed to delivering content that resonates with diverse travel interests, organized into specific themes:
- Budget Travel: Practical advice on traveling affordably, including tips on finding deals, budget accommodations, and low-cost activities.
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- Solo Travel: Guidance for solo adventurers, with a special focus on safety, inspirational journeys, and community connections.
- Business Travel: Resources for business travelers, including strategies for managing work and leisure, and recommendations for co-working spaces worldwide.
- Destination-Specific Guides: Detailed travel guides covering the UK, Europe, Asia, Dubai, India, and Southeast Asia, tailored to various travel budgets and styles.
Invitation to Travel Writers: Contribute to BackPackNess
BackPackNess extends an invitation to experienced travel writers, bloggers, and influencers to contribute to our platform. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive community of voices that enrich our readers' experiences through engaging and insightful content.
Join the BackPackNess Community
BackPackNess is more than just a travel blog-it is a collaborative platform that empowers travelers to discover new destinations, share their stories, and connect with like-minded individuals. We invite travel enthusiasts, industry professionals, and partners to join BackPackNess in the mission to make travel accessible, inspiring, and enriching for all.
For further information, inquiries about contributions, or partnership opportunities, please contact us at team@backpackness.com or visit www.backpackness.com
About BackpackNess
BackpackNess is a travel blog committed to making travel accessible to everyone by providing expert advice, practical tips, and inspiring content. Our platform supports a global community of travelers by offering budget travel strategies, in-depth guides, and curated itineraries, empowering individuals to explore the world with confidence and ease.
www.backpackness.com
team@backpackness.com
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HEFEI, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Through global cooperation, China is set to construct an international lunar research station (ILRS) with a network linking the moon's south pole, equator and far side by 2050, according to a key engineer in the country's space industry.
The blueprint for an expandable, maintainable system capable of long-term robotic operations with short-term human participation on the moon was revealed by Wu Yanhua, chief designer of the major Chinese deep space exploration project, in a speech at the second International Deep Space Exploration Conference in Tunxi of Huangshan City, east China's Anhui Province.
The ILRS, a scientific experimental facility consisting of sections on the lunar surface, in lunar orbit and on Earth, is projected to be built in two phases: a basic model to be built by 2035 in the lunar south pole region, and an extended model to be built by about 2050.
Per the blueprint, the extended model will be a comprehensive lunar station network that utilizes the lunar orbit station as its central hub and the south pole station as its primary base, and it will include exploration nodes on the lunar equator and the far side of the moon, according to Wu.
The extended model will be capable of laying a foundation for manned landings on Mars in the future, Wu said. China is currently planning to land astronauts on the moon by 2030.
In his speech, Wu mapped out the composition of the planned ILRS, which will be powered by solar, radioisotope and nuclear generators. It will also include lunar-Earth and high-speed lunar surface communication networks, as well as lunar vehicles like a hopper, an unmanned long-range vehicle, and pressurized and unpressurized manned rovers.
Wu noted that orbital and lunar-surface refueling stations, a launch vehicle, an orbiter, a landing-and-ascent vehicle, and a return capsule are in development to ensure Earth-moon transportation.
At the conference, Wu invited nations around the world to participate in the program across different tiers, which include concept study, equipment, system and mission levels.
In this episode of Morning Edition, We discuss the issue of bullying following the suicide o
HEFEI, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- China's first near-Earth asteroid (NEA) defense mission is expected to observe an asteroid closely before impacting it to alter its orbit around 2030, according to a key engineer in the country's space industry.
The blueprint for the country's asteroid defense involves two spacecraft -- an impactor and an observer -- launched into space with one rocket, said Tang Yuhua, deputy chief designer of Chang'e-7 Mission on Thursday.
The observer will first move around the small asteroid to be targeted, for the purposes of detection, before guiding the impactor from afar to strike it. After the kinetic impact, the observer will further have an accompanying flight with the very asteroid that changes its orbit, according to Tang.
In September 2022, a single NASA spacecraft slammed into an asteroid in a test called DART to protect Earth in case of an asteroid impact threat. About two weeks later, NASA confirmed that the DART mission changed the asteroid's motion.
The potential impact of near-Earth asteroids on Earth is a major threat to the long-term sustainable development of mankind, and the research and development of defense technology is an important initiative to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind in outer space.
The Deep Space Exploration Lab (DSEL) is currently conducting on a global campaign soliciting proposals for more plans for asteroid defense design and modeling, including target selection, orbit design and specific solutions.
"We sincerely look forward to your active participation, integrating your creativity and ideas into these tracks," said Wu Weiren, director general of the DSEL, in the invitation letter.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius assured his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov of continued assistance to Ukraine.
Germanys Ministry of Defense reported this on X following the negotiations between the two countries defense chiefs met in Berlin on September 4, reports Ukrinform.
"Air defense remains at the heart of German support. This year we will deliver IRIS-T systems, including munitions, and Gepard (self-propelled guns). We will continue to help in the future without any ifs or buts, the posting reads.
The ministers held negotiations at the German Defense Ministry HQ.
Earlier on Wednesday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, while visiting along with Boris Pistorius one of the Bundeswehr bases, said that the German government and industry are doing everything possible to cover Ukraine's need for air defense systems.
"We were able to deliver the first system to Ukraine a few months after the start of the war.... Four IRIS-T SLM systems are currently operating in Ukraine. There are also a large number of munitions and three adjacent IRIS-T SLS systems. We have placed a firm order for eight additional IRIS-T SLM systems and nine IRIS-T SLS systems. Two of them will be delivered this year, the rest in 2025," said Scholz.
He added that to date, IRIS-T had shot down more than 250 missiles, drones, and cruise missiles in Ukraine thus saving countless lives. The system performs impressively, with a hit rate of 95 percent, or even more, he noted, adding that this success made IRIS-T one of the worlds most sought-after air defense systems.
It should be noted that Ukraine received these systems earlier than the Bundeswehr.
This is Umerov's first visit to Berlin in the capacity of defense minister.
As Ukrinform reported earlier, the meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (Ramstein format) will be held in Germany this Friday.
An American media company linked to six conservative influencers was secretly funded by Russian state media employees to churn out English-language videos that were often consistent with the Kremlins interest in amplifying U.S. domestic divisions in order to weaken U.S. opposition
This is according to the AP with reference to an indictment filed Wednesday, Ukrinform reports.
It is noted that among the influencers mentioned are Tim Poole, Dave Rubin and Benny Johnson.
The U.S. Justice Department doesnt allege any wrongdoing by the influencers, some of whom it says were given false information about the source of the companys funding. Instead, it accuses two employees of RT, a Russian state media company, of funneling nearly $10 million to a Tennessee-based content creation company for Russia-friendly content.
It is noted that Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, who are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, are at large.
After the indictments were announced, both Pool and Johnson issued statements on social media, which Rubin retweeted, saying they were victims of the alleged crimes and had done nothing wrong.We still do not know what is true as these are only allegations, Pool said, adding: Putin is a scumbag.
Though the indictment does not name the Tennessee-based company, the details match up exactly with Tenet Media, an online media company that boasts of hosting a network of heterodox commentators that focus on Western political and cultural issues. Tenets website lists six influencers who provide content, including those mentioned above. They have over seven million subscribers on YouTube and more than seven million followers on X.
In recent months, the Tenet Media shows have featured high-profile conservative guests. According to prosecutors, nearly 2,000 videos posted by the company have got more than 16 million views on YouTube alone.
As Ukrinform reported earlier, on September 4, the US government announced sanctions against RT, Margarita Simonyan, and other Russian propagandists and hackers for interfering with US presidential elections.
NATOs commitment to collective defense under Article Vwhere an attack on one member is an attack on allstands as a cornerstone of transatlantic security. However, this principle is increasingly at odds with the Cluster Munitions Convention (CMC), which many NATO members have signed.
The CMC, aimed at banning the use of cluster munitions, inadvertently hampers NATOs ability to defend its members effectively. The CMC was drafted and signed in a drastically different security environment than the one NATO faces today. Russias invasion of Ukraine, its threats to the wider European security community, and the resurgence of great power competition due to the rise of China demand stalwart leadership ready to dispense with the utopian CMC.
At the Crossroads of Defense and Diplomacy
The conflict between these two international commitments is not merely theoretical. Suppose Russia invades Estonia, Lithuania, Norway, or Poland. In that case, NATOs Article V will be triggered, and all 32 NATO members will be drawn into the conflict. However, several NATO members, including those like Norway, Moldova, and Lithuanianations that have been directly threatened by Russiaremain bound by the CMC. Despite recognizing the existential threat posed by Russia, these nations are unable to deploy cluster munitions, a critical tool for defense. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre, has openly acknowledged the more dangerous world we live in following Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the E-tjenesten (Norwegian Intelligence Service) has similarly echoed that Russias war production - much of which is cluster munitions - is a threat to Norways sovereignty, its people, territory, public functions and infrastructure. Moldovan President Maia Sandu warned in 2023 that Russia could attempt a coup in Moldova if it could by "sabotage and militarily trained people disguised as civilians to carry out violent actions, attacks on government buildings, and taking hostages." Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda emphasized "if Russia is not stopped, it will continue to advance, and the front line will be getting closer to us." Yet, despite these dire warnings, these nations and others continue to cling to the belief that they can deter Russia without fully embracing the military tools necessary for effective deterrence.
Russian threats are not without precedent or teeth. Russia has occupied and invaded Lithuania multiple times; in 1795 during the partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, again in 1918 during the Soviet westward advance, in 1940 before the Soviet-German war, and after repelling the Germans, the Russians occupied Lithuania again until the USSRs collapse. Despite the very real threat of future invasions by Russia, highlighted by Vladimir Putin's remark that "The collapse of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century," Lithuania continues to remain a signatory of the CMC, and is being strong armed by advocacy groups like Human Rights Watch. Despite its decision to withdraw from the CMC with a decisive parliamentary vote of 103 to 141, on August 1, 2024, Mary Wareham of Human Rights Watch stated "Lithuanias withdrawal will only take effect six months after the documents are submitted to the United Nations and the conventions States Parties as long as Lithuania is not engaged in armed conflict at that time. Article 20 of the Convention explicitly prevents a State Party that is engaged in armed conflict from withdrawing before the end of the conflict. This hamstringing of a states military capability that is evidently aware of both the historical and present threat that Russia represents limits the sovereign decision to withdraw. Furthermore, the inability to withdraw in a timely manner limits Lithuania and states who might withdraw in the future ability to defend themselves in the critical time between an invasion and the employment of these munitions.
This is verbatim from Cluster Munitions Convention: Article 20:
1. This Convention shall be of unlimited duration.
2. Each State Party shall, in exercising its national sovereignty, have the right to withdraw from this Convention. It shall give notice of such withdrawal to all other States Parties, to the Depositary and to the United Nations Security Council. Such an instrument of withdrawal shall include a full explanation of the reasons motivating withdrawal.
3. Such withdrawal shall only take effect six months after the receipt of the instrument of withdrawal by the Depositary. If, however, on the expiry of that six- month period, the withdrawing State Party is engaged in an armed conflict, the withdrawal shall not take effect before the end of the armed conflict.
In the context of a rapidly escalating conflict, this inability to withdraw in a timely manner could result in catastrophic consequences. The time between an invasion and the actual employment of cluster munitions could be the difference between a successful defense and a devastating defeat. For Lithuania, and for any other NATO member that might seek to prioritize its national security over adherence to outdated conventions, this legal straitjacket not only limits their sovereign decision-making but also exposes them to the very dangers the alliance is meant to guard against. It is imperative, therefore, that NATO members reconsider their commitments under the CMC, ensuring that legal frameworks do not hinder their capacity to defend themselves and the broader alliance effectively.
Lessons from the Frontline: Ukraines Struggle and NATOs Challenge
The CMC is even more significant in light of recent events in Ukraine. During the Russian invasion, the Wests legal and moral hesitations over providing cluster munitions cost Ukraine valuable time and lives. It took 19 months for Ukraine to receive a full array of cluster munitions, during which tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians died. If NATO members are required to wait the agreed upon sixth months, the costs may be just as high.
The Ukrainian case demonstrates that these constraints can delay critical military assistance, allowing adversaries to gain the upper hand. In a conflict involving NATO members, such delays could result in the loss of strategic territory, the weakening of defensive lines, or even the failure of a key military operation. The human and strategic costs of adhering to the CMC in such a scenario would be immense, calling into question the wisdom of maintaining such constraints in the face of existential threats.
Legal Warfare by Russia; Undermining NATO from Within
Russia exploits such legal constraints through its strategy of Legal Warfare, a tactic that involves using international law to create divisions and inhibit the strategic operations of its adversaries. This approach is particularly evident in the case of the Cluster Munitions Convention (CMC), where Russian state media, TASS, has reported that the United States is transferring cluster munitions through Germanya signatory of the CMC. By highlighting this transfer, Russia frames Germany as potentially violating international law, sowing discord within NATO and creating hesitation among its members. Such maneuvers are designed to undermine collective defense efforts by casting doubt on the legality and unity of NATO's military actions.
Historically, NATO has faced similar challenges with other arms control agreements that have limited its capabilities. For instance, the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE Treaty) imposed restrictions on the number and deployment of conventional military equipment in Europe. While the treaty aimed to reduce the risk of large-scale conflict, it also placed significant limitations on NATO's ability to respond swiftly to emerging threats. Russia's suspension of its participation in the CFE Treaty in 2007 further complicated NATO's strategic posture, as the alliance had to navigate the legal and political ramifications of Russia's non-compliance while maintaining its own commitments under the treaty.
Another example is the discord within NATO over the deployment of intermediate-range nuclear forces (INF) during the Cold War. The INF Treaty, signed in 1987 between the United States and the Soviet Union, eliminated an entire class of nuclear weapons. However, the treaty also sparked significant debate within NATO, particularly concerning the deployment of nuclear weapons in Europe. Some member states were reluctant to host such weapons, fearing escalation and the potential for their territories to become primary targets in a conflict. This internal discord weakened NATO's deterrence posture and exposed fractures within the alliance that could be exploited by adversaries.
To counter these tactics, NATO must prioritize unity and clarity in its legal and strategic frameworks. Ensuring that all member states are on the same page regarding the use of specific weapons systemssuch as cluster munitionsis crucial to maintaining a robust and effective defense posture. Without such unity, NATO risks being hamstrung by legal ambiguities and internal disagreements, which adversaries like Russia are all too eager to exploit.
Reconciling NATOs Defense Mandate with International Norms
To address these challenges, NATO must adopt a unified policy on weapons approval and interoperability. Defending Europe with 32 different military forces, each adhering to different weapon bans, is impractical. NATO should establish an official policy recommending all members withdraw from the CMC, following Lithuania's example. To further solidify this unified approach, it is essential that the alliance collectively reconsiders its stance on cluster munitions. NATO should not only recommend that all member states withdraw from the CMC but also unify in endorsing the production, transfer, and deployment of these munitions as necessary defensive tools. By taking a strong, coordinated approachbacked by key members such as the United States, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and FinlandNATO can present a united front that prioritizes collective security over outdated legal constraints. This strategy would turn the alliance into a powerful counterbalance to the CMC, ensuring that NATO remains fully equipped to meet the security threats of the modern era.
NATOs ability to defend its members effectively is paramount. The Cluster Munitions Convention, while noble in its intent, hinders this mission. NATO must prioritize cohesive and robust defense strategies, ensuring all member states can fully participate in collective defense without legal or moral impediments. It is time for NATO to act decisively, ensuring the alliance remains capable of meeting contemporary security challenges.
Dr John Nagl is the Professor of Warfighting Studies at the U.S. Army War College.
Dan Rice, president of the American University Kyiv; Special Advisor to General Zaluzhnyi (May 2022-March 2023).
Dr John Nagl and Dan Rice are both West Point graduates and decorated Iraq War veterans. Dan Rice was the major advocate for Ukraine to obtain U.S. cluster munitions.
*The authors' opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Ukrinform's editorial board.
CHANGCHUN, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- FAW Jiefang, a truck subsidiary of leading Chinese automaker FAW Group, sold a record 41,700 complete vehicles overseas in the first eight months of 2024, up 30 percent year on year, according to the company.
FAW Jiefang currently operates over 100 key dealerships across more than 40 countries and regions, exporting to countries such as South Africa, Tanzania and Vietnam.
The company produced 143,300 trucks in the first half of this year, a 4.11 percent increase compared to the same period last year, and its sales surged by 15.4 percent to 151,800.
Founded in 1953 and headquartered in northeast China's Jilin Province, the state-owned FAW Group is considered the bedrock of China's auto industry. The first Jiefang truck rolled off the assembly line in 1956.
TEHRAN, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Thursday condemned the U.S. seizure of a plane used by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, calling it a violation of international law.
The U.S. Justice Department announced on Monday it had seized a Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft in the Dominican Republic, which it said was owned by and operated for Maduro and his associates.
Kanaani said this action is unacceptable and contravenes international norms, including the Convention on International Civil Aviation. He added that the move represents a continuation of U.S. coercive measures against other countries and could undermine aviation security.
Kanaani expressed Iran's support for Venezuela's efforts to protect and reclaim its public property, calling for increased cooperation among nations to counter U.S. sanctions.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said on Monday the aircraft was "illegally purchased for 13 million U.S. dollars through a shell company and smuggled out of the United States for use by Maduro and his cronies."
Venezuela denounced the seizure as a "repeated criminal practice" on Monday, with Foreign Affairs Minister Yvan Gil stating the country reserves the right to take legal action to repair the damage caused by U.S. sanctions.
A University of Wisconsin-Whitewater student was fatally shot late Friday night near campus, marking the fifth college student death in a week as the new academic year begins.
Whitewater police found 21-year-old Kara Welsh of Plainfield, Illinois, with multiple gunshot wounds in an apartment near Main and Whitewater streets. A 23-year-old man, also in the apartment, is in custody and was charged with first-degree murder. The investigation is ongoing.
"We know the news of Kara's death is heartbreaking for our close-knit university community," UW-Whitewater Chancellor Corey King said in a statement. "It is a time when we are all called upon to support one another, to process, and to grieve."
King said Welsh was majoring in management at the College of Business and Economics and was a standout member of the gymnastics team.
The shooting marks the fifth untimely death of a college student within a week, around the time most campuses are beginning classes again.
Harrisburg University student Rupak Reddy Padini, 25, drowned while visiting Lake George in New York on Aug. 27 with friends. The Warren County Sheriff's Office said marine patrol officers arriving at the scene found a group of individuals in distress near the shore, close to a pontoon boat. While the officers were able to rescue those in the water, they realized one person was missing.
Padini was recovered from the water. Despite lifesaving efforts by first responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The deceased's name is being withheld until the family can be notified.
The initial investigation determined that no watercraft was directly involved in the incident.
"Our thoughts are with all those involved, especially the family and friends of the student we have lost. Rupak Reddy Padini brought the eagerness to learn that our institution was founded to celebrate and cultivate," university officials said in a statement.
At the University of Delaware, 18-year-old student Noelia Gomez was struck and killed by a motorcycle on Aug. 28, the first day of classes. The motorcycle, evading a police traffic stop, also injured four others as it sped through a crosswalk, according to police.
Police have since arrested and charged 27-year-old Brian Briddle, of Newark, Delaware, for second-degree murder. The crash remains under investigation.
In a joint statement to the school community, university President Dennis Assanis and Vice President Jose-Luis Riera said, "Especially in a moment like this, we must all come together, to lean on each other, and to do so with extra kindness and empathy. Together, we are stronger, and we must live this truth in the coming days. We are one Blue Hen community."
At Rice University, a student was gunned down in her dorm room on the first day of classes in an apparent murder-suicide.
The Rice University Police Department responded to a welfare check request last Monday from the family of Andrea Rodriguez Avila, a junior from Maryland. Police later found Avila shot in her dorm room, school officials said. The suspect, identified as 22-year-old Habeneyom Belai, was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
In a letter to the school community, Dean of Undergraduates Bridget Gorman said there was no sign of forced entry. RUPD Chief Clemente Rodriguez told Fox News that Avila had likely given the man access to the building, noting that the two had a preexisting romantic relationship. A note found at the scene by the suspect suggested they were in a "troubled relationship."
"This is a heartbreaking, devastating incident, and it is important to recognize that this loss will affect our close-knit community in the days and weeks ahead," university President Reginald DesRoches said in a statement. "Tonight, I want our students, parents and Rice community to know that our campus is safe, that there is no further threat and that we are wrapping our arms around you with care and concern. As a parent of a past Rice student, I can only imagine how devastating this must be to Andrea's family and our community."
Gorman said the community was mourning "the loss of a wonderful person taken from us too soon."
The University of Colorado Boulder is also mourning the death of junior Jeremiah Park, who was found off campus in the University Hill neighborhood.
Boulder police responded to an apartment complex on Pleasant Street, less than a mile from campus, around 4:42 p.m. on Aug. 23. The Boulder County Coroner's Office, which will determine the cause and manner of death, said they do not suspect foul play at this time, police said.
The university expressed its condolences over Park's death and is offering support through its Office of Counseling and Psychiatric Services, as well as other campus resources.
"The CU Boulder community is deeply saddened to confirm the death of CU Boulder student, Jeremiah Park, a rising junior who was found deceased off campus late Friday afternoon," the university released in a statement.
As the new academic year begins at Columbia University, Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student and key figure in last semester's pro-Palestinian protests, told the Associated Press on Tuesday that "the limit is the sky," when it comes to making their voices heard.
Students and faculty are preparing for renewed demonstrations, following the intense protests last spring that sparked nationwide college demonstrations.
Columbia is still recovering from the spring's upheaval, which included encampments and a takeover of Hamilton Hall. Over 40 students were charged after the incident, but many have had those charges dropped. Most of those arrested following the demonstrations will be allowed to return to campus this fall, according to documents received by the congressional Committee on Education and the Workforce, which subpoenaed school officials on Aug. 21 as part of an ongoing antisemitism investigation.
Small protests and barricades have since cropped up around Columbia's Barnard College in recent weeks, with reports of drones and a police presence. A history professor also shared photos of fenced-off green space on campus, "presumably to stop future encampments."
On Tuesday, dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside one the school's entrances while students and staff made their way through a security checkpoint, according to the AP.
"As long as Columbia continues to invest and to benefit from Israeli apartheid, the students will continue to resist," Khalil said. "Not only protests and encampments, the limit is the sky."
Students on both sides are exploring new ways to express their viewpoints.
Hundreds of Jewish and pro-Israel students gathered in Washington, D.C., last month for a leadership summit aimed at strategizing for the upcoming year, according to Fox News Digital. The summit, hosted by the Israel on Campus Coalition, focused on rallying students against rising antisemitism and bolstering pro-Israel activism.
Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian activists are gearing up for more protests. Despite over 2,000 arrests across the country last year, they are planning to intensify their efforts to push their institutions to divest from Israel, among other demands. Protesters are also strategizing new ways to raise awareness and apply pressure, despite more universities adopting stricter protesting policies surrounding demonstrations.
"We've been working all this summer on our plans, on what's next to pressure Columbia to listen to the students and to decide to be on the right side of history," Khalil told The Hill in August.
Tensions have remained high at the Ivy League institution throughout the summer. Chief Operations Officer Cas Holloway had his Brooklyn residence vandalized by protesters, three university deans resigned after "antisemitic" text exchanges were revealed, and Columbia's President Minouche Shafik resigned following her controversial handling of student protests last semester.
A recent report from the school's task force on antisemitism also stated that "the testimonies of hundreds of Jewish and Israeli students have made clear that the University community has not treated them with the standards of civility, respect, and fairness it promises to all its students."
The group recommended anti-bias and inclusion training for students, resident advisers, resident assistants, teaching assistants, student-facing staff, and faculty, among other measures.
University officials are considering giving campus police broader authority to arrest protesters, though it's unclear if or when those policies will be put in place.
A 23-year-old man from Loves Park, Illinois, has been charged in connection with the death of a 21-year-old college gymnast from Wisconsin who was originally from Plainfield, according to Whitewater police.
Chad T. Richards has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide, endangering safety by the use of a dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct while armed in the death of Kara Welsh, Whitewater Wisconsin police said.
Richards is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday at the Walworth County Courthouse, the police department revealed.
Welsh, a 21-year-old college senior of Plainfield, Illinois, was allegedly shot to death Friday in her off-campus apartment in Whitewater, Wisconsin, according to authorities.
Responding officers found Kara, a national title-winning athlete, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Authorities have not yet elaborated on details, given that it is an ongoing investigation.
Originally published on Lawyer Herald.
September 5 2024
A purpose-built life science facility in Govan is taking shape with the completion of its structural core.
The NHS and University of Glasgow are lined up to be the first tenants of the Health Innovation Hub, undertaking research and development for digital health technologies.
Delivered by Kadans with Hawkins/Brown, HarrisonStevens, Morrison Construction and WSP the 87,000sq/ft laboratory and office space is scheduled to complete in autumn 2025.
Katie Nelson, head of leasing, UK & Ireland for Kadans, said: This is an exciting milestone on the journey to create a truly world-class precision medicine facility. The Health Innovation Hub will help to position Glasgow as a global leader in the key area of precision medicine."
Developed in partnership with The Living Laboratory, a partnership between the University of Glasgow, Scottish Enterprise and Glasgow City Council the hub aims to become a leader in healthcare innovation.
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LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Sep, 2024) The Army Museum Lahore encompasses panoramic history of the region spanning over thousands of years from foreign invasions of Sikander Azam, Central Asian warriors and the Europeans, subjugation, political struggle against the British rulers, creation of Pakistan, military expeditions against internal strife and foreign aggression to decorating military heroes with the Nishan-e-Haider (the highest military award) during the 1965, 1971 and the Kargil wars.
The Army Museum, unlike other Army and War Museums of the world which cover specific history of wars fought to defend the land, records the proud civilization of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, the war of independence 1857, and the unarmed political struggle for independence under the dynamic leadership of Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The museum also glorifies services of our soldiers on the Siachen Glacier post besides the war on terror and ultimate victory of the army over the forces of disintegration and darkness. The Army Museum also hails the services of women and minorities to the soil.
Among the other salient historic events, the Indian machinations in Jammu and Kashmir and the ultimate 1965 war is one of the important features of the Army Museum. It captures the humiliation of the Indian army at the hands of Pakistan armed forces as the Indian tanks captured during the 1965 war serve a prologue to the tale of heroic military exploits of Pakistan military.
6th September 1965 observed as the Defense Day is a high watermark in the military history of Pakistan when our armed forces defeated a much mightier enemy in military muscle than us through the valor and supreme will of our soldiers who inflicted heavy losses on the Indian Army on the Chawinda (Sialkot), Sargodha and Lahore fronts. Through overwhelming whacking on the ground, in the air and waters, Pakistans armed forces brought the enemy to a rude awakening from the intoxication of power.
Major Aziz Bhatti, also known as Defender of Lahore, was awarded posthumous award of Nishan-e-Haider as he defended the Burki check post during the 1965 war imposed by India and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy through his lion-like vigil of the sacred motherland without a nap for six days and six nights. He sacrificed his personal sleep and rest for the peace and safety of his children and future prosperity of the country. The other 10 Nishan-e-Haider, awarded so far, including two soldiers of the India-Pak Kashmir war of 1947, one officer from the 1958 Indo-Pak border skirmish, 5 soldiers and officers from the 1971 Pak-India war and two from the Kargil war of 1999.
Defence Day is an apt reminder to the glorious acts of bravery, valor and patriotism by the Ghazis and martyrs in the wars against the enemies of the state and inspires us to follow in the foot-steps of those who etched their Names on the slate of eternity.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Sep, 2024) Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage and Culture Attaullah Tarar on Thursday expressed a deep grief and sorrow over the demise of Mohsin Shirazi who is the brother of Senior Anchor Persons Asma Shirazi from Hum News and Asim Shirazi of Such News.
The minister, in a condolence message, sympathized with the bereaved family, saying he shared their grief and sorrow in such a difficult time.
The minister, who was deeply saddened to hear the news of the death of Mohsin Shirazi, said the relation of brother and sister is the strongest bond after parents and this is a gift from the Almighty for the humans.
He termed the demise of Mohsin Shirazi a big loss for the bereaved family.
The minister prayed to the Almighty to rest the departed soul in the highest ranks of Jannah and grant the courage to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude.
THE HAGUE, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- One person was killed and another injured on Thursday afternoon in a shooting incident in Vlissingen, a city in the southwestern Dutch province of Zeeland, police said.
"We are currently investigating a shooting incident on Visodeweg in Vlissingen," said Zeeland police on the social platform X.
The victims were discovered around 1:00 p.m. local time (1100 GMT) on a road in Vlissingen, according to local media.
The police have not yet released further details regarding the motive or the shooter. The area has been cordoned off with police tape.
QUETTA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Sep, 2024) Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti on Thursday paid homage to all the martyrs of the motherland on the occasion of Defense Day.
In his message on the occasion of 6th September Defense Day, he said that the Defense Day is a renewal of the pledge that we would not let the sacrifices of our great martyrs go in vain adding that we could always play our role collectively as patriotic Pakistanis for the defense, development, integrity and stability of our country.
He said that 6th September is a day in the history of Pakistan that we must always maintain the collective national spirit and determination for the protection, integrity and defense of our beloved homeland.
The CM said that this was demonstrated by the entire nation during the war of 6th September 1965, when our brave armed forces and the entire nation came together to prove that arms or numbers do not mean anything before the strength of unity and faith.
The Chief Minister said that it was a historic day when our forces uprooted the enemy's footholds and became a leaden wall to defend the motherland.
When, despite being outnumbered and lacking in war equipment, our forces showed great courage and bravery, he said.
Mr Sarfraz Bugti said that the Pakistan Army successfully defended the geographical borders of the country and thwarted the nefarious intentions of the Indian forces.
He said that since the establishment of Pakistan till today, our brave forces have made eternal sacrifices for the nation and has always protected the country from the evil eyes of the enemy.
The people of the province have always stood shoulder to shoulder with their brave armed forces and other security agencies to maintain peace and order in the province and against subversive elements, he noted.
He said that no exception would be taken with those who spread terrorism and chaos in Balochistan saying that the provincial government would defend every inch of its territory with the support of its security agencies and those who spread sabotage, chaos and terrorism in the province to be brought to their logical end.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Sep, 2024) Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, stated on Thursday that the complete digitization of official work in the National Assembly would significantly enhance the productivity of the organization.
While addressing recently promoted employees of the Secretariat on Thursday, he extended heartfelt congratulations and assured them that promotions were carried out in strict adherence to laws and regulations.
Ayaz Sadiq encouraged the employees to perform their duties with dedication, underscoring that dignity and respect for the Parliament are paramount. He added, "Allah Almighty rewards those who work hard."
Highlighting the government's commitment to austerity, the Speaker announced that over one billion rupees would be saved this year by implementing cost-cutting measures.
He mentioned that non-essential posts had been eliminated and that no further recruitment would take place in the National Assembly Secretariat.
"A strong Parliament is essential for the development and prosperity of the country," he remarked, stressing the importance of Parliament's role in Pakistan's progress.
Later, Ayaz Sadiq and the employees recited Fatiha for the deceased son-in-law of former Speaker Dr. Fahmida Mirza, and prayed for the departed soul's highest place in Jannah and patience for the grieving family.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Sep, 2024) The National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) has established a state-of-the-art Daycare Centre at its Islamabad office, under the Prime Minister`s Women Empowerment Package 2024.
General Manager (HR) Engr. Sohail Mumtaz Bajwa and General Manager Project Delivery (North) Engr. Shahid Nazir inaugurated the Daycare centre here on Thursday, said a press release.
The Daycare center has been established to facilitate female officers and staff, working in the said office. While addressing the ceremony, chief guests commended the dedication of Human Resource Directorate NTDC for its efforts in establishing the centre.
They also visited the playroom, nursery, and kitchen, expressing their appreciation for high standards of the facilities.
The Daycare Center is facilitated with indoor play area, a comfortable environment, decorated with toys, sofas and equipped with modern facilities including LCD and fridge.
The centre will offer significant advantages for female officers and staff by improving their work-life balance, enabling them to concentrate more on their tasks and enhance their contributions towards the organization.
This marks the third addition in NTDC, following two centres at Shaheen Complex and TSG Training Centre in Lahore.
As part of this initiative, more Daycare Centres are also planned for offices in Multan, Hyderabad and other major cities.
In compliance with the directions of Ministry for Energy (Power Division) a cross-functional team at head office level has been constituted to oversee the matters for establishment of Daycare centres and amenities for female employees.
Focal Person for NTDC Daycare centres and other senior officers and female staff were also present on the occasion.
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DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif is also expected to provide an update on the current national security situation.
RAWALPINDI: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-Sept 4th, 2024) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry would hold a press conference on Thursday (today).
During the press conference, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif will discuss matters related to internal security, counter-terrorism efforts, and other relevant issues.
The DG ISPR is also expected to provide an update on the current national security situation.
LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Sep, 2024) Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar met police employees and their families at the Central Police Office and listened to their requests, and issued immediate orders for relief.
He emphasized that the best possible welfare of police employees is top priority, and every possible relief is being provided for their personal and professional issues. IG Punjab directed officers to maintain close contact with their subordinates and send reports on actions taken regarding their requests to the Central Police Office.
During the meeting, IG Punjab forwarded the Constable Muhammad Aqeel Akhtar's request for assistance with medical expenses to DIG Welfare for relief.
Head Constable Muhammad Saleem's request for his son Muhammad Uzair Saleems family claim-based recruitment was directed to AIG Admin for processing. Langari Syed Mubeen Shah from PTS Rawat requested a transfer to Multan, and his case was sent to the Additional IG Training for relief. Similarly, constable Muhammad Amjads sons family claim recruitment request was forwarded to AIG Admin for action, while immediate relief was given for the health welfare requests of Head Constable Imran Ali and Sub-Inspector Haq Nawaz from Lahore Police. IG Punjab also issued orders regarding requests related to discipline, promotions, administration, and other departmental matters.
LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Sep, 2024) President Asif Ali Zardari paid a visit on Thursday to the family of Captain Muhammad Ali Qureshi, who was recently martyred in Balochistan.
During his visit, he expressed his profound condolences to the grieving family. He prayed for elevation of ranks of Captain Muhammad Ali in Jannah. He paid tribute to Captain Qureshi's courage and dedication, recognising his invaluable contributions to the nation's fight against terrorism.
President Zardari highlighted the significant sacrifices made by many young individuals in the battle against terrorism and noted that former prime minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was also a martyr in this war against terror.
The president reassured the nation of unwavering commitment to eradicating terrorism from the country, emphasising that efforts would continue till the threat was completely removed. He praised Captain Qureshis family for their patriotism and selflessness and affirmed that the sacrifices of martyrs and their families would always be remembered.
LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Sep, 2024) On the occasion of Pakistan Defence Day, Provincial Minister for Minorities Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora, in his statement, said that the unparalleled sacrifices made by our armed forces during the 1965 war rendered the country's defence invincible.
"The day reminds us to honor the sacrifices of the martyrs and pledge to follow in their footsteps for the stability of the nation," he said. He emphasised that Pakistan's religious minorities have always stood side by side in safeguarding the country's sovereignty and defence.
The notable contributions of individuals from minority communities to country's armed forces prove that all nations and communities in Pakistan work together to strengthen the country's defense.
Ramesh Arora further stated that Defence Day serves as a reminder that for the country's progress, prosperity, and peace, we must all work together. Unity and solidarity among all segments of society are our true strength for the defence of the nation.
He prayed on this occasion that Allah may always keep our country safe and stable and elevate the ranks of the martyrs.
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ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Sep, 2024) Former Federal Minister Sheikh Aftab Ahmed on Thursday called for the urgent appointment of a Managing Director for Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM) to ensure the smooth functioning of the organization.
Speaking in the National Assembly, he highlighted how the absence of the MD is negatively impacting the department's operations, leaving the poor and needy without adequate support.
Sheikh Aftab recalled the effective functioning of PBM during the tenure of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, emphasizing the critical role the organization played in providing welfare assistance to the underprivileged.
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Algiers, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Sep, 2024) Around 24 million Algerians are poised to head to the polls on Saturday for a vote in which experts say incumbent President Abdelmadjid Tebboune faces no real risk to his rule as he seeks a second term.
His main challenge, though, is achieving a higher turnout than in 2019, when he was declared president with 58 percent of the vote but with a record abstention rate of over 60 percent.
"The President is keen to have a significant turnout," Hasni Abidi, an Algeria analyst at the Geneva-based CERMAM Study Center, told AFP. "It's his main issue."
Abidi said Tebboune "has not forgotten that he was elected in 2019 with a low turnout. He wants to be a normal president and not a badly elected one", he said, referring to Tebboune's election five years ago amid the massive Hirak pro-democracy protests.
Tebboune, 78, is the clear favourite to see off moderate Islamist Abdelaali Hassani and socialist candidate Youssef Aouchiche in the race to lead the country of some 45 million people and Africa's largest exporter of natural gas.
Although he has distanced himself from political parties and is presented as an independent candidates, Tebboune's bid is backed by major political parties, including the historic FLN, which led Algeria's independence fight against France.
Hassani, a 57-year-old civil engineer, is the leader of the Movement of Society for Peace (MSP), Algeria's main Islamist party.
Aouchiche, a 41-year-old former journalist and parliamentarian, heads the Socialist Forces Front (FFS), Algeria's oldest opposition party with a historic stronghold in the Berber-majority Kabylie region. The FFS has boycotted elections in Algeria since 1999.
Dhaka, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Sep, 2024) Bangladesh's ousted premier Sheikh Hasina should "keep quiet" while exiled in India until she is brought home for trial, interim leader Muhammad Yunus told Indian media on Thursday.
Hasina, 76, fled to India by helicopter one month ago as protesters marched on her palace in a dramatic end to her iron-fisted rule of 15 years.
An interim government led by Nobel laureate Yunus has been under public pressure to demand her extradition and trial over the hundreds of demonstrators killed during the weeks of unrest that ultimately toppled her.
"If India wants to keep her until the time Bangladesh wants her back, the condition would be that she has to keep quiet," Yunus, 84, told the Press Trust of India news agency.
"Sitting in India, she is speaking and giving instructions. No one likes it. It's not good for us or for India."
Hasina has remained in India, her former government's biggest patron and benefactor, since her August 5 overthrow, inflaming tensions between the two South Asian neighbours.
Israeli military vehicles are seen during an Israeli operation in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, on Sept. 5, 2024. In Jenin, Israeli forces continued operations for the ninth consecutive day. Mayor Nidal Obeidi said the ongoing attacks have severely damaged local infrastructure, with the full extent yet to be assessed. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
RAMALLAH, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Israeli forces killed six Palestinians in the West Bank city of Tubas on Thursday, according to Palestinian medical and security sources.
The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting their vehicle in Tubas, which is located in northwestern West Bank.
A sixth man was shot dead by Israeli forces in the Far'a camp south of Tubas, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said, adding that the army delayed access to the victim for several hours.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it conducted a drone strike in the Far'a camp and three more strikes in Tubas on early Thursday. The IDF stated these strikes targeted Palestinian gunmen who were shooting and hurling explosive devices at troops during a raid.
Tubas Governor Ahmed al-Asaad told Xinhua that Israeli raids have caused widespread destruction to infrastructure and services in the Far'a camp.
In Jenin, Israeli forces continued operations for the ninth consecutive day. Mayor Nidal Obeidi said the ongoing attacks have severely damaged local infrastructure, with the full extent yet to be assessed.
The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that since Aug. 28, Israeli military operations across the West Bank have resulted in 39 Palestinian deaths and 145 injuries. The ministry added that 691 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October 2023.
Israeli military vehicles are seen during an Israeli operation in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, on Sept. 5, 2024. In Jenin, Israeli forces continued operations for the ninth consecutive day. Mayor Nidal Obeidi said the ongoing attacks have severely damaged local infrastructure, with the full extent yet to be assessed. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
Smoke rises during an Israeli raid in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, on Sept. 5, 2024. In Jenin, Israeli forces continued operations for the ninth consecutive day. Mayor Nidal Obeidi said the ongoing attacks have severely damaged local infrastructure, with the full extent yet to be assessed. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
Smoke rises during an Israeli raid in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, on Sept. 5, 2024. In Jenin, Israeli forces continued operations for the ninth consecutive day. Mayor Nidal Obeidi said the ongoing attacks have severely damaged local infrastructure, with the full extent yet to be assessed. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
Smoke rises during an Israeli raid in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, on Sept. 5, 2024. In Jenin, Israeli forces continued operations for the ninth consecutive day. Mayor Nidal Obeidi said the ongoing attacks have severely damaged local infrastructure, with the full extent yet to be assessed. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
Israeli military vehicles are seen during an Israeli operation in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, on Sept. 5, 2024. In Jenin, Israeli forces continued operations for the ninth consecutive day. Mayor Nidal Obeidi said the ongoing attacks have severely damaged local infrastructure, with the full extent yet to be assessed. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
A Palestinian checks a damaged car after an Israeli airstrike in the West Bank city of Tubas, Sept. 5, 2024. Israeli forces killed six Palestinians in the West Bank city of Tubas on Thursday, according to Palestinian medical and security sources.
The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting their vehicle in Tubas, which is located in northwestern West Bank.
A sixth man was shot dead by Israeli forces in the Far'a camp south of Tubas, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said, adding that the army delayed access to the victim for several hours. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
Palestinians mourn for their relatives who were killed in an Israeli military airstrike in the West Bank city of Tubas, Sept. 5, 2024. Israeli forces killed six Palestinians in the West Bank city of Tubas on Thursday, according to Palestinian medical and security sources.
The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting their vehicle in Tubas, which is located in northwestern West Bank.
A sixth man was shot dead by Israeli forces in the Far'a camp south of Tubas, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said, adding that the army delayed access to the victim for several hours. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
Small-business owners will have an opportunity to learn how to work with U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) contracting Thursday, Sept. 12.
Sarah Mikesell Growney and Eric Weisman will discuss the subject during a Wyoming APEX Accelerator Lunch and Learn webinar titled The Pros, Cons and Hows of Working With GSA Contracting and More from noon-1 p.m. To register, go here. Registration is free.
Wyoming APEX Accelerator, part of the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network housed at the University of Wyoming, is the states expert in government contracting assistance.
The GSA Multiple Award Schedule is an efficient, long-term, governmentwide contract. However, getting on a GSA schedule takes dedication and work and may not be the perfect avenue for every business.
During the webinar, Weisman, Region 8 small-business specialist, will give small-business owners a periphery view of the GSA schedule and help determine whether small businesses should make this part of their government contracting goals.
Mikesell Growney is a procurement adviser for Wyoming APEX Accelerator.
For more information, call Tyler Schanck, marketing, communications and database manager for the Wyoming SBDC Network, at (307) 343-0925 or email tschanck@uwyo.edu.
The Wyoming SBDC Network offers business expertise to help Wyoming residents think about, launch, grow, reinvent or exit their business. The Wyoming SBDC Network is hosted by UW with state funds from the Wyoming Business Council and funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
In accordance with the plan of bilateral cooperation for 2024, signed between the Defense Ministries of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, a delegation of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Uzbekistan visited our country, Azernews reports.
As part of the visit, the Uzbek guests visited the Main Department of Engineering Troops of the Ministry of Defense.
Welcoming the guests, Major General Anar Karimov informed the delegation about the engineering support measures carried out in the liberated territories by the Engineer-sapper units of the Azerbaijan Army.
The importance of such visits in terms of experience exchange was emphasized, a detailed exchange of views on several issues of mutual interest was held, and a briefing was given at the meeting.
Then the guests watched practical exercises held with the participation of servicemen in a specially designed engineering camp.
Police vehicles are seen near the Israeli Consulate General in Munich, Germany, on Sept. 5, 2024. An armed man was shot dead by police near the Israeli Consulate General in central Munich, Germany, local police confirmed on Thursday. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
BERLIN, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- An armed man was shot dead by police near the Israeli Consulate General in central Munich, Germany, local police confirmed on Thursday.
Police said in a statement on social media platform X that the individual was deemed "suspicious" and was involved in an exchange of fire with the police.
Authorities have not yet clarified the identity of the man.
According to local media, the incident occurred after officers saw a man "apparently carrying a firearm" near Karolinenplatz in the city center. Police have confirmed that no other suspects are involved and that the area was cordoned off as a precaution. No other injuries have been reported so far.
German Press Agency DPA said that Interior Minister Nancy Faeser described the shooting as a "serious incident."
The shooting took place on the anniversary of the 1972 Munich Olympics terrorist attack, in which 11 Israeli athletes were killed.
Photo taken on Sept. 5, 2024 shows a police cordon near the Israeli Consulate General in Munich, Germany. An armed man was shot dead by police near the Israeli Consulate General in central Munich, Germany, local police confirmed on Thursday. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Police vehicles are seen near the Israeli Consulate General in Munich, Germany, on Sept. 5, 2024. An armed man was shot dead by police near the Israeli Consulate General in central Munich, Germany, local police confirmed on Thursday. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam.
Police and protesters clashed outside Botswana's National Assembly in Gaborone on Wednesday as members of parliament voted on a bill that would have given the president sweeping powers to appoint civil servants holding key positions.
Opposition members of parliament boycotted the vote, while protesters, waving placards, protested the bill outside. Members of the remaining ruling party failed to raise enough votes to pass the bill.
Opposition party leader Dithapelo Keorapetse said the bill, if it had been approved, would have given too much power to the president.
"Today was a momentous day in that the evil constitution amendment bill, which sought to clothe the president with enormous powers to appoint the chief justice, to appoint the court of appeal president, to appoint the secretary of the IEC [Independent Electoral Commission], died, Keorapetse said.
Minister for State President Kabo Morwaeng blamed the opposition and civil society organizations for misleading the nation on what he called a progressive bill. He said the bill contained clauses that would have improved citizens lives, including provisions on health rights, the right to strike and workers rights.
Motheo O Mosha, a nongovernmental organization, was behind Wednesdays protests. Chairperson Morena Monganja said some members were hurt during clashes with the police.
Many of our activists were beaten, she said. We have one who is in hospital with injuries. We look at this event of citizens trying to express their displeasure at a certain piece of legislation and being met with this kind of violence as very unacceptable in a democracy.
Morwaeng said protesters did not seek the required permit to hold the demonstration.
The proposed law was rejected a day before Botswanas parliament was dissolved as the country prepares for next months general election.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday pledged more than $50 billion in financing for Africa over the next three years, promising to deepen cooperation in infrastructure and trade with the continent as he addressed Beijing's biggest summit since the pandemic.
More than 50 African leaders and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres are attending this week's China-Africa forum, according to state media.
African leaders already secured a plethora of deals this week for greater cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture, mining, trade and energy.
Addressing the leaders at the forum's opening ceremony in Beijing's ornate Great Hall of the People on Thursday morning, Xi hailed ties with the continent as their "best period in history."
"China is ready to deepen cooperation with African countries in industry, agriculture, infrastructure, trade and investment," he said.
"Over the next three years, the Chinese government is willing to provide financial support amounting to $50.7 billion," Xi said.
Over half of that will be in credit, he said, with $11 billion "in various types of assistance" as well as $10 billion through encouraging Chinese firms to invest.
He also promised to help "create at least one million jobs for Africa."
Also addressing the meeting, UN chief Guterres told African leaders that growing ties between China and the continent could "drive the renewable energy revolution."
"China's remarkable record of development -- including on eradicating poverty -- provides a wealth of experience and expertise," he said.
Deals and pledges
China, the world's number two economy, is Africa's largest trading partner and has sought to tap the continent's vast troves of natural resources including copper, gold, lithium and rare earth minerals.
It has also furnished African countries with billions in loans that have helped build much-needed infrastructure but sometimes stoked controversy by saddling governments with huge debts.
Analysts say that Beijing's largesse towards Africa is being recalibrated in the face of economic trouble at home and that geopolitical concerns over a growing tussle with the United States may increasingly be driving policy.
But bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the summit delivered a slew of pledges on greater cooperation in projects from railway to solar panels to avocados.
Following meetings on Wednesday, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema said he had overseen a deal between the country's state-owned power company ZESCO and Beijing's PowerChina to expand the use of rooftop solar panels in his country.
Nigeria -- one of Beijing's biggest debtors on the continent -- and China inked a joint statement agreeing to "deepen cooperation" in infrastructure, including "transportation, ports and free trade zones."
Expanding transport links
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, in turn, obtained a commitment from Xi to push for new progress on a long-stalled railway connecting his country to neighboring Zambia.
That project -- which Zambian media has said Beijing has pledged $1 billion towards -- is aimed at expanding transport links in the resource-rich eastern part of the continent.
Zimbabwe also won promises from Beijing for deeper cooperation in "agriculture, mining, environmentally friendly traditional and new energy (and) transportation infrastructure," according to a joint statement by the two countries.
The southern African nation and Beijing also agreed to sign a deal that would allow the export of fresh Zimbabwean avocados to China, the joint statement said.
And Kenyan leader William Ruto said Xi had promised to open up China's markets to agricultural products from his country.
The two sides agreed to work together on the expansion of the country's Standard Gauge Railway -- built with finance from Exim Bank of China -- which connects the capital, Nairobi, with the port city of Mombasa.
And Ruto also secured a pledge for greater cooperation with China on the Rironi-Mau Summit-Malaba motorway, which Kenyan media has said is expected to cost $1.2 billion.
Ruto last year asked China for a $1 billion loan and the restructuring of existing debt to complete other stalled construction projects. The country now owes China more than $8 billion.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)
BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Thursday met with Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the two sides have constantly consolidated political mutual trust and achieved remarkable outcomes in practical cooperation.
China is ready to work with Morocco to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and the fruits of the summit, deepen cooperation in sectors including infrastructure, trade, investment, culture, education and tourism, open up new prospects for the bilateral strategic partnership, and jointly build the all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, he said.
Akhannouch said Morocco is willing to strengthen the alignment of strategies and practical cooperation with China, and keep advancing Africa-China and Morocco-China relations.
China recently warned against what it described as "external interference" in Myanmar, a country increasingly caught in the crossfire of escalating geopolitical rivalry between Beijing and Washington.
This warning came as the United States has been deepening its engagement with Myanmar's pro-democracy forces, raising concerns in Beijing, where experts suggest there is deep skepticism about Washington's intentions in Myanmar.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed these concerns during an informal meeting with the foreign ministers of Laos, Thailand and Myanmar on August 16 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Wang emphasized that Myanmar's internal affairs should remain free from external interference, particularly from outside the region.
The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar and state-controlled media quickly echoed this stance, stressing that no party should cross the line of "external intervention."
This meeting coincided with a virtual discussion between U.S. officials and Myanmar's opposition, during which Washington reiterated its support for a transition to civilian government.
Although Wang did not directly mention the United States, his remarks were widely interpreted as a response to Washington's increased involvement.
Chinese distrust
Zachary Abuza, a professor at the National War College in Washington, noted Chinas growing distrust of U.S. intentions in Myanmar.
"From a Chinese perspective, they reject the U.S. role in Myanmar," Abuza told VOA. "The problem is the Chinese don't want to deal with us in Myanmar.
Hla Kyaw Zaw, a veteran observer of Sino-Myanmar relations based in China, echoed this sentiment, noting that China is more concerned about U.S. involvement than any other external influence.
"China prefers to take the lead in addressing the Myanmar crisis, as seen in its mediation efforts earlier this year," Hla Kyaw Zaw said, referring to China's role in talks between Myanmar's military junta and ethnic armed groups.
In response to a VOA request for comment, the Chinese Embassy in Washington reiterated China's stance opposing actions that provoke internal unrest and civil war in Myanmar. "China opposes deliberate interference in Myanmar's internal affairs by external forces," the embassy said in an email.
According to Abuza, there is little potential for U.S.-China cooperation on the Myanmar crisis, despite the two having similar goals.
"We actually both want much of the same thing an end to military rule, an end to civil war, and a return to a stable, prosperous Myanmar. But I see very little cooperation going forward in the short term," Abuza said.
China-US differences
The divergence underscores broader tensions in Southeast Asia. While both powers ostensibly seek stability in Myanmar, their approaches differ sharply, according to a recent analysis by the United States Institute of Peace.
The United States has shown support for the democratic movements in Myanmar, for example, by imposing sanctions on the country's military government. Also, following the 2021 coup, Washington passed the BURMA Act of 2022, authorizing nonlethal aid to pro-democracy resistance groups and sanctioning the junta.
The U.S. also allowed Myanmar's opposition, the National Unity Government, or NUG, to open a liaison office in Washington, although the NUG has not been formally recognized as Myanmar's legitimate government by the U.S.
According to an August 16 U.S. State Department release, Counselor Tom Sullivan and Michael Schiffer, U.S. Agency for International Development assistant administrator, praised the efforts of pro-democracy groups in Myanmar to establish an inclusive federal democratic system and reaffirmed U.S. commitment to supporting these groups.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and China's Wang addressed the issue during talks in China on August 27-28, according to a White House statement. The statement did not provide details.
China's strategic interests in Myanmar are driven by its substantial economic investments and the country's strategic location as a gateway to the Indian Ocean.
"Since China is a neighboring country, it has a greater stake in Myanmar. It's widely understood that Myanmar is vital to China's plans to gain access to the Indian Ocean," said Hla Kyaw Zaw, emphasizing Myanmar's critical role in geopolitics, particularly in relation to China's Belt and Road Initiative, or BRI.
"Myanmar's involvement in the BRI has not gone as smoothly as China had hoped," Hla Kyaw Zaw said. "That's why China wants to complete projects in Myanmar as quickly as possible. To achieve this, I believe China will do everything in its power to stabilize Myanmar and ensure peace."
May Sabe Phyu, a prominent Myanmar human rights activist who advocates for democracy and human rights at the United Nations, highlighted China's significant power on the international stage and noted that the West has struggled to counter China's influence because of Beijings expanding economic power.
"Countries around the world, including Western nations, are increasingly unable to effectively push back against China's growing dominance," she said.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro criticized on Wednesday the purchase of Israel-made Pegasus spyware by the country's police to "intercept communications" of political leaders and activists under his predecessor's government.
The malware, which can seize control of a phone's microphone or camera and access documents, hit global headlines when a leak in 2021 showed how governments used it to spy on critics.
Petro's comments in a televised broadcast confirmed for the first time that the Colombian police intelligence service "bought in cash... software from an Israeli company to spy on mobile phones" between June and September 2021.
The police paid Israeli firm NSO Group $11 million for Pegasus and used the spyware to "intercept communications" of political leaders and activists, without the expense appearing anywhere in the public accounts, the president added.
"Where did the money come from? Why wasn't it included in the official national budget?" he asked.
The acquisition of Pegasus had previously been reported by Israeli and Colombian media but was never officially acknowledged.
Petro, Colombia's first-ever leftist president, succeeded his conservative predecessor, Ivan Duque, two years ago.
Duque's term was marked by massive anti-government demonstrations met with a police crackdown and an increase in violence by armed groups operating in the country.
South Africa's Ukrainian Association has expressed outrage that a Russian naval vessel was recently allowed to dock for several days at Cape Town harbor. Critics say the incident calls into question Pretoria's purported neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The Ukrainian Association in South Africa said it was dismayed to learn the Russian naval training ship Smolnyy had anchored at the Port of Cape Town in late August.
While the vessel was docked in South Africa, Russian bombardments in Ukraine killed scores of people, including children, the associations Dzvinka Kachur said.
Meanwhile, a Russian military training ship docks in Cape Town reportedly strengthening military ties between the countries, said Kachur.
The Russian consulate general in Cape Town said on its X account August 30 that the ships command had met with South African naval counterparts and hosted a reception aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
Russian state news agency Tass also reported the ships unofficial port call. It said the ship had undertaken a long-distance voyage that included stops in Cuba and Venezuela so that 300 cadets from the Russian Ministry of Defense could conduct a maritime practice.
The Ukrainian Association of South Africa urges the government to stop all military cooperation with Russia immediately, said Kachur.
Some South African officials appeared taken by surprise when asked to comment on the ships visit. The mayor of Cape Town told the local Daily Maverick newspaper that he had been unaware of the port call and said it seems to have been under the radar.
In response to a request from VOA for comment, the South African National Defense Force issued a statement confirming the vessel had been docked in Cape Town for re-supply purposes. It added that South Africa as a sovereign state has a right and responsibility to accept the docking of foreign vessels as a maritime nation.
The statement noted, There are currently three foreign vessels in South African waters, including a Ukrainian vessel, that is here for repairs.
But the Democratic Alliance, the former opposition party that is now part of South Africas new coalition government, condemned the incident as cozying up to Russia.
Chris Hattingh is a member of parliament for the Democratic Alliance.
The latest incident, the berthing of Smolnyy, a Russian navy Baltic Fleet training vessel in Cape Town after visiting Venezuela and Cuba, underlines the contradiction of President [Cyril] Ramaphosas utterances of non-alignment in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, he said.
The African National Congress, which has the most seats in parliament, has ties with Moscow dating back to when the former USSR backed its struggle against apartheid. They are also both BRICS members.
Pretoria has been criticized for not condemning the invasion of Ukraine and for hosting Russian warships in controversial joint exercises last year. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also visited and was warmly welcomed in 2023.
In May of last year, U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety alleged that South Africa had covertly provided arms to Russia when a different ship docked in Cape Town.
The South African government set up an independent investigation into the matter, which ultimately found no evidence of that.
As monsoon season nears its end in Pakistan, higher than average rainfall and rain-related accidents leave behind a trail of deaths, nearly half of them children.
Monsoon season runs from July to September in Pakistan. Since the beginning of July, the country has counted at least 337 rain-related deaths, according to the National Disaster Management Authority. One-hundred-seventy children are among the dead. Thousands also have been displaced as floodwaters inundated villages.
Pakistans meteorological department recorded rains 60% higher than average in the first two months of the monsoon season. August saw 137% more rain than the months average after slightly below average rainfall in July. Weather officials expect mostly normal rainfall in September.
The data shows that rainfall patterns in Pakistan are changing.
The shift that we are seeing is that monsoon used to go to the upper areas, that trend is lessening a bit, Sahibzad Khan, director general of PMD, told VOA. Now its shifting more to the south.
Rain that was twice as heavy as normal battered Pakistans two southern provinces, Sindh and Balochistan, over the last two months, while the northern, mountainous regions saw average-to-below-average rain, according to the national weather agency.
Just in Sindh, 72,000 children saw their education disrupted by the severe weather, Save the Children said in a statement Wednesday.
Despite heavy rains, flooding, and displacement in parts of the country, experts say Pakistan escaped extensive damage this monsoon season, partly because of lessons learned from the devastating floods in 2022.
We are working more on anticipatory approaches. Looking at past patterns, we are predicting the scale and velocity of upcoming floods, said Shafqat Munir Ahmad, deputy executive director of the Resilience Development Program and Policy Outreach at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute in Islamabad.
In 2022, historic rains submerged nearly a third of the country at one time, affecting 33 million Pakistanis and causing nearly $30 billion in damage.
Since then, Pakistan incorporated technology to plan scenarios and issue early severe weather warnings to communities, said Ahmad, adding that improved coordination and response time also reduced damage.
This year, Pakistan also used lightning detectors that China provided last year.
China has collaborated with us. With their help, we have 26 lightning detector stations that tell us about the type and severity of lightning and thunder, said weather chief Khan.
Pakistan still lacks sufficient long-term planning, however, to tackle the impact of climate change, experts say. The Germany-based Global Climate Risk Index ranks Pakistan the 8th most vulnerable country.
A web app created at the University of Maryland that predicts what a citys weather will be like in 60 years shows summers and winters in several Pakistani cities will be much warmer than they are at present.
While projects to mitigate climate change may attract funding, Ahmad said efforts to help vulnerable communities adapt to changing climate lack necessary financial support in Pakistan.
Several communities across the South Asian nation are still awaiting funds to rebuild homes devastated by the 2022 weather calamity.
Just last July, the Asian Development Bank approved a $400 million loan to fund the reconstruction of homes and infrastructure in Sindh.
At a donor conference in January 2023, donors pledged more than $9 billion to help Pakistan build back after the 2022 floods. Still, the country has barely tapped the funds that were largely designated as project loans.
As authorities and charitable organizations rush to provide food, water and shelter to communities displaced by this years rains and floods, Save the Children urged increased support to prevent the current impact of the floods from becoming long-term problems.
Governments must tackle the underlying causes of these climate driven disasters, including channeling funding and support to children and their families in Pakistan to adapt, recover and rebuild their lives, the statement said, quoting country director Khuram Gondal.
Officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo confirmed Thursday the delivery of 99,000 doses of the mpox vaccine roughly the first half of a donation provided by the European Union designed to help the country contain an outbreak of the virus that the World Health Organization has declared a public health emergency.
DRC Health Minister Samuel-Rodger Kamba took delivery of the shipment at the airport outside the capital, Kinshasa, on Thursday, alongside Laurent Muschel, the European Commissions Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority chief. An additional 101,000 doses are expected on Saturday.
Kamba thanked the EU for the donation, saying it gives the country the capacity to contain the virus.
My initial reaction on the spot is one of joy and satisfaction at the cooperation we have with the European Union," he said.
WHO reports that more than 18,000 suspected cases of mpox, including 629 deaths, have been reported this year in the DRC, the epicenter of the crisis. The U.N. health agency reports that four out of five deaths have been children.
The DRC is expected to formally begin its vaccine drive early next month.
The EU said in a statement it made this initial donation of more than 200,000 vaccines in cooperation with the Bavarian Nordic pharmaceutical company. The bloc said an additional 351,500 doses will be donated to the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the coming days for distribution in the nations that need it.
WHO said cases of mpox have been reported in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, and Uganda.
The agency reports that mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral infection that can spread between people mainly through close contact and occasionally from the environment to people via objects and surfaces that have been touched by an infected person. Symptoms commonly include a rash or lesions, fever and swollen glands.
While most cases clear up on their own, some people can develop severe symptoms, complications or die.
WHO reports that two distinct clades of the mpox virus have been identified: Clade I previously known as the Congo Basin clade, and Clade II, the former West African clade.
Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
Northern Thailands worst floods in years are causing significant damage, and experts say this could be the first real test for the countrys new prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
The floods, caused by seasonal monsoon rain in August, have killed at least 22 people, injured others and damaged upwards of 30,000 homes across more than a dozen provinces, authorities said on August 26.
The bad weather in Thailand continues, with Typhoon Yagi forecast to cause more heavy rainfall over the weekend. Nine provinces are particularly at risk Chiang Rai, Phayao, Sukhothai, Lampang, Phetchabun, Phrae, Nan, Phitsanulok and Nakhon Sawan.
Arisara Lekkham, a lecturer at the School of Law at the Mae Fah Luang University in Chiang Rai, said the floods are more severe than in previous years. The current flooding in northern Thailand is both an annual occurrence and an extraordinary event this year, she told VOA.
Key factors include exceptionally heavy and prolonged rainfall, urban expansion blocking natural drainage paths, deforestation and conversion to monoculture agriculture reducing soil water retention, topography of mountainous regions leading to flash floods [and] high-water levels in the Mekong River and its tributaries slowing drainage, she said.
These factors have resulted in more frequent, intense and long-lasting floods, affecting areas that rarely flood and causing significant damage across multiple provinces. While flooding is expected annually in certain regions, the scale and impact of this year's floods are notably more severe than in typical years, said Lekkham, who has published papers on the legal principles of the Mekong River.
Thai politics have endured a storm of their own recently, with Paetongtarn having become prime minister after a court removed her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin. Analysts say the heavy floods will be Paetongtarns first test.
If we get this kind of rain at this pace, continuously for the month of September, it could be a big crisis for her. But if the rain dissipates and the drier season comes in by the second half of September or early October, then the pressure will be off a bit. It's a matter of nature, political analyst Thitinan Pongsudhirak told VOA.
In 2011, Thailand suffered some of its worst flooding in recent history because of rain from monsoon season triggered by a tropical storm. The flooding lasted from July to January 2012, killing at least 815 people and affecting over 13 million. Sixty-five of Thailands 76 provinces were declared disaster zones. The World Bank estimated that the five-month-long floods caused economic damages and losses of over $46.5 billion.
At the time, Thailand was governed by another Shinawatra, then-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Yingluck was heavily criticized for the vast damage done by the disaster, but she was not prosecuted following allegations of dereliction of duty in water management by Thailands National Anti-Corruption Committee.
Thitinan called the current situation reminiscent of the massive flooding that occurred soon after Yingluck took office.
On Paetongtarn, its a test of her personal character and personal leadership. We don't know how bad the floods will get. But if it's a lot less [than 2011] ... the floods will incur some damage, but it will not be critical to her premiership, he said.
Lekkham said Paetongtarn and her new Cabinet announced this week must manage the current flood problem, providing flood relief assistance and urgent aid, and monitor and warn of the risks nationwide, including in Bangkok.
Long-term measures also must be implemented, she said. What Paetongtarn and the new government need to do [is] manage the flood problem long-term, support innovation and technology for flood assistance, such as drones for supply delivery or equipment to rescue people stranded in floodwaters, develop systematic, seasonal monitoring and warning plans, ensuring central agencies have a unified view that can be disseminated to local levels, establish flood management as a routine practice, not just a seasonal activity.
Flood management should become a regular, year-round effort rather than a reactive, seasonal approach, she said.
There have been added concerns that China has been releasing water from its Jinghong Dam in Yunnan into the Mekong River.
Increased water levels in the Mekong River, partly due to dam releases, are pushing water back into tributaries, worsening flooding in agricultural areas. The dams affect the natural flow of the Mekong, impacting downstream countries like Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia, Lekkham said.
But a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok denied the dam was the reason for Thailands worsened flooding, asserting it had not released any water lately.
The Mekong Dam Monitor, an online platform monitoring reservoir levels in the Mekong River, says its satellite data shows no evidence that Chinas recent water releases were the reason for the Thailands heavy floods.
But China is still partly to blame, Thitinan said.
I saw the statistics that [show] the Chinese have released less water than last year, but only a little bit less than last year. But that's irrelevant, because the water that has been released is still making the floods worse in Thailand. So, in practical terms, the Chinese are partly responsible for how bad the floods are, he said.
Lekkham said more communication and trust is needed between six riparian countries that are part of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, a framework focusing on joint usage of the Mekong River.
There is a need to further promote communication on data exchange, particularly regarding water levels behind dams, daily water releases, and advance warnings during wet seasons. Implementing publicly accessible CCTV systems could foster mutual trust between China and lower Mekong countries, she said.
Economically, the floods could cost Thailand up to $176 million in damages, Thailands Chamber of Commerce has warned. Thailands agricultural, industrial and services sectors have been the most affected, while the kingdom is already suffering from a sluggish economy.
U.N. Security Council members expressed frustration Wednesday with the failure to conclude a cease-fire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas, amid the killing of six Israeli hostages and the escalation of violence in the West Bank.
There is a sense of outrage felt around the globe, said Slovenias Ambassador Samuel Zbogar, whose delegation holds the councils rotating presidency this month. "Outrage in Palestine that the international community is failing them; outrage on Israeli streets that the hostages continue being held in Gaza; outrage of the global public that this war does not stop.
During a meeting requested by Israel about the six hostages killed by Hamas, whose bodies were recovered Saturday, Zbogar reminded the 15-nation council that it is its job to push for peace.
Algeria also requested that the council discuss the escalation of violence in the West Bank, where the United Nations says at least 30 Palestinians have been killed, including seven children, since Israel launched a large-scale military operation on August 27.
It is gravely alarming that with each briefing this council receives, the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel steadily worsens, Maltas Ambassador Vanessa Frazier said.
There was general concern that U.S., Egyptian and Qatari efforts to broker a cease-fire and hostage release deal have not been successful after three months of mediation, especially after the Security Council backed the deal in a resolution on June 10.
Things have only gotten worse for Palestinians, for Israeli hostages and indeed the entire region since adoption of that resolution, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana said.
U.S. envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield urged patience.
Diplomacy is not a matter of snapping our fingers and voila. It takes hard work. It takes effort, and unfortunately, it takes time, she said. It has not failed.
She noted that diplomacy helped secure the release in November of more than 100 of the 250 hostages that Hamas took during its terror attack on October 7, 2023.
And it is through diplomacy that we aim to bring the remaining hostages home and finally put this horrific conflict on a path toward a durable conclusion, Thomas-Greenfield said. The Israeli people should understand that the deal on the table is one their leaders can accept, because this is a deal that ensures Israels security.
In Washington, a senior Biden administration official told reporters that cease-fire negotiations were ongoing and a deal was basically done, except for two sticking points: which Palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange for the remaining hostages, and where Israeli forces will be deployed during phase one of the deal. Israel has demanded it retain control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a 14-kilometer strip of land in the Egypt-Gaza border area.
During a press conference Wednesday in Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stuck to his position that the corridor was non-negotiable.
So, we said, as far as Gaza is concerned, three war goals: The first war goal was to destroy Hamas' military and governing capabilities. The second was to free our hostages, and the third was to ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel, he said. And all three of those goals, all three of them, go through Israel's control of the Philadelphi Corridor.
Hamas has accused Israel of dragging out negotiations by issuing new demands, including that Israel remain in control of the Philadelphi Corridor and a second corridor running across Gaza.
In Tel Aviv, family members of some of the remaining hostages protested Wednesday outside the headquarters of Netanyahus Likud Party, calling for a cease-fire deal with Hamas that includes the release of their relatives.
Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people and captured some 250 hostages during the October 7 terror attack on southern Israel. The Israeli counteroffensive has killed nearly 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to Gaza health officials, while the Israeli military says the death toll includes several thousand Hamas combatants.
Hamas has been designated a terror group by the United States, the United Kingdom and other Western countries. At the Security Council on Wednesday, Israels envoy reiterated his demand that council members designate Hamas a terror organization.
VOAs Margaret Besheer, Patsy Widakuswara and Natasha Mozgovaya contributed to this report. Some information came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
The Hamas militant group Thursday accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of working to prevent a cease-fire deal for the war in Gaza, a day after Netanyahu said Israel will combine military pressure with a firm stance on its demands.
A Hamas statement said talks about a new cease-fire proposal are unnecessary since the group agreed to a July proposal put forward by the United States.
We warn against falling into Netanyahu's trap and tricks, as he uses negotiations to prolong the aggression against our people, the statement said.
During a news conference Wednesday in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said Israel agreed to earlier cease-fire proposals, while Hamas refused.
Netanyahu also stuck to his position that Israel retain control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a 14-kilometer strip of land in the Egypt-Gaza border area.
As far as Gaza is concerned, three war goals: The first war goal was to destroy Hamas's military and governing capabilities. The second was to free our hostages, and the third was to ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel, he said. And all three of those goals, all three of them, go through Israel's control of the Philadelphi Corridor.
In Washington, a senior Biden administration official told reporters Wednesday that cease-fire negotiations continue, and a deal is basically done, except for two sticking points which Palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange for the remaining hostages, and the deployment of Israeli forces during Phase 1 of the deal.
U.N. Security Council members expressed frustration Wednesday with the failure to conclude a cease-fire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas, amid the killing of six Israeli hostages and the escalation of violence in the West Bank.
There is a sense of outrage felt around the globe. Outrage in Palestine that the international community is failing them, said Slovenian Ambassador Samuel Zbogar, whose delegation holds the councils rotating presidency this month. Outrage on Israeli streets that the hostages continue being held in Gaza. Outrage of the global public that this war does not stop.
During a meeting requested by Israel about the six hostages killed by Hamas, whose bodies were recovered on Saturday, Zbogar reminded the 15-nation council that it is their job to push for peace.
Algeria also requested that the council discuss the escalation of violence in the West Bank, where the United Nations says at least 30 Palestinians have been killed, including seven children, since Israel launched a large-scale military operation on Aug. 27.
It is gravely alarming that with each briefing this council receives, the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel steadily worsens, Maltas Ambassador Vanessa Frazier said.
There was general concern that U.S., Egyptian and Qatari efforts to broker a cease-fire and hostage release deal have not been successful after three months of mediation, especially after the Security Council backed the deal in a resolution on June 10.
Things have only gotten worse for Palestinians, for Israeli hostages and indeed, the entire region since adoption of that resolution, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana said.
U.S. envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield urged patience.
Diplomacy is not a matter of snapping our fingers and voila. It takes hard work. It takes effort, and unfortunately, it takes time, she said. It has not failed.
She noted that diplomacy helped secure the release in November of more than 100 of the 250 hostages that Hamas took during their terror attack on Oct. 7, 2023.
And it is through diplomacy that we aim to bring the remaining hostages home and finally put this horrific conflict on a path toward a durable conclusion, Thomas-Greenfield said. The Israeli people should understand that the deal on the table is one their leaders can accept, because this is a deal that ensures Israels security."
Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people and captured some 250 hostages during the Oct. 7 terror attack on southern Israel. The Israeli counteroffensive has killed nearly 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to Gaza health officials, while the Israeli military says the death toll includes several thousand Hamas combatants.
Hamas has been designated a terror group by the United States, the United Kingdom and other Western countries. At the Security Council on Wednesday, Israels envoy reiterated his demand that council members designate Hamas a terror organization.
VOAs Margaret Besheer, Patsy Widakuswara and Natasha Mozgovaya contributed to this report. Some information came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
China is defending itself against accusations that it is flooding the Thai market with cheap goods and hurting local businesses.
In a post on its official Facebook account on September 4, the Chinese Embassy in Thailand called the trade between the two countries mutually beneficial and win-win.
Almost 80% of the goods that Thailand imports from China are capital goods and intermediate goods that are used for production and added value before being exported, the statement said.
Most of the so-called cheap goods "are products used in daily life, food, health products, clothing and accessories, etc., which account for less than 10% of the total value of goods imported from China, it added.
The statement came after Thailand announced new measures to combat the influx of cheap Chinese imports threatening its manufacturing sector. The Bangkok Post reported on August 28 that Thailand's deputy prime minister and minister of commerce, Phumtham Wechayachai, said the government would set up a task force comprising 28 agencies that would meet every two weeks to review and revise regulations to curb the threat of cheap Chinese imports to the already weak economy.
The Federation of Thailand Industry previously warned that cheap Chinese goods could cause a "tsunami" in Thailand and in the region, and that in 2023 the low-cost imported products had contributed to the closure of nearly 2,000 factories.
Pavida Pananond, professor of international business at Thammasat Business School at Thammasat University in Thailand, said low-priced Chinese goods or Chinese capital are often concentrated in Thailand's e-commerce and electric vehicle industries. While Chinese investment has increased foreign direct investment in Thailand, it has also made it difficult for many smaller local enterprises to survive.
Right now, the Chinese are facing restrictions on their products in many markets, Pavida told VOA in a Zoom interview. So, it is natural that we are seeing the Chinese products targeting more emerging markets, particularly in Southeast Asia. So, those sectors would be at risk of having direct competition from the Chinese, cheaper products. And I think in the longer term, there also is more impact on the Thai economy.
The Chinese Embassy quoted preliminary statistics in its statement and said more than 1,000 Chinese companies have invested in Thailand. In the past two years, 588 investment projects by Chinese have been submitted to the Thai government, with an investment value of nearly $7 billion, according to the Chinese Embassy. Most investments are in the electric vehicle industry, the digital economy, new energy, and modern manufacturing.
The Thailand Economic and Business Research Center forecasts that the Thai economy will grow by 2.6% this year due to tourism and exports, but it will also be dragged down by manufacturing. In the first half of 2024, Thailand's industrial output decreased by 2% compared to the same period last year.
Chinese e-commerce platform Temu entered Thailand on July 31. Observers are worried that cheap Chinese goods flooding Thailands market through Temu will lead to unfair competition, supply chain disruptions, and rising unemployment. Srettha Thavisin, Thailands former prime minister, previously asked authorities to investigate whether Temu has complied with the relevant regulations and paid the tax due.
Nisit Panthamit, director of ASEAN Studies and an associate professor at the Faculty of Economics at Chiang Mai University in Thailand, said, If you buy it from China, you have to wait for so long to get that item. But the local [products] are easy to find in the market. Now, after more goods are coming in from the new [Chinese] companies, that's why the SME [small and medium-sized enterprise] might get heavily impacted.
Nisit said if the Thai government cannot introduce more effective policies to alleviate the problem soon, sales of Thai-made goods may decline significantly. Also, he said, some basic Thai products may be replaced in local markets by inferior Chinese-made replacements.
He said that indications are that, by the end of 2024, there will be a 10% to 20% drop in the sales and consumption of local Thai products, because of competition from more Chinese-made goods.
The New York Times reported at the end of July that Thailands auto industry, which often is referred to as the "Asian Detroit" because of its manufacturing capacity, had been dominated by Japanese cars. In recent years, however, Chinese electric vehicle companies have made inroads, resulting in local auto factories closing and some land prices soaring, economists in Thailand say.
When the Thai government welcomes the EV cars from China without much long-term planning for Thai suppliers in automotive industry, vehicles and parts, that could be something that could negatively affect the Thai economy, Pavida said.
In July, Thailand's Ministry of Industry required Chinese EV manufacturers to use at least 40% local components when assembling EVs to support Thailand's automotive supply chain. In response, China's Changan Automobile pledged to invest $282 million, in Thailand, and the proportion of local parts will reach 60% and then increase to 90%; Shanghai-based Neta Auto also said it would increase the proportion of Thai car parts from 60% to 85%.
There are also increasing concerns that Chinese companies may exploit Thailand as an "illicit transshipment hub" to evade U.S. and European tariffs and sanctions. Illicit transshipment refers to exporting products through a third country to circumvent higher tariffs.
Bloomberg reported on August 22 that since many Chinese solar companies have set up factories in Southeast Asia in an attempt to circumvent U.S. import tariffs, Washington seems to be preparing to impose high tariffs on ASEAN countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia.
We should also be concerned about Thai companies that import Chinese supplies for their intermediate products, and then re-export these [finished products] to other countries like the U.S. or the EU, Pavida said. This could end up being against the regulations that the EU and the U.S. are tightening.
Pavida added that further study of the many layers and elements of Chinese imports are needed as well, so policies can clearly and specifically address different kinds of Chinese products.
VOA's Adrianna Zhang contributed to this report.
Israel said Thursday that it killed six Palestinian militants in new fighting in the occupied West Bank, including the son of a prominent jailed militant.
The latest attacks were part of larger-scale raids in the territory over the last week that Palestinians fear could be a widening of the Israeli war against Hamas militants in Gaza.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said a strike overnight in the northern West Bank town of Tubas killed five people, including Mohammed Zubeidi, the son of Zakaria Zubeidi, a well-known militant commander during the second Palestinian uprising in the early 2000s. The elder Zubeidi took part in a rare jailbreak in 2021 before being arrested and returned to prison days later.
The Israeli military said the younger Zubeidi had taken part in attacks against Israeli forces in the West Bank and that he was with a militant cell when he was targeted.
The military said another fighter was killed in an airstrike on the Al-Faraa refugee camp after hurling a firebomb at Israeli forces. The military released a video that it said showed the exchange. It said forces also uncovered roadside bombs in the camp, which dates to the 1948 Mideast war surrounding Israel's creation.
Meanwhile, hundreds marched silently Thursday night through Tel Aviv streets carrying 27 mock coffins representing 27 of the hostages who were captured alive last October 7 and whose bodies were recovered by the Israeli military during the past nearly 11 months of fighting in Gaza.
The protests in the Israeli streets are targeted at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his failure to reach a cease-fire in Gaza and secure the return of 100 or so remaining hostages held by Hamas, especially after the Israeli military last weekend discovered the bodies of six hostages who had been shot to death by Hamas.
"Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, sentenced Carmel, my cousin, to death, her and all the hostages," said Gil Dickmann, the cousin of Carmel Gat, one of the six hostages whose bodies were recovered. The government "could have brought her back 327 days she was there, in Gaza, in captivity. There were 327 opportunities to bring her back and every single one was missed."
In angry public statements, hostage families have accused Netanyahu of blocking a deal and potentially sacrificing their loved ones' lives for the sake of holding the border strip between Gaza and Egypt.
During a press conference in Haiti on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said both Israel and Hamas had to reach an agreement on the remaining issues in the cease-fire deal.
"Based on what I have seen, 90% is agreed, but there are a few critical issues that remain," including the so-called Philadelphi corridor on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip bordering Egypt, Blinken said.
There were also some disagreements over how Palestinian prisoners and Israeli hostages would be exchanged.
"I expect in the coming days, we will share with Israel, and they [Qatar and Egypt] will share with Hamas our thoughts, the three of us, on exactly how to resolve remaining outstanding questions," Blinken said, referring to the U.S. and mediators Qatar and Egypt.
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets in recent days, calling for a deal and saying time is running out to bring home the hostages alive. Hamas has accused Netanyahu of deliberately dragging his feet on cease-fire talks.
Hamas on Thursday accused Netanyahu of working to prevent a cease-fire deal, a day after Netanyahu said Israel would combine military pressure with a firm stance on its demands.
During a news conference Wednesday in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said Israel agreed to earlier cease-fire proposals, while Hamas refused.
Netanyahu also stuck to his position that Israel must retain control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a 14-kilometer strip of land in the Egypt-Gaza border area.
As far as Gaza is concerned, three war goals: The first war goal was to destroy Hamas' military and governing capabilities. The second was to free our hostages, and the third was to ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel, he said. And all three of those goals, all three of them, go through Israel's control of the Philadelphi Corridor.
In Washington, a senior Biden administration official told reporters Wednesday that cease-fire negotiations continue, and a deal is basically done, except for two sticking points which Palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange for the remaining hostages, and the deployment of Israeli forces during the first phase of the deal.
Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people and captured 250 hostages during the October 7 terror attack on southern Israel. The Israeli counteroffensive has killed nearly 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to Gaza health officials, while the Israeli military says the death toll includes several thousand Hamas combatants.
Hamas has been designated a terror group by the United States, the United Kingdom and other Western countries.
Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- China has established key pillars of its national park system, a significant institutional innovation in the country's ecological conservation construction, Zhang Liming, an official with the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, said on Thursday.
China has been actively promoting the construction of a national park-based nature reserve system since 2012, Zhang told a press conference.
The country has also accelerated the legislation process for national parks and strengthened their management, he added.
Due to the country's unswerving conservation efforts, the number of flagship species within national parks has continued to grow. For instance, the Tibetan antelopes population has risen to over 70,000, while the snow leopards population has returned to over 1,200. In addition, the wild population of Hainan gibbons has increased from less than 10 to 42.
A flagship species is a rare and endangered species that is scientifically significant for global biodiversity conservation, and possesses a broad social appeal.
China's ecosystem is steadily improving in terms of diversity, stability and sustainability. Overall, the Yangtze River, Yellow River and Lancang River sources have been well protected, conserving more than 70 percent of the habitat of wild giant pandas.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday the country will not stop its oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea despite claims by Beijing that Malaysia was infringing on its territory.
Anwar, speaking from Russia where he is on an official trip, said Malaysia's exploration activities were within its territory and were not intended to be provocative or hostile towards China, with whom it has friendly relations.
"Of course, we will have to operate in our waters and secure economic advantage, including drilling for oil, in our territory," Anwar said in a televised press conference in Vladivostok.
"We have never denied the possibility of discussion (with China). But it doesn't mean we have to stop the operation in our area."
Malaysia's foreign ministry said on Wednesday it would investigate the leak of a classified diplomatic note from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
In the note, which was carried by a Philippine news outlet, Beijing asserted that Malaysia's oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea breached its territory.
China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, including parts of the 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam, complicating energy exploration efforts by several of those countries.
Under international law, an EEZ does not denote sovereignty, but grants a country sovereign rights to extract natural resources from those waters.
Malaysian state energy firm Petronas, or Petroliam Nasional Berhad, operates oil and gas fields in the South China Sea within Malaysia's EEZ and has in recent years had several encounters with Chinese vessels.
Anwar said China has sent "one or two" protest notes to stop Malaysia's oil exploration activities, without specifying details, but stressed that the government would continue to explain to Beijing its position.
"We have said that we will not transgress other people's borders. That is our stringent policy and principles," he said.
"They know our position.... They have claimed that we are infringing on their territory. That is not the case. We say no, it is our territory."
"But if they continue with the dispute, then okay, we will have to listen, and they will have to listen."
An international arbitration tribunal in The Hague in 2016 ruled China's claim to about 90% of the South China Sea, made via a U-shaped "nine-dash line" on its maps, had no basis under international law, a decision Beijing does not recognize.
Moscow is using Russian President Vladimir Putins two-day visit to Mongolia earlier this week to undermine the International Criminal Court, or ICC, which charged Putin in March 2023 for the war crime of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children to Russia.
Mongolia, a state party to the Rome Statute of the ICC, was obligated to arrest Putin upon his arrival on September 3, but it did not.
On September 3, Russian state TV correspondent Pavel Zarubin asked Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov about concerns" from the United States and European Union over Putins Mongolia visit. Zarubin made no mention of the ICC arrest warrant.
Lavrov referenced the anniversary of a World War II battle in which Mongolian and Soviet forces defeated Imperial Japan, and he attempted to link it to current events.
[I]f someone raises questions about why such closeness [between Mongolia and Russia] well, probably, these are the people who once again began to slip Nazi overtones into their actions, not only their thoughts, which is reflected in support for the Kyiv regime.
Like Putin, other top Russian officials and propagandists, Lavrov is falsely attempting to portray Russias invasion of Ukraine as an extension of World War II. Russia invaded Ukraine under the false pretext that Moscow was de-nazifying the country.
Lavrov previously made the provocative and false claim that German leaders efforts to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression could be explained by the German leaders inheritance of Nazi genes.
Western concern over Mongolia not arresting Putin reflects on upholding the global rules-based order, which Russia further undermined through its invasion of Ukrainian and illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory.
Neither the U.S. nor the EU opposes Mongolias right to enjoy bilateral relations with Russia. They did emphasize Mongolias need to support the rule of law and to hold Putin accountable for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
When asked about Putins recent visit, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said the U.S. expects Mongolia to adhere to its commitment and its support for the principles of the U.N. Charter.
But Miller also recognized the position Mongolia is in as a sparsely populated, landlocked state sandwiched between Russia and China.
Mongolia is economically dependent on Russia and China, and highly dependent on Russian energy products.
A Mongolian government spokesperson told Politico the supply of Russian energy and petroleum products is critical to ensure our existence and that of our people.
The EU, likewise, takes no issue with Mongolias relationship with Russia.
Mongolia, like all other countries, has the right to develop its international ties according to its own interests, European Commission spokeswoman Nabila Massrali said.
But she added that Mongolia is bound to the legal obligations that being a state party to the ICC entails.
Individual European countries have likewise noted Mongolias obligation to arrest Putin, saying there should be no impunity for war crimes.
Ukraines foreign ministry took a stronger stance, saying the Mongolian government had dealt a heavy blow to the ICC and international criminal justice system by not arresting Putin.
Mongolia allowed the indicted criminal to escape justice, thereby sharing responsibility for his war crimes. We will work with partners to ensure that this has consequences for Ulaanbaatar, Ukraines Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Heorhii Tykhyi, wrote in a September 2 post on X.
A number of prominent pro-Russian accounts on X contrasted Putins red carpet arrival in Mongolia with the West and/or Ukraines ineffectual calls for the Russian leader to be arrested.
Despite Moscows denials, the ICC, the International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, media reports, academic institutions, government bodies and non-governmental organizations have all compiled evidence documenting Moscows illegal efforts to forcibly deport children from Ukraine to Russia and Russian-occupied territory.
Ukraine says nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children have been deported or forcibly displaced, although the exact figure is likely much higher.
The majority of those children were taken from Russian-occupied regions in southern and eastern Ukraine.
That ICC arrest warrant previously kept Putin from attending the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) economic summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, in July 2023.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not swayed by the protests against him in Israel as the United States on Wednesday dismissed concerns that criminal charges brought against Hamas leaders would complicate ongoing negotiations to reach a Gaza cease-fire deal. The United States accuses Russia of conducting a massive mis-information campaign ahead of the presidential election. Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are still vague about their policies towards Ukraine. A man was shot by police in Munich near the Israeli consulate and a Nazi-era museum, and a teenager is under arrest for a school shooting in the US state of Georgia. The China-Africa Forum gets underway and Secretary Blinken heads to Haiti.
Pope Francis and the grand imam of Southeast Asias largest mosque vowed Thursday to fight religiously inspired violence and protect the environment, issuing a joint call for interfaith friendship and common cause at the heart of Francis visit to Indonesia.
In an encounter rich with symbolic meaning and personal touches, Francis traveled to Jakartas iconic Istiqlal Mosque for an interreligious gathering with representatives of the six religions that are officially recognized in Indonesia: Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Catholicism and Protestantism.
There, he and the grand imam, Nasaruddin Umar, stood at the ground-level entrance to the Tunnel of Friendship, an underpass which connects the mosque compound with the neighboring Catholic cathedral, Our Lady of the Assumption.
Indonesia, which has the worlds largest Muslim population, has held out the tunnel as a tangible sign of its commitment to religious freedom, which is enshrined in the constitution but has been challenged by repeated instances of discrimination and violence against religious minorities.
From January 2021 to July 2024, there were at least 123 cases of intolerance, including rejection, closure or destruction of places of worship and physical attacks, Amnesty International noted on the eve of Francis' visit.
Approaching the elevator to the tunnel, Francis said it was a potent sign of how different religious traditions have a role to play in helping everyone pass through the tunnels of life with our eyes turned towards the light.
He encouraged all Indonesians of every religious tradition to walk in search of God and contribute to building open societies, founded on reciprocal respect and mutual love, capable of protecting against rigidity, fundamentalism and extremism, which are always dangerous and never justifiable.
Francis traveled to Indonesia, at the start of an 11-day, four-nation trip to Asia and Oceania, to encourage Indonesia to combat religiously inspired violence and pledge the Catholic Churchs commitment to greater fraternity.
The meeting at the mosque showed the personal side of that policy, with Francis and Umar the 87-year-old pope and the more youthful 65-year-old imam showing a clear affinity for one another. As Francis was leaving in his wheelchair, Umar bent down and kissed Francis on the head. Francis then grasped Umar's hand, kissed it and held it to his cheek.
The event began with a similarly moving moment, as a visually impaired Indonesian teenage girl, Kayla Nur Syahwa, chanted verses from the Quran about tolerance among believers of different faiths.
Francis has made improving Catholic-Muslim ties a hallmark of his papacy and has prioritized travel to majority Muslim nations to further the agenda.
During a 2019 visit to the Gulf, Francis and the imam of Al-Azhar, the 1,000-year-old seat of Sunni learning, launched a Human Fraternity movement calling for greater Christian-Muslim efforts to promote peace around the world. More recently, Francis traveled to Najaf, Iraq, in 2021 to visit the top Shiite cleric, who delivered a message of peaceful coexistence.
The new initiative launched Thursday, called The Istiqlal Declaration, now becomes another pillar of Francis interfaith push. It was signed by Francis and Umar at a formal ceremony in the tent on the Istiqlal mosque compound. The other religious representatives at the encounter didnt co-sign it but were listed by organizers as having accompanied it.
The document said religion should never be abused to justify violence, but should instead be used to resolve conflicts and protect and promote human dignity. It also called for decisive action to protect the environment and its resources, blaming man-made actions for the current climate crisis.
The human exploitation of creation, our common home, has contributed to climate change, leading to various destructive consequences such as natural disasters, global warming and unpredictable weather patterns, it read. This ongoing environmental crisis has become an obstacle to the harmonious coexistence of peoples.
Fighting climate change has been an important priority for the Argentine Jesuit pope, who has issued encyclicals insisting on the moral dimension of caring for Gods creation. The climate issue is of existential importance to Indonesia, a tropical archipelago stretching across the equator and home to the worlds third-largest rainforest and a variety of endangered wildlife and plants.
Umar, the grand imam, recalled in his remarks to the gathering that the Istiqlal mosque was designed by a Christian architect and is used for a variety of social and educational programs that benefit everyone, not just Muslims.
Calling the mosque "a big house for humanity, he said the tunnel was a melting pot for people of different faiths. We hope and have the principle that humanity is one, so anyone can enter and benefit, he said.
The interfaith gathering was the highlight of Francis visit to Indonesia, which concludes later Thursday with a giant Mass in Jakartas stadium expected to draw some 60,000 people. Catholics represent about 3% of Indonesias population of 275 million, but the country is home to the worlds largest Catholic seminary and has long been a top source of priests and nuns for the Catholic Church.
Francis is seeking to encourage their faith by becoming the third pope to visit Indonesia, after Paul VI in 1970 and John Paul II in 1989.
On Friday, Francis heads to Papua New Guinea for the second leg of his trip, one of the longest and farthest in papal history, which will also take him to East Timor and Singapore before it ends Sept. 13.
During his recent trip to Mongolia, Russian President Vladimir Putin promoted a plan to build a pipeline from his country to China. The pipeline, which could weaken U.S. energy leverage over Beijing, would have to pass through Mongolia.
In a joint press conference held after talks in Ulaanbaatar on Tuesday, Putin said cooperation in the gas sector looks promising.
The two sides have completed drawing up documents to design the Soyuz Vostok gas pipeline extension in Mongolia and it is "at the stage of state expert appraisal and assessment," Putin said.
New export market
The Soyuz Vostok gas pipeline extension is part of the Power of Siberia 2 (PS-2) pipeline. The PS-2 pipeline would transport about 50 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas annually to China when completed.
It is seen as an effort by Moscow to divert gas that had been exported to Europe to Asia after the Nord Stream 1 pipeline under the Baltic Sea was damaged by explosions last year.
Russia uses the Power of Siberia 1 pipeline to deliver gas to China, exporting 22.7 bcm in 2023. It aims to raise the supplies to 38 bcm annually by 2025.
"China is really Russia's option to find a customer for a sizable portion of the pipeline gas it previously sent to Europe," said Erica Downs, a senior research scholar focusing on Chinese energy markets at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University.
"Putin will continue to champion the project and look for ways to characterize any discussion of the project with Mongolian officials as progress," she continued.
Beijing and Moscow have been in talks for years over PS-2, but a final agreement has not been reached. Mongolia also has not made a final approval for the pipeline to pass through its land.
"The pipeline, if built, would reduce U.S. LNG [liquefied natural gas] exports to China," further weakening U.S. energy leverage over China that is already declining, said Joseph Webster, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Center.
Beijing seeks to reduce foreign energy dependence by "replacing imports with indigenously produced energy" including solar, wind, and nuclear energy, Webster said.
A report by the U.S. Congressional Research Service on Aug. 28 said, "PS-2 could strengthen China's bargaining position" with the U.S. if it receives additional Russian natural gas. The U.S. has been the sixth largest exporter of LNG to China between 2016 and 2023, the report noted.
The report said PS-2 could also help Russia avoid sanctions imposed by the West because "PS-2 would involve pipeline trade of natural gas" and "no existing sanctions would impact this trade."
Renewed push
Putin made an extra effort to promote the pipeline deal at the press conference with Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh.
He said Russia and Mongolia are "not only talking about the transit of Russian gas across Mongolia" but "the potential delivery of gas to Mongolian consumers."
Ahead of the talks, Putin said Mongolia initially "preferred to limit themselves to being just a transit country" for the pipeline but is now considering a deal to obtain "cheap pipeline gas to support the development of their economy and infrastructure."
Putin made the comments in a written interview with Mongolia's Onoodor newspaper, according to the Kremlin on Monday.
Putin's renewed push to boost PS2 came after Mongolia in August excluded the pipeline project in its national development plan through 2028.
Diana Furchtgott-Roth, director of the Center for Energy, Climate and Environment at the Heritage Foundation, said Putin made the remarks "to project strength" and because he "needs a market for his oil."
"He wants to see what the West says," and also "to see whether Mongolia changes its mind," but the pipeline deal is still incomplete "until we get confirmation from Mongolia," she said.
Khurelsukh did not confirm in his statements in the bilateral talks with Putin whether he agreed to allow the pipeline deal to proceed.
In a series of documents signed on Tuesday, Russia and Mongolia made agreements on the supplies of oil, petroleum products, and aviation fuel but did not mention any agreements on the pipeline deal.
China-Russia competition
Mongolia is heavily dependent on Russian energy, importing 95% of its petroleum products and more than 20% of electricity. A spokesperson for the Mongolian government told Politico on Tuesday that is why it did not arrest Putin when he was in the country.
The International Criminal Court issued a warrant for Putin's arrest for crimes committed in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. As a member country of the ICC, Mongolia was obligated to arrest him.
"Mongolia probably does not have to make a final decision about Power of Siberia 2 anytime soon because China is in no hurry to move forward with the project," Downs said.
"The fact that Mongolia did not include Power of Siberia 2 in its next four-year spending plan indicates that it does not expect the project to move off the drawing board before 2028," she said.
Russia also has been in talks with China about the project in recent months.
In May, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Beijing and Moscow are expected to sign a contract on the PS-2 gas pipeline "in the near future."
But the pipeline deal between the two remained stalled over pricing demands by Beijing, the Financial Times reported in June.
On Wednesday, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui apparently told the Russian News Agency Tass on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok that Beijing and Moscow would eventually launch PS-2 despite difficulties surrounding the project.
"China always drives a hard bargain on the pricing of gas imports and wants to control as much as possible of the transportation network involved in its imports and exports," said Thomas Duesterberg, senior fellow at Hudson Institute.
"Russia and China compete over influence in Mongolia, and the Russo-Mongolian deal is subject to close scrutiny because of these factors, and that likely explains the failure at this time to reach a deal," he added.
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng will visit Mongolia from Sept. 4 to 8 after attending the Eastern Economic Forum held in Vladivostok, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday.
It is uncertain, however, whether Beijing and Ulaanbaatar will discuss the PS-2 pipeline project.
Pakistan Federal Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik said Wednesday that international sanctions have caused complications for the Iran-Pakistan cross-border natural gas pipeline project.
Media outlets reported that Iran had warned Pakistan to complete its part of the project or face an $18 billion penalty news that sparked a debate days later in Pakistan's lower house, the National Assembly.
Responding to a question by a lawmaker on the floor of the house regarding Iran's final notice, Malik said, This is a deeply complicated matter and involves international sanctions."
Malik did not provide more details about sanctions, but said the government is available to discuss the complications.
He rejected the penalty figure of $18 billion, saying, I do not know where it has come from.
In response to a query regarding reports of Iran's notice, Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said last week that Pakistan had taken note of the development.
Pakistan and Iran have robust channels of communications including this matter. We have always said that we would like to resolve all issues [with Iran] through friendly consultations, she said during a briefing.
Petroleum Minister Malik, during an informal conversation on the gas pipeline project with local journalists in March, confirmed that Pakistan would present its case to the U.S. and seek an exemption from sanctions.
We cannot bear American sanctions. We will present our stance to the U.S. We want to complete this project but without any sanctions," Malik told journalists.
However, Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baloch, also in March, said that the project is progressing "in conformity with our commitment to the Iran-Pakistan pipeline." She emphasized that Pakistan perceives no grounds for objections from external parties as the construction activities are confined within Pakistani territory.
During a briefing Tuesday, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that helping Pakistan address its energy shortage was a priority for the United States. He added, however, that "we will continue to enforce our sanctions against Iran. We also advise anyone considering a business deal with Iran to be aware of its possible ramifications."
Pakistan experts say Pakistan failed to meet its commitment to build its part of the pipeline for several reasons, including a volatile security situation in Balochistan, where the pipeline is supposed to pass. Gas pipelines are not safe in restive Balochistan and Baloch insurgents frequently target gas pipelines in the resource-rich southwestern province bordering Iran.
In my opinion, however, Pakistans real worry is U.S. sanctions," said Naveed Hussain, an editor of the Pakistan English daily newspaper The Express Tribune. "It has declared force majeure, but Iran says Pakistan had signed the agreement while being fully cognizant of [the] U.S. sanctions risk, especially when India had withdrawn from the project for the same reason.
Khaleeq Kiani, who writes about the economy for the Pakistan English daily newspaper Dawn, told VOA, The U.S. stance is clear, and recently it imposed sanctions on companies providing equipment to Pakistan missile programs, that was a clear indication to Pakistan to not proceed with the pipeline project.
In April, the U.S. imposed sanctions on four entities one based in Belarus, and the other three in China for supplying missileapplicable items to Pakistans ballistic missile program, including its long-range missile program.
Despite that precedent, Pakistan's foreign minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, said at a May press briefing that Pakistan would not succumb to international pressure on the pipeline project.
We will not let anyone use their veto, Dar said, without naming the United States.
Dar's remarks came weeks after Donald Lu, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs, told a U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing that importing gas from Iran would expose Pakistan to U.S. sanctions.
Pakistan is facing gas shortages and relies on subsidized gas, putting pressure on the national exchequer, Petroleum Minister Malik said on the house floor Wednesday.
Originally envisaged as the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline, the project was reduced to a bilateral agreement after India pulled out in 2008. Tehran and Islamabad signed a 25-year contract in 2009 to export gas from Iran through a 2,400-kilometer gas pipeline to be built jointly by both countries.
While Iran has completed its pipeline section, Pakistan keeps dragging its feet on the project. In 2019, the two countries revised their contract, and Islamabad committed to building its portion of the pipeline by 2024.
This story originated in VOAs Deewa Service.
On September 4, the U.S. departments of Justice and State announced sanctions and criminal charges against two RT employees for allegedly laundering $10 million to spread Russian propaganda through U.S. influencers, aiming to influence the November 2024 election.
The Department of Treasury also designated 10 people and 2 entities in response to Russian influence efforts.
On the same day, Leonid Slutsky, head of the Russian State Duma's international affairs committee, labeled the U.S. sanctions against RT as a "witch hunt," claiming they are an attack on freedom of speech and an example of vulgar censorship:
"U.S. sanctions against the media group Rossiya Segodnya, RIA Novosti, RT and Sputnik are a clear example of a witch hunt, pressure on freedom of speech and vulgar censorship. The adherents of the empire of lies are waging war on everyone who speaks the truth about the policies of modern neocolonialists."
This statement is false.
The U.S. Justice Department unsealed an indictment charging Russian nationals RT employees with violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and money laundering. They are accused of orchestrating a $10 million scheme to covertly spread disinformation in the U.S. via a front company, while falsely claiming it was backed by a private investor.
The Department of State has imposed new visa restrictions and designated Rossiya Segodnya and its subsidiaries as Foreign Missions. The Treasury Department also sanctioned 10 individuals, including RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan, for their roles in the covert influence campaign.
Justice Department charges
On September 4, a federal indictment was unsealed in the Southern District of New York, charging Russian nationals Kostiantyn Kalashnikov, 31, and Elena Afanasyeva, 27, with conspiracy to violate FARA and money laundering. Both are currently at large.
According to Attorney General Merrick Garland, the indictment alleges that Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva, employees of the Russian state-controlled media outlet RT, orchestrated a $10 million scheme to covertly disseminate pro-Kremlin propaganda or disinformation in the U.S. Many of the videos produced by the company aligned with Russia's objective of deepening U.S. domestic divisions, with the apparent goal of weakening American opposition to Russia's core interests, particularly its ongoing war in Ukraine.
A Tennessee-based company concealed its connections to RT and the Russian government from both influencers and their millions of followers. Instead, the defendants falsely claimed that the company was backed by a private investor, who was, in fact, a fictitious person.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco emphasized the U.S. approach to countering foreign influence, stating that RT and its employees funneled nearly $10 million to online commentators to spread pro-Russia propaganda. She affirmed the Departments commitment to preventing illegal foreign manipulation of American public opinion.
Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva face charges that carry maximum sentences of 25 years in prison. The FBI is investigating the case.
Ukraine faces wildly different prospects under a potential Trump or Harris presidency but analysts say it's clear Kyiv is not waiting for November to let its fate be decided.
Still, in this ancient capital that is no stranger to the whims of foreign powers, analysts seem to view a possible re-run of a Donald Trump administration with ambivalence.
"There is a prevailing opinion that the return of Trump to the White House is not the best scenario for Ukraine," said Oleksii Melnyk, of the foreign relations and international security program at the Razumkov Center, a research institution. "Although there are also cautious opinions that everything may not be that bad."
Trump has said he'll swiftly end the war, although his running mate, vice presidential candidate JD Vance, once said he "doesn't really care" about Ukraine.
This makes a future Kamala Harris administration more of a wild card to this nation that knows Trump and President Joe Biden so well. Harris has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and represented Biden at major transatlantic security summits. But on the campaign trail, Harris has only briefly spotlighted Ukraine and how she differs from Trump.
Trump "encouraged [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to invade our allies, said Russia could, quote, do whatever the hell they want. Five days before Russia attacked Ukraine, I met with President Zelenskyy to warn him about Russia's plan to invade," she said at last month's Democratic National Convention. "I helped mobilize a global response over 50 countries to defend against Putin's aggression. And as president, I will stand strong with Ukraine and our NATO allies."
Analysts say none of this is surprising. Harris is likely to follow Biden's "Support-Ukraine" playbook, they say, adding that Trump's broad foreign policy pronouncements remain as vague as ever, such as Trump's promise that he'll end the war in one day.
"It's not entirely clear how he'll do that," said Andrew Payne, a lecturer in foreign policy and security at City St. George's, University of London. "The fear, of course, is that he'll do it by simply abandoning Ukraine, cutting off funds and pressuring Zelenskyy into negotiations at a time when Putin would enjoy all of the bargaining leverage."
Ukraine shows renewed confidence
But, Payne said, the battlefield has shifted with Ukrainian forces' recent decision to strike across the border and take a bite of Russian territory.
This development is something that stuck with John Herbst, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, on a recent visit there.
"Without a doubt, our chief impression was the energy and renewed confidence Ukraine's bold strike into Russia has provided the country's leadership and people," Herbst wrote in the Atlantic Council late last month. "They see the seizure of more than 460 square miles of Russian territory and the capture of hundreds of Russian soldiers as a clear victory, one that has changed the international conversation from a focus on peace talks or a cease-fire in place largely on Kremlin terms; they recognize that Russian President Vladimir Putin's notion of a cease-fire in place is now much less attractive to the Kremlin."
Biden still a factor
While analysts widely predict that Ukraine will neither seek to hold let alone succeed in holding this land permanently, it's a bargaining chip that will help Kyiv, whomever wins. And, Payne said, Biden could also put his hand on the scale at a pivotal stage.
"I wouldn't be expecting any shift in the U.S. position vis-a-vis Ukraine's military operations before November, but I would be watching between November and January whatever the outcome to see if there is a little bit more leash given to Kyiv," he said.
And he said Ukraine's leader has bolstered his relationships with European leaders and broadened his support.
Herbst also pointed to how a lame-duck Biden could give Kyiv a shot in the arm.
"Biden should also use his last months in office to reach out to Republican leaders in Congress to pass one last aid bill for Ukraine during his administration," he wrote.
Anna Chernikova contributed to this report from Kyiv.
Ukraine faces wildly different prospects under a potential Donald Trump or Kamala Harris U.S. presidency. But as their campaigns race to the finish line, neither candidate has laid out exactly how they plan to deal with Russias war on Ukraine. Experts say in that same space of time, the battlefield in Ukraine has itself radically changed, giving more power to Ukraine in determining its own fate. VOA White House correspondent Anita Powell reports from Washington.
Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, was discharged from a hospital Wednesday after surgery on his left foot, following an incident Tuesday in which he was injured during an altercation with police.
The police, meanwhile, denied that Wine had been shot. Wines political party on Tuesday accused the police of shooting the opposition leader in the leg.
Wine, who heads the National Unity Platform party, or NUP, was leaving a meeting when he confronted police who were beating, arresting and using tear gas on onlookers who had gathered near the home, according to party lawyer George Musisi.
He said Wine was injured by fragments of a tear-gas canister when he got out of his vehicle to speak to the police commander.
Shortly after stepping out, thats when those canisters were thrown directly in his direction, Musisi said.
Wine is an entertainer-turned-politician who unsuccessfully challenged President Yoweri Museveni in the 2021 elections. The government has denied accusations it tries to clamp down on the opposition.
Musisi described the extent of Wines injuries, saying, When they did the X-ray, they found that some fragments had hit the bone. That explains [why there was] much more pain than actually how the wound ... looked.
Police described the confrontation differently.
Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma told journalists that Wine had attended a celebration, after which he initiated a procession upon his departure. Kituuma said that authorities advised against it, but that Wine insisted on proceeding, which blocked the road and triggered the police intervention.
The information we got from the officers at that ... time was that they saw him stumble while getting into his vehicle, Kituuma said. We dont want to get into the arguments over whether Wine was injured by a bullet or a stumble.
"We want an opportunity for an investigation to prove it, which must be medical, and which must go through professional investigators, he said.
Yusuf Serunkuma, a political analyst, said that while police should have ensured no one was hurt, most of their actions are made out of fear of the crowds Wine attracts.
Because Kampala is the capital city of political activity, if you can overwhelm Kampala, youve overwhelmed the government. So, the governments fear is the if. Even if its spontaneous and completely unorganized, they worry that it might become something big and they may fail to contain it, Serunkuma said.
Critics have accused police of heavy-handedness, especially when it comes to members of the opposition.
Police say that during the altercation, three officers were injured when they were hit by stones and that two of their vehicles were damaged.
by Mahmoud Fouly, Yao Bing
CAIRO, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- On an ordinary day, a bus packed with Egyptian engineers rolled into the bustling Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt's new administrative capital.
Their destination heaves into view -- a state-of-the-art training center where the Egyptian branch of China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) gives hands-on lectures.
Here, the engineers will sharpen their expertise in the art of skyscraper construction, gaining insights from industry leaders as they help shape the skyline of Egypt's future.
"Up We Build (UWB) College" is an on-site training center established by CSCEC Egypt, which has built the 20-tower CBD in the heart of the desert some 50 km east of the country's capital city of Cairo, including the 385.8-meter-high Iconic Tower, the tallest skyscraper not just in Egypt but in Africa.
Having been working with CSCEC Egypt for seven months since graduation, Fahmy Reda, a 25-year-old Egyptian electrical and mechanical engineer, depicts his current job as a big boost to his career.
Although he didn't work in the Iconic Tower, he was keen to attend the lecture to learn about the technologies used in its construction.
"The idea of having a lecture on the Iconic Tower is very useful, as I can learn how other parts of the project were carried out and know about the experiences and technologies used in the Iconic Tower construction," the junior engineer told Xinhua.
Fady Hany said that he gained a lot of expertise from working on the CBD project, "especially since it is the first time in Egypt to have such tall skyscrapers, including the tallest in Africa."
"The lectures held by the company are free for everyone, whether workers or engineers, where Egyptians and Chinese get to know each other and exchange cultures and expertise," said the 26-year-old Egyptian engineer.
The lecture was given by a 30-years-old Chinese instructor Li Luoluo, the Iconic Tower technical engineer, who has been working on the project since six years ago when the place was mostly desert.
"When I look at these high-rise buildings, I feel very proud, not only because I participate in such a world-class large-scale project, but also because it is a symbol of friendship and cooperation between China and Egypt," said the Chinese engineer.
Li has participated in seven or eight training courses and trained more than 200 Egyptian engineers in the company's UWB College. "Everyone was very excited to learn about the Chinese construction technology," he said.
The CBD project is not only a key project of Egypt's national rejuvenation plan, but also a flagship project under the framework of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Li Binghong, head of the UWB College, said that the principle of the training center goes in line with the concept of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, which is supported by the BRI.
"I hope that through UWB we can train more outstanding Egyptian engineers so that they can not only work on our projects but also various projects in the future, and make greater contributions to their country," he added.
The CBD project consists of 20 towers that were all built simultaneously, along with a Central Utility Complex (CUC). The 20 high-rise buildings include 10 office towers, five residential towers, four hotels, and the Iconic Tower, according to Ahmed El-Banna, the CBD project manager from international consulting company Dar Al-Handasah.
"By the end of this year, we will deliver 15 towers, including 10 office towers and five residential ones, and we will also deliver the CUC," he added, noting that the remaining four hotel buildings and the Iconic Tower are scheduled to be delivered in 2025.
"These towers had an impact on the construction industry market in Egypt and the people who worked here benefited from the experience they gained," said the Egyptian project manager, referring to the CBD as the "crown jewel" of the new capital.
"We expect the CBD to be an attractive area for foreign investors and to see international companies here in its towers with a high employment rate," El-Banna told Xinhua. Enditem
(Dina Moutaz also contributed to the story.)
Ukrainian lawmakers on Thursday appointed Andrii Sybiha, a career diplomat, as the countrys new foreign minister in President Volodymyr Zelenskyys reshuffling of his top advisers.
Sybiha, 49, replaces Dmytro Kuleba, who had been instrumental in lobbying Ukraines Western allies for more military assistance for Ukraines 30-month fight against Russias invasion.
Sybiha, who speaks English and Polish, has been the deputy foreign minister and had also served as ambassador to Turkey. He is considered to be closer to Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, than Kuleba, who is the most prominent departure from Zelenskyys list of top officials.
The Foreign Ministry of neighboring Poland, a staunch ally of Ukraine, congratulated Sybiha in a post on X, saying, "We look forward to further cooperation for Ukraine's European future."
While Kuleba's diplomatic skills were acknowledged, his removal was part of a bid by Zelenskyy to exert a tighter grip on foreign policy, Ukrainian sources suggested.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Kuleba to voice his "great appreciation and friendship" from their time working together, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters on Wednesday.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on X that there had been "few people I've worked as closely with" as Kuleba.
A source in Zelenskyy's party, however, said the presidency had been growing frustrated with Kuleba, Agence France-Presse reported.
"He was giving interviews, speaking beautifully, going on trips, this handkerchief in his jacket. ... He was engaged in self-promotion, instead of improving the work of embassies, working systematically on countries and getting their support," the source said.
A source close to the presidential office told AFP that Zelenskyy and Kuleba "will discuss and decide" his future post amid speculation that he could be tasked to steer Ukraine's bid to join NATO, although there is little chance of Ukraine joining the Wests key military alliance until after Russias war with Ukraine ends.
Zelenskyy, when asked about the rationale for his government shake-up, told reporters, "We need new energy. And these steps are related to strengthening our state in various areas."
Ukraine's parliament on Thursday also approved new nominations for several other posts, naming two new vice prime ministers and six other new ministers.
On the battle front, Ukraines military said Thursday it shot down 60 of 78 Russian drones that targeted regions across the country.
But Serhiy Lysak, the regional governor of Dnipropetrovsk, said on Telegram a Russian attack damaged an infrastructure site and injured one person.
In Kherson, officials reported Russian strikes that hit two medical facilities and injured two people.
Poltava Governor Filip Pronin said on Telegram that Russian forces hit an educational institution, but he did not provide information about casualties.
Russias defense ministry said Thursday it destroyed a rocket and two Ukrainian aerial drones over the Belgorod region. The governor there said on Telegram there was damage to a home and that one person was injured.
Russian air defenses also shot down three drones over the Kursk region and two drones over Bryansk, the defense ministry said.
Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
The Biden administration has announced criminal charges, the seizure of internet domains and sanctions related to Russian disinformation efforts to influence the U.S. presidential election. Four people were killed in a shooting at a Georgia high school on Wednesday, just weeks after classes began. And an auction with tape recordings for Bob Dylan's first album and Madonnas earliest guitar and drums, handwritten letters, and audio tapes of her first recorded song.
Efforts by Beijing to limit Taiwan's participation in the recently concluded Pacific Islands Forum underscore the intense and ongoing tug-of-war between Western democracies and China for influence in the region, analysts say.
During the Pacific Islands Forum, or PIF, which wrapped up Friday, Beijing ally Solomon Islands tried unsuccessfully to block Taiwan from future participation. Then, on Saturday, the PIF removed a reference to Taiwan in its final communique after Beijing's top Pacific diplomat expressed outrage at its inclusion.
The communique originally reaffirmed a 30-year-old agreement allowing Taiwan to take part in the PIF. That wording was later removed. Beijing's communist leaders insist that democratically ruled Taiwan is a part of China and have worked for decades to limit the island's participation in international organizations.
After the references to Taiwan were removed, Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday, "Taiwan issued the strongest condemnation on China's arbitrary intervention and unreasonable actions that undermine regional peace and stability.
However, the ministry said the revision did not undermine Taiwans status at the forum or prevent it from participating in the future.
Asia Group senior adviser Kathryn Paik, who helped lead the creation of the first U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum Summit while at the U.S. National Security Council, said that while Taiwan's status as a development partner is still solid, what happened highlights the intensity of Beijing's efforts in the region.
"China has made gaining access and influence in the Pacific a top priority in recent years, sending savvy diplomats to the region. In fact, China currently has vastly more diplomats on the ground in more countries than the United States, outnumbering the U.S. in almost every location," Paik told VOA. "The pushback on the Solomon Islands' attempt which was transparently an attempt by China to remove Taiwan as a development partner to the PIF demonstrated the high regard that many nations have for Taiwan's contributions to Pacific development."
PIF officials did not explain why Taiwan was removed from the communique but stressed that the PIF would continue to welcome Taiwan at its regional meetings.
Nikkei Asia reported that Chinese Special Envoy for the Pacific Qian Bo told reporters Friday the reference was a mistake that should be corrected.
"Taiwan is part of China. Taiwan is not a dialogue partner of PIF, so China has the representation on behalf of the whole China, including Taiwan and the mainland," Qian said.
VOA reached out to the Chinese Embassy in Washington and the Solomon Islands for comment but has yet to receive a response.
Partnership through 2027
On Sunday, Taiwan announced an agreement with the Pacific Islands to extend the development partnership through 2027, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.
The statement also highlighted programs Taiwan has supported in the Pacific Islands, efforts that have focused on areas such as agriculture, education, medical care, communications technology, women's empowerment and basic infrastructure.
Commenting Tuesday on China's efforts at the PIF, the U.S. State Department backed Taiwan's continued right to attend regional meetings.
"The PRC's efforts to pressure Pacific Island countries to remove this reference fit a pattern of PRC coercion to constrain Taiwan's international position," a State Department spokesperson told VOA, using an abbreviation of the countrys formal name, the Peoples Republic of China. "Taiwan is a highly capable, engaged, democratic and responsible member of the global community."
US Pacific territories
While China and the United States maintain status as partner nations in the PIF, U.S. territories Guam and American Samoa were granted status as associate members during last week's meetings. Although they do not have voting rights, they will be able to provide speakers at plenary sessions and nominate members to PIF working groups.
"The United States supports the U.S. Pacific territories' increased participation in the PIF and greater connectivity with PIF members," a State Department spokesperson told VOA.
The Asia Group's Paik said that having two U.S. territories "more tightly knit into the Pacific community" further reinforces that the U.S. is a Pacific nation and opens opportunities for the U.S. to influence decision-making at the forum.
Ivan Kanapathy, a former deputy senior director for Asian affairs at the National Security Council, agrees.
"This will provide more allied voices and reduce PRC influence, which often relies on elite capture," said Kanapathy, an adjunct professor at Georgetown University.
He added: "Washington must convince the region that it is willing to impose real costs on Beijing more than just diplomatic statements."
Some information for this report came from Reuters.
The United States announced new sanctions Thursday on ships that transport Russian gas from Moscow's Arctic LNG 2 terminal in Russias Murmansk region.
The measures target the owners of two LNG tankers, the New Energy and the Mulan. The U.S. State Department said the New Energy had used "deceptive shipping practices, including shutting off its automatic identification system, to load cargo from the U.S.-sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project."
It comes as a new analysis shows Russia appears to be struggling to find buyers for its liquefied natural gas, or LNG, from its flagship Arctic LNG 2 project amid tightening Western sanctions, forcing Moscow to store the gas in a huge container vessel in the Arctic Sea.
The Arctic LNG 2 project was meant to produce almost 19.8 million metric tonnes of LNG every year to sell primarily to Asian markets, potentially earning billions of dollars for Novatek, the private company that runs the project, and the Kremlin.
Instead, Russia is struggling to sell the gas, according to analyst Tom Marzec-Manser, head of gas analytics at Independent Commodity Intelligence Services. He has been using satellite and ship-tracking data to monitor LNG vessels servicing the Arctic LNG 2 facility.
So far, were aware of three cargoes that have been loaded from Arctic LNG 2 ... and all of them really have not gone anywhere. In recent days, what weve seen is that two of them have had to offload their cargo onto this huge floating storage unit that Russia's Novatek has had moored up near Murmansk for over a year and never used it's also under sanctions. They're offloading these cargoes into the storage unit because they can't find a buyer, Marzec-Manser told VOA.
He said that storage unit, named the Saam, will rapidly fill up if Russia cant find buyers, creating a bottleneck and potentially forcing Novatek to halt production.
Putins flagship
Arctic LNG 2 was a flagship development for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who pledged that it would one day help Russia to become the worlds biggest producer of LNG.
Production of liquefied natural gas in the Russia Arctic zone will have increased three-fold by 2030, up to 64 million tons per year. Of course, it will contribute significantly in the development of our northern regions and in the strengthening of Russian technological sovereignty, Putin told delegates at the Eastern Economic Forum in the Russian city of Vladivostok in September 2023.
Earlier sanctions
That goal now seems unlikely. The West, led by the United States, imposed sanctions on Novatek and businesses linked to Arctic LNG 2 following Moscows February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Crucially, according to Marzec-Manser, that included the vessels intended to transport the gas.
So, there's a whole fleet of cargo vessels that are sitting in shipyards in Asia, which are specifically designed to flow through the Arctic seas. They're called ice-class vessels, and they've not been able to sell them to Novatek because of these sanctions, Marzec-Manser said.
What Novatek then did was to say, Right, what we're going to try and do is buy really old LNG vessels, which aren't designed for the Arctic waters, but we can at least shuttle them backwards and forwards during the summer months. But then the U.S. has sanctioned those vessels, as well, he told VOA.
Kremlin response
Russia is looking for ways to circumvent the sanctions. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters in April that attempts to squeeze Russia out of energy markets and switch to more expensive markets are continuing, adding that Moscow will look for ways to overcome these illegal obstacles, unfair competition and illegal actions.
Analysts say Russia is assembling a so-called dark fleet of LNG vessels that are difficult to track.
It's a game of cat and mouse, and as we see, new vessels which are owned by unknown Middle Eastern entities entering Russian waters, it's only then that you can properly join the dots to say, well, this is clearly being used to service some of these [LNG] projects, and it's only then that the sanctions come in, Marzec-Manser told VOA.
Novatek did not respond to VOA requests for comment.
Russia is still able to sell LNG and other hydrocarbon products from oil and gas fields that are not subject to Western sanctions. However, the state-owned gas giant Gazprom recorded a net loss of $6.9 billion in 2023 its first annual loss in more than 20 years as Moscow cut supplies to European customers following the invasion of Ukraine and the Wests imposition of sanctions.
The United States is now by far the worlds biggest supplier of LNG, with two-thirds of it exported to Europe.
The White House announced Thursday the United States secured the release of 135 political prisoners from Nicaragua, who were then flown to Guatemala.
In a statement, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that the prisoners had been "unjustly detained" in Nicaragua, and that "no one should be put in jail for peacefully exercising their fundamental rights of free expression, association and practicing their religion."
Sullivan said the prisoners were released on humanitarian grounds and include 13 members of the Texas-based evangelical Mountain Gateway organization, along with Catholic laypeople, students and others.
"This is a day we have prayed and believed God for. Today, we cry tears of joy because our brothers and sisters are free," Jon Britton Hancock, founder of Mountain Gateway said in a statement on the organization's website.
Sullivan said the prisoners were jailed because they were seen by Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo as "a threat to their authoritarian rule."
On the ground in Guatemala, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Eric Jacobstein said, after talking with the newly released prisoners, that he was struck by the "true pettiness and cruelty" of Ortega's government for imprisoning people for no justifiable reason.
Mountain Gateway said 11 of its members had been arrested in December and charged with money laundering. It said in a statement that all its Nicaraguan assets had been seized, and its registration to operate in the country had been revoked.
The New York Times reported the organization had attracted thousands of followers and received millions of dollars in donations. The report said the Nicaraguan government accused Mountain Gateway of using its nonprofit status as a cover to purchase property and luxury.
The Times report said the group was among about 1,600 similar organizations shut down by the Nicaraguan government in the past year.
Sullivan said the government of Guatemala has "graciously" agreed to accept the prisoners all of whom are Nicaraguan citizens upon their release. Once in the country, he said they will be offered the opportunity to apply for lawful ways to rebuild their lives in the United States.
The statement said U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were grateful to Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo for "his continued leadership across the region in addressing humanitarian issues and championing democratic freedom."
Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press and Reuters.
The United States has charged five Russian intelligence officers and one Russian civilian in connection with a major cyberattack, described by U.S. prosecutors as the first shot in the Kremlin's war against Ukraine.
The Justice Department unsealed the superseding indictment Thursday, accusing the Russians of carrying out the January 2022 "WhisperGate" malware attack that sought to debilitate Ukraine's civilian infrastructure ahead of the Russian invasion the following month.
"The WhisperGate campaign included the targeting of civilian infrastructure and Ukrainian computer systems wholly unrelated to the military or national defense, that include government agencies responsible for emergency services in Ukraine, the judiciary, food safety and education, seeking to sap the morale of the Ukrainian public," said U.S. Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen.
The attack "could be considered the first shot of the war," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Bill DelBagno, speaking alongside Olsen during a news conference in Baltimore, Maryland.
DelBagno said the WhisperGate campaign also targeted the United States and dozens of NATO allies, going as far as to infiltrate a U.S. government agency based in Maryland while simultaneously accessing U.S. bank accounts.
"The FBI, along with our law enforcement partners and allies, will relentlessly hunt down and counter these threats," he said. "This type of cyber warfare will not be tolerated. The scope of Russia's crimes cannot be ignored."
Thursday's superseding indictment, the result of an FBI operation named Toy Soldier, builds on charges first filed in June against 22-year-old Russian Amin Stigal, a civilian accused of leveraging malware to aid Russian intelligence ahead of the invasion of Ukraine.
As part of the attack, Stigal and the agents with Unit 21955 of Russia's Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff, or GRU, used the cyberinfrastructure of some U.S.-based companies to launch what first appeared to be ransomware attacks, but which were actually designed to wipe out critical data.
The new indictment names Stigals Russian GRU accomplices as Vladislav Borovkov, Denis Denisenko, Yuriy Denisov, Dmitriy Goloshubov and Nikolay Korchagin.
FBI officials said the GRU unit has also operated under the names Cadet Blizzard, Ember Bear and Dev-0586, carrying out cyberattacks on critical infrastructure across Europe, Central America and Asia.
In addition to the new charges, U.S. officials said they are offering a reward of up to $10 million for each of the Russians named in the criminal complaint.
The officials said they are also working with Interpol to serve notices that could help lead to the arrest of the six Russians.
"They are marked people," Olsen said. "We know who they are. There's a reward on their head, and we're going to pursue them relentlessly."
"The message is clear," he said. "To the GRU, to the Russians, we are onto you."
In addition to the charges, the FBI and its partners on Thursday issued a cybersecurity advisory telling organizations and companies to fix known vulnerabilities that could be exploited by the GRU's Unit 21955.
The Russian Embassy in Washington has yet to respond to a VOA request for comment.
A key Ukrainian official praised the U.S. indictments and the multinational work that helped make it possible.
"This is a very vivid example of how cooperation, international joint work will and actually can facilitate in this effort to struggle with such a strong and unfortunately quite big enemy as Russia, said Ivan Kalabashkin, the deputy head of Cyber for the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
Kalabaskin, speaking at a cybersecurity conference in Washington Thursday, said Ukraine is suffering from between 10 and 15 major Russian cyberattacks a day, warning the threat is unlikely to diminish.
The Russians are working very thoroughly on building their offensive [cyber] capacities, he said. They are teaching their students at the university, the civil universities, how to attack systems how to attack infrastructure.
Meanwhile, some U.S. allies announced their own plans to crack down on Russian intelligence.
Estonia on Thursday announced it has attributed a 2020 cyberattack on three of its government ministries and is seeking the arrest of three members of the GRU's Unit 21955.
"Russia's aim was to damage national computer systems, obtain sensitive information and strike a blow against our sense of security," Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said in a statement.
"Estonia condemns any malign activity, including cyberactivity that threatens our institutions, our citizens and our security," Tsahkna said.
Thursday's charges by the U.S. against Russian agents are the latest in a series of measures by Washington to crack down on what it describes as Moscow's malign activity.
Earlier Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department charged a U.S. television presenter for Channel One Russia and his wife with sanctions evasion.
On Wednesday, the U.S. charged two Russian nationals employed by the Kremlin-backed RT media outlet with funneling almost $10 million to a U.S.-based media company to spread pro-Russian disinformation.
The Justice Department on Wednesday also announced the takedown of 32 internet domains linked to what officials described as a separate Russian operation aimed at influencing the U.S. presidential election.
VOAs United Nations correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report.
The White House is signaling an openness to blocking the acquisition of U.S. Steel by Nippon Steel, as a government review of the proposed takeover by the Japanese company is wrapping up.
The Washington Post reported Wednesday that President Joe Biden plans to stop the deal from going forward. A White House official, insisting on anonymity to discuss the matter, did not deny the report and said Biden still needs to receive the official recommendation from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). That review could end as soon as this month.
Biden had voiced his objections to the merger, backing his supporters in the United Steelworkers union who oppose the deal. The objection carries weight as U.S. Steel is headquartered in the swing state of Pennsylvania and is a symbol of Pittsburgh's industrial might in an election year when Republicans and Democrats alike are promising more domestic manufacturing jobs.
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, came out against the deal this week. Former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, has said he would block the merger if he were still in the White House.
Stock in U.S. Steel fell roughly 17% on the news that Biden would stop the merger.
The CFIUS review process generally pertains to business issues with national security implications. U.S. Steel spokesperson Amanda Malkowski said in an email that the company had not received any update on the process and that the company sees "no national security issues associated with this transaction, as Japan is one of our most staunch allies."
"We fully expect to pursue all possible options under the law to ensure this transaction, which is best future for Pennsylvania, American steelmaking, and all of our stakeholders, closes," Malkowski said.
A spokesman representing Nippon Steel said the company had not received any updates from the federal government on the review process.
U.S. Steel on Wednesday hosted a rally in support of the acquisition. It said in a statement that without the Nippon Steel deal the company would "largely pivot away from its blast furnace facilities, putting thousands of good-paying union jobs at risk, negatively impacting numerous communities across the locations where its facilities exist, and depriving the American steel industry of an opportunity to better compete on the global stage."
The number of cholera deaths reported last year worldwide ballooned from the previous year by 71% to more than 4,000, the World Health Organization reported Wednesday.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus lamented the death toll from a disease he described as "preventable and easily treatable."
"Conflict, climate change, unsafe water and sanitation, poverty and displacement all contributed to the rise in cholera outbreaks," he added.
People can contract cholera through food or water contaminated with cholera bacteria. It can spread from a person into the drinking water supply or water used to prepare or grow food.
Cholera symptoms include profuse diarrhea, vomiting, increased thirst, leg cramps and restlessness or irritability, according to the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The number of cholera cases also jumped from 2022 to 2023 by 13%, WHO said, with 38% of the reported cases among children under age 5.
Last year, Africa experienced a 125% increase in cholera cases, while cases dropped 32% in the Middle East and Asia, according to the WHO report.
2023 data from 45 countries
WHO gathered its cholera statistics in 2023 from 45 countries. Forty-four countries submitted information in 2022, while 35 submitted their countries' numbers in 2021.
In this year's report, WHO said it was the first time that multiple countries had reported cholera deaths that did not happen in health facilities. The so-called community deaths, WHO said, are an indication of "serious gaps in access to treatment and the need to strengthen this area of response."
Outbreaks in 22 countries this year
In 2023, the countries that reported large cholera outbreaks, either suspected or confirmed, included Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi and Somalia. Ethiopia, Haiti, Mozambique and Zimbabwe also reported outbreaks in 2023.
The preliminary data for 2024 show that cholera outbreaks are persisting, with active outbreaks recorded in 22 countries, according to WHO.
There is a cholera vaccine, but it is made by one manufacturer who has not been able to meet the demand. Tedros has asked other companies to begin making the vaccine.
The most important treatment for cholera, according to the CDC, is rehydration therapy aimed at replacing fluids lost through diarrhea and vomiting, but WHO says its supplies are low.
WHO said the agency has asked for $50 million for its cholera response but has not received the funding. It is a need, WHO said, that "remains unmet."
MINSK, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Belarus says its airspace was violated on Thursday, according to the country's defense ministry.
"Tonight, on September 5, a fact of violation of the State border of the Republic of Belarus in the airspace, presumably by unmanned aerial vehicles, was recorded," said the ministry on its website.
According to the ministry, the country's air defense forces destroyed all intruding targets.
Photo: Rene Nijhuis/BSR Agency/Getty Images
Rachael Raygun Gunn, the controversial Paris Olympics breaker for Australia, has given her first post-lympos interview. Speaking to Australias Channel 10 TV, Gunn said actually it was ignorance of the sport which motivated people to dunk on her so. It was really sad how much hate that it did evoke, she said. And a lot of the responses is also just due to people not being very familiar with breaking and the diversity of approaches in breaking. She described the vitriol levied against her as alarming, and maintained that she is in fact the best B girl in Australia. I think my record speaks to that, she said. I was the top-ranked Australian B girl in 2020 and 2022, and 2023. So the record is there, but anything can happen in a battle. Anything like T-Rex arms?
Raygun said she was sorry for the backlash the community has experienced. Unfortunately, we just need some more resources in Australia for us to have a chance to be world champions, she said, adding that shed trained all year for the Olympics: I have really put my body through it, put my mind through it. But if thats not good enough for someone, what can I say?
Kathleen Chalfant is astonishing as a woman who moves to a care facility after she is no longer able to live alone. Photo: Memento Films International
By the time Ruths granddaughter muses I bet Grandma was a babe while trying on a stylish camel-colored coat the older woman left behind, Familiar Touch has given us plenty of opportunity to reach the same conclusion ourselves. Ruth, played by Kathleen Chalfant, is in her 80s and past the point in life when people use terms like that to describe you, even if she retains a translucent beauty. But its easy to see the signs that shes long been accustomed to being pursued and admired. Its there in the care she takes with her appearance when getting dressed, not to mention the playful flirtation that creeps into her voice when shes talking to a man she finds handsome. In the opening scenes of the film, the quietly wondrous feature debut of writer-director Sarah Friedland, that playful lilt creeps into Ruths voice as she has a younger man over for lunch at her sunny California house, overflowing with plants and books. How will we get along? she teases, putting her hand on his leg, after he tells her hes married and she responds that shes married, too. The man, Steve (H. Jon Benjamin, unexpectedly sweet and owl-eyed behind glasses), reacts with subdued discomfort, because as weve already guessed but as Ruth, who has dementia, has forgotten hes actually her son.
Movies about dementia tend to present it like something out of a horror movie, a gradual hollowing out from the inside, as seen in Still Alice and Amour, and an experience that is measured, understandably, by those watching their loved ones fade away. Certainly, as seen from Steves perspective, his mothers making a pass at him after failing to recognize him isnt a pleasant ordeal. But Familiar Touch is something more generous an account of dementia not as an end but as a period of transition for Ruth, as she leaves her home behind for an upscale care facility called Bella Vista that, Steve reminds her, she chose herself. This information doesnt make the prospect of leaving her home painless, but Ruth approaches it with a haughty dignity that soon becomes familiar. Im not one of those elderly people you have to watch constantly, she informs Vanessa (Carolyn Michelle, exuding tolerance and warmth), the nurse who shows her around. Indeed, Ruth regards the other Bella Vista residents many of whom are played by the actual residents of a retirement community in Los Angeles with skepticism and at least a little disdain.
She prefers to instead think of herself as part of the staff, at one point charging into the kitchen under the impression shes doing a shift as part of her former occupation as a cook, while the staffers there indulge her (and admire her plating). Vanessa becomes a friend, and Brian (Andy McQueen), the wellness director who gives her a checkup every other week, a suitor she has to play patient for in order to see. This comforting fiction does eventually fall apart, but Familiar Touch is finely wrought enough to not present this as a comeuppance or simply a disaster. Its too deeply entwined with Ruths experiences for that, as well as the ways in which she remains very much herself even when shes no longer entirely sure whats going on. Chalfant is one of those acclaimed theater actors who has never found the same showcase for her talents onscreen, and the delicacy of what she does in this role is astounding, transmitting Ruths tumultuous state of mind without words and making us aware of the whirring of her brain as she, say, puts a slice of toast in the dish rack and then looks at it for a while, sensing that something isnt right but unable to figure out what. Friedland refuses to condescend to the characters she puts onscreen, whether its prickly, incisive Ruth or the care workers like Brian and Vanessa, whose private encounters and overheard snippets of conversation provide reminders that they are not simply smiling figures providing nurturing for people whose families can afford the convenience.
Familiar Touch can be sad, without question, but its also salty and boundlessly tender a decisive statement that Ruths life is not over, even if she can no longer keep living it the way she did before. Unstuck from time, shes in some ways getting in touch with her own memories in a kaleidoscopic way, reliving her childhood one moment, and restored to her prime as an experienced hand with a paring knife in another. Friedlands camera is usually still, taking in what Ruth is going through with an avid openness that the film, as a whole, exudes. Its the stillness of someone who doesnt know whats going to happen next, but whos looking forward to it with more hope than fear.
Photo: Apple TV+
This article was published on September 5, 2024. At the 2024 Emmys, Slow Horses won the award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series.
There has never been a better time to get into Slow Horses.
Actually, wait, no. Thats not true. The best time to get into Slow Horses was a while ago, both because its a terrific little thriller series and because if you had started it already, then you would be all caught up for season four when it premiered this week. Also, then I would have more people to discuss Slow Horses with, which would be nice.
Im not alone on this island. The Apple TV+ show about bumbling British spies has been building steam over its first three seasons and just picked up a slew of Emmy nominations, including biggies like Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actor. It feels like were approaching a tipping point where Slow Horses moves from nice show some people say is good to A Thing People Talk About. Its always fun to have one of those. Its even better when you get to be one of the insufferable people whos all, Actually, I was watching before it became a thing about it. A little pop-culture superiority can be a nice treat once in a while.
Just in case you need more convincing, though, lets tick off the main reasons this show has become such a nasty little delight.
It is, despite the title, a frenetic blast.
Based on the series of books by Mick Herron, Slow Horses follows the adventures of a group of spies who work out of Slough House, a kind of dumping ground for wayward souls who didnt hack it in the main office of MI5. Each season tracks a new case or mystery or conspiracy or a combination of all three. Things usually start out slow and escalate quickly, with stolen diamonds or detestable weasels getting comeuppance or planes carrying bombs headed for the heart of London. It is massively bingeable in the good way, not in the way that feels like empty calories. Think of 24 with a soul, and also everyone youre rooting for is kind of terrible at their job. I promise this is a compliment.
And heres the best part, if youre thinking about starting and want to catch up quick: Slow Horses follows the very British model of six-episode seasons, which means you can get through the first three in one or two lazy weekends and jump straight into the fourth as its weekly release drips out.
Gary Oldman is televisions most flatulent spy.
Gary Oldman plays Jackson Lamb, the leader of the team at Slough House and a truly miserable and unkempt crank. Just a disaster of a human being, mean and dismissive and generally disinterested in the most basic forms of decency. He seems to delight in his cruelty sometimes, especially when it comes to his relationship with his office administrator Catherine Standish, who is almost always on the receiving end of a crack about her naivete or struggle with alcohol.
Also, I would be surprised if the character showered more than once a week. He passes gas so frequently his farts deserve their own SAG card. Hes also a great spy when he gets motivated, and hes secretly a solid team leader who is protective of his people. (Kind of.) (Sometimes.)
But the main thing is that Jackson Lamb is a great television character, a truly original creation who can probably best be described as Columbo + Scrooge + IBS. Oldman seems to be having a hoot in the role, too, which has landed him one of the shows aforementioned Emmy nominations. I hope he wins and opens his acceptance speech with a belch.
My sweet bungly boy River makes a mess of everything.
Everyone who works in Slough House is a mess. Catherine is an alcoholic who cant get her life together. Shirley is a drug addict who steals. Marcus is a gambling addict who keeps heavy artillery in his trunk. Louisa brings loser guys home and sometimes pockets valuable evidence. Roddy is an abrasive hacker dork who says things like, What would Alexander the Great do? before crashing a party bus into a house on purpose. But no one screws up quite like River Cartwright.
River, played by Jack Lowden, is the grandson of a legendary spy. He is very handsome and means well and is also maybe the dumbest man who has ever lived. He charges into situations with the confidence of a much more competent person, then finds himself in so far over his head hed need a ladder to see where he started. Its a little charming, actually, watching this man who thinks hes James Bond find out hes Mr. Bean over and over and over. In the last two seasons alone, he has been duped by one woman into storming into British intelligence headquarters in the name of gallantry and by another woman who left him incapacitated in an airplane hangar because he could not fathom that she was the mole hed been looking all along. I am very excited to see what he screws up in the fourth season. I hope he locks himself out of a nuclear submarine and it sinks to the bottom of the Thames.
Diana Taverner is a world-class schemer with an exciting new haircut.
Hey, do you like Kristin Scott Thomas? Do you want to watch a show where she is constantly using silly little men like marionettes? Maybe one where she sometimes stages a bloody intra-agency coup at MI5 that works perfectly and yet also fails completely, leaving her still stuck inside an infuriating bureaucracy and somehow more and less powerful at the same time? Perhaps one where she gets a drastic new haircut between seasons, possibly as a result of everything in the last sentence making her desperate to control ONE THING IN HER LIFE, EVEN IF ITS HER HAIR?
Of course you do. Or you should, at least. And lucky for you, thats exactly what youre getting as we roll into season four. Its a treat to watch her operate, especially when shes slicing through the water like a shark. She has all the tact and restraint that Jackson lacks, a knack for navigating a world he doesnt even want to visit, making the periodic scenes where they share the screen riveting television.
The new haircut is pretty nice, too.
Things are escalating as we head into season four.
Season three ended with two episodes of shoot-outs and double-crosses and grenades and an MI5 shake-up as a result of, well, all the shoot-outs and double-crosses and grenades. Much of this was thanks to (and despite) the actions of the sociopaths and doofuses at Slough House who unwittingly helped (and thwarted) the plot along the way. The new season opens with a suicide bombing and what appears to be a multilayered conspiratorial plot to damage the British government, all of which is actually kind of par for the course for Slow Horses. Once again, the safety of the entire country appears to be in the hands of a group of people you wouldnt trust to watch your dog for a single afternoon. Its all really very exciting.
You might as well make use of that Apple subscription now that you have it.
Apple TV+ has been on a bit of a heater lately. Its summer has been loaded with relentlessly watchable B+ shows like Presumed Innocent and Bad Monkey, the latter of which is still humming and will continue humming right through the middle of Slow Horses. Severance is back for a second season in January. Ted Lasso is coming back too, apparently. If one or all of those things were what convinced you to sign up for a subscription, then please, for the sake of stretching your dollar and extracting value from your purchase, dive into Slow Horses as soon as you can.
The Perfect Couple Happy Wedding Eve Season 1 Episode 1 Editors Rating 3 stars * * * Previous Next Previous Episode Next Episode Photo: Seacia Pavao/Netflix
Ah, Nantucket in the summer. Sunbathers are relaxing on the beach, the whales are putting on an acrobatic show out in the Atlantic, and dead bodies are washing up on the shores of $40 million dollar cottages on the morning of very expensive, high-profile weddings. Theres just nothing like it, is there? That is exactly how we kick off things on the journey of The Perfect Couple we are closing out the summer season in style and possibly murder. Fun!
You want to know the exact moment I knew The Perfect Couple was right for me? That we were in for a sudsy beach read in TV form? It was the moment I saw those opening credits. A choreographed group dance number to Meghan Trainors Criminals? When you get Nicole Kidman and Liev Schrieber to gleefully perform a line dance for a show about secrets and murder, well, weve won, okay? Yeah, Nicole Kidman might be the we come to this place for magic lady but she is also a fucking Academy Award winner; The woman commits and its clear she is committing to this vibe. A vibe that says we are here to entertain. A vibe that says, Yes, someone is dead and everyone is a suspect, but we are having fun. And if thats not your particular vibe, not to be mean, but you should get off this ride.
This is all a compliment, by the way. The first episode of The Perfect Couple, based on the queen of the beach read Elin Hilderbrands novel of the same name, gives me a lot of hope that the six-episode limited series will not only be enjoyable end-of-the-summer fare, but will ultimately be a satisfying yarn. This first episode sets up the entire mystery at hand and introduces us to a truckload of characters with a whole heap of personality and in under 60 minutes, no less.
We are gathered here today for the nuptials of Amelia Sacks, a normie zoologist, and Benjamin Benji Winbury, son of famed author Greer Garrison Winbury and trust fund DILF (so says his daughter-in-law, yes, for real) Tag Winbury. The Winburys are extremely loaded and come with all the pretentious fixings. We get a quick look at Amelia and Benjis beachside rehearsal dinner on the Winbury estate, Summerland more expensive and elaborate than many peoples weddings where things seem to be going along swimmingly. Were happy! The champers is flowing! The bride and groom-to-be seem excited and in love. But you never realize just how creepy the sentiment I love this woman to death is until you immediately cut from that line to blood-curdling screaming and some type of water-based struggle.
Weve got a floater, a Nantucket Deputy named Carl tells his boss, Chief of Police Dan Carter, in the wee hours of the following morning. The wedding will be called off the investigation has begun. The episode uses the interrogations of some of the characters to dump a whole lot of exposition in a short amount of time. Theres Gosia, the Winbury housekeeper who definitely has a thing for Tag; Roger, the wedding planner, who calls the Winburys kill someone and get away with it rich; Isabel, a family friend from France who describes Greer as having a stick up her asshole; and pregnant wife of eldest Winbury son Thomas, Abby, who is quite unbothered about saying things like Gosia wants to fuck Tag so bad. I bet she rubs one out to that little baby picture of his she keeps next to her bed during a police interrogation.
Friends, I did not know I needed Dakota Fanning as a heinous rich bitch, but now I cannot believe I lived so long without Dakota Fanning as a heinous rich bitch. What a gift. Fanning plays the boundless entitlement and cutting passive aggressiveness with aplomb. Abby is the scariest of mean girls the ones who do it all with a smile. Later, we learn that Amelias mother Karen is dying of cancer, and they moved up the wedding to the Fourth of July weekend to make sure she could be there (or, as Gosia puts it, accommodate [her] dying schedule). When Karen and Amelias father Bruce arrive at the Winbury estate, Abby greets them with a cheerful so happy we could rearrange our plans for the Fourth to be here. She is the worst and also the best.
Theres one more character currently pulled in for questioning: Amelia, in her wedding dress and in a state of complete shock after finding the body in the water. The Perfect Couple waits until the end of the episode to reveal the victim, but based on not only the characters we see during the short time we spend at the crime scene, but also the fact that really only Amelia is beside herself over the death, it wasnt much of a surprise to learn that the morning of her wedding, Amelia found her best friend and maid of honor Merritt Monaco dead in the water. Even if you guessed that big episode one reveal before it happened, it doesnt mean there isnt still a lot of mystery to mull over. We still dont know the exact cause of death at this point, it could be some sort of accident. If Merritt was murdered, though, there is more than one motive, and there is a whole gaggle of suspects.
At the moment, two at the top of the list are for sure the titular Perfect Couple Greer and Tag. Once we return to the morning of the rehearsal dinner to get the full story of that day, we watch Greer discover in real time that Tag is having an affair. When the jeweler delivers the rings for Benji and Amelia (it says so much about Greer that she is the one picking these out, doesnt it?), the woman asks her about the gorgeous gold bracelet with the pave diamonds that Tag bought for her. You immediately see on Greers face that not only did she never receive that bracelet, but she knows exactly what it means: Tag bought it for someone else. When Greer finds the receipt for a cool $18,476 we get a good look at the bracelet, too. Eagle-eyed viewers, Im sure, spotted that same bracelet on Merritts wrist when she was giving her toast at the rehearsal. Perhaps Greer spotted it, too.
Just the idea of Tag having an affair serious enough to warrant such a purchase, even if she has yet to figure out who hes cheating with, is enough to throw Greer off her axis a bit. Benji walks in right after Greer finds the receipt. Hes there to talk to his mother about being nicer to Amelia. Like, if youre wondering whether or not Greer could kill a person, just watch that moment in the kitchen when Amelia takes a bite of a croissant and Greer says, Wedding dress be damned, huh? You couldve just tipped me over into a coffin at that point. So, yes, Benji is right that Greer isnt a fan of Amelia, most likely because Amelia doesnt care about keeping up appearances or acting the part of a Winbury. Greer doesnt take the accusations well, trying to explain that shes just watching out for her son she doesnt buy that Amelia has feelings for him the way he does for her, and she wishes she would show a little more interest in being part of the family. Greer is, obviously, a woman obsessed with keeping up appearances, but her anger is kicked up a few levels due to Tags extracurriculars. She tells Benji that marriage doesnt necessarily mean devotion something we know shes dealing with at that very moment. And if you dont think Greer could be deceptive enough to cover up a murder, its worth noting that Benji walks into that room demanding his mother try harder to be nicer to his fiancee and walks out of it telling Greer that hell get Amelia to try harder to be a part of the family.
Greer also lets her emotions come to the surface a bit when shes on the phone with her editor, Enid. Greer has a new novel coming out shes made her name with her Dash & Dolly series of novels and People magazine is doing a big interview with her and Tag this week. The headline will apparently be, ahem The Perfect Couple, playing up Greer and Tags 29 years of marriage and enviable love they are the inspiration for Dash & Dolly, after all. Greer wants to lean away from that angle, but shes too deep into this idyllic picture shes painted for her adoring readers to get out of it now. All of this anger and frustration might boil over at the exact wrong time for Merritt.
And speaking of Merritt, shes kind of the opposite of Greer in most ways. Shes warm and open and free. Sure, both Abby and Isabel mention she likes to have a good time, which is definitely their code for slutty, and Abby has a heart-warming story about Merritt being a gold digger in the past, but mostly she seems like a pretty great friend. We get a poolside conversation between Amelia and Merritt the day of the rehearsal in which Amelia worries that she isnt head over heels for Benji (no one tell Greer shes right). Merritt assures her that its just cold feet but also tells her that if she wants to call this wedding off she has every right to Merritt will back her friend up no matter what she decides. She also immediately decides that Abby is a huge bitch (true) and the gals also have a nice conversation about how Greers butthole is definitely bleached and waxed and thats just real friendship right there.
Merritt is sweet to Will, who just got dumped and definitely has a crush on Merritt. Is it a strong enough crush to get overwhelmingly jealous? She also seems quite attached to Amelia. Could their closeness bother Benji? And then theres the mysterious best man, Shooter Dival. Amelias definitely lusting over him, but does he have anything to do with what happens to Merritt? Like I said, the suspect list is a long one at the moment its time for The Perfect Couple to start whittling it down.
Wedding Favors
Other crime scene details: Theres a trail of blood leading to the water from two Adirondack chairs. There is one broken glass in the sand and one with a lipstick stain still sitting on one of the chairs.
Okay, hi, hello, I am already obsessed with our police duo. Chief Carter is a man born and bred in Nantucket, and although he isnt one of them, you can tell he has experience handling the uber-wealthy lot. He certainly doesnt love the detective from out of town the DA sends in to babysit Detective Nikki Henry. She is rough around the edges and does not give a shit. Shes here to get the job done. Although, she will admit when a donut is out of this world, shes not a monster. They have a rough start but I cannot wait until these two become a real team.
When Chief Carter informs his teen daughter Chloe that her wedding catering gig will be canceled because someone died, she starts to freak out. It might have something to do with the bloody shirt shes hiding in her room.
Um, couldnt Amelia have found a window to free that ladybug? Wouldve saved us all a lot of trouble.
People getting strange phone calls and ignoring them: Greer dismisses a call from a Broderick Graham and looks rather vexed about it; Merritt gets a call from a DL and explains that its a codename for a guy she used to hook up with.
One of my favorite details from the interrogations is when Gosia tells the police that Greer has a gift-wrapping room in her house but its Gosia who actually does all the gift wrapping, and all from her bedroom. So not only does Greer force someone else to do that job, but she still wants people to think she does it for herself.
I dont think it can be a coincidence that we learn about Toms favorite pastime, pill roulette, in which you toss a bunch of random prescription pills together and take one at random and get an extended scene in which Karen tucks away three pills from a baggie with a caution sign on it. Lets expect that to come into play at some point, right?
HEFEI, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- China plans to carry out the Tianwen-3 mission through two launches around 2028, aiming to bring back samples from Mars, a Chinese space expert said on Thursday.
Liu Jizhong, chief designer of China's Mars sample-return mission, unveiled the details of the plan at the 2nd International Deep Space Exploration Conference in Tunxi of Huangshan City in east China's Anhui Province.
"China has retrieved the first ever samples from the far side of the moon with the Chang'e-6 mission this year. Since Mars is much farther away than the moon, it will take two launches to carry out the Mars sample-return mission due to the limited carrying capacities of our current rockets. Two Long March-5 carrier rockets will be used for the mission," Liu told Xinhua in an interview.
The primary scientific goal of the mission will be to search for signs of life. Other exploration subjects will include the Martian climate and its evolution, Martian geology and the planet's internal processes.
This mission will be very difficult and challenging, and the Chinese research team has conducted extensive preliminary studies to identify candidate locations with scientific discovery potential, Liu said.
The retrieval of samples from Mars is the most technically challenging space exploration mission since the Apollo program, and such a retrieval has never been realized, Liu said.
To meet this goal, Chinese space engineers have to tackle key tasks such as collecting samples on the Martian surface, taking off from the Red Planet, rendezvousing in the Mars orbit, and protecting the planet from contamination, Liu explained.
The entire process of the mission plan is very complex, involving 13 phases and utilizing in-situ and remote-sensing detection technologies.
Liu said that the mission will use three methods to obtain diverse samples: multi-point surface sampling, fixed-point in-depth drilling and in-flight vehicle sampling.
China will earnestly adhere to international conventions and carry out measures to safeguard both Mars and Earth, as well as the samples, from contamination during the mission, Liu said.
The Tianwen-3 mission will carry payloads developed through international cooperation, and China will collaborate with scientists from around the world to conduct joint research on Mars samples and detection data, Liu said.
In the long term, China will collaborate with other countries or research institutions around the world to complete mission and task definition, requirement analysis, conceptual research, implementation plan design and key technology breakthroughs for the construction of a research station on Mars, Liu added.
Not surprisingly, given the fact that salmon season is in full swing, the Elochoman Marina was buzzing with activity the evening of Thursday, August 29, as folks sought to put a fresh salmon on the barbeque or in the freezer. But there was certainly more going on than just salmon fishing, at least for a few hours, as military men and women along with Gold Star families gathered at the marina pavilion for the 10th Annual Warriors and Widows Salmon Derby. A Gold Star family, for those unfamiliar with the term, is one that has experienced the loss of an immediate family member who died as a result of active-duty military service.
The brainchild of the late Bud Mickelsen, the derby, designed to honor veterans, law enforcement personnel, and first responders, was first held in 2015. Except for a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic the derby has been a tremendous success.
This year, as in years past, my wife, Julia, and I were invited to volunteer for the event, an invitation that we gladly accepted. That said, what follows is a personal account, certainly with the help of many others, of the proceedings.
Thursday evening, August 29
The organizing committee, spearheaded by locals Doug and Jill Martin, Willie Johnson, Nancy McCoy, Cecile Bamer, Rich Casapulla, Shane and Dayle Conrad, Sherrill Bollen, and a longand I do mean longlist of other folks, had everything ready to go in advance of the attendees arrival. I had the pleasure of helping register the military men and women who would be fishing the next morning, which meant I got to personally speak with each and every one of them. As the son of a U.S. Army artillery captain (Vietnam, 1965-66), I couldnt have felt more honored to shake the hands of these individuals. Beside me, Puget Islands Laura Borak handled registration for the boat captains who would be leading the assault on the river the next morning. A tip of the ole fishing cap to the 25 or 30 folks who volunteered their time, fuel, expertise, and boats in order to accommodate all.
Following a wonderful dinner catered by The Crowded Kitchen Catering Company out of Toledo, Washington, the veterans were assigned to their boats and given a chance to hob-nob with their captains prior to bunking down for the evening. Lodging for the participating veterans was graciously provided by The Hotel Cathlamet and the Elochoman Marina.
And a HUGE Thank You to Ms. Ashley Hilton of Puget Island for her wonderful, albeit baby interrupted Inside joke! rendition of our National Not surprisingly, given the fact that salmon season is in full swing, the Elochoman Marina was buzzing with activity the evening of Thursday, August 29, as folks sought to put a fresh salmon on the barbeque or in the freezer. But there was certainly more going on than just salmon fishing, at least for a few hours, as military men and women along with Gold Star families gathered at the marina pavilion for the 10th Annual Warriors and Widows Salmon Derby. A Gold Star family, for those unfamiliar with the term, is one that has experienced the loss of an immediate family member who died as a result of active-duty military service.
The brainchild of the late Bud Mickelsen, the derby, designed to honor veterans, law enforcement personnel, and first responders, was first held in 2015. Except for a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic the derby has been a tremendous success.
This year, as in years past, my wife, Julia, and I were invited to volunteer for the event, an invitation that we gladly accepted. That said, what follows is a personal account, certainly with the help of many others, of the proceedings.
Thursday evening, August 29
The organizing committee, spearheaded by locals Doug and Jill Martin, Willie Johnson, Nancy McCoy, Cecile Bamer, Rich Casapulla, Shane and Dayle Conrad, Sherrill Bollen, and a longand I do mean longlist of other folks, had everything ready to go in advance of the attendees arrival. I had the pleasure of helping register the military men and women who would be fishing the next morning, which meant I got to personally speak with each and every one of them. As the son of a U.S. Army artillery captain (Vietnam, 1965-66), I couldnt have felt more honored to shake the hands of these individuals. Beside me, Puget Islands Laura Borak handled registration for the boat captains who would be leading the assault on the river the next morning. A tip of the ole fishing cap to the 25 or 30 folks who volunteered their time, fuel, expertise, and boats in order to accommodate all.
Following a wonderful dinner catered by The Crowded Kitchen Catering Company out of Toledo, Washington, the veterans were assigned to their boats and given a chance to hob-nob with their captains prior to bunking down for the evening. Lodging for the participating veterans was graciously provided by The Hotel Cathlamet and the Elochoman Marina.
And a HUGE Thank You to Ms. Ashley Hilton of Puget Island for her wonderful, albeit baby interrupted Inside joke! rendition of our National Anthem. It was, truly, one of the finest Ive heard presented anywhere.
Friday morning, August 30
The morning was clear. Still. A little fog. Perfect. I wasnt surprised to find the hive buzzing around the coffee pot and the boxes upon boxes of Heavenly Donuts on the table. Thank you, Ladies, for the maple bars! It was quiet, as captains sat under the glow of multiple LEDs readying gear and warming up four-stroke outboards. Myself, Id been asked to deckhand for our good friend and former New Jersey pin-setter, Rich Casapulla, and I jumped at the chance to spend the morning with the U.S. Army veteran, expert salmon fisherman, and maker of the finest pumpkin bread on the planet.
Our angler our veteran was U.S. Army (retired) field artillery sergeant, Floyd Cunningham. An experienced fisherman with a penchant for everything sturgeon, Cunningham provided me with an opportunity to stand and listen to, for lack of a better phrase, what made him tick. Looking back at my notes
Cunningham grew up in Indianapolis, and lives in Vancouver now with his wife, Celeste, with whom hes been married 32 years, and their 16-year-old daughter, Skai, both of whom he was obviously insanely proud of. Shes a straight A student, he boasted of his daughter. Plays lineman. Is a second degree black belt in jiu jitsu. Shes my lifeline. Cunninghams resume was most interesting. Fifteen year U.S. Army vet. Assistant pastor. Ford assembly line. And finally, a Ford parts place, he called it, on Marine Drive in Portland.
He was a lot of things, Cunningham was, I learned as I listened to him and Casapulla talk, including, Id discover, pretty darn good with a fishing pole, handling onetwothree big kings from start to finish and making it look like something he did every day, all day. Done, our captain said, as we made ready to make the run back upriver to the marina. Casapulla smiled. Cunningham grinned and called Celeste to tell her the news. Bloody and covered in scales, I felt damn good myself.
A long story short
Back at the weigh-in, Cunninghams biggest, a wide-shouldered 15.56-pound beauty, would land him in second place overall, a pound shy of the leader, veteran Amais Grant, and his 16.84-pound king. Grant was captained by Mr. Mike Nelson, who himself tagged a dandy 10-pound chinook. All 15 of the veterans caught fish, averaging a healthy 12 pounds give or take.
On the first responder/law enforcement side of The Big White Board, it was District 4 firefighter James Smith, captained by Fred Hoven, who walked away with first place with his 14.97 pound chinook.
The event culminated with an excellent lunch catered by Cathlamets own, Marias Place Mexican Restaurant, the collective rubbing of full bellies, awards, thank yous, and, ultimately, goodbyes.
From the folks who made it happen
The marina pavilion was quiet. The tables and chairs are gone. As Jackson Browne sang, Let the roadies take the stage. Pack it up and tear it down. Theyre the first to come and the last to leave. But its true. Its quiet. Empty. A low murmur here and there. Its now I had a chance to stop Dr. Doug Martin and his wife, Jill, committee chair-people for the event, and talk logistics: the behind the scenes, the appreciation, the community support, and how and why events like the Warriors and Widows benefit all those who participate from roadies like me, to the men and women who run the skiffs, organize the event, sponsors, friends, families, and all those who support the effort.
Martin has been involved at some level since the derbys inception in 2015. Today, he holds a seat on the board of what he refers to as the Warriors and Widows Foundation, but hes quick to point out hes far from a one-man show. Im, I guess youd say, the operations portion for the group. Theres another person (Willie Johnson) whos more involved with the fundraising, and we have a group (lead by Nancy McCoy) that handles the food service. We have a good core group, Martin continued. It has taken a while to figure out how to make things work smoothly, but were getting there. Every year, the event seems to flow a little better. And now that we have the systems down, I think its time to reach out and get a bigger group of volunteers. We need to train our successors in order to ensure the organization continues on.
And so heres a shameless plug. If youd like to get involved with this event, which I would strongly suggest you do if you have the time, youre welcome to contact Dr. Doug Martin via text at 360-751-4497 or by email at dr.doug@live.com. Theres something for everyone to do. Its a neat opportunity for people to not only give, but to receive as well, Martin said. I see all these captains giving of themselves and their time. I was talking to one of the veterans, and he compared the event to the act of paying it forward. He came and experienced this, and now he wants to get involved.
Everybody brings something to the table, said Jill Martin. I would say this year, we had more volunteers in great positions. Its nice when you have people available just to go and talk with passerby in the marina who are simply curious as to whats going on. But yes, theres a role (here) for everyone. If you can drive a boat. If you know how to fish. If you want to touch a fish, she laughed. Theres a role for kids. Kids can help hand out t-shirts. We had a young person drawing the (awards) names. I think its great that we have kids involved.
An event such as this, the Martins reminded me, would be impossible without the help and support of the community, the sponsors, and the almost infinite list of folks who give. And give. And give. We really couldnt do any of this without our sponsors, Doug said. We have the hotel rooms donated. Big or small, all of our donors are vital, and it all adds up to the whole event. We greatly appreciate whatever can be given. We have folks who provide merchandise. Who provide meals. We have financial donors. And the people who donate their time. No one sponsor or donor is more important than another.
Martin, and Im sure the whole of the event organizational staff, the captains, the food service providers, the volunteers, and the community, summarized the concept of the Warriors and Widows Salmon Derby, past, present, and future, with these simple, yet heartfelt words. A lot of the veterans were coming up to me and thanking me for all this stuff. And it strikes me that we appreciate so much what theyve done and what theyve sacrificed for our country. Here they are coming up and thanking us. Its amazing to me the character of these people. Theyre not entitled. They feel very grateful, and what strikes me most is the quality of these people. And thats what keeps us doing this. They deserve it.
Sangiuliano admits affair in tearful TV apology.
Italy's premier Giorgia Meloni has rejected the resignation of embattled culture minister Gennaro Sangiuliano amid a controversy over a failed attempt to hire his lover as a ministry advisor.
In a tearful TV interview with state broadcaster RAI on Wednesday night, Sangiuliano admitted having an affair with social media influencer and fashion entrepreneur Maria Rosaria Boccia.
Sangiuliano, 62, said that he revoked Boccia's appointment as a ministerial advisor for major events to avoid a conflict of interest due to their romantic relationship.
The minister reiterated that no public money was spent on expenses related to Boccia's participation at official events and that she had no access to confidential documents.
Sangiuliano insisted that he paid personally for all trips and overnight stays for Boccia, 41, who was photographed accompanying the minister to multiple events around Italy over the summer.
During the 15-minute TV interview, Sangiuliano waved around documents which allegedly proved he had picked up the bill for all Boccia's expenses, claiming: "I am not blackmailable".
The emotional minister apologised to the prime minister and the entire government "for the embarrassment", to his colleagues, but above all to his wife who he described as "an exceptional person".
Sangiuliano: "Chiedo scusa a mia moglie. Poi a Meloni che mi ha dato fiducia per l'imbarazzo" pic.twitter.com/NvrRRArGl2 Il Grande Flagello (@grande_flagello) September 4, 2024
The controversy erupted last week when Boccia publicly thanked Sangiuliano for appointing her as an advisor for major events, a claim denied by the minister who said his ministry never gave her "a euro, not even a coffee".
Sangiuliano said that Boccia had never taken part in operational meetings in relation to an upcoming G7 culture summit in Pompeii or that she had access to classified documents, claims rejected by Boccia.
Despite growing calls for him to stand down, Sangiuliano survived a meeting with Meloni on Tuesday during which he "reiterated the truth" of the statements he gave to La Stampa.
Boccia responded by sharing a screenshot of an email from the minister's secretary with airline boarding passes for "Sangiuliano/Boccia flights" along with a recording of her phonecall with a culture ministry official regarding her "appointment as advisor to the minister for major events".
Following Sangiuliano's TV interview, the opposition continued to call for his resignation, with former premier Matteo Renzi saying the minister "has become the laughing stock of the country".
By Cillian Sherlock, PA, in Kyiv
Ireland should be increasing support for a UN agency training mine clearance specialists in Ukraine, according to an Irish expert.
David McMahon, head of the mine action unit at the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), started working in the area of demining in Cambodia during the early 1990s.
UNOPS is tasked with delivering a variety of projects for other UN agencies around the world, including the Mine Action Service.
In Ukraine, UNOPS is primarily working on improving the states capacity to carry out demining.
Its operations in the region are funded by France, the UN Development Project and the Netherlands.
Since hostilities in 2014, Ukraine has become one of the most heavily mined countries in the world.
The National Mine Action Authority (NMAA) estimates that more than a third of Ukrainian territory is potentially contaminated with explosive ordnance as a result of the Russian invasion in 2022.
Mr McMahon said land mines are being used by both Ukraine and Russia in the conflict.
Based on data collected and on prior land release in 2023, the World Bank says the current total costs for the clearance of explosive ordnance across Ukraine are an estimated 34.6 billion dollars.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights says that as of January 15th this year, there were 339 civilian victims of mines and explosive remnants of war and 757 people were injured.
Clearing explosive hazards will be a prerequisite to the return of safe living in Ukraine after the war.
Mr McMahon, who also has experience in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Georgia and Sudan, said: At the moment, we are training and equipping the bomb squad of the Ukrainian national police.
They have 350 men and women that are out clearing munitions, clearing IEDs, clearing devices.
They plan to scale up to about 1,500 personnel over the next year, and were helping them with that.
UNOPS is also training Ukraines state transport service, a specialist unit of the defence ministry tasked with protection and construction of the national transportation system.
Mr McMahon said UNOPS is helping train and equip up to 480 deminers.
He said UNOPS works on humanitarian sites in areas of Ukraine which have been retaken from the Russian military and does not work within 20 kilometres of the frontline.
Asked about the scale of the task to clear mines and other explosives from all of Ukraine, Mr McMahon said the process will take years.
Mr McMahon, based in Kyiv, also said there is a huge requirement for prosthetics and orthotics due to injuries from mines and other explosives.
There are world-class centres here but the scale of the problem is huge, its absolutely massive.
Asked how demining has changed since he began in the early 1990s, Mr McMahon said the process in Cambodia relied on mass numbers of people, interviewing local residents about the contamination and carrying out a technical survey of the land.
He said equipment and processes around mine action have drastically improved.
Drone technology has advanced greatly, artificial intelligence (AI) has advanced greatly. Were using dogs, were using big tiller machines, were using IED robots theres a whole plethora of things.
He said there are algorithms which can look at patterns in satellite photos of land and determine they are clear, for example if a field had been cultivated since hostilities ceased.
However, Mr McMahon cautioned: The problem here is the scale which is just massive.
A further issue is a shortage of personnel for demining, due to the large numbers killed or fighting in the war as well as those displaced by the conflict.
Asked what the Government could do to support UNOPS, Mr McMahon said: Ireland has world-class training facilities with the Irish Defences Forces. You cannot send people in here, however we can send people to Ireland for training.
As a neutral state, Ireland does not support offensive military operations. However, we (UNOPS) work with the national police, we work with non-combatants. Everything we do is humanitarian and neutral.
The Irish Defence Forces has been at the forefront of writing IED doctrine for the UN, thats used in Somalia and Mali and elsewhere.
Here in Ukraine, we have an IED problem and Ireland could really help with that.
Mr McMahon argued that it would be more sustainable for Ireland to deal with the Ukrainian state in the area of demining, rather than NGOs.
He called for Ireland to support the training of the Ukrainian polices bomb squad.
He also suggested Ireland could be involved in the production or procurement of required IED robots in Ukraine.
This will be an intergenerational problem, he said.
Vivienne Clarke
The former Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, is urging people to come forward and report incidents of abuse.
He also said he feared the numbers could have been underestimated.
In an interview on RTE radios Today with Claire Byrne show, Dr Martin said that when he was Archbishop he simply had to throw the files on the ground when he read upsetting reports.
I'm extraordinarily struck by the numbers in the special schools. I think that sexual abuse of particularly vulnerable children is very shocking and that the second thing is that the numbers are very high.
"For example, if you look at the three paying schools, one of the reasons for this is that I think most people may have thought this scoping inquiry was primarily about those schools. And this would mean, I think, that the numbers regarding other schools is probably under underestimated and probably higher.
Dr Martin added that he had been pleased to see a garda statement asking people to come forward. I think if people realised they would have a safe and friendly reception, they would come forward. And the more we learn about this, I think in the long term it's better.
One of the most important aspects of any inquiry was to examine the area of safeguarding, he said.
Sexual abusers don't abuse small children because they're sexually starved. They're only interested in abusing small children.
The moving of known abusers was something that he found very hard to stomach.
While he dealt with many fires over the years, the people for whom he had the highest regard were poor, ordinary working-class women who came to my predecessors and said to them, I would not like any other child to have to go through what my child did, and they were not listened to.
They were never going to send their children to fee-paying schools, but they knew what it meant to abuse a child.
The damage from abuse was more than the actual physical or sexual abuse, he said.
It takes away the entire self-esteem of a child. The abuser is actually saying to a child, I could do anything I like with you, you are worthless. And that's the thing that drags right throughout their life.
"And then the sexual abuse of a child isn't, doesn't just damage the child, it damages parents, spouses, generations, children. It's an extraordinary thing. The numbers and the incidences are frightening. But the reality is much greater, thats the sad thing.
Great damage had been caused by some orders who took decisions to safeguard their own institution, he said.
Not only did they do immense damage to children, they also damaged the good name of the backbone of their own institutions, which are their own brothers, sisters who do good work and were blameless in the law.
Dr Martin said he believed one way forward was for the government to establish a lead public government figure to take charge of the issue.
The Irish government is not too good at joined up thinking, and we should have some person, some senior person in government who says I will stand up, carry the flag and take responsibility to explain where we are, where progress is being made, where the obstacles are, that people can turn to them.
This was not to absolve religious orders of responsibility, but the lead had to come from the state, who could ensure that the orders carry out their responsibilities.
MANILA, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said Thursday that it has launched a new six-year country partnership strategy designed to ensure that the Philippines' growth is sustained, inclusive, and resilient in the face of climate challenges.
Spanning from 2024 to 2029, the strategy will focus on addressing the country's critical development needs and bolstering support in three key areas: human development, economic competitiveness and quality infrastructure, as well as nature-based development and disaster resilience, the Manila-based bank said in a press release.
Crosscutting initiatives that promote digital transformation, gender equality, and improved governance and institutional capacity are integral to the strategy, ensuring a holistic approach to development, it added.
"This new strategy will further a flourishing collaboration to support the country in achieving a prosperous future that leaves no one behind, particularly as it faces the dual challenges of accelerating economic growth and addressing persistent poverty and income inequalities," said ADB Country Director for the Philippines Pavit Ramachandran.
To help the Philippines remain on its growth trajectory, the ADB, under the new strategy, will intensify support for initiatives that benefit low-income households, promote regional economic growth corridors through flagship infrastructure investments, and shift focus to emerging sectors like clean energy, blue economy, and nature-based investments.
Under the new country partnership strategy, the ADB said it will also catalyze private sector-led development by supporting policy and regulatory reforms, strengthening markets and investment pipelines, and expanding funding availability.
Rescue services were tasked to a popular mountain lake in County Waterford after receiving reports that a hiker had suffered an injury after a fall.
The incident occurred at Coumshingaun Lough on Saturday, August 31, with South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association (SEMRA) receiving the report at around 3pm that day.
Outlining details of the incident online, the organisation said team members and vehicles responded to Kilclooney woods and began carrying the stretcher and equipment up the hill to the where the casualty was located on a ridge.
However, as the rescuers were making their way up the incline, SEMRA's Incident Manager at Kilclooney was approached by a group of walkers as one of their group was missing and they were unable to make contact.
Because it looked like the members would have to carry out a search in addition to a rescue operation the decision was made to contact the Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 117, for assistance.
"We are very grateful for their help today, especially when they were so busy themselves and came to us after completing a tasking at sea," stated the organisation in its online post.
"SEMRA members at the casualty site prepared the casualty and assisted the other members of the group and provided hi-line assistance for R117," stated SEMRA.
The Rescue 117 helicopter was tasked to the scene near Coumshingaun Lough. Pic: South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association
In the meantime, the missing walker turned up safe and well which was a huge relief to all. The Search and Rescue Dog Association (Ireland) had just been contacted to provide assistance for the search.
The casualty was brought to Waterford airport by R117 and then transferred to University Hospital Waterford by the National Ambulance Service.
Meanwhile, SEMRA members walked the rest of the group safely the hill and the operation was stood down at 7.50pm, when everyone was safely down and accounted for.
"We would like to thank Garda Ciaran Kenrick, for his outstanding help," stated SEMRA.
"He carried equipment up the hill and directed walkers away from the casualty site to keep the area clear for R117, he was brilliant."
Sinn Fein proposals will fix school transport chaos currently ongoing in County Waterford.
That's the view of Waterford City & County Councillor, Conor McGuinness, who told Waterford News & Star that his party's policy document on reform of the school transport system will "fix the chaos" that families across Waterford are facing.
The plan, which was launched by Sinn Fein education spokesperson, Sorca Clarke TD, sets out how the party would expand school transport and deliver an additional 100,000 school bus places, which Cllr McGuinness said would benefit students and their parents, as well as reduce traffic congestion.
Speaking on the matter in Dungarvan, Cllr McGuinness said: "Sinn Fein has just launched a comprehensive plan to reform school transport and ensure that it works for students and their parents. This would involve an investment of more than 250 million. Our plan would expand school transport and deliver an additional 100,000 school bus places. It would expand the eligibility criteria for mainstream school transport and build capacity in the school transport system."
He said the investment would be provided to meet the projected increase in demand for SEN transport services, to ensure that the needs of children with disabilities are met.
Crucially, our plan keeps the current payment rates to ensure affordability for families at a time when money is already stretched for so many," said Cllr McGuinness.
"Government have overseen a school transport system that is chaotic and not fit for purpose," he added.
"It does not meet the needs of students and their families."
He also referred to a protest that took place recently in Ardmore, in Co Waterford, where a campaign for a public school bus is ongoing while commenting that in other areas parents are left in limbo or forced to take on the expense of a private service.
This week, schools have already started back and many communities have been left without their school bus service," he said.
"Some communities have no school transport options at all, meaning students are left entirely in the lurch," he added. "This means some families are faced with forking out 50 per student, per week, for private transport which is totally unaffordable."
The Sinn Fein General Election candidate said each year families face school transport chaos and confusion and that many families are "at their wits end".
Sinn Feins plan sets out how a better, fairer and more sustainable way is possible," he said.
"I am calling on the Government to listen to Sinn Feins proposals and to act," he added.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein spokesperson on Disability, Pauline Tully TD, said: All children should be able to travel to school comfortably and safely. No child should feel left behind or treated as an afterthought by Government. Sinn Fein are committed to providing the investment needed to match the projected demand for Special Educational Needs transport services in Government."
"We support the integration of SEN pupils within mainstream transport services where this is appropriate and the preference of pupils families," she said.
"Sinn Feins plan will ensure families of all pupils can look to the future with certainty and plan ahead.
The Winterval elves are busy getting prepared for the biggest Christmas festival in Europe, and they want everybody in the Deise to know about it.
This year will see the 12th outing of Winterval, the massively popular Christmas extravaganza that takes over Waterford from mid-November until Christmas Day.
Waterford was crowned European City of Christmas 2024, after the huge success of Winterval last year.
While we here at the Waterford News & Star try to observe Spooky Season first (especially the Hill at Halloween), the elves could not be ignored, bartered or reasoned with.
More events have yet to be announced, but already the festival schedule has something for everyone. Festival Directors John Grubb and Trevor Darmody have created a thrilling line-up that will delight attendees and capture the spirit of the Yuletide.
They've made their arrangements with Santa so that on Friday, November 15, the big man himself will be in Waterford City to switch on the Christmas lights with a little help from Mayor of Waterford City and County Council Jason Murphy.
Afterwards, Santa will take up his post at the brand new Winterval Grotto in the 12th Century medieval undercrofts in Waterford City. Santa will be at the Grotto to welcome visitors until December 23, when he has to go back to the North Pole for some pressing business.
The Winterval Ice Rink, Fair Ground on the Quayside and the Winterval Illuminates Lightshow will also be returning this year.
Australian comedy troupe Dummies Corp will be performing their unhinged slapstick comedy throughout the festival. The group are bringing their show 'Trash Test Dummies' to Garter Lane for audiences of all ages.
The show opens at Garter Lane on Friday, November 15, and will run for six weekends, finishing on Sunday, December 22. The show time pattern would be one show on Fridays at 7pm, and two shows on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30pm and 4:30pm.
To find out more about events and tickets go to winterval.ie. Tickets to Santas Grotto at Winterval went on sale from Wednesday, September 4.
At this time of the year when the first round CAO offers come out for college places, the thoughts of anyone in Waterford interested in the third-level future of the city might turn to the late Ollie Clery.
For 20 years between 1985 and 2005 as secretary of the Waterford University Action Group he spent an inordinate amount of his time and probably an uncountable amount of his own money pushing the idea of a university for Waterford.
He beat the drum continuously and metaphorically beat a lot of our politicians as well to drive home the idea that Waterford city was entitled to the same investment and the same facilities as other cities in the country.
For some reason, this idea of equity was not accepted by some of our political representatives, who thought that we should be satisfied with our lot.
Ollie had worked in other parts of the country and never accepted us being treated as second-class citizens.
He had seen first-hand the huge contribution university status made to places and he knew that this status was the vital missing link in Waterford.
He often said that everything was connected to everything else, that a successful Waterford university and third-level education product would attract industry and business but would also help develop our acute medical sector.
At its most basic, if it came to a competition for investment between Waterford and Galway, the university in Galway would be the deciding factor.
Ollie knew from his business experience that educating and retaining young people in Waterford was vital to the prosperity, economic and social success of the city. None was more delighted than he when WRTC was upgraded to WIT.
The progress of the college seemed inexorable, driven by a raft of great people with a vision for the future of the city who hoped to halt the brain drain.
As Waterford welcomes 9,000 students to SETU, bringing vital life to the citys economy and cultural scene, Ollie would want to wish them well in their studies.
The college works very well for students. Quality of learning is broadly the same as any of Irelands universities and is audited by QQI (Quality and Qualifications Ireland), the state agency responsible for promoting the quality, integrity and reputation of Ireland's further and higher education system.
It is cheaper to live at home and/ or commute, as well as more socially balanced, not having to leave your family at 18 to live in Dublin, Limerick or Cork. Younger students are perhaps less likely to go off the rails from partying too much. And, remember, Waterford city won the Irish Times award as the best place to live in Ireland in 2021 and this is testament to quality of life and facilities.
As an aside, it was reported nationally that Waterford with Galway is one of only two places in Ireland with the proper quota of medical GPs in practice. As is its default, the Irish Times high-tailed it to Galway to find out why.
The answer about the importance of quality of life came back.
We could easily make the same argument here, but tend to be reserved about saying anything perceived as boastful. Something in the Viking or Scandinavian blood?
It is important to reflect that the fruits of the TU have yet to arrive in Waterford. Despite the 2011 Fine Gael promise of full university to halt the brain drain, WIT/SETU is still the same size, no new courses, buildings or disciplines.
Vet and pharma curses are still being sat on by the Department.
Last week, a meeting in Kildalton, Co. Kilkenny, was held to acquaint regional Oireachtas members with the excellent facilities and work there.
WIT has a long and fruitful relationship with Teagasc and was promised last year by then Minister for Further Education Harris that the proposed new veterinary college would be established in Kildalton to underpin the new SETU in a region with no alternative national university.
However, with the new minister and junior ministers for further education being both from Limerick, a biased political decision on the location looks possible.
People in Kilkenny have lobbied for third-level facilities. Now is their chance to support that aim with the development of veterinary courses in Piltown.
It has to be hammered home, despite a disgraceful wait since 2009, that the PPP development of the proposed new Engineering Building is still not done. Taoiseach Harris talks about getting it done, Marc OCathasaigh TD talks about laying an egg. Matt Shanahan hardly believes anything that Simon Harris promises. Senator John Cummins has assured us from the very start of the SETU proposal that everything is in hand. It obviously is not.
David Cullinane has exorcised the very word Waterford from his vocabulary lest it interfere with his partys electoral ambitions, while Minister Mary Butler is ineffectual, silent on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, in recent months, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick ODonovan has officially opened three new major education facilities in Sligo. The projects, delivered at a cost of 37 million, include: an 18 million 4,000sqm extension to the EO1 Building in Atlantic Technological University (ATU) to deliver cutting-edge teaching and research facilities, a 17 refurbishment of Blocks K and L in ATU to offer improved facilities to the Faculty of Engineering and Design, as well as a new building in Sligo College of Further Education to deliver enhanced learning in IT, Health, Care, Business, Law and Engineering for 500 students.
In our case, the brownfield crystal site has been bought (4m) but development proposals, other than those of the Frisby-led private sector, are still pipe dreams.
Promised investment simply has not come. The new lecturers' contracts, professorial staff, SETU borrowing legislation and student accommodation are all still promised, still un-progressed and still on the long finger. Fine Gael has dramatically failed Waterford.
While the university of scale for Waterford and its accompanying investment, promised so often by Fine Gael, particularly by Taoiseach Simon Harris, seems as remote as ever, we cannot let that take from the new energy, vitality and craic that young people, who are starting their SETU journey, bring to Waterford. We wish them all well.
By Katie Dickinson, David Young and Jonathan McCambridge, PA
Stormont ministers have finally agreed a draft programme for government in the North.
Ministers signed off on the delayed blueprint when they met at Stormont Castle on Thursday morning.
It will not be officially published until Monday as protocol dictates that it should be presented to MLAs in the Assembly first.
It will then be subject to an eight-week public consultation exercise.
The programme for government will set out the priorities for the devolved powersharing Executive for the remaining two-and-a-half years of the Assembly term.
First Minister and Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill, deputy First Minister and DUP MLA Emma Little-Pengelly, Justice Minister and Alliance Party leader Naomi Long and Health Minister and UUP leader-elect Mike Nesbitt spoke to reporters at a press conference on Thursday following the agreement.
When asked why it had taken so long to get to this point, Ms ONeill said she was proud of the Executive coming together in a holistic way to address the fact that public services in the North are at a crisis point.
She said the four parties had done a lot of work over many areas but coming together to form a programme of government was complex.
Ms ONeill said the government was content for the public to judge us in terms of delivery.
Ms Little-Pengelly said there would always be differences between parties but the programme was a piece of compromise that does not reflect the agenda of one particular faction.
Asked whether there was a risk the programme was simply a wish list, Ms ONeill said: I think we all recognise that we are bringing forward a programme for government in a very difficult financial circumstance.
We all equally recognise that since we have a new government in London, that Labour are continuing with a policy of austerity which makes it a very challenging environment for us all to operate, but this is a very scalable programme for government.
Weve identified our immediate priorities. Weve also laid the groundwork to do more things tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after so its very much about immediate priorities and then also what we can do tomorrow around health, education, justice, safer communities, particularly given the summer that weve been in.
Ms ONeill added: None of us are naive, we know how challenging this is.
She said the battle for additional finances is top of our agenda.
The priorities within the programme for government include cutting health waiting times (PA)
Ms Little-Pengelly said that despite the difficult budget situation, the programme aims to improve lives for people in Northern Ireland in meaningful ways.
The DUP politician said there are nine priorities within the programme for government at Stormont:
To grow a globally competitive and sustainable economy
Deliver affordable childcare
Cut health waiting times
Ending violence against women and girls
Better support for children and young people with special educational needs
Provide more social, affordable and sustainable housing
Safer communities
Protect Lough Neagh and the environment
Reform and transformation of public services
The deputy First Minister said: Those of us in government have a responsibility to lead, a responsibility to listen and a responsibility to act and, despite the difficult budget situation, we can still improve lives in a meaningful way by focusing on a small number of prioritised actions that will make a real difference.
We have clearly set out in our programme for government the priorities for the remainder of this term, and well use the next number of weeks to engage with people right throughout Northern Ireland about our plan.
We genuinely want to hear from people about how we can act to improve lives for the better.
At Thursdays meeting, ministers also agreed a strategy and action plan aimed at tackling violence against women and girls and a three-year action plan for a domestic and sexual abuse strategy.
The Executive also extended the work of a programme designed to tackle paramilitarism and organised crime for a further three years.
Justice minister Ms Long said no-one in the Executive underestimated the challenge the administration was facing in the remaining years of the mandate.
It is not an exhaustive list of everything that this Executive will do, she added.
There will be many ordinary pieces of work that we do, our legislative programme and many other pieces of work that we do which will lie outside of it.
But what it does is prioritise certain aspects of the work of the Executive, particularly those elements that are cross-cutting.
It also will not all be able to be delivered in one go. It will be very much dependent on our financial situation. But it is scalable and it is realistic and I believe that it is positive.
Mr Nesbitt said it was important that the programme for government, once finalised, was closely linked to the allocations made in Stormonts budget.
There are huge challenges for health, but there are huge challenges for every minister and every department, he said.
And what is devolution about, if its not about four people, like the four people youre looking at, coming together, forming relationships and doing their best in terms of better outcomes for the people we serve.
SDLP leader of the Opposition Matthew OToole holds his partys alternative programme for government, which will be published on Monday (David Young/PA).
Leader of the Stormont opposition, SDLP MLA Matthew OToole, said the public was still none the wiser as to what the draft programme for government actually contained.
The SDLP will publish an alternative strategy when the Assembly returns on Monday, titled A Plan for Change, which it insists contains clear targets and goals.
Once again, the Executive has proved adept at PR but deficient at clarity or delivery, said Mr OToole.
Todays announcement contained no specific targets or actions but rather a press conference in which Executive parties patted one another on the back for agreeing on broad aspirations.
The public might have expected more clarity not just on vague aspiration but what exactly the Executive intends to do, how and when. What is the target for reducing waiting lists, how will that target be achieved and when can patients expect to see meaningful improvements in the failing health service.
Until the Executive gets into this level of detail and clarity, after years of collapse and dysfunction, they cannot expect the public to trust this as-yet-unpublished programme for government, they cannot expect to be hailed as heroes for simply agreeing vague aspirations.
Less waffle, more delivery is needed.
Veteran broadcast journalist Janine Perrett will fill in for Paul Barry in the Media Watch hot seat this month as the ABC continues its search for the programs next permanent host.
Perrett, who has filled in for Barry twice before, will host three episodes starting September 16 while hes on leave. While this latest stint is not a formal audition, Perrett is widely considered a top contender to replace Barry.
Barry, who will host the show until the end of the year, confirmed his departure in June. The ABC has yet to settle on a permanent replacement for the high-rating 15-minute weekly slot but has made a number of informal approaches, internal and external, to high-profile journalists.
Janine Perrett will stand in for Paul Barry for three weeks. Credit: ABC
Externally, the ABCs early approaches included sounding out the former editor of The Age, Gay Alcorn, The Sydney Morning Heralds chief investigative reporter, Kate McClymont, and former Four Corners and 7.30 executive producer Sally Neighbour.
Loading Burberry, Gucci and Estee Lauder are just some of the luxury names whose profits have suffered because of faltering Chinese demand. But the shift away from Western brands only scratches the surface of the changes taking hold in the worlds second-largest economy. Growth is slowing. Money is tight. And trade tensions are flaring. China grew 4.7 per cent in the second quarter of 2024, slower than the 5.1 per cent predicted by economists as nervous foreign investors pulled a record 12 billion ($23.4 billion) out of the country over the same period, in a blow to President Xi Jinping. The four Ds
Some fear the worlds factory is now in overdrive as shrinking profits force producers to ramp up output just to get enough cash to service their debts. Zongyuan Zoe Liu, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, believes China is at risk of being sucked into a doom loop of falling prices, factory closures and job losses that will leave it facing a Japanese-style lost decade. She believes Chinas problems have long been rooted in the four Ds debt, demand, demographics and decoupling from the rest of the world. Liu highlights government data that shows a third of Chinese vehicle manufacturers were unprofitable in May. Cars are getting cheaper quickly: the average electric vehicle produced by Chinese giant BYD now costs 20 per cent less than a year ago. Prices across the economy were shrinking at the end of 2023 and have only just started rising again, climbing 0.5 per cent in July from a year ago.
Most economists would describe a temporary fall in prices as an effective tax cut. However, Liu points out that the drop has been accompanied by weak incomes. Household income growth has basically stagnated, she says. Chinas consumers are starting to turn away from luxury brands. Credit: Getty Combine that with the property market crash, and the fact that most peoples wealth is tied up in their house, and its clear this has not been good for motivating consumption. Tina Wu, a 27-year-old PhD student living in Beijing, says the post-pandemic jobs landscape is tough.
Its not very easy for young people to find well-paying jobs due to the impact of the pandemic, she says. Many companies have reduced salaries. Wu, who used to work as a designer in a government architecture firm before returning to university, remains upbeat about the future. Im optimistic that in three to five years, the job market will recover and be thriving again, she says. Not everybody is as upbeat as Wu. Ben Cavender, managing director at China Market Research Group says it is clear that Chinese consumers have been tightening their belts.
Loading Consumer confidence is low right now, and if anything getting lower, says Cavender, who is based in Pudong, near Shanghai. There is a lot of dismay that not much has been done by the government to improve job prospects or salaries, and people are still very worried about future job cuts and a lack of rebound in the housing market. This is especially true for younger consumers. I think the feeling on the ground in Shanghai is that the economy is slow, I know very few business owners who are happy right now. Cavender adds that many are keeping their options open. The wealthier Chinese that I know are also still quite intent on getting their kids out of the country for education and green card purposes just as a hedge.
The sense is that it will be a couple of years before things truly get better. The Guochao trend They called it the Guochao trend. Literally translated as national wave, Chinas Gen Z have been shifting their purchases towards local brands that reflect national pride. Chinese brands took advantage of COVID to become much better at brand positioning and marketing, and can be as competitive or more competitive than foreign brands now in a lot of categories, says Cavender. However, this switch also masks a new frugality. Retail sales growth has struggled, and is now close to its lowest level since the country emerged from lockdowns.
Foreign investors pulled a record 12 billion ($23.4 billion) out of the country. Credit: AP Trading down is still very much a topic at hand, says Cavender. The luxury space is a good example of that. Consumers are tending to either allocate their spending up to the most premium brands or are trading down towards premium athleisure. This is partly why we see brands like Gucci struggling so much at the moment. Gen Z youngsters such as Tina Wu are keen to make up for lost time. Life in Beijing has returned to how it was before the pandemic busy, crowded, and full of energy, she says.
Loading Im actually spending more money now than during the pandemic. Im going out more for shopping, dining and social activities, which has increased my expenses. During the pandemic, I mostly stayed at home, so my spending was much lower. While Cavender says the mood around him is more downbeat, life goes on. China is still China, he says. So very convenient daily life, lots of technology, safe and getting cleaner by the day.
Shanghais streets are much quieter than they used to be. Not because of the scars of lockdown, but simply because the diesel and petrol vehicles that used to whizz around the city have been replaced by the quiet whirr of thousands of electric cars and scooters. Andy Xie, former Morgan Stanley chief Asia economist, says life for most people is back to normal. However, he says many who used to work in Chinas $US3 trillion ($4.4 trillion) shadow banking industry are hurting. The era of cheap money has gone. The industry, which has fuelled the explosive credit growth in recent years, has enabled an easier flow of credit to small and medium enterprises. Much of this money was invested in the property market, which is now on its knees. Regulators continue their crackdown on the sector.
All these people who worked in finance wanted to create the types of profits that would allow them to live like a banker from Goldman Sachs, Xie says. But what were seeing in China is the froth in the system with this property bubble really dissipating. Xie says the speculators in China have been forced to adjust their lifestyles the most. The economy going forward will be very different, he says. The easy money is gone. And without easy money, youre not going to go out and buy a Ferrari.
Beyond China International tensions are another worry. Donald Trump has already vowed to escalate its trade war with China if he returns to the White House next year, while Kamala Harris said this week that as president she would ensure America, not China, wins the competition for the 21st century. Lun, who is currently in the US on a business trip, says many Chinese bosses remain worried about what the future holds. I see companies that used to export to Europe and America shifting their focus to domestic sales and export to other developing countries, he says. The concerns about future trade wars have made lots of Western buyers wary, adding to the problems of softening sales in those traditional markets. The buyers I deal with worry about tariffs, but thats out of our control.
However, he also wants to keep his options open. We are looking to expand and grow outside of traditional Western markets, Lun says. We were looking at the Middle East, also India. But demographically [they are] very different places. Fears about overcapacity are creating more trade tensions, with many countries including the UK worried about being flooded with cheap cars in order to meet net zero targets. Some nations have already sought to block this. The US has announced a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles, as well as a 25 per cent tariff on batteries, parts and critical minerals in a bid to keep them out.
Xie believes this is the start of a bigger decoupling that will see the US and other Western nations pay higher prices for goods going forward as China, which is becoming less reliant on the West for technology to drive development, looks to do more business in Asia, Africa and elsewhere. Chinas citizens are turning away from Western brands to focus on home-grown products. Credit: Bloomberg He says the US in particular has not faced up to the fact that the rest of the world doesnt have to play by its rules anymore. Anglo Saxons are good at two things: talking and fighting, he says. They are not very good at working. So they usually use their skills to talk about fighting in order to get other people to work for them. The past 500 years have been like that.
But in terms of getting things done, they can never win against the Chinese. So they are basically deluding themselves. The issue is that they dont want to accept that China is going to be the largest economy. But the evidence also suggests that China remains cautious about moving too close to countries such as Russia as it worries about the potential impact of secondary sanctions. While Vladimir Putins state visit to China this year was intended to demonstrate their no limits friendship, one business owner operating in eastern China says many factories have stopped doing business with Russian intermediaries after Chinese banks began refusing to process payments. Since the invasion of Ukraine [in 2022], theres been a lot of Chinese goods exported to Russia through intermediaries facilitating these transactions mostly via the Middle East and north east China, they say. Since the beginning of this year, many of those factories stopped doing business with intermediaries for Russia. Getting paid for the goods has become a big issue because the Chinese banks wont process payments any more if they suspect its related to Russia.
The big question surrounding China going forward is growth. The International Monetary Fund believes the rate of economic expansion is likely to slow to just over 3 per cent by the end of the decade because of weak domestic demand. I dont think the Chinese problem can be solved anytime soon, even if the government is willing to enact all the reforms needed to boost consumption and separate government from industry. It will take at least a decade to reshape institutions, says Liu. For now, growth and its drivers are likely to remain on shaky foundations. The question is not just how fast the economy is growing, but the drivers of that growth, Liu says.
Loading The Chinese economy is almost $US18 trillion now. So 3 per cent on top of that in absolute terms is still a lot of growth. But the problems arise when in order to generate this amount of growth, there is a cost in terms of debt, in terms of deeper structural imbalances, and the sacrifices made in terms of geopolitics. So the question is not how much China grows in the coming years, but at what cost? The new trend towards frugality in the worlds second largest economy risks being only a foretaste of what is to come. Telegraph, London
Has Australias richest person added another feather to her iron ore cap?
The few hundred punters watching Sky News coverage of the Murdoch media empires Hancock Prospecting-sponsored Australian Bush Summit in Port Hedland last week wouldve noticed the billionaire mining magnate described as Dr Gina Rinehart, AO.
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Rineharts title invoked a typically smug raised eyebrow from departing Media Watch host Paul Barry on Monday night, but left this column wondering whether the Sydney University economics dropout had acquired new academic credentials.
Now, if Gina had completed a PhD thesis, wed know. Her website details all her various gongs, down to her recent lifetime achievement award from the Ayn Rand Atlas Society. But Rinehart has one of those honorary doctorates, from Bond University, awarded in 2013 for her commitment and contribution to the Australian economy and wider community.
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Barkaa is one of the most celebrated rappers in Australia right now. And, judging by her music, she knows it. Let me preach, son, let me talk my s---, she sings in the swaggering opening track of her new EP Big Tidda. Let me big note myself because I deserve to, b----.
In real life, the 29-year-old Malyangapa Barkindji rapper (real name Chloe Quayle) is a lot more reserved. Speaking about last months National Indigenous Music Awards, she says she couldnt even believe she took out artist of the year and music video of the year (beating the likes of Budjerah and King Stingray in the former category and The Kid Laroi in the latter).
But Quayle, a former ice addict who did three stints in jail while also raising three kids, is also clear-eyed about how she got to this moment and is intent on celebrating it.
My life has changed dramatically, she says, adding she owes much of the success to her ongoing recovery. My kids dont want for nothing no more. Im at a stage in my life where I get to enjoy the fruits of my labour and where its OK to enjoy the fruits of your labour [Ive] worked really hard for this.
Growing up in Western Sydney and taking her name from the Barkindji word for the Darling River, Barkaa rose to prominence in 2020, with some of her first tracks (Our Lives Matter and I Cant Breathe) becoming staples of Black Lives Matter rallies across the country. She then cemented her place as rising rap royalty with 2021s Blak Matriarchy, a blistering debut EP celebrating Indigenous women, laying bare the trauma they carry, and letting loose the anger behind it all.
I grew up in a time when [Indigenous musicians] could talk about dancing and culture and all the welcoming things, she says, recalling being encouraged to avoid more radical topics like racism and police brutality at the start of her career (a startling thing for a 90s girl raised on US acts like Tupac and Wu-Tang Clan). But I was a young Blak woman in jail. I wasnt doing all of that. That wasnt my story.
Carolyns body was handed back to Stuckey, who had it hastily cremated. Her friends have since told Joy they feared the consequences in Lismore should they raise what happened. Loading By the time I was old enough to understand what went on, I had been told, both overtly and indirectly, that thats over and done with, it was in the past, we dont need to bring that up any more, says Joy, who uses they/them pronouns and has dropped the surname Stuckey in favour of the middle name shared with their mother. Joy is telling their story to show what happens to the many children bereaved by family violence in Australia, and to piece together Carolyns story and why certain decisions were made about her childrens care. I just did an informal count of the number of children bereaved by domestic homicide in the first four months of this year, and it was 34 children, says Joy, who appears in the new documentary Revealed: KillJoy, eight years in the making, about the killing of Carolyn and the aftermath.
And that was an underestimate really basic, just what I could find. Thirty-four children in four months lost their mother to domestic homicide, and when I think about the implications of that and how little support we have for children, that to me is just devastating. The lifelong effects of the trauma on Joy have included believing they would die at the same age as Carolyn 32 years, nine weeks and six days and experiencing regular, shocking nightmares from which they wake screaming, terrified and hyperventilating. Kathryn Joy held a belated memorial for slain mother Carolyn Stuckey in an open-air cathedral near the familys then home town of Lismore. Joy was struck while doing research for the documentary by how much emphasis was placed during Allan Stuckeys sentence on what would best serve him, rather than the children or justice for Carolyn. Joy was four when they were returned to his custody and he returned to work in a pharmacy. I just kept thinking, how does anyone think that the children would benefit from going back to live with my father in the house [where] he killed our mother? Joy says. Its so baffling to me that that would be seen as good for us. More than anything, I just felt a real sense of: this was not about us.
This was about what was in my dads best interests, and thats pretty devastating, especially given I know what came next. I had to live with the impact of that decision; so to go back and hear those [judges] words about my father getting back to his life and his family as soon as possible was just so shocking. Loading It helped inspire Joys advocacy for other child survivors at a time when leaders in Australias child protection and family violence sectors are calling for children to be regarded as victim-survivors in their own right, who require individual support responses. Melbourne University research suggests 1000 Australian children have lost a parent to domestic homicide in the past decade. Professor Kate Fitz-Gibbon, chair of Respect Victoria and an internationally recognised family violence researcher, says specialist responses for child survivors are critically needed because children are often invisible in the systems where they seek help.
Kathryn Joy holds an image of their mother, who was killed in the family home by Joys father. They have been responded to merely as an extension of a protective parent as opposed to being recognised as a victim-survivor in their own right, she says. Policy and practice reform to build whole-of-system specialist and child-centred responses is urgently needed. For far too long these individuals have been invisibilised and have been left alone to navigate the unimaginable challenge of recovering from the killing of a parent by another parent. Cathy Humphreys, a Melbourne University social work professor and co-chair of the Melbourne Alliance to End Violence Against Women and Their Children, says there is a growing number of Australian children and young people whose mothers have been killed by partners. These gross acts of violence leave children with trauma that resurfaces across their lifetimes, and the service system is ill-prepared to respond to these children, she says. There is no tracking or data kept about how many children are left behind after a parents death as a result of family violence.
We cannot change what we dont measure. The child victims whose mothers (and sometimes fathers) have been killed are a tragic example of this silence in the data, Humphreys says. These children have no specific rights. Many are dealt with informally through family networks, some of which are entirely supportive of the killer There is no community sector organisation specifically funded to respond with skill, sensitivity and expertise to these children. National Childrens Commissioner Anne Hollonds agrees with Joy that childhood experiences of violence are a strong predictor of later-life problems. If we are serious about ending violence against women, we need to get serious about addressing violence in childhood. This is the hidden prevention opportunity that has been ignored because child safety and wellbeing is not a national priority.
TIANJIN, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- This summer, China's visa-free entry policy has made the country a favored destination for international tourists. As more travelers share their Chinese experiences on social media, "China Travel" has surged to be a hot global social media trend.
As of July, China has implemented a 15-day visa-free entry policy for 15 countries on a trial basis and expanded its 144-hour visa-free transit policy to 37 ports of entry, offering citizens from 54 countries opportunities for short-term travel and business trips.
In north China's Tianjin Municipality, the visa-free policy has ignited interest among its foreign residents. Recently, more than 10 foreigners, organized by the Tianjin chapter of the European Chamber of Commerce in China, embarked on a tour of Tianjin's urban blocks at night, aboard bar-style sightseeing cars.
"I'm captivated by Tianjin's distinctive charm," said Mirko Turrina, general manager of Goglio (Tianjin) Packaging Co., Ltd. "With the increasing convenience for foreigners in Tianjin, I'm eager to invite more international clients to explore this vibrant city."
Even after years of working and living in Tianjin, Turrina did not want to miss the chance to immerse himself in the city's allure. As a gentle breeze and soft lighting set the mood, Turrina savored a cocktail while gazing out at the passing scenery. The beautiful, European-style buildings created a backdrop that flowed by, evoking a sense of relaxation and comfort.
"It's like being in Europe," said Nicolas Neumann from Germany, son of Joerg Neumann, general manager of TURCK (Tianjin) Technology Ltd. The young man was particularly impressed by the convenience of the visa-free entry policy.
"This is my first visit to Tianjin. China's visa-free entry policy is very convenient for foreigners. I quickly completed all the entry procedures. I hope more people will have the opportunity to visit China," said Nicolas Neumann.
"Tianjin has made good use of its tourism resources, including rivers, seas, mountains, buildings and ports, to create a unique 'intellectual property,'" said Chen Bing, deputy head of Tianjin municipal bureau of culture and tourism.
"The ancient and modern beauty of the Haihe River and the European-style buildings have become the preferred choice for many foreign tourists during their trips to the city," Chen added.
In addition, leveraging its international cruise home port, Tianjin has made significant efforts to develop the cruise tourism economy. The city is also taking full advantage of the visa-free transit policy and the medical payment convenience policy to enhance the service capabilities for foreigners.
Recently, a tour group of three Bulgarian tourists boarded the AIDA Mediterranean cruise and arrived at Tianjin. They completed the entry procedures at the entry window within just five minutes.
"We are very happy to benefit from China's visa-free entry policy, which allows us to visit the beautiful country without any trouble or worries," said Bulgarian tourist Dimitrova.
Since the resumption of cruise services in Tianjin at the end of September last year, the city has inspected more than 440,000 passengers and over 190 cruise ships entering and leaving the port.
In the first seven months of this year, the number of foreign visitors to China soared 129.9 percent year-on-year to 17.25 million, according to the National Immigration Administration (NIA).
Additionally, foreign visitors are estimated to boost consumption to a total of over 100 billion yuan (about 14 billion U.S. dollars), with a per capita daily average consumption volume reaching nearly 3,500 yuan, according to the NIA.
Through favorable measures such as the visa-free entry policy, more accessible mobile payment and the full coverage of foreign card POS machines in key tourism scenes, China has shown its goodwill and sincerity to the world and attracted more foreign tourists, said Ma Yiliang, chief statistician of the China Tourism Academy.
"With the more convenient experience in China, foreign tourists can learn a more open, confident and safe China during their travels," said Ma.
A Westminster man has appeared in court charged over the death of a 50-year-old man on Sunday in Nollamara.
Wai Chun Wong, 65, was arrested after police appealed for information about the discovery of a severely injured man near the intersection of Ravenswood Drive and Hillsborough Drive.
Wai Chun Wong, 65, leaving Perth Magistrates Court. Credit: Nine News Perth
A passerby found him just after 9pm and alerted authorities, but the man could not be saved.
Major Crash Investigation detectives said at the time he had injuries consistent with being hit by a vehicle, but they were keeping an open mind.
How lucky was Peter Dutton that only a few hours before the NSW Liberal Party publicly imploded, he had reignited debate on immigration and refugees by proposing a ban on all Palestinians desperate to escape the hellhole of Gaza.
While Liberals worked frantically and unsuccessfully behind the scenes to lodge nominations for council elections, Dutton was in an aircraft hangar, welcoming home Olympians who had covered themselves in glory. From there, he did an interview on Sky which finished on visas for Palestinians.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during Question Time. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Talk about perfect timing. For weeks after, Dutton did what he does best. He kept the focus on the governments competence or lack of it, smothered discussion of any other issue, and raised questions about national security which splattered ASIO, all without being quizzed over the dysfunction of a branch of the party he leads in a state vital to his election prospects.
In that first interview on Sky, he claimed people would be shocked to think ASIOs not conducting checks and searches on these people. He later amended that to say whatever checks occurred were not rigorous enough and, in any case, ASIO could only act according to the policy of the government of the day.
Labor-turned-One Nation MP Ben Dawkins has not given up on representing Pauline Hansons party next year despite leader Rod Caddies casting doubt over his future with the party and Dawkins failing to secure the partys endorsement for another tilt at the upper house.
Dawkins said he would remain a member of One Nation, which he joined in February, and expressed interest in running as one of the partys lower house candidates.
Pauline Hanson announcing MP Ben Dawkins had joined her party in February.
However, Caddies was less clear about Dawkins future in the party, saying it would be discussed.
Caddies said he had no ill feelings toward Dawkins but that, in his view, he did not meet the expectations required during the preselection process.
Washington: Former US president Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to fresh criminal charges accusing him of attempting to overturn the 2020 election, as he prepares to be sentenced this month for fraudulently covering up a sex scandal.
With two months until election day, lawyers for the Republican presidential nominee entered the plea in Washington on Thursday (Friday AEST) at the start of a hearing to determine how the election interference case should proceed after the US Supreme Court ruled that presidents should be immune from prosecution for official acts.
Donald Trump listens to a question during a campaign event at the Economic Club of New York on Thursday. Credit: AP
The new charges formed part of a superseding indictment lodged by Special Counsel Jack Smith last month to account for the immunity ruling.
On the other side of the country, President Joe Bidens son Hunter faced his own legal woes.
DAMASCUS, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Three Syrian soldiers were killed in an armed attack on a military vehicle near the Naima Bridge, east of the southern province of Daraa on Thursday, local Sham FM radio reported.
The attack occurred in the early morning hours as unidentified gunmen opened fire on the vehicle, killing three soldiers at the scene, said the report.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes amid ongoing instability in southern Syria, a region that has seen a resurgence of violence in recent months despite reconciliation agreements.
The assault came just one day after a government convoy, including the Daraa governor and the head of the Baath Party branch in Daraa, was targeted in eastern Daraa.
Daraa, often referred to as the birthplace of Syria's 2011 uprising, continues to experience sporadic clashes between government forces and various armed factions.
Weber State sets school record with 830 international students
September 5, 2024
OGDEN, Utah The international community at Weber State University is growing.
WSU boasted its largest enrollment of international students ever this fall at 372 new students, bringing the total number of that population to 832.
A combination of targeted recruitment efforts, partnerships with agents, enhanced name recognition, and Weber States affordable tuition led to the surge of international enrollment, said Mary Machira, executive director of WSUs Office of International Programs and Services.
Most students cite affordability as a key factor, along with Utah's reputation as a safe state, which appeals to parents, Machira said. Additionally, Weber State offers a wide range of programs, providing students with diverse academic options.
Sulav Chhetri from Kathmandu, Nepal, chose WSU to get his masters degree in education, with a focus on higher education leadership. During the enrollment process, he appreciated the quick responses and help he received from staff.
Being someone who has already worked in education, I was very happy to see the university meeting up with my expectations while equally focusing and prioritizing students' access, persistence and success more than anything else, Chhetri said.
More than half of Weber States international students are from Nepal. Machira said they are often drawn to WSU by positive word-of-mouth and the sense of community created by Nepalese students in Utah.
I feel glad to see so many Nepali students coming to Utah, Chhetri said. Their presence kind of makes me feel that I am not very far away from home.
After Nepal, WSUs international population is largely made up of students from Vietnam, Japan, India, China, Rwanda, Brazil, Myanmar, Germany, the Philippines and South Korea among others.
Having international students on campus enriches cultural experiences and classroom discussions for everyone, Machira said.
Their presence enhances our academic programs and provides unique perspectives, broadening the horizons of Weber State students who may not have the opportunity to study abroad, she said. For international students, Weber State offers the prestige of studying at a U.S. university, along with access to learning experiences and extracurricular opportunities that may not be available in their countries.
Through Optional Practical Training, international students can work in their field of study for up to 12 months after graduation, with STEM majors having the option to extend for an additional 24 months.
Visit the International Student & Scholar Center website for more information.
BEIRUT, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- A Hezbollah member was killed and another wounded in an Israeli airstrike on southern Lebanon on Thursday, according to official and military sources in Lebanon.
Lebanese military sources told Xinhua that Israeli drones and warplanes carried out 11 raids on nine villages and towns in the western and central sectors of the border area in southern Lebanon during the early hours of Thursday.
Israeli artillery also shelled seven villages and towns in the eastern and central sectors of the border area with about 25 shells.
The sources noted an Israeli airstrike on a house in the village of Kafra in the central sector resulted in the death of a Hezbollah member and injuries to another.
Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on Oct. 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets fired by Hezbollah in support of Hamas' attack on Israel the day before. Israel retaliated with heavy artillery fire toward southeastern Lebanon.
Azerbaijan and Italy are set to create joint enterprises in multiple fields in the near future, according to Manuela Traldi, President of the Italy-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce, Azernews reports that speaking to reporters in Rome, Traldi highlighted the strong potential for collaboration between the two countries.
"We held very useful and effective meetings with our Azerbaijani colleagues with the participation of representatives of the private sector. A high-level round table with the participation of the Minister of Entrepreneurship of Italy and the Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan is planned," said Traldi.
Discussing the activities of the Chamber of Commerce, she emphasized that the organization is focused on attracting investments to Azerbaijan. "We do it in different ways, we try to promote Azerbaijan in Italy, we use all the elements that can help attract investments from Italian companies. Pinning our hopes on the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project, we created the Italian-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce back in 2012. Personally, I was sure that TAP will be realized someday and our countries will become closer," she stated.
Traldi further explained that several projects are currently in progress, noting close cooperation with Azerbaijan's investment companies, the Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO), and the Ministry of Economy. "I think that the prospects are very big. We will create joint ventures that will bring the most advanced Italian technologies to the business environment and production environment in Azerbaijan. This will contribute to the further development and diversification of the economy," she added.
The joint ventures will prioritize the industrial sector, including petrochemicals, metallurgy, and agriculture. "We have several projects that will support the future development of agriculture in Azerbaijan. In addition, we are developing new projects in the health sector, in the industrial sector, as well as in other areas where Italy has innovation. We are talking about the food industry, as well as sectors such as leather processing, shoe production, and textiles," Traldi said.
Italian companies are also eager to participate in the reconstruction of Garabagh. "The Italian government is making efforts to conclude more contracts for Italian companies to implement projects in Azerbaijan. There are more and more opportunities for Italian business in the liberated territories," said Traldi.
Shortly after the end of the 44-day war, Italy dispatched a mission to Garabagh. "Italy has always supported Azerbaijan in the Garabagh issue, and we are glad that we can participate in the reconstruction of Garabagh in various ways. This is one of the main aspects of our relations," she noted.
It is important to mention that Italy remains one of Azerbaijan's key trading partners.
TEHRAN, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Western countries' accusations of Iran's alleged involvement in the Ukraine crisis are "baseless and misleading," Iran's UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said Wednesday.
In a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Samuel Zbogar, who holds the UN Security Council's rotating presidency for September, Iravani said any claim about Iran's involvement in the sale, export or transfer of arms to Russia and so-called violation of its international commitments is "categorically rejected."
He reaffirmed Iran's commitment to observing international humanitarian law.
On Friday, the United States, Britain and France accused Iran at an open briefing of the UN Security Council of being involved in the "sale, export or transfer of arms to Russia for use against Ukraine, violating its international obligations and supporting terrorism."
Iravani called such accusations "ironic and hypocritical" as the three countries are those directly involved in the Ukraine crisis and have prolonged the war, harmed civilians and destroyed infrastructure by offering advanced weaponry to Kiev.
The accusations showed their "narrow and short-sighted political agendas" aimed at "advancing their own political interests," he said.
"It is actually the United States, not Iran, which is the main supporter and promoter of terrorism in the region and the world," he added.
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Speaking following the presentation of ICMSAs 2025 Pre-Budget Submission to Ministers Chambers and Donohoe, the President of ICMSA, Denis Drennan, said that the forthcoming Budget represented the last opportunity for this Government to make good on the commitment contained in its Programme for Government to address the issue of ruinous excess volatility in farm incomes. Mr. Drennan said that it was simply a matter of fact that the Government had undertaken to deal with the matter and notwithstanding the fact that several solutions had been provided to it had so far abjectly failed to make good on its commitment.
The facts speak for themselves: the year 2023 was extremely difficult from a farm income perspective and - with farm incomes in freefall across every sector - 2024 will be no better. The taxation system is heavily weighted against farmers in terms of income volatility, and we know that most of the States 18,000-odd dairy farmers are working for less than the minimum State hourly rate while facing tax bills based on figures that bear no relation to the current situation. ICMSA has proposed an income volatility measure that will allow farmers utilise funds deposited with the State in a Good year which can then be drawn down and used to assist them in exactly the kind of Bad year that were experiencing right now. The cost to the Exchequer would be absolutely insignificant set against the national budget and any tax liabilities will be paid on these deposits placed under the supervision of the State. The impact at farm level, however, would be very significant and it would allow farmers access to tax-efficient deposits that could tide them over in the kind of high input low prices scenario that we are operating within right now. The Government recognised the need for this type of scheme five years ago and they made a commitment to farmers to introduce just such a scheme. ICMSA is now calling on them to honour that commitment and proceed with such a scheme, said Mr. Drennan.
Alongside their call for the long-awaited Income Volatility measure, ICMSA made several other proposals including:
The need for the Capital Acquisitions Tax and Capital Gains Tax regimes to ensure that the family farm can be transferred to the next generation without a tax burden and to ensure that people buying land for investment purposes cannot use the taxation system to undermine farmers in the land market.
The illogical and arbitrary exclusion of calf feeders and robotic scraper systems from the VAT reclaim regime needs to be addressed as part of the Finance Bill.
Clarity is required around the mechanism that will ensure that farm families are excluded from the Residential Zoned Land Tax.
The need for a well-funded Dairy Beef Calf Scheme delivering 100 to the calf rearer and 100 to the finisher in recognition of the climate benefits of dairy beef and the opportunity to develop a sector that has the potential to deliver strong net foreign earnings.
The extension of ACRES to 70,000 farmers with a focus on measures that would be suitable to intensive farmers and the delivery of a 70% grant for slurry storage for all farmers.
The introduction of a private pension regime that takes account of the income volatility in the agriculture sector.
Mr. Drennan called on the Government to recognise the huge contribution made by the agriculture sector at local and national levels and its capacity and record in term of net foreign earnings perspective. The ICMSA President said that the whole sector was in need of reinvigoration and directed supports and he hoped that the Government understood the need for a much more proactive approach that had to start with the wipeout of particularly dairy farmer income in the last 30 months.
This is the Governments last chance to show farmers that their word, their commitment, stands for something. The Government has not been positive or engaged with farmers or the wider sector and, bluntly, this is the Governments last chance to show some degree of honour and fairness with the farming community as we face into the Budget and the likely General Election right behind that, said the ICMSA President.
Organisers have vowed to continue to hold vigils at the Upper Bridge in Ballina in solidarity with the people of Palestine until a ceasefire is declared in Gaza.
The weekly Bridgil at Ham Bridge has been taking place every week since the end of June as part of a national movement in Ireland to raise awareness of the ongoing situation in Gaza and to show support for Palestine. Similar vigils have taken place in Castlebar, Westport and Achill in recent months.
Jenny and Derek Graham, who lived in Gaza for four years, are among the weekly attendees at the Ballina Bridgil. Derek told the Western People that they want to keep local people aware of what is happening in Gaza, describing the actions of Israel as a "genocide".
We want to get people to be fully aware that this is still going on. Were into the tenth month of this and people tune out, and if everyone turns a blind eye, the genocide can continue, he said.
If we keep highlighting this here, particularly in Ballina which is Joe Bidens hometown, you will hope that the message gets through to him.
Mr Graham said they will keep up the Bridgil until there is a ceasefire.
Were over 330 days into this conflict and the numbers are going up dramatically. The official number of dead is 40,800 but even two months ago The Lancet, which would be a well-regarded medical publication, estimated the true death toll is closer to 183,000.
There are very few wars in the world with greater dead than injured. Were at about 100,000 injured and realistically closer to 200,000 dead.
The Gaza Strip is the size of the Burren and people were told to move south into an area that would be the equivalent of moving two million people into an area the size of Achill Island.
Mr Graham said they would like to see their numbers grow at the weekly Ballina Bridgil, which takes place every Friday from 5pm to 6pm.
We would call on as many people to come and join us. If you are against whats happening and youre sick and tired of watching children being slaughtered, stand with us. It is not political, it is humanitarian.
However, he acknowledged that not everyone is in a position to join them. He urged people to use their boycott by refusing to buy Israeli goods from supermarkets and pharmacies.
Mayo has a great history when it comes to boycott, it is here the boycott movement started. The boycott movement globally is affecting Israel.
It is money that talks and money is what will bring a ceasefire eventually. The Bridgils highlight what is going on and, hopefully, people will boycott Israeli goods and it is a snowball effect from there.
Every euro you spend on Israeli products, you are effectively buying a bullet to kill a Palestinian child, he said.
Mr Graham added that recent media reports that four flights from the US bound for the Israel Defence Forces flew over Irish airspace were a "flagrant violation of our sovereignty".
A Mayo business has raided vital funds to purchase a defibrillator thanks to a very clever idea.
Since the start of July, Gilligans Bar in Claremorris decided to do something good for their local community through the re-turn scheme.
The business saved up cans and bottles every week before taking their haul to the local Supervalu.
They saved enough money to buy the defibrillator for outside the pub which can be used for medical attention and potentially save someone's life.
Its a tough time to be a farmer in Ireland.
Maybe it always was but this years exceptional rainfall sees farmers feeding silage to cattle indoors in August after doing so in the springtime too when the animals should be out grazing the land. Fields are so wet that cattle cannot be allowed out onto them in many parts.
If this wasnt enough of a challenge, the industry saw the Nature Restoration Law implemented almost immediately after the European Elections in June. The law has many far-reaching consequences for Irish farmers. The law was passed in the EU and it sets out targets and ambitions, which the Irish government has to devise a means to achieve.
Under the European Green Deal, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 sets out the general objective of reversing biodiversity loss, so that Europe's biodiversity is on the path to recovery by 2030, and that by 2050 all of the EUs ecosystems are restored, resilient and adequately protected. This is a noble ambition. But what does it mean?
Amongst the ecosystems to be restored under the law, the natural connectivity of rivers and functions of floodplains, pollinator populations, agricultural ecosystems (including drained peatlands) and forest ecosystems will be of most interest to farmers.
The law sets out the restoration ambitions and deals with wetlands, forests, grasslands, rivers and lakes, heath, scrub, rocky habitats and dunes. It seeks to establish where these habitats are located and establish their existing condition. Governments then must put measures in place to bring at least 30% of habitats that are not in good condition up to good condition by 2030, and to bring back species populations by improving and enlarging their habitats.
The law also deals with the restoration of natural connectivity of rivers and natural functions of related floodplains and aims to remove artificial barriers that prevent the connectivity of surface waters, put measures in place to improve the natural function of related floodplains and contribute towards an EU ambition of at least 25,000 km of rivers to be restored to a free-flowing state by 2030.
The law further aims to put measures in place to reverse the decline of pollinator populations by 2030 to achieve an increasing trend in grassland butterflies and farmland birds. Of particular interest to farmers is the plan to reverse the decline in the stock of organic carbon in cropland mineral soils, and the share of agricultural land with high-diversity landscape features.
The law will put measures in place to restore drained peatlands under agricultural use at the rate of 30% by 2030, of which at least a quarter shall be rewetted, 40% by 2040, of which at least a third shall rewetted, and 50% by 2050, of which at least a third shall be rewetted. Rewetting peatland means the process of changing a drained peat soil towards a wet soil.
In the short term, this rewetting can be achieved on state lands like disused Bord na Mona lands. It is ironic to be discussing rewetting land when you look out the window or walk the fields in their current state.
The Irish government must produce a draft National Restoration Plan within 24 months of regulation coming into force. What happens beyond that is likely to require significant changes in existing farming practices.
The plan must specify how targets are to be delivered and will cover the period until 2050. The plan needs to quantify and map areas to be restored, describe restoration measures in place and how targets will be reached, and outline timescales and monitoring requirements.
Farmers are likely to be offered some financial incentive to adopt the necessary changes. As of yet, what precise changes are necessary is unclear, with the National Parks and Wildlife Service the organisation that manages the Irish State's nature conservation responsibilities tasked with producing Irelands National Restoration.
Trade conflict
Another potential assault on the farming industry comes from China.
Irish farmers are poised to bear the brunt of a looming trade conflict between the European Union and China, as Chinese authorities have launched an anti-subsidy investigation into imported dairy products from the EU. This development appears to be a retaliatory move by China in response to the EU's recent decision to impose tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China.
The potential impact on the Irish dairy industry could be severe, as any restrictions on EU dairy exports would primarily affect Ireland. China has become an important market for Irish dairy, particularly in supplying the countrys vast baby formula sector.
The investigation, launched by China's commerce ministry last week, will scrutinise various dairy products, including cheeses, milk, and creams intended for human consumption.
In 2022, Irish agri-food exports to China were valued at 722 million, with dairy sales alone accounting for approximately 400 million. Of the EU countries under investigation, Ireland is by far the largest exporter of dairy to China, making the Irish dairy sector particularly vulnerable to any new restrictions.
China's decision follows the EU's announcement of reduced but still significant duties on imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles - a move Beijing had urged Brussels to reconsider. As the situation escalates, Irish farmers face increasing uncertainty about the future of their exports to China, a key market for their products.
Nitrates Derogation
In better news, the Government has revealed a comprehensive plan aimed at retaining Ireland's Nitrates Derogation, addressing water quality concerns that have become increasingly pressing. Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue's proposal includes key changes, most notably the introduction of a planning exception for slurry storage facilities in response to widespread objections to these developments across the country.
Under the new regulations, a distinct exempted development threshold will be introduced specifically for standalone manure storage facilities. This measure, which will follow the enactment of updated planning regulations, is intended to simplify the approval process for farmers who need to expand or improve their slurry storage. This expansion is crucial for managing nutrient run-off and safeguarding water quality.
In addition to the planning changes, the Government will seek approval from the European Commission to amend both the Rural Development Plan and the CAP Strategic Plan. A significant part of the proposed amendments is the introduction of a 60% grant rate and a dedicated 90,000 ceiling for nutrient storage investments, effective from January 2025. Eligible investments under this scheme will include mass concrete tanks, precast tanks, geomembrane-lined stores, circular slurry stores, and manure pits.
The proposal also calls for a detailed environmental and economic assessment of the potential consequences of losing the Nitrates Derogation, scheduled for 2025. This assessment will examine the impact of possible reductions in the maximum chemical nitrogen allowances for grassland stocking rates and key arable crops. The findings will be crucial for the review of the Nitrates Action Programme for the 20262029 period.
The Government's plan also includes previously announced measures, such as the employment of water quality advisors, the 60 million Farming for Life Programme, and grant aid for storage on farms importing slurry.
Residential Zoned Land Tax
The Government has opted to delay the introduction of the Residential Zoned Land Tax by a year and intends to create a new scheme that will exempt farmers. Finance Minister Jack Chambers' decision is good news for farmers, who were concerned that their working land would be heavily taxed under the original plan.
The proposed tax aimed to levy a 3% charge on land zoned for residential development based on its market value. The goal was to encourage the release of more land for housing construction and discourage speculators from holding onto serviced sites.
Originally announced in the 2022 Budget, the tax was scheduled to take effect in February 2025 with payments due by May. However, it faced strong opposition from farmers whose land, which was zoned for residential use, was actually being utilised for agriculture.
Following extensive discussions with Housing Minister Darragh OBrien and Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue, Minister Chambers decided to delay the tax implementation for another 12 months.
NEW YORK, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- The city of Zhaotong in China's Yunnan Province is aiming to promote economic and cultural ties with U.S. cities and bolster the two countries' local-level exchanges and cooperation.
Addressing the China (Zhaotong) - USA Economic and Cultural Cooperation Conference in New York's Manhattan on Tuesday, Su Lizhong, secretary of the Communist Party of China Zhaotong Municipal Committee, said that Zhaotong is a historic city with over 2,000 years, famed for its rich natural resources and colorful intangible cultural heritage.
Located in China's southwest, the city is a well-connected transportation hub between China and Southeast Asia and South Asia, he said, adding that Zhaotong is also a favorable destination with convenient business environment for foreign investors.
Su expressed his expectation of more and closer China-U.S. exchanges at the local level, and invited American investors and entrepreneurs to seek opportunities in Yunnan and benefit from economic and cultural cooperation.
Hou Lihong, science and technology counselor in New York, said that Zhaotong, located in the northeastern part of Yunnan Province, is an important section of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.
Hou highlighted that China's pursuit of high-quality development will offer more opportunities for the win-win cooperation between China and the United States.
Jeffery Jones, former mayor of Paterson City and chairman of the Council for Trade and Investment Promotion (CTIP), said that he traveled in many Chinese cities such as Beijing, Wuhan and Guangzhou before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Encouraged by the news that China is adhering to the opening-up policy and moving forward, Jones said he believes that CTIP will engage with more areas in China in exploring business.
President Biden provides an update on the federal government's response to Hurricane Helene and the preparations for Hurricane Milton.
COLOMBO, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's navy arrested four Indian fishermen for poaching in the country's territorial waters on Wednesday, the navy said in a statement.
The arrests were made during a special operation to chase away Indian trawlers poaching in the seas off Kovilan Lighthouse, Jaffna, in the country's Northern Province, the navy said.
The navy also seized a trawler that the Indians were traveling in, the statement said, adding that the trawler and Indian fishermen were handed over to the local authority for legal proceedings.
Sri Lanka's navy conducts regular patrols and operations in its waters to curb the illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing trawlers, the navy said.
With the arrests, the navy has seized a total of 47 Indian poaching trawlers and arrested 345 Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters so far in 2024.
In Shenyang, a historic city in NE China, int'l students are contributing to ancient city preservation projects. Two African students from Shenyang Urban Construction University are pursuing their architectural dreams through this work and plan to apply their knowledge back home.
Deadly Simplifications: Imagining the Future in a Warming World
When: Wednesday, 11 September 2024 - Friday, 13 September 2024 Where: Senate Room
Start time: 16:00 Enquiries: Katrina Lehmann-Grube on Katrina.Lehmann-Grube@wits.ac.za. RSVP: Registration Link
WiSER, the Presidential Climate Commission and the University of Pretoria will be hosting Award-winning author, Amitav Ghosh, for a series of events.
For more information please click here.
Effects of Public Investment in the Green & Care Economies & Public Infrastructure in South Africa
When: Thursday, 05 September 2024 - Thursday, 05 September 2024 Where: Online Event
Start time: 13:30 Enquiries: kitso.kgaboesele@wits.ac.za athenkosi.pono@wits.ac.za RSVP: Register now! Cost: Free but registration is required
SCIS invites you to the launch of a Working Paper titled The Effects of Public Investment in the Green and Care Economies and Public Infrastructure in SA
The Public Economy Project (PEP) at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies (SCIS) invites you to the launch of their Working Paper titled The Effects of Public Investment in the Green and Care Economies and Public Infrastructure in South Africa. The webinar will take place on 5 September 2024, 13:30 - 15:00. Join our speakers Professor Ozlem Onaran and Dr. Cem Oyvat, Adam Aboobaker, and Kate Phillip in what promises to be an insightful session.
Abstract:
This paper argues that a comprehensive combination of policy tools is required to trigger the necessary and urgent level of public investment needed to confront the complex crises of growth, inequality, care, and climate change in South Africa. South Africa confronts considerable macroeconomic policy challenges, most notably the need to attain sustainable and inclusive economic growth. According to the National Treasury, South Africa's growth averaged a mere 1.75% per annum between 2010 and 2019, a figure that drops further if the COVID-19 impacted years of 2020 and 2021 are taken into account. The South African National Treasury asserts that fiscal policy encompasses decisions involving the level and composition of government spending, tax revenue generation, and government borrowing, if any. Since 2013, a strategy of fiscal consolidation has been pursued with the aim of slowing the rate of growth in public spending while also enhancing tax revenues. However, the self-defeating consequences of actual reductions in public spending have resulted in a decline in public expenditure on public services, primarily due to the rapid growth in spending on debt service costs. Conversely, this paper contends that increasing, rather than cutting, public expenditure on the care economy, green economy, and public infrastructure would enhance South Africa's GDP and employment levels and result in changes in public debt/GDP ratios. This study advocates for the adoption of expansionary fiscal policy choices in conjunction with clearly defined development targets and coordinated fiscal, monetary, industrial, labour, and social policies.
To read the Working Paper: Click here
AI in Africa: Its a matter of MIND
As the world races ahead with AI advancements, concerns are mounting that Africa could be left behind. Enter the Wits MIND Institute.
Wits University is in the process of establishing the Wits Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery Institute (MIND Institute). This Initiative is designed to push the boundaries of natural and artificial intelligence research through robust interdisciplinary collaboration.
After two years of planning, the Institute aims to deepen our understanding of both human and machine intelligence while developing technologies to tackle major AI challenges.
We dont pursue these goals because they are easy, but because they are difficult. AI development is advancing rapidly, yet Africas involvement remains limited, says Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Wits University. An African AI Institute is essential to drive forward innovative research and policy-making, ensuring that AI development and deployment reflect the continents diverse cultural landscape and address the needs of over one billion people.
A hub for interdisciplinary research
MIND will bring together experts in the fields such as computer and mathematical sciences, neuroscience, psychology, archaeology, anthropology, philosophy, the creative arts, and governance.
Wits University is uniquely placed to contribute to AI research and capacity building in South Africa and Africa. One of the key goals is to nurture and expand our AI talent pool, says Professor Lynn Morris, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation.
This focus on talent development is crucial for establishing a robust AI research community, capable of competing on the global stage. By focusing on talent development, defining strategic research areas, and securing necessary funding and infrastructure, the MIND Institute will accelerate the advancement and commercialization of cutting-edge AI technologies, says Morris.
AI in Africa: Consumer vs developer
AI in Africa is currently a mix of growing potential, active development, and persistent challenges.
Despite the continent's growing potential in AI, significant challengesranging from infrastructure deficits and talent shortages to limited research fundingthreaten to slow its progress. Without strategic investments and collaboration, Africa risks becoming a consumer rather than a creator in the global AI economy.
The Wits MIND Institute aims to drive homegrown innovation that addresses the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the African context, says Benjamin Rosman, Professor in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, and Director of the Robotics, Autonomous Intelligence and Learning Lab (RAIL Lab). Rosman is the Director of MIND and leading the establishment of the Institute.
As it advances the science of intelligence and shapes the future of AI policy, the MIND Institute will play a critical role in ensuring that Africa not only participates in but also leads the next wave of AI innovation, says Rosman.
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MIND Fellows Applications are now open
As a first stop to introduce the MIND Institute to the Wits community, some 40+ cross-faculty and cross-disciplinary academics, and researchers gathered at Wits Universitys Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct.
The meeting also announced the application for the MIND Fellows programme. This is an opportunity for any Wits academics or researchers from diverse fields of study to apply for the three-year programme. The MIND Fellows will be expected to participate in the Institutes activities and help grow MIND as a hub for inter- and multi-disciplinary AI research and idea-sharing.
The MIND Fellows are the core of the Institute. Each will apply with the details of a project they are working on that relates in some way to the study of intelligence. MIND will run deep-dive workshops and other events on themes related to the Fellows' projects, to form new collaborations and advance this research.
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Wits experts share what they have in MIND
A broad range of speakers also shared their visions of interacting with the new Institute in future:
The latest AI models are hugely expensive, costing $100M and needing 100 MW of electricity to train. Africa cannot easily compete with this. But the human brain runs on just 30W of power, so profound intelligence is possible with small power consumption. By bringing together researchers working on all branches of intelligence MIND has the opportunity to unlock some of the secrets of low-power natural intelligence and apply them to AI -- Distinguished Professor Bruce Bassett, School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics As the research from IDORI, the Wits Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute pushes the envelopes of discovery and impact on health in Africa and globally, MIND will be play an integral role in such areas as designing affordable screening tests for identifying cancers early enough for effective treatment, providing guidance on conventional diagnostics and therapy to general practitioners in locations without oncologists, and identifying new and feasible approaches for prevention and therapy for cancers in Africa, among many other concepts. Early-in-career scientists at Wits need to be on the cutting edge of machine intelligence to advance their research throughout their careers. MIND will be a powerful resource and partner for IDORI for promoting research careers carrying out innovative and impactful science at Wits. -- Distinguished Professor Robert Breiman, Wits Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute The School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics is a powerhouse in AI research, boasting among the highest concentration of AI experts in Africa. With 18 academics working directly in fundamental AI research and publishing in the top AI venues in the world, we are the leading AI research publishers in Africa. Further, boasting over 400 postgraduate students in AI and Data Science programmes from Postgraduate Diplomas through to PhDs, we are well positioned to act as a technical foundation for interdisciplinary research in the MIND Institute, demonstrating our commitment to fundamental and applied AI research alongside projects with profound social impact. -- Professor Richard Klein, Deputy Head of the School of Computer and Applied Mathematics The MIND Institute is a formalisation of existing collaborations that have happened fairly organically in the University with the Neuroscience Research Lab (www.witsneurl.com) and computer sciences, biomedical engineering, health sciences, anatomy and physiology (to name a few). There is no doubt that the MIND Institute would formalise these cross-disciplinary collaborations and would create a space for future cutting-edge research that compares aspects of cognition across animals, humans and machines on key features of intelligent behaviour. -- Professor Kate Cockcroft, Department of Psychology in the School of Human and Community Development In collaboration with Wits School of Governance, the MIND institute will become more than just a research facility; it will contribute to a comprehensive hub of knowledge and education. By bringing together cutting-edge AI research and practical governance training, we create a unique environment where public administrators and leaders can gain the skills and insights necessary to address the specific challenges South Africa is currently facing. -- Associate Professor Geci Karuri-Sebina, Digital Governance in the Wits School of Governance The power of fundamental research to generate ideas upstream could result in interesting downstream innovations that we can drive out of the University as a vector for change in society. There is a unique synergistic relationship between MIND and the Wits Innovation Centre (WIC) that is well-poised to drive innovations. It's the best time ever to be an innovator at Wits as we try to combine favourable policies with enabling resourcing. This means inventors have real incentives to create and to help drive change that's good for all. The MIND Institute fits in extremely well with the Wits Innovation Strategy, as it will be interdisciplinary, work at the cutting edge of technology, and potentially create the real impact that can be cultivated with the WIC. -- Dr Adam Pantanowitz, the Angela and David Fine Chair in Innovation, Wits Innovation Centre
#AIforGood | #WitsForGood
In addition to technical research, the Institute will include philosophers and ethicists to address broader questions about the relationship between humans and machines, and how to embed African values into AI systems. By engaging with policymakers, the Institute will contribute to developing of frameworks that ensure the ethical and responsible deployment of AI technologies.
Clinician-scientist in surgery receives doctoral fellowship at SA Women in Science Awards
Dr Gabriella Hyman awarded the prestigious Dr Esther Mahlangu Doctoral Fellowship for her clinician-scientist role and research in SA public health sector.
The South African Women in Science Awards (SAWiSA) recognise women scientists and researchers who are role models for younger women and who encourage early career researchers and scientists to continue in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM)-related careers.
Dr Gabriella Hyman, a Lecturer in Surgery in the School of Clinical Medicine in the Faculty of Health Sciences, was awarded for her emerging work on health systems research for surgical care delivery in the South African public hospital sector.
Hyman says that strengthening surgical health systems ensures that the broader health system can deliver excellent surgical care.
We use innovative tools and methodologies to improve the service delivery platform, financing mechanisms, and policies needed to deliver safe, timely and affordable surgical care to all South Africans," she says.
The key components of surgical care delivery include human resources (training surgical care providers); infrastructure (upgrading facilities, equipment, and supply chains); service delivery (optimising workflows); financing (ensuring sustainable funding for surgical services); and governance (developing policies and standards for safe and effective surgical care).
Hyman says, We want to understand what is going on in surgical care delivery. Investing in health information systems to monitor provision and outcomes - such as morbidity and mortality - is important. So is developing more robust clinical governance. Through our work, we have developed instruments and methodologies that can be used from the frontline provider, to the facility manager, to the policy-maker level."
Combining research with on-the-ground and efficient patient care is the ultimate goal of medical science in under-resourced settings.
Bridging the research-patient care gap with clinician-scientist training
Clinician-scientists are particularly important in the South African public healthcare sector as they can design and implement research that is directly relevant to local health needs. This includes understanding the barriers to care, developing context-specific interventions, and advocating for policy changes that promote health equity.
The clinician-scientist training pathway is a specialised career trajectory that combines clinical practice with scientific research. It involves cross-disciplinary training, typically beginning with a medical degree, followed by specialist training and practice in a clinical specialty, and advanced training in research methodologies.
In resource-limited settings, clinician-scientists play a crucial role in innovating care delivery models and ensuring that scientific advancements translate into tangible health improvements for underserved communities," says Hyman. "It is an efficient way of addressing the human resource shortage in SA's health sector.
Furthermore, clinician-scientists can create data-driven innovative solutions to neglected health problems, such as surgical care, says Hyman. "By integrating clinical insights with research methodologies, clinician-scientists can develop targeted strategies to enhance healthcare delivery, ultimately strengthening the health system and promoting equitable access to care for all."
DAMASCUS, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Syrian business representatives and industry insiders view the country's first international trade expo as a significant opportunity for local businesses to enter global markets.
Expo Syria 2024, which opened Wednesday at Exhibition City near Damascus, has drawn over 600 companies from various sectors and attracted more than 3,000 foreign traders and business figures.
Raed Al-Nouri of Syria's Al-Nouri Food Company told Xinhua that the five-day expo is "a great opportunity for Syria's recovery, especially in expanding exports to neighboring countries."
Ridwan Debs Wlaban, media director at Columbus Company, expressed confidence in the competitiveness of Syrian goods in international markets, citing their "quality, variety, and competitive pricing."
"This expo is a gateway to new markets, with Aleppo alone representing more than 50 percent of textile industry participants, along with significant involvement in the chemical, engineering, and food sectors," Mustafa Kawaya, vice president of the Aleppo Chamber of Industry, told Xinhua.
However, some participants expressed concerns about the impact of Western sanctions on Syrian businesses. Eyad Mohammed, head of the Export Committee at the Syrian Federation of Agricultural Chambers, noted that Syria's annual export revenue has plummeted from 8 billion U.S. dollars to 1 billion dollars due to sanctions.
"Sanctions affect transportation, banking transfers, and the cost of production components, making it harder for Syrian products to compete in global markets," he said.
CANBERRA, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has flagged plans to introduce new laws to regulate the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
Ed Husic, the minister for industry and science, on Thursday released a discussion paper proposing 10 "mandatory guardrails" to regulate AI.
The proposed guardrails include human oversight and the ability to challenge the outcomes of automated decision-making.
Husic described AI as a great opportunity for Australia but said that current standards for its use are insufficient.
"Australians know AI can do great things but people want to know there are protections in place if things go off the rails," Husic said in a statement.
"From today, we're starting to put those protections in place."
The government has proposed three possible options to set rules for AI -- adopting the guardrails within existing regulations as needed, introducing new legislation to adapt existing framework, or a new standalone cross-economy AI act.
The standalone act would enable the establishment of an independent regulator for AI, though the research paper said that setting up the new body would take resources and time.
Thursday's discussion paper proposes to define high-risk AI in two broad categories -- the first relating to instances where proposed uses of an AI system are known or foreseeable and the second relating to highly capable models where all possible risks cannot be foreseen.
It said that AI's potential to cause harm includes creating and amplifying bias, physical or psychological injury, breach of privacy and threatening national security.
According to the Tech Council of Australia, the peak industry body for the technology sector, generative AI could contribute up to 115 billion Australian dollars (77.2 billion U.S. dollars) per year to the country's economy by 2030.
Husic also on Thursday released a new voluntary set of AI safety standards to provide practical guidance to businesses to implement best practices in the use of AI.
CANBERRA, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- A world-first facility in South Australia (SA) has been opened to help fight a major livestock disease.
The government of SA on Wednesday opened the Sterile Insect Technique facility on Kangaroo Island off the state's south coast.
The facility will breed and release millions of sterile blowflies in an attempt to eradicate flystrike from the island.
Flystrike is a disease that occurs when a fly lays eggs in the fleece of a sheep, and the emerging larvae create an open wound as they feed on underlying skin tissue.
It is a painful disease that can be fatal if left untreated. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in the state of Western Australia (WA) estimates the disease costs the Australian sheep industry 280 million Australian dollars (188.1 million U.S. dollars) every year.
Each week the new Kangaroo Island facility will produce up to 50 million sterile blowflies of the species that causes over 90 percent of flystrike cases.
"These are sterile males and when they mate with the females, there are no eggs produced, and so it's a way of really interacting with the wild flies to be able to reduce and hopefully eliminate sheep blowflies from Kangaroo Island," Clare Scriven, SA's minister for primary industries and regional development, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
A cost-benefit analysis compiled by the government found that eradicating sheep blowflies on Kangaroo Island would save sheep farmers up to 88 million Australian dollars (59.1 million U.S. dollars) over 25 years and improve animal welfare.
If successful, the facility, which is made out of shipping containers, can be relocated to other areas to reduce blowfly populations.
Facility manager Helen Brodie from the South Australian Research and Development Institute said it would not be possible to eradicate flystrike on the Australian mainland but that the facility could be deployed to reduce its occurrence.
COLOMBO, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Maldives has signed the United Nations High Seas Treaty, also known as the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), according to a post by Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy Thoriq Ibrahim on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.
Maldives Permanent Representative to the UN Ali Naseer Mohamed signed the agreement on behalf of the country.
The treaty aims to promote equity and fairness, address environmental degradation, combat climate change, encourage sustainability, and prevent biodiversity loss in international waters.
Ibrahim described the signing as a historic breakthrough and a significant milestone in the conservation and sustainable use of Maldivian ocean resources.
The Maldives is the 92nd UN member state to sign the treaty, according to local media reports.
In a separate post on X, Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer emphasized that the treaty's signing reflects President Mohamed Muizzu's strong commitment to protecting ocean resources.
The cabinet decided to sign the treaty on Feb. 11, and the parliament approved the decision on May 14, local media reported.
BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday proposed that the overall characterization of China-Africa relations be elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.
Xi made the remarks when delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing.
He also proposed that bilateral relations between China and all African countries having diplomatic ties with China be elevated to the level of strategic relations.
Thanks to nearly 70 years of tireless efforts from both sides, the China-Africa relationship is now at its best in history, Xi said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech titled "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a Community with a Shared Future" while attending the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2024. [Xinhua/Yao Dawei]
BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 5 delivered a keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
The following is the full text of the address:
Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a Community with a Shared Future
Keynote Address by H.E. Xi Jinping
President of the People's Republic of China
At the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Summit of
The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation
Beijing, September 5, 2024
Your Excellency President Bassirou Diomaye Faye,
Your Excellency President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, Chairperson of the African Union (AU),
Your Excellencies Heads of State and Government and Heads of Delegation,
Your Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations,
Your Excellency Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the AU Commission,
Friends and Distinguished Guests,
Blossoms in spring turn into fruits in autumn, and a bumper harvest is the reward of hard work. In this season of harvest, I am delighted to gather together with so many old and new friends in Beijing to discuss grand plans for China-Africa friendship and cooperation in the new era. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, I extend a warm welcome to you all!
The friendship between China and Africa transcends time and space, surmounts mountains and oceans, and passes down through generations. The founding of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2000 was a milestone in the history of China-Africa relations. Over the past 24 years, especially in the new era, China has advanced forward hand in hand with our African brothers and sisters in the spirit of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith. We stand shoulder to shoulder with each other to firmly defend our legitimate rights and interests as once-in-a-century changes sweep across the world. We get stronger and more resilient together by riding the tide of economic globalization, delivering tangible benefits to billions of ordinary Chinese and Africans. We share weal and woe in fighting natural disasters and epidemics together, creating touching stories of China-Africa friendship. We always empathize with and support each other, setting a stellar example of a new type of international relations.
Thanks to nearly 70 years of tireless efforts from both sides, the China-Africa relationship is now at its best in history. With its future growth in mind, I propose that bilateral relations between China and all African countries having diplomatic ties with China be elevated to the level of strategic relations, and that the overall characterization of China-Africa relations be elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.
Friends and Distinguished Guests,
Modernization is an inalienable right of all countries. But the Western approach to it has inflicted immense sufferings on developing countries. Since the end of World War II, Third World nations, represented by China and African countries, have achieved independence and development one after another, and have been endeavoring to redress the historical injustices of the modernization process. As we are about to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, we are going all out to build a great modern socialist country in all respects and pursue national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernization. Africa is also awakening again, and the continent is marching in solid strides toward the modernization goals set forth in the AU's Agenda 2063. China and Africa's joint pursuit of modernization will set off a wave of modernization in the Global South, and open a new chapter in our drive for a community with a shared future for mankind.
We should jointly advance modernization that is just and equitable. In promoting modernization, we should not only follow the general rules, but also act in light of our national realities. China is ready to increase exchanges of governance experience with Africa, support all countries in exploring modernization paths befitting their national conditions, and help ensure equal rights and equal opportunities for all countries.
We should jointly advance modernization that is open and win-win. Mutually beneficial cooperation is the sunny road to the betterment of long-term and fundamental interests of all countries. China is ready to deepen cooperation with Africa in industry, agriculture, infrastructure, trade and investment, promote exemplary, high-quality Belt and Road cooperation projects, and build together a model for the delivery of the Global Development Initiative.
We should jointly advance modernization that puts the people first. The ultimate goal of modernization is the free and full development of human beings. China will work vigorously with Africa to promote personnel training, poverty reduction and employment, enhance the sense of gain, happiness and security of the people in the course of modernization, and ensure that all will benefit from the process.
We should jointly advance modernization featuring diversity and inclusiveness. Well-balanced material and spiritual advancement is a lofty objective of modernization. China will enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges with Africa, champion mutual respect, inclusiveness and coexistence of different civilizations on our way to modernization, and strive together for more fruitful outcomes under the Global Civilization Initiative.
We should jointly advance modernization that is eco-friendly. Green development is a hallmark of modernization in the new era. China is ready to help Africa build "green growth engines," narrow the gap in energy accessibility, adhere to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and jointly push for the global transition to green and low-carbon development.
We should jointly advance modernization underpinned by peace and security. Modernization would not be possible without a peaceful and stable environment for development. China is ready to help Africa improve its capacity in safeguarding peace and stability independently, prioritize Africa in implementing the Global Security Initiative (GSI), promote mutual reinforcement of high-quality development and greater security, and work together with Africa to uphold world peace and stability.
Friends and Distinguished Guests,
China and Africa account for one-third of the world population. Without our modernization, there will be no global modernization. In the next three years, China will work with Africa to take the following ten partnership actions for modernization to deepen China-Africa cooperation and spearhead the Global South modernization.
First, the Partnership Action for Mutual Learning among Civilizations. China is ready to work with Africa to build a platform for governance experience sharing, a China-Africa knowledge network for development, and 25 centers on China and Africa studies. We will make better use of Africa's leadership academies to cultivate talents for governance, and invite 1,000 members of African political parties to China to deepen exchanges of experience in party and state governance.
Second, the Partnership Action for Trade Prosperity. China will voluntarily and unilaterally open its market wider. We have decided to give all LDCs having diplomatic relations with China, including 33 countries in Africa, zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines. This has made China the first major developing country and the first major economy to take such a step. It will help turn China's big market into Africa's big opportunity. China will expand market access for African agricultural products, deepen cooperation with Africa in e-commerce and other areas, and launch a "China-Africa quality enhancement program." We are prepared to enter into framework agreements on economic partnership for shared development with African countries to provide long-term, stable and predictable institutional guarantee for trade and investment between the two sides.
Third, the Partnership Action for Industrial Chain Cooperation. China will foster industry cooperation growth clusters with Africa, push forward the Pilot Zone for In-depth China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation, and launch an "African SMEs empowerment program." We will build with Africa a digital technology cooperation center and initiate 20 digital demonstration projects so as to embrace together the latest round of technological revolution and industrial transformation.
Fourth, the Partnership Action for Connectivity. China is prepared to carry out 30 infrastructure connectivity projects in Africa, promote together high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and put in place a China-Africa network featuring land-sea links and coordinated development. We are ready to assist in the development of the African Continental Free Trade Area, and deepen logistics and financial cooperation for the benefit of trans-regional development in Africa.
Fifth, the Partnership Action for Development Cooperation. China is ready to release the Joint Statement on Deepening Cooperation within the Framework of the Global Development Initiative with Africa, and implement 1,000 "small and beautiful" livelihood projects. We will replenish the China-World Bank Group Partnership Facility to boost Africa's development. We support Africa in hosting the 2026 Youth Olympic Games and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. We will work together with Africa to deliver more fruits of development to the two peoples.
Sixth, the Partnership Action for Health. China is ready to establish with Africa a hospitals alliance and joint medical centers. We will send 2,000 medical personnel to Africa, and launch 20 programs of health facilities and malaria treatment. We will encourage Chinese companies to invest in Africa's pharmaceutical production, and continue to do what we can to help Africa with epidemic response. We support the development of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to strengthen public health capacity in all African countries.
Seventh, the Partnership Action for Agriculture and Livelihoods. China will provide Africa with RMB1 billion yuan in emergency food assistance, build 100,000 mu (about 6,670 hectares) of standardized agriculture demonstration areas in Africa, send 500 agricultural experts, and establish a China-Africa agricultural science and technology innovation alliance. We will implement 500 programs in Africa to promote community welfare. We will also encourage two-way investment for new business operations by Chinese and African companies, enable Africa to retain added value, and create at least one million jobs for Africa.
Eighth, the Partnership Action for People-to-People Exchanges. China will implement with Africa more solidly the Future of Africa-Vocational Education Cooperation Plan, establish together an engineering technology academy, and build ten Luban Workshops. We will provide 60,000 training opportunities to Africa, mainly for women and youths. We will launch with Africa a Cultural Silk Road program as well as an initiative of cooperation on innovation in radio, TV and audio and visual programs. The two sides have agreed to designate 2026 as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.
Ninth, the Partnership Action for Green Development. China is ready to launch 30 clean energy projects in Africa, put in place meteorological early warning systems, and carry out cooperation in disaster prevention, mitigation and relief as well as biodiversity conservation. We will create a China-Africa forum on peaceful use of nuclear technology, establish together 30 joint laboratories, and collaborate on satellite remote sensing and lunar and deep-space exploration. All this is designed to help with green development in Africa.
Tenth, the Partnership Action for Common Security. China is ready to build with Africa a partnership for implementing the GSI, and make it a fine example of GSI cooperation. We will give Africa RMB1 billion yuan of grants in military assistance, provide training for 6,000 military personnel and 1,000 police and law enforcement officers from Africa, and invite 500 young African military officers to visit China. The two sides will conduct joint military exercises, training and patrol, carry out an "action for a mine-free Africa," and jointly ensure the safety of personnel and projects.
To implement the ten partnership actions, the Chinese government will provide RMB360 billion yuan of financial support through the next three years. This breaks down into RMB210 billion yuan of credit line, RMB80 billion yuan of assistance in various forms, and at least RMB70 billion yuan of investment in Africa by Chinese companies. In addition, China will encourage and support Africa in issuing panda bonds in China to enhance our results-oriented cooperation in all areas.
Friends and Distinguished Guests,
The Communist Party of China held in July the successful Third Plenary Session of its 20th Central Committee, laying out systematic plans for further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization. This will profoundly further transform China. It will also provide new opportunities and new driving forces for African countries and for our joint pursuit of modernization.
As an African proverb goes, a friend is someone you share the path with. On the path to modernization, no one, and no country, should be left behind. Let us rally the more than 2.8 billion Chinese and African people into a powerful force on our shared path toward modernization, promote modernization of the Global South with China-Africa modernization, and write a new magnificent chapter of development in human history. Let us join hands to bring about a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress for our world.
Thank you.
(Source: Xinhua)
Editor: Wang Shasha
GUIYANG, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- With the weather at a sweltering 35 degrees Celsius, Ge Yi, a project manager from China, finished his simple lunch and immediately drove to the location of his next task. He was going to verify some data for the upcoming construction of the national highway No. 2 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The highway, linking the capital with central regions, is in a poor state of repair, with extensive water damage and potholes everywhere. Guizhou Highway Engineering Group, where Ge works, has become the leading contractor tasked with restoring this essential transport route.
Ge and his colleagues have been assigned the mission of upgrading the 280-kilometer section between Mbuji-Mayi and Mbanza, building a two-way dual-lane asphalt concrete road, a reinforced concrete bridge, and a drainage system.
Ge grew up in Guizhou Province in southwest China, a relatively under-developed mountainous area, and knows well the significance of infrastructure in driving economic growth. "To get rich, you must first build roads," he noted, citing a well-known Chinese adage.
With extensive experience in major infrastructure projects across China, Ge is confident in his team's ability to deliver. "Conditions here are challenging, but we are inspired because we know our efforts will pay off when the highway ultimately contributes to DRC's development," he told Xinhua reporters stationed in Guizhou via an overseas call.
Since arriving in the DRC in early March, Ge and his team have worked tirelessly to advance the construction project. Apart from language barriers and difficulties in acclimatization, they've faced numerous technical challenges, including high temperatures that can cause the cement-stabilized soil to crack in the dry season.
To address this problem, they have come up with the solution of using a curing poly membrane, which can reduce water usage and costs while maintaining the necessary moisture level, instead of conventional geotextile or sprinkling water.
Over the past decade, China's infrastructure collaboration with Africa has yielded significant results. Guizhou Highway Engineering Group, for instance, has won contracts for several road construction projects in Africa.
The current project is scheduled to take 39 months, and once finished it will markedly slash the travel time between Kabinda and Mbanza.
"Improved transportation will not only ensure more timely and adequate supplies in Kabinda but will also help reduce the local costs of living," Ge said, adding that the project is also set to boost local employment, with over 200 workers already hired and more to come.
"While realizing my own dream of building roads overseas, I hope those projects can also help forge Africa's path for development," he said.
Wrexham.com has invited local Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd to write a monthly article with updates on their work in their respective Parliaments and closer to home you can find them all here.
In this months column Wrexhams Member of the Senedd, Lesley Griffiths, writes:
Wales new First Minister paid a visit to Ty Pawb earlier this week to listen to the views of Wrexham residents.
Eluned Morgan MS is currently undertaking a listening tour, stopping off at different towns and cities across Wales to get feedback from local businesses and citizens.
I know the First Minister enjoyed her time in Wrexham and I am grateful to everyone who took part in the discussions.
First minister Eluned Morgan visited Wrexham today as part of her Listening Tour. She spent time in Ty Pawb approaching businesses and members of the public to hear their views on the Welsh Government and the issues impacting them pic.twitter.com/pYLWXUhKf7 Wrexham.com (@wrexham) September 2, 2024
Woodys Lodge, a charity dedicated to supporting veterans, former emergency service personnel and their families, opened its very first shop in Wrexham last month.
It was a real pleasure to be invited along to the grand opening. As a city with a proud military tradition, Wrexham is the ideal location for a charity shop which is committed to raising vital funds for veterans in Wales.
In addition to offering a wide variety of pre-loved clothing, accessories, homeware and more, the shop will feature a unique display of military memorabilia, kindly loaned by local veterans and associations.
Establishing a presence in the city centre will also help raise greater awareness of the essential services Woodys Lodge provides.
The new shop can be found on Chester Street and is part of the Ty Pawb complex. It was lovely to meet the team and volunteers and I wish them all the very best.
It was a pleasure attending the opening of the very first @woodys_Lodge shop. As a city with a proud military history, #Wrexham is the ideal location for a charity shop dedicated to supporting veterans and I wish the team all the very best. pic.twitter.com/r3hT06ePgG Lesley Griffiths (@lesley4wrexham) August 27, 2024
Andrew Ranger MP and I recently visited the team at Wrexham Lager.
These are exciting times for the iconic brewery and it was good to discuss their plans for the future.
Always good to catch up with the team at @WXM_Lager The business continues to move from strength to strength and the future is bright @AndrewRangerMP #Wrexham pic.twitter.com/paWXH1WM3K Lesley Griffiths (@lesley4wrexham) September 2, 2024
Discussions are underway looking at potentially reinstating open-access rail services between Wrexham and London Euston.
The plan has been put forward by Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway Company Ltd (WSMR).
Under the proposals, five trains would run in each direction on Mondays to Saturdays, with four both ways on Sundays.
Starting at Wrexham General, trains would make eight stops before arriving at London Euston, including Gobowen, Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton and Milton Keynes.
If the bid is successful, the new service will create 50 jobs and the first trains should depart in the summer of 2025.
The application process is competitive and the WSMRs bid is now in the hands of the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), an independent regulator that will analyse the merits of restoring rail services between Wrexham and London, as well as other routes across the UK.
WSMR has been consulting with a wide range of stakeholders and, along with Wrexham Council, I have written a letter of support to the Chief Executive of the ORR, John Larkinson.
Wrexham, and the wider North Wales region, deserves better rail services, particularly now the spotlight is on our city like never before. North Wales is a destination of choice for many travellers so it is vital we have fast, frequent and reliable rail services.
I will continue to do all I can to support the WSMRs proposals.
Wrexham to London Trains a real possibility A three hour journey from Wrexham to London is a step closer today following a very positive meeting between Wrexham Council and the Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway Company Ltd https://t.co/5Eci2pkmBG pic.twitter.com/sNneQqlcY1 Wrexham Council (@wrexhamcbc) August 2, 2024
Engaging with young people is a key element and enjoyable aspect of my job and it was a pleasure to talk with students from Ysgol Rhosnesni.
The virtual meeting, which took place before the schools broke up for the summer holidays, was arranged by The Politics Project.
This educational organisation specialises in running digital surgeries which aim to build relationships between young people and their politicians.
During the Q&A session we discussed a wide range of topics that matter to the students. The programme is a great way to engage young people in politics and I am grateful to The Politics Project for organising the event.
Earlier this year, I approached all Wrexhams secondary schools, as well as Coleg Cambria, highlighting the work of The Politics Project so I hope to take part in more surgeries with students in the not-too-distant future.
On Friday our young people got to experience a Q & A with @lesley4wrexham. An informative and interesting session enjoyed by all involved. Thank you to both @lesley4wrexham and @PoliticsProject for this fantastic opportunity.#TeamRhosnesni pic.twitter.com/gZDILDhSGy Ysgol Rhosnesni (@RhosnesniHigh) July 15, 2024
As always, if youre a constituent and there is anything I could help you with, please email me: lesley.griffiths@senedd.wales or call 01978 355743. You can sign up to my regular e-newsletter by clicking here.
Contractor appointed as major Stori Brymbo works prepare to get underway
The major redevelopment of a former ironworks and steelworks in a Wrexham village will soon get underway after the main contractor for the project was appointed.
Mold based MPH Construction will be the main contractor carrying out the works at Stori Brymbo an ambitious enterprise that will see the Brymbo site transformed into a new tourist and community attraction.
The company is expected to begin works at the former Ironworks, Steelworks and Fossil Forest site in Brymbo on 9 September.
Stori Brymbo is primarily funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, National Lottery Community Fund and Cadw. The Fossil Forest, an SSSI, also has funding support from Natural Resources Wales.
This is a unique and exciting project that means a lot to the local community and to Wales, we are thrilled be a part of it, said Andy Roberts, Managing Director, MPH Construction.
The first buildings to be tackled will be the Machine Shop redevelopment and the new building to cover the Fossil Forest, followed by a refurbishment of the Pattern Shop and a partial refurbishment of the Agents House.
The Fossil Forest building is expected to finish in January, enabling an exciting series of events and activities around the live fossil excavation to begin in 2025.
Nicola Eaton Sawford, Chief Executive of Brymbo Heritage Trust, said: Using local trades and suppliers is incredibly important to us.
When you put out a tender for a big contract like this you cant show any geographical preference and so weve really struck lucky that MPH, who are based just eight miles from site, took an interest in the project and put forward a compelling bid.
Making this site something the community can be proud of once more is now happening.
Once complete Stori Brymbo will offer a unique visitor attraction that moves from the humid, mossy swamp forests of 300 million years ago (the period when coal was formed), through the industrial processes on the site over time.
Works will see the former Machine Shop building being repaired and the Heritage Area around it developed, whilst the other side of Phoenix Drive will be transformed into Lodge Valley Park a beautiful parkland space for the community and visitors to enjoy.
Andrew Foster, trustee, said: Its taken a long time to get to this point.
Its fantastic to finally get the contractors on site and we look forward to working with them to create something special.
Prior to the construction team coming on site, resident Paleobiologist, Dr Tim Astrop led a team of 20 palaeontology/archaeology/geology students from Portsmouth, Leicester, Cardiff, Newcastle, Birmingham, Cambridge Universities as well as The Open University, in a dry run paleontological dig.
Stori Brymbo Fossil Group volunteers and interested parties in the local community also got involved. They excavated four pits that are needed for the vertical supports that form part of the fossil forest building.
Local Member of the Senedd, Ken Skates, a long term, loyal supporter of the project visited site to see for himself the excavation progress and the construction plans.
Its excellent news that this major project to completely transform an important local heritage site has cleared its final hurdle and work will begin imminently, he said.
This area of Brymbo is a huge part of the fabric of Wrexhams history, and once completed this ambitious redevelopment will be a truly unique visitor attraction.
Wrexham County Borough is enjoying huge attention and surging visitor numbers, and Stori Brymbo will further enhance our areas offering to people from all over the world.
Mr Skates added: Im also delighted that that a new community parkland space Lodge Valley Park will be created for visitors to Brymbo and for local people to enjoy.
To find out more about the history of the Stori Brymbo site and the plan for the site an Open Day will take place on 28 September between 11am 4pm.
To monitor Stori Brymbos progress over the next couple of years and be notified of events, follow Stori Brymbo on Facebook/Instagram, keep an eye on local noticeboards or submit your email address on the website for updates.
Those interested in future excavations can contact tom.hughes@brymboheritage.co.uk.
Twitter will not show our current tweets to people who don't login to Twitter, just an old 'top' viewed list, so visit Twitter.com/Wrexham direct!
The Traitors star to visit Wrexham on epic 1,200km charity trek
One of the stars of the hit BBC series The Traitors is set to visit Wrexham as part of an epic 1,200km trek in aid of Headway the brain injury association.
Andrew Jenkins, who appeared in the second series of the show, captivated audiences when he disclosed his near-fatal car crash in 1999.
Feared dead at the side of the road, he sustained a severe brain injury, and doctors initially told his parents he would never walk or talk again and might not even wake from his coma.
Against all odds, Andrew made an amazing recovery and has been described as a miracle patient.
Andrew, from Talbot Green, Rhondda Cynon Taf, is now preparing to take on a monumental route which will take him through all four UK nations, walking up to a staggering 40km per day.
I am really pleased to be able to take on this challenge, explained Andrew.
My recovery has been a long journey, and I am passionate about talking about my experiences and encouraging others to talk about the adversities theyve faced in life.
This route is the perfect opportunity and Im so excited to meet people along the way, and to raise awareness of the incredible work that Headway does for brain injury survivors across the UK.
Andrew will walk between castles in the UK, starting from Ardross Castle in Scotland where The Traitors was filmed, down to Cardiff Castle in his home city. His journey will include stops at Lancaster Castle in England and Carrickfergus Castle in Northern Ireland.
The Big Trek will start on September 29 and is expected to take over 40 days.
It will see Andrew reach Wrexham from Ellesmere Port on October 31. He will then set off to Chirk Castle on November 1, before trekking to Arddleen in Powys on November 2.
As well as taking on the physical challenge, Andrew is on a mission to raise awareness of brain injury among communities along the way, by talking about trauma and the importance of addressing mental health openly.
Headway works to improve life after brain injury by providing vital support, advocacy, and information services to brain injury survivors and their families.
The money that Andrew raises will go towards essential Headway services, such as the Emergency Fund, which helps family members be at the bedside of their loved one in critical care, or the charitys nurse-led helpline, which provides essential information and emotional support to brain injury survivors and their families.
Jen Murgatroyd, Headways Director of Fundraising said: We are proud to have Andrew champion our cause and Im sure his journey will give hope and inspiration to other brain injury survivors.
Supporters can contribute to his cause by donating at Andrews Givestar page.
By Bayram Elshadov, Day.az
Former International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo has gone too far. A few days ago, this guy announced a meeting in Yerevan, where he promises his employers from the Armenian lobby to complain fervently about Azerbaijan. Now the corrupt lawyer has decided to write a second open letter, although the effectiveness of the first was absolutely zero.
In his new letter, Ocampo continues to make unfounded accusations against Azerbaijan, hoping to cause an international outcry. However, his attempts are again proving to be a failure, as he cannot back up his statements with convincing evidence. The corrupt lawyer has long since lost his reputation as an impartial human rights defender, and his activities increasingly resemble contract actions to please certain political circles. Apparently, Ocampos latest failure will only strengthen the opinion that his work is more political than legal in nature, and is aimed at serving the interests of the Armenian lobby rather than achieving justice.
In the face of these failed attempts, Ocampo continues to actively exploit the themes of humanitarian crisis and human rights, which tend to resonate in some international circles. However, his assertiveness and tendency to manipulate facts only undermine his credibility. Today, hardly anyone would argue that Ocampo has become a tool for achieving narrow political goals. The Armenian lobby, in turn, continues to put pressure on Ocampo, pushing him to new provocations against Azerbaijan, despite the obvious lack of concrete grounds for accusations.
International observers have already drawn attention to the biased nature of Ocampo's statements. His position, initially perceived as neutral and designed to protect the rights of the oppressed, now increasingly looks like part of a strategic game aimed at destabilizing the situation in the region. In these circumstances, it is obvious that loud statements without evidence cannot change the factual picture, but on the contrary, only push Armenia to unleash new military provocations against Azerbaijan.
The 2024 Legislators Forum for Friendly Exchanges was held in China's Shanghai on Tuesday. Some attendees called for enhancing dialogue, understanding and cooperation between their country and China. #GLOBALink
More than six years after it opened, and seven years, two months and 21 days after the Grenfell tower inferno in London took the lives of 72 men, women and children, the public inquiry into this atrocity delivered its final report.
As was only to be expected from a state-sanctioned inquiry, the 1,700-page document is a whitewash. A few slapped wrists are administered to the companies involved, and governments going back to 1991 admonished for not learning the lessons of previous fires, and for their decades of failure over the issue of public buildings being clad in flammable material.
The first phase of proceedings, which reported its findings in October 2019, had a remit to investigate what caused the fire, concludingas everyone already knew, even in the hours while the fire was still smoulderingthat flammable cladding was chiefly responsible for the ferocity and speed of the blaze.
Just as two years were not required to establish that fact, neither were a further four required to establish the root causes of the fire, or how and why Grenfell Tower was transformed from a safe 1970s-built residential high-rise into a death trap by June 14, 2017.
The victims of Grenfell Tower died as the result of an act of social murder whose architects were companies aiming to cut costs in their refurbishment of the 24-storey building. Their accomplices were successive Conservative and Labour governments who deregulated the building industry on behalf of the capitalist class and created the lax environment for private profiteers to take advantage of.
As a result, a small fire that broke out behind a fridge in a fourth-floor flat was spread through a highly combustible cladding system to the 24th floor in around 30 minutes.
Sir Martin Moore-Bick, the chair of the inquiry and pillar of the British establishmenta former Lord Justice of Appeal and member of the Privy Councilsaid in the politest terms as he introduced the report, The simple truth is the deaths were all avoidable and those who lived in the tower were badly failed.
Belying its tame conclusions, much of the evidence compiled is utterly damning.
The refurbishment and cladding companies engaged in deliberate and sustained strategies to manipulate the testing processes, misrepresent test data and mislead the market. There was systematic dishonesty from the companies, resulting in hazardous materials being applied to the block.
Rydon, the main contractor in charge of the refurb, gave inadequate thought to fire safety, to which it displayed a casual attitude and failed to take proper steps to investigate [construction company] Harleys competence it was complacent about the need for fire engineering advice.
Arconic, the firm that manufactured the Grenfell Tower cladding, deliberately concealed the danger of the panels used on the tower. Celotex, which supplied most of the insulation, embarked on a dishonest scheme to mislead customers. The inquiry concluded that Kingspan knew its insulation product failed fire safety tests disastrously but continued to sell it for use in high-rise buildings.
The inclusion for blame in the inquiry report of the London Fire Brigade alongside these utter criminals is an outrage. From the outset, the inquiry has attempted to shift at least some of the blame in this way.
According to the report, the LFB did not learn the lessons from the Lakanal tower block fire of 2009, meaning there were shortcomings in its ability to fight fires in high-rise buildings. But as the World Socialist Web Site noted in response to the first phase, whatever mistakes of judgement were made on the night by the LFB, they were produced by years of cuts to the fire service and the impossible situation created at Grenfell by the private contractors.
In November 2016eight months before the firethe Grenfell Action Group, with Edward Daffarn and Francis OConnor playing a leading role, issued a blog post sounding the alarm, It is a truly terrifying thought but the Grenfell Action Group firmly believe that only a catastrophic event will expose the ineptitude and incompetence of our landlord, the KCTMO [Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation], and bring an end to the dangerous living conditions and neglect of health and safety legislation that they inflict upon their tenants and leaseholders.
They predicted, Unfortunately, the Grenfell Action Group have reached the conclusion that only an incident that results in serious loss of life of KCTMO residents will allow the external scrutiny to occur that will shine a light on the practices that characterise the malign governance of this non-functioning organisation
Moore-Bicks response to this tragically prophetic warning says everything about the savage instincts of the British ruling class which the inquiry is supposed to conceal. He writes, The TMO regarded some of the residents as militant troublemakers led on by a handful of vocal activists, principally Edward Daffarn, whose style they found offensive, adding, The result was a toxic atmosphere fuelled by mistrust on both sides.
What a filthy slander. There is no equivalence whatsoever between a campaign demanding that the basic safety and wellbeing of tenants be respected, and a management organisation indifferent to their concerns.
Retired High Court judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick leaves St Clement's Church near to the Grenfell Tower apartment building in London, Thursday June 29, 2017. [AP Photo/Philip Toscano/PA via AP]
While naming in the vaguest terms the government as among those who failed the Grenfell victims, survivors and bereaved, Moore-Bick is at pains to avoid naming individuals responsible. The report states, In the years between the fire at Knowsley Heights in 1991 and the fire at Grenfell Tower in 2017 there were many opportunities for the government to identify the risks posed by the use of combustible cladding panels and insulation, particularly to highrise buildings, and to take action in relation to them.
The report points to instances whereby the Blair Labour government (in 1999) and later Tory governments took actions creating the environment in which a Grenfell-type event was all but inevitable, yet the key actors in those governments, including Blair, Theresa May, and David I will kill off safety culture Cameron, are not held to account in any way.
One of the main political pyromaniacs responsible for Grenfell is Boris Johnson, the former Tory Mayor of London (2008-2016) and later prime minister. In 2013, Johnson infamously replied to a question put to him by the London Assembly member over cuts to fire services: Will you accept responsibility in a criminal court when people die as a result of your cuts? with Get stuffed! Protesting firefighters were present in the audience. The following year, 10 fire stations were closed in the capital and nearly 600 firefighters jobs lost.
Yet Johnsonwho as prime minister could not contain his contempt for the safety and lives of millions of people during the height of the COVID pandemic, declaring, Let the bodies pile high in their thousands!is not mentioned once in the entirety of the phase two report.
Former resident Natasha Elcock, who lost her uncle in the fire, read a statement on behalf of Grenfell United, which represents some of the affected families. They were failed by calculated dishonesty and greed, she said. Above all, the judge concludes what we already knew. Every single loss of life that night was avoidable. Human life was never a priority, and we lost friends, neighbours and loved ones in the most horrific wayfrom greed, corruption, incompetence and negligence.
The statement continued, But justice has not been delivered. The system isnt broken, it was built this way.
Calling on Sir Keir Starmers Labour government to implement the recommendations which were already three decades too late, the group concluded, We have an expectation that the Met Police and the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] ensure that those who are truly responsible are held to account and brought to justice.
The burnt out Grenfell Tower tower block building nine days after the June 14, 2017 fire. [AP Photo/Frank Augstein]
In Parliament, Starmer issued a handwringing apology on behalf of the British state, saying, It should never have happened. But the extent of his action was to promise that the reports 58 safety recommendations would be considered and to write to the companies involved in making Grenfell unsafe as a first step to ensuring they are awarded no more public sector contracts.
That they have continued to receive such contracts since the fire, further piling up their profits, is sickening. In total, these deals, including work for housing associations, have been worth 250 million over the last five years.
Across the country, just 1,088 of 4,374 buildings with dangerous cladding have been fixed with remedial work, leaving many thousands of people in death traps.
Maria Jafari, from the Grenfell Next of Kin group who lost her father, Ali Yawar Jafari, in the fire, was in tears as she denounced the inquiry report. Seven years have passed, and we still have no justice and we have to fight again. I dont know how many more years its going to take and nobody knows if were going to be alive for the justice.
Hisam Choucair, who lost six family members in the fire, said, This inquiry was forced on us For me, as a direct kin, this inquiry hasnt taught me anything. In fact, its delayed the justice my family deserves.
Shah Aghlani, who lost his mother and aunt at Grenfell, said of the inquiry, If somebody wanted to create a system that prevents justice you could not have created a better system than what is in place now.
These feelings of opposition to the entire official set-uppart of a carefully orchestrated response by the ruling elite to protect those responsible for the firewill only grow.
Called by Theresa Mays Tory government, utilising the 2005 Inquiries Act enacted by the Blair government, the Grenfell Inquiry had no power to determine, any persons civil or criminal liability. To date, not a single person has been arrested and charged by the Metropolitan Police, despite everyone knowing who the guilty parties are. After the inquiry handed down its report, the Metropolitan Police reiterated what it said months ago: that it must now take another 12-18 months to complete its own investigation, requiring it to consider Moore-Bicks findings line by line.
The Socialist Equality Party, which called on the families and residents not to co-operate with Moore-Bicks cover-up inquiry, demands that this drawn-out denial of justice be brought to an end and those responsible in corporate and political circles be arrested, charged and prosecuted for one of the landmark crimes of modern British history.
Postal workers at a USPS processing and distribution center. [AP Photo/Ben Margot]
Atlanta-area postal worker Shannon Barnes collapsed on the job on Sunday, August 18 from a brain aneurysm and later died, after her co-workers were unable to call 911 in a timely manner due to a lack of cellphone coverage in the vast facility where they worked.
Barnes, a 48-year-old mother, worked at the US Postal Services Regional Distribution Center in Palmetto, Georgia. It was a full 30 minutes after losing consciousness before she received medical attention, and by then it was too late. Doctors later told Barnes family she had already passed away by the time she reached the hospital.
Reporters from WSB-TV in Atlanta interviewed workers at the facility, who reported that they were unable to place calls or text messages inside the building, or even call 911. It has been reported that an employee had to leave the facility to find a cell signal and call an ambulance, a critical delay that may have cost Barnes her life.
Barness son Quenious Holmes told the network that his mother always complained about not being able to use her phone inside the distribution center and It was real devastating. We were told a lot of storiestheres been a lot of stories... I think somethings going on at that post office because it isnt my first time hearing about this.
This tragic death is only the latest in a series of fatalities and life-threatening injuries that USPS workers have suffered in recent years as the speed-ups and efficiency schemes imposed upon them by management and their collaborators in the union bureaucracy erode what few job protections remain.
Barness death follows that of fellow postal worker Wendy Johnson of Fayetteville, North Carolina, on June 6 of this year. Johnson, a 20-year veteran of USPS, was found unresponsive in a bathroom at her facility shortly after conducting a route inspection and later died in the hospital. The temperature that day was 95 degrees.
There can be little doubt that the lack of cell coverage inside the sorting facility was a deliberate choice on the part of USPS. The distribution center where Shannon Barnes died is a new facility, recently built and opened in February 2024. The Postal Service bosses no doubt calculated that preventing workers from using their phones on the job would improve profitability, and if a worker occasionally dies as a result, it would be worth the cost.
The distribution center in Palmetto is one of a new series of giant postal hubs opened under the exploitative Delivering For America plan that USPS first rolled out in 2021. DFA aims to make the USPS profitable by eliminating local post offices, merging operations into fewer and more extensive facilities, and increasing efficiency by imposing speed-ups and putting workers out on the street. Postmaster General Louis Dejoy has gone on record stating that DFA will lead to the loss of 10,000 letter carrier routes and 50,000 jobs.
The goal of DFA is to set the conditions for the privatization of USPS, so that it might more effectively compete with UPS, FedEx, and Amazon.
The Palmetto center consolidated four smaller units that serviced the Atlanta area, and its operational roll-out has been a disaster. From the outset, the facility, which has a capacity of 200 loading docks, snarled mail delivery throughout the Atlanta Metro area, home to over 6 million people. Only 37 percent of inbound mail handled by the Palmetto center was delivered on time in March, shortly after the facility opened.
The mail delays have caused a cascading set of disruptions. Medications, mail-in ballots, income-tax filings and other important documents have taken weeks to be delivered or failed to show up at all. A series of investigations by local media led to congressional hearings where DeJoy doubled down on the need for DFA but agreed to slow its implementation.
A recently released report by the office of the inspector general found that the Palmetto facility was understaffed by nearly two-thirds when it opened and that management had failed to train postal employees on the machinery and processes at the new facility.
Under DFA, letter carriers also face heightened exploitation. USPS installed a monitoring system in May 2023 in collaboration with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) union known as the Technology Integrated Alternate Route Evaluation and Adjustment Process (TIAREAP). This system monitors workers activities to ensure theyre always working and there is no downtime.
Rural carriers are monitored by a similar program, the Rural Route Evaluated Compensation System (RRECS). A worker that the WSWS interviewed said that under the RRECS , which is the system that determines their pay, there are counts. These counts are two-week periods designed to determine the amount of time it takes to deliver the mail, using a highly complicated system based on GPS. The problem is, when carriers deliver mail based on GPS, the system doesn't consider that a worker may have to climb multiple flights of stairs or drive through maze-like parking lots in an apartment complex. It also doesnt allow for the time it takes to remove and load mail from and into large mailboxes in the complexes.
All these issues happen while workers are driven harder and harder with less time to complete their tasks in triple-digit heat, affecting workers in the warehouses and the routes.
Another significant issue is that during these counts, the amount of mail is much less. As the worker indicated, the mail volume is much higher after a weekend because even though the carriers arent delivering, people are still mailing letters and packages. However, during the count, the volume of mail decreased. Since the letter carriers are paid based on the amount of mail they deliver, they're sometimes being cheated by up to 20 percent.
The worker stated, There are times when the customer asks you to check on a package, and I would do some research with my supervisor where Im trying to locate a package, and they would say, Oh, its been in California for two weeks, because If I scan that package, I get credit for that package. So, something is happening where some days we are light on packages, and other days were light on mail. Every day is an evaluation when we are on the count. I have to enter information on our scanners.
Postal workers all over the US-and the world-face a common struggle. Abandoned by their unions, which have long functioned as an arm of management, they are forced to work harder for less pay as management utilizes all the advances of modern technology to extract maximum productivity from each worker, even at the cost of their lives.
The Postal Workers Rank-And-File Committee was formed last year to fight back against this state of affairs. Composed of postal workers across the US, and internationally, The PWRFC laid out the way forward in their founding statement:
The only way forward is to organize ourselves, put forward our own program of demands, and place rank-and-file workers in every position critical to our job security, safety, wages, bargaining and so on. We must prepare action from below to assert the will of 635,000 career and non-career USPS workers to make sure our needs and interests take absolute priority and not the slash-and-burn policies of corporate-controlled politicians.
If you agree with this, contact us today and join the Committee by emailing USPSRankandFileCommittee@gmail.com or filling out the form below.
KINSHASA, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- A first batch of 99,100 doses of mpox vaccines was delivered on Thursday to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the epicenter of the global health crisis.
"In total, that will make 200,000 doses on Saturday. Today, we received 99,100 doses, and the rest (will be received) on Saturday," said Roger Kamba, DRC health minister, at Kinshasa's N'djili Airport, promising to contain the virus as quickly as possible, especially in the most affected provinces, such as the South Kivu and Equateur.
"It is first the vaccines for adults that have arrived," the health minister said, adding that the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) will be in charge of the vaccination campaign in the most affected provinces, without specifying the date for the launch of the vaccination.
However, according to a statement released Wednesday by the World Health Organization (WHO), the DRC Ministry of Health plans to start rolling out the vaccines this weekend. "Vaccines alone will not be enough to stop these epidemics," warned the WHO, calling on stakeholders to strengthen surveillance, risk communication, community engagement, clinical and home care, and coordination.
The DRC, which declared a national mpox epidemic at the end of 2022, has reported more than 18,000 suspected cases, including 629 deaths, since the beginning of 2024, with four out of five deaths being children, according to a statement released Sunday by the UNICEF.
The WHO declared mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, a public health emergency of international concern in mid-August, warning of the potential for increased transmission of the disease globally. The WHO declaration comes after the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention deemed the ongoing mpox outbreak a public health emergency of continental security.
A 14-year-old shooter killed two students and two teachers on Wednesday morning with an AR-15 style rifle at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, before he was taken into custody by law enforcement.
A medical helicopter is seen in front of Apalachee High School after a shooting at the school Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Winder, Ga. [AP Photo/Mike Stewart]
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) confirmed the shooters name as Colt Gray, a student at the school, and that nine others had injuries requiring hospitalization. Apalachee High School is part of Barrow County Schools, has about 1,900 students and is located approximately 45 miles east of Atlanta.
GBI Director Chris Hosey told news media that Gray opened fire around 10:20 a.m. and was rapidly confronted by a school resource officer and surrendered immediately. Hosey said the shooter will be charged with murder and tried as an adult. The victims have not been identified as of this writing.
A total of 30 individuals have been reported with injuries from the incident. Two gunshot victims were taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center Barrow and one gunshot victim was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville. The injuries sustained by these three were not considered life-threatening.
CBS News reported that some patients came to hospitals with anxiety symptoms and some were experiencing panic attacks. A spokesperson for Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta said staff had received one gunshot wound patient from the high school.
Students who spoke to the media described the chaotic and terrifying scene when the shooter opened fire in a classroom. Marques Coleman, 14, spoke to CBS affiliate WANF and said he was inside the classroom when the shooting began. He said, I see a kid with a, he had like a big gun, and just started shooting. I got up, I started running, he started shooting like, like 10 times. He shot at least 10 times, Coleman said.
The teenager said he dove behind the desk and his teacher got in front of him, My teacher started barricading the door with desks. Coleman told WANF he saw one of my classmates on the ground bleeding so bad, another girl shot in the leg and a friend shot in the stomach.
A heavy police presence on the high school campus followed the shooting. By 11:00 a.m. dozens of ambulances had responded. Police officers and a medical helicopter gathered in the parking lot and on the green outside of the building. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) dispatched agents to the scene, where they were coordinating with local law enforcement.
Some news media is reporting that there had been an online warning earlier in the day that a shooting was going to take place in the school district. Very few details about this fact have been released so far.
The FBI reported Wednesday evening that its National Threat Operations Center had received several anonymous tips in May 2023 of threats online to commit a school shooting at a unidentified location and time, which included pictures of guns. The threat was traced to Georgia and the Jackson County Sheriffs Office was alerted by the FBI and proceeded to interview Colt, then 13 years old, and his father. Colt denied making the threat and it was decided at the time that there was no reason to make an arrest or take other legal action.
Responding in template form to another in a long list of horrific school shootings in the US, President Biden said he and his wife Jill were mourning the deaths that were caused by more senseless gun violence. Biden said that what is needed is for Congress to pass common-sense gun safety legislation, including a ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines, and require safe storage of firearms, enact universal background checks, and end immunity for gun manufacturers.
Speaking at a rally in New Hampshire, Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris called the Apalachee High School shootings a senseless tragedy, providing no coherent reason for the epidemic of school shootings in America, many of which are being carried out by teenage students. Adding to the hand-wringing of the entire US political establishment, Harris said, Weve got to stop it. It doesnt have to be this way.
Fascist Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump weighed in with his own vicious response, referring to the shooter, only 14 years old, as a sick and deranged monster. Georgia Republican Party governor Brian Kemp and Democratic Party mayor of Atlanta Andre Dickens came together to promote the presence of local, state and federal law enforcement in and around schools.
In contrast, Socialist Equality Party candidate for US President Joseph Kishore issued a statement on the shooting at Apalachee High School that provided the only explanation of its root cause and the way forward out of the violence for the working class.
The response from the political establishment was entirely predictable. As after every mass shooting, there is no effort to explain what it is in American society that produces such horrors on such a regular basis. Little information is available about the shooter or the possible motives. No doubt more information will come out in the coming days. But the source of an explanation for the epidemic of school shootings lies not at the level of individual psychology, but rather social pathology.
Kishore referred to the Columbine High School massacre in 1999 in Littleton, Colorado, since which school shootings have become a constant feature of American life:
There has been a dramatic increase over the past three years, with 73 school shootings in 2021, 79 in 2022, 82 in 2023 and 45 so far this year. And it is not only school shootings. On Monday, a man in Chicago allegedly opened fire on a commuter train, murdering four individuals. On average, 117 Americans die every day from gun violence, 67 percent by suicide and 30 percent by homicide.
He quoted from the World Socialist Web Site at the time of the Columbine massacre which called attention to the social warning signs, the indications and indices of social and political dysfunction which create the climate that produces such bloody events.
Vital indicators of impending disaster might include: growing polarization between wealth and poverty; atomization of working people and the suppression of their class identity; the glorification of militarism and war; the absence of serious social commentary and political debate; the debased state of popular culture; the worship of the stock exchange; the unrestrained celebration of individual success and personal wealth; the denigration of the ideals of social progress and equality.
Kishore continued by elaborating on the development of these tendencies over the past three decades, and their implications:
Over the past quarter century, these social indices, these vital indicators of impending disaster, have only increased. The American ruling class and its state has, over the past year, armed, financed and politically justified a genocide in Gaza that has killed as many as 200,000 Palestinians. The Biden-Harris administration is escalating a global war, including the US-NATO war against Russia, that threatens nuclear annihilation. The normalization of mass death in the pandemic has been a defining experience for young people, with more than 1.4 million deaths in the US alone due to the willful rejection of basic public health by the American ruling class. Police in the United States kill more than 1,000 people every year. The political system is in an advanced state of degeneration, with one of the parties of the ruling class, the Republicans, led by a fascistic demagogue who attempted to overturn the constitution, and the other, the Democrats, focused entirely on the escalation of war. The entire official political climate and culture wallows in muck and filth, centered on the glorification of wealth, amidst deepening economic and social crisis for the broad mass of the population. Social services have been starved to pay for war and bank bailouts. The ruling class insists that there is no money for education, mental health services, basic healthcare or any semblance of a social safety net. The growing mood of resistance in the working class, however, must and will bring with it a radical change in the political, intellectual and, indeed, moral climate of the country. The source of the social pathology of the United States lies in the capitalist system. Therefore, it must be overturned. This is the basic issue confronting workers and young people in this election and beyond.
According to EverytownResearch.org there have been 133 incidents of gunfire on school grounds in the US, resulting in 38 deaths and 81 injuries, so far in 2024. This number is on track to surpass the total of 158 shootings and, 45 deaths and 106 injuries in 2023.
The number of school shootings has risen sharply since EverytownResearch.org began collecting data in 2013, when there were 51 instances of school shootings, 28 deaths and 37 injuries. The data shows that school shootings are taking place in every state in the US, in urban centers, suburban communities and rural districts.
The organization highlights the fact that gunfire in schools is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the exposure of children to gun violence. The research shows that every year, more than 4,000 children and teens are shot and killed and over 17,000 more are shot and wounded. An estimated 3 million children in the US are exposed to shootings per year. Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens.
The drowning of 12 refugees in the English Channel off the coast of northern France on Tuesday is a direct product of the brutal state crackdown against asylum seekers. The authors of this preventable tragedy sit in government in London and Paris.
A pregnant woman and six children were among the dead. The victims drowned as their inflatable dinghy ripped open at around 6:50 a.m. According to the French coastguard, more than 50 people had been rescued with two in critical condition. Only eight life jackets are reported to have been on board the vastly overcrowded dingy, which sank just three miles off the French coast.
People gather in Calais, France, September 4, 2024, to pay homage to the migrants who drowned when their small inflatable boat was ripped apart in the English channel on Tuesday. [AP Photo/Nicolas Garriga]
Official reports stated that the victims were primarily from the African country of Eritrea. The United Nations Human Rights Council describes the situation in the country as dire, listing arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance and torture by the authorities.
A French fisherman, Samba Sy Ndiaye, onboard one of the two fishing vessels which assisted the rescue operation and recovered some of the dead said, The bodies of two women were very young. That hurt me. I cried all day. I couldnt stop.
According to the UNs International Organisation for Migration (IMO), before this latest fatal sinking 30 people had died attempting to cross the Channel this yearthe highest loss of life since 2021 when 45 deaths were recorded. The official figure for fatalities this year does not account for the number of missing recorded by the organisation as part of its Missing Migrant Project, which estimates that 226 people, including 35 children, are missing or have died attempting the crossing.
The state crackdown on smugglers who organise the crossings has only forced migrants into undertaking even more hazardous journeys, as they try to avoid the militarised border infrastructure established by the British and French authorities against vulnerable people.
A BBC article supportive of the actions of the French police on their shorelines to intercept the boats acknowledged, The gangs pack more people inside inflatable boats of ever more dubious qualitysometimes 90 people in a boat designed, or barely designed, to hold 40. Its a problem exacerbated as the authorities succeed in disrupting the supply of boats brought to the coastline from deep within Europe.
A Guardian article described how Cameras installed on the beaches, night vision equipment and drones are used to stop boats from being launched from accessible beaches
In such circumstances, desperate asylum seekers seeking refuge in the UK have little choice other than to take greater risks, charity workers say. They are launching from more remote beaches away from the police, committing to longer journeys, and are more likely to die at sea.
Labour Home Secretary Yvette Coopers response to the mass drowning of women and children was a grotesque example of official hypocrisy. Our hearts go out to the loved ones of all those who have lost their lives, and all those who have been seriously injured, she said, before using the deaths as justification for the policies responsible for them, giving the shabby pretext of dismantling the criminal smuggling gangs.
The tragedy comes just a fortnight after Cooper began implementing the brutal anti-migrant agenda of the incoming Labour government, pledged to outdoing its Conservative predecessors with new plans for the next 6 months to achieve the highest rate of removals of those with no right to be here, including failed asylum seekers, for 5 years. These plans involve the deportation of around 14,500 people labelled illegal migrants, exceeding the two previous six-month record highs set by the previous Conservative government of 13,410 in 2018 and 14,389 last year.
As part of its draconian approach to securing borders, the Labour government has also established a Gestapo-like Border Security Command, working with a Returns and Enforcement Unit to speed up deportations, and plans to reopen detention camps at Haslar and Campsfieldpreviously condemned by human rights groups for their human rights abuses and violations.
The governments continued war on refugees came in the aftermath of the far-right riots in cities across England which included targeted attacks and arson against asylum seekers accommodated in hotels. In its manifesto, the Labour Party promised to end what it branded Home Office asylum hotels, complaining of their cost to the taxpayer.
The drownings off the Cape Gros-Nez will be used to deepen the co-operation between the British and French governments to strengthen the militarised border against migrants and refugees.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin used the event to drum up demands for more funding from the UK for French border police. He complained that the 476 million provided to France, based on a three-year agreement signed in 2023, covered only a third of the cost.
Darmanin insisted, We need a treatya migration treaty between the UK and the European Unionbecause the people who go now [are] people from the heart of Africa who want to go to the UK. His right-wing comments, including criticism of the loosely regulated labour market in the UK acting as an attraction for undocumented migrants, were made in the context of the necessity to defend Fortress Europea collective project of the European ruling class which has drowned tens of thousands of migrants in the Mediterranean.
The meeting between Labour Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron last month to reset post-Brexit relations focussed primarily on anti-migrant co-operation, as well as escalating the NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine. The meeting was one of like-minded reactionaries and warmongers, with Macron refusing to recognise the result of the National Assembly elections and Starmer leading a government elected on the lowest turnout of eligible voters in history.
Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, responded to Tuesdays loss of life by arguing, We must create effective and humane pathways for those seeking refuge to reduce the need for dangerous crossings and prevent further tragedies, before declaring the charity ready to work constructively with the Government to build a fair, orderly and compassionate asylum system that prioritises human life and dignity.
Such an appeal could not be more misdirected. The government is intent on preventing those most in need from reaching the UK and sees drowning as an effective deterrent. The ruling class in every country has a vested interest in scapegoating migrants and refugees for the shortage of everything which should be a guaranteed to alla decent job, a living wage, an affordable home and access to high-quality health and education.
Moreover, it is not a question of reduc[ing] the need for dangerous crossings but ending them altogether. For this, a fight must be taken up to force the universal recognition of the right to asylum being torn to shreds by the British, French and all governments. Smugglers would have no market of vulnerable people to exploit if they could secure their democratic rights through official channels.
But these rights are increasingly unobtainable under capitalism, the domination of society by a corporate and financial elite and division of the world into rival nation states. They require a socialist struggle based on the unification of the international working class.
As the World Socialist Web Site responded to Coopers agenda as home secretary:
Haiti remains mired in a profound social crisis and escalating criminal gang violence, as a US-organized, United Nations sanctioned, police-military stabilization force continues to roll out its deployment in the Western hemispheres poorest country.
In a flimsy attempt to portray the mission as motivated by humanitarian concerns, not imperialist interests, the United States and Canada pushed for Kenyas right-wing government to take the leadership of what is officially known as the UN Multilateral Security Support Mission to Haiti.
Police officers, part of a UN-backed multinational force, drive past residents in armored vehicles on the streets of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. [AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph]
Between late June and mid-July, 400 Kenyan National Police Special Forces personnel arrived in Haiti, substantially short of what had been a promised 1,000-strong contingent. They are to be joined by 1,500 troops recruited from Jamaica, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, and Benin, and will work with the notoriously corrupt Haitian National Police to re-establish law and order.
The police-military mission has been organized and is principally financed by the United States. It has provided $380 million to fund the mission and in recent weeks has delivered 80 Humvees, 35 MaxxPro vehicles, sniper rifles, and drones to Port-au-Prince.
Canadian imperialism is also playing an important role, and to a lesser extent France and Spain. Ottawa has contributed more than C$80 million, some of it in the form of armored vehicles, and has provided training in Jamaica to some of the units deploying to Haiti.
The fraudulent character of the claims that the imperialist-organized intervention force is deploying to Haiti to protect its people and salvage democracy were exposed by the events occurring in Kenya, as officers drawn from its Special Forces police were deploying to Haiti.
The Kenyan government of William Ruto used National Police, and particularly the Special Forces, who are notorious for their thuggery and criminality, to violently suppress mass protests against IMF-dictated austerity measures. Last month, the Ruto government indefinitely banned protests in Nairobis Central Business District, invoking the manifestly trumped up pretext of potential violence by criminal groups.
In Haiti, Kenyas police are carrying out the same role they do in Kenya. Their purpose is to terrorize the Haitian people into submission, so as to prevent the gang crisis from triggering a mass exodus of impoverished refugees to the US and Canada or destabilizing the broader Caribbean region, which Washington has long viewed as its backyard.
Over a century of imperialist occupation, regime-changes and plunder
After plundering Haiti for over a century, leaving death and destruction in their wake, the imperialist powers are only concerned with preventing the Haitian populations desperate attempts to survive from becoming an international disturbance.
The US has a long, bloody record of intervening militarily in Haiti, stretching back over a century. In the past three decades, they have repeatedly been joined by Canadian troops.
There are several reasons that the North American imperialist powers have chosen to outsource responsibility for establishing order in Haiti to Kenya and several other African and CARICOM nations, rather than deploying their own troops. First, US and Canadian military resources are focused on supplying Ukraine and preparing for direct war with Russia and China. There is also an acute awareness of the Haitian populations hostility towards the imperialist powers. There have been repeated demonstrations in Port-au-Prince denouncing the role not just of Washington, but also of Canadian imperialism. Finally, there is a recognition that suppressing the gangs, who have intimate ties to and are sponsored by rival factions of the venal Haitian bourgeoisie, could cost considerable blood and treasure.
Since the beginning of the year, the situation in Haiti has been widely described as teetering on the brink of total collapse, with extreme violence and want having become the norm for a great portion of Haitis population.
Already burdened by over a century of imperialist occupation and oppression, Haiti suffered further devastation in a 2010 earthquake, from which it has never fully recovered. The imperialist led humanitarian efforts which followed the earthquake turned into systematic pillage. Repeated rounds of IMF imposed austerity, then the COVID-19 pandemic precipitated the ongoing collapse of Haitian society.
Armed gangs have taken control of much of Haiti, severing supply routes and isolating the capital from the rest of the country. The gang control has also restricted access to vital goods, including food, medicine, and fuel, making basic necessities a luxury. It is estimated that gangs control approximately 80 percent of Haitis capital.
According to a UN report issued late last month, some 578,000 people have been displaced and forced onto the streets, where killings, lynchings, and sexual assaults take place on a regular basis. Only a quarter of the countrys dilapidated hospitals are functioning, 1.5 million children have been shut out of school, and approximately half of Haitis population is in need of humanitarian assistance.
Meanwhile, with more than 8 months of the year already over, the UNs Haiti 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan, has raised just $162.5 million from member states or just 33 percent of a budgeted $674 million.
The desperate situation in Haiti is causing a migration crisis, some of the consequences of which were tragically illustrated last month when a fire broke out on a boat carrying migrants off the coast of the island nation, resulting in at least 40 deaths and multiple injuries, according to a United Nations agency.
Social tensions are at a high point, as the population is facing increasing shortages of essential goods and services. It was reported on Wednesday that Haitis largest hydropower plant, Peligre, was shut down after protesters stormed the facility demanding access to electricity. The country has been grappling with energy shortages, as the authorities prioritize the capital, Port-au-Prince, over other regions. The Peligre plant, with a capacity of 54 MW, represents nearly all of Haitis hydropower output. Hydrocarbons are also in short supply due to Venezuela halting oil exports to Haiti in 2019 amid US sanctions and declining oil production.
The tragedy now engulfing Haiti is first and foremost a product of imperialist oppression and predation.
US Marines occupied the country from 1915 to 1934 to ensure stability. This was a euphemism for guaranteeing that Haitis debts to American banks were repaid, and that a peasant uprising was crushed. The national army, shaped and trained by the US occupation forces, became the backbone of the Duvalier dictatorship, which imposed a reign of terror and torture for three decades. During this time, Washington staunchly supported the regime, seeing it as a critical Cold War ally in the Caribbean. Even after the overthrow of Baby Doc Duvalier in 1986, the US maneuvered to maintain its grip on the country amidst a popular uprising.
The cycle of intervention continued with US and Canadian troops occupying Haiti in the 1990s and again in 2004 to remove democratically elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, partnering with far-right factions linked to the old Duvalier regime. Following the catastrophic 2010 earthquake, the imperialist powers returned under the guise of humanitarian aid, pushing for the countrys neoliberal economic restructuring to further exploit Haitis resources and toiling masses.
American and Canadian imperialism and the sponsors of gang violence
On Aug. 20, the US Department of Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions on Michel Joseph Martelly, a far-right figure connected to the Duvalierist bourgeoisie who served as the President of Haiti from 2011 to 2016. According to a statement from the US government, Martelly was involved in drug trafficking, money laundering, and supported several Haitian gangs of the kind that currently control 80 percent of the nations capital, and plunder, and terrorize its population.
Martellys corruption and gang involvement were widely known, yet in his years in power he enjoyed staunch US support. As a recent Foreign Policy article noted, Despite the long-standing allegations against Martelly, the United States maintained a warm relationship with him for years. It goes on to explain that the sanctions against Martelly are the product of immediate political concernsthat Martellys plans for a political comeback could destabilize the transitional government of national unity the US-stitched together earlier this year to provide a fig-leaf of popular Haitian support for the foreign police-military intervention it was organizing.
As was shown by the release of emails under the Freedom of Information Act in 2016, Hillary Clintons US State Department intervened heavily in the 2010-2011 presidential election in Haiti and effectively ensured the victory of Martelly. Once in power, Martellys presidency saw corruption, suppression of local democratic processes, and the reestablishment of the Haitian army.
In 2015/16, the Obama administration and the newly elected Trudeau government manipulated Haitis election process to install Martellys protege, Jovenel Moise, as president. With the imperialists support, the latter imposed yet further IMF austerity, while trying to arrogate additional powers, and refusing to call new elections.
Protesters calling for the resignation of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry run after police fired tear gas to disperse them in the Delmas area of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, Oct. 10, 2022. [AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph]
Following Moises assassination in 2021, in what appears to have been a settling of accounts among rival bourgeois factions and criminal gang sponsors, Washington, backed by Canada and the other imperialist powersthe so-called Core Groupimposed Ariel Henry as the unelected head of Haitis government and de facto dictator.
However, last February, the US turned on Henry, having concluded he had become a liability, and removed him from office. It effectively kidnapped him as he returned from Kenya, having signed the security agreement that allowed for Kenya forces to lead the current police-military stabilization mission.
Henry has been replaced by an imperialist-sponsored Transitional Council, another unelected body, created with representatives from Haitis elite and civil society, including forces which formerly presented themselves as opponents of imperialism, like Aristides Fanmi Lavalas. This Transitional Council is now tasked with organizing new elections by early 2026, which will no doubt once more be closely supervised by the imperialist powers.
According to recent Haitian media reports, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit Haiti in the next few days to hold meetings with Edgard Leblanc Fils, the Chairman of the Transitional Council, and Prime Minister Garry Conille.
Whatever political constellation results from the transitional process, it can be certain its members will be beholden to imperialism and the Haitian bourgeoisie and have corrupt links to the criminal gangs.
Last Tuesday, Haitis anti-corruption agency launched a new crackdown on government corruption, accusing high-ranking officials of crimes such as illicit enrichment and abuse of office. The investigations revealed significant misuse of funds and resources, including cases where food meant for public school students was diverted and government fuel was used for personal benefit. Among the accused is the former minister of planning and external cooperation, Aviol Fleurant. There can be no doubt that this largely demonstrative crackdown only represents the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Haitian elites criminality.
Haitis crisis is an extreme and highly concentrated manifestation of the crisis of capitalism as a whole. There is an intrinsic and direct link between the weak Haitian bourgeoisies incapacity to rule within the bounds of democratic legality, and its complete dependence on imperialism to maintain its rule and safeguard its ill-gotten wealth.
On Labor Day morning in Forest Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, four people were shot and killed as they slept on a commuter train. Police said the shooting happened on two different train cars. Three victims were found dead in one car and the fourth victim in a second. They were discovered by a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) employee.
A Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line train waits at the Forest Park, Ill., train station for the eastern journey to downtown Chicago on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, in Forest Park, Ill [AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast]
The Cook County Medical Examiners Office identified three of the four victims as 60-year-old Adrian Collins, 28-year-old Simeon Bihesi, and 64-year-old Margaret Miller, while the last victim, a 52-year-old man, has not yet been identified. Bihesi was confirmed by family to have been homeless at the time of his death. Two others reportedly were also homeless.
Rhanni Davis, 30, was arrested 90 minutes after the shooting was reported and is being held in Cook County Jail until the first hearing at the end of the month. Charged on Tuesday, Davis is accused of four counts of first-degree murder. No motive for the shootings has been made public. Local reports indicate Davis has a history of working for several different private security firms, as well as a record of petty crime.
Mass killings and shootings occur with a disturbing regularity in the United States. The shootings in Chicago were followed just a few days later by a high school shooting in Winder, Georgia, with two students and two teachers left dead. While specific circumstances may differ from one event to another, the most pressing questions are the social roots of these repeated outburst of violence and how to stop them from happening.
No serious answer will come from the political establishment, either Democratic or Republican. Officials have already made statements to distance the murders from their social and economic context. They are focusing on the individual suspect and calling for increased public safety spending.
Forest Park Deputy Chief Chris Chin, in a press conference following the shooting, emphasized the rarity of such incidents. This is an isolated incident, so it can happen anywhere. Obviously, theres a little bit more concern because it is on a mass transit system, he said. But this offered little reassurance to the public.
Other public officials shared similar thoughts about the shooting. At a news conference, CTA President Dorval Carter said, This is a very isolated incident. I can tell you in my career at CTA, Ive never seen anything like a mass shooting.
Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx expressed that the motives of the accused may never be known, adding, I fear, however, the question of why may never be answered because sometimes truly horrific, heinous acts have no answer.
That a mass killing is an irregular event in the United States could not be further from the truth. So far this year, 385 mass shootings have occurred in the United States, according to the Gun Violence Archive. In Illinois alone, there have been 29 mass shootings.
The indicators of the social pathology of capitalism which underlie these grim figures are many, but include growing inequality, the suppression of working class struggle, the worship of militarism and war, the absence of any solutions to social problems from the political establishment, the lack of access to culture and art, the domination of wealth over public need, the unrestrained growth of fascism, lack of healthcare, the policy of forever COVID and support for genocide as official state policy.
But what is driving these indicators? Who is responsible? In 1999, in an article titled The Columbine High School massacre: American Pastoral ... American Berserk,David North, the chairperson of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site, wrote:
Look honestly at this societyits political leaders, its religious spokesmen, its corporate CEOs, its military machine, its celebrities, its popular culture, and, above all, the entire economic system upon which the whole vast superstructure of violence, suffering and hypocrisy is based. It is there that the answer is to be found..
Twenty-five years later, the social crisis has metastasized, giving rise to mass shootings and daily violence in American society with an increasing frequency.
The influence of viciously right-wing policies of the Democratic Party also plays a role, creating the environment for the targeting of the homeless. Last month, Democratic Governor of California Gavin Newsom was filmed as part of a media blitz highlighting sweeps of homeless encampments in Los Angeles. The governor himself took part in dismantling tents and throwing away homeless residents possessions.
Rampant homelessness in the US is only one of the most visible indicators of the scale of officially sanctioned inequality and brutality in the United States. The homeless are being targeted by Democratic city leaders, backed by the super-rich and the upper middle class, as a major inconvenience to their lifestyle rather than a symptom of a profoundly broken social order.
According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, 47 people experiencing homelessness were killed in violent incidents between 2020 and 2022. Going back further, at least 1,923 hate crimes against homeless people were reported in the past quarter century, with at least 558 of those attacks being lethal.
There can be no solution to homelessness, poverty, inequality or any of the problems confronting working people except through the ending of the capitalist system.
The US presidential election is now two months away. More than three years after former President Donald Trump and his Republican co-conspirators organized a violent insurrection aimed at overturning the 2020 presidential election, all the conditions that led to the coup not only remain but have metastasized.
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at Alro Steel, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Potterville, Michigan. [AP Photo/Alex Brandon]
Laying the groundwork to reject the results of the 2024 elections, Trump and the Republicans have embarked on a campaign combining election denialism and anti-immigrant agitation based on the neo-Nazi Great Replacement Theory. They are claiming that due to Bidens and Harriss supposed open border policies, millions of illegal aliens and non-citizens will vote in the upcoming elections. In addition, Trump has repeatedly refused to state that he will accept the results.
The Republican National Committee and other Trump-aligned groups have begun filing a series of lawsuits in battleground states aimed at suppressing the vote.
In North Carolina, the RNC and the North Carolina GOP have already sued the State Board of Elections twice in the last few weeks over alleged failures to remove noncitizens from voter rolls. The Republicans are calling on the Board of Elections to drop 225,000 people from the voter rolls and force them to cast provisional ballots in November.
In Arizona, America First Legal, the Washington D.C.-based law firm led by Trumps fascist adviser Stephen Miller, filed a lawsuit targeting all 15 counties in the state for allegedly failing to rid voter rolls of noncitizens. Millers group had originally only sued Maricopa County, the fourth largest county in the United States with over 4.5 million people. In a statement issued Wednesday, Miller said we are now suing 14 additional counties in Arizona for refusing to remove illegal aliens and non-citizens from their voter rolls.
Several other states led by Republicans, including Texas, Tennessee, Virginia and Alabama, have boasted in recent weeks of purging thousands or, in the case of Texas, 1.1 million voters from registration rolls since 2021. While many of these people may have been removed for legitimate reasons, such as moving from the state or dying, others are being removed despite being legal voters who had not voted recently or had errors in paperwork.
Nevertheless, Republicans are presenting nearly all of the cases as examples of malicious activity by illegal aliens, even though the number of such votes actually cast in the state can be counted on one hand.
The efforts to suppress the vote extend beyond purging voter rolls. In Texas last month, Attorney General Ken Paxton signed off on a series of Gestapo-style raids targeting the homes of campaign workers and Democratic Party politicians across three counties. Despite claims by Paxton of illegal voter registration operations, as of this writing no charges have been filed. This did not prevent police agents from seizing the phones and laptops of four Latina women targeted in the raid. Three of the women are in their 70s, while the other is an 87-year-old retired school teacher.
In Georgia, one of the states where Trump launched his most aggressive campaign to overturn the vote in 2020, last month the Republican-controlled State Election Board in a 3-2 vote adopted rules that allow local election officials to conduct reasonable inquiries of alleged voter fraud and examine all election-related documentation created during the conduct of elections prior to certifying results.
For over 100 years, the certification of election results by local election officials has been a ministerial duty, one that is done by non-partisan officials who have no independent role. Their purpose has simply been to record the completed vote total.
The new rules in Georgia are not being implemented to ensure the integrity of the US election system but to suppress and delay the outcome of election results in order to assist Trumps efforts to return to power. The rule in Georgia was advanced by Julie Adams, a regional director for the Election Integrity Network (EIN) and member of the Fulton County election board who has already refused, with the support of the America First Policy Institute, the legal combat arm of the Trump campaign, to certify election results twice in Georgia this year alone.
The EIN is led by none other than Cleta Mitchell, a longtime Republican operative and very dear friend of Virginia Ginni Thomas, the wife of arch-reactionary Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Prior to and after the November 2020 election, Mitchell worked alongside Ginni Thomas and Trump coup lawyer John Eastman to advance an authoritarian legal theory that claimed state legislatures, not voters, choose presidential electors.
Following Trumps 2020 defeat, Virginia Thomas sent emails to Republicans in battleground states such Wisconsin and Arizona, imploring them to toss out the electors chosen by popular vote and, instead, install their own slate of pro-Trump electors.
The efforts by Trump and the Republicans to suppress the vote are being undertaken with ample monetary support from sections of the financial oligarchy that, in the face of mounting class antagonisms within the United States, are promoting Trumps efforts to build up a fascistic movement.
That Trump is free to make a second bid for dictatorship is entirely the responsibility of President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party. The central priority of the Democratic Party is the escalation of war, including the US-NATO war against Russia, the genocide in Gaza and the developing conflict with China.
To advance their joint war agenda, the Democrats have joined hands with their Republican colleagues to pass massive military budgets and slash social spending, impoverishing workers and fueling social grievances, which Trump and the far right exploit, mainly through scapegoating immigrants as the cause of the deepening social crisis. Seeking to divide and conquer the working class using nationalism, the Republicans are joined by the Democrats and the corporatist trade unions.
As the Republicans under Trump plot a second coup, the Democrats are hailing the endorsement of Harris by Republican Liz Cheney, daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, the leading architect of the 2003 war against Iraq.
Harris and the Democrats are doing everything in their power to downplay the danger of a return of Trump to power. The Democrats and the media have completely ignored the statements by Biden himself at the DNC last month that Trump is preparing a bloodbath if he loses and will be a dictator on day one if he returns to the White House.
Harris and her running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz characterize the Republicans merely as weird, while at the same time pledging to work with them to enact Trumps anti-immigrant policies, in the process strengthening Trump and the far right.
Commenting on the non-response to Bidens statements, WSWS International Editorial Board Chairman David North stated in remarks at the second international commemoration of the work of Leon Trotsky on Buyukada, Turkey on August 25:
The silence expressed the indifference of the American ruling class to the preservation of democracy. In fact, there is a growing consensus within the ruling oligarchs in the United States but not only there, in fact, in countries throughout the world, that their interests, domestically and internationally, are incompatible with democracy. The ruling elites are fully aware that the staggering level of social inequality is provoking growing popular anger, and that the attacks on living conditions required by imperialist militarism will lead to a tremendous escalation of class conflict. The turn of the ruling class to fascism is an attempt to preempt and suppress, with violence, the political radicalization of the working class and its turn to socialism.
The danger posed by Trump and the Republican Party is very real. There is, however, no significant constituency within the ruling class for the preservation of democratic forms of rule.
The defense and expansion of democratic rights require the mobilization of the working class in opposition to both the Democrats and Republicans, the two parties of the corporate and financial oligarchy. Dictatorship is the response of the ruling class to the threat of socialism. The fight for socialism must be the response of the working class to the turn of the ruling elites toward dictatorship.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)
BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met with Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
Xi spoke highly of Mbumba's active contribution to the success of the summit.
China is willing to work with Namibia and other African countries to fully implement the outcomes of the summit, promote common development and prosperity, and jointly build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, he said.
Xi stressed that China stands ready to strengthen the exchange of experience in party and state governance with Namibia, share development opportunities, and work together to promote the respective modernization process.
The two sides should strengthen the synergy of development strategies and create new cooperation highlights in areas such as agriculture, clean energy, infrastructure, energy, mineral resources, and science and technology, Xi said.
China encourages Chinese enterprises to invest in Namibia, and hopes that Namibia will continue to provide convenience and support, he added.
China supports Namibia in its work as a co-facilitator of the UN Summit of the Future, and stands ready to strengthen multilateral strategic coordination with Namibia, Xi said.
A series of new measures announced by President Xi on Thursday to promote modernization of Africa and China will guide the two sides to create a bright future of common development and prosperity, Mbumba said, adding that Namibia will fully implement the outcomes of the summit, and maintain close exchanges with China.
During the summit, the two countries signed bilateral cooperation documents in the fields including the export of Namibia's lamb to China, as well as development cooperation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets the press together with Senegalese Foreign Minister Yacine Fall and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Congo Jean-Claude Gakosso in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)
BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Thursday the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has achieved complete success.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, made the remarks when meeting the press together with Senegalese Foreign Minister Yacine Fall and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Congo Jean-Claude Gakosso.
Elaborating on the major outcomes of the summit, Wang said bilateral relations between China and all African countries having diplomatic ties with China have been elevated to the level of strategic relations.
The overall characterization of China-Africa relations has been elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, Wang said.
Six major proposals to advance China-Africa modernization have been put forward, Wang said.
A blueprint for action to advance China-Africa cooperation has been mapped out, he said, adding that Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced 10 partnership actions for modernization to deepen China-Africa cooperation for the next three years.
During the summit, China and Africa agreed to firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and practice true multilateralism. They also agreed to oppose prejudice, address historical injustice and advance modernization to make it benefit all people, Wang said.
The summit has demonstrated the Global South's firm confidence in solidarity and cooperation, Wang noted.
According to Fall and Gakosso, Africa-China cooperation has changed the fate of Africa and will surely go down in history as a model of international cooperation.
Africa is ready to work with China in implementing the outcomes of the summit and the consensus between the two sides, deepening Africa-China friendship, and realizing shared development and common prosperity, they said.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets the press together with Senegalese Foreign Minister Yacine Fall and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Congo Jean-Claude Gakosso in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets the press together with Senegalese Foreign Minister Yacine Fall and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Congo Jean-Claude Gakosso in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets the press together with Senegalese Foreign Minister Yacine Fall and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Congo Jean-Claude Gakosso in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
Journalists work at a press meeting attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, together with Senegalese Foreign Minister Yacine Fall and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Congo Jean-Claude Gakosso in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)
Journalists work at a press meeting attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, together with Senegalese Foreign Minister Yacine Fall and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Congo Jean-Claude Gakosso in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)
Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, also a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) special envoy for the advancement of girls' and women's education, together with the African guests, visit exhibits showcasing China's traditional culture and achievements in women's education during the Thematic Meeting on Women's Education of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2024. Peng on Thursday attended the meeting and delivered a speech. Over 20 spouses of African leaders, who are in Beijing for the FOCAC Summit, jointly participated in the event. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Thursday attended a meeting on China-Africa women's education and delivered a speech.
Over 20 spouses of African leaders, who are in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), jointly participated in the event.
In her speech, Peng said China and Africa belong to a community with a shared future. Chinese and African women, through their hard work, wisdom and dedication, have written a remarkable chapter of unity, cooperation and progress.
In advancing women's education and moving toward a brighter future, China and Africa are aligned in their goals, Peng noted.
During the meeting, Marie Khone Faye, wife of Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, and other participants also delivered speeches.
They thanked Peng for her outstanding contributions to promoting the education of African girls and women and praised China's long-standing support and assistance in related fields.
Peng and the African guests also enjoyed children's singing and Peking Opera and visited exhibits showcasing China's traditional culture and achievements in women's education.
Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, also a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) special envoy for the advancement of girls' and women's education, attends the Thematic Meeting on Women's Education of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2024. Peng on Thursday attended the meeting and delivered a speech. Over 20 spouses of African leaders, who are in Beijing for the FOCAC Summit, jointly participated in the event. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, also a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) special envoy for the advancement of girls' and women's education, together with the African guests, visit exhibits showcasing China's traditional culture and achievements in women's education during the Thematic Meeting on Women's Education of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2024. Peng on Thursday attended the meeting and delivered a speech. Over 20 spouses of African leaders, who are in Beijing for the FOCAC Summit, jointly participated in the event. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, also a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) special envoy for the advancement of girls' and women's education, delivers a speech at the Thematic Meeting on Women's Education of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)
Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, also a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) special envoy for the advancement of girls' and women's education, together with the African guests, visit exhibits showcasing China's traditional culture and achievements in women's education during the Thematic Meeting on Women's Education of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2024. Peng on Thursday attended the meeting and delivered a speech. Over 20 spouses of African leaders, who are in Beijing for the FOCAC Summit, jointly participated in the event. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
Fox News Jesse Watters dismissed Tim Walzs masculinity by pointing to the Minnesota governor drinking milkshakes on the campaign trail Wednesday.
The Five co-host offered his evaluation of Vice President Kamala Harris running mate after fellow co-host Jeanine Pirro mentioned a column in Salon describing Walz as driving MAGA men nuts for being living proof that their tormented masculinity is yesterdays news.
Women love masculinity and women do not love Tim Walz so that should just tell you about how masculine Tim Walz is, Watters claimed.
He continued, The other day you saw him with a vanilla ice cream shake. Had a straw in it. Again, that tells you everything.
Watters was seemingly referring to Walzs drink of choice during a stop at the Minnesota State Fair over the weekend although it appeared the shake in question might have had a spoon in it, not a straw. Last week, Walz consumed a shake alongside North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and largely used a spoon.
Watters: Women love masculinity, and women do not love Tim Walz, so that should just tell you about how masculine Tim Walz is. The other day you saw him with a vanilla ice cream shake. Had a straw in it. Again, that tells you everything. pic.twitter.com/scb9oNanf9 Acyn (@Acyn) September 4, 2024
Watters similarly attacked President Joe Biden for drinking a milkshake last year and declared that using a straw was for women and little kids.
Critics mocked Watters who once shared a photo with a McDonalds meal showing a drink with a straw in it back in 2016 over his take and pointed to a 2010 snap of former President Donald Trump drinking a vanilla shake with a straw.
..are you supposed to lap it up like a dog? https://t.co/LJnh9s2Gbv nikki mccann ramirez (@NikkiMcR) September 4, 2024
I love when l men dump entire milkshakes down their throats and then smash the cup on their foreheads. https://t.co/w5myEOO0fn Tina (@THerman23) September 5, 2024
Really? Everything? Man, you sure know your women. https://t.co/8H6N7laIXJ Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) September 4, 2024
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VIENNA, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Thursday that the agency will continue investigating the cause and impact of last month's fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP).
"We will continue to closely look into this matter to try to establish what happened and what the consequences will be," IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi said in a statement following his visit to ZNPP, where he examined the cooling tower damaged by fire on Aug. 11.
Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for the incident. Russia accused Ukraine of a drone attack, while Ukraine said Russian "negligence" or arson may have sparked the fire.
Noting that he saw "significant damage on the interior walls, debris and blackened surfaces" inside the cooling tower, Grossi said: "It is clear that the cooling tower was damaged by the fire, and may need to be demolished."
The IAEA chief noted that while the fire did not endanger nuclear safety at ZNPP, it underlined the persistent safety risks at the facility.
Grossi also reiterated the IAEA's commitment to preventing nuclear accidents.
During his visit to Ukraine this week, Grossi met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev and pledged to step up IAEA's assistance to Ukraine to protect the country's vital energy infrastructure, which has been increasingly targeted in recent attacks.
Barron Trump, former President Donald Trumps youngest son, has enrolled at New York University in Manhattan.
The former president announced Wednesday that Barron Trump had enrolled at NYUs Stern School of Business after being accepted to a lot of colleges.
The New York Post published photos Wednesday of Barron Trump arriving for his first day of class.
Its a very high-quality place, the former president told the Daily Mail of his sons choice. He liked it. He liked the school.
Barron Trump, son of former US President Donald Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump, takes part in his graduation at Oxbridge Academy in Palm Beach, Florida, May 17, 2024. Photo by GIORGIO VIERA/AFP via Getty Images
NYU admits just 8% of applicants every year. Tuition for the business school cost around $65,000 annually, not including housing and other expenses.
Barron Trump will live off-campus and commute there from Trump Tower, the Post reported.
The choice is a departure for the Trump family: The former president and three of his other children all attended the University of Pennsylvania.
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David Gordon Greens Nutcrackers, which will open the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival this evening, is quite a swerve from his last film, The Exorcist: Believer. Actually, its quite a swerve from his last two films, going back to Halloween Ends. You know, while were at it, lets just include all three of Greens Halloween movies.
Lets put it this way, if youve been totally on board with Greens recent horror output, which consists of his last four films, Nutcrackers is going to be quite the jolt. No one is possessed or murdered during the events of Nutcrackers. (Well, except maybe a chicken.)
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Heres the story: While shooting a scene for Luca Guadagninos Bones and All in rural Ohio, Green visited an old friend he worked with on his first film, George Washington, who is now raising her family on a local farm. Green found himself so delighted by her four sons Homer Janson, Ulysses Janson, Atlas Janson, and Arlo Janson that he called his buddy, screenwriter Leland Douglas, and asked him write a movie for them. Thats Nutcrackers.
In the film, Ben Stiller plays Michael, a real estate executive from Chicago who is working on an important new land deal. Meanwhile, he has to go to Ohio for a few days to manage a few things that relate to his recently deceased sisters estate. Michael arrives in Ohio under the impression that her four boys were already in foster care, but, as he soon finds out, this is not the case. The four boys his nephews need a guardian or they will be split up and sent to an orphanage.
Its a sweet film (with some pretty hilarious Rambo references, surprisingly) that drastically contrasts with the last few movies weve seen from Green. It feels like an exorcism of sorts for the filmmaker himself. Green very much likes not being pigeonholed, and is very much aware that not everyone was on board with his vision for both the Halloween movies and his Exorcist film.
Hes totally fine with that. But, as he explains, the one thing he cant do without is creative freedom, and thats what he was losing on his early plans for two more Exorcist films. (One was already written and the third had been mapped out.)
Ahead, Green explains why, with Nutcrackers, hes trying to make an 80s comedy that never got made. And he explains what his next two Exorcist movies would have been like before he left the franchise (Mike Flanagan is now rebooting the series), and if the reported $400 million Universal paid for all that Exorcist IP was the reason Green felt he was losing his creative control. And, pretty directly, he also tells us his biggest regret when it comes to not getting to make those last two Exorcist films.
The following interview has been edited and condensed.
IndieWire: I know this is not your last film, but if it were
David Gordon Green: [Laughs]
Nutcrackers does act as a nice bookend to your first film, George Washington. Very different films about kids surviving on their own.
In a lot of ways its taking and this is intentional, too elements of all of my movie experiences and putting it into one curated movie. So, what I mean by that, is taking what I love about working with kids, and the rawness of non-actors, taking advantage of rural landscapes thats where I breathe easier and Im happier.
Ive learned so much from Jason Blum and the crew that hes put together at Blumhouse and the way they can very economically make movies that are very appealing, theyve been so successful launching horror movies in that way. Im looking at an industry thats really dried up with comedy. Most people are turning to television for their comedic intake, and Im thinking maybe thats an opportunity to start making funny movies. You dont need big budgets and explosions
Nutcrackers Courtesy of TIFF
Pineapple Express had a few explosions.
But heres the thing! We did Pineapple Express on the Superbad budget. Those were favors. The explosions and the car chase? Those were ways that I said, can we take the Superbad budget, then put a little muscle in it for some trailer moments? There was some fun strategy and manipulation to be able to pull off a movie thats an action comedy without an action budget. So thats a great example of me in an industry thats offering me something and getting what I want to self-indulgently squeeze out of the experience.
You mentioned taking elements of all your movie experiences. You have made four horror movies in a row before Nutcrackers. So is the element you bring from those just the economics?
It adds the economics of it, but Im hopeful it adds the appeal of it. What I love about making those movies is I love watching stuff I worked really hard on with a crowd. And crowds love and hate shit I do all the time, thats fun
Halloween Kills, you certainly achieved that love-hate balance with that one. I am on record for really liking Halloween Kills, but a lot of people really dont like that one.
Im not afraid of that! Im not afraid of strong feelings. But the beauty of those movies is you make it low budget and nobody is breathing down your neck to make it work for everyone. They are coming to you and saying, you make your movie, just dont make it expensive. So, if I can make movies that are respectful of the business model For example, for Nutcrackers, I wanted to make a movie my kids could see. I have young twin sons and Im not going to let them watch a lot of the movies Ive made
They are going to have to wait a few years to meet Corey Cunningham from Halloween Ends.
Exactly. Although, one of them is already bugging me about it.
Hey, I saw the original Halloween when I was eight.
I did, too!
Director David Gordon Green and crew on the set of Halloween Ends Ryan Green/Universal Pictures
It was a different world then. It was on HBO and I was like, oh, whats this?
But thats a perfect segue into what Im talking about. The movies I saw when I was eight really affected me. If it was watching Halloween, I was shaken to the core about it. If I was watching the Kenny Rogers movie Six Pack
I just rewatched that recently.
Its so good! Its on YouTube.
Yeah, thats the only place you can find it.
But it holds up! Young Diane Lane, young Anthony Michael Hall, cool Kenny Rogers. But theyre not making movies like that. They are not making Uncle Buck or Home Alone right now. Or, they are in a polished, manicured way that goes to a streaming platform. You can plug your kids into those movies, but youre not sharing those experiences. I wanted to make a movie that had the saltiness of The Bad News Bears, with messy, rough-around-the-edges kids. Im just looking over at my poster collection in my office. Its Tony Danza in Going Ape and Chris Makepeace in My Bodyguard and Steve Martin in The Jerk.
Those are pretty good posters.
My Bodyguard is one of the greatest movies ever made. That was the inspiration for Halloween Ends, but thats another story.
I think a lot of people, including myself, thought it was Christine.
And Christine. Thats the obvious one. But My Bodyguard is the real core of that movie. Someday Ill meet Tony Bill. Maybe hes dead? I dont know. [Note: Tony Bill, who directed My Bodyguard, is still alive.] But my point is, the movies I grew up on, I think theres a great appetite for, if you can market it right.
In the past, anytime I bring up that youve done a bunch of horror movies in a row, you say youre also working on The Righteous Gemstones, so it never feels that way. But that doesnt change the fact you did four horror movies in a row, and now this, which feels like your own exorcism. It is the polar opposite of what youve been doing.
Yeah, but also, it was during the writers strike and actors strike and we got a waiver to make this movie. So, if you were going to work in that time, if you wanted to be really sensitive to what was going on, and I think if youre trying to get something big and ambitious, youre looking at your industry in the wrong way. So maybe this is the perfect deep breath to take right now. Its a script that Leland Douglas, a friend of mine, had been scripting specifically for these kids. And coming after The Exorcist, its really the anthesis in a lot of ways.
So the kids were already attached with the script?
I had a cameo in this movie, Bones and All, that Luca Guadagnino made. He had me go out to rural Ohio to be in this movie and it was a really entertaining and interesting and amazing experience. And one of my college friends, Karey, lives out there and I hadnt been to her farm since college. She was one of the second unit DPs on George Washington and she left the movie business to go have a family and be a farmer. So, I hadnt met her four sons.
When Im out there on Lucas movie, I go visit her and immediately meet her kids and they are these four amazing and lovely sons. Their home and animals are all incredible and inspiring. I walked away from that weekend thinking, I just acted in a movie thats crazy and I just met the subjects of a movie Im going to make. So, I called my friend Leland and said, weve got to get you out to this farm and meet these kids, and weve got to make the great unmade 80s movie of our childhood as a vehicle for these four brothers.
Jamie Lee Curtis and director David Gordon Green on the set of Halloween Ends Ryan Green/Universal Pictures
Thats interesting. Usually the script comes first, then you find the actors
In the last six months youve thought, this guy should be in a movie. Or this is a great idea and you write it down on a barroom napkin. Or this place is beautiful, why hasnt anyone made a movie here? These types of things, at this point in my career, I like to be just like, yeah, they should be in a movie. And I can make that happen. And we should shoot in on their farm, with their animals, and go to their ballet school, and cast their friends, and then invite a movie star and see if we cant convince someone to come in here and headline it.
That was the conversation with Ben. Hey, Ben. Weve got these four non-actor brothers. Come out here. Its cold as hell and youre going to step in animal shit. But if we can get a camera to capture what is so magnetic about the personalities of these four brothers, I think were on to something really special.
So, Im not correcting you, but Im correcting Ben Stillers character. The brothers ask for a bedtime story and he chooses First Blood, which is really funny. But he says Rambo is his nickname instead of John Rambos last name.
[Laughs] Exactly! Hes only watched it once when he was 11.
Its an integral part of the story that his name is Rambo.
It is such a movie thats organic in that way that you can nitpick, but, yeah, his nickname was Rambo.
I honestly started laughing so hard when he begins the story, After the fall of Saigon
[Laughs] The first rehearsal of that scene, I was dying. It was hard to keep it together because Ben doesnt break. Its very rare. And hes so good at saying the straight shit so funny.
You had planned to do three Exorcist movies, but now thats not happening and the property is being rebooted. Last time we spoke, you said you had a roadmap for the other two movies. What would that have been?
Oh, man. Thats a long answer. Its complicated. Its long and complicated. We had our next one written and had it mapped out for the third one. Again, it was ambitious, complicated. We were going to Europe for some pretty extraordinary backdrops. It was one of those things where all of the creative parties got together.
What Im pitching, in terms of my professional ambition is, I need the creative freedom and give me the budgetary constraints so I can keep control of that. Thats something we learned pretty quickly, [with] expectations that are limitless and really daunting. So, for me to keep that creative freedom and be able to make the choices I wanted to make As you see with the Halloween movies, the choices I make arent always the most popular ones. So its trying to make something that me, and my great friends at Blumhouse and Morgan Creek, want [for] that property to be fulfilled, as much as the audience is there and has the appetite for it. I dont think they were on the journey I was excited about taking.
Would your sequels have followed the same cast from the first film?
It was going to follow Ann Dowds character.
Olivia Marcum and director David Gordon on the set of The Exorcist: Believer Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection
You made the Halloween movies on a budget, and even the ones people are polarized about still made money. With The Exorcist, it felt like a big factor was the studio paid $400 million for the rights to the property, as opposed to just the budget for the movie itself. Is that what led you to realize you werent going to have the freedom you did on the Halloween movies and decide, Im done?
Yes. Basically. It was still a very economical movie.
Every article written about it always came back to the amount they paid for the property.
Yeah, that stuff gets really complicated. And I dont even know. Honestly, there are a lot of ins and outs of that stuff that I dont even know. All I know is, give me some boundaries and let me loose. If there are a lot of people poking me about ideas and thoughts and notes? Im not best in those environments. Its just trying to make everybody get what they need.
Ive made such great friends with so many executives at Universal and Blumhouse and Morgan Creek, I just want to make sure theyre doing what they feel confident in and makes them the most money. Or whatever it is theyre looking for in their satisfying experience. For me, its creative freedom. Every time. And Ill always turn a corner and figure out where the freedom is. And also where the spontaneity is. I like to reinvent myself.
Oh, thats true. The director of George Washington and the director of Your Highness is hard to reconcile sometimes.
And the other part of me thinks, well, shit, if I could have finished that Exorcist trilogy, I could be financing my own movies for the rest of my life. And that would be super cool if I could have turned that into what I had imagined it being, both creatively and financially. It would have been an amazing opportunity for me as a benefactor to indie movies and my own creative projects. So, that was kind of the goal in mind and it just seemed like that was going to not happen, so I took a different route.
Its not lost on me Nutcrackers ends with the song Pure by The Lightning Seeds. Which seems like very much the goal with this film after all that, pure and simple.
Yep, yep. That is what the goal was. Now its taking that really special something we created in this really unique environment and unleashing it on the uncertain marketplace of indie film. So, well see what happens.
Nutcrackers will premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival as the opening night film. It is currently seeking U.S. distribution, with UTA Independent Film Group handling sales. The film was produced by Rough House Pictures and Rivulet Films, who fully financed the feature.
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Oct 8, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA: Matthew McConaughey takes the field after a 49-0 Texas Longhorns victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in the annual Red River Showdown at the Cotton Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman- USA TODAY NETWORK
When the Texas Longhorns travel to the Big House to face the Michigan Wolverines, Fox Big Noon Kickoff will be on hand. Now we know that, in addition to Michigan fan Derek Jeter, noted Texas fan and "Minister of Culture" Matthew McConaughey join the crew.
Alright, alright, alright @TexasFootball's Minister of Culture @McConaughey will be joining Big Noon Kickoff this week LIVE from Ann Arbor pic.twitter.com/rDRqpEwzWs Big Noon Kickoff (@BNKonFOX) September 4, 2024
Of course McConaughey is a regular fixture on the sideline at Longhorns games dating back to the Vince Young era. The film star graduated from Texas 1993.
In 2019 McConaughey officially became a professor of practice for the Radio-Television-Film Department in the Moody College of Communication at UT. He had served as a visiting instructor since 2015.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Fox Big Noon Kickoff will welcome a special Longhorns guest in Ann Arbor
Lonely Planet Streaming Release Date: When Is It Coming Out on Netflix?
The Lonely Planet Netflix release date is just around the corner, and viewers are wondering when they can start streaming the movie.
Lonely Planet is an upcoming romance drama film that follows a novelist who flies to stunning Morocco in hopes of curing her writers block. Her plan is soon upended when she meets a younger man and begins a love affair that changes her life.
Heres when the movie is coming out on Netflix.
When is the Lonely Planet Netflix release date?
The Lonely Planet Netflix release date is October 11, 2024.
Tudum by Netflix recently announced the arrival of this brand new sultry romance directed by Susannah Grant. The movie centers on a novelist named Katherine, played by Oscar-winner Laura Dern, who unexpectedly finds love while traveling overseas. Speaking with Netflix about her role, Dern said, Katherine has spent her life dedicated to narrative and therefore [hasnt spent] much time looking at deep truth within. She is at a turning point in her life where she is looking for a softening and deeper understanding, and she finds it in a love story.
Liam Hemsworth will be playing the main love interest opposite Dern in this swoon-worthy romance.
Appreciating Derns acting abilities, Hemsworth spoke about working with her and stated, Sharing scenes with Laura Dern was an absolute privilege. She has this remarkable talent for drawing you in, making every moment feel intimate and real.
When is Lonely Planet coming out via streaming?
Lonely Planet is available to watch via streaming on Netflix on Friday, October 11, 2024. Viewers will be able to stream it at this time.
Current Netflix subscribers will be able to watch the movie when it airs, and if you havent already subscribed to the service, you can do so by visiting its website.
Lonely Planets official synopsis reads:
At an idyllic writers retreat in Morocco, a newly single novelist finds an unexpected connection with a younger man.
The post Lonely Planet Streaming Release Date: When Is It Coming Out on Netflix? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Dont fret: He will rock you again.
Queens founding guitarist Brian May revealed that he had a minor stroke last week that left him unable to use his left arm for a while. But the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is recovering and assured the faithful that the episode is not career-threatening.
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The good news is that I can play guitar, May said in a video shared on his website on Wednesday (watch it below). It was in some doubt because that little health hiccup that I mentioned happened about a week ago, and what they called it was a minor stroke. And all of a sudden, out of the blue, I didnt have any control over this arm, so it was a little scary.
That indeed is good news for the legion of Queen worshippers around the globe. The English band released a slew of platinum albums and smash singles starting in the mid-1970s, including six No. 1 hits in the UK and two stateside. The group has sold more than 87.5 million records in the U.S. alone.
RELATED: The Cures Roger ODonnell Reveals Devastating Lymphoma Diagnosis
Also featuring drummer Roger Taylor and bassist John Deacon, Queen found a new generation of fans with the 2018 rock biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. The film grossed an astounding $910.8 million worldwide, and Rami Malek won an Oscar for playing revered frontman Freddie Mercury.
Now led by American Idol alum Adam Lambert, Queen finished its long, globe-tripping, Coivd-affected Rhapsody Tour in February after more than 100 concerts.
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Stephen Colbert took aim at Mark Robinson, the Republican candidate for governor in North Carolina, over his alleged porn habit on Wednesdays edition of The Late Show.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Robinson, who is running on an Evangelical Christian platform, frequented his local porn shop as often as five times a week during the 1990s and early 2000s.
A North Carolina news site is reporting that Robinson went to a porn shop nearly every day of the week in the Nineties and early 2000s, Colbert said during his opening monology. Well, of course you got to go every day, otherwise youre not getting the freshest porn. Its not like they refrigerate the stuff.
The talk show host was amazed by Robinsons supposed consistency, saying: He went almost every day for over a decade. I dont do anything almost every day for a decade. Mark Robinson went to the porn store more regularly than I floss.
Robinson wasnt just window-shopping, Colbert added. The same report says that over the years, Robinson bought hundreds of bootleg porn videos Im talking Armageddon Laid Tonight, Pulp Friction, and, of course, Sex Toy Story. Surprisingly, the theme song is also Youve Got a Friend in Me.
Robinson, who is North Carolinas first African American lieutenant governor, has a controversial history of comparing abortion to slavery, quoting Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, and referring to LGBT+ people as filth. Hes also claimed that Marvels 2018 film Black Panther was made by an agnostic Jew and put to film by satanic Marxists.
He was elected into office in 2020, two years after his speech supporting gun rights in the wake of the Parkland school shooting in Florida went viral.
On Tuesday, North Carolina investigative website The Assembly published an interview with a former employee of a 24-hour porn video shop in Greensboro who said Robinson would come in every night that I worked, which would have been five nights a week.
Republican Governor candidate North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (Copyright The Associated Press 2024. All rights reserved.)
He was spending a good amount of money, the shop worker, Louis Money, said. Five other customers and employees also reportedly confirmed Robinsons frequent presence.
Robinson campaign spokesperson Mike Lonergan told The Assembly in an email that Moneys claims were bulls*** and a complete and total fiction.
This false and personal attack on my boss is complete fiction, Lonergan wrote.
Tickets are on sale now for the "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: High School Edition" play that will be performed this fall at the York County School of Technology.
The high school will be the first in Pennsylvania to perform the show after winning a nationwide contest.
Six performances will be offered at the school, starting Friday, Nov. 1 and concluding on Sunday, Nov. 10.
Ticket prices are $10 to $15. They can be purchased here: ycst.info/hp24.
The York County School of Technology won Broadway Licensing Global's "Wands at the Ready" contest, which asked schools to describe why their educational institution or community would be the most magical place to produce the play, according to Playbill.
York Tech's video submission highlighted that it attracts students from 14 districts around the county and offers about 25 technical trades. Members of the drama club have "diverse backgrounds and varied dreams but we all find happiness when we turn on the stage lights," it says.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: York County School of Technology selling tickets for Harry Potter play
Restaurants share a community spirit in this coastal Connecticut village.
Courtesy of Catherine Dzilenski/Idlewild Photo
Charles Mallory has a deep connection to Mystic, Connecticuts maritime heritage. His namesake arrived in Mystic, Connecticut, as a sailmakers apprentice in 1816. His grandfather, great uncle, and father have all served as presidents of the Mystic Seaport Museum, a major tourism draw for the coastal village. But recently, food has crept into Mystics top selling points and not just because of the 1988 Julia Roberts film Mystic Pizza. Mystic has become a bona fide foodie destination over the last dozen years, Mallory says, and we are delighted to become a part of that scene.
The founder and CEO of Delamar Hotel Collection, Mallory will open Delamar Mystic this fall, adjacent to the Mystic Seaport Museum on the Mystic River. The latest in his line of luxury boutique hotels will host the restaurant La Plage Restaurant & Oyster Bar. We have already built strong relationships with local seafood vendors like Norm Bloom of Copps Island Oysters, says Mallory, and he and chef Frederic Kieffer look forward to working with many more as they celebrate incredible local seafood and produce alongside places he admires like Sift Bake Shop and The Shipwrights Daughter.
The quality and availability of the products that are the building blocks of so many of the menus in the area are second to none, echoes David Standridge, who just won a James Beard Award for Best Chef: Northeast thanks to his work as chef and partner at The Shipwrights Daughter, the restaurant inside The Whalers Inn in downtown Mystic. He partners with local fishermen to showcase a much wider, and therefore more sustainable, variety of seafood than youd typically find on menus, from invasive green crabs to his favorite summer specialty: sweet native sea snails called slipper limpets. Like many things we use, theyre everywhere along the coast but also very hard to get because no one harvests them, Standridge says. This time of year, We serve them in the shell like escargot and preserve them in jars for a fun pasta to remember the summer when winter rolls in.
Courtesy of Shipwright's Daughter
Standridge also speaks to Mystics beautiful community spirit, especially among restaurants. Like Mallory, he eagerly calls out other businesses he loves within the tight-knit community, including the roof deck at Mix, chef Adam Youngs restaurant above Sift Bake Shop; Pearl, a new fun spot with a fellow Robuchon alum helming the kitchen; Whitecrest Eatery, the sleeper that shouldnt be, where one of our former chefs is the co-chef, tucked away in the Velvet Mill in nearby Stonington; and of course The Port of Call.
The Port of Call is another of Mystics newer marquee restaurants, and the group behind it, Dan Meisers 85th Day Food Collective which also runs Engine Room in Mystic and the new Harings just down the road in Noank ignited Mystics modern dining renaissance with the opening of Oyster Club in 2011. As executive chef and partner at The Port of Call and Oyster Club, Renee Touponce was a finalist this year for the James Beard Award for Outstanding Chef, and shes making magic with produce from some of North Americas oldest family-run farms and seafood from what she describes as one of the healthiest and most diverse fisheries in North America.
In August, sweet corn reigns. She calls hers Colonels Kernels as it comes from an 82-year-old retired Army Colonel growing the best corn around just for us. Shell grate it raw and make it into a warm polenta garnished with raw cherry tomatoes, basil, and The Gray, a Cheshire-style cheese from Mystic Cheese. Shell make corn butter sauce to serve with roasted oysters and charred bell peppers, or a corn-coconut curry with fried monkfish.
Courtesy of Tony Spinelli
When shes not at work, Touponce fuels up at another of the newer Mystic establishments that any city would be lucky to have: Nanas. Im a coffee nerd, and Nanas Canyon Coffee is hands-down the best in town, she says. Nanas pizza and fried-to-order doughnuts, both made with sourdough and regional grains, are incredible too. She serves Nanas breads, made by baker and co-owner Dave Vacca, at her restaurants. James Wayman, chef and co-owner of Nanas along with Vacca and Aaron Laipply, opened Oyster Club and started developing Nanas with Meiser when he was still a partner in 85th Day. Now, he owns Nanas Mystic, two restaurants in Westerly, Rhode Island (Nanas Westerly and the new River Bar), wholesale Stone Mill Bakery, and Moromi, a traditional Japanese soy sauce and miso producer operated by co-founder Bob Florence.
Wayman, too, cites Mystics access to fresh goods as a driver of the scenes success: Great food starts with a great product. He also points to two Stonington institutions as inspirations for Oyster Club and everything that has come after: Water Street Cafe, where Walter Houlihan was the first guy to bring any sort of modern farm-to-table food to this region from New York City, and Noahs Restaurant, where John Papp was making sourdough back in the day. At Nanas, hes bringing the flavors of fermentation and koji into a casual all-day cafe. For example, pressed soy sauce lees get dehydrated and added to Parmesan atop the pizza, while the pizza sauce is simply really good tomatoes and something called shio koji, which is lacto-fermented rice koji with water and salt, Wayman says. One of the things koji does is make things taste more like themselves, so it'll make a tomato more tomato-ey. Plus you get those lactic flavors and all the nice sweetness when the rice koji turns starches into sugar.
Eat your way through Mystic before this poorly kept secret gets even less hush-hush. Especially with David winning the Beard Award and Renee's nomination, it just keeps getting busier, Wayman says. We've had a spectacular year this year.
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Read the original article on Food & Wine.
Anthony Bourdain, the beloved chef, writer, and foodie, was known for his hot takes. The kitchen tastemaker had strict opinions on which foods were good, and which foods he hated with a passion -- high culinary crimes, if you will. He was also not a fan of tourist traps and chains, and therefore had tricks for finding the best restaurants in any city he visited. He appreciated authentic food, made well, as he wanted to eat dishes that came from tradition and taste.
So, several years ago when Redditors asked Bourdain which cuisines he thought were underappreciated in the U.S., he had a ready answer: Chinese food, among many others. "There are a lot that I think are underappreciated," Bourdain said. "Chinese food still remains a mystery to us, it's not really anything like what they eat in China."
But of course, he had many more to add: "Our knowledge on Japanese is not so wonderful. Countries whose food is underrepresented, Brazil, Peru, higher-end Mexican food, Burmese, West African. Food from Senegal and Ghana is amazing, delicious, complex, and interesting."
Read more: 100 Chinese Food/Drink Words And Phrases
Bourdain Had A Deep Love Of Chinese Cuisine
Street market in China - Annabelle Chih/Getty Images
Bourdain traveled widely, so he knew more than most about global cuisines. Bourdain visited China nine times in total for his various television shows, touring Beijing, Chengdu, Dali City, Harbin, Huanglongxi and Leshan in the Sichuan province, Hong Kong, Lijiang, Macau, Shanghai, and more.
Bourdain especially loved visiting the Sichuan region and enjoying its blisteringly spicy food. In one episode of "Parts Unknown" Bourdain delighted in testing the spice limits of his friend, Chef Eric Ripert. In Shanghai, Bourdain visited the Shouning Road night food market, where he praised stuffed oysters grilled over charcoal, snake fried in woks, and "the good, old stuff" that made up the no-frills street food he loved so much.
For his show "No Reservations," Bourdain especially wanted to pick travel destinations that were off the beaten path, traveling to countries and cities that didn't get enough attention in the Western world for their cuisines.
The Uniqueness Of Chinese-American Cuisine
General Tso's Chicken - Diane Labombarbe/Getty Images
When Bourdain said that the Chinese food we know is "not really anything like what they eat in China," he had a point. Chinese fare has a long and storied history in America, and Chinese-American food has become its own delicious cuisine, with unique dishes and flavors.
When a wave of Chinese immigrants came to the U.S. in the late 1800s, they brought along many traditional recipes, opened up new restaurants, and began innovating with new ingredients and combinations. They created dishes like beef with broccoli, and General Tso's, which remain hallmarks of Chinese-American food today. San Francisco's Chinatown, specifically, was a prolific incubator of new recipes and flavors. Chop suey, egg foo yung, moo goo gai pan, and shrimp in lobster sauce were all created there, and are uniquely Chinese-American dishes.
Whether you're going to tuck into a more American General Tso's cauliflower recipe, or Sichuan-level spicy noodles, both cuisines have delicious dishes to offer, and Bourdain would be proud to see them being enjoyed more in the U.S.
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Read the original article on Food Republic.
INTERNATIONAL MIX: Tortona fashion district is ready to host the White Milano trade show running from Sept. 19 to 22 during Milan Fashion Week.
Always focused on small and medium-sized businesses and emerging designers, more than 300 companies will be on display during the four days for a broad international audience, buyers, press and fashion industry professionals.
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This year, the ready-to-wear and accessory trade show presents one important innovation: Im talent showroom, the first edition of the collaboration with Istituto Marangoni, which wants to provide concrete commercial support and visibility to the creatives from the Italian fashion school. Collections from five alumni, three established and two emerging, will be on display: Unhidden, Sandra Mansour, Pronounce, Marco Vinci and Ascend Beyond.
Noteworthy is the Expo White project, which has increasingly expanded its geographic boundaries. This season it will include brands from Spain, Armenia, South Africa (with a dedicated space in the White Loft), South Korea, Brazil and Latin America, featuring the Latin American Fashion Awards. The global platform was founded by Constanza Etro and Silvia Arguello. The winners of last years inaugural contest selected to showcase their work at White are Verdi from Colombia, Desserto from Chile, Daniela Villegas from Mexico, Luar from the Dominican Republic and Karoline Vitto from Brazil.
White Show is a prestigious international platform for designers and brands aiming to gain recognition in the fashion industry and create concrete business opportunities. Through this collaboration with Latin American Fashion Awards, we are excited to introduce our talented Latin American creatives to the numerous buyers in attendance, thereby building a bridge between Latin America and the global market, said Constanza Etro, cofounder of the Latin American Fashion Awards.
Spain will participate thanks to the collaboration with the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade ICEX, which started the partnership with White in 2017. Among the Spanish designers, Mariana Mendez will showcase a collection of Japanese inspired bags in a limited and numbered series.
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The file photo taken on Dec. 13, 2023 shows Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, speaks during a press conference outside the Capitol in Washington, D.C., the United States. Hunter Biden pleaded guilty Thursday to all nine counts in his criminal tax case in a Los Angeles federal court. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua)
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden pleaded guilty Thursday to all nine counts in his criminal tax case in a Los Angeles federal court.
Hunter Biden, 54, was indicted in California in December on nine counts related to a Justice Department investigation into his taxes. Federal prosecutors charged him with evading at least 1.4 million U.S. dollars in tax payments.
The only surviving son of President Biden had previously pleaded not guilty in the case. But a lawyer for him announced in court Thursday that Hunter Biden planned to change his not guilty plea before the start of his trial.
Hunter Biden's stunning decision to plead guilty to misdemeanor and felony charges without the benefits of a deal with prosecutors came hours after jury selection was supposed to begin in the case, according to NBC Los Angeles television station.
Hunter Biden quickly responded "guilty" as the judge read out each of the nine counts, reported the television station, adding that the charges carry up to 17 years behind bars, but federal sentencing guidelines are likely to call for a much shorter sentence.
His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 16, shortly after the 2024 U.S. presidential election set to be held on Nov. 5.
Hunter Biden was convicted of three felony gun charges in a separate case in June. His conviction is related to purchasing a firearm in 2018 while addicted to crack cocaine, which is the first time in U.S. history that a sitting president's child has been convicted of a crime.
Every shift starts with prepping chicken with plenty of seasoning for Chef Yee Yaya Sanney. He picks up a handful of lemon pepper, fresh herbs and adds them to jollof rice, a tomato-based rice dish traditionally served in Africa.
But you can get a taste of Africa at the Travelers Kitchen, 1732 S. MacArthur Blvd., in Springfield.
Travelers Kitchen chef Yaya Sanney prepares a meal in at the restaurant on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, in Springfield.
The West African cuisine restaurant has been a part of Springfields lively restaurant scene for over a year now as one of the sole providers of traditional West African food.
Business owner Ansumana Darboe said he wanted to provide the Springfield community a taste of food he grew up with in Gambia.
There was a gap in the food market in terms of variety, Darboe said. Thats a gap we filled up. Starting a business like this takes a lot of marketing and educating customers about what this is. You could just say you have fish and chicken thats easy to do. But I put up a sign that says African cuisine because I want people to ask, what is African cuisine?
Darboe from Gambia to Springfield in 2012 to pursue his master's in public administration from the University of Springfield. Darboe said he hopes with time and education, more members of the community will come to know typical dishes from Africa and find out if their favorite food is still out there to find.
Owner of Travelers Kitchen Ansumana Darboe poses for a photo on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, in Springfield.
Darboes kitchen joins several other businesses like Jamaican-style Jerk Shop Go on 5th that are owned by people of color in the city, finding gaps in cultural representation and filling them.
I had a man come in last week after taking an ancestry test and found out his family was West African, so the family came into the restaurant purposefully to connect with his (his heritage), Darboe said. He said he ate West African food, and it gets him closer to his ancestors.
According to Darboe, many people who come through the doors dont know everything about West African cuisine and are curious to try a type of food theyve never had before.
Springfield is a food city, Darboe said. African food, particularly from West Africa is not represented in the food scene at all. We wanted to bring that variety so the city and the residents of the city can have an experience that tastes like Africa.
The menu is vast. Chef Yee, who is a family member from Gambia, prepares chicken Yassa, a flavorful tomato and lemon dish that pairs with fufu, Afra, benachin and more.
Travelers Kitchen took part of the Black Business Month created by Black Lives Matter Springfield. The directory lists businesses owned and run by Black entrepreneurs in the city with addresses and more information.
Yawa Eklou of Springfield shares a meal with her son Noah Akoli, 4, at Travelers Kitchen Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, in Springfield.
Darboe says being part of the directory was just the start and plans to join the Springfield Chamber of Commerce and Black Chamber of Commerce.
A lot of people for the experience come here and sit here and see these African artifacts as part of the experience, Darboe said. Theres African music playing in the background and its part of the experience.
Claire Grant writes about business, growth and development and other news topics for The State Journal-Register. She can be reached at CLGrant@gannett.com; and on X (Formerly known as Twitter): @Claire_Granted
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Travelers Kitchen bringing taste of Africa to Springfield, Illinois
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Even with the best realtor, landing your ideal Manhattan apartment can be a challengenot to mention finding the right interior designer once youve been handed the keys. Occasionally, though, the cart gets put before the horse, and you end up with the perfect designer first. That was the case for Bachman Clem and his clientsa couple living full-time in Stamford, Connecticut, who were on the hunt for a big city pied-a-terre.
Another client from many years ago had put their apartment on the market, and these two happened to tour it, Clem, the founder of New York Citybased firm Bachman Brown Design, says. Well, they didnt like the apartment, but they loved the interior design and asked the agent if they could track me down.
Eric Petschek
It wasnt long before Clem was waiting in the wings as his new clients closed on a charming Greenwich Village getaway. What the couple scored was a 1,300-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bathroom Waverly Place retreat on the eighth floor of a landmarked 1928 Art Deco building.
They spend a lot of time escaping to the city and wanted something that felt very loungey and atypical from what they live with in Stamford, Clem explains. So the designerknown for his bold color choices and genre-blending aestheticmet the opportunity head-on. It was a really nicely done apartment before, but they didnt want it to look traditional and basically told me to do something weird.
Eric Petschek
While the designer didnt change the bones of the apartment, he delivered on his clients request for something out of the boxand the result feels plucked from a chic version of That 70s Show, with plenty of era-appropriate design finds and a wood-paneled living room that could be mistaken for a set from Foxs nostalgia-filled series.
It was really influenced a lot by 1970s wood-paneled ranch houses, Clem explains. If we could have dug into the apartment below, we would have absolutely done a sunken living room.
Foyer
Photo credit: Eric Petschek
At 1,300 square feet, the apartment is rather petite, and its very dark when you walk in, says Clem. So, I wanted to double-down on that darkness and chose to paint the entryway Benjamin Moores Brilliant Blue, which we carried through on the trim in the living room.
The Art Deco pendant is from the 1930s. A pair of Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig rope stools are nested underneath a vintage walnut hanging cabinet. The Swedish mirror by Uno Kristiansson is from the 1960s, as is the Gerald Thurston for Lightolier lamp. To the right is a mixed media work by artist Sophie Grant. The carpet is from Inigo Elizalde Rugs.
Living Room
Photo credit: Eric Petschek
We played around with a lot of different layouts for the space and, ultimately, they werent going to be throwing big dinner parties, so we actually could have made the dining room area even smaller, Clem explains.
The built-in sofa was custom designed by the designer and upholstered in a Clarence House textile with pillows covered in fabrics from Pierre Frey. I know its usually a decorator no-no, but we blocked a lot of the living room off [with the sofa] because they wanted the space to feel more like a cocoon, the designer says.
The tubular chrome and glass cocktail table and side table are vintage, and the set of four mixed media works above the sofa are by Louisville, Kentuckybased artist Letitia Quesenberry.
Living Room
Photo credit: Eric Petschek
Opposite the fireplace, an Eames for Herman Miller lounge chair belonging to the clients has been covered in a fabric by Michael S. Smith. The 1970s floor lamp is by Harvey Guzzini, and the vintage side table is by Hans C. Andersen. Above the fireplace is an acrylic gouache artwork by Queens, New Yorkbased artist Gloria Maximo.
Dining Area
Photo credit: Eric Petschek
The Carlo Nason pendant light is one of my all-time favorites, says Clem. As a designer youre not supposed to use the same things over and over, but I will forever use this as many times as I possibly canthe glow at night is just so beautiful.
Dining Area
Photo credit: Eric Petschek
On one side of the custom dining table is a trio of vintage chairs upholstered in leather from Studio Art, and on the other is a built-in banquette designed by Bachman Brown.
Breakfast Nook
Photo credit: Eric Petschek
We did a built-in banquette here too, and I was adamant that the other pieces for the space needed to be vintage as well, Clem explains.
With that directive in mind, the Poul Kjrholm PK1 rattan dining chairs pair perfectly with the Eames for Herman Miller breakfast table. Overhead is a 1970s pendant, and on the wall is a colorful Karel Appel lithograph.
Kitchen
Photo credit: Eric Petschek
The previous owners kitchen remodel worked for his clients, so the only change was to the paint color for the cabinets (Benjamin Moores Athenian Blu) and walls (Benjamin Moores Mystical Blue).
Primary Bedroom
Photo credit: Eric Petschek
In the primary bedroom, the grass-cloth Star Fire wallpaper is by Gregorius Pineo, and the ceiling light is from Rejuvenation. Propped atop the cabinet headboard are a mixed media work by Mark Heresy and a photograph by Patterson Beckwith.
When you open up the cabinets there are shelves for books and storage for extra blankets and pillows, Clem explains about the custom-designed bed.
Kitchen
Photo credit: Eric Petschek
The cabinets are painted in Benjamin Moores Athenian Blue.
Primary Bedroom
Photo credit: Eric Petschek
In the primary bedroom, the grass-cloth Star Fire wallpaper is by Gregorius Pineo, and the ceiling light is from Rejuvenation. Propped atop the cabinet headboard are a mixed media work by Mark Heresy and a photograph by Patterson Beckwith.
When you open up the cabinets there are shelves for books and storage for extra blankets and pillows, Clem explains about the custom-designed bed.
Primary Bedroom
Photo credit: Eric Petschek
Next to the bed is a vintage chair by Pierre Guariche for Airborne that has been reupholstered in a Pierre Frey fabric.
Those Elio Martinelli for Martinelli Luce desk lamps are everything! says Clem. I found them on 1stDibs, and Ive never moved faster on a pair of lampsthe proportions and color are just perfect.
Guest Bedroom
Photo credit: Eric Petschek
In keeping with that 70s vibe, we custom designed the platform bed, says Clem. I wanted it to function almost like a lounge where they could cozy up and read a book.
Primary Bedroom
Photo credit: Eric Petschek
Next to the bed is a vintage chair by Pierre Guariche for Airborne that has been reupholstered in a Pierre Frey fabric.
Those Elio Martinelli for Martinelli Luce desk lamps are everything! says Clem. I found them on 1stDibs, and Ive never moved faster on a pair of lampsthe proportions and color are just perfect.
Guest Bedroom
Photo credit: Eric Petschek
In keeping with that 70s vibe, we custom designed the platform bed, says Clem. I wanted it to function almost like a lounge where they could cozy up and read a book.
Photo credit: Eric Petschek
The granite-colored wallpaper is by Cowtan &